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Uncover your potential', indeed! Once you stop ogling the girl, though, you might notice that this Australian Special Air Service (SAS) recruiting poster shows Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage to very good effect. [Image courtesy Brad Turner collection.]

Steintarnung
Republic of Austria

In the early 1960s, the Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung ('Federal Ministry for National Defense') approved the introduction of new camouflage uniforms and other equipment for use by the Österreichs Bundesheer ('Federal Army of Austria').

This Austrian Steintarnung ('stone camouflage') was one of the patterns introduced. Clearly inspired by the wartime German Wehrmachts-Sumpfmuster 44 ('1944 defence force marsh pattern'), it is a four-colour camouflage comprises interlocking medium-grey and medium-green patches on a light field-grey or tan background. The mid-grey and mid-green patches are softened by feathered edges, and a random pattern of dark green dashes completes the camouflage effect.

In spite of its proven effectiveness in rocky Alpine terrains, Steintarnung seems never to have been implemented as a camouflage uniform. Rather, it was only used for one side of the camouflaged Zeltbahnen (shelter quarters) that were issued to soldiers of the Österreichs Bundesheer, until 1978.

kamouflage.net is grateful to Christoph Ayers, for his invaluable contribution to this article.

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