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New Zealand Army Corporal Murray Kinnell celebrates as Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders Amanda and Sarah cheer him on.

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19 May 2008: New Zealand Army Cpl Murray Kinnell celebrates as Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders Amanda and Sarah cheer him on. Kinnell was unanimously voted best in a 'touchdown dance' competition during the cheerleaders' performance at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. [Image: Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace/USAF.]

British Desert DPM
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

In 1991, when Britain went to war with Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had stocks of a desert version of the national Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) camouflage. However, the MoD was unwilling to issue the four-colour desert DPM uniforms because, in 1986, Iraq had been allowed to purchase surplus uniforms made of the same cloth. The MoD naturally refused to send its troops to war dressed identically to their Iraqi enemies.

In the short time available, a new desert camouflage was devised. The basic 1984 DPM pattern was retained, but it was decided to drop the brown and reverse the screens for printing the other two colours.

Unfortuantely, the new three-colour pattern was still too similar to the original desert four-colour desert DPM. Therefore another colour was dropped — and this also helped to reduce production time and costs.

Also known as 'rust and sand', the resultant two-colour desert DPM consists of rust brown brush-strokes on a light sand background.

camouflage data

1cm grid

British Desert DPM
1991–present

Specimen of British Desert DPM

NOTE: Scanned colours may not exactly match example.

  • Light Greyish Brown
  • Moderate Yellowish Brown

Specimen kindly supplied by Brad Turner

Actual size: 21.47×29.6cm

 also known as:
  • 'rust and sand' camouflage
  • British desert camouflage
  • British desert DPM
country of origin:

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

National flag: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
used by:
  • British Army
  • Royal Air Force (abbrev. RAF)
also used by:
  • New Zealand
    • NZ Provincial Reconstruction Team, Afghanistan.

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