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Inspired by the digital MARPAT™ print used by the United States Marine Corps, the ARPAT™ (also known as ACUPAT) design is a three-colour camouflage pattern, distinguished by the conspicuous absence of black. [Image: U.S. Army Public Affairs.]

ARPAT prototype
United States of America

In 2004, the U.S. Army finally unveiled a new uniform, the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). Set to become the standard issue for all deployed troops by April 2005, the ACU featured its own distinctive digital camouflage pattern, which was originally designated ARPAT.

ARPAT is a three-colour adaptation of the digital MARPAT print, which is used by the United States Marine Corps. ARPAT therefore bears more than a passing resemblance to Canada's digital CADPAT camouflage pattern, on which MARPAT is undeniably based — see Guy Cramer's online article 'Who did it first: Canada or the U.S.?', for more information.

When questioned about the elimination of black from the design, Sgt 1st Class Jeff Myhre, the Clothing and Individual Equipment noncommissioned officer in charge, stated that black is no longer useful in camouflage because it is not commonly found in nature. Sgt Myhre added that black immediately catches the eye.

This claim is disputed by Guy Cramer, of Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp., who personally has designed more than 200 distinct digital patterns for government and defense contractors. Mr Cramer agrees that black is not a naturally occurring colour, but observes that it is a colour that is perceived as depth. In his analysis, 'New digital U.S. Army Combat Uniform eliminates black in pattern', Mr Cramer continues, to say that, while experimenting with greys in place of black, his design team noticed a critical loss of depth in their patterns.

kamouflage.net is grateful to Military Morons and Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp., for their invaluable contributions to this article.

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