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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.]

Reggimento San Marco camouflage pattern
Italian Republic

After World War Two, the Telo Mimetico ('mimetic cloth') pattern continued in service with the armed forces of the Italian Republic until 1992. At that time the Italian Army adopted a woodland pattern camouflage, and the Battalion San Marco adopted yet another pattern, which is specific to the formation.

The Reggimento San Marco has a long history. When it was constituted in 1713, it was known as the La Marina Regiment. Then, during the Independence War, it was called Fanteria Real Marina. The regiment also played significant roles during the Boxer Rebellion and the Italian–Turkish war.

At the start of World War I, the unit was renamed Marina Brigade, and included artillery and infantry regiments. The brigade fought bravely on the Isonzo Front trenches, but its most memorable action was the defence of Venice. After this decisive victory, the unit was named for San Marco, the Saint Protector of Venice, and it adopted the winged lion as its badge.

During World War II, the San Marco Regiment fought in Greece, Africa and Tunisia. After the armistice with the Allies, however, only a part of the San Marco Regiment fought against the Germans; another segment continued to fight alongside the Germans until the end of the war.

Deactivated in 1956, the San Marco Regiment was reactivated in 1964. Since then, it has participated in several peacekeeping missions. Today, it is one of the best units in the Italian Armed Forces.

In 1992, when the Telo Mimetico pattern was finally withdrawn from service, the Italian Army adopted a woodland pattern camouflage and the Battalion San Marco adopted this design, which is specific to the formation. It is a five-colour pattern of soft-edged, irregular blotches of black, chocolate brown, medium green and white on a light tan background.

kamouflage.net is grateful to Henrik Clausen, for his invaluable contribution to this article.

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