kamouflage.net camouflage data

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.]

Czech 'leaf pattern'
Czech Republic

With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful 'Velvet Revolution' and began to cultivate closer ties with Western Europe. Then, on 1 January 1993, Slovakia achieved autonomy and the remaining portion of Czechoslovakia became the Czech Republic.

In its efforts to become a NATO member country, the Czech Republic joined the Partnership for Peace Programme in 1994. This enabled the Czech military to absorb NATO procedures in defence planning and implementation. Reforms were introduced, to modernise and Westernise the armed forces, with a view to assuring the interoperability of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (Czech: Armáda České republiky, ACR) with those of its prospective allies. Part of the process involved the design and trial of new camouflage uniforms that would conform to the NATO standard.

Czech 'leaf pattern' camouflage was the pattern that was finally chosen, and has been used by the ACR since 1995. Known variously as 'Czech ERDL', 'Czech woodland pattern', and vz.95 (this latter designation more properly refers to the uniform that bears this camouflage pattern), Czech 'leaf pattern' is a four-colour camouflage of black, earth brown and olive green shapes on a light green background. The design is reminiscent of American 'lime ERDL', but the colours are brighter and the shapes used are more elongated.

kamouflage.net is grateful to Tamás Baczoni, for his invaluable contribution to this article.

camouflage data