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A Yugoslav soldier

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Known among collectors as Yugoslav 'branch' pattern, this distinctive design appears to be the first domestic camouflage pattern ever to be used by, the armed forces of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [Image: Milan Jovanovic.]

MOL camouflage
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Known among collectors as Yugoslav 'branch' pattern, this distinctive three-colour design appears to be the first domestically-produced camouflage pattern to be used by the armed forces of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia — the Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija ('Yugoslav People's Army', JNA). It comprises large, strikingly-coloured, branch-like brown, green and yellow elements, and might have been inspired by Italian telo mimetico.

Interestingly, Yugoslav 'branch' pattern does not appear to have been 'officially' issued; this, perhaps, was for the same reason that the Bulgarian 'frogskin' (Bulgarian: жабежка кожа, trans. zhabezhka kozha) camouflage pattern — which was introduced at around the same time — was never 'officially' issued. Its unofficial status notwithstanding, Yugoslav 'branch' pattern saw quite widespread use.

The only items known to be manufactured in this camouflage pattern are a shelter half and a scout/sniper oversuit, which comprises jacket, trousers, hood, mittens and carrying bag. However, numerous non-regulation garments were also made from shelter half material.

kamouflage.net is grateful to Steve Grammont and Milan Jovanovic, for their invaluable contributions to this article.

camouflage data

1cm grid

MOL camouflage
1970–1989

Specimen of MOL camouflage

Specimen kindly supplied by Brad Turner

Actual size: 21.47×29.6cm

 also known as:
  • Yugoslav 'branch' pattern
country of origin:

Socijalistička federativna republika Jugoslavija
Социјалистичка федеративна република Југославија
Socialistična federativna republika Jugoslavija

National flag: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
influences:
used by:
  • Yugoslav People's Army (Serbian: Jugoslavenska Narodna Armija, JNA).
also used by:
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
    • Territorial Defence Force of the Republic of Bosnia & Hercegovina (Bosnian: Teritorijalna Odbrana Republike Bosne i Hercegovine, TORBiH) (1991–1992).

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