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8 June 2004: Able Seaman Janine Monneron and Corporal Tabitha Niggel with Sophie Monk, during Sophie's concert tour to entertain troops in the Middle East. Like the original Auscam, the Mk.III Australian Desert Camouflage Pattern is a five-colour 'duck hunter' style of camouflage. [Image: Australian Department of Defence.]

5-colour Australian Desert Pattern, yellow variant
Commonwealth of Australia

Known variously as 'auscam' or 'ozcam', 'bunnies', 'bunny ears', 'hearts and bunnies' and even 'jellybean', the Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage employed on the current Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU) has been designed and developed based on information obtained from detailed analyses of likely combat scenarios. It is a five-colour 'duck hunter' style of camouflage pattern, and features spots of dark green, medium green, red-brown and tan printed on a sand-coloured background.

Since its introduction, 'auscam' has become internationally recognised as the Australian pattern and, as such, it is also an aid to the identification of Australian personnel on operations. It was for this reason that the Chief of Defence Force mandated its use on the recent Australian Desert Pattern Uniform (ADPU).

Like the original 'auscam', the Australian Desert Pattern is a five-colour 'duck hunter' style of camouflage. The earliest issues of this camouflage pattern comprised earth brown, light green, light grey and medium grey spots on a desert pink background (see Australian Desert Pattern, desert pink variant). Later issues comprised spots of the same colours on a sand yellow background, as shown here.

kamouflage.net is grateful to Luke Yaxley and Damien Ewin (Cool Kit Australia), for their invaluable contributions to this article.

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