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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.]

Belgian 'jigsaw' camouflage, 2nd pattern
Kingdom of Belgium

After World War II, all branches of the Belgian armed forces were composed of a mixture of professional soldiers and officers, and conscripts, who were fulfilling their compulsory national service.

These 'service' men received partly new, partly second-hand uniforms and equipment. Typically, the uniforms were a plain olive drab green — a cost-effective way to clothe a large number of soldiers, who served for only a short period of time.

There were, however, some exceptions to this general rule: special units, such as the para-commandos, received camouflaged jump smocks and — after 1963 — over-pants.

The first pattern of Belgian 'jigsaw' was introduced in 1958. However, it was available only as a jump smock, over-pants or, for a short time, a light-weight tropical uniform.

By the end of the 1980s, though, a decision had been taken to issue complete camouflage uniforms to certain units. Thus the Aircommandos of la Composante Air/de Luchtcomponent (Belgian air force) were issued uniforms patterned in Belgian Flecktarn, while the para-commandos received uniforms in second pattern 'jigsaw' camouflage.

Like the first pattern camouflage, second pattern 'jigsaw' camouflage is a five-colour pattern. However, the colours used are noticeably darker.

kamouflage.net is grateful to Walter Vandeput, for his invaluable contribution to this article.

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