Eastern Bloc Camo Patterns

[zenTaurus]

kinukulang na ako ng brain cells sa pagkilala ng mga eastern bloc camo patterns kaya ko naisip itong thread na eto

umpisa lang ito. komrads, pls. help update this thread
especially photos, kung meron kayo


SUMMER CAMOUFLAGE



aka
* 1927 letniy kamuflyazh
* 1927 summer camouflage
* летний камуфляж
* Soviet 'grass pattern' camouflage

trialled: 1927
issued: 1928
discontinued: 1945
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* engineers (WW2)
* Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; abbrev. NKVD) reconnaissance units (WW2)
* snipers (WW2)
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Air Assault Forces'; abbrev. VDV) (WW2)

In 1919, Red Army commanders established a school of 'military concealment'. In 1927, this school produced three camouflaged garments, one of which was a dull green, two-piece summer suit with glued-on pieces of sponge.

During the Second World War, engineers, snipers, Воздушно-Десантные Войска ('Air Assault Forces'; transliterated Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska, abbrev. VDV) and reconnaissance units of the Народный Комиссариат Внутренних Дел ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; transliterated Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del, abbrev. NKVD) were the most common recipients of 1927 летний камуфляж ('summer camouflage'; transliterated letniy kamuflyazh).

After the Second World War, surplus stocks of this uniform were used by the Czechoslovakian armed forces.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

AMOEBA PATTERN



a.k.a.:

* 'amoeba pattern'
* 'amoeba'

trialled: 1937
issued: 1938
discontinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* engineers
* Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; abbrev. NKVD) reconnaissance units
* reservists and trainees (post-war)
* snipers
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Air Assault Forces'; abbrev. VDV)

The late 1930s saw the Soviets' first attempt to use artificially patterned overgarments to conceal troops in the field.

Two types of camouflaged garment were issued in 1937–1938: a one-piece camouflaged coverall, usually called маскировочный комбинезон ('deceptive coveralls'; transliterated maskirovochnyy kombinezon, abbrev. MK); and a two-piece camouflaged suit, commonly called маскировочный камуфлированный костюм ('deceptive camouflage suit'; transliterated maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kostyum, abbrev. MKK). Engineers, snipers, Воздушно-Десантные Войска ('Air Assault Forces'; transliterated Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska, abbrev. VDV) and reconnaissance units of the Народный Комиссариат Внутренних Дел ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; transliterated Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del, abbrev. NKVD) were the most common recipients.

This most common pre-war Soviet camouflage pattern comprises large brown blobs on a pale green background and, for reasons that should be obvious, is known by collectors as 'amoeba pattern' camouflage. There was, however, a double-sided version of the 1938 MK overgarment, which had a reverse side that featured sand-coloured blobs on a grey background.

Although both the 1938 MK and the 1938 MKK were withdrawn from general service not long after World War 2, there is some evidence to suggest that the 1938 MKK is still in use today, by reservists and trainees. The 'amoeba pattern' was an integral part of the 1948 hybrid 'amoeba–stair step' camouflage pattern, and was also the inspiration for the DDR-Russisches Tarnmuster, which was used by the Kasernierte Volkspolizei ('Barracked people's police'; abbrev. KVP) and its successor, the Nationale Volksarmee ('National People's Army'; abbrev. NVA).

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

LEAF PATTERN



a.k.a.:
* 1940/41 'leaf pattern' camouflage
* Type I 'leaf pattern'

trialled: 1940
issued: 1941
discontinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* engineers (WW2)
* Morskaya Pekhota ('naval infantry') (1950s)
* Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; abbrev. NKVD) reconnaissance units (WW2)
* reservists and trainees (post-war)
* snipers (WW2)
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Air Assault Forces'; abbrev. VDV) (WW2)

Late in 1940 or early in 1941, the Soviet army began to issue another two-piece camouflage uniform. Like the two-piece camouflaged suit that was issued in 1937–1938, this newer uniform was also designated маскировочный камуфлированный костюм ('deceptive camouflage coveralls'; transliterated maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kostyum, abbrev. MKK).

Although the cut and construction of the smock might have been based on early examples of the German Tarnjacke, the pattern employed was distinctly Soviet. Rather than being disruptive in nature, the 1941 Soviet 'leaf pattern' camouflage was mimetic, with semi-realistic representations of leaves, grasses and twigs on a light green background.

As with the earlier 1938 Soviet 'amoeba pattern' camouflage, one-piece 'leaf pattern' camouflage coveralls — маскировочный камуфлированный комбинезон ('deceptive camouflage coveralls'; transliterated maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kombinezon, abbrev. MKK) — were also issued. Some issues were reversible, with a sandy background on the other side for use in desert and mountain environments.

During the Second World War, engineers, snipers, Воздушно-Десантные Войска ('Air Assault Forces'; transliterated Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska, abbrev. VDV) and reconnaissance units of the Народный Комиссариат Внутренних Дел ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; transliterated Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del, abbrev. NKVD) were the most common recipients of both types of 'leaf pattern' garment. However, the one-piece uniform is known also to have been issued to soldiers of the Морская Пехота ('naval infantry'; translitered Morskaya Pekhota) during the 1950s, and photographic evidence suggests that it was also used by Romanian troops during the 1960s and 1970s.

In his book Camouflage uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to present, Dennis Desmond claims that the one-piece 'leaf pattern' MKK continues to be used by reservists, both in Russia and in Romania.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

3-COLOR STAIR-STEPPED PATTERN



a.k.a.:
* 1944/45 3-colour 'stair-stepped pattern' camouflage
* 1944/45 TTsMKK camouflage pattern
* experimental TTsMKK camouflage pattern

trialled: 1944
issued: 1945
discontinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* engineers (1940s/1950s)
* Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; abbrev. NKVD) reconnaissance units (1940s/1950s)
* pogranichnyye voyska ('border forces') (1940s/1950s)
* reservists and trainees (post-war)
* snipers (1940s/1950s)
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Air Assault Forces'; abbrev. VDV) (1940s/1950s)

Late in 1944 or early in 1945, the Soviet Ministry of Defense issued its next camouflage uniform to combat troops. Although the cut and construction of the 1941 Soviet 'leaf pattern' camouflage suit was retained, the new трёхцветный маскировочный камуфлированный костюм ('three-colour deceptive camouflage suit'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnyy maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kostyum, abbrev. TTsMKK) featured a pattern of aliased medium green and dark green blocks printed on a sand-yellow background.

The TTsMKK was issued in one- and two-piece versions. The two-piece issue featured a face veil, to reduce facial glare, while the one-piece трёхцветный маскировочный камуфлированный комбинезон ('three-colour deceptive camouflage coveralls'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnyy maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kombinezon, abbrev. TTsMKK) was issued with a matching face mask. As before, too, TTsMKK uniforms were issued only to special troops, such as engineers, Народный Комиссариат Внутренних Дел ('People's Commisariat for Interior Affairs'; transliterated Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del, abbrev. NKVD) reconnaissance units, пограничные войска ('border forces'; transliterated pogranichnyye voyska) and snipers.

The one-piece version of the uniform continued in service through the 1950s. In his book Camouflage uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to present, Dennis Desmond claims that the one-piece TTsMKK continues to be used by reservists and trainees. He also notes that the uniform also appeared in Albania, worn by rebels, during the riots of 1997.

The 3-colour 'stair-stepped' pattern was the basis of the 1948 hybrid 'amoeba–stair step' camouflage pattern

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

HYBRID AMOEBA STAIR-STEPPED PATTERN

a.k.a.:
* 'amoeba–stair step' camouflage pattern

influences:
* 1945 Soviet 3-colour 'stair-stepped pattern' camouflage
* 1938 Soviet 'amoeba pattern' camouflage

trialled: 1947
issued: 1948
discontinued: 1965
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* pogranichnyye voyska ('border forces')
* snipers

The late 1940s saw the appearance of uniforms camouflaged with a four-colour hybrid pattern, which was created by overprinting the aliased medium green, dark green and sand-yellow pattern of the трёхцветный маскировочный камуфлированный костюм ('three-colour deceptive camouflage suit'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnyy maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kostyum, abbrev. TTsMKK) with the chocolate brown blobs of the World War 2 'amoeba pattern'.

Opinions differ, as to the reasons behind this hybridisation. In Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to Date, Dennis Desmond suggests that it was either an effort to exhaust existing stocks of earlier issues or an attempt to create experimental camouflage patterns for use in the field. However, the first of these suggestions simply does not make sense: an effort to exhaust surplus stocks would surely see the issue of маскировочный камуфлированный костюм ('deceptive camouflage suit'; trans­lit­erat­ed maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kostyum, abbrev. MKK) uniforms on which the 'amoeba pattern' was overprinted with the newer three-colour scheme of the tryokhtsvetnyy maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannyy kostyum, while the continued use of the 'amoeba pattern', by reservists and trainees, amply demonstrates that older stocks were not exhausted. The idea that these hybrid camouflage uniforms were experimental in nature seems much more likely, therefore, and is supported by the fact that uniforms printed with hybrid 'amoeba–stair step' designs only ever appeared in small quantities, through to the mid-1960s.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

KLMK PATTERN



a.k.a.:
* computer pattern
* laser pattern
* solnechnyye zaychiki ('sun bunnies')
* sun-ray pattern

trialled: 1968
issued: 1969
discontinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Glavnoye Razvedivatel'noye Upravleniye ('main intelligence directorate'; abbrev. GRU) spetsnaz
* Pogranichnyye Voyska Komiteta Gosdarstvennoy Bezopasnosti ('Border Forces of the Committee for State Security'; abbrev. KGB–PV)
* Sukhoputnyye Voyska ('Ground Forces')
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Airborne Forces'; abbrev. VDV)

Issued during 1968–1969, the kamuflirovannyy letniy maskirovochnyy kombinezon ('camouflaged summer deceptive coveralls'; abbrev. KLMK) was among the last one-piece camouflage uniforms to be fielded by the USSR.

Dubbed solnechnyye zaychiki ('sun bunnies') by Soviet soldiers, allegedly because it resembles the fall of sunlight through a forest canopy, this camouflage pattern is a much-simplified version of the pattern displayed on the 1961 paratroopers' KLMK. It is a two-colour pattern, comprising irregular, aliased (stepped), light-coloured blotches printed on a medium green background. There is considerable variation in the colours — the blotches might be beige, light grey or yellow, while the background colour can be a yellowish-green, grass green or medium green. Likewise, there can be a substantial variation in the spatial frequency of the pattern.

The KLMK was a reversible garment, with the same pattern, reversed and overprinted with a tiny, hound's-tooth check, on the other side. Dennis Desmond, in Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to the Present states that this reversed KLMK pattern was intended for wear in snowy or sandy terrains.

However, its superficial resemblance to the grid-like pattern featured on the U.S. Parka, Night Camouflage, Desert — which was used extensively, by U.S. armed forces throughout the 1st Gulf War — strongly suggests that this camouflage pattern might also have been intended for use at night. Like the dark grid used in the U.S Desert Night Camouflage, the hound's-tooth check might be an interference pattern, designed to 'fool' the pixelised displays of early night vision systems.

When it was first introduced into service, the KLMK was issued to the Pogranichnyye Voyska Komiteta Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti ('Border Forces of the Committee for State Security'; abbrev. KGB—PV) and the Soviet Sukhoputnyye Voyska ('ground forces'). It was, however, quickly adopted by the Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('air assault forces'; abbrev. VDV) and, from the VDV, came to be used by spetznaz units of the Glavnoye Razvedivatel'noye Upravleniye ('main intelligence directorate'; abbrev. GRU). The KLMK continues to be used by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, although it is now issued chiefly to engineers, trainees and reservists. It was also used by Coassack units fighting in Moldova.

In 1975–1976 a two-piece uniform based on the same camouflage pattern, but cut more like the typical Soviet service uniform, was issued to the VDV and the KGB-PV. Unlike the KLMK, however, the garments of this kamuflirovannyye komplekt ('camouflaged set') were not reversible.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

REVERSED KLMK PATTERN

a.k.a.:
trialled: 1968
issued: 1969
discontinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Glavnoye Razvedivatel'noye Upravleniye ('main intelligence directorate'; abbrev. GRU) spetsnaz
* Pogranichnyye Voyska Komiteta Gosdarstvennoy Bezopasnosti ('Border Forces of the Committee for State Security'; abbrev. KGB–PV)
* Sukhoputnyye Voyska ('Ground Forces')
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Airborne Forces'; abbrev. VDV)


Issued during 1968–1969, the kamuflirovannyy letniy maskirovochnyy kombinezon ('camouflaged summer deceptive coveralls'; abbrev. KLMK) was among the last one-piece camouflage uniforms to be fielded by the USSR.

The KLMK was a reversible garment, with this pattern on the other side — which is, very simply, the KLMK pattern, reversed and overprinted with a light-coloured pattern of small, hound's-tooth checks. Dennis Desmond, in Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to the Present states that this camouflage pattern was intended for wear in snowy or sandy terrains. However, its superficial resemblance to the grid-like pattern featured on the U.S. Parka, Night Camouflage, Desert — which was used extensively, by U.S. armed forces throughout the 1st Gulf War — strongly suggests that this camouflage pattern might also have been intended for use at night. Like the dark grid used in the U.S Desert Night Camouflage, the hound's-tooth check might be an interference pattern, designed to 'fool' the pixelised displays of early night vision systems.

When it was first introduced into service, the KLMK was issued to the Pogranichnyye Voyska Komiteta Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti ('Border Forces of the Committee for State Security'; abbrev. PV KGB) and the Soviet Sukhoputnyye Voyska ('ground forces'). It was, however, quickly adopted by the Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('air assault forces'; abbrev. VDV) and, from the VDV, came to be used by spetznaz units of the Glavnoye Razvedivatel'noye Upravleniye ('main intelligence directorate'; abbrev. GRU). The KLMK continues to be used by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, although it is now issued chiefly to engineers, trainees and reservists. It was also used by Coassack units fighting in Moldova.

In 1975–1976 a two-piece uniform based on the same camouflage pattern, but cut more like the typical Soviet service uniform, was issued to the VDV and the PV KGB. Unlike the KLMK, however, the garments of this kamuflirovannyye komplekt ('camouflaged set') were not reversible.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

TTsKO PATTERN, FOREST VARIANT

a.k.a.:
* 3-color camouflage uniform
* Soviet woodland camouflage
* three-colour camouflage uniform
* tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezdha
* TTsKO

influences:
* 'lime' ERDL pattern

trialled: 1981
issued: 1981
discontinued:
used by:
Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Glavnoye Razvedivatel'noye Upravleniye ('main intelligence directorate'; abbrev. GRU) spetsnaz
* Sukhoputnyye Voyska ('ground forces')
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Air Assault Forces')

Originally formed in the Soviet Union during the 1930s and massively expanded during World War II, the Воздушно-Десантные Войска ('Air-landing Forces'; transliterated Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska; abbrev. VDV), at one time, included ten airborne corps and numerous independent airborne brigades, almost all of which achieved 'Guards' status.

In 1981, a new three-colour camouflage uniform — трёхцветная камуфлированная одежда ('three-colored camouflaged clothes'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezhda; abbrev. TTsKO) — was introduced, for use by the Soviet VDV and Сухопутные Войска ('Land Forces; transliterated Sukhoputnyye Voyska). The new combat uniform was unlike any previous Soviet camouflage design, comprising thick dark green and narrower brown whorls on a lighter brown or green background.

The TTsKO pattern was kept from the public eye until 1985, when it finally appeared in a military parade to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War. According to some sources, the reason for this secrecy was that the 1981 TTsKO camouflage pattern had been directly copied from examples of U.S. camouflage combat uniforms, which had been captured during the Vietnam War.

This camouflage was most probably modeled on the 'leaf pattern' developed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (abbrev. ERDL) in 1948. The most telling similarity is the use of different background colours for different terrains.

Until recently, most collectors assumed that the different base colours of the TTsKO camouflage — brown or green — were due to variations in manufacture. It is now apparent, however, that the green-based TTsKO camouflage — shown here — was intended for use in forest environments, as was the so-called 'lime', or 'lowlands' ERDL pattern; while the brown-based TTsKO was intended for use in mountainous and arid terrains, much like the 'brown', or 'highlands', ERDL pattern.

Notwithstanding, the TTsKO cannot be called a 'direct' copy of the ERDL pattern, in the same way that the contemporary Russian NATO camouflage pattern is a direct copy of the U.S. M81 woodlands camouflage pattern.

The 1981 TTsKO camouflage uniform was originally issued to the VDV and Главное Разведивательное Управление ('Main Intelligence Directorate'; transliterated Glavnoye Razvedivatel'noye Upravleniye; abbrev. GRU) spetsnaz, and was also used by the Sukhoputnyye Voyska. In 1988, a variation of this pattern was also issued to the Морская Пехота ('Naval Infantry'; transliterated Morskaya Pekhota). Other variations of this pattern were adopted by security forces of the Комитет Государственной Безопасности ('Committee for State Security; transliterate Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti; abbrev. KGB) and the Министерство Внутренних Дел ('Ministry of Internal Affairs'; transliterated Ministerstvo Vnutrennikh Del; abbrev. MVD) in 1987 and 1988, while still other versions of the TTsKO have been worn by paramilitary and security forces since its introduction.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

TWO-COLOR PV KGB PATTERN

a.k.a.:
* 2-color PV KGB camouflage pattern
* солнечные зайчики ('sun bunnies'; transliterated solnechnyye zaychiki)
* computer pattern
* laser pattern
* lazer pattern
* sun-ray pattern

influences:
* 1968 KLMK pattern

trialled: 1981
issued: 1981
discontinued: 1991
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Порграничные Войска Кмоитета Государственной Безопасности ('Border Forces of the Committee for State Security'; transliterated Pogranichnyye Voyska Komiteta Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti; abbrev. PV KGB)
* KGB osnaz (special purpose units)
* Soviet 103rd Airborne Division (Guards)

Issued during 1968–1969, the камуфлированный летний маскировочный комбинезо ('camouflaged summer deceptive coveralls'; transliterated kamuflirovannyy letniy maskirovochnyy kombinezon; abbrev. KLMK) was among the last one-piece camouflage uniforms to be fielded by the USSR.

Dubbed солнечные зайчики ('sun bunnies'; transliterated solnechnyye zaychiki) by Soviet soldiers, allegedly because it resembles the fall of sunlight through a forest canopy, this camouflage pattern is a much-simplified version of the pattern displayed on the 1961 paratroopers' KLMK. It is a two-colour pattern, comprising irregular, aliased (stepped), light-coloured blotches printed on a medium green background. There is considerable variation in the colours — the blotches might be beige, light grey or yellow, while the background colour can be a yellowish-green, grass green or medium green. Likewise, there can be a substantial variation in the spatial frequency of the pattern.

When it was first introduced into service, the KLMK was issued to the Порграничные Войска Комитета Государственной Безопасности ('Border Forces of the Committee for State Security'; transliterated Pogranichnyye Voyska Komiteta Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti; abbrev. PV KGB) and the Soviet Сухопутные Войска ('ground forces'; transliterated Sukhoputnyye Voyska).

In 1981, the PV KGB first fielded its Type 1 спецодежда ('special purpose clothing'; transliterated spetsodezhda). Structurally similar to the 1981 six-pocket field uniform, the PV KGB spetsodezhda utilised a heavier cotton twill fabric and was a much sturdier uniform than the KLMK.

The PV KGB spetsodezhda was probably the first Soviet uniform ever to be designed specifically for and issued solely to border and special operations units.

The 2-colour PV KGB camouflage pattern, which was featured on this uniform, is frequently identified as being the same as that which was displayed on the one-piece 1968 KLMK and two-piece 1975 камуфлированный летний маскировочный комплект ('camouflaged summer deceptive complex'; transliterated kamuflirovannyy letniy maskirovochnyy komplekt; abbrev. KLMK). This, however, is not strictly true; it is, in point of fact, the same pattern reversed.

Like the original 'sun bunnies' camouflage design, the colours used in manufacture of the 2-colour PV KGB camouflage pattern exhibit considerable variation. The version shown here features yellow ochre elements on a khaki background.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

NAVAL TTsKO PATTERN, FOREST VARIANT



a.k.a.:
* 3-colour camouflage uniform
* Soviet woodland camouflage
* three-colour camouflage uniform
* tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezhda
* TTsKO

influences: 1981 TTsKO pattern, forest variant

trialled: 1988
issued: 1988
discontinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Morskaya Pekhota ('Naval Infantry')

Although it was numerically smaller than the Воздушно-Десантные Войска ('Air-landing Forces'; transliterated Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska; abbrev. VDV), the Soviet Морская Пехота ('Naval Infantry'; transliterated Morskaya Pekhota) had a much longer history, which could be traced back to the landing parties employed by the imperial fleet of Peter the Great. The Morskaya Pekhota reached its peak during World War II, when it included 40 brigades, six independent regiments and a number of smaller units. Five of the brigades achieved 'Guards' status.

In 1981, a new three-color camouflage uniform — трёхцветная камуфлированная одежда ('three-coloured camouflaged clothes'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezhda; abbrev. TTsKO) — was introduced, for use by the Soviet VDV and Сухопутные Войска ('Land Forces; transliterated Sukhoputnyye Voyska). The new combat uniform was unlike any previous Soviet camouflage design, comprising thick black and narrower brown whorls on a lighter brown or green background.

In 1988, another version of the TTsKO camouflage was issued to the Morskaya Pekhota. Like that used by the VDV, it comprises three colours — large dark green and earth brown whorls on a light brown or green background, although less of the background color is visible in the 1988 variant than in the 1981 original.

Until recently, most collectors assumed that the different base colours of the TTsKO camouflage uniforms — brown or green — were due to variations in manufacture. It is now apparent, however, that the green-based TTsKO camouflage — shown here — was intended for use in forest environments, as was the so-called 'lime', or 'lowlands' camouflage pattern developed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (abbrev. ERDL) in 1948; while the brown-based TTsKO was intended for use in mountainous and arid terrains, much like the 'brown', or 'highlands', ERDL pattern.

Notwithstanding, the TTsKO camouflage patterns cannot be called a 'direct' copies of the ERDL pattern, in the same way that the contemporary Russian NATO camouflage pattern is a direct copy of the U.S. M81 woodlands camouflage pattern.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

TTsKO PATTERN, DESERT VARIANT


(not sure about this pic )

a.k.a.:
* 3-color camouflage uniform
* Soviet woodland camouflage
* three-color camouflage uniform
* tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezdha
* TTsKO

trialled: 1990
issued: 1990
discontinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Sukhoputnyye Voyska ('ground forces')
* Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Air Assault Forces')

In 1981, a new three-colour camouflage uniform — tritsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezhda; abbrev. TTsKO — was introduced, for use by the Soviet Vozdushno-Desantnyye Voyska ('Air Assault Forces'; abbrev. VDV) and Sukhoputnyye Voyska ('ground forces'). The new combat uniform was unlike any previous Soviet camouflage design, comprising thick black and narrower brown whorls on a lighter brown or green background — qv. 1981 TTsKO pattern, forest variant.

Soon after, in 1982, another version of the TTsKO camouflage was issued to the Morskaya Pekhota. Like that used by the VDV, it comprises three colors, although less of the background color is visible in the 1982 variant than in the 1981 original — qv. 1982 naval TTsKO pattern, mountain–desert variant.

Development of the TTsKO camouflage uniform continued into the early 1990s and, by mid-1992, numerous versions, used by various Soviet paramilitary and security forces, began to appear. This variant form, which comprises earth red and olive drab whorls on a sand-colored background, was, according to anecdotal evidence, fielded by Soviet Sukhoputnyye Voyska and VDV in Afghanistan, toward the end of the conflict.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

"NARO FOMINSK" VSR



a.k.a.:
* Belarusan VSR
* Schofield
* Vooruzhennyye sily Rossii ('Armed Forces of Russia'; abbrev. VSR) camouflage

trialled: 1990
issued: 1991
discomtinued:
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Russian army designers experimented with new camouflage patterns for the Вооруженные силы Союуза Советских Социалилистических Республи ('armed forces of the USSR'; transliterated Vooruzhenyye sily Soyuza Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik; abbrev. VS SSSR). The change to a new camouflage uniform is believed to have been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to provide the Russian military with a more unified and professional image. However, the confusion of Russian ground units with the opposing security forces of regions like the Baltic States and Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic doubtless also highlighted the need for change.

The new uniforms were first authorized for wear in mid-1991, at which time the Soviet Union was still a political entity; for this reason, the series of camouflage patterns should properly be classified as Soviet. However, the uniforms were not widely issued until 1994, for which reason the pattern is better known, among collectors, as 'VSR' (from Вооруженные силы России, 'armed forces of Russia'; transliterated Vooruzhenyye sily Rossii).

As with the earlier Soviet трёхцветная камуфлированная одежда ('three-coloured camouflaged clothes'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezhda; abbrev. TTsKO), VSR camouflage is available in a wide range of colour combinations. This variation is usually attributed to accident and a general lack of standardisation throughout the Russian textile industry. It must be remarked, though, that similar arguments were also used to explain colour variations in TTsKO camouflage patterns, and that it was eventually demonstrated, by author Dennis Desmond in Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to the Present, that the different color schemes were intentional. Only time shall tell whether this were also true of VSR.

The version of VSR depicted here is a three-color camouflage pattern, which comprises rough, elongated black-green and red earth blotches, vertically-aligned on a yellowish tan background. The black-green splotches are larger, and surround the red earth streaks. Desmond suggests that this is intended to be a desert and/or mountain color scheme.

Interestingly, this particular version of VSR was worn not only by the armed forces of the Russian Federation but also by soldiers of the Belarusan armed forces. Even more interesting is the fact that this particular example appears to be the same as several examples of Russian «Flora» that were produced around 2000.

The intrigue arises from the fact that VSR was actually quite a short-lived camouflage pattern; it was superseded by «Flora» in 1998. It seems unlikely that Russian factories would continue to produce an obsolete camouflage pattern. However, this particular piece of VSR fabric was unarguably produced in Russia — it was, in fact, printed in Naro-Fominsk, a city in the south of the moskovskaya oblast' ('Moscow province'). This strongly suggests that it continued to be produced for export to Belarus.

Although collectors frequently refer to the VSR camouflage pattern as 'Schofield', there is absolutely no truth to the widespread belief that this is its official name. Dennis Desmond explicitly states, in his book, that he created the name because he first saw the VSR pattern in a photo of Carey Schofield, which was displayed inside the back cover of her 1991 book, Inside the Soviet Army.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

BRIGHT WOODLAND VSR CAMOUFLAGE



a.k.a.:
* Schofield
* Vooruzhennyye sily Rossii ('Armed Forces of Russia')
* VSR camouflage, bright woodland coloration

trialled: 1990
issued: 1991
discontinued: 1998
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Russian army designers experimented with new camouflage patterns for the Вооруженные силы Союуза Советских Социалилистических Республи ('armed forces of the USSR'; transliterated Vooruzhenyye sily Soyuza Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik; abbrev. VS SSSR). The change to a new camouflage uniform is believed to have been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to provide the Russian military with a more unified and professional image. However, the confusion of Russian ground units with the opposing security forces of regions like the Baltic States and Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic doubtless also highlighted the need for change.

The new uniforms were first authorised for wear in mid-1991, at which time the Soviet Union was still a political entity; for this reason, the series of camouflage patterns should properly be classified as Soviet. However, the uniforms were not widely issued until 1994, for which reason the pattern is better known, among collectors, as 'VSR' (from Вооруженные силы России, 'armed forces of Russia'; transliterated Vooruzhenyye sily Rossii).

As with the earlier Soviet трёхцветная камуфлированная одежда ('three-coloured camouflaged clothes'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezhda; abbrev. TTsKO), VSR camouflage is available in a wide range of colour combinations. This variation is usually attributed to accident and a general lack of standardisation throughout the Russian textile industry. It must be remarked, though, that similar arguments were also used to explain colour variations in TTsKO camouflage patterns, and that it was eventually demonstrated, by author Dennis Desmond in Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to the Present, that the different colour schemes were intentional. Only time shall tell whether this were also true of VSR.

The version of VSR depicted here is a three-color camouflage pattern, which comprises rough, elongated grass-green and red-brown blotches, vertically-aligned on a khaki background. The black-green splotches are larger, and surround the red-brown streaks. Desmond has designated this a 'bright' colour scheme.
VSR was actually quite a short-lived camouflage pattern. It was superseded by «Flora» in 1998.

Although collectors frequently refer to the VSR camouflage pattern as 'Schofield', there is absolutely no truth to the widespread belief that this is its official name. Dennis Desmond explicitly states, in his book, that he created the name because he first saw the VSR pattern in a photo of Carey Schofield, which was displayed inside the back cover of her 1991 book, Inside the Soviet Army.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

VSR CAMOUFLAGE, DESERT/MOUNTAIN COLORATION


a.k.a.:
* Schofield
* Vooruzhennyye sily Rossii ('Armed Forces of Russia')
* VSR camouflage, mountain/desert colouration

trialled: 1990
issued: 1991
discontinued: 1998
used by: Russia (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

* Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Russian army designers experimented with new camouflage patterns for the Вооруженные силы Союуза Советских Социалилистических Республи ('armed forces of the USSR'; transliterated Vooruzhenyye sily Soyuza Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik; abbrev. VS SSSR). The change to a new camouflage uniform is believed to have been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to provide the Russian military with a more unified and professional image. However, the confusion of Russian ground units with the opposing security forces of regions like the Baltic States and Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic doubtless also highlighted the need for change.

The new uniforms were first authorised for wear in mid-1991, at which time the Soviet Union was still a political entity; for this reason, the series of camouflage patterns should properly be classified as Soviet. However, the uniforms were not widely issued until 1994, for which reason the pattern is better known, among collectors, as 'VSR' (from Вооруженные силы России, 'armed forces of Russia'; transliterated Vooruzhenyye sily Rossii).

As with the earlier Soviet трёхцветная камуфлированная одежда ('three-coloured camouflaged clothes'; transliterated tryokhtsvetnaya kamuflirovannaya odezhda; abbrev. TTsKO), VSR camouflage is available in a wide range of colour combinations. This variation is usually attributed to accident and a general lack of standardisation throughout the Russian textile industry. It must be remarked, though, that similar arguments were also used to explain colour variations in TTsKO camouflage patterns, and that it was eventually demonstrated, by author Dennis Desmond in Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to the Present, that the different colour schemes were intentional. Only time shall tell whether this were also true of VSR.

This version of VSR is a three-color camouflage pattern, which comprises rough, elongated black-green and red-brown blotches, vertically-aligned on a khaki background. The black-green splotches are larger, and surround the red-brown streaks. Desmond has identified this as a desert and/or mountain colour scheme.
VSR was actually quite a short-lived camouflage pattern. It was superseded by «Flora» in 1998.

Although collectors frequently refer to the VSR camouflage pattern as 'Schofield', there is absolutely no truth to the widespread belief that this is its official name. Dennis Desmond explicitly states, in his book, that he created the name because he first saw the VSR pattern in a photo of Carey Schofield, which was displayed inside the back cover of her 1991 book, Inside the Soviet Army.

source: kamouflage.net

[zenTaurus]

Recommended Reading:



Dennis Desmond, 1998, Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1937 to the Present, Schiffer Military History

Dennis Desmond's book is an easy-to-use pictorial guide for the collector to the camouflage uniforms used by the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation.

xource: kamouflage.net