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Desert Camouflage Uniform

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Desert Camouflage Uniform
A folded and buttoned U.S. Navy DCU blouse.
TypeMilitary camouflage uniform
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1990–2008 (U.S. Army)[1][2]
1992–2005 (U.S. Marine Corps)
1989–2011 (U.S. Air Force)
1992–2012 (U.S. Navy)
1992-present (United States Special Operations Command)
Used bySee Users for other foreign military/law enforcement users
WarsGulf War (very limited use)
Battle of Mogadishu
War in Afghanistan
Faylaka Island attack
Iraq War
Production history
DesignerNatick Laboratories
Produced1989–2012
VariantsClose Combat Uniform[3][4]

The Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) is an arid-environment camouflage uniform that was used by the United States Armed Forces from the early-1990s to the early 2010s. In terms of pattern and textile cut, it is identical to the U.S. military's Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) uniform, but features a three-color desert camouflage pattern of dark brown, pale olive green (which is reported to look minty on 1989/90 pattern DCUs), and beige, as opposed to the four-color woodland pattern of the BDU. It replaced the previous Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU) which featured a six-color "chocolate chip" pattern of beige, pale olive green, two tones of brown, and black and white rock spots. Although completely phased out of frontline use in the U.S. Armed Forces, some pieces and equipment printed in the DCU camouflage pattern are used in limited numbers such as MOPP suits and/or vests.

The DCU is made of the same materials as the Enhanced Hot Weather BDU (EHWBDU): 50/50 ripstop nylon and cotton poplin blend.[5]

History

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Marines from the U.S. 6th Marine Regiment wearing DCUs in 2004
U.S. Army soldiers in late 2004 wearing the Tricolor Desert-patterned Combat Uniform (CU)
U.S. Army soldiers in May 2005 wearing the Army Combat Uniform, Desert Camouflage Uniform, and a World War II–era uniform (left to right)
U.S. Navy Seabees in August 2012 wearing the DCU

Designed in the mid-1980s by the U.S. Army's Natick Laboratories[6] and first issued to Air Force security personnell in a very limited quantity in late 1989 in the style of a M65 field jacket and pile cap with earflaps however the hat was commerically produced and not officially issued by the military. The DCU and its camouflage pattern, officially known as the Desert Camouflage Pattern and known colloquially as "coffee stain camouflage" and "tri-color desert",[7] was developed to replace the six-color desert camouflage "chocolate-chip camouflage" uniform, which was deemed not as efficient as DCU for desert combat. As opposed to the original six-color desert Natick had originally designed it in the American-Mexico desert area which was rockier and elevated which was often not encountered, the DCU was created primarily for a lower, more open, and less rocky desert battlefield space which became a common sight throughout the Persian Gulf War. As a replacement pattern, this meant a new arid region had to be utilized to test the effectiveness of the DCU. Desert soil samples from parts of the Middle East, namely Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, were compared to similar terrain in the United States for evaluation. Color palettes were reused from 6-color desert.[6]

Though the DCU did exist before the Persian Gulf War, the vast majority of U.S. military personnel in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq wore the DBDU during the entirety of the war, with the exception of some select U.S. Army generals who were issued the DCU a month following the air campaign in Operation Desert Storm. Norman Schwarzkopf, then CENTCOM commander, and leader of U.S. forces during Desert Storm, had acquired a set of the aforementioned 1989 pattern M-65 field jacket as well as coat and trousers in the new DCU color pattern shortly before the war ended.[citation needed]

The U.S. Army Infantry School, of TRADOC, selected and approved the three-color desert pattern in October 1990.[8][9] Immediately afterward, military specifications were updated[note 1] to incorporate the tricolor pattern into the 'Desert Battle Dress Uniform' (temperate weight), the 'Hot Weather Battle Dress Uniform', and the M65 field coat.[8]

By 1992, the first wide scale batches of DCUs were issued first by the United States Army, and within a year to the United States Air Force, and replaced the majority of the DBDU by 1993, with the United States Navy and Marines replacing their older six-colored desert fatigues from 1992 through 1995.

U.S. Army

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First fielded in 1989 by the U.S. Air Force, the DCU would be also adopted by the U.S. Army and serve as the new primary desert combat pattern from 1991 until it was fully replaced by the ACU in 2008. In June 2004,[10][11] the Army unveiled a new pixel-style camouflage pattern called UCP (Universal Camouflage Pattern), to be used on the DCU's successor uniform, the Army Combat Uniform (ACU).

In fall 2003 and winter 2004, the "Close Combat Uniform" and "Combat Uniform"[12] were issued to U.S. Army soldiers in Stryker Brigade elements of the 2nd Infantry Division[13][14] and 25th Infantry Division, respectively, when they were deployed to Iraq.[15] In January 2003, development began with input from certain members of the 3rd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division.[16] These uniforms featured additions such as shoulder pockets affixed with hook-and-loop "Velcro" fasteners as well as a redesigned collar and chest-worn rank insignia.[3] They were made by American Power Source, Inc.[12] and only saw brief usage as they were issued shortly before the introduction of the newer ACU in mid-to-late 2005.[3][4]

In mid-2005, the DCU and the BDU began slowly being discontinued within the U.S. Army. By 2007, most U.S. soldiers were wearing the ACU with both the DCU and BDU being fully replaced by early 2008.[17][2]

U.S. Marine Corps

[edit]

Following the Army, the United States Marine Corps began issuing the DCU from 1992 and remained the Marine Corps standard arid combat uniform until January 2002, when the U.S. Marine Corps became the first branch to replace both its BDUs and DCUs with the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU), completely replacing them by April 2005.[18]

U.S. Air Force

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Along with the Army, the Air Force began issuing the DCU to security personnell in the Middle East in late 1989 then adopting it in 1990 where it remained as the primary desert camouflage pattern until The U.S. Air Force officially replaced the BDU and DCU on 1 November 2011, with the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU),[19] though most airmen had been using the ABU for a couple years before that date.

U.S. Navy

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The United States Navy issued the DCU from 1992 until 2010 when it was replaced by the arid variant of the Navy Working Uniform (NWU), known as the NWU Type II. The DCU was retired by the navy in late 2012.[20]

U.S. Coast Guard

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The DCU was introduced to the Coast Guard sometime after 1992 until the DCU and BDU were formally retired by the USCG in 2012.[20]

Users

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Macedonian soldiers deployed to Iraq in 2008 wearing the Desert Camouflage Uniform

Current

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Former

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Notes

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  1. ^ Interim amendment, (DCU's) cotton/nylon twill fabric (15 October 1990): Revision C Int. Amdt. 1 (GL); Interim amendment, (DCU's) cotton ripstop fabric (15 October 1990): Revision G Int. Amdt. 1 (GL); Interim amendment, (M65's) cotton/nylon sateen fabric (15 October 1990): Revision G Interim Amdt. 2

References

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  1. ^ "Army to Retire BDUs".
  2. ^ a b "ACU changes make Velcro optional, patrol cap default headgear". www.army.mil.
  3. ^ a b c "The CCU (Close Combat Uniform) - CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS". U.S. Militaria Forum. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b Larson, Eric H. (2009). "HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE US ARMY CLOSE COMBAT UNIFORM (CCU/CU)" (PDF). Camopedia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2017.
  5. ^ "U.S. Military DCU 3 Color Tri-Desert Camo Rip-Stop BDU Tops USA MADE". GRANDPOPSARMYNAVY. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b Anitole, George; Johnson, Ronald L. (December 1989). "Evaluation of Desert Camouflage Uniforms by Ground Observers" (PDF). Belvoir RD&E Center (74+ pages, 1.0–5.0 appendixes, 27 figures, 55 tables). NARADCOM, MERADCOM, & BRDEC Command/Leadership. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024 – via Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC).
  7. ^ "Out of Sight". The Economist. 12 April 2014.
  8. ^ a b Anderson, D.; Fitzgerald, B. (November 1991). "Technical Objective Document for Combat Clothing, Uniforms, and Integrated Protective Systems". archive.org. Individual Protection Directorate (IPD), NRDEC, Natick, MA. pp. 9, ~15. ADA242624, Natick/TR-92/003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2025 – via Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). ... the US Army Infantry School selected and approved the three-color pattern as the new standard ... during Oct 90. Specification changes were immediately made to include the new pattern in the Desert Battle Dress Uniform, the Hot Weather Battle Dress Uniform, and Field Coat specifications." ; in full, "Directly transferred new, three-color desert camouflage pattern to end item development: The new, three-color desert camouflage was developed to provide more effective countersurveillance protection than the standard six-color pattern in a desert terrain. Based upon its improved camouflage effectiveness, the US Army Infantry School selected and approved the three-color pattern as the new standard to enhance soldier protection in Southwest Asia during Oct 90. Specification changes were immediately made to include the new pattern in the Desert Battle Dress Uniform, the Hot Weather Battle Dress Uniform, and Field Coat specifications.
  9. ^ Webb, William J.; Anderson, Charles; Andrade, Dale; Gillett, Mary; Hawkins, Glen; et al. (1997). "FY 90-91 - Dept. of the Army Historical Summary (DAHSUM)". history.army.mil. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Department of the Army. p. 58. ISSN 0092-7880. LCCN 75-647561. CMH Pub 101-22. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2025. ... the Army, in October 1990, adopted a new three-color desert camouflage pattern BDU"; in full, "To provide a desert uniform with enhanced camouflage, the Army, in October 1990, adopted a new three-color desert camouflage pattern BDU to replace the six-color pattern.
  10. ^ Triggs, SFC Marcia (14 June 2004). "Army gets new combat uniform". Army News Service (ARNEWS). U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 23 September 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  11. ^ Triggs, Marcia (15 June 2004). "Army unveils new combat uniform, replace Battle Dress Uniform (BDU)". United States Army Public Affairs (Dating Error, 1 Day After the US Army Birthday). United States Department of the Army. Archived from the original on 18 June 2004. Retrieved 18 June 2004.
  12. ^ a b "US Close Combat Uniform (CCU, 2004)". KommandoPost. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  13. ^ "US Army, 2D Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division-Our History". 2id.korea.army.mil. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  14. ^ "CCU Desert Uniform ?". US Militaria Forum. 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  15. ^ Emmanuel, Pierre (16 February 2009). "Close Combat Uniform (CCU) - EXPERIMENTAL". Picasa Web Albums (Google Photos). Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  16. ^ "PEO Soldier - FAQs". PEO Soldier Website. Archived from the original on 18 October 2005. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Army to Retire BDUs". U.S. Army. 2008.
  18. ^ Commandant of the United States Marine Corps (22 September 2004). "MARADMIN 412/04: MANDATORY POSSESSION DATES FOR THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORMS (MCCUU) AND MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS (MCCB)". United States Marine Corps. United States Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on 29 September 2004. Retrieved 29 September 2004.
  19. ^ "Utility Uniforms" (PDF). Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Perspnnel. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Air Force. 18 July 2011. p. 70. AFI 36-2903. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013. The mandatory phase in date for the ABU is 1 November 2011.
  20. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Argentinian Coffee Stain Camo ~ UNFICYP". 28 December 2019.
  22. ^ Larson (2021), p. 199.
  23. ^ a b Vining, Miles (22 April 2016). "ISAF armament of BLS". Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  24. ^ Larson (2021), p. 255.
  25. ^ "Saudi DCU 3 Color Camo Copy".
  26. ^ "Afghan SOF small arms photo essay -". 29 December 2015.
  27. ^ "Afganistan Who is Who (3)".
  28. ^ "Croatian Desert Pattern jacket". Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  29. ^ ""New" Dutch Camo on Deployment - Soldier Systems Daily". soldiersystems.net. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  30. ^ army.mil[dead link]
  31. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ^ "MANDATORY POSSESSION DATES FOR THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT UTILITY ;UNIFORMS (MCCUU) AND MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS (MCCB) > The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website > Messages Display". www.marines.mil.

Bibliography

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  • Larson, Eric H. (2021). Camouflage: International Ground Force Patterns, 1946–2017. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781526739537.
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