Desert Camouflage Uniform

Arid-environment camouflage uniform used by U.S. military from mid-1990s to early 2010s

Desert Camouflage Uniform

A folded and buttoned U.S. Navy DCU blouse.

Type| Military camouflage patterned uniform
Place of origin| United States
Service history
In service| 1991-2008 (U.S. Army)[1][2]
1993-2005 (U.S. Marine Corps)
1992-2011 (U.S. Air Force)
1993-2012 (U.S. Navy)
1993-present (SFOD-D)
Used by| See Users for other foreign military/law enforcement users
Wars| Gulf War (very limited use)
Battle of Mogadishu
War in Afghanistan
Faylaka Island attack
Iraq War
Production history
Manufacturer| Propper[3]
Produced| 1989-2012
Variants| Close Combat Uniform[4][5]

The Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) is an arid-environment camouflage uniform that was used by the United States Armed Forces from the mid-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, 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.

## History

[edit]

Marines from the U.S. 6th Marine Regiment wearing DCUs in 2004; the very latest the USMC used the DCU was April 2005.

U.S. Army soldiers in late 2004 wearing the DCU-derived Close Combat Uniform (CCU)

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

Developed in the late 1980s and first issued in very limited quantity in 1990 as experimental test patterns, the DCU and its camouflage scheme, officially known as the Desert Camouflage Pattern and known colloquially as "coffee stain camouflage",[6] was developed to replace the six-color desert camouflage "chocolate-chip camouflage" uniform, which was deemed unsuitable for most desert combat theaters. As opposed to the original six-color DBDU, which was meant for a rockier and elevated desert battlefield that 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 used as testing locations to find the appropriate color palettes.

Though the DCU did exist during 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, was issued an M-65 field jacket as well as coat and trousers in the new DCU color pattern shortly before the war ended.

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 1993 through 1995.

### U.S. Army

[edit]

First fielded in 1991, the DCU served as the U.S. Army's primary desert combat pattern from 1992 to 2004. In June 2004, 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 late 2004, some U.S. Army soldiers deployed in Iraq were issued the "Close Combat Uniform", a variant of the DCU that featured ACU-like features such as shoulder pockets affixed with hook-and-loop "Velcro" fasteners as well as a redesigned collar and chest-worn rank insignia.[4] They were made by American Power Source, Inc. and only saw brief usage as they were issued shortly before the introduction of the newer ACU in mid-to-late 2005.[4][5]

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.[7][2]

### U.S. Marine Corps

[edit]

Following the Army, the United States Marine Corps began issuing the DCU from 1993 through 1995 and remained the Marine Corps standard arid combat uniform from 1993 to 2003. In January 2002, 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.[8]

### U.S. Air Force

[edit]

Along with the Army, the Air Force began issuing the DCU in 1992 and remained its primary desert uniform until 2011. The U.S. Air Force officially replaced the BDU and DCU on November 1, 2011, with the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU),[9] though most airmen had been using the ABU for a couple years before that date.

### U.S. Navy

[edit]

The United States Navy issued the DCU from 1993 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.[10]

### U.S. Coast Guard

[edit]

The DCU was introduced to the Coast Guard sometime in the 1990s. The DCU and BDU were formally retired by the USCG in 2012.[10]

## Users

[edit]

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

### Current

[edit]

* Argentina: Used in a derivative camo pattern by Argentine troops in peacekeeping operations.[11]
* Azerbaijan: Used by Azeri peacekeepers in Iraq.[12]
* Bosnia and Herzegovina: Used by Bosnian troops in Afghanistan.[13]
* Georgia: DCP was Main camouflage pattern employed by Georgian units in Iraq, also saw usage in opening stages of Georgian mission in Afghanistan before being replaced by MultiCam, still in limited usage by Georgian Special Operations Forces.[13]
* Israel: Used by Israeli military in OPFOR capacity.[14]
* Saudi Arabia[15]

### Former

[edit]

* Islamic Republic of Afghanistan: Known to be used by Afghan commandos working in Task Force 444[16] and in CRU 222/CRU TF 24 to replace their Tiger Stripe camos.[17]
* Croatia[18]
* Netherlands[19]
* North Macedonia[20]
* Slovenia: Used until 2013, where SloCam was adopted.[21]
* United States
* United States Army, replaced by the Army Combat Uniform in the late 2000s
* United States Marine Corps, replaced by the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform in the mid-2000s[22]
* United States Navy, replaced by the Navy Working Uniform in the early 2010s[10]
* United States Air Force, replaced by the Airman Battle Uniform in the early 2010s

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Army to Retire BDUs".
2. ^ a b "ACU changes make Velcro optional, patrol cap default headgear". www.army.mil.
3. ^ "Propper Authorized Supplier - Propper ACU, BDU, Multicam, Military Uniforms from BDUDirect.com". www.bdudirect.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
4. ^ a b c "The CCU (Close Combat Uniform) - CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS". U.S. Militaria Forum. 14 April 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
5. ^ 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 2017-06-20.
6. ^ "Out of Sight". The Economist. 12 April 2014.
7. ^ "Army to Retire BDUs". U.S. Army. 2008.
8. ^ Commandant of the United States Marine Corps (September 22, 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 September 29, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2004.
9. ^ "Utility Uniforms" (PDF). Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Perspnnel. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Air Force. July 18, 2011. p. 70\. AFI 36-2903. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013. "The mandatory phase in date for the ABU is 1 November 2011."
10. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2017-09-24.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. ^ "Argentinian Coffee Stain Camo ~ UNFICYP". 28 December 2019.
12. ^ Larson (2021), p. 199.
13. ^ a b Vining, Miles (22 April 2016). "ISAF armament of BLS". Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
14. ^ Larson (2021), p. 255.
15. ^ "Saudi DCU 3 Color Camo Copy".
16. ^ "Afghan SOF small arms photo essay -". 29 December 2015.
17. ^ "Afganistan Who is Who (3)".
18. ^ "Croatian Desert Pattern jacket". Archived from the original on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
19. ^ ""New" Dutch Camo on Deployment - Soldier Systems Daily". soldiersystems.net. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
20. ^ http://www.usarpac.army.mil/news/releases_2008/Reflex/Reflex4M1.jpg [dead link]
21. ^ "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)
22. ^ "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

[edit]

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

## External links

[edit]

* GlobalSecurity page detailing DCU

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Desert Camouflage Uniform.

* v
* t
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Uniforms of the United States Army

* Uniforms of the United States Armed Forces
* Army
* Marines
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard

Uniforms|

| Combat|

* Army Combat Uniform (ACU) (2005–present)

|

Garrison|

* Army Blue Service Uniform (1937–present)
* Army Green Service Uniform (2020–present)

Formal|

* Army Mess Uniform

Exercise|

* Army Physical Fitness Uniform (APFU) (2014–present)

Special|

* Flight

Retired
uniforms|

| Combat|

* M1943 uniform (1943–1953)
* OG-107 (1952–1989)
* Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) (1981–2008)
* Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU) (1981–1992)
* Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) (1993–2008)

|

Garrison|

* Pinks and greens (1937–1958)
* Tan Service Uniform (1937–1985)
* Green Class A Uniform (1954–2015)
* White Dress Uniform (1954–2014)

Exercise|

* Army Improved Physical Fitness Uniform (IPFU) (2000–2017)

Headgear|

* Berets
* Boonie hat
* Cavalry Stetson
* Garrison cap
* Campaign hat
* Jeep cap
* Patrol cap
* Service cap

Footwear|

* Army Combat Boot
* Mountain Combat Boot
* Modular Boot System
* Jungle boot
* Desert Combat Boot
* Jump boot
* Tanker boot

Insignia|

* Rank
* Officer
* Warrant Officer
* Enlisted
* Branch insignia
* Infantry Shoulder Cord
* Medals and ribbons
* Badges
* Shoulder sleeve insignia
* Distinctive unit insignia
* Service stripe
* Overseas Service Bar
* Tabs
* Beret flash
* Dog tag

Helmets|

* MICH helmet (2001–present)
* ACH helmet (2004–present)
* ECH helmet (2011–present)
* IHPS helmet (2019–present)

* Retired: M1917 Helmet (1917–1942) (WWI Era)
* M1 helmet (1942–1983)
* M1C helmet (WWII era)
* PASGT helmet (1983–2004)

Armor|

* IBA w/ IOTV (2007–present)
* MBAV (2009–present)
* SPCS (2009–present)
* MSV (2018–present)

* Retired: M-1952 Flak Jacket (1952-?) PASGT Vest (1983–2003)
* Ranger Body Armor (1993–2003)
* IBA w/ OTV (2000–2020)

Equipment
carrier|

* Load-bearing vest (LBV)
* Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE)

* Retired: Load-bearing equipment (LBE)
* Load-carrying equipment (LCE)
* Modern load-carrying equipment (MLCE)

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Camouflage

Methods|

* Camouflage
* Countershading
* Active camouflage
* Counter-illumination
* Disruptive coloration
* Coincident disruptive coloration
* Disruptive eye mask
* Distractive markings
* Motion camouflage
* Multi-scale camouflage
* Multi-spectral camouflage
* Self-decoration
* Snow camouflage
* Urban camouflage

In nature|

* As evidence for natural selection
* Crypsis
* Decorator crab
* Flower mantis
* Mimicry
* Batesian
* Müllerian
* Aggressive
* Underwater camouflage

People|

| Early|

* Edward Bagnall Poulton
* The Colours of Animals
* Abbott Handerson Thayer
* Concealing-Coloration in the Animal Kingdom

|

Camoufleurs|

* Mary Taylor Brush
* Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scévola
* John Graham Kerr
* Norman Wilkinson
* Everett Warner
* Leon Underwood
* Johann Georg Otto Schick
* Hugh Cott
* Adaptive Coloration in Animals
* Geoffrey Barkas
* Timothy O'Neill

Researchers|

* Roy Behrens
* Tim Caro
* Innes Cuthill
* Thomas N. Sherratt
* Martin Stevens

Military|

| Topics|

* Military camouflage
* Aircraft camouflage
* Camouflage clothing in Trinidad and Tobago
* Dazzle camouflage
* List of countries that prohibit camouflage clothing
* Middle East Command Camouflage Directorate
* Ship camouflage
* USN WWII camouflage measures

|

Patterns|

| Up to WWII|

| German
WWII|

* Splittertarnmuster (1931)
* Platanenmuster (1937)
* Rauchtarnmuster (1939)
* Palmenmuster (c 1941)
* Sumpfmuster (1943)
* Erbsenmuster (1944)
* Leibermuster (1945)

|

Other|

* Camouflage tree (1915)
* Lozenge (1917 aircraft)
* Telo mimetico (1929 tent)
* Denison smock (1941)
* Frog Skin (1942)
* Ghillie suit

Post-war|

* Lizard (1947)
* Strichtarn (1960)
* KLMK (1968)

Late 20th
century|

* Jigsaw (1958)
* Tiger stripe (1962)
* Rhodesian Brushstroke (1965)
* ERDL (1967)
* Disruptive Pattern Material (1969)
* wz. 68 Moro (1969)
* Six-Color Desert Pattern (Chocolate Chip) (1981)
* U.S. "M81" Woodland (1981)
* Australian Disruptive Pattern (1982)
* TAZ 83 (1983)
* Dubok (1984)
* M84 (1984)
* Type 87 (China) (1987)
* wz. 89 Puma (1989)
* Camouflage Daguet (1989)
* M90 (1990)
* Desert Night Camouflage (1990)
* Flecktarn (1990)
* Tropentarn (1990)
* Desert Camouflage Pattern (1990)
* Camouflage Central-Europe (1991)
* Soldier 2000 (1993)
* TAZ 90 (1993)
* wz. 93 Pantera (1993)
* CADPAT (1997)
* M98 (1998)
* Flora (1998)

21st
century|

* MARPAT (2001) (Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (2002))
* MultiCam (2002)
* Tactical Assault Camouflage (2004)
* Universal Camouflage Pattern (2004)
* ESTDCU (2006)
* M05 (2007)
* Airman Battle Uniform (2007)
* Type 07 (2007)
* EMR (2008)
* Multi-Terrain Pattern (2010)
* Australian Multicam (2014)
* HunCam (2015)
* Operational Camouflage Pattern (2015)
* Netherlands Fractal Pattern (2019)
* Xingkong (2019)

Technology|

| Deployed|

* Berberys-R
* Nakidka

|

Prototypes|

* Diffused lighting camouflage (1941)
* Yehudi lights (1943)
* Adaptiv (2011)

Related|

* Dazzled and Deceived
* Stealth technology
* Cloaking device
* Invisibility

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