How many types of current U.S. desert Uniforms?

I believe there are two different types of U.S. desert uniforms. The first one is used by all services and is called the three-color desert uniform. For my figures, I use all Model Master paints, I use Armor Sand, Sand, and Military Brown for the 3-color uniform. The second desert uniform is the Marines' "Digital Desert" uniform with little squares of different colors randomly scathered all over the uniform. For this I use Sand, Afrika Dunkelgrau 42', French Earth Brown, and Italian Dark Brown applied with a stiff brislled brush. Rumor has it the the Army is supposed to start phasing out the woodland and 3-color desert uniforms for the new digital stuff that the Marines currently have. Meanwhile the Air Force has just adopted blue tiger stripes for their Battle Dress Uniform (I'm not joking, they actually did).

"Chocolate chip" was phased out during Desert Storm as providing too much contrast with the landscape and the 3 color was introduced at that time. There was also a low IR pattern in DS, very dark gray/black tight grid pattern over very dark OD with additional very dark gray/black spots randomly placed.

There's 3 that I can think of
There's the older 'chocolate chip' one, there's the newer one with the same pattern minus the black, and the Corps has the new MARPAT desert cammies.

The supply system seems iffy on which is issued, and there doesn't seem to be as much a reg on them. I've seen all three worn, but the chocolate chip ones usually belong to reserve outfits or saltdogs who had them 'back in the day'

In Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, with the Marines of TF Tarawa, there were as many configurations as you could imagine... Three color, Marine Desert Digital, Marine Woodland Digital, Chocolate Chip, Regular green woodland, Woodland MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture, or Chem suits) Suits, Desert MOPP Suits, and then there was what the Marines could put together... the Iraqi Freedom Fighters wore Chocolate Chip. And the US Army was fairly standardized...

The newer 3 colour scheme has a light green in it. it is basically 50/50 light sand and pale sandy green. Mixed in randomly is much smaller areas of redish brown. Humbrol colours I use for these are: 121 for the sand colour, and 120+white for the green. For the reddish brown 170+29 is about right.

I would hate to imagine painting MARPAT digital cammo, that would be pretty tricky.

Thanks alot! Anyone one know where some picks are of the new desert cammo with the "lime green" in it? Since it's the newest I want to try my hand at it.

From http://www.camouflageclothing.com/



This is about the best photo I found of this pattern on line.

THANKS! That was just what i was looking for! I'm going to hve to check out that site! You're a life saver!

Another couple of sites: www.ebay.com (search for desert camo, or desert DCU something along those lines)

www.army.mil go to the Image gallery page. Most of the photos are of people wearing desert cammo, you can do a search for Iraq or afghanistan that will bring up plenty of good pics. They are nice large hi res images too.

www.usmc.mil and navigate to the image gallery page.

adrake2,
For the record the USAF has NOT adopted the blue combo tiger stripe uniform as you said they have. The uniform is being tested, that is to say that a select few troops are wearing it at different bases to judge it's fit and comfort level. From what I've heard the color pattern has got to go! At least that's what USAF members are saying publicly. The actual uniform is a non-starching, no permanent press type uniform that is basically the same type as the Marines adopted. The theory is we need to spend more time worrying about doing the mission, and less time polishing our boots and pressing our uniforms. The Marines adopted the "wash and wear" uniform and so is the USAF, but I agree that the color has got to go.
Never the less, we operators will always wear uniforms that are functional for the mission. As a PJ that means either the "spilled coffee" 3-tone desert BDU's or the tan flight suits. Web gear and flight vests are normally either brown, black or woodland.
If my memory is correct, we dropped the "bacon bits" 6-tone desert BDU's shortly before the gig in Somalia. I spent 5 months over there in support of Restore Hope and Gothic Serpent and we initially had a few 6-tone BDU's left in the bags. But even then we had the new 3-tone BDU's.
I've seen the new Gyreen patterns...cosmic man!

One thing to keep in mind, is that the 3 color desert camo fades into a washed out khaki color. The khaki and greenish color almost blend together. The uniform fades quickly.

Thanks panzerman. that means that i can't mix my green "too light"!lol

Yup, the 3-tone is standard, the chocolate chips having been retired in the early 90s. They work great at Ft. Irwin, but not so good in the Arabian desert. Also, from what I know, the Army will be going to a similar BDU to the MARPAT stuff in about 2-3 years. It is a different pattern, but has similar characteristics.

Salbando,

Just wondering, and I don't know if you can discuss, but what kind of LCE do you wear operationally? MOLLE stuff? Standard LBV or more high-speed stuff?

Thanks!

salbando,
Glad to hear the USAF is not adopting that blue BDU, that thing is hideous. What's the new Gyreens you spoke of?

I'll post a few pictures of my figures wearing the 3-tone and MARPAT BDUs in a few days.

Sorry about not being able to post the pictures I promised. My computer is giving me a lot of problems and I'm not that computer literate, so it'll be awhile before I can try again.