The History of: The US Military Woodland Camouflage Pattern AKA "M81 Woodland" | Uniform History

Summary

This video explores the history and evolution of the U.S. military’s woodland camouflage pattern, also known as the M81. It contrasts the woodland design with the earlier ERDL pattern, highlighting the adjustments made to size and color to improve camouflage effectiveness. The video delves into the testing phases, where the 60% scaled-up ERDL pattern was chosen for its balance between visibility at various distances and manufacturing practicality. Widely adopted by the U.S. military in the 1980s, the woodland pattern became iconic, influencing global military camouflage designs and even permeating pop culture. Despite being phased out by the U.S. military in the early 2000s, its legacy continues today.

Takeaways

• 😀 The U.S. Woodland Camouflage (M81 pattern) is one of the most recognized and widely used camouflage patterns in military history.
• 😀 The M81 pattern was developed in the 1970s as part of an extensive U.S. military research program focused on improving camouflage for uniforms and gear.
• 😀 The U.S. Woodland Camouflage is often confused with the ERDL pattern, but the key differences lie in the size and shape of the pattern elements.
• 😀 Extensive testing was conducted during the 1970s at Fort Hood, Texas, to determine the most effective camouflage patterns, with the M81 Woodland pattern being selected due to its superior performance at various distances.
• 😀 The M81 Woodland pattern uses four colors: green, brown, black, and tan, arranged in irregular shapes to blend effectively with forested and temperate environments.
• 😀 The pattern's effectiveness was based on research that showed larger shapes and more muted colors were better at blending in at close, medium, and long ranges.
• 😀 The pattern's colors were intentionally designed to work well with the natural fading process of fabrics over time, ensuring that uniforms would remain effective for a longer period.
• 😀 In 1981, the U.S. military began issuing uniforms with the M81 Woodland pattern, including jackets, pants, and various pieces of gear.
• 😀 The M81 Woodland Camouflage became the standard-issue camouflage for the U.S. military, seeing use in numerous conflicts, including Grenada, Panama, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
• 😀 The U.S. Woodland pattern became so globally influential that it was adopted by over 75% of the world's militaries and commercial brands, cementing its place in both military and popular culture.

Q & A

What is the U.S. Woodland Camouflage pattern commonly referred to as?

The U.S. Woodland Camouflage pattern is commonly referred to as the M81 pattern.

How does the U.S. Woodland Camouflage pattern compare to the ERDL pattern?

The U.S. Woodland Camouflage pattern and the ERDL pattern appear similar at first glance, but the main differences lie in the shape and size of the pattern. The Woodland pattern has larger and more varied shapes, while the ERDL pattern is finer and more abstract.

What role did the U.S. Army's Natick Labs play in the development of the Woodland pattern?

Natick Labs, along with other military agencies, conducted extensive research and development in the 1970s to refine camouflage patterns, which ultimately led to the creation of the U.S. Woodland Camouflage pattern.

Why were different versions of the ERDL pattern scaled up for testing?

The ERDL pattern was scaled up to test how different pattern sizes performed in terms of camouflage effectiveness at varying distances. Larger patterns were found to work better at longer ranges, leading to the selection of a 60% size increase.

What was the main finding of the tests regarding pattern size?

The tests concluded that a 60% scaled-up version of the ERDL pattern worked best, as it blended well at close range, became nearly monotone at further distances, and was practical for production without excessive waste during garment assembly.

Why was a 60% scale chosen over larger scales like 250% or 400%?

The 60% scale was chosen because it balanced camouflage effectiveness at multiple distances while also being more feasible for manufacturing. Larger scales caused issues with garment production and didn’t offer additional benefits at various ranges.

What was the impact of color choices in the Woodland pattern?

The color choices for the U.S. Woodland pattern were slightly darker than previous versions to help the pattern blend into its environment better. This also allowed the pattern to age well over time, as colors would fade toward the optimal camouflage hues.

What role did infrared treatment play in the development of the U.S. Woodland pattern?

Infrared treatment was applied to the Woodland pattern to ensure it would remain effective against new IR surveillance technology, keeping soldiers less detectable to infrared devices.

When was the U.S. Woodland Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) officially introduced?

The U.S. Woodland Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) was officially introduced in 1981 and became the standard issue for U.S. military personnel.

How did the U.S. Woodland Camouflage pattern influence other countries and civilian fashion?

The U.S. Woodland pattern became widely adopted by over 75% of the world's military forces and influenced many countries’ camouflage patterns. It also became a popular design in civilian fashion, appearing in items like t-shirts, shorts, and even accessories, and became a cultural icon seen in movies, TV shows, and video games.