History of Camo ???

[LAgunman2K-3]

anyone know about this ?
what military used it first? and any other interesting facts you can tell us

i guess the first people that might of used some sort fo camo was the union sniper teams, they wore a dark green coat, not the usual blue coats the regular army wore

would the first real use of camo come about in the vietnam war by the special forces ?
and did the US get there camo from hunters? or hunters get it from the military ?

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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

talk is cheap, but bullets are even Cheaper!!!

[This message has been edited by LAgunman2K (edited 05-15-2000).]

[sfcret]

the union snipers wore the green frock coat as a way to set them apart and to make them feel like an elite unit compared with the rest of the union forces, off hand I don't excatly recall what they where called, something close to the pronucation of "brenes" . in a way the coat was designed as a primitive camoflage, the buttons on these coats where not brass but a rubberized button made by goodyear, so they wouldn't give out the shooters position. however the hat had a large plumage, which kinda defeated the purpose of concealment. camoflage is a french word meaning to disguise, the french are the ones who utilized this type of tactic more then any other european army. the WWI overcoats of the french infantry was a blue color which help them to blend in the smoke screen when they attacked the german trenches. of cource throughout history armies have used camoflage in one way or another but the french elevated to a military art form, hense the reason the english speaking world uses the word.

[This message has been edited by sfcret (edited 05-15-2000).]

[AR15fan]

Scottish game keepers were using Ghillie suits long before the civil war.

Japanese ninja were using it even earlier.

The first use of Camo may have been even before modern man. Was cromagnon man smart enought to rub some dirt on his skin before attacking a rival?

[Gary]

Revolutionary War German Jaegers worn green coats (often faced with red). Taking the cue, Maj. Patrick Ferguson (Revolutionary War fame) corp of riflemen (100) were given green cloth with which to make their jackets. During the Napoleonic times, the 5/60 (Royal Americans) wore green jackets (faced with red) while other rifle companies of the 60 were similarly dressed (but with red "feathering"). Progressing on, their contemporaries in the 95th (Rifle Brigade) wore green jackets (black facings) and trousers.

Both the 1st USSR and 2nd USSR (United States Sharpshooters Regiment) wore green frocks, kepis, trouers and brown gaiters. One sharpshooter, Wyman White, learnt something of camouflage from a Native American who was serving with a Michigan unit. "Make self like corn" the Indian instructed White as he proceeded to push corn stalks into his belt. Dressed as such, the two snuck up and began sharpshooting. White at that time was equipped with a 32 lb. telescoped rifle in lieu of his normal Sharps falling block.

[SamK]

I think AR15fan has it. Early man wearing animal skins, if it works for the animal, why not you (plus it would make you smell like the animal)?

SamK

[LAgunman2K-3]

where was the first use of US camo in the 20th century ?

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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

talk is cheap, but bullets are even Cheaper!!!

[ISC]

US Marines had camoflage helmet covers in WWII. That is the first use of US issue of camoflage gear that I know of, but I am by no means an expert.

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De Oppresso Liber

[LAgunman2K-3]

for me the first time i saw desert camo was in the persian gulf war, and its gained popularity now it seems
when did the US come up and start using the desert patterns?

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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

talk is cheap, but bullets are even Cheaper!!!

[raven]

I know the word camouflage was coined in WWI in France.

[HAL-9000]

Was it Rogers Rangers who had the green buckskins, and documented the first book on special operations?
later

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"Heres to us and those like us."

[Biggame223]

In 1929 the German Army issued "splinter" pattern zeltbahns (quarter shelter/poncho)
to their troops. The pattern was changed in 1941. As far as I know the Germans were the first to use camouflage uniform items on a large scale. They used several patterns during the second world war. I've read that the U.S. Army issued camo uniforms VERY briefly in the E.T.O, but stopped because they did not want friendly fire incidents due to the fact that the Germans wore similer patterns. The waffen SS had many different patterns for all seasons. The Heer (army) had Splinter A,b,c,d. and Tan/water.

I believe the Marine Corps, and army used camo uniform items to some degree in the P.T.O.

Hope this helps

BG223 OUT

[This message has been edited by Biggame223 (edited 06-05-2000).]