1917
World War I
The Camofleurs
1917 – 1918
The American Camouflage Corps was organized in 1917 at Plattsburgh, New York — the first such unit in the U.S. Army. Composed of architects, painters, and sculptors, Company A of the 40th Engineers deployed to France in January 1918. Their work focused on concealing artillery positions, machine-gun emplacements, and command posts using painted nets and garnished canvas strips.
BranchU.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ColorsOlive drab, earth tones, greens, browns
UsageEquipment & position concealment
TheaterWestern Front, France
1942
World War II
Frogskin (M1942)
1942 – 1945
The first mass-produced U.S. camouflage uniform, designed by horticulturist Norvell Gillespie. The reversible design featured a five-color green "jungle" side and a three-color brown "beach" side. Primarily used by the USMC in the Pacific.
BranchUSMC (primary)
Colors5-color green / 3-color brown, reversible
DesignerNorvell Gillespie
TheaterPacific
1948
Post-WWII / Vietnam
ERDL Pattern
1948 (designed) — 1966 (fielded)
Designed by the Engineer Research and Development Laboratory in 1948, shelved, then revived for Vietnam in 1966. Favored by Special Forces and the USMC. Green-dominant "lowland" and brown-dominant "highland" variants.
BranchU.S. Army SF, USMC
ColorsGreen-dominant or brown-dominant
VariantsLowland, Highland
TheaterVietnam
1953
Post-WWII
Mitchell Pattern
1953 – 1970s
Originally the M1942 Leaf Camouflage Pattern, reintroduced in 1953 on reversible shelter halves. Green "Wineleaf" on one side, brown "Clouds" on the other. Used on helmet covers, ponchos, and shelter halves through Vietnam.
BranchU.S. Army, USMC
ColorsGreen / Brown (reversible)
UsageShelter halves, helmet covers
Also Known AsDuck Hunter
1965
Vietnam War
Tiger Stripe
1965 – 1975 (never officially adopted)
Never officially adopted, Tiger Stripe became one of the most iconic patterns of the Vietnam War. Derived from the French "Lizard" camouflage, locally-produced uniforms were worn by Green Berets and other SOF.
BranchU.S. Army SF (unofficial)
ColorsBlack, green, brown, olive, tan stripes
OriginFrench Lizard pattern
StatusNever officially adopted
1981
Cold War
M81 Woodland
1981 – 2000s
A 60% enlarged ERDL pattern that became the standard across all branches. Issued as the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), its four-color scheme was optimized for European woodland terrain. Arguably the most recognizable American military pattern of the 20th century.
BranchAll branches
ColorsBlack, brown, dark green, tan
UniformBattle Dress Uniform (BDU)
TerrainEuropean woodland
1981
Desert Operations
6-Color Desert "Chocolate Chip"
1981 – 1991
Based on California's rocky desert terrain, the six-color pattern earned its nickname from distinctive black spots. Issued as the Desert BDU and saw service during Desert Shield/Storm and Somalia.
BranchAll branches
ColorsBrown, sand, tan, black, off-white
UniformDesert BDU (DBDU)
ConflictsDesert Storm, Somalia
1983
Desert Operations
Desert Night Camouflage
1983 – mid-1990s
A specialized overgarment designed to defeat Soviet-era night vision equipment. Dark green grid on light olive background. Proved ineffective against advanced NVGs and was discontinued.
BranchU.S. Army, USMC
ColorsDark green grid on olive
PurposeCounter Soviet NVGs
StatusDiscontinued
1992
Desert Operations
3-Color Desert (DCU)
1992 – 2000s
Replaced the 6-color after the Gulf War. Tri-color pattern of dark brown, pale olive, and beige. Saw major service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Task Force Ranger wore it during the Battle of Mogadishu.
BranchAll branches
ColorsDark brown, pale olive, beige
UniformDesert Camouflage Uniform
ConflictsSomalia, Iraq, Afghanistan
2001
Digital Revolution
MARPAT
2001 – Present
America's entry into digital camouflage. The USMC developed MARPAT using computer algorithms and pixelated shapes. Trademarked and restricted to USMC use, issued on the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform.
BranchU.S. Marine Corps (exclusive)
ColorsPixelated green, brown, tan, black
TechnologyComputer-generated
UniformMCCUU
2002
Digital Age
USAF Digital Tiger Stripe (ABU)
2002 – 2021 (retired)
The Air Force's pixelated "Digital Tiger Stripe" pattern, widely criticized for poor concealment. Issued on the Airman Battle Uniform and retired in favor of OCP.
BranchU.S. Air Force
ColorsBlue-gray, sage green, tan
UniformAirman Battle Uniform
StatusRetired — replaced by OCP
2004
Digital Age — Failure
UCP — Universal Failure
2004 – 2019
The Universal Camouflage Pattern aimed to work in any environment. It failed almost everywhere. Its gray-green-tan palette blended effectively nowhere. Officially retired October 1, 2019.
BranchU.S. Army
ColorsGray, sage green, tan (no black)
UniformArmy Combat Uniform
StatusRetired 2019 — widely considered a failure
2010
Afghanistan Era
MultiCam (OEF-CP)
2010 – 2014
Developed by Crye Precision, MultiCam was adopted after UCP's failure in Afghanistan became undeniable. Its seven-color palette proved effective across diverse Afghan terrain.
BranchU.S. Army, SOCOM
ColorsEarth brown, olive, tan, sand, moss
DeveloperCrye Precision
DesignationOEF-CP
2015
Current Standard
OCP / Scorpion W2
2015 – Present
Based on the Scorpion W2 design modified by Natick Soldier Research, OCP features more subdued shapes and a cooler palette than MultiCam. Now the standard for Army, Air Force, and Space Force.
BranchArmy, Air Force, Space Force
ColorsLight tan, olive drab, earth brown
UniformACU in OCP
StatusCurrent standard