Flecktarn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flecktarn (also known as Flecktarnmuster, Flecktar, Flectar, or simply Fleck) is a 5-colour disruptive camouflage pattern, comprising black, dark green, grey-green and rust-red clumps and spots on a light green background. The use of spots creates a "dithering" effect, which eliminates hard boundaries between the different colours in much the same way the squares in the newest digital camouflage patterns do. The pattern is designed for use in temperate woodland terrain. It has been adapted as desert camouflage by varying the colours.
In 1976, the Bundeswehr in Germany developed a number of prototype camouflage patterns, to be trialled as replacements for the solid olive-grey "moleskin" combat uniform, which is sometimes also nicknamed "Feldgrau" ("Field Grey"). At least four distinct camouflage patterns were tested during Bundeswehr Truppenversuch 76 ("Bundeswehr Troop Trial 76"). One was called "Dots" or "Points", and one was called "Ragged Leaf" or "Saw Tooth Edge".
Of the patterns tested, that which is today known as Flecktarn was selected for adoption. The word is a composite formed from the German words Fleck (spot or blot) and Tarnung (camouflage).
In the Federal Republic of Germany, the Flecktarn camouflage pattern is used by all three Bundeswehr-Groups, the Heer ("army"), the Luftwaffe ("air force"), some Marine (navy) units and even the Sanitätsdienst ("medical service"). It is also used by snipers of the Österreichisches Bundesheer ("Federal Army of Austria") and Belgian Air Force ground personnel and airborne infantry. France tested Flecktarn for use but rejected it; the Dutch army also tested and rejected it, allegedly because it was "too aggressive". Flecktarn was seen as controversial because of its (vague) resemblance to the Waffen-SS "peas" and "oak leaves" patterns, which also used dots in various colours.
Flecktarn is the basis for Bundeswehr Wüstentarn (desert pattern), Danish T/78 camouflage and Danish M/84 camouflage, including a desert variation of the Danish pattern. A variation of the Flecktarn camouflage is also used by the Chinese military in Tibet and some police units in Poland. It is rumoured it even inspired the later CADPAT (Canada), MARPAT (U.S. Marines) and ACUPAT (U.S. Army) patterns.[citation needed]
