ERDL pattern
Encyclopedia
ERDL pattern is a camouflage pattern developed by the United States Army
at its Engineer Research & Development Laboratories (ERDL) in 1948. It was not issued to elite reconnaissance and special operations units until early 1967, during the Vietnam War
.
The pattern consists of 4 colors printed in an interlocking pattern.
(USMC) adopted the brown ‘Highland’ version as standard issue from 1968, and later the U.S. Army introduced it on a wide scale in Southeast Asia. A third variation, known as 'Delta' from an alleged use in the Mekong Delta
area of South Vietnam
, was issued in the early 1970s. By the end of the Vietnam War, American troops wore camouflage combat dress as the norm. 'Delta' ERDL is the same as 'Highland' pattern, but the black 'branches' appear thicker and less detailed. The ERDL-pattern combat uniform was identical in cut to the Olive Drab (OD) jungle fatigues; it was issued alongside.
Following the withdrawal of the US military from Vietnam in 1973, the Army no longer routinely issued camouflage clothing. The 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment
wore the ERDL-leaf pattern as an experiment in the early 1970s in Baumholder
, Germany. The USMC continued wearing the transitional ‘Delta’ ERDL pattern, which became general issue in the mid 1970s. It was to be used to equip the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) while on tropical missions. Photographs during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis showed US Embassy Marines wearing the RDF version ERDL uniforms when they were taken prisoner by Iranian revoultionaries.
It was not until 1981 that the Army approved another camouflaged uniform. That year it officially introduced the battle dress uniform
(BDU) in M81 Woodland
pattern, an enlarged and slightly altered version of ERDL Leaf, to supply all arms of the US Forces. The last batches of the ERDL fatigues saw service during Operation Eagle Claw
, Beirut and the Grenada
Invasion.
. - Some Khmer National Armed Forces
(FANK) elite units acquired ERDL fatigues during the Cambodian Civil War
in 1970-75. - Czech Armed Forces
use modified version of the ERDL pattern, known as Woodland pattern vz.95. - Hong Kong Police Force
's Quick Reaction Force. - NZ SAS used ERDL during the Vietnam War
. - National Guard (Nicaragua)
EEBI 'commando' troops in 1968-1979. - Armed Forces of the Philippines. -
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at its Engineer Research & Development Laboratories (ERDL) in 1948. It was not issued to elite reconnaissance and special operations units until early 1967, during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
The pattern consists of 4 colors printed in an interlocking pattern.
Description
The pattern was initially produced in a lime-dominant colorway, consisting of large organic shapes in mid green and brown, black ‘branches’, and light green ‘leaf highlights’. Shortly thereafter a brown-dominant scheme (with the light green replaced by light tan) was manufactured. The two patterns are also known as "Lowland" and "Highland" ERDL, respectively.History
The United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
(USMC) adopted the brown ‘Highland’ version as standard issue from 1968, and later the U.S. Army introduced it on a wide scale in Southeast Asia. A third variation, known as 'Delta' from an alleged use in the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
area of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, was issued in the early 1970s. By the end of the Vietnam War, American troops wore camouflage combat dress as the norm. 'Delta' ERDL is the same as 'Highland' pattern, but the black 'branches' appear thicker and less detailed. The ERDL-pattern combat uniform was identical in cut to the Olive Drab (OD) jungle fatigues; it was issued alongside.
Following the withdrawal of the US military from Vietnam in 1973, the Army no longer routinely issued camouflage clothing. The 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment
13th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 13th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment whose battalions are currently tasked as basic training battalions.- History :...
wore the ERDL-leaf pattern as an experiment in the early 1970s in Baumholder
Baumholder
Baumholder is a town in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in the Westrich, an historic region that encompasses areas in both Germany and France...
, Germany. The USMC continued wearing the transitional ‘Delta’ ERDL pattern, which became general issue in the mid 1970s. It was to be used to equip the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) while on tropical missions. Photographs during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis showed US Embassy Marines wearing the RDF version ERDL uniforms when they were taken prisoner by Iranian revoultionaries.
It was not until 1981 that the Army approved another camouflaged uniform. That year it officially introduced the battle dress uniform
Battle Dress Uniform
The Battle Dress Uniform were the fatigues that the armed forces of the United States used as their standard uniform for combat situations from September 1981 to April 2005. Since then, it has been replaced in every branch of the U.S. military. Only the U.S. Navy currently authorizes wear of the...
(BDU) in M81 Woodland
M81 Woodland
Woodland pattern is the name of the default camouflage pattern issued to United States soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors from 1981, with the issue of the M81 Battle Dress Uniform until nearly the present day...
pattern, an enlarged and slightly altered version of ERDL Leaf, to supply all arms of the US Forces. The last batches of the ERDL fatigues saw service during Operation Eagle Claw
Operation Eagle Claw
Operation Eagle Claw was an American military operation ordered by President Jimmy Carter to attempt to put an end to the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 Americans held captive at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran on 24 April 1980...
, Beirut and the Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
Invasion.
Usage
- The SASR used ERDL during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. - Some Khmer National Armed Forces
Khmer National Armed Forces
The Khmer National Armed Forces , often abbreviated to FANK, were the official armed defense forces of the Khmer Republic, a short-lived state that existed from 1970 to 1975, known today as Cambodia...
(FANK) elite units acquired ERDL fatigues during the Cambodian Civil War
Cambodian Civil War
The Cambodian Civil War was a conflict that pitted the forces of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and their allies the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Viet Cong against the government forces of Cambodia , which were supported by the United States and the Republic of Vietnam The Cambodian...
in 1970-75. - Czech Armed Forces
Military of the Czech Republic
The Army of the Czech Republic comprise the land forces, the Czech Air Force and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact military alliance...
use modified version of the ERDL pattern, known as Woodland pattern vz.95. - Hong Kong Police Force
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
's Quick Reaction Force. - NZ SAS used ERDL during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. - National Guard (Nicaragua)
National Guard (Nicaragua)
In Nicaragua, the National Guard was a militia and a gendarmerie created during the occupation of that country by the United States from 1909 to 1933. It became notorious for human rights abuses and corruption under the regime of the Somoza family.-Creation:...
EEBI 'commando' troops in 1968-1979. - Armed Forces of the Philippines. -
-
- The Singapore Armed Forces recently introduced a digital camouflage uniform and is in the process of replacing its ERDL pattern uniforms.
-
- The Singapore National Cadet Corps is currently issuing the pattern but will follow suit with the SAF in issuing the new digital camouflage pattern. - Various ARVN units acquired ERDL fatigues. - Various Thai units used ERDL and also manufactured batches for US Forces.
- US Air Force - Used by ground troops and by various USAF Pilots underneath G-Suits instead of flight overalls as they became useful in the Jungle environment when downed.
- US Army - ERDL was the replacement of TigerstripeTigerstripeTigerstripe is the name of a group of camouflage patterns developed for close-range use in dense jungle during jungle warfare by the South Vietnamese Armed Forces/US Forces. It derives its name from its resemblance to a tiger's stripes...
for US Special Forces but eventually was issued widespread. - US Marines - ERDL was issued to USMC Force Reconnaissance units.
- US Navy - ERDL was mostly issued to the US Navy SEALS and Master-at-ArmsMaster-at-armsA master-at-arms may be a naval rating responsible for discipline and law enforcement, an army officer responsible for physical training, or a member of the crew of a merchant ship responsible for security and law enforcement.-Royal Navy:The master-at-arms is a ship's senior rating, comparable in...
rates and Construction Battalions.