Camouflage is important for every soldier, as camouflaging and deceiving can save a soldier's life. In Austria, there have been several different uniforms with camouflage patterns since 1955. Currently, the majority of the army is still monocolored in Steingrau/RAL 7013, but that is expected to change over time – HERE is our article on the introduction of the new camouflage uniform. Today, we want to take a look at the previous official camouflage patterns of the Austrian Armed Forces.
At the beginning, the M57 battle dress was in a very brown-dominant pea camo pattern. Lovingly called "Fleckerlteppich," the camouflage effect in the Austrian mixed forest was remarkable.
The issued shelter half at the time was printed on both sides. Once in the pea camo pattern and on the other side, the rock camo for the alpine region. These patterns were in use until 1975, after which it became monotonous. The new color of the Austrian Armed Forces should indeed be RAL 7013.
That remained the case for a long time, only at the beginning of the new millennium did the Jagdkommando start dealing with camouflage uniforms. In the image, you can see the three trial patterns for the Jagdkommando – in comparison to RAL 7013 (right).
Here are the two winners from the trials. On the left, a Tigerstripe-like pattern, on the right, the arid variant of the camouflage pattern for the Jagdkommando. These were supposed to become the official camouflage exclusively for the command.
The uniform was presented at public events, but interestingly only in one, the arid variant. The green version was rarely seen, if at all.
A maiden stands in the forest. Here you can see the trial pattern of the Jagdkommando uniform in detail again. In the final version, the colors were slightly lighter (see photo above). Or they had been washed more often, which would say something about the quality of the print.
In early 2019, the Austrian Armed Forces presented their new color. This pattern is expected to be worn by every soldier in the future. The color is similar but still significantly different from the Jagdkommando pattern.
In the official image of the new uniform, the colors look different. The pattern is not pixelated but rather blotchy, which is almost a rarity nowadays. The pattern is supposed to come in four variations in total; green, desert, winter, and a mixed version. Somehow, the color choice reminds us of something.
Exactly, it reminds us of the German Multicam, which is exclusively issued to the KSK. Certain similarities can be seen in the image comparison, although the Austrian variant appears darker. At least before it was washed more.
The Jagdkommando got its own pattern and uniform cut, but the unit was very dissatisfied with the latter, as you often hear in conversations. Therefore, they promptly acquired the international standard for Special Forces: Crye Precision in Multicam. However, they have now received their own cut, the SEK Urban operational uniform from Clawgear – HERE in our SPARTANAT review, only the Multicam has remained.
Austrian Armed Forces on the Internet: www.bundesheer.at
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