Universal Camouflage Pattern

The Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) is a digital military camouflage pattern formerly used by the United States Army in their Army Combat Uniform.[5][6] Technicians at Natick Soldier Systems Center attempted to devise a uniform pattern that would mask the wearer in all seasonal environments.[7] Laboratory and field tests from 2003 to 2004 showed a pattern named All-Over-Brush (MultiCam Contractor Developed Mod) to provide the best concealment of the patterns tested.[7] All-Over-Brush was selected as the winner over ten other patterns,[8] It was observed at the time that the universal disadvantage of an all-in-one pattern meant compromise and lowered effectiveness in all environments versus a more effective coloration for each environment.[7] Further, the winning All-Over-Brush pattern was not in fact chosen as the final UCP.[7] Instead, U.S. Army leadership utilized pixellated images taken from Canadian CADPAT and US Marine Corps MARPAT, then recolored them based on three universal colors developed in the Army's 2002-2004 tests, to be called the UCP.[7] While the pixelated pattern of the UCP is similar to the MARPAT and CADPAT camouflage patterns used by the United States Marine Corps and the Canadian Armed Forces, its coloration differs significantly.[9][10] The final UCP was then adopted without field testing against other patterns.[7]

Universal Camouflage pattern
A sample of the UCP pattern
TypeMilitary camouflage pattern
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2005–2019 (U.S. Army)[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]
Used byState defense forces
WarsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Production history
Designed2004
Produced2004–present
VariantsUniversal Camouflage Pattern Delta (UCP–D)[3][4]
Two soldiers in 2005 wearing the Army Combat Uniform in the Universal Camouflage Pattern

Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan questioned the effectiveness of the UCP in concealing them from enemy observation, and that the uniform was in fact endangering their missions and their lives.[7] In response, the US Army conducted several studies to find a modification or replacement for the standard issue pattern.[11] In July 2014, the Army announced that Operational Camouflage Pattern would replace all UCP-patterned ACU uniforms by the end of September 2019.[12][13][14][15] However, UCP does remain in service in limited capacities, such as on some cold weather overgear and older body armor.[1]

Additionally, after having used the OCP for several years as their own deployment uniform, the United States Air Force also decided to adopt the OCP as their sole utility uniform for all airmen, both in-garrison and deployed, to replace their current pixelated utility uniform, the Airman Battle Uniform, which was similar in appearance to UCP. The wear-out date for the Air Force ABU was 1 April 2021.[16]

Selection
U.S. soldiers in May 2017 wearing the ACU in UCP

Initial patterns and colors
Main article: U.S. Army universal camouflage trials

Three patterns were developed, called All Over Brush, Track, and Shadow/Line.[17] For each pattern, there were four color combinations, which corresponded to a specific type of terrain, however, all four patterns used tan as their base color.[17] The three remaining colors were green, brown, and black for the Woodland pattern, dark tan, khaki, and brown for the Desert pattern, light gray, medium gray, and black for the Urban pattern, and dark tan, light gray, and brown for the Desert/Urban pattern.[17]

Test sites

There were fifteen evaluations, which took place at Fort Benning, Fort Polk, Fort Irwin, Fort Lewis, and Yakima, Washington.[17] The camouflage patterns were then rated on their blending, brightness, contrast, and detection by U.S. Army soldiers, during the daytime, and also at night using night vision devices.

Elimination of patterns

Following testing, the Shadow Line pattern was eliminated entirely, along with the urban and desert/urban patterns of All Over Brush. All four of the Track patterns were accepted along with All Over Brush's woodland and desert patterns.[17]

Phases II and III

The patterns were then modified and tested alongside a newly introduced "Contractor-Developed Mod" pattern, MultiCam. Near infrared testing determined that black, medium gray, and medium tan were the only colors that gave acceptable performance.[17]

Phase IV (system level)

All four remaining patterns, desert Brush, MultiCam, Woodland Track, and Urban Track were then tested alongside each other in urban, woodland, and desert environments.

Results

The desert Brush design received the best overall mean daytime visual rating. Contractor developed pattern received highest rating in woodland environments, but low ratings in desert and urban environments. Urban Track was generally the 3rd or 4th worst performer at each site, but was the best performer in nighttime environments. Infrared testing showed negligible differences in the performance of the four patterns. Natick rated the patterns from best to worst as: Desert Brush, Woodland Track Mod, Contractor-Developed Mod, and Urban Track.[18]

Color selection

The color scheme of the Army Combat Uniform is composed of tan (officially named Desert Sand 500), gray (Urban Gray 501), and sage green (Foliage Green 502). The pattern is notable for its elimination of the color black.[19] Justification given for the omission of black was that black is a color not commonly found in nature.[20] Pure black viewed through night vision goggles can appear extremely dark and create an undesirable high-contrast image.

Controversy
U.S. Army soldiers in May 2006, wearing the Universal Camouflage Pattern in Kunar province, Afghanistan

The U.S. Army incorrectly reported to the media that the basis for the UCP was the Urban Track pattern, which had been modified through the removal of black from the pattern and pixelated. Pattern comparisons subsequently established that the information provided by the U.S. Army was incorrect, and that the pattern was simply a three-colored version of MARPAT, a derivative of the Canadian CADPAT scheme. No evidence has been presented by the U.S. Army that the new UCP pattern had undergone proper field testing.[7]

Following building criticism of the poor effectiveness of the pattern in most terrains like the Afghan and Middle Eastern theatres of operations, the use of the pattern was discussed within the U.S. Senate.

When passed by the Senate, House of Representatives Bill 2346 required the Department of Defense to "take immediate action to provide combat uniforms to personnel deployed to Afghanistan with a camouflage pattern that is suited to the environment of Afghanistan." The Army subsequently initiated re-evaluation of existing and alternative camouflage patterns to determine if this was a necessary action.[21] In tests conducted by the U.S. Army's Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSRDEC), results indicated that three other patterns did significantly better than UCP in desert and woodland environments.[22] Four commercial submissions were tested to replace UCP for Army use.[23][24]

Discontinuation and replacement
Main article: Operational Camouflage Pattern

In 2014, the United States Army discontinued the Universal Camouflage Pattern,[25] and Army researchers worked on a new and better camouflage.[25] Four new patterns were tested to give soldiers different patterns suitable for different environments, plus a single neutral pattern, to be used on more expensive body armor and other gear.[25]

The selection involved hundreds of computer trials as well as on-the-ground testing at half a dozen locations around the world.[25] In May 2014, the Army announced that a pattern called Scorpion, a pattern similar to MultiCam that was developed for the Objective Force Warrior program in 2002 and modified in 2009 (W2 version), had been chosen as the replacement for UCP.[15] On 31 July 2014, the Army formally announced that the Operational Camouflage Pattern would begin being issued on uniforms in summer 2015.

The name Operational Camouflage Pattern is to emphasize its use beyond Afghanistan to all combatant commands, with a family of versions, including a dark jungle-woodland variant and a lighter pattern for deserts.[14] The Universal Camouflage Pattern was discontinued by the Army at the end of September 2019 for uniforms,[12][13][26] though still sees some limited usage on other gear such as some body armor and cold weather overgear. As the military began phasing out the UCP, many state defense forces began adopting it as their uniform.[27][28]

Users
Indian Air Force camouflage uniform adopted in 2022
Serbian gendarmes wearing UCP-patterned ACUs

Current

Former

Notes
  1. Some limited usage from 2004 to 2005 for prototype testing.
  2. Discontinued on uniforms in 2019, now only remains in service in limited capacities such as on some cold weather equipment, overgear, and older body armor.[1][2]
  3. Some limited usage from 2004 to 2005 for prototype testing.
  4. Discontinued on uniforms in 2019, now only remains in service in limited capacities such as on some cold weather equipment, overgear, and older body armor.[1][50]

References
  1. "Say Goodbye to the Hated Army UCP Uniform". October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  2. https://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.631982.1591002413!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_900/image.jpg
  3. "UCP-D:This Is What Happened The Last Time The US Army Created A Pixelated Camo Pattern - Soldier Systems Daily". Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  4. "USA - Camopedia". camopedia.org. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
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  6. "ACU Presentation". ArmyStudyGuide.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
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  8. Carroll, Ward (9 April 2007). "Defense Tech: Singing the ACU Blues". Defense Tech. Military Advantage, A Monster Company. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  9. "Facts: Army Combat Uniform". U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Office of the Chief of Public affairs. U.S. Army. 14 June 2004. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012.
  10. Cramer, Guy (2004). "Dual Texture - U.S. Army Digital Camouflage". United Dynamics Corp. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  11. Engber, Daniel (6 July 2012). "Lost in the Wilderness, the Military's Misadventures in Pixelated Camouflage". State. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  12. Archived 28 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  15. "Army Selects New Camouflage Pattern". Military.com. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  16. Cox, Matthew (14 May 2018). "Air Force transitions to a single combat uniform". AF.mil. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  17. Dugas, Anabela; Kramer, F. Matthew (15 December 2004). "Universal Camouflage for the Future Warrior". U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. Dugas, A.; Zupkofska, K. J.; DiChiara, A.; Kramer, F. M. (1 December 2004). "Universal Camouflage for the Future Warrior" (PDF). Natick, MA: U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Natick Soldier Center. ADA433081. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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  20. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Army Combat Uniform". Program Executive Office Soldier. U.S. Army. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2013.
  21. Maze, Rick (21 June 2009). "Troops in Afghanistan would get new uniforms". Army Times. Army Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  22. Cox, William (17 September 2009). "UCP Fares Poorly in Army Camo Test". Army Times. Army Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  23. Lance M. Bacon (10 March 2012). "Army Weighs 4 Options to Replace Current Camo". Army Times. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  24. Eloise Lee (2 March 2012). "The Army Is Eyeing These Cool New Camouflage Patterns". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  25. Dickson, Caitlin (14 October 2013). "The Army's $5 Billion New Uniform Already Being Replaced". The Daily Beast. IAC/InterActiveCorp. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  26. Cox, Matthew (6 August 2014). "Army Unveils Design Changes for New Camo Uniform". Military.com. Military Advantage, A Monster Company. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  27. "What is the CSMR?". California State Military Reserve. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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  30. Larson (2021), p. 199.
  31. Larson (2021), p. 132.
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  44. Larson (2021), p. 173.
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Bibliography
  • Larson, Eric H. (2021). Camouflage: International Ground Force Patterns, 1946–2017. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781526739537.
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