MARPAT

MARPAT (Marine Pattern)
A swatch of MARPAT in the woodland pattern variant.
Type	Military camouflage pattern
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	2002–present
Used by	U.S. Marine Corps (including USMC-R and MCJROTC) U.S. Navy (primarily corpsmen, chaplains, and religious program specialists) New York Naval Militia Texas Maritime Regiment See Users (for other non-U.S. users)
Production history
Designer	Timothy O'Neill, Anabela Dugas, John Joseph Heisterman, Jr., Luisa DeMorais Santos, Gabriel R. Patricio, Deirdre E. Townes
Designed	2000–2001
Produced	2001–present
Variants	Desert MARPAT, Woodland MARPAT, Winter MARPAT See Design and colors for more details

A 2003 drawing showcasing the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform in desert and woodland camouflage variants.

MARPAT (short for Marine pattern) is a multi-scale camouflage pattern in use with the United States Marine Corps, designed in 2001 and introduced between 2002 and 2004 with the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU), which replaced the Camouflage Utility Uniform. Its design and concept are based on the Canadian CADPAT pattern. The pattern is formed of small rectangular pixels of color. In theory, it is a far more effective camouflage than standard uniform patterns because it mimics the dappled textures and rough boundaries found in natural settings. It is also known as the "digital pattern" or "digi-cammies" because of its micropattern (pixels) rather than the old macropattern (big blobs).

The United States government has patented MARPAT, including specifics of its manufacture.^[1] By regulation, the pattern and items incorporating it, such as the MCCUU and ILBE backpack, are to be supplied by authorized manufacturers only and are not for general commercial sale, although imitations are available such as "Digital Woodland Camo" or "Digital Desert Camo".

MARPAT was also chosen because it distinctively identifies its wearers as Marines to their adversaries, while simultaneously helping its wearers remain concealed. This was demonstrated by a Marine spokesman at the launch of MARPAT, who stated: "We want to be instantly recognized as a force to be reckoned with. We want them to see us coming a mile away in our new uniforms."^[2] As such, the U.S. Marine Corps restricts use of the camouflage, preventing its use in most other divisions of the United States military with the exception of some elements of the U.S. Navy.

Development

A U.S. Marine showcasing the MCCUU in woodland MARPAT in 2001.

Two U.S. Marines test out early prototypes of the MCCUU in 2001. The two prototypes feature removable sleeves, a feature that was later abandoned on the finished production version. The uniform on the left features an early version of woodland MARPAT.

Woodland variant of MARPAT.

Desert variant of MARPAT.

U.S. Marines wearing snow-patterned MARPAT overgarments at the Mountain Warfare Training Center.

MARPAT was designed by Timothy O'Neill, Anabela Dugas,^[3] John Joseph Heisterman, Jr.,^[3] Luisa DeMorais Santos,^[3] Gabriel R. Patricio,^[3] and Deirdre E. Townes.^[3]

The concept of using miniature swatches of color as opposed to large splotches is not new. In World War II, German troops used various patterns similar to the current German Flecktarn, which involved similar small dabs of color on a uniform to provide camouflage.

The Canadian Forces originally developed the pattern called CADPAT, on which MARPAT was based.^[4] Timothy O'Neill's^[5] USMC design team in charge of this process went through over 150 different camo patterns before selecting three samples that met their initial objectives. These were two versions of tigerstripe and an older design of Rhodesian Brushstroke. The influence of tigerstripe can still be seen in the final MARPAT. These three samples were then reconstructed using new shapes and unique color blends that would allow a more effective uniform in a great range of environments.

The new patterns were then field tested in different environments, day and night, with night vision and various optics. MARPAT did exceptionally well in their wet uniform test when viewed with night vision while illuminated with IR, where normally patterns appear as a solid. The MARPAT patent lists U.S. Army research into fractal pattern camouflage as the basis for MARPAT.

The MARPAT pattern was chosen in a run-off against seven other patterns at the USMC Scout Sniper Instructor School.^[6]

Preliminary development of MARPAT began in April 2000,^[7] with field testing of the pattern and the MCCUU beginning in 2001. The patent for the MARPAT pattern was filed on June 19, 2001,^[3] whereas the patent for the MCCUU uniform was filed on November 7, 2001.^[8] Early prototypes of the MARPAT desert pattern from 2001 featured grey, whereas the finished product did not.

The uniform made its official debut at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on January 17, 2002,^[9] and the changeover was completed on October 1, 2004, a year ahead of the original requirement date set in 2001, of October 1, 2005.^{[10][11][12][13]}

The MARPAT uniform was officially fielded as standard issue to the recruits of 3rd BN Mike Company in late 2002 at MCRD San Diego;^[14] it continues to be the USMC's standard issue uniform pattern to date.

In all, the MARPAT development process from concept to completion took 18 months, the fastest time for a U.S. military-developed camouflage pattern.^[15]

Design and colors

Different ratios and variations of colors were tested before final candidate patterns were actually printed to textile for field trials. A modified version of Vietnam War-era tiger stripe also made it to final trials but was eliminated due to MARPAT being superior in all environments. The purpose of the digitized pattern is to create visual "noise" and prevent the eye from identifying any visual templates. Thus, the pattern is intended to not register as any particular shape or pattern that could be distinguished.

There were initially three MARPAT patterns tested: Woodland, Desert, and Urban. Only the Woodland and Desert patterns were adopted by the Marine Corps, replacing the U.S. Woodland pattern and the U.S. Three Color Desert pattern. Webbing and equipment worn with MARPAT Woodland and MARPAT Desert is produced in Coyote Brown, a mid-tone color common to both the woodland and desert patterns. Although a digital snow pattern has also been adopted on cold weather training over-garments, this uses a different pattern from the Canadian company Hyperstealth.^[16]

Authentic MARPAT material is distinguishable by a miniature "Eagle, Globe, and Anchor" emblem incorporated into the pattern above the letters "USMC", in both the woodland and desert patterns.^[17]

Similar designs

U.S. Marine wearing Desert MARPAT (left) and sailor wearing the NWU (right)

MARPAT is aesthetically similar to Canadian Forces CADPAT, which was first developed in the 1990s.^[18]

The United States Army used the same shapes in designing its Universal Camouflage Pattern, which uses a much paler three-color scheme of sage green, grey and sand for use on the Army Combat Uniform. After major questions about its effectiveness arose, the Army adopted the "Scorpion W2" Operational Camouflage Pattern in 2015, to be fully phased in by 2019.

The United States Air Force has designed its own Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) using a standard tiger stripe pattern and slight variation on the color scheme of ACU.

The United States Navy announced approval for a digital "BDU-style" work uniform in late 2008. The Navy Working Uniform (NWU) was chosen by surveyed sailors for consistency and longer life, while the blue-grey-black Type I pattern was designed for aesthetic purposes rather than camouflage to disguise them at sea. In January 2010, the Navy began considering new Navy Working Uniform patterns modified from MARPAT, named Type II and Type III, desert and woodland respectively. The Woodland pattern was actually an earlier coloration of the MARPAT scheme, not adopted following USMC trials.^[19] These patterns are overall darker than their respective MARPAT progenitors, modified with different color shades,^[20] and addressed the fact that the blue and grey Type I pattern was not meant for a tactical environment (the Battle Dress Uniform in M81 woodland and Desert Camouflage Uniform were still used for this purpose until the Type II and III patterns were introduced).^[21] Backlash from Marines, including an objection from former Commandant Conway, led to restrictions when NAVADMIN 374/09 was released:^[22] Type II pattern to Naval Special Warfare personnel, while Type III is restricted to Navy ground units.^[23]

Users

•  Afghanistan – Used by Afghan special forces.^[24]
•  Armenia: Adopted version of marpat is used by armenian army with no USMC EGA insignias^[25]
•  Bahamas^[26]
•  Bolivia^[27]
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina^[28]
•  Brazil: Used by BOPE in woodland operations.^[29]
•  Georgia – Was the standard issue camouflage of the Georgian military from 2007 to 2014, when it was fully replaced by MultiCam, Stil in limited use by Georgian Police and paramilitaries as of 2017.^[30]
•  Guinea^[31]
•  Iraq: Used by the Iraqi military post-2003 with no USMC EGA insignias.^[32]
•  Macedonia: Used by Special Task Unit "Tiger".^[33]
•  Saudi Arabia: Used by Alfowj Forces.^[34]
•  Slovenia: Used by the Slovenian Special Police Unit (Specialna Enota Policije) made by UF PRO with no EGA insignias.^[35]
•  United Arab Emirates: Adoptive version of digital desert MARPAT produced by Italian Textiles Solutions (no EGA insignias).^[36]

Gallery

• 
  MARPAT desert pattern
• 
  MARPAT desert pattern
• 
  Two generals wearing woodland MARPAT at a ceremony
• 
  Near-infrared (low light night vision device) comparison of a Navy Working Uniform blouse to MARPAT trousers
• 
  MARPAT compared to NWU Type II and Type III prototypes
• 
  Air Marshal Fahad Al-Amir, the Chief of Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, speaks to Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit wearing a camouflage similar to MARPAT
• 
  Camouflage comparison between a Singaporean guardsman and a U.S. Marine.

References

Further reading

• United States Marine Corps Uniform Board (September 2001). "Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform". United States Marine Corps Training and Education Command. Archived from the original on September 19, 2001. Retrieved September 19, 2001.
• United States Marine Corps Uniform Board (September 2001). "Combat Utility Uniform Camouflage Considerations". United States Marine Corps Training and Education Command. Archived from the original on September 20, 2001. Retrieved September 20, 2001.
• United States Marine Corps Uniform Board (September 2001). "Combat Utility Uniform - Conceptual Background". United States Marine Corps Training and Education Command. Archived from the original on September 19, 2001. Retrieved September 19, 2001.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MARPAT.

• Photos of USMC-issued MARPAT
• Notes from the original designer of MARPAT