Strichtarn

Strichtarn (English: Line Camouflage)[1] was a military camouflage pattern developed in East Germany and used from 1965 to 1990.[2]

Strichtarn
Fabric sample of Strichtarn.
TypeMilitary camouflage pattern
Place of originEast Germany
Service history
In service1965-1990
Used bySee Users
Production history
Produced1965-1990

History
East German Border Guard soldiers at the Berlin Wall in 1989.

The Strichtarn was adopted by East Germany in 1965 in service with the National People's Army to replace the Flächentarn, which was adopted in 1958.[1] In East German service, it was known as "Kampfanzug 64" (English: Combat Suit 64).[3]

When the pattern was used in South Africa, it's known as "rice fleck".

Design

Strichtarn was designed with broken vertical red-brown lines on a grey-green field, which was also known as the raindrop pattern.[1][2] The patterns made for the Strichtarn consisted of Type 1, which was made from 1965 to 1967.[2] The Type 2 was made from 1967 to 1990.[2]

The pattern is also seen as helmet covering for the M56 helmet.

Users
  • Numerous Strichtarn variants were used by Croatian forces in the Balkan Wars.[1] Most were acquired as surplus gear alongside M56/76 helmets and used until 1992.[4]
  • Strichtarn was adopted as the vz. 60 Jehlicí or the Oblaky by Czechoslovakian forces.
  • East Germany adopted Strichtarn in 1965.[5][6]
  • The Polish Army adopted a Strichtarn-like pattern known as wz.58 "Deszczyk" (rain) in 1958, first issued to airborne units.[7] The camouflage pattern was then issued to other parts of the armed forces and remained in use to the 70's before being replaced by wz 68 "Mora".
  • The South African Defence Force has used the pattern.[2] Clones were made for South African Special Forces operators during the South African Border War.[8]
  • Among non-state actors, SWAPO and UNITA made use of Strichtarn in the 1965 war in Angola.[5][2]

References
  1. "Trousers, M1965 Strichtarn (Line pattern camouflage) (summer): DDR NVA". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. Krauß 2016, p. 5.
  3. Krauß 2016, p. 6.
  4. Mikulan & Thomas (2006), p. 60.
  5. "Shirt, 'raindrop' pattern camouflage: (SWAPO/UNITA)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. Rottman 1987, p. 48.
  7. Zaloga 1985, p. 58.
  8. Pitta 1993, p. 57.

Bibliography
  • Krauß, Michael (2016). Die getarnte Sommerfelddienstbekleidung der DDR 1956 bis 1990: Band 2. Norderstedt: Books on Demand. ISBN 978-3741289668.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mikulan, Krunoslav; Thomas, Nigel (2006). The Yugoslav Wars (1): Slovenia & Croatia 1991–95. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-0850457308.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Pitta, Robert (27 May 1993). South African Special Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-295-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (1987). Warsaw Pact Ground Forces. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-0850457308.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Zaloga, Steven (1985). Soviet Bloc Elite Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-0850456318.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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