Like peas and carrots, the Scorpion W2 and MultiCam patterns are certainly complimentary but they aren’t exact matches.
You asked for it, so here it is. Scorpion W2 is on the left and MultiCam pattern on the right. The lighting was not the same. However, the two side-by-side patterns are scaled based on the pattern repeat. This gives you an accurate view of how the pattern elements square up with one another.
Not trying to be too critical but if you flip one of them 180 degrees you’ll be able to see some of the similar pattern markings better. One of these is upside down.
In spite of the difference of key lighting, still think OCP is the superior camouflage… Thank you SSD for the great photos!!
They’re both OCP – according to the US Army. 😉
Thanks for taking the time to scale them properly and make the side by side comparison.
Scorpion looks to me like bleached multicam… too light for anything except dry grass and desert.
That’s just a trick of the lighting in these two photos – as SSD said. The MultiCam / OCP photo isn’t as brightly lit as the Scorpion W2 / OCP photo. In the flesh, the tonal levels are virtually identical – I’ve seen them both by the way.
The colors are virtually identical as Strike-Hold has stated.
my buddy just pointed out that scorpion/ocp looks like multicam ocp after we were a few months into deployment. haha.
but i get the photo trickery
Since you’ve seen Scorpion in person would you say that the color way is a M81 woodland like or is it just like Multicam? Reason I ask is because I’ve seen a few pictures now where the colorway, as far as the individual colors are concerned, on Scorpion looks a lot like M81.
SSD, you know what would be fantastic? Pictures of OCP in nir. 😀
Hyperstealth did an awesome side by side testing of many patterns. Also in NIR. Ofcourse, the US4CES won according to its developer but apart from that still a good read.
http://www.hyperstealth.com/GenIII-NVG/index.html
Scorpion appears to be a horizontal-dominant pattern. Just using the naked eye, and not accounting for lighting differences, I would choose Multicam over scorpion. Bottom line tho, anything but UCP.
Thanks SSD.
I hope when Scorpion is issued the differences are less stark. It would be less of a reason for the Army to contest a wear in period where both patterns can be worn saving the soldier money. Color aside, these look closer than ERDL and woodland which I remember being worn in the same formation without too much hassle.
On the downside your comparison photo is going to draw comments from those who will not be satisfied with anything less than a multicam decision.
FWIW and correct me if I’m wrong, Scorpion (version whatever) wasn’t scientifically compared against multicam in the recent (still yet to be released) Phase IV camo improvement program. Food for thought as some claim the inherent superiority of multicam…
You are correct on all counts.
Not holding my breath … but we need the implementation ALARACT to include specific instructions to “the field” (ahem … CSMs) that previously issued OCP (MC) and commercial MultiCam items are specifically authorized and that local commanders (ahem … CSMs) are NOT/NOT/NOT authorized to prohibit the use of MultiCam items with OCP.
YUP.
Here’s what’s probably going to happen; SMA will authorize the use, even temporarily, of “old” OCP. However, CSM’s will what to do their normal bullshit and they will all prohibit the use of “old” OCP for use before, during, and post-implementation of “new” OCP. It’s like those battalions that add on their own unique and stupid rules on top of AR 670-1.
I’m so glad millions of dollars were spent to get this camo pattern. It’s really going to make a difference.
Did I mention I’m trading my 2014 Harley for a 2015 Harley because the 2015 Harley has 2 more horsepower than the 2014 Harley? So worth it.
The better analogy would be that the 2015 had 2 less horsepower.
Any new bookend rumors?
+1
While Multicam’s additional slugs and tree branches may matter from a copyright/trademark perspective, I can’t imagine they dramatically affect camo effectivenes. If you like multicam, Scorpion is basically the same thing and, let’s not forget, a huge improvement over ACU.
As for the cost of testing, I had impression Army was trying to see if one was so much superior to justify cost of changing everything. Scopion allows existing OCP organizational equipment and uniforms to continue to be worn until transition is complete and avoids the royalties and other payments that Crye was demanding.
The point is it works–better than the old winner, All Over Brush–and that’s what’s important. This is a good move by Army. And the amount spent on testing was a few million, not hundreds of millions or whatever people have said.
To be clear, the Army has yet to demonstrate that Scorpion W2 has been adequately tested. Additionally, testing has been in the tens of millions of dollars, ad by that I mean more than 10, much more.
FYI, the camo pattern being replaced is called UCP or Universal Camouflage Pattern, ACU stands for Army Combat Uniform is just the uniform pattern and can be made in any color of camo pattern under the sun.
On the right I see a busier camouflage, I don’t believe I see a superior camouflage. I used Multicam operationally in Afghanistan like many individuals here have, W2 would have worked just as effectively. The subtleties concerning the differences between the two patterns is a moot point as far as I’m concerned. Soon enough I’ll be able to wake up, shave my face, and feel proud about the uniform I’m fielding.
You can’t say conclusively that Scorpion works just as effectively. Passed tests of Scorpion put it a little behind MC. But that was also the older version and not W2 if I recall correctly. One thing that I notice from looking at the photo is that MC has more depth and dimension to the pattern vs Scorpion which looks much more flat. That may or may not make a difference in detection.
One thing we all can conclusively agree on though is that Scorpion W2 is leaps and bounds better than UCP.
I never said it was conclusive, I said I believe it would have worked as effectively. The depth and breadth of the multicam pattern, clean, is apparent. With about a patrol or two’s worth of mud and dirt, I can’t imagine there would be a significant difference.
Many Thanks for the Side-by-Side, SSD. I figured the two of them looked pretty much the same. With this look: Definitely related, but clearly, significantly different.
The MultiCam looks upside down…
I have never, ever considered the idea of camo being upside down. That would really suck if it was done on an aircraft.
Maybe TigerStripe, I always thought it made me look fat, now if the stripes were vertical…
Makes Multicam look too busy, might be nice for movement.
MultiCam is only too busy if it doesn’t work. We know it does, very well. It’s been used operationally for years. Scorpion W2? Who knows. It’s never been used operationally and barely tested.
Remember, Crye Precision altered the original Scorpion to enhance its performance by adding the vertical elements.
Scorpion will do just fine. First, it’s not that hideous blue stuff I was fortunate to miss.
Most troops who wear it won’t even see the field more than two weeks a year, right? It’s the one of ten who might actually live in it for a reason, and they will greatly benefit.
First, lets not forget most of them will be mounted in vehicles, working a crew served stationary weapon, or otherwise NOT with their nose pressed to the ground. Don’t even – so, for the real grunts and groundpounders, it’s a major improvment. Of course, IF YOU CAN SEE ANY OF IT UNDER THE FIELD GEAR.
About all that’s left of the uniform that shows are the arms and legs, right?
Can we get some perspective shots of what the uniform will look like full battle rattle side by side in field gear?
Some of you need to step away from the keyboard and get out in the field.
Field gear shouldn’t matter any since the plan is to continue what the Army has been doing since the adoption of UCP and have all gear from body armor to pouches made from nylon in a matching camo pattern. First it was everything in UCP then when they came out with OCP everything was in Multicam, and now with the new OCP the Army plans on getting everything printed up to match so that soldiers will be in head to toe OCP with only a few things that are just a solid color, most notably their weapons.
I honestly think it looks better than Multicam, however I think the whole years of camo testing and competition was pure lunacy on the Army’s part. I still believe the US4CES camo from Guy Cramer would have been more versatile and practical overall, the Scorpion W2 is better than what we in the Army have now.
Here, I color corrected it to make a more direct comparison.
http://imgur.com/M4uu7Dd
I see what you did there. Color corrected and flipped it.
Reminds me of the switch from ERDL to the M81 woodland.
And as was mentioned I hope they did do some testing on it but at least it looks like even if they didn’t it will still work pretty well.
The above multicam photo shows alot more density but here are Soldiers with multicam that does not seem so dense.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f252/signalwarrant/size0_zps596f50c6.jpg
The scorpion pattern looks less busy because it has a smaller repeat (the width/height of the rotating pattern is smaller) than multi cam. It’s also missing vertical slugs. Whatever. They’re close enough and that makes me happy. I just want to get out of these ridiculous ACUs.
Can you guys describe the differences? Cause I can’t.
Scorpion W2 looks.. less complex and less twigs? I don’t know.
Based on images I can see how MC is a superior pattern. W2 actually draws your attention to the shape in the pattern (probably why everyone likes it, it’s like a piece of art), which is distinct. MC doesn’t really draw your attention to any certain shape and blends much better. Definitely would be interested in testing on W2 vs MC.
It was tested in Phase IV. Hyperstealth discusses. More important, it did better than the old winner, which looks like Rhodesian, which was called All Over Brush.
Look, camo is not “black magic.” These look nearly identical and will perform nearly identical. And they’ll perform many times better than UCP the current camo on ACU.
I wonder why the army didn’t go with Scorpion for OEF.
Thanks for doing this
Awesome, great to see them side by side. Regardless which is better, Multicam or Scorpion, I’m just happy that soldiers are going to look like soldiers again.
https://www.kdhdefensesystems.com/products/military/improved-outer-tactical-vest/
I sincerely hope they don’t try to go cheap on the molle again, and this seems like the “perfect” opportunity for them to cut corners now that sequestration is edging its way back in the news.
Also I wish I’d had to find an old SSD photo to use for this and not the IOTV on a current suppliers website.
I’d be willing to bet the official webbing match will be the cheesy 4 color multicam knock-off tape Natick started a couple years ago. Educated guess based on Murdock working on a 4-color woven style Jacuard camo webbing.
Bet ya a quarter or chowhall breakfast on a biscuits and gravy day (I called it SOS once but the E7 jumped in my shit because his cooks work hard preparing it)
I’ve had the chance to and own the UK’s new Pattern MC colour range of uniforms and equipment. One thing I noticed was UK Soldiers still sporting Woodland DPM coloured LBE over the MC Coloured DPM uniforms, and it’s works well. I have also seen and own the MC Issue uniforms and have worn Woodland camo over it as well. all seems to ble nd well together. Anyway, WOuld liek to see tHE US Army Bookend pattern uniforms soon. I know that woodland and jungle area based soldiers need this ranger along with Desert based troops.
Listen,
Unless you are Turkey hunting in the West/SW no one will be able to tell the difference between the two while in the field. With the amount of gear we carry now while dismounted, the differences are mute. What is important is the color pallet and the breakup of contrasting features.Those who have to worry about being spotted at 10 yards are not relying on OCP to keep them safe.
We could have saved the Army 10 years and untold millions if you would have let a group of hunters from all parts of the US visit a Cabela’s and pick a family of patterns, but that is water under the bridge at this point.
Ummm, no