Pics of Royal Marines on Op Herrick wearing the new Multi-Terrain Pattern developed by Crye Precision for the UK Ministry of Defence have begun to emerge.
This is Lt Col Paul James, Commanding Officer of 40 Commando Royal Marines taking over the Sangin area of operations in Helmand province, from Lt Col Nick Kitson, CO, 3 Rifles.
Thanks to Dom Hyde for identifying the source as the photos as the Helmland Blog.
Nursejoe is a supplier of military and civilian scrubs for working in extreme conditions. They offer a wide variety patterns, colors, and styles. Tops are available with or without name and rank pile tape and there are three styles of pocket choices. They also offer matching scrub pants for most tops. Depending on the style, pants feature an elastic waist band or draw string for comfort. Additionally, most pants also have two side pockets for storing various equipment, pens, etc. Camo prints are their specialty and they offer scrubs in MultiCam, woodland digital (MARPAT-like), the new Navy digital, Air Force tiger as well as UCP, in addition to several other patterns. Sizes vary from XS to 3XL, but beware their sizes run big. They also have scrub hats and surgical scrubs available. So if you are in the market for a set of “tactical” scrubs check out nursejoe.com
Popular Science recently had an article on a study completed by Adam Harvey, a designer and technologist with NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program to develop camouflage to defeat face recognition technologies. Causing distortions around the eyes tended to be most effective. However, while the technique does fool detection software, it certainly doesn’t do much for blending in. It is kind of difficult to walk around with dark patches around the eyes and not stick out like a sore thumb garnering other forms of attention.
About this image:
Images with a red square tested positive, a face was found
Images without a red square tested negative, no face was found
Images under the section “TEST PATTERNS†are made according to results of the Haar deconstruction
Images under “RANDOM PATTERNS†are random doodles made without the anti-face detection patterns in mind
Images underneath the “NO PATTERNS†heading are left untouched to show that the face detection works well on simple line drawings
Line drawings are from Figure Drawing for Fashion Design
See the Adam Harvey Project for more info.
Over the weekend, Strike Hold! published a great article (Making Sense of Digital Camo) discussing the “digital phenomenon” sweeping the camo world. What’s it all mean? Many have been using the term digital interchangeably with pixelated and nothing could be further from the truth. After all, the pixel designs are just a means to make the pattern easier to deal with during the design and printing phases. Squares are much easier to register than irregular shapes. On the other extreme is MultiCam which looks to be an old school analog pattern but was developed with computer aid design software and a lot of hard work.
Here’s a tip, watch for fractal camo to be the next big thing, taking over from the pixelated patterns that have dominated as of late. Still developed with the aid of computers, fractal patterns more closely mimic nature.
A lot of folks have been asking where they can get their hard goods dipped in the new A-TACS camouflage. Developers of the A-TACS camouflage, Digital Concealment Systems have announced an exclusive partnership with TWN Industries and their hardline decorating affiliates across the country. TWN Industries, Inc is the largest supplier of hydrographic camouflage films worldwide. This is a process which utilizes a specially designed water tank to float printed film on the surface of the water. Next, a chemical activator is sprayed to dissolve the film leaving the printed design suspended on the surface of the tank. Specially prepared and coated parts are “dipped” into the tank and the design adheres to the finish of the product. Finally, a protective top coat is applied and the product is ready to be re-assembled for use. Many of you saw the dipped helmets in several booths at SHOT and this is how they were done.
For more information or to find a certified decorator near you contact TWN industries.
Last year we introduced readers to WL Gore’s proprietary camouflage pattern OPTIFADE Open Country pattern. This year they have introduced a new pattern; Forest which is specifically designed for tree stand hunting in wooded environments. Like the Big Game/Open Country pattern, the new Big Game/Forest pattern is based on how deer see, both spatially and colorimetrically. Incorporating both micro and macro patterns, the unique micro-pattern considers the way a deer or other ungulate perceives color, the ratio of positive to negative space and other visual elements to create an effect that allows the hunter to blend with the animal’s perception of the environment. Whereas, the macro-pattern breaks up the symmetry of the human body so that if a hunter is detected, the animal will not be able to identify the hunter as a predator.
As a bit of a side note, while WL Gore has shown the patterns at military trade shows to gauge interest they have been quite adamant that they are not for use by military forces and furthermore that they are not at work developing a military pattern. Interestingly, their partners in development of both of these patterns have been Guy Cramer and Lt Col Tim O’Neil both well known for the introduction of numerous military patterns into the market. Regardless, the science behind OPTIFADE is solid and now there are two options available for outdoorsmen depending on environment.
OPTIFADE clothing in both patterns is available from Sitka which was recently purchased by WL Gore. Packs in OPTIFADE can also be purchased from Mystery Ranch.
Strike Hold! caught a BBC broadcast providing some new details of the new British Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) designed by Crye Precision for the Ministry of Defence.
I think this photo gives the best impression of what I have been talking about. Essentially, the MoD adapted their Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) with the MultiCam color pallet as well as a few Crye tricks.
Awhile back we shared with you video of MMI’s new camo pattern designed for use by snipers. At the recent NAVEXFOR expo they unveiled a new color variant called ‘Oasis’ which is more of a woodland pattern and here you can see it applied to a developmental over suit. In addition to the top shown there are also chaps available. Designed to keep the wearer as cool as possible, the material is also FR and provides an additional amount of signature suppression.
Contact www.mmi-fed.com for more info.
