Greece

Hellenic Republic (Greece)

The Hellenic Armed Forces (Eλληνικές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις) have largely been influenced by the camouflage developments of other nations, namely France, Portugal and the United States. Yet most of the camouflage clothing adopted by the Greek military is stamped with a particularly indigenous style of its own. Both the French tenue leopard pattern developed in the 1950s, and the Portuguese M1963 "vertical lizard" patterns have influenced Greek designs, and in recent years elite units of the Greek Army and Navy have also adopted copies of pixelated camouflage patterns developed by the United States.

Greek Camouflage Patterns

• The first camouflage pattern produced locally was a copy of the original French tenue leopard or "lizard" design, introduced in the mid-1970s. The design seems to use the original late French lizard pattern drawings and colors, and was printed on a heavy HBT cotton fabric.

• Subsequently there was introduced a variation of the original French drawings incorporating a slightly more disruptive element to the stripes in the pattern. Several color variations have been documented, ranging from a very tan to a distinctly olive green background color. All variations utilize the same screens, one unique feature of which is a distinctive pattern of stippling to some of the stripes. Overlapping brushstrokes of dark brown & dark olive green complete the design, and all versions seem to be printed on medium-weight twill fabric. This camouflage pattern - as well as the variations later adopted - is generally the most commonly associated with the Hellenic Armed Forces, being worn at various times by Army, Navy and Air Force personnel. In common parlance it is generally referred to as "Greek lizard" pattern, despite the wide number of variations documented.

• A second series of "lizard" camouflage was adopted at some point in the late 1980s or early 1990s. These variations are printed on a lighterweight ripstop cotton fabric, and the design has lost some of the unique stippling features that were evident in the previous design. Nevertheless, a similar variability in coloration can be found depending on when and by what factory the fabric was produced.

• Although somewhat speculative, it appears Greek camouflage design was at some point influenced by the Portuguese "vertical lizard" patterns which emerged in the early 1960s. At least two Greek camouflage patterns of similar vertical design originated in the mid or late 1970s. Of these, the more commonly seen is this version worn by the Greek Marines, consisting of dense vertical stripes of blue-black & two shades of olive green on a tan background. This has been nicknamed "Greek seaweed" pattern by a few collectors, due to its obvious similarity to hanging strands of the aquatic plantlife, and remained in use until the 1980s.

• Another vertical design, apparently very short-lived, is that seen here. This has been attributed to use by the Greek Navy Special Forces (DYK), and incorporates a very similar color scheme to the standard Hellenic "lizard" pattern, but in a sparser concentration and vertical alignment.

• A variation of the standard Greek lizard pattern was introduced in the 1990s specifically for the Hellenic Air Force. This design incorporates dark grey & orange-brown horizontal stripes on a medium blue background. A later variation of the pattern features grey-green and blue stripes on a pale grey background.

• Mostly recently introduced is this desert version of the Greek lizard pattern, issued to all personnel of the Hellenic Armed Forces deployed to arid regions. The design features brown & yellow-tan horizontal stripes on a sandy background.

• First appearing in 2012, this "pixelated" version of the standard Hellenic lizard pattern is now being fielded by members of the Greek Army Special Forces.

Other Camouflage Patterns worn by Greek Forces

• Dating to the 1990s, some members of the Greek Navy Special Forces (DYK) have worn American m81 woodland pattern uniforms.

• Greek Air Force and Navy special operations personnel have occasionally adopted ex-British DPM pattern uniforms for training and deployment purposes.

• More recently, another unit of the Greek Navy Special Forces (DYK) have employed a copy of the USMC MARPAT Temperate camouflage pattern.

• Likewise, some Navy Special Forces (DYK) and Air Force Special Operations (31 MEE) have deployed with ex-USA surplus desert camouflage uniforms in the standard US tricolor desert pattern.

• Circa 2007 to present, members of the Greek Army Special Forces (ETA) have been observed wearing the US Army's Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP).