Chile
The region that now is called the Republic of Chile (República de Chile) was once inhabited by the indigenous Mapuche people. Despite incursions into their territory by the Incas in the late 15th century, the Mapuche successfully defended their land which was never incorporated into the Incan Empire. Spain, however, seeking sources of precious metals, began a long military campaign to bring the region under its control. Although declared a part of the Spanish Empire as early as 1541, the Mapuche launched numerous insurrections lasting as late as 1655. Facing local resistance, encroachment by both the British and Dutch, and harassment by privateers, Chile became one of the most militarized Spanish possessions in the Americas.
Spain maintained control over the region until 1810, when a government junta proclaimed Chile to be an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. A movement towards national independence followed shortly thereafter, marked by intermittent warfare until 1818, when a military force under Argentine hero José de San Martín defeated the Spanish royalists and proclaimed Chile to be an independent republic. Chile further expanded its territory during the War of the Pacific (1879-1893), but suffered a brief civil war in 1891, which pitted the Chilean Army against the Chilean Navy.
A succession of military governments ruled the nation from 1924 until 1932, and again in 1973 a military junta led by General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte wrested control of the country and ruled with an iron fist for eight years.
The Armed Forces of Chile consist of four branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Carabineros de Chile which are a gendarmerie-type national police force.
Chilean Camouflage Patterns
- Chilean green frog (rana verda) - also called "mountain pattern". Used around 1970-1980.
- Chilean woodland pattern. A locally produced copy of the US m81 Woodland pattern. Used 1980s to present.
