Laos

Lao People's Democratic Republic

During the 19th century, Laos became part of French Indochina with Vientiane as its capital. The nation was granted full independence as a constitutional monarchy in 1954, but became involved in the Vietnam War in part due to agitation and sympathy from the communist Pathet Lao who were sympathetic to the cause of the Viet Cong. The Laotian Civil War lasted from 1953 until 1975, with the United States, South Vietnam and Thailand supporting the Royal Laotian Army and North Vietnam (with Soviet support) assisting the Pathet Lao. Shortly after the USA departed from Southeast Asia, however, King Savang Vatthana agreed to abdicate, and by December 1975 the Lao People's Democratic Republic was born.

The armed forces of Laos are collectively known as the Lao People's Armed Forces (ກອງທັບປະຊາຊົນລາວ), and consist of the Lao People's Army, Lao People's Navy, and the Lao People's Air Force, divided into four military regions. Additionally, the Ministry of Public Security (a brancy of the Interior Ministry) is charged with duties such as law enforcement, border security, internal security, and immigration. Following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1975, the communist armed forces followed a typically minimalist standard for outfitting personnel, employing mostly drab colored clothing with virtually no use of camouflage patterns at all. It has only been in recent years that the Laotian People's Armed Forces and Ministry of Public Security have begun outfitting personnel in camouflage clothing.

Camouflage Patterns of Laotian Forces

• Airborne units of the Armée Nationale de Laos and the Forces Armées du Royaume were both issued French tenue de leópard lizard camouflage uniforms, including the TAP Mle 1947/51, TAP Mle 1947/52 and TAP Mle 1947/53. The French uniforms were in service from 1954 until 1975.

• Some elements of the Royal Laotian 2e Bataillon de Parachutistes wore the British brushstroke pattern Denison smocks, obtained through French sources, from at least 1954.

• The 2e Bataillon de Parachutistes also wore British M1942 windproof pattern brushstroke camouflage uniforms during the sasme period, also obtained through France.

• From the mid-1960s until 1975, pro-government SGU guerilla units (particularly Commando Raiders) were provided with civilian duck hunter pattern camouflage utilities through US government sources.

• The same SGU Commando Raider units were also provided with South Vietnamese Beo Gam (leopard) pattern camouflage fatigues, also through the US government.

• Additionally, the South Vietnamese "Airborne leaf" pattern camouflage could also be found in significant numbers among members of the SGU units.

• A particular style of tiger stripe camouflage, known among many collectors as Laotian "rubber" (also ARVN & Thai "rubber" pattern) was also to be found among the SGU Commando Raider units from the mid-1960s until 1975. The pattern is distinctive among the subset of tiger stripe designs, and seems to have been produced in both South Vietnam and Thailand. Although very similar to the later Thai "shadowtiger" camouflage design, the pattern does not appear to be printed using the same set of drawings.

• The Laotian People's Army currrently issue a camouflage pattern that is a hybrid of the leaf and woodland designs. This has has been in service since 2009 or so.

• First appearing in 2018, a three-color camouflage design having large dark brown and tan rounded shapes on an olive green background seems to only be issued to personnel from armored crews.

• A four-color woodland-type camouflage design incorporating black, brown and forest green shapes on a pale green background emerged in 2019 with some units of the Laotian Armed Forces. The shapes in this design are distinctive from the previously seen leaf-woodland "hybrid" pattern, which is still being issued in 2020.

• A more densely concentrated leaf type camouflage pattern is also being worn by some Laotian Forces as of 2019. This design incorporates black, dark green, and olive green shapes on a pale green background.

• Personnel of the Laotian People's Air Force currently wear a pixelated camouflage design incorporating medium blue, black, and brown shapes on a pale blue background.

• This woodland-like camouflage design with dark violet replacing the traditional black shapes, has also been adopted by the Lao People's Army. The shapes are in fact not based on the traditional woodland design, but on a completely different set of drawings, although the four-color design and ratio of dark to light is similar to many historic woodland designs.

• At least one branch of the Laotian Ministry of Public Security (ກະຊວງປ້ອງກັນຄວາມສະຫງົບ) are issued a woodland-like camouflage design incorporating black, reddish brown, and khaki shapes on a dark olive green background.

• The Laotian Border Police, falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security, have been documented wearing a pixelated camouflage design having a green dominant color palette.