Afghanistan - Revision history

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2025-11-05T13:06:25Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2025-11-05T13:05:58Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2025-09-27T15:35:44Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2025-08-26T21:11:15Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1 at 21:07, 26 August 2025

2025-08-26T21:07:45Z

Admin1 at 21:06, 26 August 2025

2025-08-26T21:06:40Z

Admin1 at 23:29, 22 October 2023

2023-10-22T23:29:52Z

Admin1 at 23:26, 22 October 2023

2023-10-22T23:26:41Z

Admin1 at 01:16, 21 March 2023

2023-03-21T01:16:02Z

Admin1 at 00:13, 7 March 2023

2023-03-07T00:13:56Z

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 * Following the unification of [[East Germany]] and [[Germany]], the international military surplus market was flooded with equipment from the former German Democratic Republic, including significant quantities of ''strichtarn'' or [[rain]] pattern camouflage uniforms. A number of these uniforms made their way into Afghanistan, ending up in the hands of mujahideen groups and the Northern Alliance around 1996.
-[[File:ddr2.jpg|200px]]
+[[File:DDR2.jpg|200px]]
 [[File:afghanistan-strichtarn.png|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:05, 5 November 2025
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	[[File:afghan1.jpg\|200px]]		[[File:afghan1.jpg\|200px]]
		+
		+	* Following the unification of [[East Germany]] and [[Germany]], the international military surplus market was flooded with equipment from the former German Democratic Republic, including significant quantities of ''strichtarn'' or [[rain]] pattern camouflage uniforms. A number of these uniforms made their way into Afghanistan, ending up in the hands of mujahideen groups and the Northern Alliance around 1996.
		+
		+	[[File:ddr2.jpg\|200px]]
		+	[[File:afghanistan-strichtarn.png\|200px]]

	* The Northern Alliance were supported and supplied by several Western sources. Although outfitted with whatever gear was available, this [[lizard]] pattern was quite prolific with the group in 2001 when the Taliban regime was overthrown. Uniforms in this pattern were imported from China.		* The Northern Alliance were supported and supplied by several Western sources. Although outfitted with whatever gear was available, this [[lizard]] pattern was quite prolific with the group in 2001 when the Taliban regime was overthrown. Uniforms in this pattern were imported from China.

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 [[File:pakistan2.jpg|200px]]
-* From the mid-1990s until the Taliban government toppled in 2001, a variety of camouflage patterns could be found scattered amongst Afghan government troops. Most of these were locally-produced to Afghan standards from fabrics imported from [[Pakistan]], [[China]] or [[Iran]]. The brown [[duck hunter]] spot pattern seen below is believed to have been worn by both Taliban government and Northern Alliance combatants.
+* From the mid-1990s until the Taliban government toppled in 2001, a variety of camouflage patterns could be found scattered amongst Afghan government troops, as well as Northern Alliance factions. Most of these uniforms were locally-produced to Afghan standards from fabrics imported from [[Pakistan]], [[China]], [[Iran]], or (possibly, in the case of the NA,) [[India]]. The brown [[duck hunter]] spot pattern seen below is believed to have been worn by both Taliban government and Northern Alliance combatants.
 [[File:afghan3.jpg|200px]]

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 == Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan ==
-* One of the oldest documented camouflage patterns issued to Afghan troops is a tricolor "blotch" design, similar in many aspects to the old Italian Army m1929 ''telo mimetico.'' These were worn by the Commando brigades from 1974 into the 1980s, and produced locally from fabric printed in-country.
+* One of the oldest documented camouflage patterns issued to Afghan troops is a tricolor "blotch" design, similar in many aspects to the old Italian Army m1929 ''telo mimetico.'' These were worn by the Commando brigades from 1974 into the 1980s, and produced locally from fabric printed in-country. Surviving examples exhibit a wide range of color combinations, from bright orange to dark russet, and olive green to a medium shade of brown, with a khaki base color.
 [[File:afghanistan1.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:07, 26 August 2025
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	* This three-color camouflage design, probably the same design as worn by the Nigerian Air Force in the 2010s, also appeared among elements of 313 Badri Battalion in beginning in August 2021.		* This three-color camouflage design, probably the same design as worn by the Nigerian Air Force in the 2010s, also appeared among elements of 313 Badri Battalion in beginning in August 2021.

		+	[[File:nigeria10.jpg\|200px]]
	[[File:afghan26.jpg\|200px]]		[[File:afghan26.jpg\|200px]]

@@ Line 164: / Line 164: @@
 [[File:afghan23.jpg|200px]]
-* This dark [[tiger stripe]] camouflage design appeared on some Afghan government forces in early August 2021.
+* This two-color [[tiger stripe]] camouflage design appeared on some elements of the Directorate for Protection and Security (DPS) forces as well as the General Command Police Special Units (GCPSU) units beginning in early 2019. The pattern incorporates black stripes on a greyish-sand colored background. Uniforms in the same pattern were later adopted by elements of the Islamic Emirate's 313 Badri Battalion special forces in 2021, although virtually all photographs of the unit wearing this design are dated to that year.
 [[File:afghan25.jpg|200px]]
-* This three-color camouflage design, probably the same design as worn by the Nigerian Air Force in the 2010s, also appeared among Afghan government forces in August 2021.
+* This three-color camouflage design, probably the same design as worn by the Nigerian Air Force in the 2010s, also appeared among elements of 313 Badri Battalion in beginning in August 2021.
 [[File:afghan26.jpg|200px]]

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 [[File:afghan29.jpg|200px]]
-* Special units of the Afghan Police are being issued copies of the US-made Multicam design.
+* Special units of the Afghan Police were issued copies of the US-made Multicam design for a number of years.
 [[File:usa49.jpg|200px]]
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 [[File:afghan12.jpg|200px]]
-* The Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) have been issued with their own arid/desert camouflage design, also developed by [[Hyperstealth Industries]] and known as "Spec4ce Sierra" pattern. This design consists of medium brown, lichen green, and khaki shapes on a light tan/sand-colored background.
+* The Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) issued their own arid/desert camouflage design, also developed by [[Hyperstealth Industries]] and known as "Spec4ce Sierra" pattern. This design consists of medium brown, lichen green, and khaki shapes on a light tan/sand-colored background.
 [[File:afghan15.jpg|200px]]
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 [[File:afghan24.jpg|200px]]
-* The Public Protection Forces also wear a unique pixelated pattern seen here.
+* The Public Protection Forces also wore a unique pixelated pattern seen here.
 [[File:afghan16.jpg|200px]]
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 [[File:afghan21.jpg|200px]]
-* The 1st Ktah Khas (Afghan Special Force), also initially referred to as the Afghan Partner Unit (APU), was a special operations/anti-terrorist unit that worked closely with Tier 1 units of the [[USA|US]] Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). The 1st KKA received initial training from units of the US Army Ranger Regiment serving with Task Force 3-10. In early 2012, this unit adopted the Ghostex Kilo-1 pattern, developed by [[Hyperstealth|Hyperstealth Industries]].
+* The 1st Ktah Khas (Afghan Special Force), also initially referred to as the Afghan Partner Unit (APU), was a special operations/anti-terrorist unit that worked closely with Tier 1 units of the [[USA|US]] Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). The 1st KKA received initial training from units of the US Army Ranger Regiment serving with Task Force 3-10. In early 2012, this unit adopted the Ghostex Kilo-1 pattern, developed by [[Hyperstealth|Hyperstealth Industries]]. Previous to the adoption of the Kilo-1 design, the KKA were provided uniforms by their Ranger trainers, which included Desert Tiger Stripe and commerical Tiger Stripe pattern camouflage.
 [[File:ghostex-kilo1.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 [[File:afghan22.jpg|200px]]
-* A number of specialized units were also issued uniforms in a commercial [[tiger stripe]] pattern commonly found in the USA. This design has a much darker color palette than any of the tiger patterns developed and printed during the Vietnam War. Use of this pattern was seen by a special anti-terrorist unit of the Afghan National Police, the National Security Directorate (NDS), and the Ktah Khas or KKA of the Armed Forces.
+* A number of specialized units were also issued uniforms in a commercial [[tiger stripe]] patterns commonly found in the USA. These designs have a much darker color palette than any of the tiger patterns developed and printed during the Vietnam War. Use of these designs was seen by a special anti-terrorist unit of the Afghan National Police, the National Security Directorate (NDS), and the Ktah Khas or KKA of the Armed Forces (aka, the Afghan Partner Unit).
 [[File:afghan27.jpg|200px]]
 * Special units of the Afghan Police are being issued copies of the US-made Multicam design.

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 [[File:turkey7.jpg|200px]]
-* Some special units of the Afghan forces were outfitted in commercially-produced desert [[tiger stripe]] pattern uniforms, probably provided by their American instructors/advisors circa 2002. The pattern continues to be worn by the National Security Directorate (NDS).
+* Certain special units of the Afghan Security Forces were outfitted in commercially-produced desert [[tiger stripe]] pattern uniforms, a pattern developed and copyrighted by the American company Tiger Stripe Products©. These uniforms were provided by American instructors and advisors beginning around 2002, although many uniforms were locally-tailored or modified to meet operational specifications popular with special operations. Notable use of the desert tiger stripe pattern was made by the National Security Directorate (NDS) and the Afghan Partner Unit (APU), also known as the 1st Ktah Khas Regiment or simply the KKA. The latter unit was a national counter-terrorist element modeled on the US Army's CAG, and trained by elements of the US Army Ranger Regiment.
-[[File:usa29.jpg|200px]]
+[[File:afghan28.jpg|200px]]
 * Trained and equipped by US Army Special Forces, the Afghan Security Forces (ASF) were issued special uniforms in the USMC [[MARPAT]] temperate camouflage pattern around 2002. The ASF were later amalgamated into the ANA. This pattern was later re-adopted and has been retained by the National Interdiction Unit of the Afghan Police.
@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 [[File:afghan22.jpg|200px]]
-* A special anti-terrorist unit of the Afghan National Police have been issued uniforms in the same commercial [[tiger stripe]] pattern commonly found in the USA. The pattern is also worn by the National Security Directorate (NDS).
+* A number of specialized units were also issued uniforms in a commercial [[tiger stripe]] pattern commonly found in the USA. This design has a much darker color palette than any of the tiger patterns developed and printed during the Vietnam War. Use of this pattern was seen by a special anti-terrorist unit of the Afghan National Police, the National Security Directorate (NDS), and the Ktah Khas or KKA of the Armed Forces.
-[[File:afghan13.jpg|200px]]
+[[File:afghan27.jpg|200px]]
 * Special units of the Afghan Police are being issued copies of the US-made Multicam design.