Belgium - Revision history

Admin1: /* Experimental Patterns of the Belgian Armed Forces */

2026-02-03T21:13:30Z

Experimental Patterns of the Belgian Armed Forces

Admin1: /* Experimental Patterns of the Belgian Armed Forces */

2026-01-30T19:39:52Z

Experimental Patterns of the Belgian Armed Forces

Admin1: /* Belgian Camouflage Patterns */

2026-01-30T19:39:37Z

Belgian Camouflage Patterns

Admin1 at 19:39, 30 January 2026

2026-01-30T19:39:06Z

Admin1 at 04:31, 12 April 2024

2024-04-12T04:31:01Z

Admin1 at 04:30, 12 April 2024

2024-04-12T04:30:29Z

Admin1 at 17:34, 3 December 2022

2022-12-03T17:34:46Z

Admin1: /* Belgian Camouflage Patterns */

2020-10-21T00:47:14Z

Belgian Camouflage Patterns

Admin1 at 00:43, 21 October 2020

2020-10-21T00:43:34Z

Admin1 at 00:34, 21 October 2020

2020-10-21T00:34:39Z

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 [[File:germany1.jpg|200px]]
-* The standard combat uniform of Belgian forces from the end of the Second World War to the 1980s was solid color, dark khaki or various shades of olive green. This was the working uniform of conventional forces. In the late 1980s, it seems the Ministry of Defense began consideration of adopting a universal pattern for the armed forces, and around 1998 began testing several designs already in existence. This included the [[USA|American]] m81 [[woodland]] pattern, as well as [[Morocco|Moroccan Army]] [[lizard]] camouflage. Neither was ultimately adopted, and it was not until around 2000 that [[jigsaw]] camouflage was embraced by all services of the Belgian Armed forces.
+* The standard combat uniform of Belgian forces from the end of the Second World War to the 1980s was solid color, dark khaki or various shades of olive green. This was the working uniform of conventional forces. In the late 1980s, it seems the Ministry of Defense began consideration of adopting a universal pattern for the armed forces, and around 1989 began testing several designs already in existence. This included the [[USA|American]] m81 [[woodland]] pattern, as well as [[Morocco|Moroccan Army]] [[lizard]] camouflage. Neither was ultimately adopted, and it was not until around 2000 that [[jigsaw]] camouflage was embraced by all services of the Belgian Armed forces.
 [[File:Usa7.jpg|200px]]

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 == Experimental Patterns of the Belgian Armed Forces ==
-The standard combat uniform of Belgian forces from the end of the Second World War to the 1980s was solid color, dark khaki or various shades of olive green. This was the working uniform of conventional forces. In the late 1980s, it seems the Ministry of Defense began consideration of adopting a universal pattern for the armed forces, and around 1998 began testing several designs already in existence. This included the [[USA|American]] m81 [[woodland]] pattern, as well as [[Morocco|Moroccan Army]] [[lizard]] camouflage. Neither was ultimately adopted, and it was not until around 2000 that [[jigsaw]] camouflage was embraced by all services of the Belgian Armed forces.
+* Designed during the Second World War by German engineer Helmut Leiber, the ''Leibermuster'' camouflage pattern was considered for use by Belgium, the [[Netherlands]], and [[Germany]] in the mid-1950s as a multinational design for a potential European Defense Union. Although an order was placed for some 20,000 uniforms by Belgium, the Defense Union idea never moved past the development stage and, ultimately, ''Leibermuster'' was not implemented by the Belgian Armed Forces.<ref>Lothar Schuster: Das Ausstattungssoll der Heeresangehörigen der Bundeswehr 1956-2010. Zeughausverlag, Berlin, 2011, p. 85.</ref>
 [[File:Usa7.jpg|200px]]

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	[[File:belgium10.jpg\|200px]]		[[File:belgium10.jpg\|200px]]
−
−	* Designed during the Second World War by German engineer Helmut Leiber, the ''Leibermuster'' camouflage pattern was considered for use by Belgium, the [[Netherlands]], and [[Germany]] in the mid-1950s as a multinational design for a potential European Defense Union. Although an order was placed for some 20,000 uniforms by Belgium, the Defense Union idea never moved past the development stage and, ultimately, ''Leibermuster'' was not implemented by the Belgian Armed Forces.<ref>Lothar Schuster: Das Ausstattungssoll der Heeresangehörigen der Bundeswehr 1956-2010. Zeughausverlag, Berlin, 2011, p. 85.</ref>
−
−	~~[[File:germany1.jpg\|200px]]~~

	* First appearing in 1952, this variation of the original [[brushstroke]] pattern is often called "moon & balls." Consisting of forest green and reddish-brown shapes on a khaki background, many of the green shapes appear from a distance as full circles while others appear only as "half moons"; hence the term ''lune et sphère'' was coined. It can be distinguished from other Belgian brushstroke-derivatives by the faint brush trails of the overlapping colors and the unique "sawtooth" shape encountered infrequently within the pattern. Although worn primarily by Belgian airborne, commando and marine units well into the 1970s, the pattern was only in production from 1952 until 1956. The design was printed on several types of fabric, including light and medium weight cotton poplins, and heavier weight canvas.		* First appearing in 1952, this variation of the original [[brushstroke]] pattern is often called "moon & balls." Consisting of forest green and reddish-brown shapes on a khaki background, many of the green shapes appear from a distance as full circles while others appear only as "half moons"; hence the term ''lune et sphère'' was coined. It can be distinguished from other Belgian brushstroke-derivatives by the faint brush trails of the overlapping colors and the unique "sawtooth" shape encountered infrequently within the pattern. Although worn primarily by Belgian airborne, commando and marine units well into the 1970s, the pattern was only in production from 1952 until 1956. The design was printed on several types of fabric, including light and medium weight cotton poplins, and heavier weight canvas.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:39, 30 January 2026
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	[[File:netherlands17.jpg\|200px]]		[[File:netherlands17.jpg\|200px]]
		+
		+	== Experimental Patterns of the Belgian Armed Forces ==
		+
		+	The standard combat uniform of Belgian forces from the end of the Second World War to the 1980s was solid color, dark khaki or various shades of olive green. This was the working uniform of conventional forces. In the late 1980s, it seems the Ministry of Defense began consideration of adopting a universal pattern for the armed forces, and around 1998 began testing several designs already in existence. This included the [[USA\|American]] m81 [[woodland]] pattern, as well as [[Morocco\|Moroccan Army]] [[lizard]] camouflage. Neither was ultimately adopted, and it was not until around 2000 that [[jigsaw]] camouflage was embraced by all services of the Belgian Armed forces.
		+
		+	[[File:Usa7.jpg\|200px]]
		+	[[File:belgium-woodland.png\|200px]]
		+	[[File:morocco6.jpg\|200px]]
		+	[[File:belgium-lizard.png\|200px]]

	== References ==		== References ==

@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 [[File:belgium18.jpg|200px]]
-* In 1989 the Belgian Air Force introduced a camouflage pattern heavily influenced by the German Army trials of 1976. This pattern, consisting of black, rusty-orange, dark olive and olive-grey spots on a pale green background, is differentiated from the [[Germany|German]] Army ''[[flecktarn]]'' pattern in a number of ways, including the style and positioning of the spots, as well as the specific color combinations employed within the scheme. Uniforms in this pattern were primarily issued to Airport Defense Units ''(Unités de Défense des Aérodromes - Vliegveld Verdedigings Eenheden) more commonly known as the Air Commandos, although since 2010 their official title has been Force Protection and Strike Security. Issue of this design to regular Air Force personnel was discontinued in 2000, although surplus stocks would remain in service with some Air Force reservists and cadets until 2007 or so.
+* In 1989 the Belgian Air Force introduced a camouflage pattern heavily influenced by the German Army trials of 1976. This pattern, consisting of black, rusty-orange, dark olive and olive-grey spots on a pale green background, is differentiated from the [[Germany|German]] Army ''[[flecktarn]]'' pattern in a number of ways, including the style and positioning of the spots, as well as the specific color combinations employed within the scheme. Uniforms in this pattern were primarily issued to Airport Defense Units ''(Unités de Défense des Aérodromes - Vliegveld Verdedigings Eenheden),'' more commonly known as the Air Commandos, although since 2010 their official title has been Force Protection and Strike Security. Issue of this design to regular Air Force personnel was discontinued in 2000, although surplus stocks would remain in service with some Air Force reservists and cadets until 2007 or so.
 [[File:belgium7.jpg|200px]]

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 == The Kingdom of Belgium ==
-Belgian Forces fighting alongside the Allies during World War Two included two airborne units, the Belgian Independent Parachute Company, and a Belgian Special Air Service (SAS) Squadron. Both units wore British-made [[Denison smock|Denison parachutist smocks]] in a unique, hand-painted "[[brushstroke]]" camouflage pattern that later spawned a large branch of derivative patterns that are still used today. Following the war, the Belgians reproduced several variations of the brushstroke pattern, which continued in use primarily with Airborne and Commando units well into the 1970s. Alongside the brushstroke pattern, Belgium also introduced its own indigenous camouflage pattern, nicknamed "[[jigsaw]]" for its resemblance to multicolored pieces of a puzzle. This pattern has continued in usage with Belgiam military forces (in various incarnations) into the present era, and variations have also been produced for her former colonial possessions in Africa.
+Belgian Forces fighting alongside the Allies during World War Two included two airborne units, the Belgian Independent Parachute Company, and a Belgian Special Air Service (SAS) Squadron. Both units wore British-made [[Denison smock|Denison parachutist smocks]] in a unique, hand-painted "[[brushstroke]]" camouflage pattern that later spawned a large branch of derivative patterns that are still used today. Following the war, the Belgians reproduced several variations of the brushstroke pattern, which continued in use primarily with Airborne and Commando units well into the 1970s. Alongside the brushstroke pattern, Belgium also introduced its own indigenous camouflage pattern, nicknamed "[[jigsaw]]" for its resemblance to multicolored pieces of a puzzle. This pattern has continued in usage with Belgian military forces (in various incarnations) into the present era, and variations have also been produced for her former colonial possessions in Africa.
 <html><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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 [[File:belgium12.jpg|200px]]
-* A 1950-dated Belgian manufactured version of the British [[Denison smock]] using an early copy of the [[brushstroke]] pattern is seen here. This pattern would have been in service from the very late 1940s until circa 1952 with airborne and commando units. The design is actually quite unsophisticated, being simply wide brushstrokes of green and brown painted in a criss-cross pattern, seemingly having less functionality than the original WW2 design.
+* A 1950-dated Belgian manufactured version of the British [[Denison smock]] using an early [[brushstroke]] design is seen here. This pattern would have been in service from the very late 1940s until circa 1952 with airborne and commando units. The design is actually quite unsophisticated, being simply wide brushstrokes of green and brown painted in a criss-cross pattern, seemingly having less functionality than the original WW2 design.
 [[File:belgium13.jpg|200px]]
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 [[File:belgium18.jpg|200px]]
-* In 1989 the Belgian Air Force introduced a camouflage pattern heavily influenced by the German Army trials of 1976. This pattern, consisting of black, rusty-orange, dark olive and olive-grey spots on a pale green background, is differentiated from the [[Germany|German]] Army ''[[flecktarn]]'' pattern in a number of ways, including the style and positioning of the spots, as well as the specific color combinations employed within the scheme. Uniforms in this pattern were primarily issued to Airbase Security Personnel, and their issue was discontinued in 2000.
+* In 1989 the Belgian Air Force introduced a camouflage pattern heavily influenced by the German Army trials of 1976. This pattern, consisting of black, rusty-orange, dark olive and olive-grey spots on a pale green background, is differentiated from the [[Germany|German]] Army ''[[flecktarn]]'' pattern in a number of ways, including the style and positioning of the spots, as well as the specific color combinations employed within the scheme. Uniforms in this pattern were primarily issued to Airport Defense Units ''(Unités de Défense des Aérodromes - Vliegveld Verdedigings Eenheden) more commonly known as the Air Commandos, although since 2010 their official title has been Force Protection and Strike Security. Issue of this design to regular Air Force personnel was discontinued in 2000, although surplus stocks would remain in service with some Air Force reservists and cadets until 2007 or so.
 [[File:belgium7.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:34, 3 December 2022
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	[[File:Multicam.jpg\|200px]]		[[File:Multicam.jpg\|200px]]
		+
		+	* Beginning in 2021, the Belgian Navy began issuing personnel the same blue-dominant fractcal camouflage design implemented by the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). There being close cooperation between the Naval forces of the two nations, it was deemed important to "achieve maximum synergy and standardization in clothing material,l" according to the Belgian Defence Ministry. <ref>https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/12/dutch-and-belgian-navies-to-adopt-new-bluer-camo-scheme/</ref>
		+
		+	[[File:netherlands17.jpg\|200px]]

	== References ==		== References ==

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 [[File:germany1.jpg|200px]]
-* First appearing in 1952, this variation of the original [[brushstroke]] pattern is often called "moon & balls." Consisting of forest green and reddish-brown shapes on a khaki background, many of the green shapes appear from a distance as full circles while others appear only as "half moons"; hence the term ''lune et sphère'' was coined. It can be distinguished from later Belgian brushstroke-derivatives by the faint brush trails of the overlapping colors and the unique "sawtooth" shape encountered infrequently within the pattern. Although worn primarily by Belgian airborne, commando and marine units well into the 1970s, the pattern was only in production from 1952 until 1956. The design was printed on several types of fabric, including light and medium weight cotton poplins, and heavier weight canvas.
+* First appearing in 1952, this variation of the original [[brushstroke]] pattern is often called "moon & balls." Consisting of forest green and reddish-brown shapes on a khaki background, many of the green shapes appear from a distance as full circles while others appear only as "half moons"; hence the term ''lune et sphère'' was coined. It can be distinguished from other Belgian brushstroke-derivatives by the faint brush trails of the overlapping colors and the unique "sawtooth" shape encountered infrequently within the pattern. Although worn primarily by Belgian airborne, commando and marine units well into the 1970s, the pattern was only in production from 1952 until 1956. The design was printed on several types of fabric, including light and medium weight cotton poplins, and heavier weight canvas.
 [[File:belgium2.jpg|200px]]
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 [[File:belgium15.jpg|200px]]
-* Introduced in 1954 and continuing in production until circa 1975 was the more traditional Belgian [[brushstroke]] camouflage seen below. In general the pattern consists of thick dark green & russet brown brushstrokes on a khaki background, although at least two or three variations have been documented in terms of color usage (some using significantly brighter hues) printed on both a heavyweight canvas and a mediumweight cotton fabric. Also issued exclusively to Belgian airborne, commando & marine units, it is believed the design was primarily intended for use outside of Europe, particularly in Belgium's African colonies. Although production discontinued in the 1970s, existing stocks continued to be issued well into the early 1990s.
+* Also introduced in 1952 was the more traditional Belgian [[brushstroke]] camouflage seen below. In general the pattern consists of thick dark green & russet brown brushstrokes on a khaki background, although at least two or three variations have been documented in terms of color usage (some using significantly brighter hues) printed on both a heavyweight canvas and a mediumweight cotton fabric. Also issued exclusively to Belgian airborne, commando & marine units, it is believed the design was primarily intended for use outside of Europe, particularly in Belgium's African colonies. Although production discontinued in the 1970s, existing stocks continued to be issued well into the early 1990s.
 [[File:belgium3.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:34, 21 October 2020
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	[[File:Multicam.jpg\|200px]]		[[File:Multicam.jpg\|200px]]
		+
		+	== References ==
		+
		+	<references/>