South West Africa - Revision history

Admin1: /* Southwest Africa */

2025-09-14T20:50:35Z

Southwest Africa

Admin1: /* South West African Camouflage Patterns */

2025-09-14T20:20:02Z

South West African Camouflage Patterns

Admin1 at 22:56, 25 June 2025

2025-06-25T22:56:41Z

Admin1: /* SWAPO/PLAN Camouflage */

2025-06-25T22:55:51Z

SWAPO/PLAN Camouflage

Admin1 at 23:11, 15 January 2021

2021-01-15T23:11:06Z

Admin1 at 02:09, 12 February 2018

2018-02-12T02:09:16Z

Admin1: /* SWAPO/PLAN Camouflage */

2017-08-23T20:19:57Z

SWAPO/PLAN Camouflage

Admin1: /* South West African Camouflage Patterns */

2017-06-16T20:44:05Z

South West African Camouflage Patterns

Admin1: /* South West African Camouflage Patterns */

2015-08-29T16:33:31Z

South West African Camouflage Patterns

Admin1: /* South West African Camouflage Patterns */

2015-08-29T16:30:14Z

South West African Camouflage Patterns

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 http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20west%20africa.gif
-== Southwest Africa ==
+== South West Africa ==
 South West Africa ''(Suidwes-Afrika)'' was the former name of the present day nation of [[Namibia]]. Beginning in 1884, the region was known as German South-West Africa ''(Deutsch-Südwestafrika)'' and was considered a part of the German Empire, despite repeated insurrections. During the First World War, the territory was taken from the Germans by [[South Africa|South African]] forces, after which it became a League of Nations mandate territory under the Union of South Africa. Following the Second World War, South Africa objected to the region coming under control of the United Nations and came to regard it as a fifth province.

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 [[File:swa2.jpg|200px]]
-* The camouflage pattern seen below was designed and produced by South African businessman Johan Niemoller for the SWATF 1st Reconnaissance Unit (SWA Special Forces) in the late 1980s. This design was never officially adopted, but was available to members of the SWA Recce unit for private purchase. A line of Niemoller webbing was also produced in the same pattern for use by this unit. At least two different color variations have been documented, with either a yellowish-tan or a greenish-grey base.
+* The camouflage pattern seen below was designed and produced by South African businessman Johan Niemoller for the SWATF 1st Reconnaissance Unit (SWA Special Forces) in the late 1980s. This design was never officially adopted, but was available to members of the SWA Recce unit for private purchase. A line of Niemoller webbing was also produced in the same pattern for use by this unit. The original design featured black, ochre-yellow, and light olive green savannah shapes on a greenish-tan base. Circa 1995, this same pattern (with a slight colorway modification) was commissioned by a South African company and produced in cotton twill fabric and would be produced in uniforms of a completely different design than those obtained privately by the SWA Special Forces. For reference purposes, the colorway of the Battle Cry camouflage were essentially the same, but the background color was much more of a tan/sandy shade.
 [[File:swa3.jpg|200px]]
 == SWAPO/PLAN Camouflage ==

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 [[File:libya2.jpg|200px]]
-* The [[lizard|vertical lizard]] designs seen here have also been documented in use by SWAPO/PLAN forces, and possibly other insurgent groups operating in Southern Africa. These designs originated in [[Egypt]] and at least two of these were copied by [[South Africa]] for use by clandestine Reconnaissance Regiment (Recce) units. Although similar, the second pattern should be considered distinct from the first two, as it does not appear to have been produced from the same screens.
+* The [[lizard|vertical lizard]] designs seen here have also been documented in use by SWAPO/PLAN forces, and possibly other insurgent groups operating in Southern Africa. These designs originated in [[Egypt]] and at least two of these were copied by [[South Africa]] for use by clandestine Reconnaissance Regiment (Recce) units. Although similar, the last pattern should be considered distinct from the first two, as it does not appear to have been produced from the same screens.
-[[File:egypt28.jpg|200px]]
+[[File:egypt35.png|200px]]
 [[File:egypt28.jpg|200px]]
 [[File:egypt24.jpg|200px]]

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 * The [[lizard|vertical lizard]] designs seen here have also been documented in use by SWAPO/PLAN forces, and possibly other insurgent groups operating in Southern Africa. These designs originated in [[Egypt]] and at least two of these were copied by [[South Africa]] for use by clandestine Reconnaissance Regiment (Recce) units. Although similar, the second pattern should be considered distinct from the first two, as it does not appear to have been produced from the same screens.
 [[File:egypt28.jpg|200px]]
 [[File:egypt24.jpg|200px]]

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 [[File:sap6.jpg|200px]]
-* A unique "grasslands" camouflage design developed for the South West Africa Police (SWAPOL) - often referred to as ''Koevoet'' pattern - was issued from 1980 until just before the unit's disbandment in 1989. Its use was general land not strictly limited to the counter-insurgency unit. The design is a horizontal pattern of russet and dark olive green foliated shapes on a sandy background. A muted version of the pattern, printed on thick, Airtex-like fabric, was also produced (below, right) with tags labeled A.I.R. Although a rumor floated around the collecting community for years that the tags indicated the pattern was "Anti-Infa Red," there has never been any evidence to substantiate the claim. It is more likely that the variant pattern was simply produced by a different company using the name AIR.
+* A unique "grasslands" camouflage design developed for the South West Africa Police (SWAPOL) - often referred to as ''Koevoet'' pattern - was issued from 1980 until just before the unit's disbandment in 1989. Its use was general land not strictly limited to the counter-insurgency unit. The design is a horizontal pattern of russet and dark olive green foliated shapes on a sandy background. A muted version of the pattern, printed on thick, Aertex-like fabric, was also produced (below, right) with tags labeled A.I.R. Although a rumor floated around the collecting community for years that the tags indicated the pattern was "Anti-Infa Red," there has never been any evidence to substantiate the claim. It is more likely that the variant pattern was simply produced by a different company using the name AIR.
 [[File:swa1.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:09, 12 February 2018
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	In cooperation with a United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), the long process of demolization began, with a few skirmishes continuing to be fought. The UN Security Council ultimately put pressure on the South African government to disband the ''Koevoet'' counter-insurgency force, amidst mostly false charges that they were continuing to deploy on combat operations well into 1989 and even committing atrocities against the "helpless" SWAPO. In November 1989, elections were held within SWA, with the new Constituent Assembly holding its first meeting on 21 November 1989. The nation would officially achieve independence and change its name to the Republic of Namibia in 1990.		In cooperation with a United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), the long process of demolization began, with a few skirmishes continuing to be fought. The UN Security Council ultimately put pressure on the South African government to disband the ''Koevoet'' counter-insurgency force, amidst mostly false charges that they were continuing to deploy on combat operations well into 1989 and even committing atrocities against the "helpless" SWAPO. In November 1989, elections were held within SWA, with the new Constituent Assembly holding its first meeting on 21 November 1989. The nation would officially achieve independence and change its name to the Republic of Namibia in 1990.

−	The South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) was the name of the nation's armed forces prior to independence. The SWATF were essentially an auxiliary of the South African Defence Force (SADF), wearing similar uniforms but having their own distinctive head dress and unit insignia. The standard uniform of the SWATF was the same chocolate brown or nutria-colored clothing worn by the SADF, and the only SWATF unit known to have deployed in camouflage were the 1st SW Africa Reconnaissance Unit. ~~Within the~~ South West African Police (SWAPOL), ~~''Koevoet'' were~~ issued ~~their~~ own distinctive camouflage uniform.	+	The South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) was the name of the nation's armed forces prior to independence. The SWATF were essentially an auxiliary of the South African Defence Force (SADF), wearing similar uniforms but having their own distinctive head dress and unit insignia. The standard uniform of the SWATF was the same chocolate brown or nutria-colored clothing worn by the SADF, and the only SWATF unit known to have deployed in camouflage were the 1st SW Africa Reconnaissance Unit. The South West African Police (SWAPOL), however, was issued its own distinctive camouflage uniform.

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 == South West African Camouflage Patterns ==
-* Members of the South West Africa Police (SWAPOL) ''Koevoet'' unit were originally provided with both types of South African Police camouflage as the unit had no stores when originally formed. Stocks of this camouflage were gradually replaced with both plain olive green as well as the unique SWAPOL camouflage design, from 1980 onwards.
+* Members of the South West Africa Police (SWAPOL) ''Koevoet'' unit were originally provided with both types of South African Police camouflage as the unit had no stores of its own when formed. Stocks of this camouflage were gradually replaced with both plain olive green as well as the unique SWAPOL camouflage design, from 1980 onwards, so its use with the unit was short-lived.
 [[File:sap1.jpg|200px]]