Macedonia

Republic of North Macedonia

The Republic of North Macedonia (Република Северна Македонија) has been an independent state since 1991. It was formerly a province within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but achieved its independence without any conflict at all. Following independence, the country declared itself the Republic of Macedonia (Република Македонија or Republika Makedonija), but this was changed to the Republic of North Macedonia in June 2018 as a result of the Prespa Agreement between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia. The Macedonian Army (Армија на Република Северна Македонија/Armija na Republika Severna Makedonija, or ARSM) did have limited involvement during the crisis in Kosovo (primarily guarding its national borders) and fought an insurgency against ethnic Albanians between March and June of 2001.

Although initially outfitted in combat uniforms of the Yugoslavian National Army (JNA), the ARM shortly introduced its own distinctive camouflage uniform in 1992. Some units have also worn surplus US military uniforms. Two new pixelated camouflage designs were produced beginning in 2009.

Macedonian Camouflage Patterns

• For a short-period of time, the fledgling ARM wore locally-made DPM pattern camouflage uniforms, made from fabric of undetermined sources. The coloration and fabric of these uniforms is remarkably similar to that found on British tropical DPM from the 1990s, although there is no doubt the uniforms were locally-made. Whatever the source, the supplies must have been limited as the uniform disappeared very shortly and was replaced by the distinctive pattern found on the M92 and M96 designs.

• Introduced in 1992, the distinctive ARM four-color camouflage design has seen at least three primary color variants. Seemingly unrelated to the general "families" of camouflage, the first version to emerge, M92, features dark brown, light brown, & forest green on a tan background. The M92 version was in production until 1995-96, although it was encountered for a period of years thereafter.

• Probably introduced in 1995, the M96 camouflage pattern features a modified colorway incorporating medium brown, ochre & olive green on a tan background. By far the most commonly encountered design, this pattern remained in production for several years and was often worn concurrently with the M92 design well into the early 2000s.

• A third variation of the ARM four-colour pattern is the M98, which has an even darker colorway, featuring black, brown and forest green on a tan background. The actual date of this pattern is uncertain, but may also have been released in 1995. All versions of the M92-96 pattern have been phased out of use with the implementation of the pixeleated designs.

• The Army introduced a locally-made copy of American m81 woodland camouflage at some point prior to 2009. The locally-printed textiles appear to have a slightly different color palette from US originals, particularly noticed after some wash and wear of the uniforms.

• Some units of the Federal Police (Полиција) or PM continue to wear an olive green or khaki-base tiger stripe camouflage pattern that originated in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The current issue patterns are locally-produced and tagged, and it would appear the printing screens are different from those utilized during the era of the Federal Republic.

• The Special Operations Unit "Tiger" (Единица за специјални задачи) are an elite special police unit, falling under the administration of the Federal Police (Полиција) or PM. Although the unit commonly deploys in solid black battledress, it has at times worn a four-color urban camouflage pattern based on around the US m81 woodland design. The colorway features black, dark grey & blue-grey woodland shapes on a light grey background.

• Another special police unit is the Rapid Deployment Unit (EMR) or Единица за брзо распоредување, which wears a copy of UCP (Universal Camouflage Pattern).

• Another federal police unit with special duties is the Посебна Единица за Поддршка (Special Support Unit), which handles crowd control and riots, among other duties. This unit wears a copy of the USMC MARPAT temperate camouflage.

• Introduced in 2009, the Macedonian Armed Forces have adopted a temperate "digital" camouflage pattern incorporating black, brown and light olive on a green field. A desert version of the pattern has also been adopted, incorporating spice brown, mint green & off-white on a sand-colored field.

Other Camouflage Patterns Worn by Macedonia

• The old Yugoslav (JNA) "mountain" sniper suit was worn by special units of the ARM until only recently.

• Early units of the ARM wore the JNA m89 oakleaf pattern camouflage uniform. The uniform was phased out quickly, and probably worn no later than 1992.

• Many units of the Macedonian Police initially wore the same green tiger or lizard camouflage pattern as other former Yugoslavian republics. Although use of these patterns has been retained, locally-produced versions are now being fielded, utilizing slightly different printing screens. Also note the use of British DPM light fragmentation vests, which were donated in large quantities to Macedonia around this time by the British government.

• Some time around 2005-2006 units of the ARM, particularly early Special Forces and Ranger units, adopted surplus American m81 woodland pattern camouflage uniforms. Although Macedonia would later produce its own, locally-made copy of m81, the American version can be distinguished in period photographs by the US buttons, the color palette, and the styling of the uniform itself.

• Macedonian units operating in Afghanistan (ISAF) and Iraq (OIF) between 2006 and 2007 deployed wearing surplus American tricolor desert pattern camouflage uniforms, which were supplied by the US government

• During its commitment to Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan, some Macedonian medical personnel were issued Norwegian military issue M/03 desert camouflage pattern uniforms. Presumably use of this pattern was very limited for Macedonian personnel.