Spain

The Kingdom of Spain

Spanish Camouflage Patterns

• Introduced into service between 1959 and 1960, the m59 camouflage pattern (some sources call this rocoso or "rocky" pattern) saw considerable use until the middle of the 1980s when its use began to decline. Spanish sources indicate, however, that limited use continued with some units until the middle of the 1990s. The pattern consists of black and transluscent red & olive green amoeba shapes on a tan background with overprinted flecks of off-white, and probably saw the widest number of items in production over the course of its career. This pattern was worn by Army paratroops, special operations companies (COE), and the Spanish Legion. It is known by many collectors as the Spanish "brown amoeba" pattern.

• A color variation of the above, the m60 boscosos (woodland) camouflage pattern saw use between 1960 and the 1970s. Using essentially the same drawings as the m59, this print version consists of black and transluscent red & green amoeba shapes on a pale green background with overprinted flecks of off-white. The pattern was also utilized primarily by Army special operations companies (COE) and paratroops (paracaidistas). Collectors have often referred to this pattern as Spanish "green amoeba." A variation exists that was issued to the Spanish Marines as a reversible poncho/shelter and helmet cover.

• Circa 1962, two camouflage patterns were introduced for use by the Spanish Air Force Paratroops (Zapadores) or EZPAC. The green or "spring" version features large "splatter" groupings of reddish-brown & moss green on a light grey background, whilst the yellow or "autumn" version has groupings of reddish-brown & ochre on a light green background. The uniform was specially tailored for airborne operations and featured a removable hood, helmet cover, and neck scarf.

• Two variations of the rocosos camouflage pattern are seen here, dating to the 1970s. The first was printed on the M1969 model Infantry & Legion uniforms, whilst the second comes from a neckscarf worn as a cravat.

• A variation of the rocosos pattern introduced by 1970 featured dark red, dark green and olive green amoeba shapes on a pinkish-tan background with overprinted flecks of off-white. This was also issued only as a reversible poncho/shelter and helmet cover.

• The four-color design seen below is believed to be an early poncho/shelter pattern, possibly issued only to the COE. The irregular shapes actually resemble some of the original shapes in the US ERDL pattern, although the connection is probably quite remote and may even be coincidental. Thus far no photographs of the shelters being used have emerged, leading us to conclude this may have been only an experimental design.

• The Spanish Army also issued a special field tent in 1970, printed in a unique green spot or "frogskin" camouflage design. These saw service into the 1990s. The pattern has large olive green & tan spots on a sandy background. Variations of this pattern emerged in the 1980s printed on a reversible poncho/shelter, helmet cover, field equipment, and some articles of clothing. These variants have dark olive green & ochre spots or reddish-brown on a light OG background.

• A third version of the oft-nicknamed "amoeba" pattern emerged for use in the Spanish Sahara between 1974 and 1975. This árido or desert camouflage consists of russet, lime green & ochre amoeba shapes on a sandy background with overprint of pale yellow flecks. The pattern was worn primarily by the Spanish Legion in North Africa, but evidence shows it was also worn by some Spanish Army commando companies (COE 103) and possibly some paratrooper companies as well. Following Spanish military presence in the Sahara, the pattern was also worn by units stationed on the Canary Islands.

• There were two additional variations of the "amoeba" desert pattern developed in Spain, reversing from a pattern with the same green and yellow elements as the above to one without them. There is little evidence to suggest this reversible design was produced for general issue, which leaves the probability that it was simply an experiment, or at best a trial design.

• At some point in the 1980s, a flecktarn-like camouflage design was briefly introduced for use by the Spanish Airborne Brigade (BRIPAC), and possibly other specialized units. The design features black, dark green & dark olive green spots on a yellow-tan background. Very little documentation has been found of this pattern in use, and it is speculated that it was quite short-lived.

• In 1982, Spain introduced a camouflage pattern heavily influenced by the US m1948 ERDL design. The pattern, black, brown & forest green shapes on a khaki-green background, was initially tested by the Army's special operations companies, but ultimately became the standard issue uniform of the Spanish Armed Forces in 1985 or 1986. Often referred to as the Spanish "leaf" or "ERDL" pattern, shown below is the original COE uniform pattern as well as the standardized version adopted in the late 1980s.

• Circa 1986 the boscosos pattern was revived and given a new colorway for use by the Spanish Legion. This variant incorporates black, dark green & olive green or dark ochre amoeba shapes on a pale green background, and was produced in at least three uniform styles as well as field equipment.

• In 1990 the Spanish Army determined it needed a desert camouflage pattern in which to outfit military personnel serving primarily with the United Nations missions abroad. The design chosen was the original US six-color pattern of black & white "chips" over medium brown, light brown & tan shapes on a sandy background, but reduced by approximately 20%. This pattern is in general service with the Army and Spanish Legion. Most recent versions of the pattern are printed on a poly-cotton ripstop blend fabric.

• Ever the slightly independent branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, in the late 1990s the Marines of the Spanish Navy discarded the standard leaf pattern uniform in favor of one based on the USA m81 woodland drawings. This remains the standard camouflage pattern of this service.

• In 2002 the basic design of the standard Armed Forces "leaf" pattern changed to a slightly darker and more olive colorway. This was adopted by the entire Armed Forces as the standard pattern and remains thus, except for the Spanish Marines.

• The Marines of the Spanish Navy adopted their own desert camouflage pattern in 2003. The design is a four-color pattern of russet, beige, and sand-colored shapes on a tan background. It has since also been adopted by paratroops of the Spanish Air Force (EZPAC).

• In 2009 the Army revealed a series of two new pixelated patterns intended to replace the previous leaf pattern. The M09 Ejercito pixelado pattern seems to be dervied from Multicam and features black, olive green, reddish-brown and small khaki patches on a moss green background. The desert version has medium brown & sand patches on a tan background.

Notes

The editors wish to express our gratitude to Mr. Juan J Morales for his generous assistance in helping expand this section of Camopedia.