Lithuania

Republic of Lithuania

The nation that is today called the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika) was once a part of the Soviet Union, during which time it was the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1990, the nation became the first Soviet Republic to declare its independence. With approximately 15,000 active duty personnel, the Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos ginkluotosios pajėgos) encompass the Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy and Special Operations Forces. Under the Ministry of the Interior are the Border Guards and other internal security forces. Lithuania is a member of NATO, and has been a participant in several recent peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan (as part of ISAF), Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia.

Lithuanian Camouflage Patterns

• Lithuanian 3-colour amoeba pattern used 1991-1998 (the photo was taken in 1995)

• Both the Army and Ministry of Interior troops have worn a copy of the US m81 Woodland camouflage pattern. The Army replaced this pattern in 2003.

• A variation of the old tricolor amoeba pattern is currently worn by the Border Guards of the Interior Ministry.

• The current Lithuanian M05 four colour pattern was first adopted in 2003, and has since become the standard operational uniform for the Ground Forces. Several mild color and fabric variations have been documented.

• A Lithuanian M05 four colour desert pattern was also adopted in 2003. The shapes of the desert version is enlarged compared to the standard M05, and the colors have changed slightly with different production runs.

• The Lietuvos Viešojo Saugumo Tarnyba (VST) or Lithuanian Public Security Service adopted a type of pixelated camouflage design in 2010. The design features very large pixel shapes in black, dark green and light tan on a coyote brown background.

Photographs of Lithuanian Soldiers

• Lithuanian soldiers wearing the M05 four colour pattern 2006