Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia was on 1st January 1993 divided into two states: Slovakia and Czech Republic

• Mrácky (clouds) reversible pattern. Official designation Letní maskovací odev se skvrnami ("summer camouflage pattern with dapple pattern"). Used by the Czechoslovak 22nd Airborne Brigade and reconnaissance elements of the Army during 1950s to 1970s (production stopped 1962).

• Duby (oak) reversible pattern. One side has a pattern that is often mistaken for the German Leibermuster pattern - but if you study them they are in fact quite different. Used by the Czechoslovak 22nd Airborne Brigade and reconnaissance elements of the Army during 1950s to 1970s (production stopped 1962).

• Four colour sumpfmuster pattern. Used from 1948? Loosely-based on the German WW2 Sumpfmuster - might even have been printed on original German rollers. There are a couple of versions of this pattern. Used for shelter quarters and parachutist smock.

• Vz 60 Mlok (salamander) pattern (also nicknamed clown pattern). Used by the 22nd Airborne Brigade. Later sold to Yemen and PLO. Surplus uniforms were also sold on the commercial market.

• Jehlicí (needles) or oblaky (clouds) pattern. In general service with the Czechoslovak Army from 1963 to the 1980s. As can been seen on the examples below the "clouds" pattern can be quite subtle.

• Five-colour desert pattern. May or may not have been developed for use by Czechoslovak Armed Forces - but was never adopted. Official photos do show a soldier wearing the desert pattern adopted by Czech Republic with boots in this pattern. There is also a colour version with more green etc. - probably developed for use in an European environment.