Multi-Terrain Pattern
Encyclopedia
The Multi-Terrain Pattern is a camouflage pattern printed on equipment issued to British forces.
As part of the MOD's PECOC programme, three new camouflage patterns were being considered for issue to British forces. These were a revised temperate DPM using lighter colours, a new three-colour desert pattern with enhanced utility for night-time operations, and a hybrid four colour scheme using two colours from each of the previous patterns for use on webbing in all terrains. Following an Urgent Operational Requirement for a camouflage uniform for the Afghan theatre of operations and the success of a commercially available pattern (Crye's MultiCam) when tested in trials, a decision was made to use MultiCam as the basis of a new Multi-Terrain Pattern for British armed forces, replacing the previous temperate DPM uniforms.
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence announced that HM Forces would be issued with the new military uniform
for operations in Afghanistan; initially issued to personnel deployed on Operation Herrick
from March 2010, then issued more widely to HM Forces from 2011 onward replacing all DPM variants of the Combat Soldier 95 uniform by 2013.
British Troops in Afghanistan operate in a mixed landscape, including desert, woodland, mountains and urban. The development team at Dstl
tested multi-terrain camouflage versus the standard army disruptive pattern material, and the desert DPM to determine the best balance of colours. The current HM Armed Forces camouflage were then tested alongside off-the-shelf multi-terrain camouflage. The tests were against terrain that soldiers are likely to encounter across the landscape in Afghanistan
A wide range of camouflage colours were trialled in Britain, Cyprus, Kenya and Afghanistan. Camouflages were compared with in-service and commercially available camouflages—including those from Crye Precision in the United States. The trials included visual comparisons, objective assessments of the time to detect the different camouflages against different backgrounds, and subjective user opinions on the efficacy of the performance.
Crye's "Multicam
" technology was determined to be the best performing, across the widest range of environments (by a significant margin) and was subsequently selected as the basis for the new MTP camouflage, and combined with the existing British DPM pattern.
As part of the MOD's PECOC programme, three new camouflage patterns were being considered for issue to British forces. These were a revised temperate DPM using lighter colours, a new three-colour desert pattern with enhanced utility for night-time operations, and a hybrid four colour scheme using two colours from each of the previous patterns for use on webbing in all terrains. Following an Urgent Operational Requirement for a camouflage uniform for the Afghan theatre of operations and the success of a commercially available pattern (Crye's MultiCam) when tested in trials, a decision was made to use MultiCam as the basis of a new Multi-Terrain Pattern for British armed forces, replacing the previous temperate DPM uniforms.
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence announced that HM Forces would be issued with the new military uniform
Military uniform
Military uniforms comprises standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and military styles have gone through great changes over the centuries from colourful and elaborate to extremely utilitarian...
for operations in Afghanistan; initially issued to personnel deployed on Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
from March 2010, then issued more widely to HM Forces from 2011 onward replacing all DPM variants of the Combat Soldier 95 uniform by 2013.
Development
The MTP camouflage design was intended to perform consistently across a wide range of environments encountered, particularly for operations that the military had been deployed during 2009.British Troops in Afghanistan operate in a mixed landscape, including desert, woodland, mountains and urban. The development team at Dstl
Dstl
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom. Responsibility for Dstl lies with the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, currently Peter Luff....
tested multi-terrain camouflage versus the standard army disruptive pattern material, and the desert DPM to determine the best balance of colours. The current HM Armed Forces camouflage were then tested alongside off-the-shelf multi-terrain camouflage. The tests were against terrain that soldiers are likely to encounter across the landscape in Afghanistan
A wide range of camouflage colours were trialled in Britain, Cyprus, Kenya and Afghanistan. Camouflages were compared with in-service and commercially available camouflages—including those from Crye Precision in the United States. The trials included visual comparisons, objective assessments of the time to detect the different camouflages against different backgrounds, and subjective user opinions on the efficacy of the performance.
Crye's "Multicam
MultiCam
MultiCam is a single camouflage pattern designed to help the wearer hide in varied environments, seasons, elevations, and light conditions. It is a 7-color, multi-environment camouflage pattern developed by Crye Associates in conjunction with U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center...
" technology was determined to be the best performing, across the widest range of environments (by a significant margin) and was subsequently selected as the basis for the new MTP camouflage, and combined with the existing British DPM pattern.