Digital Pattern developed by the
Canadian Forces.
CAnadian
Disruptive
PATtern
(CADPAT) is the digital
camouflage pattern currently used by the
Canadian Forces (CF). It was the first
digital pattern introduced for uniforms and has similarities to
German Army
Flecktarn which
may have inspired the development of CADPAT. The patent
for CADPAT lists US Army research done by LTC Timothy R. O’Neill
(U.S. Army, Retired) in the 1970s as an early inspiration for their
digital pattern. CADPAT went considerably beyond this initial
research. CADPAT is a computer generated pattern incorporating
sophisticated Near Infrared protection designed to conceal soldiers
from image intensification devices (night vision).
The basic uniform consists of a wide brim combat hat, helmet cover,
shirt, jacket, fragmentation vest, and trousers. The pattern was
copyrighted upon its introduction.
Pattern variations
In development for the better part of a decade, the pattern comes
in three varieties:Temperate Woodland (TW), Arid Region (AR), and
Winter/Arctic (WA). The temperate woodland pattern became the
standard issue for the
Army in 2002, with the
Air Force following suit
in 2004. Uniforms and equipment in CADPAT material replaced the
olive green material in use since the early 1960s.
Some civilian firms are licensed to sell clothing and accessories
using CADPAT material (though not the same IR-defeating type used
by the CF) as long as the patterns do not match official CF uniform
and equipment patterns. These are commercially available from a
wide variety of sources.
Temperate woodland
CADPAT TW has four specific colours — light green, dark green,
brown, and black — and was first introduced in 1997/98 on the
helmet cover for the new helmet then coming into service. At the
same time, the pattern was also introduced on a new Soldier's
Individual Camouflage Net.
The CADPAT TW uniform allows Canadian
soldiers
protection from observation by the naked eye and night vision
devices.
Arid regions
Concurrent with the trials of CADPAT TW, work was carried out to
identify a uniform for operations in desert, near desert, and
savannah environmental conditions. This three-colour pattern, known
as CADPAT Arid Regions (AR), incorporates three different colours
of brown. The CADPAT design for Arid Regions has been approved and
the transfer of this digital technology is ongoing to the textiles
industry, CADPAT AR also features
two additional
arm pockets than the TW uniform. In light of the deployment of the
Immediate Reaction Force to Afghanistan, the CADPAT AR project was
expedited with the intent that it would be issued to soldiers in
summer 2002.
Winter/Arctic
Introduced as an upgrade to the current monochrome winter whites to
further enhance the Canadian soldier's camouflage capability by day
and night. Includes Near Infra-red (NIR) technology.
Urban
The
Defence Research
and Development Canada based at CFB Suffield
(DRDC-S) has a requirement to develop a new uniform
for the Canadian Forces based on
three major metropolitan area including Toronto
and Montreal
. The
new uniform know as the Canadian Urban Environment Pattern
(CUEPAT). The CUEPAT will integrated a nuclear, biological and
chemical (NBC) protection.
Boots
The Canadian Forces were working on a new combat boot made with the
CADPAT pattern. There was some negative feedback from Canadian
soldiers, and due to this, the Canadian Forces is reviewing the
requirement for the CADPAT print boots, and the newest issue
General Purpose (GP) boots - similar to the outgoing Mark III
boots, are black. Trials on various boot features including colour
are ongoing.
Fading
The CADPAT uniform tends to fade easily. Generally after 3-5 loads
through a dryer, it's noticeably faded. Newer generations of the
CADPAT uniform have improved to reduce fading.
Gallery of patterns
Image:CADPAT AR.jpg|CADPAT Arid Region (AR)
in Afghanistan
.Image:India Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal
Canadian Regiment.jpg|CADPAT Temperate woodland (TW)Image:VanDoos
Urban Warfare training.JPG|Soldiers of Alpha Company, 3d Battalion,
Royal 22e Régiment, perform military operations in urban terrain
(MOUT) techniques during Partnership of the Americas (POA)
2009.Image:US Navy 090424-G-6464J-013 Canadian soldiers set a
perimeter position after disembarking a U.S. Navy landing craft
during a simulated amphibious landing.jpg|Canadian soldiers set a
perimeter position after disembarking a U.S. Navy landing craft
during a simulated amphibious landing.Image:US Navy
090425-N-2821G-192 Canadian soldiers storm the beach near Mayport
during a UNITAS Gold amphibious assault demonstration.jpg|Canadian
soldiers storm the beach near Mayport during a UNITAS Gold
amphibious assault demonstration.Image:US Navy 090425-M-9917S-314
Canadian Army soldiers assigned to Alpha Company, 3d Battalion, 22d
Regiment of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-24 depart
a U.S. Navy landing craft air cushion (LCAC) and deploy onto
Mayp.jpg|Canadian Army soldiers assigned to Alpha Company, 3d
Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground
Task Force-24 depart a U.S. Navy landing craft air cushion (LCAC)
and deploy onto Mayport Beach during a Unitas Gold amphibious
assault exercise.Image:US Navy 080726-N-7949W-054 A Canadian
soldier assigned to 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian
Light Infantry aims his rifle in the direction of enemy fire.jpg|A
Canadian soldier assigned to 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia's
Canadian Light Infantry aims his rifle in the direction of enemy
fire.
Image:GuardKandahar.jpg|CADPAT Arid Region
(AR) in Afghanistan
See also
References
- Dualtex
- Consoltex
External links
Wikis
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