Army Jackets

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Since time immemorial, women have shamelessly lusted over their battle heroes, whether attired in the tough sturdy armors of the past or in the virile uniforms or the current day.  The air of chivalry and gallantry that surrounds them may cause us to wonder how these attires evolved over the centuries from the simple but intimidating war paint and feathers to the army jackets of today. 

 The main purpose of a military uniform was to distinguish combatants from ordinary civilians who carry weapons but are protected by the laws of war.  Also, when smoke from black gun powder obscured the battle fields, the bright uniforms allowed commanders to spot their troop locations.  Uniforms, with form enhancing gears like large caps, capes and intimidating colors, gave the combatants a formidable appearance, striking fear in the hearts of the enemy. 

 Over the ages, military uniforms have changed in form, fabric and color according to the changing authorities and available resources.  For example, the striking red British ‘Redcoats’ was dyed red simply because red dye was cheaper during that time period! Roman and Ottoman uniforms were red on the assumption that blood stains would not show on a red uniform. Uniforms were also used as the government’s way of showing off, and for a very long time, soldiers were paraded around in extremely decorative, bright colored and embellished uniforms. 

 With soldiers having to live, eat and sleep in their uniforms all the time, it was soon discovered that colors like red and white were getting soiled very quickly.  The showy heavy uniforms were also turning out to be quite uncomfortable for the kind of jobs the soldiers had to perform. During the rule of George IV, the coats of the English life guards were so tight that the men were even unable to perform their sword exercise! With the advent of accurate rifles and the use of smokeless powder, battle fields became smoke free and the bright colors were making soldiers easy targets to shoot from far away. By the First World War, colorful elaborate uniforms began to get replaced with khaki, grey and bottle green army jackets, that were more suited to the soldiers’ work profile and physical activity.  The bright colors were now reserved for parades, ceremonial functions, bands, formal occasions and other off duty wear. 

 Military uniforms were soon designed considering minute details like the soil on which the soldier had to fight, the climate and the vegetation of the place. Colors like khaki and olive drab were used to help the soldier blend into the enemy terrain. White was used for snowy regions and tan colored army jackets for sandy ones.  Various camouflage patterns were also introduced.  The woodland pattern, with large organic shapes in mid green and brown, black ‘branches’ and light green ‘leaf higlights’, was used in the Vietnam war. 

1: M81 Woodland Pattern
 
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the desert camouflage pattern (DCU) were used, which was developed after analyzing sand and earth samples from the Middle East.  All these patterns are now being replaced with various digital pixel patterns.

 
2: Desert Camouflage pattern

Digital camouflage uses small micro patterns instead of large ones. It was discovered that the large blotches of color with sharp outlines were easier to see and blurring the edges of the colored patches makes the outlines and thus the uniforms harder to distinguish.  
 
3:  Mexican Army digital camouflage

4: Digital Camouflage (CADPAT)

Pioneered by the Canadian Army, the digital camouflage is now being used on the army jackets and other battle dress of most of the armed forces around the world, including the US Marine Corps (MARPAT), the Iraqi National Police, China Armed Forces and the South Korean Army.  Thus, the military uniforms have journeyed a long way to reach the level of sophistication and intricacy that it has attained today.