Rhodesian 1st Pattern Camouflage (1965 – 1969?) | KommandoPost.com

Sample 1:

Jacket:

Jacket twill is similar to later issue and arid versions. Bottom pockets have elastic material at rim.

Pants:

Pants twill is rougher, more rigid denim. Possibly similar to denim battledress overalls material. Ink appears to be sitting on surface like paint, not soaked in; could be why these have a tendency to fade translucently.

Tag and Markings:

“8” size marking is stamped on the tag and hand-written inside by the crotch.

Inside:

Thigh Pocket:

Ankles:

Waist Adjustment:

Sample 2:

Jacket has similar cut to that of Sample 1. Has Army patches on arms. Green printed over brown.

Sample 3: BSAP PATU Jacket

Assuming this jacket stayed in the BSAP for its entire time in Rhodesia, it was probably one of the first camouflage items issued to the BSAP in the late 1960’s. Green printed over brown. Has an internal pocket in blue material (“riot blue”?) on right shoulder.

Sample 4:

Very similar to Sample 1 (1966). Tag is identical to that of Arid prototype (same manufacturer and text), but filled in and named to a BSAP constable. It contains a printing error on the green “Y” shape.

Brown printed over green like Sample 1.

Printing error on the green “Y” is apparent in this picture.

Pattern Comparisons with other 1st Pattern samples on this page:

Sample 5: Outwards Slanted Pockets

Same first pattern print as the others on this page, but the upper pockets are slanted outwards.

On uniforms, outwards slanted pockets are much rarer than the inwards-slanting designs. The only other items on this site with this feature are a modified BDU (sample 8) and the Crye Navy Custom Field Shirt, both dating to the 2000’s.

This particular jacket is named to a pilot, so the pockets are likely angled to allow easy access under a survival vest. Another very similar Rhodesian Air Force 1st pattern jacket can be seen here: http://www.camocollectables.com/products/286-rhodesian-experimental-jacket.aspx

Jacket is named to Air Lt. Michael Mulligan, who flew in the Rhodesian Air Force with No.1 (source: https://rhodesianforces.org/AirForcePersonalitiesM.htm) and 7 or 8 Squadrons (7 squadron source is same as 1; 8 squadron information provided by seller) . A story detailing his personal experiences with a hazardous landing can be seen here: https://rhodesianforces.org/No1Sqnbarrier.htm

Inside:

The jacket appears to have been manufactured with outwards pockets since there are no signs of alterations.

Size Tag:

1966 date, with the last digit hand-written in like Sample 4 and Arid “Prototype”.

Epaulette and Rank Slips:

Rank slips are made from the later 1970’s 2nd pattern fabric.

Comparisons with More Common Standard Pattern (1970’s):

All comparisons performed with 1st pattern samples on this page and standard pattern examples on the corresponding page. The popular green over brown color order alone is only sufficient to identify items as “not standard pattern” if an item fails that test. While the standard version is consistently printed green over brown, this page shows that the first pattern can be printed in either order (green over brown AND brown over green). Similar inconsistencies were observed with the Zimbabwe version of the pattern which has added shapes not present in either the earlier 1st pattern nor the standard pattern. It is far more reliable to examine the pattern shapes to make an accurate identification.

On the 1st pattern, the end of the brown zigzag blob with the “hair” is closer to the zigzag than on the standard version, making it look “flattened” on the 1st pattern.

The Y-shaped green blob near the brown zigzag blob is thicker on the standard version whereas it appears flattened on the 1st pattern . The brushstrokes (“hair”) also appear finer (thinner) on the 1st pattern.

Similarly, the “teeth”, or “tentacles”, of the “alien rooster worm” appear finer on the 1st pattern than on the standard version.

Pattern Variation:

Samples 1 and 2 have the brown screen in slightly shifted positions. This is very apparent on the “alien rooster-worm” where the brown goes through the head on Samples 1 (1966) and 4 (1968) whereas it stays in the “comb” in Sample 2. Samples 1 and 4 have the brown over green printing order in common, but the presence of the brown shape in the head does not appear to be exclusive to items printed brown-over-green since Sample 3 is green over brown and appears to have the brown in the same location in the comb.

Sample 3, showing green over brown AND brown shape going into head.

An example with the brown going into the head and brown over green, similar to Samples 1 and 4, can be seen here: https://www.samilitaria.com/SAM/product/7723-rhodesian-special-air-service-combat-jacket-ref-rhodesia/

From https://www.samilitaria.com/SAM/product/7723-rhodesian-special-air-service-combat-jacket-ref-rhodesia/ (site may take time to load).

The print variation in Sample 3 (brown in comb) probably came at a later date one since the analogous parts in the more common standard, 1970s version of the Rhodesian pattern are in a similar position.