Libyan Rhubarb Camo (1980’s?)

August 12, 2017Camouflage, Insurgents, Later Cold War (1969 - 1989), South Africa

This “Rhubarb” camouflage pattern was mainly used by Eastern Bloc-aligned guerillas in Africa, most notably SWAPO in Namibia, and has no known specific origin. It could be from Libya, Romania (source: http://www.newrhodesian.ca/viewtopic.php?p=7891#p7891), or former Yugoslavia (see usage photo below). The set depicted on this page was captured by same 32 Battalion officer as Cuban shirt.

Shirt:

Standard 2-pocket Cuban style cut.

Button:

Tag:

No other markings on item.

Trousers:

Somewhat rough twill, feels somewhat slippery. Pants made of heavier fabric than shirt.

Usage Photos:

South African Recces:

1990’s?: South African Recces performing a High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) jump. Person on right appears to be wearing the Libyan Rhubarb pattern, or a Recce copy of it (from https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryPorn/comments/hjezdo/south_african_recce_sf_performing_a_halo_jump_r4/).

Yugoslavian Civil War (1990’s):

From http://vonstuckcamouflage.free.fr/srpska.php under “Serbian 4a”.

Same/similar pattern used by Chetnik in 1990s Yugoslav Wars.

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