Czech Mlok Camo (1961)

Camouflage, Color Data, Early Cold War (1945 - 1968), Insurgents, Later Cold War (1969 - 1989)

This brightly colored camouflage was briefly used by Czechoslovakia by the 22nd Airborne Brigade during the 1960’s [1]. It was later replaced by their version of the raindrop pattern. Items in this pattern were later exported worldwide to a variety of Eastern Bloc-aligned groups.

Despite its extremely bright coloration, it works surprisingly well in summer forests.

Summer 2014 test by author.

“Mlok” is Czech for Salamander, and this camouflage pattern probably received this unofficial name due to its resemblance to the yellow and black fire salamanders native to the region.

Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) [2]

For more information on items in this camouflage pattern: http://www.uton.cz/vystroj/vz60-mlok/

Sample 1: Parka #1

Similar to Sample 2, but unissued and unused.

Sample 2: Parka #2

Manufacturer tag.

Heavily faded and used. No longer in collection.

Sample 3: Paratrooper Set

Jacket:

Jacket is shorter than parkas and has a chest pocket closed by 2 buttons. Button detail:

Earlier 1960 date than other examples on this page.

“KRAS” appears to be a Czechoslovakian state-owned company [3].

Back Pocket is closed by snaps:

Pockets on the inside are separate, not “pass through” like Polish oversmock.

Hood fabric is similar to inside:

Trousers:

Pants do not have lower pockets.

Also 1960 dated.

Ankle cuffs have drawstrings for blousing:

Sample 4: Parka #3

Fabric is different than Sample 1.

Parka with different fabric from Sample 1.

Sample 5: Hat

Flap can be folded down:

Top:

Inside:

Stamp:

Color Data:

From Sample 1.

Usage Photos:

Czechoslovakia:

Paratrooper jacket and hat.
From [1]

Angola (MPLA):

(7 Nov 1975) Scenes of Angolan capital Luanda on the eve of independence. MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) militia patrols, fishing goes on as normal. Mlok jacket appears to be a paratrooper cut similar, but not identical, to Sample 3 [4].

Lebanon:

A Christian NLP Tigers Militia militiaman poses for a picture in the streets of Ashrafieh, East Beirut, Lebanon, in June 1978 [5].
Early 1980’s Lebanese Forces (Christian militia faction) [6][7].

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Affiliates:

PLO in Lebanon published in Military Uniforms 1939 to the Present [1980] [8]
Militiamen of El Fatah Palestinian resistance movement, parade in Amman, Jordan, on August 17, 1970 at the end of a training chaired by Yasser Arafat, president of the Central Committee of the Palestinian National Council. (Photo credit – AFP/Getty Images) [9]

More on this forum post: https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t12046-palestinian-plo-imported-patterns

Palestine Liberation Army in 1969 – 1970 [10].

ISIS/Daesh (2016):

No usage photos, but one captured example from 2016 is known: https://oefoif.forumotion.net/t7082-captured-isis-field-kit-and-jacket