Frag Out! Magazine

equipped Battle Dress Uniform in six color desert camouflage, officially des- ignated as DBDU – Desert Battler Dress Uniform. The pictured is late variant where basic cut is same as in the standard issue BDU in Woodland camouflage but first variants of jacket (designated as a coat) have double layer of fabric in the back area to avoid overheat- ing. Depending on batch and manufacturer, some trousers and coats might have reinforcing patches on elbows and knees. DBDU uniforms were 50/50 NYCO Twill fabric but in the late phase of Gulf War some 100% rip-stop cotton, lightweight experimental sets surfaced. The famous and distinctive six color desert camouflage pattern was designed around 1960's for use in rocky desert areas and Mediterranean region but it was put on the shelf until 1980's when some of US units were deployed to Middle East. For "plain" sand Iraqi deserts, the pattern was too dark – rocky deserts are not just sand, but rocks, bushes and gravel. Also, the darker spots got hotter when exposed to the sun and some soldiers complained about it. In the late of Desert Storm, first uniforms in new three color desert camouflage started to replace the old DBDU. PASGT Kevlar Helmet aka Fritz (becuase it resemble German WW2 helmets) or K-pot with six-color desert camouflage cover. The PASGT system was introduced in early 1980's and was standard issue head protec- tion for US soldiers deployed to Desert Storm. It was made out of Dupont Kevlar aramid fibers and in Medi- um size it has 1600 gram weight. PASGT K-pot was one of the first non-metal ballistic helmets in common use. The Sun, Wind and Dust Goggles (aka SWDG) are displayed on the helmet – the design has its roots in WW2 goggles but during Gulf War the ballistic lens and laser protective lens (green) were introduced. Hat, Camouflage Pattern, Desert or Hat, Desert Camou- flage commonly known as Boonie Hat. It has almost the same design as jungle hats which were introduced during the Vietnam War – the only distinctive feature, aside desert camouflage pattern, is a lack of webbing camouflage band around the hat (it was present in very first variant). Boonie hat was basic field headgear for all US armed forces when in non-combat environ- ment. Knowledgeably there was one and only US Army Patrol Cap in this camouflage made for Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf. Boonie hat was made out of 50/50 NYCO Twill fabric.

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