U.S. Woodland

The woodland pattern is nearly identical to the brown-dominant version of the ERDL pattern, only differing in that it is enlarged by 60 percent. The enlargement was made in order to extend the effectiveness of the camouflage pattern to as close to 350 meters as possible.{{cite report |author1-last=Ramsley |author1-first=Alvin |author2-last=Bushnell |author2-first=William |date=January 1981 |title=DTIC ADA096884: Development of the U.S. Woodland Battle Dress Uniform |url=https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA096884/ |publisher=Defense Technical Information Center |pages=6–7 |access-date=2023-12-05}}

These changes reflected a shift in the tactical focus of the United States military from fighting an extremely close-range war such as the one in South Vietnam to a longer-range one such as on the fields of Europe.{{cite web |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/making-a-21st-century-us-military-uniform-every-branch-can-wear-1.543762 |title=Making a 21st-century US military uniform every branch can wear |last=Vasquez |first=Justina |date=August 22, 2018 |website=Stars and Stripes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822202949/https://www.stripes.com/news/making-a-21st-century-us-military-uniform-every-branch-can-wear-1.543762 |archive-date=2018-08-22}}

Near InfraRed compliance

Many old M81 Woodland BDUs are made with Nyco. It is not labeled as NIR compliant however testing done on the material and dyes used in the creation process found it to be effective in camouflaging under InfraRed light.{{Cite web |title=M81 Woodland: From 80s to eternity? |url=https://millennialarms.com/f/m81-woodland-from-80s-to-eternity |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Millennial Arms LLC |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |title=NIR Compliant Gear: The Basics |url=https://millennialarms.com/f/nir-compliant-gear-the-basics |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Millennial Arms LLC |language=en-CA}}

Coloring

The US Woodland pattern was printed slightly darker than ERDL for two key reasons. First, the chosen colors complemented the pattern sizing, creating a monotone appearance at greater distances and enhancing the effectiveness of the pattern. Second, there was a strategic consideration for large-scale production, where fabrics tend to be lighter than intended due to the production process. By starting with slightly darker colors, the eventual fading of the fabric through use, and washing would result in colors moving closer to the desired target, thereby prolonging the garment's useful life.

Image:BDUs-forest.jpg on an exercise in 2000 while wearing Woodland BDUs and PASGT helmets]]

In the U.S. Army, the woodland-patterned Battle Dress Uniform was replaced by the digital Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) found on the Army Combat Uniform, introduced in 2004. UCP itself was replaced by the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) in 2019. The pattern is still used on MOPP suits and some older models of body armor yet to be retired, such as PASGT vests and Interceptor Body Armor.

The U.S. Navy no longer uses the Woodland pattern. Most of the Navy has transitioned to the Navy Working Uniform, which uses digital patterns in either a woodland colorway (NWU Type III) or, for some deployed tactical units only, a desert version (Type II).

File:District governor visits a local school 130415-M-BO337-031.jpg wearing a FAST Maritime combat helmet and M81 camouflage combat uniform]]

The Woodland Pattern BDU was phased out by the Marine Corps with the introduction of the digital MARPAT Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform in 2002, although it was reintroduced for the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command in 2011{{cite web |url=https://www.military.com/kitup/2011/08/marsoc-adopts-woodland-crye-precision-uniform.html |title=MARSOC adopts woodland Crye Precision uniform |date=22 August 2011 |website=Military.com}} and was also worn by MARSOC forces in the War in Afghanistan.

The Air Force phased out the woodland pattern battle dress uniform in 2011 when they went to the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) which used a pixelated version of the tiger stripe pattern. It was in turn replaced by the Army's OCP by 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/05/14/the-long-awaited-ocp-uniform-is-on-its-way-to-the-air-force-and-heres-when-you-could-get-it/ |title=The long-awaited OCP uniform is on its way to the Air Force — and here's when you could get it |newspaper=Air Force Times |last=Losey |first=Stephen |date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=May 15, 2018}} The Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force's civilian auxiliary, also used woodland patterned BDUs until being discontinued 15 June 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/CAPR_039_001_5_Mar_2020__6EA485E9593C8.pdf |title=CAP Regulation 39-1 - Civil Air Patrol Uniform Regulation |website=National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol |date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020}}

File:210808-Z-A3554-0001 - Captain Gay of the Virginia Defense Force.jpg wearing ACU pattern woodland camouflage.]]

Several state defense forces use the Woodland Pattern on their BDUs.{{cite web |url=http://tsg3.us/qa.html |title=Questions & Answers about the Tennessee State Guard |website=Third Regiment of the Tennessee State Guard Official Website |access-date=22 February 2017}} Members of the Virginia Defense Force wear a Woodland version of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU).{{cite web |url=http://vdf.virginia.gov/pdf/Regulations/VDFR%20670-1%20%28Ch2%201FEB16%29.pdf |title=VDF Regulation 670-1 |author= |website=Virginia Defense Force |access-date=18 December 2021 }}{{cite web |url=http://oko.ohmr.ohio.gov/join/info_faq.php |title=Frequently Asked Questions |author= |website=Ohio Military Reserve |access-date=22 February 2017 }}

The pattern also sees use among police departments, such as the Rhode Island State Police.{{cite web |url=http://risp.ri.gov/gallery/uniform.php |title=Uniform Gallery |website=Rhode Island State Police |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108034450/http://risp.ri.gov/gallery/uniform.php |archive-date=8 November 2016 |url-status=dead}}

{{multiple issues|section=yes|

{{more citations needed section|date=September 2017}}

{{update section|date=November 2024}}

}}

File:Internal Troops of the Ministry for Internal Affairs (Russia) (494-11).jpg wearing LES, a Russian camouflage pattern similar to the woodland camouflage]]

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• {{flag|Afghanistan}}: Taliban used copies and US made uniforms circa 1996 to 2001 before the invasion of Afghanistan. Uniform copies and US uniforms used by Taliban during insurgency period. After 2021 takeover woodlands continued to use by Islamic National Army.
• {{flag|Argentina}}: Clones made for Argentine military.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=126}}
• {{flag|Armenia}}: Adopted an Armenian-made Woodland pattern.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=194}}
• {{flag|Azerbaijan}}: Used by State Border Service of Azerbaijan.
• {{flag|Bangladesh}}: Used Woodland uniforms with bright yellow patterns.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=203}}
• {{flag|Bhutan}}{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=205}}
• {{flag|Bolivia}}
• {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
• {{flagcountry|Republika Srpska}}: Used by the RS' Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.{{cite web |url=https://specijalne-jedinice.com/Inostranstvo/Region/Specijalna-jedinica-policije-RS-English.html#sthash.n8F1gjrX.dpbs |title=Special Anti-terrorist Unit of Republic of Srpska |website=Specijalne-jedinice.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324062800/https://specijalne-jedinice.com/Inostranstvo/Region/Specijalna-jedinica-policije-RS-English.html#sthash.DeD5gLTO.dpbs |archive-date= March 24, 2018}}
• {{flag|Cambodia}}: Used Cambodian-made Woodland uniforms.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|pp=209}}
• {{flag|Chad}}
• {{flag|Chile}}{{cite web |url=http://www.kamouflage.net/camouflage/00035.php |title=U.S. Woodland pattern camouflage |website=Kamouflage.net |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303224642/http://www.kamouflage.net/camouflage/00035.php |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flag|Colombia}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_FARC-EP.svg|22px}} FARC
• {{flag|Congo-Brazzaville}}
• {{flag|Congo-Kinshasa}}
• {{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}
• {{flag|Croatia}}{{cite web |url=http://camouniforms.net/index.php/eastern-europe/croatia/croatian-woodland/454-croatian-woodland-shirt |title=Croatian Woodland shirt |website=CamoUniforms.net}}{{cite web |url=http://camouniforms.net/index.php/eastern-europe/croatia/croatian-woodland/1660-croatian-woodland-shirt-02 |title=Croatian Woodland Shirt 02 |website=CamoUniforms.net}}
• {{flag|Cyprus}}: Used by Cypriot special forces.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=219}}
• {{flag|Egypt}}
• {{flag|El Salvador}}
• {{flag|Estonia}}{{Cite web|url=https://camopedia.org/index.php?title=Estonia |title=Estonia |website=Camopedia}}
• {{flag|Fiji}}: Woodland camo used by some Fijian military units.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=477}}
• {{flag|Gambia}}
• {{flag|Greece}}: Used by Underwater Demolition Command.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=390}}
• {{flag|Guatemala}}
• {{flag|Haiti}}: Used by the Armed Forces of Haiti, as of January 2024
• {{flag|Honduras}}
• {{flag|Hong Kong}} – Used by the Hong Kong Police tactical unit (SDU)
• {{flag|Israel}}: Used by Israeli military in unofficial capacity.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=255}}
• {{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}: Asian-made Woodland patterns used in the Kyrgyz military.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=268}}
• {{flag|Kuwait}} – Used by the Kuwait National Guard.
• {{flag|Lithuania}}{{cite web |url=http://camouniforms.net/index.php/eastern-europe/lithuania/lithuanian-woodland/456-lithuanian-woodland-jacket |title=Lithuanian Woodland jacket |website=CamoUniforms.net}}
• {{flag|Luxembourg}}{{cite web |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/1059969.pdf |title=Standardized U.S.-Led Coalition Forces Uniform |website=Defense Technical Information Center |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327072705/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/1059969.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2020 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t4794-luxembourg-gets-its-own-camo-pattern |title=Luxembourg gets its own camo pattern! |date=June 5, 2011 |website=IACMC Militaria Forum}}
• {{flag|Malaysia}}: Clones used by PASKAL commandos.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=275}}
• {{flag|Mexico}}
• {{flag|Moldova}} – Worn by Army of the Republic of Moldova.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}
• {{flag|Montenegro}}: Used by the Montenegrin Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.{{cite web |url=https://specijalne-jedinice.com/Inostranstvo/Region/Specijalna-antiteroristicka-jedinica-Crne-Gore-SAJ-English.html#sthash.CADkM9tb.dpbs |title=Special Anti-terrorist Unit of the Republic of Montenegro |website=Specijalne-jedinice.com}}
• {{flag|North Korea}}: Reported to be used by North Korean soldiers stationed in the DMZ from 2010.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nknews.org/2018/11/north-korean-soldiers-at-joint-security-area-sporting-new-uniforms-photos-reveal/ |title=North Korean soldiers at Joint Security Area sporting new uniforms, photos reveal |last=Zwirko |first=Colin |date=22 November 2018 |website=NK News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304035712/https://www.nknews.org/2018/11/north-korean-soldiers-at-joint-security-area-sporting-new-uniforms-photos-reveal/ |archive-date=2020-03-04}}
• {{flag|Philippines}}: Woodland uniforms and gear is commonly used but also universally superseded by their locally produced DPM patterns.
• {{flag|Russia}}: Russia uses near-copies (Komplekt kamuflirovannogo obmundirovannogo [KKO] and Лес or Les [forest]) and true copies (HATO), English NATO, worn by MVD Agencies such as the Internal Troops and Spetsnaz GRU units.{{cite book |last=Desmond |first=Dennis |date=1997 |title=Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia: 1937-to the Present |publisher=Schiffer Publishing, Ltd |isbn=978-0764304620}}{{page needed|date=August 2018}}{{sfnp|Galeotti|2015|p=39}}
• {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}: Used by Saint Kitts and Nevis Defence Force
• {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}: Used by the Royal Saudi Air Force.
• {{flag|Somalia}}
• {{flag|South Korea}}: Initially in the early to mid-1980s several local variations were produced in limited amounts and used by certain units in the ROKA and the ROKMC. In 1990 the Republic of Korea Armed Forces introduced a locally produced version based on US woodland (Tonghab {{langx|ko|통합}}) across all branches, which was the standard issue pattern for uniforms, vests, webbing and helmet covers until 2010 when it began to be replaced by digital patterns Granite B for ROKA and ROKN, digital "tiger stripe" style camouflage pattern, known as 물결무늬 (Wave pattern) - aka WAVEPAT - or 해병 디지털 (Marine digital) for ROKMC and Doksa (독사 or "venomous snake") for ROK-SWC due to reports of North Korea issuing copies of Woodland, however the woodland pattern still continues to see limited use.{{cite web |url=https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/South_Korea |title=Camouflage Patterns of the South Korean Armed Forces |website=Camopedia.org |access-date=2024-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509212825/https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/South_Korea |archive-date=2024-05-09|url-status=live}}{{better source needed|date=February 2025}}
• {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
• {{flag|Tonga}}
• {{flag|Turkey}}
• {{flag|Ukraine}}: Blue Woodland camos used by MVS units.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=458}} State Border Guard personnel use green woodland clones.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=458}}
• {{Flag|United States}}: Still used by MARSOC, Marine Raiders and Navy SEALs. At the state-level, several state defense forces use it.{{Cite web |url=https://va.ng.mil/News/Article/2790952/vdf-chaplains-provide-support-at-fort-pickett-chapel/ |title=VDF chaplains provide support at Fort Pickett chapel |website=Virginia National Guard}}
• {{flag|Vietnam}}{{Cite web |url=https://tintucvietnam.vn/quan-phuc-nguy-trang-cua-viet-nam-phan-2-28799 |title=Tìm hiểu về quân phục ngụy trang của quân đội Việt Nam (phần 2) |date=2018-03-04 |website=Tin tức Việt Nam - Cập nhật tin tức trong nước hôm nay |language=vi |access-date=2019-04-16}}

{{Div col end}}

• {{Flag|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan}}: Formerly used by Afghan National Army and ANA Commandos as standard issue uniforms both locally produced and sourcing US surplus uniforms and foreign clones before switching to Spec4ce Camouflage{{cite web |title=Afghanistan |url=https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/Afghanistan |website=Camopedia.org |access-date=23 July 2023}}
• {{flag|Australia}}: Formerly used by OPFOR in training during the 1990s and 2000s.
• {{flag|Azerbaijan}}: Obtained Turkish-made Woodland uniforms and used from around 2000–12.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=199}}
• {{flag|Canada}}: Formerly used by the Canadian Forces as the pattern of helmet covers for the M1 Helmet (both regular and paratrooper variants), the PASGT Helmet and the Spectra Helmet otherwise known as the 'Barrday Helmet'.{{cite web|url=http://www.mpmuseum.org/securhelmet.html |title=Canadian Forces Woodland |website=Canadian Military Police Virtual Museum|access-date=2022-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113170332/http://mpmuseum.org/securhelmet.html|archive-date=2017-11-13|url-status=live}} The Woodland pattern had originally entered service around the same time as the US and had become the standard issue cover by the late 1980s, replacing the older Mitchell Pattern covers. The cover pattern was fully phased out and replaced by CADPAT by the mid-2000s. Helmet covers as well as uniforms (like former US BDUs) and webbing equipment are still seen in Woodland pattern for OPFOR training.
• {{flag|Colombia}}: Formerly used by the National Army of Colombia, used until 1991 and replaced in 2006.
• {{flag|Costa Rica}}: Formerly used by the Costa Rican Civil Guard.{{cite web |title=Costa Rica - Camopedia |url=https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/Costa_Rica |website=www.camopedia.org |access-date=1 April 2025}}
• {{flag|Germany}}: Used by Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine in 1990s.
• {{flag|Georgia}}: Former standard issue camouflage pattern of the Georgian Armed Forces, replaced in 2007.
• {{flag|Iraq}}: Formerly used by reformed post-2003 Iraqi military.{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmilitaria.com/iraqwoodlandcamoshirt2004.html|title=Iraqi Woodland Camo|website=Middle East Militaria}}{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmilitaria.com/nif-iraqi-officer-woodland-camo-w-straight-pockets.html|title=New Iraqi Woodland Camo Uniform|website=Middle East Militaria}}
• {{flag|Kurdistan}}: Used by Peshmerga.{{cite web |title=Kurdish 2 Pocket Woodland Camo Uniforms |url=https://www.middleeastmilitaria.com/kurdish-2-pocket-woodland-camo-uniforms.html |website=Middle East Militaria |access-date=8 January 2024 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Kurdistan |url=https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/Kurdistan |website=Camopedia.org |access-date=8 January 2024}}
• {{flag|Latvia}} – Worn by the Latvian Land Forces from 1992 to 2007 when the M07 LATPAT camo was issued.{{Cite web|url=https://www.joint-forces.com/features/kit-camo/31719-latvian-m07-latpat-camouflage |title=Latvian M07 LatPat Camouflage|date=29 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.joint-forces.com/kit-camo/31929-latvian-us-m81-woodland-camouflage|title=Latvian US M81 Woodland Camouflage|date=4 May 2020}}
• {{flag|Lebanon}} - Replaced in 2017 by the Operational Camouflage Pattern{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
• {{flag|Netherlands}}: Worn by the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, most of the Woodland camos being replaced by Dutch-made fractal camo.{{cite web |url=https://soldiersystems.net/2014/10/27/dutch-army-adopts-netherlands-fractal-pattern-camouflage/ |title=Dutch Army Adopts Netherlands Fractal Pattern Camouflage |website=Soldier Systems |date=27 October 2014 }}
• {{flag|Nigeria}}: Used by the Nigerian military until they were replaced by the M14 pattern.{{cite web |url=https://www.joint-forces.com/special-forces/38992-nigerian-armed-forces-m14-arid-pattern |title=Nigerian Armed Forces ~ M14 Arid Pattern |date=29 December 2020 }}
• {{flag|Ba'athist Syria}}: Copies made for the Syrian military.{{cite web |url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2015/02/19/from-russia-with-love-syrias-ak-74ms/ |title=From Russia with Love, Syria's AK-74Ms |date=19 February 2015 |website=Bellingcat |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204233236/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2015/02/19/from-russia-with-love-syrias-ak-74ms/ |archive-date=December 4, 2023}}
• {{Flag|United States}}: Former standard issue camouflage uniform pattern for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

• ERDL pattern

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Woodland pattern}}

• {{cite book |title=Spetsnaz: Russia's Special Forces |last=Galeotti |first=Mark |year=2015 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1472807229}}
• {{cite book |last1=Larson |first1=Eric H. |title=Camouflage: International Ground Force Patterns, 1946–2017 |date=2021 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=Barnsley |isbn=9781526739537}}

{{Camouflage}}

Category:1981 clothing

Category:Camouflage patterns

Category:Military equipment of the United States

Category:United States Army uniforms

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s