The Camouflage Pattern That Defined a Generation of Soldiers

Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) is one of the most successful and recognizable camouflage systems ever developed. Introduced by the British Armed Forces during the late 1960s, DPM served as the standard combat camouflage of the United Kingdom for nearly 50 years and influenced military camouflage designs across Europe, the Commonwealth, and beyond.

With its flowing brushstroke appearance and carefully balanced earth-tone colors, British DPM became a benchmark for woodland camouflage during the Cold War and remains highly respected among soldiers, collectors, and outdoor enthusiasts.

The Origins of DPM

British camouflage development dates back to the Second World War, but the modern DPM pattern emerged during the 1960s as military planners sought a more effective camouflage for temperate woodland environments.

Drawing upon decades of camouflage research, British designers created a pattern that combined large sweeping brushstrokes with natural colors capable of blending into forests, grasslands, and hedgerows throughout Northern Europe.

Official Adoption

British DPM entered military service in the late 1960s and became standard issue across the British Army and Royal Marines.

Over the following decades it was worn during operations throughout the world, including:

• Northern Ireland
• The Falklands War
• The Gulf War
• Bosnia
• Kosovo
• Sierra Leone
• Iraq
• Afghanistan

Few camouflage patterns have seen service across such a wide variety of climates and conflicts.

Pattern Characteristics

DPM uses broad overlapping brushstroke shapes rather than dots or digital pixels.

The classic woodland version consists of four primary colors:

• Black
• Dark Brown
• Dark Green
• Light Olive Green

The flowing brushstrokes create natural visual disruption while avoiding the hard edges found in earlier camouflage systems.

Designed for Temperate Woodlands

British DPM was optimized for:

• Mixed forests
• Grasslands
• Woodland
• Hedgerows
• Rolling farmland
• Temperate European terrain

The balanced combination of greens and browns allows the pattern to remain effective through much of the year.

Many Variants

One reason for DPM's long service life was its adaptability.

Over the years Britain developed several official versions, including:

• Woodland DPM
• Desert DPM
• Tropical DPM
• Arctic over-whites used with DPM equipment

Numerous Commonwealth countries also produced their own DPM variants with locally adapted colors.

A Global Influence

DPM's success inspired camouflage development around the world. Countries including the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, and others adopted camouflage patterns heavily influenced by British brushstroke design.

Its concepts also helped shape many civilian hunting and outdoor camouflage systems.

Replacement by Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP)

In 2010, the British Army began replacing Woodland and Desert DPM with Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP), a camouflage designed to perform effectively across a broader range of operational environments.

Although no longer Britain's primary combat uniform, DPM remains widely recognized and continues to be used by military units, reserve forces, cadet organizations, and outdoor enthusiasts around the world.

British DPM at CAMO HQ

At CAMO HQ, British DPM represents one of the defining camouflage patterns of the Cold War era. Its distinctive brushstroke appearance, proven field performance, and decades of military service have earned it a permanent place in camouflage history.

Our DPM-inspired collections celebrate this legendary pattern while preserving its heritage for military historians, collectors, and camouflage enthusiasts.

Did You Know?

• DPM stands for Disruptive Pattern Material.
• It served as Britain's standard camouflage for nearly fifty years.
• Several countries developed their own camouflage based on DPM.
• DPM was eventually replaced by Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) beginning in 2010.