Collection: South African RECCE Hunter Group 1st GEN CAMO

The Hunter Training Group was an early, all-volunteer, counter-insurgency unit trained in guerrilla warfare, patrolling, tracking, bushcraft, and intelligence gathering. The unit was formed in 1968 but was not officially part of the SADF and in fact never recognized as an official unit. It was, however, the first military formation to wear specialized camouflage clothing in South Africa, since at the time no camouflage was being produced or worn by either the SADF or the SAP. All uniforms were purchased privately by members of the unit and eventually standardized camouflage was obtained from a supplier in Durban. The Hunter Group was disbanded in 1974, but members who went on to pass the selection course became the nucleus of 2 Reconnaissance (Citizen Force) Commando. As there was no specific industry for producing camouflage military clothing in South Africa at the time, all uniforms worn by Hunter Group personnel were obtained from private firms. The designs were unique and were never reproduced, and most items have commercial-style tags. What has come to be known as "1st pattern Hunter Group" camouflage features blotches of grass green, light brown & yellow ochre on a sandy background.