Airsoft: the art of camouflage

For military personnel as well as for airsoft enthusiasts, camouflage occupies a strategic place in the success or failure of a mission. From weapon replicas to clothing, including the application of paint on hands, neck and face, you will learn everything you need to know about the art of camouflage in our complete guide.

  

Table of Contents:

• Origin

• Types

• Products

  

The origin of military camouflage

  

Some armies adopted a solid-colored uniform in shades ranging from gray to green as early as the early 1900s. This is the case, for example, of the British army which opted for khaki in 1902 or the Germans in 1907 with the choice of feldgrau, a gray-green color, as the official base for military uniforms.

  

At the beginning of World War I, the French did not share the point of view of their European neighbors and continued to wear a colorful uniform with gilding (madder red trousers and kepi…) supposed to reflect the prestige of the regiment. Elegance was thus favored over concealment.

  

It was in this context of the first world conflict and its deadly offensives that an artist from the École de Nancy, the Lorraine painter Louis Guingot, created the first war camouflage jacket in the world which he named "leopard uniform". However, this jacket remained in prototype form since the French Army preferred to equip its soldiers with a horizon blue uniform at the beginning of 1915. Although the invention was French, it was the Germans who were the first men to wear camouflage uniforms at the end of the Great War.

  

If men only wore camouflaged uniforms at the end of World War I, this does not mean that invisibility was not at the heart of the concerns of the Defense Ministries of each country. In France, for example, a camouflage workshop was created as early as 1915 to create clever trompe-l'oeil: fake cows, artificial trees, fake tanks, etc.

  

The different types of camouflage

  

There are countless types, camouflage patterns and colors that allow soldiers to hide in all weather conditions and for all terrains. Among the most known and used types of camouflage, we find:

  

The Central Europe camouflage (CE camo) : very popular, this is what the French Army uses nowadays for missions in temperate climates. Composed of 4 colors (dark green, brown, black and beige), it allows troops to hide in wooded scenery. (Article that might interest you: Our selection for a complete CE camo airsoft outfit!)

  

The M81 Woodland : this type of camouflage resembles CE camo but the stripes are lighter and less thick. It is intended for the same conditions and is composed of the same colors. This camouflage is still used by some American commandos, but it tends to disappear in favor of Marpat.

  

The Marpat : composed of small rectangular pixels of different colors, this camouflage has been used by the American army since 2004 and comes in 4 variants : woodland, desert, winter and urban.

  

The multicam : multicam camouflage is designed as a universal type of camouflage suitable for many environments.

  

The flecktarn : official camouflage of the Bundeswehr, the German federal defense force.

  

The 6-color desert : this type of camouflage was made famous due to its use by the American army during the Gulf War.

  

How to camouflage yourself to succeed in your airsoft game?

  

In airsoft as in military operations, camouflage plays an important part in strategy. Thus, different techniques and products allow you to go unnoticed and blend into the environment. To make yourself invisible to your opponents, you can opt for:

  

• A camouflaged airsoft replica : some weapon replicas already display a camouflage color. If not, special military paint sprays exist.

• A tube of camouflage cream : to apply on all visible parts like the face, hands and neck.

• A ghillie suit : a ghillie camouflage suit allows you to become completely invisible and blend into the vegetation.

• A camouflage net : the camouflage net can be very useful to hide your position or to cover your replica.

  

Without opting for the complete ghillie suit, there are many pants, t-shirts, polo shirts, jackets and other clothing in camouflage colors. In our online store vetsecurite.com, we offer a wide selection of camouflage clothing and outfits, materials and equipment in several different military camouflage colors to meet all your needs and all environments. Don't hesitate to visit our airsoft category.