Frog skin camouflage

{{Short description|U.S. military camouflage pattern}} {{Infobox military gear | name = Frog skin | image = Frog Skin camouflage pattern.jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption = Frog skin camo fabric | type = Military camouflage pattern | origin = United States  | service = 1942–1960s | used_by = See ''Users'' | wars = * World War II * Korean War * First Indochina War * Bay of Pigs Invasion * Vietnam War * Turkish invasion of Cyprus * Iran-Iraq War  | designer = Norvell Gillespie | design_date = | manufacturer = | unit_cost = | production_date = | number = 150,000 (Initial Numbers)<ref name="COD">{{cite web | url=https://coffeeordie.com/frog-skin-camouflage/ | title=Frog Skin Camouflage Pattern: From Marine Raiders to the CIA | date=28 October 2020 }}</ref> | variants =  | spec_label = | weight =  | length =  | width = | height = | diameter = }}

'''Frog skin''', also known as '''duck hunter''', is a camouflage pattern with mottle and disruptive coloration to blend into the environment.<ref name="Eastman">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastmanleather.com/blog/2013/08/frogskin-pattern/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153950/http://www.eastmanleather.com/blog/2013/08/frogskin-pattern/|url-status=dead|title=Eastman: Frog Skin pattern|archivedate=July 14, 2014}}</ref> It is named for its similarity to a frog's crypsis skin.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.exploratorium.org/frogs/disappearing_act/index.html |title=Exploratorium: Frogs Disappearing Act |access-date=2014-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224015/http://www.exploratorium.org/frogs/disappearing_act/index.html |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The frog skin pattern was the United States military's first attempt at disruptive coloration camouflage.<ref name="Eastman" />

==Description== Frog skin camouflage consists of two variants, a five-color pattern of green and brown shapes on a pale green cloth base intended for use in wooded and jungle areas, and a three-color pattern of brown shapes on a pale tan cloth base intended for wear on beaches and other plant-bare terrain. The pattern was cost used the US Army's M1942 Reversible Spot Pattern and U.S. Marine Corps' P42 Camo utility uniforms, which were made from herringbone twill (HBT) cotton fabric and featured reversible construction, with the jungle pattern on one side and the beach pattern on the other.<ref name="COD" />

==History== ===World War II=== The US Army began experiments with camouflage in 1940–1941.<ref>Stanton 1991 p106-107</ref> The frog skin pattern was designed by Norvell Gillespie, a civilian horticulturist and the gardening editor for ''Better Homes & Gardens'' magazine, at the request of the US military.<ref name="COD"/> 150,000 uniforms in the pattern were ordered.<ref name="COD"/>

In 1942, the Marine Raiders were the first issued a frog skin pattern uniform, using it in the Pacific Theater.<ref name="Complexmag">[http://www.complexmag.ca/art-design/2013/08/guide-to-camouflage/1942-frog-skin-usa The Complex Guide to Camo]</ref><ref name="Eastman" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://1939-45.co.uk/uscamouflage.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126235403/http://1939-45.co.uk/uscamouflage.html|url-status=dead|title=1939-45.co.uk|archivedate=November 26, 2014|website=1939-45.co.uk}}</ref> The uniform was also worn by the Marines in other campaigns, notably the Battle of Tarawa.

In the European Theater, during the summer of 1944, certain Army infantry units were issued the uniform, like the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division.

By January 1944, production of the pattern was stopped. The uniforms were later sold as military surplus.<ref name="WazooArticle">{{cite web | url=https://wazoogear.com/blogs/behind-the-scenes/duck-hunter-camo-a-history | title=Duck Hunter Camo | the History of a Legendary Camouflage | date=20 June 2021 }}</ref> Surplus uniforms became popular among hunters,<ref name="WazooArticle"/> which led to the common alternate nickname ''duck hunter'' camo.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.alphaindustries.com/blogs/alpha-stories-military/frogskin-camo | title=Frogskin Camo | date=30 September 2019 }}</ref>

===Later use=== thumb|A private of the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment wearing the two piece herringbone twill (HBT) camouflage in Normandy. July 1944 The United States Marine Corps revived the pattern during the Korean War for limited use as helmet covers.<ref name="COD"/>{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=179}}

The frog skin pattern was issued to France's 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment and 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment during the First Indochina War.<ref name="Toronto Standard">{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontostandard.com/style/camouflage-from-killing-field-to-catwalk/|title=A Short History of Camouflage|publisher=Toronto Standard Media Company Limited|website=Toronto Standard}}</ref>

In 1961, the Cuban exiles Brigade 2506 were issued the frog skin pattern by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for the Bay of Pigs Invasion.<ref name="Toronto Standard" />

During the Vietnam War, United States Special Forces issued frog skin to the Montagnard for their guerrilla warfare activities.<ref name="Toronto Standard" /> Navy SEALs and Rangers resorted to using the camo due to a lack of a standard camouflage.<ref name="WazooArticle"/> Army Special Forces advisers, sailors and marines attached to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam — Naval Advisory Group and the CIDG also used it before tiger stripe camouflage uniforms were issued.<ref name="COD"/>

<gallery> File:Marine-raiders.jpg|Marine Raiders in frog skin pattern uniforms File:SAF adviser briefing Montagnard strike force before moving out against nearby Viet Cong guerrillas.png|SAF adviser briefing a Montagnard strike force wearing frog skin File:Vietnam....Staff Sergeant Howard Stevens, a Special Forces advisor to a Montagnard strike force, gets a chance to... - NARA - 531440.tif|SF advisor to Montagnards relaxing </gallery>

==Users==  thumb|French troops in Indochina 1953 * {{flag|Biafra}}: Acquired frog skin uniforms in 1968 for Biafran soldiers.{{sfn|Jowett|2016|p=40}} Pro-Biafran mercenaries recruited also use the same camos.{{sfn|Jowett|2016|p=46}} * {{flag|Brazil}}: Called ''camuflagem bolinhas'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/Brazil#Camouflage_of_the_Brazilian_Armed_Forces | title=Brazil - Camopedia }}</ref> * {{flag|Chile}}: Wore camouflage patterns based on frog skin.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=141}} * {{flag|Colombia}}: Used by the Colombian National Army from 1960 to 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colombia |first=Ejército Nacional de |title=Evolución histórica del uniforme de campaña del Ejército Nacional - Ejército Nacional de Colombia |url=https://www.ejercito.mil.co/evolucion-historica-del-uniforme-de-campana-del-ejercito-nacional/ |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=www.ejercito.mil.co |language=es}}</ref> * {{flag|France}}: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment and 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment in First Indochina War.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=269}} * {{flag|Indonesia}}: ** Brimob forces wore copies based on the US from 1965.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=269}} ** Pasukan Gerak Tjepat and Resimen Para Komando Angkatan Darat commandos wore copies based on the M1942 pattern.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=229}} Original 1942 camo uniforms were used back in the 1950s by PGT/RPKAD and airborne troops from 1954 to 1960, worn with the green pattern visible.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=228}}{{sfnp|Conboy|2007|p=6}} * {{flag|Iran}}: Copies, called Panther, were worn by the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard especially during the Iran-Iraq War.<ref>Armies of the Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 (Elite), David Campbell, Osprey Publishing; 1st edition (January 18, 2022), {{ISBN|978-1472845573}}{{page number needed|date=October 2024}}</ref> * {{flag|Mexico}}: Copies worn by the Mexican military.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=163}} * {{flag|Netherlands}}{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=415}} * {{flag|Philippines}}: Used by Scout Ranger units in the Philippine Army and Constabulary.{{sfnp|Javier|2024|p=43}} * {{flag|United States}}: ** United States Marine Corps<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tacticalnewsonline.com/marpat-camouflage/ | title=MARPAT Camouflage of the United States Marines Corps | date=18 June 2020 }}</ref> *** Marine Raiders<ref>{{cite web | url=https://smokesignalsnews.com/online_features/the-marine-raiders/article_9a700d96-afdd-59ac-beb4-5e747b4cf347.html | title=The Marine Raiders | date=2 November 2014 }}</ref> ** Brigade 2506<ref name="COD"/> * {{flag|Spain}}: Three-color pattern used in 1970 and was mostly used for ponchos, helmet covers, field equipment and some on clothes.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|pp=450}} * {{flag|Turkey}}: Formerly used frog skin clones; first examples seen in the 1970s.{{sfnp|Larson|2021|p=334}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== * {{cite book |last=Conboy |first=Ken |title=ELITE: The Special Forces of Indonesia 1950-2008 |year=2007 |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-9793780603 }} * {{cite book |last=Javier |first=Pedro Antonio V. |title=Evolution of Filipino Camouflage 1899-2024 |year=2024 |publisher= |isbn= }} * {{cite book |last=Jowett |first=Philip |title=Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967–70 |year=2016 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1472816092 }} * {{cite book |last1=Larson |first1=Eric H. |title=Camouflage: International Ground Force Patterns, 1946–2017 |date=2021 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=Barnsley |isbn=9781526739537}}

== External links ==

* {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esK2SIlSm30 |title=Normandy Myth Busters - Were American Troops wearing Camo HBT mistaken for the SS? |language=en |access-date=2024-05-19 |via=www.youtube.com}} {{commons category|Frog Skin}}

Category:Camouflage patterns Category:Military equipment introduced from 1940 to 1944