The lizard pattern, also called TAP 47 (Airborne Troops 47) or Leopard pattern for the French is a family of many related designs of military camouflage pattern, first used by the French Army on uniforms from 1947 to the late 1980s. It was based on the British paratroopers' Denison smock. The use of the pattern is widespread in Africa, despite its association with France, because armed factions and militaries tend to obtain them from whichever source has it available.
There are two major types of lizard pattern, horizontal like the original French design, and vertical like the early variant developed by Portugal. In addition, the Vietnam Wartiger stripe camouflage pattern is descended from Lizard from 1957.
Evolution of lizard patterns
Lizard camo BDU and pants
Lizard patterns have two overlapping prints, generally green and brown, printed with gaps so that a third dyed color, such as a lighter green or khaki, makes up a large part of the pattern. In this, it is printed like earlier British patterns used on that country's Paratroopers Denison smocks. Lizard patterns have narrower printed areas than the British patterns, and the original form had a strong horizontal orientation, disrupting the vertical form of the soldier's body.
Horizontal lizard patterns in different colour forms were made by the French. A copy of the French pattern, made in Asia, was adopted by some African countries such as Chad, Gabon, Rwanda, and Sudan. In around 1970 Cuba designed a gray variety, used by Cuba and by the FAPLA of Angola. Greece has used a range of horizontal lizard patterns from the 1960s. Soviet Spetsnaz and interior ministry troops wore lizard patterns. The Israel Defence Force used actual French lizard uniforms (donated by France) until 1968, alongside plain (unpatterned) battledress.
After the Algerian War, the "Troupes Aéroportées" (Airborne Troops) "Tenue Leopard"/"tenues de saut" was officially withdrawn from French service in January 1963 as it was felt to be a reminder of the Paratroops mutiny. It was initially replaced with the khaki M1947 "trellis/tenue de campagne" and later the vert armée "treillis Mle. 1964" or "Satin 300" in the late 1960s which evolved into the F1 and F2 uniform sets, the forest camouflage CCE was introduced in 1991.
However, the "tenue camouflee toutes armes" variant was worn by French Forces in Germany throughout the 1960s and by units going overseas into the early 1980s until finally replaced by Central-Europe Camouflage.
Vertical lizard patterns
Vertical lizard patterns in different colorways were apparently developed in Portugal from the original French horizontal patterns. The lizard pattern had been in use in Portugal since 1956 with the Air Force's Paratroopers, being extended to the Army's Special Rifles units in 1960. With the Portuguese Military engaged in the Overseas Wars mainly fought in the African jungles, the camouflaged uniform was issued throughout the whole Army and some units of the Navy and Air Force. In 1963, a vertical lizard pattern was developed, this replacing the French horizontal pattern. Paradoxically, the Portuguese vertical lizard pattern become popular amongst some of the guerrillas that opposed Portugal in the Overseas Wars and was later adopted by the armed forces of some of the former Portuguese African colonies after their independence.
The Portuguese lizard pattern was adopted by Brazil. Egypt, Greece, India, Lebanese Palestinians and Syria have all used variants of the vertical lizard pattern. SWAPO guerrillas in Namibia wore a wide variety of camouflage, including Portuguese lizard.
The Vietnam Wartiger stripe camouflage is descended from Lizard. It began as a French experimental pattern during the Indochina war. It was based on the TAP47 lizard pattern, and was adopted by the South Vietnamese Marines. Tiger stripe differs from lizard in having its printed areas interlocked rather than overlapped; it also used smaller areas of dyed background color.
Users
Current
Algeria: Grey Lizard camos used by Algerian paratroopers. Purple-dominant lizard used in the 1980s.
Armenia: Greek Lizard camos used by Armenian troops while in peacekeeping operations under NATO command.
Bahrain: Known to be used by Bahraini commando units.
Cape Verde: Brazilian variant used by Cape Verdean military units in public function roles and by Cape Verdean Naval Infantry. Regular lizard pattern used by rest of Cape Verdean military.
East Timor: Digital version of the lizard camo used by the East Timorese military.
Greece: Uses Greek Lizard camos, due to be replaced with another version known as M24.
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