Tropentarn

Tropentarn
Tropentarn camo pattern
TypeMilitary camouflage pattern
Place of originGermany
Service history
Used bySee Users
WarsWar in Afghanistan
Mali War

Tropentarn ("tropical camouflage") is the name of a lighter weight polyester-cotton (PolyCo) fabric printed with either the German 5-color or 3-color Flecktarn camouflage or pattern used by the Bundeswehr for their military uniforms. Some tags say 20% polyester, some say 15%, and others say 35%.

Pattern

Design

Soldier on the left is wearing Tropentarn. Soldier on the right is wearing Wüstentarn

Tropentarn is Bundeswehr 5-color or 3-colorFlecktarn printed on lighter weight fabric. Colors consist of dark green, grey-green, red brown, and black over a light green or tan base for 5-color and a beige base with brown and green colors on top. On the tropentarn fabric the brown screen is more of a "rust" color and the black screen contrasts sharply against the dark green and grey-green screens.

The term Wüstentarn and Tropentarn are often used for the 3-color Flecktarn. The first misnomer is due to the use of the 3-colour print in Afghanistans mostly sandy regions, while the former is due to it exclusively being used with the tropical uniform.

Manufacture

Uniforms made in this fabric are for service in warmer, tropical regions. Because of the nature of the material, the colorway of the Flecktarn pattern differs from the colorway of the heavier weight Flecktarn uniforms, appearing lighter, brighter and with greater screen separation.

References

  1. ↑ "Bundeswehr-Anzugsordnung A1-2630/0-9804".
  2. ↑ "German Army Tropical Camo Field Shirt Jacket Tropentarn Flecktarn Desert Camo | #3831617843". Worthpoint. Retrieved 2025-07-25.[better source needed]
  3. ↑ "Tropical 'Tropentarn' Camo German Parka | Durable Military Style". Top Rank Vintage. Retrieved 2025-07-25.[better source needed]
  4. ↑ "Fatigue Jacket Size Small (GrNr 13)". eBay. Retrieved 2025-07-25.[better source needed]
  5. ↑ "Flecktarn-different color versions". iacmc.forumotion.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.[better source needed]
  6. ↑ "Flecktarn Color Palette". www.color-hex.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  7. ↑ "Bundeswehr-Anzugsordnung A1-2630/0-9804".
  8. ↑ "Uniformen der Bundeswehr" (in German). Bundeswehr. Archived from the original on 2016-07-04. Retrieved 22 August 2016.

Bibliography

  • Larson, Eric H. (2021). Camouflage: International Ground Force Patterns, 1946–2017. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781526739537.