British DPM Camouflage

[reneblacky]

I suppose you are aware of the New Zealand DPM, only replaced a few years ago. The NZ DPM was lighter brown and more yellowish tone than the British, which matched better the New Zealand landscape.

I like the feathered mate. A bird in the hand is worth two in the DPM, or something like that.

NZ DPM is one I'd love to see, post yours, I only have the Dutch version for foreign versions. Maybe I should have titled this thread all nations DPM patterns

[paulp4180]

That's a ripper! Thanks for posting it up.
Question for you fellas, is there a way of decoding the contract numbers to determine a date?

Try these Rene:

https://www.iso-group.com/nsn-search/

https://www.nato.int/structur/AC/135...sh/e_1-6-5.htm

[Jerry B]

1984 pattern DPM Smock Parachutists, with removed para wings, DZ flash, Airlanding brigade badge and APJI breast wings.

[Jerry B]

That's a ripper! Thanks for posting it up.
Question for you fellas, is there a way of decoding the contract numbers to determine a date?

A/6/CLO – at least 1947 to …
A/78 - early-mid 1960s to 1979
CT2, CT3, CT4 - 1979 to 1985
SL31 – 1983? to 1990
SL32 - 1985 to 1994
SL33 - 1989 to 1995 (?)
SL34 - 1990 to 1994
ST1 - 1994 to 2003
ST2 - ???
CT34 - 1995 to 1997
CT1A - 1996 to 1997
CC2 - 1996 to 2007
OC2 - 2002 to 2003
CC - 2004 to 2007
DC1, DC2, ESL - 2003 to at least 2010
(DC1 - 2003 to at least 2010)
(DC2 - at least 2006 to at least 2010)
DCIBESL – at least 2008 to 2009
DC4 – at least 2008 to 2012

A/78/G.S./13101/G.S. 1a(1) – NBC trousers, Remploy, packed May 1967 (1966 date deleted)
A/78/CLO/23153/CT5A – NBC gloves, DAC, 1968
A/78/G.S./20148/G.S. 1a(1) – NBC trousers, Remploy, packed Aug 1969
A/78/CLO/32935/DC67 (1) – NBC gloves, packed Nov 1971
A/78/CLO/33893/DC69 (1) – 68 pattern smock, CW Son Ltd, 1971
A/78/CLO/38647/DC69 (1) – 68 pattern trousers, CW Son Ltd, 1972
A/78/CLO/38799/DC67 – respirator case, BHE Ltd, 1972
A/78/CLO/41990/CB(CT)2A – NBC gloves, Dipco, Dec 1973
A/78/CLO/44665/CB(CT)2C – NBC gloves, SG Ltd, 1974
A/78/CLO/41465//M/CB(CT)1C – drawers cellular, Meridian Ltd, Feb 1975
[above is contract no on garment, batch label also gives “Order A/78/CLO/41851/1/M/CB(CT)1C”]
A/78/CLO/46903/CB(CT)2C – NBC suit, XAT, 1975
A/78/CLO/47456/CB(CT)2B - rucksack, M.E.L, 1975
A/78/CLO/46905/CB(CT)2C – NBC smock, SPE, Jan 1976
A/78/CLO/50169/CB(CT) – NBC overboots, maker not stated, Jan 1977
A/78/CLO/50662/CB(CT)1C – jersey man's heavy, TWK, 1977
A/78/CLO/52159/CB(CT)2A – sleeping bag, CQC, 1977
A/78/CLO/55654/CB(CT)2B – casualty bag, Remploy, packed May 1978
A/78/CLO/57092/CB(CT)4A - jersey, heavy, Remploy, 1979
A/78/CLO/57761/CB(CT)2B – NBC smock, maker not shown, April 1979
A/78/CLO/57761/CB(CT)2B – NBC smock, maker not shown, April 1979
A/78/CLO/56726/CB(CT) 2B – NBC gloves, S.G. Ltd, packed May 1979
A/78/CLO/57761/CB(CT)2B – NBC trousers, maker not shown, Dec 1979
CT4B/17 – flak jacket, James Smith and Co, 1979
CT2B/232 – respirator haversack, Remploy, 1979
CT2B/436 – NBC Mk3 trousers, no maker, fabric date July 1979
CT3B/566 – lowland spats, Hobsons, 1979
CT2B/339 – casualty protective bag, Remploy, 1980
CT2B/431 – NBC smock, Remploy, 1980
CT2B/496 – S6 respirator haversack, Remploy, 1980
CT2B/544 – NBC smock, James Smith, 1980, Jan 1981 (fabric date 4/80)
CT2A/618 – thermal overboots, Remploy, 1980
CT2B/436 – NBC trousers, no maker, Nov 1980, Mar 1981
CT2B/496 – S6 respirator haversack, Remploy, 1981
CT2B/723 – NBC suit, Remploy, fabric 6/81, packed 11/81
CT4A/803 – jersey man's heavy, Remploy, 1981
CT4B/844 - dpm arctic smock, 180/96, GQ Defence Equipment Ltd, 1982 or earlier (IWM – issued to war artist Linda Kitson)
CT2A/904 – NBC overboots, LBRCo, Oct 1981
CT2B/895 – NBC gloves, S.G. Ltd, packed July 1982
CT2B/962 – NBC smock, Remploy, June, Aug, Oct. 1982 [fabric Oct 81]
CT2B/980 – respirator haversack, Remploy, 1982
CT4A/1000 - jersey, J Pick & Sons Ltd, 1982
CT4A/1001 – jersey, Remploy, 1982
CT2A/1150 – sleeping bag, CQC, 1982
CT2A/1285 - NBC gloves, Dipco, Feb, Dec 1982
CT2B/1202 – NBC suit, fabric date June 1982, packed March 1983
CT2A/1477 – 58 patt poncho roll, CWL, 1982
CT2A/1553 – Arctic rucksack, CQC, 1982
CT2A/2630 – NBC overboots, LBRCo, June 1983
CT4A/1023 – Jersey, Remploy, 1983
CT2B/1202 – NBC trousers, Remploy, Oct 1983
CT2B/1238 - Individual Protection Kit, Remploy, 1983
CT2A/1555 – sleeping bag, CQC, 1983
CT2A/1682 – rucksack, CQC, 1983
CT4B/1634 – smock reversible, Vacuum Reflex Ltd, Dec 1983
CT2B/896 – NBC gloves, S.G. Ltd, packed Feb 1984
CT2B/1415 – facelet mask, CQC, 1984
CT4A/1401 – jersey, TWK, 1984
CT4B/1415 – NBC facelet, Remploy, July 1984
CT4B/1895 - PVC trousers, ?, June 1984
CT2B/1528 – NBC suit, Remploy, July 1984, March 1985
CT4A/1610 – Jersey, heavy wool, Remploy, 1984/85
CT2B/1528 – NBC trousers, Remploy, 1985
CT2B/1653 – NBC trousers, Remploy, 1985
CT2A/2061 – rucksack, CQC, 1984
CT2A/2630 – NBC overboots, Leyland & B’ham Rubber Company, June 1985
SL32b/1872 – NBC gloves, S.G. Ltd, packed Dec 1985
SL32b/1900 – NBC smock, no maker, 1985
SL31a/1952 – Jersey, J Pick & Sons Ltd, 1983
SL31b/2385 - PVC trousers, ?, Dec 1985
SL32b/1981 – NBC gloves, Dipco, 1986
SL32b/1987 – NBC suit, Remploy, July 1986
SL32b/1988 – NBC suit, J S & Co (Derby), July 1986
SL31a/2189 – NBC trousers, Supercraft, packed June 1987
SL32b/2091 – NBC gloves, S.G. Ltd, packed July 1987
SL31a/2349 – NBC overboots, LBR, packed July 1987
SL32b/2389 – Jersey Heavy Wool, J Pick & Sons Ltd, 1987
SL32b/2450 – visor cover, Helmets Ltd, 1987
SL31b/2877 – OD foul weather jacket, Mileta Sports Ltd, 1987
SL32a/3754 – NBC personal protection kit, Remploy, 1987
SL32a/3891 - sleeping bag liner, ?, June 1987
SL31a/2441 - chemical casualty bag, ?, packed Dec 1987
SL31a/2442 – chemical casualty bag, Remploy, Jan 1988
SL32a/4058 – bergen, CQC, 1988
SL32a/4261 - various PLCE equipment items, ?, March 1988.
SL32a/4296 – sleeping bag cover, CQC, 1988
SL31b/2935 – NBC suit, Remploy, Oct 1988
SL31b/2935 - NBC trousers, Remploy, Dec 1988
SL33b/3773 – NBC gloves, S.B. Ltd, packed Mar 1989
SL33a/4??? – 58 patt pouch, CWL, 1989
SL32a/4661 – Rucksack long, CWL, 1989
SL31b/3205 – NBC trousers, Remploy, Dec 1989
SL31b/3085 – NBC gloves, J North & Sons, 1990
SL33b/4444 – NBC gloves, C.W.S. Ltd, Feb 1990
SL33b/4481 – NBC gloves, S.B. Ltd, Feb 1990
SL32b/5028 – NBC overboots, maker not stated, packed 1990
SL33c/391 – headover/balaclava, VMC, 1990
SL32b/5254 – NBC suit, Remploy, Aug 1990, May 1991
SL3/7/51 – NBC suit, J Compton Sons, packed June 1991
SL34b/0146 – NBC smock, Remploy, July 1991
SL32a/4616 – bivouac bag, CQC, 1991
SL32a/5519 – rifle grenade pouch, CQC, 1991
SL34b series – 1990 to early/mid 90s (ddpm clothing)
SL32a/5578 – PLCE side pouch, Remploy, 1991
SL32a/5578 – PLCE frog, Remploy, 1991
SL32a/5788 – compression sack for sleeping bag, A.I.L., 1992
SL34b/0246 – NBC suit, Remploy, 6/92, 10/92 (fabric date 9/91), 3/93
SL34b/0490 – NBC overboots, bp, packed Nov 1992
SL32A/5975 – respirator haversack, CWL, 1993
SL32a/6123 – dpm respirator haversack, Remploy, 1993
SL32a/6174 – rifle grenade pouch, Jacon, 1993
SL32a/6320 – dpm PLCE frog, Remploy, 1994
SL34b/0742 – NBC overboots, LBR, packed Sept 1994
SL34b/0757 – overalls white, Supercraft, 1994
ST1A/1292 – NBC suit, LBRCO, 1994
ST1A/1406 – 2nd patt pre-S95 desert trousers – 1993-1995?
SL33b/5489 – NBC gloves, OWR-H, packed Jan 1995
CT/CB 34B/0969 – NBC overboots, maker not stated, March 1995
SL34b/0281 – NBC gloves, James North & Sons Ltd, packed Nov 94, Apr 95
CC2/1531 – Soldier 95 ripstop smock, 1995-2000
CT32A/6688 – SA80 cover, 1995
CT34B/1036 – NBC overboots, Oct 1995
CT34B/1039 – gaiters GS, 1995 and 1996
CT34B/1060 – gaiters GS, 1995
CT1A/1005 – PLCE belt, Papworth, 1996
CT1A/1066 – NBC overboots, Oct 1996
CT1A/1067 – NBC overboots, Nov 1996
CT1A/1067 – NBC overboots, Acton, Jun 1997
CT1A/1157 – gaiters GS, 1997
CT34B/1154 – NBC smock, Remploy, packed Feb 1997
CT34B/1154 – NBC trousers, Remploy, packed Sept 1997
ST1A/1197 – NBC inner gloves, Nov 99, Feb 2000
CT1A/1103 – NBC gloves, Mar 2000
ST1A/1292 – NBC suit, Remploy, packed Jan 2000; June 2001; Mar 2003
ST1A/1456 – NBC gloves, Feb 2001
ST1A/1467 – parachute helmet, 2001
OC2a/1593 – desert windproof smock, Supercraft (Europe) Ltd, 2002
OC2a/1614 – desert helmet cover, Supercraft (Europe) Ltd, 2003
OC2/1534 – vest CS95, 2003
ST1A/1478 – NBC gloves, 2003
DC1bESL/0010 - desert windproof smock, Armour Products, 2003
DC1aESL/0052 – NBC trousers, Remploy, Sept 2003
CC2/1567 – roll mat, AP Ltd, 2004
DC1aESL/0014 – Mk6 helmet, 2004
DC1aESL/0118 – NBC overboots, Silvertown UK Ltd, Dec 2004
DC1aESL/0156 – PLCE belt, 2004
DC1a/ESL/0127 – NBC smock, Remploy, 2005
DC1a/ESL/0151 – rucksack cover, 2005
DC1a/ESL/0237 – NBC suit, Remploy, Jan 2006
DC2CESL/3129 – desert windproof smock, Cooneen Watts & Stone, 2006
DC1BESL/6004 – gloves, combat, 2006
DC4BESL/1000 – sleeping bag cover, 2006
CC2/1567 – roll mat, AP Ltd, 2007
DC2CESL/3154 – small pouch cover, 2007
DC1BESL/6007 – combat gloves, 2007
DC1aESL/0369 – gaiters, 2007
DC1aESL/0391 – desert sheet, J & S Franklin, 2008, 2009
DC2BESL/1000 - sleeping bag cover, 2009
DC2CESL/3154 – rucksack covers, 2007, 2008, 2009
DC2CESL/3129 – windproof smock, CW&S, 2009
DC2CESL/3129 – desert helmet cover, Cooneen Watts & Stone, 2010
DC1A/1043 – Arctic sleeping bag, 2010
DC2B12514 – vest, 2010
I suspect the A/78/CLO format may have been introduced after the Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964 when "A" signified Army. I notice after that time publications that formerly used a WO Registry File number assumed an "A" prefix as well. Prior to this what was the typical contract prefix?

I think "GS" is General Stores as I notice the Army Cataloguing Authority combined responsibilities for Clothing & General Stores at Didcot, so one can see the CLO/GS is closely related.

Contract A/78/CLO//48022/CB(CT)2B (Haversack, Respirator, NBC Mk 2A, 8485-99-137-1438) Dated 1976

Contract CT4b/1895 (Trouser, Mans, Waterproof, PVC, DP, 8415-99-130-4888)
dates from 13/6/1984.

Contract SL31b/2385 (Trouser, Mans, Waterproof, DP, PVC, 8415-99-130-4887)
dates from 3/12/1985.

Contract SL32a/3891 (Liner, Sleeping Bag, Long, 8465-99-120-9070)
dates from 29/6/1987.

Contract CT2a/2282 (Liner, Sleeping Bag C and GS, NSN NOT SPECIFIED, almost identical to 120-9070 above)
dates from 31/1/1989.

Contract CT2a/2228 (Liner, Sleeping Bag C and GS, 8465-99-120-8197)
prototype submitted 8/3/1984 and assessed on 23/8/1984. (not clear if this was actually approved)

Contract SL31a/2441 (Bag, Casualty, Chemical Protective MK11, 6530-99-130-6832)
package dated March 1988, packed December 1987.

Contract SL31a/2147 (Casualty Bag Chemical Proof Half Mk1 (sic)) (8415-99-132-4882) Spec No. SCRDE/PB/11/77
submitted 21/4/1986 Approved 29/7/1986

Contract SL322a/4261 dates from 1/3/1988, consisted of at least 13 items and included:
Pouch, Water Bottle (8465-99-130-9359) (Item 13 of the contract)
Yoke, main (8465-99-130-9355)
Cover, Hand Shovel (8465-99-130-9362)
Haversack, Respirator (8465-99-130-9357)

Edited to add more contract dates....and even more.....9/10/2015

SL31a / 2147 Date 1986 C.Q.C. (Casualty Bag Chemical Proof (sic) Whole, Mk1. 8415-99-132-4881)
SL32a / 5018 Date 1990 RR. Belt, Waist, Adj. Surely the last 58 pattern belt ever made?
CT2a / 1763 Date 1983 58 Pattern Ammo Pouch Left, whatever the name is
SL32a / 5875 Date 1992 REMPLOY. (Belt, Waist, Large, OD IRR, 8465-99-132-1565)
SL32a / 6121 Date 1993 C.Q.C. (Pouch, Side, Rucksack, DPM IRR 8465-99-132-1555)
SL32a / 6122 Date 1993 C.W.L. (Carrier, Water canteen, DPM IRR, 8465-99-132-1556)
SL32a / 6325 Date 1994 Papworth. (Pouch, Ammunition, Universal, DPM IRR, 8465-99-132-1557)
ST1a / 1444 Date 2001 (Carrier, Entrenching Tool Case, 8465-99-132-1554)
ST1a / 1510 Date 2003 HFS. (Belt, Waist, Large, OD IRR, 8465-99-132-1565)

Jacket, Bush, (S.C.C. 19) Green. 1947; 6/CLO/N812/7

Trousers Protective N.B.C. No. 1 Mk. 2. 1971 (Packed Mar 1972); A/78/CLO/34433/DC69(3)

Gloves Inner (For Use With Gloves NBC). Packed Dec 1976; A/78/CLO/50168/CB(CT)2B

Gloves Protective NBC (Outer). Packed Jan 1979 (1978, 8 crossed out, 9 written in); A/78/CLO/53062/CB(CT)2A

Overboots N.B.C. No.1 Mk. 3 (Fishtail). Packed Feb 1980; CT 2A/237

Mk II Combat Glove GL 8415 99 978 3712 Size 8 DC2B/2591 2015

Belt waist 58 pattern and/or belt waist working dress large cn 8465-99-869-3248 ct1a / 1021 1996

[reneblacky]

Cheers Jerry, will be saving this lot.

[Warspite]

A couple of DDPM jackets. firstly a tailored shirt with insignia for the Cyprus Operational Support Unit:

And a windproof smock with ISAF and Desert Rats insignia:

Finally a comparison between the material on three DDPM smocks. Left to Right we have the windproof, then the fire resistant and finally a rip stop smock:

The differences are more pronounced in the flesh, but it shows what a difference the material has on the way the camo pattern looks.

[Jerry B]

Canadian DPM, Para Smock 1987.

[reneblacky]

Dutch DPM gortex lined '90 and a pair of shorts '96
All good if you all have international examples to post here.

[Tango]

Excellent thread guys.. I spent 23 years wearing this stuff, amazing when you look at the different types clothing.. Cheers Terry.

[reneblacky]

I've been looking for a liner for the S95 "smock combat windproof" to no avail! I did find these as a filler, not DPM but used with
After a liner for the S95 like this one.(evilbay photo)