Annex B · The manual
Sellers don't always name the pattern, and some get it wrong. Answer two questions to narrow it down, then compare against the reference swatches below.
B.2 — Reference swatches
The five patterns you'll meet most often in UK surplus shops.
Match
Disruptive Pattern Material (temperate)
How to spot it: Bold black and brown brushstroke shapes over mid-green and sand. Four colours, hard edges.
In surplus: Everywhere and cheap, especially Soldier 95 (Combat 95) shirts, trousers and smocks from 1995 onwards.
Photo: Cpl Adrian Harlen RLC / MoD · OGL v1.0
Match
Desert Disruptive Pattern Material
How to spot it: Brown brushstroke shapes on a pale sand base. Most common in the later two-colour version.
In surplus: Common from Iraq and Afghanistan era stock. Early Gulf War items are more collectable.
Photo: Graeme Main / MoD · OGL v1.0
Match
Multi-Terrain Pattern
How to spot it: Soft greens, tans and browns in DPM-like shapes, with small dark and cream "twig" marks. Developed from MultiCam colours.
In surplus: Plentiful and growing. Look for PCS (Personal Clothing System) items. It's current issue, so condition and price vary widely.
Photo: Amanda Reynolds / MoD · OGL v1.0
Match
US Woodland pattern
How to spot it: Large rounded blobs of light green, brown and dark green, crossed by black branch-like shapes. Four colours.
In surplus: Huge volumes of US BDU jackets and trousers. The classic cheap "army surplus" look.
Photo: U.S. Army · Public domain
Match
German "spot camouflage"
How to spot it: Hundreds of small dots in five colours: black, reddish-brown and greens over a green-grey base.
In surplus: German parkas, shirts and trousers are some of the best-value surplus in UK shops. The desert version is called Tropentarn.
Photo: Thimbleweed · CC BY-SA 3.0
Found your pattern?
Browse clothing & uniform stockists, then check the label with the Size Decoder and the genuine-or-repro checklist.