Last week those of you in the West may have heard the interview Howard Sattler did with an ex digger named Mark on his Drive Program on Perth Radio Station 6PR. Subject to the successful outcome of the Australian and in-theatre trials, Army intends to roll the DPMU uniform out to deployed troops as quickly as possible. This uniform is referred to as Disruptive Pattern Mid-Point Uniform (DPMU).
AUSTRALIAN MULTICAM CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM TRIAL
In December 2009, the Chief of Army directed an in-theatre trial of the new pattern to confirm its effectiveness. The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) developed a mid point colour set that may better meet the range of environments that deployed troops are encountering, particularly within Afghanistan. The colourway looks to be optimised for semi-arid regions like Afghanistan, and according to a source at the International Camouflage Uniform Society " photos on the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) website show a variation of their armed forces’ iconic ‘bunny’ or ‘jelly bean’ Disruptive Pattern Uniform (DPU). More recently the possibility of adopting MultiCam's effective colour scheme but in a pattern more akin to DPCU is being considered. A trial of MultiCam was undertaken and the decision made to broaden this trial for Australian operations in Afghanistan. Australian special forces operating in Afhanistan have been seen wearing Crye's Multicam camouflage. One criticism was that the new camouflage used colours that were still too biased towards desert operations. Trials however, showed that in most areas the original DPCU performed more effectively than the new Midpoint camouflage and it will not now be adopted. The new variant was designed to overcome issues associated with operating in and around the "green belt" areas of Afghanistan particularly in corn fields where the DPDU was too light in colour but where the DPCU was too green for open areas. The pattern remained the same as that used for the DPCU and DPDU but with a light lime-yellow base colour, light grey, sand, olive-green and red-brown. Army chief Ken Gillespie toured Afghanistan showing off the new uniform. The fabric is produced by Bruck Pty Ltd, while the garments are manufactured by Australian Defence Apparel. The trial of this particular fabric will end in July, but we anticipate trials of more fabrics in the near future." A new DPDU variant known as 'Mid Point" was to be progressively introduced into selected service in Afghanistan 2010. The manufacture of the MMPU fabric and garments is being carried out in Australia. It’s a long process to get things right, that’s why the feedback from our trial participants is so important and will be fed into subsequent trial garments over the coming years.” “There are always going to be issues – that’s what a trial is for,” Captain Rhodes said. “We need to meet our people’s needs and expectations while ensuring our uniform is fit for purpose. “The trial participants are assessing the comfort and durability of the new rig,” Director of Navy Logistics Support, Captain Catherine Rhodes said. “We will use the information they give us to eventually produce a maritime uniform which best meets Navy’s requirements,” she added.
The trial has seen the MMPUs issued to members on a wide range of different Navy platforms, including a Major Fleet Unit, three patrol boats and two submarines. The laboratory-tested MMPU sea-going variant fabric is required to be flame resistant, while being lighter than the Disruptive Pattern Navy Uniform (DPNU) - theoretically allowing it to be more comfortable in warmer climates. The Ship's Company of HMAS Melbourne trial the prototype Maritime Multi-cam Pattern Uniform in a sea-going environment (Picture source : Royal Australian Navy) The cut, design and pattern of the prototype Maritime Multi-cam Pattern Uniform (MMPU) is based on the Australian Multi-cam Combat Uniform, which is used by the Australian Army and Air Force. A new look multi-cam uniform is being put to the test, for Navy, with trials of the sea-going variant taking place across the Fleet.
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