Comments for Strike - Hold!

Comment on “Mirage” camo uniforms from Bulldog Equipment by Mirage Camo: up-close and in-the-field « Strike – Hold!

Mirage Camo: up-close and in-the-field « Strike – Hold! — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:31:26 +0000

[...] Mirage Camo: up-close and in-the-field There are 2 generations of the Mirage Camo combat uniform from Bulldog Equipment. This article focusses on the Gen. I uniform. Further details of the Gen.II, vented, uniform can be found here. [...]

Comment on A-TACS counter-attack by Dixie

Dixie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:23:48 +0000

No matter how good it is, it will still be overlooked in favour of something cheaper, nastier or a pattern that’s “in-the-club”.

Comment on A-TACS counter-attack by M5

M5 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:27:42 +0000

Ever seen a Tiger?

No, camouflage doesn’t need to be omnidirectional. And often it shouldn’t be omnidirectional, either. The strips of the Tiger break the long body shape of the animal, and, besides, work well for him when stalking in tall grass.

Another thing that the Tiger has that works well with his body is reverse shading. I.e, the belly is whitish to counter the shadow, helping to hide the 3D shape of the predator.

Reverse shading would be very costly for something like uniforms made of printed fabric. However, directional camouflage results in only in a modest increase in the cost of manufacture (as pattern direction has to be taken into account in assembly). Directional printed camouflage is successfully employed to break the longish human outline in a large number of camo patterns, notably also in Cadpat, which has been one of the best performers in Nato contests.

What comes to the photo-shoped look of some of the atacs pics… Unnatural looks may result from carefully staging the settings to minimize shape-revealing shadows. Without comparison to the competition, in a wide range of backdrops relevant for the planned AO, these marketing shots have no more than anecdotal value.

This is not to say that ATACS wouldn’t be another good camo pattern. It probably is. But, the marketing hype is distasteful. I wonder whether some bloggers, like Soldier Systems Daily, are actually paid for marketing this stuff, or whether it’s just lack of judgment to publish each and every new pic of ATACS that is ‘revealed’ by some marketing department.

Comment on A-TACS counter-attack by Dixie

Dixie — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:19:26 +0000

Have to say that I rather like it. I’d still like to know how they will print it.

Comment on New Afghan National Army camouflage uniform revealed by strikehold

strikehold — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:56:44 +0000

Its the traditional big floppy beret of the French mountain infantry.

Comment on More photos of new Afghan Army camo uniform by Alexander

Alexander — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:11:49 +0000

huh, design looks like a hybrid between the ACU (with what looks like velcro) and some Soviet/Russian style uniform

speaking of ACU any news on the new camo? I thought it was supposed to be chosen by the end of October

Comment on Chinese Type 03 Plateau Camouflage / “Tibet-tarn” by Doug

Doug — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:02:56 +0000

Very cool. Now if only someone would inventory some Type 07 Urban or Desert/Highland.

Comment on Berets, Turbans, Beards and Soldiering by strikehold

strikehold — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:02:10 +0000

Well, I thought your analysis was spot on. I do judge an argument on its merits – but you can’t overlook the qualifications of the person making that argument in the first place – especially when they’re making sweeping arguments with a political bias, and outside of their domain of expertise. For example, I hold an equal level of scorn for Biden and Rumsfeld.

Comment on Berets, Turbans, Beards and Soldiering by Stuart Koehl

Stuart Koehl — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:47:04 +0000

In all fairness, you overlooked the part where I said I generally admire Donnelly’s work. On her main issue, women in the military, we concur almost entirely.

On the issue of military experience, I have found that those who have it vary as widely in the quality of their analysis as those who don’t. Some of the biggest idiots who have ever put pen to paper on military subjects either wear or wore stars on their shoulders. Conversely, some of the prescient and influential military thinkers never spent a day in uniform.

Judge the argument on its merits, not by who is making it.

Comment on Chinese Type 03 Plateau Camouflage / “Tibet-tarn” by Lawrence

Lawrence — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:18:19 +0000

A Hong Kong based company called Airsoft Park are now selling what appear to be authentic, surplus Type 03 Highland camo uniforms, boonie hats and helmet covers. No sign of the elusive, alleged battle vests in this camo though. Check Airsoft Park’s store on eBay, or go to http://www.airsoftpark.com