British Army Camo: What's Really Changed Since 1976?

"Isn't camo just... camo?" Not even close. If you've handled genuine British Army combat kit spanning a few decades, you'll have noticed the pattern keeps changing — and not because someone in the MOD got bored. Every shift below happened for a real operational reason. Here's the actual timeline, from DPM through to the current MTP23.

DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material) — adopted 1976

DPM is the pattern most people picture as "classic" British Army camo — the four-colour woodland pattern (green/brown/black/sand) that was officially adopted in 1976 and stayed the Army's standard temperate pattern for decades. A desert version, Desert DPM, was developed for hot, arid environments like the Gulf.

Genuine British Army Desert DPM jacket — the arid-environment version of the classic pattern.

Soldier 95 — introduced 1995

Soldier 95 (often shortened to "S95") wasn't a new camouflage pattern as such — it was a new combat clothing system, introduced in 1995, that standardised a single set of DPM-pattern combat kit designed to work across environments rather than issuing completely separate uniforms per role. This is the era where most surviving genuine "old style" DPM combat jackets in circulation today actually come from.

Genuine Soldier 95 Mk1 DPM combat jacket — the six-pocket standard issue design from this era.

MTP (Multi-Terrain Pattern) — introduced 2010

MTP was developed as an Urgent Operational Requirement for the Afghanistan campaign, where the old temperate DPM and Desert DPM patterns weren't well suited to the mixed terrain troops were actually operating in — turns out "woodland" and "desert" don't cover everything in between. Based on Crye Precision's MultiCam colour palette but using shapes closer to the traditional DPM look, MTP was first issued to units on Operation Herrick from March 2010, then rolled out more widely from 2011 — fully replacing DPM across the Army by 2013.

Genuine MTP windproof smock — the multi-terrain pattern that replaced DPM across the Army.

MTP23 — the current update

MTP23 isn't a new camouflage pattern — it's the 2023 update to the cut and construction of the Personal Clothing System (PCS) combat kit, still in the same MTP colourway. The main changes are practical: a slimmer, more fitted cut with a pleated back for freedom of movement, a mandarin collar designed to stop chafing under body armour, an updated lightweight polycotton fabric blend, and an added elasticated panel on the trousers. In other words: same look, better fit, fewer complaints.

Genuine British Army MTP23 combat trousers — the current-issue cut with the added elasticated panel.

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Quick summary

• DPM (1976): the classic four-colour woodland pattern, plus a Desert DPM variant for arid climates.
• Soldier 95 (1995): the standardised DPM-pattern combat clothing system — not a new pattern, a new system.
• MTP (2010): a genuinely new pattern, developed for Afghanistan, replacing DPM entirely by 2013.
• MTP23 (2023): same MTP pattern, updated cut and fabric for the current-issue PCS uniform.

A quick note for buyers

If you're after a specific era — for re-enactment, collecting, or just wanting the genuine original rather than the newer cut — the pattern name alone won't tell you which generation you're getting, since both MTP and MTP23 use the same colourway. Check the cut details in the listing (collar style, pocket layout, whether there's an elasticated panel) or the item description, and ask us if you're not sure which generation a specific piece is from.

Browse our full range of genuine issue combat jackets and smocks across these eras — each listing notes the specific pattern and condition. If you're not sure which era or pattern something in your basket is, get in touch and we're happy to help.