# Camo vs green in actual effectiveness **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132 "2014-08-08T23:49:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/21 "2014-08-11T19:33:33Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You know what the best cammo is? Dirt. Roll around on the ground a few times, rub some mud on your face, and you’ll be as invisible as you’ll ever be. ISTR that there was some camo pattern (UCP?) where the dirtying of the pattern was used as an excuse as to why it wasn’t so effective when clean. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/22 "2014-08-11T23:44:31Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Everybody seems to be wearing the same earthtone pajamas, from raw recruits to top generals. I think the problem is nobody wants to look like a REMF so everyone wears camo including those who are never going to be seen by an enemy soldier. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/23 "2014-08-11T23:46:20Z")
I think it was on Hardcore History that I heard the story of a journalist in Belgium in 1914. He had thought, like many, that the German’s _feldgrau_ uniforms would make for poor camouflage, but they kicked up so much dust that they seemed to vanish. The same could not be said of [the French uniforms of the time.](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4QlVRfDC7rs/R1R4YqZZieI/AAAAAAAAAaI/VzLIbAtNemY/s1600-R/125er10fy2.jpg) They got over their fixation with red trousers and hats [eventually,](http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/imgcacheA/23309.png) but blue–that picture is faded and the real color was a pale grayish-blue, lived on. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/24 "2014-08-12T13:53:49Z")
Well, of course camo is worn by those who will never be seen by an enemy soldier. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/25 "2014-08-12T15:29:53Z")
Has the military ever considered dressing soldiers exactly like the native population for urban warfare? I suppose friendly fire would become a risk then, but maybe they could mitigate that by wearing a particular type of boot or scarf. Seems like it’d be pretty effective camouflage against the enemy, at least. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/26 "2014-08-12T15:52:42Z")
Guerillas/terrorists commonly do this. Intelligence agents and special forces in some situations do. Conventional military forces seldom do, because it’s against the laws of war not to wear a uniform that identifies you as a combatant and is a great way to be summarily executed if you get caught. Also, you might rightfully get blamed if the enemy mistakes civilians for you and kills them. Any boot or scarf that identifies you to friendlies would identify you to the enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/27 "2014-08-12T15:55:25Z")
> [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > Has the military ever considered dressing soldiers exactly like the native population for urban warfare? I suppose friendly fire would become a risk then, but maybe they could mitigate that by wearing a particular type of boot or scarf. Seems like it’d be pretty effective camouflage against the enemy, at least. It would also contravene the laws of war. ETA: Nijaed, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/28 "2014-08-12T16:13:18Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You know what the best cammo is? Dirt. Roll around on the ground a few times, rub some mud on your face, and you’ll be as invisible as you’ll ever be. Heh - my old field manual for urban combat dealt with the challenge presented by the different colors in built-up terrain by dryly stating that “after a minimum of time in an urban combat setting, the uniform will be covered in dust and grime that mimics the local environment” or words to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/29 "2014-08-12T16:22:06Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think the problem is nobody wants to look like a REMF so everyone wears camo including those who are never going to be seen by an enemy soldier. Still - one can do a bit with fit. We had 2 flecktarn uniforms issued - one for combat with loose-fitting pants with deep pockets and suspenders, and the jacket worn loose at the waist and hem. The one for garrison duty and travel came with fitted pants - same model jacket, but worn adjusted to show off one’s soldierly figure, with metal insignia instead of cloth ones, no bulging pockets, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/30 "2014-08-13T19:08:07Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > It would also contravene the laws of war. > > ETA: Nijaed, of course. Kinda bizarre deciding what to include and not include in the laws of war. Nuking a major metropolitan area is fine and dandy, but dressing like the locals is right out! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/31 "2014-08-14T01:45:40Z")
Yes, because you can tell that the people nuking your cities are the enemy. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132/32 "2014-08-14T02:13:33Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You know what the best cammo is? Dirt. Roll around on the ground a few times, rub some mud on your face, and you’ll be as invisible as you’ll ever be. Can’t find a clip, but from _the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_: They come across a bunch of soldiers in gray uniforms. **Tuco** : Hurrah! Hurrah for the Confederacy! HURRAH! Down with General Grant! Hurrah for General… What’s his name? Lee! LEE! Ha ha. God is with us because he hates the Yanks too. HURRAH! The general wipes the dust off of his blue uniform… **Blondie** : God is not on our side because he hates idiots also. > [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > Kinda bizarre deciding what to include and not include in the laws of war. Nuking a major metropolitan area is fine and dandy, but dressing like the locals is right out! Correct me if I’m wrong, wasn’t that codified in the Fourth Geneva Convention? Which was 4 years _after_ they dropped da bomb YVAN EHT NIOJ. Or was something said earlier? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camo-vs-green-in-actual-effectiveness/695132.md?page=1)