CADPAT

The temperate variant of CADPAT

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Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT; French: dessin de camouflage canadien, DcamC) is the computer-generated digital camouflage pattern currently used by the Canadian Forces (CF). CADPAT is designed to reduce the likelihood of detection by night vision devices. The basic uniform consists of a wide brim combat hat, helmet cover, T-shirt, tunic, trousers, fragmentation vest, and tactical vest. It was the first digital pattern introduced by the Canadian Forces.

Background

See also: Integrated Soldier System Project

Canada's desire for a new soldier system dates back to November 1988 and closely follows efforts in many NATO countries. The first research effort, called Integrated Protective Clothing and Equipment (IPCE) Technology Demonstration was initiated in 1995 but then was cancelled, due to high systems cost and failure to meet the majority of the requirements. Ongoing operations in the mid 1990s led to the creation of the Clothe the Soldier (CTS) Project, which directly addressed the NATO soldier system capability areas of survivability and sustainability. The Canadian Disruptive Pattern was a part of ongoing research and implemented during the Clothe the Soldier Project (CTS).

Pattern variations

Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on exercise wearing CADPAT TW.

In development for the better part of a decade, the pattern comes in three varieties: temperate woodland (TW), arid region (AR), and winter/arctic (WA). The temperate woodland pattern became the standard issue for the Army in 2002, with the Air Force following suit in 2004. Uniforms and equipment in CADPAT material replaced the olive green material in use since the early 1960s.

Some civilian firms are licensed to sell clothing and accessories using CADPAT-like material (though not the same IR-defeating type used by the CF), as long as the patterns do not match official CF uniform and equipment patterns. These are commercially available from a wide variety of sources.

Temperate woodland

CADPAT TW has four specific colours — light green, dark green, brown, and black — and was first introduced in 1996 on the helmet cover for the new CG634 helmet then coming into service. At the same time, the pattern was also introduced on a new soldier's individual camouflage net. The CADPAT TW uniform allows Canadian soldiers protection from observation by the naked eye and night vision devices.

Arid regions

Concurrent with the trials of CADPAT TW, work was carried out to identify a uniform for operations in desert, near desert, and savannah environmental conditions. This three-colour pattern, known as CADPAT arid regions (AR), incorporates three different colours of brown. The CADPAT design for arid regions has been approved, and the transfer of this digital technology is ongoing to the textiles industry. CADPAT AR also features two additional arm pockets and Velcro on the arms compared to the TW uniform. In light of the deployment of the Immediate Reaction Force to Afghanistan, the CADPAT AR project was expedited with the intent that it would be issued to soldiers in summer 2002.

Winter/arctic

The winter/arctic pattern was introduced as an upgrade to the current monochrome winter whites to further enhance the Canadian soldier's camouflage capability by day and night. It includes near infra-red (NIR) technology.

Urban

Defence Research and Development Canada based at CFB Suffield (DRDC-S) has a requirement to develop a new urban pattern for the Canadian Forces based on the three major metropolitan areas of Canada: Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. This new pattern is known as the Canadian urban environment pattern (CUEPAT).

According to the advance contract award notice, "The current CBR [chemical, biological and radiological] individual protective equipment (IPE) used by the Canadian military is provided in a woodland [CADPAT TW] or desert [CADPAT AR] camouflage. A camouflage suited to the Canadian urban environment is required when the military operates in urban terrain."^{[citation needed]} . Some even suggested it could replace CADPAT TW as the default pattern for Navy and even Air Force personnel wearing the standard combat uniform or the Navy's boarding party uniform (which is presently blue or tan). This suggestion is supported by the fact that grey is neutral and is also the basic colour of ships and airport aprons (although little is known about the new pattern, grey is the basic colour of most urban camouflage and is expected to be CUEPAT's basic colour). Green is also traditionally associated with the Army and rarely with the Navy or Air Force, which might become a source of confusion. Navy personnel wear navy combat dress when aboard a ship or on a naval base, CADPAT TW combat uniforms being worn only when operating with the Army or Air Force (especially the "purple trades").

Items

Boots

A new boot was met with some criticism, causing the Canadian Forces to review the requirement for the CADPAT print boot, and the newest issue general purpose (GP) boot, similar to the outgoing Mark III boot, is black (2012). Various trials on boots are Gore-Tex and colours, and are ongoing. CADPAT footwear based on the Mark IV boot is now on trial by 1 Canadian Field Hospital, in CFB Petawawa, Ontario, as well as select soldiers on course within Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

Rainsuit

The converged CADPAT rainsuit (CCR) is a combat clothing systems equipped with a waterproof, moisture vapour permeable (WMVP) intended to provide protection from the wind and rain. The CCR is available in two variants, the CADPAT TW and CADPAT AR.

Rucksack

The CTS rucksack is a fielding rucksack which was designed to provide soldiers the equipments needed in three variants. The CTS rucksack is available in two different colours.

Fighting order

Canadian soldier wearing tactical vest and the fragmentation protective vest.

The fighting order includes the tactical vest and the fragmentation protective vest which was designed to provide the basic requirement of equipment immediately available for combat.

Battle order

The battle order is a fighting order which was designed to support a soldier in combat zone for 72 hours

Marching order

The marching order is a battle order rucksack designed to provide the necessary equipment to support a soldier in a combat zone during an indefinite period of time.

Improved combat uniform

The Canadian Forces new uniform, known as the "improved combat uniform" (ICU), will receive 17 enhancements including  :

• Mandarin collar
• Integrated kneepads
• Velcro attachment on sleeve cuffs
• Flat chest pockets

Although the style of the ICU differs from previous Canadian Forces uniforms, the CADPAT pattern will not be altered.

In addition to the uniform modifications, DND is looking into adopting a different style of combat boot, similar to those currently in use in overseas operations. These improved boots will be brown or tan in colour and consist of a suede material, rather than the traditional black leather. The new boot design would allow for improved air circulation and lighter weight. The new colours would be more relevant to operational situations.

The Department of National Defence estimates the production rate would be about 24,000 ICU uniforms per year. The decision to change the standard issue combat uniform is mostly drawn from operational lessons learned, and will specifically address several problems noted in the current uniform design, including:

• Poor integration with operational equipment
• General uniform ergonomics
• Loss of colour after only one year of use.

The Canadian Forces will begin issuing the ICU-CADPAT uniform in early 2013. Priority will be given to combat units first, and will, over time, be distributed to the entire CF.

Gallery of patterns

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  CADPAT Arid region (AR) in Afghanistan.

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  CADPAT temperate woodland (TW)

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  Soldiers of A Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment, perform military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) techniques during Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2009.

• 

  Canadian soldiers set a perimeter position after disembarking a U.S. Navy landing craft during a simulated amphibious landing.

• 

  Canadian soldiers storm the beach near Mayport during a UNITAS Gold amphibious assault demonstration.

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  Canadian Army soldiers assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-24 depart a U.S. Navy landing craft air cushion (LCAC) and deploy onto Mayport Beach during a Unitas Gold amphibious assault exercise.

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  A Canadian soldier assigned to 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry aims his rifle in the direction of enemy fire.

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  CADPAT arid region (AR) in Afghanistan

See also

• Canadian Forces
• Combat Dress
• Flecktarn
• List of military clothing camouflage patterns
• M05
• MARPAT
• Military camouflage
• Military uniform
• Uniform
• Universal Camouflage Pattern

External links

• More info from the Official Army Web Site
• Clothe the Soldier Programme
• Digital Camouflage History
• CADPAT and MARPAT development (alt)
• CA 2442558 
• US 6933023 
• US D474897