Canadian Trials Lightweight DPM Combat Coat

[@robertsolomielke5134]

Around the early1980's I had one of these, as mentioned also in an earlier video. As a cadet of 3 PPCLI these were in hot demand, and I was able to purchase a full set plus an extra jacket. This was in Victoria, BC, at 'Capitol Iron" , an old store, with a surplus military section in the basement. There for over 100 years, they still dealt in surplus last visit. Thin material, no tags of any kind, no mag loops in any pocket ,and yes I will confirm it did fade quicker than anything else I owned at the time. Loved it as rare kit for a small town cadet, even Reg. forces wanted them, but you needed an AB unit to wear them. I recall 3 PPCLI of the time did have AB elements, as well as armored. It was stolen some 5 years later, and the full set went to another cadet when I left to go logging, rather than a career in CF. TY-your research, fond (sometimes) memories of service, or maybe just nostalgia . I subscribed, love your work, very clear and easy to understand.

[@lib556]

I believe we discussed this in a an earlier video. The history is a bit contentious. I have no memory of the 70s trials although I was not 'in' at the time. My father was serving, however. Later, early 80s trials were conducted and my Dad brought home examples which I thought (being a very style-conscious army cadet) were horrible. Subsequently I joined up and, in 1984 at the Infantry School, there were about 30 dudes running around in what we were told was the final product that was going to be adopted. It was a sort of DPM like this but with a light green background as opposed to the tan. I was posted to a battalion and eagerly awaiting my new uniform. It never came. In 1986 we were briefed that 'monochrome green' was considered the most universal colour and that we were sticking with it. In Rui Amaralt's book, Eat Your Weakest Man, there is an annex written by Col (Ret'd) Hirter. He was the second in command of the Canadian Airborne Regt in 1974 and tasked by the commander to come up with a new para smock that would serve as a unifying garment that would aid in regimental identity. In his telling of the story, the uniform in this video was from a contract let to Peerless Garments of Winnipeg on behalf of the Tanzanian army. Peerless had thousands of yards of this DPM cloth and asked Hirter if he'd like the para smocks done in it for a discount. He agreed and the new smock was issued for summer of 1974. Hirter never mentions trials of the uniform in the early 70s, but, that doesn't mean they weren't happening concurrently. This is based off his memory. I do know that in the early 80s, there was plenty of these uniforms for sale in surplus stores. I wish I had bought some at that time. Also, while serving in Africa, I saw Tanzanian soldiers still wearing it in 2001.

[@LonePiper9599]

I have one of these DPM combat shirts hanging in my collection. It’s not as faded but I can see wear marks. I wonder if this is just an indicator of the less then stellar quality of the material rather then being washed a few hundred times. Rumour had if that the govt of the day felt this pattern looked to aggressive. I’ve never seen or heard of anyone with matching combat pants.

[@noway2837]

Looked too aggressive for Canada... I was lucky enough to have worn the Jump Smock for a few years.

[@flatmoon6359]

We were a working unit,returned to Catterick from BAOR. Had this idea of Combat jacket with ammo pocket issued/given to us for SLR mags which wore holes in the corner of the pocket.Told to pay for repairs as our ?? fault. No thanks. Also High leg DMS appeared for size 9 only. Monday morning parade was 20% mix and match. Slightly thicker leather version of BCH,so rubbish. We were trying rubbish most of the time as a cheap trials unit.

[@brucegraham4332]

One (of many) reason this uniform wasn't adopted was that it faded far too quickly. It only took a couple of washes to fade it down to this. The uniform was made cheaply, no reinforced top pockets, or magazine pockets in the bottom pockets, was it was designed to test the camoflage, nothing more. And having worn this, it was a truly multi terrain pattern.

[@noway2837]

I remember my dad wearing the Airborne Jump Smock in the 70's while he was with the Airborne Regiment.

[@mh53j]

A military supply store, Brigade Quartermaster in Georgia, had these for sale at one time sometime in the mid 80s I believe. Was tempted to buy one but didn't like the small chest pockets. Now that I look at it, they might have had the paratrooper version for sale; I remember seeing a full length zip on it.

[@richardbadgley9096]

if you saw a zipper, then you saw a Canadian Para Jump smock (Jacket). I still have mine from when I was an active paratrooper.

[@mh53j]

​@@richardbadgley9096was the jump smock version issued in larger numbers? If I remember correctly, the Canadian airborne forces were disbanded to a certain degree after an incident involving the mistreatment of prisoners; was the production of the jump smock curtailed? Maybe that's why they showed up on the surplus market. Would be interested in what you might know.

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

⁠@@mh53jnot sure what mistreatment of prisoners has to do with uniforms of green or camo persuasion ?

[@andrewfox6631]

New Zealand army had DPM

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

Hi just wondering why your calling it a shirt/coat? When I was in it was called a combat shirt, green or cadpat. We had a separate coat/jacket to wear over it.

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

I should have,googled a label instead of asking lol, it says it’s a coat lightweight. Only thing I ever looked at the label for was to make sure I got the right size. When you got issued it they called a shirt combat.

[@frakismaximus3052]

Apparently the very first version, ~1963, was called shirt-coat, and said so on the label.

[@brucegraham4332]

Even the new ECU CADPAT referers to it as a coat, not a shirt.

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

@@brucegraham4332 I see a Conspiracy here where you guys are trying to “CONVINCE ME” that I really need to read the rest of the garment label not just the numbers on it?. 🤓🤓🤓🤓😂😂😂😂😎😎😎😎……💂‍♂️🪖⛑️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦

[@IPC-D_Media_Unit]

The Tanzanians bought another run or two from the original Canadian manufacturer before switching to cheaper Indian and South Korean copies.

[@ryanvargus9456]

Nice video! Your example lacks the inside chest pocket. These experimental DPM combat shirts typically have an inside chest pocket like the OD green standard issue Mk2 shirts, but without the velcro closure like the standard issue shirts.

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

I’m glad they didn’t issue it as a general issue as I just turned my British DPM in, in fall of 1982. 😂

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

Lower pockets had inner pockets for C1 mags, think the cadpat had the same thing, never used them as we had mag pouches

[@johnsteele2986]

Is the camouflage pattern the same as the Canadian Airborne Smock? Which came first the Smock or the trials uniform?

[@richardbadgley9096]

The trials uniform, I believe then the jump smock.

[@johnsteele2986]

@@richardbadgley9096 I wonder why the para smock was so flimsy by comparison?

[@CrispianBarlow]

The Para smock reverses the green & brown printing, so overall it is lighter in appearance