The Story of One of The Rarest Camouflages in The World: South Africa's Experimental Giraffe Pattern

A shorter video in which we breakdown and talk about the brief fielding but unique afterlife of one of the rarest camouflage patterns out there... South Africa's Giraffe camouflage.
A very special thanks to rhodies_plaid on Instagram for helping out. You can check out his account here: rhodies_plaid
Pictures of uniform seen at 4:15, 4:51 and 6:58 from [e-mail].
Music by: www.juliancrowhurst.com/

[@raytheron]

I was a regular in the SADF when the nutria uniforms came into use. We were told the reason why the choice was a plain colour was that, once a pattern-camo wearer moves, he becomes more visible as his camo moves against his surroundings, whereas a plain colour takes on the light and dark of the surroundings, thus is not as much in contrast to those surroundings. That, at least, was the official reasoning behind the nutria choice, rather than a patterned camo.

[@billy.g3597]

Could you make a video about the old British DPM pattern.

[@SeannoG1]

Ehhhh Rhodies Plaid! That's where I first heard about Giraffe pattern

[@lucaseduardosampaio]

Same here haha

[@Robin6512]

i see many photo's with Rhodesians on it or am I wrong?

[@SeannoG1]

@@Robin6512 i don't think I understand the question. Rhodies_plaid, the guy standing in the snow wearing the giraffe camo is an Instagram personality

[@Robin6512]

@@SeannoG1 I talked about the clips in this video. quite some Rhodesians in there. look at the camo.

[@jakedenis4579]

Don't you mean ZIMBABWE

[@blrdgg6571]

Fascinating. I always learn so much from this channel. It almost looks like the pants were cut in the Rhodesian pattern with the pocket on the upper right thigh, sans button.

[@JayKayKay7]

Amazing story. Just as man continues in his ultimate quest for the perfect bullet ( somewhere between 6 and 7 mm ) in which to kill, maim or injure his fellow man, so does the search for the ultimate camouflage continue.

[@TriadAgone]

God made the ultimate camouflage in 1981 and called it "woodland"

[@tankieflanker4119]

I think the army has found a sweet spot (for now at least) for bullets, which is 6.8mm.

[@MrPh30]

The Chinese around the time of ww1 had a 6.8x57 Mauser cartridge adopted for use so the new one aint the first. Also the Chinese one may have inspired Winchester to design their new one in the 20s.

[@ArenBerberian]

We need the history of DPM, its been a long time coming!

[@christianweibrecht6555]

Any Cuban uniform videos planed or in development?

[@Lankyblankman]

Too many FAL bullet holes.

[@whoelsebutmeofcoursei]

@@Lankyblankman Ouch!

[@paulovitor9388]

@@Lankyblankman Damn

[@ca9968]

I used to live in S.A and collect camouflage uniforms, the Bophuthatswana Police "Reed" camo and the S.A.P pattern II were the best two and most effective patterns to ever be used, next to Rhodie Brushstroke that is...

[@jk_actual]

Another interesting and informative video. I always enjoy seeing more content dropping on this channel. Keep up the awesome work. You deserve more subs my friend!

[@julietlima5564]

Another great episode! I feel like you're teasing us. You mentioned and showed the Tiger Stripe pattern but havent done an episode yet.

[@niklasheuser1706]

This video was not very well camouflaged in my youtube stream, I instantly spotted it :D

[@maciejniedzielski7496]

Good point

[@s0nnyburnett]

should have put some red circles in the thumbnail

[@oshaughnessyrof5201]

I just want to thank you for creating this channel when you did great videos man

[@jarredmalcolm638]

Great video, super interesting!!!

[@AdministrativeResults]

Rhodies plaid is bae.

[@LockheedC-130HerculesOfficial]

Herro

[@danielmarshall4587]

Lovely video thank you, OH ... and a Happy New Year.

[@natethomas3314]

Interesting vid! I stumbled upon this one the other day while going through Camopedia!

[@joeblow9657]

This is just the sort of video I like

[@robbabcock_]

Cool! I'd never heard of that pattern before.

[@lunchpin403]

How actually effective is tigerstripe camo?

[@zatanlkken8714]

43.75249807% effective

[@tail-endcharlie9856]

It's not about being effective bud, it's all about looking cool. And Seals in tiger stripe and dad jeans with a porno stach before it was a porno stach, is in fact. Cool.

[@gunterstraus606]

I've known it to be effective in person at airsoft milsim events, but the math behind it I don't know.

[@godandguns808]

Tiger was fairly effective. Enough so that some semi modern camo patterns uses it ,but compared to digital camo, tiger strip sucks. that being said anything is better then UCP

[@StevenTheAristolianNerd]

It's effective for dense jungle areas with thick canopy and lush terrain. Anywhere else it may do fine, maybe in boreal or something but I don't see it being effective in temperate oak or pine woods like in the US.

[@jelkel25]

I made some knife pouches/sheaths from giraffe and tiger pattern (as in orange and black) material from a hobby store as a bit of a joke, had no idea the giraffe had been tried as a camouflage pattern for real. The giraffe pattern is too large for knife pouches, it just looks like a badly thought out desert camo but the tiger stripe is ok.

[@Overlord99762]

Wouldn't mind to see a video on the camouflages of the SADF Recce units

[@tedhubertcrusio372]

Uganda: *uses leopard camo* South Africa: *uses giraffe camo* *Ugandan soldier tries to chew on a South African soldier's leg*

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Everyday oddity mysteries. Something not generally seen interest, made interesting by its own mystery.

[@piscinaiv7937]

I love the old patterns, I'd also love to see a repro of the experimental USMC grey 'T' pattern urban camo.

[@MrX-yj1zl]

Awesomest channel ever

[@snodre3123]

Do you consider doing a video about the Norwegian patterns of camouflage?

[@HUKIT.]

Very unrated channel and you definitely deserve more subs.

[@alwynvanwyk1851]

Nice bit of nearly forgotten history. Col. JB and Pete McAleese both kept their "kameelcamo", I bet... 😂 The snakeskin smog (slangvel) is still proudly used today by the Bats, in the latest SANDF camo pattern... 🦇 🦅 🦇

[@midknightfenerir]

Can you do video on the Indian Palm Leaf Pattern Camouflage. It’s one of most obscure and under appreciated camos out there.

[@uraninite8151]

Cool pics and vids of 32 battalion, they are from a documentary by Al Venter called Into Angola.

[@Fede_uyz]

Fun fact, the most effective camouflage ever fielded was a US one. And it isnt even a camouflage per se!!! The army E-4 rank (specialst) is known to be so effective, that Sargents cant find specialists for entire days despite actively looking for them. This "pattern" has been nicknamed "the sham shield due to the tendency of users to disappear and hence "sham" their way out of details. Truly awesome piece of kit

[@heinoobermeyer7566]

Sham on Fred, sham on

[@Fede_uyz]

@@heinoobermeyer7566 idk what you're talking about, i dont sham, i was at dental

[@patriotenfield3276]

I love my South Africa.

[@monolithza7159]

Can you do history of the current SANDF camo?

[@crumpetcommandos779]

I'd love to see a video on the WW2 British para smock

[@fanta4897]

Hope you do a video on Strichtarn pattern (and it's brothers like VZ60 jehličí) next.

[@StarlightEater]

There was a bunch of these atta flea market in Johannesburg in April 1991.

[@sup3rsu1tm53]

it would be neat if you made a video on the spanish "Rocosos" camo pattern and its variants

[@thandomokoena1389]

Please do South African solider 2000 camo

[@patrickoberem9109]

It was so awesome that I never ever saw anyone who wore it.

[@Charlie-gt6gf]

Could you do a video on Italian Vegetato pattern? It seems interesting

[@cap6888]

How about SADF night camo? Brigade Quartermaster used to sell it in the 80s.

[@billsummy2412]

TOO COOL :)

[@BrokenMedic]

“Even photos are hard to come by”..... here is a video full of photos of it.

[@s_vb2220]

could you make one about Belgian Brushstroke?

[@pieterwillembotha6719]

Wrong, South Africa gained independence in 1961 and became a Republic (effectively cutting themselves out of the commonwealth). The Union of South Africa was established in 1910, but it was still part of the Dominion. edit: Also, fyi, the pathfinders weren't the only special operations (special forces?) group in the SADF. The Hunter group was the predecessor to the Recces and inspired the Pathfinders.

[@JamesConollyLives5353]

Can you do a vid on the SA combat vest?

[@thebuilder3700]

Do a video on the OTV or IOTV

[@uraninite8151]

I’m sure the SANDF/local military museums have it somewhere in their stores ( I hope)

[@cthrly]

Awesome video some ww2 german camouflage next ss peadot or splinter maybe

[@trapperscout2046]

I wish I could get my hands on Zaire's leopard spot camo.

[@skufed5150]

New upload? you best believe im dropping what time doing to watch

[@karlnash7105]

Man! South Africa really stuck their neck out with this design. ;-)

[@Military.FutureUrbanCamo]

How can I get a uniform bdu in size 30 32 pants and medium jacket top please I need this camouflage

[@NovaSoldier]

Nutria camo looking hot tbh

[@Ilangeni66]

Single biggest probkem with any camo is when it moves. It becomes separated from any cover it is trying to cooy. Any camo from the air comes up black the higher you climb. Gunship bait. I know this for fact. 1974-1978 Bravo group and 44 Brigade

[@reccecs4]

What's the photo credit for the pic at 0:20?

[@sonnysantana5454]

and in the 80's the egyptian scu-777 wore them and the jourdan para codo's wear them

[@Liam1991]

Can you do DPM please?

[@quma2590]

Will you make a video about the uniform of HYDRA in the MCU or the various marine and army uniforms in Halo? An episode about Firefly's uniforms would be nice also.

[@kostask4747]

Do the Hellenic lizard patterns

[@The1969Vintage]

So you're saying it's like an endangered species?

[@michaelcutler5149]

Considering where the inspiration came from, it’s surprising that it was longer lived...

[@828enigma6]

Rather have this than the the granite quarry gray pattern formerly used by the US.

[@kolinmartz]

Imagine getting your vibe checked by someone wearing an animal print uniform.

[@tacticalgunsmith]

LBV-88 please

[@devbrams1705]

OG-107 & OG-507 Next?

[@od1452]

Can you show the African ( don't remember which country) Leopard spot camo?

[@LockheedC-130HerculesOfficial]

I think it was Uganda

[@Shrike200]

"Jan Breytenbach" = "Yun Braytenbu(gh)" (you must garble the (gh), 'gggg') "Slangvel" = "Slungfell" (literally said like the word 'slung' and 'fell' as one word) Just in case anybody was wondering about how the Afrikaans words are pronounced. As with just about any military, almost every piece of equipment or food had slang names, often derogatory. (ref. 'Ovambo piel' for those SADF boeries, I won't even go there)

[@johnsteele2986]

Thanks for clearing that up, I have 2 Slangvel but never could figure out how to say it!

[@mazambane286]

​@@johnsteele2986The plural would be "slangvelle" 😊

[@AZSP1966]

Is Peter McAleese related to John McAleese?

[@mazambane286]

Not at all.

[@ghostgk5888]

I sold a T pattern mout camo blouse to a dude in Italy for $450.+shipping. *I found it at a Goodwill in Sapanaway WA for $5.

[@Burner.Account..]

Ever heard of the Marriott camo that's basically a camo made to look like Marriott's carpet?

[@anthonyantinarella3360]

He did a video on it.

[@kaukaz6621]

There is video on it, in this chanel.

[@kutter_ttl6786]

He did it already, not surprisingly as an Apr 1 release: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emjGlq1mo9Fnirs

[@johnsig7100]

I saw that fucking listing and scoffed at the price. I had no idea what it was. I should have bought the damn thing

[@shotgunrain1994]

what pattern is shown at 1:30?

[@springbok8876]

Believe it is called or at least nicknamed cabbage camouflage. Cabbage patch camouflage is what it is. Not used in large numbers though.

[@Slaaibak]

Hunter group's Pattern

[@Randystudio217]

Sith Ifrika

[@rockonnotman1699]

I would love to see more reproductions made

[@BEACHMADA]

Do the complete history of the US Army uniform, especially now with the reissue of pink and greens

[@zeimercado3328]

Philippine Presidential Security Group Camouflage.

[@josh656]

SA used the paras during the bush war because of the arms embargo which limited their helicopter fleet, so they just used their WWII C-47's.

[@mazambane286]

You're confusing Rhodesia with South Africa. It's true South Africa was also placed under an arms embargo. But business is business and money is money. It's very difficult to sanction counties who are virtually self sufficient as South Africa was.

[@rexmundi3108]

This only makes me wonder why giraffes chose that pattern.

[@AndrewAMartin]

Some patterns work better in large scale than small, and some, like zebras, work best in a herd, hiding the individual by making it indistinguishable from its neighbors. Different predators have different visual abilities too, so that inspires different strategies for prey.

[@RevOwOlutionary]

Similarly to Rhodesian and SS patterns, this one is one of those patterns where people might just have a genuine historical interest in it, or they might be into it for some really horrific reasons.

[@bennybenitez2461]

Send the color pattern and cut to the Chinese they could crank them out for everyone to have replicas

[@mohammadhuzaifa2190]

Do Pakistan military camo

[@mohammadhuzaifa2190]

Do video on Pakistan army uniforms

[@501ststormtrooper9]

It’d be really interesting..

[@christopherbedford9897]

1:11 Spelled "Defence" wrong in all three names. Note "slangvel" is literally snakeskin, yes, but - er - how to put this delicately. That would not be the real "reason" the word was used to describe the para jumpsuit. In army slang, the word means another piece of tubular skin... a bit smaller (or definitely shorter) than most snakes. Hint: contrary to the custom in the U.S., the majority of South African males are *not* circumcised.

[@AK-47Outlaw]

I know I'm gonna sound really weird saying this BUT, it kinda looks like a Cheap Knock off of the Tan side of the FrogSkin camo I'm not trying to be Disrespectful at but... "I couldn't help but to notice".

[@nobudgetcomments2742]

I think you got the conversion from SA Rand to USD wrong

[@madmarvshighwaywarrior2870]

Nah it's okay, the exhange rate changes every day...

[@AggyGoesOutdoors]

At no point did anyone point out giraffe's patterning is designed to protect them from big cat eyesight not human eyesight. 🤔🤦‍♂️

[@TooSmalley]

"Thanks to Instagram user RhodiesPlaid..." Holy Red Flags Batman.

[@ianlewis6258]

People need to make more camouflage reproductions!

[@stephenk578]

last time i was this early Rhodesia was still a thing

[@robertking2580]

ZIMBABWE = OCCUPIED RHODESIA

[@brentwhite7150]

Rhodesians never die!

[@sparkling925]

@@brentwhite7150 they did

[@davidphillips8416]

@@brentwhite7150 AND THEY NEVER WILL BRENT.👍👍

[@JMiskovsky]

@@brentwhite7150 I saw video that some Rhodesian did Job in Afghanistan as PMC few years ago.

[@micahfrye8885]

I hope it doesn’t end up in a museum of it does it will probably sit in storage until it decays then it will be discarded. Museums are trash.

[@whoelsebutmeofcoursei]

only if its an specialized museum, like a military history musem, so you know the people there really care about the item here

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

Some people are going to say south africa turned to shit for those who say this. WE GET 10 OTHER SAID IT!

[@gator1973ful]

I bet your grandkids look just like you. 😆 People like you are sooooo Brave. You live in such abject terror of a word,(racist),that Virtue Signaling,and eventual,inevitable, voluntary, biological extinction is the only True Faith,you degenerates will allow. Lol!! Congratulations!! Oh, and.... STFU.

[@AlbertCloete]

Looks a bit clownish if I'm honest.

[@grantm6514]

Agreed, a bit 'made-in-Benoni' as my dad used to say ;D