Dutch camo uniforms, newer versions from around 2008 onwards

Recently this has been an interest of mine, and I've collected quite a lot of it already, so I thought I'd make a thread about the more
modern Dutch uniforms, like the smocks and combat shirts, both KL and KM alike, so here it goes.

After a long time having the same uniforms that were designed in 1990 the Dutch MoD finally decided to make some changes from around 2008 onwards.
Mostly because of experiences made in the Afghan war, the first new items to come were Desert smocks and UBACS.

This first post will be about KL smocks, due to some time-issues I'll later add posts about the UBACS shirts and the updated "M93" uniforms.

In 2008 there were 4 different smock models that were marked on the label with manufacturer numbers and some also without NSN, others with the
numbers being replaced by X's.

From that batch I've seen 3 out of 4 types, the other one is still a mystery to me, and 1 of them was approved for further production in 2009.

Here's my only 2008 smock, made by manufacturer 4, which originally came with 4 pads, 2 in the shoulders and 2 in the elbows, but these were removed in my smock.







Then the type from 2009, which was also produced as manufacturer 2 smock in 2008, though without the large velcro pads
on the shoulders.






Then this is not mine, I'm still looking for it, but these are the only pics I have of the manufacturer 1 smock and came from a web advert.







After that came this type, all gear with the new KPU (the MoD issue depot) label is undated, but this came around 2013.








And now for the DPM smocks, though called Woodland here in Holland. There's just 2 regular types, and a rumored trial type, but I'm not adding pics
of that one since I don't have any proof of it being so (yet), and the pics are from a friend I haven't asked if I can use his pics.


So here goes with the first DPM type, the same as the 2009 Desert type.






Then the second DPM type which is the same as the 2013 Desert type. Both the DPM ones came slightly later than their Desert brothers.
For some reason I didn't take a pic of the label in this smock, but it has the KPU type.
Quite possibly I just wanted to ditch this smock to my storage since the seller screwed me over and sent a smock with a missing pocketflap, only
to disappear when I called him out on it...





Next in the wonderous world of the slow-updating Dutch MoD will be the KL smocks, probably tomorrow, maybe a day later depending on my schedule

Oh crap, in my last sentence I mistypes something, I meant to write KM smocks instead of KL smocks, so here we go again.

Starting with an exception, since it's not a smock similar to those above with many outer pockets, but it's still a smock in the KM
nomenclature.
A little history of the suits leading up to this point, the first Dutch made Waterproof suits named as smocks the Marines had were somewhat copied off
the British DPM waterproofs in the 80's, which was then slightly updated later in the 90's, and used into the 00's.

In the 00's they also started replacing those by US Woodland camo suits, I believe the first ones to be 1st gen US ECWS suits, at some point also
2nd gen suits, and then a Dutch made variant of the latter, which was later updated into this suit.

The KM names 2 different types of smocks, and also issues pants with them, in contrast to the KL of which nobody seems to have seen any smock's
matching pants, instead they probably use their older type of rainpants. Back to the names, the Marine Corps has Waterproof smocks which are simple
without much outer details, and name the more intricate types as Windproof.

I'm not exactly sure what year these were first made at all, but since this late type always seems to have KPU labels, while some pants I've seen
before had an older style label and was dated 2008, I believe it to be an earlier type, possibly the previous Dutch made one, but detail pics are hard
to come by of such suits, so I can't compare them enough, maybe it's the same as this.
Nice detail, the sides of the pants can open all the way up and close with velcro and some snaps.











The first KM Windproof suit comprised of the smock and pants still has the older type label before the KPU ones, and is similar to the KL 2013 type, making
this an earlier suit, and the KL 2013 type may have been partially developed from this, especially the overall cut of the body and of the 4 frontal pockets,
but adding and replacing some features (like chest velcro added, shoulder pocket changed).
The KL smocks always had more pockets than the KM ones, mostly visible at the waist as the KM type had no pockets at the sides and back.

The trousers are very similar to regular BDU cut, except being more windproof, the velcro waistsize adjustment of the KL M93 pants type, and the velcro
opening sides of the lower leg, to don them over boots.









After that came the second type, which is more or less the same as the KL 2013 type, but again without the pockets at both sides and the back.
I didn't take a pic of the back of the smock as it's unchanged.
As far as to which was first, I'd have to check the label of the KL smock, but IIRC this has a lower 3-digit number in the NSN, making it an earlier series.
The label is somewhat unique in that it carries both the KPU and the company name together.

The trousers have changed from the previous type, the lower sides no longer open with velcro, and reinforcements were added on the knees, which
open at the bottom so padding can be inserted. The label in this case doesn't have the manufacturer on it anymore, and has a higher contractnumber,
so should be made later than it's smock.










Those were all the smocks already, left are the KL and KM UBACS types and the updated KL M93 cut uniforms, I think I'll do UBACS shirts in the next post.

The KM woodland windproof smocks are very nice. I like them.

Thanks! Same here, I especially like that they have matching pants, if only the KL ones turned out to exist and be available...



And continuing on with the UBACS's. (Is that actually the plural for UBACS?)


As said before, Desert ones came first, here's the earliest type from 2009, which has wonky looking tags, I mean Dessert, really?
Luckily these aren't repro'd, and the NSN checks out and the contract number is possible year-wise.





Then what I believe to be the second type, KPU tag, the NSN code seems to have been established in 2013, at the top of the tags it
has a code with 2015 in it, which might have to do with the Permethrine impregnation date (not 100% sure about that, but if it's true
it's a relatively accurate way to date a specific shirt, when the original bag with the year on it isn't with it).
It also came in DPM, the NSN code being created on the same day.
These came with the original bag, moisture-absorber in the bag, and elbow pads.









And then what I believe to be the third type, based only on the fact it has a higher contract order number, as the NSN is the same
as on the earliest type. Sadly there's no Permethrine impregnation code (if that's actually a thing, as mentioned before).

A rather strange evolution of the Dutch UBACS, the camo has been expanded over the top of the torso, the collar is lower, the
shoulder pockets are bigger and are fully covered in velcro (with the camo patches over them in these pics), no more elbowpads,
and the sleeves close with elastic strings at the wrists.

I've only seen these confirmed in photos from the MINUSMA mission in Mali, and possibly Resolute Support in Afghanistan.


I couldn't get the lighting to work well so here's 2 pics of the same thing with different light...






And then for the only issue UBACS I've ever seen from the KM, others I've seen in use being commercial types.
I actually didn't even knoe these existed until this was offered to me.

Aside from it being in US Woodland, or Forest camo as the KM calls it, t's the same as the KL second type, as the NSN creation date
is the same, and also in the fact that it came with the original packaging.
The tags are a bit different though, that's probably something with specs dictated by the KM, or any other dumb reason, who knows.

No idea why I've never seen these in use, and they might have not been issued for a long time, maybe the NSN was just created back
then as they had the idea to make a KM UBACS but only did so years later.







That was it for the UBACS shirts issued in the Dutch armed forces I'm gonna cover. There's also Multicam ones now, and some other camo
that was only used in Mali, but I have no interest in collecting those at all.

Next post will probably cover the last I can think of now, updated "M93" bits. (still can't stand the M93 number, since they were already made
in 1990 and I have no idea who ever though up the term M93, a collector or an actual official source.)

Here's the remaining stuff, the old M93 uniforms, but with a few differences. No idea what year these changes were made, but they're at least post-2009,
since regular dated labels were still on stuff made then, and these have KPU labels.

I didn't take complete overview pics of all of these things when they came in, and they're tightly packed into storage already, but I did manage to take pics
showing the differences with the older cut, they are mostly the same anyway.

First the DPM suit with KPU label, and also a 2009 made Feuchter Passau variation of the pants.
The 2009 pants made by this factory in that year all seem to have a rectangular flap over the lower leg's bandage pocket. The pocket size is still the same.

The KPU jacket is different in that it is now bellowed at the sides of the upper back, the zippers of the pockets are now black, and also the snap buttons are
black, though the black buttons were an update made sometime in the 00's already.

And the KPU trousers are different than old ones because they have the black buttons and also the bandage pocket is bigger because a new bandage has been
adopted, which for some reason is only taller, but they made the pockets wider...
Last pic is a comparison of the Feuchter Passau 2009 pocket, mid 00's normal pocket, and the KPU label pocket.







Then the Desert suit, same thing as the older ones but again KPU label, bellowed back, larger bandage pocket.
No black zippers or snaps though.
KPU pants at the right, pocket not visible, I know, sorry.





Then the Jungle suit, again similar updates.
Black zippers, black snaps (again visible only on the pants), bellowed back, large bandage pouch and the KPU label.
Pants came with a free pack of malaria pills, now I can reenact Far Cry 2.









And also, it seems GVT parka's are still a thing!
I thought these would have been phased out in favor of all the smocks etc. but apparently even this year they are still made, by a
company called Safety Masters.
Some differences again, black zippers, black snaps, black liner attachment buttons, black waist/hem adjustment cord and stoppers,
black velcro for patches, KPU label, and the rings at the wrist are now attached to the sleeve with camo fabric instead of just green stuff.
Looking at the pic it also seems like the arm pocket is sewn down at the front facing edge, but to be 100% sure I should check that sometime.

Still trying to find any liners with KPU label though, this parka was the first proof I've seen of it even existing.






I think that's pretty much it, though I might add some details sometime, like underlayers for the smocks etc. (softshell/snugpack types)
or parka liners if I find them.

Nice stuff, I like the classic Dutch parka.
Instead of making an own thread I'm so free and post some pics of my jungel parka.
Hope you don't mind but I think it matches into youre thread.

Nice one, I like the look of the parka's too, but in terms of functionality they were overtaken long ago.
I have no idea why they're even still made in DPM, as there are already smocks and other rainproof parka's in use (bilaminaat parka).

Your jungle one is an old one, but I have seen a single new one with black velcro and probably KPU label, it was a production sample
shown in a promo pic.


Also, time for the "smock liners". I've seen the Snugpack type in use with the marines too, but not the softshell, IIRC they have their own
more grey softshell type, I think I've seen one made by Carinthia, and one mentioned as a mountain leader softshell.

These 2 aren't only made for liners below the smock though, sometimes at least the softshell can be seen worn as an outer layer, while I
haven't seen the snugpack type worn like that yet, I don't rule it out, why put rankslide on the front when it's never going to be visible.


Softshell, this one is an earlier series with only a small sizetag in the neck, later ones have a full label.




Snugpak type, reversible and comes with a compression bag, this one came with a mismatched size on it's label, but AFAIK the bags are always the same physical size anyway.








Bonus!

Found a Bilaminaat parka with KPU label and black strings/hardware.
For some reason the label also states the actual manufacturer as opposed to just the KPU name.

Aw yissss, finally got my paws on a 2008 amock from manufacturer 1!

Which might be either Arktis or some cheaper company that copied/rededisgned it, as it looks very similar to Arktis' B210 smock, but with some changes and additions (like the 2nd arm pocket and the butt pouch).
In their 2009 catalogue it had hidden buttons, on modern ones they are visible.

And now a 3rd type Bilaminaat Parka liner is here too. Darker green color, KPU label, and much less thick and bulky.

And then the Marines' version of such a liner. Vertical zippered pockets, slightly different overall shape.
Judging by the NSN series it was meant for either the Waterproof or 1st Windproof smock, or both.

Just out of curiosity, are those KM woodland windproof smocks hard to get?

Nah they're pretty easy to get. I know several shops that always have them, normal price at the cheapest is €50, but also on sales websites they can be found cheaper every now and then.

The trousers though, those are way harder. I've seen about 5 of them for sale yet (of both versions together), and I own 2 of them

I just received this Korps Mariniers Woodland BDU, I'll add it to this topic as an honorable mention, as the NSN seems to have been made in 2004 already, though
I've only seen these Dutch made BDU's in use years later.

The shoulderloops are in camo and pointy, the overall camo color is much more brown than usual, and for some reason they are named in English on the labels.

Finally the single pocket Jungle camo jacket appeared for sale, instantly grabbed it.
Not sure if this is meant as a replacement for the zipper-pocket jacket or is meant as something inbetween that zipper-pocket jacket and a simple shirt,
as this isn't made of the sturde fabric or the late type zipper-pocket jacket, but instead of the weaker stuff the shirts are made of.

And finally I managed to get a 2008 dated Desert smock made by manufacturer 2.

Main differences with the 2009 type are that this has no velcro panels on the shoulders, reinforced edges around the double elbow layer,
and the strings on the zippers are supremely sh*tty.

nice thanks for posting

Found another softshell jacket which I suspect to be from the marines.
It has many different features than the army version, mesh lining instead of fleece, a longer back, no velcro, waterproofed zippers, rubber dotted underarms etc.

The jacket is for the Navy boarding teams, the did a lot of investing in these boarding teams . Time and money wise. Then did find out there was a other group that was specially traint for that work. The MARINES!

Cool, thanks for the ID!

And that does indeed sound like the military way of doing things

And finally, proof the Desert smock number 3 actually existed! Basically an Airmobile type Arktis smock, but in Desert.

I stumbled across this 2004 Dutch smock some while ago. It’s a strange piece of kit which I haven’t seen before . It’s very baggy and all big pockets are reinforced with different fabric. The hood is well tucked away. It looks like  it was designed to carry heavy loads like ammunition, waterbottles and other weighty stuff.

Nice one, that's a user trial version, I believe this eventually evolved into the version from a few years after the 2008-09 ones

michelwijnand wrote:Nice one, that's a user trial version, I believe this eventually evolved into the version from a few years after the 2008-09 ones

The later smocks look quite similar indeed. I was wondering…. With a NSN. Is this really a trial version? The 2009 desert trials did only have a manufacturers number.

I just collect what is of interest to me but it would be nice to have more background information. Where can someone find all this info?

Well I attribute that to how they go about organizing these trials, not sure how to actually explain this well, but here I go.

Either an orientation phase where a number of random things are trialled and some dropped and possibly some go further into a next phase (either with improvements or not).
Or sometimes they need new gear fast and they appoint several manufacturers some production runs to throw into use and that way usertrial them in the actual situation they are to be used in.
(There's likely some more ways to go about it but I hope you get the idea here).

In the early-mid 2000's there was quite a bit of the usertrial way going on, since there being the GWOT and all that, so they wanted the adoption of modular gear to go pretty quick, resulting in the
same gear suite being produced by KMA and Arwy, all with complete labels with NSN and contractnumber on them, KMA's stuff fell through eventually and the MoD went with Arwy.
This smock type falls in that era, as did another type smock I've seen (which i don't remember if it had an NSN), and I've seen a form from TenCate that referenced another smock at the time that
specifically mentioned it being a usertrial item for the materials, and other things like cut and pocket placement were just placeholders.

There was also a specific sniper cut smock that was copied from the British type, but I can't remember what era this was from, it also had an NSN, it was issued for a short while and just entirely
dropped short after, probably it had no use since other models were deemed as suitable for snipers already. This could also have happened with the smock you also have, since in that same time
the MoD bought a large amounts of different types smocks from Arktis to issue at first to SF and they spread to others too, and then in 08-09 hey wanted more standardization.

Then there's the early 90's trial gear, 99% of it has no NSN, most of that doesn't even have a label, and even then there's stuff with a code written on it by marker, or nothing at all.
But among my stack of trial body armors the earliest have labels with just the manufacturer, size and description of the inserts type, but later ones also have contractcodes.
And then there's a few in cuts that weren't adopted for general issue, but appeared in small batches for airforce security units, with an NSN, and even the same in Belgian Jigsaw camo with the exact
same NSN, but even the pattern was never actually adopted for Dutch military use!


Just wanted to clarify that a lot of weird variations and deviations can happen during such trials, and I believe these smocks fall in that categpry

Is there some sort of database where mortal souls can verify kit and nsn numbers. Or is this all an inside job or whatsoever? I just do not know where to get my info that’s why I became an iacmc member. But even then some stuff remains a mystery.