mystery Desert Storm 5-color US coat

Recently came across a fairly mundane "chocolate chip" desert coat but what makes it unusual is the interior "flap" in the "yoke" section of the back (actually; yoke IS that part of the upper back between the shoulders) which I've NEVER seen in any combat/fatigue uniform shirt, EVER in forty-odd years of collecting and dealing.

In a service coat, yes. In a fatigue-type uniform, no.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

Normal in early DBDUs..

I have several...

Never seen it before in ANY BDU coat, Woodland or Desert. My question is: WHAT IS IT FOR? I was in the infantry and I can't imagine what it's purpose is. What are the dates of contract for yours and do you have an example in Woodland?

Did not say BDU.   No BDU, or DCU had the " cape "as some call the extra fabric layer.

DBDU is a common name for 6 color Desert uniforms, AKA, Chocolate Chip.

Dug out 3 DBDUs with the "capes " from my collection. 2 are dated 1983, one is dated 1984 , so, earlier contract dates.         

 I believe it was intended as a sweat barrier, but as common DBDUs were not ripstop, and fairly heavy, some users simply cut them out.

Interesting, thank you. The thought of a "sweat barrier" had occurred to me but it just seemed so.....superfluous.

By the way, I've been collecting and dealing for forty years and have never heard "DBDU" anywhere before today. I've heard of chocolate chip and coffee stain but never "Desert BDU".

Of course, when the three-color came into being, the Army renamed it the "DCU"...

Thanks for filling in the gaps of my knowledge.

Rip, correction; very early DCU's did have them.
Here's one I found recently, dated 1990, the first production year for DCU's.
Another 1991 DCU I have does not have it, so they were very short lived on the DCU's.
It's odd because on the DBDUs, they seem to have disappeared after 1984/85.

Very cool ! Always learning...Have a couple 100s or more DCUs and never saw one with " cape " before this..

Thanks..

I have a DCU with the cape as well. Somewhere. I never could figure out who thought that up.

Steve