HI everybody, Can any one confirm if the Parabats really had a giraffeskin camo uniform in the middle to late 1970's. According to the rumours I've heard it was only experimental and only made in small quantities. Someone suggested some troops also wore it at Cassinga in 1978. Can anyone confirm this and perhaps send a photo?
+7
kammo-man
Gemini
Militaryman
CollectinSteve
drmatz
mcoleman762
Ferdie
11 posters
SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
Ferdie- Corporal
- Location : Cape Town, South Africa
Registration date : 2009-06-04
Number of posts : 29
- Post n°1
SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
mcoleman762- Junior Sergeant
- Name : Mike
Location : Downeast Maine
Registration date : 2009-02-18
Number of posts : 172
Hi Ferdie,
Yes, the uniform did exist, and was a prototype/trials item only. Needless to say, it is extremely rare. I've seen quite a few photos of the Parabats at Cassinga, and all of them are wearing nutria uniforms, so I'm skeptical that it saw use there. It's my understanding that this uniform was only trialed by the Pathfinders, so that would put it's use around 1980-82 or so.
I see you are also a member of ICUS. You should check out Didier Bousquet's post on this uniform to see some detailed photos of the exquisite set that he has in his collection.
Cheers,
Mike
Yes, the uniform did exist, and was a prototype/trials item only. Needless to say, it is extremely rare. I've seen quite a few photos of the Parabats at Cassinga, and all of them are wearing nutria uniforms, so I'm skeptical that it saw use there. It's my understanding that this uniform was only trialed by the Pathfinders, so that would put it's use around 1980-82 or so.
I see you are also a member of ICUS. You should check out Didier Bousquet's post on this uniform to see some detailed photos of the exquisite set that he has in his collection.
Cheers,
Mike
Ferdie- Corporal
- Location : Cape Town, South Africa
Registration date : 2009-06-04
Number of posts : 29
Thanks Mike, will checkit!
drmatz- MODERATOR
- Name : danilo matz
Age : 47
Location : USA
Registration date : 2009-02-16
Number of posts : 2103
Hi Mike, Ferdie,
I took the images from Didier just to simplify and show to other fellow members.
This is an extremely beautiful and rare uniform.
PHOTOS BELONG TO DIDIER BOUSQUET
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20091110](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20091110.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099110](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099110.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099111](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099111.jpg)
[url=https://servimg.com/image_preview.php?
i=186&u=14636101]
[/url]
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099113](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099113.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099114](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099114.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099115](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099115.jpg)
I took the images from Didier just to simplify and show to other fellow members.
This is an extremely beautiful and rare uniform.
PHOTOS BELONG TO DIDIER BOUSQUET
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20091110](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20091110.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099110](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099110.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099111](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099111.jpg)
[url=https://servimg.com/image_preview.php?
i=186&u=14636101]
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099112](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099112.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099113](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099113.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099114](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099114.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 20099115](https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/14/63/61/01/20099115.jpg)
CollectinSteve- ADMIN
- Location : New England, US
Registration date : 2009-03-08
Number of posts : 6959
Normally I would not part with huge money for really rare SA stuff just because I'd rather concentrate my limited resources elsewhere. HOwever, I definitely think I could make an exception for this if one ever came under my nose ![Smile](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_smile.gif)
Steve
![Smile](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_smile.gif)
Steve
Ferdie- Corporal
- Location : Cape Town, South Africa
Registration date : 2009-06-04
Number of posts : 29
oh me too definitely! Anybody wants to part with theirs????
Militaryman- Junior Sergeant
- Location : Pretoria, South Africa
Registration date : 2011-10-28
Number of posts : 122
I'm drooling........
Gemini- Senior Sergeant
- Name : clayton
Location : Florida
Registration date : 2011-08-26
Number of posts : 305
What country wore these?
mcoleman762- Junior Sergeant
- Name : Mike
Location : Downeast Maine
Registration date : 2009-02-18
Number of posts : 172
This was a trial pattern developed for South African paras. It saw very limited trial use with the Pathfinders in the early 80's.
Super rare would be an understatement. This set is the only known example I've ever even heard of. If there are more than a handful of items stil extant in this pattern, I'd be shocked.
Mike
Super rare would be an understatement. This set is the only known example I've ever even heard of. If there are more than a handful of items stil extant in this pattern, I'd be shocked.
Mike
Gemini- Senior Sergeant
- Name : clayton
Location : Florida
Registration date : 2011-08-26
Number of posts : 305
- Post n°10
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
ugh..I just relized how stupid a question that was.
![Embarassed](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_redface.gif)
kammo-man- Major
- Location : losangeles.com
Registration date : 2010-02-02
Number of posts : 1086
- Post n°11
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
That Dennison smock is stunning .
Dang the whole thing is stunning .
Dang the whole thing is stunning .
bousquet123- Junior Sergeant
- Name : BOUSQUET
Location : France
Registration date : 2012-02-06
Number of posts : 80
- Post n°12
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
to complete rge discussion, this is the only ground photo of the giraffe camo worn by a Pathfinder less than 80 only tested
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 16rwqr](https://2img.net/h/oi45.tinypic.com/16rwqr.jpg)
Photos and information were given to me by Yves DEBAY ex French Belgian RAR, 32nd Bat and Pathfinder, the shirt I had was swopped with Jeff FANNELL (SWATSHOP)
Regards
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo 16rwqr](https://2img.net/h/oi45.tinypic.com/16rwqr.jpg)
Photos and information were given to me by Yves DEBAY ex French Belgian RAR, 32nd Bat and Pathfinder, the shirt I had was swopped with Jeff FANNELL (SWATSHOP)
Regards
filupe- MODERATOR
- Location : Oz
Registration date : 2009-02-16
Number of posts : 1088
- Post n°13
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
bousquet123 wrote:this is the only ground photo of the giraffe camo worn by a Pathfinder
... not any more!
Picture taken from 30 degrees South Publisher's website showing Pathfinder Company CSM Peter McAleese wearing 'Giraffe' camo Slangvel:
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo BEYOND20THE20NO20MEAN20SOLDIER20image1](https://2img.net/h/i115.photobucket.com/albums/n284/filupe/Forum%20-%20IACMC/BEYOND20THE20NO20MEAN20SOLDIER20image1.jpg)
bousquet123- Junior Sergeant
- Name : BOUSQUET
Location : France
Registration date : 2012-02-06
Number of posts : 80
- Post n°14
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
Hi Filupe, I had never seent this photo before, GREAT
bousquet123- Junior Sergeant
- Name : BOUSQUET
Location : France
Registration date : 2012-02-06
Number of posts : 80
- Post n°15
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
another pics (Peter Mc Aleese) of the used of the giraffe camo (thanks to 30 ° South Editions)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo Vspdow](https://2img.net/h/oi59.tinypic.com/vspdow.jpg)
![SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo Vspdow](https://2img.net/h/oi59.tinypic.com/vspdow.jpg)
loski- Captain
- Name : Graham
Age : 59
Location : West Sussex
Registration date : 2010-08-11
Number of posts : 919
- Post n°16
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
I think those photos come from Peter Mc Aleeses book No Mean Soldier
zvez- Sergeant Major
- Location : georgia
Registration date : 2009-02-21
Number of posts : 419
- Post n°17
Re: SA Paratroopers Giraffe skin camo
No Mean Soldier is an incredible book. Mcaleese has seen some incredible things, Brit Army, Rhodesian Army, merc. in Angola, SA Army...........
|
|