DPDU MK1

Nice score - the boonie especially is pretty hard to come by.

yer and got the lot for free,all the hat are the big boonie type though!

This is OPFOR version, right ?

I'm liking those chest pockets!These look really comfortable.

Now they are now used for opfor but these were used in aghan for a while and same when secdet started up they used this camo also, thats what ive been told

As i know , DPDU 2nd issues in 2002 replaced 1st DPDU .
and 1st DPDU is green label with 4 pockets. But some SOTG will move the lower pockets to upper arms.
Chest pockets version with white labe, it made for OPFOR replaced 3 colors desert.
Here is the Combat version as i know.

This is interesting. So if a uniform has Mk1 Colors but Mk2/Mk3 pocket configuration, it was intended for OPFOR use?

Steve

Mk2 DPDU have 4 pockets either. Until 3rd DPDU.

So you think they made these out of the left over material of the mk1 ones that deployed, it is still mk1 dpdu though!

Yes, It is possible. It's an OPFOR uniform made by Mk1 DPDU fabric. Anyway , did you hat comes with marking on label shows made in 2001 or 2002 ?

same as the pants and shirt

I am still doubting that is no 1st DPDU hat issued in 2001. Because as i heard that, ADI didn't have enough time to produce all various items before SASR had been deployed to Afghanistan in late 2001. Only shirt and pants and no Jacket and hat or other stuffs. And that's why We usually seen they were wearing 3 colors desert hat in that periods.

But in below pics, we do seen they were wearing 1st DPDU pattern hat. But i am thinking is that possible Custom made or issues ?


I also have a 1st DPDU pattern Backpack which is custom made by Sf operator, but i don't know the period of it been used.

So from what I gathered here, a true Afghan-issued Mk 1 should be only green label and 2001-2002 dated? And what the OP posted is thus an OPFOR uniform made from scavenged Mk 1 fabric?

Yes, that and Mk1 has 4 pocket front while Mk3 has 2 pocket front. That's a far easier way to tell the difference between these items than using the colors. Photos, fading, etc. can make that less reliable than counting pockets

Cool info. Unfortunately this means I have 3 more DPDU uniforms to collect instead of 2

Steve

Yep always another one i guess you could call this MK1 version 2 because these were used on early iraq missions might have been due to shortages!even though now the are opfor or intended for opfor

I've also heard this put forward as a theory only.

To date, no hard evidence has surfaced as to whether the '2 pocket' 1st DPDU cut was specifically made for OpFor use. It might be possible to confirm this by finding out the item nomenclature that goes with the above NSN no.

Or it could be something like this:

Contractor -> "Oy! We buggered up this batch of Mk3 jackies. Used the wrong cloth! You still want 'em or should we give them to the Salvos?"

Government -> "No worries. Let's nut something out."

Contractor -> "How about 200 quid each?"

Government -> "Rack off! Be shonky and you can piss off."

Contractor -> "No mate, I'm just a larrikin. How about 100 quid each?"

Government -> "Whacker! It isn't worth zack!"

Contractor -> "OK, how about a mate's rate? 50 quid?"

Government -> "Wot, a bushranger in a suit? I'm no sheila, so don't try having a naughty."

Contractor -> "Don't go all wobbly... I'll put in a case of cleanskin."

Government -> "Beaut! The OPFOR guys are down to budgie smugglers and they complain like show ponies. Deal."



Seriously, I think the most obvious case is there was surplus cloth and a need for OPFOR uniforms. Since the cloth was pulled from service it would make sense to use it for something, especially if the government owned it already (which they very well might have). That some of them wound up in combat doesn't surprise me a bit, especially if we're talking special forces.

Steve

Hahaha!!! Nice work .... although I can't seem to find the same online translator you used for ''Strine'.

BTW, some of those terms had me scratching my head, must be from those bloody Sandgropers ...

hehehe strine...last i heard someone saying shonky was my high school principle, and he was refering to me

I wondered how many of those terms are now on the outs. Personally, I am still trying to get over the trauma of finding that STRUTH! is no longer the common term it once was. Love that one

Steve

Nice write-up Martin.

another reason why the difference in the pocket is the 2 diffrent makers?