Experimental MARPAT Woodland

Let's talk about the original experimental MARPAT uniforms! I know of three in total and I think their order is something like this (all details of the jackets):

1. Black interior, zip off sleeves, zipper/snap pocket on left arm (similar to flight suits)
2. Zip off sleeves, snap pockets on arms
3. Snap pockets on arms

#1 was also made in Tiger Stripe. I am only aware of boonie, 8 point cover (cap), jacket, and trousers in any of these three patterns. The colors are all more subtle than the production version, much the same way the Desert is also different than what went into production.

Here's a picture of what I call 1st Model:



The set I have is what I'm calling the 2nd Model. I have a hat somewhere but couldn't locate it tonight. All three items came from the Marine who wore this for real. There does not appear to have been a MARINES tape over the left breast pocket, just the embroidered USMC logo on the pocket. Marines seem to hate redundancy













And finally, a picture of what I call the 3rd Model. This came from an eBay auction in 2008:



Steve

Very nice!

Thanks for sharing them Steve , Great score !!

Could you please take a comparison shot between the stand issue and the experimental one? Seems like the standard issue is more brown...

Mine is significantly worn and washed, so a direct comparison against a new one isn't going to tell us much. While the wash/wear definitely has dulled the colors some, overall the colors don't appear to have started out the same as what went into production. The same appears to be true for the desert.

Steve

The third model looks a bit like the current AOR2 camo being issued to the US Navy.

any chance it is one of those in this photo?
it was took in 2001 in Iwo Jima for a commemoration of the WW2 battle. Another one of that event clearly shows a desert experimental set being worn.

Nice pic! I'm sure that's what I'm calling the 3rd Model experimental set. Three reasons:

1. 2001 date is prior to general production
2. No MARINES tape over the right breast pocket
3. Colors aren't like a new full production uniform. A 3 star general would NOT be wearing a beatup uniform to such an event.

I checked a document I have and it clearly states that three uniforms were tested alongside each other. Two were Woodland, one was Desert. However, one of the Woodlands and the Desert were identical. The primary features of the jackets are:

1. Woodland with snaps on arm pockets and zip off sleeves (what I call 2nd Model)
2. Woodland with velcro arm pockets and standard sleeves (what I call 3rd Model)
3. Desert with velcro arm pockets and standard sleeves (same as Woodland 3rd Model)

Things are a little more confusing with the trousers. Supposedly there were only two styles of trousers trialed, one for each of the jackets. However, I have photographic evidence of at least five types:

1. Woodland with snaps on rear pockets and velcro on each leg pocket
2. Woodland with velcro on rear pockets and one snap on each leg pocket
3. Woodland with velcro on rear pockets and two snaps on each leg pocket
4. Desert same as #2
5. Desert same as #3

In addition to this the following items were trialed alongside:

1. Woodland 8 point cover
2. Woodland "floppy" cover (boonie)
3. Desert same as #1
4. Desert same as #2
5. Leather "roughout" boots with USMC logo on the outside heal
6. Gaiters, with zip up back, lace on outside side, and straps under the boots. Very WW2 looking.

This program had to be a very small one because the amount of examples out there are VERY few.

I think it is safe to say that the uniform I call 1st Model is probably better described as "prototype". There were probably a couple dozen different designs out of the prototype stage, maybe as few as 1 of each.

Steve

A jacket that just came up on eBay, and went for big bucks, proves that there is an experimental desert type with zip off sleeves and other features identical to the Woodland variant that I have. Looks like the document I grabbed the above info from was incorrect!

Steve