Irish DPM shirt

I'm bumping this thread because the pictures help with a question.

There seems to be three variants of Irish DPM.

Early (1990s) =  non-ripstop, direct sewn name tag, a velcro patch for the rank, and no flag.

Mid (2004 minimum through 2010) = non-ripstop, velcro over the right breast, button epaulet on the chest, and a flag over the left arm pocket (pictured above)

Late (2010 through today) = same as mid? but in ripstop

Does that seem correct?

Steve

Mine has a "Seyntex 2000" tag and falls between your "early" and "mid".  Seems to be "mid" without the Velcro and flag.

Excellent! I know Rip is going to chime in too, so after he and a few others compare notes here things should probably be clear. However, it is looking like 3 significant variations with some minor differences.

Steve

**************


Well used and well faded, tag long gone , but far from dead.  Probably 1998 or earlier.   Signs of patches having been removed from both sleeves.

 Velcro for nametape and para wing are male type as opposed to the chest rank Velcro which is a female type as normal. Velcro for nametape and para wing were sown on a machine.

 There are 2 holes slightly above para wing , most likely for metal Irish para wings.




                                                                                                


Seyntex 1998 ,used, Velcro rank tab, no Velcro nametape strip, no flag.
                                                                                                   

                                                                                                 

                                             
Carra/Seyntex 2005 ,unused, chest rank epaulette, Velcro name strip, flag .
Tag has been relocated to an inside seam.
                                                                                                 




Non ripstop, tags  completely washed out.


                                                                                                



Ripstop / tags.


                                                                                               



                                                                                                




S

Hi Guys.

Fair play ye seem to have a fairly good grasp of the timeline of the IP- DPM kit with only a few minor errors.Here is the gen.

1999- 2000: First Ptn.made by Portwest(Ireland) and Seyntex(Belgium).Direct copy of the Arktis kit on issue to the ARW.Slight colour difference between the two manufacturers kit."Elvis" collar on shirt.Detachable "Arse pad" on smock. Summer trousers.Winter trousers(Waterproof liner in knees and crotch/ass).Both trousers ripstop.Thin belt loops.

2000: New shirt with Rank slide tab and proper collar. Tropical trousers(all cotton) and Boonie hat  on issue to troops deployed to East Timor.

2001: Gen 1 Winter trousers discontinued. Velcro for nametab added to shirt and smock as is Miniature tricolour.

2002: Three different DPM waterproof suits on trial.

2003:Seyntex manufacturer. Field dressing pocket and wide belt loops added to all trousers.Tropical trouser now on issue to all overseas missions with reinforced knees and crotch. Boonie hat on issue to all  troops deploying on non UN overseas missions.DPM waterproofs go on issue. Lowe alpine DRIFLO Baselayers go on issue for overseas units.

2005-2006: Boonie hat on general issue.DRIFLO's on General issue.

2007-2009:Carra/Seyntex manufacturer. New shirt sizes introduced. Shirt "New size" on issue.Sleeves too short. DPM "elmer fudd"(lowe alpine waterproof cap) Hat on issue to winter overseas deployments.

2010:Cooneen Watts and stone Manufacturer. Ripstop shirt on issue with DF Ireland tab added and flat pockets.Smock pockets changed.Trouser pockets changed.All undergarments changed to DPM with velcro rank marking added.New softshell goes on issue. Large tricolour added to all kit.Dpm UBACS on issue to ARW.( see 2010 Pattern thread in this section). Ripstop summer trouser renamed "winter" trouser.Tropical trouser renamed "summer" trouser and new material mix used 70% Cotton 30% Polyester.

2013-2015: 1st gen UBACS(all DPM) rolled out to overseas units.

2017:Seyntex manufacturer. 2nd Gen UBACS( FR, OG body) rolled out . FR baselayers rolled out in OG.Gaelic DF Ireland tabs replace original ones on outer layers.Gusset added to all trouser crotches.

2019:Seyntex manufacturer. New design DPM kit to be rolled out( a year later than expected)?(see 2017 Pattern kit thread in this section).

This is the 3 variant to the best of my knowledge ( 2010-  ?  ).



                                                         

                                                         



S

Great stuff!  I think we've got a good handle on the variations.  I went back to the 2010 and 2017 threads as there is a lot of info there to integrate here.  Here's how I would categorize the basic uniform:

Shirt:

-1st Model (1999-2000) =  shirt has British style chest pockets, non-ripstop, velcro patch for rank, and "Elvis" style collar. Trousers in ripstop with small belt loops and large Canadian style exposed leg pocket buttons. Manufactured by Portwest (Ireland) and Seyntex (Belgium).

-2nd Model Early (2000) = shirt similar to 1st model, but slimmed down collar and button rank epaulet with exposed button on chest.  Trousers the same.

2nd Model Late (2001-2002) = same as 2nd Model Early but with small tricolor flag over the left arm pocket and velcro over right breast pocket.  Trousers the same.

-3rd Model Early (2003-2009) = vertical pleated pockets with exposed buttons, "Defense Forces Ireland" tape over left breast, and full "IRELAND" flag above arm pocket.  Trousers changed to have bandage pocket, zippers under leg pocket flaps, and wide belt loops.  Manufacturing now exclusively Seyntex.

-3rd Model Late (2014-2018) = same as 3rd Model Early but "Óglaigh na hÉireann" tape over left breast.  Trousers the same.  Manufactured by Cooneen Watts & Stone as well as Carra/Seyntex.

-4th Model (2018-) = radical redesign of the entire uniform.  Shirt has no chest pockets at all, made from ripstop, and rank epaulet has a hidden button.  Trousers also redesigned with counter intuitive rear slanting pocket flaps.  Likely other differences, but those are easy tip offs.  Also manufactured by Seyntex.

How does that look?

Steve

[quote="CollectinSteve"]Great stuff!  I think we've got a good handle on the variations.  I went back to the 2010 and 2017 threads as there is a lot of info there to integrate here.  Here's how I would categorize the basic uniform:

Shirt:

-1st Model (1999-2000) =  shirt has British style chest pockets, non-ripstop, velcro patch for rank, and "Elvis" style collar. Trousers in ripstop with small belt loops and large Canadian style exposed leg pocket buttons.  Manufactured by Portwest (Ireland) and Seyntex (Belgium).

-2nd Model Early (2000) = shirt similar to 1st model, but slimmed down collar and button rank epaulet with exposed button on chest.  Trousers the same.

2nd Model Late (2001-2002) = same as 2nd Model Early but with small tricolor flag over the left arm pocket and velcro over right breast pocket.Field dressing pocket added to trouser.Wide belt loops.Foldover on inside trouser pocket lid removed.

-3rd Model Early (2010-2012) = vertical pleated pockets with exposed buttons, "Defense Forces Ireland" tape over left breast, and full "IRELAND" flag above arm pocket.  zippers under leg pocket flaps.  Manufacturing now exclusively Cooneen Watts and stone.

-3rd Model Late (2014-2016) = same as 3rd Model Early but "Óglaigh na hÉireann" tape over left breast.  Trousers the with gusset added to crotch
.Manufactured By Seyntex
-4th Model (2018-) = radical redesign of the entire uniform.  Shirt has no chest pockets at all, made from ripstop, and rank epaulet has a hidden button.  Trousers also redesigned with counter intuitive rear slanting pocket flaps.  Likely other differences, but those are easy tip offs.  Also manufactured by Seyntex.

Fixed that for ya

Also Rumour going around that 2018 shirt design has been changed slightly from prototype by adding UBACS style pockets to sleeves. Also forgot to add. Crye style "Tactical" trousers on trial ATM.Seyntex made. Copy of Arktis made "Ranger "trouser  in use with ARW since 2014.Also ARW trialling Multicam uniform at present.

Excellent! Thanks for the fixes.

I'm not surprised the pocketless shirt was found, er, lacking I don't know if the UBACS pockets is the right way to go. For garrison dress I think it's not really a good idea.

Fingers crossed you don't go with Multicam!

Steve

To make matters worse the rumour is that the existing pen pocket will remain on the left sleeve with a UBACS style pocket on the right.
That will look manky.

Glad to see some good info being documented here..

The pocketless  blouse  seems to be something of a trend.   25rd Infantry Division," Tropic Lightning "  is, or was  conducting trials of a similar blouse..

                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeKumj_R448




The Crye cut trousers look very interesting as does the  UBACS.  Hope Ireland keeps this pattern and not fully implement MC uniforms in the future.




I've noticed 1999 and 2000 being referred to as the year of implementation for this pattern.   This  first type has 1998 as a date.



                                                                                           



S

1996 was the year they decided to introduce the IP-DPM uniform. Our uniform contracts run in three year cycles.Tender goes out.3 month window usually for submission of proposals.Tender usually awarded within 2 Months of closing date. First deliveries 26 weeks later.

Manufacturing may have started in late '98 but the first issues were to the Engineer company deployed to Kosovo in August 1999 to build the camp for the 1st Irish Transport Company that deployed there later that year.

No1 Irish Platoon INTERFET(ARW) were next to be issued followed by 86 Irish Bn UNIFIL The rest of the DF changed over in March 2000.

I figured something like you describe.

Contract dates do not always coincide with issue date.

Thanks.


S

Raptor wrote:1996 was the year they decided to introduce the IP-DPM uniform. Our uniform contracts run in three year cycles.Tender goes out.3 month window usually for submission of proposals.Tender usually awarded within 2 Months of closing date. First deliveries 26 weeks later.

Manufacturing may have started in late '98 but the first issues were to the Engineer company deployed to Kosovo in August 1999 to build the camp for the 1st Irish Transport Company that deployed there later that year.

No1 Irish Platoon INTERFET(ARW) were next to be issued followed by 86 Irish Bn UNIFIL The rest of the DF changed over in March 2000.

What is your job in the Defence Forces? You know so much more than anyone I know in the army about all the gear and uniforms

RonaldReagan wrote:

Raptor wrote:1996 was the year they decided to introduce the IP-DPM uniform. Our uniform contracts run in three year cycles.Tender goes out.3 month window usually for submission of proposals.Tender usually awarded within 2 Months of closing date. First deliveries 26 weeks later.

Manufacturing may have started in late '98 but the first issues were to the Engineer company deployed to Kosovo in August 1999 to build the camp for the 1st Irish Transport Company that deployed there later that year.

No1 Irish Platoon INTERFET(ARW) were next to be issued followed by 86 Irish Bn UNIFIL  The rest of the DF changed over in March 2000.

What is your job in the Defence Forces? You know so much more than anyone I know in the army about all the gear and uniforms

Sorry Mate not going to ID myself as I am still serving.If you are DF you know why

I have done multiple roles while serving.From "on the ground "roles in my earlier years to quieter ones now I am getting on. Bit of a gear freak before becoming a serious collector

Oh yeah no worries at all, completely understand , just wondering if I could DM you to ask some questions about gear if its not too much trouble? Im really into gear and want to start collecting DPM gear.

RonaldReagan wrote:Oh yeah no worries at all, completely understand , just wondering if I could DM you to ask some questions about gear if its not too much trouble? Im really into gear and want to start collecting DPM gear.

No problem at all.

Couple of questions about Coonen Watts and Stone manufactured uniforms . So I picked up a load of DPM uniforms , most still in packaging from 2010-2012 .
Is there only 1 shirt for 2010, and 1 for 2012 ? I've noticed all shirts are labelled Operational Shirt and I've only seen 1 version of each year. But in 2012 trousers there's an actual "winter" variant .And 2010 trousers have "Operational Trouser No 2 or No 40 , one being a normal and the other a heavier ripstop material but no "winter or summer title.

The Irish Platoon that was embedded into NZBATT3 (2000) in East Timor had the camo, I remember them having to burn their old sets while rotating home.