NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010 13
Blending into
the background
TESTING on three
continents has brought
● Royal Marine L/Cpl Alex Wood of 40 Commando tries to blend into the background in the new
about the first change in
Multi-Terrain Pattern camoufl age, but is slightly hindered by the green grass of England rather than
British camouflage design
the dry terrain of Afghanistan, and by being almost a foot taller than Grenadier Guardsmen Lee
in over four decades.
Moggs (left in new uniform) and Adrian Gibbs (centre in the old pattern of camoufl age)
The new multi-terrain pattern
camouflage – abbreviated
to MTP – will first be seen
in action in the landscape of
Afghanistan next month when
4 Mechanised Brigade begin
their deployment.
From that operational start
it will be introduced across all
three Services in 2011.
These new uniforms are the
result of a surprisingly high-tech
process of testing, laboratory
trials, field evaluations and
computer modelling.
The colours of Afghanistan’s
Green Zone, deserts and
varied landscape were fed
into a computer to generate a
range of camouflage samples.
During the tests out in the
field, the camouflage was
● Lord and Lady Mountbatten visit the Captain Cook Graving Dock
and Garden Island Naval Base in Australia in March 1946; HMS
put under the lens with aerial
Implacable is seen in dry dock in the background
and scientific photography to
Image courtesy of the Trustees of the Broadlands Archive
ensure the tone, depth and
brightness of the colours were
University seeks
well suited to the current front-
line environment.
It was the Infantry Trials
Unit who initially took the new
to save archive
camouflage options out on the
ground, putting the samples
to the test in the UK, Cyprus,
Kenya and Afghanistan.
And the chosen MTP
THE University of Southampton The university is seeking to
pattern stood out from its
has launched a campaign to raise raise £2.85 million to buy the
competitors, or perhaps rather
almost £3 million to buy the archives – more than 4,500 boxes
sank into the background best,
Broadlands Archives, an immense of documents and photographs –
across the range of different
collection of historical documents which cover the major events of
environments.
that includes the correspondence the 19th and 20th centuries.
This whole task began six
of Lord Palmerston and a wealth If successful, the Archives will
months ago and cost some
of material from Earl Mountbatten be kept available to the public in
£250,000 – funded as an urgent
of Burma. the UK.
operational requirement.
The Mountbatten archive covers Capt Christopher Page, head
Lt Col Matthew Tresidder,
his full career including his time of the Naval Historic Branch,
Chief of Staff for Defence
as Supreme Allied Commander, said: “The Mountbatten Papers
Clothing, said: “The new
South East Asia Command 1943- contain classic Naval records of
camouflage has undergone
46, and subsequently as the last national importance that should,
extensive trials to ensure we
Viceroy of India and the first if possible, be retained in the
have the right pattern to blend
Governor-General of India. UK.”
in a host of environments
The Broadlands Archives have For more information, visit
that troops encounter while
been on loan to the university www.southampton.ac.uk/
patrolling the frontline.
since 1989 and are stored in broadlands or contact Katherine
“It is an important
purpose-built facilities and are O’Brien on 023 8059 6895 or
development for both troops
publicly available to researchers. kaob@soton.ac.uk.
on operations and also for
Sun shines on
the British Armed Forces as
a whole once this pattern
is adopted across the three
Services.”
military heroes
The Army senior officer
added: “It also keeps our sense
of being British which was
something the junior ranks said
SHE already has the Military Ben lost an arm and leg as
was important to them during
Cross – the first female member a result of triggering a Taleban
the development process for
of the Naval Service to be so bomb. He has subsequently become
the new camouflage.”
endowed. an inspirational figure to fellow
This is the first time since
The bravery of MA Kate Nesbitt victims of the conflict, completing
1968 that the British Armed
also earned her the title of ‘most the London Marathon and raising
Forces have changed the
Picture: Amanda Reynolds
outstanding sailor or marine’ thousands of pounds for Help for
pattern of their camouflage.
at the second annual The Sun Heroes in the process.
Military Awards – better known Veteran lifesaver CPO Dave
as the Millies. Rigg of 771 NAS collected the
The junior rating, who only ‘true grit’ award – only days after
R
ec
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t
picked up her MC from the Palace picking up his Queen’s Gallantry
l

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d

e

c
f
l
a matter of weeks ago, lined up Medal. Dave has more than
o
ar
r
e

d
b
‘o
o
u
a
tsta
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din
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ng

with fellow military personnel, the 3,000 flying hours under his belt,
by
O
FS
TED
families of men killed in action, including 20 one November night
Princes Harry and William, premier last year which were among the
Gordon Brown, and celebrities most physically and mentally-
from the world of entertainment draining of his career.
and sport for a celebration of the The aircrewman rescued a
best and the brightest in Britain’s severely-injured Spanish fisherman
★ Academic excellence
Armed Forces. in a gale, recovering him to the
A pot pourri of military leaders, Sea King, then resuscitating him
★ Conttiinnuuiitty
including former First Sea Lord five times on the flight to hospital
Admiral Lord West, plus sporting in Truro; sadly, the Spaniard died
★ Firm ffoouunndations
stars such as England rugby World of his injuries before the helicopter
Cup winner Martin Johnson, touched down.
★ Caarring ccoommunity
England football skipper John And lest we forget the
Terry, actor and documentary contribution made by our part-
★ Sporrtt for all
maker Ross Kemp, former soldier time personnel, AB Edmond
and Olympic gold medalist Dame Grandison of HMS Forward ★ A chhaance ttoo perform
Kelly Holmes, and other famous in Birmingham took the ‘best
folk pored over 1,000 nominations reservist’. A taxi-driver by day
across ten categories. (and night), Edmond left his car
They made their decisions behind for six months to fight
known at an awards ceremony pirates – which he did, playing
at the Imperial War Museum a key role on two occasions in
in London, with four RN/RM stopping attackers from taking
personnel among the winners. merchant vessels.
Aside from MA Nesbitt – who A special award was presented
earned her MC for ignoring to Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire
enemy fire in Afghanistan to save – the town which pauses to pay
the life of a wounded soldier – tribute each time the bodies of
fellow Helmand veteran Mne Ben fallen Servicemen and women
Fees for families claiming the service boarding allowance are set so that for the current year parental contribution is only £1,875.
McBean was singled out for the pass through in hearses from
Open Morning: 18 March 2010, 9:30am – 11:00am
‘overcoming adversity’ title. nearby RAF Lyneham.
013_NN_feb10 camo.indd 1 20/1/10 16:36:50
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