| ERDL pattern | |
|---|---|
  The two variants of the ERDL pattern: The initial green-dominant version (top) and the succeeding brown-dominant version (bottom) | |
| Type | Military camouflage pattern |
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1948–1980s (U.S. military service) |
| Used by | U.S. Marine Corps (former) U.S. Navy (former) U.S. Air Force (former) U.S. Army (former) See Users (for other non-U.S. users) |
| Wars | Vietnam War Invasion of Panama Syrian Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | United States Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory under Alvin O. Ramsley[1] and John Hopkings[2] |
| Designed | 1948 |
| Produced | 1948–1979 |
The ERDL pattern, also known as the Leaf pattern,[2] is a camouflage pattern developed by the United States Army at its Engineer Research & Development Laboratories (ERDL) in 1948.[3][4] It was not used until the Vietnam War, when it was issued to elite reconnaissance and special operations units beginning early 1967.[5][6]
The pattern consists of four colors printed in an interlocking pattern. It was initially produced in a green-dominant colorway, consisting of large organic shapes in olive green and brown, black 'branches' and light green 'leaf highlights'. Shortly after it was first fielded in Vietnam a brown-dominant scheme with the light green replaced by light tan was introduced.
- ^ "The Complex Guide To Camo". Complex.
- ^ a b "ELMC Blog". blog.elmc.co.
- ^ "ERDL | Vietnam War Dictionary". www.vietnamgear.com. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
- ^ Dougherty (2017), p. 63.
- ^ Blechman/Newman, Hardy/Alex (2004). DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material. Department of Publications, Maharishi. ISBN 0-9543404-0-X.
- ^ Vanderbilt, Tom (September 8, 2004). "The Army's new camouflage". Slate Magazine.