The Choco Chip Saga: DBDUs (1982-93)

In use: 1982-1993

Label: 'Coat / Trousers', Desert Camoflauge Pattern, Combat

Materials: 50/50 ripstop nylon cotton

Pattern: 6-color desert (chocolate chip)

Following the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War, a new conflict began in the Middle East between Israel and the Arab nations surrounding it. Though American forces had been geared for operations in Asia and Europe, the Middle East would also become an area of interest for the United States. In June 1967, hostilities broke out between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. The conflict would end with Israel managing to defeat the Arab coalition and occupying Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, becoming a source of tension in the region, along with the occupation of the Gaza Strip. The Pentagon realized that it needed the capability to quickly move supplies and manpower required for operations in the region in order to respond to rapidly developing crises.

A new camouflage for use in desert environments was needed, so in 1971 the six-color desert pattern was created by Natick Labs. The deserts of the Southwestern United States, including parts of California and Utah, were used as a model because of their similarity to that of the Sinai Peninsula. Conditions encountered in the rocky environment led to the pattern being nicknamed ‘chocolate chip’ due to its resemblance to chocolate chip cookie dough. However, the pattern was shelved in the 1970s. Renewed interest in desert camouflage due to the United States increasing its military presence in the Middle East in the late 70s after the Yom Kippur War led to the project being revived. New prototypes of the uniform were made in limited batches, using the OG107 Jungle Fatigues and the ‘RDF’ uniform cut, styles that influenced the design of the later BDU. Most of these prototypes have contract dates from the early 1970s and are extremely rare, though they do come into the possession of collectors from time to time.

 With the introduction of the BDU in the early 1980s, the Pentagon decided to simply use the same basic design as the temperate model but with the 6-color pattern, having a few differences from its woodland counterpart. In 1981/82, issue of the first pattern of the Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU) began, limited to elements of the new Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), formed to act as the US contingency response force for the Middle East, along with units that took part in the annual Bright Star exercises with Egypt and the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) responsible for monitoring the Sinai Peninsula. The chocolate chip pattern is synonymous with Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, with PASGT helmet covers, ALICE rucksack covers, caps and boonie hats also made in the pattern prior to the conflict. Because the pattern had been modeled after American deserts, they did not blend in with those of the Middle East, and most troops following their return to the US quickly got rid of their desert uniforms.

COAT

The cut of the DBDU is virtually identical to that of the Temperate BDU. The coat had four pleated chest pockets, a button front, and the ‘Elvis Collar’. It was initially made with 50% nylon and 50% ripstop cotton, the same kind used with the Temperate BDUs - a blend that proved to be uncomfortable for desert environments, causing the wearer to trap heat and moisture. Unlike the BDU, the 1st and 3rd pattern DBDU coats did not have drain holes as they were meant for use in the desert and the left chest pocket had a built-in pen slot. A double fabric was located on the inside of the coat to prevent sunburn. Most early DBDUs have an orange tint, while ones from around the late 80s to the time of the Gulf War have a more reddish appearance. No DBDU is alike, and every uniform has some distinct features or alterations since it was produced by many different companies, each making their own slight changes.  

Some DBDUs had either a larger or smaller lapel area ranging from 4 to 7 centimeters and were made either with or without waist adjustment tabs, an inside yoke, an inner sewed down section on the front pockets, reinforced elbow sections and different cuff adjusters. Subdued insignia and name tapes were still worn, with tan versions of these not introduced for general wear by troops in the Middle East until the mid-1990s. Tan name tapes did exist by the time of the Gulf War, but most were worn by high-ranking officers including the Commander of the Coalition, General Norman Schwarzkopf, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin L. Powell. A few photos show some troops wearing no name tapes or rank insignia at all, probably for security reasons. Powell and Schwarzkopf’s uniforms also had unique pin-on skill badges and rank insignia instead of the regular embroidered versions, along with early tan desert boots.

TROUSERS

Seat patches were applied to the back and the pockets are fixed with two buttons; the color was changed from the olive drab used with the Woodland BDUs to a light tan along with the drawstrings. Newer models typically did not have the reinforced elbow and knee areas since they retained heat. The shape of the tags inside also differs from uniform to uniform; some are white with others being faded tan. Before and during the Gulf War, a set of experimental chocolate chip blouses were made, better suited for use in the desert - 100% ripstop. Many have 1990 contract dates, and were produced just prior to Desert Storm with a total of at least two different versions were produced in 50/50 nylon twill poplin and 50/50 nylon ripstop poplin and were tested at Fort Irwin, California. 

The pockets are all billowed, including the lower ones, secured by velcro, but unlike the BDU did not have drainage holes. Initially, he wore ones made in Saudi Arabia, but during the final phase of the war switched to wearing the American-made version. The tan desert combat boots - Boots, Hot Weather, Type II - were introduced just prior to Desert Storm in September 1990 based on Schwarzkopf’s feedback and were worn alongside the black hot weather boots and the ‘panama’ jungle boots, the latter of which were worn by the vast majority of American soldiers that served in the Gulf. Neither the coat or trousers have the reinforced elbows, and the trousers were also secured by velcro, and a zippered fly was used in place of the regular buttons.