The color commonly referred to as “army green” has a long history of use by military forces all over the world. It is a shade that evokes images of military vehicles, uniforms, and equipment. But what exactly is this distinctive color called? The answer is more complex than you might think. In this article, we’ll explore the origins of army green, look at how different militaries refer to the color, examine why it became so ubiquitous, and outline some of the specific shades that fall under the army green umbrella. Whether you’re curious about camouflage, interested in military history, or simply want to know the proper name for the color, read on to learn more about the backgrounds and designations of different army greens.
The Origins of Army Green
Army green has its origins in the need for military uniforms and equipment that would blend in with natural landscapes and provide camouflage. Up until the 19th century, armies primarily wore brightly colored uniforms. Red coats were common for British troops and blue coats for American continental soldiers. But as firearms became more accurate in the 1800s, soldiers needed clothing that made them harder to spot at a distance. Khaki drab and olive green emerged as useful camouflage colors for uniforms starting in the mid to late 1800s. Khaki was first adopted by the British army in India in 1848. The United States military began transitioning to olive drab and khaki uniforms around the Spanish-American War period at the turn of the 20th century. By World War I, most major militaries were using more subdued greens and browns that helped troops blend in to their surroundings.
Terminology for Army Green Colors
Though army green is the popular blanket term, militaries around the world use specific designations and names for shades of green (and greenish-brown) used in uniforms and equipment. Here are some of the most common terms:
Olive Drab
Olive drab refers to deeper, greener shades of the color. The word “drab” indicates it is dull and subdued rather than a bright green. Olive drab has been used by the United States military for uniforms and vehicles since the early 1900s. It remained the main uniform color through World War II and the Korean War.
Khaki
Khaki is a light tan or sand color that was originally used for camouflage by the British army in colonial India in the 1800s. It takes its name from the Urdu word for “dusty”. Khaki is more of a tan than a green, but as a neutral color it provided useful camouflage and became popular with many militaries in the early 20th century.
Feldgrau
A German word meaning “field grey”, feldgrau was the color of German military uniforms for much of the 20th century. It is a greenish-grey tone that helped provide camouflage in European terrain. Other nations with grey-green uniform colors include Bulgaria, Austria, and Russia/the Soviet Union.
Brun-Foncé and Vert-de-Gris
In French, “brown-dark” (brun-foncé) and “green-grey” (vert-de-gris) are used to describe darker olive drab shades of French military uniforms and vehicles. Brun-foncé has been used since 1915 and vert-de-gris since the 1930s.
Lizard and Jungle Green
These are lighter, brighter shades of green used in tropical uniforms. Jungle green was adopted by the U.S. Army in the 1950s for uniforms in tropical climates, replacing olive drab. Lizard green is used by some modern African militaries for camouflage in jungle and savannah environments.
| Country | Color Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Olive Drab | Deep green-grey |
| Britain | Khaki | Light tan/sand |
| Germany | Feldgrau | Greenish-grey |
| France | Brun-Foncé | Dark olive drab |
| U.S. Army (tropical) | Jungle Green | Bright medium green |
Why Green Became the Military Color
So why did various shades of green become the standard color for military uniforms and equipment in the 20th century? There are a few key reasons:
Camouflage
As firearms became more accurate, camouflaging troops and gear became critically important. Greens and browns blended in with forests, jungles and plains far better than bright colored uniforms. Khaki, olive drab, grey-green and other muted shades helped conceal military assets on the battlefield.
Dye Technology
Advances in fabric dyes, especially the development of aniline dyes in the late 1800s, made it easier to produce large quantities of uniforms in shades of green and brown. Earlier natural dyes were limited in color palette.
Industrialization
Mass production of firearms, vehicles, and other military gear was easier if items were painted in a single default color, like olive drab. This allowed militaries to produce materiel more quickly and efficiently with assembly line techniques.
So army green became the utilitarian, mass-produced color of 20th century industrialized warfare. Other colors were occasionally used for specific environments or missions, but different shades of drab green dominated military equipment for expediency and camouflage.
Specific Shades of Army Green
There is no single universal army green color. The section below outlines some of the specific shades used by major militaries:
U.S. Olive Drab #3
The green-grey tone used for most U.S. Army uniforms and vehicles from World War I to the 1950s. RAL color code RAL 6014.
U.S. Olive Green 107
The newer, darker olive drab used by the U.S. Army from the 1950s onward. Similar to RAL 6013.
Russian Zashchitniy Zeleny
The gray-green tone used by the Soviet and Russian armies. Approximately RAL 7009.
British SCSS No. 12 Khaki Drab
Khaki color used for vehicles and gear. Closer to a tan or brown shade. Around RAL 7027.
Vert Olive Drab Clair RAL 6014
French army green vehicle color from 1915 to the 1930s. Lighter and greener than later brun-fonce.
Brun Foncé RAL 8013
Dark French army green from 1930s onward for vehicles and equipment.
Heeressandgelb RAL 1002
A yellow-beige color used for Afrika Korps desert gear. Not green but worth mentioning.
Modern Army Greens
While camouflage patterns and multiple colors are now common for modern military fatigues, solid shades of green remain popular for gear and vehicles. Here are some contemporary army greens:
British Army Green
The current green used for British equipment. Similar to vert olive drab. RAL 6014.
NATO Green
A gray-green color sometimes used for gear of NATO joint forces. Approximately RAL 2408.
Telic and Enduring Freedom Camo Greens
Khaki and sage greens used in camo patterns during Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Australian Jungle Green
Bright medium tone used by Australia in the Pacific in WWII. Around RAL 6005.
So in summary, there are many specific shades of army green, ranging from gray-green olive drabs to brighter jungle greens. But they all emerged from the need for camouflage and efficiency in equipping 20th century forces. So army green remains a symbol of the modern military.
Conclusion
Army green is not a single color, but encompasses many shades of green and greenish-tan used for military uniforms and gear over the past century and a half. It originated in the 19th century for camouflage needs, helped by dye and mass production advances. Though terminology varies by nation, common descriptions include olive drab, khaki, field grey, jungle green and others. Specific shades are often codified by color standards like RAL or SCSS numbers. Army green evolved through trial and error; it proved effective and efficient, so it stuck as the default military color. Despite shifts to camo patterns in uniforms, army green remains ubiquitous on vehicles, aircraft, ships, backpacks, and other gear to this day. So knowing the background and terminology of its shades provides insight into military history and function. Whether you call it olive drab, vert-de-gris, zashchitniy, feldgrau, or just army green, it’s the definitive color of modern military forces.