Israeli Camo. "Jungle Cap".

[leigh kitchen]

I picked this up from a military uniform and equipment shop in Tel Aviv around 1978-80.
Does anyone know if it's an "issue" item within the IDF or any country's military, or a generic army surplus / outdoor pursuit shop bit of "civilian" camo kit please?
I've always suspected it's the latter.

[engr9266]

Could it be South African or Rhodesian ??

[leigh kitchen]

Quite possibly, I'm not at all clued up on camo patterns, I can just about tell DPM from "Woodland" so I really do have to rely on the camo experts.

[JerryBB]

A nice camo but not one I recognise.....even excepting the IDF were very flexible about what was allowed, but still not a pattern I remember seeing, perhaps as suggested from an African nation.

[leigh kitchen]

I can only await any identification from camo experts, presumably it isn't an Israeli produced issue item, possibly an item purchased from abroad by the IDF but I suspect a foreign military or camping shop type private purchase.
I think the only other items I bought at the same time were a a few pairs of WWII era British goggles (the thin plastic anti glare ones that came in cardboard sleeves - there are wartime photos of Rommel wearing the things) and a haversack bearing a large red design of Israeli para wings, now long gone).

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Originally Posted by engr9266

Could it be South African or Rhodesian ??

It's not Rhodesian.

[Milmed]

It looks very much like South African 32 Battalion camo which was i believe based on the South African Police / Koevoet camo. The style of hat is also typical of a South African army /police bush hat. Try searching google for Koevoet camo, SA Police Camo.

Steven

[leigh kitchen]

Will do, thanks.

Edit - a check online shows exactly the "same" cap down to the vent hole locations for sale as a South African Police 2nd Pattern Camouflage Bush Hat. It has a manufacturers label sewn in to a seam.
The same pattern but with a different layout for the vent eyelets and a press stud to pin up the brim is described by a seller as an
"original, vintage c1980 South West Africa POLICE (SWAPOL) Camo Bush Hat.
This hat is in the 1st Pattern Type 2 Camo design".

I'll label this one up as South African Police 2nd Pattern Camouflage Bush Hat although I'd like to find a reliable reference to confirm that. I wonder if the lack of manufacturers label is because they were deliberately left off kit for export to Israel? Probably not, just coincidence.

Thanks for the assistance in identifying this hat, back it goes in the collection but I appreciate it more now I know what it is.

Further online exploration indicates that all 32 Bn camo garments were produced without manufacturers labels.

[Milmed]

A number of SADF personnel were in Israel in the late 1970's, so it is possible they brought it with them

[leigh kitchen]

Thanks for that info.