Bloodcake camouflage uniform

During the First Indochina War, French troops wore a variety of uniforms donated from their former allies in the Second World War. Among these, the British M1942 windproof brushstroke pattern was quite popular due to its light weight. The government of South Vietnam produced a copy of this pattern in 1962 specifically for issue to their Airborne (Nhãy-Dù) units. Similar to the original British design, the ARVN version has broad pea green & purplish-brown brushstrokes on a pinkish-tan or mauve base. This pattern was occasionally worn by US military advisers to the ARVN Airborne Division during the very early years of the Vietnam War. Production of the initial or First pattern (Type A) ceased in 1964, with a Second variation (Type B) having more muted colors beginning production in the same year. By the end of the 1960s use of the brushstroke design had largely ceased. Vietnamese sources refer to this camouflage design as Huyết (blood), a reference to pork-based blood sausage (doi huyet) and other types of blood-based foods that are popular snacks in Vietnam and have distinctive mauve-pinkish tones. The term “pinks” was applied to this camouflage design by Americans due to the overall pinkish tone of the fabric.^[2] but numerous other nicknames were also applied to the pattern, including “blood cake,” “bulletproofs,” and “ARVN Airborne” camouflage. These terms can all be encountered in period references, veteran recollections, and within the collecting community. Although designed specifically for use by the Vietnamese Airborne Forces, this pattern also saw use with the ARVN Special Forces or LLDB