ERDL camo top from an armored unit

[MattS]

I picked up a 1970 dated ERDL jacket today. It's in really nice shape (except for some ring-around-the-collar). It shows the outline of an armored division patch on the left sleeve, and an airborne combat patch (probably 173rd by the size of it). Any ideas what armor unit wore these in the early 1970s? Thanks in advance!

[MattS]

Got some photos taken, one overall and one of the left shoulder patch outline.

[Bob Chatt]

It possibly could be an ARVN unit as there are quite a few shaped like a triangle.

[MattS]

Thanks Bob, I hadn't thought of that. There are also faint outlines of machine sewn name/branch tapes running along the tops of the pockets. If I were to restore insignia to this, am I correct that it should have been all subdued by 1970?

[MattS]

In addition to the subdued patch question, is this considered 'brown dominant'? I'm new to the differences of ERDL camo. Thanks!

[DennyB]

I was under the impression that this pattern was only issued to USMC and attached USN personnel. I would think that if USAF or Army people got some of these it was from other than regular supply.

[MattS]

I put a 1970s 3rd Armored patch over the outline on the sleeve and it matched up perfectly. I know the 2nd AD wore their patches on the chest, so I've narrowed this down to the 1st or 3rd AD, in Germany, early 1970s. Anyone have any photographic evidence of camo uniforms being worn in Germany at that time?

[DiGilio]

I put a 1970s 3rd Armored patch over the outline on the sleeve and it matched up perfectly. I know the 2nd AD wore their patches on the chest, so I've narrowed this down to the 1st or 3rd AD, in Germany, early 1970s. Anyone have any photographic evidence of camo uniforms being worn in Germany at that time?

I dont know too much about what was going on in Germany and such at that time but I do know when my father was in the 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry, 8th Infantry Division in Germany in 1973, he wore ERDL. But as it says in a article from the div paper he kept, it was for testing: "After being selected to represent the 8th Division in the testing of jungle fatigues, the battalion molted into its new skin on 1 January 1973." Not sure but it seems like they were the only regular unit widely using them at that time. I have pictures if anyone is interested.

[MattS]

I'd definitely like to see those photos! I heard ERDL was worn for a short time in Germany before going to the generic OG-107s. I think maybe this uniform was worn by a veteran of Vietnam who tried to carry it over to his post-war unit.

[DiGilio]

Heres some photos. Cotton sateen OG-107s was the standard utility uniform being used at that time, but apparently someone decided to see how ERDL and jungle fatigues worked in Europe, so 1st Battalion 13th Infantry were issued the ERDL to be used in place of the OG-107 at the start of 1973. As far as I know, they were only ones who this was done to.

Germany was no jungle so in a lot of the photos you see the ERDL pants but they have field jackets and such on.

[MattS]

Great photos, thanks for posting!