A visual guide dedicated to the study and preservation of the innumerable camouflage patterns of the Vietnam War period. All photographs were taken in-house and display tiger patterns from my private archive, as well as some previously sold examples.
A wide variety of Tigerstripe patterns were commissioned by U.S. and Southeast Asian military organisations throughout the Vietnam War, and contracts were awarded to numerous manufacturers across East Asia. Loose tolerances, various localised dying practices, and the expectation to meet demand explain the diversity of colourways seen on Tiger patterns. The swatches shown in this article display a range of colourways and fade patterns.
Patterns are classified by the formations of their shapes, rather than their colourways, following the system outlined in Richard Johnson's 'Tiger Patterns' book, with further observation made by continued research. Since the book's publication in 1990, more accurate and concise information has emerged. As a result, you may notice some inconsistencies between Johnson's work and this article. The information presented here reflects the most current understanding, consolidated from reliable sources.
Please note that photographs are not to scale and were taken to show the largest available uninterrupted section of fabric on the garments I have available. Further, patterns are not oriented in any particular direction, so some may appear rotated by 180 degrees. This is a common characteristic found on original garments, and I have maintained the orientation of the pattern as it appears on its respective garment. All photographs were taken with the fabrics laid flat under even, consistent lighting.
This is a working document, and will be updated when new examples become available.
(Last updated 17/11/2025)
Below is a timeline that shows the developmental history and evolution of wartime Tigerstripe patterns. A list of the abbreviated Johnson terms alongside other collectors' terms may be found below.
| Johnson's Terms | Other Collector Terms | Estimated Year of Conception |
| Vietnamese Marine Corps Experimental (VMX) | VNMC | 1957 |
| Vietnamese Marine Corps Transitional (VMT) | Viet Tailor Made | 1958 |
| Vietnamese Marine Corps Sparse (VMS) | VNMC first pattern | 1959 |
| John Wayne Sparse Variant (JSV) | Early Classic / Fat stripes | 1963 |
| John Wayne Sparse (JWS) | Early Classic / Fat stripes | 1963 |
| John Wayne Compact (JWC) | CIA | 1963 |
| John Wayne Dense (JWD) | Okinawa / Classic | 1964 |
| Tadpole Sparse (TDS) | Silver | 1964 |
| Zig-Zag (ZIG) | Penis | 1964 |
| Vietnamese Marine Corps Dense (VMD) | Seawave / VNMC second pattern | 1968 |
| Advisor Sparse (ADS) | Gold | 1968 |
| Advisor Dense (ADD) | ARVN Classics / Purple | 1968 |
| Late War Lightweight Sparse (LLS) | Late War | 1969 |
| Late War Lightweight Dense (LLD) | Late War | 1969 |
| Late War Midweight Dense (LMD) | Late War | 1969 |
| Late War Heavyweight Dense (LHD) | Late War | 1969 |
| Late War Heavyweight Sparse Reversed (LSR) | Late War | 1969 |
| Late War Heavyweight Dense Reversed (LDR) | Late War | 1969 |
| Splotch (SPL) | CIDG / Coarse | 1969 |
| Tadpole Dense Variant (TDV) | TO78 / TO79 | 1970 |
| Tadpole Dense (TDD) | TO78 / TO79 | 1970 |
| Thai Late War Large (THL) | Thai Large | 1973 |
| Saigon (SAI) | N/A | 1975 |
| SEAL (SEA) | N/A | 1972 |
| Thai Tadpole Sparse (TTS) | Thai | Unknown |
John Wayne Sparse (JWS)
John Wayne Dense (JWD)
Tadpole Sparse (TDS)
Zig Zag (ZIG)
Vietnamese Marine Corps Dense (VMD)
Advisor Sparse (ADS)
Advisor Dense (ADD)
Late War Lightweight Sparse (LLS)
Late War Lightweight Dense (LLD)
Late War Midweight Dense (LMD)
Late War Heavyweight Dense (LHD)
Splotch (SPL)
Tadpole Dense (TDD)
Thai Tadpole Sparse (TTS)
Thai Late War Large (THL)
Other Camouflage
French "A1" Lizard
French "F1" Lizard
US Parachute "Spot" (Found on a Japanese tailor-made waterproof jacket)
US Mitchell (Vine Leaf)
US Mitchell (Cloud)
CIDG Beogam
Kamo Brand Duck Hunter
Kiffe Brand Duck Hunter / Beogam
Storm Pruff Brand Duck Hunter / Beogam
Vietnamese-Produced Duck Hunter
Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) Duck Hunter
Other Commercial Duck Hunter Patterns
US M-1948 ERDL (Invisible ERDL)
US M-1948 ERDL (Adapted) - Type 1 / Hard Edge
US M-1948 ERDL (Adapted) - Type 2 / Soft Edge
US NLABS-2 ERDL
Vietnamese BDQ ERDL (Type 1)
Vietnamese BDQ ERDL (Type 2)
Thai-Produced ERDL
Vietnamese Police (CSDC) Cloud
-
Thanks to Show Linh for his continued research and enthusiasm for teaching others about the nuances and variations of wartime tiger patterns.
All but one of your LMD patterns are actually LHD. This is primarily due to most readers missing the critical statement where he describes LHD in the book is printed on two fabric types: one being a coarse twill (similar to that used in TDD garments), and the other “a mid-weight” fabric which is in reality most similar to ADD garments (although when heavily washed it feels thin and more like poplin). In addition, while he does describes this in text, he fails to show photos of the more of common neon LHD colors which you have posted.
The only LMD image you have correctly identified is the image named: Late_War_Mid-Weight_Dense_LMD_5_480x480.jpg
LMD is clearly distinct as it is vat dyed and closest to the feel of the fabric used in Splotch (which you’ll notice has the same even fade as the correct LMD photo as the fabrics are very similar) once it has been washed. When deadstock, LMD/SPL actually feels like thin cardboard. It feels almost like a crinkly stiff rubber type fabric after washing.
And even more confusing to people who haven’t handled a ton of tiger stripe, LMD fabric actually feels “heavier” than the “mid-weight” LHD fabric describes in the book. The fact Johnson labeled something as LMD, but then further breaks down LHD into two sub-weights of fabric leads to even more confusion.