Hat, Combat, DPM Desert
General Information
Name: Hat, Combat, DPM (Tropical) Desert.
Country of Origin: The United Kingdom.
Date of Production: c 2005.
Manufacturer: Yet to be identified.
NATO Stock Number (NSN): 8415-99-978-6943.
Contract Number: ESL/0065.
Colour/ Camouflage Pattern: Desert Disruptive Pattern Material (DDPM).
Uniform Family: No. 5 Desert Combat Dress.
Size: 57cm.
Weight: 100gm.
Windproof: Yes.
Waterproof: No.
History
The Hat, Combat, DPM Desert was first introduced in the late 1980s, featuring a four-color Desert DPM (DDPM) pattern and a design similar to the Hat, Combat, Tropical. However, it saw limited use by UK forces at the time.
Initially, the hat was manufactured from the same polyester-cotton blend fabric as the Hat, Combat, Tropical. By the time of the Gulf War in 1990, the material was changed to 100% Egyptian cotton, which was better suited for desert conditions.
As the UK had previously sold large quantities of four-color DDPM uniforms to Iraq and made the pattern available to other Middle Eastern countries, a new two-color Desert DPM pattern was introduced to distinguish British troops from regional forces.
While the hat was produced in various Desert DPM patterns throughout its service, the overall design remained unchanged until the late 2000s, when it was redesigned to include a removable neck cover for added sun protection.
Like the Hat, Jungle, Combat, it was common for soldiers to cut down the brim or sew down the front of the crown for a more customized fit.
Description
The Hat features a flat, forward-sloping crown that measures 7.5 cm in height at the front and 9 cm at the back. For ventilation, two small metal O-rings are positioned on each side.
Encircling the base of the crown is a cloth foliage band, which is sewn down at intervals to create loops. These loops allow local foliage to be secured to the exterior of the hat, aiding in camouflage.
The brim, measuring 7 cm in width, extends around the entire base of the hat. It is fabricated from two layers of desert-pattern cloth with a stiffening material sandwiched between them. The base of the brim is sewn in a circular pattern that extends outward to the outer edge, providing additional rigidity and preventing the internal layer from shifting.
To prevent fraying, the raw outer edge of the brim is reinforced with a strip of desert-pattern DPM binding tape, securely sewn in place.
The sides of the hat are lined with an internal layer of cloth. Sandwiched between this internal lining and the outer fabric is a cloth band that reinforces the foliage band.
At the base of the hat, a fabric tab with a metal grommet hangs from each side, allowing for the attachment of a paracord chin strap.
Examples
Example One
Object Number: 8715-826-36113.
