Feileadh Mor tartan as camouflage?

[Sir William]

The concept of camouflaged uniforms pretty much dates from the mid-19th century when British and Indian troops were issued khaki uniforms. Granted, there were a few military units that adapted green as it aided concealment, such as the Rifle Regiment Rifle Brigade, the US Sharpshooters, Hessian Jaegers, and others who had the role of skirmishing with enemy troops to give their own forces time to get sorted out. But these were the exceptions, not the rule.

That said, some years ago when I was a reenactor in the 77th Highlanders (Montgomery's), I found my Government tartan did provide a degree of camouflage when I found myself isolated during a tactical (war game). I pulled the upper half of my great kilt over my shoulders to conceal my red coat and was very successful in concealing myself from the "French" until I reached friendly lines.

But, I agree with figheadair, that for the most part in the tactics of the 17th-19th centuries did not require camouflaged kit, so the comments supposedly made about tartan being used as camouflage was probably meant to be derogatory, not complimentary.

[Tobus]

But, I agree with figheadair, that for the most part in the tactics of the 17th-19th centuries did not require camouflaged kit, so the comments supposedly made about tartan being used as camouflage was probably meant to be derogatory, not complimentary.

The OP's question, though, wasn't about military uniforms or tactics. It was about hunting/stalking, sleeping in the open, and hiding. Not by uniformed soldiers, but by average civilian Highlanders.

I would tend to think that camouflage would be a natural benefit of tartans made with natural dyes. The Highlands do have a lot of colour in certain times of the year, and even bright tartans might blend in. As to whether they purposefully made their tartans with this in mind, though, I wot not.

[Derekc5555]

Was it only the French and British armies that fought in that manner or was it pretty universal?

[Derekc5555]

The OP's question, though, wasn't about military uniforms or tactics. It was about hunting/stalking, sleeping in the open, and hiding. Not by uniformed soldiers, but by average civilian Highlanders.

I would tend to think that camouflage would be a natural benefit of tartans made with natural dyes. The Highlands do have a lot of colour in certain times of the year, and even bright tartans might blend in. As to whether they purposefully made their tartans with this in mind, though, I wot not.

I've read and saw in a documentary that they'd use their tartans to hide from British troops as well as hunting.

[Derekc5555]

This is the documentary. It talks about the plaid at about the 8:15 minute mark.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sT4eHdueekU

[Geoff Withnell]

I am trying to find the study, done a few years ago on effective camo patterns. It turned out that larger blocks with strong contrast, to break up patterns, was quite effective even in bright colors. IIRC, Loud MacLeod tartan turned out to be better camo at over 100 meters than the then current US Army digital camo with small blocks of low contrast green brown and grey. The human eye and brain is programmed to see certain patterns, such as human shapes, and camo has to break up that pattern.

[IsaacW]

I am not getting into camouflage or not, historical or not. I do dislike the idea that pre-modern dyes were drab as this is proven to be a false statement. Certainly drab colours can be produced, as can bright.

This all said... here is a fun anecdote. When I was in college, our dorm went "paint-balling." One chap from 3rd floor was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, which most folks found to be quite the laugh. Their laughing stopped when they found that he was the best camouflaged man in the woods. The assorted bright colors, in their odd formation, created a nice break up of his body shape and surprisingly blended in quite well.

[Luke MacGillie]

I am not getting into camouflage or not, historical or not.

Ahhhh man, it could be a reenactment of The Second Librarian War, and doing it here, about as appropriate as reenacting Dettingen in Indiana! LOL

[FlamingHaggis]

I am not getting into camouflage or not, historical or not. I do dislike the idea that pre-modern dyes were drab as this is proven to be a false statement. Certainly drab colours can be produced, as can bright.

This all said... here is a fun anecdote. When I was in college, our dorm went "paint-balling." One chap from 3rd floor was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, which most folks found to be quite the laugh. Their laughing stopped when they found that he was the best camouflaged man in the woods. The assorted bright colors, in their odd formation, created a nice break up of his body shape and surprisingly blended in quite well.

Regarding bright colours, depending the foliage you are hiding in wearing all drab might not be good. In Scotch Broom (which i think may be the same plant as Gorse) in full yellow bloom or in Heather is full purples, color might be a good idea.

Much of the fabric of a Highlander's great kilt would be bunched up (esp. in cold weather) which would break up a human outline.

Also, this theory may just boil down to a plaid garment is better than the bright red of the British Army uniform (as others have pointed out).
Ok, I'm done beating a dead horse. Or, horses.

[RichardtheLarge]

Tartan in general will disrupt the silhouette of a person and provide some camouflage if the color scheme matches the outdoor setting. Tartan has been used by New England hunters for a very long time with this purpose in mind. The classic example is the Mackinaw jacket. Bear in mind that for historical military tactics, the muted color scheme would be necessary, but for deer hunting, bright colors of almost any shade except blue would work. Deer can see blue and this color “pops” in their vision, but they can’t discriminate what for people are other very vivid shades in the woodlands: red, orange, saffron, and so on.

Waterfowl are another matter entirely. They see very well and you need every tool at your disposal to remain undetected. This is why turkey hunters will frequently disappear into facial paint and ghillie suits whereas buck hunters will wear blaze orange hats and black/orange camouflage.