Stylized palette rendering — not a reproduction of the licensed pattern.

Portuguese Lizard (m/963)

Portugal's vertical-stroke lizard, standardized in the early 1960s and worn through the colonial wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

Family

Portugal

Era

Historical

In service

1963–1976

Environments

scrub, jungle

History

Standardized in the early 1960s from the French lizard lineage, with the strokes turned vertical. It equipped Portuguese forces throughout the African colonial wars until the mid-1970s. After the 1974 revolution and decolonization it faded from Portuguese service, though stocks continued to appear in Africa.

In the field

The vertical stroke orientation distinguishes it at a glance from the horizontal French lizard; well suited to African bush.

Where it served

Western EuropeSub-Saharan Africa

Stylized region map — where the pattern was designed to work and primarily served.

Related patterns

See this pattern on gear you can't place? Scan it — the scanner reads camo along with the kit.