French CCE Pattern

​The CCE camouflage pattern was introduced by the French Army in the early 90’s and has survived the test of time as a venerable camouflage pattern. Despite its’ good service record, the pattern is rumored to be replaced by the Scorpion pattern starting in 2024. The good news is that this means there will be a huge amount of CCE gear and uniforms coming to the surplus market. Will it be right for you?

​​PATTERN INFO

The origin of the pattern is slightly murky but it’s plausible that it was inspired by the American M81 camouflage pattern.

It has been whispered around the internet that the CCE pattern was a hasty rip-off of the American woodland pattern. The pattern flows horizontal and the green and brown is noticeably lighter than its American counterpart, not to mention that the CCE patterns are about 3-4X larger. According to the M81 developers, the woodland uniforms are intentionally made with darker greens and browns that do not blend too well. The idea is that the uniform is supposed to “wear and fade” during training to the more effective shades. I have a cold weather M81 uniform blouse and the greens and browns are close to the shade that the French CCE is already at.

PATTERN EFFECTIVENESS

As mentioned previously, the CCE uses shades of green and brown that are very similar to what the M81 producers found to be very effective. If you have ever watched videos of the French operating in woodland environments, you may have noticed that they do a pretty good job of blending in. Also, I have noticed that the pattern does a good job in almost any climate, even in deserts where there is intermittent shrubbery. Though, for those of you who reside in more arid climates, you may enjoy the desert variant of the uniform more.

Many camouflage patterns (like DPM and M81) work well, even within 25 meters, and out to 50 meters because the patterns are small and designed to blend with shapes that your eye would notice at these closer ranges. At longer ranges like 100 meters and further, the dark colors bulk together and you just look like a dark clump at longer ranges. Where this CCE pattern really shines is providing camouflage at these longer ranges. French CCE maintains a bigger pattern in order to give a longer range to the camouflaging effect to try and stave off the clumping effect. This pattern still has utility at intermediate ranges, but will tend to suffer at closer range, unless aided by some light concealment to break up the enlarged pattern. Behind light concealment, the CCE pattern all but disappears at close range.

​For anyone skeptical of the patterns effectiveness, Brent0331 on YouTube tested the pattern and had pretty good success in a vegetated woodland environment. In my own testing of the pattern, I found that pictures did not do the pattern justice in the woods. I tested it up against other camouflage patterns and I found that its enlarged color scheme seems to blend in quite well. Even the beige helps blending by mimicking sunrays that pierce the woodland canopy, dead grass clumps, and dry dirt/leaves.

CLOSING
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I have been using the French Army F2 uniforms in training for a couple of years, through all weather conditions. I have found them to be very rugged and to resist fading. From my experience, these twill uniforms breathe incredibly well for how thick and tough the fabric is. For a better summer uniform in this pattern, I recommend you look into the FELIN F3/4 version of the French uniform. Right now, you can look to pay about $30-$35 for a new F1/F2 top or bottom. You can do searches on Amazon and eBay for CCE pattern clothing. You will find stuff from big companies like UF-Pro making combat gear in CCE even. The pattern is still recognized as a relevant pattern around the world, so don’t discount it entirely. The colors of the Earth are still the same as 30 years ago, as far as I know. This tells be that just because the pattern was replaced, it doesn't discount its usefulness to us, the consumers looking for effective camouflages.