USGI "Sniper Veil/Scrim Net" M81 Woodland/White Snow Camo Individual Camouflage Net (ICN)
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Second photos shows 3 identical white patches. Left shows 2 layers, middle hows 4 layers, and right shows 6 layers, over of the patch.
Blend into the treeline with a genuine G.I. issue Individual Camouflage Net — commonly known as a "sniper veil or Scrim." This lightweight, versatile piece of concealment gear breaks up the human silhouette and provides quick cover for personnel and equipment, folding down small enough to stash in a cargo pocket.
- NSN: 8415-01-280-3098
- Contract: DLA100-89-F-ED28 (Fiscal Year 1989)
- Item Name: Individual Camouflage Net (ICN)
- Pattern: M81 Woodland, Class I
- Dimensions: 5' x 8' (60" x 96")
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Material: 100% polyester knit mesh
- All-Weather Durability — Treated to resist mold and mildew, so it holds up to repeated field use in damp or humid conditions.
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Multi-Purpose Concealment — Drape it over yourself, your gear, or a hide site to break up outline and movement at a glance.
- Ultra-Lightweight & Packable: 7.5-7.8 oz — extremely lightweight, folds down to the size of a hand towel
- Semi-Transparent Mesh Structure: Small rectangular gaps — highly breathable and allows visibility from the inside looking out, while appearing as a solid camouflaged mass from a distance
- Versatility: The lightweight synthetic mesh could be cut down into smaller strips to wrap around weapons, optics, or helmets to break up hard outlines.
- Improvised Shelter and Shade: In hot or arid environments, soldiers frequently used the 5' x 8' size to rig makeshift lean-tos or sunshades over small positions.
- Sniper and Scout Utility: Snipers and reconnaissance elements valued them for building custom ghillie elements or masking observation posts without carrying heavy vehicle-sized netting.
- Field Customization: Soldiers commonly wove in natural foliage like leaves and brush to add texture and break up the net's outline, and cut strips from the mesh to wrap around rifles and optics for close-range concealment.
The History of the ICN
The concept behind the Individual Camouflage Net has roots going back to World War II, when personal concealment veils first entered standard military kit. The British Army issued a camouflage scrim net face veil beginning in 1942 — a roughly 70x30-inch net worn over the shoulders and back to break up a soldier's outline, originally developed for snipers and commando units like the Lovat Scouts, who had already pioneered personal camouflage techniques on Scottish hunting estates before the war. That scrim veil proved so effective it stayed in British service for more than fifty years, establishing the basic idea that a lightweight net worn over the body could defeat both the naked eye and, later, optical detection far more efficiently than a bulky suit or blind.
The U.S. military's own Individual Camouflage Net continues that same lineage in a modernized form — a compact, packable mesh veil any individual soldier can carry and deploy instantly, rather than a heavier camouflage net meant for vehicles or fixed positions. This specific version, cataloged under NSN 8415-01-280-3098, was procured under a Defense Logistics Agency contract (DLA100-89-F-ED28) awarded in Fiscal Year 1989 — placing it firmly in the late Cold War era, alongside the M81 Woodland pattern it was printed in.