 The development of military camouflage was driven by the increasing range and accuracy of infantry firearms in the 19th century . In particular the replacement of the inaccurate musket with weapons such as the Baker rifle made personal concealment in battle essential . Two Napoleonic War skirmishing units of the British Army , the 95th Rifle Regiment and the 60th Rifle Regiment , were the first to adopt camouflage in the form of a rifle green jacket , while the Line regiments continued to wear scarlet tunics . A contemporary study in 1800 by the English artist and soldier Charles Hamilton Smith provided evidence that grey uniforms were less visible than green ones at a range of 150 yards . 
