Why did camouflage take so long to be used on battle uniforms?

Prior to the late 19th early 20th century armies wore distinctive uniforms tabards and surcoats to be readily identified.

Before the gun was invented battles would end up as large brawls as formations would collide.

When this happened you wanted to be able to identify who was who.

You might be wearing a helmet so if your king had you wear black and gold and the enemy word red and blue you tabards you know who to kill and not to kill.

When the gun was invented- until the late 19th century they produced a lot of smoke and resulted in a foggy battlefield and took about 30 seconds to load- so you closed in for the melee.

In the 19th century smokeless powder was invented and they were coming up with first kakhi and other drab then better forms of camouflage. That takes some testing- since you want something that will blend in with as many environments as possible.

The British and Germans had their men wear tan in the desert and Green /field grey everyplace else.

Two examples of failed camo are the new ACU and the old 6 color Desert Battle Dress Uniform

edit in the Vietnam era quite a few paterns were tested like the Mitchell, ERDL,

Tiger stripes and duck hunters camouflage.

As far back as WWI camouflage was used for gun positions and to hide aircraft. Camouflage uniforms were used in WWII. They didn't wear them in non-combat areas. Camouflage was used long before then in the form of using twigs and such.

In battles in the Civil War and before, camouflage wasn't necessary. They assaulted in large formations and there was no need for camouflage.

Mitchell pattern cammo was first used in 1953 on Marine shelter halves and uses extensively in Vietnam.

I guess they didn't find much use for it during WWII. The environment was much more very woodland and urban during the 40's. The entire uniforms were green, so there's a primitive form of camoflague for ya,

Dhd