Army Green Uniform Optional Purchase and Shade Change Questions?

[iamck94]

I have two questions about the Army Green Uniform:

 

1)Why has the Army Green Uniform gone through so many shade changes (Six different shades for the Army Green Uniform)? Why did the Army switch to AG 344 after 10 years of using the AG 44? Was it because of the polyester added to the blend? Why did the Army switch to AG 489 from AG 344 sometime in the 90s, though someone may have to correct me on that. Both AG 344 and AG 489 were of a Poly/wool blend (as was AG 444), did they change the shade just for the hell of it? AG 434 and AG 491 were both 100% polyester, yet they changed over. (I think it was simaltaneous with the switch to 489, but again someone will have to check).

 

2)Why did the Army create these optional purchase polyester uniforms (AG 434; 100% Poly, AG 444; poly/wool elastique, AG 491; 100% Poly). Its my guess that Polyester is a less comfortable uniform (I always thought it was cold in the winter and hot in the summer, unless someone has a different view). I suppose that AG 491 was created to coincide with the change to AG 489 in the 90s, but what about the initial creation of AG 434 and AG 444? Why create a 100% polyester uniform, do they actually look better?

 

AG 44: 1954

AG 344: 1964

AG 434: ??? Sometime between '71 and '79

AG 444: ??? Sometime between '71 and '79

AG 489: 1990

AG 491: ??? (1990?)

[havzp]

Good question. I'm starting research on Woman's uniforms and this is what I have at the moment;

 

Army Green AG 160 1 March 1961 Summer green cord uniform Polyester/Cotton AG 274 12 May 1960 Cotton/Nylon AG 44 1 July 1960 Green Uniform Wool Serge AG 344 20 May 1966 Tropical Green Uniform Polyester Tropical Wool AG 434 AG 444 AG 489 AG 491