color it to blend with the surrounding terrain. When no
vehicles should be parked so their shape will disappear
paint is available, use mud, charcoal, or crushed grass.
into the surroundings. Better concealment can be
Color in bold, irregular patterns.
obtained by using natural rather than artificial material
to breakup the shape and shadow of the vehicles. This
Alter the distinctive outline of your helmet with a
type of material is always available near a parking site
cover of cloth or burlap colored to blend with the terrain.
or motor pool and can be erected and removed quickly.
Let foliage stick over the edges, but do not use too much
When cut foliage is used, be sure it is put up as it was
of it. Use a camouflage band, string, burlap strips, or
growing because the underside of the leaves is much
rubber bands to hold the foliage in place.
lighter than the topside, and the difference in color could
Use mud or dirt to dull shiny surfaces of weapons,
give your position away. In addition, cut foliage should
being careful not to foul working parts.
be replaced as soon as it starts to wither.
The principal artificial materials used to conceal
Camouflaging the Person
vehicles are drape nets. They are easy to use, quickly
erected, and quickly removed. Drape nets give complete
Exposed skin-even dark skinreflects light. To
concealment against direct observation, but, as with
prevent this, you should use camoflage face paint
most artificial camouflage materials, they can
sticks. They are issued and used in a two-color
frequently be detected by photographic observation
combination. Although these sticks are called face paint
because they often fail to blend with the background
sticks, they are used on any exposed skin and are issued
properly. In any case, drapes do conceal the identity of
a vehicle, even though the drape net itself may be
1. Loam and light green for light-skinned
detected.
personnel in other than snow regions
2. Sand and light green for dark-skinned personnel
Camouflaging of Buildings
in other than snow regions
The basic methods of concealmentblending,
3. Loam and white for all personnel in snow
regions
hiding, and deceivingcan be applied either to existing
buildings or new construction. However, concealment
Apply face paint sticks or other materials as follows:
is much easier when the camouflage scheme is
1. Paint the shiny areas (forehead, cheeks, nose,
incorporated into the designs for new construction and
chin, exposed skin on the back of your neck and your
site selection.
hands and wrists) with the darker color. Paint the shadow
Buildings can be concealed by screens of garnished
areas (around the eyes and under the nose and chin) with
nettings. Another method is to have disruptive patterns
the lighter color.
painted over the netting, roof, and gable-end walls.
2. When applying face paint, use the buddy system
Where concealment from close observation is required,
with one man working on and checking another.
the netting should be sloped gradually to the ground. For
structures with roofs steeper than 30 degrees, the netting
3. When face paint is not available, burnt cork,
must cover the whole building.
charcoal, or lampblack may be used. Mud should be
used only when nothing else is available. Mud changes
When the terrain permits, a new structure can be
color as it dries, and when dry, it may flake off and leave
partially dug-in to reduce the height and, in turn, its
exposed skin. Also, mud may contain harmful bacteria
shadows. The nature and size of buildings can be
and should be used only on approval of a medical officer.
disguised in many ways, such as the following:
1. Placing trees between the buildings
Camouflaging of Vehicles
2. Painting the roofs to match the surrounding
A badly concealed vehicle can lead to much more
terrain
than just a lost vehicle; it may mean discovery of your
3. Varying roof lines with wooden framework, then
unit or complete destruction of an installation. As is
covering them with burlap or fine-mesh wire netting to
always the case in camouflage, the aim should be to
simulate sloping hip roofs
occupy a position without altering its appearance. To do
4. Erecting superstructures over existing buildings
this, you should park the vehicle under natural cover
and covering them with burlap, plastic, or other material
whenever available. When cover is inadequate, the
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