| Xavier University Army ROTC
Study Guide
Camouflage & Concealment
General
The importance of camouflage and concealment
is continuously emphasized on brigade operations. The ability
to shoot, move, and communicate without being detected is
essential to mission accomplishment.
In winter the soldier is challenged because
the whiteness of the countryside emphasizes any item, which
may not blend in naturally with the surroundings. As you know,
all your outer garments are white to help you blend in with
the almost all white environment. Does that mean you wear
white all the time? No! Often it becomes necessary to mix
clothing depending on the background (i.e., a normal dark
top when moving up or down a barren hill would silhouette
the upper torso against the dark horizon at night). When wearing
all white, soldiers should avoid dark backgrounds such as
a tree line or when wearing a dark top should remain in a
tree line. In other words, avoid a contrast.
Camouflaging tracks and traits is a very difficult
problem. Often nature solves this problem with a new snowfall.
When possible movement should be conducted during snowfall
or blizzard conditions. Deception techniques can also be used
to mislead the enemy as to direction of ravel, strength of
unit, location and intentions. A few skiers or over-snow vehicles
can create a network of trails and tracks to confuse the enemy
as to your intentions.
Equipment
Vehicles can be easily camouflaged by painting
with a white latex paint. Other items of equipment are not
that easily camouflaged. Tents for example can be camouflaged
by site selection (trees) and by using old sheets, parachutes,
or snow. The best form of camouflage for tentage is site selection.
Place tents in among the trees and well spread out. It is
essential that the base camp area of any unit be camouflaged.
Special emphasis should be placed on not being observed from
the air.
Conclusion
With today’s sophisticated weapons and
the wide-open terrain units can be defeated at far ranges.
The only way to avoid this is to learn how to shoot, scoot
and communicate undetected.
1. Purposes of camouflage, cover and concealment
are what?
Deny enemy ground or air observation of your
unit, equipment and position. Deny enemy intelligence the
knowledge of your presence, positions, units and equipment.
2. What is cover?
Physical protection from bullets, fragments
of exploding rounds, flame, nuclear effects and biological
and chemical agents.
3. What is concealment?
Protection from enemy observation.
4. What are the eight basic factors of recognition
in camouflaging your equipment?
- Position
- Shine
- Shadow
- Color
- Texture
- Height
- Tone
- Location
5. When a position cannot be cited under natural
cover, what should be used?
Camouflage nets.
6. If you are in a position and decide to build
a fire what has to be taken into consideration?
It cannot be seen or smelled by the enemy.
7. What diminishes shine from steel helmets?
Texturing.
8. What do you do with tracks that lead into
your position?
Cover or brush them.
9. What is meant by camouflage?
Measures taken to conceal yourself, your equipment,
or your position from enemy observation.
10. How do you camouflage your clothes and LBE?
Clothes, LBE and other weapons and equipment
will have outlines altered by irregular patterns added to
blend with the predominant color of the background in the
area.
11. In the absence of material what can be used
to camouflage equipment?
Rubber bands, burlap strips will be used to
secure material to equipment.
12. Give several examples of materials that
can be used to camouflage both you and your equipment, whether
artificial or natural.
Leaves, bushes, grass, etc. You can use mud,
but only in emergencies because as mud dries it changes color
and can peel off exposing the areas that were covered.
13. In camouflaging defensive position what
is the best way to approach?
From the rear to prevent trail marks into position.
14. What must you study to properly camouflage
yourself and your equipment?
Terrain and equipment
15. When digging a fighting position, what must
you do with the dirt you dig out?
Use it to prepare a parapet.
16. How often should you change the camouflage
when using natural material?
When it doesn’t look natural and blend
in with the natural surroundings.
17. After camouflaging your position what should
you do?
Inspect it from the enemy’s viewpoint
at least 35 meters forward.
18. When do you camouflage a fighting position?
Camouflage as you prepare it.
19. What do you do with the excess dirt when
digging a fighting position?
Take excess dirt away from the position to the
rear. |
