SECTION VI. CAMOUFLAGING PROCEDURES

TB 43-0209

e. TB MED 514, Occupational and Environmental

25. REASON FOR PATTERN PAINTING

Health Requirements for Painting Operations.

a. All military vehicles and equipment have

characteristic shapes and shadows. These shapes and

SECTION VI. CAMOUFLAGING PROCEDURES

shadows contrast with the material surroundings and

make the object stand out. Pattern painting using wavy,

24. CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN PAINTING

irregular patches of camouflage colors does much to

a. This section covers methods of applying

break up the characteristic shapes of the equipment by

Camouflage Paint Patterns (CPP) to Army material. It

reducing contrasts with sod and vegetation, pattern

also covers procedures for inspecting applied CPP.

shape, and placement. Patterns have been designed for

Equipment consists mainly of brushes and guns; paints

each type of vehicle to cut off sharp corners, avoid

consist of Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC),

straight, vertical, and horizontal lines, and extend

such as those listed in Appendix B. The CARC topcoats

shadows in shapes similar to natural features and

are suited for camouflage painting and protect military

vegetation; however, the accuracy with which the CPP is

material against visual and infrared detection and

applied completely determines how well the CPP

chemical agent contamination. The CARC camouflage

camouflages the equipment.

topcoats are MIL-C-46168 and MIL-C-53039. The CARC

b. Pattern painting is not a magic, cure-all

epoxy primers are MIL-P-52192,

MIL-P-23377,

camouflage technique, but it makes the item much

MIL-P-53022, and MIL-P-53030.

harder to see and recognize as a military object. It also

b. Information on specific finish systems and kinds

provides an excellent base for applying further natural

of paint to be used for various applications is contained

camouflage such as tree limbs, shrubs and grass.

in Appendix B. Surface preparation is covered in

c. The theory behind pattern design is to provide a

paragraph 27. Application techniques are covered in

camouflage system for equipment that is universal and

paragraphs 30-32. For additional information on

can he adapted to various geographical, seasonal, and

camouflage, refer to the following publications:

terrain changes by the changing of one or possibly two

colors. For instance, temperate zone colors of green,

AR 750-1

Army

Materiel

Maintenance

brown and black may be changed to desert colors by

Management

changing green to tan.

FM 5-20

Camouflage

TM 5-200

Camouflage Materials

NOTE

CARC colors should not be mixed with one

c. Major items to be camouflage-painted are

another as this will alter their individual

weapons systems, vehicles, construction equipment, and

effectiveness when applied to the end item.

materials handling equipment. The painting procedures

Blending is not permitted.

described in this chapter do not apply to aircraft. Three-

color camouflage patterns are created for all combat,

d. These resigns also lend themselves to touchup

combat support, and combat service support equipment

painting with better results than are now obtainable from

having an area greater than nine square feet on one or

touchup of the current olive-drab vehicles. Slight

more sides. New items of tactical equipment normally will

mismatches in color are expected at times and will not

be CARC coated in a three-color camouflage pattern at

be noticeable except upon close inspection. Likewise,

the factory or depot. Some items, however, may be

minor abrasions and scaling of surfaces will be equally

painted with lusterless CARC green 383 when the

inconspicuous. Marring and surface lightening due to

pattern has not been developed, Items painted in CARC

handling is characteristic of camouflage coatings and

green 383 or alkyd enamel will only be three-color

does not impede camouflage or infrared properties. This

camouflage CARC coated when a complete repainting is

is typical of low gloss and sheen coatings in dark colors

required for maintenance purposes.

and is considered satisfactory.

d. Only DS/GS Support and Depot level personnel

26. PATTERN DESIGNS

are authorized complete painting and repainting of

See Figure 31, for example of the CPP for the

components with any topcoat or primer. DS/GS Direct

M113A1, Personnel Carrier. Within each area is a

Support

personnel

are

authorized

complete

number that stands for the color to be painted. There are

painting/repainting only if they use an OSHA approved

five views of the vehicle; front, back, left side, top, and

spray-paint booth. Unit level personnel are permitted to

right side. Most designs will show these five views. The

use topcoats and primers for touchup efforts only. This

base, or "primary" color is Color #2 and is usually applied

includes all CARC coatings.

first over all surfaces. Color patches #1 and #3 a then

applied over the primary coating. The approximate

distribution, in percent, of the three colors is: green--44

percent, black--41 percent, and brown--15 percent.