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.
34
