Post by timdp on May 5, 2011 22:25:44 GMT -5
My comments are italics.
Complete article is here: www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt07/russian-summer-camouflage.html
Viktor
German Views on Russian Summer Camouflage" from Tactical and Technical Trends
The following U.S. intelligence report translates a German pamphlet on Russian summer camouflage on the Eastern Front in WWII. The report originally appeared in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 23, April 22, 1943.
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]
GERMAN VIEWS ON RUSSIAN SUMMER CAMOUFLAGE
The following is a translation of a German pamphlet on Russian summer camouflage, printed in the spring following the German invasion of Russia in June 1941. The Germans evidently found Russian camouflage methods disconcerting, and some were apparently new to them. The great care the Russians apparently devote to camouflage training is worthy of note; their success in effective concealment seems to have resulted from ingenuity and strict camouflage discipline.
* * *
a. Preface
The following examples are taken from reports from the front and captured orders. They represent only a part of Russian camouflage methods, but are in some cases new and worthy of imitation. They can be used in improvised form by our own troops. A detailed knowledge of Russian camouflage and methods helps our own troops to recognize the enemy and his tricks without delay. In this way surprise is avoided and troops can operate with greater confidence.
b. Camouflage Material
The camouflage instinct is strongly developed in the Russian, and his inventive ability is astounding. This gift is systematically encouraged by thorough camouflage training which begins on the first day of military training and is continued throughout the whole period. Camouflage discipline is good even among troops who otherwise might be well below the average as regards weapon training. Infringements of camouflage discipline are severely punished.
(1) Prepared Camouflage Material
(a) Summer Camouflage Suit
The suit consists of a jacket and hood of green-colored material in which tufts of matting in various shades are woven. In appropriate surroundings, a man in a prone position in this clothing cannot be seen more than a few paces away.
Pretty strong commentary from the Germans on the effectiveness of the grass suit.
(b) Summer Camouflage Smock
This consists of colored material with patches in dark shades, and is suitable for use with a broken background of woods and bushes.
(c) Camouflage Net for Rifleman
The net is about 5 by 2 1/2 feet and weighs about 1/3 pound. It is woven with natural camouflage material taken from the immediate surroundings and can be used either as a covering or spread out in front of the rifleman. By binding several nets together, rifle pits, machine guns, and entrances to dugouts can be camouflaged.
These nets had a 3cm (1-1/4") grid squares, so start looking for fishing nets with a similar grid size. No idea what color they were, but I suspect that they were just fishing nets in natural colors that were cut up for camouflage use.
(d) Camouflage Mask for Rifleman
This consists of a wire contraption divided into several pieces, covered with material. In it is a hole through which the rifle can protrude. It represents a bush and is in use in three different colors. It can be folded up and carried on the person in a bag. The rifleman lies in such a position behind the mask that his body is fully hidden. In attacking he can move forward in a crouch and push the mask in front of him. The mask is only visible to the naked eye at a distance of 150 to 200 paces.
(e) Camouflage Cover for Machine Gun
The cover consists of colored fabric in which tufts of colored matting are woven. When moving forward, the cover will not be taken off. The machine gun with this cover can only be recognized when within about 100 yards.
This appears to be grass suit camo material that is not sewn into suits. Find some greenish cloth and some colored rafia and make it!
(f) Camouflage Fringe
The fringe consists of a band about 3 yards long, from which grass colored matting is hung. On the ends are hooks for attaching the fringe on the object. The rifleman can fix the fringe on the helmet or shoulders. Five of these fringes are used to camouflage a machine gun, and six for an antitank gun.
Have seen instructions for wearing these fringes as personal camo. For folks in the US, I have found Child's Raffia Grass Skirts at the local dollar store for a buck each. Three or four of these skirts tied together and dyed in grassy color will give a good reproduction of the fringe.
www.tropictreasures.com/child-hula-grass-skirt.aspx
www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=IDr&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&biw=1517&bih=783&q=child%27s+grass+skirt&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6974861741969915754&sa=X&ei=A2DDTY3ZEorWtQOl5dyhAQ&ved=0CHYQ8wIwAw#
(g) Nets
For covering gun positions and trenches, nets of various sizes are issued. The net is woven with shreds of matting or paper; when in use, additional natural camouflage is added, such as grass, twigs, etc. These nets are also used by tanks, tractors, trucks, and trailers. The standard net is about 12 feet square, and by joining several together, large surfaces can be camouflaged against aerial observation (see figure 1).
(h) Camouflage Carpet
This consists of shreds of various sizes into which colored matting and tufts are woven. It is used mostly for camouflaging earth works.
Complete article is here: www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt07/russian-summer-camouflage.html
Viktor
German Views on Russian Summer Camouflage" from Tactical and Technical Trends
The following U.S. intelligence report translates a German pamphlet on Russian summer camouflage on the Eastern Front in WWII. The report originally appeared in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 23, April 22, 1943.
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]
GERMAN VIEWS ON RUSSIAN SUMMER CAMOUFLAGE
The following is a translation of a German pamphlet on Russian summer camouflage, printed in the spring following the German invasion of Russia in June 1941. The Germans evidently found Russian camouflage methods disconcerting, and some were apparently new to them. The great care the Russians apparently devote to camouflage training is worthy of note; their success in effective concealment seems to have resulted from ingenuity and strict camouflage discipline.
* * *
a. Preface
The following examples are taken from reports from the front and captured orders. They represent only a part of Russian camouflage methods, but are in some cases new and worthy of imitation. They can be used in improvised form by our own troops. A detailed knowledge of Russian camouflage and methods helps our own troops to recognize the enemy and his tricks without delay. In this way surprise is avoided and troops can operate with greater confidence.
b. Camouflage Material
The camouflage instinct is strongly developed in the Russian, and his inventive ability is astounding. This gift is systematically encouraged by thorough camouflage training which begins on the first day of military training and is continued throughout the whole period. Camouflage discipline is good even among troops who otherwise might be well below the average as regards weapon training. Infringements of camouflage discipline are severely punished.
(1) Prepared Camouflage Material
(a) Summer Camouflage Suit
The suit consists of a jacket and hood of green-colored material in which tufts of matting in various shades are woven. In appropriate surroundings, a man in a prone position in this clothing cannot be seen more than a few paces away.
Pretty strong commentary from the Germans on the effectiveness of the grass suit.
(b) Summer Camouflage Smock
This consists of colored material with patches in dark shades, and is suitable for use with a broken background of woods and bushes.
(c) Camouflage Net for Rifleman
The net is about 5 by 2 1/2 feet and weighs about 1/3 pound. It is woven with natural camouflage material taken from the immediate surroundings and can be used either as a covering or spread out in front of the rifleman. By binding several nets together, rifle pits, machine guns, and entrances to dugouts can be camouflaged.
These nets had a 3cm (1-1/4") grid squares, so start looking for fishing nets with a similar grid size. No idea what color they were, but I suspect that they were just fishing nets in natural colors that were cut up for camouflage use.
(d) Camouflage Mask for Rifleman
This consists of a wire contraption divided into several pieces, covered with material. In it is a hole through which the rifle can protrude. It represents a bush and is in use in three different colors. It can be folded up and carried on the person in a bag. The rifleman lies in such a position behind the mask that his body is fully hidden. In attacking he can move forward in a crouch and push the mask in front of him. The mask is only visible to the naked eye at a distance of 150 to 200 paces.
(e) Camouflage Cover for Machine Gun
The cover consists of colored fabric in which tufts of colored matting are woven. When moving forward, the cover will not be taken off. The machine gun with this cover can only be recognized when within about 100 yards.
This appears to be grass suit camo material that is not sewn into suits. Find some greenish cloth and some colored rafia and make it!
(f) Camouflage Fringe
The fringe consists of a band about 3 yards long, from which grass colored matting is hung. On the ends are hooks for attaching the fringe on the object. The rifleman can fix the fringe on the helmet or shoulders. Five of these fringes are used to camouflage a machine gun, and six for an antitank gun.
Have seen instructions for wearing these fringes as personal camo. For folks in the US, I have found Child's Raffia Grass Skirts at the local dollar store for a buck each. Three or four of these skirts tied together and dyed in grassy color will give a good reproduction of the fringe.
www.tropictreasures.com/child-hula-grass-skirt.aspx
www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=IDr&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&biw=1517&bih=783&q=child%27s+grass+skirt&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6974861741969915754&sa=X&ei=A2DDTY3ZEorWtQOl5dyhAQ&ved=0CHYQ8wIwAw#
(g) Nets
For covering gun positions and trenches, nets of various sizes are issued. The net is woven with shreds of matting or paper; when in use, additional natural camouflage is added, such as grass, twigs, etc. These nets are also used by tanks, tractors, trucks, and trailers. The standard net is about 12 feet square, and by joining several together, large surfaces can be camouflaged against aerial observation (see figure 1).
(h) Camouflage Carpet
This consists of shreds of various sizes into which colored matting and tufts are woven. It is used mostly for camouflaging earth works.