11 March 2001
Source: Hardcopy of manual.
Transcription and HTML by Cartome
[82 pp.: size, 14cm X 22cm]
FM 5-20WAR DEPARTMENT FIELD MANUAL
CAMOUFLAGE, BASIC PRINCIPLES
WAR DEPARTMENT FEBRUARY 1944 |
WAR DEPARTMENT FIELD MANUAL
FM 5-20
This manual and FM 5-20 A through H supersede FM 5-20, 1 June 1940
CAMOUFLAGE,
BASIC PRINCIPLES
WAR DEPARTMENT FEBRUARY 1944
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1944
WAR DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON 25, D. C., 9 February 1944.
FM 5-20, Corps of Engineers Field Manual, Camouflage, Basic Principles, is published for the information and guidance of all concerned.
[A.G. 300.7 (14 Aug 43).]
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: G. C. MARSHALL, Chief of Staff.
OFFICIAL: J. A. ULIO, Major General, The Adjutant General.
DISTRIBUTION: B and H (5); R (4); Bn (4); C 1-4, 8-11, 19, 35, 44, 55 (2); 5-7, 17, 18 (4).
C O N T E N T S
This manual supersedes paragraphs 1-21, 36-40, FM 5-20, 1 June 1940
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PARAGRAPHS
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PAGE
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| SUMMARY |
2
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| CHAPTER 1. | General |
1-4
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4
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| CHAPTER 2. | The Problem of Concealment |
5-7
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9
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| Principles of Camouflage |
8-9
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25
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| CHAPTER 4. | Hiding and Blending |
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Section I. Use of Natural Materials II. Use of Artificial Materials III. Drapes, Flat-tops, Screens IV. Reduction of Tone Contrasts V. Disruption of Form |
10-14 15-21 22-37 38-39 40-42 |
34 40 45 64 65 |
| Deceiving |
43-48 |
69 |
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| Geographic and Climatic Factors Affecting Camouflage |
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Section I. Temperate Zone II. Desert III. Jungle IV. Snow |
49-50 51-55 56 57-62 |
73 73 78 80 |
S U M M A R Y
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PARAGRAPHS
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1-4 |
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| a. Camouflage uses concealment to promote attack |
2
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| b. Duties (individual, commander, staff, engineers, camouflage battalions and companies) |
3-4
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5-7 |
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| a. Kinds of enemy observation (sight, sound, ground and aerial, visual and photographic) |
5
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| b. Clues to identification (form, shadow, texture, color, movement, shine, tone) |
6
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| c. Factors affecting observation (visual -- including light and smoke -- photographic, sound) |
7
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8-9 |
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| a. Gaining concealment (choice of position, camouflage discipline, construction) |
8
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(1) Choice of position -- |
8a |
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(a) Fire mission (field of fire, observation, communications) (b) Other factors (concealment -- background, natural cover, defilade, space, landmarks-cover, obstacles) |
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(2) Camouflage discipline |
8b |
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(a) Visual (including light and smoke) |
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(b) Sound | |
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Construction -- |
8c
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(a) Choice of materials (natural, artificial) | |
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(b) Correct use of materials | |
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b. Camouflage methods (hiding, blending, deceiving) |
9
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10-42 |
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| a. Natural materials (vegetation -- live and cut -- debris) |
10-14
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| b. Artificial materials (issue materials, flat-tops and drapes, garnishing) |
15-20
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| (1) Flat-top garnishing -- |
17a
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| (a) 80% of center, thinned at edges; 55% of net area |
17b
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| (b) Application (patterns -- Greek key, u, special) |
18
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| (2) Flat-tops (materials, labor) |
19
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| (3) Color percentages for garnishing |
21
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| (4) Drapes, garnishing (complete to edge; 65% of net area) |
20
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| c. Drapes, flat-tops, screens |
22-37
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| (1) Drapes (substitute for hasty flat-top; conceals type not presence) -- |
22
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| (a) Sizes -- |
22a
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| (b) Use pregarnished nets |
22b
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| (c) Use props to break up form, natural material to blend |
22c
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| (2) Flat-tops (type of screen; conceals presence when correctly erected and tied in) -- |
23-37
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| (a) Erection (parallel to ground, 2 feet above object, extend past concealed area twice height above ground) |
27-30
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| (b) Types (T/E and Class IV) |
26
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| (c) Holdfasts |
31
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| (d) Maintenance and folding |
32-33
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| (e) Embrasures |
34
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| (3) Screens -- |
35-37
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| (a) Slope |
35
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| (b) Other types |
36
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| (c) Smoke |
37
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| d. Reduction of tone contrasts (color -- background and distance; texturing -- background) |
38-39
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| e. Disruption of form (irregular outlines) |
40
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| (1) Disruptive patterns (general, vehicle) |
41-42
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| (a) Vehicle (protective coloration for vehicle not in motion and in well-selected site, where drape is impractical ) |
42
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| (b) Tie in dark part of pattern to shadows of site |
42
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(c) Darker on top, lighter below |
42
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| 5. DECEIVING |
43-48
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| a. Decoys (site similar, but far enough away) |
43-44
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| (1) Principles (must look real, signs of activity must be maintained, real object must be concealed) |
45
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| (2) Materials |
46 |
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| (3) Decoy tracks |
47 |
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| (4) Decoy check list |
48
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| 6. GEOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATIC FACTORS AFFECTING CAMOUFLAGE |
49-61
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| a. Temperate zone (seasonal changes) |
49-50
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| b. Desert (siting, dispersion, artificial materials) |
51-55 |
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| c. Jungle (natural concealment, camouflage discipline in tracks, lights, sound, and smoke) |
56 |
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| d. Snow (blending, track discipline, deception, strong construction) |
57-62
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