Camouflage Horizon Color - Zimmerit - Netting

Discussions on the equipment used by the Axis forces, apart from the things covered in the other sections. Hosted by Juha Tompuri
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Pronghorn
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Camouflage Horizon Color - Zimmerit - Netting

#1

Post by Pronghorn » 23 Apr 2003, 23:33

Hey all:

It would not work today with thermal imaging targeting, but....a panzer frontally painted sky blue-grey might have made sense on the vast plains of the Eastern front. Think of a tank on the horizon, out 1800 meters. The dark outline of a green or brown or white tank would be apparent. A tank that matched the sky horizon would tend to disappear. (The famous British experiments of actually using bright light bulbs on test vehicles on the horizon, which caused near invisibility, is intriguing.)

The US naval tactical aircraft color is close to what I'm talking about.

The rest of the tank could be camo to match terrain and a frontal net could cover the tank when there was a green background.

The Zimmerit "effect" is intriguing. It seems to have interesting optical effects....making the vehicle very "soft" visually.

Robert

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Christian Ankerstjerne
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#2

Post by Christian Ankerstjerne » 23 Apr 2003, 23:37

The main problem is, that while it will work in the desert (where hills are few), it will create problems in European landscape.

While it will work on a flat plain, what if it is spotted in a meadow? If it was parked next to a forest or city line, it would also be very easily spotted...

Christian


Matt L
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#3

Post by Matt L » 24 Apr 2003, 08:20

Hi Robert,

The British experiment you mention was quite fascinating- but the whole point of it was that in order to camouflage something against the sky, it has to also be a light source. Regardless of what color it's painted, an object will still block out a bit of light and that's what makes it discernable. Remember, the sky isn't a blue object, but a blue light source. Truly, only against the ground or another object is camouflage really effective.

Matt

ChristopherPerrien
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#4

Post by ChristopherPerrien » 26 Apr 2003, 05:59

No one has mentioned it but just staying still is a very good form of camoflage ,both in a visual and audio sense.

aka- Hide in plain sight

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Christian Ankerstjerne
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#5

Post by Christian Ankerstjerne » 26 Apr 2003, 15:29

The tank would have to stand still to fire anyway, but if it stands still and is discovered by another tank, it will die quite fast...

Christian

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#6

Post by ChristopherPerrien » 26 Apr 2003, 21:40

No unless your talkingWWI ,gyrostabilizers have been around since WWII

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Christian Ankerstjerne
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#7

Post by Christian Ankerstjerne » 27 Apr 2003, 00:03

They were around, but not in every tank, as far as I know (especially the early years of the war)...

Christian

ChristopherPerrien
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#8

Post by ChristopherPerrien » 27 Apr 2003, 01:30

Actually only Allied, primarily American tanks, had them in WWII.
American "invention" Sperry Gyrostabilizers.
The German I believe had experimental models but none were stock, so German tanks had to fire from the halt, unless you were really good,like Barkman's gunner but it is a rarity.

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Zimm as a camouflage

#9

Post by Michael Kenny » 27 Apr 2003, 13:48

The non-reflective properties of the Zimm. were in itself a good camouflage. This is a Churchill so treated and look how well it blends in with the background.
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Christian Ankerstjerne
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Re: Zimm as a camouflage

#10

Post by Christian Ankerstjerne » 27 Apr 2003, 14:01

Michael Kenny wrote:The non-reflective properties of the Zimm. were in itself a good camouflage. This is a Churchill so treated and look how well it blends in with the background.
No way to tell if the vehicle itself is a deep red and birgh yellow, though ;)

Christian

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