Air Fronts: Air Defense FM 5-20F; Camouflage of Antiaircraft Artillery - Table of Contents

War Department Field Manual, FM 5-20F, Corps of Egineers, Camouflage of Antiaircraft Artillery, Washington 25, D.C., 1 May 1944.
This Manual supersedes paragraph 32, FM 5-20, June 1940.

 CONTENTS

C H E C K LIST

GUNS, AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT, AND CABLES

1. Can guns accomplish their missions?

2. Does battery layout take advantage of both natural cover and the terrain pattern?

3. Are cable lines laid along natural lines in the terrain pattern?

4. Can battery operate in the position chosen without noticeably disturbing the surroundings?

5. Have shadows of guns and emplacements been obliterated or distorted?

6. Have emplacements and spoil been toned down with natural materials so they do not contrast with surroundings and so they cannot be seen through nets?

7. Is there a ring of tracks and tramplings around each gun to make the position conspicuous to an aerial observer? If so, have they been covered?

8. Are nets kept tight and flat during daytime and do drape nets break up form and shadow of objects? Does their garnishing blend with the surroundings?

9. Have empty shell cases and other litter accumulated around the position?

10. Have blast marks from low-angle fire been covered?

11. Is all camouflage carefully maintained?

TRAFFIC

12. Does traffic plan make use of existing roads and paths?

13. If new access routes are necessary, are they continued past the position to a logical termination?

14. Do new paths within the position follow the lines of terrain features and are they wired in to prevent them from widening?

15. Does truck park draw attention to position? Are vehicles concealed as discussed in FM 5-20B, Camouflage of Vehicles?

ALTERNATE POSITIONS

16. If alternate positions are not used as decoys, are prepared emplacements adequately concealed with nets, drapes, or natural materials?

17. Has traffic plan for alternate positions been prepared to take advantage of both natural cover and the terrain pattern?

AMMUNITION DUMP

18. Has reserve ammunition been placed to take advantage of both natural cover and the terrain pattern?

19. Can it be reached without making new tracks or otherwise changing the appearance of the terrain?

20. Do further concealment measures require natural or artificial materials?

21. If overhead cover is thin, can surrounding trees be bent and tied together?

PERSONNEL

22. Do foxholes and shelter trenches make position conspicuous? Are they well sited for concealment or screened with natural or artificial materials? Can they be reached without making noticeable new tracks?

23. Do personnel understand the details of the camouflage plan and their individual responsibilities for maintaining its effectiveness?

24. Have correct procedures for concealing the bivouac been followed? They are discussed in FM 5-20C, Camouflage of Bivouacs, Command Posts, Supply Points, and Medical Installations.

DECOY POSITIONS

25. Is the appearance of activity in and around decoy positions maintained daily—weeds and grass clipped to prevent them from overgrowing the position, tracks widened gradually, evidences of wear on paths following false cable lines, changes made in the location of exposed litter, laundry, or decoy vehicles?

26. ls decoy camouflage maintained? Even though it is deliberately inadequate, cut foliage must be replaced when it dies and nets must not be allowed to sag too much.

CAMOUFLAGE OF ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This manual explains how to solve the concealment problem of anti-aircraft artillery by the application of camouflage principles. Although it does not exhaust the possibilities for camouflage, it takes up in detail the most practicable methods to employ. Its purpose is to give all personnel concerned a thorough understanding of these methods and of the camouflage principles on which their successful employment depends—knowledge which will enable antiaircraft artillery personnel to render their installations less conspicuous in any kind of terrain.

Special emphasis is placed on the most important of the camouflage principles—choice of position.

Camouflage of self-propelled antiaircraft weapons is not covered in this manual, since it is mainly a problem of camouflage of the vehicles themselves. Information on vehicle camouflage can be obtained from FM 4-101, Employment of Antiaircraft Artillery with Armored Forces, and from FM 5-20B, Camouflage of Vehicles. In-formation on camouflage of AAA in rear areas and other static positions can be obtained from FM 5-20G, Camouflage of Rear Areas and Fixed Fortifications.