Cold Warrior | 15 Feb 2016 4:23 a.m. PST |
Have been reading a few Russian sources and the three-tone camo scheme (green-tan-charcoal) is now all but dead. All current Russian vehicles will be in the overall dark green:
Only units that may keep three-tone are the dwindling number of T-80's in Russian service. But even they may be re-painted at some point. |
GeoffQRF | 15 Feb 2016 6:16 a.m. PST |
Camouflage schemes make it easier to identify tanks ("that's the same tank we saw before, see the way the brown swirls up there?") whereas all green (as well as being cheaper and faster to apply, makes it harder for intelligence sources to count numbers. |
freerangeegg | 15 Feb 2016 6:51 a.m. PST |
Not necessarily Geoff. Most cameo schemes are applied to a fixed pattern so that all the vehicles are identical to prevent just that. The U.K. Black and green was an exception. The US MERDC scheme, NATO 3 colour, and most Russian schemes are applied to a very precise template designed for each vehicle type. However one colour overall is a lot easier and can be done in the factory |
GeoffQRF | 15 Feb 2016 9:48 a.m. PST |
Most cameo schemes are applied to a fixed pattern so that all the vehicles are identical Pretty sure that there is a difference between identical and 'identical'. Certainly enough for good intelligence images to play spot the difference. Whether t is worth the time and effort to be able to count off individual vehicles i don't know, but when the same one pops up in multiple places (and the only difference is the number plate) I suspect that is handy knowledge. |
Dynaman8789 | 15 Feb 2016 10:51 a.m. PST |
> Pretty sure that there is a difference between identical and 'identical'. Certainly enough for good intelligence images to play spot the difference. If intelligence services can tell vehicles apart by tiny differences in a pattern applied camo then they can do so for other tiny differences. I seriously doubt it would be helpful to intelligence services. |
Mako11 | 15 Feb 2016 2:10 p.m. PST |
Their insignia still look like something we'd see on a GI Joe toy. |
ArmymenRGreat | 15 Feb 2016 4:38 p.m. PST |
Good, I'm not the only one thinking that. The insignia makes them tough to take seriously. Maybe they want it that way… hmmm… |
Quaker | 15 Feb 2016 9:03 p.m. PST |
If intelligence services can tell vehicles apart by tiny differences in a pattern applied camo then they can do so for other tiny differences. With the old school method of local units applying camo with cardboard patterns and a spraygun/mop the variation in "identical" camo patterns could be several inches. That is easily enough for modern pattern recognition software to id individual vehicles from aerial surveillance images. With Russian troops going on holiday so regularly it is of strategic benefit to increase the time it takes NATO intelligence to identify units. |
Jcfrog | 16 Feb 2016 2:51 a.m. PST |
Shiny insignas are for parade only. Often historical significace. |
MCV 80 | 16 Feb 2016 9:40 a.m. PST |
and the only difference is the number plate Which are regularly taped over… |
GeoffQRF | 17 Feb 2016 6:45 a.m. PST |
So, how relevant is it to know that you have seen tanks in 6 different places, compared to "that's the same tank we have now seen in 6 different places"? Strategically it may be questionable, or it may help to know where individual units are placed. Politikally it helps to embarrass the other side when you can show that they don't really have that many operational tanks floating about and are just moving the same one from place to place to look good… …or when the same one turns up in Russia, then later in Ukraine for example? |
Legion 4 | 17 Feb 2016 9:12 a.m. PST |
If intelligence services can tell vehicles apart by tiny differences in a pattern applied camo then they can do so for other tiny differences. I seriously doubt it would be helpful to intelligence services.
I agree … after seeing motor pools full of camo painted AFVs. Like 54 MBTs or 76 APCs, unless you can read the bumper numbers. As MCV note, will be taped over when deployed, you'll have a hard time ID'ing one AFV from another. Add stowage, camo nets, branches, good field craft, etc. … you'll be lucky to be able to tell if there is an AFV there. Let alone whose and what … |