"New digital camo for British Armour" Topic

Announced today it seems. The Multi Coloured Digital Camouflage Five is to be introduced on British tanks. We have seen geometric designs for years, aimed at FIBUAs but this is more like a throwback to the "Ambush scheme" of German tanks in Normandy '44. It is said to be most effective in the Goldilocks zone of 300-1000 metres and able to confuse drones.

Must admit I thought modern imaging had made such schemes redundant decades ago and the end result is almost as bad as the digital pattern on US battlewear recently. (Pics from The Daily Telegraph today)

Based on the recent unpleasantness between Armenia and Azerbaijan confusing drones may be an important trait in the future.

It's so good I can't even see the tank…

Britain still has tanks?

How many? Dozen or so?

227

Yes but Germany and France and many others have much more. link

Well, that is going to fun to paint in 6mm!

@Legion. Relevant how?

@David Manley I think Legion 4 is working on the assumption that Britain leaving the EU is about to be followed by all out war with France or Germany, on the basis that this is what happened in the past i.e. 1803, 1914 etc.

I think it's highly unlikely that Legion thinks that since he is well aware of them all being NATO nations and the implications of Article 5 :)

I thought the Germans were busy lending those awfully nice but poor Dutch Army people some of their tanks because the Dutch haven't got any of their own for an armoured brigade? Something to do with that Euro Army we were supposed to be part of and now hopefully aren't anyore.

Seems they forgot to put terracotta red into the mix.

Relevant how?

Well the number of MBTs is just a "snap shot" measurement. And if one look at that link I posted. 227 is tiny compared to many other nations. And yes, I know, better than most here how important crew quality and leadership is. As well as numbers.

All of that is what is relevant to me. I.e. units are well trained and lead. Plus have the numbers that may be required.

I think it's highly unlikely that Legion thinks that since he is well aware of them all being NATO nations and the implications of Article 5 :)

Yes, the UK will be part of NATO regardless. Just smaller part like many of the NATO members. Old & New.

Plus we all know about how important NATO and Article 5 is.

01 Jan 2021 5:57 a.m. PST
I thought the Germans were busy lending those awfully nice but poor Dutch Army people some of their tanks because the Dutch haven't got any of their own for an armoured brigade?

IIRC the Dutch have mothball(?) all their MBTs(?). And if war broke out in Europe. They would be part of the Germany forces, IIRC.

I don't know if the Germans are lending the Dutch MBTs. I have not heard about anything like that. However, the Germans may attach some of their Panzer units to the Dutch for support, combined arms, etc.

Looks like a pretty even fight if Turkey invades Vietnam

I don't know if the Germans are lending the Dutch MBTs. I have not heard about anything like that. However, the Germans may attach some of their Panzer units to the Dutch for support, combined arms, etc.

I may be a year out of date. They were sharing frigates or destroyers as well IIRC.

Looks like a pretty even fight if Turkey invades Vietnam

Well it is a long drive to get there ! 🤩 But I don't think you understood what I was trying to get at. As I said, MBT numbers is only a "snap-shot" of one of the factors in the formula defining Combat effectiveness, etc.

Of course one factor for e.g. numbers of MBTS, APCs/IFVs, FA, etc. is threat assessment. Along the "Bane" of all combat readiness. I.e. Funding, the budget,

"No bucks … no Buck Rogers … "

I may be a year out of date. They were sharing frigates or destroyers as well IIRC.

I can see that … having mixed crews. That would work … But I don't know about handing over Panzers ? 🤔 But I guess it is possible. I hear Germany is having a problem recruiting new troops, so that may be one factor, but I wouldn't know for sure ?

I'd take any figures quoted in Global Firepower on any subject with a pretty big pinch of salt. Low end mainstream media use their 'facts' and figures quite a bit- but if you mention GF to anyone from a more reputable analytical outfit eg Janes or RUSI (and even more so current service people)- you just get a roll of the eyes….

In this case the country comparisons here are very far from like for like. The Russians only regularly operate less than 1000 of their '12,000' tanks and the number of actually serviceable ones in many of the other countries listed will be a tiny fraction of those headline numbers.

The 227 quoted for the British is one of the more reliable numbers, as is the German 263- because those two governments are reasonably (lwu) open and honest about military preparedness and strength. Their figures capture the total number of tanks that could reasonably be made combat ready within several months and for which crews could realistically be found (probably needing a big and disruptive comb out of the wider army to assemble them though). There are probably another 160 odd British tanks and ?500 odd German ones in deep storage but would it take a lot longer to have them ready and crewed. But many of the other figures quoted as 'front line' strengths are complete fantasy, I suspect it would take years for many of the countries quoted to get their headline totals ready for action, even if funds were ever available. I'm certainly not saying that the tank strengths of UK and Germany are adequate- they aren't. But the real numerical disparity with many countries on the list is much less than the GF figures would suggest.

The camo is very like the US Dualtex from the late 70s.

Many of the actual figures are classified like many things in the military.

Kind of tough on the crew if the ever have the need and opportunity to bale out…

That is going to be hard to paint in 6mm …