11 March 2001
Source: Hardcopy of manual.
Transcription and HTML by Cartome

[82 pp.: size, 14cm X 22cm]

(cover image)

# FM 5-20

WAR 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

| PARAGRAPHS | PAGE
SUMMARY |  | 2
CHAPTER 1. | General | 1-4 | 4
CHAPTER 2. | The Problem of Concealment | 5-7 | 9
CHAPTER 3. | Principles of Camouflage | 8-9 | 25
CHAPTER 4. | Hiding and Blending |  |
| 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
CHAPTER 5. | Deceiving | 43-48 | 69
CHAPTER 6. | Geographic and Climatic Factors Affecting Camouflage |  |
| 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

| PARAGRAPHS
1. GENERAL | 1-4
a. Camouflage uses concealment to promote attack | 2
b. Duties (individual, commander, staff, engineers, camouflage battalions and companies) | 3-4
2. PROBLEM OF CONCEALMENT | 5-7
a. Kinds of enemy observation (sight, sound, ground and aerial, visual and photographic) | 5
b. Clues to identification (form, shadow, texture, color, movement, shine, tone) | 6
c. Factors affecting observation (visual -- including light and smoke -- photographic, sound) | 7
3. PRINCIPLES OF CAMOUFLAGE | 8-9
a. Gaining concealment (choice of position, camouflage discipline, construction) | 8
(1) Choice of position -- | 8a
| (a) Fire mission (field of fire, observation, communications) (b) Other factors (concealment -- background, natural cover, defilade, space, landmarks-cover, obstacles) |
(2) Camouflage discipline | 8b
| (a) Visual (including light and smoke) |
| (b) Sound |
Construction -- | 8c
| (a) Choice of materials (natural, artificial) |
| (b) Correct use of materials |
b. Camouflage methods (hiding, blending, deceiving) | 9
4. HIDING AND BLENDING | 10-42
a. Natural materials (vegetation -- live and cut -- debris) | 10-14
b. Artificial materials (issue materials, flat-tops and drapes, garnishing) | 15-20
(1) Flat-top garnishing -- | 17a
| (a) 80% of center, thinned at edges; 55% of net area | 17b
| (b) Application (patterns -- Greek key, u, special) | 18
(2) Flat-tops (materials, labor) | 19
(3) Color percentages for garnishing | 21
(4) Drapes, garnishing (complete to edge; 65% of net area) | 20
c. Drapes, flat-tops, screens | 22-37
(1) Drapes (substitute for hasty flat-top; conceals type not presence) -- | 22
| (a) Sizes -- | 22a
| (b) Use pregarnished nets | 22b
| (c) Use props to break up form, natural material to blend | 22c
(2) Flat-tops (type of screen; conceals presence when correctly erected and tied in) -- | 23-37
| (a) Erection (parallel to ground, 2 feet above object, extend past concealed area twice height above ground) | 27-30
| (b) Types (T/E and Class IV) | 26
| (c) Holdfasts | 31
| (d) Maintenance and folding | 32-33
| (e) Embrasures | 34
(3) Screens -- | 35-37
| (a) Slope | 35
| (b) Other types | 36
| (c) Smoke | 37
d. Reduction of tone contrasts (color -- background and distance; texturing -- background) | 38-39
e. Disruption of form (irregular outlines) | 40
(1) Disruptive patterns (general, vehicle) | 41-42
| (a) Vehicle (protective coloration for vehicle not in motion and in well-selected site, where drape is impractical ) | 42
| (b) Tie in dark part of pattern to shadows of site | 42
| (c) Darker on top, lighter below | 42
5. DECEIVING | 43-48
a. Decoys (site similar, but far enough away) | 43-44
(1) Principles (must look real, signs of activity must be maintained, real object must be concealed) | 45
(2) Materials | 46
(3) Decoy tracks | 47
(4) Decoy check list | 48
6. GEOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATIC FACTORS AFFECTING CAMOUFLAGE | 49-61
a. Temperate zone (seasonal changes) | 49-50
b. Desert (siting, dispersion, artificial materials) | 51-55
c. Jungle (natural concealment, camouflage discipline in tracks, lights, sound, and smoke) | 56
d. Snow (blending, track discipline, deception, strong construction) | 57-62