IMPROVING THE CAMOUFLAGE FACE PAINT COMPACT
UPDATED for 2009
THE FORT BRAGG POST
Grenada 1983.
A Cuban recoilless rifle in a house is spinning down the advance of the U.S. Army Rangers who minutes earlier had jumped in at 500 feet in an epic combat jump. They didn't know whether they were to airland or jump. They had 10 minutes to rig in flight and came in low on the second pass so Cuban 23mm anti-aircraft gunners couldn't lower their gun barrels enough to fire.
A Ground Forward Air Controller (GFAC) cannot describe the gun position precisely enough in the crowded third world country downtown area so he improvises. He takes out his signal mirror and shines it on the enemy. The Cobra gunship pilot sees the reflection and radios in. A TOW anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) obliterates the building tip and the U.S. Army Rangers continue to lead the way across the island, rescuing American medical students not the lies foisted in the Hollywood movie, Heartbreak Ridge. Read the book below if you do not already know the truth.
From Urgent Fury: the Battle for Grenada by Maj Mark Adkin
1991. Northern Iraq.
WO Randy "Bulldog" Ballwanz's Special Forces recon team watching a highway is detected by civilians and surrounded soon by Iraqi infantry. They radio for an extraction helicopter, but it will not arrive for another 20 minutes. Running low on ammo, the team doesn't have 20 minutes before being over-run. A USAF F-16C Fighting Falcon flies overhead and can drop ordnance to help. But where is the team located so it doesn't get hurt by the bombs since the F-16 is a too-fast fighter-bomber not a slower, more agile A-10 CAS observation/attack aircraft?
SFC DeGroff, a team member with M16 assault rifle/M203 grenade launcher radios to the F-16C pilot and has him orientate from the visible moon to the sun, and when directly over their position, roll over so they can signal mirror flash their position to him. The pilot radios back: "Bingo! I got you!"
The F-16C drops the ordnance on the Iraqis--not the SF special reconnaissance (SR) Team, killing over 100 of them. Soon thereafter, an Army Blackhawk helicopter lands, picks up the SF Team which returns to base safely without any injury.
(The Discovery Channel, "American Commandos", 1-800-765-0066 $19.95)
This kind of flexibility and resourcefulness is the by-word of every Paratrooper, Ranger and SF trooper derived from the self-reliant initiative of landing dispersed as PARATROOPERS.
The Face Paint, Camo Compact (NSN 6850-01262-0635). A simple improvement is a small hole in the mirror center so you can pop it out and use it as a signaling device.
You can create this with a drill or your penknife in a few seconds so you can have a "target designator" and a rescue signal that can be seen for miles. Using the mirror you place the sun spot in the palm of the hand not holding the mirror and look at your target through the pinhole you created. This differs from the straight-on-technique used on the laminated glass G.I. signal mirror, but is just as effective.
From Lee Nading's Survival Cards
Another improvement is for the face paint to provide UV protection (at least SPF 15) and an effective insect repellent. The modifications are presently available in the Australian military's issue face paint, Paint, Face, Camouflage NSN 6580-66-130-0172. This cream is available from:
CAMTECH Camouflage Technology
P.O. Box 1169 Newport Beach 2106
Australia
• PH: +61 2 9918 7238
• FX: +61 2 9918 4844
• GSM: +61 4 0963 1789
CAMTECH Manufactures a range of camouflage face paints for differentterrains, including:
NSN 6850-66-130-0172 "AUSTCAM" (Leaf, Australian brown, Avocado). Popular in this region.
NSN 6850-99-942-7383 "British Tropical" (Leaf, British brown, Avocado). Popular in Europe.
NSN 6850-99-160-4210 "Desert Shield" (Beige, Australian brown, Avocado ). Popular in the middle east.
NSN 6850-99-853-2949 "SNOCAM" (Leaf, White, Avocado ). Popular in Scandinavia.
NSN 6850-99-305-7050 "Czech specification" (Leaf, British brown, Black). Popular with Police.
NSN 6850-12-344-5764 "German Specification" (Black and Avocado). Not in production.
NSN 6850-99-891-6686 "British Low Irritant" (Leaf, British brown, Black). Same as Czech specification.
A third change needed for insect repellent to be incorporated into the cream so in combat the Soldier will only have to carry one item to be provided with threes types of protection (camouflage, sun screen and insect repellent). This would eliminate having to carry three separate items cluttering his BDU pockets whose extra material acts as a heat sink that increases his heat stress.
Field eXpedients: Dummy Cording your CAMTECH Facepaint Signal Mirror Compact
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOB8JmoRM0Q
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mv3HqHZDy8
With U.S. Army forces able to be AIR-delivered to any spot in a rapidly urbanizing world in a matter of hours it behooves us to garner every "edge" we can to improve our ability to win quickly and decisively. The future of world peace and the TRUTH depends on it.
FEEDBACK!
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:35:56 -0500
Subject: Signal mirror
From: camtech@camouflage.com.au
To: itsg@hotmail.com
Dear sir,
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/facepaint.htm
The story at this url gives a glowing recommendation of our product. Unfortunately the address listed has changed and our new contact details are:
CAMTECH Camouflage Technology
P.O. Box 1169 Newport Beach 2106
Australia
www.camouflage.com.au
Thank you,
Owen B.J. Graham
Managing Director
1st TSG (A) REPLY:
We don't waste time updating AES web pages on geocities due to band width limits and have our more up-to-date web pages on www.combatreform.org and combatreform.org. How's this?
www.combatreform.org/facepaint.htm
Mike
Want Pvt Murphy in your pocket?
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