Quoted Text
Joe's question asked if Challenger 2 was ever in Nato 3-color scheme and if not why not. Many of the replies note that the Green and Black scheme was better suited for England. I don't think that answers the question of why not. Were Challengers operating with Nato on the continent in Green/Black or 3-color NATO. What was suitable for Englands forests may not have been sutable for NW Europe. I personally don't think the colors would make much difference to a ground attack pilot, some type of IFF or the shape or outline would seem to be a better way to tell the "good guys" from the rest.
v/r,
Cob
If you read both my previous replies you will note that at no point do I mention camouflage schemes specific to England. The British forces use the green/black scheme in EUROPE, of which England is part, Asia and Central/south America. If you want the colour scheme for BATUS in Canada, it is Sand and green. BATLSK in Kenya had there vehicles painted green or green/black when I was there in '95. When British troops went into Sierra leone the vehicles were painted the standard green/black ( the royal marine 'boats' are painted with a brown aswell as g/b but I know of no other units useing brown). When gulf war 1 happened some units (mainly support units) were unable to get there vehicles painted sand in time so some vehicles went to war in g/b.
As for aircraft spotting ground vehicles, this mainly caused by the infra red signature showing up on increasingly sophisticated spotting equipment. British vehicle crews do have heavy thermal reducing 'tarpaulins' that they drape over their vehicles when they are static, but they are by no means foolproof, also the cam nets are IRR treated. Vehicles on the move are a whole different ball game, vehicle recognition by the mk1 eyeball is the main identification tool although it can also be augmented by certain aircraft have recognition software to aid the aircrews. Camouflage schemes aren't designed for moving vehicls but for static ones!!
Finally as for Chally's being painted colours other than green and black in The European Theatre of Operations it would be highly unlikely as the Regs state that green and black are the colours for British Army vehicles, that is not to say that some Cavalry hurray henry didn't experiment at some time just to see what it would look like!!!
Thanks for the info Jon. I said many replies and looking back only one person (Tony) specifically mentioned England. Thanks for clearing that up. THe origonal question about NATO 3-color scheme got me thinking and other than the USA, Germany and France (non-NATO member) I think only Holland uses those colors. Any others?
