Well , on the battlefield the ubiquitous VS-17 panel usually looks something like this :

It measures about 6 feet long and 2 feet wide and this makes it a rectangle . But I have came across several OIF pics that show a different variant . It is mostly carried by Marines AAVs, just like in the picture here :

It appears to be a "medium" square panel, with one day-glo orange side and one green side. On another picture I have, one of the 4 smaller squares on the green side is day-glo orange....
I know I could try to "guestimate" its dimensions, but any info would be welcome....
TIA
Frenchy

Howdy Frenchy. The panel in question is a thermal air ID panel. I can measure one and get the get the exact dimensions to you early next week. You are correct that it is a square shape. Out here.

I was pretty sure that one of our resident USMC experts would come to my rescue !
That would be really cool Mike !
Thanks a lot and Merry Christmas !

Frenchy

Howdy Frenchy. I rounded up and measured a cloth Thermal ID panel over the weekend and it is 48" by 48" or 121.9 cm by 121.9 cm square. The one I measured was Olive Green on one side and Desert Tan on the thermal reflective side. There are six(6) metal grommet holes on the perimeter for tie downs. The tie downs(550 cord, bungees) are to be provided by the user. The panel is issued and stored in an Olive Green case that is 15' by 8' in size. If you e-mail me I will send you some pictures of the panel and perhaps you could post them on this site for all to see. My address is [email protected]. Out here.

Correction, the case is 15" by 8". Out here.

To add to the confusion, I have some in my supply room that are orange on one side and green on the other.

Thanks a lot Mike !
In the meantime, I have found some info about this panel. It seems to be specific to the USMC and it's called "Combat ID Thermal Panel Marker (TIP-5) ". One of the manufacturers is NVEC. They have released different variants like these :

Internet is useful, but it's always good to have first-hand informations from those who know what they are talking about (like Mike )
As I have said in my first post, sometimes one of the four green squares has been cut out, or even torn out so that the day-glo layer is visible (there's a picture in one of Concord's books on OIF). Why Maybe it's just a matter of resistance....

Frenchy

Howdy everyone. I have only seen the Orange/Green panels at the annual Armor Conference and Toy Show at Ft Knox. The panel with the interior square is supposed to be used to boresight the Apache helicopters fire control system. The NVEC company also makes a version that is thermally "quartered" to boresight other thermal sighted weapons systems(Abrams). The Tan/Olive Green panels that I have seen torn had a dull silver color inside. I guess it comes in many flavors. Out here.

Thanks for the additional info Mike !

Frenchy

Here are the pics Mike has sent me for us to enjoy. To quote him " The Tan side is the thermal reflective side. The black/white stick in two of the photos is 36 inches long".
Thanks for the help Mike




Frenchy

Howdy Frenchy, "Tank" you for posting those pictures to share. Happy New Year too. Out here.

That was the least I could do ! Happy New Year

Frenchy