Hi everyone, seems like a dumb question but I'm going to attach some shrubs/branches to a stuart M3 in normandy and I suddenly realised I dont know how they attached the branches. were they tied on, just stuck in between stowage and fittings, were there attachment points added in the field, all of the above?
Thanks for any info, just one of those little things that pop up.
Cheers, stoney.

I can't speak for the stuart, but alot of allied vehicles have small loops welded to the hull for attaching bags etc and these could be used for braches etc. Wire tired to a couple of loops then the branches attached to that. I think the loops were factory fitted.

I've seen some pics of tanks with chicken wire used - especially round the barrel to attach things.

*I'll probably be corrected (I know the allies did use branches as camo) but they were on the offensive for most of the time in europe + air power so they didnt make as heavy use of it as the Germans.

Im not sure if i've seen somewhere saying regulations recommended that branches were not used????

I think the allies tended to make more use of netting than fixed branches - could be easily rolled up for the next attack.

I'd do as you've said and 'stick it in' behind the stowage bins etc.

Hey Stoney,
I've seen photos of British 2nd Armoured Brigade Sherman IIa tanks in Italy with small sections of pipe welded vertically on to the hulls.
Branches were then jammed into end of these tubes to camouflage the tanks.
Camouflage netting was also used to attach any foliage to the tank hulls.

jjumbo

Another method involved welding small rods to the hull and turrets of Shermans and then welding a metal mesh to the rods. Foliage was then stuffed into the matting. The rods were small diameter (1" or less?) and welded to form a perimeter around the hull side and turret side with a couple more welded vertically down the hull side for more support. The matting was then welded on and so stood off from the hull an inch or so. On a model, you can do this by gluing styrene rod of .030 or .040 to the model and then supergluing tulle (wedding veil material) to the styrene rod. Works really well.

Greg