I probably asked a similar question before … I note that certain US Army vehicles on exercise in Europe in 2017 were given a coat of washable green paint over their CARC Tan base, though specific areas remained in their original colour. Thinking about the M2A3 Bradley, which parts would not have been overpainted?
Thanks,
Paul
Most areas are overpainted. Only markings are left sand and areas the paint doesn’t go easily, i.e. behind the flaps on the gunner’s sight, hatch interiors, etc.
With the main focus of the Big Army from the Middle East (until this last weekend’s terrorist attacks on israel), back to Europe. A lot of units are repainting their vehicles from 686 CARC Tan to CARC 383A green. With the US Army’s V Corps having a permanent presence in Poland, along with Divisions like the 1st, 3rd and 4th Infantry Division doing training rotations in Poland, we will be seeing a big shift from tank to green from now on.
With the 4th Infantry Division moving from Fort Cavazos to Poland to train Polish Land Forces.
They’re using a combination of CARC repainting and adding netting to their vehicles.
SableLiger,
Most interesting, thanks.
What is the significance of the large rectangular marking on the Bradley’s engine hatch cover; similarly, the marking on the turret front of the Abrams in the final photo?
Paul
Unit symbols. This is how you would mark them on a large map to signify unit formations on the battlefield. NATO has been using them for a very long time, specially Germany.
See the unit designation to the left of the “Balkenkreuz” on this German Leopard 2A5.
4TH ID hasn’t been at Ft Cavazos (formerly Ft Hood) for over ten years. They moved to Ft Carson, CO in 2009.
Rotational units as shown above are using the temp paint though. Permanent repaints are being done in NATO camo and the new, weird two-tone green paint.
Thanks.
Yes, I’m aware of the map symbols and the markings used by the Bundeswehr,
but those on the Bradley and Abrams don’t appear to match anything in your chart.
Maybe I’m missing something here.
Paul
Gino would have a better explanation on that. I still believe that they’re unit designations.
@HeavyArty; i have been out of the military since 2007, so my knowledge of where units are located is woefully obsolete. 
They are individual unit markings, not the above map symbols. Similar to the old REFORGER and Germany rectangles or triangles, etc. w/ Roman numerals in them.
Thanks to you both!
Paul
So, they’re switching away from the old Chevron markings that were prevalent during ODS and OIF?
Apparently so.
Makes a lot of sense from a tactical point of view.
Now that we’re focusing back to Europe and possibly China. All our vehicles are getting repainted back to the NATO 3 color scheme. Units deploying to Germany or Poland on training missions are getting the temporary green over tan color while the rest of the gear stateside is getting fully repainted.
Why Is the Army Rushing to Repaint Its Desert-Camo Vehicles Green? (townhall.com)
US Army repaints its combat vehicles in Europe (defence-blog.com)
Not a Balkankreuz. It is part of the convoy lighting system. White cross is illuminated by the low voltage light in the middle. Keeps the guy behind from rogering the vehicle in front. Kinda like the Notek lights in WW2.
And it is an experimental/technology demonstrator by BAE, not a fielded US military howitzer.
