Camouflage light
The camouflage light (name in the Bundeswehr : Tarnkreis ) is part of the lighting system of military land vehicles. In order not to offer any clues to opposing forces, the road driving lights of z. B. tracked and wheeled vehicles are replaced by the so-called camouflage light. When the camouflage light is activated, all functions of the road driving lights are switched off. This also applies to direction indicators and the normally automatically activated reversing lights , the standard brake lights and the horn.
Levels in the Bundeswehr
The camouflage light in the German armed forces consists of four levels:
- Level 0 = completely without light (no brake lights)
- Level 1 = only with guide cross (camouflage brake lights in operation)
- Level 2 = only front camouflage headlights (no brake lights)
- Level 3 = camouflage headlights , guide cross, camouflage rear lights , camouflaged brake lights in operation
A donkey bridge often used to learn the levels is: Level 1, Run to the enemy; Level 2, away from the enemy; Stage 3, Victory Parade.
construction
The camouflage light system consists of five segments:
- Camouflage spotlights
They are located at the front of each vehicle and are as low as possible, usually under the bumper on trucks. A cover with a slit screen is installed in front of the headlights to reduce stray light. The power consumption of each headlight is five watts, the headlight range is between 1.50 and two meters.
- Camouflage taillights
As a rule, they are integrated into the normal rear lights according to StVZO and only consist of one additional lamp with a power of four watts and a point of light about 1.5 cm in diameter. An exception was e.g. B. the VW 181 , which had separate cylindrical camouflaged rear lights.
- Camouflage brake lights
Usually two (with different vehicles e.g. Unimog 2 t only one) separate cylindrical lights with a 1.5 centimeter diameter lens at the rear of the vehicle. Power: 4 watts.
The truck 0.5 t Wolf has no additional brake lights, the camouflage brake lights are integrated in the normal rear light.
- Guide cross
It is located at the rear of the vehicle and is usually a little hidden. Since it is not possible to drive in a column in a high forest at night in complete darkness without any light, the guide cross is the least that is necessary in terms of lighting.
- Dual-circuit light switch with a total of seven switching levels
Level 0
turn clockwise: level 1 = parking light, level 2 = driving light
Unlock using a slide.
Turn counterclockwise: camouflage light levels 0–3
Since the indicator lights on the dashboard cannot be switched off for safety reasons, there is the possibility of reducing the light by means of a blue plastic disc that is folded over the lights. On the other hand, the darkening can be intensified by covering the blue pane with another flap. There are only small holes in this, which are used to check the most important indicators (brake pressure, engine temperature). (On the vehicles of the first generation, a perforated cover was turned over the - individually attached - control lamps.)
The system described in the article mainly relates to the vehicles used by the German Bundeswehr. Whether and to what extent the regulations of other countries deviate from this has not been taken into account. However, it can be assumed that the vehicles that were given away or sold from excess stocks (the Baltic countries received 150 VW Iltis vehicles , Finland , Poland and Spain (among others) the Leopard 2 main battle tank , Hungary bought 200 Unimog L 1300 vehicles, etc. .) have not been converted and will continue to be operated with the previous lighting system.
Not all Bundeswehr vehicles are equipped with a camouflage light system. Commercially available (e.g. VW buses, vehicles from the site administration) and partially militarized (t-mil) vehicles of the older generation (MAN 22-240 10 t 6x4 or MB 1017 5 t) do not have this type of lighting, while parts of the newer generation (IVECO Eurotrakker 16 t 6x4) are equipped with it. (The term customary in trade does not refer to the vehicles of the BW fleet service.)
For the combat-related use of the older t-mil generation, canvas covers are provided, with which the light discs of the light bodies can be covered.
Most of the vehicles of the air raid protection service of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Federal Border Police (which existed in the 1960s) were also equipped with camouflage lights.
Driving with the camouflaged lights on public roads is prohibited due to the increased risk of accidents and is punishable by a fine for offenses such as driving without low beam.
Cover flaps of the control displays
Camouflage brake light
Camouflage headlights on the tank
Guide cross
Camouflage headlights of the A580 from Condor-Werke
US camouflage light
The US camouflage light circuit generally has 5 levels:
- SERVICE DRIVE - standard street lighting including driving lights
- STOPLIGHT - standard street lighting
- OFF - All lighting off (corresponds to German level 0)
- BO MARKER - camouflage guide cross and camouflage brake light in operation (corresponds to German level 1), instrument lighting automatically off - BO stands for blackout , darkening.
- BO DRIVE - camouflage headlights, guide cross, camouflage rear lights, camouflaged brake lights in operation (corresponds to German level 3)
A lock prevents accidental switching between camouflage and standard circuits. In addition to direction indicators, hazard warning lights and standard brake lights, the horn is also deactivated in the camouflage circle . Another selector switch dims the instrument lighting and switches between driving and parking lights.
See also
- Notek camouflage searchlights of the Wehrmacht
swell
- Technical service regulation (TDv) 2320/047 of the Bundeswehr (truck MAN 7 t gl) part 12
- Central Service Regulation (ZDv) 43/2 of the Bundeswehr (automotive engineering)
Individual evidence
- ↑ HMMWV Driver's Training ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
