Completely concealed roads rarely exist. Even the small amount of timber which must be cut down to
clear a roadway through a wooded area leaves gaps in the overhead cover. These can clearly be seen
from the air. Partially concealed roads do exist. They are better than exposed ones. Recon parties
should locate them. Any gaps in overhead cover on such a road can be Concealed by overhead
screens or artificial or natural materials. When there are only short stretches of exposed tracks, they
may be erased by brushing leaves and debris over them. Concealed routes should be marked in
advance of use and guards posted to ensure minimum disturbance in the area.
Before a unit occupies a position, a quartering party should first make a recon, then lay out a concealed
track plan. No vehicle should enter the new area until then. This plan should be laid out to fit into the
terrain pattern. It should be as indistinct as possible. Take advantage of existing roads, overhead
cover, and shadow casting lines. Many factors must be considered in such a plan: duration of
occupation; time allowed for entering and leaving; size, character, and mission of occupying unit;
distance from the enemy; and the weather.
Parking areas should be indicated as well as those portions of routes to be patrolled by traffic guides.
A unit may have to occupy a position without prior recon. Unit camouflage training will ensure that all
personnel are trained to follow terrain patterns and utilize all overhead cover, when possible. You must
give special attention to the training of vehicle drivers. Ensure that they will follow these rules
automatically, even in the absence of NCOs or yourself. You and your NCOs must instruct all
personnel that when the first vehicle enters an area, guards must be stationed at critical points to direct
traffic. This will prevent unnecessary vehicle slowdown, stopping, or blocking on a roadway.
In a snow covered terrain, concealment of tracks is a major problem. Even in light snow, tracks make
strong shadow lines visible from great distances. Sharp turns should be avoided because the resulting
snow ridges cast even heavier shadows. The same principles stressed throughout this lesson apply to
snow covered terrain. There is more emphasis on following natural shadow casting terrain lines. It is
also important that all vehicles keep to the same tracks. Vehicles leaving the track or road may achieve
short periods of track concealment by driving directly into or away from the sun. Shadows cast by
these tracks will not be apparent until the sun strikes them from an angle. Short lengths of tracks may
be wiped out if they are not too deep. Do this by having your men trample them with snowshoes.
Shine. Siting and track discipline do much to conceal a vehicle. However, shine can nullify the best
site and finest track discipline. Shine is always present when there is light in the sky; sunlight,
moonlight, or the light of flares. It is caused by windshield, headlight, cab window, wet vehicle body,
and even by the light paint of the insignia. These danger spots must be concealed by any means. The
betraying nature of shine should never be underestimated. Even under heavy overhead cover, shiny
objects may be revealed through the smallest of gaps.
7-9
MP2010
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