This particular Osprey volume is #192 in their Elite series. It covers tactical camouflage, which basically battlefield camouflage of men, emplacements and equipment. This is relatively non-specific in terms of exact equipment and does not cover aircraft, which can easily take volumes itself. I have to assume the Elite series is a bit of a catch-all as I'm not sure just where this would fit in with any other Osprey book series.

If you are a model builder that concentrates on figures or on military vehicles, you will probably know much of what is in this book as you deal with aspects of it every time you complete a project. For others, it is a well done primer on the subject and has one thinking about the subject while reading and afterwards.

The book is divided into several sections. The first one is on the principles of camouflage. It points out quite rightly that most camouflage is not designed to completely disguise either the person or equipment as these things are often on the move. What it does want to do is to break up the outline of the object so that the viewer is not exactly sure what it is he is seeing. About the only category that would want to be as invisible to the eye would be the sniper, whose mission and survival depends on being scanned and not observed. Several ways of achieving the goals of camouflage are discussed.

Next is camouflage of troops. This brings into discussion the change from colorful uniforms pre WWI with the more drab outfits that blend in with the landscape. In addition to drab uniforms, there are various patterns which will further enhance this blending. Many WWII helmets had netting on them in which foliage could be installed with the hope of breaking up the human form.

Then there is the camouflage of vehicles and equipment. Much of this has to do with camouflage while at rest. Again the goal is to have these items not look like trunks, tanks and guns. Some assistance in this uses color and some, like the 'ambush' scheme used by the Germans, was particuilarly effective. Mostly, though, the equipment was covered with camouflage nets or had local foliage stacked against it or atop it. Even broken planks would be helpful in this regard as well as piling snow around it when operating in those conditions. Adding large swatches of whitewash was also useful in winter combat areas. Pure white often stood out as areas of darker patches are usually more common than just pure white.

Finally, the camouflage of gun emplacements is covered. This was most easily accomplished with a variety of camouflage nets on which various designs were interwoven as well as using local materials to help keep it from being spotted. Much of this was to keep the emplacement hidden from aerial reconnaissance as emplacements took time to construct and the weapons could not often be quickly withdrawn. This is followed by a small section on decoys, disguising obstacles and constructing observation posts.

In all, it is an interesting read that I think just about everyone will find informative and enjoyable.

March 2013

For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit www.ospreypublishing.com. In the US, it is Osprey Direct at 443 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, where you can get a catalogue of available books.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.