gtypecanare Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 What is the significance of the V , <,> and upside down V on the skirts of tanks and armored fighting vehicles? And when did they start using them? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 They are known as Combat Chevrons and are used to identify platoons. ^ is 1st PLT, > is 2nd PLT, v is 3rd PLT, < is 4th PLT. They started to be used by some units during Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm (ODS - '90-'91) and are used by all units in OIF. Also, when viewed from any angle (side or rear of vehicle) they will always face the same way, so they will face opposite directions on opposite sides. For example, a 2nd PLT chevron (>) will always point to the right whether it is on the front or rear; or the right or left side. Hope that makes sense. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gtypecanare Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mizar Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Beside this when using thermal sights to ID the targets at night those panels will show black in the thermal visor Luigi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 (edited) Beside this when using thermal sights to ID the targets at night those panels will show black in the thermal visorLuigi No, he is not talking about the CIPs (Combat Identification Panels). The Combat Chevrons are not usually on top of the panels (I have only seen them that way in OIF 1 on 1-64 AR, 3 ID tanks) and they do not have a thermal signature. Combat Chevrons in white with sand colored CIPs: Combat Chevrons on the CIPs. The CIP shows up as a reverse polarity square, not the Combat Chevron.: Edited September 19, 2009 by HeavyArty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mizar Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Uhm there it was a thread on Military Photos or somewhere else and some tanks used the black tape for unit markings with thermal signature in pair with CIPs,maybe now they changed their minds but I remember this Luigi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 The thermal tape is actually green and gives off a different signature. It would disappear on the CIP in Thermal Sights since the square is already showing up as a thermal hot spot or cold spot (depending on which setting the sight is on). The tape can be used by itself, but is less effective than the CIP by itself is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 ote name='HeavyArty' date='Sep 18 2009, 11:14 AM' post='1809971'] They are known as Combat Chevrons and are used to identify platoons. ^ is 1st PLT, > is 2nd PLT, v is 3rd PLT, < is 4th PLT. They started to be used by some units during Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm (ODS - '90-'91) and are used by all units in OIF. Also, when viewed from any angle (side or rear of vehicle) they will always face the same way, so they will face opposite directions on opposite sides. For example, a 2nd PLT chevron (>) will always point to the right whether it is on the front or rear; or the right or left side. Hope that makes sense. Wow I learnt something today from this thread!! thank you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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