PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-586

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 586

SEPTEMBER 2001
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-586 - Page 8 of 31
SEP 01
Your Topside
How to Install TIPs
1.
Remove the cloth panel from its storage bag.
2.
Place the panel on the rear deck or similar
flat spot that allows exposure of the panel
without interfering with vehicle operations.
For example, the turret ammunition vent doors
are a good spot on M1-series tanks.
3.
Position the TIP so that it presents approxi-
mately a 20° angle from the surface it sits on.
The slight tilt lets the panel act as a thermal
mirror that reflects the cooler temperature of
the sky.
A filled sandbag or duffel bag placed under the panel can be used to create the
required angle.
4.
Tie the TIP in place using the metal grommets around the outside edge of
the panel.
PS 586
16
Combat, Tactical and Engineering Vehicles . . .
TIPs Protect
What are TIPs?
TIPs are 4 x 4-ft thermal cloth panels that
are used to identify stationary friendly vehi-
cles from the air and prevent casualties
caused by friendly fire.
When viewed through thermal sights—
such as those found on AH-64 Apache heli-
copters and the Air Force’s LANTIRN sys-
tem—a TIPs panel appears as a large cold
spot that marks the vehicle as friendly.
TIPs can also be used as primary markers
for positions and structures where CIPs are
not installed.
How To Get TIPs
TIPs and CIPs are being fielded
as free-issue items. Units that don’t
receive TIPs, or need replacements
after the initial distribution, must
order the panels through the regular
supply system.
TIPs are available in OD green or
desert tan to match vehicle camou-
flage patterns. The opposite side of
each panel is international orange
for use during air-to-ground visual
operations. Get the green/orange
panels with NSN 2590-01-447-
8997 and the tan/orange panels
with NSN 2590–01-448-4531.
TIPS provide air-to-
ground identification
Angle TIP to
a 20° angle.
More Info?
If you need more information
about TIPs, contact the combat
identification product manager at
DSN 987-5324 or (732) 427-5324
or e-mail
Wayne.Calabretta@
iews.monmouth.army.mil
.
Somehow,
I don’t think
that’ll do much
good when the
bombs start
to fall!
Where’s
your
umbrella?
I’ve got
it covered
now!
It’ll
have to
do until
my
tips
panel
arrives!
Panel appears as “cold spot”
through thermal viewer
T
he combat identification panels
(CIPs) on Pages 12-15 of PS 578
make ground-to-ground thermal
identification of Army vehicles easy.
But what about air-to-ground
identification? That’s where thermal
identification panels (TIPs) come in.
20º
586. 16-17 (C)
7/28/01
10:02 AM
Page 1
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