European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday july 27, 1991 the stars and stripes c Page 3 a a a a a a a Abrams tank goes for better cover a for a amp 29th army support group the camouflage system is deployed in a Field setting in testing on the Abrams. More tests arc scheduled in  Security goal of 2 systems slated for testing by Peggy Davidson and Janet Howells Tierney staff writers two systems designed to conceal an Abrams tank from unfriendly eyes will be tested by . Army Europe tank Crews next month. One was developed by the army a Belvoir research development and engineering Center at fort Belvoir va., and covers Only the tanks Turret. The other was designed by Jerry Boggess the material officer for the general support Center in Kaiserslautern Germany and covers the entire tank. About 65 soldiers from the 1st brigade 1st army div in Vilseck will test the two camouflage systems in mid August at the combat Man Euver training Center in Hohenfels Germany. They have been asked for example to determine How much time is needed to employ each system and whether vehicles using the systems Are visible to other Crews. Fourteen prototypes of the Belvoir Green Woodland Turret camouflage will be tested at Hohenfels said Jose a. Rivera Cotto of the centers counter surveillance deception and Topographic division. That design hides Only the Abrams Turret and gun barrel which Are exposed to enemy fire when the tank is in a defensive or foxhole position. The design is similar to that sent to tank units deployed to saudi Arabia Rivera Cotto said. A we sent 888 of the desert version of the Turret camouflage system to units in saudi Arabia Early this year a he said. Rivera Cotto doubts that the netting was used during the persian Gulf War because tank Crews were on the  the camouflage is made from polyester with a polyvinyl Chloride coating Rivera Cotto said. The material is resistant Bogges Sto mildew and fire and reduces the possibility of detection by infrared electro optical or radar devices. It takes less than five minutes for a Crew to set up the cover which weighs 108 pounds and is 10.8 cubic feet in area Rivera Cotto said. The camouflage once in place will allow for movement of the tank the Turret or the gun tube he said. Each of the Belvoir design sets includes shape disrupter Cones that change the signature shape of the Side rails and gun tube. A the desert versions of the Abrams tank Camou Flage Cost $1,000 each. The Woodland version eventually should Cost about the same Rivera Cotto said. Boggess designed what he Calls the Quick camouflage system in three Days. The tank can to be driven with Boggess system in place but the Cannon can still be fired. The system consists of Metal poles bolted onto the tank and a cover of radar scattering net. A in 30 seconds to a minute you can deploy it a Boggess said. The Metal poles Are turned at right angles to the tank and braced against the ground. The netting is then unfurled and draped Over the tank and poles changing the outline of the tank. The netting can be rolled Back up and stowed around the Turret in the same Quick time. Its held in place by Parachute straps which allow for Quick release Boggess said. Boggess a system includes a a Duck Blind shelter to cover the turrets distinctive outline but does not interfere with the tanks antennae. The netting is non flammable so it will not catch fire when the tanks main gun is fired said Dennis Heath science advisor for the 21st theater army area come. He has been overseeing Boggess work. Heath said the project began when Gen. Crosbie e. Saint . Army Europe commander saw a camouflage system on a Swiss tank. He asked the research staff at the 21st to take a shot at creating something similar. Boggess had to stay within special limitations when he designed the system. A i was hindered by the fact that i  modify the tank  Drill  Weld a Boggess said. A i had to use existing holes and  other limitations caused More problems for Boggess. A i had Little time and no Money a he said. Boggess found the material he needed by searching through the Supply centers 720 acres. �?o1 know where the stuff is a he said with a laugh. Boggess estimates that the system costs around $1,500 using existing supplies and manpower. It weighs 368 pounds and a it s All bolted or hinged so the whole system can be removed for maintenance of the tank a Boggess said. Fourteen sets of Boggess system have been built and will be tested at Hohenfels. Five prototypes of a Belvoir Woodland camouflage for Bradley fighting vehicles will also be tested next  Long Horn Blaze in Kuwait extinguished Ahmadi Kuwait a of the hundreds of burning Oil Wells in Kuwait the one called the Long Horn was among the most vicious. Flames shot out 100 feet and curled up at the ends just like the horns of Texas cattle it was so hot that when doused on Friday it a Felt like a cold front had arrived said one of the american firefighters who tamed it. The Long Horn was the 248th Well fire to be extinguished by . And Canadian firefighters working since March in the greater Burgan Field South of Kuwait City said Larry flak coordinator of firefighting for the Kuwait Oil co. Another 510 Wells Are still ablaze including More than 130 in the North that Are so intense they look like mini volcanoes spewing red Orange flames and Midnight Black smoke. A nobody has Ever seen anything like this in their lives a said firefighter Rick Baker 47, of Houston a people who Haven to been Here can to begin to imagine the Miles and Miles of burning  the Wells the source of Kuwait a wealth were blown up by iraqi troops As the iraqis were driven out of the emirate by .-led forces in late february after a seven month occupation. The government estimates that the fires Are consuming 126 million to 189 million Gallons of Oil a or about $100 million Worth a every Day. Jim Leabo Leader of the Houston based wild Well control Crew that tamed the Long Horn says the magnitude of the damage a dwarfs anything in be Ever  there currently Are 10 firefighting teams of four men plus 200 support staff in the Field from four companies a wild Well red Adair inc., and boots and Coots inc., All of Houston and safety Boss Ltd. Of Calgary. In addition some 2,000 other workers employed by the government and the san Francisco headquartered Bechtel group Are building roads into the oilfields pumping water from the sea collecting equipment from ports and moving machines around. The teams initially complained of equipment shortages and insufficient backup help but Are satisfied with the help now. Flak said the firefighters Are extinguishing an average of two Wells a Day and that contracts have been signed with three More North american companies to join the Effort. Although Kuwait already is pumping some Oil from undamaged Wells current production is less than 100,000 barrels a Day compared with More than 1.5 million before the War. Flak says the work Isnit technically difficult. A putting out a fire is easy a he said. A a we re glorified plumbers. Its a hell of a leak and we fix the leak and Stop the Oil from coming out of the  firefighters first inundate a site with water to Cool it then Rake built up Coke and other debris from around the wellhead. Next they douse the fire using special smokestack like tubes and More water and finally Cap and fill the Well with special mud. While technically easy the Job is risky. Oil fires Burn at upwards of 3,000 degrees and a shift in the desert wind can whip a searing flame toward an unsuspecting team. Leabo 45, of Opelousas Louisiana says the Long Horn was so hot that when Oil firefighters doused it on Friday a it Felt like a cold front Corning  yet the men Wear Little protective gear. They Wear Cotton coveralls like a garage mechanics mostly in Bright red or Blue along with fireproof gloves and special hats to protect their faces and necks. There have been no deaths but there have been several minor injuries the firefighters said