1st Marine Regiment Weapons Painting Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) 1st Marines Weapons Painting “ Standing operating Procedures (SOP) “Ready to Fight” “, 1st Battalion 4th Marines Effective Date: 1Feb2020 Version 1.0 1st Marine Regiment Weapons Painting Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) Weapons Painting SOP Table of Contents I. Purpose II. Administrative Remarks III. Painting Your Weapon TTPs III. M4A1 CQBW), M4 Carbine, & M16A4 Series (MWS) IV. M27 IAR & M38 SDMR V. M40 Series Sniper Rifle VI. Mk13 Long Range Sniper Rifle VII. M107 Scoped, Special Application Rifle, (.50 Cal) VIII. Unit Responsibilities IX. References Effective Date: 1Feb2020 Version 1.0 Table of Contents 1st Marine Regiment Weapons Painting Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) Regimental Commander’s Policy Letter & Guidance Effective Date: 1Feb2020 Version 1.0 1st Marine Regiment Weapons Painting Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) I. Purpose. To provide instructions and authorization for camouflage painting of M4A1 Close Quarters Battle Weapon (CQBW), M4 Carbine, M16A4 Modular Weapons System Series (MWS), M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR), M38 Squad Designated Marksmanship Rifle (SDMR), M40 Series Sniper Rifle, Mk13 Long Range Sniper Rifle, M107 I Scoped, Special Application Rifle, (.50 Cal) for Marines with a specialized mission set that would require subdued or Purpose camouflaged weapons to reduce the possibility of recognition by the enemy. II. Weapons Painting Correspondence Message (R 051639Z APR 19): SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEAPONS PAINTING PROCEDURES// REF/A/DOC/MCO P5600.31B/17JAN18//AMPN/REF A IS THE USMC PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS REGULATIONS. POC/1/PAUL BRISKER/MAJ/TEAM LEAD/MARCORSYSCOM GCES QUANTICO VA/TEL: 703-432-3744 (DSN 378)/EMAIL:[email protected]// POC/2/KELLY SULLIVAN/CIV/PROJECT OFFICER/MARCORSYSCOM GCES QUANTICO VA/TEL: 703-432-4924 (DSN 378)/EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/3/STEVEN FETHEROLF/CIV/LOGISTICIAN/MARCORSYSCOM GCES QUANTICO VA/TEL: 703-432-4913 (DSN 378)/EMAIL:[email protected]// POC/4/ERIK LADD/CIV/EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST/MARCORSYSCOM GCES QUANTICO VA/TEL: 229-639-7353 (DSN 567/EMAIL: [email protected]//GENTEXT/REMARKS/ 1. THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES THE PUBLISHING OF TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAMOUFLAGE PAINTING OF EQUIPMENT LISTED WITHIN EACH PUBLICATION. THESE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS ARE THE RESULT OF AN OPERATIONAL NEED FOR MARINES TO REDUCE VISUAL SIGNATURES ON THE BATTLEFIELD. AUTHORIZATION IS BASED UPON A MARINES SPECIALIZED MISSION SET REQUIRING SUBDUED OR CAMOUFLAGED WEAPONS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOGNITION BY THE ENEMY. 2. THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS HAVE BEEN UPLOADED AND MADE AVAILABLE IN THE TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS WEBSITE (READ IN THREECOLUMNS): SHORT TITLE PCN APPLICABLE TAMCN TI 12189B-20/1 16612189000 E00402M, E00417B TI 11810A/13029A-20/1 16611810000 E01002M, E00092M TI 10012-20/1 16610012000 E01907M, E01957M, E14422M 3. WEAPON PAINTING WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOSE MARINES WITH WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FROM THEIR UNIT COMMANDING OFFICERS. 4. PRIOR TO UNIT TRANSFERS OR RETURN TO MCLB ALBANY AS EXCESS OR UNSERVICEABLE ASSET, UNITS MUST REMOVE ALL PAINT FROM THE WEAPON AND RESTORE TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. PAINT REMOVAL IS ACHIEVED THROUGH USE OF ACETONE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS. 4. THE ABOVE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE DOWNLOADED VIA THE MARINE CORPS PUBLICATIONS WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.MARINES.MIL/NEWS/PUBLICATIONS.ASPX. 5. ALL INQUIRIES CONCERNING THIS MESSAGE OR SUBJECT TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE ADDRESSED TO POCS LISTED ABOVE. Effective Date: 1Feb2020 Version 1.0 1st Marine Regiment Weapons Painting Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) II. Administrative Information: Supervision and training of Marines painting rifles resides with the rifle Squad Leader, in accordance with his requirement to maintain the equipment and weapons of his squad. Leverage the resident infantry battalion’s Scout Sniper Platoon to ‘train-the-trainer’, and included unit armorers for oversight to the rifle’s functionality and serviceability. Skill and Time Required. Weapon painting will be performed by those Marines with written authorization from their Commanding Officer (or requisite MOS for particular weapons) to camouflage service rifles in order to II reduce their visual signature on the battlefield. Listed below are specific times that is required to paint each Chapter weapon system; however, cleaning and paint drying time will vary with each weapon and is dependent upon environmental parameters (humidity and wind). M16A4, M4, or M4A1: Weapon painting will be performed by those Marines with written authorization from their unit Commanding Officers to camouflage their service rifles in order to reduce their visual signature on the battlefield. Expected time to complete the painting processes of the M16A4, M4, or M4A1 is 2.0 hours M27 IAR or M38 SDMR: Weapon painting will be performed by those Marines with written authorization from their unit Commanding Officers to camouflage their service rifles in order to reduce their visual signature on the battlefield. Expected time to complete the painting processes of the IAR, M27 or SDMR, M38 is 2.0 hours. M40 Series: Weapon painting for the M40 series weapon will only be performed by Scout Sniper (MOS 0317). Weapon painting will only be performed by Scout Sniper (MOS 0317). Expected time to complete the painting process of the M40A6 is 3.0 hours. MK13: Weapons painting for the Mk13 will be performed by Marine Scout Snipers, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 0317 or CSOs, MOS 0372. Expected time to complete the painting process MK13 is 3.0 hours. M107: Weapon painting will only be performed by Scout Sniper (MOS 0317). Expected time to complete the painting process of the M107 is 3.0 hours. Expected Weapons Painting Times (not including dry times): Item Description of Materials Required Weapon System Authorized to Paint Paint Time Coord Inst M16A4, M4, & M4A1 Marines with written CO authorization 2.0 Hours M27 IAR, & M38 SDMR Marines with written CO authorization 2.0 Hours M40 Series 0317 Scout Sniper MOS 3.0 Hours MK13 LRSR 0317 or CSO 0372 3.0 Hours M107 SASR 0317 Scout Sniper MOS 3.0 Hours WARNING: Acetone is highly flammable. To avoid injury or death smoking is not permitted within 50’. Keep away from all sources of flame and spark producing machinery. Use acetone only in a well-ventilated area. Acetone vapor concentrations may cause lung irritation, drowsiness or dizziness resulting in injury or death. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn in order to prevent injury. Avoid acetone contact with skin. Acetone contact can cause dry, red, cracked skin and possible damage to nervous system. CAUTION: Avoid any contact of acetone to the scope’s glass. Acetone contact with the scopes glass will permanently damage the scope’s glass by coating it, making it blurry and unusable. Some important points before you start to paint your weapon: Start with a plan. & have proper ventilation. Effective Date: 1Feb2020 Version 1.0 1st Marine Regiment Weapons Painting Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) Materials Required: Item Description of Materials Required Description NSN P/N QTY Coord Instr. Acetone 6505-00-144-4657 9008 (1) Gloves, Rubber 8415-00-266-8673 MIL-DTL-32066 (1) Paper, Lens 6640-00-663-0832 65-4900 (1) Paint, Black, Flat 8010-01-380-3294 MIL-DTL-11195 (1) Paint, OD, Green 8010-00-848-9272 MIL-DTL-11195 (1) Paint, Sand 8010-01-337-3969 A-A-2787 (1) Paint, Stone Grey 8010-01-027-4852 K01605 (1) Paint, Dark Green 8010-01-177-0798 2137 (1) Paint, Brown 8010-01-331-6120 A-A-2787 (1) Paint, White 8010-01-331-6106 A-A-2787 (1) Plug, Ear 6515-00-137-6345 4-375 1 (1) Tape, Masking 1560-01-527-9823 70006246527 (1) Optical Aiming Devices: Avoid any contact of acetone to the scope’s glass. Acetone contact with the scopes glass will permanently damage the scope’s glass by coating it, making it blurry and unusable. Drippage: Ensure that excess amounts of acetone do not drip into the functioning parts of the rifle and/or moving parts of the scope. This can be avoided by inverting the rifle when cleaning the top of the barrel, beneath the trigger mechanism, around the scope lenses. Lubrication: The weapon and body of scope must be completely free of lubrication and old paint in order for the new paint to adhere. Caution: Apply caution when spray painting rifles. Failure to do so may lead to the malfunction of parts. Spray paint should be applied in a well-ventilated location. Follow aerosol paint instruction for best results. Prior to painting weapons, always ensure that they have been properly inspected for possible gaps in the tape where paint can interfere with the weapon’s functions. Maintaining weapon functionality and identification integrity are core requirements prior to painting any weapon. Lightly apply an even coat of the base color over the entire rifle. Gather a common type of natural vegetation and place it against the rifle. Use a darker tone of spray paint and apply it over the vegetation. Repeat the process over the entire rifle with various natural colors and vegetation until it is difficult to distinguish the outlines of the rifle parts. If vegetation is not readily available, a simple three step tiger stripe process is an effective camouflage technique. Once the base coat has dried, to achieve the tiger stripe effect, diagonally apply the second coat to both sides. Once the second coat has dried, a third coat can be applied. Three colors will typically suffice, but experience and local environment should be determining factors. Once the weapon has completely dried, remove all masking material (i.e. tape, tissue paper, earplugs) used to mask the weapon prior to painting. Ensure that the rifle functions correctly after reassembly, a Q-tip with acetone should be applied to each chassis hex bolt (i.e. side rails, etc.) not previously taped. This will prevent paint buildup and maintain functionality and adaptability.