We've talked about this a few times over the years. IMO "enemy" vehicles and equipment are more likely to be used away from the front lines as much as possible to avoid this very problem. Sometimes though, you've just got to throw them into combat. This could be because of combat losses of the "proper" gear, to reinforce defenders in the face of an attack, or even as part of a deception plan or infiltration mission.
A small and (hopefully) discrete symbol of some kind is probably the best way to go as an identifier, but at night it's unlikely any sort of paint will be seen (unless it's luminous which has problems all of it's own).
On the same topic, I was once told by an APC crew (M113) that when they were required to drive the ambulances with red crosses on the side, they were not permitted to either carry weapons or fire them except in self defence (can't remember which). To get around that restriction, they used to smear mud over the red cross turning them black. Apparently the black cross still means it's an ambulance, but does allow the crew to engage in combat, but on the down side, also means the enemy can engage them as well.
__________________
If it moves, shoot it, if not push it, if it still doesn't move, use explosives.
Nothing happens in isolation - it's called "the butterfly effect"
Mors ante pudorem
|