Within Threat Training
How Fake Soviet Tanks Changed Army Training
Modified Sheridans and captured MTLBs helped Fort Irwin turn Soviet-style opponents into a visible, punishing training problem.
On this page
- Why the Sheridan conversions mattered
- Captured MTLBs and visual realism
- What opposing forces learned to punish
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
Fort Irwin’s fake Soviet armour was not a cosmetic gimmick. It was a deliberate attempt to solve a major Cold War training problem: American units knew they would probably fight Warsaw Pact-style forces in Europe, but most training still involved facing other Americans who looked and behaved like US troops. At the National Training Center (NTC) in California, the Army changed that by converting M551 Sheridan light tanks into convincing stand-ins for Soviet tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and air-defence systems, while also fielding a small number of genuine Soviet-designed vehicles. The result was a training environment that forced visiting units to recognise, track and fight an enemy that looked and operated differently from themselves. U.S. Army Center of Military History[history.army.mil]history.army.milArmy Center of Military HistoryThe Origins and Development of the National Training…December 20, 2010 — by AW Chapman · Cited by 5 — T…
The importance of these modifications went beyond appearance. They supported a broader effort to turn intelligence about foreign military technology into practical battlefield experience. By giving the opposing force realistic-looking equipment and Soviet-inspired tactics, Fort Irwin made training harder, more stressful and ultimately more useful for units preparing for high-intensity armoured warfare. U.S. Army Center of Military History[history.army.mil]history.army.milArmy Center of Military HistoryThe Origins and Development of the National Training…December 20, 2010 — by AW Chapman · Cited by 5 — T…
Why the Sheridan Conversions Mattered
The Army faced a practical challenge in the early 1980s. It needed large numbers of vehicles that could imitate Soviet equipment, but acquiring hundreds of actual Soviet tanks and fighting vehicles was impossible. The solution was the M551 Sheridan, a light tracked vehicle already in US service. Engineers fitted visual modification kits—known as VISMODs—that altered Sheridans to resemble Soviet systems such as the T-72 tank, BMP infantry fighting vehicle, ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and even self-propelled artillery. Hundreds of vehicles were converted for the role.[Wikipedia]WikipediaM551 SheridanM551 Sheridan
The value of the conversions was psychological as much as technical. Soldiers rotating through Fort Irwin no longer saw familiar American silhouettes across the desert. Instead, they encountered formations that looked like Warsaw Pact armoured units. This forced crews to improve vehicle recognition, target acquisition and tactical decision-making under pressure. Army historical accounts of the NTC repeatedly emphasise that the visual realism of the opposing force helped create a more convincing battlefield environment.[ERIC]files.eric.ed.govERICThe Origins and Development of the National Training135. Page 136. -. 04. An M551 Sheridan Light Tank, visually modified to represent an OPFOR BM? Fighting. Vehicle, fires a 73-mm, smooth…
The Sheridan VISMODs were also integrated into the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES), which allowed realistic force-on-force battles. A vehicle that looked like a Soviet tank could now engage and “destroy” friendly units in simulated combat. The combination of appearance, doctrine and laser-based combat effects made the threat feel far more authentic than earlier training exercises.[Reddit]reddit.comTalk to me about this modified M551: r/Tank PornThey converted them to look like Soviet tanks, as they were similarly sized. The rack of tubes above the barrel are the charges…Read more…
More Than a Paint Job
The modifications were designed to change how soldiers perceived the battlefield. A tank crew scanning the horizon had to distinguish Soviet-style vehicles from terrain and other contacts, much as they would in wartime. The OPFOR’s equipment therefore became part of a broader training system that stressed observation, identification and rapid reaction.
Army photographs and training records from the period show VISMOD vehicles operating in formations, using terrain concealment and employing Soviet-inspired tactics. From a distance, the altered silhouettes were often convincing enough to force trainees to treat contacts as genuine enemy armour rather than simply another US vehicle.[ERIC]files.eric.ed.govERICThe Origins and Development of the National Training135. Page 136. -. 04. An M551 Sheridan Light Tank, visually modified to represent an OPFOR BM? Fighting. Vehicle, fires a 73-mm, smooth…
Captured MTLBs and Visual Realism
Although Sheridan conversions formed the backbone of the OPFOR vehicle fleet, Fort Irwin also benefited from a small number of genuine Soviet-designed vehicles. Army historical sources note that some MTLB tracked carriers captured by Israeli forces in Middle Eastern conflicts were incorporated into the training environment. U.S. Army Center of Military History[history.army.mil]history.army.milArmy Center of Military HistoryThe Origins and Development of the National Training…December 20, 2010 — by AW Chapman · Cited by 5 — T…
The MTLB was not a main battle tank, but its presence mattered because it gave trainers and soldiers direct exposure to actual Warsaw Pact equipment. Real vehicles provided accurate dimensions, mobility characteristics and visual details that could not be perfectly reproduced through mock-ups. They also offered a reference point for improving future threat representations. U.S. Army Center of Military History[history.army.mil]history.army.milArmy Center of Military HistoryThe Origins and Development of the National Training…December 20, 2010 — by AW Chapman · Cited by 5 — T…
For soldiers arriving at the NTC, the mix of authentic Soviet hardware and carefully modified American vehicles reinforced the impression that they were facing a credible adversary rather than participating in a scripted exercise. That credibility was central to the NTC’s mission. Training effectiveness depended on convincing units that the opposing force was dangerous and capable of exploiting mistakes. U.S. Army Center of Military History[history.army.mil]history.army.milArmy Center of Military HistoryThe Origins and Development of the National Training…December 20, 2010 — by AW Chapman · Cited by 5 — T…
What Opposing Forces Learned to Punish
The success of Fort Irwin’s fake Soviet armour did not come from the vehicles alone. It came from how the opposing force used them.
The NTC OPFOR studied Soviet doctrine and organised itself around Soviet-style concepts. Units wore distinctive uniforms, adopted Soviet-inspired structures and operated VISMOD vehicles as part of larger combined-arms formations. The goal was to expose visiting brigades to a different style of warfare than they normally encountered.[Wikipedia]WikipediaFort Irwin National Training CenterFort Irwin National Training Center
Over time, OPFOR commanders became experts at identifying recurring weaknesses in rotating units. Common errors included:
- Moving predictable routes through open terrain.
- Failing to conduct adequate reconnaissance.
- Exposing flanks during manoeuvre.
- Losing command and control during fast-moving engagements.
- Underestimating enemy anti-armour capabilities.
Because the OPFOR fought hundreds of visiting formations, it accumulated experience that many conventional units lacked. The modified Sheridans became tools for repeatedly exploiting mistakes and demonstrating how a Soviet-style opponent might punish poor tactics. U.S. Army Center of Military History[history.army.mil]history.army.milArmy Center of Military HistoryThe Origins and Development of the National Training…December 20, 2010 — by AW Chapman · Cited by 5 — T…
Army accounts from the period describe OPFOR BMP and T-72 surrogates engaging mechanised and armoured formations in scenarios designed to replicate Warsaw Pact battlefield methods. The purpose was not merely to defeat trainees but to expose vulnerabilities before a real war did.[ERIC]files.eric.ed.govERICThe Origins and Development of the National Training135. Page 136. -. 04. An M551 Sheridan Light Tank, visually modified to represent an OPFOR BM? Fighting. Vehicle, fires a 73-mm, smooth…
How the Experiment Changed Army Training
Fort Irwin demonstrated that realism in training depends on more than weapons performance. Appearance, doctrine, behaviour and battlefield culture all matter. The Sheridan VISMOD programme showed that a relatively inexpensive conversion could create a training problem far more challenging than traditional exercises where both sides looked and fought alike.[Wikipedia]WikipediaM551 SheridanM551 Sheridan
The influence of that idea lasted well beyond the Cold War. Modern Army opposing-force units still use visually modified vehicles to imitate potential adversaries, continuing a tradition that began with the Sheridan conversions at Fort Irwin. The exact threats have changed, but the underlying lesson remains the same: realistic representations of foreign military technology make training more demanding, reveal weaknesses earlier and help soldiers prepare for the battlefield they are actually likely to face.[twz.com]twz.comarmy has newly modified vehicles for impersonating russian and french typesArmy Has Newly Modified Vehicles For Impersonating…12 Dec 2022 — The Army's dedicated opposing force unit uses visually modified vehic…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to How Fake Soviet Tanks Changed Army Training. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
Red Storm Rising
Popular depiction of Cold War armored conflict and Soviet-style threats.
Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife
Addresses how organizations learn to fight different opponents effectively.
eBay marketplace picks
Marketplace Samples
Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.
Endnotes
1.
Source: history.army.mil
Link:https://history.army.mil/portals/143/Images/Publications/catalog/69-3.pdf
Source snippet
Army Center of Military HistoryThe Origins and Development of the National Training...December 20, 2010 — by AW Chapman · Cited by 5 — T...
Published: December 20, 2010
2.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Fort Irwin National Training Center
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Irwin_National_Training_Center
3.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: M551 Sheridan
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M551_Sheridan
4.
Source: files.eric.ed.gov
Title: ERICThe Origins and Development of the National Training
Link:https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED369659.pdf
Source snippet
135. Page 136. -. 04. An M551 Sheridan Light Tank, visually modified to represent an OPFOR BM? Fighting. Vehicle, fires a 73-mm, smooth...
5.
Source: reddit.com
Title: Talk to me about this modified M551: r/Tank Porn
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/TankPorn/comments/8jrw3f/talk_to_me_about_this_modified_m551/
Source snippet
They converted them to look like Soviet tanks, as they were similarly sized. The rack of tubes above the barrel are the charges...Read more...
6.
Source: twz.com
Title: army has newly modified vehicles for impersonating russian and french types
Link:https://www.twz.com/army-has-newly-modified-vehicles-for-impersonating-russian-and-french-types
Source snippet
Army Has Newly Modified Vehicles For Impersonating...12 Dec 2022 — The Army's dedicated opposing force unit uses visually modified vehic...
7.
Source: laststandonzombieisland.com
Title: visually modified
Link:https://laststandonzombieisland.com/tag/visually-modified/
Source snippet
Tag Archives: visually modified26 Jul 2021 — The OPFOR uses a series of what are termed “surrogate vehicles,” visually modified Humvees...
8.
Source: reddit.com
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryPorn/comments/33rxao/a_sheridan_tank_visually_modified_to_represent_an/
Source snippet
A Sheridan tank visually modified to represent an OpFor T...They play as Opfor against whatever unit is rotating through that month to e...
Additional References
9.
Source: blindbatnews.com
Link:https://blindbatnews.com/tag/mtlb
Source snippet
Tag Archives: mtlbDuring the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force managed to get their own Soviet MTLB.... U.S. Army Opposition Forces (OpFor) M...
10.
Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/15/weve-got-drone-swarms-dirty-bombs-radar-jamming-the-fake-town-where-america-practises-for-war
Source snippet
This mock village is designed to prepare troops for modern combat scenarios, complete with drone swarms, dirty bombs, radar jamming, and...
11.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/SocietyFirstInfantryDivision/posts/on-march-20-2004-the-1st-armored-brigade-combat-team-1st-infantry-division-was-a/1405087804988394/
Source snippet
On March 20, 2004 the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team...... Fort Irwin in the fall of 2004, forming the core of National Training Center...
Published: March 20, 2004
12.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1517970645129354/posts/4422992587960464/
Source snippet
M113 vehicle converted for OPFOR training | Lake Forest, CAArmy Has Newly Modified Vehicles For Impersonating Russian...
13.
Source: medium.com
Link:https://medium.com/%40carbonemd/chapter-26-joining-the-soviet-32nd-guards-motorized-rifle-regiment-opfor-at-fort-irwin-d01d8567de5f
Source snippet
ional Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. But that...Read more...
14.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/110066392606/posts/10163080858887607/
Source snippet
I was on BMP 324, 325, and 326 I think, c 1/52 and...
15.
Source: csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com
Link:https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/160628_GW-8_AirLand_10-1-94.pdf
Source snippet
Chapter Eight: The AirLand BattleLike many aspects of Desert Storm, it is difficult to generalize about the lessons of the AirLand battle...
16.
Source: mikesresearch.com
Title: m551 sheridan in combat
Link:https://mikesresearch.com/2022/10/30/m551-sheridan-in-combat/
Source snippet
1969-9130 Oct 2022 — A M551A1 VISMOD Soviet T-80 tank during the early 1990s.... The M551A1 Sheridan VISMODs were retired from the Natio...
17.
Source: washingtonpost.com
Link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/01/21/at-armys-training-center-the-bad-guys-still-fight-like-soviets/51985538-d930-43f0-a5bb-33962cb70c8f/
Source snippet
The Washington PostAT ARMY'S TRAINING CENTER, THE BAD GUYS STILL...20 Jan 1992 — Army officials said collapse of the Soviet-led Warsaw P...
18.
Source: nara.getarchive.net
Link:https://nara.getarchive.net/media/an-opposing-forces-opfor-m-551-sheridan-light-tank-visually-modified-to-resemble-f3fe91
Source snippet
The tank is used by the...Read more...
Topic Tree