Terms & Concepts

Concealment

Written by: Masoumeh Abedini Translated by: Hadi Qorbanyar
2 Views

Literally, concealment means being hidden or out of sight. In military usage, it refers to protection from enemy observation. Military speaking, concealment is often discussed alongside camouflage and deception. It is used to prevent the enemy from becoming aware of the presence of a specific object or individual, or from identifying their location.

In military tactics, concealment may be achieved by utilizing objects, vegetation, terrain features, or natural phenomena—such as darkness, smoke, or fog—that block the enemy’s line of sight. Unlike other methods of covering, concealment does not protect against bullets or fire; it only prevents detection.

Natural concealment relies on the environment—such as bushes, tall grass, or tree stumps—without modification. Artificial concealment, by contrast, relies on added materials like camouflage nets, branches, leaves, cloth, and similar items. In both cases, seasonal variations and terrain characteristics must be carefully considered.

Several factors can reveal concealed positions. First is the sound: talking, whistling, vehicle movement, tank engines, gunfire, and similar noises can all give away a position. Second, light is another key factor, whether during the day or at night—reflections, open flames, artificial lighting, or even a lit cigarette at night can expose concealment. Third, movement also plays a role: movement during the day, and sometimes at night, can lead to detection. However, if other principles of concealment and camouflage are properly observed, movement alone is not always decisive at night due to darkness and limited visibility. One key rule is to avoid moving along the skyline while standing, as figures silhouetted against the horizon are easily detected.

Concealment is often mentioned alongside cover, though the two are not identical. Cover refers to natural or artificial barriers that protect a soldier from enemy fire. Sometimes, cover protects only against direct fire, while in other cases it can protect against both direct and indirect fire. Like concealment, cover may be natural—such as depressions in the ground, ditches, or reverse slopes—or artificial, including trenches, walls, and earthworks.

Concealment is also a core principle of passive defense. In this context, it includes all measures that prevent facilities and equipment from being directly observed by the enemy, or that make it difficult or impossible for the enemy to identify installations, equipment, or specific activities.

Methods of concealment include making effective use of terrain and locating facilities where they are not easily visible or recognizable; making installations appear ordinary and insignificant through landscaping, tree planting, or similar measures; separating industrial facilities that cannot be fully disguised due to the nature of their function, in ways that do not significantly disrupt operations; removing vital and sensitive points from maps that must be published or broadcast; avoiding showing the external appearance of sensitive facilities on television, especially in relation to surrounding roads and terrain; refraining from publishing notices in newspapers that could reveal the timing or location of important activities; constructing facilities underground or inside mountains to ensure both concealment and protection against rockets, bombs, and missiles; and, where feasible, using mobility i.e., since industrial installations are typically fixed in place and not expected to undergo sudden changes, if the collection and re‑installation of certain types of facilities can be carried out with sufficient ease, the required structures may be chosen in lightweight and flexible forms—such as tents or modular constructions with assembly and disassembly capability—so that their location can be shifted at different stages.

During the Iran–Iraq War, the combat units realized the importance of concealment. This emphasis was reflected in written guidelines, verbal orders, and command briefings. When necessary, representatives from command, inspection, or intelligence-protection units conducted repeated checks to ensure the concealment was properly implemented. Heavy and semi-heavy weapons—such as artillery units, missile sites, radar systems, communications facilities, command vehicles, and logistical installations— were concealed from reconnaissance aircraft and enemy observers. Commanders also stressed the construction of reinforced underground shelters or facilities carved into mountains to protect vital installations, command posts, ammunition depots, and major weapons systems.

In Operation Beit al-Muqaddas, as in earlier operations, darkness was used to conceal movements. When crossing the Karun River, Iranian units took cover among the tamarisk trees on the opposite bank. Aside from these two methods—using the cover of night and hiding among trees—little attention was paid to concealment and camouflage, and the dispersal of forces was largely neglected.

A report on the Fath al-Mubin operational area, issued by the 21st Hamzeh Division of the Army on January 19, 1982, states: “The hills and elevations of the operational area provide suitable concealment and cover. This factor is somewhat weaker in the Ali-Gerreh-Zad and Abu-Salibi-Khat hills. Unlike other areas, the tamarisk trees along the Karkheh River are suitable for concealment”.^[1]

 

^[1] Daerat al-Maaref-e Defa Muqaddas (A Summery of the Encyclopedia of the Sacred Defense), Vol. 1, Tehran: Markaz-e Daerat al-Maaref-e Pazhuheshgah-e Olum va Maaref-e Defa Muqaddas, 1390, Pp. 369-370.