Armored 
Medical Research Laboratory 
Fort Knox, POcnjtvjcky 
Report On 
PROJECT NO, 23 - Test of Non-Skid Paint on Tanks 
Action cepies have beer; forwarded to Require- 
ments Section, AGP for approval and execution* 
INFORMATION COPY 
Project No.23 
3 June 1944 ARLSDHiSD RESiiAHCH LABORATORY 
Fort Knox, Kentucky 
Project Noo 23 
411.6 SPlffiA 
3 June 1944 
1. IRQJ1CT; No. 23, Test of Non-Skid Faint on Tanks. 
a. Authority: 2nd Indorsement, Commanding General, Army Ground 
Forces, 411.6 (25 Oct 43) GNKiT-10/59218. 
b. Purpose; To determine the practical usefulness of applying a 
so-called non-skid paint to the exterior of tanks as a means of providing 
better footing and reducing the danger of slips and falls among tank crews. 
2. DISCUSSION; 
a. There is some danger of slips and falls in climbing on the 
sloping front and side deck surfaces on the L4 medium tank. This has 
resulted in accidents from time to time among tank crews in training. The 
likelihood of such accidents is increased when the tank is wet and muddy. 
b. The so-called non-skid paint provides a roughened surface in 
the form of moderately coarse mineral particles dispersed in the paint. 
These particles project above the surface and are held securely by the bind- 
ing material. The paint was developed expressly for the purpose of providing 
a safe footing on metal and other surfaces. 
c. The value of the subject paint as a means of improving footing 
on tanks operating under field conditions was investigated at Fort Knox 
during the Winter and Spring months when maximum conditions of rain and mud 
occur. A total of six tanks were subjected to field trial for periods of 
operation up to six weeks by the Armored Board and ARTC, and the usefulness 
of the paint determined0 
3. CONCLUSIONS; 
a0 The non-skid paint provides an improved walking surface when dry 
and free from a dirt layer. 
b. The non-skid paint surface insures an improved footing in the rain 
provided the surface is free from mud and shoes are clean. 
c. The non-skid quality of the paint is rapidly lost with accumula- 
tion of mud on the tank, owing to the fact that the projecting mineral parti- 
cles are covered by the mud layer. 
d. Accumulation of mud on the shoes also effectively destroys the 
usefulness of the paint. 
1 e. The non-skid paint was observed to increase the slipping 
hazard when the tank was partially coated with mud. This is explained by 
the fact that when suddenly stepping onto the slippery muddy surface from 
the clean non-skid surface, one is unprepared for the loss of footing. 
f. In view of the fact that a non-skid surface is particularly 
desired in muddy operations, the subject paint has little practical useful- 
ness. 
4. RECOIH^NDATIONS; 
That non-skid paint not be considered for use on the exterior 
surfaces of tanks. 
(NOTE: The conclusions and recommendations set forth above have been 
concurred in by Headquarters, Armored Center, W.H0 Nutter, Colonel, 
Go S. C., Chief of Staff 
Submitted by: 
Theodore F. Hatch, Lt, Col., SnC 
APPROVED 
WILLARD KACHI£, 
Colonel, Ledical Corps, 
Commanding, 
2