From the Archives! (Patreon)

This ‘truck’ is aptly named.
In the North African desert during the Second World War the British used these ‘sunshields’ to disguise tanks as trucks. They wouldn’t fool a close observer, but through binoculars or from an aircraft they might just have the desired effect.
The most widespread use of this and other deception techniques was Operation Bertram in September 1942. The aim was to convince the Germans that the British attack, to be launched at El Alamein on the 23rd October, would in fact be launched further south and at a later date. The deception was successful.