The American military is no stranger to winter. Our very first commander in chief, then the leader of the Continental Army, George Washington, faced a tough winter before crossing the Delaware River in 1776. The brutal conditions at Valley Forge from 1777 to 1778 nearly broke the hopes of Washington’s forces.

Technology has improved vastly in the 244 years since Valley Forge, and yet, harsh winter conditions still pose a major threat to the military’s success. Luckily, the corrosion-prevention experts at Cocoon have helped American forces master the elements to outlast winter’s most brutal challenges.

Snow Is Pretty but Dangerous

Unlike at Valley Forge, American troops escape the snow in advanced, climate-controlled buildings. However, their large equipment, like trucks, tanks, and aircraft, can’t always be stored inside. These critical assets covered in snow are susceptible to corrosion.

Corrosion is a significant problem for the military, a $20.5 billion problem to be exact. Beyond the financial problems, corrosion also impacts the military’s readiness and is responsible for 1.15 million Non-Available Days (NADs) annually across the Department of Defense. That’s 3,100 days of downtime each year.

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of corrosion is the large impact it can have on smaller technology. Even microscopic levels of corrosion on something like a circuit board, which doesn’t have a lot of material to begin with, can create disproportionately large problems that affect calibration and performance. Studies have shown that up to 40% of avionics failures were due to corrosion.

Snow is particularly challenging because of its changing nature. When snow melts, it covers the equipment’s surface with a layer of standing water. The longer that water sits on the surface – also known as Time of Wetness (TOW) – the more corrosion is possible. As the sun sets, that layer of water may re-freeze then thaw again as temperatures rise during the day. This cycle of freezing and thawing continues until all the snow has melted off and the equipment can fully dry.

Cocoon Protective Covers Prevent Corrosion

The right protective cover – one that’s both waterproof and hydrophobic – can mitigate corrosion by preventing melted snow from sitting on and freezing to the surface of vehicles, weapon systems, and aircraft. Any snow that melts will sit on the protective cover, not on the equipment.

Cocoon’s protective covers meet every AMCOM Protective Cover Performance Specification by using the most advanced textile technologies and can be used for vehicles, aircraft, weapon systems, ground support equipment, and watercraft.

A protective cover is especially important for turrets. Melting snow can seep in around the turret, causing issues not only on the exterior but also the interior of the equipment. Cocoon’s protective covers prevent this water intrusion from the melting snow.

When researching protective covers to use in the winter, it’s crucial to find ones that are freeze-proof. Frozen covers can be extremely difficult to take off and store and can even be impossible to remove if the freezing is bad enough.

Don’t get caught out in the cold this winter. Protecting important and expensive assets with the proper protective cover from Cocoon will increase readiness, reduce unscheduled maintenance, and extend the equipment’s lifecycle.

Learn more about protective covers and other crucial equipment today at ADS, Inc.