Out of curiousity, what colours were used for British armoured cars, carriers, trucks and artillery during the 1941 - 1942? Most photographs are in B/W and I've come across photographs in light tan and also the standard olive green. Anyone care to comment? Thanks. 1942MALAYA
The official colour was 'jungle green' which, according to B.T. White in 'British Tank Markings and Names' was a very dark olive green, even darker than olive drab, included in B.S.987C-1942, as Shade No.13. ...(When fighting) on open terrain the hot sun soon faded the dark green to a light shade.
I have scans of an old article series in Military Modelling on Brit Army colours by Geoff Futter. If you'll send me your email by PM I'll post the relevant article to you, 7 files about 5 Mb total.
An except from 2nd Lt Robert Hartley during the Malayan campaign: 2nd Lt Robert Hartley in the aftermath of the Battle of Slim River, describes as "stupid" the yellow paint of British guns and vehicles, making them highly visible to the japanese airmen. The British were using the Light Desert Sand colour scheme in the Far East. One begs the question why as it's stick out in the background of Jungle green. My theory is that the British rush the equipments that were destined for the middle east for Operation Matador.
Born Crazee Far East ?, sorry mate but not my scene I was BNAF, CMF & (for a time) MEF What I can contribute however is the comment that like chamelons the British Army could soon change it's colours as a few entries from my diaries will show. In August '44 78 Div were in Egypt resting and re-equipping and we had to re-paint most of our equipment to suit the local colours. By September we were back in the line in Italy and changing colour again Ron Thursday 24th. August 1944 Painting truck all day, in the evening all Regiment confined to camp. General flap, tent walls down, trucks loaded. Parcel also arrived & though I'm packed it's still very welcome. Tuesday 19th. September 1944 Went to the final morning service. Truck had already left so Nobby Clark took me on his motor byke. The boys were out on a scheme but my truck was static. Painted hood of the Dodge. Wednesday 18th. October 1944 Have had to change colour of cab ---- it's now green. Net is ops again but on new frequency. In evening went downstairs & wrote letter *. Late night for a change. Thursday 19th. October 1944 Apparently my fame has spread, I've had to paint the C.O's jeep windscreen. Trouble with office staff regarding censorship of my mail, I won ! Letter from Jean says Mick is warned for overseas.
This would have been the case for the vehicles in these two reinforcement Brigades that arrived in Singapore on January 1942: 45th Indian Infantry Brigade and British 53rd Infantry Brigade.
member born crazee has not been on the forum since 2011. Send a private message and if they are still around and email address is valid they might reply
This classic post makes a stab at answering the original question: British Vehicle Camouflage, 1939-45
