I was doing some research on paint schemes for a Panzer II, and I came across an intersting fact. All German armor produced after 1943 was ordered in the dark yellow paint. Is this true? If so that just blew my “German Grey” Armor theory out the window. This, if in fact true, goes against any “Hollywood” potrial I’ve ever seen (Except Patton)
Yes it’s true.
Tanks was deliver on Yellow sheme. Troups made their own camouflage on field in accordance with season and places.
Exept in rare movies Hollywood , is not in truth. [:)]
The following link will provide you with all the
details on German WWII color schemes:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/wmburns/Bmisc.html
In short, from 1943 all new vehicles were
factory coated with Dunkelgelb which is dark yellow.
As Pierre has already mentioned, crews in the field
were supposed to apply camo using Olivgrun
and Schokoladenbraun (dark greeen and brown) which
resulted in numerous variations of actual camo patterns.
Repaired vehicles were NOT repainted, though, so that
color schemes with camo colors applied over Schwarzgrau
are still possible after 1943.
The problem with “Patton”, IMHO, is that 90% of the AFVs
used there are fairly modern ones. The question of correct
or incorrect color shemes becomes a minor thing in such
situation.
Yes my dear Virginia…Hollywood has rarely gotten German armor right. Pvt Ryan, yes they used a Skd 251…but the Tiger was a T-55 converted. As far as colors…yes to dark yellow after '43. Towards the end, the factoried just primed them and left the painting to crews as usual.