Hi all,
I’m getting ready to paint my Leopold and I have a question concerning the camouflage. Has anyone seen any resources that actually state that the K5 was camouflaged? All of the resources I have don’t show any camouflage except the pictures from Aberdeen Proving Grounds. I don’t trust them to be accurate on their painting schemes. Also, I know from photos taken at Anzio, that the Germans used camouflage netting drapped over rails on their railroad guns to camouflage them. Kind of redundent if the guns were already painted camouflage.
Anyone got any bona fide resources stated that the guns were painted camouflage at some time or is this just a myth perpetuated by Aberdeen?
Thanks,
Jesse
Well I have seen some models painted in gray, but the camo looks better anyway. I am pretty sure the gun was camo when captured because from what I have witnessed at Aberdeen they do not go out of their way to much and it does not seem they would camo that giant beast if they could get away with a standard gray. [}:)]
A picture of me and Anzio Annie at Aberdeen [}:)]
Yeah, I thought about that. That camo looks pretty good and fresh for a piece of equiment over 50 years old. Did you know that the Leopold at Aberdeen is acutally a combination of the Leopold and the Robert? Also, the word “Leopold” on the side of the gun was put there by Aberdeen? I just find it strange that none of my reference pics show a camo K5.
Thanks
there was a thread (maybe even a different forum) about this. there were pictures and it was difficult to see the patterns or shades
old pictures, black/white, oh well paint it bright blue at least it will stand out [:P]
jesse,
I have a Publication from squadron/signal titled “German Railroad Guns in action” in which they refer to’“Leopold” being based in Italy in 1944 being painted dark brown over dark sand. I have also seen a black and white film on railroad guns where you can just make out a camo scheme on the gun.
South Aussie,
I have that book too but I don’t remember reading that. Do you know the page number?
Thanks
Here is final answer to the question of the camouflage scheme. I emailed Aberdeen Proving Grounds for information and I received this reply:
Sir: The original paint scheme on the gun was “Panzergrau” which, for the
lack of a better term, is black. The gun was painted in its current scheme
before it went to Italy. It is the then current Med camouflage scheme.
After firing into Anzio the Gun Captain was informed he was to be withdrawn
and as he put it “go back to the Army.” The gun crew broke into a shed
alongside the tracks and found some light gray paint that belonged to the
Italian rail company. They used it to paint the gun, cutting the paint with
gasoline. After they got it painted, the German propaganda folks from
SIGNAL showed up and took several photos of the gun painted light gray and
filmed it “in action” in this totally unauthorized paint scheme. Thus, when
it was captured it was in a very light gray paint scheme and that scheme was
maintained over the years here at APG. Several years ago when we go ready
to repaint the weapon, we found the original scheme under the gray. We
marked it with chalk and reproduced it as close as we could get it.
I have a WWII photo of ‘Casar’ (Ceasar?) in North Africa. This was a captured French gun. It was painted in overall desert sand with oliv grun or dark brown mottling in spots. The original railway markings (white on dark gray?) were left as such and painted around. It’s a color photo taken by a friend of mine who was in the 70th Tank Bn. I’ll gladly send a jpeg to anybody who wants one… poniatowskir@portage.k12.wi.us
Perhaps Leopold was painted in a similar manner around its markings.
Ron
Wow! Where do you guys get this information? [:)]
wrbridge:
Here is the web page for the Aberdeen Proving Grounds Museum: http://www.ordmusfound.org/
Basically, I emailed them my question and they replied very quickly. You need to be very specific in your questions to them.
Obtaining the rest of the info is easy…Research, Research, Research.
Later
Thanks for the link, jmorgan_11. Still, full marks to all of you on this thread for excellent information, very impressive.
By the way, when you visit aberdeen proving grounds, be sure to go INSIDE the building (armory / ordinance museum) and check out the camo pattern they have through the restrooms too [:P]