I got the idea for this post from a recent thread concerning whitewashes on the Eastern front. Seems that most researchers agree that the Germans adopted some unusual schemes during the year of 1942, before dunkelgelb became standard. Appears that this was a “transitional” year for the germans when it came to camo for their AFV’s. The war started with Panzer Grey and in early '43 the standard base was dark yellow. However, in 1942, it seems some strange things were going on that is hard to sort out with primarily black and white pics to evaluate. There is a lot of info buzzing around right now that suggests that some other colors may have indeed supplemented panzer grey as the primary color of German AFV’s in 1942. Many refs acknowledge that tanks could be seen in Southern Russia in Africa brown. This has been attributed to tanks earmarked for the African theatre shipped to Russia as emergency replacements. Other sources indicate that green or brown may have been sprayed over the dark grey in a disruptive pattern. But recently I read an article that suggests some other colors, such as grey-green!!!, may have been heavily used as well. The source indicates that these colors may have been Luftwaffe colors or perhaps even captured Russian stocks. I ran across this article in a modeling mag (Modelismo, Tanks in Russia I) recently that had a good write up, some cool plates and some built up models supporting their theories. Thought you German armor junkies might be interested. The article is worth reading. What is your opinion on this???
It’s an interesting area to explore. The accepted conventional wisdom is that the Luftwaffe colors, based on standard orders, were used only in N. Africa over the panzer gray or in combination with sand gelb (ala the Bovington Tiger). It wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out that field units were experimenting with captured stocks or combining Lufty colors available with the standard Heer issued paint schemes. Commanders were given wide, wide latitude in the field when expediency or local conditions dictated it.
Just as a side note MR, the war didn’t start with Panzer Gray, it started with 1/3 Dark Brown and 2/3 Panzer Gray for 1939-1940 when it was then switched to straight Panzer Gray after the French campaign. [;)]
Bill, I agree that this is a very intriguing area to research and gives modelers even more color schemes!!! As for the Panzer grey question, I have to partially disagree with you. My refs state that in late '39 a new spec was issued to paint all German AFV’s in overall Panzer Grey. One ref states that most probably this order was not fully carried out before the invasion of Poland; however, it does state that the order was issued before Sept. 1st…I suspect that many tanks did fight in the old scheme but it does seem that many/most tanks had been repainted…
But I gota say this–try modeling a tank in some far-out “conceptual” scheme and watch all the naysayers come out in ful force–might be even more controversial than “field-applied zimmerit”!! LOL!
On a side note, my girlfriend would want to know if you came across any lime green or pink camo schemes? [:-^]…[(-D]
Geez…I have enough problems with judges not being up to par with my modeling subjects, now this! Russian paint… why hasn’t anyone else written about this? Who is the author, BTW? Why has this taken 65 years to come forward? [zzz]
Interesting article, it sure kicks the door wide open for speculative paint schemes. [alien]
I’m still waiting for Mr Jentz to “fix our little red wagon” and set us all straight on paint schemes. When is that damn book going to be published anyway? We need some follow-up on this topic…
Yeah, it does add yet one more wrinkle into the German color scheme debate, although I guess that’s what makes the hobby so interesting (and frustrating at times)…I agree that not much has been written about this subject but there has always been some buzz about the schemes during '42…however, most of the unusual pics in Russia were quickly written off to tanks painted in Afrika Brown or secondary colors being applied over Panzer Grey…
One only has to look at the recent box-art of DML’s new Mk IVF(1) and (F2) to see that these unusual schemes have been in the armor modelers collective conscious for some time…Volstad’s very well done boxart of the F(2) is particularly striking…however, some now suggest that Panzer Grey was NOT the base for this scheme…
LOL…the NEW “Holy Grail” of German armour modeling is finding a Mk IIIJ in field-applied zimm then painted w/ Luftwaffe and Russian paint stocks!!! LOL…
PS: That German grey-green is awfully close to lime green…hee hee hee
Manny: Sorry I have no deep historical insight to add…and I don’t mind so much about the facts, I just think it’s [censored] awesome looking! I haven’t build a Panzer of Late because they are “overbuilt” IMO, but between Tamiya’s new shortbarrel offering and these pics’ I’m getting fired up!
