Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[Mike K]

A still from a colour film, Bougainville ( no, not the Northern Melbourne suburb where Chopper Read came from , that is Thomastown ) .

I can see a dark green and a lightish brown colour , the two colour camo ?

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I can see a dark green and a lightish brown colour , the two colour camo ?

I don’t think so Mike, just single colour Dark Green. You can see it better in my screenshot. I discovered how to do screenshots a while back, they're so much easier than photos and much better result. You should try it, just google "screenshot" for instructions.

Second pic shows the difference between Dark Green and KG3. You can see why NG Force (and NT Force) preferred Dark Green, it matches the jungle foliage so much better than KG3. US Olive Drab was much greener than KG3 too.

Last two pics show 2/11 Fd. Regt. equipment which does appear to be NG Force scheme. Rather scruffy by that stage but blends in well I reckon.


F03437-1 NG Force C15A Dark Green wet.jpg

F03437 NG Force 60S tipper KG3 wet with 60L GS Dark Green.jpg

144 - Copy (Medium).jpg

F03437 2-11 Fd Regt NG Force camo scheme (2).jpg

F03437 2-11 Fd Regt NG Force camo scheme.jpg

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

I don’t think so Mike, just single colour Dark Green. You can see it better in my screenshot.
]

Yes , the darker shade is where the water has splashed up , I should have spotted that . There may be some dusty dirt on the dryer area , the matt paint really comes to life and reveals its true colour when it is wet . Did you see the dark green YMCA Ford Vans ? The Jeep in the opening minutes is also a very dark green .

The screen shot , good tip there.

Colour 1942 WANGARATTA https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C190905

[Mike K]

Appears to be a British colour scheme 1941 ? Malaya . The car looks like a Chev so its Australian paint ?

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Appears to be a British colour scheme 1941 ? Malaya . The car looks like a Chev so its Australian paint ?

Yes Mike it's KG3 with Dark Tarmac disruptive (standard British disruptive colour at the time). Looks like the KG3 was repainted at the same time, presumably British stocks were used. I have another image which shows 8th Div formation sign, plus B&W image showing this scheme.

8th Div staff car Malaya 1941 (note camo).jpg

009341 1941-08. MALAYA CROSSING A MALAYAN RIVER. AUSTRALIAN ARMY TRANSPORT. (NEGATIVE BY M. NIC.JPG

[Tony Wheeler]

Singapore April 1941 we see Dark Tarmac disruptive again but this time over S.C.C. 2 which has already replaced KG3 in production. Note rear vehicle still KG3 which dates the changeover to early '41. Meanwhile Australian Army retained KG3 until 1948!

Morris quads Singapore April 1941 Photographer Carl Mydans (2).jpg

Morris quads Singapore April 1941 Photographer Carl Mydans.jpg

[Mike K]

I believe some of the refugee vehicles arrived here still finished in the earlier two green disruptive British scheme .

I have one original Morris CS8 GS body side, the two greens are there to be seen , faded of course. The darker green was originally very dark , this was hand painted over the khaki 3 . The PU I have here has the two greens as well , under the desert yellow, which is under the cheap grey Lanes Motors applied in 1945. The old chap up at Whittlesea told me: Lanes Motors slapped a cheap coat of grey paint over the military paint before they sold the vehicles.

BTW the Ambulance in the Wangaratta film is a very odd strange green, the canvas and uniforms appear to be a reasonable colour . This to me indicates the dyes in the film stock appear to be in OK ?

This is a drawing I did years ago, an attempt at re-creating what I found on the Morris body. I should not have indicated G3 for the darker colour .edit: it should be G4 . The two Humbers on the punt, maybe they are the two greens ?

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

the matt paint really comes to life and reveals its true colour when it is wet .

Indeed it does Mike, I'm always on the lookout for colour film of wet vehicles, eg. parades in the rain. I hadn't considered vehicles in rivers!

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Did you see the dark green YMCA Ford Vans ?

I certainly did Mike, and it looks like factory paint to me. What do you think? We know from correspondence that Dark Green was the preferred base colour for vehicle camo by late '42, eg. Dark Green M specified for NT Force and NG Force schemes, and NSW LOC Area scheme using "Dark Green 3" which was KG3 with 1/8 Night Black U added, then special colours developed like "Black Green" and finally the adoption of "Vehicle Dark Green". It's possible this colour entered production alongside KG3 for vehicles bound for NG, and decisions re disruptive colour left to GOC in the field. On the other hand it generally wasn't known at production stage where vehicles were destined to go, so perhaps they were refinished at BOD where high standard paintwork was the norm. Whatever the case there do seem to be plenty of Dark Green vehicles seen in operational areas by 1945.