"What color is a British WWII 2" mortar?" Topic

Germans had Panzer Gray. US had Olive Drab. Is there a standard color for the British to paint all their equipment?

I know it had a white stripe to help target … any suggestions how long that would be?

I'm finding plenty of B&W photos of mortars. I found one in my Osprey book, but it's painted Desert Tan like the rest of the LRDG's equipment. Otherwise, I'm not seeing much.

Thanks.

Post war they were deep bronze green. (I'm talking the 70s to the 90s here) I have no reason to believe they had been any other colour..

Checking the book "The World War II Tommy – British Army Uniforms, European Theatre 1939-1945, in Colour Photographs" (Crowood Press) there is a 2" mortar team dispalyed on pages 124-125. The mortar shown there is painted green, probably about the same shade as the helmets. The white stripe is running the whole length of the barrel. The pictures also display two different round carriers, as well as a few rounds.

I would recommend the aformentioned book for anybody interested in WWII British uniforms and equipment, as well as the companion volume Khaki Drill & Jungle Green which displays tropical WWII British uniforms. Both contain 144 pages packed with splendid colour photographs of modern re-enactors displaying the uniforms and equipment.

A liitle worn, but you get the idea:

From this thread, which also shows one in post-war color:

link

Second Griefbringer's recommendations for Brayley's books.

P.S. From January 1941, bronze green wouldn't be seen much in combat usage. Yep, it came back after the war, but after Dunkirk, subsequent instructions for painting combat vehicles, transport, and other equipment no longer authorized it.

Allen

I third Griefbringer about Bayley and Ingram's books

Looks like SCC15 (olive drab) to me, which according to the likes of mike starmer and steve zaloga is pretty close to tamiya olive drab. Mike starmer gives recommended blends in his texts if you're super-keen to get it spot on.

Actual wartime use of "bronze green", as others have said, is limited at best.

I'm sure the Mid-earth/kahki drab colours were used too.

Have a look here:
PDF link

I paint mine dark green

"I'm sure the Mid-earth/kahki drab colours were used too."

I always chuckle when I look at a certain 15mm WWII figure company's painted examples, and they've painted everything metal (whether the original was painted or not!) in Desert Yellow for North Africa.

It's good to take the time to look up as many color images of crew-served weapons as possible: mortars, PIATs, Vickers MGs, yea, even Boys AT rifles, if you're doing British. Same for the ammo canisters, mortar bombs, etc.

Almost invariably, the weapons themselves will be painted in the primary camouflage color appropriate for the theater. But there can be considerable variation in shading, weathering, etc. And not to belabor the point (stomp, stomp, stomp), but it's good to know what bits were *never* painted (to keep the weapon functional!), and what bits were canvas or webbing (like the hand protector on the 2" mortar, or the water jacket cover on a Vickers).

But then I'm picky. Really. I know it's hard to fathom…

Allen

Indeed no hard fast rules, particularly when taking into account the vaugaries of supply issues, field conditions improvisation using local mud/scrounged paint, but I guess you've got to start somewhere even if it is a "by the Numbers" ideal.

Photos win hands down (except extant artifacts), Its hard to beat primary references!