"M2 & M3 Bradley Camo in 1st Gulf War?" Topic

I know some of the USMC AAVs in the First Gulf War in Iraq were still in the NATO three color scheme.

What I'd like to know is if any of the Bradleys were as well, at the start of the conflict, and afterwards?

While we're at it, might as well ask about the M-1 tanks too, I suppose.

I recall seeing a lot of the armor in sand camo., but suspect some might not have been repainted immediately, if at all.

Anyone know about that, definitively, or have thoughts on the issue?

Everything gets a coat of dust fairly rapidly. We took Forest Green equipment to the NTC, in a day it was all light grey.

Ah, found a website with info on that.

Appears they were shipped to the Middle East in their three-color camo, and then repainted.

Not enough paint to go around, at least initially, so M-1s and M-2/M-3 Bradleys got priority for desert tan.

That helps to explain the mix of AAV7s in both tan and three color camo. I recall seeing.

The AAV's probably were left to give the impression of an amphibious assault that was being discussed all the time.

Everything gets a coat of dust fairly rapidly. We took Forest Green equipment to the NTC, in a day it was all light grey.

Yes that was my experience as well from trips to the NTC. Everything is covered by that fine gritty dust. As desert sand is not "beach" sand. From what I saw some of the US units sent from Europe didn't get painted tan. Where many of the units from the US did. My one buddy who was there said that is what it appeared. But again, our observations could be wrong based on any actual stats.

I was in the 1st ID and all of our stuff was flat desert sand although the HUMVEEs still had green doors and stuff.

It stayed that way too. Kind of odd to go beating through the scrub of Ft. Riley, which was mainly green, and finding sand colored vehicles trying to hide!

2nd ACR we had everything with armor desert sand. Many of the soft skins as well, but i dont think all of them where. And that was before the war.

Owen

Thanks for the info, and replies, guys.

I figured some of you would have first-hand info on the subject.

The USMC was in the middle of transitioning from the old MERDC four-color camouflage to NATO three-color camouflage when the Iraqis invaded Kuwait in 1990. Our vehicles, both tanks and AAVs, regularly underwent re-builds under a program called "IRON." We'd load up old, dogged-out vehicles and send them off and and would come back with fresh new NATO camouflage.

USMC AAVs and tanks were shipped to the Gulf from a number of places. Some came from regular bases – Camp Pendleton, etc – and others came from MPS ships, essentially cargo ships full of equipment that would be send to hot-spots and unloaded in ports. Most of the MPS-ship vehicles had already been repainted in NATO 3-color black/green/brown paint.

Personally my unit had just finished a tour on Okinawa; we flew back to Pendleton, got word that the invasion of Kuwait had happened, went to 29 Palms for a day or two to pick up desert gear and uniforms, then were flown over to Saudi Arabia aboard a commercial aircraft. We landed and were sent to the port of Al Jubayil to wait for our vehicles. After a week or so the ship showed up, we drove off the tanks/tracks, and headed out to the desert to wait for the war to start.

Initially our vehicles were, again, NATO 3-color, but we soon realized that black/green/brown really stands out in the desert. Some units tried a number of improvised camouflage schemes, like covering their vehicles with a thin coat of motor oil so the dust would coat them. It never seemed to work too well. Ours (1st Tanks) stayed in NATO 3-color, but were soon quite dusty.

After a few months (late October 1990, if I remember correctly) we were met by a truck full of barrels of paint. We were given masking tape to cover up vital areas (vision blocks, grease points, etc), then handed an air-gun paint sprayer. Everything got a quick, thick coat of desert sand yellow. We also painted a few other things, like the shells of our CVC helmets.

Some of the vehicles in other units already had the MERDC desert camouflage already applied. These vehicles were never repainted.

I know this is USMC (someone already mentioned us) but I suspect that the Army underwent a similar process.

Does this help?

I remember an article on the UK 1st armored, their tanks had a paint that had a 'pink' tint to it. It apparently matched up where they were expected to be. If I recall correctly, they were part of the VII Corps under Lt. Genl Franks. Also with French and US Airborne.

I use Testor/Model Masters spray Dark Tan for my US desert color, occasionally another color in the mix.

Sorry Chris, I don't ever remember seeing UK tracks a shade of pink, always thought their desert paint was darker than US desert. As for where the UK 1st Armoured was employed, it covered the right flank of the VII Corps "long left hook". Basically they made a short left hook across Kuwait. The French and US 83nd AB were part of the US XVIII Airborne Corps covering the far left flank of the coalition front.

Opps, you are right Marshal, my mistake about the XVIII Corp with French and Airbourne. The Pink tint was not something that I could see in a pic. remember reading that it had some pink in the color.

Who else was in the XVIII Corps? I did speak with General Franks once, gave him a call after reading his book with Clancy.

Thank you Marshal for keeping me accurate.