"Indian WW2 tank colors" Topic

The Indian 50th, 254th, and the 255th Tank Brigades operated in Burma during WW2. Anyone have any idea of the color scheme for the tanks.

thanks
Bruce

I thought they used elephants(the animalnot the vehicle)… ( As he scratches head)

British Khaki green overall. Not very exciting alas. Essentially paint them as you would for Brits in NW Europe but you do get to have Lees and Grants in this colour.

Thanks Carlos Can you point me at any data sources?

Bruce

What is the Tamiya or Vallejo equivilent of this color?

I've read it described as 'Jungle Green', though I'm not sure whether this was an actual paint colour, or whether it was simply bog standard British Olive Drab.

I've painted mine in Humbrol 159 (Vallejo equivalent is 'Russian Uniform'). That's what my NW Europe tanks are painted and my friend's dad (who drove Universal Carriers for 1 SLI in Burma) reckons it's an excellent match.

In 1945 all British/Indian AFVs in Burma had BIG stars on the sides – much bigger than stars painted in the European theatre (without circles). There was usually a two-digit ID number painted large on the rear of the hull. Squadron signs were painted on the rear quarters of the turrets (i.e. the 4 and 8 o'clock positions) with the troop number painted within.

50th Tank Brigade's sign was a white upraised fist and forearm on a black disc.

254th Armoured Brigade's sign was a symbol that looks like black railway tracks disappearing into the distance, on a yellow triangle.

255th Armoured Brigade's sign was a black bull, rather like that of 11th Armoured Division, with yellow horns and red eyes, on a royal blue triangle.

Tacsigns in 1945 were as for NW Europe – 50, 51, 52, 53 & 54 on red square.

Bruce,

Sadly I'm nowhere near my references. There's an excellent article on theatre paint schemes in one of the old Military Modelling Annuals from the early eighties alas it's not to hand and won't be for another 6 months.

The pattern that was followed in in SEAC was essentially a repeat of what took place in Europe. Pre war vehicles were painted in the standard No 23 Middle Bronze Green in Malaya, Burma Hong Kong etc Those on the North West Frontier in India were in the overall sand scheme commonly seen in the Middle East. Some vehicles in '42-43 may well have been in the overall Dark Earth scheme seen on similar vehicles in Europe. By 1944 vehicles in Burma are sporting the standard British olive green colour as per NW Europe.(variously described depending on what source you use).

Bear in mind that apart from the earlier Arakan campaign much of the use of armour in Burma took place in the dry so a muted, dusty version of whatever you paint your vehicles in would be a good tip.

Thanks, I love muted and dusty

Bruce

SCC.13 Jungle Green was supposedly a bit darker and greener than khaki drab, but similar overall. I've seen Humbrol 116 suggested as a match, but it's not "muddy" enough for my liking. Mike Starmer suggests a mix of Humbrol 159 / 155 / 33 at a ratio of 4:3:1. For Vallejo I'd suggest US Dark Green, but as Carlos suggests, lots of dust is in order….

I've also seen suggestions that in 1945 this was replaced by deep bronze green; I'm inclined to treat that as dubious, but would be very interested if anyone has any references on the matter.

Dom.

my bt white sourse describes jungle green as such.

"this was contrary to some belief, a very dark colour, an olive drab darker than that used in europe. In 1942 to would have been Shade no 13 to BSI 987c 1942, replaced in 1945 by shade no 16 very Dark drab."

my experience of changes to british Standards would suggest that this didnt actually mean the colour was changed at all, just that some additional shades were inserted and the shade was renumbered for the 45 code amendment. I have read somewhere else (that naturally I cannot find!) that the shade was very similar to the british railway bronze dark green and they shared a ral number both post war with railways and 1950,s post war british armour on the rhine. consequently, i went for a shade that the matchbox post war comet colour used. (humbrel 65 or 66?)

I in fact use this shade for all my British armour and "upshade" it to varing degrees with drybrushing/dusting/all that modelling stuff you do to make shades look different and lighter/highlighted.