QUAD TRACTOR QUESTION

[Richmb1138]

Would all quad gun tractors be a green when built and then be painted  deseret colors on the exterior for africa thus leaving the under areas the original green? 

[Niels v]

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060033073 this gives a good view on how some vehicles where painted in north Africa. 

[DaveR100]

My reaction would be initially yes sand colour was an “overcoat” on upper surfaces only maybe on arrival. However, by 1941 there was a chronic shortage of chromium oxide (an essential pigment for green paint). With vehicles being specifically contracted for the Desert Campaign and this shortage (which had resulted in a switch from green to dark earth as a vehicle’s base colour (my R100, released late 1943 was dark earth ex-factory) it would be logical to assume that sand colour was applied to some vehicles destined for the desert as the originally applied colour. However see references to Mike Taylor’s book below which would indicate things were not that well controlled or efficient.

The following data is taken from Mike Starmer’s “British Army Colours & Disruptive Camouflage in the UK, ….1936-45 and is evidence of the central WAR Office concerns

From ACI 96 February 1939 – Quote “ALL vehicles……..which are at present painted with service paint shall in future be painted with …..Khaki Green No3”. [My emphasis] This is reaffirmed in an ACI in December 1939. (Although Mike is directing his comments at UK, and NW Europe this ACI uses the term “All”.)

ACI 2339 of May 1942 stipulates a change to a brown with green used until existing stocks are exhausted for UK and Europe but the author believes this was a “catch up” on actual practice.

In Dick Taylor’s “Warpaint” vol 2 page 14 there is a photo of a 15cwt from above which clearly shows the load compartment” has not been repainted in the camouflage base colour”. (The photo has an IWM reference IWM E4399 and is dated July 1941. Given the appearance of the rear half shaft I would guess the vehicle is a full windscreen MW.)  This book (Page 39) also states that many vehicles were not camouflaged and in rear areas were left in European finishes – presumably either brown or green. He does not date this view

My reaction would be initially yes sand colour was an “overcoat” on upper surfaces only maybe on arrival. However, by 1941 there was a chronic shortage of chromium oxide (an essential pigment for green paint). With vehicles being specifically contracted for the Desert Campaign and this shortage (which had resulted in a switch from green to dark earth as a vehicle’s base colour (my R100, released late 1943 was dark earth ex-factory) it would be logical to assume that sand colour was applied to some vehicles destined for the desert as the originally applied colour. However see references to Mike Taylor’s book below which would indicate things were not that well controlled or efficient.

The following data is taken from Mike Starmer’s “British Army Colours & Disruptive Camouflage in the UK, ….1936-45 and is evidence of the central WAR Office concerns

From ACI 96 February 1939 – Quote “ALL vehicles……..which are at present painted with service paint shall in future be painted with …..Khaki Green No3”. [My emphasis] This is reaffirmed in an ACI in December 1939. (Although Mike is directing his comments at UK, and NW Europe this ACI uses the term “All”.)

ACI 2339 of May 1942 stipulates a change to a brown with green used until existing stocks are exhausted for UK and Europe but the author believes this was a “catch up” on actual practice.

In Dick Taylor’s “Warpaint” vol 2 page 14 there is a photo of a 15cwt from above which clearly shows the load compartment” has not been repainted in the camouflage base colour”. (The photo has an IWM reference IWM E4399 and is dated July 1941. Given the appearance of the rear half shaft I would guess the vehicle is a full windscreen MW.)  This book (Page 39) also states that many vehicles were not camouflaged and in rear areas were left in European finishes – presumably either brown or green. He does not date this view

Trust this is of some use and does not breech copyright rules.