1942 Panzer Camo example (1 Viewer)

[Blowtorch]

Here's a pic late September 1942 from the 23PD which participated in Operation Blau (didn't go to the 'grad, but went south to the oilfields). Either sand or yellow mixed with grey. On the right fender, you can see the Eifel Tower insignia. Just wanted to share a rare color pic from the same time period as the Stalingrad fighting showing the oddball camo of 1942

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Here's a pic late September 1942 from the 23PD which participated in Operation Blau (didn't go to the 'grad, but went south to the oilfields). Either sand or yellow mixed with grey. On the right fender, you can see the Eifel Tower insignia. Just wanted to share a rare color pic from the same time period as the Stalingrad fighting showing the oddball camo of 1942

Nice rare photo.

I was just reading a reference by Thomas Jentz of Panzer Tracts on camo colours in Southern Russia. Originally, up until December 1942, AFVs left the factory with a base coat of Dunkelgrau (RAL 7021). Between September 1942 to February 1943, AFVs designated as "Tropen" for service in Tunisia and southern Russia were factory painted in a 2 tone camo scheme of 2/3 Braun (RAL 8020) and 1/3 Grau (RAL 7027). These AFVs were issued to Grossdeutchland, SS-LAH, SS-Das Reich and SS-Totenkopf.

From February 1943 AFVs were base coated with Dunkelgelb (RAL 7028) with Olivgruen (RAL 6003) and Rotbraun (RAL 8017) added in the field in a camo pattern making the familiar 3 colour camo scheme.

In late Autumn 1942, some of the AFVs destined for south Russia were white washed in the factory and I suspect the few photos of very light coloured AFVs in South Russia near the end of 1942 were those units. The book contains several photos of these AFVs when there was no snow on the ground in the late Autumn, yet they were already whitewashed by the factory.

Terry

 

[fmethorst]

Here's a pic late September 1942 from the 23PD which participated in Operation Blau (didn't go to the 'grad, but went south to the oilfields). Either sand or yellow mixed with grey. On the right fender, you can see the Eifel Tower insignia. Just wanted to share a rare color pic from the same time period as the Stalingrad fighting showing the oddball camo of 1942

Interesting picture. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Blowtorch]

This pic was from Signal No.19 of 1942, first issue of October. Perhaps if someone has a better copy in their collection, they could post a better scan. This copy was well worn.

 

[Blowtorch]

Here are two more 1942 Russia repaints. The 24PD pic has to be dated correctly as the unit died in the Winter of Stalingrad & would have been reborn later in '43 in dunkelgelb.

The SS Viking pic can't be proven to be dated correctly, but if correct does show pattern painting again in mid-42

 

[fmethorst]

A couple more photos of 24.Panzer-Division vehicles taken August 29/30 1942 demonstrating impovised camo.

 

[Blowtorch]

A couple more photos of 24.Panzer-Division vehicles taken August 29/30 1942 demonstrating impovised camo.

Hi Frank, would you happen to have this book?

 

[debrito]

A couple more photos of 24.Panzer-Division vehicles taken August 29/30 1942 demonstrating impovised camo.

Looks very ugly, special the half-track vehicle.

 

[fmethorst]

Hi Frank, would you happen to have this book?

Yes I do. It's Vol. 1 of a 3 part series which also includes:

In die Tiefen Russlands

Schicksalswende im Osten

 

[Blowtorch]

Yes I do. It's Vol. 1 of a 3 part series which also includes:

In die Tiefen Russlands

Schicksalswende im Osten

Yes, well I was having another look at these last night, & observed that many of the photos are in the wrong book timewise. For example, I'm seeing 1942 Op. Blau photos not only in vol. 2, but 1 & 3 as well.

In vol. 1, take a look around page 28-ish (dont' have the book in front of my right now). There's a 2 page blowup of a famous photo from the 23PD in the Caucusus in 1942. It's a camo PzIII numbered 600something and has some troopers sitting on it & also advancing with it as it proceeds through a wheatfield.

Look at the storage bin on the back, which is the best color presentation I've seen so far for this period. Holding Chory's chips up to it, what do you think the colors are? To me they come across as RAL8000/7008. What do you think?

 

[fmethorst]

Always difficult to determine color from old photographs. Even how they are processed and printed affects the final image. This particular picture appears to have an overall yellow bias. That said the color looks more like RAL8020 to me.

 

[Blowtorch]

two more examples. These are from the Voronezh tank battle Summer 1942