Paint color question
Moderators: Cal_Gary, T. Highway, Monkey Man, robi
Paint color question
I was just looking at lots of photos of trucks in Vietnam and the color is not at all like 24087 . It looks almost black green. Can anyone tell what color the vehicles are or what FS was used in the 60s?
1952 M37
M101 trailer
1942 Chevy G506
M101 trailer
1942 Chevy G506
The colors used in Viet Nam depend on several variables:
(1) The "correct" color was different for each branch of the service.
(2) Paint was occasionally procured via "local purchase" and seldom matched the rest of the vehicle exactly.
(3) Mismatched paint colors were common as parts were taken from "destroyed" vehicles to repair "damaged" ones.
(4) Even the "correct" colors could differ somewhat from batch to batch.
I'd venture to guess that you'e be hard pressed to find a truck assigned to an "in country" combat unit that had matching paint everywhere. You might find a "rear echelon" vehicle that was meticulously maintained for some "brass hat" at MAC-V in Saigon, but it most likely wouldn't have been an M series vehicle unless it was a M38A1 or an M151. Command officers like their little luxuries, you know!
(1) The "correct" color was different for each branch of the service.
(2) Paint was occasionally procured via "local purchase" and seldom matched the rest of the vehicle exactly.
(3) Mismatched paint colors were common as parts were taken from "destroyed" vehicles to repair "damaged" ones.
(4) Even the "correct" colors could differ somewhat from batch to batch.
I'd venture to guess that you'e be hard pressed to find a truck assigned to an "in country" combat unit that had matching paint everywhere. You might find a "rear echelon" vehicle that was meticulously maintained for some "brass hat" at MAC-V in Saigon, but it most likely wouldn't have been an M series vehicle unless it was a M38A1 or an M151. Command officers like their little luxuries, you know!

"PER ARDUA AD ITER"
Old Foto's
Sometimes a Kodak moment loses sharpness/contrast & clarity over 30 plus years?
Bruce,
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
Yep that's what I was going to say.... Color film from the 60s has a tendency to loose it's color some, also remember that the film was carried in shirt or pants pockets in 100+ degree 95% humidity so sometimes it was corupted even before it got developed. Then if developed at a PX in country the photo was tored in less than desirable conditions and then put away for 30 years until they were scanned into the PC which changes the color again...
But also what Lifer said is true. I've been told by many GIs who where in engineer units that they couldn't get 24087 paint, but they could get gallons of glack and yellow for safety equipment and marking so they would mix the two together and get a basic some what like 24087 green. So yeah some of the trucks were blackish in color. But the proper color for the 1960s is 24087.
But also what Lifer said is true. I've been told by many GIs who where in engineer units that they couldn't get 24087 paint, but they could get gallons of glack and yellow for safety equipment and marking so they would mix the two together and get a basic some what like 24087 green. So yeah some of the trucks were blackish in color. But the proper color for the 1960s is 24087.
M37s are HMMWV in my world!
Gun Trucks
Bruce,
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
- uglyranger
- PFC
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:02 am
- Location: Georgia
- uglyranger
- PFC
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:02 am
- Location: Georgia
- uglyranger
- PFC
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:02 am
- Location: Georgia
Mr Nice 523rd Transportation Company 1971. Uncle Meat, 5 ton gun truck in background, with convoy commander.


Last edited by uglyranger on Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
- uglyranger
- PFC
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:02 am
- Location: Georgia
- uglyranger
- PFC
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:02 am
- Location: Georgia
-
- SSGT
- Posts: 339
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:56 am
- Location: Long Island
- uglyranger
- PFC
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:02 am
- Location: Georgia
-
- SSGT
- Posts: 339
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:56 am
- Location: Long Island
How encouraging...Well now, if I do set up my M37 as a "gun truck", I can certainly have smoke grenades too. It's an idea i shall have to discuss with...the police. ( it's a long story)..(i'm known in this area by certain terms of endearment unsuiutable for disclusure on this websight )... I don't want to upset anybody around here ...(?)
1952 M37 W/W
Veteran of 82 ABN. Division Motor Pool 1969
Veteran of 82 ABN. Division Motor Pool 1969