    
U.S. AFV Colors
U.S. Armor "Colors & Markings" in North Africa & MTO
FIVE POINTED S TARThere are six different basic types of national identification symbols to be seen in photographs of U.S. Army vehicles during World War 2, five of which are variants of the well-known white star, used on all Allied vehicles from the Normandy landings of 1944 onwards, It would appear therefore that the white star was the direct descendant of the earliest versions, all of which were but transient stages in the development of a national identification insignia. The Red field/White Star with Blue Dot is the color reverse of the Army Air Corps marking of early WWI and from late 1919 through to mid-1942 and was a method to distinguish the Armored Troops. This is one form of the Medium Blue that was used from after WWI to 1940 and has many color aficionados confused and bothered with the colors actually seen later in the war years! The Dark Blue field White Star and Red dot emblem was used on early US aircraft from May 1917 until February 1918 and the US army Air Corps (and other US flying services) aircraft went to the Red-Blue-White center roundel form insignia until late 1919 and then went back to early war form three color star form again.  May 1917-February 1918 then from November 1919-May 15,1942 for US Army Air Corps which relates to US Armor
THREE COLOR STAR The first symbol to appear, it was in use before the war, was a white star with a circular centre in blue on a circular background of red. This was based on the colors of the national flag and was also identical to the marking carried on American airplanes in 1918 and which continued in use up to the entry of the US into World War 2 or until the end 1941. This type of star appeared on vehicles up to mid-1942. The colors were sometimes reversed, with a red centre on a blue background. The use of this marking and the background is discussed at length in Lemons book cited in the references. The idea behind this marking in the red field form was that it was a unique identifier for the "Armored Elite' and a reverse to the blue field form transitioned to by the Army Air Corps in the thirties. The crews felt that Blue Drab background field had a lower long range visibility profile than did the Red or Medium Blue background and was thought to be more appropriate for ground service use. Transition in the star form with the removal of the blue or red dot center to the white star in this three color star variant appears by order for aircraft on may 15, 1942 and appears closely followed by Army tankers as well to be the wartime configuration seen when vehicles started to be shipped for the landings in Africa.  Medium Blue/Red Dot Version (This Medium Blue was popular from service use on US a/c from French sources)
Namely the Lafayette Escadrille and the popularity of this Medium Blue color was maintained on various US Army Unit insignia  Red Field Inverse/Medium Blue Dot Version (This Medium Blue was even seen on early US Armor Apex markings)
 Semi-Standardized US Army & Army Air Corps/ US Naval Air Service/ US Marine aircraft marking as used
On maneuvers... 
The USA vehicle coding is in Robin's Egg Blue... with vehicle unit markings in white... and note the various sizes of the Red dot painted centers on different US AFV markings... sometimes the center circle of paint touches the inside edges of the star and sometimes it does not and this variance is seen in all three of the Three Color Star forms noted. 
TWO COLOR STAR  5 Point Star (Touch Edge) used May 1942-June 1943 on Army Air Corps (also US Navy & Marine corps a/c) and seen on many types of US AFV's during NA & MTO operations during and even after this period.
 No Touch Edge Form Variant can have more space in Blue Drab field around star
 Red Field Star appears to be a possible transient use 'Training' version star and works better on the pre-war Dark OD painted vehicles versus the common early war form OD.
 Robin's Egg Blue Field Star is another use of one type of USA Registration code paint on the background to star on desert service vehicles to reduce visible contrast between the USA Vehicle Registration coding and the applied varieties of applicable paints to be used in arid or desert environments with single paint color or combinations of OD/Sand/Desert Sand/Earth Yellow camouflage painted vehicles.
No doubt a direct descendant of the three color star, this appeared during the second half of 1942 on half tracks and 'soft skinned' vehicles. It consisted of a white star on a circular background, usually of blue but sometimes red. The symbol does not appear elsewhere and seems to have been used for only a short time in North Africa/ MTO and on vehicles initially sent to England for training purposes. Terence Wise is in the belief that these M3 Halftracks (sent for training purposes to England) have Red Fields with the White Star seen on the sides and hood but the they look to be Blue Drab to me . The rear is a White star only. Black & White film makes discerning Red versus Blue very difficult and also makes it difficult to discern the USA registration code letter paint coloration. 
On the outskirts of Bizerte we can just barely see the Blue field and what could be Yellow star(s) instead of White and vehicle coding on this 15th Engineer's/B Company M-2 with the USA registration coding painted in Blue Drab or Robin's Egg Blue  Stars were also painted pointing down on a Blue Drab field or two color star (as were the various stars painted at different points on the vehicle but they were supposed to be applied with the five pointed star pointing up) note star points down on M2's hood...  More about this unusual M2 later in this thread...
THE NATIONAL FLAG  Note correct Blue Drab & Blood Red! The 'Stars and Stripes' (48 white stars in 6 rows of 8 on blue drab field for the states then in the republic/13 horizontal stripes with 7 red and 6 white for the original 13 founding colonial states as Alaska and Hawaii were not inducted as US states until 1960 to match the current 50 star flag) was used prominently on vehicles (and men's uniforms) for the landings in North Africa in November 1942. The national flag does not seem to have been used much in other theaters of deployment, and was probably only widely employed in North Africa for political reasons, Operation Torch being the first American participation in the 'European' theatre. The US flag ('Stars and Bars') painted twice on truck hoods... and many HT's and even armor has them masking taped or painted on! 
 Note the Tri-Colors under the White V and on the outside segments of the three piece transmission cover... it is also on the center section but the crew's boots have nearly erased it from view
The application of US flags painted onto AFV's were to follow these guidelines for the presentation of the "Stars & Bars"... but many US AFV's tank troop crews did not follow the proper US flag display procedures... the Stars with Blue field on the left side of vehicles is to be on the left with Red/White stripes to right. On the Right side of vehicles the flag presentation would be flipped horizontally or the Stars and Blue field would be to right and the Red/White stripes to left. US Vehicles used "Blue Drab" For Number / Letter Coding in the 'Early' war to reduce visibility. It sometimes looks black on black & white film! The dark form of blue appears to have been transitioned over from the Robin's Egg or Medium blue form for use in NA, the Blue Drab color was prescribed in April of 1942, and then Yellow Drab (Goldenrod Yellow) and later white when vehicles moved into Sicily and Italy. There are several different colors used for the U.S.A. Registration coding from testing that was done with various colored paints from Black, Earth Brown, & Dark Gray Blue which is the confusing color for researchers as it sometimes looks like Blue Drab in B/W photos. then 
Note on construction / assembly line the look of the coding... 
Blue Drab Field / Possibly Yellow Star(s) (Small uniform sleeve band US flags over the headlights) the US Army had set stars to be painted on all AFV's in Yellow during January of 1942 with Blue Drab USA Reg. & Yellow Unit Coding possible instead of White. 
Note irregular shaped Yellow stars as painted when masking tape was used to demarcate instead of template... the first photograph has M3 "ARABA" with wading gear still attached just coming in from the beaches in Morocco has the Yellow irregular 'masked' painted stars and the US flags that are either taped in place on the side of the HT or were masked off poorly and the Blue Drab hood star background but appears to have Robin's Egg Blue USA Vehicle Registration codes that were started to be repainted over in a smaller size with again Golden Yellow paint. The hood star still looks to be lighter in color than the side painted yellow stars but is it white? As the nose star on the grille louvers appears to again be yellow! To tell the difference look at the White stripes on the US flag versus the color of the newly masked off side stars... 
Two well used Tunisian service M2's being shipped to Scotland with Tri-Color marking clearly visible on the front vehicle with Yellow template star & to rear the irregular star on "Bag Man" in white paint but look at its USA Vehicle registration letter coding color. 
French Territory Occupation Tri-Color / Friend or Foe Markings & Gas Detection Paint Special Note : This is Not the Royal Tank Regiment Red /White/ Red flash nor are they French vehicles marked with the flag of France... this was a field order for US & Commonwealth vehicles entering French territory to display and is seen in Morocco, Algeria, and into Tunisia but also in Southern France and Northwest Italy as well!  Operation Torch Leaflet #1 (three different leaflets are known to have been dropped)
French Vichy Forces were ordered to display a French Flag on their AFV's to show that they were not engaged in combat duties against the "Allied" forces. November 8, 1942... Allied/Commonwealth AFV Forces deploying through Tunisia / Algeria were to place these markings on their vehicles to show support for the Free French and to make their vehicles identifiable to the local populous as 'friendly'! (This marking was again used in the initial landings in Southern France to identify AFV's as Pro-French and are seen on vehicles for a short period even as they traveled into Northwest Italy. This marking is known to be seen on British Shermans in Turin (Torino) that have moved up from the Italian Riviera coast. Again, this is not the Red/White/Red Royal Tank Regiment marking commonly seen on British AFV's and is confusing to some when seen in black and white photos! Vehicles staging in the UK for operational deployment in French held territory are known also to display this Tri-Color and it has greatly confused AFV historians. "NACHT"  Vehicle Rear and Left side (Often painted incorrectly or inversed)
 Vehicle Front and Right Side (Often painted incorrectly or inversed)
 Gas Detection Paint varied greatly in color from a Yellow Zinc Chromate color to a Light Yellow Green Ochre (This Yellow-Green paint was applied in variously seen forms from a rectangle/square patch to an irregular patch of paint being applied)
 Tri-Color with Center White lightly overpainted in Gas Detection paint
M-2 HT "One Dozen Roses" (chalked on name) still with wading gear and with French Territory Occupation Tri-Color /Friend or Foe Marking /Center White is 'thinly' overpainted with Gas Detection Paint and displays 5 pointed star on Blue Drab field pointing down and USA vehicle registration codes painted on hood hinged sides in Blue Drab... that are nearly invisible against a dust or dirt covered OD painted surface. This M2-HT is just off the beach at Les Andalouses, Algeria on January 9, 1943 and then headed to railhead. 
Looks to possibly be Fredenhall in his White Scout Car... note Red/White/Blue Tri-Color... the American Flag at a 45 degree angle from the right rear is also of interest... 
To help identify the difference in a French vehicle with a French Tri-Color Flag ... note on the right side of vehicle it is Red/White/Blue as is how the French "Properly" display their national flag when hung!!! Details of a "Free French" Laffley S-15 R in Algeria... 
Late Up-gunned Long Barrel Lee 
To reduce visibility on the battlefield the Flags and Tri-Colors were commonly overpainted late in the campaign... 
Also large numbers were painted on the vehicles to more rapidly identify and then communicate orders to troop vehicles... 
U.S. Army / U. S. Produced AFV's (Nacht Research... Another Myth Busting... not all US vehicles were OD and in fact... far from it!!!) Many American produced AFV's from Stuarts, Shermans, Chaffees, Staghounds, etc. had the above mentioned Black outlined Rainbow Color linear or box 'bars' or 'stripes' of color on entire surfaces or on edge elements. This is confirmed on all of the mentioned types and even on vehicles sent as lend-lease to the British or French!!! So to rewrite the colors books... here I go! We also have confirmed that two elements of the Second Battalion (E, & F Company's used) of the First Armored Regiment of the First Armored Division painting Black outlined "Rainbow" stripes across the front faces of their Shermans and we have uncovered much to bring to light on the colorful markings also painted across their turret tops and glacis plates. This markings information is heretofore unpublished as well as the continuation of the usage of the Red/White/Blue Tri-Color Air Recognition panel in its various forms as a Friend or Foe Marking. NACHT research 
Very difficult to define the colors when used on Shermans after their 'mud dobbing' or over-painting!!! This will make it easier to understand... but remember whom identified the markings! Nacht did and no one else but someone else will say that they did the research... bull!!! They are commonly over-sprayed but 'bleed through the paint with wear... and seen on American produced vehicles through the end of WWII! 
| U.S. Armor "Rainbow Colors" | Color Sample |  | | Black | | | Charcoal | | | Olive Drab (Early-Light Shade Shown) | | | Olive Drab (Pre-War & Late War) | | | Orange Red / Red Orange | | | Red | | | White | | | Medium Blue (Robin's Egg) | | | Blue (Blue Drab) | | | Green | | | Yellow (Goldenrod) | | | Yellow (Signals / Marker) | | | Note: All Colors are approximate and dependant on web values and monitor presentation | |
Shipping Label Color Bars  British REME Tow Truck example... | Full Compliment Shipping Bars (Colors - Size Proportions) | Color | | Black -1 | | | Green - 1 | | | Blue - 1 | | | White - 3 | | | Green - 3 | | | Blue - 3 | | | Yellow (Goldenrod) - 3 | | | Yellow (Signals/Marker) - 3 | | | Red - 3 | | | Orange Red - 3 (Weight Class Number in Black) | | | White - 3 (Normally Had Vehicle Group Attachment In Capital Black Letters) | | | Black - 3 (On Some Occasion Last Three Bars Reduced to 1 Type Proportion) | | | Green - 3 | | | Blue - 3 | | | White Label Specifications &/or Tri-Color Overlays (Paper or Paint) | Overlays (Masking Taped, Glued, or Painted |
Rainbow Colored Stripes and Boxes on Stuarts also!!! Just note that we are throwing the OLD Colors books out the window as our research will show some new findings as identified above... look at the Stuart in training in the US... it also has the Black outlined vertical form RAINBOW Stripes!!! Look just below the White stripe on the turret and look at the vertical color bars and see that I am informing you of information never before published!!! NACHT 
This M4A1 has both the RAINBOW Colors and the large overpainted Red and Blue corner segments as well as Tri-Color over-paints!!! These are readily identified in a vertical line across the driver and co-driver bulges and also around the hull... you can see the horizontal wide narrow bar form of Rainbow Color bars on the round form transmission cover top segment and also as black outlined boxes from top to bottom of color on each side of the transmission cover toward the tracks (gear area) !!! 
The "Butt" end of a Calliope show the Black outlined bands of colors... many times they are in diagonal form... these were the base in North Africa that has been over-painted with Sand Tan/Black/OD but the horizontal colors bands can clearly be seen on the air cleaners and on entire rear hull! These stripes and boxes of color go across the entire hull and turret top as well!!! 
Plain Yellow "Oversized" Stars 
 M5 Troop: January 1943 parade for Roosevelt and President of Morocco
Oversized Yellow Stars & Vehicle names and thought to be with Blue Drab USA Registration Codes M10 in Southern France with an unusual marking of a Thick Yellow Solid Circle surround with Blue Drab Field and White Five Pointed Star... (seen on aircraft for Operation Torch but not common on AFV's this late in the war) as this is during Operation Anvil or by some calling it the Champagne Campaign!  Seen on some Operation Torch aircraft but this is an uncommon marking for AFV's
US Army Standard OD=50%Signal Yellow/50% Stovepipe Black There are extreme variations in the applied OD color seen!!! The OD used until 1942 and post war was the Dark Olive Drab form... and due to the lack of pigments for the pigment production and usually the black element the applied paint tended to be a lighter shade and is what is commonly seen on vehicles in our area of study. Many service vehicles were actually camouflaged and not a single color or even dobbed/brushed with a local soil or sand or mud slurry to act as camouflage. There is considerable argument / discussion of US Vehicle Registration codes and the colors used early in the war... Robin's Egg Blue versus Dark Gray Blue and Blue Drab... and the timeframe for application is the key to which was used and the movement to Yellow (Goldenrod) and White.
Most of the current decal manufacturers are either making the background fields for the blue with white stars both way TOO light and the Blue Drab colors for the registration codes appearing way too dark as it is not a dark Blue-Gray! The Blue Drab used initially in NA for the Stars and Stripes is the same blue used for the lettering... but some of the AFV's in NA had the Robin's Egg/Medium Blue lettering and not Blue Drab. The Gray Blue lettering color appears to be more of a transient test variant color or the thin application of color over color. By the Spring of 1943 some AFV's had Yellow coding near the conclusion of operations in NA and in preparation for landings in Sicily. Do not be confused as these are the 'Modern Day' Registered Colors for the US Flag and they are different! 
Can you the reader see or tell the difference in the two colors in WWII versus today? Decal manufacturers seem to not be able to discern the original wartime colors very well... there are a lot of variables to paint but tonal values are the key to have a good representation of the original applied colors used. Transition to the lighter shade of Robin's Egg Blue appears to be consistent with the lighter OD being applied and the reduced visibility constraints the servicemen were wanting for their vehicles... along with the use of yellow drab painted stars. More to complete the story and to explain the graphics soon! per "Nacht" 
US Armor Triangle forms were seen on the front bow and/or left driver's fender and right rear fender (sometimes with painted number/letter for armor group from division down to company troop) or instead of the "-" in the vehicle company letter & vehicle lineal number used by examples for the 3rd Armored Division Original Armor 'Apex"  versus "Rolling Blitz"  Form for "Apex" or Pyramid/Triangle insignia patches and they initially used Roman Numerals for divisions and then the addition of the 'Rolling Blitz' with cannon & lightning bolt 
US Army Painting and Counter-Shading Principles
Test painting Priest with White painted chassis to reduce shadows... the first element of Counter-Shading... to reduce vehicle lines. 
More soon...
U.S. Armor Colors and Markings by Photographic Example
U.S. M3 'Lee' - Morocco, November, 1942
Often overlooked residual markings...This dust covered Lee from 13th Armored Regiment E Company 3rd Platoon 'sports' a Star and Bars and Golden/Goldenrod Yellow turret band with 5 pointed stars & tactical markings. Plus this Lee actually still has a crossed Golden Yellow over Black form of crossed Calvary Swords underneath a Knight's headed shield with feather plume and this shield is a three color US Armor Apex but with a Black 4 (#4 Tank in Company) in the Golden/Goldenrod Yellow Knight head... as the mounting and dismounting the vehicle has scuffed through the finish on the three piece transmission. Also but only barely visible is another (but smaller) 'Armor Apex' marking on the driver's left side segment of the 3 piece transmission with an "E" which is about have the size of the 'Amor Apex' marking just barely visible on the center section. My grandfather was the alternate driver / 75mm gunner on this vehicle. "Nacht"
M3A1 Stuart,
Note: Blue bars on Yellow star with Blue 16 on TIGER of 3rd Company, 1st Armored Regiment and note the two color camouflage with 'Pinking Shear" edge and the company marking has a slanted left edge that is overpainted on a red square to left and has a letter F that appear to be the OD base color. All vehicle markings appear to be Goldenrod Yellow except the flag. 
Note: Very irregularly painted Yellow Star with 5 on El Diablo 
 Patton's 'Modified' White Scout Car Near Gafsa, Tunisia in March of 1943
 Jeep Scouts in Tunisia have impromptu Sand Patches on OD
Seep (Before I receive an argument... here is an even more rarely photographed Seep Stretcher Ambulance in Tunisia 1943) Also note early use of 'White Spade in Circle' Emblem... The Green field color inside a Playing card designated D Company and is the Reserve element... which is a marking seen in use in Tunisia. The Spade as a playing card designated it as probably a reserve vehicle as well.... even without the use of the green paint... as in Pre-War usage of the emblem or insignia would have shown. 
Units & Photos
Soon... 
Sicily to Italy
Note the Gas Detection Paint on the inside of the star and circle marking... the driver has a US flag rolled up to left of the steering wheel and also a common feature was the flag decal on the inside of the windshield... and you can tell the lighter OD color form. 
'Lil' Nellie (the Deuce and a half ) has just plain Nell on the door with star and no circle surround. Also note the Prestone-43 (Antifreeze)... More soon...
Bibliography
Series by R. P. Hunnicutt's is 'the' definitive set for US Armor Development (Most Highly Recommended! Find all ten different volumes he wrote and buy them somehow!)     
    
 Organization and Markings of United States Armored Units 1918-1941 by Charles Lemons, Schiffer Military History Circa 2004 ISBN: 0-76432-098-X (Written by Director of the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, Kentucky with materials from Patton Collection and their excellent library!)
  American Military Camouflage and Markings 1939-1945 by Terence Wise, Almark Circa 1973
  U.S. Armour Camouflage and Markings: World War II by Jim Mesko Squadron/Signal Publications Circa 2005 ISBN: 0-89747-492-9
 Armoured Fighting Vehicles in Profile Bound Volume 4 American AFV's of World War II Profile Pub. LTD/Doubleday Circa 1972
More Soon... Weblinks: US Army Campaigns of WWII: Tunisia US Army Campaigns of WWII: Sicily US Army Campaigns of WWII: Anzio US Army Campaigns of WWII: 'Champaign' Campaign in Southern France Much more... World War II Campaign Brochures: European-African-Middle Eastern Theater 752nd Tank Battalion and the Armored Training School 752 Tank Battalion Jeep's Peep Trailer ID & Manufacturers
Line Drawings
We will try to illustrate or revise several line drawings of the major types of vehicles in US service... 
Currently reworking the old AFV G-2 line drawings of the White Scout Car to show the Patton Modified Version used in Tunisia 
AANA Members Comments and Additions
 U.S. Commissioned Officer Ranks (Current 50 Star Flag)  | | Student
Officer | O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 | One Star General O-7 |
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Patton's 'Modified' White Scout Car Near Gafsa, Tunisia in March of 1943
Jeep Scouts in Tunisia have impromptu Sand Patches on OD
Organization and Markings of United States Armored Units 1918-1941 by Charles Lemons, Schiffer Military History Circa 2004 ISBN: 0-76432-098-X (Written by Director of the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, Kentucky with materials from Patton Collection and their excellent library!)
American Military Camouflage and Markings 1939-1945 by Terence Wise, Almark Circa 1973
U.S. Armour Camouflage and Markings: World War II by Jim Mesko Squadron/Signal Publications Circa 2005 ISBN: 0-89747-492-9
Armoured Fighting Vehicles in Profile Bound Volume 4 American AFV's of World War II Profile Pub. LTD/Doubleday Circa 1972
