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What color was the USMC painting their vehicles in 1949, 1950 and 1951?

Thanks,

To the best of my knowledge they were using the standard USMC Forest Green from WWII through the Korean years. This would be a good question for Ben Daugherty. He was in the USMC during those years and has a M38 restored USMC.

I'm going to go out on a limb here gentlemen and give my opinion on USMC paint.

There are two specifications discussed on WWII paint used on Navy and USMC jeeps.

One is the factory contract jeep color, WO-A-3266 Enamel, Lusterless Forest Green, synthetic.
The other is MC #23 green used for field painting everything.

Cliff Tebeau of Washington who was a technical advisor for the MVPA on items Navy for years, claimed to have a government color chart with the two colors on it. These two paint colors are very close, with the forest green a little brighter green, but both looking almost black in shade.

My opinion is the Marine Corps. #23 green is the paint color that ended up in the following specification.

If we go by the article written by Walter Terzano & etal on USMC Vehicle Markings in Military Magazine some years back--this is what he says is used. It should be noted that there were no references giving in the article on were he got his information.

For FS 24052 Semi-Gloss Forest Green------FS 23538 Semi-Gloss Yellow

For FS 34052 Lusterless Forest Green--------FS 33538 Lusterless Yellow

All American Wonder number one and two lists the Ditzler (PPG) number, which they say is the correct color, as 40458 USMC green and 81958 USMC Yellow for the marking paint on pages 94 and 225.

The only difference from WWII up thru the 1950s is not color but if semi gloss or lusterless was used. This was based on the jeeps use. Tactical was lusterless. Administrative was semi gloss. I have heard of jeeps with gloss paint used for administrative uses also.

So, if I remember correctly, Ben sent me a sample that was close to my paint, but a little darker. Ben, didn't you go semigloss?

Here is my take on what WO-A-3266 forest green looks like:





Note on the bottom photo the shovel and outer fenders are painted with Gillespie 34052 Lusterless Marine Corps. Forest Green.

Greetings all, I noticed on the bottom photo that the jeep has dual rear wheels, is this a conversion? Rick.

Yes Rick, it is a modification. The radio system weighs about 850 pounds for the Navy/USMC radio jeeps and the duals help spread the load. I have WWII period photos of other jeeps at Aberdeen and Australia with similar setups… just no fenders.

This set has been on the jeep as far back as it has been in my family, 1962. Fenders are MBT sized to fit (California will not allow tires w/o fenders).

So, I kind of seized an opportunity here... I can prove they were used during WWII and they certainly attract attention.

Mark,

Thanks for the paint info!