Soviet Armour and Soft Skinned Vehicle colour is a controversial topic at the best of times with polarized proponents arguing “any green will do”, “it’s close enough”, “crews used whatever is available” to those wanting to have “accurate colour reproduction” for authenticity.
Actually, there is a thread of truth woven throughout the tapestry of such viewpoints, however, there were standardized colours in place from 1935.
The vast majority of Soviet vehicles of all types had a very short life expectancy with entire monthly tank productions at times being lost before the paint had the opportunity to fully cure. Colour variations for surviving vehicles were affected by the number of factors such as the number of paint coats, sun fading, dust and the lightening effect of chalk and particularly limestone in the winter-white top coat chemically reacting with the pigment bleaching the paint. When spring rains arrived there was a paler shade of green. Due to their high linseed content, the paints behaved more like oil paint then harder, more durable enamel or automotive type finishes found on German or Allied equipment. The Germans took it one step further using a zinc ‘galvanizing coating’ prior to priming.
When looking at black and white photographs from the period one would conclude they were all one colour, which to a degree is accurate, however, Soviet vehicles were painted in a ‘basic’ green with camouflage colours. Depending on the clarity of the era image, camouflage patterns can be seen to the discerning eye, often dust and debris obscure the colour differentiation masking the detection difficult.
We have a tendency to draw from our own experiences what the colours are as referenced in artistic representations and museum pieces. Driving through the countryside throughout the seasons we observe the colour of soils, dry and wet. Dirt is dirt… right?… wrong‽
Is it the same colour everywhere say for the red soil of Vietnam? One would think so but it is not the case for parts of Europe having different regionalized soil colours. One particular soil type turned out to be a logistical nightmare for the Germans…”black-earth”.
Black-earth or dark-earth is rich in organic matter hence the blackish colour. When wet it behaves like a sponge retaining rain and snowmelt turning roads and fields into a quagmire for vehicles. The Russians call it “Chernozem” where “Chern(y)” means black and “Zemija” earth.
Mud at the best of times makes travel difficult due to its slick nature, however “black-earth” containing a high percentage of humus 4% – 16%, capable of a high moisture storage capability, compounded the slick problem. There is mud and then there is mud, we are discussing the latter.
Depending on the area of conflict in Europe and the steppes of Russia black-earth is commonplace. Chernozem can also be found in the prairies of Canada.
Wet Chernozem is almost black when dry it shows numerous shades of grey and brown.
What does soil colour have to do with anything you ask? Soil colours are part of Soviet camouflage colours.
The Russians used 10 Colour Schemas from 1927 to 1945.
1) Protective Green 1927–37 (light olive drab)
2) 3B AU (dark olive green)
3) Protective Green (brighter olive green to light olive green)
4) 4BO (light olive green with more yellow )
5) 6K (dark earth brown)
6) 7K (light sand)
7) Z–2 ()
8) IZ–3 (lighter green to brownish-green)
9) 6RP (black-brown to a NATO BLACK colour)
10) White Winter Washable Camouflage Paint (ground natural chalk or limestone similar to white-wash)
What’s all the fuss about colours? The Red Army used non-standard paint to prime and paint all vehicles including wooden portions. Starting in 1935 the standard Red Army vehicle colour was 3B AU, a colour resembling a dark Olive Drab. Standards and regulations is created for uniformity and application of colours.
The idea of dark green is to blend in with the surrounding foliage and vegetation. Colours like 6K, 7K or blackish 6RP were to blend in with exposed soil and shadows to break up the vehicle profile.
Unexpected consequences came not only in the form of black-earth but also with the use of 3B AU.
The Germans discovered by using filters on their sighting optics the light wave signature from plant chlorophyll and 3B AU differed, thus highlighting the vehicle concealed in the woods or among shrubs, bushes and other undergrowth.
Not readily visible through binoculars or the naked eye, the sighting optics were able to detect concealed vehicles resulting in major losses for the Soviet Red Army. Thus 4BO came to be used as a standardized colour for military vehicles.
Remember the Predator science fiction movies where the alien could see it’s human prey body heat signatures? The same idea here, the difference being how the light reflection differed between plants and vehicles, not thermal energy detection.
3B AU is an acronym of Alkidono Uretanovaya (Alkyd –urethane protective base). This paint was composed of the following components in weight 100 parts of linseed oil, 72.5 of lead white, 47.5 of zinc oxide, 33 of yellow ochre pigment, 7 of burnt amber pigment, 4.75 of elutriated graphite and 2.4 of ultramarine blue.
The mixture of pigments used in the paint reflected a different light spectrum than the chlorophyll which gives the green colour to vegetation. The problem caused the Soviet Army to abandon the use of 3B AU in favour of 4BO.
