Landships II

Bostonian · Corporal

British Green MkI tanks?

CharlieC · Legend

I was under the impression that the first Mark I tanks were delivered painted in Battleship Grey.

Before the first action in 1916 many of the participating tanks were painted on the vertical surfaces by their crews with camouflage

colours (known as the Solomon scheme)

The camouflage was quickly dropped when it was realised that the tanks got covered in mud on the Western Front and

camouflage was quickly hidden. The sensible colour to paint them was Brown and British tanks remained Brown until the 1920s.

I think Green Mark Is may be a myth - even back in WW1 the tanks had to pass acceptance checks and testing. I won't attempt to

replicate a Lincolnshire accent - "What do you call that then - says here this tank is supposed to be painted Grey - but it looks Green -

not going to be paid for that one until it is Grey"

Charlie

-- Edited by CharlieC on Saturday 27th of September 2025 06:00:40 AM

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

Referring to the production of MkI tanks in 1916, Albert Stern, the chairman of the Tank Supply Committee wrote, "On June 5th it was decided to paint the Tanks light grey". Source: "Tanks 1914 - 1918, The Log-Book of a Pioneer".

-- Edited by Rhomboid on Sunday 28th of September 2025 07:22:31 AM

Bostonian · Corporal

Pity it appears to be an urban myth. Any suggests for battleship grey in Humbrol? I would assume a dark grey but my knowledge of naval colour schemes is very limited.

CharlieC · Legend

Light Grey was an official colour in the Royal navy - I was wrong it wasn't Battleship Grey - that's much darker. The superstructures of many ship types early in WW1 were painted in light grey. I've seen a suggestion that Humbrol #127 is a reasonable approximation.

Charlie

-- Edited by CharlieC on Thursday 9th of October 2025 09:15:41 PM