Jeep Canadian Markings

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

The standard colour would have been Khaki No.3 for jeeps supplied to the Canadian Army. It's doubtful very many American supplied O.D. jeeps would have found their way into Canadian hands before the landing as the Canadian Army was pretty well equipped with its own equipment by then. It's also unlikely any jeeps were sand or desert camouflaged for the landing because security as to where the armada was going was tight and painting desert cam would have been a big security breech (tropical uniforms were only issued during the voyage and the jeeps would have been inaccessible below deck for painting).

Lastly, Farley Mowat, commenting in his books on the Sicily campaign complained that 'brown' paint only became available some considerable time after the landing. It's not clear if he's talking about Brown No. 2 or some 'desert' colour like Light Stone. I think it may not have mattered all that much because by all accounts the Sicily dust was so bad everything and everyone was coated with it.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

The standard colour would have been Khaki No.3 for jeeps supplied to the Canadian Army. It's doubtful very many American supplied O.D. jeeps would have found their way into Canadian hands before the landing as the Canadian Army was pretty well equipped with its own equipment by then.

Are you saying that the Willys MB jeeps built under Canadian contracts were not painted US Olive Drab, but Khaki Green No.3? Do you have any proof as we did not come to a conclusion in the main thread on this topic.

Thanks,
Hanno

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Are you saying that the Willys MB jeeps built under Canadian contracts were not painted US Olive Drab, but Khaki Green No.3? Do you have any proof as we did not come to a conclusion in the main thread on this topic.

Any proof I may have had is long gone as I divested myself of jeeps some time ago. From memory, my 'evidence' would be 1) a parts book that had separate listings for Canadian parts that were no different than American ones, the inference being colour was that difference (maybe even some reference to colour in the intro section for that parts book??), 2) some foggy reference I read where Canadian units in the UK were supplied with Canadian contract jeeps and it was only when resupplied with American jeep there was a noticeable difference in colour noted and 3) when stripping parts on my CDVL 505 many years ago I recall a much browner shade than the 34087 O.D. in cans then available.

Not 100% conclusive to be sure...

[David Smith]

Is Khaki Green No. 3 Paint available in North America? I came across at vendor in the UK but the cost including shipping was pretty expensive.

[Bruce MacMillan]

From the "History of the RCCS" 1st div signals and HQ lost most of their vehicles when three transports were sunk. All their surviving equipment was hand carried ashore. From the book "It was more than two weeks before 1st Div. Signals vehicle compliment was made up, the replacements being North African veterans, many of whom were scarely road worthy".

It also states they made good use of mules. Don't know whether they were sand or OD.

[Ed Storey]

These wartime photographs may help answer the markings/colour question.

ZK 90 Worthington standing in Jeep copy.jpg

This image of General Worthington in his modified Canadian contract Jeep was taken in 1942.

IMG_9720 copy.jpg

This clapped-out Jeep with accompanying mules was taken in Sicily in 1943.