RAAC Centurions in Vietnam....color?

[Mike Cecil]

Hi John

I could send you an official colour standard plate for each:

Olive Drab Full Gloss: Ref 7650/ADE(M) 146-1/2 issued Nov 1967
Olive Drab Semi-Gloss Ref 7650/ADE(M) 146-1/3 issued June 1987
Olive Drab Lustreless Ref 7650/ADE(M) 146-1/1. issued Nov 1967

The initial batches of Centurion tanks were deployed to South Vietnam painted in Lustreless. From about the end of 1968, replacement Centurions arrived painted in semi-gloss to decrease the maintenance requirements. Re-painting in SVN was undertaken with lustreless in the first instance, until stocks ran out, then semi-gloss. There is an outline of paints used on Aust vehicles in SVN in the appendices of 'Mud & Dust - Aust Vehicles and Artillery in Vietnam'.

As Tony noted, repair parts direct from the UK and from stocks held in Australia (and some sourced from New Zealand) were finished in Deep Bronze Green BSC381, and as far as Centurion was concerned, were often bolted on without repainting. Bins, barrels, etc have all been noted in DBG.

Mike