German Artillery color 1943

[Extra Crispy]

I assume guns and prime movers would all be painted the same? If you;re painting the SdKfz you probably do the gun at the same time, the same way, right?

I ask because the pic in the catalog shows yellow prime movers with gray guns?

[pmskaar]

Hi Mark

In 1943 the German army was making the transition from dark gray to dark yellow. Dark yellow aka Dunkelgelb became the official German base coat color for vehicles and equipment in February 1943.

Older equipment might be painted still in the dark gray color but all new equipment would be getting the dark yellow base coat.

In some cases, older equipment might be left in the gray color although usually this was repainted as time and paint supplies permitted.

You will see examples of some tanks still in dark gray with splotches or stripes of dark yellow applied over the dark gray. Sometimes a third color such as dark green might also be added as well.

For your army, you might have an artillery piece or two in the unit still in dark gray or with the dunkelgelb applied in a pattern over it. The same might be true of the prime movers as well. It depends on"older' pie lots of factors so I don't believe you would be wrong to include a few of the older gray base coated pieces in your unit.

I'm sure some others will add their opinions on this matter as well.

Pete

[piersyf]

I'd pretty much agree. One factor worth remembering is that artillery pieces have a specific barrel life for their guns, so the more heavily engaged units will have had their barrels replaced which would enable a full service (and subsequent repaint). In other words, veteran units are far less likely to have grey guns in 1943 than some newer units.
In other words, a unit fitted out in 1942 would draw guns from stock in grey. If they had not needed a refit since, they would probably still be in grey in 1943, although some camouflage in green or brown over the grey is possible.
Corps level guns I suspect would be a mix too, again depending on level of use.
Artillery units are traditionally very protective of their guns, so relatively few tubes are lost in combat. You're larger component will be replacement parts/servicing leading to a full repaint.

[Extra Crispy]

That's what I thought....

Okay so I'll just paint the guns to match that way the unit is a little easier to keep track of...

Thanks.