PAINT BLUE DRAB MAT (0.5KGS) FOR MARKING

Blue Drab Matt Paint for Markings

5 kg - Lusterless Blue Drab Enamel

★ This Blue Drab shade was chosen by the U.S. Army because of its low contrast with Olive Drab - in black and white photographs the markings were barely visible, which hindered enemy intelligence work.

Application

Used for all factory markings applied between April 1942 and mid-1943: hood registration numbers (USA + number), tyre pressure markings (T.P.35), max speed stencils, and shipping stencils. From mid-1943 onwards, Blue Drab was replaced by white for better visibility. Applicable for authentic restorations of Willys MB, Ford GPW, Dodge WC-series, GMC CCKW and other U.S. Army vehicles from this period.

Installation notes

Apply with stencils on cleaned Olive Drab base. According to AR 850-5 regulations: 4 inch (10 cm) high figures on vehicles, 2 inch (5 cm) on trailers, 1 inch (2.5 cm) on motorcycles. Allow to dry thoroughly. For hood numbers: applied to both sides of bonnet and rear of vehicle.

Compatibility

Note: Blue Drab was only factory-applied from April 1942 to mid-1943. Vehicles from before April 1942 had white or yellow markings. After mid-1943, production switched to white paint. Field units often continued using Blue Drab until stocks were exhausted. For late 1944-1945 vehicles, white is historically more correct.

Historical context

In April 1942, Army Regulation AR 850-5 specified that registration numbers were to be applied by stencil in blue drab lustreless enamel. This measure was intended to camouflage vehicle identification: on black and white aerial photographs and enemy imagery, Blue Drab markings were barely distinguishable from the Olive Drab base colour, keeping unit information concealed.