Hi Guys,

What is the best color (Tamiya Acrylic) to use for an M60A1 with rise/passive armor used in the desert storm?

Were there also other M60A1 in desert storm with camo colors, if so what camo colors were used?


Thanks

They deployed there in NATO 3-color, but were either turned in for M1A1 or painted sand prior to the start of the ground war. I'd go with the Model Master USMC Gulf War sand color.

Blade tanks had an area on the front slope where stenciling pertaining to the operation of the dozer blade was left green.

If you get a chance, pick up the Verlinden Warmachines book, Marines in the Gulf. It is all about an M60 USMC tank and its crew from the first Gulf War in 1991. Lots of good reference pics for color matching and weathering.

Ryan

Thanks for the input guys, I'll probably stick first with sand color...

I know my company deployed there from their UDP to Okinawa within days of their arrival there (I wasn't with them, I was out and in the IRR at the time). They brought the 3 color NATO tanks we had on hand there, I believe they were painted with desert scheme once in country. The war stocks that were offloaded from merchant marine vessels were all 3 color NATO too, at least they were when we took them off for break in and testing for Bear Hunt in Korea in '88.

Howdy everyone. If I were using Tamiya paints I would start with a 50/50 mix of XF-59 and XF-60. You can then adjust it with XF-2 to adjust the shade to match your reference. If I may, not all the USMC M60A1s were three color NATO during OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. Depending on which Maritime Prepositon Ship(MPS) the tank came off of determined what color it was. There were Three color NATO with Reactive Armor, Desert Sand colored with Reactive armor and Four color desert without reactive armor. Before Christmas of 1990 all of our M60A1s had been modified by a Depot Maintenance Team from Anniston, Alabama to accept Reactive armor. Three USMC Battalions(1st,3rd,8th) had M60A1s crossing the Line of Departure. Two battalions(2nd,4th) did M1A1 transition training at Twenty Nine Palms, Ca and fell in on their Desert Sand M1A1s in Saudi Arabia during Dec90-Jan91. In 3rd tank Bn everything green (Reactive Armor Tiles especially) was painted sand color in the field prior to LD with a funky shade made by Potter Paints. No known FS that I have ever found! I agree with Robin regarding Model Master USA/USMC Gulf sand but Model Master Armor Sand 30277 is also a good match depending which time period you are modeling. None of our Blade tanks(3rd Bn) that I saw were left with a green instruction plate or blades. Also be aware that most of the M60A1 models on the market are missing a single square of reactive armor to the right rear of the drivers hatch(on the hull top) . None of our "Hogs" that were shipped from CONUS as Combat replacemets made it to the fight. They were waiting for us in Saudi Arabia when we returned. I hope this Intel update is helpful.

Howdy Moezilla,. Were you with CAAV or DAAV? I was with Third tanks and we had DAAV from Oki attached to us.(Abertoy, Leckler, Frizzel) Hickey was CO.

My bad. So you were already out when they deployed to Oki. What Company and which Battalion were you with Stateside before you left. Do you rememnber any of the names in the other post? They were all LeJeune Marines.

Hi Mikemummey and Moezilla

Your intel is not helpful because it is in fact VERY VERY helpful . .

The kit I have right now is the Academy USMC M60A1 I'm not sure if the reactive armor is complete. I'll take note of the missing reactive armor when I get home.

Regards

Awaiting two of those kits coming in from Lucky Model myself, can't wait to build 'em.

Yea, got out in '89, right before my unit (Delta 1st Tanks) went to Oki for their next pump. Don't think I know any LeJeune tankers, was in Pendleton the whole time in. Check out the campaign I'm running for former service members, you can do an M-60 too, we can get some more attention for that ol' girl.

Semper Fi!

Moezilla, Sounds great. I have the Tamiya and Academy kits on hand, just need an excuse to crack the shrink wrap. I am rolling to Two Nine Palms in the morning for week. Friends are going back to the big "I" for a pump soon. I will be back on the net next Monday.

Have fun at Stumps, I'm just glad they didn't move 1st Tanks there til after I was out. lol