For a Desert Storm 82nd or 101 ABD M102, what camoflage scheme or colors are appropriate? The photos I have seen look like the MERDC system might have been used on at least some guns, but I can't be certain. And if it is a MERDC scheme for sure can't tell which of the several color combinations for that scheme were used. Also, can anyone confirm if the camoflage pattern in the AFV club kit instruction is correct for MERDC scheme or if the correct pattern is available on the web somewhere? Thanks in advance for any help.

By 1990, most M102A1s were 3-color NATO camo, not MERDC. Also, they were all painted sand once they got to Saudi Arabia.

I'll concur with Gino......my buddy (Artilleryman with 101st during the first Gulf War) showed me many a pic of his unit's guns and what not, and all were "sandbox" color.

Mike (++) (++)

I also agree, the sand color was oversprayed and it wasn't a factory fresh quality paint job either nor did it last too long in the blowing sand.

That is IF they got painted in the first place:

I sure hope that isn't a blackened muzzle!

*runs for cover*

Storm,

IF THIS come up agian (blackened muzzle), I'm with you........................running like a MOFO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just 'taint worth it!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhh, blowing sand.........got EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!

Mike (++) (++)

Thank you, Gino, Mike, Jeff. NATO 3-color it is! (I would have got that one wrong). Any thoughts on where I might find a drawing of the color pattern? The AFV Club kit instructions show a 4-color pattern and I'm not sure how it relates to the NATO 3-color.

I've still got detail shots of my M102 in my motor pool gallery: http://photos.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/513

I'd have to check my AFV instructions to be sure, but what many people don't remember that when the US Army Europe first pattern painted over to plain OD paint in 1973-1974, the original pattern was a 4 color scheme which include a fairly high percentage "sand" color in addition to the green, dark brown and black.
It could be this scheme being referenced. If it is, I don't know of any units in Europe which would have had any M102s painted this way.

The only possibility I can think of would have been the howitzers in the 509th BCT in Vicenza, Italy. The 8th ID was the only unit which had anything other than SPs, and we sent our M102s to Italy when the 1st Brigade went Mech which happened at the same time we started pattern painting.

This original scheme was still in use when I PCS'd in early 1977, but I believe the standard NATO 3-color was just starting to come into use.



Tom

I wondered about that. I knew that the 4 color scheme we had was unique to 7th Army in Europe, and wasn't sure if it was the same on.

Great thing about this site! Somebody's probably got the right answer!

Tom