British Military Bronze Green Paint

[Flying10uk]

It has been suggested to me that the reason that the British army used the gloss/semi gloss bronze green paint for a period of time during the 1950's/60's is because it was believed that it may be reflective to infrared. I could never understand why this particular paint was a gloss finish while pretty much all other British army vehicle paint had and still has a matt finish and if the reason is because it was an attempt to make it reflective to infrared that does sound entirely plausible. It would be interesting to know if this is correct and, if correct, what factors made the paint reflective to infrared, i.e. was it just making the paint gloss or was something else done to the paint as well.

[Roy W]

I seem to recall that paint we got from stores was labelled IRR

Infra Red Reflective.

Not sure whether this was bronze green though.

[Surpmil]

I thought the idea was to not reflect the IR illumination? If the goal is to live out one's three score and ten?

As for gloss versus drab in paints, armies, for the use of, parades and inspections occur daily whereas wars are quite infrequent and why not enjoy the glossy shine that is inherent to good order and discipline wherever possible? Vehicles can always be given a quick respray if war should come, or so the thinking might go if past habits are any indication?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Most likely answer is that some big wheel at the MOD signed of an order for a z8llion gallons of "paint and then had to find a use for warehouses full of the stuff. As this was the "Cold War" era, it seems unlikely that battlefield functionality came into the discussion. Here in Oz,of that paint also turned up and was used here in Oz, on, as I recall, Saladins, Saracens and Ferrets. Can't say I ever saw any M-113s similarity decorated. Anyone remember shiny Centurions?.

By the late 1960s, probably influenced by participation in the South East Asian War-games, EVERYTHING was Matte Olive Drab, even the food.......

[Peter Laidler]

I always understood that the new, smarter gloss Deep Bronze Green paint was introduced as part of a smartening up the army vehicles that would be retained post-war. It was also more hard wearing than the old scamic (?) type paints used during the war. The change-over period was indeed during the very late 60's into the early 70's. All of our old REME stuff was gloss and over a period of months went to IRR paint as Roy recalls it. The 434's, Scammels, Half0track fitters lorries, the Centurions....... The only exceptions were the 'light fleet' such as cars and light vans which remained a gloss deep bronze green. That was until Lord Rayner in his review decided, quite rightly, that these basically commercial vehicles would be purchased in commercial colours.

There was a certain irony at the time....... I recall brand new Land Rovers, one I had, 36ER24 etc coming from the big vehicle depots as replacements, coming to us in the early 70's in gloss deep bronze. Only to go straight into the MT bays where the MT blokes would daub them in IRR green and black.......... You'd think that a gradual change-over would have sufficed!