Regia Aeronautica and ANR Colors
and Camouflage Schemes
Vince Tassone
Revised September 2006
Color Reference Table
|
COLORE |
COLOR |
FS.595B |
COLOURCOATS |
POLLY SCALE ACRYLICS
|
HUMBROL |
|
Alluminio |
Aluminum |
17178 |
ACRA 18 |
501990 Bright Silver |
27001 |
|
Azzurro 11 |
Matt Blue |
15056 |
----- |
505340 Israel Early Camo. Blue (35053) |
25 |
|
Bianco Avorio
5 |
Ivory White 5 |
33613 |
ACRA 17 |
505312 Ger. RLM 69 Light Tan (33695) |
148 |
|
Bianco Neve 6 |
Snow White 6 |
37875 |
----- |
505011 WHITE (RLM 21) |
34 |
|
Bruno Mimetico |
Camo Brown |
30215 |
ACRA 13 |
505200 RUST |
118 |
|
Giallo Cromo
7 |
Camo Yellow 7 |
33655 |
----- |
505017 YELLOW (RLM 04) |
69 |
|
Giallo Mimetico 1 |
Camo Yellow 1 |
33531 |
ACRA 01 |
----- |
121 |
|
Giallo Mimetico 2 |
Camo Yellow 2 |
33481 |
ACRA 02 |
505292 IT. CAMO YELLOW 2 |
81 |
|
Giallo Mimetico 3 |
Camo Yellow 3 |
33434 |
ACRA 03 |
505294 IT. CAMO YELLOW 3 |
63 |
|
Giallo Mimetico 4 |
Camo Yellow 4 |
30266 |
ACRA 04 |
505260 BRITISH MIDDELSTONE |
94 |
|
Grigio Azzurro Chiaro
1 |
Light Blue Gray 1 |
36307 |
ACRA 15 |
505290 IT. LT. BLUE GRAY |
141 |
|
Grigio Azzurro Scuro
3 |
Dark Blue Gray 3 |
36118 |
ACRA 16 |
----- |
79 |
|
Grigio Mimetico |
Camo Grey |
36231 |
ACRA 14 |
505242 FR. LT. BLUE GRAY |
140 |
|
Marrone Mimetico 1 |
Camo Brown 1 |
30118 |
ACRA 11 |
----- |
29 |
|
Marrone Mimetico 2 |
Camo Brown 2 |
30076 |
ACRA 12 |
505286 ITALIAN CAMO BRN 2 |
180 |
|
Marrone Mimetico 53193 |
Camo Brown 53193 |
30140 |
----- |
505240 FR. EARTH BROWN |
119 |
|
Nocciola Chiaro
4 |
Light Hazel 4 |
30219 |
ACRA 10 |
505284 ITALIAN HAZEL TAN 4 |
118 |
|
Rosso Bandiera
8 |
Flag Red 8 |
31105 |
----- |
505020 RED (RLM 3) |
19 |
|
Verde Anticorrosione |
Anti-Corrosion Green |
34272 |
----- |
----- |
78+34 |
|
Verde Bandiera
9 |
Flag Green 9 |
34062 |
----- |
505200 GREEN (RLM 25) |
3 |
|
Verde Mimetico 1 |
Camo Green 1 |
34258 |
ACRA 05 |
----- |
102 |
|
Verde Mimetico 2 |
Camo Green 2 |
34092 |
ACRA 06 |
505246 RAAF K3/178 FOL.
GRN. |
149 |
|
Verde Mimetico 3 |
Camo Green 3 |
34102 |
ACRA 07 |
505390 US TAC MID-GREEN |
86 |
|
Verde Mimetico 53192 |
Camo Green 53192 |
34227 |
ACRA 08 |
505288 IT. CAMO GRN |
120 |
|
Verde Oliva Scuro
2 |
Dark Olive Green 2 |
34052 |
ACRA 09 |
505296 IT. DK. OLIVE GREEN 2
|
91 |
CONTENTS
Serie Mimetica : 1938 - 1941
Tavola 10 : 1941 - 1943
Naval Aircraft
Special Colors and Camouflage
Schemes
Night Fighter Schemes
Foreign Built Aircraft
Aircraft Interiors
ANR Colors : 1944-1945
CMPR Color Chips
CMPR Camouflage Schemes :
1936-1943
Color Codes for Mechnical and
Pneumatic Equipment
References
TABLES
Table 1. Paint Suppliers and
Aircraft Manufactures
Table 2. CMPR Color Chips
Table 3. CMPR Camouflage Chips
Table 4. Color Codes for
Mechnical and Pneumatic Equipment
This page provides reference material for the
color and camouflage schemes of combat aircraft of the Regia
Aeronautica (RA) and the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
(ANR).
Prewar Period
: 1923 - 1938
The
Regia Aeronautica was formed as an independent service on March
23, 1923. From 1923 to about 1936, most Italian fighters
of the prewar period such as the Fiat CR.32 were finished
in alluminum (G2 Camo Scheme, Table 3) or silver dope (fabric
covered aircraft). With the commencement of large
scale warfare in Ethopia and Spain, the Regia Aeronautica
began experiementing with complex camouflage schemes
that incorporated between 1-5 differenet
colors. The war in Ethopia was
characterized by complete aerial suprermacy
and a distinctive radial red strip anti-camouflage
scheme was adopted to help identify crashed
aircraft. Colonial bombers such as the Ca.133 and
SM.81 were painted Bianco Avorio (G1 Camo Scheme, Table 3),
with contrasting red stripes applied to the top wings. In the
Spanish Civil War, more complex camouflage schemes were
adopted to conceal fighters, bombers and ground attack
aircraft. Two and three tone camouflage schemes with hard
edged and mottled schemes were common.
Serie Mimetica : 1938 -
1941
With the arrival of large scale warfare, the
Regia Aeronautica began investigating the use of camouflage to
conceal its aircraft, both in the air and on the ground. The
beginnings of this process can be traced back to 1936 when
an Italian air-theorist on the use of ground attack aircraft, Amedeo Mecozzi, first suggested the use of
camouflage for low flying aircraft; to avoid being spotted and
attacked by aircraft from above. The Regia Aeronautica accepted
these suggestions and in the following year a series of colors,
the so-called "Serie
Mimetica" was
adopted. These colors were applied to fighters, bombers and ground
attack aircraft as large wavy hard-edged stripes (A-B Series
Camo Chips, Table 3). Initially camouflage was only applied to
the wing areas, however later, camouflage colors were also applied
to the fuselage. The first colors of this scheme were Giallo
(Yellow) Mimetico (Camouflage), Verde (Green) Mimetico and Marrone (Brown)
Mimetico.
The
shades of these colors varied from one paint supplier to another
and four yellows are known to have been used:
Giallo Mimetico 1 FS 33531
Giallo Mimetico 2 FS 33481
Giallo Mimetico 3 FS 33434
Giallo Mimetico 4 FS
30266
The
Verde (Green) colors were:
Verde Mimetico 1 FS 34258
Verde Mimetico 2 FS 34092
Verde Mimetico 3 FS
34102
The
Marrone (Brown) colors were:
Marrone Mimetico 1 FS 30118
Marrone Mimetico 2 FS 30109
Bruno (Dark Brown) Mimetico FS
30227
Aside from these colors, two other shades were
in common use:
Verde Mimetico 53192 (FS
34227)
Marrone Mimetico 53193 (FS
30140)
These two colors are named after the
the Arson SISI catalogue numbers because the actual chips of these
paints were found enclosed to the original catalogue of
the paint manufacturer, instead of found on preserved aircraft
or parts. Thus the color of these two paints could be
identified exactly.
For
aircraft under surfaces, Grigio Mimetico FS 36231 was
the standard underside color from about 1937 up to 1941, although
lower surfaces were sometimes left unpainted Aluminium, even till the early
beginnings of WWII.
The Regia Aeronautica had learnt from
its experiences in the Spanish-Civil that a camouflage scheme with
hard-edged, contrasting colors and a semi-gloss finish were only
moderately successful. From 1937 the Regia Aeronautica adopted a new
scheme which was formally put into effect through a directive
issued by the DGCA (Direzione Generale delle Custuizioni
Aeronautica) on 14.3.1938, Foglio D'Ordini n.8571,
beginning with the aircraft of the "Aviazione Legionaria" (the Italian Volunteer Air
Force in Spain),
followed by subsequent production aircraft. The new camouflage
scheme, the so-called "Honeycomb Camouflage Scheme" used existing
colors, however, were now applied in a more complex, soft-edged
mottling scheme (Schema C, see Table 3). It is important to note, at
this time only the camouflage scheme was standardized and not the
colors. The standardization of colors would only come later with the
appearance of the Tavola X colors. This of course led to
interpretations of the three primary upper surface colors
stipulated by the directive (Giallo Mimetico, Verde
Mimetico and Marrone Mimetico) by each of the paint suppliers.
It is interesting to point out, in each of the paint catalogues, the
paint suppliers referred only to Giallo Mimetico,
Verde Mimetico and Marrone Mimetico, not Giallo Mimetico 1,
Giallo Mimetco 2, Giallo Mimetico 3 ... etc. The index
following the primary color (1, 2, 3 ...) corresponds to a
modern means (CMPR Method) of identifying the origins of the color
itself. For example Giallo Mimetico 1 was produced
by Inves, Giallo Mimetico 2 was produced by Masciadri while Giallo
Mimetico 3 was produced by Arson-Sisi (Table 1).
Since Inves was a paint supplier to Fiat, Giallo Mimetico
1 appeared on the early mottle schemes of Fiat CR.32s and early
G.50s together with Verde Mimetico 1 and Marrone Mimetico 1
(also produced by Inves).
The
basic application of the "Honeycomb Camouflage Scheme" varied
with each of the aircraft manufacturers, the unit and in some cases
with the individual aircraft. This scheme could use as a base color
Giallo (Yellow) or a Verde (Green) over which a contrasting color
mottle, was applied. The mottle might be applied in various shapes,
proportions and sizes. Examples of these variations were a Giallo
mottling painted over a Verde background or Verde Chiaro (Light Green) splotches over a
Verde Scuro (Dark
Green) or vice versa. The third color, Marrone Mimetico or Bruno Mimetico was
added to the two basic colors. Finally instead of using Marrone as the third color,
two Greens and a Yellow were sometimes used.
As
far as the "Honeycomb Camouflage Scheme" goes there were two basic
types:
- continuous
mottling, usually Dark Green over a Yellow
- sparse mottling, Yellow or Light Green over a
Dark Green base and vice versa with, sometimes, a light mottling
of Marrone or
Bruno
*Always cross check with photographs or
specific references.
In
addition to the variations of the standard camouflage schemes, the
choice of colors and the application of these
paints varied with the aircraft manufactures,
depending on the paint supplier (Table 1):
- SIAI (e.g. Savoia Marchetti S.79 and SM 81) used Verde
Mimetico 1, Giallo Mimetico 3 and Marrone Mimetico 3
- Breda
(Breda
65) used Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico 3 and Bruno
Mimetico with hard-edged, large sized mottles instead of the
wavy bands used by other manufacturers
- Breda
(Breda
88):
NOTE: Correction for the Warrior Model 1/48
Ba.88 Decal Instruction Sheet for aircraft of 7° Gruppo, 5° Stormo
based at Castle Benito, Libya in 1940:
Breda Ba.88s in North Africa did not have
camouflage schemes with Niccola Chiaro and Verde Oliva Scuro
mottles in Libya early 1940, nor did any plane wear the white
band: this is confirmed by Notiziario Club Modellismo Plastico
Ravenna number 2/2004, issue dedicated to Breda 88, page 11 and
can have a further confirmation by the dedicated issue by Ali
d'Italia; it is to be considered that the white band was
introduced at the end of 1940 and that Nocciola Chiaro was
introduced in the second half of 1941; the photo that appears in
the CMPR-GAVS-GMT camouflage book at page 55 refers to a Breda 88
modificato (modified) (the wings were modified) and is dated
summer '43. No modified Breda was flown in Africa.
Notiziario CMPR
2/2004:
Colori e
Insegne La mimetica dei Breda 88
rilevabile dalle foto dellarchivio del Club è praticamente di un
solo tipo ed è costituita sulle superfici superiori da piccole
macchie in giallo mimetico 3 (probabile), abbastanza fitte e
sfumate, su fondo verde mimetico 3 (probabile) e su quelle
inferiori in grigio azzurro chiaro 1. Questo tipo di mimetica
viene mantenuto anche sugli aerei inviati in Africa.
Camouflage and
Markings The Breda 88 camouflage as it
appears in photos of the Club archive, is practically of an unique
type and is constituted on the upper surfaces by small mottles in
giallo mimetico 3 (probable) very close to one another and with no
sharp edges, on a surface of verde mimetico 3 (probable) and on
the lower surface by grigio azzurro chiaro 1. This kind of
camouflage was maintained also on the planes sent to Africa.
It is also noted
that the corresponding Ba.88 profile contained in the reference :
Dunning, C., "Courage Alone - The Italian Air Force 1940-1943",
Hikoki, 1998, is also in error. Please use the following reference
profile for North African Ba.88s [Tauro Models Decal Sheet TM
72/522]:

Riccardo Trotta
- FIAT, CMASA and CANSA used Giallo Mimetico 1,
Verde Mimetico 1-53192 and Marrone Mimetico 1
- FIAT used Giallo Mimetico 1, Verde Mimetico
1 and Marrone
Mimetico 1 on early CR.32s and the first production batch of
G.50s (enclosed cockpit)
- FIAT used Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico
3 and Marrone
Mimetico 2 on later production G.50s and CR.42s
- Caproni,
Aeronautica Predappio used Marrone Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico 3,
Giallo Mimetico 3, Bruno Mimetico, Marrone Mimetico 53193 and Verde
Mimetico 53192
- IMAM used Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico
3, Marrone Mimetico
2 and Bruno Mimetico
- Macchi used Verde Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico
53192, Giallo Mimetico 4 and Bruno Mimetico
- Macchi used Bruno Mimetico, Giallo Mimetico
4 on Verde Mimetico 2 background on MC. 200s and early MC.202s
- Piaggio
used Giallo Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico 2 , Marrone Mimetico 2 and Bruno Mimetico
- Reggiane
used Giallo Mimetico 3, Giallo Mimetico 4, Verde Mimetico 2, Marrone Mimetico 1 and
Marrone Mimetico 2.
- Reggiane used Marrone Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico 1
on Giallo Mimetico 3 base on Re. 2000s
Table 1.
Paint Suppliers and Aircraft Manufactures
|
Colori Mimetici |
Paint Supplier |
Aircraft
Manufacturer |
|
Giallo Mimetico 1 |
Inves |
FIAT |
|
Giallo Mimetico 2 |
Masciadri |
Piaggio |
|
Giallo Mimetico 3 |
Arson-Sisi |
Breda, Caproni, CRDA, FIAT, IMAM,
SIAI |
|
Giallo Mimetico 4 |
Max-Mayer |
Aermacchi, IMAM |
|
Verde Mimetico
1 |
Inves |
FIAT |
|
Verde Mimetico
2 |
Max-Mayer |
Aermacchi,
Piaggio |
|
Verde Mimetico
3 |
Masciadri |
Breda, Caproni, FIAT,
IMAM |
| |