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Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana |
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Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana |
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and Camouflage Schemes Vince Tassone Last Revised January 2024
*Please note this page contains Hyperlinks for the TABLE OF CONTENTS and TABLES below (e.g., Prewar Period : 1923 - 1938) in order to help navigate this page quickly. To use the Hyperlinks, simply click on any heading and the page will redirect you to the heading's contents. Use the back arrow in your browser to return to this point. TABLE OF CONTENTS
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 Alluminumo (G2 Camo Scheme, Table 4) 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 S.81 were painted Bianco Avorio (G1 Camo Scheme, Table 4), 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 4). 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 33531The Verde (Green) colors were: Verde Mimetico 1 FS 34258The Marrone (Brown) colors were: Marrone Mimetico 1 FS 30118Aside from these colors, two other shades were in common use: Verde Mimetico 53192 (FS 34227)The last two colors above are named after 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 4). 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 should also be pointed 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:
For undersurfaces all the aircraft manufacturers used Grigio Mimetico, although some aircraft remained unpainted Aluminum, especially prewar manufactured aircraft. It should be noted that these schemes were used in both the European and Northern Africa theatres of operation, although, background schemes with Giallo were more common.
In 1941, the multitude of color variations in common use with the Regia Aeronautica led to another directive being issued in July 1941 (these colors making an appearance starting from September-October 1941) to standardize around a simpler set of colors and camouflage schemes for combat aircraft, the so called Tavola 10 colors (D Series Camo Chips, Table 4). It is important to note here that both the color and camouflage schemes were now standardized at this time. The colors were standardized through the distribution of reference chips to the relevant paint suppliers. The order prescribed that all camouflage colors be matte and that the separation line between the upper and lower surfaces be soft-edged. The new colors were: Nocciola Chiaro 4 FS 30219The new standard camouflage scheme saw overall upper surfaces in Verde Oliva Scuro 2 with small splotches of Nocciola Chiaro for the North African theatre. European based aircraft were finished in the so called "Continential" scheme finished in a single color Verde Olive Scuro 2. The directive stipulated the use of all old light colors be discontinued, namely the Light Yellows and Light Greens, as well as the use of Marrone Mimetico and Bruno Mimetico shades. The 1941 order also stipulated that all remaining stock supplies of the old colors be used-up entirely, both on the production lines and in repair shops which ensured that these colors would still be seen for some time after 1941. This situation continued till the Armistice with the exception of another directive issued in 1942, reversing the African Theatre scheme, now overall Nocciola Chiaro 4 upper surfaces with "small mottles" of Verde Oliva Scuro 2. Other Notes: Macchi built planes: African Theatre C 200s, C 202s and C 205s used the so-called "smoke rings" or the "amebae" scheme composed of Verde Oliva Scuro 2 over Nocciola Chiaro background. Table 2. Tavola 10 Colors: Applications and Paint Suppliers (12 Colors)
2) Reference: Camouflage and Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-1945. F. D'Amico and G. Valentini, Classic Publications, 2005. Naval Aircraft Flying boats (e.g., Cant Z.501) and floatplanes/seaplanes (e.g., Cant Z.505) began the war with an overall Aluminium scheme (the so-called "Allumina" varnish). Submerged parts of aircraft hulls were painted matt black. The pre-war high visibility Rosso Bandiera 8 FS 31105 Flag Red bands on the upper wing surfaces were deleted. The high visibility bands were designed to help find crashed aircraft in Ethiopia where fighter opposition was minimal or non-existent. At the beginning of WWII the white Cross of Savoy replaced the tricolor on the rudder over a Verde Mimetico background. The directive issued in 1941 required the upper surfaces of maritime aircraft to be painted a Dark Blue-Gray (Grigio Azzurro Scuro 3 FS 36118). This color better suited combat missions over the Mediterranean Sea. Special Colors and Camouflage Schemes On S.79s, during 1940, a new camouflage scheme appeared composed of "streaks" or large stripes of Marrone Mimetico 53193 with parallel stripes of Giallo Mimetico 3 (or Verde Mimetico 3) and Verde Mimetico 53192 (or Giallo Mimetico 3) (CMPR A3 - A4 Camo Schemes, Table 4). This camouflage scheme was also composed of regular and faded bands in Giallo Mimetico 3, Marrone Mimetico 53193 and Verde Mimetico 53192. Other distinct schemes existed, mostly applied in the field and were generally found on torpedo bombers such as the S.79. An example was a background in Giallo Mimetico with large splotches of Verde Mimetico 2 or 3, Verde Mimetico 1 or Verde Mimetico 53192 or, later, a camouflage with uniform Verde Oliva Scuro 2 background with small mottles of Grigio Azzurro Chiaro (CMPR E8 Camo Scheme, Table 4). To enhance further the effect of camouflage on low flying torpedo bombers, especially on the final runs before launching torpedoes, the front parts of the nose and wings were painted Grigio Azzurro Chiaro. Night Fighter Schemes The night fighters were usually painted overall matt black and the white national insignias being painted over with matt black (with the exception, sometimes, of the Cross of Savoy located on the rudder). Please click the following link regarding Fiat CR.42 CN Night Fighter Schemes. Night bombers had their lower and side surfaces painted matt black while the upper surfaces remained in the original factory camouflage colors (especially when Verde Oliva Scuro 2 was used on S.79 III, P.108 etc.). As with fighters, the white fuselage band was often painted over. Foreign Built Aircraft In most cases captured aircraft were left in their original colors with the deletion of national insignias. Colors were sometimes replaced with Italian camouflage colors, usually Grigio Mimetico or Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1, depending on the period, for lower surfaces and Verde Mimetico 2 or Verde Oliva Scuro 2 on the upper surfaces. German: Its not certain the three Bf 110Cs and some of the Do 217Js supplied to the RA were painted with an overall Black scheme, while the Fi.156s were all Verde Mimetico 2 on the upper surfaces except for a single known aircraft in North African camouflage scheme. The matter is somewhat more complicated as far as the Bf 109 F and G is concerned. Alongside the tropical Luftwaffe scheme, some aircraft were repainted, in the field with Italian camouflage colors. The ANR left their 109Gs and Ks painted in Luftwaffe camouflage schemes and colors RLM 74/75/76 or RLM 76/80/83. However, on these aircraft the Swastika and German cross were replaced by ANR fasces on the wings and an Italian flag painted on both sides of the front fuselage next to the painted-over German cross. French: Captured French aircraft were left in their original colors with national insignias painted over with a Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1. Vichy French aircraft were treated similarly. Aircraft Interiors Most Italian WWII aircraft interiors were painted in Verde Anticorrosione FS 34272 although many variations in interior colors existed, depending on the paint supplier. On Reggiane fighters for example, interior parts had a more grayish tone (e.g., Re. 2000 and Re.2002 FS 34227) while other aircraft, the shade was slighlty more green, similar to FS 34230. There are some important exceptions, for example on SIAI multi-engine aircraft, namely the S.79, the interiors of these aircraft were painted in a Gray similar to Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1. Re.2005: "Here in the cockpit of the Re.2005 was found a light gray-green (FS 24272). Reggiane also used other kind of greens, at least a darker gray-green for inner fuselage and a grass green (FS 34230) for separate parts as ammo boxes or fin (Re.2001)." S. Lazzaro Related Forum Post. S.79: The S.79 was built by other factories other than SIAI, namely Reggiane, AUSA and Macchi. Light gray (i.e. Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 - FS 36307) was the standard finish for interiors, even before 1941, but it's known that at least Reggiane and Macchi often used instead their own Verde Anticorrosione, each one in different hues. The S.79 cockpit floor was made of small tubes welded on a metal plate, so to have a "corrugated" anti-slipping floor. They were unpainted NM. Wheel bays and legs were painted as undersides, so aluminium for aircraft built until first half of 1941, then GAC1. They however could have been repainted gray during overhauling. S. Lazzaro Related Forum Post. G.50: NOTE: Regarding Fiat G.50 Interiors (Riccardo Trotta): "? in the magazine Aerofan 1/1981 there is an article which reports some parts of the official book "Istruzioni e norme per il montaggio, la regolazione e la manutenzione" C.A. 381 referring to the Fiat G50 2° series CMASA, May 1940 (practically a maintenance manual) so before the issue of Tavola 10, and about the internal side of the fuselage, it says " Tutte le parti interne della fusoliera sono verniciate con vernice antiruggine grigia" ... the translation is: "All the internal fuselage parts are painted with gray anticorrosion painting"; I don't know if this gray is the same as Grigio Azzurro Chiaro, but it is surely a gray" Following the directive issued in 1941, the standardization of the Tavola 10 colors that took full-affect in 1942, aircraft internals of new or refurbished aircraft were to be finished in Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1. This does not suggest an anticorrision paint was not applied to aircraft internals but that the internals were to be finished in Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1, ie., painting over the anticorrison color with Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1. Since many aircraft such as the MC. 200 and MC. 202 were manufactured before and after 1942, the modeler should determine, through the aircraft serial number (Matricole Militare MM) or the date of operations, when the aircraft was constructed and to apply the appropriate internal color. ANR Colors : 1944-1945 The post Armistice Italian Air force situated in Northern Italy used three main types of fighter aircraft, the Fiat G.55, the Macchi 205V and the Bf.109. The Reggiane Re.2005 had also been employed in small numbers, although primarily for training. The color and camouflage schemes of these aircraft (except for the Re.2005 VOS2) followed closely the Luftwaffe schemes of the period RLM 74/75/76 and RLM 80/83/76. German markings such as the Balkan cross and swastika were generally oversprayed with Grigio Azzuro Chiaro 1 on aircraft supplied to the ANR from German inventories in 1944 and early 1945. However, later in 1945, the German Balkan crosses could be seen on Bf.109 fuselages and underside wing areas. Transport aircraft and bombers also followed closely the German camouflage schemes and were commonly finished in a solid color Verde Oliva Scuro 2.
Table 3. CMPR Color Chips [1]
CMPR Camouflage Schemes : 1936-1943 How to Read Table 4: Next to each camouflage chip is a list of the corresponding colors. The first color corresponds to the base color followed by the first mottle color, the second mottle color and finally the underside color, e.g., C1 Scheme:
Table 4. CMPR Camouflage Chips [Postiglioni, U. and Degl'Innocenti, A., Colori e Schemi Mimetici Della Regia Aeronautica, II Edizione, CMPR, GAVS sez Roma, GMT, 2a Ristampa, 1997]
Table 5. CMPR Anti-Camouflage and Other Particular Schemes and Colors
Color Codes for Mechanical and Pneumatic Equipment Table 6. Color Codes for Mechanical and Pneumatic Equipment
Bomb Colors Table 7. Bomb Colors of Italian Explosive Ordnance in World War II
Torpedoes: Torpedoes came by two factories: Whitehead (W) in Fiume (now Rijeka, Croatia) and Silurificio Italiano (SI) in Naples. They were made in gray bronze, and in active use they were greased with mineral oil to prevent salt corrosion. W torpedoes were totally metal, while SI ones - which had an ogival head - had a hemispherical cap painted light blue. That color in orthocromatic b/w films appears very light, but the use of yellow, orange or red lens filters progressively darkened it, and this explains the different tones in images. Aerial torpedoes had a wood detachable fin which stabilized the flight before the dive. This was painted aluminium. W and SI had different fins. S. Lazzaro Related Forum Post Propeller Blade Colors FIAT-Hamilton (CR.42, G.50) had a light blue like FS 35466, judging from several pictures; Alfa Romeo (S.79) were sharply FS 35526: personally examined in more than one wooden model. Piaggio P.1001 (Macchi fighters) had an unspecified light gray or pale blue; propellers were made either by Piaggio, Aer. Macchi or Breda. A blade from a Spanish Civil War CR.32, with scratched camo leaves the original light gray, apparently around FS 36473 to 35526. Rear faces of the blades were always matt black, but by 1941, propeller blades were painted all black with yellow tips, and in some very rare cases even red tips. S. Lazzaro Directives 1. New Tail Markings - Fo (Foglio d'Ordini n.) B13842 12 June 1940 By order of the Air Staff (Order Sheet No. B13842 dated 12 June 1940) new tail national markings were introduced soon after the war was declared. The national rudder stripes (green-white-red) were felt too similar to the French colors (blue-white-red), and a white cross was ordered to replace them, to avoid any possible confusion. It was called the Savoy Cross as it originated from the white cross in the House of Savoy coat of arms. Initially, the cross had to be placed on rudders, maintaining the vertical white stripe of the original tricolour, crossed by a same-width horizontal stripe where the state badge was carried, in order to form a cross motif. A lot of tail cross shapes and size variations could be observed during its early use due to different order interpretations at the unit level. 2. Yellow cowls - Fo (Foglio d'Ordini n.) 1049 22 June 1941 No real theatre marking was apotded in the Balkans since the beginning operations late in October, even if a new identification marking started to be carried between the end of the year and the begninning of 1941. In fact, even Albanian based aircraft started displaying a white fuselage band soon after it was first observed in Sicily and North Africa. Most probably this marking was introduced in order to avoid easy misidentification, by friendly aicraft, due to quite similar fighter types used by the RAF (the similarirty of the Gladiator to CR.42s to any German pilot). And a similar reason could have likely originated another even more evident marking: the prominent yellow noses that all operational units started adding to their planes in 1941. Even if a precise application date for this marking can not be traced in official records, it's quite evident from photographic evidence that first applications can be dated back as early as in April 1941, or sometimes even before. In any case, it became of general use at unit level when the German Luftwaffe became involved in the Balkans in the spring of 1941. A few months later, with Order Sheet no.1049 dated 22.6.41, the yellow cowling was officially ordered to be painted at factory level on any kind of new or overhauled operational aircraft (including trainers other than primary) as duly reported into a Piaggio's camouflage and finishing manual issued in the summer of that year. Consequently, it seems likely that the yellow noses had been adopted by agreement with the Germans as an easy friend or foe identification marker, even considering they frequently used yellow tactical markings on different fronts. That tactical marking however, should not be properly regarded as a theatre marking, appearing more or less at the same time in Sicily, North Africa and the Balkans, all places where the Germans started being involved in combat at same time, fighting side by side with the Italians. If we also consider the Italians had already adopted yellow tactical markings in Belgium since late in October 1940, it should not be too difficult relating this marking to a practice agreed with German aeronautical authorities. Officially, yellow areas should have been limited to propeller spinners, if any, and to a 60 centimetre-wide noseband. It's worth noting however, that quite frequently on radial engined types, the yellow area could be extended to the whole cowl, sometimes even including cowling gills. This was probably a consequence of simplified painting, obtaining at same time a better recognition mark. However, for some still undisclosed reasons, yellow noses were ordered to be removed from Italian aircraft on 22.10.1941, while the white fuselage band was later retained till the armistice, or sometimes even later, like a sort of additional national marking.[4] 3.Transparent Wing Fasci - Fo (Foglio d'Ordini n.) 86080 29 Ottobre 1941 This directive stipulated the use of a transparent background for fasci located on the upper and lower wings of all combat aircraft beginning 28 October 1941:  Reference: Directive first published by Pierluigi Moncalvo in Gruppo Interesse Speciale Regia Aeronautica Bullettin of IPMS Italy. Kindly provided by Ing. R. Trotta. References [1] Postiglioni, U. and Degl'Innocenti, A., Colori e Schemi Mimetici Della Regia Aeronautica, I Edizione, CMPR, 1a Ristampa, 1977. [2] Postiglioni, U. and Degl'Innocenti, A., Colori e Schemi Mimetici Della Regia Aeronautica, II Edizione, CMPR, GAVS sez Roma, GMT, 2a Ristampa, 1997. [3] Galvan, G. and François, P., Regia Aeronautica Colors and Camouflage Schemes, Eagle Press. [4] Waldis, P. and De Bortoli, M., Colori & Insegne, Regia Aeronautica Caccia & Assalto 1940-1943 Parte I, Fighters & Ground Attack Units, La Bancarella Aeronautica, Torino, 2002.
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