Unusual colour scheme for us mk2

[paul the grenade]

Any one seen a Mk2 pained like this before? ive had this one for years and was wondering if it is a genuine one or repainted.:tinysmile_hmm_t2:
Cheers, Paul.

 

[vinnyw]

Hello Paul,its been a long time.Could that have been I of the early yellow HE grenades that was painted over OD green?
vinny :tinysmile_classes_t

 

[Eodtek]

Any one seen a Mk2 pained like this before? ive had this one for years and was wondering if it is a genuine one or repainted.:tinysmile_hmm_t2:
Cheers, Paul.

Paul,

I suspect that it is one of the "field level maint." re-paints that were done early on to comply with the color code change.

To add some color to this I provide you with the practice version with a similar marking :bigsmile:

 

[paul the grenade]

thanks Eodtek. i often though it looked like it had been repainted in a hurry.
Cheers, Paul.

 

[Lou]

Not unusual but,,,,,Heres a couple of my MKIIs that are overpaints.

If you look close at the OD over yellow grenade,you can see green on the back of the spoon,as if the whole assembly got dipped.

And then a MKII I just got in the mail a bit back,kinda hard to capture, but its black over grey with an M10A1 fuze.

 

[pointblank0]

Looks pretty original to me

 

[Dronic69]

Any one seen a Mk2 pained like this before? ive had this one for years and was wondering if it is a genuine one or repainted.:tinysmile_hmm_t2:
Cheers, Paul.

Hi Paul,

Yours has a much more "original" paint job than my Mk2A1 one..............:tinysmile_angry_t:

{Although it has a very Vietnamish jungle green about it???????}

Cheers
Drew

 

[GTR003121]

Ive seen a couple before like that, looks good.

 

[Grenademan2005]

I have one in my collection exactly "repainted" like yours Paul, dont worry, its totally original.

 

[US-Subs]

I have one in my collection exactly "repainted" like yours Paul, dont worry, its totally original.

Original in accordance with what?

 

[Grenademan2005]

With the grenade that started this thread, of course.

 

[EODGUY]

I am not sure when the actual conversion from yellow to green became standard, but I think it was in the 1942-43 timeframe. The decision was made to re-paint all grenades in depot storage, repaint those returned to depot storage from the field as they arrived and to authorize field units to repaint from yellow to green those stocks on hand. Although the proper way, according to specifications, was to spray paint the grenade bodies, most field units did not have that capability. Often the field units dipped the grenades in green paint which resulted in the grenade that started this thread.
As for the green over gray body, that too has a possible explanation. In February 1919, it was directed that combat loaded fragmentation grenades would be painted gray in color. Existing MkII's loaded with TNT were painted battleship gray at that time. In May of 1926, the Ordnance Committee noting that chemical munitions were painted gray also directed that fragmentation ordnance, including grenades, be painted yellow. Although I am sure the numbers would be small, it is not beyond my belief that some MKII's still with gray paint were in storage into the early 1940's. The US government has a strange habit of keeping some ordnance around forever. In the 1960's we were shipping 1918 dated cal. .30 ball ammunition in the original pack from Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania to Vietnam.

 

[Fragman]

Hi, Grey bodies repainted yellow are sometimes found in the Guadalcanal area. One of the attached pictures shows a repainted grey bodied grenade I have that was reportedly found in that area back in the 70's. Cheers

 

[US-Subs]

With the grenade that started this thread, of course.

My mistake, I thought that you were referring to the post just ahead of yours from Dronic69 - with the brightly colored green grenades. I've never seen a reference to that being an official color and was wondering if someone had come up with something new.

 

[Dronic69]

My mistake, I thought that you were referring to the post just ahead of yours from Dronic69 - with the brightly colored green grenades. I've never seen a reference to that being an official color and was wondering if someone had come up with something new.

Perhaps I should do a quick hit with the paint stripper and see what's underneath? This was suggested prior when I query if it was "real" with the GI Joe green on it!

Humm,.........
Cheers
Drew

BTW - Yes it is a shade bright, but then the blue practise one is also quite "loud" (in colour)!!!!

 

[Eodtek]

I am not sure when the actual conversion from yellow to green became standard, but I think it was in the 1942-43 timeframe.

From the OCM Reports:

From All yellow to OD Green with Yellow Band

12-10-1942 Item 19298 Color Codes:

a. That all H.E. bombs and separate loaded H.E. ammunition be painted with lusterless olive drab paints containing available infrared reflecting pigments. Formulas for suitable infra-red reflecting paints of adequate stability and which do not contain critical materials, are available and will be incorporated in the specifications.

b. That other ammunition, fixed ant semi-fixed rounds, rockets, grenades, mines, etc,, except Small Arms, remain as they are at present with the following exceptions:
I. That all colors used on ammunition be lusterless instead of the present semi-gloss, to dull finish.
II. That the yellow color now in use as a base color on H.E. ammunition be changed to a lusterless olive drab with No, 4 yellow stencil to designate H.E. filler.
III. That all wooden ammunition boxes used in the transportation of ammunition to the using services be stained a light brown color to decrease their visibility.
IV. That all metal parts on the exposed portion of the ammunition boxes and containers be painted with a light brown lusterless enamel.
c. That a lusterless color card be prepared to show lusterless
color including infra-red reflecting colors, for use on ammunition,
similar to the present color standards issued in connection with specification No. 3-1; General Specification for Paint, and Related Materials.
d. That current stocks of artillery ammunition packed in fiber
or other containers in which the ammunition is issued to troops need not be repainted. Current Stocks of separate loaded ammunition will be repainted if and when practicable. Current stocks of bombs, which are now painted with lusterless olive drab without infra-red pigments need not be repainted. Current stocks of rifle grenades, hand grenades and rockets in depots will be repainted to conform with these recommendations.
Stocks of rifle grenades, hand grenades and rockets in hand of troops will be repainted if and when practicable.

From Battleship Gray to Yellow

MINUTES OF THE ORDNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD THURSDAY MAY 6, 1926
AT 10:30 A.M.

ITEM 5404

PAINTING OF FRAGMENTATION HAND GRENADES:
Mr. Adelman read the following report on Grenades:

1. References:
0.0. 471.611/636
0.0 471.611/647

2. In Report No.7 of the Marking Board, Ammunition etc., dated February 21, 1919, it was specified that a fragmentation grenade shall be painted gray when loaded for combat use. Picatinny Arsenal is now preparing a specification for loading of fragmentation hand grenades, Mark II, with TNT. These grenades, when manufactured, are painted Battleship Gray, according to Specifications EW 514-5, paragraph II 5.

3. At the present time, the chemical ammunition is painted gray and in addition to other markings, there are green bands to denote persistency. In keeping with the recommendation of the Marking Board, high explosive ammunition is designated by the application of a specific color, yellow.

4. The sub-committee recommends that high explosive grenades be painted yellow, the color now prescribed for painting H.E. projectiles.

Action required by: Manufacturing Service.

A motion was made, seconded and carried that the report of the Sub-Committee be approved.

 

[Grenademan2005]

Great info, Guys! :adore:

 

[US-Subs]

Perhaps I should do a quick hit with the paint stripper and see what's underneath? This was suggested prior when I query if it was "real" with the GI Joe green on it!

Humm,.........
Cheers
Drew

BTW - Yes it is a shade bright, but then the blue practise one is also quite "loud" (in colour)!!!!

I generally leave things as found. A number of times I have found out years later that the ridiculous paint scheme on the item I changed, got rid of, etc was in fact for a special purpose and historically significant. Unless I know for certain that someone was screwing around, I leave it alone. I wouldn't touch them.

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Any one seen a Mk2 pained like this before? ive had this one for years and was wondering if it is a genuine one or repainted.:tinysmile_hmm_t2:
Cheers, Paul.

Great grenade Paul. I like these green dipped pineapples that weren't dipped very deeply into the paint. That's a super nice looking WW2 pineapple you have.