US Fuel and Oil Drum Colors during WWII

HeavyArty

 

 

No, as black was also used.  There are many color photos of black drums used by the USAAF, USA, USN, USMC.  

 

 

I believe you may be seeing pics that the colors have changed/faded/over exposed etc. From all records I have seen and all references I have read, all US POL drums were OD Green and the markings denoted what was in them.

 

Here you go from Spring 1943, Adak, the Aleutians:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350154939750841681/

and pretty new looking.  I have also seen some in France in some color documentaries.  So there can be some variation to make a dio more interesting.

The Navy likely would have repainted the drums into a gray to match the LCI’s paint scheme. Sailors are constantly on painting details on board ships and craft. If those drums were in place for any length of time, they will be painted per the camouflage measures. 

If you look here...

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/warship_camouflage.htm

The basis of my question involves a bunch of the above.  I am building an LCI gunboat that was powered by Diesel engines, but also had a gas burning smoke generator on the stern that either injected oil or fuel oili into the burner to produce heavy smoke.   A feed drum and extras were stored on deck for the smoke generator.   Thought that something should be a different color but I can live with OD as well

thanks for the info and discussions.   Always something new to learn on this forum.

Thanks M1. I had read about the diesel selection in one of the Concord books on armor in the PTO.

Welcome back home. Really enjoyed your explaination on the reason for diesel powered tanks in the USMC. Never considered what other vehicles (ie: landing craft) were powered by diesels, but now it all makes sense.

No, as black was also used.  There are many color photos of black drums used by the USAAF, USA, USN, USMC.  

I believe you may be seeing pics that the colors have changed/faded/over exposed etc. From all records I have seen and all references I have read, all US POL drums were OD Green and the markings denoted what was in them.

Diesels were more commonly used on the Navy side of the house. The USMC selected the M4A2 Diesel engined variant for the logistical reason of sharing the same fuel with many landing craft types such as the LCVP. There were also diesel powered variants of the M3 light and medium tanks. Although those were mostly used stateside for training or sent overseas to the Soviets for Lend Lease Service. 

No, as black was also used.  There are many color photos of black drums used by the USAAF, USA, USN, USMC.  

Great!  Thanks for the assistance!

They were all the same OD Green.  The stenciling painted on them (Gasoline, Oil, etc.) told what they contained.