Austin K2 Ambulance colours?

[keithjs]

I'd like to build the Accurate Armour kit in the markings of 30 Corps at Arnhem if possible but can't decide whether she should be Dark earth or Khaki Green.
Anyone have any info or better still point me in the right direction for references etc.
Thanks in advance.

[alfie]

I have received this response to my request in the current Magazine:

Hi Alfie
I read your request for the colours of K2 ambulances of 30 Corps. Terminology first: Khaki Green is Khaki Green 3 introduced in 1939 as the new basic colour for all army vehicles. Discontinued in use by late 1941 and phased out on first line vehicles by 1944 so this colour is almost certainly not used at Arnhem.

Dark Earth is an RAF colour name, the army colour is SCC 2 (brown) never named and not the same colour at all. This SCC 2 replaced Khaki Green 3 steadily during 1942 and was the standard basic colour until replaced in turn by SCC 15 Olive Drab in April 1944. Despite the name this Olive drab does not match the US colour, it is more green.

Therefore K2 may have been SCC 2 or SCC 15, it depends on whether the vehicle was repainted before issue. There was no need to repaint second line or L of C vehicles in the new colour and in Europe many vehicles remained brown. However it was most likely a single colour as disruptive painting on medical vehicles was officially discontinued by ACI 60 of January 1944 and probably before that due to administrative time lapse between signals and ACIs.