Why do the Russians paint a big White stripe down the center of their vehicles in WWII and I think some in Czechloslovakia in 1968 also.
You mean the turret stripe? It was initially a recognition factor for the advance on Berlin. Dealing with the fear of Western allied pilots attacking unfamiliar tanks, and providing quick recognition for other Soviet crews. I don't know; but if it was used in the Czech business, presumably with some Soviet vehicles being used in the uprising similar reasons lay behind it. ~A
Thanks. I thought it might be aircraft recognition but wasn't sure Hard to find the World War two ones. I have a book with late war ones but wasn't sure about 1968.
Its actually a white cross on top of the turret and often a white stripe around the turret in WW 2. This was done because by late 1944 the Soviets found their armored columns being attacked by Western Allied aircraft. The agreed recognition marker was these white stripes.... Not that it always helped.....
Thanks, I also saw them in a movie I watched recently which was supposed to be about the czech 68 revolution but ended up less history and more racey actresses. The trucks and tanks had a white stripe down the middle so I was curious if the film vehicle procurement guy had it historically correct.
selection of pics showing the white cross http://archiv.radio.cz/pictures/tank.gif http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/08/16/soviet460x276.jpg http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/50...9EC9858023F1B3DC7A825989A5E71B01E70F2B3269972
as TA says, in 1945 it was horizontal stripes. SU-100 (photos) http://www.figuren-modellbau.de/buecher/isbn-9623616163-soviet-heavy-tanks.jpg