Paint colors of USMC vehicles shown in HBO's "The Pacific"

[Martinjmpr]

OK, OK, this is the third (and I promise, final!) question I have about the HBO series "The Pacific" that I'm asking based on what I've seen in the series.  

 

I'm pretty knowledgeable about WWII vehicles, but my primary interest has always been the Army.  I was a member of the MVPA (Military Vehicle Preservation Assocation) for quite a few years and have many books on military vehicles both WWII and post-war.  I even owned a military vehicle, a 1952 Dodge M-43 ambulance, about 30 years ago that I never got around to restoring.  

 

When my wife and I started watching the HBO series "The Pacific", many of the scenes show USMC vehicles including jeeps, trucks, half-tracks, tanks and AMTRACS.  However, most of the vehicles they show are painted a bright, almost "kelly green" or "shamrock green."  I have never seen this before in any photos nor have I ever seen it on any restored military vehicles.  See the photos below for what I'm talking about.  

 

So my question is - where did they get this color from?  I know most WWII photos are Black and White so it's hard to see colors but I've never seen that USMC vehicles in the PTO were painted this color.  I know the Navy often painted vehicles gray, and of course the Army used the olive drab shade most of us are familiar with.  

 

So my question for the group:  Is there any historical support to the Marines using this color scheme? 

 

 

[Martinjmpr]

Oh, and a side question: DID the Marines use half-tracks?  I've only seen photos of them in the North African and ETO campaigns.  I would think a half-track would have been too heavy for most of the small jungle roads in the PTO.  

[Mr.Jerry]

While I have no historical evidence or knowledge of regs, I will say that I have seen enough helmets repainted that odd "Marine Corps Green" to believe it.

[Salvage Sailor]

2 hours ago, Martinjmpr said:

Oh, and a side question: DID the Marines use half-tracks?  I've only seen photos of them in the North African and ETO campaigns.  I would think a half-track would have been too heavy for most of the small jungle roads in the PTO.  

 

The US Marine Corps made considerable use of the half-track, in the form of the M3 Gun Motor Carriage, in the Pacific. The 75mm M1897A4 cannon mounted on these vehicles were employed knocking out enemy pill boxes and machine gun nests, as in this photo.  Military Trader

 

USMC Bougainville

 

USMC Saipan - This is a well armed SPM of the 4th Special Weapons Company, 4th Marine Division. This unit has added two heavy pintles for .50 cal MGs on both sides, two smaller pintles for .30 cal MGs forward these, and a third .30 cal MG pintle on the center of the gun shield. Mike's Research

 

USMC Saipan - US Marines confer with the crew of a SPM during the fighting. Note the section of canvas hanging over the hull side and the Jerry cans mounted on the sides. The front tires and the tracks are caked with mud.  Mike's Research

 

USMC Guam - In the 21st Marines, 1st Lieutenant Wharton likely commanded a platoon of halftracks armed with 75 mm cannons similar to this one. Technically, the halftrack pictured above is not a factory M3 G.M.C., but it has that vehicle’s 75 mm cannon and gun shield mounted on an M2 halftrack instead.  It also has considerable extra armament in the form of least four machine guns.   (Official U.S Marine Corps photo, National Archives)