table of colors

Table of colors utilized on Soviet warplanes 1937-1947
by Massimo Tessitori

Updated on February 14, 2013

This table resumes the informations, forthemost of Russian origin, available on the colors utilized in 1937-1947, and is widely based on the works of Vaklamov and Orlov.
Sources, links and credits are described here.
Wherever is possible, I've included the matches to the AKAN colors aside the well-known Federal Standard ones, as a tribute to their chips that have given an important input to this table.

Please be warned that:
although I tried to make this work as carefully as possible, I can't guarantee that it's fully right and exhaustive;
the chips shown here could be visualized in different ways on different monitors and even with different software on the same monitor.
Some of the chips are divided in two parts on the base of the supposed look of the fresh color (left) and of aged color (right), on the base of my observations on its ageing that can fade it to lighter shades (all dark colors), yellowish (oil colors) or, more rarely, to darker shades (AMT-1 and A-21, AII green on the medium time).

Notes on names and chemical mediums of the paints:

A-x were oil enamels for markings or internal metal parts;
AE-x paints were oil enamels for external metal surfaces, resistant to atmospheric agents;
A-x-f were alkyd paints for metals;
AII (or A 2nd) colors were nitrocellulosic lacquers; they could be utilized on wooden and fabric surfaces, and on metal surfaces over some primier (usually ALG-1 yellowish paint);
AMT-x were nitrocellulose lacquers for mixed construction planes, that is, they can be utilized on metal, wood and fabric; they were introduced in mid 1941.
AGT-x were as AMT but gloss-finished, and were utilized after the war.
A-xx-m were matt oil-based paints for all-metal planes, introduced in 1941; they had the same pigments of the corresponding AMT series, but the medium gave to them a more brownish-yellowish shade, visible on the light colors;
A-xx-g were the same of A-xx-m, but glossy, introduced after the war;
MK were washable distempers for more or less temporary finish;
DD-x were perchlorovinyl enamels (non-flammable) used since 1943 on interior parts of wood of some planes.

Camouflage colors for Soviet planes before 1937

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

silver dope overall surfaces some R-1

Early 1920-ies

Grey-blue * AKAN 371 Undersurfaces - metal (TB-1, TB-3, R-6) or fabric/wood (R-5, U-2) 1927-37

“Zashchitnyi”*
khaki
AKAN 363 Upper surfaces - metal (TB-1, TB-3, R-6) or fabric/wood (R-5, U-2) 1927-1937

3B
dark green
AKAN 370 Army paint, sometimes used on metal planes (TB-3) 1933-37
oil paint

* “Zashchitnyi” and“Gray-blue” refer to colour, not paint

Camouflage and livery paints for Soviet aircraft 1937-June 1940

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

AII Sv.ser. (svetlo seryi)
gloss light grey FS-15630 ? I-153?
Nitrocellulose lacquer

Specification issued around 1937

AE-9
gloss light grey FS-15630
(4, 6)

Overall scheme of most SB,
I-153 (metal parts only)
Oil enamel

Specification issued around 1937

1937-1940 exterior paint for metal
from 1941 interior paint

AE-8
aluminium overall surfaces of some SB, DB-3 and other types; 1938-1939
Enamel

AII Al.* (aluminiovyi)
AII aluminium undersurfaces of some types in 1938; fabric surfaces of many I-153, some R-10 etc.
Nitrocellulose lacquer

Specification issued around 1937

1938-1940 exterior paint for fabric

AE-7 (zashchitnyi)
gloss camouflage green
? overall uppersurfaces of metal planes; thought to be the darker green found on a piece of Spanish SB by Isaac Montoya
Oil enamel

Specification issued in 1936-37

AII (zashchitnyi)
gloss camouflage green AKAN 318 overall wooden, fabric (and eventually, metallic) uppersurfaces( I-15bis, I-16...)
Nitrocellulose lacquer

Specification issued in mid 1937

In use 1938-1941

Camouflage paints of Spanish Republican planes of the Civil War

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

Spanish olive green
(or AII green?) Found on an I-16 see here

Spanish light blue
(or AII blue?) Found on an I-16 (over a layer of grey-blue) see here

Soviet base color
(AE-7?) Found on a SB as base color.

Spanish light olive green Found on a SB overposed to the darker green; possibly utilized for disruptive camo.

Spanish markings red Found on an I-16 and on a RWD tail see here
and here

Spanish ochre yellow found on an RWD tail both as camo and flag color. see here

Spanish markings purple found on an RWD tail as flag color see here

Note: thanks to Isaac Montoya for the samples of greens, red and light blue. Note that existing exhibits are very few, and could be not representative of all planes.

Army colors for experimental camouflages of 1940 (see here)

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

2Le
matt yellow green
AKAN 381 army color; utilized on planes only for experimental camouflage in 1940 oil enamel

3ie
matt sand
AKAN 382 army color; utilized on planes only for experimental camouflage in 1940 oil enamel

3ng
matt brown
AKAN 383 army color; utilized on planes only for experimental camouflage in 1940 oil enamel

22lg
matt light green
AKAN 322 army color; utilized on planes only for experimental camouflage in 1940 oil enamel

4B0
matt camouflage green AKAN 320 army color; utilized on planes only for experimental camouflage in 1940 oil enamel

Camouflage and livery paints for Soviet aircraft June 1940 -July 1941

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

AII Sv.gol. (svetlo goluboi)
gloss light blue AKAN 342
Undersurfaces of mixed construction planes

(I-16, MiG-3, Yak-2...)

Nitrocellulose lacquer

Specification issued around 1937, but widely used in 1940-1942 and gradually replaced by AMT-7

A-18f
gloss light blue AKAN 372 Undersurfaces of metal planes
(SB, Ar-2, Il-2, Pe-2, Il-4, Yer-2)
June 1940
Alkyd enamel for metal

AII (dark) gloss green
gloss green
AKAN 318 overall wooden, fabric (and eventually, metallic) uppersurfaces
Around 1937 , possibly still in use on some types in 1940
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

AII (light) green
gloss green
AKAN 373 overall wooden, fabric (and eventually, metallic) uppersurfaces Around 1940.
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

A-19f
gloss green AKAN 373
Upper surfaces of metal planes

(SB, Ar-2, Il-2, Pe-2, Il-4, Yer-2)
June 1940
Alkyd enamel for metal

Camouflage paints for Soviet aircraft June 1941 – September 1943

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

AMT-6
matt black FS-27038 (2,3)
AKAN 343

black-green camouflage of mixed construction planes (Yak-1,7,9, LaGG-3, La-5, MiG-3, Il-2, Su-2, U-2, mixed-construction Il-4, Pe-2...)
Nitrocellulose lacquer for mixed construction planes

A-26m
matt black FS-37038 (2,3)
AKAN 343

black-green camouflage of all-metal planes (Pe-2, Pe-8, all-metal Il-4...)
Oil paint for all-metal planes
equivalent to AMT-6

AMT-4
matt camouflage green FS-24102, 24151 (2,3)
AKAN 301

black-green camouflage of mixed construction planes (Yak-1,7,9, LaGG-3, La-5, MiG-3, Il-2, Su-2, U-2, mixed-construction Il-4, Pe-2...)
Nitrocellulose lacquer for mixed construction planes

A-24m
matt camouflage green FS-34102, 34151 (2,3)
AKAN 301

black-green camouflage of all-metal planes (Pe-2, Pe-8, all-metal Il-4...)
Oil paint for all-metal planes
equivalent to AMT-4

AII Sv.gol. (svetlo goluboi)
gloss light blue AKAN 342
Undersurfaces of mixed construction planes

(I-16, MiG-3, Yak-2...)

Nitrocellulose lacquer

Specification issued around 1937. Gradually replaced by AMT-7 in 1941/43.

AMT-7
matt greyish blue FS-25190 or slightly more greyish (fades quickly to a lighter shade)
AKAN 302

Undersurfaces:

of mixed construction planes (Yak-1,7,9, LaGG-3, La-5, MiG-3, Il-2, Su-2, U-2, mixed-construction Il-4, Pe-2...)

Nitrocellulose lacquer for mixed construction planes. It gradually replaced AII Sv. Gol. in 1941/43.

A-28m
matt greyish blue
new ?
aged FS-34533 (2,3)
Undersurfaces of

of all-metal planes (Pe-2, Pe-8, all-metal Il-4...)

Oil paint for all-metal planes
equivalent to AMT-7

Note: AMT colors are usable on all-metal planes too, if sprayed over an ALG-1 primer.

Note: some types of planes of late 1941 seem to show a low contrast on the camo. This could be due to the use of stocks of earlier greens, and to the painting of very thinned black over green background.
Many Yaks seem to show a particularly high-contrasted camo. The reason is unclear. Someone hypothyzed the use of a lighter shade of green (ex. tractor green) or desert-style camos, but there is no any confirmation of this in documents and exhibits. Probably this high contrast is due to the use of only one layer of green instead of two over a yellowish primer/putty background, and to the use of sharp and well-covering black bands.

Camouflage paints for Soviet fighter aircraft, September 1943 - 1945
(Yak-1/3/9; LaGG-3 late type; La-5/7, all mixed construction planes)

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

AMT-12
matt dark grey FS-27003 (2,3) Very prone to fading to a lighter shade.
AKAN 345
Upper surfaces gray-gray camouflage
(sometimes utilized alone) Nitrocellulosic lacquer for mixed construction planes

AMT-11
matt blue grey FS-26190 (2) Very prone to fading to a lighter shade.
AKAN 344
Upper surfaces gray-gray camouflage
(sometimes utilized alone) Nitrocellulosic lacquer for mixed construction planes

AMT-7
matt greyish blue FS-25190 Very prone to fading to a lighter shade.
AKAN 302

Undersurfaces

Nitrocellulose lacquer for mixed construction planes

Note: from photographic records, it seems that AMT-11 and 12 were subject to quick fading, and repaintings appear much darker than the original camo.

Note: according to some sources, in case of lack of AMT-11 and 12 paints, they could have been replaced with a mix of 60% AMT-7 and 40% AMT-6 for AMT-11, and 40% AMT-7 and 60% AMT-6 for AMT-12.

Note: the same scheme, with AMT paints or with the equivalent A-32m, A-33m and A-28m for all-metal planes, was prescribed for types as Il-2, Il-10, Il-4, Pe-2, Li-2, Pe-8, Po-2, Shch-2, Tu-2 and Yak-6 in January 1945, but photographic records leave doubts on its real application.

Camouflage paints for Soviet shturmoviks, bombers and transport planes, September 1943 - 1945

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

A-26m
matt black FS-37038 (2,3)
AKAN 343

Upper surfaces black-brown-green camouflage (Pe-8, Il-4)
Oil paint for all-metal planes
equivalent to AMT-6

AMT-4
matt camouflage green FS-24102, 24151 (2,3)
AKAN 301

Upper surfaces gray-brown-green camouflage(Il-2, Po-2, UT-2, Yak-6)
Nitrocellulose lacquer for mixed construction planes

A-24m
matt camouflage green FS-34102, 34151 (2,3)
AKAN 301

gray-brown-green camouflage (metal Il-2, Il-10, Pe-2, Ye-2, Tu-2)

black-brown-green camouflage (Pe-8, Il-4)
Oil paint for all-metal planes
equivalent to AMT-4

AMT-1
matt light greyish brown FS-26306 (2,3)
AKAN 300

gray-brown-green camouflage(Il-2, Po-2, UT-2, Yak-6...)
Nitrocellulosic lacquer.
According to some sources, it started with a greyish dominant, then specificaton changed and became more brown (see here and here)

A-21m
matt light yellowish brown FS-34201, 36350 (2,3)
AKAN 379

gray-brown-green camouflage (metal Il-2, Il-10, Pe-2, Ye-2, Tu-2)

black-brown-green camouflage (Pe-8, Il-4)
1943-1945
oil paint for all-metal planes
similar to AMT-1 but more yellowish
(see here and here)

AMT-12
matt dark grey FS-27003 (2,3)
AKAN 345
gray-brown-green camouflage(Il-2, Po-2, UT-2, Yak-6) 1943-1945
Nitrocellulosic lacquer for mixed construction planes

A-32m
matt dark grey FS-36081 (2,3)
AKAN 345
gray-brown-green camouflage (metal Il-2, Il-10, Pe-2, Ye-2, Tu-2) 1943 and later
oil paint for all-metal planes

AMT-7
matt greyish blue FS-25190
AKAN 302

Undersurfaces of mixed construction planes

(Il-2, Po-2, UT-2, Yak-6...)

Nitrocellulose lacquer for mixed construction planes

A-28m
matt greyish blue
new FS-34533 (1,6)
aged FS-34533 (2,3)
Undersurfaces of all-metal planes (metal Il-2, Il-10, Pe-2, Ye-2, Tu-2, Il-4, Pe-8...)

Oil paint for all-metal planes
equivalent to AMT-7

Note: this type of three-colors camo is often difficult to distinguish on photos, possibly because of the fading of the dark greys and the darkening of light browns, and could be mismatched with a two-shades camo or even with uniform green.

Winter and night camouflage paints, 1941 – 1945

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

MK-7, MK-7f, Mk-7Sh
very matt white 1941-1943
winter camouflages
water soluble distemper, removable

MK-6
matt black (1) undersurfaces of night bombers
1941

water soluble distemper, removable, darker than AMT-6

MK-8
matt black (1) undersurfaces of night bombers 1942 -1945
permanent, darker than AMT-6

“Noch” (night)
matt black (1) undersurfaces of night bombers 1942 -1945
permanent, darker than AMT-6

Camouflage paints for Soviet aircraft 1945-1947

AGT paints are glossy equivalent of AMT nitro-lacquers for mixed construction planes, while A-xx-g paints were glossy equivalents of A-xx-m oil paints for all-metal planes.

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

AMT-6
matt black FS-27038
AKAN 343
prop blades Nitrocellulosic lacquer for mixed construction planes

A-26m
matt black FS-37038
AKAN 343
prop blades oil paint for all-metal planes

AGT-4
gloss camouflage green FS-14102, 14151 uppersurfaces of many types; Nitrocellulosic lacquer

A-24g
gloss camouflage green FS-14102, 14151 uppersurfaces of Il-10s and many other types;
camo of Tu-2 and Il-10 aside A21m and A-32m oil paint for all-metal planes

A-21g
gloss light yellowish brown FS-34201, 36350 camo of Tu-2 and Il-10 aside A24g and A-32g oil paint for all-metal planes

A-32g
gloss dark grey FS-16187, 16251 uppersurfaces of Lavochkins 9/17 and Yak-9P
camo of Tu-2 and Il-10 oil paint for all-metal planes

AMT-11
matt blue-grey FS-26190 uppersurfaces of fighters, alone or with AMT-12 Nitrocellulosic lacquer

AGT-11
gloss blue-grey FS-16190 uppersurfaces of fighters, alone or with AGT-12
overall paint for postwar fighters.
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

A-33m
matt blue-grey FS-36081 uppersurfaces of all-metal fighters, alone or with A-32g oil enamel
darker than AMT-11

A-36g,
gloss light grey-blue ? (6) undersurfaces of Tu-2 and Il-10
Overall La-9/11/15/17, Yak-9P (1950) oil enamel
similar to AGT-16, AMT-16 but a bit more green when aged

AMT-16
matt light grey-blue AKAN 82035-83093
FS-34233 (3)
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

AGT-16
gloss light grey-blue AKAN 82035-83093
FS-14233 (3)
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

PF-36m
matt light grey-blue possibly similar to AMT-16 or A-36g ?? Overall La-9/11/15/17, Yak-9P (1948) ?

AMT-10
matt bluish grey-green FS34226/34300
(6)
upper and side surfaces of naval a/c Nitrocellulosic lacquer; officialized in 1945 (4) but probably utilized even before (5,6)(see here and here)

Marking and livery colors

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

AII
semigloss red
AKAN 341 red stars and other marks. 1937-1950
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

A-13
semigloss red AKAN 374 red stars and other marks 1937-1950
Oil enamel

A-11
gloss white
numbers, stars outlines and other marks Oil enamel

AII aluminium sometimes star outlines, numbers and other marks

Or. (oranzhevyi)
gloss orange FS-12243- 12473 (?) high visibility marks for arctic planes 1940
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

blue FS-15180 civilian planes ?

A-12
gloss black outlines of red stars and other marks Oil enamel

Note: these are the official colors. Any other color could have been utilized: all the paints of A-x series, camouflage colors as AMT-7, protective colors as ALG-1, but it's impossible to identify them on bw photos.

Cherry red, emerald green, light blue-green have been seen on color photos of wrecks.

An unidentified gloss cherry red was utilized on some prototypes, but it's unclear if such paint was obtained by mixing red and black, or was available in any other way.

Interior colors

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

A-14/A-14f
steel grey FS-26187
AKAN 340
general color for interiors since 1930
oil enamel

AE-9
semigloss light grey FS-15630
(4, 6)
internal surfaces and some instrument panels

Around 1937
oil enamel

AE-10
dark grey
?
internal parts of wooden seaplanes below the water line;
late 30s and later
oil enamel

AE-14
light blue
FS 25352 internal surfaces of wooden seaplanes above the water line; perhaps undersurfaces of early MiG-3 link late 30s and later
oil enamel

AII aluminium inside of some wood or fabric surfaces 1938-1939
Nitrocellulosic lacquer

DD-118
grey
FS-26173 aircraft interiors after 1943 perchlor-vinyl enamel for wood (unflammable)

T
matt black nitrolacquer instrument panels
(not on all planes)

MV-1 (3) engines

MV-2 (3) engines

MV-3, MV-4 (3) inscriptions on engines

CF-6
blackish with some purple (3) engines

CF-8 or MV-8 (3) engines

CF-108 or MV108
gloss grey (3) engines

101/19, 2318/19, 102/19
gloss black engines

A-6
gloss yellow FS-13655 (3) fuel tanks and pipes oil enamel

A-7
gloss green FS-14187 (3) coolant pipes and tanks oil enamel

A-8
gloss dark brown lubrification tank and pipes oil enamel

A-9
gloss dark blue FS-15065 hydraulic system oil enamel
Note: according to (4), A-9 was light grey, not dark blue. Probably there is confusion between A-9 and AE-9

A-10
gloss azure FS-15187 oxygen tank and pipes oil enamel

A-12
gloss black air system oil enamel

A-13
gloss red AKAN 374 inert gas and fire extinguishers oil enamel

Primers

name of paint indicative chip match typical use notes

Clear dope

AI N (1^st coat nitro aero lacquer)

AKAN 360

Nitrocellulose primer for fabric

“Unpainted” exterior fabric surfaces of many planes made in 1920-ies

In 1930-ies AI N primer for AII paints

AII aluminium

Nitrocellulose lacquer/primer for fabric

Nitrocellulose lacquer

Primer for nitro paints 1941-1945

nitroputty nitroputty for wood and fabric surfaces Visible through the peeling off of paint and fabric on wooden surfaces of MiG-3, LaGG-3 and other types

ALG-1
Zinc-chrome yellowish primier for aluminium and magnesium alloys; usually covered by less visible colors shade not standardized; it could appear as light yellow, reddish yellow or apple green
see here

ALG-5 (50% ALG-1 + 50% A-14)
grey-green (3) less visible primier for aluminium alloys and steel shade not standardized

name of paint	indicative chip	match	typical use	notes
silver dope			overall surfaces some R-1	Early 1920-ies
Grey-blue *		AKAN 371	Undersurfaces - metal (TB-1, TB-3, R-6) or fabric/wood (R-5, U-2)	1927-37
“Zashchitnyi”* khaki		AKAN 363	Upper surfaces - metal (TB-1, TB-3, R-6) or fabric/wood (R-5, U-2)	1927-1937
3B dark green		AKAN 370	Army paint, sometimes used on metal planes (TB-3)	1933-37 oil paint