Captured Israeli ZSU-23-4 Shilka - What Historical Camo?

I have been looking around online in order to find some photos of captured Shilkas in IDF use.

As far as I can tell, they were never put into active service but they were used in training. Other sources say that they were used to defent some area from air threats. In any case, I could only find a few pictures and a decal guide for models.

Does anyone here have more information? I am trying to understand what kind of camouflage pattern was used in the IDF, whether green, sand or even something else.

The main problem is that both the ZSU-23 4 of Israel and Hungary should be another model, since the one that gaijin has used for those countries is an initial version, and in reality the real models were more modern versions, I think than ZSU-23 4 V or something like that.

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Yes, the in-game model is not the one actually used by those countries (it should be, as you said, either the V or V1 variant). It is mostly visible in the turret design, where the cooling system for the guns should be located.

In any case, it is still possible to work with the in-game model, unfortunately I can’t find good sources of information, I don’t know good websites for IDF material.

Well, the only reference to the ZSU in the IDF is the image you posted.

The only thing they could help you with is the real colors of the IDF.

he first would be the sinay gray color used by Israel between 1961 and 1973.
https://www.super-hobby.es/zdjecia/9/8/1/11058_rd.png

The second would be used from 1973 to 1982.
https://www.carminahobbys.com/24095-large_default/idf-gris-arena-73-17-ml.jpg

The third would be used from 1982 to 1987.
https://www.carminahobbys.com/24098-large_default/idf-gris-sinai-82-17-ml.jpg

And the last one would be used from 1987 to the present.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0636/7798/9095/products/[email protected]?v=1663986032

Assuming that the ZSU would be captured during the Yom Kippur War, I imagine that they would be painted in the color of 1973 to 1982.

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I hate that putrid green Gaijin uses on the Israeli vehicles. It seem purely to try to get players to buy the appropriate camos.

They would almost surely have been painted in IDF Sinai Grey. If not just left in the original paint because they used them as EM OPFOR.

Unfortunately only the first link is working.

In any case, I assume it is a different shade of the tan/sand gray already seen in the pictures. So I guess I will continue using the desert camo present in War Thunder, whichi I kinda like more than the standard green.

Yeah, pretty much all photos of real life counterparts of IDF vehicles I have seen are in sand/khaki colour.

It would have made much more sense to have the desert camo as the starting one, since the IDF fights in such environment.

Apparently they deleted the links, I’ll put the photos and that’s it.

The first would be the sinay gray color used by Israel between 1961 and 1973.
Israel color 1961 to 1973

The second would be used from 1973 to 1982.

The third would be used from 1982 to 1987.
israel color 1982 to 1987

And the last one would be used from 1987 to the present.
israel color 1987 to present

In principle these would be the most correct colors used in military modeling for Israeli vehicles of all eras, so it should be valid for making skins in the game.
As I said the correct color for the captured ZSUs should surely be the color between 1973 and 1982.

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Thank you for uploading the pictures.

The 73-82 colour is very similar to the one in the game. I will stick with the desert camouflage for sure.

Unfortunately there are almost no IDF decals in the game. I chose to add the usual “V” chevron, as that is found pretty much on all IDF vehicles. I could also add a number, like in the decal guide, but I preferred to stick an Israeli flag on the back of the turret, just to prevent friendly fire in sim (and it obviously never works since I get shot by friendlies often).

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