AFV Colors and Camouflage, Wehrmacht & Bundeswehr

 

Introduction to German color standards for ground vehicles

The main color standard used in Germany was conceived in 1927 by the Reichs-Ausschuß für Lieferbedingungen (the National Committee for Delivery and Quality Assurance) and introduced as RAL 840. An initial revision took place in 1932 resulting in RAL 840 B 2, a 40 color palette which would include all the colors in use by the Wehrmacht at the start of the war. A further revision known as RAL 840 R was introduced in 1939-40 and replaced the original single- or double-digit numbering with the now standard four-color nomenclature where the first digit indicates the hue, these being yellow (1), orange (2), red (3), violet (4), blue (5), green (6), gray (7), brown (8), and white and black (9). The remaining digits represent each individual shade and are added chronologically. The RAL system was used by all of the Wehrmacht's ground forces which included the Heer (Army) as well as the Luftwaffe (Air Force) and SS (Schutzstaffel), with Luftwaffe aircraft adopting a separate color standard known RLM (named after the Ministry of Aviation or Reichsluftfahrtministerium). Responsibility for Wehrmacht camouflage rested on the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), the Army high command.

It was customary to add new colors to the palette, and these were eventually standardized in 1961 into a new palette known as RAL 840-HR with 210 colors and which is the current standard in use to this day. Notably, numerous wartime colors including widely used ones like RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb were not incorporated. The absence of different sheens in the standard palette (all colors in RAL 840-HR are matt) resulted in the introduction of RAL 841-GL in 1986 which was composed of 193 gloss colors. Around this time, numerous other complementary palettes for design purposes were introduced resulting in the RAL 840 palette now being often referred to as RAL Classic. Additionally, a mini-palette of nine colors for military use was consolidated into RAL F9 in 1984 and is currently the standard palette for all Bundesheer AFVs. These feature the same nomenclature as regular RAL colors with the prefix -F9 added to their numbers.

 

Contents:

• Wehrmacht
  • Early war (1939-40)
  • Mid-war (1941-43)
  • Deutsches Afrikakorps (1941-43)
  • Tricolor Scheme (1943)
  • Tricolor Scheme (1944)
  • Tricolor Scheme (1945)
• Bundeswehr
  • Cold War (1955-1984)
  • NATO Scheme (1984-Today)
  • Desert Scheme (2001-Today)

External Links:

• Facts about German Camouflage Paint in World War II by Thomas L. Jentz and Hilary L. Doyle (Missing-Lynx)
• Wehrmacht colors & camouflage (Bergflak's Lounge)
• World War 2 German Camouflage and Tactical Markings Part I by Mr Tretiak

References:

• Culver, Bruce and Murphy, Bill, Panzer Colors , Vol. 1: Camouflage of the German Panzer Forces, 1939-1945, Squadron/Signal Publications (1976)
• Kiroff, Jürgen et al, Real Colors of WWII, AK Interactive (2017)

Color guide basics:

All colors in this page include a color guide with matches or equivalences from 19 different model paint ranges. Paints are considered matches if they are labeled with the intended color (either uniquely or together with another color). Paints are considered equivalences if they are close to the intended color but not labeled as such. The accuracy of any paint is independent of whether it is a match or an equivalence and these are described in the text (there can be poor matches and highly accurate equivalences). The following nomenclature is used in the paint tables and is based on matches or equivalences to US Insignia Red FS 11136:

* A single asterisk also denotes implicit matches for same-country standards where there is an official succession between standards. For example, H327* would match ANA 509 even if the label only references FS 11136 since ANA 509 is its official predecessor. This does not apply when there are considerable differences between successive paints (ex: Olive Drab No. 41/ANA 613/FS 34087) and this will be described in the text. By and large, however, single asterisk matches should be considered close enough to unique matches as to not be seriously questioned.

The paint charts make no distinction between gloss, semi-gloss, and matt variants of a color if the correct sheen is unavailable (ex: gloss FS 11136 will be a specific match for matt FS 31136 if the latter does not exist in the same paint range). Exceptions are made where there is a known or suspected color difference (ex: FS 24087 and 34087).

 

Wehrmacht

Early war disruptive scheme (1939-40)

When World War II began, the color and camouflage of German AFVs was governed by OKH resolution H. M. 1937 Nr. 340 dated 12 July 1937. This specified a two-tone camouflage which consisted of RAL 7021 Dunkelgrau (Dark Gray) base and a disruptive pattern of RAL 7017 Dunkelbraun (Dark Brown) which was to cover one-third of the vehicle. This scheme had been specified in H. M. 1937 . RAL 7021 would become one of the most recognizable colors used by the Wehrmacht in World War II, one that is synonymous with the early war Blitzkrieg. It is a very dark gray with a subtle blue shade to it that became more apparent as the paint faded. It would seem that RAL 7021 was not a particularly good color for camouflaging under any conceivable environment although that does not appear to have been its purpose: it was actually designed to hide vehicles in the shade. It remains in the RAL palette to this day, although the current iteration is noticeably darker which has led to suggestions that RAL 7016 (Anthracite Gray) is actually the closest modern equivalent. Meanwhile, RAL 7017 is a very dark brown with nearly identical lightness as RAL 7021. This has had an unfortunate consequence for those seeking to identify it, namely that both colors are virtually indistinguishable from each other in black and white photos. Evidence of its use is therefore only possible with the handful of color photos from the early war years. To complicate matters, it was only applied on a discretionary basis meaning that many vehicles were left simply with an overall base coat of RAL 7021.

The early-war scheme was in use until July 1940 after which the Blitzkrieg campaign in the West was over. From that point on, it was decided to simply keep RAL 7021 as an overall coat. Nevertheless, it was customary to only repaint vehicles when needed which means many vehicles which had a RAL 7017 disruptive pattern likely retained it for longer, in some documented cases even after the invasion of the USSR in June 1941.

Paint guide:

• RAL 7021 Dunkelgrau: This is one of the few AFV colors of any nation that has been reproduced by ever paint brand listed on this site. Tamiya XF-63 has been a long-standing favorite but it is lighter than the color ship so works best for scale effects (especially on smaller 1/72 and 1/76 models) and fading, and it also combines particularly well with many of the panel washes and streaking products designed for dark Grey vehicles. In contrast, Gunze's H401/C40 is darker and closer to the original color chip (a newer version is H512/C513 but it is not clear how much different it is, or whether it is an addition from a separate modulation set). AK Real Colors offers excellent versions of both RAL 7021 and RAL 7017 arguably making it the best pick if you want to use the same brand for both colors. By and large, however, this is a relatively easy color to get right and even mild deviations from the color chips do not look bad at all on a model.
• RAL 7017 Dunkelbraun: Painting early-war German vehicles overall RAL 7021 has long been a modeling convention and as a result, RAL 7017 is very poorly represented aside from a handful of newer brands. The AK Real Colors version looks very much the part and most others don't seem too far off. A possible alternative is to use RLM 61, a very similar dark brown used by the Luftwaffe, or the browner alternatives of RLM 81. Tamiya users may consider XF-10 (Flat Brown) as a very close substitute although it is possible the formula may have changed as with other browns.

 

Dunkelgrau scheme and variants (1940-43)

Shortly after the end of the 1940 campaign in France, it was decided to simplify the color scheme to a base coat of RAL 7021 Dunkelgrau with no disruptive camouflage in order to save paint. This order was specified in H. M. 1940 Nr. 864 from 31 July 1940. Aside from operations in the Balkans there was little activity on the ground in Europe until 22 June 1941 when Germany invaded the USSR (Operation Barbarossa), thus opening the largest land front of the war. Changes to the default color scheme eventually became necessary upon the arrival of the first snowfall in October, as the RAL 7021 became even more conspicuous against white terrain. The following month saw the introduction of a white emulsion that could be used as winter camouflage, and which would be applied on a discretionary basis. This paint likely matched RAL 9001 Weiß (White), a cream white that was used on insignia and markings. However, supply issues meant that it was common to use whatever form of white camouflage was available such as chalk or lime. This resulted in German winter camouflage appearing patchy and heavily worn particularly during the winter of 41/42 when the supply of RAL 9001 was still erratic.

It was also common to see vehicles during and after Barbarossa to have some form of brown camouflage. In some cases, particularly early in the campaign, dried mud was used but the use of earth-toned paint became gradually more established. There is considerable speculation over what color was used but it is likely that the desert colors of RAL 8000 Gelbbraun and later RAL 8020 Braun (from the spring/summer of 1942) were used given their availability as vehicle paints by the time the invasion of Russia had begun. These two colors are described in detail in the DAK section below. Vehicles destined for North Africa were frequently transferred to the Eastern Front due to chronic equipment shortages, which means many vehicles painted in the DAK scheme could be found in Europe too.

Paint guide:

• RAL 7021 Dunkelgrau: see above.
• RAL 9001 Weiß: It is pointless to be too pedantic over this color being indistinguishable in practice from any other off-white like FS 36875 (Insignia White). For those looking for an exact match, most of the newer paint brands have it covered. One notable omission is Mr. Paint which carries it only in its Aqua range (MRP-A023) yet strangely not in its main lacquer range.
• RAL 8000 Gelbbraun: see below.
• RAL 8020 Braun: see below

 

Deutsches Afrikakorps (1941-43)

The Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) arrived in North Africa on February 1941, initially using the same camouflage scheme used in Europe. This would quickly prove inconvenient in the desert terrain of Libya where much of the campaign was to be fought, which prompted units to improvise camouflage such as through the use of dry mud. It did not take long for the first official desert camouflage scheme, H. M. 1941 Nr. 281, to be issued on 17 March 1941 specifying a new base color of RAL 8000 Grünbraun (Yellow-Brown) and a disruptive pattern of RAL 7008 Graugrün (Gray-Green) which was to cover one-third of the vehicle. Interpretations of RAL 8000 vary between something of a brown ocher towards a more greenish brown. Interpretations of RAL 7008 vary even more between those who see it as grayer or greener than RAL 8000. RAL 7008 was slightly darker than RAL 8000 and could be distinguished in black and white photos although the disruptive effect is still subtle. Furthermore, the use of disruptive camo was discretionary in practice, meaning that many vehicles were only ever painted with a RAL 8000 base.

By 1942 it had become apparent that the RAL 8000/7008 was not ideal, this likely due to the fact that these colors were the best available ones in the existing RAL palette and therefore specifically adapted for the North African environment. As a result, two new colors were developed which were to become the standard DAK colors as ordered by H. M. 1942 Nr. 315 on 25 March 1942, although the earlier colors were ordered to remain in use until existing paint stocks ran out. The new base color was to be RAL 8020 Braun (Brown), whose interpretation varies even more than that of its predecessor, ranging for a light sand yellow to a desert pink. The disruptive color used in the new scheme was RAL 7027 Grün (Green) which, contrary to its very non-specific name, had a brown or green (depending on interpretation) shade. The two colors displayed more contrast between each other than the previous combination and although they could be differentiated in color photographs, the effect was still subtle all the more considering that many were still left in just the RAL 8020 base. DAK camouflage was not limited to Africa, as many vehicles in theater or assigned to it were ultimately transferred to the Eastern Front. Some vehicles may have also kept their DAK colors in the early stages of the Italian campaign as well. Lastly, the February 1943 three-color scheme (described below) was implemented before the North African campaign was over and some photos suggest that a handful of vehicles painted in these colors may have found their way to North Africa before the surrender of the Axis in Tunisia in May.

A final general comment on DAK colors is worth making. There is a wide variety of interpretations given by paint brands to these colors which is complicated by the fact that color photos also show various ranges in shade and hue (a recurring theme for all desert colors of all nations at all periods in history) due to differences in lighting, color balance, and fading. As such, it is arguably less important to get the colors right than it is for them to harmonize well with each other and capture the subtly of the DAK camouflage. It is often said that one should not be guided by museum restorations but it is clear that some of the better researched ones like the Bovington Tank Museum’s famous Tiger 131 (which was captured in Tunisia) look really damn good and might actually be closer to what an Tiger in the African sun actually looked like compared to a model painted with exact precision to the color chips. Also, given that many vehicles were only painted in the base color of RAL 8000/8020, there should be no compulsion to add the disruptive color if there is a suspicion that it will make the model look worse. Desert-painted vehicles have a peculiar beauty to them and a DAK model should not be ruined out of a pedantic obsession with getting the colors exactly right.

Paint guide:

• RAL 8000 Gelbbraun: This is a very well covered color with only Humbrol and Revell lacking it although Gunze (only in Mr. Hobby) and Tamiya came late to the party. Tamiya's interpretation is on the browner side and quite good, while Vallejo's offerings appear too dark (worth mentioning its 70.606 primer which used to be very close but has recently lost its greenish shade). AK Real Colors, Gunze, and Lifecolor appear to be the best of the bunch, capturing the ocher-like shade very well.
• RAL 7008 Graugrün: For a long time it was modeling convention to simply paint DAK vehicles in their base colors and consequently, few of the traditional brands cover RAL 7008 or 7027, the exception being Model Master. An important consideration is that RAL 7008 needs to harmonize well with RAL 8000 given the relatively subtle differences between the two and with that in mind, Gunze, and Lifecolor seem to work best whether or not you agree with their interpretation of their shades. Although discontinued, Model Master seems to have also gotten it right as well. Tamiya's XF-49 has been suggested as a generic alternative.
• RAL 8020 Braun: Also very well covered color but one with a huge range in hues given the lack of consensus among paint brands on what this color actually looks like. Tamiya's new XF-93 is very close to the chip and will disappoint nobody, being a bit lighter than AK Real Colors or Vallejo which are too dark. Revell's version is not labeled with a RAL number, simply as a generic Africa Brown, but it is also very accurate. AMMO by Mig and AK's original versions are laughably bad, being essentially sand yellows. Lifecolor and Mission Models are good representations of a very faded version of this color but are otherwise too light.
• RAL 7027 Grau: Much like RAL 7008, very poorly represented among traditional brands and also very different interpretations among the newer ones. The same recommendation with RAL 7008 applies: the shade itself is less important than how well it harmonizes with the base color. You can usually do no wrong in picking the same brand for RAL 7027 that you used for RAL 8020.

Links:

• RAL 8000 / RAL 7008 / RAL8020 / RAL 7027 Comparison among different brands' versions (Missing-Lynx)

 

Tricolor Scheme (1943-44)

A major revision to the Wehrmacht’s standard camouflage scheme was implemented with H. M. 1943 Nr. 181 on 18 February 1943, abandoning Dunkelgrau in favor of colors more suitable for camouflaging against terrain. This new scheme was based around a newly introduced color known as Dunkelgelb (Dark Yellow) which went through numerous modifications over the remainder of the war, and is consequently a subject of continuous debate among color enthusiasts and experts. The initial version of this color as introduced in February was known as Dunkelgelb nach Muster which translates to “Dark Yellow according to sample”, and its quasi-experimental nature is evident by the fact that it was not initially given a RAL number. Unlike later variants, there is little disagreement over how this color looked: a mustard yellow with hints of green which is probably closest to the stereotypical interpretation of Dunkelgelb in media such as movies and videogames. Nevertheless, the color was criticized by troops for being too conspicuous and as a result, it was tweaked ahead of its official incorporation into the RAL palette (as RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb) in August 31st, by which time the 1943 summer battles around Kursk and Kharkiv had ended. By most accounts, this second version (or first official version) of Dunkelgelb was more of a light tan which undoubtedly made it better suited as a camouflage color in most European terrain.

Dunkelgelb was complemented by a disruptive camouflage pattern consisting of two colors, these being RAL 6003 Olivgrün (Olive Green) and RAL 8017 Rotbrown (Red-Brown). Unlike the controversies over Dunkelgelb, there is less disagreement over how either of these two colors looked and by and large did not deviate from what their names suggested: the former was olive green that was the RAL equivalent of the Luftwaffe's RLM 62, and the latter a reddish brown similar to the red oxide primer (RAL 8012) used on many Wehrmacht vehicles but darker and browner. It is believed that due to paint shortages, earlier greens such as the pre-war RAL 6007 were sometimes used instead of RAL 6003. This may explain why two versions of RAL 6003 are sometimes claimed to exist although there is no evidence that the wartime version ever changed. Some of the color variation often seen in both Olivgrün and Rotbrown may also be down to the use of different thinners as well as the how much the paste was thinned before application: thinner paste resulted in lighter and brighter colors compared to what would be expected from the color chips.

The patterns themselves as applied in the field followed a number of general styles but were applied discretionally, and it was not uncommon for only one of the two disruptive colors to be applied at all on the basis of operational requirements and paint availability; by 1943 German industry had begun to be severely disrupted by Allied bombing. In some environments with less dense foliage such as Sicily and southern Italy, many vehicles were simply left in a base coat of Dunkelgelb, as were some on the Eastern Front when there was little time to add Olivgrün or Rotbrown camouflage. For snowy terrain, winter camouflage remained unchanged from the previous scheme, this being washable white emulsion applied over existing colors and removed or repainted once winter was over. From 1943, RAL 9002 Weiß (White) became the new standard white used by the Wehrmacht and had a greyish shade compared to the previous cream white shade of RAL 9001. It is likely that the white emulsion paint attempted to match the new color from this date forward.

Paint Guide:

• Dunkelgelb nach Muster: Ironically, this appears to be the version of Dunkelgelb which most of the older paint brands appear to have unwittingly aimed for, with Tamiya’s original XF-60 (slightly revised now as explained below) and Model Master 2095 resembling it more than any other version of Dunkelgelb. A small number newer brands make a specific version for this color although some may be assumed to match despite the label (such as Akan's 61080 labeled Mustard - Dark Yellow). Despite being a transitory color, it should not be forgotten than this was the version of Dunkelgelb used during the Battle of Kursk.
• RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb: This refers to the second version of Dunkelgelb and first to be formally introduced into the RAL palette. Tamiya has two versions of Dunkelgelb which include the older XF-60 and the newer XF-88. Neither looks particularly close to the chip, unfortunately, with the recently revised XF-60 looking a bit more tan than the lighter and yellower XF-88. Like AK, Mission Models errs on the side of being too light looking more like a deck tan or buff. Mr. Hobby's originall H79 was probably the best, being browner that other brands and also the closest to the version of Dunkelgelb used by the Bovington Tank Museum in its most recent repaintings (and which was researched using near-intact wartime artifacts). It is also superior to its own newer H403 as well as C39 both of which are too yellow. Unfortunately the new reformulation now looks more like C39, making us lose arguably the most realistic Dunkelgelb in acrylic. Hataka and Akan appear closer to the color chip, looking more tan than yellow.
• RAL 6003 Olivgrün: This is a less controversial color and therefore hard to get wrong, with lighter interpretations arguably better in order to lessen the contrast with Dunkelgelb which tends to be lighter than it should be. Tamiya’s XF-58 has long been used for this color and it is a decent match, though its newer XF-89 version is even better looking very close to the color chip. AK Real Colors is much brighter than the color chip and one would be tempted to call it inaccurate were it not for the fact that it does resemble the color seen on some photos. Gunze's C70 seems too dark, though the Mr. Hobby H405 is better. Most other brands look good in the bottle and should be fine. Note that AMMO by Mig and AK (original) offer two versions and in both cases the second option appears closer (more olive, less deep green).
• RAL 8017 Rotbraun: Tamiya’s XF-64 used to be a near perfect match but recent formula changes have stripped it of its reddish hue making it look more like a dark earth. Its replacement, XF-90, is unfortunately awful and that is putting it kindly: it has a bizarre puke-green hue to it with none of the red making it possibly the most inaccurate color Tamiya has ever produced. Hopefully this will be corrected in a future formula change but in the meantime, avoid at all costs. A 1:1 mix of XF-64 and XF-9 gives you a closer version of the original color, or a 1:1 mix of XF-68 and XF-72 for another color that looks like RAL 8017. Gunze’s H406 looks the part though it is quite dark, while H47/C41 is also suitable if a bit too red. AK Real Colors nailed it perfectly and is my pick for the best representation out of the bottle. Many others appear too dark and too brown which, although closer to the original chip, might not harmonize well with the other colors (especially Dunkelgelb) on a scale model.
• RAL 9002 Weiß: The usual comment about using any off-white applies here since this is a much less well represented color than RAL 9001, with only Akan, AK Real Colors and Vallejo offering it. Unfortunately for those looking to capture the proper greyish shade, the typical generic off-white may not be as suitable since they tend to be cream whites. As such, mixing a standard white with a drop of any neutral gray (the lighter the better) is probably your best bet. Gunze's generic off-white (H21/C69) has more of a greyish shade and might be a suitable choice.

Links:

• How to Paint Tiger Tanks (The Tank Museum)
• Real Colors Acrylic Lacquer Paints (IPMS/USA Reviews)
• Real RAL 7018 vs AK Real Color Dunkelgelb set (FineScale Modeler)
• Two Different Dunkelgelbs? (FineScale Modeler)

 

Tricolor Scheme (1944)

In September 1944 there was a revision to the standard three-color scheme that was prompted due to difficulties in paint production and supply. The new scheme called for the RAL 8012 Rotbraun (Red-Brown) red oxide primer used on most German vehicles to be left as the base color, and with the existing RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb and RAL 6003 Olivgrün used as the disruptive colors. Additionally, it was ordered that vehicles were to be painted in the factory rather than in the field, with the standard camouflage pattern being the Hinterhalt-Tarnung or ‘Ambush’ pattern that had been introduced earlier in August. This pattern was designed to help conceal vehicles against aircraft at a time when the Luftwaffe had been all but swept away from the skies over Europe. It consisted of roughly even proportions of the three colors with speckled spots of a contrasting color (Dunkelgelb spots over the Olivgrün or Rotbraun, and vice versa). An alternative version of this pattern had the three main colors applied with circular borders akin to Mickey Mouse ears and also very similar to a camouflage pattern that was used by the British Army (sans the spots). Compared to RAL 8017, RAL 8012 was very similar although lighter and more red. It is likely that most people reading this have encountered it given the widespread use of red oxide primers (such as on the hulls of ships below the waterline or on the ceilings of buildings) due to their natural anti-corrosive properties.

Additionally, a variant of Dunkelgelb had been introduced in the summer of 1944. This (third) version of the color was described by some Allied troops who encountered it in Normandy as being similar to the colors used on vehicles in North Africa, which suggests a resemblance to RAL 8020. This color was to be short-lived as in October 1944 there was a revision of the RAL palette which resulted in yet another (fourth and final) change as RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb Ausgabe 1944. According to the color chips, this version was slightly darker than the 1943 version although some sources suggest it was closer to Dunkelgelb nach Muster. Although there are few color photos that would allow us to accurately assess what this color looked like in the field, surviving Wehrmacht artifacts such as jerry cans (which often had the year of production etched on them) also suggest a version of Dunkelgelb that strongly resembled a desert tan. Many photos from the end of the war certainly show a lighter shade than would be expected from the color chips, which can be attributed to lighting, fading, as well as differences between paint manufacturers - the latter possibly explaining a lot of the overall confusion regarding all Dunkelgelb variants.

This scheme would last only a few months before a third and final tricolor scheme was introduced later in 1944. As such, the use of RAL 8012 as a base color was likely limited with many vehicles until the end of the war retaining a Dunkelgelb base. A good giveway to whether RAL 8012 was used as a base on any particular vehicle is whether the wheels were painted in this color, as even in black and photos they would appear noticeably darker than if Dunkelgelb was used as a base.

Paint guide:

• RAL 8012 Rotbraun: This is a non-specific color given that all red oxide primers look broadly the same which means that even in the absence of a RAL match, any hull red like Tamiya’s XF-9 or Gunze's C29 (no Mr. Hobby equivalent) are excellent substitutes. For all other ranges, this color is found either as a direct RAL 8012 match or with another name like hull red or red umber (Vallejo). Given that more of the surface area of a vehicle was left painted in this color than in the previous scheme, it is suggested to get the reddish hue right compared to the leeway afforded to RAL 8012 which was used more sparingly in the previous scheme.
• RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb (Variant): This is the variant of Dunkelgelb allegedly seen in the summer of 1944. Of all the versions of Dunkelgelb this is probably the one that has the poorest representation. AK Real Colors is the only one with a specific paint for this version but lacks the desert pinkish hue and instead looks far too similar to Dunkelgelb Nach Muster. A potential alternative is to mix RAL 8020 with the August 1943 version of RAL 7028 to give the latter a fleshier appearance. Gunze's H79/C19 has a nice desert tan shade and could be used to represent this variant of Dunkelgelb when contrasting with Tamiya's yellower offerings, although in my opinion it is more accurate relative to the standard Dunkelgelb than either of the two Tamiya colors. Thankfully this version was short-lived and it is not clear whether the grand majority of vehicles at the time were painted in it.
• RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb Ausgabe 1944: This is the color incorporated officially into the RAL palette in October. Of all its Dunkelgelb offerings, AK Real Colors seems to have gotten this one much closer to the relevant color chip, whereas the Mission Models interpretation is closer to the desert tan seen on some artifacts. The newer version of Tamiya's XF-60 is browner than the original and also darker than XF-88 which means that it could be seen as more suitable. In photos, however, there were lighter versions of Dunkelgelb towards the end of the war so it it up to the modeler's discretion which to use. Some interpretations of Ausgabe 1944 see it as the closest to Dunkelgelb nach Muster and if that is the case, then those paints recommended for that color can be used.

Links:

• What Color For a Vietnam-era USMC M48A3? [Armorama] * Note: numerous factual inaccuracies in the second post, refer to Whiskey6's posts further down *

 

Tricolor Scheme (1945)

A final revision to the three-color scheme took place on 2 January 1945 (H.V. 1945 Nr. 52) which would be in place until the German surrender in May 1945. This time, RAL 6003 Olivgrün (Olive Green) was given the leading role as the base color of the vehicle with RAL 8017 Rotbraun (Red-Brown) and RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb Ausgabe 1944 as the disruptive colors. The new camouflage pattern would consist of sharply defined edges and the use of the three colors in roughly similar proportions meant that vehicles looked darker than before. Unfortunately, this scheme was scheduled to be implemented fully only until 1 June 1945, by which time the war had been lost. This meant that only a small number of vehicles ended up using it and implementation was not always done by the book as evidenced by the fact that many factories stuck to using Dunkelgelb rather than Olivgrün as the base.

As mentioned in the previous sector, it is notable that many late-war color photos show a considerably lighter, paler version of Dunkelgelb this despite the fact that the 1944 version of this color was darker than the original. This could be because vehicles were likely repainted much more sporadically and thus the paint faded more than earlier in the war. Or that there were variations of Dunkelgelb that did not match the color chips due to the disruption of industry. Whatever the reason, it is up to the modeler to decide whether they prefer to stick with color chip accuracy and give late-war vehicles a darker version of Dunkelgelb, or follow the photo evidence and make them look lighter.

Paint Guide:

• RAL 6003 Olivgrün: See above.
• RAL 8017 Rotbraun: See above.
• RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb Ausgabe 1944: see above.

 

Bundeswehr

Cold War (1955-1984)

Following its defeat in World War II, the Wehrmacht was disbanded and the country (now split into two) demilitarized for a full decade. The need to rearm what was now known as the Federal Republic of Germany (or West Germany) as a bulwark against a potential Soviet invasion resulted in the creation of the Bundeswehr on 12 November 1955, whose land component became known as the Bundesheer. With Germany’s arms industry recovering from wartime destruction, the Bundesheer was initially equipped with US equipment and given the general trend towards simpler, single-color camouflage in the initial post-war decades, the color chosen for Bundesheer vehicles was RAL 6014 Gelboliv (Yellow-Olive). In its original incarnation, Gelboliv was an olive brown that did not show many hints of green as is usually the case with olive camouflage colors. At some point in the 1960s or early 70s, however, the formulation was allegedly revised resulting in a color that was darker and greener than the original, making it closer to the US’s Olive Drab although still slightly lighter especially compared to the version of Olive Drab (FS X-24087) introduced around this time. Use of this color lasted until 1984 when the NATO scheme was introduced.

The exact date of the change in Gelboliv is unknown to this author but it is likely to have taken place at some point between 1961, when the RAL 840 R palette was replaced with RAL 840-HR, and 1972 when the RAL organization itself became independent. Even assuming the earlier date, it is possible that stocks of the initial version of Gelboliv were used up first and vehicles already painted in this color may not have necessitated a new paint job well into the 70s. This is only speculation, however, and there should be some degree of skepticism over the extent to which there was a noticeable difference in this color which could not be accounted for from lighting and fading. Assuming there is a change, a potential rule of thumb could be to use the initial version of Gelboliv on vehicles from the 1950s and 60s and vehicles from the 1970s onward the late version. The former would include the Bundesheer's US-supplied tanks (M47 and M48) as well as some early domestic designs like the Schützenpanzer HS.30 and the Kanonen/Raketenjagdpanzer and possibly the Leopard 1/1A1. The latter would include variants of the Leopard 1 from the 1A2 onward, the Marder IFV, and the Luchs ARV. Early versions of the Leopard 2 (2A4) and Fuchs would have also used late Gelboliv in the early 1980s.

Paint guide:

• RAL 6014 Gelboliv (1): Aside from AK Real Colors there is no specific interpretation of the early version of RAL 6014. Some of the paints that represent the lighter version of FS 34087 for use on helicopters (like Gunze H304/C304) could serve as a suitable alternative. Otherwise, a slightly lightened late Gelboliv suffices with maybe a dab of green.
• RAL 6014 Gelboliv (2): This is well covered by the newer brands, but mostly absent among the traditional ones aside from Revell and Model Master. It also happens to be a Luftwaffe and Marineflieger color used in various 1960s and early 70s schemes. Unlike Olive Drab, Gelboliv does tend to look brown more often than it does green so paints that capture this should be preferred (I have only gotten my hands on the AK Real Colors version and it looks fine).

 

NATO Scheme (1984-Today)

In 1984 a standardized camouflage scheme was developed for NATO countries. This scheme was a three-color pattern that would be suitable for a temperate woodland environment such as Central Europe, the main theater of operations in a war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The NATO scheme would also be the first to employ the RAL-F9 palette which incorporated colors exclusively for military use. For Germany vehicles, the NATO scheme consisted of a base of RAL 6031-F9 Bronzegrün (Bronze Green) along with a disruptive pattern of RAL 8027-F9 Lederbraun (Leather Brown) and RAL 9021-F9 Teerschwartz (Tar Black), the former being a mildly reddish brown while the latter being a black with a hint of gray, similar to rubber. Like the previous scheme, there was no specific winter or arctic patterns and instead, units reverted to the tried and tested method of using washable white paint/distemper when operating in such environments. The NATO three-color scheme remains, to this day, the standard camouflage pattern for all German AFVs operating in non-desert environments.

Implementation of the NATO scheme was voluntary, and of the main NATO armies it was adopted by the US, Germany, and France; Britain and Italy notably opted out. No exact specifications were applied across countries either, and each country matched them to the closest equivalents in their national palettes. By and large, German and US vehicles looked very similar given the close match between their RAL and FS equivalents (FS numbers are provided in the color guide below for cross-reference). French vehicles featured a noticeably brighter green and lighter brown and it is therefore not recommended to use the RAL and FS equivalents. Confusingly, the British Army and RAF used a paint known as NATO IRR Green during the 1980s yet this color is not an equivalent, having a more forest green appearance.

Paint guide:

• Green FS 34094: This is available in most ranges and most seem to get the color right. Tamiya has long been the default option for this scheme in acrylic and is very accurate, while Model Master being the default option in enamel due to this color being notably absent from Humbrol's range. A Gunze option is only available in their Mr. Color lacquer range, not Mr. Hobby. Vallejo Model Color 70.975 was once labeled as FS 34094 but no longer, now being a generic military green that does not seem to be a suitable match.
• Brown FS 30051: This is available in most ranges and most seem to get the color right. Tamiya has long been the default option for this scheme in acrylic and is very accurate, while Model Master being the default option in enamel due to this color being notably absent from Humbrol's range. A Gunze option is only available in their Mr. Color lacquer range, not Mr. Hobby.
• Black FS 37030: This is a very well represented color with the added advantage that any standard black can be slightly lightened with a hint of gray.

 

Desert Schemes (2001-Today)

For decades, World War II clouded the Bundeswehr’s willingness to participate in military operations outside its borders but this gradually changed after the end of the Cold War with its involvement in peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia. The Bundeswehr’s first major operation outside of Europe was in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) where it was among the main contributors. The inappropriateness of the NATO scheme in the terrain of Central Asia resulted in the creation of various two- and three-tone schemes which were gradually introduced to the country’s ISAF contingents. Given their striking appearance (certainly one of the most attractive desert schemes ever created), these schemes have also been used extensively on prototypes and display vehicles particularly at arms fairs, most likely for the purpose of attracting Middle Eastern clients.

There is a variety of desert schemes have been observed which feature a combination of five colors in the military-specific RAL-F9 palette. All of them consist of a base color of either RAL 1039-F9 Sandbeige (Sand Beige) or RAL 1040-F9 Lehmbeige (Clay Beige). Both are sand yellows with the former having a creamier hue and the latter being slightly darker and yellower (there is some passing resemblance to British Portland Stone and Light Stone respectively). This base is paired with a disruptive pattern of RAL 8031-F9 Sandbraun (Sand Brown) which is darker but tends to fade into a desert pink. The second disruptive color is known to vary and can either be RAL 7050-F9 Tarngrau (Camouflage Gray) or RAL 6040-F9 Helloliv (Light Olive). Tarngrau is a brownish Grey that combines very well with the other two colors while Helloliv is an olive green-brown which at least in the Afghan sun tends to look considerably greener. Simpler two-color schemes have also been observed, these consisting of the Sandbeige/Lehmbeige base and either Sandbraun or Helloliv as the disruptive color. A few vehicles also appear to only carry the Sandbeige/Lehmbeige base.

Paint guide:

• All colors: These colors have not been as well documented and it is hard to give an accurate opinion on. AK's original acrylics (now discontinued) and AMMO by Mig's offerings appear woefully inaccurate, but AK Real Colors has considerably improved upon them. Hataka and Vallejo also appear to have done their research. The closest FED-STD match has been provided at the end of this page in case none of these brands are available, although unfortunately many of these colors are also quite rare.

 

Paint Charts