WW2 German Vehicle Paint. (1 Viewer)

[Desertkiwi]

I have a question that has most probably been asked on TF before, but I have yet to locate a thread.

Generally speaking when did German forces during WW2 decide to move away from painting their vehicles (tanks etc) grey and move towards camouflage?

You often see photographs of both Grey & Camo vehicles together, particularly on the Eastern front, however by D'Day most vehicles seem to be all in Camo.

I'm presuming the main reason is a steady decline in air-cover, but I'm interested to know roughly when the new paint scheme's started to take place.

I currently have a 'summer' Eastern front display and interested to know if it would be normal to see both grey and camo vehicles together just prior to the Kurst offensive or there about's?

I could have Googled this but thought it would be great to hear members opinions instead, so others could benefit from this knowledge as well.

Cheers!

 

[Phantom Warrior]

German camo colours are not quite what people think.

Nov 7, 1938 all AFVs were ordered repainted by their units with a base coat of Dukelgrau (Dark Grey) with a disruptive pattern of Dunkelbraun (Dark Brown) covering 1/3 of the AFV. These were the AFVs that invaded Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. None were all grey although manufacturers don't make AFVs with the 2/3 dark grey- 1/3 dark brown camo.

July 30, 1940 after the Battle of France new AFVs were to be painted Dunklegrau (Dark Grey) only and gradually dark grey became the most common camo as AFV production was increased for Barbarossa.

Feb 18, 1943 all new AFVs were painted a base coat of Dunkelgelb (Dark Yellow) with disruptive patterns of Rotbraun (Red Brown) and Olivegrun (Olive Green) applied in the field. This resulted in a wide variation in the colour of the disruptive paint which was thinned in the field and applied with anything from spray guns to mops. It also resulted in a wide variety of disruptive patterns. The Battle of Kursk took place July-August 1943 but there were still all grey AFVs in units.

Things changed in late 1944 as all painting was done in the factory and became more standardized and the ambush pattern appeared after August 1944.

Terry

 

[Warrior]

The short answer is camo became popular in late 1942, early 1943 and from then onwards till the end of the war in 1945. Initially, camo was a base coat of yellow with red/brown over that, then a third color, green, was added, ie, tri color camo. "Ambush" pattern became popular in 1944.

Towards the end of the war, AFV's in some cases were painted grey again as shortages occurred at the factories;also, a base coat of primer was all the vehicles were given in extreme cases; hope this helps..............

 

[waynepoo]

I believe that in Italy during 1943/44 the Germans used a Dunkelschaf pattern on some AV's, this was a special design used to confuse any Kiwi forces they engaged.......:wink2:^&grin


Wayne.

 

[Desertkiwi]

I believe that in Italy during 1943/44 the Germans used a Dunkelschaf pattern on some AV's, this was a special design used to confuse any Kiwi forces they engaged.......:wink2:^&grin


Wayne.

Mate, that has to be your best yet. I laughed so much, my man-boobs hurt.{eek3}^&grin

 

[Desertkiwi]

Thanks Terry & Warrior for your prompt reply fella's, much appreciated. That's good info and just what I was after. The B&W photographs from that era don't tell the whole story, so it's great to learn how things developed.

I'm sure other members will be very interested too!

Cheers Toddy

 

[TomNT]

I believe that in Italy during 1943/44 the Germans used a Dunkelschaf pattern on some AV's, this was a special design used to confuse any Kiwi forces they engaged.......:wink2:^&grin


Wayne.

It worked to a certain degree, the American and British forces were confused and the Kiwi forces were immobilized through fits of laughter!!!! ^&grin

Tom

 

[fmethorst]

I dug up an old thread I started on the subject:

http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?26031-German-WWII-Vehicle-Colors

Frank

 

[Arnhemjim]

I have a question that has most probably been asked on TF before, but I have yet to locate a thread.

Generally speaking when did German forces during WW2 decide to move away from painting their vehicles (tanks etc) grey and move towards camouflage?

You often see photographs of both Grey & Camo vehicles together, particularly on the Eastern front, however by D'Day most vehicles seem to be all in Camo.

I'm presuming the main reason is a steady decline in air-cover, but I'm interested to know roughly when the new paint scheme's started to take place.

I currently have a 'summer' Eastern front display and interested to know if it would be normal to see both grey and camo vehicles together just prior to the Kurst offensive or there about's?

I could have Googled this but thought it would be great to hear members opinions instead, so others could benefit from this knowledge as well.

Cheers!

Hello Desertkiwi,
This is the single best reference I've been able to find; http://www.panzerworld.com/german-armor-camouflage. It even includes the RAL numbers for each of the referenced colors. Hope this is of assistance.
Arnhem Jim
Arizona Territory