www.MG42.us

Okay, I'm in the process of stripping that nasty Yugo Apple green paint on my MG42 lafette and giving her a blow over with primer ready to finish paint.
Now my question is this, was there a particular RAL number paint that the Germans used for equipment such as Lafettes?
I know about RAL 6003 Olivgrün and RAL 6006 Feldgrau, but these don't match the colour original Patronenkasten [ammo tin] are painted in. I was told that this colour the Germans used was RAL 6012 Schwarzgrün? [Blackgreen]

Can anyone confirm or refute this?

just some tid bits of information

dunkelgrau (RAL 7021) (also known as panzergray) for the ammo cans and early laffette, early equipment such as barrel carriers. dunkelgau (later changed to Schwarzgrau RAL 7021), feldgrau (RAL 6006) uniforms, parts of equipment such as helmets,gas mask canisters, binoculars,first aid kits.
Ordnance Green (RAL 6003 Olivgrun)have been observed on other equipment such as MGz optics and optic can, and ammo cans.


In 1943, basic change in the colour of military hardware: HM Nr 181 orders the Dunkelgelb (dark tan) colour RAL 7028 to be used for all military vehicles,equipment, whatever the theater of operations. In theory everything should have been repainted, but in practice you could still find anything at the end of the war.

Late war Ordnance Tan (Dunkelgelb 7028) several variants, at least four.

Dunkelgrau (dark grey) Used before the war on vehicles and weapons in combinations with dark brown Ral 7017 that formed irregular patches on one third of the surfaces. Fom 1940, it was the single official camouflage color used up to 1943, when it was replaced by the Dunkelgelb. It was also used at the beginning of the fighting in Africa.



Dunkelgelb nach muster -a universal color for all surfaces replaced Ral 7021 from Feb. 1943.
Dunkelgelb (dark yellow) replaced Dunkelgelb nach muster from April 1943. There are several variants of this color.


8012 Rotbraun A hue used for primer colors of several types.
3009 Oxirot Anti-rust primer from 1939 to 1945


so in short, depending on what year your Lafette 42 is. Most would say it "should" be RAL 7028 "ordnance tan" dunkelgelb. However, if it is an early 42 durning the transition year of 43, I would say there is a good possibility it could
be either dunkelgrau or dunkelgelb.

A good source for color is http://www.1944militaria.com/equipment_spray_paint.htm