Reference photos – Ambush Camouflage (Hinterhalt-Tarnung)

By August 1944, the Wehrmacht was mostly on the defensive. The Allies had broken out of their Normandy beachhead while the Red Army was rampaging westward after the success of Operation Bagration. During this change in fortune, the Allied air power proved decisive; making movement during daylight hours near impossible and menacing the trapped German forces mercilessly during the encirclement at Falaise.

It was during this time that the German tank factories were instructed to apply a new type camouflage scheme as part of the manufacturing process. The scheme become known as Hinterhalt-Tarnung or Ambush camouflage and was designed to aid in the concealment of combat vehicles under trees and other such foliage.

 

“Dot” pattern. Colours are: base of dunkelgelb with Olivgrun and Rotbraun pathces and dots

“Disc” camouflage pattern

On a Panther

On a StuG IV

Reference photos – Nato Camouflage

Tamiya’s acrylics cover nicely the NATO colours…..
NATO Black – xf-69
NATO Green – xf-67
NATO Brown – xf-68

As you may expect, colours from different NATO countries can vary slightly. France NATO Green, for example, can be obtained with xf-5.

But I think that the 3 Tamiya colours are okay for all NATO vehicles, keeping in mind that once your model has received filters, washes and so on, it’ll look much better. Maybe Tamiya xf-67 is a bit too dark

On an M113 of the German Army

Nato camouflage pattern on a french AMX Leclerc