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A first order for the application of a three tone camouflage finish consisting of green, yellow ochre and rust brown took place already during World War I in summer 1918. On 12th May 1920, a Buntfarbenanstrich - multi colour coating - was introduced for the whole army equipment by the Heeresleitung - Supreme Army Command - (Heeresverwaltungs-Amt, No. 708/4.20. V6.) in the H.V.Bl. 1920, No. 34 from 15th May 1920, serial No. 705 which should replace the field grey coating. Further detail should reach the troops later. The new coating should not be applied bevore these details were published. With the information in the H.V.Bl. 1922, No 24 from 20th May 1922, serial No. 316 (Rw.M., H.L., from 16th May 1922, No. II. D. 1007/3.22. In. 6 [K.]), the coating of the motor vehicles was regulated. Only motor tractors, special motor vehicles of the artillery and armoured motor vehicles should receive the Buntfarbenanstrich. All other vehicles should receive a one-colour coat in Feldgrau (field-grey) or, accoring to the type of vehicle, commercial grey, green, brown or blue in each case with a black coloured chassis. A new regulation was announced in the H.V.Bl. 1922, No. 28 from 8th June 1922, serial No. 352 (Rw.M., H.L., from 4th June 1922, VI F No. 938/5.22. In. 6 [F].), which should be published as appendix 4 to the H.Dv. 488. This appendix 4 was published with the date 25th April 1923. The three tone Buntfarbenanstrich should be applied on the combat vehicles, cannons, pontoons, rubber dinghies, tractors, tank dummies, ammunition boxes and accessory boxes for machine-guns, motor vehicles and horse-drawn vehicles. For motorcycles with sidecar, signals and engineering equipment as well as vehicles of the rearward offices, a one-colour painting in Feldgrau was dictated. Passenger cars of the higher staffs and agencies should be painted in Feldgrau or commercial grey with black chassis and mudguards. A short time later it was specified in the H.V.Bl. 1923, No. 49 from 26th September 1923, serial No. 763 (Rw.M., H.L., from 22nd September 1923, VI F No. 768/8.23. In. 6 [F]), that in the case if the coating of spoke wheels had to be restored or refreshed, the yellow ochre should be overpainted completely or partly with rust brown or green to obtain a better camouflage. The colour hues to be used were determined in appendix 6 of the H.Dv. 488/1 from 20th April 1933. The used colours were chosen out of the Farbkarte - colour chart - 840 B2 of June 1932. The colours Erdgelb (earth-yellow) Nr. 17 (later RAL 8002, today RAL 0704030!), Grün (green) Nr. 28 (today RAL 6007) and Braun (brown) Nr. 18 (RAL 8010, today no more used) were used for the Buntfarbenanstrich. Schwarz (black) Nr. 5 (today RAL 9005) could be used as boundary around the camouflage colour patches. The colour Feldgrau (field-grey) Nr. 3 corresponds to today's Grauoliv (grey-olive) RAL 6006. Beginning in 1937, the colour Feldgrau Nr. 3 was no more used on vehicles. This colour should be used for articles of equipment, only.
The three colour Buntfarbebanstrich was in use for a long time, nearly 20 years. The applied camouflage patterns differed depending on when the equipment was manufactured. At first, the colour was applied with brushes, later with spray guns. It can’t be excluded that different green, brown and earth-yellow colours out of Farbkarte 840 B2 were used. Among others, the colours No. 22 (RAL 1005), No. 27 (RAL 6002) and No. 18g (RAL 8014) could be proven on historical exhibits.
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This 
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Sadly this colour slide was made under unfavourable light conditions but the Buntfarbenanstrich is clearly identifiable on this 10.5 cm le. F.H. 18 (Bspg.).