M47, 2.KOMPANIE, PZ.BTL.3, 3. PANZER-DIVISION, GRAF GOLTZ-KASERNE,
HAMBURG-RAHLSTADT, 1956
When delivered to the Bundeswehr, the M47 tanks were in standard US Army FS24087 olive drab. The
Bundeswehr adopted its own olive drab paint, called RAL 6014 ALT Gelboliv, in 1956. This remained
the standard color until the early 1980s when the somewhat greener shade RAL 6014 NEU Gelboliv
was adopted. The new M47 tanks were initially marked with three-digit black tactical numbers edged
in white with the first digit indicating the company, the second the platoon and the last the
individual tank. This number was repeated on the rear turret bin. After a year, the traditional Maltese
cross was adopted as the national insignia and painted on the turret sides in addition to the tactical
number. Tanks carried standard registration numbers on the left side of the glacis plate and right
upper corner of the rear engine plate. Tactical markings were often carried on the left front fender
and right rear fender in white. The type shown here is derived from standard NATO map symbols.