Used for painting vehicles and other equipment of the German Army in the so-called first tropical scheme (Tropen 1) intended for use in Africa from March 1941 until March 1942. According to the army regulations RAL 8000 should cover 2/3 of vehicle’s surface, with the remainder being painted in RAL 7008.
Both the photographic and documentary evidence confirms that vehicles painted in tropical colors also found use on the Eastern Front. This includes 38 Tiger I tanks issued to Grossdeutschland division, SS-LAH, SS-Das Reich, and SS-Totenkopf divisions from December 1942 to February 1943 which were painted in the first tropical scheme similarly to the Tiger tanks issued to North Africa.