I want to put this out there for comments.
so far my reading says to me.
Khaki green no 3 is a british colour not an Australian Colour. I have found plenty of reference to it in the files but no so far as the actual specifications manufacture and supliers are concerned.
Army files tend to refer to it when the Australian Standard Khaki Green J is the actual colour they mean. I have found no evidence that khaki Green No 3 was made in Australia by any paint manufacturer.
I have found plenty of evidence that paint makers and users were required to use paint to the Australian Standard (E) 2K 509 and that the colour chip-set in that standard is the colours required.
It seems from my reading the army folk were inclined to refer to Khaki J from that chip-set as Khaki Green Number three and that a perception that because that colour was changed three times ( twice in 1942 and once in 1943 ) the resulting colour was Khaki green version 3 or number 3.
The conflation with the British standard paint terminology and the Australian colour has , in my opinion , led to confusion.
I have been unable to find a definitive history of the British colour save to say I know it is not a B.S 987 colour (
http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/archive/in...p/t-29937.html ) and it appears it was a standard outside of that British standard on an official chip .
Given that I will desist from referring to the Australian colour as Khaki Green Number 3 (KG3) and refer to it as Australian Khaki 1,2 or 3 and (J) if you will. AK1 AK2 and AK3
I understand the British KG3 is somewhat different to AK3 and a deferral to the British colour would be inaccurate. I am now attempting to source a sample of British KG3 for comparisons.
The matter is further confused by the Spartan paint chart referring to "Foliage green as K3 and "dark Green" as K2 ( the correct letter being M )the Berger chart referring to Foliage green as K (correctly) Khaki Green as J ( correctly) but omitting "dark green"
Dakin and Camouflage committee and the Australian standard are clear that the vehicle colour we all vex about is AK (J)
Shane posted a picture earlier of a can of KG3 with the following writing on it as far as I can make out from the photo. D^D paint spec Cam 11.5 Khaki Green No 3 Berger No XA369 GP 553 Bomb Section Specialization.
Unfortunately no further information on that can of paint was forthcoming. Where did it come from or the provision of a sample.
It is not clear if the paint is of British or Australian origin ( Berger being a British firm made paints in the UK , Australia India and elsewhere ) perhaps someone expert on broad arrows could help with that.
My thoughts for now .