SHIPS-2 was first distributed in January 1941, containing
Measures 1 through 9. The colors used for these measures
are as follows:
| Light Grey
Ocean Grey Dark Grey Black White | 5-L (replaced Standard Navy Grey of the prewar period)
5-O 5-D #82 5-U |
| Measure (Ms) 1: | Dark Grey System. All vertical surfaces Dark Grey 5-D below the funnel tops, Light Grey 5-L above the funnel tops. |
| Ms 2: | Graded System. All superstructure parts 5-L, hull graded with 5-L the top band, 5-O the middle band, and 5-d on the bottom band. Each band is to be of equal width. |
| Ms 3: | Light Grey System. All vertical surfaces Light Grey 5-L. |
| Ms 4: | Black System. All vertical surfaces Black #82. |
| Ms 5: | Painted Bow Wave. To be used with Ms. 1, 2 or 3, but not Ms. 4. Upper edge of the wave is to be painted in 5-U, and the body of the wave in either dark blue or 5-D |
| Ms. 6 through 8 | were to use paint to made a ship look like another (i.e. a Omaha-class CL look like a four stack DD) with the color of the ainted in 5-D would use 5-L for the deception). |
| Ms 9: | Black System for Subs. Paint the entire area above the waterline black. |
SHIPS-2 was revised in September 1941 after testing
found that blues were more effective in camouflage than were
the grays of the Jan. 1941 edition. The new colors were as
follows:
Haze Grey 5-H
Ocean Grey 5-O (not the same as above)
Sea Blue 5-S
Deck Blue 20-B
Black #82
White 5-U
The colors were mixed from 5-U and tinting material known as
5-TM
(Author's note: I am unaware of any references available to the
modeler of the actual tint of either 5-TM or 20-TM, which was
used for making Deck Blue). The measures which were
authorized under the Sept. 1941 edition are as follows:
| Ms 1 through 8: | Discontinued |
| Ms 9: | Same as above |
| Ms 11: | Sea Blue System. All vertical surfaces Sea Blue 5-S |
| Ms 12: | Graded System. Paint hull 5-S to the level of the main deck (Carriers to the level of the hangar deck). Paint superstructure to the tops of the funnels Ocean Grey 5-O. Above the funnels Haze Grey 5-H. |
| Ms 13: | Haze Grey System. All vertical surfaces Haze Grey 5-H. |
| Ms 14: | Ocean Grey System. All vertical surfaces Ocean Grey 5-O. |
In June, 1942, SHIPS-2 was again revised, and new
colors were introduced, using the same ingredients as the Sept.
1941 edition. The colors authorized were:
Thayer Blue 5-B
Haze Grey 5-H (not the same tint as above)
Ocean Grey 5-O (not the same tint as above)
Navy Blue 5-N
Deck Blue 20-B
Black #82
White 5-U
The measures authorized under this edition are as follows:
| Ms 9: | Black System for Subs. Same as above |
| Ms 10: | Gray System for Subs. Paint all surfaces above waterline 5-O |
| Ms 11 and 12: | Discontinued |
| Ms 13: | Haze Grey System. Same as above |
| Ms 14: | Ocean Grey System. Same as above |
| Ms 16: | Thayer System. For use in arctic regions. All vertical surfaces White 5-U with patterns of Thayer Blue 5-B. |
| Ms 21: | Navy Blue System. Paint all vertical surfaces Navy Blue 5-N. |
| Ms 22: | Graded System. 5-N from the waterline to an imaginary line parallel to the waterline which runs through the deepest part of the main deck, 5-O from this point up. |
In March, 1943, SHIPS-2 was again revised, and new
colors were introduced again. The colors authorized were:
Pale Gray 5-P FS 35526
Light Gray 5-L FS 36320
Haze Gray 5-H FS 35237
Ocean Gray 5-O FS 35164
Navy Blue 5-N FS 35044
Deck Blue 20-B FS 35042
Dull Black BK FS 37040
(The FS numbers are estimates based on the author's comparison of color chips to FS chips. The new Floquil Marine colors provide the builder with accurate representations of these colors.)
The Measures which used these colors are as follows:
| Ms 21: | Navy Blue System. Same as above |
| Ms 22: | Graded System. Same as above |
| Ms 23: | Light Grey System. Paint all vertical surfaces light grey, and paint the undersides of all overhangs White 5-U. |
| Ms 31: | Dark Pattern System. Paint all vertical surfaces with patterns of 5-H, 5-O, and BK. |
| Ms 31a: | Dark Pattern System. Same as Ms. 31,
except that 5-N replaces BK.
2 color schemes used 5-H and 5-N 3 color schemes used 5-H, 5-O, and 5-N |
| Ms 32: | Medium Pattern System. Paint all vertical
surfaces with patterns of:
2 color schemes used 5-L and BK 3 color schemes used 5-L, 5-O, and BK |
| Ms 33: | Light Pattern System. Paint all vertical
surfaces with patterns of:
2 color schemes used 5-L and 5-O 3 color schemes used 5-P, 5-H, and 5-N |
Also authorized under this edition were green colors for use
on ships. These colors corresponded with the blue colors
and were:
Pale Green 5-PG
Haze Green 5-HG
Ocean Green 5-OG
Navy Green 5-NG
Deck Green 20-G
These colors can also be found in the Floquil Line of Marine Paints. The greens were interchangeable with the blues in the measures, but were mostly used on amphibious force units and coastal forces.
Royal Navy Colours
Nearly every fighting ship in the Royal Navy wore a dazzle or disruptive camouflage scheme at some time between 1940 to 1945. In January 1940 the destroyer HMS Grenville became the first WW2 Royal Navy vessel to display a camouflage scheme. Most of the early patterns were generated unofficially, and competitions were often held between ships for the best camouflage patterns. The RN camouflage department experimented with several dazzle pattern variations, and decided on a scheme devised by Peter Scott, a naturalist. These schemes were eventually developed into the Western Approaches Schemes.By late 1940 the dazzle patterns on many larger vessels were painted over, and an overall medium gray (507B) scheme was adopted. A number of larger vessels (cruiser size and larger) continued to carry camouflage, usually a Modified Peter Scott scheme, using Admiralty Home Fleet Dark Gray (507B) and White, with a dark black gray (507A) sometimes being used. By the summer of 1941, larger ships began carrying the First Admiralty Disruptive schemes, which were used sporadically until the latter part of 1942.
In 1942 the Admiralty Intermediate Disruptive Pattern came into use, and was reasonably successful in breaking up a vessel's outline at medium and long ranges and in most weather and light conditions. The colors usually consisted of MS1, MS3, MS4a, and B5. In 1944, Admiralty Standard Schemes were developed in an attempt to standardize patterns and colors.
There is no possible way to catalog every camouflage scheme
carried by Royal Navy vessels. The many unofficial schemes, as
well as variations in standard schemes, means that artistic
license as well as photographic evidence must play a part in
modeling World War Two Royal Navy vessels.
| 1929 Munsell | Matching Paint Chip | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| MS1 | 5PB 2.5/2 | DB Centennial 1-B-1 |
|
| MS2 | 5PB 4.5/1.25 | DB Cliffhanger Gray 28-V-5 | |
| MS3 | 5BG5.5/1.25 | DB Spruce Hollow 29-G-1 | |
| MS4 | 5GY 6/1.5 | DB Appalachian Dawn 29-G-2 | |
| MS4A | 5BG 7.5/1.5 | Behr Legend 3A56-3 | |
| 507A | 5PB 3.5/2 | DN Mason Dixon 28-B-1 | |
| 507B | 5PB 5.5/2 | DB Tornado Season 29-V-5 | |
| 507C | 5PB 7/1.5 | DB Georgetown Gray 30-V-5 | |
| Mountbatten Pink (Lt) | 5RP 5/1.5 | DB Deception Pass 22-V-1 | |
| Mountbatten Pink (Dk) | 5RP 4/1 | DB Preserves 1-V-1 | |
| WA Blue | 5B 8/2 | DB Land of the Free 19-B-3 | |
| WA Green | 5G 7/6 | DB Kittery Green 11-G-2 | |
| Berwick Blue | B 3/6 | DB Marina 2-B-6 | |
| PB 10 | 7.5PB 1.5/6 | DB Old Glory 1-B-2 | |
| B5 | 10B 5/2 | DB Husky Blue 28-B-2 |
|
| B6 | 10B 6.2/2 | DB Silicon Valley 24-V-3 | |
| G5 | 5 PB 2.8/1.5 | DB Union Blues 1-B-3 | |
| G10 | 5PB 3.5/1 | DB Black Butte 28-V-4 | |
| B15 | 7.5B 4/2 | DB Regatta 1-B-7 | |
| B20 | 5B 5/2 | DB Motown Blues 23-B-1 | |
| G20 | 5GY 5/1.8 | DB Aspen Crest 22-G-3 | |
| B30 | GY-G 6/1.8 | DB Cumberland Gap 16-G-3 | |
| G45 | 10Y 6.5/2 | DB Saybrook Manor 30-G-3 | |
| B55 | GY-G 7.5/1.5 | DB Etna Green 17-G-3 | |
| Pink | R 7/2 | DB Vintage Vineyard 24-V-1 | |
| Dark Blue | B 4/6 | DB Kahana Bay Blue 10-B-4 |
The "matching paint chip" refers to paint colour samples available free at home improvement centers in the USA. "DB" indicates the "Dutch Boy" line available at Sears. It is not necessary that you buy a gallon of the indicated colour, probably enough for at least a thousand 1:700 scale models. Obtain the free chip, which has been painstakingly matched to the Munsell standard, and mix your own. And be aware that these chips are full scale matches. The smaller the scale, the more you will have to tone down the colour with white or light grey to obtain the right "look" in a 1:350 or 1:700 scale model.
NOTE: The Floquil line of Marine Paints has now been discontinued!
However, Model Expo has come out with their own version of marine paints.
{John O. Kopf}
Imperial Japanese Navy Colors
The chart shows 8 colors, including the 4 grays from the different navy
yards (Kure, Sasebo, Yokosuka and Maizuru), 2 greens used on aircraft
carrier decks, deck tan used on aircraft carrier flight deck camouflage
schemes and linoleum.Regia Marina (Italian Navy) Colors
The chart shows 10 colors covering those used by the Italian Navy during
World War II. Colors include:Grigio Scuro (Dark Gray),
Girgio Chiaro (Light Gray),
Blu Scuro (Dark Blue),
Azzuro (Light Blue),
Marrone Verdastro (Greenish Dark Brown),
Grigio-Azzuro Chiaro (Light Blue-Gray),
Verde Chiaro (Light Green),
Giallo Verde (Light Yellow-Green),
Bianco Sporco Opaco (Matt Foul White),
Rosso (Red).
Both of these colors sets are available from:
{John O. Kopf}
I cannot give you FS numbers (The colors were of a type that don't fit the FS well) but I can give you some info.
Deck Blue 20-B Stain is of the same color as Deck Blue 21-B -- Well Matched by Humbrol's #79 Blue-Grey or available in Floquil's new Military series.
Navy Blue 5-N, Ocean Gray 5-O, and Haze Gray 5-H are all available in Floquil's series, or can be mixed. I've used the mixes I got from a Scale Models series, which are given here with new Humbol designators.
- Navy Blue: 2 Parts #104 Oxford Blue to 1 Part #176 Neutral Grey/Lt. Grey
- For Ocean and Haze Gray, mix a stock of 2 Parts #104, 1 Part #67 Tank Grey, and 1 Part #34 Matt White.
- Ocean Grey 5-O: 1 Part of Stock + 1 Part #34.
- Haze Grey 5-H: 1 Part of Stock + 4 Parts #34.
Colors you didn't mention are:
- Sea Blue 5-S (and Blue Flight Deck Stain #250): Mix 1 Part Navy Blue 5-N to 1 Part Ocean Gray 5-O is the best look I've gotten.
- Markings Stain Gray 251: Same as Ocean Gray
- Light Gray 5-L: 1 Part of Stock + 10 Parts #34
- Pale Gray 5-P: 1 Part of Stock + 25 Parts #34
The lighter flight deck stain was introduced in October 1941. The Markings stain was used with it in solid lines, but often Chrome Yellow (FS 13538 - use 33538 for scale) was used in blocks, giving the dashed look familiar in photos. Later in the war you will have to look carefully, since Chrome Yellow, White, and 251 stain were all used on the carriers' flight decks for the markings.
Light and Pale Grays were used in the dazzle camouflages of the 1943-44 period, along with Dull Black, Navy Blue, Ocean Gray, and Haze Gray.
All of these colors would fade rapidly, and be hard to paint back on
the hull regularly. For fading effects, the blue hue was lost fairly
quickly, leaving a lighter, grayer tone. The black faded to a medium
gray over about 6 months, though it stayed the darkest color in the
camouflage, just to give a point for relativity.
{Mark Shannon}
Modern USN ships, in peacetime, are Haze Gray on hull and superstructure vertical surfaces. Decks are Deck Gray (what else!), which is slightly darker and tends to have a little bit of blue in it, but fades quickly to a gray not much different than Haze Gray.
Note that there is a 'non-skid' coating on the (metal) decks where foot traffic is expected which is a very dark gray (not quite black) when new, but fades within a couple of months to a dark gray - but still noticeably darker than the metal deck gray. Generally, all main deck have this non-skid, except the f'ocsle area forward of the breakwater. Superstructure decks are painted metal (deck gray), with 36"-48" wide non-skid paths between ladders and doors.
All masts and equipment above the funnels, and the funnel caps
themselves are flat black. There are specific exceptions for radomes
(usually left in a light or gull gray) and some parabolic fire control radars.
{Byron Bond}
According to The Painters Guide to WW2 Naval Camouflage,
U.S: All horizontal surfaces (metal) were to be painted in Deck Blue (20-B). Carrier decks were stained 20-B since stains could provide color while retaining the non-skid feature of fir decks. Striping was a stain which matched Ocean Gray (5-O).
Japan: Flight decks on carriers and other vessels were initially in natural wood tan...usually faded to light gray. During 1942, wood flight deck planking was replaced by a reddish brown compound material (Floquil #303367 US Earth Red, and 303126 Panzer Red Brown are close). Deck markings: elevators gray, sometimes outlined in yellow. Aft ramp had alternating red/white stripes running across ship, circle as aiming point for landing planes.
Comments: The book has more detail, although it is
somewhat generic. Japanese carriers had green islands on
occasion. And I thought the US had mahogany decks too. I wondered
what happened to all of those Douglas firs.
{Bob Sigman}
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