Subject: SMML Vol 3095 Date: 11 Mar 2006 16:15:48 -0000 The Ship Modelling Mailing List (SMML) is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com For infomation on how to Post to SMML and Unsubscribe from SMML http//smmlonline.com/aboutsmml/rules.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: USN S-Class Sub Colors - Philippines - December 8, 1941 ??? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Ned Barnett Subject Re: USN S-Class Sub Colors - Philippines - December 8, 1941 ??? Tim This is a great resource, but the wording seems a big ambiguous. I "read" it to say that all US subs (except those involved in the Pearl Harbor Blue experiments) were in overall black at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, and the near-simultaneous attack on the P.I. Is that how you read Raven's words, too? A small thing, perhaps, but important to me, both for the model I'm building and for a novel I'm writing about the incredibly heroic trials and tribulations of the crew (and especially a fairly junior officer) serving on an S-Class sub based at Subic Bay on 12/8/41. Getting the details right is critical to having a believable model, or a believable novel. The novel is based on all the factual material I can find on sub operations in the Asiatic Fleet up to the abandoning of Java and the retreat to Australia (and the surrender of forces on Bataan and Corregidor), but focusing on actions in the P.I. Thanks for this excellent resource. Ned >Date Fri, 10 Mar 2006 070600 -0800 >From "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" >Subject RE USN S-Class Sub Colors - Philippines - December 8, 1941 ??? > >Ned, >Here is the section on USN sub camouflage neasures from Alan Raven's "The >Development of Naval Camouflage 1914 - 1945 >Part V United States Navy - World War II article(SUBMARINE CAMOUFLAGE)" >found online at http//www.shipcamouflage.com/5_1.htm > >"Because of the radically different and special missions of the submarine >force, it is not surprising that their camouflage was quite different from >other major combatants. Up to early 1940, the entire submarine fleet was >painted above the waterline in standard #5 Navy Gray, the same color as >carried by the surface fleet. The exceptions were those boats engaged in >experiments with Pearl Harbor Blue and Black. As described earlier in the >text, Pearl Harbor Blue was the desired color, but problems relating to its >durability had meant that black, the second choice color, was chosen to be >applied to the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, except for the boats working out >of Pearl Harbor. These boats formed a group that would continue to >extensively test improved formulas of Pearl Harbor Blue. These tests >continued throughout 1941 and the colors were still being worn by several >boats at the outbreak of war in December. The use of Pearl Harbor Blue was >dropped in the first weeks of 1942, and by the spring, black was the only >color seen on the submarine force. > >By March 1942, American submarines were extensively engaged in "special >missions" which included supply operations to beleaguered garrisons, such as >Corregidor in the Philippines, and movement and placement of men into >Japanese held islands for covert purposes. For example, in August the >ARGONAUT and NAUTILUS transported men for a commando raid on the island of >Makin in the Gilberts. > >These special operations demanded that the boats involved be surfaced at >night in enemy held waters. The most unsuitable paint scheme was an overall >black. What was needed was a much lighter toned camouflage that gave low >visibility from surface observation. To this end, the boats involved were >eventually painted overall above the waterline in 5-0 Ocean Gray. This >particular use of 5-0 for submarines was called Measure 10 and was formally >promulgated in June 1942. Along with Measure 9 (overall Black) these two >schemes were carried by the entire submarine force until approximately mid >1944 when two new schemes were introduced. > >Unfortunately the author has been unable to discover any documents that >describe the evolvement of the 1944 schemes, and can therefore only describe >the final patterns and colors used. The colors were Black and a range of >neutral grays, and for the first time, counter shading was used. In Measure >32/3SSB (a light type camouflage) black was used for the horizontal >surfaces, with the vertical surfaces having a graded series of grays, >ranging from light to black, from bow to stern. The second measure, 32/9SSB >was similar in principle, the difference being that it was a darker range of >grays. 32/3SSB was supposed to be effective in surface operations at night >and during overcast conditions, 32/9SSB was more effective for surface >operations in clear weather and while submerged. These two measures >supplanted overall black and overall Ocean gray, and by autumn of 1944, the >two above mentioned colors had completely disappeared." > >Good luck with your sub! > >Tim Reynaga ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume