by John Snyder » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:38 pm
The camouflage in question could have been either Peter Scott type camouflage, or an early version of Western Approaches camo. Here is what Alan Raven has to say about the two types:
PETER SCOTT TYPE*
Unofficial in origin. Worn by destroyer BROKE during latter part of 1940. Later worn by a few Flower class corvettes during the first part of 194l. Used by small numbers of Coastal Forces craft during 1941 and 1942. Which actual ships used it is not known.
Colors used: light blue, light green, 507C, and white.
Decks: believed as peacetime practice - may have varied between ships.
Masts and topmasts: White.
Athwartship vertical surfaces: White.
Countershading: Extensive use was made of countershading when Western Approaches camouflage was used. The following surfaces should have been painted white:
A. Undersides of blast shields, flag decks, boats, Pom-Pom decks, and other platforms.
B. After side of bridge.
C. Lockers, vents, davits, etc.
D. Whole of after blast screen.
E. Darken ship screens, canvas covers to reels, etc.
F. Lower 1/3 of gun barrels, searchlights, etc.
G. Both masts (if two carried), and crow�s nest.
H. Insides of gun shields.
I. All stanchions and other small fittings on deck.
The camouflage was always taken over the boot topping, down to the waterline.
*Note added 11/12/08: To expand on that which I wrote over a decade ago. From what I know, the very first designs did not employ the colour green, however, this colour began to be used quite soon afterwards in 1941. Scott stated that his first designs, ex-Broke, were for those ships of the Town class operating out of Plymouth in late 1940. If I were to write on this in any depth today, I would probably flesh out the story a lot more. This would not necessarily make things clearer though, and of course there were many variables on a theme as you know. Official documentation on the Peter Scott designs is very small, although there is a greater amount on the Western Approaches camouflage which was inspired by the former.
WESTERN APPROACHES TYPE
Official in origin. Used by hundreds of ships from destroyer size down.
Colors used: Western Approaches Blue, Western Approaches Green, and white.
Decks: Areas laid with wood, asphalt, semtex, or corticene, should be left in their natural colors. Steel deck areas were painted MS 2.
Athwartship vertical surfaces: White.
Countershading: Extensive use was made of countershading when Western Approaches camouflage was used. The following surfaces should have been painted white:
A. Undersides of blast shields, flag decks, boats, Pom-Pom decks, and other platforms.
B. After side of bridge.
C. Lockers, vents, davits, etc.
D. Whole of after blast screen.
E. Darken ship screens, canvas covers to reels, etc.
F. Lower 1/3 of gun barrels, searchlights, etc.
G. Both masts (if two carried), and crow�s nest.
H. Insides of gun shields.
I. All stanchions and other small fittings on deck.
The camouflage was always taken never the boot topping, down to the waterline.
The camouflage worn by the Town class destroyers did not initially use Western Approaches Green, and it is unlikely that Campbeltown ever wore that color. Her vertical colors would have been White and Western Approaches Blue.
The camouflage in question could have been either Peter Scott type camouflage, or an early version of Western Approaches camo. Here is what Alan Raven has to say about the two types:
PETER SCOTT TYPE*
Unofficial in origin. Worn by destroyer BROKE during latter part of 1940. Later worn by a few Flower class corvettes during the first part of 194l. Used by small numbers of Coastal Forces craft during 1941 and 1942. Which actual ships used it is not known.
Colors used: light blue, light green, 507C, and white.
Decks: believed as peacetime practice - may have varied between ships.
Masts and topmasts: White.
Athwartship vertical surfaces: White.
Countershading: Extensive use was made of countershading when Western Approaches camouflage was used. The following surfaces should have been painted white:
A. Undersides of blast shields, flag decks, boats, Pom-Pom decks, and other platforms.
B. After side of bridge.
C. Lockers, vents, davits, etc.
D. Whole of after blast screen.
E. Darken ship screens, canvas covers to reels, etc.
F. Lower 1/3 of gun barrels, searchlights, etc.
G. Both masts (if two carried), and crow�s nest.
H. Insides of gun shields.
I. All stanchions and other small fittings on deck.
The camouflage was always taken over the boot topping, down to the waterline.
*Note added 11/12/08: To expand on that which I wrote over a decade ago. From what I know, the very first designs did not employ the colour green, however, this colour began to be used quite soon afterwards in 1941. Scott stated that his first designs, ex-Broke, were for those ships of the Town class operating out of Plymouth in late 1940. If I were to write on this in any depth today, I would probably flesh out the story a lot more. This would not necessarily make things clearer though, and of course there were many variables on a theme as you know. Official documentation on the Peter Scott designs is very small, although there is a greater amount on the Western Approaches camouflage which was inspired by the former.
WESTERN APPROACHES TYPE
Official in origin. Used by hundreds of ships from destroyer size down.
Colors used: Western Approaches Blue, Western Approaches Green, and white.
Decks: Areas laid with wood, asphalt, semtex, or corticene, should be left in their natural colors. Steel deck areas were painted MS 2.
Athwartship vertical surfaces: White.
Countershading: Extensive use was made of countershading when Western Approaches camouflage was used. The following surfaces should have been painted white:
A. Undersides of blast shields, flag decks, boats, Pom-Pom decks, and other platforms.
B. After side of bridge.
C. Lockers, vents, davits, etc.
D. Whole of after blast screen.
E. Darken ship screens, canvas covers to reels, etc.
F. Lower 1/3 of gun barrels, searchlights, etc.
G. Both masts (if two carried), and crow�s nest.
H. Insides of gun shields.
I. All stanchions and other small fittings on deck.
The camouflage was always taken never the boot topping, down to the waterline.
The camouflage worn by the Town class destroyers did not initially use Western Approaches Green, and it is unlikely that Campbeltown ever wore that color. Her vertical colors would have been White and Western Approaches Blue.