The Ship Model Forum

Several Benson/Gleaves class destroyers served in North Atlantic, and Murmansk convoy runs. Anyone know if they were in Thayer colors, or Western Approaches, or in Measures like 2, or 12, etc.? I've already checked references and most pictures show ships in their commissioning colors. Relevant dates are 1941 - 43.

Think I finally found what I want! :
http://www.usndazzle.com/Measure16.php

I'm not sure that any BENSON-GLEAVES class units were painted in Thayer camo schemes. I have not found any photos of them anyway. As far as I recall, none went on Murmansk convoy runs. At least not all the way to Russia. The USN BENSON-GLEAVES units in the North Atlantic were used primarily as cross Atlantic Convoy escorts (freeing up the RN to escort the Murmansk convoys) or serving on tours with the Home Fleet. Several of the Leaders (PORTER and SOMERS classes) that served in the South Atlantic were painted in Thayer.

Early, actually starting in the "we don't call it war" period in 1941 into 1942, most of the early BENSON-GLEAVES class units were painted in Ms 1, Ms 2, Ms 12, Ms 12R(mod), and several experimental unnamed schemes. Too numerous to list and actually many aren't very well documented by photos.

Some Gleaves class certainly did goto Murmansk! In particular, in July 1942, the Emmons and Rodman (Gleaves class) and cruiser Tuscaloosa, and some RN destroyers travelled to Murmansk carrying supplies and personnel to support crews of arriving convoys. But that's besides the point, several Bensons/Gleaves did accompany convoys from Nfld -> Iceland -> GB, which is close enough for my purposes.

Interesting, I had not seen this August 1942 mission described before.

USS RODMAN's DANFS entry;

Operation "Easy Unit" then came into being. Toward the end of July, Rodman was designated to assist in filling the increasing immediate logistics demands of the Russians, and of British and American personnel in northern Russia, and to prepare for bases, men, and equipment to provide air cover for the convoys when they resumed. On 17 August Rodman, with Tuscaloosa (CA-37) and two other American destroyers departed Scapa Flow carrying medical personnel and supplies men, and equipment for the RAF's number 144 and 145 Hampden Squadrons, ammunition, pyrotechnics, radar gear drystores, and provisions. Following the route taken by British destroyers 3 weeks earlier, they entered Kola Inlet after dark on the 23d. The luftwaffe was grounded. The ships off loaded, refueled, took on merchant sailors survivors of ill-fated convoys, and departed Vaenga Bay on the 24th.

DANFS doesn't have many details, but enough to see that they risked sending a cruiser and two American destroyers. The two destroyers were still pretty new, finishing fitting out in early March 1942 and were still working up prior to deploying to the Home Fleet. These two destroyers did not have as experienced crews as seen on the earlier first batch BENSON-GLEAVES class units which had been operating longer. Likely the Task Force, which included an unnamed British destroyer, likely traveled at relatively fast speeds and on an arc well away from German aircraft patrols. I'm surprised that Adm. King gave his approval.

In any case, these two destroyers would likely still be painted in the Ms 12R(mod) scheme/pattern that they were completed with. When they returned from Home Fleet duties, these two as well as almost all the USN destroyers in the Atlantic Fleet, were repainted to Ms 22 for North Africa operations.