Dutch Navy colors during WWII

[Rui Matos]

Ok, this question started after reading my recently acquired "Dutch Warships of World War II" by Henk van Willigenburg, some projects started to move (in my mind) ...
So I wonder if a knowledgeable member can help with the following paint references (preferred enamels, but acrylics may work):
1 - Main vertical green/grey color? (on most surface vessels, except those wearing Royal Navy patterns)
2 - Camouflage green? (as used on Dutch East Indies deployed ships -HNMS Java, De Ruyter...)

Thanks in advance
Rui

[EJFoeth]

Don't know the exact colors (would like to, so I'll watch this threadwith interest), but I did notice in van Willigenburgs book that some camouflage scemes are incorrect. At least, he claims to know what the never photographed side of Hr Ms De Ruyter looks like, while getting the side we all known and love completely wrong This makes the whole quite unreliable.

[John Snyder]

Hi Skipper,

I started asking some of the same questions a few years back. Here is one answer:

The pre-war hullcolor of the Dutch naval ships was about the same as the post-war ships. The only difference was a more yellowish hue, due to the oilbased paints. In FS-numbers, post-war about FS36463, pre-war about FS36424. (FS 36463 is Colourcoats ACRN 13; no direct Colourcoats match for 36424)

The deckcolor was pre- and post-war equal, about FS36081, perhaps pre-war with a little bit yellow, reason see above. (This would be RN 23 in Colourcoats.)

In the tropics, as the DutchEeast-Indies, the metal decks were covered with coconutmats, for these decks were in the sun too hot. The color of such a mat is brown-yellow, I think darker then the mats used currently in the household. (I would probably use RN 25 Corticene for this.)

I have no information on the greens.

[Rui Matos]

Hi John

This is a good start indeed
You also managed to help with the post-war grey, which is (also) good, and will be used for a couple of projects of the "My Navy Days Cabinet"

But still, and this may be an option of the person responsible for the color profiles (is it?), the ships that where deployed to Dutch East Indies have the green/grey color - if you have the book on hand check pages 95 and 97 (as an example).
For the camouflage other tone (the mysterious green), in case of doubt, skip it.... until further info.

There is a huge amount of work put on this book, I really like it and I wish that Mr. Henk van Willigenburg would have included this info for modelers - a page with "paint chips" would have been the cherry on top of the... book!

Again thank you
Give my regards to Caroline
Cheers
Rui

[dick]

This contemporary (1942) painting of Tromp in dock in Australia may help you with the tones of green and grey....

[Quincy]

Hi Rui:

On the DutchFleetNet site there is a paper model of DeRuyter in the 3 tone scheme, including the "green" mystery shade color.

Yes, the Dutch WW2 paint schemes are quite the mystery I agree.



Bob Pink.

[Rui Matos]

Thanks to all who have had the trouble to give an input
I am only gathering stuff for a next project...
Again thank you

Rui