Camoflage scheme for APA's at Tarawa?

[robertmelvin]

I'm trying to gather some information about the camoflage schemes used for APAs at Tarawa. Does anybody know the appropriate camoflage measure/scheme, or can you suggest a reference where I could dig it out myself? Thanks in advance.

Bob

[JimRussell]

Bob,

This is a tough one, the auxiliaries are not included in the S&S database at shipcamoflage.com.

Tarawa was fought in Nov 1943 so that was just before the dazzle era. If the ship was in dazzle finding the measure is no problem.

go to Navsource and the "battle stars" block will tell you which ships were at Tarawa. Then look for 1943 or in a pinch 1942 pictures. You will then have to guess the measure. Remember 1943 was early enough the only the lower APA numbers were in commission and have to be looked up.

For example APA-1 was there and there is a 1943 photo. The ship looks to be a medium tone all over so a good guess would be meas 14. The photo experts will go at length about b&w film types, so there is a chance the ship was meas 21 but dark blue shows lighter because of the film used.

I doubt you will find a definitive answer for most ships.

jim

[Rick E Davis]

The October-November 1943 photos I have seen for activities associated with Tarawa showed the USN APA/AP's in what I would guess to be Ms 21 ... they matched in tone the destroyers also seen in the same photos.

[robertmelvin]

Thanks, guys, I knew I'd get pointed in the right direction here.

Bob

[Russ2146]

Last (located) instruction prior to 1943.

http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/ ... flage.html

[JTninja]

Found this from Navsource...

October 1943 prior to departure for the invasion of Tarawa.
Last image here:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03002.htm

[Tracy White]

This is a tough one, the auxiliaries are not included in the S&S database at shipcamoflage.com.

Not entirely true, we have the Haskell Class started: http://www.shipcamouflage.com/haskell_class.htm

[JimRussell]

Tracy,

But you cannot get there from here

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/camouflage_database.htm

there is no tab for auxiliaries or amphibious. If it cannot be found it cannot be used.

jim

[Tracy White]

Look under "New Stuff" on the main page:
http://www.shipcamouflage.com/warship_camouflage.htm
It's been there for 5-6 months. I stuck it there precisely because I don't have an APA section yet. I've been working on a large site redesign to roll it out.

[robertmelvin]

Thanks again guys. As always, you've been a great deal of help in finding what I need.

Bob