Camo schemes for Fletcher class destroyers

[Gooner]

Hi,
I'm quite new to ship building, but want to build a model of the USS Cassin Young, using the Tamiya 1/350 kit and parts of the Trumpeter Sullivans kit. I have found 3 camo scheme numbers 32/1d, 32/7d, and 31 that were used by the Cassin Young between 1942 -44. Does anyone know of any masks or templates in 1/350 scale that I can get hold of for these schemes, and what colours I should be using. I'm not really bothered which scheme I use.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Phill Smith

[Russ2146]

You can find masks at http://gatorsmask.com/ddde.html
After you decide on the camo scheme, you can identify the colors needed at http://www.shipcamouflage.com/warship_camouflage.htm

[Rick E Davis]

I think a more up to date and accurate database of Dazzle Camo schemes for the FLETCHER class is C Lee Johnson's on-line and/or books/DVDs at .... http://usndazzle.com/1Web/Index ...

First off CASSIN YOUNG (DD-793) was commissioned on 31 December 1943 and started out being painted in a dazzle scheme.

According to Johnson's database, CASSIN YOUNG was in Ms 32/design 7D.

[Cliffy B]

Here's a database of most of the official USN Camouflage Sheets drawn up during the war. Just scroll down to DDs and then the Fletchers; about 1/3 of the way down.

http://nautilusmodels.com/camouflage.htm

[Russ2146]

The trouble with Johnson's database is that it has ships staying in a single camo design for the entire war, which we know did not happen in all cases. On the other hand, Mr. White's document research, reflected by his database, shows, in this case, that Cassin Young started out in 32/1D changed to 32/7D and ended up in Measure 21. That database also links to the same design sheets that the Nautilus database links to, at NHHC.

As to the original question as to masks available for the designs are there any besides Gator Mask?

As to colors, Measure 32:
Vertical Surfaces:
Paint all exposed vertical surfaces a pattern of:
Light Gray 5-L.
Ocean Gray 5-O.
Black

Horizontal Surfaces:
Paint all decks and horizontal surfaces a pattern of:
Deck Blue, 20-B.
Ocean Gray 5-O.

[Gooner]

To you all thank you very much, such prompt and informative answers.
Many thanks
Phill

[Tracy White]

Bit of a correction. The Shipcamouflage site I just maintain and update... it was someone else's original research. There are many mistakes still... it's a good starting place, but not meant to be hoyle. Dates in particular are vague.

[Rick E Davis]

I was out of town, so I'm late to respond.

I'm not a camo expert, but I have seen NO evidence that CASSIN YOUNG started out in Ms 32/1D nor ever wore it. The photo I posted above was taken on 15 January 1944 shortly after her commissioning on 31 December 1943 ... so if she "started out" in Ms 32/1D it was while building. I have come across photos of ships painted in schemes while they are building that were not used at the time the ship was commissioned, so that is possible. Also, some destroyers were indeed painted in one dazzle scheme and then repainted to another after a short period for one reason or another. However, based on this photo of a "well worn" MS 32/7D on CASSIN YOUNG in a photo dated 26 October 1944, shows her still in Ms 32/7D. Shortly after this date, she would have been repainted into Ms 21. So I'm pretty sure that CASSIN YOUNG's only dazzle scheme was Ms 32/7D.



The Ship Camouflage website has many errors that Tracy and others are trying to correct. Several researches of specific destroyers I have talked to have told me that there are errors recorded for their ships in this database. While trying to identify unknown destroyers, I have found additional errors for reported schemes that the ship in question never wore. I have come across a few photos at the National Archives that show schemes not listed in the Ship Camouflage Database. The Ship Camouflage Database has been around for a long time, predating Tracy's involvement (maybe even his birth ) and the origins of some of the schemes listed are unknown. I think Lee Johnson will be the first to admit that he does NOT have the final answer for every FLETCHER that wore dazzle camo, but he is the one person I know who has focused on researching the answer and bases his listing on having an identified photo of the scheme and has come up with an answer for most units in the class.