USN Battleship Turret Colors - 1930's

[MartinJQuinn]

When Life started posting their archives online, there were some questions about the color of the turrets (not the turret tops) of USN battleships photographed during the 1930's. In many photos, the turrets looked lighter than standard gray, almost white. In most cases it was assumed that it was just the sun or some other such thing that made the turrets appear to be lighter.

Recently, a friend shared some photos he had scanned at the National Archives, and while looking through them, I've come to think that the turrets WERE a different color than the rest of the hull. Here is a sampling of photos illustrating this. All photos are cropped and resized from the originals.

BB44 California 31May1934 80-G-466455_cropped.jpg

BB48 West Virginia 6Apr1937 80-G-466160_cropped.jpg

BB48 West Virginia 23Aug1935 80-G-466021_cropped.jpg

BB43 Tennessee 31May1934 80-G-466456_cropped1.jpg

And a close up of Tennessee's forward turrets:

BB43 Tennessee 31May1934 80-G-466456_cropped.jpg

And our favorite controversially painted battlewagon, the Mighty Arizona:

BB39 Arizona 23Aug1936 80-G-466550_cropped.jpg

Some close up of the Arizona's turrets:

BB39 Arizona 23Aug1936 80-G-466550_cropofturrets.jpg

BB39 Arizona 23Aug1936 80-G-466550_cropofturrets2.jpg

I ain't no scholar or photo interpretation expert, but especially on Arizona, those turrets are - in my opinion - painted a lighter color.

What say you? Let the discussion begin, lets keep it civil and on topic.

[Timmy C]

I remain unconvinced that they're painted differently - the only way you can really compare within the photo is if you find another surface that has the exact same angle as the turret sides, which, being slanted towards the sky, reflect a lot more sunlight than the vertical hull and superstructure sides. In nearly all these pictures, it is clear that the sun is on the observer's side of the ship, relative to the ship's centerline - and for every angle starting from the turret faces' perpendicular to 90, the turret faces will always catch/reflect more light than the straight vertical surfaces.

[raggs]

In the early days of looking at pics 70's-80's, via Sea Classics, Friedman & such, I used to think along Martins line. But B&W can play some tricks. Over time and playing with cameras as a novice, I'm more inclined to Timmys reply on this.

Paul

[Leftie]

How about....You're both right. I've noticed that the turrets were often painted while at sea. And it appears that the paint is very glossy. So maybe because the turrets are glossy and aren't as weathered as the rest of the ship they appear whiter. But I agree, if you're painting a battleship, add a little white to the paint before painting the turrets. After all, that's the way they appear.

[Tracy White]

Take a look at the shadows under the optical range finders.
Also, look at the very stern of WeeVee 80G-466021. You can find examples where the turrets are just about as dark as the rest of the structure and where parts of the superstructure and hull are nearly as bright as the turrets.

This would be another topic that would be best decided with archival research

[MartinJQuinn]

Agreed about the research Tracy. If my supposition about the colors is correct, then there is a probably an order or directive somewhere saying to do this. Maybe this was done for identification during war games?

Here are a few reasons why I think they are painted, and it's not the sun. They all appear very uniform in color - look at the catapult on top of C turret in the last photo. It's darker than the turret. Also the gun barrels and the face plate of D turret. All the same light color, but not the same slope as the turret sides, so the sun would reflect different off these parts. If it was the sun, they should be a different, darker color. Also note how the turrets closely match the canvas covers on the 5"/38 and 5"/51 caliber guns.

A larger version of the image is here.

I know I'm in the minority here, but looking at the photos - especially of Arizona - has me pretty convinced.

[Rick E Davis]

"IF" the turrets have been painted a lighter color, the possibility of temporary War Games "colors" would be the only thing I can think of to answer it.

Painting the whole turret(s) would provide all around ID for other ships and aircraft alike. Heck, they could be in bright yellow.

[Timmy C]

A larger version of the image is here.

I know I'm in the minority here, but looking at the photos - especially of Arizona - has me pretty convinced.

I'm noting that the tops of the mushroom vents also appear as the light colour of the turret, which suggests the position that surfaces angling upwards will have that greater light/bright quality.