USS Vestal 7 Dec 1941

[Zad Fnark]

I'm trying to figure out what color scheme the Vestal wore on Dec 7.

While searching, I came across Jeff Sharp's thread with his beatuiful diorama, and it seems she wore either Ocean Gray or Sea Blue, leaning more towards the former. Anyone know for sure?

Regardless of the scheme, were the wood decks colored over or left their natural color.

Thanks

Ed-

[Jon C Ryckert]

I asked the same question also a few years back. The answers were the same as what you said. Ocean gray was said to be most likely.

[Zad Fnark]

Thanks Jon.

Would the decks have been painted?

Ed-

[Jon C Ryckert]

I'm pretty sure they would have been Deck blue 20-B. At least that is how I am going to do mine if or when I ever get back to it.

[Zad Fnark]

Sounds good. Thanks for your help.

I'm currently working on the Arizona part (Dragon 1/700). All I need are the Vestal and a pair of quays (thank you Loose Cannon)

Ed-

[Tracy White]

I believe it's unlikely the wood decks were painted. Not all of the battleships were painted yet, so I don't think a repair ship would have been in front of them in line. Could be wrong....

[Jon C Ryckert]

Tracy,
I based my assumption on the ISW 1/350 kit I have in my stash. As I recall, the kit appears to have only steel decks. Would they have been deck gray? I don't remember the nomenclature.

[Tracy White]

Paragraph of Vestal's Pearl Harbor Damage Report says:

The first bomb hit the forecastle deck about a foot aft of frame 43, eight feet to starboard of the centerline, as shown on Plate I. It penetrated four decks of the thicknesses shown on Plate II, which add to a total of one inch of medium steel and 3-1/2 inches of wood

Photo 2 shows what looks to be splintered wood - it doesn't really look like there's any paint present, but I'm not going to put any credence on that as proof.

What I will say is that this is the same problem with have with Arizona's color. SHIPS-2 in January doesn't list Deck Blue, but SHIPS-2 of September 1941 does. Was this the earliest the Pacific Fleet heard of this, or was there advance discussion of it? Evidence throughout the fleet and war suggests that there was some warning and discussion at higher levels, but we still have no documentation that says when supplies were available to whom. It's a crap shoot at this point.