Opinions sought on camouflage colors on my Uncle's WWII ship

[PolishMikeD]

The first three photos depict the USS Tyrrell AKA-80, a Tolland Class amphibious attack cargo ship from my Uncle Hank's WWII photo album, circa 1945. It appears to be a "dark gray", albeit very much weathered by hard service in the Pacific. The next one after that depicts the Tyrrell at her launching ceremony, which may be no help at all because it appears to not be fully painted, but in that photo, the "gray" paint looks much lighter.

The additional photos depict other Tolland Class vessels, including one in the "earlier" multi-color camouflage scheme slated for USN Attack Cargo ships. Finally, the last photo in color shows a closely related APA in a single color finish, which may be the same as that used on the Tyrrell.

I would like to get opinions on the Measure and specific USN color numbers/names for the USS Tyrrell. I found a Renwal USS Seminole in 1/500th scale at the IPMS Nats and would like to finish as the Tyrrell.

[Timmy C]

The single-colour scheme is most likely Measure 21 - overall 5-N Navy Blue (or Navy Grey depending on whether she received the new batch of neutral paints that began to be produced in 1945.)

[Rick E Davis]

Given that your Uncle's ship commissioned on 4 December 1944, and didn't have a overhaul during the war, only a post-Shakedown availability in December and headed for the Pacific from Hampton Roads on 5 January 1945, she is more than likely painted in 5N Navy Blue.

[Fliger747]

The launching photo is probably looking at the hull red, which with a red filter (often used in B&W photography) would look nearly white! The unknown of type of film (blue sensitivity) and filtration make any color tone suppositions from WWII era photographs unreliable.

Cheers: Tom

[Rick E Davis]

But the dates of when the ship was built and completed would be. I'm pretty sure given when USS TYRELL was completed and heading to the Pacific, that she wouldn't have been repainted to anything other than 5N until she returned post-WWII.