RN launches and FMB color

[mister me]

Hi !

do you have some real clues about color of RN launches and fast motor boats (and also admiral's barge declination ?)

I mainly ask for cabins colors (white or camo ?), as I know that hull was same as main boat's color (not for admiral's barge : were white and blue hull with white cabin)

And what about sometimes green described admiral's barge in lieu of blue ???

I also heard about 507a decks, and sometimes mahogany, and even sometimes corticene decks.

[EJFoeth]

About all of the above? Some ships had launches with hull-grey camo, white upperworks, some were painted to fully match the ship's camo scheme (I have pictures of cruisers, not the capital ships). The admirals barge was usually blue AFAIK but I guess there are variations; I have pics of blue barges with unpainted upperworks and white roofs...

[mister me]

sadly, most pictures dont focus on boat deck, or are seen from too far to figure if it's white or 507c like rest of ship.

have you something precise concerning those (future, or better said, FAR FAR future projects) :

1941 Hood
1941 PoW
1942 QElizabeth
1942 Warspite (this one being my just beginned current build)
1942 Belfast

[EJFoeth]

1941 Hood: see http://www.hmshood.com/hoodtoday/models ... dpaint.htm
1941 PoW

MR CHURCHILL'S VISIT TO ICELAND. 15 AND 16 AUGUST 1941, ON BOARD HMS PRINCE OF WALES ON THE JOURNEY TO ICELAND AND AT REYKJAVIK, ICELAND. ON THE RETURN JOURNEY FROM HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT MISTER CHURCHILL VISITED ICELAND.. � IWM (A 4993)IWM Non Commercial Licence

25 & 45 ft launches: white upperworks and dark hull (darker than the local camo) for at least each as I see them on multiple pics, also have one image showing a 45ft launch and 16ft skimming dish with a light hull color and darker upperworks... :


HMS PRINCE OF WALES. � IWM (FL 17649)IWM Non Commercial Licence

1942 QElizabeth
No, but 1943 aerial pics show white upperworks for all launches and the sides do not appear to be in any tone matching the camouflage. Interestingly, a a pic from 1941 shows the camouflage fully carried over on a sailing boat.

1942 Warspite (this one being my just beginned current build)
The only decent pic I have of her in camo showing the boat deck: only sailing boats visible...
1942 Belfast
I have no good pics

[mister me]

thank you !

I will then stick to white cabins at least on battleships.

[EJFoeth]

And thank you: I just learned the boat complement of HMS Prince of Wales has changed during her career and the original plans do not apply

[mister me]

what shall then be final complement for PoW ?

would also be nice to have same info for most battleships !

[EJFoeth]

I'd have to do a proper count, but it appears the larger 45ft fast motor boats were replaced by 35ft fast motor boats (this was already pretty obvious but anyway); I can seen both on board and at some point the load-out changes. I'd have to go what material I have and/or get some material from the national archives and see what I can find.

[mister me]

mhhh it appears that this RN motor boat affair shall even be subject of a dedicated specific thread, detailing ship by ship and by time frame all complements for most major warships !

in need of aftermarket boats !

[dick]

This extract from a June 1939 AFO will answer your questions I think. These are the last peacetime painting instructions prior to the outbreak of war and are for Home Fleet ships.

https://picasaweb.google.com/dickfalmou ... Mzmqd3M1QE

As EJ has said, during the war many boats were camouflaged to match the pattern worn by their ship but on some larger warships in particular it is clear that a degree of peacetime practice continued especially in respect of Admirals' barges.