On Berwick Blue--from Alan Raven...

[Mike E.]

Alan Raven recently sent me a letter with information about a one-off camouflage color used on HMS Berwick during WWII which he asked me to post online, for those who might be interested in these matters.

The letter was dated December 10, 2020, and here is what he wrote:

"Find attached a sample of 'Berwick' blue.

This was a 100% pure ultramarine blue!

The sample is as near as I can get....

Two tones of the blue were applied [to HMS Berwick] after she arrived at Scapa for working up in September 1942... these were:

--Berwick blue at 20% reflection factor.
--Berwick blue at 40% reflection factor.
--Plus very light grey i.e. MS4A.

You will have to decide how the two shades of Berwick Blue were applied from photos....

She came out of Devonport yard in August 1942 in MS4 and MS4A, similar to HMS Kenya.

The pattern applied in August 1942 was retained when the Berwick Blue was painted on in September 1942."

Alan claims that he obtained this information from "an official file."

Alan provided a commercial house paint swatch produced by Benjamin Moore called "Big Country Blue" which matched a color swatch from an "official file" that Alan has. Here is a link to the color on the Benjamin Moore website:

https://store.benjaminmoore.com/storefr ... ue/2066-30

The above information is also derived from the aforementioned "official file," on which I have no futher information.

I hope this is of interest to those who are researching RN colors from WWII.

Best,

Mike E.