USS South Dakota @ Savo Island

[WWIIshipmodeler]

What paint scheme was the USS South Dakota wearing at the battle off Savo Island?
she is clearly in MS 12 during her shakedown, and later post refit in MS21 ( all blue )
looking at Damage photos and action photos off Santa Cruz it seems as tho she is already in MS21.. but some photos look very grey MS12

I am almost done with a conversion of this ship to have the weapons fit as seen in the photo of her in Nov 42, docked next to a repair ship. I just wish to confirm what scheme she was painted in the night she got shot up.

If anyone knows for sure, or has any reference material they can site I would be most grateful.

thanks!

[sirpaul]

MS21 is the right color schem. She wore it from mid 42 till the end of the war. I imagine you are talking about her being repaired at Noumea.

[MartinJQuinn]

She was overall Navy Blue (MS 21) at the time the battleship action.

[John Snyder]

Actually, I believe she repainted into Ms.22 after her battle damage was repaired, and served a short while in that scheme while operating in the Atlantic with RANGER and with the Home Fleet. She repainted again into Ms.21 in Norfolk in August 1943 when she returned to the Pacific.