US SUB PAINT SCHEMES for SKINNERS!

[CaptainCox]

I just got this pretty small book or leaflet rather called "US Submarines 1941-45" pretty clear title :p

Anyhow, in that book there are some color illustrations of the four main paint schemes of US Fleet Subs used from 1941-1945. As i don't want to scan this stuff due to the copyright discussion going around here, I found the second best option.

SUBMARINE CAMOUFLAGE
Because of the radically different and special missions of the submarine force, it is not surprising that their camouflage was quite different from other major combatants. Up to early 1940, the entire submarine fleet was painted above the waterline in standard #5 Navy Gray, the same color as carried by the surface fleet.

The exceptions were those boats engaged in experiments with Pearl Harbor Blue and Black. As described earlier in the text, Pearl Harbor Blue was the desired color, but problems relating to its durability had meant that black, the second choice color, was chosen to be applied to the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, except for the boats working out of Pearl Harbor. These boats formed a group that would continue to extensively test improved formulas of Pearl Harbor Blue. These tests continued throughout 1941 and the colors were still being worn by several boats at the outbreak of war in December. The use of Pearl Harbor Blue was dropped in the first weeks of 1942, and by the spring, black was the only color seen on the submarine force.

By March 1942, American submarines were extensively engaged in "special missions" which included supply operations to beleaguered garrisons, such as Corregidor in the Philippines, and movement and placement of men into Japanese held islands for covert purposes. For example, in August the ARGONAUT and NAUTILUS transported men for a commando raid on the island of Makin in the Gilberts.

These special operations demanded that the boats involved be surfaced at night in enemy held waters. The most unsuitable paint scheme was an overall black. What was needed was a much lighter toned camouflage that gave low visibility from surface observation. To this end, the boats involved were eventually painted overall above the waterline in 5-0 Ocean Gray. This particular use of 5-0 for submarines was called Measure 10 and was formally promulgated in June 1942. Along with Measure 9 (overall Black) these two schemes were carried by the entire submarine force until approximately mid 1944 when two new schemes were introduced.

Unfortunately the author has been unable to discover any documents that describe the evolvement of the 1944 schemes, and can therefore only describe the final patterns and colors used.

The colors were Black and a range of neutral grays, and for the first time, counter shading was used.

In Measure 32/3SSB (a light type camouflage) black was used for the horizontal surfaces, with the vertical surfaces having a graded series of grays, ranging from light to black, from bow to stern.

The second measure, 32/9SSB was similar in principle, the difference being that it was a darker range of grays.

32/3SSB was supposed to be effective in surface operations at night and during overcast conditions, 32/9SSB was more effective for surface operations in clear weather and while submerged. These two measures supplanted overall black and overall Ocean gray, and by autumn of 1944, the two above mentioned colors had completely disappeared.

MEASURE 9
Pre-war, US submarines' bottoms were painted hull red. Early-wartime construction was launched in hull red and were painted into black hull bottoms during their post-workup yard availability.
Later, US submarine's bottoms were painted in black for delivery


USS Swordfish ready for launching 1939

Used by the majority of the Submarine Fleet during 1941, and by all of the fleet from early 1942 until mid 1942 when some boats began to wear Measure 10.
Color: Black.
All vertical, horizontal, and rounded surfaces - Black.


SS-208 USS Grayback wearing MS 9 paint scheme

MEASURE 10
Used on several Pacific Fleet submarines from mid 1942 until late 1944.
Colors: 5-0 Ocean Gray, #82 Black.
Vertical surfaces- 5-0 Ocean Gray.
Horizontal surfaces- #82 Black.
Counter shading - none.


SS-178 USS Permit wearing MS-10 paint scheme

MEASURE 32/3SS-A
Developed from Measure 10. Used extensively on Pacific Fleet submarines from early 1944 until wars end.
Colors: #24 Gloss Black, Matt Black, #7 Navy Gray, #11 Outside Gray, #27 Haze Gray, #16 Medium Gray.
Vertical surfaces - Matt Black, #27 Haze Gray, #16 Medium Gray, #11 Outside Gray. Paint panels arranged from light to dark, from the bow.
Color divisions to be blended into one another.
Decks - #24 Gloss Black out to a distance of two feet from the deck edge, then successive stripes of Matt Black, #7 Navy Gray, and #11 Outside Gray to meet the vertical color panel.
Color divisions to be blended.
Saddle Tanks - Matt Black, extending to the aft end of the boat, beyond the stern part of the deck.

MEASURE 32/3SS-B
A modification of Measure 32/3SS-A. Used on many Pacific Fleet submarines in 1944 to wars end.
Colors: 024 Gloss Black, Matt Black, #7 Navy Gray, #27 Haze Gray, #16 Medium Gray, #17 Ocean Gray.
Vertical surfaces - Matt Black, #17 Ocean Gray, #27 Haze Gray. Paint panels arranged from light to dark from the bow. Color to be blended.
Decks - as for Measure 32/3SS-A
Saddle Tanks - as for Measure 32/3SS-A

MEASURE 32/3SS-B (Modified)
A modification of Measure 31/3SS-B. Used on several submarines in the final months of the war. Application as for 32/3SS-B except that #17 Ocean Gray panel is omitted from the vertical surfaces, leaving the first three quarters of the sides from the bow in #27 Haze Gray, with the remaining quarter at the stern in Matt Black.


SS-311 USS Archerfish wearing MS 32/3SS-B paint scheme

MEASURE 32/9SS
Developed from Measure 10. Used on several submarines of the Pacific Fleet in 1944 and possibly in 1945.
Colors: 024 Gloss Black, Matt Black, 07 Navy Gray, #11 Outside Gray, #17 Ocean Gray. Vertical surfaces - Matt Black, #17 Ocean Gray, #11 Outside Gray, #7 Navy Gray. Paint panels arranged from light to dark from the bow.
Color divisions to be blended into one another.
Decks - as for Measure 32/3SS-A.
Saddle Tanks - As for Measure 32/3SS-A.


SS-209 USS Flying Fish wearing MS 32/9SS-B paint scheme

Unfortunately most of these photos are in black and white...


Source: http://www.shipcamouflage.com/camouflage_database.htm

[FooFighters]

Pretty cool.. I also use Navsource for pictures

http://navsource.org/