GHQ Models Forums

I haven't been able to find much information on how these boats were painted. Can anyone help?

Paul

I just found a pattern for RN S class boats in my library. Does anyone know if they applied the same patterns to the U class?

Paul

Here is what I found in Naval Camouflage 1914 - 1945

At the beginning of the war, RN submarines were painted in a single overall tone, either
507A ( Home Fleet Grey)
507B ( Mid-Grey)
507C (Mediterranean Grey)
The text goes on to say that the hulls and conning towers were grey or black with the masts and periscopes painted white or light grey.
From 1944 on, Scheme H (home stations) and Scheme J (foreign stations) were also in use
Scheme H: B30 and White painted in a disruptive pattern on the sides of the conning tower and casing. Black on the bridge deck, casing top and horizontal surfaces and Dark Blue (PB10) on the pressure hull and ballast tanks

Scheme J: (three variants)
1 - Very dark blue, very dark green, very dark grey or black overall
2 - Black on decks and horizontal surfaces, G45 Light Grey on everything else
3 - Disruptive pattern using Light Grey instead of White and B20 instead of B30 and Black on the horizontal surfaces and the pressure hull.

The book shows a picture of HMS unruly painted like the second variant of "J" and the text also states that U class boats operating in the Med were painted Navy Blue (PB10 ) overall.

I have one page of Scheme H & J with one example each in the Warship Perspectives - Camouflage Volume four Royal Navy: Supplemental (pg 41) I hope this helps, let me know if there is anything more you need from my references if you don't have access to these.

battlewagon wrote:I have one page of Scheme H & J with one example each in the Warship Perspectives - Camouflage Volume four Royal Navy: Supplemental (pg 41)

Yes that's the one I have as well. It has an S class boat with no discussion of whether the pattern was typical of all boats or specific to the S class. If you have a picture of Unruly in one of these patterns then I feel more confident in applying it to at least one of the excellent little GHQ minis. Thanks for the confirmation.

Paul