Why are modern naval ships gray?

nashorn88 · Post by **nashorn88** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 1:54 am

Just wondering ?
I would think camo so it blends with the water. But with radar does it still matter that much?

Extra Crispy · Post by **Extra Crispy** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 3:00 am

Well, if radar makes color irrelevant, maybe because gray is cheap?

dragon6 · Post by **dragon6** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:53 pm

Why are modern naval ships gray?

Because purple-blue pigments are more expensive and don't wear as well. So late in WW2 the USN was huge and paint was a problem and

It had by now been realized that color itself was not the most important factor, but tone which played the greatest part. Thus measures 12, 21, and 22 began to re-appear in the Pacific, but now they had the new neutral grays.

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/5_1.htm but the whole thing is worth your time if you find it interesting.

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/1_1.htm