An online database of camouflage used by 
United State Naval Warships during WWII

The Development of Naval Camouflage 1914 - 1945
Part V: United States Navy - World War II

By Alan Raven  

(Article reprinted courtesy of Plastic Ship Modeler Magazine issue #97/3)

1942 ASW

Inspired partly by British Peter Scott type, used on the destroyer PLUNKETI' in early 1942. Colors: Medium Pink, Mauve (Mountbatten Pink), Blue (possibly Thayer Blue), Green (Possibly Western Approaches Green), 20B Deck Blue, White.

Vertical Surfaces - A disruptive pattern of Pink, Mauve, Blue, and Green. 
Decks and Horizontal surfaces - 20B. 
Counter shading - undersides of platforms and overhangs to be painted White.  

COLORS WWII (USN)

COLOR DATE OF 
INTRODUCTION

1929 MUNSELL 
REFERENCE

 

#5 Navy Gray   

1919

10B 6.5/1.5

#20 Deck Gray *   

1919

 N3.6/0

Red Mahogany Flight Deck Stain   

1920's

Unknown

#82 Black (Matt) *   

 1920's

N.25/0

#24 Black (Gloss)   

1941

N.25/0

Light Gray   

1941

10B 7/1.5

5-0 Ocean Gray   

1941

5PB 4.5/3

5-D Dark Gray   

1941

5PB 2/1.5

45-H Haze Gray   

1941

5PB 5.7/1.6

Haze Green   

1941

7G 5.9/2.5

5-S Sea Blue   

1941

2.5 PB 3.6/4

Haze (Cabot)   

1941

7PB 3.2/2

Pearl Harbor Blue *   

 1941

7.5 PB 1.5/6

Sapphire Blue   

1941

5 PB 2.2/6

PT Green *   

1941

Unknown

Cavite Blue   

1941

5PB 3/2

Union Castle Lavender   

1941

10P (P-RP) 6/4

5-N Navy Blue   

1941

5PB 3/2

(1944 5-NB Navy Blue) *   

*See color notes

20B Deck Blue   

1942

5PB 3/1.5

20B Deck Blue (Revised)   

1942

5PB 3/4

250N Blue Flight Deck stain   

1942

5PB3/1.8

251N Flight Deck stain   

1942

(See Text)

#21 Flight Deck stain   

1942

5PB4.5/3

#21 Flight Deck stain (revised)   

1942

5PB3/4

Mountbatten Pink (Dark)   

1942

5RP 5/1.5

5-B Thayer Blue   

1942

5PB 6.5/2

White   

1942

Elco Gray*   

1942

Unknown

Light Grey Green*   

 1942

Unknown

Countershade Gray *   

1942

Unknown

Yellow Green *   

1942

Unknown

Medium Pink *   

1942

Unknown

Mauve *   

1942

Unknown

Green *   

1942

Unknown

Blue *   

1942

Unknown

Brown 1A   

1942

5YR (YR-Y) 2/2

Brown 2A   

1942

5YR (YR) 3/4

Brown 3A   

 1942

 10YR (YR-Y) 3.5/3

Brown 4A   

1942

10YR (YR-Y) 5/6

Green 1A   

1942

5GY (GY) 3/2

Green 2A   

1942

5GY (GY) 3.5/4

Green 3A   

1942

5G 4.5/2

Green 4A   

1942

5GY (GY) 4/6

5/84 - 4/5TMA   

1942

5BG 4/4

5/84 - 2/5TMA   

1942

5G 5/8

Lime Green *   

1942

Unknown

5-P Pale Gray   

1942

5PB 8/1

5-L Light Gray *   

1943

5PB 7/2

Dark Green - Formula 759 *   

1943

Unknown

MTB Green  *   

1943

5G 5/8

Robins Egg Blue *   

1943

Unknown

5-HG Haze Green   

1943

10GY (GY-G) 6/2

5-OG Ocean Green   

1943

10GY (GY-G) 5/2

5-NG Navy Green   

1943

10GY (GY-G) 3/2

20-G Deck Green   

1943

10GY (GY-G) 2/2

5-PG Pale Green   

1943

5GY 8/2

5-LG Light Green   

1943

5GY 7/2

5-HG Haze Green (Revised)   

1943

5GY 6/2

5-OG Ocean Green (Revised)   

1943

5GY 5/2

5-NG Navy Green (Revised)   

1943

5GY 3/2

5-GTM Green Tinting Medium   

1944

5GY 3.5/3

#1 Green *   

1944

5GY 5.5/3

#2 Green *   

1944

 5GY 4/2

#3 Green *   

1944

5GY 2.5/2

#4 Brown *   

1944

 10YR (YR-Y) 4/3

#46 Outside Gray   

1944

N 8/0

#37 Light Gray 5-L *   

1944

N 7/0

#27 Haze Gray 5-H   

1944

N 6/0

#16 Medium Gray   

1944

N 4.9/0

#17 Ocean Gray   

1944

 N 5/0

#11 Outside Gray   

1944

N 4/0

#7 Navy Gray 5-N   

1944

 N 3.4/0

#4 Deck Gray 20 *   

1944

N 2/0

COLOR NOTES

PEARL HARBOR BLUE

There were three such colors under test in 1941, with only small differences between them. The reference given in the table is the one that the author believes was being experimented with in late 1941, and therefore is representative of wartime use.

PT GREEN

Documentary and photographic evidence strongly suggest a green of medium tone. The author has been unable to obtain a color card or formula. The name 'PT GREEN' is one given by the author, there being no official or unofficial title found.

MTB GREEN

There is the possibility that this color was the one used on PT Boats upon transfer to the British under lease lend, and never used on American Flag Boats.

5-N NAVY BLUE

In late 1944 5-N Navy Blue changed title to become 5-NB Navy Blue. The color itself remained unchanged.

COUNTERSHADE GRAY

Exact color and tone unknown. Described by Elco who originated the color, as a blue very similar in color to Thayer Blue and Western Approaches Blue, but slightly darker in tone.

YELLOW GREEN

Exact color and tone unknown. Described by Elco who originated the color as a light yellow green.

 

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