"British WWII MTB and MGB Camouflage Questions" Topic

Hi,

I have looked through various books, and on-line, but haven't found any really decent info on British MTB and MGB camo. during WWII. I do own a couple of booklets on the subject, but they merely provide an overview, e.g. the Squadron MTB's booklet, which has a few color plates, but mainly black and white photos.

I am hoping some of you may be able to provide insight into the subject, and/or refer me to decent references on the subject, for vessels serving in the English Channel and North Sea, and for those in the Mediterranean theater.

I know the issue is quite complex, so any generalizations you can provide on when certain patterns were used, and/or dropped, as well as details for specific boat types would be greatly appreciated.

From my reading, and searches, I have been able to obtain the following info for the short MTB's:

1. three shades of gray were used during the early war period, on some boats, which were painted in that color overall, e.g. Extra Dark Gray, Dark Gray, and Medium Gray;

2. apparently, some of the lighter colors of those above, were then supplemented with dark gray (a bluish-gray) or dark blue decks (looks like a navy blue in various models people have done in this color);

3. some were painted white, with dark gray, or navy blue decks;

4. at least one (MTB34 – a 70' Vosper) was painted overall white, with wide dark blue bands angled diagonally towards the middle of the vessel, and with a dark blue deck. A modeler has done this pattern, that can be found on the web, and there is a black and white photo of MTB34 painted in the pattern to support the concept. I assume this may have been an experimental pattern, since I have seen MTB35 in overall medium gray;

5. a greenish-gray hull, with dark gray decks, and white counter-shading (underneath any overhangs, and on the bows of the vessels) – appears to have been used by many mid to late-war models;

6. white hull sides, with gray decks, and a trapezoid painted in a navy blue color on the sides of the hull.

For the short MGB's, I have run across many black and white photos, and the following camo. patterns, primarily from color photos of model boats:

1. overall white hull, with gray decks (BPB 70' MGB);

2. overall white hull, with blue trapezoidal shaped area on the hull side, and dark blue decks (BPB 70' MGB – MGB59);

3. overall dark gray hull sides, with either white or very light, pastel, eggshell green countershading on hull, and the entire superstucture painted in the lighter color (BPB 71'9" MGB) – dark gray decks and horizontal surfaces (same shade as hull – MGB81 model);

4. light, subdued green-gray hull, with white countershading, and white superstructure (BPB 71'9" MGB) – dark gray deck [actual 1:1 scale boat, MGB81 for sale on website];

5. light green-gray hull, with white countershading, and gray-green superstructure (BPB 71'9" MGB) – dark gray deck;

6. white hull, with bright pastel green (bright western approaches green?) trapezoid, and superstructure painted in this bright green color as well (MGB77) [I believe I have also seen thsi camo with the superstructure painted in white, as well] – dark grey deck;

7. pastel blue-green with white counter-shading, and blue-green superstructure (MGB449) – dark gray decks – similar to the actual 1:1 scale MGB81 (#4 mentioned above), but a much darker paint tone.

What I would really like to know is:

1. when the camo. schemes were introduced, and how long they
continued for, e.g. 1940 – spring of 1942, etc.;

2. if there was a difference between the deck colors on boat
serving in the Mediterranean vs. those in the English Channel and North Sea, or if both used the blue and/or gray deck schemes;

3. which classes of boats the camo. schemes mentioned above were used on, if only used on some classes of vessels;

4. for the BPB 71'9" MGB's, I have seen a really bright green, pastel color used on a model – hull, and the entire superstructure painted in this color, and another one in a more subdued greenish-blue pastel color – is this color scheme correct, or should it be more subdued (a paler color of greenish-blue, and is being thrown off by scale effect;

5. and, finally, if there are any other camo. schemes I haven't identified above, for the MTB's, or MGB's? If so, please provide links to color photos of models, black and white photos, or other references.

I am primarily interested in the short boats, e.g. Vosper 70', Vosper 72'6", Vosper 73', White, and the BPB MTB's; and the 70', and 71'9" BPB MGB's.

I am aware of many of the RN colors used, from the reference info provided on the Snyder and Short website.

The camo. schemes on the Fairmile D's seem to be a bit more straight-forward, but I would like to know if these just used dark gray paint on their decks, or if navy blue was used on them as well? I would also like to know if the navy blue was used only in the Mediterranean, or on boats in all the theaters?

See, that wasn't too bad. No doubt, several books could be written on the subject, but I just haven't found any decent ones thus far.

Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Rob

This is info I'd be interested in finding out also.