British and Commonwealth Warship Camouflage of WWII, Volume 2

By Malcolm Wright

During the Second World War navies developed low visibility camouflage for their ships, on both the vertical and horizontal surfaces, in order reduce visibility by blending in with the sea, or confuse the identity of a ship by applying more obtrusive patters. In this the second volume by maritime artist Mal Wright, both the official and unofficial paint schemes that adorned the capital ships of the Royal Navy and Commonwealth are depicted in detail, along with discussions on changes of armament and electronics that effected the outward appearance of each ship. Beginning with the Royal Sovereign class, the book goes on to cover all the other battleship classes as well as the battlecruisers, monitors, the first and second generation carriers as well as light and escort carriers. Where possible both sides of the ship are depicted, and there are multiple images of the ships where armament or equipment changes had a fundamental impact on a ship's appearance. Overhead views are also included. With 525 full colour illustrations, arranged by ship type rather than camouflage scheme, this book concentrates the clearest possible information into a single volume to provide a one-stop reference source. Many schemes would be difficult for the reader to have found other than with the most intensive research so that historians, collectors, modelmakers and wargamers will find this unique reference source absolutely invaluable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781473847729

Malcolm Wright

MAL WRIGHT is an Australian maritime artist who is also an internationally-known wargames designer and writer and lecturer. He has spent five decades researching ships camouflage, making notes while interviewing veterans, as well as consulting official sources, photographs and the work of artists of the era. He lives in Adelaide.

Book preview

HMS IRON DUKE Pennant 18

Iron Duke class battleship 1918 and 1939

Iron Duke was flagship of the fleet when the Battle of Jutland in World War I was fought and remained in service after the war. However, under the terms of the 1930 London Naval Treaty, the ship was required to be disarmed as a battleship. As such, she became a training ship with her side armour removed along with ‘B’ and ‘Y’ turrets. The three remaining main gun turrets were fully operable but she also carried a range of other weapons. A platform was built alongside the original ‘Y’ turret base on which a 5.25in twin turret was placed, but fitted with 4.5in guns. This was apparently to perform a dual teaching role. There were various other AA weapons, but these had changed over a period of time to suit requirements. There had been two 4.7in AA guns aft of similar type to those on Rodney and some other ships. At least one was removed for the 5.25in turret. The armament included a quad 2pdr, some single 2pdrs of different patterns and a quad 0.5in MG mount of the type common to the fleet. At one time, it had been intended to fit an octuple 2pdr mount aboard for training but these were in very short supply. At the outbreak of World War II, Iron Duke was at Scapa Flow acting in her training role and for testing new weapons, as well as flagship for the Admiral Commanding the Orkney and Shetlands, Admiral Sir William French. She was also a base accommodation ship for transit crew and the Royal Navy Post Office of the fleet. The ship was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe on 17 October 1939. Fortunately, some of the salvage crews working on the vessels of the German High Seas Fleet scuttled in 1919 were present to assist. Tugs took her in tow and, to avoid sinking, the ship had to be beached. Later, she was moved to a flat, shallow area where she could be allowed to settle on the bottom but remain mostly above water. Concrete was poured into many of the breached areas and it was obvious she would never put to sea