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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Camouflage PT boats
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How many PT boats had camo paint on them? Were any delivered from the builder with camo paint on them?

Lew

Lew Zee

Posted By: Lew Zee | Posted on: Mar 26, 2023 - 10:47am
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Dec 12, 2013 - 12:04pm

All of them. Unless a naval vessel is painted in high visibility paint (hospital ships, for instance) they are painted in a camouflage measure. Measure 13, for instance has all Haze gray (5-H) vertical surfaces and Deck Blue (20-B) horizontal surfaces.http://ptboatforum.com/PhotoGallery/image/ptRGa

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Mar 26, 2023 - 10:54am
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

These are some of the various camouflage schemes in a chronological order. Most of the boats sported several schemss over their lives.

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Mar 26, 2023 - 12:52pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Thanks for the info. However, I need to clarify my question about camo. I meant to ask about multi-color patterns, zig-zag, blotches, etc, not solid colors. The question came up on a model boat forum. Some statements like a lot of PT boats had the camo PATTERNS in service as well as those from the factory late in the war.
Lew

Lew Zee

Posted By: Lew Zee | Posted on: Mar 26, 2023 - 7:49pm
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Dec 12, 2013 - 12:04pm

Hello Lew,
Not sure from your question but I am guessing you are only asking about Elco boats? If your question includes Higgins, they started placing the camo pattern on the boats directly from the factory starting with the PT450 class. I am certain that the PT625 through PT660 were indeed painted in camo measure 31-20L directly from the Higgins factory.

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Mar 26, 2023 - 10:10pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

There were at least three patterned schemes approved by BUSHIPS - Adaptor (Zebra), 31/5P, 31/20L, Additional unofficial schemss can be seen in photos. The Adaptor drawing I have is dated Aug43 but we know it existed before that because it was applied to the RON10 boats prior to their being shipped to the Pacific in May 1943. RON23 commissioned in NOV43 and wore 31/5P. RON13 boats were repainted in 31/5P in Sep43 in Seattle prior to shipping to the western Pacific, so it was still in use at that point. 41/20L appears to have been introduced sometime in 1944. There were some unofficial patterned schemes in the Channel and Mediterranean. Most, if not all of the earlier, pre-patterned schems were overpainted as the new ones came into use.

So, there's a starting point for a research project to answer your question.

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Mar 27, 2023 - 6:29am
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Thanks again for the help. The question originated on another blog and a lot of people were making uninformed guesses. Thought I would hit the experts (you on this forum).
Lew

Lew Zee

Posted By: Lew Zee | Posted on: Mar 27, 2023 - 8:59am
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Dec 12, 2013 - 12:04pm