Landships II

I can't help, but wow! Have you thought of running an art exhibition, somewhere?

Hi Mickk,
Thought this might be of help, it's an old book, Purnell's History of the World Wars Special, WARSHIPS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, it has a number of colour drawing of the Dazzle camouflage which you are asking about.
One question, do you sell your paintings? as they are GREAT!!!!!

THE OLD LANCER

Hi all,

there's an oil? painting titled "a fast convoy", alas I don't know the artists name. It shows an American destroyer escorting a dazzled liner/troop carrier. I think especially the destroyer is interesting, it is one of the famous class that were "given" to the British Royal Navy at the beginning of the second world war, as the US were not at war yet, being still neutral so the delivery fell under the Lend Lease program. One of these (I think there were 50?) destroyers had an interesting career, ending at St.Nazaire during that famous raid as a block ship.
There is a model kit of Revell, ship's name was the Campbelltown.
If somebody is interested I can post a picture of the painting.

regards, Kieffer

Try this, "Liners in battledress"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Liners-Battledress-Wartime-Camouflage-Passenger/dp/0851775179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273422105&sr=8-1

Hi all,

this is the picture I already referred too, the artist was Burnell Poole, a US citizen.
It seemed to be used on government posters too, so it might be no news for you.
The US by the way, had their own color scheme(s) and pattern(s), though being in contact with the British camouflage section.

regards Kieffer

Hi Michael,

here's another one for the road. It's the SS Melita. All the best with your exhibition at Ypres, that must be great having your paintings there!

regards, Kieffer

Hi Steve,

the value of dazzle painting: expectations were high, the effect was less impressive.
The matter was evaluated by a special Committee on Dazzle Painting. Statistics were made, allied captains (merchant and submariners) were interviewed as were German U-boot captains. And tests were run with a real ship and sub. Especially the submariners were sceptical, and that's interesting because the dazzle concept was developped on misleading their periscope observation. The dazzle on the hull of a ship did not have much effect, as subs focus mainly on the upper parts as masts and smokestacks.
In German reports  never dazzle was mentioned as an effective counter measure, only convoy sailing, zigzag and armed escorts were considered useful.
The percentage of dazzled ships sunk was lower than the normal painted, but at the same time convoy sailing was improving, and U-boot attacks were more done during night time (70%), so no one can really say what the effect really was, despite statistics.
Taking in consideration that there were different theatres of war (mediterrranean, atlantic) with different light, sun, moon and meteorological aspects as rain, fog, clouding), the fact that only bigger ships were dazzled (bigger target but better chance to survive damage) and that there was never a general agreement on which paint scheme and colors, it is hard to say what the results actually were. Therefore the only advice given without controversy was: to dazzle ships that sailed alone, as was dazzle in convoys nearly useless and even sometimes increasing attention. And again: loners were usually the big liners/troopers who were faster than any others (incl. U boots) so was it their speed or their dazzle dress that brought them home safely?..
(Big liners were even in ww2 often on their own, in most cases outrunning the wolf packs).

regards, Kieffer