British and Commonwealth Warship Camouflage of WWII. Malcolm George Wright
507c, 1941 blue, and the aft funnel possibly in WA blue. However, this is still in the period when many unofficial or experimental schemes were used and the colours could have been unique to the ship as the green appears non standard. Four 20mm singles was standard for these ships. Type 271 radar amidships and Type 285 on the director.
HMS WINCHESTER L55
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1942
A Type 271 radar lantern sits aft but in 1942 Winchester does not yet seem to be fitted with Type 285 on the gunnery director. Although it was a high priority, there was a heavy call on production of this set and refit of the director to use it. Her scheme is of mixed type utilising 507c grey and 1940 green but with white or very pale upper works. This was probably derived from the WA scheme but darkened for the East Coast of the UK.
HMS WOOLSTON L49
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1942
Woolston is shown wearing an Admiralty Intermediate scheme of B6/B30, B5, and 1941 blue. It was intended that at a distance these would blend together to make the ship harder to see. There was a radar lantern for 271 aft but positioned rather lower than normal. As usual the director has type 285 radar fitted. The light AA armament is unusual in that there are four single 20mm Oerlikon guns, as well as two single 2pdr manual mounts.
HMS WALLACE L64
Shakespeare Class AA Destroyer Leader 1939-40
Wallace was larger than the other WAIR ships and carried a quadruple 2pdr AA aft. She has no radar as shown here and has quad 0.5in MGs as part of her AA armament. She was built as a destroyer leader and was intended to act in that role for WAIR ships. Pale grey was a common 1939–40 scheme but without a black boot topping.
HMS WALLACE L64
Shakespeare Class AA Destroyer Leader 1942
By 1942 Wallace had a radar lantern Type 271 in place of her searchlight platform. The 1941 blue with bold outline was distinctive, but a similar area near the bow was not outlined in white. The hull was MS4a grey. The upperworks were much lighter in 507c pale grey. Decks were dark grey. Extra depth charge stowage had been added amidships. Single 2pdr AA guns have replaced the previous quad machine gun mounts and there were four single 20mm as well.
HMS WALLACE L64
Shakespeare Class AA Destroyer Leader 1944-5
Wallace at the end of WWII. The 1941 blue panel, on 507c light grey, was intended to make the ship look shorter or further away to spoil the aim of a torpedo being fired. A full range of electronics and radar types are fitted, making her very up to date for the period. It is worth remembering that when Wallace was first built radar did not exist and no ships were actually designed to carry it until the first wartime designs. Yet by 1945 it was considered indispensable.
‘V & W’ CLASS CONVERTED TO LONG-RANGE ESCORTS (LRE)
HMS WALKER I27
‘W’ Class LRE
This is an Admiralty intermediate scheme favoured for ships that might work in several areas rather than just Atlantic convoys. On a WA blue hull, she has B5 forward and PB10 aft. She has extra DC stowage and, of course, the forward funnel removed with its boilers to create more space for fuel tanks. There are single 20mm in the bridge wings and another right aft on the quarterdeck. There are two single 2pdr AA amidships and a Hedgehog forward in place of ‘A’ gun mount. The Type 271 lantern on the bridge is set low to reduce topweight. These ships had a very long endurance.
HMS VANQUISHER I54
‘V’ Class LRE
Vanquisher is shown in a non-typical WA scheme including MS4a grey. The remainder is of standard WA blue and WA green. She has a Type 271 radar lantern on the bridge, Type 291 at the masthead, and HF/DF mast aft. There is a Hedgehog forward in ‘A’ position and four single 20mm AA. All torpedo tubes have been removed and extra DCs are in the aft tube position. The forward boilers and funnel have been removed in order to provide extra fuel tanks to increase range.
HMS VISCOUNT I92
Thornycroft ‘V’ Class LRE
Not all ‘V&W’ class had a thin aft funnel. Viscount’s camouflage scheme is based around the WA style but a bit more elaborate with more WA green and WA blue on white than usual. The forward tubes have been retained and probably carry a single one-ton Mk X DC. There is also a Hedgehog forward. A 12pdr AA has replaced the aft torpedo tubes. Only the ‘V&Ws’ in best condition were given this refit to extend their lives and range. The light AA is mixed, with single 20mm in the bridge wings and two single 2pdr aft of the funnel.
HMS VANSITTART I64
Modified ‘W’ Class LRE
Vansittart is displaying a standard WA camouflage scheme of white hull with patches of WA green and WA blue. Type 271 radar on the bridge with Type 291 at masthead. There are 20mm in the bridge wings and aft of the funnel. Weight had been drastically reduced and the forward boiler room removed for extra fuel stowage which enabled these ships to cross the Atlantic without refuelling. All torpedo tubes have been removed to save weight and allow extra DC stowage. These ships not only had a very long range, but were also formidable ASW ships.
HMS VIMY I33
‘V’ Class LRE 1942