The SteelNavy.Com Message Board: Re: Question about Pre-war US Navy Motor Boats

In trying to look up the info, and exasperatingly not finding it, I did come across three b&w images of Nimitz's barge:

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-58000/NH-58155.html

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-58000/NH-58156.html

Note these two above captioned 1943, and the top is dark/black. Compare with this next image:

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-58000/NH-58072.html

Now captioned 1944, and with a white top.

Next, I stumbled onto color images. The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX has restored a barge to represent Nimitz's barge from "1942 1944" according to this image's caption:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57125365@N03/5448192021

Other images of it:

https://travelphotobase.com/v/USTXC/TXJFN329.HTM

https://thetravelingtodds.com/tag/national-museum-of-the-pacific-war/ (about the fifth image down.)

Here is video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tKzNFG1U2Hs

Note the variation in the color based on lighting. Anything from greenish to black, to blue in the video. I am inclined to go with the video myself. I don't think it is black. I think it is dark blue.

Modern admiral's barges are usually black, with a white top and green waterline stripe. The USS New Jersey Museum recently restored their admiral's barge to the period of 1990. In a YouTube video I watched on it, they claimed admirals could personalize their barges. I have no idea how far back that goes:

?si=lPbgBIQgFDyRNBcq

HTH some

Previous Message

I'm trying to figure out the color scheme of each type of Motor Boat in the US navy prior to the outbreak of war.
From what I can tell, they were all 40' Motor Boats but have different markings and colors.
I know there are Admiral Barges - all with black hulls and different colored tops based on Rank I believe.
Then there are Captain's gigs and Officer's gigs.
Not sure if these were differentiated in appearance or color.
This shot of two gigs shows different style of ship ID. One appears to be gold with an arrow through it. Both are painted standard navy gray.
Is perhaps the arrowed gig the Captain's gig?

It appears by this photo that black hull/white tops were Rear Admiral barges. Not sure if it applies to both Upper and Lower Rear Admirals.

This photo shows a 4 Star Admiral Barge which appears to be black hull and black tops.

Any info on these Motor Boats is much appreciated.
Thx