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Posted by Felix C on April 2, 2026, 12:44:01, in reply to "Re: HMS Campbeltown at St. Nazaire was what color?"
Operation Petticoat.
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Yes, the Union-Castle line. What am curious about is where this erroneous idea that red lead was part of the mix comes from. Previous Message
From what I read the color was used by a commercial shipping line for their ships. Somebody (Mountbatten?) noted that they were hard to see during dusk and experimented with that color on his flotilla. Previous Message
I'm sorry but Mountbatten Pink was not a mix of red lead added into grey. Out of curiosity, where did you red this? Previous Message
Mountbatten pink was the colour stated in all the historic sources, which would make sence as they wante to remain unseen as long as possible and early spotting would have been just about dusk with still some light, the Anatomy of a ship on her shows pink, which in reality was a touch of red lead added to grey, the proportions were at captain and bosun preference and mix! Previous Message
I've also read she was Mountbatten Pink. Anyway, Mountbatten Pink wasn't an actual "pink"; it was more of a grayish mauve, designed to blend in with dusk sunlight. Since the raid took place at night, a German gray color would not have made much difference. Previous Message
I don't know, but there's no way on earth they would have gone on that mission painted pink. Typical German colour as you suggest sounds ok - but, years ago there were several photos on a German archive which would show her shade of grey before she blew up.
I cannot remember the archive, but others here might. Previous Message
Recently saw a pic of her on the drydock gates in Mountbatten Pink. I would have thought painted dark grey as German TBs to enhance passing for one.
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