
The drawings are very basic and range in quality from mostly recognizable to completely unrecognizable even to the trained eye. If the drawings are inaccurate, then the camouflage patterns are inaccurate.
The Coastal Forces section covers most of the major types. None are particularly well-drawn and many are so far off that they bear no resemblance to their specific type. This is particularly true of the British Power Boat Company MTB and MGB types. While I recognize a few of the camouflage schemes, I've never seen photos of most of them. Factual errors abound. One drawing of what is supposed to be (and is identified as) an 80' Elco (which the RN never operated) is identified as MTB311, which was a 77' ELCO (which the RN did use). Another image is identified as MTB267 which was the former PT18, a 70' Elco of which my Dad was the quartermaster. It shows four torpedo tubes (it had two as an RN MTB) and is described as having radar (not shown nor did it ever mount it). The camouflage scheme is described as one carried in 1944. MTB267 was lost in April 1943 while under tow in heavy weather.
Given the lack of photographic support, basic and often grossly inaccurate drawings, factual errors, and lack of proper Admiralty color codes in this small section, I suspect that those with expertise in the other ship types covered in this volume may discover similar issues.
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Hello,
I kind of recall that there was a lot of criticism of the series of books on RN and Commwealth Camouflage by Malcolm Wright when they were first published. Am I remembering incorrectly? Any feedback and thoughts on these works would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Felix B.
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