[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Guys;

Some notes on camouflage used on Australian Carriers:

A variety of camouflage schemes were issued for use during the period 1941 to 1945, both for AIF Carriers serving in the Middle East and for all Carriers serving within Australia and New Guinea.

The first of these was issued in August 1941, to all troops under the command of British Forces in Palestine and Trans Jordan, which included 1st Australian Corps. The pattern was to be taken as a guide only, and consisted of a basic colour of Light Stone BSC61 and a disruptive pattern of Standard Camouflage Colour No. 7 Dark Green. (See diagram # 1).

In January 1942, AIF HQ Middle East issued Mechanization Instruction 80, which detailed that all vehicles were to be finished in a common basic colour, either Light Stone BSC61 or Portland Stone BSC64. Those operating in Palestine and Egypt were to have the basic colour only, while those operating in Syria were to have a disruptive pattern of Standard Camouflage Colour No. 7 Dark Green.

Carriers serving in Australia were not camouflaged until January 1942. Prior to that date, those supplied to the AIF were supposed to be finished in Light Stone BSC61 colour, while those supplied to AMF were supposed to be finished in Khaki Green No. 3, although the actual deliveries of Carriers resulted in both forces having Carriers finished in both schemes. In January 1942, several camouflage schemes were issued for use. Although all vehicles were supposed to be camouflaged, no official desruptive pattern was issued for use on Carriers. Improvisation was the order of the day. In July 1942, the schemes were revised to a single scheme of a basic colour of Khaki Green ASC type "J" gas resisting and a disruptive colour of Light Earth ASC type "W" (See diagram # 2). This scheme was retained until March 1943, when a three tone scheme was introduced (See diagram # 3). The three colours of this scheme were a basic colour of Vehicle Medium Green, and two disruptive colours of Vehicle Dark Green and Vehicle Grey. In mid-1944, the scheme was revised to include a choice of basic colour of either Vehicle Medium Green or Khaki Green. The disruptive pattern remained as the official pattern until the end of the War, when Carriers were progressively repainted gloss Deep Bronze Green has they required overhaul.

Cheers

Diagram # 1: Official Camouflage Scheme issued in August 1941