HMS Devonshire

tjstoneman · Mar 24, 2018

I do not think that this photo shows ***BERLAND in the Mediterranean. Whilst IWM captions are not always to be relied upon, the version of this photo in the IWM collection (Ref A13456) is captioned as "MAIL FOR MAURITIUS. OCTOBER 1942, ON BOARD HMS MAURITIUS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN. HMS DEVONSHIRE coming alongside HMS MAURITIUS to pass the mail. Note the rocket bearing a line crossing the bows of the DEVONSHIRE." The ship is certainly DEVONSHIRE, before her 1943-44 refit, and I don't think she was in the Mediterranean whilst wearing this camouflage scheme.

ThomasJohn · Mar 24, 2018

tj 'Poirot' stoneman does it again. BZ.

spursnut · Mar 25, 2018

Thanks TJS, I will amend the caption. This was scanned from 'The War Illustrated', I have the set of volumes that my Father had, somewhat battered and tattered nowadays unfortunately. I have come across several images and titles that seem to indicate that even we, the British can be accused of a little propaganda! Similarly there are several examples of identity and locations that are a tad suspect.

spursnut · Mar 25, 2018

Question for TJS, not having the benefit of colour in this image have you any information on what the colours of this particular camouflage pattern are?

tjstoneman · Mar 25, 2018

Sadly no! According to Alan Raven Camouflage Vol One: Royal Navy 1939-41 (New York: WR Press, 2000)"The colors were dark and light grey" (without being more specific)." He writes that "A", "X" and "Y" turret tops were dark grey, and "B" was lightbgrey with the letters "DV" in dark grey until late 1941.

spursnut · Mar 25, 2018

Many thanks for looking TJS, pretty detailed description! I would imagine that your library must be huge!!

HMS Devonshire

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