German Navy

BISMARCK 

Wood decks—Teak (C 01);

Prior to final sortie

Hull—Dunkelgrau 51 (KM 02), with dark panels Dunkelgrau 2 (KM 06) at bow and stern;

Superstructure—Hellgrau 50 (KM 01);

Turret roofs & other horizontal surfaces except steel decks—Dunkelgrau 2 (KM 06);

Steel decks, and boot-topping—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05);

Wood decks—Teak (C 01);

Funnel cap—Aluminiumbronze (C 04); 

Underwater hull—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5 (KM 04);

Stripes on the hull and superstructure—Black (C 02) & White (C 03);

False bow and stern waves—White (C 03);

Mahogany on ship’s boats—Mahogany ( US 15); 

Underwater hulls on ship’s boats—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05) or possibly Black (C 02).

Final Sortie

As above, but no dark panels (KM 06) at bow & stern, no false stern wave, no black & white stripes.

As sunk

Turret roofs had been repainted yellow Deckfarbe Gelb—use (ACJ 19).

Arado Ar-196

Upper surfaces—RLM 72 Grün (ACLW 04), RLM 73 Grün (ACLW 05);
Lower surfaces—RLM 65 Hellblau (ACLW 03)

         

DANTON (1908)

Vertical surfaces above waterline: Blue-gray (KM 12)
Underwater hull : Schweinfurth green (M 19)
Fore deck (anchors and cable area) : Bare steel (RN 23)
All other decks, including main deck : Linoleum (red-brown) with brass strips (IACSM 11)

  

GRAF SPEE

Prior to December 1939

Hull —Dunkelgrau 51 (KM 02);

Superstructure—Hellgrau 50 (KM 01);

Bridge decks—Linoleum, (use ACSM 11);

Wood decks—Teak (C 01);

Steel Decks & Boot-topping—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05);

Underwater hull—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5 (KM 04).

December 1939

Camouflage pattern applied to superstructure & turrets, using KM 02 & KM 06.

Arado Ar-196

Upper surfaces—RLM 72 Grün (ACLW 04), RLM 73 Grün (ACLW 05);
Lower surfaces—RLM 65 Hellblau (ACLW 03)

 

HOCHE

Mediterranean Fleet colours: 
Brunswick green for the underwater body--use Colourcoats M 19
Thin white boot topping--Colourcoats C 03
Black hull--Colourcoats C 02
"cream" (off-white) for the superstructures--suggest Colourcoats ARG 01
Natural wood color for the spar deck--Colourcoats C 01
Dark gray paint for steel fore and aft decks--Colourcoats ARG 08
Inner spaces white with dark brown linoleum floors--Colourcoats C 03 with Colourcoats ACSM 11

 

PRINZ EUGEN 1945

 

  

 

Dark band on lower hull just above boot-topping—Schlickgrau (KM 11);

Upper part of hull—Dunkelgrau 51 (KM 02);

Superstructure, including turret roofs—Hellgrau 50 (KM 01);

Boot topping—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05);

Underwater hull—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5 (KM 04);

Steel decks & antiaircraft mount decks—Dunkelgrau 2 (KM 06);

Wood decks—Teak (C 01). 

Arado Ar-196

Upper surfaces—RLM 72 Grün (ACLW 04), RLM 73 Grün (ACLW 05);
Lower surfaces—RLM 65 Hellblau (ACLW 03)

 

SCHARNHORST 

as-lost

  

 

Image courtesy http://www.scharnhorst-class.dk/index.html

 

 

 

The precise colours of Scharnhorst at the time of her sinking by HMS Duke of York remain unknown. She may have been in standard Kriegsmarine greys, or she may have been wearing the Norwegian Theatre blue-greys described by Dechend. We will therefore provide references for both potential schemes:

Standard Kriegsmarine Greys

Darkest Grey in pattern—Dunkelgrau 2 (KM 06);

Middle Grey in pattern—Dunkelgrau 51 (KM 02);

Lightest Grey in pattern—Hellgrau 50 (KM 01);

White panels at bow & stern, & false bow wave—Schnellbootweiss (KM 10);

Steel decks—probably Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05);

Wood decks—natural teak (C 01);

Boot-topping—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05);

Underwater hull—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5 (KM 04);

Funnel cap—Black (C 02).

Norwegian Theatre Blue-Greys

Darkest Grey in pattern—Blaugrau Dunkel (KM 07);

Middle Grey in pattern—Blaugrau Mittel (KM 08);

Lightest Grey in pattern—Blaugrau Hell (KM 09);

White panels at bow & stern, & false bow wave—Schnellbootweiss (KM 10);

Steel decks—possibly Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05) or Blaugrau Dunkel (KM 07);

Wood decks—natural teak (C 01);

Boot-topping—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05);

Underwater hull—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5 (KM 04);

Funnel cap—Black (C 02).

Arado Ar-196        

Upper surfaces—RLM 72 Grün (ACLW 04), RLM 73 Grün (ACLW 05);
Lower surfaces—RLM 65 Hellblau (ACLW 03)