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| U.S. Navy Hangar Deck Paint http://67.205.157.234/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5363 |
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| Author: | signal [ June 12th, 2014, 4:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | U.S. Navy Hangar Deck Paint |
Some time ago, I asked for info on what color to paint the hangar decks on my USN aircraft carrier ship models. Several of you responded, and said that the appropriate color was flat white. I replied the Samuel Eliot Morrison's History of U.S. Naval Operations in WWII indicated that all USN ships were ordered to remove interior paint in the wake of the shipboard fires during the Battle of Savo Island. Again, I was told that hangar decks throughout WWII were white. In the book 1942: The Year That Tried Men's Souls, author Winston Groom writes on pp. 275-276, that the navy ordered paint stripped from all interior compartments, due to its contribution to spreading onboard fires from battle damage. Also, the USS Enterprise (CV-6) Plan of the Day for 29 August, 1942 states: "From an analysis of the fire we had below on the 24th (Aug 1942), it is apparent that we were greatly aided in fighting the fire and the fire did not spread from the original damaged areas due to the fact that nearly all paint had been removed from the compartments affected. The many laborious hours that the crew has spent scraping paint paid real dividends in that emergency. There is still a considerable amount of paint to be removed from compartments in which there is a possibility of fire as the result of bomb or shell damage in an engagement. It appears that the next two weeks will offer an excellent opportunity to finish the job, and we should by all means make the most of it in order to place the ship in the best possible condition for future engagements. It is desired that those divisions which do not have spaces in the damaged area start again today on the paint removal project, being guided by the priority lists which have been prepared by Heads of Departments. ... Divisions having spaces and areas exposed to the weather should also take this opportunity to clean up and touch up rust and corrosion spots and in general look to the preservation of the ship." (signed) W.F. Boone, Commander, U.S. Navy, Executive Officer Based on this info, I believe that after August 1942, the proper color for a USN hangar deck should be bare metal. I have found no info to indicate that the USN had any non-flammable paint to use in hangar decks, nor that hangar decks were specifically exempted from paint removal - especially as hangar decks were the principal areas damaged by enemy bombs, and were very prone to fires, due to the aircraft stored there. |
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| Author: | TimothyC [ June 12th, 2014, 4:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: U.S. Navy Hangar Deck Paint |
I don't recall that discussion, but thank you for the information. |
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| Author: | Colosseum [ June 12th, 2014, 5:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: U.S. Navy Hangar Deck Paint |
"But Chief, the civilians at the yard just painted the whole ship!" "I don't care, get to chippin'." |
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| Author: | Syzmo [ June 14th, 2014, 6:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: U.S. Navy Hangar Deck Paint |
Interesting discussion and great information. Now the question becomes: is the hanger considered a weather deck, open to the elements, and therefor painted, or is it considered a below deck space. I tend to think it is a weather deck since it has many large openings, the roller doors are not watertight, and it is above the main deck. |
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| Author: | acelanceloet [ June 14th, 2014, 6:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: U.S. Navy Hangar Deck Paint |
if we take civilian rules, the hangar deck is indeed an weather deck. (post midway class however, the main deck/strength deck is above the hangar deck level though) that said, who told you belowdeck spaces are not painted? |
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| Author: | Colosseum [ June 14th, 2014, 10:43 pm ] | |
| Post subject: | Re: U.S. Navy Hangar Deck Paint | |
Also, the USS Enterprise (CV-6) Plan of the Day for 29 August, 1942
From the OP.states: "From an analysis of the fire we had below on the 24th (Aug 1942), it is apparent that we were greatly aided in fighting the fire and the fire did not spread from the original damaged areas due to the fact that nearly all paint had been removed from the compartments affected. The many laborious hours that the crew has spent scraping paint paid real dividends in that emergency. There is still a considerable amount of paint to be removed from compartments in which there is a possibility of fire as the result of bomb or shell damage in an engagement. It appears that the next two weeks will offer an excellent opportunity to finish the job, and we should by all means make the most of it in order to place the ship in the best possible condition for future engagements. It is desired that those divisions which do not have spaces in the damaged area start again today on the paint removal project, being guided by the priority lists which have been prepared by Heads of Departments. ... Divisions having spaces and areas exposed to the weather should also take this opportunity to clean up and touch up rust and corrosion spots and in general look to the preservation of the ship." (signed) W.F. Boone, Commander, U.S. Navy, Executive Officer The "scraping paint" practice is an age-old WW2 USN thing. The paint was found to burn so fiercely that it was removed from the interior of the ships as soon as possible. |
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