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Naval Camouflage 1914-1945: A Complete Visual Reference
This history of camouflage is undoubtedly the most comprehensive study of the subject to date. Visual and illustrative in its approach, it concentrates on the British and US Navies, but the camouflage patterns of enemy navies (and selected allies) are covered as well.
Contrary to popular belief, naval camouflage at sea was not intended to 'hide' ships, and an in-depth commentary explains the theory and development of visual deception, and the different ways in which it was intended to work at sea.
The core of the book is a listing of all the major patterns and schemes, with their colours, characteristics and function. Wherever possible each is illustrated with at least one photograph providing the reader with a visual reference as well as a description; where there were variations, as many as possible are depicted.
This is a subject of immense importance and significance for all those with an interest in the warships of the two World Wars - this comprehensive reference book is simply the best available.
Contrary to popular belief, naval camouflage at sea was not intended to 'hide' ships, and an in-depth commentary explains the theory and development of visual deception, and the different ways in which it was intended to work at sea.
The core of the book is a listing of all the major patterns and schemes, with their colours, characteristics and function. Wherever possible each is illustrated with at least one photograph providing the reader with a visual reference as well as a description; where there were variations, as many as possible are depicted.
This is a subject of immense importance and significance for all those with an interest in the warships of the two World Wars - this comprehensive reference book is simply the best available.
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 17, 2025
4.5 stars.
it's difficult to review a historical document like this, but this review is based on my understanding of its intended audience and what i believe to be the resources available to the authors.
This book attempts to cover all the known ship camouflage schemes between the start of WWI and the end of WWII. This attempt is most successful with the USN and RN; the sources for the IJN, Kriegsmarine, and Regia Marina are more limited and it would seem that those latter navies were less systematic in their investigations into ship camouflage.
For the USN and RN, the book is very good indeed, with many photographs and a few color plates. Nearly every scheme used is represented by multiple photos. The quality of those photos, however, is variable, with some being crisp and detailed and others dark and muddy. And of course the vast majority of photos from the era were in black and white, so inferring the colors shown is fraught with difficulty.
In addition to the specific scheme information, the book discusses at some length the research efforts of the major combatants when attempting to identify especially effective schemes (by various metrics). And there is good discussion of the advantages and shortcomings of each of the schemes shown.
If you're looking for the specific scheme used on a ship at some point during the period, it's likely that this book won't have what you're looking for. But as an overview of both the schemes in use and the history of naval camouflage, this book is excellent.
it's difficult to review a historical document like this, but this review is based on my understanding of its intended audience and what i believe to be the resources available to the authors.
This book attempts to cover all the known ship camouflage schemes between the start of WWI and the end of WWII. This attempt is most successful with the USN and RN; the sources for the IJN, Kriegsmarine, and Regia Marina are more limited and it would seem that those latter navies were less systematic in their investigations into ship camouflage.
For the USN and RN, the book is very good indeed, with many photographs and a few color plates. Nearly every scheme used is represented by multiple photos. The quality of those photos, however, is variable, with some being crisp and detailed and others dark and muddy. And of course the vast majority of photos from the era were in black and white, so inferring the colors shown is fraught with difficulty.
In addition to the specific scheme information, the book discusses at some length the research efforts of the major combatants when attempting to identify especially effective schemes (by various metrics). And there is good discussion of the advantages and shortcomings of each of the schemes shown.
If you're looking for the specific scheme used on a ship at some point during the period, it's likely that this book won't have what you're looking for. But as an overview of both the schemes in use and the history of naval camouflage, this book is excellent.
Displaying 1 of 1 review