Researcher@Large - US Navy January 1943 LST Camouflage Memo

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C-LST1-49O/S19(519) NAVY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OP SHIPS
WASHINGTON,D.C. Jan-7 1943

CONFIDENTIAL

From: The Chief of the Bureau of Ships

To: The Supervisors of Shipbuilding, USN:
  Jeffersonville, Ind.                     Chicago, Ill.
  Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Industrial Manager, USN, EIGHTH Naval District.

SUBJECT:   Landing Ship, Tank (L3T1-490, ex-ATL) - Assignment to South and Southwest Pacific - Special Type of Camouflage for.

Reference:

(a) VCNO conf. ltr Op-38-X-ELS (SC)LC/S19-7 Serial 097938 of Dec. 23, 1942.

(b) VCNO conf. ltr Op-38-X-ELS (SC)LC/S82-l Serial 097138 of Deo. 21, 1942.

Enclosures: (h.w.)

(A) Camouflage Prints of LST vessels, three views, two prints of each view.

     1.   Reference (a) requested that LST's and LCT(5)'s assigned to South and Southwest Pacific Forces be adequately camouflaged. In accordance with this directive, the camouflage schemes shown on enclosure (A) were developed by the Bureau.

     2.   Reference (b) stated that the assignment to date of Tank Landing Ships building on the inland waterways to South and Southwest Pacific Forces are LST 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 157 and 158, This referenoe further stated that it was the present plan to assign the first twenty-five (25) tank landing ships from the rivers to South and Southwest Pacific.

     3.   3. In accordance with the above, it is requested that LST 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 157 and 158 and such other LST's as may be directed by number at a later date be camouflaged in general accordance with the enclosures forwarded herewith. The application of the camouflage paint should be carried out by a high capacity spray gun throwing a large, full spray. The paint designated on referenoe (a) may be good commercial quality paint which possesses the same tone quality as the Navy standard paint designated.

C-LST1-490/S19(510)

CONFIDENTIAL

From: BUSHIPS

To: SUPSHIP, Jeffersonville
   "     Neville Island, Pittsburgh
   "     Chicago
NAVINDMAN, 8th N. D.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

     4.   LST 1 and 2 and possibly 157 (depending upon time of delivery) are to be camouflaged by the Industrial Manager, EIGHTH Naval District. It is requested that the remaining LST's assigned to the South and Southwest Pacific be camouflaged at the building yards. If, however, a vessel assigned to the South or Southwest Pacific leaves the building yard without proper camouflage, the camouflage is to be applied by the Industrial Manager, EIGHTH Naval District.

     5.   The accomplishment of the above camouflaging is to be accomplished on a "not to delay vessel" basis and in those yards building and installing LCT(5) launching ways it is requested that the launching ways be camouflaged in synchronism with the scheme. The above work accomplished by the building yard is considered to constitute a change under the contract for which increased cost estimates are requested. Work done in camouflaging vessels by the Industrial Manager, EIGHTH Naval District is to be charged to the Project Order for outfitting the vessel.

Copy to:
VCNO
COMINCH
CINCPAC
COMAMPHFORSOPAC
COMAMPHFORSWPAC

- 2 -

C-LST1-490/S19(519)

CONFIDENTIAL

NAVY DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF SHIPS
WASHINGTON, D.C.

From: The Chief of the Bureau of Ships

To: The Supervisors of Shipbuilding, USN:
  Jeffersonville, Ind.          Chicago, Ill.
  Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Industrial Manager, USN, Eighth Naval District

SUBJECT:   Landing Ship, Tank (LST1-490, ex-ATL) - Assignment to South and Southwest Pacific - Special Type of Camouflage for.

References:

(a) BUSHIPS conf. ltr. C-LST1-490/S19(519) of Jan 7, 1943.

(b) VCNO conf. ltr. 0p-3S-X-AMC (SC)LC/A4-3 Serial 0293g(original did actually have a "g" in the serial) of Jan. 12, 1943.

     1.  Reference (a) listed certain LST's assigned to South and Southwest Pacific forces, on which it was desired to apply camouflage in general accordance with instrutions listed therein.

     2.  Reference (b) assigned the following additional LST's to the Southwest Pacific Amphibious Force:

     (a)  LST: 159, 7, 197, 61, g,(original did actually have a "g" in place of a hull number) 62, 160, 9, 11, 12, l6l and 13.

Accordingly, it is requested that the directive of reference (a) be applied to these vessels

Copy to:
VCNO
COMINCH
CINCPAC
COMAMPHFORSOPAC
COMAMPHFORSWPAC

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SOURCE:
National Archives & Records Administration, College Park
Record Group 313, CINCPAC Confidential Correspondence Files 1943-45

Transcribed by RESEARCHER @ LARGE. Formatting & Comments Copyright R@L.

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