good day all,
mates, you’re partially right, the largest part of the US warships at the beginning of hostilities was painted in gray.
In particular, all US battleships (all but two of the New Mexico class) wore a MS 1 camouflage, a dark gray 5-D covering all vertical surface until the top of the stacks, beyond this line surface were painted Light Gray 5-L. And the horizontal surface, except wood decks, were painted Dark Gray 5-D. This is confirmed by the Ship-2 recommendation document, in the first release and its 1st revision (September 1941). Those interested in the matter can take a look to
http://www.shipcamouflage.com (it's a mine of information!)
Many years ago, in mid ‘90s if my memory is still good, I discovered the existence of a PH blue in the inventory of USN colours. Unfortunately, I don’t remember where I found it and the source of the palette, but believe me that was a total novelty to me, never known of such a tint in the US Navy.
A little mystery, which vessel used it? I quickly forgot my curiosity until I fell into a very interesting site
http://www.navsource.org and I saw the reproduction of a oil-on canvas painting representing some battleships during the Pearl Harbour attack. See by yourselves:
I’m convinced that all (or almost all) the battleships moored at Pearl Harbour wore a modified MS1 measure having the 5-D and 5-L gray replaced by the so called PH-blue and white (or a very pale gray?) respectively. Why I am so convinced? Simple: most probably the artist had not been a witness of the attack, but the painting was commanded by an USN VIP and made under the supervision of experts.
About the identification marks over the turrets top, I heard something many years ago, at that time it was generally reported as a red square for all Pacific major surface ships.
As I said, my aim was to represent the Big Five as they appeared at the PH time, so I did. Shortly afterwards, all the still serviceable ships ot Colorado and Tennesse –class were painted in MS 21 (vertical surfaces Sea Blue 5-N with no paler top, horizontal surfaces Deck Blue 20-B). This scheme will be adopted for my next labour, the Big Five showing a stump rear cage-mast. The 3D model is 90% ready
my regards
Gianni