Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-09-09
COLOR OF WAR VESSELS.
Neither Black Nor White Desirable
A Neutral Tint Preferred,

Til" best color to use for painting our
war ships is a subject that is engaging
the attention of naval officers ut the
present time. 1t is found that neither
black, which was at one time used cx-
cluslvcly for painting the hulls of all
naval vessels, nor white, which is now
used on the new cruisers, is the color
best adapted for either peace or war pur-
poses.
Black was used for long time, and
considered the best for our ships, as
gave the vessels solid and clean ap-
pearancc, wearing well, and not requiring
much time nor expense in keeping the
vessels in good condition. Af,crward it
was found that white was better adapted
for vessels cruising in tropical waters, as
the vessels were several degrees cooler
when painted white instead of black. It
also made the vessels look large, and pre-
sented neat and pleasing effect to the
observer. But experience has shown
that white is not the best color to use.
1t is found that it is difficult to keep
vessels that are painted white i'll order
where 1t is necessary to coal ship fre
quently, as in making long voyage or
when lying in tropical ports, where the
climate is generally very damp. White
paint is apt to get discolored, requiring
frequent touching up of the spots, 50
that it is very expensive keeping the YES
sel looking well. to say nothing of the
time and labor required to apply the paint.
But the points mentioned are Of minor
importance. The advent of the modern
long distance gun, and the question of
the vessel being target at long range,
have forced another and most important
element in the discussion. In case of
naval engagement at the present time,
not only should the armament of a vessel
be considered, but also the color of the
vessel. The easier it is to distinguish a
vessel, the better that vessel becomes
for target White is very objection
able on that account, by day or by night.
In fact, at light it is the most conspicu-
Gus of all colors. With the armor picrc-
ing projcctilcs of the present day, the
vessel getting in the first effective shot
has decided advantage over its advcr
sary aud bids fair to win the fight A
person fighting duel would never think
of wearing white waistcoat, for the
reason that, being conspicuous, it would
be an excellent target for his opponent.
Targets used for gun and rifle practice
have the bulls eye and rings painted on
white ground in order to present to the
eye an object which can best be seen at a
distance. For that reason our war ships
should be painted some other color than
white.
Black is also Objectionable. for tho
reasons that vessels painted that color
are easily distinguished at Il distance and
that they are extremely hot in tropical
climates.
1t is recommended by some naval
officers that neutral color be used, com.
posed of Il mixture of black and white,
forming what is known as a light lead
color. with just enough yellow or green
added to give it grccnish tingc. This
is, without doubt. an excellent color for
our war vessels, as it is a clean, durable
color, and easily kept in order Vessels
painted this color can hardly be seen at
distance, and thus have decided adj
vantage over an cnemy's vessel painted
either black or white This is shown by
the fact that the Chilean torpedo cruisers
the Almirantc Lynch and the Almirante
Condell, painted this color, during the
recent struggle entered the ports of
Iquiquc and Coquimbo at night, and
were scarcely visible to the enemy when
only a few hundred feet away, thus COM
plctcly surprising them.
The statement has been made that tor
pedo vessels are useful only for unex-
pccted attacks on the enemy, and several
Instances of this kind have been cited
which seem to prove that there is some
truth in the statement. If such is the
case, it especially necessary that these
vessels should be painted neutral
color.
Not only should the hulls of vess' Is be
painted with it. but also the tunnels and
spars. The sealers in the Bchring Sea
were able to escape the revenue cutters
cruising in those waters on account Of
the color of tunnels and spars of the cut
ters. BY means of lookouts stationed at
the mastheads they could easily detect
the presence of a cutter before they them
selves could be seen, and could easily
run into one of the fog banks common in
that region, and hide until the cutter had
run out of sight. Had the cutter been
painted this gray color, hull, spars and
funnel, it would have been difficult for
the scalers to escape detection.
Blockade runners prefer this color to
any other for their vessels.
This color is especially suited for ves-
sells in tropical waters, as it will not get
discolored, like white, and at the same
time causing the vessels SO painted to be
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