AA = anti-aircraft
AM = Minesweeper
AM(c) = Coastal minesweeper
ASW = Anti-submarine warfare
ATW = Ahead throwing weapon (Usually Squid but also sometimes used for Hedgehog)
AWED = Admiralty War Emergency Destroyer (Usually WED –War Emergency Destroyer)
BYMS = British Yard Minesweeper (US)
DD = Destroyer
DC = Depth charge
DCT = Depth charge thrower
DCR = Depth charge rack
DCD = Depth charge dropper
DE = Destroyer escort
DP = Dual-purpose (gun mount)
EC = East coast (UK)
FCS = Fighter catapult ship
FDS = Fighter direction ship
FF = Frigate
FFN = Free French Navy
HA = High-angle (gun)
HDML = Harbour defence motor launch
HrMs = Her Netherlands Majesty’s Ship
HF/DF = High Frequency / Direction Finding
HH = Hedgehog
HMAS = His Majesty’s Australian Ship
HMCS = His Majesty’s Canadian Ship
HMIS = His Majesty’s Indian Ship
HNoMS = His Norwegian Majesty’s Ship
HMNZS = His Majesty’s New Zealand Ship
HMS = His Majesty’s Ship
HMT = His Majesty’s Tug
IFF = Identify friend or foe
IJN = Imperial Japanese Navy
LA = Low-angle (gun)
LCF = Landing craft flak
LCG = Landing craft gun
LCG(M) = Landing craft gun (medium)
LCM = Landing craft mechanised
LCP = Landing craft personnel
LCT = Landing craft tank
LL(V) = Landing lighter (vehicle)
LRE = Long-range escort
LSH = Landing ship headquarters
LSI = Landing ship infantry
LSS = Landing ship stern chute
LST = Landing ship tank
MG = Machine gun
MGB = Motor gun boat
ML = Motor launch
MS = Minesweeping
MMS = Motor minesweeper
MTB = Motor torpedo boat
ORP = Okrêt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Ship of the Republic of Poland)
PCE = Patrol craft (escort) (US)
PG = Patrol gunboat (sloop)
PG(E) = Patrol gunboat (escort)
RAN = Royal Australian Navy
RCN = Royal Canadian Navy
RFA = Royal Fleet Auxiliary
RHN = Royal Hellenic Navy
RINS = Royal Indian Naval Service
RN = (British) Royal Navy
RNZN = Royal New Zealand Navy
RPN = Republic of Poland Navy
SL = Searchlight
Soviet = (Russian) USSR
SRE = Short-range escort
TSDS = Two-speed destroyer sweep
UK = United Kingdom
UP = Unrotated projectile (launcher)
USN = United States Navy
USS = United States Ship
USSR = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
WA = Western Approaches
WAIR= Old ‘V&W’ class destroyer converted to AA escort
BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH WARSHIP PAINTS DURING WWII
DESTROYERS BUILT TO WWI PROGRAMMES
ADMIRALTY ‘R’ AND ‘S’ CLASS DESTROYERS
HMS SKATE H39
Admiralty ‘R’ Class Destroyer 1939
Skate at the start of WWII when a minelayer. This ship had a variety of roles between the wars and during WWII. She was the only three-funnel destroyer still in RN service. Her numerous sisters were scrapped in the 1930s, having been poorly maintained in reserve. Note the effect of dull grey in dull conditions, such as a minelayer would operate under at night or in low light. MG light AA and 12pdr AA. Colour 507b. Deck Corticene brown and 507b.
HMS SKATE H39
Admiralty ‘R’ Class Destroyer 1940–1
Skate had a very good top speed and is shown when in service as an influence minesweeper. She used her high speed to avoid the explosions of magnetic mines, but it was still a very dangerous duty steaming up and down mined areas to set off magnetic mines that had been triggered for slow merchant ships. She had adopted the medium hull, light upper works style common to many ships. These duties kept her close to the coast and well in range of the Luftwaffe so she carries a quad 2pdr, quad 0.5in MGs and twin Lewis guns aft. Only one main gun is carried. Colours are MS4a and 507b.
HMS SKATE H39
Admiralty ‘R’ Class Destroyer 1941–2
Skate altered as a Short-Range Escort (SRE), for convoy runs from the UK to Iceland, and the UK East Coast convoys. Eight depth-charge (DC) throwers are fitted. Fixed Type 286 radar on foremast. Splinter mats and quad 0.5in MG between the funnels, There is a single 12pdr AA amidships and two 20mm aft. A very heavy depth charge load is provided. She carries an unofficial paint scheme nonetheless influenced by Western Approaches (WA) ideas. Green was often difficult to obtain. Only