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About "Barracuda". Color schemes and symbols. |
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The original version of the painting "Barracuda" appeared in June 1940
and existed as a paint factory at the time of the first prototype
flights of R1767. He is handsome, dark-gray paint (Dark Grey FS 595a
36118, 21EZ) on most of the external surfaces of the design and the
gray-green (Grey-Green 34226, 27D3) on the hood of the engine. Trilobate
screw De Havilland was painted with black paint (Night), with the
exception of yellow (Yellow 33538,4-5 A8) zone a little over 4 inches
(10 cm) at the ends of the blades. Zone fabric covering - for example,
rudders and ailerons - have been left in a reddish color coating dope
(Red Srink dope 30166, 8E7). State insignia on top of the wings were
type B, the bottom - type A, and on the fuselage sides - such as AL All
surface fin (except rudder) were painted with three colors of the
national flag - red, white, blue, starting from the leading edge of
keel. All three vertical bands of equal width, and were executed in cold
marking tones. Serial number of digits in size 4 inches was applied
black dye-ray (Night) on the rear fuselage.
Directly in the flight test the first prototype in January 1941 was
repainted in the standard camouflage of RAF. The top and side surfaces,
excluding the keel, it was dark sea blue-gray (Extra Dark Sea Grey
36099, 21F3) color with spots of dark grass-gray (Dark Slate Grey 34096,
28E-F3). For the lower surfaces of production aircraft was provided for
the color gray sky Sky Grey (36463, 22S2). This color is the sky of
English is still the subject of study history lovers, models, and
camouflage. He did not copy the color of the sky, and was intended to
mask the aircraft against its background. In general, it should be noted
that the names of British standard paint often had nothing to do with
the color that they stand for. Therefore, for accurate representation of
color, for example, when painting a model, be sure to have not only the
name, but also sample the color you want.
In prototyping, pilot and training machine lower surfaces were to be
yellow (Yellow, later Trainer Yellow). Screws and coca remained in a
state of factory shipment.
At the first "Barracuda" keel and rudder were color Sky Grey.
Identification marks - such as in wing, and the bottom missing. On the
sides of the fuselage - the type A, and the keel box was rectangular
height of 24 inches and the rear edge adjoined to the steering wheel
directions. Lower surface - yellow. Later, the channel under the rope
rescue boat on board, the tail began to celebrate the white line. Serial
number remained the same.
The internal surface of the structures at all, "Barracuda" x painted in
the usual for English planes of gray-green color (Grey-Green), including
the metal frame chairs. Seat backs and headrest were made of leather
dark green color, and instrument panels and panels in the cabs - Black
(Night). Moreover, the central instrument panel on the board for the
absence of glare was "wrinkled" surface. Landing gear and interior parts
of the connector folding wings were gray-green, and the wheels -
unpainted duralumin.
No sooner had this scheme camouflage moderate sea tones (Temperate Sea)
to enter fully into use before the first flight the second prototype in
late June 1941, as it made a change: the lower surfaces should already
have been just a sky-blue (Sky 34424, 30B-C2 ), which is still less was
similar to the color of the sky and was a faint bluish light green tint.
Yellow "belly" was left for prototypes and experimental machines, but to
add to it the special notation prototype - a big yellow letter "P" in
the yellow ring. It was applied to the fuselage near the tail markings.
In addition to the serial number on the tail of the fuselage is now
applied as the inscription ROYAL NAVY the same 4-inch black (Night)
font. On prototypes recommended to apply markings and lower wings - Type
A
The first series Barracuda 1 - R9642 (F.4570) - was released in
Stockport (Stockport), it was still considered an experimental aircraft
series, and was painted similarly to the second prototype (R1770): a
yellow "belly" and the letter "P" on board . Production aircraft were
painted on the lower surfaces of the color of Sky.
In July 1942, the rules applying unmarked again changed: the signs on
the sides of the fuselage (type C1) and the flags on the keel was
greatly reduced proportion of white. This follows from the experience of
daytime dogfighting, when visible from a distance the white rings and
bands is a good benchmark to aim the aircraft. And the British have had
to reduce these peculiar target in order to better disguise their planes
on the background constantly be covered mist British palate. By the way,
so done in other countries since the First World War.
Recommended changes were conducted on the previously released aircraft.
With new characters and a new engine the first prototype flew for the
first time R1767 August 17, 1942 and later flew the first production
copy of "Barracuda Mk.I R9667 (F.4595) has a different standard
camouflage with altered identification marks.
Compared with the previous standard camouflage were made very small
adjustments. Production machines have two-or three-letter designations
tactical white (White), greenish sky (Sky) or the sky-gray (Sky Grey)
color. Some machines, flew on the Mediterranean theater of operations,
had coca screws and the red numbers (Dull Red 30109, 8D7) color. The
Pacific Theater was different kokami screws color Sky, but is often
colored pictures and diagrams show that the cook repainted only to
install a propeller plane, and then remained under the color of the main
coloring pages airplane. Perhaps this is due to purely technical
difficulties: in part it was much easier to remove and repaint only that
part of the cook, who was ahead of the screw.
Aircraft referred to in the section "Military use of" part of the
British Naval Air Station NAS 815 at the beginning of World War II had
described the standard camouflage signs of the type in the wings.
Examples of tactical airborne code: R9714 / ZK, R9743/ZV, P9813/3R.
After relocation to the Indian Ocean part of the insignia replaced. The
fact that the combatant aircraft operating in Southeast Asia and the
Pacific, as well as in some other regions, had identification signs that
are adapted to the adoption of this location. It was mostly the changes
that made the English characters like the U.S.: the central red circle
painted over, and laterally by the sign of added white rectangles with a
blue border with or without her. This was done so that American pilots
are not confuse English with Japanese community, and not firing at all
the red eyes. Often, even the location of signs has been done in
American - only on the left wing at the top and bottom on the right.
During the service on the Eastern Fleet (Eastern Fleet) "Barracuda" II
also had a standard Camouflage Extra Dark Sea Grey / Dark Slate Grey /
Sky. Flags on the keels and markings on the upper surfaces of the wings
were white and blue, and the circles were small. Serial numbers and the
words "Royal Navy" were carried out in black letters and numbers, height
4 inches (slightly more than 10 cm), and tactical board numbers - mostly
color Light Slate Grey - from behind the identification mark on the
board. For example, aircraft, stationed on an aircraft carrier
Indomitable in 1944, had an on-board code "4P" (serial number unknown).
Some of Barracudas, operated mostly at night, use a temporary nighttime
camouflage - black lower surface, especially when performing
antisubmarine missions to escort aircraft carriers. Also at the
suggestion of experts of the Ministry of Aviation were tested another
type of standard camouflage - the color of the lower surfaces of Sky and
was deposited on the side of the fuselage to the wing level. At least
three cars were a short series of tests in this painting. The basic
scheme of camouflage after that has not changed, but even after the war
had made the recommendation to introduce a color for antisubmarine
aircraft, and then for the entire aviation fleet.
The Pacific side designation usually consisting of three digits on the
tail of the fuselage and individually for each aircraft, the letters at
the bottom of the keel. By the end of the war a number of Barracudas in
the area were repainted in dark gray color of the sea (Extra Dark Sea
Grey) no to all the upper surface.
In the postwar period, "Barracuda" III and V painted in precisely this
two-tone camouflage - Extra Dark Sea Grey on the upper surfaces of
wings, tail and "ridge" fuselage, and all the lower surface side of the
fuselage, propellers and keels of coca have been in the color Sky.
Identifying marks such as "D" were applied to all 6 positions - upper
and lower surfaces of both wings and fuselage sides. Serial numbers and
lettering "ROYAL NAVY" retained on board the rear fuselage in a standard
four-inch version in black. Tactical board numbers on the sides of the
fuselage for distinguishing circles were black, as well as their
number-doubles from the bottom of the wings. Codes belonging to the
aircraft carrier aircraft (also black) were applied to the keel of a
stabilizer. These were two letters, for example, GN. Sample-aircraft
RJ921/GN-305 or RJ933/GN-311. However, some aircraft, for example,
RJ797/GN-300, had the numbers and codes belonging white.
Unfortunately for fans of camouflage, use of the Barracudas is the Air
Force and Navy of Great Britain has been very rare. The only country to
officially get this type of aircraft from Britain, were the Netherlands.
Dutch 860 Squadron flew during the war in the standard camouflage
British Extra Dark Sea Grey / Dark Slate Grey / Sky with English signs,
and some time after the war - with the Dutch. Then the aircraft under a
common standard repainted in semi-bright blue-gray color. Besides the
standard markings (trehseg-element circle with a yellow center) and side
rooms are usually black, planes were not carrying any identification -
even operating inscriptions.
Already mentioned two mysterious black "Barracuda" is likely to modify
Mk. III, no markings and labels did not have, but only slightly
noticeable painted markings RAF.
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