Naval Camouflage 1914-1945: A Complete Visual Reference [Hardcover]

David Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2001

Although the subject of naval camouflage is of immense importance to warship enthusiasts, model makers, and naval historians, there has never been an authoritative history on the subject until now. This comprehensive study brings fragmented historical evidence into focus by listing all of the major patterns and schemes, as well as their colors, characteristics, and functions. Photographs and approved pattern drawings with variations provide a clarifying visual reference to an art form that was often a product of ad hoc wartime development. The accompanying narrative describes the theory of visual deception with an emphasis on British and American ships and selected German and neutral ships. This generously illustrated volume will become a standard reference for all naval history bookshelves.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Williams is the author of several books on shipping subjects. He lives on the Isle of Wight.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557504962
• ISBN-13: 978-1557504968
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 10 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #941,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Exhausting, Exhaustive, Maddening, Intriguing, February 22, 2003

By 

Mr. Roy B. Mccammon - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Naval Camouflage 1914-1945: A Complete Visual Reference (Hardcover)

Exhausting, Exhaustive, Maddening, Intriguing
"Naval Camouflage 1914-1945, a Complete Visual Reference", by David Williams, NIP 2001

I cannot decide whether to recommend this book or not. It has lots of pictures of ships (good), but a lot of them are poor. For example, one of them is captioned "Although not that evident in this photograph, the ... carries ... Measure 32..." Well if the picture is so poor that you cannot see what it illustrates, why not drop it in favor of a better picture?

There are only 15 color photographs. Even here, there is waste. Six of them are modern photographs of two memorial ships painted to match WW2 colors. That is probably a good way to see the colors. Not bad, except that there are two photos of HMS Belfast showing the same scheme (alternate sides to be sure, but when there are so few color slots we'd be better off with a different picture) and there are 4 modern color photos of the ORP Blyskawica; two are of the same side on the same day. Inconceivable.

Then there are other irritations. Captions which say (I paraphrase) "here is measure xx, a true dazzle..." but nowhere in the book does it say what the difference is between "true" dazzle and other dazzle. The author also distinguishes between disruptive and dazzle, again without explaining the difference.

OK, so I cannot recommend it as a reference book. So, close it up. Put it on the shelf. Wait a couple of days. Get it out and open it up. Only this time, instead of expecting a reference book, expect an art book. If you simply look at the photos (even though poor), the craft of the original artists comes through. On this level, this book is very enjoyable. Just look at the pictures.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched, Poorly Edited, January 21, 2005

By 

DrBig (Laguna Niguel, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Naval Camouflage 1914-1945: A Complete Visual Reference (Hardcover)

The author presents a well researched account of (mainly) allied naval camouflage through both world wars. I commend his effort, however I feel he was let down by the publisher in the production department. While the text is informative & near comprehensive, the photos are of very poor quality. They were obviously not retouched with Photoshop which I would consider mandatory in this day & age. If the author is reading, I'd suggest Schiffer or another publisher that knows how to do historical photo books. The price of this Naval Institute Press book is obscene considering the poorly put forth photos, which are far too small & far too dark (and fuzzy). For the modeler, I'd suggest the handbook by Patrick Hreachmack, supplemented by the appropriate Squadron/Signal books, etc.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars about as good as you can get, January 23, 2002

By 

B. Fouty "dukeofplazotoro" (MSU East Lansing, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Naval Camouflage 1914-1945: A Complete Visual Reference (Hardcover)

Being a miniature wargammer, I have a great need for a reliable referance book that shows naval camouflage schemes. This book has numerious black and white pictures and several color photos that are a great help for painting. The book is somewhat lacking on describing the base of some schemes, but if you have basic knowledge in colors each navy uses, it is not very hard to asign colors to the paterns. This book is espically useful in showing several uncomon to rare Axis camo paterns. A must for anyone who wants to paint WWI or WWII naval ships.