Nimrod camouflage

[RAFF-35]

Having been trying to research maritime patrol aircraft, I was suddenly struck with the question of why is the BAe Nimrod painted in an overall sandy sort of colour when British waters tend to be a sort of grey/blue/green colour? Just seems a bit strange to me 

[Old Wombat]

I think the colour was "barley" or something like that, but I have no idea why (name or scheme).

[kitnut617]

I think the colour was 'hemp', IIRC Barley Grey was applied to the Brit Phantoms and Tornados.

Mind you one Nimrod got painted like this



This photo was taking moments after it left the paint shop and was sent to me be the person who took it. It's pre-digital camera era --

The story behind it was the paint shop got a paint spec number to use, only it was the wrong one.

[RAFF-35]

Wow that's cool, still doesn't seem like very good cammo unless it constantly flies over the Thames 

[Dizzyfugu]

They simply (and stubbornly...) used the wrong paint on this first aircraft. But that chocolat Nimrod makes an interesting model topic, esp. for a public display model. 
Anyway, Hemp (with Barley Grey undersides) was used on a lot of large RAF aircraft, including VC.10s, Tristar tankers, Victors and Canberra PR.9s. The rationale was that the color would protect the aircraft when parked on concrete airfields (after all, it's difficult to supply enough hangar space for this literally huge fleet) against satellite or photo recce - looks odd, but trials also showed that the camouflage effect in the air was not worse than more suitable or the traditional paint schemes, so the RAF went this route.

Funny thing is that the USAF KC-10s ended up with their "Shamu" scheme (Black upper and white undersides) for a similar logic, just the execution was/is way different...

[Martin H]

They simply (and stubbornly...) used the wrong paint on this first aircraft. But that chocolat Nimrod makes an interesting model topic, esp. for a public display model. 
Anyway, Hemp (with Barley Grey undersides) was used on a lot of large RAF aircraft, including VC.10s, Tristar tankers, Victors and Canberra PR.9s. The rationale was that the color would protect the aircraft when parked on concrete airfields (after all, it's difficult to supply enough hangar space for this literally huge fleet) against satellite or photo recce - looks odd, but trials also showed that the camouflage effect in the air was not worse than more suitable or the traditional paint schemes, so the RAF went this route.

No more than two Tristars wore a tempory wash of desert pink for op Granby/Desert storm. with the nicknames "Pinky & Perky". The rest remained in the gloss white scheme untill they all went grey.

[RAFF-35]

Incredible knowledge there Dizzy, thank you very much indeed  so the barley cammo was only applied to huge aircraft then?

[Martin H]

Incredible knowledge there Dizzy, thank you very much indeed  so the barley cammo was only applied to huge aircraft then?

Its not Barley, its called Hemp. And the smallest aircraft I know it was applied to was the Canberra PR-9.

[Old Wombat]

I think the colour was 'hemp', IIRC Barley Grey was applied to the Brit Phantoms and Tornados.

Oops! Yes! My error.

[PR19_Kit]

And the Barley was nothing to do with the colour of the underside paint, it was the name of the guy who devised it.

[Dizzyfugu]

And the Barley was nothing to do with the colour of the underside paint, it was the name of the guy who devised it.

Just wanted to add this little-known fact. The 'Barley' in the RAF grey's name has nothing to do with the grain, it was named after its inventor!

[Old Wombat]

And the Barley was nothing to do with the colour of the underside paint, it was the name of the guy who devised it.

Just wanted to add this little-known fact. The 'Barley' in the RAF grey's name has nothing to do with the grain, it was named after its inventor!

I'm pretty sure that's what Kit just wrote!?

[PR19_Kit]

And the Barley was nothing to do with the colour of the underside paint, it was the name of the guy who devised it.

Just wanted to add this little-known fact. The 'Barley' in the RAF grey's name has nothing to do with the grain, it was named after its inventor!

I'm pretty sure that's what Kit just wrote!?

I was thinking that too............ 

[Captain Canada]

I had always thought it was called hemp as well. Interesting thread guys, lots of good info and cool pics too !

[PR19_Kit]

I had always thought it was called hemp as well. Interesting thread guys, lots of good info and cool pics too !

Don't get them mixed up, the upper, sand colour IS called Hemp. It's lower grey colour that's Barley grey.