Best Submarine Camouflage?

[RAFF-35]

I'm trying to work out what the most effective submarine camouflage schemes are. Ideally for large, ocean going submarines. Is overall grey effective (despite being boring) or would navy blue be better? Or would alternating colours help break up the shape more? What about dazzle camouflage?
If travelling on the surface,  is there a scheme that could cause confusion over where the sub is relative to its wake?

[Gondor]

Six fathoms of water?

[seadude]

Here's some pics of a sub in blue colors.

[seadude]

Model subs in blue or other camouflage colors.

[RAFF-35]

Model subs in blue or other camouflage colors.

Cheers for the references, Seadude! Do you think either of those schemes is more effective than overall grey?

[seadude]

Model subs in blue or other camouflage colors.

Cheers for the references, Seadude! Do you think either of those schemes is more effective than overall grey?

I don't know. I really don't know anything about submarine paints and camouflage.
But I've always wondered why more submarines aren't painted blue type colors to match surrounding ocean waters?    I would tend to think that it would make the sub less visible and harder to detect.
I even painted my Virginia class sub (Below) in a what if dark blue color.

[buzzbomb]

But I've always wondered why more submarines aren't painted blue type colors to match surrounding ocean waters?    I would tend to think that it would make the sub less visible and harder to detect.

As much as I like the schemes here, plus have a few of those on the shelf,  I suppose in real world, Submarines are like Sci Fi space fighters/Ships/Craft.
They will detect you long before they will see you.

[kerick]

I've heard of camo for subs that spend time in shallower waters closer to shore that are pretty clear. For open ocean today's subs stay submerged 3 to 6 months so not much opportunity to be seen by anyone. Although some one posted pics of a British sub that spends its time in shallower waters covered in marine growth that made it look like an algae mat. No need for camo in that case.

[Captain Canada]

Wasn't there a discussion on thisa few years back ? Love the look of the O boats in blue.

[Andrew Gorman]

I ran across this piece on the WWII Gato Class subs.  For the USN, emphasis wasn't so much  camouflage but on reducing the profile of the boat for radar/visual reasons, driven by the guys doing the job.  Black when directly overhead and gray sides seemed enough for paint.  Nerdy reading if you like that sort of thing!
http://navsource.net/archives/08/pdf/0829294.pdf

[RAFF-35]

Model subs in blue or other camouflage colors.

Cheers for the references, Seadude! Do you think either of those schemes is more effective than overall grey?

I don't know. I really don't know anything about submarine paints and camouflage.
But I've always wondered why more submarines aren't painted blue type colors to match surrounding ocean waters?    I would tend to think that it would make the sub less visible and harder to detect.
I even painted my Virginia class sub (Below) in a what if dark blue color.

That's really cool,  I bet that would be harder to spot than something higher contrast like black or grey.

[RAFF-35]

But I've always wondered why more submarines aren't painted blue type colors to match surrounding ocean waters?    I would tend to think that it would make the sub less visible and harder to detect.

As much as I like the schemes here, plus have a few of those on the shelf,  I suppose in real world, Submarines are like Sci Fi space fighters/Ships/Craft.
They will detect you long before they will see you.

I was thinking for WW2 era subs, specifically Pacific theater. Detection methods here were visual more than anything else.

[RAFF-35]

I've heard of camo for subs that spend time in shallower waters closer to shore that are pretty clear. For open ocean today's subs stay submerged 3 to 6 months so not much opportunity to be seen by anyone. Although some one posted pics of a British sub that spends its time in shallower waters covered in marine growth that made it look like an algae mat. No need for camo in that case.

I was thinking for WW2 submarines,  which had to spend time at the surface much more often 

[RAFF-35]

I ran across this piece on the WWII Gato Class subs.  For the USN, emphasis wasn't so much  camouflage but on reducing the profile of the boat for radar/visual reasons, driven by the guys doing the job.  Black when directly overhead and gray sides seemed enough for paint.  Nerdy reading if you like that sort of thing!
http://navsource.net/archives/08/pdf/0829294.pdf

Thank you for the information, unfortunately I couldn't download the PDF, would you be able to post screenshots of it, please? 😁

[Old Wombat]

I kinda liked this scheme:




More pic's here: HMAS Buccaneer