Korean War era Life Rings, USN

Here is a photo taken during the Wonson minesweeping operations in 1950 at the same time & place that USS Pirate was sunk. If you look in the lower right corner there is a life ring there. I would say that the ring appears to be in Haze Gray as it matches the surrounding area pretty closely.

This image (above the life raft) looks like a dark life ring. Orange ???

Hmm, think that is Measure 22? Or an early Measure 12?

Whether that's 5-NB or 5-N, then that life ring is lighter than #6 gray; perhaps red?  Hard to say.

Notice how light the big paravane is amidships; yet about the same tone as the topsides of the 26' MWB, and both lighter than 5-H topsides.  So, that paravane might be white.  The after paravanes could be a matt yellow

Taking my magnifying glass to the image, the red stripes are not much help, and the the depth charges are typically flat black.  I'll guess that there is a possibility that the lifering is a denim or dark chambray collor similar to the fabric used on kapok life jackets.  The blue-grey would contrast against the haze gray some.

I have this photo.  I believe it is Measure 22 during WWII-before a refit where twin 40mm and Mk. 51 directors were added.  From what I have gathered, she was repainted in Japan in haze gray and deck gray before being recommissioned and heading for Korea.   Here is a link to a photo of the Incredible on her way home from Korean service.  No life ring higher on the superstructure, but note how the one below the overhead sticks out.

Somewhere, someplace, I saw a photo of life rings during the 50's and they were orange, then someone else told me they were orange on the "inside" and matched ship paint on the "outside"

Confused -- yes I am!

Perhaps the orange inner side was hung up against the bulkheads and the gray outer side hung up exposed.

Here is the link to the photo of the Incredible that I mentioned.

www.navsource.org/.../110224901.jpg