Hull number shading question

It is fleetwide as far as I can tell from daily observation at Norfolk. At least on the smaller combatants; cruisers, destroyers, frigates and amphibs. But I was wondering about the few exceptions that you see pierside that sport the old school numbers in full white paint with the black shadowing. Is this just for ceremonial purposes, do you think? Thanks, Rick and Ed.

In July 1993 the change was made fleetwide from white to light gray to take away the white as an infrared homing missile target.  It had been used in individual cases for a few years earlier.  (My ship USS Stein FF 1065 got the treatment, named "low observability" in 1989).  As part of our change, the white was also removed from the top of the ASROC mount (left with plain ol' Haze Gray), also to reduce IR signature, the bottom of the ship's boat was changed from black to Ocean Gray and the top of the mack on this Knox class FF was changed from black to plain ol' Haze Gray, to reduce recognition distance.  It was very effective.

I don't know if it is still done fleetwide now.

When the gray numbers are used, the white is replaced by Light Gray FS26373 and the black is replaced by Ocean Gray FS26173. 

And Hawk Graphics makes decals in 1/350 and 1/700 scales in these colors.

Rick 

 

The use of low-viz hull numbers along with the painting of the black masts & funnel tops is due to the rise of EO guided weapons which use image contrast in their targeting.