The Ship Model Forum

During wartime it is more likely the ship’s boats were painted grey but before or after the war I think the captain or senior officer had discretion as to painting their boats.

Martin,

To add to EJF's answer: I have recently obtained a copy of RA Burt's "British Battleships of World War One." The answer to your question seems to be that the standard paint scheme for all ships' boats of capital ships during the period was an unremitting grey but following the shade of that of the parent ship.

However, there is a photograph of HMS BENBOW in the book (albeit dated 1925) taken whilst she was serving in the Med. showing a 45ft steam pinnace on-board and therefore an admiral's barge, painted a different "colour" to the other boats:
its superstructure was white. The rank of the flag officer borne in the ship is not known as the photograph appears to have been "cropped," with the top of the foremast missing. One cannot therefore determine whether or not it was the C in C
on-board or an admiral of lesser appointment.

Sorry, can't help you further except to say that my gut feeling about differentiating the differences between the rank of an admiral looking at his barge of the time of World War 1 is that a replica of his flag was attached to the bow of the boat but someone else may know better.

Thanks EJ. That helps.

See: https://ontheslipway.com/royal-navy-ships-boats-of-wwii/, comment on appearance below. Forgot date of the instruction but as power boats are mentioned not wwi. In any case, there is no single standard and results may vary… I think I’m going with blue for the 50ft steam pinnace, 25, 35ft powerboats, hull colour for the rest

Is there a "standard" paint scheme for Royal Navy ships boats, especially those carried on capital ships, particularly during the First World War? Though if there are guidelines for WW2, I'd be interested in those as well.