Hi Y\'all:

The following, from my notes, is what I have found out about the grays
(right or wrong?, you decide).

(1). U-995, the only Type-VIIc/41 left in the world, was painted
using the following RAL codes, that are universal in Germany.
(a.) All vertical surfaces above the waterline: light gray (RAL 7001
silver gray).
(b.) All surfaces below waterline: dark gray RAL 7031 (blue gray).
(c.) Hull deck, turmumbau deck and wintergarden deck: dark gray RAL
7031 (blue gray) or black anti-skid, which turned to a dark gray
after a few days in the sun.

(2.) Subcommittee U-boat experts recommend the following paint codes,
that are available in the U.S.A.:
(a.) RLM 63 lichtgrau or Light Ghost gray FS36375: all vertical
surfaces above waterline.
(b.) RLM 72 Grun or Euro 1 Gray FS36081: all surfaces below waterline
& all horizontal surfaces: i.e.... upper hull decks, conning tower
deck, wintergarden decks, and upper portions of spray defector.

Also some of the U-boat experts have said that at the start WWII some
of the U-boats had red lower hulls, but at the next dry-docking they
were painted the dark gray to keep the U-boat from being seen from
the air. Some other experts say that there has never been red lower
hull U-boats.

Maybe some original U-boat members (been there, done that), that
monitor this list, might shed some more light on this subject. What
did you remember seeing at the dry docks and slipways? (Im voraus
besten Dank.)

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jerry Pope
Georgia, U.S.A.