I too would really like to be able to find some authoritative source that confirms that there was a paint scheme that included red below the waterline......however....

None have come to light to date. No where have I seen or heard of any photo that shows that this may have been possible. Even in black & white, where red looks like a medium or dark gray, the existence of the boot topping would be clearly noticeable and hard to miss.

The only possibility that I can point out is during the pre-1941 period. (I think I have this right) In a conversation with Rainer, he referenced two Kriegsmarine documents that provide the definitive answers on colors.....one from 1941 and the other from 1944.

So it is at least possible that in the pre-1939 to 1940 period that there may have been such a paint scheme. Heck, for a time they were testing the use of white painted conning towers!

I sure hope that we can find some evidence. I did a quick painting of my 1/32nd Type VII using a red lower, dark gray boot topping, and light gray upper for othe recent SubRegatta....and it looks *great* that way.

I\'m not sure who considers Robert Stern to be the English language U-boat expert, but I wouldn\'t give him that label. The two works that I am aware of (\"U-boats in Action\" and \"The Type VIIC U-boat\" do not, in and of themselves, qualify him as such. Let\'s face it, the \"U-boats in Action\" is full of all sorts of errors. His other book is much better, but doesn\'t really break new ground.

Besides, Rainer speaks perfectly good English!! :-)

-Jeff