1-2400 French Torpilleurs Flotilla “Red/ Black Shadow” Pennant

The decals are specifically sized to GHQ French castings but probably will work on other manufacture castings

Historical Information

French torpilleurs entered World War II carrying large tactical hull identifiers designed for rapid visual recognition within destroyer divisions. Beginning in 1939, the letter “T” identified a torpilleur, followed by numbers indicating its divisional assignment and relative position within that formation.

The highly visible white markings used at the beginning of the war soon proved undesirable under combat conditions. A French naval directive dated 6 January 1940 ordered hull identification markings to be repainted in a less conspicuous brick-red color, while retaining the traditional black shadowing. Conversion of the fleet took place progressively during the first months of 1940.

These subdued markings could be seen on French torpilleurs during the critical 1940 campaign, when the Marine Nationale conducted convoy escort, patrol, fleet screening, and combat operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, English Channel, and North Sea.

This decal sheet represents the brick-red with black-shadow wartime identification markings adopted by French torpilleurs during 1940.