I was looking at one of the photos I took while I was at the USS Lexington, and it looks like there is something red inside a gun. Now please forgive me I can't look at a weapon and say "Oh that is a 20mm or a 40mm or a 10mm or a whatever."

so that is why I have this



I guess this could be just painted red, but I don't know. So if anybody can please help me out.

quad 40mm-inside of the "flare" is painted red, or could be it's been sealed.

Mike T

yeah I was just thinking that maybe it was sealed. I don't know...lol. That is why I asked.

Yes, James

It's painted red and it doesn't mean it has a tarpon.
This is a common practice in Museum warships... (I don't know why...)

Skipper

Seagull aiming mark? :-)

Unless I am wrong it is usually one of two things for museum pieces:

1. Cover to keep rain out.

2. Anti-corrosion paint.

My guess is looking at the photo that it is anti-corrosion paint.

It is also often seen in orange color too.

Maritime 'Anti-fouling' paint - like a thick red oxide paint?...Jim

This is just a WAG but I'm guessing it's to make them look more "war like." I've seen this on both land, sea, and air museums. Since I've also seen this on items out of the weather, like indoor museums, I don't think it's any kind of anti corosion paint or anything like that.

I need this on the roof of my car !!

those damned seagulls drop what must be at least half a pint !!!

If it´s a museum ship I guess it´s the same as with toy pistols, painted red in the muzzle so people can see it´s rendered harmless! hihi
Cheers Andreas

Well whatever the reason I'm just glad that I'm not seeing things. Because I don't remember seeing that while I was there, but that could have several reason. One would be I was pretty much in aww over the whole thing.

I have never been that close to a large vesal of that kind before. I had way too much to see and not enough time to see it. And the other reason was I had to keep a close watch on a 2 ½ year old boy who was just as aww struck as his 28 year old daddy.

But that is why you take pictures. So you can see the things you missed.

The reason I am saying it is anti-corrosion paint is because they sue the dame thing on tank/artillery pieces in museums and that is what the maintenance crew have told me what it was. As to why it is red or Orange...I do not know.

Also, russian Artillery pieces in the field also use this stuff inside their baffles, although it is decidedly orange in color.