Dull "grey" Indonesian SA-16A: can anyone explain the color scheme?

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13 years 6 months

Posts: 85

Indonesian SA-16A's were delivered in an overall aluminum color scheme. This photo depicts a ship in what appears to be a dull gray or dull green, c.1958-1965. Can anyone tell me why it was re-painted? My guess is that it was used for the insertion of covert agents or some other clandestine mission, but I have no proof nor any basis for this speculation. Thank you very much for any insight or suggestions.

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Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 199

Corrosion control?

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15 years 4 months

Posts: 519

Colour would match 'monsoon' skies.

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20 years 1 month

Posts: 525

There was a war on in those days [aka "Confrontation"...]

Possibly used for clandestine ops in and around Malaya and Borneo.

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15 years 4 months

Posts: 1,755

Not to mention the power pull between The Netherlands and Indonesia over Dutch New Guinea 1960-1962 which resulted in a hand-over to Indonesia in 1963.