Was an Essex class carrier deck (WW2) a natural wooden color or was it a shade of gray?
Depending on the era you are referring to, I believe that during WWII they were stained with blue. Later they were painted with gray non-skid.
Best answer is “All three” Earlier in their service they were stained with a gray paint, later on a blue paint; both would wear and take on dark wood tones in high-traffic areas due to stains from oil, tires, whoes, etc. as well as the wearing of the surface, exposing the fir wood to the elements. There’s a good color picture six images down on this Navsource page. Note that the metal tie downs (which were painted, not stained) retain a blue tone, wheras the wood is brown tone.
I’m wiser now, thanks everyone![8D]