Did a bit more research and see that I had one thing wrong about the galvanic corrosion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosionAnodic index (edited)
Gold, solid and plated, Gold-platinum alloy 0.00
Silver, solid or plated; monel metal. High nickel-copper alloys 0.15
Nickel, solid or plated, titanium an s alloys, Monel 0.30
Copper, solid or plated; low brasses or bronzes; silver solder; German silvery high copper-nickel alloys; nickel-chromium alloys 0.35
Brass and bronzes 0.40
High brasses and bronzes 0.45
18% chromium type corrosion-resistant steels 0.50
Chromium plated; tin plated; 12% chromium type corrosion-resistant steels 0.60
Tin-plate; tin-lead solder 0.65
Lead, solid or plated; high lead alloys 0.70
Iron, wrought, gray or malleable, plain carbon and low alloy steels 0.85
Aluminum, cast alloys other than silicon type, cadmium, plated and chromate 0.95
Hot-dip-zinc plate; galvanized steel 1.20
Zinc, wrought; zinc-base die-casting alloys; zinc plated 1.25
From the above chart, lead is more 'noble' than iron/mild steel, so the lead in ballast will not corrode. Zinc is the lowest one on the scale (higher number means it corrodes faster), so that's why it's used as a sacrificial anode. You can see from the chart why stainless steel (high chromium) is used in so many marine applications, and why brass was used in the old sailing ships, before stainless steel was invented.
Powdered copper and tin are what is put into anti-fouling paints to keep barnacles, algae and marine life from attaching to the hulls. Why it changes colour to slate grey/black after it's been in the water for a while, I don't know. But it's because of that I suspect that even though at launching the hull of a U-boat might be dark grey, I think it will probably get darker with immersion.