Four of the ten most recent U.S. Navy battleships received Measure 32 camouflage during 1943 and 1944. In addition, several other Measure 31-32-33 series schemes were prepared for these ship classes, but not used. Different patterns, all but one derived from designs originally intended for destroyers, were used on each of the four ships.
Initials appearing on some of the drawings presented below indicate that their designer/draftsman was Everett Warner ("EW").
This page provides information and drawings concerning the application of U.S. Navy Camouflage Measures 31 and 32 to North Carolina, South Dakota and Iowa class battleships. The drawings are listed in order by battleship hull number.
For information and images related to Camouflage Measure
31-32-33 designs used on other ship types and classes, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital
images presented here, see: "How
to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." CAUTION: camouflage drawing photographs shown on this page have generally had contrast altered to enhance patterns. Contrast in actual photographic reproductions may differ markedly from that seen here. |
Click on the small picture to access the Picture Data Sheet for each image. A larger reproduction of that drawing or photograph can be accessed by clicking the small picture in each Picture Data Sheet.
Only one ship of this class was painted in a Measure 31-32-33 camouflage design, though at least two sets of drawings were prepared for other Measure 32 schemes, one of which was somewhat similar to the design actually used.
Worn by USS North Carolina (BB-55) during 1943-1945.
We have of NO DRAWINGS of this camouflage scheme, but published sources (see below) contain good color renderings showing the patterns actually applied to the ship.
Colors used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
A version of Camouflage Measure 32, Design 18D, a scheme
originally intended for destroyers, was applied to USS North
Carolina in September 1943. The ship retained those patterns until the summer of 1944. She emerged from overhaul in late September of that year wearing a modification of her original Design
18D camouflage. Colors remained the same, but the design's basic
shapes were slightly altered. North Carolina remained in
this scheme until sometime in 1945.
When first commissioned, North Carolina was painted in
peacetime gray. She was given Measure 2 camouflage in the summer
of 1941. Later in that year she was repainted in the blotchy patterns
of Camouflage Measure 12 (Modified), which she retained until
repaired in the fall of 1942. The ship spent the last part of
1942 and much of 1943 in the overall dark paint of Measure 21,
then received her Measure 32 patterns. She finished her active
career in the horizontal "two-tone" paint of Camouflage
Measure 22.
This design was not used on any ship of this class, though it has some (rather slight) similarities to those of the design applied to USS North Carolina in 1943.
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Measure 32v11 Design 18D, for the North Carolina
(BB-55) class. Drawings prepared circa 1943. |
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Colors used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 32v11 Design 18D was probably prepared in 1943, perhaps as one of a series of camouflage design studies. It was derived from a scheme originally intended for destroyers.
This design was not used on any ship of this class.
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Measure 32v6 Design 10D, for the North Carolina
(BB-55) class. Drawings prepared circa 1943. |
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Colors used in this design: Not specified on drawings, but Possibly Dull Black (BK), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 32v6 Design 10D, based on a destroyer scheme, was probably prepared in 1943. Like Measure 32v11 Design 18D (shown above) it may represent one of a series of design studies.
Note: The second North Carolina class battleship, USS Washington (BB-56), did not wear any camouflage design of the Measure 31-32-33 series. She was initially painted in Camouflage Measure 1, but spent nearly all of her active career in the horizontal "two-tone" Camouflage Measure 12 and Camouflage Measure 22.
Only one of the four South Dakota class battleships was painted in a Measure 31-32-33 camouflage design, though a set of drawings was prepared for at least one other Measure 32 scheme that was not used.
This scheme was worn by USS Indiana (BB-58) during 1943-1944.
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Measure 32 Design 11D on USS Indiana (BB-58). Photographs, taken in early 1944. |
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We have of NO DRAWINGS of this camouflage scheme, but another Internet source (see below) contains a color rendering showing the patterns applied to the ship.
Colors Probably used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
A pattern camouflage scheme, identified in published sources
as Measure 32, Design 11D (a design originally intended
for destroyers) was worn by USS Indiana (BB-58) from late
1943 until the fall of 1944.
During much of 1942 this battleship was painted in a multi-color
blotchy camouflage scheme that has been identified in published
sources as possibly representing Measure 15 or a version of Measure
12 (Modified), using shades of green. It should be noted that there is considerable controversy concerning the validity of this color identification. By December 1942 Indiana was wearing the horizontal "two-tone" Camouflage Measure 22. Following her year in Measure 32's disruptive patterns, she was again painted in Measure 22, which she retained for the rest of her active service.
Though specifically identified for application to a particular vessel, this design was not actually used on any ship of this class.
Colors used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 32, Design 1D, another destroyer-origin scheme, was probably prepared in 1943. Though specifically intended for application to USS Massachusetts (BB-59), it was not used on her or on any other ship of her class.
Note: The other South Dakota class battleships
were not painted in any camouflage design of the Measure 31-32-33
series.
USS South Dakota
(BB-57) spent her entire active career painted overall dark
gray (probably Camouflage Measure 21, though Measure 11 might
have been used initially).
USS Massachusetts
(BB-59) was in Measure 12 (Modified) in 1942 and thereafter
wore the horizontal "two-tone" of Camouflage Measure
22.
USS Alabama
(BB-60) was in blotchy Camouflage Measure 12 (Modified) (identified by some sources as possibly Measure 15) in 1942. Late in that year
or early in 1943 she was repainted in "two-tone" Measure
22 and in mid-1943 went to the overall dark color of Measure 21.
Reverting to Measure 22 in early 1945, Alabama remained
in that scheme for the rest of her active service.
Related images: Photo #s 80-G-156818 and 80-G-156819 represent blank camouflage design sheets for battleships BB-58, BB-59 and BB-60. The drawings show the ship's starboard and port sides, horizontal surfaces and superstructure ends, but no camouflage pattern is seen.
Two of the four Iowas wore Measure 32 camouflage schemes, one a design intended from the first for battleships while the other had destroyer origins. At least one other set of plans, based on an aircraft carrier camouflage design, was prepared for this class, but not used.
This design was worn by USS Iowa (BB-61).
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Measure 32 Design 1B on USS Iowa (BB-61). Photograph, taken in January 1944. |
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BUT: See Below |
We have of NO DRAWINGS of this camouflage scheme, but another Internet source (see below) contains a color rendering showing the pattern applied to the ship's starboard side.
Colors Probably used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
A pattern camouflage scheme, identified in published sources
as Measure 32, Design 1B (a design intended from the first
for use on battleships) was worn by USS Iowa (BB-61) from
at least January 1944 until late in that year or early in 1945.
During 1943 Iowa was painted in horizontal "two-tone"
Measure 22 camouflage. After about a year in Measure 32 Design
1B, she reverted to Measure 22 for the rest of her World War II
era service.
This design was worn by USS Missouri (BB-61).
Measure 32 Design 22D on USS Missouri (BB-63). Photograph showing patterns applied to horizontal surfaces -- taken circa August 1944. |
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Colors used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D, another destroyer-derived scheme, was worn by USS Missouri during mid- and late 1944. For the remainder of her wartime era service, she was painted in the horizontal "two-tone" Camouflage Measure 22.
This design was not applied to any ship of this class.
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Measure 32 Design 7A, for the Iowa (BB-61) class. Drawings dated 19 January 1944. |
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Colors used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
A version of Camouflage Measure 32, Design 7A, derived from a scheme originally intended for aircraft carriers, was prepared for application to Iowa class battleships, but was not used on any of them.
Note: The other Iowa class battleships were
not painted in any Measure 31-32-33 series camouflage design.
USS New Jersey
(BB-62) was initially painted in dark single-color Camouflage
Measure 21 and remained in this scheme for about two years. In
June 1945 she was repainted in the horizontal "two-tone"
Camouflage Measure 22, which she wore for the rest of the World
War II era.
USS Wisconsin
(BB-64) wore Camouflage Measure 22 for her entire wartime
career.
The website of the privately-operated organization NavSource
features images of possible interest which are not available in
the Naval Historical Center's collections. Among these are:
For information and images related to Camouflage Measure
31-32-33 designs used on other ship types and classes, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital
images presented here, see: "How
to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." CAUTION: camouflage drawing photographs shown on this page have generally had contrast altered to enhance patterns. Contrast in actual photographic reproductions may differ markedly from that seen here. |
Page made 1 July 2007
Text corrected 6 February 2008