During 1943 and 1944 Measure 32 (and perhaps 31) camouflage patterns were applied to all but one of the U.S. Navy's eight "clipper bow" battleships. With the exception of two New Mexico class ships, which were painted essentially the same, these ships wore different camouflage patterns. Maryland's scheme, which may have been an early experimental version of this camouflage "family", appears to have used Measure 31 colors, as its lightest color appears to be relatively dark. All the other ships were in Measure 32 colors, using designs originally developed for destroyers.
Initials appearing on most of the drawings presented here indicate that their designer/draftsman in most cases was Everett Warner ("EW"), with Lewis W. Rubinstein ("LWR") responsible for a few.
This page provides information and drawings concerning the application of U.S. Navy Camouflage Measures 31 and 32 to New Mexico, Tennessee and Colorado 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.
In February and August 1944, two different Measure 32 camouflage designs were prepared for New Mexico class battleships. One was worn by two ships of that class. The other was not applied to any of them, but was used, in modified form, on one of the Colorado (BB-45) class battleships.
Worn by USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS Mississippi (BB-41).
Colors used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 31-32, Design 6D was originally intended for destroyers, but was also applied to battleships, cruisers, escort ships and auxiliaries. One Design 6D scheme (in Measure 32 colors) was prepared in February 1944 for the battleships of the New Mexico class, and was later worn by two of them. USS New Mexico was given her Design 6D paint in October 1944 and USS Mississippi in July 1944. Both were repainted into Camouflage Measure 21's overall dark color by the spring of 1945.
This pattern was not applied to any ship of this class, but a modified version was used on USS Colorado (BB-45) (see below).
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for the New Mexico (BB-40)
class. Drawings dated 18 August 1944. |
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Colors used in this design: Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 32 Design 3D, another scheme originally intended for destroyers but widely used for other ship types, was featured on drawings prepared for the New Mexico class battleships in August 1944. This scheme was not actually used on any ship of that class.
Note: The third New Mexico class battleship, USS Idaho (BB-42), was not painted in any camouflage design of the Measure 31-32-33 series.
Different Measure 32 designs were applied to the two greatly modernized ships of the Tennessee class and to USS West Virginia, a Colorado class battleship whose post-modernization appearance was similar to the two updated Tennessees.
This scheme was worn by her during 1944.
Colors used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 32, Design 1D, originally intended for destroyers, was also worn by USS Tennessee (BB-43) during much of 1944. She was later repainted with Measure 21's dark color.
USS California (BB-44) was painted in this scheme in 1944.
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 16D, another destroyer-origin scheme, was applied to USS California in early 1944 and retained on her during most, or all, of that year. The ship was later given dark single-color Measure 21 camouflage.
USS West Virginia (BB-48) was painted in this scheme in 1944 and 1945.
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 7D, also a scheme originally developed for destroyers, was applied to USS West Virginia in mid-1944, at the completion of her modernization. She wore it until the spring or early summer of 1945, when she was repainted into the single-color Measure 21.
Both of the unmodernized ships of the Colorado class wore different Measure 31-32 camouflage schemes during 1943-1944. They were among the relatively modest number of ships painted in this type of camouflage in 1943.
Worn by USS Colorado (BB-45).
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Measure 32 Design 3D on USS Colorado (BB-45). Photograph -- taken November 1943. |
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We know of NO DRAWINGS of this camouflage scheme, as applied to USS Colorado. However, other battleship drawings of Measure 32 Design 3D are represented by Photo #s: 80-G-156820 (for USS Pennsylvania -- starboard side ONLY -- See Below for information on port side and deck drawings); 19-N-104916 (for the New Mexico class) and 19-N-104915 (also for the New Mexico class). Of these drawings, those for USS Pennsylvania most closely resemble the scheme worn by Colorado.
Colors probably used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O), Light Gray (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B).
Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D, originally prepared for destroyers, was also applied to USS Colorado sometime prior the Gilberts operation of November 1943. The ship retained this design, only slightly modified, after her two 1944 overhauls, and into the Okinawa campaign that began in March 1945. At some point in the spring or summer of 1945 she was repainted into the overall dark color of Measure 21.
Worn by USS Maryland (BB-46).
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Measure 31 or 32 (unidentified Design #) on USS Maryland
(BB-46). Photographs -- taken April 1944. |
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We know of NO DRAWINGS of the camouflage scheme applied to USS Maryland.
Colors probably used in this design: Dull Black (BK), Haze Gray (5-H) and Deck Blue (20-B). It is possible that Light Gray (5-L) was used, though the overall tone of this ship's photographs indicate that Haze Gray is more likely. If the lightest color used was Haze Gray, then her camouflage was probably a member of the Measure 31 group. If it was Light Gray then the ship's camouflage was probably Measure 32.
Perhaps as early as late 1942 or early 1943 USS Maryland was painted in an unidentified design of what became the Camouflage Measure 31-32-33 series. She was thus one of the first ships to receive this type of pattern camouflage. Though identified by some sources as Design 7D, it looks nothing like any other example of that design (see USS West Virginia, shown above, for typical Design 7D patterns). Maryland retained her unique scheme until at least late 1944, though it was modified somewhat during repair and overhaul sessions in the spring and summer of that year. She finished her career in the overall dark color of Measure 21.
In addition to the photographs presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other images related to some of the camouflage designs shown on this page. The following list describes these photographs:
The images listed below are NOT in
the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".
USS Mississippi (BB-41) underway at low speed, with USS Thorn (DD-647) following close astern, 21 July 1944. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-31. Port bow aerial view. Mississippi is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 6D. Thorn is wearing design 16D of what may be Camouflage Measure 32.
Drawing of Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D scheme prepared for USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), showing pattern intended for the ship's port side. The pattern seen is broadly similar to Design 3D port side schemes prepared for other ship types, but differs considerably from them in detail. Drawing of Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D scheme prepared for USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), showing the pattern intended for the ship's horizontal surfaces. NOTE: These patterns were NOT actually used on Pennsylvania, but are rather close to those worn by USS Colorado (BB-45) in 1943-1945. USS Colorado (BB-45) in a Pacific anchorage while wearing Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D, probably circa mid-1944. The ship's paint appears to be rather worn. Starboard bow surface view. USS Colorado (BB-45) underway off Point Madison, Washington, 26 April 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D. Port stern (rather toward the broadside) aerial view.
Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center. The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions". |
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 26 June 2007