Design 3D was originally intended for application to destroyers, but was also applied to other types, including (judging from these drawings) battleships, small aircraft carriers (CVL), escort aircraft carriers (CVE), light cruisers, gunboats, escort ships (DE), gasoline tankers and attack transports. The basic design pattern appears in the great majority of the drawings, with changes to suit different ship classes. More substantial variations are seen in a couple of instances.
This design was adapted to all three camouflage measures. Colors
used on Measure 31 vertical surfaces included Dull Black
(BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Haze Gray (5-H).
Initials appearing on most of these drawings indicate that the 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 Design 3D of U.S. Navy Camouflage Measures 31, 32 and 33. The drawings are listed in order by ship type and class, not by Measure numbers.
For information and images related to Camouflage Measure 31-32-33 designs with other alpha-numeric designators, 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.
Measure 32 Design 3D, for the battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38). Drawing made circa 1943. |
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BUT: See Below |
Measure 32 Design 3D, for BB-40 (New Mexico) class battleships. Drawings dated 18-19 August 1944. |
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Measure 33 Design 3D, for CL-55 (Cleveland) class
light cruisers. Drawings dated 23 December 1943. |
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Measure 31 Design 3D, for USS Charleston (PG-51). Drawings dated 25 February 1944. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for 1200-ton destroyers (World War
I era "four-pipers"). Drawings dated 26 July 1944. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-356 (Porter) class
destroyers. Drawings dated 29 June 1944. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-357 (Porter/Selfridge)
class destroyers. Drawings dating from about mid-1944. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-364 (Mahan) class
destroyers. This scheme features four colors on vertical surfaces: Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O), Haze Gray (5-H) and Light Gray (5-L) Drawings dated 9 August 1944. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-409 (Sims) class destroyers. Drawings dated 4 July 1944. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-421 (Benson) class
destroyers and adaptable to the DD-348 (Farragut), DD-356
(Porter), DD-364 (Mahan), DD-384 (Dunlap)
and DD-423 (Gleaves) classes. Drawings dated 18 March 1944. |
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Measure 31 Design 3D, for DD-423 (Gleaves) class
destroyers. Drawings dated 5 June 1944. |
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Measure 31-32-33 series Design 3D, for DD-445 (Fletcher)
class destroyers. The lightest tone used, though not specified
on the plans, would have been Haze Gray (5-H) for Measure 31
and Light Gray (5-L) for Measure 32. The plans do not provide
for use of Measure 33 colors. Drawings prepared circa 1943. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner)
class destroyers. Drawings dated 29 February 1944. |
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Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner)
class destroyers. Drawings dated 28 July 1944. For additional camouflage patterns for this class, see: Measures 31-32-33 -- Designs for DD-692 Class Destroyers |
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In addition to the drawing presented above of the Measure 32, Design 3D camouflage scheme prepared for, but not applied to USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), the National Archives appears to hold at two other images of drawings of that design. 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".
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.
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". |
For information and images related to Camouflage Measure 31-32-33 designs with other alpha-numeric designators, 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 29 May 2006
Links added 25 June 2007