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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 63525:  USS New York painted in Camouflage Measure 31a Design 8B.

Online Library of Selected Images:
U.S. NAVY SHIP CAMOUFLAGE -- WORLD WAR II -- Listed by Ship Type and Class

Measures 31-32-33a -- Designs for Battleships --
BB-33 through BB-38 Classes

During October 1944 a trio of pattern camouflage designs was prepared for three classes of older battleships that had previously been painted in single color or horizontally arranged two color schemes. Designated Camouflage Measure 31a, Designs 6B, 7B amd 8B, these employed Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Haze Gray (5-H) on their vertical surfaces, giving an overall appearance that was somewhat lighter than was typical of other Measure 31 schemes. Four ships were painted up in these three designs, with two of them having the pattern camouflage removed in a matter of weeks.

In addition, a modified version of a Measure 32 destroyer design was prepared for another older battleship. However, it was never applied to her.

Initials appearing on most of the drawings presented here 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, 32 and 33a to older 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:

  • Measures 31-32-33 -- Listed by Ship Type.


    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.


    Design 7B (Measure 31a) for USS Arkansas (BB-33):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 31a Design 7B, for USS Arkansas (BB-33).
    Drawings dated 11 October 1944.

     

     
    Measure 31a Design 7B, for USS Arkansas (BB-33).
    Photograph -- taken November 1944.

    No starboard side photo is currently available in Naval Historical Center collections

      Photo # 19-N-74319:  USS Arkansas painted in Camouflage Measure 31a Design 7B, 5 November 1944.

    Colors used in this design: Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O), Haze Gray (5-H) and Deck Blue (20-B).

    Camouflage Measure 31a Design 7B was one of the schemes prepared for older battleships during the latter part of 1944, probably in anticipation of their transfer from the Atlantic war zone to the Pacific. USS Arkansas was painted in this measure during the Fall of 1944, but was soon repainted in the overall dark paint of Measure 21, which she wore by the beginning of 1945.



    Design 8B (Measure 31a) for USS New York (BB-34) and USS Texas (BB-35):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 31a Design 8B, for USS New York (BB-34) and USS Texas (BB-35).
    Drawings dated 11 October 1944.

     

     
    Measure 31a Design 8B, for USS New York (BB-34).
    Photographs -- taken circa late 1944 or early 1945.

      Photo # NH 104833:  USS New York painted in Camouflage Measure 31a Design 8B, circa early 1945.

      Photo # NH 63525:  USS New York painted in Camouflage Measure 31a Design 8B, in 1944-45.
    Measure 31a Design 8B, for USS Texas (BB-35).
    Photograph -- taken November 1944.

     Photo # 80-G-289714:  USS Texas painted in Camouflage Measure 31a Design 8B, 1 November 1944.

    No port side photo is currently available in Naval Historical Center collections

    Colors used in this design: Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O), Haze Gray (5-H) and Deck Blue (20-B). Note: Unlike the great majority of Measure 31-32-33 series designs, Design 8B featured the essentially the same pattern on both the starboard and port sides.

    Camouflage Measure 31a Design 8B was another of the schemes prepared for older battleships during the latter part of 1944, probably in anticipation of their transfer from the Atlantic war zone to the Pacific. USS New York wore it in late 1944 and early 1945. Texas was briefly painted in this design during late 1944.



    Design 6B (Measure 31a) for USS Nevada (BB-36):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 31a Design 6B, for USS Nevada (BB-36).
    Drawings dated 14 October 1944.

     

     
    Measure 31a Design 6B, for USS Nevada (BB-36).
    Photographs -- taken circa February-May 1945.

      Photo # 80-G-K-3510 (cropped):  USS Nevada painted in Camouflage Measure 31a Design 6B, 19 February 1945.

      Photo # NH 104834:  USS Nevada painted in Camouflage Measure 31a Design 6B, circa March-May 1945.

    Colors used in this design: Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O), Haze Gray (5-H) and Deck Blue (20-B).

    Camouflage Measure 31a Design 6B was one of the schemes prepared for older battleships during the latter part of 1944, probably in anticipation of their transfer from the Atlantic war zone to the Pacific. USS Nevada was painted in this measure during the Fall of 1944 and wore it at least into the Spring of 1945. Note: Judging from the photographs seen above, showing Nevada in this camouflage design, it appears that the patterns (and perhaps the colors) applied to her varied somewhat from those shown in the drawings.



    Design 3D (Measure 32) for USS Pennsylvania (BB-38):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 32 Design 3D, for USS Pennsylvania (BB-38).
    Drawing made circa 1943.

     

    No port side drawing available
    BUT: See Below

    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 3D drawings were prepared for USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). However, that measure was never applied to her, and she was painted in the overall Navy Blue (5-N) of Camouflage Measure 21 during World War II's final two years. See :Photo # 80-G-K-2106 for a color view of Pennsylvania wearing Measure 21.
    Note: As discussed on another page in this series, USS Colorado (BB-45) was given Measure 32, Design 3D, camouflage that was a fairly close copy of that shown here.

    Related image: Photo # 80-G-156820-A represents a blank camouflage design sheet for USS Pennsylvania. The drawing shows the ship's starboard side, exposed decks and superstructure ends, but no camouflage pattern is seen.

    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".


  • Photo #: 80-G-157916
    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.

  • Photo #: 80-G-157915
    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".


  • Other Image Sources: 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:

  • USS New York (BB-34) in Camouflage Measure 31a, Design 8B. Starboard stern aerial photograph.
  • USS Nevada (BB-36) in Camouflage Measure 31a, Design 6B. Port bow surface view.
    NavSource's website can be readily accessed using any major Internet search engine.


    For information and images related to Camouflage Measure 31-32-33 designs used on other ship types and classes, see:

  • Measures 31-32-33 -- Listed by Ship Type.


    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.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 20 June 2007
    Text revised 22 June 2007