Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 89424:  USS Meredith painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 3D, 29 March 1944.

Online Library of Selected Images:
U.S. NAVY SHIP CAMOUFLAGE -- WORLD WAR II -- Individual Ship Listings

Measure 31-32-33a Designs for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) and DD-710 (Gearing) Class Destroyers -- Individual Ship Listings

The overwhelming majority (if not all) DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers that were in commission during 1944 were painted in Camouflage Measure 31-32-33a designs during the course of that year. Some ships that were placed in commission in late 1943 and early 1944 initially received other camouflage schemes, but were repainted in Measures 31 or 32 early in their service. The others apparently wore those pattern camouflage measures from the first. Two ships, both of which entered service late in 1944, were painted in the lighter tones of Measure 33a. In addition, Measure 33a was used on the first three DD-710 (Gearing) class destroyers to be commissioned (in December 1944 and early January 1945).

Once painted in a specific Measure 31-32-33a series design, these destroyers generally retained that pattern until repainted in Measure 21 or 22 in 1945, after the advent of Japanese suicide air attack tactics encouraged a rethinking of ship camouflage systems. However, the camouflage patterns applied to two ships (Walke and Hyman), which originally wore Design 3D, were changed during the course of 1944.

This page provides listings of U.S. Navy Camouflage Measure 31-32-33 designs applied to individual destroyers of the DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) and DD-710 (Gearing) classes. The ship lists are presented in order by hull number within each specific camouflage design.


For more information concerning the camouflage designs shown on this page, see:

  • Measures 31-32-33 -- Designs for DD-692 Class Destroyers.


    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 3D (Measure 32):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Drawings dated 28 July 1944.

     

     
    Measure 32 Design 3D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Photographs -- taken March-April 1944.

      Photo # NH 89423:  USS Meredith painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 3D, 16 April 1944.

      Photo # NH 89424:  USS Meredith painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 3D, 29 March 1944.

    List of DD-692 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 3D.

  • These twelve ships apparently all wore Measure 32 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces; Deck Blue (20-B) and Ocean Gray (5-O) on exposed decks (though some ships may have just used Deck Blue).
  • Links are provided for those ships currently represented in the Online Library.

    • DD-694: Ingraham
    • DD-695: Cooper
    • DD-696: English
    • DD-723: Walke. Later repainted in Camouflage Measure 31 Design 25D.
    • DD-726: Meredith.
    • DD-727: De Haven
    • DD-728: Mansfield
    • DD-732: Hyman. Later repainted in Camouflage Measure 31 Design 11A.
    • DD-744: Blue
    • DD-745: Brush
    • DM-25: Shannon (originally DD-737)
    • DM-31: J. William Ditter


    Design 9D (Measure 32):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 32 Design 9D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Drawings dated 6 April 1944.

     

     
    Measure 32 Design 9D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Photographs -- taken July 1944.

      Photo # 19-N-68548:  USS Lyman K. Swenson painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 9D, 22 July 1944.

      Photo # NH 96832:  USS Waldron painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 9D, 13 July 1944.

    List of DD-692 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 9D.

  • These ten ships apparently all wore Measure 32 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces; Deck Blue (20-B) and Ocean Gray (5-O) on exposed decks (though some ships may have just used Deck Blue).
  • Links are provided for those ships currently represented in the Online Library.

    • DD-693: Moale
    • DD-697: Charles S. Sperry
    • DD-698: Ault
    • DD-699: Waldron.
    • DD-701: John W. Weeks
    • DD-703: Wallace L. Lind
    • DD-725: O'Brien
    • DD-729: Lyman K. Swenson.
    • DD-731: Maddox.
    • DD-746: Taussig


    Design 16D (Measures 31 and 32):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 31 Design 16D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Drawings dated 6 April 1944.

     

     
    Measure 31 Design 16D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Port side photograph taken in November 1944.

    No photo currently posted

      Photo # NH 107141:  USS Tolman painted in Camouflage Measure 31 Design 16D, 13 November 1944.

    List of DD-692 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 16D.

  • Eleven of these twelve ships apparently wore Measure 31 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Haze Gray (5-H) on vertical surfaces.
    The remaining ship, USS Adams (DM-27), was reportedly painted in Measure 32 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces,
    Both measures used Deck Blue (20-B) and Ocean Gray (5-O) on exposed decks, though some ships may have just used Deck Blue.
  • Links are provided for those ships currently represented in the Online Library.

    • DD-692: Allen M. Sumner
    • DD-700: Haynesworth
    • DD-702: Hank
    • DD-706: Gainard
    • DD-722: Barton
    • DD-724: Laffey
    • DD-730: Collett
    • DD-748: Harry E. Hubbard
    • DD-770: Lowry
    • DM-26: Harry F. Bauer (originally DD-738)
    • DM-27: Adams (originally DD-739) -- Reportedly painted in Measure 32 colors.
    • DM-28: Tolman (originally DD-740)


    Design 25D (Measures 31 and 32):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 31 Design 25D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Drawings dated 6 May 1944.

     

     
    Measure 31 Design 25D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Photographs -- views taken January 1945 and September 1944.

      Photo # 80-G-K-2516 (cropped):  USS Walke painted in Camouflage Measure 31 Design 25D, 9 January 1945.

      Photo # NH 90025):  USS Henry A. Wiley (DM-29) painted in Camouflage Measure 31 Design 25D, 16 September 1944.

    List of DD-692 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 25D.

  • Eight of these ten ships apparently wore Measure 31 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Haze Gray (5-H) on vertical surfaces.
    Two ships are reported to have been painted in Measure 32 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces,
    Both measures used Deck Blue (20-B) and Ocean Gray (5-O) on exposed decks, though some ships may have just used Deck Blue.
  • Links are provided for those ships currently represented in the Online Library.

    • DD-704: Borie
    • DD-723: Walke. Previously painted in Measure 32 Design 3D.
    • DD-734: Purdy
    • DD-774: Hugh W. Hadley
    • DD-778: Massey.
    • DM-23: Robert H. Smith (originally DD-735)
    • DM-24: Thomas E. Fraser (originally DD-736)
    • DM-29: Henry A. Wiley (originally DD-749). Reportedly painted in Measure 32 colors
    • DM-30: Shea (originally DD-750). Reportedly painted in Measure 32 colors
    • DM-33: Gwin (originally DD-772)


    Design 27D (Measure 33a):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 33a Design 27D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Drawings dated 25 October 1944.

     

     
    Measure 33a Design 27D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Photographs.

    No photo currently posted

    No photo currently posted

    List of DD-692 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 27D.

  • This ship was reportedly painted in Measure 33a colors -- Ocean Gray (5-0), Haze Gray (5-H) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces. Exposed decks were Deck Blue (20-B) overall .

    • DD-752: Alfred A. Cunningham


    Design 28D (Measure 33a):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 33a Design 28D, for DD-710 (Gearing) class destroyers.
    Drawings.

    No reproduction available.
    But: See Below

    No reproduction available.
    But: See Below
    Measure 33a Design 28D, for DD-710 (Gearing) class destroyers.
    Photographs, port view taken December 1944.

    No photo currently posted

      Photo # NH 97642:  USS Frank Knox painted in Camouflage Measure 33a Design 28D, 2 December 1944.

    List of DD-710 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 28D. No DD-692 class destroyers wore this design.

  • These ships were reportedly painted in Measure 33a colors -- Ocean Gray (5-O) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces. Exposed decks were Deck Blue (20-B) overall.
  • Links are provided for those ships currently represented in the Online Library.

    • DD-742: Frank Knox.
    • DD-743: Southerland
    • DD-805: Chevalier


    Design 30D (Measure 33a):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 33a Design 30D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Drawings.

     

     
    Measure 33a Design 30D, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Photographs.

    No photo currently posted

    No photo currently posted

    List of DD-692 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 30D.

  • This ship was reportedly painted in Measure 33a colors -- Ocean Gray (5-O), Haze Gray (5-H) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces. Exposed decks were Deck Blue (20-B) overall.

    • DD-753: John R. Pierce


    Design 11A (Measure 32):

    Camouflage Identification:

    Starboard Side:

    Port Side:
    Measure 32 Design 11A, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Drawings dated 11 May 1944.

     

     
    Measure 32 Design 11A, for DD-692 (Allen M. Sumner) class destroyers.
    Photographs -- taken August & December 1944

      Photo # NH 97642:  USS Soley painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 11A, 22 December 1944.

      Photo # NH 97642:  USS Mannert L. Abele painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 11A, 1 August 1944.

    List of DD-692 Class destroyers reportedly painted in Camouflage Design 11A.

  • Nine of these ten ships apparently wore Measure 32 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Light Gray (5-L) on vertical surfaces
    The remaining ship, USS Hyman (DD-732), was reportedly painted in Measure 31 colors -- Dull Black (BK), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Haze Gray (5-H) on vertical surfaces,
    Both measures used Deck Blue (20-B) and Ocean Gray (5-O) on exposed decks, though one or more ships used Deck Blue alone (as seen in Photo # NH 97642).
  • Links are provided for those ships currently represented in the Online Library.

    • DD-705: Compton
    • DD-707: Soley.
    • DD-732: Hyman. Reportedly painted in Measure 31 colors. Previously painted in Measure 32 Design 3D.
    • DD-733: Mannert L. Abele
    • DD-741: Drexler
    • DD-747: Samuel N. Moore
    • DD-757: Putnam
    • DD-775: Willard Keith
    • DM-32: Lindsey (originally DD-771).
    • DM-34: Aaron Ward (originally DD-773).


    In addition to the images presented above, The Floating Drydock (a private firm located in Florida) has an unofficial drawing available for Measure 33a Design 28D:

  • Order # CF7
    Drawing of Measure 33a Design 28D, for DD-710 (Gearing) class, dated October 1944 but redrafted several decades later.
    This drawing shows the patterns on both starboard and port sides, and on the superstructure ends.
    For more information on this item contact The Floating Drydock, whose WebSite can be readily found using standard Internet search engines.


    For more information concerning the camouflage designs shown on this page, see:

  • Measures 31-32-33 -- Designs for DD-692 Class Destroyers.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    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 History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 29 May 2006
    New images added and coding updated 9 September 2010