An online database of camouflage used by 
United State Naval Warships during WWII


The Development of Naval Camouflage 1914 - 1945
Part V: United States Navy - World War II

By Alan Raven  

(Article reprinted courtesy of Plastic Ship Modeler Magazine issue #97/3)

MEASURE 22 
Developed from Measures 12 and 12A. Used extensively on all types of major surface combatants in the Atlantic and Pacific during 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945.

Colors: 5-N Navy Blue, 5-H Haze Gray, 250N Flight Deck stain, #21 Flight Deck stain, #21 Flight Deck stain (revised), 20B Deck Blue (revised).
Vertical surfaces from the waterline up to the lowest point on the main deck - paint line to run parallel to the waterline - S-N. All vertical surfaces above paint line of 5-N - S-H. 
Decks and horizontal surfaces - 20B. Carrier flight decks - (1942) - 250N, (1943) - #21, (1944) - 021 (revised).
Counter shading - no information available.

MEASURE 22 (1945 revision)

Modification of original Measure 22. Carried by all types of major surface combatants from the spring of 1945.

Colors: #7 Navy Blue (S-NB), #7 Navy Gray (S-N), #27 Haze Gray (5-H), 04 Deck Gray 20. Vertical surfaces from the boot topping up to the lowest point of the main deck (on carriers, to the level of the hanger deck) - #7 Navy Blue.
Vertical surfaces above the paint line - from the lowest point of main deck up to and including masts, topmasts, and yards - #27 Haze Gray.
Decks and horizontal surfaces - #4 deck Gray.
Counter shading - none.
 

MEASURE 23

Formally introduced in 1943. It is not known if any vessels wore this measure.

Colors: 5-L Light Gray, White, 20B Deck Blue (revised). 
All vertical surfaces - 5-L. Decks and horizontal surfaces - 20B. 
Counter shading - undersides of decks and overhangs - White.
 

MEASURES 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 - designations not used.

MEASURE 31

Developed from Measure 17. Used on large numbers of major surface combatants in 1943, 1944, and 1945 in the Pacific.

Colors; Black, 5-N Navy Blue, 5-0 Ocean Gray, 5-H Haze Gray, 5-L Light Gray, 5-P Pale Gray, #21 Flight Deck stain, #21 Flight Deck stain (revised), 20B Deck Blue (revised). 
Vertical surfaces - various patterns of Black, 5-N, 5-0, S-H, and 5-P. 
Decks and horizontal surfaces - 20B, 5-0. 
Flight decks of carriers - (1943) - #21, (1944-45) - #21 (revised). 
Counter shading - undersides of platforms and overhangs to be painted white.
 

MEASURE 31L (for amphibious craft)

Used on large numbers of amphibious craft in the Pacific in 1943,1944, and 1945.

Colors: 5-HG Haze Green, 5-OG Ocean Green, 5-NG Navy Green, 20G Deck Green, Black, 5-PG Pale Green, 5-LG Light Green.
Vertical surfaces - various pattems of S-HG, S-OG, S-NG, 5-LG, and 5- PG. 
Decks and horizontal surfaces - 20G and Black. 
Counter shading - none.
 

MEASURE 31/20L (for amphibious craft)

Measure 31/20L consisted of a large sheet on which was painted a disruptive pattern of Black, #1 Green, #2 Green, #3 Green and #4 Brown. The outline of a vessel (LST or EG) would be laid over a portion of the sheet, and the pattern so covered would be painted onto the vessel. Worn by large numbers of amphibious craft in the Pacific in 1944-1945.

Colors: Black, #1 Green, #2 Green, #3 Green, #4 Brown, 20G Deck Green.
Vertical surfaces - varying patterns of Black, #1 Green, #2 Green, #3 Green and #4 Brown. Decks and horizontal surfaces - varying patterns of Black, #1 Green, #2 Green, #3 Green, #4 Brown and 20G. 
Counter shading - none.
 

MEASURE 31A

Developed directly from Measure 31. Used on a handful of cruisers and battleships in the latter half of 1944 and early 1945.

Colors: #82 Black, 5-N Navy Blue, 5-0 Ocean Gray, 5-H Haze Gray, 5-L Light Gray, 20B Deck Blue (revised). 
Vertical surfaces - varying patterns of #82, S-N, 5-0, S-H, and 5-L. 
Decks and horizontal surfaces - 20B. 
Counter shading - none.
 

MEASURE 32

Developed from Measure 17. Used on large numbers of vessels in the Pacific in 1943, 1944, and 1945.

Colors: #82 Black, 5-N Navy Blue, 5-0 Ocean Gray, 5-H Haze Gray, 5-L Light Gray, 5-P Pale Gray, #21 Flight Deck stain, 021 Flight Deck stain (revised), 20B Deck Blue (revised). 
Vertical surfaces - various patterns of  #82, S-N, 5-0, 5-H, 5-L, and 5-P. 
Decks and horizontal surfaces - 20B. 
Decks and horizontal surfaces where patterns were used - 20B and 5-0. 
Flight decks of carriers - (1943) 021, (1944-45) 021 (revised). 
Counter shading - undersides of platforms and overhangs to be painted white.  

MEASURE 32A

Developed directly from Measure 32. Worn by only a handful of vessels in the latter half of 1944 and early 1945.

Colors: #82 Black, 5-N Navy Blue, 5-0 Ocean Gray, 5-H Haze Gray, 5-L Light Gray, 20B Deck Blue (revised). 
Vertical surfaces - varying patterns of #82, 5-N, 5-0, 5-H, and 5-L. 
Decks and horizontal surfaces - 20B.
Counter shading - none.
 

MEASURE 32/3SS-A (for submarines only)

Developed from Measure 10. Used extensively on Pacific Fleet submarines from early 1944 until wars end.

Colors: #24 Gloss Black, Matt Black, #7 Navy Gray, #11 Outside Gray, #27 Haze Gray, #16 Medium Gray. 
Vertical surfaces - Matt Black, #27 Haze Gray, #16 Medium Gray, #11 Outside Gray. Paint panels arranged from light to dark, from the bow.
Color divisions to be blended into one another. 
Decks - #24 Gloss Black out to a distance of two feet from the deck edge, then successive stripes of Matt Black, #7 Navy Gray, and #11 Outside Gray to meet the vertical color panel. 
Color divisions to be blended. 
Saddle Tanks - Matt Black, extending to the aft end of the boat, beyond the stern part of the deck.
 

MEASURE 32/3SS-B (for submarines only)

A modification of Measure 32/3SS-A. Used on many Pacific Fleet submarines in 1944 to wars end.

Colors: 024 Gloss Black, Matt Black, #7 Navy Gray, #27 Haze Gray, #16 Medium Gray, #17 Ocean Gray. 
Vertical surfaces - Matt Black, #17 Ocean Gray, #27 Haze Gray. Paint panels arranged from light to dark from the bow. Color to be blended. 
Decks - as for Measure 32/3SS-A 
Saddle Tanks - as for Measure 32/3SS-A
 

MEASURE 32/3SS-B (Modified) (for submarines only)

A modification of Measure 31/3SS-B. Used on several submarines in the final months of the war. Application as for 32/3SS-B except that #17 Ocean Gray panel is omitted from the vertical surfaces, leaving the first three quarters of the sides from the bow in #27 Haze Gray, with the remaining quarter at the stern in Matt Black.

 

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