U.S. Navy Ships in WWII Dazzle Camouflage 1944-1945

Destroyers

View by Design Number

Fletcher Class

View by Design Number

for DD-445

Design 22D

for DD-445

Design Number Silhouette Ships Wearing Design
for DD-445
Measure 31
Caperton (DD-650)Healy (DD-672)
Wedderburn (DD-684)

Measure 32
Cowell (DD-547)Smalley (DD-565)
Gatling (DD-671)
Drawing

Measure 31/22D drawing for the Fletcher class destroyers probably drawn up in January 1944. This pattern was matched very well by the Wedderburn except in the stern. Note, only front views of the turrets were provided. There was also a nearly identical version of this drawing in open Measure 3_/22D dated December 3, 1943 (NARA 80-G-162026 and 80-G-162027).

This design first appeared as a pattern for Measure 16 in June 1942. This design was drawn up on December 3, 1943, for the Evarts class destroyer escorts as well as the Fletcher class. Design 22D was dated January 27, 1944, for the Buckley class destroyer escorts and used three colors. In March and April of 1944 it was drawn for the Porter and Benson classes of destroyers. Design 22D in three Measure 33 colors was dated April 18, 1944, for the Atlanta class light cruisers and used by USS San Juan (CL-54) and USS Flint (CL-97) but in Measure 32 colors. The battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) commissioned on June 11, 1944 in this design and she wore this camouflage until she arrived in the Pacific a few weeks later. Missouri used Measure 32 colors of dull black, ocean gray and light gray.

Original drawing source: NARA 80-G-162026 and 80-G-164293.

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