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

Aircraft Carriers

View by Design Number

Fleet Carriers

 View by Design Number
CV: Includes pre-war and war-built Essex classes.
CVL: Light carriers built on light cruiser hulls.

Ships in red are not confirmed by photographic or textual research.
Click on a blue ship's name or design number to see photos.
Hull NumberNameClassCamouflage DesignDesign DatePaint DateNotes Other
CV-2LexingtonLexingtonN/A - Lost 5/8/42
CV-3SaratogaLexington32/11A2/8/448/23/44*1
CV-4RangerRanger33/1A6/6/44
CV-5YorktownYorktownN/A - Lost 6/7/42
CV-6EnterpriseYorktown33/4Ab2/29/44
CV-8HornetYorktownNA - Lost 10/27/42
CV-9EssexEssex32/10D12/4/43
CV-10YorktownEssex33/10A1/26/446/5/44
CV-11IntrepidEssex32/3A4/11/44Damaged by Kamikaze 11/25/44.
CV-12HornetEssex33/3A11/27/4312/27/43
CV-13FranklinEssex32/6A12/9/431/4/44*2Later 32/3A port and 32/6A starboard.
CV-14TiconderogaEssex33/10A3/8/44
CV-15RandolphEssex32/17A17/24/44
CV-16LexingtonEssexRemained in Measure 21
CV-17Bunker HillEssex32/6A1/19/44Severely damaged 5/11/45.
CV-18WaspEssex33/10A2/24/443/11/44
CV-19HancockEssex32/3A1/27/444/15/44
CV-20BenningtonEssex32/17A212/1/44
CV-20BenningtonEssex32/17A16/28/44
CV-21BoxerEssex*3Comm. 4/16/45 in Measure 21.
CVL-22IndependenceIndependence33/8A1/7/444/5/44
CVL-23PrincetonIndependence32/7A5/9/44Lost 10/24/44
CVL-24Belleau WoodIndependence33/3D2/5/44
CVL-25CowpensIndependence32/7A
CVL-26MontereyIndependence33/3D
CVL-27LangleyIndependenceRemained in Measure 21
CVL-28CabotIndependenceRemained in Measure 21
CVL-29BataanIndependence32/8A12/16/43
CVL-30San JacintoIndependence33/7A11/15/43
CV-31Bon Homme RichardEssex32/17A2
CV-32LeyteEssexNA - Commissioned 4/11/46
CV-33KearsargeEssexNA - Commissioned 3/2/46
CV-34OriskanyEssexNA - Commissioned 9/25/50
CV-36AntietamEssex32/17A210/13/44
CV-37PrincetonEssexNA - Commissioned 11/18/45
CV-38Shangri-LaEssex33/10A9/16/44
CV-39Lake ChamplainEssexNA - Commissioned 6/3/45
CV-40TarawaEssexNA - Commissioned 12/8/45

Notation

Indicates the date that the Bureau of Ships sent to the ship or shipyard drawings and instructions to paint that camouflage design. That directive was usually followed and camouflage completion photos were returned to the Bureau. For the rows that are marked red, no verification memos or photos have yet been found.
Indicates the earliest date that memos or photos confirm painting in that design.
Not applicable.

Footnotes

CV-3 was sent Measure 31 (sic) Design 11A on 2/8/44. Puget Sound Navy Yard reported to BuShips on 10/21/44 that CV-3 was painted Measure 32 Design 11A on 8/23/44.
On 12/9/43, CV-13 was sent a camouflage drawing labeled 32/14D, but this was probably a typo or mistake. CV-13 commissioned on January 4, 1944, wearing camouflage design 32/6A on both port and starboard, but three months later repainted the port (the District Camouflage Officer determined Design 6A was too dark on the port) using a modified drawing 32/3A while retaining 32/6A on the starboard side. Severely damaged by bombs 3/19/45 CV-13 did not return to the war.
Newport News Shipyard was sent a speedletter from BuShips on 1/29/45 directing them to paint CV-21 in Measure 21.