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

Auxiliary Ships

View by Design Number

Seaplane Tenders

View by Design Number
AV: Seaplane Tenders
AVD: Destroyer Seaplane Tenders
AVP: Small Seaplane Tenders

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 NumberNameClassTypeCamouflage DesignDesign DatePaint DateNotes Other
AV-1WrightWrightAG-79 10/1/44, NAYF
AV-2JasonJasonNA - ex AC-12, decomm. 6/30/32
AV-3LangleyNA - ex CV-1, lost 2/27/42
AV-4CurtissCurtiss32/5Ax5/9/44
AV-5AlbemarleCurtiss32/5Ax7/26/44
AV-6PatokaPatokaNA - AO-9 11/10/39
AV-7CurrituckCurrituck32/15Ax6/15/44
AV-8TangierTangierNAYF
AV-9PocomokePocomokeNAYF
AV-10ChandeleurChandeleurNAYF
AV-11Norton SoundCurrituck32/15Ax7/16/44
AV-12Pine IslandCurrituckNAYF
AV-13Salisbury SoundCurrituckComm. 11/26/45
AV-14Kenneth WhitingKenneth Whiting32/8Ax4/8/444/19/44
AV-15HamlinKenneth Whiting32/8Ax4/8/44
AV-16St. GeorgeKenneth Whiting32/8Ax5/9/447/31/44
AV-17Cumberland SoundKenneth Whiting32/8Ax5/30/447/31/44
AVD-1ChildsClemson*1
AVD-2WilliamsonClemsonDD-244 12/1/43
AVD-3George E. BadgerClemsonAPD-33 5/19/44
AVD-4ClemsonClemsonDD-186 12/1/43, then APD-31
AVD-5GoldsboroughClemsonDD-188 12/1/43, then APD-32
AVD-6HulbertClemsonDD-342 12/1/43
AVD-7William B. PrestonClemson*1
AVD-8BelknapClemsonAPD-34 6/22/44
AVD-9Osmond IngramClemsonAPD-35 /44
AVD-10BallardClemsonNAYF
AVD-11ThorntonClemson32/21D8/22/44
AVD-12GillisClemson
AVD-13GreeneClemsonAPD-36 2/1/44
AVD-14McFarlandClemsonDD-237 12/1/43
AVP-1LapwingLapwingex AM-1
AVP-2HeronLapwingex AM-10
AVP-3ThrushLapwingex AM-18
AVP-4AvocetLapwingex AM-19
AVP-5TealLapwingex AM-23
AVP-6PelicanLapwingex AM-27
AVP-7SwanLapwingex AM-34
AVP-8GannetLapwingNA - lost 6/7/42, ex AM-41
AVP-9SandpiperLapwingex AM-51
AVP-10BarnegatBarnegat33/5D*2
AVP-11BiscayneBarnegatAGC-18 10/10/44
AVP-12CascoBarnegat32/2Ax12/20/43
AVP-13MackinacBarnegat32/2Ax5/31/44
AVP-21HumboldtBarnegat32/5D
AVP-22MatagordaBarnegat33/5D
AVP-23AbseconBarnegat
AVP-24ChinoteagueBarnegat
AVP-25Coos BayBarnegat
AVP-26Half MoonBarnegat
AVP-29RockawayBarnegat32/5D1/19/44
AVP-30San PabloBarnegat
AVP-31UnimakBarnegat32/5D3/6/44*3
AVP-31UnimakBarnegat32/2Ax3/2/45
AVP-32YakutatBarnegat32/5D3/16/44
AVP-32YakutatBarnegat32/2Ax6/6/44*4
AVP-33BaratariaBarnegat32/2Ax7/18/44
AVP-34Bering StraitBarnegat32/2Ax5/12/44
AVP-35Castle RockBarnegat32/2Ax8/28/44
AVP-36Cook InletBarnegat33/1F10/11/44
AVP-37CorsonBarnegat33/1F10/11/44
AVP-38Duxbury BayBarnegat31a/1F10/11/44
AVP-39Gardiners BayBarnegat31a/1F10/11/44
AVP-40Floyds BayBarnegat31a/1F10/11/44
AVP-41Greenwich BayBarnegatComm. 5/20/45
AVP-48OnslowBarnegat32/2Ax2/29/44
AVP-49OrcaBarnegat32/2Ax1/18/44
AVP-50RehobothBarnegat32/5D6/22/44*3
AVP-51San CarlosBarnegat32/2Ax3/8/44
AVP-52ShelikofBarnegat32/2Ax4/8/44
AVP-53SuisunBarnegat32/2Ax7/18/44
AVP-54TimbalierBarnegatComm. 5/24/46
AVP-55ValcourBarnegatComm. 7/5/46

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.
No assignment yet found.
Indicates date commissioned, if after 1/1/45, ship may not have worn Measure 31-32-33 while commissioned. Exceptions were landing craft in Measure 31.

Footnotes

AVD-1 and AVD-7 were sent instructions on 10/20/44 by BuShips to paint using ocean gray (5-O) on vertical surfaces and deck blue (20-B) on horizontal surfaces. Also, that pattern camouflage for them was being developed and would be sent.
On 6/4/44 Commander Air Force Atlantic Fleet requested BuShips paint AVP-10 in camouflage 33/5D using haze gray and pale gray, then on 6/9/44 BuShips sent to Boston Navy Yard a drawing for 33/5D that was mislabeled in the memo 31/5D (sic). On 7/3/44 Boston replied with photos and a note that the contrast difference between the grays was difficult to capture on film.
Commander Air Force Atlantic Fleet requested BuShips paint AVP-31 and AVP-50 in Design 32/5D on 11/23/43 based on the SHIPS-2 drawing (navy blue and haze gray.) AVP-31 was painted by January 1944, but was sent the drawing on 3/6/44.
AVP-32 was sent 32/2Ax on 6/6/44 to correct an apparent mix-up about which Fleet Atlantic or Pacific that AVP-32 would be assigned.