Dazzle camouflage of warships was adopted by the U.S. Navy during World War II, following research at the Naval Research Laboratory. Dazzle consists in painting obtrusive patterns on vertical surfaces. Unlike some other forms of camouflage, dazzle works not by offering concealment but by making it difficult to estimate a target's range, speed and heading. Each ship's dazzle pattern was unique to make it more difficult for the enemy to recognize different classes of ships. The result was that a profusion of dazzle schemes were tried, and the evidence for their success was at best mixed.
Dazzle camouflage patterns used on aircraft carriers are presented here.
Colors
+Typical color combinations MS-31 MS-31a MS-32 MS-33 MS-33a HorizontalsHaze Gray 5-HHaze Gray 5-HLight Gray 5-LLight Gray 5-LPale Gray 5-PPale Gray 5-PLight Gray 5-LOcean Gray 5-OOcean Gray 5-OOcean Gray 5-ODull Black 82Ocean Gray 5-OHaze Gray 5-HHaze Gray 5-HOcean Gray 5-ODeck Blue 20-BDull Black 82Navy Blue 5-N Dull Black 82Navy Blue 5-NOcean Gray 5-O
Patterns + Aircraft carrier designs Name Description Pattern sheet Photo Known examplesMS-33/1A for USS Ranger (CV-4) RangerMS-3_/3A for Essex (CV-9) class Intrepid (MS-32), Hornet (MS-33), Franklin (MS-32), Hancock (MS-32) MS-32/4A for Bogue (CVE-9) class Bogue, Card, Core, Croatan, Prince William for Casablanca (CVE-55) class Mission Bay, Tripoli, Guadalcanal, Solomons, Kasaan Bay, Fanshaw Bay, TulagiMS-33/4Ab for USS Enterprise (CV-6) EnterpriseMS-3_/6A for Essex (CV-9) class Franklin, Bunker HillMS-33/7A for Independence (CVL-22) class Princeton, Cowpens, San JacintoMS-3_/8A for Independence (CVL-22) class Independence (MS-33), Bataan (MS-32)MS-32/9A for USS Long Island (CVE-1) Long Island MS-33/10A for Essex (CV-9) class Yorktown, Ticonderoga, Wasp, Shangri-La for Sangamon (CVE-26) class Chenango for Casablanca (CVE-55) class Corregidor, Wake Island, White Plains, Kalinin Bay, Nehenta Bay, Kadashan Bay, Petrof Bay, Shamrock Bay, Sitkoh Bay, Thetis BayMS-32/11A for USS Saratoga (CV-3) SaratogaMS-32/12A for Casablanca (CVE-55) class Casablanca, Anzio, Manila Bay, Kitkun Bay, Steamer Bay, Cape Esperance, Takanis BayMS-33/14A for Casablanca (CVE-55) class Natoma Bay, Savo Island, Saginaw Bay, AttuMS-32/15A for Casablanca (CVE-55) class St. Lo, Gambier Bay, Marcus Island, Ommaney Bay, Rudyerd Bay, Sargent Bay, Shipley Bay MS-32/16A for Casablanca (CVE-55) class Makassar Strait, Makin Island, Hollandia, Roi for Commencement Bay (CVE-105) class Commencement Bay, BairokoMS-32/17A for Essex (CV-9) class Randolph, Bennington, Bon Homme Richard, Antietam MS-33/18A for Casablanca (CVE-55) class Hoggatt Bay, Windham Bay, Lunga Point, Bismarck Sea, Salamaua, Bouganville for Commencement Bay (CVE-105) class Block Island Adapted designs MS-33/3D(destroyer) adapted to Independence (CVL-22) class Belleau Wood, Monterey adapted to Casablanca (CVE-55) class MS-32v6/10D(destroyer) adapted to Essex (CV-9) class Essex
Notes
References
See also World War II ship camouflage measures of the United States Navy World War II US Navy dazzle camouflage measures 31, 32 and 33: battleships World War II US Navy dazzle camouflage measures 31, 32 and 33: cruisers World War II US Navy dazzle camouflage measures 31, 32 and 33: destroyers