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  COMSOPAC FILE

S19-7

Serial  01648

SOUTH PACIFIC FORCE
OF THE UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L 15 SEP 1943

From: The Commander South Pacific
To: The Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
 
Subject: Ships — Camouflage of.
 
Reference: (a)  BUSHIPS Conf. ltr. C-A10/S19—4(340—348), EN28/A2—1l dated May 14, 1943.
(b) COMSOPAC Conf. ltr. S19/(05), Serial 01197, dated July 25, 1943.
 
Enclosure:    (A)  Camouflage measures requested for ships of the South Pacific Force.

     1.        In connection with proposals for improvements in ship camouflage, Task Force Commanders of the South Pacific Fleet have, in general, expressed the desire to accomplish the following objectives in the priority indicated:

(a)  Course deception.
(b)  Type deception.
(c)  Concealment.

In a few eases, depending upon probable assignments, Task Force Commanders have indicated a preference for concealment as first priority.

     2.        Specifically, Commander Amphibious Force has requested the special concealment patterns, prepared for landing craft by the Bureau of Ships representative. These designs come under the classification of measure #31 of Ships-2 supplement, dated May 14, 1943, reference (a). The Commander Amphibious Force also requested the low visibility light pattern, measures for APA's and AKA's.

     3.        The Commander Task Force THIRTY—EIGHT requests the low visibility, light pattern measure #33 for all ships in Task Force THIRTY-EIGHT. The Commander Task Force THIRTY·NINE requested that all ships in Task Force THIRTY-NINE also receive the low visibility, light pattern measure #33.

     4.        The Commander Task Force THIRTY-SEVEN requested the dark pattern measure #31 for the battleships in that force.

 


  COMSOPAC FILE

S19-7

Serial  01648

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

SOUTH PACIFIC FORCE
OF THE UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER

ski

 

15 SEP 1943
Subject:       Ships — Camouflage of.

- 2 -


Proposed Assignment of "Ships-2" Camouflage Measures to

Vessels of the Pacific Fleet by Types

Measure 31

     BBs 44-16 inclusive.

     Vessels of the following types assigned even serial numbers:  DD and DE.

     All vessels of the following type: ABD, ABSD, AFD, AGP, AGS, APc, APD, AR, ARB, ARD, ARG, LCI, LCT, LSD, LST, PF, PG, PT, PY, YFD, YMS, YN, YP, ARL, ARS, ASR, ATR, YAG.

Measure 32

     Vessels of the following types assigned off serial numbers: AK, AP, CA, CB, CL, CV, CVE, CVL, DD, DE.

     Vessels of the following types except BBs 44-46 inclusive: AD, AE, AF, AG, AGC, AKA, AM, AO, AOG, APA, APH, APV, AS, AV, AVD, AVP, BB, CGC, DM, DMS, PC, SC, YDG, YO, and IX.

Measure 33

     Vessels of the following types assigned even serial numbers: AK, AP, CA, CB, CL, CV, CVE, and CVL.

 

 

 

 

ENCLOSURE(A)

 


COLORS EMPLOYED ON BASIC PATTERNS
APADPTED TO MEASURES 31, 32, AND 33

 

* Colors:-
  P - Pale Gray -(5-P)
  L - Light Gray - (5-L)
  H - Haze Gray - (5-H)
  O - Ocean Gray - (5-O)
  N - Navy Blue - (5-N)
  K - Dull Black -(Submarine Black #13)

  Table I ENCLOSURE(B)


Normal | Highlight & Comment
The below tables are not "accurate" as the patterns listed are missing the TYPE of pattern; the Pacific Fleet was working off an early set of drawings that were further revised before being placed in use. The first sheet is marked up so the reader can see the differences. The crucial item to note is that there was a systematic plan for issuing of dazzle schemes and it was not left to the individual ship's caption or even the squadron commander.

TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION OF BASIC PATTERNS TO SEVEN TYPES OF SHIPS

CONFIDENTIAL

T = Type M = Measure P = Pattern
A = Actually applied (If different, when known)

  T. M. P. A.
BBs
 43 32  1  1D
 44 32 10  16D
 38 32  2  MS 21

 42 32  2  MS 21
 41 32  3  6D
 40 32  3  6D

 ?? 32  4
 45 31  2  MS32 16D
 46 31  4  ??

 57 32  5  MS 21
 55 32 11  18D
 56 32  6  MS 22

 59 32  1  MS 22
 58 32  7  16D

 

CLs
 57 32 16  11A
 55 32  1  MS 22
 56 33  1  1D
 58 33  2  3D
 60 33  3  MS 21
 62 33  3  6D
 63 33  4  MS 21

 

CVs
  3 32  5  11A
  6 33  5  4ab
  9 32  6  10D
 10 33  7  10A
 16 33  7  MS 21
 17 32  8  6A
 11 32  9  3A

 

  T. M. P. A.
CVLs
 22 33  9  8A
 23 32 10  MS 33 7A
 26 33 11  3D
 24 33 11  3D
 25 32 12  MS33 7A
 28 33 13  MS 21
 27 32 13  MS 21
 29 32 14  8A
 30 33 15  7A

CLs
 7 32  1  1D
 8 32  2  3D
 9 32  2  3D

CAs
 28 33  3  6D
 33 32  4  7D
 35 32  4  7D
 27 32  5  9D
 24 33  6  7D
 25 33  6  14D
 36 32  7
 32 32  8
 38 32  8  13D
 45 33  9
 68 32 10  16D
 69 33 10
 70 32 10  18D

 

  T. M. P. A.
CLs
 48 32 12
 49 33 12
 43 33 13
 53 33 14
 54 32 14
 95 33 15
 96 32 16

AD9
AD14

DDs
383 32  1
394 31  1
360 31  2
349 32  2
350 31  3
351 32  3
348 31  4
354 31  4
353 32  5
355 32  5
417 32  6
411 32  6
410 31  7
413 32  7
414 31  8
398 31  8
357 32  9
391 32  9
388 31 10
386 31 10
389 32 11
390 31 11
392 31 12
373 32 12

 

  T. M. P. A.
DDs(con't)
336 31 13
368 31 13
367 32 14
364 31 14
372 31 15
377 32 15
378 31 16
371 32 16
369 32  1
375 32  1
363 32  2
401 32  2
382 31  3
380 31  3
400 31  4
384 31  4
385 32  5
370 31  3
365 32  6
399 32  6
406 31  7
407 32  7
408 31  8
491 32  8
460 31  9
484 31  9
486 31 10
487 32 10
488 31 11
435 32 11
492 31 12
607 32 12
608 31 13
602 31 13
598 31 14
605 32 14
606 31 15
619 32 15
449 32 16
450 31 16

 
TABLE II
Page 1 of 3 Pages
  ENCLOSURE (B)


CONFIDENTIAL

  T. M. P. A.
DDs(con't)
450 31 16
451 32  1
468 31  1
445 32  2
446 31  2
447 32  3
448 31  3
477 32  4
466 31  4
465 32  5
498 31  5
499 32  6
507 32  6
508 31  7
510 31  7
643 32  8
478 31  8
570 31  9
569 32  9
571 32 10
572 31 10
509 32 11
511 32 11
512 32 12
514 31 12
476 31 13
471 32 13
470 31 14
519 32 14
518 31 15
526 31 15
527 32 16
528 31 16
529 32  1
479 32  1
573 32  2
574 31  2
575 32  3
576 31  3
500 31  4
501 32  4
502 31  5
659 32  5

 

  T. M. P. A.
DDs(con't)
480 31  6
472 31  6
473 32  7
474 31  7
475 32  8
515 32  8
516 31  9
513 32  9
630 31 10
589 32 10
581 32 11
582 31 11
587 32 12
588 31 12
544 31 13
545 32 13
546 31 14
547 32 14
534 31 15
530 31 15
531 32 16
532 31 16
533 32  1
555 32  1
554 31  2
556 31  2
557 32  3
631 32  3
517 32  4
642 31  4
629 32  5
644 31  5
660 31  6
661 32  6
666 31  7
667 32  7
685 32  8
577 32  8
578 31  9
579 32  9
580 31 10
520 31 10
521 32 11
522 31 11
657 32 12

 

  T. M. P. A.
DDs(con't)
668 31 12
669 32 13
670 31 13
671 32 14
672 31 14
650 31 15
651 32 15
652 31 16
653 32 16
583 32  1
584 31  1
585 32  2
590 31  2
591 32  3
550 31  3
551 32  4
552 31  4
553 32  5
536 31  5
535 32  6
537 32  6
538 31  7
539 32  7
673 32  8
674 31  8
675 32  9
676 31  9
797 32 10
658 31 10
686 31 11
687 32 11
796 31 12
541 32 12
540 31 13
683 32 13
684 31 14

DEs
  7 32 14
  8 31 14
  9 32 15
 10 31 15
 11 32 16

 

  T. M. P. A.
DEs(con't)
256 31  8
162 31 16
163 31  1
164 31  1
165 32  2
166 31  2
167 32  3
259 32  3
260 31  4
261 32  4
262 31  5
263 32  5
264 31  6
 37 32  6
 38 31  7
 39 32  7
 40 31  8
 41 32  8
265 32  9
 19 32  9
 20 32  9
 21 31 10
 22 31 10
 23 32 11
 24 31 11
 14 31 12
 15 32 12
 17 32 13
 18 31 13
 49 32 14
 50 31 14
 25 32 15
 26 31 15
 27 32 16
 28 31 16
 29 32  1
 30 31  1
 31 32  2
 32 31  2
 33 32  3
 34 31  3
 35 32  4
 36 31  4
739 32  5
740 31  5

 
TABLE II
Page 2 of 3 Pages
  ENCLOSURE (B)


CONFIDENTIAL

  T. M. P. A.
DEs(con't)
741 32  6
742 31  6
743 32  7
744 31  7
198 31  8
199 32  8
200 31  9
201 32  9
203 32 10
633 32 11
634 31 11
635 32 12
636 31 12
637 32 13
638 31 13
217 32 14
218 31 14
219 32 15
678 31 15
679 32 16
680 31 16
696 31  1
697 32  1
698 31  2
699 32  2
700 31  3
701 31  3
183 32  4
184 31  4
185 32  5
186 31  5
187 32  6
188 31  6
789 32  7
790 31  7
791 32  8
792 31  8
793 32  9
794 31  9

 

 

  T. M. P. A.
DEs(con't)
745 32 10
746 31 10
747 32 11
748 31 11
749 32 12
750 31 12
 42 31 13
 43 32 13
 44 31 14
301 32 14
302 31 15
303 32 15

 

  

 

  

 
TABLE II
Page 3 of 3 Pages
  ENCLOSURE (B)


SOURCE:
National Archives & Records Administration, College Park
Record Group 313 - CINCPAC Confidential Files 1943-45

Transcribed by RESEARCHER @ LARGE. Formatting & Comments Copyright R@L.

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