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 identity, 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 battleships 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 + Battleship designs Name Description Pattern sheet Photo Known examplesMS-31 For s MarylandMS-32/1B For s IowaMS-31a/6B For NevadaMS-31a/7B For ArkansasMS-31a/8B For s New York, Texas Adapted designsMS-32/7A(aircraft carrier) Adapted to s Not used MS-32/1D(destroyer) Adapted to s Tennessee Adapted to Not used MS-32/3D(destroyer) Adapted to Not used Adapted to s Not used Adapted to s ColoradoMS-32/6D(destroyer) Adapted to s New Mexico, MississippiMS-32/7D(destroyer) Adapted to West VirginiaMS-32v6/10D(destroyer) Adapted to s Not usedMS-32/11D(destroyer) Adapted to battleships IndianaMS-32/16D(destroyer) Adapted to s CaliforniaMS-32v11/18D(destroyer) Adapted to s North CarolinaMS-32/22D(destroyer) Adapted to s Missouri

Notes

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: aircraft carriers 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