| USS North Carolina (BB-55) Underway at sea during the Gilberts Operation. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 18D. In 1941, USS North Carolina was initially painted in Measure 1, where vertical surfaces were Light Gray and the horizontal surfaces were Dark Gray. Later that year, Measure 2 was implemented, where all where vertical surfaces were Light Gray and the hull had 3 bands of Light Gray, Ocean Gray, and Dark Gray. A more formal camouflage pattern was applied with Measure 12 in 1942; horizontal surfaces were Deck Blue; vertical surfaces were Sea Blue; vertical surfaces above main deck level, to level of the top of the highest superstructure masses, Ocean Gray. Pole masts, yards, slender upper works above level of top superstructure masses, Haze Gray. Measure 12 was modified later that year; surfaces and corners of surfaces useful in estimating course angles may be broken up by means of large splotches of paint. In 1943, USS North Carolina was pinned in Measure 21, where the entire ship was painted in Navy Blue and Dark Blue. As part of a fleet-wide commitment to dazzle camouflage in 1944, USS North Carolina was painted with Measure 32 Design 18 “D,” where large definiitve blocks of Light Gray, Ocean Gray, and Black were used for vertical surfaces, and the decks were painted with deck blue and ocean gray. Finally, USS North Carolina was painted in Measure 22 in 1945. This was a Navy Blue hull with Have Gray vertical surfaces and Deck Blue horizontal surfaces. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1863.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.61 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4816 x 3168 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 1, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Gilberts |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-101 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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