Aircraft Carriers

The Measure 3_ Design 3A drawings for the Essex class carriers dated September 19, 1943. The vertical colors were not specified because of the “open” design. However, the Measure 32 colors would normally be dull black (BK), ocean gray (5-O) and light gray (5-L) and the Measure 33 colors would be navy blue (5-N) haze gray (5-H) and pale gray (5-P) with the horizontal surfaces deck blue (20-B). USS Hornet (CV-12) wore this camouflage when commissioned on November 29, 1943.

This is the only Design 3A drawing yet found.

Original drawing source: NARA 80-G-159382.