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Updates for May 2023:

  • I am pleased to have a legimate update after two years - in honor of the US Memorial Day I have posted the US Navy 1937 Handbook on Ship Camouflage

    • Updates for December 2022: (Couldn't let a year go by without at least ONE update!)

  • Added new "today in history" items for December 1941/42/43/44

    • Updates for September 2021:
    Added the below and added links to these and other documents added over the last year or so where referenced in documents published previously.

  • CinCPAC Confidential Letter Serial 01445 - Consolidated Camouflage experiments report of September 13
  • Confidential Letter of September 16 creating a temporary camouflage deck paint.
  • October Pacific Fleet Confidential Letter S19/(50) Serial 01593 ordering camouflage and sun glint experiments.
  • October Battle Force Confidential Memo S19(01050) listing ships to be used for camouflage experiments

    • Updates for August 2021:
    Research is a learning experience and I have learned over time that some of my original names or classifications for documents in the Ship Camouflage page were imprecise, vague, and causing confusion. There has been an evolution as to how I named files and the older files will retain their URLs as they are linked to from other sites, but I went through and renamed a bunch of link descriptions to hopefully help others cite them better. Also added:

  • February Atlantic Fleet Confidential Letter 3CL-42 regarding painting of designation numbers dated February 1942
  • Atlantic Fleet Confidential Letter 14CL-42 laying out camouflage orders for the Atlantic Fleet in July 1942

    • Updates for April 2021:

  • BB-60 Alabama's Captain's comments on camouflage, November 1943
  • BB-57 South Dakota's Captain's comments on camouflage, November 1943

    • Updates for March 2021:

  • BB-45 Colorado's Captain's comments on camouflage, February 1943
  • BB-40 New Mexico's Captain's comments on camouflage, February 1943

    • Updates for December 2020:

  • Researcher@Large is 15 years old
  • Added a page about the 1941 collision between Battleships Arizona and Oklahoma

    • Updates for November 2020:

  • Added BB-35 Texas' 1944 Booklet of General Plans
  • Added AMc-11 Sanderling's Booklet of General Plans

    • Updates for October 2020:

  • Added the 1968 Booklet of General Plans for USS Prairie AD-15
  • Commander Battleships, Battle Force responding regarding camouflage experiments started in 1941

    • Updates for September 2020:

  • Added a Damage Report for HMS Abercrombie, 1943
  • Added the 1944 Booklet of General Plans for USS Charger CVE-30

    • Updates for August 2020:

  • Added the 1944 Booklet of General Plans for USS Saratoga CV-3
  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for USS Delaware BB-28

    • Updates for July 2020:

  • Added two sheets of the Booklet of General Plans for USS West Virginia BB-48
  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for USS Minneapolis, Cruiser 13
  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for USS Leary DD-158, the first US ship with SONAR.

    • Updates for June 2020:

  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for USS Regulus AK-14
  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for USS Gleaves DD-423

    • Updates for May 2020:

  • Warship TechSpec - Excerpt of "Bulletin of Ordnance Information No. 1-45 of 31 March 1945" regarding overshooting of 16" guns.

    Updates for April 2020:
    After a long, far too long break we're back with a new report and a small update:

  • HMS Exeter's final action and loss by her last captain
  • A dilligent reader determined the identity of an unknown (but famous!) destroyer in this report

    • Updates for June 2019:

  • To honor the 77th anniversary of the attack on Dutch Harbor, a gallery of Navy 80-G photos was posted.

    • Updates for May 2019:

  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for the WWII Balao-class submarine Roncador
  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for the WWI Destroyer Mayrant
  • Added single-sheet drawings of SS-41, to the Miscellaneous drawings page.

    • Updates for April 2019:

  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for DMS-3 Boggs dated 1941

    • Updates for March 2019:
    We return to camouflage a bit with some cleanup of less-important documents - essentially policy that combat ships could not carry paint aboard for touch ups or changes underway and needed to wait until they were at an anchorage to requisition from local stores:

  • 1945 Commander of Battleship Squadron 1 requesting permission to carry paint, June 1945
  • Fleet Maintenance Office memo to CinCPac commenting that this request wasn't in compliant with policy and there was no need
  • Commander of Battleship Squadron 2 requesting permission to carry paint after the war had ended.
  • Separate from this, we have a July 1941 memo on canvas camouflage paint.

    • Updates for February 2019:

  • Added a collection of documents about Vought F4U Corsair aircraft carrier suitability to the Aircraft section.

    • Updates for January 2019:

  • Added the Booklet of General Plans for DD-119 / DMS-2 USS Lamberton

    • Updates for December 2018:

  • Added drawings of protected cruisers Texas to the Miscellaneous drawings page.

    • Updates for November 2018:

  • Added drawings of protected cruisers Chicago and San Francisco to the Miscellaneous drawings page.

    • Updates for July 2018:

  • USS Allen DD-66 1940 (approximaately) Booklet of General Plans - Oldest US destroyer in service during World War Two

    • Updates for July 2018:

  • USS Tang SS-563 1972 Booklet of General Plans - the first GUPPY submarine from the keel up.

    • Updates for June 2018:
    An update on the change to neutral paint colors on US Navy Ships in late 1944 / early 1945:

  • Added a June 1944 directive to Philadelphia Navy Yard to develop new neutral paints for production and a
  • response a week later seeking clarification
    This document has a route slip with hard-to-read commentary.
  • Along with a November proposed mixing formula for #37 Light Gray (5-L) from Philadelphia Navy Yard to Bureau of Ships
  • The approval, just over a week later.
  • A November request for color cards for the new paints from Norfolk Navy Yard
  • Approximate formulas sent to Mare Island and Norfolk Navy Yard near the end of November

    Updates for April 2018:

  • Added a 1924 set of plans to the BB-39 Arizona plans page.

    Updates for March 2018:

  • USS New Mexico BB-40 1944 Booklet of General Plans

    Updates for Febuary 2018:

  • USS Tennessee BB-43 1943 Booklet of General Plans

    • Updates for January 2018:

  • Japanese Anti-aircraft fields of fire, 1944

    Updates for December 2017:
    In honor of the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor we present:

  • March 1941 Pearl Harbor boat and ship traffic plan, with map.
  • Pacific Fleet Battle Plan 2M1, November 1941
  • April 1941 Definition of Pacific Fleet Task Forces
  • USS Pensylvania 1945 Booklet of General Plans

    • Updates for November 2017:

  • Atlantic Fleet painting of Designation numbers
  • USS Wyoming AG-17 (ex BB-32) 1945 Booklet of General Plans

    • Updates for October 2017:

  • Atlantic Fleet Operating areas, 1941, with charts.
  • Commander in Chief, Atlantic, orders everyone to sit down in 1941

    Updates for September 2017:

  • Commander in Chief, Atlantic, disallows personal cameras in 1941; one reason pre-war photos of USN ships of this time period are so rare.

    Updates for August 2017:

  • USS Colorado BB-45 1944 Booklet of General Plans

    • Updates for May 2017:

  • 1938 reprint of the 1927 "Sailors' Manual of Paint & Painting"

    • Updates for April 2017:

  • USS Iowa BB-61 1984 Booklet of General Plans

    Updates for March 2017:

  • 1942 memo outlining the organization of Service Force, Pacific Fleet. This plays into some of the camouflage documents I have posted.
  • USS San Francisco CA-38 1944 Booklet of General Plans

    • Updates for February 2017:

  • New Camouflage memo from November 1944 detailing the plans to change camouflage paints to neutral colors.

    • Updates for January 2017:

  • Finished a 1947 report on USS Arizona's Magazine explosion
  • Created an index page for USS Arizona documents posted so far
  • Added some missing sailor's statements to the 1944 Arizona analysis of loss. There are more that will be added in the coming months.
  • Added two sheets of plans for BB-42 Idaho

    • Updates for December 2016:
    For the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor we present:

  • USS Arizona BB-39 War Damage Report for December 7, 1941.
  • USS Arizona December 17, 1941 Material Damage Assesment
  • USS Arizona Information on Damage Control during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7 1941
  • USS Arizona Analysis of loss, 1944

    • Updates for November 2016:

  • 1941 Memo on venting explosions in aircraft carriers hangar bays
  • July 1942 memo on Aircraft carrier flight deck markings.

    Updates for September 2016:

  • April 1941 Pacific Fleet memo on dim illumination for night time - data for how far away matches and cigarettes may be seen
  • US Navy Pacific Fleet organization immediately following the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, February 1922
  • More historic items for the "Today in Pacific History" feature.

    • Updates for August 2016:

  • CV-6 Enterprise Flight Deck Camouflage experiments, September 1941
  • CV-6 Enterprise Flight Deck Camouflage experiments summary, October 1941

    • Updates for June 2016:

  • ACR-12 North Carolona Booklet of General Plans
  • Added numerous "Today in Pacific History" entries for May, June and July.
  • Fixed embedded twitter feed I hadn't used in two years

    • Updates for May 2016:

  • 1940 experiments on Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck Camouflage - Permitting experimentation with one carrier
  • Bureau of Ships 1941 memo to Commandat, Norfolk requesting an update on aircraft carrier flight deck stain.
  • Added numerous "Today in Pacific History" entries for May.

    • Updates for April 2016:

  • BB-57 South Dakota Booklet of General Plans BOGP

    • Updates for March 2016:

  • 1943 Atlantic Fleet Memo disallowing storage of paint on ships and restricting repainting for safety reasons
  • 1943 Pacific Fleet Memo disallowing storage of paint on ships and restricting repainting for safety reasons

    • Updates for February 2016:

  • Posted a Booklet of General Plans for LST-1 through 490
  • the above forced the creation of a drawings section and reorganization of some drawings.

    • Updates for December 2015 (tenth anniversary!):

  • 1941 CinCLant Bah Humbug! - Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet discourages the exchange of Christmas cards in 1941.

    • Updates for August 2015:

  • CV-38 USS Shangri-La airgroups & history, World War II

    Updates for July 2015:

  • 21CN-41 - Pacific Fleet general orders into Navy Blue Measure 11 on December 16, 1941
  • March 1940 Navy memo authorizing Battle Force to experiment with Carrier Deck markings.

    Updates for June 2015:

  • Baseball Diamond for Aircraft Carriers, 1945

    Updates for May 2015:

  • US Navy memo stating USS Essex CV-9 has received one of the first LeTourneau "Tilly" crash cranes
  • Tractor and Jeep allowances for aircraft carriers, July 1943
  • Letourneau crash crane types for US Navy use, August 1945

    Updates for April 2015:

  • Naval Air Transport Service Schedule for September 1945 - Naval airline schedule at the end of WWII
  • Puget Sound Naval Shipyard memo about the completion of repairs to USS Nevada with some interesting facts & figures

    • Updates for March 2015:

  • BB-57 South Dakota December 1943 Nauru shelling report

    • Updates for February 2015:

  • April 1941 Pacific Fleet Destroyer Camouflage Experiments
  • May 1941 Pacific Fleet Camouflage Experiments procedures
  • August 1941 Destroyer camouflage experiments

    Updates for january 2015:

  • January 1945 USN memo concerning Ultramarine Blue pigments use
  • January 1945 USN Memo with formulas for neutral gray camouflage paints.

    • Updates for December 2014:

  • Added USS Ward APD-16 Captain's Action Report for December 7, 1944, on the 70th anniversary of the date she was lost due to Kamikaze attack.

    • Updates for November 2014:

  • July, 1941 US Atlantic Fleet Camouflage memo
  • August 1941 Summary of US Pacific Fleet camouflage experiments

    • Updates for August 2014:

  • CV-19 Hancock report of Radar performance, March 1945

    • Updates for July 2014:
    We would like to note the passing of Dave McComb, webmaster and founder of DestoyerHistory.org due to cancer. Dave was a inspiration to many webmasters and immense aid to the preservation of US Naval history.

  • On this, the 238th birthday of the United States of America, we present a document about LST camouflage in the Pacific theater.

    • Updates for June 2014:
    Memorial Day weekend gave me time to catch up on some cleanup that had halted work for a bit. We present the last two in our "Concealing the wake" series:

  • 1942 BuShips memo to the Chief of Naval Operations about concealment of ship wakes, which references:
  • 1942 Director of the Naval Research laboratory memo to the Chief of the Bureau of Ships about experiments with sprayed dies and anti-foaming agents to conceal ship wakes.
    • As well as a new topic and description for the subject:
  • PT Boat Wake Concealment
  • 1941 ELCO memo seeking orders for PT camouflage

    • Updates for May 2014:

  • Added a Gleaves class destroyer to the Ship Drawings page
  • Updated the Ship Camouflage Page with links to new documents added below that I had missed.

    • Updates for March 2014:

  • Apologies for the lack of update last month - the first I've missed since we started at the end of 2006. A touch of burnout and need to re-organize some stuff kept me from finishing:
  • PT Boats - Concealing the Wake - Chief of Naval Operations request to experiment with PT boat wake camouflage

    • Updates for Jaunary 2014:

  • PT Boats - Camouflaging the wake - 1941 document expressing a desire to hide the wake of PT boats and listing some excercises with distances, etc., where the PTs were spotted.
  • PT Boat Videos added to Youtube showing crew, drydocks, potential info for model/diorama builders.

    • Updates for December 2013:
    Researcher At Large went live in December of 2005, so happy 8th anniversary!
    In honor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we feature:

  • Navy Yard and Yard Craft report on attack
  • USS Tennessee BB-43 Ship's report on damage

    • Updates for November 2013:

  • Pacific Fleet Maintenance Letter 4-45 - Discusses upcoming changes to camouflage paints.

    • Updates for October 2013:

  • Created a new Camouflage Master Index for all camouflage topics
  • War Department Camouflage Bulletin #4, March 1942 - Plant Materials and Shadows
  • USS Oklahoma BB-37 Booklet of General Plans - 1941

    • Updates for September 2013:

  • USS Indianapolis CA-35 Booklet of General Plans
  • BB-58 Indiana experimental cmaouflage
  • 1943 Observations of battleship camouflage by USS Jenkins

    • Updates for August 2013:

  • USS Arizona BB-39 Booklet of General Plans
    • We also dip back into the 1920s for this update with a couple of documents regarding Navy meals!
  • The elimination of mutton as food
  • Cost of a ration in 1922

    • Updates for July 2013:

  • January, 1945 instructions for re-arming at sea (with diagrams)
  • 1943 order for the expanded use of African-Americans. Interesting to note that this is about expanded use and not integration.

    • Updates for June 2013:

  • 1943 USN Tactical Bulletin on Masthead Bombing
  • 1922 Organization of Naval Forces

    • Updates for May 2013:
    To commemorate the start of an 18-day ordeal that began 70 years ago on May second, we offer for this month's update:

  • Lt (jg) William Robert Maxwell of VF-11 Sundowners "Castaway Diary"

    • Updates for April 2013:
    Due to a broken laptop screen, I wasn't able to finish the planned release for this month, and only have a single, short document:

  • October 1944 order starting the Pacific Fleet back to Camouflage Measure 22

    • Updates for March 2013:

  • Priority of 20MM Anti-Aircrat Guns in late 1941
  • December, 1942 report on the effectiveness of Camouflage Measure 22
  • Added many entries for "Today in Pacific History" on the main page for March.

    • Updates for Febuary 2013:

  • Desired ship camouflage for the Pacific Fleet as of September, 1943
  • Air Information Summary #13 - Notes on Japanese Aircraft

    • Updates for January 2013:

  • APA General Characteristics
  • Added many "Today in Pacific History" entries for February

    • Updates for December 2012: - Seven Years!

  • In honor of the 71st anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, we present the USS Nevada BB-36 Pearl Harbor Damage Report

    • We release our updates for November 2012 on Veterans Day. Please thank a veteran if you can!

  • SoPac Camo
  • USS San Francisco Guadalcanal battle damage hull repair

    • Updates for October 2012:

  • Interview of Lt. Com. J. T. Hayward, CO of Fleet Air Wing Two Headquarters Squadron
  • Combat Information Center —- Fighter Direction —— Terms and Meanings
  • Added a missing page to the USS Indianapolis CA-35 1945 kamikaze Damage Report from last month

    • Updates for September 2012:

  • USS Indianapolis CA-35 1945 kamikaze Damage Report
  • 1943 pacific theater Camouflage Survey

    • Updates for August 2012:

  • August 1943 Pacific Fleet migration to Dazzle plans
  • Created new Atlantic Theater section for some documents I came across.

    • Updates for July 2012:

  • September 1944 Camouflage Directive for Repair Ships
  • Rocket Launcher, Mk 49, for PT Boats
  • Added many new entries and updates to "Today in Pacific Theater for July.

    • Updates for June 2012:

  • 1943 US Carrier Roll Call
  • Blockade Runner Summary, May 1943

    • Updates for May 2012:

  • Operation Goldrush - First LST test.
  • Air Info Summary 16 - New German Aircraft Developments
  • Added more May "Today in Pacific History" entries

    • Updates for April 2012:

  • Blockade Runner Tactics, 1943
  • August 1943 Intelligence Report about Japanese Midget subs launching from Seaplane Tenders

    • Updates for March 2012:

  • Added a Section on Pacific Theater shore-based Radio Direction Finder stations
  • German Naval Raider "J" (Case History, 1943)
  • Lieutenant E.C. Madsen's plan to hide on Guam if/when the island was invaded

    • Updates for February 2012:

  • 1943 of Commander Seldon Spangler following a tour of the South Pacific bases and forces.
  • Blockade Runner Regensburg - Intelligence Report / Case History, 1943
  • New "Today in the Pacific" Items

    • Updates for January 2012:

  • 1943 Tropical Green Camouflage, with pattern drawing.
  • 1942 June - Camouflage & the use of decoys (on land)

    • Updates for December 2011:

  • In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, we present BB-44 USS California's damage report.

    • Updates for November 2011:
    Cleaning out some more camouflage directives this month with:

  • December 1942 Flight Deck Stain Formulas for aircraft carriers
  • January 1943 comments about weaknesses in the above formula
  • USS Oklahoma question form September, 1941 with regards to camouflage

    • Updates for October 2011:

  • 1943 Air Battle Notes No 16 - which discusses the Yamamoto shoot-down mission
  • Cantonment Area Camouflage - 1942 Army guide for camouflaging buildings and bases.

    • Updates for September 2011:

  • USS Helena CL-50 Pearl Harbor report by Engineering division personnel
  • 1943 Air Battle Notes #14:
  • Added more "Today in History"

    • Updates for August 2011:

  • Late 1942 'Use of Paravanes' for the Pacific Fleet
  • USS North Carolina BB-55 Action Report for August 24, 1942, her first action against the Japanese.
  • Updated "Today in Pacific History" for various July dates

    • Updates for July 2011: - Happy 235th birthday to the United States of America!

  • Running, Signal, & Anchor Lights for various classes of ships, 1937-44
  • RAF Experience in North Africa - late 1942 / early 1943

    • Updates for June 2011:

  • Something a little different: Shipwreck of the Soviet ship Lamut and US Coast Guard rescue efforts on the Washington Coast, WWII - text and photo gallery
  • Big update in history in the USN Camouflage page

    • Updates for May 2011:

  • Air Information Summary 19: Navicational Uses of ASB Radar
  • Interview of Major Renner, USMC, Commanding officer of VMO-251 following action at Guadalcanal

    • Updates for April 2011:

  • CL-62 1943 Solomon Island Damage Report
  • Finished the CVL-22 Airgroup page, mentioned in March.

    • Updates for March 2011:

  • USS South Dakota Gunfire Damage Report - Guadalcanal, November 1942
  • Started off the new USN WWII Airgroups Section with an entry for CV-9 Essex and a partial entry for CVL-22 Independence

    • Updates for February 2011:
    We have a ton of camouflage updates this month:

  • BB-43 Tennessee reporting her paint stocks, February 1941
  • Commander Cruisers, Battle Force, reporting paint stocks of his ships in the Pacific March 1941
  • USS Oglala reporting paint stocks for "Mine Force," March 1941
  • South Pacific landing ship & craft camouflage, February 1943
  • July 1943 Dazzle Camouflage memo - Early information to the fleet
  • October 1943 memo to the Pacifiv Fleet ordering Dazzle camouflage.
  • May 1944 order for bow numbers on Auxiliaries.
  • April 1944 order for the use of counter-shading
  • 1948 tabulation of camouflage paints for submarines

    • For those who want something other than ship camouflage:
  • US Navy Aircraft carrier night lights in 1945

    • Updates for January 2011:

  • Added a Mk 19 Director page
  • USN Order for Damage Reports - referenced on many of the damage reports on this site.
  • Added many updates for January's "today in Pacific History"

    • Updates for December 2010 (Fifth anniversary of our first posting!):

  • Oglala Pearl Harbor Damage Report
  • Vestal Pearl Harbor Damage Report
  • Tennessee Pearl Harbor Damage Report

    Updates for November 2010:

  • Memo from the captain of USS Erie PG-50 regarding the torpedoing of his ship and performance of the crew.
  • Refueling at Sea -1942 document with instructions for refueling while underway.

    • Updates for October 2010:
    A big paint/camouflage update this month, including:

  • December 1942 memo regarding non-skid paint.
  • January 1943 cancellation of restrictions on paint manufacturing.
  • February 1943 order for Norfolk Navy Yard to manufacture a new green paint.
  • March 1943 order for NY Philadelphia to develope a new green paint formula.

    • Updates for September 2010:

  • Bureau of Ordnance report on the development of Sextuple Bazooka Launchers
  • War Damage Report for USS Enterprise CV-6 for action north of Guadalcanal, August 1942.

    • Updates for August 2010:

  • Fire Control Radar, Mk 8 - Ordnance Pamphlet for radar used on Battleships and Cruisers.
  • 1943 Interview with two SBD Squadron Commanders regarding the battle of Santa Cruz.

    • Updates for July 2010:

  • 1942 US Aircraft Carrier Fuel Capacity & Endurance.
  • 1943 Interview with Col. Elliot Roosevelt regarding photo-reconnaissance in the Mediterranean theatre

    • Camouflage Document Updates:
  • PT Boat Camouflage for Squadrons 13 & 16
  • March, 1943 Memo authorizing the use of commercial paint manufacturers for the aquisistion of camouflage paint
  • February, 1943 Memo authorizing New York Navy Yard the use of commercial paint manufacturers for the aquisistion of camouflage paint

    • Updates for June 2010:

  • Air Summary No 18: Notes on Japanese Aircraft - July 1943
  • USS Massachusetts BB-59 Report on Storm Damage - February, 1943

    • Some more Camouflage documents as well:
  • Comdt.,Charleston, S.C. letter dated Sept. 5, 1941 which included:
  • Request from USS Turquoise PY-18 for Black tinting Paste - August 1941
  • February 1945 Bureau of Ships PT Boat Camouflage Memo
  • Some June "Today in Pacific History" entries.

    • Updates for May 2010:

  • "Today in Pacific History" updates for April. Note: hiatus in May to catch up on other things.
  • 1943 interview of two pilots on the mission to shoot down Admiral Yamamoto.
  • A Letter and response from Everett Warner, WWI Navy Camofleur to the Navy prior to WWII offering his services.
  • February 1942 memo from BuOrd regarding camouflage of ordnance pieces.
  • June 1943 Air Information Summary No 14: Exhasut Flame Patterns of Japanese Aircraft.

    • Updates for April 2010:

  • "Today in Pacific History" updates.
  • June, 1943 interview of USS Bogue's Captain and Air Group Commander reguarding convoy duty in the battle of the Atlantic.
  • June, 1943, Air Information Summary #12 - Comparative Performance of Japanese Fighter Aircraft.
  • July, 1941 notes regarding a telephone conversation regarding camouflage paint between BuShips and the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

    • Updates for March 2010:

  • Added the "Today in History" feature and created the first 25 days.
  • USS Kearny DD-432 Preliminaryy Damage Report, October 1941
  • US Navy Tugs, General Characteristics, 1944

    • Updates for February 2010:
    Heap-big paint and camouflage update this month, including (in chronological order):

  • A November 1940 memo regarding Camouflage in war plans.
  • This June 1941 memo about paint sample errors.
  • A July 1941 memo to the Inspector of Naval Materials, Schenectady regarding paint samples.
  • Memo dated September 13, 1941 to BuShips regarding paint correspondence, confusion, and manufacturing.
  • This September 12 Memo from the Commander of Destroyer Flotilla ONE to Destroyer Squadron FIVE regarding camouflage experiments.
  • A September, 20 memo from Buships ordering the paint yards to directly substitute paints on requests.
  • The last September Memo is from CinCPac to the Commander Destroyers, Battle Force ordering camouflage experiments.
  • A December 1941 memo regarding use of Navy Blue paint for the atlantic fleet.
  • And finally, a January 1942 Fleet Letter to the Atlantic Fleet regarding the painting of bow numbers.

    • Special thanks to Ron Smith for three of the above documents!

    Updates for January 2010:

  • Davy Jones fought on the side of the US Navy, as this October 1942 Memo shows.
  • New section under multi-theater; camouflage for Navy bases and shore facilities, termed Passive Defense. This section includes the original Passive Defense Handbook 1, a supplement on fuel tank camouflage, the Second Supplement, with more on paint, and for now ends with the third supplement, with instructions for camouflaging airport runways and roads.

    • Updates for December 2009:

  • Wartime History of DE-51 Buckley
  • CV-9 report on the effectiveness of Mk 49 Gun Directors

    • Updates for November 2009:

  • 1941 Fleet Organization
  • 1931 Fleet Organization
  • 1931 Command Title Abbreviations

    • Updates for October 2009:

  • US Navy Turret tops - New Section of documents regarding color painting of battleship and cruiser turret tops
  • April, 1943 CVE Panama Canal clearances

    • Updates for September 2009:

  • 1943 July CVL Aircraft hangar warm-ups
  • 1943 October Moto Tugs for Aircraft Carriers

    • Updates for August 2009:

  • Added information on BB-60 Alabama to the Mk49 Gun Director Page.
  • 1938 USN Mail Distribution List for researchers.
  • 1938 instructions for Radio Direction Finding from a single ship.

    • Updates for July 2009:

  • I realized that I had finished but not linked to this April 1942 CV-3 Saratoga Damage Report
  • Added a 1939 Amphibious "Surf Training"document released by the USMC.
  • Added a 1941 Action Damage Report for USS Shaw and USS Cassin that orders Shaw's repair and provides an example of a similar repair.
  • Updated the Mk 49 Gun Fire Director page, with new data on the Farragut and Fletcher class destroyers.

    • Updates for June 2009:
    To commemorate the June 3 & 4th, 1942 attacks on Dutch Harbor, Alaska, we feature two new documents on the area:

  • A Report by USAT Filmore's Communication Liason Officer on the journey to Dutch Harbor, the attack, and return.
  • USMC officer Augustus Cockrell's report on the Grounding of S.S. Northwestern, which was being used to supply power to the area and was bombed by the Japanese.

    • Updates for May 2009:

  • A CL-62 USS Birmingham War Record, 1945

    • Updates for April 2009:

  • A February 1945 Memo from Admiral Nimitz regarding lessons learned from the December 1944 typhoon that sank three ships and killed nearly 800 sailors.

    • Updates for March 2009:

  • To mark the 64th anniversary of the March 19 bombing of CV-13 Franklin, I have posted a 1946 damage report detailing that day and her earlier 1944 damage, previously covered.

    • Updates for February 2009:

  • 1941 Paint memo for cruisers Honolulu and Boise to pick up 5-S paint for themselves and other ships.
  • Added more photos of DD-689 USS Wadleigh being repaired to her Repair in Forward areas page.

    • Updates for January 2009:

  • The Mightly "B": Cruiser Birmingham

    • Updates for December 2008: Our Third Anniversary!

  • CV-8 Hornet Battle of Midway Damage Report
  • February 1941 New Paints Memo with formula for 5-D Dark Gray
  • March 1941 New Paints Memo with formulas for 5-O Ocean Gray and 5-L Light Gray

    • Updates for November 2008:

  • USS Raleigh Damage Report - Pearl Harbor attack

    • Updates for October 2008:

  • November 1943 guide for Anti-submarine screen formations
  • November 1944 log of an unknown Destroyer during the invasion of Guam
  • Finished Chapter 3 of OEG Report 51: Antisubmarine Warfare in World War II.

    • Updates for September 2008:

  • Basic information on the Mk 49 AA Gun director
  • Instructions for painting Measure 32 patterns 3SS and 9SS on submarines, 1944

    • Updates for August 2008:
    Whole lotta 1941 paint info!

  • April order regarding ingredients for a tinting paste used to convert prewar gray to 5-D
  • August orders to several bases and ships from Mare Island ordering them to re-submit paint requisitions, including Pearl Harbor Navy Yard; Puget Sound Navy Yard; Naval Supply Depot, San Diego; USS Arizona; and USS Pennsylvania
  • August order for CL-50 Helena to repaint in 5-S Sea Blue

    • Updates for July 2008:

  • CA-38 San Francisco, second-most decorated US Navy Ship in WWII, damage report for her Guadalcanal action posted.

    • Updates for June 2008:

  • Last aviation interview for a bit, this one of the commanding officer of Patrol Squadron 91 during the Solomon Islands Campaign.
  • Added a paper by the Captain of CV-11 Intrepid regarding her handling following torpedo damage in February, 1944.

    • Updates for May 2008:

  • Added another interview: this one of Lieutenant H.B. Harden, Air Operations Officer, CV-6 ENTERPRISE, dated March 4, 1943.
  • Added a document on US Aircraft carrier markings immediately postwar.

    • Updates for April 2008:

  • Added a document about strengthening US Destroyer Bows for submarine ramming in 1943.
  • Added an interview with Lt. Col Edward Montgomery, USMC, regarding US Marines flying with the Royal Air Force in 1943 to learn night-fighting skills.

    • Updates for March 2008:

  • 1943 Navy interview with Medal of Honor winner Joe Foss, USMC, regarding action at Guadalcanal.
  • Two new PT Camouflage Documents; a July 1944 Pacific-based PT Camouflage order and September 1944 revision.
  • Two new Aircraft carrier camouflage documents; a January 1945 memo from Air Force, Pacific Fleet requesting change, and a February 1945 Pacific Fleet Maintenance Office memo forwarding those changes to the Pacific Fleet.

    • Updates for February 2008:

  • New naval ship camouflage documents; 1941 Order to remove insignias from ships and the copy of the S19-7 Serial 631 that pertains to camouflage of Auxiliaries
  • Started Chapter 3 of OEG 51: Antisubmarine Warfare in WWII

    • Updates for January 2008:

  • Added "Pattern" Boresighting for Fighter Aircraft, a 1943 USN document, to the Aircraft Section.
  • Added a new camouflage document for 1943; the introduction of the Tropical Green System.

    • Updates for December 2007:

  • Added Characteristics of Enemy Submarines, a 1943 summary of what the USN knew about U-boats and Japanese submarines at that point of the war.

    • Updates for November 2007:

  • Added a document detailing using PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats as minelayers in 1943.

    • Updates for October 2007:

  • Added a Damage report for DD-407 following a kamikaze attack in 1945.
  • New camouflage document for January 1945 posted.
  • Hi Fitz!!

    • Updates for September 2007:

  • Added a 1944 camouflage memo and attachment detailing PT boat camouflage in the Pacific.
  • Added a page and a half to the OEG Report on ASW in WWII.

    • Updates for August 2007:

  • Added a 1942 paint memo on the camouflage painting of new-construction destroyers and an August, 1941 memo from the Commandant of the 13th Naval District clarifying camouflage instructions.

    • Updates for July 2007:

  • Added TONS of Navy Ship Camouflage memos in the US Navy Camouflage Section: 1940's 4CN-40: Camouflage Painting for Destroyers, 1941 memos (April) Outside Gray Paints, Deck Staining, Camouflage for new Construction, 15-CN-41: Camouflage Experiments, the SHIPS-2 Rev 1 Distribution letter and SHIPS-2 itself, and finally for 1941, Atlantic Fleet 13 CL-41 and the transition to Measure 12 Mod. Also added a 1942 Pacific Fleet memo ordering Measure 21 for most ships. August's updates will not be this large!

    • Updates for June 2007:

  • Added the Naval Armed Guards report on the attack on Dutch Harbor and a late 1941 US Navy Camouflage Paint Memo.

    • Updates for May 2007:

  • Added the start of Chapter 2, Part 1 of OEG Report #51, ASW in World War II.

    • Updates for April 2007:

  • Added Chapter 1, Part 1 of OEG Report #51, ASW in World War II.

    • Updates for March 2007:

  • Started adding a new document, OEG Report #51, ASW in World War II. As the original was a near-200 page document it will take some time.

    • Updates for February 2007:

  • Laptop problems kept me sidelined most of the month, but I did manage to add another December 1944 Ship Camouflage Memo to the ship camouflage section.

    • Updates for January 2007:

  • Added a section on BB-57 USS South Dakota and a War Damage Report for her June 19, 1944 bombing.

    • Updates for December 2006:

  • Added a page on Pre-war US Navy Aircraft Painting
  • Added a page on Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Arlington, Washington.
  • Added a new section on US Naval Camouflage.

    Updates for November 2006:

  • Added a page and documents regarding the sinking of the Soviet Submarine L16 and a US Navy sailor aboard her in 1942.

    • Updates for October 2006:

  • Added Wadleigh's Repair in Forward Area Chapter.
  • Finished Structural Repairs in Forward Areas During World War II.
  • Added a photo page for ZPNK - US Navy "K" Class Blimps.

    Updates for September 2006:

  • Two new cruiser pages; one for CL-81 Houston and another for CL-96 Reno with corresponding entries in the "Forward Repair" book.
  • New destroyer page for DD-415 O'Brien and her DD-415 O'Brien repair in forward area entry.

    • Updates for August 2006:

  • PG-50 Erie Section & report on Salvage following torpedo damage, November 1942.
  • Posted Table of Contents for new special topic: Structural Repairs in Forward Areas During World War II

    • Updates for July 2006:

  • CV-14 Ticonderoga section and war damage report for January, 1945 posted.
  • New CV-11 Intrepid section & a report on her repair following torpedo attack, February 1944.

    • Updates for June 2006:

  • Report and Photographs on the bombing of Dutch Harbor, June, 1942.

    • Updates for May 2006:

  • CV-12 Hornet page and Report on Flight Deck Collapse during Typhoon.

    • Updates for February 2006:

  • November 1941 report on Canadian Intelligence on Japan
  • Sky Lookout - Construction of
  • 40 MM Guns - Installation on CV9 Class

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