My collection has many examples of the various classes of US heavy cruisers. Almost all are painted in the camouflage patterns they actually carried at some time during World War Two. The US Navy called the patterns “measures”. Lower measure numbers date from earlier in the war. By 1944 the measure 31-32-33 series was being used for most ships in the Pacific. Some of those patterns, originally conceived to confuse submarines, had different designs for the port and starboard sides,and often included deck patterns to help deceive attacking aircraft. The difference between light cruisers an heavy cruisers was based on their main armament. Heavy cruisers had 8″ guns while light cruisers carried 6″ cannons. The projectiles from the heavy cruisers weighed over twice as much as those of their lighter compatriots. I included the Large cruiser (or battle cruiser) Alaska in this set because she was even bigger and
carried 12″ guns,
Wetherhorn 