Dazzling war ship camouflage paint that dazzles the enemy's eyes while shining conspicuously

During World War I, the UK naval officer at the British Naval officer to combat German U-boatNorman WilkinsonA unique warship's camouflage method developed by Sir "Dazzle Camouflage"I'd like to introduce.

Although it seems that it seems to be conspicuous on the sea and it is contrary to this painting that seems fantastic outside, it is effective to make the size and the direction of travel of the ship difficult to understand, and in the naval battle before sonar and radar technology develops It was very effective and it was widely used.

Details are as below.You are the Fleet Admiral of the Navy in WWI what do you do? | TwistedSifter

Lord Norman Wilkinson, the creator of "Dazzle Camoflauge", a painter and a naval officer in the UK.


In the background of a strange painting which looks like modern art, the torpedo at that time is slow, and the attacking side does not fire the torpedo directly to the ship, but from the position of the target, the direction and speed of the torpedo from the torpedo I predicted the position of the ship when it reached and launched it. In other words, in order to avoid attacks from the U-boat, it was more important for British warships to "be unaware of where they are headed" than to "not knowing their current location."

Also, the camouflage that makes the warship "invisible" is ineffective on the sea where the color of the surroundings changes moment by weather, and "The idea of ​​making it gaudy and blind when it is anything because it is found even if it is in the ground" There was also.

Painting like a zebra pattern. Many of the pictures I introduce are black and white, but in reality it was a colorful one with strong contrast with black and orange, purple, yellow etc.


Examples of color scheme.


A color photograph based on sketch (top), black and white photograph (middle) and sketch color (bottom).


Emilio PucciWind design.


The pattern is really rich in variation. It was recruited during the First World WarHMT MauritaniaThe checker-like pattern.


British navyGlorious class aircraft carrierof"Furious"Shot in 1918.


Here also "Furious" from another angle. Also filmed in 1918.


Canadian passenger ship "RMS Empress of Russia"Was also recruited during the First World War and painted with camouflage.


A ship holding a star and banner flag. British-born "Blind Painting" was also adopted in the US Navy in 1918 at the end of the First World War.


"LeviathanOriginally a German flagOcean linerIt was, but it was picked by the US Army in 1917 and painted, it was active as a US ship transport ship.


Painted in a cubism styleAllen · M · Sumner class destroyer"Charles S. Sperry"It was taken at the port of New York on May 16, 1944. If you look closely you will see the Statue of Liberty in the background.


Although it is "Dazzle Camouflage" which faded due to the development of sonar and radar, in AustriaAutomatic speed breaching apparatusA similar "eye blind paint" is used to make it difficult for the driver to understand the direction of the radar.