Dazzle ship camouflage - photos

[Altair]

Dazzle ship camouflage used in both World Wars.








Previously:

1942 sinking of the USS Lexington - video
Pre-WWII naval battle smoke curtain - GIF
1941 explosion of HMS Barham battleship - GIF and photo

[mklotz]

At last, a practical use for modern art.

[neilbourjaily]

At last, a practical use for modern art.

STEAM at it once again.

[mklotz]

Dazzle camouflage was not meant to conceal the ship as this Wikipedia extract confirms...

"Unlike other forms of camouflage, the intention of dazzle is not to conceal but to make it difficult to estimate a target's range, speed, and heading. Norman Wilkinson explained in 1919 that he had intended dazzle primarily to mislead the enemy about a ship's course and so cause them to take up a poor firing position."

While traveling in Europe I often saw arrow slits in castles. Most were in the shape of a cross but occasionally they would have a vertical slot with the two parts of the crossing slot vertically offset. When I asked the guides about this I was told it was to make it difficult for the attacking archers to target the slit. I found that explanation as hard to believe as I do the effectiveness of dazzle painting schemes.

Thankfully, the advent of radar made the issue of dazzle effectiveness moot.

[Duke_of_URL]

Anyone who had to look at that while attempting to get a "target fix" would no doubt suffer either nausea, or convulsions. Not even moving it makes my head spin.

[DIYSwede]

At last, a practical use for modern art.

Camouflage IN modern art;

Edward Wadsworth ‘Dazzle-Ships in Drydock at Liverpool’:


An entire pre-modern "ism" in the early 20th century:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Vort...w=1280&bih=578

[Jon]

Orange oakleaf butterfly camouflage.