 Ship camouflage was introduced in the early 20th century as the range of naval guns increased , with ships painted grey all over . In April 1917 , when German U @-@ boats were sinking many British ships with torpedoes , the marine artist Norman Wilkinson devised dazzle camouflage , which paradoxically made ships more visible but harder to target . In Wilkinson 's own words , dazzle was designed " not for low visibility , but in such a way as to break up her form and thus confuse a submarine officer as to the course on which she was heading " . 
