During World War I, navies experimented with “dazzle” camouflage on ships to confuse German U-boat captains. A recent study from Aston University reveals that the dazzle paint was not as effective as previously thought. Researchers Meese and Strong discovered that the “horizon effect,” where ships appear to be traveling along the horizon, played a larger role in deceiving viewers than dazzle camouflage. This finding challenges the conclusions of a 1919 study by MIT student Leo Blodgett. The study’s revelation that the horizon effect was a significant factor in ship perception, even fooling experienced individuals, sheds new light on the effectiveness of dazzle camouflage during WWI.
https://gizmodo.com/wwis-famous-dazzle-camouflage-seemed-effective-due-to-unexpected-optical-trick-study-finds-2000577568