Razzle Dazzle: United States Navy Ship Camouflage in World War I

During World War I, American merchant ships were given oddly colored paint jobs to distort their profiles at sea. Dubbed ＂Razzle-Dazzle,＂ these camouflage patterns were believed responsible for dramatic decreases in Allied shipping losses.

This book examines the real (and more compelling) factors that made a difference in the survivability of merchant shipping: the various measures taken principally by the U.S. Navy, including the use of convoys and destroyer escorts, along with some innovative naval technologies. At the same time, advances in America’s shipbuilding industry and the development of the nation’s first major on-the-job training program enabled mass production of merchant ships at a record pace.

During his 35-year federal and not-for-profit career James H. Bruns has served as a Smithsonian curator, museum director, and deputy to the Assistant Secretary for American Museum and National Programs. He lives in Lorton, Virginia.