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

by James H. Bruns

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476687636
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	11/10/2022
Pages:	274
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.55(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

During his 35-year federal and not-for-profit career James H. Bruns has served as Director of the Department of the Navy’s Museum System, with administrative oversight of the Navy’s nine national Museums. He lives in Lorton, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Preface 1

Introduction 17

1 The Gathering Storm at Sea 25

2 The Ocean, Sky and Sun 64

3 American Razzle Dazzle 72

4 The British and American Camouflage Section's Handiworks 81

5 The Navy's Camouflage Section Workshop at Work 83

6 Safe Passage 88

7 The U-boat 113

8 The Queens of the Convoys 121

9 The War of the Ways 128

10 The Navy Armed Guards 156

11 Convoy Duty 165

12 Cargos 173

13 Mail 185

14 The Destroyers, Subchasers and Eagle Boats 196

15 Convoy Orphans 211

16 Combating the U-boat Menace from the Air 216

17 Mines 224

18 Sabotage, Espionage and Subterfuge 236

19 Assessing Success 243

Chapter Notes 251

Bibliography 255

Index 257

Editorial Reviews

Why can’t history textbooks approved for use by students be written as interestingly and engagingly?”—Speed Readers

From the Publisher