Unlike traditional camouflage, which helps objects blend into their surroundings, dazzle camouflage used stark geometric patterns to try to confuse German U-boat captains’ perception of a ship ...

They knew that at any moment, German U-boats could descend upon them. Disaster struck at 4:15 p.m. The German UB-64 launched a torpedo that hit the vessel's starboard side and caused an explosion.

The now-iconic geometric designs were intended to throw off the visual perception of German U-boats crews and prevent them from accurately targeting ships with torpedoes. Conventional wisdom ...