Use of Paint in Camouflage

Abstract

SIR JOHN GBAHAM KERB, a member for the Scottish Universities, spoke in the House of Commons on October 23 on the use which is being made of camouflage. He divided camouflage roughly into two aspects, structural, and by pigment and paint respectively. Structural camouflage, whereby an attempt is made to disguise or even to hide a building or object, is, in Sir John's opinion, reasonably well done. Where the use of paint is concerned, as in concealing or giving a misleading appearance to an object such as a gun, he contends that present practice is ineffective. The general principles of camouflage by paint are well established, based on observations on wild animals: they are counter–shading and dazzle. Counter–shading, in which an animal is dark above and light underneath, the two regions merging into one another, reduces the appearance of relief and makes an animal appear flat. Dazzle has for its function the breaking–up of the surface and outline by violently contrasting tones of pigment. Both methods are observed operating effectively in wild animals. They have been elucidated, and also applied to warfare, by biologists. Yet the illustrations in current periodicals, and also direct observation, show that guns, vehicles, etc., are not being properly camouflaged. Sir John also referred to a recent picture of the Prime Minister against a background of guns which are “coloured, dark above and white below … [the colours] separated by a sharp line which does away with nine–tenths of the effectiveness that the counter–shading should have”. The fundamental principles of camouflage being known, steps should be taken to apply them correctly, in order to obtain the maximum protection.