Dazzle camouflage was designed to complicate an enemy's ability to target a ship in the water rather than attempting to blend a vessel into its surroundings. Using curved, diagonal, and parallel lines, the dazzle technique made it harder for German U-boats to estimate distance, speed, and direction for Allied vessels. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2013/07/dazzle-camouflage-the-art-of-war.html