TO MAKE VESSELS INVISIBLE AT SEA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 290, 6 July 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

TO MAKE VESSELS INVISIBLE AT SEA.

METHOD FOR LESSENING SUCCESS OF SUBMARINE ATTACKS.

Considerable, curiosity was shown recently at a place on tlie New England (U.S.A.) ceast regarding the movo ments of perculiair,ly painted craft. Inquiries devolopcd tiio fact that the activities Avere the result of experiments conducted by Lewis Herzog, an artist, and member of the New York Yacht Club, who is deeply interested in naval matters. Mr. Herzog, after several years experimentation, has developed and tested a method for painting ship's hidls and superstructuures in a way which reduces the visibility of vessels at sea by approximately thirty or fortv per cent, less than the present line of visibility pro. duood under current or past methods of coloring hulls and superstructures. No detailed description of the method is available. It may be said, however, that tho principle involved entirely revolutionises the usual application of blacks o- greys in the painting of vessels. A certain color scheme is utilised, based on purely scientific deductions of the operating values of light and color, applied in certain ways, causing- confusion to the eye, and evening a condition of luminosity at certain distances.

Tho method seems to produce jnconspicuousness readily, and the ships apparently become a part of the atmos. phere and seascape. Mr. Heizog. after various experiments, has demonstrated Ids discovery with one of his craft on tho eastern coast of America with a result that, in this instance invisibility was obtained at a mile and one-half, as against invisibility at three and one-half miles under usual boat painting conditions. Tho discovery is said to be of great importance to the shipping world, for it should diminish losses from submarine attacks. Tho adoption of the idea should mean, it is stated, that whereas periscopic observation can sight at ten miles under average atmosqheric conditions, a vessel and superstructure painted by method referred to would render the craft at any such distance, and so ensure its safety Mathematically stated, that means fortv to fifty per cent, ratio of increased safty for every vessel coming within the submarine zone.