Port Side of 5075 Tanker, Showing Camouflage

This technical drawing documents a U.S. Navy oil tanker during World War I, rendered in profile to display its camouflage pattern. The design uses bold geometric shapes in black, white, and light blue—a dazzle scheme intended to confuse enemy rangefinders by breaking up the vessel's outline and disrupting depth perception. Artist Griffith Baily Coale, a naval architect and illustrator, created detailed specifications for naval camouflage during the war. The schematic includes operational notes and color specifications, representing the systematic approach American shipyards applied to warship concealment. Such technical drawings bridged military engineering and visual design, establishing templates for naval vessels throughout the twentieth century.