The dazzle paint scheme originated around 1917 as a direct response to unyielding German U-boat attacks. German ships famously adopted an “unrestricted submarine war” policy at the start of ...

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.