Stealth and Strategy: The Swedish Navy’s Camouflage Techniques in World War II

During the 1940s, particularly in World War II, Sweden maintained a policy of neutrality. This policy, however, did not mean that Sweden was completely uninvolved or unaffected by the war. In fact, the country took several precautionary measures to defend itself against potential threats, including from both Allied and Axis powers.

One notable aspect of Sweden’s military strategy during this period was the enhancement of its navy and coastal defenses. While there are no specific records of Swedish navy ships being camouflaged to blend into mountainous backgrounds—partly because Sweden’s main terrain near the coast does not consist of high mountains—the Swedish military did indeed use camouflage techniques in other ways.

Swedish ships and other military assets were painted in various camouflage patterns designed to blend into the maritime environment. These patterns included disruptive coloration, which breaks up the outline of a ship, making it harder to identify and target from a distance. The navy employed various shades of gray and blue to match the sea and sky, especially under conditions common in the Baltic Sea.

The Swedish Navy, during the early years of World War II, also focused on protecting its neutrality by mining coastal waters and preparing the fleet to repel any incursions into Swedish territorial waters. The use of coastal artillery and fortifications was prominent, especially in areas like the Skagerrak and the Baltic Sea entrances.

It’s also worth noting that Sweden enhanced its military readiness through other means, such as increasing its production of military hardware, including aircraft and tanks, and improving its air and ground defenses.

Thus, while the image of a Swedish navy ship camouflaged against a mountainous background during the war might not be historically accurate, Sweden did actively adapt and prepare its military forces during World War II to protect its neutral status in a highly strategic geographical location.

Here’s another Swedish ship from a different angle that shows the net up closer.

More specifically, the vessel in question is the frigate HMS Visby, originally launched as a destroyer in 1942. The photograph capturing this unique camouflage was taken during the summer of 1968.

The purpose of these mountainside nets, designed to be set up preemptively in case of mobilization, was to conceal the ships until a moment arose for a decisive offensive. Given the Swedish Navy’s limited capabilities in a direct open-sea conflict in the Baltic against any major adversaries, these tactics were crucial. The expectation was that, during either WWII with Germany or the Cold War with the Soviet Union, an enemy might attempt a large-scale, D-Day-style amphibious assault across the Baltic Sea. The strategy involved lying in wait until such a crossing commenced, then swiftly deploying from the archipelagos to launch a surprise attack on the invading fleet. This would ideally occur in coordination with coastal artillery and, potentially, the air force, which was heavily trained for anti-ship operations.

Amidst the nuclear arms race of the 1950s, the idea of constructing tunnels into mountains to shelter ships was considered a viable alternative to camouflage nets. However, the high cost soon rendered this impractical, and the navy instead relied on the three underground drydocks at the Muskö Naval Base, two of which were large enough to accommodate the 120-meter-long Halland-class destroyers.