Bow wave gave impression of speed
It is a photo of HM Monitor M29 later re-named Medusa of which there were four of the class built for the First World War emergency war programme.
They were originally armed with a 9.2in gun taken off the old Hawke-class cruisers. These were later changed to two six-inch guns, surplus from the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships.
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Hide AdWith a speed of just 12 knots they had a false bow wave painted on the hull to give an impression of speed. She was sold in 1946.
I have never seen this type of camouflage before so perhaps it didn’t work and was never used on other ships.