Military camouflage is the use of
camouflage by a
military force to protect personnel and equipment from observation by enemy forces. In practice, this means applying colour and materials to military equipment of all kinds, including vehicles, ships, aircraft, gun positions and
battledress, either to conceal it from observation (
crypsis), or to make it appear as something else (
mimicry). The French slang word came into common English usage during
World War I when the concept of visual deception developed into an essential part of modern
military tactics. In that war, long-range artillery and observation from the air combined to expand the field of fire, and camouflage was widely used to decrease the danger of being targeted or to enable surprise. As such, military camouflage is a form of
military deception.