Naval Chameleons: Re-Evaluating the Legality of Deceptive Lighting Under International Humanitarian Law
Canadian Naval Review, Vol. 6, No. 4, p. 4, 2011
6 Pages Posted: 28 Feb 2011
Date Written: February 28, 2011
Abstract
A warship, like a chameleon, can gain a tactical advantage at sea by changing its appearance, and particularly by employing deceptive lighting measures at night. International Humanitarian Law (IHL), however, only permits certain forms of trickery or “ruses” in armed conflicts, while prohibiting more treacherous forms of “perfidy.” In spite of a widespread acceptance of deceptive lighting within naval circles, and a blanket condemnation of the practice from certain academic commentators, this article will demonstrate that deceptive lighting is neither universally permitted nor prohibited under IHL. Naval commanders may require a more nuanced understanding of IHL’s perfidy laws if they are to properly assess the legality of deceptive lighting.
Keywords: Perfidy, Deceptive Lighting, IHL, Ruse, Naval Warfare
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