Nelson ordered his fleet painted in a yellow-and-black pattern to help distinguish British ships in battle. The name Nelson's chequer came later, and its application is treated with some qualification. Similar paint schemes on enemy ships reduced the advantage. Large ensigns also identified a ship's side, but smoke and fire could still make recognition difficult.
Notable Point · 2:53:41-2:54:24
Why Nelson ordered a common paint scheme
See how yellow-and-black hull bands helped identify friendly ships through smoke, even though paint was not foolproof.