What makes a naval ruse legitimate

The U.S. Naval War College Review article, Sun Tzu, and a naval law handbook frame deception as a normal part of command rather than an exception to warfare. Lawful ruses mislead an opponent or induce reckless action without violating the law of armed conflict, while false colors must give way to the ship's true ensign before combat. A ruse works because commanders must judge imperfect information while conserving ships, crews, fuel, and time. Reacting to every possible threat can exhaust a force even when no attack materializes, but dismissing an unlikely report can expose it to a real blow.