It was intended to provide a target marking method for submariners...
A few crewman would mix up red and white lead based paint and then dip the broom in it.
Running submerged the captain was required to make two diagonal passes under a targeted boat and engage the broom to paint a large pink x on the bottom of the ship..
Running away on the last pass and coming about he would then engage the targeted ship with his topedoes. The key was to sink the boat so that it would roll over as it sank and therby reveal the pink x to any other observers. These were then photgraphed and were secretly kept and known only to those who had access to the "X" files.
Considered a sign of experience and expertise many sub skippers would attach a broom to the periscope shears in anticipation of their marking attempts.
It evolved very much like the "Snipe Hunt" of yore... Where you placed a flashlight in a paper bag at night deep in the woods in attempt to lure in a snipe....
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Clean sweep..... Argh!! what bilge wash that be.....