Smoke and mirrors : Q-ships against the U-boats in the First World War

The Q-ship, an ordinary merchant vessel with concealed guns, came into its own during World War I, when used by�the Royal Navy to trap and destroy German U-boats. The Q-ship operations�are�covered here in detail, by following the careers of the eight men who won the Victoria Cross on Special Service Operations; and by accounts of German U-boat crews being on the receiving end. No book on Q-ships can avoid the Baralong incident in which a Q-ship's crew allegedly executed the survivors of the German submarine U-27, on August 19,�1915. In a subsequent encounter with U-41, more British atrocities were alleged by the only two German survivors. Revealing extracts from the diary of a Royal Marine who served on board the Baralong are reproduced�here,�together with other first-hand accounts. With charge and counter-charge, this incident provides a fascinating story. The Q-ship, An Ordinary Merchant Vessel With Concealed Guns, Came Into Its Own During The First World War, When The Royal Navy To Trap And Destroy German U-boats. Deborah Lake Uses A Wide Range Of Primary And Secondary Source Material Drawn From Archives In The Uk, Germany And The Usa To Tell The Compelling Story Of The Q-ships And Their U-boat Adversaries. The Q-ship Operations Themselves Will Be Covered By Following The Careers Of The Eight Men Who Won The Victoria Cross On Special Service Operations; And By Accounts Of German U-boat Crews Being On The Receiving End. No Book On Q-ships Can Avoid The Baralong Incident In Which A Q-ship's Crew Allegedly Executed The Survivors Of The German Submarine U-27, On 19 August 1915. In A Subsequent Encounter With U-41, More British Atrocities Were Alleged By The Only Two German Survivors. Revealing Extracts From The Diary Of A Royal Marine Who Served On Board The Baralong Are Reproduced In The Book Together With Other First-hand Accounts. With Charge And Counter-charge, This Incident Provides A Fascinating Story. The Q-ship, an ordinary merchant vessel with concealed guns, came into its own during World War I, when used by the Royal Navy to trap and destroy German U-boats. The Q-ship operations are covered here in detail, by following the careers of the eight men who won the Victoria Cross on Special Service Operations; and by accounts of German U-boat crews being on the receiving end. No book on Q-ships can avoid the Baralong incident in which a Q-ship's crew allegedly executed the survivors of the German submarine U-27, on August 19, 1915. In a subsequent encounter with U-41, more British atrocities were alleged by the only two German survivors. Revealing extracts from the diary of a Royal Marine who served on board the Baralong are reproduced here, together with other first-hand accounts. With charge and counter-charge, this incident provides a fascinating story A dramatic account of the war at sea during the First World War