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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Q - Ships


Steve1871

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MCount Felix Von Luckner , the Sea Devil has been my favorite history of the great war, Did the British/UK 

have their own hero, version of the "Sea devil"?? Have read articles that British merchants used all kind of ships for supply across Atlantic , including sailing vessels. Are there any books I could find on such a British or allied hero??

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Thank you Maureene for the help, Have you heard of any actual stories of q-ship sailing vessels as well?

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According to Le Fleming's Warships of World War 1 small sailing ships were used as Q ships. Dittmar & Colledge, British Warships 1914-1919 list a number of a sailing ships used as Q ships.

If you haven't already done so you might like to look at Sea Killers in Disguise (Bridgeland). It covers both British and German disguised ships (including Von Luckner).

 

RM

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Royal Navy armed a number of fishing craft, drifters and smacks, with concealed armament to fight off U Boats attacking fishing fleet in North Sea 

 

Most famous is HM Smack IVERLYON,  armed with a 3 pdr gun (some larger craft had a 6 pdr)  and small arms 

 

Small coastal U Boat, UB 4 , attacked her in August 1915.  IVERLYON responded with her 3 pdr and small arms sinking the sub with all hands 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Armed_Smack_Inverlyon

 

 

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Not `Sailing Ship'a' but `Gallant Gentlemen' by Keble Chatterton may be of interest ?? 

Story ; HMS BARALONG / `Q' Ship / U-27 / Lt.Cdr Godfrey Herbert.

 

Great Yarn and `thought provoking' !

 

Sadsac

  

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Here are some well illustrated useful books on ‘Q’ Ships which are well worth reading if you have not already done so:

‘My Mystery Ships’ by Rear Admiral Gordon CAMPBELL, VC.,  DSO,  first published by Hodder &  Stoughton Ltd, London  in 1928.

 

‘Q  Boat Adventures’ by Lt. Commander  Harold AUTEN VC., RNR,  first published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd, London  in 1919.

 

‘Sea Killers in Disguise’ by Tony BRIDGLAND, first published by Leo Cooper in 1999 – ISBN 0 85052 675.2

 

Philip

Edited by Philip Wilson
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10 hours ago, dman said:

Royal Navy armed a number of fishing craft, drifters and smacks, with concealed armament to fight off U Boats attacking fishing fleet in North Sea 

 

Most famous is HM Smack IVERLYON,  armed with a 3 pdr gun (some larger craft had a 6 pdr)  and small arms 

 

Small coastal U Boat, UB 4 , attacked her in August 1915.  IVERLYON responded with her 3 pdr and small arms sinking the sub with all hands 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Armed_Smack_Inverlyon

 

 

There was also the combination of an innocent looking ship on the surface connected to a submarine by phone line.

RM

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20 minutes ago, Biggles said:

Here is brilliant article on Q-ships.  Worth the read.  

Hope this helps.

 

Cheers,

Caleb

WWI Q Ships.pdf

 

 

Thanks I have just scan read this article which others may find useful.

 

Philip

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Amazing story of the HMS Prize, a 200ft, triple masted schooner.

 

Prize, damaged 30th April 1917, North Atlantic, about 120 miles SW of Fastnet Rock, southern Ireland - gunfire of German "U-93". With U-boats increasingly wary of suspicious steamships, full-rigged and auxiliary sailing vessels were sailing as Q-ships. The "Prize", a 200t, three masted topsail schooner was out in the Atlantic off southern Ireland in the early evening of the 30th. "U-93" came to the surface and opened fire with her 10.5cm gun at medium range. "Prize" was hit, the panic party went over the side and with the schooner apparently sinking, closed right in. At less than 100 yards, "Prize" opened up a devastating fire with her 3-12pdr guns, "U-93" appeared to sink and her commanding officer Lt Cdr von Spiegel and two of his crew were picked up. The damaged Q-ship (Acting Lt William Sanders RNR, awarded the Victoria Cross) reached Kinsale, S Ireland on the 2nd May. The badly damaged submarine also reached port.

 

PRIZE, 30th August 1917, North Atlantic - sunk by German U-boat. "Prize" (or "First Prize", or "Else", "Q-21", 3 masted topsail schooner, 200t, 3-12pdr, 1901) was lost exactly four months after her action with "U.93"; complement and casualties are not know.

 

As close as you'll get to the SMS Seeadler :)

 

Cheers,

Caleb

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Thank you guys for all the help.I little overwhelmed with all your responses . Need to read up and shop for a few books now. Really really great you guys!!!😁

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