Q-Ships and Their Story

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Edward Keble Chatterton (1878-1944) was a sailor and prolific writer from Sheffield. His voyages across the English Channel, to the Netherlands, around the Mediterranean and through the French canals led to many articles and books. Joining the R.N.V.R. at the outbreak of the Great War he commanded a motor launch flotilla, leaving the service as a Lieutenant Commander. In 1918 he was appointed to the Naval section of the Official History Committee, where he worked until 1922.

Keble Chatterton is unquestionably one of the most important and vivid nautical authors of the past century using both first hand accounts from the people that were there at the time and having the opportunity to access to official documents Chatterton recorded the maritime history of Britain at its most momentous point of change, from sail to steam, from the advent of the submarine to the carrier.

Based on interviews with many of the protagonists this is the story of the Q-Ship, also known as Q-Boats, decoy vessels, special service ships, or mystery ships. They were heavily armed merchant ships with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. This gave Q-Ships the chance to open fire and sink them.