That, in a few phrases, is the kind of work, and
shows the circumstances of the Q-ship in her
busiest
period. As we set forth her wonderful story, so
gallant, so sad, so victorious, and yet so nerve-trying,
we shall see all manner of types engaged in this great
adventure ; but we cannot appreciate either the
successes or losses until we have seen the birth and
growth of the Q-ship idea. As this volume is the
first effort to present the subject historically, we shall
begin at the beginning by showing the causes which
created the Q-ship. We shall see the consecutive
stages of development and improvement, the evolu-
tion of new methods, and, indeed we may at once say
it, of a new type of super-seamen. How did it all
begin ?
Turn your attention back to the autumn of 1014.
It was the sinking of the three Ci^essys on Septem-
ber *22 by U 9 that taught Gerinany what a
wonderful weapon of offence she had in the sub-
marine. Five days later the first German submarine
An Early Q-ship
Q-ship "Antwerp" entering Harwich harbour.
Q-SHiP " Antwerp "
Commander Herbert is on the port side of the bridge, the ^Mercantile Chief
Officer and Quartermaster being in the foreground.
To face p. 6
THE HOUR AND THE NEED 7
penetrated the Dover Straits. This was U 18, who
actually attacked the light cruiser Attentive. But it
was not until October 20 that the first merchant ship,
the British S.S. Glitru in the North Sea, was sunk by
a submarine. Six days later the French S.S. Amhal
Ganteaame, with Belgian refugees, was attacked by
a German submarine. A month passed, and on
November 23 the S.S. Malachite was attacked by
U 21, and after being on fire sank. Three days
later the S.S. Primo was sunk also by U 21. It was
thus perfectly clear that we had before us a most
difficult submarine campaign to contend with, and
that merchant ships would not be immune. On the
last day of October H.M.S. Hermes was torpedoed
oflf Calais, and on November 11 H.M.S. Niger had a
similar fate near Deal.
What was to be done ? The creation of what
eventually became known as the Auxiliary Patrol,
with its ever increasing force of armed yachts,
trawlers, drifters, and motor craft ; the use of de-
stroyers and our own submarines formed part of the
scheme. But even at this early stage the Q-ship
idea came into being, though not actually under
that name. Officially she was a special-service ship,
whose goings and comings were so mysterious that
even among service men such craft were spoken of in
great secrecy as mystery ships. This first mystery
ship was the S.S. Vittoria, who was commissioned on
November 29, 1914. She had all the appearance of
an ordinary merchant ship, but she was armed, and
went on patrol in the area where submarines had been
reported. It was an entirely novel idea, and very few
people knew anything about her. She never had any
luck, and was paid off early in January, 1915, without
ever having so much as sighted a submarine. The
8 Q-SHIPS AND THEIR STORY
idea of decoy ships suggested itself to various naval
officers during December, 1914, and their suggestions
reached the Admiralty. The basic plan was for the
Admiralty to take up a number of merchantmen and
fishing craft, arm them with a few light quick-firing
guns, and then send them forth to cruise in likely
submarine areas, flying neutral colours. This was
perfectly legitimate under International Law, provided
that before opening fire on the enemy the neutral
colours were lowered and the White Ensign was
hoisted. Seeing that the enemy was determined to
sink merchantmen, the obvious reply was to send
against them armed merchantmen, properly com-
missioned and armed, but outwardly resembling any-
thing but a warship. Thus it came about that on
January 27, 1915, the second decoy ship was com-
missioned. This was the Great Eastern Railway S.S.
Antwerp (originally called Vienna)^ which operated in
the English Channel. She was placed under the com-
mand of Lieut. -Commander Godfrey Herbert, R.N.,
one of the most experienced and able officers of our
submarine service. The choice was a happy one, for
a submarine officer would naturally in his stalking be
able to realize at once the limitations and possibilities
of his opponent. It was a most difficult task, for the
U-boats at this time were still very shy, and only took
on certainties. Neither in boats nor in personnel had
Germany yet any to spare, and there were periods
when the submarine campaign fluctuated. Tlius, day
after day, week after week, went by, and Aiitxverp
never had any cliance. The enemy was now beginning
to operate lurther afield, and at the end of January,
1915, ior the first time, a U-boat made its way up the
Irish Sea as far us off Liverpool, and tlien, on Feb-
ruary 18, was inaugurated the Ciennau Submarine
