My Mystery Ships

Gordon Campbell remains one of the Royal Navy's greatest heroes. His exploits as the most successful Q-ship captain of World War I made him into a household name. His mystery ships, Farnborough, Pargust and Dunraven fought the most gruelling duels with German submarines, sinking three of them. Campbell developed the desperate tactic of deliberately allowing himself to be torpedoed to lure the U-boats to surface, where the Q-ship's hidden guns could then open fire. As the war progressed, the enemy became more difficult to deceive, Dunraven being sunk by a U-boat that escaped destruction. No less than five Victoria Crosses were awarded to him and his men, with Campbell also winning the DSO with two bars. This book tells the tales of the most courageous of naval men, those who served in Campbell's Q-ships.