The HMS Stock Force was 160-feet long and had the appearance of being a merchant ship and its Royal Navy crew were disguised as merchant sailors. They even had a so-called "Panic Party," a group of sailors would row away from the ship if they saw a sub. This would lure the enemy to within range.
The Stock Force, though was hit by a torpedo in its duel with the U-boat. It damaged the enemy, but sank in four and a half hours. The crew was rescued by a trawler and two torpedo boats.
After the war, the legend of the Q-Ships grew. Lt. Harold Auten, the Stock Force's commander, published a book about his adventures called "Q-Boat Adventures." In 1928, the silent film "Q-Ships" was released in which Auten played himself.
--Cooter
No comments:
Post a Comment