Decoy ships

Decoy ships: A name for certain vessels (also known as Mystery Ships and Q-Ships), introduced in 1915. They were vessels of all types and builds, given the appearance of tramps, trawlers etc., manned by picked naval crews and armed with concealed guns, which were sent out to cruise on the trade-routes to entice German submarines into attacking them. On a U-boat opening fire in attack, the Decoy Ship stopped, and part of the crew called the Picnic Party, and specially trained in the role, hastily lowered boats and went off, as though abandoning their ships in panic. On the U-boat closing on the apparently deserted vessel to finish her off, the men left on board, as the submarine came within close range, hoisted the White Ensign, dropped the vessel's sham bulwarks, and opened fire, usually sinking the submarine.

The fortune of war was not always one-sided. The U-boat commanders learnt to be wary in approaching possible "trap ships" as the Germans called the decoy ships, and on the "picnic parties" quitting, often shelled the vessel savagely at long range. The enduring heroism of the concealed gun crews on such occasions, as recorded, is almost incredible. Remaining at their posts, with their ships on fire, or partly blown up, they – the survivors – waited until the enemy ceased firing, and eventually sunk the U-boat, when, confident that nothing living could be on board, the Germans finally came near. On the other hand, in some cases, the decoy ships met their fate in these encounters.

See also Mystery ships, Q ships, Trap ships and Mystery VC.