Q-ship I.

This is coolbert:

The U.S. Navy, during the Second World War [WW2], as an expedient to combat the German U-boat menace, deployed without any measurable success, Q-ships.

"Q-ships, also known as Q-boats, Decoy Vessels, Special Service Ships or Mystery Ships, 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. The basic ethos of every Q-ship was to be a wolf in sheep's clothing."

A response by the U.S. Navy to the German U-boat offensive occurring on the east coast of the U.S. A threat, called in German: Paukenschlag (literally, "a roll on the kettledrum" and sometimes referred to in English as "Operation Drumbeat").

A threat that caught the U.S. Navy "napping", more or less totally unprepared. Expedient means were authorized and implemented. Means that proved to be more or less without merit?

Q-ships! Lures, decoys, naval guerrillas fighting an unconventional war at sea! An apparent merchant vessel, defenseless, in the sights [periscope] of a German submarine, easy pickings! The idea was to lure an unsuspecting German U-boat to the surface, the Q-ship engaging with hidden and unseen naval gunfire.

During the era of WW2, more likely than not, submarines tended to use their deck gun to attack and sink undefended merchantman. Saving torpedoes for more worthy, vital, and crucial targets.

To lure a German submarine to the surface, thinking that an "easy kill" could be had, the Q-ship employed a variety of ruses. To include:

* NOT flying a naval ensign, perhaps even flying a FALSE FLAG!!

* Crew members would mill about on the deck, visible to all, AND DRESSED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING, NOT NAVAL GARB!

* Sailing in an erratic manner, not adopting evasive measure, giving off a lot of black smoke, making itself [Q-ship] conspicuous.

Further, during an attack:

* "Controlled fires" would be set on deck, simulating damage that did not exist.

* "Panic parties" of sailors would leave the ship in lifeboats, creating a sense of urgency and distress.

* Q-ships tended to be loaded with wood products, empty but sealed drums, etc. All making the ship, if holed below the water-line, much less susceptible to rapid sinking.

The original three Q-ships as sent to sea by the U.S. Navy were: [Called "Queen" ships.]

* MS Wave [became] USS Eagle (AM-132) later: [became] USS Captor (PYC-40)

* SS Evelyn [became] USS Asterion (AK-100).

* Carolyn [became] USS Atik (AK-101).

Three other Q-ships were commissioned for duty on the east coast, one however not even seeing any sea duty. These three Q-ships included:

* Alice. A two-masted schooner that was de-commissioned when it was discovered the German had gotten wind of the Q-ship [Alice] before it even sailed!

* SS Gulf Dawn [an oil tanker] [became] USS Big Horn.

* Irene Myrtle [became] USS Irene Forsyte (IX-93).

"The careers of all five ships were almost entirely unsuccessful and very short, with USS Atik sunk on its first patrol; all Q-ships patrols ended in 1943."

Here is where things get murky? Atik was sunk on its first patrol. That is agreed. The Irene Forsyte [Forsythe] was actually christened by the navy as the USS Aeolis. This from Harry - - of KTB !

According to KTB "Sharkhunters" http://www.sharkhunters.com

The Aeolis met a grim fate. First damaged, then sunk by naval gunfire from the deck gun of a German U-boat.

"The boat sailed into a hurricane off Bermuda and was so badly damaged she could only limp into Hamilton sound for repairs. No further US records remain concerning this vessel but a wartime rumor reported that she was sunk by U-Boat gunfire."

"The rumor was true. On 3 June, 1942 . . . [the U-Boat U-432 commenced an attack] . . . At 2130 hours . . . Aeolis slipped beneath the waves"

Q-ships - - an expedient - - hardly even effective. ASDIC, sonar, huff-duff, hedgehogs, Ultra intelligence - - much to be preferred!!

coolbert.