Among those who have rendered me the greatest assistance in regard to information, advice, criticism, the loan of manuscripts, illustrations, and in other ways, I desire especially to return thanks to Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, C.V.O., K.C.B., K.C.M.G., and Miss Voysey, C.B.E.; to Captain F. H. Grenfell, D.S.O., R.N., Captain Gordon Campbell, V.C., D.S.O., R.N., Captain W. C. O’G. Cochrane, R.N., Commander Godfrey Herbert, D.S.O., R.N., Commander Stopford C. Douglas, R.N., and to Lieutenant G. H. P. Muhlhauser, R.N.R. E. KEBLE CHATTERTON. _March, 1922._ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE HOUR AND THE NEED 1 II. THE BEGINNING OF SUCCESS 13 III. Q-SHIP ENTERPRISE 26 IV. THE STORY OF THE ‘FARNBOROUGH’ 39 V. THE ‘MYSTERY’ SAILING SHIPS 52 VI. THE ‘MARY B. MITCHELL’ 67 VII. MORE SAILING SHIPS 77 VIII. SUBMARINES AND Q-SHIP TACTICS 92 IX. THE SPLENDID ‘PENSHURST’ 109 X. FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS 132 XI. THE GOOD SHIP ‘PRIZE’ 143 XII. SHIPS AND ADVENTURES 158 XIII. MORE SAILING-SHIP FIGHTS 177 XIV. THE SUMMIT OF Q-SHIP SERVICE 192 XV. LIFE ON BOARD A Q-SHIP 213 XVI. Q-SHIPS EVERYWHERE 228 XVII. SHIPS OF ALL SIZES 242 XVIII. THE LAST PHASE 255 INDEX 273 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Q-Sailing-Ship _Mitchell_ _Frontispiece_ TO FACE PAGE An Early Q-Ship (_Antwerp_) 6 Q-Ship _Antwerp_ 6 Commander S. C. Douglas, R.N. 8 Commander G. Herbert, D.S.O., R.N. 8 Q-Ship _Antwerp_ 12 Gun’s Crew of Q-Ship _Antwerp_ 12 Q-Ship _Redbreast_ 22 Q-Ship _Baralong_ 22 Q-Ship _Baralong_ (Two Illustrations) 28 Officers of Q-Ship _Farnborough_ 42 Captain Gordon Campbell and Lieutenant C. G. Bonner 42 Q-Sailing-Ship _Mitchell_ 68 Q-Ship _Penshurst_ 114 Q-Ship _Penshurst_ (Two Illustrations) 116 Q-Ship _Penshurst_ (Two Illustrations) 120 Captain and Officers of Q-Ship _Penshurst_ 124 Men of Q-Ship _Penshurst_ 124 Q-Ship _Tulip_ 138