The Hunters and the Hunted: The Elimination of German Surface Warships around the World, 1914-15

During World War One, the Imperial German Navy posed a significant threat to British mercantile interests, particularly the import of food and fuel supplies. This book covers the major actions taken by the British to eliminate these threats, including the escape of the Goeben and Breslau to Turkey, the remarkable cruise of the Emden, the destruction of the Karlsruhe by an internal explosion, and the sinking of two British cruisers by the German East Asiatic Squadron. By the middle of 1915, the high seas had been mostly cleared of German surface warships, but two armed German ships dominated Lake Tanganyika. Two British armed motor boats were shipped to the West African coast and destroyed the German lake boats, leading to the invasion of Tanganyika by British forces and the inspiration for CS Forester's novel The African Queen and its film adaptation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 04 July 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Imperial German Navy had a substantial fleet of surface warships deployed across the globe at the outbreak of World War One. These ships posed a significant threat to British mercantile interests, particularly the import of food and fuel supplies. The urgency of their elimination was paramount. This book delves into the major actions and encompasses the following:

The daring escape of the Goeben and Breslau to Turkey, where they were integrated into the Turkish Navy and served in the Black and Aegean Seas.

The remarkable cruise of the Emden, detached from the German East Asia Squadron. In a span of just over three months, she sank a Russian cruiser, a French destroyer, 21 merchant ships, and destroyed cargo valued at 3 million. Tragically, she was cornered and sunk by the Australian cruiser Sydney while raiding the Cocos Islands.

The enigmatic destruction of the Karlsruhe, caused by an internal explosion.

The German East Asiatic Squadron, consisting of the armoured cruisers Schanhorst and Gneisienau, along with several light cruisers, made its way across the Pacific to the west coast of South America. There, they encountered and sank two British cruisers, the Monmouth and Good Hope.

The Konigsberg operated from Germany's colony of Tanga. After sinking a British cruiser, she sought refuge in the upper reaches of the Rufiji River. However, a lengthy naval and air campaign by British forces eventually led to her destruction by indirect fire from two RN Monitors.

By mid-1915, the high seas had been largely cleared of German surface warships. Nevertheless, two armed German ships dominated Lake Tanganyika. To counter this threat, two British armed motor boats were shipped from England to the West African coast. They embarked on a challenging 400-mile journey, navigating rivers and overland terrain, to reach the lake.

The culmination of this operation was the destruction of the German lake boats and the successful invasion of Tanganyika by British forces. This operation, known as the Insurrection of Tanganyika, played a crucial role in the broader context of World War One and had significant implications for the region's geopolitical landscape.

Weight: 258g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399020206