Osprey has put out book # 57 in their Duel series. It is about the British Q Boats or decoy boats, as they were also known, versus the German U-boats. This book is another interesting book about World War 1 to go along with the wars 100 year anniversary.

The Imperial German U-boats were preying on the merchant ships that were supplying the British war effort. The U-boats were doing such a good job of this that Britain had to think of something that would make the submarines surface. Once surfaced, the U-boat became more vulnerable and the ship would have a better chance to fight. Enter the Q ship, a ship that appears to be a lone merchant ship and easy target. Once the U-boat surfaces the Q ship’s hidden guns appear and open fire.

The book is divided into eleven sections:

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Design and Development
• The Strategic Situation
• Technical Specifications
• The Combatants
• Combat
• Statistics and Analysis
• Aftermath
• Bibliography
• Index

This book is illustrated with various period photographs and illustrations by Peter Dennis and Ian Palmer.

I highly recommended this book for anyone with an interest in World War I and some of the little known facts of the unusual warfare used. I would like to thank Osprey Publishing for the review copy and IPMS USA for the opportunity to review it.