Defensively equipped merchant ship was an Admiralty Trade Division programme established in June 1939, to arm 5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defence against enemy submarines and aircraf
The gun crew of a defensively equipped merchant ship during a drill at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1942. A merchant seaman (in knit cap) is ready to pass a shell to the Royal Navy gunners.
The Otaki in combat with the German raider SMS Möwe, using her 4.7 inch gun. Defensive armaments also offered protection against merchant raiders.
BL 4-inch Mk VII low-angle gun on a DEMS in 1943, an obsolete WWI gun typical of WWII DEMS armament
An army sergeant instructing merchant seamen in DEMS gunnery. The classroom is a converted bus.
Q-ship
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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 attac
British First World War Q-ship HMS Tamarisk
Q-ships hid naval guns behind moveable or pivoting panels
USS Atik (AK-101)
USS Big Horn (AO-45)