Sea Warfare

In the opening pages a jaunty sea shanty gives way to a sober account of Britain's auxiliary fleet during the Great War. Kipling sketches the humble trawlers, converted fishing boats, and their crews—veteran sailors, young stokers, even retired admirals—who were pressed into service to keep merchant traffic moving under threat of mines and submarines. He ties this modern struggle to centuries of naval tradition, showing how age‑old tactics are reshaped for a conflict of steel and steam.

The narrative moves between vivid recollections of life aboard cramped decks and clear explanations of the tactics used to sweep mines, escort convoys, and outwit enemy U‑boats. Readers hear the mixture of humor, superstition, and hard‑won professionalism that defined these men’s daily battle with the sea. The result is a compelling portrait of a forgotten front of the war, where ordinary vessels became essential weapons in a global struggle.