Phantom fleets

摘要

It was the sinking of the dreadnought Audacious near the coast of Ireland on 26 October 1914 that tipped the balance of naval power. Britain was now numerically outnumbered by the Germans, with 17 capital ships against 19, including four battlecruisers, on the German side. It was decided that a news blackout would be imposed and that the destruction of Audacious by a mine would be covered up by, well, an audacious plan. The news was leaked that Audacious had been mined and taken to Harland & Wolff in Belfast to be repaired. Despite the secrecy, the passengers of the White Star liner Olympic had seen the stricken ship, and Olympic had tried and failed to tow her into shallow water. The sinking was perhaps one of the worst kept secrets of the war, but despite this, the Germans fell for the deception.