Merriam Press Historical Fiction HF7 First Edition (2014)
When World War I commenced, Germany possessed the second largest battle fleet in the world. However, it was insufficient to overcome Germany's inferior geographical position and England's warship building capabilities. As a result, the scattered German cruiser forces that were deployed across the seas, at the start of the Great War, were left to fend for themselves. One man, Vice Admiral Max von Spee, commander of the German East Asiatic Squadron, came up with an ingenious plan to save his squadron and return it to Germany.
This fictionalized telling of the German East Asiatic Squadron at the start of World War I, is factually accurate, including photos, maps, diagrams, tables and charts, providing a total picture of this aspect of the war at sea.
Contents
Prologue
Cast of Characters
Initial Deployments
First Blood
The Invisible War
Eastward Ho
Revenge at Sea
Action off La Araucana
The Empire Strikes Back
Heading North
Zeppelin LZ-31
Hinge of Fate
Appendix A: Asian Theater Order of Battle - 1 August 1914
Appendix B: Primary Combatants: Tale of the Tape (Western Pacific)
Appendix C: Support Forces: Tale of the Tape (Western Pacific)
Appendix D: Primary Combatants: Tale of the Tape (Eastern Pacific)
Appendix E: Support Forces: Tale of the Tape (Eastern Pacific)
Appendix F: Equivalent Naval Ranks (1914)
Appendix G: LZ-31 Specifications
Appendix H: U-38 Specifications
Appendix I: Gunnery Glossary
Appendix J: Cornell Battle Sequence
Appendix K: SMS Emden's Victims
Appendix L: Optical Rangefinder Analysis
Appendix M: Signalbuch der Kaiserlichen Marine
Appendix N: Battle of the Falkland Islands
67 B&W photos
2 illustrations
9 maps
14 appendices
8 diagrams
29 tables
