Want a distraction from the election? Enjoy this fun history story

Hi history friends! Arlen here.

I know everyone is stressed about the election. So I wanted to post a fun history story in case you’re looking for a non-political distraction today while you’re waiting for election results. I originally shared this story in a Twitter thread.

Today I want to share a little story about two boats. Just two boats.

When the British ocean liner Carmania was built in 1905, it wasn't the fanciest ship. It didn't set any records. The ship's most famous passenger, HG Wells, shrugged that "This Carmania isn't the largest ship nor the finest, nor is to be the last. Greater ships are to follow..."

When World War I started, passenger ships like Carmania were turned into Armed Merchant Cruisers. Basically, they just added a few modest guns and gave them the duty of protecting convoys. Ships like Carmania weren't sent into battle. Nobody expected much glory out of them.

This is the German ocean liner Cap Trafalgar.

It was by all accounts a grand, luxurious vessel. Brand new in 1914. Wikipedia describes it as "the epitome of pomp, elegance, and Germanic engineering." When WWI started, it too was fitted with guns and given military duties.

German commanders were sneaky. They disguised their ship Trafalgar as the British ship Carmania. How? They repainted it, and removed one of the ship's funnels. So instead of 3 it now matched the Carmania's 2. They sent it to a secret supply base at an obscure island near Brazil.

Disguised as the British ship Carmania, the German ship Trafalgar quietly operated out of the secret German supply base of Trindade Island, 700 miles off Brazil. Meanwhile, the REAL Carmania was sent to check out the island, expecting to find perhaps a few coal ships at most...

...I think you can already tell where this story is headed.

When Carmania (British) arrived, it was like looking in a mirror. There was an identical ship sitting there in the bay: the Trafalgar (German), in disguise. Both realize this means battle. They load their guns, trying to get ready for a fight that neither one of them is quite prepared for.

In order to fight a proper fight both ships needed to get out of the island's bay. So they steamed their way out into the open ocean. It was a bit like one of those "let's take this outside" moments on TV where both people agree that they won't start a fight in a movie theater.

What follows is a furious battle between the two... relatively lightly armed merchant ships. Neither of which is fitted with proper armor or terribly big guns, remember. It was a bit like watching two 7th graders fight.

To the death.

The newer German ship Trafalgar seemed to have the upper hand over the older British Carmania. It hailed a second German ship to help gang up on them Brits. While they wait for reinforcements, the Germans manage to hit the Carmania an astonishing 79 times!

The British merchant ship Carmania seemed to be on its last legs.

t had a leak from a hole underwater. It was on fire. The captain's bridge was destroyed. But then the Carmania manages to shoot one last shot. Perfect aim. All of a sudden the German ship just...sinks. Glass jaw.

Because the sea is a gentlemanly place, the British rescued 279 Germans. But by now they were limping, badly. Remember how the Germans had called for a 2nd ship? When it arrived it saw only the Carmania. They thought it was a trap and just noped out of there. Carmania won!

Anyway, that's a little story about not letting anyone else pretend that they're you. Even if they're copying your look and wearing your clothes.

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