Summary of Peter Shankland's The Phantom Flotilla

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 In June 1915, Dr. H. M. Hanschell was asked to go to the Admiralty and see Commander Spicer-Simson. He knew Spicer well, and he was a Naval Officer who was extremely devoted to his career. He was extremely disappointed when he was passed over for younger men.

#2 The Doctor was assigned to the Admiralty in August 1914. He had just been promoted to Senior Naval Officer of the Downs Boarding Flotilla, which consisted of two gunboats and six boarding tugs based at Ramsgate. He had finally gained a respectable position. But a mischievous fortune seemed determined to invest everything he did with a faint tinge of absurdity.

#3 The significance of Lake Tanganyika was that it formed the boundary between the Belgian Congo and German East Africa. It was dominated by a German gunboat, the Hedwig von Wissmann, and no Allied vessel could be brought against her because the only completed railway to the Lake was in German territory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Aug 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798350017977

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

Book preview

Insights on Peter Shankland's The Phantom Flotilla

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 12

Insights from Chapter 13

Insights from Chapter 14

Insights from Chapter 15

Insights from Chapter 16

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

In June 1915, Dr. H. M. Hanschell was asked to go to the Admiralty and see Commander Spicer-Simson. He knew Spicer well, and he was a Naval Officer who was extremely devoted to his career. He was extremely disappointed when he was passed over for younger men.

#2

The Doctor was assigned to the Admiralty in August 1914. He had just been promoted to Senior Naval Officer of the Downs Boarding Flotilla, which consisted of two gunboats and six boarding tugs based at Ramsgate. He had finally gained a respectable position. But a mischievous fortune seemed determined to invest everything he did with a faint tinge of absurdity.

#3

The significance of Lake Tanganyika was that it formed the boundary between the Belgian Congo and German East Africa. It was dominated by a German gunboat, the Hedwig von Wissmann, and no Allied vessel could be brought against her because the only completed railway to the Lake was in German territory.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

In 1914, only German East Africa was prepared for war. Its Military Commander, Von Lettow-Vorbeck, not only defended his country but also raided Uganda and inflicted sharp reverses on the forces sent against him.

#2

The German army had two gunboats at their disposal, and another under construction. They used them to attack the Belgian steamer Alexandre del Commune, which had just sailed from the German