Room 40 knew a U-boat was heading south to Liverpool - knew the boat's history; knew that it was now somewhere in the North Atlantic under orders to sink troop transports and any other British vessel it encountered; and knew as well that the submarine was armed with enough shells and torpedoes to sink a dozen ships.

Erik Larson

Erik Larson

Any Armed Atlantic Boat British Dozen Encountered Enough Heading History Knew Liverpool North Now Orders Other Room Shells Ships Sink Somewhere South Submarine Troop Vessel Well

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The toilet from time to time imparted to the boat the scent of a cholera hospital and could be flushed only when the U-boat was on the surface or at shallow depths, lest the undersea pressure blow material back into the vessel.

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When I read that, ... I realized that maybe this guy was not quite the hero history has made him out to be.

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