How did two massive ocean liners, converted into armed merchant cruisers, end up engaging in a fatal naval battle while disguised as each other during World War I? Colin Simpson investigates the logistical and psychological circumstances surrounding the encounter between the British RMS Carmania and the German SMS Cap Trafalgar. By analyzing naval records and historical accounts, the author reconstructs the sequence of events that led these two vessels to mirror each other's tactical deceptions, ultimately resulting in a rare and destructive ship-to-ship confrontation.

Historians and naval enthusiasts frequently cite this work for its detailed focus on a singular, bizarre maritime engagement. Readers often note the author's ability to maintain narrative tension while adhering to the historical record of the battle.