THE end of the First World War not only delivered peace to the nation but it also gave the people of Southampton a chance to see some of the spoils of the conflict, as well as other curious machines of war.

Two German U-Boats, which for two years or more had been pursuing the Kaiser’s policy of “frightfulness” on Allied merchant shipping, were moored at the end of Southampton Pier in December 1918, where they could be inspected for a small sum with the proceeds being handed over to a seaman’s charity.

Another intriguing craft of the war that found its way to Southampton was the famous 'Mystery Ship', which generated a considerable amount of curiosity at the town’s port.

Citizens of Southampton in March 1919 were afforded the opportunity of inspecting HMS Hyderabad when the Woolston-built Q-Ship paid a surprise visit to the port to give members of the public a chance to discover the ship’s concealed weaponry and novel appliances first-hand.

Designed and built in just four months at Thornycroft’s Southampton yard in 1917, HMS Hyderabad was one of a number of Q Ships, which were also known as decoy vessels, that were heavily armed but designed to look like ordinary merchant vessels to encourage German U-boats into making ill-advised attacks.

The Hyderabad was armed with one four-inch gun hidden in the base of her funnel, two 12-pounders fore and aft, and four Sutton-Armstrong bomb throwers in the ship’s cargo hatches. Her arsenal was completed by two Thornycroft depth-charger throwers concealed on deck and four 18-inch torpedo launchers hidden behind screens.

She was designed with an above-water appearance of a small tramp steamer but instead had a draught of about 3ft 8in which meant that she was also immune from torpedoes, which would usually travel at 7ft below the surface.

The very powerful armament and the crews for working the different weapons were entirely concealed until the signal was given for opening fire, when all the weapons were unmasked and ready for action in just two seconds to deliver a surprise strike to any enemy U-Boat foolhardy enough to get close to the Hyderabad.