During the First World War, there was a battle off the coast of the Brazilian island Trindade. This battle was known as the ‘Battle of Trindade’ and it was between the Imperial German Navy and the British Royal Navy. What makes this battle unique is the fact that one of the ships was disguised as the other!
Cap Trafalgar, a German auxiliary cruiser, was traveling in South American waters when it anchored at a small German supply post to resupply. While anchored, a British auxiliary cruiser, Carmania, noticed Cap’s steam and moved in to engage. Both ships were outfitted for the same purpose (to engage merchant vessels and smaller ships) but it was the Cap Trafalgar that was dressed up to look like the Carmania!
While moving in to engage the Cap Trafalgar, both commanders of their respective ships realized they would need more room to maneuver and headed to the open sea. After a lengthy battle, where both sides had many casualties and sustained severe damage to their ships, it was the Cap Trafalgar that was eventually sunk to the ocean floor.
