The Cruise of the Raider Wolf

by Roy Alexander

Recounts one of the 20th century's strangest and most stirring sea adventures -- the successful round-the-globe expedition of the First World War German commerce raider and minelayer Wolf . Breaking the Allied blockade, and disguised as a merchant ship, it sank 135,000 tons of Allied shipping. Her story, as told by an Australian radio operator who spent nine months as a captive on board the Wolf , is a tale of seamanship, courage and chivalry unique in the annals of warfare. Unparalleled wartime adventure on the high seas!

Genres: Military Fiction, World War I, Naval History

270 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 2015

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very frank, neutral, and funny recounting of the ship Wolf’s voyage. Well written and gives the reader the background you need to understand the happenings in the story. This book was a very nice lens to peer into the maritime perspective of a ww1 merchantman

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first person account of being captured by a German raider in WWI. The writing is simple but effective. Alexander captured my imagination and put me on the Wolf as she cruised the seas.

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course there is a host of German wartime adventure stories which have received small notice in the United States. One awesome sea story is the chronicle of the raider Wolf which sailed from Kiel in 1917 and returned 451 days later with quantities of cocoa, copper, rubber, etc., confiscated from Allied merchant ships. Wolf also carried 467 prisoners. The story of the Wolf is an odyssey; Wolf's voyage was the longest undertaken by any warship in World War I.

[Joe Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is an interesting, personal account of one to the internees (prisoners) on the German Merchant Raider "Wolf" during World War I. It can be considered a biography of his experience during about a 1 year period from 1917-1918 while on board the Raider Wolf. The Wolf travelled from Germany to as far as New Zealand sinking commercial ships, taking their crews/passengers and laying mines. It is an interesting read and is an amazing story of innovation, adaptation, leadership and perseverance. It is the most cogent first use of Naval aviation in history.

[Cindylou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of one of the strangest incidents of the First World War, about a German commerce raider that managed to sneak past the Allied blockade and steam all the way around the Cape of Good Hope, and into the Pacific, laying mines outside of Allied harbors as it went. The author, a prisoner is outspoken in his admiration for the Captain and crew of the raider despite his position. Full of interesting details about maritime commerce in those days.Definitely a great read.