Noun
Q-ship (plural Q-ships)
(military, historical) A merchant ship with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks.
A solution to this was the creation of the Q-ship, one of the most closely guarded secrets of the war. Source: Internet
A typical Q-ship might resemble a tramp steamer sailing alone in an area where a U-boat was reported to be operating. Source: Internet
Anacapa was also withdrawn from Q-ship duty in 1943 and served out the remainder of WWII as an armed transport in the South Pacific and Aleutian Islands. Source: Internet
A Q-ship would appear to be an easy target, but in fact carried hidden armaments. Source: Internet
One was USS Anacapa (AG-49) formerly the lumber transport Coos Bay which was converted to Q-ship duty as project "Love William". Source: Internet