During World War I, Lieutenant Trevor Waite was an infantry officer posted to the colony of British East Africa. Somehow he found himself serving as part of a boat squadron. Although no sailor, he was compelled to do his duty and prove his worth to the obnoxious C.O. who was convinced that Trevor was a coward.

Although Trevor’s vessels were sturdy, reliable dhows, it looked like they might have met their match in the Germans’ superior Type 1885 torpedo boats…