Japanese forces diverted the British merchant vessel Vincent de Paul into Tsingtao and held it beneath the guns of Ashigara and other cruisers. Birmingham hurried from an exercise area, entered the port, and put a party led by a midshipman aboard the trader. That party firmly refused a Japanese attempt to board the ship. Captain Frank Brind then led the vessels out with a sloop ahead, Vincent de Paul in the middle, and Birmingham covering the formation from astern.
Chapter · 22:35-24:15
Birmingham retrieves Vincent de Paul at Tsingtao
Birmingham used rapid diplomacy, a shipboard party, and a protected formation to take the detained merchant ship Vincent de Paul out of Tsingtao.