A merchant hull loaded with containerized missiles already fits the arsenal-ship concept. The discussion also considers covert mine-laying by a refrigerated cargo vessel continuing apparently ordinary business. That possibility leads to a distinction in terminology: a Q-ship is a warship disguised as a merchant ship. Its civilian appearance conceals its fighting role.
Notable Point · 2:18:16-2:19:55
Merchant arsenal ships and the meaning of Q-ship
Containerized missiles make a merchant hull an arsenal ship, while Q-ship describes a warship concealed as a merchant vessel.