This is a great book written by Giles Foden and it talks about the only British Naval expiration in Africa during WWI. It talks about how the navy used the most stupid commander they had to lead a naval expedition with two gunboats to take out three heavily armed and armoured German ships of Lake Tanganyika. They were sent because neither the Belgian nor the British navy could get any big ships into the area. It is very bizarre and hard to believe it is real but believe t or not, it actually is. Here's a better sum-up of it. I would suggest buying it if your interested in the plot however I will admit the way it is written isn't amazing but the story certainly makes up for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimi_an...ake_Tanganyika

This sounds like a must read! Slightly reminiscent of the Sea Wolves, a film based on the true events of the Calcutta Light Horse attacking German battleships in then Potuguese Goa. Not quite as inept, but we Brits seem to be able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and defeat from the jaws of victory, just depends on the people on the spot!!