Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917

A riveting account of the collision of two ships—and the worst human-caused explosion in history before Hiroshima—with dozens of photos and illustrations.

In late 1917, one of the greatest natural harbors in the world was humming with excitement. Halifax Harbor was filled with naval convoys and merchant vessels while factories worked overtime in support of the Allied war effort in Europe. But on December 6, Canada's worst disaster struck, as two ships—one carrying high explosives—collide...