Chapter 3 – 11. December

Johnny Walker uses the time to exercise. New tactical maneuvers are trained again and again as well as communication and the usage of the new snowflake flares, which really turn night into day. Walker is satisfied; his group is ready to face the Krauts. He only wishes he had some air cover.
His men are glad when the group finally returns into the harbor of Gibraltar. They hope for some recreation before they will set sails again.
Walker goes straight to the office of the commander of the base. He finds him with another RN officer.
“Ah, Walker, come in! I already wanted to call you back. I have new orders for you. Your convoy is complete, 32 merchant ships in total. You will decamp on December 14th. And I have news for you, good news and bad news.”
“Start with the bad news.”
“We received the information that the Germans forming a new wolf pack to intercept you. So be careful.”
“And the good news?”
“Do you know Commander Mac Kendrick, Walker? He is commander of the escort carrier HMS Audacity.”
“Yes, I am, and I am also commanding her three escort destroyers, Blanckney, Stanley and Exmoor. Western Approaches Command told me to protect this England bound convoy.”
Walker looks skeptically at Mac Kendrick, who has the same rank as he, but a higher age of service.
“I am glad to have you with me. The convoy can surely use some air support.”
The base commander smiles at Walker: “Well, Commander, now you have a notable force. The Krauts should better watch out for you.”

Two hours later Walker sits together at a briefing. Along with him are the captains of the escort ships as well as Commodore Fitzmaurice from the Spero, who is the commander of the merchant ships.
Walker opens the briefing: “Gentlemen, you all know the target of our mission. We have to sail to Liverpool without any casualties. However, there are German submarines and bombers on the way, trying to intercept us. We have 13 warships and about 32 merchant ships. I suggest that the merchant form 9 columns, the escort vessels will be placed around. We will sail with 7.3 kn. Thanks to the Audacity we will have a continuous air shield. I am sure that Commander Mac Kendrick’s planes will keep the Germans on distance.”
Mac Kendrick pipes up: “Wait a moment, Commander Walker. You should know that the Audacity has currently four airplanes, exactly speaking four Grumman Martlets of the No. 802 Squadron FAA. These are not enough to patrol all the time. We should only use them when we are attacked!”
This news frustrates Walker, but four planes are better than none: “Alright, we will have to discuss if the planes could do at least some patrols. I think we form the convoy the usual way, in the middle there will be the biggest ships and the ships with the most valuable cargo. Of course, the Audacity will be in the centre, so she is well protected and I can use her destroyers to chase submarines.”
Mac Kendrick shakes his head: “Walker, I am sure, you are an excellent naval officer, but it seems as if you know nothing about airplanes. It is always difficult and dangerous to start and land on a ship. The pilots as well as my crew are all well trained and still it is risky. You have to keep many things in mind, especially the wind. Escort carriers sailing within the convoy have a too limited maneuvering space which is required to turn the carrier into the wind to operate aircraft. It is absolutely necessary to operate outside the convoy. Operating in the area near the convoy gives me all the space I need to turn as required for aircraft operations. However it is plane to see the necessity of a special escort for the carrier alone. Therefore the Western Approach Command gave me three escort destroyers.”
Walker sighs silently. Things turn out to be much more difficult as he thought they might be: “Well, Mac Kendrick, I have to think about it. I will give my orders later. I think we can end our meeting today. I want everybody to get their ships ready. Err, and one thing to the merchant ships. I expect high discipline from everyone. You have to keep your place in the convoy, you will keep the rule of communication. You will get snowflakes, which enables you to light the night. However, you are only allowed to use them with my permission and you have to report every contact with a submarine to the next escort vessel.”
This time it is Fitzmaurice, who answers back: “That is rubbish. Most of the merchant ships are equipped with guns. If we see a submarine between our ships, we can effectively fight it. We can even ram it. It would be foolish to ask each time we have a contact and wait for an answer. We should use the lights to mark the submarine and then fire at it from all sides. Your escort vessels won’t help much, once a submarine is between our ships.”
Walker shakes his head. He had always had the feeling as if he had to guide flock of sheep through a pack of wolves, but know it seems to him as if the sheep may cause more trouble than the wolves.

A) Decide how to the use the planes.
B) Decide where to place the Audacity, where to place the escort verssels and how to use them (drawing might be useful=)
C) Give orders to the merchants.
D) Decide the course.

By the way, happy birthday, Kurt. Hope you feel young enough for this naval battle!