Chapter 8 – Noon, 18. December

Walker continues his march through the Atlantic Ocean. The leader of the Liverpool bound convoy decides that the time for detours is over. He conveys the captains of the other ships to reduce the zigzags to two turns per hour. He also announces that the convoy will turn northwards during night to take the straight way home.
The weather is getting worse and huge seas reduce the speed of the convoy to some 6 knots, however. There is nothing Walker can do to raise the speed, but at least the Krauts will suffer the same way.
The air patrols have already been stopped and the convoy has to rely on the lookouts. But during daytime of the 17th, nothing happens. After midnight, Walker gives the signal for the three destroyers and soon Blanckney, Stanley and Exmoor sheer out of course and disappear in the night. Soon Walker can hear the sound of detonating ash cans and the shine of snowflakes. The three destroyers are doing a good job to pretend a combat and Walker hopes that his trick will work and lure the Germans away from the convoy. He waits a couple of minutes and the he gives the order to turn northwards, away from the three destroyers and hopefully also away from the enemy.
At 2:00, however, he receives a message that one of the merchants claims that he has spotted a periscope. It is the Benwood, a freight ship in the middle of the fourth column. Minutes of anxious waiting follow, but nothing happens. The merchant ships keep their nerves and stick to the orders.
At 2:42, Lt. Cdr. Sayers from the HMS Rhododendron reports a short ASDIC contact in the western forefront of the convoy. However, the contact soon disappeared.
Walker has to face the fact that the Krauts are still out there waiting for their chance to prey and that the escort is significantly weakened by the withdrawal of the destroyers and the loss of the air patrols.
Fortunately, day breaks and still all of the ships are alright. Walker receives a message from the Audacity. Mac Kendrick complains that the Audacity has lost her escort and is now without any protection.
At December 18th, 12:00, Walker marks the position on his map. It is the cross between the squares CF99, CG77, DH31 and DH32. The convoy is still marching northwards with a speed of about 6 knots. The storm is getting worse and Walker hopes that he can keeps at least the 6 knots.
1) How to rearrange the escorts now that the destroyers are gone?
2) During night, the convoy will pass a awful storm. Any orders regarding this?