Mission to Britain

by J Eugene Porter

  Brand captured the entire speech using his shorthand. He looked up and took the opportunity to get into specific requests. “Sir, there are new escort ships under construction in the United States. How many ships do you believe will be needed to maintain the convoy system successfully?”

  The admiral, who learned from the First Sea Lord that the young lieutenant was much more than he appeared, thought carefully. “Thinking about our needs and the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy, plus your navy, of course, I would estimate at least one hundred twenty-five of these ships are needed in the next two years to drive the U-boats under and keep them there permanently. And this also means adding another one hundred or more of the Flower-class escorts. With these new ships we can create hunter-killer groups based upon three or four of the new American-built escorts working in conjunction with escort carriers. This will make the Germans abandon the battle in its entirety or face extinction.”

  The admiral looked at his two associates and with increased vigor continued, “The need to build these ships is one matter but if one had all of these new ships, you would need two hundred-man crews for each ship to fight them and these men have to be trained and supported. People do not realize that if a ship is at sea escorting a convoy, one ship is in harbor being repaired, one ship is in harbor getting stores and fuel, and one ship is undergoing training to put to sea. Convoys, as Professor Blackett has explained to me and anyone who will listen, need to be larger than we have thought possible and then properly attended by six to eight trained escorts at the minimum. For every escort added to this mix, the survival rate of the convoy goes up greatly. So, Lieutenant Brand, learn all you can and give us your ideas on how we can work together. Then, go home and bring us some more ships and we will win this war.”

  Brand quickly replied, “Sir, we have learned a lot from you and your colleagues in this great nation, and I promise we will work hard to get you those ships and the men to man them.”

  Jameson broke in knowing the admiral had other meetings. “Admiral, thank you for your time. We will provide you a copy of our report before we leave Britain. I am sure that we will learn even more in the next few days as we meet more of your officers.”

  Admiral Noble acknowledged the kind words and stood to escort the Americans out of the room. After they had left, the admiral turned to Blackett and asked, “So this young man is only a scientist and not a regular navy man? Do spend more time with him and share with him your ideas and experiences. I think he can be a major asset in getting the United States Navy and their leaders in line with our way of doing things. Would you agree?”

  Blackett looked down and confirmed his notes and said, “Yes, Admiral, this young man is quite engaging and thoughtful. He is well schooled in some of our programs, and his academic knowledge sets him up well to rapidly move our Allies to our way of doing things. I will share some of our newest findings and see if he can add any observations. It is always good to get younger eyes on our problems. He can see things that we cannot. I will report back to you on what I find, sir.”

  “Very well, Professor, keep me informed on anything that comes out of your meetings, especially anything that is political. The First Sea Lord is very interested in understanding what the young man comes up with and how we can use him as another conduit of information to the Americans.”

  10

  24 March 1942

  Western Approaches

  Command Headquarters

  Liverpool, England

  • Philippines--Japanese begin intense air and artillery bombardment of Bataan. Luzon based Japanese Army and Navy planes begin thorough bombardment of Corregidor, continuing through the end of March.

  Brand had enjoyed his time with the amazing Patrick Blackett; especially when they were analyzing statistics provided by the Western Approaches staff. Both scientists agreed on the concept of a “larger is better” format for all convoys, due in part to the lack of escorts but also from the reduction in the probability of being discovered by U-boats. (Unbeknownst to the Allies, the Germans had broken many of the British merchant marine codes and knew their sailings.)

  Blackett strongly believed that by moving the convoys in larger groups, they hoped to avoid some of the German submarines waiting for them to appear over the horizon. Blackett had commented on the significance of sighting smoke on the far horizon which gave the U-boats a definite advantage in getting signals off to their headquarters in France. Allied convoys could then be plotted, and the U-boats would be given instructions on where to intercept them in large groups known as wolf packs.

  Blackett had also discussed how the centralization of command and operations of the Germans made the discovery and tracking of U-boats easier. He explained to James the first U-boat to sight a convoy was not to attack but to report and track it. These radio reports were quite frequent, and whenever this occurred, the High-Frequency Direction Finding (HF/DF) sets on an escort vessel could pick up the transmission from up to twenty-five miles away. These reports were also checked by more powerful land-based systems. They could not interpret the signal, but it gave them a bearing on the submarine’s location. If the escort could be spared from the convoy, it could follow the bearing and locate the enemy submarine.

  Many a startled U-boat captain had seen a destroyer powering toward him in the mist and fog of the North Atlantic and would crash dive for safety. Blackett explained if the escort could attack the submerged U-boat that was great, but just sitting on him would cause the submarine to lose contact with the convoy. The submerged U-boat could not cruise underwater faster than six knots at full power and much less when its batteries were depleted. All of this meant that the need for more and better-equipped escorts was one of the major elements required to win the war against the U-boats.

  James shared his experiences of his PBY attack off the U.S. Coast. Blackett was mesmerized by the story, especially the way James directed the attack. Both men sketched out how the attack was set up and the various permutations that could have been used, either successfully or not. This type of analysis was very important to both men because it set up models which could be studied further and then perfected. These attack guidelines were passed to the aircrews on both sides of the Atlantic. Blackett and Brand both came to an agreement that the escort vessel was the key element for close in defense, but the answer to crushing the German submarine threat was long-range aircraft equipped with the new recently perfected centimeter radar.

  The other key element required for the elimination of the German submarines was the building of more escort carriers. The carriers could travel with the convoys thus protecting the ships with their aircraft. Additional carriers, when made available, could be set up in hunter-killer groups and sent looking for the U-boats in the Atlantic. The combination of more escort vessels, the expanded coverage by land-based aircraft, and the deployment of more escort carriers would reduce the capabilities of the U-boats. They both realized that without the elimination of the German submarine menace, no future land-based campaigns to free Europe were possible.

  Brand was exhausted by the meetings with Blackett and some of his wizards but felt energized at meeting people with similar backgrounds and data-driven personalities. The naval staff officers who were present at most of the meetings were also professional and helpful in securing additional information requested by the group. James went back to his hotel after his last meeting with Blackett and wished Margret had accompanied him on this trip. Jameson told him it was best she had stayed in London but they would resume using her driving services upon their return.

  James decided not to protest the decision knowing she would be a constant diversion. However, he longed for her presence more with each passing day and knew that soon the team would have to go back to the United States and he did not know if they would ever see each other again. But for now, it was work which drove both him and Jameson to understand more about what the British were doing well and not so well in this struggle.

  11

/>   26 March 1942

  Office of the Commanding Officer

  36th Escort Group

  Liverpool, England

  • Adm. E. J. King relieves Adm. H. R. Stark as chief of Naval Operations. Admiral King assumes the dual roles of Commander in Chief United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations. His principal assistants are Vice Adm. F. J. Horne, vice chief of Naval Operations, and Rear Adm. R. Willson, chief of staff.

  Jameson had badgered Commander Williams for meetings with some of the commanders of the escort ships who had real-world experience to share with the Americans. It had taken Williams a few days to set up a meeting. Then he took them early in the morning to a small building near the heavily damaged dock area where they saw a sign that read “36th Escort Group.” Upon entry, they went through a series of long corridors made up of temporary walls inside what Lieutenant Brand thought was an old warehouse and finally found the office of the Commanding Officer, Comdr. F. J. Walker.

  Upon entry to this less than impressive office, they observed a petty officer on the phone. He slowly stood and told whoever was on the phone, “Love, company here, do what you can for me to find the bloody rations for the Stork, we sail soon.” He hung up and came to full attention, “Sir, how can I help the commander today?” He acknowledged the Royal Navy commander but didn’t do the same for the U.S. Navy captain and a junior officer behind him because he did not care to say more than he did.

  “Petty Officer, I am Commander Williams, and we are here to meet with Commander Walker. Is he here or onboard one of his ships?”

  “Sir, he’s in his office, and said to bring you right in, sir.” The petty officer walked up to the closed door and knocked. He heard a muffled reply and walked in, holding the door for the officers behind him.

  “Johnnie,” Commander Williams said in a friendly manner, “may I present Captain Jameson and Lieutenant Brand of the United States Navy.”

  Walker stood slowly with some pain but quickly smiled a greeting. “Captain Jameson, Lieutenant Brand, welcome to the Thirty-sixth Escort Group. My name is Johnnie, so please call me that.”

  Williams smiled at Walker as he had known him for many years and served with him in the China station in the mid-’30s. He had not informed Jameson anything about Walker and his reputation but decided to let them explore the peculiar mind of Commander Walker. Walker pointed to a small desk with four chairs arranged around it and a large blackboard behind it. James noticed the board and its drawings of what was surely a convoy under attack and how each escort was moving in different directions but in a very structured manner. Walker noticed the young lieutenant staring at the board, and since he had been notified by Williams about his special visitors, he jumped at the chance to test the young man.

  “Lieutenant, I see you staring at my convoy. What would you do if three U-boats were attacking you in this formation? Now think hard. One German is approaching from your forward starboard quarter, say twelve hundred yards out. The second German is at a right angle on the port side and is now within five hundred yards of the closest escort. The third German is at your rear, straight behind you and closing on the surface.”

  Brand looked at the commander and then returned his gaze to the blackboard and grabbed a piece of chalk. “Sir, without more information as to if this is a new attack, a repeat attack, or if it is in its final phase, I would assume the following.” Brand walked closer to the board and began to scribble a few notations at distinct locations on the board, not necessarily at the location of the U-boats.

  “First, I assume you are a slow convoy doing no more than eight knots, and it is nighttime. Second, sea conditions are not a heavy swell but moderate conditions with good visibility. Third, the U-boat on the port side had already fired at least one torpedo. Fourth, the German approaching here, on the forward quarter has not fired. I won’t address the trailing U-boat quite yet.”

  Brand then circled several of the ships on the convoy chart. “Here, is the first hit from the port side U-boat. He is well within launch distance, and I would guess he would have fired up to three torpedoes, keeping one for security purposes. I would divert the escort on the far end starboard to rush across the convoy line to take up a position below the port U-boat. He will turn to shoot his aft tubes, and if the escort can come up underneath him, there is a chance to damage or sink this one.”

  Brand looked at the board again and pointed at the other boats and moved his hands as he mulled over the next move. “The starboard quarter boat is closing on the surface at fifteen knots, so the starboard forward escort needs to jump out on a line of attack. At the same time, the convoy commodore should execute a starboard turn with all ships in line. Now, the third submarine comes into play. With the convoy turning, the last escort in the rear port position now has a line on the stern submarine, and being on the surface, should attack with guns and drive it down.”

  Brand looked at the convoy chart again then finished. “Sir, there are lots of variables to consider such as the levels of ammunition and depth charges remaining, rescue boat positions, and of course, the level of training of the crews and captains. If there is at least one fast escort and not just Flower-class corvettes, then a more aggressive play could be made.”

  Walker smiled at his old friend Williams. “Well-played, Mr. Brand. Or can I call you James? You sound like one of my senior officers on board our fastest sloop.”

  “Thank you, Commander.”

  “Captain, you have quite an intuitive young man on your staff. I would like to borrow him for a few months if I could.” Walker smiled knowing the request was impossible, but he enjoyed the idea of having a wizard aboard one of his ships.

  Jameson smiled and offered an apology. “I’m sure Lieutenant Brand would jump at your fine offer, but I fear I would be shot for allowing him out of my sight. The powers that be in my navy are, shall we say, interested in keeping Mr. Brand doing what he is doing for some time to come.”

  Walker nodded his understanding, lit his pipe, and eyed the blackboard again. “What you see on that blackboard is only one of the attacks we have faced in the past few months. The Germans know we are light on the number of escorts we can assign, especially to our slow convoys and he has an uncanny ability to attack from multiple angles at nearly the same time.”

  He puffs on the pipe and then uses it as a pointer. “This overwhelms our ability to defend the convoy, and it is imperative we build the command and controls to meet these threats in a logical and orderly manner. What you said, James, based upon only the information you saw on the board, is probably one of several ways to handle this attack situation. The key is having a plan of defense and a plan of attack. We have to be able to address threats as they occur and, if possible, aggressively punish the U-boats before they can use their torpedoes.”

  Walker knew that he had been building support at the admiralty level on his tactics. Again he turned to face the two Americans. “We have had only a few opportunities to use these tactics during battles with the Germans so far. In one attack in mid-December, the convoy we were protecting was hit by both submarines and aircraft. The attacks went on for four straight days. We lost one of our destroyers and two merchant vessels, but the worst blow was losing the Audacity, our first small carrier which sank with heavy loss. Yet, out of thirty-two merchant ships, only two were lost. Everything else made it to port.”

  He stopped for a moment and puffed again on the pipe and saw Commander Williams smiling at his story, knowing full well he was pulling the Americans into his thought process. He continued saying, “We also killed five of the enemy’s submarines. One of them was the U-574 which I attacked with depth charges, and then we rammed the bastard. If that is the only way to kill these pirates, I will do it again. My ship, the Stork, is ready to go again but the German is now deep in the sea forever.” Everyone could see Walker had a head of steam going and his voice was filled with emotion, growing louder and stronger, quite different than when they had entered the room.


  Williams attempted to slow his friend a bit. “Captain Jameson, Johnnie is not that sorry he dinged up his flagship by ramming the German. I think he gets great delight in sinking U-boats and is probably the best escort commander in the Royal Navy. His adventure, as I call his splendid defense of convoy HG76, won him the Distinguished Service Order and several rounds of the best whisky at a local pub, if I recall.” Williams smiled at his old friend who bowed slightly.

  Walker again took the stage. “What we need from your country, gentlemen is more escort vessels, so I’m not in a position of weakness while defending these convoys. We need replacements for our losses, especially the Audacity. I understand your vaunted production capacity is being ramped up to build many more of what you call escort carriers, but we need them fast. Also, I’m developing ideas for better air-sea coordination to kill these pirates long before they attack the convoys. What hope do you offer to my pleas?”

  Jameson responded, knowing the question he received from everyone in England was, where are the Americans? “Commander Walker, I agree with you that we need much more of everything. Some of the items on the list we’re taking back to America are not only the things you need, as do we, but also the technical skills required to use these new tools. As you have shown us with your description on the blackboard, there is a large hole in our experience levels.”

  The American stopped for a moment looking at the flamboyant British commander knowing the man was not only very brave but also possessed a fine strategic mindset on combating the U-boats. Glancing at Brand, Captain Jameson stated the facts as he knew them.