Free Kleber's Convoy by Antony Trew Page B

officer was telling them to cool it and giving them a ‘well done’ all in the same breath. Redman thought again of the German aircrew. How long did it take to fall two thousand feet? Could they bale out? What was the point? They knew they couldn’t last in Arctic water and there was no hope of rescue. Better stay in the thing until it hit the sea and broke up. But it was on fire. Was the urge to jump irresistible? What sort of things went on in a man’s mind? Could he rationalise such a situation or did it resolve itself in unadulterated terror? The yeoman’s voice broke into his thoughts. ‘ Fidelix reports enemy aircraft shot down, sir.’
    â€˜Well done.’ Redman said it with humility. He was thinking of the Fleet Air Arm sub-lieutenants in the billiard-room in Greenock.
    The first-lieutenant was saying something. ‘… or shall we remain closed up, sir?’
    Redman said, ‘No. Let them carry on now. Get what rest they can. The party’ll begin in earnest soon.’
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    The signal from Fidelix announcing the shooting down of the German shadower was followed by one ordering an alteration of course – forty-five degrees to port. This diversion opened the distance between the Norwegian coast and the convoy and, if maintained, would take the ships north of Bear Island. How far north would depend upon what came from an Avenger aircraft, call-sign Red Three, sent to report on the ice-edge, usually to the north of the island in midwinter . When the weather closed in again, which was likelyat any time, the Vice-Admiral could, at the moment of his choosing, order a ninety-degree-wheel to starboard. This would take JW 137 well south of the island.
    In considering these tactics he had in mind that sooner or later enemy aircraft would report the convoy’s new course to the German High Command. There, he hoped, they would conclude that the convoy intended to pass north of Bear Island and move the bulk of the U-boat patrol line accordingly . In that case it would be less likely to intercept JW 137 if it passed to the southward. The success of this plan depended upon a number of imponderables, of which the weather was by no means the least.
    But the Vice-Admiral’s options remained open. He could, according to circumstances, pass north or south of Bear Island. The decision need not be made for at least another twelve hours. If during that time the convoy was not again sighted by the enemy, it might well pay to take the northern route.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Soon after the shooting down of the reconnaissance plane, two more shadowers arrived on the scene. Having found the convoy the German High Command was determined not to lose it while the weather lasted.
    This time, however, Fidelix had four fighters in the air covering the sector nearest the Norwegian coast and the new arrivals were shot down before they could make sighting reports. Thus the diversionary routing was still unknown to the enemy. It was a secret the Vice-Admiral was anxious to preserve. An attack by torpedo-bombers was imminent. Every minute the convoy spent on the diversionary course made the enemy’s task more difficult. Fidelix ’s meteorological officer had warned that the lull in the weather would break at any moment. Red Three , sent to reconnoitre the ice-edge, had reported a gale moving south-west over Bear Island. The message had followed her report that the ice-edge was well to the north of the island.
    This news confronted the Vice-Admiral with a difficultdecision. Should Fidelix recover her aircraft now or keep them airborne in the hope of intercepting an enemy air attack well clear of the convoy? To delay recovery too long might entail the loss of aircraft and their crews. He took a calculated risk-waited twenty minutes then gave the order to recover. Fidelix set about her task.
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    On Vengeful ’s bridge the TBS and VHF loud speakers relayed a series of laconic messages between