CHAPTER 3 Part 3: England Expects More....
THREE
“Now to the main business of the morning: where are we with the grand table? It's CPO Davies' domain, so I asked him to fill us in. Davies?”
“Sir!”
Davies, who had been standing back, stepped to the centre and came briefly to attention before he spoke: “Sirs. Overall construction is almost done. It was all pretty basic really. There are a few issues to address today, and then the lads and the civilian carpenters will work the rest of the day and tonight to have it ready as soon as tomorrow morning.
“Sirs, as we see it, I mean Jones, MacPherson, and Cooper, and I see it, this is for you to study submarine attacks, whatever that takes, not to play scenarios of commanding officers through handling enemy confrontations at sea, like we did with the Grand Fleet.
“And so, sirs, from previous experience with the Fleet Action Control Tables at Scapa we have various markers for weather and visibility conditions, and can fit out to vary lighting as required, and can probably put other things together as we see the need. But, sirs, you see, what we really need is to determine three things:
- First, what will the table actually represent? What will be seen? Is it from the bridge of a ship, or of a U-boat? From an aeroplane flying high above? Once we decide, we can finish the main construction.
- Second, what will the scale be? Similar to the viewpoint, will this cover many miles and potentially many ships, or just the range of visibility from a single ship? We think we have an answer, but it needs to be confirmed. This will determine what kinds of markers or other bits and bobs we need.
- Third, are communications an issue? We have not done extensive work on this because unlike FACT at Scapa communications are not a concern – at least not yet, or so far as we have been told. So we figure that we can go forward without, and have signaling be added later if needed.
“That's about it, sirs. The other POs are standing by to review all these issues in as much detail as required as soon as this meeting is over. Thanks you, sirs.”
“Well done, Davies. So there we have the rest of the job for now: what do we need to study and how? I have to chase some administrative matters, and then go up to London to the Admiralty. So Barky and Imrie I would like you two, as experienced operators, to review this with Davies and the crew. Those matters have to be settled today.”
Smithy looked around. “Walke and Robinson, do you have anything critical lined up?”
At this, Walke looked up from a piece of paper he was spindling in his hands. “I have nothing, sir. I just have the odd feeling that we are missing some basic element – so I was hoping to have some time to review the summary notes we have on the entire U-boat war so far, just so I can know a bit more to talk with Barky about submarines and how they work.”
“Very well. Robinson: please sit in with Barky and Imrie as much as you can. Consider what Leonard just said, and listen – put the story together just like preparing a brief where you don't have all the pieces.”
“Aye, sir. Most court cases are like that. else you wouldn't have to go to court.”
“Leonard, you do just as you propose – and then meet with Barky later today, or tonight if needed. Imrie will be going over to the dockyard, so he might not be around from noon until tea time. I'll be going with him if I am available.
“And Barky – be on the lookout for something like he said – something we are all overlooking. When we finally see it, that may very well be the key.”