England Expects More....

[vpsoccer]

CHAPTER 3 Part 1: England Expects More....

ONE

“Good morning everyone. I am pleased to see you all here at 4 bells – coffee and some kind of toast will be along momentarily. I do know some of you have trains to catch, but early and late hours are to be our fare. I am circulating a page for each of you to see with weekly details of recent losses to U-boats. As you can guess, it is at the highest grade of secrecy. Suffice to say that if you reveal anything to anyone, your next posting will be to a powder barge in hades that will have you yearning for command of a broken sledge in the Antarctic.” Heads variously shook or nodded as their owners scanned the page or heard the warning, or just turned to gaze at the ceiling. The RNR officers, veterans of substantial careers in the Merchant Service, all took on a curiously similar and melancholy stare through the walls to an invisible horizon.

Torrance Smythe continued: “as you can see, none of us can waste any time. In fact, we will consider ourselves as if on active patrol at sea rather than ashore, and govern our work vs. the possibility of eating and sleeping against that. You will note that I made no mention of anything other than those three things. A few of us have wives or parents living nearby, and sometimes we might even get to say hello to them. But don't count on it. When you do get to go home at night you will be knackered, and due back here soon.

“Here, I'll take back that page.

“Now, Cabot, Parker, and Weldon, and your new assistants: for the rest that's Sub-Lieutenants Jenkins,* Talbot,* and Bothy,* my left to right – do I have that correct?” Smithy gestured to the left side of the room, where the RNR officers were also congregated. The three new officers, two young and one oddly older, all nodded. “Very well. I'll meet with each of you when you get back from your trip. For now a quick summary and off you all go.

“I know you spent half the night reading reports. Time is short but do you have anything significant to report to us? Weldon?”

Lieutenant Weldon, senior of the RNR officers, glanced at Cabot and Parker before speaking. “Sir, they all read pretty much as we discussed – no surprises. Ships steam along and there are just a few possibilities.

• First, they see a torpedo coming just before it hits, or it's night and they don't see it. Either way they get sunk. If its from farther away they might steer in an attempt to avoid, but usually it's too late.
  
• Second, they see a submarine on the surface and try to out run it – and it's gun – or they see a periscope and try to run away, forcing the sub to let them go or surface to pursue. Submerged subs only catch the slowest of ships. The only thing we can see is that the faster the ship, the more likely it can move off into darkness or squalls before a surfaced sub can catch them.
  
• Third, there is some kind of escort or armed merchant ship around when a sub is sighted, and that often seems to force a sub to stay submerged. In that case, the ship usually escapes. Again, cases vary depending on visibility and the speed of the ships involved.
  
• The only thing we can say is that the past few weeks have smashed the ancient law of the sea: you don't rush over to pick up survivors unless you want to become one.”

“Very well. Much as expected. Perhaps with your broader understanding you can pick up something else in direct interviews with the masters and mates. Teams to Liverpool, Southampton and Portsmouth, and Plymouth, with a possible trip to Bristol for the latter. Good luck to you all. Weldon, you'll be here at Southampton docks, but I only need a report if you or any of the others find something urgent.”

“Aye, sir. Thank you, sir,” Weldon replied for them all, as they filed out to head for trains, with Weldon and Sub-Lt. Bothy meeting a driver to take them to their first meeting. They would be missing the coffee.

===
*Fictional officers, all are brand new RNVR.

 

[Spencersj345.346]

I wonder if they'll figure out convoys are the answer and get the Admiralty to do it much earlier than otl and in so doing help the postwar British economy a fair bit. Mind you given how Moore was pivotal to the victory at Jutland he should be able to get the Admiralty to at least try a few experimental convoys after which the results they should become the new standard . Heck given the circumstances the Grand Fleet doesn't need nearly as many destroyers and light cruisers as it notionally did in otl anyways so the escorts should be there especially once the USN's destroyer force arrives to help.

 

[Deleted member 94680]

Third, there is some kind of escort or armed merchant ship around when a sub is sighted, and that often seems to force a sub to stay submerged. In that case, the ship usually escapes. Again, cases vary depending on visibility and the speed of the ships involved.

Sounds like Escorts have been highlighted already as an important factor. Convoys may take a while to be implemented, but could we see a form of escort ship being brought in fairly quickly for merchantmen? Although the logic of of escorts protecting merchantmen would imply that convoys are the best way to maximise their protection...

 

[yulzari]

and Plymouth, with a possible trip to Bristol for the latter.

Excellent work. Thank you.

Can I disabuse folk of the notion that Bristol is anywhere near Plymouth. It is a damn sight closer to Portsmouth. I am sensitive to this from many occasions when companies have blithely assured me in Plymouth (nearly 2 hours away west from Penzance) that, yes, they have a South West office in Bristol if I want to pop in ( a days return journey). I then ask if their London customers would appreciate being told that they have an office serving London in Manchester if they would like to pop in? Manchester being closer to London than Penzance is to Bristol and Plymouth little different.

 

[steamboy]

The earlier introduction of convoy's would be a godsend, and great work as always!

 

[Kosh]

Great to see this back and eager for Moore!

 

[AlanJWhite]

The earlier introduction of convoy's would be a godsend, and great work as always!

Ironically the RN was escorting Troop Carrying convoys from September 1914
(Though that was initially against a perceived surface raider threat)

However by July 1916 merchant ships crossing the North Sea to pickup food from neutral Holland were being organised into escorted convoys to protect them from UBoats based from ports in occupied Belgium
(With great success)

Other similar convoy routes soon followed both coastal and to the continent

It was only transoceanic traffic that was outside the convoy system .. and that only because of preventable mistakes by the analysts ... so there is some plausible hope for an improvement iTTL

 

[naraic]

Has there been any attention paid to small unescorted convoys.

We know why the admiralty was sluggish introducing convoys historically but 3 or 4 merchant ships would be able to offer a reasonable level of resistance with light guns against a submarine operating under cruiser rules. At the same time it would be easier to find a convoy with a similar cruising speed and less likely to overwhelm a ports capacity.

Might be more an idea for 1915 convoys perhaps.

 

[PMN1]

Ironically the RN was escorting Troop Carrying convoys from September 1914
(Though that was initially against a perceived surface raider threat)

However by July 1916 merchant ships crossing the North Sea to pickup food from neutral Holland were being organised into escorted convoys to protect them from UBoats based from ports in occupied Belgium
(With great success)

Other similar coastal convoys soon followed

It was only transoceamic traffic that was outside the convoy system .. and that only because of preventable mistakes by the analysts ... so there is some plausible hope for an improvement iTTL

Not called convoys though....protected sailings....

 

[Deleted member 94680]

Wasn’t escorting troop convoys ‘standard’ as opposed to escorting merchantmen?

 

[edgeworthy]

Wasn’t escorting troop convoys ‘standard’ as opposed to escorting merchantmen?

The RN never got out of the habit. Emden was sunk by an escort detached from a Troop convoy.

 

[Deleted member 94680]

The RN never got out of the habit. Emden was sunk by an escort detached from a Troop convoy.

That was my point. The RN escorted troop convoys whenever they (or the government rather) sent one out, but it took a while to build the momentum to escort merchants.

Maybe a comment on the relative ‘value’ of a troopship compared to a merchant ship in the eyes of the admiralty?

 

[andys]

Will they decide to arm as many merchants as possible, even with obsolete weapons, to try to scare the U-boats from making surface attacks? Those vessels which can't physically mount a weapon could be fitted with the naval equivalent of a quaker gun for the U-boat to see and decide to not risk an attack?

 

[AlanJWhite]

Will they decide to arm as many merchants as possible, even with obsolete weapons, to try to scare the U-boats from making surface attacks? Those vessels which can't physically mount a weapon could be fitted with the naval equivalent of a quaker gun for the U-boat to see and decide to not risk an attack?

Not necessarily a good idea while the UBs are operating under Cruiser Rules

An armed vessel can be sunk without warning

When Unrestricted Warfare is implemented (or expected) that is different
Hence the Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships of WW2

 

[vpsoccer]

Thank you all for the discussion. Troop convoys had to be escorted: that was the whole claim of the RN after defending the home shores. "British troops can be safely landed anywhere the tides rise and fall." And that applied whether fighting a European foe, or some distant colonial war thousands of miles away. But they could not bee seen to allow troops risked at sea.

@yulzari Thanks for the note on geography. In this case it is not a distance issue, but rather which 2-man team has the time to go to Bristol, if it is deemed useful and if anyone goes at all.

There will be a short section up in a few hours, as I try to keep all the elements separate. And probably a couple more through the week, to make up for some of them being short.

 

[jlckansas]

Better to have something short and keeping us interested than nothing at all and wondering what is about.

 

[vpsoccer]

CHAPTER 3 Part 2: England Expects More....

TWO

“Now then, before we go on. I didn't want to discuss this in front of the new men, but what happened at the RNVR recruiting? We were expecting those three, plus a couple to help with the analysis and other odd jobs. Admiral Moore sent a request, and called by telephone personally.”

Walke and Robinson looked at each other in shared disappointment. Walke spoke first: “sir, we were too late. They had already assigned most to be trained for new anti-submarine escorts, or to replace other junior officers so they could go hunt U-boats.”

Robinson continued the explanation: “Our security is too good. No one knows who we are or what we are doing. They told us pretty sharply: 'These men are already assigned to vessels fighting U-boats. We have put Admiral Moore's request at the top of the list for the next class, and once again he can have all the men who can be spared from operational vessels.' So with some jaw-boning...”

“He means his solicitor-style silver tongue,” Walke interjected.

“...we were lucky to get two: young Talbot, whom someone thought lacked a bit for authority – have you heard his squeaky voice? – and Jenkins only because he hurt his arm in physical training. Then Leonard here got chatting with Bothy, who seemed quite out of place, and I persuaded them to let us have him on account of his age.”

“He's over 40, plays in a symphony orchestra, and has maybe lived a bit, so I thought he might be able to help in some way or another.” Walke looked down, waiting for the response he knew was coming.

“Symphony orchestra? A musician?” Lieutenant Commander Imrie inquired with raised eyebrows.

“Music has patterns and rhythms, and they ebb and flow, at least as I understand music. It's not the ebb and flow of the tides, but it seemed he might have a head on his shoulders.” Walke was somewhere between chagrined and defiant. “And we got a third man.”

Smithy nodded. “Needs must and all that, and it worked. Thank you both. Who knows? If music does ebb and flow like the tides, maybe he will bring us something other than entertainment.”

“Aah... coffee's here,” Imrie interjected again as a steward wheeled a trolley into the room.

“Not a moment too soon, thank you steward, and please tell CPO Davies we are ready for him.” As he took the first cup, Smithy continued: “I asked Davies to catch us up on how the building has been going.”

 

[Salamander]

“Music has patterns and rhythms, and they ebb and flow, at least as I understand music. It's not the ebb and flow of the tides, but it seemed he might have a head on his shoulders.” Walke was somewhere between chagrined and defiant. “And we got a third man.”

Smithy nodded. “Needs must and all that, and it worked. Thank you both. Who knows? If music does ebb and flow like the tides, maybe he will bring us something other than entertainment.”

This could be the beginnings of Britain's sonar program. Ships, and therefore u-boats, make sound; sound travels through water; sound can be heard.

 

[FriendlyGhost]

I'm going to be very disappointed now if Bothy turns out not to have any great impact...

@Salamander: good point. As you say, maybe we can look forward to the development of ASDIC* early.
*Acoustic Symphonic Defence In Counterpoint [to U-boats], obviously

 

[AlanJWhite]

I'm going to be very disappointed now if Bothy turns out not to have any great impact...

@Salamander: good point. As you say, maybe we can look forward to the development of ASDIC* early.
*Acoustic Symphonic Defence In Counterpoint [to U-boats], obviously

In WW1 OTL the German UBs attacked warships from ambush or by penetrating anchorages submerged using torpedoes
but sank merchantmen in open waters surfaced using deck guns if they could and torpedoes if they had too.

Warship losses early in the war embarrassed and angered the RN but had minimal direct effect on the war
(though arguably fear of further losses lead to less than optimal decisions and planning later on).
On the other hand Merchant losses twice came near to winning the war for Germany
and yet were mostly ignored by the RN high command or misunderstood until it was nearly too late


iOTL ASDIC was one example of the RNs focus on the wrong issue
being a technique that worked only against a submerged UB and helped most protecting warships

iTTL the date is in the middle of the first of those periods of massive merchant losses
and the Team is tasked with ameliorating that problem...

If their efforts get diverted from that issue into arguing for an accelerated ASDIC that is a BAD thing
- especially given the huge scientific and technical resources already being poured into ASDIC
compared to how cheap and effective the accessible solutions to merchant losses actually were iOTL.