“I’ve been thinking, however. Suppose a squadron of destroyers went out on an exercise? Not convoying, you understand. Not convoying at all. Just practicing convoy procedures. Just professional drill, you might say. The Navy is always drilling, isn’t it? That’s your job. Well, suppose they chose to travel with these vessels—strictly for drill purposes, you understand—just this once? And to avoid difficulties and complications, suppose all this were done highly informally, with no written orders or records? Don’t you suppose the U-boats might be a bit discouraged to see sixteen or so
...more
