The reading follows Ron Walsh and Jack Mantle through the July 1940 Stuka attack on Foylebank at Portland, including Mantle's continued fire after he was badly wounded. Foylebank was a merchant conversion carrying four-inch guns, pom-poms, and machine guns for coastal convoy protection. Such conversions added urgently needed anti-aircraft firepower, but they lacked a purpose-built warship's subdivision and protection. Foylebank was therefore useful while moving with a convoy yet exceptionally vulnerable when caught stationary before she had completed working up.
Chapter · 1:29:18-1:42:29
Foylebank and the cost of coastal convoy air defence
A dramatic account of Foylebank's loss leads into the strengths and weaknesses of converting merchant hulls into anti-aircraft escorts.