Commander Anthony Buzzard turned HMS Gurkha away from the wind and sea to improve the control and fire of her anti-aircraft guns. At 25 knots on a course opposite to the cruiser force, the destroyer soon passed beyond the horizon and became an isolated target. German aircraft concentrated on her rather than attacking the compact force and its combined guns. Vian later acknowledged that he should have recalled Gurkha immediately, while explaining that surface tactics against air attack still lacked a settled policy. With his ship stopped and sinking, Buzzard fired high-explosive shells into the sky to attract attention. HMS Aurora saw a burst, investigated, and took off the crew.
Notable Point · 45:19-46:40
Gurkha lost the protection of the cruiser screen while improving her gunfire
Turning away from the wind and sea improved Gurkha's firing conditions but separated her from the force and exposed her to concentrated air attack.