Responsibility shifted from Portsmouth to Plymouth and Western Approaches as the evacuation moved farther down the Atlantic coast. Dunbar Naismith's service as a submariner, personnel chief, and commander-in-chief gave him experience with both operational risk and large organisations. The Royal Navy pooled resources and used liners, troop transports, destroyers, and other large ships because Aerial covered a far wider area than Dynamo. Ships leaving Brest with spare capacity were sent farther south instead of returning empty. Saint-Nazaire then brought the force within stronger Luftwaffe reach, while the limited U-boat threat still shaped escort decisions.
Chapter · 54:45-1:05:42
Naismith, Brest, and Saint-Nazaire
As the operation shifts south, Dunbar Naismith coordinates destroyers, liners, transports, and RAF cover around Brest and Saint-Nazaire.