Catfish and Crayfish covered twenty-two miles on their second night, fifteen on the third, and only nine on the fourth as the tide grew harder to overcome. Those falling distances forced Hasler to postpone the planned 10 December attack and hide for another day before reaching Bordeaux. The pause also gave the crews time to rest, prepare the limpet mines, and coordinate separate assignments for the two sides of the docks. Mountbatten's insistence on doubling Hasler's original three-kayak proposal proved decisive because only two craft remained for the final strike.
Chapter · 1:05:06-1:07:20
The surviving kayaks reach Bordeaux
Catfish and Crayfish advanced by night over several days, delayed the attack for the tide, and reached Bordeaux on 11-12 December.