After sighting the enemy, Kennedy ordered action stations, changed course away, and sent its position, course, and speed to base before German fire destroyed the ship's communications. The approaching warship signalled Rawalpindi to stop in both English and German, then fired a warning shell across her bow when the order was ignored. The original account called the opponent Deutschland, but later evidence showed that Rawalpindi had encountered Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Even though the ship was doomed tactically, the contact report had operational value because it exposed the presence and location of the breakout force.
Chapter · 42:56-45:15
The sighting report that exposed the German sortie
On 23 November 1939, Rawalpindi identified an enemy vessel, reported its position, course, and speed, and tried to withdraw under smoke.