Sherbrooke ordered smoke and repeatedly turned his destroyers as though they were launching torpedoes, even when they had not fired. A heavy ship could not safely assume the threat was a bluff because unseen torpedoes demanded an immediate turn away. Similar uncertainty had disrupted stronger opponents in other destroyer actions. Hitler's restrictive orders against risking major surface ships made the German commander more cautious. Sherbrooke used that constraint to keep the raiders away from JW 51B with a much smaller escort.
Chapter · 24:05-26:12
Sherbrooke's torpedo feints exploited German caution
Smoke screens and simulated torpedo runs forced the German heavy ships to react to weapons that might already have been in the water.