X9's loss shows how a miniature submarine could disappear before reaching the defended Norwegian anchorage. Telephone defects prevent communication after she dives, and her towing submarine later discovers that the tow has parted. A delayed search finds only an oil track, while fog reduces visibility before the towing submarine finally heads toward Norway to report the loss. The abandoned search makes clear that towing and communications failures were lethal operational hazards, not merely inconveniences on the approach to Tirpitz.
Notable Point · 6:48-8:31
X9 is lost during the passage to Norway
The read-aloud operational narrative follows X9's disappearance after a communications defect and broken tow, making the raid's attrition visible before the attack phase.