PBY Catalina and Combat Examples

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by johndallman

To a truly dedicated naval officer, option 1 saves his boat and crew for further service. Option 2 probably loses them. It also means the fact that the enemy have figured out this operation goes unreported, which is likely to cost more boats and crews. This should be enough to avoid the captain being executed for taking option 1, although he'll probably be punished.

Indeed. But, a peek behind the curtain, by November 1944 most of the truly dedicated submarine commanders are dead. These chaps had a few seconds to make the right decision, with suitable penalties to their Tactics…

(It doesn't help that the only boat fast enough to tow the rotor kite is a Typ IX, which is not the fastest crash-diver.)