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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Diary of Commander Joseph K. Taussig, Commander, Destroyer Division Eight

 

[Extract]

Thursday

Sept 6

Queenstown

. . . . This afternoon at 2 O’Clock the captains of all destroyers and sloops in port assembled at the Admiralty House for a conference.1 We met in the dining room and Admiral Bayly presided. There were about 30 captains in attendance. Each one was asked if he had any suggestions or comment to make. Most of them had nothing to say. A few had suggestions in regard to best stations for the escort vessels while con with a large merchantile convoy. There was some criticism as to the procedure when separating, and as to lights at night. It was proposed by Dortch2 and seconded by me, that it would be a good idea to place two destroyers well up ahead on either bow of the convoy about five or 6 mile away. Those destroyers should sight any submarines in the track of the convoy, before the submarine sights the convoy. They could make the sub submerge until the convoy was past. Admiral Bayly thought it a good idea and said he would recommend trying it. The conference lasted just an hour. . . .

Source Note: D, RNW, Joseph K. Taussig Papers, Mss. Coll. 97. Naval Historical Collection.

Footnote 1: Admiralty House was the residence of VAdm. Sir Lewis Bayly, the commander at Queenstown. It also served as headquarters for the base.

Footnote 2: Cmdr. Isaac F. Dortch, Commander, Warrington.