HMS Audacity, which was also separated from the main convoy but on the opposite side to the other Escort ships, was also lit up by the snowflakes. U-boat 751 located her and hit her with three torpedoes. The action for the night, however, was not ended. The Escort vessels had located a U-boat as they steered to rejoin the convoy and had succeeded in sinking it using depth charges. This turned out to be U567. Later, as the Escorting ships were regrouping, HMS Deptford failed to see HMS Stork and rammed her about the quarterdeck, fortunately without inflicting disabling damage.

HMS Stork photographed in Plymouth Sound in 1940

Although the night's attacks had ended, there was continuing concern that the Germans would renew their efforts. This fear was heightened by the fact that the aircraft on board HMS Audacity had gone down with the ship and they no longer could get warning of approaching U-boats or protection from enemy Condor aircraft.

As they neared the Western Approaches, a Liberator of Coastal Command came out to provide a screen during the final stages of the voyage. As they neared home on 23 December 1941, they could review the success, or otherwise, of the convoy's experiments. Three merchant vessels had been lost as well as HMS Stanley and HMS Audacity; four U-boats had been sunk and Walker's first encounter with the enemy had allowed him to test his methods. The Commodore was certainly satisfied and made a signal to Walker that he had "won a great victory".

The sinking of HMS Exeter 1 March 1942

The effect on the men  was generally less favourable. People who nowadays complain about "stress" at work should reflect on those dark days of 1941 when all servicemen and women and especially sailors serving in convoys such as HG76, lived their lives in a high state of nervous tension. The uncertainty of convoy work was extremely wearing on the nerves and on the body. During the passage, it was impossible to grab more than a couple of hours of fitful sleep. There was no opportunity to get restful sleep - the bell that announced "Action Stations" could, and would, ring at any time of the day or night. And when you sprang into action, you never knew if this time would be the last time - as it was on that fateful December day in 1941 for Stoker, First Class, Ernest Charles Stentiford.*

* Stokers Ernest Stentiford, George Carmichael and many hundreds of their comrades are commemorated on the Royal Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe. If you are far from Plymouth, then visit the Memorial on an excellent website - www.webrarian.co.uk.