The Decoys

In November 1942, Britain and America launched Operation TORCH, the ambitious invasion of French North Africa.
     
To convey 70,000 troops and their equipment required 600 merchant ships crossing the U-boat infested North Atlantic. The need for their protection meant withdrawing escorts from the routine convoys.  Amongst those left without adequate defence were RB 1 and SC 107, both eastbound from America, and SL 125, northbound from Freetown.  All three were at sea at the same time as the TORCH convoys.