identical externally but with a completely reworked interior. These operations were part of a longer series of frogman operations; see human torpedo. The operational base and training establishment was at the former Kyles Hydro Hotel at Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. Major operations Their first deployment was Operation Source in September, 1943, an attempt to neutralise the heavy German warships based at Kåfjord, Nordkapp in Northern Norway. Six X-Craft were used but only two successfully laid charges (under the German battleship Tirpitz). Two were lost while being towed to Norway; X8 began taking water and was scuttled, and X9 sank with her crew after the towline parted. Only X6 and X7, commanded by Lieutenant Donald Cameron and Lieutenant Godfrey Place respectively, were successful in placing their charges although their crews were captured (there is some evidence that X5 also placed her charges; X10 also penetrated the anchorage but was unable to attack and the crew were picked up by another submarine). Tirpitz was badly damaged, crippled, and out of action until May 1944; it was destroyed on 12 November 1944 by Avro Lancaster bombers during Operation Catechism in Tromsø, Norway. For this action, Cameron and Place were awarded the Victoria Cross, whilst Robert Aitken, Richard Haddon Kendall, and John Thornton Lorimer received the Distinguished Service Order and Edmund Goddard the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. The commander of X8, John Elliott Smart, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). There was a possibility that X5 had also successfully planted explosive side charges before being destroyed, but this was never conclusively proven; its commander Henty-Creer was not awarded a medal, but was mentioned in dispatches. The lost boats were replaced early in 1944 with X20 to X25 and six training-only craft. Submarines X20 to X25 were dispatched to Bergen, Norway. On 15 April 1944, in Operation Guidance X24 attacked the Laksevåg floating dock. X22 was intended for the mission, but had been accidentally rammed during training and sunk with all hands. X24 made the approach and escaped successfully, but the charges were placed under , a merchant vessel alongside the dock; the ship was sunk but the dock suffered only minor damage. On 11 September the operation was repeated by X24; this time she succeeded in sinking the dock. X-Craft were involved in the preparatory work for Overlord. Operation Postage