It may be noted that during the period from 27 November to 1 December, this Task Group was in the midst of a group of from 10 to 15 U-boats. Nine contacts, sightings or attacks on U-boats took place in our immediate vicinity, so that it is most unlikely that we were not seen by some U-boats. Evidently the U-boats are wary of attacking an independent tanker. If the Q-ship program has contributed to this wariness, as is suggested in several prisoner-of-war statements, many independent merchant ships may thereby have escaped attack, and the Q-ship program has thus been of value.
it maY be nOtED tHat DURiNG tHe period froM 27 NovembeR To 1 deceMbEr, thiS task GRoup was In ThE miDst of a grOup of fROm 10 to 15 u-boats. NIne cOntacts, SigHtiNgs or AtTAckS ON U-boATs took plACe in Our immediAtE vicINiTY, so thaT it is most unLiKely ThaT We wEre nOt seen BY SomE U-bOats. eviDentLY the u-bOatS ArE waRy Of ATtaCKing An iNdEpenDent TankeR. If The q-ShiP progrAm hAS cOntriBUted TO THIs wariness, as iS sUggeSted in sEveraL prisonEr-of-War stAtEmeNtS, many InDepenDenT merchanT shIps may tHereBy hAVe escapeD aTtack, AnD thE Q-ship program haS tHus bEEN oF value.