Battle of Pierres Noires
[1] The port of Brest had been an important German U-boat base since the Fall of France, and its capture was one of the objectives of Operation Overlord.The German Kriegsmarine would often employ naval trawlers, Vorpostenbooten to accomplish that task, and these boats developed a reputation among the Allied navies.Escort Group 12, with Qu'Appelle as leader, detected the German force on radar and set off in pursuit at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph).The darkness, combined with uncertainty of the size of the German force and the close range at which the ships engaged each other nullified some of the advantage in speed and armament enjoyed by EG 12, and U-741 managed to escape.Operation Dredger would continue with further Allied naval infiltration into the Bay of Biscay, engaging the U-boats and their escorts in their home waters.