© Harold Adams 2006 – photograph kindly supplied by Frank Shipp.

Depth charges explode in HMS Rushen Castle's wake as she attacks her unseen enemy. 

Noted 9 December 2007:  I have subsequently come across this photograph in an album belonging to Lt Robert McMullan, RNVR.  This casts some doubt on the copyright notice above.  Lt McMullan writes below his copy of the photograph, "Blackheath is torpedoed in the Straits of Gibraltar.  We drop charges.  Operation Artichoke.  Unifoxer port."  At last, a crew member makes mention of U-870's attack on SS Blackheath on 10 January 1945 - see Convoy OS.102/KMS.76: Reports of Proceedings (Part), Undated.

I also note this same photograph appears in Castle Class Corvettes by Norman Goodwin & Steve Bush - Norman Goodwin writes, "A single depth charge dropped by HMS Rushen Castle.  This was frequently done as a 'scaring' charge to encourage the U-Boat to remain submerged.  The cannister above the depth charge rail is a smoke float.  The Foxer displacers can be seen to the right of the watching sailors."  The photograph source is stated as "CCC(F)A Archives".