Page 88 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

protection was non-existent and naturally there were many reports that submarines had

been sighted. 31 Squadron spent many fruitless hours off the East Coast following up on

these reports. Junkers Ju 86 aircraft of 32 Coastal Squadron were on patrol duty up to 200
miles south of Cape Point following up similar reports. These patrols now had a new

dimension as, during July, Malmok was repeatedly at sea, co-operating with the aircraft.
When not involved with searching for submarines the boat worked with the AA & T

School at Youngsfield, clearing the range, acting as an observation platform, or merely
standing by in case of an accident.

It was only half way through 1941 that the first of the American boats arrived in South
Africa. The single HSRL and the armoured boats performed all rescues, aircraft co-

operation and range duties. Although routine, the work was important for the overall

success of the Joint Air Training Scheme.

The Malmok would go to sea as safety standby for aircraft of the Air Navigation School
that regularly flew between Seal Island and Cape Agulhas. As usual, when not at sea the

crews were kept busy with maintenance work. Toward the end of January, the crew spent
three days replacing fuel tanks and rendering the wheelhouse waterproof. At the same time

the engineers from both the SAAF and the RAF carried out basic engine services.

When on the range as a target, the armoured boat would follow what was known as an "AB

Line", normally 2 miles long and 1½ miles off shore. In effect the boat would go repeatedly
from one point to another and back again. A fixed course provided aircrew with the

experience of bombing a moving object without first wasting time trying to locate the
target.

The crews at Gordon’s Bay were well known for their civic action, from saving spotters on
the bombing range cut off by a flooded river, to evacuating residents whose homes were

threatened by fire. Between January and April, the crews of three fishing vessels were

saved on different operations in severe gales.

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