The Sea Wolves

During World War II, British Indian intelligence concludes a radio transmitter aboard one of three German merchant ships interned in Goa is leaking messages to the U-boats. They believe the transmitter is behind the heavy sinking of British ships in the Indian Ocean. The search centers on identifying the most likely vessel to strike.

The head of the Indian section of the SOE authorizes attempts to kidnap and interrogate two known German agents. These initial operations fail to yield usable intelligence, demonstrating the risks of the plan. The authorities then pivot toward a longer-term solution.

A Territorial unit of British expatriates, the Calcutta Light Horse, is approached to carry out the mission on behalf of the SOE. The volunteers eagerly sign up and undergo training, eager to contribute to the war effort. The unit's skills are seen as ideal for a clandestine raid.

Stewart and Cartwright travel covertly to Goa to plan the operation. They arrange diversions on the night of the raid by applying blackmail and bribery to keep guards distracted. The mission proceeds under a veil of deception.

The planners arrange multiple diversions: a party at the Governor's palace, a free-entry brothel for sailors, and a Carnival with fireworks. The aim is to draw attention away from the coast and open a path for the raiders. The stage is set for a dangerous nighttime assault.

Stewart has a brief affair with Mrs. Cromwell, a socially connected woman who is revealed to be the German agent Trompeta's conduit. The liaison provides him with information and adds personal risk. She attempts to kill him, but he kills her in self-defense after she previously murders Jack Cartwright.

The raiding party sails around the coast in a decrepit barge and plants limpet mines on the hulls of German ships in Goa. The explosive devices target vessels used for communications and supply. The crew is unaware until the raid is underway.

The raiders board one of the ships being used to transmit signals to U-boats, catching the crew off-guard. Despite orders of restraint, several German sailors are killed during the boarding operation. The ship is set alight and the raiders withdraw as it sinks.

The sinking ship marks a tangible disruption to German communications, briefly threatening their ability to coordinate U-boats. The raid demonstrates a direct impact on the enemy's signals network. The raiders observe the immediate consequences from the shore.

A German U-boat surfaces, expecting to hear a signal from the sunken ship. The scene underscores how fragile intelligence networks can be when compromised by a bold raid. The immediate operation ends with the submarine still active nearby.

Before the raid, the unsuccessful attempts to kidnap German agents demonstrate the risks and limits of the initial plan. The failure pushes planners to switch to using the Calcutta Light Horse for the operation. The episode also reveals the German counterintelligence vigilance.

The Portuguese neutrality of Goa complicates direct actions and forces the mission to remain clandestine. The raid is designed to deliver a strategic blow while respecting neutrality. The episode highlights wartime constraints in neutral territories.