…when the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer was sighted on the horizon. The convoy's sole escort, an ancient converted cargo ship armed with obsolete guns, turned to meet her.
Crippled and sinking, the Jervis Bay held the Admiral Scheer at bay, allowing the convoy to disperse into a winter storm.
But the main thing to consider is that the crew knew they were going to loose and be sunk. They also knew the temperature of the water they knew they would soon be swimming in. This is where the true bravery comes in.