The submersibles were towed to the area by conventional submarines (HMS Truculent (X6)[4] Syrtis (X9),[5] Sea Nymph (X8),[6] Thrasher (X5),[7] Stubborn (X7),[6] and Sceptre (X10)[6]) and manned by passage crews on the way. Close to the target, the operation crews would take over. X9, while commanded by Sub-Lieutenant E. Kearon of the passage crew[8] and probably trimmed heavily by the bow in the heavy sea for the tow, was lost with all hands on the passage when her tow parted and she suffered an abrupt plunge due to her bow-down trim.[6] X8 (passage crew commanded by Lieutenant Jack Smart) developed serious leaks in her side-mounted demolition charges, which had to be jettisoned; these exploded, leaving her so damaged she had to be scuttled.[6] The remaining X-craft began their run in on 20 September, and the attacks took place on 22 September 1943 starting at 7:00 pm (1900 hours) that evening.