This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning (1 Viewer)

[Crimea_River]

According Theo Boiten from his work "Battles with the Nachtjagd":

"Nachtjagd's first official victory over the Reich was credited to Ofw Paul Förster of 8/NJG 1 when off Heligoland he destroyed a Whitney [N1496 at 0250 hrs] of 10 Squadron on 9 July. F/L D.A. French-Mullen and his four-man crew, who were on a bombing operation to Kiel, survived and were taken prisoner."

 

[Njaco]

According Theo Boiten from his work "Battles with the Nachtjagd":

"Nachtjagd's first official victory over the Reich was credited to Ofw Paul Förster of 8/NJG 1 when off Heligoland he destroyed a Whitney [N1496 at 0250 hrs] of 10 Squadron on 9 July. F/L D.A. French-Mullen and his four-man crew, who were on a bombing operation to Kiel, survived and were taken prisoner."

I believe the first night victory wherever was back in October.

 

[parsifal]

9th July Part I
The Med Flt

The fleet had been concentrated sth of Zante at 0600, 9th July, in 36° 55' N., 20° 30' E., and at this time the fleet took up the following formation: Force " A " in the van eight miles ahead o f Force " B " , with Force " C " eight miles astern o f the WARSPITE, the mean line o f advance was altered to 260° at 15 knots. The air searches ordered the evening before had commenced at dawn, the EAGLE having flown off her a/c at 0440, and reports o f the enemy began to come in. The first came from Flying Boat L.5807 at 0732— 2 BBs, 4 cruisers and 10 destroyers steering 350°, 15 knots in 370 14' N., 160 5 1 ' E. Further air reports quickly followed of a group of 6 cruisers and 8 destroyers bearing 080°, 20 miles from the main fleet at 0739, and then at 0805 that the main fleet had altered course to 360°. According to this information the main enemy fleet now bore about 280°, 145 miles from the WARSPITE. The CinC altered course to a mean line o f advance o f 305° and an hour later to 320° at 18 knots in the endeavour to work to the northward of the enemy and so reach a position between him and Taranto. A t 0858, the EAGLE flew off 3 a/c to search the sector between 260° and 300° to maximum depth. Several reports from these recon a/c and from Flying Boats 5807 and 9020 were received between 1026 and 1135. These, though they differed considerably, seemed to afford fairly reliable information of the enemy's movements. Thus, at 1105, one of the EAGLE's a/c reported 2 BBs and a cruiser with 4 other cruisers near by in 38° 07' N., 160 5 7 ' E., while at 1115, Flying Boat L.5807 reported the enemy battlefleet in 38° 06' N., 170 48' E., steering Nth. It seemed probable that the ships in the latter report were, if correctly identified, actually considerably further to the westward. These reports indicated that the enemy fleet consisted of at least 2 BBs, 12 cruisers and 20 destroyers, dispersed in groups over a wide area. This last point if correct was of considerable advantage to the med Flt, as it meant the RN was concentrated, whilst the RM was still dispersed. It looked, too, as if the group of cruisers and DDs, reported at 0739, had made a wide sweep to the north-eastward and had been joined by another gp o f cruisers and DDs, possibly those reported as being in company with the battlefleet. A t 1145, acting on the assumption based on the air reports that the enemy fleet was then steaming nth in a position 295° 90 miles from the WARSPITE, an air strike of 9 Swordfish aircraft was flown off the EAGLE to attack with torpedoes. But owing to a lack of reconnaissance a/c and to unavoidable delay in flying off relief shadowers, air contact had been lost 10 mins earlier (1135), and in that time Adm Campioni, deeming that he was getting too far to the northward, had altered the course of the Italian battlefleet to 165° (SSE) in order to concentrate his fleet in about 370 40' N., 170 25' E.

Air compoents regained contact at 1215, when Flying Boat L.5803 reported 6 cruisers and 10 destroyers in 370 56' N., 17° 48' E. steering 220° and 5 mins later a group of 3 CAs in 370 55' N., 170 55' E . steering 225; but owing to the battlefleet's turn to the sth, the air strike flown off at 1145 failed to find it, though at 1252 it sighted a large number of enemy ships and working round to the westward of this group, at 1330 attacked the rear ship. The ship was thought at the time to be a BB, but actually it was one of Admiral Paladini's CAs which were then steering for the rendezvous; no hits were made in this attack, which described enemy AA as heavy, though the a/c were not damaged and suffered no losses.. Meanwhile the WARSPITE had maintained her course 320°, and at noon estimated her position as 37° 30' N ., 18° 40' E. An air report at 1330 that there were no enemy ships between 3340 and 2910 to a depth o f 60 miles from 38° N., 180 E . made it clear that the enemy battlefleet had turned to the sth, and that the cruiser gps which were thought to have been sweeping to the north-eastward had altered to the SW. The indications were that the enemy fleet was concentrating SE o f Calabria in the approximate position 370 45' N., 170 20' E. Further air reports helped to establish its position and movements: thus, at 1340, Flying Boat 9020 reported 3 BBs and a large number of cruisers and destroyers in 370 58' N ., 170 55' E ., steering 220°, and at 1414 gave their course and speed as 020°, 18 knots. Apparently the enemy had by that time completed his concentration, and turning to Nth once again was maintaining a central position with 3 directions open for retreat. Whether he intended to stand and fight in an area o f his own choosing was still a matter o f conjecture. The British Fleet on its NWcourse was rapidly closing and at 1400, having achieved his immediate object of cutting him off from Taranto, the CinC altered course to 270° to increase the rate o f closure. Though the cruisers were well ahead, BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN's speed limited the rate of approach, and at 1430, in 38° 02' N., 18° 25' E , the WARSPITE increased speed to 22 kts, acting as a BC to support CruSqn 7., which in comparison with the enemy cruiser force was very weak, being fewer in numbers and lacking 8-inch gun ships. A t 1434, the EAGLE's striking force had landed on and an air recon report received at 1435 gave the enemy's course and speed as 360°, 15 knots. This was amplified 4 mins later when the enemy's bearing and distance from the WARSPITE was signalled as 260°, 30 miles. Force "A", (less the RAN STUART which had just been ordered to join BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN's screen), was then 8 miles ahead of the WARSPITE while Force "C" was about 10 miles astern of her.

At this stage when the period of approach may be considered to end, there was a general impression that the enemy intended to join in battle. This impression was not far wrong. The first enemy report received by Adm Campioni that day had come from an a/c at 1330. The signal, which arrived at rather an awkward moment, just as he was concentrating his fleet— a manoeuvre complicated by the F.A.A. attack on the CAs— made it clear that the RN had been steering for an objective further nth than had been conjectured the night before. He determined, therefore, to interpose his fleet between the Italian coast and the enemy, and if possible to get between him and Taranto, accepting battle and relying on his superiority o f speed to enable him to break off if that proved necessary. He was under strict operational restrictions not to endanger the heavy ships under his command. He then had in company the 2 BBs, 6 CAs, 8 CLs and 24 destroyers.1 The 4 CLs of RM CruSqn 7 were still some distance to the SW, but in view o f the urgency to keep open the route to Taranto and the marked numerical superiority in cruisers and DDs he already possessed, he decided to steer to the Nth without waiting for them

Action Commenced

A t 1447, the ORION sighted white smoke bearing 230° and 2 mins later black smoke, bearing 245, being laid by a DD. Apparently the enemy was completing his concentration behind this cover of smoke. 5 mins later the NEPTUNE reported two enemy ships in sight bearing 236°. These reports were amplified by further details at 1455 and 1500 from the ORION. On first sighting the enemy the damaged GLOUCESTER was ordered to join the EAGLE, which— screened by the RAN VOYAGER and VAMPIRE— was taking station 10 miles to the eastward of the WARSPITE, while the CAG (less the standing CAP of 4 Sea Glads) was re-arming and re-fuelling in readiness to renew its attack. The remaining 4 cruisers, in order from nth to sth NEPTUNE, LIVERPOOL, ORION, and RAN SYDNEY of Crusqn7 were formed on a line of bearing 320°, steering 270° at 22 kts, distant 10 miles 260° from the WARSPITE. A t 1500 the enemy fleet appeared to be disposed in 4 columns or gps spread over a wide area, with intervals of about 5 miles between the columns, which were on a line of bearing I30°-3I0°. The direction of their advance was reported as 020°, speed 19 kts. Only a few o f their ships were visible simultaneously to the RN ships and then only for short periods. There was difficulty in gauging the RM formation and what ships were present because of this dispersal. CS7 estimated the enemy disposed in 4 c gps. The port wing column was estimated to be of 5 or 6 cruisers, including some of the Bolzano class CAs, the next column was thought to consist of 2 or 3 cruisers, ahead of 2 Cavour class BBs. In the third column 4 cruisers, probably CAs, and in the starboard wing column 4 CLs. In the van were a number of DDs, probably 3 flotillas while some others formed the BB ASW screen.

Actually, this was an overestimate o f the number o f cruisers present in this opening stage, according to the Italian records. Adm Campioni had been proceeding on a mean course 010°, the 6 CAs under Adm Paladini in the POLA, disposed three miles on his port beam, and 4 Cls 5 miles on his starboard beam. A t 1500 the CAs were moving forward to take station in the van, a movement facilitated by a turn to port by the BBs. The 4 cruisers o f the RM CS7 were some distance to the SW. Weather state was wind north, force 4, sea slight, 1/10th cloud and visibility ranging from 13 to 18 miles.

.

 

[parsifal]

9th July Part II


Vice-Adm Tovey was getting too far ahead o f the WARSPITE, and at 1508, in order to avoid becoming heavily engaged before she was in a position to support, he altered course Nth together. As he turned, the NEPTUNE reported 2 BBs bearing 250°, 15 miles off. CS7 was still closing the enemy and soon gps of enemy cruisers and DDs were seen showing up between the bearings o f 2350 and 270° at distances of 12 to 18 miles. Course was again altered— to 045°— and at 1514 the sqn was formed on a line of bearing 350°. The surface action which ensued falls into three phases:— ( 1514 to 1547- Cruiser action, in which the WARSPITE intervened. (2) 1548 to 1615. BBs and cruisers in action, and F.A.A. attack by the EAGLEs air gp . (3) 1615 to 1649. The Italian Fleet in full retreat; British cruisers and DDs engaging enemy DDs as opportunity offered. From 1640 to 1925 the enemy shore-based aircraft carried out heavy but ineffective attacks on both fleets with complete impartiality.

A t 1514 the enemy cruisers bearing 250° opened fire at a range 23,600 yards on CS7. Tovey increased speed to 25 kts at 1515 and a minute later altered course to 025° to open the " A " arcs. With the advantage of the sun behind him, the enemy's fire was good for range, but it fell off later. After a couple more alterations of course together to 355 and 030°, CS7 was ordered at 1522 to engage an equal number of enemy ships. The NEPTUNE and LIVERPOOL immediately opened fire, range 22,100 yards, followed by the RAN SYDNEY at 1523 engaging the fourth cruiser from the right. The speed o f the Squadron was increased to 28 knots and the ORION, at 1526, fired at a DD for three mins, range 23,200 yards. When this DD altered course away, the ORION shifted target to the right-hand cruiser, then bearing 249, range 23,700 yards. By this time the WARSPITE was intervening. It appeared urgently necessary to support the outnumbered cruisers, and at 1525 Cunningham detached his DD screen, which formed single line ahead on the NUBIAN, and altered course to starboard to pass on the WARSPITE's disengaged side. A minute later (1526) the flagship opened fire on what was believed to be a CA bearing 265°, range 26,400 yards. Blast from the first salvo damaged the Warspite's a/c, which was subsequently jettisoned. 10 salvoes were fired, and it was thought a hit was scored by the last.4 The enemy cruisers turned away under smoke; this took them out o f range o f CS7 which then checked fire at I531. During this opening stage of the action no hits had been observed on the enemy ships, whose fire had been equally ineffective. The British cruisers were straddled several times, but the only damage done was by splinters from a near miss to the NEPTUNE's a/c, which was jettisoned shortly afterwards, as it was leaking petrol. . Cunningham was finding the slow speed of his battlefleet a sore trial. Having ordered the MALAYA to press on at utmost speed, he turned in the WARSPITE through 360° and made an S turn to enable her to catch up. CS7, whose orders were not to get too far ahead of the Flagship, made a complete turn to conform with this movement. While under helm the WARSPITE fired 4 salvoes between 1533 and 1536 at each of two CLs, which induced them to turn away. It was thought that these ships were attempting to work round towards the EAGLE, as they were on an easterly course when sighted. Apart from this burst of fire, there was a lull in the action till 1548. Cunningham could do nothing but wait for his BBs to come up. Cunningham signaled to Tovey:— " I am sorry for this delay, but we must call upon reinforcements." The situation of the British Fleet was then as follows: CS7, steering 310°, 28 knots, to close the enemy was 31 miles to the NW o f the WARSPITE, which was turning to 345. The MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN— particularly the former— had gained considerably. The DDs, all of which had been released from screening duties, were concentrating in their flotillas on the disengaged bow of the battlefleet. A squadron of six enemy cruisers was in sight ahead of their battlefleet

Just at this moment (1548) the second phase or battleship action began, when the enemy BBs opened fire on the WARSPITE at extreme range. Reserving her fire till 1553 the WARSPITE then fired at the right-hand enemy BB CESARE, bearing 287°, range 26,000 yds. Just previously, the EAGLE's striking force of 9 Swordfish of No. 824 Sqn, which had flown off at 1545, passed over her on their w ay to the attack. The enemy's shooting was moderately good, most of his salvoes falling within 1,000 yards, some straddling, but dispersion was quite marked. One closely bunched salvo fell about 400 yds off the WARSPITE's port bow. The DDs, then passing to the eastward of her, under orders to join Tovey, were narrowly missed by salvoes of heavy shells falling 1-2 miles over the Fleet flagship. At 1600 a salvo from the WARSPITE straddled the CESARE at a range of 26,200 yards and a hit was observed at the base of her foremost funnel. The effect was immediate; the enemy ships altered course away and began to make smoke. The shell had exploded on the upper deck casing, starting several fires and killing or wounding 98 men. Four boilers were put out of action and her speed dropped to 18 knots, causing the ship to drop back on the CAVOUR. This meant that Campioni had lost the margin of speed on which he was relying to counter-balance the superiority of the British gunfire, and he decided to break off the action without more ado. Accordingly he altered course to west and later to 230°, and ordered those DDs suitably placed smoke and attack the enemy fleet, though he recognised that in broad daylight against practically untouched ships they were unlikely to achieve material success. All he hoped was that they might delay the enemy from closing during the critical stage of disengaging. The WARSPITE at 1602 tried to close the range by altering course to 310°. The MALAYA, by then in station bearing 180° from her, fired 4 salvoes at extreme range, but all fell short. 3 more salvoes, fired by her at 1608, had an equally disappointing result. The ROYAL SOVEREIGN, unable to close the WARSPITE nearer than 3 miles, took no part in the action. At 1604 the enemy BBs became obscured by smoke, and the WARSPITE ceased fire, having got off 17 salvoes. Just as this BB action was ending, the EAGLE's strike force attacked Paladini's CAs. After passing over the WARSPITE, the Swordfish had a bird's-eye view o f both fleets opening fire and noticed several salvoes straddling the WARSPITE. When 2/3s of the w ay towards the enemy they came under AA. fire at 6,000 feet. The enemy fleet, partially obscured by smoke, seemed to be in some confusion with 15-inch shell straddling their ships. Observing two large ships at the head of a line of cruisers, the squadron leader, Lieutenant-Commander A. J. Debenham, decided to attack the leading ship, which at that moment was turning in a circle. After the attack by sub-flights had commenced this ship became more distinct; though it then seemed probable she was a Bolzano class cruiser and not a BB, he decided not to call off the attack. AA fire became general during the final approach, which was made at 1605 in three sub-flights from ahead. All the aircraft dropped their torps successfully on the enemy ship s starboard side between her bow and beam bearings. Contemporary claims of a hit however are misplaced, all torpedoes missed the target.

RM BBs CESARE and CAVOUR Firing 9 July 1940

 

[parsifal]

9th July Part III

Meanwhile, the cruisers had renewed their action, with CS7, steering 310° endeavouring to close the enemy, who at 1556 recommenced fire. The ORION replied at 1559, her target being a CA bearing 287°, range 23,000 yards. A t 1600, the NEPTUNE and SYDNEY opened fire respectively at the 2nd and 4th enemy cruisers from the right, and the LIVERPOOL followed suit 2 mins later. The course o f the Sqn was altered to 010° and then 070°, but as the enemy was seen to be turning away at 1606, course 010° was resumed. About this time, too, the DD flotillas were coming into action. They had been ordered at 1545 to join CS7, and after their unpleasant experience among the " overs " while passing the WARSPITE, were reformed at 1555 on course 350. From 1602 and 1605 the two leading flotillas (14th and 10th) came under heavy fire from the enemy cruisers but were not hit. The enemy DDs were observed at this time by the WARSPITE moving across to starboard from the enemy's van, and at 1607 two DD salvoes could be seen landing close to the STUART. A t 1609 the WARSPITE fired 6 salvoes at a cruiser bearing 313°, range 24,600 yards, which had drawn ahead of the enemy BBs. A minute later torpedo tracks were seen passing through the 14th Flotilla. A t 1611, the ORION shifted target to the right-hand cruiser bearing 308° range 20,300 yds, which was then the only ship within range. The SYDNEY too fired a few salvoes at this ship as well, her previous target having become very indistinct. The NEPTUNE straddled her target which she claimed to have hit, and the LIVERPOOL straddled with her fifth salvo, after which the enemy ships altered course away, throwing her salvoes out for line. During this period of the action, intense fire from the enemy DDs, which were moving up to gain a position for attack, was a constant source o f concern to the British cruisers. Their guns outranged the cruisers'4-inch armament, but as soon as the enemy cruisers had disappeared in the smoke, the cruisers turned their 6-inch guns on to enemy DDs, which were quickly driven off. This ended the second phase o f the action.

A t the beginning of the 3rd phase of the action (about 1615) the general position was thus roughly as follows:— The Italian Fleet was withdrawing to the westward, the damaged CESARE and CAVOUR sorting themselves out behind a smoke screen on a westerly course and the cruisers gradually conforming on NW courses. Their DDs were either laying smoke, or proceeding to positions suitable for attack on the British; one flotilla was already firing on CS7. Turning to the RN, the BBs on a NW course were pursuing the enemy battlefleet, with the DD flotillas bearing about 030° from the WARSPITE— steering to join CS7, then some 9 miles nth o f WARSPITE; base course for CS7 was again 010° to conform with the enemy's turn away, and was engaging enemy CAs. A t 1614 the signal for the RN DDs to counter-attack the enemy DDs was made. The flotillas were then about 4 miles NNE. of WARSPITE-, speed was increased to 29 knots and course altered to 270 to close the enemy, each flotilla manoeuvring as necessary to clear the others and keep their lines of fire open. Speed was increased to 30 kts at 1617 and at the same time CS7 altered course to 340° in support but 4 mins later altered away to 040° to avoid fouling the DD attack. The 10th DD Flotilla opened fire at 1619 on an enemy DD ahead, range 12,600 yds, and the STUARTS's first salvo appeared to hit. The 2nd D.F. opened fire at 1626 on a DD bearing 290°, range 14,000 yds, and the 14th D.F. at 1629 on one of 2 DDs bearing 278°, range 12,400 yards. Apparently at this time a number of enemy DDs, after working across to starboard o f their main fleet, were attempting to make a torpedo attack. After firing their torps at long range, they turned away to the westward making smoke, their DF2 retiring through the smoke made by the leading flotilla. On account of these tactics, the RN flotillas were only able spasmodically to engage targets when they presented themselves within range, unobscured by smoke. No hits on either side were seen by the WARSPITE's a/c on observation duty. CS7, after turning to the NE to clear the flotillas, the enemy quickly disappeared and fire was checked at 1622; at the same time a sub was reported, which, however, proved to be the wreckage o f an a/c. In order to place the cruisers in a better position to support the DDs Tovey then altered course round through south to 280°. The ORION then opened fire again on her former target, and the NEPTUNE managed to get off a couple of salvoes at a cruiser, which showed up momentarily out of the smoke. The SYDNEY's target, a smoke-laying DD, was engaged till she became obscured; and the LIVERPOOL at 1625 fired 4 salvoes at a cruiser, range 19,000 yards, before she also disappeared into the smoke screen. A t 1628, course was altered to 180°; the ORION, NEPTUNE and SYDNEY fired occasional salvoes whenever they caught fleeting glimpses of enemy DDs, and four mins later Tovey hauled round to 210° in pursuit o f the enemy. At 1634, with all their targets rapidly disappearing in the smoke, CS7 ceased fire. This marked the end o f the cruiser action, apart from a few salvoes fired by a ship invisible to our cruisers at 1641. The principal feature o f its desultory character was the unanimous determination of the enemy cruisers to avoid close action (because of standing orders by Supermarina).. Meanwhile, the WARSPITE, with the MALAYA and the ROYAL SOVEREIGN, had been steering a mean course 3130 at 20 knots, and by 1630 was nearing the enemy's smoke screen. Several enemy signals had been intercepted, saying that he was constrained to retire" at 20 kts and ordering his flotillas to make smoke, and to attack with torpedoes; there was also a warning that they were approaching the submarine line. " These signals," — wrote Adml Cunningham afterwards— " together with my own appreciation o f the existing situation, made it appear unwise and playing the enemy's own game to plunge straight into the smoke screen." 1 He therefore altered course to starboard to 340° at 1635 work round to the northward and to windward of the smoke. A few mins later enemy DDs came in view and between 1639 and 1641 the WARSPITE fired 5 salvoes of 6-inch and the Malaya one salvo at them and they disappeared into the smoke. The proceedings were enlivened by the first appearance that day o f the RA, which carried out an ineffective bombing attack on the WARSPITE at 1641. The fitful engagement continued until 1649,. All endeavours by all elements of the RN to get to close quarters were unsuccessful, and at 1654 orders were issued for elements to rejoin CS7. When the DDs finally cleared the smoke screen at 1700, the enemy was out of sight, having retired to the SW in the direction of his Sicilian bases. The flotillas then proceeded as necessary to join Tovey, who was to the nth o f the WARSPITE steering 280° at 27 knots, taking stations as ordered. To the east, the striking force was just getting back to the EAGLE, all the Swordfish landed on safely at 1705. Another strike was being got ready, but it could not be despatched before the general recall o f a/c was made at 1750. During the engagement the EAGLEe had also maintained a/c, as available, on recon, as well as one acting as spotter for the ROYAL SOVEREIGN. The surface action was over; its indecisive character at all stages was due to the prudence of the Italians in the commitment of their fleet, But the psychological advantages were also palpable.

It was now the turn of the Italian Air Force to see if it could do better against Admiral Cunningham 's fleet.

The first appearance of enemy a/c on the scene, as already mentioned, was at 1640— just as the surface action was petering out—when the WARSPITE was attacked. From then till about 1930, the Fleet was subjected to a series of heavy bombing attacks by shore-based a/c. The WARSPITE and the EAGLE were particularly singled out as targets, each being attacked 5 times. CS7 did receive a number of attacks as well and many bombs fell near the DDs. At 1654, the ORION fired on a formation o f 9 a/c which attempted to bomb the flotillas. Tovey effectively disposed his cruisers in a diamond formation to resist these attacks, which were frequent till 1920. Most o f the bombing was extremely wild, from heights of between 10,000 and 15,000 feet, carried out by formations of aircraft varying in numbers from 9 to a single a/c, but generally in formations of 3. No ships were hit during any o f the attacks, but there were numerous near misses and a few minor casualties from splinters. The MALAYA claimed to have damaged two a/ct by A .A. fire, but none was seen to fall. EAGLEs launched it CAP consisting of 4 Sea Glads, which managed to bring down 4 enemy a/c.

A t 2115, Cunnigham altered course to 220 for a position sth o f Malta. During the night, which passed without incident, 8 DDs (STUART, DAINTY, DEFENDER, HYPERION, HOSTILE, HASTY, ILEX, JUNO) were detached to arrive at Malta at 0500, 10th, to refuel. The Vice-Admiral, Malta, had been told to delay the sailing of the convoys for Alexandria. However, " on hearing that the fleets were engaged, he wisely decided that the Italians would be too busy to attend to convoys, so sailed the fast convoy " 2— M .F. 1— escorted by the DIAMOND, JERVIS and RAN VENDETTA at 2300.

RM CA ZARA in Action 9 July 1940

 

[parsifal]

10 July 1940
Losses
MV PETSAMO (FN 4596 grt) Crew: 38 (4 dead and 34 survivors) Cargo: 4477 tons of maize and 1523 tons of grain Route: Rosario, Argentina - Buenos Aires - Cork, Ireland Lost in the SW Approaches, close to the sthn Irish Coast. At 1426 hrs the PETSAMO was hit in the engine room by a torp fired by U-34. The ship quickly broke in two and sank within 20 mins. The sailors lost were stokers on watch below. The U-boat had needed six hrs to get into a favorable firing position and sank the ship in sight of the Irish coast. In the evening, the master and 33 crew members made landfall at Baltimore, Ireland.

MV ALWAKI (NL 4533 grt) Crew:51 (0 dead and 51 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: London - Methil - Durban - Calcutta Convoy OA187. Lost in Nthn waters off the Scottish Coast. At 1306 hrs the unarmed ALWAKI in OA-180 was hit on the port side by two dud torps fired by U-61 about 10 miles NE of Cape Wrath. The convoy was en route in two columns and passed almost directly over the submerged U-boat, which found itself between the columns and hastily attacked and then submerged as they were in danger of being rammed. The two G7e torps were fired from a distance of 200 meters, too close for the warheads to arm, but they still penetrated the hull of Alwaki as second ship of the starboard column. In absence of an explosion the escorts were unaware of the attack and the U-boat escaped undetected. After the ship shuddered from the impacts the crew stopped the engines to investigate her for damage and she immediately developed a list to port as the torps had punched holes of about two feet in the engine room and #2 hold through which the ship was slowly flooded. The crew was unable to reach the leaks because one was behind auxiliary machines and the other in a hold filled with coal and to make things worse a bulkhead could not be closed. Most of the crew and ten Iraqi passengers abandoned ship in three lifeboats while the officers tried to save the vessel and were soon joined by a boarding party of HMCS ST. LAURENT. At 1415 hours, they all had to abandon ship because the list increased to over 45° when the coal in the hold began to shift. The survivors were picked up by the rear ship of the convoy, the HARMONIC and landed at Cardiff on 13 July. The tug HMS BANDIT tried to salvage the ship, but she foundered at 2207 hrs. The Admiralty investigated the case and came to the erroneous conclusion that sabotage was probably the cause of her loss.

DDs ZULU, MAORI, and BERKELEY terminated ASW training to join the convoy. DDs TARTAR, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, and MASHONA exercising at Scapa were ordered to search in the area. DDs BEDOUIN and MASHONA remained in the vicinity of Cape Wrath until the evening of 11 July when a westbound convoy had passed the area. The DDs then proceeded to Scapa.

UBOATS
Departures
Bergen: U-62

At Sea 10 July 1940
U-29, U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
10 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
OA.182 departed Methil escort DD SKEENA and corvette GARDENIA from 10 to 14 July. MT.107 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 11th. FS.218 departed the Tyne, escort DD WINCHESTER and sloops LOWESTOFT and WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 11th.

Steamer WATERLOO (UK 1905 grt) was sunk by the LW 2.5 miles NE of Smith's Knoll Buoy. The crew was rescued.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Northern Waters
MLs MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC, and SOUTHERN PRINCE departed Loch Alsh on the 10th and laid minefield SN 1 nth of Rona at 2025 to 2234 , escort DDs INGLEFIELD, IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE, HAMBLEDON, and FERNIE. AA ship COVENTRY departed Scapa to rendezvous with the minelaying force. After the minelay, the I class DDs went to Scapa arriving on the 11th and the 3 Hunt class arrived at Loch Alsh . The Hunts departed Loch Alsh later the same day and proceeded to Liverpool. 9 Skuas of 801 Sqn departed Hatston for Sumburgh in preparation for an attack on Bergen. Leaving Sumburgh, they encountered poor visibility and returned to Sumburgh before proceeding half way to the objective.

SW Approaches
HG.38 of 6 ships departed Gibraltar. Escort was DD VOLUNTEER from 10 to 18 July. VOLUNTEER returned to Gibraltar on the 10th to make good defects and was relieved by DD VIDETTE. DD VOLUNTEER then returned to the convoy and VIDETTE returned to Gib. The convoy was given escort by British corvette GLADIOLUS from 21 to 27 July. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 27th

Channel
He111s hit the busy Falmouth Docks on this day, triggering events that caused considerable damage.

Tkr TASCALUSA (UK 6499 grt) was sunk by the LW in Falmouth Harbour, alongside the Northern Arm. She may have been one of the tkrs being prepared for Operation LUCID, a scheme to use tkrs as fireships to destroy the German cross channel barges to be used in the cross channel attack.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr BRITISH CHANCELLOR (UK 7085 grt) was damaged in the Falmouth raid, and appears to have been reserved for the same purpose. This ship eventually sank.

Steamer MARI CHANDRIS (Gk 5840 grt), which had been towed to Falmouth in June after a collision, was along side TASCALUSA and was engulfed by fire. The entire crew of the Greek steamer was rescued. TASCALUSA was refloated on 29 August but beached at Mylor Flats for scrapping. There is no record of MARI CHANDRIS being lost, the assumption is therefore she survived the attack.

Steamer BILL S. (NL 466 grt) was badly damaged by the LW 6 miles 260° from Dungeness from convoy CW.3, escort DD VERSATILE.
The steamer sank 6.7 miles 67° from Dungeness. All of the crew was rescued.

Central Atlantic
DKM Raider WIDDER sank steamer DAVISAN (UK 6433 grt) in the Central Atlantic, 450 miles NNE of Guadalope (in the Barbados gp) whilst enroute to the UK with generasl cargo . The entire crew was made prisoners of war.

CVL HERMES was damaged in a collision with AMC CORFU 130 miles WNW of Freetown. CA DORSETSHIRE was in company of HERMES and stood by these ships. CORFU had been escorting convoy SL.39 which continued on without her. The two ships were locked together for just under 1.5 hrs during which CORFU was almost completely abandoned, 141 crew being taken aboard HERMES. There were no casualties in either ship. The AMC was later reboarded by crew in HERMES' cutter. HERMES arrived at Freetown at 1800 that day. DORSETSHIRE attempted to tow CORFU. Sloop MILFORD arrived at Freetown on the 10th and after refuelling, sailed on the 11th to escort CA DORSETSHIRE and the CORFU. NL tug DONAU departed Freetown for towing duties on the 11th. DORSETSHIRE arrived at Freetown on the 12th. CORFU with sloop MILFORD and DONAU anchored outside harbour during the night of 12/13 July. CORFU, towed stern first by tug DONAU and escorted by sloop MILFORD arrived at Freetown on the 13th. AMC DUNVEGAN CASTLE was allocated to escort convoy SLF.39, but sailed to escort SL.39. Convoy SLF.39 when it did sail proceeded unescorted, after a local one day escort of sloop MILFORD.

HERMES after emergency repairs departed Freetown on 5 August and arrived at Simonstown on 17 August with convoy RS.5, joined at sea by CL DRAGON. HERMES had been designated to participate in MENACE in September, but was still under repair at Simonstown at that time. HERMES did not leave Simonstown until 18 November and she arrived back at Freetown for ops on 30 November. CORFU was under repair at Freetown. She was intentionally run aground on 19 August to facilitate repairs to her bow. She was finally repaired in early 1941.

Med- Biscay
Submarine PANDORA arrived at Gibraltar after patrol off Algiers. CVL EAGLE launched 9 Swordfish of the 813 Sqn on an air attack on Augusta.
RM DD LEONE PANCALDO was sunk in harbour, but was salved on 26 July 1941 and returned to duty. A fleet oiler was damaged.

RM sub SCIRE sank steamer CHEIK (FF(?) 1058 grt) 54 miles 310° from Semaphore d'Asmare (?).
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Malta
745-0840 hrs Air raid alert. 20 RA a/c approach the Island and cross the coast over Sliema, Grand Harbour and Verdala in four formations, each carrying out a bombing raid. DDs refuelling in Grand Harbour escape damage. Bombs are dropped on Zabbar, Tarxien, Paola, Msida, Manoel Island and near HMS TERROR. 1 civilian is killed and 3 wounded. 3 enemy a/c are shot down, two fall into the sea: where two parachutes are seen descending (crews recovered) . One parachute catches fire. The third is hit by AA and is seen falling in flames towards the Leonardo area. It lands on a defence post manned by members of 1st Bn Dorset Reg 3 Other Ranks sustain extensive burns.



2155-2310 hrs 4 RA night intruders which approach the Island in 2 formations and carry out low-flying attacks. Bombs are dropped on Birkirkara and Ricasoli, Verdala and Zeitun, on the Tal Qroqq gun position, and near the entrance to Grand Harbour. As the first formation departs, a second approaches and is picked up by searchlights. AA guns engage but with no results and incendiary bombs are dropped on Hamrun. The raiders are finally driven off and the Island's fighters return. The guns at first fail to identify them but none is damaged.

 

[Njaco]

July 10 Wednesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: A large German aerial formation attacked one of the eight British convoys in the English Channel; the target convoy was code named Bread, escorted by 6 Hurricane fighters. Upon detecting the incoming aircraft, four squadrons of British fighters were launched to counter the attack. At the end of the battle, seven British aircraft were destroyed and one of the Bread ships was sunk. The Germans lost 13 aircraft. This surprising victory led to the British announcing that 10 Jul was the start of the Battle of Britain. Elsewhere, the German Luftwaffe's first major targets on land included the Swansea docks and the Royal Ordnance Factory in Pembrey. The British tanker "Tascalusa" was sunk during one of the attacks.
(Instead of duplicating what I did 5 years ago, I've just attached a link to the relevant day. Please click the links for each day in the Battle of Britain.)
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post689881.html#post689881
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post689884.html#post689884
UNITED KINGDOM: The British government banned the fascist British Union Party.

British Lieutenant Hubert Nicolle, who had been conducting reconnaissance in the Channel Island of Guernsey, returned to Britain. He reported that there were 469 German soldiers on the island, mainly in St. Peter Port, with machine gun posts 2 to 5 miles away along the coast. He estimated that a commando raid would have 20 minutes to wipe out the machine gun posts before reinforcements from St. Peter Port would arrive.

The British authorities put 200 Italian prisoners of war, 251 German prisoners of war, 55 British Nazi sympathizers, and 2,036 civilians from Germany (mostly Jewish refugees), collectively categorized as "enemy aliens", on the British troop ship "Dunera" whose intended passenger capacity was only 1,600. Over the next 57 days, while en route to Australia, these people would be robbed, beaten, and in one case bayoneted by the British guards. Overcrowding, lack of toilets and unsanitary conditions lead to widespread dysentery. Several British soldiers will be court-martialed including the senior officer Lieutenant-Colonel William Scott. When they arrive in Australia on September 6, they will be shipped by train to the rural town of Hay in the centre of New South Wales.

NORTHERN EUROPE: The planes of 8./JG 77 transfer from Aalborg airfield and join the Gruppe at Trondheim airfield.

ASIA: The Japanese deployed new A6M Zero fighters against Chinese forces.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian submarine "Scirè" sank French ship "Cheik" 54 miles northwest of Sicily, Italy. "Cheik's" crew was rescued by "Scirè".

Nine British Swordfish torpedo bombers from carrier HMS "Eagle" attacked Augusta, Sicily, Italy at 0940 hours, sinking destroyer "Leone Pancaldo". "Leone Pancaldo" will be raised on 26 July 1941 and sunk again by Allied bombers on 30 April 1943 1 mile off Cape Bon, Tunisia.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Widder" sank British ship "Davisan" 500 miles of the coast of Florida, United States. The entire crew of "Widder" was taken prisoner.

German submarine U-34 sank Finnish ship "Petsamo" close to the southern coast of Ireland, killing 4. On the same day, U-61 torpedoed Dutch ship "Alwaki" 10 miles off Cape Wrath, Scotland, United Kingdom. The torpedo failed to detonate, but it knocked a hole in the hull, and the ship listed to port. All 41 crew and 10 passengers aboard were rescued by British ship "Harmonic".

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[parsifal]

11 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Lurssen S Boat S-37

Allied
Dance Class ASW Trawler FANDANGO Vosper 70' type MTB 30

Losses
MV JANNA (Nor 2197 grt) Crew: 25 (0 dead and 25 survivors) Cargo: pulp wood Route: Halifax – Falmouth HX 59 (Straggler) Sunk at the western edge of the SW Approaches. At 0706 hrs the unescorted and unarmed JANNA was hit on the port side under the bridge by a single G7e torp fired by U-34 while steaming on a non-evasive course at 8.5 knots about 115 miles WSW of Cape Clear. The ship had originally left Halifax in convoy HX-53, but lost touch and returned to port on 27 June and departed again 2 days later to join the convoy HX-54 at sea, however she failed to join it in very thick fog and proceeded independently. The explosion blew a part of the bridge away and the ship settled quickly by the bow with a list to port until sinking vertically at about 0800 hrs. All crew members safely abandoned ship in 3 lifeboats despite a gale sea and a fresh breeze blowing at the time. The U-boat did not surface and left the area because shortly after the attack a Sunderland a/c approached and circled the sinking ship, but the Germans later spotted two lifeboats from this ship when passing the area again during the afternoon. No distress signal had been sent as the survivors hoped that the aircraft would report them and they waited a while before setting course for Ireland after all men transferred into two boats and collecting supplies and equipment from the abandoned boats and rafts, initially using the motor boat to tow the other boat until setting sail to save petrol. They had plenty of food and water, but were unable to sleep due to the very rough weather. Unknown to them, the aircraft had reported their position to the nearby convoy HX-54 which detached the British tug SABINE to search for survivors. However, the tug only found large quantities of drifting wood in the area and rejoined the convoy after 6 hrs.

On the afternoon of 12 July, the Estonian steam merchant KAI passed close to the lifeboats and was hailed by the survivors who asked to be picked up. The ship stopped her engines, but for unknown reasons suddenly proceeded and left the occupied lifeboats behind while they rounded her stern to get to the lee side in the very bad weather. At 2100 hrs 13 July, the survivors were picked up by the British decoy ship HMS BEAUTY, disguised as LOGE, after attracting her by firing three or four red rockets about 5 miles from Mizen Head, Ireland. All survivors were in an exhausted condition and 4 of them required medical attention. They were accommodated forward in order not to disclose the true identity of the vessel. An attempt was made to tow the lifeboats in by the vessel, but the towing was abandoned during the night owing to bad weather. The survivors were landed at Milford Haven late in the evening of 14 July.

JANNA under her former name SVEIGEN

UBOATS
Departures
Kiel: U-57

At Sea 11 July 1940
U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
9 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
British minefield BS.23 was laid by ML TEVIOTBANK and DDs EXPRESS and ESK. FN.219 departed Southend, escort sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 13th. MT.108 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 12th. FS.219 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFOUND.

West Coast UK
OB.182 departed Liverpool escort sloop FOLKESTONE from 11 to 14 July. The sloop was then assigned to the inbound HX.55.

ASW yacht WARRIOR II (RN 1124 grt) was sunk by German bombing off Portland. 1 rating was killed.

source: Nick Metcalfe's Blog - HMS Warrior - December 22, 2014 07:42

Steamer MALLARD (352grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.26 between St Catherine's Point and Beachy Head. Five crew and the naval gunner were lost. Three crew were picked up by the S-boat and made prisoners of war.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

FV PROVIDENTIA (Be 139 grt) was sunk by German bombing 49‑55N, 09‑12W.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Br steamer KYLEMOUNT was damaged by the LW 10 miles west of Dartmouth. Br steamers PERU, ELEANOR BROOKE and CITY OF MELBOURNE were damaged by the LW in Portland harbour. NL steamer MIES was damaged by the LW 7 miles sth of Portland Bill.

Nth Atlantic
HX.57 departed Halifaxat local escort RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY, which were detached on the 12th. At 2115 that evening, the DDs turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, AMC ASCANIA, and returned to port. The AMC was in turn detached on the 23rd. BHX.57 departed Bermuda on the 10th local escort sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of CL EMERALD. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.57 on the 15th and the CL was detached. On the 23rd, inbound escort was attached, DD WANDERER, sloops DEPTFORD and SANDWICH, and corvette PERWINKLE and remained until the convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.

Italian submarine TARANTINI sank tkr BEME (Pan 3039 grt) near Haifa. TARANTINI was on her second war patrol. Nearing the end of this second patrol around 1100 hrs, TARANTINI sighted the tanker and launches a torpedo at the target, but misses, as the ship is leaving Haifa. The submarine then surfaced and brought BEME to a stop by deck gun before sinking it with a second torpedo, after the crew had been allowed to abandon ship. The entire crew from the Panamanian tanker were rescued.

RM Sub TARANTINI
[NO IMAGE FOUND FOR THE TKR]

Central Atlantic
SLF.39 departed Freetown escort sloop MILFORD to 12 July. AMC DUNVEGAN CASTLE had been allocated, but was diverted to convoy SL.39 after the collision of AMC CORFU with CVL HERMES. On the 19th, the convoy merged with SL.39. The convoys were joined on the 25th by DDs RESTIGOUCHE, HESPERUS, and WALKER and corvette MALLOW. Both convoys arrived at Liverpool on the 29th.


Med- Biscay
RAN CL SYDNEY arrived at Alexandria. CLs CALEDON and CAPETOWN departed Alexandria to escort a convoy to Greece. The CLs arrived back at Alexandria on the 13th.

Indian Ocean
DKM Raider ATLANTIS sank steamer CITY OF BAGHDAD (UK 7506 grt) in the Indian Ocean. 2 crew were lost. 80 crew and one gunner were made POWs. On 11 July, the cargo liner CITY OF BAGHDAD was fired upon at a range of 1.2 km by the Raider. A boarding party discovered a copy of Broadcasting for Allied Merchant Ships, which contained communications codes. CITY OF BAGHDAD, like Atlantis, was a former DDG Hansa ship, having been captured by the British in World War I. A copy of the report sent by CITY OF EXETER was found, describing ATLANTIS in minute detail and including a photograph of the similar Freienfels, confirming that the "Japanese" identity had not been believed. Consequently, the skipper of the ATLANTIS, Cpt Rogge had his ship's profile altered, adding two new masts.

 

[Njaco]

July 11 Thursday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post690461.html#post690461
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post690462.html#post690462

UNITED KINGDOM: British Minister for Aircraft Production Lord Beaverbrook announced that there would be virtually no limit to expenditures on US aircraft, with costs working out to over £2 million per day on planes for the RAF. Beaverbrook appeals for aluminum pots and pans, 'to build Spitfires'.

Bernard Montgomery was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. Richard O'Connor was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

WESTERN FRONT: In Vichy France President Lebrun resigns and Petain becomes head of state after an overwhelming vote in his favor in parliament. His first decree shows his new style and pretensions. It begins "Nous, Philippe Petain." He abolishes Republican Constitution of 1875, and dismisses Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Pierre Laval became the 120th Prime Minister of France with the title of the Vice President of the Council.

Joachim von Ribbentrop requested Spain to assist in the detaining of the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom.

INDIAN OCEAN: In the Indian Ocean 400 miles Southeast of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), German armed merchant cruiser "Atlantis" sinks British steamer "City Of Baghdad" (previously a German ship SS "Geierfels", taken by Britain as reparations after WWI) carrying 9,324 tons of steel, chemicals and machinery. 2 crew are killed, 81 taken prisoner.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-34 sank Norwegian ship "Janna" 100 miles southwest of Ireland at 0700 hours. The entire crew of 25 took to lifeboats and would reach Mizen Head, Ireland 3 days later.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian submarine "Tarantini" sank Panamanian tanker "Beme" 60 miles south of Cyprus. The entire crew was rescued by "Tarantini".

NORTH AMERICA: US Army approached 135 American automotive manufacturers to submit designs to replace its existing, aging light motor vehicles. They were told that they must submit their first prototypes within 49 days and have 70 test vehicles prepared in 75 days.

Frank Knox took office as the US Secretary of the Navy.

GERMANY: Erich Raeder met with Adolf Hitler at Obersalzberg, München-Oberbayern, Germany to discuss the invasion of Britain and the establishment of navy bases in Norway.

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.

 

[parsifal]

12 July 1940
Losses
MV IA (Gk 4860 grt) Crew; 30 (3 dead and 27 survivors) Cargo: 6666 tons of wheat and 750 bags of pollards Route: Rosario - St. Vincent - Cork Sunk in the Nth Atlantic, west of the SW Approaches. At 0206 hrs the unescorted and unarmed IA was hit aft of amidships by one G7a torpedo from U-99 about 200 miles WSW of Cape Clear. The U-boat had spotted the Greek national markings and attacked without warning as the ship was in the blockade area around Britain. The vessel sank within 7 mins after being hit by one G7e torp fired as coup de grâce at 0248 hrs. 1 officer and 2 crewmen were lost. The master and 26 crew members had abandoned ship in 2 lifeboats after the first hit and were questioned by the Germans. The boats reached the Isles of Scilly after 5 days and were landed at Penzance on 17 July.

MV MERISAAR (Est 2136 grt) Crew: Not Known Cargo: Lumber Route: New Orleans - Clyde Captured in the Nth Atlanti west of the SW Approaches. At 2231 hrs, U-99 missed the unescorted Estonian MERISAAR with a stern torpedo from a distance of 500m due to rough seas. The U-boat surfaced and stopped the ship by shots across her bow with the 20mm AA gun. After the crew abandoned ship and the master was questioned, a G7e torpedo was fired at 23.50 hours but it also missed. The bad weather prevented the use of the deck gun, so Kretschmer ordered the crew to reboard the ship and to set course directly for Bordeaux. On 15 July, the MERISAAR was bombed and sunk by the LW sth of Queenstown, Lancashire.

UBOATS
At Sea 12 July 1940
U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
9 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
OA.183 departed Methil by sloop FOWEY. The convoy passed Dunnet Head on the 13th, escort by sloop FOWEY and corvette CAMELLIA at this point. FN.220 departed Southend, escort DDs VIMIERA and VERDUN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 14th. MT.109 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 13th. FS.220 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 13th.
FS.221 departed the Tyne, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. DDs JACKAL and JAGUAR and patrol sloop MALLARD joined on the 13th. The two J class DDs were detached later that day. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 14th.

Steamer HORNCHURCH (UK 2162 grt) was sunk by the LW off Aldeburgh Light Vessel. The entire crew was rescued by patrol sloop WIDGEON.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Northern Waters
Trawler VOLANTE (UK 255 grt) was sunk by the LW 10 miles east of Hvalbam, Faroe Islands. The Master of the trawler was drowned.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

West Coast UK
OB.181G, which departed Liverpool on the 10th escort DD VANOC and sloop SCARBOROUGH became convoy OG.37 with 16 ships. VANOC escorted the convoy on the 12th. Sloop SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 12 to 17 July when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar. ASW trawler LORD HOTHAM joined the convoy off Gibraltar.

Western Approaches
U.56 attacked British steamer DUNERA off Nth Channel (nthn entrance to the Irish Sea) without damage being done. The torp did strike DUNERA, but it glanced of without exploding.

Channel
British steamer JOSEWYN was damaged by the LW 8 miles WNW of St Catherine's Point (Isle of Wight).

Sth Atlantic
RAN CA CANBERRA departed Capetown with transport STRATHMORE for Freetown. The CA escorted the transport for the first 36 hrs and then returned to Simonstown, arriving on the 15th.

HMAS CANBERRA in Sydney Harbour 1940

Med- Biscay
CL LIVERPOOL was near missed by RA airstrikes. One rating was killed and two wounded by a bomb that did not explode, but there was no material damage. A Sea Gladiator of 801 Sqn from CVL EAGLE, after shooting down an Italian bomber, forced landed alongside LIVERPOOL which picked him up. BB WARSPITE was attacked 17 times between 0850 and 1150, but sustained no damage.

SM 79 was the mainstay bomber of the RA and responsible for most of the attacks on the RN at this time. The first torpedo carrying sorties were not carried out until 15 august 1940 by a specially modified group based at El Adem, near Tobruk

Malta
1612-1640 hrs Air raid alert for 6 RA fighters which flew over the Island and are engaged by Malta fighters. Three bombs are dropped near Verdala. Reports suggest one raider is shot down. There have also been reports that bags of sweets were dropped over the area of Tarxien and Ghaxaq a technique used previously6 by the Italians in East Africa and rumoured in Spain.

Sunderland a/c of 228 and 230 Sqns operating 12 hour naval patrols over wide area covering Greek coast, south Italian coast and Sicily under direct instructions from Middle East and HQ Mediterranean. Saro London a/c K5261 P/O Minchinton attached from 202 Sqn for ASW patrols in Malta area.

 

[Njaco]

July 12 Friday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post690949.html#post690949

MEDITERRANEAN: The Turkish Prime Minister stated that Turkey intended to remain faithful to her friendships, but that any threat to her independence would be met by resort to arms.

In the Mediterranean Sea, Italian bombers attacked British battleship HMS "Warspite" and cruiser HMS "Liverpool" between 0850 and 1150 hours. HMS "Liverpool" was hit by a dud, but it still killed 1 and wounded 2. A Sea Gladiator of RAF No. 801 Squadron from aircraft carrier HMS "Eagle" shoots down an Italian bomber then makes a forced landing alongside HMS "Liverpool", which rescues the seaplane.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-56 attacked British transport ship "Dunera" with a torpedo in the North Channel between England, United Kingdom and Ireland. The torpedo glanced off the ship without exploding. The commanding officer of U-56 did not realize that "Dunera" was carrying, among others, Italian and German prisoners of war bound for Australia. To the southwest, 160 miles southwest of Ireland, German submarine U-99 sank Greek ship "Ia" at 0200 hours; 3 were killed and 27 were later rescued. At 2300 hours, U-99 struck again and fired a torpedo at Estonian ship "Merisaar", but missed. With shots from the deck gun, she stopped the Estonian ship and forced her to sail into the German-occupied French port of Bordeaux (before reaching Bordeaux, however, a German aircraft would sink her on 15 Jul).

NORTH AMERICA: Operation Fish: British ships arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with US$1,750,000,000 worth of gold and securities from the Bank of England, destined for the Bank of Canada's vault in Ottawa.

ASIA: Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong ordered his troops to move against Nationalist positions in Jiangsu Province, China.

WESTERN FRONT: Units of the 1st Canadian Division land at Brest, France, and head toward Laval and Le Mans. The newly arrived Canadian troops soon hastily retreat to the coast of France. All but a few make it back to England.

In France Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was made a Grand Officier of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur.

US passenger liner "Manhattan" departed Lisbon, Portugal with about 800 American citizens and their families fleeing the European War.

EASTERN EUROPE: "Graf Zeppelin" was towed to Gotenhafen, Germany (now Gdynia, Poland).

In Moscow, Kuusinen, former head of the Soviet sponsored Terijoki government (intended to replace the Finnish government in Helsinki), is appointed President of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Republic, in territory acquired from Finland in the treaty of March 13, 1940.

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.

 

[parsifal]

13 July1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
70' BPB Motor Anti-Submarine Boat MA/SB 43, 50, 51

Ex-French taken over by the RN after the collapse of the 3rd Republic
Losses
DKM Raider ATLANTIS sank steamer KEMMENDINE (UK 7769 grt) in the Indian Ocean. 57 crew, 22 passengers, and 3 ratings were made prisoners of war. One crewman later died in France. 18 crew, 11 passengers, and one rating were lost when steamer TIRRANNA, to which they later were transferred, was lost. One crewman died on the raider. 31 crew and 3 gunners were transferred to steamer DURMITOR and taken to Italian Somaliland. They were released in early 1941 when Italian East Africa was liberated.

DKM Raider WIDDER sank steamer KING JOHN (UK 5228 grt) in the Central Atlantic, 250 miles ENE of Sombrero Channel. Five crew were made prisoners of war.

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-30

At Sea 13 July 1940
U-30, U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
10 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
North Sea
FN.221 departed Southend, escort DD WINCHESTER and sloops LOWESTOFT and WESTON. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 15th.

Northern Waters
DD TARTAR departed Scapa for Liverpool for docking repairs to asdic installation and damage to propellers.

West Coast UK
CVL FURIOUS, escorted by DDs HAMBLEDON, ATHERSTONE, and FERNIE departed Liverpool for Prestwick to fly on a/c. The British ships then proceeded to Scapa, arriving on the 14th. OB.183 departed Liverpool escort DD VANQUISHER and corvette CLARKIA until 16 July. The escorts were detached to convoy SL.38.

Western Approaches
A redisposition of Destroyers in the Nth Atlantic Cmd was made. DDs DOUGLAS, ACTIVE, WATCHMAN, KEPPEL, and VORTIGERN left the Nth Atlantic Cmd on the 14th to join the Home Flt Cmd. DDs HOTSPUR and ENCOUNTER of the Home Flt and 3 G class DDs of the Nore Cmd were allocated to Nth Atlantic Cmd.

Channel
CW.5 departed Dover escort DD VANESSA. The convoy was immediately taken under LW air attack between Dover and Eastbourne and VANESSA was disabled by near misses. VANESSA was towed by DD GRIFFIN to Sheerness where VANESSA was repaired completing on 4 November (that's a long time for repairs to "near misses" (????).

Three worked up HUNT class DDs left the Home Flt and joined the Dover Cmd.

Malta

545-1605 hrs Air raid alert for twelve enemy fighters which fly over the Island. They are intercepted by one Hurricane and one Gladiator. The Hurricane is damaged but repairable. The raiders drop no bombs.

2120 hrs Reports are received of signalling from the west of Dingli.

2210-2230 hrs Air raid alert for two formations of enemy bombers which approach separately. One crosses over Valletta and is engaged by Ack Ack fire. The second crosses over Wolsely Battery and drops a flare, followed by four bombs. One incendiary lands near the Officers' Mess. Other bombs are dropped on Marsaxlokk, where the target appears to be flying boats laying at anchor, on Zeitun and on the boom across the entrance to Marsamxetto Harbour.

2330-2345 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy bombers. They are picked up by searchlights and drop all their bombs in the sea off Benghaisa, Delimara and Grand Harbour.

Plt Officer (later Gp Captain) Burges of the tiny Gladiator flight receivers the DFC, the first such award over Malta.

 

[parsifal]

14 July 1940
Losses
MV THETIS A (Gk 4111 grt) Crew: 29 (9 dead and 20 survivors) Cargo: Grain Route: Rosario - Limerick (Ireland). Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 1818 hrs the unescorted THETIS A was hit amidships by a single G7e torp fired by U-52 and sank in 5 mins WSW of the Scillies after the survivors abandoned ship in the starboard lifeboat. The ship had been spotted at 1633 hours and attacked and missed at 1813 hrs with a G7a torpedo.

Tkr SARITA (Nor 5824 grt) Crew: 29 (0 dead and 29 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: St. Vincent - Trinidad Sunk in the Central Atlantic off the west coast of Africa. At 1145 hrs the unescorted SARITA was hit on the port side by one torpedo from UA and was abandoned by the crew in one lifeboat and two rafts. After 1 hr, the U-boat surfaced and fired 34 rounds from the deck gun at the tkr of which 11 were hits. The ship developed a list to port but did not sink because the empty starboard tanks kept her afloat, but the U-boat fired with the 2cm AA gun holes into the hull and she finally sank at 1338 hrs. The Germans then came alongside of the lifeboat and took the master on board with the ship´s papers. He was allowed to go back to the boat and after they took care of two injured men the U-boat left the area. The survivors distributed themselves on the rafts, but on 16 July after three ships had passed by without spotting them, all returned to the lifeboat and set sail for Barbados. They were picked up 2 days later by the Br steam merchant DUNSTAN and taken to Pernambuco.

Steamer ISLAND QUEEN (UK 779 grt) of convoy CW.5 was badly damaged by the LW off A Buoy, Dover, east of Folkestone Gateway Light Vessel. ISLAND QUEEN sank in tow of British trawler KINGSTON ALALITE later that day 0.5 miles from Folkestone Light Vessel. 3 crew were lost when she sank.

Trawler PROVIDENTIA (Be 139 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Nth Sea. The entire crew was lost.

UBOATS
At Sea 14 July 1940
U-30, U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
10 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
MSW FITZROY was damaged in a collision with MSW trawler SEA MIST off the Humber. FITZROY was repaired in the Humber from 15 July to 10 August. ASW trawlers CAPE WARWICK from Balta Sound and THIRLMERE from Dundee arrived at Scapa. OA.184 departed Methil escort sloops ROCHESTER, HASTINGS, and LEITH from 14 to 19 July. The sloops were detached to convoy HX.56. FN.222 departed Southend, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 16th. MT.109 departed Methil and arrived in the Tyne on the 15th.

SW Approaches
DDs KEPPEL, ACTIVE, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN, and DOUGLAS departed Gibraltar for Liverpool arriving on the 20th. The DDs were formed into DesFlot 12 for duty with the Home Flt. DDs WRESTLER and VIDETTE departed Gib to meet troopship ATHLONE CASTLE and relieve escorting DD HURRICANE. The ships arrived at Gib on the 17th.

AMC ESPERANCE BAY, carrying 10 million pounds in gold, was bombed and badly damaged shortly after leaving England 100 west of Land's End.
7 crewmen were killed. DD VANOC and RCN DD RESTIGOUCHE escorted the AMC. NL tug ZWARTE ZEE was despatched for towing duties however VANOC and ZWARTE ZEE were reassigned when it was found the AMC could proceed on her own to Plymouth with the gold.

Channel
Operation AMBASSADOR was a small commando raid on the island of Guernsey and the first of its kind undertaken by the British. Late on the 14th, DDs SALADIN and SCIMITAR from Dartmouth carried Commandos to Guernsey, but had no success as they made no contact with the enemy.

The raid suffered from very poor planning and a lack of preparation. it almost brought the whole commando concept to a halt before it began. Three men of the raid had to be left behind because they could not swim to the rescuing boats, and were captured and summarily shot by the germans....the first of many war crimes against the Commandoes, whom the Germans would not recognize as soldiers

Turkish ML sloop YUZBASI HAKKI was attacked by the LW off Weymouth at 1145 near the Shambles. The British delivery crew were still on board. 1 crewman was killed and the Captain was wounded. The sloop arrived at Weymouth on the 15th. British minefield MN in the Straits of Dover was laid by ML PLOVER and NL minelayer WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN, escort four MTBs. The force departed Dover at 2215 on the 13th for the minelay early on the 14th under the cover of darkness.

Br steamer MONS from convoy CW.5 was damaged by the LW 1.5 miles sth of Dover Pier. Nor steamer BALDER also from convoy CW.5 was damaged by the LW at about the same time. BALDER was taken in tow by British tug LADY BRASSEY and escorted by DDs GRIFFIN and BOREAS.

Sth Atlantic
DKM Raiderr THOR sank steamer GRACEFIELD (UK 4631 grt) in the Sth Atlantic. The crew was made prisoners of war.

CA KENT arrived at Durban after escorting West Afircan troop convoy to Mombasa and preparatory to escorting convoy WS 1 from the rendezvous in the vicinity of Durban.

Malta
RA air tactics are changed and suggest the enemy attempt to reduce Malta's fighter effort by sending large numbers of fighters on raids, with formations approaching in two-tiers. Hurricanes which attack bombers in the lower formation are being counter attacked by the upper tier of enemy fighters. The manoeuvrability of the RA a/c is making it difficult for the Hurricanes to get away. Although pilots have been warned of the new tactic, visibility difficulties in two recent raids have led to them being caught out on both occasions.

New tactics have also been identified during night air raids on the Island. In recent attacks, a single bomber has approached, followed at a distance of about 15 miles by a second aircraft. Bombers are carrying both high explosive and incendiary bombs which they are dropping from high altitude,

With Malta fighter numbers now reduced to one Hurricane and two Gladiators, RAF chiefs anticipate considerable difficulty in keeping Italian raiders at bay. Meanwhile they stress the urgent need for further Hurricanes to attack bombers and Gladiators for attackling fighters.

By 14 July Only one Hurricane and two Gladiators remained operational

 

[Njaco]

July 13 Saturday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post691363.html#post691363
UNITED KINGDOM: The British Army's new parachute force began training at Ringway Airport, Manchester, England, United Kingdom.

First Free Polish fighter squadron (No. 302) formed in Britain, with Hurricanes.

INDIAN OCEAN: German raider "Atlantis" sank British steamer "Kemmendine" 500 miles southeast of Ceylon; 57 crew and 25 passengers were taken prisoner.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German raider "Widder" sank British ship "King John" 200 miles northeast of Antigua. 5 crew and 21 survivors of Panamanian ship "Santa Margarita" (sank on 2 Jul) were taken prisoner. The total prisoner count aboard "Widder" was now 100, exceeding her capacity, thus some were put to lifeboats so that they could paddle toward islands in the Caribbean Sea on their own.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler met with top German military leaders at Obersalzberg, München-Oberbayern, Germany. He discusses the air war with Britain. The offensive is to begin at full strength on August 5th. Goring in fact will not be able to have his planes ready by this date. This lack of efficiency will waste vital days in the fine summer weather. The RAF is to be rapidly driven from the skies and the air supremacy necessary if an invasion is to be attempted is to be achieved. Also, in a conversation with some of his generals Hitler makes his first real mention of the future necessity to attack the Soviet Union. He suggests that England is only fighting on because of the hope of Soviet help.

EASTERN EUROPE: Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov leaked diplomatic communications between Britain and the Soviet Union, which should had been held confidentially between the two countries per general rules of international diplomacy, to Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN: While under heavy attack by Axis aircraft, Sea Gladiator aircraft launched from HMS "Eagle" shot down three Italian bombers in the Mediterranean Sea.

ASIA: Kichisaburo Nomura was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure.

NORTH AMERICA: "Tatsuta Maru" arrived at San Francisco, California, United States; among the passengers disembarked were 40 Jewish refugees from Russia, Austria, Germany, Norway, and Britain.

NORTH AFRICA: The Italian forces in Abyssinia move over the border into Kenya to attack the small town of Moyale.

.

 

[Njaco]

July 14 Sunday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post691885.html#post691885
UNITED KINGDOM: Free French leader Charles de Gaulle celebrated Bastille Day at the Cenotaph in London, England, United Kingdom.

British armed merchant cruiser HMS "Esperance Bay" departed Plymouth, England, United Kingdom at 1250 hours with £10,000,000 in gold. She was intercepted and bombed by German aircraft 100 miles west of the port, killing 7, but she was able to return to Plymouth without losing her cargo.

GERMANY: Battleship "Bismarck" departed the drydock after completing the propeller and MES magnetic system installation.

British RAF Bomber Command launched raids against two Luftwaffe bases in Germany, with 9 Whitley bombers of RAF No. 102 Squadron hitting Paderborn and 12 Whitley bombers of RAF No. 10 Squadron and EAF No. 51 Squadron hitting Diepholz.

MEDITERRANEAN: Vichy French bombers attacked Gibraltar, causing no damage.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Thor" sank British ship "Gracefield" 500 miles off the coast of Brazil. The crew of 36 was taken prisoner.

German submarine U-A sank Norwegian tanker "Sarita" 100 miles west of Cape Verde at 1145 hours. The entire crew of 29 survived and was rescued by British ship "Dunstan" on 18 Jul.

German submarine U-52 sank Greek ship "Thetis A." off Brest, France at 1818 hours. 9 were killed and 20 survived.

.

 

[parsifal]

15 July 1940
Losses
Steamer BELLEROCK (UK 1199 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Bristol Channel. 17 crew were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

The LW damaged steamer HEWORTH (UK 2855 grt) in FN.223, 10 miles south of Aldeburgh Light Vessel. She was taken in tow for Harwich, but was grounded three cables 267° from East Shipwash Buoy where she was lost. 4 crew were lost and the survivors rescued by DD VALOROUS.

LW air attacks sank steamer FOSSOULA (Pan 1282 grt). The cargo ship was bombed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain by Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of four of her 36 crew
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer ZBARAZ (Pol 2088 grt) The cargo ship was bombed and sunk in the Nth Sea 10 nautical miles sth of the Aldeburgh Lightship. She was taken in tow by ST OLAVES but sank. All crew were rescued by Tug MURIA and the trawler VIDONIA
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tug DRAUGEN (Ex-Nor (Ger) 184 grt) was sunk on a German mine off Salhus, nth of Bergen.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
RN Sub TETRARCH fired a spread of 3 torps at U-57 off the entrance to Korsfjord near Bergen, Norway, none of which found their target.

Departures
Bergen: U-57

At Sea 15 July 1940
U-30, U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
11 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CA DEVONSHIRE departed Scapa for Rosyth to change secondary armament. FN.223 departed Southend, escort DD VALOROUS, sloop STORK, and patrol sloop WIDGEON, and arrived in the Tyne on the 17th. MT.111 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 16th. FS.222 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS, and arrived at Southend on the 16th.

Northern Waters
BB NELSON with DDs BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, and MASHONA departed Scapa in the evening to conduct night firings. Because of heavy fog, they were unable to return to Scapa until the 16th. CL AURORA arrived at Scapa from the Humber. Escort DDs HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE departed Scapa to rendezvous off Aberdeen with steamer HIGHLANDER and tanker PRESTOL for Lerwick and Scapa, respectively. On the 16th, HAMBLEDON and PRESTOL arrived off Scapa, but due to heavy fog, the ships could not enter harbour until 1100. ATHERSTONE arrived at Scapa on the 17th.

A mine detonation close aboard damaged mine destructor ship BURLINGTON at Aultbrea. The ship, escorted by ASW trawler THIRLMERE, proceeded to Stornoway on the 17th for repairs. She returned to Aultbrea on the 18th, again escorted by THIRLMERE.

Western Approaches
OB.184 departed Liverpool escort DD WARWICK and corvette HEARTSEASE form 15 to 18 July. The escorts were detached to cover inbound HX.56.

SW Approaches
At 1142 on the 15th, suspicious ships were reported SW of Land's End , steering 350°. CL NEWCASTLE with DDs BROKE, MACKAY, WOLVERINE, WITHERINGTON, HESPERUS, and RCN RESTIGOUCHE departed Plymouth to investigate. At 1708, the force, less MACKAY and BROKE detached to assist steamer CITY OF LIMERICK, returned to Plymouth.

Steamer CITY OF LIMERICK (Eire 1359 grt) was sunk by the LW 100 nautical miles due west of Ouessant, Finistère. DDs MACKAY and BROKE were ordered to the area to assist and search for survivors. 2 crew were killed and the survivors rescued by Belgian trawler ROGER JEANNINE.

The LW sank Estonian steamer MERISAAR (2136 grt) , captured by U.99 on the 12th, off Queenstown. The German prize crew was rescued and made PoWs.

Steamer ALPHA (Pt 853 grt) The coaster was bombed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean SW of Cornwall. The entire crew was picked up by DDs BEDOUIN, MASHONA, and TARTAR which were sweeping in the area.

Nth Atlantic
HX.58 departed Halifax local escort RCN DDs SAGUENAY and ASSINIBOINE which turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, AMC RANPURA, and returned to Halifax at 0835 the next day. While at sea, the DDs investigated an a/c down in the sea. BHX.58 departed Bermuda on the 14th local escort sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort AMC JERVIS BAY. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.58 on the 19th and the AMC was detached. RANPURA was detached on the 28th. On the 27th, DDs SKEENA (RCN), WESTCOTT, sloop ENCHANTRESS, corvettes CAMELLIA and CLARKIA, plus ASW trawlers LADY ELSA and ST KENAN joined the convoy. DD WESTCOTT and sloop ENCHANTRESS were detached, and arrived at Liverpool on the 31st.

Med- Biscay
Sub RAINBOW, which had departed Colombo on 24 June, Aden on the 7th, and Port Said on the 14th, arrived at Alexandria from Singapore for duty with the Med Flt. CA HAWKINS arrived at Montevideo.

Malta
The Admiralty advises the war cabinet that the situation of supplies to Malta is in danger of becoming critical. The transport of stores and provisions by the shortest sea route through the western Mediterranean has been all but impossible since France signed an armistice with the Axis last month. The only safe route for supply convoys to reach Malta is via the long sea route round the African Cape. The issue is being investigated as a matter of urgency in London so that alternative plans can be put in place before the Island runs out of supplies.

0530 hrs Air raid alert for 6 RA ftrs which approach from the north over Ghallis Tower and cross over Valletta before flying away eastwards. No bombs are dropped.

 

[Njaco]

July 15 Monday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post692314.html#post692314
UNITED KINGDOM: Unemployment figure in Britain increased by 60,431 to 827,266 in Jun 1940 when compared to the previous month, but it was still drastically lower than the level one year prior.

The rector of Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom was sentenced to four weeks in prison for ringing his church bell, which violated the 14 Jun 1940 restriction.

The British Home Office banned fireworks, flying kites, and flying balloons.

The United States Marine Corps established the Marine Detachment, London in Britain, consisted of the 12th Marine Company.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-34 sank Greek ship "Evdoxia" 40 miles southwest of Ireland at 0321 hours; 1 was killed and 22 survived.

German aircraft bombed and sank Estonian ship "Merisaar" off Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. The bombers failed to realize that the ship had been captured by the German Navy back on 12 Jul. The German crew survived the sinking, but would be rescued by the British and become prisoners of war.

NORTH AMERICA: The YO-49 Vigilant prototype aircraft took its first flight with pilot Al Schramm.

The US 2nd Armored Division was formed at Fort Benning, Georgia, United States under the command of Major General Charles L. Scott with Colonel George S. Patton Jr., a brigade commander in the division, in charge of training.

NORTH AFRICA: Germany demanded unrestricted access through French North Africa.

After a brief resistance against attacking Italian forces the outnumbered garrison of Moyale, Kenya withdraws from the town.

EASTERN EUROPE: The Soviet Union announced that recently held plebiscites in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia revealed that the three Baltic States show near-unanimous support for joining the Soviet Union.

Erich Mußfeldt was assigned to Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland.

WESTERN FRONT: Operation Ambassador: Destroyers HMS "Scimitar" and HMS "Saladin" delivered 140 British commandos to the Channel Island of Guernsey. 40 men from the No. 3 Commando reached the shore on launches, but found their target barracks actually not used by Germans. 37 men returned to the destroyers, leaving 3 who could not swim behind to later become prisoners of war. Elsewhere, some of the launches landed at the Channel Island of Sark by mistake.

GERMANY: Hampden bombers from RAF Hemswell in England, United Kingdom were sent, in one of the most daring attacks of the war, to raid Wilhelmshaven, Germany in an attempt to cripple the "Tirpitz" and "Admiral Scheer". Six aircraft were detailed to attack "Tirpitz" and two to attack "Admiral Scheer". Other aircraft were detailed to carry out diversionary raids. The raid was not a success. Four bombers were shot down and most of the survivors damaged (one was found to have 150 holes on its return). No damage was incurred by the German warships.

.

.

 

[parsifal]

16 July 1940
Losses
Tkr SCOTTISH MINSTREL (UK 6998 grt) Crew: 41 (9 dead and 32 survivors) Cargp: 9200 tons of fuel oil Route:New York - Halifax - Loch Ewe - London Sunk in the Western Approaches about 130 miles nth of Bloody Foreland on the Irish Nth Coast. Was attached to HX 55: The tkr was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean by U-61. The ship caught fire after the hit. The survivors were rescued by merchant ship FISCUS . The hulk sank the next day.

UBOATS
At Sea 16 July 1940
U-30, U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.224 departed Southend, escort DD WOOLSTON, sloop FLEETWOOD, and patrol sloop SHEARWATER. The patrol sloop was detached later that day. On the 17th, DDs JAVELIN and JUPITER covered the convoy, which arrived at the Tyne 18 July. MT.112 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 17th. FS.223 departed the Tyne, and arrived at Southend on the 17th.

Northern Waters
RN Force C, CAs SUSSEX, SHROPSHIRE, CLs SOUTHAMPTON, GLASGOW, and DDs COSSACK, SIKH, ZULU, MAORI, FURY, FORTUNE, INGLEFIELD , and IMOGEN departed Scapa to attack German shipping off Denmark. The force swept SE until 1543 when the course was reversed due to air searches failing. SHROPSHIRE was detached at 2315 for the Clyde for refitting. At 2355 on the 16th, off Duncansby Head in Pentland Firth , GLASGOW collided with GHI Class DD IMOGEN (RN 1335 grt) in thick fog. IMOGEN's fuel tanks caught fire and the ship had to be abandoned. The DD was not seen to sink. 17 ratings were lost, while GLASGOW rescued 133 others. 11 crerwmen were injured, and one ratings later died of injuries. GLASGOW had a 6' gash in her port side 60 feet back from the bow above the water line. 2 crew were lost on the cruiser. She arrived at Scapa Flow at 0936 with SOUTHAMPTON, with SUSSEX arriving later on the 17th. COSSACK, SIKH, MAORI, ZULU, FURY, FORTUNE, and INGLEFIELD arrived at Scapa at 1750 after searching for IMOGEN's hulk.

Stromna Light House keepers had reported a ship drifting westward in Pentland Firth. DD ATHERSTONE departed Scapa at 1445 on the 18th to search sth of Stromna, but returned to Scapa that evening at 1650 after failing to locate her. GLASGOW departed Scapa on the 19th with DDs INGLEFIELD, ASHANTI, and MASHONA. Off Cape Wrath, DD DIANA joined while ASHANTI and MASHONA returned to Scapa arriving on the 20th. GLASGOW arrived at Liverpool escorted by INGLEFIELD and DIANA on the 21st for repairs which completed on 4 September. BB NELSON with DDs BEDOUIN, MASHONA, and PUNJABI arrived at Scapa after full calibre firings.

Nth Atlantic
DDs FIREDRAKE and ECHO departed Reykavik with liners ORMONDE and ULSTER PRINCE for the Clyde where they arrived on the 18th.

Central Atlantic
SL.40 departed Freetown escort AMC ASTURIAS. AMC CANTON joined the convoy on 1 August, when convoy SLF.40 merged with SL.40. On 2 August, both AMCs were detached and arrived at Greenock for fuel and water on 3 August. ASTURIAS departed Greenock on 6 August to return to Freetown. On 2 August, sloop ABERDEEN joined the convoy. On 3 August, DD WALKER and corvette PERIWINKLE and on 4 August, corvettes GODETIA and PRIMROSE joined, and arrived at Liverpool on 8 August.

Sth Atlantic
DKM Raider THOR sank steamer WENDOVER (UK 5487 grt) in the Sth Atlantic . Four crew were killed, while 36 crew and one gunner were made pows. CA DORSETSHIRE departed Freetown to search the raider with no results.

Med- Biscay
Parthian Class Sub PHOENIX (RN 1475 grt) attacked RM escort ship ALBATROS off Augusta but was sunk in the counterattack. All 55 hands were lost.

Cable ship MIRROR departed Gib, escort DD FOXHOUND, to cut to Fayal-Malaga cable and join the Fayal end to Gibraltar. She later returned to Gibraltar and sailed again on the 19th, escort DD WRESTLER to continue the work. The work continued on the 21st with MIRROR escorted again by WRESTLER, which was later relieved by DD VIDETTE.

Malta
Malta's already beleaguered fighter flight suffered a blow with the loss of the Island's first RAF pilot in combat today. Flt Lt Peter Keeble had been serving as a pilot at Hal Far airfield since March of this year. He was piloting a Hurricane on this day which met a numerically superior force of Fiat CR42's. He attacked a leading fighter but died when his aircraft was shot down by the fighter near Bidni. As Keeble's Hurricane went into a dive the Italian was hit by AA light machine gun fire from 1st Bn Dorset Regiment. He unable to come out of his pursuit dive and crashed near Bidni, just 100 yards from the Hurricane. The pilot was captured alive but dies soon afterwards. No enemy bombs are dropped during raid

The wreckage of the CR 42 brought down. Outnumbered 10:1 the loss of even one pilot is a serious blow to the islands defences.

 

[parsifal]

17 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Benson Class USN DD PLUNKETT

Allied
63' ORP MASB S 2

RN S32 was of the same general outline to the Polish vessel

Losses
MV NAFTILOS (Gk 3531 grt) Crew: 28 (1 dead and 27 survivors) Cargo: 5801 tons of grain Route: Enroute to Dublin . Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 0005 hrs , U-34 began shelling the NAFTILOS until she sank at 0110 hrs. All 28 crew members abandoned ship safely, but one man later died of wounds.

MV FELLSIDE (UK 3509 grt) Crew: 33 (12 dead and 21 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: Middlesbrough - Sydney (Canada) Sunk in the western approaches. Convoy OA 184. The cargo ship straggled from the convoy. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 135 nautical miles NW of Bloody Foreland, County Donegal, Ireland
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV MANIPUR (UK 8652 grt) Crew:79 (14 dead and 65 survivors) Cargo: General cargo, including iron, steel, lumber, copper and zinc ingots Route: Baltimore - Halifax - London. Convoy HX 55A Sunk off the North Coast of Scotland. At 2222 hrs the MANIPUR was torpedoed and sunk by U-57 8 miles NW of Cape Wrath. The master and 64 crew members were picked up by RCN SKEENA and landed at Rosyth. DDs HAMBLEDON and FERNIE in the area to join convoy WN.1 began to hunt for the UBoat, and attacked a contact. DDs DIANA, BERKELEY, and GARTH departed Scapa at 0645 on the 18th to assist. BERKELEY and GARTH were ordered at 1725/18th to return to Scapa where they arrived early on the 19th.

MV O A BRODIN (SD 1960 grt) Crew: 24 (3 dead and 21 survivors) Cargo: 2665 tons of lumber and pulp wood Route: Burlington, Newfoundland - St. John's - Kirkwall - Ridham Dock . Sunk off the Orkneys. The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk west of the Orkney Islands by U-57 . The survivors were rescued by ASW Trawler SICYON

UBOATS
At Sea 17 July 1940
U-30, U-34, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
11 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
OA.186 departed Methil escort sloops SANDWICH and DEPTFORD from 17 to 21 July. MT.113 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 18th. FS.224 departed the Tyne, escort DD WOLSEY and sloop EGRET, and arrived at Southend on the 18th.

Belgian FV DE ZEESTER (74grt) was damaged by the LW 15 miles SW of Bishop Light

Northern Waters
DDs BEDOUIN and PUNJABI departed Scapa on patrol. PUNJABI was detached from this force to investigate a trawler reported by a/c at 1132, steering 270, and flying the signal "I have sighted a mine in the position indicated." At 1415 on the 18th, BEDOUIN and PUNJABI were ordered to return to Scapa. The trawler, located by PUNJABI, was found to be manned by Norwegians. PUNJABI escorted the trawler towards Lerwick until 2115 when she parted company and proceeded to Scapa. DDs ASHANTI and MASHONA departed Scapa to patrol. When BEDOUIN and PUNJABI were ordered to return to Scapa ASHANTI and MASHONA were ordered to move their patrol to cover the passage of convoys across Moray Firth. At 2346, ASHANTI and MASHONA were ordered to return to Scapa by midmorning on the 19th. These DDs arrived back at Scapa on the 19th after being delayed by fog. DDs HAMBLEDON and FERNIE departed Scapa to reinforce convoy WN.1 off Cape Wrath at about midnight. Sub L.23, escorted by NL TB Z.8, arrived at Scapa . The TB departed at 1815 that day to return to Dundee. British minefield BS.24 was laid by DDs EXPRESS and IMPULSIVE.

SW Approaches
OG.38 was to have been formed from convoys OA.185G and OB.185G, but departed Liverpool as an OG convoy. The convoy of 20 ships was escorted by sloop WELLINGTON from 17 to 29 July when the convoy arrived at Gib.

Channel
RFA STEADY (RN 758 grt) was sunk on a mine at Newhaven, two cables south of East Pier Head. There were thirteen survivors.RFA Steady

Steamer LEOLA (Est 554 grt) was sunk by the LW, about 60 miles east of the Scillies. Two crew were lost and the survivors rescued by Belgian trawler ROGER JEANNINE.
[NO IMAGE]

Central Atlantic
Sloop MILFORD departed Freetown for ASW patrol in the Cape Verde Islands area. She refuelled at St Vincent on the 25th and was to arrive back at Freetown on 5 August.

Sth Atlantic
CA HAWKINS at Montevideo ordered AMC ALCANTARA to patrol the Pernambuco-Trinidade area.

Med- Biscay
Steamer WIIRI (FN 3525 grt) was sunk by the RA 30 miles off Malta. 26 crew were rescued.

RM CLs BANDE NERE and COLLEONI with RM DesDiv 10 departed Tripoli. The destroyers were detached to the Sollum area and the cruisers proceeded towards Leros. Some reports state these ships were laden with fuel for the Dodacanese.

Profile of the COLLEONI

Indian Ocean
Convoy BN.2 departed Bombay, escort CL CERES and AMCs CATHAY and RAN WESTRALIA. The AMCs were detached on the 26th. CL LEANDER joined on the 26th and sloops HINDUSTAN and SHOREHAM on the 27th. CERES was detached on the 29th, and HINDUSTAN and SHOREHAM on the 30th. On the 30th, CLA CARLISLE, DDs KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY, with sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO joined LEANDER and the convoy. Sloop CLIVE joined on 3 August when the other ships were detached and arrived at Suez with the convoy on 5 August.

Malta
The CinC Med Flt requests the Admiralty for a fast ship of the Glen Line to take on the urgent supply of Malta. The fast transport ship would perform the dual role of sea-going oiler and carrier of stores into Malta. The role has so far been carried out by RFA PLUMLEAF but the vessel is considered too slow to complete the duty effectively.

3 Wellington bombers are assigned to the island. However, Lt Gen Dobbie has reservations about the proposal to base the bombers in Malta, even temporarily, unless a proper unit with a full complement of men and spares, and especially a consignment of fuel, accompany the a/c. In addition, he points out that it would be unwise to accommodate the Wellingtons in Malta until the Island's defences are improved, though this is anticipated.

AIR HQ 0500 hrs Coastal ASW and recon patrol by the Saro London: nothing to report. 1410-1630 hrs Recon by one Hudson of Syracuse, Augusta and Messina harbours from 15,000 ft. Ships at Messina: 1 BB, 6 cruisers, 9 destroyers, and several MVs. Off Reggio: one ship, probably a troopship, proceeding north. Augusta: 2 cruisers, one 10000 ton MV and twelve smaller merchantmen, plus 30 to 40 seaplanes. Syracuse: one large and two small oil tankers; 14 small merchant vessels in possible convoy formation, two destroyers off the coast steering north.

 

[Njaco]

July 16 Tuesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post692667.html#post692667

WESTERN FRONT: Vichy France revoked the French citizenship of naturalized Jews. Meanwhile, in German-occupied Alsace-Lorraine, 22,000 French citizens were forcibly deported to France.

Spanish agents met with the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, and warned him that his fellow countrymen were sending him to be the governor of the Bahamas to remove him from power.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler issued Führer Directive 16 for the preparation of an invasion plan for southern Britain in mid-Aug. http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/16.html

MEDITERRANEAN: British submarine HMS "Phoenix" attacked Italian torpedo boat "Albatros" southeast of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, with all torpedoes missing their target. "Albatros" responded with torpedoes of her own, sinking HMS "Phoenix" and killing the entire crew of 55.

Italian bombers attacked the British base at Haifa, British Mandate of Palestine.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Thor" sank British ship "Wendover" in the South Atlantic, killing 4 and capturing 36 civilian crew and 1 Royal Navy gunner.

German submarine U-61 torpedoed British tanker "Scottish Minstrel" 130 miles northwest of Ireland, killing 9; 32 were later rescued by corvette HMS "Gardenia". With her cargo of 9,200 tons of fuel oil burning, the tanker would remain afloat for another day before sinking.

British destroyer HMS "Imogen" collided with cruiser HMS "Glasgow" in heavy fog off Pentland Firth and Duncansby Head, in northern Scotland. She caught fire and was later abandoned, drifting 20 miles before sinking. 17 were killed and 133 were rescued. HMS "Glasgow" saw 2 killed and suffered a 6-foot hole above the waterline. She would be under repair at Liverpool until 4 Sep.

NORTH AFRICA: British and Australian warships bombarded Bardia, Libya.

ASIA: 54 Japanese aircraft based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China attacked Chongqing, China in two waves; 31 Chinese fighters (I-15bis, I-16, and Hawk III models) rose to intercept, claiming damage on several bombers. Liu Zhesheng shot down two Japanese aircraft.

In Tokyo Japanese Prime Minister Yonai resigns because of military pressure.

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