(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:cab/66/16/1
Image Reference:0001
THIS DOCUMENT IS T H E PROPERTY OF H I S BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S
SECRET.
W . P . (41)
GOVERNMENT
Copy No.
78
(Also Paper No. C.O.S. (41) 221)
April
3, 1941
TO B E
KEPT
UNDER
LOCK
AND
KEY.
I t is r e q u e s t e d t h a t special care m a y be takei^ t
ensure t h e secrecy of this d o c u m e n t .
WAR CABINET WEEKLY
RESUME
(No. 83) of the NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 12 noon March 27th, to 12 noon April 3rd, 1941 -1- * /
JL J L
[Circulated with the approval of
the Chiefs of Staff.]
o
Cabinet War
Room
N A Y A L SITUATION.' General Review.
T h e I t a l i a n Fleet h a s been b r o u g h t to action a n d h a s suffered serious losses.
T h e s c u t t l i n g of enemy m e r c h a n t s h i p p i n g in S o u t h A m e r i c a is r e p o r t e d .
S h i p p i n g losses r e p o r t e d a r e heavy, but more t h a n h a l f t h i s t o n n a g e w a s sunk
previous t o t h e period u n d e r review.
E n e m y a i r c r a f t h a v e been active in a t t a c k i n g tra.de i n the St. George's
C h a n n e l a n d off t h e E a s t Coast.
Home W a t e r s a n d North A t l a n t i c .
2. U n i t s of t h e F l e e t have been employed d u r i n g t h e week covering ocean
convoys a n d p a t r o l s have been i n s t i t u t e d to i n t e r c e p t w a r s h i p r a i d e r s . O n t h e
.27th M a r c h H . M . Sloop Leith w a s unsuccessfully a t t a c k e d i n the St. G e o r g e ' s
C h a n n e l by t w o a i r c r a f t , one of which was destroyed. O n t h e 31st t w o h i t s were
claimed b)^ o u r a i r c r a f t on a destroyer which w a s e s c o r t i n g a convoy off t h e n o r t h
coast of H o l l a n d . H . M . P a d d l e Minesweeper Lorna Doone off Lowestoft destroyed
one a i r c r a f t a n d claimed to h a v e d a m a g e d t w o others. H . M . S .
Worcestershire
( A r m e d M e r c h a n t C r u i s e r ) , escorting a homebound convoy from C a n a d a , w a s
d a m a g e d by t o r p e d o 400 miles south-west of I c e l a n d e a r l y on the m o r n i n g of t h e
3rd April.
T h e convoy w a s also attacked, e i g h t ships h a v i n g been r e p o r t e d
torpedoed, f u r t h e r details of which will be included in n e x t week's Resume.
On
t h e same d a y H . M . G u n b o a t Locust destroyed one a i r c r a f t a n d d a m a g e d two
others i n the T h a m e s E s t u a r y .
Mediterranean.
3. A i r reconnaissance on t h e 27th M a r c h reported a force of enemy
w a r s h i p s to t h e e a s t w a r d of Sicily steering east. O n t h e m o r n i n g of t h e
2 8 t h M a r c h o u r l i g h t forces sighted one L i t t o r i o class b a t t l e s h i p , accompanied by
c r u i s e r s , to t h e south-west of Crete steering south-east, while a i r reconnaissance
r e p o r t e d t w o battleships, cruisers a n d destroyers t o t h e n o r t h of t h i s position.
On being s i g h t e d the enemy t u r n e d w e s t w a r d , proceeding a t h i g h speed. D u r i n g
t h e d a y t h e L i t t o r i o class b a t t l e s h i p w a s r e p e a t e d l y a n d successfully a t t a c k e d
w i t h torpedoes by t h e Fleet a i r a r m which caused serious damage. A successful
a t t a c k w a s also m a d e by bombers of t h e R . A . F . on cruisers a n d destroyers. T h e
loss of speed r e s u l t i n g from these a i r a t t a c k s enabled o u r heavier ships to g a i n
c o n t a c t w i t h t h e enemy a t dusk, a n d a short b u t decisive action took place,
r e s u l t i n g i n t h e loss of t h r e e enemy 8-inch cruisers (Pola, Zara a n d Fiume) a n d
t w o destroyers, Vincenzo Gioberti a n d Maestrale.
I t is probable t h a t t h e 6-inch
c r u i s e r Giovanni Delle Bancle Nere a n d one o t h e r destroyer were also sunk. T w o
dive-bombers were shot down d u r i n g d a y l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s . A p a r t from three
N a v a l a i r c r a f t w h i c h a r e missing, no d a m a g e or casualties were s u s t a i n e d by a n y
of our ships. On the m o r n i n g of the 29th n e a r l y a t h o u s a n d I t a l i a n survivors
w e r e rescued, which n u m b e r would have been considerably increased h a d not
G e r m a n bombers a t t a c k e d t h e r e s c u i n g ships. T h e C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f informed
t h e Chief of t h e I t a l i a n N a v a l Staff of the p o s i t i o n of the survivors, w h i c h he
h a d been forced to a b a n d o n , a n d suggested t h a t a h o s p i t a l ship should be sent.
A reply of t h a n k s w a s received i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e h o s p i t a l ship Piscana h a d
a l r e a d y sailed. Greek destroyers which were r u s h e d t h r o u g h t h e C o r i n t h C a n a l
a r r i v e d too l a t e to t a k e p a r t i n the action, b u t assisted to pick u p survivors.
O p p o s i n g forces consisted of B r i t i s h : t h r e e b a t t l e s h i p s , one a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r ,
f o u r cruisers a n d twelve d e s t r o y e r s ; I t a l i a n : t h r e e battleships, eleA^en cruisers
a n d f o u r t e e n destroyers.
4. H M . S u b m a r i n e Parthian
a t t a c k e d a n escorted convoy in t h e S t r a i t s of
M e s s i n a on t h e 16th M a r c h , a n d i t is believed t h a t she torpedoed a 6,000-ton
m e r c h a n t s h i p a n d a 10,000-ton tanker. H . M . S u b m a r i n e Rorqual,
operating
n o r t h of Messina, r e p o r t e d t h a t she h a d sunk a U - B o a t a n d t h e I t a l i a n
s.s. Laura Corrado (3,645 tons). H . M . S u b m a r i n e Utmost, o p e r a t i n g i n t h e
C e n t r a l M e d i t e r r a n e a n , a t t a c k e d a southbound convoy, a n d obtained t w o h i t s on
a 12,000-ton s h i p a n d one on a 6,000-ton s h i p .
E a r l y on t h e 31st M a r c h H . M . S . Bonaventure
U - B o a t while e s c o r t i n g a convoy south of Crete.
3 0 0 ' r a t i n g s h a v e been rescued. ELM. A u s t r a l i a n
U - B o a t , w h i c h broke surface a n d t h e n crash dived
R e i n f o r c e m e n t s of a i r c r a f t w h i c h were flown
safely a t M a l t a on the m o r n i n g of the 3rd.
w a s torpedoed a n d s u n k by a
T h e C a p t a i n , n i n e officers a n d
Destroyer Stuart a t t a c k e d t h e
after the third attack.
off H . M . S . Ark Royal a r r i v e d
5. On t h e 30th M a r c h H . M . S . Sheffield w i t h four destroyers i n t e r c e p t e d an
e a s t b o u n d convoy of four F r e n c h m e r c h a n t ships, escorted by a destroyer, off t h e
A l g e r i a n coast. T h e convoy refused to stop, a n d e n t e r e d Nemours, w h e r e a
£-inch b a t t e r y opened fire on our ships. Sheffield replied, a n d t h e b a t t e r y w a s
r e p e a t e d l y hit.
O u r force w a s ineffectively bombed by F r e n c h a i r c r a f t while
r e t u r n i n g to i t s base.
Other Foreign Stations.
South
A
tlantic.
6. I t h a s now been established t h a t the enemy r a i d e r r e p o r t e d by
H . M . S u b m a r i n e Severn on the 22nd M a r c h was, i n fact, a B r i t i s h m e r c h a n t s h i p .
Red
Sea.
7. On t h e 30th M a r c h H . M . Destroyer Kandahar
intercepted the German
s.s. Bertram Rickmers
(4,188 tons) 60 miles south-west of M a s s a w a . T h e crew
a b a n d o n e d ship a n d fired s c u t t l i n g charges. T w o I t a l i a n Destroyers a t t e m p t i n g
to escape from M a s s a w a have been sunk by a i r c r a f t from H . M . S . Eagle.
Another
destroyer w a s left in a s i n k i n g c o n d i t i o n a n d t w o others have been a b a n d o n e d ,
leaving t h r e e still to be accounted for.
Pacific.
8. On the 1st A p r i l H . M . C a n a d i a n A r m e d M e r c h a n t C r u i s e r Prince
Henry
i n t e r c e p t e d the G e r m a n ships Miinchen (5,619 tons) a n d Hermonthis
(4,833 tons)
about 200 miles west of Callao. B o t h s h i p s were set on fire by t h e i r crews a n d
were subsequently sunk.
Anti-Submarine Operations.
9. No a t t a c k s of i m p o r t a n c e have t a k e n place other t h a n those previously
described in t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n Section.
E n e m y Intelligence.
German.
10. On t h e 2 8 t h M a r c h a n unconfirmed r e p o r t placed the n e w b a t t l e s h i p
Bismarck
in G d y n i a , a n d on t h e following d a y p h o t o g r a p h i c reconnaissance
showed t h e b a t t l e c r u i s e r s Scharnhorst
a n d Gneisenau i n Brest, the former along­
side w i t h n e t p r o t e c t i o n r o u n d h e r a n d the l a t t e r in d r y dock. Subsequent recon­
naissances have r e p o r t e d no c h a n g e in this s i t u a t i o n .
Italian.
N i n e destroyers were a t M a s s a w a previous to t h e a t t a c k s by our a i r c r a f t
r e p o r t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 7. Confirmation h a s been received t h a t the 6-inch cruiser
Montecuccoli
w a s sunk early in M a r c h i n the M e d i t e r r a n e a n .
A reconnaissance of T r i p o l i o n the 28th M a r c h showed six destroyers a n d
19 m e r c h a n t s h i p s v a r y i n g from 2,000 to 8,000 tons.
U-boats.
A t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e p e r i o d u n d e r review, there seemed to be considerably
fewer G e r m a n U - b o a t s in t h e N o r t h - W e s t A p p r o a c h e s t h a n h a s been u s u a l of late.
B y the 3 0 t h M a r c h , t h e r e seem to h a v e been t e n or more G e r m a n s a t w o r k i n two
groups, one N o r t h of 6 0 a n d one S o u t h of 5 5 , a n d n u m b e r s h a v e r e m a i n e d a t
least a t t h a t level since then. A f e a t u r e of the d i s p o s i t i o n s t o w a r d s t h e e n d of
t h e p e r i o d w a s t h e presence i n N o r t h e r n l a t i t u d e s of t w o G e r m a n U - b o a t s as f a r
W e s t a s 2 8 . One or two G e r m a n s h a v e been i n the C a p e V e r d e a r e a . T h e r e
h a s been little evidence of t h e a c t i v i t y of I t a l i a n U - b o a t s , b u t it seems t h a t t h e
concentration i n the B a y of Biscay h a s dispersed.
[22392]
B
o
0
G
Enemy A t t a c k on Seaborne Trade.
11. A c c o r d i n g to t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a t p r e s e n t available m e r c h a n t s h i p p i n g
losses d u r i n g the week e n d e d noon W e d n e s d a y , t h e 2 n d A p r i l , a m o u n t e d to ten
s h i p s a n d five small c r a f t t o t a l l i n g 53,446 tons, of w h i c h e i g h t s h i p s a n d t h r e e
small c r a f t (42,962 tons) were B r i t i s h . Bombing, p r i n c i p a l l y on t h e E a s t Coast
a n d i n t h e S t . G e o r g e ' s C h a n n e l , accounted for five ships a n d five s m a l l c r a f t
sunk a n d ten ships d a m a g e d . F o u r s h i p s were s u n k by U-boats i n t h e N o r t h W e s t e r n A p p r o a c h e s a n d two were d a m a g e d . Only one s h i p w a s d a m a g e d by
mine. A m e r c h a n t r a i d e r s a n k one B r i t i s h ship in t h e S o u t h A t l a n t i c .
I n f o r m a t i o n h a s also come to h a n d d u r i n g t h i s week of a n u m b e r of e a r l i e r
losses n o t previously r e p o r t e d , namely, two ships sunk by U-boats, two ships a n d
some small c r a f t sunk by a i r c r a f t , a n d t h r e e s h i p s s u n k by r a i d e r . Seven s h i p s
previously r e p o r t e d d a m a g e d a r e now k n o w n to have been sunk, m a k i n g a t o t a l
of 128,466 tons of s h i p p i n g sunk, details of w h i c h a r e contained i n A p p e n d i x I .
Protection
of Seaborne T r a d e .
12. D u r i n g the week ended noon W e d n e s d a y , t h e 2 n d A p r i l , 774 ships,
i n c l u d i n g 163 A l l i e d a n d 16 n e u t r a l , were convoyed. F o u r ships w e r e r e p o r t e d
lost in convoy.
F i v e b a t t l e s h i p s , one a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r , t h r e e cruisers, four
s u b m a r i n e s , fifty destroyers a n d forty-five sloops a n d corvettes were employed
o n escort duties. Since the b e g i n n i n g of t h e w a r 58,727 ships have been convoyed,
of w h i c h 285 have been lost by enemy action.
I m p o r t s i n t o G r e a t B r i t a i n by ships in convoy d u r i n g the week e n d i n g t h e
2 9 t h M a r c h totalled 557,429 tons, c o m p a r e d w i t h 502,789 tons d u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s
seven days. Oil i m p o r t s w e r e 134,703 tons i n t h i r t e e n t a n k e r s . I m p o r t s of
m i n e r a l s w e r e 155,816 tons, of w h i c h 112,192 tons were steel, s c r a p iron, p i g iron
a n d iron ore. T i m b e r i m p o r t s were 9,548 a n d cereal i m p o r t s w e r e 88,460 tons.
O t h e r food i m p o r t s a m o u n t e d to 92,081 tons, of w h i c h 13,666 tons w e r e s u g a r ,
12,234 tons w e r e r e f r i g e r a t e d a n d t i n n e d meat, bacon a n d hams, a n d 13,011 tons
w e r e tea. A i r c r a f t a n d considerable q u a n t i t i e s of m a c h i n e r y a n d w a r stores w e r e
a m o n g the cargoes.
B r i t i s h Minelaying.
13. D u r i n g t h e week t h r e e m i n e l a y i n g o p e r a t i o n s have been c a r r i e d out off
B r e s t a n d 240 m i n e s h a v e been l a i d in t h e St. G e o r g e ' s C h a n n e l . M . T . B s . l a i d
m i n e s off D u n k i r k .
M i n e l a y i n g by a i r c r a f t h a s been c a r r i e d out off the F r i s i a n a n d F r e n c h
A t l a n t i c coasts.
Enemy Minelaying, British Minesweeping.
14. B o t h t h e H u m b e r a r e a a n d M i l f o r d H a v e n have h a d m i n e l a y i n g r a i d s
on t h r e e n i g h t s d u r i n g t h e week e n d e d t h e 2 n d A p r i l . M i n e l a y i n g off H a r t l e p o o l
w a s suspected on t h e n i g h t of the 31st M a r c h .
N o contact mines have been c u t or exploded d u r i n g the week, a n d only n i n e
m a g n e t i c a n d fourteen acoustic m i n e s h a v e been d e t o n a t e d , the m a j o r i t y in t h e
Upper Thames Estuary.
T h r e e d a n g e r o u s a r e a s i n the D o w n s have been cleared, leaving a small p a t c h
n e a r some wrecks.
A n enemy minefield is suspected off C a p e C a r v o e i r o on t h e coast of P o r t u g a l ,
w h e r e several explosions have recently been r e p o r t e d .
On t h e 3 r d A p r i l T o r b a y w a s t h e only p o r t closed.
Enemy Merchant Shipping.
15. I t a l i a n , G e r m a n a n d D a n i s h s h i p s i n U n i t e d S t a t e s p o r t s have been
t a k e n i n t o protective custody a f t e r i n f o r m a t i o n h a d been received to t h e effect
t h a t I t a l i a n crews were systematically d e s t r o y i n g t h e i r m a c h i n e r y .
When
b o a r d e d m a n y of the I t a l i a n s h i p s w e r e found to have a l r e a d y m a d e p r e p a r a t i o n s
for s e t t i n g themselves on fire or to have d a m a g e d t h e i r engines.
There are
28 I t a l i a n s h i p s i n U n i t e d S t a t e s p o r t s , t o t a l l i n g 169,906 tons, 2 G e r m a n , one
of them a t a n k e r , t o t a l l i n g 9,133 tons, a n d 35 D a n i s h , t o t a l l i n g 113,517 tons.
No d a m a g e h a d been done to the D a n i s h ships, b u t one of the G e r m a n , the Pauleine
Friedrich
a t Boston, h a d h a d h e r engines badly d a m a g e d . T h r e e D a n i s h s h i p s
have recently been seized in Chile a n d one i n P e r u .
German.
16. T h e Wartenfels
(6,181 tons) is r e p o r t e d to h a v e left M a s s a w a between
the 21st F e b r u a r y a n d the 21st M a r c h , b u t h a s n o t been h e a r d of since.
Dresden
(5,567 tons) sailed from S a n t o s on t h e 28th M a r c h . A t Montevideo t h e Norderney
(3,667 tons) w a s r e a d y for sea, heavily loaded, on the 1st A p r i l .
Osomo
(6,951 tons) sailed from T a l c a h u a n o , Chile, on the 2 n d A p r i l . T h e G e r m a n
Eisenach (4,423 tons) a n d the I t a l i a n Fella (6,072 tons) were set on fire by t h e i r
crews a t P u n t a A r e n a s , Costa R i c a , on the 31st M a r c h when t h e local a u t h o r i t i e s
a t t e m p t e d to board. B o t h s h i p s a r e likely to become a total loss. R e p o r t s of
s c u t t l i n g h a v e also been received as follows :—
Sesostris (3,987 tons) a t P u e r t o Cabello, Venezuela.
Friesland (6,310 tons) set on fire a t P a i t a , P e r u .
Leipsig (5,898 tons) a t Callao.
Cerigo (1,120 tons) set on fire a t Q u a y a g u i l , E c u a d o r .
T h e Orinoco (9,660 tons) a t Tampico, Hameln (4,174 tons) a t V e r a C r u z a n d
Durazzo (1,153 tons) in V e n e z u e l a have been seized.
Italian.
17. Considerable a c t i v i t y h a s been shown by I t a l i a n ships in the C a n a r y
I s l a n d s . On the n i g h t of t h e 1st A p r i l the Capo Alga (4,835 tons) a n d the t a n k e r
Burano (4,450 tons) sailed from Teneriffe. T h e t a n k e r Frisco (4,910 tons) sailed
from Ceara, B r a z i l , a n d the t a n k e r Franco
Martelli
(10,535 tons) from
P e r n a m b u c o on the 28th M a r c h . S i x ships, t o t a l l i n g 36,873 tons, a r e r e p o r t e d
t o have received orders to sail from Buenos A i r e s .
R e p o r t s of s c u t t l i n g s have been received as follows :—T a n k e r A tlas (2,005 tons) a t T a m p i c o .
T a n k e r s Teresa Odero (8,196 tons), Trottiera (6,205 tons) a n d Jole Fassio
(5,169 tons) a t P u e r t o Cabella, Venezuela.
Manserrate
(5,578 tons) a t Callao.
E i g h t t a n k e r s (51,000 tons) h a v e been seized at T a m p i c o a n d one t a n k e r
(6,735 tons) a t V e r a C r u z .
T h e Recca (5,441 tons) a t H a v a n a , Bacicin
Padre
(5,591 tons) a n d t w o t a n k e r s (12,000 tons) a t P u e r t o Cabello have also been seized
a n d Pampano
(6,232 tons) a t P e r n a m b u c o has been d e t a i n e d for p a y m e n t of
bunkers.
MILITARY
SITUATION.
Germany.
18. A s t u d y of G e r m a n m a n - p o w e r s t a t i s t i c s i n d i c a t e s t h a t her army is now
a p p r o a c h i n g a t o t a l of 250 divisions. I t is t h o u g h t t h a t this is t h e m a x i m u m
w h i c h she c a n m a i n t a i n w i t h o u t serious risks to h e r w a r p r o d u c t i o n and supply.
B a l k a n Operations.
Greece.
19. A G e r m a n a t t a c k on Greece a p p e a r e d to be i m m i n e n t a t t h e time t h a t
Y u g o s l a v i a j o i n e d the T r i p a r t i t e P a c t . T h e r e is no doubt t h a t the coup d' Etat
which followed u p s e t the G e r m a n calculations a n d caused postponement of the
a t t a c k . I t is suggested t h a t t h e a t t a c k on Greece will coincide w i t h one on
Yugoslavia.
Yugoslavia.
20. I t a p p e a r s t h a t G e r m a n t r o o p s a r e being c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e Yugoslav
f r o n t i e r s as follows :—
(a) A h i g h e r formation, probably an a r m o u r e d corps, is being c o n c e n t r a t e d
i n t h e Temesvar area, i.e., in R o u m a n i a opposite the Yugoslav frontier.
U n i t s from F r a n c e a r e also c o n c e n t r a t i n g in t h i s area.
(b) I t w a s r e p o r t e d on t h e 29th M a r c h t h a t G e r m a n motorised u n i t s w e r e
a r r i v i n g by t r a i n a n d road a t Eeldbach a n d L e i b n i t z in S o u t h e r n
A u s t r i a , o p p o s i t e t h e Yugoslav frontier.
(c) C e r t a i n G e r m a n t r o o p t r a i n s a r e being h a l t e d in H u n g a r y . I t is there­
fore possible t h a t G e r m a n troops a r e d e t r a i n i n g in H u n g a r y a n d
m o v i n g south to t h e H u n g a r i a n - Y u g o s l a v frontier. So far, however,
t h e r e is no confirmation of this.
T h e r e is no confirmation of press r e p o r t s of h a s t y reinforcement by I t a l y of
the I t a l o - Y u g o s l a v frontier.
Albania.
2 1 . T h e effect of t h e Yugoslav coup d Etat on I t a l i a n s t r a t e g y in A l b a n i a
c a n n o t yet be assessed, a l t h o u g h c e r t a i n troops m a y have been w i t h d r a w n from
the" f r o n t to the centre of A l b a n i a to f o r m a s t r a t e g i c reserve. M e a n w h i l e , the
I t a l i a n s h a v e k e p t u p m i n o r offensive a c t i v i t i e s on all p a r t s of t h e f r o n t w i t h o u t
success a n d at some cost in personnel a n d w a r m a t e r i a l .
:
Bulgaria.
22. T h e r e are e s t i m a t e d to be t w e n t y complete G e r m a n divisions n o w in
B u l g a r i a , a s a g a i n s t sixteen last week, t h e p r o b a b l e p r e s e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n being
six divisions in t h e south-west, six in the centre a n d e i g h t in the south-east f a c i n g
T u r k e y . Of these four a r e a r m o u r e d divisions, a n increase of one d u r i n g t h e
p a s t week.
U.S.S.R.
23. T h e r e is l i t t l e reason to believe n u m e r o u s r e p o r t s t h a t G e r m a n y i n t e n d s
to a t t a c k R u s s i a in t h e n e a r f u t u r e . T h e G e r m a n object is u n d o u b t e d l y to e x e r t
m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e on R u s s i a to p r e v e n t R u s s i a n i n t e r f e r e n c e in G e r m a n p l a n s i n
S o u t h - E a s t E u r o p e , a n d also to influence R u s s i a ' s d i p l o m a t i c decisions.
Africa.
Libya.
24. E n e m y i n f a n t r y e s t i m a t e d a t t w o b a t t a l i o n s , together w i t h t a n k s w i t h
s w a s t i k a m a r k i n g s , a t t a c k e d some of o u r u n a r m o u r e d troops w h o w i t h d r e w to a
l i n e n o r t h of A g e d a b i a .
W e e s t i m a t e t h a t the n u m b e r of G e r m a n t r o o p s in T r i p o l i is still between
one a n d two a r m o u r e d divisions, b u t t h e r e are i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t these m a y shortly
be reinforced.
Eritrea and A byssinia.
25. T h e o u t s t a n d i n g events of the week h a v e been t h e c a p t u r e of K e r e n a n d
t h e c a p i t u l a t i o n of A s m a r a . W i t h our forces a s t r i d e t h e r a i l w a y A d d i s A b a b a J i b u t i , the only l a n d e x i t f r o m A b y s s i n i a left to t h e I t a l i a n s is by r o a d from
A d d i s A b a b a to A s s a b via Dessie, I t is e v i d e n t t h a t t h e D u k e of A o s t a is
i n t e r p r e t i n g h i s o r d e r s loyally a n d t h a t he w i l l p r o b a b l y e x p l o i t t h e n u i s a n c e
value of c o n t a i n i n g our forces u n t i l I t a l i a n s u r r e n d e r is inevitable.
AIR
SITUATION.
General Review.
26. O p e r a t i o n s by Bomber C o m m a n d h a v e been g r e a t l y r e s t r i c t e d by very
bad w e a t h e r ; a heavy a t t a c k , however, w a s m a d e a g a i n s t t h e Scharnhorst
and
Gneisenau located a t B r e s t . A n u m b e r of successful a t t a c k s w e r e m a d e o n enemy
s h i p p i n g by a i r c r a f t from b o t h Bomber a n d C o a s t a l C o m m a n d s .
O p e r a t i o n a l A i r c r a f t B a t t l e C a s u a l t i e s a r e given in A p p e n d i x V I .
For
reasons given in A p p e n d i x V I I , e x t r a c t s from recent R a i d Assessment R e p o r t s
a r e n o t to be d i s c o n t i n u e d , as w a s s t a t e d last week.
Germany and Occupied T e r r i t o r y .
27. D u r i n g the week Bomber C o m m a n d c a r r i e d out 115 d a y a n d 289 n i g h t
sorties. C o a s t a l C o m m a n d s u p p o r t e d these o p e r a t i o n s a n d F i g h t e r C o m m a n d
flew a few offensive p a t r o l s over t h e coasts of F r a n c e a n d the L o w C o u n t r i e s .
Day.
28. N e a r l y all the d a y l i g h t sorties were directed a g a i n s t enemy s h i p p i n g ,
d e t a i l s of w h i c h will be found u n d e r Coastal O p e r a t i o n s .
On four occasions
d u r i n g d a y l i g h t , a force of heavy bombers w a s d e s p a t c h e d to a t t a c k the enemy
b a t t l e cruisers located a t B r e s t ; one a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d w i t h o u t observing results,
t h e r e m a i n d e r h a d t o a b a n d o n t a s k on account of u n s u i t a b l e w e a t h e r . A few
aerodromes were bombed a n d m a c h i n e - g u n n e d ; a t H a a m s t e d e a b u i l d i n g w a s hit,
c a u s i n g a l a r g e explosion, a n d a t M a u p e r t u s four H e . I l l were m a c h i n e - g u n n e d .
A d i r e c t h i t w a s m a d e on g u n e m p l a c e m e n t s a t flollum, in A m e l a n d . N e a r t h i s
p o i n t some D u t c h civilians w e r e seen p o i n t i n g a n d w a v i n g ; o u r a i r c r a f t
i n v e s t i g a t e d a n d found a n u m b e r of enemy soldiers on p a r a d e , w h o were t h e n
bombed a n d m a c h i n e - g u n n e d .
Night.
29. W e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s d u r i n g the week were very u n f a v o u r a b l e ; on only
t h r e e n i g h t s w a s it possible to c a r r y out a t t a c k s a n d on only one n i g h t could the
full p r o g r a m m e be u n d e r t a k e n .
30. On t h e n i g h t of t h e 2 7 t h / 2 8 t h a t o t a l of 97 bombers w a s despatched,
the p r i n c i p a l a t t a c k s being m a d e a g a i n s t the i n d u s t r i a l centres a t Cologne a n d
Dusseldorf.
F o r t y - n i n e tons of H . E . bombs were d r o p p e d a t Cologne;
several l a r g e explosions took place n e a r t h e electricity power station, b u r s t s
were seen amongst b u i l d i n g s , a n d a l a r g e fire w a s observed. A t Dusseldorf,
t h i r t y tons of H . E . w e r e d r o p p e d a n d m a n y fires a n d explosions were seen
i n t h e t a r g e t area. A t t a c k s on a small scale were also m a d e a g a i n s t D u n k i r k ,
Brest and Calais.
31. On t h e n i g h t of the 3 0 t h / 3 1 s t M a r c h , a t o t a l of 134 bombers w a s
d e s p a t c h e d , the p r i n c i p a l t a r g e t b e i n g t h e Scharnhorst
a n d Gneisenau at Brest,
w h e r e 118 tons of H . E . were d r o p p e d . R e s u l t s were difficult to observe on
account of d a r k n e s s a n d i n t e n s e s e a r c h l i g h t concentration, b u t r e p o r t s i n d i c a t e
t h a t a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e bombs were d r o p p e d on t h a t a r e a of t h e docks in
w h i c h these b a t t l e c r u i s e r s w e r e s i t u a t e d .
A n u m b e r of a i r c r a f t saw t h e
c r u i s e r s by the l i g h t of flares, a n d other a i r c r a f t r e p o r t h a v i n g s t r a d d l e d the
t a r g e t in all directions. T h i r t e e n W e l l i n g t o n s a t t a c k e d Calais, s t a r t i n g a n u m b e r
of fires.
32. On t h e n i g h t of t h e 3 1 s t / 1 s t t w e n t y - t w o a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d s h i p y a r d s a t
B r e m e n ; fires w e r e observed in t h e dock a r e a a n d b u r s t s w e r e seen exactly on the
t a r g e t . A l i g h t e r scale of a t t a c k w a s m a d e a g a i n s t E m d e n , w h e r e t w o 4,000-lb.
bombs w e r e d r o p p e d .
33. On t w o occasions t e a b a g s were d r o p p e d over H o l l a n d , a n d p r o p a g a n d a
leaflets w e r e d r o p p e d over N o r t h - W e s t F r a n c e a n d E m d e n .
United K i n g d o m .
34. F i g h t e r C o m m a n d flew 1,120 p a t r o l s , involving 2,730 sorties, by day,
a n d 189 p a t r o l s , involving 285 sorties, by n i g h t .
35. E n e m y o p e r a t i o n s by d a y were on t h e same m o d e r a t e scale a s last week,
t h o u g h i n c r e a s e d a c t i v i t y took place a g a i n s t s h i p p i n g off the W e s t a n d S o u t h W e s t Coasts. T h e F o c k e - W u l f l o n g - r a n g e u n i t h a s a g a i n been active. S i n g l e
bomber-reconnaissance a i r c r a f t h a v e a t t a c k e d n i n e R o y a l A i r Force s t a t i o n s , for
t h e m o s t p a r t ineffectively, a n d bombs have been d r o p p e d in some coastal towns.
W a r m w e l l aerodrome w a s a t t a c k e d on the 1st A p r i l by t h r e e a i r c r a f t , w h i c h
caused some damage, d e t a i l s of w h i c h a r e recorded i n the H o m e S e c u r i t y S i t u a t i o n .
W e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s w e r e generally u n f a v o u r a b l e for interception, b u t o u r fighters
destroyed a t least e i g h t enemy bombers d u r i n g the week.
[22392]
c
36. B y n i g h t , enemy a c t i v i t y w a s on a considerably r e d u c e d scale. T h e only
a t t a c k s of i m p o r t a n c e d u r i n g t h e week were d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t A v o n m o u t h a n d
H u l l ; n o t more t h a n f o r t y a i r c r a f t were e n g a g e d on each occasion. O u r fighters
m a d e t w o i n t e r c e p t i o n s , one of w h i c h resulted i n d a m a g e to a F o c k e - W u l f off t h e
C o r n i s h coast.
Coastal Operations.
37. C o a s t a l C o m m a n d a i r c r a f t flew 179 p a t r o l s a n d p r o v i d e d escorts for
142 convoys, involving a t o t a l of 798 sorties. I n a d d i t i o n , a i r c r a f t of F i g h t e r
C o m m a n d m a d e 478 sorties in convoy a n d s h i p p i n g p r o t e c t i o n p a t r o l s .
Our
a t t a c k s in d a y l i g h t on enemy s h i p p i n g have been on a h e a v i e r scale, a n d have been
c a r r i e d out by a i r c r a f t of both Bomber a n d Coastal C o m m a n d s .
38- S i x Coastal C o m m a n d a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d a small m e r c h a n t vessel in
A l d e r n e y H a r b o u r , o b t a i n i n g t h r e e direct h i t s ; the j e t t y w a s d a m a g e d a n d a
b u r s t w a s observed n e a r a l a r g e warehouse. Off St. N a z a i r e , a n a n t i - s u b m a r i n e
vessel w a s set on fire a n d seen to be s i n k i n g . Five B l e n h e i m s escorted by four
s q u a d r o n s of fighters bombed two small m e r c h a n t vessels off C a p e G r i s Nez a n d
r e g i s t e r e d n e a r misses. Off t h e D a n i s h coast, a B e a u f o r t t o r p e d o e d a m e r c h a n t
vessel of about 2,000 tons. A Blenheim on reconnaissance e n g a g e d a n d shot down
one of t h r e e enemy bombers,
39. T h e destroyer a t t a c k e d off the n o r t h coast of H o l l a n d by Bomber
C o m m a n d a i r c r a f t (mentioned in t h e N a v a l S i t u a t i o n ) w a s left l i s t i n g heavily
w i t h smoke issuing from the stern. T w o t a n k e r s , each of 3,000 tons, w e r e
a t t a c k e d off H a v r e a n d set on fire, a n d a d i r e c t h i t w a s m a d e on a 2,000-ton
m e r c h a n t vessel off I j m u i d e n . T w o flak ships were h i t , one w a s seen t o be l i s t i n g
w i t h smoke a n d steam p o u r i n g from it a n d the o t h e r w a s left d o w n by the s t e r n .
N u m e r o u s other a t t a c k s were m a d e on s h i p p i n g ; some n e a r misses w e r e seen, b u t
o t h e r r e s u l t s could not be observed. E n e m y s h i p s w e r e also m a c h i n e - g u n n e d .
40. D u r i n g the week, t h i r t y - t h r e e mines were laid off B r e s t ;
m i n i n g o p e r a t i o n s were c a r r i e d out off A m e l a n d .
other sea
;
4 1 . I t is e s t i m a t e d t h a t about 170 enemy a i r c r a f t l a i d m i n e s mostly in t h e
H u m b e r a r e a a n d off t h e E a s t Coast. F o r t y of these o p e r a t e d i n d a y l i g h t , on t h e
1st A p r i l . E n e m y l o n g - r a n g e bombers c o n t i n u e d t h e i r a t t a c k s a g a i n s t s h i p p i n g ,
p r i n c i p a l l y off t h e E a s t Coast a n d in t h e St. G e o r g e ' s C h a n n e l .
D u r i n g M a r c h , t h e Condor U n i t c a r r i e d out i t s h i g h e s t n u m b e r of sorties
yet recorded. T h e most effective a t t a c k s on s h i p p i n g d u r i n g t h e p a s t m o n t h h a v e
been m a d e by a H e . I l l u n i t based a t T o u r s , u s i n g a d v a n c e d bases a t B r e s t a n d
D i n a r d a n d o p e r a t i n g a g a i n s t s h i p p i n g in t h e W e s t e r n A p p r o a c h e s .
During
M a r c h , t h i s u n i t c a r r i e d o u t a considerably g r e a t e r n u m b e r of sorties d u r i n g
d a y l i g h t t h a n a n y other grwppe in the G e r m a n A i r Force.
Eastern Mediterranean.
42. A t d a w n on the 2 8 t h M a r c h , a m a c h i n e - g u n a t t a c k w a s m a d e by six
fighters on t h e aerodrome a t Lecce, twenty-five miles south-east of B r i n d i s i , a n d
one a i r c r a f t w a s destroyed a n d t w e n t y w e r e d a m a g e d . R e f e r e n c e h a s been m a d e
i n t h e N a v a l S i t u a t i o n to t h e a t t a c k on t h e I t a l i a n F l e e t l a t e r t h a t d a y by
n i n e t e e n Blenheims.
Greece and Albania.
43. O p e r a t i o n s c o n t i n u e d in s u p p o r t of t h e G r e e k forces, a n d m a n y offensive
a n d p h o t o g r a p h i c reconnaissances w e r e flown i n t h e a r e a between Tepelene a n d
t h e coast. O n t h e 30th, a heavy a n d successful a t t a c k w a s m a d e by t e n Blenheims
o n m i l i t a r y stores a t E l b a s a n , d u r i n g w h i c h three of o u r a i r c r a f t w e r e d a m a g e d
by fighters a n d one by A . A . fire. O n t h e following day,, s i x B l e n h e i m s , escorted
by fighters, bombed t r a n s p o r t on t h e B u z i - G l a v e r o a d , scoring m a n y h i t s .
B a r r a c k s a n d m i l i t a r y stores in Tepelene were a t t a c k e d on the 2 n d by six
B l e n h e i m s escorted by twelve G l a d i a t o r s . I t a l i a n a c t i v i t y h a s been confined to a
few attacks, on Greek a e r o d r o m e s a n d on v a r i o u s towns. Of four C a n t Z 1007
bombers w h i c h a t t e m p t e d to r a i d Volos on t h e 2nd, t h r e e w e r e destroyed by o u r
fighters a n d the f o u r t h severely d a m a g e d .
A b o u t t h i r t y of t h e forty-five I t a l i a n bombers in A l b a n i a a r e being w i t h ­
d r a w n to I t a l y .
Dodecanese.
44. O n the 27th, a n a t t a c k w a s m a d e by eleven Blenheims on the aerodrome
a t C a l a t o , R h o d e s ; an enemy a i r c r a f t w a s destroyed on the g r o u n d a n d b u i l d i n g s
a n d a p e t r o l d u m p set on fire. S h i p p i n g off A s t r o p a l i a w a s bombed by five
Blenheims w i t h inconclusive results.
Malta.
45. Offensive o p e r a t i o n s a g a i n s t M a l t a h a v e been on a lower scale t h a n
d u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s week a n d no dive-bombers have been in evidence. D a y l i g h t
a c t i v i t y consisted of reconnaissance by single bombers a n d fighters, a n d one
ineffective bombing a t t a c k on T a k a l i a e r o d r o m e by four escorted bombers. E n e m y
fighter p a t r o l s w e r e m a i n t a i n e d off t h e coast and, on the occasion of t h e a t t a c k
on T a k a l i , a m i x e d force of G e r m a n a n d I t a l i a n fighters o p e r a t e d e a s t of the
G r a n d H a r b o u r , p r o b a b l y w i t h a view to d i v e r t i n g our fighters. T w o n i g h t
a t t a c k s w e r e m a d e d u r i n g t h e week, but only s l i g h t civilian d a m a g e resulted.
E g y p t and Libya.
46. O u r offensive o p e r a t i o n s were not on a heavy scale, b u t T r i p o l i w a s
a t t a c k e d by W e l l i n g t o n s on four successive n i g h t s , a n d d a m a g e w a s inflicted on
s h i p p i n g a n d in t h e dock a r e a s . Successful d a y l i g h t a t t a c k s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t by
B l e n h e i m s on enemy a e r o d r o m e s a t M i s u r a t a a n d R a s L a n u f , a n d a t the l a t t e r
place heavy d a m a g e w a s inflicted o n motor t r a n s p o r t .
47. F r e q u e n t reconnaissances by M e . 110s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t over A g e d a b y a
a n d t h e a r e a s south-east to Gialo, a n d a i r c r a f t believed to be G e r m a n a t t a c k e d
o u r forces i n t h i s a r e a . On the 31st M a r c h , t h e biggest G e r m a n a i r effort of the
w a r in t h i s a r e a w a s p u t f o r w a r d . T w o f o r m a t i o n s t o t a l l i n g about thirty-five
dive-bombers w i t h fighter escorts o p e r a t e d in t h e M e r s a E l B r e g a a r e a a n d on the
same d a y I t a l i a n bombers, escorted by G e r m a n fighters, a t t a c k e d our aerodrome at
A g e d a b y a , c a u s i n g a few c a s u a l t i e s a n d d a m a g i n g one a i r c r a f t .
O n e of the
enemy fighters w a s destroyed a n d t h r e e bombers w e r e d a m a g e d . S i n g l e I t a l i a n
aircraft have reconnoitred Alexandria.
Italian E a s t Africa.
48. I n E r i t r e a , following t h e fall of K e r e n , B r i t i s h a i r a c t i v i t y w a s t r a n s ­
f e r r e d to t h e A s m a r a a r e a , w h e r e i n t e n s i v e o p e r a t i o n s h a v e c o n t i n u e d i n s u p p o r t
of o u r advance. A s m a r a itself w a s heavily bombed, a n d p r e s s u r e h a s been m a i n ­
t a i n e d a g a i n s t enemy concentrations, defences a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s .
The
A d d i s - J i b u t i r a i l w a y w a s r e p e a t e d l y bombed, a n d enemy aerodromes a n d motor
t r a n s p o r t on r o a d s i n E a s t e r n A b y s s i n i a h a v e been a t t a c k e d .
49. I t a l i a n fighters a n d bombers a t t a c k e d our a e r o d r o m e a t J i j i g a on t h r e e
occasions, losing a t least two of t h e i r number, b u t d a m a g i n g e i g h t of our a i r c r a f t .
I t is believed t h a t t h e I t a l i a n s h a v e n o w ceased s e n d i n g a i r r e i n f o r c e m e n t s to
E a s t A f r i c a . T h e i r p r e s e n t s t r e n g t h t h e r e is e s t i m a t e d a t twenty-five bombers
a n d t w e n t y fighters, of w h i c h not m o r e t h a n twelve of each t y p e a r e likely to be
serviceable.
Air Intelligence.
The
Balkans.
50. R e c e n t c h a n g e s in the dispositions of the G e r m a n A i r Force i n d i c a t e
t h a t the m a i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n is b e i n g m a d e a g a i n s t Yugoslavia. S i x t y a d d i t i o n a l
s h o r t - r a n g e fighters a r e b e i n g moved to w i t h i n seven miles of the YugoslavR o u m a n i a n frontier, h a l f from F r a n c e a n d h a l f from N o r w a y .
T h e p r o j e c t e d move of forty a d d i t i o n a l dive bombers into t h e a r e a , referred
to in p a r a g r a p h 48 (a) of last w e e k ' s Resume, is now t a k i n g place.
HOME SECURITY
SITUATION. General. By
Day.
51. E n e m y bombing w a s on a very small scale. On the 2 7 t h M a r c h 29 people
w e r e killed by a d i r e c t h i t on a canteen a t Poole. On t h e 1st A p r i l 8 a i r c r a f t
w e r e destroyed on t h e g r o u n d at W a r m w e l l a e r o d r o m e w h e n 6 R . A . F . p e r s o n n e l
w e r e killed, a n d on t h e 2 n d A p r i l 7 a i r c r a f t w e r e d a m a g e d on t h e g r o u n d a t
Catfoss aerodrome.
E l s e w h e r e t h e d a m a g e w a s confined to p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a n d no i n c i d e n t
caused more t h a n 2 f a t a l casualties.
By
Night.
52. D u r i n g t h r e e n i g h t s of the week no bombs were d r o p p e d a n d on t w o
n i g h t s t h e few bombs w h i c h fell caused n o i m p o r t a n t d a m a g e a n d no casualties.
On the n i g h t of t h e 2 9 t h / 3 0 t h M a r c h a short b u t heavy a t t a c k w a s m a d e o n
A v o n m o u t h a n d Bristol. On the n i g h t of the 31st M a r c h / 1 s t A p r i l a s h o r t r a i d
w a s m a d e on H u l l a n d s u r r o u n d i n g d i s t r i c t , a n d i n c i d e n t s o c c u r r e d a t P o r t s m o u t h
and Swansea.
Damage.
Avonmouth
and
Bristol.
53. I n the a t t a c k on the n i g h t of t h e 2 9 t h / 3 0 t h M a r c h a l a r g e n u m b e r of
I . B . ' s fell in t h e dock a r e a of A v o n m o u t h a n d m a n y fires were s t a r t e d . I n t h e
R o y a l E d w a r d Dock t h r e e oil cisterns belonging to the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n Oil
C o m p a n y w e r e set on fire, a n d the b a r r e l l i n g a n d can-filling sheds of Shell-Mex
& B . P . , L t d . , were g u t t e d . No other i m p o r t a n t d a m a g e h a s been r e p o r t e d . I n
B r i s t o l some d a m a g e w a s done to p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y .
Elseivhere.
54. Considerable d a m a g e w a s done to p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a t H u l l , b u t K e y
P o i n t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e docks, were only slightly affected. Only m i n o r d a m a g e w a s
caused by bombs w h i c h fell in P o r t s m o u t h D o c k y a r d a n d S w a n s e a Docks.
Casualties.
55. T h e e s t i m a t e d casualties for t h e week e n d i n g 0600 t h e 2 n d A p r i l a r e
104 killed a n d 151 seriously i n j u r e d . These figures include 29 killed at Poole,
38 a t H u l l a n d 11 in t h e r a i d on A v o n m o u t h a n d Bristol.
Enemy Attack on Trade. co
Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages reported lost b y enemy action. CO
[Note.—Tonnages
are gross unless otherwise stated.)
By Submarine.
Date.
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Mar. 14 ... Western
(5,759)
Nationality.
Chief... British
Cargo.
From—
To-
Steel and
general
New York ... Newport
H o w sunk.
I n Convoy
or not.*
... Torpedo
... Not
Torpedo
Yes
F a t e of Crew and other R e m a r k s .
Position.
250 miles W.N.W. of
Rockall 20 landed Azores.
... 120 miles N . E . of 62 saved, 3 killed. Sal Is., Cape Verde Mar. 19 ... Mandalina
(7,750)
Dutch
Sugar
Batavia
Belfast
Mar. 20 ... Clan Oglivy
(5,802)
British
Tea and
general
Chittagong
Glasgow
... Torpedo
... Yes
182 miles
N.N.W. Not yet known. St. Antonio, Cape Verde Mar. 23 ... M/V Tanker
Chama
(8,077) British
Ballast
A r d r o s s a n . . . New York ... Torpedo
... Not
520 miles
Scillies Mar. 29 ... M/V Hylton
(5,917)
... British
Mar. 29 ... M/V Limb our g
(2,396)
Belgian
Mar. 29 ... Germanic
(5,352)
British
Mar. 30 ... Coultarn
(3,759)
British
Wheat
W.
of
Not yet known. 570 miles N. W. of t h e All landed Londonderry Bloody F o r e l a n d Torpedo
Yes
Curacoa
Aberdeen ... Torpedo
... Yes
570 miles N . W . of t h e Not y e t known.j]
Bloody Foreland
Halifax
Liverpool ... Torpedo
... Yes
570 miles N . W . of t h e 5 killed, rest landed Londonderry.
Bloody Foreland
Hull
Nobile
... Not
250 miles
Iceland W h e a t and Vancouver
lumber
Phosphates
R e s t lost. Tyne
Torpedo
S.W. of 39 picked up, 2 missing.
By Aircraft.
'Date.
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Mar. 11 ... S/Trawler
Aberdeen
(163)
Mar. 22 ... S/Trawler
St. Fiatan
(495)
Mar. 24 ... Bossmorc
(627)
Mar. 24 ... M/V T a n k e r
Solmsim
(8,070)
Mar. 24 ... Embiricos
Nicolaos
(3,798)
Mar. 25 ... Beaverbrae
(9,956)
...
Mar. 25 ... Escaut
(347)
Mermaid
Mar. 26 ... Empire
(6,381)
...
Mar. 26 ... Somali
(6,809)
...
Mar. 26 ... F / V Beinisvor
(85)
Mar. 27 ... Meg Merrilies
...
(642)
Mar. 28 ... M/V
Antwerpen
(364)
Mar. 28 ... S/Trawler
Kestrel
(75)
Mar. 29 ... S/Trawler
Kimberley
(190)
Nationality.
British
Cargo.
...
British
From—-
and Not
Drogheda ... Cardiff
Bomb
Hayle
Barry
Docks
Alexandria
Norwegian
G o v e r n m e n t Piraeus
stores
Greek
Government
stores
British
Ballast
British
I n Convoy
or not.*
Bomb
M.G.
Coal
British
H o w sunk.
Fishing
British
Dutch
To-
Piraeus
j
Position.
F a t e of Crew and R e m a r k s .
Cardigan B a y
2 landed, 8 lost.
Not
7 miles W.N.W. of
Smalls
All lost.
Bomb
Not
Bomb
Yes
12 miles N.W. God­ 4 landed, 2 injured, 5 missing.
revy I s l a n d
Off South Coast of All saved.
Crete
Port Said ... B o m b
Yes
Off S o u t h Coast of
Crete
Not
166 miles N.W. Cape All saved.
Wrath
8 miles off B u d e
1 wounded.
... Liverpool ... St, John,
N.B.
Coal
Ayr
P a r (Cornwall)
Steel and
Portland
Liverpool ...
(Ma.)
scrap
London
Faroese
Bomb
Bomb
M.G.
Bomb
and
Not
Not
Bomb
Yes
Bomb
Not
Bomb
Not
Bomb
Not
Bomb
Not
Bomb
Not
Not yet known.
150 miles W. of Cape 19 rescued, 30 missing.
Wrath
17 miles N.N.E. of 1 killed.
Blyth
60 miles E. of F a r o e s All landed Thorshavn.
H o n g Kong
British
General
Dutch
Coal
British
Barry
Fishing
Near
St.
Govens All saved.
L i g h t Vessel
N.W. of Bull Point, 3 lost, 4 saved.
Lundy Island
N . E . of L u n d y I s l a n d 1 killed.
Barnstaple
British
22 miles S.E. F l a m - All saved.
borough H e a d
By Aircraft
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Date.
Mar. 29 ... S/S T a n k e r
Oil Trader
(5,550)
Mar. 31 ... S/Trawler
Ontario
(208)
M/V T a n k e r
Apr. 1
Kidlefjord
(7,639)
Nationality.
Cargo.
British
London
British
Grimsby
Norwegian
To-
From—
Pool spirit... Aruba
Grange­
mouth
...
Iceland
Avonmouth
(continued.)
H o w Sunk.
I n Convoy
or not.*
Bomb
Yes
Off Suffolk Coast
Bomb
Not
300 miles
W.N.W.
B u t t of Lewis
Bomb
Yes
20 miles N.W. Smalls 5 survivors in H.M. Ship.
F a t e of Crew and other E e m a r k s .
Position.
... All landed.
1 injured.
By Surface Graft.
Oil Refinery
Telacos
(12,083)
Mar. 15 .. M/V Tanker
Branca
(5,688)
Mar. 15 .. M/V T a n k e r
Polijkarp
(6,405)
J a n . 15
..
Mar. 26 ..
Britannia
(8,799)
N O T E . - M / V Newbrough,
Yorwegian
W h a l e oil
Raider
Not.
S o u t h Atlantic
Not known.
Norwegian
B a l l a s t ... Greenock ... Curacao
Raider
Not.
300 miles E . of New­
foundland
Crew landed Gibraltar.
Norwegian
B a l l a s t ... Milford
Haven
Aruba
Raider
Not.
300 miles E. of New­
foundland
Captured and probably taken to F r e n c h
port. Crew prisoners of war.
Bombay
Raider
Not.
700 miles W.'of F r e e ­
town
63 landed F r e e t o w n and some others in
Spanish ship.
British
Govern­
ment
stores
Liverpool ..
Believed prisoners of war.
5,250 tons, shown last week as a loss in Section A - S u r f a c e Craft, arrived Kingston, J a m a i c a , on March 25, and has been deducted from
t o n n a g e losses accordingly.
Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages R E P O R T E D damaged by Enemy Action.
Date.
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Nationality.
Fertiliser
Mar. ­
... Inger
(1,418)
Norwegian
Mar. ­
... M/V Hav
(5,062)
Norwegian... Govt.
Mar. —
... M/V
British
Govt.
Peter
Maersk
(5,476)
Mar. 22 ... Taubate...
(5,055)
Mar. 23 ... Clan Ferguson
(7,347)
From—
Cargo.
Position.
E x t e n t of D a m a g e .
Casualties to
Crew. Other
Remarks.
Not
... Piraeus
Alexandria
A/C.
Yes
E. M e d i t e r r a n e a n Arrived
6 weeks
repairs
... Piraeus
Alexandria
A/C
Yes
E. M e d i t e r r a n e a n Arrived
Alexandria. None reported.
2£ weeks needed for
repairs
Alaxandria
A/C
Not
100 miles N.E.
Alexandria
Steering gear damaged. 1 killed,
Arrived Alexandria.
14 wounded.
Malta
Superficial only.
Cyprus
... B r i t i s h
A/C
Mar. 26 ... Knoll
(1,151)
Norwegian... B a l l a s t ... D a r t m o u t h
Mar. 26 ... M / V
Finnish
Mar. 26 ... Cable S/S
Faraday
(5,533)
1
British
Mar. 26 ... S/Trawler
Kingsway
(211)
British
Carolina
Thorden
(3,645)
I n convoy
or not.*
P l y m o u t h ... A/C
Brazilian ... Not
known
Tees
Cause.
To-
Petsamo
Submarine
cables
Fishing
Barry
A/C. ...
... Not
Much d a m a g e to star­ None reported.
board side, cabins, &c.
8 miles W.
Lundy Is.
of
Alexandria. None reported.
needed for
None.
Afloat, b u t
forehold None reported.
half full of water.
Salvageable.
... New York ... A/C
Not
E n t r a n c e to
Thorshavn Bay
On fire, m a y be
loss.
A/C
Yes
Off St.
Head
Burnt
and
aground 113 landed, 8miss­
N.W. of St. Annes
ing, 25 injured.
head,
main
deck
awash at high water.
A/C
Anne's
10 miles E . of
Bell Rock
t o t a l 3 wounded.
Arrived L e i t h . Making None.
water slowly
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Date.
to Mar. 27 ... S/Salvage/V
Palmston
(430)
05
CO
Nationality.
Cargo.
British
Swansea
Beijer- D u t c h
Mar. 27 ...
M/V Old
land
(396)
Mar. 27 ...
M/V Tanker
Pericles
Norwegian... F u e l o i l . . .
M/V
British
Mar. 28 ...
Stafford­
shire
(10,683)
Mar. 28 ... Svint
(1,174)
Norwegian
Mar. 29 ... Crenaa ...
(1,262)
British
Mar. 30 ... S/Trawler
Ghandos
(200)
Mar. 30 ... Graslin ...
(2,323)
Mar. 31 ... S/Trawler
Whinnyfold
(210)
fej Apr. 1
... M/V T a n k e r
Kaia Nudson
(9,063)
To-
Runcorn
Workington
... Not
Not
Leith
London
Sunderland
... A/C. ...
M.
... Not
... Not
...
A/C
British
Fishing-
A/C
British
Oil fuel ... Curacao
Devonport... A/C
E x t e n t of D a m a g e .
Nr. St. G o v a n ' s Towed Milford
L t . Vessel
and berthed.
P l a t e s buckled. P u m p
room
flooded
and
m a c h i n e r y damaged
... 150 miles N.W.
B u t t of Lewis
10 miles N. of
Longships
On fire and beached.
Not stated,
1 injured.
None.
E s t i m a t e d 30
dead, m a n y injured.
1 wounded and
landed P e n z a n c e .
F o r e p a r t blown away. 4 killed, 3 injured.
After part afloat
1 mile S.E. of Not stated
Nolsols.,Faroes
Not
Haven
Casualties to
Crew. Other
Remarks.
Nr. St. G o v a n ' s Docked, Milford H a v e n , 3 injured.
L t . Vessel
Off R o t h e r h i t h e
A/C
London
Position.
Suda B a y
Devonport... A/C. ...
Fishing
Coal
... A/C
I n Convoy
or not.*
T
Liverpool ... Rangoon
Grain
Cause.
... Milford
A/C. ...
Haven
Barry
British
British
From-
1 killed,
1 wounded.
Arrived
Gravesend.
1 wounded.
D a m a g e to deck and
and starboard bow
above w a t e r level
Arrived
Scrabster.
3 wounded.
N.W. approaches
Damaged
Off H a r w i c h
...
OffMilfordHaven
D a m a g e d abaft bridge.
2 wounded.
Towed into Milford
Haven
Date.
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Nationality.
Cargo.
From—
Apr. 1
... M/V T a n k e r
San Gonrado
(7,982)
British
Spirit
Apr. 1
... M/V T a n k e r
Adellen
(7,984)
British
Oil fuel ... Curacao
Apr. 1
... M/V T a n k e r
Chesapeake
(8,955)
S/S
Beaverdale
(9,957)
Curacao
r.
Cause.
To-
Milford
Haven
Milford
i
I I n Convoy
i
,*
! or not.*
Position.
E x t e n t of D a m a g e .
Apr. 1
Spirit
Baltimore...
Yes
13 miles N.W. of
the Smalls
E n g i n e room flooded.
Ship m a y be b r o u g h t
i n t o Milford H a v e n
'A/G
Yes
Off Milford
Haven
On fire. Anchored 1 5 wounded.
mile S. St. Annes
Head
A/C
Yes
S / M , T.
Not
... Off T u e k a r Bk.
and S.W. of St.
Govans
... 250 miles S.W.
of I c e l a n d
Avonmouth
British
G e n e r a l . . . St. J o h n ,
N.B.
5 wounded.
A/C
Haven
British
Casualties to
Crew. Other
Remarks.
Liverpool ...
Still afloat
1 wounded.
Not yet known.
* This information is provisional and m a y be modified s u b s e q u e n t l y on receipt of C o m m o d o r e ' s report.
N O T E . - T h e following ships previously shown as d a m a g e d have now been confirmed as l o s t : Clan Ogilvy (5,802), Ghama (8,011) (Tanker) Bianca
(5,688),
(Tanker) Polykarp
(6,405) (Tanker), Beaverbrae
(9,956), Escaut
(347), Britannia
(8,799).
M e r c h a n t S h i p s (all sizes) o t h e r t h a n M e r c h a n t S h i p s Commissioned for N a v a l Service, lost by E n e m y A c t i o n u p to Noon, W e d n e s d a y , 2 n d A p r i l , 1 9 4 1 . British.
B y -
Submarine
M i n e ...
.. .
S u r f a c e Craf t
Aircraf
Aircraftt
O t h e r c a u s e s , or c a u s e
unknown
Allied.
Gross
Tons.
No.
345
188
96
165
36
Neutral.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
i
! 178
!
79
1
6
29
i
9
1,942,000
463,000
484,000
475,000
82,000
86
38
27
65
8
422,000
104,000
179,000
273,000
38,000
830 ! 3,446,000
224
1,016,000 !
Together.
577.000
233,000
18,000
80,000
29,000
302 j
Gross
Tons.
No.
937,000
609
305
129
260
53
2,941,000
800,000
681,000
828,000
149,000
1,356 i 5,399,000
N O T E . — " A l l i e d " figures i n c l u d e P o l i s h ; all F r e n c h u p t o J u n e 25, 1 9 4 0 ; " F r e e " F r e n c h
f r o m J u n e 25, 1 9 4 0 ; N o r w e g i a n from April 9, 1 9 4 0 ; D u t c h a n d B e l g i a n from M a y 10, 1940; a n d
G r e e k f r o m O c t o b e r 28, 1940. " N e u t r a l " figures i n c l u d e I t a l i a n u p t o J u n e 10, 1940; a n d
" V i c h y " F r e n c h f r o m J u n e 25, 1940.
APPENDIX
III.
(1) A d d i t i o n s to a n d deductions from B r i t i s h Sea-going M e r c h a n t T o n n a g e
(ships of 500 gross tons a n d o v e r ) , i n c l u d i n g M e r c h a n t S h i p s Commissioned
for N a v a l Service from 2nd September, 1989, to 3 0 t h M a r c h , 1 9 4 1 .
Tankers. B r i t i s h s h i p s o n S e p t e m b e r 2 , 193
1939
9
Additions—
New ships
E n e m y ships captured
S h i p s t r a n s f e r r e d fro
from
m
Danish
French
R o u m a n i a n ...
.. .
Estonian
Latvian
...
.. .
Others
O t h e r a d d i t i o n s ..
....
Total additions
..
....
o t h e r flags
flags—
—
..
....
...
.. .
...
.. .
.. .
..
....
Deductions—
Ships s u n k by t h e e n e m y —
(i
(i)) M e r c h a n t s h i p s c o m m i s s i o n e d for
fo r
N a v a l Servic e
(ii
(ii)) O t h e r s
S h i p s c a p t u r e d b y t h e e n e m y ..
....
Other deductions (including Marine Risk)—
(i)
(i ) C o m m i s s i o n e d for
fo r N a v a l Servic e
(ii)) O t h e r s
(ii
Total deductions
N e t a d d i t i o n s (-)(-)-)) o r d e d u c t i o n s ( - ) .. .
B r i t i s h s h i p s o n M a r c h 23 , 194
1941
1
-
Others.
No. Gross Tons. No.
519
3,274,000
3,578
15,392,000
16
1
130,000
6,000
198
53
1,086,000
275,000
8
10
2
66,000
57,000
11,000
12
11
85,000
16,000
115
94
2
21
3
140
91
305,000
453,000
8,000
35,000
6,000
744,000
183,000
61
371,000
717
3,095,000
2
74
1
13,000
578,000
6,000
25
616
5
217,000
2,816,000
16,000
2
11
2,000
56,000
7
158
33,000
558,000
90
655,000
811
3,640,000
29
490
-
284,000
2,99,0000
-
94
3,484
Gross
Tons.
-
545,000
14,847,000*
* Of t h e t o t a l Non-Tanker
t o n n a g e , v e s s e l s r e p r e s e n t i n g a b o u t 3,950 t h o u s a n d gross t o n s are
e n g a g e d on N a v a l , M i l i t a r y or R . A . F . S e r v i c e s ( i n c l u d i n g s o m e c o m m i s s i o n e d for N a v a l Service),
s o m e of w h i c h b r i n g c a r g o e s to t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m on t h e i r h o m e w a r d v o y a g e .
After
a l l o w i n g for v e s s e l s (1) t r a d i n g p e r m a n e n t l y abroad, (2) d e t a i n e d in F r e n c h p o r t s a n d (3) u n d e r ­
going or a w a i t i n g r e p a i r , i n c l u d i n g t h e fitting of defensive p r o t e c t i o n , t h e b a l a n c e is a b o u t
7 million gross t o n s , s o m e p a r t of w h i c h is e n g a g e d in t h e c o a s t i n g t r a d e of t h e United
Kingdom and Eire.
(2) T o t a l losses of, a n d o t h e r d e d u c t i o n s from, B r i t i s h Sea-going M e r c h a n t S h i p s
of S00 gross t o n s a n d over, i n c l u d i n g M e r c h a n t Ships Commissioned for
N a v a l Service, expressed a s a p p r o x i m a t e a n n u a l r a t e s of loss.
T o t a l losses s u n k or
A p p r o x i m a t e a n n u a l
c a p t u r e d by t h e e n e m y ,
loss if c o l u m n (2) losses
a n d o t h e r d e d u c t i o n s in
c o n t i n u e d for a y e a r .
t h e period.
Period. F i r s t 9 m o n t h s of war :
i.e., from S e p t e m b e r 3, 1939, to M a y 3 1 , 1940
(2) (3)
Gross T o n s .
1,098.000
Gross Tons.
1,500,000
Following 3 months :
i.c, from J u n e 1, 1940, t o A u g u s t 3 1 , 1940...
M o n t h of S e p t e m b e r , 1940
October, 1940
,,
N o v e m b e r , 1940
....
,,
D e c e m b e r , 1940
,,
J a n u a r y , 1941
,,
F e b r u a r y 1941
1st t o 3 0 t h M a r c h , 1941 3,900,000
4,200,000
3,700,000
4,500,000
3,900,000
2,500,000
4,800,000
3,300,000
971,000
345,000
317,000
373,000
329,000
214,000
368,000
268,000*
* T h e s e figures r e l a t e to losses so far notified, a n d m a y be i n c r e a s e d b y l a t e n o t i f i c a t i o n s .
( 3 ) M e r c h a n t S h i p s (all sizes) u n d e r C o n s t r u c t i o n in B r i t i s h Y a r d s in t h e U n i t e d
K i n g d o m a n d a b r o a d in week e n d i n g 2 8 t h M a r c h , 1 9 4 1 .
Tankers.
No.
Gross Tons.
6
4,000
39
322,000
Colliers and coasting ships
Other ships
45
326,000
* I n c l u d i n g 5 v e s s e l s (33,000 g r o s s t o n s ) b u i l d i n g
t o n s ) t a k e n over by t h e N a v y d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d
t y p e i n t e n d e d for N a v a l u s e .
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e a r e 180 m e r c h a n t ships t o t a l l i n g
to o r d e r in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m a n d a b r o a d ( i n c l u d i n g
APPENDIX
Others.
No.
Gross
Tons.
38
48,000
132*
846,000
170
894,000
a b r o a d , 2 m e r c h a n t s h i p s (18,000 gross
11 s h i p s (20,000 g r o s s t o n s ) of m e r c h a n t
1,228,000 g r o s s t o n s o n o r d e r or p r o p o s e d
17 t a n k e r s of 124,000 g r o s s t o n s ) .
IY.
M e r c h a n t S h i p s (all sizes) lost by t h e enemy u p to 1st A p r i l , 1 9 4 1 .
Italian. German.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross Tons. No.
61
87
274,000
502,000
38
44
180,000
257,000
99
131
454,000
759,000
142
710,000
76
380,000
218
1,090,000
290
1,486,000
158
817,000
448
2,303,000
No. C a p t u r e d o r seize
seizedd
S c u t t l e d o r s u n k ..
....
U n i d e n t i f i e d ship
shipss r e p o r t e d
b y S/M
S/M,, A/C
A/C,, & c , a s s u n k
or d e s t r o y e d
(tonnage
estimated)
Together.
Gross
Tons.
I n a d d i t i o n , 36 s h i p s of 63,000 g r o s s t o n s uifder e n e m y c o n t r o l or u s e f u l to t h e e n e m y h a v e
been sunk.
Casualties to H.M. Auxiliary Yessels and to Naval Personnel.
T H E following c a s u a l t i e s h a v e occurred to H . M . A u x i l i a r y P a t r o l vessels
d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d u n d e r review :—
March 2 9 . — M i n e s w e e p i n g T r a w l e r Sir John Lister
machine-gunned by
a i r c r a f t off t h e L i z a r d . One w o u n d e d .
March 3 1 . — A / P T r a w l e r Lord Selborne mined a n d sunk off the H u m b e r .
17 of t h e crew missing.
April 1 . — A / S T r a w l e r Sword, Dance slightly d a m a g e d by near-miss bombs
a n d m a c h i n e - g u n n i n g n e a r O u t e r Dowsing. No casualties.
1/2.—L.L. T r a w l e r s Valesca a n d Horitensia
d a m a g e d by
Night,
April
a i r c r a f t off C r o m e r . One s l i g h t casualty.
April 2 . — A / P T r a w l e r Cramond
Island bombed a n d sunk off St. A b b ' s
Head.
April 2.-—Paddle M i n e s w e e p e r Lorna Doone received m i n o r d a m a g e from
a i r c r a f t c a n n o n shells off Lowestoft. Two wounded.
April 3 . — H a r b o u r P a t r o l vessel'Bahram
m i n e d a n d sunk n e a r S p u r n P o i n t .
O n e survivor.
T h e following c a s u a l t i e s to N a v a l personnel h a v e been r e p o r t e d :—
Officers : K i l l e d 3, m i s s i n g 3, w o u n d e d 3.
R a t i n g s : K i l l e d 40, m i s s i n g 19, w o u n d e d 63.
These figures include 13 r a t i n g s killed a n d 51 w o u n d e d in the a i r r a i d on
P l y m o u t h on t h e 21st M a r c h .
APPENDIX
VI. Operational Aircraft Battle Casualties. 0600 hours, March 27, to 0600 hours, April 3, 1941 Metropolitan Area. British.
In the
Bombers
Fighters
Coastal
Air.
On the
Ground..
i
o
o
4
14
Total
German.
Destroyed.
8
1
Bombers
Fighters
Miscellaneous
Nil
Probably
Destroyed.
3
Damaged.
4
2
1
9
Total
No a c c o u n t is t a k e n of aircraft d e s t r o y e d o n t h e g r o u n d . Of t h e a b o v e t o t a l , 1 b o m b e r w a s d a m a g e d by A.A. fire. Middle East.
British.
Bombers...
F i g h t e r s ...
C o a s t a l ...
In the Air.
4
5
On the
Ground.
Italian.
B o m b e r s ...
F i g h t e r s ...
Miscellaneous
Nil
9
Total
Destroyed.
5
4
Probably
Destroyed.
5
1
Damaged,
7
2
20 6
9
Total
Of t h e a b o v e t o t a l , 2 aircraft w e r e d e s t r o y e d by A.A. fire.
29
German.
B o m b e r s ...
F i g h t e r s ...
Miscellaneous
1
1
Total
2
Nil
Of t h e a b o v e t o t a l , 1 b o m b e r w a s d a m a g e d b y A.A. fire.
[22392]
F
Air A t t a c k s on Enemy Territory in Europe.
Extracts from Recent Raid Assessment Reports.
T H E increase in R a i d Assessment M a t e r i a l h a s n o w been
t e m p o r a r y , a n d this A p p e n d i x is therefore r e s u m e d i n view
assessing t h e i m m e d i a t e r e s u l t s of our a i r offensive. T h i s week
of considerable length, as, for c o n t i n u i t y , m a t e r i a l received
f o r t n i g h t is included.
found to be only
of i t s value in
the A p p e n d i x is
d u r i n g the last
Germany.
1. Emden.—A
p h o t o g r a p h t a k e n d u r i n g t h e n i g h t a t t a c k on the 31st M a r c h
shows fires b u r n i n g fiercely on each side of t h e r a i l w a y dock in t h e A l t e r B i n n e n
H a f e n (which a r e a c o n t a i n s t h e r a i l w a y station, h a r b o u r a n d customs office a n d
warehouses) a n d dense columns of smoke a p p a r e n t l y o r i g i n a t i n g from fires
w h i c h h a d obtained a firm hold in the r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a bounded by t h e R a t s a n d
F a l d e r n Delfts.
2. Gelsenkirchen.—Photographs
t a k e n on. t h e 12th M a r c h show t h a t the
gasometer, said to be the l a r g e s t in E u r o p e , previously r e p o r t e d d a m a g e d , h a s
now been completely d i s m a n t l e d . P h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n d u r i n g t h e r a i d on t h e
H y d r i e r w e r k e Scholven on t h e n i g h t of the 1 4 t h / 1 5 t h M a r c h disclose : (i) T h r e e
fires b u r n i n g in centre of t a r g e t in the i m m e d i a t e v i c i n i t y of t h e r e a c t i o n
chambers, (ii) Smoke a n d gases e s c a p i n g from w o r k i n g r e a c t i o n c h a m b e r s as
a r e s u l t of a direct h i t on, or f r a c t u r e s to, h i g h - p r e s s u r e lines, (iii) Smoke
coming from the sludge s e p a r a t o r p l a n t , a b u i l d i n g n e a r t h e south-east corner of
t h e sludge recovery p l a n t a n d from a n o t h e r b u i l d i n g close by, a n d also from a
m e d i u m - s i z e gas holder.
3. Hamburg.—An
i n f o r m a n t who w a s p r e s e n t in t h e h a r b o u r in t h e second
h a l f of J a n u a r y r e p o r t s t h a t salvage w o r k w a s p r o c e e d i n g on t w o s h i p s t h a t h a d
been sunk therein. P h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n on t h e 13th a n d 15th M a r c h have been
r e n d e r e d difficult to assess o w i n g to haze covering some of the a r e a s p h o t o g r a p h e d ,
b u t t h e following d a m a g e is a p p a r e n t : —
(a) Blohm and Voss.—The foundry, 520 feet i n l e n g t h , h a s received a d i r e c t
h i t a t t h e n o r t h e r n end a n d t h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e b u i l d i n g a n d a n a d j o i n i n g
b u i l d i n g , 350 feet in length, h a v e been d a m a g e d by fire. A d i r e c t h i t is seen on
t h e s o u t h e r n end of t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e offices, and i t is t h o u g h t the S.E. end of
t h e g r a v i n g dock a n d t h e s a w m i l l have also been d a m a g e d .
(b) Vulcan Shipyards.—There
is a d i r e c t h i t on t h e w o r k m e n ' s d i n i n g rooms
a n d d a m a g e to the g e n e r a l office b u i l d i n g a n d the w e s t e r n end of the m a i n f r a m e
a n d pla,te shops. H i t s have been o b t a i n e d on a l a r g e shop on the e a s t e r n side
of t h e works, a n d t h e r e is a l a r g e hole a t the s o u t h e r n end of t h e roof of a shop
alongside t h e slips n e a r the c a r p e n t e r s ' a n d j o i n e r s ' shops.
(c) Warehouses.—A
l a r g e w a r e h o u s e on t h e W i n d h u k Quay, one on the N o r d
C a n a l , one on t h e S u d C a n a l , a n d one on t h e S.E. side of the S a a l e H a f e n have
all suffered considerable d a m a g e . A 450-foot w a r e h o u s e on the A u g u s t V i c t o r i a
K a i h a s been completely g u t t e d .
(d) Railways.—The
B e r l i n e r t o r S t a t i o n b u i l d i n g s a r e being r e p a i r e d , t h e r e
is a d i r e c t h i t on t h e line on the west side of the r a i l w a y f e r r y over K o h l b r a n d
a n d also on the m a i n line n o r t h of a s t a t i o n believed to be V e d d e l .
(e) Domestic Property.—Considerable
d a m a g e is disclosed, i n p a r t i c u l a r , to
t h r e e blocks of houses each about 200 feet in length, a n d to a block of flats 500 feet
in l e n g t h i n the St. P a u l i d i s t r i c t , w h i c h h a v e been w r e c k e d or g u t t e d .
4. A reliable source s t a t e s t h a t t h e r a i d on t h e 1 3 t h / 1 4 t h M a r c h caused
heavy d a m a g e in t h e city, w h e r e public b u i l d i n g s , b a r r a c k s a n d houses were fired
a n d a n explosive factory was h i t . F o r a t i m e the fires w e r e o u t of control a n d
c a s u a l t i e s were heavy. A source (whose o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n is reliable) states t h a t
in t h e r a i d on the 1 2 t h / 1 3 t h M a r c h s u b m a r i n e s b u i l d i n g on the slips in the n a v a l
d o c k y a r d were d a m a g e d . T h r e e s u b m a r i n e s fitting o u t w e r e saved by being towed
out of t h e basin. A n o t h e r reliable r e p o r t h a s been received of t h e d a m a g e to the
n a v a l base and dockyard. T h e r e were c a s u a l t i e s a m o n g t h e employees, a n d t h e i r
fellow w o r k m e n w e r e f o r b i d d e n to tell of it.
T h e i n c e n d i a r y bombs were
p a r t i c u l a r l y effective a n d t h e t o p floors of the D r e s d n e r b a n k w e r e b u r n t out.
5. Kiel--Photographs
t a k e n d u r i n g the a t t a c k on t h e n i g h t of the 1 8 t h /
19th M a r c h disclosed fires in t h e i m m e d i a t e vicinity of the m a i n P o s t a n d
T e l e g r a p h Office, a n d across the m a i n r a i l w a y line a n d s i d i n g s 800 y a r d s south
of t h e m a i n station. A t t h e G e r m a n i a W e r f t e S h i p b u i l d i n g Y a r d s there w e r e
fires in t h e stoi-es d e p a r t m e n t a n d the c o p p e r s m i t h e r s ' shop a n d a t the S.E..
corner of t h e t r a c i n g - o u t shop a n d the s o u t h e r n corner of the t u r n e r s ' shop.
P h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n on the 28th M a r c h are difficult to i n t e r p r e t for
d a m a g e assessment o w i n g t o heavy h a z e a n d clouds. T h e m a i n f e a t u r e s are :
(i) T h e s a w m i l l in K r u p p s s h i p b u i l d i n g y a r d is shown to be seriously d a m a g e d
a n d h a s probably been completely g u t t e d , (ii) P a r t of a store or warehouse at
t h e s o u t h e n d of t h i s y a r d h a s been wrecked, (iii) A l a r g e a r e a in K e h l e n a n d
H o l s t e i n S t r a s s e n h a s been completely g u t t e d , (iv) A direct h i t h a s been obtained
on t h e t r a m w a y power house, (v) C r a t e r s a r e seen on the r a i l w a y t r a c k to the
south side of t h e K u m m e l W i e s e B r i d g e , (vi) B u i l d i n g s close t o t h e m a i n P o s t
a n d T e l e g r a p h Office a r e b u r n t out. T h e r e is reason to believe from the
p h o t o g r a p h s t h a t h i t s were o b t a i n e d on, and in the i m m e d i a t e v i c i n i t y of, K r u p p s
m a i n shops, but t h i s c a n n o t be confirmed w i t h c e r t a i n t y .
6. Berlin.-—Excellent
p h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n on the 14th M a r c h show con­
siderable d a m a g e a n d r e f u t e r e p o r t s t h a t the effect of our r a i d s h a s been slight.
I t is t r u e to say, however, t h a t t h e d a m a g e is in no case heavily c o n c e n t r a t e d in
one p a r t i c u l a r area, g i v i n g a p i c t u r e of d e s t r u c t i o n such as w a s shown i n the
p h o t o g r a p h s of H a n o v e r . T h e p h o t o g r a p h s confirm r e p o r t s of d a m a g e o b t a i n e d
from o t h e r sources sent out in previous s u m m a r i e s , a n d show clearly the h o a r d i n g s
erected a r o u n d bombed p a r t s of w h i c h m a n y sources have spoken. D e t a i l s cover
n i n e p a g e s of t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n r e p o r t a n d cannot a d e q u a t e l y be s u m m a r i s e d .
I n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e s a r e : (a) T h e d e s t r u c t i o n of a considerable a r e a of
p r o p e r t y , both a t the N o r t h a n d S o u t h e n d of the G r a f Spee S t r a s s e . (6) The
d e s t r u c t i o n of a block of b u i l d i n g s j u s t to t h e W e s t of t h e S t e t t i n e r S t a t i o n .
(c) Considerable demolition a n d e x c a v a t i o n in p r o g r e s s of a n d to the M i n i s t r y of
P r o p a g a n d a building, (d) T h e roof a n d u p p e r floors of l a r g e b u i l d i n g s along
t h e W i l h e l m s t r a s s e between the R e i c h P r e s i d e n t i a l Chancellory a n d the A i r
M i n i s t r y h a v e been destroyed, (e) I t is t h o u g h t t h a t d a m a g e h a s been caused to
t h e roofs of b u i l d i n g s in the W a r M i n i s t r y . (/) The b r i d g e over t h e Spree a t the
E a s t e r n e n d of t h e U n t e r den L i n d e n is closed to traffic. T h e N o r t h side of t h e
b r i d g e shows signs of d a m a g e ,
(g) T h e gallery of the C a t h e d r a l h a s been
d a m a g e d a n d the roof is holed on t h e W e s t Side, (h) Schlesischer s t a t i o n h a s
suffered only slight d a m a g e , but the W r i e n z e n e r s t a t i o n n e a r b y is severely
d a m a g e d . T h e c e n t r a l p o r t i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h e arched s p a n , h a s been wrecked, a n d
demolition w o r k h a s h a d to be c a r r i e d out r i g h t down to t h e f o u n d a t i o n s . (?') T h e
N . E . corner of the A l e x a n d e r p l a t z h a s suffered severely.
T h r e e r e p o r t s h a v e a l r e a d y been received of t h e effectiveness of the r a i d
on t h e 1 2 t h / 1 3 t h M a r c h . T h i s is well i l l u s t r a t e d by a reliable r e p o r t w h i c h
speaks of n e w types of i n c e n d i a r y a n d h i g h explosive bombs w h i c h have been
d r o p p e d w i t h great.effect. A s i n H a n o v e r t h e efficiency of the i n c e n d i a r y bombs
w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y spoken of a n d they a r e n o w said to explode if w a t e r is t h r o w n
on them. T w o of t h e r e p o r t s tell of t h e d e s t r u c t i o n to w a t e r m a i n s w h i c h impeded
the efforts of t h e fire b r i g a d e a n d caused flooding in cellars. A l l r e p o r t s s t a t e
t h a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n w a s depressed, one s t a t i n g t h a t Goering, u n d e r his n i c k n a m e
of H e r r Meyer, w a s openly abused, a n o t h e r t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y of people were l a t e
for w o r k a n d i r r i t a b l e t h e n e x t m o r n i n g . T h e r e p o r t states t h a t B e r l i n ' s g r e a t e s t
weakness, b a d shelters, w a s felt a g a i n , a n d t h e m a j o r i t y of those killed were i n
cellars w h i c h collapsed.
Five-storey houses in the B a r b a r o s s a S t r a s s e w e r e
completely demolished or b u r n t out, a n d in one t h i r t y people are said to
have been killed. I t is s a i d t h a t most d a m a g e was in the Schoneberg area,
w h e r e over 100 were killed a n d 300 i n j u r e d . T h e r a i d w a s a t its p e a k between
0130 a n d 0330 hours, when the a u t h o r i t i e s s t a t e d t h a t 80 a i r c r a f t were over the
c e n t r e of the City.
F o l l o w i n g upon t h e r a i d of t h e 1 2 t h / 1 3 t h M a r c h (which is a g a i n said
to have been very successful) t h e following d i s t r i c t s or p a r t s thereof were closed
[22392]
o
:
to the p u b l i c : Schoneberg, Steglitz, A l t M o a b i t . L a n k w i t z a n d M a r i e n f e l d e .
W h i l s t on previous occasions houses have been p a r t i a l l y demolished, in t h i s r a i d
the) were totally destroyed.
r
7. Bochum.—Two
destroyed.
m i l i t a r y b a r r a c k s occupied by A . A . p e r s o n n e l have been
8. Bremen.—Further
p h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n on t h e 18th M a r c h show 53 h i t s
or c r a t e r s on or n e a r F o c k e - W u l f a i r c r a f t w o r k s a n d aerodrome. A t t h e rice
a n d s t a r c h mills warehouses h a v e been d a m a g e d a n d p a r t of the mill b u i l d i n g s
h a v e been g u t t e d . A direct h i t is shown on a w a r e h o u s e s t o r i n g cereals for t h e
R o l a n d mills a n d the j u t e s p i n n i n g works h a v e been d a m a g e d .
Warehouses
between H a f e n ' E " a n d Flafen " F " have been considerably d a m a g e d . T h e r e
a r e two direct h i t s on a bottleneck of r a i l w a y lines in t h i s neighbourhood.
Considerable d a m a g e is disclosed to commercial a n d o t h e r b u i l d i n g s in t h e old
t o w n a n d p a r t of the m a r k e t s q u a r e h a s been b a r r i c a d e d off.
Excellent d a y l i g h t p h o t o g r a p h s of B r e m e n t a k e n on the 18th M a r c h reveal
extensive d a m a g e to dock a n d r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s , a n d confirm p o i n t s of probable
d a m a g e w h i c h i t w a s not possible to detect in previous p h o t o g r a p h s . The m a i n
f e a t u r e s shown a r e as follows : —
(i) A tlas Works Shipbuilding
Yards.—The
site of t h e two-bay b u i l d i n g
310 feet long previously destroyed has been cleared. H a l f of a shed 230 feet
long h a s been g u t t e d a n d t h e roof of a n o t h e r shed h a s been destroyed, a n d t h e
i n t e r i o r a p p e a r s to be wrecked. Houses a n d b u i l d i n g s i n s u r r o u n d i n g s t r e e t s
h a v e been severely d a m a g e d .
(ii) Alstadt.—Sheds
a n d houses have been d a m a g e d by fire, a n d t h e e n d of a
long b u i l d i n g on t h e Oster H o r s S t r a s s e (east of t h e m a r k e t place) is destroyed.
(iii) Theerhof.—Damage
to i n d u s t r i a l b u i l d i n g s j u s t e a s t of K a i s e r B r i d g e
is more extensive t h a n w a s previously t h o u g h t . F o u r bays on t h e n o r t h side a r e
completely wrecked a n d t w o others on the south side a r e demolished a n d t w o
b u r n e d out.
(iv) Neustadt.—Considerably
more d a m a g e t h a n w a s previously r e p o r t e d is
shown to houses a n d b u i l d i n g s in this a r e a . T w o sheds 280 feet long e a s t of t h e
N e u s t a d t S t a t i o n have been demolished.
(y) Main Railway
Station.—Some
d a m a g e is shown to r a i l w a y sheds a n d
buildings.
(vi) Goods Station.—Four
w a r e h o u s e bays over a total l e n g t h of 200 feet
h a v e been completely g u t t e d a n d a n u m b e r of long sheds demolished, c a u s i n g
m u c h s u r r o u n d i n g d a m a g e . A t t h e south-east corner of t h e y a r d t h r e e l e n g t h s of
sheds h a v e been completely destroyed for over 250 feet n o r t h w a r d s . T h e roof of
a l a r g e w a r e h o u s e a t t h e n o r t h end of t h e y a r d h a s been severely d a m a g e d w i t h
one bay completely destroyed a t t h e west end.
(vii) New Gas Works.—A
b u i l d i n g close to t h e g a s holders h a s h a d its roof
p a r t i a l l y destroyed a n d is probably wrecked inside.
;
9. Bremerhafen.—Two
r e p o r t s h a v e s t a t e d t h a t t h e liner Europa h a s been
d a m a g e d , one s t a t i n g t h a t she h a s received four h i t s . ( P h o t o g r a p h s show t h i s
l i n e r a s l y i n g in K a i s e r h a f e n I I I . )
10. Cologne.—Two
f u r t h e r r e p o r t s h a v e told of t h e severe d a m a g e to t h e
K a l k p l a n t of H u m b o l d t D e u t z , t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of w h i c h w a s a p p a r e n t l y effected
in the r a i d on the 2 6 t h / 2 7 t h F e b r u a r y . A wholesale c i g a r a n d tobacco w a r e h o u s e
in t h e Yenloer S t r a s s e (believed to be t h a t of F . Sommer) a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
offices of a factory a t K a l k , m a k i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e r y , w e r e b u r n t out. I n
t h e s u b u r b of B a y e n t h a l , a factory, a cinema a n d a small p e t r o l depot w e r e
destroyed.
P h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n on the 12th M a r c h confirm t h a t the H u m b o l d t D e u t z
f a c t o r y is only p a r t l y active a n d show d e s t r u c t i o n to b u i l d i n g s t h e r e i n .
I . G . F o r b e n of L e v e r k u s e n shows very l i t t l e a c t i v i t y for so l a r g e a p l a n t .
The
m a i n shed in the B o n n t o r M a r s h a l l i n g Y a r d , w h i c h is about 350 feet long, h a s
been completely g u t t e d a n d a g r o u p of six sheds between t h e r a i l w a y a n d t h e
B o n n e r W a l l a r e also t h o u g h t to have been destroyed. D o m e s t i c p r o p e r t y on t h e
w e s t side of D r a c h e n f e l s S t r a s s e h a s been d a m a g e d by fire.
A reliable source r e p o r t s t h a t in t h e r a i d of t h e 3 r d / 4 t h M a r c h , over
400 houses were destroyed a n d 100 fires s t a r t e d , one of which, i n a factory, b u r n t
for t h r e e days. T w o r e p o r t s w h i c h show the d a m a g e done to t h e B o n n t o r Goods
Y a r d have been received. T h e first s t a t e s t h a t a Swiss firm h a d received notifica­
tion of a consignment of goods for t h e m h a v i n g been destroyed in t h i s y a r d , a n d
t h e second s t a t e s t h a t , o w i n g to t h e p a r t i a l d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e y a r d , w a g o n s of a
firm accustomed to use t h e same would, in the f u t u r e , be located in the Gereon
Goods Y a r d . A reliable source r e p o r t s t h a t the H u m b o l d t D e u t z W o r k s h a v e been
heavily d a m a g e d i n recent r a i d s . I t is s a i d t h a t t h e w o r k s will not be able to
resume full p r o d u c t i o n for t h r e e weeks a n d possibly longer.
I I . Dusseldorf.—Photographs
t a k e n d u r i n g t h e n i g h t of the 1 4 t h / 1 5 t h
M a r c h disclose four large fires e x t e n d i n g from (i) South-east corner of
H o l z h a f e n to west of H a n d e l s h a f e n . (ii) A l a r g e fire believed to be in a g r a i n
store b u i l d i n g on t h e q u a y on west side of the Smaller H o l z h a f e n . (iii) A b o u t
15 smaller fires in the r a i l w a y goods y a r d s a n d s i d i n g on the south side of
t h e docks, (iv) T h r e e b u r s t on t h e very l a r g e P l a n g e w h e a t mill, one of w h i c h
w o u l d a p p e a r to be a d i r e c t h i t on t h e silos. T h e research d e p a r t m e n t of Klocknor
H u m b o l d t D e u t z (iron f o u n d r y , m a c h i n e factory a n d enamelling works) have
been destroyed a n d several o t h e r b u i l d i n g s in t h e w o r k s damaged.
P h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n on t h e 16th M a r c h a r e difficult to assess. T h e p h o t o ­
g r a p h s show a direct h i t a t t h e south e n d of t h e c e n t r a l s t a t i o n a n d one bay
a n d a covered p l a t f o r m a t t h e n o r t h end destroyed.
The B u r g h o f S t r a s s e
r a i l w a y s t a t i o n h a s also received a direct h i t . R h e i n m e t a l l B o r s i g ( a r m a m e n t
m a n u f a c t u r e r s ) h a v e been h i t and one l a r g e b u i l d i n g in the works completely
g u t t e d . T h e p r i n t of t h e dock a r e a shows more d a m a g e on one i n d i v i d u a l p r i n t
t h a n h a s u p to the p r e s e n t been seen. A l a r g e a r e a h a s been completely g u t t e d
a n d a n o t h e r even l a r g e r a r e a h a s been b u r n t out in v a r y i n g degrees.
Five
l a r g e b u i l d i n g s a n d o t h e r smaller b u i l d i n g s i n t h i s last-mentioned a r e a have
been completely b u r n t out a n d stocks of timber destroyed. T h e r e a r e several
c r a t e r s in t h e r a i l w a y y a r d s a d j o i n i n g t h e docks a n d t r u c k s are seen b u r n t out.
T h e r e is no visible r a i l a c t i v i t y due, i t is believed, to the lines being out of order.
A g r a i n elevator s t o r a g e h a s received a direct h i t a n d a corner of the P l a n g e
w h e a t mills h a s been ba,dly d a m a g e d . T h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the r e p o r t describes
t h i s a r e a as a n excellent e x a m p l e of " b l i t z i n g . "
12. General.—An
i n t e r e s t i n g e x a m p l e of G e r m a n clearance of d a m a g e h a s
been s u p p l i e d by a well-placed source, w h o tells of t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of a b u i l d i n g
a t Siemens W o r k s in B e r l i n c o n t a i n i n g stores of i r o n oasts. W i t h i n four d a y s
t h e site of t h e b u i l d i n g h a d been cleared a n d covered w i t h turf. A f t e r t h i s
j o u r n a l i s t s were p e r m i t t e d to visit t h e w o r k s to see t h a t n o d a m a g e h a d been done.
I m p a r t i a l eye-witnesses tell of t h e serious effects of recent r a i d s on H a m b u r g
a n d Cologne. T h e y also tell of considerable d a m a g e in B e r l i n . Some of the
p o p u l a t i o n of B e r l i n p a n i c k e d w h e n t h e recent r a i d took place due to the
p o p u l a r belief t h a t we have f o u n d a bomb which, t h o u g h small, h a s g r e a t pene­
t r a t i v e a n d d e s t r u c t i v e power. ( N O T E , — T h e e x p l a n a t i o n of the belief in a small
bomb is due to t h e s t r e n g t h of G e r m a n p r o p a g a n d a , w h i c h has impressed u p o n
B e r l i n e r s t h a t , to reach B e r l i n , only a l i g h t bomb can be carried.) T h e n i g h t
e x p r e s s from the H a g u e to B e r l i n is r e p o r t e d to h a v e received a direct h i t while
i n motion d u r i n g t h e first week of M a r c h . C a s u a l t i e s w e r e heavy.
France.
13. Boulogne.—In
a recent a t t a c k considerable difficulties were caused to
t h e G e r m a n A u t h o r i t i e s by a d i r e c t h i t on a store c o n t a i n i n g gas bombs.
14. Vannes.—A
reliable source r e p o r t s t h a t on the 4 t h / 5 t h F e b r u a r y , one
w i n g of the b a r r a c k s of t h e 505th R e g i m e n t w a s destroyed. T h e same source
also r e p o r t s t h a t i n a r a i d on t h e a e r o d r o m e on the 1 2 t h / 13th F e b r u a r y , a l a r g e
h a n g a r a n d two a i r c r a f t were destroyed. Six h i t s were obtained on two r a i l w a y s
a n d t h e meteorological s t a t i o n w a s p u t o u t of action.
15. Brest.—In
t h e r a i d on t h e 2 5 t h F e b r u a r y , the g a s w o r k s w a s severely
d a m a g e d . ( P h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n since t h i s d a t e confirm t h i s report.)
16. Asfeld.—An
a t t a c k on t h e a e r o d r o m e on t h e n i g h t of t h e 25th F e b r u a r y
r e s u l t e d i n a G e r m a n o r d e r for 150 coffins from the town of R e i m s nearby.
17. Havre.—The
h a s been destroyed.
t r a n s f o r m e r s t a t i o n of t h e C o m p a g n i e E l e c t r o m e c a n i q u e
Holland.
18. A reliable source r e p o r t s t h a t a l a r g e G e r m a n t a n k e r a t t a c k e d off
R o t t e r d a m on the 6 t h J a n u a r y s a n k shortly a f t e r .
Rotterdam.—Photographs
t a k e n on the 19th M a r c h show the success of the
a t t a c k upon the oil refinery a n d oil storage t a n k s in the p e t r o l h a r b o u r . T h r e e
t a n k s have been destroyed, n i n e b a d l y d a m a g e d , a n d t h r e e more probably
d a m a g e d . T h e t a n k s a r e e s t i m a t e d to have h a d a c a p a c i t y of 4,000 tons; while
on p r e v i o u s occasions the refinery h a s shown activity, the p r e s e n t p h o t o g r a p h s
show i t to be inactive.
Mining.
19. T h e F i n n i s h W i r e l e s s announces t h a t the F i n n i s h steamer
Virma­
of 1,500 tons h a s been sunk. T h e position was not s t a t e d b u t as the crew
w e r e saved a n d t a k e n to C u x h a v e n it is p r e s u m e d t h a t t h e s i n k i n g took place in
t h e a r e a off t h e m o u t h of t h e Elbe. I n t h e t h i r d week of F e b r u a r y a G e r m a n ship
w a s m i n e d off L o r i e n t ; t h e ship is s a i d to h a v e u p to 1,800 m e n on b o a r d a n d
manj- corpses were w a s h e d ashore on the Q u i b e r o n P e n i n s u l a . T h e 6,000-ton
m e r c h a n t ship which left H a v r e on t h e 22nd F e b r u a r y s a n k off t h e port, it is
believed as a result of s t r i k i n g a mine. T h e wrecks of 2 s t e a m e r s h a v e been
observed off t h e m o u t h of the R i v e r E m s . One is a vessel of about 1,500 tons.
A reliable i n f o r m a n t r e p o r t s t h a t on or about the 14th M a r c h a G e r m a n sub­
m a r i n e s t r u c k a m i n e a n d sank i n t h e M a r s d i e p C h a n n e l between Den H e l d e r
a n d t h e I s l a n d of Texel.
Holland.
18. A reliable source r e p o r t s t h a t a l a r g e G e r m a n t a n k e r a t t a c k e d off
R o t t e r d a m on the 6 t h J a n u a r y s a n k shortly a f t e r .
Rotterdam.—Photographs
t a k e n on the 19th M a r c h show the success of the
a t t a c k upon the oil refinery a n d oil storage t a n k s in the p e t r o l h a r b o u r . T h r e e
t a n k s have been destroyed, n i n e b a d l y d a m a g e d , a n d t h r e e more probably
d a m a g e d . T h e t a n k s a r e e s t i m a t e d to have h a d a c a p a c i t y of 4,000 tons; while
on p r e v i o u s occasions the refinery h a s shown activity, the p r e s e n t p h o t o g r a p h s
show i t to be inactive.
Mining.
19. T h e F i n n i s h W i r e l e s s announces t h a t the F i n n i s h steamer
Virma­
of 1,500 tons h a s been sunk. T h e position was not s t a t e d b u t as the crew
w e r e saved a n d t a k e n to C u x h a v e n it is p r e s u m e d t h a t t h e s i n k i n g took place in
t h e a r e a off t h e m o u t h of t h e Elbe. I n t h e t h i r d week of F e b r u a r y a G e r m a n ship
w a s m i n e d off L o r i e n t ; t h e ship is s a i d to h a v e u p to 1,800 m e n on b o a r d a n d
manj- corpses were w a s h e d ashore on the Q u i b e r o n P e n i n s u l a . T h e 6,000-ton
m e r c h a n t ship which left H a v r e on t h e 22nd F e b r u a r y s a n k off t h e port, it is
believed as a result of s t r i k i n g a mine. T h e wrecks of 2 s t e a m e r s h a v e been
observed off t h e m o u t h of the R i v e r E m s . One is a vessel of about 1,500 tons.
A reliable i n f o r m a n t r e p o r t s t h a t on or about the 14th M a r c h a G e r m a n sub­
m a r i n e s t r u c k a m i n e a n d sank i n t h e M a r s d i e p C h a n n e l between Den H e l d e r
a n d t h e I s l a n d of Texel.
200
c
BRITISH SHIPPING LOSSES
D U E TO E N E M Y A C T I O N .
By S/M. By Mine. By Surface craft., By Aircraft. By other causes o r cause unknown. This diagram includes vessels of all tonnages (but excludes
Commissioned Merchant Vessels). The lossesare the actual losses
in the weeks indicated up to midnight5unday/Monday,corrected
with information available to noon Mednesdayof thefollowrng week
The interval permits the tosses in recent weeks to be consolidated.
Hus diagram, is based on losses
which occurred in the Various
weeks specified. ^IHese necessarily
are not in agreement with the
Losses notified week by week in
-Appendix. I
c
B R I T I S H SHIPPING LOSSES
D U E TO E N E M Y ACTION.
By S/M.
By Mine.
B y Surface c r a f t . .
By Aircraft.
By other causes o r
cause unknown.
This diagram includes vessels of all to. nages(but excludes
Commissioned Merchant Vessels), The lossesare the actual losses
in the weeks indicated up to midnight Sunday'/Monday,corrected
with information available to noon Wednesday ofthetollowingweek
The in terval permits the losses in recent weeks to be consolidated.
Statistical Sficttoa Tradfi Division
Hiis dlaqram is based on losses
which occurred in the Various
weeks specified. HUese necessarily
are not in agreement with the
losses notified week by week in
-Appendix I
(
SHIPPING L O S S E S
BY E N E M Y ACTION.
B R I T I S H , ALLIED & NEUTRAL.
By S/M. By Mine. By Surface craft. By Aircraft. By other causes,or cause unknown.
This diagram includes vessels nf all tannages (but excludes
Commissioned Merchant Vessids). The losses are the artual losses in the
weeks indicated up to midnight Sunday/Monday^ corrected with
information available to noon Wednesday of the following week.
The interval permits the losses in recent weeks to be consolidated.
Statistical Section. Trade Dlvlsorv
^This diagram is based on Losses
wkick occurred in the Various
weeks specified. TRese necessarily
are not in agreement with the
losses notified week by week in
Appendix I
c
(
SHIPPING L O S S E S
BY E N E M Y ACTION.
B R I T I S H , ALLIED & NEUTRAL.
By S / M .
By M i n e .
By Surface c r a f t .
By A i r c r a f t .
By other causes, or
cause unknown.
This diagram includes vetsiieJs nfall Unn.%00 (but excludes
Commissioned Merchant Vessids). The Josses are the actual losses in the
weeks indicated up to midnight Sunday/Monday, corrected with
information available to noon Wednesday of the following weak.
The interval permits the losses in recent weeks to he Consolidated.
Statistical SectLon Trade Divisoa
^This diagram is based on. losses
which occurred in the Various
weeks specified. ^TRese necessarily
are. not in agreement with the
lasses notified week by week isi
Appendix
I