(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:cab/66/22/50
Image Reference:0001
SECRET.
Copy No.
W . P . (42) 120
(Also C.O.S (42) 171)
March 12, 1942
TO BE K E P T
UNDER
LOCK AND
KEY.
I t is requested t h a t special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
WAR CABINET
WEEKLY RESUME
(No. 132) of the NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 0700 March 5th, to 0700 March 12th, 1942 [Circulated with the approval of
the Chiefs of Staff.]
t
Cabinet
War
Room
I \)
General.
1. T h e G e r m a n b a t t l e s h i p Tirpitz
lias been a t t a c k e d by n a v a l a i r c r a f t to
t h e west of the Lofoten I s l a n d s .
H . M . S . Naiad h a s been torpedoed a n d sunk i n t h e E a s t e r n M e d i t e r r a n e a n . H e a v y n a v a l losses have been r e p o r t e d from J a v a . S h i p p i n g losses, w h i c h include D u t c h ships scuttled at. J a v a , have been heavy. Home, Northern Waters and North Atlantic.
2. On the 4 t h , t h e H o m e Fleet sailed to the n o r t h w a r d from S c a p a a n d on
the 5 t h the Commander-in-Chief r e p o r t e d t h a t a n o u t w a r d - b o u n d convoy to R u s s i a
h a d been shadowed by Focke-Wulf a i r c r a f t w h e n about 300 miles n o r t h - e a s t of
I c e l a n d (C). I n the evening of t h e 6th H . M . S u b m a r i n e Seawolf
reported a n
enemy b a t t l e s h i p or 8-inch cruiser a b o u t 55 miles n o r t h - e a s t of T r o n d h e i m steering
N . E . Subsequently t h i s ship w a s identified as t h e Tirpitz,
w h i c h w a s located a n d
a t t a c k e d w i t h torpedoes by a i r c r a f t of t h e H o m e Fleet a t 0930 on the 9th, a b o u t
80 miles west of the Lofoten I s l a n d s . N o h i t s were claimed a n d Tirpitz
was
last seen s t e e r i n g t o w a r d s Vestf j o r d . T h e Home Fleet h a s r e t u r n e d to Scapa.
O n t h e 5th, H . M . T r a w l e r Cornelian
shot down a n enemy a i r c r a f t off
Eddystone.
D u r i n g the n i g h t 1 0 t h / 1 1 t h H . M . Destroyer Vesper h a d h e r e n g i n e - r o o m
off Dungeness.
flooded a s t h e result of a collision w i t h H . M . Destroyer Campbell
Mediterranean.
3. On the 16th F e b r u a r y H . M . S u b m a r i n e Thrasher
torpedoed a s u p p l y
s h i p which w a s e n t e r i n g S u d a B a y a n d on the 27th H . M . S u b m a r i n e
Upholder
s a n k a 3,000-ton m e r c h a n t s h i p to t h e west of T r i p o l i (L). S h e also sank a ship
w h i c h w a s probably a F r e n c h collier.
On the 1st M a r c h H . M . S u b m a r i n e
Unbeaten
a t t a c k e d a n o r t h b o u n d convoy off M a h e d i a ( E a s t e r n T u n i s i a ) a n d
probably sank a t a n k e r which m a y have been the Vichy F r e n c h P.L.M. 20 (5,417
tons).
T h e s u b m a r i n e t r o t a t M a l t a w a s twice a t t a c k e d by enemy a i r c r a f t on t h e 6th.
I n t h e second a t t a c k H . M . S u b m a r i n e s P. 39 a n d P. 36 were d a m a g e d by n e a r
misses a n d a fuel l i g h t e r w a s sunk.
A reinforcement of a i r c r a f t for M a l t a consisting of 15 Spitfires w a s success­
fully flown off from H . M . A i r c r a f t C a r r i e r s in the afternoon of the 7th.
H . M . S . Naiad w a s torpedoed a n d sunk on the evening of t h e 11th off M e r s a
M a t r u h . Survivors,
w e r e picked u p by destroyers, a r e r e p o r t e d to include
R e a r - A d m i r a l V i a n , 3 3 officers a n d 548 r a t i n g s .
A n I t a l i a n convoy of four ships h a s a r r i v e d in Libya.
D u r i n g the week about 29,000 tons of F r e n c h s h i p p i n g h a s passed t h r o u g h
the S t r a i t of G i b r a l t a r eastbound a n d 27,000 tons westbound, u n d e r escort.
A
v
h
o
East Indies and Far East.
4. N a v a l losses i n the D u t c h E a s t I n d i e s include t h e A m e r i c a n 8-inch
cruiser Houston
a n d H . M . S . Exeter
(reported as h a v i n g been d a m a g e d i n the
Resume
of last week), n o w p r e s u m e d to have been sunk. I n a d d i t i o n H . M . A . S .
Perth,
U C O U T ^ O
v^w^o
H . M . A . Sloop Yarra,
H . M . D e s t r o y e r s Encounter
a n d Stronghold
a n d the
A m e r i c a n Destroyer Pope, H . M . G u n b o a t Scorpion,
t h e Boom Defence Vessel
Koala a n d the R . F . A . T a n k e r War Sirdar
(5,647 tons) were also sunk, a s were
a number of a u x i l i a r y naval craft, d e t a i l s of w h i c h a r e given i n A p p e n d i x V .
H . M . S h i p s Erft^pfmrse-, Dance, Dragon,[IL.M.A.S.
Hobart
a n d t h e D u t c h cruiser
Heemskerk
have a r r i v e d a t Colombo. T h e D u t c h cruiser Tromp h a s a r r i v e d a t
Sydney.
T h e D u t c h s u b m a r i n e K. 15 sank a J a p a n e s e t a n k e r in B a n t a m B a y (Celebes),
a n d the A m e r i c a n N a v a l A u t h o r i t i e s r e p o r t the s i n k i n g of a J a p a n e s e destroyer
a n d a large n a v a l t a n k e r a n d d a m a g e to a n a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r a n d t h r e e cruisers
d u r i n g t h e week e n d i n g the 6 t h M a r c h .
Anti-Submarine Operations.
5. Surface c r a f t have attacked U-boats off the M u r m a n s k coast, in the
N o r t h - W e s t e r n A p p r o a c h e s , off the L i b e r i a n coast and north-west of F r e e m a h t l e
(Australia).
Of the seven a t t a c k s c a r r i e d out by a i r c r a f t , four were in the W e s t A t l a n t i c .
I n none of these a t t a c k s was there evidence of destruction.
Enemy Intelligence.
6. The Tirpitz
h a s not yet been located but may be a t N a r v i k .
n o change in the position of other m a i n u n i t s .
There is
U-Boats.
A n average of about 40 [J-boats have been o p e r a t i n g d u r i n g the week,
i n c l u d i n g those on o u t w a r d and homeward passage. T h e main concentration has
continued to be in the Western A t l a n t i c and C a r i b b e a n Sea. O t h e r s have been
o p e r a t i n g off Freetown, a n d there a p p e a r s to be a renewal of activity in the
l i e bri des-Tlockall-I eel and area.
Protection of Seaborne Trade.
7. D u r i n g the week e n d i n g the 11th M a r c h 887 ships, i n c l u d i n g 238 Allied
a n d 18 n e u t r a l , were convoyed. T w o cruisers, five a n t i - a i r c r a f t ships, four ocean
b o a r d i n g vessels, 69 destroyers (including 12 A m e r i c a n destroyers) and 95 sloops
a n d corvettes were employed on escort duties.
I m p o r t s into 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 7th M a r c h totalled 627,000 tons, compared w i t h 420,000 tons d u r i n g the
previous seven days, and a n average of 647,700 tons for the p a s t t e n weeks. Of
the week's total, 137,000 tons were oils of various grades.
Enemy Attack on Seaborne Trade.
8. D u r i n g the week 20 ships have been attacked by U-boats, 16 in the
W e s t A t l a n t i c a n d W e s t Indies, three in the Freetown area and one in the N o r t h
W e s t e r n A p p r o a c h e s ; of these, 12 are known or presumed to h a v e been sunk.
Seven ships were scuttled to avoid c a p t u r e in J a v a , a n d one ship w a s mined and
sunk off the Norfolk coast.
S h i p p i n g losses in F e b r u a r y , so far r e p o r t e d , of which details are given in
A p p e n d i x I , were 83 ships and three small craft, t o t a l l i n g 472,228 tons. T h i s
includes the loss of 28 tankers, 11 of which w e r e B r i t i s h . T h e cause and locality
of these losses is summarised in t h e following two tables :—
Summarised
Atlantic.
according
to locality
F a r East and
Pacific.
(tonnage in 1.000 gross tons).
Mediterranean.
U.K. Coastal.
Elsewhere.
Total.
Flag
Flag..
No.
Tons.
1
No. ! Tons.
British
Britis h
20
120
17
96
Alliedd
Allie
31
185
11
2 8
1
15
52
320
Neutral
Neutra l
[23573]
28
124
!
No. ' Tons.
4
4
19
19
No.
Tons.
N o .
Tons.
N o .
Tons.
1
3
...
42
238
1
5
...
43
218
1
15
86
471
2
8
Summarised
according
By Submarine.
Flag..
Flag
to cause (tonnage in 1,000 gross tons).
By
Mine.
By
Surface
Craft.
By
Aircraft.
Other
Causes
and Cause
Unknown.
Total.
1
1
Tons.. No
No.. Tons.
Tons .
No.. Tons
No. Tons. No. Tons. NTo. i Tons. No. Tons. No
1
Britis
Britishh
24
137
Allied
Allie d
30
173
1
15
55
325
Neutra
Neutrall
; IT
2
17
71
ll1
9
2
3
3 I 12
i
3
11
42
238
23 8
11
6
14
43 '
21
2188
1
15
I
9
86
471
14
17
I
81
92
25
I t will be seen t h a t the bulk of the losses were from U-boat a t t a c k s i n the
A t l a n t i c . About 90 per cent, of the total losses from U-boats occurred on the
A t l a n t i c seaboard of N o r t h America a n d in the Caribbean Sea a n d its approaches,
w h e r e 45 ships totalling 291,000 tons (of which 23 were tankers) were sunk. One
o u t w a r d - b o u n d convoy w a s heavily a t t a c k e d by U-boats south-east of Newfound­
land, but only one ship in homeward-bound convoys ha;? been sunk by U-boats
d u r i n g the month.
Losses in the F a r E a s t and Pacific have m a i n l y been caused by enemy
a i r c r a f t a n d surface craft d u r i n g the final a t t a c k s on S i n g a p o r e . Four ships
(17,000 tons) were sunk by J a p a n e s e U - b o a t s o p e r a t i n g in the I n d i a n Ocean.
I n a d d i t i o n , the loss of 158,018 tons of s h i p p i n g was reported in February,
although occurring in previous m o n t h s .
B r i t i s h Minelaying.
9.
coast.
off the
Tripoli
On the 9th a n d 10th M a r c h motor launches laid mines off the Flemish
There h a s been m i n e l a y i n g by a i r c r a f t both in the Bay of Biscay a r e a and
G e r m a n N o r t h Sea coast, a n d in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n oft' Benghazi a n d
(L).
E n e m y Minelaying, B r i t i s h Minesweeping.
10. M i n e l a y i n g by enemy a i r c r a f t took place on two n i g h t s of the week"off
the E a s t Coast between the T h a m e s E s t u a r y and Flamborough H e a d , a n d E-boats
were o p e r a t i n g on one n i g h t off the Norfolk Coast.
T h i r t y - o n e magnetic, seven acoustic a n d four moored mines have been
destroyed d u r i n g the week, a n d the m i n e totals now are 1,891 magnetic,
1,243 acoustic a n d 1.101 contact.
Enemy Merchant Shipping.
11. The G e r m a n t a n k e r Germania
(9,851 tons), which had been in the
C a n a r i e s since November 1940. sailed from Teneriffe on the 5th M a r c h .
A m e r i c a n Intelligence.
12. Six b a t t l e s h i p s are still on the western coast of the U n i t e d States. The
a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r Enterprise,
with two 8-inch cruisers, has r e t u r n e d to P e a r l
H a r b o u r from the W a k e I s l a n d area. The Yorktown, w i t h two 8-inch cruisers,
is in the vicinity of Canton, Phoenix I s l a n d , and the Lexington,
w i t h four 8-inch
cruisers, is in the Suva area. , One 8-inch cruiser is in A u s t r a l i a n w a t e r s .
F o u r battleships, two a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r s , five l i g h t cruisers, 74 destroyers
a n d 25 submarines will be completed for the Navy by December 1942.
Russo-German Campaign.
(An outline map showing operations in Russia is included in this
as a n inset.)
Resume
Leningrad
Sector.
13. South-east of L e n i n g r a d the R u s s i a n s claim to have broken through on
a wide front on the 3rd M a r c h and to have cut the L e n i n g r a d - N o v g o r o d railway
as well as t h a t from Chudovo to Novgorod.
Any f u r t h e r success here will
seriously affect the G e r m a n positions in the Leningrad area.
Lake
Ihneu-Ljake
Seliger
Sector.
14. South of S t a r a y a R u s s a it a p p e a r s c e r t a i n t h a t a considerable p a r t of the
G e r m a n 16th A r m y h a s been s u r r o u n d e d .
Despite fierce resistance, the r i n g
round the encircled G e r m a n divisions is being steadily closed. T h e R u s s i a n s have
now established a n d hold a continuous line west of the encircled area.
Central
Sector.
.15. West a n d south-west, of Rzhev the situation is very confused and has
fluctuated
considerably d u r i n g the past month. I t a p p e a r s , however, that the
G e r m a n position may now become serious a s a result of a successful Russian
advance n o r t h - e a s t of G s h a t s k . A f t e r c a p t u r i n g Yukhnov the Russians have
m a d e considerable progress south of V y a s m a , and should be in a position to
t h r e a t e n G e r m a n communications r u n n i n g w e s t w a r d s from that town, especially
if the R u s s i a n s a r e still holding Dorogobuzb (which w a s recently captured by
p a r a c h u t e troops a n d p a r t i s a n s ) .
Ukraine.
16. T h e R u s s i a n s have m a d e local advances north-east of Kursk and east
of K h a r k o v . I n the D o n e t s area, R u s s i a n a t t a c k s have a g a i n m a d e some progress
towards Dnepropetrovsk and near Bakhmut.
Crimea.
17. A f t e r heavy fighting, the R u s s i a n s have m a d e local advances in the
K e r c h P e n i n s u l a a n d from Sevastopol.
Summary.
18. T h e R u s s i a n position has improved d u r i n g the week. A p a r t from the
encirclement of considerable G e r m a n forces in the S t a r a y a Russa sector, a
p r o m i s i n g s i t u a t i o n a p p e a r s to be developing west of Moscow in the area R z h e v ­
G s h a t s k - V y a s m a . F a r t h e r south, K u r s k , K h a r k o v a n d D n e p r o p e t r o v s k are all
t h r e a t e n e d in v a r y i n g degrees. I t is very satisfactory t h a t the R u s s i a n s should
continue successfully to exert severe p r e s s u r e on so many sectors, despite difficult
w e a t h e r conditions, a t a t i m e when the G e r m a n s u r g e n t l y wish to w i t h d r a w forces
for rest, refitting and r e g r o u p i n g for the s p r i n g .
Libya.
19. L a n d activity d u r i n g the week h a s been limited to offensive p a t r o l l i n g
on both sides, mainly in the T m i m i a r e a . T h e r e a r e i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t the enemy
i n t e n d s to organise a defensive position based on a line r u n n i n g from W a d i D e r n a
to Mekili.
F a r East.
Java.
20. C o m m u n i c a t i o n s with J a v a were i n t e r r u p t e d on the 7th March. T h e
last message received from A i r V i c e - M a r s h a l M a l t by s t a t e d t h a t he a n t i c i p a t e d
the early c a p i t u l a t i o n of the D u t c h A r m y , b u t t h a t o r d e r s h a d been given verbally
by the D u t c h Commander-in-Chief t h a t any order of c a p i t u l a t i o n was to be
d i s r e g a r d e d by local Commanders, who m u s t go on fighting.
[23573]
'
2
B
The J a p a n e s e claimed t h a t the Dutch c a p i t u l a t e d
detachments may still be c o n t i n u i n g local resistance.
on the 9th:
Small
Nevj
Guinea.
21. J a p a n e s e landings took place d u r i n g the n i g h t . 7 t h / 8 t h , a t Salamoa
a n d Lae. A f u r t h e r l a n d i n g was reported to have taken place at Finsch H a r b o u r
on t h e 10th.
Burma.
22. L t - G e n . The Hon. Sir H . R. L. G. Alexander. K.C.B.. C.S.I.. D.S.O.,
M.C., assumed the a p p o i n t m e n t of G.O.C.. B u r m a , on 5th March.
23. A late report has been received of a successful a t t a c k on Dacoits in the
a r e a of M i n g a l a d o n on 3 r d / 4 t h . The ringleaders were shot and a q u a n t i t y of
service a r m s recovered.
F i g h t i n g continued in the P e g u area, a n d our troops inflicted severe casualties
on the enemy. D u r i n g 6 t h / 7 t h the enemy continued to infiltrate round the left
flank of our defences in the P e g u area, a n d a small J a p - B u r m a n sea-borne
expedition landed a t Dedaye in the Rangoon Delta.
As a result of increased enemy pressure, and the possibility of our forces in
Southern B u r m a being cut off, G.O.C.. B u r m a , issued orders for the evacuation
of R a n g o o n on the 7th, a n d for the blowing of all demolitions to begin a t
1400 hours t h a t day. The demolitions were reported as being successful a n d
extensive.
W h e n our troops in the P e g u area began their w i t h d r a w a l it w a s found
t h a t they were surrounded, and it was only after repeated a t t e m p t s to break out
t h a t they succeeded.
At the same time our forces w i t h d r a w i n g u p the R a n g o o n - P r o m e road found
t h a t the enemy h a d succeeded in cutting the road 26 miles north of Rangoon.
A n a t t e m p t to break t h r o u g h on 7th failed, b u t a second a t t e m p t on the m o r n i n g
of 8 t h by our a r m o u r e d forces, supported by i n f a n t r y and field artillery, w a s
successful. Both sides suffered severe casualties.
Advanced A r m y H e a d q u a r t e r s is now at T h a r r a w a d d y . and our w i t h d r a w a l
continues, in face of constant enemy air attack.
24. D u r i n g the week one division of the Chinese 5th A r m y a r r i v e d in the
P y n m a n a - Y e d a s h e area a n d is about to move to the T o u n g o o - P y u area, w i t h a
view to relieving our troops t h e r e for action elsewhere.
One division of the Chinese 6th A r m y h a s almost completed its concentration
in the northern area.
The b e a r i n g of the Chinese troops of the 5th A r m y has created an excellent
impression.
Intelligence.
France and the Low
Countries.
25. Movement out of F r a n c e to R u s s i a continues. This is presumably
counterbalanced by some w e s t w a r d movement of divisions to rest and refit, but
little evidence of this has come to hand. The total number of divisions is now
estimated a t three in the Low Countries and 27 in F r a n c e .
Norway and
Denmark.
26. There is a possibility t h a t the G e r m a n g a r r i s o n s in both N o r w a y a n d
D e n m a r k a r e being reinforced. M a n y r e p o r t s speak of G e r m a n a p p r e h e n s i o n s
of f u r t h e r B r i t i s h r a i d s ; any such reinforcements will doubtless be for defensive
purposes.
The number of G e r m a n divisions is still estimated to be e i g h t in
N o r w a y a n d two in "Denmark.
Balkans.
27. There are i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t Turkey is being subjected to G e r m a n
diplomatic pressure and to a revival of the w a r of nerves. There are, however,
no signs t h a t Germany intends to take m i l i t a r y action a g a i n s t T u r k e y in t h e near
f u t u r e . T h e s t r e n g t h of her forces in the B a l k a n s r e m a i n s unchanged.
Far
East.
28. It is estimated that there are still 29 divisions employed in the area of
operations in the South-West Pacific. The principal change has been in the
grouping of the Japanese forces operating against Java—where there are now
estimated to be six divisions—and in the New Guinea area.
AIR
SITUATION. General Review. 29. Large forces of night bombers were despatched against Essen. By day,
targets in occupied France were attacked by bombers heavily escorted by fighters.
Attacks on Malta, aerodromes resulted in damage to a number of our
aircraft.
United Kingdom.
30. Fighter Command flew 1.850 sorties by day and 264 by night.
31. Enemy activity against this country was on a small scale, although on
one night 20 aircraft flew overland and carried out a widespread raid. Two
bombers were destroyed by our night fighters.
Germany and Occupied Territory.
Day.
32. A total of 620 sorties were despatched by Fighter Command on offensive
operations, and 34 sorties were flown by Bomber Command.
33. Two offensive fighter sweeps over Northern France involved a total of
nine squadrons, and a total of 35 squadrons were employed in providing escort
and cover for four operations by Bomber Command against targets in occupied
France. In combat, Spitfires (six of which are missing) destroyed eight enemy
aircraft, probably destroyed one and damaged ten.
34. Eight Boston light bombers attacked the ford (Matford) works at
Poissy, 10 miles from Paris, which has been manufacturing lorries for the enemy;
hits were reported on the lorry park and factory, the roof of which was seen to
be blown off. During this operation bombers (one of which is missing) destroyed
an enemy aircraft.
35. Further raids were carried out by Bostons against the railway centre
at Abbeville, which was crowded with traffic and where bursts were seen in the
target area, and on power stations at Comines and Gosnay.
Night.
36. Bomber Command despatched 637 sorties, compared with 393 last week.
The weather on three nights was unfavourable, but, when conditions permitted,
heavy attacks were directed against factories in the Ruhr. A total of 653 tons
of bombs and 82,650 incendiaries were released.
37. The principal target on three nights was Krupps' Works at Essen, a
total of 336 aircraft dropping 397 tons of 1T.E. bombs (including 37 of 4,000 lbs.)
and nearly 78,000 incendiaries. Our bombers included Lancasters, which were
taking part for the first time in offensive operations. Fifteen of our aircraft
are missing.
38. The second of these three attacks on Essen is considered to have been
very successful. Fires were started in Krupps' Works and oil storage cisterns
are believed to have been destroyed. Individual crews reported fires in the target
area which looked like whole streets ablaze and a fire of great size near a railway­
junction. On the preceding and subsequent night indifferent visibility precluded
accurate identification of the primary targets, and numerous aircraft dropped
their bombs on alternative objectives.
39. Attacks on a smaller scale were made against St. Nazaire, where fires
were started in the dock area and on Havre, Ostend and Boulogne.
40. F i g h t e r Command despatched a total of 13 Havocs. Bostons a n d
H u r r i c a n e s against aerodromes in H o l l a n d a n d N o r t h e r n F r a n c e ; three enemy
a i r c r a f t were claimed as damaged in the a i r .
Coastal O p e r a t i o n s .
4 1 . Coastal Command despatched 331 sorties, of which 00 sorties were on
convoy escorts. S h i p p i n g protection p a t r o l s by F i g h t e r Command involved 886
sorties.
42. Bomber Command despatched a total of 34 a i r c r a f t to lay sea-mines off
Lorient and the F r i s i a n I s l a n d s .
43. E n e m y activity by day consisted principally of w e a t h e r and s h i p p i n g
reconnaissances, the l a t t e r being more m a r k e d than usual in the S h e t l a n d . Orkney
a n d F a r o e s a r e a s . Night a c t i v i t y was on a small scale except on the n i g h t 8 t h / 9 t h ,
when the long-range bomber effort w a s the greatest recorded in 1942.
The
a c t i v i t y consisted mainly of a n t i - s h i p p i n g operations over the North Sea a n d
E a s t Coast and probably including minelaying. M i n e l a y i n g was carried out also
on the 9 t h / 1 0 t h in the T h a m e s E s t u a r y .
Mediterranean.
Libya and
Egypt.
44. O u r fighters m a i n t a i n e d their offensive p a t r o l s over the forward a r e a s
and also provided protection for s h i p p i n g . T h e i r activity was. however, curtailed
d u r i n g the earlier p a r t of the week by bad w e a t h e r a n d the waterlogged condition
of the f o r w a r d l a n d i n g g r o u n d s . A p a t r o l of K i t t y h a w k s made a very successful
interception over Tobruk of a formation of J u . 87s, escorted by Macchi fighters,
nine of which were destroyed and others d a m a g e d w i t h o u t loss to ourselves.
A n o t h e r f o r m a t i o n of fighters on s h i p p i n g protection patrol near Sicli B a r r a n i ,
destroyed one enemy a i r c r a f t , probably destroved a second and d a m a g e d
two more.
45. Small scale n i g h t a t t a c k s were m a d e on the h a r b o u r s of Benghazi a n d
T r i p o l i (L) where sea-mines were also d r o p p e d . One ship a t Benghazi w a s
destroyed a n d a n e a r miss w a s obtained on another. A large concentration of
enemy a i r c r a f t on M a r t u b a l a n d i n g g r o u n d was attacked on two n i g h t s by
H u r r i c a n e s a n d Blenheims a n d transport, vehicles on the D e r n a road were
bombed.
46. Enemy operations w e r e m a i n l y directed a g a i n s t ' a e r o d r o m e s a t F u k a ;
Mersa M a t r u h a n d G a m b u t , for which a t t a c k s single-engined fighter-bombers
were largely employed. D u r i n g one r a i d one of our a i r c r a f t w a s shot down, a n d
seven others were d a m a g e d on the g r o u n d ; otherwise the d a m a g e caused w a s
not considerable. R a i l w a y s and troops in the forward area were also attacked.
Malta.
47. T h e aerodromes of L u q a , H a l F a r a n d T a k a l i were repeatedly bombed
d u r i n g the week, the heaviest a t t a c k t a k i n g place on the 8th and w a s c a r r i e d
out by a p p r o x i m a t e l y 115 a i r c r a f t , of which it is e s t i m a t e d some 35 were J u . 88s.
The s u b m a r i n e base a t L u q a a n d the h a r b o u r a t V a l e t t a were a t t a c k e d on several
occasions. Continuous i n t r u d e r o p e r a t i o n s were c a r r i e d out on every n i g h t of
the week, the m a x i m u m n u m b e r of a i r c r a f t employed on a n y one n i g h t being
25 J u . 88s.
48. Considerable d a m a g e w a s caused to the T i g n e B a r r a c k s (Valetta) a n d
to R . A . F . buildings, w h i l e the aerodromes were extensively cratered. N i n e of our
a i r c r a f t were destroyed on the g r o u n d and 21 others were d a m a g e d .
49. H u r r i c a n e s , fighting a g a i n s t heavy odds, continued to inflict casualties
on the a t t a c k e r s . On the 10th, Spitfires, w h i c h h a d recently a r r i v e d as reinforce­
ments, successfully co-operated for the first time. T h e following day 20 J u . 88s
and Me. 109s were i n t e r c e p t e d a p p r o a c h i n g the I s l a n d , and t h e J u . 88s t u r n e d
back.
Greece and
Dodecanese.
50. Piraeus H a r b o u r a n d naval workshops on Leros Island were bombed
by Wellingtons.
Sea
Communications.
51. Beau forts from Libya made a torpedo attack on an enemy convoy of
four m e r c h a n t vessels w i t h naval escort N . E . of M i s u r a t a ,
One large ship
w a s set on fire a n d h i t s were also obtained on ci cru LSGI' & nd a destroyer.
A
s t r i k i n g force of W e l l i n g t o n s was despatched, but only three of them located the
convoy, a n d a possible hit was made on one ship.
52. Albacores from M a l t a made a probable hit on a south-bound m e r c h a n t
vessel of 8,000 tons oft' P a n t e l l a r i a .
Russia.
53.
front.
There has been no marked change in the air situation ou the R u s s i a n
Burma.
54. Our lighters provided continuous protection to troops and s h i p p i n g
d u r i n g the w i t h d r a w a l from Rangoon and carried out sweeps in support of our
g r o u n d forces in the forward area.
55. J a p a n e s e a i r c r a f t destroyed two of our aircraft on the ground at a
t e m p o r a r y aerodrome and are reported to have heavily attacked an Army
Divisional H . Q . in the Hlegu area (20 miles X.X.E. of Rangoon).
N e t h e r l a n d s E a s t Indies.
56. Enemy attacks, which were directed principally against aerodromes,
were m a i n t a i n e d on a heavy scale, at least 150 aircraft o p e r a t i n g on the 3rd.
On the 5th, the last Allied fighters were destroyed iii repulsing an attack north
of Bandoeng.
Australia.
57. D a r w i n aerodrome was machine-gunned by eight J a p a n e s e fighters :
one H u d s o n was destroyed on the ground.
Pacific Zone.
58. H u d s o n s bombed Gasmata and Koepang (Xew B r i t a i n ) : at the former
b u i l d i n g s and the r u n w a y were hit and a flying-boat on the water was set on fire.
59. H u d s o n s h i t an 8.000-ton t r a n s p o r t at Salamoa (Xew Guinea) and
claimed near misses on others.
Eight Fortresses dropped bombs on enemy
s h i p p i n g in the h a r b o u r ; preliminary r e p o r t s claim four t r a n s p o r t s were set on
fire, another beached and t h a t a sixth was sinking.
60. F o u r a t t a c k s were made by J a p a n e s e bombers on P o r t Moresby
a e r o d r o m e ; the resultant damage was slight.
Bulolo (100 miles north of
P o r t Moresby) was also raided, but results are not known.
HOME SECURITY SITUATION.
General.
61. Bombing h a s a g a i n been on a very small scale.
D u r i n g d a y l i g h t on 5 t h M a r c h three people were killed at F r e s h w a t e r , Isle
of W i g h t , a n d a house wrecked.
On the n i g h t of 8 t h / 9 t h there was scattered bombing along the N o r t h - E a s t
and East coasts. A few houses were damaged and one person w a s killed a t
Lowestof t.
Casualties.
62. E s t i m a t e d civilian casualties for the week e n d i n g 0600 on l l t h March
are four killed a n d two seriously injured.
A P P E N D I X J.
S E C T I O N A . — M e r c h a n t Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages lost by enemy action,
during the month of February 1942.
(Note.—Tonnages
a r e gross and vessels a r e of S.S, Cargo type unless otherwise stated.)
By Submarine.
Date,
Feb. 1
Feb. 2
Feb. 3
Feb. 4
Feb. 4
Name and Tonnage.
Nationality.
I I n Convoy
I low sunk. ! or not.
To-
From—
Cargo.
Liverpool .. Torpedo... Not
Refrigerated I Buenos
and general ]
Aires
Torpedo...j Not
S/S Tanker
I Port
American ...
Everglades
W. L. Steed
6,182
Torpedo...; Not
; Baltimore ...
M/Y Cargo
Swedish
Amerikaland 15,355
General ... Liverpool ... New York' .. Torpedo...! Not
M/Y Cargo Silvcray
4,535 British
Tacoma
Star
...
7,924
British
British
M/Y Tanker
Monisolite
S/S Tanker
Crude oil
Guiria
Halifax
..
I
Feb. 6
I
Torpedo..., No!
American ...
New York ..
I Corpus
India Arrow 8,327
Clsrisii
Torpedo ... Not
; Sanla Marta Philadelphia
San Gil
3.598 Panamanian
Torpedo... Not
M/Y Cargo Opawa ... 10,354 British
Refrigerated Lyttleton ... Halifax and
U.K. via Torpedo...! Not
and general
Panama
Beaumont .. New York- .. Torpedo... Not
American ...
S/S Tanker
Feb. 6
China Arrow
Halcyon
...
...
Feb. 7
Empire
Sun .
Feb. 8
Ocean
Venture
6,500 British
Feb. 9
Empire
Fusilier
... 5,408 British
Feb. 4
Feb. 4
11,309
1
Feb. 6
1
8,403
3,531 Panamanian
Halifax
... Denlerara .. Gunned ...! Not
Portland
(Me.)
... 6,952 British
Vancouver
Ballast
Tyno
Torpedo..,] Not
11 a m p to n Torpedo... Not
Roads and
ILK.
Torpedo... Yes
Tampa
Position.
300 miles E. of New­
port News
100 miles E.S.E. of
Dataware Bay
105 miles E.S.E. of
Hampton Roads
E.N.E. of Cape Sable
360 miles E. of Cape
Iiatteras
130 miles E.N.E. of
Norfolk, Virginia
55 miles S. of Dela­
ware Bay
400 miles" S.S.E. of
Halifax
U.S. Atlantic Coast
Fate of Crew and Remarks.
Crew presumed lost.
Crew 38. 3 survivors. 2 dead
picked up.
Crew 29. 11 landed U.S.A.,
some others landed Aruba.
41 snved, 2 killed.
22 saved.
12 saved, 26 missing.
Crew 41.
2 lost. 4 wounded.
2 known to he lost.
Crew 37.
No casualties.
300 miles E.N.E. of 37 saved, 3 lost, 2 wounded.
Bermuda
55 miles S.W. of 54 saved, 4 killed, 7 missing,
Halifax
including some service per­
sonnel.
70 miles E. bv N. of
Norfolk (Yii\)
14 saved, 30 missing, 1 dead.
260 miles S.E. of
Cape Race
38 saved, 8 lost, 1 died.
Name and
Tonnage.
Date.
Nationality.
Cargo.
HowSunk.
From—
In Convoy
or not.
Position.
Fate of Crew and Remarks.
OS
m Fob. 10
-I
CO
-
Feb. 10
I M.Y. Tanker
British
Ballast
Victoiite 11,410
j M/V Cargo Heina ... 4,028 Norwegian.. General
Feb. 11
Blink
Feb. 13
Feb. 14
M.Y. Cargo
British
Derrymore 4,799
Kamaning
...
... 2,076 British
Feb. 15
Johannc
Feb. 15
Meropi
Feb. 15
Buarque
' Feb. 16
Feb. 16
... Halifax
... New York ..
2,701 Norwegian.. Phosphates
...
4,681 British
...
...
4,181 Greek
...
...
5,152 Brazilian ..
Jusiescn
S/S Tanker
Orangestad
S/S Tanker
2,396
San Nicolas
2,391
British
.. Las Piedras Torpedo...
General
Not:
Liverpool ... Torpedo...
Yes
Charleston
Halifax and Torpedo...-.
U.K.
Singapore ..
Torpedo...
Not
Rangoon .. Singapore
Torpedo
via Colombo
and
gunned
Akyab
Cochin
Torpedo...
(India)
(Burma)
London
Halifax
... torpedo.;
Not
Rio Janeiro
Not
New York ... Torpedo..
Feeder Ser-
Not
Not
Torpedo..
vice
British
410 miles E. by N. of
Cape llatteras
4-15 miles W. of
Bloody Foreland 150 miles E. of Cape
Hatteras
70 miles N.W. of
Batavia
30 miles N.E. of
Triucomali
100 miles N.W. of
Cape Coinorin
50 miles S.E. of
Halifax
Off Hampton Roads,
Virginia
At anchor off San
Nicolas, Aruba
Gulf of Venezuela ...
No information.
Crew
saved.
Crew 30. 6 saved, 20 lost,
4 missing,
Crew saved.
3 killed, 4 wounded.
1 lost,
14 saved.
Crew and passengers
1 killed, 1 missing.
No casualties reported.
Feb. 16
j Feeder Ser- j Maraeaib
j vice
S/S Tanker Tia Juana 2,395 British
I Feeder Ser- , Maracaib
vice
S/S Tanker Bolivar ... 2,651 Venezuelan Coasting ...
Feb. 16
S/S Tanker Monagus
Not
Gull' of Venezuela ... No information.
Feb. 18
Olinda
Nut
135 miles N. by E. of
Cape 1 latteras
Crew saved.
Feb. 19
M/V Cargo
Not
35 miles E.S.E. of
Cape Sable
130 miles N. of
Miami, Florida
Caribbean Sea
Crew saved.
Feb. 16
...
Empire
Feb. 19
S/S Tanker
Feb. 20
Nordvangen
Feb. 20
Scottish
... Torpedo..
Not
Aruba
... Torpedo..
Not
Gulf of Venezuela ... j
Torpedo .
Not
Gulf of Venezuela ... No information.
2,650 Venezuelan j Feeder Ser- I Maraeaibo.. Aruba
j Torpedo..
; vice
... 4,053 Brazilian ...
...
Pcrriarhbuci New York ... Torpedoei
and
gunned
Torpedo..
British
... Special Ser­ New York . Glusgow
Seal 7,965
vice
American ...
...
Texas City
Torpedo:.
Feb. 20
Del Plata
..
Not
8,201
2,400 Norwegian
Star
1- 22
saved, 26 missing.
Aruba
Pan Massachusetts
7,224 I British
Paramaribo
...1 Mixed gen­
eral
5,127 American ..
London
Trinidad
...
Buenos
Not
Torpedi
Not
Torpcdi
Not
A ires
Buenos
Aires
New
Orleans
85.
18 saved. 2 lost. 20 believed
lost.
No information.
G50 miles N.E. of \ Crew about 73.
Georgetown, British
4 missing.
(1 uiana
60 miles N.W. of 52 saved.
Martinique
09 saved.
TO Date,
1
i
Name and Tonnage.
Nationality.
Cargo.
From—
To-
How sunk.
In Convoy
or not.
Position.
Fate of Crew and Remarks.
I
Gunnies and Rangoon ... Durban and Torpedo... Not
general
W. Indies
Feb. 21 ... S/S Tanker J, N. Pew 9,033 American ...
A rub a
Cliristobal... Torpedo... Not
250 miles \V. of (', 70 saved. Comorin
225 miles W. of Aruba No information. Feb. 21 ... M/V Tanker
40 miles N.W. of Crew 57, 1 missing. Trinidad
Feb. 20 ... Bhhna
5,280 British
British
Ballast
... Glasgow
... Curacao
Not
Torpedo
(diverted
and
Trinidad)
gunned
Norwegian... Presumed
Aruba
Feb. 21 ... M/V Tanker
Puerto la
Torpedo... Not
Cruz
ballast
Kongsgaarcl 9,407
Feb. 22 ... George L. Torian
Paramaribo Trinidad ... Torpedo... Not
... 1,754 British
Circe Shell
Feb. 22 ... M/V Tanker Adellen
8,207
7,984 British
American ...
Feb. 22 ... S/S Tanker Cities
Service
Empire
Feb. 22 ... M/V Cargo Sama
Newport
Feb. 23 ...
Feb..23 ...
Port Arthur Philadelphia Torpedo... Not
... 1,799 Norwegian...
West Zeda
5,658
M/V Tanker Thalia...
8,329
Lithue
7,001
Feb. 23 ... S/S Tanker
Inverarder
Feb. 23 ... M/V Tanker Eidanger
Cardiff
American ...
Panamanian Ballast
American ...
Ballast
Britisli
5,578
9,432 Norwegian... Ballast
Feb. 25 ... S/S Tanker
Ballast
British
La Carriers 5,685
Feb. 25 ... M/V Tanker
Panamanian
Esso Copenhagen 9,245
Feb. 26 ... Mafore
...
Feb. 27 ... MacQregor
...
St. Johns,
Torpedo... Yes
N.B.
Philadelphia Torpedo... Not
Corpus
Christi
Paramaribo Trinidad
... Torpedo... Not
Mombasa ... Trinidad
...
New York ... Aruba
New York ... Middle Fast
... London­
derrv Trinidad ...
... Belfast
...
Mobile
... New York ...
Trinidad ...
Aruba
Buenos
Coal
Torpedo... Not
Torpedo
Not
and
gunned
Torpedo... Not
Torpedo... Not
Torpedo... Not
Torpedo... Not
Torpedo... Not
Aires Torpedo... Not
Cruz
... 8,215 American ...
2,498 British
a.
... Torpedo... Yes
8,103
American ...
Feb. 22 ... S/S Tanker
W. D. Anderson 10,227
Feb. 23 ... Lennox
...
... 1,904 British
Feb. 23 ...
... Trinidad
Grande
Loch Ewe... Baltimore ... Gunned... Not
Tampa
Off
West
Point,
Curacao
130 miles S.E. of
Trinidad
500 miles E. of New­
foundland, approx.
Off U.S. Atlantic
Coast
500 miles E. of New­
foiindland, approx.
Off Florida
Crew 4G, 8 saved. 4 saved. 12 saved. 29 saved, 7 killed, 4 missing. 14 crew, 5 passengers, saved. Crew 35, 1 saved. 160 miles S.S.E. of 18 saved, 6 wounded, 2 miss­
Trinidad
ing.
150 miles N. by W. No information.
of
Georgetown,
British Guiana
100 miles from Aruba 1 killed, rest saved.
240 miles S.S.W. of
Ponce, Puerto Rico
... 420 miles S.S.E. of
St. John's (N.F.)
420 miles S.S.E. of
St. John's (N.F.)
Off Ponce. Puerto
Rico
G50 miles N.E. of
Georgetown, British
Guiana
30 miles S.E. of Cape
Hatteras
Off Santo Domingo...
No information.
Crew saved.
Crew saved.
26 saved, 1 lost, 13 missing.
Crew saved.
Crew saved.
30 saved, 5 wounded, 1 miss-
By Submarine.
S
m
Bate.
a
i
m
e
a n d
*
ionnage.
! Nationality.
Cargo.
From—
How
sunk.
To-
In Convoy
or not.
Position.
Fate of Crew and Remarks.
CO
Feb. 27 ... Bayou
Feb. 27 ... S/S Tanker
R. P. Resor
Feb. 28 ... Everasma
...
2,605 Panamanian Manganese Bio Janeiro Canada
Torpedo... Not
Ore
American ...
Houston ... Fall River... Torpedo... Not
7,451
... 3,644 Lat.
Feb. 28 ... M/V Cargo Leif
Hampton
Rio Janeiro
Roads
New York ... Ciudad
Trujillo
... 1,582 Norwegian...
Torpedo... Not
Torpedo... Not
1 survivor.
Near Paramaribo
...
Crew 43; 2 saved.
Off New Jersey coast
765 miles E. by N. 15 saved.
of Martinique
Off Atlantic coast ... 10 saved, 15 missing, 1 believed drowned.
By Mine.
Feb. 16 ... S/S Tanker E. H.
Feb. 21 ... Atlanticos
Blum
American ...
11,615
5,446 Greek
Grain
Philadelphia
M. Prob.
St. John's
London
(N.B.)
Not
Off Cape Hatteras ... Crew saved.
Yes
Barrow Deep
Crew 41. 1 missing.
By Surface Craft.
About
City of Manchester
Feb. 26
About
Prominent ...
...
Feb. 26
o About
M/V Cargo Tomohon
Feb. 26
8,917
British
2,232 Norwegian.
983 Dutch
Probably
Ballast
Raider or
Warship
Raider or
Warship
Raider or
Warship
2 killed, 8 wounded, 127 saved.
South of Tjilstjap,
Dutch E. Indies
No information.
South of Tjilstjap,
Dutch E. Indies
No information.
South of Tjilstjap,
Dutch E. Indies
By Aircraft.
Date.
Name and Tonnage.
M/V Cargo
Katong
Erom-
To-
Tn Convoy
or not.
Position.
Fate of Crew and Remarks.
Off Sumatra...
No information.
Off Sumatra...
No information.
Singapore Strait
16 killed, 7 wounded.
Off Sumatra...
No information.
Yes
Off llumber ...
No casualties.
.262 British
Yes
7,798 British
Yes
Singapore
Approaches
Dutch East Indies
Waters
168 miles North of
Benghazi
240 miles Hast of
Malta
Port Darwin...
... 6,121 British
4,958 British
3,431 British
Corland
Empress
Subadar
Coal
Blvthe
London
10,909 British
S/S Passenger
of Asia
...
... 5,424 British
Chattan
M/V Cargo
Bowallan
Palembam
Batavia
Castle
British
M/V Tanker
Brtfis/i Motorist 6,891
Zealandia
...
... 6,683 British
Neptuna
...
Manna Loa ...
Florence
How sunk.
4,433 British
Banna
Clan
Cargo.
Norah Matter
...
... 1,461 British
S/S Tanker Pinna
Loch
Nationality.
iSomo casualties.
No information.
Crew saved.
Crew saved.
2 killed.
Port Darwin...
No casualties reported.
... 5,952 British
Port Dai win...
10 killed, 5 missing,
... 5,436 American
Port D&s-win
so casualties reported.
D
2,638 American
M/V Cargo
Don Isidooro
Soura baya.
Dutch East Indies 3 killed.
Waters
Near Darwin...
73 saved.
American
3,261
Hawne
1,360 British
Alexandria
Tobruk
M/V Cargo Bintang...
2,825 British
Alexandria
Tobrnk
25 miles N.E. of 20 saved.
Bardia
50 miles E. of Bardia 27 saved.
By other Causes or Cause unknown.
Name and
Tonnage.
Date.
Nationality
Cargo.
From—
To-
How sunk. In Convoy
or not.
Position.
i Fate of Crew and Remarks.
Tong
295 British
Singapore
Presumed captured.
M/Y Cargo Hhu
254 British
Singapore
Presumed captured.
Hua
S/S Tanker
Duteh
Semiramis
5,792
S/S Tanker Iris
... 3,887 Dutch
Palembang River
! Scuttled to avoid capture.
Palembang River
Lighter Kilat
Pladjoe
; Possibly scuttled to avoid
capture.
Sunk to avoid capture.
TaUhybins
221 I Dutch
...
. 10,254 ! British
Singapore
I
Santa
Fc
1,543 Panamanian
M/V Cargo
Don Estaban
American ...
E. Indies
No information.
American ...
E. Indies
No information.
1,610
S/S Passenger
Surigao
Saigon
Vessel unable to leave owing
to desertion of Chinese crew.
Presumed captured.
.1 Captured by Japanese.
790
Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages lost by enemy action reported
but relating to January 1942, or previous.
(Note.-Tonnages
during February 1942,
are gross and vessels are of s.s. Cargo type unless otherwise stated.)
By Submarine.
Date.
Name and Tonnage.
Nationality.
1940
Sept. 30 ... Samala
5,390 British
1941
Mar. 17 ... Medjcrda
4,380 British
Cargo.
From-
To-
Kingston
(Ja.)
Mar. 24 ... Koranton
...
... 6,695 British
June 9 ... M/V Cargo
Silver[laljn
1642
Jan. 12 ... M/V Cargo Yngaren
6,373 British
Jan 22 ... Gandia
9,626 Belgian
Jan. 26 ... Traveller
3,963 British
5,246 Swedish
Jan. 31 ... M/V Tanker
San Arcadia
British
7,419
...
...
Pepel
Halifax
How
Sunk.
In Convoy
or not.
Position.
Fate of Crew and Remarks.
Liverpool ... P resumed Not
Torpedoed
North Atlantic
Arbitration award.
Tees
North Atlantic
J.A.C. award.
North Atlantic
Arbitration award.
Presumed Not
Torpedoed
Loch Ewe... Presumed Not
...
Torpedoed
Freetown ... Clyde
Copra and Bombay
Manganese
Ore
General
Mersey
Presumed Not
North Atlantic
Arbitration award.
Torpedoed
... 1-1 n i l ( v i a Torpedoed Not . ... 460 miles S.S.W. of 2 survivors picked up after
Halifax) Iceland
30 days on a raft.
St. John's
Torpedoed Not
(N.B.)
. . General
Norfolk
Halifax ... Presumed Not
(Va.)
Torpedoed
G a s a n d Houston ... Mersev (via Torpedoed Not
Lubri c a t Halifax)
ing Oils
LOSSES IN T H E PACIFIC.
British.
Indian Ocean—
1 ship
420 miles S. of Cape Crew 79. 14 saved, 65 lost.
Race
North Atlantic
Presumed lost. No survivors.
400 miles S. of Hnli- 9 saved.
fax
2,498
British Diala (8,106 gross tons) previously shown as sunk is now known to be afloat, but damaged.
Date.
Name and Tonnage.
\ Nationality, i
1941.
Mar. 13 ... M/V Cargo
Buenos
Cargo.
From-
To-
How sunk. In Convoy
or not.
Position.
Swedish
Aires
May 3-4... Steam Barge Walton
Liverpool
82 British
British
Ocean Victor
Now declared constructive;
total loss.
Liverpool
Now declared constructive;
total loss.
Iceland Fishing
Crew of about 10 lost. J.A.C.
Grounds
award.
5,646
Aug. 8 ... Steam Trawler
Fate of Crew and Remarks.
Wishing
Grounds
202
Presumed
bombed
LOSSES IN PACIFIC.
Allied.
Manila—
5.33-1
1 ship
Two British ships of 2,053 gross tons, previously shown as sunk in the Pacific as " no exact position," must lie deleted, as these ships are now known to have been small commissioned ships. By other Causes or Cause Unknown.
1939.
Nov.
17
...
ParkLill
...
500 British
1940.
Oct. 24 .. Maiina
... 5,389 British
Dec. 14 .. Kyleglen
... 3,670 British
Coal
Blvth
Jamaica
Oban
Kirkwall
... Liverpool ... C.l
Baltimore ... C.U
...J North Sea
Arbitration award.
... North Atlantic
Arbitration award.
:
... North Atlantic
J.A.C. award.
LOSSKS IN PACIFIC.
British.
Ships under charter to Japanese since May or
.I line 1911 now presumed lout by confiscation: —
7 ships
37.196
Ships under embargo by Japanese in Chinese ports
now presumed lost b\ confiscation:—
8 ships
23,397
In addition to the above, 7 Russian ships of 25,012 gross terns were seized in German Baltic ports following the German declaration of war on Russia.
ZJ1
SECTION B.—Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of 500 gross tons and over damaged by Enemy Action during the month of February 1942. Vessels suffering superficial or minor damage are excluded, and vessels are of S/S Cargo type unless otherwise stated. In
Date.
Name and
Tonnage.
Nationality.
Cargo.
To-
From—
Feb. 9 M/V Tanker
Spirit
Curacao
UK.
9,057
Feb. 13 Clan Campbell
7,255 British
British
3,176
Feb. 16 S/S Tanker
Ballast ... Dublin
... Swansea
Feb. 16 S/S Tanker
Arkansas
Ballast ... Southamp­
ton
... A/C
Loch Ewe
S/M
Barry
A/C
A/C
Feeder
Service
4,317
S/M
S/M
American ...
6,452
S/M
... 7,460 American ... Govt.
Baltimore... Table Bay
and Suez
stores
S/M
and coin
Feb. 18 S/S Tanker
British
Loading... Freetown ...
Trinidad ...
British Consul 6,940
S/M
Feb. 22 S/S Tanker
American ...
Philadelphia
Houston ...
- Republic 5,287
S/M
Feb. 18 Mokihana
Position.
Extent of Damage.
80 miles S.E. Returned Halifax damaged;
of Halifax
3,000 tons spirit lost
3 miles S. of St. Making water in engine­
...
Not... Amie's Head
room and beached. Later
refloated and arrived Car­
diff.
... Not... 130milesW.N.W. Arrived Kames Bay in tow
Butt of Lewis
with engine-room damage
Yes... 5 miles W. of Badly damaged amidships
Trevose Head
and beached. Later arrived Penzance
E. Mediterranean Damage not stated. Vessel
arrived Alexandria. Re­
pairs to be completed
12th March
At anchor off San Damage not stated but
vessel beached
Nicolas, Aruba
Alongside wharf, Damage not stated. Vessel
O r a n j e s t a d,
still afloat and moved to
...
Aruba
anchorage
Yes... Trinidad anchor­ Damage not stated, but in
no danger of sinking
age
...
Trinidad anchor­ Damage to starboard side of
Nos. 5 and 6 tanks and
age
pump room
Off Miami Beach Torpedoed.
Damage not
stated
Not...
Norwegian... Ballast ... Seydisfjord
Anna Knudson
Feb. 10 Lieutenant
Robert Mory
Pedemales
0 1 1
voy or
not.
Feb. 2 M/V Tanker
Dutch
Corilla 8,096
Feb. 6 Blush Rose
...
645 British
...
Cause.
Not...
Casualties lo
Crew.
Remarks.
No casualties re­
ported.
No disunities.
No casualties.
34 crew; 2 killed,
5 wounded.
No casualties re­
ported.
No casualties re­
ported.
No casualties re­
ported.
No casualties re­
porfced.
No casualties.
28 saved, 5 rniss­
ing.
Name and
Tonnage.
Feb. 22 I Enseigne
Marie
St. Germain
M/V Tanker liars
British
Harboe Jensen
Thyra
Ballast
To­
j Cause.
London
... Blythe
A/C
Trinidad
... Halifax
S/M
3,139
8,888 British
British
S/S Tanker
Empire
From—
Nationality.
Ballast
Greenock ...1 New York
S/M
Celt 8,032
...
A/C
1,862 Norwegian
1,796 Swedish
.
Timber
London
Middles­
b rough
M.
I In
Con­
yoy or
not.
Position.
Extent of damage.
I Yes... Off Yarmouth ... Arrived Yarmouth with 8 ft.
hole in starboard side
. Not... 25 miles South Afloat and burning after
half towed into Halifax
of Halifax
: Yes... 420 miles S.S.E. Proceeded under own power
to 35 miles off St. Jolm's
of St, John's
and broke in two, both
(N.F.)
parts afloat and salvable
Engine-room holed. Ship
Tobruk ...
beached
Beached. After hold below
Y e s O f f Yarmouth
water line. Survey pro­
ceeding
This report does not include details of damage inflicted on shipping in the Far East, reports of which are incomplete.
Casualties to Crew and other Remarks. No casualties.
2
survivors.
since died.
47 saved, 0 miss
ing.
No casualties
24 saved.
APPENDIX
II.
Total Losses by Enemy Action and Marine Causes of Merchant Ships, including Tankers, other t h a n Merchant Ships Commissioned tor Naval Service.
(Including vessels of all tonnages for losses by enemy action and vessels of 100 gross tons and over for losses by Marine Causes.) A.—British, A Wed and Neutral
Total.
Losses.
British.
Allied.
Neutral.
Months.
Months .
No.
Gross Tons.
No.
Gross Tons.
No.
Gross Tons.
No.
Gross Tons.
i
1939—September-Decemberr (4 months
1939—September-Decembe
months)) ..
....
317
929,000
158
498,000
17
90,000
142
341,000
1 9 4 0 -­
January-March
January-Marc
h (3 months
months))
April-June
April-Jun e (3 months
months))
July-Septemberr (3 months
July-Septembe
months))
October-Decemberr (3 months
October-Decembe
months))
297
313
348
365
800,000
1,038,000
1,332,000
1,337,000
111
153
211
255
352,000
109,000
925,000
981,000
13
GO
50
00
30,000
326,000
211,000
234,000
173
94
81
50
412,000
243,000
190,000
122,000
1941Januar
January
y
Februar
February
y
Marc
March
h
April
April
Ma
May
y
Jun
Junee
..
.... Jul
July
y
Augus
Augustt
September
Septembe r ..
.... Octoberr Octobe
Novembe
Novemberr December
Decembe r 92
138
154
167
138
122
58
64
109
67
01
152
38S.000
464,000
508,000
662,000
530,000
451,000
144,000
153,000
338,000
233,000
175,000
432,000
54
98
101
84
90
G5
43
42
75
41
38
90
222,000
359,000
374,000
304,000
392,000
280,000
108,000
105,000
254,000
100,000
117,000
234,000
29
21
37
G9
21
35
0
10
11
17
10
50
153,000
75,000
147,000
248,001)
100,000
143,000
24,000
3-1,000
46,000
58,000
32,000
107,000
9
10
10
14
18
22
9
12
20
9
13
12
13,000
30,000
47,000
50,000
38,000
28,000
12,000
14,000
38,000
15,000
20,000
31,000
121
107
477,000
550,000
58
47
200,000
203,000
55
59
259,000
272,000
8
1
18,000
15,000
3,190
11,007,000
1,820
6,657,000
651
2,061,000
719
1,689,000
1942Januar3
February
Februar
y
T
..
....
.s.-
B.—Losses analysed
by Cause.
Enemy Action.
Months.
ho
Total.
Total.
OS
Oi
OS
1939­
September-December
(4 months)
1940January-March ...
(3 months)
April-June
(3 months)
July-September...
(3 months)
October-December
(3 months)
1941January
February
March
A pril
May
June
July
August
September
October ..
November
December
t)
to
1942January
February
Submarine.
Mine.
Marine Fiisk.
Other
Causes or
Cause
un known.
Overdue,
presumed
lost.
Surface Craft. Aircraft.
Tons.
57,000
Tons.
3,000
Tons.
4,000
Tons.
180,000
Tons.
12,000
Tons. 174,000 33,000
31,000
276,000
44,000
232,000
Total.
4
Other
Causesf
Tons.
929.000
Tons.
743,000
Tons.
421,000
258.000
800,000
524,000
291,000
109,000
1,038,000
935,000
346,000
151,000
74,000
250,000
111.000
103,000
8,000
95,000
1,332,000
1,241,000
770,000
5-1,000
220,000
179,000
12,000
" 91,000
25,000
06,000
1,337,000
1,145,000
689,000
133,000
219,000
80,000
15.000
192,000
25,000
167,000
8,000
40,000
10,000
10,000
24,000
2,000
1,000
1,000
S,000
24,000
18,000
07,000 58,000 23.000 2S.000 35,000 15,000 23,000 27,000 59,000 20,000 47,000 45,000 24,000
44,000
97,000 34,000 Tons.
388,000
464,000
568,000
062,000
536,000
451,000
144,000
153,000
33S,000
233,000
175,000
432,000
313,000
300,000
535,000
624,000
501,000
412,000
119,000
125,000
278,000
205,000
104,000
300,000
125,000
172.000
234,000
240,000
331,000
287,000
92,000
80,000
205,000
152,000
02,000
102,000
17,000
10,000
23,000
25,000
477,000
550,000
356,000
172.000
288,000
10,000
325.000
94,000
82,000
103,000
18,000
15,000
18,000
6,000
1,000
25.0011
15,000
14,000
15.000
3,000
J 7,000
6.000
77.000
90,000
113,000
291,000
132,000
66,000
9,000
19,000
41.000
35,000
23.000
23,000
12.000
43,000
03.000
23,000
14,000
9,000
2,000
58,000
180,000
75,000
104,000
33,000
38,000
35,000
39,000
25,000
28,000
00,000
28,000
71.000
03,000
12,000
25,000
.21,000
78,000
442,000
1,646,000
2,000
17,000
27,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
17,(100
11,007,000
9,301,000
5,212,000
,012,000
Some of these losses may eventually bo held to be due to enemy action.
1,083,0
1,012.0UI)
33
1000
to
1,312,000
f Including losses due to vessels running on British
IS5
A p p e n d i x I I I (1) will be inserted in a subsequent Resume.
(2) Merchant Ships (100 gross tons and over) under construction in the United
Kingdom as at 28th February, 4942.
Others.
Tankers.
Xo.
Gross tons.
Total
Tota l
Gross tons.
31
5,000
314,000
14
172*
22,000
910,000
45
319,000
1S6
932,000
S
Coasting
Coastin g ship
shipss an
and
d collier
collierss ..
....
Othe
Otherr ship
shipss
No.
* Including 9 vessels (5,000 gross tons) of Merchant type intended for Naval use.
I n a d d i t i o n t h e following
Kingdom and abroad : —
merchant
ships
a r e on order
Tankers.
No.
United
Unite d Kingdo
Kingdom
m
Canada
Canad a an
and
d Unite
Unitedd State
Statess
the
United
Others.
Gross tons.
17
109,000
17
109,000
..
....
Total
Tota l
in
No.
Gross tons.
305,000
518,000
80f
72i
152
823,000
j Including 9 vessels (5,000 gross tons) building for the Navy.
i Some of these vessels are already under construction but details are not available.
APPENDIX
IY.
Enemy Merchant Ship Losses as assessed to 15th February, 1942.
Nationality..
Nationality
Germa
Germann
Italia
Italiann
Othe
Otherr enem
enemyy ship
shipss an
and
d
enemy-­
ships
ship s usefu
usefull t o enemy
Tota
Totall
Sunk, Captured
or Constructive
Loss.
7
Seriously
Damaged.
Damaged.
Total.
No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
897
412
1,721,294
1,760,273
113
76
309,603
354,868
181
84
598,889
420,984
691 2,030,086
572 2,530,125
113
202,689
16
43,706
12
48,824
922
3,684,256
205
708,477
277
Gross
Tons.
141
295,219
1,068,697 1,404
5,461,430
T h i s table does not i n c l u d e losses inflicted on the enemy by our R u s s i a n
Allies, w h i c h a r e e s t i m a t e d a t a b o u t 556,000 gross tons sunk : nor does i t i n c l u d e
losses inflicted on J a p a n e s e s h i p p i n g in the F a r E a s t a n d Pacific e s t i m a t e d very
a p p r o x i m a t e l y a t a b o u t 360,000 gross tons.
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e is about 336,000 gross tons of A x i s s h i p p i n g i n S o u t h
A m e r i c a n p o r t s w h i c h is n o longer available to t h e enemy.
2
APPENDIX
V.
Casualties to H . M . A u x i l i a r y Vessels a n d to N a v a l Personnel.
March
3.—M.T.B. 31 damaged by gunfire.
March 5 . — M / S T r a w l e r Cedar slightly damaged in an a i r a t t a c k south-west
of the Needles. F o u r casualties.
March
March
a leak.
6 . — M / S Trawler Staunch
7.—Trawler Sheldon
damaged by mine off H a r w i c h .
beached near Buckie (Inverness) after s p r i n g i n g
March 8 . — A / S Trawler Notts
of Seidisf j o r d (Iceland).
County
was sunk by mine or torpedo south
March, 9 . — W h a l e r Shera capsized and sank in pack ice north of M u r m a n s k .
T h r e e survivors.
March
Aberdeen.
11.—M/S
Trawler
Craftsman
slightly
damaged
by
aircraft
off
February 2 7 / M a r c h 5.—-Presumed sunk by enemy action in the J a v a area :
Scott-Hurley,
Wo-Kivang,
Jarantut.
A u x i l i a r y M / S Gemas, Rahman, Anking,
Elias, Tapak,
Malacca,
Una Tone/: Armed T r a w l e r Vyner Brooke,
Motor
M / S 31, and M.L.'s 1096 and 1097.'
T h e following casualties to naval personnel have been reported : —
Officers : 7 killed, 3 wounded. 100 missing.
R a t i n g s : 28 killed. 11 wounded, 115 missing.
NOTE.—Eighty-six of the officers missing were at H o n g Kong.
*,-$ Q
A p p e n d i x I I I (1) will be inserted in a subsequent Resume.
(2) Merchant S h i p s (100 gross tons and over) under construction in the U n i t e d
K i n g d o m as at 2 8 t h February, 1942.
Others.
Tankers.
Gross tons.
No.
Coastin
Coastingg ship
shipss an
and
d collier
collierss ..
....
Othe
Otherr ship
shipss
Total
Tota l
No.
Gross tons.
8
37
5,000
314,000
14
172*
22,000
910,000
45
319,000
186
932,000
* Including 9 vessels (5,000 gross tons) of Merchant type intended for Naval use.
I n a d d i t i o n t h e following
Kingdom and abroad : —
merchant
ships
are on order
Tankers.
No.
United
Unite d Kingdo
Kingdom
m
and
d Unite
Unitedd State
Statess
Canada
Canad a an
the
United
Others.
Gross tons.
17
109,000
17
109,000
No.
Gross tons.
305,000
518,000
80f
72$
..
....
Tota
Totall
in
152
823,000
f Including 9 vessels (5,000 gross tons) building for the Navy.
% Some of these vessels are already under construction but details are not available.
APPENDIX
IY.
Enemy M e r c h a n t S h i p Losses as assessed to 15th February, 1942.
Nationality..
Nationality
Sunk, Captured
or Constructive
Loss.
No.
Gross
Tons.
Seriouslv
Damaged.
No.
Gross
Tons.
D
j
i ,
j -
a
m
a
,
g^-
Total.
T
N o
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
1
German
Germa n
Italia
Italiann
Other
Othe r enem
enemyy ship
shipss an
and
d
397
412
1,721,294
1,760,273
113
76
309,603
354,888
181
84
598,889
420,984
691
572
2,630,086
2,536,125
113
202,689
16
43,706
12
48,824
141
295,219
922
3,684,256
205
708,477
277 . 1,068,697 1,404
5,461,430
ships
ship s usefu
usefull t o enemy
enemy-Tota
Totall
T h i s t a b l e does n o t i n c l u d e losses inflicted o n t h e e n e m y b y o u r K u s s i a n
A l l i e s , w h i c h a r e e s t i m a t e d a t a b o u t 556,000 g r o s s t o n s s u n k : n o r does i t i n c l u d e
losses inflicted o n J a p a n e s e s h i p p i n g i n t h e F a r E a s t a n d P a c i f i c e s t i m a t e d v e r y
a p p r o x i m a t e l y a t a b o u t 360,000 g r o s s t o n s .
- I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e is a b o u t 336,000 g r o s s t o n s of A x i s s h i p p i n g i n S o u t h
A m e r i c a n p o r t s w h i c h is n o l o n g e r a v a i l a b l e t o t h e enemy.
Casualties to H . M . A u x i l i a r y Vessels and to N a v a l Personnel.
March
3.—M.T.B. 31 d a m a g e d by gunfire.
March 5 . — M / S T r a w l e r Cedar
of t h e Needles. F o u r c a s u a l t i e s .
March
March
a leak.
s l i g h t l y d a m a g e d in a n a i r a t t a c k s o u t h - w e s t
6 . — M / S T r a w l e r Staunch
7 . — T r a w l e r Sheldon
d a m a g e d by m i n e off H a r w i c h .
beached n e a r B u c k i e (Inverness) a f t e r s p r i n g i n g
March 8 . — A / S T r a w l e r Notts
of S e i d i s f j o r d ( I c e l a n d ) .
County
w a s s u n k by m i n e or t o r p e d o s o u t h
March 9 . — W h a l e r Shera c a p s i z e d a n d s a n k i n p a c k ice n o r t h of M u r m a n s k .
Three survivors.
March
Aberdeen.
11.—M/S
Trawler
Craftsman
slightly
damaged
by
aircraft
off
February 2 7 / M a r c h 5.—^Presumed s u n k by enemy a c t i o n in t h e J a v a a r e a :
A u x i l i a r y M / S Gemas, Rahman,
Anking,
Scott-Harley,
Wo-Kwang,
Jarantut,
Elias,
Tapak,
Malacca,
Hua Tong, A r m e d T r a w l e r Vyner Brooke,
Motor
M / S 31, a n d M . L . ' s 1096 a n d 1097.
T h e f o l l o w i n g c a s u a l t i e s to n a v a l p e r s o n n e l h a v e been r e p o r t e d : —
Officers : 7 killed, 3 w o u n d e d , 100 m i s s i n g .
R a t i n g s : 28 k i l l e d , 11 w o u n d e d , 115 m i s s i n g .
N O T E . — E i g h t y - s i x of t h e officers m i s s i n g w e r e a t H o n g K o n g .
Provisional operational aircraft battle casualties compiled from reports
received d u r i n g the p e r i o d :
0700 hours, Thursday, 5 t h M a r c h , 1952, to 0 7 0 0 hours, Thursday,
12th M a r c h , 1942.
M e t r o p o l i t a n Area.
British.
Bombers ....
Fighters ...
Coastal
On the
In the Air.
.:.
18 6
8
...
Ground.
Army Co-Operation
Total
No pilots are safe.
Enemy.
Bombers
Fighters
...
Miscellaneous
Probably
Destroyed.
Destroyed.
Damaged.
3
3
12 1
9.
16
Total
12
Of the above totals none were destroyed by A.A. fire.
Middle E a s t ( i n c l u d i n g M a l t a ) .
British.
Bombers.
Fighters .
Others
On the
In the Air.
Total
Ground.
8
5
1
2
14
11
9
No pilots are safe.
Enemy.
Bombers ...
Fighters ...
Miscellaneous
Destroyed.
Probably
Destroyed.
Total
Damaged.
2
5
10
12
1
21
8
3
23
32
Of the above totals, four were destroyed, fivo (damaged by A.A. fire and three damaged
by Naval A.A.
Week ending 5th March 1942.—Delete " One Fighter probably destroyed " and substitute
" One Fighter destroyed."
Far E a s t ( A . B . D . A . a r e a ) .
B r i t i s h and Allied.
Bombers ...
Fighters ...
Miscellaneous
In the Air.
...
On the
2
8*
...
Total
10
Two pilots are safe.
* On 4th March, 1942, six Hurricanes were reported serviceable.
military source states " L a s t Allied Fighters destroyed."
Enemy.
Bombers ...
Fighters
Miscellaneous
Destroyed.
5
4
1
Ground.
4
1
3
Probably
\Destroyed
5
1
8
On 7th March, 1942, a
Damaged.
4
1
Total
10
6
5
Of the above totals, five were destroyed and five probably destroyed by A.A.
NOTES.—(a) No account is taken of enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground in any theatre,
(b) No account is taken of British Naval aircraft casualties.
A i r A t t a c k s on Enemy Territory in Europe.
E x t r a c t s from Recent Raid Assessment Reports.
T h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t s of d a m a g e have been received d u r i n g t h e p a s t week
f r o m A i r R e c o n n a i s s a n c e a n d I n t e l l i g e n c e sources : Occupied France.
Paris.-Persons
p r e s e n t d u r i n g t h e a t t a c k on t h e n i g h t of t h e 3 r d / 4 t h M a r c h
o n t h e R e n a u l t W o r k s describe t h i s a t t a c k a s the m o s t i m p o r t a n t occurrence i n
F r a n c e since t h e A r m i s t i c e , a n d a s a t r e m e n d o u s success for G r e a t B r i t a i n . H i g h
N a z i a u t h o r i t i e s a r e s t a t e d to h a v e been e n r a g e d because t h e G e r m a n H i g h
C o m m a n d , in d i r e c t v i o l a t i o n of t h e i r advice, h a d d e n u d e d P a r i s a n d t h e g r e a t e r
p a r t of t h e o c c u p i e d zone of defensive e q u i p m e n t . I n t h e a t t a c k t h e S a l m s o n
W o r k s w e r e d e s t r o y e d , a n d t h e R e n a u l t W o r k s , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of one
d e p a r t m e n t , w e r e r a z e d to t h e g r o u n d . T h e public i n P a r i s a r e s a i d t o h a v e been
overjoyed a t t h e a t t a c k , p a r t i c u l a r l y because the R e n a u l t f a c t o r y h a d become t h e
symbol of c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h G e r m a n y .
Germany.
Kiel.—Photographs
t a k e n o n the 2 n d M a r c h , 1942, s h o w c o n s i d e r a b l e r e p a i r
w o r k to t h e Gneisenau i n p r o g r e s s . A b o u t 30 feet of t h e deck p l a t i n g i n t h e bows
h a s been removed, e x p o s i n g t h e deck below. T h e r e is a d e e p hole a b r e a s t
" B " t u r r e t o n t h e p o r t side a n d some deck p l a t i n g h a s been removed. T h e r e
is also w h a t a p p e a r s t o be d a m a g e on t h e p o r t s i d e a b a f t " Y " t u r r e t .
Diisseldorf.—At
t h e e n d of October a n d b e g i n n i n g of November, tihe effects
of n u m e r o u s b o m b a r d m e n t s w e r e still very noticeable, a l t h o u g h m o s t of t h e r u i n s
n e a r t h e n e w s t a t i o n h a d been h a s t i l y cleared a w a y . W h a t m u s t h a v e been t h e
r e s u l t of h e a v y bombs on houses a n d t h e G e n e r a l P o s t Office could be observed
in streets near the m a i n station. D a m a g e was p a r t i c u l a r l y noticeable in t h e
n e i g h b o u r h o o d of t h e Zoo, w h e r e two s t r e e t s a n d r a i l w a y lines i n t h e D i i s s e l d o r f Derendorf station were destroyed.
Mannheim.—During
t h e r a i d , e i t h e r on t h e 1 1 t h / 1 2 t h or 1 4 t h / 1 6 t h F e b r u a r y ,
a l o a d e d p e t r o l t a n k e r b a r g e w a s h i t a n d s a n k a f t e r a v i o l e n t explosion. O t h e r
b a r g e s w e r e also h i t a n d several c r a n e s w e r e b a d l y d a m a g e d i n t h e dock a r e a .
B o m b s fell on w h a r v e s a n d one close to t h e F r i e d r i c h s t a t i o n .
Hamburg.—In
t h e r a i d on the 3 0 t h N o v e m b e r / 1 s t December, a 4,000-lb.
bomb fell n e a r t h e R a b e n s t r a s s e m a i n s t a t i o n . A r o w of houses w a s r e d u c e d t o
r u b b l e a n d w i n d o w s over a mile a w a y w e r e broken by t h e force of t h e explosion.
Ostend.—Photographs
t a k e n d u r i n g t h e d a y l i g h t a t t a c k on 2 8 t h F e b r u a r y
s h o w t w o bombs b u r s t i n g on t h e r a i l w a y lines a n d p l a t f o r m s of t h e p a s s e n g e r
s t a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e o u t e r h a r b o u r a n d B a s s i n N o . 1.
Sea Mining.
I n J u l y 1941 t h e S a s s n i t z - T r e l l e b o r g f e r r y Deutschland,
of 2,459 tons, w a s
m i n e d a n d s a n k off O l a n d I s l a n d .
O n 1 2 t h December, 1941, t h e G e r m a n s t e a m e r Delphin, of 4 0 0 tons, w a s s u n k
b y a m i n e off K i e l . She w a s c a r r y i n g c a t t l e from H e l i g o l a n d .
On 9 t h F e b r u a r y , a G e r m a n s h i p w a s d a m a g e d by a m i n e off t h e N o r t h S e a
coast.
O n 2 6 t h / 2 7 t h F e b r u a r y , t h e S w e d i s h ferry i c e b r e a k e r Starke w a s s u n k b y
a m i n e . T h e e x a c t p o s i t i o n is n o t known, b u t it is t h o u g h t t o h a v e been b e t w e e n
Sassnitz a n d Trelleborg.