(c) crown copyright Catalogue Reference:cab/66/30/1 Image Reference:0001 T H I S D O C U M E N T I S T H E P R O P E R T Y OF H I S B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y ' S G O V E R N M E N T SECRET. Copy No. W.P. (42) 471 [Alto C.O.S. (42) 430)' October 15, 1942 TO BE K E P T UNDER LOCK AND KEY I t is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document WAR CABINET WEEKLY RESUME (No. 163) of the NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 0700 October 8th, to 0700 October 15th, 1942 [Circulated with the approval of the Chiefs of Staff.] Cabinet War Room. " " 3Q NAYAL SITUATION. General Review. 1. Allied naval and air operations in the Solomons have inflicted serious casualties on the enenry. Our light forces have sunk a heavily escorted ship in the Channel. E-boats have again attacked shipping off our East Coast. Shipping losses have been considerable. A convoy from Canada, and shipping in the South Atlantic, have been heavily attacked by U-boats. Home Waters. 2. On the evening of the 13th a heavily escorted £nemy ship, steaming down Channel, was sighted and reported by a naval aircraft oft' the French coast, 30 miles south-east of Cape Barfleur. Early on the following morning a force of our destroyers and M.T.Bs. intercepted the enemy north of Cap de la Hague. The ship was set on fire, and was subsequently torpedoed and sunk by M.T.B. 236. Two of the escorting torpedo-boats were left sinking. Another force of our destroyers, to the east of Sark, damaged a torpedo­ boat and sank a mine-sweeper. Our forces came under fire from shore batteries but suffered no serious damage. In the course of three attacks by E-boats on a coastal convoy off Cromer on the night of the 13th/14th, H.M. Destroyer Westminster sank one E-boat and damaged two others. West Atlantic. 3. On the 14th H.M. Canadian Armed Yacht Caribou was torpedoed by a U-boat in the Cabot Strait. Mediterranean. 4. On the 14th H.M. Submarine Utmost torpedoed a large tanker off the north-east coast of S a r d i n i a ; it is possible that the ship was subsequently beached. On the same day H.M. Submarine P. 46 sank two ships in the Tyrrhenian Sea. During the week 27,436 tons of French merchant shipping westbound and 2,536 tons eastbound have passed Gibraltar under escort. Pacific. 5. The U.S. 8" Cruisers Quincy, Vincennes and Astoria were sunk while covering the landing of U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal Island on the night of the 8th August. 6. Two Japanese light cruisers and four destroyers were attacked north of New Georgia on the 9th October. One cruiser was seriously damaged, one slightly damaged and three seaplanes were destroyed. On the same day a Japanese heavy cruiser, four destroyers and a 5,000-ton transport were sunk by a U.S. naval force north of Guadalcanal. 7. U.S. submarines operating in Far Eastern waters have sunk one heavy cruiser, one small tanker and one trawler; damaged and probably sunk one cargo ship; and damaged one large and one small tanker. 8. A i r c r a f t are reported to have sunk one enemy destroyer and damaged two cruisers, one seaplane tender, one destroyer and two transports. Details are given in the A i r Situation. Anti-Submarine Operations. 9. Early on the morning of the 15th, H.M. Destroyer Viscount, escorting a homeward-bound convoy, sank a U-boat in the N.W. Approaches. On the 8th H.M. Destroyer A dive made a promising attack off the Cape of Good Hope. Exclusive of ships and aircraft operating from the U.S.A., reports have been received of twelve other attacks by surface craft, one by a submarine and seven by aircraft during the week. Of these, three were carried out in the vicinity of the Cape, two off Freetown, one east and one west of Gibraltar, four in the Bay of Biscay or to the westward, and three south-west of Iceland (C). I n North American waters, two attacks were made in the St. Lawrence River, one in the Bay of Fundy and three in the Caribbean. Enemy Intelligence. German. 10. There is no change in the disposition of the German Fleet. Italian. 11. There has been a slight increase in the number of ships arriving in North Africa from Italy during the week. U-boats. 12. Six or seven U-boats are now operating in the southern p a r t of the South Atlantic, and a similar number are probably on their way to this area. There has been some activity to the westward of Freetown, and a number have been reported in the vicinity of the Cape Verde Islands. There has been a lull off the U.S. seaboard and east of Trinidad, but U-boats have been active in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The majority are at present concentrating on the convoy routes in the North Atlantic. Japanese U-boats have been operating off Ceylon. 13. Reports have been received that the Germans are now operating several modified and new-type U-boats. These include a 1,600-ton class, 500-ton and 750-ton minelavers, 1,000/1,200-ton cruiser U-boats, a n d supply U-boats of between 1.200 and 1,600 tons. Protection of Seaborne Trade. . 14. D u r i n g the week ending 11th/12th, 934 ships have been convoyed. Of these, 184 were in ocean convoys and 750 in British coastal convoys. Two anti-aircraft ships, 48 destroyers (including one U.S. destroyer) and 83 sloops, cutters and corvettes (including four U.S. cutters) were employed on escort duties. D u r i n g the week, 67 ships in three ocean convoys arrived in Home W a t e r s . One ship was sunk. 15. D u r i n g September, 379 ships in 12 ocean convoys arrived in Home "Waters without loss. Twelve ships, three of which were stragglers, were lost in four convoys originally comprising 131 ships. Thirteen outward-bound convoys consisting of 286 ships arrived at their destinations without loss. Three convoys, originally of 84 ships, lost 21, two of which were separated from their convoy. 16. Imports into the United Kingdom by ships in convoy during the week ending 10th October totalled 813.000 tons, compared with 570,000 tons d u r i n g the previous seven days and an average of 700,000 tons for the past ten weeks. Of the week s imports, 225.000 tons were mineral oil of various grades. 5 Enemy Attack on Shipping. 17. D u r i n g the week 25 ships are reported to have been attacked by U-boats, of which 18 are known to have sunk.. These include three transports which were proceeding independently to the United Kingdom with service personnel from the Middle, East. On the 9th, the Oronsay (20,043 tons) was torpedoed south­ westward of Freetown, and, on the 11th, the Duchess of A tholl (20,119 tons) and the Orcades (23,456 tons) were torpedoed and abandoned north-east of Ascension and south-west of Capetown respectively. One thousand survivors were picked up from the Orcades, leaving 27 unaccounted for; 821 were rescued from the Duchess of A tholl, and reports have been received of 16 lifeboats w i t h survivors from the Oronsay. E i g h t ships in ' a homeward-bound convoy were sunk north-east of Newfoundland. A straggler from another homeward-bound convoy and one ship in an outward-bound convoy were torpedoed in the N . W . Approaches. Six ships, five of which were sunk, were torpedoed in the neighbourhood of Capetown and two others were torpedoed south-west of Freetown. A ship was sunk in the St. Lawrence River and another torpedoed in the Cabot Strait. I n the I n d i a n Ocean one ship was torpedoed to the south-west and one to the east of Ceylon. [24494] B Since the 7th October, 15 ships, totalling 108,070 tons, have been torpedoed in the Capetown area. E-boats torpedoed two ships of a coastal convoy off Cromer. A fishing trawler was sunk by mine off the South Devon coast. 18. Shipping losses from enemy action during September, as recorded to date, total 493,000 tons, as compared with 648,073 tons in August and 598.533 tons in "July. Over 88 per cent, of the September losses were due to U-boats, the remainder being caused by aircraft. Except for about 30.000 tons in the Indian Ocean and 74,000 tons lost in a convoy to Russia, the bulk of the losses occurred to the eastward of Trinidad, in the N.W. Approaches, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and in the area north and south of the Equator between Freetown and Ascension Island. Only nine tankers, totalling 85.000 tons, were sunk in September, as compared with 19 in August. 13 in July. 26 in J u n e . 31 in May and 33 in April. British Minelaying. 19. Mines have been laid by light craft off the Flemish coast, and mine­ laying by our aircraft, including naval aircraft, has taken place off the North Sea and Channel coasts and in the Bay of Biscay. Enemy Minelaying. British Minesweeping. 20. A considerable number of mines have been detected off the East Coast, but there has been no definite evidence of enemy minelaying by either aircraft or surface craft during the week. Thirty-eight magnetic and two acoustic mines were destroyed off the Humber. The mine totals to date a r e : Acoustic, 1,327; magnetic, 2,687; moored, 1,749. H.M. Destroyer Bleasdale was damaged by a mine south of Selsey on the 10th. Enemy Merchant Shipping. 21. Six enemy ships have left ports in the Bay of Biscay bound for the F a r East, where they intend to load cargoes of fats and rubber. E i g h t German ships, at least one of which has reached the South Atlantic. ai'e to attempt to run the blockade from Japanese ports to German or German-controlled ports. 22. According to a recent estimate, about 1,096,000 tons of shipping in the Mediterranean were available to the enemy at the end of August. This total includes ships captured from the Allies, but. excludes tanker tonnage and also about 54,000 tons of shipping in the Black Sea, which is entirely employed in trade between Roumania and occupied Russia. This estimated tonnage is used for military and commercial operations and provides for shipping under repair. I t is calculated that about 65,000 tons of available merchant shipping would be permanently laid up for repairs owing to damage caused by marine risks. The loss and damage through Allied action would, it is estimated, permanently immobilise a further 200,000 tons if the rate of sinkings and construction remains constant. The total, therefore, of tonnage available to the enemy is thus reduced to 831,000 tons, and this must be fully employed in maintaining present supply routes. There are military supplies to be carried to Libya, the Piraeus, and the Dodecanese, industrial and commercial cargoes for transit between Turkey, Greece and Italy, and the I t a l i a n coast trade, which includes journeys to ports in Sardinia and Sicily. 23. I t is reported from Massawa that the German s.s. Frmienfels tons) was taken in prize on the 14th. (7,487 Yichy French Shipping. 24. I t has been reliably reported that 35 Allied ships, totalling 118.190 tons, now interned in French ports, are about to be transferred to the Axis Powers. Of this tonnage. Italy is to receive 22 ships of 56,778 tons and Germany 13 ships of 61,412 tons. The ships are to be manned by Axis crews with a certain number of Vichy French volunteers, but no information has been received regarding the actual dates of sailing. Russian Intelligence. 25. I t is estimated that Archangel will be free of ice and open to traffic until the 20th November. The Russian patrol vessel Muscolonn was sunk off the coast of Nova Zembla on the 11th. Aircraft and U-boat mining is suspected in this area. It is believed t h a t four or five Russian submarines are operating in the Baltic. The total Russian submarine strength in the Black Sea is 43, which includes six refitting and one completing. MILITARY SITUATION. The Russo-German Campaign. Northern and Central Sectors. 26. Local Russian successes gained in September in the Leningrad area and south of Lake Ilmen appear now to have been largely nullified by German counter-measures. The Russians appear to have had no recent success in the Rzhev area, though the position is obscure. They have been making determined efforts to gain the town, and street fighting doubtless continues. Stalingrad Sector. 27. Russian attacks against the German northern flank between the Rivers Don and Volga continue to hamper the Germans in their efforts to take Stalingrad. I n the city itself street fighting has been on a reduced scale and German progress has been negligible. Caucasus Sector. 28. The Germans have been fanning out in the area between the Rivers K u m a and Terek, but have met with resistance some 50 miles north-west of Kizlyar. The Russians have given ground slightly south-south-east of Mozdok and a further German advance has been made u p the eastern bank of the upper Terek river. The Germans have made only slow progress in their attack towards Tuapse from the north-east, being now some 20 miles from the port. Summary. 29. The lateness of the season and the continued Russian resistance a t Stalingrad have now rendered an attack against Leningrad this year improbable. If Stalingrad falls, the Germans seem likely to content themselves w i t h extending their occupation of northern Caucasia and, possibly, attempting to reach the south Caucasus. W i n t e r conditions, however, are at hand in the higher Caucasus mountains and passage to the south by land can now be attempted only via the narrow coastal route which runs through Makhach Kala along the shores of the Caspian Sea. Egypt. 30. P a t r o l activity during the week has continued, and a p a r t from one r a i d on the night of the 5 t h / 6 t h , when we succeeded in occupying temporarily a n enemy strong point in the Ruweisat Ridge area, there is nothing of importance to report. The 16 Pistoia (motorised) division and a group of I t a l i a n p a r a c h u t e battalions known as the Folgore Division, at present acting as infantry, have recently been identified in North Africa. Madagascar. 31. Our land forces have continued their advance south of Antsirabe in the direction of Ambositra. By the evening of the 13th stiff opposition by the Vichy French in prepared positions 4 miles north of Ambositra had been over­ come, and we captured 170 prisoners (including 50 Europeans). On the following morning our leading elements occupied the town. The situation is quiet. [24494] B 2 Far East. South-West Pacific. 32. Between the 25th September and the 8th October the Australian troops in Portuguese Timor were reinforced, bringing the total to 610. There are also 185 Dutch troops operating in this area. I n New Guinea Australian patrols have had successful encounters with Japanese patrols 10 miles south of Kokoda. South Pacific. 33. The U.S. forces on Guadalcanal Island, in the Solomons Group, have extended their positions westward on the north shore. The Japanese have been landing small parties by night on the north-west tip of the island from destroyers. The successful naval action on the 9th, however, seriously interfered with these operations. Intelligence. German Forces. 34. The estimated total of German divisions has now been raised to 298 by the identification of two additional training divisions in Germany. The distribution of divisions remains otherwise unchanged. Japanese Forces. 35. Japan.—The number of divisions in J a p a n which was up till very recently believed to be 15 is now thought to be six. Seven divisions are unlocated. 36. Burma.—There is evidence that some of the Japanese troops now taking p a r t in the operations in the South-West Pacific were withdrawn from Burma at the end of the Burma campaign, but this does not necessarily mean that there is any reduction in the total Japanese strength in Burma, which may have been reinforced by other troops from Malaya. Siam, Indo-China or even Japan. 37. China.-—An increase of two Japanese divisions in north and central China is thought to be due to the increase in the number of confirmed identifica­ tions. I t is most unlikely that there is any growth in the total numerical strength of the Japanese forces in China. On the contrary, it is known that some of the divisions, particularly in Shansi, are below strength and all evidence goes to show that the Japanese are withdrawing some of their more experienced and seasoned troops from China for use elsewhere. 38. New Britain-Solomons-New Guinea area.—One division commanded by Lieut.-General Horii Tomataro is known to be in this area; there are also two other divisions, one of which probably came from the Philippines, and a brigade from a division located in Burma commanded by Major-General Kawaguchi Seiken. I n addition there are a number of marine landing parties, making the total Japanese strength in this area equivalent to at least four divisions. AIR SITUATION. General Review. 39. A strong force of U.S. day-bombers attacked targets at Lille. A t night, a heavy and concentrated raid was carried out on Kiel. Large-scale enemy attacks were resumed against M a l t a ; Spitfires inflicted heavy casualties on the raiders. Intensive operations were maintained against Japanese shipping and aerodromes in the Pacific Zone. United Kingdom. 40. Fighter Command flew 1,108 sorties by day (including four by U.S. aircraft) and 274 by night. By day a slight increase in enemy offensive operations was evident; this activity was, however', almost entirely limited to attacks on south and south-east coastal objectives, by groups of two or four fighters at a time. The only night attack against this country was carried out on the Tyneside by eight bombers. Germany and Occupied Territory. Day. 41. Aircraft of Fighter and Army Co-operation Commands flew a total of 797 offensive sorties, and Bomber Command flew 14; these compare with 310 and 14 sorties respectively during the previous week. I n addition, 115 U S . Bomber sorties and 79 U.S. Fighter sorties were flown; last week's totals being 73 and 97 respectively. The principal operation was a high-level raid directed against the FivesLille Steel and Engineering Works and the Ateliers d'Hellemmes, (Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works). About 150 tons of bombs were released d u r i n g the attack, which was made in good weather. A n assessment of damage appears in Appendix V I I . The bomber force employed against these targets and in diversions over Cayeux and St. Omer comprised 88 U.S. Fortresses and 27 U.S. Liberators. Their gun-crews accounted for 48 enemy aircraft shot down and many others damaged. Twenty-nine Squadrons of R.A.F. Spitfires and one of Defiants, together with three Squadrons of U.S. Spitfires and three of U.S. Lightnings provided cover and support and made diversionary sweeps, during which they succeeded in destroying five enemy aircraft for the loss of one Spitfire. Three U.S. bombers did not return and another crashed (crew safe). Sixteen Squadrons of Spitfires and one of Typhoons swept the D u n k i r k Le Treport area and damaged four intercepting enemy fighters. Three Spitfires are missing. Mosquitos, three of which were lost, dropped bombs at Hanover, Sluiskil. Limburg, Koblenz, Sieburg a n d on other targets in Germany. Mustangs of Army Co-operation Command made low-level attacks on railway and military objectives in occupied territory. The Photographic Reconnaissance U n i t made 51 sorties and a further 28 photographic sorties were flown by aircraft of Army Co-operation Command. Night. 42. Bomber Command despatched 347 sorties against land targets compared with 812 last week. About 265 tons of H . E . bombs (including 90 x 4000-lbs.) and 410 tons of LBs. (including 9 x 4000-lbs.) were dropped d u r i n g the week. The naval base at Kiel was attacked by 233 aircraft. A total of 540 tons of bombs was released in an effective and concentrated raid in good visibility assisted by flares accurately placed by the Pathfinder force, which consisted of 28 aircraft. Numerous large fires in the dock area and town were reported to be well established before the last of our bombers'left the target. E i g h t aircraft are missing. Wismar and the adjacent Dornier factory were the objectives for the only other raid during the period. A total of 44 aircraft, two of which are missing, dropped approximately 100 tons of bombs. The aiming point was difficult to locate owing to low cloud but one crew reported a large fire in, or close to. the factory and other scattered fires were seen in the target area. I n t r u d e r operations over enemy aerodromes were carried out by 14 aircraft but no claims were made. Coastal Operations. 43. Coastal Command despatched 561 sorties, of which 263 were on anti­ U-boat operations, 44 on mine-laying and 16 on convoy escorts. Bomber Command despatched 37 aircraft on patrols in the Bay of Biscay area. (Results of anti­ U-boat operations are summarised under " Naval Situation.") Fighter Command flew 610 shipping-protection patrols and 58 offensive sorties against shipping, the latter including Naval Albacores. A total of 26 U.S. aircraft operated against shipping. A n escorted tanker north of Cape Finisterre was probably damaged after an attack by Whitleys. Spitfires damaged an R-boat off Dunkirk. Other attacks on enemy shipping resulted in near misses and some were carried "out under conditions which precluded observation of results. Three of our aircraft failed' to return from longe-range anti-U-boat patrols and two crashed (crews safe). Beaufighters destroyed two J u . 88s and a flying boat and damaged a third J u . 88 and a F. W. 200. Two hundred and fifty-four aircraft of Bomber Command laid 555 sea-mines and 42 more were laid by naval aircraft operating under Coastal Command. Seven aircraft, including two naval aircraft, are missing from these operations and one crashed. s Mediterranean. Egypt and Libya. 44. Allied aircraft flew 1,617 sorties compared with 1,078 in the previous week. Weather conditions were not generally favourable for air operations. Photographic reconnaissance revealed that many enemy aircraft were grounded on the waterlogged forward landing grounds in the El Daba area. On the 9th, light bombers "(including some U.S. Mitchells) and fighter bombers, with strong fighter escorts, attacked these landing grounds throughout the day. Ten enemy aircraft were destroyed and at least 18 others severely damaged on the ground; in addition one tank, two dumps and a number of M.T. vehicles were destroyed. In combat ten enemy aircraft were shot down, five were probably destroyed and six damaged. Our losses were 15 fighters and one bomber; nine of these were p a r t of a formation of Hurricanes which was carrying out a low­ flying attack. The operation was continued at night by 47 Wellingtons, which, with the aid of flares dropped by naval Albacores, attacked F u k a landing ground. A number of fires were started, four aircraft on the ground were-seen to be destroyed and some dumps were blown up. A combined attack by Beauforts a n d Bisleys was made on a t r a i n carrying explosives and big guns south of Sidi B a r r a n i ; the train was blown off the line and completely wrecked. Another attack on a train near Capuzzo resulted in direct hits on four* trucks and some near misses. Beaufighters destroyed twelve railway trucks, and attacked a schooner which was left emitting smoke. Offensive sorties were flown by fighters over the forward areas but the number of combats was limited. One formation of 12 J u . 87s, escorted by 20 Me. 109s, was intercepted by British and TJ.S. fighters. Two J u . 87s and 2 Me. 109s were shot down, two J u . 87s were probably destroyed and five other enemy aircraft were damaged; one U.S. W a r h a w k is missing. Fighters also attacked enemy motor vehicles along the coastal roads and behind the battle area. H i t s were obtained on two tanks and on a number of petrol tankers and M.T. U.S. bombers made two daylight attacks on Benghazi and two on Tobruk. A t the latter a possible hit and many near misses were made on two large ships. Tobruk was also bombed by Wellingtons and Halifaxes on three nights; one small ship was hit and some very large fires were started in the dumps area. Small numbers of enemy fighter-bombers were active in the battle area against A.A. positions, artillery, M.T. and troops. For two hours on the 10th enemy aircraft bombed defended localities held by their own troops. A single enemy aircraft attacked our landing ground at Kufra, destroying one aircraft and damaging two others. Malta. 45. Since the beginning of the war fighters and A.A. guns at Malta have destroyed over 1,010 enemy aircraft. I n the week ending the 12th October our aircraft flew 455 sorties compared with 282 in the previous week. On the 11th, long-range bombers operating from Sicily, probably reinforced by units transferred from Crete, resumed operations against Malta on a large scale. Enemy daylight sorties from the 11th to 14th inclusive were 186 bombers and 734 fighters; our Spitfires flew 475 sorties. Enemy attacks were carried out u p to six times each day by formations of approximately eight to ten bombers escorted by 40 to 50 fighters. The objective was our aerodromes, but the raids were intercepted well north of the Island, and although some aircraft made landfall, the bombing was erratic and ineffective. Our Spitfires, although outnumbered were most successful in combating the enemy and breaking up his formations. I n four days' fighting 80 enemy aircraft were destroyed, 34 probably destroyed and 100 damaged; only 16 Spitfires a r e missing, but nine pilots were saved. A t night attacks were carried out by a small number of bombers, four of which were destroyed by Beaufighters. Sea Communications. 46. On the 7t'h U.S. Liberators obtained several direct hits on ships at Suda Bay. On the 9th a southbound convoy of two ships and four destroyers was attacked south-west of Crete and an explosion was observed on one ship. g Wellingtons again attacked the convoy north of Bomba and hit a destroyer. A ship was seen to sink, but no hit on it was claimed by the Wellingtons. Two out of three Beaufighters were shot down in an attack on a ship of 2,000 tons and a destroyer oft' Horns; the results of bombing were not observed, but the ship was raked with cannon and machine-gun fire. A naval Albacore torpedoed a southbound ship of 7,000 tons East of Horns. Russian Front. 47. The Russians claim that in the week ending the 10th October the Germans lost 123 aircraft against 78 of their own. A t Stalingrad German close support of ground attacks north-west of the city practically ceased, and attacks on Russian supply routes were less frequent. There has been a n increase in the German air activity in the Caucasus area. Considerable damage was reported to have been caused at the oil refinery town of Grozni. Bombing attacks have been made on the harbour and town of Tuapse and in support of the advanced ground troops. The Russians claim to have sunk transports, barges and motor-torpedo boats in German occupied ports in the Black Sea, and attacks were again made on Novorossisk. Considerable air activity is reported in the Lake Ilmen area. Madagascar. 48. On the 7th, Vichy aircraft were bombed and machine-gunned on the landing ground at Ihosy; two were destroyed and two were damaged. India, Burma and Ceylon. 49. Blenheims successfully bombed Pakkoku Aerodrome (60 miles N.W. of Meiktila), railway sidings at Y w a t a u n g (10 miles S.W. of Mandalay), barracks at Kalewa a n d road traffic near Gangaw (50 miles S. of Kalewa). A Hudson bombed a 2,000-ton armed ship 132 miles S.E. of Akyab, obtaining one hit amidships. Catalinas are maintaining anti-U-boat patrols on the shipping route off the coast of Ceylon. One enemy aircraft reconnoitred Fenny (45 miles N.W. of Cox's Bazar) and two flew over the Calcutta area. Pacific Zone. 50. Allied, aircraft maintained intensive operations against Japanese shipping and aerodromes. I n the Solomons area, carrier-based aircraft damaged a heavy enemy cruiser, a transport and seaplane-tender south of Bougainville Island. D u r i n g the landing of Japanese troops at Guadalcanal Island (vide Military Situation, p a r a g r a p h 33), U.S. dive-bombers sank a destroyer and damaged a 7,000-ton cruiser and a destroyer. Four 4-engined flying-boats were destroyed a t Faisi and two bombers were shot down in the Shortland Islands area. A 10,000-ton transport, 100 miles East of Jacquinot Bay (S.E. New Britain), with 12 fighter aircraft aboard, was left stationary and on fire after being hit twice by bombs from a Hudson. Rabaul was raided three times by a total of 77 heavy bombers; fuel dumps, jetties, runways and a military camp were hit and many fierce fires were left burning. Allied aircraft also attacked the aerodromes at L a k u n a i and V u n a k a n a u ; bombs fell among dispersed aircraft and on runways. Twenty­ three bombers raided Lae Aerodrome, where an ammunition dump was demolished. The aerodromes at Buna (New Guinea) and Buka (Solomon Islands) were each subjected to two r a i d s ; large fires resulted. Military objectives along the K o k a d a / W a i r o p i track were also successfully bombed. On the 11th, 35 enemy bombers and 30 fighters attacked Guadalcanal; Allied fighters shot down eight bombers and four fighters for the loss of two U S . fighters. Japanese air reinforcements, consisting almost entirely of fighters which were ferried from J a p a n in converted aircraft-carriers, have arrived in the Bismarck Archipelago-Solomons area, raising the strength from 175 to 260 aircraft. I n New Guinea, where enemy air strength has been declining for some time, the small remaining balance has now been withdrawn, presumably to the Bismarck-Solomons area. Local Allied superiority, based on P o r t Moresby, and steady wastage in the Solomons appear to have compelled this withdrawal. China. 51. On the 8th, 25 enemy bombers carried out the biggest air attack of recent months on the important railway town of Loyang, Western H o n a n ; considerable damage was caused. Aleutian Islands. 52. U.S. aircraft continued their attacks on Kiska Island. On the 6th, a cargo ship in the harbour was left on fire and sinking, the wireless station was damaged and a seaplane was destroyed and another damaged on the water. HOME SECURITY SITUATION. General. 53. Small numbers of bombs were dropped on the South or South-East Coasts on six days of the week. On one night, the 11th/12th, bombs were dropped around the mouth of the Tyne. Railway shops and locomotives were damaged at Brighton (12th). The South Shields Gas Works were extensively damaged, but the gas supply was not" affected (11th/12th). Casualties. 54. The estimated civilian casualties for the week ending 0600 hours the 14th October are 32 killed and 83 seriously injured. APPENDIX I. Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages lest by enemy action during the month of September 1942. Table I. The following table shows the division of losses into cause and nationality :— Submarine, i Mine. Surface Craft. Aircraft. Flag. British AlliedBelgian... No. Gross Tons. 41 233,065 1 No. Gross Tons. No. Gross Tons. No. Gross Tons. Other C a u s e s and C a u s e Unknown. No. Gross Tons. Total. No. Gross Tons. 43 246,318 4,241 1 4,241 2 i 13,253 Dutch ... 3 17,517 3 17,517 Greek ... 4 17,411 4 17,411 Norwegian 6 23,571 6 23,571 Panamanian 5 21,010 3 i 11,291 8 32,301 13 83,201 27,966 18 111,167 6 21,389 3,124 38 188,340 9 I 42,381 United S t a t e s Other Allies Total of Allied l o s s e s Neutral countries Total 16,442 86 [24494] 437,847 24,513 47 108 11 55,634 108 c 230,721 16,550 98 493,589 Table II. The following table shows the division of losses into cause and a r e a : — Surface Craft. Mine. Submarine. Other C a u s e s and Cause Unknown. Aircraft. Area. Atlantic— North ... South ... Indian Ocean vj * Gross Tons. Gross Tons. Gross Tons. Grost Tone. No. Gross Tons. . 71 350,790 j 4 36,597 36,597 I 6 30,052 30,052 w o Gross Tons. Total. Xo. No. No. No. 965 351,755 Pacific Areas 108 666 Mediterranean 774 U n i t e d K i n g d o m Coastal W a t e r s ... Elsewhere (including North Sea and B a r e n t s Sea) ... ... Total , 86 19,742 54,669 10 437,847 11 ; 55,634 108 13 74,411 98 493,589 Table III. The following table shows the losses inflicted on Ocean, Coastal and Western Atlantic and Caribbean Convoys arriving at their destination during September 1942 : Number i Co"n. voyed. Convoys. Ocean 883 Number Lost. Sub­ marine. 18 U n i t e d K i n g d o m Coastal 3,362 W e s t e r n A t l a n t i c and Caribbean 2,325 13 6,570 31 Aircraft. 10 Percentage Lost. Total. Sub­ marine. Aircraft. Total. 2-0 1-2 3-2 28 13 10 41 This table refers to l o s s e s while in E s c o r t e d Convoy. 13 11 . A P P E N D I X II. Total Losses by Enemy Action and Marine Causes of Merchant Ships outside Enemy Control, including Tankers, but excluding Merchant Ships commissioned for Naval Service and Fleet Auxiliaries. (Including vessels of all t o n n a g e s for losses by enemy action and vessels of 100 gross t o n s and over for losses by marine causes.) A.—Losses from all Causes. ( I n T h o u s a n d Gross T o n s . ) British. Total. Allied. Neutral. Period. Period . No. Gr.Tons. Gr. T o n s . No. No. Gr. T o n s . 1 No. Gr. T o n s . ! 1939September-November (3 m o n t h s ) Decembe Decemberr 1 9 3 9 - F e b r u a r y 1940 194 0 (3 m o n t h s ) 1940March-May (3 m o n t h s ) June-August (3 m o n t h s ) September-November (3 m o n t h s ) December Decembe r 1 9 4 0 - F e b r u a r y 1941 194 1 (3 m o n t h s ) 1941March-May (3 m o n t h s ) June-August (3 m o n t h s ) September-November (3 m o n t h s ) TotalsSeptember 1939-November 1941 194 1 (27 (2 7 months) 203 656 110 369 15 82 78 205 338 905 129 419 12 38 197 448 23S 635 110 256 32 156 96 223 371 1,416 202 851 70 296 99 269 367 1,400 253 1,032 62 232 52 136 351 1,299 234 S90 74 328 43 81 462 1,773 282 1,131 131 508 49 134 248 759 152 501 51 201 45 57 250 757 159 532 41 136 50 89 709 1,642 ! 2,828 9,600 1,631 i 5,981 488 1,977 j l (In T h o u s a n d Gross Tons.) Total. B r i t i s h Control. A m e r i c a n Control. Others. Period. Period . No. 1941' December 1 Gr. Tons. No. Gr. Tons. No. Gr. T o n s . No. Gr. T o n s . - ... .. . 175 467 1942January February 1 Marc h ' Apri Aprill May June... July August S e p t e m b e r .. .... 141 133 230 138 160 179 141 125 118 532 647 848 696 738 842 667 663 535 1,540 6,635 Totals: December 1 9 4 1 S e p t e m b e r 194 1942 2 140 348 94 sn\ 118" 85 92 84 69 91 69 925 1 24 92 11 27 366 415 463 430 427 396 334 518 330 29 37 49 46 62 81 55 23 36 123 186 229 247 295 401 288 122 173 18 13 63 7 6 14 17 11 13 43 46 156 19 16 45 45 23 82 4,027 442 2,156 173 452 N O T E . — T h e classification a c c o r d i n g t o Control from D e c e m b e r 1941 i n c l u s i v e is under consideration w i t h the United S t a t e s , and the a b o v e provisional classification is therefore s u b j e c t to any s u b s e q u e n t a d j u s t m e n t s which m a y be n e c e s s a r y after B r i t i s h and U n i t e d S t a t e s a g r e e m e n t is r e a c h e d . [24494] B.—Losses analysed by cause. ( I a T h o u s a n d Gross Tons.) 1 Period Period.. Total.. Total Total. SubMine. marine. 1 1939­ S e p t e m b e r - N o v e m b e r ... (3 m o n t h s ) December 1939-Februarv 1940 (3 m o n t h s ) Marine Risk. E n e m y Action. SurAirface craft. craft. ! 1 1 Other Causes or Cause Un­ known. Total 3 109 6 103 Overdue, Other preCauses, sumed t lost.* , 656 547 349 160 35 905 622 317 229 22 29 25 283 37 246 489 126 105 12 162 84 146 16 130 1,416 1,328 736 1a. G O 205 218 36 88 28 60 1,400 1,263 787 86 245 131 14 137 16 121 1,299 1,055 512 101 245 180 17 244 45 199 1,773 1,672 809 72 219 538 34 101 15 86 759 672 469 25 48 99 31 87 16 71 757 594 424 30 36 99 5 163 32 131 467 417 111 64 6 36 200 50 11 39 532 411. 315 10 3 35 48 121 15 106 647 592 434 7 1 110 40 55 17 38 848 782 530 17 6 40 189 66 27 39 Apri Aprill 696 642 426 15 91 85 25 54 22 32 May 738 709 616 19 15 59 29 4 25 June 842 783 682 22 25 - 49 5 59 23 36 July 667 598 454 9 48 74 13 69 3 66 August 663 649 541 i 47 61 14 September 535 493 438 i I 55 42 7 35 16,235 14,318 9,076 1,917 340 1,577 1940­ March-May (3 m o n t h s ) June-August (3 m o n t h s ) S e p t e m b e r - N o v e m b e r ... (3 m o n t h s ) December 1940-February 1941 (3 m o n t h s ) 1941­ March-May (3 m o n t h s ) June-August ... (3 m o n t h s ) September-November (3 m o n t h s ) December... 1942January February ... March Marc h .. .... .. .... ... 635 ' 1,104 1,309 2,060 769 * S o m e of t h e s e l o s s e s m a y e v e n t u a l l y be held to be due t o e n e m y action, f I n c l u d i n g l o s s e s due to v e s s e l s running on B r i t i s h or Allied m i n e s . 14 A P P E N D I X III. Appendix III (1) will be inserted in a subsequent Resume. (2) Merchant Ships (100 gross tons and over) under construction in the United Kingdom as at September 30, 1942. Others. Tankers. i No. C o a s t i n g ship shipss an and d collier collierss Othe Otherr s h i p pss Total Tota l .. .... Gross t o n s . 7 No. 33 4,000 272,000 17 179* 40 276,000 196 Gross tons. 21,000 987,000 1,008,000 * I n c l u d i n g 12 s h i p s (6,000 gross tons) of M e r c h a n t t y p e i n t e n d e d for N a v a l u s e . I n addition the following merchant ships have been ordered in the United K i n g d o m and the United States :— Tankers. No. United Kingdom U n i t e d S t a t e s .. .... Tota Totall Others. Gross t o n s . No. Gross t o n s . IS 105,000 91f 388,000 36,000 18 105,000 96 424,000 f I n c l u d i n g 5 v e s s e l s (3,000 gross t o n s ) building for the N a v y . I A l l t h e s e v e s s e l s under c o n s t r u c t i o n . APPENDIX IY. Enemy Merchant Ship Losses. No alterations to figures furnished in last week's APPENDIX Resume. Y. Casualties to H.M. Auxiliary Yessels and to Naval Personnel. The following casualties to naval personnel have been reported : - - Officers : 52 killed; 2 wounded; 4 missing; 1 prisoner of war. R a t i n g s : 28 killed; 8 wounded; 15 missing. A P P E N D I X YI. Provisional operational aircraft battle casualties for the period: dawn, Thursday, 8th October, 1942, to dawn, Thursday, 15th October, 1942. Metropolitan Area. British and Allied. In the On the Air. Ground. 19 5 6 B o m b e r s ... Fighters ... Coastal ... A r m y Co-operation Nil 30 Total Enemy, Probably Destroyed. Destroyed. Total Damaged. 1 9 1 4 1 3 6 1 Bombers i Fighters ... Miscellaneous 11 10 Middle East (including Malta). British and Allied. In the Bombers Fighters Others Total 2 crews and 11 pilots are safe. Enemy. Air. 7 36* 1 1 2 45 3 Probably Destroyedi 42 62f 1 Total Ground. * I n c l u d e s 1 U . S . P.40. Destroyed. Bombers -Fighters L. Miscellaneous On the Damaged. 21 24f 105 52 67f 45 119 Of t h e above t o t a l s 1 was d a m a g e d by A.A. f I n c l u d e s U . S . c l a i m s : 4 destroyed, 1 probably destroyed and 4 d a m a g e d . Far East. British and Allied. Bombers Fighters Others ... In the Air On'thb Ground. Total Nil" Enemy. Probably j Destroyed. Destroyed. B o m b e r s ... Fighters Miscellaneous rr* Total Trr-IT" R " : Damaged-^ - 121 4 3 27,-....- 3 Nil % I n c l u d e s 6 destroyed in A l e u t i a n s . N O T E S . — ( a ) - N o a c c o u n t is t a k e n of e n e m y aircraft d e s t r o y e d on t h e ground in any theatre. (b) N o a c c o u n t is taken of British Naval aircraft c a s u a l t i e s . APPENDIX YII. Air Attacks on Enemy Territory in Europe. Extracts from Recent Raid Assessment Reports. The following reports have been received during the week :— Germany. Munich. I t is reported that the last attack caused considerable destruction in Schleisshelmerstrasse. where the B.M.W. Works (Aero Engines) as well as some railway shops, which mount heavy calibre guns, suffered damage. A-bomb which fell in the Marien Platz, which is in the centre of the city and fronted on one side by the Town Hall, has resulted in this square being closed to the public for five weeks. The Munich press of 21st September announces t h a t all inhabitants will be given an extra ration of 62-5 gr. of cheese during the period 22nd September till 3rd October. I t also announced on 22nd September t h a t in order to place all P a r t y , State, Municipal and Wehrmacht authorities at the disposal of the victims of the R A P . attack, Gauleiter P a u l Giesler has ordained that the proposed P a r t y Day in Munich and all its meetings should be cancelled. The Miinchner Neueste Nachrichten of 24th September contains a decree by the Mayor of Munich that in order to secure substitute accommodation for air raid victims, all rooms suitable for letting must be registered with the Housing Office within 24 hours from the time they become vacant. Such lodgings are only to be let to air raid victims who possess a certificate from the Munich Housing Administration entitling them to new quarters at a certain address. Krefeld. The attack on 2nd October caused much damage in the Rhine Harbour area. Considerable numbers of barges, tugs, rolling-stock and fuel tanks were destroyed. Hamburg. As a result of fire damage caused by one of our attacks, the Fenchel Glycerine factory was out of action for three months. Karlsruhe. As a result of the large fires started in the coke storage depots during the last attack, which it took several days of strenuous effort to put out, 900 tons of coke were destroyed. I n the end, the glowing coal a n d coke were thrown into the Rhine for fear of causing new fires. General. I n a circular issued by the Reich Price Commissioner on 4th September, i t is stated t h a t all workers engaged on the repair of damage caused through air attacks are to have their hourly rates of pay increased by between 52 per cent, and 65 per cent. These increases are not to apply to any other work paid by the hour. Occupied France. Lille. , A s a result of the attack on the 9th October by U.S. aircraft, photographs show the following principal points of damage :— (i) The Cie de- Fives-Lille Steel Works has suffered considerable damage to its largest buildings. The northern half of the main building (possibly the Assembly Shop, 180 by 360 yards) has been severely damaged by H . E . and.about fths of the total roof area of this half has been destroyed. Much debris is visible beneath. The southern half of this building has also received blast damage to the roof. There is considerable roof damage to a large multi-bay building (possibly the rolling mill). (ii) The Cratry J u t e Spinning Mills. L a Cottoniere d'Hellemmes Cotton Spinning Mills, Crespel Cotton Spinning Mills and two other industrial buildings have all received direct hits. (iii) There are eight or more hits on railway lines in the vicinity. (iv) A flak position in the area has suffered 5 or 6 hits, causing damage to several of the emplacements. Lille District. Photographs taken on the 11th October show some hitherto undiscovered damage resulting from attacks in J u l y and September :— (a) Pont de Marq.—North of the railway yards, eight tanks in an oil storage depot have been destroyed and one or two sheds damaged. Further east a small factory has been three-quarters demolished and another severely damaged. (b) Lomme.—Three factory buildings have been, destroyed by fire or H . E . and there is a considerable amount of roof damage to other two. LOSSES shown In Quarterly Periods of BRITISH, & FOREIGN ( b l a c k ) MERCHANT SHIPPIM FORMS of ENEMY ACTION. MontfityTonnaoes of Broken Feriodshown separately for purposes of comparison A VERAGE MONTHLY by DIFFERENT NOTE:- SEPT­ NOV'39 Naval RED) INCLUDES VESSELS OF ALL TONNAGES-BUT DEC'39 FEB'40 Intelligence MAR­ MA/40 JUNE AUG'40 Division SEPT­ N0V4O OEC'40 FEB'4I MAR MAY-41 EXCLUDES JUNE AUG'4\ COMMISSIONED SHIPS. SEPT­ N0V.4I DEC4I FEB42 MAR MAY-42 JUNE AUC'42 ITALIAN LOSSES ARE INCLUDED UP TO JUNE 10 th, 1940. S£PT 7942 This graph is based on information received in the Admiralty up to Noon Cct 7l h 1^2 ^