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T H I S DOCUMENT IS T H E P R O P E R T Y OF H I S BRITANNIC M A J E S T V S GOVERNMENT
SECRET.
Copy No.
W . P . (41) 3 1
(Also Paper No. O.O.S. (41) 98)
February
/
13, 1941
TO
BE
KEPT
UNDER
LOCKf
AND
KEY.
It is requested that special caW Jiay be taken to
ensure the secrecy of thii^document.
WAR CABINET
WEEKLY
RESUME
(No. 76) of the NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 12 noon February 6th, to 12 noon February 13th, 1941 [Circulated with the approval of
the Chiefs of Staff.]
Cabinet War Room
28
N A V A L SITUATION. General Review.
Heavy ships have carried out a successful bombardment of Genoa. Ostend
was also bombarded by a 15-inch monitor.
Shipping between the Azores and Cape St. Vincent has been attacked by
Focke-Wulfe aircraft and by a surface raider. Losses reported during the week
show a decrease.
The Suez Canal has been reopened.
Home Waters.
2. A t noon on the 8th February H.M.S. Ramillies, escorting an eastbound
convoy from Halifax, sighted the mast and top of a warship, possibly of the
H i p p e r Class, 900 miles west of Ireland and steering N.N.E.
Extensive
dispositions were made to intercept her, but she was not again sighted.
H.M.S. Neptune was attacked by a Dornier aircraft on 9th whilst off the
Thames Approaches. She received slight damage from a near-miss bomb and
from machine-gun fire, but suffered no casualties and severely damaged the
aircraft.
H.M. Submarine Sealion attacked two enemy merchant ships in the vicinity
of Stadlandet on the 1st February and one hit was possibly made. On the 5th
she attacked a Norwegian merchant ship and hit with one torpedo. After
evacuating the passengers and crew she set the ship on fire with gunfire.
H.M. Monitor Erebus escorted by three destroyers and assisted by spotting
aircraft, carried out a bombardment of the Ostend dock area during the night
10th/11th. Shells were seen to burst in the target area and in the new pens and
several fires were started. The bombardment was preceded by a bombing attack
by six aircraft. No enemy action was encountered during this operation.
H.M. Drifter Eager destroyed a German J u . 88 which attacked her in the
Thames'Estuary on 12th.
North Atlantic.
3. H.M. Armed Merchant Cruiser Letitia
in the Halifax Approach on the 7th February.
and towed to Halifax.
ran aground in thick weather
She was subsequently refloated
Mediterranean.
4. A force composed of H.M. Ships Renown, Malaya, Ark Royal, Sheffield
and destroyers carried out a successful bombardment of Genoa at dawn on the
9th February. Fire was opened at 0714 and continued till 0744, during which
period 337 rounds of 15-inch and over 1,000 rounds of lighter calibre were fired.
Large fires were observed in Ansaldo electric and boiler works, the main power
station, the dry docks and round the inner harbour; hits were also observed on
oil cisterns, marshalling yards and merchant ships. The only enemy opposition
encountered was ineffective fire from about two 6-inch guns and slight
anti-aircraft fire against spotting aircraft. A t the same time Fleet Air Arm
aircraft from Ark Royal laid mines in Spezia harbour and bombed Leghorn and
P i s a aerodrome and railway junction. Two enemy aircraft were shot down and
one Swordfish is missing. During the withdrawal the force was attacked by two
enemy bombers which dropped four bombs, the nearest of which fell 1,500 yards
from the nearest ship. The visibility decreased towards noon a n d the force was
not again located. There was no damage to any of our ships, which returned to
Gibraltar without further incident.
5. A south-east bound convoy of three merchant vessels escorted by two
torpedo boats was unsuccessfully attacked bv H.M. Submarine Ursula 50 miles
N.E. of Sfax P.M. on the 8th.
Anti-Submarine Operations.
6. Five attacks were made on U-Boats, of which two were by surface craft
and three by aircraft.
One of the latter, carried out in the North-West
Approaches southward of Rockail, was possibly successful, but there was no visible
result in the case of the remainder.
Enemy Intelligence.
German.
7. The battleship Bismarck was reported at Gdynia on the 6th February.
Previous mention has been made in this report of the sighting of the mast
and top of a warship, possibly of a Hipper Class, in the North Atlantic on
the 8th, and probably a Hipper Class cruiser attacked a convoy westward of
Cape St. Vincent on the 12th. I n addition, a report was made by aircraft on
the 9th of a heavy ship described as a Hipper Class cruiser escorted by three
destroyers south of the Lister Light steering into the Kattegat.
There has been considerable destroyer activity off the Norwegian Coast during
the week.
Italian.
8. The battleship Giulio Cesare was not at Genoa at the time of the
bombardment on the 9th, and she has not yet been located.
Submarines.
The position has been obscure owing to the small scale of activity, but it is
estimated that five or six German submarines and two I t a l i a n have operated in
the North-West Approaches and one German in the Azores area.
Ice Conditions.
Baltic Sea.
9. Stockholm is being kept open with difficulty. German ports, with the
exception of Memel and Danzig, are closed. Fehmarn and Cadet Channels are
probably impracticable, and the Kiel Canal is closed, so that the shipping now
in Kiel Bay is inoperative. If present mild weather in this area continues, the
Canal may re-open in a fortnight.
Approaches to Baltic Sea.
Probably almost continuous ice within 20 miles of the North Coast of
Denmark and much drift ice further out in the Skagerrak, particularly a t the
Eastern end. The K a t t e g a t is navigable near the Swedish coast. Shipping can
reach the Northern end of the Sound, but the Southern end is closed. I t is
improbable that any shipping can get to the Baltic except strongly-built ships
keeping close behind an icebreaker.
North Sea.
Off Germany and the West coast of Denmark ice is present up to the
10-fathom line and drift ice or floes up to the 15-fathom line. The ice situation in
the German rivers is so serious now t h a t it must be difficult even to keep the Elbe
open, if indeed it is not already closed; at a similar period last year the Elbe was
closed above Cuxhaven, and cruisers and heavy ships of the German Navy were
observed to be at anchor off Heligoland. Emden is icebound.
No ice on the West coast of Norway. On the South coast a fair amount of ice
yvithin three miles of the coast and in the longer fjords.Enemy Attack on Seaborne Trade.
10. During the period the 6th to 12th February, 17 ships, a total of 50,944
tons, have been reported sunk and of these 12 ships (37,540 tons) were British.
- Seven ships (26,530 tons) were sunk by U-Boat and nine (23,913 tons) by
aircraft. One small vessel was sunk off the East Coast by enemy E-Boat. There
were no losses from mines,
Thirteen ships are reported damaged, including nine B r i t i s h ; of the total,
eight were damaged by a i r attack and five by mine.
"
[22225]
; ,,.
B
A homeward-bound convoy from Gibraltar was attacked by U-Boat .160 miles
W.S.W. of Cape St. Vincent early A.M. on the 9th February and two British
ships were sunk. Later in the d&y this convoy was attacked by six Focke-Wulfe
aircraft and two more British and one Norwegian were sunk, and one ship
damaged.
A homeward-bound convoy from Sierra Leone was shelled by a surface raider,
probably a Hipper Class cruiser, 640 miles West of Cape St. Vincent at 1135 on
the 12th February. A n ocean boarding vessel has picked up survivors from two
British and a Greek ship, but full details are not yet available.
Protection of Seaborne Trade.
11. During the week ending Wednesday, 12th February, 853 ships, including
140 Allied and 22 Neutral, were convoyed of which six were lost. Since the
commencement of hostilities the number of vessels convoyed has been 52,940,
including 6,136 Allied and 4,371 Neutral of which 230, including 30 Allied and
19Neutral, have been lost. This gives ratios of losses to numbers convoyed of
British 1 in 234, Allied 1 in 207, Neutral 1 in 230, total 1 in 230.
One battleship, two cruisers, six armed merchant cruisers, forty-six
destroyers, forty-two sloops and corvettes and one submarine were employed on
escort duties.
12. Imports into Great B r i t a i n by ships in convoy during this week totalled
465,409 tons compared with 419,826 tons last week. Oil imports were considerably
smaller, only four tankers having brought in 43,139 tons compared with 112,598
tons last week, but there was an increase in cereals which totalled 60,490 tons
as compared with 29,269 tons. Other food imports amounted to 119,883 tons
compared with 39,547 tons in the previous week. Two ships were fully laden with
molasses, three with fruit—chiefly citrus and sour oranges—and one with West
African produce. A considerable quantity of meat was brought in, and 20,475
tons of sugar. Mineral imports amounted to 164,208 tons, the corresponding
figure for last week being 148,949 tons. Eight ships had full cargoes of iron ore,
two carried sulphur, one was fully laden with pyrites and one with steel. Cotton
and wool imports totalled 23,635 tons, but timber amounted to only 4,000 tons.
General cargoes and sundries totalled 50,054 tons, and there were satisfactory
quantities of aeroplanes, engines, spare parts, trucks, field kitchens, heavy lifts
and ammunition.
British Minelaying.
13. On the 6th February, H.M. Minelayers Southern Prince and Port
Quebec laid 1,110 mines between the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and on the
11th February H.M. Minelayer Plover laid 120 deep mines in the St. George's
Channel. Minelaying by aircraft has been carried out on the North-West coast
of Germany. Motor torpedo boats laid mines off the Belgian Coast on the night
of the 6 t h / 7 t h February.
Enemy Minelaying, British Minesweeping.
Home
Waters.
14. Minelaying enemy aircraft have been more active during the last week
than during the previous weeks. On the East Coast the Humber has been visited
several times, and mines have been seen to drop off the Norfolk and Suffolk
coasts; parachutes were also reported dropping off Aberdeen. On the West
Coast raiding aircraft have ranged from the Bristol Channel area, including
Milford Haven, to as far north as Campbeltown in Kintyre, baking in the Menai
Straits, Holyhead, and Liverpool Bay. On two nights, the 7 t h / 8 t h and
11th/ 12th February, there was apparently no minelaying.
Minesweepers in the Humber on the 11th February detonated 27 mines, of
which 18 were acoustic and 9 magnetic.
A high-speed motor launch was slightly damaged when she put up an
acoustic mine in the entrance to the Wash on the 8th February. This is the first
mine reported in the W a s h area.
There have been only three casualties in Home Waters this week, one being
the M.L. mentioned above. No ships were sunk.
During the week L.L. Sweeps have detonated 1 mine in the F i r t h of Forth,
19 in the Humber, 1 in the Thames Estuary, 2 off Plymouth, 1 in the Bristol
Channel, and 3 off Campbelltown. S.A. Gear Type A have detonated 12 acoustic
mines in the Humber, 2 in the Thames Estuary, 7 in the Bristol Channel, 8 off
Liverpool, and 3 off Workington; S.A. Gear Type C have detonated 6 acoustic
mines in the Humber, and 5 off Milford Haven.
I t has been decided to revise the total number of mines and to count only
those ground mines (magnetic and acoustic) which have actually been detonated
by sweeping craft.
U p to now mines dropped on the foreshores, exploded by
passing H.M. Ships, &c, have been counted, but these are now being excluded.
The revised figures, including this week's sweepings, are, therefore : acoustic 168,
magnetic 900, contact 798.
The searched channels at Liverpool for inward- and outward-bound vessels
have been extended about 8 miles to the westward so as to cover more of the
water liable to be acoustically mined.
Foreign
Waters.
15. Mines were dropped in the Suez Canal again on the 3rd, 4th and
5th February. After the Ranee, 5,060 tons, was mined on the 5th February traffic
was again stopped except for tugs and small craft. The next day a Minesweeping
Hopper and a Canal Hopper were mined and a skid detonated one mine,
whereupon traffic was stopped again until the 9th February, when tugs a n d small
craft were allowed to proceed freely throughout the Canal. Southbound ships,
including one of 15,000 tons, were allowed to proceed to Suez on the 11th February,
and northbound traffic was to start on the 12th February. Sixteen mines have
been accounted for in the Canal and six were dropped along the shores.
German aircraft are reported to have laid mines off Tobruk and Sollum. .
Enemy Merchant Shipping.
German.
16. The s.s. Tannenfels, 7,840 tons, is reported to have left Kismayu in
I t a l i a n Somaliland between the 30th J a n u a r y and the 5th February, and the
s.s. Uckermark, 7,021 tons, and the s.s. Askari, 590 tons, have also left.
The
s.s. Uckermark was intercepted at sea on the 12th February. She attempted to
scuttle herself and is unlikely to remain afloat. Thirty-seven prisoners have been
taken. The only other German ship known to have been at Kismayu recently
was the s.s. Kionga, 192 tons. The s.s. Tannenfels may be masquerading as a
Dutch freighter under charter to the P . & O. S.N. Company.
A document taken from the Captain of the Rhein when she was captured
recently proved that she was under direct orders from the German Admiralty.
German-Controlled
Danish
Shipping,
17. Two Danish tankers, the Christian Holm, 9,919 tons, and the Scandia,
8,571 tons, which had been at St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands
since last May, were intercepted by H.N.M.S. Van Kinsbergen at daybreak on
the 5th February eleven miles out. They were taken in prize to Trinidad.
Italian.
18. The Italian merchant vessels Aclria (3,809 tons), Erminia
Mazzela
(5,742 tons), Savoia (5,490 tons), and Manon (5,597 .tons) were captured off the
south coast of Italian Somaliland on the .11th February by H.M.S. Hawkins and
the Leonardo da Vinci (7,515 tons) on the 12th, the latter being sent into
Mombasa with thirty-seven prisoners from the German
Uckermark.
Four auxiliary schooners were captured during the Libyan operations.
A n examination of the port of Mogadishu on the 7th showed a complete
absence of shipping, but four ships were reported to be still in Kismayu on
the 12th.
MILITARY SITUATION. Italy. 19. I t a l i a n military activity has, for the most part, been concerned with the
finding of reinforcements for Albania. There have been reports t h a t certain
formations were destined for Libya, but no arrivals have been reported of fresh
troops a t Tripoli.
Balkan States.
Bulgaria.
20. Almost all reports from Bulgaria this week have referred either to the
feverish repairs which are being carried out on roads and bridges in various p a r t s
of the country and the special arrangements which have come into force on the
railways, or to the mobilisation of the Bulgarian Army. The 1920 class has been
called up. There is now no doubt about the mobilisation of the 1st and 9th
Divisions and the Railway Regiment, and it is certain t h a t the 1st Division is
being sent to the Turkish frontier. The Bulgarians intend to build up a strength
of 80,000 men on this frontier, and it is thought t h a t this is being done at the
request of Germany.
The weather remains fine and above freezing point in the Sofia and Plovdic
areas, while the Black Sea Coast is enjoying warm weather. Little snow is now
left below 4,000 feet. The main roads are dry, and secondary roads are passable
for normal traffic.
The Danube is now clear of ice.
Roumania.
21. The total number of German divisions in Roumania is now estimated to
be 22 or 23, of which four are armoured, two or three motorised and two mountain
divisions.
Africa.
Libya.
22. Following a lightning advance our troops succeeded in cutting off the
enemy line of retreat which resulted in the capitulation of Benghazi on the
6th February. The enemy attempted to break out and made a persistent attack
with over 100 tanks, but these were repulsed with heavy losses, including 60 of
the latter. The full number of prisoners has not yet been ascertained, but it is
understood that they have surrendered in large numbers, and include an Army
Commander, a Corps Commander and many other senior officers. Quantities of
war material of all descriptions have also been captured.
On the 8th February our patrols occupied Agheila.
23. Now that the whole of northern Cirenaioa is in our hands, nothing
remains between our forces and the fertile regions of northern Tripolitania except
the long, waterless and inhospitable tracts of the Sirte desert. This in itself,
however, is such a formidable obstacle as to represent a very good defence for the
remainder of Marshal Graziani's army, now estimated at 70,000.
Sudan.
24. I n E r i t r e a the enemy is still holding a position 4 miles West of Keren,
where he is being engaged by our troops. Enemy deserters on this front now
total 400. On the 8th February our forces reached a position 40 miles South
of Keren.
.I n the North we have occupied K a r o r a and Mersa Taclai.
:
East
Africa.
25. I n Northern Kenya we have made considerable inroads into enemy
territory, and have occupied Kunchurro (50 miles North-East of Dukana).
I n I t a l i a n Somaliland our advance troops have gained touch with the enemy
at Afmadu (160 miles South-East of W a j i r and 75 miles inside I t a l i a n territory).
The present locations of the I t a l i a n forces in I t a l i a n East Africa are
obscure, as withdrawal is taking place from all the western and south-western
frontiers of the colony. I t is estimated that the present garrison of Italian East
Africa consists of 105,000 white personnel including Blackshirts, and 190,000
native personnel including irregulars.
AIR SITUATION.
General Review.
26. W i t h the exception of a heavy attack on Hanover, operations by our
Home Commands, together with those of the enemy, were at a low level owing to
adverse weather.
Our aircraft in Libya and E r i t r e a maintained their harassing attacks in
co-operation with our land forces.
Aerodromes at Malta, J a n n i n a and Heraklion were attacked by the enemy.
A n unusually determined raid was made by I t a l i a n aircraft on Agordat, but
elsewhere in Africa hostile air activity was negligible.
Operational aircraft battle casualties and extracts from recent Raid Assess­
ment Reports are given in Appendices V I and V I I .
Germany and Occupied Territory.
27. Bomber Command flew 32 sorties by day and 524 by night, and Coastal
Command 18 by day and 15 by night. Stirling heavy bombers have been in action
for the first time. Heavier bombs (1,000 lb. and 1,900 lb.) are being used in
increasing quantities.
28. By day, repeated attacks were made on Invasion Ports, and barges a n d
shipping were hit. On two days, large formations of fighters escorted medium
bombers on several offensive sweeps of the Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne areas,
during which the ports were successfully bombed and two or more enemy aircraft
were destroyed in combat; we lost four fighters, but the pilot of one is safe.
Fighters, unaccompanied by bombers, also carried out similar sweeps on other
days. Coastal Command aircraft attacked shipping at Kristiansand South and
a v/ireless station building nearby was straddled with bombs. The seaplane base
a t Thisted (Jutland) was successfully attacked,
29. Weather conditions were unfavourable during most of the week, but on
the 10th/11th February, in clear weather, our heaviest night operation of the war
was carried out. Two hundred and eighty-four aircraft were employed, including
three Stirlings operating for the first time, and each carrying-8,000 lbs. weight
of bombs; four aircraft were lost. During a raid lasting six hours, 146 tons
of high explosive and 25,500 incendiary bombs were dropped on the industrial
centre of Hanover and many large fires were left blazing in the target area.
Rotterdam petrol harbour was also heavily and effectively bombed and Cherbourg
and Ostend were attacked by aircraft of Coastal Command. The following night,
under conditions of heavy cloud, Hanover was again attacked in addition to
targets at Bremen. Owing to sudden deterioration in weather, resulting in
widespread fog, twenty-two heavy bombers of the 109 despatched crashed in.this
country on return, but only one crew was lost. Other objectives during the.period
included oil stocks at Mannheim, aero-engine works a t Brunswick and the Naval
base at Wilhelmshaven.
United Kingdom.
30. Hostile activity was very restricted and during daylight consisted
principally of reconnaissances, and isolated attacks on shipping. Enemy fighter
patrols were maintained in the Straits of Dover. A t night, small-scale scattered
raids were made overland but no major attacks developed. Those aircraft that
crossed our coast operated mainly over the East and South-East of England,
their primary targets being apparently aerodromes in East Anglia. From a total
of 210 enemy aircraft plotted a t night, 115 a r e suspected of minelaying.
31. Fighter Command flew 313 patrols involving 1,043 sorties by day,
including the operations over Northern France already described, and 174 patrols
involving 231 sorties by night.
[22225]
' -c
;
V
;
Coastal Reconnaissance, Patrols and Minelaying.
32. Bad weather again curtailed the activities of Coastal Command.
Patrols numbering 132 and involving 510 sorties were flown, including 276 convoy
escorts.
33. Sea mines were laid in the Ems River a n d Hubert Gat, and photographic
reconnaissances included Bergen, Wangerooge to Borkum and numerous ports
and aerodromes in occupied territory. A number of sightings of enemy vessels,
including a cruiser, was reported during reconnaissances of Norwegian waters,
and on the 8th and again on the 9th our aircraft attacked destroyers off Norway;
on the second occasion an explosion amidships was observed on one of six of
these ships after a torpedo attack.
Two Swordfish assisted in the naval operations against Ostend recorded in
the Naval Situation.
34. Enemy minelayers were active, more than half the total aircraft
operating at night being so engaged. Long-range offensive reconnaissances by
single aircraft continued in the Atlantic, and an attack by six Focke Wulf
aircraft on a convoy has already been reported.
35. On the 9th February an enemy bomber machine-gunned the aerodrome
at Kaldadarnes (Iceland), but no damage or casualties resulted.
Greece and Albania.
36. Three attacks against Tepelene, two against Duki and one on the
military camp at Elbasan were made by our Blenheims, one of which is missing.
Seven I t a l i a n fighters were shot down in the Kelcyre area by Gladiators for the
loss of one aircraft, the pilot being safe.
37. J a n n i n a Aerodrome was severely attacked by enemy aircraft on three
successive days. The heaviest raid was made by force of fifty I t a l i a n bombers
and fighters, two of which were destroyed and six damaged by Gladiators. The
aerodrome was rendered unserviceable, and one of our aircraft was destroyed on
the ground and six slightly damaged. Heraklion Aerodrome (Crete) was
machine-gunned twice by six I t a l i a n fighters, one of our aircraft being destroyed.
Malta.
38. The island was persistently but ineffectively raided by enemy aircraft,
which included German bombers and probably fighters. Forty-five bombers
maintained a prolonged attack on the night of the 8 t h / 9 t h , during which our
Hurricanes destroyed two J u . 88's and damaged a t h i r d ; relatively unimportant
damage was sustained a t Luqa and H a l Far, though civilian property suffered
considerably. On the 12th, two intercepting Hurricanes were lost, but one pilot
was rescued from the sea. Me. 109's have been reported over Malta, but have not
been in action.
39. Our aircraft reconnoitred Tunis and the coast and sea routes from Italy
to Tripoli and Benghazi.
Italy.
40. On the night of the 11th/12th the aerodromes at Comiso and Catania,
in Sicily, were attacked with over five tons of bombs by Wellingtons from Malta.
A t least four enemy aircraft were destroyed at Catania and large fires were
started at both aerodromes.
41. Enemy transport activity on a considerable scale has been maintained
between Sicily, Tripoli, and Sardinia.
Egypt and Libya.
42. Before Benina fell the aerodrome was bombed and machine gunned, a
number of aircraft being damaged on the ground. One hundred unserviceable
aircraft, including two German bombers, were found when our troops occupied
the town. Aerodromes a t Berka, where forty aircraft were later. found
abandoned, and Jedabya (90 miles south of Benghazi) were also attacked.
Dodecanese.
43. Raids were carried out on three nights against aerodromes in Rhodes
and at least fifteen enemy aircraft were burnt out. Buildings were hit at OalatO,
Maritza and Kattavia, violent explosions following the attacks.
Italian East Africa.
44. I n support of our military offensive, harassing attacks were maintained
in the K e r e n - A s m a r a sectors. Enemy troops, mechanised transport, railway
stations, trains, bridges and other targets were repeatedly bombed and machine­
gunned with marked success.
Two Italian fighters were destroyed in combat over Asmara on the 5th, and
on the 8th an encounter between two Hurricanes and five Italian aircraft resulted
in the destruction of one and probably two enemy fighters.
On the 9th I t a l i a n fighters machine-gunned our aircraft on three landing
grounds at Agordat (Eritrea), destroying eight and damaging two.
45. I n Abyssinia our aircraft machine-gunned
three I t a l i a n aircraft being destroyed together with
Ababa aerodrome buildings and ground positions
Blenheims from Aden, which also set on fire eight
aerodrome.
the aerodrome at Bahar Dar,
a quantity of petrol. Addis
at Dessie were attacked by
enemy aircraft on Allomata
46. A t Afmadu, in I t a l i a n Somaliland, aircraft of the South African A i r
Force dropped six tons of bombs on military targets and machine-gunned enemy
positions.
. '
Air Intelligence.
South-East Europe.
47. The German A i r Force is consolidating its position in Roumania, and
an operational command previously located in France is going to Roumania. U p
to 500 aircraft will probably be deployed in the country and ready for operations
by the 1st March. P r e p a r a t i o n s in Bulgaria are probably also well advanced, but
the available aerodrome capacity is smaller than in Roumania.
China.
48. Japanese operations against the Burma Road are apparently now
meeting with increasing success.
HOME SECURITY SITUATION.
General.
By Day.
49. Very little bombing has occurred by day.
On the morning of the 7th February a low level attack was made on
Fraserburgh, where a gasholder was fired and a number of U.X.B's. were dropped.
T h a t afternoon the swing bridge and harbour works at Lowestoft were damaged
and eight people killed.
50. During daylight this week a few bombs were dropped harmlessly in the
Orkneys, Cornwall and the Eastern Counties and there has been occasional
machine-gun fire. On the 6th, 9th and 12th February no bombs were dropped.
On the 12th February seven houses were seriously damaged by enemy shell
fire at and near Ramsgate, but there were no casualties.
By
Night.
51. No bombs were dropped on the nights 6 t h / 7 t h and 7 t h / 8 t h February.
On other nights there were a few bombs, doing little damage a n d "causing
few casualties. Campbeltown on the night 9th/T0th; Ipswich, other places in.the
Eastern Counties, and London on the 9 t h / 1 0 t h and 10th/ 11th; and Abera,von and
Plymouth on the 11th/12th were the areas attacked.
Casualties,
52. Casualties for the week ending 0600 on the 12th February (including
6 killed and 44 seriously injured in London) were 36 killed and 89 seriously
injured. About half of these were caused on the night of the 5 t h / 6 t h February.
A P P E N D I X I. la
Enemy Attack on Trade.
Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages reported lost by enemy action.
(Note.—Tonnages
are gross unless otherwise stated.)
By Submarine.
Date.
Name and
Tonnage.
Cargo.
From—
To-
J a n . 17
... S.S.
British
J a n . 29
... Sesostris
(2,962 t o n s )
E g y p t i a n ... G e n e r a l . . . H a m p t o n
Roads
J a n . 31
... M/V Cargo
Pizarro
(1,367 tons)
... Dione II
(2,660 tons)
British
Feb. 4
Almeda
Star
(14,935 t o n s )
Nationality.
H o w sunk.
G e n e r a l . . . Liverpool ... River P l a t e
I n Convoy
or not.*
Position.
F a t e of Crew and o t h e r R e m a r k s .
No information regarding fate of crew
and passengers.
Torpedo
... Not
260 miles N . W . of
Bloody F o r e l a n d
Liverpool ... Torpedo
... Yes
Approximately
250 Not known.
miles
West
of
Bloody F o r e l a n d
B a l l a s t ... L o n d o n
Seville
... Yes
2 6 5 Land"s E n d , 550 6 landed Lisbon.
miles
British
Iron ore... Wabana
... Cardiff
Feb. 4
... Binghorn
(1,298 ir-ons)
Norwegian
Coal
Feb. 9
... Estrellano
(1,983 tons)
British
General... Gibraltar
Feb. 9
... Courland
(1,325 tons)
British
' .... P o r t T a l b o t
Lisbon
...
Torpedo
... Gunfire
St. J o h n s ,
N.B.
Liverpool ...
London
Not...
0
23 missing.
200 miles W . N . W . of
Bloody F o r e l a n d
1 survivor only. Previously a t t a c k e d
F e b r u a r y 3 by aircraft and d a m a g e d .
Torpedo
... Yes
495 miles W e s t of
Bloody Foreland
5 picked u p by H . M . ship.
Torpedo
... Yes
210 miles W . S . W . of
Cape St. V i n c e n t
21 in H . M . ship.
Torpedo
... Y e s . . .
210 miles W.S.W. of
Cape St. V i n c e n t
30 in H . M . ship.
* This information is provisional and m a y be modified s u b s e q u e n t l y on r e c e i p t of G o m m o d o r e ' s report.
By Aircraft,
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Nationality.
Cargo.
From—
To-
I n Convoy
or not.*
H o w Sunk.
Position.
F a t e of Crew and other R e m a r k s .
Fishing
grounds
Bomb
Not.
12 miles E . by
Muekle Flugga
New Y o r k . . . T y n e
Bomb
Yes.
280 miles W e s t . of
Bloody F o r e l a n d
Oban
Bomb
Not.
156 miles W e s t of
Bloody Foreland.
Glasgow
Bomb
Not.
206 miles N.W. of
Bloody F o r e l a n d
13 landed Greenock.
second boat.
Preston
Bomb
Not.
146 miles W . by N.
of Bloody F o r e l a n d
34 all landed, 1 injured.
Scapa
Rosyth
Bomb
Yes.
277­ Bell Rock,
miles
Fruit
Malaga
Clyde
Bomb
Yes.
Norwegian..
General.
Oporto
Belfast
Bomb
Yes.
British
Ore
Almeria
Barrow
Bomb
Yes.
S/Trawler
Sansonnet
(212 tons)
British
Grelrosa
(4,574 t o n s )
British
Grain
Rowanbank
(5,159 tons)
British
...1 I r o n ore.
Calafatis
(4,443 tons)
Greek
Steel
Iohannes M
Embiricos
(3,734 t o n s )
Greek
Lumber.
Bay Fisher
(575 tons)
British
Jura
(1,759 tons)
British
Tejo
(967 tons)
Britannic
(2,490 tons)
...J Govt.
stores
Lourenco
Marques
Philadelphia
Halifax
S. All lost. Accepted by J o i n t Arbitration C o m m i t t e e as e n e m y action
loss.
31 landed Greenock.
18
adrift
in
2£ 4 landed D u n d e e , 8 missing.
230 miles W . S . W . of
Cape St. Vincent
Not known.
.\
By Surface Craft.
M/V
Angularity
(501 tons)
British
Phosphates
Ipswich
Newcastle... E-boat
torpedo
Yes.
E a s t Coast b e t w e e n
I p s w i c h and Newcastle
Claimed in G e r m a n b r o a d c a s t as sunk
by E - b o a t , which took off survivors.
* T h i s information is provisional and m a y be modified s u b s e q u e n t l y on receipt of C o m m o d o r e ' s report.
Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages REPORTED damaged by Enemy Action.
Name and Tonnage. Date. Nationality.
Ruth I ...
(3,531 tons)
Norwegian
Waziristan
(5,135 tons)
British
Agios :Georgios.
(3,283 tons) Greek
F e b . 5 - ..
Ranee
....
(5,060 tons) British
Feb. 7
Scottish
Co-operator
(513 tons)
British
J a n . 28 ..
Feb. 2
Feb. 4
..
..
..
Cargo.
From-
Halifax
B a l l a s t ... Tees
To-
Cause.
I n convoy
or not.*
West
A/C.
Hartlepool
Not
Halifax
Yes
Position.
C a s u a l t i e s to
Crew. O t h e r
Bemarks.
E x t e n t of D a m a g e .
2 wounded.
55-45' N , 13-25' . Not k n o w n
W.
iI
A/C.
room and boilerrooms.
of F a
1 2 0 m i l eroes
s W . S . W . j 12 ft. w a t e r in engine
Arrived Kirkwall in
tow F e b . 8.
Feb. 7
..
Dutch
M/V Tanker
.
Adinda
(3,359 tons)
Feb. 8
..
Henri Jasper
(5,760 tons)
Feb. 9
..
Dagmar I
(2,471 tons)
Suez
Alexandria
... Belgian
British
...1 General
j Cardiff
and fuel i .
Fruit
Malaga
Not
Mine
Canal
Suez Canal
Nearly broken in two.
Afterpart
moved
p a r t l y clear. Salvage
or demolition being
undertaken.
M i n e ...
Suez C a n a l
Aground, bo*w w a t e r 1 8 i n j u r e d ,
missing.
borne, engine room and
forward
bunker
flooded.
Mine ...
1
mile
from S t e e r i n g
Workington
engine
Harbour
enArrived
trance
gear
and
damaged.
Workington.
11
Mine ... Off T o b r u k
Not stated
Not s t a t e d .
F r e e t o w n ..
Mine
Off Cardiff
B e a c h e d at Sullv
5 injured, 1 miss­
ing.
Clyde
A/C.
Tobruk
..
...
Yes
Abandoned.
Still
35.42' N.
15.22' W .
afloat. T u g sent.
This information is provisional and m a y be modified s u b s e q u e n t l y on receipt of. C o m m o d o r e ' s report.
OS
11
N a m e and
Tonnage.
Nationality.
Cargo.
From—
Feb. 9
...
... Varna
(1,514 tons)
British
P i t w o o d . . . Leixoes
F e b . 10
... Benmacdhui
(6,869 tons)
... B r i t i s h
G e n e r a l . . . Almeria
F e b . 11
... S
t e a m T r a w l e r
Eamont
(227 t o n s )
To-
South
Cause. A/C.
...
I n Convoy
or not.*
Yes
Wales
...
Barrow
A/C.
... Yes
E x t e n t of D a m a g e .
C a s u a l t i e s to Crew. Other Remarks. Not known.
Not k n o w n
35.42' N.
15.22' W.
... Off W i n t e r t o n ... M a k i n g w a t e r No. 1 No c a s u a l t i e s .
hold, t r y i n g to r e a c h
Middlesbrough
2 miles off Dun- S h a k e n
by 2
n e a r 10 landed.
eath misses. 1 U . X . B . in
wheelhouse.
An­
chored
A/C
British Position.
F i s h i n g ...
Head
F e b . 11 ... Cantick
(488 tons)
F e b . 11
Kirkwall
... B r i t i s h
... L e i t h
A/C.
...
A/C. B .
British
... S
t e a m T r a w l e r
John
Dunkin
(202 tons)
30 miles N . W . D a m a g e d by m a c h i n e
Kinnaird Head
gun attack.
Arrived
Frazerburgh
13 miles N. by E . D e r e l i c t — m a y
of B u c k i e
sunk
F i s h i n g ...
* This information is provisional and m a y be modified s u b s e q u e n t l y on receipt of C o m m o d o r e ' s report.
1 wounded.
h a v e 8 landed, 1 m i s s ­
ing.
APPENDIX
II. Merchant Ships (all sizes) other than Merchant Ships Commissioned for Naval
Service, lost by Enemy Action up to Noon, Wednesday, 12th February, 1941.
British.
Neutral.
Allied.
B y -
No. Gross
Tons.
Gross
Tons.
Submarine
..
....
M i n e ..
....
S u r f a c e Craf
Craftt
Aircraft
Other causes, or cause
,, u n k n o w n
304
171
69
128
31
1,677,000
440,000
369,000
364,000
64,000
76
33
15
48
8
703
2,914,000
180
No.
;
;
Gross
Tons.
No.
Together.
No.
Gross
Tons.
366,000
97,000
84,000
208,000
38,000
174
79
6
26
8
564,000
232,000
18,000
71,000
25,000
- 554
283
90
'202
47
2,607,000
769,000
471,000
643,000
127,000
793,000 !
293
910,000
1 ,176
4,617,000.
N O T E . — " A l l i e d " figures i n c l u d e P o l i s h ; all F r e n c h u p t o J u n e 2 5 , 1 9 4 0 ; " F r e e " F r e n c h
f r o m J u n e 25, 1 9 4 0 ; N o r w e g i a n f r o m A p r i l 9, 1 9 4 0 ; D u t c h a n d B e l g i a n f r o m M a y 10, 1 9 4 0 ; a n d
G r e e k f r o m O c t o b e r 28, 1940. " N e u t r a l " figures i n c l u d e I t a l i a n u p t o J u n e 1 0 , 1 9 4 0 ; a n d
" V i c h y " F r e n c h f r o m J u n e 25, 1940.
APPENDIX
III.
(1) Additions to and deductions from British Sea-going Merchant Tonnage
(ships of 500 gross tons and over), including Merchant Ships Commissioned
for Naval Service from 2nd September, 1939, to 9th February, 1941.
Tankers. B r i t i s h s h i p s o n S e p t e m b e r 2 , 193
19399
Additions-—
New ships
..
....
, E n e m y ships captured
..
m
" " ' ' S h i p s t r a n s f e r r e d f r oom
Danish
..
....
French B o u m a n i a n ..
....
Estonian
..
....
Latvian
..
....
Others
..
....
O t h e r a d d i t i o n s ..
....
Total additions
..
....
...
.....
other
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
'
..
....
..
....
..
....
flags—
..
....
..
....
'
..
....
..
.... . . . . . . . . . . ...
.....
..
....
—
' ...
.....
..
....
..
.... ...... ..
....
..
....
:
No. Gross Tons.' No.
519
3,274,000
3,578
15,392,000
12
1
97,000
6,000
183
48
999,000
247,000
48,000
57,000
" " 11,000
302,000
369,000
4,000
35,000
6,000
623,000
191,000
6
10
2
..
....
Others.
'
12
10
83,000
15,000
113
79
1
21
3
119
92
53
317,000
659
2,776,000
62
1
13,00
13,0000
470;000
470;00 0
6,00
6,0000
24
519
... 5.
212,000
212,00 0
2,395,000
2,395,00 0
16,000
16,00 0
" 8
22,00
22,0000
r
141
73
511,000
690
:
D e d u c t i o n s - - . . .
S h i p s s u n k b y t h e ; e n e m y -­
(i
(i)) M e r c h a n t ' s h i p s c o m m i s s i o n e d fo
forr
Naval Service ..:
.. :
" (ii
(ii)) O t h e r s
..
....
....
S h i p s c a p t u r e d b y t h e e n e m y ..
....
,, . O t h e r d e d u c t i o n s —
. . .(i
.(i)) C o m m i s s i o n e d fo
forr N a v a l S e r v i c e 1 ..
....
(ii
(ii)) O t h e r s
..
..,,
..
....
..
....
..
.... j
' Gross
Tons.
1
u
Total deductions
..
....
....
j
..
....
1
-
..
....
. N e t a d d i t i o n s (-[(-[-)) o r d e d u c t i o n s ( - ^ - ) . . .
B r i t i s h s h i p s o n F e b r u a r y 9 , 194
19411 ..
....
..
....
-
20
499
-
194,000
3,080,000
-
31
3,547
"
10,0000
10,00
:
. 471,001)
471,001)
3,104,'e00
-
3,28,000
15,064,000*
, ., * Of t h e t o t a l Non-Tanker
t o n n a g e , v e s s e l s r e p r e s e n t i n g a b o u t 3,750 t h o u s a n d g r o s s t o n s a r e
e n g a g e d on N a v a l , M i l i t a r y or B . A . F . S e r v i c e s ( i n c l u d i n g s o m e c o m m i s s i o n e d for N a v a l Service)^
s o m e of w h i c h b r i n g c a r g o e s t o t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m on t h e i r h o m e w a r d v o y a g e .
After
a l l o w i n g for v e s s e l s (1) t r a d i n g p e r m a n e n t l y a b r o a d , (2) d e t a i n e d in F r e n c h p o r t s a n d (3) u n d e r ­
going or a w a i t i n g r e p a i r , i n c l u d i n g t h e f i t t i n g of d e f e n s i v e p r o t e c t i o n , t h e b a l a n c e is a l i t t l e
u n d e r 7£ million gross t o n s , s o m e p a r t of w h i c h is e n g a g e d in t h e c o a s t i n g tr.ade of t h e
United Kingdom and Eire.
:
;
[22225]
(2) Total losses of, and other deductions from, British Sea-going Merchant Ships
of 500 gross tons and over, including Merchant Ships Commissioned for
Naval Service, expressed as approximate annual rates of loss.
T o t a l losses s u n k or
A p p r o x i m a t e a n n u a l
captured by the enemy,
loss if c o l u m n (2) losses
a n d o t h e r d e d u c t i o n s in
c o n t i n u e d for a y e a r .
t h e period. ..
Period. (1) ^
.'
First- 9 m o n t h s of w a r :
i.e., f r o m S e p t e m b e r 3 , 1939, t o M a y 3 1 , 1940
:
Gross Tons.
1,099.000
Following 3 m o n t h s :
i.e., f r o m J u n e 1, 1940, t o A u g u s t 3 1 , 1940
M o n t h of S e p t e m b e r , 1940
O c t o b e r , 1940 ...
3 f i , i , , r i ! N o v e m b e r , 1940
,,
,,
(3)
Y
(2)
D e c e m b e r , 1940
J a n u a r y , 1941
Gross Tons.
"1,500,000
978,000
332,000
321,000
392,000
296,000
(169,000*
3,900,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
4,800,000
3,500,000
2,000,000)
(23,000*
900,000)
F e b r u a r y 1 t o 9, 1 9 4 1 * T h e s e figures r e l a t e to l o s s e s so far notified a n d m a y be i n c r e a s e d b y l a t e n o t i f i c a t i o n s .
(3) Merchant Ships (all sizes) under Construction in British Yards in the United
Kingdom and abroad in week ending 8th February, 1941.
No.
3
36
Colliers a n d coasting ships
'
Other ships . . . "
1
Tankers.
Gross
Tons.
2,000
299,000
39
301,000
* I n c l u d i n g 4 v e s s e l s (26,000 g r o s s t o n s ) b u i l d i n g
tons) taken over by t h e Navy during construction and
t y p e i n t e n d e d for N a v a l u s e .
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e a r e 161 m e r c h a n t s h i p s t o t a l l i n g
to order in t h e U n i t e d Kingdom a n d abroad, (including
Others.
No.
Gross
Tons.
42
125*
53,000
791,000
167
844,000
a b r o a d , 2 m e r c h a n t s h i p s (18,000 g r o s s
12 s h i p s (21,000 gross t o n s ) of m e r c h a n t
992,000 g r o s s t o n s o n o r d e r or p r o p o s e d
16 t a n k e r s of 88,000 g r o s s t o n s ) .
A P P E N D I X IV.
Merchant Ships (all sizes) lost by the enemy up to 11th February, 1941.
Italian.
German. C a p t u r e d or s e i z e d
S c u t t l e d o r s u n k ...
.. .
Unidentified ships reported
by S/M, A/C, & c , as sunk
or d e s t r o y e d
(Tonn.age,estimated)...
been
Together.
No. Gross Tons. No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
60
76
269,000
414,000
32
21
151,000
138,000
92
97
420,000
552,000
127
635,000
57
285,000
184
920,000
1,318,000
110
574,000
373
1,892,000 '.
263.
I n a d d i t i o n , 3 3 s h i p s of 6 0 , 0 0 0 g r o s s t o n s H i n d e r e n e m y c o n t r o l o r u s e f u l t o t h e e n e m y
sunk.
have
APPENDIX
V.
Casualties to Naval Personnel.
The following casualties have occurred to H.M. Auxiliary Vessels during the
week under review : .
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Fisher carrying Government stores was sunk
by enemy aircraft while in a coastal convoy off the F i r t h of Tay on the
7th February. Four survivors were landed at Dundee.
L L " drifter Boy Alan was sunk in collision with- the Minesweeping
Trawler Ben Glas off Sheerness on the 10th.
The following casualties have been reported :—
. ,.
Officers : 31 killed or missing, 3 wounded.
R a t i n g s : 190 killed or missing, 29 wounded.
,
'
These figures include 24 officers and 146 ratings on passage in the
S.S. Almeda Star (vide Resume No. 73).
1
A P P E N D I X VI.
Operational Aircraft Battle Casualties.
0600 hrs., 6th February, 1941, to 0600 hrs,, 13th February, 1941.
Metropolitan Area.
British.
In the Air.
9
8
8
B o m b e r s ...
F i g h t e r s ...
C o a s t a l ...
Total
On the
Ground..
25
O n e fighter p i l o t is k n o w n t o b e safe.
German.
Probably
Destroyed.
Destroyed.
3
3
1
Bombers
Fighters
Miscellaneous
Damaged.
1
2
1
1
Total
,..
...
7
3
No a c c o u n t is t a k e n of a i r c r a f t d e s t r o y e d o n t h e g r o u n d . Of t h e a b o v e t o t a l s o n e a i r c r a f t w a s d e s t r o y e d b y A.A. fire. Middle East.
British.
Bombers...
F i g h t e r s ...
C o a s t a l ...
In the
8
3
On the
Air.
Ground.
8
1
T o t a l ...
...
11
9
O f . t h e a b o v e , o n e b o m b e r a n d o n e fighter w e r e d e s t r o y e d in t h e air a n d
o n e b o m b e r on t h e g r o u n d i n t h e G r e c i a n c a m p a i g n .
Italian.
B o m b e r s ...
F i g h t e r s ... ....
Miscellaneous
Destroyed.
...
.
1 Q
.
ia
.
I Probably
Destroyed.
-----10
.-,,3,,.. . .1;.;
' '
2
­
Total
163
N o a i r c r a f t r e p o r t e d as c a s u a l t i e s b y A.A. fire.
* These include aircraft found at B e n i n a and Berka.
Damaged. 15 -
Middle East
German.
(continued).
Destroyed.
4
B o m b e r s ...
Fighters
Miscellaneous
Probably
Destroyed.
1
Damaged.
2
Total
APPENDIX
YII.
Air Attacks on Enemy Territory in Europe.
Extracts from Recent Raid Assessment Reports.
The following reports of damage have been received during the past week
from air reconnaissance and Intelligence sources :—
France.
Lorient.—As a result of the attack on the 28th/29th December one submarine
at Lorient was sunk. Two submarines have been sunk at Lorient recently.
Boulogne.—Photographs
taken between 2118 hours and 2204 hours by
Bomber Command P.I.U. of the attack on Boulogne on the night of the
7 t h / 8 t h February show following results
A 750-ft. long white building was straddled to the West of the goods
station.. Fires were started across the railway bottleneck connecting the
goods yard to the main railway station and in adjoining buildings. Fires
were also to be seen in the town, on a large warehouse on the Quai Chanzy,
near the goods yard, on the quay side of the Bassin de Retenue, and near
the new road bridge.
The photographs taken at 2204 hours show that the intensity of some
of the fires had greatly increased since they had first been photographed
during the earlier p a r t of the raid.
Orly Aerodrome.—During
the raid on the 10th November, 1940, four bombs
hit the runway and three aircraft were destroyed.
Evreux Aerodrome.—The
attack on this aerodrome was successful (date
unspecified). H a n g a r s were partly demolished and some buildings under con­
struction were damaged.
Norway.
A s a result of the attack on the aerodrome at Mandal on the 15th J a n u a r y
four bombers were destroyed.