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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 OP 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. (41) 9 2
(Also Paper No. G.O.S. ( 4 l ) 263)
April 24, 1941
TO B E
KEPT
UNDER
LOCK
AND
KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
WAR CABINET WEEKLY
RESUME (No. 86) of the
NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 12 noon April 17th, to 12 noon April 24th, 1941 [Circulated with the approval of
the Chiefs of Staff.]
Cabinet
War
Room
NAYAL
SITUATION. ;
Tripoli h a s been bombarded by the M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet, v
There have been no losses in A t l a n t i c convoys a n d s h i p p i n g losses generally
a r e lower.
Home Waters.
2. E-Boats a t t a c k e d a coastal convoy oh S o u t h wold on the 17th A p r i l and
sank two ships and d a m a g e d a t h i r d . The E - B o a t s were engaged a n d one was
h i t but escaped in the mist.
M.T.Bs. carried out offensive sweeps off the F l a n d e r s coast d u r i n g the night
the 1 7 t h / 1 8 t h , b u t w i t h o u t result.
T h e Free F r e n c h submarine Minerve obtained one c e r t a i n a n d one probable
h i t on a large t a n k e r off the S.W. coast of N o r w a y on the 21st, and suffered some
d a m a g e herself.
T h e German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst
a n d Gneisenau have been at Brest
throughout t h e week, and have been repeatedly a t t a c k e d by the R . A . F . as detailed
in the A i r Section of this Resume.
D u r i n g an a i r r a i d on P o r t s m o u t h d u r i n g the n i g h t the 1 7 t h / 1 8 t h three or
four bombs fell in the Dockyard causing minor damage. A d m i r a l t y House
received a direct hit, a n d there were 6 killed and 60 wounded i n R.N. barracks.
There was f u r t h e r d a m a g e on the n i g h t the 2 3 r d / 2 4 t h .
Heavy a i r r a i d s on P l y m o u t h on the n i g h t s of the 21st, 22nd and 23rd caused
severe damage a n d casualties in the Dockyard a n d N a v a l establishments, especially
in the South Y a r d and in the N a v a l and M a r i n e B a r r a c k s . H . M . Destroyer
Lewes was also damaged.
H . M . T r a w l e r Basset destroyed a n enemy a i r c r a f t off H a r w i c h on t h e 20th
a n d d a m a g e d another.
T h e 10th C a n a d i a n troop Convoy a r r i v e d safely in the Clyde on the
19th A p r i l .
Atlantic.
3. H.M.S. Resolution h a s a r r i v e d in P h i l a d e l p h i a Navy Y a r d for refitting.
D u r i n g the week ten F r e n c h m e r c h a n t vessels eastbound a n d n i n e westbound
have passed G i b r a l t a r , all u n d e r escort.
FI.M. A r m e d M e r c h a n t Cruiser Bulolo
intercepted the F r e n c h Ship
Fort de France 500 miles W . of the C a n a r i e s on the 19th A p r i l , a n d is sending
her in to G i b r a l t a r u n d e r armed g u a r d .
Mediterranean.
4. T h e Commander-in-Chief, M e d i t e r r a n e a n , in H . M . S . Warspite,
with
H . M . Ships Barham, Valiant, Malaya a n d Gloucester, accompanied by destroyers,
bombarded the p o r t a n d s h i p p i n g a t T r i p o l i for 42 m i n u t e s a t d a w n on the
21st A p r i l ; the N a v a l bombardment was preceded by bombing a n d flare d r o p p i n g
by R . A . F . a n d n a v a l a i r c r a f t . A i r s p o t t i n g was r e n d e r e d difficult by smoke and
d u s t from t h e a i r a t t a c k , b u t three or four ships were set on fire or sunk in the
n a v a l basin a n d two or more others h i t as well as a destroyer; the harbour
facilities a n d shore establishments were also seriously damaged, some 530 tons of
shells h a v i n g been fired. No naval u n i t s were encountered a n d there was no reply
from the shore b a t t e r i e s for 20 minutes. T h e r e was no d a m a g e or casualties to
o u r ships. D u r i n g the a p p r o a c h naval a i r c r a f t shot down four troop-carrying
a i r c r a f t a n d one bomber, a n d after the b o m b a r d m e n t destroyed one bomber and
defeated a n a t t a c k by dive-bombers, one of which was shot down a n d one probably
destroyed.
M a l t a w a s a t t a c k e d by enemy a i r c r a f t on t h e n i g h t s of the 19th, 20th and
21st, a n d d a m a g e was done to the D o c k y a r d a n d small craft.
Enemy a i r c r a f t m a d e frequent bombing a n d m i n e l a y i n g r a i d s on Tobruk and
the Libyan coast d u r i n g the period the 18th to the 22nd A p r i l ; H . M . Destioy'-r
Greyhound
was d a m a g e d and two m e r c h a n t ships a n d H . M . S . Fiona- (Ocean
B o a r d i n g Vessel) were sunk by bombs.
A l a r g e troop convoy h a s a r r i v e d safely a t Suez from the U n i t e d K i n g d o m .
T h e Greek destroyer Hydra h a s been sunk at Piraeus, a n d t h e Destroyer
Psara a n d a h o s p i t a l ship d a m a g e d by enemy a i r c r a f t . T h e Greek h o s p i t a l ship
Hesperos was bombed a n d sunk i n t h e Gulf of P a t r a s a n d a n o t h e r d a m a g e d off
Megara.
U n i t s of t h e Greek Navy h a v e joined the M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet a t A l e x a n d r i a .
Anti-Submarine Operations.
5. T w o a t t a c k s on U - B o a t s h a v e been reported d u r i n g the week, one by
a i r c r a f t a n d one by a trawler, both in the N . W . A p p r o a c h e s ; no visible results
were observed.
Enemy Intelligence.
German.
6. A t the b e g i n n i n g of the week p h o t o g r a p h i c a i r reconnaissance located
the following m a i n u n i t s : Kiel, one P o c k e t B a t t l e s h i p in d r y dock, one H i p p e r
class cruiser i n floating dock, one Schlesien class b a t t l e s h i p in floating dock.
Bremen, Seydlitz
completing. Wilhemshaven, one Schlesien class b a t t l e s h i p in:
dry dock. Brest, both battle cruisers present, one in d r y dock a n d t h e other
alongside the T o r p e d o B o a t S t a t i o n . A i r p h o t o g r a p h s of B r e s t on t h e 2 3 r d A p r i l
showed t h a t n e t s have been s p r e a d over the space between t h e sides of t h e battle­
cruiser a n d t h e walls of the dock i n w h i c h she is lying.
T h e r e w a s a r e p o r t t h a t t h e b a t t l e s h i p Bismarck, two cruisers of the L e i p z i g
Class a n d three destroyers passed t h e S k a w early on the 14th A p r i l steering NorthWest. On t h e m o r n i n g of t h e 22nd A p r i l , a S u n d e r l a n d a i r c r a f t r e p o r t e d sight-,
ing one battleship, two cruisers a n d two destroyers a t N a r v i k , a n d these m a y
well be those r e p o r t e d p a s s i n g t h e S k a w on the 14th A p r i l . T h e composition of
this force is not now t h o u g h t t o include a b a t t l e s h i p of the B i s m a r c k class, both of
which a r e believed to be still in t h e Baltic.
Italian.
7. O w i n g to lack of reconnaissance flights the positions of m a i n u n i t s of
the I t a l i a n Fleet a r e obscure, b u t on the 19th A p r i l p h o t o g r a p h s of T a r a n t o
showed no b a t t l e s h i p present. I n t h e o u t e r h a r b o u r were two cruisers a n d in t h e
inner h a r b o u r w e r e one cruiser, t h r e e destroyers a n d three submarines.
The
Littorio, therefore, m u s t have left T a r a n t o on completion of r e p a i r s to d a m a g e
incurred d u r i n g t h e T a r a n t o r a i d by n a v a l a i r c r a f t .
T h e b a t t l e s h i p Vittorio Veneto, d a m a g e d d u r i n g the b a t t l e of C a p e M a t a p a n .
is t h o u g h t t o h a v e gone to T a r a n t o only for a few hours. H e r p r e s e n t where­
abouts a r e u n k n o w n .
U-Boats.
8. I t is not considered t h a t the U - B o a t forces in the N o r t h - W e s t e r n
Approaches h a v e been reduced t o a n y extent, t h o u g h activity h a s been slight.
D u r i n g t h e week there have been some fourteen G e r m a n a n d four or five
I t a l i a n U - B o a t s i n t h e N o r t h - W e s t e r n A p p r o a c h e s . These have been o p e r a t i n g
between 5 2 N. to 6 3 N . a n d 1 2 W . t o 2 7 W . One G e r m a n has been p a t r o l l i n g
off Brest a n d t h r e e others between M a d e i r a a n d the C a n a r i e s a n d M a d e i r a a n d
the Cape V e r d e I s l a n d s ; two of these were probably h o m e w a r d bound t o w a r d s the
end of the week. One m a y still be off B r a z i l in t h e P e r n a m b u c o - B a h i a area. T w o
have been p a t r o l l i n g off F r e e t o w n . T h r e e I t a l i a n U - B o a t s have been p a t r o l l i n g
between P o r t u g a l , the Azores a n d M a d e i r a .
c
c
c
c
Enemy A t t a c k on Seaborne Trade.
9. A c c o r d i n g to the i n f o r m a t i o n a t present available the m e r c h a n t s h i p p i n g
losses d u r i n g the week ended noon, W e d n e s d a y , the 23rd A p r i l , a m o u n t e d to
11 ships a n d a t u g (46,230 tons), of w h i c h 6 s h i p s a n d the t u g (34,227 tons) w e r e
British. T h r e e shiplTwere sunk by U-Boat, one in the N o r t h A t l a n t i c , one in
[22450]
B
t h e F r e e t o w n a r e a and one off Crete. F o u r ships were sunk by a i r c r a f t in the
M e d i t e r r a n e a n and one in the Medway. One ship was mined off the E a s t Coast
a n d a t u g in the Thames. Two ships were sunk by E-Boat off the E a s t Coast.
T h e r e have been seven a t t a c k s by a i r c r a f t on coastal convoys d u r i n g t h e week,
all unsuccessful, a n d two a t t a c k s on the 18th A p r i l on a convoy in the
N . W . A p p r o a c h e s by Focke-Wulf a i r c r a f t , which was driven off.
Details a r e given i n A p p e n d i x I of losses and damage to ships of which
accurate information has now come to h a n d . These losses t o t a l 19 ships sunk
(73,398 tons), of which 5 ships (9,070 tons) form p a r t of the casualties given in
t h e p a r a g r a p h above. Of the r e m a i n i n g e a r l i e r losses 6 ships (31,161 tons) were
sunk by U-Boat, 4 ships (13,525 tons) by a i r c r a f t , three ships (12,611 tons) by
mine a n d one (7,031 tons) by surface craft. I n addition details are given of
22 ships which have been d a m a g e d .
P r o t e c t i o n of Seaborne T r a d e .
10. D u r i n g the week ended noon, the 2 3 r d A p r i l , 938 ships, including
168 allied a n d 25 n e u t r a l , were convoyed. T h r e e battleships, 5 cruisers, 8 armed
m e r c h a n t cruisers, 4 submarines, 68 destroyers a n d 62 sloops a n d corvettes were
employed on escort duties.
Since the b e g i n n i n g of the w a r 61,167 ships have
been convoyed, of which 299 have been lost by enemy a c t i o n ; a r a t i o of 1 in 204.
I m p o r t s i n t o G r e a t B r i t a i n by ships in convoy d u r i n g the week e n d i n g the
19th A p r i l totalled 756,472 tons, compared w i t h 376,437 tons d u r i n g the previous
week a n d an average of 661,645 tons for t h e p a s t ten weeks. Oil i m p o r t s were
247,061 tons in 23 t a n k e r s compared w i t h 102,706 tons in nine t a n k e r s d u r i n g
t h e week e n d i n g the 5th A p r i l . M i n e r a l i m p o r t s were 131,196 tons, of which
86,467 tons were steel, scrap iron, p i g i r o n a n d iron ore. T h e corresponding
figures for t h e previous week were 99,230 tons a n d 91,267 tons. T i m b e r imports
showed a n increase of 26,662 tons from 21,531 tons to 48,193. Cereal imports
were well above average, t o t a l l i n g 167,207 tons. Twenty ships were fully laden
w i t h g r a i n . Other food i m p o r t s were also satisfactory, being 73,810 tons, of which
m e a t totalled 18,181 tons, f r u i t 3,316 tons, cocoa 6,789 tons, s u g a r 9,771 tons
and tea 4,063 tons. T h e r e were 392 tons of r u m from D e m e r a r a and 629 tons
of tobacco. There were also satisfactory i m p o r t s of m a c h i n e r y . (including
2.391 tons of machine tools), a m m u n i t i o n , a i r c r a f t and a i r c r a f t engines.
B r i t i s h Minelaying. .
11. On the 18th A p r i l , H . M . S . Teviot Bank laid 270 mines in t h e E a s t Coast
Barrier.
On the 19th A p r i l , H . M . S . Plover laid 120 mines in St. George's
Channel a n d the same number a g a i n on the 21st A p r i l . On the l a t t e r day the
20th Destroyer Flotilla laid 96 mines off t h e Isle de Bas.
M . T . B . ' s laid 8 mines
off D u n k i r k on both t h e 17th a n d 22nd A p r i l . .
A i r c r a f t have l a i d mines off Brest and off t h e German N o r t h Sea Coast. -
E n e m y Minelaying, B r i t i s h Minesweeping.
12. Mines were d r o p p e d in the T h a m e s d u r i n g r a i d s on London. Most of
the mines were seen a n d m a r k e d as they fell a n d the river w a s only closed for a
short period after each r a i d . Different sections were reopened in t u r n and
s h i p p i n g h a s been very little held u p . S i x mines were dropped in different docks
besides those in the stream.
M i n e l a y i n g a i r c r a f t have also o p e r a t e d over the Thames E s t u a r y , including
H a r w i c h , off the E a s t Coast TO as f a r n o r t h as Y a r m o u t h a n d off M i l f o r d Haven
a n d Liverpool Bay.
N i n e magnetic mines have been detonated d u r i n g the week a n d three
acoustic. D u r i n g clearance operations in the portion of the F a l m o u t h contact
minefield, six mines h a v e been cut or exploded in sweeps, and c u t t e r s have also
been found. M i n e totals are now as follows : magnetic 1,077, acoustic 514,
contact 858.
T h e enemy has l a i d mines off M e r s a - T o b r u k , for which dangerous areas have
been declared.
Enemy M e r c h a n t S h i p p i n g . ..
German.
'
,
'
:
'
,
13. D u r i n g the week a number of successful a t t a c k s on enemy m e r c h a n t
shipping have been claimed, a n d the estimated tonnage s u n k or seriously d a m a g e d
in N o r t h e r n W a t e r s may be p u t a t about 55,000 tons. These successes are due
to submarines a n d a i r c r a f t , possible casualties from m i n i n g are not taken into
consideration.
Two ships, each of about 2,000 tons, laden w i t h food passed I s t a n b u l on t h e
16th A p r i l bound for Salonika.
Italian.
,
14. T h e Conte di Savoia, 48,502 tons, a n d the Vulcania, 24,469 tons, were
reported to be a t Genoa on the 1st A p r i l , w i t h four or five other ships of about
10,000 tons each.
T h e Silvio Tripcovitch,
2,365 tons, is r e p o r t e d to have been sunk w i t h
considerable loss of life i n the m i d d l e of M a r c h .
The h o s p i t a l ship Arno, 8,024 tons, was expected to arrive at Naples early
on the 2 n d A p r i l w i t h 450 p a t i e n t s . A n o t h e r hospital ship, the Sicilia, 9,648 tons,
sent a message to Bari s t a t i n g t h a t she w a s a r r i v i n g t h e r e or the 18th A p r i l w i t h
781 hospital cases.
:.
A r e p o r t has been received t h a t the Mexican Government have t a k e n over
the I t a l i a n t a n k e r s Tuscania, 6,904 tons, and Giorgio Fassio, 6,735 tons,, w h i c h
are at T a m p i c o and V e r a Cruz respectively, a n d will use t h e m for local t r a d e
between Mexico a n d H o u s t o n .
I t h a s been r e p o r t e d from Montevideo, U r u g u a y , t h a t t h e Government will
requisition t h e two I t a l i a n ships Adamello, 5,785 tons, anH j,'?e Fausto, 5,263 tons.
The only G e r m a n ship there has a l r e a d y been requisitioneu.
MILITARY
SITUATION.
The B a l k a n O p e r a t i o n s .
Greece.
15. A f t e r the collapse of Y u g o s l a v i a on the 15th A p r i l , Greek a n d B r i t i s h
forces h a d to meet the a d d i t i o n a l t h r e a t of a G e r m a n d r i v e s o u t h w a r d s t h r o u g h
the M o n a s t i r G a p . O u r troops therefore held a general line, M o u n t Olympus
westwards along the A l i a k m o n river, while Greek forces began to w i t h d r a w from
the n o r t h e r n sectors of the A l b a n i a n front.
16. On the 17th A p r i l G e r m a n armoured a n d m o u n t a i n troops were
advancing each side of M o u n t Olympus, whence the line r a n north-west to Serbia
and then followed roughly t h e line of the R i v e r A l i a k h m o n to Vatokhorion, some
15 miles S.W. of F i o r i n a . P r o g r e s s w a s m a d e by a r m o u r e d a n d m o u n t a i n troops
in the V a l e of Tempe (S.E. of M o u n t Olympus), and f u r t h e r west a r m o u r e d forces
crossed the R i v e r Venetinos south of Grevena, but m a d e only slow progress.
17. I t w a s evident t h a t the G e r m a n object was to g a i n t h e p l a i n of Thessaly
and so drive a wedge between the B r i t i s h a n d Greek forces, a n d c u t t h e l a t t e r
off from any possible line of w i t h d r a w a l .
18. By the evening of the 19th A p r i l , G e r m a n a r m o u r e d forces o p e r a t i n g
on both sides of M o u n t Olympus h a d gained the eastern half of the p l a i n of
Thessaly a n d h a d advanced s o u t h w a r d s beyond L a r i s s a .
A t the same t i m e
German a r m o u r e d forces h a d reached T r i k k a l a , a t the extreme n o r t h - w e s t e r n e n d
of the plain, whilst the rest of the G e r m a n line remained u n c h a n g e d .
19. T h e most decisive G e r m a n effort seems to have been m a d e on the
20th A p r i l . Those forces which h a d a l r e a d y on t h e day before reached t h e plain
of Thessaly advanced on L a m i a , whilst G e r m a n motorised forces struck across
the P i n d u s M o u n t a i n s from Grevena a n d reached the Y a n n i n a area. A t the same
time, the roads of w i t h d r a w a l of the I m p e r i a l a n d Greek forces were attacked
by dive-bombers w i t h fighter escort, w h i l s t similar a t t a c k s were m a d e on the
h a r b o u r of Piraeus.
.... 20. T h e w i t h d r a w a l of our forces to the T h e r m o p y l a e position was success­
fully completed on the 21st A p r i l a f t e r a series of r e a r g u a r d actions.
21. On the 21st a n d 22nd A p r i l very little advance was m a d e by t h e German
forces, who were consolidating the g r o u n d gained in p r e p a r a t i o n for a n attack
in t h e T h e r m o p y l a e a r e a . Bombing of Piraeus continued, a n d bombing attacks
were also made on P a t r a s and on allied aerodromes in the A t h e n s area. B y the
evening of fhe 22nd A p r i l the G e r m a n line w a s believed to be approximately
Volos-Lamia-Yannina.
22. T h e islands of Thasos a n d Samothrace, s i t u a t e d off the coast of Western
Thrace, have been occupied by small G e r m a n forces, who experienced no resistance.
Bulgaria.
23. Call-up of reservists is continuing, t h o u g h B u l g a r i a n u n i t s a r e already
believed to be a t 75 p e r cent, s t r e n g t h a n d f u r t h e r increase will be difficult.
24. According to the r e p o r t e d terms of a m i l i t a r y convention signed early
this m o n t h between the B u l g a r i a n W a r M i n i s t e r a n d F i e l d - M a r s h a l Von Brau­
chitsch, the whole of t h e B u l g a r i a n A r m y will be concentrated on t h e Turkish
frontier. A r r a n g e m e n t s for B u l g a r i a n troops to hold c a p t u r e d Greek territory
in T h r a c e a n d Macedonia have been continued, a n d the G e r m a n r a d i o states that
t h e T u r k i s h Government was officially informed of t h e i r entry on t h e 19th April.
Turkey.
25. R e p o r t s speak variously of a projected a t t a c k on T u r k e y a n d of the
possibility of a non-aggression p a c t . One r e p o r t mentions t h a t G e r m a n military
circles a r e much interested i n a n a t t a c k t o w a r d s t h e Suez C a n a l t h r o u g h Asia
Minor. Meanwhile, V o n P a p e n h a s left for B e r l i n a n d is n o t expected to return
for a f o r t n i g h t . P r o p o s a l s of some k i n d will doubtless be m a d e on h i s return,
the T u r k s by then h a v i n g h a d t i m e to a p p r e c i a t e the f a t e of Yugoslavia.
Morocco.
26. Recent r e p o r t s show t h a t the F r e n c h a r e q u i t e incapable of resisting
G e r m a n infiltration, a n d t h a t a t t h e same time they a r e apprehensive of attacks
from S p a n i s h Morocco and L i b y a should the G e r m a n c a m p a i g n in E g y p t be
successful.
Iraq.
27. On the 17th A p r i l , 150 men, the first flight of an airborne British
I n f a n t r y B a t t a l i o n from I n d i a , were l a n d e d at S h a i b a h .
On the 18th A p r i l , an I n d i a n B r i g a d e G r o u p w a s landed a t B a s r a .
Spain.
28. T h e r e have been a l a r g e number of r e p o r t s to the effect t h a t Germany is
p r e s s i n g S p a i n to join t h e T r i p a r t i t e P a c t and to give passage to G e r m a n troops
for an a t t a c k on G i b r a l t a r . R e p o r t s of troop movements on the Franco-Spanish
f r o n t i e r have now been c o n t r a d i c t e d a n d a r e p o r t t h a t S u n e r h a d gone to Berlin
w a s shown to be u n t r u e .
29. A r r a n g e m e n t s for the billeting of G e r m a n t o u r i s t s in S o u t h e r n Spain
a n d a recent visit by G e r m a n generals to the v i c i n i t y of G i b r a l t a r a r e further
evidence t h a t t h e G e r m a n s a r e m a k i n g every p r e p a r a t i o n for an a t t a c k on the
Western g a t e to the M e d i t e r r a n e a n , which according to some sources, is to be
synchronised w i t h a n a t t a c k on E g y p t .
Africa.
Libya.
30. T h e enemy drive E a s t w a r d s in L i b y a has halted in the a r e a
Sollum-Capuzzo, a n d reports i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e G e r m a n forces have taken u p
defensive positions both t h e r e a n d a r o u n d Tobruk. A t t h e moment t h e enemy
appears to be h a v i n g difficulties w i t h t h e supply a n d m a i n t e n a n c e of his forces
in the f o r w a r d area, a n d t h e r e is evidence t h a t t r a n s p o r t a i r c r a f t a r e being used
to supplement t h e normal supply services.
31. T h e r e a r e r e p o r t s t h a t t h e G e r m a n forces in L i b y a are being reinforced
and also t h a t they i n t e n d to seize K u f r a a n d thence advance a g a i n s t Southern
E g y p t a n d the S u d a n .
32. T h e G a r r i s o n of Tobruk continues to repel enemy a t t a c k s a n d to c a r r y
out offensive sorties. On the 17th A p r i l , twelve enemy t a n k s p e n e t r a t e d the
perimeter. T h e i n f a n t r y , however, failed to follow u p the tanks, four of which
were destroyed. On t h e n i g h t 2 1 s t / 2 2 n d A p r i l , three r a i d s were c a r r i e d o u t on
enemy positions opposite the W e s t a n d S o u t h - W e s t Sectors of the defences.
Four h u n d r e d a n d forty-six prisoners were c a p t u r e d , mostly I t a l i a n s , including
16 officers. O u r own casualties in these operations were light. One light t a n k
was lost.
33. O u r force o p e r a t i n g in the Sollum-Sofafi a r e a has also c a r r i e d out
active p a t r o l l i n g operations i n c l u d i n g a successful r a i d on an enemy force in
Sollum on t h e n i g h t of 1 5 t h / 1 6 t h A p r i l .
34. On t h e n i g h t of the 1 9 t h / 2 0 t h A p r i l a l a n d i n g operation by 450 Special
Service personnel w a s c a r r i e d out at B a r d i a , w i t h o u t opposition. A tyre d u m p
and a b r i d g e were destroyed a n d some coast defence guns were r e n d e r e d unusable.
Five Officers a n d 62 O.Rs. failed to re-embark and were evidently captured.
35. On t h e 21st A p r i l reinforcements, which included one A r m y Field
Regiment, one H e a v y and one L i g h t A . A . R e g i m e n t , the Roj^al M a r i n e G r o u p of
the Mobile N a v a l Base Defence O r g a n i s a t i o n , a r r i v e d in Suez on the 21st A p r i l .
A
byssinia.
36. O u r columns o p e r a t i n g from the n o r t h have cOme into contact w i t h t h e
enemy n o r t h of G o n d a r a n d n e a r A m b a A l a g i .
37. O u r troops f a n n i n g out from A d d i s A b a b a in p u r s u i t of the enemy are­
o p e r a t i n g in three directions. To the north, they are in touch w i t h the enemy
just south of Dessye; to the south, contact h a s been m a d e n e a r Sciasciamana,
about 100 miles south of A d a m a ; a n d to the south-west a s t a n d has been m a d e
by I t a l i a n forces r e t i r i n g on J i m m a a t the Omo crossing, 100 miles S.W. of A d d i s
Ababa.
38. T h e advance from K e n y a continues a n d our troops have occupied M a j i ;
further east they a r e in touch w i t h I t a l i a n forces in the areas of U a d a r a and
Alghe.
AIR
SITUATION
General Review.
39. W e a t h e r greatly restricted our n i g h t operations, the p r i n c i p a l a t t a c k s
were m a d e on the i n d u s t r i a l centre of Berlin, a n d the Scharnhorst
and Gneisenau
at Brest. N u m e r o u s successful d a y l i g h t a t t a c k s were carried out a g a i n s t enemy
shipping. I n A f r i c a a n d the B a l k a n s our a i r operations were of considerable
intensity.
[22450]
c
A heavy n i g h t a t t a c k was m a d e on London, a n d ' P l y m o u t h w a s r a i d e d on
three successive nights. Enemy a i r c r a f t were very active in Greece a n d Libya.
G e r m a n y a n d Occupied T e r r i t o r y .
40 D u r i n g the week Bomber C o m m a n d c a r r i e d out 210 day a n d 363 n i g h t
sorties; compared w i t h the preceding week the scale of operations by d a y was
a p p r o x i m a t e l y the same, b u t by n i g h t t h e r e w a s a s u b s t a n t i a l reduction. These
o p e r a t i o n s were s u p p o r t e d by Coastal Command, notably by a t t a c k s on Brest,
a n d F i g h t e r Command flew a number of offensive p a t r o l s both by day a n d night
over enemy-occupied territory.
Day.
41. T h e m a j o r i t y of d a y l i g h t sorties have been directed a g a i n s t enemy
s h i p p i n g , details of which will be found u n d e r Coastal Operations.
On the
17th A p r i l , 18 Blenheims, escorted by six s q u a d r o n s of fighters, bombed the docks
at Cherbourg, m a n y b u r s t s were seen a r o u n d the t a r g e t and several fires were
observed. On t h e 21st A p r i l , a similar operation w a s u n d e r t a k e n a g a i n s t the
electricity power station a t H a v r e ; cloud prevented the location of t h i s target,
b u t t h e h a r b o u r a t Quetthou, in the vicinity of H a v r e , was attacked, b u r s t s being
seen on the r a i l h e a d alongside the docks. O t h e r a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d s h i p p i n g , but
no i m p o r t a n t results were seen.
F r o m these two o p e r a t i o n s t h e 36 bombers
engaged r e t u r n e d safely, b u t one Spitfire w a s lost on the r e t u r n j o u r n e y from
Havre.
42. Blenheims c a r r i e d out a successful a t t a c k a g a i n s t the docks at
Terneuzen, a n d also a t t a c k e d the h a r b o u r a t Breskens. Two direct h i t s were
m a d e on a r a i l w a y b r i d g e a n d on the p e r m a n e n t w a y in the vicinity of Leyden.
T w o a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d the electricity power sation a t Ibbenburen, t w e n t y miles
W e s t of O s n a b r u c k ; blue smoke w a s seen issuing from the power house a n d much
debris w a s t h r o w n into the air. F o u r a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d a wireless s t a t i o n on
Terschelling I s l a n d , the b u i l d i n g being enveloped i n smoke a n d dust.
43. F i g h t e r s flew a number of offensive p a t r o l s over N o r t h e r n F r a n c e and
Belgium. On one occasion g u n emplacements n e a r W i m e r e u x a n d a j e t t y east
of C a l a i s were machine-gunned, on a n o t h e r p a t r o l two E-boats were machine­
g u n n e d near Gravelines. D u r i n g these operations very few enemy a i r c r a f t were
encountered; one Me. 109 w a s shot down in flames a n d another probably destroyed;
one Spitfire is missing.
Night.
44. On t h e n i g h t of the l 7 t h / 1 8 t h A p r i l , 118 bombers, i n c l u d i n g one
S t i r l i n g , were sent to a t t a c k t h e i n d u s t r i a l centre of B e r l i n ; 66 tons of H.E.,
i n c l u d i n g one 4,000 lb., three 2,000 lb. a n d six 1,900 lb. bombs were dropped.
Thick haze prevented detailed observation of results, b u t b u r s t s were seen on the
Schlesischer s t a t i o n a n d the L e h r t e r m a r s h a l l i n g y a r d ; it is e s t i m a t e d t h a t the
4,000 lb. bomb fell i n t h e M o a b i t d i s t r i c t .
One a i r c r a f t d r o p p e d p r o p a g a n d a
leaflets. B a d w e a t h e r prevented some of our bombers from locating B e r l i n and
these a t t a c k e d a number of a l t e r n a t i v e t a r g e t s .
45. T h e i n d u s t r i a l centre of Cologne was a t t a c k e d on the n i g h t of the
2 0 t h / 2 1 s t A p r i l by 33 a i r c r a f t a n d a lighter scale of a t t a c k w a s m a d e on the
n i g h t of t h e 1 7 t h / 1 8 t h A p r i l ; b u r s t s were seen i n the centre of the t o w n and a
number of fires were started.
On two occasions the petroleum h a r b o u r at
R o t t e r d a m w a s bombed by a total of 25 a i r c r a f t , about 35 tons of H . E . and a
l a r g e number of L B s . were dropped.
46. T h e enemy battle-cruisers a t Brest were a t t a c k e d on five nights
by a i r c r a f t of Coastal C o m m a n d a n d on two n i g h t s by a i r c r a f t of Bomber
C o m m a n d , when about 120 tons of H . E . , i n c l u d i n g forty-two 2,000 lb. bombs were
d r o p p e d . On account of b a d w e a t h e r or very d a r k n i g h t s combined w i t h intense
s e a r c h l i g h t a n d A.A. activity detailed results were very difficult to observe;
however, a number of b u r s t s were seen in t h e area of the dry dock a n d one aircraft
r e p o r t s h a v i n g seen the battle-cruiser alongside t h e quay a n d claims a h i t or near
m i s s on the quayside. B u r s t s were also observed in the area of the torpedo-boat
s t a t i o n a n d a number of fires were s t a r t e d .
47. Six Coastal C o m m a n d a i r c r a f t a t t a c k e d
and all bombs w e r e seen to b u r s t in t h e area, b u t
On two n i g h t s the docks a t H a v r e were attacked, on
from the same c o m m a n d ; m a n y bursts were seen
started, a n d a warehouse a n d dock b u i l d i n g s were
the C a e n - C a r p i q u e t aerodrome
results could not be observed.
each occasion by six Blenheims
in the t a r g e t a r e a , fires were
hit.
48. A number of aerodromes and other m i l i t a r y objectives i n G e r m a n y a n d
occupied t e r r i t o r y were successfully attacked, mostly by single a i r c r a f t .
49. A few offensive p a t r o l s over enemy t e r r i t o r y were flown at n i g h t by
aircraft of F i g h t e r C o m m a n d . On one occasion an enemy a i r c r a f t , believed to
be a four-engine type, about to land at St. Leger, was attacked a n d a p p e a r e d t o '
break u p in the air.
United K i n g d o m .
50. F i g h t e r C o m m a n d flew 1,458 patrols, involving 3,527 sorties, by day,
and 590 n i g h t sorties were flown. E n e m y activity by day w a s a g a i n on a
small scale a n d by n i g h t showed a considerable reduction on the p r e c e d i n g week,
about 1,170 a i r c r a f t being employed.
51. E n e m y a c t i v i t y by d a y consisted very largely of defensive patrols in the
S t r a i t s a n d off t h e F r e n c h a n d Belgian coasts, a n d of reconnaissances over the
southern a n d eastern p o r t i o n s of E n g l a n d . T h e u s u a l reconnaissances a n d p a t r o l s
were flown over t h e sea. On the 17th A p r i l , e i g h t Spitfires engaged four Me. 110
over R a m s g a t e , t w o of w h i c h were destroyed. A J u . 88 w a s shot down by our
fighters off B o g n o r ; d u r i n g the week several other encounters took place, in w h i c h
a few of our fighters were lost and about a n equal number of enemy a i r c r a f t were
probably destroyed.
52. T h e heaviest r a i d took place on the n i g h t of the 1 9 t h / 2 0 t h A p r i l a n d
was m a i n l y directed a g a i n s t London a n d the E a s t e r n H o m e counties; a p p r o x i ­
mately 350 enemy a i r c r a f t were employed, 10 of w h i c h m a d e two sorties. On the
night of the 2 1 s t / 2 2 n d a n d the two following n i g h t s , a t t a c k s were m a i n l y directed
against P l y m o u t h a n d D e v o n p o r t ; the first two a t t a c k s were on a heavy scale; on
the t h i r d n i g h t t h e a t t a c k w a s less severe. On t h e n i g h t of the 1 7 t h / 18th, a heavy
attack w a s m a d e on P o r t s m o u t h , b u t on the r e m a i n i n g t w o n i g h t s of the week
enemy a c t i v i t y w a s on a very small scale.
Coastal O p e r a t i o n s .
53. Coastal Command a i r c r a f t flew 302 p a t r o l s a n d provided escorts for
152 convoys, involving a t o t a l of 977 sorties. I n a d d i t i o n , F i g h t e r Command m a d e
1,689 sorties on s h i p p i n g protection p a t r o l s .
54. On the 18th A p r i l , an a i r c r a f t on r o u t i n e p a t r o l sighted a convoy of
eight m e r c h a n t vessels off S t a v a n g e r ; t w o formations of Blenheims from Coastal
Command were sent out, in the m o r n i n g and afternoon respectively, to a t t a c k
this convoy. A s a result of t h e first p a t r o l a 7,000-ton vessel is believed to have
been hit, a n d a 3,000-ton vessel w a s h i t twice a n d seen to be r a p i d l y s i n k i n g ; two
of our a i r c r a f t were lost. D u r i n g the second p a t r o l the Blenheims were a t t a c k e d
by five Me. 110, three of o u r a i r c r a f t being shot down, b u t all were able to drop
their bombs a n d a direct h i t is estimated on another ship.
55. On each day of the week formations of a i r c r a f t have been sent out from
Bomber Command to a t t a c k enemy s h i p p i n g , w i t h t h e following results :—
7,000-ton M.V. believed h i t off Brest. 800-ton ship off Hoedenserke seen to d i s i n t e g r a t e . 4,000-ton M.V. off H e l i g o l a n d believed h i t ; was last seen w i t h l a r g e columns of smoke issuing from a m i d s h i p s .
5,000-ton M.V. off Heligoland, a t t a c k e d from 50 feet a n d left on fire l i s t i n g
to s t a r b o a r d .
A F l a k ship off H e l i g o l a n d probably h i t .
7,000-ton M.V. off Texel received two h i t s a n d w a s seen to have a list of
35 degrees. 6,000-ton M.Y. off Terschelling w a s probably h i t . 5,000-ton M.V. off Scheveningen w a s a t t a c k e d from 100 feet a n d w a s left
sinking.
3,000-ton M.V. off S.W. Norway w a s h i t ; the ship stopped a n d w a s down by
the stern.
2,000-ton cargo ship N . W . of S t a v a n g e r w a s hit, resulting i n a n explosion
a f t of the funnel w i t h considerable smoke a n d steam issuing from the
ship.
8.000-ton M.V. off the D u t c h Coast received three direct h i t s a n d w a s last
seen w i t h clouds of smoke a n d steam issuing from it­
56. I n a d d i t i o n a number of other a t t a c k s were made r e s u l t i n g in near
misses a n d many ships were machine-gunned. A 3,000-ton ship w a s seen beached
N. of E g e r s u n d a n d another ship of 4/5,000 tons w a s seen s i n k i n g off Den Helder.
57. Details of m i n i n g by a i r c r a f t and enemy activity a g a i n s t our shipping
a r e reported in t h e Naval Situation.
The B a l k a n s .
58. D u r i n g the week the activity of our a i r c r a f t was m a i n l y directed
a g a i n s t enemy communications, t r a n s p o r t and aerodromes. A heavy a t t a c k was
made by our bombers on a bridge in the K o z a n i - G r e v e n - K u l a b a k a area, a n d many
bombs b u r s t among mechanical t r a n s p o r t . The aerodromes a t L a r i s s a a n d Sedes
were bombed and a t the latter, a number of fires were seen followed by explosions
believed to be a i r c r a f t .
The aerodromes at K o z a n i and K a t e r i n i were both
successfully attacked.
59. On a number of occasions our fighters engaged l a r g e formations of
enemy aircraft,
Seven H u r r i c a n e s destroyed three G e r m a n bombers and one
fighter when fifty a i r c r a f t were found to be a t t a c k i n g one of our columns; on
another occasion seven H u r r i c a n e s on an offensive p a t r o l destroyed one Henschel
a n d three Me. 109s. On the 20th A p r i l , formations of G e r m a n a i r c r a f t continually
a p p r o a c h e d the A t h e n s a r e a ; fifteen H u r r i c a n e s were sent u p a n d destroyed
nineteen enemy a i r c r a f t a n d probably a f u r t h e r e i g h t ; five of our fighters were
lost, the pilots of two a r e safe. Numerous other engagements took place in which
a f u r t h e r number of enemy a i r c r a f t were destroyed.
60. T h e chief role of the G e r m a n A i r Force in this a r e a continued to be
close a n d s t r a t e g i c s u p p o r t for t h e A r m y , b u t a c e r t a i n effort by long-range
bombers h a s been m a i n t a i n e d a g a i n s t h a r b o u r s a n d s h i p p i n g .
61
T o w a r d s the end of this p e r i o d dive-bombers w i t h fighter escort were
o p e r a t i n g a g a i n s t s h i p p i n g , these a i r c r a f t now being w i t h i n effective r a n g e from
advanced bases. T h e r a p i d movement of s h o r t - r a n g e a i r c r a f t to a d v a n c e d landing
g r o u n d s continues to be a f e a t u r e of the operations, the availability of transport
a i r c r a f t m a k i n g i t possible to s u p p l y these u n i t s .
Malta.
62. Daily r a i d s were m a d e a g a i n s t the I s l a n d , b u t generally on a small
scale, except on t h e evening of the 22nd A p r i l , when about forty G e r m a n aircraft
m a d e a large-scale r a i d on the dockyard, m a n y bombs and mines being dropped;
as a result of t h i s r a i d considerable d a m a g e w a s done to service a n d civilian pro­
p e r t y . D u r i n g the week H u r r i c a n e s shot down t h r e e I t a l i a n a n d one German
fighter a n d A . A . destroyed one G e r m a n bomber; several other enemy a i r c r a f t were
either probably destroyed or d a m a g e d .
63. Glenn M a r t i n a i r c r a f t c a r r i e d out n u m e r o u s very valuable reconnais­
sances, in p a r t i c u l a r of the T u n i s i a n Coast, T r i p o l i a n d the I o n i a n Sea.
E g y p t a n d Libya.
64. On three n i g h t s d u r i n g the week Wellingtons o p e r a t i n g from Malta
bombed the h a r b o u r a t T r i p o l i ; t h e S p a n i s h Quay a n d ships w e r e straddled, two
h i t s w e r e m a d e on the west mole a n d a number of fires were s t a r t e d . On three
n i g h t s a t t a c k s were m a d e on s h i p p i n g a n d t h e h a r b o u r a t B e n g h a z i by Welling­
tons, a number of fires were s t a r t e d one of w h i c h was visible fifty miles away; a
successful d a y l i g h t a t t a c k w a s also made, a s h i p in the h a r b o u r being h i t .
65. M a n y a t t a c k s w e r e m a d e a g a i n s t enemy aerodromes i n c l u d i n g those at
Berka, G a z a l a , D e r n a a n d E l Adem. E n e m y mechanical t r a n s p o r t a n d troops
were also heavily and continually a t t a c k e d ; oh one occasion H u r r i c a n e s machine­
gunned t w o G e r m a n M . T . columns inflicting heavy casualties on motorised troops,
on a n o t h e r occasion fifty-five a i r c r a f t were bombed on the g r o u n d a t D e r n a . A s
a result of these a t t a c k s m a n y M . T . vehicles were destroyed a n d enemy movements
were g r e a t l y restricted.
66. E n e m y operations mainly consisted of attacks a g a i n s t the fortifications
at Tobruk, little other activity t a k i n g place beyond heavy fighter protection for
Convoys. Reconnaissances were made in t h e f o r w a r d area, p a r t i c u l a r attention
being p a i d to our sea a n d l a n d supply routes.
Nineteen G e r m a n a i r c r a f t are
known t o have been shot down, fifteen by fighters a n d four by A . A . defences.
Dodecanese.
67. On t h e n i g h t of the 2 2 n d / 2 3 r d A p r i l the aerodrome a t C a l a t o was
raided a n d t h e h a r b o u r at Rhodes was heavily a t t a c k e d .
I t a l i a n E a s t Africa.
68. O u r a i r c r a f t h a v e continued t o a t t a c k the I t a l i a n aerodromes, the most
successful result being achieved a t Dessie, w h e r e fighters of the S o u t h A f r i c a n
A i r Force destroyed seven enemy a i r c r a f t on the g r o u n d . M a n y successful a t t a c k s
were also c a r r i e d out a g a i n s t enemy positions, troops a n d mechanical
transport.
HOME SECURITY
SITUATION. General. By
Day.
69. V e r y few i n c i d e n t s occurred d u r i n g the week, b u t a t F r a s e r b u r g h ,
Scotland, two incidents on different d a y s caused some d a m a g e a n d seven people
were killed.
By
Night.
70. T h e enemy bombing h a s been concentrated on London, one night, a n d
on P l y m o u t h for t h r e e successive n i g h t s . P o r t s m o u t h also received a measure of
attention. T h e n u m b e r of incidents o u t s i d e the a t t a c k e d a r e a s h a s been r e m a r k ­
ably small.
7 1 . On the 1 7 t h / 1 8 t h A p r i l the chief bombing occurred in P o r t s m o u t h a n d
neighbouring H a m p s h i r e d i s t r i c t s for some seven hours w i t h small effect.
72. On the 18th/'19th A p r i l bombing was negligible,, but on the following
n i g h t a heavy a t t a c k occurred on L o n d o n a n d t h e H o m e Counties. I n London
the Docks were chiefly affected. Some 1,460 fires were s t a r t e d a n d about 63 p a r a ­
chute mines were d r o p p e d . I n the H o m e Counties t h e r e were m a n y incidents.
Casualties a n d d a m a g e o c c u r r i n g a t Rochester, D a r t f o r d , R e i g a t e a n d Romford.
73. A f t e r a q u i e t n i g h t on the 2 0 t h / 2 1 s t A p r i l , P l y m o u t h w a s bombed for
the last three n i g h t s of the period. On the n i g h t of the 2 1 s t / 2 2 n d A p r i l the
bombs were d r o p p e d chiefly i n the d o c k y a r d a r e a of P l y m o u t h , b u t the centre of
the city w a s also considerably affected. Some 30 large fires were s t a r t e d a n d t h e
casualties were heavy.
74. On the 2 2 n d / 2 3 r d A p r i l outside the P l y m o u t h a r e a a public shelter
was h i t a t Southsea, causing several casualties, a n d minor bombing occurred in
Scotland. A t P l y m o u t h communications suffered severely a n d t h e Control C e n t r e
had to be evacuated. B y m i d n i g h t 23 fires were b u r n i n g , only one being u n d e r
control. T h e Fore S t r e e t a r e a of D e v o n p o r t was chiefly affected, a n d the position
in the city w a s m a d e worse by a h i g h wind. On the following day control w a s
gained of most of t h e fires.
75. O n the 2 3 r d / 2 4 t h A p r i l t h e a t t a c k on P l y m o u t h was n o t so serious as
on the previous n i g h t , but some fires gave anxiety in the Milbay a r e a . A l l except
one fire in the centre of the city a n d fires at the oil cisterns a t T o r P o i n t were
[22450]
u
u n d e r control by 0200 hrs. I t is t h o u g h t t h a t the casualties will not be heavy.
Some fires occurred at P o r t s m o u t h , but in the rest of the country only very minor
incidents occurred
Damage.
London.
76. I n the Dock area considerable d a m a g e w a s caused to warehouses, ,silos,
timberyards, barges, trucks a n d offices. Traffic w a s much disturbed on the London
N o r t h E a s t e r n a n d Southern R a i l w a y s , b u t other u t i l i t y services escaped lightly.
77. Public buildings d a m a g e d include t h e R o y a l N a v a l College a t Green­
wich, the J a p a n e s e Embassy a n d five museums. Of the hospitals, a serious fire
occurred a t St. P e t e r ' s H o s p i t a l . Stepney, w h e r e casualties occurred.
Plymouth
and
Devonport.
78. A s yet it is early to assess the d a m a g e for the three nights, but it is
known t h a t considerable d a m a g e occurred in t h e Dockyards. F i r e s occurred at
the M i l i t a r y A r e a H e a d q u a r t e r s , a t the N a v a l E x c h a n g e a n d a t Naval, Military
and M a r i n e B a r r a c k s . A l l u t i l i t i e s were affected, the Devonport Telephone
Exchange being destroyed, the m a i n G . W . R . m a i n down line wrecked, and
considerable d a m a g e at the P l y m o u t h Goods Y a r d . F o u r oil cisterns a t T o r Point
were still b u r n i n g a t 0440 on the 24th A p r i l .
Casualties.
79. The estimated civilian casualties for the week e n d i n g 0600 hours, the
23rd A p r i l , are 2,035 killed a n d 3,899 seriously i n j u r e d . These figures include : —
London: 16th/17th
London: 19th/20th
P l y m o u t h : 2 1 s t / 2 2 n d ...
P l y m o u t h : 2 2 n d / 2 3 r d ...
Killed
1,179
442
108
163
Seriously
Injured.
2,233
1,354
99
58
A P P E N D I X
I.
Enemy Attack on Trade.
SECTION A.-Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages reported lost by enemy action.
(Note.—Tonnages are gross unless otherwise stated.)
By Submarine.
Name and Tonnage.
M/V Tanker Duffield
(8,516)
Tweed ...
(2,697)
Corinthic
(4,823)
Helena
Margareta
(3,316)
Harpathian
(4,6V 1)
Tanker British
Science
(7,138)
Nationality.
Cargo.
British
Spirit
British
Ballast
British
Grain
British
Ballast
From-—
Curacao
To-
...
I n Convoy
or not.*
40 in H.M. Ship, 11 landed Kirkwall.
Bomb
180 miles N.W. of
B u t t of Lewis.
At Chalkis, Isle of
Eubuea, Greece
At Piraeus
Bomb
At Malta
Not known.
Torpedo
Not
Freetown
Torpedo
and U.K.
Takoradi ... Torpedo
... Not
Clyde
Torpedo
Not
Piraeus
Torpedo
Yes
Not
Tees
British
F a t e of Crew and other Remarks.
27 arrived Teneriffe.
... Not
Tyne
British
Position.
340 miles W. by S. of
Madeira
100 miles off Free­
town
92 miles W. by S. of
Freetown
350 miles W. of
Madeira
290 miles W. of
Madeira
E. Mediterranean ..
Gibraltar ... Torpedo
... Liverpool ... P e p e l
Buenos
Aires
How sunk.
Haifa
15 landed Konakry. Rest arrived
Dakar.
2 killed, 28 landed Freetown.
9 in H.M. ship.
lost.
27 missing, believed
21 arrived Teneriffe.
All saved.
By Aircraft.
Favorit
(2,826)
Nemas
(4,359)
Evoihos
(4.792)
Margit
(3,257)
Hospital Ship
(1,461) "
Amiens
(1,548)
Norwegian... Steel and
scrap
Greek
Greek
Boston,
U.S.A.
Hull
Greek
...
Ballast
... Piraeus
Cardiff
British
Coal
Yes
Bomb
Panamanian
Esperos
Bomb
Suda Bay ... Bomb
Barry
Bomb
Yes
Not known.
Not known.
Off Missolonghi, Gulf Not yet known.
of P a t r a s .
: ... Near L a n d ' s E n d ... All landed St. Ives.
M
By Mine.
N a m e and Tonnage.
Nationality.
Cargo.
From—
To-
How sunk.
I n Convoy
or not.*
Not
Ranee ...
(5,060)
British
Clan Gumming
(7,264)
British
Piraeus
Alexandria
Profit
(1,608)
Norwegian
London
Hull
S/T. Millimumull
(287)
British
Position.
Suez Canal
1I
...
F a t e of Crew and other Remarks.
Previously
C.T.L.
damaged,
now
declared
Off Pirreus.
Yes
...
Thames Estuary
5 survivors, 4 injured, 13 missing.
Near Newcastle,
5 survivors, 7 missing.
N.S.W.
By Surface Craft.
Tanker Hetty
(7,031)
Brovig
Norwegian
Nereus...
(1,298)
Dutch
Effra
(1,446)
British
Potatoes
... Coke
Not
Bahrein
Lourenco
Marques
Raider
Dundee
London
E-boat T. ... Yes
Of! Gt. Y a r m o u t h
London
E-boat T. ... Yes
Off Gt. Yarmouth
. J Middlesbro.
I n d i a n Ocean
38 landed Mauritius, 4 prisoners of
war. Captured by Raider and later
scuttled.
All landed Yarmouth.
25 landed Harwich, 3 landed Southend,
2 missing.
* This information is provisional and m a y be modified subsequently on receipt of Commodore's report.
NOTE.—Tonnage of Granli shown incorrectly on previous s t a t e m e n t as 1,557 instead of 1,577.
S E C T I O N B.—Merchant Yessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages R E P O R T E D damaged by Enemy Action,
since previous Statement.
Date.
!
Name and
tonnage.
Nationality.
Cargo.
From—
To-
Mar. 1 7 ... Pilot C u t t e r
British
' Pioneer
I n convoy
or not.*
Cause.
A/C.B.
and M.G.
(281)
Mar. 3 1 ... M/V Tanker
Castor
Swedish
P o r t A r t h u r Gothenburg
S/M
Not
Position.
E x t e n t of Damage.
Casualties to
Crew. Other
Remarks.
T h a m e s E s t u a r y Steering gear damaged, also 2 killed, 2 injured.
bulwarks and plates. Ar­
rived Gravesend in tow
7 5 0 W. of the Abandoned and left buroing 2 1 arrived CuraHebrides
on 3.4.41
cao, 1 5 missing.
(8,714)
Prior to
Apr. 1 2 ... Constantinos
Louloudis
Greek
A/CB:
...
At Pirseus
Extensive
None reported.
Greek
A/CB.
...
At Piraeus
Slight
None reported.
Greek
A/CB.
...
At Piraeus
Not stated
Greek
A/CB.
...
At Piraeus
Not stated
... Yes
Not given,
Atlantic
Norwegian... Timber ... L o u i s b u r g . . . Grangemouth
British
... Govt.
...
Yes
A/CB.
and M.G.
A / C B . ...
N. Atlantic
British
A/CB.
...
A/CB.
...
.(4,697)
Ditto
... Point
Clear
(4,839)
Ditto ... Ekaterini
Coumantarou
...
None reported.
(7,777)
Ditto ... Nitsa
None reported.
(4,732)
Apr. 1 2
... Richard
de
Larrinqa
British
Wheat
... Halifax
Loch E w e . . . A / C B .
N. Not stated
No casualties.
(5,538)
Prior to
Apr. 1 3 ... Veni
(2,982)
Apr. 1 5
Apr. 1 5
Apr. 1 6
... Coalpara
(5,314)
... Quiloa
...
(7,765)
... S/T King
...
British
Athelstan
Apr. 1 6
(159)
... M/V Swedru
(5,379)
... British
West
African
produce
Duala
Liverpool ... A / C B .
... Yes
Considerable damage
None reported.
None reported.
E 1 e u s i s Bay, Damaged and beached
Greece
damaged
and
E 1 e u s i s Bay, Slightly
Greece
beached.
S.W. of Ireland Holed aft.
Engine room None.
flooded.
Beached Horse
Island, Ballinskelligs
158 miles W. of L a s t reported still burning 1 killed, 3 3 crew
and 5 passengers
Bloody Fore­
and likely to float
landed London­
land
derry.
Date.
Apr. 17 Apr. 17 N a m e and
Tonnage.
Nationality. i
British
Mentalto
(623)
Ethel
Radcliffc... British
(5,673)
Cargo
From—
Causc
To-
Cement
... E - B o a t
Yes
Milford
A/C. ii.
H a v e n and
Aruba
I
Not
Grain
St. J o h n s ,
; London
N.B.
Ballast
Falmouth...
I
British
Apr. 18 .
Osihos
...
(3,938)
Panamanian
Apr. 20 .
EndurEmpire
ance
(8,570)
Tanker British
Lord
(6,098)
P a s s . & Cargo
Chalcis
(10,305)
M/V Tanker
British
Renown
(6,997)
British
Govt.
British
F u e l o i l . . Abadan
British
... Liverpool
S/M.
Foodstuffs Sydney
and steel
via D u r b a n
billets
A/C
Dartmouth
Apr. 21 .
Apr. 21 .
Apr 21 ,.
Tug Regency
(76)
Maidstone
(688)
Lisbon
... Ardrossan
Swansea
...! Alexandria
... British
British
!
A/C.B.
Yes
S/M.
Not
Casualties to
Crew. Other
Remarks.
E x t e n t of Damage.
... Submerged on even keel
Off Great
mouth
... None reported.
Yar- Beached
in
Yarmouth.
Water in Nos. 1, 2 and 4
holds
Off Milford
Hole 10ft. in diameter in
Haven
deck on starboard side,
piercing No. 6 t a n k and
penetrating
possibly
bottom.
Brought into
Milford H a v e n
120' W. by S. of Making water in all holds.
Bloody ForeArrived
Loch
Foyle,
land
April 19
470' W e s t
of Corvette sent to assistance
Slyne H e a d
South of Crete..
.... Suda B a y ... A/C.
I
British
At Rochester
IA/C.B.
M/V Tanker
Scottish
Musician
(6,998)
Apr. 21 .
., .,.
Position,
i
Apr. 18
Apr. 21 .
In Convoy
, *
or not.
;
M.
A/C.
1 wounded.
1 d e a d , 4 wounded.
None reported.
None reported.
Engines out of action— None reported.
abandoned and left afloat
Not
530 miles W . S W Torpedoed
of Canaries
Yes
Off D a r t m o u t h . .
None reported.
Down by stern and engine None reported
room flooded.
Returned
to D a r t m o u t h
Off Ford's,Dagen Submerged ...
None reported.
ham
At P l y m o u t h .. B o m b penetrated engine None reported.
room. Vessel filled and
grounded
* This information is provisional and m a y be modified subsequently on receipt of Commodore's report.
NOTE.—Motor tanker Duffield (8,516 tons), shown last week as damaged, has since been reported sunk, and is transferred to Section A of this R e t u r n .
The Volo (1,587 tons), shown last week as damaged by A/C. at Piraeus should be deleted, the report being incorrect.
s.s. Amiens shown as damaged in r e t u r n to 16th April, subsequently sank and has been included in Section A of this Return.
az
Merchant Ships (all sizes) other than Merchant Ships Commissioned for Naval
Service reported lost by Enemy Action up to Noon, Wednesday, 23rd April,
1941.
British.
Gross
Tons.
No.
S u b m a r i n e ..
....
Mine
Min e ..
....
Surfac
Surfacee Craf
Craftt
Aircraf
Aircraftt
Othe
Otherr c a u s e ss,, o r c a u s e
unknown
Allied.
366
193
111
186
38
2,058,000
484,000
557,000
550,000
83,000
894
3,732,000 i
Gross
Tons.
No.
Together.
Neutral.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
95
39
32
77
8
467,000
106,000
201.000
320,000
38,000
179
79
6
33
9
579,000
232,000
18,000
88,000
29,000
640
311
149
296
55
3,104,000
822,000
776,000
958,000
150,000
251
1,132,000 j
306
946,000
1,451
5,810,000
N O T E . — " Allied " figures i n c l u d e P o l i s h ; all F r e n c h u p
from J u n e 25, 1 9 4 0 ; N o r w e g i a n from April 9, 1940; D u t c h
Greek from O c t o b e r 28, 1940; a n d Yugo-Slavian from April 6,
Italian u p to J u n e 10, 1940; " V i c h y " F r e n c h from J u n e
April 6, 1941.
APPENDIX
to J u n e 25, 1940; " F r e e " F r e n c h
a n d B e l g i a n from M a y 10, 1940;
1941. " N e u t r a l " figures i n c l u d e
25, 1940; and Y u g o - S l a v i a n t o
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 20th April, 1941.
Tankers. British
Britis h ship
shipss o n S e p t e m b e r 2 , 193
19399 Additions-—
N e w s h i ppss
E n e m y s h i ppss c a p t u r e d
Ship
Shipss t r a n s f e r r e d fro
from
m
Danish
French
..
....
R o u m a n i a n ..
....
Estonian
..
....
Latvian
Others
O t h e r a d d i t i o n s ..
....
T o t a l a d d i t i o nnss
..
....
..
....
..
....
o t h e r flags—
flags—ff
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
Deductions—
Ships
Ship 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 ship
shipss commissione
commissionedd fo
forr
N a v a l Servic
Servicee
(ii
(ii)) O t h e rrss
Ships
Ship s c a p t u r e d b y t h e e n e m y ..
....
Othe
Otherr d e d u c t i o n s ( i n c l u d i nngg M a r i n e R i s k ) —
(i)
(i ) C o m m i s s i o n e d fo
forr N a v aall Servic
Servicee
(ii
(ii)) O t h e r s Total deductions N e t a d d i t i o nnss (-j(-j-)) o r d e d u c t i o n s ( - ) ..
....
Britis
Britishh ship
shipss o n Apri
Aprill 20
20,, 194
19411 -
Others.
No. Gross Tons. No.
Gross
Tons.
519
3,274,000
3,578
15,392,000
16
1
130,000
6,000
208
53
1,135,000
275,000
8
12
2
66,000
60,000
11,000
13
11
85,000
16,000
115
107
2
22
8
142
91
305,000
502,000
8,000
37,000
6,000
751,000
183,000
63
374,000
743
3,202,000
2
85
1
13,000
652,000
6,000
26
661
5
232,000
3,019,000
16,000
2
8
2,000
40,000
19
157
55,000
546,000
98
713,000
S68
3,868,000
35
484
-
339,000
2,935,000
-
125
3,453
-
666,000
14,726,000*
* Of t h e t o t a l Non-Tanker
t o n n a g e , vessels r e p r e s e n t i n g a b o u t 4,100 t h o u s a n d gross t o n s are
engaged on N a v a l , Military or R . A . F . Services (including s o m e c o m m i s s i o n e d for N a v a l S e r v i c e ) ,
some of which b r i n g c a r g o e s to t h e United K i n g d o m on t h e i r h o m e w a r d voyage.
After
allowing for vessels (1) t r a d i n g p e r m a n e n t l y abroad, (2) d e t a i n e d in F r e n c h p o r t s and (3) u n d e r ­
going or a w a i t i n g repair, including t h e fitting of defensive p r o t e c t i o n , t h e b a l a n c e is a l i t t l e u n d e r
' million gross t o n s , s o m e p a r t of which is engaged in t h e c o a s t i n g t r a d e of t h e U n i t e d
Kingdom and E i r e .
(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
Approximate annual
c a p t u r e d by t h e e n e m y ,
loss if c o l u m n (2) losses
and 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 year.
t h e period.
Period. (i)
(2) 1
(3)
F i r s t 9 m o n t h s of war :
i.e., from S e p t e m b e r 3, 1939, to M a y 3 1 , 1940
Gross T o n s .
1,098.000
Gross T o n s .
1,500,000
Following 3 months :
i.e., from J u n e 1, 1940, to A u g u s t 3 1 , 1940...
M o n t h of S e p t e m b e r , 1940
...
October, 1940
,,
November, 1940
,,
D e c e m b e r , 1940
J a n u a r y , 1941
F e b r u a r y 1941
...
...
...
M a r c h , 1941
April 1 to 20, 1 9 4 1 . . .
...
...
993,000
345,000
317,000
380,000
329,000
214,000
377,000
,334,000
(188,000*
3,900,000
4,200,000
3,700,000
4,600,000
3,900,000
2,500,000
4,900,000
3,900,000)
3,400,000)
* T h e s e figures r e l a t e to losses so far notified, a n d m a y be i n c r e a s e d by l a t e r notifications.
(3) Merchant Ships (100 gross tons and over) under construction in British
Yards in the United Kingdom and abroad in week ending 18th April, 1941.
No.
6
40
Colliers and c o a s t i n g ships
O t h e r ships ...
Tankers.
Gross Tons.
4,000
333,000
337,000
46
* I n c l u d i n g 5 v e s s e l s (33,000 gross t o n s ) b u i l d i n g
t o n s ) t a k e n over by t h e Navy d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d
t y p e i n t e n d e d for N a v a l use.
I n addition, t h e r e are 181 m e r c h a n t ships t o t a l l i n g
to order in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m a n d abroad ( i n c l u d i n g
APPENDIX
Others.
No.
34
131*
165
Gross Tons.
37,000
844,000
881,000
abroad, 2 m e r c h a n t s h i p s (18,000 gross
11 s h i p s (20,000 gross t o n s ) of m e r c h a n t
1,195,000 gross t o n s on order or proposed
16 t a n k e r s of 106,000 gross t o n s ) .
IY.
Merchant Ships (all sizes) lost by the enemy up to 23rd April, 1941.
German. Together.
Gross Tons. No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
274,000
544,000
39
49
183,000
286,000
100
145
457,000
830,000
163
815,000
97
485,000
260
1,300,000
320
1,663,000
185
954,000
505
2,588,000
No. C a p t u r e d o r seize
seizedd
S c u t t l e d o r s u n k ..
....
Unidentifiedd ship
Unidentifie
shipss r e p o r t eedd
b y S/M
S/M,, A/C
A/C,, & cc,, a s s u n k
o r d e s t r o y eedd
(tonnage
estimated)
Italian.
61
96
'
I n addition, 37 s h i p s of 66,000 gross t o n s u n d e r e n e m y c o n t r o l or useful t o t h e e n e m y have
been s u n k .
S o m e 53 ships, t o t a l l i n g nearly 300,000 gross t o n s , h a v e b e e n p l a c e d u n d e r p r o t e c t i v e c u s t o d y
in U n i t e d S t a t e s and S o u t h A m e r i c a n p o r t s to p r e v e n t s a b o t a g e by t h e i r crews.
Casualties to H.M. Auxiliary Vessels and to Naval Personnel.
The following casualties have occurred to H . M . A u x i l i a r y P a t r o l Vessels
d u r i n g t h e period u n d e r review :—
17th April.—Pilot
C u t t e r Pioneer bombed a n d machine-gunned in Thames
E s t u a r y a n d towed to Gravesend.
V&th April.—A/P
T r a w l e r Kopanes bombed a n d sunk off Tyne.
The following casualties to N a v a l personnel have been reported :—
Officers : Killed 9, missing 31, wounded 6.
R a t i n g s : K i l l e d 137, missing 236, wounded 96.
F o u r missing officers later reported prisoners of w a r a r e now reported
released.
A P P E N D I X YI.
Operational Aircraft Battle Casualties.
0600 hours, April 17, 1941, to 0600 hours, April 24, 1941.
Metropolitan Area.
British
J
Bombers...
F i g h t e r s ...
Coastal ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
German.
Bombers
...
Fighters
Miscellaneous
...
...
...
...
...
...
n
the Air.
On the G round.
22
7
9
1
38
1
Probably
Destroyed.
...
2
1
Destroyed.
7
4
9
Damaged.
3
2
2
Total
20
3
7
No a c c o u n t is t a k e n of aircraft destroyed on t h e g r o u n d .
aircraft were destroyed,
Of t h e above t o t a l s , 3 bomber and 4 " m i s c e l l a n e o u s "
1 " m i s c e l l a n e o u s " p r o b a b l y d e s t r o y e d a n d 2 " m i s c e l l a n e o u s " d a m a g e d b y A.A. lire.
Middle East.
British
In the Air.
Bombers...
Fighters
Coastal ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
Of t h e above t o t a l s , 3 b o m b e r s a n d 12
3 fighters lost on t h e g r o u n d in Greece.
Italian.
fighters
Destroyed.
5
12
Bombers
Fighters
Miscellaneous
On the
8
17
Ground.
6
2
1
25
9
were lost in action a n d 6 b o m b e r s a n d
Probably
Destroyed.
2
1
Damaged.
2
9
Total
17
3
11
9
9
4
2
...
37
20
7
German.
Bombers
Fighters
Miscellaneous
...
...
Total
04
18
0
Of t h e above t o t a l s , 2 b o m b e r s , 3 fighters and 4 " m i s c e l l a n e o u s " a i r c r a f t were d e s t r o y e d
2 fighters were p r o b a b l y destroyed a n d 1 b o m b e r d a m a g e d by A.A. fire
[22450]
F
A i r A t t a c k s on Enemy T e r r i t o r y in E u r o p e .
E x t r a c t s from Recent R a i d Assessment R e p o r t s .
T H E following r e p o r t s of d a m a g e have been received d u r i n g the past week
from air reconnaissance a n d Intelligence sources : —
Germany.
Berlin.—Further
information as to the M a r c h r a i d s state t h a t the
Klingenberg P o w e r S t a t i o n was severely damaged, and some confirmation of this
w a s received from another source, who s t a t e d t h a t one of the power stations had
broken down a n d t h a t electric light in some q u a r t e r s h a d been out of o r d e r on
t h e 13th, 14th a n d 15th M a r c h . T a k i n g i n t o account previous reports, i t now
seems clear t h a t the Kleist S t r a s s e d i s t r i c t suffered severely and the neighbourhood
of the C h a r l o t t e n b u r g s t a t i o n w a s also badly damaged. Houses in the A u g s b u r g e r
Strasse, the W a i t z s t r a s s e a n d Neue K a n t S t r a s s e were destroyed or damaged.
T h e r a i d on t h e 9 t h / 1 0 t h A p r i l i s stated to have caused considerable m a t e r i a l
d a m a g e and casualties, a n d resulted i n the a u t h o r i t i e s for the first time being­
unable to hide from the m a j o r i t y of the i n h a b i t a n t s the e x t e n t of the damage.
P a r t i c u l a r s so far available show t h a t about 20 buildings in the U n t e r den
L i n d e n were destroyed. T h e S t a t e l i b r a r y (which is opposite the former palace
of the Kaiser) was g u t t e d a n d the S t a t e O p e r a H o u s e (which lies between t h a t
palace a n d the former palace of the Crown P r i n c e ) w a s demolished. Fires were
s t a r t e d i n the p r i n c i p a l food office a n d the boiler house of the m a i n fire station
received a direct hit. T h e r a i d on t h e 1 7 t h / 1 8 t h A p r i l is reported as h a v i n g
caused consternation in t h e G e r m a n Embassy at A n k a r a . A l a r g e number of
people are said to have been killed a n d the behaviour of the members of the
G e r m a n Embassy Staff m a d e it obvious t h a t they received news t h a t . h a d alarmed
them.
Kiel.—Photographs
taken on the 17th A p r i l show t h e f u r t h e r d a m a g e caused
i n the r a i d s of t h e 8 t h / 9 t h a n d 1 5 t h / 1 6 t h A p r i l . The g r e a t e r p a r t a p p e a r s to
h a v e been caused i n the Deutsche W e r k e a n d G e r m a n i a S h i p y a r d s and, i n the
G a a r d e n residential a r e a where the skilled s h i p y a r d workers reside. T h i s last
a r e a suffered severely in t h e r a i d of the 7 t h / 8 t h A p r i l and it is reasonable to
assume from t h e f u r t h e r d a m a g e now disclosed t h a t the g r e a t e r p a r t thereof has
been rendered u n i n h a b i t a b l e . P r i n c i p a l f e a t u r e s include :—
(a) Deutsche Werke.—The
engine a n d t u r b i n e engine shops have been f u r t h e r
d a m a g e d a n d i t h a s become necessary to u n d e r t a k e demolition and
clearance of t h e whole of t h e s h i p stores building.
(b) An area South of Deutsche
Werke - S e v e r a l buildings in t h i s area
c o n t a i n i n g s h i p y a r d stores have been completely g u t t e d , a n d it is
a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e r e was a m a j o r fire i n this neighbourhood.
(c) Germania Yards.—The
angle a n d p l a t e s h a p i n g sheds have been heavily
d a m a g e d , a l a r g e workshop destroyed a n d the locomotive sheds and
smithy b u i l d i n g completely gutted.
(d) An area between Kleiner Kiel and Schreven Pond.—This
is another
' ' blitzed ' ' a r e a of t h e town. T h e r e are a m i n i m u m of 14 points of
major d a m a g e a n d the whole a r e a m u s t have suffered from blast or
fire. I n the Hohenzollern R i n g nearby a block of houses 200 yards
long have t h e i r roofs and u p p e r storeys destroyed or d a m a g e d by fire.
Cologne.—Photographs
taken on the 8 t h A p r i l show t h a t t h e city power
s t a t i o n b u i l d i n g h a d been g u t t e d .
Some confirmation of the d a m a g e to the
Hohenzollern b r i d g e (previously reported) is obtained from these photographs
which disclose a r e m a r k a b l e lack of r a i l a c t i v i t y ' i n the main station a n d the
m a r s h a l l i n g y a r d s on each side of the river.
T h e house of 4711 " E a u de
Cologne " received a direct h i t and 2 0 people a r e believed to have been killed in
t h e building.
Bremen.—The
J u . 87 Assembly F a c t o r y (previously r e p o r t e d damaged) w a s
hit in t h e r a i d of t h e 1 2 t h / 1 3 t h M a r c h . A n iron works a n d t h e engine sheds on
the W e s t e r n side of t h e Kohlenhafen were also h i t a n d d a m a g e d in this r a i d , 8
locomotives being practically destroyed.
General.—A
G e r m a n living n e a r Wilhelmshaven has given the following
account of r a i d s t o his d a u g h t e r , m a r r i e d to a n e u t r a l . She was not allowed to
visit h i m a t home and the visit took place in Berlin :—
H e s t a t e d the docks a t W i l h e l m s h a v e n h a d been shot to pieces and the
d a m a g e w a s d e v a s t a t i n g . Some submarine b u i l d i n g w a s still going on, but
not more t h a n 10 per cent, of the normal. Nobody w a s allowed to see the
d a m a g e , but the e x t e n t w a s known from the workmen w h o went there daily
a n d from t h e numbers t h r o w n out of employment, H a n o v e r also suffered
a p p a l l i n g d a m a g e . Most of t h e bombs h i t objectives of m i l i t a r y importance,
i n c l u d i n g H a n o m a g a,nd the C o n t i n e n t a l Rubber W o r k s .
France.
Brest.—Reports
have been received of h i t s on both t h e b a t t l e cruisers. I t is
stated t h a t d u r i n g one of t h e early a t t a c k s a n a i r c r a f t a t t a c k i n g alone in the
early h o u r s of t h e m o r n i n g scored a direct h i t on one of them. This a i r c r a f t was
subsequently shot down a n d the pilot, a C a n a d i a n aged about 19, was saved.
(A C a n a d i a n pilot aged 19 belonging to 22 S q u a d r o n Coastal Command is
missing from a n a t t a c k on Brest on t h e 6th A p r i l , 1941.) A factor which may
also i n d i c a t e d a m a g e to the battle-cruisers is t h a t A d m i r a l R a e d e r h a s recently
made a special visit to inspect them. T h e P r e f e c t u r e M a r i t i m e a n d the Salle des
Fetes have been h i t a n d d a m a g e d .
Bulgaria.
Sofia.—In
t h e r a i d on the 1 3 t h / 1 4 t h A p r i l direct h i t s were obtained on an
ammunition t r a i n . T h e petrol storage i n s t a l l a t i o n was h i t a n d explosions were
still t a k i n g place 8 hours after the r a i d finished. T h e a r e a s u r r o u n d i n g the
main s t a t i o n w a s d a m a g e d and the accuracy of t h e bombing was described a s
excellent.
i'
BRITISH
AND F O R E I G N (BLACK) MERCHANT SHIPPING
DIFFERENT FORMS OF ENEMY ACTION­
7\Iqte:- Includes
Division.
March
194-1.
This
L O S S E S BY
vessels of all tonnages (but excludes
CommissionedShips.)
Italian losses are included up to June. lO. 194-0.
graph,
is basedon*irformatinn.
received
in, the Admiralty-
up to 1200
on. April
22
194-i.
BRITISH
AND F O R E I G N (BLACK) MERCHANT SHIPPING
DIFFERENT FORMS OF ENEMY ACTION.
IVqte: - Includes
March. 19-4-1.
L O S S E S BY
vessels of all tonnages (but excludes
Co/nmissio/iedShips.)
Italian, losses are Included up ta June. 10, 194-0.
This graph, is basedon^informjcition, received in. the Admiralty up ta 1200 on. April 22 194-i.