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Catalogue Reference:cab/66/19/49
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THIS D O C U M E N T I S T H E P R O P E R T Y O F H I S B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T V S
GOVERNMENT
Copy No.
SECRET.
W.P. ( 4 1 ) 276
(Also C.O.S, ( 4 1 ) 6 9 3 )
November
20, 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. 116) of the NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 0700 November 13th, to 0700 November 20th, 1941 [Circulated with the approval of
the Chiefs of Staff.]
Cabinet
War
Room
NAYAL
SITUATION. 1. H . M . S . Ark Royal h a s been torpedoed a n d sunk to the eastward of
G i b r a l t a r , in which position a G e r m a n U-boat was destroyed three days later.
Enemy minelaying by a i r c r a f t h a s increased in the T h a m e s E s t u a r y .
T h e r e h a s been a renewal of E-boat activity off the E a s t Coast.
S h i p p i n g losses have been light.
H o m e Waters.
2. On the evening of the 15th, in the S t r a i t s of Dover, a short engagement
took place between four of our Motor G u n Boats a n d enemy surface craft
consisting of six or seven E - or R-boats a n d a t least one coaster or trawler, during
w h i c h casualties and d a m a g e were inflicted by both sides. E n e m y shore batteries
w e r e also in action. One M . G . B . was seriously damaged, one r a t i n g being killed
a n d one officer and three r a t i n g s wounded.
On the 17th s.s. Runmore (969 tons) shot down a D o r n i e r 17 off Yarmouth.
On the 19th H . M . Destroyer Garth w a s damaged by s t r i k i n g a wreck off the
Norfolk coast and H . M . Destroyer Castleton
w a s holed as the result of an
explosion, one r a t i n g being killed.
D u r i n g the n i g h t of the 19th E-boats a t t a c k e d a convoy off Cromer and the
escorts engaged them, assisted by Motor Gun B o a t s who were on patrol.
H . M . S . Destroyer Wolsey claims to have sunk one E-boat, H . M . S . Campbell and
M . G . B . 87 another, a n d M.G.Bs. on p a t r o l a t h i r d . T h e following morningSpitfires r e p o r t sinking a fourth E-boat off the D u t c h coast a n d d a m a g i n g another.
T h e t o t a l enemy losses are estimated to be two E-boats sunk, two probably sunk
a n d others damaged.
I t is estimated t h a t 9,000 tons of enemy s h i p p i n g h a s been sunk or damaged
b y our a i r c r a f t . Details a r e given in the A i r Situation.
Northern Waters.
3. Between the 2nd and 10th November a R u s s i a n submarine sank a
westbound ship of 5,000 tons a n d two escorted eastbound ships, about 100 miles
south-west of N o r t h Cape. A n o t h e r R u s s i a n submarine torpedoed a southbound
t a n k e r in V a r a n g e r F i o r d on t h e 15th which was l a t e r seen on fire.
H . M . S u b m a r i n e Sealion sank by gunfire on the 18th a small Norwegian
t a n k e r , 330 tons, c a r r y i n g fuel oil to K i r k e n e s when in t h e vicinity of the North
Cape. The crew abandoned s h i p .
Mediterranean.
4. D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n ' o f the 13th H . M . A i r c r a f t C a r r i e r Ark
Royal,
when r e t u r n i n g from operations in the C e n t r a l M e d i t e r r a n e a n , was torpedoed by
a U-boat about 37 miles to the e a s t w a r d of G i b r a l t a r , a n d subsequently sank
a f t e r being taken in tow. The whole of the s h i p ' s company, w i t h t h e exception
of one r a t i n g killed, were rescued. F o u r t e e n a i r c r a f t from Ark Royal landed at
Gibraltar.
E M . S u b m a r i n e Proteus, on r e t u r n from p a t r o l in the ^Egean, reported that
she torpedoed the I t a l i a n t a n k e r Tampico (4,958 tons) off M a n d i l i I s l a n d on the
m o r n i n g of the 3rd. T h e t a n k e r w a s still afloat a t dusk, b u t a second attack
w a s f r u s t r a t e d by the escort. On t h e 10th she torpedoed a ship similar to the
G e r m a n s.s. Ithaka (1,773 tons), heavily laden a n d southbound in the Gulf of
A t h e n s , a n d possibly obtained a h i t on her escort.
I t is estimated t h a t 10,000 tons of enemy s h i p p i n g h a s been sunk or damaged
i n M e d i t e r r a n e a n by our a i r c r a f t ; details a r e given in t h e A i r S i t u a t i o n .
D u r i n g the week six F r e n c h M e r c h a n t Ships (about 20,000 tons) westbound
a n d one (2,000 tons), a survey vessel a n d 2 trawlers eastbound, have passed the
S t r a i t s of G i b r a l t a r u n d e r escort.
Anti-Submarine Operations.
5. On the 16th H . M . Corvette Marigold,
35 miles to the e a s t w a r d of
G i b r a l t a r , s a n k a G e r m a n U-boat a n d took t h i r t y - f o u r prisoners. One of our
a i r c r a f t m a d e a p r o m i s i n g a t t a c k 150 miles south-west of U s h a n t . Three other
a t t a c k s have been c a r r i e d out, two to the south of Iceland (C) and the other in
t h e W e s t e r n approaches, w i t h o u t visible results.
Enemy Intelligence.
6. T h e B a t t l e s h i p Tirpitz
w a s last reported i n the B a l t i c on the
9th November.
T h e r e is some evidence of a concentration of destroyers in the Baltic, a n d
none a r e now lying at Brest. Some, however, have been reported on the
Norwegian Coast.
U-Boats.
Between twenty a n d t h i r t y U-boats have been o p e r a t i n g d u r i n g the week.
The m a i n concentration h a s been reported well o u t in the N o r t h A t l a n t i c . N o
recent information h a s been received of U-boats south of 3 0 North. I n t h e early
p a r t of t h e week three or four were o p e r a t i n g to t h e east of G i b r a l t a r .
T h e number of G e r m a n submarines in t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n h a s increased a n d
may now be a s h i g h as ten. I t is believed t h a t they are based a t S a l o n i k a and
Piraeus.
o
Enemy Attack on Trade.
7. A Norwegian ship, homeward bound from Chittagong, w a s s u n k after
an explosion, off E a s t London (S. A f r i c a ) . N o casualties from U-boats have been
reported d u r i n g the week u n d e r review. Enemy a i r c r a f t have again been active
on the E a s t Coast, s i n k i n g two ships a n d d a m a g i n g another.
A t r a w l e r was
bombed a n d sunk off t h e F a r o e I s l a n d s . One small ship w a s mined a n d sunk in
Falmouth harbour. T h r e e ships i n a south-bound convoy off Cromer were sunk
by E-boats d u r i n g the n i g h t of 1 9 t h / 2 0 t h .
R e p o r t s have been received t h a t a ship w a s sunk by a U-boat about 900 miles
west of Walfish Bay on the 28th October a n d another 400 miles south of Freetown
on the 12th November.
Protection of Seaborne Trade.
8. D u r i n g the week e n d i n g the 19th November 849 ships, including
180 allied and 25 neutral, were convoyed. F o u r cruisers, five a n t i - a i r c r a f t ships,
one h u n d r e d destroyers - (including thirty-one U n i t e d States destroyers), a n d
ninety-four sloops a n d corvettes were employed on escort duties.
I m p o r t s into U n i t e d K i n g d o m by ships in convoy d u r i n g t h e week e n d i n g
the 15th November totalled 606,354 tons, compared w i t h 1,295,823 tons d u r i n g
the preceding week, a n d a n average of 990,557 tons d u r i n g the p a s t 10 weeks. Of
this figure 247,867 tons were oil i m p o r t s a n d 358,487 tons were n o n - t a n k e r
imports.
British Minelaying.
9. Mines have been laid off. the F r e n c h Channel Coast a n d in N o r t h e r n
Waters.
Enemy Minelaying, British Minesweeping.
10. Mines were l a i d in the T h a m e s E s t u a r y , off H a r w i c h , a n d in t h e Bristol
Channel. The Thames E s t u a r y was the most heavily raided, as many as 35 air­
craft o p e r a t i n g on one n i g h t .
Sixteen magnetic a n d nine acoustic mines have-been destroyed d u r i n g the
week. T h e m i n e totals a r e : 1,517 magnetic, 1,161 acoustic a n d 1,063 moored
mines.
Enemy Merchant Shipping.
11. T h e Swedish s.s. Vollrath Tham, 5,787 tons, was lost owing to w a r risks
off the e n t r a n c e to the River E m s on the 10th November while c a r r y i n g ore to
Germany, and the G e r m a n s.s. Schwaneck, 2,194 tons, was mined off S t e t t i n .
T h e r e is evidence t h a t the C o r i n t h Canal is now open to ships of t h e largest
tonnage which previously used it.
[23172]
B
The G e r m a n s.s. Odenwald, 5,098 tons, was t a k e n by the U n i t e d S t a t e s ships
which intercepted h e r into S a n J u a n , P u e r t o Rico. A P r i z e C o u r t h a s decided
t h a t , a s the G e r m a n C a p t a i n signalled asking for boats to be sent as the Odenwald
was sinking the ship w a s therefore salvage, a n d a s such has been a w a r d e d to the
U n i t e d States.
MILITARY
SITUATION.
(An outline m a p showing A x i s operations a g a i n s t R u s s i a is included in this
Resume a s a n inset.)
Russo-German C a m p a i g n .
Finland.
12.
T h e r e h a s been no appreciable change.
Leningrad
sector.
13. T h e s i t u a t i o n a r o u n d the city r e m a i n s unchanged. A p a r t from the
consolidation of t h e a r e a between t h e s p e a r h e a d s a t Schluesselberg a n d Tikvin
t h e r e have been no offensive operations by the G e r m a n s .
Kalinin
area.
14. F i g h t i n g in t h i s a r e a continues to be severe. A l t h o u g h the spearhead
t h r u s t to K a l i n i n h a s been widened slightly on its n o r t h e r n edge, G e r m a n forces
have not been able to m a k e a n y progress e a s t w a r d s a n d have suffered heavily in
men and m a t e r i a l from t h e vigorous R u s s i a n opposition, both on t h e ground
a n d from the a i r . H e a v y fighting is also t a k i n g place i n t h e a r e a between
K a l i n i n a n d Wolokolamsk.
T h e G e r m a n forces still a p p e a r to be seriously
h a m p e r e d by s u p p l y difficulties and w e a t h e r conditions.
Central
sector.
15. D u e west of Moscow and south as f a r as Tula, over a f r o n t of roughly
150 miles, the G e r m a n s h a v e not succeeded i n m a k i n g a n y advance. I n the
T u l a - O r e l sector, however, after f a i l u r e to m a k e progress n o r t h w a r d s from Tula,
t h e G e r m a n forces have begun a t h r u s t e a s t w a r d s w i t h some success. Their
object m a y be either to cut t h e M o s c o w - R y a z a n - V o r o n e z h r a i l w a y or to swing
n o r t h w a r d s a g a i n s t Moscow from t h e line T u l a - R i a z h s k .
16. I n general, t h e f r o s t - h a s somewhat improved r o a d conditions in the
whole of t h e central sector, b u t t h e supply s i t u a t i o n continues to be serious and
t h e G e r m a n troops a r e suffering severely from cold, as only some u n i t s a r e fully
equipped w i t h w i n t e r clothing.
Donetz
sector.
17. N o appreciable progress h a s been m a d e in the German advance.
h a s been n o fighting on a m a j o r scale, a l t h o u g h operations continue.
There
Rostov sector.
18. T h e position immediately west of the t o w n remains u n c h a n g e d a n d the
road conditions have continued to h a m p e r f u r t h e r G e r m a n advance.
Crimea.
19. W h i l e t h e G e r m a n s are still meeting w i t h strong resistance a n d bad
weather conditions in t h e i r advance on Sevastopol, they have succeeded in
occupying practically t h e whole of t h e E a s t e r n C r i m e a and have entered the town
of Kerch.
Operations.
Libya and
Egypt.
20. A t d a w n on the 18th November t h e A r m y in t h e W e s t e r n Desert, under
the command of G e n e r a l S i r A l a n C u n n i n g h a m , began its advance into
Cyrenaica.
21. $Slrf" a r m o u r e d force crossed the frontier South of Sidi Omar, a n d
by the evening h a d p e n e t r a t e d some 50 miles into enemy territory. A t the same
time, p r e s s u r e was exerted a g a i n s t the A x i s defences in the S o l l u m - S i d i O m a r B a r d i a triangle. T h e p r e l i m i n a r y concentrations and moves were c a r r i e d o u t
without interference from the enemy.
22. S t r i c t wireless silence has been m a i n t a i n e d a n d no f u r t h e r information
of the progress of the o p e r a t i o n s is a t present available.
A byssinia.
23. N o r t h of G o n d a r active p a t r o l l i n g has been c a r r i e d out by our troops
opposite t h e enemy's position i n the Ambazzo area. T h e column advancing on
Gondar, from the south-east has located enemy positions in the area of Cucualbert
(Kulkaber) (29 miles S.E. of Gondar) a n d P e r o a b e r (7 miles S.W. of Cucualbert).
L e a d i n g troops of t h e column a d v a n c i n g from the south-west have m a d e contact
with t h e enemy 8 miles west of Celga. South of G o n d a r t h e enemy forces a t
G i a n d a (14 miles S.E. of Celga) surrendered on t h e 11th November to an E t h i o p i a n
Bn., after a n engagement l a s t i n g four hours. A i r bombing a n d machine-gunning
of the enemy's positions i n all sectors have been intensified a n d good results have
been obtained. P a t r i o t forces are co-operating w i t h our f o r w a r d troops and a r e
continually h a r a s s i n g t h e enemy, w i t h the result t h a t m a n y deserters a r e coming in.
24. A b a n d of W o g e r a tribesmen, e s t i m a t e d 6,000 strong, r a i d e d a village
12 miles south-east of B a t i e (30 miles E a s t of Dessie) c a u s i n g casualties and
stealing cattle. They a r e r e p o r t e d to have moved n o r t h w a r d s .
25. I n the F r e n c h Somaliland frontier
fired on one of our p a t r o l s on t h e 6th November.
V i c h y post is reported to have
Hong
Kong.
26. T w o C a n a d i a n I n f a n t r y B a t t a l i o n s , t h e W i n n i p e g G r e n a d i e r s a n d the
Royal Rifles (Canada), w i t h ancillary troops, a r r i v e d on the 16th November.
Intelligence.
France.
27. A review of evidence from Occupied F r a n c e indicates t h a t recent troop
movements e a s t w a r d s have resulted in a reduction in the t o t a l of G e r m a n divisions
there from 27 to 24. Of those which left, two a r e believed to h a v e gone from
between the River G i r o n d e and the S p a n i s h frontier, leaving only two divisions
in t h a t area. It is probable t h a t m a n y of the divisions r e m a i n i n g in F r a n c e a r e
considerably below s t r e n g t h owing to the f r e q u e n t t r a n s f e r of d r a f t s of t r a i n e d
men, a n d in some eases of complete u n i t s , to the R u s s i a n front.
Italy.
28. 1st Division from T u r i n h a s been identified a t A v e r s a a n d B a t t i p a g l i a ,
in the N a p l e s area. W h i l e t h i s move m a y be connected w i t h possible I t a l i a n
apprehensions of civil disturbance as a result of our heavy bombing of Naples,
the m a i n motive is more probably nervousness about the defence of southern Italy.
Though n o other fresh formations h a v e been identified i n this area, i t is believed
that t h e depots of southern I t a l i a n divisions a t present overseas a r e considerably
over s t r e n g t h , a n d , there is evidence t h a t heavy artillery from t h e northern
frontiers is being t r a n s f e r r e d to the south for coast defence. B a t t e r i e s have been
identified at the mouth of the Sele River south of Naples, a n d in Sicily.
Libya.
29. A l t h o u g h there a r e still no indications of elements of a n y fresh G e r m a n
formation a r r i v i n g in Libya, t h e t r a n s p o r t of d r a f t s to N o r t h A f r i c a continues.
[23172]
'
2
B
T h e s t r e n g t h of the G e r m a n forces is still estimated to be two a r m o u r e d divisions
a n d two i n f a n t r y regiments of another division which is not armoured.
Far
East.
30. J a p a n e s e m i l i t a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s d u r i n g the p a s t week have been chiefly
in French I n d o - C h i n a . W h e n these p r e p a r a t i o n s began about t h e middle of
October, i t a p p e a r e d t h a t they were directed a g a i n s t K u n m i n g o n , t h e Burma
Road, and t h a t the J a p a n e s e i n t e n d e d to form a l a r g e concentration in Tongking
(North I n d o - C h i n a ) . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 50,000 troops were landed a t Haiphong,
b u t the bulk of these have now left for Southern I n d o - C h i n a . I t is apparent
t h a t the m a i n concentration is in the south directed a g a i n s t T h a i l a n d . In
a d d i t i o n to these movements, there a r e also indications t h a t t h e J a p a n e s e may
intend reducing their n o r t h e r n concentration a g a i n s t R u s s i a a n d move some of
these troops south.
. 3 1 . The estimated d i s t r i b u t i o n of J a p a n e s e forces in t h e south is now as
follows :—
Formosa : 2 Divisions. H a i n a n : 1 Division. C a n t o n : 3 Divisions. S w a t o w : 1 I n d . M x d . Bde. F r e n c h I n d o - C h i n a -
N o r t h : 1 Division. South : 3 Divisions. 1 Tank Regiment. T o t a l : 10 Divisions.
1 I n d . M x d . Bde.
1 T a n k Regiment.
AIR
SITUATION.
General Review.
32. B a d w e a t h e r at H o m e and on the Continent caused a m a r k e d decline in
our activity a n d also t h a t of the enemy.
I n L i b y a persistent day a n d n i g h t attacks have been m a d e on enemy
aerodromes a n d supplies; a r m o u r e d fighting vehicles a n d motor t r a n s p o r t have
been attacked.
G e r m a n y a n d Occupied T e r r i t o r y .
Day.
33. No operations were c a r r i e d out by a i r c r a f t of Bomber Command.
Offensive sorties by fighters were r e s t r i c t e d to 259 compared w i t h 633 last week.
A t t a c k s on s h i p p i n g are r e p o r t e d u n d e r " Coastal O p e r a t i o n s . "
On the 15th a n d 17th, a series of operations by Spitfires, W h i r l w i n d s
a n d H u r r i c a n e bombers were directed a g a i n s t oil refineries and alcohol distilleries
i n N o r t h - W e s t F r a n c e a n d t h e Cherbourg P e n i n s u l a . B u i l d i n g s and oil con­
t a i n e r s a t Dieppe, Bricquebec, Cerences, L a Meauffe, B o u r b o u r g a n d St. Lo were
successfully a t t a c k e d and, in a d d i t i o n , our a i r c r a f t destroyed a r a i l w a y locomotive
a n d registered h i t s on a t r a i n , on several gun-posts a n d on a number of German
troops. I n these operations we lost five Spitfires.
34. On the 18th, similar o p e r a t i o n s i n the L e T o u q u e t a r e a were hampered
by thick cloud, but, w i t h o u t loss to themselves, our fighters destroyed in combat
one enemy fighter, probably destroyed five more a n d d a m a g e d a further four.
Night.
35. Owing to the weather, all Bomber Command operations were cancelled
on five n i g h t s . On the 1 5 t h / 1 6 t h , 110 a i r c r a f t were despatched, principally
a g a i n s t E m d e n a n d Kiel. On t h e 1 8 t h / 1 9 t h , six S t i r l i n g s operated a g a i n s t Brest.
T o t a l s of 93 tons of H . E . bombs and 2,490 incendiaries were dropped.
I
36. A i r c r a f t despatched to E m d e n a n d Kiel met w i t h severe icing
conditions a n d found t h e i r t a r g e t s obscured by heavy cloud. A t t h e former p o r t
24 tons of H . E . bombs, i n c l u d i n g five of 4,000 lbs., were dropped, but, a p a r t from
a large fire, no results could be seen. A t t h e latter, where 11 tons of H . E . bombs
were released, visibility w a s equally bad a n d only bursts were observed.
37. H e a v y cloud also prevented the observation of results a t Brest, where
10 tons of bombs were d r o p p e d .
United Kingdom.
38. F i g h t e r C o m m a n d flew 883 sorties by d a y and 186 sorties by n i g h t ; these
totals a r e substantially lower t h a n those of the previous week a n d reflect t h e
unfavourable w e a t h e r conditions prevailing.
39. T h e scale of enemy effort was the lowest recorded since the b e g i n n i n g
of o p e r a t i o n s on the R u s s i a n front a n d t h e r e were few f e a t u r e s of interest.
40. No concentrated a t t a c k s were m a d e on land t a r g e t s . I n d a y l i g h t more
a i r c r a f t crossed t h e coast t h a n f o r m a n y weeks, a d v a n t a g e being t a k e n of low
cloud to m a k e brief sorties in coastal areas. A t n i g h t few a i r c r a f t p e n e t r a t e d
inland.
Coastal Operations.
41. Coastal C o m m a n d flew 181 p a t r o l s (267 sorties) a n d provided 19 convoy
escorts (50 a d d i t i o n a l sorties). S h i p p i n g protection p a t r o l s by F i g h t e r C o m m a n d
totalled 324 (728 sorties).
42. O w i n g to t h e unfavourable weather, a t t a c k s on enemy s h i p p i n g were
considerably reduced. A H u d s o n bombed a n 8,000-ton m e r c h a n t -vessel off L i s t e r
L i g h t ; t w o h i t s a m i d s h i p s w e r e seen a n d the ship w a s left listing.
Spitfires
sank a 500-ton vessel off F e c a m p , a n d numerous h i t s w i t h machine g u n a n d cannon
fire w e r e m a d e by Beaufighters of Coastal Command on a 600-ton vessel off
I j m u i d e n . Other ships w e r e bombed a n d machine-gunned off the N o r w e g i a n coast
w i t h o u t the effects being observed.
43. Eleven a i r c r a f t were despatched to lay sea-mines off Lorient, St. N a z a i r e
and the F r i s i a n I s l a n d s .
44. E n e m y offensive activity w a s still directed m a i n l y a g a i n s t s h i p p i n g .
Six a t t a c k s were m a d e by day off t h e H u m b e r , Cromer, t h e Needles a n d t h e
Faroes, a n d six a t dusk or in t h e early hours of darkness off W a t e r f o r d , Dundee,
and t h e E a s t Coast. M i n e l a y i n g is suspected i n t h e T h a m e s E s t u a r y a n d in t h e
Bristol C h a n n e l area.
45. A i r c r a f t from t h e Condor u n i t were identified west of I r e l a n d on two
occasions b u t failed to locate t h e convoy for w h i c h they were a p p a r e n t l y searching.
I n recent weeks this u n i t h a s o p e r a t e d west of S p a i n a n d P o r t u g a l a n d t h e move
n o r t h w a r d s represents a r e t u r n to its former a r e a of operations.
46. R o u t i n e s h i p p i n g a n d weather reconnaissances were c a r r i e d out by t h e
enemy over t h e N o r t h Sea (as f a r N o r t h as the Faroes a n d J a n M a y e n I s l a n d ) ,
the Channel, a n d the A t l a n t i c .
Central Mediterranean..
47. A n i g h t a t t a c k by 19 Wellingtons l a s t i n g five a n d a half hours w a s
made on the r a i l w a y centre of C a t a n i a ; over 30 tons of bombs were d r o p p e d
and m a n y h i t s were observed in the t a r g e t area. Nuisance r a i d s were also c a r r i e d
out at n i g h t by small forces of W e l l i n g t o n s on enemy bases a t B r i n d i s i , Naples,
Tripoli (L), B e n g h a z i a n d Messina, a n d bombs were d r o p p e d on the r a i l w a y
centres a n d on other objectives; at B r i n d i s i two factories were set on fire, a n d
hits on t h e b a r r a c k s and. o n oil t a n k s resulted in a number of explosions and a .
large fire.
48. Six Blenheims a t t a c k e d a small convoy W e s t of Z a n t e , m a k i n g a direct
h i t on a m e r c h a n t vessel of 4,000 tons. P e t r o l stored on deck w a s i g n i t e d by
machine-gun fire, and the ship was left alight. A n o t h e r convoy of three merchant
vessels a n d a destroyer was a t t a c k e d by five Blenheims in the Gulf of S i r t e ; one
ship of 5,000 tons was h i t a n d left w i t h a list t o starboard, a schooner w a s also
h i t a n d w a s last seen low in the water, while a n e a r miss w a s made on the other
m e r c h a n t vessel of 2,000 tons. Three Blenheims a r e missing. Five Albacores
o p e r a t i n g u n d e r the A.O.C., M a l t a , laid mines in the sea off M a r s a l a .
49. H u r r i c a n e bombers carried out an offensive p a t r o l over South-East
Sicily; they bombed a t r a i n a n d a w a t e r tower a t Noto Station, a n d also shot up
a factory a n d signal boxes w i t h cannon and machine-gun fire.
50. On two n i g h t s t h e enemy c a r r i e d out small offensive operations against
M a l t a w i t h o u t causing any d a m a g e of importance.
Eastern Mediterranean.
51. O u r reconnaissance a i r c r a f t have been active over s h i p p i n g routes
between Crete a n d Libya, road communications in W e s t e r n Cyrenaica, aerodromes
in Crete a n d Libya, a n d enemy positions in the frontier area. Tactical and
strategical reconnaissances were flown on the 18th November, b u t results were
limited by very unfavourable w e a t h e r a n d sandstorms.
52. N i g h t offensive operations were u n d e r t a k e n by Wellingtons, which flew
a total of 155 sorties. On t h e first three n i g h t s of the week r a i l w a y sidings,
stores d u m p s a n d the h a r b o u r a t B e n g h a z i were the p r i n c i p a l objectives, and
three direct h i t s were m a d e w i t h 4,000-lb. bombs. Other a t t a c k s were made on
a i r c r a f t stores a t Berca, where a violent explosion was reported, on the stores
d u m p s at B a r d i a , on t h e town of D e r n a a n d on the aerodromes a t E l Tmimi,
E l Gazala, D e r n a and M a r t u b a . On the n i g h t of t h e 1 6 t h / 1 7 t h November five
Bombays were despatched w i t h p a r a c h u t e troops whose object was the
destruction, on the following n i g h t , of enemy a i r c r a f t on the g r o u n d a t E l Tmimi
a n d E l Gazala. T o divert a t t e n t i o n from the Bombays, W e l l i n g t o n s carried out
a heavy a t t a c k on these two l a n d i n g g r o u n d s ; bad weather prevailed and one
Bombay a n d one W e l l i n g t o n are missing.
53. I n d a y l i g h t on t h e first six days, M a r y l a n d s m a d e over 110 bombing
sorties; the a t t a c k s , which averaged about e i g h t a i r c r a f t , were concentrated
a g a i n s t enemy aerodromes. Bombs were seen to fall among dispersed aircraft,
a s u b s t a n t i a l number of which were known to be destroyed or damaged.
A direct h i t w a s m a d e on the b a r r a c k s a t Berca, a n d two successful r a i d s were
m a d e on the stores d u m p s a t E l Gazala. D u r i n g these offensive operations our
casualties were light a n d on only two occasions were our a i r c r a f t intercepted by
enemy fighters, as a result of w h i c h one Me. 110 was shot down and two
M a r y l a n d s a r e missing. On the 19th November, 32 sorties by M a r y l a n d s and
Blenheims were carried o u t in the G a m b u t / B a r d i a / C a p u z z i o a r e a a g a i n s t enemy
A . F . V s a n d M.T., w i t h satisfactory results.
54. L a r g e numbers of enemy t r a n s p o r t a i r c r a f t have recently been reported
flying between Crete and Cyrenaica. On t h e 18th and 19th November Beaufighters
intercepted a n d shot down seven J u . 52s and one H . S . 126, a n d on the ground
they destroyed four S. 79s, five J u . 87s, two Me. 109 F s a n d one Fieseler Storch.
55. O u r fighters have also provided some bomber escorts, and have patrolled
over o u r f o r w a r d areas a n d a t t a c k e d g r o u n d t a r g e t s i n enemy territoryH u r r i c a n e s intercepted a n enemy bomber escorted by e i g h t G. 50s and shot down
two of the escort; a Me. 110 w a s also destroyed over the frontier area. I n an
a t t a c k made by 24 T o m a h a w k s on 15 I t a l i a n fighters a t Sidi Rezegh landing
g r o u n d (15 miles E.S.E. of E l A d e m ) two of the enemy a i r c r a f t were destroyed
a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g 13 damaged. Beaufighters destroyed 20 motor vehicles a n d
four petrol t a n k e r s in the B i n i n a area, a n d also damaged about 30 motor vehicles
n e a r D e r n a . Motor t r a n s p o r t was twice effectively a t t a c k e d by Blenheim fighters
on t h e J e d a b y a - E l A g h e i l a road a n d m a n y vehicles were extensively damaged.
56. On 18th November, 17 bombers w i t h fighter escort successfully attacked
200 to 300 A . F . V s . a n d M . T . w h i c h were bogged a t B i r el Gobi. On the same
day H u r r i c a n e s shot down t h r e e C.R. 42s over J a l o (220 miles S.S.E. of Benghazi),
and destroyed two a i r c r a f t on the g r o u n d a t G a s r es Sahabi (60 miles S.E. of
J e d a b y a ) , w h e r e two other a i r c r a f t were also d a m a g e d by Blenheims.
57. E n e m y activity has been on a small soale. T h e only concentrated a t t a c k
was m a d e on a Royal A i r Force a e r o d r o m e a t G i a r a b u b , by a force of 36 Bombers
and fighters; one Blenheim w a s destroyed a n d five others damaged and petrol
stores were set on fire; one Me. 110 a n d one J u . 88 were shot down. On the
19th November 3 Me. 109Fs. attacked one of our f o r w a r d l a n d i n g grounds and
destroyed t w o H u r r i c a n e s on the g r o u n d a n d shot down a Tomahawk, the pilot
of which is safe.
Russia.
German Air Force Operations against
Russia.
58. Operations by day on the Moscow front continue generally a t a low
level, b u t long-range bombers have o p e r a t e d consistently by n i g h t . So far as is
known, r a i d s in the Moscow area have been on a small scale a n d of a h a r a s s i n g
nature.
59. T h e r e h a s been considerably g r e a t e r activity in the Black Sea a r e a in
connection w i t h the C r i m e a n operations, long-range bombers and torpedo­
c a r r y i n g a i r c r a f t being engaged in heavy a t t a c k s on Sebastopol a n d the R u s s i a n
fleet a n d s h i p p i n g in the harbour.
A l t h o u g h the G e r m a n s claim t o have occupied Kerch, the fact remains t h a t
they first reached the P e r e k o p I s t h m u s t w o months ago w h e n t h e i r first a t t a c k
on the R u s s i a n defences failed. T h e delay t h u s caused is of some importance,
not only for the time it h a s given the R u s s i a n s to o r g a n i s e t h e i r a i r force in
Caucasia, b u t also for the reason t h a t a c e r t a i n period m u s t yet elapse before
long-range bomber u n i t s can be established a t the C r i m e a aerodromes, and t h e i r
o p e r a t i o n a l value will be restricted by t h e s h o r t e n i n g hours of d a y l i g h t a n d the
a p p r o a c h of w i n t e r conditions.
60. T h e w i t h d r a w a l of a number of u n i t s to C e n t r a l G e r m a n y h a s been in
progress recently, a n d u p to d a t e it is e s t i m a t e d t h a t 400-500 long-range bombers
have been moved back for reforming. Several weeks m u s t elapse before these
u n i t s can a g a i n become operational, a n d there is reason t o suppose t h a t p a r t a t
least will r e t u r n t o t h e "Western F r o n t .
HOME SECURITY
SITUATION.
General.
61. Bombing on land, which w a s l i g h t a n d scattered, h a s a g a i n been confined
to Coastal A r e a s p r i n c i p a l l y in the E a s t a n d S o u t h - E a s t together w i t h the SouthW e s t e r n districts of E n g l a n d a n d Wales.
62. By day incidents took place on t h e 12th, 14th, 15th a n d 16th November.
A few bombs were d r o p p e d on each n i g h t of the week, except on the 1 6 t h / 1 7 t h
November.
Damage.
63. On the 15th November, D o r m a n L o n g a n d C o m p a n y ' s I r o n W o r k s a t
R e d c a r were h i t and the gas cleansing p l a n t of the blast furnaces w a s p u t out
of action, causing some loss of p r o d u c t i o n of p i g iron. A p a r t from t h i s incident,
the d a m a g e done w a s mainly confined to p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . U t i l i t y services a n d
r a i l w a y communications were only slightly affected.
Casualties.
64. Casualties for the week e n d i n g 0600 on the 19th November, 1941, a r e
estimated a t 21 killed and 28 seriously injured. Of these, 10 were killed a n d
16 seriously i n j u r e d a t R e d c a r on the 15th November a n d 9 were killed a t S t u r r y ,
n e a r C a n t e r b u r y , on t h e n i g h t of the 1 8 t h / 1 9 t h November.
lu
APPENDICES
I,
II
and
III
will be published monthly.
APPENDIX
IV.
Merchant Ships (all sizes) lost by the enemy up to 17th November, 1941.
Italian.
German.
Gross
Tons.
No.
Gross
Tons.
No.
47
146
223,000
607,000
13
4
197
1,084,000
3,790,000 j 390
1,914,000
No.
312,000
68
Capture
Capturedd or seize
seizedd
734,000
138
Scuttle
Scuttledd or sun
sunkk ..
....
Unidentified
Unidentifie d ship
shipss reporte
reportedd
b y S/M
S/M,, A/C
A/C,, &c
&c,, a s sun
sunkk
or destroye
destroyedd (tonnag
(tonnagee
estimated)
estimated )
436 -1,744,000
Tota
Totall
642
Finnish.
Gross
Tons.
36,000
9,000
Together.
No.
Gross
Tons.
128
571,000
288 1,350,000
633 2,828,000
17
45,000 1,049
4,749,000
t
In addition, 99 ships of 202,000 gross tons under enemy control or useful to the enemy have
been sunk.
Also some 85 ships, totalling 483,000 gross tons, have been placed under protective custody
in United States and South American ports to prevent sabotage by their crews. Some of this
tonnage has been taken over and put into service by the United States and some by South
American Republics.
The losses of unidentified German ships include a number claimed by the Russians.
APPENDIX
V.
Casualties to H.M. Auxiliary Vessels and to Naval Personnel.
November
Estuary.
November
Shoreham.
13.—Motor minesweeper 44 d a m a g e d by a m i n e in t h e T h a m e s
16.—L.L.
Trawler
President
November 1 6 . — E x a m i n a t i o n vessel Minna
the F i r t h of F o r t h . N o casualties.
Briand
ran
aground
off
d a m a g e d i n a n a i r a t t a c k in
November 19.—Norwegian M i n e s w e e p i n g T r a w l e r Horten
a i r c r a f t off t h e F a r o e I s l a n d s . One casualty.
d a m a g e d by
T h e following casualties to n a v a l personnel have been r e p o r t e d :—*
Officers : 6 killed, 14 missing, 4 wounded.
R a t i n g s : 11 killed, 73 missing, 5 wounded.
Operational Aircraft Battle Casualties. 0700 hours, Thursday, 13th November, 1941, to 0700 hours, Thursday, 20th November, 1941.
Metropolitan Area.
Royal Air Force.
Bombers ...
Fighters ...
Coastal
In the Air.
8
6
1
Ground.
15
Total
German.
Bombers
Fighters
Miscellaneous
On the
Probably
Destroyed.
Destroyed.
3
1
1
Damaged.
1
5
4
1
6
Total
No account is taken of aircraft destroyed on ground.
Of the above totals, one bomber and one unknown type were destroyed by A.A. fire.
Middle East.
Royal Air Force.
Bombers...
Fighters ...
Coastal ...
In the Air.
13
3
Ground.
1
2
16
Total
Destroyed.
7
3
1
German.
Bombers ...
Fighters ...
Miscellaneous
On the
Probably
Destroyed.
Damaged.
3
11
Total
Of the above totals, one fighter was destroyed by A.A. fire
Italian.
Bombers ...
Fighters ...
Miscellaneous
Destroyed
Damaged.
2
1
Total
[23172] Probably
Destroyed.
8
APPENDIX
YII.
Air Attacks on Enemy Territory in Europe.
Extracts from Recent Raid Assessment Reports.
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 p a s t week
from A i r Reconnaissance and Intelligence sources :—
Germany.
Berlin.—Preliminary
r e p o r t s of the r a i d on t h e 7 t h / 8 t h November indicate
t h a t bombs fell in the Moabit a r e a a n d Tegel district. H i t s were obtained in the
goods y a r d of the L e h r t e r S t a t i o n a n d a stick of bombs fell close to the H a n s a
P l a t z . A f u r t h e r r e p o r t of t h e r a i d on the 7 t h / 8 t h September states t h a t 400
people were killed and 900 wounded. W h a t is called an ' ' air mine ' ' (thought to
refer t o a 4,000 lb. bomb) fell i n the Seller Strasse in t h e Nordhaven district.
A p a r t from street casualties, m a n y people i n the s u r r o u n d i n g cellars h a d their
l u n g s burst. T h e effectiveness of this weapon is- stated to have caused considerable
trepidation.
Hamburg.—Further
r e p o r t s of t h e r a i d on the 1 5 t h / 1 6 t h September indicate
t h a t t h e Elbe B r i d g e was closed for a day. M a n y bombs fell in the districts of
H a r v e s t e r h u d e r w e g and U h l e n h o r s t on each side of t h e n o r t h e n d of the
A l s t e r Lake.
APPENDIX
YII.
Air Attacks on Enemy Territory in Europe.
Extracts from Recent Raid Assessment Reports.
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 p a s t week
from A i r Reconnaissance and Intelligence sources :—
Germany.
Berlin.—Preliminary
r e p o r t s of the r a i d on t h e 7 t h / 8 t h November indicate
t h a t bombs fell in the Moabit a r e a a n d Tegel district. H i t s were obtained in the
goods y a r d of the L e h r t e r S t a t i o n a n d a stick of bombs fell close to the H a n s a
P l a t z . A f u r t h e r r e p o r t of t h e r a i d on the 7 t h / 8 t h September states t h a t 400
people were killed and 900 wounded. W h a t is called an ' ' air mine ' ' (thought to
refer t o a 4,000 lb. bomb) fell i n the Seller Strasse in t h e Nordhaven district.
A p a r t from street casualties, m a n y people i n the s u r r o u n d i n g cellars h a d their
l u n g s burst. T h e effectiveness of this weapon is- stated to have caused considerable
trepidation.
Hamburg.—Further
r e p o r t s of t h e r a i d on the 1 5 t h / 1 6 t h September indicate
t h a t t h e Elbe B r i d g e was closed for a day. M a n y bombs fell in the districts of
H a r v e s t e r h u d e r w e g and U h l e n h o r s t on each side of t h e n o r t h e n d of the
A l s t e r Lake.
A X I S OPERATIONS AGAINST U.S.S.R.
showing approximate advances.
LEGEND
Approximate lines reached by Axis Forces^
TH
29
Sept
T
/0 " Nov. I7 " Nov... Main thrusts
r
Note .-
of Axis
Forces—
It is emphasized
that in the mobile
warfare
which has taken place up to date there can be
no continuous
front line. The lines
on the
"tap therefore
indicate
only the
approximate
limits of advance
of the foremost
troops.
AXIS OPERATIONS AGAINST U.S.S.R.
showing approximate advances.
LEGEND
Approximate
t h
29
/0
17
TH
TH
lines
reached
Forces:
Sept.
NOV.
A/OK.
Mam thrusts
Note
by Axis
of Axis Forces
It is emphasized
that in the mobile
warfare
which has taken place up to date there can be
no continuous
front line. The lines
on the
map therefore
indicate
only the
approximate
limits of advance
of the foremost
troops.