This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[parsifal]

19 December 1940
Hitler has authorised BARBAROSSA, the "Drang Nach Osten" (Drive to the East). It is a fateful decision, saves Britain and dooms Nazi Germany, affecting her history for at least the next 60 years. None of that is apparent on the morning of the 19th December 1940......
Known Reinforcements
Axis
IJN B1 Class I-Boat I-28

Allied
"L&M" Class DD HMS LEGION (G-74)

Thick clouds of black smoke as seen from HMS LEGION, during the expedition to the Lofoten islands, Norway, where troops were landed to blow up the oil tanks. Fitted with 8 x 4in AA as main armament, the L class were far more effective AA platforms than earlier DDs. The 4in Mk XVI mounting was further developed to the 4.5 in mount

Type II Hunt Class Escort DD HMS BLANKNEY (L 30)

BPB 70' Type Motor Anti-Submarine Boat HMS MA/SB 17

Fairmile B Motor Launch HMS ML 199

Flower Class Corvette HMS VERBENA (K 85)

Losses
AO RHONE (Vichy 2785 grt) Sunk by U-37 (Asmus Nicolai Clausen); Crew: Unknown (11 dead); Cargo: Fuel oil; Route: Casablanca - Dakar; Convpy Independent; Sunk off the Atlantic coast of Morocco ; In what is claimed as an accident, at 1640 hrs (ie daylight), in clear weather conditions, U-37 torpedoed and sank the Vichy French vessels RHONE and SFAX seven miles off Cape Juby, Morocco. The BDU reports for this event appear dubious and tampered with however. Neither torpedo reports nor statements concerning this incident can be found in the KTB of the U-boat. The BDU entry simply reads "DJ 9285 - Nothing to see", but the stated grid is situated on land in the Sahara! The incident comes at a most difficult and embarrassing time for Germany, when she is trying to apply pressure for both Vichy and Spain to join the Axis.

Redoubtable Class Sub SFAX (Vichy 1340 grt) Sunk by U-37 (Asmus Nicolai Clausen); at 1640 hrs, (ie daylight), in clear weather conditions, U-37 torpedoed and sank the Vichy French vessels RHONE and SFAX seven miles off Cape Juby, Morocco. Neither torpedo reports nor statements concerning this incident can be found in the KTB of the U-boat. Actually the entry simply reads DJ 9285 - Nothing to see, but the stated grid is situated on land in the Sahara!

Tanker ARINIA (NL 8024 grt) was sunk on a mine eight miles ESE of Southend Pier. 54 crew, the pilot, five gunners were lost on the tanker.

Lighthouse Tender ISOLDA (Eire 734 grt) was sunk by the LW in the vicinity of Barrels Rock Light Vessel, South Wexford. Six crew were lost on the steamer.

Painting by Kenneth King

Drifter PROFICIENT (UK 57 grt) was lost after grounding off Whitby.

RM sub BAGNOLINI sank steamer AMICUS (UK 3660 grt) from dispersed convoy SC.15 in 54‑10N, 15‑50W. The entire crew of the steamer was lost.

Steamer FREIENFELS (Ger 7563 grt) and Steamer GEIERFELS (Ger 7605 grt) were sunk on mines near Livorno.

UBOATS
At Sea 19 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-124.
9 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FS.364 departed Methil, escort DDs VIVIEN and WALLACE. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd. FS.365 departed Methil, escort DDs VERDUN and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st. AA ship ALYNBANK arrived at Scapa Flow after escorting convoy EN.42 from Methil to Duncansby Head. Dutch steamer TWEE GEBROEDERS was damaged on a mine near No. 2 Yantlet Buoy, Thames Estuary. Norwegian steamer AROSA was damaged on a mine three cables 130° from Bull Fort, Humber.

Northern Waters
DD ECHO departed Greenock at 1530 after repairs arriving at Scapa Flow on the 20th. DD KELLY departed the Tyne to carry out gunnery trials and from there proceeded to Scapa Flow. The DD arrived at Scapa Flow on the 20th for work up. DD CHURCHILL arrived at Scapa Flow to work up.

West Coast UK
OB.261 departed Liverpool escort DD WOLVERINE, sloop ABERDEEN, corvettes ARBUTUS, CAMELLIA, COLUMBINE. The escort was detached on the 22nd. DDs VETERAN and VERITY were damaged in a collision in Lough Foyle near Londonderry. Both DDs proceeded to Londonderry and anchored off Moville awaiting repair. VETERAN with slight damage to her stem was repaired at Londonderry in the Barrow yard from 19 to 21 December. She was able to depart on the 22nd. VERITY's engine room was flooded. She was repaired at Londonderry from 19 December to 6 January. Permanent repairs were done at Belfast from 7 January to 5 March.

Med- Biscay
Sub TRIBUNE attacked a large steamer forty miles west of Belle Ile (in Biscay sth of Brittany), without success. Force H.with BC RENOWN, CV ARK ROYAL, CL SHEFFIELD, DDs FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE, DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, ISIS, WISHART, JAGUAR departed Gibraltar on the 19th meet the forces coming from Alexandria in Operation HIDE and SEEK.

Gunboat APHIS bombarded the Bardia as part of that strongholds softening up process.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
BS.11 departed Suez, escorted by sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY. The sloops were detached on the 22nd when the convoy was joined by CL CALEDON and sloops AUCKLAND, FLAMINGO, SHOREHAM. Sloop RIN INDUS joined on the 24th. Sloop SHOREHAM was detached on the 26th. The convoy dispersed on the 27th.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
ANZAC troop convoy US.8 departed Wellington with British liners DOMINION MONARCH and EMPRESS OF RUSSIA escorted by NZ manned CL ACHILLES. The convoy safely arrived at Sydney on the 23rd. On the 28th, the convoy departed Sydney with British liners QUEEN MARY and DOMINION MONARCH. Liner DOMINION MONARCH carried stores for Colombo. Liner EMPRESS OF RUSSIA returned to Auckland on the 30th in convoy VK 1. On the 30th, AQUITANIA, MAURETANIA, AWATEA with troops for Colombo departed Sydney and joined the convoy with RAN CA CANBERRA, which continued with the convoy to Colombo. The convoy departed Fremantle on 4 January and departed Colombo on 12 January. The convoy arrived at Suez on 28 January.

Malta

 

[parsifal]

20 December 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Gnevnyi Class DD RAZIASHCHYI (Soviet)

Built by Marti Yard (Nikolayev, U.S.S.R.) / Yard 198 and Dalzavod (Vladivostok, U.S.S.R.) / Yard 202 all in the Far East, this ship served her entire career in the Soviet Pacific Fleet until finally being discarded in 1961

Curtiss Class Seaplane Carrier USS ALBEMARLE (AV 5)

The U.S. Navy seaplane tender USS ALBEMARLE (AV-5) underway, 30 July 1943, wearing what is known as the Measure 22 camouflage scheme.

Elco 70 ' type Motor torpedo boat USS PT 16

Allied
Bar Class Boom Defence Vessel HMS BARLAKE (Z 39)

Losses
In LW air attacks on Liverpool during the night of 20/21 December, hopper barge OVERDALE (UK 315 grt) was sunk in Huskisson Dock, British tanker JOHN A. BROWN, steamers EUROPA, LAPLACE, EASTERN PRINCE, ROXBURGH CASTLE were damaged. 3 crew were lost on the hopper barge.

RM sub CALVI sank steamer CARLTON (UK 5162 grt) from convoy OB.260 in 54‑30N, 18‑30W, whilst on passage from Newport to Buenos Aires . 30 crew and one gunner was lost on the British steamer.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Kiel: U-140

At Sea 20 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-124.
9 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLA DIDO entered the Tyne dockyard for docking and refit completed on 29 January 1941. FN.363 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 22nd.

Northern Waters
CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to meet convoy WN.55 in Pentland Firth and cover her to the Firth of Forth. Convoy WN.55 was attacked at 1715 off Kinnaird Head by a single German float plane. No damage was done to British ships. After this duty, the cruiser proceeded to Rosyth to boiler clean. DD NAPIER departed Greenock to work up at Scapa Flow where she arrived on the 21st. FNFL DD OURAGAN with a Polish crew arrived at Scapa Flow at noon from Plymouth to work up. DD BERKELEY was damaged by a mine exploding close aboard off outer Medway Bar. The damage to the destroyer was repaired in six days.

Med- Biscay
Convoy MW.5A, with BB MALAYA, DDs NUBIAN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER, WRYNECK arrived at Malta. DDs GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND, GALLANT, DAINTY, HASTY arrived at Malta to refuel. DDs NUBIAN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER, WRYNECK joined the Main Force at 0800 and DDs HYPERION, HASTY, ILEX, HEREWARD were then detached to refuel. DDs GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND, GALLANT, DAINTY, HASTY rejoined the Main Fleet at 1000.

BB WARSPITE, escorted by DDs JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO entered Malta at 1440 for a short visit;this was WARSPITE's first appearance at Malta since May. She was greeted by a rapturous public. BB MALAYA with DDs HYPERION, HEREWARD, ILEX departed Malta at 1250.

Convoy MW.5B arrived at Malta during the afternoon. CLA CALCUTTA, sub PARTHIAN, the corvettes escort at 1205, the rest of the ships at 1330, with the exception of steamer HOEGH HOOD and DD HAVOCK. ME.5A of steamers CLAN MACAULAY, CLAN FERGUSON, MEMNON, MEMNON departed Malta at 1440 escorted by CLA CALCUTTA and corvettes SALVIA, PEONY, HYACINTH. This convoy was later joined by escort ship WRYNECK. Steamer HOEGH HOOD and DD HAVOCK arrived at Malta on the 21st. DD HAVOCK remained at Malta for refitting. DDs HYPERION, HERO, HEREWARD, ILEX again returned to Malta at 1000. HYPERION, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, ILEX departed Malta at noon on the 21st with convoy MG 1 of empty merchant ships CLAN FRASER, CLAN FORBES, ULSTER PRINCE. This group joined BB MALAYA and proceeded to join Force H at Gibraltar. DDs JERVIS, JANUS, JUNO departed Malta at noon on the 21st to sweep ahead of MALAYA and on their return to Malta for Operation SEEK, a sweep in the Skerki Channel.

RAN CL SYDNEY was detached to Suda Bay on the 21st to refuel and collect her onboard floatplane, which had been damaged and left Suda for repairs. The cruiser then proceeded to Malta where she arrived on the 23rd for repairs.

GHI Class DD HMS HYPERION (RN 1335 grt) was torpedoed by RM sub SERPENTE at 0156 on the 22nd and badly damaged 24 miles 087° from Cape Bon Light. Two ratings were lost and thirteen ratings were injured. BB MALAYA and DDs HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO continued with the convoy. After unsuccessful attempts to tow her, the senior officer of the escort on DD JERVIS, standing by the stricken ship ordered ILEX to take off the crew of HYPERION. DD JANUS scuttled HYPERION off Pantelleria. The DDs then proceeded to Malta. The survivors were divided between ILEX and JANUS which then took them to Alexandria.

CV ILLUSTRIOUS launched air raids on Tripoli with 15 a/c at 0515 and 0615. BB MALAYA and DDs HEREWARD, HASTY, HERO with steamers CLAN FRASER and CLAN FORBES joined Force H.on the 22nd for passage to Gibraltar where they safely arrived on the 24th.

On the 22nd, DDs GREYHOUND and DAINTY were sent into Malta to refuel. GREYHOUND, ILEX, DAINTY departed Malta at 1700 to rejoin the Main Fleet, but were delayed due to a defective steering gear in GREYHOUND. The DDs finally rejoined during the afternoon of the 23rd. ME.5 with CLs ORION and AJAX arrived at Alexandria on the 23rd. On the 23rd, DDs DEFENDER and GRIFFIN were detached to escort convoy AS.9 of nine ships, two British, including troopshire ULSTER PRINCE, which were departing Piraeus on the 24th. CA YORK and CL GLOUCESTER arrived at Piraeus on the 23rd. The cruisers departed the next day to cover convoy AS.9. The Med Flt arrived back at Alexandria on the 24th. AO BRAMBLELEAF from Suda Bay joined convoy AS.9 on the 25th. On the 26th, cruisers YORK and GLOUCESTER arrived at Suda Bay. The Alexandria ships of convoy AS.9 were detached at dusk on the 26th and troopship ULSTER PRINCE proceeded independently to Port Said. AS.9 arrived at Port Said on the 28th. On the 30th, cruisers YORK and GLOUCESTER departed Suda Bay to return to Alexandria, arriving on the 31st.

Malta

 

[Njaco]

December 19 Thursday
MEDITERRANEAN: Italian forces counterattack Greek I Corps around Hormova in southern sector of the front. British battleships HMS "Valiant" and HMS "Warspite" shelled Italian defensive positions at Vlorë, Albania overnight in support of Greek advances.

Mussolini requests German assistance for his hard-pressed troops in Cyrenaica, asking for a Panzer Division, Luftwaffe units and various logistical support.

German submarine U-37 mistakenly torpedoed and sank Vichy French submarine "Sfax" (4 killed, 69 survived) and support ship "Rhône" (11 killed) 7 miles north of Cape Juby, Morocco. The captain of U-37 chose to not record this incident on the ship's logs.

German vessels "Freienfels" and "Geierfels" were sunk by mines.

NORTH AFRICA: Operation Compass was progressing in North Africa. Launched on the 9th December the Italian base at Sidi Barrani had been captured quickly and now other Italian bases along the coast were in the sights of the British. Captain Rea Leakey was with the 7th Armoured Brigade as it pursued the Italian army into Libya. They found themselves slowed down by the number of prisoners wanting to surrender to them. Then on the outskirts of Bardia they encountered some Italian tanks and went in pursuit of them. British gunboat HMS "Aphis" bombarded Bardia, Libya in support of Operation Compass. Meanwhile, General O'Connor reported that in the first 10 days of the offensive his forces had suffered 141 killed or missing and 387 wounded.

EASTERN EUROPE: Archbishop Sapieha of Krakow, Poland sent a letter to Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss requesting permission for Christmas mass to be held in the camp for Catholic prisoners. Höss turned down the request because the camp rules did not permit religious observations, but did agree that approximately 6,000 one-kilogram food parcels could be sent to all the prisoners over the holidays.

UNITED KINGDOM: British destroyers HMS "Veteran" and HMS "Verity' collided in Lough Foyle near the Royal Navy base at Londonderry, Northern Ireland. HMS "Verity's" engine room was flooded, requiring her to remain out of commission for repairs until 5 Mar 1941.

NORTHERN EUROPE: President Kallio of Finland dies of heart failure on the day of his retirement; aged 67.

GERMANY: Hitler meets with Soviet ambassador and the Italian ambassador.

RAF Bomber Command sends 85 aircraft to attack Cologne and the Ruhr overnight.

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Archbishop Sapieha of Krakow, Poland sent a letter to Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss requesting permission for Christmas mass to be held in the camp for Catholic prisoners. Höss turned down the request because the camp rules did not permit religious observations, but did agree that approximately 6,000 one-kilogram food parcels could be sent to all the prisoners over the holidays.

It is doubtful much of this food made it to its intended recipients, though I am the first to admit that I dont actually know for this particular event. Pilfering of food packages sent to prisoners was rife in the camps, according to War in the Shadow of Auschwitz: Memoirs of a Polish Resistance Fighter .

Whether this particular shipment made it through is debateable. Hoss was a soldier who had bitterly rejected Catholicism after WWI, but this early in the war the mass exterminations and really brutal murders of prisoners at the camp was just getting under way. The first mass executions had begun 22 September, but the genocidal scale of death wasnt to begin until the end of the following May.

 

[Njaco]

December 20 Friday
MEDITERRANEAN: Italian forces counterattack Greek I Corps around Hormova in southern sector of the front.

15 British carrier aircraft from HMS "Illustrious" attacked an Italian convoy off Kerkennah islands, Tunisia between 0515 and 0615 hours, sinking two of the three ships in the convoy.

The British Royal Navy battleship, HMS "Warspite", arrived at Malta's Grand Harbour to a rapturous welcome from the islanders.

Operation MC.2: Convoy ME 5A departs Malta for Alexandria and Convoy MG 1 departs Malta for Gibraltar and joins Force H off Sardinia.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Italian submarine "Calvi" sank British ship "Carlton" 300 miles west of Ireland, killing 31.

UNITED KINGDOM: News of the British success in the desert of North Africa proved to be a welcome morale booster on the home front. As the second Christmas of the war approached there was now one substantial territorial achievement to be celebrated, at the end of a year in which British troops had been ejected from continental Europe.

Committee of Enquiry into "Arandora Star" disaster (see July 2, 1940) publishes its findings. Main criticism concerns the indiscriminate deportation of both Fascist and anti-Fascist Italians on the liner.

British destroyer "Berkeley" hit a mine in the River Medway in southern England. She was damaged but did not sink.

Luftwaffe attacks Liverpool overnight with 205 aircraft with the first of two consecutive heavy night raids. 42 were killed when two official shelters collapsed, 72 were killed when bombs destroyed a shelter in the Blackstock Gardens tenement, and a further 42 were killed when an unofficial shelter at Bentinck Street under railway arches was hit.

NORTH AMERICA: To coordinate strategic defense planning and to hasten the aid to the United Kingdom, the Roosevelt administration announced the establishment of a four-man Office of Production Management, under the direction of William Knudsen. The goal of this board was to expand defense efforts and speed military aid to the British and other non-Axis powers. The next day, the German government denounced this policy the next day as a form of "moral aggression."

WESTERN FRONT: Two Spitfire fighters of No. 66 Squadron from RAF Biggin Hill in London, England carried out a sweep over Breck and Le Touquet in France, strafing power transformers, camps and road traffic. This marked a change in RAF fighter tactics to a more offensive role.

EASTERN EUROPE: The Defense Committee of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union officially adopted the PPSh-41 submachine gun.

NORTH AFRICA: No Italian troops are now left on Egyptian soil, except as prisoners. Fleet Air Arm aircraft based at Malta attack Tripoli.

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends aircraft to attack Berlin and Gelsenkirchen overnight.

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[parsifal]

21 December 1940
Losses
Tkr CHARLES PRATT (Pan 8982 grt) Sunk by U-65 (Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen); Crew: 42 (2 dead and 40 survivors); Cargo: Fuel Oil; Route: Aruba - Freetown; Convpy Indepedent; Sunk in the Central Atlantic off the coast of West Africa; SS CHARLES PRATT, was torpedoed without warning by the German U-68 (H.G von Stockhausen) at 1455 local time with a cargo of 96,069 barrels of Fuel Oil. This attack took place almost a year before Pearl Harbor. The vessel was about 220 miles from Freetown, Sierra Leone. She was unarmed and flying the flag of a neutral nation, but was working in the service of the British by transporting cargo for them. At the time of the attack in broad daylight, the flag of Panama was flying from the stem, the stack was marked with the Panama Transport insignia, and the Panamanian flag was painted on both sides of the hull.

The ship was manned by an American crew of 42 men. Two of the crew were lost. On October 20, 1939 the registry of this ship was changed from the U.S. to Panama but kept the American crew.The first torpedo hit on the starboard side at #6 tank blowing out the bulkheads in #6 main tank and #4 summer tank and also the deck plates in the way of the pumproom. The explosion showered oil and debris clear to the top of the mast and over the boat and poop deck. The ship caught fire at once and burning oil flowed into the starboard alleyway. Steam smothering lines were opened but to no avail as all lines were destroyed in the pumproom.

As the fire was gaining, the Master ordered abandon ship.Lifeboats #2 #4 were launched. After the ship had been abandoned a second torpedo struck just forward of the midship house blowing burning oil and debris several hundred feet in the air and showering the ocean with oil and steel fragments, some just missing #2 boat. This explosion put out the fire. The Chief Mate was picked up 40 minutes after the ship was abandoned by #2 boat which was in charge of the Master. He had been blown overboard by the explosion along with an Ordinary Seaman. The Chief Mate suffered various injuries including a broken leg. The Ordinary Seaman was never found. Lifeboat #2 was picked up on December 25th at 1350 local time by the MV GASCONY and landed at Freetown. Boat #4 was picked up by the SS LANGLEEGORSE on December 26th and landed at Freetown.

Hybrid Ferry/Steamer INNISFALLEN (UK 3071 grt) was sunk on a mine at the entrance to Canada Dock, River Mersey. Four crew were lost on the British steamer.

INNISFALLEN sunk by a mine in River Mersey, 21 December 1940, shown here as passengers escape on lifeboats. This is an Oil by Kenneth King, (Maritime Institute of Ireland)

Barge TIC.12 (UK 118 grt) was sunk on a mine in 51‑28N, 00‑46E. The entire crew of the barge was rescued.

Tug RIVER THAMES (UK 88 grt) was sunk on a mine in 51‑28N, 00‑46E. The entire crew, except the Master, was lost on the tug.

Tug SUN IX (UK 196 grt) was sunk on a mine between 1 and 2 Buoys, Yantlet Channel, Thames Estuary. Three crew were lost on the tug.

UBOATS
At Sea 21 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-124.
9 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.364 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 23rd. FS.366 departed Methil, escort DD VORTIGERN and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 23rd. FS.367 departed Methil, escort DDs WESTMINSTER and EXMOOR. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.

DKM MLs ROLAND, COBRA, KAISER, SKAGERRAK, escort DKM TBs GREIF, FALKE, SEEADLER, laid minefield SWa in the western Nth Sea.

ML COBRA

Northern Waters
AA ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow to meet convoy WN.56 in Pentland Firth and cover it as far as Buchanness. The ship returned to Scapa Flow arriving on the morning of the 22nd. DDs BEDOUIN, MATABELE, MASHONA, ESKIMO were sent to search for a reported Uboat by a/c flown from CVE ARGUS. The search was unsuccessful and the DDs returned to Scapa Flow on the 24th.

West Coast UK
OB.262 departed Liverpool escort DDs BROKE, SARDONYX, SHIKARI, corvettes ANEMONE and HELIOTROPE, ASW trawlers ST KENAN and ST ZENO. The escort was detached on the 23rd.

The LW continued its heavy attacks on Liverpool, the targets for which included shipping and the docks areas of the city. Ocean boarding vessel MAPLIN was set afire and heavily damaged. Steamer SILVIO (UK 1293 grt) was sunk in the Alexandra Dock. One crewman was lost on the steamer SILVIO.

Other ships sunk in this attack included:
Steamer ALPERA (UK 1777 grt),

The CITY OF CORINTH, DEMETERTON and Dutch tanker ONOBA were damaged. RAN CA AUSTRALIA in dry dock was near missed by a heavy bomb which landed in the dock off the cruiser's port quarter. Further attacks that night resulted in the In British steamers LLANGIBBY CASTLE, MAHRONDA, DEUCALION and Dutch steamer MARISO being damaged.

SW Approaches
RM sub MOCENIGO in attacks on convoy OG.47 sank steamer MANGEN (SD 1253 grt) and claimed sinking one other and damaging another ship in the convoy with torpedoes. There is no record of an attack fitting this description in allied records, However, British steamer SARASTONE was shelled by the MOCENIGO, but sustained only splinter damage. Eight crew were lost on the Swedish steamer. The survivors were rescued by Swedish steamer GARM .

Med- Biscay
CV ILLUSTRIOUS lcarried out night strikes with 9 a/c from 815 and 819 Sqns on an Italian convoy escorted by TB VEGA east of Kerkenah Bay. steamers NORGE (FI 6511 grt), Steamer PEUCETA (FI 1926 grt), were attacked and eventually sunk whilst MV LUIGI RIZZO (FI 382 grt) damaged. TB VEGA was attacked but not damaged. 1 a/c was lost with the crew. Steamer LUIGI RIZZO arrived at Tripoli on the 22nd.

CA BERWICK arrived at Gibraltar from Azores patrol. After refuelling, she departed later in the day to join CruSqn 15 escorting convoy WS.5 A.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
Light cruiser DAUNTLESS arrived at Penang.

 

[parsifal]

22 December 1940
Losses
Tug POOLGARTH (UK 179 grt) was sunk on a mine off Canada Dock, S. Pier Head, Liverpool. The entire crew of the tug was lost.

UBOATS
At Sea 22 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-124.
9 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.365 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 24th. FS.368 departed Methil, escort DDs PYTCHLEY and VANITY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th. Corvette COLUMBINE was in a collision with sloop ABERDEEN in 61-08N, 14-25W. The corvette proceeded to Stornoway escorted by DD WOLVERINE. Tug SUPERMAN was also sent to assist. Sloop ABERDEEN was able to proceed to meet convoy HX.95. British steamer LLANDILO was damaged by a mine between No. 2 and 3 Yantlet Buoys, Thames Estuary.

Northern Waters
DD KEPPEL arrived at Scapa Flow from Rosyth after repairs. DD COTSWOLD departed Scapa Flow after working up at 1730 for Rosyth. From Rosyth, the destroyer continued to the Nore.

West Coast UK
DD FORESIGHT in drydock at Liverpool for repairs was damaged by a near miss. The fore superstructure and the hull above the water line was holed by splinters. Submarine H.31 sank at Campbeltown (Scottish west coast) due to a loss of bouyancy. The submarine flooded from the engine room aft. The submarine was refloated and arrived at Rothesay on the 25th. Submarine H.31 was repaired at Elderslie from 13 to 25 January.

British tanker ELAX was damaged on a mine off No. 10 Buoy, Liverpool. British steamers PARDO and ALMEDA STAR and hopper barge No. 9 were damaged by the LWat Liverpool.

Western Approaches
DDs SHIKARI and SARDONYX in convoy OB.262 attacked a submarine contact in 56-38N, 13-34W.

Nth Atlantic
HX.98 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and RESTIGOUCHE which were detached the next day. The ocean escort was AMC LACONIA. The convoy was diverted to Sydney, C.B. where it arrived on the 29th. The convoy departed Sydney on 2 January escorted by the LACONIA and escort ships LAURIER, RAYON D'OR, VENOSTA. The escort ships were detached later that day. On 13 January, DDs SCIMITAR and SKATE and corvette MALLOW joined the convoy. DD SKATE was detached on 15 January and the other two escorts on 16 January. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 17 January.

USN CA TUSCALOOSA departed Norfolk carrying the US Ambassador to Vichy France to Portugal. USN DDs UPSHUR and MADISON provided local escort from Norfolk. The Ambassador was delivered and the heavy cruiser arrived back at Norfolk on 11 January 1941.

Central Atlantic
SL.60 departed Freetown escort AMC ESPERANCE BAY to 7 January, sloop BRIDGEWATER to 24 December, ASW trawlers BENGALI to 24 December and SPANIARD to 26 December. On 9 January, DDs WILD SWAN to 9 January and WITCH, ocean boarding vessel CAVINA, sloop ABERDEEN, corvettes CAMPANULA, FLEUR DE LYS, GARDENIA, PERIWINKLE joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 13 January. Convoy SLS.60 departed Freetown on the 22nd and arrived at Liverpool on 15 January.

Med- Biscay
RHN sub PAPANICOLIS damaged Italian steamer SAN GIORGIO with gunfire and sank steamer ANTONIETTA (FI 70 grt) also by gunfire by rumming off Brindisi.

 

[parsifal]

23 December 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Elco 70' Class PT USS PT-19

Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMS AUBRETIA (K 96)

Shakespearian Class ASW TRAWLER HMS HAMLET (T 167)

The Shakespearian class trawler was a class of ASW trawlers that served the RN. Ships in this class had a displacement of 545 tons, a top speed of 12 knots, a crew of 40 men, and armament of one 12-pounder AA gun, three 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns and 30 DCs. They were nearly identical to the Isles class trawlers, of which they are usually considered a subclass.

Three of the class (out of 12 built) trawlers were war losses: CORIOLANUS, HORATIO and LAERTES.

Fairmile B Motor Launch HMS ML 141

Losses
Steamer BREDA (NL 6941 grt) was sunk by the LW. On 23 December 1940 she was at anchor off Lismore. She had loaded a mixed cargo in London and come to join other vessels to sail in a convoy; she was bound for Mombasa, Karachi and Bombay. During t he evening, a group of He 111s were spotted by the Royal Observer Corps on the Easdale Island, heading nth towards Oban, and, although the alarm was raised, the convoy could not be warned in time. The ship was not actually hit but a couple of bombs just missed and an important seawater intake pipe was fracturedand she began to take water; within 15 minutes, Captain Fooy ordered the boats lowered.

An Admiralty tug came alongside and helped to run the ship aground on a 3 fathom shoal just off Rubha Garbh-aird Point. The 10 horses being carried in boxes as deck cargo were released to swim ashore. It was decided that the ship and cargo could be salvagedand some of the cargo was recovered during Christmas Eve. However, a storm hit the coast during the operation and the ship was driven forward off the shoal and in to deeper water, were she sank. Although her funnel and masts remained above water for many years.

Trawler YSTROOM (NL 400 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Nth Sea, but all her crew was rescued.

UBOATS
At Sea 23 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-124.
9 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.366 departed Southend, escort DDs VERDUN and WOLSEY and patrol sloop SHEARWATER. In attacks on FN.366, DKM S-Flotilla 1 with S.26, S.28, S.29, S.34, S.56, S.58, S.59, Dutch steamer STAD MAASTRICHT was badly damaged at 2255 by S.59 and MSW trawler PELTON (RN 358 grt) was sunk by S-Boat S.28 alongside 5 Buoy, north of Aldeburgh. Sutherland, A/T/Lt Cdr H. R. Walker RNVR, eighteen ratings were lost on trawler PELTON. DD VERDUN reported sinking one of the S.boats.

Patrol sloop SHEARWATER stood by steamer STAD MAASTRICHT (NL 6907 grt) which was later taken in tow by tugs NORMAN and KROOMAN from Yarmouth and tug KENIA from Harwich The entire crew from the Dutch steamer was rescued. However, she sank on the 25th in 3.6 miles 340° from Gunfleet Light Vessel. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 25th.

AA ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 1030 to meet convoy WN.57 in Pentland Firth and escort the convoy to Buchanness. At 2245 while leaving the convoy, ALYNBANK was damaged in a collision with an unknown vessel. A tug was requested, but later was found not to be needed. The damaged ship arrived off May Island on the 24th. She was taken to Rosyth for repairs. Due to other commitments in the repair yard, repairs were not begun until 2 February. Repairs were completed and the ship arrived at Scapa Flow on 1 April 1941 for duty.

British steamer FLYNDERBORG , drifter LUPINA and Dutch steamer TUVA were damaged by the LW at Oban.

Northern Waters
DD DOUGLAS and KEPPEL departed Scapa Flow at 2359 to meet AMCs CALIFORNIA, CHITRAL, LETITIA ten miles east of the Butt of Lewis and escort them north. The DDs arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 26th.

West Coast UK
DDs WILD SWAN and WARWICK departed Liverpool to refuel at Londonderry prior to joining convoy OB.263. However, off Bar Light Vessel, WARWICK struck a mine and was badly damaged. WILD SWAN towed her back to Liverpool and WARWICK was intentionally beached. She was under repair at Liverpool until 9 March 1942.

Steamer PACIFIC PIONEER was damaged by the LW at Manchester. Trawler IWATE was damaged by the LW in 52‑55N, 12‑20W.

Western Approaches
OB.263 departed Liverpool escorted DD WILD SWAN, sloop ROCHESTER, corvettes CAMPANULA, FLEUR DE LYS, GARDENIA, PERIWINKLE. The escort was detached on the 26th.

Nth Atlantic
SC.17 departed Halifax. Ocean escort was AMC MALOJA, which detached on 3 January. On the 7th, DDs VETERAN, WOLVERINE, sloop DEPTFORD, corvettes ARBUTUS, DELPHINIUM, ERICA joined the convoy, which arrived at Liverpool on the 8th.

Med- Biscay
RAN CL SYDNEY arrived at Malta to refit. She then departed Malta on 8 January with RAN DD STUART for Alexandria.

Rosalino Pilo Class DD (re-rated to TB) CAIROLI (RM 770 grt) was sunk on a mine NE of Tripoli laid by RN sub RORQUAL on 5 November.

 

[Njaco]

December 21 Saturday
MEDITERRANEAN: The Admiralty decides to transfer another Battleship, HMS "Malaya" to Force H from the Mediterranean fleet. Again this was to be accomplished by escorting a convoy to Malta and linking up with units of Force H for the journey to Gibraltar. Allied convoy MG1 departed Malta at noon for Gibraltar. The convoy consisted of British merchant ships "Clan Fraser", "Clan Forbes", and "Ulster Prince". It was escorted by battleship HMS "Malaya" and eight destroyers. No losses were suffered to enemy action although a Destroyer was sunk when it hit a mine.

RAF bombers flying from Britain attack docks and oil tanks at Porto Marghera, near Venice. Venice itself is not damaged.

Operation MC.2: Aircraft from RN carrier "Illustrious" sinks two Italian vessels.

SOUTH PACIFIC: German raiders "Komet" and "Orion" and support ship "Kulmerland" released 514 prisoners captured from various ships, mainly women, children and the injured, at Emirau Island, Bismarck Islands. They were given food before being turned over to two English families living on that island. British ship "Nellore" would arrive on 29 Dec to pick them up. 150 prisoners remained aboard "Orion".

The rear echelon of the newly established US Marine Corps 7th Defense Battalion arrived at Pago Pago, Tutuila, American Samoa.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-65 attacked Panamanian tanker "Charles Pratt" with 2 torpedoes 250 miles west of Freetown, British West Africa (now Sierra Leone) at 1600 hours. The cargo of 96,069 barrels of fuel was ignited, but only 2 were killed. 40 survivors abandon ship in 2 lifeboats and are rescued 4-5 days later by British MV "Gascony" and SS "Langleegorse" and landed at Freetown.

Swedish vessel "Mangen" was sunk by Italian submarine "Mocenigo".

UNITED KINGDOM: Luftwaffe bombers struck Liverpool, England overnight. Damage to warehouses and storage sheds at the Docks was serious, with considerable losses of tobacco, cotton and timber. Substantial damage to shipping, two ships being sunk and ten others damaged. Although nine docks suffered various degrees of damage and seventeen berths are out of commission, generally speaking, the working of the Port was not seriously affected. British vessel "Silvio" was sunk. Serious damage was done to food-factories, production being stopped at Spiller's Flour Mills and Paul Bros. Flour Mills, both at Birkenhead, while Hutehinson's Flour Mills were also damaged. Altogether 15 hits were registered on the railway system, the cumulative effect of which reacted seriously on the working of the lines, while tranrvray services and road traffic were badly dislocated, particularly in the centre of the city. Corpo Aereo Italiano attacked Harwich overnight with 6 bombers.

British vessel "Innisfallen" sunk by mine in the Mersey.

GERMANY: Berlin, Germany suffered minor damage from a British RAF bombing raid.

NORTH AFRICA: Bardia is surrounded by the 6th Australian Division, although the Italians are determined to fight it out.

WESTERN FRONT: Returning from a raid on Liverpool, 7./KG 55 loses a He 111 when it crashes at Beaumont-le-Roger airfield in France killing all aboard.

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[Njaco]

December 22 Sunday
UNITED KINGDOM: After two nights visiting Liverpool the Luftwaffe moved on to Manchester. At 1715 hours, 270 German aircraft, including Heinkel 111s and Junkers 88s, crossed the south coast bound for Manchester, using the still-blazing fires of Liverpool to guide their way. Two waves of bombing, from 1945 hours to 0120 hours and from 0200 to 0655 hours concentrated first on Manchester city centre, then the docks and industrial areas of Salford and Trafford Park, dropping 272 tons of high explosive bombs and 1,032 incendiary bombs. The Piccadilly area was engulfed in large fires, while the Gibsons shelter at the Hulme Town Hall collapsed without any deaths. Pathfinder aircraft dropped incendiaries, and the bombers then bombed the fires. During the same night, Liverpool was bombed for the third night in a row. KG 55 lost a He 111 from 3rd Staffel during the raid on Manchester when it was shot down by a Defiant from RAF No 141 Squadron. The bomber crashed in the garden of Underwood House in Etchingham, Sussex.

Winston Churchill replaced Anthony Eden with Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury David Margesson (later Viscount Margesson) as the Secretary of State for War in the British Cabinet.

MEDITERRANEAN: Overnight, convoy MG1 (including destroyers HMS "Hyperion", "Ilex" and "Janus") runs the Strait of Sicily under cover of darkness. Italian submarine "Serpente" attacked the convoy 24 miles east of Cape Bon, Tunisia in the Strait of Sicily at 0156 hours as the convoy attempted to sail from Malta to Gibraltar. Destroyer HMS "Hyperion" was damaged, killing 2 and wounding 14. HMS "Ilex" took off the survivors, and then HMS "Janus" scuttled "Hyperion" before sunrise.

Himarë, Albania was captured by the Greek army.

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[Njaco]

December 23 Monday
GERMANY: The maiden flight of the Messerschmitt Me 261 V-1 ultra long-range reconnaissance aircraft is made.

RAF Bomber Command sends aircraft to attack Ludwigshaven and Mannheim overnight.

UNITED KINGDOM: British Lord Haw Haw warned of a second night of bombing for Manchester, England. Overnight, from 1915 until 0129 hours the next day, 171 German aircraft attacked the still-burning Manchester with 195 tons of high explosive bombs and 893 incendiary bombs. In two nights, 363 civilians were killed and 1,183 were wounded.

Churchill broadcast a speech directed at the Italian people:

"We have never been your foes till now. In the last war against the barbarous Huns we were your comrades. For fifteen years after that war, we were your friends. Although the institutions which you adopted after that war were not akin to ours and diverged, as we think, from the sovereign impulses which had commanded the unity of Italy, we could still walk together in peace and good-will. Many thousands of your people dwelt with ours in England; many of our people dwelt with you in Italy. We liked each other. We got on well together. There were reciprocal services, there was amity, there was esteem. And now we are at war – now we are condemned to work each other's ruin. Your aviators have tried to cast their bombs upon London. Our armies are tearing – and will tear – your African empire to shreds and tatters. We are now only at the beginning of this sombre tale. Who can say where it will end? Presently, we shall be forced to come to much closer grips. How has all this come about, and what is it all for? Italians, I will tell you the truth. It is all because of one man – one man and one man alone has ranged the Italian people in deadly struggle against the British Empire and has deprived Italy of the sympathy and intimacy of the United States of America. That he is a great man I do not deny. But that after eighteen years of unbridled power he has led your country to the horrid verge of ruin – that can be denied by none. It is all one man – one man, who, against the crown and royal family of Italy, against the Pope and all the authority of the Vatican and of the Roman Catholic Church, against the wishes of the Italian people who had no lust for this war; one man has arrayed the trustees and inheritors of ancient Rome upon the side of the ferocious pagan barbarians."

British destroyer HMS "Havock" collided with battleship HMS "Valiant" during gunnery practice, causing the destroyer to be out of commission for repairs until 20 Feb 1941.

Anthony Eden was appointed Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom. Lord Halifax appointed British ambassador to Washington.

ASIA: Light carrier "Hosho" was deemed not suitable for modern carrier aircraft.

Chiang Kai-shek dissolves all Communist associations in China.

US government agrees to provide China with 100 P-40B Tomahawk aircraft to equip Chennault's American Volunteer Group.

MEDITERRANEAN: Greek submarine "Papanikolis" sank the Italian motor ship "Antonietta".

Italian torpedo boat "Fratelli Cairoli" sinks after hitting a mine off the coast of Tripoli.

In Albania, Greek forces pushed back Italian troops another 20 miles up the Ionian coast. Greek II Corps opens new attacks in the center of Italo-Greek front, but bad weather halts operations.

Mussolini is despondent about the quality of Italian troops, who have been forced out of both Greece and Egypt within the last month. He tells his Foreign Minister, Count Ciano:

"I must nevertheless recognize that the Italians of 1914 were better than these. It is not very flattering for the regime, but that's the way it is".

NORTH AFRICA: In Libya, Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa General Rodolfo Graziani replaced General Mario Berti of Italian 10th Army with his Chief of Staff General Giuseppe Tellera after the failures in the initial stages of the British Operation Compass offensive.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German bombers sink the SS "Breda" in a convoy off the coast of Scotland. The ship is not directly hit, but a nearby bomb blast caused the ship to sink.

WESTERN FRONT: Hitler tours German troops in occupied France.

SOUTH PACIFIC: Elements of 2/15 Punjab arrive from Singapore to garrison British Borneo.

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[Njaco]

December 24 Tuesday
GERMANY: At Döberitz near Berlin, a new member joins the fighters of 3./JG 27. Oberfähnrich Hans Joachim Marseille, an Experte with eight enemy aircraft destroyed during the Battle of Britain, reports for duty. Although having experience shooting down British warplanes, he also brings with him a reputation for destroying his own aircraft, having had to bail out of his plane nearly every time he shot down a bomber.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German cruiser "Admiral Hipper" detected Allied convoy WS.5 700 miles west of Cape Finisterre, Spain late in the afternoon. The convoy was consisted of 19 troopships and freighters. Not noticing that it was escorted by two carriers, three cruisers, and four corvettes, the German commander Admiral Wilhelm Meisel prepared the crew for an attack in the morning.

German submarine U-65 sank British tanker "British Premier" 50 miles off Sierra Leone, British West Africa at 1641 hours, killing 32. 9 survivors were picked up by cruiser HMS "Hawkins" on 3 Jan 1941. Another lifeboat of 4 survivors was not discovered until 3 Feb 1941.

German 1st Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron attacked a British convoy in the North Sea off Aldeburgh, England. S-28 sank British minesweeping trawler HMT "Pelton", killing 20. British destroyer HMS "Verdun" reported sinking one of the torpedo boats.

MEDITERRANEAN: Greek submarine "Papanikolis" sank the 3,952-ton troop transport "Firenze" near Sazan Island in the southern Adriatic Sea.

NORTH AMERICA: The US 1st Marine Aircraft Wing completed its transfer to the west coast of the United States. On the same day, the 2nd Marine Brigade was activated under the command of Colonel Henry L. Larsen at Camp Elliott, California, United States.

UNITED KINGDOM: London celebrates the holidays, despite the war. A sign in the downtown district reads: "Christmas is 1,940 years old, and Hitler is only fifty-one. They can't spoil our Christmas."

EASTERN EUROPE: In Bulgaria, the Anti-Jewish Law for the Protection of the Nation was enacted.

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[parsifal]

24 December 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Bar Class Boom Defence Vessel HMS BARRINGTON (Z 59)

Losses
Tkr BRITISH PREMIER (UK 5662 grt) Sunk by U-65 (Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen); Crew: 45 (32 dead and 13 survivors); Cargo: Crude Oil; Route: Abadan - Freetown - Swansea; Convoy SLS-60 (straggler); Sunk off the Central African West Coast; BRITISH PREMIER's final voyage took her from Abadan to Swansea, via Freetown, which she reached on 22 December. Two days later she was still straggling, when she was spotted by U-65. . At 1641 hrs, the U-65 torpedoed and sank the BRITISH PREMIER. She went down with the loss of 32 of her crew, including her Master, Francis Dalziel, and a gunner. There were 13 survivors, 9 of whom were later picked up by the cruiser HMS HAWKINS on 3 Jan '41 and taken to Freetown. The remaining 4 were not picked up until 3 February, when they were rescued by the DD HMS FAULKNOR, having spent 41 days in an open boat, 25 of those days without any food.

Aux MSW MERCURY (RN 350 grt (est)) struck one of her own mines sth of Ireland. She was taken in tow by MSW GOATFELL, but sank in tow on the 25th.

Drifter LORD HOWARD (UK 98 grt) was sunk in a collision in Dover Harbour.

UBOATS
Departures
Kiel: U-105

At Sea 24 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-105, U-124.
10 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLs PHOEBE and AURORA were sent to Oban to give AA protection to the port after a raid. AURORA departed two days later, but PHOEBE was there until 7 January. FN.367 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 26th. FS.369 departed Methil, escort DD COTSWOLD and sloops FOWEY and PELICAN, and arrived at Southend on the 26th.

Northern Waters
BC HOOD, CL EDINBURGH, DDs COSSACK, ESCAPADE, ECHO, ELECTRA departed Scapa Flow to patrol east of the Iceland Faroes Passage to intercept raiders. DDs KELLY, BLENCATHRA, TYNEDALE departed Scapa Flow to search for a UBoat that had been attacked by a Walrus a/c off Muckle Flugga. KELLY was ordered on the 25th to return to Scapa Flow where she arrived early on the 26th. DD MONTGOMERY arrived at Scapa Flow from Stornoway to work up. DD VIMY departed Scapa to meet British steamer BEN MY CHREE off Aberdeen and escort her to Lerwick. After disembarkation, the steamer was returned to Aberdeen and destroyer VIMY arrived at Scapa Flow during the ecining of the 27th.

West Coast UK
Steamer PETERTON was damaged by the LW in 54‑51N, 13‑13W.

Western Approaches
OB.264 departed Liverpool escort DDs ACTIVE, ANTELOPE, GEORGETOWN, corvettes HEATHER and PICOTEE, ASW trawler LADY MADELEINE. The escort was detached on the 29th. WS.5A, being escorted by CLA NAIAD, was turned over to CA BERWICK. NAIAD turned back to England. DDs HERO, HEREWARD, FIREDRAKE, VIDETTE, VELOX were ordered to meet convoy WS.5A on the 27th.

Central Atlantic
Convoy SLS.60 departed Freetown escorted by sloop BRIDGEWATER for that day.

Med- Biscay
RN Sub REGENT unsuccessfully attacked an Italian steamer off the Libyan coast. RHN sub PAPANICOLIS sank Liner FIRENZE (FI 3952 grt) east of Saseno in the Adriatic.

 

[parsifal]

25 December 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Soviet S (Stalinec) class S-10

The Russian submarine S-10 went missing end of June 1941 and was lost with all 40 hands. Presumably lost on a mine in Irben Strait.

UBOATS
At Sea 25 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-105, U-124.
10 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS

North Sea
FS.370 departed Methil, escort DDs VALOROUS and VERSATILE, and arrived at Southend on the 27th. FS.371 departed Methil, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th

Northern Waters
DDs INTREPID (Cdr D.20) and ICARUS arrived at Scapa Flow from Immingham. CLA BONAVENTURE and CL DUNEDIN arrived at Gibraltar on the 26th.

Nth Atlantic
BC REPULSE and CL NIGERIA with DDs SOMALI, MATABELE, MASHONA, ESKIMO departed Scapa to protect two of the western most convoys HX.97 and SC.16 then at sea. On the 29th, the REPULSE gp met AMC WORCESTERSHIRE which was escorting convoy HX.97. BC REPULSE and DDs SOMALI and MATABELE arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0600 on the 31st. BC HOOD and CL EDINBURGH with DDs COSSACK, ESCAPADE, ECHO and ELECTRA were already at sea. The force patrolled nth of the Shetlands and east of the Faroes until 29 December, when they arrived back at Scapa Flow. CL EDINBURGH was detached to the BB NELSON force on the 28th.

CLA NAIAD arrived at Scapa Flow on the 27th. DDs SOMALI and ESKIMO arrived at Scapa Flow for refuelling on the 31st. DDs MASHONA and MATABELE arrived at Scapa Flow for refuelling on 1 January.

Central Atlantic
WS.5A was escorted by CA BERWICK, CLA BONAVENTURE, which was en route to the Med Flt, via Cape Horn, CL DUNEDIN and corvettes GERANIUM, JONQUIL, CYCLAMEN, CLEMATIS, which were en route to the Sth America Station, also escorted the convoy.

700 west of Finisterre, DKM CA ADM HIPPER attacked the convoy. She first made contact by radar during the afternoon of 24 December, but did not realize at this time that it was a strongly escorted troop convoy. After an unsuccessful torpedo attack at 0353, the decision was to wait until dawn to attack. The weather during the attack was poor. When visual contact was made with the convoy at 0808, it came as a surprise to the German cruiser to sight BERWICK. The German cruiser took BERWICK under fire at 0839. Due to poor visibility, complicated by smoke and spray, she then shifted to the merchant ships damaging troopship EMPIRE TROOPER (former German CAP NORTE captured in October 1939). British steamer ARABISTAN was slightly damaged by gunfire from ADM HIPPER.

When the convoy scattered, damaged troopship EMPIRE TROOPER was escorted by corvette CYCLAMEN to Ponta Delgada, arriving on the 27th. The ships for Gibraltar proceeded directed to their destination. Between 0842 and 0956, BERWICK (3 miles ahead of the convoy), was in action intermittently for 33 mins, CLA BONAVENTURE, on the starboard side of the convoy, for 24 mins, corvette CLEMATIS briefly. CL DUNEDIN laid smoke. CVL FURIOUS flew off Skuas to attempt to locate ADM HIPPER, but was unable to do so due to the poor visibility.

ADM HIPPER was able at 0905 to achieve hits on the BERWICK with damage to her X turret, abreast B turret below the waterline, disabling B turret, amidships putting a four inch gun out of action, on the side belt where it was deflected into the bulge. However, ADM HIPPER was forced to break off the action at 0914. BERWICK sustained four Marines killed and one seriously wounded in the engagement. As she withdrew, ADM HIPPER contacted and sank independent sailing steamer JUMNA (UK 6078 grt) in 44‑51N, 27‑45W. JUMNA was from dispersed convoy OB.260 and bore the Commodore of convoy OB.260 Rear Admiral H.B. Maltby Rtd which was lost with the steamer.

BC RENOWN, CV ARK ROYAL, DDs FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORTUNE, FOXHOUND, DUNCAN, WISHART, HERO, and HEREWARD departed Gibraltar to attempt an interception of ADM HIPPER. However, BC RENOWN sustained hull damaged from high speed running in heavy seas. DDs DUNCAN and HERO were detached to assist troopship EMPIRE TROOPER. When sufficient screen arrived at the troopship, the DDs returned to Gibraltar. Before arriving, they were ordered to join BC RENOWN and the ARK ROYAL. CLA NAIAD was ordered to rejoin the convoy. CL KENYA departed Plymouth 25 December to escort convoys SL.59 and SLS.59.

British troopship EMPIRE TROOPER put into Ponta Delgada and was joined by four corvettes on the 27th. CL KENYA and corvettes GERANIUM, JONQUIL, CYCLAMEN, CLEMATIS escorted troopship EMPIRE TROOPER from Ponta Delgada on the 30th for Gibraltar. These ships were sighted by Submarine TRIDENT later that day and first identified as enemy.
The British ships were properly identified before an attack was made. DDs DUNCAN and HERO, which joined troopship EMPIRE TROOPER and at 1000 on the 29th, were ordered to join Fce H. The convoy reassembled on the 28th, less damaged troopship EMPIRE TROOPER, arrived at Freetown on 6 January 1941.

On 8 January, the convoy departed Freetown for Capetown. The convoy now included British steamers EMPIRE ABILITY , ADVISER , BARRISTER, and BENRINNES.

The local escort from Freetown was Sloops MILFORD and BRIDGEWATER, DDs VELOX and VIDETTE, corvettes CALENDULA and ASPHODEL. The ocean escort was British cruisers NORFOLK, DEVONSHIRE, HAWKINS. CAs HAWKINS and NORFOLK took the Capetown section into Capetown arriving on 22 January. The Durban section arrived on 26 January escorted by CA DEVONSHIRE. The convoy departed Capetown on 27 January and rendezvoused with the Durban section off Durban. British steamer TALAMBA and Dutch steamer NIEUW HOLLAND joined at Durban.

CA SHROPSHIRE departed as an escort from Durban and continued with the convoy until 30 January when she was relieved by CL ENTERPRISE. CL CERES also departed with the convoy from Durban and continued until relieved by AMC HECTOR on 4 February. CL CERES took steamers ORBITA and NIEUW HOLLAND to Mombasa. AMC HECTOR was detached on 11 February. Sloop GRIMSBY was escorting from 6 to 7 February. CL CALEDON, sloops GRIMSBY and FLAMINGO, Indian sloop INDUS joined the convoy on 11 February for the Red Sea passage. The convoy arrived at Aden on 14 February and Suez on 16 February.

Med- Biscay
Gunboats APHIS and LADYBIRD arrived at Alexandria. Submarine OTUS attacked a submarine in 33‑20N, 22‑43E north of Derna.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BS.11A departed Suez, escorted by CLA CARLISLE and DDs KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON. The convoy was dispersed off Aden on the 29th.

 

[Njaco]

December 25 Wednesday
ATLANTIC OCEAN: German Admiral Wilhelm Meisel aboard cruiser "Admiral Hipper" ordered an attack on Allied convoy WS.5 in the morning, taking advantage of mist and rain. The convoy had been detected on the previous day and the ship's crew had been shadowing it through the night, but failing to realize it was heavily escorted. At 0808 hours, "Admiral Hipper" fired on troopship "Empire Trooper" (16 soldiers killed) and freighter "Arabistan", but she was soon chased off by a corvette and three cruisers. In retreat, "Admiral Hipper" fired at her pursuers, striking cruiser HMS "Berwick" at the rear gun turret, killing 4. Carriers HMS "Argus" and HMS "Furious" launched aircraft to hunt for "Admiral Hipper" as she retreated toward Brest, France for repairs, but the German cruiser would not be found. Later on the same day, 150 miles to the east, "Admiral Hipper" detected and sank British ship "Jumna"; 111 survivors in the water were left to drown. Force H sails to assist in attacking Kriegsmarine cruiser "Admiral Hipper".

Kriegsmarine heavy cruiser "Admiral Scheer", raider "Thor", supply ship "Nordmark", and prize "Duquesa" rendezvous.

The Battle of the Atlantic was causing Churchill more concern than any other issue but the week before Christmas proved to be a good one, somehow the U-boats which had caused such devastation only weeks before had been eluded. During the week ending noon Wednesday, the 25th December, 785 ships, including 145 allied and 16 neutral, were convoyed, but no ships were reported lost. Two battleships, two aircraft carriers, three cruisers, ten armed merchant cruisers, 55 destroyers, 13 sloops and 29 corvettes were employed in escort duties.

UNITED KINGDOM: Two FAA Martlet I fighters of No. 804 Squadron RAF, on patrol over Scapa Flow, Scotland, intercepted and destroyed a prowling Junkers Ju 88 aircraft, the first victory for a US-built aircraft in British service.

Broadcast by King George VI:

"The future will be hard, but our feet are planted on the path of victory...."

In London George Beardmore recorded a 'dismal' Christmas:

"In the absence of home, friends, and relations, with only a few cards and parcels sent to us. But we were in God's own heaven compared with many, as for instance Jones, the arthritic ex-Stock Exchange clerk who is living with his wife and two small children in freezing rooms with no cooking apparatus. Or the unknown untold thousands celebrating Christmas in shelters, the firemen, the soldiers, Stan Lock in Iceland, the conscientious objectors in farms, the lonely mothers and ruined shopkeepers, the city children living in farmhouses."

NORTH AFRICA: In the Libyan Desert Captain Rea Leakey had been in action since the Italian invasion of Egypt in September. He was now part of the force besieging the Italian garrison of Bardia:

"Christmas Day 1940, was the same as any other day, except that each man received a tin of bully-beef to himself, and there was a double rum ration that night. Wavell sent us his greetings, but there was insufficient transport to send us turkeys and Christmas puddings. It would be wrong to say that we did not miss the usual luxuries and celebrations, yet nobody complained or grumbled. It would have taken much more than a few trifles like these to shake the high morale of this small desert force."

GERMANY: The Soviet Attaché in Berlin passes on to Moscow Hitler's Directive 21 of December 18, the operational order for Barbarossa.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian aircraft raid Corfu for the twenty-third time (15 killed).

WESTERN FRONT: Admiral Darlan meets with Hitler to explain Vichy wishes to continue cooperation with Germany.

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[Njaco]

December 26 Thursday
EASTERN EUROPE: Bulgarian Assembly rejects resolution urging King Boris to join Tripartite Pact.

Chaim Kaplan had been recording the trials of the Jewish population in Warsaw from the beginning of the war. Since they had become isolated on the 15th November there had been severe food shortages. Cold, malnutrition and disease were starting to kill many and most knew that they faced a very bleak future. Yet there was a brief celebration for Hanukkah and some grim humor. From the Warsaw Diary of Chaim A. Kaplan:

"December 26, 1940 - Hanukkah in the ghetto. Never before in Jewish Warsaw were there as many Hanukkah celebrations as in this year of the wall. But because of the sword that hovers over our heads, they are not conducted among festive crowds, publicly displaying their joy. Polish Jews are stubborn: the enemy makes laws but they don't obey them. That is the secret of our survival. We behaved in this manner even in the days when we were not imprisoned within the ghetto walls, when the cursed Nazis filled our streets and watched our every move. Since the ghetto was created we have had some respite from overt and covert spies, and so Hanukkah parties were held in nearly every courtyard, even in rooms which face the street; the blinds were drawn, and that was sufficient. This year's Hanukkah celebration was very well attended. We almost forgot that we are only allowed to go as far as the corner of Nalewki and Swietojerska streets. Dr. Lajfuner gave a speech full of jokes and we all laughed heartily. There was one truth in his speech which should be stressed: 'In all the countries where they want to bury us alive, we pull the gravediggers in with us.' Witness Czarist Russia, Poland, and Rumania. Nazi Germany will have the same fate—and in our own time".

MEDITERRANEAN: Greek I Corps unsuccessfully attacking Leskoviki in southern sector of the front. Italian troops retreat beyond the line of the Chimara.

Australian destroyer HMAS "Waterhen" stopped Italian schooner "Tireremo Diritto" in the Mediterranean Sea between Bardia and Tobruk, Libya. After removing the crew, "Waterhen" sank "Tireremo Diritto".

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Following action with escorts of convoy WS 5A, Kriegsmarine cruiser "Admiral Hipper" steams toward France.

British cruiser HMS "Bonaventure" intercepted German ship "Baden" 500 miles west of Cape Finisterre, Spain. "Baden's" crew abandoned the ship after setting scuttling charges to prevent capture; HMS "Bonaventure" then sank "Baden" with one torpedo.

German submarine U-95 damaged British ship "Waiotira" with two torpedoes 300 miles south of Iceland at 2003 hours, but fled before she could deliver a fatal blow due to the arrival of three Allied destroyers.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF daylight raids on airfields in Brittany; night raid on Bordeaux.

NORTH AFRICA: Southern Abyssinia is reported to be in revolt against the Italians.

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[Njaco]

December 27 Friday
GERMANY: Erich Raeder met with Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany. Raeder makes a final effort to convince Hitler to postpone invasion of Soviet Union until after defeat of UK.

WESTERN FRONT: Kriegsmarine cruiser "Admiral Hipper" arrived at Brest, ending an one-month patrol in the Atlantic Ocean.

RAF Bomber Command sends 75 aircraft to attack aircraft factory at Bordeaux and other targets overnight.

The Führer visited his troops in the west.

UNITED KINGDOM: Air Marshal Keith Park takes command of RAF Fighter Command No. 23 Training Group.

There were major attacks on London this day - the first since the Christmas 'truce'. From 1845 to 2232 hours, London was bombed by 108 aircraft with the City and Government quarter of Whitehall as the main target area. Damage was unusually serious in London in proportion to the scale of the attack. Much damage was caused to railway and bus networks. 141 Londoners were killed. A number of properties were damaged in Islington. Amias House Shelter, Central Street, was hit with the loss of ten lives.

The first Beaufighter to be delivered to a coastal fighter squadron was R2198/PN-B, which was issued to RAF No 252 Sqn at Chivenor

MEDITERRANEAN: Greek I Corps captures Kalarati and Boliena in southern sector of the front.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British ship "Waiotira", damaged by German submarine U-95 300 miles south of Iceland in the previous night, was detected by U-38, which sank "Waiotira" at 0146 hours; 1 was killed and 89 survived.

Italian submarine "Tazzoli" sank British ship "Ardanbhan" 200 miles south of Iceland, killing the entire crew of 37.

German submarine U-65 attacked Norwegian ship "Risanger" with shells and one torpedo 300 miles off Senegal, French West Africa at 2331 hours. The entire crew of 29 survived.

Aircraft of Coastal Command flew 144 patrols involving 441 sorties (including 193 convoy escorts), in addition to the bombing operations. No fewer than six attacks were made on enemy merchant vessels on the 27th December. A Hudson bombed a ship of about 4,000 tons at anchor in Egersund Harbour and secured at least three direct hits. Another ship in convoy North of Ameland was possibly hit, and near misses were reported on two merchant vessels off Dieppe and another off Fecamp.

SOUTH PACIFIC: German armed merchant cruiser "Komet" arrived at Nauru and warned the British dock personnel to evacuate without signaling any alarm. Upon the completion of the evacuation, "Komet" shelled the facilities, destroying much of the port and the phosphate plant. Nauru's dock would be rebuilt in 10 weeks, but the port never returned to full capacity during the war.

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[parsifal]

26 December 1940
Losses
MV WAIOTIRA (UK 12823 grt) Sunk by U-38 (Heinrich Liebe); Crew: 90 (1 dead and 89 survivors); Cargo: refrigerated general foodstuffs ; Route: Sydney (NSW) - Panama - UK; Convpy Unescorted; Sunk in the Western Approaches; At 2003 hrs on 26 Dec 1940 the unescorted WAIOTIRA was hit in the bow by one torpedo from U-95 (Schreiber) when steaming at about 16 knots 124 miles NW of Rockall. The ship was missed by a second torpedo at 2007 hrs, but hit aft by a third torpedo at 2018 hours. The U-boat then left the area because three DDs had been spotted during the attack.

The now stopped WAIOTIRA was located by U-38 during the night and hit underneath the bridge by a coup de grace at 0146 hrs on 27 December. Also this U-boat left the area before the ship sank because a DD was approaching, but the vessel sank a few hours later. One passenger was lost. The master, 78 crew members and ten passengers were picked up by HMS Mashona (F 59) (Cdr W.H. Selby, RN) and landed at Greenock on 28 December.

Drifter TRUE ACCORD (UK 92 grt), was sunk in a collision with armed trawler SARONTA (316grt) at Yarmouth.

MTB 5 (RN 18 grt) (Reclassified Minesweeper Attendant Craft MAC 5 in 1940); Mined and sunk off The Gunfleet sands (near the Thames estuary) on 26 December 1940

UBOATS
At Sea 26 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-105, U-124.
10 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CL MANCHESTER departed Scapa Flow to rendezvous with CL NIGERIA to operate in support of AMCs LETITIA and CHITRAL in the Denmark Strait.

Northern Waters
CLA CURACOA departed Rosyth after boiler cleaning and escorted convoy EN.47 to Pentland Firth. The cruiser arrived at Scapa Flow late on the 27th. DDs LEAMINGTON and CHURCHILL departed Scapa Flow to meet AMCs WOLFE and CILICIA and escort them to the North Minches. The destroyers arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 30th. DD MASHONA went to Scapa Flow arriving at 1645/29th.

Sloop PELICAN collided with ASW trawler CAPE PORTLAND near Newarp Light Vessel.The sloop was able to continue with her duties, but was later repaired at London completing in January.

West Coast UK
OB.265 departed Liverpool escort DD VISCOUNT and corvettes GENTIAN and RHODODENDRON. VISCOUNT was detached on the 28th. On the 29th DDs VANQUISHER, WHITEHALL and WINCHELSEA joined the escort. On the 30th, the escort was detached.

Nth Atlantic
RM sub CALVI attacked a British steamer in 55N, 19W and claimed sinking her, but no confirmation is available of this in Allied records.

HX.99 departed Halifax at 1300, escort DD COLUMBIA and aux PV OTTER. Ocean escort was AMC ALAUNIA and submarine PORPOISE. The submarine was detached on 5 January and the AMC on 6 January. On 7 January, DD SHIKARI and corvettes ANEMONE and LA MALOUINE joined. ON 8 January, DD SARDONYX and ASW trawlers LADY ELSA and DERBY COUNTY joined. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 11 January.

Central Atlantic
Steamer BADEN (Ger 8803 grt) had departed Teneriffe during the night of 15/16 December to return to Germany. The steamer scuttled herself in 44‑00N, 25‑07W when intercepted by CLA BONAVENTURE, which was en route to assist damaged British steamer ARABISTAN. BONAVENTURE also torpedoed steamer BADEN to help scuttle her.

Sth Atlantic
CAr DEVONSHIRE arrived at Simonstown.

Med- Biscay
Ocean boarding vessel MARON intercepted trawler JOSEPH DUHAMEL (Vichy 928 grt), which was en route from Port St Pierre to Casablanca, in 34‑30N, 15‑22W. The trawler was taken to Gibraltar.

Convoy AN.11 of 11 steamers, 4 British, departed Port Said, escorted by corvettes PEONY, SALVIA, HYACINTH. CLA CALCUTTA departed Alexandria on the 27th to provide support. The convoy arrived at Suda Bay on the 28th. On the 29th, RHN DDs took over the escort of the convoy arrived at Piraeus on the 30th. On the 30th the CALCUTTA and corvettes PEONY, HYACINTH, SALVIA departed Suda Bay to return to Alexandria, arriving on the 31st.

RAN DD WATERHEN captured schooner TIREREMO DIRITTO (FI 65 grt (est)), which was attempting to enter Bardia with supplies and mail from Tobruk. After taking off the crew, the destroyer scuttled the schooner.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
BN.11A departed Port Sudan, escorted by RAN sloop YARRA. The convoy arrived at Suez on the 28th.

 

[parsifal]

27 December 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
IJN CVL ZUIHO

Allied
Fairmile B ML HMS ML 160

Losses
MV RISANGER (Nor 5455 grt) Sunk by U-65 (Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen) ; Crew: 29 (0 dead and 29 survivors); Cargo: Coal and vehicles; Route: Newcastle - South Africa - Alexandria; Convpy Ind; Sunk off Sierre Leone; RISANGER was on a voyage from Newcastle-on-Tyne to Alexandria via Cape Town with a cargo of coal and vehicles when she was torpedoed, shelled and sunk by U-65 on Dec. 27-1940. She had started out from Oban on Dec. 3, and she had joined Convoy OB 253, which had been dispersed on Dec. 6. The torpedo struck on the port side between hatch No. 2 and 3 hatches, causing the coal cargo in No. 2 hold to run out and she developed a heavy list to port. All hatches and cross webs disappeared and water and coal smoke rose high in the air.

After about 20 mins the U-boat surfaced and shelled the ship until she sank. By then everyone had gotten into the lifeboats, of which only the motorboat and 2 jolly boats were usable. The motorboat drifted off when the painter line broke. The captain, the 1st mate and the 1st engineer left the ship about 15 minutes after the torpedo had hit. The latter had been in the store room when the attack occurred but went up on deck when he heard the explosion. However, he was delayed for a long time at the exit from the engine room by the masses of water coming in from the deck. The boats set an eastward course towards the nearest land on the African coast. They were all picked up on Dec. 29 by the Norwegian M/T BELINDA, which landed them in Cape Town on Jan. 10-1941.

Steamer ARABY (UK 4936 grt) was sunk on a mine nine cables west of Nore Light Vessel, with the loss of six crew .

Steamer KINNAIRD HEAD (UK 449 grt) was sunk on a mine off Southend, seven cables north of 2 Buoy, also with the loss of six crew.

U.38 damaged steamer ARDANBHAN (UK 4980 grt) in convoy OB.263. Thirteen hours later, RM sub TAZZOLI finished her off with the loss of all her crew.

UBOATS
At Sea 27 December 1940
U-37, U-38, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-100, U-105, U-124.
10 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.368 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 29th. FS.372 departed Methil, escort DDs VIVIEN and WALLACE, and arrived at Southend on the 29th. FS.373 departed Methil, escort DDrs VERDUN and WOLSEY. Corvette SNAPDRAGON joined on the 28th, and the convoy arrived at Southend on the 29th.

Steamer LADY CONNAUGHT was damaged on a mine in 53‑37N, 03‑43W. Dutch tkr WOENSDRECHT was damaged by the LW in 51‑40N, 01‑18E.

Northern Waters
DDs BEDOUIN, TARTAR, SIKH, KEPPEL were brought to two hours notice at Scapa Flow.

West Coast UK
Steamer VICTORIA was damaged on a mine eight miles 290° from Bar Light Vessel, Mersey.

Channel
CE.20 was shelled off Dover by shore batteries, and armed trawlers BLACKTHORN and DEODAR damaged.

DKM CA ADM HIPPER arrived at Brest after a cruise in which she sank one ship for 6078 tons.

Central Atlantic
CA DORSETSHIRE departed Freetown with Force K.

Med- Biscay
RAN CL PERTH was at Alexandria for camouflage painting on the 27th and 28th, and on the 30th replaced sister ship SYDNEY in CruSqn 7.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
NZ manned CL LEANDER departed Bombay with steamers for convoy BN.12, which she escorted into the Red Sea until 6 January when relieved, and took over convoy BS.12. On the 14th, she departed Aden and arrived at Colombo on the 21st for refitting. Convoy BN.12 departed Bombay, escorted by LEANDER. The convoy was joined on 2 January by destroyer KIMBERLEY, sloops FLAMINGO and HINDUSTAN, ASW trawler AMBER. DD KIMBERLEY was detached on 6 January when the convoy was joined by sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY. Sloops FLAMINGO and HINDUSTAN were detached on 6 January. The convoy arrived at Suez on 9 January. Convoy BS.11B departed Suez, escorted by sloop CLIVE. RAN Sloop YARRA joined on the 28th. The convoy arrived at Port Suden on the 29th.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
DKM raider KOMET shelled the phosphate loading equipment and oil tanks on the British island of Nauru.

 

[Njaco]

December 28 Saturday
ASIA: Richard Sorge in Tokyo sends Moscow his first warning about the upcoming German invasion.

German supply ship "Ermland" departs Kobe, Japan for replenishment operations in the Pacific en route to Europe.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Bomber Command sends 59 aircraft to attack Channel ports overnight.

MEDITERRANEAN: Greek I Corps captures Nivitsa and takes 580 Italian prisoners in southern sector of the front. Mussolini requested German aid against the Greeks in Albania.

As food becomes scarce in Italy, the Italian government announces that in extreme cases people caught hoarding food might be executed.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German blockade runner "Baden" sunk by RN cruiser "Bonaventure".

NORTH AFRICA: British monitor HMS "Terror" bombarded Bardia, Libya keeping up pressure on the 40,000 besieged Italian troops.

From a Dec 28, 1940, British newspaper:

"Our fighters have continued to maintain their ascendancy over the Italian Air Force. On the 26th Gladiators of the Royal Australian Air Force shot down without loss two, and probably six, of a number of C.R. 42 fighters which were escorting a bomber formation, and on the 28th Hurricanes shot down three bombers and a fighter, again without loss".

UNITED KINGDOM: German bombers attacked two destroyers under construction at Southampton, England. Future destroyer "Norseman" was blown in half and future destroyer "Opportune" was also heavily damaged.

British destroyer HMS "Valorous" collided with minesweeping trawler HMT "Libyan" in Sheerness Harbour in the Thames Estuary, England. HMS "Valorous" would be repaired at Chatham, England until 11 Jan 1941.

The Gelsenkirchen Report: RAF photo-reconnaissance mission of Ruhr synthetic oil plant, flown December 24, shows it is not destroyed.

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