8. The remarks of the Commanding Officer,
H.M.S. JAGUAR are of considerable interest,
in particular his practice of firing 4.7-mch barrage
over the stern of a ship attacked by
dive bombers. The idea is now under development
in the Mediterranean Fleet with a view
to the destroyer screen putting an " umbrella
barrage " over the fleet.
31. The torpedo bombers approaching low
down from ahead were engaged with barrage
fire by the destroyer screen. This fire appeared
effective and on coming within range the enemy
split into two groups of three, one group altering
course to port, the other to starboard. One
of the starboard group followed by one of the
port group attacked FEARLESS who was
stationed in the starboard bow position on the
screen. The remaining two aircraft,of the port
group pressed home their attack on the port
bow of the convoy which took avoiding action.
There is no clear record of any torpedoes havmg
been dropped by the remaining two aircraft of
the starboard group, but MANCHESTER
observed two tracks from port and one from
starboard before a final torpedo approaching
from port hit her.
71. At 0615 two T/B aircraft were sighted
by NESTOR on the port quarter. Barrage
fire was opened and the aircraft crossed astern
making off in the general direction of the
-convoy. At 0650 two more T/Bs were sighted,
this time on the port bow. Barrage fire was
again opened and the aircraft crossed' ahead
and made off towards the convoy. Thinking
that SYDNEY STAR was about to fee attacked,
NESTOR made a '' (Help '' signal, in consequence
of which 'HERMIONE was detached
Tty Rear-Admiral Commanding, i8th Cruiser
Squadron at 0700 to join NESTOR and SYDNEY
STAR.
Approach to, and Arrival 'at Malta, z^th July
(D.4).
- 72. At 0705 when some 60 miles west of
Gozo, a half-hearted attack was carried out
l>y 3 T/B aircraftx on the main convoy and
~ escort. Torpedoes were released at long range
when the destroyer screen opened fire. Ships
took avoiding action, but no tracks were seen.
41. An unknown number of torpedoes was
dropped about 5,000 yards on the port beam
of the.convoy, which altered course -to 040°
at 1304, turning to 075° three minutes later.
Three of the six attackers tried to approach
over the port wing of the screen, ibut unable
to face the barrage put up by the destroyers
they dropped their torpedoes at the port wing
s'hip, LANCE, who had considerable difficulty
in avoiding them, two torpedoes passing very
close.
47. A group of aircraft splitting into two
formations was reported by R.D.F. closing
from the eastward at 1327. Destroyers on the
starboard wing of the screen opened fire at
1329, when 6 or 7 T/Bs (B.R.20) were seen
approaching very low from the starboard bowand,
beam.
48. Three of the aircraft pressed on through
the barrage of the starboard wing destroyers,
and carried out a most determined attack on
NELSON, who was swinging to starboard to
comb the tracks. One aircraft dropped its
torpedo about 450 yards 20° on NELSON'S
starboard bow, passing over the ship at about
200 feet height. This aircraft was almost certainly
shot down astern of NELSON by
SHEFFIELD and PRINCE OF WALES.
54. Six minutes after the end of the second
attack, R.D.F. reported a group closing from
the S.E. and diving. At 1345 a formation of
10 or ii S.79S were sighted yery low about
10 miles to the southward. These split up
into two groups when they came under fire from
the escorting ships on £he starboard side of
the convoy, and 7 or 8 retired to the southwest
and disappeared.
Three others tried to work round the starboard
bow, and the convoy was turned away
60° to port. These aircraft were turned away
by the gunfire of the screening destroyers,
having dropped their torpedoes well outside the
screen. One torpedo narrowly missed
LIGHTNING, but they dropped at too great
a range to be a danger to the convoy. One
of these aircraft was shot down by fighters
as it retired.
•*•-
55. Of the 7 or 8 aircraft who turned away
when first fired at, 3 returned from astern
of the convoy at 1354, two of which retired
again on being fired at. The third pressed
on to attack ARK ROYAL, but was shot down
by the combined fire of that ship and
NELSON, while still 1,000 yards from ARK
ROYAL and before he had dropped a torpedo.
56. At 1358 one' aircraft, seen right ahead
of NELSON, dropped a torpedo outside the
screen. COSSACK was able to avoid this
torpedo by the warning given by hydrophone
effect on her A/S set.
57. At this time (1359) one C.R-42 was seen
to be diving on the starboard wing destroyers,
and performing aerobatics over them, evidently
to make a diversion for the T/Bs. In so far
as the destroyers expended a large amount of
ammunition he succeeded, but after six minutes
was either shot down or failed to pull out from
a dive. None of the destroyers reported being
machine-gunned.
58. Result of Third Attack.,—Two more
enemy T/Bs and one C.R-42 fighter were shot
down, and no further damage inflicted on H.M.
Ships or convoy.
It was most noticeable that this attack was
hot pressed home with the same 'determination
as the first two attacks. Of the 10 or so
S.79s which originally approached, only four
fired torpedoes, and these were dropped at too
great a distance to endanger the convoy. The
only aircraft of this group to close within effective
range was destroyed before its torpedo was
dropped.
34. This attack was followed by a large
number of torpedo bombers which came in in
formation of 5 or 6 on the port bow, port\
beam and finally on the starboard .(quarter.y
None of these attacks were pressed home and
no aircraft penetrated the destroyer screen.
35. All dropped their torpedoes well outside
the screen and outside range of the convoy.
Several destroyers on the port side were near
missed by torpedoes. One tocpedo bomber was
probably shot down by ships' gunfire.