parsifal
Colonel
08 AUGUST 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
R Boat DKM R-79, R-80
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Neutral
Acceptor Class MSW USS LIMPKIN (AMc-48)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Acceptor Class MSW USS LORIKEET (AMc-49)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Allied
Dance Class ASW Trawler HMS COVERLEY (T-106)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Mk2 Class LCT HMS LCT 131
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Losses
None
UBOATS
Arrivals
St Naszaire: U-97
At Sea 08 August 1941
U-38, U-43, U-46, U-71, U-73, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-105, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-206, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-431, U-451, U-551, U-553, U-559, U-563, U-566, U-567, U-568, U-751
40 Boats
OPERATIONS
Baltic
Swedish steamer VENERSBORG was damaged by RAF bombing in the Great Belt, and towed to a Danish port.
East Front
Baltic
Izyaslav Class DD KARL MARX (VMF 1350 grt)was sunk by the LW near Reval.
North Sea
CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to escort convoy WN.63 from Pentland Firth southward. She arrived at Rosyth on the 11th to clean boilers and carry out repairs.
MSW SELKIRK was damaged by a near miss by the LW in the Nth sea.
Northern Patrol
ORP DD GARLAND arrived at Hvalfjord with ASW trawler SEALYHAM and oiler OLIGARCH, and then reverted to the Western Approaches Command.
Northern Waters
DD PUCKERIDGE arrived at Scapa Flow from Rosyth to work up. DD ACTIVE departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth for boiler cleaning. The DD arrived on the 9th. DD CROOME departed Scapa Flow for Liverpool on completion of work up exercises, and arrived during the afternoon of the 9th.
Med/Biscay
DDs HERO and JAGUAR departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh to intercept an enemy supply ship reported by air. No contact was made and the DDs returned to Alexandria, arriving on the 9th.
DDs DECOY and HOTSPUR were at sea exercising with submarine OTUS.
Sloop FLAMINGO departed Port Said with MV SALAMAUA for Famagusta in Serial S.16 of the GUILLOTINE operation. The sloop arrived at Famagusta on the 10th and sailed for Port Said, where she arrived on the 11th. Serial S.17 of the Operation was cancelled.
Nth Atlantic
Convoy WS.8C (Operation LEAPFROG) departed the Clyde on the 8th with landing ships KARANJA, ROYAL SCOTSMAN, ULSTER MONARCH, BACHAQUERO, MISOA, QUEEN EMMA, and PRINCE CHARLES, oilers DEWDALE and ENNERDALE, steamers NARKUNDA, WINCHESTER CASTLE, BATORY, ORMONDE, CLAN MACDONALD, MACHARDA, SUFFOLK, DUNEDIN STAR, SILVERTEAK, and POTARO, escorted by DDs BULLDOG, INTREPID, ECHO, CHARLESTOWN, CASTLETON, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, and WITCH. This convoy was the force for the intended seizure of the AzoresIslands.
The convoy entered Scapa Flow on the 10th. Steamers SUFFOLK and POTARO were in a collision when entering Scapa Flow. DDs DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, GEORGETOWN, and SALADIN arrived at Scapa Flow on the 15th to strengthen the escort for the convoy.
When the operation was cancelled, the ships, less SUFFOLK and POTARO, sailed for the Clyde on the 15th, escorted by DDs DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, INTREPID, CHARLESTOWN, CASTLETON, GEORGETOWN, ANTELOPE, SALADIN, and LEAMINGTON and anti-aircraft ship POZARICA.
The convoy arrived back in the Clyde on the 17th
Central Atlantic
DDs VANSITTART and VELOX joined CVL EAGLE and CL DUNEDIN at sea and escorted them to Freetown, arriving on the 10th.
Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BA.4 departed Bombay, escorted by AMC HECTOR, sloop CORNWALLIS, and aux PV DIPAVATI. The sloop and PV were detached on the 9th. The convoy was dispersed on the 12th.
Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 8 AUGUST TO DAWN 9 AUGUST 1941
Weather Squally.
0856-0920 hrs Air raid alert for three JU 87 Stuka dive-bombers which approach from the north and cross the coast over GrandHarbour before receding over Delimara without dropping any bombs. Hurricanes are scrambled; no engagement. Hurricanes of 185 Squadron are scrambled but raiders remain at 29000 feet and Hurricanes do not intercept. F/O Oliver bales out when his engine fails out at sea. He is rescued by a Float Swordfish.
1229-1241 hrs Air raid alert for three JU 87 Stuka dive-bombers which approach the Island from the north at 26000 feet, turn west over Gozo and change course on two more occasions before eventually crossing the Island from Ghain Tuffieha to St Paul's Bay without dropping any bombs. Hurricanes of 185 Squadron are scrambled but altitude of raiders prevents engagement.
OPERATIONS REPORTS FRIDAY 8 AUGUST 1941
ROYAL NAVY HM Submarine Thunderbolt arrived with aviation spirits for Malta.
AIR HQ Arrivals 1 Sunderland, 3 Blenheim. Departures 2 Beaufort, 3 Blenheim, 1 Sunderland. 69 SquadronStrike force patrols of Tunisian coast and western Ionian Sea. Reconnaissance of Tripoli and Misurata. Photoreconnaissance Catania port and aerodrome, Augusta and Syracuse. 38 Squadron 7 Wellingtons sent to attack Tripoli. A total of 16000lbs of high explosive bombs, 1500 lbs of anti-personnel bombs and 5280lbs of incendiaries were dropped on target from a height of 7000 feet, between 0155 and 0317 hrs, causing large fires and explosions. 105 Squadron 5 Blenheims sent to attack ships in Catania harbour causing underwater explosions near ships and the quay. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm Fulmar patrolled Gerbini and Catania area, dropped bombs on Gerbini aerodrome starting fires. It is believed that his Fulmar gave Malta a raidless night.
HAL FAR One Fulmar patrol over Catania and Gerbini, gunning five bombers and dropping one flash bomb. In a second Fulmar patrol in the afternoon three bombs are dropped on Gerbini starting two fires. The Fulmar flies on to Comiso and drops three bombs on the aerodrome; results not observed.
Known Reinforcements
Axis
R Boat DKM R-79, R-80
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Neutral
Acceptor Class MSW USS LIMPKIN (AMc-48)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Acceptor Class MSW USS LORIKEET (AMc-49)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Allied
Dance Class ASW Trawler HMS COVERLEY (T-106)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Mk2 Class LCT HMS LCT 131
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Losses
None
UBOATS
Arrivals
St Naszaire: U-97
At Sea 08 August 1941
U-38, U-43, U-46, U-71, U-73, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-105, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-206, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-431, U-451, U-551, U-553, U-559, U-563, U-566, U-567, U-568, U-751
40 Boats
OPERATIONS
Baltic
Swedish steamer VENERSBORG was damaged by RAF bombing in the Great Belt, and towed to a Danish port.
East Front
Baltic
Izyaslav Class DD KARL MARX (VMF 1350 grt)was sunk by the LW near Reval.
North Sea
CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to escort convoy WN.63 from Pentland Firth southward. She arrived at Rosyth on the 11th to clean boilers and carry out repairs.
MSW SELKIRK was damaged by a near miss by the LW in the Nth sea.
Northern Patrol
ORP DD GARLAND arrived at Hvalfjord with ASW trawler SEALYHAM and oiler OLIGARCH, and then reverted to the Western Approaches Command.
Northern Waters
DD PUCKERIDGE arrived at Scapa Flow from Rosyth to work up. DD ACTIVE departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth for boiler cleaning. The DD arrived on the 9th. DD CROOME departed Scapa Flow for Liverpool on completion of work up exercises, and arrived during the afternoon of the 9th.
Med/Biscay
DDs HERO and JAGUAR departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh to intercept an enemy supply ship reported by air. No contact was made and the DDs returned to Alexandria, arriving on the 9th.
DDs DECOY and HOTSPUR were at sea exercising with submarine OTUS.
Sloop FLAMINGO departed Port Said with MV SALAMAUA for Famagusta in Serial S.16 of the GUILLOTINE operation. The sloop arrived at Famagusta on the 10th and sailed for Port Said, where she arrived on the 11th. Serial S.17 of the Operation was cancelled.
Nth Atlantic
Convoy WS.8C (Operation LEAPFROG) departed the Clyde on the 8th with landing ships KARANJA, ROYAL SCOTSMAN, ULSTER MONARCH, BACHAQUERO, MISOA, QUEEN EMMA, and PRINCE CHARLES, oilers DEWDALE and ENNERDALE, steamers NARKUNDA, WINCHESTER CASTLE, BATORY, ORMONDE, CLAN MACDONALD, MACHARDA, SUFFOLK, DUNEDIN STAR, SILVERTEAK, and POTARO, escorted by DDs BULLDOG, INTREPID, ECHO, CHARLESTOWN, CASTLETON, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, and WITCH. This convoy was the force for the intended seizure of the AzoresIslands.
The convoy entered Scapa Flow on the 10th. Steamers SUFFOLK and POTARO were in a collision when entering Scapa Flow. DDs DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, GEORGETOWN, and SALADIN arrived at Scapa Flow on the 15th to strengthen the escort for the convoy.
When the operation was cancelled, the ships, less SUFFOLK and POTARO, sailed for the Clyde on the 15th, escorted by DDs DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, INTREPID, CHARLESTOWN, CASTLETON, GEORGETOWN, ANTELOPE, SALADIN, and LEAMINGTON and anti-aircraft ship POZARICA.
The convoy arrived back in the Clyde on the 17th
Central Atlantic
DDs VANSITTART and VELOX joined CVL EAGLE and CL DUNEDIN at sea and escorted them to Freetown, arriving on the 10th.
Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BA.4 departed Bombay, escorted by AMC HECTOR, sloop CORNWALLIS, and aux PV DIPAVATI. The sloop and PV were detached on the 9th. The convoy was dispersed on the 12th.
Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 8 AUGUST TO DAWN 9 AUGUST 1941
Weather Squally.
0856-0920 hrs Air raid alert for three JU 87 Stuka dive-bombers which approach from the north and cross the coast over GrandHarbour before receding over Delimara without dropping any bombs. Hurricanes are scrambled; no engagement. Hurricanes of 185 Squadron are scrambled but raiders remain at 29000 feet and Hurricanes do not intercept. F/O Oliver bales out when his engine fails out at sea. He is rescued by a Float Swordfish.
1229-1241 hrs Air raid alert for three JU 87 Stuka dive-bombers which approach the Island from the north at 26000 feet, turn west over Gozo and change course on two more occasions before eventually crossing the Island from Ghain Tuffieha to St Paul's Bay without dropping any bombs. Hurricanes of 185 Squadron are scrambled but altitude of raiders prevents engagement.
OPERATIONS REPORTS FRIDAY 8 AUGUST 1941
ROYAL NAVY HM Submarine Thunderbolt arrived with aviation spirits for Malta.
AIR HQ Arrivals 1 Sunderland, 3 Blenheim. Departures 2 Beaufort, 3 Blenheim, 1 Sunderland. 69 SquadronStrike force patrols of Tunisian coast and western Ionian Sea. Reconnaissance of Tripoli and Misurata. Photoreconnaissance Catania port and aerodrome, Augusta and Syracuse. 38 Squadron 7 Wellingtons sent to attack Tripoli. A total of 16000lbs of high explosive bombs, 1500 lbs of anti-personnel bombs and 5280lbs of incendiaries were dropped on target from a height of 7000 feet, between 0155 and 0317 hrs, causing large fires and explosions. 105 Squadron 5 Blenheims sent to attack ships in Catania harbour causing underwater explosions near ships and the quay. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm Fulmar patrolled Gerbini and Catania area, dropped bombs on Gerbini aerodrome starting fires. It is believed that his Fulmar gave Malta a raidless night.
HAL FAR One Fulmar patrol over Catania and Gerbini, gunning five bombers and dropping one flash bomb. In a second Fulmar patrol in the afternoon three bombs are dropped on Gerbini starting two fires. The Fulmar flies on to Comiso and drops three bombs on the aerodrome; results not observed.
Last edited: