This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Njaco]

September 19 Friday
ASIA: Second Battle of Changsha: Japanese 11th Army reaches and crossed the Milo River during advance on Changsha.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-74 sank Canadian corvette HMCS "Lévis" of Allied convoy SC-44 125 miles east of Iceland at 0603 hours; 18 were killed, 40 survived).

The Ordeal of Convoy SC-42: U-372 claims a final victim in convoy SC-42, sinking British SS "Baron Pentland" at 1433 hours 100 miles East of Iceland. "Baron Pentland's" back had been broken on 10 September by a torpedo from U-652 (2 crew lost, 31 crew and 8 gunners picked up by HMCS "Orillia" and landed at Reykjavik) but she remained afloat on her cargo of timber.

EASTERN FRONT: Armeegruppe Nord: Leningrad is struck by the heaviest air raid it would suffer during the war as 276 German bombers hit the city killing 1000 civilians. Heavy fighting at Uritsk outside Leningrad as the Leningrad defensive perimeter begins stabilizing at Pulkovo, Kuzmino, and Portolovo.

German XIX.Gebirgskorps halts new attack across the Litsa River in the face of heavy resistance.

Armeegruppe Mitte: German troops captured Kiev, Ukraine, along with 600,000 prisoners, 2,500 tanks, and 1,000 artillery pieces. Elements of the 296.Infanterie-Divisionen (Major General W. Stemmermann) (6.Armee [General of the W. von Reichenau]), break through the Russian defenses at Kiev and enter the town after nearly a month of heavy fighting. German infantry of 2.Armee, 6.Armee and 17.Armee pour into the Kiev pocket to annihilate the Soviet Southwestern Front (850,000 troops under General Mikhail Kirponos). Stalin's orders were "stand fast, hold out, and if need be die." When Marshal Budenny, the Soviet commander in the south, requested permission to retreat, Stalin sacked him. General Kirponos, commanding in Kiev, eventually got Stalin's permission to withdraw, but it came too late. Kirponos has been killed in an ambush along with most of his 1,000 strong command column; the Red Army is facing its greatest disaster of this war.

Armeegruppe Sud: Light cruiser "Voroshilov" bombarded Axis troop positions near Sevastopol, Russia. German 11.Armee continues advancing toward the Crimea. Major Kononov's 436th Infantry Regiment of Soviet 155th Rifle Division, having deserted en masse and crossed to German lines, reforms as Don Cossack unit in German service.

In Occupied Yugoslavia, Draža Mihailović and Josip Broz Tito met at Struganik in an attempt to reach an agreement to co-operate and to discuss resistance to the Germans. Major political differences divide the two groups and no accommodation is reached. Supporters of the respective factions soon begin fighting each other. Tito and Mihajlovic quarrel after attempting to discuss resistance to the Germans. There continued attempts to resolve their differences will fail and fighting between their followers will start.

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends 72 aircraft to attack Stettin overnight.

MEDITERANNEAN: Operation Propeller: Convoy arrives at Malta from Gibraltar.

MIDDLE EAST: They are changing the guard today at the Peacock Palace, Tehran. Soviet troops who have occupied the city for several days are leaving and British troops are replacing them, with much saluting. This is the first time that British and Russian troops have seen each other. The British troops are impressed by the Russian soldiers' armor. The Russian troops seem surprised by the British soldiers' short trousers.

NORTH AFRICA: The desert Geschwader, JG 27 loses another Experte when Ernst Riepe with only six kills is shot down and killed in combat against the Allies.

Operation Supercharge. British 16th Infantry Brigade begins arriving at Tobruk by naval transport at night while Australian 24th Infantry Brigade is withdrawn to Egypt. British Cruisers HMS "Ajax", HMS "Neptune", and HMAS "Hobart" return to Alexandria, Egypt, with 6000 troops of British 70th Infantry Division. Over the next few nights, these men will be shuttled to Tobruk to replace Australian 9th Division. To reduce German air attacks, this has to be done using fast warships during moonless periods of the month.

NORTH AMERICA: US Secretary of State Cordell Hull sends a note to the German Charge d'Affaires asking for $2,967,092 in reparations for the sinking of the US freighter SS "Robin Moor". The unarmed freighter was sunk on 21 May 1941 about 700 miles (1,127 km) off the west coast of Africa. The ship had been stopped by the German submarine U-69 and was then sunk by gunfire and torpedo even though US flags were prominently painted on both sides of her hull. She was the first American merchant vessel sunk in the war. All 38-crewmen and 8-passengers make it into life boats and the U-boat captain provides rations; 35 of the 46 survivors are rescued on 3 June and the remaining 11 are rescued on 8 June. The German embassy acknowledges receipt of the note.

UNITED KINGDOM: Lord Woolton called the black market in Britain "a thorn in our side".

The first Rhubarb (armed recce) by Curtiss Tomahawks of the RAF is flown today by RAF No. 239 Squadron from Gatwick.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Jochen Müncheberg is given command of II./JG 26 to replace Hptm. Adolf, who is missing in action against Spitfires from the day before. Oblt. Klaus Mietusch is appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 26.

In Paris, due to the recent shootings of German soldiers, a curfew is imposed from nine at night to five in the morning. Restaurants, cafés, cinemas are shut at eight o'clock. Anyone in breach of the curfew will be held hostage.
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[Njaco]

September 20 Saturday
ASIA: Staff of Japanese 16th Army ordered to prepare plans for invasion of Netherlands East Indies.

Second Battle of Changsha: Japanese 11th Army crosses Milo River at four points against minimal opposition.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: An accidental fire aboard HMS "Eagle" killed one aircraft mechanic and damaged many Swordfish aircraft while sailing in the South Atlantic.

German submarine U-124 sank British ships "Baltallinn" and "Empire Moat" of Allied convoy OG-74 500 miles west of Brest, France at 2331 hours; 60 survivors were rescued by British rescue ship "Walmer Castle". Meanwhile, a Martlet Mk II fighter of RAF No. 802 Squadron from escort carrier HMS "Audacity" shot down a German Fw 200C Condor aircraft attempting to shadow OG-74; it was the first kill by a British carrier-based aircraft.

Allied convoy SC-44 was attacked in the North Atlantic by Wolfpack Brandenburg. German submarine U-552 sank two tankers and U-74 sank catapult armed merchant ship "Empire Burton", all of Allied convoy SC-44, 200 miles east of Iceland between 0113 and 0327 hours; 102 survivors were rescued by British corvette HMS "Honeysuckle".

EASTERN FRONT: Armeegruppe Nord: Soviet 8th Army attacks from the Oranienbaum pocket.

Armeegruppe Mitte: The 3.Panzer-Divisionen (Lieutenant General W. Model) attacks southwest of Lokhvista capturing General V.N. Sotensky, the 5th Army's artillery commander. Later in the day, in the Shumeikovo Woods, Kirponos, Potapov, and around 2,000 troops fought the advancing German division. By the end of the day, Colonel-General Mikhail Kirponos and Major-General V.I. Tupikov were killed and Lieutenant-General Potapov was captured.

On this date, the Jager Report (issued on 1 Dec 1941) noted that 128 adult male, 179 adult female, and 99 children, all Jews, were killed in Nemencing, Lithuania for a total of 403 people.

"The German Army in fighting Russia is like an elephant attacking a host of ants. The elephant will kill thousands, perhaps even millions, of ants, but in the end their numbers will overcome him, and he will be eaten to the bone."- Colonel Bernd Von Kleist

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends 74 aircraft to attack Berlin and 34 aircraft to attack Frankfurt overnight.

MEDITERANNEAN: Italian midget submarines attack shipping in Gibraltar harbor. They sink 2 ships. Led by Prince Giunio Borghese, three two-man submarines penetrated the defenses and sank 20,000 tons of shipping. Their mother ship is a converted submarine, "Scirè", moored off the Spanish coast. "Scirè" launched three manned torpedoes into the harbor, which sank tanker "Fiona Shell" (killing 1), damaged tanker RFA "Denbydale", and damaged freighter "Durham". All six Italian personnel manning the three torpedoes swam to Spain and would eventually return to Italy as heroes.

A British convoy bound for Gibraltar is attacked by a German submarine. Five of the twenty-seven ships were sunk. One of these, the "Walmer Castle", was sunk by an air attack while attempting to rescue survivors from the previous attack. The next day, the submarine returned and sunk four more merchant vessels.

At Malta, The first 'Hurribomber' Hawker Hurricane fighter-bomber conversions go into service. They can carry two 250-lb bombs.

NORTH AFRICA: Operation Supercharge: British minelaying cruiser HMS "Abdiel" and destroyers HMS "Jervis", HMS "Kimberley", and HMS "Hasty" delivered 1,000 troops and 120 tons of supplies to Tobruk, Libya after sundown. They departed for Alexandria, Egypt 30 minutes after arrival.

UNITED KINGDOM: The ferry vessel SS "Portsdown" sank in the Solent between the Isle of Wight and England, after hitting a mine. There had been disquiet for some time that that no minesweeping had been carried out in the eastern Solent, despite enemy mines becoming an increasing problem. The day before the sinking a meeting of steamer captains agreed by a majority of 4 to continue the night time sailings to the island and Captain H. Chandler, who was commodore of the Southern Railways Company fleet, decided he would take command of the next night crossing which was to be a 0400 hours mailboat, the SS "Portsdown". Captain Chandler died along with 20 crew members, military personnel (going home on leave) and one civilian.

Churchill authorizes the release of the most secret German "Vulture" to the Soviet Union. These messages detailed troop concentrations and aircraft strength in the Smolensk area. Enigma decodings give Britain and the USSR advance warning of an all-out German assault on Moscow.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Fighter Command flew Circus operations. While flying an offensive sweep over Northern France, the pilots of No. 452 Squadron, RAAF, equipped with Spitfire Mk. VBs and based at Kenley, Surrey, England, claims seven Luftwaffe Bf 109s shot down and two damaged.

The first successful sortie by the photo-reconnaissance variant of the de Havilland Mosquito was made today when W 4055 (LY-T) of the RAF Photographic Development Unit based at RAF Benson flew a daylight reconnaissance over Brest, La Pallice and Bordeaux, returning over Paris. Although it was chased by three Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters, the Mosquito easily outpaced them at 23,000 ft.

RAF Bomber Command sends 28 aircraft to attack Ostend overnight. RAF Bomber Command sends 54 aircraft on coastal sweeps.
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[Njaco]

September 21 Sunday
ASIA: Second Battle of Changsha: Chinese 9th War Area conducts minor, unsuccessful counterattacks against Japanese 11th Army south of Milo River.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-201 sank British ships "Runa", "Lissa", and "Rhineland" of Allied convoy OG-74 500 miles west of Brest, France at 2320 hours. While British rescue ship "Walmer Castle" came to aid the survivors, a German Fw200 aircraft attacked her, killing 16 previously-rescued survivors onboard the ship. "Walmer Castle" sustained heavy damage in the attack and was scuttled by British corvette HMS "Marigold" and sloop HMS "Deptford".

EASTERN FRONT: The Baltic Red Fleet at Kronstadt is attacked by Luftwaffe Stuka dive bombers sink or damage nine ships, including battleship "Marat", which settles on the bottom after losing its bow by a 1000 kg bomb hit. Stukas hit Soviet WWI-era battleship "Oktyabrskaya Revolutsia" with 6 medium bombs (damaged but remains afloat) and destroyer "Stereguschy" is also hit and capsizes.

Armeegruppe Nord: Soviet troops evacuate the Latvian capital, Riga, and the Germans capture the key naval base at Oesel.

Armeegruppe Mitte: After days of extremely heavy fighting, the Soviet 37th Army surrenders, giving the Germans Kiev.

Armeegruppe Sud: The German 11.Armee reaches the Sea of Azoz, cutting off the Crimean Peninsula. Soviet forces attacked the Romanian 15th Infantry Division near Odessa, Ukraine by landing 1,617 troops of the 3rd Naval Rifle Regiment (by Soviet cruiser "Krasni Kavkaz", cruiser "Krasni Krym", destroyer "Boyki", destroyer "Besposhchadny", destroyer "Bezuprechny", and destroyer "Frunze") and by launching 157th and 421st Rifle Divisions on the ground. Destroyer "Frunze" was sunk by German Stuka dive bombers in the action.

Joseph Stalin sent a message to Georgy Zhukov, Andrei Zhdanov, Nikolai Kuznetsov, and Vsevolod Merkulov, noting that if the Germans used Russian civilians as messengers to request Soviet troops at Leningrad, Russia to surrender, those civilians must be all killed for that they were "more dangerous than the fascists".

"The Stavka of the Supreme High Command demands that you report immediately: 1. Whether or not your units have abandoned Kiev? 2. If Kiev has been abandoned, whether or not the bridges been blown up? 3. If the bridges have been blown up, then who will vouch for the fact the bridges have been blown up?" - Marshal Shaposhnikov in Stavka VGK Directive No. 002202 asking for a status report from Colonel-General Kirponos, Kirponos had been killed the day before in the collapsing pocket around Kiev

NORTH AMERICA: U.S. Congress passes the Revenue Act of 1941 increases the taxes paid by Americans.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Bomber Command sends 18 aircraft on a Circus mission to Gosnay and Lille escorted by RAF Fighter Command. Escort provided by 12 Spitfire Vb of RAF No. 71 Sqn., 12 Spitfire Vb of RAF No. 222 Sqn., 12 Spitfire Vb of RAF No. 111 Sqn. and 11 Spitfire Vb of RAF No. 403 Sqn.. The new Focke-Wulf 190s of 6./JG 26 encounter a formation of RAF Spitfires over Boulogne and shoot down four of the British fighters without losing a pilot or a plane in the action. Two Spitfires from RAF No. 111 Sqn. were reported lost with pilots Sgt. R.H. Wharton and Sgt. K.J. Haine killed.

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[parsifal]

19 SEPTEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
S-Boat DKM S-62
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Allied
Flower Class Corvette FFL ROSELYS (K-57)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Flower Class Corvette HMCS SHAWINIGAN (K-57)

HDML 1081

Mk II class LCT 138

Losses
Steamer BRADGLEN (UK 4741 grt) was sunk by mining two miles 230° from B.3 Buoy off Barrow Deep. Seven crew were missing and one crewman died in the hospital.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Fishing vessel GLEN ALVA (UK 6 grt) was sunk on a mine off Jenkin Buoy, Southend. Both crew on the vessel were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Convoy SC-42
On the 19th, U.372 sank the disabled and abandoned British steamer BARON PENTLAND (already tallied), after being torpedoed on the 10th.

Convoy SC-44
U-74 sank the Flower Class Corvette LEVIS (RCN 925 grt), U-74 fired a salvo of four bow and one stern torpedoes at the convoy about 120 miles east of Cape Farewell and observed two hits on each of two ships. The first vessel sank immediately and the other flashed a lamp signal Help and sank within one minute. However, Allied reports only confirm one hit on RCN LEVIS of the 19th Escort Group, which lost her bow and was abandoned by the crew. She was taken in tow after two hours by Corvette RCN MAYFLOWER until the tow parted at 0900 hrs, but it could be reestablished about 90 minutes later. About 1910 hrs, the damaged ship capsized to starboard and sank. 17 ratings were lost. The survivors were picked up by the and RCN AGASSIZ. The commander T/Lt C.W. Gilding, RCNR was reprimanded for ordering the ship to be abandoned without inspection of the damage, leaving in the first boat and not returning with the reboarding party when the corvette did not sink.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Brest: U-81, U432
Lorient: U-557

Departures
Kirkenes: U-752 (transitting to Germany)

At Sea 19 September 1941
U-43, U-66, U-67, U-68, U-69, U-74, U-84, U-94, U-95, U-98, U-103, U-105, U-107, U-108, U-111, U-124, U-125, U-132, U-201, U-371, U-372, U-373, U-431, U-433, U-552, U-451, U-552, U-561, U-562, U-564, U-565, U-566, U-569, U-572, U-575,

33 Boats

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Fishing vessel BUNTE KUH (Ger 262 grt) was lost on a mine in the Kattegat.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

North Sea
British steamer PRESTATYN ROSE was damaged by the LW three miles northeast of Sunk Buoy, Harwich. The steamer arrived at Harwich on the 19th in tow and beached. Steamer PRESTATYN ROSE was refloated on the 28th and sailed to the Tyne on the 30th.

West Coast
Convoy ON.18 departed Liverpool. The convoy was escorted from 21 September by DDs LEAMINGTON, SALADIN, SKATE, and VETERAN, corvettes ABELIA, ANEMONE, and VERONICA, and ASW trawlers ST ELSTAN, ST KENAN, and VIZALMA. These escorts were detached on the 24th when relieved by American destroyers CHARLES F. HUGHES, GLEAVES, LANSDALE, MADISON, and SIMPSON. The American destroyers escorted the convoy until it was dispersed on 2 October.


Med/Biscay
During the night of 19/20 September, RM submarine SCIRE launched explosive boats into Gibraltar Harbour.

Oil depot ship FIONA SHELL (UK 2444 grt) was sunk One crewman was lost on ship FIONA SHELL.

Oiler DENBYDALE (UK 8145 grt) was sunk

Sister ship DINGLEDALE

steamer DURHAM was badly damaged on the 20th. The vessel was beached. She was refloated and drydocked. On the 3rd, DURHAM sailed in tow from Gibraltar for Falmouth.

CLs AJAX, NEPTUNE, and RAN HOBART departed Haifa with 6000 troops for Tobruk. Destroyers GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR from Haifa joined the cruisers off Beirut and escorted them to Alexandria, arriving on the 20th.

Submarine TORBAY unsuccessfully attacked a steamer off Gaidoro.

ORP submarine SOKOL departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Mediterranean to support HALBERD operations.

Central Atlantic
Convoy ST.3 departed Freetown, escorted by corvettes BURDOCK and MARGUERITE. Corvette CALENDULA joined on the 23rd. The convoy arrived at Takoradi on the 24th.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 19 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 20 SEPTEMBER 1941
Weather Fine and warm.

1412-1440 hrs Air raid alert for ten enemy aircraft approaching the Island in two formations. Six Hurricanes 249 Squadron and eight 185 Squadron are scrambled. The raiders come within a short distance of the coast but do not cross it and there are no interceptions.

0508-0545 hrs Air raid alert for six enemy aircraft approaching the Island; some bombs are dropped in the sea. One raider crosses the coast and drops incendiaries on land near Dingli causing no damage or casualties. Two Hurricane night fighters are scrambled but there are no searchlight illuminations and no interceptions.

OPERATIONS REPORTS FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 1941

ROYAL NAVY Empire Guillemot arrived safely under Operation Propeller.

AIR HQ Arrivals 1 Sunderland, 1 Wellington. Departures 1 Sunderland. 38 Squadron 7 Wellingtons attacked Tripoli Harbour. 69 Squadron Photoreconnaissance Catania, Gerbini, Comiso. 1 Maryland special search. 107 Squadron 4 Blenheims on shipping sweep. 2 Blenheims attacked shipping at Tripoli.830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 5 Swordfish carried out a sweep off Kerkenah. For an enemy convoy. Three possible hits are claimed, resulting in one merchant vessel probably and one possibly being damaged.

 

[parsifal]

Halder's diary 19 September 1941

 

[parsifal]

20 SEPTEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIc DKM U-251

Neutral
Accentor class MSW USS TAPACOLA (AMc-54)

Allied
O Class DD HMS OFFA (G-29)

Assurance Class Rescue tug HMS FRISKY (W-11)

Sister ship HMS ANTIC

Losses
U-111 sank Freighter CINGALESE PRINCE (UK 8474 grt) in the Sth Atlantic, whilst she was on passage from Bombay to Liverpool, via Trinidad and Capetown. She was transporting a cargo of manganese and Pig Iron with a crew of 77 embarked, 57 of whom would perish in the attack. On 20 Sep 1941 the unescorted CINGALESE PRINCE was torpedoed and sunk by U-111 east-southeast of St.Paul Rocks. The master, 48 crew members and eight gunners were lost. 15 crew members and three gunners were rescued after 12 days by the Spanish merchant CASTILLE MONTJUICH and landed at St.Vincent, Cape Verde Islands. One crew member was picked up by the British sloop WESTON and one officer by the sloop LONDONDERRY and landed at Londonderry on 3 November.

Ferry PORTSDOWN (UK 342 grt) was sunk on a mine off the UK west coast. Eight crew and fifteen passengers were lost on the steamer.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Trawler MARCONI (UK 322 grt) was lost in a collision off Harwich.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Convoy SC-42
Convoy SC 42 arrived in Liverpool on 20 September 1941. Sixteen ships totalling 68,259 grt had been sunk and four ships (14,132 GRT) damaged. One ship had turned back. Forty four ships arrived safely and unharmed, and two U-Boats had been destroyed, though one of these sinkings was not confirmed until after the war

Convoy OG-74
OG-74 was sighted by an outward bound U-Boat on 20th September. One other boat (U-201) took part in the pursuit. U-124 intercepted the convoy southwest of Ireland. 27 ships was at that time escorted by 6 corvette sized escorts from Escort Gp 36. also present in the convoy was a new type of Atlantic escort, CVE HMS AUDACITY. She carried 6 Martlet II Fighters. The CAG was tiny, but it proved its worth. One Martlet forced U-201 to dive, causing the convoy to bypass this U-Boat. However, U-124 penetrated the screen and sank two ship from within the convoy,

The next day three FW 200s attempted to also attack the convoy but were surprised to be met by the martlets, They were driven off, with the loss of one a/c

The combination of air patrols, and aggressive action by EG-36 under the capable direction of Captain Johnny Walker caused the U-Boats to break contact and seek easier prey. They did not have long to wait. The Germans switched their attentions to the north bound convoys, starting with HG-73 a few days later.

Over the total life of this convoy battle, further attacks were made in conjunction with the attacks on the northbound convoys, resulting in the loss of 4 additional ships from OG-74 (or previously OG-74)

U-124 sank MV EMPIRE MOAT (UK 2922 grt) whilst on passage from London to Gibraltar, travelling in ballast. The ship had a crew of 32 embarked all of whom would be rescued. The ship was hit at 2331 hrs, NNE of the Azores The master, 28 crew members and three gunners from the vessel were picked up by the British rescue ship WALMER CASTLE. On 21 September, five crew members were lost when the rescue ship was bombed and sunk NE of the Azores by a Fw 200 aircraft of I./KG 40. The remaining men from the EMPIRE MOAT were picked up by the Corvette HMS MARIGOLD and the Sloop HMS DEPTFORD and landed at Gibraltar on 28 September.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

In the same torpedo broadside, U-124 also hit and sank the steamer BALTALLINN (UK 1303 grt). The ship was on passage from Preston to Gibraltar, carrying a part cargo of government supplies. She had a large crew of 35, 7 of whom would perish in the attack. Seven crew members from BALTALLINN were lost. The master, 22 crew members and five gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship WALMER CASTLE. On 21 September, the rescue ship was bombed and sunk by an FW 200.. Ten crew members and one gunner from BALTALLINN were lost. The master, 12 crew members and four gunners were picked up by Sloop HMS DEPTFORDand landed at Gibraltar on 28 September.

Convoy SC-44
At 0113 hrs, U-74 led off the attack on Convoy SC-44 by torpedoing CAM ship EMPIRE BURTON (UK 6966). CAM ships were still freighters, and EMPIRE BURTON was carrying a cargo of wheat from Halifax to Liverpool with a crew of 54, 3 of whom would perish in the attack. U-74 fired a spread of four torpedoes at SC-44 east of Cape Farewell. The U-Boat reported two hits on a first ship and one hit on a second vessel which sank later. The fourth torpedo hit a third ship but was a dud. However, only the EMPIRE BURTON) was hit and sunk. One crew member and two gunners were lost. The master, 41 crew members, three gunners and six passengers (RAF personnel) were picked up by HMS HONEYSUCKLE and landed at Reykjavik.

At 01.38 hours on 20 Sep 1941, U-552 fired the stern torpedo at a ship in convoy SC-44 east-northeast of Cape Farewell and missed the intended target but the torpedo struck the SS T.J. WILLIAMS (UK 8212 grt) in station #102 after 2 minutes 2 seconds. The tanker sank fast by the stern after being hit. 15 crew members and two gunners were lost. The master, 20 crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMS HONEYSUCKLE at Reykjavik.

At 0151 hrs, U-551 struck again, sinking the SS PINK STAR (Pan 4150 grt) whilst the ships was on passage from New York to Liverpool. A crew of 35 was embarked, 13 of whom would perish in the attack. The U-boat observed observed a hit on the targeted ship without seeing any effect and a hit on a ship beyond which sank immediately after breaking in two. In fact, only the PINK STAR was hit and sunk.

Two and half hours later, U-552 struck a third time, hitting the Tkr BARBRO (Nor 6325 grt). The ship was fully loaded with petrol and a crew 34, all of whom were to lose their lives in the attack. BARBRO was hit by two torpedoes and her cargo caught fire. At 04.30 hours, U-69 tried to administer a coup de grace, but the torpedo did not detonate. All on board, the master and 33 crew members died in the flames, helplessly watched by other ships around her.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Kirkenes:U-566,
Lorient: U-95, U-105, U-561

Departures
Brest: U-204
St Nazaire: U-97, U-203, U-559

At Sea 20 September 1941
U-43, U-66, U-67, U-68, U-69, U-74, U-84, U-94, U-97, U-98, U-103, U-107, U-108, U-111, U-124, U-125, U-132, U-201, U-203, U-204, U-371, U-372, U-373, U-431, U-433, U-552, U-559, U-562, U-564, U-565, U-569, U-572, U-575

33 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Baltic
Series X Sub ShCh-319 (VMF 590 grt) was lost to a mine approximately this day.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

North Sea
Monitor EREBUS departed Scapa Flow for Chatham on completion of work up. DD VIVACIOUS departed Scapa Flow for Sheerness on completion of her work up practices. The DD was ordered to overtake the monitor and escort her to Sheerness. DD WINDSOR departed Harwich at 1130 to meet monitor EREBUS and DD VIVACIOUS off May Island and act as additional escort to Sheerness. Monitor EREBUS and DD VIVACIOUS arrived at Sheerness on the 22nd.

AA ship ULSTER QUEEN departed Scapa Flow after work up. The ship arrived at Belfast on the 21st to join the Western Approaches cmd.

RNorN DD DRAUG departed the Humber for Scapa Flow and arrived on the 21st.

Steamer METZ (Ger 728 grt) was lost near Rotterdam
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Channel
ML cruiser MANXMAN departed Portsmouth and laid minefield JT off Le Havre

Med/Biscay
ML cruiser ABDIEL and DDs JERVIS, KIMBERLEY, and HASTY departed Alexandria with about 1000 troops, brought to Alexandria by the 7th Cruiser Squadron, and one hundred and twenty tons of stores in Serial 5 of the SUPERCHARGE operation. The ships arrived back at Alexandria on the 21st.

DDs HERO and JACKAL departed Haifa for an ASW sweep of the Haifa - Port Said - Alexandria shipping routes.

DD HAVOCK grounded to the west of the Great Pass while waiting to enter harbour after an anti-submarine exercise. Both propellers were damaged beyond repair and both shafts and A bracket were distorted. Repairs in dock required some fourteen days.

Submarine TRUSTY departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Mediterranean to support HALBERD operations.

Central Atlantic
CL SHEFFIELD departed Gibraltar to rendezvous with convoy WS.11X.

Sth Atlantic
At St Helena, CVL EAGLE had a serious fire in her hangar deck. Fourteen aircraft were seriously affected by salt water used to extinguish the fire. The aircraft carrier sustained some damage. One rating died from injuries. On the 28th, the CVL, escorted by CA DORSETSHIRE, departed St Helena for Freetown, arriving 3 October. The ship called at Gibraltar for emergency repairs and finally arrived back at Liverpool on 26 October. EAGLE was refitting from 30 October to 9 January 1942.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
British steamer CLAN FORBES with twenty four officers and four hundred and eight other ranks and troopship GLENROY with thirty seven officers and five hundred and forty four other ranks departed Suez for Port T, which was the Indian Ocean anchorage at Addu. The ships were escorted from Aden by CA CORNWALL and arrived on the 30th.

CL EMERALD arrived at Colombo from the Seychelles

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 20 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 21 SEPTEMBER 1941
Weather Fine and warm.

1029-1118 hrs Air raid alert for three Macchi 200 fighters which approach the Island from the north and cross the coast over Grand Harbour at 23000 feet while three others circle 35 miles off the coast. Hurricane fighters are scrambled but the Macchis recede rapidly over Delimara evading engagement.

OPERATIONS REPORTS SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 1941

ROYAL NAVY Ursula, Unbeaten, Upholder and Upright returned from convoy interception east of Tripoli. Upholder sank one ship of the Neptunia class and damaged a second whose fate is not known. Ursulag ot one hit on Vulcania.

AIR HQ Arrivals 2 Wellington. Departures 1 Sunderland, 2 Wellington. 69 Squadron Photoreconnaissance Catania, Gerbini and Comiso. 105 Squadron 1 Blenheim reconnaissance east Sicilian coast. 107 Squadron 4 Blenheims attacked a merchant ship off Kerkennah Bank.

 

[parsifal]

Halder's diary 20 September 1941

 

[parsifal]

21 SEPTEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
MMS I Class coastal MSW HMS MMS 79
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
Tanker VANCOUVER (UK 5729 grt) was sunk on a mine about two miles from Sunk Light Vessel in the Thames estuary. The vessel caught fire after the cargo of petrol leaked then ignited. She burned for several days as no one could approach her due to petrol burning on the water. Amazingly three people managed to escape this inferno, but thirty four crew and six gunners were killed.

Convoy OG-74
On the 21st, U.201 sank steamer RUNA (UK 1575 grt) in the SW Approaches. She was outbound, carrying coal from Barry to Lisbon. A crew of 23 were aboard, 14 of whom would lose their lives in the attack. At 2250 hrs the RUNA in convoy OG-74 was torpedoed and sunk by U-201 NNE of the Azores.. The master, seven crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMS DEPTFORD and landed at Gibraltar.

RUNA was hit at 2250 hrs. 30 minutes later, U-201 struck again hitting 2 more ships.

U-201 sank Steamer RHINELAND (UK 1381 grt) in this second attack in the SW Approaches. These attacks occurred about 800 miles NNE of the Azores and occurred around 2320 hrs for the LISSA and the RHINELAND. The ship was outbound, carrying coal and mail from the Clyde to Gibraltar via Lisbon. A crew of 26 were aboard, all would perish in this attack

U-201 also sank in this attack steamer steamer LISSA (UK 1511 grt) in the SW Approaches. These attacks occurred about 800 miles NNE of the Azores and occurred around 2320 hrs for the RHINELAND and the LISSA. The ship was outward bound from Barry to Lisbon with a load of coal. Like the RHINELAND all of the crew of 26 periched in the attack.

Convoy rescue ship WALMER CASTLE (RN 906 grt) was badly damaged by FW200 a/c whilst returning with rescued sailors. The rescue ship had thirty survivors of steamer EMPIRE MOAT, twenty eight survivors from steamer BALTALLINN, and twenty three crew from steamer CITY OF WATERFORD (1071grt), which had been sunk in a collision with tug THAMES on the 19th. Ten crew and passengers were lost in the ship. The rescue ship was scuttled by sloop DEPTFORD and corvette MARIGOLD of the convoy escort later on the 21st. Whaler SOUTHERN ISLE proceeded to the area and took the hull in tow, but it sank on the 23rd before they could arrive in harbour.

Convoy HG 73
Convoy HG.73 departed Gibraltar on the 17th, and was sighted by RM submarine TORELLI and U.371, but contact was soon lost. U.371 was en route to the Mediterranean. Contact was regained on the 21st, but the submarine was soon badly damaged by DD VIMY
.
UBOATS
Arrivals
St Nazaire: U-569

Departures
Lorient: U-109

At Sea 21 September 1941
U-43, U-66, U-67, U-68, U-69, U-74, U-84, U-94, U-97, U-98, U-103, U-107, U-108, U-109, U-124, U-125, U-132, U-201, U-203, U-204, U-371, U-372, U-373, U-431, U-433, U-552, U-559, U-562, U-564, U-565, U-572, U-575

32 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Baltic
Derzkhi Class DD FRUNZE (VMF 1100 grt) was sunk by the LW at Tendra Island (Leningrad) in the Baltic.

A Soviet submarine (unknown class) may have been sunk by the LW off Peteroff.

West Coast
Convoy ON.19 departed Liverpool. It was escorted from 22 September by DDs BEAGLE, MONTGOMERY, ROXBOROUGH, and SALISBURY, corvettes HEATHER, LOBELIA, and NARCISSUS, MSWs BRITOMART, GOSSAMER, and LEDA, and ASW trawler NORWICH CITY. The convoy was joined on the 23rd by corvettes ALBERNI and KENOGAMI and MSW HUSSAR. The MSWs were detached on the 25th. Corvettes ALYSSE and MAYFLOWER joined the convoy on the 27th and with corvettes ALBERNI and KENOGAMI escorted the convoy when the rest of the escorts were detached. Corvette MAYFLOWER was detached on 6 October. The convoy was dispersed on 7 October and the other three corvettes were detached.

Channel
ML cruiser MANXMAN departed Portsmouth and laid minefield JU off Dieppe.

Med/Biscay
Italian submarine ASCIANGHI set on fire by gunfire the steamer ANTAR (Palestinian 389 grt) near Haifa. The crew landed at Tyre.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

ML cruiser LATONA and DDs NAPIER, KINGSTON, and HOTSPUR departed Alexandria on Serial 7 of the SUPERCHARGE operation. The ships arrived back at Alexandria on the 22nd.

British troopship GLENGYLE departed Alexandria for the Canal Area to relieve troopship GLENROY at the Combined Operations Training Centre at Kabret. DDs HERO and JACKAL met troopship GLENGYLE off Alexandria and escorted her to Port Said. HERO and JACKAL arrived back at Alexandria on the 22nd.

Corvettes PEONY, HYACINTH, and ERICA departed Beirut on an anti-submarine sweep.

At sunset, the flag of Cruiser Squadron 15 was hauled down from CLA NAIAD. Vice Admiral E. L. S. King CB, MVO, was ordered to the appointment of Assistant Chief Naval Staff (Trade) in the Admiralty. Captain W. H. A. Kelsey DSC, assumed the duties of Senior Officer, CruSqn 15 and Senior Officer, Suez Escort Force.

RNeN submarine O.21 departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Mediterranean to support HALBERD operations.

Central Atlantic
CL EDINBURGH arrived at Gibraltar after escorting convoy WS.10 to the Capetown. DD LIVELY departed Gibraltar to join convoy WS.11X.


Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 21 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 22 SEPTEMBER 1941
Weather Very cool.

No air raids.

OPERATIONS REPORTS SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 1941

AIR HQ Departures 2 Wellington. 69 Squadron 1 Maryland reconnaissance Tripoli Harbour. 1 Maryland on search for convoy. 1 Maryland patrol of eastern Tunisian coast. 105/107 Squadrons 2 Blenheims attacked a convoy. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 6 Swordfish attacked convoy within sight off Lampedusa. Two torpedoes were fired in conditions of poor visibility, but the target proved to be Lampion Rock; the convoy was not located. One Swordfish crashed on landing at Hal Far with its torpedo still on board. The missile exploded, killing the pilot Lt Aldridge and seriously injuring the wireless operator L/A Pimlott.

TA QALI A Blenheim force landed at the aerodrome having been damaged by enemy action. Three Swordfish landed at the aerodrome.

 

[parsifal]

Halder's Diary 21 September 1941

 

[Njaco]

September 22 Monday
ASIA: Second Battle of Changsha: Chinese 9th War Area withdrawing as Japanese 11th Army advances southward.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-562 sank British ship "Erna III" 200 miles east of Iceland at 0233 hours, killing all 25 aboard.

German submarines U-68 attacked Allied convoy SL-87 300 miles west of the Canary Islands at 0222 hours, damaging British merchant ship "Silverbelle". At 2346 hours, U-103 attacked the same convoy, sinking British merchant ships "Edward" (all 63 aboard survived) and "Niceto de Larrinaga Blyden" (2 killed, 53 survived).

The US 1st Marine Brigade (Provisional) was placed under the command of the US Army's Iceland Base Command.

EASTERN FRONT: On this date, The Jager Report (issued on 1 Dec 1941) noted that 512 adult male, 744 adult female, and 511 children, all Jews, were killed in Riess, Lithuania for a total of 1,767 people.

"The Führer has decided to erase the city of Petersburg from the face of the earth. I have no interest in the further existence of this large city after the defeat of Soviet Russia...We propose to blockade the city tightly and erase it from the earth by means of artillery fire and continuous bombardment from the air." - German directive

Armeegruppe Mitte: Soviet forces in the Ukraine begin a head long retreat west as they regroup from the defeat at Kiev. Counter attacks are canceled and the new line will be Kharkov-Rostov.

Armeegruppe Sud: German Stuka dive bombers damaged Soviet destroyer "Bezuprechny" at 1300 hours, destroyer "Besposhchadny" at 1630 hours, and destroyer "Boyki" in the Black Sea off Odessa, Ukraine.

Supporters of Melnyk's faction of Ukrainian National Movement arrived at Kiev and attempt to recruit and organize.

GERMANY: The German government tells Bulgaria to enter war or be occupied.

NORTH AFRICA: Operation Supercharge: British minelaying cruiser HMS "Abdiel" and destroyers HMS "Kandahar", HMS "Jaguar", and HMS "Griffin" departed Alexandria, Egypt with supplies for Tobruk, Libya. They would arrive overnight and return on the following day.

NORTH AMERICA: The United States removes the embargo on export of arms to Cuba.

"Germany cannot be defeated by supply of munitions to friendly power, and air and naval operations alone. Large ground forces will be required" - George C. Marshall to FDR in his concerns with the diversion of material for the army to satisfy the needs of Lend-Lease

NORTHERN FRONT: Norwegian Ambassador J. W. Michelet presents the Finnish Foreign Minister Rolf Witting a British note, stating that if Finland doesn't withdraw its forces behind the pre-1939 borders, His Majesty's Government is forced to consider Finland an enemy. Even if Finns comply, diplomatic relations won't be restored and blockade lifted as long as there are German troops in Finnish territory.

Hitler issued Directive No. 36, Instructions for Winter operations in Norway, ordering a halt in attacks toward Murmansk, but to attempt to cut off Murmansk rail communications before winter, and prepare for a renewed attack toward Murmansk. http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/36.html

PACIFIC OCEAN: MacArthur and Hart meet. MacArthur informs Hart he will ignore any plans which do not call for the full defense of the Philippines. Stark informs Hart that he will receive 12 new Fleet submarines, an additional submarine tender, and 6 PT boats and outlines Army reinforcements being sent by the War Department.

UNITED KINGDOM: British cruiser HMS "London" departs Scapa Flow carrying the Anglo American supply mission (Lord Beaverbrook and Averell Harriman) to Archangel, USSR, escorted by both British and Soviet destroyers. Beaverbrook and Harriman will arrive on September 27 and travel to Moscow to discuss Lend-Lease with the Soviet leaders.

King George II of the Hellenes, with members of his family and government who have escaped from Crete, Greece arrived in England.

"Russian Tank Week" began in the United Kingdom. From this day through September 26, all armored vehicles produced in Britain were to be delivered to the Soviets.
.

 

[parsifal]

22 SEPTEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
None

Losses
ML.144 (RN 110 grt) was lost in a mining in the English Channel.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

steamer VECHTSTROOM (Ne 845 grt) was sunk by the LW g two miles NE of 62 C Buoy. The entire crew were rescued.

Convoy SL-87
Convoy SL.87, escorted by sloop BIDEFORD, cutter GORLESON, corvette GARDENIA, and French sloop COMMANDANT DUBOC, was sighted by Uboats

U-68 sank SS SILVERBELLE (UK 5302 grt) from SL-87, as she was on passage from Durban to Liverpool via Freetown with a load of Phosphate. A crew of 60 were embarked, all of whom would be rescued. The ship was lost in the Central Atlantic, off the west coast of Africa. At 0223 hrs, U-68 fired four torpedoes at SL-87 SW of the Canary Islands and reported that she had scored two hits on the first ship, causing a boiler explosion, a column of fire on a second ship following a small detonation and a hit on a tanker. In fact, the only ship hit was the SILVERBELLE, which was taken in tow by FFL COMMANDANT DUBOC. The U-boat spotted the vessel with a heavy list being supported by two escorts the next day and fired two spreads of two torpedoes at her at 0322 and 0415 hours, but missed in both attacks and had to give up because they had ran out of torpedoes.

On 29 September, the SILVERBELL had to be cut loose southwest of the Canary Islands and sank soon after.. The crew and five passengers were picked up by the French escort and landed at Freetown.

U-103 sank the Steamer NICETO LARRINAGA (UK 5591 grt) in the Central Atlantic SW of the Canary Is. She had a cargo of palm kernels and manganese ore when lost. A crew of 51 was embarked, 3 of whom would be lost in the attack. She was on passage from Lagos to London, via Freetown. At 2346 hrs, U-103 fired four bow torpedoes at SL-87, followed shortly after by two stern torpedoes at 2347 hrs. They observed a ship capsizing after a small explosion and two other ships going down by their sterns after two further explosions. The fourth torpedo was a shallow hit causing a large column of water and the fifth exploded with a blue-green flash. The U-Boat skipper thought that four ships were sunk and another damaged. However, the EDWARD BLYDEN and NICETO LARRINAGA were each hit by two torpedoes.

One passenger (DBS) from the NICETO LARRINAGA was lost. The master, 41 crew members, five gunners and three passengers (DBS) were rescued, but one crew member and one gunner died of injuries. Eleven survivors were picked up by Corvette GARDENIA and landed at the Azores. The remaining survivors were picked up by ASW vessel LULWORTH and landed at Londonderry on 4 October.

U-103 sank Steamer EDWARD BLYDEN (UK 5003 grt) whilst she was transporting general cargo from Takoradi to Liverpool via Freetown. A crew of 63 were embarked, all of whom would survive the attack. The crew were rescued by HMS BIDEFORD and landed at Londonderry on 5 October.

Convoy ON-16
U-562 sank MV ERNA III (UK 1590 grt) in the Nth Atlantic, in the mid-Atlantic gap. The ship was empty, travelling from Milford Haven to Montreal. A crew of 27 were aboard, all of whom would perish in the attack. At 0244 hrs the unescorted ERNA III (recently detached) was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-562 and sank by the bow within 14 minutes about 275 miles ENE of Cape Farewell. The U-boat had first sighted the ship about 18 hrs earlier and had to overtake it three times after missing with a spread of two G7e torpedoes at 1545 hrs on 21 September and one G7e torpedo at 0106 hrs on 22 September. The fourth torpedo eventually struck after a running time of just 18 seconds respectively a distance of only 270 meters. The Germans observed that two lifeboats were launched, but did not question the survivors who were never found. The vessel was reported missing after straggling from station #12 in convoy ON-16 due to heavy weather on 21 September and was presumed lost about 25 September.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-84, U-109

Departures
Kirkenes:U-566

At Sea 22 September 1941
U-43, U-66, U-67, U-68, U-69, U-74, U-94, U-97, U-98, U-103, U-107, U-108, U-111, U-124, U-125, U-132, U-201, U-203, U-204, U-371, U-372, U-373, U-431, U-433, U-552, U-559, U-562, U-564, U-565, U-572, U-575

31 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Black Sea/Caspian
LW Stuka dive bombers damaged VMF DDs BEZUPRECHNY, BESPOSHCHADNY and BOYKI in the Black Sea off Odessa during sustained attacks over a six hour time frame. The attacks are in broad daylight and in conditions of ideal visibility. .

North Sea
RNoN MTB.56 departed Harwich for Scapa Flow, via the Tyne and Aberdeen. The MTB arrived at Scapa Flow on the 25th.

Northern Waters
DD BADSWORTH departed Scapa Flow for Scrabster and returned that day with the officers taking passage to Murmansk in CA LONDON. LONDON departed Scapa Flow to take the Anglo American supply mission to Archangel, arriving on the 27th.

ML cruiser WELSHMAN laid minefield SN.23C.

DDs LAMERTON and BADSWORTH departed Scapa Flow after work up to join the Western Approaches Cmd. DD LAMERTON arrived at Liverpool on the 24th.

DD BADSWORTH was ordered that evening to proceed to Iceland and after refuelling join convoy HX.150. BADSWORTH arrived at Hvalfjord on the 24th. After refuelling, the destroyer departed at 1700 to join convoy HX.150.

DD LANCASTER departed Scapa Flow on completion of exercises to rejoin Rear Admiral Minelaying at Loch Alsh, arriving on the 23rd.

Med/Biscay
ML cruiser ABDIEL and DDs KANDAHAR, JAGUAR, and GRIFFIN departed Alexandria for Tobruk on Serial 8 of the SUPERCHARGE operation. CLs AJAX, NEPTUNE, and RAN HOBART departed Alexandria to cover the DDs and rendezvous with ABDIEL at daylight on the 23rd. All ships involved returned safely to Alexandria on the 23rd.

Returning to Hal Far after searching for merchant ships between Kuriat and Pantellaria, T/Lt (A) L. F. E. Aldridge RNVR, was killed and his gunner Leading Airman K. Pimlott died in hospital from injuries when their Swordfish of 830 Squadron crashed and exploded on landing.

Sub Lt R. G. Drake was lost in a captured He.115 flown by a Free French crew, that crashed shortly after takeoff from Malta. The two French crew were lost as well.

RM DDs CORAZZIERE, ASCARI, CARABINIERE, and LANCIERE laid mines SE of Malta escorted by DDs AVIERE and CAMICIA NERA.

Nth Atlantic
Convoy HX.151 departed Halifax, escorted by DD ANNAPOLIS. The DD was detached on the 24th when relieved by USN DDs DECATUR, KEARNEY, LIVERMORE, and PLUNKETT. The American group was relieved on 1 October by DDs BEAGLE, MONTGOMERY, ROXBOROUGH, and SALISBURY, corvettes HEATHER, LOBELIA, and NARCISSUS, and ASW trawlers NORWICH CITY and ST LOMAN. DDs BEAGLE and SALISBURY were detached on 4 October. DD ROXBOROUGH and corvettes HEATHER, LOBELIA, and NARCISSUS were detached on the 5th and DD MONTGOMERY on 6 October. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 7 October.

Central Atlantic
CL KENYA and CLA EURYALUS, which had departed convoy WS.11 X on the 21st, arrived at Gibraltar at 2300. The cruisers refuelled and departed on the 23rd before daylight to rejoin the convoy.

Submarine CLYDE departed Gibraltar for a patrol in the vicinity of the Canary Islands and then to proceed to Freetown. On the 25th, she was ordered to patrol in Cape Verde Islands, as German submarines were suspected of using Tarafa Bay.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 22 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 23 SEPTEMBER 1941
Weather Heavy rain mid-day.

0153-0214 hrs Air raid alert for one enemy aircraft which approaches the Island but does not cross the coast. Bombs are dropped in the sea eight miles from shore.

0338-0355 hrs Air raid alert for a single enemy aircraft which crosses the coast over Dingli, drops bombs on Balzan causing two slight casualties and damage to houses before turning south over Luqa and receding, dropping more bombs in the sea off Delimara.

OPERATIONS REPORTS MONDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 1941

AIR HQ Arrivals 1 Spitfire, 1 Sunderland. Departures 2 Wellington. 38 Squadron 3 Wellingtons attacked a liner. 5 Wellingtons attacked motor transport depots near Tripoli. Sgt Secomb failed to return. 69 Squadron 1 Maryland patrol east Tunisian coast. 1 Maryland photoreconnaissance Catania, Gerbini, Comiso. 1 Maryland on search for a convoy. 105 Squadron 6 Blenheims attacked barrack blocks and fuel dumps at Homs. 107 Squadron 5 Blenheims attacked barrack blocks and fuel dumps at Misurata. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 4 Swordfish attacked convoy off Kuriat, firing two torpedoes hitting one merchant ship amidships and another in the bows.

 

[parsifal]

Halder's Diary 22 September 1941

 

[Njaco]

September 23 Tuesday
ASIA: Second Battle of Changsha: Japanese 11th Army advancing toward Changsha against minimal opposition. The commander of the Chinese 1st BG, Gu Zhau-Xiang led a combined formation of SBs from the 1st and 2nd BG to bomb positions near Lake Dungtinghu. When his aircraft malfunctioned the formation was disrupted and the combat mission was aborted. In the confusion many aircraft strayed off course and made forced landings.

The Japanese Government calls for meeting between Prime Minister Konoe and Roosevelt.

EASTERN FRONT: The Luftwaffe continues their strategic bombing campaign against the Russian Naval fleet. German Stuka dive bombers attacked Soviet warships at Kronstadt near Leningrad, hitting battleship "Marat" (already sunk in shallow water on 21 Sep 1941) with two bombs, igniting the forward magazine. Ju 87s from Obstlt. Dinort's I and III./StG 2, including the Stuka of Oblt. Hans-Ulrich Rudel, attacked the Russian fleet , targeting the 23,600 ton battleship 'Marat' which is destroyed by a single bomb from Oblt. Rudel's Ju 87 Stuka. His gunner reported back to Rudel seconds after he released the bomb that the "ship is blowing up, you got her". The 1000kg bomb fell down the "steamtower" and exploded inside the ship. Rudel thus also destroyed a battleship in addition to the hundreds of tanks he hit in the war. "Marat" will be refloated and her rear turrets used as a floating battery, firing 1971 12-inch shells in the defense of Leningrad. The dive bombers return in the afternoon and continue the destruction. This time the shipyard in Leningrad was attacked. Soviet cruisers "Maksim Gorki" (damaged) and "Kirov" are damaged while under repair and submarines P-2 and M-74 are sunk in the dockyards. But the second attack causes them to suffer themselves. Hptm. Steen, Gruppenkommandeur of III./StG 2, is killed.

Armeegruppe Nord: German 18.Armee launches unsuccessful attacks around Pulkovo outside Leningrad. German forces begin attacking Soviet positions on Saaremaa (Osel) Island in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Estonia.

Armeegruppe Mitte: Remnants of Soviet 37th Army surrender in the Kiev pocket.

Armeegruppe Sud: German soldiers massacre the population of Krasnaya Gora after partisans kill three German sentries.

MEDITERANNEAN: Exiled King Zog writes to Allied leaders, petitioning to be recognized as legitimate ruler of Albania and head of the country's anti-Axis resistance.

NORTH AFRICA: Fw. Franz Blazytko of JG 27 is shot down and captured. The prisoner of war had thirty aerial victories.

NORTH AMERICA: US President Roosevelt announces the possibility of arming American merchant vessels against German attacks. The concern about possible German attacks has pushed this issue to the front.

The USN's South Dakota Class battleship "Massachusetts" (BB-59) is launched at the Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Massachusetts. Destroyer USS "Macomb" is also launched.

Depot ship HMCS "Avalon II" (ex "Georgian") (Lakeways Lines Steamer, Great Lakes passenger service) is requisitioned for use in St John's, Newfoundland as the base facilities there were rudimentary. She was used as an administrative and accommodations facility to support minor warships until the end of the war. Purchased May 42, Laid up Mar 46, later sold.

Canada's War Committee of the Cabinet discusses Britain's request for two battalions for Hong Kong. They agree, subject to opinions from the Minister of National Defence and General Andrew McNaughton.

UNITED KINGDOM: The Free French became a reality today as Charles de Gaulle became the head of the French government-in-exile. General Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French, announced at a press conference the setting up of a "national committee". He said that it would be up to the United States and other countries to recognize the committee as his country's government in exile, rather than the German-backed Vichy regime. In fact, de Gaulle retains all authority and merely consults his nine commissioners, who include Admiral Muselier for the navy, Maurice Dejean, a former diplomat, for foreign affairs and Herve Alphand for the economy. Most colorful is Thierry d'Argenlieu, a former naval captain who spent several years a Trappist monk and escaped to England in a small boat disguised as a Norman fisherman.

WESTERN FRONT: The three-day curfew imposed on Paris by the military governor, General Stülpnagel, has now been lifted. He had imposed draconian measures after a spate of attempts by the Resistance to assassinate members of the German occupation forces. Travel has been banned between 9pm and 5am and places of entertainment have been forced to close at 8pm. Those arrested for breaking the curfew are treated as hostages to prevent any further resistance. Last week, the Germans murdered 22 hostages in reprisal for crimes which included the attempted assassination of a Wehrmacht captain. But the German authorities have issued a decree that stated that any French man concealing or assisting a British Airman would be shot, and any woman would be sent to a concentration camp.

German troops in France are ordered to send their blankets to their eastern front colleagues.

German blockade runner "Rio Grande" departs France for Japan.

.

 

[Njaco]

September 24 Wednesday
ASIA: The Japanese Cousul in Hawaii, Nagai Kita is instructed to report on the precise number and type of warships moored at Pearl Harbor. The following message was sent to the Japanese consulate in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii:

"Henceforth, we would like to have you make reports concerning vessels along the following lines insofar as possible: 1. The waters (of Pearl Harbor) are to be divided roughly into five sub-areas. (We have no objections to your abbreviating as much as you like.) Area A. Waters between Ford Island and the Arsenal. Area B. Waters adjacent to the Island south and west of Ford Island. (This area is on the opposite side of the Island from Area A.) Area C. East Loch. Area D. Middle Loch. Area E. West Loch and the communicating water routes. 2. With regard to warships and aircraft carriers, we would like to have you report on those at anchor, (these are not so important) tied up at wharves, buoys and in locks. (Designate types and classes briefly. If possible we would like to have you make mention of the fact when there are two or more vessels alongside the same wharf.)"

This message is in the J-19 code and is translated on October 9th. The message is intercepted by American intelligence services but lack of descriptors and transport problems would delay translation until October 9, when officials decided to ignore the message and consider it the same as routing espionage activities already going on in Mania, Panama and Seattle.

Second Battle of Changsha: Japanese 11th Army continues advancing toward Changsha against minimal opposition.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: US Marine Corps 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was detached from US Navy jurisdiction for service with the US Army in Iceland.

Allied convoy ON.18 became the first westbound convoy to be escorted by American ships as it made rendezvous with US destroyers USS "Madison", USS "Gleaves", USS "Lansdale", USS "Hughes" and USS "Simpson" in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

EASTERN FRONT: Near Leningrad, after four days of Luftwaffe attacks on the Soviet Baltic Fleet, the battleship "Marat" is sunk, the "Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya" has been hit by 6 bombs and 2 cruisers are damaged.

Armeegruppe Nord: Meretskov assumes command of Soviet 7th Army on the Svir. German 18.Armee continues to unsuccessfully attack toward Leningrad.

Armeegruppe Mitte: Hitler visits Rundstedt at headquarters of Army Group Center. Soviet 5th Army and 21st Army surrender in the Kiev pocket. There was a bomb explosion in German headquarters in Hotel Continental in Kiev.

Armeegruppe Süd: The German Armeegruppe Süd launches its attacks toward Kharkov and the Crimean Peninsula. Armeegruppe Süd's offensive is against the vital land bridge to the Crimea at Perekop, a heavily fortified natural Soviet defensive barrier at the great 'tartar Ditch' ('Tartarengrab') stretching across the narrow 5-7 km wide isthmus of Perekop which separates the Crimean Peninsula from the Ukraine. The attack is made by elements of Gen. d. Inf. von Manstein's 11.Armee. The still shattered defenders gave ground quickly on the Kharkov axis and the panzers penetrate to within 40 miles of Kharkov. However, the 11.Armee attacks into the Perkov isthmus leading into the Crimean were stopped cold by dogged defense on the narrow defile.

The German Einsatzgruppe C set up its headquarters in Kiev, Ukraine.

INDIAN OCEAN: German auxiliary cruiser "Kormoran" stopped, evacuated, and scuttled Greek ship "Stamatios G. Embiricos" in the Indian Ocean 600 miles west of the Maldives islands; the crew of 31 were captured.

MEDITERANNEAN: Tito, leading a poorly armed and equipped band of 70,000 partisans, attacks and takes the town of Uzice with it's rifle factory capable of making 400 guns a day. Tito and his troops would hold the city for two months.

The Mediterranean U-boat Campaign began when U-371 passed Gibraltar, entering the Mediterranean Sea. Over the next two weeks 6 more U-Boats will pass into the Mediterranean. The German Submarine Force will later have about 50% of its active submarine force engaged in the Mediterranean.

Operation Halberd is launched by the Allies, to carry supplies to Malta. The initial convoy is nine transports carrying 81,000 tons of military equipment and supplies with an escort of three battleships, one carrier, five cruisers and eighteen destroyers. Operation Halberd was at the time the largest Malta resupply effort of the war. Force H, under the command of Admiral James Somerville, accompanied the convoy as defense against Italian surface ships. Force H consisted of the battleships HMS "Nelson", "Rodney" and "Prince of Wales" with the aircraft carrier HMS "Ark Royal" operating 12 Fairey Swordfish and 27 Fairey Fulmars of Nos. 807 and 808 Naval Air Squadrons. Force H included cruisers HMS "Kenya", "Edinburgh", "Sheffield", "Euryalus" and "Hermione", and was screened by destroyers HNLMS "Isaac Sweers", ORP "Garland" and ORP "Piorun", and HMS "Duncan", "Farndale", "Foresight", "Forester", "Fury", "Heythrop", "Laforey", "Lance", "Legion", "Lightning", "Lively", "Oribi", "Cossack", "Gurkha" and "Zulu". Submarines HMS "Ursula" and "Unbeaten" patrolled south of the Strait of Messina while HMS "Upright" and "Utmost" patrolled north of the Strait. The Polish submarine ORP "Sokół" patrolled north of Sicily with HMS "Urge" and "Upholder" while the Dutch submarine HNLMS O-21 patrolled south of Sardinia. Malta had recently received 27 long-range fighters (22 Bristol Beaufighters and 5 Bristol Blenheims), which had been bombing and strafing Italian airfields on Sicily and Sardinia, and would provide air cover for the convoy after Force H retired before reaching the Sicilian narrows. Admiral Somerville shifted his flag from "Nelson" to "Rodney" and "Nelson" sailed west into the Atlantic at 18:15 hours escorted by "Garland", "Piorun" and "Isaac Sweers" to give the impression the strength of Force H was being reduced.

NORTH AFRICA: Hans-Joachim Marseille shot down his 19th through 24th kills. In the morning, Lt. Marseille of 3./JG 27 destroys a British Martin Maryland bomber during a patrol. In the afternoon, the fighters of JG 27 engage the British in a massive dogfight over Halfaya Pass. Lt. Marseille destroys four British Hurricanes during the combat to bring his score to five enemy aircraft shot down during the day. Among his victims were South African Captain C. A. van Vliet, South African Second Lieutenant J. Mac Robert, South African Lieutenant B. E. Dodd, and New Zealand Pilot Officer D. F. Westenra. The beleaguered aircrews of I./JG 27 receive reinforcements when II./JG 27 is transferred from Russia to North Africa. Leaving their airbase at Döberitz, the II Gruppe led by Hptm. Wolfgang Lippert arrives at Ain-el-Gazala on this date.

Operation Supercharge: British minelaying cruiser HMS "Abdiel" and destroyers HMS "Napir", HMS "Kingston", and HMS "Hotspur" departed Alexandria, Egypt with troops and supplies for the besieged Tobruk, Libya. They would set sail to return to Alexandria overnight, arriving in the following day.

NORTH AMERICA: On the defensive since Lindbergh's remarks in Des Moines, the America First Committee issued a statement denying that Lindbergh or his fellow AFC members were anti-Semitic and inviting Jews to join the organization's ranks.

UNITED KINGDOM: Arthur Coningham was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

The Inter-Allied Council met in St James's Palace. Representatives from 15 Allied countries unanimously affirmed the common principles of policy set forth in the Atlantic Charter. The countries are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Great Britain, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, USSR and Yugoslavia. The Atlantic Charter commits the signatories to a postwar world of mutual co-operation and of freedom for countries under Nazi occupation, with no annexations or frontier changes without the freely expressed wishes of the people concerned.

WESTERN FRONT: Tobacco ration in Paris, France dropped to 4 cigarettes per day for men and 0 for women.
.

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Njaco]

September 25 Thursday
ASIA: The Japanese aircraft carrier "Zuikaku" was commissioned into service. Captain Tsunekichi Fukuzawa was named the commanding officer of repair ship "Akashi".

ATLANTIC OCEAN: In first successful US Navy escort of convoys during World War II, Navy escort turn over HX-150 to British escorts at the Mid-Ocean Meeting Point. All ships reach port safely.

EASTERN FRONT: On this date The Jager Report (issued on 1 Dec 1941) noted that 215 adult male, 229 adult female, and 131 children, all Jews, were killed in Jahiuna, Lithuania for a total of 575 people.

Armeegruppe Nord: Hitler ordered a halt to attacks on Leningrad in northern Russia, instead ordering that the city be starved into submission. The formal siege of the city, which would last for some 900 days, begins in earnest.

Armeegruppe Mitte: German forces continue reducing the final remnants of Soviet forces in the Kiev pocket.

Armeegruppe Sud: German and Romanian troops under German General Erich von Manstein seize the 7 km-wide Perekop Isthmus, linking the Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland. Soviet forces are now isolated on the Crimea itself and the major Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa. German paratroop attacks begin near Perekop.

To prevent a breakout by Soviet Fleet from the Gulf of Finland, newly-formed German Baltic Fleet (battleship "Tirpitz", battlecruiser "Admiral Scheer", cruisers "Köln" and "Nürnberg", 3 destroyers and 5 torpedo boats) patrols the Baltic Sea. "Admiral Scheer" is damaged when 2 depth charges explode on the deck (returns to Blohm & Voss shipyard at Hamburg via the Kiel Canal for repairs until October 24).

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends one aircraft to attack Emden, in the final RAF attempt to operate B-17 Fortress aircraft by day. The daylight career of RAF No 90 Squadron and its Fortresses was brought to a halt less than two months after it had started, the type having had little success in the high-altitude daylight role since its first operation in early July.

MEDITERANNEAN: Italy begins the occupation of Croatia. The Italians reoccupy the demilitarized zone to secure Italy's Adriatic flank.

Operation Halberd: Force H separated from the merchant ships in the early hours so Axis aerial reconnaissance might think only Force H was at sea. Fulmars from "Ark Royal" provided air cover over the convoy. Italian aircraft found Force H on the afternoon, and assumed the battleships were on a bombardment raid against the Italian coast.

NORTH AMERICA: John F. Kennedy enlisted in the US Navy. Kennedy was appointed an ensign in US Naval Reserve.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor are greeted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and cheering crowds as they arrive in Washington for their first visit together.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Marshall requests Stark delay converting three freighters into escort carriers to increase shipping lift for the reinforcements being sent to the Philippines.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Fighter Command flew Rhubarb operations.

.

 

[parsifal]

23 SEPTEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Bathurst Class Corvette/MSW HMAS WARNAMBOOL (J-202)

Bangor class Seagoing MSW HMCS GEORGIAN (J-144)

Bangor class Seagoing MSW HMS FRASERBURG (J-124)

Sister Ship HMS ROMNEY

Losses
Convoy HG-73
Initially reported by RM submarine DA VINC, The convoy was heavily protected by a DD, 2 sloops, 8 corvettes and the CAM ship HMS SPRINGNANK equipped with a single FAA Fulmar fighter. The Fulmer managed to drive off the Condor attackers on the first day.

The defence of HG-73 was less successful than OG-74, as the attacking U-Boat wolfpack slipped through the screen on several nights, sinking a total of 9 ships.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-43
Trondheim: U-752

Departures
Lorient: U-205

At Sea 23 September 1941
U-66, U-67, U-68, U-69, U-74, U-94, U-97, U-98, U-103, U-107, U-108, U-111, U-124, U-125, U-132, U-201, U-203, U-204, U-205, U-371, U-372, U-373, U-431, U-433, U-552, U-559, U-562, U-564, U-565, U-572, U-575

31 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Baltic
BB MARAT (VMF 24900 grt) was sunk by German bombing at Kronstadt. She was sunk at her moorings on 23 September 1941 by two near-simultaneous hits by 1,000-kg (2,200 lb) bombs near the forward superstructure. They caused the explosion of the forward magazine which heaved the turret up, blew the superstructure and forward funnel over to starboard and demolished the forward part of the hull from frames 20 to 57. 326 men were killed and the ship gradually settled to the bottom in 11 meters of water. Her sinking is commonly credited to the Hans Ulrich Rudelof StG-2 but Rudel dropped only one of the two bombs. The rear part of the ship was later refloated and she was used as a floating battery although all of her 120 mm guns were removed. Initially only the two rearmost turrets were operable, but the third turret was repaired by the autumn of 1942. She fired a total of 1,971 twelve-inch shells during the Siege of Leningrad

In December 1941 granite slabs 40–60 millimeters (1.6–2.4 in) thick from the nearby harbor walls were laid on her decks to reinforce her deck protection. Another transverse bulkhead was built behind frame 57 and the space between them was filled with concrete to prevent her sinking if the original bulkhead was ruptured. Throughout the war, Axis air and artillery made repeated ateempts to finish her off, to no effect.

She resumed her original name on 31 May 1943. After the war there were several plans to reconstruct her, using the bow of the FRUNZE but they were not accepted and were formally cancelled on 29 June 1948. She was renamed VOLKHOV, after the nearby river on 28 November 1950 and served as a stationary training ship until stricken on 4 September 1953. The ship was subsequently broken up.

VMF BB OCTOBER REVOLUTION was damaged by German shore guns at Kronstadt. She was badly damaged on 21 September by three bomb hits on her bow that knocked out two turrets and she was sent to the Ordzhonikidze Yard at Leningrad on 23 October for repairs. The Soviets took advantage of this time to add four more 37-mm AA guns and another twin 76.2-mm K-81 gun mount between February and April 1942. She was hit again by one heavy and three medium bombs dropped by He111s of KG-4during the night of 4–5 April. and again by three bombs on 24 April. Her repairs were completed in November 1942, and a quadruple 37-mm 46-K gun mount was added in September 1943. She supported Soviet forces during the Siege of Leningrad and was finally returned to seagoing service for the Leningrad Breakouts of 1944. She was fitted with a Lend lease type 279 air-warning radar sometime during 1944. On 22 July 1944 she was awarded the Order Of the Red Banner. She was one of the last surviving Dreadnoughts, her hull not being broken up until 1958.

VMF DD MINSK, under repair at Kronstadt, was bombed and damaged. VMF cruiser MAKSIM GORKI, under repair at Leningrad, was damaged by the LW. Cruiser KIROV, also repairing at Leningrad, was attacked, but was not damaged.

Northern Patrol
BB KING GEORGE V, CV VICTORIOUS, CL AURORA, and DDs SOMALI, MATABELE, BEDOUIN, ESKIMO, ASHANTI, and PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow for Hvalfjord where they arrived on the 25th for Operation EJ.

CL PENELOPE departed Hvalfjord on the 23rd and arrived back at Reykjavik on the 29th. The cruiser then returned to Hvalfjord.
BB KING GEORGE V, CV VICTORIOUS, CL AURORA, and DDs SOMALI, MATABELE, BEDOUIN, ESKIMO, ASHANTI, and PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow for Hvalfjord where they arrived on the 25th for Operation EJ.

CL PENELOPE departed Hvalfjord on the 23rd and arrived back at Reykjavik on the 29th. The cruiser then returned to Hvalfjord.

West Coast
CA SUFFOLK departed the Clyde to return to Scapa Flow, arriving on the 24th.

Convoy OS.7 departed Liverpool. On the 24th, sloops FOLKESTONE and WESTON and corvette AURICULA joined the convoy. The sloops were detached on 12 October. The corvette arrived with the convoy at Freetown on 14 October for duty in the Sth Atlantic. On the 26th, sloop LONDONDERRY and corvette VIOLET joined the convoy and were detached on 12 October. On 10 October, DD BRILLIANT joined the convoy and on 11 October, corvettes CLOVER and CYCLAMEN joined. All arrived with the convoy on 14 October. Corvettes ANCHUSA, MIGNONETTE, and WOODRUFF joined the convoy on 14 October outside Freetown.

Med/Biscay
ML cruiser LATONA and DDs JERVIS, KIMBERLEY, and HASTY departed Alexandria for Tobruk on Serial 9 SUPERCHARGE operation. These ships returned to Alexandria on the 24th. Also sailing was petrol carrier PASS OF BALMAHA, Greek steamer SAMOS, and A 2 and A 9 lighters, carrying tanks, in convoy for Tobruk, escorted by ASW trawler FALK and MSW trawler SOIKA. The convoy arrived on the 26th.

DD JUPITER arrived at Suez to join the fleet after having proceeded independently from Gibraltar. The DD was in need of docking for repair to serious leaks in her oil fuel tanks.
To carry out these repairs she docked at Alexandria on the 25th.

Submarine TRIUMPH sank steamer LUVSEE (Ger 2373 grt) six miles NE of Sibenik, Yugoslavia.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

TRIUMPH also damaged Italian steamer POSEIDONE four miles off Ortona on the 24th.

Submarine THRASHER made an unsuccessful attack on a steamer near Benghazi.

Submarine TORBAY made an unsuccessful attack on a steamer off Suda Bay.

Steamer CARMELO NOLI (FI 109 grt) was sunk on a mine south of Livorno.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Central Atlantic
BB PRINCE OF WALES and DDs LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, and ORIBI arrived at Gibraltar from Greenock late on the 23rd. The ships were refuelled and departed before daylight to rejoin the WS.11 X convoy.

DDs COSSACK, HEYTHROP, and FARNDALE departed Gibraltar to join convoy WS.11 X at 0800/24th.

Convoy ST.4 departed Freetown, escorted by sloop BRIDGEWATER, corvettes ARMERIA and CALENDULA, and anti-submarine trawler COPINSAY. The convoy arrived at Takoradi on the 28th.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
British troopship STIRLING CASTLE departed Bombay with 1650 personnel. The troopship was escorted by CL EMERALD, later relieved by CL GLASGOW, in turn relieved by CL DAUNTLESS escorted the troopship on to Singapore, arriving on the 29th.


Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 23 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 24 SEPTEMBER 1941
WeatherRain mid-day.

0123-0130 hrs Air raid alert for a single enemy bomber which approaches the Island and drops bombs in the sea off Delimara Point. Two Hurricanes are scrambled but there are no searchlight illuminations and no interceptions.

OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1941

AIR HQ Arrivals 5 Blenheim, 1 Catalina, 5 Maryland. 38 Squadron 8 Wellingtons attacked Tripoli. One Wellington failed to return. 69 Squadron 2 Marylands reconnaissance Kerkennah, Kelibia and special mission. 107 Squadron 2 Blenheims attacked transport on Misurata road. S/Ldr Warren failed to return.

 

[parsifal]

Halder's Diary 23 September 1941

 

[parsifal]

24 SEPTEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type M-35 MSW DKM M-204
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Allied
U Class submarine HMS P-36

Bar Class Boom Defence Vessel HMS BARFOAM (P-282)

Mk2 Class LCT HMS LCT 144
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

BPB 63' class MA/SB 32
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
Raider KORMORAN since June had moved to an isolated part of the Indian Ocean and between 2 and 17 July refitted herself. She then ranged the Indian Ocean without success until 26 September when she intercepted and sank steamer STAMATIOS G. EMBIRICOS (Gk 3941 grt). Five crew were lost on the steamer. This was her last merchant victim. From 16 to 25 October she refuelled and re-provisioned from the supply ship KULMERLAND in the south-eastern Indian Ocean and then proceeded to operate off Shark Bay, Western Australia. Five men and the Captain of the steamer were picked up by the Raider. Another 24 survivors in a boat lost touch in dark and were rescued three days later by the KORMORAN who took them as PoWs
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Convoy SL-87
After three nights of attacks on this convoy, only four ships of the eleven ship convoy remained.

Steamer LAFIAN (UK 4876 grt) was sunk by U-107 WNW of the canary Is. She was on passage from Port Harcourt to Liverpool via Freetown, with a cargo of palm kernels and timber. A crew of 47 were embarked, all of whom would survive the attack. At 0631 hrs, U-107 attacked the convoy and reported three ships sunk. These ships were JOHN HOLT, LAFIAN and DIXCOVE. The entire crew were rescued by HMS GORELSTON and landed at Ponta Delgada, Azores.

Steamer JOHN HOLT (UK 4975 grt) was sunk in the above attack, with the loss of one crewmember from her ships complement of 60. She was on passage from Duala to Liverpool, carrying a mixed cargo of produce. The crew were rescued by HMS GORLESTON and landed at the Azores.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer DIXCOVE (UK 3790 grt) was sunk in the above attack, with the loss of 2 of her crew of 53. She was on passage from Port Harcourt to Liverpool, via Freetown, carrying a mixed cargo of produce. The crew were rescued by HMS GORLESTON and HMS LULWORTH landed at Londonderry.

On the 24th, U.67 sank steamer ST CLAIR II (UK 3753 grt) WNW of the Canary islands. Twelve crew and one gunner from the 44 man crew were lost on steamer. She was on passage from Lagos to Liverpool via Freetown with mainly a cargo of palm kernels. At 0028 hrs, U-67 fired all of her bow torpedoes at three ships in the convoy. The torpedoes hit the first ship with one torpedo and saw it sinking by the stern. The master, 26 crew members and four gunners were rescued: 26 survivors by the HMS GORLESTON and landed at Ponta Delgada, Azores and five survivors by HMS LULWORTH and landed at Londonderry on 4 October.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Convoy HG-73
From reports from a German aircraft, RM submarine MALASPINO sank two steamers on the 24th, but the submarine then went missing and what became of her is unknown.

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-126, U-331

At Sea 24 September 1941
U-66, U-67, U-68, U-69, U-74, U-94, U-97, U-98, U-103, U-107, U-108, U-111, U-124, U-125, U-126, U-132, U-201, U-203, U-204, U-205, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-373, U-431, U-433, U-552, U-559, U-562, U-564, U-565, U-572, U-575

33 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Baltic
ML KONIGIN LUISE (DKM 2400 grt) was lost on a Soviet minefield near Helsinki. She was returning from a minelaying sortie in the Gulf Of Finland.

West Coast
British steamer DALTONHALL was damaged by a mine dropped by the LW near Liverpool. The steamer arrived at Holyhead under her own power. She later proceeded to Liverpool for repairs.

Med/Biscay
ML cruiser ABDIEL and DDs NAPIR, KINGSTON, and HOTSPUR departed Alexandria for Tobruk on Serial 10 of the SUPERCHARGE operation.

DDs JAGUAR and GRIFFIN were at sea exercising and remained at sea for the night of 24/25 September.

An Italian convoy of steamers CASTELVERDE, PERLA, and AMSTERDAM, escorted by destroyers LAPINO, ORIANI, and FULMINE, and STRALE, reported a submarine attack off Pantelleria. No damage was done. There is no corresponding allied report.

Submarine TRIUMPH damaged Italian steamer POSEIDONE four miles off Ortona and Italian steamer SIDAMO in Ortona Harbour. Submarine TETRARCH made an unsuccessful attack on a steamer in the Gulf of Athens. RHN sub TRITON made an unsuccessful attack on Italian naval ship CYCLOPS off Suda Bay.

Steamer PROSPERO (FI 971 grt) was sunk by the RAF at Benghazi.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Operation Halberd
Operation Halberd was a British naval operation that took place in 24-28 September 1941,. The British were attempting to deliver a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta . The convoy was escorted by several BBs and a CV, to deter interference from the Italian surface fleet, while a close escort of cruisers and DDs provided an AA screen.

The Italian fleet did sortie after the convoy was detected, but turned back after learning the strength of the escorting force. The RA made repeated attacks on the British fleet and convoy and fighters damaged several ships, and forced one of the merchant vessels to be scuttled. The rest of the convoy arrived at Malta and discharged their cargo.

An RA torpedo bomber on fire and crashing during Operation Halberd, just beyond is HMS ARK ROYAL

Force H under the command of Adm James Somerville, accompanied the convoy as defense against Italian surface ships and provide aircover from the ARK ROYAL. .Force H consisted of theBBs NELSON, RODNEY, CV ARK ROYAL (12 Swordfish in one sqn and 27 Fulmars in 807 and 808 sqns). The capital ships and the convoy were given cruiser support by CLs EDINBURGH and the radar equipped SHEFFIELD, AA protection by CLAs EURYALUS and HERMIONE. Light forces and ASW protection was built around DDs ISAAC SWEERS (RNeN), ORP GARLAN and PIORUN, HM DDs Duncan, FARNDALE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY, HEYTHROP, LAFOREY, LANCELEGION, LIGHTNING, LIVELY, ORIBI, COSSACK, GURKHA and ZULU. Many of the DDs were now fitted with radar and enhanced AA protection.

Submarines URSULA and UNBEATEN, patrolled south of the Straits of Messina while submarines UPRIGHT and UTMOST patrolled north of the Strait. The Polish submarine ORP SOKOL patrolled north of Sicily with RN subs HMS URGE and UPHOLDER while the RNeN submarine O-21 patrolled south of Sardinia. Malta had recently received 27 long-range fighters (22 Bristol beafighters, and 5 Bristol Blenheims), which had been bombing and strafing Italian airfields on Sicily and Sardinia, and would provide air cover for the convoy after Force H retired before reaching the Sicilian narrows

DDs LEGION, LIVELY, and ZULU arrived at Gibraltar from WS.11 X escort at 1830.

Oiler BROWN RANGER, escorted by corvette FLEUR DE LYS, departed Gibraltar at 2000 as Force S.to oil DDs in the HALBERD operation.

BB RODNEY, CV ARK ROYAL, CLA HERMIONE, and DDs DUNCAN, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, LIVELY, ZULU, GURKHA, LEGION, and LANCE departed Gibraltar 30 mins before midnight.

Ranged against the allies were strong elements of the Regia Marina and Regia Aeronautica. Italian submarines deployed to ambush the RN BBs thought to be planning a bombardment raid against the Italian coast. DANDOLO, ADUA, and TURCHESE, patrolled south of Ibiza while AXUM, SERPENTE, ARADAM, and DIASPRO patrolled east of the Balearic islands. SQUALO, BANDIERA, and DELFINO patrolled SW of Sardinia and NARVALO was off the African shore of the Sicilian narrows. CLs MUZIO ATTENDOLO and DUCA ABBRUZZI, were at PALERMO ready to sail, with Maestrale class DDs MAESTRALE, GRECALE and SCIROCCO . BBs VITTORIO VENETO and LITTORIO were at Naples with DDs GRANATIERE, FUCILIERE, BERSAGLIERE and GIOBERTI, and DDs NICOLOSO DA RECCO, PESSAGNO, and FOLGORE. Cruisers TRIESTE, TRENTO, and GORIZIA from Taranto with DDs CORRAZZIERE, CARABINIERE, ASCARI, and LANCIERE prepared to join them.

Sardinia deployed 30 Macchi MC 200s, 20 CR42s, and 26 SM-79s and SM84 torpedo bombers against the convoy while Sicily deployed 15 C.200, 3 RE2000, and 9 Ju87s with 24 BR20, SM.79 and SM.84 as high-level bombers and plus three with torpedoes. More Italian aircraft were operational, but were assigned other missions including bombing Malta.

Losses at the end of the operation would amount to 1 freighter fore the allies scuttled and 4 aircraft lost in combat (there were other losses to noncombat attrition. The Italians lost a submarine and 22 aircraft to combat ( some to AA some to the fighters). The Italians also suffered non-combat losses.

Convoy HALBERD consisted of steamers CLAN MACDONALD, CLAN FERGUSON, AJAX, IMPERIAL STAR, CITY OF LINCOLN, ROWALLAN CASTLE, DUNEDIN STAR, CITY OF CALCUTTA, and BRECONSHIRE. It passed Europa Pont at 0130 on the 25th under escort from Force H

Much of the RM could not sail due to fuel shortages and training shortcomings as a number of critical units were still completing work up and debugging from Taranto

Nth Atlantic
Captain F. D. Kirtland (USN) takes command of the escort forces for convoy ON.18 at the mid ocean meeting point (MOMP) with a force of USN DDs MADISON, GLEAVES, LANSDALE, HUGHES, and SIMPSON. This is the first westbound convoy escorted by the USN. The USN has orders to attack any detected DKM Uboat or surface vessel.

Convoy SC.46 departed Sydney, CB, escorted by corvettes LETHBRIDGE, NAPANEE, and SHEDIAC. Corvette GALt joined on the 25th. The original escort group was detached on the 27th. DDs BROADWAY, BURWELL, and OTTAWA and corvettes ALGOMA, BRANDON, BUCTOUCHE, and COBALt joined on the 27th. DDs CALDWELL, VANOC, VOLUNTEER, and WALKER joined on 4 October. The 27 September joining group was detached on 5 October. DD VOLUNTEER was detached on 9 October and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 10 October.

Central Atlantic
BB RODNEY and DDs ISAAC SWEERS (RNeN), and ORP DDs PIORUN, and GARLAND arrived at Gibraltar that morning.

Corvettes JONQUIL, SPIRAEA, and AZALEA departed Gibraltar to join the troopships of convoy WS.11 X convoy at 0900 and bring them into Gibraltar. The ships arrived at Gibraltar on the 25th. CL EDINBURGH departed Gibraltar at 1230 to join the HALBERD convoy. DDs FORESIGHT, FORESTER, GURKHA, and LANCE arrived at Gibraltar from convoy WS.11 X escort. BB NELSON with DDs ISAAC SWEERS, PIORUN, and GARLAND departed Gibraltar on Operation HALBERD that evening.

Corvettes SAMPHIRE and CONVOLVULUS arrived at Gibraltar escorting the 26th ML Flotilla of ML.209, ML.244, ML.251, ML.271, ML.277, ML.279, ML.281, and ML.289.

Convoy SL.88 departed Freetown escorted by DD VANSITTART to 27 September, sloop ENCHANTRESS to 8 October, corvettes ASTER, BURDOCK, and VERVAIN to 27 September, and anti-submarine trawlers FANDANGO and MORRIS DANCE to 27 September. On the 27th, escort vessels HARTLAND and WALNEY joined to 8 October. Destroyers VIMY and WILD SWAN escorted the convoy on 1 October only. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HG.74 on 8 October. The convoy arrived Liverpool on 18 October.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 24 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 25 SEPTEMBER 1941
Weather Fine and fresh.

0005-0035 hrs Air raid alert for enemy aircraft approaching the Island from the west. Two only cross the coast and drop high explosive bombs on the Bajda Ridge area. Two Hurricanes are scrambled but there are no searchlight illuminations and no engagement.

0047-0058 hrs Air raid alert; raid does not materialise.

OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 1941

AIR HQ Arrivals 13 Beaufighter, 2 Blenheim, 2 Wellington. Departures 1 Catalina. 38 Squadron 2 Wellingtons attacked Tripoli. 6 Wellingtons attacked Palermo Harbour. 69 SquadronPhotoreconnaissance Marsala and Licata harbours and eastern Ionian Sea. 107 Squadron 2 Blenheims attacked transport on Misurata road. S/Ldr Warren failed to return; a search was carried out but was unsuccessful. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 6 Swordfish laid mines outside Tripoli Harbour and dropped bombs on a barrack block. A diversion created by Wellington bombers was very effective.

 

[parsifal]

Halder's diary 24 September 1941