This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

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November 9 Sunday
ASIA: IJN aircraft carrier "Akagi" arrived at Sasebo, Japan. IJN aircraft carriers "Shokaku" and "Zuikaku" arrived at Kure, Japan.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Convoy PQ 3 departs Hvalfjord for Archangel.

U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.4, under command of Captain Alan G. Kirk, departed Argentia, Newfoundland, to screen the 31-ship Convoy HX-159. This was the first escort task unit that included in its composition a Coast Guard cutter - the USCG "Campbell". The convoy would not be attacked by U-boats although the presence of whales and blackfish resulted in attacks on sound contacts on five occasions through November 13.

EASTERN FRONT: The 19,894-strong Soviet Independent Coastal Army, with 10 T-26 tanks and 152 guns, arrived in Sevastopol, Russia from Odessa, Ukraine, bringing the total defense of the city to 52,000 troops, 170 guns and 100 aircraft. 40 kilometers east of Sevastopol, the 11.Armee captures Yalta as it clears the bulk of the Crimean Peninsula.

Soviet armies conduct localized counterattacks at multiple points along the front of German Army Group Center. In the Rostov sector, Timoshenko prepares counteroffensive against exposed northern flank of German 1.Panzerarmee. Meretskov takes command of Soviet 4th Army.

Hungarian freighter "Ungvar" struck a mine (previously laid by Soviet submarine L-4) and sank in the Black Sea. Nearby Romanian torpedo boats "Viforul" and "Vijelia" were also destroyed in the explosion. Soviet cruiser "Molotov" bombards German positions around Feodosia.

Heinrich Müller ordered that all Soviet prisoners of war bound to be executed who were not fit to travel to the places of execution were to be killed at their places of imprisonment. This was to avoid allowing civilians the see these malnourished and diseased prisoners as it could damage morale.

The Leningrad Radio Symphony Orchestra performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in a live concert broadcast to London. Near the end of the performance, air raid sirens could be heard over the music. Shortly thereafter, bombs could be heard detonating outside the concert hall along with the rapid fire of AA guns. The orchestra completed the performance without a break.

Mihailovich's Chetnik partisans continue their attack on Tito's communist group, weakening organized resistance to the Nazis.

On this date The Jager Report (issued on 1 Dec 1941) noted that 76 adult male, 77 adult female, and 18 children, all Jews, were killed in Vilnius, Lithuania for a total of 171 people.

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends 103 aircraft to attack Hamburg overnight.

Hitler briefed Nazi leaders in Munich and told them that if the 'weather god' saw fit to grant another 10-14 days of favorable conditions his forces would be able to envelop Moscow and cut off the Caucasus. The Führer's view – at least concerning Moscow – was based on that of his Army commanders, Field Marshal von Brauchitsch (Commander-in-Chief) and General Halder (Chief of the General Staff). Brauchitsch and Halder were eager to strike the final blow that would bring the Soviets crashing down.

MEDITERRANEAN: Attack on Convoy Beta : Force K made radar contact on Convoy Beta at a range of 8 miles, and maneuvered unseen into perfect attack position (not only down-moon, meaning the convoy was silhouetted by moonlight, but also waiting until Brivonesi's big ships were on the opposite tack, ten miles away and with the convoy between them and the British). Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the British press home their attacks. At 0100 hours, British cruiser HMS "Aurora", cruiser HMS "Penelope", destroyer HMS "Lance", and destroyer HMS "Lively", intercepted their target and opened fire at point-blank naval range, a mile and half to a mile and three-quarters— on the three nearest destroyers of the close escort.. All five freighters (German freighters "Duisburg" and "San Marco"; Italian freighters "Maria", "Sagitta", and "Rina Corrado"; and Italian tankers "Conte di Misurata" and "Minatitlan") and Italian destroyer "Fulmine" were sunk with radar gunnery, while damaging destroyers "Grecale" and "Maestrale". All were sunk before Brivonesi could come to the rescue. The Italian admiral chased the departing raiders, straddling enemy ships twice at ranges of five-and-a-half to ten miles, but eventually giving up a stern chase against faster vessels. At 0640 hours, British submarine HMS "Upholder" attacked Italian destroyer "Libeccio", which was busy rescuing survivors of the night time battle. 704 survivors from the convoy are rescued. An attempt was made to tow her back to port for repairs, but "Libeccio" would sink en route. HMS "Upholder" also unsuccessfully attacks Italian cruisers "Trento" and "Trieste". Count Ciano writes in his diary of the effect of Malta based aircraft:
"Since September 19 we had given up trying to get convoys through to Libya; every attempt had been paid for at a high price ... Tonight we tried it again. A convoy of 7 ships left, accompanied by two ten-thousand-ton cruisers and ten destroyers....All - I mean all - our ships were sunk."
Exactly a week after the first cluster bomb attack on Valletta, Malta, the hilltop community of Rabat awoke to the same terrifying sight of Thermos bombs scattered throughout the narrow streets. Superintendent Philip Pullicino of the Special Constabulary and his men worked alongside local police and ARP volunteers in a co-ordinated operation to find and guard every single bomb, until Bomb Disposal Officer Lt George Carroll and his Section arrived to deal with them. Working in teams of three, by the end of the day the Bomb Disposal men had dealt with over 80 Thermos bombs in the town.

Overnight five Albacore aircraft from Malta, FAA No. 828 Squadron were dispatched to attack the submarine base at Augusta with good results. A large fire was started amongst the oil tanks. Light Ack Ack was very intense and accurate. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 107 Squadron, five Blenheims from RAF No. 18 Squadron flew a shipping sweep Gulf of Sirte. Nothing was sighted. Three Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Naples. Two Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Messina. Three Swordfish carried out submarine patrol. Nothing was sighted.

Six air raid alarms were sounded in Malta through Sunday night: at 1941, 2211, 2309, 0027, 0122 and 0210 hours. A total of twenty five enemy aircraft approached the Island but they dropped the majority of their bombs in the sea, mainly thanks to excellent work of the searchlight operators. During the first raid they illuminated a BR 20 Italian bomber, which was promptly engaged by a RAF Hurricane and damaged. In the second raid another enemy aircraft was reported 'probably destroyed' by Hurricanes. Just before the second alarm a Hurricane crashed soon after taking off, near Wardia Ridge: the pilot successfully bailed out at 500 feet.

NORTH AMERICA: A third National Academy of Sciences report agreed with the British MAUD report that an atomic bomb was feasible. The MAUD Committee report, "'Use of Uranium for a Bomb", concluded that an atomic bomb was feasible. The report described the bomb in technical detail, providing specific proposals for developing a bomb and including cost estimates. The report concluded that building an atomic bomb would require a large skilled labor force that was also needed for other parts of the war effort. The report also suggested that the Germans could also be working on such a bomb, and so it recommended that the work should be continued with high priority in cooperation with the Americans.

NORTHERN EUROPE: 3rd Battle of Munakukkula: Finnish 1. and 3./JR 1 start their attack to take back Munakukkula (Egg hill). The assault starts around 0600 hours and is over at 0900 hours. Soviet casualties are estimated to be around 110 KIA, while Finnish losses were counted as 1 KIA and 20 WIA. The companies capture 1 MG, 3 LMG and 25 rifles. Munakukkula ("Egg hill") is a name given to a 70 meter high hill at Soviet part of the Eastern Karelian Isthmus near the pre-war Finnish border.

Third Soviet convoy departs Kronstadt to evacuate troops from Hango.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Philippines MacArthur met with Hart and advises him to "get a real Fleet". Hart bitterly resented this jab.

UNITED KINGDOM: Declaring that Britain would support America by declaring war on Japan should the U.S. find herself at war with Japan, Prime Minister Churchill further stated that,
"… every preparation to defend British interests in the Far East and to defend the common cause now at stake has been and is being made."
The Abwehr, the German military intelligence, believes that a fire bomb attack at a food warehouse at Wealdstone, London was carried out by two of its secret agents who landed in Scotland from Norway seven months ago. In fact, the agents, both Norwegian, have been working for British Intelligence from the day they landed, and their sabotage exploit was carefully contrived to establish their credentials with the Germans. Code-named "Jack" and "OK" by the Germans, but known to the British by the cartoon character names of "Mutt and Jeff", they are being run by the "Twenty Committee", so-called because of the Roman numerals of double-cross. The committee, chaired by an Oxford don, John Masterman, was set up last January. Its purpose is to feed information, a mixture of fact and fiction, to the Germans through their own agents. Captured agents are given the choice: work for us or be executed as a spy. Two of the first Abwehr agents parachuted into England a year ago were given this choice. They both chose to live and now, code-named "Summer" and "Tate", are employed in sending disinformation to their former bosses.

Little damage was done in a bombing incident at West Hartlepool. HE fell in the water at the docks of a North-east town, causing some slight damage to property.

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Nov0941a.jpg
 
08 NOVEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements

Axis
Type VIIc DKM U-254
Type VIIc DKM U-254.jpg



Allied
Bangor Class MSW HMCS GANANOQUE (J 259)
Bangor Class MSW HMCS GANANOQUE (J 259).jpg


Bangor Class MSW HMCS NIPIGON (J 154)
Bangor Class MSW HMCS NIPIGON (J 154).jpg


Bangor Class MSW HMS POOLE (J 47)
Bangor Class MSW HMS POOLE (J 47).jpg


M (Malyutka) class Submarine VMF M-117
M (Malyutka) class Submarine VMF M-117.jpg


M (Malyutka) class Submarine VMF M-118
M (Malyutka) class Submarine VMF M-118.jpg

Sister ship M-90

M (Malyutka) class Submarine VMF M-120
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
Steamer VICTO (Nor 3655 grt)
was sunk by the LW 1.8 miles 330° from 18B Buoy, Scarborough. Two crewmen were killed on the steamer.
Steamer VICTO (Nor 3655 grt).jpg


Fishing trawler CRADOCK (UK 204 grt) was sunk by the LW fourteen miles NNE of St Abb's Head. The entire crew were rescued.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Drifter MONARDA (UK 109 grt) foundered in the Thames Estuary.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Kirkenes: U-578
St. Nazaire: U-75

Departures
Kiel: U-574
Kirkenes: U-576
Lorient: U-105
St. Nazaire: U-433

At Sea 08 November 1941
U-38, U-66, U-68, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-77, U-81, U-82, U-84, U-85, U-93, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-133, U-201, U-202, U-203, U-205, U-208, U-332, U-373, U-374, U-402, U-433, U-434, U-502, U-552, U-561, U-565, U-567, U-569, U-571, U-572, U-573, U-574, U-577, U-652, U-752, UA

50 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front

Arctic
Steamer FLOTTBEK (Ger 1930 grt) was sunk on a mine laid by Russian submarine K.1 on 27 October in Mageroy Sound, near Nth Cape, Norway.
Steamer FLOTTBEK (Ger 1930 grt).jpg



North Sea
British steamer GASLIGHT was damaged by the LW two cables SE of S.1 Buoy off Sutherland. The steamer was towed to Sutherland arriving on the 9th.

Northern Waters
DD HURWORTH departed Scapa Flow for Loch Ewe carrying sixty bags of mail for BB RODNEY and the DDs on her screen. The DD arrived at 0850 and sailed again at 1050 for Scapa Flow, carry out gunnery firing practices off the Orkneys on the return passage.

Western Approaches
Convoy ON-33
DD ROXBOROUGH was detached on the 8th.

Convoy ON.34
Corvettes CHICOUTIM and SHERBROOKE joined on the 8th and SHERBROOKE was detached later that day.

SW Approaches
Convoy SL-91
Sloop FOWEY and corvettes CAMPION, CARNATION, and HELIOTROPE joined on 8 November to 12 November. Convoy SL.91 rendezvoused with convoy SL.91G on 8 November. After reforming, later on 8 November, the joined convoys SL.91 and SL.91G split into SL.91GF and SL.91GS. SL.91GF arrived at Liverpool on 18 November and SL.91 GS on 19 November.

Sloop COMMANDANT DUBOC had been detached from the convoy with defects and arrived at Gibraltar on the 7th. On the 8th, DD DUNCAN departed Gibraltar to proceed to refitting at Chatham.

Convoy OS.11
The convoy was joined by DD CLARE, sloops ABERDEEN, ENCHANTRESS, IBIS, and STORK on the 8th. Also joining the convoy on the 8th were corvettes COLTSFOOT and ORCHIS, and escort vessel WALNEY.

Channel
DD ECHO departed Sheerness during the afternoon for the 8th for Scapa Flow, arriving on the 10th. En route, ECHO assisted damaged tug BUCCANEER.

Med/Biscay
RM submarine DANDOLO sank steamer CASTILLO OROPESA (Sp 6600 grt) near Melilla. The entire crew were rescued.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Submarine UPHOLDER unsuccessfully attacked a submarine in the central basin

Force K put to sea to intercept Italian convoy Beta in the early hours of the 9th

Nth Atlantic
Convoy HX.157
The US contingent of the escort was detached on 8 November when relieved by DDs BELMONT and GEORGETOWN and corvettes HEARTSEASE, RENONCULE, and ROSELYS, and ASW trawlers ANGLE and CAPEWARWICK.

Convoy HX.159
Convoy HX.159 departed Halifax, escorted by destroyer ANNAPOLIS and corvettes KAMLOOPS and SASKATOON.

Central Atlantic
Lt Cdr J. M. Wintour Rtd of 802 Sqn in CVE AUDACITY was lost when his plane was shot down by a FW 200 attacking convoy OG.76. DD WANDERER of the escort recovered Wintour's body. The Condor that shot down Wintour's Martlett was shot down by Sub Lt D. A. Hutchison.

Corvette SPIRAEA departed Gibraltar to meet and escort Norwegian tanker THORSHAVET to Gibraltar. On the 15th, corvette AZALEA departed to join the arriving ships. All three arrived on the 17th.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 8 NOVEMBER TO DAWN 9 NOVEMBER 1941

0937-0955 hrs Air raid alarm. Two Macchi 200's approach the Island from the north east, cross the coast over the Grand Harbour area, proceed on to Filfla and recede North. Ack Ack fire a barrage.

1155-1220 hrs Air raid alarm. Four Cant 1007's escorted by approximately eighteen Macchi's drop bombs from Rinella in a long line to just short of Luqa village; no damage or casualties. Hurricanes are scrambled and engage the Macchi's with results as follows: three Macchi's destroyed, one probably destroyed, one damaged. One Hurricane is destroyed, one damaged. the pilot is landed safely.

1730 hrs Royal Navy Force "K" sailed to intercept a convoy in the Ionian Sea. Five Albacores attacked the submarine base at Augusta. Large fire started.

1941, 0143 and 0549 hrs Three alerts for a total of sixteen enemy aircraft approaching the Island. Practically all bombs were dropped in the sea. One enemy aircraft drops anti-personnel bombs in the Rabat area – no damage.

OPERATIONS REPORTS SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER 1941

LUQA: One Blenheim of 18 Squadron and one from 107 Squadron on recce Kerkennah, Zuara, Tripoli. Six Blenheims of 107 Squadron and six of 18 Squadron attacked a convoy off Cape Spartivento. Sgt Hopkinson of 18 Squadron and F/Lt Pryor of 107 Squadron failed to return. One Wellington S/D Flight ASV on shipping search. Four Wellingtons of 104 Squadron attacked Brindisi and Messina. Elevn Wellingtons of 40 Squadron and six Wellingtons of 104 Squadron attacked Naples, Palermo, Catania, Syracuse and other targets.
 
Last edited:
09 NOVEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements

Allied
Higgins 70' type MGB 101, 02, 103, 104, 105 and 106
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
Drifter BOY ANDREW (UK 97 grt)
was sunk in a collision in the Firth of Forth. The skipper was lost in the drifter.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tug LETTIE (UK 89 grt) was lost off St Abb's Head.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-66, U-103, U-502

Departures
St. Nazaire: U-575

At Sea 09 November 1941
U-38, U-68, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-77, U-81, U-82, U-84, U-85, U-93, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-133, U-201, U-202, U-203, U-205, U-208, U-332, U-373, U-374, U-402, U-433, U-434, U-552, U-561, U-565, U-567, U-569, U-571, U-572, U-573, U-574, U-575, U-577, U-652, U-752, UA

48 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front

Arctic
Convoy OP-2
Trawlers CELIA and WINDERMERE departed Hvalfjord on the 9th and joined the convoy on the 11th to relieve DDs ECLIPSE and ICARUS. The trawlers escorted the convoy to 13 November.

DDs ECLIPSE and ICARUS had detached from the convoy after the arrival of the trawlers to proceed to Seidisfjord to refuel and rejoined on the 13th.

North Sea
Tug BUCCANEER with a battle practice target in tow was badly damaged by the LW off Montrose (East Coast Of Scotland). DD ECHO, en route from Sheerness to Scapa Flow, was ordered to proceed to assist the tug. When the tug drifted ashore, the destroyer was ordered to continue to Scapa Flow. The tug was later salved.

Northern Patrol
British minefield SN.83B was laid by MLs MENETHEUS and PORT QUEBEC, escorted by DDs BRIGHTON, NEWARK, CHARLESTOWN, and MONTROSE.

The operation was covered by CL KENYA.

After the operation, KENYA was ordered to return to Seidisfjord to refuel and then join convoy PQ.3 north of Iceland. The cruiser arrived at Seidisfjord on the 12th.

DD MONTROSE arrived at Scapa Flow on the 12th after being detached at the Minches.

The Minelaying Force arrived at Loch Alsh during the morning of the 9th.

Convoy PQ.3
Convoy PQ.3 departed Hvalfjord with steamers BRIARWOOD, CAPE RACE, Panamanian EL CAPITAN, TREK IEVE, CAPE CORSO, Panamanian COCLE, SAN AMBROSIO, and WANSTEAD, escorted by ASW trawlers HAMLET and MACBETH

West Coast
Convoy ON.35
Convoy ON.35 departed Liverpool.

Western Approaches
Convoy HX.157
DD DOUGLAS joined on 9 November.

Convoy ON-33
DD BEAGLE and the trawlers, less LADY MADELEINE, were detached on the 9th

Med/Biscay
Submarine OLYMPUS unsuccessfully attacked Italian store ship MAURO CROCE in the Gulf of Genoa .

Submarine PORPOISE arrived at Malta from Gibraltar with naval stores and kerosene.

Dutch submarine O.21 departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Mediterranean.

Battle of the Duisburg convoy
(adapted from an article by Vince Ohara)

The losses incurred by the RN in the Eastern Med during the evacuation of Greece and Crete in April and May, 1941 forced withdrawal of the Malta surface strike force. It was not reconstituted until October 21 when Force K, the CLs AURORA and PENELOPE and the DDs LANCE and LIVELY under the command of Captain Agnew arrived at Valetta's Grand Harbor. As with Mack's efforts in April, Agnew's first two attempts to intercept Italian convoys on the nights of 25/26 October and 1 / 2 November failed. And like Mack, he succeeded on the third try, but even more spectacularly.

The Italians knew that surface ships had returned to Malta within a day of the event and fully appreciated the danger they represented. However, the tempo of the North African land war during the fall of 1941 dictated that more, not less supplies be shipped. The Italians still felt they could deploy overwhelming strength with which to discourage force K, and failing that felt they could slip convoys past the British un-noticed. This despite the mounting shipping losses they were suffering over the summer and autumn of 1941.

Consequently an important convoy of seven ships (all of which were to be lost) was organized comprising the following:

Steamer DUISBERG (Ger 7,389 grt)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer SAN MARCO (Ger 3,113 grt),
Steamer SAN MARCO (Ger 3,113 grt).jpg


MV MARIA (FI 6,339 grt),
IMAGE FOUND]

MV RINA CORRADO (FI 5,180 grt)
MV RINA CORRADO (FI 5,180 grt).jpg


Steamer SAGITTA (FI 5,153 grt)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr MINATITLAN (FI 7,599 grt)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr CONTE DI MISURATA (FI 5,014 grt)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

The convoy gathered at Naples. They were loaded with 13,290 tons of materiel, 1,579 tons of ammunition, 17,281 tons of fuel, 389 vehicles, 145 Italian troops and 78 Germans. Supermarina named the convoy Beta, and provided a generous escort. The direct escort consisted of DDS MAESTRALE, (flag of Captain Ugo Bisciani), FULMINE, EURO, GRECALE, LIBECCIO and ORIANI. The distant escort included CAs TRIESTE, flag of Rear-Admiral Bruno Brivonesi, and TRENTO with DDs GRANATIERE, FUCILIERE, BERSAGLIERE and ALPINO. The route took Beta east of Malta bound for Tripoli. Italian doctrine and experience dictated that the principal danger from the night portion of the passage would come from aircraft, that a surface interception was nearly impossible unless the convoy's exact route and speed were known. The details of Italian planning showed a marked lack of appreciation conferred by radar or night training, both of which they lacked and the British possessed.

The British learned of the convoy through Ultra intercepts of German Air Force transmissions (note: Santoni denies this ever happening). A Maryland recon plane out of Malta "discovered" the convoy on the afternoon of the 8th. Force K sailed from Malta at 1730 and visually located the convoy about 135 miles east of Syracuse at 0039 on the 9th. The convoy was sailing at 9 knots in two columns about a half-mile apart. On the starboard side the order was DUISBERG, SAN MARCO and CONTE DE MISURATA. On the port MINATITLAN led MARIA and SAGITTA while RINACORRADA brought up the rear between the two columns. The distant escort followed about three miles astern, off the convoy's starboard quarter, sailing at 12 knots. MAESTRULE sailed at the head of the convoy while FULMINE, and EURO guarded the starboard side, LIBECCIO and ORIANI the port side and GRECALE, followed up the rear. Force K was in line-ahead with AURORA leading followed BY LANCE, PENELOPE and LIVELY. After AURORA's sighting, Agnew maneuvered to a position down-moon of the Italians, putting his ships on the convoy's starboard quarter. During this evolution, the direct escort sighted the British, but mistook them for the friendly cruiser group.

Once in position, Force K laid guns with radar and opened fire at 0057 from 3,300 to 5,500 yards. The bright moonlight silhouetted the Italian ships adding to the tactical and technological advantages the British already enjoyed. AURORA targeted GRECALE and scored hits with her first three salvos, setting off an explosion, starting a fire and leaving her dead in the water. PENELOPE's initial salvos hit MAESTRALE. LANCE took on one of the cargo ships and, after obtaining hits from 4,000 yards, shifted fire to FULMINE. LIVELY was the last to open fire at 0100. She hit DUISBERG with her first salvo and followed with five more before shifting her guns to EURO. These initial salvos were deadly and indeed the whole action was characterized by extremely accurate shooting by the British.

AURORA then fired on MAESTRALE. She was making smoke and withdrawing around the front of the convoy to its port side. She ordered LIBECCIO and ORIANI also on the port, the unengaged side, to make smoke. Bisciani then ordered the escorts to gather around him. This order and the DD's movements supports the suggestion that he believed the attack was coming from the port, not the starboard, side and that he continued to mistake the ships of Force K for CAs TRIESTE and TRENTO. In any case, after issuing these instructions, Bisciani lost his ability to influence the battle further when AURORA shot MAESTRALE's radio antenna away.

EURO and FULMINE on the right of the convoy had a better appreciation of the situation. They counterattacked the British, but Folgore Class DD FULMINE (RM 1240 grt) was quickly hit hard and repeatedly by LANCE and then PENELOPE. She returned fire only briefly before she turned over and sank at 0106, just nine minutes into the action.
Folgore Class DD FULMINE (RM 1240 grt).jpg


EURO, commanded by Cigala Fulgosi, who successfully defended the second Cretan Convoy with TB SAGITTARIO, approached to within 2,100 yards of the British without suffering damage. He had a perfect torpedo setup and was about to launch when MAESTRALE's orders made him wonder if he was attacking his own cruisers. He turned away, but realized his mistake when first LIVELY and then AURORA and PENELOPE brought him under fire. EURO was hit six times, but the 6" shells passed through her thin hull without causing major damage.

The Italian distant escort was about 5,500 yards from the convoy's right side (the Malta side) when the action opened. They came up increasing speed to 24 knots as the British sailed away and then circled around the head of the convoy and down it's opposite side at 20 knots. The Italian cruisers were not slow in engaging the British, opening fire at 0103 from 7,800 yards, but their position was bad and quickly became worse. In effect, the British unintentionally kept the convoy between them and the RM CAs. TRIESTE and TRENTO shot off 207 rounds of 8" and 82 rounds of 3.9" ammunition, but by 0125, they ceased fire, reporting the British were out of range. The British assumed these vessels were more DDs and Aurora returned fire with her 4" guns, but the range was too great for these to be effective.

The convoy ships, meanwhile, believed they were under aerial attack and took no evasive action throughout. From 0110 Agnew proceeded to circle around the head of the convoy and then up its port side, at ranges down to 2,000 yards, picking off merchant ships with gunfire and torpedoes. The British were rather astounded at the way the cargo ships continued serenely on course, almost waiting their turn to be sunk. LIBECCIO and ORIANI with MAESTRALE and EURO of the direct escort withdrew about ten miles to the east of the convoy and regrouped. They then counter-attacked as a unit, firing salvos, but declining to use torpedoes for fear of hitting their own ships beyond the British. It is interesting to compare this reticence with the Japanese action at the Battle of Sunda Strait. The Japanese didn't hesitate to fill the waters with torpedoes to get at Allied warships attacking transports, sinking four of their own transports as a consequence. The four DDs led by MAESTRALE continued to make smoke and periodically engaged as they came in view, but they failed to seriously challenge the British and suffered only slight damage inflicted by LIBECCIO as a result. Meanwhile the distant escort continued sailing down the convoy's starboard in the opposite direction.

In effect, the RM CAs and Force K switched places, the first ending up south and west of the convoy by the time the British were north and east. Agnew ordered cease-fire at 0140 as the British passed by the rear of the now destroyed convoy. No new targets were seen, and concerned with the shortages of 6" ammunition at Malta, (PENELOPE, for example, shot off 259 6" rounds) the British shaped course for home at 0205. They sank every one of the cargo ships and tankers and sank one DD and damaged three others. Although on several occasions the British reported they avoided torpedoes, Italian accounts deny that any of their DDs used this weapon. The only injury suffered by the British was splinter damage to LIVELY. A starshell burst overhead and near misses holed her funnel and a steam pipe on the starboard side. To add to the Italian's misery, the British submarine Upholder torpedoed LIBECCIO the next day at 0640 while she was engaged in rescue work. EURO tried to tow the stricken ship to safety, but LIBECCIO broke apart and sank shortly after.

This battle was one of the most complete victories won by the British during the war. They were out numbered and outgunned by the escort, but application of superior doctrine and technology along with luck and surprise gave them the victory. Both Brivonesi and Bisciani were relieved, although Brivonesi was subsequently returned to command.

DD GRECALE was taken in tow by DD ORIANI.

DDs MAESTRALE, EURO, ORIANI, ALPINO, FUCLIERE, and BERSAGLIERE rescued 704 survivors from the convoy.

Maestrale class DD LIBECCIO (RM 1417 grt), rescuing survivors, was torpedoed at 0640 by Submarine UPHOLDER in 36-50N, 18-10E. The destroyer was taken in tow by DD EURO, but was sunk when she experienced an internal collapse.
Maestrale class DD LIBECCIO (RM 1417 grt).jpg


Submarine UPHOLDER at 1107 on the 9th, unsuccessfully attacked CAs TRENTO and TRIESTE.

Nth Atlantic
Convoy ON-20
The US DDs were detached on 9 November when the convoy dispersed

Central Atlantic
Convoy 0G-76
The convoy was joined on 9 November by DDs VIDETTE and WISHART, which departed Gibraltar on 8 November.


Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 9 NOVEMBER TO DAWN 10 NOVEMBER 1941

1030-1035 hrs Air raid alarm for two Macchi 200's which carry out reconnaissance of Luqa, Hal Far and Grand harbour areas. Ack Ack fire one barrage.

1347 hrs Air raid alarm. Two unidenfied enemy aircraft approach from North, reach the coast near Delimara Point and then recede North. Ack Ack guns engage by barrage fire.

1709 hrs Air raid alarm. Approx three Macchi's carry out reconnaissance of the Island. No engagement by Ack Ack or Hurricanes.

OPERATIONS REPORTS SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER 1941

ROYAL NAVY: Force "K" returned to harbour, having sunk one destroyer and damaged two destroyers, and sunk seven MVs No casualties or damage on our side. Five Albacores attacked Augusta with good results.

HAL FAR: Overnight five Albacores, 828 Squadron FAA despatched to attack the submarine base at Augusta. Large fire was started amongst the oil tanks. Light Ack Ack very intense and accurate. Two Hurricanes, 185 Squadron despatched on escort patrol. F/O Bailey failed to return to base. Three Swordfish carried out submarine patrol. Nothing was sighted.

LUQA: One Blenheim 107 Squadron, one Blenheim 18 Squadron on SF11 Patrol. Six Blenheims 107 Squadron, five Blenheims 18 Squadron shipping sweep Gulf of Sirte. Nothing sighted. Three Wellingtons 104 Squadron nuisance raid on Naples. Two Wellingtons 104 Squadron nuisance raid on Messina.
 
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November 10 Monday
ASIA
: US Navy Asiatic Fleet issued orders to withdraw Yangtze River gunboats and US Marines from China.

Japanese Admiral Chūichi Nagumo put Yamamoto's plan into effect by issuing his first operational order. There was an understanding that if diplomatic negotiations with America were successfully concluded even at the very last moment, the attack on Pearl Harbor would be called off and the Striking Force returned to a rendezvous point at Latitude 42 degrees north by Longitude 170 degrees east, where it would stay in a state of readiness until further instructions. The Japanese were already weaving a cloak of secrecy around Nagumo's Strike Force. Every day false communications emanated from Kyushu at the same time and on the same wavelength as during the training period. Moreover, the Navy broadcast daily messages to Nagumo as intended during the cruise to Hawaii. Nagumo issued Striking Force Operations Order No. 1, directing his forces to complete battle preparations by 20th November and to assemble at Hitokappu Bay. Elements of Nagumo's Pearl Harbor Striking Force began departing Kure naval base.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: A troop convoy designated WS-124 sails from Halifax, consisting mainly of U.S. transports carrying 22,000 British troops, with a U.S. escort as far as South Africa. Among the transports are the three premier liners of the American merchant marine ("America", "Manhattan" and "Washington"), now in Navy service as USS "West Point", "Wakefield" and "Mount Vernon", respectively. The convoy is initially destined for Basra. Escort was provided by the aircraft carrier USS "Ranger", 2 cruisers and seven destroyers (and the United States was still technically neutral).

American destroyer "Ericsson", escorting convoy HX 157, depth charged sound contact.

In the North Atlantic, U-109 met the "Silva Plana", a German capture, and escorted it to safe French waters.

EASTERN FRONT: German General Erich von Manstein finally felt he was prepared enough to begin a formal assault against Sevastopol, Russia. The 50.Infanterie-Divisionen (Lieutenant General K. Hollidt) attacked first, capturing Uppa near the Chernaya River, southeast of Sevastopol, followed by the 132.Infanterie-Division (Generalleutnant Rudolf Sintzenich) on the next day. On the Soviet side, Vice Admiral F. S. Oktyabrsky (with Major General I. A. Petrov as his deputy) mobilized 52,000 men, of whom 21,000 were sailors, together with 170 guns (some were in modern steel and concrete emplacements), for the defense of Sevastopol.

The Bryansk Front was dissolved. Kalinin Front (Koniev) protected Moscow from the northern flank and Western Front (Zhukov) from the west. Reserves from the Far East joined Zhukov. Rokossovski's 16th Army was deployed in depth with carefully placed anti-tank defenses.

GERMANY: General Walther von Brauchitsch suffered a heart attack.

MEDITERRANEAN: Operation Flipper: British submarines HMS "Torbay" (carrying Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Keyes' group of 28 men) and HMS "Talisman" (carrying Lieutenant Colonel Robert Laycock's group of 28 men) depart Alexandria, Egypt, on an audacious mission to kill Rommel. Faulty intelligence leads them to believe that his HQ is at Beda Littoria, 250 miles inside German-held Libya. In any case, Rommel is vacationing in Italy with his wife Lucie to celebrate his 50th birthday.

The Operation Perpetual convoy, escorted by battleship HMS "Malaya", cruiser HMS "Hermione", and seven destroyers, departed from Gibraltar. At the center of the convoy, British carriers HMS "Ark Royal" and HMS "Argus" were tasked with delivering 37 Hurricane fighters for Malta.

British submarine HMS "Proteus" sank German ship "Ithaka" off the island of Milos, Greece. Greek submarine "Glaukos" damaged German ship "Norburg" north of Crete, Greece.

The Italian "San Marco" naval infantry regiment formed a 3rd battalion by drawing three companies from the two existing battalions.

Overnight the Regia Aeronautica showered more anti-personnel bombs on a civilian area on Malta. This time it was Birkirkara, a town now heavily populated with refugees from the Grand Harbour area who had fled there for safety. Yet again, hundreds of Thermos bombs lay in narrow streets and lanes: 142 them were reported as high priority and dealt with by the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Section the same day.

Overnight from Malta, five Albacores of Fleet Air Arm (FAA) No. 828 Squadron were again dispatched to attack Augusta. Bombs were dropped near Nafta tank causing small fire and others on the north end of the submarine base. Weather was good and all aircraft returned safely. One Fulmar made a night intruder patrol over Cape Passero but the weather was unsuitable for locating aerodrome. Four Albacores of FAA No. 828 Squadron were dispatched to attack Catania aerodrome. Results were unobserved owing to bad weather conditions. All aircraft returned safely. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 107 Squadron flew a shipping sweep over the Gulf of Sirte. Three Wellingtons of RAF No. 40 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Brindisi. Two Wellingtons of RAF No. 40 Squadron flew a nuisance raid on Naples.

NORTH AMERICA: US President Franklin Roosevelt ordered protection for dams, power plants, and other important infrastructure sites.

In Calgary LAC Karl Mander Gravell (b.1922), RCAF, crashed and tried, despite terrible burns and the loss of an eye, to save his pilot. He later died. (George Cross)

NORTHERN EUROPE: Finnish troops of Group O (Maj. Gen. Woldemar Oinonen) cut the Murmansk railway at Perälahti. This doesn't seriously hinder the Soviet supply flow, however; Soviets had already constructed a railway further east.

UNITED KINGDOM: There were daylight Luftwaffe attacks on Saltburn on Sea, Durham and Bampton (Bempton), where the Bridlington to Scarborough train was hit. Just before dark, the Flying Scotsman was machine-gunned by enemy aircraft at Berwick. Edinburgh reported that the fireman of the train passing Marshall Meadows at the time received a slight machine-gun bullet wound in the arm. A German plane dropped two HEs then machine-gunned the train. Numerous bullets struck the train and several glass panels were smashed in the carriages. None of the passengers injured but the fireman of the second engine was grazed on the left arm by a machine-gun bullet.

A Junkers Ju 88 was hit by AA fire from HMS 'Quantock' and it crashed into the cliffs at Ravenscar near Whitby at 1740 hours. Two of the crew were killed and two were listed as missing. The two dead were buried at Thornaby on Tees, together with a third airman, presumably one of the remaining crew members whose body was washed ashore at Ravenscar on November 18th.

WESTERN FRONT: At Madgeburg, the pilots of I./JG 3 receive forty of the brand new Bf 109F 'Freidrichs' as they rest up from several long months of battle on the Russian front. Among the Gruppe's pilots are Hptm. Hans von Hahn, Oblt. Robert Olejnik of 4 Staffel, Oblt. Max Buchholz of the 5 Staffel, Oblt. Helmut Meckel and Oblt. Detlev Rohwer. All are Ritterkreuz holders from the Russian campaign.

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10 NOVEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements

Allied
Ocean Boarding Vessel HMS LARGS (F-43)
Ocean Boarding Vessel HMS LARGS (F-43).jpg

HMS LARGS was a conversion of the captured Vichy AMC PLUMER, captured By DD HMS FAULKNOR 22 November 1940 Off Gibraltar.
UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-43

At Sea 10 November 1941
U-38, U-43, U-68, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-77, U-81, U-82, U-84, U-85, U-93, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-133, U-201, U-202, U-203, U-205, U-208, U-332, U-373, U-374, U-402, U-433, U-434, U-552, U-561, U-565, U-567, U-569, U-571, U-572, U-573, U-574, U-575, U-577, U-652, U-752, UA

49 Boats

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Steamer VOLLRATH THAM (SD 5787 grt)
was sunk on a mine one at the mouth of the River Ems. The crew was rescued and taken to a German port.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

East Front
Arctic
Submarine SEAWOLF arrived at Murmansk from Scapa Flow

North Sea
DD ESCAPADE departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow on completion of boiler cleaning. The DD arrived on the 11th, sustaining weather damage en route.

DD PYTCHLEY departed the Tyne for Methil to land trial parties before proceeding to Scapa. Due to bad weather, the DD was ordered to Leith, where she arrived that afternoon.

Examination vessel LONGSCAR was damaged by the LW off Middlesbrough

Northern Patrol
CA CUMBERLAND departed Scapa Flow to join the Commander in Chief's force at Hvalfjord. The cruiser arrived on the 12th.

Northern Waters
DD MAORI departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde on completion of a short work up. The DD arrived on the 11th.

Western Approaches
Convoy ON-33
DD ST LAURENT and corvettes SNOWBERRY and TRAIL joined on the 10th.

Convoy ON.34
Corvettes HIBISCUS, PERIWINKLE, and SWEETBRIAR were detached on the 10th.

Convoy ON.35
The convoy was joined on the 10th by DDs KEPPEL, ROCKINGHAM, and VENOMOUS, corvettes ALISMA, SHERBROOKE, and SUNFLOWER, and ASW trawlers BUTTERMERE, LADY ELSA, THIRLMERE and WELLARD

SW Approaches
Convoy OS.11
On the 10th, escort vessel HARTLAND joined the convoy

Channel
Lt E. A. Holloway was killed when his Martlett of 888 Sqn crashed on approach three miles nth of Bishops Waltham, Hants (Hampshire). Martlets at this time were suffering a high loss rate for the RN, due in part to their high performance and also because of their rushed introduction to service

Med/Biscay
BB MALAYA, CV ARK ROYAL and CVE ARGUS, with CLA HERMIONE, and DDs LAFOREY, LEGION, LIGHTNING, GURKHA, SIKH, ZULU, and RNeN ISAAC SWEERS cleared Gibraltar for Operation PERPETUAL.
On the 12th, the carriers flew aircraft off to Malta.

BB BARHAM, CL GALATEA, and DDs KANDAHAR, KINGSTON, KIMBERLEY, and JUPITER departed Alexandria to exercise.

Submarine PROTEUS sank steamer ITHAKA (Ger 1773 grt) off Milos.
steamer ITHAKA (Ger 1773 grt).jpg



Greek submarine GLAUKOS damaged German steamer NORBURG off Candia.

Submarine UPHOLDER arrived at Malta after parol.

Nth Atlantic
Convoy SC-53
USN DD DALE was with the convoy on 10 to 12 November

Convoy SC.54
Convoy SC.54 departed Sydney, CB, escorted by corvettes BATTLEFORD, DRUMHELLER, DUNVEGAN, SOREL, and SUMMERSIDE, and MSW NIPIGON.

Convoy HX.159
The escort was relieved on the 10th by USN DDs BADGER, COLE, DECATUR, LIVERMORE, and PLUNKETT.

Allied convoy WS.12X
Ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE arrived at Gibraltar after Western Patrol.

Central Atlantic
Ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE arrived at Gibraltar after Western Patrol.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
CLA EURYALUS arrived at Suez from the UK to join the Med Flt. The CLA arrived at Alexandria on the 11th

Pacific/Australia
RNZN CL ACHILLES departed Auckland with a US liner for Sydney.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 10 NOVEMBER TO DAWN 11 NOVEMBER 1941

1109-1120 hrs Air raid alarm; raid does not materialise.

1700-1716 hrs Air raid alarm. Two enemy aircraft (probably Macchi 200's) approach the Island from the North and carry out reconnaissance. Ack Ack guns engage by immediate barrage as enemy aircraft cross the coast; no claims.

OPERATIONS REPORTS MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER

ROYAL NAVY Upholder arrived, having sunk one submarine (not confirmed) and one destroyer [in the aftermath of the Force "K" attack]. Four Albacores attacked Catania aerodrome. One aircraft machine-gunned Ragusa. Eight Swordfish carried out search in vicinity of Messina without result.

HAL FAR Overnight five Albacores, 828 Squadron Fleet Air Arm (FAA) despatched to attack Augusta. Bombs dropped near Nafta tank causing small fire and others on north end of submarine base. Weather good and all aircraft returned safely. One Fulmar made a night intruder patrol over Cape Passero. Weather unsuitable for locating aerodrome. No results. Four Albacores, 828 Squadron FAA despatched to attack Catania aerodrome. Results unobserved owing to bad weather conditions. All aircraft returned safely.

LUQA Six Blenheims 107 Squadron shipping sweep Gulf of Sirte. Three Wellingtons 40 Squadron nuisance raid Brindisi. Two Wellingtons 40 Squadron nuisance raid Naples.
 
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November 11 Tuesday
ASIA
: Japanese submarine I-68 joined the Advance Expeditionary Force for the Pearl Harbor attack. She departed Saeki, Japan for Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. Ten Japanese submarines of the Third Submarine Squadron departed from Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan for Kwajalein of the Marshall Islands, where they would proceed for US Territory of Hawaii. They sailed at 1111 hours – the eleventh minute after the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

IJN aircraft carrier "Kaga" entered the drydocks at Sasebo Naval Shipyard, Japan.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: American destroyer "Edison", en route to escort Atlantic convoy ON 34, depth charged sound contact. American destroyer "Decatur", escorting Atlantic convoy HX 159, depth charged sound contact off the Grand Banks, Newfoundland. The incident was later evaluated as a "doubtful" submarine.

British Hudson aircraft of No. 53 Squadron RAF damaged German submarine U-203 with four depth charges in the Bay of Biscay at 1415 hours.

A straggler from Convoy SC-53, the Panamanian steam merchant "Meridian" was torpedoed and sunk by the U-561, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Robert Bartels, in the northern Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship's complement of 26 died. The 5,592 ton "Meridian" was carrying government stores and general cargo and was bound for Archangel, Soviet Union.

EASTERN FRONT: Soviet forces prepare counteroffensive against German Army Group North in the Tikhvin sector. Soviet armies conduct localized counterattacks at multiple points along the front of German Army Group Center. The Soviet 49th and 50th Armies launch an attack on the German XXXXIII.Armeekorps at Tula. Fighting is very heavy. The Soviet 49th Army's divisions mount a concentric attack and thwart an attempt to envelope Soviet forces around Tula. German 1.Panzerarmee forced to halt its advance toward Rostov. Soviet cruisers and destroyers bombard attacking German forces at Sevastopol.

General der Jägdflieger Werner Mölders again borrows a Bf 109 from III./JG 77 and claims two more Russian aircraft but they are not recorded because General Mölders is under a Fluverbot, an order not to fly in combat situations. Instead he donates his victories to his wingman, Herbert Hohne.

German government report published on this date noted there were 700,000 Soviet prisoners of war employed as forced laborers.

MEDITERRANEAN: German submarines are all moved to the Mediterranean Sea in support of Erwin Rommel in North Africa.

In Yugoslavia Mihailovic meets with German officers to consider collaborating with occupation forces.

Axis Convoy departs Trapani for Tripoli with two vessels escorted by Italian torpedo boat "Prestinari".

Three RN Albacores were dispatched to Catania but returned with engine trouble without reaching target. Seven Swordfish left to attack a convoy westwards. Three returned early with engine trouble and four failed to return at all.

From Malta Six Blenheims RAF No. 18 Squadron attacked two M/Vs. Two Blenheims from RAF No. 18 Squadron searched for shipping. Ten Wellingtons from RAF No.40 Squadron and nine of No.104 Squadron attacked Naples. Squadron Leader Greer failed to return.

NORTH AFRICA: The battle to push the Italians out of east Africa begins. Allied forces with support from local guerillas attack Chilga to the west and Kulkaber to the south east of the main Italian position at Gondar. The Italians repel the attacks.

Major Ernst Duellberg's BF109F-4 (Trop) is damaged in combat by the Tomahawk of Flt-Lt A. C. Rawlinson of 3 Sqn. RAAF. Duellberg nurses his aircraft back to Ain-el Gazala where it belly-lands and is written off.

2nd New Zealand Division moves from Baggush to assembly point near Matruh - Siwa. This is the first time the entire New Zealand force has been together (20,000 all ranks).

NORTH AMERICA: President Roosevelt gave an Armistice Day address at Arlington National Cemetery.
"Our observance of this Anniversary has a particular significance in the year 1941," the president said. "For we are able today as we were not always able in the past to measure our indebtedness to those who died ... Whatever we knew or thought we knew a few years or months ago, we know now that the danger of brutality and tyranny and slavery to freedom-loving peoples can be real and terrible. We know why these men fought to keep our freedom - and why the wars that save a people's liberties are wars worth fighting and worth winning - and at any price."

American Lend-Lease program expanded to include Free France based in Britain.

Robert Johnson completed aviation cadet training and began his service with the US Army at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Red Army launched an unsuccessful counterattack in the Kestenga sector to reach their encircled comrades, but without result. Finnish General Siilasvuo ordered his forces to start preparing defensive positions. Soviet resistance was stiffening, and the Finnish GHQ was worried about the heavy losses Finnish troops were taking. Attack in Kestenga is halted by secret order of Finnish GHQ, because it is considered not wise to irritate Western allies by cutting the Murmansk railroad.

After dark, Soviet destroyers "Stoiki" and "Leningrad", minelayer "Ural", troop transport "Andrei Zhdanov", and three minesweepers departed the island of Gogland (known in Finnish as Suursaari) in the Gulf of Finland for the Hanko Peninsula in southern Finland. After "Andrei Zhdanov" was sunk by a mine (7 were killed, 66 survived) and "Leningrad" damaged by a mine, the convoy abandoned its mission to evacuate Soviet troops from Hanko and sailed back to Gogland.

German submarine U-580, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Günther Kuhlmann, collided with target ship "Angelburg" and sank 33 miles west of Klaipeda, Lithuania by accident. Of the ship's complement, 12 died and 32 survived. During its career the U-580 sank or damaged no ships.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Lt. Gen. Lewis Brereton, Air Force USAFFE (later, FEAF) Commander, was dispatched by MacArthur on a three-week, 11,500-mile jaunt to Rabaul, Port Moresby, Townsville, and Melbourne, to comply with Marshall's directive of 30 SEP 41 regarding use of airfields in British Empire areas.

The Australian War Memorial was opened in Canberra. General Blamey arrives at Canberra from Egypt.

On her last voyage HMAS cruiser "Sydney" departs Fremantle, escorting troopship "Zealandia".

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Circus No. 110, the last such operation for the British of the year, is mounted with twelve Blenheims with an escort of Spitfires sent to raid railroad facilities near Lille. Intercepted by the brand new Fw 190s of JG 26, fourteen British aircraft are shot down while the "Abbeville Boys" lose only three of the new radial engined fighters with one pilot killed. Adding to their scores are Obstlt. Adolf Galland for his ninety-second and ninety-third kills, Hptm. Seifert for his twenty-third, Hptm. Josef Priller for his fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth victories, Hptm. Müncheberg for his fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth, the Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 26 Oblt. Kurt Ebersberger got his sixteenth and Fw. Addi Glunz for his eighth.

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November 12 Wednesday
ASIA
: Yamamoto and his entourage, including Ugaki left Tokyo by train for Yokosuka whence they flew to the Iwakuni Air Group, landing shortly after 1330 hours. They immediately sailed to the "Nagato" which had sailed there to meet them.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-203, with one engine and aft diving planes damaged by a British air attack on the previous day, arrived in Brest, France.

U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.3, under command of Commander Richard E. Webb, assumed escort duty for convoy ON 34.

The destroyer USS "Decatur" (DD-341), screening Convoy HX-159, twice depth charged sound contacts that were later evaluated as "non-submarine." The destroyer USS "Badger" (DD-126), depth charged a sound contact that was later evaluated as perhaps the USS "Decatur's" wake. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCG "Campbell" reported a sound contact and conducted a search which was joined by the destroyer USS "Livermore" (DD-429).

EASTERN FRONT: Winter comes to the Russian Front as no German units anywhere on the East front record a temperature higher than 5 degrees Fahrenheit. After sundown, the temperature in the Moscow region of Russia dropped to 5 degrees Fahrenheit or -15 degrees Celsius, which was harsh on the troops on either side, but particularly to the Germans who were less prepared to deal with the weather. Impassable mud freezes enough to allow movement of trucks and tracked vehicles. German Army Group Centre prepares to drive 3.Panzerarmee and 4.Panzerarmee in a massive armored punch North of Moscow while Guderian's 2.Panzerarmee comes from the South. Meanwhile, Soviet General Zhukov has rebuilt the Western Front to defend Moscow, gaining 22 infantry divisions, 14 cavalry divisions, and 11 ski battalions to reinforce the Soviet capital. The Red Army uses its ski troops in combat for the first time. The Soviet 52nd Army counterattacked at Volkhov.

Italian expeditionary corps begins withdrawing from Eastern front lines, ending its combat operations.

Stuka dive bombers of German StG 77 damaged Soviet cruiser "Chervona Ukraina" with 3 bombs at Sevastopol, Russia. Destroyers "Sovershenny" and "Besposhchadny" were also damaged, with the former capsizing at the naval shipyard. "Chervona Ukraina" was the only cruiser lost by Soviets in World War Two.

GERMANY: Oberleutnant Adalbert Karbe and Hauptmann Heinrich Wittmer of the German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

MEDITERRANEAN: British aircraft carriers HMS "Ark Royal" and HMS "Argus" from the Operation Perpetual convoy launched 37 Hurricane fighters to reinforce Malta. In the early morning RAF Blenheims from Malta set out on a special mission, to guide in the delivery of Hurricane aircraft flying off the aircraft carriers. Their mission successfully completed, the aircraft carriers turned westwards along with the rest of the convoy, Force "H".

U-331 left Salamis with eight members of a special service team on board for the African front in Tobruk.

Overnight, seven Swordfish from No. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm at Hal Far were dispatched to attack a convoy consisting of two merchant vessels west of Pantelleria. Three aircraft returned to base owing to engine trouble; the remaining four failed to return to base.

From Malta five Blenheims from No.107 Squadron (Sqdn) attacked Mellaha aerodrome. Three Blenheims from No.107 Sqdn made a special search for a dinghy. Three Blenheims from No.18 Sqdn flew a special search for dinghies near Malta-Maritimo. One Blenheim of No.107 Sqdn SF 11 was on patrol. One Blenheim from No.18 Sqdn flew a shipping search off Pantelleria.

NORTH AFRICA: Luftwaffe bombers attack Cairo overnight, killing 64 civilians.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Finnish vessels laid mines in the Gulf of Finland to disrupt the Soviet attempts to evacuate personnel from Hanko in southern Finland. Third Soviet evacuation convoy abandons its mission to Hanko.

Finland rejects yet another request from the United States to make peace with the Soviet Union. Finland states that her war is defensive in nature, and the Finnish military efforts don't threaten the US interests. Finland can't fulfill the US demand to retreat behind the pre-1939 border, because such an act would undermine Finnish security. After giving this official answer, the Finnish FM Witting pays an unofficial visit to the US ambassador Schoenfeld. Witting states that Finland won't cut the Murmansk railway or advance to Archangel. All Finnish military operations from now on will be modest in nature.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Gregory Boyington and other new AVG pilots arrive in Burma via ship.

UNITED KINGDOM: King George VI opened a new session of British Parliament. His speech from the throne began;
"The developments of the past year have strengthened the resolution of my peoples and of my allies to prosecute this war against aggression until final victory."

RAF No. 350 Squadron (Belgian) began forming.

WESTERN FRONT: General Huntziger, the Vichy war minister, was killed 50 miles north of Nimes, France in a plane accident. He was returning from a mission to North Africa, to consult General Weygand on a possible German bid to use French North Africa. Though Huntziger signed the armistice with the Germans in June last year, he was a staunch defender of French interests against German encroachment and the strongest opponent of Laval's efforts to open French ports to Germany.

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November 13 Thursday
ASIA: Japanese Admiral Yamamoto gathered his commanders at Iwakuni air base at Yamaguchi, Japan to discuss Pearl Harbor tactics. The commanders in chief of all fleets except the Southern Expeditionary Fleet, with their chiefs of staff and senior staff officers, arrived by sea and land to participate. These included Nagumo, Kusaka, and Oishi as well as Shimizu.

Aboard IJN aircraft carrier "Akagi", testing was complete on new torpedo modification and drop techniques, with 82% effective hits. Genda believed that the last obstacle to successful attack had been removed. "Akagi" departed Sasebo and arrives later that day at Kagoshima.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The unescorted British motor merchant "Peru" was torpedoed and sunk by the U-126, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Ernst Bauer, southwest of Cape Palmas, Liberia in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship's complement, all 50 survived and were picked up by the South African whale factory ship "Uniwaleco". The 6,961 ton "Peru" was carrying pig iron, groundnuts, and general cargo and was bound for the United Kingdom.

The German commerce raider "Atlantis" rendezvoused with the submarine U-68 southwest of the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic in order for the "Atlantis" to transfer fuel oil to the submarine as the "Atlantis" was now scheduled to return to Germany.

EASTERN FRONT: At a conference held at Orsha in the occupied Soviet Union, German field commanders meet to hear General Halder's (the OKH Chief of the General Staff) plans to continue the attack on Moscow. The plan involves three infantry armies and three panzer groups. The plan is for Guderian's 2.Panzerarmee to take Tula, to the south of the Russian capital, and then sweep up behind Moscow to Kolemna. Hoth's 3.Panzerarmee is to form the northern arm of the pincer with the task of driving eastwards to the Volga Canal and then wheeling towards Moscow while Hopner's 4.Panzerarmee attacks in the centre. Despite some reservations the plan is agreed upon. German troops fighting near Moscow, were fighting temperatures as low as -8° F (-22° C). Army Group South reports that the heavy frost has set in. Guderian reported that ice was causing a lot of trouble. The cold made telescopic sights useless. Fuel was freezing and oil became viscous. Each regiment of the 112.Infanterie-Division had already lost 500 men from frostbite. The result, said Guderian was a panic which reached as far back as Bogorodsk. Winter in Russia had begun. As the mud freezes, however, the Germans prepared for a new offensive amidst increasing casualties due to weather. Taking advantage of the frost-hardened ground, they launched one of their customary pincer movements in a final attempt to capture the city before the winter strikes the exposed German army with all its severity. The Germans are happy that the frost has made the ground hard enough for their tanks and horses and men to operate, but if they cannot reach the shelter of Moscow within the next few weeks they will be forced to go onto the defensive. The initial reports of the fighting show that it is going to be much harder for them to take Moscow than seemed possible last month when panic gripped the city. Tula has been turned into a strongpoint, and unless the Germans take this communications centre and its airfield they cannot complete their pincer movement. Stalin has put heart into the people of Moscow, and Zhukov has created an effective defence. Further south, German and Romanian troops make an unsuccessful attempt to seize Sevastopol. General Kirill Meretskov attacked German troops at Tikhvin, Russia. German 12.Panzer-Divisionen (Major General J. Harpe) cannot reinforce or supply Tikhvin so General von Arnim organizes his tired troops into a hedgehog defense (small, mutually-defending strongpoints, often hidden, designed to frustrate the movements of a larger army). Soviet General Kirill Meretskov (reinstated after his poor performance against Finland in the Winter War and subsequent interrogation by NKVD) begins an attack with 4th, 52nd and 54th Armies including 3 fresh divisions brought in from Siberia and the Far East.

Soviet cruiser "Chervona Ukraina", damaged by German aircraft on the previous day, sank at Sevastopol, Russia. Her guns would be salvaged to be used on shore.

Obfw. Edmund Wagner of 9./JG 51 is killed in action against Russian Pe-2s. Obfw. Wagner had fifty-six kills with just one victory on the Western Front.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler ordered the German Navy to restraint from attacking American ships, but should German warships be fired upon by the Americans, they were to fire back in defense.

MEDITERRANEAN: Force K, returning to Gibraltar from Malta is attacked by two German U-boats, U-81 and U-205. German submarine U-81 hit and badly damaged British aircraft carrier HMS "Ark Royal" in the Mediterranean Sea 150 miles east of Gibraltar; 1 was killed, 1,487 survived. At 1540 hours, the sonar operator aboard the destroyer "Legion" detected an unidentified sound, but assumed it was the propellers of a nearby destroyer. One minute later, "Ark Royal" was struck amidships by a torpedo, between the fuel bunkers and bomb store, and directly below the bridge island. The explosion caused "Ark Royal" to shake, hurled loaded torpedo-bombers into the air, and killed Able Seaman Edward Mitchell. A 130-by-30-foot hole was created on the starboard side and bottom by the torpedo. The hit caused flooding of the starboard boiler room, main switchboard, oil tanks, and over 106 feet (32 m) of the ship's starboard bilge. The starboard power train was knocked out, causing the rear half of the ship to lose power, while communications were severed shipwide. The hole in the hull was enlarged by the ship's motion, and by the time "Ark Royal" stopped she had taken on water and begun to list to starboard. The tug "Thames" arrived from Gibraltar at 20:00 and attached a tow line to "Ark Royal", but flooding caused the angle of list to increase rapidly. "Ark Royal's" complement had been evacuated to "Legion" by 04:30 hours and the 1,487 officers and crew were transported to Gibraltar.

Despite the delivery, and the arrival of Monday's convoy, shortages of essential commodities were becoming a serious problem, with the inevitable increase in prices of both local and imported goods. Even in peacetime, Malta was unable to feed itself from its limited farmland. With thousands of extra military personnel on the Island much-needed supplies could only come by sea – which meant passing through hostile enemy territory. It was decided that special measures were needed and a new government advisory body, with Regional Protection Officers given the job of monitoring fair trading by local businesses. The price of essential commodities was fixed at or near pre-war levels.

From Malta 3 Blenheims of No.107 Sqdn were dispatched to attack barracks and M/T park at Mellaha. All aircraft turned back owing to bad weather.

NORTH AFRICA: On the night of the 13th Rommel ordered another withdrawal, and now the animosity between German and Italian broke into conflict. In several cases Germans who had no vehicles stole Italian vehicles at gunpoint, and some German battalions stealthily crept out of the line without bothering to notify let alone coordinate with, the Italians on the flank. The sun had risen before some Italians learned of the retreat. This meant that much heavy equipment was left behind, including precious anti-tank guns, and tens of thousands of Italians began walking across a flat desert swept by a cold wind under the eyes of every pilot in the Allied air force.

NORTH AMERICA: Both houses of the US Congress narrowly (the house vote was 212 to 194) repeal the Neutrality Act. The roll was called in tense silence. As soon as it was over, the Speaker, Sam Rayburn of Texas, who immediately before the vote went on to the floor and read a letter from the president urging passage, happily signed it. The president will sign it on Monday. The bill's history was a notable demonstration not only of the declining, though still formidable, power of the isolationists but also of President Roosevelt's political skill. Realizing that he did not at first have the votes for revising the Neutrality Act so drastically as to allow American ships to enter war zones, he first sent a bill allowing US merchantmen to be armed to the House. Polls suggested that most Americans were in favour, and the bill was passed by the House by almost two votes to one on 17 October. Then, after making a speech in which he claimed that the Nazis were planning to subjugate Central and South America, he sent the more ambitious bill allowing ships to go into war zones to the Senate, where it passed by 50 to 37. That was close. U.S. merchant ships were now allowed to be armed and enter war zones.

In Canada, the M-1000 Committee for researching biological warfare discusses anthrax, plague, typhoid, and cholera as possible directions for offensive weapons. They even discuss the feasibility of dropping infected rats with parachutes on enemy territory.

NORTHERN EUROPE: After sundown, Soviet destroyers "Gordy" and "Surovy" departed Gogland, Russia for Hanko, Finland, escorted by minelayer "Ural", four T-class minesweepers, and four MO-class submarine chasers. En route, "Surovy", T-206, and MO-301 struck Finnish naval mines and were sunk. The remaining ships arrive at Hanko and wait, eventually return to Kronstadt on November 25.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Allied troops established a new defensive line from the mouth of the Muar River to Gemas in British Malaya.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British Air Ministry instructed Sir Richard Pierse, the Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command, to curtail drastically the scale of sorties against Germany, especially in bad weather. The War Cabinet stated the instruction "having stressed the necessity to conserve our resources in order to build a strong force to be available by the spring of next year". The bomber offensive in its present form was to be stopped whilst the future shape and tactics of Bomber Command was debated. With the exception of a few minor raids in the following months this is exactly what happened and, by early January, Pierse had been posted from his position.

In England, authority is given for the establishment of an Airborne Division.

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Nov1341a.jpg
 
11 NOVEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements

Neutral
Benson Class DD USS FARENHOLT (DD491)
Benson Class DD USS FARENHOLT (DD491).jpg


Losses
Convoy SC-53
Corvettes ALGOMA and BATTLEFORD were detached on the 11th.

Steamer MERIDIAN (Pan 5592 grt), a straggler from the convoy was sunk by U-561 with the loss of her entire crew of 26. Her mixed cargo was of course also lost. At 2335 hrs, U-561 fired a spread of four torpedoes at the MERIDIAN, observed one hit in the bow and heard another detonation at 2341 hrs. The ship was reported missing after being seen for the last time by RCN Corvette CHAMBLY at 1730 hours on 12 November.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Brest: U-374
Lorient: U-107
St. Nazaire: U-73

At Sea 11 November 1941
U-38, U-43, U-68, U-69, U-74, U-77, U-81, U-82, U-84, U-85, U-93, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-105, U-106, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-133, U-201, U-202, U-203, U-205, U-208, U-332, U-373, U-402, U-433, U-434, U-552, U-561, U-565, U-567, U-569, U-571, U-572, U-573, U-574, U-575, U-577, U-652, U-752, UA

46 Boats

Whilst inbound a British Hudson bomber (53 Sqn RAF) dropped four DCs as U-203 dived. The U-Boat damaged one engine and the aft hydroplanes. The boat nonetheless managed to reach Brest the next day

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Type VIIc U.580 (DKM 769 grt)
was sunk in a collision with German target vessel ANGELBURG during night excercises off Memel. Twelve crewmen were lost in the submarine. Thirty two crewmen were rescued.
Type VIIc U.580 (DKM 769 grt).jpg


North Sea
T/Sub Lt (A)G. Black, RNZVR, was died of injuries after his Swordfish flew into high ground at Durham.

Northern Patrol
BB RODNEY and DDs ONSLOW, IMPULSIVE, and ANTELOPE on patrol off the Faroes - Iceland passage were ordered to Hvalfjord. The ships arrived at Hvalfjord on the 12th.

CA KENT departed Hvalfjord for exercises and then patrol in the Faroes –Iceland passage.

Northern Waters
Convoy OP-2
From the 11th CA NORFOLK detached from the escort and proceeded to Scapa.

West Coast
MSW SHARPSHOOTER departed Cardiff for Scapa Flow, arriving during the daylight of the 13th.

Western Approaches
Convoy HX.157
DDs BELMONT and GEORGETOWN were detached on 11 November.

Convoy ON-33
On the 11th, the sloop, the corvettes, and trawler LADY MADELEINE were detached when corvettes CHILIWACK, COLLINGWOOD, and PRIMROSE joined.

Channel
MSW BLYTH was damaged by the LW off Dartmouth. The damage required sixteen days to repair.

Med/Biscay
BB VALIANT, CL HOBART, and four DDs were at sea from Alexandria on exercises.
The 7th Destroyer Flotilla was also at sea exercising.

Central Atlantic
Convoy 0G-76
The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 11 November. CVE AUDACITY (part of the escort), was detached on 11 November and arrived at Gibraltar for repairs from 12 November to 13 December.

Convoy SL.92
On the 11th, sloop EGRET to 29 November and escort vessels BANFF and FISHGUARD to 1 December joined the convoy.

Convoy ST.8
Convoy ST.8 departed Freetown, escorted by sloop BRIDGEWATER, corvettes CLOVER, HOLLYHOCK, and WALLFLOWER, and ASW trawlers KELT and SARABANDE.

Pacific/Australia
RAN CL SYDNEY departed Fremantle to escort British troopship ZEALANDIA, which had departed Sydney escorted by CL ADELAIDE for Singapore. CL DURBAN relieved SYDNEY on the 17th. The Australian CL was to return to Fremantle, arriving on the 20th.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 11 NOVEMBER TO DAWN 12 NOVEMBER 1941

0545-0604 hrs Air raid alarm. Two enemy aircraft approach the Island singly. The first drops bombs in the sea ten miles east of Zonkor Point and recedes North. The second aircraft drops bombs in the sea near Salina Bay, then crosses the Island and recedes over Filfla.

1147-1158 hrs Air raid alarm. One Macchi comes in from the north east at 21,000 feet to within one mile of Grand Harbour and then recedes north. Ack Ack guns fire pointer rounds; no claims.

OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 11 NOVEMBER

ROYAL NAVY Three Albacores despatched Catania returned with engine trouble without reaching target. Seven Swordfish left to attack convoy to westwards. Three returned early with engine trouble and four failed to return at all.

LUQA 18 Squadron Six Blenheims attacked two merchant vessels. Two Blenheims searched for shipping. Ten Wellingtons 40 Squadron and nine of 104 Squadron attacked Naples. Squadron Leader Greer failed to return.
 
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12 NOVEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements

Neutral
Aloe Class Net Tender USS ELDER (AN-20)
Aloe Class Net Tender USS ELDER (AN-20).jpg


Allied
Bar Class Boom Defence Vessel HMS BARFORD (Z-209)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

M (Malyutka) Class Submarine M-114
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
Cable ship FRANCOLIN (UK 322 grt)
(ex-FARADAY,) was sunk by the LW two miles N 25° E from Haisborough Light House.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer MAURITA (UK 199 grt) was sunk on a mine at Hilbre Swash, in the Dee Estuary.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Bergen: U-576
Brest: U-203, U-208
St. Nazaire: U-74, U-569

Departures
Kiel: U-375, U-453
Salamis: U-331

At Sea 12 November 1941
U-38, U-43, U-68, U-69, U-77, U-81, U-82, U-84, U-85, U-93, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-105, U-106, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-133, U-201, U-202, U-205, U-331, U-332, U-373, U-375, U-402, U-433, U-434, U-453, U-552, U-561, U-565, U-567, U-571, U-572, U-573, U-574, U-575, U-577, U-652, U-752, UA

45 Boats]

OPERATIONS
East Front

Arctic
Submarine SEALION departed Murmansk for patrol off Svaerholthavet

Black Sea/Caspian
CL CHERVONA UKRAINA (VMF 8400 grt) was sunk by bombing at Sevastapool. She was hit three times in the South Bay of Sevastopol by JU87s from II/StG 77, but didn't sink until the next day after her crew was ordered to abandon her. Her guns were salvaged and most of the guns and crew were incorporated into the port's defenses, although two of her twin "Minizini" turrets were added to KRASNI KAVKAZ

She was raised on 3 November 1947, repaired, and used as a training hulk until 30 October 1950 when she became a target ship. On 10 May 1952, CHERVONA UKRAINA was grounded on a spit to serve as a fixed target; by 1980 there was nothing left of the ship above the surface.
CL CHERVONA UKRAINA (VMF 8400 grt).jpg


VMF DD SOVERSHENNY, under repairs at Sevastapool, was further damaged by LW Stukas.

Soviet steamer KRASNY PROFINTERN was damaged by the LW in the Black Sea.

North Sea
British steamer trawler BEN SCREEL was damaged by LW fourteen miles NE by north of St Abb's Head.

Northern Patrol
CA KENT arrived at Hvalfjord from Denmark Strait patrol.

Northern Waters
DD HURWORTH departed Scapa Flow at 0930 for Scrabster with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Olaf of Norway. The DD returned 1200 and embarked her motor boat. HURWORTH departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde to boiler clean prior to proceeding to the Mediterranean.

DD PYTCHLEY departed Leith for Scapa Flow, arriving on the 13th to work up.

West Coast
Convoy WS.12Z
Convoy WS.12Z departed Liverpool and the Clyde and rendezvoused off Oversay on the 13th with steamers ADRASTUS, EMPIRE STAR, SUSSEX, MATAROA, DUCHESS OF BEDFORD, EMPRESS OF ASIA, NARKUNDA, EMPRESS OF JAPAN, AORANGI, ARUNDEL CASTLE, ORDUNA, MONARCH OF BERMUDA, CAPETOWN CASTLE, DEUCALION, ABBEKERK, and RIMUTAKA. Initial escort consisted of DDs WHITEHALL, WITCH, BADSWORTH, VANQUISHER, and EXMOOR from 13 to 16 November.

BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN and DDs FURY, FORESTER, and FORESIGHT departed the Clyde on the 12th to join the convoy. They were route via Milford Haven and south of Ireland. On the 13th, the warships arrived at Milford Haven and departed later that day to join the convoy.

Western Approaches
Convoy HX.157
DDs AMAZON and DOUGLAS joined the escort on the 12 November.

Convoy ON.35
DDs KEPPEL and VENOMOUS were detached on the 12th.

SW Approaches
Convoy OS.11
Corvette COLTSFOOT was detached on the 12th,

Med/Biscay
DDs FARNDALE and HEYTHROP arrived at Aden to join the Med Flt. They were sailed for Suez. The DDs had accompanied CLA EURYALUS for most of the passage.

RHN DD AETOS departed Alexandria to transit the Suez Canal, en route to refitting in India.

RHN submarine GLAUKOS sank an unnamed caique (FI 250 grt (est)) north of Crete with gunfire.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Submarine PORPOISE departed Malta for Alexandria.

During a sweep during the night of 11/12 November, seven Swordfish of 830 Swordfish took off to attack a convoy of two merchant ships and escorts reported west of Pantelleria. Swordfish piloted by Lt P. E. O'Brien, Sub Lt (A) M. Thorpe, and T/A/Sub Lt (A) R. S. Vercoe RNVR, were forced to return to Malta with engine problems. The other four Swordfish were lost when the aircraft ran out of fuel.

Lt Cdr J.G. Hunt, Lt G. M. T. Osborn DSC, and Sergeant M. Parke; T/A/Sub Lt (A) S. W. L. Campbell RNVR, and Leading Airman J. R. Fallon; T/Sub Lt (A) R. W. Taylor RNVR, and P/T/A/Sub Lt (A) F. L. Robinson RNVR,were rescued and made prisoners of war. Lt (A) A. F. Wigram RNVR, and Leading Airman K. D. Griffiths were not found.

Submarine OLYMPUS arrived at Gibraltar from patrol in the Mediterranean.

Nth Atlantic
Convoy ON.34
The remainder of the escort was detached on the 12th when joined by USN DDs BENSON, EDISON, HILARY P. JONES, NIBLACK, and TARBELL.

Convoy SC.54
The original escort (corvettes BATTLEFORD, DRUMHELLER, DUNVEGAN, SOREL, and SUMMERSIDE, and MSW NIPIGON) were relieved on the 12th by DDs COLUMBIA and SKEENA and corvettes ACONIT, BRANDON, CAMROSE, MIMOSA, SHEDIAC, and WETASKIWIN.

Central Atlantic
Convoy OS-10
On 12 November, DD VANSITTART and corvettes BURDOCK, MARGUERITE, and STARWORT joined the convoy and escorted it into Freetown, arriving on 18 November.

Convoy SL.91GF
Convoy SL.91GF departed Gibraltar escorted by sloops FOWEY and BLACK SWAN to 18 November, ocean boarding vessel MARON to 15 November, and corvettes CAMPION and HELIOTROPE to 16 November and CARNATION and STONECROP to 18 November.

Convoy SL.91 GS
Convoy SL.91 GS departed Gibraltar escorted by DD WRESTLER to 16 November, sloops FLEETWOOD, LEITH, SANDWICH, and SCARBOROUGH to 19 November, and corvettes ANCHUSA, CALENDULA, MIGNONETTE to 19 November.

Corvettes ACANTHUS, GENTIAN, and HONEYSUCKLE to 19 November, and MYOSOTIS to 15 November joined on the 13th. ASW whaler SOUTHERN STAR joined on the 17th to 18 November.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 12 NOVEMBER TO DAWN 13 NOVEMBER 1941

0034-0129 hrs Air raid alarm caused by approach of friendly aircraft.

0210 hrs Air raid alarm. One enemy aircraft approaches from the north, drops bombs fifteen miles east of Delimara and recedes.

0624-0650 hrs Air raid alarm. One enemy aircraft drops six bombs in the sea 1½ miles off the Island.

OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 1941

ROYAL NAVYPorpoise sailed for Alexandria with passengers and stores.

HAL FAR One Fulmar made a night intruder patrol over Gerbini and Catania aerodromes. Bombs dropped on Gerbini revolving beacon but the light did not go out.

LUQA107 Squadron Five Blenheims attacked Mellaha aerodrome. Three Blenheims special search for dinghy. One Blenheim SF 11 patrol. 18 Squadron Three Blenheims special search for dinghies Malta-Maritimo. One Blenheim shipping search Pantelleria.
 
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13 NOVEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements

Axis
Type VIIc DKM U-596
Type VIIc DKM U-596.jpg


Losses
U-126 sank MV PERU (UK 6961 grt) in the Sth Atlantic SW of Sierre Leone. She sailing independently, with a crew of 50, all of whom would survive the attack. She was transporting a mixed cargo, including pig iron, and ground nuts, from Calcutta to the UK via Capetown and Freetown. At 0042 hrs the unescorted PERU was hit amidships by one torpedo SW of Cape Palmas and sank at 0145 hrs after being hit in the engine room by a coup de grace. The Germans questioned the survivors before leaving the area. The entire crew were picked up and landed at Freetown on 16 November.
MV PERU (UK 6961 grt).jpg


Steamer JOMA (Ne 372 grt) was sunk by a mine in FalmouthHarbour, Cornwall. Three gunners were lost on the steamer.
Steamer JOMA (Ne 372 grt).jpg


UBOATS
Arrivals
Brest: U-202
Lorient: U-77

Departures
Brest: U-372

At Sea 13 November 1941
U-38, U-43, U-68, U-69, U-81, U-82, U-84, U-85, U-93, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-105, U-106, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-133, U-201, U-205, U-331, U-332, U-372, U-373, U-375, U-402, U-433, U-434, U-453, U-552, U-561, U-565, U-567, U-571, U-572, U-573, U-574, U-575, U-577, U-652, U-752, UA

44 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front

Baltic
Project 7u (Storozhevoi) class DD SUROVY (VMF 2192 grt) was sunk after striking a Finnish mine while participating in the evacuation of the Hangö peninsula in the Baltic, the night before the loss of VMF DD GORDY (Leningrad class leader).
Project 7u (Storozhevoi) class DD SUROVY (VMF 2192 grt).jpg

Sister ship Project 7U SMYSHLYONYI

Northern Patrol
CL SHEFFIELD departed Hvalfjord for Faroes - Iceland patrol. DD ECHO departed Scapa Flow for Hvalfjord to join the CinC, Home Fleet. She was carrying mail for the fleet. The DD arrived on the 15th.

Convoy PQ.3

DDs BEDOUIN and INTREPID and later CL KENYA departed Seidisfjord on the 13th and joined the convoy on the 14th in 70-30N, 5-00W.

Northern Waters
DD BRIGHTON departed Loch Alsh to carry out docking and repairs at Scapa Flow. The DD arrived early on the 14th.

West Coast
Convoy HX.157
The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 13 November.

Convoy ON.36
Convoy ON.36 departed Liverpool escorted by DDs BROKE, CHELSEA, and WOLVERINE, corvettes BEGONIA, EGLANTINE, and LARKSPUR.

Western Approaches
Convoy ON-33
Destroyer ST LAURENT was detached on the 13th

Convoy HX 158
The remainder of the USN Gp was relieved on the 13th by DDs BEAGLE and ROXBOROUGH, sloop COMMANDANT DETROYAT, corvettes HEATHER, LOBLIA, and NARCISSUS, and ASW trawlers ARAB, KIRKELLA, LADY MADELEINE, NORWICHCITY, and STELLA CARINA. The trawlers, less KIRKELLA, were detached later that day.

SW Approaches
Convoy WS.12Z
DD MAORI was with the convoy from 13 to 17 November. The DD arrived at Gibraltar on the 20th for duty in DesFlot19.

Med/Biscay
On the 13th, U.205 attacked a DD and CV ARK ROYAL unsuccessfully. However, also on the 13th, ARK ROYAL was again targeted by a uboat attack (this time by U-81) which on this occasion, finally, (after many attempts) was successful in hitting the target.

At 16.37 hours on 13 Nov 1941, U-81 fired a spread of four torpedoes at BB MALAYA in Fce H as it returned to Gibraltar, and heard two detonations after 6 minutes 6 seconds and 7 minutes 43 seconds. In fact only one torpedo hit CV ARK ROYAL amidships. The carrier was crippled by this hit and was to eventually sink through a combination of poor damager control and inherent weaknesses in the design, most of which were known since prewar days in the RN.

Following the attack, the escorts delivered a punishing depth charge attack with 130 depth charges counted, driving the U-boat deep and allowing the carrier to be attended to unmolested by further attacks, but the boat escaped.

DD WILD SWAN, tugs ST DAY and THAMES, and motor launches ML.121, ML.130, ML.132, ML.135, ML.170, ML.172, and ML.176 departed Gibraltar to assist.

Tugs THAMES and ST DAY arrived and took the carrier in tow.

BB MALAYA, as well as CVE ARGUS, and CLA HERMIONE and indeed all the other ships in the force were unharmed, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 13th.

Operation APPROACH, carrying stores to Tobruk, began when DDs KIPLING, JACKAL, and ENCOUNTER departed Alexandria on the first serial. Polish General Sikorski took passage in DD KIPLING to inspect Polish troops at Tobruk. The ships returned to Alexandria on the 14th.

DD ERIDGE and sloop FLAMINGO passed through the Suez Canal northbound.

FLAMINGO departed Port Said for Alexandria, arriving on the 14th, whilst ERIDGE was held at Port Said to take part in an ASW sweep the next day.

Auxiliary ship AGHIOS NICOLAOS (Ex-Gk 150 grt(est)) was sunk on a mine between Dikili and Mitylene. The sailing ship struck a mine and sank in the Aegean whilst under german control off Lesbos with the loss of all four crew.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Submarine REGENT arrived at Malta from Alexandria with passengers, stores, and kerosene. On the 12th, her starboard engine broke down completely and she arrived at Malta with only her port engine operating.

Nth Atlantic
Canadian troop convoy TC 15
Canadian troop convoy TC 15 departed Halifax with liners ANDES, CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS, DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, DURBANCASTLE, ORCADES, ORONSAY, REINA DEL PACIFICO, SOBIESKI, and WARWICKCASTLE. The convoy was escorted by USN BB NEW MEXICO, CLs PHILADELPHIA and SAVANNAH, and DDs MORRIS, SIMS, HUGHES, MUSTIN, RUSSELL, WALKE, and O'BRIEN on the 13th.

Convoy SC.54
Convoy SC.54 departed St Johns escorted by destroyer BURNHAM and corvettes ALGOMA, CHAMBLY, MATAPEDIA, and NAPANEE.

Central Atlantic
ASW trawlers ST NECTAN and LADY SHIRLEY departed Gibraltar escorting tanker COWRIE westwards and then joined tanker WINAMAC for Gibraltar, arriving on the 21st.

Convoy SL.92
On the 12th, CA DORSETSHIRE and CL DUNEDIN joined the convoy to 13 November.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Australian troop convoy US 13
Australian troop convoy US 13 departed Fremantle with liners QUEEN ELIZABETH and QUEEN MARY.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 13 NOVEMBER TO DAWN 14 NOVEMBER 1941

No air raids.

OPERATIONS REPORTS THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 1941

ROYAL NAVY Regent arrived from Alexandria with military reinforcements, stores and kerosene.

LUQA 107 Squadron 3 Blenheims were despatched to attack barracks and motor transport park at Mellaha. All aircraft turned back owing to bad weather.

TA QALI RAF vacate Villa Alfano, Lija, and personnel accommodated at ParisioPalace, Naxxar.
 
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