This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Njaco]

February 22 Thursday continued........
GERMANY: Operation Wikinger. Trawlers from the Tyne continued to use the Dogger Bank fishing ground during the war, just as they had done in peacetime. This did not go unnoticed by the German Naval Group West who planned an operation against the trawlers with the aims of eroding the morale of the trawlermen, possibly capturing some valuable auxiliaries and forcing the Royal Navy to supply escorts for the trawlers. The German destroyers 'Friedrich Eckholdt', joined by 'Richard Beitzen', 'Theodor Riedel', Z3 "Max Schultz", Z1 "Leberecht Maass" and 'Erich Koellner' sailed from the Schillig Roads about midday. In the moonlight, they made their way through swept channel '1' (a channel 6 miles wide, providing a safe and secret passage for German warships needing to reach the North Sea) entering the minefield in line ahead at 26 knots. At 1913, a twin-engined aircraft (a He 111 aircraft of 4./KG 26) was sighted flying above the destroyers as if trying to identify them. At 1921 hours the aircraft appeared again, and on its second run, the 'Beitzen' and 'Koellner' opened fire and the plane sheered off. It was not seen again until 1943 hours when the 'Maass' opened fire. The aircraft dropped 2 bombs which hit the 'Maass' between the bridge and forward funnel. The remaining destroyers turned back towards the 'Maass' but were ordered to stand off by the flotilla leader. Suddenly the "Maass's" guns opened up again as more bombs were released. When the smoke had cleared, the bows and stern of the ship were visible, pointing vertically upwards, the lower parts resting on the shallow sea-bed. A period of great confusion reigned as the 'Riedel' hearing an explosion from the direction of the 'Schultz', dropped depth charges but was going so slowly that she badly damaged her own gyro-compass, rudder motor and all of her command elements. The 'Koellner' seeing the 'Riedel' dropping depth charges, ordered her picket boat to cast off (it was tied to the ships propeller guard). Under the impression that it had done so, the 'Riedel' picked up speed, dragged her picket boat under and drowned the occupants. Then, seeing what was thought to be the conning tower of a submarine, went to ram it only to discover that it was the bows of the 'Maass' sticking out of the sea. The flotilla leader ordered the remains of his force back to Wilhelmshaven. In all 578 German seamen were lost. A disaster of such proportions demanded an explanation, the truth gradually dawning on the Germans - they had bombed and sunk their own ships. Hitler was eventually made aware of the situation, and he ordered a full inquiry. The aircraft was part of a force sent out to attack shipping in the North Sea, an operation about which the Luftwaffe informed the Kriegsmarine, but about which the latter did not see fit to warn its own destroyers. Furthermore: the Kriegsmarine did not notify the Luftwaffe that its destroyers were at sea. So ended Operation Wikinger.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-50 sank British tanker "British Endeavour" 125 miles west of Vigo, Spain, killing five. 32 men were rescued by British steamer "Bodnant", which landed them on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

German attacks on fishing trawlers off East Coast are driven off by machine gun fire. HM trawler 'Fifeshire' was sunk by German aircraft with loss of 21 lives.

NORTHERN EUROPE: The Gulf of Finland is frozen solid. Soviet 43rd Division attacks with trucks and tanks across frozen waters of the Gulf of Finland, capturing the islands of Lasisaari and Koivisto. Before Koivisto was given up, Finnish troops sabotaged all the gun barrels in the coastal batteries. Meanwhile, the 34th Moscow Tank Brigade, encircled near Kitelae, on the Ladoga front, eats the last of its packhorses and must now survive on starvation rations and biscuits and rusks dropped from Soviet aircraft. Russians are reported to have lost 2,000 killed in attempt to break through the left-wing of Mannerheim Line at Taipale. Fourteen Russian divisions are said to be massed in preparation of attack on Viipuri.

ASIA: In Tibet the six-year-old Dalai Lama, Jampel Ngawang Lobsang Yishey Tenzing Gyatso (Tender Glory, Mighty in Speech, Excellent Intellect, Absolute Wisdom, Holding to the Doctrine and Ocean-Wide) is enthroned at Lhasa.

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[parsifal]

22 February 1940
known Reinforcements
Neutral
SD MTB T3 and T4

Former Italian Baglietto class 500, series 1 MTBs. MAS 505 pictured. Wooden hull. They were bought by Sweden 29/2/1940 and served as prototypes for 2 classes of Swedish-built MTBs. Note the small size of the boats compared to RN and DKM types.
Known Losses
MV BRITISH ENDEAVOUR (UK 4580 grt) Crew: 38 (5 dead and 33 survivors): Cargo: Ballast : Route: Glasgow - Abadan : The BRITISH ENDEAVOUR in OGF-19 was torpd by U-50 100 miles west of Vigo. Survivors were picked up by the MV BODNANT (UK) and landed at Funchal, Maderia on 26 February.

Air Attacks By FliegerKorps X
DKM DDs LEBERECHT MAAS , MAX SCHULTZ, ERICH KOELLNER, RICHARD BEITZEN, THEODOR RIEDEL and FRIEDRICH ECKHOLDT departed Wilhelmshaven early on the 22nd on Exercise WILKINGER, an ASW sweep in the area of Dogger Bank. That evening at 1900, nw of Borkum Island, the DDs were attacked by the LW - He111's of IV/KG26 of the X Air Corps, which were not informed of the DDs' movements. Some sources cite II/KG26. DD LEBERECHT MAAS (DKM 2223 grt) was struck by three bombs, ran onto a British mine and sank

DD MAX SCHULTZ (DKM 2233 grt) evaded the bombing but also ran onto a Br mine and sank. 578 crew from both ships were lost including the entire crew of SCHULTZ. There were 60 survivors from MAAS with KOELLNER picking up 24, ECKHOLDT 19 and BEITZEN 17. Heavy fog during the 23rd made further rescue efforts unsuccessful. German auxiliary patrol boat Vp.809 (trawler KONSUL DUBBERS, 408grt) searched through the afternoon. The minefield, hitherto undiscovered, had been laid by units of the RN DesFlot 20 on the 9th/10th January.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Reports from British military circles mention the possibility that Chamberlain may be replaced by Churchill as Prime Minister in the spring and Eden may take over at the Admiralty.

Air recon over the Dogger Bank sighted numerous neutral ships and some unidentified fishing vessels. Air combats with British planes were unsuccessful. Our own fighters drove off enemy recon planes flying in formations of three. 1 Wellington was shot down north of Norderney.

Gp West reported plans for the next BB operation as follows:

1. Plan 1. Since the BBs will not be ready for action again till- 25 Feb., interpose operation "Wikinger" with a DD flotilla.

2. At a date after 25 Feb., to be fixed in accordance with radio monitoring reports, the BBs, ADMIRAL HIPPER and 6-8 DDs to carry out a combined sortie into the area North Scotland - Southwest Norway during the early morning.

a. BBs to thrust on from there as the situation permits, with no limitations as to time and area. Assignment: To inflict all possible damage on the enemy, concentrating on convoys and CAs. Attack on enemy patrols near the Shetlands, Orkneys and Fair Isle Passage permitted. ADMIRAL HIPPER to take part as Commanding Admiral, Naval Forces, West sees fit.

b. Other forces to operate against merchant shipping for one day on the sea route Scotland - Southwest Norway, then to return and be ready to pick up the battleships

c. 4 DDs are to be held in reserve to pick up the BBs in case the forces under (b) cannot sail again in time.

3. No special UBoat dispositions will be made

4. The order for the operation will be given with the keyword "Schleswig".

Gp West's directive was in complete accord with the plans and views of Naval Staff, and met with Chief, Naval Staffs
entire approval. DesFlot 1 (6 destroyers) put to sea for operation "Wikinger". Assignment: To make a surprise attack on the enemy trawlers suspected to be on the Dogger Bank, if possible to capture them; to seize suspicious neutral vessels. Outward passage after dark via route 1. At 2018, signal from Commander, DesFlot1: "The LEBERECHT MAASS sank in grid square 6954, lower left quadrant. 1 (This spot lies on route 1 more than ten miles from our own nearest minefields in the declared area). At 2050, further signal from DesFlot 1: "The MAX SCHULTZ also missing. Probably submarine". Gp West left it to the Commander's discretion to break off the operation and at 2215 informed the flotilla that PV "803 M had been sent to search for survivors. DesFlot 1 called off the operation and' put in to Wilhelmshaven in the early hours of 23 Feb. Close investigation should reveal the full facts about the loss of the 2 DDs Pending the result of an examination of route 1 for enemy mines, it is at present assumed that both DDs were torped by an enemy sub

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Elsewhere in the daily situation reports, DKM operations staff noted:

While the moon is reasonably favorable, 10th FX has been carrying out night attacks on merchant shipping between the Thames and the Firth of Forth. No successes observed in various attacks. The 26KG attacks on the British coast and also the following incident: "About 2000 spotted armed, darkened steamer of 3,000 to 4,000 tons, course 300°, near Terschelllng Bank. Several attacks were made from 1,300 meters One hit was scored on the forecastle, two hit's amidships, ship caught fire and sank No further observations due to darkness Light anti-aircraft and machine gunfire from the ship. (Margin note: Is this the sinking of the LEBERECHT MAASS and MAX SCHULTZ?").

The attack on a steamer near Terschelllng Bank is -most regrettable and contravenes the regulations issued to the LW for the conduct' of war on merchant shipping. Air attacks at sea are permitted only in a strip 30 miles wide along the British coast. Closer investigation has been ordered.

About 0032 a He 111- approaching the island of Borkum from the west was .taken as British and shot down by our naval AA guns. Investigation is in progress.

The depth of mistrust between DKM and the LW is palpable in this incident.

UBOATS
At Sea 22 February 1940
U-13, U-18, U-19, U-22, U-23, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-37, U-48, U-50, U-53, U-57, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-63.
17 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
AMC CICILIA departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol. AMC ASTURIAS boarded steamer JONNA (Den 1517 grt) and sent her to Kirkwall for inspection.

North Sea
HN.14 departed Bergen escort DDs ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE, ESCORT, ELECTRA and sub NARWHAL. 22 of the original 37 ships returned to Bergen.

CA DEVONSHIRE departed the Clyde for Rosyth where she arrived on the 23rd. DD DIANA arrived at Rosyth from Scapa for repairs.
DDs IMPERIAL and DELIGHT arrived at Rosyth after ASW Sweeps. DDs BOREAS and BRAZEN departed Rosyth for the Humber. MTBs of MTB Flot 1 (MTB22, 24 and 25) were searching for a sub off Whitby. DDs ICARUS and IMPULSIVE were transferred from DesFlot 3 to DesFlot 20. ML TEVIOTBANK departed Rosyth escorted by Ds BOREAS and BRAZEN on an ML op PA 1 in the North Sea. DD GREYHOUND at anchor off Outer Dowsing was damaged when steamer REX (Sd 1013 grt) hit her. Her stem was bent, and she repaired at Hull, completing on 20 March. The 23rd ASW Gp departed Methil with an MT convoy covered by sloop LONDONDERRY and DDs WESTMINSTER and JERVIS. The cover force transferred to convoy FS.103 on the 23rd. Blockship CARRON (UK 1017 grt) departed the Tyne for Rosyth escorted by DD JAVELIN. She reached Scapa and was sunk there on 3 March.

Northern Waters
DD FORESTER, escorting tug BUCCANEER in the Firth of Clyde, attacked a contact, which further investigation showed to be the wreck of U.33 sunk earlier.

West Coast UK
ASW trawler LORD ESSENDEN (RN 464 grt) attacked a contact at 0840 in the Firth of Clyde, two miles 075° from Little Cumbrae.

SW Approaches
DD ACASTA, escorting a homebound convoy, attacked a submarine contact west of Scilly Isle. At roughly the same time, DDs WALPOLE and MACKAY, escorting a homebound convoy, attacked a contact SSW of the Scilly Isles . This was later determined to be the wreck of steamer VACLITE lost on 30 January.

Nth Atlantic
HX.22 departed Halifax at 1000 escort RCN DDs RESTIGOUCHE and SKEENA, which detached on the 23rd. Ocean escort was BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN, left on 2 March. DDs VANOC, VETERAN, WALPOLE and WREN escorted the convoy from 6 to 9 March, when it arrived at Liverpool.

Central Atlantic
SLF.21 departed Freetown escorted by AMC BULOLO until 4 March. DD VANSITTART joined the same day and escorted the convoy until its arrival on the 7th.

Med- Biscay
HG.20F departed Gibraltar with 30 ships on the 22nd, escorts (at various times) DD VELOX, Fr DD PANTHÈRE, Aux PVl MERCEDITA,
DDs WHIRLWIND, VANOC (from convoy OG.20F), sloop SANDWICH. CL CERES, which had sailed from Plymouth, arrived at Gib on the 19th and left the same day, now reached Malta.

Fr DD SIMOUN, escorting AUSTRAL and transport GOLO passed Gib. GOLO had departed Toulon on the 17th and Algiers on the 20th. AUSTRAL had also left Toulon on the 17th and joined at Algiers. On the 22nd, the three ships departed as convoy 2F and were joined en route by DD FORBIN. They arrived at Brest on the 27th in preparation for allied operations in Finland. Fr convoy 69.KF departed Casablanca with seven steamers, escorted by Contre Torpilleur DDs MILAN, EPERVIER and VERDUN, and arrived at Brest on the 26th. The DDs also joined the allied preparations for Finland operations.

Indian Ocean
RAN CL HOBART arrived at Colombo, where she drydocked from the 25th to 29th.

 

[parsifal]

23 February 1940
Known Losses
Trawler BENVOLIO (RN 352 grt)was sunk on a mine in the Humber, with the loss of ten of her 15 crew. , including the Skipper.

Coaster TORBRAND (Nor 308 grt): Crew unknown (no casualties. In ballast at the time of loss. enroute from Hirtshals ( seaport on the coast of Skagerrak on the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland). The cargo ship ran aground at Skudenes, Rogaland (in the fjord system leading to Stavanger) and was wrecked.

Type VIIB U-53 (DKM 730 grt): DD GURKHA, picked up the Uboats trail 54 miles SSE of the Faroes and carried out a series of sustained DC attacks on the vessel. These attacks resulted in the loss of the Uboat, with all hands (42 officers and crew). During the hunt, GURKHA was assisted later by DDs KHARTOUM and KINGSTON who joined GURKHA at 0630/24th in patrolling the area and early on the 25th, KINGSTON in company with GURKHA, made a submarine contact west of Sumburgh Head.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Russo-Finnish conflict: Further Russian successes on the Karelian Isthmus. Finland's military leaders consider that foreign help so far has been inadequate.

Well-informed German circles in Helsinki report the arrival to date of the following foreign contingents for Finland: 8,000 Swedes, 500 Norwegians, 500 Danes, 300 Canadians. A further 600 Canadians and 5,000 Hungarians are expected. Press reports also state that 5,000 Italians are still to come. The Finns have declined the offer of Polish soldiers and airmen from France,

Conference between Commander In Chief. Navy and the Fuehrer at 1030. Points raised at discussion .

1. Situation in the Baltic Sea: Examined the question of the line fixing the limit for German attacks on merchant shipping at 20° E.
2. Situation in the North Sea: Battleship operations, mining of the east coast.
3. Submarine war: Successes, losses, intensification. The Fuehrer consented to full offensive action against darkened passenger steamers setting only navigation lights. The Fuehrer agreed to return two British commanders taken prisoner in exchange for two submarine commanders.
4. Aerial minelaying: Chief, Naval Staff presented Naval Staff's viewpoint and informed the Fuehrer of the Navy's plans .
5. The Fuehrer refused to allow submarines to take part in operation "Halifax".
6. The Fuehrer will not permit submarine warfare in the Mediterranean until he has the Duce's consent.
7. Operation "Weseruebung".
8. The Fuehrer was in complete agreement with the purchase of the Estonian submarines.
9. The Russian treaty.

Destroyer losses during operation "Wikinger": First brief report received from Group West, Commander, DesFlot 1 reported:

"About 1915 on 22 Feb. in the course of operation "Wikinger" the rear ships fired on a shadowing plane grid square 6954 lower left quadrant. We turned about on hearing explosions. MAASS requested help. A fresh explosion split her amidships and she sank. Soon afterwards another explosion and submarine report from the KOELDTER. The SCHULTZ missing from then on. Proceeded
out of danger zone, operation broken off. Sixty men saved from the MAASS, one man missing from the KOELLNER."

the following supplementary order has been issued for the conduct of the war on merchant shipping:

In the area sanctioned for submarine action against darkened ships, passenger ships which show no neutral markings and at night carry no lights -other than navigation lights are to be treated as enemy armed passenger ships. Submarines are permitted full
offensive action at once against such ships.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Ice conditions still do not permit an estimation of the dates of readiness of the next boats. It is to be expected however, that U 30, U 34, U 38 and U 52 will be ready by the end of February and U 43, U 47, U 49, U 46 and U 51 at about the same time at the beginning of March. A special operation had originally been planned for U 38 and U 43, but it has been postponed by C-in-C Navy for political reasons. Then it was intended to operate these boats in the Mediterranean in the Cape Bon sea area. This project also had to be abandoned on the orders of C-in-C Navy, for political reasons. I now intend to form an attacking group with the boats which will be ready at about the same time, i.e. U 43, U 46, U 47, U 49 and U 51. Its main task will be to intercept a convoy in the area of greatest convoy traffic. If this succeeds I think it will have better results than would the same amount of single-ship tonnage sunk. It is also necessary to get experience of controlled U-boat operations in good time, so that, when more boats are available, there will be a clear idea of the best way of conducting such operations. The subsidiary task for this group will be to rake the sea area north and northwest of Scotland for warships which have often been reported there. U 30 and U 34 cannot join this group as their radius of action is too small. They are to operate west of the Channel. This is a good area, but cooperation is difficult as it is so close to the coast. The boats will have to operate individually in the main. They can therefore sail as soon as they are ready and need not wait for one another. U 52 is a new boat. She is to make her first patrol alone in areas which are less strongly patrolled. U-38 will probably be the first boat ready and first to go to the area west of Portugal. She may later join the attacking group.

At Sea 23 February 1940
U-13, U-18, U-19, U-22, U-23, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-37, U-48, U-50, U-57, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-63.
16 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CL NEWCASTLE departed Scapa for Northern Patrol.

North Sea
DD JACKAL exercised in the Firth of Forth and then left as cover for a TM convoy. Sloop GRIMSBY and DDs WOOLSTON and ENCOUNTER exercised in the Firth of Forth. Sub SEAL arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Sub SALMON stopped Belgian trawler HELENE (145grt) ten miles east of Smith's Knoll, and put a pilot crew on board, with both vessels proceeding to Harwich, arriving on the 23rd.

Convoy ON.15 of 40 ships cleared Methil, escort DDs COSSACK, DELIGHT, DIANA, SIKH, NUBIAN and IMPERIAL. One steamer detached before the convoy crossed the North Sea. Close cover was provided by CLs AURORA and PENELOPE which departed Rosyth on the 24th and CLA CALCUTTA, which departed Sullom Voe on the 25th, while on the 24th, NUBIAN attacked a submarine north of Kinnaird Head. The convoy arrived safely at Bergen on the 27th. OA.97 departed Southend, escort DD VANESSA, and was joined on the 24th by sloop FOWEY. Both escorts detached on the 25th and the convoy dispersed on the 26th.

FN.102 departed Southend, escort DD VALOROUS and sloop HASTINGS, and reached Rosyth on the 25th. FS.103 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WESTMINSTER, JERVIS and sloop LONDONDERRY, all three of which had been escorting convoy MT.16. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th. MT.16 departed Methil, escort ASW trawlers of the 23rd AS Gp. This convoy had been escorted by DDs WESTMINSTER, JERVIS and sloop LONDONDERRY before they joined FS.10. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

Northern Waters
CA BERWICK departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow. CL SOUTHAMPTON departed Scapa Flow. DDs GALLANT and GRIFFIN prosecuted U.61 with sustained DC attacks east of Copinsay and inflicted some damage to the boat.

West Coast UK
OB.97 departed Liverpool escort sloop ROCHESTER and DD VOLUNTEER. Both escorts detached on the 26th and the convoy dispersed on the 27th.

UK - France
BC.26 of six steamers, including BARON KINNAIRD and DUNKWA (Commodore) departed the Loire escort DD MONTROSE, and arrived in the Bristol Channel on the 24th.
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Med- Biscay
Sloop BIDEFORD, on escort duty, attacked a submarine contact WSW of Ushant. Fr sub PROTÉE attempted to stop French steamer ARAGAZ (5009grt) in 32-10N, 11-00W, assuming her to be German. ARAGAZ opened fire and the submarine was forced to submerge.

Fr DD SIMOUN, escorting convoy 2F from Gibraltar to Brest, reported attacking and ramming a German submarine SW of Cape St Vincent. Although no submarine was reported sunk, a drydock inspection at Casablanca revealed the blades of SIMOUN's port propeller turned up and two yards of the outer keel torn away. The "submarine" may have been a submerged wreck.

Other
Sub-Lt G A Skinner was killed when his RAF Hart of RAF No. 1 Flying Training School crashed near Lower Clatford, Wilts.
Dinshaw Eduljee: Aircraft ProfileImages WWII IAF

There are no known profiles of Harts of No1 FTS. This is an image of another OTU. The Hawker Hart saw service at the beginning of World War II and as then used for training at Ambala. The aircraft above was from 27 Squadron RAF (which also functioned as a Flying Training School) based at Risalpur 1939-40. This aircraft bears pre-war colours and since it was flown far from the battle front, there were no camouflage colours painted on. The squadron was re-formed in India in 1942 with Beaufighters.

 

[Njaco]

February 23 Friday
WESTERN FRONT: At 0033 hours a German Naval anti-aircraft unit shoots down a He 111 by mistake at Borkum.

In the morning at 1025 hours, Ofw. Hermann Förster of the night-fighting Staffel 11(N)./JG 2, shoots down a British Wellington 50 km. north of Nordeney for his first victory.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Increasing the pressure on the Finns, Sweden announces it will not intervene in the conflict or even allow Allied troops to pass through Swedish territory. Strangely, this does not lead to a change in Allied planning to support Finland by just that route.

Fighting was general through the Karelian Isthmus. Russians were held before Viipuri in spite of continuous bombardment. Soviets fear the imminent arrival of foreign aid or troops in Finland. They scale back the Summa offensive towards Viipuri and offer peace terms to Finland. USSR demands the entire Karelian Isthmus (including Viipuri, Finland's second largest city) and the areas surrounding Lake Ladoga, as well as the islands in the Gulf of Finland and a 30-year lease on the Hanko Peninsula (at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland); they will evacuate Petsamo region in the North of Finland in return. The Soviet offer will expire on March 1.

Heavy bombing raids made by Soviet machines over Finland. Moscow denied bombing of Swedish village Pajala on February 21st.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British destroyer HMS "Gurkha" sank German submarine U-53 by depth charges 25 miles south of the Faroe Islands in the North Sea, killing the entire crew of 42.

The minesweeping trawler 'Benvolio' hit a mine and sank off the Humber.

GERMANY: The Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire, including relics of Christian mythology, were removed from public display in Nürnberg, Germany. They were moved after dark to a secret location for safe storage.

Air Ministry announced that RAF had made reconnaissance flights over Austria and Bohemia during night of February 22-23; leaflets were dropped over Vienna.

UNITED KINGDOM: In a victory parade celebrating the destruction of the German pocket battleship "Graf Spee" in the battle of the River Plate, 700 officers and men of the cruisers HMS "Ajax" and HMS "Exeter" march through cheering crowds to Guildhall in London. The citizens of London cheered the officers and men as they returned from South American waters. HMS 'Achilles' was welcomed home in New Zealand.

MEDITERRANEAN: State of emergency declared in Turkey, following alleged crossing of Caucasian frontier by Soviet detachments.

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[Njaco]

February 24 Saturday
GERMANY: Revised orders for the attack in the west are issued. OKH has been conducting exercises throughout the winter and especially in the early days of this month because of dissatisfaction with the attack plan. Following von Manstein's conversation with Hitler on February 17th and an OKH presentation to him on the 18th it has been decided to revise the plans to emphasize the role of Heeresgruppe A and an attack through the Ardennes. As far as technique goes the plans are fairly traditional. The emphasis is still not yet fully on the possibilities of the panzer advance. Rundstedt and Bock, who will be the principal commanders, are, despite their considerable abilities, wedded to the conventional infantry-based ideas. Although the direction of the attack is certainly bold, the old school see early problems when it becomes necessary to cross the Meuse River. The tank enthusiasts, like Guderian, are more concerned about exploiting the advance after the crossing.

WESTERN FRONT: Future Experte Uffz. Herbert Kutscha of II./ZG 26 gets his second victory and first with his new Gruppe when he destroys a British Hudson forty km north of Ameland at 0911 hours.

RAF carried out successful reconnaissance flight over Prague during night of February 23-24 and another over north-west Germany. One aircraft lost its bearing and made a forced landing in Belgium. RAF planes also carried out daylight reconnaissance flights over Heligoland Bight and north-west Germany. One aircraft was attacked by five Messerschmitts, but returned safely.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Foreign ministers from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden reasserted the neutrality of their home countries, jointly declaring that they would not assist Finland and would not allow foreign troops to enter their territories. Ignoring this declaration, British envoy to Finland Sir George Gordon Vereker continued to promise 20,000 to 22,000 Allied fighters for Finland if Finland would make such a request by 5 Mar 1940.

Russians resumed onslaught against Viipuri, but without effect. Heavy snow hampered their tanks, and their bombers. Two Soviet detachments were stated to have been trapped inside Finnish lines on Karelian Isthmus, east of Lake Muola, and annihilated. Attacks on other parts of the Mannerheim Lines were said to have been repulsed. In Kuhmo sector (Central Finland) there were patrol encounters.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-63 sank Swedish merchant ship "Santos" 70 miles east of the Orkney Islands, Scotland at 2100 hours, killing 31. 12 survivors were rescued by HMS "Gallant" on the next day.

HM Trawler 'Benvoloi', British steamer SS 'Jevington Court' (4,544t), SS 'Clan Morrison' (5,936t) steamer and British ship 'Royal Court' were all reported sunk by mines. British ship 'Royal Archer' was sunk by enemy action.

UNITED KINGDOM: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain condemned Hitler's aggression but said that he was prepared to negotiate with an alternative German government.

First flight of Hawker Typhoon prototype, P5212, by Hawker's test pilot Philip Lucas.

MEDITERRANEAN: Commander Mario Giorgini took command of 1a Flottiglia MAS, a motor torpedo boat flotilla.

In Rome, Germany and Italy sign a trade agreement giving the Italians an increased coal supply.


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[parsifal]

24 February 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
M1935 Class MSW M-15, IJN B1 Class Sub I-21

Known Losses
MV CLAN MORRISON (UK 5930 grt) : Crew: 32 (1 lost)Route: en route from Southampton to Blyth, as part of Convoy FN 102: The cargo ship struck a mine in the North Sea north of Cromer Norfolk and sank with survivors were rescued by RN NOGI ( RN).

Drifters EJJAM, GERLIS, MERKATOR and POLARIS (All Den combined 400 grt (est)): These fishing boats were all rammed and sunk off the Dogger Bank, North Sea by M-1. 16 Fisherman lost their lives . The German ship deliberately avoided rescuing survivors. The commander, Hans Bartels, stated in his official report that no one was saved for "military reasons". It was an outrageous and disgraceful act in an otherwise very distinguished career.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

MV JEVINGTON COURT (UK 4254 grt): Convoy FS 103: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Cromer, Norfolk. All crew were rescued by RN DUNOON.
Jevington Court (1925)

Passenger/Cargo Vessel ROYAL ARCHER (UK 2265 grt): Crew 28 (28 crew rescued, no casualties) Cargo: 600 tons of general cargo, including machinery parts and pasta: route London to Leith: The ship struck a mine in the Firth of Forth and sank. All 28 crew were rescued by DD WESTON.

Battles for Convoy HN.14
HN.14 had departed Bergen escort DDs ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE, ESCORT, ELECTRA and submarine NARWHAL, and was reinforced a little later by DDs INGLEFIELD and IMOGEN at 0700/24th. Still on the 24th, U.63, which left Wilhelmshaven on the 17th on her first patrol, attacked the convoy and sank Steamer SANTOS (Sd 3840 grt) . 31 crew were lost, and the 14 survivors (12 from SANTOS and two from steamer LIANA) were later picked up by DD GALLANT and landed at Invergordon on the 25th.

At 0752/25th, NARWHAL sighted Type IIC U.63 (DKM 350 grt) on the surface near the convoy and signalled ESCAPADE, after which ESCORT, INGLEFIELD and IMOGEN sank her SE of the Orkneys, using a mix of guns, torpedoes and DCs. One crewman was missing, but 3 officers and 21 one ratings were picked up by INGLEFIELD and IMOGEN which arrived at Leith with them on the 27th. The east coast section of the convoy arrived on the 26th, escorted solely by NARWHAL, while ELECTRA and ECLIPSE escorted the five ships.

Steamer BOHUS (Sd 1761 grt) was taken in prize by German warships in the North Sea, and renamed GERRIT FRITZEN for German service.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

During the period from 1 Jan. to 15 Feb. the following arrived from Norway (Ministry of Economics report):

53 ships with approximately 360,000 tons of iron ore
26 ships with miscellaneous cargoes (herrings, train oil etc.)

The following coded radio message was broadcast to shipping: "Steer towards Norwegian coast before dawn. Beware of British
forces outside the fiords. Signed: Naval Staff ."

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 32 sailed for her operations area, but had to enter port again on the same day because of a trace of oil. U 48 entered port. She carried out her minelaying operation quickly and well, and also sank:
1. Dutch S.S. Burgerdyk 6,853 tons
2. English S.S. Sultan Star 12,306 tons
3. Dutch tanker Den Haag 8,971 tons
4. Enemy steamer of about 6,000 tons
34,130 tons
She has now sunk a total of 16 ships, 114,510 tons, in 4 patrols. Her sinking figures are the highest at present. She has done excellent work, especially as her last patrol was a mining as well as torpedo operation. Successes from the minelay are not yet known, but can certainly be expected, and will have to be added to the figures sunk given above. With regard to the C.O.'s decision to pursue the convoy instead of taking up the "Ark Royal" position, it is a fact that he did not act in accordance with orders. But in view of the impression which he had, he only realized late that he had done wrong. I have therefore omitted to take any further action.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-18

At Sea 24 February 1940
U-13, U-19, U-22, U-23, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-37, U-48, U-50, U-57, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-63 .
15 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
ORP sub ORZEL arrived at Rosyth from patrol. Sub TETRARCH conducted diving trials with DD FAME. DDs IVANHOE, GALLANT and GRIFFIN carried out ASW Sweeps. ML TEVIOTBANK and DD BOREAS and BRAZEN departed the Humber for Rosyth. DDs JACKAL and WALLACE and sloop WESTON were submarine hunting in the Firth of Forth.

A German UBoat attacked steamer BRITTA (Nor 6214 grt) 100 miles south of Queenstown. DDD ACASTA was dispatched to assist, and after being joined by DDs WAKEFUL and VESPER carried out a search off Cape Clear . Attacks were made on a submarine contact and they were joined by DD VOLUNTEER on the 25th, but the search was unsuccessful.

FN.103 departed Southend, escort DD WHITLEY and sloop EGRET. The convoy was delayed by fog and anchored shortly after departure in Knock Deep, but reached the Tyne on the 28th. MT.17 departed Methil and arrived later that day. CL EDINBURGH attacked a submarine contact ESE of Muckle Flugga. ASW trawler LOCH TULLA (423grt) attacked a submarine contact south of Hoxa Gate. ASW trawler COVENTRY CITY (546grt) attacked a submarine contact in Pentland Firth. ASW trawler ARSENAL (RN 389 grt) attacked a submarine contact off the Smalls. DD BOADICEA was withdrawn from patrol for repairs to her port propeller shaft.

Northern Waters
DD INTREPID arrived at Invergordon. DD FURY and FOXHOUND arrived at Greenock.

West Coast UK
BB RODNEY and BC HOOD with DDs FAULKNOR, HARDY, FORTUNE, FORESIGHT, FIREDRAKE and FEARLESS arrived at Greenock. DDs KHARTOUM and KINGSTON rendezvoused at sea with AMC CIRCASSIA.

Channel
Steamer RIGEL (Fn 3779 grt) was brought into the Downs by a Fr DD for examination.

Central Atlantic
DDs DIAMOND, DECOY, DEFENDER arrived at Freetown.

Med- Biscay
Fr subs MARSOUIN, NARVAL and REQUIN of the 11th Submarine Division departed Oran on the 23rd for Casablanca, and passed Gibraltar on the 24th, escorted by TB POURSIVANTE.

These subs were all from the REQUIN Class, built 1924-7. They were the first French post war submarines, and were heavily influenced by German later designs of the Great War. They suffered from slow diving speed, poor manouvewrabily, and low surfaced speed. They were heavily armed howe3ver with a total of 10 x TT

 

[Wurger]

On the 25th February 1940 a british Bristol Blenheim light bomber landed in the frozen lake of Jukajärvi near Juva village, Finland. Finns used horses to tow the plane ashore for cover.

 

[Njaco]

February 25 Sunday
UNITED KINGDOM: No. 110 Army Co-operation (Auxiliary) Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 15 February, arrives in Britain.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British submarine HMS "Narwhal", escorting convoy HN-14 from Bergen, Norway to Methil, Scotland, spotted German submarine U-63 on the surface at 0755 hours, which dove to avoid attack. Destroyers "Escapade", "Escort", "Inglefield", and "Imogen" attacked the submarine with depth charges for nearly 2 hours, finally forcing her to surface at 0950 hours. U-63 was scuttled 100 miles east of Wick, Scotland. Of the German crew, 1 was killed, and 24 were captured by "Inglefield" and "Imogen". The German prisoners of war were landed at Leith, Scotland on 27 Feb 1940; they would remain in Britain until the end of the war.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Russians have concentrated troops on Kolvisto peninsula and in the region of Kaislahti, on the coastal railway. They also hold the island off Revonsaari, in Gulf of Finland. Kaemaerae is still held by Finns. Russians had lost 25 tanks during weekend on Isthmus and another 17 north of Lake Ladoga.

Norway informed Great Britain that she will propose arbitration in 'Altmark' dispute if British Government maintains their position.


.

 

[parsifal]

25 February 1940
Known Losses
Steamer CASTLEMOOR (UK 6574 grt) Crew 42 (42 lost) convoy HX.20 foundered in the Atlantic. The exact cause of her loss is not known. Neither is her last position known precisely

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

1. Russo-Finnish Conflict: The Soviet advance on the Karelian Isthmus continues amid heavy fighting. According to reports
from Great Britain, the seriousness of Finland 's situation is making the Western Powers more willing to send her auxiliary
troops.
2. Agent reports speak of imminent military action by British forces along the north coast of Norway.
3. The Folkething rejected the Danish National Socialist motion proposing that Denmark should leave the League of Nations,
declare absolute neutrality and approach Germany to mediate in the Finnish conflict.
4. Under Secretary of State Sumner tfelles is in Rome for talks with Ciano and Mussolini.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 26 reported that she was starting on her return passage. No news has been received of U 41. She did not turn up for supply "Cata". She should have reported if she had been prevented from carrying out the supply operation. She cannot yet be presumed lost for certain, but her loss is likely.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-22 , U-23 , U-57

Departures
Heligoland: U-52

At Sea 25 February 1940
U-13, U-19, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-37, U-48, U-50, U-60, U-61, U-62.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS

Baltic

Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic

Northern Patrol


North Sea
CLs EDINBURGH and ARETHUSA arrived at Rosyth. Sloop WESTON departed Rosyth for Tees to refit, and arrived on the 26th. OA.95G departed Southend on the 20th and OB.95G Liverpool on the 21st, with thirty four ships, and merged as OG.19 on the 25th. No escorts are listed for either convoy at this stage, but when it arrived at Gibraltar on the 29th, it was accompanied by DD DOUGLAS, Fr DD CHACAL and Fr PVl CAPITAINE ARMANDE, which joined on the 23rd, and armed boarding vessel ROSAURA. FS.105 departed the Tyne, escorted by DD WOOLSTON and sloop GRIMSBY, and arrived at Southend on the 27th. TM.14 departed the Tyne escorted by ASW trawlers and DD JANUS. Sloop FOWEY, escorting a outward bound convoy, attacked a submarine contact off Wolf Rock. ASW yacht RHODORA (709grt), on patrol off Helwick Light Vessel, was ordered to search for a U-boat sighted off Caldy Island, and attacked a contact south of Caldy Island.

Northern Waters
CA BERWICK departed Scapa for Greenock. Destroyers KASHMIR with a defective asdic installation and KANDAHAR arrived at Scapa Flow. DD KHARTOUM sustained weather damage to her hull and was capable of only twelve knots.

Channel
DD VESPER reported her AS dome leaking, and returned to Plymouth for repairs. Midshipman T W R Wagner RNVR was killed when his Roc of 759 Squadron crashed near Botley, Hants (near Southampton) on a training exercise.

Blackburn ROC of 803 sqn in 1939-40 colour scheme. though a failure in their designed role, they were retained until`1945 in various secondary roles such as trainer and target tug

Western Approaches
DD FORESTER departed the Clyde on the 23rd and rendezvoused the same day with DD MOHAWK which was escorting tkr IMPERIAL TRANSPORT (UK 8022 grt. They met CL ORION (carrying the ashes of the Governor General of Canada) and liner DUCHESS OF BEDFORD (20,123 grt, carrying the first Squadron of RCAF to England) in the Western Approaches and arrived at Liverpool on the 25th.

1 sqn RCAF July 1940. The squadron shipped its own Hurricanes from Canada, but these were not accepted, and trhe squadron remained inactive until August 1940
SW Approaches
.
Med- Biscay
HG.20 departed Gib with 39 ships on the 25th Escort summary as follows:
25th: DD WISHART, Sloops ABERDEEN, DEPTFORD
27th: (Detach) WISHART
3rd: (Add) DD WILD SWAN, DD VENETIA (from OG.20), (detach) Sloop ABERDEEN
4th: (Add) Sloop LEITH (from OG.20), (Detach) DD WILD SWAN
6th: (Detach) DD DEPTFORD
Convoy arrived 6 March 1940 at Liverpool

 

[Njaco]

February 26 Monday
NORTHERN EUROPE: Finns evacuated fortress of Koivisto. Defence of Viipuri continued, although the town was now in ruins. Soviet troops continued to attack toward Viipuri, Finland. The Finnish 23rd Division counterattacked with 8 Mark E light tanks (Battle of Honkaniemi, the only Finnish tank attack). They destroy 3 Soviet tanks but all 8 Finnish tanks break down or are destroyed and the Finns withdraw.

UNITED KINGDOM: Newly-constructed British large passenger liner "Queen Elizabeth" left Clydeside, Glasgow, Scotland on the spring tide. Due to her weight, today is one of only two tides this year high enough to float her from dock. Churchill worries that Germany will attempt to sink her. He establishes an elaborate ruse to convince German spies that she is going to Southampton for final fitting. Instead she will head across the Atlantic to New York, where she will remain for 8 months before going to Singapore for refitting as a troopship. During the course of the war she will sail 500,000 miles and carry more than 750,000 troops from Australia and America to various theatres.

War Office announced that from March 11 Scotland north of Caledonian Canal would become a banned area, and that only persons especially exempt would be permitted to remain or enter.

WESTERN FRONT: German airplanes flew over Paris, but were driven off by anti-aircraft fire.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Swedish steamer 'Santos' reported sunk in North Sea.

.

 

[parsifal]

26 February 1940
Known Losses
DD IMPERIAL with convoy ON.15 was in a collision at 0250 with steamer NORDIA (Sd 1316 grt), which was enroute from Hull to Gothenburg, with General Cargo. The collision occurred 70 miles WSW of Feistenen. The steamer sank with the loss of two crew, and IMPERIAL, covered by CLA CALCUTTA, proceeded to Lerwick for emergency repairs, arriving on the 27th. She left on the 29th to join convoy HN.15 for passage to Rosyth. From Methil, she proceeded on 3 March in convoy MT.22 to the Tyne, where she arrived on the 5th. She did not return to service until 12 April.

Steamer ORIZABA (Ger 4354 grt) of the Vigo group ran aground off Skjervoy near Hammerfest on the north coast of Norway and was lost. Survivors were rescued by Finnish steamer MARGARETA (2155grt).

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

On grounds of the reports so far received from Group West on the loss of the destroyers, Chief, Naval Staff gave orders for the following statement to be transmitted to Commanding Admiral, Group West:
"Irrespective of the results of further inquiries by the special commission, I wish to state that the 1st Destroyer Flotilla should have been informed about the mission to be undertaken by 26th Bomber Wing and 10th Air Corps should have been informed earlier about the destroyer operation. In future each arm must be adequately briefed on the other's operations and this exchange of information is to take place well beforehand. Chief, Naval Staff."

With great regret Naval Staff postponed the battleship sortie until 29 Feb. owing to the destroyers state of readiness.

The Fuehrer's decision on the time for beginning aerial minelaying was received by telephone from Armed Forces High
Command, After consideration of the opposing viewpoints of Chief, Naval Staff and Commander in Chief, Air Force the
Fuehrer has decided that the Navy must wait until the Air Force is ready to use the aerial mine.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 32 and U 38 left for their operations areas in accordance with Operations Orders No. 26 and 29.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-48
Wilhelmshaven: U-19

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-23, U-32, U-38

At Sea 26 February 1940
U-13, U-26, U-23, U-28, U-29, U-32, U-37, U-38, U-50, U-52, U-60, U-61, U-62.
13 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs INGLEFIELD, GRIFFIN, GURKHA, TARTAR, INTREPID and IVANHOE were sweeping in Moray Firth when GRIFFIN made a contact. INGLEFIELD, GRIFFIN, GURKHA attacked what later turned out to be a wreck. GURKHA and TARTAR then proceeded to Rosyth arriving on the 27th. Sub STERLET was exercising off Harwich with sloop MALLARD. Sub TRIAD arrived at Rosyth from patrol.
Sub SNAPPER departed Harwich on patrol. Sub UNITY arrived at Harwich from Portsmouth. MT.18 departed Methil, escort sloop FLAMINGO and DDs WALLACE and JACKAL, and arrived later in the afternoon. JACKAL then joined TM.15, escort consisting of the 3rd ASW Gp. FS.106 departed the Tyne at 2130 escort sloop FLAMINGO and DD WALLACE with DD JUNO covering. They were to have escorted an MT convoy which was cancelled, and before leaving with FS.106 spent the day covering TM.14 and MT.18. FS.106 arrived at Southend on the 28th.

Northern Waters
DD ESCORT attacked a sub contact. Again, this was later found to be a wreck. DDs ECLIPSE, ELECTRA, KHARTOUM and KINGSTON arrived at Scapa.

West Coast UK
DDs KANDAHAR, KELVIN and KIMBERLEY departed Scapa for the Clyde, arriving on the 27th. OB.99 departed Liverpool escort DDs WALKER and WINCHELSEA until the 29th, and then dispersed next day on 1 March.

Channel
DD BASILISK departed Dover at 0700 for refitting at Chatham

UK - France
Convoy SA.31 of two steamers departed Southampton escort sloop FOXGLOVE, and arrived at Brest on the 28th.

SW Approaches
Sloop SCARBOROUGH, on escort duty, attacked a submarine contact SW of the Scilly Isles.

Nth Atlantic
HX.23 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs FRASER and ST LAURENT until 1710/27th, when they turned the convoy over to ocean escort, AMC AUSONIA. She detached on 9 March. Before then, on the 28th, DD HEREWARD departed Halifax, overtook the convoy and arrived at Plymouth before going on to Portsmouth on 11 March for refitting which completed on 12 April. HX.23 arrived at Liverpool on 12 March.

Med- Biscay
CVE ARGUS, at that time engaged with training Cmd, lost Gladiator of 770 Sqn from when it crashed into the sea at Hyeres. Midshipman (A) R W Kearsley was rescued.

Gloster Gladiator carrier borne equipment, 1938-40 fully converted to Sea Glad standard

 

[parsifal]

27 February 1940
Known Losses
Trawler BEN ATTOW (UK 156 grt) was reportedly sunk by a mine seven miles east, one half mile south of May Island. Seekrieg lists her as bombed and sunk by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps). As He111's were occasionally carrying torpedoes during anti-shipping missions, a torpedo hit might have been mistaken for a mine explosion. All nine crew were lost.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV PLM 25 (Fr 5391 grt): crew 42 (4 lost), cargo: Coal, Route Tyne to St Nazaire: Convoy FS 106: The collier struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea . She was taken in tow by Sloop FLAMINGO but struck another mine and sank. The survivors were rescued by DD WALLACE.

Steamer STORFOS (Sd 545 grt) was accidentally sunk after a collision with DD JACKAL 12.8 miles 126° from Longstone Light. JACKAL picked up all 14 crew and escorted by DD JANUS, proceeded to the Tyne for repairs requiring three weeks. The steamer was determined to be at fault for the collision.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Group West informed us by teletype that a further postponement of operation "Schleswig" is necessary, since its execution
later than 29 Feb. would wipe out the minelaying operations scheduled for after 4 March, as the destroyers concerned would very probably be undergoing repairs. The Group considers the mining operations more promising and therefore wishes to abandon operation "Schleswig" until this assignment is co/pleted. It may, in the Group's opinion, be necessary to postpone "Schleswig" even further should it fall too close to the sailing date of the Atlantic ships, as its possible repercussions might greatly prejudice their chances of a successful breakthrough.

In contrast to the Group, Naval Staff regards the execution of the battleship operation as the more urgent , since, with the enemy situation favoring us, a: successful attack against the Norway - Great Britain convoy traffic could be of decisive military and political importance. Psychological reasons also render it desirable to send the battleships on a fresh sortie at an early date. Moreover Naval Staff believes that even if the minelaying operation by the destroyers is canceled, the southeast coast of England
can still be mined by destroyers, S Bootes and planes during the March new moon period. Naval Staff agrees with the latter part of the Group* s teletype which expresses misgivings as to the advisability of a battleship operation shortly before the Atlantic forces are due to sail.

2. Group West also requested confirmation that the two submarines which are to assist the auxiliary cruisers (Ship "16" and Ship "36") on their breakthrough south of Iceland would likewise be available for the LUTZOW and her supply ship. Naval Staff refuses to permit such an operation. Direct cooperation from submarines can only furnish effective support for the slow auxiliary cruisers, not however for the LUTZOW and the supply ship. Their speed is their best guarantee of a successful breakthrough and the employment of submarines would only be a hindrance.

3. Report by Chief, Operations Branch on operational order for Ship "36" (Lt. Cdr. Weyher) Chief, Naval Staff gave his consent.

4. Directive received from Armed Forces High Command on "immediate Operation Gelb", i.e. keyword orders in the case of an enemy penetration into Belgium (see Armed Forces High Command directive) .

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 53 has been ordered to report her position. Since she reported her intention to reload torpedoes on the Irish coast, nothing has been heard of her. It is possible that she started on her return passage without reporting and has now been in the North Sea for some time. Operations control must know where she is. U 37 entered port. She sank:
1) Tanker about 6,000 tons, 2) Steamer in Zone A about 7,000 tons, 3) Steamer in Zone B about 4,500 tons, 4) Patrol vessel
(unknown tonnage), 5) Steamer in Zone B about 6,500 tons, 6) Steamer 7,000 tons, 7)Steamer about 8,000 tons, 8) Tanker
6,000 tons. 45,000 tons in total.

An excellent patrol. The boat observed strong enemy patrols off the Spanish coast, which confirms the recent radio intelligence picture. This will have to be taken into consideration for later operations.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-37, U-61

Departures
Heligoland: U-52
Wilhelmshaven: U-18, U-20,

At Sea 27 February 1940
U-13, U-18, U-20, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-32, U-38, U-50, U-52, U-60, U-62.
12 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
AMC CORFU departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol.

North Sea
Sloop BLACK SWAN departed Portland for Rosyth. OA.99 cleared Southend escort DDs WINDSOR and WOLVERINE, and dispersed on 1 March. A TM convoy departed the Tyne for Methil escort provided by the 3rd ASW Group and DD JACKAL. FN.104 departed Southend, escort DDs WESTMINSTER, WOLSEY and sloops BLACK SWAN and LONDONDERRY, and arrived in the Tyne on the 29th.
Convoy FS.107 departed the Tyne, escort DD VALOROUS, sloop HASTINGS, and also DD JERVIS, joined FS.108 on the 29th and both arrived at Southend on 1 March. MT.19 departed Methil, escort DD VALOROUS and sloop HASTINGS, and arrived in the Tyne later that day. Steamer ANNFIN (Nor 729 grt) reported ramming a submarine of unknown nationality outside Norwegian waters in the North Sea.

OA.98GF departed Southend escorted by DD WREN on the 24th, which was then relieved by sloop SANDWICH on the 26th, and OB.98GF departed Liverpool, also on the 24th escort DDs VANOC and WHIRLWIND. The two merged on the 27th as OG.20F.

Steamer MIRA (ITA 3165 grt) was bombed and damaged by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) two miles northeast of St Abb's Head.

Tkr BRITISH GOVERNOR (UK 6840 grt) was bombed and damaged by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) off the east coast, and then escorted into port by DD JANUS.
?British Governor?

Northern Waters
DD KINGSTON reported her petrol compartment was leaking and she was only capable of 16 knots. ASW trawler LE TIGER (RN 516 grt) attacked a submarine contact off Fife Ness near North Carr Light Vessel, and was later relieved by sloop PELICAN.

West Coast UK
AMC ASCANIA departed the Clyde. ASW trawler RUBY (420grt) attacked a submarine contact in Liverpool Bay.

Channel
While liner ORION (UK 23,456 grt) was docking at London, she was in collision with DD GRENADE, which had just completed refit. GRENADE's sailing was postponed while the damage was assessed and she repaired at Harwich, completing on 3 April.

Western Approaches
ASW trawler LE TIGER (516grt) attacked a submarine contact off Fife Ness near North Carr Light Vessel, and was later relieved by sloop PELICAN.

Nth Atlantic
BB MALAYA, and AMC ASCANIA departed Greencock with gold for Halifax, and left the Clyde escort DDs FAULKNOR, FAME, FORESTER, FURY and MOHAWK.

 

[Njaco]

February 27 Tuesday
WESTERN FRONT: The members of the carrier Gruppe II (J)./TrGr186 finally get their first victory of the war when Oblt. Gerhard Jahnny of the 6th Staffel downs a British reconnaissance bomber, a Blenheim, north west of Heligoland at 1436 hours.

The bombers of 2./KG 26 raid the convoy "Alice" off the coast of England. Spitfires from RAF No. 609 and 152 Squadrons respond and shoot down two He 111s. One bomber crashes into the sea off St. Abbs Head killing all aboard. The second He 111H-3, from 2./KG 26 was shot down by P/O J.S.B. Jones and T.S. Wildblood in Spitfires of No 152 Squadron. The Heinkel crashed the sea east of Coquet Island, Northumberland at 1255 hours. The bodies of Hptm. H-J. Helm (Staffelkapitän) and Uffz K. Lassnig were recovered from the sea (see March 1st) and buried at Chevington. Uffz H. Buchisch, Oberfw A. Thiele and Gefr W. Rixen were missing. Aircraft sank in the sea.

NORTHERN EUROPE: A bleak day for Finland. Soviet troops launched a pincer movement intended at surrounding Viipuri, Finland; at 1900 hours, Finnish Army Lieutenant General Erik Heinrichs, commander of the Finnish Army of the Isthmus, ordered his troops to fall back from the defensive positions on the V-line and withdraw into Viipuri. An orderly retreat towards Viipuri begins. Finns retreated further from Petsamo after day-long battle. Finns repulsed violent attack on Taipale.

The government of Finland requested assistance from Norway and Sweden for the war against Russia, but Norway and Sweden continued to express that they were neutral in the conflict and could not assist Finland.

300 Finnish children are evacuated to Stockholm, Sweden.

The first British volunteers leave to aid the Finnish forces.

UNITED KINGDOM: Air Ministry announced that during preceding 24 hours reconnaissance flights were made over Heligoland and German North Sea coast, as well as large areas of western Germany. Leaflets were dropped over Berlin, British planes returned unmolested.

In an effort to boost morale, Winston Churchill wildly overstates Britain's success on the seas, claiming that half of Nazi Germany's feared U-boats have been sunk by the Allies.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Norwegian steamer 'Annfinn' collided with a U-boat, which was probably sunk. Steamer was damaged.

U-boat was sunk by a French destroyer off Cape Finisterre.


.

 

[parsifal]

28 February 1940
Known Losses

MV STOFOSS (Sd 1,508 grt) coastal steamer sank in 40 metres of water, due to a collision 10 miles E of Beadnell, Northumberland

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

British Cabinet Ministers have appealed to British agriculture for an increase in production. The only way to win the war is to reduce imports. Britain's food supplies were described as inadequate. The Minister for Economic Warfare declared the blockade of Germany to be incomplete. Russian deliveries were breaking it. ' (Accumulation of tin and rubber in Russia for export to Germany). Necessity of tightening up trade agreements with the neutrals to cut out their transit trade to Germany.

According to (the OKW review) , certain spheres of Britain's war economy have begun to feel the pinch, but in no case is there any crisis so far .

The Belgian press has produced a report from political circles that Great Britain has decided not to respect neutral territorial waters any longer if a violation can prevent the passage of warships or contraband. Judging by this statement Great Britain will in future seize German merchantmen even when proceeding through Norwegian waters.

1100 Conference on the Situation with the Chief, Naval Staff
Special Items
1. Discussion on the LUTZOW's breakthrough. Naval Staff's viewpoint is that this should take place under cover of the battleship operation. The question will be discussed by Chief of Operations Branch in Wilhelmshaven.

2. The following directive is to be sent by teletype to Group West (with copy to Commanding Admiral, Submarines) . The
subject is the execution of operation "Schleswig" and the LUTZOW's breakthrough

3. To make the destroyer operations during the new moon period and the sailing dates for LUTZOW, Ship "16"
and Ship "36" the determining factors for the date of "Schleswig" would be tantamount to an indefinite postponement of this operation.

4. The sailing dates for the Atlantic forces cannot yet be fixed as they depend on the ice situation and state of training.

3. The results to be achieved by "Schleswig rt are just as important as the results of further minelaying by destroyers, especially now that our aerial war on the east coast trade is increasing the effectiveness of earlier mining. If operation "Schleswig" takes
place soon, time and material will still permit subsequent minelaying during the coming new moon period

4. For reasons detailed in 1 - 3 you are to aim at the execution of "Schleswig" as soon as possible and if necessary the minelaying operation planned for the Immediate future is to be ppstponed.

5. Forces of Commanding Admiral, Naval Forces, West are to cooperate in the breakthrough of LUTZOW and the other vessels. Endeavor to set up an attack disposition with submarines operating in Scottish
waters, as for "Nordmark".

6. No plans have been made for a special allocation of submarines for the LUTZOW and her supply ship. Their speed, which is their main advantage, does not permit close cooperation with submarines.

3. Chief, Naval Staff issued an order that vigorous anti- submarine activity is to be resumed as soon as the ice situation permits.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 53 did not report. The order has been repeated.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-18 , U-23

At Sea 28 February 1940
U-13, U-20, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-32, U-38, U-50, U-52, U-60, U-62.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Submarine TRITON intercepted steamer WANGONI (Ger 7848 grt) off Kristiansand, north of Hantsholm, but she escaped in the dark and reached Hamburg on 1 March.

Northern Patrol
AMCs TRANSYLVANIA and WOLFE departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol.

North Sea
HN.15 with 42 ships departed Bergen escort DDs COSSACK, DELIGHT, DIANA, SIKH, NUBIAN. CLA CALCUTTA provided AA defences for the convoy. On 29 February, the convoy split into east and west coast sections; the eight ships of the west coast ships were escorted by DDs KHARTOUM and SIKH and the east coast section by the convoy DDs, joined by damaged DD IMPERIAL. CALCUTTA arrived at Sullom Voe on 1 March. After escorting the west coast section, DDs KHARTOUM and SIKH proceeded to the Clyde, arriving on 1 March, for boiler cleaning and gun mounting repairs, respectively. The convoy arrived without event at Methil on 1 March.

Sub STERLET departed Harwich on patrol. FN.106 departed Southend escort sloop GRIMSBY and DDs WOOLSTON and JUNO. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on 1 March. FS.108 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop PELICAN. The convoy joined convoy FS.107 on the 29th and both arrived at Southend on 1 March. MT.20 departed Methil, escort DD VIVIEN, sloop PELICAN, ASW trawlers of the 3rd ASW Gp. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

ON.16 departed Methil with 43 ships escort DDs ESCAPADE, ESCORT, ENCOUNTER. ASW trawlers COVENTRY CITY (546 grt) and LE TIGRE (516 grt) escorting blockship CARRON (UK 1017 grt) when abreast of Pentland Skerries was detached from the convoy to Scapa and arrived on 1 March. One other steamer was detached before the convoy crossed the North Sea. The convoy was joined by DDs ELECTRA and ECLIPSE with six steamers from Kirkwall. (These six included in sailing numbers). DD ELECTRA attacked a submarine contact south, southeast of Duncansby Head on the 29th. DDs GALLANT and GRIFFIN were sent to assist. CLA CAIRO departed Sullom Voe on 1 March to provide AA support for the convoy. The convoy arrived at Bergen without further event on 2 March.

DKM MLs ROLAND and COBRA, escorted by MSWs M.5 and M.7, laid 238 mines in an ASW mine barrier off the Ems Estuary.

West Coast UK
DDs KASHMIR and KINGSTON arrived at Greencock. DDs KEITH and WAKEFUL searched unsuccessfully for a German submarine off St Govan Light Vessel (at the entrance to the Bristol Channel in Wales) .

Liner ULSTER QUEEN (UK 10000 grt (est)) The passenger ship ran aground off Ramsey, Isle of Man. All on board were rescued. She was refloated on 27 March

Channel
21st ASW Gp, composed of ASW trawlers LADY PHILOMENA, WOLVES, GRIMSBY TOWN, THURINGIA, BLACKBURN ROVERS were withdrawn from Dover patrol to be fitted with AA protection at Hartlepool.

UK - France
DD BEAGLE departed Dover at 1710 with the CIGS and arrived at Boulogne at 1840.

Central Atlantic
SL.22 departed Freetown escorted by AMC DUNVEGAN CASTLE until 11 March. The convoy merged with SLF.22 on 11 March and both convoys arrived at Liverpool on 15 March.

 

[Njaco]

February 28 Wednesday
NORTHERN EUROPE: At 0045 hours, Soviet High Command permitted the surrounded 34th Tank Brigade to retreat from the East Lemetti pocket in Finland. Finnish troops eased pressure and allowed 2,750 wounded Russian soldiers to escape on foot. About 1,000 out of the 1,250 who escaped to the south returned safely, but all 1500 men moving East are hunted down and annihilated by Finns on skis. Finnish attacks on the East Lemetti pocket continue overnight on the motti, which is notable for the large number of Soviet tanks (about 100 many of which are dug in as fixed artillery). On the Karelian Isthmus, however, Soviet troops were able to penetrate the second defensive line. Finnish aircraft raided Russian lines of communications.

Further North, Swedish Volunteer Corps (Svenska Frivilligkåren) takes over front line duty at Märkäjärvi in Salla. Although officially non-belligerent, 8,402 Swedes, 1,010 Danes and 895 Norwegians volunteer go to Finland. They will lose 28 dead, 50 wounded and 140 invalids with frostbite. British volunteers in Finland are to be commanded by Major Kermit Roosevelt. First Canadian Volunteers arrived in Finland.

The United Kingdom and France offered military assistance for Finland, but they were waiting for Finland to issue a formal request for such aid.

UNITED KINGDOM: British battleship HMS "Duke of York" is launched, although she will not be commissioned for active service until 4 November 1941. The first of a new class of battleship, HMS "King George V", is launched.

WESTERN FRONT: German patrols were active on Western Front, particularly east of the Saar and in Alsace. Air Ministry announced that RAF had carried out further extensive reconnaissance flights over northern Germany. Aircraft flew over Berlin and Hanover, as well as naval bases at Kiel and Cuxhaven. Reconnaissance flights were made by both sides. Paris announced that two German airplanes reconnoitering over France had been shot down.

GERMANY: Germany closes factories unnecessary for the war effort.

The Nazi propaganda minister, Dr. Goebbels, tells neutral countries to "curb their public opinion" and warns Sweden against aiding Finland.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Divers recover three rotors from the Enigma enciphering machine on board the scuttled U-33, adding to the Polish-supplied information on the Enigma puzzle in the hands of the Allies.

SS 'Stofoss' (1,508t) a Swedish ship sank in 40 metres of water, due to a collision 10 miles E of Beadnell.

ASIA: Communist troops retake Anding, near Yenan, from the Japanese.


.

 

[Njaco]

February 29 Thursday
NORTHERN EUROPE: The battle of Viipuri. Negotiations to end the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union began, but fighting continued. Soviet forces launch an all-out effort to crush resistance in the Karelian Isthmus by encircling the city of Viipuri and reaching the Viipuri-Helsinki highway. Russians claimed to be within four miles of Viipur and were preparing a final assault on town. Soviet troops crossed the frozen Gulf of Finland and landed 15 miles west of Viipuri in an attempt to surround the city, but they were defeated by Finnish troops, capturing only Teikari Island. Elsewhere, Finnish troops wiped out the surrounded Soviet troops in the East Lemetti pocket at 0400 hours, capturing 5 field guns, 1 anti-tank gun, 71 tanks, 12 armored cars, 6 anti-aircraft machine guns, 206 trucks, and 70 machine guns. Finns repulsed three attempts by Russians to cross Taipale river, and frustrated an attack near Pitkaerantae, north-east of Lake Ladoga.

The Finns decide that they must give in to the Soviet demands but their note to that effect is not sent immediately because of British and French reactions to the news. The French government has become deeply committed to a policy of supporting Finland and persuades the British to join in making rash promises that cannot possibly be kept.

Germany's methods of sea warfare denounced by Professor Koht, Norwegian Prime Minister.

Estonian Government issued order forbidding Estonian merchant ships to navigate North Sea and other dangerous waters except under convoy.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-20 torpedoed and sank Italian steamer "Maria Rosa" in the English Channel, killing 12. 17 people were rescued.

German steamers "Heidelberg" and "Troja" left the Dutch island of Aruba in the Caribbean Sea after dark in an attempt to evade Allied patrols. "Troja" was intercepted 10 miles from Aruba from British cruiser "Despatch"; her crew set fire to the ship and abandoned her, which sank on the next day.

RMS "Queen Elizabeth" set sail from Scotland, United Kingdom for New York, United States.

French steamer 'P.L.M.25′ reported sunk by mine in North Sea.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler approved Nikolaus von Falkenhorst's invasion plan for Norway.

Press Department of German Legation at The Hague issued statement warning neutrals that by accepting British system of navicerts they make themselves suspect to Germany.

The wreck of the scuttled German pocket battleship "Admiral Graf Spee" is sold to a local company for scrap.

ASIA: In Japan, Britain returns 9 of the 21 Germans removed from the "Asama Maru" (on January 21st) after Tokyo agrees not to transport German military reservists attempting to return home.

WESTERN FRONT: Food and gas rationing begins in France.

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.

 

[Njaco]

March 1 Friday
GERMANY: Adolf Hitler signs the directive for "FALL WESERUBUNG" (Exercise Weser), the Invasion of Norway and Denmark.

The development of the situation in Scandinavia required the making of all preparations for the occupation of Denmark and Norway by a part of the German Armed Forces. This operation should prevent British encroachment on Scandinavia and the Baltic; further it should guarantee our ore base in Sweden and give our Navy and Air Force a wider start line against Britain. The part which the Navy and the Air Force will have to play, within the limits of their capabilities, is to protect the operation against the interference of British naval and air striking forces.
In view of our military and political power in comparison with that of the Scandinavian States, the force to be employed in the 'FALL WESERUBUNG' will be kept as small as possible. The numerical weakness will be balanced by daring actions and surprise execution. On principle, we will do our utmost to make the operation appear as a peaceful occupation, the object of which is the military protection of the neutrality of the Scandinavian States. Corresponding demands will be transmitted to the Governments at the beginning of the occupation. If necessary, demonstrations by the Navy and Air Force, will provide the necessary emphasis. If, in spite of this, resistance should be met with, all military means will be used to crush it. http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/10a.html

Several new Gruppen are formed in preparation for the Invasion of France and the Low Countries. The III Gruppe of JG 52 is formed with Hptm. Wolf-Heinrich von Houwald as Gruppenkommandeur. JGr 101 resumes its original designation, ZG 1, and is re-equipped with Bf 110s. Hptm. Wolfgang Falck, to be known as "The Happy Falcon", of ZG 76 is made Gruppenkommandeur of I Gruppe and Major Hellmuth Reichardt is appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II Gruppe.

In other appointments, Hptm. Johannes Seifert is appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 26.

US Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles arrived in Berlin, Germany on a peace mission, and met with German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop on the first day of his visit.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Libyan 1st and 2nd Divisions were formed by the Italian Army.

EASTERN EUROPE: Gusztáv Jány was named the commanding officer of Hungarian 2nd Army.

NORTHERN EUROPE: USSR's Feb 23 peace offer expires; Finns hold out for more Allied offers of assistance. Finnish ambassadors in London and Paris ask for 100 bombers and 50,000 troops. Illustrating the discord among the Allies, the French promise these assets while Britain realistically notes that these are not available. Red Army is now only 6 km from Viipuri and cuts several main roads into the city, overtaking retreating Finnish defenders. Major-General Wallenius transfers from Lapland to command a new Coastal Group defending Viipuri from attacks across the ice. He panics at the sight of the defenses and goes off to get drunk. Further North, Lieutenant-Colonel Magnus Dyrssen, commander of the Swedish volunteer battalion which took over the Salla front on 28 Feb, is killed by shellfire. Fierce aerial dog fights take place over the city. Finns bombed Russian communications including a railways junction and troop trains.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Heinkel 111s bomb and sink Norwegian D/S "Vestfoss" (cargo of coal) 10 miles East of the Orkneys. All 19 crew are rescued from the lifeboats by trawler "Star of Liberty". At 0315 hours, U-20 stops Italian steamer SS "Mirella" with 1 torpedo in the English Channel (cargo of coal). U-20 returns and sinks her at 2114 hours (1 dead, 29 survivors). Norwegian Steamer 'Brott' and British fishing trawler 'Courage' bombed and machine-gunned off Yorkshire coast, but reached port. Latvian steamer 'Katvaldis' reported bombed and machine-gunned off Yorkshire coast.

WESTERN FRONT: The French government offers to purchase "heavy water" from Norway. There is stricter food rationing in France.

UNITED KINGDOM: Women are urged to wear light clothes in order to save darker dyes for forces uniforms. According to BBC audience research, about two-thirds of the adult population tunes in to Lord Haw-Haw's broadcasts from Hamburg. One person in six is a regular listener to his propaganda. Some 16 million listeners hear the BBC nine o'clock news every night and about 6 million of them switch straight over to Lord Haw-Haw afterwards.

The body of a German airman, and a rubber boat were washed ashore at Whitley Bay, two lifeboats were washed ashore at Bridlington and an unidentified body was washed ashore at Mundesley. The body washed ashore at Whitley Bay was identified as Uffz Karl Lassnig. An enquiry was later received by the British Government from Germany concerning five airmen: Hptm. Hans-Joachim Helm, Uffz Karl Lassnig, Uffz Heinrich Buchisch, Oberfeldwebel Arthur Thiele, Gerfreiter Walter Rixen. Only the bodies of Lassnig and Helms were recovered. AI 1(k) linked this crew with the He 111 of KG 26 shot down on February 27th. The aircrew were, with the exception of Walter Rixen, identified by Air Intelligence as being 2./KG 26, although the aircraft itself and the Bordmechaniker (Rixen) were identified as being 3./KG 26.

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[parsifal]

29 February 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Liuzzi Class Sub RM REGINALDO GIULANO (precise commissioning date uncertain)

n the south Atlantic REGINALDO GIULIANI sank two ships with a total of 16,105 DWT. SDeized by the germans in September 1943, she was used as a transport but was sunk February 1944 in the Straits of Malacca on her first outbound mission to the japanese empireand

Known Reinforcements
Known Losses
Steamer MARIA ROSA (Ita 4211 grt) Crew: 29 (12 dead and 17 survivors): Cargo: Ballast; Route: Marseilles - Hartlepool : At 22.32 hours on 29 Feb 1940 the neutral MARIA ROSA was hit in the foreship by one G7e torpedo fired by U-20 and sank by the bow. The ship had been missed by a first G7e torpedo fired at 21.45 hours.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Anxiety as to the outcome of the Russo-Finnish conflict is growing in the Scandinavian countries. In Sweden Finland's
situation is described as increasingly serious. It is reported from German souroes in Sweden tha+. the Western Powers have lately
been exerting stronger pressure on Sweden in favor of more effective support for Finland. Great Britain is said to be threatening Sweden with economic reprisals. Further, the impression is gaining ground in Sweden that Great Britain Intends to land troops in Klrkenes in violation of Norwegian neutrality.

The danger of a large-scale Allied action in Scandinavia has come alarmingly close. Sweden will defend her territory by
force of arms, although the Government will try to avoid conflict if at all possible. The Swedes still seem to be hoping for German mediation in the Russo-Finnish conflict. On the one hand Sweden sees the danger of Russian pressure and fears that if Finland collapses the Russians will press forward behind the retreating Finns; on the other hand, however, the imminent possibility of Allied military intervention is causing the Swedish Government intense anxiety.

An unconfirmed report from Great Britain speaks of the British Government's decision not to respect the limits of neutral territorial waters if an attack on warships or merchantmen carrying contraband is in question.

Naval Staff is following the course of events in the northern area very closely and continues to hold the view that the best
solution is the maintenance of the status quo under which ore traffic proceeds in safety through Norwegian territorial waters.
However every effort must be made to prevent Great Britain from occupying the Norwegian ore ports and the Swedish ore region and thus getting a hold on the Scandinavian area.

Conference on the Situation with the Chief, Naval Staff

1, Operation "Sohleswig" cannot take place before March owing to the SCHARNHORST's temporary breakdown. If "Sohleswig" lasts till 7 Maroh, minelaying cannot possibly be carried out before 9 March at the earliest. Under these circumstances Group West, after weighing up the respective advantages of the planned operations, arrived at the conclusion that the minelaying would be the more effective.

Chief, Naval Staff declined to give a decision on this subject, pi nee (?) Group West was informed of our basic views in yesterday's teletype, which denoted the battleship operation as being of greater importance. For the rest we have to await the result of today's conference between Chief, Operations Branch, Naval Staff (Commander Wagner) and Group West .

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

No news of U 53. Otherwise nothing to report.
(signed): Donitz
Rear Admiral and B.d.U.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-13 , U-60

Departures
Kiel: U-46, U-47, U-49
Wilhelmshaven: U-17, U-61

At Sea 29 February 1940
U-17, U-20, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-32, U-38, U-46, U-49, U-50, U-52, U-61, U-62.
13 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CA NORFOLK and YORK returned from the Northern Patrol,. proceeding to the Clyde and Scapa respectively.

North Sea
Decoy ships PAKEHA and WAIMANA departed Rosyth escort DDs IMOGEN, INGLEFIELD, TARTAR, GURKHA for Scapa Flow, arriving on 1 March. Escort vessel WOOLSTON, escorting convoy FN.106, was damaged in the Humber while docking with a merchant ship. Escort vessel WOOLSTON was repaired in the Humber, completing on 5 March. Aux MSW AMETHYST (627 grt) was damaged in a collision with steamer BRAMWELL (UK 1927 grt). The Hailing Station and Tyne Boom Defense were also damaged in this collision. The trawler was repaired in fourteen days. OA.101 departed Southend escort sloop BIDEFORD and DD VETERAN, which were relieved on 1 March by DD VANESSA. DD VANESSA was detached on 2 March and the convoy was dispersed the next day. FN.107 departed Southend escort sloop FLAMINGO and DDs WALLACE and JUPITER. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2 March. FS.109 departed the Tyne escort DD VEGA, sloop STORK, DD JUNO. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 March.

Northern Waters
ML TEVIOTBANK with DDs BRAZEN and BOREAS departed Immingham on the 24th for Invergordon where they arrived on the 26th. ML TEVIOTBANK escort DDs BOREAS and BRAZEN and MSWs LEDA and NIGER departed Invergordon on ML op PA 2 in Moray Firth. After the minelay, the ships proceeded to the Tyne. The ships arrived in the Tyne on 2 March and left later that day in convoy FS.10 for passage to the Humber.

ASW trawler CAPE PORTLAND (497 grt) attacked a submarine contact off Dunnett Head.

West Coast UK
The following movements of major units represented long term redeployments intended to strengthen the capability of the Home Flt.

CVL FURIOUS departed the Clyde on the 28th escort DDs HARDY, FEARLESS, FIREDRAKE, KIMBERLEY. The carrier arrived at Plymouth 29th for refitting. In the Plymouth approaches on the 29th, FEARLESS was involved in a collision with a trawler. The damage was repaired at Plymouth completing on 10 March.
HMS Furious (CV-3), Staged first aircraft carrier attack in history

"CV 3 FURIOUS recognition profile" published by the US Division of Naval Intelligence

On 2 March, BC REPULSE escorted by DDs HARDY, HOSTILE, VIMY departed Plymouth for the Clyde where they arrived during the afternoon of 3 March. DD VIMY immediately returned to Plymouth, via Liverpool.

Repulse in the winter of 1939-40

On 3 March, BC RENOWN with DDs ACASTA, KIMBERLEY, FIREDRAKE departed Plymouth for the Clyde where they arrived at 1230 on 4 March. ACASTA immediately departed after refuelling for Plymouth, arriving on 5 March.
37)BATTLECRUISER RENOWN 76 - ROYAL NAVY SHIPS (133 Pages / 150 Images) - THE ROYAL NAVY IN SOUTH ATLANTIC - Articles - Sixtant - War II in the South Atlantic

Colour rendered photo HMS RENOWN, later in 1940

DD KELVIN was ordered to proceed to Birkenhead (a dockyard near Liverpool) for refitting. Sloop BLACK SWAN, escort DD WOLSEY, arrived at Rosyth.

UK - France
BC.28 of steamers BARON CARNEGIE (Commodore), BATNA, KERMA, KUFRA, LOCHEE, PIZARRO departed Bristol Channel escort DD VIVACIOUS. The convoy arrived at Loire on 3 March.

SW Approaches
OB.101 departed Liverpool escort DDs VANQUISHER and VERSATILE. Both DDs were detached on 3 March, when the convoy dispersed.

Central Atlantic
RAN CL PERTH and HM CL DIOMEDE departed Kingston, Jamaica, in company, for duty in the Pacific Ocean after being relieved in the Caribbean by CLs DUNEDIN and DESPATCH. Cruiser PERTH departed the Caribbean on 2 March and passed through the Panama Canal on 3 March. She arrived at Sydney on 31 March. DIOMEDE proceeded to the Far East.

 

[parsifal]

Summary Of Losses February 1940
Allied
Allied Warships
MSW SPHINX (RN 785 grt), Naval Trawler FORT ROYAL (RN 351 grt), ASW Trawler ROBERT BOWEN (RN 290 grt), Trawler THERESA BOYLE (RN 224 grt), DD DARING (RN 1375 grt), ASW Trawler FIFESHIRE (RN 540 grt), Trawler BENVOLIO (RN 352 grt), Fr Aux MSW VETERAN (Fr 253 grt)

(3917(RN) 253 (Fr) grt; Total 4170 grt Naval Tonnage)

Allied Shipping
(Britain) Coaster ELLEN M (UK 498 grt), Tkr BRITISH COUNCILLOR (UK 7048 grt), Tkr CREOFIELD (UK 838 grt), MV PORTELET (UK 1,064 grt), MV ARMANISTAN (UK 6,805 grt), MV LEO DAWSON (UK 4330 grt), Steamer BEAVERBURN (UK 9874 grt), Steamer HIGHCLIFFE (UK 3247 grt), Steamer VERBORMILIA (UK 3275 grt), Steamer ELDONPARK (UK 5184 grt), Liner MUNSTER (UK 4305 grt), , MV ZITELLA (UK 4254 grt), Coaster AGNES ELLEN (UK 293 grt) , MV CHAGRES (UK 5,406 grt), Blockship BRANKSEA (UK 214 grt), MV SEA RAMBLER (UK 2327 grt), Trawler CISNELL (UK 300 grt (est), Trawler TOGIMO (UK 290 grt), MV LANGLEEFORD (UK 4622 grt), , MV SULTAN STAR (UK 12,306 grt), MV BARON AILSA (III) (UK 3656 grt), MV PYRRHUS (UK 7,418 grt), MV ILSENSTEIN (UK 1506 grt), SS BUSK (UK 367 grt), MV LYCIA (UK 2338 grt), MV TIBERTON (UK 5,225 grt), MV LOCH MADDY (UK 4,996 grt), MV BRITISH ENDEAVOUR (UK 4580 grt), MV CLAN MORRISON (UK 5930 grt), MV JEVINGTON COURT (UK 4254 grt), Passenger/Cargo Vessel ROYAL ARCHER (UK 2265 grt), Steamer CASTLEMOOR (UK 6574 grt), Trawler BEN ATTOW (UK 156 grt), (France), Tkr PICARDIE (Fr 8298 grt), Steamer PLM 15 (Fr 3,754 grt), MV PLM 25 (Fr 5391 grt),
Allied Tonnage Sunk or captured: 126877 tons (4170 Naval, 12793 Fr, 109,734 UK)

Prize Vessels:
Steamer ROSTOCK (Ger 2542 grt), Steamer MOREA (Ger 1927 grt), Trawler HERRLICHKEIT (Ger 268 grt), Steamer WAHEHE (Ger 4709 grt)

Neutral
Neutral Warships
Ex-USS MONOCACY (USN 204 grt), Tug WICOMICO ( USN 152 grt)

(356 grt Naval Tonnage)

Neutral Shipping
(Sweden) MV FRAM (Sd 2,491 grt), Coaster WIRGO (Sd 709 grt), MV ORANIA (Sd 1854 grt), MV DALARO (Sd 3927 grt), MV NORNA (Sd 1022 grt), MV OSMEED (Sd 1526 grt), MV LIANA (Sd 1646 grt), Steamer SANTOS (Sd 3840 grt), steamer NORDIA (Sd 1316 grt), Steamer STORFOS (Sd 545 grt), MV STOFOSS (Sd 1,508 grt)
(Spain): MV TERESA (Sp 931 grt), MV DELFINA (Sp 3037 grt), MV BANDERAS (Sp 2140 grt)
(Norway): MV PALLAS (Nor 556 grt), MV TEMPO (Nor 629 grt), MV HOP (Nor 1374 grt), MV SILJA (Nor 1259 grt), MV SNESTAD (Nor 4114 grt) , MV NIDARHOLM (Nor 3482 grt), MV STEINSTAD (Nor 2447 grt), MV KVERNAAS (Nor 1819 grt), MV SANGSTAD ( Nor 4297 grt), Coaster TORBRAND (Nor 308 grt)
(Estonia) Coaster REET (Est 815 grt), MV ANU (Est 1474 grt), MV LINDA (Est 1,213 grt)
(Netherlands), MV FLORES (Ne 650 grt (est)), Steamer BURGERDIJK (Ne 6853 grt), Tkr DEN HAAG (Ne 8971 grt), MV AMELAND (Ne 4,537 grt), MV TARA (Ne 4,760 grt), Trawler YM 49 (Ne 250 grt)
(Yugoslavia) MV VID (Yug 3547 grt)
(Belgium) Steamer FLANDRES (Be 5827 grt), Fishing Vessel O H BEWAAR ONS (Be 61 grt), Fishing Vessel STEUR (Be 62 grt),
(Denmark) MV CHASTINE MAERSK (Den 5177 grt), MV MARTIN GOLDSCHMIDT (Den 2,095 grt), MV AASE (Den 1206 grt), MV MARYLAND (Den 4895 grt), MV RHONE (Den 1064 grt), MV SLEIPNER (Den 1066 grt), Drifters EJJAM, GERLIS, MERKATOR and POLARIS (All Den combined 400 grt (est))
(Italy) MV GIORGIO OLSEN (Ita 4156 grt), Steamer MARIA ROSA (Ita 4211 grt)
(Panama): MV EL SONADOR (Panama 1406 grt)
(Finland) MV WILJA (Fn 3396 grt), MV RIGEL (Fn 1477 grt), MV BORE III (Fn 1133 grt), MV BORE IV (Fn 1659 grt)
(Greece) MV ELLIN (Gk 4917 grt)

Neutral Shipping sunk 115250 (356 Naval 114894 grt Mercantile tons 20384 (SD), 6108 (SP), 20286 (Nor), 3502 (Est), 26021 (Ne), 3547 (Yug), , 5950 (Be), 15895 (Den), 4917 (Gk), 8367 (Ita), 1406 (Panama), 7665 (FN),

Combined Allied and Neutral Shipping Sunk 242127 grt

Prize Vessels
None

Axis
Axis Warships
Type IX A U.41 (DKM 1135 grt), Type VIIA U-33 (DKM 733 grt), Type VIIA U.54 (DKM 733 grt), DD LEBERECHT MAAS (DKM 2223 grt), DD MAX SCHULTZ (DKM 2233 grt) , Type VIIB U-53 (DKM 730 grt), Type IIC U.63 (DKM 350 grt)

(7147 grt Naval Tonnage)

Axis Shipping
Steamer WAKAMA (Ger 3771 grt), MV BALDUR (Ger 5805 grt) , Steamer ORIZABA (Ger 4354 grt)

Captured
Steamer BOHUS (Sd 1761 grt)

Tonnage Sunk or captured: 21077 (7147 Naval, 13930 Ger)

 

[parsifal]

1 March 1940
Known Losses
MV TROJA (Ger 2390 grt): The cargo ship was intercepted by HMS Despatch off Aruba, Netherlands Antilles and was scuttled by her crew
https://willemsubmerged.wordpress.c...g-of-the-antilla-the-lost-wreck-of-the-troja/

Steamer MIRELLA (Ita 5340 grt) Crew: 30 (1 dead and 29 survivors) : Cargo: Coal : Route: Tyne - Leghorn : At 03.15 hours on 1 March 1940 the MIRELLA was hit in the bow by one torpedo from U-20, but did not sink. The U-boat waited submerged during the daytime, returned to the abandoned ship in the evening and sunk her at 21.14 hours by a coup de grâce. The survivors were rescued by DD WALLACE and ASW trawler CAPE ARGONA (494grt). Patrol sloops SHEARWATER and MALLARD were patrolling nearby and were joined by sloops WIDGEON and SHELDRAKE to search for the submarine.

[NO IMAGE FOUNDF]

Air Attacks By FliegerKorps X
Steamer VESTFOSS (Nor 1388 grt) was bombed and sunk by aircraft of German KG26 (X Air Corps) twelve miles east by south of Copinsay, Orkney Islands. After an unsuccessful attempt to tow VESTFOSS, British steamer STAR OF LIBERTY (205grt) took off the 19 crew. Tug ST MELLONS had been dispatched, but was recalled. Part of the crew from VESTFOSS arrived at Oslo on the 6th.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Koht, stated In the Storting (29 Feb. 1940) that it would be a non-neutral act to stop Norwegian shipping to Great Britain. Maintenance of trade with Great Britain was of vital importance for Norway. The conclusion of the commercial treaty with Norway was greatly endangered by the reports current about Norwegian shipping losses and the anti-German reaction caused by them. In spite of this the treaty was favorably concluded. However, there are now fresh rumors also in Norway that the Western Powers will demand from Sweden and Norway right of way f or troops to Finland . The Norwegian Foreign Ministry, now states definitely that so far the Western Powers have undertaken no diplomatic steps In Oslo or Stockholm and that no enquiries on the subject have been received ." Both countries are adhering unconditionally to their neutrality and would oppose any attempt by the Western Powers to send troops through Norway and Sweden by all the means in their power .

Report on the Fuehrer's instructions for the immediate formation of an Operations Staff for M Weseruebung , Commanding General, 21st Corps, General von Falkenhorst, is appointed head of the Operations Staff, Chiefs of Staff are appointed for the individual preparations by the three Services, (Captain Krancke for the Navy). A further order states that the forces of the Army and Air
Force engaged in "Weseruebung" shall be subordinate to the augmented 21st Corps Headquarters. The preparations required
to be made by the Navy and the forces to be provided are summarized. (Preliminary w,ork, preparations, transports, supplies, escort, coastal defense, submarine chase). This directive thus represents OKW's first order to the Navy regarding preparations for "Weseruebung".

Tromsoe has been omitted in the allocation of ports, so that six destroyers can be moved to Narvik. The Navy and Luftwaffe are to bear the brunt of the first operation. The 1st Sea Transport Unit is to be brought up later, as soon as the situation in the ports is under control. A working Staff will be formed within Operations Division, which is to commence the necessary preliminary work as quickly as possible, since the Fuehrer will possibly demand the execution of the operation at short notice.

Available forces (readiness as regards materiel, operational use, escort), embarkation, crossing, penetration into the ports, securing the ports from attack by sea, first landward defenses. Swift establishment of operational freedom for naval forces, reinforcements, supplies, escort of reinforcements, defense of the Skagerrak by means of mine barrages, coastal organization, Coastal Defense Commanders, North and South, combined command? Organization at home, plans for equipment and for exploitation of the area.

After 2 March Great Britain will stop all German deliveries of coal by sea bound for Italy and subject them to the contraband control.
Great Britain has made an offer to Italy to deliver to her the total amount of coal she is receiving from Germany and to take products of Italian heavy industry and agriculture in exchange.

This measure will have the severest repercussions on Italian war economy and is barefaced blackmail of Italy, According to the latest report from the Naval Attache, she was given the choice between delivering products of her heavy industry (arms, planes) to Great Britain in exchange for British coal and receiving no more coal at all by sea. Mussolini's rejection of the plan with respect to Germany has now been taken by Great- Britain as a pretext for the measures announced.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report

.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-61
Wilhelmshaven: U-26, U-46

At Sea 1 March 1940
U-17, U-20, U-28, U-29, U-32, U-38, U-49, U-50, U-52, U-62.
10 boats at sea

Northern Patrol
CA YORK departed Scapa on Northern Patrol. CA NORFOLK moved to "WR" station off North Cape to intercept German shipping (in response to the British governments new policy of pursuit into neutral waters, following the ALTMARK incident). The flag of CruSqn 2 transferred to depot ship FORTH.

The Northern Patrol from 1 to 14 March sighted 52 eastbound merchant ships and sent 12 into Kirkwall for inspection. Four German merchant ships were encountered and all four scuttled themselves to avoid capture. AMCs ASTURIAS and SCOTSTOUN arrived at the Clyde from Northern Patrol. AMCs WOLFE and DERBYSHIRE departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol. Air escort from Aldergrove was supplied for DERBYSHIRE.

North Sea
DD JAGUAR departed the Humber for Rosyth. On the 2nd, she was attacked by German aircraft off Longstones, but was able to drive the attack off without damage to herself, and arrived at Rosyth on the 2nd. Submarine THISTLE departed Rosyth and performed exercises in the Firth of Forth. Sloop GRIMSBY was in a collision with Italian steamer EDERA (5254grt) while berthing in the Tyne, but sustained no damage.

MT.21 departed Methil for the Tyne. In convoy MT.20, Latvian steamers ELIZABETE (2039grt) was damaged by LW bombers five miles east by south of Hartlepool Light Vessel and KATVALDIS (3208grt) off Scarborough. KATVALDIS was struck by two bombs, one of which did not explode. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 2nd.

Steamer BROTT (Nor 1583 grt) in FS.109 was machine gunned and bombed by German aircraft off Whitby, and the crew abandoned ship. The steamer waited in Bridlington Bay for tugs. DD JUNO, escort vessel VEGA and sloop STORK were escorting the convoy, one of the escorts picking up a lifeboat from BROTT.

Steamer DOMALA (8450grt) ran aground three cables east of Goodwin Knoll Buoy. Downs Guard Vessel GOODWIN, MSW trawler CALVI and a tug from Ramsgate stood by until she refloated herself without assistance at 1600.

OG.20 was formed from two convoys - (1) OA.100G, which departed Southend on 28 February, escorted by sloop BIDEFORD from 28 February to 2 March and destroyer WILD SWAN from 29 February to 3 March, and (2) OB.100G, which departed Liverpool escorted by sloop LEITH from 1 to 3 March and destroyer VENETIA from 1 to 2 March, with 31 ships. Both Liverpool escorts were detached to convoy HG.20. French destroyer TIGRE and escort vessel VIKINGS joined the convoy from 2 to 7 March. DD ACTIVE joined on the 6th, and the convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 7th.

Northern Waters
After delivering Fleet Tenders A and B (decoy ships PAKEHA and WAIMANA) to Scapa on the 1st, DD TARTAR departed Scapa Flow again that day. ASW trawler ASTON VILLA (546grt) was damaged in a collision with RFA PETRONEL at Aberdeen

West Coast UK
DDs FAULKNOR, FAME, FURY, FORESTER, MOHAWK arrived back in the Clyde after escorting BB MALAYA and AMC ASCANIA out of the declared area.

Central Atlantic
SLF.22 departed Freetown escort AMC MOOLTAN until 12 March. On the 11th convoy SL.22 merged with convoy SLF.22. On the 12th, sloops BRIDGEWATER, ROCHESTER and DDs AMAZON and VENETIA relieved the AMC. The convoys arrived on the 15th.

Med- Biscay
DD WILD SWAN, escorting convoy OA.100G, lost Probationary Midshipman R. R. Tett RNR overboard. HG.21F departed Gibraltar with 36 ships. Fr DD CHACAL and aux PV CAPITAINE ARMANDE escorted from 1 to 6 and 7 March, respectively. DDs WHIRLWIND from convoy OG.21F and WITCH escorted the convoy from 7 to 10 March, when it arrived at Liverpool.

DD BULLDOG and RAN DD WATERHEN arrived at Gibraltar.

Indian Ocean
CA SUSSEX departed Colombo 1 March to return to Home Waters. She reached Malta on the 10th, departed on the 12th, passed Gib on the 14th, and arrived at Liverpool on the 17th. There she began a refit that continued until 18 May when she joined Crusqn 1 operating with the Home Flt.

Far East/Pacific/Australia
Gunboats APHIS and LADYBIRD left Singapore and transferred to the Med. Fr CA SUFFREN arrived at Singapore for docking, and was undocked on the 7th.