This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning (1 Viewer)

[Njaco]

March 17 Sunday
ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-38 torpedoed and sank Danish merchant vessel "Argentina" east of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom at 2325 hours, killing the entire crew of 33.

GERMANY: Dr Fritz Todt was appointed the German Reich Minister for Armaments and Munitions.

UNITED KINGDOM: In the wake of a German raid on Scapa Flow, the British Admiralty admitted that the Home Fleet base was vulnerable to air attacks. The fleet was ordered to depart Scapa Flow between 19 and 26 Mar. In anticipation of this move, German submarines U-57, U-19, U-21, and U-22 began to move toward Scapa Flow in an attempt to attack the departing warships.

British miners from Nottinghamshire, England voted to forgo vacations to support the war effort.

NORTH AMERICA: An editorial published in The Charlotte News suggests that Romania will be absorbed by Nazi Germany in the same manner as Czechoslovakia. It suggests that Hitler intends the same fate for all of the Balkans as well as Scandinavia, the Low Countries and France.

.

 

[parsifal]

18 March 1940
Known Reinforcements
Spanish Eolo Class ML TRITON

Launched 24 Feb 1940, comm date uncertain
Allied
EX Brazillian DD HIGHLANDER, Fr CH-5 Class SC CH-9 (est)

Known Losses
MV TINA PRIMO (Ita 4861 grt): The cargo ship struck mines laid by the DKM HANONIA (aka Schiff11 / ULM) and was damaged in the North Sea off the east coast of Kent. She was taken in tow by KENJA but struck two more mines and sank with the loss of one of her 37 crew

Ships lost to Air Attack
Trawler PROTINUS (Ne 202 grt) was sunk by LW bombers of KG26 off Ijmuiden near Middle Rough Bank. Four crew were lost and submarine UNITY rescued seven crew members on the 25th.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Meeting between Hitler and Mussolini at the Brenner Pass. (For rumors about the subject of the conversations see Foreign Press. )

A change of Government in France is indicated as imminent. For the situation in France see Political Review No. 65, para 2.

The Rumanian Foreign Minister, Gafencu, emphasizes Rumania's desire for neutrality. Reconciliation of King Carol with the "Iron Guard".

It is confirmed from a reliable source that the Western Powers had made plans to occupy not only Narvik but also other
Scandinavian ports in the case of a landing in Norway.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report.

At Sea 18 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-7, U-9, U-19, U-20, U-24, U-28, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-59.
23 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CL MANCHESTER departed Scapa Flow on Northern Patrol

North Sea
DDs JERVIS, JAVELIN, JANUS departed the Humber for Scapa, however, whilst in transit, these DDs were diverted to pick up convoy ON.21 off Rosyth and escort the convoy to Norway. DDs COSSACK and GURKHA departed Rosyth at 1800 for Scapa where they arrived on the 19th.

DD BEDOUIN arrived at Scapa during the morning after refitting at Newcastle. DD IMOGEN reported a defective ASW transmitter. Submarines TRITON and NARWHAL arrived at Rosyth after patrol. On the 19th, submarine NARWHAL was docked at Rosyth for repairs to the muffler valves. Patrol sloops PINTAIL and SHEARWATER departed Harwich to establish an ASW patrol between Kentish Knock and a position 15 miles 130° from Kentish Knock.

HN.20 departed Bergen with 43 ships escort DDs ENCOUNTER, ESCORT, ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, KASHMIR, KIMBERLEY. Despite the protection of CLA CAIRO, on the 20th, LW a/c attacked HN.20 and ON.21. When the convoy split into sections, DDs ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER left the convoy with the 7 ships of the west coast section. The west coast section dispersed off Cape Wrath. On the 20th, ASW trawlers SCOTTISH (558grt) and IMPERIALIST (520grt) departed Kirkwall with three steamers for the convoy. They were ordered that if the convoy was not encountered to proceed independently to Methil. DDs ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER arrived at Scapa on the afternoon of the 21st. HN.20 arrived at Methil the morning of 22 March escort DDs KASHMIR (SO), KIMBERLEY, ESCORT, ESCAPADE.

OA.112 departed Southend escort DD WOLVERINE from 18 to 20 March and DD VANSITTART from 19 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 21st. FN.123 departed Southend, escort DDs WOOLSTON and VIVIEN and sloops VEGA and PELICAN.This convoy contained 14 ships of cancelled convoy FN.124. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 20th. Escort vessel VIMIERA was damaged in a collision with steamer CLERMISTON (1448grt) off Rosyth. There was only minor damage to both vessels. Escort vessel VIMIERA was repaired at Rosyth from 25 to 30 March. MT.33 of 25 ships departed Methil escort ASWGp 3 and supported by sloops LOWESTOFT and HASTINGS and DD VALOROUS. On arrival off the Tyne, the sloops and the DD escorted FS.124 from the Tyne.

TM.29 departed the Tyne escort ASWGP 1 and DD JUPITER. DD BRAZEN, which had departed Scapa on the 17th for Rosyth, was ordered to relieve DD JUPITER which was required at Scapa. After being relieved, en route to Scapa, DD JUPITER was diverted to Rosyth to escort ON.21.

Northern Waters
DDs IVANHOE and GRIFFIN departed Invergordon. IVANHOE arrived at Scapa later the same day, whilst GRIFFIN arrived at Aberdeen also later the same day.

West Coast UK
DDs ESKIMO and PUNJABI departed the Clyde at 1000 for Scapa escorting Tender C (dummy CVL HERMES - special service vessel MAMARI). On the 19th, DDs ESKIMO and PUNJABI joined the escort of damaged CA NORFOLK. DDs IVANHOE and GALLANT were detached from cruiser NORFOLK and took Tender C to Scapa, arriving on the 20th.

OB.112 departed Liverpool escort DDs VIMY and VENETIA from 18 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 23rd.

Nth Atlantic
HX.28 departed Halifax local escort RCN DDs SAGUENAY, SKEENA, OTTAWA. DD OTTAWA returned to Halifax after dark. The ewmINING ddS turned over the convoy to ocean escort BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN on the 19th. The BB was detached on the 27th. DDs ANTELOPE and WARWICK joined the convoy on the 27th, on its inbound leg in home waters, joined by DDs HAVOCK and VANESSA on the 28th, DD VIMY on the 29th. DDs HAVOCK and WARWICK were detached on the 28th, DD VIMY and VANESSA on the 28th, DD ANTELOPE on 2 April, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Med- Biscay
OG.22 was formed with forty nine ships from convoy OA.110G, which departed Southend on the 15th, escort DD WINDSOR on 15 and 16 March, DD WILD SWAN joining on the 26th, DD BROKE joining on the 17th, OB.110G, which departed Liverpool on the 15th, escort DD VANQUISHER and sloop FOLKESTONE. The convoy was later escorted by DDs BROKE and WILD SWAN from 18 to 20 March. Fr DD CHACAL and patrol vessel CAPITAINE ARMANDE escorted the convoy from 18 to 24 March. DD WISHART joined on the 21st and DD WRESTLER on the 23rd and both continued to Gib. The convoy arrived at Gib on the 24th. Sloop BIDEFORD, escortingOG.22F, attacked a submarine contact south of Cape St Vincent. Sloop FOWEY was in company also escorting this convoy. CLs CERES and COLOMBO arrived at Port Said.

 

[Njaco]

March 18 Monday
WESTERN FRONT: It was announced that a new organization had been created to maintain permanent liaison between British Colonial Office and French Ministry of Colonies.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German bombers of KG 26 attacked Dutch trawler "Protinus" off Ijmuiden, the Netherlands, killing several people including the captain and the first mate. 10 found their way to the lifeboat but 2 of them would perish before they were found by submarine HMS "Unity" 6 days later.

Italian collier 'Tina Primo' broke in two after explosion off South-East Coast of England.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler and Italian Premier Benito Mussolini meet for 2.5 hours at the Brenner Pass at the Austrian-Italian border to reaffirm their pact of Steel. In their first meeting since Munich, 1938, Mussolini makes vague promises to enter the war on the side of Germany "at an opportune moment", believing that Hitler is overoptimistic in his plans for dominance in Europe. Things will move faster than he thinks. From Rome came reports that Hitler had drawn up Eleven 'Peace Points' that Mr. Sumner Welles considered unacceptable, and that Mussolini arranged the Brenner meeting to get them modified.

.

 

[parsifal]

19 March 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
M Boote Type 1935 M-18

Known Losses
MV MINSK (Den 1226 grt) Crew: 20 (11 dead and 9 survivors) : Cargo: Ballast: Route: Manchester - Kirkwall - Esbjerg Sunk just outside Moray Firth. At 21.35 hours on 19 March 1940, U-19 (Kptlt. Joachim Schepke) spotted two steamers and attacked the first at 22.21 hours with one torpedo, which struck in the engine room and caused the MINSK to sink within six minutes. At 22.37 hours, a second torpedo was fired, which struck the CHARKOW and caused her to sink by the stern within four minutes. Nine survivors from MINSK were picked up by DD ESK and landed at Invergordon on 19 March.,

MV CHARKOW (Den 1026 grt) Crew:20 (20 dead - no survivors): Cargo: Ballast : Route: Manchester (12 Mar) - Kirkwall (19 Mar) - Methil - Esbjerg ; lost just outside the Moray Firth. At 21.35 hours on 19 March 1940, U-19 (Kptlt. Joachim Schepke) spotted two steamers and attacked the first at 22.21 hours with one torpedo, which struck in the engine room and caused the MINSK (see above) to sink within six minutes. At 22.37 hours, a second torpedo was fired, which struck the Charkow and caused her to sink by the stern within four minutes.

There were no survivors from CHARKOW, only a body on a raft was found off Peterhead on 26 March and wreckage drifted ashore near Fraserburgh.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

The chief item under consideration in the whole foreign press is the conference between Hitler and Mussolini, which is occasioning the wildest rumors.

According to information so far available to Naval Staff the conference has been most cordial and agreement has been
reached to a great extent.

U.S. Under Secretary of State Welles, who had postponed his departure because of the Hitler-Mussolini talks, will return
to New York on 20 March on board the CONTE DI SAVOIA. He stated before he left Rome that, contrary to all rumors,
none of the belligerents had submitted peace proposals and he, on his part, had made no overtures in this direction.

For Chamberlain's statement in the House of Commons see Foreign Press for 20 March. He describes the German air
raid on Scapa Flow as unsuccessful. Only one warship but no battleship was damaged.

The statement also gives the British attitude in the Russo- Finnish conflict and details of the aid promised and given
to Finland. Great Britain now knows that Germany threatened Norway and Sweden with intervention if the planned Franco-
British expedition took place and these two countries agreed to allow the Allies to pass through. Great Britain therefore
came to the conclusion that she must be ready to provide such forces that she could aid Sweden to defend herself in case
of a German attack. The expeditionary strength calculated on the principle amounted to roughly 100,000 fully equipped and armed troops. Plans were prepared according to which the landing of these troops was to commence in March and be completed before
the end of April.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-7

At Sea 19 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-9, U-19, U-20, U-24, U-28, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-59.
22 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CL NEWCASTLE arrived at Scapa from Northern Patrol. CL BIRMINGHAM arrived at Scapa Flow from refitting, soon thereafter the ship departed on Northern Patrol.

North Sea
DD JERVIS was involved in a collision with Swedish steamer TOR (1052grt) northeast of Blyth. DD JERVIS suffered extensive damage to her hull, both above and below the water line. Two crew were killed in the collision and fifteen crew were missing. DDs JAVELIN and JANUS stood by until DD JERVIS reached Newcastle. DD JERVIS was able to steam stern first under her own power to the Tyne. Tugs MALTA and WASHINGTON took her in tow when she arrived off South Shields. Steamer TOR was slightly damaged. DD JERVIS was repairing into the third week of June. DD MACKAY reported minor upper deck damage due to heavy weather. Sub SALMON departed Harwich and arrived that day at Sheerness. The submarine was refitting at Chatham from 21 March to 7 May.

ON.21 of 41 ships departed Methil at 1700 escort DDs JAVELIN, JUPITER, JUNO, ECLIPSE and were joined by DD JANUS which left Scapa. Submarine PORPOISE departed Rosyth to sail with the convoy. Three more merchant ships were detached prior to crossing the North Sea;one was detached at Dundee and two at Aberdeen. Tkr BRITISH TOMMY (UK 1411 grt) was to have proceeded in this convoy to salve oil from the grounded tanker GRETAFIELD at Dunbeath. ASW trawler ALOUETTE (520 grt) was to meet the tanker at sea for escort. However, on the 19th, GRETAFIELD broke up and the attempt was cancelled. DD IVANHOE escorted base ship MANCHESTER CITY from Scapa to Kirkwall. DD IVANHOE then left Kirkwall with fifteen ships for convoy ON.21. The group joined the convoy at 1900. These ships are included in the sailing breakdown from Methil. It was this portion of convoy ON.21 that was attacked by German bombers on the 20th. Despite the protection of CLA CAIRO, on the 20th, German bombers of KG26 attacked convoys HN.20 and ON.21. The convoy arrived at Bergen on the 23rd.

DD BRILLIANT covered the MSWs of the MSW Flot 10 in operations between North Goodwin Light Vessel and Fairy Bank Buoy. DD AFRIDI completed her refit began on 17 January at Hartlepool. Submarine STERLET departed Harwich for patrol. FS.124 departed the Tyne escort sloop LOWESTOFT, DD VALOROUS, sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st.

TM.30 of nine ships departed the Tyne escorted by the ASW Gp 3 and DD VIVIEN. Off North Rona at 0930, ASWs ASTON VILLA (546grt) and GAUL (550grt) attacked a submarine contact. ASW trawler CAPE PASSARO (510grt) later attacked a contact at this location. At 1700, ASW trawler ANGLE (531grt) attacked a submarine contact off North Rona.

Northern Waters
BBs RODNEY, VALIANT and WARSPITE with DDs HARDY (D.2), HERO, HUNTER, HASTY, HOTSPUR, HYPERION, HOSTILE of DesFlot 2, and FORESTER and FEARLESS of DesFlot 8 departed Scapa at 1500. BCs REPULSE and RENOWN with DDs INGLEFIELD (D.3), ILEX, DIANA, DELIGHT of DesFlot 3, BEDOUIN of DesFlot 6, and DD FORTUNE of the DesFlot 8 also departed Scapa at 1500. While at sea, the Home Flt would cover the movement of convoys HN.20 and ON.21 and the Operation DU activities.

A German submarine was sighted near Holm Sound between 1730 and 1800 about 250 yards seaward of the blockships. DDs departed Scapa between 2030 and 2100 to carry out Sweeps of the area. DDs FOXHOUND and FIREDRAKE searched the area to seaward. DD FOXHOUND attacked a submarine contact at 2135 off Grimness. DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, MATABELE, SIKH, FORESIGHT searched Scapa with ASW trawlers. DD FAME patrolled the north end of Gutter Sound. The search was abandoned at 0030/20th. DD SIKH proceeded to the anchorage to cover ships anchored in Scapa. DD FAME assigned a station to cover the entrance to Gutter Sound.

Channel
CV ARK ROYAL escort DDs ARROW, ISIS, SHIKARI departed Portsmouth for Portland.

SW Approaches
OB.113GF departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers WAKEFUL and WINCHELSEA, merged with convoy OA.113GF, escorted by sloop LEITH, to form OG.23F of forty ships on the 22nd.

DD WAKEFUL and WINCHELSEA were detached to convoy HG.23 F. Sloop LEITH escorted the convoy to 23 March. The convoy was joined by armed boarding vessel SAGITTA from 22 to 25 March and destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE Portsmouth and Devonport, respectively, from 22 to 28 March when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar.

Med- Biscay
MSWs PANGBOURNE and ROSS departed Gibraltar for England for duty in Home Waters.

 

[parsifal]

20 March 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
RaumBootes R-44 and R-45
Image source: Raumboots, NOT S-Boots on Friday

Raum Bootes after R-16 increased in size from the original 60foot design to sizes similoar to S-Bootes. They were slower, but more seaworthy than S Boats. They were to become a mainstay of the DKM, utilised in a wide variety of roles.

Known Losses
MV VIKING (Den 1153 grt) Crew:17 (15 dead and 2 survivors): Cargo: Ballast: Route: Frederikshavn - Blyth ; sunk outside moray Firth. U-19 had already sunk two Danish vessels in this location the previous evening (several hours previously). At 04.15 hours on 20 March 1940, U-19 spotted two steamers northeast of the Moray Firth and 20 minutes later fired a G7a torpedo that missed the first ship. At 04.57 hours, a G7e torpedo was fired that struck VIKING in the engine room and caused the ship to sink immediately. The second steamer was BOTHAL, which was hit amidships by a G7e torpedo at 05.15 hours and sank after breaking in two.

MV BOTHAL (Den 2109 grt) Crew:20 (15 dead and 5 survivors) : Cargo: Ballast : Route: Frederikshavn - Blyth ; Details of this vessels loss are outlined above

MV AGNES ELLEN (UK 293 grt) The coaster departed from Holyhead, Anglesey for Workington, Cumberland carrying bricks. No further trace.

ASW trawler LADY PHILOMENA (417grt) collided with trawler LOWDOCK (UK 276 grt) east of Todd Head. LOWDOCK sank immediately and the LADY PHILOMENA was able to rescue only one survivor.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr PHOBOS (Ne 10564 grt): The tanker struck a mine laid by the HANONIA (aka SCHIFF 11 / ULM) near North Goodwin, explosion took place in tanks 5 6. Contrary to many reports, she dos not sink. She was towed to Rotterdam for repairs, but fell into German hands when Rotterdam was overrun. On 26-8-1940 she was seized by Germans, during repairs at Schiedam. Renamed THANN by DKM, she finally sank 29-12-1944 after she again struck a mine (again of German origin) near Darsser port and broke in two.
New Source: Shell tanker 'Phobos' | Helderline.nl

Ships lost to Air Attack
MV SVINTA (Nor 1267 grt): Part of a group of 15 ships that departed to join ON 21. 9 Heinkels attacked the 15 ships on their way eastwards from Kirkwall to join ON 21. 3 of the Heinkels were driven off by 2 Skuas, which were with this section of the convoy. At 19:15 that afternoon, 15-20 bombs were dropped by the remaining 6 a/c, damaging 3 ships, which put in to Kirkwall. One of them, the SVINTA had to be towed by the tug St. MELLONS. An explosion then occurred, the reason/source for this explosion has not been positively identified. Some sources attribute this explosion to a torpedo hit from either U-57 or U-22, but there are strong reasons to doubt either of these U-Boats were in any way connected to the loss. After this explosion, SVINTA sank 4.75 nautical miles east of Copinsay, Orkney Islands. The most likely final cause for her loss is now believed to be from striking a mine.

MV BARN HILL (UK 5439 grt): Crew: 40 crew (5 lost) : Cargo: Canned Food and Aluminium Ingots : Route: London to Halifax The cargo ship was bombed and damaged in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south south west of Beachy Head, East Sussex by Heinkel He 111 aircraft of KG26. She was beached south east of Langney Point but broke her back on 26 March, a total loss.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Daladler's Government has resigned. Former Finance Minister Reynaud is entrusted with the formation of a new Government. He is endeavoring to form a coalition Cabinet. Reynaud is avowedly anti-German and is described as the greatest warmonger of the former Cabinet. He has always been in favor of the closest cooperation between France and Great Britain.
Chamberlain stated in a debate in the House of Commons that no proofs can be produced of German violation of Norwegian
neutrality. The British Navy end the R.A.F. had kept constant watch for this on the Norwegian coast. If the Navy had spotted
German warships even once, it would not have hesitated to penetrate into territorial waters to attack such a ship.

The 10th FliegerKorps attacked the convoy reported about 60 miles southeast of the Shetlands in the evening. Following reports by shadowing reconnaissance planes, 26 planes of the 26th KG were sent out and attacked 14 vessels in the convoy. Several 250 kg. and 50 kg. bomb hits were scored. Convoy split up. According to the FG X report, 6-8 ships were so severely damaged that it can be assumed they were sunk or destroyed. Further steamers suffered slight damage. Fighter and AA defense from the convoy. Strong defense by medium and light anti-aircraft guns from anti-aircraft cruisers and minesweepers. One enemy fighter shot down. One of our own planes missing. The 10th Air Corps has again achieved excellent results in guiding the bomber forces by good shadowing and by attacking with such great success. The convoy was on its way from Norway to Great Britain. It can be assumed from the nature of the hits and from the explosions that there were steamers in the convov carrying ammunition (taken over from U.S. ships in Norway). A plane belonging to the FK Xs 1 leading flight successfully attacked the steamer BARSHELL in the Channel south of Brighton. The (RN) Admiralty admits the sinking or damaging of several neutral steamers (Swedish, Norwegian) ; it denies, however, any damage to or loss of British ships.

FKX claims were again shown in postwar research to to be wildly over-optimistic. It was to become a common feature for the LW. The air forces of all nations suffered from this kind of inaccurate reporting, but the LW reporting was markedly more so than most, except the Japanese.

It is reported from Bergen that the transport which arrived there a few days ago with French troops - said to be about 300
men - carried 50-100 French officers and men (Chasseurs Alpins), who were bound for Finland and are now to be transported back
to France.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-9, U-20, U-24, U-56 , U-59

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-22

At Sea 20 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-19, U-22, U-28, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-57.
18 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CL SOUTHAMPTON arrived at Scapa from Northern Patrol.

North Sea
CL EDINBURGH entered the dockyard at South Shields, Tyne, started an extensive refit for structural defects which was not completed until 20 October 1940.

MT.34 departed Methil escort ASW Gp 19, sloop LONDONDERRY, DD VIMIERA. On arrival off the Tyne, sloop LONDONDERRY and DD VIMIERA escorted FS. 125. FN.125 departed Southend, escort DD WALLACE and sloop FLAMINGO. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 22nd. FS.125 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY from MT.34. DD BEAGLE was covering the operations of the MSW Flot 10 between the North Goodwin Light and Fairy Ban Buoy. DD BEAGLE also covered the operations on the 21st. DD KEITH arrived at Dover after repairs. Sub SUNFISH in the North Sea sighted a darkened ship, identified possibly as German training ship BREMSE. Attack was not possible. MSW Flot 5 (6 MSWs att) arrived at Dover from the Humber. .

German Naval Attache personnel in Oslo reported 60 British warships had been sighted off Egersund. All German submarines proceeding to sea were ordered to positions off the Norwegian coast. U.21 and U.22, en route to Pentland Firth, were ordered to patrol areas off Lindesnes. DD ZULU departed Leith after repairs for Rosyth, where she arrived that day.

Northern Waters
DD FORTUNE of BC REPULSE's screen dropped DCs on a contact northeast of Muckle Flugga. CLs ARETHUSA, AURORA, PENELOPE, GALATEA of CruSqn 2 with DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, MATABELE, SIKH, FAME, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT departed Scapa at 2330 on Operation DU. The force was divided into two groups; Force B and Force C , each 2 CLs and 4 DDs. Both Force B and C swept together off the Norwegian coast northward. The only contact of the operation was at 0922/22nd when DD SOMALI encountered small steamer BUTT (Ger 736 grt) near Obrestad. However, BUTT was able to escape into Norwegian waters. Naval whaler WINDERMERE (560grt) of the ASW Gp 10 was damaged by bombers of KG26 in Moray Firth, north of Kinnaird Head.

West Coast UK
CL GLASGOW completed repairs at Glasgow. In the early morning hours, AMCs CILICIA, departing the Clyde, and CARINTHIA, arriving in the Clyde, these ships collided with each other .

 

[v2]

...

 

[Njaco]

March 19 Tuesday
GERMANY: 30 Whitleys and 20 Hampden RAF bombers attacked the German seaplane base on Sylt Island, but with little effect. Meanwhile, 8 Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys of 10 Squadron No. 4 Group RAF Bomber Command dropped 1,500 pounds of bombs over the German float plane base at Hornum without causing any damage. One plane failed to return. The raid, publicly disclosed in the House of Commons by the prime minister as it was happening, is a reprisal for the German bombing of Scapa Flow three days ago in which six sailors and a civilian were killed.

Yosuke Matsuoka departed Berlin, Germany.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-19 sank Danish steamer "Minsk" in the Moray Firth, Scotland at 0935 hours, killing 11. Destroyer HMS "Esk" rescued 9 survivors. At 1037 hours, U-19 struck again, sinking Danish steamer "Charkow", killing the entire crew of 20.

British destroyer HMS "Jervis" collided with Swedish steamer "Tor" northeast of Blyth, England at 0300 hours, killing 2 aboard "Jervis". She would be under repair until Jul 1940.

Ten German bombers attacked a convoy, consisting almost entirely of neutral ships, off Scottish coast. They were engaged by escorting warships and planes of the Fleet Air Arm and Coastal Command. No damage or casualties were incurred by HM ships or aircraft. Three small neutral vessels were damaged: Norwegian 'Svinta' and 'Tora Elise' and Swedish 'Utklippan.' One Heinkel was damaged as were several others during the engagement. Admiralty later announced that two more ships in the convoy had been damaged: British Steamer 'Northern Coast' and Norwegian 'Erling Lindoe'

UNITED KINGDOM: Members of the British House of Commons debated Britain's lack of action during the Winter War and criticized Prime Minister Chamberlain. Chamberlain makes a detailed statement in the Commons on British plans and actions on Finland's behalf. A 100,000-strong Anglo-French expeditionary force could not be sent due to the refusal of entry by Norway and Sweden. Large quantities of arms ammunition, equipment and aircraft (152) had been delivered or promised. Chamberlain noted that Finland never officially requested British military aid.

It was announced that up to March 13, 12816 ships had been convoyed by the British Navy and of those only 28 sunk whilst under protection.

WESTERN FRONT: The French Parliament criticized Prime Minister Daladier for the French inaction during the Winter War. Daladier, the French prime minister, is forced to resign. He has been criticized for failing to bring effective help to Finland. In France this has been seen as a way for the Allies to seize the initiative in the war and take the fighting away from French soil and, by association, avoid all the horrors of World War I.

NORTH AMERICA: The first strong condemnation of Nazism by an official representative of the US government takes place. The American ambassador in Canada, James Cromwell, declares that Hitler's Germany is openly trying to destroy the social and economic order on which the government of the United States is based.

.

 

[Njaco]

March 20 Wednesday
ATLANTIC OCEAN: 1(F)./122 sent off a single He 111H on a sortie covering the Shetlands/Bergen/Enge area. East of Sumburgh convoy HN 20 "Alice" was spotted. The make up of the convoy was reported by the crew as a cruiser, three destroyers and forty merchantmen, the heading being reported as southwest. When Fleigerkorps X received this information it immediately dispatched a further 3 He 111s of 1(F)./122 together with 13 He 111s of I./KG 26 and another 14 He 111s of I I./KG 26. (The bomber formations departed their bases about one hour apart during the afternoon. German bombers attack the HMS "Barn Hill" three miles southeast of Beachy Head, England. The ship is damaged and towed to Langley Point the next day.

Towards the evening another 1(F)./122 crew spotted a convoy NE of Ratray Head and after an interval of about an hour this too was attacked, this time by another 14 He111s of KG 26.

German submarine U-19 sank Danish steamer "Viking" in the Moray Firth, Scotland at 0500 hours, killing 15; 2 survived. At 0515 hours, she sank Danish steamer "Bothal", killing 15; 5 survived.

Norwegian ship 'Svinta' damaged whilst in convoy on Wednesday, was sunk by U-boat.

British bombers sank converted minesweeper "Sperrbrecher 12" (former steamer "Altenfels") off the Dutch coast.

HMS "Fortune" sank German submarine U-44 off Narvik, Norway.

WESTERN FRONT: French General Maurice-Gustave Gamelin orders that if Germany attacks, seven divisions should race through Belgium to the Dutch border.

M Paul Reynaud formed a new cabinet. Nine members are to form an inner War Cabinet. M Daladier remains as Minister for National defense and War and three Socialists are included.

GERMANY: German submarine U-22 departed Wilhelmshaven. Communications with the submarine was lost shortly after, its crew of 27 was never seen again.

ASIA: Chinese troops attacked Japanese-occupied Wuyuan, Suiyuan Province, China.

EASTERN EUROPE: Lavrentiy Beria dispatched 11 NKVD killing squads to Ukraine and Byelorussia to arrest, execute, and deport resistance elements.

The USSR forbids alliance between Finland, Norway and Sweden.

.

 

[parsifal]

21 March 1940
Known Losses
MV ALGIER (Den 1654 grt): Crew: 23 (5 dead and 18 survivors): Cargo:General cargo, including 302 tons of copper, 228 tons of tin, 130 bottles of mercury and 11 Studebaker motor cars : Route: New York - Oslo - Copenhagen . Sunk west of the Orkney Islands. At 0105, the cargo ship was hit by a G7a stern torpedo fired by U-38. Survivors were rescued by Trawler MANX KING (UK), and landed at Scalloway.

Two hours layer at 0326 U-38 struck again. MV CHRISTIANSBORG (Den 3270 grt): Crew:25 (1 dead and 24 survivors) :Cargo: 4107 short tons of maize : Route : Philadelphia - Frederikhavn - Copenhagen : Sunk west of the Orkney Islands. The after part of CHRISTIANBORG was sunk by gunfire from armed boarding vessel DISCOVERY II later the same day, who also rescued the surviving crew. These survivors were landed at Kirkwall.

Paddle Steamer GONDILIER (UK 250 grt): The paddle steamer ferry was scuttled as a block ship in Water Sound, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands.

Still adhering to the rules of warfare for submarines, on the night of the 21st/22nd March, S.S. HEDDERNHEIM (Ger 4,947 grt) was intercepted in the Skaggerak north east of Skagen by H.M. Submarine URSULA. After the crew were safe in their boats, in flat calm weather, the ship was torpedoed. The CO log of the URSULA provides a good profile of the difficulties faced by the RN submarine arm at this time. 2146 hours -

"Sighted a dim lights of a ship. Closed to investigate. When close signalled the ship to stop. This they did not do. After another attempt the ship was seen to increase speed so a practice round was fired with the gun as a warning shot. The ship now stopped and was asked to identify her self. She signalled 'Estonian'. Meanwhile Ursula crossed close astern of the ship and with the Aldis light the name 'Heddernheim - Bremen' could be read. The crew was ordered to abandon ship. Meanwhile they were also signalling. The crew eventually sent a boat over but this all took a very long time, it was obvious they were 'buying time'. Once again they were ordered to abandon ship, which they did but again very slow. A second warning round was now fired and this speeded up things a bit.".

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Strong pro-British statements by U.S. President Roosevelt, who is especially in favor of large-scale deliveries of planes to the Western Powers. No hesitation in exporting even the most modern types of planes to Great Britain and France.

Pro-allied sympoathies in the US were increasing, but still restrained at this time.

Report by Oberregierungrat Dr. Ing. Hagemann on the assessment of British protective and defense measures against the German
magnetic mine. The enemy is undoubtedly on the right lines in placing cable loops around the hull. Roughly 50 per cent protection can be achieved with well set loops. There are, however, great difficulties in the way of large-scale use of this protective

DKM war diary then goes into a lengthy discussion as to the options available on modifications that can be made to the LMB type, and estimates that given the need to introduce widespread countermeasures throughout the merchant fleet as well as the Navy, it would be at least a year before effective countermeasures would be available to the allies. In fact degaussing was already underway, and sweeping technologies already being introduced. Special wooden constructed minehunters were already under construction and development of magnetic towed arrays had been designed. German mine technologies were constantly being changed and improved for the remainder of the war, making them always a dangerous threat at any time, but the threat posed by the pre-war technology was rapidly being brought under control. Within weeks, the DKM would be introducing new type magnetic mines (but without of course any stockpiles for en effective "shock and awe" campaign, and always limited production capability). The "battle of the boffins" would continue until the end of the war, but mines would never again be as deadly to Allied shipping as they had been in late 1939 to early 1940.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report.

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-20, U-21

At Sea 21 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-19, U-21, U-22, U-28, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-57.
19 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
OA.114 departed Southend escort DD ANTELOPE from 21 to 23 March, DD AMAZON from 22 to 23 March, DD WINDSOR on the 23rd. The convoy dispersed on the 24th. OA.114 departed Southend escotted by destroyer ANTELOPE from 21 to 23 March, destroyer AMAZON from 22 to 23 March, destroyer WINDSOR on the 23rd. The convoy dispersed on the 24th.

MT.35 of 8 ships departed Methil escort ASW Gp 1 and and sloops FLEETWOOD and STORK. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.126 of 32 ships from the Tyne, fMiddlesbrough, and the Humber departed escort sloops FLEETWOOD STORK and ASW trawler LADY PHILOMENA (417grt). The convoy arrived at Southend on the 23rd. Due to increased U-boat activity in Moray Firth, DD IVANHOE and 3 trawlers on patrol in the Firth were placed under the control of Vice Admiral, Orkneys and Shetlands. DDs ESK, EXPRESS, IMPULSIVE, ICARUS were placed under the orders of Vice Admiral Orkneys and Shetlands.

Off Fro Havet near Trondheim, DDs FEARLESS and HASTY entered Norwegian territorial waters to challenge steamer NORDLAND (Ger 1902 grt), which was travelling under the protection of Norwegian torpedo boat TRYGG. FEARLESS was ordered away, but attempted again at Hustad, again unsuccessfully, to intercept the German ship. This search continued from 0645 to 1415. Wartime press reports and some postwar accounts identify this German ship as liner EUROPA (49,746grt) which remained anchored at Bremerhaven from pre war days throughout the war. German steamer NEUENFELS (8096grt) was challenged by two DDs of Operation DU near Lindesnes on the 22nd and escaped into Rosfjord.

The Admiralty commences the implementation of a safe corridors policy along the east coast (and parts of the west coast) of Britain which incorporates a series of searched channels for mines. Checks are conducted daily in these channels for the remainder of the war. On this day eight Magnetic Mines and a larger number of contact types are found and destroyed

Northern Waters
Base ship DUNLUCE CASTLE caught fire at Scapa, and was beached in Ore Bay until the fire was brought under control. CLA CAIRO and DDs HOSTILE, DIANA, FORESTER arrived at Sullom Voe at 0700 to refuel. The DDs departed at 1835 to rejoin the Fleet. CLA CALCUTTA departed Sullom Voe for duty as the AA ship for the Norwegian convoys. CLA CURLEW arrived at Scapa. DD JUPITER, detached from ON.21, arrived at Scapa with condenser trouble. DD JUNO arrived at Scapa after repairs and was dispatched to replace destroyer JUPITER in convoy ON.21. DDs ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER departed Scapa to Skerry Sound to guard the harbour entrance to Scapa after the Tower of Cliff battery fired on a U-boat in Holm Sound. The destroyers took up patrol in Skerry Sound to guard the eastern entrance to Scapa. ENCOUNTER attacked a contact in Stronsay Firth, later shown to be a wreck. Sub CLYDE departed Blyth for Scapa.

Subs SNAPPER and SUNFISH were ordered to intercept German steamer CHARLOTTE CORDS (1779grt), which was reported preparing to depart Rotterdam for Germany. Submarine SEAL was ordered to intercept German steamer JOHANN BLUMENTHAL (1626grt) off Arendal on the 23rd. Neither German ship was intercepted.

UK - France
SA.33 of one steamer departed Southampton, escort sloops FOXGLOVE and ROSEMARY. The convoy arrived at Brest on the 23rd.

SW Approaches
DDs WOLVERINE, VANSITTART, VIMY, VENETIA departed Plymouth to sweep prior to meeting HX.26.

Nth Atlantic
HX.29 departed Halifax escorted by RCN DDs OTTAWA and ST LAURENT. The DDs turned over the convoy to AMC AUSONIA and Fr sub SIDI FERRUCH on the 22nd. The AMC was detached on 2 April. DDs VERSATILE and WINCHELSEA escorted the convoy in home waters, and the convoy arrived at Liverpool 4 April.
.
Med- Biscay
HG.23 with 36 ships departed Gib and was given ocean escort by sloops SCARBOROUGH and WELLINGTON from 21 to 30 March. In Home Waters, the convoy split and convoy HG.23A was escorted by the sloops. In Home Waters, convoy HG.23 was joined by DDs CAMPBELL and WALKER from convoy OG.23 and DD VOLUNTEER from 27 to 30 March. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 30th.
Fr DD SIMOUN arrived at Gib from Casablanca and sailed for Toulon.

Far East/Pacific/Australia
CL DANAE departed Singapore on patrol duties

 

[parsifal]

22 March 1940
Known Losses
MV BRAVORE (Nor 2240 grt): Departed Tyne in the evening of March 20th 1940 in convoy for Rouen with a cargo of 1991 tons coal. According to "Nortraships flåte" she had a crew of 19 and 5 French soldiers.

At the mouth of the Thames on the 22nd the convoy was split up, with some of the ships heading for London, while BRAVORE and 4 other vessels (2 of which were French, 1 British) continued to The Downs. Captain Tjorve became the first Nortraship captain to die when BRAVORE struck an aerial mine about 4 nautical miles off Ramsgate.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

New French Government under Paul Reynaud has been formed.

"France is involved in total war. A powerful, well-organized and resolute enemy is using every means of warfare to gain his ends. He has the traitorous support of the U.S.S.R. and is carrying the battle into all areas with a destructive genius that we recognize and which is at the same time grandiose and hateful. This is a total war. Victory means to save all, defeat means to lose all." The vote of confidence was passed by only 268 votes against 156, with 111 abstentions. A Council of War has been formed within the Cabinet, consisting of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for the Colonies, the Finance Minister, the Minister for the Blockade and the Minister of National Defense (Daladier), which is to meet three times a week.

The sinking of the steamer HEDDERNHEIM by a— submarine east of Skagen points to the fact that the British have at last made
up their minds about the necessity and possibility of an operation against German ore shipping in the Skagerrak. Germany has been expecting this step for a long time, especially since all ore traffic has had to be diverted via the Skagerrak to the North Sea for more than two months as the result of the ice situation in the entrances to the Baltic and was therefore exposed to strong enemy attack. The enemy's previous complete inactivity has, therefore, been quite incomprehensible for a long time.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-20

At Sea 22 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-19, U-21, U-22, U-28, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-57.
19 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
AMCs MALOJA and DERBYSHIRE arrived in the Clyde after Northern Patrol. AMC TRANSYLVANIA departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol.

North Sea
DD ZULU after conducting a full calibre shoot in the Firth arrived at Rosyth. HN.21 with 39 ships departed Bergen escort DDs JAVELIN, JANUS, ECLIPSE and submarine PORPOISE. DD JUNO rendezvoused with the convoy later that same day. Cover for the convoy was supplied by CL SHEFFIELD. AA support was supplied by CLA CALCUTTA. Later that evening SHEFFIELD attacked a submarine contact west of Utvaer, and at 0215/23rd, a contact east of Muckle Flugga. The nine ships of the west coast ships were joined by DDs COSSACK and GURKHA, which had departed the Clyde at noon on the 21st, at daylight on the 22nd. COSSACK and GURKHA arrived at Scapa after the west coast section of the convoy had been dispersed off Cape Wrath. ECLIPSE, which had been separated in heavy weather, patrolled off Buchanness until she could rejoin the convoy.

HN.21 arrived at Methil in the late morning of the 25th with JAVELIN, JANUS, JUNO, ECLIPSE and PORPOISE. DDs ELECTRA and ESCAPADE at 1050 were ordered to hunt a U-boat reported by air near Sule Skerry. At 1830, an a/c sighted a U-boat. ELECTRA and ESCAPADE were ordered to this position and arrived on station at 2000.

Sub SEAWOLF departed Harwich on patrol. Sub TRIBUNE departed Rosyth for trials and exercises, and returned later in the day. Her engine trials were not satisfactory and she was ordered to the Clyde for repairs.

TM.31 departed the Tyne escort ASW Gp 19 and sloop HASTINGS. FN.126 departed Southend escort sloop LOWESTOFT and DD VALOROUS. The convoy arrived on the 23rd.

Northern Waters
DDs ESKIMO and PUNJABI departed the Clyde at 2200 escorting tkrs WAR PINDARI (5559grt) and BELGOL (2648grt) to Scapa. Tkr PETROBUS joined the convoy from Stornoway. She had been at Stornoway since 17 March when her escort was ordered post haste to Scapa. DDs DELIGHT, HUNTER, ILEX, FEARLESS arrived at Sullom Voe at 1630 for refuelling. They put to sea at 0740/23rd. Sub SWORDFISH departed Blyth on patrol.

ASW trawler LE TIGER (516grt) was damaged when she struck wreckage off Aberdeen. Another trawler of ASW Gp 10 was sent to assist and she safely arrived at Aberdeen later that day.

West Coast UK
BB BARHAM was undocked at Liverpool. CL GLASGOW departed Belfast for the Clyde where she arrived later that day.

Channel
CV ARK ROYAL, after deplaning at Portland, sailed from Plymouth for the Med the afternoon of 22 March escort DDs IMOGEN and ISIS which returned to Portsmouth the next day. On the 25th, ARK ROYAL was joined by DDs ACTIVE and BULLDOG, which departed Gib on the 24th. RAN DD VOYAGER departed on the 25th and relieved DD ACTIVE. ARK ROYAL, BULLDOG and VOYAGER passed Gib on the 25th and arrived at Malta on the 28th. She soon joined CV GLORIOUS for training exercises for their air crews. The training at this time was extremely intense, as some officers in the RN began to appreciate the vital significance carrier borne a/c would be playing in future operations.

DD BOADICEA was covering the operations of MSWFlot 10 between North Goodwin Bank and Fairy Bank Buoy.MSW LEDA of MSW Flot 5 with Trinity House Vessel ARGUS laid three light buoys along the North Goodwins-Wandelaar search corridor

DDs HAVELOCK and HAVANT arrived at Plymouth. DD WHITSHED, escorting convoy SL.23, dropped DCs on a submarine contact ten miles south of Portland Bill. DD HIGHLANDER, which had arrived at Portland that day to work up, departed Portland to assist. However, with defective ASW gear, DD HIGHLANDER was recalled. MA/SBs 2 and 6 also departed Portland to assist WHITSHED.

UK - France
After departing Brest on the 17th and calling at Cherbourg, Fr submarine depot ship JULES VERNE arrived at Harwich with 600 ton submarines SYBILLE, ANTIOPE, AMAZONE of the Fr SubDiv 16, escort Fr DD FOUDROYANT and sloop AMIRAL MOUCHEZ. In the Downs, the Fr escort was relieved by RN DD CODRINGTON and ORP DDs BLYSKAWICA, GROM, BURZA of ORP DesFlot1. These ships were formed as the SubFlot10 to aid the British in the patrol of the North Sea.

BC.31 with steamers BARON CARNEGIE, KERMA, LOCHEE, PEMBROKE COAST, SCHOLAR (Commodore) departed Bristol Channel escort DD VIVACIOUS. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 24th.

Central Atlantic
SL.25 departed Freetown escort AMC ESPERANCE BAY until 5 April. On 5 April DDs HAVANT, VANQUISHER, WALKER, WINDSOR joined the convoy and escorted it to its arrival on 8 April.

Indian Ocean
CA KENT completed her refit at Colombo.

 

[Njaco]

March 21 Thursday
GERMANY: The Kommodore of KG 51, Ob. Dr. Johann-Volkmar Fisser is transferred to KG 77 as Kommodore in place of Generalmajor Wolf von Stutterheim.

WESTERN FRONT: Paul Reynaud was named the Prime Minister of France.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-38 sank neutral Danish merchant ship "Algier" 15 miles north of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom at 0100 hours, killing 5; British trawler "Manx King" rescued 18 survivors At 0326, U-38 torpedoed another Danish ship, "Christiansborg", killing 1; HMS "Discovery II" rescued 24 survivors from the damaged Danish ship.

A 1(F)./122 He 111H-3 ran out of fuel while spotting convoys in the Shetlands - Orkneys area for KG 26 and force landed near Flensburg on return; 2 killed and 1 injured.

ASIA: Chinese troops captured Japanese-occupied Wuyuan, Suiyuan Province, China.

EASTERN EUROPE: Semyon Timoshenko was made a Hero of the Soviet Union for the first time and the Order of Lenin for the second time.

.

 

[Njaco]

March 22 Friday
WESTERN FRONT: Lt. Harald Jung of I./JG 20 claims his Gruppe's first victory by shooting down a Spitfire of the UK based Photographic Development Unit (PDU), the first reconnaissance plane of its kind to be brought down. The Spitfire, crashing northwest of Kleve at 1245 hours is also Lt. Jung's first victory of the war.

In French counterintelligence, Colonel Paul Paillole reports that Germans had suddenly begun to study routes from Sedan to Abbeville. He concludes that an attack through Belgium toward the English Channel seemed imminent.

French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud keeps his predecessor Édouard Daladier as Minister of War. Due to their opposite political views and personal animosity, Reynaud and Daladier cannot agree or cooperate on any plan, which hampers French war planning and especially complicates the alliance with the British.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarines sank 7 neutral ships.

The Royal Navy increased patrols in Norwegian waters.

British Admiralty announced that on previous evening a British submarine intercepted Nazi iron-ore ship 'Hiddernheim' 8 miles north of Denmark and sank her, after ensuring safety of crew.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Soviet military personnel began to arrive at the Hanko Peninsula in Finland, which had been leased by the Soviet Union as part of the Moscow Peace Treaty that ended the Winter War. The area is renamed Hangö by the Soviets.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British government was warned of the possibility of a German nuclear weapon.

ASIA: Chinese troops secured major roads leading into Wuyuan, Suiyuan Province, China. A small Japanese force was immediately deployed to counterattack, with more troops being transferred to reinforce the counteroffensive.

American gunboat USS "Asheville" arrived at Gulangyu island, an international zone, near Xiamen, China.

.

 

[parsifal]

23 March 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
S-33 S Boote

Allied
Hunt Class Escort DD (for convenience referred to as TB) ATHERSTONE - Boom defence vessel BARNDALE

ATHERSTONE was the first of a large class of escort destroyers. Following working up at Portland, she was attached to the Home Fleet. Hunt Class were good ships, but too small and too slow to operate with the fleet, and too short ranged and not good enough as sea boats to operate as ocean escorts. They also suffered by having full turbine engines, an expensive luxury that Britain could not really afford. On the other hand they were better armed than most fleet DDs for AA work.

Known Losses
EDMUND HUGO STINNES IV (Ger 2189 grt): en route to Copenhagen, the ship was intercepted by submarine TRUANT ( misidentified as TRIDENT in Seekrieg) in the Skagerrak six miles 306° from Bovbjerg. The submarine fired five warning shots, but the German steamer entered territorial waters, scuttled herself and was finished off by TRUANT with two torpedoes two miles 294° from Thors Minde Light House. The Master was taken prisoner.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Lookout trawler LOCH ASSATER (RN 210 grt): The vessel was sunk on a British defensive minefield 61 miles north east of Kinnaird Head. The entire crew was picked up by trawler STRATHTUMMEL (210grt). .


DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

1. Conference on the state of "Weseruebung^. The LUTZOW's breakthrough to the Atlantic is adhered to in principle. The possibility of removing the LUETZCW from "Weseruebung" and replacing her by the BLUCHER is being examined. Naval Staff sees no objection to using the BLUCHER for this assignment.
2. The British main radio code procedure underwent a change of code on 22 March. We must expect no information from our radio monitoring for 10-14 days.

On 20 March a report was again made to Commander in Chief, Navy on the subject of the readiness of the second wave of auxiliary cruisers in connection with the necessity for deferring some auxiliary cruisers "because of the repairs to the cruiser LEIPZIG. After thorough investigations, three auxiliary cruisers will have to be given up in favor of the cruiser LEIPZIG, if on the other hand the submarine construction program is to be carried out without curtailment. CinC, Navy orders that the submarine construction program is to remain unchanged. CinC, Navy rejects the other solution - that of further deferment of the LEIPZIG in favor of the auxiliary cruisers, as considered desirable by Naval Staff, Operations Division, in view of the auxiliary cruisers 1 possible great
effectiveness in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans as opposed to the very limited operational possibilities of the cruiser
LEIPZIG. Commander in Chief, Navy takes a more unfavorable view of the auxiliary cruisers 1 possible effectiveness and the
possibility of their breakthrough and operations than Operations Division, while on the other hand he estimates more highly the
value of the small cruisers, especially with regard to a possible alteration in Germany's naval strategic situation.

Only the following of the second wave of auxiliary cruisers will definitely become ready according to this decision:
(Ship "45") EMS and STEIERMARK. The readiness of Ship "97" Is still doubtful.

The news of the constant appearance of British forces along the Norwegian coast and the reports about their conduct inside Norwegian territorial waters tally with enemy press statements, in which attention is drawn to the Western Powers' necessity
of and plans for no longer respecting Norwegian territorial waters in view of alleged constant violations of neutrality by
Germany. During the events of the past days British forces have not yet captured any German steamers. In Naval Staff's opinion,
however, this is doubtless the prelude to non-observance of Norwegian neutrality in the immediate future. The date for which the British are planning such a step cannot yet be ascertained. Naval Staff is reckoning on the possibility of British action in the aforementioned direction very soon and considers the several cases in which German steamers were harassed in Norwegian territorial waters as political, military and propaganda measures to prepare for British warfare. Since the Fuehrer is determined to adhere to "Weserueoung", in Naval Staff's view speedy execution of the operation is necessary

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 28 and U 32 entered port. The boats took a particularly long time on their return passage through the North Sea as they had very heavy head seas. U 28: Minelaying operation square 3163 BF. She carried it out according to plan on a new moon night. The position of the minefield gap was fixed by observing shipping traffic. The boat found the Channel coast darkened, including lights at sea. She encountered little traffic during the entire patrol, including the Channel. She sank:
1) Darkened steamer about 6,000 tons ; 2) Darkened tanker about 6,000 tons ; TOTAL 12,000 tons The commanding officer's way of tackling the operation was good.

U 32: Minelaying operation square AM 9322. Carried out according to plan during a new moon night. The mines are in an excellent position. So far no definite successes are known, but this is in itself unimportant and can be attributed to the fact that the enemy is gradually beginning to understand the need for more complete radio silence and other security measures.

Once the boat was undoubtedly picked up by echo-ranging gear at a considerable depth, while bottomed. This fact confirms the view, based on the experience and observations of other boats, that the enemy has 2 types of echo-ranging gear: one horizontal and one vertical, which give accurate results once the boat has been picked up, but are unreliable if the boat is at great depth close to the bottom or lying on the bottom. In addition to mines, this boat also had 7 torpedoes, but 5 of these were failures and 2 misses. Apart from her well-executed minelaying operation, she only sank the Swedish S.S. "Lagaholm", 2,818 tons, carrying contraband, with gunfire.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-19 , U-28 , U-32

At Sea 23 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-21, U-22, U-30, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-57.
16 boats at sea

OPERATIONS

Baltic

Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic

Northern Patrol
AMCs CIRCASSIA and LETITIA arrived in the Clyde from Northern Patrol.

North Sea
DD EXPRESS was damaged in a collision with trawler MANX ADMIRAL (219grt) ten miles due north of Kinnaird Head. EXPRESS was taken to Hartlepool for repairs arriving on the 28th. DD BRILLIANT on patrol searched unsuccessfully for the pilot of a downed RAF Hurricane southeast of Folkestone. CLs GALATEA, ARETHUSA, PENELOPE arrived at Rosyth after Operation "DU". CL AURORA and DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, MATABELE, SIKH arrived off Scapa, but were unable to enter due to low visibility until early on the 24th. SOMALI, MATABELE, MASHONA, SIKH carried out an independent ASW sweep and entered Scapa on the morning of the 24th. AURORA and DDs FAME, FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE of operation DU arrived at Scapa later that morning.

DD NUBIAN departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow. Sloop AUCKLAND arrived at Rosyth. Subs SUNFISH and SNAPPER arrived at Harwich after patrol. MT.36 of 33 ships departed Methil escort DDs WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER. DD WESTMINSTER attacked a submarine contact (which was later revealed to be U-38) 6½ miles 135° from May Island. At 1144, armed boarding vessel NORTHERN REWARD sighted thye same submarine near wreckage and empty rafts and attacked it west of Foula Island. No damage was done to U.38. Contact was later lost in rain squalls. DDs ELECTRA, ENCOUNTER and armed boarding vessel DISCOVERY II joined to assist in the hunt. DD FAULKNOR departed Scapa at 1500 to join the search. At 1705, a British flying boat dropped bombs on a contact in this area. At 0600/24th, FAULKNOR departed the search area for Kirkwall.

After MT.36 arrived off the Tyne, DD WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER escorted FS.127. FN.127 departed Southend, escort DD VIMIERIA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 24th. FS.127 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th.

ASW trawler ST KENAN (565grt) made an attack on a submarine contact off Salisker. ASW trawler ASTON VILLA (546grt) was also in the area. Off the Butt of Lewis, ASW trawler ANGLE (531grt) made an attack on a submarine contact.

Northern Waters
DD ESK arrived at Invergordon. Sub SPEARFISH and DD FAULKNOR were engaged in ASW exercises from Scapa.

West Coast UK
Armed yacht ALICE (527grt) made an attack on a submarine contact in Liverpool Bay.

 

[parsifal]

24 March 1940
Known Losses
Fr DD LA RAILLEUSE (Marine Nationale 1378 grt): The Adroit-class destroyer was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Casablanca, Morocco by the accidental explosion of its own torpedoes with the loss of 28 crew.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

The German Ambassador in Oslo made representations to the Norwegian Foreign Minister on 23 March in connection with the
harassing of German steamers by British forces in Norwegian territorial waters; referring also to numerous flights over German steamers by British planes in Norwegian territorial waters he stated that if Norway could not guarantee adequate protection against these partly attempted, partly achieved violations of International Law, this would make necessary the most serious deliberations.

The Norwegian Government sent a very sharp note of protest to London on 23 March. In addition, the Foreign Minister has drawn the attention of the British consul in Oslo to the extraordinary seriousness of the situation in which Norwsv has found herself because of the British naval and R.A.F. actions contrary to International Law. He has also informed the British Government that Norwegian forces have received strict orders if there la any repetition to open fire on any foreign warship or plane which Is guilty of actions contrary to International Law or which violates Norwegian territory.

19 ships carrying planes are said to have arrived in Le Havre from the U.S.A. on 15 March. The nationality of the ships is not certain; the planes have been unloaded.

The torpedoing of the steamer EDMUND HUGO STINNES during the night of 23 March by an enemy submarine south of Bovbjerg inside Danish territorial waters must be attributed largely to radio traffic in clear, contrary to regulations, between the steamer
DIETER HUGO STINNES in Nordenham and the steamer EDMUND HUGO STINNES over the Danish coastal radio station Blaavand-Radio. At the instigation of Director Bette in Nordenham the DIETER HUGO STINNES requested the EDMUND HUGO STINNES "radio position" and the latter radioed her position in clear at 2142,

The supply ship ALTMARK with the tug ATLANTHC passed Korsoer at 1200 on 24 March.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report

At Sea 24 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-21, U-22, U-30, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-57.
16 boats at sea

OPERATIONS

Baltic
Western Baltic
Steamer OSTPREUSSEN (Ger 3030 grt) ran aground five miles 224° from Hirsthals Light. Submarine TRIAD was sent to investigate, but was not able to attack. The German steamer was refloated on the 30th. This vessel was eventually to be lost on the 22 August 1941, after being torpedoed north of Tromso by HMS TRUANT

Northern Patrol
AMC AURANIA departed the Clyde for Northern Patrol. AMC SCOTSTOUN arrived in the Clyde after Northern Patrol.

North Sea
Netlayer PROTECTOR arrived at Rosyth from Plymouth. OA.116 departed Southend escort DDs WHITSHED from 24 to 26 March and MONTROSE from 25 to 26 March. The convoy dispersed on the 28th.

ON.22 of 31 ships departed Methil at 1500 escort DDs KIMBERLEY, KASHMIR, ESCAPADE, ZULU. Three ships were detached prior to the North Sea crossing; British steamers STRAIT FISHER (573grt) were detached for Scapa and HARLAW (1141grt) for Invergordon. The convoy was joined the next day by DDs FAULKNOR and TARTAR with a contingent of 8 ships from Kirkwall. CLs AURORA and SHEFFIELD and CLA CAIRO provided additional cover for the convoy. On the late afternoon of the 23rd, SHEFFIELD attacked a submarine contact west of Foula Island. ON.22 arrived without event on the 27th at Bergen. On the 29th SHEFFIELD arrived at Scapa, AURORA at Rosyth, and CAIRO at Sullom Voe.

FN.128 of 18 ships departed Southend escort sloops FLEETWOOD and STORK and DD JUNO. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 26th. MT.37 of 11 ships departed Methil escort sloops AUCKLAND and HASTINGS and ASW trawlers of the ASW Gp 19. AUCKLAND rejoined later that day off Berwick and then attacked a submarine contact. HASTINGS was detached to stand by the contact and AUCKLAND rejoined the convoy. Two trawlers were detached to assist HASTINGS in her search which lasted until late afternoon before rejoining the convoy. The contact was later assessed as non submarine. After MT.37's arrival in the Tyne, . FS.128 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop AUCKLAND and HASTINGS. The convoy became separated in fog. AUCKLAND with 15 ships was able to proceed, but HASTINGS with 25 ships anchored off Cromer Knoll. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 26th. TM.32 departed the Tyne escort ASW Gp 23, as well as sloop LOWESTOFT, DD VALOROUS.

Northern Waters
Steamer BECHEVILLE (UK 4228 grt) reported she was attacked by a German submarinenorthwest of the Orkneys. DD FIREDRAKE made an attack on a submarine contact in the Pentland Skerries. This contact was later assessed as non submarine. DDs SOMALI, MATABELE, SIKH departed Scapa. At 1550, MATABELE attacked a submarine contact. DDs FOXHOUND, FAME, FORESIGHT later departed Scapa to assist in the hunt for the U-boat. FAME attacked a submarine contact at 1900 east, southeast of Copinsay. DDs ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER were searching for a submarine west of the Orkneys. They were ordered to search for the submarine reported. DDs IVANHOE, ESK, ICARUS from Moray Firth Patrol were also ordered into the area. MATABELE, SIKH, SOMALI, FAME, FOXHOUND attacked contacts off Auskerry. MATABELE remained on the location of this attack. ICARUS and IVANHOE patrolled the approaches to Stromsay Firth. FORESIGHT attacked a contact at 1930, east, southeast of Copinsay, but this was later found to be a wreck. SOMALI, SIKH, FAME, FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND searched the area during the night. At 0600, DD FAULKNOR departed her ASW patrol northwest of the Orkneys to proceed to Kirkwall to escort the Kirkwall section of ON.22. DD PUNJABI arrived at Scapa escorting tkr PETROBUS from Stornoway. DD NUBIAN rendezvoused off Rosyth to escort submarine TRIBUNE as far as Scapa.
DDs HERO and HOTSPUR arrived at Sullom Voe to refuel at 0900, and departed at 1900 for ASW patrol west of Fair Island Channel.
DD IMPULSIVE arrived at Invergordon. Sub UNITY departed Blyth on patrol.

West Coast UK
OB.126 departed Liverpool escort DDs WITHERINGTON from 24 to 27 March, VANQUISHER from 24 to 26 March, WHIRLWIND on the 25th. The convoy dispersed on the 27th.

UK - France
BC.30 of 7 steamers, including BARON GRAHAM (Commodore) and MARSLEW departed Loire escort DD VIVACIOUS. The convoy arrived In Bristol Channel on the 25th.
.
Med- Biscay
RAN DD VOYAGER arrived at Gib for escort duties with CV ARK ROYAL. After the cancelled Finland operations, Fr AMC VILLE D'ALGER and troopship DJENNE departed Cherbourg, escort Fr DD CYCLONE, arriving at Brest on the 22nd. The AMC and troopship departed on the 24th with troopships PRESIDENT DOUMER and CHAMPOLLION, escort CL EMILE BERTIN and Contre Torpilleur DDs VAUTOUR, ALBATROS, BISON, CHEVALIER PAUL. Troopship DJENNE and DD CHEVALIER PAUL arrived at Casablanca on the 27th. The other three liners and the remaining escort ships passed Gib on the 27th and arrived at Oran on the 28th. The troopship and DD departed Casablanca on the 30th to return to Brest for Norwegian operations. They arrived on 1 April. Fr AMC COLOMBIE departed Brest, escorted by Contre Torpilleur DD TARTU. The DD was detached off Gib and the AMC proceeded to Oran. TARTU arrived at Casablanca on the 27th. The AMC arrived at Oran on the 28th. The DD departed Casablanca on the 31st to return to Brest for Norwegian operations. TARTU arrived at Brest on 2 April.

Indian Ocean
The British Malaya Force was formed to watch German merchant ships in Dutch East Indies harbours. After the invasion of Holland DDs STRONGHOLD and TENEDOS departed Singapore on the 26th and were stationed off Sabang to watch LINDENFELS (8457grt), MONI RICKMERS (5272grt), SOPHIE RICKMERS (7033grt), WASGENWALD (4990grt) and WERDENFELS (6318grt). CL DAUNTLESS patrolled off Batavia to watch NORDMARK (7750grt), RENDSBURG (6200grt) and VOGTLAND (6608grt). CL DURBAN departed Singapore on the 25th, and patrolled off Padang to watch BITTERFELD (7659grt), FRANKEN (7789grt), RHEINLAND (6622grt), SONECK (2191grt), and WUPPERTAL (6737grt). CL DANAE departed Singapore on the 21st, and patrolled off Surabaya to watch CASSEL (6047grt), ESSEN (5158grt) and NAUMBURG (5878grt). Sloop FALMOUTH watched STASSFURT (7395grt) at Tjilitjap.
German steamer SCHEER (8298grt) at Makassar and German steamer FRIDERUN (2464grt) at Menado were taken over as MANGKAI and MEROENDOENG, respectively, after the invasion of Holland.

Subs PERSEUS departed Singapore on the 27th and RAINBOW departed Singapore on the 25th, and were stationed in the Sunda Strait to guard the German ships' escape route. These patrols were maintained until mid April. Some six weeks later when Germany invaded Holland, all the merchant ships, except SOPHIE RICKMERS which scuttled herself in harbour, were seized by Holland for service under the Dutch flag. Steamers BITTERFELD, WUPPTERTAL, RHEINLAND were captured by boarding parties from Dutch cruiser JAVA in Padang.

 

[parsifal]

25 March 1940
Known Losses
MV BRITTA (Den 1146 grt): Crew: 18 (13 dead and 5 survivors) : Cargo: Ballast : Route: Kalundborg, Denmark - Liverpool : Sunk east of the Shetlands. Just before dawn on 25 March 1940 the neutral BRITTA was hit forward by one torpedo from U-47 and sank slowly about 40 miles northwest of Sule Skerry. The ship had been spotted at 04.30 hours and missed by a first torpedo at 05.19 hours. The survivors were picked up by the Danish steam merchant NANCY and were taken to Swansea.

Tkr DAGHESTAN (UK 5742 grt): Crew:29 (4 dead and 25 survivors) :Cargo: 7500 short tons of crude oil : Route:Scapa Flow - Sullom Voe, Shetlands : Sunk: nine miles east of Copinsay, Orkneys. escorted by armed boarding vessel NORTHERN DAWN and ASW trawler BRONTES (428grt). At 20.11 hours on 25 March, the Daghestan was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-57 The ship caught fire, was abandoned by the crew and later sank. Survivors were rescued by the escorts.

On 20 March 1940 the DAGHESTAN in convoy HN-20 was bombed and lightly damaged by a German aircraft off Noss Head. This time she had not been quite so lucky.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

The question of a re-formation of the British Government is being discussed in the foreign press. The inclusion of representatives of the Opposition in the Cabinet and the formation of a War Council are regarded as probable developments.

1. British activity lately Indicates the following possibilities:
a) General striving towards more active warfare with a strong tendency to pacify the British people.
b) Prevention of the expected sailing of German merchant raiders and auxiliary ships.
c) Preparatory measures for stopping German ore imports from Norway, with non-observance of Norwegian and Danish neutrality imminent.

This increased activity showed itself in the following:
a) Operations by light forces against German merchant shipping in the Skagerrak and harassing of German steamers inside Norwegian territorial waters.
b) Very lively R.A.F. activity against the Heligoland Bight and the German coast.
c) Special, well-prepared single operations such as minelaying operations in northern Scottish waters.

2. There have been no heavy forces in Scapa Flow since 19 March. There are about 18 submarines constantly in the operational
area, principally in the Skagerrak.

3. Since the abandonment of the shipping of troops to Norway Finland, the 1st Cruiser Squadron seems to have resumed
patrol south of the Denmark Strait and between the Faroes and Iceland.

Small cruisers and destroyers are on escort and patrol duty between North Scotland-Shetlands-Norway.

The route from Kiel to Swinemuende is unimpeded except for local ice fields; those near Arcona can best be avoided by proceeding
close to the shore. The route from Swinemuende to the east is unimpeded except for the Danzig Bsy area where there is still
severe ice hindrance. The route- through the Sound and Belt is navigable for strong ships; the position of the mines in the
barrages, however, has not been checked yet and at present this prevents the use of these routes.

Naval forces have resumed exercises. Minesweeper "11" is still at the Sound barrage. The 13th Submarine Chaser Group has so
far tried in vain to break through the Sound into the Kattegat. Passages, through the Great Belt are being checked on 26 March
by Commander, Minesweepers. The supply ship ALTMARK is still at anchor north of the Danish barrage. According to a report from the Group, she is to be brought in behind a mine -exploding vessel through the gap in the Danish mine barrage and west of our own barrage at 0600 on 27th

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to Report

Departures
Kiel: U-13
Wilhelmshaven: U-24

At Sea 25 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-21, U-22, U-30, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-57.
16 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CL GLASGOW departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol. CA YORK departed Rosyth for Scapa, where she arrived on the 26th in preparation of setting out on Northern Patrol.

North Sea
DD BRAZEN departed Rosyth for exercises, and returned later in the day.Subs THISTLE and SEAL arrived at Rosyth from patrol. Sub TRIDENT departed Rosyth on patrol. Subs URSULA and L.23 arrived at Blyth after patrol. OG.23 was formed with 51 ships from OA.115G, which departed Southend on the 23rd, and OB.115G, which departed Liverpool on the 23rd escort DDs WALKER, WANDERER, VOLUNTEER. DDs WAKEFUL and VOLUNTEER escorted the convoy from 25 to 26 March and were then detached to HG.23. WANDERER also escorted the convoy from 25 to 26 March. Sloop ABERDEEN escorted the convoy from 25 to 27 March. DD CAMPBELL escorted the convoy from 25 to 27 March. Fr DD TIGRE and patrol vessel VIKINGS escorted the convoy from 26 to 31 March. DD DOUGLAS joined the convoy on the 31st. The convoy arrived at Gib later on the 31st. MLs PRINCESS VICTORIA and TEVIOTBANK departed Rosyth for the Tyne, escort sloop FLAMINGO and DD WALLACE. The ships arrived in the Tyne on the 26th and joined convoy FS.130 for passage to Immingham. PRINCESS VICTORIA had some damage to her mine chutes to be repaired at Immingham. FS.129 departed the Tyne escort sloop FLAMINGO and DDs WALLACE and JUNO. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 27th.

Following the loss of the DAGHESTAN, DDs ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, FIREDRAKE and ASW Gps 19 and 21 were sent to search for the U-Boat. Tugs BUCCANEER and KROOMAN were sent to assist the tkr,

DD ACASTA detached from her convoy on the 25th to search for a sub off Bude, and met VIVACIOUS at noon on the 26th. ACASTA attacked a submarine contact off Bull Point. ASW trawler KIRKELLA (436grt) attacked a sub contact on the 25th off Bull Point. ASW trawler BANDOLERO was in company, and ACASTA and VIVACIOUS joined the trawlers at this location. On 1 April, DD HAVANT identified a wreck at this location which was the probable target of the Sweep. Steamer DRECHTDIJK (Ne 9338 grt) went ashore on the Varne, and ASW trawler KINGSTON CRYSTAL (433grt) was sent to investigate. The steamer was refloated under her own power before midnight, and tug LADY BRASSEY escorted her to one mile northeast of Folkestone Gate to anchor and subsequently undergo repair.

Northern Waters
DD ESK arrived at Scapa for repair to her bow. DD ESKIMO arrived at Scapa with tkrs BELGOL and WAR PINDARI. DD IMPULSIVE departed Invergordon to relieve DD IVANHOE on the Moray Firth Patrol.

Following the sinking of the BRITTA, DDs ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER, which had been returning to Scapa proceeded to the location and ELECTRA stood by the rescue area. At 1241, ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER were ordered to return to Scapa where they arrived at 1830. DDs HOTSPUR and HERO from Sullom Voe and SOMALI, MATABELE, FAME, FORESIGHT, SIKH, FOXHOUND from ASW operations east of the Orkneys were sent to the area. DDs COSSACK, ESKIMO, PUNJABI departed Scapa that morning. The wreckage of BRITTA was later found 18 miles from the reported position.

In ASW ops on 25 and 26 March, COSSACK, SIKH, FOXHOUND, HOTSPUR, HERO were conducted repeated sweeps of the area. They were joined by DD NUBIAN after escorting sub TRIBUNE and DD FIREDRAKE after repairs from depot ship WOOLWICH. DD FIREDRAKE was then ordered to join DDs ICARUS and IVANHOE and the ASW Trawlers on the Moray Firth patrol. In ASW ops on 25 and 26 March, DDs SOMALI, ESKIMO, PUNJABI searched the eastern half of a patrol area. MATABELE, FAME, FORESIGHT searched the western half of this area.

DD NUBIAN, which had completed refitting and degaussing at Rosyth on the 24th, rendezvoused off Rosyth on the 24th escorting sub TRIBUNE. Both ships arrived safely at Scapa in the early aftenoon of the 25th. NUBIAN departed Scapa and joined the DDs searching for U.47. The hunt was unsuccessful and NUBIAN damaged her asdic dome. TRIBUNE departed Scapa on the 28th and was joined off Switha Gate by DD FIREDRAKE which departed Invergordon. FIREDRAKE escorted TRIBUNE to Greenock for the repair of further defects, arriving on the 30th, and completing on 10 May. FIREDRAKE then went on to Cardiff for repairs and refit herself. Returning to Scapa, NUBIAN collided in a glancing contact DD MASHONA while changing berths requiring that NUBIAN go back into the dockyard for repairs. NUBIAN departed Scapa on the 30th for the Tyne, and left the dockyard there on 11 April for duty with the Home Flt.

Channel
CVL FURIOUS departed Plymouth escort DDs ISIS, HAVOCK, IMOGEN arrived in the Clyde on the 26th. The DDs, joined by DD MOHAWK, went on to Scapa.

UK - France
DD KEITH brought the British Chief of the General Staff (CIGS) back from Boulogne.

Nth Atlantic
HX.30 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs SAGUENAY, RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA, which were detached on the 26th. Ocean escort for the convoy was BB REVENGE. mid morning of the 26th, RCN DD SKEENA was detached to join BB MALAYA on the morning of the 27th. The BB was returning to Halifax after escorting HX.26. REVENGE was detached on 3 April while DDs ACASTA, VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL, WITCH escorted the convoy in Home waters from 6 to 9 April, when it arrived at Liverpool.

Med- Biscay
HG.24F departed Gib with 27 ships. Fr DD CHACAL and aux PV CAPITAINE ARMAND escorted the convoy from 25 to 31 March. DDs BROKE and VANSITTART escorted the convoy from 31 March to 3 April when it arrived at Liverpool. Fr DD FORBIN stopped steamer LIMA (Pt 3881 grt) off Lisbon. A German citizen, accused of espionage, was taken off the steamer and taken into custody.

 

[Njaco]

March 23 Saturday
WESTERN FRONT: Dutch fighters accidentally shot down a RAF bomber near Rotterdam.

French Prime Minister Reynauld held a meeting of the Inner Cabinet at which General Gamelin and Admiral Darlan were present.

SOUTH PACIFIC : The British Malaya Force was formed to observe German merchant ships in Dutch East Indies. The British Malaya Force included the destroyers HMS "Stronghold" and HMS "Tenedos", cruisers HMS "Dauntless", HMS "Danae" and HMS "Durban", sloop HMS "Falmouth" and submarines HMS "Perseus" and HMS "Rainbow".

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British submarine (HMS "Truant" or HMS "Trident") intercepted German merchant ship "Edmund Hugo Stinnes IV" 6 miles off of the western coast of Denmark at 2330 hours. The German ship sailed closer to shore before being scuttled by its crew. The abandoned ship was later torpedoed and sunk by the submarine.

British trawlers 'Salacon' 'Recordo' and 'Helios' reported attacks by machine guns and bombs from German planes. Planes, believed to be hostile, appeared off east coast of Scotland.

EASTERN EUROPE: Deportation of Jews in German-occupied Eastern Europe continued despite of Hermann Göring's order for a temporary pause.

Officially announced in Prague that two German frontier guards had been murdered the night before at Birke.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that a Note of protest to Germany against the sinking of Norwegian ships had been delivered to the German government on March 8th. Nothing is known of any German reply.

MEDITERRANEAN: Twenty-first anniversary of foundation of Fascist movement celebrated throughout Italy.

'

 

[Njaco]

March 24 Sunday
WESTERN FRONT: Over Zweibrücken, Fw. Ali Griena, part of a four aircraft patrol from 5./JG 52, shoots down a Potez 63. It is his first victory.

Following the Finnish capitulation, the Allies lose focus on Scandinavia and their plans diverge. The British attend to shoring up their air defenses following the bombing of Scapa Flow on March 16. Paul Reynaud's new French government considers anything that will not involve fighting on French soil, including submarine attacks on Soviet shipping in the Black Sea or bombing Soviet oilfields at Baku on the Caspian Sea to deprive USSR and Germany of oil.

NORTH AFRICA: French destroyer "La Railleuse" suffered an accidental torpedo detonation as she was departing Casablanca, Morocco. "La Railleuse" was lost; 28 were killed and 24 were wounded.

GERMANY: RAF carried out reconnaissance flights over north-west Germany during night of March 23-24. One plane failed to return.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Helsinki reported that Red Army had taken over Hango, which was formally handed over at midnight on March 22nd.

Announced that Norwegian Government lodged protests in Berlin on March 18 and 19 against German air attacks on Norwegian steamers 'Lysaker' and 'Bott.'

.

 

[Njaco]

March 25 Monday
WESTERN FRONT: Oblt. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke of 7./JG 53 gets his third victory when he destroys a Morane at 1455 hours south west of Saarbrücken.

French Prime Minister Reynaud wrote to the British War Cabinet, proposing ideas to undermine any possibility of further Soviet expansion in Scandinavia. British Prime Minister Chamberlain refused to cooperate as he refused to build hostility with the Soviet Union. Chamberlain is horrified at the idea of any attacks on USSR, assessing Reynaud as desperate to do something to justify his new role.

EASTERN EUROPE: Hungarian Prime Minister Pál Teleki met with Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano; Teleki voiced neutrality for Hungary.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Swiss intelligence warned Norway regarding evidence of a German invasion, but Norway chose to ignore the warning.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British government forbade captured servicemen to participate in enemy propaganda radio broadcasts.

Announced that automatic light floats with lamps that burn for two months, are to replace lightships which have suffered from Nazi bombing'

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-47 sank Danish steamer "Britta" 30 miles north of Scotland at 0540 hours, killing 13. 5 survivors were rescued by Danish steamer "Nancy". German submarine U-57 sank British tanker "Daghestan" 9 miles east of Orkney Islands, Scotland at 0811 hours, killing 3. 29 survivors were picked up by armed anti-submarine trawlers HMS "Northern Wave" and HMS "Brontes".

NORTH AMERICA: The United States gave contractors to the US Army Air Corps the authority to sell to anti-Axis governments the most modern types of combat aircraft.

ASIA: By this date, the strength of the Japanese counteroffensive near Wuyuan, Suiyuan Province, China had grown to 3,000 men with artillery and aircraft support.

.

 

[parsifal]

26 March 1940
Known Losses
Steamer COMETA (Nor 3749 grt): Crew: 42 (0 dead and 42 survivors) Cargo: 3250 short tons of general cargo and paper: Route: Oslo - Brevik - Kirkwall (Allied control inspection) - Santos - Buenos Aires. On the evening of 25 March 1940 the neutral and illuminated Cometa was spotted by U-38 and missed with a torpedo because the vessel stopped about 65 miles northwest of Noup Head, Orkneys. The Germans then signalled by aldis lamp for the papers which were brought by the first mate, a difficult task due to the high seas and the darkness. He told Liebe that the ship had been ordered by the British authorities to go to Kirkwall for examination - she had been stopped armed boarding vessel KINGSTON PERIDOT and one officer and four ratings were placed aboard. The Germans ordered the crew to abandon ship within one hour and then fired one torpedo at 02.20 hours on 26 March. She was struck amidships and broke in two. The stern sank immediately and the forepart was sunk by a coup de grâce at 02.57 hours. The 31 crew members, 6 Swedish passengers and 5 British sailors left the ship in one motorboat and two lifeboats and were picked up by armed boarding vessel NORTHERN SKY next morning.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Conference between the Fuehrer and Commander in Chief, Navy
Points under Discussion ;

1. "Weseruebung" : Commander in Chief, Navy reports the state of readiness of the Navy, and states that, though at present and for the immediate future no British landing in Norway need be expected, the British will attempt to harass German trade in neutral waters and to' suppress it completely sooner or later. In Commander in Chief, Navy's opinion, Germany will sooner or later have to face the question of carrying out "Weseruebung". Commander in Chief, Navy therefore is in favor of its execution as soon as possible, possibly utilizing the next new-moon period.

2. Short review of the situation in the North Sea and the present submarine situation - Report on bringing out the auxiliary
cruisers.

3. Aerial mine warfare : As opposed to Commander in Chief, Air Force and Chief, OKW, Commander in Chief, Navy proposes the immediate commencement of aerial mine laying operations, at least off the Thames, Humber and French ports, since the blockade has at present relaxed greatly. The Fuehrer is fundamentally- inclined to permit aerial mine laying operations and will give a decision in a day or two. Commander in Chief, Navy points out the necessity for the closest cooperation during aerial minelaying operations between formations of Commander, Naval Air and Group West, which is responsible for the conduct of warfare in the North Sea.

The Fuehrer fully agrees with this viewpoint.

Conference on the Situation with Chief , Naval Staff Special Items

1. "Weseruebung" ; State of readiness of naval forces favorable at present. Fourteen destroyers and "export" unit ready. 1st sea transport unit (15 steamers) ready to sail. 2nd sea transport unit will likewise be ready to sail at the appointed time.

2. Report by Chief, Operations Branch on Group West's operational order for bringing out Schiff "16": Passage either east or west of the declared area. Camouflaged as Russian, later re- camouflaged as Norwegian in northern waters. Comprehensive air reconnaissance scheduled. Three merchant trawlers are being dispatched to Iceland to reconnoiter the situation regarding the ice and the enemy. U 37 is scheduled to operate in conjunction with Schiff 16 on the outward passage. She Is to protect Schiff 16 as close escort. Chief, Naval Staff consents to the planned course of operations.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-24
Wilhelmshaven: U-13

At Sea 26 March 1940
U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, U-21, U-22 , U-30, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-57.
16 boats at sea

OPERATIONS

Baltic
Western Baltic
U.21 ran aground off Oddknuppen Island near Ryvinga, southeast of Mandel. U.1 was ordered to assist, but was unable to locate her. U.22 was also ordered to assist, but she failed to respond to wT hails, suggesting she may already have been lost. The stranded U.21 was refloated by a German trawler and taken to Evjemoen in Mandalsfjord where she arrived on the 27th. She was interned on the 31st, but was only in Norwegian hands for a short time as she returned to German control on 9 April when Kristiansand fell.

Northern Patrol
CL SOUTHAMPTON departed Scapa on Northern Patrol. AMCs DERBYSHIRE, WOLFE, LETITIA departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol, and were given air escort from the Clyde.

North Sea
Sub TRUANT arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Sub URSULA was docked at Blyth for repairs of ice damage sustained on her patrol. OA.117 departed Southend escort DD WHITEHALL on 26 and 27 March and DD VANESSA on the 27th. The convoy dispersed on the 29th.

Northern Waters
CL NEWCASTLE departed Scapa for refitting in the Tyne. DD IVANHOE departed Invergordon to relieve DD ICARUS on Moray Firth patrol. DD BEDOUIN, escorting the Home Flt, attacked a suspected submarine contact ENE of the Faroes. This contact was later assessed as probably a wreck. During the early afternoon, DDs HERO and HOTSPUR, after an ASW Sweep for a reported Uboat in their area, joined the Home Flt.

DD FIREDRAKE attacked a submarine contact ESE of Copinsay. The contact was found to be non submarine. DD ELECTRA departed Scapa at 1500 for a full calibre shoot southwest of the Orkneys, and then proceeded to Rosyth. DD ESK, after repairs, departed Scapa at 1945 for a patrol station between Copinsay and Brough Head, before joining the Moray Firth Patrol on the 27th.

FN.129 of 21 ships departed Southend escort DDSs WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 28th. MT.38 departed Methil escorted by ASW Gp 1, and sloop LOWESTOFT, and DD VALOROUS. On MT.38's arrival off the Tyne, FS.130, which included MLs TEVIOTBANK and PRINCESS VICTORIA, departed the Tyne escort LOWESTOFT and VALOROUS. The MLs arrived at the Humber on the 27th. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th. ASW LADY ELSA (518grt) at 1550 attacked a submarine contact off Grimness, South Ronaldsay. The contact was non submarine.

ASW trawler DANEMAN (516grt) attacked a submarine contact east of Halero Head, South Ronaldsay . ASW MAN O' WAR (517grt) also attacked the contact. At 1440, ASW trawler MAN O' WAR attacked a submarine contact off Burray Ness.

West Coast UK
OB 118GF departed Liverpool on the 26th and merged as OG.24F. OB.119 departed Liverpool on the 26th escort DDs VERSATILE and WINCHELSEA.

Central Atlantic
CL DUNEDIN arrived at Kingston. DD ACTIVE arrived at Gib escorting steamer SEVILLA, carrying whale oil from Freetown. DD DIAMOND covered cable ship MIRROR repairing the St Vincent to Bathurst cable five to nine miles south of St Vincent Verde Island.

 

[Njaco]

March 26 Tuesday
WESTERN FRONT: Paris reported marked increase in air activity over Western Front, particularly in Saar and Vosges regions. French machines made reconnaissance flights far into enemy territory; German aircraft flew over Northern and Eastern France. The major engagement of the day occurs shortly after 1430 hours when fighters from III./JG 53 and RAF No. 73 Squadron clash again over the Saar. Fw. Arthur Weigelt claims a Hurricane for his first kill. Piloted by F/O Edgar James 'Cobber' Kain, who was shot down by Hptm. Werner Mölders on March 2, 1940 and had returned to operations, the Hurricane crashes near Saarbrücken. Hptm. Mölders claims his sixth victory a short time later, a Hurricane flown by F/O N. 'Fanny' Orton, though Mölders claims this as a French Morane 406. After the battle, three Messerschmitts from JG 53 are so badly damaged they crash land back at Trier airfield.

French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud called for his country to wage total war against Germany.

Another sector of the Allied front in France is taken over by the BEF from French troops. The Highlanders being the first to replace the French.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-38 stopped Norwegian MV "Cometa" 65 miles northwest of Noup Head, Orkney Islands, and demands to see her papers. Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe gives "Cometa's" crew and passengers one hour to abandon ship. "Cometa" had previously been boarded by HMS "Kingston Peridot"; therefore, a Royal Navy officer and four naval ratings are aboard for the passage to Kirkwall, Orkneys. At 0220 hours U-38 fires one torpedo and sinks "Cometa" but the crew of 31, 6 Swedish passengers and the 5 British sailors take to the lifeboats and are picked up by HMS "Northern Sky".

German submarine U-22 became missing in the North Sea, its crew of 27 was never seen again. It was probable that she hit a mine.

EASTERN EUROPE: Stalin refused to meet Hitler to discuss an issue regarding a border dispute in occupied Poland.

ASIA: Chinese troops evacuated Wuyuan, Suiyuan Province, China.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British War Cabinet debated French Prime Minister Reynaud's proposal of attacking Soviet oilfields at Baku on the Caspian Sea and Soviet shipping in the Black Sea. Agreeing with the British Prime Minister Chamberlain, the proposals were rejected by the cabinet.

GERMANY: The RAF has shifted focus from leaflet drops to reconnaissance missions over Germany. In a cabinet meeting behind closed doors, the British Secretary of State for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, discussed the decision with the Prime Minister. Sir Kingsley explained that the reconnaissance missions enable bomber crews to train for forthcoming offensive bombing raids over enemy territory.

At Speyer, Fw. Walter Hoops of JG 52 is killed in a runway collision during a scramble.

Oberst Josef Kammhuber is made Kommodore of KG 51 in place of Oberst Dr. Johann-Volkmar Fisser who was made Kommodore of KG 77 on 21 March, 1940.

.