This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Njaco]

April 12 Friday
NORTHERN EUROPE: German forces are pushing out from Oslo in all directions. They take Kongsberg to the southwest of the capital.

The British begin sending bombers to attack Luftwaffe bases in Norway. At 1200 hours, 23 Blenheim bombers, 36 Wellington bombers, and 24 Hampden bombers take off from airfields in Britain to attack German ships off Kristiansand. Only one finds a target, and is unsuccessful in bombing it. Intercepted by Bf 109s from JG 77, one Hampden is shot down by Lt. Edgar Struckmann, his first kill. A second British raid on the airfield begins at 1300 hours. Bf 109's of II./JG 77 engage the twelve Hampden bombers from RAF Nos. 44 and 50 Squadrons, shooting down eight British bombers at a cost of five Bf 109's with four pilots killed. Victory claims from the 5 Staffel include Fw. Robert Menge for his first, Ofw. Edgar Herfeld for his first and a second victory for Uffz. Kurt Opolski. Victors from the 6 Staffel include Fw. Ertel for his first score, Ofw. Hermann Stierle for his first kill, and a first for Oblt. Wilhelm Ruthammer. Pilots getting their second victories include Lt. Dietrich Bösler of Stab II./JG 77 and Hptm. Franz-Heinz Lange of 6./JG 77. Ten minutes after this action a rotte of fighters from the Gruppe shoot down a Coastal Command Hudson of RAF No 233 Squadron.

A formation of nine British planes attacks the harbour at Narvik without success. One of the bombers is shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Over Oslo the Luftwaffe attacks the facilities at Gardomoen. Several hits are recorded on some buildings and the harbor at Frederikstad.

Around 1700 hours a formation of British Wellington bombers attacks the airfield at Stavanger. Intercepted by aircraft from the Zerstörer unit of KG 30 and ZG 76, five Wellingtons are claimed shot down by the defending fighters. Only one bomber is given credit for being destroying and it's given to an anti-aircraft battery at Stavanger, not the pilots.

Norwegian artillery Major Hans Holtermann and 250 volunteers began reactivating the old fort at Ingstadkleiva near Trondheim, Norway, which would become known as Hegra Fortress for defense against the Germans. The fort has mothballed artillery (four 10.5 cm and two 7.5 cm in half-turrets and 4 Krupp m/1887 field guns) and plenty of ammunition. A German Major requests the fort's surrender but Holtermann refuses.

German battleships "Gneisenau", "Scharnhorst" and "Admiral Hipper" are located by air reconnaissance southwest of Stavanger on their way home. Attacks by British land-based and carrier aircraft fail. Despite this escape the German navy has lost heavily in the campaign so far.

GERMANY: Luftwaffe chief Hermann Göring forms Luftflotte 5, under his second in command Generaloberst Erhard Milch in Hamburg, to coordinate an expanding role in Norway. Luftwaffe duties include air defenses, airlifts and offensive strikes against Norwegian defenders and the Royal Navy. Milch would soon establish his headquarters in Oslo, Norway.

MEDITERRANEAN: The British Cyprus Regiment was established from volunteers from the Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-37 sank British ship "Stancliffe" with one torpedo 45 miles northeast of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom at 0942 hours, killing 21. 16 survivors in one lifeboat would later make a landing at nearby Unst Island.

WESTERN FRONT: Two Royal Navy destroyers, including HMS "Suffolk", arrived at the Faroe Islands and negotiations began concerning a formal, peaceful occupation by British troops.


.

 

[parsifal]

9 April 1940 (Part V)
OPERATIONS (CONT)
Baltic (cont)
Steamer KRETA (Ger 2359 grt) reported that she was under attack by a sub near Faerder Lightship in the Skagerrak. Later overdue at Kristiansand, she was presumed lost but she arrived on the 12th unharmed. Panicked, she had turned around and apparently making for home port before being ordered to turn around. aux Schiff 111 (MV JUPITER) (Ger 2152 grt) arrived at Bergen with a cargo of mines to mine the harbour

ALLIED SUBMARINE OPS
On the 9th, the Admiralty gave Vice Adm Horton permission for his subs to sink without warning any German merchant ship in the Skagerrak, the Kattegat and Heligoland Bight. At 1700, sub SUNFISH sank German steamer AMASIS (see loss section). Sub UNITY in the Heligoland Bight reported that she had been depth charged by a merchant ship. Sub TRUANT sank the Karlsruhe (previously noted). TRUANT was able to escape with only minor damage, despite a determined effort by the TBs and MTBs in a 5 hr riposte.

Northern Waters Sea (cont)
MISCELLANEOUS
DDs JANUS and ECLIPSE carried out 6 DC attacks at 1355 on a sub contact. This contact was later found to be a wreck. DDs HYPERION and HERO arrived at Sullom Voe to refuel at 1430. HN.25 had departed Bergen on the 7th, but was recalled, and on the morning of the 9th was waiting in a fjord near Hovden, north of Bergen, when word was received that Bergen had fallen to German troops. When German tkr SKAGERRAK (6044grt) arrived at Hovden at noon on the 9th en route to Trondheim, the convoy departed at 1400 but was a major focus of RN covering ops. HN.25 was composed of 40 ships, so was a natural high value, high risk, target. The convoy formed into four columns . DD ZULU and ORP DDs GROM, BURZA and BLYSKAWICA were ordered to join HN.25 and escort it into the Firth of Forth, but ZULU was replaced by DD TARTAR before joining the convoy. At 1500/9th, the allied DDs joined HN.25. The last Norwegian convoy arrived safely at Methil after lunch on the 12th. A potential disaster averted, but thew allies were to endure some considerable punishment as their forces were left exposed covering the convoy as it retreated....

U.56 at 0920 sighted BBs RODNEY and VALIANT sw of Stadlandet steering south and radioed this information to the German command. At 1130, Adm Forbes dispatched CriSqn 18 with DDs GURKHA, SIKH, MOHAWK, MATABELE, MASHONA, SOMALI and AFRIDI for a raid on Bergen where the damaged DKM KONIGSBERG and BREMSE and undamaged cruiser KOLN were located. At 1400, with HN25 now clear the Admiralty cancelled the operation and ordered the force to set course to return to the Main Flt which had turned north to open the distance between themselves and German land based aircraft (LBA). As the Bergen raiding force arrived back at the Main Flt, the LW, which was alerted by U.56's report arrived on the scene with 47 Ju.88 bombers from KG.30 and 41 He.111 bombers from KG.25, sw of Bergen. The RN were about to suffer its heaviest LW attacks of the war German attacks on the British fleet continued from 1430 to 1730, and four JU.88's were downed. DD GURKHA, which had reduced speed to improve her gunnery in heavy seas, was fatally damaged by near misses aft in these attacks 100 miles sw of Bergen. GURKHA was left behind in a sinking condition as the Main Flt continued on under heavy attacks. CL AURORA, en route from Scapa to join Adm Forbes, came upon the sinking GURKHA, and fought off five air assaults while picking up 194 survivors and attempting to tow the damaged ship. DDr MASHONA picked up five survivors and one dead rating. GURKHA sank four and a half hours after receiving her fatal damage, and her survivors taken directly to Scapa.

BB RODNEY was struck by a 500 kg bomb which failed to penetrate the armour belt 10 crew. Attacks on CA DEVONSHIRE caused some splinter damage from near misses. CLs SOUTHAMPTON and GLASGOW were damaged by near misses. SOUTHAMPTON's damage was minor and no time was spent out of service. GLASGOW's damage from two near misses took 'A' turret out of action for a short time and the ship's speed was reduced for about thirty minutes. Damage to GLASGOW was repaired in two days while continuing patrol at sea. Two ratings were killed and five ratings, one dying of wounds, were wounded in GLASGOW. CL ARETHUSA and Fr DDs TARTU and MAILLE BREZE were near missed by bombs, but not damaged. Among the German claims for these attacks was the sinking of the Fr CA FOCH. In later communiques, this claim was changed to CL EMILE BERTIN which was present, but undamaged. Over the next 24 hrs, the following units were refueld at Sca or Sullom Voe DDs FAULKNOR , FOXHOUND FORESTER, GRENADE, ENCOUNTER, Fr DDs BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS. The Fr DDs departed as escort to Tkr ALDERSDALE.

At Trondheim, steamer THISTLEBRAE (UK 4747 grt) in drydock for a 4 April collision at Trondheim, was seized by German forces, renamed ALTKIRCH for German service, and later renamed INSTER. Her 33 crew was made pows. American steamer MORMACSEA (4996grt) was also at Trondheim. However, her captain would not allow German guards aboard the ship. Finally, on the 14th, MORMACSEA was allowed to sail with a hidden cargo of $4.5 million dollars in Swedish gold bullion for transport to the US for safekeeping. During the evening of 9 April, DKM DD FRIEDRICH ECKHOLDT penetrated Trondheims fjord as far as Inderoy where Trondheims fjord branches into the smaller Beitstadfjord. German DD PAUL JACOBI, joined after refuelling from damaged DD THEODOR RIEDEL.

At 1815/9th, U.49 sighted Forbes' Main Fleet steering north of the Norwegian coast northwest of Bergen. Late on the 9th, Adm Forbes ordered all his CLs and most of his DD to Scapa Flow or Sullom Voe for refuelling. The last units arrived about noon on the 11th. On the afternoon of the 10th, CLs SHEFFIELD, GLASGOW, MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON and DDs AFRIDI, SOMALI , CODRINGTON , MOHAWK, MASHONA, JUPITER, BRAZEN, ESCAPADE and ELECTRA arrived at Sullom Voe foe refuelling. CLs BIRMINGHAM refuelled at Scapa, AURORA at Rosyth., and GALATEA and ARETHUSA refuelled, all on the 11th. Fr Contre Torpilleur DDs TARTU and MAILLE BREZE arrived at Scapa with the British cruiser force in the evening of the 10th.

Off Vestfjord late on the 9th were ML DDs ESK, IVANHOE, ICARUS, HARDY, HOTSPUR, HUNTER, HAVOCK and GREYHOUND. DD IMPULSIVE with a damaged paravane boom was sent to Scapa arriving on the 11th. BC RENOWN, reinforced by REPULSE, CL PENELOPE, and DDs ESKIMO, KIMBERLEY, PUNJABI, BEDOUIN and HOSTILE which had arrived off Vestfjord at Midday on the 9th were out to seaward of Vestfjord on patrol. On orders from the Admiralty, the DDs of DesFlot 2, (HARDY , HOTSPUR, HAVOCK and HUNTER) proceeded up Vestfjord on Operation TN towards Narvik leaving the destroyers of DesFlot 20 to patrol the minefield. DD HOSTILE with the BCs at sea was detached and joined the DesFlot 2 off Tranoy. At 2022 on the 9th, U.51 sighted the five DDs of the Flotilla in Vestfjord steering westbound, apparently leaving the fjord. However, this westward movement was only to adjust the destroyers' arrival time off Narvik allowing them to arrive off that port at dawn.

Supply ship ALSTER (Ger 8514 grt) and tanker KATTEGAT (see loss section for the 9th) , which had been delayed at Kopervik over the night of 5/6 April, were in the Bodo area. ALSTER was stopped on the 8th by Norwegian PV SYRIAN and sent into Bodo, but was captured by DD ICARUS on the 11th. Also at Bodo was Aux PVl SVALBARD 2 (Nor 270 grt).

West Coast UK
OB.126 dep Liverpool escort sloop LEITH from the 9th to 12th, when she detached to SL.26. DD VENETIA and ASW trawler YORK CITY joined the escort on the 9th and 10th.

North sea (other Ops)
FN.141 departed Southend, escort DD VALOROUS and sloop LOWESTOFT, and arrived in the Tyne on the 11th. FS.141 departed the Tyne, escort sloops FLEETWOOD and AUCKLAND, and arrived at Southend on the 11th.

UK - France
BC.32 of 4 MVs, departed the Loire escort DD MONTROSE, and arrived in the Bristol Channel on the 11th.

Med- Biscay
Fr BCs DUNKERQUE and STRASBOURG with CLs GLOIRE, MONTCALM and DDs MOGADOR, L'INDOMPTABLE, L'TRIOMPHANT and LE MALIN departed Oran for Brest, arriving on the 12th. DD TERRIBLE which had come with this group from Brest departed Oran on the 11th, escorting AMC COLOMBIE, and arrived at Brest on the 15th. DD VIDETTE was taken in hand for refitting at Gib.

Indian Ocean
Sub PANDORA dep Hong Kong on this date, Singapore on the 14th, Colombo on the 21st, Aden on the 29th, and was at Suez on 3 and 4 May. She arrived at Alexandria on the 5th for operations with the Home Flt.

Other
The Norwegian and British governments collaborate to form Notraship, the controlling authority for the crucial Norwegian merchant marine. The very large Norwegian Tanker Fleet is critical to Britiains survival, and a major factor in dictating British actions prior to the German invasion. Notraship ensures that over 90% of the available Norwegian tankers pass to Allied control. T

It was commented at the time.. " If we had not had the Norwegian fleet of tankers on our side, we should not have had fuel transport capability to survive. Without the Norwegian merchant fleet, Britain and the allies would have lost the war". It was not an exaggeration

 

[parsifal]

10 April 1940 (Part I)
Known Losses
FIRST BATTLE OF NARVIK
Early on the 10th, DKM DD DIETHER VON ROEDER was supposed to be on patrol across the mouth of Ofotfjord, but the approaches were unguarded. ROEDER was supposed to remain on patrol until relieved by HANS LUDEMANN, but in ROEDER's diary there was the entry "Am relieving SCHMIDT from 0300 as ASW patrol until dawn." ROEDER left her patrol area across Ofotofjord and turned towards Narvik with the RN DesFlot 2 less than a mile astern in heavy snow and mist. ROEDER anchored at Narvik at 0420. German refuelling was far behind schedule. While tkr JAN WELLEM (11,776grt) had arrived on schedule, the second tanker, KATTEGAT (6031grt) was sunk late on the 9th before reaching Narvik. LUDEMANN and HERMANN KUNNE were alongside the converted whaler JAN WELLEM when the British attack began at 0430.

DD HARDY went in first into the harbour and fired 7 torps. 1 exploded in the aft magazine of DD WILHELM HEIDKAMP (DKM 2411 grt) blowing off her stern; 81 crew including Cmdore Bonte were killed. Finally, on the 11th at 0600, as a result of culminating damage, HEIDKAMP capsized and sank.

Other torps from HARDY struck MVs in the harbour. As DD HARDY withdrew, DDs HUNTER and HAVOCK entered the harbour firing torps. Torps from HAVOCK struck DD ANTON SCHMITT (DKM 2411 grt), seriously damaging her. DD KUNNE, getting underway from alongside the tkr, was near SCHMITT when the torps hit and sustained damage to her engines from the concussion. SCHMITT, rolling over, settled onto KUNNE immobilising her for 40 minutes. 63 crew were killed on DD SCHMITT. DKM DD LUDEMAN had a gun knocked out from shellfire and a fire which necessitated flooding of her after magazine. 2 crew were killed.

Steamers SAPHIR (Nor 4306 grt) and ELDRID (Nor 1712 grt) (according to Bachke Co.'s fleet list ELDRID was damaged by RN warships while waiting to load cargo. Scuttled by the Germans on May 5-1940), steamers STRASSA (SD 5602 grt) and BODEN (SD 4265 grt) (previously listed, see 9 April Pt III); Steamers FRIELINGHAUS (Ger 4339 grt), HEIN HOYER (Ger 5836 grt), NEUENFELS (Ger 8096 grt), MARTHA HEINDRIK FISSER (Ger 4879 grt), AACHEN (Ger 6388 grt), ALTONA (5398grt) were lost

from left to right, ELDRID (painted by, Jan Goedhart, Holland), STRASSA, NEUENFELS , No images found for SAPHIR, BODEN, FRIELINGHAUS, HEIN HOYER

from left to right, MARTHA HEINDRIK FISSER (4879grt) , No images found for AACHEN or ALTONA


DDs HOSTILE and HOTSPUR had been detailed to neutralize nonexistent coastal btys on the nth shore of Narvik. Upon finding no btys, the DDs entered the harbour fight. DD HOTSPUR fired torps at numerous merchant ships in the harbour and HOSTILE went into a gun action with DKM DD ROEDER damaging her so severely that the ordewr to abandon ship was given by the German skipper.

As the DDs withdrew, DDs HOSTILE and HOTSPUR laid a smoke screen and HOSTILE fired her torpedoes against merchant ships in the harbour. DesFlot 2 thus far had fought an excellent fight, in the finest RN Destroyer traditions, at this point the flotilla began its withdrawal out of the fjord. During this battle,

Steamer BLYTHMOOR (UK 6582 grt) - see preceding days loss entry),

DKM DDs WOLFGANG ZENKER , ERICH GIESE , and ERICH KOELLNER in Herjans fjord, waiting to refuel, got the alarm of the RN intrusion at 0515 and got underway at 0530. They chased the RN ships up the fjord as they were on the verge of escaping as the German destroyers did not have fuel to continue the chase further. However, DKM DDs GEORG THIELE and BERND VON ARNIM, getting underway from Ballengen fjord at 0540, contacted the RN DDs and attacked. In the ensuing fray, THIELE had two guns knocked out, a magazine flooded, was set afire and ARNIM was hit 5 times and had a boiler room flooded. DDs ZENKER, KOELLNER and GIESE expended more than half of their ammunition. 15 crew were killed and 23 wounded on DD THIELE. 2 crew was killed on DD ARNIM.

In the exchange, DD HARDY (RN 1456 grt) was badly damaged and then lost Cptn Warburton-Lee (flotilla leader) and 18 others were killed, and 12 wounded (1 died 3 months later). DD HUNTER (RN 1370 grt) was also badly damaged and then lost after a collision with DD HOTSPUR. DD HOTSPUR was badly damaged by German gunfire. 101 crew were lost on the HUNTER. 46 survivors were picked up by DKM DDs. Stuart-Menteth and 37 ratings were later able to escape to Sweden. 9 crew remained pows for the duration. The remaining survivors died from their wounds and exposure.

From left to right, DD HARDY, HUNTER

DDs HOSTILE and HAVOCK escaped without serious damage, but HOTSPUR suffered 14 fatalities, with 3 other ratings dying of wounds, 11 other crew were wounded. Retiring from the Fjord, DDs HOTSPUR, HAVOCK, HOSTILE encountered the AK RAUENFELS (Ger 8460 grt) carrying the Narvik force's ammunition supplies. DDs HAVOCK and HOSTILE hit RAUENFELS several times with gunfire and a fire was started that soon detonated the ammunition and destroyed RAUENFELS. DD HAVOCK picked up the Captain and 18 crew from one boat from the German steamer. The two other boats rowed ashore and were captured by Norwegian forces. DD HAVOCK sustained some hull damage from the concussion, but the German forces at Narvik now had no reserve ammunition which was sorely needed.

TB ALBATROS (DKM 924 grt) Mowe Class TB, after damage by gunfire was ran aground in Oslo fjord at Bolarne. Her damaged was found to be beyond repair, and she was abandoned, towed into deep water and sunk.

AK ANTARES (DKM 2593 grt): The troopship was torpedoed and sunk in the Skaggerak off Lysekil, Sweden by Sub SUNFISH. About 500 wehrmacht soldiers drowned

AK FRIEDENAU (DKM 5219 grt): The troopship was torpedoed and sunk in the Skaggerak off the Pater Noster Lighthouse, Sweden by Sub TRITON. Casualties unkown, but one source simply states "heavy loss of life."

16 Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Skuas from 800 and 803 Sqns from Hatston, attacked the CL KONIGSBERG (DKM 6650 grt) at Bergen sinking her with three direct hits and two near misses. Cptn Partridge and Lt E. W. T. Taylour of the 800 Squadron, Lt C. H. Filmer, Lt A. B. Fraser-Harris, Lt E. D. Mciver, RM, of the 803 Squadron made damaging attacks. One Skua of the 803 Squadron with Acting Lt B. J. Smeeton and Midshipman (A) F. Watkinson was lost. 11 were killed in the CL. The Germans were later able to refloat KONIGSBERG in 1942, but the cruiser capsized on 29 July 1944. The cruiser was stripped for equipment and scrapped after the war.
Sinking of the Konigsberg

Dramatic series of Photos showing KONIGSBERG on fire and sinking. With the loss of KONIGSBERG and a few days later 50% of the DKM Destroyer fleet, DKM was left with just 3 battle-worthy CLs, the KOLN, NURNBERG and EMDEN, and less than 10 fleet Destroyers. . The German cruiser force would have provided a large part of the naval forces needed to carry out operation Sealion, the planned invasion of Britain in 1940. The loss of so many cruisers and destroyers of the KM in the Norwegian campaign, meant that such an operation had little chance of success.

Blackburn Skuas from 800 and 803 sqns December 1939. Like the LW, only a select few of FAA aircrew could hit ships. The RAF was yet to prove iteslef at all in the anti shipping role.


Sub TARPON (RN 1095 grt) The T-class submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Skagerrak by Naval Trawler Schiff 40 ( Kriegsmarine), a Q Ship, with the loss of all 59 crew.

Sub THISTLEe (RN 1095 grt): On 9 April 1940, SUB THISTLE missed U-4 with a spread of 4 torps sw off Stavanger. The Germans had observed 1 torp passing 10 metres ahead and evaded further attacks by diving. Afterwards they managed to surprise the RN Sub on the surface some hrs later and at 02.13 hours on 10 April fired 2 torps, 1 of which hit and sank the target with the loss of all hands.

 

[parsifal]

10 April 1940 (Part II
Known Losses(Cont'd)

Trawler INES (SD 100 grt (est)) The fishing vessel struck a mine and sunk in the Skaggerak north west of Hanstholm, Denmark with the loss of all six crew.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV MUANSA (Ger 5427 Ggrt) The cargo ship struck a mine and sunk in Oslo fjord.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV PLANET (Ger 3500 grt (est)) The cargo ship was scuttled beneath the far more vital JAN WELLEM to protect the latter against torpedoes; this occurred at Narvik, Norway.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr SVEABORG (Sd 9076 grt): Crew:34 (5 dead and 29 survivors) : Cargo: 6500 tons of oil gas, 4500 tons of diesel oil and 2000 tons of fuel oil: Route: Curaçao - Gothenburg : The tkr was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Faeroe Islands by U-37. Survivors were rescued by Armed Boarding Vessel NORTHERN CHIEF

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV TOSCA (Nor 5128 grt) Crew: 34 (2 dead and 32 survivors) : Cargo: General cargo, including zinc concentrate, cotton seed, lead, wheat and beans Route: Talcahuano, Chile - Cristobal (13 Mar) - Cartagena, Columbia (15 Mar) - Eitrheim, Norway. sunk nw of the Faeroes. The unescorted TOSCA was hit on the port side near the aft mast by one torpedo from U-37. At noon on 9 April, the ship had already been NE of the Faeroes but upon hearing of the German invasion of Norway she turned around to reach Kirkwall. During the night they came across the burning SVEABORG, and decided to assist, but was herself torpedoed and sank by the stern within a few minutes. The crew managed to launch the starboard lifeboat safely, but the port boat capsized and spilled the occupants into the water, while others rescued themselves onto a raft. The men in the lifeboat rescued the survivors swimming in the water and located the swamped motorboat, which was bailed and then took the lifeboat in tow towards the Faeroe Islands. Later that morning, the survivors from both ships were picked up by the RN armed boarding vessel NORTHERN CHIEF and landed in Kirkwall.

While operating in the Kattegat SUB TRITON torpedoed and sank the German merchants (transports) FRIEDENAU (See this loss section), WIGBERT (Ger 3648 grt), and the Aux PV V 1507 / Rau 6 (DKM 356 grt).

TRITONs Log records "at 1726 hours - Fired 6 torpedoes from 2500 yards (the last on board). 4 hits were heard. TRITON went to 85 feet upon firing and turned stern on the convoy. Very shortly after the last torpedo explosion was heard DC attacks started. For the next hour at least 78 depth charges were dropped of which the ones dropped about 5 minutes after the last torpedo hit were the closest. These shook Triton considerably but no serious damage was done. 2115 hours - Surfaced at set course for home as TRITON on was now out of torpedoes".

The large convoy attacked by Triton was the DKM "Sea transport convoy "2"" bound for Oslo, Norway with the transports KELLERWALD (5032 grt), HAMM (5874 grt), ESPANA (7465 grt), ROSARIO (6079 GRT), TUCUMAN (4621 GRT), HANAU (5892 grt), WOLFRAM (3648 grt), WANDSBEK (2388 grt), SCHARNORN (2643 grt) and the above mentioned FRIEDENAU and WIGBERT. These were escorted by 17 escorts, the above mentioned V 1507 / Rau was one of them.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Political situation in Oslo still obscure. Quisling Govt has no response from the Norwegian people. The old Govt has not resigned. Hamar, seat of the fleeing Government, occupied by German troops. Further flight by the Govt. Discussion between the King of Norway and German Ambassador Brauer fruitless. King not prepared to yield. Nyggardsvold, the head of the Govt, declared before the Storting that Norway is resolved to continue the struggle for her integrity. Hambro, the President of the Storting, gave a speech over the radio in Sweden, calling foi- action, and is recruiting volunteers. The Norwegian people's resistance has been stiffened by British propaganda and assurances. Young men fit for military service are apparently prepared to offer the most stubborn resistance and to commence sniping activities. The population is everywhere passive, negative.

Denmark
No resistance, effort to comprehend the German action. Statement by Prime Minister Stauning "The King and his Ministers have resolved, relying on Germany's assurance that she does not plan to infringe Denmark's integrity and political independence by the steps taken, to attempt to order conditions and the occupation. This course has been selected In order to spare land and people
the consequences of war.

Railroad communications to Bergen and Trondheim destroyed, telephone lines interrupted. Norwegian naval forces hostile and prepared for actions. Groups and Commanding Admiral, Submarines therefore ordered to destroy Norwegian forces not in our hands or laid up in port. Further, it is pointed out to Commanding Admiral, Norway (Admiral Boehm) that it is urgently necessary for the new Govt at once to recall the Norwegian forces at sea. Appropriate safety measures in view of our submarine positions are to be arranged with the Norwegian Government. The directive is issued because of an inquiry from the Group - that all captured Norwegian naval vessels are to be commissioned with German crews.

At 0651 a corrupt "Most Immediate" radio message in clear was received from Narvik about an attack made by British destroyers
on Narvik. Later reports, still incomplete at first, show that in the early hours of the morning, in fog and drifting snow, enemy
destroyers protected by a heavy cruiser carried out a surprise Attack on our destroyers lying in Narvik. The attack was
warded off; three enemy destroyers were sunk or destroyed (HUNTER, HARDY, HOTSPUR).

It is necessary to concentrate anti-submarine defenses in the Kattegat and eastern Skagerrak because of the acute submarine
situation in these areas. At the request of Group Baltic, the 1st MSW Flotilla and Ships "35", "40", "37", "26" and "47" have been placed at its disposal. Group West is at present considering the transfer of a further subchaser flotilla.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 49 was in contact with 2 large cruisers from 0159 to 0229. They disappeared from sight at high speed on a southerly course. U 50 and 52 were detailed to attack but did not sight them

English destroyers attempted at dawn in mist weather and snow flurries to penetrate the Westfjord as far as Narvik. They were detected with losses to both sides. The U-boats disposed in the Westfjord could not, it seems, prevent the penetration. The reason for this will be clear when the boats put in. Without a doubt, their task is very tricky, especially opposed to destroyers which force their way through at high speed using depth charges, and twice as difficult in misty weather. The operation shows though that one cannot be strong enough for such tasks. In the course of the forenoon Naval War Staff ordered the dispatch of two boats to Trondheim and 4 to Narvik. This order crossed with a relevant suggestion of mine to the Group. There, the center point of the operation appears to have moved.This would be especially attractive to the English as an area for counter-attacks as it would be more difficult for us to be reinforced from home. This situation is tricky for our own forces, as supplies have not arrived - the destroyers are for the most part unready to sail and their putting out is now questionable owing to the enemy - one small boat has been assigned to patrol the Kors Fjord

A new distribution of boats in the northern North Sea is necessary as a result of this movement. One has the impression that the English fleet has withdrawn in a northerly and southwesterly direction. The Naval War Staff does not believe that a counter-landing on the southwest of Norway is imminent; in this connection they see no necessity for the enemy to operate near German bases from where apparently successful air attacks were carried out on 9.4. In view of the considerable losses of surface craft and the return of units still lying in the landing ports, in the near future, they (SKL) consider the U-boat's main task to consist not so much in searching for targets as in the patrol of the recently occupied areas. The new disposition shows here a concentration in the eastern section of the Shetland/Norway Straits. The Narvik boats, to whom the very difficult and decisively important task at the moment calls - that of protecting these ports against every pursuing enemy - have received orders to penetrate still deeper into the fjord so that all boats are disposed in the narrowest possible positions, abandoning outer sections which are difficult to patrol.

Subsequnetly it was established that the Uboats had sighted the RN DDs as they entered Obort Fjiord, but their torpedoes had failed once again

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-23, U-24

At Sea 10 April 1940
U-2, U-4, U-5, U-6, U-7, U-9, U-10, U-13, U-14, U-19, U-25, U-30, U-34, U-37, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-60, U-62, U-64, U-65.
29 boats at sea.

 

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10 April 1940 (Part III (Cond))

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
DKM ML HANSESTADT DANZIG landed troops at Roenne to occupy the island of Bornholm.

North Sea
A German force was sighted off Egersund at 0721 on the 12th by a CC Hudson of 224 Squadron, but contact was then lost. 7 Blenheims of 224 and 12 of 233 Sqns of CC were airborne searching in the area. 36 Wellington of 9, 37, 75, 38 and 149 Sqns and 24 Hampton bombers of 44, 50, 61, 144 Sqns of Bomber Command (BC) ac attempted to attack but none contacted the German force due to snow, sleet, low visibility. The 12 of 61 and 144 Squadron turned back due to being unable to locate the target. 4 Hamptons of 50 Sqn and 2 of 44 Sqn, 1 Wellington bomber from 9, 1 from 38 Sqn, 2 from 149 Sqn, 1 Hudson from 233 Sqn were lost to air attacks. At 1000/12 April, the German force was joined by DKM DDrs BEITZEN and SCHOEMANN and all arrived at Wilhelmshaven during the evening of 12 April.

Northern Waters
Following the action at Narvik, CL PENELOPE and DDs BEDOUIN, ESKIMO, PUNJABI, KIMBERLEY hastened into Vestfjord to cover the reteating of DDs HOSTILE, HAVOCK, HOTSPUR. On meeting DesFlot 2, PENELOPE, BEDOUIN, ESKIMO, PUNJABI, KIMBERLEY, HAVOCK returned to support the DesFlot 20a guarding the Vest fjord minefields. Damaged DD HOTSPUR arrived at Skelfjord at 1640 escorted by DD HOSTILE. DD HOTSPUR departed Skelfjord during the forenoon of 20 April and arrived at Scapa on the 23rd, and then departed Scapa on the 26th in the company of damaged CLA CURACOA for Chatham, arriving on 1 May, for repairs completed in mid July 1940.

DKM DDs GIESE and ZENKER were refuelled by early afternoon, but KOELLNER would not be ready until midnight. DD ROEDER was so badly damaged that she could not leave the pier, so she was assigned in an immobile harbour defence role. The other 4r surviving DDs at Narvik required much work before they would be fully combat ready; 2 days would be required to make the ships merely fit to go to sea. By then they were all destroyed.

The evening of 10 April, DDs BEDOUIN and ESKIMO were south of Tjeldoy. DDs PUNJABI and KIMBERLEY were northeast of Tranoy. CL PENELOPE was off Tranoy Light. DDs GREYHOUND and HAVOCK were making an ASW Sweep off Rost. DDs ESK , ICARUS, IVANHOE were patrolling in Vestjord with BCs REPULSE and RENOWN out to seaward. DDs HOSTILE and HOTSPUR were anchored at Skelfjord. DDs BEDOUIN and ESKIMO on patrol at Baroy were attacked by U.25, which fired torpedoes at BEDOUIN, but they prematurely exploded. BEDOUIN was undamaged and continued patrol, thinking the explosions were detonations of a radio controlled minefield.

That evening, Kpt Erich Bey, senior surviving officer of the Gp 5 warships, took his only operational DD, GIESE and ZENKER, to sea in an attempt to break out. However, they soon encountered near Tranoy CL PENELOPE and DD PUNJABI and KIMBERLEY and were forced to return to Narvik. Bey was eventually to lose his life at North Cape, December 1943. .

RN and DKM fleet movements 7-13 April

The Main Fleet was reinforced at about 0800 by the arrival of BB WARSPITE with DDs ESCORT, ECLIPSE, JANUS, JUNO, JAVELIN from Scapa Flow and CVL FURIOUS with DDs ASHANTI, MAORI, FORTUNE from the Clyde. Mid-morning on the 10th, CVL FURIOUS was being considered for an air strike on Bergen, but the decision was made to leave Bergen to the LBA FAA and the RAF. The FURIOUS would launch her planes against ships at Trondheim. Adm Forbes now had with him BBs RODNEY, VALIANT, WARSPITE, CVL FURIOUS, CAs DEVONSHIRE, BERWICK, YORK, DDs ASHANTI, COSSACK, ZULU, MAORI, ECLIPSE, ESCORT, ISIS, ILEX, IMOGEN, INGLEFIELD, JANUS, JAVELIN, JUNO, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, FAULKNOR. With this force, Forbes steered north to a position where FURIOUS could fly strikes against Trondheim on the 11th whilst more importantly the main Force could maintain its covering brief of HN.25 to Rosyth.

CL AURORA arrived in Scapa Flow with survivors from the GURKHA during yet another air raid by LW Bombers. CLs SHEFFIELD and GLASGOW were in harbour refuelling. As on the 8th, the raid, which took place between 2102 and 2148, caused no damage.

Off Varoy DD GREYHOUND escorting DD HAVOCK attacked U.64 without success. GREYHOUND dropped one pattern of DCs and the U-Boat was presumed sunk or badly damaged, but no damage was done. DD FEARLESS arrived at Sullom Voe to refuel.

Destroyers HERO and HYPERION left Sullom Voe at 0300 after refuelling on the 10th and joined Forbes at sea. North, northeast of the Shetlands at 1007, HERO attacked a submarine contact which was later throught to have been U.50 on her second war patrol. However, the target was not a submarine and U.50 had already been lost.

OA.127 departed Southend escort DD WHITEHALL from 10 to 12 April. DD WILD SWAN joined on the 12th and remained with the convoy until dispersal on the 13th. OG.25 was formed from convoys OA.125G, which departed Southend, escort DDs WAKEFUL and BROKE from 8 to 10 April, OB.125G, which departed Liverpool on the 8th, escort DD VERITY. The convoy was escorted by DDs WAKEFUL, BROKE, VERITY from 10 April. On the 10th, WAKEFUL was detached to HG.25 as was DD BROKE on the 11th. DD VERITY was detached on the 11th. Fr DD CHACAL escorted the convoy from 11 to 14 April. Fr TB BATAILLEUSE escorted the convoy from 11 to 16 April. DD VORTIGERN escorted the convoy from 14 to 16 April when the convoy arrived at Gib. FN.142 departed Southend, escort DD VIMIERIA and sloop BLACK SWAN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 12th. MT.48 departed Methil, escort DDs WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER, sloop LONDONDERRY and ASWGp 1 . The convoy arrived in the Tyne, later that day. FS.142 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 12th.

West Coast UK
OB.127 departed Liverpool escort DDs VERSATILE from 10 to 11 April and VANQUISHER from 10 to 13 April. DD VANQUISHER was detached to HX.32 on the 13th. The convoy dispersed on the 14th.

Channel
MSW HALCYON arrived at Dover to join the MSWFlot 6, whilst MSW LEDA departed Dover to rejoin MSWFlot 5 in the Humber. Tug FAIRPLAY and 2 lighters grounded at 1900 on the Goodwins. The vessels were refloated on the 11th by tug LADY BRASSEY. The lighters were undamaged. Tug FAIRPLAY proceeded to Ramsgate for inspection.

Nth Atlantic
HX.34 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs OTTAWA, SAGUENAY, RESTIGOUCHE, which were detached on the 11th. At 1650, RCN DD OTTAWA returned to Halifax after colliding with Cdn tug BANSURF (175grt). The ocean escort for the convoy was BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was leaving the command for duty with the Med Flt. The BB was detached on the 20th. DD OTTAWA was repaired at Halifax completing on 13 June. DDs WARWICK and WINDSOR escorted the convoy from 23 to 26 April, then the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Med- Biscay
HG.26F dep Gib with 17 ships. Convoy escort DD VELOX from 10 to 13 April. Fr DDr LYNX and Aux PVl MINERVE escorted the convoy from 10 to 16 April. Sloop DEPTFORD escorted the convoy from 16 to 19 April. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 19th. Fr DDs TRAMONTANE, TORNADE, TYPHON departed Toulon on the 10th and proceeded to Casablanca for escort duties. DD TYPHON arrived at Gibraltar on the 15th after escorting convoy 87 KF, which departed Casablanca on the 13th. The DD departed for Casablanca on the 16th.

 

[parsifal]

11 April 1940
Known Losses
MV IONIA (DKM 3102 grt): sub TRIAD fired 2 torpedoes at this ship near Larvik at the mouth of Oslo fjord. 1 torpedo struck the German steamer. The steamer was taken in tow by an Aux PV DKM PVFlot 7 and was under tow towards Stavern, however the ship sank at 0705 on the 11th.

Ferry OSCARBORG-NARVIK (Nor 500 GRT (EST)): The car ferry was shelled and sunk without loss of life off Narvik, Norway.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Nor ML TYR laid 16 mines near Vatlestraumen in the southern approaches to Bergen on the 9th. Aux Schiff 9 (DKM trawler KOBLENZ, 437 grt) and Aux PV Vp.105 (trawler CREMON, 268grt) were sweeping mines in this field on the 11th. Schiff 9 was lost in a mining near Bergen on this minefield. Aux PV Vp.105, going to Schiff 9's assistance was also sunk by a mine.

Aux Schiff 9, image of either VP105 or ML TYR not located

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Roosevelt has issued a proclamation forbidding U.S. ships to enter all Scandinavian waters. The war zone laid down in the Neutrality Law is extended by the decree. According to it, U.S. ships may not traverse Scandinavian territorial waters from Bergen along the west coast of Norway up to the point 44° E, 77° N. Archangel and Murmansk are also included in this zone.

The decrees relating to the Pan American neutrality zone hurt the Allies moreso than the Axis powers, but they did work to isolate Germany and had long term economic impacts.

Radio intelligence detects at sea CinC, Home Flt, Commanders, Battle Cruiser Squadron and CruSqns 1 2, also DesFlots 3, 4 and 6. The presence of CVL FURIOUS with the main force led by CinC, Home Flt west ana northwest of Trrondheim was confirmed by our air report and by the "B" Dienst. Planes attacked Trondheim harbor during the morning. The former Polish steamers CHOERI (11,500 tons) and BATORY (14,500 tons), now being used as troopships, have arrived in Scapa. An agent's report from Intelligence Center, Belgium, states that there was a Fr squadron consisting of the BCs STRASSEOURG and DUNXERQJJE and the CV BEARM, escorted by 2x DesFlots and 1xsubflot. (DAUPHIN class), in the entrance to the Channel early on 10 April en route for the North Sea. Time and position are considered improbable according to B Dienst monitoring. In spite of this, the presence of the French forces in the North Sea or northern waters must be reckoned with. SIGINT intercepted a British radio message from which it appears that an operation against the Norwegian coast between 58° and 59° (area Lindesnes to Skudesnes fjord) is planned on 12 April, probably in the afternoon because of the weather. All officers concerned have been informed. A landing at the points indicated is not considered probable. In Naval Staff's opinion, this is probably a ML operation off the south coast of Norway or a large air raid on
Stavanger / Be r gen.

DKM Radio monitoring was yielding exceptionally good SIGINT of allied disposition, strength and intentions. However thee Germans were in a tight spot in several areas, as the following excerpts show:

4 DD are in complete readiness to proceed, 3 in limited readiness. The DIETER von ROEDER is not ready. (ROEDER' s radio station has been set up ashore as Narvik Naval Radio Station, guns are being dismantled for use as a barrage bty.) Commander, DesFlot 4 reports that he does not consider a break-through out of West Fjord possible as long as there are superior enemy light forces (cruisers and DDs) lying in West fjord. He considers return passage close to the coast to be unfavorable because of the joint
British and Norwegian patrol activity.

Narvik's primary requirements from Germany are supplies of heavy armament (mountain guns, machine-guns, mortars) and ammunition. OKW and CinC, LW have issued orders accordingly. LR recon planes, type Do 26, are to operate as transport planes for all goods which cannot be dropped. They are therefore not available for LR sea recon

and some acknowledgement of mistakes in the operational plan:

CO, (Defenses-Baltic), has put sub-chasers into action to combat the great danger from subs in the entrance to Oslo Fjord. At 1800 a sub-chaser reported the alleged destruction by DCs of a sub at the sthn entrance to Oslo Fjord. CS LUTZOW, which had been recalled from Oslo to be prepared for the Atlantic, was torpedoed and severely damaged east of Skagen during the night of 10 April. She is unable to move and is being picked up by forces of Commanding Admiral, Defenses, Baltic and towed off by tugs. The torpedoing of the LUTZOW is the most severe loss DKM could suffer at the present moment. The ship's elimination
for some time results in the abandonment of raider operations warfare in the Atlantic at the very moment when a strong diversion would have been most useful. The ship's incorporation 'in "Weseruebung" and her despatch to Oslo have therefore turned out to be definite strategic errors . Naval Staff feels this all the more because it always recognized the despatch of the pocket battleship to the Atlantic as a strategic necessity and indicated it as such. The original plan of sending the ship into the Atlantic from Trondheim after executing her transport assignment could not be carried out since at the last moment she was reported not to be ready for the Atlantic because of trouble with her auxiliary engines. OKWs request that the troops already en route be brought to Oslo had to be fulfilled by Naval Staff, although with great misgivings. The fulfillment of this demand has proved a mistake strategically, from the point of view of naval warfare. It must be admitted, with regard to the execution of the Norwegian operation, that the presence of the troops embarked on the LUTZOW was of the greatest value for the Oslo operation, in view of the BLUCHEH's breakdown.

It can be stated in retrospect that both the use of the LUTZOW and of the latest cruiser BLUCHER in Oslo have led to extremely severe losses in naval fighting strength. It might also have been possible to carry out the landing in Oslo with a large number of small vessels (TBs, PVs, etc.) without great losses. A very large number of such vessels would, however, have been necessary
for the troops to be transported. In Naval Staff 's opinion the incorporation of powerful ships in the Oslo operation can on no account be judged as an operational error. The use of heavy ships guns was considered a basic requirement to break down resistance in Oslo and to cover the landing. Naval Staff also previously considered the use of the old BBs in Oslo. Apart from the fact that one of these ships was limited regarding maneuverability and ability to proceed and the other was operating on the Korsoer assignment, their fighting qualities as opposed to the coastal batteries were estimated as very slight (Pencilled marginal note by Chief of Staff, Naval Staff: "But surely greater than BLUCHER and LUETZOW?)"

DKM were counting the cost of their surprise attack, and it was high. It was about to get higher...

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

2 DDs of Gp1 attempted to put out of the West fjord. The attempt failed because they sighted a cruiser and a DDs when they were still in the narrow part of the fjord, and were unable to pass them in the clear night. They returned. On their report of the enemy, U 51 received orders to attack. The boat, however, did not apparently find the enemy. U 46 has has no contact with the enemy. U 51 was pursued by DDs - it fired 2 misses and 2 self detonators. U 25 reports having torpedoed 2 DDs last night in her position. The effect of the explosion not observed. Hydrophone search. Non report from U 64. Summing up the situation in the North Sea this afternoon, the Group said that imminent enemy battle fleet operations were not expected. For the time being, the enemy has withdrawn from the area apparently under the impression that there would be successful air attacks during the momentary favorable flying weather. The Gp is in favor of a concentration of U-boats around the Shetland area, in order to have reconnaissance independent of the weather, for the return of our own BCs. This task must not be underrated, it means, however, that the more promising disposition of small U-boats in the area around Scapa must be finally abandoned.

I intend to use contact detonators at least during the current operations, or at any rate in the areas momentarily especially endangered in the northerly zones. If premature detonation also occurs in the southerly areas, a general change over to contact detonators will be unavoidable if and when a return to magnetic detonators will follow depends on the results of research and trial shots.

Departures
Kiel: U-61

At Sea 11April 1940
U-2, U-4, U-5, U-6, U-7, U-9, U-10, U-13, U-14, U-19, U-25, U-30, U-34, U-37, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-64, U-65.
30 boats at sea.

 

[Njaco]

April 13 Saturday
NORTHERN EUROPE: Second Battle of Narvik: At Narvik, Norway, a British naval force consisted of battleship HMS "Warspite" and 9 destroyers under the command of Vice Admiral William Whitworth entered Ofotfjord. A Fairey Swordfish launched from "Warspite" bombs and sinks U-64 (8 dead, 38 survivors make a free ascent to the surface). Germans lose 8 destroyers; 3 are sunk (100 dead) and 5 scuttled, out of fuel or ammunition including "Diether von Roeder", "Erich Koellner", and "Hermann Kunne". German destroyers shell but do not sink HMS "Punjabi" (14 dead, 28 wounded) and HMS "Cossack", which runs aground (9 dead, 21 wounded). British destroyer "Cossack" and German destroyer "Bruno Heineman" battle, with British destroyer "Foxhound" firing the shot that sinks "Bruno Heineman". "Cossack" then runs aground, but remains in working order. British destroyers "Eskimo", "Forester", and "Hero", force German destroyer "Georg Thiele" to run aground, and sink. HMS "Eskimo's" bow is blown off by a German torpedo but she does not sink. Soon German destroyers "Hans Ludemann", "Wolfgang Zenker", and "Bernd von Arnim" are sunk. Three British ships were damaged in the battle. Without their ships, 2,600 German sailors went on land and served as infantrymen; Whitworth radioed London, noting that German forces at Narvik were now stranded, and a single brigade could defeat them.

The 38 survivors from U-64 are rescued by German mountain troops. Out of respect, the crew will adopt the Edelweiss as the emblem for their new submarine U-124 when they are reassigned in June 1940.

Film of the action, released as Newsreel on 25th April 1941:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d_S1IFyb9M

The Luftwaffe tries to reinforce the forces at Narvik. At 1830 hours eleven Ju 52 transports carrying troops of 2./Geb.Art.Rgt. 112 arrive at Narvik. As they approach the airfield, they are attacked by anti-aircraft guns from British ships in the harbor. Three Ju 52s are shot down. The remaining eight planes land on the frozen Hartvik lake and unload the infantry. Because there is no fuel for the planes to take off they are lost as the ice melts, allowing the planes to sink into the water. Shortly after the transports land, nine RAF aircraft attack Narvik causing light casualties.

Later twenty-two He 111s led by Oberst Fuchs try to arrive at Narvik but have to return because of poor weather. One Do 24 seaplane does succeed in bringing supplies to the city. In the evening six planes from KuFlGr 506 succeed in landing at Narvik although they are attacked by two Norwegian fighters without success.

At Kristiansand, JG 77 attack RAF Hampden and Lockheed bombers attacking the airfield. Six Hampdens and one Lockheed are destroyed at the cost of four Bf 109s destroyed. A fifth Messerschmitt believed lost later returns to the airfield.

Off Trondheim, Norwegian cruiser-minelayer "Frøya" was damaged by German warships while defending the Agdenes fortress; German submarine U-34 scuttled "Frøya" to prevent salvage.

The airfield at Stavanger is subjected to three Allied air attacks throughout the day. Five RAF Wellington bombers are shot down for the loss of one Ju 88 destroyed.

Aircraft from I./SG 1 and KG 100 report sinking two Allied submarines in the Kattegat but they are not confirmed. Four Heinkels of 1(F)./122 on patrol reported two battleships east of Aalesund. These ships were, in fact, the British light cruisers "Sheffield" and "Glasgow".

GERMANY: RAF Hampden bombers of No. 44, No. 49, No. 50, No. 61, and No. 144 Squadrons began laying magnetic mines in German coastal waters.

Hitler is very worried by the situation in Norway and is only just prevented by his staff from issuing a series of very rash orders, particularly to the troops in Narvik.

UNITED KINGDOM: British War Cabinet dithers between landings at Trondheim, to help secure southern Norway from German advance, and the original strategic goal of Narvik to interfere with Swedish iron ore traffic. Churchill presciently warns of;

"…the grave danger that we should find ourselves committed to a number of ineffectual operations along the Norwegian coast, none of which would succeed".

WESTERN FRONT: British Royal Marines climbed down from their ships and stepped onto foreign soil as part of an occupation force this morning. The marines, part of a 250-strong force, were allowed to move onto the Faroe Islands, a small collection of islands in the Norwegian Sea, after British officers negotiated the peaceful occupation with local officials. The Danish Prefect of the islands, Carl Hilbert, spoke with Royal Navy officers and accepted the occupation after the British agreed to allow the islanders to continue as before, with a peaceful occupation.

.

.

 

[michaelmaltby]

outstanding footage .. fought and shot before Japan becomes involved .... but released to the public after the Prince of Wales sinking and related humiliations. Real Hornblower action ....

 

[parsifal]

11 April 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS
Map for the battles around Narvik (Acknowledged from Naval history.netl)

Baltic
Western Baltic
Sub SEVERN fired two torps at a German MV of some 6000grt near Kristiansand. Both torps missed. U.5 encountered a Sub west, southwest of Lindesnes. Sub U.7 at Marstein Island occupied the Norwegian Light House. The submarine remained at Marstein Island until 14 April. DKM MLs laid two mine barrages off the Skagerrak from 11 to 13 April.

North Sea
MT.49 departed Methil, escort sloops PELICAN and WESTON and ASWGp 19. The convoy arrived later that day in the Tyne. FS.143 departed the Tyne, escort sloops PELICAN and WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 13th.

CVL FURIOUS launched 18 Swordfish of her 816 and 818 Sqns pre-dawn against Trondheim with the objective of hitting HIPPER (misidentified as BLUCHER). DKM DDs RIEDEL and HEINEMANN and U.34 were the only targets found in port. Due to the shallow waters of the harbour, the torps were ineffective and no damage was done (this information was vital however to the success of Taranto, where mods were made to the torps used) to any of the German ships. U.48 contacted the British Main Force off Trondheim. At about 1230, U.48 fired torpedoes at either CAs DEVONSHIRE or BERWICK and two of the torps missed and the third failed to explode. The explosion of one of the torps was felt in both cruisers. During the early afternoon of 11 April, DDs ILEX and ISIS were detached on a reconnaissance, ordered on the 10th, made an independent approach to the mouth of Trondheim fjord.

Fairey Swordfish 816 sqn HMS Furious, Attacks on Trondheim. 818 sqn a/c were in the same overall scheme

ISIS searched Froy Suls and South Frohavet and intended on searching Skjoen and beyond with DD ILEX. At 1325, ISIS was fired upon by shore guns at Skjorn fjord , which had fallen to Heer troops only a few hrs before, returned fire. Although the firing of the Norwegian fortifications was wild and ineffective, their mere presence weighted heavily on later operations. The DDs were ordered at 1331 to return to the Main Force. At 1500 DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK with DDs INGLEFIELD, IMOGEN, ISIS, ILEX were ordered to sweep nth from the Trondheim Leads. ISIS and ILEX were again detached. They were ordered to search Namsos fjord and the approaches to Namsos. The DDs were instructed to rejoin the CAs at 2100 on the 12th at a pre-assigned location. The DDs found no shipping in Namsos fjord and at Namsos. INGLEFIELD and IMOGEN were then sent to Indrelein.

The DDs entered and left at Buholmraasa. The DDs also had orders to meet the CAs at 2100. No shipping was found in the Inner Leads, Sves Skjervoer, Brands, Berfjorn, Skjora Fjords. At 0500/12th, ISIS and IMOGEN were detached off Kya Light to attempt to get pilots at Rovik. DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK with INGLEFIELD and ILEX worked nth. ISIS rejoined at 1530/12th. She reported no German ships of troops between Namsos fjord and Aasvaer fjord. ISIS had spoken to Norwegian fishery protection vessel NORDKAPP at Aluangen. She was informed that the Norwegians had sunk a DKM tkr (the KATTEGAT). At 2030/12th, DEVONSHIRE sighted Italian steamer VOLTA (1191grt). On the 12th, BERWICK's speed was reduced to twenty six knots due to excessive vibration in the inner HP turbine. The CAs rejoined the Main Force at 0930/13th. The DDs were detached to Skelfjord to refuel from tkr BRITISH LADY.

From 1540 to 1700 RN forces in the vicinity of Trondheim were bombed repeatedly by the LW, DD ECLIPSE of Forbes' Main Force was bombed and badly damaged at 1700 with a hit in the engine room nw of Trondheim. 3 crew were killed, and 1 died of woulds subsequent. 2 other ratings were wounded. ECLIPSE was abandoned under heavy air attacks, but was later re-boarded by men from destroyer ESCORT. She was taken in tow by ESCORT. CA YORK was detached from the CinC's Main Force to screen the retirement of ECLIPSE. YORK took off the wounded and one hundred crew from the DD. YORK soon relieved ESCORT. Towed by YORK, ECLIPSE was only able to proceed at five knots screened by DDs ESCORT and HYPERION.

At 2115 off Trondheim, U.48 was able to fire torps at YORK, but the torps all exploded prematurely. The British simply refused to give up, despite the dire situation. ESCORT took over the tow at 1200/13th. ESCORT slowly towed ECLIPSE at only one knot in poor weather towards Lerwick supported by CLA CAIRO. On 15 April, YORK arrived in Scapa. At 0145/16th, the tow parted, but it was soon regained with HYPERION's aid. Later that day, ESCORT was relieved by tug ST MELLONS (860grt) which had left Lerwick at 0840/16th, and with that, the speed of the tow increased again. DDs FURY and HESPERUS arrived with the tug and provided escort. HYPERION and HESPERUS were detached and arrived at Sullom Voe at 2100/16th for refuelling. After refuelling, HYPERION took tkr ALDERSDALE (8402grt) to Scapa. HESPERUS returned to ECLIPSE's escort. CLs SHEFFIELD and GLASGOW were involved in screening the withdrawal of the damaged DD. ECLIPSE arrived at Lerwick 17th escort DD ESCORT and FURY. FURY was immediately detached to assist damaged CA SUFFOLK. ECLIPSE later proceeded to the Clyde arriving at 1800 on 7 May for repairs completed on 7 September 1940.

On the 11th, subs were given permission to attack all ships without warning within ten miles of the Norwegian coast from Bergen south. This had already been happening for some time and the operational area considerably exceeded by RN subs.

Convoy NP 1, composed of liners EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (19,665grt), REINA DEL PACIFICO (17,707grt), MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22,424grt), escorted by repair ship VINDICTIVE and DD AMAZON, departed the Clyde for Narvik. ORP troopships CHROBRY (11,442grt) and BATORY (14,287grt) with DDs HIGHLANDER of DesFlot 9, VANOC and WHIRLWIND of DesFlot 11, VOLUNTEER and WITHERINGTON of the Desflot 15 and netlayer PROTECTOR left Greenock on the 10th and arrived at Scapa next morning. These units departed Scapa at 12th and joined NP 1 at sea. VINDICTIVE and DDs ARDENT and ACASTA arrived at Scapa on the 12th. DDs ACASTA and ARDENT had departed Plymouth on the 9th, refuelled at Belfast, before arriving at Scapa for refuelling. On 13 April, CLs MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM, DDs ACASTA, ARDENT, CODRINGTON and repair ship VINDICTIVE which departed Scapa on the 12th and CLA CAIRO and DDs FEARLESS, BRAZEN, GRIFFIN which departed Sullom Voe on the 12th, joined the convoy for support.

Northern Waters
DDs SOMALI, MATABELE, MASHONA, AFRIDI, SIKH, MOHAWK, CODRINGTON, BRAZEN, JUPITER, ESCAPADE, ELECTRA, GRIFFIN and FEARLESS completed refuelling at Sullom Voe early on the 11th. SOMALI, MATABELE, MASHONA, AFRIDI, SIKH, MOHAWK, ESCAPADE and ELECTRA departed Sullom Voe to embark ammunition at Scapa where they arrived at 1300. CLs GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD with DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, MATABELE, AFRIDI , SIKH, MOHAWK departed Scapa for operations on the Norwegian coast. Sweeps of the Indreled were carried out by DDs, but no contact was made. DD CODRINGTON departed Sullom Voe at 2300 and arrived at Scapa 1200/12th. DD FORTUNE arrived at Kirkwall at 0530 with Danish steamer KINA (9823grt). DD FORTUNE continued on to Scapa.

Reports from Norwegian sources indicated that a German tkr and also perhaps a warship were at Bodo. CL PENELOPE and DDs KIMBERLEY and ESKIMO in Vest fjord were ordered to Bodo to attack the German ships. At 1500, en route to Bodo, CL PENELOPE ran aground off Fleinver near Bodo and was badly damaged. PENELOPE was towed to Skel fjord by DD ESKIMO and DD KIMBERLEY continued on alone. CL PENELOPE after emergency repairs at Skel fjord and damage from a near miss of a German air bombing on 10 May departed under tow late on 10 May for the Clyde with the protection of CLAs CALCUTTA and COVENTRY. She safely arrived on 16 May and was undergoing temporary repairs until 2 July 1940. PENELOPE arrived at the Tyne on 26 August and was under repair until 2 July 1941.

At Bodo, DD KIMBERLEY found the steamer ALSTER (Ger 8514 grt) which had been captured that morning by DDr ICARUS (previously included in the loss tallies). ALSTER had attempted to scuttle herself and had detonated one scuttling charge , but was not seriously damaged. German steamer ALSTER was taken to Skel fjord and renamed EMPIRE ENDURANCE for British service. Earlier, late on the 9th, tkr KATTEGAT (Ger 6031 grt) had been sunk by Norwegian patrol boat NORDKAPP at Tannholms fjord near Bodo (also recorded previously in the loss section).

While maneuvering in Narvik harbour during the night of 11/12 April, DKM DDs ZENKER and KOELLNER ran aground. ZENKER damaged her propellers and was restricted to only 20 kts. KOELLNER was so badly damaged that she was unrepairable and the Germans intended to moor her at Tarstad in the same capacity as ROEDER - an immobile defense battery - once she was patched up enough to move.

 

[parsifal]

11 April 1940 (Part III)
OPERATIONS (cont'd)
West Coast UK
Troopships FRANCONIA (20,175grt) and SOBIESKI (11,030grt) left Liverpool escort DDs MACKAY and WALPOLE. They arrived in the Clyde later that day and WALPOLE returned to Liverpool. CL FIJI, completing construction at Clydebank, on trials at sea was escorted by DDs WANDERER and WALKER on 11 to 13 April

Channel
Sub TAKU, recently commissioned, had been escorted from Portsmouth by DD FOXHOUND to the Clyde, arriving on the 5th for working up. Sub TAKU was lent to SubFlot 2 and departed the Clyde for Scapa on the 11th escorted by ASW trawler NOTTS COUNTY in preparation of setting out on patrol.
.
Med- Biscay
Fr BB PROVENCE and CAs DUQUESNE and COLBERT departed Dakar. They were joined by DDr TROMBE from Casablanca. On 16 April, the BB and the DD arrived at Oran. The CAs arrived at Toulon on the 17th. Fr DD LE TERRIBLE departing Oran on the 11th escorted AMC COLOMBIE from Algier and DD ORAGE from Oran escorted steamer PRESIDENT DOUMIER from Marseille. DD FORBIN departed Casablanca on the 10th escorting steamer DJENNE, arriving at Brest on the 13th. AMC COLOMBIE arrived at Brest on the 15th and PRESIDENT DOUMIER on the 16th for Norwegian operations.

 

[parsifal]

12 April 1940 (Part I)
Known Losses
MV STANCLIFFE (UK 4511 grt) Crew: 38 (22 dead and 16 survivors) : Cargo: Iron Ore: Route: Narvik - Middlesbrough - Immingham . Sunk Nth of the Shetlands. At 09.42 hrs the unescorted STANCLIFFE was hit on the starboard side just ahead of the bridge by one G7e torpedo from U-37 about 50 miles north-northeast of Muckle Flugga, Shetlands. The ship sank within 8 minutes after the foreship had broke off. The master and 21 crew members were lost. The U-boat went alongside of a lifeboat and took a man aboard for questioning. He was allowed to return to the boat with cigarettes and a bottle of rum. The 16 crew members in the lifeboat made landfall at Haroldswick, Unst Island, Shetlands.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

SC CHASSEUR 107 (Fr 176 grt ): The submarine chaser collided with MV SHELSPRA (Fr 1951 grt) in the Loire and sank.

Ch 107 was French built, of wooden construction and based on the old USN SC-1 design, of which a number including CH98 (centre) was one. This photo was hard to find, eventually tracked it down in Axis History Forum

Tkr MOONSUND (DKM 321 grt): The naval tkr was intercepted in the Skagerrak off Larvik, Norway by Sub SNAPPER and was shelled and sunk.

Pre-WWI TB STORM (Nor 107 grt): The TB ran aground at Stangholmene, Norway. She was beached, and sank the next day.

Coastal Steamer VELOCITAS (Ne 197 grt) was lost on a mine east of Margate, Kent. Three crew were lost and two rescued by steamer MAVIS (UK 935 grt).

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UJ-117 (DKM 350 grt (est)) : The SC struck a mine and sank in the Danish Straits

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer THORLAND (Nor 5208 grt), which had been laid up since 1937, was seized by German forces at Sandefjord.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

PV SPERM (Nor 239 grt) : The guard ship was scuttled by her own crew at Vikedal, Rogaland, Norway, to prevent capture by the Germans.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses to air attacks
Early on the 12th, Adm Forbes joined BCs RENOWN and REPULSE off Vestfjord. The plans for destroying DKM naval forces, believed to include 2 CLs, at Narvik was to be an attack by a BB heavily escorted by DD in conjunction with an airstrike by the FURIOUS CAG . Swordfish aircraft were launched against the Narvik area by CVL FURIOUS. 818 Squadron with 9 a/c under Lt Cdr P.G. Sydney-Turner reached Narvik, despite poor weather, but was driven off by AA fire without causing any damage to the German ships, except slight splinter damage to DD GIESE. Three small Norwegian craft, taken over by the Germans were sunk, as outlined below, and steamer BERNISSE (Ne 951 grt) was scuttled during the attack. Two planes, piloted by Sydney-Turner with Lt W.B. Kellett, PO W.H. Dillnutt and S/Lt S.G.J. Appleby with Leading Airman E. Tapping, were shot down, but their crews were picked up by DDs PUNJABI and GRENADE, respectively. 816 Squadron with 9 Swordfish under Lt Cdr H.H. Gardner did not even reach Narvik and did not return to FURIOUS until after dark. An aircraft landing from this group, piloted by Lt M D Donati, plunged off the flightdeck of the carrier. Destroyer HERO picked up Donati and Leading Airman F.A.J. Smith.

PV MICHAEL SARS (Ex-Nor 226 grt): The disarmed offshore PV was bombed and damaged by British Fairey Swordfish aircraft from CVL Furious in Narvik harbour. She sank the next day. Later raised and pressed into Kriegsmarine service.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

PV SENJA ( Ex-Nor 266 grt), PV KELT (Ex-Nor 376 grt): The captured Norwegian offshore PVs, manned by a prize crews from DKM DD DIETER VON ROEDER, were bombed and sunk by British Fairey Swordfish a/ct from CVL Furious in Narvik harbour.

SENJA found, no Image located for the KELT


DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Situation in Oslo not yet clarified. The Quisling Govt is endeavouring to govern but probably cannot last since support from the people and Armed Forces is too slight. Position rendered very difficult by the first Govt's continuous counter-orders and orders to resist.

The German action has undoubtedly evoked the greatest consternation in Holland and Belgium, where anxiety about a German invasion has again come to the fore. In spite of this there is no inclination to accept the requests of the 'Western Powers to put
themselves under their protection. It is reported from the U.S.A. that the news of the German action was received calmly . Special importance was undoubtedly attached here to the fact that the British breach of neutrality by mine-laying in Norwegian waters preceded the German operation.

The publication of the German White Paper from the Polish documents is also contributing to lessen the Government's inclination to be biased against Germany. It is confirmed that the European situation cannot lead America to deviate from the maintenance of her neutrality.

In a broadcast speech the Swedish Foreign Minister emphasized that Sweden was still firmly resolved to pursue a course of strict neutrality. Demands from a belligerent to utilize Swedish territory for its operations would have to be refused. Extension of defensive readiness was necessary for the purpose of defending Swedish neutrality.

The Danish Govt has granted Iceland complete independence for the duration of the present emergency. The Faroes have been occupied by Britain. According to a report intercepted by radio intelligence, the attack on Narvik will probably take place on the afternoon of 13 April. Commander, CruSqn 2 detailed two DDs as escort for the CL SOUTHAMPTON, which is sailing from Scapa at noon today for Vaags Fjord ( north of Narvik).

This information, in conjunction with the sailing of the troopships BATORY and CHOBRI on 12 April from Scapa, indicates that troops will be landed in Vaags Fjord. According to a further report the landing is planned there for 15 April.

Trondhelm area ;
First British troops obviously landed in the neighborhood of Indre Foliar (about 64° 50' Nj in the afternoon. Commander,
Crusqn 1 reported operation carried out and the suitability of Namsos and Mosjoen for further landings according to recon by 1 DD.

Stavanger-Bergen area :
A DD flotilla was given a ML assignment in the area of Skudesnes Fjord. Execution not yet detected. No fresh reports of the British BB formation.

It follows from the steps so far taken by the enemy that he is at present ignoring ports occupied by us from the point of view of landings and is limiting himself to alternative points and accepting strategic disadvantages on land. From his almost undisturbed landing places the enemy obviously plans to out-flank the German strategically important points of Narvik and Trondheim and to attack them after preliminary raids by planes from the carrier. He plans to destroy in advance the naval forces still lying in the harbors. Troops are being carried on large, strongly escorted transports.

Simultaneously with the landing, the blockade of supply and approach routes for our naval forces will be commenced on a large scale by the combined Franco-British naval forces.

 

[parsifal]

12 April 1940 (Part II)
UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 2 reports return passage owing to damage to hydroplane. U 48 regained contact unfortunately only temporarily, with 2 large cruisers with destroyers on a southerly course, medium speed. The enemy is then, in the area northwest of Trondheim. I do not now consider a new deployment of the boats proceeding to Narvik, which must be in the vicinity, advisable. If the enemy is in this area it only is a starting off point for operations against the neighboring areas. Narvik appears especially threatened. The boats are to proceed there with the utmost speed in order to be in position when the enemy arrives. A message from U 38 indicates a change in the situation, this boat sighted 2 freighters and an escorting destroyer on a northeasterly course. Convoys of ordinary merchant ships do not now sail in this area. These units were in all probability transport ships used in connection with an enemy operation - possibly transport of material for a landing. U 38 received orders to attack, or if that is not possible, to maintain contact. It is important to know where these steamers are going. At the same time the 1st U-boat Group receives permission to attack all ships (not just warships and troop transport ships as previously) as it is practically certain that no ordinary merchant shipping now proceeds through this area.

A reliable radio intelligence report relates to the putting out of an English cruiser with 2 destroyers from Scapa for Vaagsfjord. This confirms the conjecture that the enemy plans counter operation possibly landings north of Narvik after being beaten off in Westfjord. From this I see another situation. A disposition of U-boats is necessary and promising on the strength of this report. 3 boats from the group proceeding to Narvik are to be deflected to the Vaagsfjord.

2 other boats to protect Andalsnes and Namsos from possible landings are to be detailed. Only U 65, proceeding to Narvik is still available. The second boat will be taken from the Trondheim group which appears comparatively adequately safeguarded when the first coastal batteries there are ready for action. There is to be new distribution of positions for the Narvik boats (which U 48 joins today) and a supplementation of supplies by one boat, from the supply ship "Jan Wellem" is intended for the coming day. At the same time the boat is to hand over its small arms and machine guns to the Harbormaster for the use of the infantry. U 43 and U 61 have put out for Narvik with munitions.

.

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-3, U-43

At Sea 12 April 1940
U-2, U-3, U-4, U-5, U-6, U-7, U-9, U-10, U-13, U-14, U-19, U-25, U-30, U-34, U-37, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-64, U-65.
32 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS

Baltic
Western Baltic
Sub SUNFISH fired a torp at a trawler, probably either Schiff 35 or Schiff 40, near Maseskar Light. The torp missed. Sub STERLET fired torps at 2130 at a convoy of 3 MVs and escorts . The torps missed.

North Sea
Sub TRUANT arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Fr subs ANTIOPE and AMAZONE arrived at Harwich after their first patrols in Fr SubFlot 10. Fr sub ANTIOPE departed Harwich later that day to return to patrol.

Supply ship LEVANTE (Ger 4770 grt) arrived safely at Trondheim, 3 days behind schedule. Troopship ORION (23,456grt) departed Southend escort DD WHITLEY for Leith. FN.143 departed Southend, DD WOLSEY and sloop FLEETWOOD. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 14th. FS.144 departed the Tyne, escort sloops PELICAN and WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 14th.

Captured German trawlers FRIESLAND, NORDLAND, BLANKENBURG under British control arrived at Aberdeen during the night of 12/13 April. Later on 18 May, trawler NORDLAND sailed for Glasgow for fitting out and BLANKENBURG departed on 19 May for North Shields for fitting out.

Northern Waters
DDs HAVANT and HESPERUS arrived at Scapa on the 11th. They departed Scapa late on th at day and arrived at Thorshavn on the 12th to inform the Governor of the Faroes Islands that a garrison of Royal Marines would be garrisoned there to forestall German invasion. The DDs then went back out to sea to await the arrival of CA SUFFOLK. This garrison movement was codenamed VALENTINE. Armed boarding vessels NORTHERN FOAM and NORTHERN SKY arrived at Thorshavn at 0700/13th.SUFFOLK, which departed the Clyde on the 12th, arrived early on the 13th and landed the 250 man Marine detachment. The operation was completed at 2200/13th. Following this duty, SUFFOLK proceeded to patrol off Vestfjord and HAVANT and HESPERUS arrived back at Scapa on the 14th. NORTHERN SKY returned to Northern Patrol duties. NORTHERN FOAM was left at Thorshavn to transport troops and to escort Danish, Norwegian and neutral shipping from the Faeroes to Kirkwall. This garrison was relieved on 25 May by a force carried by steamer ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt), escort DDs ARDENT and ACASTA.

DD FURY arrived at Scapa for duty after repairs at Newport. DD NUBIAN arrived at Scapa at 0600 for duty after repairs in the Tyne.

CL SOUTHAMPTON with DDs ELECTRA and ESCAPADE departed Scapa at 1320 with General Mackesy to command the Narvik ground forces en route to Narvik on convoy NP.1. CL AURORA arrived at Rosyth on the 11th from Scapa. CL AURORA departed Rosyth on the 12th with Lord Cord Orrery, Naval Commander of the Narvik Expedition.AURORA made the voyage, for the most part, unescorted.DDrs NUBIAN and FORTUNE departed Scapa at 1930 with tkr WAR PINDARI for Skelfjord, but they were diverted en route to Lillesjona. DD PUNJABI in Vestfjord engaged a Do.18 a/c. DDs ASHANTI and MAORI arrived at Sullom Voe for refueling which completed early that eveing. ASW trawlers NORTHERNSPRAY, NORTHERN DAWN, NORTHERN GEM, NORTHERN PRIDE, NORTHERN WAVE of the 12th Antisubmarine Striking Force departed Aberdeen for Skjelfjord.

6 Skuas of 800 Squadron from Hatston attacked Bergen. Several near misses were scored on MVs and S Boote S.24 was strafed by one a/ct and sustained 3 crew wounded. A Skua of 803 Squadron forced landed in Korsfjord. PO J.A. Gardner and Naval Airman A. Todd were rescued and returned to Hatston by air on the 27th.

DDs FEARLESS, GRIFFIN, BRAZEN departed Sullom Voe to rendezvous with the northbound convoy, then screen BB VALIANT during her passage nth.

West Coast UK
BB RESOLUTION with DDs ANTELOPE and WITCH arrived in the Clyde from Plymouth in preparation of going to Norway.

Channel
CL ENTERPRISE departed Portsmouth for Scapa and service off Norway. DD BASILISK arrived at Dover to rejoin the DesFlot 19 after repairs.

Med- Biscay
Fr steamer MEXIQUE departed Marseilles and was escorted by DD LE MARS from Gib. The steamer arrived at Brest on the 16th.

Far East/Pacific/Australia
En route to duty in the Malaya Force, following conversion, RAN AMC WESTRALIA captured steamer FERNLANE (Nor 4310 grt) nth of Australia and sent her under a prize crew to Singapore.

 

[parsifal]

13 April 1940 (Part I)
Known Losses
ML FROYA (RNoN 595 grt) : When the German attack on Norway began on 8 April 1940, FROYA was en route from Finnmark to Oslo fjord and anchored near the mouth of the Trondheims fjord, then moved to protect the fortress of Agdenes. On 13 April, after some battles with German warships, the damaged ML was beached and demolished by the crew as the ship was trapped in the fjord when the fortress surrendered. The vessel became a total loss after her stern was ripped off by a torpedo fired by U-34

FROYA beached in the Trondheimfjord with her stern wrecked by a torpedo hit.

SECOND BATTLE OF NARVIK
DD ICARUS led the MSW sweep followed by DDs HERO, FOXHOUND and FORESTER. These ships swept for mines in Vestfjord prior to BB WARSPITE's entry into the Fjord . The Narvik attack force was composed of BB WARSPITE with destroyers FORESTER, FOXHOUND, HERO and COSSACK joining DDs BEDOUIN, KIMBERLEY, ESKIMO and PUNJABI, which formerly operated with CL PENELOPE and DDs ICARUS, IVANHOE and DD HOSTILE. These ships, while not taking part in the attack, entered the fjord after the WARSPITE force on general duties which would include screening damaged ships and picking up survivors. At 1040, U.48 was discovered by ESKIMO in Vestfjord. DDs ESK, IVANHOE, HOSTILE, HAVOCK were sent to hunt the submarine and ESKIMO continued with the WARSPITE gp. The sub was attacked, but she escaped undamaged. WARSPITE's aircraft scouting ahead of the force located Type IXB U.64 (DKM 1430 grt) , on her first war patrol, on the surface off Bjevik and sank her with bombs. 36 crew of the 44 man crew were able to swim ashore and were assisted by German Alpine troops. The crew of U.64 was returned to Germany commencing on the 13th on the Swedish railway and arriving on the 26th on a German passenger ship.

10 Swordfish of 816 and 818 sqns from CVL FURIOUS attacked DD HERMANN KUNNE and BERND VON ARMIM both were near missed, but not significantly damaged. 2 Swordfish of 818 Squadron were shot down by the German forces. The crew of one from 816 Squadron, piloted by Midshipman (A) D H Dammers, was rescued after the plane landed in a snowdrift. One crew were rescued by the RN, one went missing.

U.46, 5 miles up the fjord from Baroy, made an approach at periscope depth on WARSPITE. Maneuvering submerged, she struck an uncharted rock and broke surface. U.46 was able to escape, however, on the surface as the British force was occupied with the sighting of DD KUNNE. ERICH KOELLNER, escorted by KUNNE, on her way to Taarstad sighted the WARSPITE force at 1300 as it was approaching the Narrows. KUNNE sounded the alarm and DDs HANS LUDEMAN , WOLFGANG ZENKER and ARNIM got underway. KOELLNER slowly made her way to Djupvik Bay to wait in ambush as she was in no shape to offer battle. However, KOELLNER's fate was sealed when she was located by WARSPITE's Swordfish floatplane a/c. The 2 leading RN DDs, BEDOUIN and ESKIMO, alerted by the WARSPITE scouting plane, sighted DD ERICH KOELLNER (DKM 2200 grt) as they rounded the point of Djupvik and sank her in a few minutes. 31 crew were killed and 40 wounded on KOELLNER.

KUNNE exchanged shots with the British force as she retired up the Fjord, but with no hits because of the range. As KUNNE retired towards Narvik, she encountered LUDEMAN and ZENKER and they turned towards the British force. Just as they came into sight, the DKM force was strengthened by the arrival of ARNIM. RN DD PUNJABI was hit by many five inch shells and was seriously damaged with large fires. She retired for a time, putting out her fires. PUNJABI then returned to the battle, but was limited to fifteen knots and had a jagged hole in her bow. 6 crew were killed, and 17 were wounded. 1 of the wounded died of wounds.

By this time, DDs KUNNE, ZENKER and ARNIM were all damaged by shellfire and had exhausted their ammunition. DD HERMANN KUNNE (DKM 2411 grt), retiring up Herjangsfjord and pursued by ESKIMO, ran herself aground. ESKIMO fired torpedoes into KUNNE to complete the destruction. There were no casualties on KUNNE.

DD ERICH GIESE (DKM 2200 grt), now with steam up, sailed out of Narvik harbour and was sunk by gunfire from COSSACK, BEDOUIN, FOXHOUND, FORESTER, HERO and ICARUS. 83 crew were killed, many wounded, and 9 crew were captured from GIESE.

As the RN force was nearing Narvik, they were taken under fire by DD DIETHER VON ROEDER , but the British mistook the fire as coming from the shore (ROEDER was lashed to the pier). As COSSACK made her way between the wrecks in the harbour, she was taken under fire by ROEDER and hit 8 times by 5" shells; 2 of which inflicted serious damage. One shell exploded against the fore end of the forward superstructure killing or wounding all the ammunition party inside. The other shell burst in the forward boiler room, killing the stokers and severing the leads from the bridge to the steering engine and the engine room telegraphs and fractured the main steam pipes. Without steerage or means to stop the engines, COSSACK ran hard aground on the south shore opposite the harbour. For the next 12 hrs, she remained on this perch, sniped at by General Dietl's troops. Fortunately, most of the mountain guns carried on the destroyers for Dietl were swept away in heavy seas encountered on the voyage to Narvik. 8 ratings were killed and 19 crew, 2 dying of wounds, were wounded on DD COSSACK.

COSSACK from her location, could see ROEDER had now been abandoned, and ordered FOXHOUND into the harbour to board her. As FOXHOUND neared ROEDER, a burst of machine gun fire and rifle fire from the shore erupted and FOXHOUND stood off while she returned the fire. While this exchange was going on, DD DIETER VON ROEDER (DKM 2411grt) exploded and was totally demolished. There were no casualties on ROEDER.

DDs ESKIMO, FORESTER, HERO, BEDOUIN and ICARUS pursued DDs ZENKER, ARNIM, LUDEMAN and GEORG THIELE up Rombaksfjord. DD ESKIMO encountered LUDEMAN and THIELE which opened up with the last of their main armament ammunition. ESKIMO was the joined by FORESTER and HERO. LUDEMAN fired torpedoes at them but they were evaded by ESKIMO and outrun by FORESTER and HERO. DD HANS LUDEMANN (DKM 2411 grt) was hit a number of times by shellfire from the 3 destroyers and retired up the fjord to join DD WOLGANG ZENKER (DKM 2200 grt), and DD BERND VON ARNIM (DKM 2200 grt) where all three scuttled themselves and their crews went ashore. There were a number of casualties in the number 4 and 5 guns on LUDEMAN. There were no casualties on ZENKER and ARNIM.

DDs LUDEMANN, ZENKER, and the wrecks of ZENKER and ARNIM


DD GEORG THIELE (DKM 2200 grt) fired torps at the RN ships and then, ran aground and capsized.

The wreck of the THIELE

One of the torps struck DD ESKIMO under the forecastle blasting away the forward part of the ship. The forward turret was out of action, but B turret managed to keep up the fire. FORESTER and PUNJABI stood by ESKIMO, while HERO, ICARUS and KIMBERLEY continued up the fjord. There were 14 killed and twenty eight wounded on THIELE. There were 15 crew lost and 10 wounded on ESKIMO. HERO, ICARUS and KIMBERLEY found THIELE, LUDEMAN and ZENKER, all aground and abandoned. As they approached, ZENKER slid off the rocks and sank. A boarding party was put aboard LUDEMAN but after discovering that all the documents had been destroyed prior to abandoning ship, the landing party left and a torpedo was fired to complete the destruction.

 

[parsifal]

13 April 1940 (Part II
Known Losses (cont'd)
Trawler GAZELLE (Ger 212 grt) was lost to enemy action. There are no further details given in DKM records

Trawler MALANGEN (Ger 487 grt) was captured by Norwegian forces and renamed HONNINGSVAAG for Norwegian service.

Aux MSW M.1108 (DKM 476 grt) was lost in a collision with a Danish steamer in the Great Belt.

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

Message from the Fuehrer and Supreme Commander to the Narvik Group, Major General Dietl, in the forenoon:
"Defend the Narvik area against attack under all circumstances. Ensure landing facilities on the Hartvig See. Aid the Air Force, weather permitting. If necessary effectively destroy the ore railroad in the mountains."
A H

Reports received in the evening provide the following picture of the British large-scale attack, about the proposed execution
of which it was possible to inform the Narvik Group in good time owing to the results of radio intelligence:

About noon 9 Br DDs and one heavy ship (WARSPITE?) penetrated in to Ofot and Rombaken Fjords. Heavy destroyer
engagement, the enemy using all his forces, until the destroyers - defending themselves and attacking to the last - were put out of
action. Simultaneously air raids by carrier-borne planes from the aircraft carrier lying off West Fjord.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

A report of a new break-through by English forces in the Ofot Fjord and off Narvik, was received in the afternoon. There were 9 destroyers and a battleship. The report came from the Naval Signal Officer, Narvik, not from the U-boats who apparently were neither able to give warning nor prevent the penetration in spite of the fact that there were at least 3 boats one behind the other in the narrow channel of the fjord. I cannot, as yet, obtain a clear picture of events. One must wait for the boat's reports and messages, in order to explain the circumstances. One thing is certain, the boats did what they could.The protective duties assigned to them were tricky and it seems, too difficult, against a strong, well-equipped enemy prepared for U-boats and as a result of torpedo shortage only combated at a disadvantage.

All boats in Westfjord have received orders to proceed to Narvik and attack the enemy as a result of the news of the successful break-through. U 46 reported at 2000 that the enemy battleship had again put out. All boats off Narvik are requested to send a situation report. I must form a picture from closer information of the break-through and know which of the boats is still there. In Naval War Staff Most Secret 4432/40 the order is received to move all large boats up to U-50 to the north - to carry out supplying of small boats' consumable goods - if possible in Bergen and then to dispense them in all positions south of Westfjord. U 30, 34, 52, 65 received orders to proceed at high speed to the Lofoten Islands.

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-17, U-23, U-24, U-26

At Sea 13 April 1940
U-2, U-3, U-4, U-5, U-6, U-7, U-9, U-10, U-13, U-14, U-17, U-19, U-23, U-24, U-25, U-26, U-30, U-34, U-37, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-65.
35 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Northern Waters
CLss GALATEA and ARETHUSA were ordered to Rosyth from Scapa to embark troops which had been aboard CruSqn1 at the start of the campaign.Troopships ORION (23,456grt), DUCHESS OF ATHOLL (20,119grt), SOBIESKI (11,030grt) in convoy TP 1 were to have been used, but in light of the danger from air attacks, these large troopship were removed from the operation and CLAs CARLISLE and CURACOA were substituted. The troops embarked on the 14th were to be landed at Namsos, but these plans were later changed and the landing eventually took place at Aandalsnes. The small storeships of this operation, CEDARBANK (5159grt), ST SUNNIVA (1368grt), ST MAGNUS (1312grt) arrived at Aandalsnes early on the 21st. NP.1 which had departed the Clyde on the 11th received orders to send a section of the convoy to Namsos. CL MANCHESTER was ordered to take troopships CHROBRY (11,442grt) and EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (19,665grt) escorted by his CLs MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM, CLA CAIRO, DDs VANOC, WHIRLWIND, HIGHLANDER to land troops and supplies at Namsos. Layton arrived safely on the 15th with his force, designated Force WX, at Lillesjona, from where the troops would be ferried on to Namsos.

Meanwhile, BB VALIANT and BC REPULSE with DDs JANUS, JUNO, JAVELIN, coming sth from their patrol off Vestfjord to cover NP.1, were joined by DDs FEARLESS, BRAZEN, GRIFFIN, which had departed Sullom Voe on the 12th. BC REPULSE and DDs JANUS, JUNO, JAVELIN covered the convoy in passing and continued on to Scapa. BB VALIANT with DDs FEARLESS, BRAZEN, GRIFFIN escorted the convoy to Vestfjord. Since the evening of 12 April, CLs GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD and DDs SOMALI, AFRIDI, MOHAWK, SIKH, MATABELE, MASHONA had been searching the Leads for enemy shipping. The cruisers had been sweeping north from Stadlandet and the DDs had been scouting Aalesund, Aandalsnes, Molde, Namsos. The DDs were attacked by 12 LW bombers near Aalesund. No damage was done to the British ships. At 1234 nth of the Shetlands, U.37 launched torps against CLs GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD, which had pulled away from the Norwegian coast during the daylight hours, but the attack failed due to torpedo defects. Late on the 13th, the DDs were sent to Aalesund to investigate a merchant ship report. On arrival, they learned that the vessels were Norwegian merchant ships and the DDSs returned to the CLs screen. Fr CL EMILE BERTIN, DDs TARTU, MAILLE BREZE, CHEVALIER PAUL, BOULONNAIS departed Scapa for the Clyde.

2nd NARVIK AFTERMATH
During the battle, steamer CATE B (Nor 4285 grt) and tkr RODSKJAEL (Nor 133 grt), steamers TORNE (SD 3792 grt) and OXELOSUND (SD 5613 grt) and tug STYRBJOEN (SD 167 grt), tkr JAN WELLEM (DKM 11,776 grt) were lost, but later salved. Steamer OXELOSUND was immobilised and subsequently sunk on 8 May by an internal explosion. U.51 had been at Narvik when the British attack began and, believing the attack to be an air raid, went into the harbour to bottom. Later, U.51 slipped out of the harbour, undetected, to attack the British force but without success. DD FOXHOUND dropped DCs on U.25 off Tjellebotn doing minor damage to her. During the night of 13/14 April, DD IVANHOE found the survivors from DD HARDY and the crew of the British Narvik merchant ships that had been put ashore from the tkr JAN WELLEM and escaped during the First Battle of Narvik. IVANHOE embarked these men at Ballengen and took them back to England.

Shortly after 2000, DD KIMBERLEY unsuccessfully tried to tow COSSACK off the ground. It was not until the next morning 14th that COSSACK finally got underway on her own in high water. COSSACK proceeded to WARSPITE to offload her casualties. Then with DD FORESTER escorting, COSSACK proceeded stern first to Skelfjord. At Skelfjord emergency repairs were made to COSSACK. She departed Skelfjord late on the 23rd after more emergency repairs with British tkr WAR PINDARI and arrived at Scapa early on the 27th. COSSACK departed Scapa on the 28th and arrived at Portsmouth on the 30th for repairs which were completed on 15 June 1940.

ESKIMO also arrived at Skelfjord early on the 14th towed by BEDOUIN and escorted by HOSTILE and IVANHOE. After emergency repairs at Skelfjord, ESKIMO departed under the tow of British repair ship VINDICTIVE on 14 May to Tjelsundet when Skelfjord was abandoned as a base. ESKIMO proceeded under own power to Hol. She was at various anchorages before berthing at the jetty at Harstad on 17 May. On 25 May, ESKIMO was ready to be moved to England and left stern first under tow for the Clyde where she arrived on 4 June. ESKIMO was under repairs until the first week of September 1940.

PUNJABI after emergency repairs at Skelfjord departed Skelfjord during the forenoon of 20 April. PUNJABI arrived at Scapa on the 23rd, departed on the 25th and went to Plymouth arriving on the 27th. The repairs to PUNJABI were completed on 12 June 1940.

With the loss of the DKM DDs, plans were set in motion to to supply the stranded Narvik troops. Subs in German shipyards were loaded with supplies and sent off to Narvik. However, because of the RN control in the area of Narvik, the subs had to be diverted en route to Trondheim. U.26 and U.43 with 12 and 18t, respectively, of military stores set out from Wilhelmshaven. They both arrived at Trondheim on the 18th. U.29 with 20t of ammunition and 30 t of fuel departed Wilhelmshaven on the 17th.U 32 with 20 t of ammunition, an 88 mm gun, 30 t of fuel and U.A with 50 t of ammunition and 80 t of fuel departed Wilhelmshaven on the 27th.U 101 with 36 t of supplies departed Kiel on the 29th. U.32 was almost lost en route when the benzine fumes penetrated into the submarine itself. U.29 arrived at Bergen on the 19th and departed on the 20th. At Fro Havet, the sub was attacked by 2 DDs as she entered harbour on the 22nd.She arrived on the 23rd at Trondheim and remained until 27 April. U.32 was attacked by 3 DDs on 1 May.She sustained no damage and arrived on 5 May at Trondheim. 3 days later U.32 departed Trondheim to return to Germany.She was attacked 3 times by DDs.She was attacked twice on 8 May by 2 DD and the next day by 3 DDs. The sub arrived at Wilhelmshaven on 13 May with engine defects which were corrected at Kiel in 3 days. U.A arrived on 2 May at Trondheim. U.101 arrived at Trondheim on 3 May. U.26 departed Wilhelmshaven on 23 May and safely at Trondheim on a second supply mission. German U.122 departed Kiel on 16 May and arrived with 50 t of ammunition and 80 t of fuel on 21 May.

 

[parsifal]

13 April 1940 (Part III)
OPERATIONS (contd)
Baltic/Skagerak
Sub NARWHAL laid mines 50 miles nth of Laeso Island near Cape Skagen. On this minefield, designated FD.5, Aux MSW M.1101 (DKM 518 grt) was lost on the 14th; Aux MSWs M.1703 (DKM 341 grt, later salved) on the 16th; and Aux MSW M.1302 (DKM 436 grt) on the 23rd. Steamer TOGO (Ger 5054 grt) was damaged on this minefield on the 21st. Later that day sub NARWHAL fired 6 torps at 1 large and 1 small vessel with two small escorts off Aalbeck Light. All the torps missed.

Sub SUNFISH fired two torpedoes at German naval auxiliary Schiff 40 (steamer SCHURBEK, 2448grt), which was outfitted as a Q ship, north of Marstrand, Sweden. One torpedo struck Schiff 40, badly damaged her and she was run ashore at Gronskren. Later Schiff 40 was taken to Wilhelmshaven for repairs.

Sub PORPOISE departed Rosyth to relieve submarine CLYDE off Egersund.

Northern Waters
DD TARTAR and ORP DDs GROM, BURZA, BLYSKAWICA arrived at Scapa at 0630 from Rosyth. DD JUPITER arrived at Scapa from Sullom Voe. NS.1 of steamers LOMBARDY (3379grt) and LOCHEE (964grt) arrived at Scapa escort DDs WOLVERINE and VANESSA.

Channel
Sub CACHALOT departed Portsmouth for the Tyne on the 10th. The sub arrived at Blyth on the 12th. CACHALOT departed Blyth on the 13th en route to Immingham to embark mines. The submarine was damaged in a collision with MV BEPPE (It 4859 grt) from FN.43 near Whitby. CACHALOT was able to proceed under her own power to the Tyne arriving on the 14th.She was taken to Sheerness on the 27th escort DD WINCHESTER. Escorted by sloop FOXGLOVE, she then was taken to Chatham, arriving on 1 May for drydocking. Later, she went to Plymouth for permanent repairs completed on 16 July. This accident removed CACHALOT from ML mission FD.7. Sub SEAL was scheduled on completion of her current patrol to drydock at Chatham. However, CACHALOT took over SEAL's drydocking time and SEAL assumed the FD.7 duties, delaying for a time her dockyard time.

North Sea
FN.144 departed Southend, escort DDs WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 15th. Convoy MT.50 departed Methil, escort DD WALLACE, sloop FLAMINGO, and ASWGp 1. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

Med- Biscay
HG.26 with 32 ships dep Gibraltar escort DDs DOUGLAS and WRESTLER on the 13th. DD VIVACIOUS escorted the convoy from 14 to 16 April. DDs DOUGLAS and WRESTLER accompanied this convoy to Portsmouth to give leave. HG.26 arrived at Liverpool on the 23rd. In Home Waters, HG.26 A was escorted by DD VIVACIOUS.

CVs ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS with RAN DD STUART, RN DDs BULLDOG, WESTCOTT with DD WISHARD as additional local escort arrived at Gib from Malta. Fr subs PASCAL, ARGO, ACHERON, escorted by DD LA PALME, departed Casablanca. The 4 arrived at Bizerte on the 18th

Indian Ocean
RAN CL HOBART departed on the 13th Colombo en route to Aden. Shortly after departure, she encountered steamer AFRIKA (Den 8597 grt) which she sent into Colombo (given the acquiesnence to german occupation by the Danish govt and their announcement to co-operate fully with the Nazis). CL HOBART arrived at Aden on the 18th for duty in the Red Sea.

Far East/Pacific/Australia
RAN sloop SWAN intercepted steamer SOLHEIM (Nor 8070 grt) off Fremantle and (given the installation of the pro-German Quisling regime) took her into harbour. RAN AMC WESTRALIA, en route from Balikpapen to Darwin, intercepted tkr HAVBOR (Nor 7614 grt) and escorted her to Darwin. On 15 April, RAN AMC MANOORA, which had been relieved by WESTRALIA on Malaya Force duties, departed Darwin with Norwegian tkrs HAVBOR and THORDIS (8210grt).She also collected Norwegian steamers HOEGH GIANT (10,990grt) and ANDERS JAHRE (9970grt) at Thursday Island and all arrived at Brisbane on the 19th. RNZN AMC HECTOR departed Auckland on the 13th.She arrived at the mouth of the Brisbane River on the 17th and found Norwegian tkrs THORSHOV (9955grt) and SOLOR (8262grt) there under armed guard. The 3 departed on the 19th for Wellington. On 23 April at sea, AMC HECTOR was in a collision with Norwegian tkr THORSHOV. Damage to HECTOR required 3 weeks to repair.

 

[Njaco]

April 14 Sunday
NORTHERN EUROPE: Vice-Admiral Whitworth's naïve opinion that landing will be easy, diverts troops away from Narvik. British 146th Territorial Brigade (having left the Clyde on April 11 in transport ships bound for Narvik) is sent South to Namsos for an attack on Trondheim. Sadly, their artillery, anti-aircraft guns and commanding officer continue on to Narvik. To prepare for 146th Brigade's arrival at Namsos, cruisers HMS "Sheffield" and "Glasgow" (patrolling off Trondheim) put ashore an advance party of 350 Royal Marines– the first landing of British forces in Norway. General Eduard Dietl and his 3rd Mountain Division are now cut off in the Norwegian port of Narvik as the British troops land near Trondheim and Narvik. The Germans have also lost ten destroyers, an entire group the day before.

The Norwegian forces are fighting a series of delaying actions in the Glomma Valley and around Lake Mjøsa against the German forces advancing north from Oslo. The bulk of the Norwegian army was comprised of reservists with limited training. Norway had not fought a war for 125 years and most its weapons were obsolete. Crucially it had no anti-tank guns and few anti-aircraft guns. The Norwegians were forced to adopt a holding strategy while waiting for support from Britain and France. To assist the ground troops, the Luftwaffe drops German paratroopers to prevent the Norwegians who are withdrawing from Oslo from linking up with the British units at Andalsnes. At dusk in foul weather, Oberleutnant Herbert Schmidt and 185 Fallschirmjägers (paratroops, 7th Flieger Division) parachute from 15 Junkers Ju 52 aircraft, on the rail and road junction at Dombås, right into Norwegian Infantry Regiment 11's basecamp. The Norwegians started firing even before the German paratroopers landed, resulting in eight of the Junkers having to emergency land or crashing, with the remaining seven limping back to base with extensive damage. Most of the Fallschirmjägers are killed or captured and Schmidt is severely wounded but about 65 survive. They managed to commandeer a Norwegian taxi, and drove towards Dombås. During the journey they encountered more Norwegian troops, and exchanged fire with them. Despite the heavy casualties, they successfully damage the nearby railways and occupied farmhouses, thus hampering the Norwegian transportation efforts for several days. Bad weather prevents the company from being supplied by air and after ten days the unit surrenders to the Allies.

At Bergen an Allied air attack destroys an He 59 floatplane. Two allied aircraft are shot down. At the airfield at Stavanger, the Luftwaffe transfers ten sea-transport planes into the airbase. The Allies raid the airfield five times throughout the day during which two RAF Lockheeds are shot down.

British submarine HMS "Sterlet" damaged the German gunnery training ship and minelayer "Brummer" in the Skagerrak between Norway and Sweden with torpedoes; "Brummer" would remain afloat until the next day. German minesweeper M6 sank British Royal Navy submarine "Tarpon".

King Haakon of Norway appealed to his people to resist but the Germans warned that any civilians aiding the British will be rounded up and shot.

The British and French are considering a number of possible strategies for Norway with the object of freeing Trondheim and Narvik. During the next few days, however, direct assaults on these places will be ruled out. Instead the chosen plan for Trondheim will involve a buildup at Namsos and Andalsnes and for Narvik preparations at Harstad.

WESTERN FRONT: North west of Emmerich, Oblt. Arnold Lignitz of 3./JG 20 is given credit for his first victory, a British Blenheim bomber.

Belgians report to French intelligence that Germans have turned their attention to the Ardennes area.

GERMANY: Soviet Foreign Minister Vyadieslav Molotov informs the German government that Russia is vitally interested in Sweden remaining neutral.

UNITED KINGDOM: An air raid warning was sounded in Leeds, caused by a mechanical fault that was soon repaired.

 

[parsifal]

14 April 1940 (Part I
Known Reinforcements
Fr CH-41 Class CH-42 (est)

Known Losses
Sub SNAPPER fired a 5 torp spread at Steamer FLORIDA (Ger 6148 grt), carrying ammunition and supplies to Oslo, in convoy off Skagen,. The steamer was struck and sank. SNAPPER returned to England with no torpedoes remaining.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sub SUNFISH fired 2 torps at Schiff 35 (ex steamer OLDENBURG) (DKM 2312 grt), which was outfitted as a Q ship, east of Laeso Island near Skagen. Both torps struck Schiff 35 and the ship sank. SUNFISH returned to England with only one torpedo remaining.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sub STERLET hit Gunnery TS BRUMMER (DKM 2960 grt) with one torp near the Skaw in the Kattegat as she was returning to Stavanger from convoy duty. Survivors were picked up by escorting TBs JAGUAR, FALKE and escort ship F.5 and she sank under tow during the morning of the 16th, 1/2 mile 52° of Tvesten Light. .

MV BARENFELS (Ger): The supply ship was bombed on the 10th April and sunk on the 14th. She was subsequently raised and returned to service, finally being permanently lost in 1944.

Coastal Steamer DISPERSER (UK 312 grt): The cargo ship sank in the North Sea off Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, cause not stated.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Ferry NYBORG (Den 2555grt): The ferry struck a mine and sank in the Kattegat off Sprogo.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr Olschiff 3 (DKM 6044 grt): The tkr was intercepted by CA SUFFOLK in the Arctic Ocean north west of Vagsøy, Norway and was scuttled by her crew.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr SKAGERAK (DKM 6044 grt ) The naval tkr was intercepted in the Norwegian Sea north west of Vagsøy by CA SUFOLK and was scuttled when the RN cruiser attempted to board her

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-4

At Sea 14 April 1940
U-2, U-3, U-5, U-6, U-7, U-9, U-10, U-13, U-14, U-17, U-19, U-23, U-24, U-25, U-26, U-30, U-34, U-37, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-65.
34 boats at sea


OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
ALLIED SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
Sub SNAPPER fired a torpedo at a darkened ship, which may have been Q ship Schiff 35. Sub TRIAD fired two torpedoes at two merchant ships, escorted by an escort ship, near the mouth of Oslofjord. Sub TRITON arrived at Rosyth after patrol.

North Sea
Fr subs ORPHEE and CIRCE arrived at Harwich from Brest to reinforce the SubFlot 10 for patrols in the southern North Sea

NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN
Steamers BLACKHEATH (4637 grt) of convoy NM.1 and CEDARBANK (5159 grt) of convoy TM.1 departed the Downs on the 11th for Rosyth where they safely arrived 13th, escort DDs ARROW and ACHERON, respectively. These 2 steamers and steamers CYCLOPS (9076grt) and CHARLBURY (4836grt) formed NM.1 for Namsos. NS.1 of steamers LOMBARDY (3379grt) and LOCHEE (964grt) sailed from the Clyde escort DDs WOLVERINE and VANESSA to join NM.1. DDs FAME, DIANA, GRAFTON arrived at Rosyth on the 15th from the Humber. NM.1 of CEDARBANK, CYCLOPS, BLACKHEATH, CHARLBURY departed Leith on the 15th escort DDs FAME, IMPERIAL, DIANA with DD GRAFTON to join en route. Steamer LOMBARDY dragged anchors in a gale and struck steamer LOCHEE on the 15th.Both steamers were unable to proceed with the convoy. En route a Hurricane crashed near the convoy 30 miles 115° from Wick within sight of the convoy and DDs DIANA and IMPERIAL unsuccessfully searched for the pilot. The convoy called at Scapa on the 16th to empty the radiators of the vehicles in the steamers. Convoy NSM 1, with steamers CYCLOPS and CHARLBURY of NM.1, BLACKHEATH, MACGREGOR LAIRD (4015grt),tkr INVERARDER (5578grt) and collier BALMAHA (1428grt), departed Scapa for Namsos on the 17th escort DDs DELIGHT, DIANA, IMPERIAL. DD MAORI departed Scapa on the 17th to join the convoy. On 22 April, DD DELIGHT was ordered to take the convoy to Vaagsfjord.

DKM MSW M.6 of the MSWFlot 2 in the Nth Sea attacked a sub contact. It was at one time thought this contact was TARPON, but she had already been lost by this time.

DD HAVOCK rendezvoused with Nor sub B 3 in Vestfjord. As CL SOUTHAMPTON arrived in Vestfjord, she was unsuccessfully attacked by U.38. Later that day SOUTHAMPTON with DDs ELECTRA and ESCAPADE arrived at Salangen. Gen Mackesy and troops aboard, two companies of the Scots Gds of the 1st Scots Gds Bn, were disembarked a few miles west of Sjovegan in Salangenfjord. CL AURORA, with Lord Cord Orrery aboard, arrived at Skelfjord. DD HAVELOCK arrived at Scapa to join the C in C Home Flt to act as an ASW striking force. BB WARSPITE, escort 2 DDs, was attacked by U.46 and later by U.48 in Vestfjord. Fortunately for WARSPITE, all the torpedoes fired exploded prematurely.

15 Skua a/c of 800 and 803 Sqns departed Hatston to attack Bergen. 6 a/c of the 803 Sqn did not locate the target. DKM S.23 and S.25, arriving from Wilhelmshaven, were strafed with slight casualties. U.60 and U.7 were attacked on the surface, but were not damaged. 1 Skua of 803 Squadron was lost in the raid. Supply ship BARENFELS (Ger 7569 grt), originally to have gone to Narvik, was badly damaged by Lt Lucy while unloading at Bergen. BC REPULSE and DDs JUNO, JANUS, JAVELIN arrived at Scapa after having covered the progress of convoy NP.1 towards Vestfjord. CL ENTERPRISE, which had departed Portsmouth on the 12th, arrived at Scapa Flow for duty with the Home Fleet off Norway.

Sloops BLACK SWAN, AUCKLAND, FLAMINGO, BITTERN embarked 700 Royal Marines taken from companies of repairing capital ships NELSON, BARHAM, HOOD. Sloop AUCKLAND with a contingent from BB BARHAM departed Rosyth on the 14th.She was to have arrived at Aalesund 24 hrs ahead of the other 3 sloops. Sloops BLACK SWAN, FLAMINGO, BITTERN departed Rosyth in the early morning of the 15th. In heavy seas, the 3 sloops overtook sloop AUCKLAND and all 4 spent the night of 15/16 at Invergordon. All 4 sloops departed on the 16th from Invergordon to land these troops at Aandalsnes on Operation PRIMROSE. The original plan had been for sloop AUCKLAND to have arrived and landed her troops at dawn on the 16 April.

DKM DDs HEINEMANN and ECKHOLDT, both with engine defects, departed Trondheim for Wilhelmshaven where they safely arrived in the morning of 16 April.

Northern Waters
After refuelling at Skelfjord, DDs INGLEFIELD, IMOGEN, ISIS, ILEX rejoined CA DEVONSHIRE on the 14th. ISIS and ILEX were sent ahead to investigate Ringvassoy and Kvatsoy Fjord. CA BERWICK with INGLEFIELD and IMOGEN examined Andfjord, Gratangsbotn, Vaagsfjorden and area on the 14th. ASW patrols were set up by ILEX and ISIS at the nth and sth entrances to Tromsofjord. DEVONSHIRE (Flagship Vice Admiral John Cunningham, CruSqn 1) arrived at Tromso after sweeping for German shipping. At 2100 DEVONSHIRE, ISIS and ILEX put to sea. ISIS and ILEX were detached in the early hrs of the 15th off Arnoy Island to meet CVL FURIOUS. IMOGEN later joined the carrier's screen. DEVONSHIRE joined BERWICK and INGLEFIELD ten miles north of North Cape on the 15th. DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK with INGLEFIELD arrived at Kirkenes on the 15th.

Reports of warships off Petsamo caused CruSqn 1 to order INGLEFIELD to investigate, she departed Kirkenes on the 15th, and found these to be 2 Soviet DDs. She also encountered a Soviet submarine. The CAs put to sea from Kirkenes on the 15 April to cover the passage of a 2 ship Nor convoyto Tromso. INGLEFIELD joined BERWICK in escorting the convoy. .

DEVONSHIRE arrived at Tromso on the 16th and departed again same day. The convoy arrived at Tromso during the night of 16/17 April. BERWICK and INGLEFIELD arrived at Tromso on the 17th. DEVONSHIRE arrived back in the Kirkenes on the 16th and joined FURIOUS with ILEX and ISIS which had arrived there. They all soon departed Kirkenes again and arrived at Tromso on the 17th. IMOGEN departed Kirkenes as the convoy escort on the 17th and arrived at Tromso with the convoy on the 19th. These 2 Norwegian convoys were carrying troops that had been engaged in the Neutrality Watch near the Finnish border. .

Late on the 14th, CL SHEFFIELD transferred a landing party to the DDs SOMALI , MASHONA, MATABELE from DesFlot 6 and AFRIDI , SIKH, MOHAWK of DesFlot 4. The party was ferried ashore east of Namsos. A landing party from CL GLASGOW of similar composition was ferried ashore at Bangsund. These landings, code named HENRY, commenced 1 hour before sunset. DD SOMALI, joined by CLA CURLEW on the 16th, remained at Namsos to support these 350 seamen and 50 Royal Marines at each location and the ships returned to open water.

DD KIMBERLEY at approximately 1500 sent an investigating party of 15 men in a cutter ashore to Narvik. The cutter got as far as a flying boat moored at a buoy before being taken under fire from German troops in a railway tunnel, 5 members of the landing party were were killed and 8 men were wounded.

West Coast UK
CL FIJI, returning from trials, was in a minor collision with AMC DERBYSHIRE in the Clyde.

 

[parsifal]

14 April 1940 (Part Part II)
OPERATIONS (cont'd)
North Sea
RNoN Pre WW1 TB HVAS was placed in service as an Aux SC by DKM.

OA.129 departed Southend escort DD WHITEHALL from 14 to 17 April, when the convoy was dispersed. The DD joined HX.33. FN.145 departed Southend, escort DD VEGA and sloops HASTINGS and PELICAN. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 16th. FS.146 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WALLACE and VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 16th. MT.51 departed Methil, escort DDs WALLACE and VALOROUS. The convoy arrived later in the day at the Tyne.

Northern Waters (Cont'd)
DDs MAORI and ASHANTI departed Sullom Voe and arrived at Scapa on the 15th. DD TARTAR and the ORP DDs GROM and BLYSKAWICA departed Scapa to sweep from Lister to Bommelford from 14th to daylight on the 15 April. The operation was cancelled due to adverse weather and they arrived back at Scapa on the 15th. DDs KIPLING, HEREWARD and DELIGHT arrived at Scapa for duty after refitting. Fr DDs BRESTOIS and FOUDROYANT arrived at Scapa from the Tyne. They refuelled and went on to the Clyde arriving on the 15th.

Channel
Due to a Fr report of 16 ships off Texel, all DDs at Dover were brought to immediate notice. This was later reduced to one hour's notice. C in C, Western Approaches, was ordered to detail all available DDs to Dover. DDs CAMPBELL, BROKE, VESPER, ANTELOPE, WOLVERINE and WREN were detached from the Western Approaches to Dover.

Western Approaches
Convoy OB.129 departed Liverpool escort by sloop ROCHESTER, which was with the convoy from 14 to 17 April, when the sloop joined convoy HX.33. The convoy was dispersed on the 18th.

Nth Atlantic
HX.35 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs ST LAURENT and RESTIGOUCHE, which were detached on the 14th. On the 15th, the DDs turned the convoy over to AMC LACONIA, which was detached on the 26th. Sloop ENCHANTRESS escorted the convoy from 26 to 29 April, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Med- Biscay
Fr steamers GENERAL METZINGER and CHENONEAUX departed Marseilles escort DD TEMPETE from Oran. They arrived at Brest on the 20th.

OG.26F was formed with convoys OA.128GF, which departed Southend on the 12th, OB.128GF, which departed Liverpool on the 12th, with 54 ships. The convoy was escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS on the 14th and sloop SANDWICH from 14 to 20 April when the convoy arrived at Gibr. Sloop ENCHANTRESS was withdrawn from the convoy shortly after sailing. On arrival at Gib, sloop SANDWICH was temporarily attached to DesFlot13 as replacements for DDs WISHART and ACTIVE which departed in convoy HG.27 to give leave in the UK.

CV GLORIOUS escort DDs VELOX, WATCHMAN and the RAN DD STUART departed Gib. GLORIOUS arrived in the Clyde late on the 18th escort DDs WALKER and WALPOLE. STUART after this escort duty departed Gib on the 17th for Malta. ARK ROYAL departed Gib on the 16th for exercises in the vicinity of Alboran Island, but was recalled. On the 16th, ARK ROYAL escorted by DDs VORTIGERN, WESTCOTT and BULLDOG departed Gib. Off Cape Finisterre on the 17th, VORTIGERN was detached and arrived back at Gib. DDs JUNO and HASTY departed Greenock 20th to join ARK ROYAL and SALADIN. ARK ROYAL with JUNO, HASTY and SALADIN arrived in the Clyde on the 20th. BULLDOG and WESTCOTT arrived at Plymouth.

 

[Njaco]

April 15 Monday
GERMANY: Generalmajor Walter Grabmann is appointed Kommodore of the newly formed Stab./ZG 76.

NORTHERN EUROPE: In Norway, the six day old Quisling Government comes to an end. On Oslo radio, Vidkun Quisling announces his resignation as head of the government. Quisling is replaced for the moment by Ingolf Christensen as the head of the German-sponsored government.

British troops have landed in the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway in response to the German invasion. Their original objective was to secure the rail line to Swedish iron ore fields. The main body of the 24th British Guards Brigade arrives in Harstad.

British 146th Territorial Brigade (a reserve formation) begins arriving at Namsos, North of Trondheim, coming under the energetic command of the much-decorated one-eyed one-handed WWI veteran General Carton de Wiart VC DSO. General de Wiart is made aware of German air superiority when his Short Sunderland flying boat is attacked by a German fighter on landing (his aide is wounded and invalided home). He immediately orders 146th to advance South towards Trondheim.

Major-General Pierse Joseph Mackesy (in charge of land forces at Narvik) is not convinced to land troops directly at Narvik, despite the enthusiasm of naval commanders Vice-Admiral Whitworth and Admiral of the Fleet William Henry Dudley Boyle, Earl of Cork and Orrery. General Mackesy's force has been cut in half, leaving only 24th Brigade which is not armed to make opposed landings and, in any case, much of its equipment has been diverted to Namsos on ships carrying 146th Brigade. Narvik is under several feet of snow, has poor facilities for an amphibious landing and is defended by an unknown number of German troops. Mackesy is unwilling to subject the Norwegian inhabitants to the naval bombardment his colleagues advocate to remove the Germans from the town. Therefore, he elects to land his troops at safer locations North of Narvik and wait for the snow to melt.

The Battle of Dombås continued, now into its second day. With their original plan in tatters, the German paratroopers took refuge in a local Norwegian farm, from where they defended themselves from Norwegian troops. With their commander injured, the paratroopers took a risk and attacked the Dombås railway station blowing up some of the tracks and disrupting local transport. Two heavy machine gun platoons from the Norwegian army were dispatched to root out the paratroopers. But lacking sufficient information concerning numbers or positioning of the Germans, the Norwegian troops were ill-prepared for what lay ahead. Of the 41 Norwegian troops involved, 28 were captured by the Germans, with the commander of the Norwegian force listed as injured.

Fighters from II./JG 77 intercept a formation of RAF Wellingtons heading to Stavanger airfield. Fw. Robert Menge of 5./JG 77 shoots down two of the Wellingtons for his second and third victories. Later at 1550 hours a Hudson claimed destroyed by Uffz. Helmut Eberlein of 3./ZG 1 over Skagerrak is denied by the Luftwaffe.

British destroyers "Fearless" and "Brazen" sank German submarine U-49 with depth charges near Narvik, killing 1. 41 Germans were taken prisoner.

WESTERN FRONT: Shortly after 1030 hours, Oblt. Georg Graner of 3.(Jagd)/LG 2 gets his first victory when he destroys a Blenheim west of St. Peter-Ording.

The British 15th Brigade boarded transports in France and were sent for Norway.

UNITED KINGDOM: British unemployment figure decreased to 973,000, which was the lowest figure since 1920.

ASIA: Admiral Nishizo Tsukahara was named the commanding officer of Chinkai Guard District in southern Korea.

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[parsifal]

15 April 1940
Known Losses
Type VII B U-49 (DKM 857 grt): CL SOUTHAMPTON joined CL AURORA at Harstad and together went out to sea to meet convoy NP.1 with troopships BATORY (14,287grt), REINA DEL PACIFICO (17,707grt), MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22,424grt). The convoy arrived off Harstad the morning of 15 April escorted by BB VALIANT and DDs CODRINGTON, AMAZON, ACASTA, ARDENT, FEARLESS, BRAZEN, GRIFFIN, WITHERINGTON and VOLUNTEER. Despite attacks by U.38 on VALIANT and U.65 on BATORY, the convoy arrived safely off Harstad. FEARLESS and BRAZEN, patrolling ahead of the convoy, damaged U.49, on her 3rd war patrol, in Vaagsfjord. U.49 surfaced then surrendered after the DC attack. Many documents were recovered before the scuttling charge fired. The DDs were able to pick up four officers and 37 of the submarine's crew. One rating was missing. The crew was embarked on VALIANT for passage to England. Four hours later, FEARLESS, screening VALIANT, made another attack on a submarine contact in the same vicinity. Since Harstad was not big enough to accomodate the liners, the troopships were sent to Bygden and the troops, the 24th Gds Bde, were ferried to Harstad in DDs.

Vp-811 ( Kriegsmarine): The vorpostenboot sank in the North Sea. She was later salvaged, repaired and returned to service

Steamer SALERNO (UK 870 grt) and Steamer SALMON POOL (UK 4803 grt) were seized by German forces at Saudafjord, north of Stavanger, in Boknfjord. 23 crew from SALERNO were interned, and 34 from SALMON POOL, with 4 from SALMON POOL returned. They were renamed MARKIRCH and PUTZIG, respectively, for German service.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

The critical situation in Narvik has caused the Fuehrer to review the question of abandoning our Narvik position in order to avoid further waste of forces - especially of the Air Force - for a doubtful success, and of undertaking a concentration of force in the Trondheim area. A determining factor in further considerations is the state of supplies and equipment for the rescued destroyer
crews. If the members of the crews, more than 2,000 according to available reports, can be equipped with the necessary items of clothing, hand and automatic weapons as well as food, this addition represents such considerable reinforcement of the fighting strength of the Narvik Group that the Narvik Division can be expected to hold out for a long time, considering the difficult terrain which favors defense. The more heavily and the longer the enemy is tied-down in the northern area, however, the greater must be the effect of the resultant relief on the situation in the endangered Trondheim area. Naval Staff therefore takes up the attitude - conditional on further news and deliberations - that it is correct to hold the Narvik position as long as possible and to fight a delaying defense. The Navy has the additional conviction that the great sacrifice of ten modern destroyers demands that the Narvik position hold out as long as supplies permit.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-2

At Sea 15 April 1940
U-3, U-5, U-6, U-7, U-9, U-10, U-13, U-14, U-17, U-19, U-23, U-24, U-25, U-26, U-30, U-34, U-37, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-65.
32 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Sub SHARK fired 5 torps at Steamers ANGELBURG (Ger 3053 grt) and AHRENSBURG (Ger 3200 grt) escort DKM Sperrbrecher 1. All torps missed. Incomplete DKM CA LUTZOW, which had been launched on 1 July 1939 and transferred to Russia on 11 February 1940, left Bremen under tow for Leningrad.

North Sea
DDs GRAFTON, FAME, DIANA arrived at Rosyth. U.30 sustained some damage when she ran aground in the Trondheim area. FN.146 departed Southend, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop PELICAN. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 17th. MT.52 departed Methil, escort DD VIMIERA. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.147 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.

Northern Waters
DDs FAULKNOR and ZULU reconnoitered the shoreward approaches to Narvik in Rombaksfjord in preparation for the allied landing. At 2242, U.47 sighted the British troopships and 3 Norwegian MVs at anchor at Bygden. U.47 fired torps against these targets, but torpedo defects prevented any damage being done.

Maj Gen Carton de Wiart arrived at Namsos in a Sunderland flying boat during an air raid. The Sunderland was machine gunned and DD SOMALI, de Wiart's intended headquarters, was near missed by bombs. DeWiart was, however, able to assume command of the Namsos area as planned. SOMALI had also been reconnoitring the fjord, was heavily bombed during the day and expended all her AA ammunition before dark. The DD sustained no damage. CL cruisers GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD were in the area to provide support and transfer emergency supply of AA ammunition to the SOMALI.

Adm Forbes off nthn Norway departed that area with BB RODNEY, BC RENOWN, DDs HAVOCK, HOSTILE, HERO, ESK, ICARUS and IVANHOE. The 3 H's returned to Vestfjord. Forbes had detached BB WARSPITE His fastest and most modern dreadnought style BB, with the heaviest AA fitout) and CVL carrier FURIOUS to operate off Vestfjord. RODNEY with DDs GREYHOUND, ESK, ICARUS and IVANHOE arrived at Scapa on the 17th and FORESTER and KIMBERLEY the next day. GREYHOUND was damaged by heavy weather and sustained structural damage en route. She departed Scapa on the 19th for Sheerness, via Rosyth, and took a month to repair.

BB VALIANT with DDrs FEARLESS, BRAZEN and GRIFFIN departed Vaagsfjord on the 15th and arrived at Scapa on the 18th.

DD JUPITER departed Scapa with repair pumps and equipment for CL PENELOPE (which remained heavily damaged at at Skelfjord). She arrived on the 16th and was then immediately sent on to Aandalsnes to support CLA CALCUTTA. When it was found CALCUTTA would arrive first, JUPITER was ordered to continue to Skelfjord. DD MACKAY arrived at Scapa escorting A.S.I.S. and other merchant ships, then departed that afternoon returning to Liverpool.

DDs MATABELE, MASHONA, AFRIDI and SIKH arrived at Lillesjona and joined Vice Adm Layton and his two liners carrying the 146th Inf Bde. These DDs were reinforced by DD NUBIAN, which arrived with oiler WAR PINDARI (5559grt), and DD SOMALI, which arrived with de Wiart. Gen de Wiart transferred to DD AFRIDI and SOMALI, her ammunition depleted after 2 days at Namsos, was sent home arriving at Scapa on the 18th. The 5 other DDs embarked troops from the liners and reached Namsos and Bangsund that evening. CL EFFINGHAM arrived at Scapa after departing Portsmouth on the 13th for duty with the Home Flt.

A/C of 816 and 818 Squadrons from CVL FURIOUS carried out night strikes (certain RN sqns since the beginning of the war had been intensively training in this form of combat, given the obsolesecence of the a/c being used by the FAA). against LW a/c parked on a frozen lake . One a/c with S/Lt (A) J Ball, Lt A.S. Marshall, Naval Airman R Pike of 816 Squadron was brought down by AA. DD ZULU's whaler rescued the crew. 4 other a/c were damaged by ground fire.

West Coast UK
Fr Contre Torpilleur DDs BISON , MILAN , EPERVIER of DesDiv 11, which had departed Brest the evening of12 April, arrived at Greenock with troop carrying Fr AMCs VILLE D' ORAN, EL D'JEZAIR, EL KANTARA, EL MANSOUR for duty off Norway. On 14 April, approaching Greenock, DD MILAN was in a collision with trawler GLAMORGAN COAST. The damage was repaired from 16 to 18 April. On this date, an advance French base was established at Greenock for Norwegian operations. This base was used until 8 May.

Channel
Steamers QUEEN MAUD (4976grt) and PORT HUNTER (8802grt) in convoy OA.129, were involved in a collision in the English Channel. Steamer PORT HUNTER was able to continue on her own to Southampton. DD WILD SWAN screened QUEEN MAUD for a time until the steamer advised she could continue safely on her own.

UK - France
BC.34 with steamer BARON CARNEGIE, which arrived Nantes on the 17th, DUNKWA, GLOUCESTER CITY, KURFA and LOTTIE R departed Bristol Channel escort DD MONTROSE. The convoy safely arrived at Loire on the 17th. SA.37 of two steamers arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

Central Atlantic
SL.28 departed Freetown escort AMC BULOLO until 29 April. SLF.28 merged with SL.28 on the 22nd. On 29 April, DD VESPER and WALPOLE joined the convoy and escorted it to Liverpool, arriving on 1 May.

Med- Biscay
Fr BB PROVENCE, which had departed Dakar on the 11th, and DD TROMBE arrived at Oran on the 16th. BBs BRETAGNE and LORRAINE departed Toulon on the 15th and arrived at Oran on the 18th. The 3 BBs departed on the 26th and arrived at Algiers the next day. On 29 April, they departed and arrived at Alexandria on 3 May.

Far East/Pacific/Australia
Australian troop convoy US 2, composed of troopships ETTRICK (11,279grt), NEURALIA (9082grt), STRAITHAIRD (22,284grt), DUNERA (11,162grt), departed Melbourne en route to Egypt escorted by BB RAMILLIES and RAN CL ADELAIDE. The convoy was joined on the 19th by RAN CL SYDNEY. At Fremantle on the 22nd, troopship NEVASA (9056grt) was added to the convoy and ADELAIDE was detached. US 2 in the area of the Coco Islands on the 30th was joined by Fr CA SUFFREN which relieved RAN CL SYDNEY which was detached on the 28th for US 3 escort duties.