This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Njaco]

April 28 Sunday
NORTHERN EUROPE: British War Cabinet orders the evacuation of Paget's and de Wiart's troops around Trondheim, fuelled by Brigadier Hogg's gloomy assessment of the situation at Åndalsnes. At 0500 hours, Paget informs Norwegian General Ruge who is expecting landings at Trondheim instead of evacuation. Ruge, who has not been told of 'Operation Hammer's' cancellation, flies into a fit of rage. Calming himself, Ruge agrees to assist with the British retreat if Norwegian troops are withdrawn too, although he believes 15th Brigade can hold out.

Meanwhile, troops of the British 15th Brigade held their line against attacks by the German 196th Division at Otta throughout the day and destroy 3 more light tanks. They then withdraw overnight 25 miles north to Dombås, blowing road and rail bridges to delay the German advance during the evacuation.

At Namsos, General de Wiart's 146th Brigade retreats into a defensive perimeter. They are not pursued by German ground forces who allow Luftwaffe bombing to take its toll.

German planes begin five days of intense bombing of Kristiansund, Norway, almost completely destroying the city.

British and allied troops landed at Narvik, swiftly capturing the town and destroying the port. The British troops were accompanied by two battalions of the French Foreign Legion and were reinforced with a Polish brigade. The capture of the main target of this Norwegian campaign will be viewed as a significant success by the British and French governments.

 

[parsifal]

29 April 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS (CONT'D)
West Coast UK
CVL FURIOUS and DDs IMOGEN, ISIS, ILEX arrived in the Clyde.

UK-France
FP.4 consisting of French liners DE GRASSE and MASSILIA, departed Brest on the 26th. They arrived at Greenock on the 29th (enroute to Norway) escort Fr DDs CYCLONE, MISTRAL, SIROCCO, but the troops were disembarked at Glasgow on 1 May. The escorts departed the Clyde the next day to return to Brest.

FS.4, consisting of Fr steamers VILLE DE MAJUNA, ROSE SCHIAFFINO, CAP HADID, departed Brest on the 27th and arrived at Greenock on the 29th (enroute to Norway) escorted by Fr sloops CHAMOIS and COMMANDANT DELAGE, and ML POLLUX. The decision to evacuate central Norway led to certain changes, and the cargo was disembarked on 1 May. Steamers VILLE DE MAJUNA and CAP HADID departed the Clyde for Brest on 22 May escort ASW trawler LEEDS UNITED (RN 405 grt) and ARSENAL (RN 398 grt).

Med- Biscay
HG.28 departed Gib with 25 ships and escort sloops WELLINGTON and ABERDEEN from 29 April to 6 May. DD WHITEHALL and sloop ROCHESTER were the escorts in Home Waters from 6 to 9 May. On 6 May, the convoy split into HG.28 and HG.28 B. The latter section was escorted by sloop ROCHESTER. Convoy HG.28 arrived at Liverpool on 9 May. Fr DD MARS, had arrived at Gibraltar on the 27th to escort British troopship DILWARA, departed Gibraltar on the 29th to return to Toulon. The troopship was ordered to remain at Gib.

Indian Ocean
CL LIVERPOOL arrived at Aden to join the Red Sea Force, Cru Sqn 4, East Indies Station. RAN CL HOBART escorted the MSW Flot 2 in the Red Sea on its voyage to the Med from the China Station. MSW Flot 2 arrived at Alexandria on the 29th for duty with the Med Flt.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
Following refitting at Singapore, CL CERES departed Singapore for duty in Cru Sqn 4 in the East Indies. CL COLOMBO likewise departed Singapore about this time being reassigned from Cru sqn 5, China Station, to Cru Sqn 4, East Indies Station.

 

[Njaco]

April 29 Monday
NORTHERN EUROPE: Forty tons of gold of fifty total are loaded on HMS "Glasgow" at Åndalsnes, Norway, along with King Haakon VII and the Norwegian government, headed initially to Tromsø.

Having blown bridges to slow the German advance up the Gudbrandsdal valley, Paget's 15th Brigade rests at Dombås while the remaining Norwegian troops withdraw through their lines. Oberst Fischer's Kampfgruppe (196th Division) emerges from the Østerdal valley North of Dombås and links up with German troops from Trondheim, surrounding 15th brigade. Their evacuation now seems the correct course of action.

UNITED KINGDOM: British destroyers HMS "Kelly", HMS "Maori", and HMS "Imperial" and French destroyer "Bison" departed Scapa Flow, Scotland to evacuate British troops at Namsos, Norway. They were escorted by cruisers and other destroyers.

At 1730 hours, British submarine HMS "Unity" collides in fog with 1173-ton Norwegian freighter "Atle Jarl" in Blyth harbour and sinks in 5 minutes (4 lives lost, including Lieutenant John Low and Able Seaman Henry Miller who are posthumously awarded the George Cross for gallantry in assisting other crewmembers to escape from the sinking submarine).

NORTH AMERICA: The US Department of State ended its investigation on the 5 Sep 1939 incident during which British personnel forcefully boarded Filipino Don Isidro at Port Said, Egypt and removed German engineers. Although the Americans did not receive a satisfactory explanation from the British, they assumed that;

"...similar instances will not be permitted to occur in the future."

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[parsifal]

30 April 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
DKM Type 1935 TB T-6

Neutral
Serie XII Bis submarines

Commissioning dates uncertain. The Soviets built 43 from 1938-41, the majority commissioned in 1940. Only 19 survived the war
Allied
RN ASW Trawler FIR

Losses
Aux PV ALVERSUND (RNorN 178 grt) The guard ship was scuttled by her own crew near Stord, Hordaland, Norway, to prevent capture by the Germans.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MSW DUNOON (RN 710 grt) and ELGIN of MSW Flot 4 were sweeping from 29 April after steamer CREE was damaged. DUNOON was recovering a parted mine sweep when she struck a mine off Great Yarmouth in the minefield laid by DKM ML Schiff 11 on 2 April. The 4" ammo magazine exploded and she sank in 40 minutes. 29 men (incl the skipper) lost their lives and 5 men were wounded.

TB LEOPARD (DKM 933 grt) The 1924 class TB collided with the DKM ML PREUSSEN in the Skagerrak and sank. Survivors rescued by DKM TB WOLF.

Contre Torpilleur DD MAILLE BREZE (Fr 2441 grt) was sunk in an accidental explosion at Greenock while taking on ammunition. The ship's torpedo tubes were trained fore and aft and one of the torpedoes was accidently discharged, exploding on the bridge. 25 crew were killed of the 220 man crew. 47 crew were wounded.

MAILLE BREZE damaged and sinking at Greencock

Air Attacks off Central Norway
CLA CARLISLE and sloop BITTERN were stationed at Namsos as AA guard ships. CLA cruiser CARLISLE had departed temporarily on the 28th to refuel and returned during a heavy German air attack on the 30th. Sloop BITTERN (RN 1085 grt) was bombed and badly damaged in her stern during this attack in the Fjord narrows near the entrance. 17 crew were killed and 3 missing in the attack in the attack and 11 ratings were wounded. DD JANUS took off the wounded from BITTERN and later scuttled the sloop.
The after action report submitted to NOIC Aberdeen Command gives a graphic account of the intensity of the action "30th, Tuesday 0700 - Heavy dive bombing raid, 16 planes mostly attacking "Bittern". We were in a very good position to give them all our guns after they had dropped their bombs at "Bittern". These planes all attacked from the sun in the east. Could see Oerlikon shells bursting on planes. 0740 - Ordered by "Aston Villa" to close and assist her. Asked permission from "Bittern" who told me to carry on. 0915 - Close "Aston Villa" and embarked Commander Cogreve, who wanted to look at "Gaul". Proceeded down fjord. 1130 - Sighted "St. Goran" alongside cliff at Hamneshuken Mountain. Bomb had exploded on bridge killing Captain, Coxswain and two ratings. Crew had taken to boats".

Port side view of the HMS BITTERN after suffering a direct hit from a LW airstrike.

ASW trawler ST GORAN (RN 210 grt) was badly damaged as a result of the sustained LW attacks on Namsenfjord. The GORANs skipper and 3 ratings were killed on ST GORAN. She remained afloat until next morning when further air attacks finally sank her. DD JANUS, en route up the fjord, sent her medical officer to assist ST GORAN's wounded. 2 hrs later, CLA CARLISLE arrived and took the survivors aboard.

ASW Trawler ASTON VILLA (RN 196 grt): The ASW trawler was bombed and damaged in the Norwegian Sea off Namsos, by Ju87 a/c . She was scuttled on 3 May.

ASW Trawler GAUL (RN 531 grt) The naval trawler was bombed and damaged in the Norwegian Sea off Namsos by Luftwaffe aircraft. She was scuttled on 3 May.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV SATURNUS (Nor 956 grt) The cargo ship was bombed and sunk in Todalsfjord by Luftwaffe aircraft. Later raised, repaired and returned to service.

In LW airstrikes British shipping at Andalsnes, ASW trawler JARDINE (RN 452 grt) and ASW Trawler WARWICKSHIRE (RN 466 grt) of the ASW Gp 22 were sunk. They were later salved by German forces as Vp.6117 (trawler CHERUSKER) and Vp.6114 (trawler ALAME), respectively, slavage beginning in late June 1940.

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

1. Norway :
The Norwegian Government has issued en official statement from its unknown headquarters. It says:

"The Norwegian Government has learnt from the radio of the German Government » a statement on 26 April that it was at war with Norway. It must confirm that it has had knowledge of a state of war already since the night of 8 April."

Otherwise "the statement is directed against German operations and ends with the words: "The fight for freedom and independence goes on."

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 13, 14 and U 30 started on their return passage. The following are thus left in the operations area: U 25, U 65 NW and W of the Shetlands; U 24, 57, 58, 39 NE and E of the Shetlands and Orkneys; U 65 reported a convoy; she did not manage to attack, but this is nevertheless an indication of traffic in this area; U 13, 17, 34 and 52 entered port. U 34 was first off Trondheim, then off the Follafjord and finally west of the Shetlands. She sighted numerous targets off the Follafjord, but only seldom managed to attack because of strong anti-S/M forces. Certain success against a cruiser and a destroyer was frustrated in each case by torpedo failures. She attacked "Franconia" north of the Minch. See 26.4. U 52 penetrated into the Foldafjord as far as Andalsnes without encountering anything except a torpedo boat, which chased her. For the rest of the time she was in the area from the Romdalfjord to the Shetlands and had no opportunities to fire.

The following points were made:
1) Torpedo situation. Most urgent requirement: to master the depth keeping of the torpedo. To create a sure impact firing unit. The problems of torpedo failures were already known and C-in-C Navy has ordered most urgent steps to be taken to solve them.
2) Small number of boats makes concentration necessary. Secondary duties must be abandoned. Training necessary, otherwise the boats cannot be manned after 1.9. Request that transport operations be cancelled. C-in-C Navy decided that 2 U-boats should be withdrawn from transport at once (U 32 and U 101).
3) Analysis of numbers of U-boats up to 1.1.41, taking into account new construction and losses. C-in-C Navy's decision for large boats: Atlantic warfare.
4) Anti-S/M situation. B.d.U. emphasized that the development of a counter-measure to Asdic, which had already been stated in peacetime to a most urgent requirement, was essential to the success of future U-boat warfare. B.d.U. again requested that the best sonic technicians, chemists and physicists, be set to evolve a countermeasure. C-in-C issued orders accordingly.
5) B.d.U. reported that his opinion of the Norway operation, even after the event, was:
a) that the operational and tactical disposition was correct.
b) that anti-S/M activity was very strong, and weather conditions unfavorable (short nights, smooth sea).
c) that, of course, the slow boats have less chance of success against fast, escorted warships than against merchant ships, but that nevertheless the numerous opportunities to attack show that chances of success were not unfavorable.
d) that torpedo failures cheated the boats of certain successes, even after all doubtful shots and misses had been subtracted.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-34

At Sea 30 April 1940
U-13, U-14, U-17, U-23, U-24, U-25, U-29, U-30, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-61, U-65, U-101, UA.
15 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
DKM S-Boat Flotilla 2 , off Norway since the start of the campaign, was ordered to Wilhelmshaven to prepare for the operations in the Nth Sea. S-Boat Flotilla 1 remained for coastal defense; 3 units based at Sognefjord and 2 at Bergen. They departed to return to Germany on 14 May.

North Sea
Sub SEAL, after embarking mines at Immingham, departed the Humber on minelaying mission FD.7 in the Kattegat. Sub STURGEON departed Blyth on patrol off Skudesnes. Sub PORPOISE arrived at Rosyth after patrol. FS.158 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 May.

 

[Njaco]

April 30 Tuesday
NORTHERN EUROPE: The German 196th Division arrived at Dombås, Norway on foot as their vehicles had been rendered useless after encountering blown bridges. Their initial attacks were held off by the British 15th Brigade. At dusk, the British troops withdraw from Dombås by train, destined for Åndalsnes to be evacuated. Meanwhile at Namsos, General de Wiart's 146th Brigade awaits evacuation by Mountbatten's destroyer squadron which is en route. The Norwegian troops in this area will be forced to surrender when their allies leave.

Near Oslo, the RAF bombs German airfields in Norway at Stavanger and Fornebu to reduce German air attacks on the planned evacuations. This is only marginally successful. British aircraft carriers HMS "Ark Royal" and "Glorious", bringing fighter support to cover the evacuation sites, are driven off by Luftwaffe bombing. Germans will dominate the skies during the evacuations.

Soon after 1830 hours, the British send several bombers to raid the airfield at Stavanger. Intercepted by 4./JG 77, Oblt. Helmut Henz, Staffelkapitan of 4./JG 77 claims his third victory, a Bristol Blenheim, one of two Blenheims of RAF No. 110 Squadron shot down by the Staffel, over Norway. One of the Blenheim bombers is piloted by Squadron Leader K. C. Doran who led the first RAF raid against Germany of the war, is shot down by Lt. Heinz Demes, for his third victory. Less than three hours later, during a second British raid on the Stavanger airfield, Lt. Demes is killed attacking the British bombers. His wingman, Ofw. Erwin Sawallisch claims one of the Wellingtons, his first victory since the action of 14 December, 1939 and a total of four victories.

Allied warships suffer several defeats and disasters. Off Namsos, Norway, German Ju 87 aircraft attacked British anti-submarine sloop HMS "Bittern", hitting her with a bomb and starting a fire on the stern that killed 20. Destroyer HMS "Janus" rescued the survivors and scuttled HMS "Bittern" to prevent capture. Off Trondheim, Norway, German aircraft sank British trawler HMS "Warwickshire". She will be raised by the Germans on June 1 and used until 19 July 1943 when sunk again near Narvik by Soviet submarine S-56.

Hptm. Werner Hansen is made acting Gruppenkommandeur of I./ZG 76 in place of Hptm. Günther Reinecke. But the celebration is short-lived when Georg Fleischmann, having five victories with ZG 76, is killed in action.

WESTERN FRONT: One of the last French warplanes lost during the "Sitzkrieg" is destroyed by Lt. Rudolf Pflanz of 3./JG 2. Though it may be the last of what the British call "The Phoney War", the French Potez 63 shot down by Lt. Pflanz north west of Merzig is his first victory.

A French military attaché in Berne, Switzerland, reports to French intelligence that a German attack on the West is set for May 8-10, focusing on Sedan. France has chosen to ignore the warning. General Gamelin was dismissive of any possible invasion being a threat, however; "France is not Poland!" Many of the other French generals agree with Gamelin's opinion that Germany poses no threat to the powerful French army. But regional commanders are more anxious. General Huntziger, whose area of command covers where the Swiss believe the invasion will take place, is said to be nervous. According to reports, his troops are said to be unprepared and poorly trained. Gamelin has even suggested Huntziger's nerves are more down to his personal unpreparedness than any lack of troops or equipment.


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[Njaco]

April 30 Tuesday (continued)
NORTH AMERICA: In a letter to the New York Times, Samuel Harden Church, president of the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers a US$1 million cash reward for the safe capture of Adolf Hitler.

Total value of United States shipments of war material during the past four months: US$43.4 million to France, US$11 million to Great Britain.

Canadian air training facilities begin operations.

UNITED KINGDOM: A German Heinkel plane crashes in Clacton-on-Sea, England, killing two on the ground, England's first civilian casualties of the war.

At Greenock, Scotland, French destroyer "Maille Breeze" suffered an accidental detonation of two of her torpedoes in the forward section of the ship and sank. 25 men were killed while 48 were wounded.

British minesweeper HMS "Dundoon" hit a mine at Smith's Knoll near Great Yarmouth and sank, killing 27.

A British fleet consisted of cruisers HMS "Manchester" and HMS "Birmingham" and destroyers HMS "Inglefield", HMS "Diana", and HMS "Delight", under the command of Vice Admiral Layton, departed Scapa Flow, Scotland for Norway. Its mission was to evacuate the British 148th and 15th Brigades from Åndalsnes and Molde.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian "Barfile" naval infantry battalion landed on Cephalonia, Greece.

EASTERN EUROPE: The first guarded Jewish ghetto was established at Lodz, Poland. It was later sealed off with 230,000 Jews inside.


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[parsifal]

30 April 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Northern Waters
DD ASHANTI departed Scapa for repairs at Dundee. DD VANSITTART departed Invergordon with tanker WAR NIZAM for Scapa arriving on the 30th. DD VANSITTART departed Invergordon with tkr WAR NIZAM for Scapa, arriving on the 30th. BB RESOLUTION arrived at Tromso. Steamers BELLEROPHON and LYCAON were brought to the Clyde arriving 27th by DD WESTCOTT. DDs ISIS, IMOGEN, ILEX departed the Clyde escorting these steamers for Narvik. Nor DD SLEIPNER departed Scapa for a refit in the Tyne, but was diverted to Rosyth due to German ML ops.

CV GLORIOUS with DDs ACHERON, ANTELOPE, BEAGLE, VOLUNTEER departed Scapa to receive a/c and rendezvous with the CV ARK ROYAL. DD VOLUNTEER arrived at Sullom Voe for repairs before going to Scapa. DD KIMBERLEY, escorting Danish steamer GUNVOR MAERSK, was ordered to Sullom Voe to embark ammunition from DD JUNO, which was experiencing defects, then join ARK ROYAL in JUNO's place.

RN Evacuates Central Norway
During the night of 30 April/1 May, the evacuation of Andalsnes and Molde, codenamed TUNNEL and BRICK No.1, commenced. CLs ARETHUSA and GALATEA and DD WALKER, WANDERER, WESTCOTT departed Scapa 29th. DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, TARTAR with troopships ULSTER MONARCH and ULSTER PRINCE departed Scapa. DD SIKH departed Scapa 29th to join this force. Molde was evacuated by troopship ULSTER PRINCE escort DD TARTAR from 2300/30th to 0100 on 1 May. Andalsnes was evacuated by CLs GALATEA and ARETHUSA which embarked troops at the pier and DD WALKER and WESTCOTT which embarked troops and ferried them to CL SHEFFIELD in the harbour. Troopship ULSTER MONARCH accompanied this force, but returned empty. CL ARETHUSA was the first ship to leave the area at about 0100 and the others followed soon after. DDs SIKH and WANDERER at Alfarnes, 6 miles nth of Andalsnes, lifted troops and ferried them to nearby CL SOUTHAMPTON. While there was no enemy resistance to the operation, WANDERER went aground and SIKH had to tow her off. DD WANDERER was repaired at London from 6 to 29 May. At Verblungsnes, across the mouth of the Romsdal River, DDs MASHONA, WALKER, WESTCOTT picked up the surviving troops of the PRIMROSE force.WALKER and WESTCOTT not leaving until 0315 in order to pick up the rear guard units. As the force left the Fjord, they were attacked by German bombers, but AA fire forced the bombers to drop their bombs ineffectively. These forces genrally returned to Scapa and other ports in the northern waters of the British Isles.

West Coast UK
BB WARSPITE departed the Clyde escort DDs HERO, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE for Gib and duty with the Med Flt. The DDs arrived back in the Clyde after the escort on 2 May. OB.136 departed Liverpool, escort sloop LEITH from 30 April to 3 May when she was detached to convoy HX.37

Channel
DD VANESSA departed Dover for refitting at Devonport. Steamer MARGAUX (Fr 1463 grt) escort Fr aux PV HEUREUX arrived in the Clyde. The patrol ship departed the Clyde on 1 May to return to Brest.

Nth Atlantic
HX.39 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT. During mid afternnon 1 May, the DDs turned the convoy over to ocean escort, AMC VOLTAIRE and Fr sub ARCHIMEDE. The AMC and the sub were detached on 11 May. On 12 May, sloop ENCHANTRESS and corvette GLADIOLUS joined the convoy and escorted it until its arrival at Liverpool on 15 May.

Med- Biscay
Danish tug VALKYRIEN departed Lisbon and was taken in prize by DD KEPPEL and taken to Gib.
Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CL DURBAN arrived at Singapore.

 

[Njaco]

May 1 Wednesday
NORTHERN EUROPE: King Haakon VII and the Norwegian government established the provisional government at Tromsø, Norway.

Norwegian troops in Lillehammer surrendered. British Vice Admiral Layton's task force consisted of cruisers "Manchester" and "Birmingham" and destroyers "Inglefield", "Diana", and "Delight" finally arrived at Åndalsnes to evacuate the British 148th and 15th Brigades. They embarked 5,084 men overnight and departed at 0200 hours on the next day (May 2) unnoticed by the Luftwaffe. The British leave behind 1301 men killed, missing or captured. En route to Åndalsnes for evacuation, the train carrying troops of the British 15th Brigade crashed into a bomb crater at 0115 hours, killing 8 and wounding 30. The surviving troops marched 17 miles through deep snow, arriving at Åndalsnes at 0900 hours. Joining the British evacuation was Norwegian General Ruge, who departed Åndalsnes aboard British destroyer HMS "Diana" to join the Norwegian government at Tromsø.

British ships begin transporting soldiers off Namsos. Four British destroyers arrived at Namsos to evacuate the British 146th Brigade and other Allied troops in the area. Heavy fog delayed the operation, and only 850 French Chasseurs Alpins were embarked overnight. Altogether 4400 men have been taken off but much equipment has been lost.

In the Kattegat, British submarine HMS "Narwhal" fired six torpedoes at a German merchant convoy carrying parts of 2nd Gebirgsjager Division to Norway. German steamer "Buenos Aires" was hit by one of the torpedoes and sank, killing 62 men and 240 horses. Another transport, "Bahia Castillo", was hit but did not sink, killing 10 men and 26 horses.

During the night the Luftwaffe flies several sorties against British and Norwegian forces at Kristiansund, Andalsnes and Sundalsoera. He 111s from 1(F)./122 found Vice-Admiral Cunningham's naval force west of Namsos and Vice-Admiral Edwards-Collin's units further south. As a consequence of this Cunningham's ships were attacked by elements of II./KG 26. At the entrance to the Namsos fjord Luftwaffe bombers attack British shipping, sinking the trawlers "Gaul" and "Aston Villa".

Lt. Schirmbock of II./JG 77 gains his second victory, shooting down a RAF Hudson attacking his airfield at Stavanger. Uffz. Anton "Toni" Hackl is posted to 5./JG 77.

It was announced today that the 1940 Olympic Games have been cancelled. The XII Olympiad was due to be held in Finland, which came second in the Olympic bidding process in 1932. The 1940 Olympic Games have experienced a number of changes and setbacks over the past few years. Originally planned to be held in the Japanese capital Tokyo, the games were moved following the government's reluctance to devote resources to the games whilst at the same time fighting China. The XII Olympiad was then awarded to Helsinki in Finland. Preparations have been ongoing, but with the outbreak of the war last year and now intensive fighting in Europe, it has been decided the games should be cancelled.

Radio Update on the war in Norway: Elmer Davis and the News, Update on the war in Norway (5/1/1940)

MEDITERRANEAN: Roosevelt urged Italy to stay out of the European War; Mussolini's response noted that Germany could not be defeated.

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[Njaco]

May 1 Wednesday (continued)
WESTERN FRONT: Swiss intelligence learned of a potential attack on France to be launched soon and informed the French military attaché, who promptly reported this to Paris. French counterintelligence in Berne, Switzerland, confirmed May 8-10 as the German date of attack, with an attack on the whole front, focusing on Sedan. Czech agent and German military intelligence service member Paul Thümmel reports to French intelligence via The Hague that a German offensive against the West would begin May 10.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler pushed the invasion decision date to 5 May 1940.

Otto Skorzeny was promoted to the rank of Unterscharführer. Rudolf Höss was appointed the first Commandant of Auschwitz Concentration Camp in German-occupied Poland.

Germans change key settings on Enigma ciphering machines.

ASIA: Japanese troops began to march toward Yichang, Hubei Province, China.

NORTH AMERICA: The US Navy established the Naval Air Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico as a part of the Tenth Naval District. The first commanding officer of the base was Captain Virgil C. Griffin, Jr.

UNITED KINGDOM: British government passed a trade union agreement which allowed women to work in munitions factories. The Amalgamated Engineering Union agrees to allow women workers in munitions factories.

A German bomber crashed in Essex, England, United Kingdom, killing the crew and two civilians, wounding a further 150 people. These are the first civilian casualties in England, killed by the falling German plane. German pilot seems to have tried not to hit the houses as he crashed.

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[parsifal]

Summary Of Losses April 1940 (Part I)
Allied
Allied Warships
DD GLOWWORM (RN 1380 grt), DD GURKHA (RN 1854 grt), DD HARDY (RN 1456 grt), DD HUNTER (RN 1370 grt), Sub TARPON (RN 1095 grt), Sub THISTLEe (RN 1095 grt), Sub STERLET (RN 768 grt), Sub UNITY (RN 630 grt), Sloop BITTERN (RN 1085 grt), ASW Trawler S RUTLANDSHIRE (RN 350 grt (est)), ASW Trawlers BRADMAN (RN 452 grt), HAMMOND (RN 452 grt), LARWOOD (RN 452 grt), ASW Trawler CAPE SIRETOKO (RN 591 grt), ASW trawler CAPE CHELYUSKIN (RN 494 grt), ASW trawler ST GORAN (RN 210 grt), ASW Trawler ASTON VILLA (RN 196 grt), ASW Trawler GAUL (RN 531 grt), ASW trawler JARDINE (RN 452 grt), ASW Trawler WARWICKSHIRE (RN 466 grt), MSW DUNOON (RN 710 grt), Contre Torpilleur DD MAILLE BREZE (Fr 2441 grt), SC CHASSEUR 107 (Fr 176 grt ), TB GYLLER (RNoN 597 grt), TB ODIN (RNoN 597 grt), Sub A-2 (Nor 342 grt), Sub A-3 (Nor 342 grt), Sub A-4 (Nor 342 grt) Coast Defence Ship EIDSVOLD (Nor 3645 grt) Coast Defence Ship NORGE (Nor 3645 grt):Cutter SORLAND (Nor 100 grt (est)), PV POL III (Nor 214 grt), MSWs RAUMA (Nor 370 grt), HAUK (Nor 58 grt) Aux PVs HVAL III (Nor 246 grt), BETA (Nor 168 grt). MSWs OTRA (Nor 370grt). MSW HVAS (Nor 58 grt), Aux PVs ALPHA (Nor 235 grt) FURU (Nor 85 grt). MSWs FALK (Nor 58 grt). KJAEK (Nor 58 grt) Aux PVs FARM (Nor 424 grt), SKUDD I (Nor 247 grt), SKUDD II (Nor 247 grt), OTER I (Nor 251 grt), HVAL II (Nor 224 grt), RAMOEN (Nor 299 grt), SAETRE (Nor 172 grt), SARPEN (Nor 187 grt), ML BRAGE (Nor 236 grt), Aux PV TREFF (Nor 204 grt), SAIMA (Nor 217 grt), SOUSA (Nor 217 grt), PreWWI TB TEIST (Nor 92 grt), TB JO (Nor 55 grt), TB GRIB (Nor 55 grt), RAVN (Nor 55 grt), TBs ORN (Nor 55 grt), LOM (Nor 55 grt), TB SKREI (Nor 84 grt), SILD (Nor 84 grt), TB SAKS (Nor 84 grt), TB BALDER (Nor 632 grt), TB AEGER (RNoN 597 grt), Pre-WWI TB JO (55grt), GRIB (55grt), RAVN (55grt), Pre-WWI TBs ORN (70grt) LOM (70grt), Aux PV KELT (376grt), Sub B.1 (RNoN 545 grt), Pre-WWI TB STORM (Nor 107 grt), PV SPERM (Nor 239 grt), PV MICHAEL SARS (Ex-Nor 226 grt), ML FROYA (RNoN 595 grt), Pre-WWI TB SAEL (Nor 84 grt), TB STEGG (Nor 256grt), Aux PV SMART (Nor 122 grt), ML TYR (Nor 290 grt), TB TRYGG (Nor 198 grt), Hospital Ship BRAND IV (Nor 343 grt (est)), TB GARM (Nor 540 grt), Aux PV ALVERSUND (RNorN 178 grt)

(17089(RN)) (2517 (Fr)), (14125 (Nor)); (Total 33731 grt Naval Tonnage)

Allied Shipping
Trawler GORSPEN (UK 208 grt ), Trawler SANSONNET (UK 212 grt), Trawler LEONORA (UK 217 grt), Steamer ADELAIDE STAR (UK 11,000 grt), steamers BLYTHMOOR (UK 6582 grt), MERSINGTON COURT (UK 5141 grt), NORTH CORNWALL (UK 4304 grt), ROMANBY (UK 4887 grt), RIVERTON (UK 5378 grt), steamer THISTLEBRAE (UK 4747 grt), MV TOSCA (Nor 5128 grt), Ferry OSCARBORG-NARVIK (Nor 500 GRT (EST)), MV STANCLIFFE (UK 4511 grt), Steamer THORLAND (Nor 5208 grt), Coastal Steamer DISPERSER (UK 312 grt), Steamer SALERNO (UK 870 grt), Steamer SALMON POOL (UK 4803 grt), MV SWAINBY (UK 4935 grt), Tkr JUANITA (UK 1139 grt), steamers HAWNBY (UK 5380 grt). MERSEY (UK 1037 grt), SAN MIGUEL (Nor 2380 grt), BLACK PRINCE (Nor 5039 grt), KONG OSCAR II (Nor 914 grt), VENUS (Nor 5407 grt), MV CEDARBANK (UK 5159 grt), Trawler HERCULES II (UK 165 grt), Trawler PENN (UK 217 grt), steamer LOLWORTH (UK 1969 grt), RYDAL FORCE (UK 1101 grt), steamer MARGAM ABBEY (UK 2470 grt), MV BRAVORE (Nor 1450 grt), MV SIGURD JARL (Nor 924 grt), Steamer GIRASOL (UK 648 grt), steamer HAXBY (UK 5207 grt), Trawler LEONARD (UK 217 grt), MV STOKESLEY (UK 1140 grt), Coastal Steamer FOLDEN (Nor 316 grt), MV HAARDRAADE (Nor 756 grt)), MV MARGHAM ABBEY (UK 4387 grt), Tkr BOARDALE (UK 8334 grt), Trawler ATHELSTAN (UK 222 grt), Steamer NYHAUG (Nor 4044 grt), MV CAPELLA (Nor 877 grt), MV GALLUS (Nor 339 grt), MV SVANHOLM (Nor 696 grt), MV WHITETOFT (UK 898 grt), Steamer ORLAND (Nor 1899 grt), MV SATURNUS (Nor 956 grt)

Sunk or captured: 148760 tons (33731 Naval, 96024 UK, 18405 Norwegian)

Prize Vessels:
Warships: Aux PV VP.411 (Fmr trawler NORDLAND; DKM 392 grt), Schiff 26 (Trawler JULIUS PICKENPACK) (DKM 394 grt),
Merchant Vessels: Trawler MALANGEN (Ger 487 grt), trawler RHEIN (Ger 254 grt)

Neutral
Neutral Shipping
MV NAVARRA (Nor 2118 grt):
MV SIGNE (Fn 1540 grt), MV ANTON H. (Fn 1436 grt), steamer USKO (Fn 1876 grt), steamer EMMI (Fn 1592 grt),
steamer MARE (Est 1217 grt), steamer KADLI (Est 1818 grt), steamer ARCTURUS (Est 1682 grt), steamer AKSI (Est 844 grt), MV BEGONIA (Est 1591 grt),
Steamer OKEANIA (Gk 4843 grt),
Steamer GULLFOSS (Iceland 1414 grt),
MV GALLIA (Sd 1419 grt), MV FAVERVIK (Sd 1912 grt), MV MONARK (Sd 1786 grt), Trawler DAGNY (Sd 47 grt), Steamer ALBERT (Sd 1745 grt), Trawler INES (Sd 100 grt (est)), Tkr SVEABORG (Sd 9076 grt), MERTAINEN (Sd 4531 grt), Steamer BALTICIA (Sd 1986 grt), Steamer EDDA (Sd 1587 grt), Steamer KARE (Sd 1203 grt)
Ferry NYBORG (Den 2555grt), Steamer LILY (Den 1281 grt),
Coastal Steamer VELOCITAS (Ne 197 grt), Steamer BERNISSE (Ne 951 grt), Steamer , Fishing Vessel BEP (Ne 151 grt), Schuit WOCANA (Ne 100 grt (est)), Fishing vessel WILLY (Ne 147 grt),
Fishing Vessel LONE EAGLED (US 57 grt)
Steamer ANGLO (Pan 2978 grt), MV BOBBY (Pan 2827 grt),

Neutral Shipping sunk 58607 grt (0 Naval 58607 grt Mercantile tons 25392 grt (Sd), 2118 grt (Nor), 6444 grt (Fn), 7152 grt (Est), 1546 grt (Ne), 3836 grt (Den), 4843 grt (Gk), 1414 grt (Iceland), 57 grt (US), 5805 grt (Panama),

Combined Allied and Neutral Shipping Sunk 207367 grt

 

[parsifal]

Summary Of Losses April 1940 (Part II)
Axis
Axis Warships
CA BLUCHER (DKM 16974 grt), CL KARLSRUHE (DKM 8130 grt), CL KONIGSBERG (DKM 6650 grt), DD WILHELM HEIDKAMP (DKM 2411 grt), DD ANTON SCHMITT (DKM 2411 grt), DD ERICH KOELLNER (DKM 2200 grt), DD HERMANN KUNNE (DKM 2411 grt), DD ERICH GIESE (DKM 2200 grt), DD DIETER VON ROEDER (DKM 2411grt), DD HANS LUDEMANN (DKM 2411 grt), DD WOLGANG ZENKER (DKM 2200 grt), DD BERND VON ARNIM (DKM 2200 grt), DD GEORG THIELE (DKM 2200 grt), TB ALBATROS (DKM 924 grt), TB LEOPARD (DKM 933 grt), Type IIA U-1 (DKM 381 grt), Type IXB U.64 (DKM 1430 grt), Type VII B U-49 (DKM 857 grt), MSW R.17 (DKM 117 grt), Gunnery TS BRUMMER (DKM 2960 grt), Aux PV V 1507 / Rau 6 (DKM 356 grt), Aux Schiff 9 (DKM trawler KOBLENZ, 437 grt), Schiff 26 (Trawler JULIUS PICKENPACK) (DKM 394 grt), Schiff 37 (trawler SCHLESWIG) ( DKM 433 grt), PV V-1703 (DKM 450 grt (est)), Schiff 35 (ex steamer OLDENBURG) (DKM 2312 grt), Aux PV VP.105 (trawler CREMON, 268grt), Aux PV VP.411 (Fmr trawler NORDLAND; DKM 392 grt), ASW Trawler Schiff 18 (DKM 550 grt (Est)), Aux MSW M.1108 (DKM 476 grt), Aux MSW M-1302 SCHWABEN (DKM 436 grt), UJ-117 (DKM 350 grt (est)), SC UJ-B TREFF V (DKM 331 grt), PV SENJA ( Ex-Nor 266 grt), PV KELT (Ex-Nor 376 grt), Tkr KATTEGAT (DKM 8061 grt), supply ship MAIN (DKM 7624 grt), RIO DE JANEIRO (DKM 5261 grt), AK ANTARES (DKM 2593 grt), AK FRIEDENAU (DKM 5219 grt), Troopship HAMM (Ger 5874 grt), MV IONIA (DKM 3102 grt), Tkr MOONSUND (DKM 321 grt), Tkr Olschiff 3 (DKM 6044 grt), Tkr SKAGERAK (DKM 6044 grt )

(123274 grt Naval Tonnage)

Axis Shipping
Fishing trawler BLANKENBURG (Ger 344 grt), Tkr BELT(Ger 850 grt) Tkr DOLLARD (Ger 880 grt),Tkr EUROLAND (Ger 869 grt), Tkr SENATOR (Ger 845 grt (est)) Transport, steamer RODA (Ger 6780 grt), MV AMASIS (Ger 7129 grt), MV BOCKENHEIM (Ger 4981 grt), MV SAO PAULO (Ger 4977 grt), Steamer SEATTLE (Ger 7369 grt), steamers AUGUST LEONHARDT (Ger 2593 grt), Supply ship ALSTER (Ger 8514 grt), Steamers SAPHIR (Ex-Nor, Ger 4306 grt), ELDRID (Ex-Nor, Ger 1712 grt), steamers STRASSA (Ex-SD, Ger 5602 grt), BODEN (Ex-SD, Ger 4265 grt), 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), AK RAUENFELS (Ger 8460 grt), MV MUANSA (Ger 5427 grt), MV PLANET (Ger 3500 grt (est)), MV WIGBERT (Ger 3648 grt), Trawler GAZELLE (Ger 212 grt), Steamer FLORIDA (Ger 6148 grt), MV RUHORT (Ger 5026 grt), MV AFRIKA (Ger 6503 grt), MV THESEUS (Ger 956 grt), MV JAUNTJELGAVA (Ex-Lat, Ger 1509 grt), MV HURGEN FRITZEN (Ger 4465 grt), MV DELAMORE (Ex-Nor, Ger 350 grt (est)), Steamer ROMANSBY (ex-UK Ger 4887 grt), Steamer CRONSHAGEN (Ger 1787 grt), Steamer RIVERTON (Ex UK, Ger 5378 grt),

155208 grt (Mercantile)

Prize Vessels:
Warships: MSWs OTRA (Nor 370grt), MSW HVAS (Nor 58 grt), Aux PVs ALPHA (Nor 235 grt), FURU (Nor 85 grt), MSWs FALK (Nor 58 grt). KJAEK (Nor 58 grt), Aux PVs FARM (Nor 424 grt), SKUDD I (Nor 247 grt), SKUDD II (Nor 247 grt), OTER I (Nor 251 grt), HVAL II (Nor 224 grt), RAMOEN (Nor 299 grt), SAETRE (Nor 172 grt), SARPEN (Nor 187 grt). ML BRAGE (Nor 236 grt) Aux PV TREFF (Nor 204 grt) SAIMA (Nor 217 grt) SOUSA (Nor 217 grt), TB SKREI (Nor 84 grt), SILD (Nor 84 grt), TB SAKS (Nor 84 grt), steamer SPYRIDON (Gk 3527 grt), TB TIGER (Ex-Nor TOR 632 grt), TB BALDER (Nor 632 grt), Sub B.2 (RNoN 545 grt), Sub B.5 (RNoN 545 grt), Pre-WWI TB KJELL (94t), Pre-1900 TBs LYN (38grt), BLINK (38grt) and KVIK (38grt), Aux PVs W. BARENTS (205grt), FIRERN (217grt), LYNGDAL (149grt), HVAL IV (248grt), HVAL VI (248grt) and HVAL VII (247grt), Pre-WWI TB JO (55grt), Pre-WWI TBs ORN (70grt) LOM (70grt), Aux PV KELT (376grt), PV MICHAEL SARS (Ex-Nor 226 grt), TB TRYGG (Nor 198 grt), ASW Trawlers BRADMAN (RN 452 grt), HAMMOND (RN 452 grt), LARWOOD (RN 452 grt),

Merchant Vessels: MV MARE (Est 1217 grt), MV ADELAIDE STAR (UK 11,000 grt), MV GULLFOSS (Iceland 1414 grt), MV EMMI (Fn 1592 grt), MV GALLIA (Sd 1419 grt), MV FAVERVIK (Sd 1912 grt), MV ANTON H. (Fn 1436 grt), steamer USKO (Fn 1876 grt), steamer KADLI (Est 1818 grt), steamer ARCTURUS (Est 1682 grt), steamer AKSI (Est 844 grt), steamer GERDA (Den 1151 grt), Steamer ANGLO (Pan 2978 grt), MV SPYRIDON (Gk 3527 grt), MV ALBERT (Sd 1745 grt), MV THISTLEBRAE (UK 4747 grt), trawler RHEIN (Ger 254 grt), CLARE HUGO STINNES (Ex-Ger, Ex Nor, Ger 5294 grt), SAN MIGUEL (Nor 2380 grt), BLACK PRINCE (Nor 5039 grt), KONG OSCAR II (Nor 914 grt), VENUS (Nor 5407 grt)

278482 grt(123274 grt (Naval), 155208 grt (Mercantile))
This represented over 25% of the total available shipping capacity available to Germany at the beginning of the war. These losses were offset by the use of captured prize vessels.

 

[parsifal]

1 May 1940 (Part I)
Losses
Lake MV ARLINGTON (Cdn 1870 grt) The cargo ship sank during a storm in Lake Superior.

Between 0727 and 0753 hours Sub NARWHAL laid minefield F.D. 6 (50 mines) in the Kattegat. Later the same day NARWHAL attacked a German convoy and torpedoed and sank the transport BUENOS AIRES (Ger 6097 grt) (on the right)and torpedoed and in rapid succession also torpedoed troop transport BAHIA CASTILLO (Ger 8580 grt) (pictured left) in the Kattegat in position. The Bahia Castillo reaches is towed to Frederickshaven vut decleared a total loss and scrapped in September 1940. 70 men and 266 horses were lost and 87 men were wounded.

Tkr BEAUFORT (Nor 5053 grt) This ship was bombed repeatedly from the 25 April. On May 1, the tkr was bombed and damaged at Oye, Rogaland by LW He111s, then scuttled by own crew. Raised in September 1941, laid up, repaired post-war.

Hospital Ship DRONNING MAUD (Nor 1489 grt):The ship had been used extensively by the Norwegians in the far nth to move troops about. She had previously been attacked on several occasions by the LW, with no hits. On the day of her loss, the ship arrived at Foldvik (near Harstad), in calm seas and sunshine. She was clearly marked as a hospital ship. As the ship was about to dock with the small wharf on her port side 3 a/c of LG-1 made a low-level attack with bombs and mg fire. 7 bombs were dropped from the a/c, with 2 registering as direct hits, one between the funnel and the bridge, the other just aft of the fore cargo hatch. Casualties were immediate. As the crew and passengers tried to abandon ship only 2 boats could be lowered into the water due to the fierce fires that had broken out. To prevent the spread of fire onto the dock, the ship was towed out to the channel, where the fire took hold. The ship drifted a short distance, then ran aground, burned and sank listing to port. 18 lives were lost. Her sinking drew sharp criticism of the germsan behaviour, but to be fair the ship was not fully marked as a noncombatant hospital ship when lost.

Dronning Maud on fire after the German attack

MV HAGA (Sd 1258 grt): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Kattegat with the loss of four crew.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Fr ASW trawlers LA CANCALAISE (fmr UK ST AMANDUS), LA NANTAISE (fmr UK ST ARCADIUS), LA L'LORIENTAISE (fmr UK SAINT ANDRONICUS) departed Dover for Dunkirk. Trawler L'LORIENTAISE, damaged on 26 April, was under the tow from Fr tug BARFLEUR.
Near Dyck Lt Vessel shoal, TRAWLER LA CANNCALAISE (Fr 510 GRT) struck a mine and sank with the loss of more than 12 crew.

MV MATAKANA (UK 8093 grt) The refrigerated cargo ship ran aground in the Caribbean off Mayaguana, Bahamas and was wrecked. Her 78 crew were rescued by Liner PANAMA (USA).

Trawler PIONER I (Nor 191 grt) The trawler (or coaster) was bombed and sunk at Hjorungavarg, More og Romsdal by LW a/c. Later raised, repaired and entered DKM service as RAETER.

ML ULLER (DKM 250 grt) The ML, a fmr Vale-class gunboat built in 1876, was bombed and damaged in Sognefjord by Heinkel He 115 aircraft of Norwegian Navy Air Service "Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk M.F.11" . She was beached and subsequently scuttled by TYR (DKM).

ULLER was a ship dating almost back the US civil War. RNorAS He115 1935-40 (right)

Aux PV VESLEFRIKK (RNoN 350 grt (est)) The guard ship was run aground in Lønnefjord, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway, to prevent capture by the Germans

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

During an attacis on a carrier formation numerous bombs dropped close to the aircraft carrier. Result not observed. During another attack by the 2nd Group, 1st Dive-Bomber Wing one 250 kg. hit on the bow of an aircraft carrier. Smoke, fire were observed. 1 X 250 kg. hit on the stern of a cruiser (listing, fire). The battle cruiser RENOWN - one SG 1000 at the ship's side. A 250 kg. hit on the stern of a destroyer by the 2nd Gp, 1st Dive-Bomber Wing. The 9th Air Division carried out further aerial ML
along the east coast of England. h2 aerial mines were dropped.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Nothing to report.

At Sea 1 Mayl 1940
U-13, U-14, U-17, U-23, U-24, U-25, U-29, U-30, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-61, U-65, U-101, UA.
15 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Fr subs CASABIANCA and SFAX returned to Dundee from patrol. Fr ML sub RUBIS docked at Harwich for ML ops off the Norwegian coast. DDs VETERAN, VISCOUNT, VANSITTART departed Scapa Flow with FS.3, consisting of 9 ships (4 x UK, 5 x Fr). These ships had been escorted to Scapa by Escort ships JASON and GLEANER and ASW trawlers. On arrival at Scapa on 28 April, the escorts returned to the Clyde. Off Scapa Flow, these ships were joined by DDs ISIS, IMOGEN, ILEX with British steamers BELLEROPHON and LYCAON which had departed the Clyde on 30 April. When the two gps rendezvoused, DDs VETERAN and VISCOUNT took base ship MASHOBRA to the Clyde arriving on the 2nd. The convoy and its escorts arrived safely at Harstad on the 6th. Fr steamer PAUL EMILE JAVARY of the convoy was damaged in a collision on 28 April with steamer PIZARRO (UK 1367 grt) 16 miles ENE of Stornoway. She was able to leave Scapa on the 3rd and arrived at Harstad on the 9th.

FN.159 departed Southend, escort DD WOOLSTON and armed patrol yacht BREDA. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 3rd.
MT.62 departed Methil, escort sloops EGRET and WESTON. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.159 departed the Tyne, escort DDs VALOROUS and WALLACE. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd. FS.160 departed the Tyne, escort DD VALENTINE and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.

OA.139 departed Southend escort sloop ENCHANTRESS.

Northern Waters
DDs ESK, EXPRESS, INTREPID with mines for the Narvik area were ordered to return to Immingham.

DD ECHO departed Rosyth on the 1st and arrived at Scapa Flow on the 2nd escorting tkr BRITISH GOVERNOR (UK 6840 grt) from Aberdeen. DD ECHO departed Scapa on the 2nd to escort FP.3, but was recalled to Scapa. At Scapa the DD went alongside troopship ULSTER PRINCE and embarked the Norwegian Naval CinC Adm Deisan, 3 staff officers, 3 Swedish officers for passage to Tromso. She then proceeded to rejoin the convoy. DDs AMAZON and BRAZEN departed Scapa on the 2nd to join the convoy. DDr ECHO joined the convoy on the 4th. The convoy arrived safelky at Harstad on the 5th. On the 7th, escorted by DDs BRAZEN and ECHO and Fr DD EPERVIER, troopships CHENONCEAUX and COLOMBIE disembarked at Harstad and MEXIQUE disembarked at Salangen and Balangen. BB RESOLUTION and CLs EFFINGHAM and AURORA bombarded German positions in Ofotfjord in the Ankenes area.

CLA CURLEW arrived at Scapa Flow. DDs WOLVERINE and BRAZEN arrived at Scapa with detailed situatio reports on the Namsos area addressed to NOIC Aberdeen. ASW trawler NORTHERN PRIDE ran aground at Tjelsundet. The trawler was assisted to get free by DD WALKER. DD JUNO from Scapa arrived at Sullom Voe to refuel. DD WANDERER searched for a UBoat reported by CC a/c in 61‑20N, 00‑18E. She searched from 1744 to 2103 and then proceeded to Sullom Voe to refuel. DD WANDERER arrived at daylight on the 2nd. She embarked troops with DD WALKER. DD KIMBERLEY departed Sullom Voe after refuelling. British opn BRICK 2, the evacuation of sthn Norway which began on 30 April, continued.

At Romdalsfjord, CLA CALCUTTA and sloop AUCKLAND were attacked by LW Bombers and both ships, almost out of ammo, were withdrawn at 1600 from the Fjord. That night, a British force under Vice Adm G. Layton, which departed Scapa on 30 April, entered the Romdalsfjord to embark troops with CLs MANCHESTER (CS 18) and BIRMINGHAM, DDs INGLEFIELD, DIANA, DELIGHT. They joined CLA CALCUTTA and sloop AUCKLAND already in the area. As CLs MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM were too large the use the pier, DDs INGLEFIELD, DIANA, DELIGHT ferried the troops out into the harbour for embarkation on the CLs. DD SOMALI embarked the PRIMROSE detachment at Aalesund. DD DIANA embarked Norwegian General Ruge and took him, along with his staff, to Tromso arriving on the 3rd. Layton with CLs BIRMINGHAM and MANCHESTER and DDs INGLEFIELD and DELIGHT returned to Scapa on the 3rd sustaining no casualties in the evac. DD SOMALI arrived Scapa Flow on the 2nd. CLA CALCUTTA and DD MASHONA arrived at Scapa on the 3rd. CALCUTTA. This gp was carrying 766 personnel, some wounded from the landing areas. Sloop AUCKLAND arrived at Scapa on the 3rd.

 

[Njaco]

May 2 Thursday
NORTHERN EUROPE: German forces reached Åndalsnes as the Allies begin to leave Namsos, Norway. In southern Norway, British troops began to withdraw, but continued to fight in the north to interrupt the flow of iron to Germany. British Vice Admiral John Cunningham arrived in Namsos, Norway with 3 cruisers, 5 destroyers, and 3 transports to aid with the evacuation of the British 146th Brigade. German aircraft attempted to interfere, damaging HMS "Maori" with a near miss, killing 5 and wounding 18. Through the end of the night, 5,350 men were embarked. Small British and French forces are landed at Mosjoen to try to help block the road north to Narvik.

An Allied air attack on Stavanger by six British planes succeeds in destroying an Hs 126 and causing light damage. One Lockheed Hudson is shot down by a fighter and another is destroyed by anti-aircraft fire. Later the Luftwaffe attacks shipping in the Namsos-Kristiansund area. Several hits are recorded including one on an aircraft carrier and another on the HMS "Maori".

A British trawler attached to an anti-submarine strike force has endured its fifth day of hell. The British trawler, HMT 'Arab', has been attached to the 15th Anti-Submarine Striking Force since the end of last month. As part of the strike force, HMT 'Arab' was sent with fourteen other ships to Norwegian waters. Her mission was to assist in the evacuation of thousands of British troops currently fighting a faltering campaign in the country. For the past five days HMT "Arab" has been anchored in a Norwegian fjord 100 miles north of Trondheim. Whilst anchored, the trawler had endured 24 dive bomber attacks and a further seven high altitude bombing attacks. Three other ships have been sunk by such attacks, but the 'Arab' survived. This plucky vessel, commandeered at the start of the war, was commanded by Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard of the Royal Navy Reserve. Loaded with survivors of fellow British ship "St. Goran", the "Arab" then headed home. As it left the fjord, however, a German Heinkel He 111 signaled to the trawler:

"Go east or be sunk".

The order to 'go east' was clear to the captain – doing such an action would return the trawler to a German-controlled coast and immediate captivity. Faced with such an unwelcome choice, Lieutenant Stannard chose instead to fire his trawler's gun at the German bomber. Amazingly the gunner managed to shoot the Luftwaffe aircraft down. The 'Arab', now with a damaged engine, then headed out to sea and managed to return to Britain. Lieutenant Stannard will receive the Victory Cross for his actions during the past five days.

The Luftwaffe forces stationed at Trondheim amount to eleven Ju 87 Stukas, eight He 115 seaplanes, eight Bf 109 fighters and six He 111 bombers.

MEDITERRANEAN: Mussolini offered that Italy would not go to war with the United States if the United States would stay out of Europe.

WESTERN FRONT: 93 German combat divisions are prepared to invade France and the Low Countries.

UNITED KINGDOM: Minelaying was suspected off the East Coast between Berwick and Grimsby. Shipping was attacked 600yds up the river Blyth. The river was closed owing to the presence of mines.

.

 

[parsifal]

1 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Northern Waters (Cont'd)
CV GLORIOUS, escort DDs ACHERON, ANTELOPE, BEAGLE, arrived off Norway with new a/c after having been withdrawn for refuelling and a/c on 27 April. A Skua from 803 Sqn was shot down in error by British ships off Namsos. S/Lt G. W. Brokensha and P O S. E. Andrews were picked up by DD NUBIAN. DDs HYPERION and BEAGLE were detached from the CV ARK ROYAL's screen for refuelling at Sullom Voe. DDs WITHERINGTON and WOLVERINE departed Scapa with ORP Troopship CHROBRY (11,442grt) and British troopship ORION (23,456grt) to Rosyth, arriving on the 2nd. In Operation KLAXON 1 and 2, Namsos was to have been evacuated over 2 days, but when word of a bn of Fr troops having gotten away, the entire opn was set to take place on the 1st. The British evacuating force arrived off the coast and found it fog covered. Late on the 1st, DD MAORI reached Kya Light off Namsenfjord and Vice Adml J. Cunningham ("ABC") sent DDs KELLY, GRENADE, GRIFFIN, Fr BISON to join her. As the DDs went up Namsenfjord in dense fog early on the 2nd, DD MAORI was damaged by near misses and sustained 23 casualties (5 dying of wounds). The evacuation attempt was aborted at that time due to the German's knowledge of their intentions and the op was rescheduled for the following night. DD MAORI withdrew with her casualties. DD MAORI was able to participate in evacuation the next night. DD MAORI departed Scapa on the 6th. Off Sumburgh Head, she met DD ECLIPSE, which departed Lerwick with one operable engine, escorted her to the Clyde. DD ECLIPSE arrived at Greenock on the 7th. DD MAORI went on to Bootle, near Liverpool, where her repairs were completed on the 20th.

West Coast UK
Fr DD FOUDROYANT arrived at Greenock escorting Fr troopship VILLE D'ALGER. She departed that day and arrived at Scapa the next day. Fr convoy FP.3 with 5 troopships (1 Br 4 Fr) departed the Clyde carrying the last contingent of the 1st Chasseurs Lt Div, the French Legion Demi Brigade, and the the Polish Brigade. These troopships were escorted by DDs ATHERSTONE, WARWICK, Fr DDs EPERVIER and FOUDROYANT, PVs JASON and GLEANER of ASW GP 3. DD WHIRLWIND departed the Clyde a little later and caught the convoy the same day. The convoy was joined the next day by a further 6 x Troopships (4 x Br, 2 x Polish) which proceeded in company in the convoy for Scapa. Escorts JASON and GLEANER were added to the escort for this leg of the voyage.

Channel
DD BOREAS arrived at Dover from Chatham after refitting.

UK-France
BC.36 of steamers ATLANTIC COAST, BARON NAIRN (Commodore), CAMEO, CITY OF LANCASTER, DORSET COAST, MARSLEW departed Bristol Channel escort DD MONTROSE. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 3rd. SA.39 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

Central Atlantic
SL. 30 departed Freetown escort AMC CARNARVON CASTLE until 15 May. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 18th.

Med- Biscay
OG.28F was formed from OA.138GF, which departed Southend on 28 April escort sloop SCARBOROUGH, OB.138GF, which departed Liverpool on 28 April, escort DD VERSATILE, with 45 ships. Sloop SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy on the 1st and was then detached to HG.28 F. Sloop FOLKESTONE and ASW whaler WILLIAM SCORESBY escorted the convoy from 1 to 6 May. The convoy arrived at Gib on the 6th.

BBs MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, Fr BBs LORRAINE, BRETAGNE, PROVENCE,from Mer el Kebir, Fr CAs TOURVILLE, DUQUESNE, CL DUGUAY TROUIN escort DDs DEFENDER and DECOY, RAN DDs STUART and VAMPIRE, 6 Fr DDs, a Fr TB passed Malta en route to reinforce the Med Flt. DDs VELOX and WATCHMAN, escorting the battleships, entered Malta, arrived back at Gib on the 4th.
This force arrived at Alexandria on the 3rd.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
ANZAC troop convoy US.3 departed Wellington with troopships AQUITANIA (45,647grt), EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (42,348grt), EMPRESS OF JAPAN (26,032grt), 5500 ANZAC troops embarked, the largest convoy to depart NZ at that time, escort RAN CA AUSTRALIA and RNZN CL LEANDER. CL LEANDER had arrived at Wellington on 24 April in preparation for this convoy duty. RAN CL SYDNEY, en route to join this convoy on the 1st, was ordered to Colombo, via Sunda Strait and Singapore. The cruiser arrived at Singapore on the 5th. After refuelling, the cruiser departed Singapore later the same day and arrived at Colombo on the 8th. She departed Colombo on the 12th to meet convoy US.3 in the area of the Cocos Is, but was recalled to Colombo to sail for the Med. Troopship ANDES (25,689grt) joined en route, escort RAN CA CANBERRA, all arrived safely off Sydney on the 5th under the escort of RAN CAs AUSTRALIA and CANBERRA and RNZN CL LEANDER. At Sydney, the convoy was joined by troopships MAURETANIA (35,738grt) and QUEEN MARY (80,774grt), escort RAN CL PERTH, the next day off Melbourne by troopship EMPRESS OF CANADA (21,517grt). HMAS PERTH was detached when the convoy formed for ocean. passage.

Convoy US.3 was at Fremantle from 10 to 12 May when the convoy put back out to sea. New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER was detached on the 16th and proceeded on other duties. The light cruiser LEANDER arrived at Colombo on the 19th.

Aquitania leaving Wellington 1940. Troops are receiving an enthusiastic send off as another generation fo ANZACs are forced to fight a germany bent on European domination
CL DAUNTLESS was refitting at Hong Kong from this date to 4 June.

 

[parsifal]

2 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
IJN SC CH4 class

Built 1938-39, commissioned generally in 1940. 170 grt, speed 23 knots. 10 units built, precise commissioning dates unknown.

Neutral

Project 1047 was a series of plans for a class of Dutch BCs designed to increase the capabilities of the naval forces in the Far East. They are interesting because they were based on the Scharnhorst design, and reciprocal cooeration agreements were in place for design work in exchange for supply of certain equipment to the Dutch by Gerrmany. At the last minute, the Dutch had a rethink and moved away from German design philosophies and on the 19 April 1940 accepted a modified design based on the new Italian ideas The design centred around a hull of 27500 grt, a top speed of 33 knots and main armament of 9x12in guns

Allied
DD WOLFHOUND completed her conversion to fast escort ship. She proceeded to Portland for work up which was cut short by the invasion of France and the Low Countries. On 14 May, she departed Portland for Sheerness.

Losses
MV REDSTONE (UK 3110 grt) The WWI C class cargo ship was scuttled as a blockship in Kirk Sound, Scapa Flow Orkney Islands

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

A British Army communique reports withdrawal of Allied forces' from the area south of Trondheim in view of German superiority. The British and foreign presses openly record the defeat of the Western Powers in Norway.

The success of the German occupation of Norway is put down to Norwegian treachery. The Allied action from the south against
Trondheim failed because "Germany had the air superiority and, in spite of the efforts made by Allied naval and air forces,
was in a position to send large reinforcements to Norway. Overwhelming advantages are still seen for the Western Powers.
German. naval losses : are so .'heavy that there is a radical change in the ratio of forces of the naval powers and thus a possibility of re-grouping the Fleets of the Western Powers. Hence a British and French battle Fleet is being transferred to the
Eastern Mediterranean.

Conference on the question of sending out the third aux cruiser (Ship; 21) . Naval. Staff thinks this is a favorable time to send her out, even if the risk is greater than when Ship "16" and Ship "36" made their break-through. For the followin reasons a 3rd aux cruiser should be sent into the Atlantic as soon as possible. Our own situation, which makes some easing of the situa-
tion in the Nth Sea theater of war highly' desirable, especially as without the cruiser LUETZOW one can only expect a slight diversionary effect from the presence; of Ship "16" and Ship "36" the two merchant, raiders at present on operations, and indeed from the nature of their task the effect will probably not become noticeable for a few weeks.

CNS agreed with the suggestion to send out Ship "21". The following orders have been given to Group West:

"Ship "21" 's break-through into the Atlantic is to utilize the May new-moon period. Naval Staff contemplates the break-
through approximately as follows: First, transfer to Bergen, there re-camouflage, further passage if weather conditions
favorable , so that she passes through the danger area as far as about 200 miles NW of Stadtlandet in poor visibility .
Investigate possibility of submarine escort on passage through said danger area".

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 13, 17, 23, 58 entered port and UA put into Trondheim. U 17 and U 23 have nothing special to report off Bergen and near the Shetlands. Reports from U 13 and U 58 show:
East of the Orkneys and Shetlands and east of Pentland Firth very infrequent shipping but very strong patrol and numerous DDs. Operation during the summer (short nights) promises little success and losses may be incurred.
West of Pentland Firth rather more shipping, including independently-routed, unescorted ships. U 13 succeeded in sinking 2 steamers there, including the 7,000 ton tanker "Scottish American". It would appear possible for small boats to operate in this area even at this time of year, if they are able to move away from the coast to rest the crews and charge their batteries. U 13 very probably sank a Tribal class DD nth of the Shetlands.
UA put into Trondheim after a record patrol. U 44 must be declared missing and with her one of the best commanding officers, Lieut.(s.g.) MATTHES, who sank 36,000 tons on his first patrol. This boat was off the Norwegian coast and west of the Shetlands before the Norway operation. There is no clue as to her fate.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-13, U-17
Trondheim: UA

At Sea 2 May 1940
U-14, U-23, U-24, U-25, U-29, U-30, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-61, U-65, U-101.
12 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Sub TRIDENT fired 2 torp at steamer CLARE HUGO STINNES I (Ger 5294 grt) off Skorpa Island. TRIDENT fired 20 from her deck gun at the German steamer which ran herself aground in Bjoernefjord to prevent sinking. Sub TRIDENT also fired 3 torps at the grounded German steamer, but all 3 torps exploded on the rocks. The German steamer was later salved. On 26 July, CLARE HUGO STINNES I was docked at Bergen for repairs. The ship was ultimately lost on 27 September 1944 on a mine. Consequently she is not reecorded as a loss

North Sea
CLA COVENTRY departed Sheerness for trials at Rosyth after refit. The trials were completed on the 7th. CLA COVENTRY arrived at Sullom Voe on the 8th. Sub CLYDE departed Dundee for patrol off Fro Havet. Sub TAKU departed Rosyth on patrol.

ML op BS 1 was conducted in the Nth Sea by MLs TEVIOTBANK and PRINCESS VICTORIA escorted by patrol sloops WIDGEON, PINTAIL, PUFFIN, SHEARWATER. CLs GALATEA and ARETHUSA departed Scapa for Rosyth, where they transferred on the 3rd to the Nore Command to be based at Sheerness. They departed Rosyth for Sheerness on the 7th. FN.160 departed Southend, escort DD WINCHESTER and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th.

Northern Waters
Late on the 2nd at Mosjoen, DD JANUS landed 100 Chasseur Alpins and 2 AA guns embarked at Namsos. This operation was attempted on the 1st, but was delayed due to heavy fog. The DD was then ordered to meet two Norwegian pulp ships from Salsbruket and one Norwegian pulp ship from Lansless 50 miles off the coast and escort them. DD JANUS was unable to locate any of these merchant ships and arrived at Scapa on the 5th. DD WANDERER arrived at Sullom Voe to refuel. DD WESTCOTT arrived at Scapa from with 350 troops on board. DD HYPERION arrived at Sullom Voe for refuelling. DD ICARUS departed Scapa to meet Danish steamer GUNVOR MAERSK en route to Scapa. DD JAGUAR departed Rosyth with British A. S. I. S. steamer CROMARTY FIRTH for Scapa. JAGUAR was returning to the Home Flt after repairs. Late on the 3rd, the RN announced the evacuation of Namsos in Operation KLAXON complete. CLA CARLISLE, which had joined the evacuation force west of Namsos earlier in the day, stood off the town of Namsos while the evacuation took place. The two surviving trawlers at Namsos, ARAB and ANGLE, ferried troops to the Fr AMC EL MANSOUR and CA YORK in the harbour, while Fr AMCs EL D'JEZAIR and EL KANTARA berthed at the pier. DDs AFRIDI, NUBIAN, KELLY and Fr DDs BISON and FOUDROYANT operated in the Fjord.

DD BISON (Fr 2436 grt) was hit by a bomb dropped by a Ju87 which exploded her fore magazine and blew off the fore part of the ship at 1010 in these attacks. Her survivors were taken off by DD GRENADE which went alongside and DDs IMPERIAL and AFRIDI which picked up men from the water. AFRIDI had rescued 69 BISON survivors. 102 French crew were killed in the attack. Also killed on destroyer BISON was British Cdr R. R. Graham DSO, which was an observer. DD AFRIDI scuttled destroyer BISON.

DD AFRIDI (RN 1850 grt) rejoined the Main Force after picking up BISON's survivors, but then was hit herself at 1400 in further German bombing. DD AFRIDI foundered 46 mins after being hit. DDs GRIFFIN and IMPERIAL picked up her survivors.
50 crew of AFRIDI were lost with the ship along with 3 of IMPERIAL's , about 30 of BISON's crew, 13 military rearguard personnel evacuated from Namsos. 3 more AFRIDI ratings died of wounds and 31 were wounded.

CA DEVONSHIRE, Fr CL MONTCALM, DDs GRENADE, GRIFFIN, HASTY, IMPERIAL remained at sea off Namsenfjord. KLAXON had however managed to lift 1850 British troops, 2345 French troops, some Norwegian troops, 30 German POWs from Namsos. DD AFRIDI stayed behind to pick up a late arriving detachment when the other ships left for the relative safety of the open sea. The evacuation was completed at 0445/3rd. In the air attacks that sank the BISON and AFRIDI the LW also launched heavy air attacks on the force as a whole. Air attacks concentrated on CA DEVONSHIRE and Fr CL MONTCALM. On the 3rd CL SOUTHAMPTON and DDs HYPERION, HEREWARD, BEAGLE departed Scapa to support the Evacuation Force. DDs FURY, FORESIGHT, ANTELOPE, ACHERON also departed Scapa to support the evacuation force's return. The British and French ships arrived at Scapa, without further damage, late on 4 and early on the 5th. DDs IMPERIAL, GRIFFIN, GRENADE arrived at Sullom Voe on the 4th to discharge wounded Fr and Brit sailors from DDs BISON and AFRIDI and the military rearguard from Namsos to Fr hospital ship SPHINX.

 

[parsifal]

2 May 1940 (Part II
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Northern Waters (cont'd)
The DDs then departed Sullom Voe late on the 4th and arrived Scapa next day. Passengers embarked from Norway were accommodated in BB RODNEY. CA YORK and DD NUBIAN arrived at Scapa on the 4th. DDs KELLY and HASTY and troopship EL MANSOUR arrived at Scapa on the 4th. The main force ( DEVONSHIRE, MONTCALM, SOUTHAMPTON, 2 x troopships, DDs ACHERON, ANTELOPE, MAORI, FURY, FORESIGHT, HEREWARD arrived at Scapa early on the 5th. Wounded with this group were embarked in British hospital ship ISLE OF JERSEY. Most of the French troops, including some of the BISON survivors, were embarked on French passenger ship PRESIDENT DOUMER , DJENNE , FLANDRE , PROVIDENCE which left the Clyde on the 9th escorted by Fr Contre Torpilleur DDs TARTU, MILAN, CHEVALIER PAUL and 4 RN MTBs to return to Brest, arriving on the 11th. The rest of the French troops, including the seriously wounded, were embarked on French hospital ship SPHINX which departed Scapa Flow on the 25th escorted by MSW HEBE. This force arrived at Brest on the 27th.

Channel
DD WILD SWAN was on Nth Goodwins patrol. DD BOADICEA departed Dover for Chatham arriving later that day.

UK-France
DD KEITH covered the passage of the B. E. F/ Boulogne leave boats. During the night of 1/2 May, Fr Contre Torpilleur DDs INDOMPTABLE and MALIN were anchored in the Downs to land British liaison officers, and then proceeded to Brest, arriving on the 4th.

Med- Biscay
CLs ORION and NEPTUNE arrived at Malta from Gib. CL ORION, with Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham taking passage on her and Vice Adm, destroyers aboard, departed on the 3rd and arrived at Alexandria on the 4th. On arrival at Alexandria, Adm Cunningham hoisted his flag on BB MALAYA. CL NEPTUNE departed Malta in the evening of 3 May, arrived at Alexandria on the 5th.

 

[parsifal]

3 May 1940
Losses
Pre-WWI TB DJERV (RNorN 100 grt (est) The 2nd.class TB was scuttled off Kvamsoya to prevent capture by German forces.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Pre-WWI TB DRISTIG (RNorN 100 grt (est) The 2nd.class TB was scuttled off Kvamsoya to prevent capture by German forces..

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Aux MSW M1102/H.A.W. MOLLER (DKM 350 grt (est)) sinks on a mine laid by Sub NARWHAL on 1 May 40 in the Skaggerak east of Cape Skagen

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Schooner MAGICIENNE (Den 248 grt) The schooner ran aground west of St Abb's Head, Berwickshire,. All 8 crew survived.

MV SCIENTIST (UK 6199 grt) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Sth Atlantic by DKM Raider ATLANTIS with the loss of 20 crew. Survivors were taken aboard as P.O.W.s 27 crewmen and 1 passenger were put on Steamer TIRRANNA (Germany), the passenger and 1 crewman was killed when she was sunk later off France. 15 other crewmen were loaded on to MV DURMITOR ( Yugoslavia): and interned in Italian Somaliland

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

Group Narvik is in a critical situation. The shelling from the sea on our positions in Beis Fjord, Narvik and Rombaken Fjord continues. The enemy has brought up frenh reinforcements and is attacking our defenses. French Alpine troops have been seen near Oestervik (Bog en) .

Our troops are at a disadvantage since they lack snowshoes; the enemy, aided by local inhabitants who know the mountains
well, has many opportunities of encircling them.

Group Narvik reports that it intends to hold Narvik and the Slvegaardsmoen region as long as possible', however, exploration of the mountains east of Rombaken and experiences in fighting so far hive shown that with present forces defense of a mountain
base against superior enemy forces cannot be guaranteed indefinitely. Maximum support from the Air Force Is requested.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 24 and U 57 started on their return passage, U 58 entered port. U 58's observations confirm the view that operation east of the Shetlands is possible. U 7 and U 9, training boats, will have to be prepared for operations for case "GELB", in spite of my concern for the effect on their training. Other U-boats are not yet able to proceed after the Norway operation. Of the transport boats, U 32 and U 101 (both still at sea) will be withdrawn. These boats have the least petrol carrying capacity. UA, U 26, U 122 and later U 123 are also intended for transport duties.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-23, U-58
Trondheim: U-101

At Sea 3 Mayl 1940
U-14, U-24, U-25, U-29, U-30, U-57, U-59, U-61, U-65.
9 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Conre Torpilleur DDs CHEVALIER PAUL, MILAN, TARTU and DDs SIKH and TARTAR departed Scapa for a sweep into the Skagerrak to intercept 2 German MVs escorted by 2 TBs. The sweep was unsuccessful, but the ships returned undamaged at 0930/4th.

North Sea
Home Flt DDs HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, JANUS, KANDAHAR, HYPERION, KELLY, KIMBERLEY were ordered to escort duty on the east coast. The force was later directed to the Humber. OA.141 departed Southend escort DD VESPER from 3 to 5 May and DD VENETIA on the 5th.

FN.161 departed Southend, escort sloops GRIMSBY and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 5th. MT.63 departed Methil, escort DDs VIVIEN and VIMIERA. The convoy arrived later in the day. FS.161 departed the Tyne, escort DDs VIVIEN and VIMIERA. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 5th.

Northern Waters
ASW trawlers NORTHERN PRIDE, STELLA CAPELLA and CAPE ARGONA of ASW Gp 12, ARGYLLSHIRE of ASW Gp 11, arrived at Scapa from Romdalsfjord. These trawlers departed for Aberdeen on the 4th.

CVs ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS, BB VALIANT, CA BERWICK, DDs FURY, ENCOUNTER, ESCORT, FEARLESS, ACHERON, ANTELOPE, FORTUNE, KIMBERLEY entered Scapa after operations off Norway. CV GLORIOUS pushed on to the Clyde escort DDs IVANHOE, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, arriving at Greenock on the 4th. DD BEAGLE arrived at Scapa, whilst DD JACKAL docked at Sullom Voe to refuel and to change her carry out minor repairs. DD JACKAL sailed on the 3rd. DDs HYPERION and HEREWARD arrived at Scapa from Sullom Voe. ORP DD BURZA proceeded from Harstad to Skaalanfjord where she towed LCs with Fr Alpins to Gratangen. Completing this duty, she returned to Harstad.

HK.1 departed Scapa escort DDs WESTCOTT and Fr FOUDROYANT and sloop FLEETWOOD. DD VOLUNTEER, whaler ULLSWATER, trawler WILLOW joined during the night. The convoy was composed of tkrs BROOMDALE (8334grt) and BRITISH GOVERNOR (6840grt) and steamers NARVA (1575grt), A. S. I. S. CROMARTY FIRTH (538 grt), EMILE JAVARY (2471grt), cable ship LASSO (930grt). HK.1 arrived at Harstad late on the 9th.

8 British steamers departed Scapa escort DD BEAGLE and PVs GLEANER and JASON. 2 hrs later, DD WALKER departed Scapa with 2 stragglers. DDs WALKER and BEAGLE escorted the Bristol Channel contingent on from the Clyde. The DDs after the escort went to Liverpool for boiler clean, arriving on the 6th. British troopships ROYAL SCOTSMAN and ULSTER PRINCE departed Scapa for the Clyde to embark troops and stores for Bodo and Mosjoen, respectively. DD BASILISK and sloop STORK were sent to intercept unknown ships reported 50 miles sth of Vestfjord.

Channel
MSW SPEEDWELL completed boiler cleaning at Dover. Fr sloop ADMIRAL MOUCHEZ arrived at Dover to escort Fr subs PASTEUR and ORPHEE to Cherbourg.

UK-France
OB.141 departed Liverpool escort destroyer VANQUISHER from 3 to 6 May. BC.35 of seven steamers, departed Loire escort DD MONTROSE. The DD was detached for ASW Sweeps on the 4th. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on the 5th.

Med- Biscay
Fr sub MARSOUIN departed Casablanca, escort ASW trawler HERON. The sub arrived at Bizerte on the 8th.

Indian Ocean
Australian troop convoy US.2 arrived at Colombo en route to Egypt. On the 5th, the convoy put to sea escorted by BB RAMILLIES, Fr CA SUFFREN, CA KENT. Convoy US.2 was met off Aden on the 12th by RAN CL HOBART and DDs DECOY and DEFENDER, which departed Aden on the 10th, in the Red Sea by CL LIVERPOOL and sloop SHOREHAM on the 13th. On 17 May, convoy US.2 arrived at Suez escort BB RAMILLIES, Fr CA SUFFREN, CL LIVERPOOL, DDs DECOY and DEFENDER. RAMILLIES went to Alexandria and went into drydock for refit.

CA SUFFREN and DDs DECOY and DEFENDER joined the Med Flt. CL LIVERPOOL patrolled in the Red Sea for 2 weeks before joining the Med Flt. Repair ship RESOURCE departed Malta escort RAN DDs VOYAGER, VENDETTA, WATERHEN. On the 5th, RESOURCE was turned over to RAN DDs STUART and VAMPIRE which escorted her on to Alexandria.

 

[parsifal]

4 May 1940 (Part I)
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type 1935 MSW M-16

Losses
Tkr SAN TIBURCIO (US 5995 grt) Crew: 40 (0 dead and 40 survivors) ; Cargo: 2193 tons of fuel oil and 12 Sunderland aircraft floats : Route ; Scapa Flow, Orkneys (4 May) - Invergordon, Cromarty Firth . The ship struck a mine laid on 10 February by U-9 . A tug and DD CODRINGTON were sent to assist the tkr, but she broke in two before they arrived. The whole crew were picked up by her escort ASW Trawler LEICESTER CITY and landed at Invergordon. The master Walter Frederick Fynn died when his next ship, the San Arcadio was sunk by U-107 on 31 Jan 1942.

Sub SEAL (RN 1770 grt) arrived off Goteborg and Vinga in the Kattegat to lay mines. Shortly after completing the minelay at 0859, SEAL, forced to dive by sustained DKM DC attacks struck a mine herself and was badly damaged. The crew almost perished from oxygen deficiency. Finally getting to the surface, she was unable to effectively manoeuvre. In this damaged state, SEAL was firstly attacked by AR196s. SEAL fought back with her single Lewis gun. After all classified documents and equipment had been destroyed 9including the ASDIC gear), the skipper was persuaded to surrender by his officers. Believing the ship was sinking the SEALs skipper did surrender, the only British warship to do so (and something he was almost court martialled for in 1946....in the end he was honourably discharged and entered the Anglican ministry post war). The boat was captured early on the 5th by two German Arado seaplanes and was towed to Frederikshavn by ASW trawler UJ 128 of DKM ASW Flot 12. 53 crew, including the skipper Lt Cdr R. P. Lonsdale, were taken prisoner. SEAL was eventually commissioned into the DKM in November 1940, but was never used actively, and was of limited value as a training boat. however the captured torpedoes were of great use, enabling the germans to redesign their contact pistols to something like a reliable system. 1 rating was lost with the submarine and another rating died while prisoner of war. Four ships were lost on SEAL's FD.7 minefield.

Fishing vessel AIMY (Sd 200 grt) was lost on this minefield May 4, with the loss of all four crew.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

On the 6th, steamer VOGESEN (Ger 4241 grt) was sunk on FD.7 minefield.

On 28 May, steamer TORSTEN (Sd 1206 grt) was sunk on this minefield 4 miles south of Vinga. 16 crew were rescued from the Swedish steamer.

On 5 June, steamer SKANDIA (Den 1248 grt) was lost in the minefield.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sub SEVERN off Stavanger intercepted steamer MONARK (Ex Sd, Ger 1786 grt) which had been seized by German forces at Bergen on 9 April. The steamer had departed Stavanger on the 3rd. After removing and taking prisoner the German prize crew, which were crew from sunken light cruiser KONIGSBERG, and the Swedish and Norwegian regular crew, SEVERN torpedoed and sank MONARK. The Non-German crew was landed 25 miles from Stavanger. The German prize crew was taken prisoner and returned to England.

DD GROM (ORP 2183 grt) (Grom translates to "Thunderclap" in English) and DD FAULKNOR were on patrol off Narvik bombarding German positions when GROM was struck at 0828 on her torpedo tubes by a LW bomb. GROM was sunk in the explosion and her survivors were picked up by CL ENTERPRISE, which lowered boats to rescue survivors at 0835, DDs FAULKNOR and BEDOUIN assisted. CL AURORA also picked up 4 survivors. Polish Lt (JG) A. Krakowski and fifty seven ratings were killed. The survivors were transferred from DDs FAULKNOR and BEDOUIN to BB RESOLUTION, then to ORP DD BURZA. from there, survivors were embarked on a hospital ship for the passage back to England. They departed Harstad on the 10th for the Clyde.

Steamer AAFJORD (Nor 335 grt) was sunk by German bombing at Breiviken. Later raised, repaired and returned to service for the germans.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer BLAAFJELD I (Nor 1146 grt) The ship was sunk by the LW off Namsos near Namsos. All crew were rescued.

Steamer PAN (Nor 1309 grt) bombed and sunk off Namsos. All crew were rescued. The wreck was raise in 1942, repaired and returned to service under German control. Steamer SEKSTANT (Nor 1626 grt) was bombed and sunk just off Namsos by LW aircraft. All crew were rescued. SEKSTANT , PAN and BLAAFIELD were all together at the time of their loss completing their loading of woodpulp in a part of Namsos Fjiord and intending to leave just behind the retreating Allied naval forces, as was the majority of the Home based Norwegian cargo fleet. Watched constantly by the LW, these ships were unlucky.

SEKSTANT , PAN and BLAAFIELD photographed hours before their loss

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

By order of OKW, Group Narvik is to be placed under Group 21 as from midnight on II May. Supplies are to be brough up as soon as possible, using every available means and in cooperation with the 5th Luftflotte. The situation on land In the Narvik area is serious. After intensive preliminary gunfire, the enemy is attempting to outflank our forces on the right . As Group Narvik has no more forces to bring against this outflanking movement, it requests that a mountain infantry company, equipped with snowshoes, be sent by
air. Enemy DDs in Rombaken Fjord are preventing any supplies on the ore railroad. In view of the worthwhile targets air support is requieste; more ammunition is urgently required.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 59 started on her return passage. U 29 and U 30 entered port, U 101 entered Trondheim. U 29 took material to Bergen and Trondheim, was heavily depth-charged in FROHAVET off Trondheim and on her way back made an attack which failed. U 30 was heavily bombarded by "Hipper" and "Eckholdt" in the approach to Trondheim, fortunately without results. She was then to operate off the Romsdal Fjord, but did not succeed in entering the fjord as there was strong anti-S/M activity and she frequently touched ground in badly charted waters. West of the Shetlands the boat found little patrol, but also no shipping. On her way there she had to abandon the attack on a convoy as, when she hauled ahead, the Shetlands were between her and the convoy. U 32, about whom considerable concern had been felt, reported her position. A few days ago she reported petrol gas in the boat, which proves that there is danger in transporting petrol, even in outer fuel tanks.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-29, U-30

At Sea 4 May 1940
U-14, U-24, U-25, U-57, U-59, U-61, U-65.
7 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Fr DDs FOUGUEUX, FRONDEUR, L'ADRIOT carried out a sweep within 20 miles of the Belgian and Dutch coast, as far nth as Egmond.
No contact was made. Sub TRIDENT departed Rosyth on patrol.

OA.142 departed Southend unescorted. FN.162 departed Southend, escort DDs WALLACE and VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 6th. FS.162 departed the Tyne, escort DD WHITLEY and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 6th.

Northern Waters
BB RESOLUTION and CL AURORA bombarded German positions in Beisfjord (vicinity of Narvik). CL GLASGOW and DDs JACKAL and JAVELIN arrived at Greenock from Tromso. DDs HERO and FOXHOUND departed Greenock with tkr ATHELEMPRESS (UK 8941 grt) for Scapa where they arrived on the 6th.

CV ARK ROYAL departed Scapa after refuelling and reprovisioning with CLA CURLEW, DDs INGLEFIELD , SIKH, MASHONA, TARTAR, JAGUAR, ENCOUNTER. The force arrived off Northern Norway for operations from the 7th and operated a/c daily in spt of allied ops until the 19th when she refuled at Tromso.

DDs DELIGHT, FEARLESS, KIMBERLEY, FORTUNE departed Scapa escorting 4 troopships for the Clyde, where they arrived on the 5th. Sloop AUCKLAND also departed Scapa, for Rosyth where she arrived on the 5th.

Steamer ROYAL ULSTERMAN (RN 3244 grt), departed Scapa on the 1st arriving Harstad area on the 4th, escort DD MOHAWK. The steamer had 290 officers and men aboard, which were landed 45 miles nth of Mosjoen. The landing was completed early on the 4th.
DD GRAFTON had joined this group, and also delivered stores, and mail from the steamer for Harstad. This opn was the first of 5 landings for Opn SCISSORS. There were 4 more troop landings (the last the night of 13/14 May) at Mosjoen, Mo, Bodo. DD MOHAWK and steamer ROYAL ULSTERMAN returned to Scapa Flow on the 6th. Tugs BANDIT and BUCCANEER departed Scapa Flow at 1740 for Skelfjord with salvage eqiupment on board.

 

[Njaco]

May 3 Friday
NORTHERN EUROPE: Norwegian troops south of Trondheim surrendered to the Germans. The Allied Expeditionary Force in Norway completes its withdrawal from Namsos and Andalsnes. Namsos, near the river of Namsen, has been repeatedly pounded by German bombers over the past few days, making life for Allied troops increasingly challenging. With the entire town ablaze, and buildings in ruins, it was decided to evacuate all forces. Evacuation force, Mauriceforce, becomes delayed by thick fog. German aircraft found part of the evacuation fleet and attacked the convoy at 0945 hours. Guided by a plane from Kustenfliegergruppe (KuFlGr) 506, Ju 87s of StG 1 attack Allied naval forces heading from Namsos to the west. At 1000 hours the Stukas attack in several waves. Several hits were reported on a British battleship, either the "Hood" or "Repulse" but could not be confirmed. A cruiser, a destroyer and a transporter are also hit. At 1400 hours the fourth wave of Stukas succeed in sinking a York-class heavy cruiser along with the French destroyer "Bison" and the anti-submarine trawler HMS "St. Goran". The British destroyer HMS "Afridi", left behind to shell British vehicles on the dock that could not be evacuated, was bombed at 1400 hours and sank 45 minutes later, killing 49 men of the crew, 13 men of 146th Brigade, and 30 rescued men of "Bison".

British RAF aircraft attacked German airfields in Denmark and Norway.

WESTERN FRONT: Dutch intelligence detected further hints of German troop gathering near its border; this information was forwarded on to Belgium.

Danish constituent country of Greenland sought American protection as her mother country was now occupied by Germany.

GERMANY: In Germany, forecast of bad weather caused another postponement of the invasion.

MEDITERRANEAN: British destroyer "Garland", under repair in Malta, was loaned to the Polish Navy, which commissioned the destroyer on the same date.

UNITED KINGDOM: British and French troops evacuated from Åndalsnes, Norway arrived safely at Scapa Flow, Scotland. The French troops were transferred onto French passenger ships bound for Brest.


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[parsifal]

4 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Northern Waters (Cont'd)
3 British steamers escort DDs HAVANT and ACASTA departed Narvik on the 4th. The convoy departed Vaagsfjord during the forenoon of 4 May and was joined by ASW whaler BUTTERMERE. On the 7th, DDs ANTELOPE and ACHERON joined the convoy as it began its run into Scapa. Convoy arrived at Scapa on the 9th. DD HAVANT arrived at Scapa on the 7th to refuel. Two Steamers were taken on to Newport. DD ANTELOPE took one steamer to the Smalls and was relieved by corvette CLARKIA. DD ANTELOPE then returned to the Clyde. British tanker INVERADER arrived at Invergordon escort DDs CODRINGTON and ESCAPADE. ESCAPADE went on to Rosyth to boiler clean. DD CODRINGTON remained at Invergordon to escort the tkr back to Scapa when loading was completed.

DD DIANA departed Skelfjord for Scapa escorting tkr ALDERSDALE. The ships parted company at Cape Wrath, with the DD proceeding to Scapa and the tkr to the Clyde arriving on the 9th.

West Coast UK
OB.142 departed Liverpool escort DD WALPOLE from 4 to 7 May. The convoy was dispersed on the 8th. DD BULLDOG departed Devonport for the Clyde where she arrived on the 5th to join the Home Flt. DDs ICARUS, IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE after escorting CV GLORIOUS departed Greenock for Scapa arriving on the 5th.

SW Approaches
HG.29F of 47 ships departed Gib. The convoy was escorted by Fr sloop CHEVREUIL and aux PV MERCEDITA from 4 to 10 May. The French ships arrived at Lorient on the 11th. DD VIMY escorted the convoy from 10 to 13 May. DD WINDSOR and corvette PERIWINKLE from convoy OG.29F escorted the convoy from 10 to 13 May. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 13th.

UK-France
Fr DD VERDUN transported a Fr flag officer from the Clyde to Brest.

Nth Atlantic
HX.40 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs SAGUENAY and SKEENA, which ere detached on the 5th. The ocean escort was AMC ESPERANCE BAY. The RCN DDs returned to Halifax on the 5th. The AMC was detached on the 11th. Sloop ENCHANTRESS and corvette ARABIS provided escort in Home waters from 16 to 18 May. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 19th.

Med- Biscay
DD GARLAND in dock at Malta was transferred to the Polish Navy to offset the loss of ORP DD WICHER in September 1939. The original offer of the transfer had been made to the Polish Navy on 6 February. On the 16th, GARLAND (Cdr A. Doroszkowski) departed Malta for Alexa to join the Med Flt. The DD arrived at Alex on the 18th.