This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

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15 May 1940 (Part I)
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Sims Class DD USS BUCK

Losses
Aux MSW DUQUESNE II (Fr 181 grt ) and Aux MSW HENRE GUEGAN (Fr 251 grt) were both sunk by mines at the mouth of the Scheldt

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Steamer EVGENIA (Gk 5839 grt) was badly damaged by the LW, off Red Buoy, outside Zeebrugge. All the crew was saved. The steamer was abandoned on the 16th and sank as a result of this bombing on the 18th.

Steamer FOSCOLO (Italy 3059 grt) was badly damaged by the LW when she was bombed in error six miles NE of Zeebrugge. She capsized and sank on 18 May.

ML HYDRA (RNeN 593 grt) was beached on the coast of Zeeland following damage by German AT. She was subsequently scuttled.

Pilot Vessel LOODSBOOT No.1 (Ne 626 grt) struck a mine and sank in the Westerscheldt.

Dredger MA West (RN 96 grt) sank in the Nth Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Cause not found

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DDs VALENTINE, WINCHESTER, WHITLEY were operating off Flushing during the night of 14/15 May. At 1300, destroyers VALENTINE and WHITLEY were ordered to cover the Terneusen - Brosele Ferry. Destroyer VALENTINE (Cdr H.J. Buchanan RAN), at the mouth of the River Scheldt within a mile of Terneusen, was bombed and badly damaged by a Ju.88 . Struck by two bombs, DD VALENTINE (RN 1188 grt) was lost after her boiler exploded and she was run aground and was abandoned, a total loss. Thirty one ratings were killed and twenty one crew, including Probationary Temporary Surgeon Lt N. F. E. Burrows RMCS, LRCP, MD, BCH RNVR, Temporary Lt R. M. MacFie RNVR, Acting Gunner S. F. Burrow were wounded. Destroyer WHITLEY was bombed, but was not damaged. Destroyer WHITLEY blew up destroyer VALENTINE. Destroyer WHITLEY remained at Flushing during the afternoon and evening.

Steamer ROSENHOLM (SD 1736 grt) was seized by German forces at Bergen. The Swedish steamer was renamed OXHOFT for German use.

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DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

Naval Staff issued the following directive to Coastal Defense Commander, Southwest:commandeered, neutral shipping to T?e held. Only American, Russian, Italian and Japanese ships are to be released" It is laid down in the surrender protocol of the Dutch Navy
that neutral merchantmen may not put out to sea from Dutch harbors. "Enemy Merchant shipping in Dutch or Belgian" harbors is to be seized."

Amongst other Ministerial appointments. Lord Beaverbrook, the newspaper magnate, has been appointed Minister of Aircraft Production,, A new defense organization, the "Local Defense Volunteers", has been- formed. Its purpose is to report and combat parachutists and it will be composed of volunteers from 17 to 75 years of age. The "Civil Defense Service" will continue as an independent body.

Holland:
Reuter reports that the Dutch Ambassador in London has announced a message from his Government that in spite of the capitulation of the Dutch Army a state of war contues with Germany.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Naval War Staff has now decided that no more petrol is to be transported to Norway. UA and U 26 will therefore be reconverted to their normal state and U 25's conversion for petrol transport has been cancelled. U 122, which is ready to sail at Kiel, will put to sea with the petrol she has on board, otherwise her sailing would have been delayed for about 6 days. A part of her remaining cargo of supplies would also have had to have been unloaded, as the light specific weight of petrol raises buoyancy and permits the boat to take a greater load.

U 37 sailed for the Atlantic.

Donitz notes the unpleasant and disturbing results of the intensive torpedo testing

Experiments at the Torpedo Trials Department proved that the "AZ" unit of the pistol is liable to a high percentage of failures: premature release of the firing pin. Detonation of the priming. My suspicions of October and November and later that even the "AZ" does not always work, have thus been proved correct. The facts are worse than could ever have been suspected. I have been informed that the correct functioning of the "AZ" was considered to be proved in peacetime after only two shots and even these were not perfect. A method of working such as this can only be regarded as criminal.

The numerous defects of the torpedoes were only suspected bit by bit by B.d.U. on the basis of practical operational experiences and show up; premature detonations, failure of the impact firing unit, failure of the torpedo to fire, faulty depth keeping. In all cases the torpedo technicians either denied the possibility of a failure or else attributed it now to one cause, now to another. In all cases a basic defect was actually finally discovered.

The results is staggering. After 20 years' peacetime work one might have expected a torpedo better than the one used in the last war, a torpedo, for instance, capable of sinking a battleship with one shot (shot at Barham 28.12.39). It is true that splashless discharge has been developed - but otherwise there is nothing right with our torpedoes. I do not believe that ever in the history of war men have been sent against the enemy with such a useless weapon.

Many past shots which were taken as misses will now have to be regarded in a new light on the basis of this fresh information. In many cases the Commanding Officers have reported that they heard an impact for certain and no explosion followed. There is also the case of the shot by U 56 at "Nelson" on 30.10.39 (Churchill on board). It will never be known how many other shots hit without the torpedo exploding. Past analysis of failures and hits are more or less valueless now.

I hope now for a pistol of the simplest type, in which the striker will transfer the blow immediately aft and not, as in ours, work from aft forward after a complicated transmission of the striking force. I have therefore demanded, as set out in a T/P to the Torpedo Inspectorate, that the English pistol be copied as quickly as possible. A faultless functioning of this pistol may be expected by reason of its simple construction. We will then abandon magnetic firing which is in any case becoming mythical with the enemy's increased use of magnetic gear. When depth-keeping and impact firing are working properly, we can wait for the development of an effective non-contact firing unit without any questions.

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-37

At Sea 15 May 1940
U-7, U-37, U-43.
3 boats at sea

 

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15 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD MALCOLM departed Dover for docking at Blackwall to repair propellers damaged at Hook of Holland. DD WINCHESTER, en route from Flushing, was near missed by LW attacks early on the 15th off Hook of Holland and was badly damaged. DD WINCHESTER arrived at Dover. She departed Dover later that night on the 15th under tow for Portsmouth where she was beached temporarily. The DD was taken on to Liverpool for repairs completed in mid June.

MSW HUSSAR off Orfordness was struck by a glancing German bomb. The bomb itself did little damage, but it set off a DC on the MSW, causing extensive damage. 3 crew were killed. The ship managed to return to Harwich under her own power, her repirs were not completed until 21 June. DD WESSEX departed Dover for the Humber. DDs WESTMINSTER and VIMIERA arrived at Dover from the Hook of Holland. After refuelled and taking on ammunition, they departed that evening for Dunkirk. DD WOLSEY departed Dover at 1600 for Dunkirk and Flushing.

DD VESPER departed Dover for Sheerness. 5 Destroyers departed Harwich for Plymouth to prepare for transfer to the Med.....DDs HYPERION JUNO JANUS HOSTILE and MOHAWK. Also arriving for this same assignment were DDs KHARTOUM and KINGSTON.

Submarine SEAWOLF sighted enemy MSWs off the Texel (Dutch coast). These MSWs were thought to be preceding merchant ships. The allied subs in these areas were told to remain to the east of their patrol zones. Sub SUNFISH arrived at Harwich after patrol.
Sub depot ship CYCLOPS of SubFlot 3 and Fr depot ship JULES VERNE of SubFlot 10 departed Harwich for Rosyth. CYCLOPS was escorted by DDs CODRINGTON, GRIFFIN, GRAFTON, GALLANT. When the Humber was reached, CODRINGTON and GRIFFIN were detached. The group safely arrived at Rosyth on the 18th, escort DDs GRAFTON and GALLANT. JULES VERNE and subs CIRCE and THETIS departed Rosyth 25 may for Dundee. They were joined at sea by sub CALYPSO and safely arrived at Dundee later the same day.

Subs H.49 and H.50 departed Dover with British trawler WARRIOR II for Portsmouth. On 18 May, after being delayed by fog, submarines H.28 and H.44 departed Dover escorted by British trawler WARRIOR II for Portsmouth, where they arrived on the 19th.
At Harwich after the departure of SubFlot 3, 5 H.class subs were brought from Portland for anti-invasion duties. These subs were H.31 and H.32, which were refitting at Sheerness, H.33, H.34, H.43. In addition, L. 27 was also attached to the Flotilla after completion of a refit at Portsmouth. DDs IVANHOE, ESK, EXPRESS of DesFlot 20 departed Immingham on the 15th and laid mines off Hook of Holland in Operation CBX 3. On 26 July, three DKM MSWs were lost on this minefield. DD INTREPID, departed Immingham to lay mines off Egmond in Operation CBX 2, an extension of the CBX minefield. DD WESTMINSTER arrived at Dover on the 15th to reprovision. Later that night however, the DD struck a wreck in the Dunkirk west channel approaches. She was considerably damaged, but sustained no casualties. WESTMINSTER was towed into Dunkirk and drydocked there on the 16th. On 20 May, tug LADY BRASSEY towed WESTMINSTER to Dover escort DD WOLSEY. Off Dover, WESTMINSTER was able to proceed on her own at 9 knots to Portsmouth where she was under until 7 July.

MSW ELGIN was damaged in a collision with the Grimsby Royal Dock,and was under repair until 8 June. Steamer BRABO (Belg 3699 grt) was damaged by the LW in the River Scheldt as was steamer PRINSES IRENE (Ne 400 grt). Dutch steamer TEXELSTROOM arrived at Dover with 268 German PoWs, the Dutch guard, and 31 refugees. Dutch steamer INSPECTOR GENERAL TWENT arrived at Dover with 50 of the Ijmuiden XD demolition party.

Northern Waters
CLA CARLISLE cleared Scapa for Devonport. DD SOMALI and Fr DD FOUDROYANT, returning from Mo, received the report of troopship CHROBRY's bombing and heavy damage. En route to assist, these DDs came under heavy attack from Ju87s and SOMALI was badly damaged by a near miss with her forward compartments flooded. SOMALI was escorted to Scapa by FOUDROYANT, screened by CLA CURLEW. Tug BRIGAND departed Lerwick on the 15th, but she was ordered to return that evening when it was found the CHOBRY could not be saved. CLA CURLEW arrived and Scapa on the 17th and the two DDs arrived at Scapa Flow a few hours later on the 18th. SOMALI was under repair at Liverpool until 1 September 1940. FOUDROYANT arrived at Scapa refuelled and proceeded to the Clyde escorting Fr tkr TARN as she did. DD FURY, after escorting the damaged KELLY departed the Tyne for Leith to escort troopship ORION to Pentland Firth. FURY and the troopship departed Leith on the 15th. DD MASHONA departed Scapa on the 16th to escort ORION, arriving at Greenock on the 17th after escorting ORION to 13W. DD ZULU, which had evacuated 150 allied troops from Mo, arrived in the Clyde after having been relieved by DD ACASTA in the damaged CL PENELOPEs screen. Later that evening ZULU received orders to remain at Greenock for escort duties.

DD BEDOUIN departed Scapa on the 14th for repairs in the Clyde, arriving on the 15th. A Swordfish of 816 Squadron ditched in Ofotfjord after receiving damage whilst attacking German seaplanes at Lake Hartvig, near Bjervik. The crew were picked up safe. 9 Skuas of 806 Squadron with 3 Blenheims of 254 Squadron as escort departed Hatston to raid Bergen, but were forced to return owing to fog. Sub PORPOISE laid minefield FD.11. ASW trawlers CAPE WARWICK and CAPE PORTLAND departed Scapa escorting oiler British GENERAL for Liverpool and Norwegian oiler EGERO for Trinidad as far as Cape Wrath. DD ILEX, departed Narvik on the 10th, was ordered on the 15th to proceed directly to Plymouth.

FN.172 departed Southend, escort DDs WALLACE, VIMY, WINDSOR. MLs TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER traveled in this convoy. On arrival off the Tyne, DDs VIVIEN and VALOROUS escorted the MLs to Rosyth. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 17th. FS.171 departed the Tyne, escort sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.

SW Approaches
HG.30 of 27 ships cleared Gib escort DD KEPPEL which escorted the convoy from 15 to 17 May. Ocean escort was Sloop DEPTFORD from 15 to 25 May. DD WHITEHALL escorted the convoy in Home Waters from 22 to 25 May, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

UK-France
Fr troopships DEGRASSE and COLOMBIE departed the Clyde for Brest.

Med- Biscay
Sub RORQUAL, following repairs at Singapore, departed Singapore on 28 April, Colombo on the 3rd, Aden on the 10th arriving at Suez on the 15th. Sub RORQUAL arrived at Alexandria on the 16th, departing on the 20th, arrived at Malta on the 22nd for duty with the Med Flt. Fr DDs VERDUN, VALMY, GUÉPARD, ALBATROS, VAUTOUR, departed Brest on the 13th, passed Gib en route to Toulon, arriving on the 17th.

Indian Ocean
RAN CL HOBART covered the disembarkation of the 2nd King's African Rifles at Berbera from 15 to 17 May.

 

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15 May 1940 _RAF Air Operations
(Unfinished)
1 Sqn
2 Hurris (L1681 L1943)are lost whilst engaging enemy formations. 8 enemy a/c are claimed in this clash, 4 are confirmed post war. Both RAF pilots are recovered safe

3 Sqn
Flt Lt M M. Carter, in L2534, Shot and KIA down by a Me110 of II/ZG76 near Vouziers.
S/L Pat Gifford, DFC – In L1610 Made a forced landing near Wevelghem. Pilot safe, A/C salvaged Returned to unit.
P/O N D. Hallifax, PoW L2422 Shot down by Me110 of II/ZG76 near Zeebrugge.

12 Sqn (Battle)
Airborne 1016 from Echemines to bomb targets at various locations. Attacked by 6 Me109s near St-Fergeux (Ardennes), 12 km WNW of Rethel, , and crashed into a wood, possibly some distance from where the attack took place. P/O McElligott died from his wounds. LAC Burgess claims to have destroyed a Me109, despite serious wounds to his arms and legs.

No 13 (Lysander)
P/O AC. Ollerenshaw, (NZ) (Air Gnr.) CF Lucas, A/C L4813 Crashed at 10.00 hrs in Bierbeek, near Louvain. Exact cause unknown, but possibly shot down by Oberlt Fronhöfer of 9./JG26

15, 607, 615, 40, 242 Sqn
On 15 May Sqn Ldr Lance Smith of 607 (Hurri) Sqn led 11 Hurris in escort of a dozen Blenheims (3 of 15 Sqn and 9 of 40 Sqn), which were to bomb the bridges over the Meuse in the Dinant-Celles area.Before reaching the target they encountered Bf110Cs plus Bf109s from Stab III/JG 53 at 11,000 feet. In the ensuing combat Sqn Ldr JR Kayall of 615 Squadron claimed 2 Bf110s while F/O H. N. Fowler claimed a probable Bf109 before being shot down himself (he parachuted safely but was later taken PoW). 607 Sqn claimed 2 Bf109s shot down, one by Whitty, who reported seeing the pilot bale out of the aircraft he attacked, and the other by newly attached P/O Grassick of 242 Sqn's B Flight. Sqn Ldr Smith was KIA. 3 Hurris were claimed by III/JG 53 and were credited to Hauptmann Werner Mölders, Oberleutnant Heinz Wittenberg and Leutnant Georg Claus, while 2 of the Blens (1 from 15 sqn) were shot down by Bf109s of 1/JG 3 encountered when NW of Charleroi.

26 sqn (Lysander)
Tactical recon Plane lost, crew unhurt

44 sqn (Hampden) F/O LJ. Ashfield, KIA, P/O CD. Crawley,KIA, Obs Sgt FW. McKinlay,KIA, Cpl (W. Op./Air Gnr.) F Preston, KIA; A/C P4286 Lost Airborne from Waddington. Crashed at Oosterhout (Noord-Brabant), 8 km NE of Breda, Holland.

49 Sqn (Hampden), 115 sqn (Wellington)
In the first large-scale BC attack on German industrial targets, 99 a/c bomb 16 targets in the Ruhr area. This raid effectively marks the start of the Bomber Offensive against Germany. No a/c are lost to enemy action, however, a Wellington of No.115 Sqn is blown off course and crashes into high ground near Rouen in France and the 5 aircrew aboard are killed.

53 sqn (Blen)
Recon 1 a/c lost, 3 a/c damaged, 2 KIA, 1 MIA , 1 a/c slightly damaged, 1 a/c brought down by friendly fire from 504 (Hurri), another damaged in FF incident from 73 sqn, one a/c damaged from fire by Me 110.

59 sqn (Blen)
1 Plane lost, 1 KIA, unknown cause or mission details

73 sqn (Hurri)
2 Planes lost, 1 WIA, On a sortie S/L J.W.C. More and F/Lt Scoular shared in the destruction of He111 A1+LK of 2/KG53 which crashed Grandpré, SE of Vouziers. The pilot Oberleutant Walter Klue and one other were killed, while the remaining 3 members of the crew were captured. The 2 allied losses occur in subsequent engagements with enemy interceptors, as 73 sqn returns low on ammo and fuel. Unable to engage properly both a/c are lost when the pilots bale out following damage in combat with pursuing Me-110's of ZG2, west of Vouzières

103 sqn (Battle)
Evac order
3 hrs notice received to evacuate Betheneville. Sqn equipment had been loaded during 15th May in preparation for evac. The main party left at 0130 hours. All serviceable Battle and Hurri a/c took off at first light. Difficulty experienced with transport and the evac of Ftr Sqn personnel who were without sufficient vehicles. In view of the uncertainty of the rapidity and extent of enemy the advance, all sqn personnel who could not be evacuated were held in readiness to withdraw across country on foot. Surplus personnel of the ftr sqn were ordered to rendezvous on the West side of the river Suippe as the enemy were constantly attempting to bomb the bridge across the river, and it was considered that mechanical transport should stop on that side to prevent being cut off.

105 sqn (Battle)
2 of the Battle sqns—Nos. 105 and 208—had only 4 a/c left between them; these and the surviving crews were transferred to the other Battle sqns.

 

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15th May - The BEF

Having successfully established a bridgehead across the Meuse at several points, the Panzers pressed on. Both 5th and 7th Pz XXs made contact with the tanks of 1DCR in the afternoon of 15 May. The French tanks had at last located their fuel tankers and rather slowly were in the process of refueling. The Char B tanks were short of fuel and reduced to the role of static pillboxes. By sunset, the French had lost 108 tanks to the more agile and better supported Panzer formations. Another 30 or so of the surviving 50 tanks were lost during the night retreat as tanks ran out of fuel or broke down. The next day, the few remaining French tanks were finished off by Rommel at Avesnes. Whilst there were other factors contributing to the destruction of this key allied formation, overwhelmingly it was the very poor command and control and sluggish response times of the French command that caused its loss. This was a critical loss for the allies

The Battle Of Gembloux - The French show some potential
The resistance of the cavalry corps (2e DLM and 3e DLM) from 12th to 14th May 1940 allowed the deployment of the 1e DM (Division Marocaine = Moroccan infantry division - General Mellier) and the 15e DIM (Division d'Infanterie Motorisée = motorized infantry division - General Juin) around Gembloux, on a front of 12 km. Note that during this battle each division had to defend a 5-7 km front as intended for a French infantry division instead of 20-30 km for the infantry divisions around Sedan. The tanks of the cavalry corps were still involved on the beginning of 14th May and the artillery of the cavalry corps reinforced the French units at Gembloux. In Gembloux, the French infantry/artillery couple will face with success the German Panzer/Luftwaffe couple of the so-called "Blitzkrieg

In detail, Hoepner had decided to throw his tanks with available artillery and air spt at a solid French defence rather than wait another day to bring up his 2 Inf XXs for a more powerful effort. Encouraged by his superiors to attack before the enemy could further prepare himself, he decided at about 20:00 on 14 May not to wait. 6A intel continued to insist that the Allies were retreating, ordering XVI Corps to pursue and claiming that German tanks were already west of Gembloux (which was false). Nonetheless, at 22:45 the corps ordered an assault by 3rd and 4th Pz XXs for 08:00 of 15 May with the railroad line on both sides of Tilly, well beyond the French defences at Gembloux, as the first objective. FK VIII with the artillery available would support an assault on both sides of Ernage on a front of less than 6 km . Engineer units were to repair the blown bridges and crossroads left behind by the Allies, these demolitions were intended to disrupt logistics but were inneffective.

4th Rifle Brigade of 4PzXX began to deploy 3 bns in line from Gembloux to Ernage, echeloned back on their left flank. In addition to air spt, one artillery regiment would fire a 30-minute preparation on the French main position, then fire smoke shell to blanket Gembloux, following which, both his artillery regts and a hvy bn would concentrate on counterbattery fire and areas impenetrable to armour. 88 mm AA guns would neutralize enemy bunkers (of which, however, there were none). As the infantry crossed the railroad line they were to fire white starshell. At this signal, 5th Pz Bde would break cover and charge the French position together with the riflemen. Pursuit in the direction of Nivelles would follow. Stumpff's plan for 3rd Pz XX is less clear. He too put his infantry ahead of the tanks with Stuka and artillery spt, ordering a few tank units to support the infantry. His first objective was to reach two hills west of the line Chastre-Noirmont. The mass of the German armour would wait in reserve to deal with enemy armour or to exploit the breakthrough.

To the Pz Divs'​ right, the German IV Korps was to engage in bitter fighting in the morning of 15 May and at 09:20 hours warned its divs that a "decisive battle" was developing on the Dyle. The corps ordered a concentrated effort in the Ottignies area at the boundary between 7th and 18th Infantry Divisions. An exploitation group would follow up the expected breakthrough. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe reinforced Luftflotte 2, by now depleted in many units to 30-50% of strength, with Fliegerkorps I from Luftflotte 3. In effect, the high command gave priority to 6A in its effort to defeat the Allied corps de bataille.

On the front of the 15e DIM, all the Germans movements are immediately blocked by powerful infantry and artillery fire. In several areas, the railroad offered no AT obstacle, especially in the sector hold by the 134e RI. The Pz.Rgt.36 tries to infiltrate in this weak point but it is defeated by well established fire plans and a perfect coordination between the colonel commanding the infantry regiment and the supporting artillery. The French fight bitterly for the position, and the german advance is checked with heavy losses to both sides. It is a graphic illustration of the French Army's potential had it been better used and more realistically deployed. Several German tanks are also neutralized by AT mines. Finally about 15 German tanks are destroyed and the attack is pulled back. Additional Ger tanks attacking the 4e RI near Beuzet are also destroyed by 25mm and 47mm AT guns.

That night and after their failure, the German troops retreat to Les Cinq Etoiles and the Buy woods. The 1e DM stood the assault of roughly 1.5 Pz Divs and fought bitterly before leaving part of the ground. The French 1st Army on this day has manged to check the Panzers and the backbone of the French front didn't collapse despite all the German supports and repeated heavy assaults. The French lines were never pierced. During 2 days, the LW tried without success to neutralize the French artillery. On 15th May night in the Gembloux gap, the German troops retreat to escape the enemy to their front and the French troops retreat to escape the enemy to their right rear. Gembloux exposes some of the weaknesses of the new German techniques. The French are able to control the battle and bring superior firepower to bear, something they excel at, despite the overwhelming air superiority enjoyed by the enemy.

During the battle of Gembloux the losses are heavy on both sides. Losses include :
• On the French side, the I/2e RTM is reduced to 74 men out of 700 men initially and the III/2e RTM has lost 35% of its strength. The I/7e RTM is reduced to 80 men and the II/7e RTM is reduced to 150 men. From the 40 Renault R35 tanks engaged by the 35e BCC only 6 seem to be fully operational after the battle.
• On the German side the Schtz.Rgt.12 (4.PzD) has lost 30% of its officers. The I./Schtz.Rgt.12 is virtually wiped out and is reduced to 4 officers and 31 men from an initial manpower that exceeding 900 men. The Schtz.Rgt.3 (3.PzD) has lost 15 officers and 184 men. The Pz.Jg.Abt.654 attached to 4.PzD has only 2 AT guns left from an initial strength of 12AT guns. The Pz.Rgt.35 has lost 50% of its tanks.

At Hannut some 164 German tanks were knocked out and in Gembloux the French artillery indirect fire alone destroyed about 50 German tanks, including 32 tanks in the Pz.Rgt.35. On 15th May evening, the 4.PzD had only 137 operational available tanks left (including only 4 Panzer IV) from the initial 331 tanks. 194 tanks were damaged on the 15th alone, under recovery/repair or destroyed after the battle . Only 41 % of the tanks were operational on the morning of the 16th. This makes what transpired in the following days even more incredible

By the morning of 16 May 4.Pz XX had about 55% operational tanks = 185 available tanks. Therefore 45 extra operational tanks than on 15th May. But 149 tanks remained unavailable; this number is including destroyed tanks and tanks in the repair workshops. It explains in large measure the controversial halt order
• the 3.PzD had 75% operational tanks. Therefore about 85 tanks are still destroyed or in the repair workshops one day after the battles.

On 16 May 234 tanks (35% of the tanks) were non-operational, including an unknown number of definitively destroyed tanks. The Germans repaired more of their tanks during the following days.

After the battle of Gembloux, Hoepner estimated that he was unable to continue efficiently the combats the next day. Many tanks were not operational anymore and the artillery lacked ammunition. The hvy guns had to await their supplies from Maastricht in the Netherlands, all the other dumps were empty. A renewed attack against the Gembloux gap is at first planned but it in any case it could not have been launched before 17th May and it was hopeless to think to pierce the French lines quickly, the "Blitkrieg" was stopped in that area. Hoepner's troops are so exhausted that they cannot exploit the retreat of the French 1st Army on 16th to 18th May 1940.

The assault of 2 Pz XX supported by 2 Inf XXs had been stopped on an improvised line by 2 Fr Inf XXs. Hoepner had been ordered to pierce the French line in Gembloux, but put bluntly, he failed. The battle of Gembloux should considered a Fr Pyrrhic victory but it is only short-lived, and inevitably swamped by the larger events occurring around it (the German achieved a breakthrough around Sedan during the same time was far more significant) and the human cost is very high. On 15th May evening, the Fr 1A, although undefeated, is ordered to move back due to the collapse of the Fr 9A on the Meuse River. This situation endangers greatly the rear right flank of the 1A. The Fr troops will move back and deploy between Arras, Valenciennes and Tournai.

View attachment 292527

PzIV destroyed at Gembloux and fr 25mm ATG (Right)

 

[Njaco]

May 15 Wednesday
WESTERN FRONT: British, Belgian and French troops believe they face bulk of the German army (it is, in fact, Bock's Heeresgruppe B) on a line from the Channel coast in Zealand, Holland, South to Sedan on the French/Luxembourg border. Meanwhile, the Panzers of Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe A prepare to spring the trap. The German Army begins a large attack across a 60-mile front of the River Meuse from Namur to Sedan. The Army succeeds in crossing the Meuse in three places. Reinhardt gets his 2 Panzer divisions across the Meuse at Monthermé, Guderian begins to break out from Sedan and Rommel advances 40km West from Dinant to Cerfontaine. German forces attack an Irish regiment holding a railroad station on the eastern edge of Louvain, successfully taking the position. General Bilotte, commanding the French 1st Army Group, decides to abandon the Dyle line in the face of Reichenau's attacks. His superior, General Georges, concurs with the decision and is now in fact beginning to lose his nerve. At this stage Gamelin, the Supreme Commander, remains oblivious and confident. The German tank forces push forward, urged on all the time by their commanders who are up with the leaders and in complete control of the situation. Their momentum is maintained by this leadership. The optimistic atmosphere at French GHQ is partly dispelled by the news that Guderian's tanks have reached Montcornet less than 15 miles from Laon. Guderian is ordered to halt here but after vigorous complaints he is allowed another day's march.

THE BATTLE OF GEMBLOUX: In the aftermath of the Battle of Hannut, some 35 km (22 mi) to the northeast, the town of Gembloux represented the last major prepared defensive position for the French on the Belgian front after the withdrawal from Hannut. 6.Armee intelligence continued to insist that the Allies were retreating, ordering XVI Corps to pursue and claiming that German tanks were already west of Gembloux (which was false). General Hoepner had decided to throw his tanks with available artillery and air support at a solid French defense rather than wait another day to bring up his two infantry divisions for a more powerful effort. At 0800 hours 3rd and 4th Panzerdivisions were to attack the railroad line on both sides of Tilly, well beyond the French defenses at Gembloux. Fliegerkorps VIII with the artillery available would support an assault on both sides of Ernage on a front of less than 6 km (3.7 mi). Stever of 4.Panzerdivision ordered his 4.Schützenbrigade to deploy three battalions in line from Gembloux to Ernage. As the infantry crossed the railroad line they were to fire white starshell. At this signal, 5.Panzer-Brigade would break cover and charge the French position together with the riflemen. Pursuit in the direction of Nivelles would follow. Stumpff's plan for 3.Panzerdivision is less clear. His first objective was to reach two hills west of the line Chastre-Noirmont.

At 0800 hours, the infantry of 4.Panzerdivision advanced undisturbed by enemy shelling. At 0810 hours, riflemen fired white starshell indicating that they had crossed the railroad line, but at 0820 hours French artillery engaged the incursion, and as the German tanks drove forward, they were pinned down. At 0930 hours, 36.PanzerRegiment was suffering heavy losses standing before an anti-tank obstacle, 35.PanzerRegiment similarly at 0945 hours. When 5.Panzer-Brigade headquarters asked why the infantry was not advancing, they were told "attack hopeless". By 1000 hours, II Battalion of the German 12.Schützen-Regiment had a company on the railroad line at Gembloux, but the advance was slow and costly and had halted by 1100 hours. Radio contact with 5.Panzer-Brigade was lost and the tanks were milling around and being picked off one by one. Meanwhile, infantry of 3.Panzerdivision attacked from Walhain-St.Paul against Perbais at 0915 hours, but they too were stuck fast by 1100 hours. By 1118 hours, the weight of French shelling on approach routes and installations drove the corps artillery commander to conclude that holding gains made and bringing in reinforcements were "gravely threatened". When the tanks finally began to fall back, the I. Battalion of the 12.Schützen-Regiment also withdrew, contrary to orders, forcing staff officers to turn out to stem the retreat. An attempt by 36.PanzerRegiment to exploit a gap in the railroad embankment near Lonzee against the 15th DIM broke down immediately under French fire. The 4.Panzerdivision was halted.

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[Njaco]

May 15 Wednesday (continued)
Since 3.Panzerdivision withheld its tank brigade, its battle went rather differently. At dawn, Third Battalion, the 3.Schützen-Regiment was to the northeast of Ernage, but its I and II Battalions (to the north and northwest of Ernage respectively) had moved too far to their right during the night, opening a gap of 1–2 km (0.6–1.2 mi) between 3. and 4.Panzerdivisions which should have abutted near Ernage. Thus, 3.Panzerdivision found itself engaged more against the French 110th Infantry Regiment (of the 1st DIM) at Perbais than intended. The I Battalion of the 3.Schützen-Regiment attacked the northern edge of the village, but the attack broke down under infantry fire. At 0800 hours, after further air and artillery preparation, II Battalion advanced toward Perbais and failed in turn. The commanders of the two battalions met to concert their efforts, while III battalion west of Baudeset received orders to close the gap between 3. and 4.Panzerdivisions. In a second effort, I and II Battalions renewed their advance with the support of 75.Artillerie-Regiment and took Perbais despite heavy loss and advanced to the railroad line. A few tanks came up to support them, and the situation began to look more promising. General Hoepner arranged for a new Stuka attack for 1200 hours and ordered his divisions to exploit it to break through the enemy position. But the French fire did not let up, and at 1230 hours Oberstleutnant Eberbach commanding the 35.PanzerRegiment refused to renew the attack, having lost half his tanks including his own. Stever came up to the headquarters of 33.Schützen-Regiment to urge on the attack, and was hit by a French shell and evacuated. Breith, commanding 5.Panzer-Brigade, was out of contact, so command devolved on Oberst von Boyneburg commanding 4.Schützenbrigade. At about 1400 hours, Hoepner passed on the order to stop the offensive, but he did not halt the effort of 3.Panzerdivision in the Ernage area. He began planning a new attack with the addition of 35. and 20.Infanterie-Divisionen. 6.Armee refused XVI Corps's request to renew the attack the next morning in favor of an set-piece attack by the whole army, which could not begin before 17 May. At 1500 hours, 4.Panzerdivision reported to XVI Corps that the Panzer Brigade staff was stuck on the railroad line. The 4.Schützenbrigade also had suffered heavy losses and there was no prospect of success, and it was "dubious" whether the troops could attack again on 16 May. At 1540 hours, Breith—wounded in the face by a shell fragment—turned up at division headquarters. He had spent three hours in a shellhole playing dead under heavy artillery fire. Stever was convinced a renewed attack on 16 May would not be possible. At 2000 hours, XVI Corps notified 4.Panzerdivision that the attack would be renewed only on 17 May, without 4.Panzerdivision.

The situation of 3.Panzerdivision was different. It had committed only a fraction of its tanks, and one of its three rifle battalions had not yet been heavily engaged. During the afternoon 3.Panzerdivision was troubled by reports from the neighboring 18t.Infanterie-Division of French armored counterattacks toward the division's right flank. At 1300 hours, 88 mm Flak and tanks of 5.PanzerRegiment moved to the Perbais area to ward off this threat. At 1648 hours, 3.Panzer-Brigade reported effective enemy artillery fire. At 1800 hours, units of 3.Schützenbrigade began withdrawing from Perbais. The 3.Panzer-Brigade ordered tanks forward to stem the retreat, but at 1820 hours the 3.Panzer-Brigade reported breaking through the anti-tank obstacle northwest of Ernage under heavy fire and Panzer Brigade called for artillery support. At almost the same instant, the 18th Infantry Division reported enemy armour attacking on both sides of Corbais. At 2000 hours, a captured enemy map arrived, showing the French dispositions. The intelligence officer of 3.Panzerdivision concluded that the situation was ripe for an attempt to break through. He travelled to corps headquarters to propose this but, as noted above, the proposal contradicted orders from 6.Armee and was dropped. Most of the tanks spent the day on standby around Orbais. Hoepner finally ordered the forward units of 3.Panzerdivision to hold their positions. In the meantime, however, almost the whole of 3.Schützen-Regiment and its supporting tanks pulled back. Its I and II Battalions were exhausted and had not been resupplied for 36 hours. The opportunity to break through the French defenses, if it ever really existed, was lost. The Battle of Gembloux ended with the Germans losing about 250 tanks, which was the equivalent of an entire armored division. The weakened French forces, however, were unable to hold the line despite their effective 75mm artillery and 25mm anti-tank guns. They fell back toward the Belgian-French border.

French Premier Paul Reynaud phones British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, telling him;

"We have been defeated; we have lost the battle".

He asks for all the troops and planes he can send. Churchill decides to go himself to assess the situation. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill tells US President Franklin Roosevelt;

"I think myself the battle on land has only just begun."

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[Njaco]

May 15 Wednesday (continued)
German army general headquarters issues a statement indicating that aerial reconnaissance has shown Brussels to be allowing troops to pass through, in contravention of a declaration of being an open city. The Allies are warned to cease this action, or Brussels would be subject to military action. French General Maurice-Gustave Gamelin orders a retreat of Allied forces in Belgium to the River Escaut, abandoning all central and eastern Belgium, including Antwerp and Brussels.

Forced by the destruction of Rotterdam, Holland surrenders to German forces. In Rijsoord, a suburb village of Rotterdam, Netherlands, Commander in Chief of Netherlands land and sea forces General Henri Winkelman signs formal capitulation of Netherlands armed forces to Germany. By the end of the campaign in the Netherlands, the Luftwaffe has lost 167 Junker Ju 52 transport aircraft totally destroyed including nearly ninety per cent of the strength of KGzbV 2 during the landings near The Hague. The real tragedy is that the instructors from the Luftwaffe Training schools who flew these aircraft are a loss that the Luftwaffe cannot easily replace.

At 1000 hours, Lt. Klaus of JG 53 shoots down a British Hurricane near the Maas while Hptm. Mölders, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 53 adds another Hurricane to his score.

A Ju 88A-1 of 3(F)./122 was badly damaged in attacks by Blue Section of No.19 Squadron during a reconnaissance sortie 30km off Great Yarmouth and ditched in the Waddenzee, east of Terschelling. One crewmember drowned and the rest of the crew were picked up by the 'Bavaria'.

GERMANY: The British War Cabinet decided to attack the German oil industry, communications centers, and forests and crops; attacks on industrial areas were to focus on the Ruhr region. Also, due to the costly daylight bombings, attacks were to be launched at nights. On the same day these directives were issued, the RAF began attacking industrial targets in the Ruhr, with 96 Wellington, Whitley, and Hampden bombers attacking industrial targets east of the Rhine river, this being the first of the RAF night raids against Germany. The decision to begin bombing civilian property outside of combat zones was the direct result of the German bombing of Rotterdam on the previous day. Only one plane is lost.

NORTH AMERICA: President Franklin Roosevelt shifts the US Pacific Fleet from California to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

UNITED KINGDOM: British butter ration was reduced from 8 ounces to 4 ounces per person per week.

Winston Churchill sent a message to Franklin Roosevelt, asking for 40 to 50 destroyers, hundreds of fighters, anti-aircraft guns, steel, among other war-related materials, signing himself as Former Naval Person. He also asked the US President to order a visit by US Navy warships to Ireland as a show of force. In regards to the situation in the Pacific Ocean, he requests Roosevelt to intimidate the Japanese, offering the Americans the use of Singapore if deemed necessary.

At a British cabinet meeting attended by Winston Churchill, Archibald Sinclair, Lord Beaverbrook, and Cyril Newall, Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding argued the case for expanding the strength of RAF Fighter Command to 52 squadrons for the immediate air defense of Britain. Despite his insistence that no more squadrons should be sent to France orders were still given to send four more squadrons to France.

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[parsifal]

16 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type 1935 TB T-11

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

The percussion pistol on the captured British submarine SEAL has proved to be a very sound, efficient device. Commanding
Admiral, Submarines considers the introduction of this pistol for our torpedoes, as planned by the Torpedo Inspectorate, to
be urgent in order finally to eliminate the difficulties of our own percussion firing. Speed is essential. Commanding Admiral, Submarines is 'therefore willing to forego the adjustability of the safety range and firing safety of the torpedo warhead (position of the initial charge)......(narrative ends....)

The British have detained six Italian tankers in Gibraltar and taken them to Marseilles, where they are to be held after discharging theri 'cargo. By order of the Duco, six British tankers, unfortunately empty, have been held in Italian harbors and brought to Tar anto. According to an intelligence report, British vessels still lying in Italian harbors are making haste to put to sea; Italian vessels are delaying passages across the Atlantic, The Italian naval authorities are commandeering a great number of tugs, lighters and coastal steamers.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 122 sailed from Kiel.

Departures
Kiel: U-122
Wilhelmshaven: U-9

At Sea 16 May 1940
U-7, U-9, U-37, U-43, U-122.
5 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
DKM CL KOLN and escort ship GRILLE departed Wilhelmshaven for ML ops in Fisher Bank escort DDs BEITZEN, SCHOEMANN, HEINEMANN and TBs KONDOR and GREIF. The minefield was successfully laid and the ships returned to Wilhelmshaven on the 18th.
A second field was laid by this force a few days later.

North Sea
ORP DD BLYSKAWICA departed Scapa for Harwich for duty under CinC, Nore. DD ATHERSTONE carried out a DC attack at Nth Rona, but this was later determined to be non submarine. Sub SEALION arrived at Harwich after patrol. Fr subs ANTIOPE, SYBILLE, CIRCE, THETIS departed Harwich on patrol in the Nth Sea. Subs ANTIOPE and SYBILLE relieved Submarine SEAWOLF and Fr sub AMAZONE on patrol on stations. Submarine PORPOISE laid minefield FD.11 off Hovden Island. OA.149 departed Southend escorted by corvette GLADIOLUS.

Northern Waters
BB RESOLUTION, was hit by a bomb whilst anchored at Tjeldsundet. The bomb pierced the starboard side of the quarterdeck and penetrated three decks before exploding. 2 crew were killed or died of wounds and 26 others were wounded. One crewman from DD VANSITTART was also wounded. A floatplane Swordfish of 700 Squadron from RESOLUTION was also damaged on the 16th. The a/c was shipped back to the UK by steamer BLACKHEATH. RESOLUTION, escorted by DDs VANSITTART and WREN departed Vestfjord on the 18th. DD FORTUNE departed Scapa on the20th and joined the British ships at sea. All 4 ships arrived at Scapa without incident on the 21st. RESOLUTION was repaired by 4 June when she sailed for Gibraltar. DD VANSITTART departed Scapa on the 24th and went on to the Tyne. She arrived on the 26th for repairs completed on 22 June.

Sloop FLEETWOOD was bombed in the same attack as the RESOLUTION. Splinters from a near miss mortally wounded one officer.
Tkr BROOMDALE also sustained some damage from bombing. A Skua of the 803 Squadron were shot down in Rombaksfjord, with both crew picked up by DD MATABELE. MATABELE was ordered to relieve DD FAME at Narvik, which was then assigned to patrol in the Hol area. Fame was relieved several days later by DD ECHO, and reprovisioned and refueled at Skaanland. DD BRAZEN was assigned to "E" patrol, whilst DD HAVELOCK proceeded to Skaanland for ammunition, then on to Baroy. DD WREN arrived at Harstad to refuel and take on provisions.

DD SIKH arrived for boiler cleaning at Scapa. Sub TRUANT departed Rosyth for Harstad where she operated with Norwegian subs B.1 and B.3. DD WARWICK remained at Harstad. DD VANSITTART was available to return to England when relieved by DD WHIRLWIND. DD ESKIMO had been towed to Skaanland from Skelfjord. Her temporary repairs were delayed until the arrival of further welding gear and supplies.

9 Skuas of 806 Squadron from Hatston, escorted 3 Blenheims LR fighters of 254 Squadron, attacked Bergen. No a/c were lost. Light damage was confined to the fuel tanks at Kaarven, Florgasaaspynt, Strudshavn.

West Coast UK
OB.149 departed Liverpool escort DD MACKAY from 16 to 19 May when the DD detached to the inbound HX.41.

SW Approaches
OG.30F was formed from OA.148GF, which departed Southend on the 14th with sloop SCARBOROUGH and corvette PERIWINKLE; and OB.148GF, which departed Liverpool with sloops LIETH and ENCHANTRESS on the 14th. OG.30F was assigned 44 ships. Sloops LEITH and ENCHANTRESS escorted the convoy from 16 to 18 May and were then detached to the inbound HG.30F. Corvette PERIWINKLE was in the convoy escort on the 16th. Sloop SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 16 to 21 May. The convoy arrived at Gib on the 22nd.

Channel
DD VERITY departed Dover in the morning to relieve WHITSHED on North Goodwin Patrol. When relieved WHITSHED proceeded to Ostend, arriving at 1230. WHITSHED and VENOMOUS with British steamer MONA'S QUEEN (2756grt) and Belgian steamer PRINCE LEOPOLD (2938grt) arrived at Ostend at 1230 to evacuate troops. Both steamers ran aground. They were towed off by WHITSHED which also ran aground but was able to get off herself. The steamers proceeded to Folkestone. The DDs arrived at Dover late in the evening. CLs ARETHUSA and GALATEA departed Sheerness for Portsmouth due to air threat of remaining at Sheerness. Fr DDs CYCLONE and SIROCCO arrived at Dover at noon. The Fr DDs departed Dover that evening with Prince Bernhard on his way to join the Dutch army at Zeeland. Fr DDs FOUGUEUX and ADRIOT operating off Hook of Holland attacked a submarine contact. Dutch MLs NAUTILUS and JAN VAN BRAKEL, armed yacht DE MOK, armed tug AMSTERDAM, seagoing TBs Z.5, Z.8, G.13, G.15 passed Dover en route to Portsmouth. Dutch seagoing TBs Z.6 and Z.7 departed Dover for Ramsgate. Brit steamer KINGSBURY in convoy OA.149 was machine gunned by German bombers eight miles 300° from Royal Sovereign Light Vessel (Sussex). One crewman was killed and one crewman was wounded.

UK-France
Fr convoy FR.1 of Fr troopships KOUTOUBIA, EXPLORATEUR GRANDIDIER, COMPIEGNE and CHANTILLY departed the Clyde for Brest escort Fr DD EPERVIER and PVs JASON and GLEANER. The PVs vessels were relieved west of the Skerries by DDs WAKEFUL and VANQUISHER. On 17 May, EXPLORATEUR GRANDIDIER was in a collision with Brit steamer ST KEARAN, fell out of convoy, but was able to continue. DD VANQUISHER was ordered to escort EXPLORATEUR GRANDIDIER to Brest. The convoy arrived safely at Brest, escorted by EPERVIER. BC.38 of 6 steamers departed Bristol Channel escort DD MONTROSE and armed yacht ZAZA. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 18th. AXF.5, escort DD WHITEHALL, departed Southampton for St Malo. AXS.13 of 1 steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

 

[parsifal]

16 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Nth Atlantic
HX.43 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs RESTIGOUCHE and SKEENA, which were detached on the 17th. BHX.43 departed Bermuda on the 15th escort sloop PENZANCE and ocean escort AMC COMORIN. The convoy joined convoy HX.43 on the 21st where the AMC was detached. CL EMERALD was the ocean escort for this convoy from that point, not being detached until the 27th. Sloop SANDWICH and corvette CLARKIA joined the convoy on the 27th for the inbound leg in home waters. The sloop was detached on the 30th. The corvette escorted the convoy to 31 May, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Central Atlantic
In exercises from CVL HERMES near Freetown, a swordfish from 814 sqn crash landed killing its crew. A 2nd Swordfish of 814 Sqn was lost that day crashing on shore. Crew were rescued in this case

Med- Biscay
DDs HAVOCK and HEREWARD departed Harwich for Plymouth and then duty in the Med Flt. DDs to reinforce the Med Flt departed Plymouth. On the 16th, sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO departed Plymouth for the Med. Sloop GRIMSBY was taken in hand on the 20th at Plymouth to repair defects, as a replacement for sloop EGRET which was in the earlier gp, but was ordered to return to Rosyth. The sloop was able to proceed independently on the 20th for Gib. On the 16th, DDs KINGSTON , KHARTOUM , KANDAHAR, NUBIAN , HYPERION , HOSTILE and HASTY departed Plymouth arriving at Gib on the 18th. On the 17th, CLA CARLISLE, DDs HERO , HAVOCK, HEREWARD, JANUS, IMPERIAL , ILEX , JUNO , KIMBERLEY and MOHAWK departed Plymouth arriving also with sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO at Gib on the 19th. DD MOHAWK required docking at Gib for to make good damage sustained by LW attacks sustained earlier in the Nth Sea. On 19 May, DDs HYPERION, HOSTILE, HASTY, NUBIAN, KINGSTON, KANDAHAR, KHARTOUM departed Gib in company for Malta. The two sloops departed Gib for Malta on the 19th. The two gps arrived at Malta on the 21st.
DDs JANUS, KIMBERLEY, JUNO, ILEX departed Gib for Malta on the 20th. On 20 May, CLA CARLISLE and DDs HEREWARD, HAVOCK, IMPERIAL arrived at Gib and departed that day for Malta as well, travelling separately to the other gps. Sloop GRIMSBY arrived at Gib on the 24th and departed the same day for Malta. DDs HYPERION, HASTY, NUBIAN arrived at Alexandria on the 23rd. CLA CARLISLE, DDs KHARTOUM, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, the sloops arrived at Suez on the 24th, DDs JANUS, JUNO, IMPERIAL arrived at Alex on the 24th, as did HOSTILE on the 25th, HAVOCK on the 26th, HEREWARD and HERO arrived at Alex on the 27th, destroyer ILEX arrived on the 28th, MOHAWK on the 29th.

Fr CL MONTCALM and DDs BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS departed Brest on the 16th for the Med. The cruiser passed Gib on the 19th and arrived at Oran later that day. The DDs arrived at Gib on that date and departed the next day and arrived at Oran later on the 20th. Fr Contre torpilleur DDs TARTU and CHEVALIER PAUL, which departed Brest on the 14th, passed Gib en route to Toulon, arriving on the 17th. Fr CL cruiser DUGUAY TROUIN, escort Contre Torpilleur DD GERFAUT, departed Brest. The cruiser and escort proceeded to Gib, where the escort detached and returned to Brest for other escort duties. DUGUAY TROUIN passed Gib on the 19th and arrived at Toulon on the 21st. DDs WISHART and DOUGLAS departed Gibraltar for Marseilles to act as escort for troopships, however the DDs were recalled to escort troopship ORONSAY to Malta. The three ships departed on the 17th. ORP DD GARLAND departed Malta for Alex for ops with the Med Flt.

 

[parsifal]

16 May 1940 RAF Air Operations
(UNFINISHED)
3 Sqn
S/L Pat Gifford, L2825 Shot down by Me110 from ZG 1, listed missing

4 Sqn (Lysander)
P/O Langley – unhurt LAC James H. Gillham unhurt L4814 Forced-landed badly damaged by Me 110's during artillery spotting sortie near Louvain. A/C written off.
F/O E E. Wood, missing, Cpl J. Bower - believed to be unhurt, captured. A/C P9064 DNR (Did Not Return)

9 Sqn (Wellington)
Target Gelsenkirchen A/C N3015, Airborne 2045 16 May40 from Honington. Strayed off track on return and ditched off Granville (Manche), France. The crew escaped injury and returned to Honington within a few days of the incident.

13 Sqn (Lysander)
P/O TH. Borg-Banks, (Air Gnr.) WF Lawes, H.P. Moule – injured (broken arm), A/C L 6885, Crashed near Vieux-Condé. Believed that claimed by Fw Bothfeld of 1./JG27 over La Chapelle 05.50 hrs.

53 sqn (Blen)
Reconnaissance, B/F. 3 a/c lost, 3 POW, 5 WIA 1 a/c shot down over the Albert Canal, 1 a/c lost Mainbressy, east of Rozoy. in Henegouwen / Hainaut province, Belgium. 3rd a/c damaged by AA fire from Allied troops, then attacked by 85 Sqn (Hurri) near Amiens. Crashed and burned out during emergency belly-landing at Glisy, during landing.

56 sqn (Hurri)
transfer to France , initially based about 5km outside Douai

59 sqn (Blen)
1 Plane lost crew safe, Damaged in attack by RAF Hurri and crashed at Vitry

73 Sqn (Hurri)
He111 is destroyed by F/Lt Scoular near Châlons-sur-Marne shortly before 73 Sqn is moved to Villeneuve.

75 (NZ) sqn (Wellington)
6 a/ct as part of a force of 50 bombers detailed to attack various objectives in the Ruhr and river crossings at Namur, Dinant and Givet. Again cloud rendered recognition of the targets uncertain, although the 6 Wellingtons were among the a/c which reported having made attacks.

99 sqn (Wellington)
Maastricht, NL, 6 Wellingtons from Newmarket. Hits [on the bridges?] were reported. All a/c returned safely.

103 sqn (Battle)
2/ac burnt
Evac (cont'd)
During the period midnight to 0900 hours, telephonic communication gradually ceased with the closing down of various formations and finally the sqn became isolated. A message was sent by D/R to H.Q.A.A.S.F. for extra transport, which transport arrived about 11 a.m. and final evacuation was then made possible. It was decided to leave a rear party of 10 to guard and salvage all equipment which could not be carried on the initial move and to load the sqn vehicles on their return. Biggest threat at this point was from French deserters who were angrily ransacking the airfield and drunk for the most part. A LW pilot who had bailed out from his a/c during an air battle was captured about 0600 hours on this day. He was handed over to a staff officer of H.Q. B.A.F.F. who passed through the village. An additional LW air crew, wounded and captured on 15th May, 1940, died in Sqn Sick Quarters, and was buried.

 

[parsifal]

16 May 1940 - The BEF

For the BEF, to this point with no real emergency along its own frontage, news from the French front continued to grow hourly more disquieting. If the penetration of the Meuse front led to further withdrawal of the Fr 1st Army BEF troops on the Dyle would be left in a dangerous salient on either side of Louvain. At five o'clock on the morning of the 16th Lord Gort therefore sent Major-General T. R. Eastwood to Caudry to learn Gen Billotte's intentions. There he was shown orders which the French commander was preparing to issue that day directing the withdrawal of the 1stt Army, the BEF, and the Belgian Army to the line of the Escaut. The movement was to be so carried out that on successive nights the following lines would be held:

Night of 16th/17th
Charleroi–Brussels–Willebroeck Canal (known to the British Army as the line of the Senne).

Night of 17th/18th
Maubeuge–Mons–Ath–River Dendre to Termonde—thence the line of River Escaut to Antwerp and the sea (known to the British Army as the Dendre line)

Night of 18th/19th
The frontier defences to Maulde—the line of River Escaut to Ghent—thence the canal to Terneuzen (known to the British Army as the Escaut line)

The major portion of the Fr 7th Army (on the British left) was to be moved sth. General Eastwood further ascertained from General Billotte that the brigade of the 48th Division on loan to the French First Army was to be returned at once; that it was the intention to fight during the day on the 'lines' laid down and retire at night; that there was no present intention of retiring beyond the line of the Escaut; and that General Billotte's headquarters would move to Douai that afternoon.

General Eastwood lost no time in informing Lord Gort and the latter proceeded at once to issue a warning order: the BEF would retire that night to the line Charleroi–Brussels–Willebroeck Canal, i.e. the Senne line. At 1100 that morning he held a conference at I Corps Headquarters at which he described the situation and the plan of retirement, Major-General Needham, head of the British Military Mission at Belgian Army HQs, attended the conference and left to report the decisions taken to the Belgian Command. On his way he was seriously hurt in a car accident and some time elapsed before either British or Belgian HQs was informed of the accident. Only then did Belgian GHQ learn of the steps being taken by the BEF that night in compliance with General Billotte's order to withdraw.

Needless to say the planned orderly withdrawal envisaged by Billotte did not turn out quite the way he had envisaged.

When shortly afterwards orders to retire became known at the British front, the soldiery were puzzled and disappointed. Less than a week before they had advanced nearly 60 miles to meet the enemy. They had met him on the Dyle and had so far defeated his attempts to break their line. They were in great heart and full of confidence. And now they were to retire! To tell them that miles away to the sth the French front had broken did not seem to them a sufficient explanation. John Buchan's description of the men of the old Army was still largely true of British soldiers of 1940. The front line soldiers were puzzled; at the prospect of the withdrawal. The BEF remained undefeated, and thus far had fought their immediate opposing troops rather well, so why were they withdrawing?

If the infantry facing the enemy across the Dyle could hardly be expected to appreciate the significance of what was happening on the Meuse, the gravity of the situation there was obvious enough to the higher command. Early on the 15th General Billotte had informed General Gamelin that 'the Ninth Army is in a critical situation: all its front is pushed back' and had suggested that General Giraud (7A commander) was the man best fitted to 'revive this failing army'. Now that retirement to the Escaut was ordered, all but 2 divs of 7A were being moved in rear of the BEF towards the gap in the th.

On this day (May the 16th) the Fr GHQ made further urgent requests for additional air protection and both Lord Gort and Air Marshal Barratt strongly endorsed the demand for additional ftr sqns. The War Cabinet decided that the equivalent of 4 fighter sqns should be sent immediately, and 8 flights left for France during that afternoon and the following morning. This decision had hardly been taken when the PM, on a visit to France, telegraphed urging that 6 more ftr sqns should be sent. At this point the Air Staff advised that the limited number of airfields and servicing units in France made it undesirable to base further sqns there, so it was agreed that 6 sdns of Hurricanes should be concentrated in the sth of England and should fly to France daily for operations over the battlefield. Thus the equivalent of 10 extra sqns for which the French had asked was operating from French or English bases by the 17th.

It made little difference to the rate of advance, however ther was a noticeable increase in the attrition rate being suffered by the LW, which was to have long term effects, but no immediate impact on the immediate campaign. Allied bomber formations continued to rupture badly in the face of German air superiority

Fr H-39 Tank making its way through a heavily bombed French town

British Infantry in a static line defence near the Dyle position

 

[Njaco]

May 16 Thursday
GERMANY: The crew and pilots of II./JG 52 are transferred from Speyer while the Bf 109s of Hptm. Joachim Schlichting's I./JG 1 transfer from Gymnich to Charleville.

WESTERN FRONT: The Panzers of Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe A race out of their bridgeheads on the Meuse, cutting through the weaker parts of the French Army left to defend this region. French morale and resistance crumble as thousands of soldiers surrender. The British and French forces which advanced into Belgium only a few days ago, begin to retreat to their former positions behind the line of the Scheldt. Units of Hoth's 15.Panzerkorps, with Rommel's 7.Panzerdivision well to the fore, have reached just east of Cambrai. To the south, Guderian's forces are moving on St. Quentin and reaches Montcornet, 64km West of Sedan. Despite the amazing success of the Panzers in Northern France, the French actually have more and better tanks than Germany. Demonstrating the strength of French armour, Char B1 Bis tank 'Eure' engages Guderian's Panzers at Stonne, destroying 2 Pz IV, and 11 Pz II. 'Eure' survives being hit 140 times by 20mm, 37mm and 75mm shells. Rommel drives another 35km from Cerfontaine, advancing through the night to Avesnes-sur-Helpe. German High Command gets nervous about the extended flanks of this salient. By nightfall, German panzers in France reach Marle and Dercy, 55 miles from Sedan. Again a halt order is issued to the German tank forces because some of the more conservative minds at army headquarters cannot accept that the panzers can advance so far without exposing their flanks. In fact the speed of the advance has itself protected them and thrown the French into confusion.

British forces launch three counterattacks on a railroad station on the eastern edge of Louvain, successfully retaking the position. German artillery batteries shell the library of the University of Louvain in Belgium until it is set afire and burned out. The Germans believed the library, rebuilt after the First World War, contained an inscription calling Germans barbarians. British forces in Belgium retreat to west of Brussels.

German troops enter The Hague and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Prisoner of War Kommodore Oberst Martin Fiebig of KG 4 is saved when German forces overrun his captors in the Netherlands. He is immediately placed on leave.

Churchill flies to Paris to assess the situation and confer with French PM Reynaud. He finds French officials burning government archives. Churchill asks;

"Where is the strategic reserve"?

French Commander-in-Chief General Gamelin replies;

"Aucune" ("There is none").

Reynaud replaces Gamelin and recalls WWI veteran Maxime Weygand from obscurity in Syria. French Premier Paul Reynaud tells the Chamber of Deputies:

"Chancellor Hitler must win in two months; if not he is beaten, and knows it."

Two 1(F)./122 He 111s on a sortie over Malangen encountered a Walrus launched from HMS "Devonshire" and shot it down.

A Swiss fighter plane shoots down a German bomber over Swiss territory, which lands north-east of Zurich. Three crewmen surrender.

MEDITERRANEAN: Greece rushes troop reinforcements to the frontier with Italian-occupied Albania.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Allies forces attempt a landing near Narvik, Norway, but are repulsed by German defenders.

UNITED KINGDOM: British King George designates May 26 as a day of prayer for peace throughout the United Kingdom.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill provides an extra ten fighter squadrons to help France, with six operating out of Kent.

NORTH AMERICA: Roosevelt asks Congress to authorize the production of 50,000 military planes per year and for a $900,000,000 extraordinary credit to finance this massive operation.

,

.

.

 

[parsifal]

Love the maps.

As an aside,whilst gamelin stated to Churchill there were no reserves, there were in fact enough reserves to try something. Gamelin and the French high command were unwilling to release the reserves screening Paris to take the necessary decisive action to contain the Break through that had occurred. We will never know if they could have succeeded, but virtually any action would have been better than the none that was actually taken.

 

[parsifal]

17 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Hunt Class Escort DD (Type II) BLANKNEY

Losses
DD PHILIPS VAN ALMONDE (RNeN 1604 grt) The incomplete Gerard Callenburgh-class DD was blown up on the slip on 17 May 1940 to prevent her capture by the Germans after several attemps to launch and tow her to England her had failed.

Aux MSW MARDYCK (Fr 1100 grt) The auxiliary minesweeper caught fire and was beached and abandoned at Breskins ()mouth of the Antwerp estuary).

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV SAINT KEARAN (UK 692 grt) The cargo ship collided with FR MV EXPLORATEUR GRANDIDIER in the Firth of Clyde and sank NW of Girvan, Ayrshire

Steamer TORGTIND (Nor 298 grt) was sunk by air attack off Batland, Helgeland. Some sources place her as lost on the 19th

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

CL EFFINGHAM along with CLAs CAIRO and COVENTRY and DDs MATABELE and ECHO departed Harstad to carry out amphibious landings at Bodo. En route on the 18th at 2000, CL EFFINGHAM (RN 12170 grt) ran aground at 23 knots on Faksen Shoal between Bricksvaer and Terra and was wrecked. CLA COVENTRY brushed ground and ruptured a fuel tank as well. DD MATABELE also went aground, but was gotten off with much damage to her hull. After the troops and crew were removed from EFFINGHAM by DD ECHO, MATABELE torpedoed EFFINGHAM. The troops were taken back to Harstad and did not arrive at Bodo until the night of 19/20 May when DDs FIREDRAKE and WALKER delivered the first contingent.

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

Coastal Defense Commander, Southwest reports that the bulk of the Dutch Navy has been able to transfer to Britain. The only vessels in Dutch harbors are the following; The armored coastal vessel HERTOG HENDRIK, cruiser GELDERL.iND, subs "8" and "11", MLs BALDER and TOR and some auxiliary vessels. There are still some small patrol and auxiliary vessels in Terschelling and Texel. The coastal defense instillations must be examined further regarding firing readiness; however, there seems to be a number of serviceable 15 cm. and 7.5 cm. batteries on the islands -and in Helder. Nth Sea Station has found some small vessels under construction near Groningen; these would be suitable as harbor defense boats. Harlingen harbor is reported to be very suitable as a base for light forces. North Sea Station further reports that the islands of Schiermonnikoog and Ameland have been occupied
by naval detachments. For mines laid in the canals forming the rear connections to Delfzyl see Radiogram 1300. In reply to a query by Naval Staff,. Group West reports that the Dutch coast should be exploited for S-Boote operations as soon as possible. Helder is to be the base for the present. If conditions permit this, the base can be advanced" later. Depot ships are not to be transferred at present. The necessary conditions for S-Boote operations are to be established in Helder, in conjunction with installations on land. The most urgent tasks are provision of bomb-proof pens and transfer of mines. Investigations are in progress in Helder.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 122 reported that she was attacked by an enemy S/M in Route I. Route I is therefore known to the enemy. Our own U-boats have been ordered to cruise along a line 5 miles off the center of Route I, provided they have adequate navigational data.

At Sea 17 May 1940
U-7, U-9, U-37, U-43, U-122.
5 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic

North Sea
3 DDs of DesFlot 7 joined Nore Cmd at Harwich. DDs JAVELIN and JACKAL departed Scapa on the 14th to run over the DG range at Inchkeith before proceeding on the 15th. DD JAGUAR departed Harwich on the 15th on patrol where she was joined on patrol by JACKAL, coming from Rosyth. Both ships arrived back at Harwich on the 17th. JAVELIN ptoceeded directly to Harwich arriving on the 16th.

Sub tender MAIDSTONE was designated to replace tender CYCLOPS at Rosyth. MAIDSTONE departed Portland on the 19th escort DD WORCESTER. She arrived in the Clyde on the 20th by then escort DD VANOC and WORCESTER. DD VANOC was detached on the 21st to relieve DD HESPERUS with a convoy returning from Norway. The tender departed the Clyde on the 22nd escort DDs ZULU and MAORI and arrived at Scapa Flow on the 23rd. On the 24th, MAIDSTONE departed Scapa in company with DD VANSITTART. En route, VANSITTART obtained a suspected U-Boat and MAIDSTONE continued on alone. The contact was later assessed to be a wreck. Both MAIDSTONE and VANSITTART arrived safely at Rosyth on the 25th. Fr sub CALYPSO departed Harwich to dock at Lowestoft. Sub PORPOISE arrived at Rosyth where she was docked on the 18th to repair her asdic dome. Sub CLYDE arrived at Dundee. Sloop LONDONDERRY struck a wreck but she escaped serious damage. Fr sub CIRCE reported she was involved in a collision with sub LA SYBILLE while diving in the Nth Sea. Neither sub was seriously damaged.

FN.173 departed Southend, escort DD WALPOLE. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 19th. MT.68 departed Methil, escort sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.173 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

Northern Waters
Allied troops were embarked on Light cruiser EFFINGHAM to be landed at Bodo. However serious losses were incurred enroute and the opertion was postponed (see loss section)

Destroyer MATABELE departed Harstad on the 20th and arrived in the Clyde on the 23rd. She went on to Falmouth arriving on the 24th for repairs from 27 May to 18 August. On 29 August 1940 she arrived back at Scapa for operations. Enroute to the home ports, she again diverted to the wreck of the EFFINGHAM, and and on the 21 May, the hulk EFFINGHAM was shelled and torpedoed by MATABELE, to insure her demise.

MLss TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER arrived at Scapa from the Humber, escorted by DD SABRE and PV BREDA. ASW trawler CAPE NYEMETSKI, escorting trawler SPINDRIFT (captured German trawler JULIUS PICKENPACK, but identified as POLARIS), departed Scapa for Liverpool, arriving on the 20th. ASW trawlers KING SOL and LOCH MONTEITH departed Scapa escorting cable ship MONARCH to Rosyth.

Channel
DD WILD SWAN arrived at Dover from London after repairs. Marking the beginning of the ordeal at Dunkirk, Fr DesDiv 11 on patrol off Dunkirk came under sustained air attack. TBss CORDELIERE and MELPOMENE were badly damaged, whilst TB FLORE, in company, escaped serious damage and escorted her two damaged sisters to port. Ne MLs MEDUSA and DOUWE AUKES arrived at Dover. Ne Aux MSWs No. 8 , No. 7 , AMSTERDAM , BLOEMENDAAL , MARIA R. OMMERING arrived in the Downs. The Dutch ships sailed for Portsmouth the next day.

UK-France
SA.41 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

Central Atlantic
SL.32 departed Freetown ocean escort AMC DUNVEGAN CASTLE. On the 30th, sloop ABERDEEN and on the 31st, sloop FOLKESTONE joined the convoy. The convoy arrived on 3 June.

 

[parsifal]

*** May 1940
[SPARE]

 

[parsifal]

17 May -RAF Air Operations
[UNFINISHED]
1 Sqn (Hurri) AASF
Sqn intercepts a formation of Me110's and claims the destruction of 6 enemy a/c. 2 Hurris are lost (P2820 and L1905). Both pilots safe. Unable to verify actual enemy losses.

2 Sqn (Lysander)
Lysander L4811, KO-N Abbeville-Drucat; F/O C.H. DeardenLAC A.C. PattersonWas attacked by 9 Me 109's over Cambrai and survived a 20 min running battle all the way back to Douai, where 32 holes were counted in the fuel tank. Gunner A.C. Patterson set fire to the a/c to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Peter Cornwell possibly attacked by Lt Kosse of 6./JG26 over Mons. The a/c listed damaged but repairable however later destroyed.

3 Sqn
Sgt P Hillwood –Made a forced landing near Vitry, being damaged by a Do 17 of 5/KG76 near Cambrai and a Me 109 of 1/JG3. A/C burned. Pilot Injured
F/O D.A.E. Jones Damaged by Do 17 of 5/KG76. Pilot baled out near Merville and returned to unit. A/C lost.

15 sqn (Blen)
3 a/c shot down and 1 returned damaged (and scrapped) after an abortive raid in the Abbeville area.

16 sqn (Lysander)
P/O LM. Hamilton, missing - [Air Gunner] JP. O'Reilly, missing A/C L4796, crashed, FTook off from Bertangles. Failed to return from tac recon over St. Quentin 14.30 hrs. Believed to have crashed near Doingt, SE of Péronne.

17 Sqn (Hurri)
No. 17 Sqn. attacks at 17.00 hrs a formation of Ju87's near Brussels with 5 enemy a/c destroyed. 2 Hurris are lost in exchange

S/L G.C. Tomlinson – safe; A/C P3277 destroyed; Force-landed 16.30 hrs SE of Brussels after combat with Ju 87's of IV(S)/LG1 and set on fire.

F/O A.P. Lines – safe, A/C P2822 destroyed, Bailed out after a combat with escorting Me 109s of 8/JG26, sth of Brussels.

77 and 102 Sqn (Whitley)
6 Hampdens and 6 Wellingtons bomb oil targets in the Ruhr with 1 aircraft being lost. As part of the same operation the 2 Whitely sqns with 9 Whitleys attack communications sites without loss.

53 sqn (Blen)
Recon 1 a/c damaged, Took of from Poix. Returned starboard cowling damaged by light flak during recce sortie over Rethel and Vouziers, A/C repairable.

65 sqn (Spit)
offensive patrol, coast B and NL, 12 a/c of the sqn patrolled between Flushing (Vlissingen) and Ostend, culminating in the (postwar) confirmed kill of a Ju 88 by F/O Welford near Haamsteede.

79 sqn (Hurri)
Patrol. 1 Plane lost, 1 POW. Failed to return from patrol between Vilvoorde and Braine-le-Comte and believed shot down by AA fire 8.30 p.m. P/O R. Herrick baled out and captured. A/c lost.

82 sqn (Blen)
Gembloux, B. 12 Planes lost; 8 KIA, 13 MIA, 3 POW. A disastrous gnd support operation.12 a/c took off to attack troop concentrations at Gembloux, They were supposed to have a Hurricane figher escort but they were intercepted earlier and they had to proceed without their escorts. As they reached their target, 15-30 Bf-109 fighters jumped them. 11 of them were shot down and the survivor (P8858, UX-W), badly damaged, managed to reach Watton, but it was written off due to the damage sustained.

103 sqn (Battles)
Transfer to Rheges
The main party arrived at Rheges at 14:00 after travelling through the night on dimmed headlights and narrowly missed an enemy strafing and bombing attack. Some of the Sqn's vehicles then returned to Betheniville to collect equipment and spares. The airfield at Rheges was extremely good and extensive and was well camouflaged with thinly sown crops so proved very difficult to spot from the air. The LW recon a/c never found the site and it was not bombed during 103 Sqn's stay. The airfield was shared with 218 Sqn also operating Battles

 

[parsifal]

17 May - The BEF

De Gaulle, to the South in th vicinity of Montcornet was in command of the hastily formed 4th DCR (see 11 May 1940 entered into his first assault of the battle. His attack was aimed for Montcornet, which was by the time of this first assault accommodating supply units and soft skinned enemy transport. During the night three battalions of tanks arrived by train.. One consisted of heavy Char-B1s, one of the light R-35s and one of Char D2s. They were unloaded in the dark. Many of the men had never driven in a tank before! There were also a number of artillery batteries and a single battalion of infantry in ordinary buses! At first light they moved out. Colonel de Gaulle, the most junior officer in the history of the modern French army to command a division, was in the lead. His long body stuck out of the turret of the lead tank next to his personal standard, a simple flag bearing the Cross-of Lorraine.

After surrounding the village, around noon, B1 bis tanks came under fire from 3.7 cm Pak 36 ATGs and from German Panzers. A number of the B1 bis tanks were lost when they had to be abandoned when they ran out of petrol, and others when they sank into swamps.

De Gaulle ordered infantry to neutralise German defence pockets in Chivres, and Inf Support Char D2 tanks to secure Clermont-les-Fermes. Around 16:00, De Gaulle ordered a new attack on Montcornet, but the tank crews had not received detailed maps of the sector, and were by then coming under fire from 88mm Flak guns. This element of the countersttack, whilst not a defeat, was unfruitful. Around 18:00, German planes intervened, and the 4e DCr retreated to its original positions. Essentially the sresult was a tactical defeat, though De Gaulle had led his command fairly well.

The French lost 23 tanks in the attack, and 23 killed or missing while the Germans had around 100 killed and about the same missing or captured. Colonel De Gaulle would fight another engagement at the Battle of Abbeville before his escape. 4th DCR fell back to Laon.

Char de combat moyen Renault D2, Weight : 20.5 ton, Armor (max) : 40 mm, Range : 155 km, Sp (max - route) : 23 kmh, Main gun : n.1 47mm gun 37mm for the Char D1 (pictured), MG : n.2 7.5mm, Crew : 3, The "Char D" was developed at the end of the 1920s as an improvement of the light R-35 Inf spt tank. Due to financial constraints, production was limited to 160 units of the more lightly armed and less well armoured lighter D1 version (1931), and to 50 units of the D2 version (1932). The Char D was a predecessor of the Char B , and avoided the mistake of the hull mounted main gun. It lacked radio (despite being illustrated as such), range, and enough crew to be effective

Further Nth, Arras was under threat from the advance of the two leading Pz Divs, and as a result, the allies decided to relocate BEF GHQ from Arras to a safer location. The following day BEFs considerable admin elements entrained for Boulogne., while the operational elements of the command began moving to Hazebrouck. By nightfall 18/19 May, the situation on the BEFs frontage had deteriorated to such an extent that gort issued an order for the evac of all "useless mouths" to be carried out from Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk.

By far the greater number of "useless mouths" were the sick and wounded. Responsibility for their evacuation and for the defence of Boulogne rested with Brig Sir Douglad Brownrigg, Gorts adjutant. Setting up Headquarters in Boulognes Hotel Imperiale, Brownrigg set about the plans for the evacuation. Guderians Panzers gave him little time to organize this crucial mission,

My apologies for the poor resolution of this image

Troop Leader Of 13/18 Hussars giving instructions to the force under his command

 

[Njaco]

May 17 Friday
WESTERN FRONT: French 4th Armoured Division under command of Colonel Charles de Gaulle with 200 tanks including the formidable Char B attacks Guderian's Panzer Corps at Montcornet. They take 500 prisoners but make little ground against improvised German defenses and then withdraw. German tankers are shocked by the French lack of aggression. German forces break through the French defense lines along a 62-mile front, from Maubeuge to Carignon, near Sedan. German panzers reach the Serre River in France, then stop. Despite the halt imposed on the Panzers, Guderian is given permission for 'strong reconnaissance'. He interprets this liberally and advances several km. Guderian's forces, exploiting the loophole in their orders allowing reconnaissance in force, reach the Oise River south of Guise. By nightfall, German 10.Panzerdivision seizes a bridgehead across the Oise River near Moy, 70 miles west of Sedan.

Instead of attacking the German salient into Allied territory, British Expeditionary Force commander General Lord Gort sees the danger of encirclement in the Panzer thrust to his South and orders a retreat to the Scheldt River. This allows German 6.Armee under General Reichenau to enter Brussels, capturing the city by the evening. Antwerp and the islands at the mouth of the Scheldt are also being abandoned but have not yet been taken by the Germans. The British and French forces in Belgium have now fallen back to the Dendre River. General Gort is now worried by the growing threat to his right flank and rear areas and, therefore, forms a scratch force to defend this area. General Mason-Macfarlane is put in command. German troops capture Louvain and Malines after heavy fighting. The Belgian Government moves the capital from Brussels to Ostend on the coast.

Twelve British Blenheim bombers attack advancing German columns near Gembloux. Eleven planes are shot down.

Uffz. Hugo Dahmer of 4./JG 26 shoots down a French Morane MS 406 near Tournai. Over Laon, Oblt. Franzisket of 1./JG 1 downs a Potez 63 at 1305 hours.

Keeping pace with the Wehrmacht, Obstlt. Von Bülow-Bothkamp's Stab./JG 2 leave the airfield at Bastogne and transfer to an airfield at Signy-le-Petit. Hptm. Jürgen Roth's I./JG 2 also depart Bastogne and arrive at Beaulieu-en-Aronne. Hptm. Wolfgang Schnellmann's II./JG 2 leave Peer and fly to the airfield at Attenrode.

General Maurice Gustave Gamelin gives the order of the day to the French armies, telling them;

"The fate of our country and that of our Allies and the destiny of the world depend on the battle now being fought.".

GERMANY: The commander VIII Fliegerkorps of Generalmajor Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen, is the thirty-first soldier to be awarded the Ritterkreuz on this date along with the commander of Luftflotte 3 General der Flieger Hugo Sperrle.

British Hampden bombers make their first attack on Hamburg, Germany, with 48 planes suffering no losses in attacking oil refineries and gasoline depots.

NORTH AFRICA: In the Cairo Museum in Egypt, the gold sarcophagus of Tut-ankh-Amen and other treasures are moved to a secret underground bombproof vault.

NORTHERN EUROPE: The Swedish government forbids all sailors on foreign vessels to leave their ships while in Swedish ports.

The British cruiser "Effingham" goes aground and is lost while carrying men and stores to join the forces south of Narvik.

UNITED KINGDOM: Churchill, worried by the panic in the French command, begins to think about saving the British Army. Churchill also considers recalling troops from Narvik.

.

 

[parsifal]

18 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Benson Class DD NIBLACK

Losses
DDs IMPULSIVE, INTREPID, ESK, EXPRESS, IVANHOE and ML PRINCESS VICTORIA (RN 2197 grt) departed the Humber to lay mines off the Dutch coast in operation BS.5 during the night of 18/19 May. PC PUFFIN rendezvoused with the force at 1340/18th and dropped dan buoys after the ML was completed. On the return leg, ML PRINCESS VICTORIA was sunk by a mine at the entrance to the Humber early on the 19th. DDs GRAFTON, GALLANT, FORESIGHT were ordered to assist. 36 crew were lost and 11 wounded.

Steamer PIA (Ne 304 grt) departed Nieuport and Dunkirk on the 18th towing Ne aux yacht ALBATROSS III. PIA struck a mine and sank between Dunkirk and Gravelines. 6 of the 7 crew were lost on the steamer. On the yacht, 2 crew and 2 refugees were lost. Yacht ALBATROSS III rescued the sole survivour from steamer PIA. The yacht proceed to Boulogne and later to Folkestone.

Steamer SIRIUS (Nor 944 grt) was sunk by German bombing off Senja (Finlandsnes).
Seven crew were lost on the Norwegian steamer.

Sub B.6 (RNoN 420 grt), DD TROLL (Nor 540 grt), TB SNOGG (RNoN 198 grt) were surrendered at Floro to German Schiff 18. The crews of these ships had deserted on the 2nd when they refused to sail to the Shetlands. Destroyer TROLL and torpedo boat SNOGG were used by German forces under the names of TROLL and ZACK, respectively. Submarine B.6 was recommissioned on 20 October 1940 as UC 2.

B class Sub number B4, DD TROLL abandoned May 1940, SNOGG was one of the TRYGG Class, built just after WWI

MV TORGTIND (Nor 298 grt) Passenger/cargo vessel. Sunk by German a/ct on May 18 (some sources say May 19) 1940 near Bratland in Luroy, by a LR FW 200 north of Sandnessjoen, on a voyage Velfjord-Bodo. No casualties.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

FW 200 photographed whilst on patrol May 1940


Dredger VLAANDEREN I (Be 1218 grt) was sunk by the LW at Calais.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]


DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

The French Cabinet is being re-formed; the 85-year-old Marshal Petain is to be Vice-President, Reynaud Prime Minister and
War Minister, Daladier Foreign Minister and Mandel Minister for the Interior.

Faroe Islands occupied. Strong protests from the Danish Government.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 43 left Trondheim for the Atlantic. U 37 is NW of Scotland, on her way out into the Atlantic. U 122 is north of the line Shetlands-Bergen, on her way to Trondheim with supplies for the G.A.F.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-7

Departures
Kiel: U-60, U-62

At Sea 18 May 1940
U-9, U-37, U-43, U-60, U-62, U-122.
6 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs IMPULSIVE, INTREPID, ICARUS, ESK, EXPRESS, IVANHOE laid minefield BS.6 off the Dutch coast. All 6 DDs returned on 23/24 May for BS.7, on 25/26 May for BS.8, on 27/28 May for BS.9. After minelay BS.9, DesFlot 20 was ordered to Portsmouth. Early on the 19th at 0035, DD KEITH was attacked by German bombing on North Goodwins Patrol. She was not damaged. At 0605, DD WILD SWAN was attacked by the LW on the North Goodwins Patrol. She also was not damaged. DD WILD SWAN met Dutch tugs SCHELDE and EBRO and sent them to the Downs. DD WHITLEY relieved destroyer WOLSEY on patrol off the Belgian coast. MTB.25 departed Harwich with Vice Admiral Ramsay for Dunkirk. The motor torpedo boat returned that evening.

Sub L.23 evacuated 5 crew from the Terschelling Light Ship. The 6 other crew of the Light Ship escaped to Holland. Sub L.26 picked up 9 refugees from an open boat off the Dutch coast as they attempted to escape. Sub TRIDENT departed Rosyth for Nth Sea patrol. Fr sub THETIS on patrol in the Nth Sea sighted Sub SPEARFISH. Fr submarine CIRCE was ordered to Rosyth after she reported one engine U/S where she arrived on the 19th. She then transferred back to France in company with Fr Sub CALYPSO.

Sub CALYPSO returned to Nore, and departed Harwich on the 23rd with convoy FN.78. The sub returned to Rosyth on the 24th.
Minelaying by a/c of Dutch ports began with Texel. This continued on the 21st off Ijmuiden, of Terschelling Gat on the 31st, off Flushing on 5 June, off Dunkirk and Boulogne on 26 June. CA YORK arrived at Scapa from Rosyth. DD FORESIGHT departed the Humber for Scapa.

FN.174 departed Southend, escort sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 20th.

Northern Waters
CV GLORIOUS flew the six Walrus aircraft of the 701 Squadron ashore for operations at Harstad. Returning from the Fleet Air Arm's first mining sortie in Norwegian waters Operation BOTTLE, a Swordfish of the 823 Squadron from CV GLORIOUS was lost along with the crew. A second Swordfish of the Sqn force-landed off Isle of Eday with the crew recovered unhurt. CA DEVONSHIRE's WALRUS was shot down by a He.111 at Malangsfjord. Two crewmen were killed and a third injured but rescued.

ORP troopships SOBIESKI and BATORY departed Harstad with escort TARTAR and WESTCOTT and troops and survivors from sunken ships aboard. Simultaneously departing Harstad were Br steamers BALMAHA and CYCLOPS escort DDs MATABELE and WARWICK. The convoys left together, but remained separate due to speed. The "fast" section to arrive in the Clyde on the 23rd and the "slow" section to arrive on the 25th. The troopships and escort arrived safely in the Clyde at on the 23rd whilst the slow section and escort arrived in the Clyde 2 days later. After safely delivering the troopships at the Clyde, DD TARTAR went on to Liverpool departing for repair and boiler cleaning returning to Scapa 2 June. Brit steamer ACRITY departed Scapa with escort ASW trawlers ST ELSTAN and ST CATHAN for Narvik where they arrived on the 23rd. British oiler WAR NIZAM, escorted by ASW trawlers JUNIPER and HAZEL, arrived at Scapa from Sullom Voe.

West Coast UK
DD MASHONA departed Greenock for Scapa, however the DD was diverted to assist DD SABRE in an ASW Sweep, with ASW trawlers BRABANT, STOKE CITY and LEICESTER CITY later ordered to join the search. MASHONA remained in the area until Fr DD FOUDROYANT and tkr TARN passed through the area. DD MASHONA left the position on the 19th and arrived at Scapa at midday whilst SABRE proceeded to Holy Head for oil.

DDs ARROW and FURY departed Scapa to join DD ATHERSTONE in an unsuccessful hunt for a sub reported by a/c. ASW trawlers CAPE WARWICK and CAPE PORTLAND were ordered to search for a UBoat attacked by a/c but the search was unsuccessful.

Channel
DD VERITY was boiler cleaning from depot ship SANDHURST at Dover. Dutch gunboats FLORES and VAN MEERLANT arrived at Dover.

UK-France
BC.37 of steamers BARON CARNEGIE, GLENLEA, KUFRA , LOTTIE R departed Loire escort DD MONTROSE. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on the 19th.

Med- Biscay
Fr CV BEARN and DDs TRAMONTANE, TORNADE, TYPHON departed Toulon and passed Gib on the 20th, arriving at Casablanca on the 21st. The CV departed Casablanca on the 22nd, escort sloops ENTRECASTEAUX and IBERVILLE. Sloop IBERVILLE returned to Casablanca and was replaced by sloop BOUGAINVILLE. The DDs proceeded to Casablanca. They passed Gib on the 24th to return to the Med. BEARN, joined by cruisers from Brest, proceeded to Halifax, arriving on 1 June, to collect new aircraft from the US.

CAs CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE arrived at Gib after duty in the Sth Atlantic. They were joined on the 17th by DD KEPPEL from convoy HG.30 escort duties and DD VORTIGERN from patrol duties. On 22 May, CORNWALL departed Gib, escort DD KEPPEL, for Freetown and DORSETSHIRE departed Gib, escorted DD WRESTLER, for refitting at Devonport. However, DORSETSHIRE was ordered to patrol off the Canary Islands and arrived back at Gib on 16 June. DD WRESTLER arrived back at Gib on the 23rd. DD KEPPEL was ordered to join troopship EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA and escort her westwards.

 

[parsifal]

18 May 1940 - RAF Operations
1 Sqn (Hurri)
P/O. C.M. Stavert claims the destruction of a Do17 and a He111. Unable to confirm enemy losses. Sgt R.A. Albonico in L1865 is shot down by ground fire near St. Quentin, 15.30 hrs. Pilot taken prisoner.
P/O C.M. Stavert – in N2353 force-landed near Condé-Vraux after combat and out of fuel. Abandoned. Pilot safe. The a/c was burnt to avoid capture.

3 Sqn (Hurri)
P/O P.M. Gardner in N2464 made a forced landing, after being damaged by a Do17 of 2/KG76 near Douai. P/O Gardner set the wreck afire. Returned to unit.

4 Sqn (Lysander)
F/O EC. Ford, B (Air Gnr.) KW. Graham, (Both KIA). A/C lost. Tac Recon near Brussels Shot down by Me 109's. Crashed at Outer, near Ninove. Believed to be the a/c claimed by Oberlt Rempel and Uffz Wischnewski of 6./JG2 SE of Brussels 19.10 hrs.

10 Sqn (Whitley) and others
Oil installations in Hamburg and Bremen are attacked by 48 Hampdens and 24 Whitleys respectively. A further 6 Wellingtons bomb railway yards at Cologne while 46 Wellingtons and 6 Hampdens attack German troops in Belgium. No losses. However P4963, ZA-B (F/L A.S.Phillips) badly damaged by Flak, crew unhurt.

13 Sqn (Lysander)
P/O JH Day, KIA, Air Gunner: Not known Took off from Authie. Wrecked in explosion when bomb became detached on landing at Amiens. P/O Day believed to be badly wounded, evacuated but died in hospital en route to England

16 Sqn (Lysander)
F/O TW Walker, FCorporal, missing, (W/O) ET Baillie, Missing, A/C (S/N unknown) crashed Took off from Bertangles,. Failed to return from tac recon over St. Quentin and crashed near Creil. Possibly the target of claim by Oberfw Schmid of 1./JG2 over Beauvais, 08.15 hrs.

No 17 Sqn (Hurri)
Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson, F/L W.A. Toyne and F/L C.F.G. Adye shared in the destruction of a Do 17, SE of Seclin, 16.25 hrs. At the same time P/O K. Manger and P/O W.J. Harper shared in the destruction of an .

53 sqn (Blen)
Mission not stated, 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA

54 sqn (Hurri)
Mission not stated. 2 Hurris shot down 2 KIA

58 Sqn (Hampden)
Target Misburg, no losses, no information on numbers or results

59 sqn (Blen)
1 Plane lost, 2 KIA no other details available

87 sqn (Hurri)
2 Me 109s shot down, no losses

103 Sqn (Battle)
Only 4 Battles serviceable but 11 crews were available for opns. The ground crews worked hard to improve serviceability rates. Opns restarted with an attack on German armour in the area of St Quentin. Several Battles damaged by flak in low level attacks but all returned to base. As from approximately this date the tactical low approach and attack were discontinued and a high approach at about 8000 feet with dive attack to 4000 feet was adopted. This method greatly reduced the casualty rate. A/c were also despatched singly to provide freedom of manoeuvrability and the tight formations of 3 a/c abandoned. Not all the battles shortcomings were due to the a/c it seems.

118 sqn (Hurri)
Cambrai and Douai 1 a/c lost, 1 KIA
Taking off from England, but staging through airfields in France, No. 111 Sqn saw action on 10.30 hrs in the Cambrai area, on 15.25 hrs near Douai and on 16.30 hrs, again in the Douai area. In the 1st engagement a Hs126 was shot down. In the 2nd engagement 5 Me110's were destroyed. In the third action 4 LW (identified only as "Ju types")were claimed but only listed as probable.