This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

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18th May - The BEF

The situation in front of the BEF and on its flanks had deteriorated to such an extent that it compelled Gort to issue his order requiring the immediate evacuation of all "useless mouths", undertaken principally from the ports of Boulogne, Calais and to a lesser extent from Dunkirk. By far the greatest numbers of these "useless mouths" were the sick and injured by then piling up in the hospitals and field stations.

Rundstedt issues orders, with Hitlers full support, for Kleist to restrain the formations under his spearhead command from advancing further than the Oise River, before the 18 May. This order for restraint is dutifully passed on by Kleist. Guderians response to this order is revealing of the mans brilliance as well as his temperament. He wrote in his autobiography "I neither would nor could agree to these orders which involved sacrificing the surprise we had gained, and giving away the success we had achieved. My conversation (with Von Kleist) became extremely heated….". Guderian claims in his memoirs that Von Kleist did agree to a 24 hour extension to the advance. Guderian then hurried back to Montcornet ordering his command to continue their advance. He met also with Reinhadt (XLI Korps commander) wherein the two men agreed to continue their advance until they ran out of petrol. Guderian wrote that he could not accept that Hitler who had promoted and supported Mansteins plan because of its boldness could now be frightened by "his own temerity and order the German advance to ber stopped"…..

He was wrong. The next day, he was ordered by Kleist to meet him at the designated XIX Korps airstrip. He was given a severe dressing down, to the point of offering his resignation. It required the intervention of List to partially resolve the impasse, where, importantly, Guderian was given permission to continue west of the Oise as a reconnaissance in force which was just enough for Guderian to continue as he had already been operating. .

Guderian in his command vehicle ( a modified sdkfz 251 halftrack) May 1940

 

[Njaco]

May 18 Saturday
WESTERN FRONT: Dutch and French forces evacuate the Netherlands islands of Walcheren and South Beveland, north and west of Zeeland. German forces take over 2000 Dutch and French prisoners of war in taking the Netherlands islands of South Beveland and Schouwen. The Netherlands commander of the Zeeland Islands offers capitulation to Germany. The German 18.Armee, lead by Georg Küchler, pierce the outer ring of fortresses of Antwerp, Belgium, in two places, quickly capturing the city.

Despite the stop order imposed on the German tanks, Rommel pushes 7.Panzerdivision on to Cambrai and then halts to consolidate his supply lines and protect his flanks. He has advanced 85 miles due West (more than half way to the English Channel) in 5 days, capturing over 10,000 French prisoners and 100 tanks. His losses are about 50 dead and 100 wounded. The rapid pace constantly wrecks Allied counterattack plans; French formations are overrun while they prepare to attack. 7.Panzerdivision becomes known as the "Ghost Division" for its ability to appear unexpectedly. Over 6 million French refugees take to the roads, convinced they will be occupied any minute. Populations of cities in Northern France drop by 90%. German forces at the Serre River in France start moving again, heading north, away from Paris. German 2.Panzerdivision reaches St. Quentin, France, ten miles beyond Moy.

Five British Hurricanes are shot down near Vitry by Bf 109's from II./JG 26. Two more British Hurricanes are shot down by the pilots of II./JG 2 and 2./JG 51. The pilots of 7./JG 53 lose their Staffelkapitän when Oblt. Wilke is forced to bail over French territory after a dogfight with French Hawk 75s.

French Premier Paul Reynaud appoints a new Cabinet in an attempt to strengthen the French conduct of the war. He himself takes the Ministry of Defense, Marshal Petain is deputy prime minister and Mandel is Minister of the Interior. General Weygand, even older than Gamelin but far more vigorous, has been recalled from the Middle East to take over Supreme Command. Although these changes probably do strengthen Reynaud's team, especially his own new office, they will turn out to have been ill-advised. Some of the new men, Petain in particular, will become deeply pessimistic about the outcome of the war and will in time bring Reynaud down when he himself would have preferred to fight on. Premier Reynaud makes an address to the nation, including;

"The situation is serious but certainly not desperate".

The German Government reincorporates the Belgian districts of Eupen, Malmedy, and Moresnet back into the Reich. The Versailles Treaty had forced those areas to be ceded to Belgium.

ASIA: Japan presents Batavia with demands of a new treaty for raw materials.

NORTH AFRICA: British troops in Egypt reinforce the western desert frontier with Libya.

NORTH AMERICA: The American State Department makes public a joint declaration of 21 republics of the Americas. The statement condemns the;

"…ruthless violation by Germany of the neutrality and sovereignty of Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg."

NORTHERN EUROPE: The Swedish Council on Foreign Relations of the Swedish Cabinet rules against the transit of arms for Germany.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German U-boats resume harassing Allied shipping in North Atlantic and around Britain, after several weeks patrolling the Dutch, Danish and Norwegian coasts in support of the invasions. U-60 and U-62 sail from Kiel, joining U-37 and U-43 at sea.

UNITED KINGDOM: Tyler Kent, a clerk at the US Embassy in London, and Anna Wolkoff, a Russian emigree, are arrested on spying charges. Kent has had access to the correspondence between Churchill and Roosevelt, and Wolkoff has helped pass it to Germany via Italian diplomats. Kent's diplomatic immunity is waived by the United States ambassador. Wolkoff has had connections with a pro-Fascist organization, the Right Club.

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[Njaco]

May 19 Sunday
WESTERN FRONT: Most of the German panzer forces halt in positions between Peronne and St. Quentin to regroup but some of Guderian's troops are still pushing forward, only 50 miles from the French coast. The Panzers are beyond the French defensive line and advance rapidly, capturing supply dumps and disrupting Allied rearguard areas. They cut the supply lines of the British Expeditionary Force and French Armies trapped in Belgium, further disorganizing their resistance. Rommel's 7.Panzerdivision also makes a small advance in the direction of Arras. German 1.Panzerdivision forces a bridgehead over the Somme River near Péronne, France, 20 miles west of St. Quentin. French General Maurice-Gustave Gamelin orders an attack into the southern flank of German General Heinz Guderian's Panzer corps. BEF commander General Lord Gort ignores the orders to attack into the German flanks and instead considers a withdrawal to the Channel ports, including Dunkirk. Colonel De Gaulle's French 4th Armoured Division attempts another failed attack on Guderian's flank at Montcornet. It makes very good progress against gradually stiffening resistance but is ordered to retire before any real gains can be achieved. German forces take French towns Le Cateau and St. Quentin and the Maginot Line Fort Number 505, northwest of Montmedy. The main British forces are now in positions along the Scheldt.

The possibility that it will be necessary to evacuate the BEF is raised for the first time in telephone conversations between London and the commanders in the field. The governments are still optimistic at this stage.

The RAF has lost over half the aircraft deployed to France and Belgium and the German advance now threatens its airfields. Squadrons begin returning to Britain. Future fighter operations over France will be carried out from bases in southern England.

Hptm. Herwig Knuppel, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 is killed when he is shot down over Lille. He was one of the first Luftwaffe pilots to go to Spain in 1936 with the Legion Condor. Oblt. Ebbighausen, Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 26, is temporarily made Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 in his place but later force lands with injuries near Lille after air combat with the Allies. Oblt. Gerhard Schöpfel of 9./JG 26 scores his first kill, a RAF Hurricane shot down near Courtrai.

Lt. Helmut Strobl of 5./JG 27 force lands behind enemy lines and escapes capture until German forces advance into the area. The crew of 2(J)./LG 2 also lose aircraft in the day's fighting. Hptm. Mölders of JG 53 shoots down a Hawk 75 for his twelfth kill thus beginning an incredible week for Mölders. Oblt. Franzisket of 1./JG 1 gets his fourth kill, a French Mureaux at 1350 hours over Amiens.

UNITED KINGDOM: Prime Minister Churchill makes a public radio address, including;

"I have invincible confidence in the French Army and its leaders".

At 0631 hours, U-37 sinks Swedish MV "Erik Frisell" off Scotland. All 34 crew abandon ship and are picked up by the British armed trawler HMS "Cobbers" and landed at Stornoway.

OPERATION QUIXOTE: An unusual operation was performed this day by British naval forces. Six trawlers ("Milford Princess", "Cape Melville", "Grampian", "Pelton", "Milford Queen" and "James Lay") three destroyers ("Javelin", "Jackal" and "Jaguar"), and a corvette ("Puffin"), with air cover provided by Blenheims, set out to cut the submarine telecommunications cables between Britain and Germany. The cut was made midway between the Norfolk Coast and Borkum in the East Frisian Islands. The operation successfully cut two of the six cables, an abandoned Dutch salvage tug, the 'Hector', was found and towed back to Britain and five members of a shot down Whitley bomber were rescued from the North Sea. The cables were not re-connected until after 'Overlord' in 1944. Destroyer "Jackal" encountered the abandoned Dutch salvage tug 'Hector' and a crew was put on the Dutch tug. The tug safely arrived at Yarmouth.

The minelayer 'Princess Victoria' struck a mine and sank off the Humber. Thirty-seven of her crew were killed.


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[parsifal]

19 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Fairmile Type A ML100

Losses
Trawler ALBION (Ex-Nor 192 grt) Fishing trawler launched 1880 taken over by the Germans in Trondheim at the very beginning of the war. she was seized by the DKM DD THEODOR RIEDEL. ALBION was sunk near Bronnoysund (nth of Trondheim) by the Nor PVs HEILHORN and HONNINGTON while she was on her way to the Nth of Norway with supplies. Norwegi an sources say the ship was shelled and sunk on that date, some sources say the attacker was an RN DD in the same location (if this is true, the RN was still operating well sth of Narvik). Later salvaged and broken up.

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Aux MSW AUGUSTIN NORMAND (Fr 175 grt) Ju88s from KG 30 sank this vessel in the English Channel off Le Havre, Seine-Maritime. .

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Sailing Barque BELGICA (Nor 263 grt) The vessel dating back to 1884, was being used as a depot ship by the Norwegians at the time of her loss. She was used as an ammunition depot ship, and was bombed by He111s , which failed to hit, but caused her to spring serious leaks and sink. To avoid capture, she was "scuttled" ( I think she was demolished actually) at Harstad, Troms by the Franco-British Expeditionary Force.

MV ERIK FRISELL (Sd 5066 grt) Crew: 34 (0 dead and 34 survivors) ; Cargo: Fodder : Route: Buenos Aires - Reykjavik - Liverpool. Hit by a Torpedo fired by U-37 in the early daylight hours the unescorted Erik Frisell was stopped pnly after the Uboat surfaced and put a shell across her bow. The crew then abandoned ship only after the U-boat fired further shots across the bow. The Germans allowed some crewmen back to the ship to take the last two men off. Afterwards the ship was sunk by gunfire. She had orginally been en route to Stockholm but was ordered to Liverpool by the Allied Control Commission. Survivors were rescued by ASW trawler COBBERS and landed at Stornoway.

DD WHITLEY (RN 1100 grt) The W-class destroyer was bombed and damaged off Ostend, whilst under orders from the French Naval command at Dunkirk to carry out blockade and the rescue of refugee from Ostend, was bombed at at dawn and badly damaged by the LW 2 miles off Nieuport. After 3 more near misses, DD WHITLEY with both engine rooms flooded and her back broken was run aground to prevent sinking. 4 crewman were lost. DD VIMIERA rescued the crew and tug LADY BRASSEY was dispatched to bring WHITLEY back to England. However DD KEITH arrived on scene and determined the WHITLEY was beyond salvage and shelled her until she blew up to prevent her use by the German forces. DD VIMIERA with the WHITLEY crew, the rest of the crew from WESTMINSTER, the Flushing demolition party departed Dunkirk that evening for Dover.

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

General Weygand, previously Commander in Chief, Near East, has been appointed Chief of the French General Staff and Commander
in Chief in all theaters in succession to General Gamelin, who is blamed for the failure of the Northern Army's operations.

Great Britain;
Minister of Information Duff Cooper : "If we lose the present struggle we still have not lost the war. But If Germany loses this battle, then she has irrevocably lost the war. The French and British governments are more determined than ever to win the j
war."

Lloyd George states in the press s "If the German troops reach the Channel ports we shall have to prepare ourselves for much
greater sacrifices than at present." For the rest he points out the great difficulties which Italy's doublful attitude is causing the Western Powers. Italian intervention would bring a complete change in the strategic
situation.

Spain :
The Military Attache in Madrid reports that Spain's present great weakness makes her participation in the war impossible. She lacks grain, fuel, guns, ammunition, tools and technical experts.

U.S .A. ;
Congress has accepted Roosevelt's re-armament proposals. The Army is to be increased to 280,000 men, armaments to be prepared
for another million men. 7,000 pilots and 13,000 mechanics are being called up into the Air Corps. Roosevelt's re-armament program has the approval of almost all authoritative circles and very wide sections of the population.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

The auxiliary warship "KAMERUN" has been commissioned as U-boat repair ship. U 122 entered Trondheim. As there are so few Sperrbrechers, it is necessary to organize the outward escort of operational boats and U-boat trial runs very carefully. Only one of the 2 Sperrbrechers 4 and 9 has magnetic gear, i.e. 4. It must therefore be accepted that some boats will be escorted by the inadequate Sperrbrecher 9. F.O.I.C. Northern Defenses has suggested abandoning this protection for U-boats until there actually has been enemy minelaying activity in the sea are to be passed, but this cannot be permitted. While there are so few U-boats it is essential that all means should be used for their protection even when absolute safety is not guaranteed.

Arrivals
Trondheim: U-122

Departures
Kiel: U-8

At Sea 19 May 1940
U-8, U-9, U-37, U-43, U-60, U-62.
6 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CL BIRMINGHAM departed the Humber for Rosyth to rejoin the Home Flt after duty off the Dutch coast. DDs JAVELIN and JACKAL, which departed Harwich on the 18th, JAGUAR and PC PUFFIN screened MSW trawlers CAPE MELVILLE, GRAMPIAN , PELTON , MILFORD QUEEN , MILFORD PRINCESS , JAMES LAY cutting the telegraph cables between Lowestoft, Bacton, Mundesley on the English east coast and Borkum and Nordeney. On the 19th, JACKAL encountered abandoned Dutch salvage tug HECTOR. A crew was put on the Dutch tug. The tug safely arrived at Yarmouth on the 20th.

Only two cables were cut and this operation designated QUIXOTE continued on the 28th.

DD WILD SWAN departed Dover with ASW trawlers LADY PHILOMENA , SAON, KINGSTON OLIVINE, one additional trawler. Trawler SAON attacked U.9, but no damage was done. DD WILD SWAN returned to Dover on the 20th.

Sub SEAWOLF arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Sub TRITON departed Rosyth on patrol.

OA.151 departed Southend escort sloop WELLINGTON from 19 to 21 May. FN.175 departed Southend, escort sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 21st. MT.69 departed Methil, escort DD VALOROUS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.174 departed the Tyne, escort DD VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st.

Northern Waters
Steamer ROYAL ULSTERMAN (UK 3244 grt) departed Scapa, screened by CLA CURLEW, for Harstad where they both safely arrived on the 23rd. The steamer departed Harstad the next day to return to Scapa. DD CAMPBELL departed the Clyde for Scapa where she arrived on the 20th. MSW Gp 16 of MSW trawlers LOCH ERIBOL, ALAFOSS, WELLSBACK, LOCH LEVEN departed Scapa Flow for the Humber.

West Coast UK
OB.151 departed Liverpool escort DD WINCHELSEA from 19 to 22 May.

Channel
DD VENOMOUS relieved DD KEITH on North Goodwins Patrol. VENOMOUS was attacked by the LW late on the 19th. DD KEITH proceeded to Dover and refuelled. She departed later that day for Boulogne with CIGs Gen Sir Edmund Ironside, after which she returned to Dover.

UK-France
Fr convoy FR.2 of troopships CHENONCEAUX and MEXIQUE departed the Clyde escort DD SALADIN and PV JASON for Brest. In Nth Channel on the 20th, Fr DD FOUDROYANT, relieved of her escort of tkr TARN escort, joined the convoy and patrol vessel JASON was detached.

Med- Biscay
NZ manned CL LEANDER departed Colombo for the Med to serve in CruSqn 7. the LEANDER took CL LIVERPOOL's place. CL LEANDER arrived at Alexandria on the 26th. On the 31st, she was ordered to join the CruSqn 4 of the East Indies Station. On 1 June, she departed Alex to join the Red Sea Force and arrived at Port Sudan on 4 June. Fr CL MONTCALM and DDs BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS arrived at Gib from Brest. The ships departed the next day for the Med.

Indian Ocean
Gunboats COCKCHAFER and GNAT arrived at Basra; COCKCHAFER under tow by Indian sloop HINDUSTAN. The gunboats had departed Singapore on 22 April. At Penang, they were joined by CL LIVERPOOL which escorted them to Car Nicobar. At Car Nicobar, AMC CATHAY relieved the CL. The gunboats departed Colombo on 29 April for Basra.

 

[parsifal]

19 May 1940 - RAF Air Operations
1 Sqn
Sqn intercepts a formation of He111's and claims 4. 2 confirmed post war.
1 Hurri (s/n not recorded)
Sgt Francis J. Soper, in L1925 force-landed after combat with He 111 of KG27 and abandoned. Pilot safe.

2 Sqn (Lysander)
W/C A.J.W. Geddes and LAC Clarke in Lysander KO-T met 20 Ju 87's bombing the bridge at Oudenaarde and claimed 1 Ju 87 shot down. The Stuka pilot bailed out. The aircraft crashed in a forest near Kruischbosch. After Geddes landed and reported his victory F/O Tony Doidge jumped into a car and raced to Kruischbosch. He returned with a piece of the Stuka.

3 Sqn (Hurri)
P/O J Rose in N2535 force landed, after being damaged by a Me109 of I/JG77 near Seclin. Returned to unit. A/C destroyed

4 Sqn (Lysander)
P/O JA. Plumb, KIA, (Air Gnr.) R J. Thornton, (KIA), A/C S/N unknown; Shot down by Me 109's while making practice landings at Lille-Marcq. Possibly that a/c claimed by Oberlt von angerow (Staffelkapitän) of 2.(J)/LG2 11.00 hrs.

F/O LJ. Oldacres, KIA, (Air Gnr.) C Butterill, KIA, Shot down by Me 109's while making practice landings at Lille-Marcq. Possibly that a/c claimed by Lt Tismar of 3.(J)/LG2, 11.15 hrs.

12 Sqn
Battle airborne 1019 from Echemines. Badly shot about and Sgt Belcher, KIA. The two injured airmen were admitted to Hospital. A/C was lost

16 Sqn (Lysander)
F/O AP. Reed, missing P/O I Dromgoole, missing, a/C (S/N not reported) Possibly shot down by Hptmn Schellmann (Gruppenkommandeur) of Stab II./JG2 west of Tournai (Doornik).

17 Sqn (Hurri)
Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson damaged a Bf 109.

P/O RE. Harris, KIA, A/C N2408 destroyed, Shot down by Me 109 of LG2 near Le Cateau, 16.20 hrs.

26 sqn (Lysander)
Took off from Authie. Shot down by Lt Strakeljahn of I.(J)/LG2. Crashed and burned out at Neuvilly, 13.30 hrs. A/C caught fire. Recon, F, 2 Planes lost, 3 KIA, 1 DOW, 1 WIA

32 Sqn F/O J.C. Milner - POW , A/C N2462 was lost; Bailed out in the afternoon near Le Cateau after combat with Me 109's of I/JG2.

49 Sqn (Hampden), 77, 51, 58 and 102 sqn (Whitley)
Part of a larger opn that night. Targets included Oil refineries and railways in Germany along with enemy troops in Belgium attacked by 24 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys and 12 Hampdens (60 aircraft in total).


Airborne 20.05 hrs 18 May 1940 from Driffield. Target was Hannover At 21.35, while flying at 9,000 feet and some 60 miles off the Dutch coast, one Whitley was attacked by an Me110 and damaged. In turn the Me110 was claimed destroyed. Despite a painful foot wound, F/L Raphael ditched the bomber and the crew clambered into their dinghy. Their plight was seen by F/L Crockett, who happened to be in the area at the time, and he was able to direct an RN DD to the scene. After 4 hrs afloat the crew were rescued and taken into Yarmouth.

Bombing - oil refinery at Hannover. 51 Sqn. 4 a/c. 3 bombed, one lost. 58 Sqn. 4 a/c. 3 bombed.77 Sqn. 7 a/c. 6 bombed, 1 shot down by Bf110 see above, crew rescued. Bf110 claimed destroyed. 102 Sqn. 8 a/c. 7 bombed.

(Next night )19/20 May)

58, 77, 102 Sqns (Whitley)
36 Hampdens, 30 Wellingtons and 12 Whitleys despatched to a number of targets in France, Belgium and Germany. 2 Whitleys lost.
Bombing - oil targets at Gelsenkirchen and Dorsten. 58 Sqn. 6 a/c. All bombed from low-level (2 - 8,000 feet). Severe opposition. 77 Sqn. 2 a/c. Both bombed, one badly damaged by Flak. 102 Sqn. 4 a/c. Extremely severe opposition, 2 lost

59 sqn (Blen)
Recon 1 a/c lost, crew safe (1 wia), Lost bearings during recon over LESSINES and forced-landed low on fuel at ST VAAST-EN-CHAUSSÉE, NW of Amiens 7p.m. later strafed by enemy a/c. A/c abandoned.

73 sqn (Hurri)
5 bombers are lost to 73 sqn. F/lt 19 May Scoular shoots down 2 He111s in rapid succession. The bombers went down out of control near Reims. One of the Heinkels were credited to him as a shared with Sgt A Marshall. It is actually now believed the a/c attacked by 73 Sqn were probably Ju88s of I and II/KG51 although it is possible that some of the pilots may have encountered stray Heinkels from III/KG27 previously attacked by 1 Sqn and struggling home. I and II/KG51 records confirm the loss of 3 Ju88s and 1 damaged. III/KG 27 also lost multiple a/c but it is not possible to determine who shot them down.

87 sqn (Hurri)
2 Me 109s, 2 Do17's, 1 He111 shot down for no loss

103 sqn (Battle)
6 Battles attacked troop concentrations in the Conde-sur-Aisne area using the newly devised methods and all returned safely in spite of heavy flak reported in the target area. Belatedly, orders were received confirming what had already been decided within this sqn, abandon low level raid by day and attack individually

Night ops would also be flown and a special flare firing was rigged up. This was an electrically controlled series of glim lamps wired through a rheostat and working off the Chance light generator. This system worked very well and the lights could be dimmed or extinguished immediately if required in the event of enemy aircraft being in the vicinity. In general the tactical night operations were never a great success but the Battles were now considered too vulnerable to fly regularly by day without fighter escort and the few RAF ftr sqns in France were too busy intercepting LW raids to undertake more escort duties.

111 sqn (Hurri)
Lille-Cambrai 2 a/c lost, 2 KIA
No. 111 Sqn shot down 4 He111's in rapid succession in the Lille-Cambrai area, around 14.15 hrs

 

[parsifal]

19 May 1940 - The BEF
On this day the detail operational planning for the evacuation began, beginning with the appointment of Admiral Ramsay and his staff to organize and make ready for the evacuation. On taking over this task, Ramsay was to find that only 36 DDs were operational and available, not nearly sufficient to reach the target evacuation rate of 10000 per day.
Boulogne/Calais Sector
Following a heavy air raid on the night of 19/20 May, in which the Hotel Imperiale (Brownriggs HQ) was bombed and several staff officers killed, Brownrigg, whilst still trying to organize a defence with the forces at his disposal, also had to contend with a further relocation of his HQ. Between 19 and 22 May, various Allied units trickled into Boulogne most significantly 1900 men of No 5 Group of the Pioneer Corps under command of Lt Col Dean VC, This force had already fought some rearguards at St Pol whilst enroute , and had finally retreated to Boulogne after vacating Doullens, which had been outflanked after the French units adjacent had dissolved.

Upon arrival at Boulogne many of this units members set to work as labourers to form hasty fortifications. Other units to arrive included about 360 men of the 36th Bde, which had also been at St Pol and Doullens, and had been badly mauled after the French collapse. There were also some strgglaers from the Durham Lt Infantry separated from the parent unit which was fighting near Arras.

British units already in Boulogne were AA troops comprising 2 troops of the 2nd HAA Bn with the new 3.7" guns and 2 troops of the 57th LAA Bn with a few 40mm Bofors and HMGs. There was a small detachment of a Barrage Balloon co. and a searchlight bty. For some reason, just when they were needed, the ballon detachment received orders to evacuate. Inexplicable….. . There were three forts that ringed the port, manned by French garrison troops, perhapos 5 Bn equivalents. Two of the forts were on the coast, to the nth and sth of the site, and a further inland at Villa haute. These fell to the command of Gen Lanquetot (of the mauled 21st Fr Inf XX), and rallied units of this div were also trickling into the city as the day wore on.

Somme Front
De Gaulle receives further orders to cross the Serre at Crecy (which was to be captured by a French Colonial Infantry XX. His forces are not ready, howev er, they are recovering from the combat on the 17-18th at Montcornet

 

[parsifal]

20 May 1940
Losses
MV ANTVERPIA (Be 4933 grt) The cargo ship was bombed and severely damaged in the English Channel off Boulogne, in a LW air raid. She was beached on 21 May, but bombed again on 23 May and set on fire.

MV DENEB (Nor 856 grt) The ship was used in the Narvik campaign for fuel storage, Whilst carrying out a fuel transfer with a British cargo vessel tied alongside, DENEB was hit by bombs in the LW raid on Harstad 20 May. She and the British ship caught fire and were lost. 2 crew were killed, the majority of the crew were not on board at the time the ship was lost. She was scuttled the next day by a British destroyer. Steamers PEMBROKE COAST was also sunk (see below) and steamer BALTEAKO (UK 1328 grt) was badly damaged in this incident at Harstad.

MV PEMBROKE COAST (UK 625 grt) This vessel was lost at the same time as the DENEB (see above) The cargo ship was bombed and damaged in a LW raid on Harstad. She was scuttled the next day.

Tug HERCULE (Fr 216 grt) The tug struck a mine and sank at Calais, Pas-de-Calais.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr NIGER (Fr 5482 grt) The tanker was bombed and sunk off Gravelines, Nord by LW a/c. All crew were rescued by TB CYCLONE.

Tkr OPHELIE (Fr 6477 grt) The tkr was bombed and sunk in the English Channel off Boulogne.

Aux MSW trawlers RIFSNESS (RN 431 grt) and LORD INCHCAPE (338grt) were minesweeping between Dunkirk and Ostend.
Trawler RIFSNESS was sunk by LW air attack. Trawler LORD INCHCAPE picked up her crew and returned to Dover. 2 crew wewre lost in the attack. A 3rd rating, reported lost, was taken as PoW.

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Fishing Vessels S.130 (Den 50 grt (est) and S.175 (Den 50 grt (est)) were intercepted in the Nth Sea Sub SPEARFISH . The crews of both vessels were taken off and they were sunk by gunfire

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-28

At Sea 20 May 1940
-8, U-9, U-28, U-37, U-43, U-60, U-62.
7 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs WESSEX and VENETIA arrived Humber. DD ASHANTI departed Dundee for Rosyth after repairs. Fr sub ANTIOPE fired 3 torps at Fr sube SYBILLE in the Nth Sea. The torp luckily missed the target. ANTIOPE and SYBILLE and sub SHARK in adjacent patrol areas were ordered not to attack submarines. SYBILLE reported both periscope presses defective and a sick rating. SYBILLE was ordered to Rosyth and was relieved on station by sub L.23, which departed Harwich on the 21st. Fr sub ACHILLE arrived at Dundee. ACHILLE was bombed in the restricted area by CC a/c. Damage was sustained to the external fuel tanks, hydroplanes, echo sounding gear, both props. Fr sub AMAZONE arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Sub SALMON departed Harwich on patrol. On a minelaying sortie from North Coates, a Swordfish of 812 Squadron ditched at sea with the crew lost. OA.152 departed Southend escorted by corvette ARABIS. The corvette was later transferred to convoy HG.31. FN.176 departed Southend, escort sloop LONDONDERRY, arriving at the Tyne on the 22nd. MT.70 departed Methil, escort DD WALLACE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.175 departed the Tyne, escort DD WALLACE. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.

DKM S Boats S.22, S.23, S.24, S.25 of the 1st S.boat Flotilla and S.13, S.30, S.31, S.32, S.34 of the 2nd S.boat Flotilla departed Borkum to operate off Nieuport.

Northern Waters
DDs ARROW and FORTUNE carried out a search of Scapa after a shore battery fired at an unknown craft at 0106 entering Scapa Flow through Water Sound. DDs SIKH, FURY, FORESIGHT, MASHONA were also searching. The unknown craft later was determined to be a float laid by survey ship FRANKLIN to gauge speed of the current. DD SIKH carried out firing trials of a modified pom pom gun in the anchorage at Scapa. Sub TRUANT departed Tromso on patrol off North Cape.

West Coast UK
On 19 May at 1200, DDs ZULU, WITHERINGTON, ESCORT, ACASTA, ARDENT departed the Clyde to provide the home waters escort for Cdn troop convoy TC.4. The convoy on the 20th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 20th. on the 21st, BB REVENGE and DDs ARDENT and ACASTA anchored at Greenock. DDs ZULU, ESCORT, WITHERINGTON arrived in the Clyde on the 21st after escorting the convoy. A report of 1 enemy BB and a large number of DDs was received. All DDs at Scapa raised steam to escort capital ships, but the order was later reduced when the report was reduced to only 4 DDs steering NE. DD MAORI departed Liverpool for the Clyde after repairs. She arrived at Greenock on the 21st.

SW Approaches
OG.30 was formed from convoys OA.150G, which departed Southend on the 18th escort corvette CLARKIA, OB.150G, which departed Liverpool on the 18th escort sloop ROCHESTER, with 46 ships. Corvette CLARKIA escorted the convoy on the 20th, sloop BIDEFORD escorted the convoy from 20 to 23 May and was then detached to HG.31F. DD WATCHMAN, from convoy HG.31F, escorted the convoy from 23 to 26 May when the convoy arrived at Gib. HG.31F of 29 ships departed Gib, with escort DD WATCHMAN from 20 to 23 May and was then transferred to OG.30. Fr aux PV JUTLAND escorted the convoy from 20 to 26 May. The PV arrived at Lorient on the 27th. Sloop BIDEFORD from convoy OG.30 escorted the convoy from 26 to 28 May. DD WORCESTER escorted the convoy from 26 to 29 May when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Channel
DD MALCOLM off the North Goodwins was attacked by the LW and damaged by 3 near misses. 2 were killed and 19 crew, were wounded. MALCOLM departed Dover on the 21st for Portsmouth. She was repaired in 4 days. MSW HARRIER completed boiler cleaning at Dover. The MSW departed Dover that day to join MSW Flot 6.

ASW trawlers LADY PHILOMENA and KINGSTON OLIVINE, while on patrol, were bombed by the LW. On 21 May, it was determined near misses had made the trawlers unseaworthy and docking was required. Trawler LADY PHILOMENA arrived at Dover on the 22nd with the crew of an a/c that had crashed off Folkestone.

UK-France
Fr steamer MASSILIA departed Liverpool, escort DD WAKEFUL. Both ships arrived at Brest during the afternoon of May 22.

Nth Atlantic
HX.44 departed Halifax local escort RCN DDs SAGUENAY and SKEENA, which were detached on the 21st. BHX.44 departed Bermuda on the 19th escort locally by sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of AMC JERVIS BAY. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.44 on the 25th and the AMC was detached. AMC AUSONIA assumed command of escort of the convoy from the DDs on the 21st. The AMC was herself detached on the 30th. On that day, sloop ROCHESTER joined and on 1 June, sloop ENCHANTRESS joined providing inbound escort in home waters, with the convoy arriving at Liverpool on the 3rd.

Med- Biscay
Fr BBs BRETAGNE and PROVENCE departed Alex to sweep towards Cape Bon. They were escorted by Fr Contre Torpilleur DDs LYNX and TIGRE and RAN DDs STUART, VAMPIRE, VOYAGER, WATERHEN. Fr DDs BORDELAIS and TROMBE joined the sweep on the 22nd. The RAN DDs were detached to Malta where they refuelled and arrived back at Alex on the 25th. The Fr BBss returned to Mer el Kebir, arriving on the 27th.

DDs WISHART and DOUGLAS departed Gib escorting British troopship ORONSAY to Malta.

 

[Njaco]

May 20 Monday
GERMANY: The German High Command (OKW) puts forward "Unternehmen Rot"(Operation Red), the plan for the final offensive against France.

WESTERN FRONT: The Panzers reach the sea. At 0140 hours, Rommel's 7.Panzerdivision moves out of Cambrai and in 6 hours advances 20 miles. They pull up 2 miles from Arras, which is strongly held by the British Expeditionary Force, to allow the infantry to catch up. The advance of Guderian's Panzer Corps is even more spectacular. At 0900 hours, German 1.Panzerdivision seizes Amiens, while 2.Panzerdivision forces reach Abbéville, France. At 2000 hours, a reconnaissance unit of 2.Panzerdivision passes through Noyelles, reaching the sea near Abbéville, splitting Allied forces and trapping much of it in a northern pocket. This battalion is the first German unit to reach the Atlantic coast, just ten days after the start of the offensive. In 10 days they have traveled 200 miles from the German border to the English Channel. The Germans have now driven a corridor at least 20 miles wide from the Ardennes to the Channel. The obvious need is for the British and French to cut through this corridor before its walls can be strengthened to cut off irrevocably the forces to the north. Before his dismissal Gamelin was planning such an attack, but it has been cancelled following his sacking only to be revived now by Weygand. The delay imposed by these changes of mind prevents it from retaining even a slim chance of success. Almost a million Allied soldiers are now surrounded in Northern France and Belgium, leaving Allied plans to defend Belgium and France in ruins.

Warplanes of 3./JG 2 shot down eight French LeO 45 bombers, including two by Lt. Wick and one by Hptm. Hennig Strumpell, Staffelkapitän. In the evening, III./JG 53's Gruppenkommandeur, Hptm. Mölders, scores his thirteenth kill, a Vickers. Lt. Max-Hellmuth Ostermann of 7./JG 54 achieves his first aerial victory.

Major Dr. Erich Mix's III./JG 2 depart the airbase at Bastogne and follow the Stab to the airfield at Signy-le-Petit.

NORTHERN EUROPE: An He 111 of 1(F)./122 sortied over Narvik and escaped interception by Sea Gladiators. Two transports were reported in Beisfjord. Other sorties reported further shipping – the result was a series of strikes made by KG 26, KGr 100 and KG 30.

UNITED KINGDOM: British Admiral Bertram H. Ramsay met with his staff beneath Dover Castle to draw up a formal plan for the evacuation of British and French forces from Dunkirk. The plan was called "Operation Dynamo."

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.

 

[parsifal]

20 May 1940 - RAF Operations

(still completing)

26 sqn (Lysander) Recon, F. 1 Plane lost, 2 POW, Took off from Lympne. forced-landed on beach during evening recon sortie over Calais. Brought down by AA.

32 Sqn (Hurri)
Patrol, F. 1 Plane lost, Crash-landed SE Arras after being hit by Hs 126 of 3(H)/41; aircraft burned out, 18.30 hrs. Pilot safe.

44 sqn (Hampden)
Communications 1 Plane lost, 4 KIA, Airborne from Waddington to attack rail communication in tactical support of the BEF, France. Hit by Flak and crashed near Aachen, Germany.

48 sqn (Anson)
Dutch Patrol. 1 Plane lost, 4 MIA. Took off 17.10 hrs from Detling, in company with two other Ansons to attack nine German Motor Torpedo Boats(MTB's) in position CPOX 2706. At 19.00 hrs 35 km SW of Texerl, they sighted eight or nine MTB's in convoy and attacked. F/Lt Dodds led the attack and was hit by flak from an E-boat in the starboard wing and was forced to ditch.

77 sqn (Whitley)
Cambrai, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 POW, Airborne 2036 20May40 from Driffield. Reported to have forced landed near Abbeville (Somme), France. The crew (less 1 member taken prisoner) evaded capture and soon returned to Driffield

79 sqn (Hurri)
1 Plane lost, 1 MIA, Shot down by groundfire during attack on enemy armoured columns west of Arras, 14.30 hrs.

87 sqn (Hurri)
1 Ju88 no loss

 

[parsifal]

20th May 1940 - The BEF


In the pre-dawn, whilst Rommels 7th Pz XX was maneuvering to bypass Arras (unaware of the impending blow about to hit him). Guderian's tanks in the south jumped off from the Cambrai-Peronne line, capturing Amiens by 9am, and further pushing forward to establish a bridgehead 4 miles deep on the south bank of the Somme. On Guderians right, 2nd Pz XX thrust forward from Albert through Doullens, Bernaville and then Beaumetz. At 7am its advanced elements took Abbeville and then pushed a single Panzer Bn forward still, reaching Noyelles shortly before nightfall.

Meanwhile Guderians right flank units pushed through from the Albert Canal through Doullens crushing scattered French garrison units and mauling parts of the 36 Br Inf Bde. These forward elements pushed through Bernaville and Beaumetz, At 0700 that morning, advanced elements entered Abbeville unopposed , with a single Pz Bn pushing onto the coast by nightfall, reaching Noyelles that evening. He didn't realize it at the time, but he had done it, succeeded where for four years in the previous war such victory had eluded the Germans. Even at this moment of victory, the german almost lost the plot, with Guderian ordered to halt. With no plan and no instructions as to what to do next, Guderian was forced to halt for 24 hours, this time the halt was real. OKW was as surprised a anyone by Guderians dash to the wire, and the whole of 20-21 May was lost whilst further orders were worked out. Up to now the various halt orders were largely mythical in their effects. Such delays as had occurred now and after were largely the result of allied resistance and supply issues, but the delays of 20-21 May were very real. It had nothing to do with "giving the Luftwaffe a chance" however. Just a plan that had not anticipated its own runaway success.

The allies, meanwhile, continued to dither.

On morning of this day, Churchill instructed that "as a precautionary measure , the Admiralty should assemble a large number of small vessels in readiness to proceed to ports and inlets on the French Coast." As an immediate consequence, 30 passenger ferries, 12 drifters and 6 small coastal merchant vesels were placed under his command. It is intriguing that even whilst exhorting the army to fight its way out, even whilst making up stories about how much help was at hand, Chiurchilll was all the while getting his forces ready for an emergency evacuation

The newly appointed French C in C, General Weygand, met with the Belgian high command at Ypes. There were disagreements about what the Belgians should do. Leopold and his staff wanted to fall back to Ostend, forming a vast bridgehead and retaining control over a sizable chunk of Belgian territory. Weygand urged the Belgians to fall back to the river Yser and from there mount a strong defence, as they had done in 1914, awaiting relief from their allies. Weygands plan was militarily sound, but failed to appreciate the dire circumstances and challenges being faced by the Belgians at that time. The Belgian Army had been in continuous action since 10 May and had undertaken a number of forced marches over the preceding days. The Belgian Army was in pretty bad shape. Weygands suggestion would require further strenuous movement and further losses to the hard fought rearguard actions. Movement was by now exceedingly difficult, due to the roads being utterly congested with refugees and the chaotic general retreats along the roads by the allied armies. The Weygand Plan would require wholesale relocation of Belgian Army stores and supplies, including food, which already was becoming limited.. The meeting with the Belgians did not resolve the issues confronting the Belgian high command.

An after this meeting began, Billotte, commander of the NW Army Gp, arrived with General Fagalde (commander Fr XVI Corps, 1st Armee). Weygand outlined his scheme to Billotte; it involved a southwards from Cambrai, whilst a simultaneous pincer movement would be launched by the forces behind the Somme, in the vicinity of Bapaume. Billotte disagreed strongly with this proposal, arguing that 1st Armee was exhausted and lacking the strength to mount such an attack. Billotte suggested that only the BEF was now in any condition to mount such an attack.

However Weygand was unable to meet with Gort on the 20th, and was further informed by Adm Abrial that it was no longer possible to fly out of the pocket. He was provided with transport via a 600 ton French Navy TB, arriving at Cherbourg, and finally reaching Paris on the morning of the 22nd May.

British Foreign Secretary Halifax, without any authorisation, contacts Swedish businessman Dahlerus, telling him to approach Hermann Göring for possible Anglo-German negotiations to end the war. At that point, the british are expecting to rescue less than 30,000 men from the BEF in the evacuation plans

With the RN DD forces reeling and overstretched, Churchill for the second time in a week sends a telegram to US President Roosevelt, again requesting for destroyers; "If they were here in 6 weeks, they would play an invaluable part."

 

[Njaco]

May 21 Tuesday
WESTERN FRONT: While Guderian consolidates his position on the English Channel, Rommel bypasses Arras to the West and aims for the coast 50 miles away. However, French and British commanders (notably Churchill) have been urging a counterattack on the Panzer spearhead. Two infantry battalions of British Expeditionary Force 50th Division and 1st Army Tank Brigade attack German forces southeast of Arras, with 58 Mark I Matilda tanks (with single machine guns), and 16 Mark II Matilda tanks (with high-velocity 40-mm guns). They inflict serious casualties on Erwin Rommel's artillery and infantry. The German 37mm PaK anti-tank guns have no effect on the British "Matilda" tanks. In desperation, Rommel uses his 88mm Flak 18, 36 and 37 anti-aircraft guns in flat fire. The famous "88" anti-tank gun is born. An advanced Panzer regiment turns around and attacks the British from the rear, helping to push the British tanks back to Arras. This line destroys 36 British tanks. Panzer tanks join in destroying a further seven tanks, but at a loss of three Panzer IV tanks, six Panzer III tanks, and other light tanks. German troop losses total 387 men in this one battle, four times the total losses to date. German panzers head north along the coast from Abbéville.

Elsewhere, the French 9th Army was surrounded and destroyed; commanding officer General Giraud was captured.

In Paris, France, General Robert Altmayer, a retired cavalry general who had retired four years earlier as Inspector-General of Cavalry, was summoned by Maxime Weygand to take command of Group A (later renamed Tenth Army) consisting of the 9th Corps, 10th Corps and 3rd Division Legere Mecanique. He was also told that all BEF troops south of the Somme (1st Armoured Division and 51st Highland Division) would also come under his orders. Weygand visits the commanders of the northern armies to try to coordinate attacks from north and south of the German corridor to the coast. By a series of accidents he misses seeing BEF commanding General Lord Gort. General Gaston Billote, commander of the French First Group of Armies, is fatally injured when his driver crashed into a truck returning from the Ypres conference. The attack will never take place. The small British effort has already been made. The Belgians will try to free some more British units for a later effort but this will not be possible. The French themselves, both north and south, are already too weak.

German bombers attacked British ports on the English Channel while RAF bombers attacked refineries near Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Major Dr. Erich Mix of III./JG 2 is shot down in a Bf 109E-3, W.Nr. 1526, making a successful belly landing near Roye, France. He makes it back to friendly lines with slight injuries. Oblt. Hans von Hahn, Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 53 scores three kills, a LeO 45, a Morane and a P-36 and Hptm Mölders, also of JG 53, scores three kills, all French Moranes from GC I/6 and III/6, to bring his score to sixteen and surpassing his Spanish record.

The Henschel biplanes of II(Schlacht)./LG 2 become the most forward based Luftwaffe unit when they reach Cambrai.

A slight set-back to the Allied mine defenses programme came about when the mine destructor vessel 'Corburn' was sunk by a mine in shallow water off Le Havre. German divers later were able to discover the ships secrets and altered their magnetic mines accordingly.

GERMANY: In a conference Admiral Raeder mentions to Hitler for the first time that it may be necessary to invade Britain. The German navy has made some preliminary studies before this but they have not been based on the availability of French bases. Little though is given to the possibility at this stage even after this conference.

The pilots and ground personnel of the night-fighting unit 11(N)./JG 2 are transferred to the airbase at Trondheim.

Erwin Rommel was awarded the 1939 clasp to his Iron Cross First Class medal.

SOUTH PACIFIC: At a meeting of the Australian War Cabinet, industrialist Essington Lewis is appointed Director General of Munitions Supply, and given great freedom to achieve his goals. Sir Keith Murdoch is appointed Director General of Information, with wide-ranging powers and responsibilities. Cabinet approves construction of a dry dock in Sydney capable of taking battleships and aircraft carriers. A Director General of Recruiting is appointed.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British government announced that over 250,000 men had enrolled in the Local Defence Volunteers organization within the first 24 hours of its existence.

An official British Admiralty communiqué noted that;

"...the Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce that as the result of damage sustained through striking an uncharted rock off the Norwegian coast, HMS "Effingham" (Captain JM Howson, RN), has become a total loss".

NORTHERN EUROPE: RAF No. 263 Squadron returns to Norway with 18 Gladiators and RAF No. 46 Squadron provides 18 Hurricanes. They are unable to provide much protection to Allied warships in Ototfjord.

The French, Polish and Norwegian forces moving in on Narvik advance another stage and gain positions on the northern side of Rombaksfiord.

.

.

.

 

[parsifal]

21 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
S Boote S-26

Allied
Tree Class ASW Trawler CHESTNUT Flower Class Corvette HIBISCUS

Losses
On this day the Dunkirk meatgrinder began in earnest

A group of French merchant ships were ordered away from Dunkirk. However, heavy attacks by the LW began before the ships even left port. Tkr SALOME (Fr 13,291 grt) was badly damaged by bombing before she could even be towed into the channel (she was eventually scuttled 3 june).

Steamer PAVON (Fr 4128 grt) with 1500 Dutch troops aboard for evacuation to England, was badly damaged by the LW between Gravelines and Calais. The steamer was run aground a total loss near Calais. Fr DDs CYCLONE, SIROCCO, MISTRAL rescued the survivors.

DD L'ADROIT (Fr 1378 grt) waiting to escort this convoy, was bombed by a group of He 111s and beached in a sinking condition at Malo les Bains before ever joining the convoy.

SC CH.9 (Fr 107 grt) also waiting to escort the convoy, was bombed and badly damaged off Dunkirk. She was run aground a total loss to prevent sinking and abandoned.

Steamer BAWTRY (UK 835 grt) was sunk by German bombing in the Dunkirk docks. The crew of thirteen and one naval gunner were saved and returned to England. The steamer was later raised by German forces, salved, renamed RIVAL for German service.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr CLAIRY (Pan 5838 grt) was sunk by German bombing off Boulogne. The tkr was abandoned on fire on the 22nd, with the entire crew was rescued.

aux MSWs SAINT BERNOIT (Fr 315 grt), NOTRE DAME DE LORETTE (Fr 339 grt), BRIEN SANS PEINE (Fr 142 grt), [/B], JACQUES COEUR (Fr 285 grt), SAINT JOACHIM (Fr 192 grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Tug TUMULTE (Fr 370 grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]


Tugs ORME (Fr 340 grt) and BARFLEUR (Fr 330 grt) were scuttled at Boulogne after being immobilised by bombing.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

PV Trawler LA LORIENTAISE (Fr 350 grt (est) The Naval Trawler was sunk on this date.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Aux MSW LEOPOLD SOUBLER (Fr 215 grt) The auxiliary minesweeper was scuttled at Boulogne.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Aux MSW CECILE (Fr 350 grt (est) The aux MSW was scuttled at Boulogne after being immobilised from bombing.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

To give the destroyers relief from constant bombing, Fr DDs CYCLONE, MISTRAL, SIROCCO, FOUGUEUX, FRONDEUR departed Dunkirk and arrived in the Downs that evening.

FV DE NORMANDIE (Be 137 grt) The fishing boat (FV) struck a mine and sank off Dieppe, Seine-Maritime with the loss of 13 lives.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

FV ERNESTINE GABRIELLE (Be 13 grt) The fishing boat was bombed and sunk at Dieppe by the LW.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

FV IINDEPENDENCE (Be 110 grt (est)) The fishing boat was bombed and sunk at Dieppe by the LW.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

FV GEORGETTE SIMONE (Be 11 grt) The fishing boat was bombed and sunk at Dieppe by the LW .

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

FV NELLY SUZANNE (Be 151 grt)The fishing boat was bombed and sunk at Dieppe by the LW.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Mine destructor ship CORBURN (RN 3060 grt) was sunk off Le Havre. British sources say the loss was due to a mine, German sources say as a result of action by DKM S-Boat S.32. Perhaps a mine laid by the S-32, though even this seems implausible.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Naval Trawler CAPE PASSARO (RN 270 grt) The naval trawler was bombed and sunk off Narvik by the LW with the loss of 4 crew.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

MV FIRTH FISHER (UK 574 grt) The coaster struck a mine in the English Channel off Boulogne and sank with the loss of 7 of the 11 people aboard.

MV HUBBERSTONE (UK 874 grt) The coaster was bombed and sunk at Dieppe by LW a/c. She was later salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as Jurgensby.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Hospital Ship MAID OF KENT (RN 2633 grt) The hospital ship was bombed and sunk at Dieppe by LW a/cwith the loss of 37 lives.

ASW Trawler MELBOURNE (RN 460 grt) The naval trawler was bombed and sunk off Narvik by LW a/c

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

MV SPINEL (UK 750 grt) Not a tkr, but carrying drums of fuel at the time of her loss. She was bombed and sunk at Dunkerque by the LW. She was salvaged by the Germans on 4 July, repaired and entered German service. Returned to Britain postwar, finally scrapped in 1971.

Postwar photo of the SPINEL
UBOATS

Departures
Kiel: U-56, U-101
Trondheim: U-122

At Sea 21 May 1940
U-8, U-9, U-28, U-37, U-43, U-56, U-60, U-62, U-101, U-122.
10 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs VIMY, WINDSOR, VENETIA departed the Nore for Dover. VIMIERA arrived at Dover after taking the WHITLEY crew to Portsmouth.

Northern Waters
CV ARK ROYAL, escorted by DDs ANTELOPE, BRAZEN, ENCOUNTER and VOLUNTEER, departed her patrol area near Narvik.
DD ANTELOPE which lost touch in thick fog arrived at Scapa Flow on the 24th. After being delayed by fog, the carrier arrived for refuelling at Scapa Flow on the 24th with DDs ENCOUNTER and VOLUNTEER. CVL FURIOUS flew off the Gladiator aircraft of the 263 Squadron ashore to Bardufoss airfield, NE of Narvik. One Swordfish of the 818 Squadron escorting the Gladiators crashed on a mountainside at Gryllefjord, Seja Island. Crew were injured, but recovered. CV GLORIOUS was unable to disembark her RAF Hurris of the 46 Sqn. The carriers with DDs VETERAN, DIANA, AMAZON, VISCOUNT departed their patrol area near Narvik for refuelling at Scapa. Both carriers arrived for refuelling on the 23rd. DD ICARUS departed Scapa. ASW trawlers JUNIPER and HAZEL of ASW Gp 19 departed Scapa escorting oiler BRITISH JUSTICE and steamer BALTONIA to the Clyde after which took station on patrol.

Channel
DD KEITH was damaged by the near miss at Dunkirk but managed to evacuate 150 British refugees and returned to Dover. Steamer FIDELITAS (It 5740 grt) was damaged by the LW at Antwerp. DD VENOMOUS at Calais was bombed by the LW, but avoided damage. She arrived at Dover on the 21st with 200 refugees with "unuised stores" from Boulogne (the critical barrage balloons mysteriously taken off Boulogne at about that time)? DD WILD SWAN on Nth Goodwins Patrol was attacked by the LW, but was not damaged. WILD SWAN proceeded to Boulogne and embarked a further 150 personnel, who were taken to Dover.

At Cherbourg, contre torpilleur DD CHACAL embarked a demolition party for the port of Calais, LEOPARD for Boulogne, JAGUAR for Dunkirk. French CinC Weygand left on Dunkirk on Fr TB FLORE for Cherbourg, via Dover, with the TB arriving safely at Cherbourg at dawn on the 22nd.

UK-France
OB.152 departed Liverpool escort sloop ROCHESTER from 21 to 23 May. The sloop was detached to convoy HX.42 on the 23rd.

Nth Atlantic
Fr CLs JEANNE D'ARC and EMILE BERTIN departed Brest on the 21st with 200 tons of gold to be taken to Halifax. Origiunall it was intended to assign Contre Torpilleur DDs JAGUAR and GERFAUT for escort, but this element of the op was abandoned. On the 25th the CLs rendevoused with CV BEARN, also carrying gold from Toulon. The ships safely arrived at Halifax on 1 June.

Med- Biscay
Fr DDs BASQUE and FORTUNE departed Bizerte escorting steamers PRESIDENT DOUMER and PROVIDENCE to Beirut, arriving on the 25th. These DDs replaced contre torpilleur DDs TIGRE and LYNX of Adm Godfrey's command. BASQUE had been repairing at Brest. She departed on the 13th, escorting the two steamers to Casablanca, arriving 16 May. The three ships passed Gib on the 16th and arrived at Bizerte on the 19th. DD FORTUNE had been repairing at Oran. She departed on the 16th and arrived at Bizerte on the 17th.

 

[parsifal]

21 May - RAF Air Operations
[UNFINISHED]

1 Sqn (Hurri) F/L F.E. Warcup, F/O D.S. Thorn and F/S A.V. Clowes share in the destruction of a He111, near Rouen, France.

4 Sqn (Lysander)
Reconnaissance, 2 Planes lost, 4 KIA, 1 plane Shot down and crashed at Zudausques, west of St. Omer. Believed that claimed by Lt Heinel of 4./JG2 east of Boulogne, 14.10 hrs. The other a/c belonged to B Flight, 4 squadron. Based at Lille-Ronchin; believed that claimed by Lt Lohoff of 3./JG77. Crashed at Bruyelle, south of Tournai (Doornik), 08.00 hrs.

No 13 Sqn (Lysander)
Took off from Clairmarais on a liason mission for the BEF. Shot down over St. Omer and crashed in St. Martin-au-Laërt. A/C and crew lost

15 sqn (Bristol Blen)
Airborne 1400 from Wyton to attack enemy armour on the Boulogne- Etaples-Hesdin-Montreuil road. Badly damaged by ground fire near Montreuil (Pas-de-Calais) and turned back towards the Channel. Crash landed in a field between Etaples and Boulogne. A/C lost 2 crew injured but safe. j

16 sqn (Lysander) Arras, Cambrai and Amiens, F. 1 Plane damaged , Took off from Lympne, UK. Returned with tail and rudder badly damaged by Me 109's during sortie to Arras, Cambrai and Amiens, 18.45 hrs. Possibly attacked by Uffz Lehmann of 2./JG51 near St-Pol-sur-Ternoise. Aircraft repairable

17 sqn (Hurri) Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson shared a Hs 126 (or 123?) destroyed.

18 sqn (Blen) Recon (near Arras) 1 plane lost; 3 MIA, (separate op) 1 plane lost was one of two 18 Sqdn Blenheims lost on day on separate ops. Airborne from Watton. Shot down at Wimeroux (Pas-de-Calais_ 5 km N of Boulogne, France, by RAF Spitfires (friendly fire) . The crew were unhurt and returned to their Sqn.

103 sqn (Battle)
5 Battles undertook the Sqn's first night attack on German communications and storage facilities at Fumay in Belgium and all returned to base. The a/c operated singly and the operation was made difficult because of mist in the target area. There were no losses however.

 

[parsifal]

21 May 1940 - The BEF


Whilst Weygand was still enroute to Paris, the BEF formed a small Brigade Group sized force, named "Frankforce" and delivered the most significant counterattack of the ill fated campaign, the counterattack at Arras. This effort was pitifully weak, but at least it was undertaken on time and with sufficient spirit as to unnerve certain German formations.

The attack at Arras was a much reduced affair, comprising two territorial Bns of the Durham Light Infantry and two British Tank Bns. There were also some weak detachments from Prioux's cavalry group. The operation was given a bty of RHA and a further AT bty. Major Gen Martel was placed in tactical command. General Franklyn was in overall command.

Martel's plan was simple, the force attacked southwards in two parallel columns, with the initial objective to reach the Cojeul River by nightfall.

The scratch British "Frank Force" was ordered to attack around the West of Arras with a start time of 0500 hrs 21 May. The objective was to cut the German columns and exploit to the East. 4 RTR was to be on the left with 6 DLI; 7 RTR on the right with 8 DLI plus supporting arms. 4 RTR had thirty five fit Mk 1 Matildas.. 7 RTR had twenty three Mk I and sixteen Mk II Matildas. Six of the latter, under Maj Hedderwick were lent to 4 RTR. There were also some Mk VI Light tanks in the Recon elements and ACs. By 0500 hrs it was clear that the Force was not ready. Some of the tanks were still arriving; the DLI having lost their transport to air attack were still marching towards Arras; some French tanks and some motorised infantry made a brief appearance but withdrew.

4 RTR reaching the Start Line on time were shelled. They crossed the railway line two squadrons abreast and, climbing a slight crest, struck the flank of SS Totenkopf Div followed by 6 Rifle Regt of 7 Pz Div. Without wireless communication squadron control was very difficult; tank commanders fought almost independently. The fourth achieved significant kills as they drove through the enemy towards Telegraph Hill. WO III Armit destroyed a number of A Tk guns with his .50 HMG.

There were very few maps; some tanks lost direction during the approach and there were some collisions between columns. Wireless silence imposed on the Brigade made the confusion worse. Only the four Recce Tp sets were already netted. The 4 RTR Recce Officer (Lt Vaux) lost one of his four light tanks to the CO, a second to the Adjutant and the third was detached to liaison. In the event the 6th and 8th DLI arrived late and exhausted.

7 RTR were late on the Start Line but had better communications, and made good progress Eastwards. Major King and Sergeant Doyle,(later awarded a DCM) in their Matilda Mk IIs, found and destroyed two batteries of A Tk guns plus 2 tanks and stalked and destroyed an 88 mm gun. Casualties were heavy and by 1600 hrs the COs of both Regiments were among the. The body of Lt Col J.G. FITZMAURICE, MC. (CO 4 RTR) and his radio operator MOORHOUSE were eventually interred in Dunkirk Town Cemetery. The grave of Lt Col H.M. HEYLAND, DSO (CO 7 RTR) is uncertain. It is known that he was killed near Wailly and among those buried in Wailly Communal Cemetery is "an officer known to God." who could not be positively identified. The DLI arrived at 1630; despite their fatigue both battalions fought bravely and effectively.

The right flank ran into opposition almost immediately, slamming into the elemens of Rommels 7th Pz XX in the village of Duisans. The village was taken after a stiff fight, and two companies of Infantry were left in the village to hold open the roads. The remainder of this flank pushed on to capture Warlus and Bernville, advancing as far as the Arras-Doullens Rd.. At this point the Infantry became pinned by heavy German mortar and MG fire The Germans were also supported by LW divebombers. There was no protection provided against the air attacks. However, Martell's tanks outflanked this position hooking round into the village of Wailly, where they charged the forming Totenkopf Div which was still arriving. SS Totenkopf panicked at the sight of the attacking British tanks. However the tanks were soon stopped with some losses, by the fire from some hurriedly emplaced 88mm guns. The tanks were halted and forced to withdraw.

The left flank meanwhile had somewhat greater success, virtually wiping out an entire motorized column at Dainville. Over 400 germans were captured, the largest single bag of prisoners taken by the allies to date The column pushed on with some advance units reaching Cojeul. However the tanks of the 4th RTR were by now unsupported and ran into a hastily formed KG of the 7th Pz XX. In a fierce fight at the river, they were forced to yield ground.

By that evening, it was abundantly clear that Frankforce was too weak to hold the gains it had made, much less continue the advance. Rommel was reforming his shattered formations and working around the flanks of the salient. He was able to later that evening begin developing a major threat in the rear of the British positions, west of Arras.

Gen Franklyn was convinced there was no alternative but to extricate his forces, and gave orders accordingly. Despite its puny proportions, the action was the most significant Allied counterattack to date, and quite apart from the very real material damage occasioned on the German mobile formations, presented a major dilemma in the German High Command. Believing the attack to be part of a much larger counterattack of no les than 5 divs, the action caused Rundstedt (Commander Army Gp) to order a temporary halt to further movements west by Kleist, and for the 6th and 8th Pz XXs to turn back to assist. Just after Arras, he wrote "A critical moment in the drive came just as my forces had reached the channel, caused by the British counter attack at Arras on 21 May." The attack at Arras even influenced Hitler, which in the coming days was to have far reaching effects. Rommel was appalled at the lack of dicipline evident in the SS Totenkopf unit.

However the failure of this attack also convinced Gort that all hope of breaking through to the south were gone. Over the next two days or so, there were further fitful attempts to break stranglehold, but Gorts decision to defy Churchill can be traced back to the failure at Arras.

In the Boulgne/Calais sector, as previously noted, the whole of the 20-21 May was wasted whilst Guderian waited for fresh orders. Finally vey late on the 21st, he received orders to continue to push nth and capture all three of the remaining channel ports. His immediate plan was to throw the 10th Pz XX (newly paced at his disposal) straight into the advance onto Dunkirk, via St Omer, whilst the rested 1st Pz XX took on the defences at Boulogne and Calais. Then, as a direct result of the counterattack at Arras, 10th PzXX was withdrawn from his command and ordered back to the Arras area. These orders were received at 0600 on the 22nd and forced the abandonment for the quick capture of Dunkirk.10th Pz XX was only ever employed as a corps reserve whilst so detached from Guderians control. Furious and frustrated, Guderian made repeated requests to have all three divs of his command re-united for the critical assault. All such requests were denied, and the rate of advance by the Panzer Korps slowed to a crawl as a result.

At Boulogne, Lt Col Dean has already requested the provision of additional reinformcements to defend Boulogne to cover its evacuation and has received 2nd Gds Bde (consisting of the 2nd Irish and 2nd Welsh Gds) and a detachment of Royal Marines to secure the port. The city is awash with refugees, wounded, noncombatants and deserters from the French Army, but the Guardsmen set up a perimeter and make prepration for the ports defence

 

[Njaco]

May 22 Wednesday
WESTERN FRONT: In Northern France, Rommel held his ground at Arras as he mistakenly believed he was facing 5 divisions of Allied troops when he was only facing 2 divisions and 2 tank battalions. Guderian, however, advanced toward Calais, Dunkirk, and Boulogne. The Belgian forces retreat to the Lys.

The RAF evacuates the continent. French Air Force withdrew Potez 630 heavy fighters from front line service.

Oblt. Helmut Lohoff of 3./JG 77 claims his first kill, a British Lysander near Carvin and Oblt. Helmut Wick of JG 2 scores two kills over France. Hptm. Mölders continues his success flying with JG 53 by destroying a French Potez 63 of GAO I/514 near Montagne de Reims.

Hptm. Joachim Schlichting's I./JG 1 move again, this time from the airfield at Charleville to new accommodations at Guise-Nordost.

In Paris, Churchill and Reynaud agree to a proposal by new French Commander-in-Chief General Weygand to attack the German salient caused by the Panzer thrust to the coast (essentially the same plan proposed by his predecessor, the disgraced Gamelin). However, it is too little, too late.

UNITED KINGDOM: The United Kingdom passed the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, giving the government authority over persons and property for the duration of the war.

Cryptologist in Bletchley Park, England broke the Luftwaffe Enigma code.

In London, England, United Kingdom, a Home Morale Emergency Committee was set up to advise the Ministry of Information on how to combat defeatism in Britain. Its chairman was the diplomat, author and wit, Mr. (later Sir) Harold Nicolson, a junior Minister for Information. Another member of the board was the Director of the National Gallery and future Television presenter, Kenneth (later Lord) Clark.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-37 attacked British armed merchant vessel "Dunster Grange" with four torpedoes and then surfaced to attack with the deck gun off of Land's End in Southwestern England. All four torpedoes missed, and "Dunster Grange" was able to fight off the attack and arrive in Liverpool safely two days later.

ASIA: Japanese bombers attacked Chongqing, China.

GERMANY: German pilot Hauptmann Wolfgang Falck was ordered to establish Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 wing for the night fighter defense of Germany.

SOUTH PACIFIC: Australian 8th Division formed, but most of the division was lost in the fall of Singapore in February 1942.

.

.

 

[parsifal]

22 May 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
RaumeBoote R-42

Allied
JKN Class DD NAPIER, ASW Trawler ALMOND, Flower Class Corvette MALLOW

Losses

Worsening weather averted another day like the last at sea

Yacht ALOHA (Be 181 grt) was sunk in mining off Ostend, with the loss of all crew.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV BJARKOY (Nor 311 grt) The coaster was bombed and sunk at Gratangsbotn, Tromso, having lost stability when bomb fell nearby during air attack on May 22-1940 (this took place during the evacuation of Fr soldiers) Raised in 1944, repaired and returned to service as Bogoy under Norwegian control. Still in service in the 1990's as the MEBO

Post war BJARKOY

MV EFFORD (UK 329 grt) The coaster was cut in two by the MV TLEMCEN (Fr 4435 grt), which was engaged in rescuing survivors off the PORTRIEUX (see below) off Gravelines and sank. French steamer TLEMCEN was towed to Dover by tug SIMLA.

Steamer HELENE (Ger 2160 grt) was sunk on a mine in Hubert Bay near Borkum, off the northern Dutch Coast.

Cargo Liner PALENA (Chile 2460 grt) The cargo liner came ashore in a storm at Valparaiso and was wrecked.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV PORTRIEUX (Fr 2460 grt) The cargo ship was sunk in a german air raid off gravelines.

FV TEASER (UK 9 grt) The fishing smack struck a mine and sank in the River Blackwater 400 yards off the coast of Tollesbury, Essex. Both crew were rescued

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
At Sea 22 May 1940
U-8, U-9, U-28, U-37, U-43, U-56, U-60, U-62, U-101, U-122.
10 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
BC RENOWN was on DG trials at Rosyth, escort DDs HIGHLANDER, ASHANTI, BULLDOG. Fog prevented completion of trials and she re-entered harbour. CLA CALCUTTA at Rosyth was ordered to Portsmouth to serve under Commander in Chief, Nore, but on the 24th, was diverted to Harwich.

ASW Gps 1, 11 and 19 were ordered to Harwich. This reduced the forces at Scapa to the point that continuous ASW patrols were not possible. Sub SALMON carried out Operation LAMP, the cutting of the cable off Amsterdam, with ASW trawler BARBADOS. The operation was also covered by DDs CODRINGTON and JAGUAR and completed on the 24th but was not successful. Sub STURGEON departed Blyth on patrol. Fr sub CALYPSO departed Lowestoft for Harwich. Subs SNAPPER and L.26 departed Harwich on patrol.
Depot ship MAIDSTONE departed Greenock for Rosyth. After calling at Scapa she departed on the 24th for Rosyth. Temporary S/Lt (A)F Leach RNVR, flying a Skua of 758 Squadron from Eastleigh, was badly injured when the sliding hood of his cockpit came away in the air and struck him in the face. Fr ML POLLUX departed Dundee for Rosyth.

FN.177 departed Southend, escort DD VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th. MT.71 departed Methil, escort sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne, later that day. FS.177 departed the Tyne, escort sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.

Northern Waters
DDs FIREDRAKE and FAME and Fr Contre torpilleur DD MILAN bombarded Narvik. FAME and MILAN were hit and slightly damaged by shore gunfire, and FAME retired to Skelfjord for repairs, but spent no time out of service. DDs ARROW and FORTUNE departed Scapa to investigate 2-3 FVs flying Swedish colours, reported on the 21st. They were not found, but there was evidence of recent fishing. The destroyers were ordered to patrol during the night to sweep for suspicious vessels including FVs, S Boats and U-boats. Late on the 22ns, ARROW sighted a periscope and FORTUNE dropped DCs, but the contact was probably false. They left the area at dawn on the 23rd. The alert time for the duty DD at Scapa was reduced to 15 min standby to protect against U boats and S Boats entering Scapa through the eastern entrance.

SW Approaches
The unescorted Dunster Grange was attacked by U-37 with 4 torpedoes south of Ireland. The first torpedo with magnetic fuze passed underneath the ship without detonating and the 2nd torp detonated prematurely, alarming the crew of the ship which evaded the next 2 torps. The U-boat then attacked with the deck gun and scored a hit with the first round, but accurate return fire forced the Germans to give up the attack and the Dunster Grange safely arrived at Liverpool on 24 May. Her radio messages alerted DDs MONTROSE, WAKEFUL, VANQUISHER and DEPTFORD, which unsuccessfully searched the area for the attacker.

Channel
Destroyer WILD SWAN was near missed by a German bomb at Boulogne and suffered slight damage and a few casualties. DDs WHITSHED and VIMIERA escorted British steamers BIARRITZ and QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL, carrying two AT companies (one from the 69th AT Regt, to Boulogne departing Dover at dawn on the 22nd. WHITSHED embarked refugees and the steamers embarked 800 personnel (some of the "useless mouths"), who were returned to Dover. British steamer CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH, carrying tanks, arrived later on the 22nd at Calais escorted by DDs VIMY and WOLSEY. British steamer MONA'S QUEEN departed Dover at 0948 for Boulogne escorted by DD VENOMOUS. DD VERITY with steamers MAID OF ORLEANS and CANTERBURY departed Dover for evacuation duties at Calais and returned that day. DDs WILD SWAN and WOLSEY with British steamers ST HELIER and SOLIDARITY proceeded to Dunkirk. DD WOLSEY evacuated 100 wounded. Steamer ST HELIER stayed with the DDs and returned to Dover. DD VERITY departed Dover the evening of 22 May to act as a guardship at Boulogne and arrived early on the 23rd. DDs VENETIA and WINDSOR departed Dover escorting steamer AUTOCARRIER to Calais. The DDs then acted as guardships at Calais. Demolition parties for the Fr Channel ports were embarked on DDs at Dover. DD WILD SWAN embarked the Dunkirk party XD.E. DD VENOMOUS embarked the Calais party XD.F. DD VIMY embarked the Boulogne party XD G. DD WILD SWAN departed Dover at 1026 and arrived at Dunkirk at 1305. DD WOLSEY arrived at Dunkirk with steamers ISLE OF THANET and WORTHING from New Haven and moored alongside DD WILD SWAN. DD WILD SWAN arrived back at Dover at 1700 with 75 airmen, 8 civilians, 75 injured soldiers.

UK-France
Fr steamers CAP HADID and VILLE DE MAJUNA escort ASW trawlers LEEDS UNITED and ARSENAL departed the Clyde for Brest. These ships formed convoy FR. 3, and were joined by steamers ROSE SCHAIFFINO and CAP BLANC, which departed Liverpool on the 23rd. The convoy arrived at Brest on the 25th.

Indian Ocean
CVL EAGLE, CL GLOUCESTER, which departed Simonstown on the 14th,and RAN CL SYDNEY, which departed Colombo on the 18th, arrived at Aden. They departed Aden on the 23rd. On the 26th, the cruisers arrived at Alexandria as reinforcements for the Med Flt.
On the 27th, EAGLE arrived at Alexandria.

 

[parsifal]

22 May RAF Operations
[UNFINISHED]

No 2 sqn (Lysander)
Attacked enemy columns sth of Boulogne, 2 Planes lost, 2 KIA, 1 WIA armed recons
2 enemy a/c (Hs126) and a He 111 were lost in exchange

No 16 Army Co-operation Cmd
No 4, 13, 16, 26 sqns (Lysander)
supply drop, Calais, 7 Westland Lysanders drop supplies to a besieged Allied garrison at Calais. No losses.

No 9 sqn (Wellington)
Raid on Namur , a/c crash landed on take off, a/c written off, crew safe

22 sqn (Bft) Training, UK. 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA

51 sqn (Whitley)
Jülich 1 Plane lost, 5 POW. Airborne 2030 21May40 from Dishforth. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near the Rhine W of Mönchengladbach, Germany. 1 crew member died of natural causes in captivity 26 Apr 41

57 sqn (Blen)
Recon 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA, Airborne from Hawkinge. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Haucourt (Pas-de-Calais), 12 km SE of Arras, and to the Nth of the main road leading to Cambrai.

59 Sqn (Blen)
1 a/c lost, 3 KIA, Mission not stated lost over Shot down by RAF Spit and crashed near Fricourt.

75 (NZ) sqn (Wellington)
Dinant, B. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA. 1 MIA, 3 POW Cause of loss not known, Crashed near Kain (Hainaut) 4 km NNW of Tournai, Belgium.

99 sqn (Wellington)
Dinant, B. 1 Plane lost, 6 KIA, Airborne 2120 21May40 from Newmarket. Crashed near Belval (Ardennes), 6 km WNW of Charleville-Mezieres, France. Cause unknown

102 sqn (Whitley)
Euskirchen, D. 1 Plane lost
Operating as part of a much larger force of 124 a/c (52 Whitleys, 47 Wellingtons, 25 Hampdens) 3 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost. Bombing - road/rail communications at Euskirchen, Julich and Rheydt. 10 Sqn. 10 a/c. All bombed (2 - 6,000 feet). 51 Sqn. 12 a/c, all bombed. One FTR. 58 Sqn. 12 a/c, all bombed. Moderate to severe opposition. 77 Sqn. 7 a/c. One returned early U/S, 6 bombed. 102 Sqn. 9 a/c. 2 returned early U/S, one DNR

103 sqn (Battle)
Amiens/Bernaville, F. 1 Plane lost, crew safe
Deapite the changes being rapidly implemented for the battle sqns (with promising results so far), Air Marshall Barratt received a direct order to attck using the now discredited low level massed attack methods by day. 4 Battles took off at dawn to make low-level attacks on German armour in the Amiens/Bernaville area. Barratt made strong protests about what he called "a pointless waste", but the desperate situation on the ground was forcing the allies into making bad decisions like this all the time. The weather was bad with low cloud, which made it very difficult to find the tanks, and the operation was a failure. Luckily the poor visibility also affected enemy flak effectiveness

107 sqn (Blen)
Boulogne 1 a/c lost, crew safe, 58 Blenheims of 107, 110 Sqn., and others attack German troops advancing to the nthn French coast. The a/c lost was hit by Flak while attacking AFVs in fields near Bouloge-sur-Mer and one engine was knocked out. Returning across the Channel the remaining engine failed and the Blenheim was successfully ditched apx. 7 miles from the English coast. The crew were rescued from their dinghy some 90 minutes later.

110 sqn (Blen)
Henschel. 2 Planes lost, 3 KIA, 1/c returned but crash landed when LG failed. 1 a/c was brought down by enemy flak.

 

[parsifal]

22 May - The BEF

Boulogne/Calais sector
Guderians advance on Dunkirk needs to take the ports of Boulogne and Calais, and he now faces stiffening opposition. Before he can tackle the defences being hurriedly set up at Boulogne, he meets a revived resistance from the surviving remnants of 21st Fr Inf XX, as well as some effective airstrikes from RAF Blenheims and Fr Navy Dive bombers. Together the British and French had between 8,000-9,000 men defending Boulogne and it approaches, but the town had not been prepared for defence, and the troops lacked AT weapons – the British had part of one AT Bty, the French had a small number of tanks. Guderians headlong advance has taken him outside the effective support range of the LW. Guderians losses mount, but he presses on doggedly, knowing the vital nature of his attack. On 22nd May at 12h30, the 2.PzD clashes with elements of the 48e RI in Neufchâtel and Nesles next to Boulogne. The battle lasts until 1600 and the guns of the 35e RA manage to destroy 9 German tanks. The French coastal artillery fires several salvo at 14,000m, against the German troops advancing on the Neufchâtel – Boulogne road. 4 German tanks are destroyed. At the end of the afternoon German counter-battery fire destroys one of the 138mm guns as well as the command post of the Mont-de-Couple battery. The French troops start to falter and fall back to Boulogne at 2200. A second column of the 2.PzD is blocked by the 3rd battalion of the 65e RI at Questrecques and Wiwignies. During this time the 1.PzD is blocked at Desvres by the 1st bn of the 65e RI. Several German tanks are destroyed, with 25mm AT guns but also with Molotov cocktails.

Guderians determination pays off, French resistance from its remnants is beginning to fade, and his leading elements are in sight of Boulogne port.

At this point the germans came up against the 2nd Irish Gds still digging in at the city perimeter. German artillery opened up on the guardsmen, at first only sporadic and light, but building quite rapidly A mixed tank/Infantry probe resulted in the tank component being destroyed by the ATGs of the Bn, but the Pz Infantry component pressed on. They assaulted the British positions 3 times in 6 hours, being beaten off each time until the last, undertaken as a night assault which overran the last remaining platoon of 1st Company. As the night wore on, the Irish Gds believed that heavy fighting was now occurring on the adjacent positions of the Welsh gds. In fact the Welsh gds, whilst they had been engaged, were less pressured than the Irishmen.

Guderians formations had started the attacks in a depleted state, and had suffered quite heavy casualties and vehicle breakdowns. The resistance by the Irish Gds had given the lead elements reason to pause and influenced decisions made further up the command chain as to how stiff the urban fighting along the channel ports was going to be. The initial battles around Boulogne probably only cost the Germans 24hours delay, but was long enough to allow the defence of Dunkirk to be better organized, and placed doubts in the minds of the enemy. The achievements of the Irish Gds on this day are one of those unnoticed vital events that led to the way events were to unfold in the coming 12 days.

Shortly after, Kleist released back to Guderian the 10 Pz XX, which had been removed from his control following the crisis at Arras. Guderian ordered the 10th towards Calais to relieve 1st Pz XX, which by this stage was close to the port, but faltering due to exhaustion and breakdowns. The capture of Calais was judged by OKW to not be urgent and Guderian felt that 10th Pz, with heavy LW spt, could undertake this task

On this day 40 Dutch Schuits (coastal Barges) which had escaped from Holland were requisitioned to Adm Ramsay for operations in the Dunkirk evacuation. They were to prove crucial in the upcoming evacuation.

Modern style of the Dutch Schuits (or barge)

 

[parsifal]

22 May - The BEF Part II

Gort met with Billotte on this day after nearly a day of searching, the French located him at Premesques (between Lille and Armentieres). He was collected and taken to Ypres.

Arras had already been fought (and in Gorts eyes, lost). It was at the meeting at Ypres that Gort first learnt of Weygands optimistic plans for a gigantic pincer movement, and of the further expectations to be made of the BEF. But in favour of doing something offensive, the Belgians had reluctantly fallen back to the River Lys. Gort was strongly urged to support General Fagalde's planned assault. Fagalde was a good negotiator and knew the British well (he had served as a liason to the original BEF in 1914), and he knew that the only chance of success for Weygands plan to work would be with considerable support from the BEF. In the end Gort gave in despite his misgivings. The only alternative to the counterattack idea was to fall back to the channel for some form of evacuation, which was expected to be a risky and costly business. By cajoling the Belgians and the French to take over sections of the BEFs left and right flanks, Gort was able to offer the 44th Div (from the left) and the 2nd and 48th (from the right). Gort stated to Billotte that he would not be ready to launch the assault until the 26th.

So ended this crucial meeting between Billotte and Gort. For the allies, the glimmer of hope this meeting presented was quickly extinguished. Billotte, the only man with knowledge of what both Weygand and Gort had said, and therefore a man of critical importance at that moment in time, tragedy was to strike almost immediately. On his return journey to Bethune, the car taking him crashed causing fatal injuries. He died two days later, without regaining consciousness. With Billottes death, any real hope of a co-ordinated response to the German thrust to the sea was shattered.

Weygand at last re-surfaced in Paris, and met with the French Premier Reynaud. After giving his briefing, rather up-beat and optimistic considering what he had just seen. Weygand managed to pull the dejected Reynaud together and did make a start on the issue of critical orders and preparations for the counterattack, but the preparations were sporadic and slow.

Winston Churchill also joined this meeting some time after its commencement. Churchill was besotted by Weygand and his supreme confidence, and readily agreed to his scheme for a counteroffensive.

Weygand explained to the Allies political leaders by means of a series of dot points in a short memo. It revolved around the myth of German vulnerability in the corridor and vast Allied strength. Once this myth had been sown, it gathered status with great speed, such is the willingness of desperate men when faced with the cold reality of defeat. Churchill fell for it hook line and sinker, as is revealed in his telegram to Lord Gort that afternoon. It contained a number of fallacious points, most damning was the following:

"The new French Army Group is advancing upon Amiens and forming a line along the Somme should strike northwards and join hands with the British divisions who are to attack southwards in the general direction of Bapaume."

There was no new French Army Gp, along the 90 mile stretch between the coast and the Crozat canal, there were just 5 hastily thrown together French infantry Divs, which constituted the embryo of the new 7th Armee, two badly battered DLMs and the understrength Brit 1st Armoured Div. The "advance on Amiens" did not get underway until the following afternoon on the 23rd, and it was attempted by a single division, the 7th Colonial with a squadron of tanks attached. This force was given the impossible task of seizing the Amiens Bridge, to pave the way for a push northwards by De Gaulles hastily formed 4th DCR (DeGaulle had received his orders 19th may, but it had taken until now for his battered forces after their assault at Montcornet had been repulsed, to make itself ready, and for the assaulting Infantry to be in position). The germans had mined the bridges The germans had mined the bridges and brought up 88mm AT guns. The advancing French columns came under heavy fire, including sustained stuka attacks. 18 tanks thrown into this assault were all knocked out by the 88s defending the bridges. Guderian wrote in his book "Panzer leader" that the threat from this attack was slight. Weygand's grandiose schemes were, one by one coming to nothing.

On the morning of the 22nd Fr 1st Armee's attempt to re-establish contact with the southern group of armies finally got under way, after much goading by the British General Ironside (future CIGS). Entrusted to Gen Altmayers V Corps, like the Arras attack that preceded it, it was a much reduced effort compared to what had been hoped for. It had originally been planned to throw in 2 full divs. In the finish, the attack was built around just one regt of the 25th Motorized Div, supported by two artillery batteries and two armoured recon groups.

With this force commitment there was not much hope of taking Cambrai. Initially the plan called for a bridgehead 2.5 miles sth of the Sensee canal. If this initial consolidation was successful , the remainder of the 25th Div would pass through this line in readiness for a drive southwards to Cambrai.

The assault by the 121st regt was personally directed by Div commander Gen Molinie, commencing mid morning, Jump off point was Douai. The experienced troops of the 121st cut through the widely dispersed and unready troops of the 32nd Infantrie Div, just arriving to positions just south of the Sensee. By 10am the French were in control of their primary objective. An armoured recon gp was sent through the lines, penetrating as far as the outskirts of Cambrai. .At this point the LW threw in heavy ground support, forcing the armour to pull up. Despite this the French held their positions in the bridgehead all that day. That evening, at 2100 hours, Altmayer sent for Molinie, and to the latters utter stunned amazement, he was ordered to withdraw his troops in the bridgehead immediately. Altmayer had received word of German reinforcement moving to the flanks of 1st Armee, and to put it bluntly, Altmayer had lost his nerve. To what extent this promising attack may have yielded strategic results will never be known, but from the juncture of perfect hindsight, it certainly looks like an opportunity squandered, like so many opportunities presented to the allies in those climactic days.

 

[parsifal]

23 May 1940 (Part I)
Known Reinforcements
Allied
RN Havant Class DD HARVESTER

Without working up, HARVESTER proceeded to Dunkirk for evacuation duties.

Losses
MV FRANZ HANIEL (Ger 2152 grt) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Kiel.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV GALAXIAS (Gk 4633 grt) The cargo ship was bombed and sunk in the English Channel off Dieppe by the LW . All crew were rescued.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DD JAGUAR (Fr 2126 grt) The Chacal class DD was sunk by torpedo from DKM S Boats S21 and S23 (operating as a group of 8) off Dunkerque with the loss of 13 crew and 33 injured.

DD ORAGE (Fr 1319 grt) The Bourrasque class DD was bombed and sunk off Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais by the LW

MV SIGURD FALBAUMS (Ex-Ger 3256 grt) This ships had been seized in prize by Belgian forces at Antwerp on the 10th 1940. She was trying to escape at the time of her loss. She was hit by 2 torps from U-9 and sank after breaking in two about 15 miles northeast of Zeebrugge. The ship was in tow of the Belgian tugs Baron de Maere and Graaf Visart when torpedoed, as a result of sabotage by the captive German crew before being seized. The engines were non functional. The crew remained on the still floating forepart and were picked up by the Belgian Tug GRAAF VISAART, which then took the other tug in tow and continued her voyage. SIGURD FALBAUMS was carrying tin at the time of her loss

Sub TETRARCH stopped three Danish FVs . One vessel was sunk and the other two were sent into Leith as prizes. FV L 61 / Terje Viken (28 GRT) was damaged. RN sources claim it sunk, but Uboat Net says the ship was damaged but salvaged (less the crew). Im am unsure about this event. I favour the British claim. Danish crew was removed and scuttling charges set, Danish claims are based on post war accounts, not eyewitness account, British claims are based on ships log and observation the vessel sank. FVs EMMANUEL (Den 33 grt) and JENS HVAS (Den 50 grt (est)) were stopped then taken as prizes.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-26

At Sea 23 May 1940
U-8, U-9, U-26, U-28, U-37, U-43, U-56, U-60, U-62, U-101, U-122.
11 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic

North Sea
Sub TRITON stopped a Danish FV in the Nth Sea. The sub was restricted to sink FVs only if she could accomodate the crew. If not, she was to release the fishing vessel which she was forced to do. TRITON was ordered to relieve Fr sub SFAX on patrol.
ORP sub ORZEL departed Rosyth on patrol. SFAX arrived at Dundee after patrol.

FN.178 departed Southend, escort DD WALLACE. Fr sub CALYPSO traveled with the convoy. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 25th. MT.72 departed Methil, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at the Tyne later that day. FS.178 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th.

Northern Waters
DDs FAME and FIREDRAKE were damaged by the LW off Narvik. DD FIREDRAKE arrived at Harstad for repairs on the 24th, but due to bombing had to make her repairs while constantly underway. FIREDRAKE returned to her patrol station on the 26th. Fr Contre Torpilleur DD MILAN was damaged by the near miss of two German bombs near Narvik. MILAN was forced to return to the Clyde, arriving on the 27th. She departed the Clyde that day and arrived at Brest for repair and refitting on the 29th. Carriers FURIOUS and GLORIOUS, escort DDs VETERAN, VISCOUNT, DIANA, AMAZON, arrived at Scapa for refuelling. GLORIOUS departed the next day escort DDs WREN, ARROW, HIGHLANDER to disembark RAF 46 Squadron to a shore aerodrome in Norway. DDs HIGHLANDER, ASHANTI, BULLDOG escorted BC RENOWN on DG trials on Inchkeith Range. The DDs then proceeded to Scapa arriving on the 23rd.

DDs ACASTA and ARDENT departed Greenock escorting British troopship ULSTER PRINCE. The troopship carried an army detachment to the Faroes to relieve the Marine Guard brought there by CA SUFFOLK in April. The troops were safely delivered, and the troopship returned to the UK, whilst the DDs remained in the Faroes to escort a homebound convoy from Narvik.

Sub TRUANT unsuccessfully attacked Ex-German steamer ALSTER, escorted by RN ASW whaler ULLSWATER , not knowing the ship was now in British service, having been captured in April.

CL SOUTHAMPTON departed Rosyth for operations off Narvik. British steamer COXWOLD escort ASW trawlers PRESTON NORTHEND and LINCOLN CITY departed Scapa for Harstad. Brit steamers BROOMDALE , NARVA , META , CALUMET, MARINA and Norwegian steamer CLIO departed Harstad unescorted. On the 26th, DDs ACASTA and ARDENT departed the Faroes to join the convoy. DD MASHONA departed Scapa 27th to meet the convoy. All 3 DDs thst were escorting could not locate the convoy until early on the 28th because of poor visibility and the observation of radio silence. On the 27th, steamers CALUMET and MARINA were detached to DD MASHONA which arrived with them in Scapa late on the 28th. The remainder of the convoy arrived safely in the Clyde on the 29th.

Convoy AB 2 with British steamers SICILIAN PRINCE, LYCAON, BELLEROPHON, DORSET COAST departed the Clyde for Reykavik escort ASW trawlers AYRSHIRE , NOTTS COUNTY , NORWICH CITY and CAPE COMORIN . The convoy was met by AMC SALOPIAN sth of Iceland and the convoy safely arrived at Reykavik on the 27th.

SW Approaches
HG.31 with 22 ships departed Gib, with escort DD KEPPEL from 24 May to 2 June. The convoy was given ocean escort by sloop SCARBOROUGH from 23 May to 2 June. Corvette ARABIS escorted the convoy from 31 May to 2 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 2 June.