This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

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June 19 Wednesday
WESTERN FRONT: The race to the Channel continues, as the Germans try to take the ports before the Allies can escape. In the morning, Rommel shells the forts defending the port of Cherbourg while attacking with infantry. At 1700 hours, local officials and police persuade the French garrison defending the town to surrender. This is 7.Panzerdivision's last major action in the Battle of France. Since May 10, they have captured 100,000 Allied prisoners, 450 tanks, 300 artillery or anti-tank guns and 4,000 trucks and incurred losses of 700 killed, 1650 wounded and 300 missing. During this time, Rommel has been awarded Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class (for the second time, having won these medals in WWI) and, on May 27, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On the same day, the 5.Panzerdivision captured Brest, but found the port facilities destroyed by Allied personnel who had already been evacuated. Cadets of Saumur Cavalry School under Colonel Michon prevent German 1.Kavallerie-Abteilung from crossing Loire.

Along the coast, Operation Ariel continued. Germans have not arrived at St. Nazaire as expected, so British send 7 troop transports and 6 destroyers to evacuate 2,764 Polish troops (in addition to the 54,411 British embarked over the last few days). 4,000 Poles are also rescued from La Pallice. Evacuations begin from the ports of the River Gironde and Bayonne and St Jean-de-Luz, close to the Spanish border. Over the next 5 days, over 6,000 Polish troops are evacuated from Gironde and 19,000 Polish soldiers are rescued from Bayonne and St Jean-de-Luz.

Thirty British Blenheim bombers raid German airfields at Rouen and Amiens. All aircraft return.

Uffz. Josef Ganster, of 6./JG 26, is killed in action. Major Dr. Eric Mix returns to III./JG 2 from injuries suffered on 21 May, 1940.

Spain's Francisco Franco offers to join the Axis at war in exchange for French Morocco, Oran region of Algeria, expansion of Spanish Sahara and Spanish Guinea, and substantial economic and military provisions. Adolf Hitler makes no commitment.

UNITED KINGDOM: Households in the United Kingdom received pamphlets with information on what to do in case of invasion. Children's Overseas Reception Board established to send 20,000 schoolchildren to the Dominions for the duration of the war.

General de Gaulle telegraphs General Nogues, commander in chief of French North Africa and Resident General of Morrocco, offering to place himself under Nogues' orders should he reject the armistice.

The British Jockey Club announced that horse racing would cease until further notice.

Lord Beaverbrook, the Minster of Aircraft Production, announced that British aircraft production had since 10 May 1940 exceeded losses from all causes.

James Lacey was relocated to the island of Jersey in the English Channel together with the No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAF.

MEDITERRANEAN: British destroyer HMS "Kandahar" and anti-submarine trawler HMS "Moonstone" forced Italian submarine "Galileo Galilei" to surface with depth charges in the Gulf of Aden. "Galileo Galilei" attempted to fight HMS "Moonstone" with her deck gun, and HMS "Moonstone" returned fire, killing the Italian captain. "Galileo Galilei" was captured and towed to Aden by HMS "Kandahar" and would be renamed X 2 and would be used for training purposes.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-boats sink or damage 8 Allied or neutral merchant vessels (a total of 40,000 tons of shipping) between Southern Ireland and the Bay of Biscay. U-48 alone sinks 3 ships (15,500 tons).

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[Njaco]

June 20 Thursday
UNITED KINGDOM: During the night, the first bombing mission against England is flown by seven He 111s of III./KG 27 from the airfield at Merville. The targets are the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton and the docks at Avonmouth and Southampton. Although the bombers claim to have successfully attacked the Filton plant, Portishead is as near as the German bombers come, ten bombs falling along the shore at about 0215 hours. West Hartlepool suffered its first air raid. Two people were killed. One of them, John Punton, an air raid warden, is according to the book 'West Hartlepool' the first British full time civil defence worker to be killed by enemy action. Thirty shops were extensively damaged and sixty-seven slightly damaged. Six houses demolished, sixty-three extensively damaged and eighty slightly damaged; one school partly demolished. Four HEs demolished Gunnersvale Farm, Elwick, gas and sewer mains damaged. Three small fires started. A number of persons treated at first aid posts for shock and minor cuts.

The British Parliament met in a secret joint session to discuss the defense against a potential German invasion.

The British Air Ministry sends a directive to Bomber Command, instructing it to focus attacks on German aircraft production.

Entire output of Thompson sub-machine guns (300 t per week) to be delivered from US manufacturers in weekly shipments.

WESTERN FRONT: Although the French had already reached out to Rome for peace, the Italians were determined to capture French territory in order to bargain for colonial holdings in North Africa. 32 divisions organized in 2 armies stood ready on the Italian-French border.

Germans capture Lyons. Saumur Cadets forced to surrender when ammunition supplies for their training weapons run out (200 cadets killed, June 19-20). 9,000 Polish soldiers fighting in France were evacuated from Bayonne aboard the Polish ships "Batory" and "Sobieksi".

47 British Blenheim bombers raid German-controlled airfields at Rouen and Schipol. All aircraft return.

Petain makes a broadcast. He describes the defeat of France as 'inevitable' and compares the 185 British, American and Italian divisions supporting the French Army in May 1918 with the 10 British divisions of May 1940.

Five weeks after the German conquest of the Netherlands, Dutch civilians began to be conscripted as forced laborers. During the war, 431,500 Dutch civilians would meet this fate.

Gefr. Josef 'Jupp' Bigge is posted to 8./JG 2 which is based at Octeville. The Kommodore of KG 2, Oberst Johannes Fink, is awarded the Ritterkreuz.

NORTHERN EUROPE: German battlecruiser "Gneisenau" and heavy cruiser "Admiral Hipper" departed Trondheim, Norway for operations near Iceland as a diversion for battleship "Scharnhorst's" cruise to Kiel, Germany for repairs. British submarine HMS "Clyde" detected "Gneisenau" and hit her with a torpedo 80 miles northwest of Trondheim and forced her to return for repairs.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarines U-30, U-38, U-48, and U-122 each sank a merchant vessel in the waters surrounding the United Kingdom and in the Bay of Biscay. In total, 61 were killed and 68 survived. 'SS Otterpool' (4,876t) steamer, Bona, Algeria to the Tees with a cargo of iron ore was sunk by U 30. Twenty-four of her crew were killed.

NORTH AMERICA: Bureau of Ships was established in the United States with Rear Admiral Samuel M. Robinson as its chief. This new bureau replaced the former Bureau of Construction and Repair and the former Bureau of Engineering. Also, Office of Undersecretary of the Navy was created in the United States for duration of national emergency. US President Franklin Roosevelt nominated two well-known Republicans with pronounced pro-Ally sympathies, Henry Stimson and Frank Knox, to be Secretaries for War and the Navy respectively.

American cruiser USS "Vincennes" and destroyers USS "Truxton" and USS "Simpson" arrived at New York, New York, United States with 200 tons of gold from the French reserves.

ASIA: Vichy France opened northern Indochina to Japanese military mission and supporting troops. French authorities in Indo-China bow to Japanese threat and halve transit of arms to China via Haiphong.

EASTERN EUROPE: Lavrentiy Beria sent Joseph Stalin a list containing names of 232 Soviet prisoners of war returned by Finland and recommended everyone on the list to be executed; in fact, 158 of them had already been killed.

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[parsifal]

20 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
USN PT 3, PT 4 SU CA Voroshilov

Allied
RN MS Trawler ACACIA RN Sub TIGRIS

Losses
Steamer ADAMANTIOS (Gk 4277 grt) was sunk by the LW at La Rochelle. The entire crew was rescued. She was later salved and taken in prize by German forces.

MV EMPIRE CONVEYOR (Ex-Ger (UK) 5911 grt) Crew: 41 (3 dead and 38 survivors). Cargo: 7966 tons of wheat Route: Montreal - Manchester. Sunk in the western approaches,. nth of Ireland. At 1315, U-61 observed how the unescorted and zigzagging EMPIRE CONVEYOR was hit on the port side forward by a torpedo about 50 miles south of Barra Head, Hebrides. The attack is attributed to U-122, which was lost shortly afterwards without reporting her success. The vessel did not sink immediately, but because the aerials had been damaged the radio operator was unable to call for help. However a flying boat in the area arrived, dropped bombs to keep the U-boat down and alerted the Admiralty. Tug AMSTERDAM was sent out, escort DDs ATHERSTONE and CAMPBELL, but at 16.00 hours she suddenly sank before the ships arrived. The crew had abandoned ship in 3 lifeboats and several rafts, but one boat swamped during launch. The master, the second engineer and the cook were lost. Survivors were picked up by CAMPBELL

EMPIRE CONVEYOR as the FARNSWORTH prewar, before being sold to Germany as the GLORIA

Liner FOUCAULD (Fr 11,028 grt) was sunk by German bombing at La Pallice.

Tkr JAMES MCGEE (Pan 9859 grt) was sunk on a mine 2. 4 miles 208° from Nash Point (Bristol Channel). The entire crew of the tanker were picked up by destroyer WOLVERINE.

Tkr MOORDRECHT (NE 7493 grt) Crew: 29 (25 dead and 4 survivors) Cargo: 10.200 tons of fuel oil Route: Texas - Hamilton, Bermuda - La Coruna - Pasajes Sunk in the Central Atlantic west of Spain. Attached to HX 49: The tkr straggled behind the convoy. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Portugal by U-48 . Survivors were rescued by the Gk MV ORION.

USS O-9 ( United States Navy): The O class Submarine sank in the Atlantic Ocean 15 miles off Portsmouth, New Hampshire (42°59′N 70°20′W) from a mechanical failure. 34 crewmen killed.

MV OTTERPOOL (UK 4876 grt) Crew: 39 (23 dead and 16 survivors) Cargo: 8180 tons of iron ore Route: Bona - Middlesbrough Sunk in the SW Approaches approximately west of Brittany. At 2142 the OTTERPOOL in HG-34F was hit by one stern torp from U-30 and sank about 130 miles west of Ushant. The 16 survivors were picked up by RN Sloop SCARBOROUGH and landed at Liverpool. The OTTERPOOL and another vessel of the same convoy had been missed during an attack by the same U-boat earlier that day. She was also missed by an attack from U-51 at 1533 . The U-boat had reported two explosions, but saw no other effects on two ships due to bad visibility. In fact, the ANDALUSIAN and the OTTERPOOL were missed.

Steamer STESSO (UK 2290 grt) was sunk by the LW at Cardiff. The entire crew was rescued. The steamer was later refloated and left Cardiff on 31 December for breaking up at Briton Ferry.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV TILIA GORTHON (Sd 1776 grt) Crew: 21 (10 dead and 11 survivors) Cargo: Coal Route: Bahia - Liverpool - Nantes Sunk in the SW Approaches west of Brittany. At 0336, U-38 missed the unescorted and neutral TILIA GORTHON with a G7a torpedo and then stopped the vessel by gunfire about 45 miles west of the Scilly Islands. At 0412, she was hit in the engine room by a G7e torp after the crew had abandoned ship in 2 lifeboats and sank. The survivors were picked up by DD LEITH. The TILIA GORTHON had been on voyage from Bahia to Gothenburg, but was stopped by a Allied Control Commission and sent to Liverpool and then to Nantes, but enroute was ordered to turn around andf return. She was lost because of compiance with Control Commissiuon directives

UBOATS
Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-26

At Sea 20 June 1940
U-25, U-26 (+), U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-51, U-52, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-99, U-101, U-122, UA.
20 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
ORP sub WILK, which departed Rosyth on the 18th, was damaged in a collision sub O.13 (NE 568 grt) , which had departed Aberdeen on patrol on the 11th, which was earlier thought to have been mined. All hands were lost when the Dutch sub went down. There was damage to the props and after planes on the WILK but the Polish sub was able to continue patrol. CLs SHEFFIELD and BIRMINGHAM and DD GALLANT departed Rosyth to support WILK. These ships returned to Rosyth before joining the Polish sub when it was found that WILK could dive. CL NEWCASTLE and DD ECHO departed Scapa on the 23rd to search for a DD reported by a/c at 0600 . They also covered WILK's return. WILK arrived at Dundee on the 25th. She went on to Rosyth for repairs arriving on the 26th underwent repairs for this damage. The repairs were completed in early July.

DD FORESIGHT departed Harwich for Rosyth where she arrived on the 21st. DD ARROW departed Scapa for Harwich to join the Nore Cmd. Sub SALMON fired 2 torpedoes at southbound enemy convoy off the Norwegian coast. Subs SHARK and TETRARCH arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Sub L.26 arrived at Dundee escorted by sloop WESTON. The sloop then returned to Rosyth.

FN.200 departed Southend, escort sloops FLEETWOOD and WESTON. The convoy arrived at Rosyth on the 22nd in two sections. One escorted by armed PV BREDA and the other by the two sloops. FS.200 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd. MT.92 departed Methil, escort DD VALOROUS and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

Malta
At just before midnight Malta's population was awoken by the sound of the air raid alert. The alarm heralded the first night time air raid on the Island since the start of hostilities. The raider dropped bombs in the sea off St Elmo. It was later reported that the 40,000 ton floating dock berthed beneath Corrodino Heights had been sunk. Malta's searchlights were in action, as well as AA btys.

2 hrs later the alert sounded again for a formation of 10 enemy a/c. Bombs were dropped bombs on Marfa and Gozo, as well as in the sea off St Paul's Bay.

 

[parsifal]

20 June 1940 (Part II)
[OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Northern Waters
Swedish warships detained
SD DDs PUKE and PSILANDER and TBs ROMULUS and REMUS arrived at Skaalefjord in the Faroes on the 19th as they were en route to Sweden from Italy. They were accompanied by depot ship PATRICA. Tkr CASTOR of this group was delayed. Earlier on the voyage, she had been captured by a Fr cruiser and taken to Casablanca. She was released and arrived in the Faroes shortly after the arrival of the DDs on the 20th. RN DDs TARTAR, MASHONA, MAORI, after departing Scapa on the 19th, arrived at Skaalefjord in the Faroes early morning on the 20th to requisition the Swedish warships. The crews of the Swedish ships were put aboard depot ship PATRICIA and tkr CASTOR and sailed to Sweden on the 21st. Maintenance parties were placed aboard PSILANDER and ROMULUS and passage crews were placed aboard PUKE and REMUS. After the reported movement of DKM warships in the Nth Sea, DDs MAORI and MASHONA were ordered to reembark their crews from the Sd DDs. On the 21st, DDs MAORI and MASHONA departed the Faroes to join the Home Flt at sea. On the 21st, Sd ships PUKE and REMUS departed Skaalefjord escort DD TARTAR for Scapa.

PATRICIA and CASTOR returned to the Faroes on the 22nd to demand the return of the Sd DDs. The British Naval Officer in Charge of the Faroes reported at 1100/22nd that the Sd ships had returned to Thorshavn and had were demanding the release of the warships. DD MASHONA was ordered to the Faroes where she arrived on the 22nd. DD MAORI departed Scapa on the 22nd where she joined the screen of DD PUKE. On the 22nd, PUKE broke down (as a foretaste of the poor service these Italian ships gave in the northern waters) and was taken in tow by armed boarding vessel KINGSTON PERIDOT. Tug SAUCY departed Kirkwall to assist. The tug attempted to get a line aboard but collided with PUKE in the progress. MAORI was able to take the DD in tow. Despite heavy weather and continued problems, PUKE was brought into Scapa in tow of the tug BUCCANEER, arriving on the 23rd. RN DD TARTAR and Sd DD REMUS arrived separately at Scapa on the 23rd. The 2 neutral DDs berthed alongside depot ship WOOLWICH for repairs.

Escorted by ASW whalers BUTTERMERE and WINDERMERE, British accomodation ship ST MAGNUS departed Scapa on the 22nd with steaming parties for DDs PSILANDER and ROMOLUS. The parties were drawn from BBs RODNEY and VALIANT. On the 25th, DD MASHONA with PSILANDER and ROMOLUS departed the Faroes. Also in company was British accomodation ship ST MAGNUS,and ASW whalers BUTTERMERE and WINDERMERE. MASHONA was damaged by weather en route to Kirkwall and her gp arrived at on the 26th. MASHONA went on to Rosyth arriving on the 27th and was drydocked for damage to her hull. DD BEDOUIN departed Scapa on the 30th to escort the Swedish ships into harbour PUKE and REMUS.

On 2 July, the Swedish ships were returned to Swedish control and the five ships departed Kirkwall on 5 July. They were joined at sea by tanker CASTOR which had departed from the Faroes. The Swedish ships arrived at Goteborg, via Kristiansand, on 10 July.

A/C bombed a submarine and brought up oil. DDs ZULU, ESCORT, FORESTER left exercises with sub L.23 joining ASW whalers BUTTERMERE and WINDERMERE , which had been detached from the Norwegian Thorshaven to Kirkwall convoy, to search in the area as well. Armed boarding vessels KINGSTON TOPAZ and KINGSTON SAPPHIRE were also ordered to search. They returned to Northern Patrol duties on the 21st. The DDs were ordered back to Scapa on the 21st.

DKM BC GNEISENAU and CA ADMIRAL HIPPER departed Trondheim to raid towards Iceland as a diversion so damaged BC SCHARNHORST could make her way home without opposition. However, just outside of Trondheim, submarine CLYDE reported she had contacted a German force of 1 BC, 1 BB, and 1 DD. CLYDE put a torpedo into BC GNEISENAU which badly damaged her. A large hole was torn in GNEISENAU's side at the bow and she was later repaired at Kiel completing her repairs 5 November 1940. She and Scharnhorst were not available for SEALION preprations. Due to submarine CLYDE's report, DDs ZULU, ESCORT, FORESTER returned to Scapa with dispatch arriving early on the 21st. DDs MAORI and MASHONA reembarked their boarding parties from the Swedish DDs and proceeded with dispatch towards Scapa. The Fleet at Scapa Flow was brought to 1 hr's notice. Nevertheless, BC SCHARNHORST arrived safely back at Kiel on the 23rd.

West Coast UK
Ne subs O.21 and O.22 and TB Z.5 departed Belfast for Dundee, via Stornoway.

Channel
DD BOREAS arrived at Dover to join DesFlot 1. DD VESPER departed Dover for Sheerness. Aux MSW SANDOWN arrived at Dover after refitting to join the MSWFlot 10. Br steamers BIARRITZ and MALINES evacuated the Channel Is of Guernsey and Jersey, respectively.

UK-France
British troopships ROYAL SCOTSMAN , SOBIESKI , OTRANTO, ORONTES, ARANDORA STAR, ST HELIER, ETTRICK and DDs IMOGEN, PUNJABI, GRIFFIN, WITCH, HARVESTER, VISCOUNT departed Plymouth late on the 19th for St Nazaire to embark Polish troops there.
DDs IMOGEN, HARVESTER, PUNJABI were ordered to return to Plymouth very early on the 20th for refuelling. Later on the 20th, troopship SOBIESKI went to Le Verdon and DDs IMOGEN, GRIFFIN, WITCH, VISCOUNT to Rade de Coisic. DD PUNJABI embarked 409 troops at St Nazaire. Polish troops evacuated from Rade de Coisic. There were 340 on WITCH, 500 on VISCOUNT, 466 on IMOGEN.
DD GRIFFIN with 350 Polish troops returned to Plymouth for refuelling later in the day. DD VISCOUNT escorted Br steamer BRITTANY from Rade de Coisic past Ushant. DDs GRIFFIN and WITCH escorted steamers KAIPAKI and ROYAL SCOTSMAN. Br steamer ALDERPOOL embarked 4000 Polish troops and British steamer EMPIRE INDUSTRY embarked forty British refugees at La Pallice. These ships were sailed to Falmouth. Troopship ROYAL ULSTERMAN went to La Pallice and then to Gironde.

CL ARETHUSA and DD BERKELEY evacuated the British Ambassador to Poland and 30 of his staff personnel, the Staff of the British Embassies of Brussels and Paris, the President of Poland from Le Verdon. The two ships sailed in the later forenoon and safely arrived at Plymouth next morning. DD BEAGLE arrived at Bordeaux with a demolition party for the port, but due to the Armistice, the demolition was not carried out and BEAGLE departed early on the 23rd.

Nth Atlantic
British liner EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA escort DDs BEDOUIN and ASHANTI in the local approaches departed Reykavik for Halifax. At 0610, Corvette GLADIOLUS, escorting convoy HX.48, picked up 2 Fr FAA officers, 2 petty officers, 4 ratings from a small boat. The men were landed at Dover.

Med- Biscay
Fr CL PRIMAUGUET departed Bordeaux with the last shipment of gold from France and proceeded to Dakar. In operation MD 3, Fr BB LORRAINE, CLs ORION , NEPTUNE, RAN SYDNEY with DDs HASTY, DECOY, DAINTY, RAN STUART departed Alexandria and bombarded Bardia from 0548 to 0606 on the 21st. DDs HYPERION, HAVOCK, HERO, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, which had departed Alexandria at 0800 were sweeping along the Libyan coast. Fr CA SUFFREN, CL DUGUAY TROUIN, DDs IMPERIAL, ILEX, NUBIAN departed Alexandria and were sweeping in the area on reports of an RM cruiser and DDs at Tobruk. RAN CL SYDNEY's Seagull on spotting duty was attacked and damaged by RAF Gladiators. The Seagull was able to return to the ship with the crew unhurt. DD KEPPEL departed Gib for Port Vendres to provide transport H.M. Ambassador and his party.
On the 22nd, KEPPEL was ordered to Sete.

Italian submarine SIRENA attempted to attack the French cruiser force without success and was damaged by depth charges in return.

Sirena Class Sub DIAMANTE (RM 680 grt) was sunk by RN sub PARTHIAN off Tobruk .

RM DDs ARTIGLIERE, CAMICIA NERA, AVIERE, GENIERE of DesDiv 11 departed Augusta on the 19th and arrived with supplies at Benghazi on the 20th.

Indian Ocean
DD KHARTOUM refuelled at Djoubiti.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
RAN CL PERTH departed Sydney with Br liner STRATHMORE. The ships arrived at Melbourne on the 22nd. Both ships departed on the 22nd and on the 23rd, PERTH turned the liner over to RAN CA CANBERRA. PERTH patrolled Bass Strait until 25 June.

 

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June 21 Friday
WESTERN FRONT: French and German delegates meet to negotiate peace at the 1918 Armistice site at Forest de Compiègne, France. To humiliate the French and make amends for Germany's WWI defeat, Hitler has the railway carriage in which the WWI Armistice was signed removed from a French museum and placed exactly where it had been located in 1918. An aerial escort by II./JG 26 was present for Hitler and Generalfeldmarschall Göring as they present France with armistice terms. Hitler personally attended the negotiation, but at 1530 hours abruptly left the meeting to show disrespect for the French. Germany's armistice terms are harsh and they allow no negotiation, only questions for clarification. In addition to the provisions for establishing a vestigial French state and for demobilizing the French armed forces there are stringent financial clauses. At 2030 hours, French General Huntzinger called his government and informed that the Germans allowed no room for negotiations and demanded harsh terms. He was told to accept the German terms.

After 10 days, Italy invades France. 32 Italian divisions deployed on the French border marched through the Little Saint Bernard Pass in the Alps and along the French Riviera. Some of the Italians were met with a heavy snow storm and the latter halted by a very small group of French troops at Menton (a French NCO and 7 men), which was about 5 miles from the border. According to the diary of Galeazzo Ciano, Benito Mussolini was extremely embarrassed by the inability of his troops to break through the French lines.

As the British evacuated from Guernsey, the control of the island was turned over to a Controlling Committee under the presidency of Attorney General Ambrose Sherwill. Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, James Murray Robert Harrison was withdrawn to Britain, leaving Bailiff Alexander Coutanche the sole civilian leader.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Aerial battles over Norway intensify. Nine Beauforts of RAF No. 42 Squadron are sent to bomb the battle cruiser 'Scharnhorst' north of Bergen. Intercepted by fighters of JG 77, four of the bombers are shot down with kills going to Ofw. Hackl, Fw. Menge and a first for Lt. Horst Carganico. On this date, II(J)./ TrGr186 finally sees action as Oblt. Hans Schopper shoots down a Sunderland.

GERMANY: German Radio pronounces;

"Since May 10th enemy and chiefly British aeroplanes have uninterruptingly attacked open German towns. Last night again eight civilians fell victim to these attacks. The Luftwaffe has now begun reprisals against England. The revenge of the German Air Force for England's sly night piracy has begun. German forbearance is exhausted. The time for settlement has come."

Erich Raeder met with Adolf Hitler to discuss the invasion of Britain.

NORTH AFRICA: French cruisers "El Djezair", "El Kantara", "El Mansour", "Ville d'Oran", and "Ville d'Alger" arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco with 1,200 tons of French gold. Destroyer USS "Herbert" also arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German U-boat attacks on Allied and neutral shipping intensify. 20 U-boats are at sea. 6 Allied and neutral vessels are sunk. German submarine U-28 sank British decoy ship HMS "Prunella" south of Ireland. 2 men were killed, 54 were missing and would be never found, and 40 were rescued. U-122 goes missing off North Channel (Irish Sea); possibly sunk by mines.

A German Ar 196 aircraft from battlecruiser "Scharnhorst" mistook German submarine U-99 for an enemy submarine and damaged her with a bomb. U-99 was already en route back to Wilhelmshaven, Germany with a sick sailor. She would now require a longer time to complete repairs.

EASTERN EUROPE: The Estonian Independent Signal Battalion engaged in fighting with Soviet troops at Raua Street in Tallinn, Estonia. The Estonians would be defeated during the night.

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June 21 Friday (continued)
NORTH AMERICA: The first successful west-to-east navigation of Northwest Passage began at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In Canada, Royal Assent is given to the National Resources Mobilization Act, putting Canadians and their property at the disposal of the Crown. All males over age 16 are required to register for national service. Conscription for military service within Canada is introduced.

Death of Colonel Thompson, inventor of the Tommy Gun (a sophisticated sub-machine gun), aged 80.

UNITED KINGDOM: Luftwaffe aircraft crossed the East coast at several places during the night, guided by radio beams. Bombs were dropped sporadically in a number of east coast counties. Large scale reconnaissance training flights against aerodromes, both civil and military were being made, and strafing on coastal railway lines in Yorkshire was being carried out. A French patrol boat was blown up a ½ mile off the mouth of the Tees.

RV Jones, who heads British Scientific Intelligence, gives evidence to an important investigating committee concerning a German radio navigation aid code named Knickebein. Churchill gives orders for countermeasures to be developed. Vital progress in this field is soon made and plays a large part in mitigated the effects of the German Blitz in the coming months. Specially equipped RAF Anson aircraft detects radio beam transmitted from Germany in direction of Rolls-Royce works, Derby. Henry Tizard, who, more than any other, has been responsible for organizing the British use of radar, resigns because his advice is disregarded. His resignation confirms the position of the less reliable Frederick Lindmann (Lord Cherwell) as Churchill's principal scientific adviser.

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June 22 Saturday
WESTERN FRONT: At 1830 hours, French General Huntzinger returns to the railway carriage at Compiègne, site of the 1918 Armistice. He and German OKW Chief General Keitel sign the 1940 Franco-German armistice. It is perhaps appropriate that Huntziger, who led the 2nd Army at Sedan at the start of the campaign, should be involved in the final act. Germany is to occupy two-thirds of Metropolitan France including the entire Channel and Atlantic coastlines and all major industrial areas including Alsace-Lorraine and Paris. French armed forces are to be disarmed and demobilized, with exception of a token defense force. French Fleet is to be disarmed and demobilized under German and Italian supervision. France is to pay costs of German army of occupation. Article 20 states;

"French troops in German prison camps will remain prisoners of war until conclusion of a peace".

The French believe it is only a matter of weeks before Britain will also make peace with Germany. Instead, a million Frenchmen will spend the next 5 years as German prisoners. Hitler does not demand the French fleet, but Article 8 leaves the disposition of their warships uncertain, which worries the British. Meanwhile, France dispatched officials to go to Rome to negotiate peace with Italy. The French forces which have been driven out of the Maginot Line but are still resisting, finally surrender on Weygand's order. Three French armies (400,000 men) surrender in Vosges pocket, west of Maginot Line. Germans occupy Lorient.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarines sank two cargo ships and two tankers south of Ireland and in the Bay of Biscay. German submarine U-122 became missing in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere off of the British coast; the crew of 49 were never seen again.

'La Bastiaise' a Free-French corvette was completing her sea trials and, as she approached the mouth of the Tees, she struck a mine, killing her Captain, some of her crew and some shipyard engineers.

U-46 attacks British Force H as it battles against hurricane-force winds en route from Scapa Flow to Gibraltar. Carrier "Ark Royal" probably hit, but torpedoes fail to explode.

NORTH AMERICA: The US Congress adopted national defense tax measures designed to yield US$994,300,000 per year.

French cruiser "Emile Bertin" arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, with 254 tons of gold worth about CDN$305 million. Britain wanted to take possession of the gold, but the captain takes orders from the Vichy French government, and sails on to Martinique.

NORTH AFRICA: Duguay-Trouin was interned by the British at Alexandria, Egypt.

Italian three-engined SM81 bombers raid Alexandria; 25 casualties.

ASIA: Yosuke Matsuoka was named the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Japanese Prime Minister Prince Fumimaro Konoe's new government.

UNITED KINGDOM: In Britain, the second evacuation plan by the London County council resulted in over 100,000 children being evacuated to the west.

Charles de Gaulle broadcast a speech from London, England, United Kingdom on the BBC. In this broadcast, he used the term Free French for the first time, while declaring himself the French leader in exile.

British Foreign Secretary Halifax had his undersecretary Richard Butler contact Swedish Minister in London, England, United Kindom Björn Prytz for a possible Anglo-German negotiations. Germans intercepted Prytz's report back to Stockholm and concluded that the war with Britain was likely to end by the end of the summer.

The Communist Party of Great Britain published a manifesto calling for a "People's Government", claiming that;

"...the same kind of leaders who brought France to defeat are in high places in Britain".

Furthermore the manifesto called upon workers to oust their own ruling classes which would encourage German workers to bring down Adolf Hitler.

EASTERN EUROPE: Latvia meets Soviet demands for a new government and territorial adjustments. There have been Soviet garrisons based in the Baltic states since October 1939.


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[parsifal]

21 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
RN Havant Class DD HURRICANE

Sister ship HESPEROUS illustratede
She arrived at Plymouth on the 30th for working up and joined DesFlot 9 in the Western Approaches.
Losses

RN Sub H.44 sank steamer ALFA (Den 844 grt) in the Nth Sea off Texel, North Holland. Danish ships in European waters were by now considered enemy vessels by the RN

MV BERENICE (NL 1177 grt) Crew: 47 (39 dead and 8 survivors) Cargo: 1000 tons of manganese ore and passengers Route: Istanbul - Bordeaux - UK. At 0817 hrs the unescorted BERENICE was torpedoed and sunk by U-65. U-65 mistook her for the CHAMPLAIN, but this ship had been lost on the 17th The BERENICE had left Bordeaux at 1330 hrs on 20 June with 22 passengers on board (mostly Dutch and Belgians refugees). The ship sailed together with the Dutch steamer ORPHEUS, the coasters NETTIO and ARY SCHEFFER and the tug SEINE, but they got dispersed in the following night and only the NETTIE was in visual range. The BERENICE was hit by 1 torp amidships, causing her to sink within 3 mins. NETTIO picked up 9 survivors, including the master, and one passenger. On 22 June, they were landed at Falmouth but the master already died of wounds aboard.

Steamer BISCAROSSE (Fr 1937 grt) was scuttled at Le Havre.

HMS CAPE HOWE (RN 4443 grt) The Q-ship, disguised as Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel PRUNELLA, was torpedoed and sunk in the Celtic Sea by U-28 with the loss of 55 of her 95 crew. The survivors were rescued by Fr MV CASAMANCE and DD VERSATILE.

Drifter CHARDE (RN 99 grt) was sunk in a collision at Portsmouth.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV HILDA (Fn 1144 grt) Crew: 16 (5 dead and 11 survivors) Cargo: grain Route: Dunkirk - Cherbourg - La Pallice - Spain. Sunk in the Bay Of Biscay. The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay by U-52.

Steamer LUFFWORTH (UK 279 grt) was abandoned at Brest. She was later taken in prize by German forces.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV LUXEMBOURG (Be 5809 grt) Crew: 46 (5 dead and 41 survivors) Cargo: Foodstuffs including boiled beef, maize and sunflower seed Route: Buenos Aires - Montevideo - Bordeaux - Falmouth. Sunk off the coast of Brittany. The ship had been bound for Antwerp, but was diverted to Bordeaux and anchored at Le Verdon on 20 June when she was ordered to leave to Falmouth. The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay by U-38.

Steamer MECANICIEN PRINCIPAL CARVIN (Fr 4282 grt) was bombed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay off Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Gironde.

Aux PV MERCEDITA (Fr 500 grt (est)) was beached after mining off Le Verdon and scuttled.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

S-Boat S-21 (DKM 92 grt) and S-Boat S-32 (DKM 81 grt) were sunk on mines 15 miles sth of Dungeness. S.31 and S.35 picked up the survivors, but OzS Toniges and six crew were lost. S.21 was salved in 1941 and returned to service.

Tkr SAN FERNANDO (UK 13056 grt): Crew: 49 (0 dead and 49 survivors) Cargo:13.500 tons of crude oil and 4200 tons of fuel oil Route: Curaçao - Liverpool. Sunk in the SW Approaches off the sth coast of Ireland whilst part of Convoy HX 49: The tkr was torpedoed and damaged in the Celtic Sea by U-47 . She was taken in tow but sank the next day. All 49 crew were rescued by Sloop FOWEY and HMS SANDWICH.

In an attack by 9 RAF Hudson a/c of 206 Sqn, dismantled old coastal Dreadnought VLIEREEDE (Ex-RNN (DKM) 5022 grt) was sunk at Den Helder. The ship was later salved as DKM AA ship ARIADNE in 1941. .

Tkr YARRAVILLA (UK 8627 grt) Crew: 50 (5 dead and 45 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: Bec d´Ambes - Casablanca - Beaumont, Texas . Sunk off the coast of Portugal whilst attached to Convoy 65 X: The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, Portugal by U-43. The survivors were rescued by the trawler MARIE GILBERTE

UBOATS
At Sea 21 June 1940
U-25, U-26 , U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-51, U-52, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-99, U-101, U-122 , UA.
20 boats at sea

 

[parsifal]

21 June 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS
North Sea
The damaged DKM BC SCHARNHORST departed Trondheim escort DDs STEINBRINCK, LODY, SCHOEMANN, GALSTER and TBs GREIF, KONDOR, FALKE, JAGUAR. 3 Swordish of 821 Sqn, three Swordfish of 823 Sqn, 6 Hudsons of 233 Command, 9 Beauforts of 42 Sqn of the RAF launched unsuccessful attacks the German ships. The LW interecepted shooting down 2 Swordfish , as well as 3 Beauforts and 1 Hudson and a Sunderland of 204 Sqn was damaged. At 1120, a/c radioed a report of 1 BC and 6 DDs on course 190 at 25 knots. BCs RENOWN and REPULSE with DDs FORESTER, ESCORT, ZULU, INGLEFIELD, DIANA departed Scapa at 1220.
DDs MAORI and MASHONA, which had departed the Faroes at 0620 joined the force at sea. On the 21st, CLs MANCHESTER , SHEFFIELD, BIRMINGHAM, CA YORK, DD GALLANT departed Rosyth to join CA SUSSEX and CL NEWCASTLE , then meet the Battlecruiser Squadron. However the RN were simply too late to catch the german force, and at 1850, the operation was cancelled when the German ships were reported inside the Fjords in the vicinity of Haugesand. At 0240 on the 22nd, failing to make contact with the German force, the British ships withdrew to westward. BCs RENOWN and REPULSE and DDs INGLEFIELD ,ZULU, FORESTER, ESCORT, DIANA arrived at Scapa arriving later morning on the 22nd. CL NEWCASTLE and CA SUSSEX arrived at Scapa an hour after the RENOWN group. CLs BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, CA YORK, DD GALLANT arrived back at Rosyth on the 22nd.

The DKM ships put into Stavanger Fjord. They departed the next day and arrived safely at Kiel on the 23rd. SCHARNHORST was under repair at Kiel until 19 October 1940.

OA.172 departed Southend escort corvette GLADIOLUS from 21 to 24 June. MLs TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and DDs ESK, INTREPID, ICARUS departed the Humber on minelaying mission BS.17 during the night of 21/22 June. The British ships arrived back in the Humber on the 22nd. DD FORESIGHT arrived at Rosyth from Harwich. DD FORESIGHT departed immediately with DD WALPOLE for Scapa, arriving on the 22nd. FN.201 departed Southend, escort DDs VIVIEN and VEGA and sloop SHEARWATER. The sloop was detached to convoy FS.102 when met. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 23rd. FS.201 departed the Tyne, escort DD VALOROUS and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 23rd. MT.93 departed Methil, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at the Tyne the next day.

A German convoy was reported near the Frisian Islands. 8 of the new Albacores of the 826 Sqn from HM base PEREGRINE and 9 Hudsons from CC were sent to intercept the convoy. The convoy was not located. 6 Albacores attacked the DeKooy airfield and Willemsoord. 2 Albacores were lost with pilot Lt (A) J. L. Mackenzie Bell, Acting S/Lt F. B. Hookins, Naval Airman R. G. Poole of one aircraft killed. The crew of the other Albacore was captured. Pilot S/Lt (A) W. S. Butterworth survived as a pow, observer S/Lt V. J. Dyke died of wounds. Leading Airman R. J. Jackson died as a POW on 18 January 1945.

4 Skuas and 5 Rocs of 801 Sqn from SPARROWHAWK, escorted by 12 Hurricanes attacked a new German gun bty at Cap Blanc. S/Lt (A) A. V. M. Day flying a Roc was killed when he was shot down in the attack. His crewman Naval Airman F. Berry was also lost.
Northern Waters
Br oiler ROSEWOOD, escorted by a/c and ASW trawlers CAPE WARWICK and ELM, arrived at Scapa from Sullom Voe.

West Coast UK
DD WITHERINGTON arrived in the Clyde. OB.172 departed Liverpool escort DDs VOLUNTEER and WHIRLWIND from 21 to 24 June. The convoy was dispersed on the 26th.

Western Approaches
HX.52 departed Halifax escorted by RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA and aux PVs ACADIA and FRENCH. On 22 June, the DDs turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, AMC AURANIA, which was detached on 2 July. BHX.52 departed Bermuda on the 20th local escort sloop PENZANCE and ocean escort AMC RAJPUTANA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.52 on the 25th and the AMC was detached. On 2 July, DDs HURRICANE and WOLVERINE, sloop SCARBOROUGH, corvette GARDENIA joined the convoy. DD HURRICANE was detached later that day. The remaining escorts were with the convoy until it arrived at Liverpool on 6 July.

U.122 made an attack on a convoy off Nth Channel on the 21st, but was not heard from again after making her report. .

SW Approaches
ASW yacht VIVA II (502grt), escorting a transport in the Bay of Biscay, attacked a submarine contact. OG.34 was formed from OA.171G, which departed Southend on the 19th escort sloop ABDERDEEN from 19 to 21 June, OB.171G, which departed Liverpool on the 19th escort sloop LEITH, with 28 ships. Sloops LEITH and WELLINGTON escorted the convoy from 21 June to 3 July. The convoy arrived Gib on 3 July.

HG.35 departed Gib with 21 ships escort DDs WATCHMAN and VIDETTE. WATCHMAN was detached on the 22nd and VIDETTE was detached on the 25th. Sloop DEPTFORD escorted the convoy from 22 June to 1 July. The convoy was joined in Home Waters by DD WITHERINGTON on the 28th from convoy OG.35 and remained with the convoy until 1 July, when it arrived at Liverpool.

Channel
RCN DDs SKEENA, ST LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, FRASER arrived at Plymouth after TC.5 escort duty. BB REVENGE also arrived at Plymouth on that day. DD CODRINGTON arrived at Dover to join DesFlot 1. Aux MSW EMPEROR OF INDIA arrived at Dover after refitting to join MSWFlot 10. DD BOREAS during the night of 21/22 June was on patrol in Nth Goodwins between R Buoy and U Buoy to guard against DKM BC SCHARNHORST movement through the Channel. The rest of the DDs at Dover were placed at 15mins notice.

UK-France
Fr DD TRIOMPHANT arrived at Plymouth from Lorient. RCN DD FRASER departed Plymouth with beach and communications parties for evacuation of St Jean de Luz (near the Franco Spanish border) .

Nth Atlantic
CV ILLUSTRIOUS departed Devonport for working up at Bermuda escort DDs IMOGEN, GRIFFIN, ST LAURENT

Med- Biscay
DD WRESTLER departed Gib to meet Fr convoy 7 P, which departed Marseille, Sete, Port Vendres on the 19th with 18 ships escort DDs BOULONNAIS and TYPHON and PVs SIDI OKBA and CYRNOS. Also, Contre Torpilleur DDs TIGRE and LYNX covered the convoy.
The DD was to escort the Atlantic bound ships to Gib. Convoy 7 P arrived at Oran on the 22nd. Fr AMC MASSILIA departed the Gironde with French ministers and MPs. When shearrived at Casablanca on the 24th, the Vichy authorities arrested them.

DDs NUBIAN and MOHAWK departed Alexandria to intercept steamer ERMOINI (Gk 440 grt) in the Aegean. No contact was made and they returned to other duties. RM sub MOROSINI attacked an allied merchant ship without result 65 miles off Cape Palos.

Malta
Two of Malta's precious Gladiators were irreparably damaged in separate incidents. One crashed into an obstruction on the aerodrome during take-off from Hal Far this morning. The pilot, Sqn Ldr A C Martin made a violent uncontrollable swing to the right and hit a packing case. The pilot was unhurt.

That afternoon, two Gladiators were taking off from Hal Far when aircraft N5524 piloted by Flying Officer P Hartley lost a wheel when taking off and overturned on landing. The pilot was shaken and slightly injured. The a/c was declared a total write off.

 

[parsifal]

22 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Fr Corvette LA BASTAISE - Armed Yacht RACCOON - Minelayer MENESTHEUS

Losses
TB LE FIER (Fr 1443 grt) The incomplete Le Fier-class TB struck a mine and sank, or was wrecked the next day, while under tow in the Bay of Biscay off Oléron, Charente-Maritime. Raised by the Germans and designated TA 1, she was never completed.

TB L'ENTREPENANT (Fr 1443 grt) The incomplete Le Fier-class TB was sunk while under tow in the Gironde Estuary. Raised by the Germans and designated TA 4, she never entered active service.

Tkr MONIQUE (Fr 7011 grt) Crew: no survivors Cargo: 10,000 tons of crude oil Route: Haifa - Le Havre. Sunk in the Bay Of Biscay. At 1804 on 22 June 1940, U-65 reported the sinking of an unescorted tkr of 7000 grt with a spread of 2 G7e torpedoes about 70 miles sw of Penmarch in the Bay of Biscay. The ship was immediately covered in burning oil and apparently broke in two before it sank.

MONIQUE had been re-routed to Brest and then to Belle-Ile due to the German advances, but was reported missing after being last seen by the Fr tkr RHEA in the evening of 17 June. The only trace found were the bodies of 2 of her sailors, washed ashore later near La Corrunna. A radio message indicated that the ship had been attacked by a/c off Verdon on 21 June, but it is more likely that she was sunk by this U-boat attack mentioned above.

MV NEION (Gk 5154 grt) Crew: 32 (1 dead and 31 survivors) Cargo: General cargo, including lead and naphtha as deck cargo Route: New Orleans – St. Nazaire (21 Jun) - Falmouth. Sunk in the Bay Of Biscay. The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay by U-38.

Steamer RANDSFJORD (Nor 3999 grt) Crew: 33 (4 dead and 29 survivors) Cargo: 6746 tons of general cargo, including 77 tons of ammunition and 33 a/c Route:New York - Halifax - Liverpool . Attached to Convoy HX 49: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the SW Approaches 70 nm SSE of Queenstown, County Cork, by U-30 . Survivors were rescued by PORT HOBART .

Tkr ELI KNUDSEN (Nor 9026 grt) Crew: 37 (0 dead and 37 survivors) Cargo: 1300 tons of diesel and fuel oil Route: Aruba - UK . Sunk in the SW Approaches off the sth coast of Ireland. The ELI KNUDSEN had been in convoy HX-49, which was dispersed approx. 100 miles sw of Cape Clear after U-47 had torpedoed the SAN FERNANDO 21 June. At 0336 the next day, U-32 torpedoed the ELI KNUDSEN . All crew members abandoned ship in lifeboats and were picked up a few hours later by HMS SANDWICH and taken to Liverpool. The tkr remained afloat and an attempt was made the next day to tow her to port, but she sank on 24 June in tow of the British tkr CORINDA

Type IXB U-122 (DKM 1034 grt) There are two possibilities considered likely for this UBoats loss. Based on research done in 1985 there is a possibility that this boat was lost due to underwater collision with the British steam tkr SAN FILIPE on June 22 or by DC attack by corvette HMS ARABIS on June 23 . But neither case can be conclusively stated as a definite cause of loss.

UBOATS

Departures
Kiel: U-102
Wilhelmshaven: U-34

At Sea 22 June 1940
U-25, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-51, U-52, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-99, U-101, U-102, UA.
21 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
As Sub TRIBUNE was leaving her patrol area to return to Rosyth, she sighted a German steamer. At 0136, sub TRIBUNE fired torpedoes at a 7000 to 8000 ton merchant ship near Stadlandet, but missed. Sub SNAPPER departed Rosyth on patrol.
FN.202 departed Southend, escort sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 24th. FS.202 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER from FN.201 joined on the 22nd. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 24th. FS.202 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.

Northern Waters
CA SUSSEX and CL NEWCASTLE arrived at Scapa. CL SOUTHAMPTON departed the Clyde for Scapa where she arrived on the 23rd.
Br oilers CLAM, CONCH, ROSEWOOD departed Scapa escort ASW trawlers IMPERIALIST, CAPE WARWICK, ELM for passage through the Minches and onward passage to Curacoa and Port of Spain. DD WALPOLE departed Scapa escorting Br trawler SEA MONARCH to Aberdeen. WALPOLE then escorted Br steamers DEVON CITY and ARBROATH from Aberdeen to Scapa, arriving on the 23rd.

West Coast UK
DDs ATHERSTONE and WANDERER arrived in the Clyde. Br troopships AQUITANIA and MAURETANIA departed the Clyde for Liverpool escort DDs WINCHESTER and WITHERINGTON. The ships arrived safely later the same day. DD WINCHESTER then departed Liverpool for Rosyth where she arrived on the 24th. Br troopship EMPRESS OF CANADA escort DD WANDERER departed the Clyde for Liverpool.

Channel
ASW yacht CAMPEADOR V (RN 195 grt) was mined and sunk 3 miles 310° from Nab Tower off Portsmouth. 19 ratings were lost, with only two survivors.

Br built French Flower Class corvette LA BASTIAISE (Fr 900 grt) was mined and sunk on trials off Hartlepool.

Fr aux PV HEUREUX and tugs ABEILLE 8 and ABEILLE 22 departed Plymouth to attempt to recover an incomplete 15,000 ton tkr at La Falaise.

UK-France
CL GALATEA and RCN DD FRASER operated off St Jean de Luz. Br liner ETTRICK embarked 2000 troops and King Zog of Albania from St Jean De Luz. Steamer AMIENOIS (Fr 3713 grt) was sunk by the LW off Le Verdon.

British Trinity House Light Vessel VESTAL evacuated light house personnel and civilians from Alderney.

Nth Atlantic
Fr CL EMILE BERTIN departed Halifax with the 300 tons of gold brought there from Brest to proceed to Fort de France. CA DEVONSHIRE shadowed the Fr CL, but lost touch with her. EMILE BERTIN arrived at Martinique on the 24th.

DKM Raider PINGUIN, carrying 300 moored mines and 25 torpedoes and 80 mines to replenish U boats at sea, departed Bergen to raid in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctic.

Med- Biscay
The Med Flt began to sortie from Alexandria to bombard Augusta and raid in the Messina area in Opn BQ. A number of steamers were to departed Malta and proceed to Alexandria during this operation. CVL EAGLE and DDs HYPERION, HOSTILE, HASTY, HEREWARD, HAVOCK, HERO, IMPERIAL, ILEX of Force C departed. At 2000, BBs ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES, also of Force C, departed Alexandria. Force B with CLs ORION, LIVERPOOL, GLOUCESTER with DDs JUNO and JANUS departed Alexandria at 2130.
At 2200, BB WARSPITE, CLs NEPTUNE and RAN SYDNEY, DDs NUBIAN, MOHAWK, DAINTY, DEFENDER, DECOY of Force A were to sail.
However, at 2153 the opn was cancelled due to the Fr Armistice. Fr CAs TOURVILLE and DUQUESNE, CL DUQUAY TROUIN, DDs STUART and VAMPIRE (both RAN) of Force D did not cast off. Fce A returned to Alexandria immediately. Forces B and C returned to Alexandria the next day.

Italian CruiserSqn 7 with CLs EUGENIO, D'AOSTA, ATTENDELO, MONTECUCCOLI escorted by DesDiv 13 sortied from Messina westward as far west of Minorca to interfere with French convoys which were being escorted by Fr CruDiv 4 with CLs GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM) and DDs between Marseilles and Oran. DDs INDOMPTABLE and MALIN were on patrol off Minorca. On convoy duty and at sea were DDs GERFAUT, KERSAINT, TRAMONTANE, BOULONNAIS, TYPHON, BORDELAIS, TROMBE, BALISTE, subs HENRI POINCARE, LE CENTAURE, PEGASE, NARVAL, CAIMAN, a/c tender COMMANDANT TESTE.

Fr CruDiv 3 (CLs MARSEILLAISE, LA GALISSONIERE, JEAN DE VIENNE) sortied from Algiers on the 23rd to intercept an RM force, but the Italian Admiral returned to base before the French Force made contact. At 0800, BCs DUNKERQUE, STRASBOURG, BB PROVENCE, BRETAGNE, CLs GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM, DDs MOGADOR, VOLTA, LE FANTASQUE, L'AUDACIEUX, LE TERRIBLE, TIGRE, LYNX, BRESTOIS, TORNADE were at Oran. Sub LE REDOUBTABLE was at Bone. DD L'ALCYON and subs LE TONNANT, FRESNEL, PASCAL, MONGE, VENGEUR, TURQUOISE were at Bizerte. Subs MARSOUIN and REQUIN were at Sousse. Subs NAUTILUS and SOUFFLEUR were at Sfax. CAs ALGERIE, DUPLEIX, FOCH, COLBERT, DDs VAUBAN, LION, AIGLE, GUEPARD, VERDUN, VALMY, VAUTOUR, CASSARD, escort vessels LES EPARGES and YSER, subs VENUS, IRIS, AURORE, CERES, PALLAS, LE CONQUERANT, GALATEE, LE DIAMANTE, PERLE at Hyeres, NAIADE, ARCHIMEDE, L'ESPOIR, ARGONAUTE, ATALANTE, ARETHUSE were at Toulon.
DDs TARTU and CHEVALIER PAUL were at Sete. DDs LA PALME, MARS, TEMPETE were at Port Vendres.

RM sub CAPPONI sank steamer ELGO (Sd 1888 grt) north of Sfax. One crewman was lost from the Swedish steamer.

Malta
HURRICANES FOR MALTA
6 Hurr a/c arrived in Malta. Early in the afternoon 2 Hurris landed from Bizerta after a difficult journey across sthn France and along the Nth African coast. As dusk fell, 2 more completed the same journey, followed by 2 more in the early evening. The 6 a/c were all that reached Malta out of 12 Hurris and 12 Blens that set off from the UK on 18 June.

12 Swordfish of 767 Deck Landing Sqn from Toulon also arrived on the Island and were placed under the operational control of the Air Officer Commanding, Med, with the agreement of the CinC.

Malta's Gladiators claimed their first confirmed 'destroyed' enemy a/c. The success came during an evening raid. The two serviceable Gladiators were scrambled at around 1900 hrs.

 

[Njaco]

June 23 Sunday
WESTERN FRONT: Adolf Hitler arrived in Paris, France and did some sightseeing early in the morning; this would be his only visit to Paris. Although Germany and France had already signed an armistice, fighting between Italy and France continued while French delegates negotiated in Rome. General Huntzinger, who signed the German-French armistice at Compiègne on 22 Jun, was once again a member of the French delegation.

Italians occupy Riviera resort of Menton described by Italian commentators as a 'strongly fortified town' .

Uncompleted French destroyer "Lansquenet" escapes from Gironde Estuary, West France, under German artillery fire.

Oblt. Helmut Wick is appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 2.

Charles de Gaulle is officially cashiered from the French Army by defeated French Commander in Chief General Weygand, although he will continue to use the title of General de Gaulle as leader of the Free French. Pierre Laval is appointed Deputy Premier by Petain.

The German ambassador in Spain noted that the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, was traveling through Portugal.

Portuguese police arrested 30 American sailors of light cruiser USS "Trenton" in a street brawl in Santo Amaro Oerias outside of Lisbon. Three Americans were injured during the arrest.

GERMANY: Battleship "Bismarck" entered floating drydock No. V-VI to install propellers and the MES magnetic system.

MEDITERRANEAN: Using information from Italian submarine "Galileo Galilei" (captured on 19 Jun), British sloop HMS "Shoreham" located Italian submarine "Evangelista Torricelli" and forced her to surface with depth charges. "Evangelista Torricelli" engaged three British destroyers, HMS "Kandahar", HMS "Kingston", and HMS "Khartoum", with her deck gun, but was sunk near Perim Island at the mouth of the Red Sea. Later in the day, HMS "Khartoum" was badly damaged when one of her own torpedoes explodes on deck, killing one. "Khartoum" was beached on Perim Island to prevent sinking, but she would eventually be declared lost.

French bombers raid Palermo (Sicily).

Coalition Government of Aly Pasha Maher in Egypt falls. The Wafdist (Nationalist) Party leader Nahas Pasha refuses to form new government. New weak Coalition Government formed under Hassan Pasha Sabry

INDIAN OCEAN: Italian submarine "Galvani" sinks sloop "Pathan" (Royal Indian Navy) off Bombay.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-99, damaged on 21 Jun by German battlecruiser "Scharnhorst" in a friendly fire incident, was en route to Wilhelmshaven, Germany for repairs when she was bombed by friendly aircraft twice on this date. She suffered only minor additional damage.

EASTERN EUROPE: Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov sent German Ambassador Friedrich Werner von der Schulenburg a message noting that the Soviet Union would like to gain Bessarabia and Bukovina from Romania. This greatly alarmed the German OKW as the German military was dependent on Romania as a source of oil and fodder.

NORTH AFRICA: The British Long Range Desert Patrol (later to become the Long Range Desert Group) was formed under the command of Major Ralph Bagnold to undertake long-range reconnaissance patrols behind Italian lines in North Africa.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British government severs relations with the French government, and recognizes the French National Committee.

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[parsifal]

23 June1940
Losses
Tug CORINGA (RN 294 grt) was lost in the Atlantic to unknown causes.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DD KHARTOUM (RN 1690 grt) was detached to patrol in the area. At 1400, KHARTOUM was badly damaged by the explosion of one of her torpedoes on her deck. She ran herself aground near Perim to prevent sinking. One crewman was killed and 4 were injured. DD KHARTOUM was a total loss and was never repaired.

MV KUFRA (UK 2724 grt) The cargo ship collided with another vessel and sank in the Bay of Biscay off Royan, Charente-Maritime, France.

PV LA CHERBOURGEOISE (Fr 350 grt (est)) was scuttled at Le Verdon.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

PV PATHAN (RIN 1345 grt) was badly damaged and sank the next day off Bombay. Contemporary sources stated that PATHAN was a victim of an enemy mine or torpedo from RM Sub GALVANI, but it is now known PATHAN was lost through the explosion of her own DCs.
6 crew died and 15 were injured.
.

Brin Class Sub TORICELLI (RM 1000 grt) had departed Massawa on the 14th, engaged Sloop SHOREHAM at 0530 in the Red Sea nth of Perim. SHOREHAM was hit by a shell from TORICELLI and was later repaired at Aden. DDs arrived on the scene, joined also by Indian sloop INDUS,and TORICELLI was sunk by the combined gunfire of DDs KINGSTON, KHARTOUM, KANDAHAR and sloops SHOREHAM and INDUS nth of Perim . The survivors were taken by DDs KINGSTON and KANDAHAR to Aden.

UBOATS
At Sea 23 June 1940
U-25, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-51, U-52, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-99, U-101, U-102 , UA.
21 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs JACKAL and JAGUAR departed the Humber to patrol in the Nth Sea. Sloop PUFFIN escorted salvage ship TEDWORTH, carrying out diving operations on sunken U.13 nth of Lowestoft. FN.203 departed Southend, escort DD VIMIERA, sloop LONDONDERRY, patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 25th. MT.94 departed Methil, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

Northern Waters
CV ARK ROYAL and DDs FEARLESS, FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, ESCAPADE departed Scapa on the 17th. FOXHOUND was detached at Milford Haven to refuel and did not rejoin. BC HOOD departed the Clyde on the 18th with DDs WANDERER, RCN ST LAURENT, RCN FRASER, RCN RESTIGOUCHE, RCN SKEENA . DD ATHERSTONE relieved WANDERER in the escort. The two forces joined at sea on the 19th. ATHERSTONE was detached late on the 19th and returned to Liverpool. The Canadian destroyers joined convoy TC.5. ARK ROYAL was unsuccessfully attacked by U.46 on the 22nd, but all ships safely arrived at Gib on the 23rd. CL NEWCASTLE and DD ECHO departed Scapa to investigate a reported enemy DD force reported in the Nth Sea and cover ORP Sub WILK, damaged on the 20th.

West Coast UK
CA NORFOLK departed the Clyde after repairs for Scapa.

Western Approaches
British steamer HORSA, with government stores, escorted by armed boarding vessels NORTHERN ISLE and NORTHERN SUN departed Scapa for Iceland.

Channel
Sub H.32 departed Dover escort DD VIVACIOUS to Portsmouth.

UK-France
RCN DD FRASER evacuated personnel, including the British Ambassador to France, off Arachon at noon on the 23rd and these personnel were transferred to CL GALATEA. Late on the 23rd, GALATEA evacuated British and Canadian diplomatic personnel from Bordeaux. The warships arrived at Plymouth on the 24th.

Nth Atlantic
CL EMERALD departed Greenock escort DDs COSSACK and ATHERSTONE. In heavy weather the DDs were detached outside the local approaches on the 25th. COSSACK arrived at Scapa on the 26th and ATHERSTONE arrived in the Clyde. CL EMERALD arrived at Halifax on the 29th carrying 2229 cases of gold.

Central Atlantic
CA DORSETSHIRE departed Freetown and joined CVL HERMES off Dakar to watch Fr BB RICHELIEU, escort DD FLEURET, which arrived at Dakar on the 23rd. AMC MALOJA was already patrolling off Dakar. Fr CV BEARN, was ordered to sea from Halifax on the 16th, to proceed to the West Indies.

Med- Biscay
Late on the 23rd, RM CLs EUGENIO, MONTECUCCOLI, D'AOSTA, ATTENDOLO of CruDiv 7 and DesDiv 13 patrolled between Sardinia and the Balearic Islands to intercept Fr traffic en route to Algerian ports. Off western Sardinia, CAs ZARA, FIUME, GORIZIA of CruDiv1, CAs POLA, BOLZANO, TRENTO of CruDiv 3, CLs COLLEONI and BANDE NERE of CruDiv 2 with DesDivs 9, 10, 12 waited in support for CruDiv 7.

Fr DDs FORTUNE, BASQUE, FORBIN departed Haifa for Alexandria. The next day, Adm Godfroy at Alexandria was ordered to take his force to Beirut, but Adm Cunningham informed Godfroy that he would not be allowed to comply. It was an outstanding measure of the two mens calibre that they were able to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of both. Godfroy had no wish to accede to the rapidly increasing anti-British attitude of the Vichy regime and Cunnignham no wish to mistreat or demean the honour of a gallant former ally.

Br steamers ISLE OF SARK , ALDERNEY QUEEN , SHERINGHAM , three others escorted by DD SABRE evacuated Alderney.
DD KEPPEL departed Port Vendres for Sete to organize the evacuation of Czech and Polish troops. DD VELOX was sent to Port Vendres from Gib. VELOX entered Vendres on the 23rd. DD KEPPEL arrived Sete on the 23rd and found Fr DDs TARTU, CHEVALIER PAUL, CASSARD in harbour. At 1345, the Fr DDs departed Sete. At 1830, Fr DD PALME and tkr LA RANCE arrived.
During the afternoon of 24 June, Br steamers OAKCREST , BRITANNIC , LORD COCHRANE arrived at Sete. Involved in the evacuation of Port Vendres and Sete were Br steamers APAPA , COULTARN, GARTBRATTAN, VICEROY OF INDIA, ASHCREST, SALTERSGATE , NORTHMOOR, NEURALIA and Egyptian steamers MOHAMED ALI EL KEBIR and ROD EL FARAG. 39 ships in all were employed. 12,832 troops were evacuated from Sete, Vendres, Marseilles. DD KEPPEL departed Sete with Egyptian steamer MOHAMED ALIEL KEBIR and joined DD VELOX which departed Vendres on the 26th with Br steamer APAPA. The ships travelled in company to Gib. They arrived at Gib later on the 26th.

Fr DD LANSQUENET, which was nearing completion at Bordeaux, was floated out and towed to Pauillac where she was fuelled. She departed the Gironde early on the 23rd and arrived at Casablanca on the 27th. DD BROKE assisted British troopship ORMONDE under air attack at Bayonne.

CA DORSETSHIRE and DD WATCHMAN departed Gibraltar for Dakar and Casablanca, respectively. WATCHMAN was to consult with British consul and impress upon the French the British intention of continuing the war.

Indian Ocean
RAN CA CANBERRA departed Fremantle and relieved CL PERTH of the escort of British liner STRATHMORE en route to Colombo.
Both ships departed Adelaide for Capetown on the 29th. CANBERRA and liner STRATHMORE safely arrived at Capetown on 11 July. The CA was assigned to the Sth Atlantic Cmd. However, CANBERRA's duty in the Sth Atlantic was cut short when she had to depart on 4 August from Simonstown for Sydney to repair defects to one of her props. This repair was completed by late August.

BN.1 of 9 ships departed Bombay. The convoy was escorted by CL CERES and AMC CATHAY from 23 June to 4 July. CL LEANDER escorted the convoy from 2 to 10 July. RIN sloop HINDUSTAN escorted the convoy from 2 to 5 July. Sloop SHOREHAM was with the convoy on 2 July. DD KINGSTON escorted the convoy from 5 to 10 July. CLA CARLISLE, DD KANDAHAR, sloop FLAMINGO escorted the convoy from 6 to 10 July. Sloops GRIMSBY and CLIVE escorted the convoy from 10 to 12 July when the convoy arrived at Suez.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CL DAUNTLESS departed Singapore for Penang, arriving on the 25th.

Malta
1235-1300 hrs Air raid alert. Three formations each of five bombers and another of four fighters approach the Island. Bombs are dropped on Valletta, causing slight damage. 12 bombs fall 150 yards north east of Tigne fort; others between Corradino and Luqa, as well as in the sea. Three civilians are injured by broken glass in Luqa village. One Macchi 200 is brought down by a Gladiator, the enemy pilot baled out. He is observed parachuting down towards Sliema; he lands in the sea where he is rescued and taken prisoner. He is taken to Imtarfa Hospital.

Enemy casualties Sergente Maggiore Lamberto Molinelli, 88a Squadriglia, 6o Gruppo Autonomo, pilot of a MC 200 fighter aircraft, taken prisoner.

 

[parsifal]

24 June 1940
Britain now stands against the Axis with few friends and many enemies. The coming months will test British courage to breaking point.
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette GERANIUM

Geranium in 1940, possibly on her maiden voyage. Note the early pennant M16, which changed later in the war to K-16.

Losses
MV CATHRINE (Pan 1885 grt) Crew: 19 (0 dead and 19 survivors) Cargo: wheat, Pitch Pine lumber, turpentine rosin and paper pulp Route: Florida – Falmouth - London Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 0248 hrs , U-47 opened fire with the deck gun at the unescorted and unarmed CATHRINE in heavy seas after two torps had missed the vessel at 0218 and 0241 hours. The Germans fired 113 rounds and scored 12 hits that caused the ship to sink after 52 minutes. The survivors were picked up by the British decoy ship HMS ORCHY. Great difficulties were experienced with the boats alongside as the ship was pitching in the rough sea and heavy swell.

Tkr ALBUERA (UK 3477 grt) was sunk by DKM S Boat S.36 2 miles sw of Lydd Light Float off Dungeness. 7 crew were lost on the British steamer. 29 survivors were rescued by a Dutch steamer MEROPE which transferred them to ASW trawler GRIMSBY TOWN.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sloop BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE (Fr 1475 grt) The unfinished, 84% complete, Bougainville-class sloop was scuttled in the Gironde Estuary.

Brin class Sub GALVANI (RM 1000 grt) which departed Massawa on the 10th,was rammed and sunk by sloop FALMOUTH in the Gulf of Oman.

Steamer KINGFISHER (UK 276 grt) was sunk by DKM S Boat S.19 in off Beachy Head. One crewman was lost on the British steamer.
[NO IOMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
At Sea 24 June 1940
U-25, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-51, U-52, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-99, U-101, U-102 , UA.
21 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Sub TRIDENT fired 4 torps at German tkr DITHMARSCHEN, escort DDs IHN and GALSTER, however all torpedoes missed. Sub H.28 arrived at Blyth after patrol. Subs SEAWOLF, SEALION, SHARK exercised in the Firth of Forth. MLs TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and DDs INTREPID, ICARUS, EXPRESS, which departed the Humber on the 24th, laid minefield BS.18 during the night of 24/25 June.

FN.204 departed Southend, escort DD VALOROUS, sloop EGRET, patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 26th. C FS.203 departed the Tyne, escort sloops FLEETWOOD and WESTON and patrol sloop PINTAIL. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 26th. MT.95 departed Methil, escort DDs VEGA and VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at the Tyne the next day.

Northern Waters
CA NORFOLK arrived at Scapa after completing repairs in the Clyde of her 19 March bombing damage. CL NEWCASTLE and DD ECHO arrived at Scapa. DDs FIREDRAKE and PUNJABI departed the Clyde to escort CVE ARGUS and liner ANDES to Iceland where they safely arrived at Reykavik on the 26th and Seidisfjord on the 30th. The ships departed Reykavik on the 27th and arrived at Akreyri on the 28th. Troops were landed at Akreyri on the 28th. DDs FIREDRAKE and PUNJABI and liner ANDES departed Akreyri on the 29th for Seidisfjord. Fog delayed the passage and the ships arrived in the Fjord on the 30th. Troops were landed at Seidisfjord on 1 July.
The British ships completed their mission and departed Seidisfjord during the afternoon of 1 July. The ships returned to the Clyde on 3 July.

DD FORESIGHT departed Scapa for Sullom Voe to escort ML ATREUS. DD FORESIGHT and ML ATREUS departed Sullom Voe that evening for Scapa and arrived pre-dawn on the 25th. DDs BEDOUIN and ASHANTI arrived at Scapa from Iceland. DD DIANA departed Scapa for Aberdeen. At Aberdeen DIANA and MSW WHITETHORN and ASW trawler STOKE CITY escorted Br steamer LOCHNAGAR and store carrier KYLEBROOK to Lerwick and Scapa respectively. KYLEBROOK and WHITETHORN were detached to Scapa on the 25th. DIANA, STOKE CITY, and steamer LOCHNAGAR arrived at Lerwick that afternoon. DIANA proceeded to Scapa arriving late that evening. DD AMAZON departed Scapa Flow for repairs at Chatham.

SW Approaches
HGZ (formed as HG.36) departed Gib with 24 ships local escort DD WISHART and ASW trawler LORD HOTHAM. WISHART remained with the convoy until 28 June when she was detached to convoy OG.35. Sloop FOWEY joined from convoy OG.35 and escorted the convoy from 28 June to 4 July when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Channel
DD BOREAS on Sth Goodwins Patrol was ordered to investigate a surface craft steering in circles. DD CODRINGTON was sent to support BOREAS. BOREAS proceeded within 3.5 miles off Boulogne. She reported no ships underway, but the DD drew heavy fire from shore based artillery. No damage was sustained. Later, CODRINGTON brought British whale factory ship SVEND FOYN to anchorage west of Dungeness.

UK-France
Br steamers GLENAFFARIC , CYCLOPS , CLAN ROSS were off St Jean de Luz to join British liner ETTRICK embarking troops at St Jean de Luz. Br liner ARANDORA STAR also joined for the evacuation. Br steamer CLAN ROSS was damaged by the LW off St Jean de Luz.

Central Atlantic
CA CORNWALL departed Simonstown for Liverpool to refit completing on 5 August.

Med- Biscay
DD DOUGLAS , with Sir Dudley North aboard, departed Gib for Mer el Kebir to learn the terms of the French Armistice. DD DOUGLAS arrived back at Gib later that same day. British liaison officers departed Oran on Fr DD TYPHON for Gib, arriving on the 25th. The destroyer returned to Oran that day.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
NZ manned CL ACHILLES departed Auckland for anti raider patrol around Curtis and Macauley Islands. The ship returned to Auckland on the 28th

 

[parsifal]

25 JUNE 1940
Operation CATAPULT
Darlan told the British that the French fleet would never fall into the hands of the Germans. When the French were presented with the Germans terms of surrender they included the instruction that all French warships were to return to harbours in France where they would be disarmed. The German terms stated that the Germans would not use the French ships for their own purposes, with the exception of coastal boats that would be used for mine-sweeping.

The British ambassador at Bordeaux, Sir Ronald Campbell, communicated these terms to London. Churchill went on radio to castigate the French for accepting the Germans terms. However, in the midst of his anger, Churchill was not informed of a last-minute concession made by the Germans on June 22nd. Pétain insisted that disarming the warships had to happen in French African ports – not in France. The Germans agreed to this. On June 23rd, Campbell and his staff left Bordeaux for Britain and he never got to know about this concession. After this, communication between Churchill's government and the French became patchy at best. The formal agreement to the terms of the surrender occurred on June 30th at Wiesbaden.

The lack of communication between the British and French was to have dire consequences. As early as June 20th, Darlan had sent a coded order to the captains of the warships based in French African ports – do not surrender your ships intact to the Germans. On June 24th, he repeated this order with specific instructions to make preparations to scuttle the ships if it seemed likely that they would be captured. The British were unaware of this instruction and on June 27th the British government took the decision that the French ships could not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Germans and that the Royal Navy would ensure that this would not happen. CATAPULT is generally considered to have commenced from June 27th, though there were severeal instances of earlier activities.

Losses
CLA CALCUTTA and RCN DDs FRASER (RCN 1375 grt) and RESTIGOUCHE patrolled off Bordeaux covering the evacuation of St Jean De Luz where troopships ETTRICK , ARANDORA STAR , BATORY , SOBIESKI were lifting troops from 22 to 24 June. The convoy departed St Jean De Luz at 1300/24th escort DDs MACKAY and WREN. Searching for Fr steamer DE LASALLE in the area, CALCUTTA accidently ran down FRASER at 2000 cutting her in half. CALCUTTA and RESTIGOUCHE picked up the survivors and a boarding party completing at 0001 on the 26th, after the still floating stern had been scuttled .

45 Canadian crew and 14 British crew were lost with FRASER. 1 rating from DD RESTIGOUCHE was lost in the rescue efforts. 11 officers and 104 crew were rescued by RESTIGOUCHE. RESTIGOUCHE also had Captain CC A. Allen and two other officers embarked in France and six ratings from CALCUTTA's whaler picked up as resucue operations became more frantic. CALCUTTA rescued 33 men including 8 wounded . RESTIGOUCHE arrived at Plymouth on the 26th. CALCUTTA and arrived at Plymouth for repairs on the 27th and alight her list of wounded. Repairs were completed in late July.

Pilot Vessel RINA CROCE (FI 589 grt) was sunk on a minefield laid by Sub RORQUAL in the Adriatic Sea.
{NO IMAGE FOUND]

Aux PV SAINT MARGUERITE (Fr 48 grt)was scuttled at Le Verdon.Saint Marguerite.
NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr SARANAC (UK 12049 grt) Crew: 44 (4 dead and 40 survivors) Cargo: Balast : Route: Fawley - Aruba Sunk in the SW Approaches Convoy OA 172: The tkr was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by U-51 with the loss of 4 of her 44 crew. The survivors were rescued by AINDERBY (UK) and HMS HURRICABE.

Sub SNAPPER fired 3 torps at a convoy. Aux PV V1107 (DKM 295 grt) was sunk in this attack. At 1604, SNAPPER fired 3 ,ore torps at a merchant ship in this convoy, but missed.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV WINDSORWOOD (UK 5395 get) Cew: 40 (0 dead and 40 survivors) Cargo:7100 tons of coal Route: Tyne - Freetown Sunk outbound in the SW Approaches. Attached to Convoy OA 172: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean SW of Ireland U-51. All 40 crew were rescued by AINDERBY (UK)

UBOATS

Arrivals
Kiel: U-101
Wilhelmshaven: U-99

U.30 refuelled from tkr MAX ALBRECHT (DKM 5824 grt) at El Ferrol.

At Sea 25 June 1940
U-25, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-48, U-51, U-52, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-102, UA.
19 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs JACKAL and JAGUAR departed the Humber for Rosyth. DD FURY departed Sheerness for Rosyth. DD WINCHESTER departed Rosyth for the Tyne. DD AMAZON joined FS.5 off the Tyne for passage to Chatham. Because she could not steam more than 15 kts, she was not regarded as part of the escort. Sub TRIBUNE arrived at Rosyth after patrol. Sub PORPOISE arrived at Blyth after patrol. Sub SEALION departed Rosyth on patrol. Subs SEAWOLF and SHARK exercised in the Firth of Forth. FN.205 departed Southend, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND and sloop MALLARD. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 27th. FS.204 departed the Tyne, escort DDs VEGA and VIVIEN and patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 27th.

Northern Waters
CL NEWCASTLE departed Scapa for Rosyth where she arrived later the same day. Repair ship VINDICTIVE departed Scapa for the Clyde, but was recalled before arriving.

SW Approaches
On 25 June, realizing the concentration of UBoats in ther SW Approaches, HX.52 was ordered routed through the Irish Sea to Liverpool. Up to this point, the convoy had been going to Plymouth. HX.52 arrived on 4 July unharmed.

UK-France
DD BROKE departed Plymouth with DDs VANQUISHER and WINCHELSEA for Gironde. This gp wsas later strengthened by DD HIGHLANDER and another DD.

Nth Atlantic
OA.174 departed Southend escort corvette HIBISCUS from 25 to 27 June. The convoy was escorted by sloop ABERDEEN and corvette CALENDULA on 27 to 28 June. OA.174 included steamer SAN ANDREAS carrying the Norwegian gold reserves to Montreal.
Convoy OB.174 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop SANDWICH from 25 to 28 June. HX.53 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA. On 26 June, they turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, AMC ALAUNIA, which was detached on 7 July. BHX.53 departed Bermuda on the 24th escort ocean escort AMC COMORIN. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.53 on the 29th and the AMC was detached. On 7 July, DDs SABRE and SCIMITAR, sloop LEITH, corvette CLARKIA joined the convoy. On 8 July, DDs HURRICANE, VANQUISHER, WINCHELSEA joined; they were detached the next day. On 10 July, the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Ne CL HEEMSKERCK departed Halifax for Falmouth. The cruiser returned to Portsmouth for conversion to a CLA completed on 17 February 1941.

Central Atlantic
Fr BB RICHELIEU and DD FLEURET departed Dakar for Casablanca but returned when she found that RN CA DORSETSHIRE was shadowing her.
Seaplane tender ALBATROSS, departed Freetown for Dakar, but did not arrive until after RICHELIEU had departed. CV ARK ROYAL, BC HOOD, and DDs FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, ESCAPADE departed Gib to intercept towards the Canary Is. While at sea, ARK ROYAL embarked an additional 10 Swordfish from Rabat. The RN force was ordered back to Gib on the evening of the 26th, arriving on the 27th. BB RICHELIEU arrived back off Dakar 27th with Fr AMCs EL D'JEZAIR, EL KANTARA, EL MANSOUR, VILLE D'ORAN and Contre Torpillleur DDs MILAN and EPERVIER protecting her. the BB and DD did not enter port. They turned back nth again. They finally arrived at Dakar on the 28th.

CL DUNEDIN arrived at Martinique to watch the French warships there. She was later joined by CLs FIJI and DIOMEDE. The British ships were ordered to neutralize the French warships in CATAPULt operations, but negotiations averted an armed encounter. FIJI departed Martinique on the 30th to refit at St Lucia. DUNEDIN remained off Fort de France. After CATAPULt ops in Africa, the British warships were ordered to leave French waters and the patrol was terminated on 12 July.

SL.37 departed Freetown escort AMC MOOLTAN to 9 July, where escort was taken over DD WALKER and sloop DEPTFORD to arrival on 12 July.

Sth Atlantic
RAN CA AUSTRALIA, which had just escorted British steamer ULYSSES from Capetown to Durban and returned escorting troopship STRATHEDEN, departed Capetown with troopships ORION , REINA DEL PACIFICO , STRATHEDEN. All ships arrived at Freetown without event on 3 July. CVS (Seaplane Carrier) ALBATROS was at Freetown at that time.

Med- Biscay
As the new pro German Vichy regime began to realize the British were not going to follow the French lead and surrender, relations began a rapid slide. British steamers were seized by French forces at Casablanca. including, MV STORAA (UK 1967 grt), MV PENGREEP (UK 4806 grt), MV TOUSSIKA (UK 1828 grt), MV HILDE (UK 1595 grt), MV BELGIEN (UK 1979 grt) . These vessels all worked for the Vichy regime

The first escorted Italian convoy departed Naples for Tripoli with troopships ESPERIA and VICTORIA escorted by AMC RAMB II and TBs ORSA and PROCIONE.

RAMB II operated within the Med, whereas RAMB I operated in the Red Sea
Italian submarine BRAGADIN, which departed Taranto on the 24th, arrived at Tobruk with supplies for the airport.

 

[Njaco]

Holy crap!! I'm back!! Five days with no electricity!!

 

[Njaco]

June 24 Monday
UNITED KINGDOM: Another attack at night of the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton is undertaken by five He 111s of I./KG 27. Although, the bombers claim a success, the fact is that several bombs fall in the St. Philip's area of Bristol and another at the corner of Lower Maudlin Street and Harford Street, killing two civilians. The Heinkels return to the airfield at Merville at 0230 hours.

GERMANY: Major Hans-Hugo Witt is promoted to operations officer at Jäfu 2 and hands over duties as Kommodore of JG 26 to the Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 26, Major Gotthardt Handrick. Hptm. Kurt Fisher is made Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 26 in Major Handrick's place. The commander of V Fliegerkorps, Generalleutnant Robert Ritter von Greim is awarded the Ritterkreuz, becoming the seventy-sixth soldier honored with the award.

WESTERN FRONT: British commandos make their first raid on Europe and launched an aborted raid on Le Touquet, France.

NORTH AFRICA: As French warships scattered throughout Dakar, Casablanca, Algiers, and Mers-el-Kébir in French colonies in Africa, Alexandria in Egypt, and Plymouth and Portsmouth and Britain, French Admiral Darlan promised British Prime Minister Churchill that they would not fall into German hands. Britain wants these assets and is determined that Germany does not take them.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-47 sank Panamanian ship "Cathrine" with the deck gun about 300 miles west of Land's End in southwestern England. As the entire crew of 19 escaped to lifeboats, they were given food and red wine by the crew of U-47 before being set adrift for their eventual rescue.

'SS Albuera' (3,477t) steamer, Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada to the Tyne with pit props was sunk in the English Channel by E Boats. Seven of her crew were lost.

MEDITERRANEAN: British sloop HMS "Falmouth" sank Italian submarine "Luigi Galvani" in the Gulf of Oman.

The Franco-Italian armistice was signed at Villa Olgiata near Rome, Italy by French General Huntziger and Italian General Badoglio. However, the armistice does not come into effect until tomorrow and both Italy and Germany continue fighting in France.

Malta received its first strike aircraft with the arrival and creation of No. 830 Squadron with Fairey Swordfish Mk.1 aircraft. They were left behind by HMS "Argus" when she departed the Mediterranean Sea.

ASIA: Japan requested Britain to close the Burma Road, a land supply route into China.

NORTH AMERICA: Charles Edison resigned as the Secretary of the Navy of the United States; Lewis Compton, Assistant Secretary of the Navy since 9 Feb 1940, took over as the acting secretary. Rear Admiral Charles A. Blakely relieved Rear Admiral Joseph R. Defrees as the Commandant of the Eleventh Naval District and the Commandant of the Naval Operating Base in San Diego, California, United States.

.

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[Njaco]

June 25 Tuesday
UNITED KINGDOM: The Heinkels of KG 27 again target the Avonmouth and Portishead docks between midnight and 0443 hours. Eleven HEs were dropped in the Chamberlain Road to Lodge Street area, causing slight damage to domestic property. One person was seriously injured. Six HEs field at Linden Hall Farm, Longhorsley. One sheep killed. A Heinkel He 111 crashed into the sea off Hull at 0017 hours after two separate combat attacks off Withernsea. The bodies of two of the crew were recovered by HMS 'Brazen' some days later and buried at sea.

GERMANY: General Hans Jeschonnek, the Luftwaffe Chief of Staff, states,

"The Führer has no intention of mounting an invasion . . . There won't be any invasion, and I have no time to waste on planning one."

WESTERN FRONT: At half past midnight, the French armistices with Germany and Italy came into effect at 0030 hours and fighting is over in France. French losses totaled 92,000 killed, 250,000 wounded, and 1,500,000 captured. British losses were 68,111 killed, wounded, or captured. German losses were 29,640 killed and 133,573 wounded and missing. Italian losses were 631 killed, 4,782 wounded, and 616 missing. Italians have made virtually no progress in their offensive except at Menton, on French Riviera. Since June 21, Italy has 631 dead, 2,631 wounded, 2,151 hospitalized with frostbite and 616 missing attacking Southern France, while French defenders suffered only 37 killed, 42 wounded and 150 missing. France declared a National day of mourning, while Hitler ordered the flying of flags and pealing of bells in Germany to celebrate "the most glorious victory of all time". To compound French misery, Adolf Hitler ordered the Armistice site at Forest de Compiègne destroyed, including the rail car used for both 1918 and 1940 surrenders. The railway carriage, a massive dedication tablet and the 1918 Alsace-Lorraine Monument (depicting a German eagle impaled by a sword) were removed to Germany. However, Hitler leaves the statue of French WWI victor, Maréchal Foch, watching over this wasteland. With the campaign finally over, the Luftwaffe can sit back and lick its wounds. The top scorer of the campaign is Oblt. Balthasar of I./JG 1 with a total of twenty-two aerial victories against the Allies ahead of several other prominent pilots, including Werner Mölders and Adolf Galland.

The last aerial victory of the French campaign for the Luftwaffe on this day is a Potez 63 of Groupe de Reconnaissance II/14 shot down by a Bf 109 over Montelimar. Before the Armistice, Lt. Josef 'Pips' Priller of 6./JG 51 destroys a Spitfire for his sixth victory.

Operation Ariel: Canadian destroyers HMCS "Fraser" and HMCS "Restigouche" and British cruiser HMS "Calcutta" were sent to evacuate 4,000 Allied troops near Bordeaux, France. En route, in rough seas and poor visibility, HMCS "Fraser" collided with HMS "Calcutta". The smaller Canadian destroyer broke into three pieces and sank. 47 of "Fraser's" crew and 19 of "Calcutta's" crew were killed. Many "Fraser" survivors transfer to HMCS "Margaree" and some are lost in another collision on October 22 with freighter MV "Port Fairy". Operations Cycle and Ariel are then completed: 214,000 British and Allied troops were evacuated from northwest and west France since June 15.

Working together with the Germans, Spain agreed to assist with the German attempt to detain the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom.

Switzerland President Pilet-Golaz makes a controversial broadcast. He expresses 'relief' at the 'end of the war in Europe' and suggests the replacement of Swiss democracy by an authoritarian system.

.

 

[Njaco]

June 25 1940 (continued)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-51 attacked Allied convoy OA-172 about 370 miles west of Land's End in southwestern England between 1545 and 1930 hours, sinking British steamer "Windsorwood" (all 40 survived) and British tanker "Saranac" (4 killed, 39 survived).

UNITED KINGDOM: Churchill makes a speech to the House of Commons on the Franco-German peace and, specifically, on the disposition of the French battleships and other warships. He notes;

"…the solemn declaration of the German Government that they have no intention of using them for their own purposes during the war. What is the value of that? Ask half a dozen countries what is the value of such a solemn assurance".

He is clearly worried about the fate of the French fleet, despite the assurances of Admiral Darlan.

British Minister of Health Malcolm MacDonald returned to Dublin, Ireland with a proposal from Winston Churchill for a joint union between Eire and Ulster to afford sanctuary for British troops and Irish ports for Royal Navy use.

Lord Gort departed Britain by flying boat for Rabat, French Morocco to speak with French ministers. Political situations would prevent him from successfully meeting with the French.

NORTH AMERICA: At New York's Hotel Commodore, a fund-raising lunch of the Emergency Rescue Committee raises US$3500. The committee compiles a list of 200 people to rescue from France.

New considerably increased taxes are introduced which bring an additional 2,200,000 into the tax roll who have never formerly paid income tax. These increases of course reflect the armament expenditure.

ASIA: The Japanese put pressure on the French authorities in Indochina to block the transit of supplies to the Chinese Nationalists. They wish the rail line into China closed and a Japanese mission to be allowed in to inspect this.

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June 26 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: Some 100 German aircraft were employed against England and they crossed the Scottish coast and the North East coast Between the hours of 0200 hours and 0400 hours. KG 27 again sends bombers to the British Isles. Three He 111s raid the Avonmouth and Portishead docks again while three more Heinkels attack the railway station near Bristol. A Heinkel 111 was lost at sea off Blyth, on a sortie to Middlesbrough.

General de Gaulle created the French Volunteer Legion in United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom extended the blockade to include the all of France.

The French Foreign Minister of the Bordeaux Government announced that the French Ambassador in London, M. Corbin, had resigned.

RMS "Queen Mary", with 5,000 British troops aboard, set sail for the Middle East.

WESTERN FRONT: With the end of operations on mainland Europe, the Luftwaffe orders a rest among the many fighting air units in France and the Low Countries. While the politicians work on the problem with England a small force of fighters is left on the Pas-de-Calais to defend against British air attacks including the entire Geschwader of Oberst Theo Osterkamp's JG 51, who are held along the coast to provide fighter protection for the German bombers who continue to attack Channel convoys along with Hptm. Hanns Trübenbach's I(J)./LG 2 who are kept in the Pas de Calais area. All other fighting air units are ordered back to Germany for rest and refitting. Moving this day are the fighters of JG 26 who end up at their former bases along the Rhine, defending Germany against British bombers. But before they leave France, the Geschwader suffers a loss. Lt. Otto-Heinrich Hillecke of II./JG 26 is killed in one of the last aerial combats of the campaign. Lt. Kurt Ebersberger remembers his friend; "We miss his humor and harmonica playing. Often when we were at Chicore, our second base in Belgium, after dinner in our handsome Chateau with a bottle of good burgundy at hand, Hilleke used to play for us. We would discuss the events of the day and air fighting as well as many matters that were not connected with the Service. Anything unpleasant was dismissed with a joke, so that we were always in a happy and confident mood. We were at ease and out of sight of higher authority. When we felt like it, we went out roaming the district." Lt. Hillecke had six victories flying with the "Schlageter" Geschwader.

Hans Schmoller-Haldy of JG 54 is injured attacking a RAF Blenheim over Holland.

A conference is held at The Hague to discuss the Luftwaffe's operations against RAF night bombers. Attending is Generalfeldmarschall Göring, Generalluftzeugmeister Ernst Udet, General Albert Kesselring, Chief of Personnel General Kastner, General Bruno Lörner and ZG 1 Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Wolfgang Falck, known as "The Happy Falcon". After discussing an earlier report by Hptm. Falck concerning night-fighting, Göring orders Falck to establish an experimental Nachtjagdgeschwader (NJG) force designated NJG 1. The I Gruppe of NJG 1, led by Falck himself, is to be equipped with Bf 110s while II./NJG 1 would be equipped with Bf 109s, and is to be led by a major that Falck doesn't believe can handle the job. After the conference and later arriving in Dusseldorf, Falck dismisses the major and promotes Johannes 'Macki' Steinhoff to form and lead the II Gruppe. Lt. Helmut Lent is selected to lead a squadron in the new Gruppe. The Gruppen are being formed from night-fighting components of ZG 1, ZG 26 and JG 2.

With the end of the fighting in France, the Luftwaffe undertakes to reorganize its fighter and bomber forces. Throughout the end of the month and on into July, new Gruppen are formed while others are redesignated and rearmed with new aircraft.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Norwegian merchant ship "Crux" was sunk 300 miles west of Cape St. Vincent, Portugal at 0228 hours by a German submarine. The crew of 30 took to lifeboats and would be rescued on the following day.

German submarine U-29 stopped Greek ship "Dimitris" with a shot across her bow off Cape Finisterre, Spain at 1530 hours. After the crew abandoned ship, the Greek ship was sunk by gunfire.

EASTERN EUROPE: Soviet Union presented an ultimatum demanding territory in Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina from Romania. Adolf Hitler suggested the Romanians government to give in and satisfy the Soviet demands as Hitler was fearful that Romanian resistance might lead to a Soviet occupation of the entire Romania, which would threaten the oil and fodder that the German military was dependent upon.

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet in Moscow, Russia called for a 7-day work week and banned the quitting of jobs without official authorization. Also, being late to work for more than 20 minutes was now a criminal offense punishable by prison terms of two to six months.

NORTH AMERICA: Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, United States received the license from Rolls-Royce to build Merlin engines for the P-51 Mustang fighters.

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June 27 Thursday
UNITED KINGDOM: Shortly before midnight, Ju 88s from I and III./KG 51 raid the Avonmouth and Portishead docks with four of the Junkers bombers attacking the airfield near Bristol.

Churchill still worries that Germany will capture the French fleet, particularly the vessels at Mers-el-Kébir, restoring German sea power lost in the Norwegian campaign. Despite Admiral Darlan's previous assurances that French ships would not fall into German hands, the British War Cabinet ordered the Royal Navy to seize or destroy all French warships in British and North African ports. In turn, Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville was ordered to take the newly-formed Force H to Algeria.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Ofw. Anton "Toni" Hackl of 5./JG 77 downs another RAF Hudson but is wounded in the encounter. He is promoted to Oberleutnant for his bravery in combat.

WESTERN FRONT: German forces reached the Franco-Spanish border.

Another fighter Geschwader leaves France and the Low Countries. The fighters of II./JG 52 moves from Luxemburg / Sandweiler to Nordholz where the Gruppe repairs and refits its Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighters. One of the units moving to new airfields has a surprise when they arrive. The whole of JG 2 are ordered to a new airfield at Beaumont-le-Roger only to find instead of an operating airbase they are confronted with a wheatfield with stalks one and a half meters high. The first pilot to land uses the propellers of his plane to cut a lane through the wheat. When he is finished the rest of the Geschwader lands, following his tracks only to find they can't take off again. The rest of the evening is spent rolling the wheat flat so that by morning the Geschwader is operational along with the field.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-47 shelled Norwegian merchant ship "Lenda" off southwest Ireland at 0400 hours; 1 was killed and 27 survived. At 1700 hours, U-47 shelled Dutch tanker "Leticia" in the same area. 25 of the crew took to lifeboats, while the other 3 who dove into the water were rescued by U-47 and brought to the lifeboats. The crew of U-47 offered the survivors first aid material, sausages, and wine before leaving.

EASTERN EUROPE: Romania ceded Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the Soviet Union.

NORTH AMERICA: US President Roosevelt declared a national emergency and re-invoked the Espionage Act of 1917 to control shipping in American waters and in waters near the Panama Canal Zone. On the same day, he also established the National Defense Research Committee under chairman Vannevar Bush to coordinate the development of war related sciences and technologies.

The keel for battleship "Iowa" was laid down at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard in New York, United States.

In Washington a confidential meeting is held between British and Australian representatives and the United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull. The British and Australians ask for help in standing up to Japan. They wish the USA to take economic measures or to move more units of the fleet to Malaysian and Philippine waters or to offer to mediate between China and Japan. Hull is unable to agree to any of these moves which would involve a more active foreign policy than the American public is prepared to contemplate at this time.

NORTH AFRICA: The escaping French battleship "Jean Bart", which had been fitting out at Saint-Nazaire when France fell, reached safety at Casablanca, French Morocco.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian submarine "Console Generale Luizzi" is sunk by destroyers HMS "Dainty", "Defender" and "Ilex" south of Crete. HMS "Voyager" and "Dainty" rescue the survivors. Off the coast of Eritrea near Port Sudan, beached Italian submarine "Macalle" is destroyed by shelling from British destroyers HMS "Kandahar" and "Kingston" and light cruiser HMS "Leander" (serving in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy). HMS "Leander's" aircraft also dropped four bombs on the submarine.

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