This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Njaco]

June 28 Friday
EASTERN EUROPE: Soviet Union occupied Bessarabia and the Northern Bukovina, ceded by Romania.

WESTERN FRONT: The British Channel Islands were partially evacuated after being demilitarized to minimize casualties to be caused by the imminent German attacks. On the same day, German Luftwaffe aircraft bombed Guernsey and Jersey, killing 33 and injuring 40, mistaking tomato trucks for troop carriers.

Former French Prime Minister Reynaud injured in car accident near Bordeaux. His mistress, Countess de Portes, is killed.

UNITED KINGDOM: General Charles de Gaulle was recognized by the United Kingdom as the leader of Free French forces.

Douglas Bader was named the commanding officer of No. 242 Squadron RAF, flying Hurricane fighters, based at RAF Coltishall at Norwich, England, United Kingdom.

NORTH AFRICA: British Blenheim bombers attacked Tobruk in North Africa. Following the raid, Italian Governor-General of Libya Marshal Italo Balbo returned from a reconnaissance flight. Italian anti-aircraft crews, still jumpy from the raid, mis-identified his aircraft for a British bomber and opened fire, killing Balbo. Given Balbo's opposition to Mussolini's alliance with Germany, some believe this friendly fire incident was actually an assassination. Marshal Graziani is appointed to replace him.

MEDITERRANEAN: Pope Pius XII offered to be a mediator for the warring powers.

Italian destroyers "Espero", "Zeffiro" and "Ostro" are sighted by air reconnaissance and intercepted by British light cruiser squadron from Alexandria, Egypt. "Espero" is sunk in the Ionian Sea, but the other two destroyers escape and continue to Tripoli. British cruiser HMS "Liverpool" is hit by a single 4.7 inch shell, cutting the degaussing wire.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-30 sank British ship "Llanarth" 250 miles west of Brest, France at 0200 hours. 16 crew are picked up by British corvette HMS "Gladiolus" on June 30 and landed at Plymouth. 19 others are rescued by a Spanish trawler and landed at San Sebastian.

British trawler "Castleton" became missing in the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland, probably sunk by U-102 which did not return from this patrol.

SOUTH PACIFIC: The British Dominions Secretary informs the Australian Government that with Italy in the war and France out, Britain could not send a fleet to the Far East. Britain asks Australia for divisions of troops and two squadrons of aircraft for the defence of Malaya.

EAST AFRICA: Battle of Moyale: Powerful Italian forces attack small British garrison (King's African Rifles) on Kenya-Ethiopia border.

.

 

[parsifal]

26 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
RN Corvettes TRILLIUM and CROCUS

From Left to Right: "FLOWER CLASS CORVETTE HMS CROCUS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, WINTER 1940"
Eric Tufnell RN (1888-1979); HMCS TRILLIUM was constructed and initially commissioned into the RN in October 1940. She was transferred along with 9 other Canadian built Flower Class Corvettes in May 1941 to the RCN.

Losses
MV ALTSANDRO PODESTA (FI 633 grt) The cargo ship struck a mine in the Med Sea off the north coast of Sardinia and sank.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

U.62 sank trawler CASTLETON (UK 211 grt) off the Orkneys with the loss of ten crew.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV CRUZ (or CRUX) (Nor 3828 grt) Crew: 30 (0 dead and 30 survivors) Cargo: 6300 tons of patent fuel Route: Cardiff - Milford Haven - Rio de Janeiro Sunk west of Gibraltar. At 0228 hrs the CRUX, detached from convoy OG-34 the day before, was hit by one torpedo from UA about 300 miles west of Cape St. Vincent. The torpedo struck on the starboard side, abaft the engine room and caused her to sink with a heavy port list after 10 mins. The crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats and was questioned by the Germans. 20 mins after the crew left the ship, a southbound ship passed by very near, but did not see them in the dark. They did not use their flashes to make themselves known, because they thought that the U-boat was still near them. The survivors were picked up by the British steam merchant BRUTUS the following day.

MV CYGNUS (Ex-Nor (Ger) 1334 grt) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk west of Hådyret, Norway by Sub SNAPPER. Some sources say this ship was sunk July 3.

MV DIMITRIS (Gk 5254 grt) Crew: unknown, all rescued Cargo: 9028 tons of cereals Route: Argentina - Liverpool Sunk in the SW Approaches. The cargo ship was captured in the Bay of Biscay by U-29 and was scuttled by gunfire. All crew were rescued.

DKM Raider WIDDER captured tkr KROSSFONN (Nor 9323 grt) on the Trinidad-Azores track in the Sth Atlantic. Two crew members of the tkr were made pows. The tkr was renamed SPICHERN for German use.

Image of the ship whilst in DKM service as the SPICHERN

Steamer LOASSO (FI 5968 grt) was sunk on a mine laid by sub RORQUAL on the 14th off Testa del Gargano, nth of Brindisi in the Adriatic.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS

At Sea 16 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 FURY, VANSITTART, JACKAL, JAGUAR arrived at Rosyth. DDs FURY and VANSITTART escorting MLs PORT NAPIER and PORT QUEBEC departed Rosyth for Loch Alsh, where they arrived on the 28th. DD IMOGEN and sub TALISMAN departed Liverpool for the Clyde, arriving during the forenoon of the 27th. Sub STURGEON departed Blyth on patrol. Fr sub RUBIS, which departed Dundee on the 20th, laid mines in Trondheimsfjord in minelaying mission FD.20. FS.205 departed the Tyne, escort sloops LOWESTOFT, STORK, WESTON and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. DD AMAZON was in the convoy and as she could not steam more than 15 knots was not considered an escort. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.
MT.96 departed Methil, escort DD VIMERIA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

Northern Waters
BB VALIANT and DDs FORESTER, FORESIGHT, ESCORT departed Scapa for Gib where they arrived on the 30th. DD ASHANTI departed Scapa to search for a Gladiator of 804 Sqn which crashed 2 miles SE of Pentland Skerries. The search was unsuccessful and the DD returned to Scapa . Temporary Lt (A) H.C. Maudslay RNVR, was lost in the a/c. DD MASHONA departed Scapa for Rosyth.

West Coast UK
DDs FERNIE and ATHERSTONE arrived in the Clyde.

Med- Biscay
Fr sub NARVAL of SubDiv11, refusing to be demilitarised at Bizerte, arrived at Malta to join British forces. RM sub GLAUCO attacked an allied steamer off Cape Corbelin in the Med.

Indian Ocean
RM sub GUGLIEMOTTI ran aground on a shoal in the Red Sea. The grounding left GUGLIEMOTTI badly damaged, but she was soon salved.

Western Desert

Italian forces in Tripolitania—facing French troops based in Tunisia began a steady redeployment East to reinfirce the forces in Cyrenaica built around the Italian 10A. This, coupled with the steadily degrading equipment of the British forces led General Archibald Wavell to order an end to raiding and placed the defence of the Egyptian border to a small screening force to be known as Selby Force

M11/39 was the heavy component of the soon to be formed Libyan Tank Command. These examples were captured by the 6 Aus Div at Bardia january 1941. This medium tank was strongly influenced by 1938 British designs, like the Matilda I and Cruiser I.

Malta
37 civilians are reported killed and at least 57 wounded in air raids, after a failure of the radar and early warning system. The high casualty toll followed a complete absence of air raid alerts. Damage to a radio mast in severe overnight storms prevented the detection of approaching enemy formations, with the result that no warnings were sounded.

 

[parsifal]

27 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Bar Class Boom defence vessel BARCOTE

Losses
Sub CONSOLE GENERALE LIUZZI (RM 1148 grt) was forced to the surface by DC attacks then scuttled in combat with DDs DAINTY, DEFENDER, ILEX sth of Crete. Later DDs VOYAGER (RAN) and DAINTY rescued the survivors. 13 ratings were rescued by VOYAGER. The DD was ordered to return to Alexandria and DDs HOSTILE and RAN STUART departed to join the hunt. were taken by VOYAGER from LIUZZI. The DD was ordered to return to Alexandria and HOSTILE and STUART departed to join the hunt. From the CONSOLE GENERALE LIUZZI and sub UEBI SCEBELI, which was sunk by the same group on the 29th, 10 officers and 72 ratings were rescued.

Steamer KOLN (Ger 7881 grt) was lost in stranding near Gavle Sweden, after the ship broke in two.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

U.47 sank Tkr LETICIA (NL 2580 grt) Crew: 32 (2 dead and 30 survivors) Cargo: 2568 tons of fuel oil Route: Curaçao – Trinidad – Falmouth Sunk in the SW Approaches 160 miles sw of Fastnet. At 1705 hrs the unescorted and unarmed Leticia was attacked by U-47 with gunfire. Prien showed his exceptional skills when the U-boat was only spotted astern when it opened fire from a distance of about 300 meters. The shelling killed the second engineer, seriously wounded the second mate in the left leg and slightly wounded the master on the right hand. Prien ceased fire after 20 mins when the tkr stopped to allow the crew to abandon ship in both lifeboats, but a crewman fell overboard and drowned during the transfer. After the lifeboats got clear the U-boat recommenced shelling the ship until she sank at 1811 hrs. The 3rd engineer, 4th engineer and a stoker had failed to leave the ship and jumped overboard from the stern. They were picked up by U-47, given dry clothing and schnaps and placed in one of the lifeboats after being questioned. The 3rd engineer had been asked to verify the ship name, as the Germans thought she was either the "Lucita" or "Liseta". First aid materials, some sausages and wine were given to the survivors before the U-boat departed. Not all acts of humanity were by the allies, and "Papa" Prien exemplified the finest traditions of the lore of the sea on many occasions. At sunset HMS HAVELOCK and HMS HURRICANE spotted the lifeboats sailing for the coast of Ireland and the latter picked up the master and 29 crew members. They were landed at Plymouth in the evening of 30 June.

steamer LENDA (Nor 4005 grt) Crew: 8 (1 dead and 27 survivors) Cargo: 1921 standards of timber Route: Halifax - Hull Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 0338 hrs the unescorted LENDA was missed by U-47 with one torp. Then the U-boat began shelling the ship for the next 20 mins until she caught fire. The crew abandoned ship in the starboard lifeboat, because the port lifeboat had been damaged by the shelling. The boat stayed near the ship for a while in the hope to find the first mate who was missing. The ship was on fire aft and amidships and the sea entered through holes at the waterline on the port side, so the U-boat left her in this sinking condition. But at dawn, some of the crew reboarded the vessel and they found the first mate dead on the port side of the upper bridge. A workboat was lowered and eight of the men transferred to it, whereupon both boats left and headed for the south of Ireland, just before two explosions were heard, followed by a tall column of fire which appeared to come from the engine room. The LENDA remained afloat for a while on her cargo, but finally sank about 160 miles sw of Fastnet, Ireland. The survivors were picked up in the afternoon by HMS HURRICANE and HMS HAVELOCK and taken to Plymouth on 30 June.

UBOATS
Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-99

At Sea 27 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-102, UA.
20 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CL BIRMINGHAMwas boiler cleaning and refitting at Rosyth from 27 to 30 June. DD MASHONA arrived at Rosyth. DD FORTUNE departed Sheerness for Rosyth, arriving on the 28th. OA.174 departed Southend on the 27th escort DD VANESSA on 26 and 27 June and corvette CLARKIA on the 27th. FN.206 departed Southend, escort DD WOOLSTON, sloop FLEETWOOD, patrol sloop SHEARWATER. RNoN DD SLEIPNER from the Tyne joined this convoy en route. The convoy arrived at Rosyth on the 29th. FS.206 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIMIERA, sloop LONDONDERRY, patrol sloop MALLARD. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 29th. MT.97 departed Methil, escorted by WINCHESTER and WOLSEY and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

Northern Waters
DDs ASHANTI and COSSACK arrived at Scapa. DDs MAORI and ECHO departed Scapa to undertake ASW Sweeps for a UBoat that had been contacted north of Muckle Flugga, reported damaged at 0700 in an air attack. The reported course was 0030, apparently homebound. This was U.32 which had not been damaged by the attacks undertaken. Armed boarding vessels NORTHERN SUN and NORTHERN ISLES, sub L.23, , four Swordfish from Hatston were also ordered to undertake sweeps. The DDs were recalled on the 28th after failing to make contact and arrived at Scapa. DDs ATHERSTONE and FERNIE and escort vessel GLEANER departed the Clyde to search for a submarine in the Clyde approaches. The ships were advised to return if no contact was made by 0600/28th. The ships arrived back at Greenock on the 28th with no results.

West Coast UK
Br steamer CAIRNDALE escort sub tenders BREDA and WHITE BEAR departed the Clyde for Scapa. DD HARVESTER and troopship ARANDORA STAR arrived at Liverpool.

Western Approaches
OB.174 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop ROCHESTER from 27 to 30 June.

SW Approaches
OB.173GF departed Liverpool on the 24th escort DD WITHERINGTON on 24 to 27 June,and merged on the 27th with convoy OA.173GF, which departed Southend on the 24th, as convoy OG.35 with 14 ships. Convoy segments which departed Plymouth and Falmouth on 25 and 26 June also joined. DD WITHERINGTON was then detached to HG.35. Corvette GARDENIA escorted the convoy from 28 June to 1 July. Sloop FOWEY escorted the convoy segment from 25 to 26 June when she was detached to HGZ. DD WISHART joined the convoy after detaching from HGZ on the 28th. OG.35 arrived at Gib on 1 July, escort DD WISHART.

Channel
DD BOREAS and ASW trawler GRIMSBY TOWN were ordered to investigate a sub contact 3 miles SE of Dover. This contact was later found to be the wreck of steamer ALBUERA lost on the 24th. DD HIGHLANDER arrived at Plymouth after opns off sthn France.

Med- Biscay
DDs DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER, ILEX, RAN VOYAGER departed Alexandria on an ASW sweep to be followed by a voyage to Malta to escort convoy MA 3 back to Alexandria. DECOY, DEFENDER, ILEX carried stores for Malta. DIAMOND would sail from Malta with this group and escort the two convoys. However, the second half of the operation was cancelled and the convoys were brought away early in early July. These operations led top thge sinking of the RM CONSOLE GENERALE LIUZZI (See loss section)

UK steamer CITY OF CAIRO, carrying AA guns and troops, arrived at Gib, escorted by DDs WITCH and VISCOUNT.

RM DDs ESPERO, OSTRO, ZEFFIRO departed Taranto for Tripoli with 120 tons of ammunition, 10 ATGs, 160 artillerymen. Previously, the 10A divisional sized units were completely lacking in AT defences. 5A was gradually feeding ATG resoruces along the Via Balbia but the rate of transfer was very slow.

Later that day, DDs PILO and MISSORI departed Taranto for Tripoli with supplies and 52 soldiers.

Indian Ocean
Off the coast of Eritrea near Port Sudan, NZ manned CL LEANDER and DDs KANDAHAR and KINGSTON shelled beached RM sub MACALLE (see 15 June 1940 for loss listing) and LEANDER's a/c dropped 4 bombs on the sub. This further damage sealed the stranded subs fate. LEANDER and KINGSTON arrived at Aden on the 28th.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CL DURBAN arrived at Singapore.

Malta
Swordfish a/c carried out ASW patrol and recon patrols for Italian shipping but found nothing to report.

 

[parsifal]

28 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Rescue Tug HUDSON - Motor Launches ML 103 and ML 104

Losses
Steamer ALESSANDRO PODESTA (FI 663 grt) was sunk on a mine i in Asinara Gulf.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sirena Class sub ANFITRITE (RM 617 grt) was bombed by a/c of RAF 230 Sqn and damaged off Tobruk. She was later scuttled.

Argonauta Class Sub ARGONAUTA (RM 650 grtr) The Argonauta-class submarine was attacked and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Ras el Hilal, Libya by DDs DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER, ILEX and RAN VOYAGER.

Trawler CASTLETON (UK 211 grt) The trawler was returning from the Grimsby Fishing grounds when it was attacked by a LW Do17z and sunk. Some sources place her loss further north and the attack by a Uboat, specifically U102, but DKM records dont support this claim.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MV LLANARTH (UK 5504 grt) Crew: 35 (0 dead and 35 survivors) Cargo: 7980 tons of flour Route: Melbourne - Leith - Aberdeen Sunk in the SW Approaches. The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay by U-30 . The entire crew from the steamer were rescued by Corvette GLADIOLUS.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer MARIA (FI 440 grt) was sunk by RAF 230 sqn attacksd 13 miles nth of Tobruk.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer PAGANINI (FI 2427 grt) was lost in the Adriatic after a fire engulfed the ship, killing 147 of the 950 people on board.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS

At Sea 28 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-102, UA.
20 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD FORTUNE and MSW trawler HAZEL departed Methil escorting A/C transport FOSSBECK and cable ship ARIEL. The ships arrived at Scapa on the 29th. FN.207 departed Southend, escort DDs VEGA and VIVIEN and patrol sloop PUFFIN. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 30th. FS.207 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WOLSEY and WINCHESTER, sloop EGRET, patrol sloop SHEARWATER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 30th. MT.98 departed Methil, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

Northern Waters
CVE ARGUS was damaged in heavy weather when she was dragged ashore at Reykavik. The carrier was refloated on the 29th with no apparent damage. DDs FURY and VANSITTART escorting MLs PORT QUEBEC and PORT NAPIER arrived at Loch Alsh.

PV WHITE BEAR, escorting steamer SHOALFISHER and oiler CAIRNDALE, attacked a UBoat late on the 28th. The PV expended all her DCs and claimed sinking the contact. DD FORTUNE arrived at Scapa on the 29th. She joined the hunt later on the 29th.
DD FORTUNE fired three patterns of DCs on this contact before being recalled to Scapa. Sub TAKU departed Rosyth on patrol after exercising in the Firth of Forth. Sub L.26, escort NL TB Z.5, arrived at Scapa. L.26 relieved sub L.23, which in turn, with Z.5 departed Scapa for Rosyth later that day. DD IMOGEN and sub TALISMAN exercised in the Firth of Clyde.

Channel
DD CODRINGTON was ordered to pick up a Hurricane pilot seven miles 270° from Boulogne. The DD was taken under fire from German guns at Boulogne, but no damage was done. The pilot was not located. During the night of 28/29 June, two MTBs from Dover were damaged when they struck wreckage.

Med- Biscay
Force H was formed under the command of Vice Adm Sir James F. Somerville at Gib. BB RESOLUTION, which had departed Scapa on the 4 July and arrived off Gib on the 11th escort into port by DDs DOUGLAS and VIDETTE. Fce H on formation was built around CV ARK ROYAL, BC HOOD, DDs FOXHOUND, FEARLESS, FAULKNOR, ESCAPADE and departed Scapa on the 17 June arrived at Gibraltar on the 23 June. Somervilles flag was hoisted over this force on the 30th. DD JERVIS which departed Plymouth on the 26th, en route to the Med Fleet arrived at Gib on the 29th and sailed for Malta on the 30th. She was temporarily attached to Fce H. The structure of the force was constantly changed as the rigours of war placed great strain on RN resources from this point on. BB VALIANT departed Scapa on the 26th with DDs ESCORT, FORESTER, FORESIGHT and arrived at Gib on 2 July. CL ARETHUSA departed Portsmouth on the 28th with Adm Somerville embarked and arrived at Gibraltar on the 30th. he was formally piped aboard the new command that same day. CL ENTERPRISE departed Plymouth on the 29th and arrived at Gib 1 July. At Gibraltar was the DesFlot 13 composed of DDs ACTIVE, WRESTLER, VIDETTE, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL, VORTIGERN, WISHART, VELOX, WATCHMAN which were attached to Force H as required. In July, DDs KEPPEL, DOUGLAS, ACTIVE, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN, VIDETTE, VELOX departed Gib on 14 July and arrived at Liverpool on 20 July. DDs VIDETTE and VELOX were in England for refitting and eventual return to Gib, but the rest were taken and formed into the 12th Destroyer Flotilla for service with the Home Flt. Destroyer VELOX departed Gibraltar to relieve destroyer WATCHMAN on patrol duty off Casablanca. DD VELOX was relieved by armed yacht SAYONORA which departed Gibraltar on 2 July.

DD ESPERO (RM 1070 grt) were sighted by RAF air recon off Tripoli heading sth. At 1100on the 27th, CLs GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN) departed Alexandria as part of the escort for AS.1. At 1800, CLs GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL, contacted the Italian force. DD ESPERO was sunk in the Ionian Sea, SW of Crete whilst enroute to Tripoli, but the other two DDs were able to escape and continue to Tripoli. CL LIVERPOOL was struck by a single 4. 7 inch shell which cut the degaussing wire. RAN CL SYDNEY (which had arrived with the other cruisers by this time) attempted to rescue survivors, but RA air attacks forced the efforts to be cancelled. Only 44 crew were picked up by the cruiser.

The CLs that sank ESPERO were covering allied convoy AS.1 of 11 steamers that had departed Port Helles on the 28th en route from the Dardanelles and Greek ports to Port Said. The convoy was escorted by CL CALEDON and DDs GARLAND and RAN VAMPIRE which departed Alexandria on the evening of the 26th and CL CAPETOWN and DD NUBIAN and MOHAWK which departed Port Said on the 27th. The convoy was covered by BBs ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES, CVL EAGLE, DDs HAVOCK, HASTY, HERO, HEREWARD, HYPERION, JUNO, JANUS , all of which departed Alexandria on the 28th. On 29 June, DD IMPERIAL departed Alexandria to provide additional escort for oilers detaching from the main body and proceeding to Port Said and Haifa. During the afternoon of 30 June, CruSqn 7 with the convoy was attacked by RA bombers. CL NEPTUNE suffered some splinter damage and had 3 crew wounded. After the escort brought the convoy from Cape Helles, Crusqn 7 arrived at Alexandria on the 30th. The BBs, CVL EAGLE, their DDs arrived at Alexandria on 2 July. The convoy arrived that afternoon.

HG.36 departed Gib with 12 ships, escort DD DOUGLAS which was detached on 2 July. The convoy was escorted by sloop WELLINGTON from 28 June to 7 July. HG.36 arrived at Liverpool on 8 July.

Malta
The Admiralty has confirms that there is currently no prospect of sending stores to Malta via Gibraltar. The only Allied access route to the Island will now be from the Eastern Mediterranean. This will require any supplies from the UK travelling the long sea route round the southern tip of Africa.

The Island is currently in urgent need of 100,000 sandbags, 5000 tons of goat fodder, 500 tons of coke and 6000 of coal, and medical stores. The War Office has asked the CinC, Middle East, if he can spare these supplies until replacements can be sent via the Cape.

Within the next six months, it is anticipated that the Island will need a further 23000 tons of supplies for the Army, 10000 tons for the Dockyard and 2000 for the RAF. The relevant ministries in the UK will be notified of the exact requirements, which will be prioritised according to urgency.

1306-1358 hrs Air raid alert. Two formations of 3 enemy a/c approach the Island at 15000 ft and attack Marsa, Delimara and HMS TERROR. Malta's ftrs engage the raiders who depart to the SW and SE. 1 enemy a/c is brought down

C in Cs Middle East L to R: Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham; Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore; General Sir Archibald Wavell

 

[Crimea_River]

Whew! All caught up! Several days ago, I started back with the beginning of the Norwegian campaign and am now current again.

Great job guys. Such an impressive volume of work.

 

[Njaco]

June 29 Saturday
UNITED KINGDOM: The Luftwaffe conducts the first reconnaissance mission over England when a He 111 of Aufklarungsgruppe Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (AufklGr. Ob.d.L.) flies over the Bristol area. Once the reconnaissance is completed, He 111s from I./KG 27 attack the Bristol docks around 0100 hours.

NORTH AFRICA: Operation Catapult: The British Admiralty gives Vice Admiral Somerville explicit instructions to secure the transfer, surrender, or destruction of the French warships at Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria, with no concessions given to the French - they either accept the British terms or face destruction. Force H under his command consisted of battleships HMS "Valiant" and HMS "Resolution", battlecruiser HMS "Hood", aircraft carrier HMS "Ark Royal", cruisers HMS "Arethusa" and HMS "Enterprise", and 11 destroyers.

GERMANY: German submarine U-99 was again subjected to friendly fire. Upon leaving Wilhelmshaven, Germany, she was attacked by a German aircraft with 3 bombs. She dove under the surface to avoid the bombs, but sustained minor damage when she hit the sea floor.

Adolf Hitler arrived at his headquarters at Tannenberg in southern Germany.

Maximilian von Weichs was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross medal (Ritterkreuz).

The German government publishes the "White Book" which contains details of Allied plans to intervene in the Low Countries.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-boats sink 3 ships Southwest of Ireland. German submarine U-51 sank British decoy ship HMS "Edgehill" with three torpedoes southwest of Ireland. German submarine U-47 torpedoed and sank British ship "Empire Toucan" southwest of Ireland, which broke in half; 3 were killed and 31 were rescued. Destroyer HMS "Hurricane" scuttled the aft portion of the ship which remained afloat. German submarine U-26 sank Greek steamer "Frangoula B. Goulandris" southwest of Ireland; 6 were killed and 32 were rescued.

.

 

[Njaco]

June 30 Sunday
UNITED KINGDOM: Bristol, England is again the target for night bombing missions of the Luftwaffe. Five He 111s from I./KG 27 take off from Merville shortly after 2230 hours and head for the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton and the Bristol docks but the flight is aborted and the bombers return to France. At the same time, one Heinkel He 111 from III./KG 55 leaves the airfield at Villacoublay and succeeds in making it to the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton and dropping its load.

A Heinkel 115 crashed into the sea thirty miles off Whitby due to engine failure during a minelaying sortie at 02.15. The crew were rescued from their dinghy, after 28 hours adrift and landed at Grimsby.

East Hull was to have the first daylight raid in the country, a lone raider, apparently undetected until too late to give a warning, flew over the City from west to east, made a few sporadic attacks on barrage balloons and then dropped sixteen HEs near the Saltend oil depot. The majority of the bombs fell outside the depot, but pieces of shrapnel from one bomb pierced the side of a tank holding about 2,500 tons of petrol, which caught fire. The flames licked the outside of the tank, bringing the temperature of the petrol inside to a dangerous degree, and burning petrol began to flow to a number of adjacent tanks. Water was sprayed on the adjoining tanks to cool them until the arrival of sufficient stocks of foam arrived to quell the fire. Before this was accomplished, quantities of petrol had been drawn off, they saved more than 2,000 tons of petrol in the affected tank. Five George Medals were awarded for bravery during this incident.

A Heinkel He 111 crashed into the sea off Hull at 17.00, following the bombing of the oil tanks there. It was shot down by aircraft of RAF No 616 Squadron. The crew took to their dinghy and were rescued by the destroyer HMS 'Black Swan' and landed at Harwich.

A Heinkel He 59 landed on the sea eight miles east of Sunderland after being badly damaged by Spitfires. The crew of four were picked up in their dinghy by a cruiser's sea boat. The aircraft was beached and examined for armament. This was possibly the first British violation of a white painted, Red Cross marked aircraft which was on a genuine search and rescue mission. The aircraft's markings were clearly visible and seen by the RAF pilots concerned, who also commented on the fact that no return fire or armament was discernible. After this attack, the Germans camouflaged and re-armed He 59s. By the end of 1940, forty of their air/sea rescue planes had been lost, twenty-five of them shot down by the RAF.

GERMANY: General Göring gives final instructions to the Luftwaffe on its upcoming battle with Britain. He states that the air force is;

"...to attack the enemy air force by day and night, in the air and on the ground, without consideration of other tasks".

Fighter and bomber forces are assigned to the three Luftflotten tasked with destroying the British Air Force. Luftflotte 2 and Luftflotte 3 will operate from France and the Low Countries while Luftflotte 5 will conduct missions from Norway.

German Major General Alfred Jodl writes a memorandum stating that if a strike on Britain fails, the next best place to defeat Britain is in the Mediterranean. He later noted in his diary that the United Kingdom was certain to fall in time, regardless of the fact whether an actual invasion was necessary.

.

 

[Njaco]

June 30 1940 (continued)
NORTHERN EUROPE: Work on the aircraft carrier 'Graf Zeppelin' slows to the point that the fighter group assigned to it, Tragergruppe 186 is incorporated into a working Geschwader, JG 77, with II(J)./TrGr 186 becoming III./JG 77. Major Heinrich Seeliger is posted as Gruppenkommandeur. The Gruppe prepares to move to Berlin where its pilots will be given captured French Hawk 75s to use in defense of the capital. Many pilots are not happy with the aircraft allocated them. Later in the war, in Italy, the II Gruppe is given Macchi C.205s to fly for a brief period, making them the only Jagdgeschwader to fly two different types of foreign fighters operationally in combat.

WESTERN FRONT: Franco-German-Italian Armistice Commission begins session at Wiesbaden. Surrender of 220,000 French troops cut off in underground fortresses of Maginot Line. With the fighting ended in France, many German prisoners of the French are released from captivity. Among those returning to their units is the Kommodore of KG 51, Oberst Josef Kammhuber, who instead of returning to his Kampfgeschwader, is given a new duty as an Officer with Special Duties of the RLM and Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe. Also finding freedom is Oberst Alfred Bülowius, the Kommodore of the 1st Instruction-Squadron who was captured earlier in June.

Fighters from LG 2 intercept one of the first RAF bombing raids across the Channel since the French surrender, shooting down three Blenheims out of nine from RAF No. 107 Squadron that are sent to attack Merville. Two destroyed bombers are credited to Oblt. Herbert Ihlefeld and a third to Obfw. Erwin Clausen. The Blenheims succeed in shooting down Uffz. Rauhut during this action.

German forces occupy the island of Guernsey, the largest of the four Channel Islands and prepare the area for the Luftwaffe to fly sorties against England in the coming invasion. Three German personnel landed on the island in the English Channel by aircraft and demanded surrender from a local policeman. They unofficially received the surrender of the islanders.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-65 and U-43 attacked Allied convoy SL-25 300 files west of Brest, France. At 2227 hours, U-43 sank British ship "Avelona Star"; 1 was killed and 84 were rescued. U-65 damaged British ship "Clan Ogilvy", which would need to be towed away. She would remain out of commission until Oct 1940.

German submarine U-47 sank Greek ship "Georgios Kyriakides" west of Ireland. All 30 crew members survived.

German submarine U-26 sank Estonian ship "Merkur" (killing 4) and Norwegian ship "Belmoira" (all 25 crew members survived) off of France.

Heavy cruiser USS "Wichita", with Commander Cruiser Division Seven Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens aboard, arrived at Montevideo, Uruguay, joining USS "Quincy" that was already there. The visit was; "

…to furnish a reminder of the strength and the range of action of the armed forces of the United States".

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian submarine "Rubino" is sunk by Short Sunderland flying boats of RAF 201 Group in the Ionian Sea between Italy and Greece. RAF flying boats pick up some survivors. Off Tobruk, Italian submarine "Sirena" is damaged by Short Sunderlands of RAF 230 Squadron. West of Crete, Italian submarines "Uebi Scebeli" and "Salpa" are damaged by British destroyers HMS "Dainty", "Ilex", "Defender" and "Voyager". "Uebi Scebeli" sinks slowly and the crew is rescued by HMS "Dainty".

.

 

[parsifal]

29 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
T Class Sub TALISMAN

HM Submarine TALISMAN returning home February 1942, after a successful Med cruise

Losses
MV FRANGOULA GOULANDRIS ( Gk 6701 grt) Crew: 38 (6 dead and 32 survivors). Cargo: Ballast Route: Queenstown, Cork - St. Thomas Sunk in the SW Approaches . The unescorted vessel was torpedoed and sunk by U-26 sw of Ireland.

Special service Vessel WILLAMETTE VALLEY (RN 4724 grt) Disguised as the MV EDGEHILL, the Q-ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean sw of Ireland by U-51 with the loss of 66 of her 93 crew. The survivors were rescued by INVERLEE.

MV EMPIRE TOUCAN (UK 4127 grt) Crew: 34 (3 dead and 31 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: Garston - Port Sulphur, Louisiana Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 0515 hrs, U-47 stopped the unescorted EMPIRE TOUCAN with the last 5 rnds of the deck gun about 190 miles sw of Fastnet, . At 05.38 hours, the U-boat fired one torpedo that hit aft and broke the ship in two. Prien admired the courage of the radio operator who continued to transmit position and situation reports even after the torpedo hit. Both radio officers and a greaser were lost. The forepart was later scuttled by gunfire by DD HURRICANE, which picked up the master and 30 crew members and landed them at Plymouth.

HNoMS MTB No. 6 ( RNoN 100 grt) The Vosper 60 foot-class Motor Torpedo Boat was sunk in a storm off Beachy Head.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Kiel: U-48
Wilhelmshaven: U-25

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-56

At Sea 29 June 1940 1940
U-26, U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-99, U-102, UA.
19 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs JAVELIN and JUPITER arrived in the Humber. NL subs O.21 and O.22 arrived at Rosyth from Dundee. Sub L.23 and NL TB Z.5 arrived at Dundee from Scapa. DDs EXPRESS, INTREPID, ICARUS with MLs TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed the Humber and conducted minelaying opn BS.19 during the night of 29/30 June. FN.208 departed Southend, escort sloops LOWESTOFT, STORK, WESTON, PVs GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on 1 July. FS.208 departed the Tyne, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 July.

Northern Waters
BB NELSON departed the Clyde escort DDs FURY and FAME and RCN DDs ST LAURENT and SKEENA for Gib, however on 1 July the orders were rescinded and the ships returned to Scapa. CLA COVENTRY departed the Tyne for Scapa where she arrived on the 30th.

West Coast UK
DD IMOGEN departed the Clyde for Liverpool arriving on the 30th. PV GLEANER arrived at Belfast. DD WALKER departed Greenock at 1400 with Br steamers CITY OF AUCKLAND , CITY OF FLORENCE , MARINA , DALLINGTON COURT , LYCAON for Belfast. WALKER then returned to the Clyde. Sub NARWHAL departed Blyth for Immingham.

Western Approaches
OA.176 departed Southend escort DD WOLVERINE and corvette GARDENIA on 1 and 2 July when they were detached to HX.52. Corvettes HEARTEASE and ARABIS escorted the convoy on 1 July. OB.176 departed Liverpool escort sloop SCARBOROUGH from 29 June to 2 July and DD VANOC on the 30th. The convoy was dispersed on 2 July. DD VANOC returned to Liverpool on 1 July and sloop SCARBOROUGH to HX.52.

Channel
DD GRIFFIN arrived at Dover at 0618 to join DesFlot 1. ASW trawler WELLARD was attacked by DKM S Boats 14 miles east of Beachy Head at 0200. DD CODRINGTON was ordered to search for these boats. At 0658, DD CODRINGTON 1 mile from Folkestone Gate Light Vessel was attacked by a single LW He111. No damage or casualties were sustained. At 0430, DD BRILLIANT on OD.3 (Dungeness Patrol) investigate Very Lights four miles 135° from the Coast Guard Station at Sandgate.

Nth Atlantic
HX.54 departed Halifax local escort RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA which departed Halifax on ASW duties early on the 29th. The local escort turned the convoy over to AMC RAJPUTANA at 2115 and arrived back at Halifax on the 30th. The AMC was detached on 4 July. BHX.54 departed Bermuda on the 28th escort ocean escort AMC ASCANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.54 on 3 July and the AMC was detached.
On 11 July, DDs HARVESTER, HAVELOCK, WANDERER and sloop SANDWICH joined the convoy. DDs HARVESTER and WANDERER were detached. DD HAVELOCK was detached on 13 July. Sloop SANDWICH arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on 14 July.

Central Atlantic
DD DOUGLAS, with convoy HG.36, stopped 3 Fr armed trawlers bound for Casablanca, but was unable to persuade them to proceed to Gib. Two Fr DDs, apparently for the same destination were also sighted.

Med- Biscay
Sirena Class Sub RUBINO (RM 680 grt) was sunk by flying boats of RAF 201 Gp in the Ionian Sea . The flying boat picked up some survivors.

RM sub SIRENA was damaged by a/c from RAF 230 Sqn off Tobruk.

Adua Class sub UEBI SCEBELI (RM 680 grt) was forced to the surface after 14 hrs of continuous DC attack and surrendered. The ship was heavily damaged. She was scuttled . The DC attacks were carried out by DDs DAINTY, ILEX, DEFENDER, and RAN VOYAGER west of Crete. Sister Sub SALPA was damaged in the same combat, but managed to escape. The crew of the sunken sub was rescued by destroyer DAINTY which arrived in Alexandria on the 30th.

THE CREW OF THE ITALIAN SUBMARINE UEBI SCEBELI ABANDON SHIP AFTER THEIR SUBMARINE HAS BEEN FORCED TO THE SURFACE. HMS DAINTY APPROACHES TO TAKE OFF SURVIVORS

A large number of secret documents were recovered by RAN VOYAGER. The DD was ordered to return to Alexandria and DDs HOSTILE and STUART cleared Alex to join the sweeps. DDs STUART and HOSTILE departed Alexandria to hunt subs nth of Derna. Early on 1 July, the DDs attacked a sub contact without result. Both DDs arrived back at Alexandria on 2 July.

RM sub BEILUL conducted a recce of the Med Flt at Alexandria.

Indian Ocean
WS.1, consisting of liners AQUITANIA and MAURETANIA departed Liverpool for the Indian Ocean and ultimately North Africa, via Capetown, escorted by CA CUMBERLAND. Liner QUEEN MARY departed the Clyde escort DDs ATHERSTONE and FERNIE and joined the convoy at sea. The two DDs returned to Liverpool. Local escort was given by DDs HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER, VOLUNTEER, WHIRLWIND. The two H's were detached to Plymouth and the two V's to Liverpool. The convoy arrived at Freetown on 8 July and departed on 9 July. The convoy safely arrived at Capetown on 16 July and departed Simonstown on 19 July. CA KENT departed Durban on 20 July to rendezvous with the convoy sth of Durban. On 21 July, KENT relieved CA CUMBERLAND. The convoy safely arrived at Trincomalee on 28 July.

Malta
The Governor and Commander in Chief (Malta) signalled the War Office that Malta's air defences must be strengthened if the Island is to survive. In an urgent cipher telegram he wrote that, following the fall of France, he anticipates an increase in Italian attacks on Malta, as Mussolini seeks complete control of the Mediterranean.

Malta at that date had only 4 serviceable Hurricanes along with the 2 Gladiators which have been in action since the onset of hostilities and were fast wearing out. Lt Gen Dobbie stated that only by inflicting significant damage enemy attackers can he foresee deterring further heavy air raids. To achieve this, Malta needs more fighter aircraft and personnel to service them.

He added that the arrival of additional air forces would strengthen the morale of the civilian population who have already been placed under a considerable strain by the bombing of the past 3 weeks.

 

[parsifal]

30 June 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Serie IX Bis (Stalinec) Class Subs S-7 and S-8

Allied
Fairmile A Motor Launch ML 107

ML 105 was a sister ship to ML 107

Losses
MV ADMIRAL WILEY (US 3514 grt) The cargo ship ran aground on Kitava, Papua New Guinea and was wrecked.

MV AVELONA STAR (UK 13376 grt) Crew: 85 (3 dead and 84 survivors) Cargo: 5630 tons of frozen meat and 1000 tons of oranges Route: Buenos Aires - Freetown - London. Sunk in the SW Approaches, whilst attached to SL 36. AVELONA STAR was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 350 miles SW of Land's End by U-43 with the loss of three crew. The survivors were rescued by BEIGNON (UK) and HMS DUNVEGAN CASTLE. AVELONA STAR sank the next day.

MV BELMOIRA (Nor 3214 grt) Crew: 25 (0 dead and 25 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: Dakar to Southampton. Sunk in the SW Approaches. The BELMOIRA was hit amidships on the starboard side by a torpedo from U-26, broke in two and sank very quickly about 250 miles SW of Lands End. The survivors in the lifeboats were questioned by the Germans and then set sail heading NE. They were soon offered help by the Br MV SHERIDAN heridan, but as that ship was en route to Brazil they continued in the lifeboats. The SHERIDAN notified the Sp trawlers MIGUEL VEIGA and WEYLER N°2 nearby, which picked them up and on 2 July landed them at La Coruña, Spain.

MV MERKUR (Est 1291 grt) Crew: 17 (4 dead and 13 survivors) Cargo: Pit props (Timbers for Mineshaft supports) Route: Lisbon - Brit west Coast Sunk in the SW Approaches. t 1930 hrs the unescorted and unarmed MERKUR was hit by one torpedo from U-26 and sank about 232 miles west of Ushant. 4 crew members were lost. On 2 July, the survivors, 11 men and 2 women, were picked up from a lifeboat by Corvette GARDENIA and landed at Greenock.

MV GEORGIOS KYRIAKIDES (Gk 4201 grt) Crew: 30 (0 dead and 30 survivors) Cargo: 7243 tons of sugar Route: Jamaica - Liverpool. Sunk in the SW Approaches. The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean SW of Ireland by U-47 .

Sailing Vessel MARY A WHITE (US 100 grt (est)) The schooner foundered in Massachusetts Bay, United States.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
At Sea 30 June 1940 1940
U-26, U-28, U-29, U-30, U-32, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-46, U-47, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-61, U-62, U-65, U-99, U-102, UA.
19 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Major DKM surface warships operational at this time were CA ADMIRAL HIPPER, CLs KOLN and NURNBERG, and DDs SCHOEMANN, LODY, IHN, GALSTER.

North Sea
After temporary repairs at Rosyth, mine damaged CL BELFAST, escorted by DDs GALLANT and WALPOLE, departed Rosyth on the 28th and arrived at Plymouth on the 30th for repairs. Sub SNAPPER unsuccessfully attacked a UBoat 27 miles from Lister. Sub SEVERN unsuccessfully attacked a northbound DKM DD. Although SEVERN signalled the sighting , the signal was overlooked and no action was taken to mount an airstrike from Hatston until 0030 on 1 July and then it was too late. Sub NARWHAL arrived at Immingham and departed the same day for minelaying operation FD.21 SW of Trondheim. The minefield was laid on 4 July. Fr sub RUBIS arrived at Dundee after minelaying mission FD.20 and a patrol off Peterhead on 29/30 June. A Swordfish of 812 Sqn, based on PEREGRINE, were shot down over Holland on a minelaying mission and the crew taken prisoner. FN.209 departed Southend, escort DD VIMIERA, sloop LONDONDERRY, and PV SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2 July. MT.99 departed Methil, escort sloops BLACK SWAN, HASTINGS and patrol sloop GUILLEMOT, and arrived in the Tyne the next day.

West Coast UK
DD WALKER arrived in the Clyde.

Channel
Steamer HELDER (UK 979 grt) was damaged by DKM S Boats off St Catherine's Pt.

Med- Biscay
CLs CALEDON, CAPETOWN and DDs GARLAND, RAN VAMPIRE, NUBIAN, MOHAWK,arrived at Alexandria after covering a convoy from Cape Helles.
DDs FAULKNOR and FEARLESS departed Gib to establish a patrol off Oran to report any French ships attempting to proceed to the west. They were ordered to return to Gib on 1 July. RM sub CORRIDONI departed Italy with supplies for the Tobruk.

Indian Ocean
RAN CL HOBART departed Aden escorting armed boarding vessel CHANTALA carrying 690 troops to Berbera where they arrived safely on 1 July
An invasion of Br Somaliland was by this point imminent.

Malta
0940–1015 hrs Air raid alert for two formations, each of 4 SM79 aircraft, which fly over the Island, dropping a total of 42 bombs. 2 Hurricane aircraft are scrambled but are unable to intercept. One formation crosses the Island from Marsascala, dropping bombs on San Pawl tat Targa seriously wounding a farmer, another near a water reservoir at Naxxar, four on roads between Birkirkara and Mosta and six near Ta Qali reservoir, wounding five civilians. The raiders turn and head for St Paul's Bay, dropping their remaining bombs in the sea. The second formation comes in from Grand Harbour, dropping bombs on San Pietru, Kalkara and San Rocco, then head for Hal Far, dropping some 17 bombs, and on to Mqabba and Zurrieq before crossing the coast south of Dingli. Two civilians are killed and four wounded.

SM 79s over Malta

 

[parsifal]

Summary Of Losses June 1940(Part I)
Allied
Allied Warships
DD HAVANT (RN 1400 grt), DD BASILISK (RN 1337 grt), MSW SKIPJACK (RN 785 grt), ASW trawler ARGYLLSHIRE (RN 540 grt), MSW STELLA DORADO (RN 550grt), Gunboat MOSQUITO (RN 585 grt), Yacht GRIVE (RN 687 grt, MSW BRIGHTON QUEEN (RN 550 grt), ST FAGAN (RN 350 grt), ASW trawler BLACKBURN ROVERS (RN 422 grt), ASW trawler WESTELLA (RN 550 grt), Hospital ship PARIS (RN 1790 grt), LCM 12 (RN 36 grt), LCM 22 (RN 36 grt), HMS EDWARD NISSEN (RN 1500 grt (est)), LCM 17 (RN 36 grt), AMC CARINTHIA (RN 20277 grt), ASW trawler JUNIPER (RN 550 grt), CV GLORIOUS (RN 22500 grt), DD ACASTA (RN 1360 grt), DD ARDENT (RN 1337 grt), armed boarding vessel VANDYCK (RN 13,241 grt), MSW trawler SISAPON (RN 326 grt), CL CALYPSO (RN 5150 grt), sub ODIN (RN 1475 grt), AMC SCOTSTOUN (RN 17046), Drifter OCEAN SUNLIGHT (RN 131 grt), MSW trawler MYRTLE (RN 550 grt), AMC ANDANIA (RN 13950 grt), Sub GRAMPUS, (RN 1520 grt), Sub ORPHEUS (RN 1475 grt), HMS CAPE HOWE (RN 4443 grt), Drifter CHARDE (RN 99 grt), ASW yacht CAMPEADOR V (RN 195 grt), Tug CORINGA (RN 294 grt), DD KHARTOUM (RN 1690 grt), Special service Vessel WILLAMETTE VALLEY (RN 4724 grt), Drifter LORD CAVAN (RN 96 grt)

PV PATHAN (RIN 1345 grt),

DD FRASER (RCN 1375 grt),

DD FOUDROYANT (Fr 1378 grt), Aux MSW DENIS PAPIN (Fr 309 grt), MSW LA MOUSSAILLON (Fr 38 grt), MSW VENUS (Fr 264 grt), Aux MSW EMIL DESCHAMPS (Fr 348 grt), PV PURFINA (Fr 603 grt), Aux MSW EMIL DESCHAMPS (Fr 348 grt), Aux MSW NOTRE DAMES DES DUNES (Fr 481 grt), Aux MSW MADELEINE LOUISE (Fr 464 grt), PV PATRICE II (Fr 247 grt), MSW LA BRETONNIERE (Fr 628 grt), Aux PV ETIENNE RIMBERT (Fr 197 grt), Aux sloop CERONS (Fr 350 grt (est), Aux MSW MARTHE ROLAND (Fr 85 grt), aux HDV REINES DES FLOTS (Fr 100 grt (est)), Sub MORSE (Fr 947 grt), MSW MURMANSK (Fr 348 grt), sloop VAUQUOIS (Fr 850 grt), BB CLEMENCEAU (Fr 43293 grt), DD CYCLONE (Fr 1319 grt), sub PASTEUR (Fr 1384 grt), sub ACHILLE (Fr 1384 grt), sub OUESSANT (Fr 1384 grt), sub AGOSTA (Fr 1384 grt), sloop ETOURDI (Fr 1025 grt), Aux PV MOUETTE (Fr 1205 grt), Aux ML ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE (Fr 1256 grt), aux MSWs INGENIEUR REIBEL (Fr 675 grt), ROCHE NOIRE (Fr 208 grt), SC CH-16 (Fr 107 grt), gunboat ENSEIGNE HENRY (Fr 453 grt), aux MSWs KERGROISE (Fr 261 grt), aux MSW PLUVOISE (Fr 150 grt), Aux MSW MARQUITTA (Fr 74 grt), aux MSW GAULOIS (Fr 301 grt), Sub ROLAND MORILLOT (Fr 1817 grt), sub LE MARTINIQUE (Fr 1817 grt), sub LA PRAYA (Fr 1817 grt), Aux PV MERCEDITA (Fr 500 grt (est)), TB LE FIER (Fr 1443 grt), TB L'ENTREPENANT (Fr 1443 grt), corvette LA BASTIAISE (Fr 900 grt), PV LA CHERBOURGEOISE (Fr 350 grt (est)), Sloop BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE (Fr 1475 grt), Aux PV SAINT MARGUERITE (Fr 48 grt),

Sub B.3 (Nor 545 grt), HNoMS MTB No. 6 ( RNoN 100 grt),

sub O.13 (NE 568 grt),

(121003(RN)), (86440 (Fr)), ( 645 (RNoN)), ( (RNeN)), (1375 (RCN)), (1345 (RIN)); (Total 210808 grt Naval Tonnage)

Allied Shipping
Trawler GREYNIGHT (UK 96 grt), Steamer BARON SALTOUN (UK 3404 grt), Tug ST ABBS (UK 496 grt), Steamer SCOTIA (UK 3454 grt), AK ORFORD (UK 20,043 grt), Yacht AMULREE (UK 89 grt), Drifter FAIR BREEZE (UK 92 grt), Sailing barges LARK (Uk 67 grt), ROYALTY (UK 101 grt), Sail barges DUCHESS (UK 72 grt), LADY ROSEBERRY (UK 109 grt), Sailing barge DORIS (UK 83 grt), Sailing barges BARBARA JEAN (UK 144 grt) and ETHEL EVERAND (UK 190 grt), Sailing barge AIDIE (UK 92 grt), FV RENOWN (UK 9 grt), Boom carrier ASTRONOMER (UK 8401 grt), Trawler SLASHER (UK 195 grt), Tug FOSSA (UK 105 grt), blockships EDV. NISSEN (UK 2062 grt), WESTCOVE (UK 2735 grt), HOLLAND (UK 1251 grt), Trawler GREYNIGHT (UK 96 grt), steamer POLYKARP (UK 3577 grt), MV WINGA (UK 1478 grt), SS WESTCOVE (UK 2735 grt), SS HOLLAND (UK 1251 grt), blockships GOURKO (UK 1975 grt), MOYLE (UK 1791 grt), PACIFICO (UK 687 grt), Drifter OCEAN LASSIE (UK 96 grt), MV RIVER HUMBER (UK 351 grt), MV STANCOR (UK 798 grt), Trawler LAPWING (UK 217 grt), Steamer CAPABLE (UK 216 grt), Coaster SWEEP II (UK 145 grt), Steamer HARCALO (UK 5081 grt), MV FRANCIS MASSEY (UK 4212 grt), Steamer HARDINGHAM (UK 5415 grt), Tkr OIL PIONEER (5666grt), Troopship ORAMA (UK 19,840 grt), Drifter DEWEY EVE (UK 109 grt), Steamer DULWICH (UK 4102 grt), Trawler RIVER NESS (UK 203 grt), blockships JACOBUS (UK 1262 grt), blockship KAUPO (UK 2420 grt), blockship RIVER TYNE (UK 1525 grt), Troopship BRUGES (UK 2949 grt), Steamer ST RONAIG (UK 509 grt), MV EARLSPARK (UK 5250 grt, MV BARBARA MARIE (UK 4223 grt), Steamer WILLOWBANK (UK 5041 grt), Tug TWENTE (UK 239 grt), tkr BRITISH PETROL (UK 6891 grt), Tkr BRITISH INVENTOR (UK 7101 grt), MV WELLINGTON STAR (UK 13212 grt), troopship LANCASTRIA (UK 16,243 grt), Tug ATHLETE (UK 350 grt (est)), Steamer TEIRESIAS (UK 7405 grt), Steamers HESTER (UK 1199 grt), RONWYN (UK 1766 grt) MV DIDO (UK 3554 grt), Steamer NIAGARA (UK 13,415 grt), MV BARON LOUNDOUN (UK 3164 grt), Steamer ROSEBURN (UK 3103 grt), THE MONARCH (UK 824 grt), Steamer BRITISH MONARCH (UK 5661 grt), MV EMPIRE CONVEYOR (Ex-Ger (UK) 5911 grt), MV OTTERPOOL (UK 4876 grt), Steamer STESSO (UK 2290 grt), Steamer LUFFWORTH (UK 279 grt), MV KUFRA (UK 2724 grt), Tkr ALBUERA (UK 3477 grt), Steamer KINGFISHER (UK 276 grt), Tkr SARANAC (UK 12049 grt), MV WINDSORWOOD (UK 5395 get), CASTLETON (UK 211 grt), MV CRUZ (or CRUX) (Nor 3828 grt), Trawler CASTLETON (UK 211 grt) MV LLANARTH (UK 5504 grt), MV EMPIRE TOUCAN (UK 4127 grt), MV AVELONA STAR (UK 13376 grt), MV BALMORALWOOD (UK 5834 grt), Tkr YARRAVILLA (UK 8627 grt),

Steamer CHELLA (Fr 8920 grt), Trawler EMMA (Fr 255 grt), Trawler MARECHAL FOCH (Fr 103 grt), Steamer BRUGES (Fr 2949 grt), Steamer GENERAL METZINGER (Fr 9345 grt), Steamer NIOBE (Fr 1684 grt), Steamer SWALLOW (Fr 209grt), Steamer INNISULVA (Fr 264 grt), Steamer TRAIN FERRY No. 6 (Fr (?) 2678 grt), LA COUBRE (Fr 150 grt (est)), MV CAPITAINE MAURICE EUGENE (Fr 4499 grt), Steamer CHAMPLAIN (Fr 28,124 grt), Tug LUTTEUR (Fr 350 GRT (est)), tkr DORDORGNE (Fr 7333 grt), tug LA VALETTE (Fr 100 grt), water carrier ONDINE II (Fr 150 grt (est)), Tkr BRUMAIRE (Fr 7638 grt), Liner MEXIQUE (Fr 12,220 grt), Trawler LE TANCHE (Fr 277 grt), Liner FOUCAULD (Fr 11,028 grt), Steamer MECANICIEN PRINCIPAL CARVIN (Fr 4282 grt), Tkr SAN FERNANDO (UK 13056 grt), Tkr MONIQUE (Fr 7011 grt), Steamer AMIENOIS (Fr 3713 grt),

Tug ELBE (Be 150 grt), FVs ONZE LIEVE VROUW VAN VLAANDEREN (Be 39 grt), GETUIGT VOR CHRISTUS (Be 39 grt), ANNA LEOPOLD (Be 52 grt), Liner ALBERTVILLE (Be 11,047 grt) and Steamer PIRIAPOLIS (Be 7340 grt), Steamer YVONNE (Be 668 grt), Liner VILLE DE NAMUR (Be 7463 grt), MV LUXEMBOURG (Be 5809 grt),

Steamer PRINS OLAV (Nor 2147 grt), Steamer ARIADNE (Nor 2029 grt), Steamer ELLAVORE (Nor 1302 grt), Tkr ORKANGER (Nor 8029 grt), tkr ITALIA (Nor 9973 grt), tkr JAMES STOVE (Nor 8215 grt), Steamer KOMET (Nor 1147 grt), MV ALTAIR (Nor 1522 grt), steamer JACOB CHRISTENSEN (Nor 3594 grt), steamer TROPIC SEA (Nor 5781 grt), MV TUDOR (Nor 6607 grt), Steamer RANDSFJORD (Nor 3999 grt), Tkr ELI KNUDSEN (Nor 9026 grt), steamer LENDA (Nor 4005 grt), MV BELMOIRA (Nor 3214 grt)

Coastal steamer PRINSES JULIANA (Ne 198 grt), Steamer ABEL TASMAN (Ne 314 grt), Tkr MOORDRECHT (Ne 7493 grt), MV BERENICE (Ne 1177 grt), Tkr LETICIA (NL 2580 grt),

steamer ERIK BOYE (Den 2238 grt),

290238 (UK), 113282 (Fr), 32607 (Be), 70590 (Nor), 11762 (Ne), 2238 (Den)
520777 grt (lMercantile)
Total Mercantile and Military losses: 737585 grt

New Construction 2nd Qtr 1940
204000 tons

Prizes captured
MV ADIGE (FI 2189 grt), MV AMELIA LAURO (FI 5335 grt), MV ANDREA (FI 5152 grt), MV ANGELINA LAURO (FI 5787 grt), MV BARBANA C. (FI 6161 grt), MV CALABRIA (FI 9515 grt), MV CELLINA (FI 6140 grt), MV ELIOS (FI 5202 grt), MV ERICA (FI 4704 grt), MV ESQUILINO (FI 8657 grt), MV ELICE (FI 5639 grt), MV GABBIANO (FI 6584 grt) MV GIOACCHINO LAURO (FI 5345 grt), MV LIBANO (FI 5192 grt), MV MARZOCCO (FI 5106 grt), MV MINCIO (FI 5404 grt), MV MONTE PIANA (FI 5890 grt), MV MOSCARDIN (FI 4374 grt), MV MUGNONE (FI 5213 grt), MV PAMIA (FI 6245 grt), MV PELLICE (FI 5360 grt), MV POLLENZO (FI 6470 grt), MV PROCIDA (FI 5366 grt), MV RODI (FI 3320 grt), MV VERBANIA (FI 6640 grt),
Mercantile Tonnage seized: 140990

Sub GALILEI (RM 920 grt)

Neutral shipping
Tkr JAMES MCGEE (Pan 9859 grt), MV CATHRINE (Pan 1885 grt),

MV IOANNA (Gk 950 grt), MV PERRAKKIS L CAMBANIS (Gk 3584 grt), Steamer MAX WOLF (Gk 6694 grt), MV MOUNT HYMETTUS (GK 5820 grt), Steamer VIOLANDO N. GOULANDRIS (Gk 3598 grt), Steamers ZINOVIA (GK 2975grt) and MAKIS (Gk 3546 grt), MV ANTONIS GEORGANDIS (Gk 3557 grt), MV MOUNT MYRTO (Gk 5403 grt), MV ELPIS (Gk 3651 grt), MV ADAMANDIOS GEORGANDIS (Gk 3433 grt), Steamer ADAMANTIOS (Gk 4277 grt), MV NEION (Gk 5154 grt), MV DIMITRIS (Gk 5254 grt), MV FRANGOULA GOULANDRIS ( Gk 6701 grt), MV GEORGIOS KYRIAKIDES (Gk 4201 grt),

MV SNABB (FN 2317 grt), MV MARGARETA (FN 2155 grt), MV SARMATIA ( FN 2417 grt), MV HILDA (FN 1144 grt),

Liner REMO (It 9870 grt), Steamer AVVENIRE (It 957 grt), Steamer ANGIULLIN (It 873 grt),

KJELL BILLNER (SD 1106 grt), MV TILIA GORTHON (Sd 1776 grt), steamer ELGO (Sd 1888 grt), Steamer SONJA (Sd 1828 grt),

trawler SALVORA (Sp 108 grt) Trawler NUEVO ONS (Sp 108 grt),

MV LABUD (Yu 5334 grt),

MV ADMIRAL WILEY (US 3514 grt), Sailing Vessel MARY A WHITE (US 100 grt (est))

MV MERKUR (Est 1291 grt),

11744 (Pan), 68798 (Gk), 8033 (FN), 11700 (It), 6598 (Sd), 216 (Sp), 5334 (Yu), 1291 (Est), 3614 (US)
117328 (Total)

 

[Njaco]

July 1 Monday
GERMANY: Operation Seelöwe (Sealion), a plan for the invasion of Britain, was first mentioned by the German General Staff.

The rest period continues as the Bf 109s of the III Gruppe of JG 26 are transferred from Monchen-Gladbach to Doberitz to prevent any interference with victory celebrations in Berlin. Major Dr. Erich Mix and his III./JG 2 are relocated to Frankfurt / Rhein-Main.

At Deelen-Arnhem and Monchen-Gladbach airfields, the new night-fighting Gruppen of NJG 1 are formed. The Staffeln of I Gruppe are as follows: The 1./NJG 1 is moved to II./NJG 1 to become 5./NJG 1 and 10./ZG 26 becomes the new 1./NJG 1. The 2./ZG 1 becomes 2./NJG 1 and 3./ZG 1 becomes 3./NJG 1. The fighters of II Gruppe become the new III Gruppe and is reformed with 4./NJG 1 from Stab./KG 30, 5./NJG 1 from 1./NJG 1 while the 6 Staffel is completely new. The I Gruppe is led by Hptm. Günther Radusch flying Bf 110s, II Gruppe is led by Hptm. Karl-Heinrich Heyse flying Bf 110s and Do 17Zs and III Gruppe is led by Hptm. Conrad von Bothmer flying Bf 109Ds. Oberst Wolfgang Falck is made Kommodore.

There is another change for a Luftwaffe unit that has the unique position of using almost every major type of aircraft used by the Luftwaffe. Hptm. Wilhelm Kern is appointed the Gruppenkommandeur of I./LG 1 in place of Major Eduard Teske. The unit uses He 111s on operations flying out of Düsseldorf but soon move to Lille, joining II and III./LG 1 and begin using Ju 88 medium bombers. Since forming in Barth in 1938 using Bf 109Ds, the Geschwader has operated the Bf 109 single-engined fighter, the Bf 110 twin-engined Zerstörer and the He 111 and Ju 88 medium bombers.

Another new unit is formed using components of several Luftwaffe units. Erprobungsgruppe(Epr.Gr) 210 is formed in Köln-Ostheim flying Bf 110C and D models and the Bf 109E. The units used for this new group are 1./ZG 1 which becomes the 1./Epr.Gr 210, 3./StG 77 becoming 2./Epr.Gr 210 and the carrier unit 4./TrGr 186 becoming 3./Epr.Gr 210. Hptm. Walter Rubensdörffer is posted as Gruppenkommandeur.

Along with the new fighter units, the Kampfgeschwader also expand. Stab./KG 40 is formed flying He 111s out of Bordeaux-Merignac with Oblt. Geisse appointed as Kommodore. The Stab joins with I./KG 40 and their Fw 200 four-engined bombers, converted transports from Lufthansa that have the longest operational range of any aircraft the Luftwaffe currently has.

The Kommodore of KG 76, Oberst Stephan Fröhlich is promoted to Generalmajor.

WESTERN FRONT: German troops landed on the island of Guernsey off the French coast, meeting no opposition. German forces also took Jersey, completing the occupation of the Channel Islands. Albrecht Lanz was declared the military governor of the Channel Islands.

Marshal Philippe Pétain's government moved to from Bordeaux to Vichy, France. Pétain's administration will henceforth be known as Vichy France.

US Ambassador to France William C. Bullitt met with French Marshal Philippe Pétain, who ensured that orders had been given;

"…to every captain of the French Fleet to sink his ship rather than permit [it] to fall into German hands".

Later on the same day, Bullitt visited French Admiral François Darlan, who noted that French ships had been ordered to sail for Martinique and Guantanamo should there be a risk that the Germans would gain the French fleet, and if sailing not possible, the ships would be scuttled.

Germany requested neutral nations to withdraw their diplomatic missions from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, and Luxembourg.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: By this date, about 900,000 tons of Allied shipping had been sunk by German U-boats in 6 months of war.

German submarines attacked various Allied ships off the French coast. At 0400 hours, 300 miles West of Brest, France, U-30 sinks British MV "Beignon" carrying 8816 tons of wheat in convoy SL-36 (6 die, including 3 survivors from SS "Avelona Star" rescued yesterday). 30 crew and 81 "Avelona Star" survivors are picked up by destroyers HMS "Vesper" and HMS "Windsor "and landed at Plymouth. In the same convoy, U-102 sinks British SS "Clearton" (8 crew lost). U-102 is sunk by British destroyer HMS "Vansittart" with depth charges (all 43 hands lost). HMS "Vansittart" then picks up 26 survivors from the "Clearton" and lands them at Plymouth. In the same area, U-65 sinks Dutch SS "Amstelland" (1 dead, 39 survivors) and U-29 sinks Greek SS "Adamastos" (all 25 crew survive). Meanwhile U-26 damages British steamer "Zarian" in convoy OA-175. U-26 is depth charged by corvette HMS "Gladiolus" and then bombed on the surface by Flight Leader W.N. Gibson in an Australian Sunderland aircraft (10 Squadron, RAAF). Unable to dive, U-26 is scuttled (all 48 crew are rescued and became POWs). Gibson will receive the Distinguished Flying Cross.

.

 

[Njaco]

July 1 Monday (continued)
UNITED KINGDOM: German bombers began a campaign against British industrial centers, beginning with a daylight raid on Hull, England and Wick, Scotland, killing 12 and wounding 22.

British RAF Fighter Command chief Hugh Dowding's son Derek became a pilot with the RAF No. 74 Squadron.

Quintin Brand was promoted to the temporary rank of air vice marshal.

Winston Churchill recorded in his diary that during a meeting with the US Ambassador, Joseph Kennedy had stated that Britain was beaten and that Adolf Hitler would be in London by the 15th of August. Churchill writes to Josef Stalin, warning him of Adolf Hitler's intentions for an invasion of the USSR.

British liner "Arandora Star" departed Liverpool, England for Canada with 479 German and 734 Italian civilian internees, 86 German prisoners of war, and 374 British crew and guards. Some of the civilian internees were Jewish refugees who had previously been able to escape from Nazi Germany. "Arandora Star" failed to display a red cross to denote that she was carrying civilians and prisoners of war.

British Admiralty issues orders to its Mediterranean forces to prepare Operation Catapult for July 3, to destroy any French ships whose crews did not disable them.

EASTERN FRONT: The Hungarian government alleges frontier violations by Romanian troops; several civilians are reported dead. Hungarian troops mass at the border with Romania. King Carol II of Romania renounced the guarantees given to him by the United Kingdom in 1939 and announced that hence-forward his country's alliegance would be with Germany. Romanian troops mass at the border with Hungary.

Joseph Stalin told his Ambassador to Tokyo that the non-aggression pact with Germany "was dictated by the desire to unleash war in Europe".

NORTH AMERICA: The responsibility for nuclear fission research in the United States was transferred to the National Defense Research Committee under Vannevar Bush.

The US Navy issued contracts for the construction of 44 new ships. US Navy awarded a US$30,870,000 contract to build naval facilities across the Pacific.

The Headquarters Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force was established at the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California, United States under Brigadier General Ross E. Rowell.

The noted American aviator James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle was recalled to active service as a Major and began assisting US car manufacturers as they switched to aircraft production.

NORTH AFRICA: Rodolfo Graziani was named the Governor-General of Italian Libya.

.

 

[Njaco]

July 2 Tuesday
UNITED KINGDOM: Once again the Bristol area of England is attacked. At 2130 hours, eight He 111s from I./KG 55 take off from Chartres to raid the Bristol, Avonmouth and Portishead docks. Another six Heinkels from KG 55 target Bristol itself. A single German Dornier bomber passed over Blaydon, shot down a balloon and dropped bombs on Newcastle and Jarrow.

Czechoslovak President-in-exile Dr Eduard Beneš submitted to the British Government a memorandum urging that the Czech airmen be allowed to participate at once in the defence of Britain and that a formal agreement covering the status of Czech military personnel in Britain be concluded as soon as possible. The British Government acted quickly: within a month of the Benes memorandum, a Czech fighter squadron and a Czech bomber squadron had been formed.

Blue Funnel Line ship "Aenaes" in coastal convoy OA-177G off Dorset, England, is attacked by German aircraft and set on fire, killing 19 crew. The ship sinks two days later.

The British government canceled the Aug 1940 bank holiday.

General Sikorski issues Order of the Day to Polish Forces in Britain:

'We shall continue to fight with an iron will until victory is won.'

NORTH AMERICA: The US Congress passed the Export Control Act, giving the US President the power to control the export of military equipment whenever he thought it was "necessary in the interest of national defense".

In Montreal, Canada, a train with sealed cars delivers to the Bank of Canada 30 million Pounds Sterling of gold bars and 200 million Pounds Sterling in marketable securities. This had been transferred from the Bank of England to Halifax, Nova Scotia, via the HMS "Emerald" battleship, for safekeeping during the war. This is the largest single transfer of wealth in world history to date.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0658 hours off the coast of Ireland, U-47 fires a single torpedo at British liner "Arandora Star" carrying 1,299 German and Italian internees. With grey paint and no Red Cross sign, "Arandora Star" is mistaken for an armed merchant cruiser and sinks within 35 minutes (92 British crew and guards, 470 Italians and 243 Germans are lost). 282 crew and guards and 586 Italians and Germans are rescued by Canadian destroyer HMCS "St. Laurent" and landed at Greenock. The liner was carrying 1,500 Italian and German prisoners of war to Canada.

U-29 sinks British tanker "Athellaird" about 500 miles West of Brest, France (all 42 crew are picked up by British sloop HMS "Sandwich" and landed at Greenock, Scotland) and Panamanian SS "Santa Margarita" (all 39 crew rescued). 21 survivors are picked up by British merchant "King John" which will be sunk on July 13.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler decides that a landing in England is possible, provided air superiority is attained, among other conditions. He orders the planning to begin for Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain. An Armed Forces High Command, OKW, order is issued entitled "The War Against England." It begins "The Fuhrer and Supreme Commander has decided that a landing in England is possible." In response to this order Göring gives instructions for an intensified air blockade with especial attention to be given to attacks on shipping. The Luftwaffe has two air fleets in northern France.

Overnight, 12 RAF Hampden bombers attack German battleship "Scharnhorst" and cruiser "Prinz Eugen" in dry dock at Kiel. 2 small bombs hit "Prinz Eugen". Flight officer Guy Gibson drops the first 2000 lb bomb near "Scharnhorst" but misses. Gibson will be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

WESTERN FRONT: German troops traveled from Guernsey to the islands of Alderney and Sark in the Channel Islands, meeting no opposition.

.

 

[parsifal]

Summary of Losses June 1940 part II
Axis
Warships
MSW M-11 (DKM 425 grt), Aux PV Vp.801 (DKM 437 grt), aux MSWs GNOM 7 (DKM 50 grt), KOBOLD 1 (DKM 50 grt), KOBOLD 3 (DKM 50 grt), MSW M.5 (DKM 682 grt), Steamer KONIGSBERG (Ger 6466 grt), Aux MSW M.1802 (DKM 497 grt), S-21 (DKM 92 grt) S-32 (DKM 81 grt), coastal Dreadnought VLIEREEDE (Ex-RNN (DKM) 5022 grt), Type IXB U-122 (DKM 1034 grt), Aux PV V1107 (DKM 295 grt),

Gunboat GIOVANNI BERTA (RM 350 grt (est), Coast Defence Ship SAN GIORGIO (RM 11122 grt), Sub MACALLE (RM 680 grt), sub PROVANA (RM 1043 grt), Sub DIAMANTE (RM 680 grt), Sub TORICELLI (RM 1000 grt), Sub GALVANI (RM 1000 grt), Sub CONSOLE GENERALE LIUZZI (RM 1148 grt), sub ANFITRITE (RM 617 grt), Sub ARGONAUTA (RM 650 grt), DD ESPERO (RM 1070 grt), Sub RUBINO (RM 680 grt), sub UEBI SCEBELI (RM 680 grt),
15181 (DKM), 19820 (RM)
35001 (Total)

Axis Shipping
Steamer PALIME (Ger 2863 grt), Steamer SVERRE SIGURDSON (Ex-Nor 1081 grt), Steamer DOCKENHUDEN (Ger 216 grt), Steamer JAEDEREN (Ex-Nor 908 grt), PV NB 15 (DKM 178 grt), FV ARILD (Ex-Nor 128 grt), tkr SAMLAND (Ger 5978 grt), steamer ALFA (Den 844 grt), MV CYGNUS (Ex-Nor (Ger) 1334 grt), Steamer KOLN (Ger 7881 grt),


Liner ROMOLO (It 9870 grt), Steamer UMBRIA (FI 9349 grt) Steamer OLTERRA (FI 4995 grt), Steamer LAVORO (FI 7886 grt), Steamer LIBANO (FI 5192 grt), Steamer PAGAO (FI 6101 grt), Steamer POLINICE (FI 1373 grt), Steamer CAPO NOLI (FI 3921 grt). Steamer SAN PIETRO (FI 5199 grt). Steamers CAPO OLMO (FI 4781 grt), Steamer NICOLO ODERO (FI 6003 grt), Steamer ALICANTINO (FI 1642 grt), Steamer RASTRELLO (FI 1550 grt), Steamer RENO (FI 1002 grt), Pilot Vessel RINA CROCE (FI 589 grt), MV ALTSANDRO PODESTA (FI 633 grt), Steamer LOASSO (FI 5968 grt), Steamer ALESSANDRO PODESTA (FI 663 grt), Steamer MARIA (FI 440 grt), Steamer PAGANINI (FI 2427 grt), Steamer FORTUNATA (FI 4786 grt),
21411 (Ger), 76178 (FI)
97589 (Mercantile), 132590 (Total Axis losses)
New Construction 2nd Qtr 1940
Unknown, but approximately 30000 tons for the 2nd qtr

Captured ships
steamer TIRRANNA (Nor 7230 grt), 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), tkr KROSSFONN (Nor 9323 grt),

 

[parsifal]

1 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Tree Class ASW Trawler DEODAR - Type I Hunt Class Escort DD GARTH

HM Deodar was crewed by NZ personnel, and was initially under the command of Lt PG Connolly RNZN. GARTH completed, work up at Scapa in the DesDiv 23 before transferring to the DesFlot 21, arriving at Sheerness on 28 Aug.

Losses
Type 1A Uboat U-26 (DKM 862 grt) On the evening of 30 June U-26 sighted OA 175 SSW of Ireland, reported its position, and overtook the convoy to set up a night attack. Lookouts on the convoy commodore's ship had however sighted the U-boat shortly before it dived, and the sole escort, Corvette GLADIOLUS, went to investigate the contact. At 0118 hrs on 1 July the surfaced U-boat torpedoed the ZARIAN (which was damaged but did not sink), causing the corvette to return at full speed. U-26 would normally have made a run for it but was unable to outrun the escort on this occasion due to problems with the diesel engines. She was forced to to dive. The Asdic operators on GLADIOLUS got a firm contact at a range of 1200 yds and began dropping DC patterns only 10 mins after ZARIAN was hit. U-26 had dived to 80m and suffered severe damage; one of the aft ballast tanks flooding uncontrollably and causing the U-boat to sink by the stern to a depth of 230m (755ft), well beyond its safe dive limits. The corvette made four more attacks, using up nearly all available DCs. She then stopped amidst a large patch of diesel oil and waited for the U-boat to surface while calling for assistance. It is nearly impossible for a single escort, armed only with DCs to achieve a viable battle solution (with modern ASW ahead throwing weapons the normal ratio is about 6 escorts to a single sub) With the starboard electric motor and one compressor out of action, U-26 was finally forced to surface after 6 hrs, only 800 yards from the corvette, but remained unseen and managed to escape undetected. She was likley to make her escape at this point. At 0815 hrs that morning, a Sunderland Mk.I (10 Sqn RAAF) sighted the fleeing U-26 and dropped four 250 lb ASW bombs as it dived, forcing the U-boat to surface again almost at once. The Sunderland attacked again, dropping a second stick of four bombs that detonated about 40m (130ft) away. HMS GLADIOLUS had sighted a cloud of smoke from the U-boat diesels simultaneously with the a/c and made for it at top speed, but HMS ROCHESTER which was by now on the scene as a reinfocement arriving from the dispersed convoy OB 174, was faster. Unable to dive, the crew of U-26 prepared the boat for scuttling and began to abandon ship, when the sloop approached, firing over their heads in an attempt to discourage them from scuttling. The Boat did sink and the German crew taken prisoner

U-26 under attack by a Sunderland flying boat from 10 sqn RAAF 1 July 1940

DD VANSITTART, escorting tug SALVONIA to meet ZARIAN in the SW Approaches , attacked and sank Type VIIB U.102 (DKM 753 grt) with the loss of all 43 crew . U.102 was on her first war patrol, had attacked a convoy on 30 June off North Channel, and was not heard from again, believed lost, cause unknown. However recent investigation has now attributed her loss to DC attacks by VANSITTART.

Before being sunk U.102 sank the MV CLEARTON (UK 5219 grt) Crew: 34 (9 dead and 25 survivors) Cargo: 7320 tons of cereals Route: Rosario - Freetown - Manchester in the SW Approaches. TAt 1155 hrs in the morning the CLEARTON sailing as part of SL-36 was torpedoed and damaged by U-102 about 180 miles west of Ushant. Two hrs later, the now straggling vessel was again torpedoed by the U-boat and sank 240 miles from Smalls. Survivors were picked up by HMS VANSITTART, which had already sunk U-102 shortly after the last attack.

U.30 sank steamers BEIGNON (UK 5218 grt) Crew: 117 (6 dead and 111 survivors) Cargo: 8816 tons of wheat Route: Freemantle - Freetown - Newcastle Sunk in the SW Approaches. BEIGNON had previously picked up the survivors from steamer AVELONA STAR. DD VESPER picked up the survivors.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

U.29 sank steamer ADAMASTOS (Gk 5889 grt) Crew: 25 (0 dead and 25 survivors) Cargo: Wheat Route: Buenos Aires - Avonmouth. Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 1917 hrs the unescorted ADAMASTOS was stopped by U-29 SW of Ireland. The crew abandoned ship immediately when the U-boat surfaced nearby. The Germans then boarded the ship for fresh provisions and sank her by gunfire.

DKM Raider THOR captured steamer KERTOSONO (NL 9289 grt) in the Central Atlantic. Steamer KERTOSONO arrived Lorient on the 12th July .

Special service vessels TWEEDLEDEE (RN 163 grt) and TWEEDLEDUM (RN 163 grt) were sunk as blockships.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]


UBOATS
Arrivals
Bergen: U-61
Kiel: U-46
Wilhelmshaven: U-32

At Sea 1 July 1940
U-28, U-29, U-30, U-34, U-38, U-43, U-47, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-62, U-65, U-99, UA.
14 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic
DKM CA PRINZ EUGEN, under construction at Kiel, was damaged by an RAF BC night attack by 16 a/c on the port of Kiel. Prinz Eugens was hit by 2 bomb hits and slightly damaged. SCHARNHORST suffered splinter damage from near misses.

North Sea
CL MANCHESTER departed Rosyth for Sheerness. FN.210 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY, sloop EGRET, and patrol sloop MALLARD, and arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd. MT.100 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 2nd. FS.209 departed the Tyne, escort sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS, and arrived at Southend on the 2nd.

Northern Waters
RAF CC A/C bombed a UBoat contact at 0600 , with DDs ASHANTI, COSSACK , MAORI, and ECHO ordered to conduct sweeps for the UBoat. ASHANTI departed Scapa to join the sweep. ECHO had left Scapa at 0800 escorting ML ATREUS to Greenock, but shortly after departure, was detached to join them as well.

West Coast UK
BB BARHAM with DDs IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE, FERNIE, and WARWICK departed Liverpool for Scapa , and arrived safely on the 2nd. DD WALKER departed the Clyde escorting troopship EMPRESS OF BRITAIN to Liverpool. After delivering her, WALKER returned to the Clyde. DD BERKELEY arrived at Greenock escorting steamer KOHISTAN. After RAF a/c attacked a sub contact , WALKER and escort ship JASON were ordered to hunt for the sub, but failed to make contact.

SW Approaches
The first large convoy battle was occuring in the SW Approaches in the latter part of June and early July 1940. U.65 damaged Dutch steamer AMSTELLAND during this batle.

Nth Atlantic
CVL FURIOUS and CA DEVONSHIRE departed Halifax escorting troopship EMPRESS OF CANADA . FURIOUS arrived at Scapa on the 15th.

Central Atlantic
SL.38 departed Freetown escort AMC CARNARVON CASTLE to 17 July. On the 17th, DD VANQUISHER, sloop FOWEY, and corvettes CAMELLIA and CLARKIA joined the convoy and escorted it to Liverpool arriving on the 20th. The AMC proceeded to Belfast for refitting. CL DRAGON departed Freetown for Manoca. The CL called at Lagos for refuelling at Lagos on 3 and 4 July.

Med- Biscay
U.52 refuelled from German tkr BESSEL at Vigo. The Med Flt arrived back at Alexandria.

Indian Ocean
CL LIVERPOOL departed Alexandria carrying troops to Aden and arrived at Suez later that day. Arriving at Aden, after disembarking the troops, she embarked the Eastern Flt's reserve of 6 inch ammunition and returned to Med arriving on the 6th.

Light cruiser LIVERPOOL departed Port Said on the 7th and joined the Mediterranean Fleet at sea.
Pacific/Far East/Australia Station

Malta
The War Office reply to Dobbies urgent request for fighters. they state it is impossible at present to send any fighters but consideration is being given. A/C are unable now to fly over French territory and there are therefore only two methods of getting planes to Malta. First by flying off a carrier sent well into Mediterranean. Second subsequent to establishment of near east route via Nigeria and Egypt to fly planes from Mersa Matruh. Neither method considered feasible at present.

Malta cmd suspect a fifth column at work on the island. The CO of 2nd Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers is informed that a light has been seen from Tal Minsia (this is not the first report), seeming to come from near the Officers' Mess at St Andrews Barracks. Investigation confirmed that the light was illuminated in a series of definite dots and dashes. The source was determined as Tal Minsia Church. Lights and shots have previously been reported in the same area.

 

[parsifal]

2 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette MALLOW - Vosper 73' Type MTB 71

Vosper Torpedo Boat at the Imperial War Museum Duxford

Losses
Tkr ATHELLAIRD (UK 8999 grt) Crew: 42 (0 dead and 42 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: Liverpool - Cuba Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 2352 hrs the ATHELLAIRD (dispersed earlier that day from convoy OB-176) was hit amidships by one G7e stern torp from U-29 about 350 miles NW of Cape Finisterre. At 0210 hrs on 3 July, a G7a torpedo was fired as coup de grâce, which passed under the immobilised tkr and this also happened with a second G7a torp. The Germans then fired a G7e torpedo that struck just before the bridge and caused the ship to sink in 15 mins. Survivors were rescued HMS SANDWICH and landed at Greenock.

MV SANTA MARGARITA (Pan 4919 grt) Crew: 39 (0 dead and 39 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route; Barry - Hampton Roads . Sunk in the SW Approaches. At 1125 hrs the unescorted SANTA MARGARITA was stopped by U-29 and sunk by gunfire at 1345 hrs because the ship was en route under British charter with a Yugoslav crew. 3 of the 21 survivors that were picked up by the Br MV KING JOHN were lost when this ship was sunk by DKM raider WIDDER on 13 July.

Liner ARANDORA STAR (UK 15501 grt) Crew:1673 (805 dead and 868 survivors) Cargo: 1299 internees and pows Route: Liverpool - St. Johns Sunk in the Western Approaches, Nth of Ireland. At 0758 hrs the unescorted ARANDORA STAR (Master Edgar Wallace Moulton) was hit by a torpedo from U-47 about 125 miles WNW of Malin Head and foundered later. The ship had 479 German internees, 734 Italian internees, 86 German PoWs and 200 military guards on board. The master, 12 officers, 42 crewmen, 37 guards, 470 Italians and 243 Germans were lost. 119 crew members, 163 guards and 586 Italians and Germans were picked up by RCN DD ST. LAURENT and landed at Greenock. Edgar Wallace Moulton was posthumously awarded the Lloyd´s War Medal for bravery at sea.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-38

At Sea 2 July 1940
U-28, U-29, U-30, U-34, U-43, U-47, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-62, U-65, U-99, UA.
13 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
In a raid from Station KESTREL a Swordfish of 825 Sqn was shot down and the crew were killed over Rotterdam. A second Swordfish of 825 Sqn was shot down, crew captured. S/Lt E. B. Kiddell was captured, but was later shot and died of wounds while trying to escape as POW January 1943. Leading Airman H. W. V. Burt of Kiddell's plane was killed in the crash. 2 more Swordfish of the Squadron were lost returning from the raid, but the crews were rescued. FN.211 departed Southend, escort DDs WALLACE and WOLFHOUND and patrol sloop PUFFIN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th. FS.210 departed the Tyne, escort DDs VEGA and WINCHESTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.

Northern Waters
BB RODNEY, CA NORFOLK, CL SOUTHAMPTON, CLA COVENTRY, and all available DDs at Scapa were put at 2 hrs notice on the 3rd. DD BERKELEY departed Greenock escorting ML SOUTHERN PRINCE to Loch Alsh. After delivering the ML, the DD proceeded to Scapa. Br tug QUEENS CROSS with barge MEDWAY in tow encountered at 0315 what they identified as a UBoat conning tower 6 miles nth of Strathie Point. They did not report their sighting until arriving at Scapa at 0930. ASW trawlers ALOUETTE, COVENTRY CITY, WHITEHORN, and BUTTERMERE were dispatched to search. Cable ship ARIEL, escort ASW trawlers IMPERIALIST and HAZEL departed Scapa to lay cable between the Orkneys and the Shetlands. Br minefield BS.20 was laid by MLss TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and DDs EXPRESS and ICARUS.

Western Approaches
In response to the loss of the ARANDORA STAR, DDs WALKER and ECHO and PV JASON were ordered to the area. ECHO was again ordered away from escorting ML ATREUS. DD FIREDRAKE was detached from the escort of Br liner ANDES (25,689) leaving DD PUNJABI as its sole escort.
When it was learned the survivors had already been picked up, FIREDRAKE was ordered to return to the ANDES screen. 119 crew, 163 troops, and 586 aliens were rescued. The rest were lost.

Channel
Steamer AENEAS (UK 10,058 grt) in OA.177G, was sunk by the LW 20 miles SE of Start Point, off the Devon Coast. 18 crew were missing and 3 dead on the steamer. Survivors from steamer AENEAS were rescued by DD WITHERINGTON. The wreck was sunk on the 4th 11 miles from the coast. Br steamer BARON RUTHVEN (3178 grt) was damaged by the LW in the same area.

SBoat S-23 (DKM 92 grt) sank in tow after striking a mine off Foreland

"S-Boat on Attack-Course"

Channel Islands occupation is completed by German forces

Central Atlantic
CVL HERMES arrived at Freetown with evacuated FAA personnel and stores embarked at Dakar. The carrier had arrived at Dakar at 0900 on 29 June and sailed at 1800. She remained off the port until relieved by CA DORSETSHIRE at 1800 on 30 June.

Med- Biscay
Fce H, consisting of BC HOOD, BBs VALIANT and RESOLUTION, CV ARK ROYAL, CLs ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE, and DDs ESCORT, ACTIVE, FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FEARLESS, FORESTER, KEPPEL, WRESTLER, VIDETTE, and VORTIGERN departed Gib on Opn CATAPULT, the neutralization of the French Fleet at Mer el Kebir. DDs KEPPEL and WRESTLER carried special demolition parties to scuttle the French ships at Mer el Kebir. At sea, DD VORTIGERN was attacked by RM sub MARCONI without damage. VIDETTE and VORTIGERN were detached to sweep for the sub.

DD JERVIS arrived at Malta after completing her repairs in Home Waters.

Marshal Rodolfo Graziani is named as Balbo's replacement in North Africa. The RA bombs the British Mandate of Palestine.

Bombing of Haifa refinery

FI AKs ESPERIA and VICTORIA , escorted by TBs PROCIONE, ORSA, PEGASO, and ORIONE departed Tripoli for Naples. RM CAs ZARA, FIUME, and GORIZIA of CruDiv 1 with DDs ALFIERI, CARDUCCI, ORIANI, and GIOBERTI and CLs BANDE NERE and COLLEONI of CruDiv 2 with DDs MAESTRALE, LIBECCIO, GRECALE, and SCIROCCO were at sea covering the convoy. The convoy arrived safely at Naples on the 4th. HGY departed Gib with 27 ships escorted by Fr PV PRESIDENT HOUDUCE from 2 to 14 July, DDs WITCH from 2 to 10 July and VISCOUNT from 2 to 14 July. 4 ships of the convoy carried service and civilian refugees from France. DD WESTCOTT escorted the convoy from 10 to 11 July. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 14th.

Malta

0925-0945 hrs Air raid alert. 2 enemy a/c cross the Island on recon. AA batteries at Luqa open fire and split the formation. Bombs are dropped two miles out to sea to the sth but none on land. Malta fighters are scrambled.

1830 hrs Gunfire is heard an estimated ten miles to the south. Later reports confirmed that a destroyer was bombed by an RA seaplane.

2320 hrs Lights are again seen from Tal Minsia but they are not signalling.

2 Sunderlands left for patrol. Sunderland a/c of 228 and 230 Squadrons operating 12 hour naval patrols over wide area covering Greek coast, south Italian coast and Sicily under direct instructions from Middle East and HQ Mediterranean.

 

[Njaco]

July 3 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: Due to heavy losses from the Luftwaffe the British suspended all traffic through the English Channel. Meanwhile, the British decided that harbors on the Channel coast and German shipping should be the primary targets of bombing. There have been some suggestions, supported by Admiral Pound, the First Sea Lord, that the British Fleet should be withdrawn from the eastern Mediterranean. The idea is rejected by Churchill. The British government and Admiralty are also worried by the status of the French navy and fear that it will fall into German hands.

Operation Catapult: At dawn, the British Royal Navy boarded two French battleships, nine destroyers, and a number of other smaller warships that were docked at Plymouth and Portsmouth, England. 3 British and 1 French sailors were killed. British forces seize 59 major French warships in British harbors, including battleships "Courbet" and "Paris" and giant submarine "Surcouf".

German Luftwaffe aircraft bombed Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

After the dock raids from the day before, Fighter Command's orders a standing patrol to be flown from one airfield in each sector, creating a protective grid over the Channel. Despite this new policy, shortly after 1500 hours, three Ju 88s of II./KG 51 attack the Portishead docks in Bristol again. Another flight of Do 17s from KG 77 attack areas near Kent. Seven Dorniers are shot down by British fighters.

Over No. 13 EFTS at Maidenhead, a single Dornier Do 17 dives out of the clouds and attacks. Six Tiger Moths are destroyed on the ground along with twenty-five severely damaged.

The self-propelled bucket dredger 'Coquetmouth' (447t) struck a magnetic mine and sank ½ mile off Amble Harbour entrance, with the loss of 3 lives. She used to keep Amble Harbour dredged, moving 900 tons of sand each day.

MEDITERRANEAN: Battle of Mers-el-Kébir: At 0545 hours, Vice Admiral James Somerville and his British Royal Navy Force H arrived off of Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria where a powerful fleet under French Admiral Marcel Gensoul resided. Vice Admiral Somerville offers French Admiral Marcel Gensoul (a known Anglophobe, loyal to the Vichy government) four alternatives for his fleet; join the Royal Navy; be interned in British ports, be decommissioned in the West Indies or USA, or sink the warships in Mers-el-Kebir harbour. At 1756 hours, after Gensoul refused to surrender, the British fleet opened fire for 10 minutes. The magazine of French battleship "Bretagne" was hit, sinking her, taking down 977 French sailors. Battleship "Provence", battleship "Dunkerque", and destroyer "Mogador" were damaged. In total, 1,297 French sailors were killed and 350 were wounded. After the battle, French battleship "Strasbourg", carrier "Commandant Teste", and four destroyers escape from Mers-el-Kébir following the attack and evade the British blockade. 6 French cruisers and 4 destroyers leave Algiers on the news. They rendezvous and escape to Toulon, France, arriving on 4 July, despite bombing attacks by Fairey Swordfish from British aircraft carrier HMS "Ark Royal".

British Navy Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Cunnigham demanded the French warships under French Admiral René-Émile Godfroy, docked at Alexandria in Egypt, to surrender. Negotiations continue all day and the French ships (battleship "Lorraine" and 4 cruisers) are not attacked. Negotiations would continue until 7 Jul 1940.

GERMANY: General Franz Halder, the German Army Chief of Staff, asked his staff to consider a "military blow" in the east, to keep the Soviet armed forces at arm's length.

WESTERN FRONT: Upon hearing the news of British attacks on French warships, six French cruisers and 4 destroyers left various ports in Algiers for Toulon, France. They were attacked by British Swordfish carrier aircraft from HMS "Ark Royal" en route, but they would arrive at Toulon on 4 Jul 1940.

NORTH AFRICA: The British founded the Long Range Desert Group under the command of Acting Brigadier Ralph Bagnold with purpose of long range reconnaissance patrols behind the Italian lines, into Libya, to gather intelligence.

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[parsifal]

3 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Torpedoboote 1935 T-9

Allied
Flower Class Corvette CHILLIWACK

HMCS Chilliwack, circa 1942.

Losses

Steam barge BIJOU (UK 98 grt) was sunk by the LW at Mistley Quay, near Harwich. The crew of the barge was rescued.

Special services ship JAMES 83 (RN 397 grt) was sunk as a blockship.

UBOATS
At Sea 3 July 1940
U-28, U-29, U-30, U-34, U-43, U-47, U-51, U-52, U-56, U-62, U-65, U-99, UA.
13 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Operation CATAPULT
It is no longer valid to refer to the French fleet ships as "French". They are Vichy, a Pro-Axis neutral, losses are therefore assigned to Axis losses. Whether it was necessary to treat them as enemy ships is an entirely different matter. "Catapult" commenced on July 3 1940. Early in the day all Vichy warships in British territorial waters were boarded and impounded by the RN (Operation Grasp); this amounted to 2 BBs, 4 Cruisers, 8 DDs, some subs, and numerous support vessels and smaller craft which had fled when the collapse of France seemed inevitable. This part of the operation went relatively smoothly, however resistance did occur on the Vichy sub SURCOUF.

Later in the day "Fe H", with BC HOOD as flagship, drew up outside Mers-El-Kebir. A three-point ultimatum was sent to Ad Gensoul, the Vichy commander, giving him the following options.

Bring out your ships and join the RN.

Take the fleet to a British port with a reduced crew from where they (the crews) would be repatriated.

Sail the fleet to a French, West Indian, or an American port and decommission the fleet there.

Gensoul decided not to act on this and, in an effort to buy time and ready his ships to fight, he opened a dialogue with the British officer sent to communicate with him. However Somerville soon became aware of Gensoul's vacillation and a 4th option was added "scuttle your ships where they lie."

At just past 1pm the British decided to act and Swordfish planes from CV ARK ROYAL mined the harbour entrance. This action angered Gensoul who felt the British had acted in bad faith. However, despite the heightened tension outwardly all remained calm until 4:46 pm when Somerville received a signal from the Admiralty which brought matters to a head. The signal ordered Somerville "to settle matters quickly" as Vichy reinforcements were on their way. Somerville wasted no time. At 5:15 pm he signalled to BC DUNKERQUE that if his proposals were not met by 5:30 pm he would have to act and destroy their ships. The Vichy failed to respond. Capt Holland's negotiations had failed. Action stations sounded as the first salvo from the Hood's 15" guns smashed into the side of the BB BRETAGNE (Vichy 23936 grt) causing fatal damage which consigned it to the depths along with 977 of its crew. Some ships of the French sqn were by this stage also beginning to get under way, contre Torpilleur DD MOGADOR was struck by a 15 " shell which detonated her DCs and blew off 100 feet of her stern, killing 38 crew. MOGADOR sank in the channel, but was later salved.

BRETAGNE about 20 mins before she blew up. MOGADOR after suffering her damage. Neither ship returned to service under Vichy. PROVENCE was also immobilised until after she joined the allies.

For 15 mins Fce H's guns ranged down on the fleet and the harbour causing a large amount of damage. The French had been badly mauled. Apart from the sinking of the BRETAGNE, BC DUNKERQUE was struck 4 times with heavy calibre shells, including a hit on her power supply, killing 5 officers and 41 ratings. BB PROVENCE was hit and had two turrets knocked out. She was beached to avoid capsizing. Gensoul then signalled a cease-fire to which Somerville replied "unless I see your ships sinking I shall open fire again." As a precaution Somerville then pulled "Fce H" out of the range of the French guns. He assumed that his mines would stop any breakout by the remaining Vichy ships. However the Vichy BC STRASBOURG saw an opportunity and at full speed it picked its way through the wrecks and mines of the harbour and escaped Mers-El-Kebir. An immediate pursuit by the Hood along with a/c from the ARKROYALl began. However, Somerville felt the absence of these vessels left the remaining blockading ships too vulnerable and the pursuit was soon called off. The STRASBOURG made it to Toulon and remained in Vichy French hands. Despite this setback the Vichy squadron had effectively been neutralised but at high cost in human lives.

2 Swordfish from ARK ROYAL were damaged attacking STRASBOURG. They landed in the sea and their crews were rescued by DD WRESTLER. The carrier was screened by DDs FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, and ESCORT for these operations. As the evening wore on, Contre Torpilleur DDs LE TERRIBLE and VOLTA attacked DDs FOXHOUND and FORESTER without damage to either side. Sloop RIGAULt DE GENOUILLY was damaged by gunfire from CL ENTERPRISE. A crew were killed and an a/c from 803 Sqn was lost lost when their Skua was shot down by a Vichy fighter.
Another Skua of 803 Sqn was lost when force landed into the sea near ARK ROYAL. The crew were rescued by DD FORESIGHT.

After the bombardment, Force H drew away leaving DD WRESTLER to watch the port, but the threats posed by BC STRASBOURG and the Vichy DDs leaving port forced WRESTLER to withdraw. Two Swordfish of 818 Sqn were badly damaged and force landed after attacking the STRASBOURG force and one Swordfish was lost shadowing STRASBOURG. Their crews were safely picked up. WRESTLER picked up the two crews of 810 Sqn. After the Mer el Kebir battle, Adm Gensoul was replaced by Adm Estava.

At Alexandria Admiral Cunningham, excercising exceptioonal diplomacy in a very difficult situation was able to open a successful dialogue with his friend, and French counterpart, Admiral Godfroy. Despite orders from Churchill for results to be achieved by nightfall, he held the negotiations over till the next day, July 4, and a settlement was reached. Godfroy's eleven ships were immobilised in Alexandria harbour with the draining of their oil supplies and the handing over of their breech blocks to the French consulate at the port. These ships eventually rejoined the allies

The Vichy Government was understandably not happy at the turn of events at Mers-El-Kebir and other ports, but neither were they in a position to side with the enemy. Vichy was an unhappy and isloated regime, friendless and weak. For the RN it was a particularly distasteful experience. The British had killed 1200 sailors who, just 2 weeks earlier, had been their allies and in addition they seized, immobilised, or sunk a large part of the Vichy navy. Many French citizens who had previously supported the British, felt betrayed and alienated. Petain broke off diplomatic relations with Britain and two days later the French captured three British merchant ships in retaliation. Further skirmishes between the former Allies occurred for the next week the two most notable of which were the bombing of Gibraltar by the FAF and the torpedoing of the BB RICHELIEU at Dakar. The action seemed justified at the time, a functional French fleet in Axis hands was simply too great a risk for the British.

Ultimately the action at Mers-El-Kebir was a tragedy but the action had served its purpose. None of thge ships that were damaged were ever able to return to service in an active sense for the Vichy, and the action gave clear warning to all the wavering neutrals as to what Britain was prepred to do if backed into a corner as the Vichy had attempted. The French navy could no longer fall into the hands of the Axis powers and pose a threat to Britain at a time when she was most vulnerable.

 

[parsifal]

3 July 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS (CONT'D)]
Baltic
DKM Raider KOMET departed Gydnia for Bergen.

North Sea
OA.178 departed Southend on the 3rd escort corvette CLARKIA from 3 to 6 July and DD BROKE from 5 to 6 July. This was the last Channel routed OA.convoy. MT.101 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th. FS.211 departed the Tyne, escort sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 4th.

Northern Waters
DD PUNJABI arrived at Scapa on the 4th. DD MASHONA and sub tender BREDA passed May Island escorting Br steamer SHOAL FISHER to Scapa.
DD WARWICK and RCN DD SKEENA departed Scapa to relieve MASHONA and BREDA. DDs WARWICK and SKEENA then reported to the CinC, West Approaches on arrival at Greenock on the 5th. DD HAMBLEDON arrived at Scapa from Portland to work up with the CinC Home Flt. 5 Skuas of 801 Sqn, escorted by 3 Blen ftrs from 18 Gp, departed Hatston to attack concentrations of German shipping and oil tanks at Bergen. All 5 Skuas returned safely but the shipping was not located. A UBoat sighting was reported off Marwick Head by coastwatchers. ASW trawlers COVENTRY CITY, WHITEHORN, and BUTTERMERE, returning from their search off Strathie Point, were dispatched to conduct another sweep.
Sub SEAWOLF landed recon parties near Lindesnes in Operation THWART (Code name for landing agents on the Norwegian coast, July 1940). Sub SEALION attacked a German convoy off Skudesnshavn in Boknafjord at 1550. She came under heavy counterattack for 45 hrs and withdrew.

Lt (A) T. Miller RNVR, was killed when his Shark of 774 Sqn crashed near Evanton.

The Shark served with the FAA, and other air arms for most of the war, but was already obsolete in 1937, In that year replacement by the Fairey Swordfish began. 165 were still on charge with the FAA in 1939, some as seaplanes. The Shark was finally retired between July 1944 and March 1945.

West Coast UK
DD PUNJABI departed Greenock after escorting troopship ANDES.

Western Approaches
OB.178 departed Liverpool on the 3rd escort sloop LEITH from 3 to 7 July and DD WHIRLWIND on 3 to 5 July. Sloop LEITH was detached to convoy HX.53.

SW Approaches
OB.177G, which departed Liverpool on the 1st escort DDs VANOC and VOLUNTEER, and OA.177G, which departed Southend on the 1st escort DD VANESSA on the 1st and DD WITHERINGTON on 1 and 2 July and Plymouth on the 1st escort sloop ENCHANTRESS and corvette CAMELIA, merged as OG.36 with 21 ships. The convoy was escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS from 3 to 8 July when she was detached to convoy HG.37. DD VANOC from convoy OB.176 joined the convoy on the 1st. The convoy arrived at Gib on the 8th with storeship PALOMARES and DD VOLUNTEER. 15 ships of the convoy with French troops for repatriation had had company earlier and proceeded unescorted to Casablanca.

Med- Biscay
Armed yacht SAYONARA, which departed Gib on the 2nd to relieve DD VELOX, was recalled and DD WISHART was sent to relieve VELOX instead.

RAN CL SYDNEY departed Alexandria to cover an Aegean convoy. The cruiser arrived back at Alexandria the same day. CL DELHI arrived at Gib from Freetown. DD JERVIS at Malta was near missed by the RA high level bombing. The DD was not damaged.

Malta
0945-1025 hrs Air raid alert. Two enemy formations fly over the Island but no bombs are dropped. Five aircraft are seen passing over Luqa. Several AA positions open fire until Malta fighters arrive. They attack one enemy SM79, which breaks up in the air and falls into the sea south of Delimara. Five of the crew are observed parachuting down towards the sea several miles off shore but are not found by rescue craft from Malta. As one of the Hurricane fighters returns to the aerodrome he is surprised by an enemy fighter which attacks. The Hurricane crashes on landing and is a write-off. The pilot is unhurt.