This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Njaco]

August 27 Tuesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post710942.html#post710942

NORTHERN EUROPE: Lt. Heinrich Setz of II./JG 77 shoots down a RAF Blenheim south of Stavanger airfield.

NORTH AMERICA: US President Roosevelt signed the joint resolution authorizing him to call Army Reserve components and National Guard into federal service for one year; meanwhile, at the US Congress, the legislation that allowed US Navy and US Marine Corps reserve aviators to be called up to active duty was enacted. On the same date, Roosevelt met with Secretary of the Navy Knox, Secretary of War Stimson, and Secretary of State Hull regarding a compromise that might persuade the opponents of the destroyers-for-bases exchange to back down. Subsequently, Roosevelt met with US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Stark, Secretary of the Navy Knox, Secretary of State Hull, and British Ambassador Lord Lothian to continue destroyers-for-bases discussions; Stark certified that the destroyers in question were available for British use without concerns of weakening US defense. Finally, Roosevelt received a ruling from Attorney General Robert H. Jackson which suggested that the destroyers-for-bases exchange was legal.

In Canada, Order-in-Council PC 4185 passes, making all single or widowed men aged 21-45 eligible to be called for military training.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Hans "Gockel" von Hahn of JG 53 is appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 3.

GERMANY: Oblt. Helmut Wick of JG 2 is awarded the Ritterkreuz after having achieved twenty victories against the Allies.

Wilhelm Keitel revealed an invasion plan for Britain that featured four separate main landing sites. Hitler modifies Operation Sea Lion invasion Plan: landings to be made on 'narrow front', Eastbourne-Folkestone, in preference to earlier 'broad front' proposal.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarines continued to attack Allied shipping in the Atlantic Ocean. German submarine U-46 attacked British armed merchant cruiser "Dunvegan Castle" with three torpedoes 75 miles northwest of Ireland; 27 were killed and 250 were rescued by destroyer HMS "Harvester" and corvette HMS "Primrose". "Dunvegan Castle" would sink on the following day. German submarine U-28 sank Norwegian ship "Eva" 200 miles northwest of Ireland at 1603 hours, killing 1. Finally, German submarine U-37 sank Greek ships "Theodoros T." 300 miles west of Ireland at 2231 hours.

In Iceland, The Costal Command of the RAF establishes an air base to help in convoy protection. At this stage there are only outdated Fairey Battle aircraft situated there, but this base will soon expand. RAF Coastal Command begins anti-U-boat patrols from Iceland, using the Fairey Battle aircraft.

INDIAN OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Pinguin" stopped British tanker British Commander off Madagascar at 0418 hours. Shortly after, she stopped Norwegian ship "Morviken". "Pinguin" would imprison both crews and sink both ships by gunfire.

MEDITERRANEAN: Caproni's C.C.2 prototype motorjet aircraft took its first flight.

NORTH AFRICA: Free French emissaries LeClerc and Boislambert depart Victoria, British Cameroons in native canoes for Douala, French Cameroon where the Government Palace is occupied without resistance. The next day LeClerc travels by train to Youande to accept the transfer of power from the Vichy authorities.

.

 

[parsifal]

28 August 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Hunt Class Escort DD HMS EGLINTON

EGLINTON arrived at Scapa Flow on the 28th for working up with DesFlot 23. She was transferred to Harwich arriving on 29 September for duty with DeFlot 16.

Losses
MV ELLE (FN 3868 grt) Sunk by U-101 (Fritz Frauenheim) Crew: 29 (2 dead and 27 survivors) Cargo Paper Birch Route: Campbellton, New Brunswick - Ardrossan Convoy SC.1 Sunk in the Western Approaches At 0425 hrs the ELLE in convoy SC-1 was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-101. The ship had been missed with a first G7e torpedo at 0401 hrs. The master and 26 crew members were picked up by Sloop LEITH and landed at Greenock on 30 August. The sloop scuttled the vessel with two shots of gunfire at first light that morning .

MV KYNO (UK 3946 grt) Sunk by U-28 (Günter Kuhnke) Crew: 37 (5 dead and 32 survivors) Cargo: general cargo, including 2600 tons of steel Route: New York - Halifax - Hull Convoy HX 66 Sunk in the Western Approaches. At 2057 hrs the KYNO in convoy HX-66 was torpedoed and sunk by U-28 about 30 miles NNE of Rockall.The master and 31 crew members were picked up by the QUEEN MAUD and landed at Methil.

After this loss DDs WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER joined the convoy defences for support.

Trawler FLAVIA (UK 202 grt) was lost in the North Sea, cause unknown
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-48

Departures
Brest: U-65

At Sea 28 August 1940
U-28, U-30, U-32, U-37, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-60, U-65, U-100, U-101, U-124, UA.
16 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.265 departed Southend, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER joined on the 29th. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 30th. MT.153 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.265 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 30th.

Northern Waters
DDs JAVELIN, JAGUAR, ANTELOPE departed Scapa to a position 14 miles 360° from Sule Skerry. From that point, they carried out an ASW towards Sumburgh Head to search for a UBoat sighted at 1200, ten miles 270° from Sumburgh Head, steering course 270°.
There was no contact with the UBoat and the DDs returned to Scapa at dawn on the 29th. Minefield BS.36 was laid by MLs PLOVER and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and DDs INTREPID and ICARUS.

West Coast UK
MLs SOUTHERN PRINCE, MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC escort DDs TARTAR, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, departed Loch Alsh for ML SN.14 in St Georges Channel, screened by CLA CAIRO. They were joined at sea by DD ACTIVE from Scapa. The minefield was laid during the night of 28/29 August. On the 29th, TARTAR, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN with MLs SOUTHERN PRINCE, MENESTHEUS, PORT QUEBEC arrived at Loch Alsh. ACTIVE and ML PORT NAPIER proceeded to the Clyde. On delivering the ML to this port, ACTIVE proceeded to Scapa Flow to join DesFlot 12. DDs SIKH and ZULU arrived at Scapa.

Nth Atlantic
HX.69 departed Halifax escort RCN DD ASSINIBOINE and PV FRENCH at 1550, which were detached on the 28th. SHX.69 departed under escort by RCN DD SAGUENAY and joined the main convoy at sea. PV FRENCH was detached at 2100 and ASSINIBOINE at 2010/29th turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, AMC ALAUNIA. BHX.69 departed Bermuda on the 27th ocean escort AMC ASCANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.69 on 1 September at which time the ASCANIA was detached. On 9 September DDs AMBUSCADE. ARROW, WINCHELSEA, sloop FOWEY, corvettes CAMELLIA, CLARKIA, HEARTSEASE joined the convoy for the run into home waters. DDs AMBUSCADE and ARROW were detached on 11 September. The remaining escorts and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 12 September.

Central Atlantic
CL ENTERPRISE departed Gibraltar for patrol duties from Freetown and escorting British troopship ROYAL SCOTSMAN. RNN CL SUMATRA arrived at Lobito from Freetown. After refuelling, she proceeded later that day for Capetown, arriving on 2 September

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
RM DDs PANTERA and TIGRE operated in the Red Sea without contact during the night of 28/29 August.

Australia/Pac/Far East
CL DAUNTLESS arrived at Penang.

Malta
1030-1044 hrs Air raid warning for five enemy aircraft which approach the Island at 20000 feet to within six miles of the coastline, then turn away eastward. Four Hurricanes are scrambled but do not intercept. The raid does not materialize.

2110-2151 hrs A searchlight co-operation exercise with Hurricane fighters is interrupted by an air raid warning for two enemy aircraft which approach to within ten miles east of the island. They circle for half an hour then turn away to the NE. The Hurricanes do not engage as night fighter techniques not yet up to standard. One Sunderland recon westward of north African coast from Salita Island to 60 miles west of Algiers.

 

[parsifal]

29 August 1940
Losses
A horror night, one of many, as U-100 demonstrated the new tactics of surfacing within the convoy and delivering surfaced attacks from that position. It would take some months for the Allies to develop the skills and acumen needed to counter this audacious method of attack

MV DALBLAIR (UK 4608 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke), Crew: 41 (4 dead and 37 survivors) Cargo: Empty Route: Tyne - Philadelphia Convoy OA-204 (Straggler). Lost in the Western Approaches. At 0023 hrs, U-100 fired torpedoes at the convoy OA-204 148 miles NW of Bloody Foreland, damaged the HARTISMERE and sank the DALBLAIR. The DALBLAIR was hit amidships on starboard side and sank in 10 mins. 4 crew members were lost. 17 crew members were picked up by Corvette CLEMATIS, later transferred to HMS ENGLISHMAN and landed at Londonderry. The master, 18 crew members and one gunner were picked up by the ALIDA GORTHON but tragically then were lost when that ship was also sunk by U-100 three hours later. The overall losses for the DALBLAIR that night were 23 crew.

MV ASTRA II (UK 2393 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke) Crew: 25 (5 dead and 20 survivors) Cargo: Empty Route: Tyne - New Brunswick Convoy OA-204 (Straggler). Lost in the Western Approaches. At 0140 hrs on 29 Aug 1940 the ASTRA II in convoy OA-204 was torpedoed and sunk by U-100 148 miles NW. The master and 19 crew members were picked up by HMS GLEANER, which was to also escort the damaged HARTISMERE back to the UK.

MV ALIDA GORTHON (SD 2373 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke) Crew: 44 (31 dead and 13 survivors) Cargo: Empty Route: London - Methil - Newfoundland Convoy OA-204 (Straggler). Lost in the Western Approaches. At 0336 hrs the unescorted ALIDA GORTHON, a straggler from convoy OA-204, was hit in the engine room by a G7e torpedo from U-100 and sank fast about 250 miles NW of Tory Island. The ship had earlier been missed by a G7a torpedo at 0316 hrs. The ALIDA GORTHON had straggled after she picked up 20 survivors from the DALBAIR, which had been sunk by the same U-boat a few hours earlier (see above). All the survivors of the DALBAIR and 11 crew members of the ALIDA GORTHON were lost.

MV EMPIRE MOOSE (UK 6103 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke) Crew: 36 (0 dead and 36 survivors) Cargo: Empty Route: Hull - Port Sulphur Convoy OA-204 (Straggler). Lost in the Western Approaches. At 04.27 hours on 29 Aug 1940 the Empire Moose (Master Robert Edward Richardson), a straggler from convoy OA-204, was hit by a stern torpedo from U-100 and sank about 130 miles west-northwest of Bloody Foreland. The master and 35 crew members landed at Killybegs, Co. Donegal. At 0427 hrs the EMPIRE MOOSE, a straggler from convoy OA-204, was hit by a stern torpedo from U-100 and sank about 130 miles WNW of Bloody Foreland. The entire crew were rescued and were landed at Killybegs, Co. Donegal.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sub I-67 (IJN 1705 grt ) The KD5 class (also known as the I-165-class) submarine sank in the Pacific Ocean off the Bonin Islands during manouvres with the loss of all 87 crew

UBOATS
Departures
Kiel: U-61

At Sea 29 August 1940
U-28, U-30, U-32, U-37, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-65, U-100, U-101, U-124, UA.
17 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
OA.206 departed Methil escort sloop SANDWICH, corvette GARDENIA and ASW trawlers LADY ELSA, LADY MADELENE, ST KENAN, VIZALMA until 3 September. The convoy was joined on the 30th by ORP DDs BLYSKAWICA and BURZA which stayed with the convoy until 3 September. OB.205 departed Liverpool to link up with OB 206. FN.266 departed Southend, escort DDs VEGA and WOLSEY. Patrol sloop MALLARD joined on the 30th. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 31st. MT.154 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.266 departed the Tyne, escort DD VERDUN and sloop STORK. Patrol sloop MALLARD joined on the 30th. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 31st.

British steamer BALTISTAN (6803grt) was damaged by the LW.

Northern Waters
At 2051, a patrol trawler dropped DCs on a UBoat contact in Hoxa Sound. Later a UBoat was suspected at Hoxa Boom. DD patrols were stationed at Nevi Skerry entrance, Hoxa Sound, between Little Risa and Fara, between Cava and the Barrel of Butter. DDs KASHMIR and KIPLING escorted CLs MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM to sea until they were clear of the Pentland Skerries. Precautions were relaxed at 0742 on the 30th. DD MATABELE arrived at Scapa after repairs.

Channel
DDs CAMPBELL, HAMBLEDON, VESPER, GARTH departed Aldeburgh Light Float to sweep off the French coast.

Central Atlantic
USN CAs QUINCY and WICHITA arrived at Buenas Aires.

Sth Atlantic
CL DRAGON departed Capetown escorting troopship FRANCONIA for Durban. The troopship then joined LLANGIBBY CASTLE and proceeded, escorted by RAN AMC KANIMBLA to join WS.2 A. DRAGON returned to Simonstown.

Malta
0837-0928 hrs Air raid alert for 12 RA bombers closely followed by 12 CR42s approach from the nth in three formations at high altitude and fly sth over the Island. The bombers turn SSE and circle away in a large sweep. The fighters linger. Four Hurricanes are scrambled and ascend to 23000 feet before attacking them. They are immediately counter-attacked by CR42s from above. Meanwhile the bombers fly in and drop some 30 HE and incendiary bombs on the Hamrun, Marsa and Luqa areas, including several on the Marsa to Zurrieq road. 5 land on the Race Club, 7 on Marsa Club, 8 on the golf course, 5 on the Poor House, 8 on Addolorata, 3 on Luqa village and 14 on Luqa aerodrome. Six civilians are slightly injured and properties damaged. One building in the Marsa Club area is destroyed by a direct hit. A Bren carrier and two other soft skinned vehicles are slightly damaged. Four unexploded bombs are reported and dug out, including two on Luqa aerodrome which are exploded later in the day.

0845 hrs Six Wellington bombers land at Malta.

Fast Transport CORNWALL, used in the Convoy relief operation HATS

 

[parsifal]

[unused]

 

[Njaco]

August 28 Wednesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post711351.html#post711351

Werner Mölders' wingman Oberleutnant Kircheis was shot down and was captured. Oberleutnant Georg Claus took over as his new wingman.

GERMANY: The second night attack of the war by the British against Berlin succeeds in causing the first causalities in the German capital. Ten civilians are killed and twenty-nine are injured in the city that Reichsmarschall Göring assured would never be bombed by enemy aircraft.

Adolf Hitler ordered troops to prepare for an occupation of Romania should war break out in that country.

WESTERN FRONT: Radio broadcast in Vichy France announced that laws protecting Jews in France had been removed.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-101 torpedoed Finnish ship "Elle" 200 miles northwest of Ireland at 0425 hours, killing 2. After the 27 survivors were rescued by sloop HMS "Leith" and delivered to Greenock, Scotland, HMS "Leith" returned on 30 Aug to scuttle the ship with gunfire. German submarine U-28 sank British ship "Kyno" 200 miles northwest of Ireland at 2100 hours; 4 were killed and 33 were rescued by British ship "Queen Maud".

NORTH AMERICA: US Army transport "American Legion", with destroyers USS "Biddle" and USS "Blakeley" in escort, arrived from Petsamo, Finland to New York City, United States with Norwegian Crown Princess Martha. Also aboard was a 40-millimeter Bofors gun, smuggled in for the US Navy.

In Canada, Colonel Burns again proposes a parachute force. General Harry Crerar rejects it as being unimportant at the present.

NORTHERN EUROPE: In Finland Simo Häyhä was promoted from the rank of corporal directly to the rank of second lieutenant by Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim.

NORTH AFRICA: Brazzaville, Congo - Commandant De Lange leads his battalion in a march on the Government Palace. General Husson yields power without resistance but in protest. General de Larminat arrives by boat from Leopoldville, Belgian Congo to take power in the name of Free France.

Bangui, Ubangi - Governor de Saint Mart receives telegram reporting events in Brazzaville and declares the colony's adhesion to Free France. The local garrison threatens a coup d'etat but de Larminat arrives by airplane and to defuses the situation with an offer to return Pro-Vichy officers to Dakar.

,

 

[Njaco]

August 29 Thursday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post711770.html#post711770

UNITED KINGDOM: The United Kingdom rejected Germany's proposal to use Red Cross ships to recover downed German airmen in the English Channel.

The British Tizard Mission shared radar technology with the United States.

GERMANY: Ribbentrop and Count Ciano met Romanian and Hungarian Ministers in Vienna, Austria.

Berlin formally apologized to Ireland for bombing Wexford.

NORTH AFRICA: The French colonies of Equatorial Africa and the Cameroons declared support for Charles de Gaulle. Governor Georges Pierre Masson of Gabon, however, retracted the support after pressure from the French naval commander at Gabon, who sided with the Vichy government.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-100 hit five ships in Allied convoy OA-204 150 miles northwest of Ireland. British ship "Hartismere" was damaged at 0023 hours. British ship "Dalblair" was sunk also at 0023 hours (4 killed, 37 survived). British ship "Astra II" was sunk at 0140 hours (5 killed, 20 survived). Swedish ship "Alida Gorton" was sunk at 0336 hours (11 killed, 13 survived; 20 survivors of "Dalblair" were also killed); and British ship "Empire Moose" was sunk at 0427 hours (all 36 survived).

NORTH AMERICA: Rear Admiral John Downes relieved Rear Admiral William C. Watts as the Commandant of the US Navy Ninth Naval District and as the commanding officer of the US Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, United States.

The first mass jump by American paratroopers was carried out at Fort Benning, Georgia, United States in front of a high ranking audience with complete success.

EASTERN EUROPE: Red Army divisional commanding officer Grigoriy Fyodorovich was executed for deserting his unit in combat during the Winter War.

.

 

[parsifal]

30 August 1940 Part I
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Experimental MTB Type (Estimated commission date)

Production of IJN MTBs suffered from a lack of suitable engines. T-14 MTB of the T-51 class pictured

Allied
AMC HMNZS MONOWAI - Dance Class ASW Trawlers FOXTROT, and PIROUETTE

HMT FOXTROT Pictured

Losses
MV MILL HILL (UK 4218 grt) Sunk by U-32 (Hans Jenisch) Crew: 34 (34 dead - no survivors) Cargo: Pig Iron and Steel Route: Boston - Halifax (16 Aug) - Middlesbrough Convoy HX 66A. Sunk In waters Nth Of Scotland. Between 0220 and 0248 hrs, U-32 attacked the convoy HX-66A 58 miles WNW of Cape Wrath and sank the MILL HILLl, CHELSEA and NORNA in rapid succession and missed a fourth ship. MILL HILL was the first ship hit at 0220 hrs torpedoed and sank almost immediately on being hit. All crew were lost

MV CHELSEA (UK 4804 grt) Sunk by U-32 (Hans Jenisch) Crew: 35 (24 dead and 11 survivors) Cargo: Maize Route: Halifax - Methil Convoy HX 66A. Sunk In water North Of Scotland. Between 0220 and 0248 hrs, U-32 attacked the convoy HX-66A 58 miles WNW of Cape Wrath and sank the MILL HILLl, CHELSEA and NORNA in rapid succession missed a fourth ship. CHELSEA was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 24 of her 35 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMT LORD CECIL

MV NORNA (Nor 3971 grt) Sunk by U-32 (Hans Jenisch) Crew: 28 (17 dead and 11 survivors) Cargo: Scrap Iron Route: Wilmington - Bermuda - Grangemouth. Convoy HX 66A. Sunk In waters Nth Of Scotland. Between 0220 and 0248 hrs, U-32 attacked the convoy HX-66A 58 miles WNW of Cape Wrath and sank the MILL HILLl, CHELSEA and NORNA in rapid succession and missed a fourth ship. NORNA was hit on the port side amidships by one torpedo, just forward of the engine room and sank within a minute. The crew tried to launch the starboard lifeboat, but a boiler explosion caused the vessel to sink so quickly the lifeboat was crushed as the ship heeled over and sank, pulling down the men on deck. 11 survivors in the water were picked up from debris and a raft by Flower Class Corvett HIBISCUS and landed in Scotland on 31 August.

MV SAN GABRIEL (Gk 4943 grt) Damaged by U-59 (Joachim Matz) resulting in a total write off Crew: 24 (2 dead and 22 survivors) Cargo Empty Route: Liverpool - St. Vincent - Buenos Aires Convoy OB 2015 Lost in the Western Approaches . At 2134 hrs , U-59 fired one torpedo at a ship in the second line of convoy OB-205 and missed, but the torpedo struck the SAN GABRIEL proceeding behind the target. The survivors abandoned ship and were picked up by DD HMS WARWICK . The ship was later taken in tow by the tug HMS THAMES, arrived at the River Clyde on 3 September and was beached near Cardross, where she was declared a total loss.

Steamer MARSTENEN (Nor 1832 grt) in WN.11, was sunk by the LW, off Duncansby Head. The entire crew was rescued by DD CATTISTOCK. The crew was later transferred to examination vessel MINNA.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Kiel: U-30 , UA
Lorient: U-37

At Sea 30 August 1940
U-28, U-32, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-65, U-100, U-101, U-124.
14 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLs BIRMINGHAM and MANCHESTER departed Scapa for Rosyth for anti-invasion duties. No DDs were assigned as escort, as all destroyers were needed for either convoy escort or anti-invasion duties, as the Admitalty judged this day the likely day of invasion. East coast convoys were instructed to put into the nearest port. The report of enemy vessels approaching the coast later proved to be an enemy convoy of seven or eight vessels. The cruisers are recorded as finally arriving at Immingham on 5 September.

Such were the demands of the British economy that the convoys could only be delayed a short time. FN.267 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 1 September. MT.155 departed Methil also on that day arriving at the Tyne later that day.
FS.267 departed the Tyne, escort DD WOLFHOUND and sloop BLACK SWAN. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 September.

ORP DDs BLYSKAWICA and BURZA departed Scapa at 0900 to provide additional escort for convoy OA.206 from Pentland Firth to what were now referred to as the the NW Approaches. The Polish DDs then proceeded to Portsmouth to join DesFlot 1. DDs WITCH was out of service with engine defects whilst WALLACE was out of service with damage to her port propeller. British hopper barge SH 3 was damaged by the LW at Victoria Dock at Hull.

Northern Waters
DDs ZULU, SIKH, PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow to carry out ASW sweeps in a direction 50° to intercept a UBoat reported by CC a/c at 0720. DDs VERSATILE and VIMY departed Scapa at 0800 escorting Fleet Tenders A, B, C to Rosyth.

West Coast UK
OB.206 departed Liverpool escort DD VANOC and corvette ERICA, which remained with the convoy until 4 September, ASW trawlers BERKSHIRE and ST APOLLO. The convoy was joined on 2 September by DDs ACTIVE, ARROW, SHIKARI,and SKATE which stayed with the convoy until 4 September.

Western Approaches
Tkr ANADARA At 2153 hrs, the ANADARA in convoy OB-205 was torpedoed and damaged by U-59 . The ship was en route from Liverpool to Corpus Christi in ballast. There were no casualties. The tanker was towed to the Clyde by Rescue Tug HM SCHELDE to Falmouth where she was repaired and returned to service in May 1941.

The frenetic pace of attacks in thge Western Approachesd forced the Admiralty to send renfocements, despite the imminent threat of invasion. DDs WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER were ordered to leave convoy SL.43 A and join convoy SL.66 A. WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER arrived at Scapa Flow early on the the 31st after the escort duty. DDs KASHMIR and KIPLING departed Scapa to join convoy SL.43A. KASHMIR and KIPLING returning from convoy SL.43 A duty were ordered to Rattray Head to search for an open boat reported by air in that area. The destroyers located five Norwegian refugees in the boat and took them to Kirkwall, before moving on to Scapa on the 31st.

 

[parsifal]

30 August 1940 Part II
OPERATIONS (CONTD)

Nth Atlantic
Light cruiser EMERALD departed Bermuda.

Central Atlantic
Due to Free French successes in the Congo, the Cameroons, Chad, Vichy submarine SIDI FERRUCH, which had been at Duala from 10 to 25 August, arrived at Libreville on the 30th to boost failing support for the Vichy government.

Med- Biscay
Operation HATS (30 August-5 September 1940) was one of a series of complex ops carried out by the RN. With the forces in the Med now effectively split Operation HATS had several objectives. First, Adm Andrew Cunningham's Med Flt was to be reinforced by passing forces through the central basin, including the CV ILLUSTRIOUS (now carrying the modern Fulmar fighter, at that time the best carrier borne fighter in the world) the modernised BB VALIANT and the CLAs COVENTRY and CALCUTTA. Second, supplies were to be run to Malta. Third, both Force H and the Med Flt were to attack a variety of Italian targets in passing, amongst them Cagliari and Rhodes. Churchill had also hoped to take this chance to move a number of infantry tanks to Egypt, but this idea was strongly opposed by all relevant naval authorities and gained no support from General Wavell in Egypt, and as a result was abandoned (later in the year merchant ships were safely passed through the Med as part of Operation Collar, suggesting that the Admiralty had dramatically overestimated the danger from Italian air power, just as they had dramatically underestimated it before the war). The operation began on 30 August, when Somerville left Gibraltar and Cunningham left Alexandria

Somerville left Gibraltar at the head of the largest RN force to enter the Med since the start of the war. Fce H provided CV ARK ROYAL, BC RENOWN, CL SHEFFIELD, and 7 DDs, supported by the four modern ships heading for Alexandria and by another 10 DDs from Gibraltar. The first contact with the enemy came on 31 August, when Skuas from the ARK ROYAL destroyed two Italian Z 501 floatplanes. At 2150 on 31 August the DDs VELOX and WISHART were sent off to the NE transmitting in the clear, in an attempt to convince the RM that Somerville was heading for Genoa (Operation Squawk). The main fleet then turned to the SE, heading towards Cagliari. At 0325, in darkness, on 1 September 9 Swordfish flew off the ARK ROYAL 115 miles from Cagliari. One a/c was tasked with dropping flares, the remaining 8 were to attack the RA HQ and airfield. A/C were destroyed on the ground (but number unknown) The attack went in at 0600 and the Swordfish had returned to the carrier by 0800. Somerville then made a second change of direction, this time to the SW in an attempt to convince the Italians he was heading back to Gibraltar. This deception measure apparently had no effect, as the Italians were under no orders to sortie.

At 1030 Somerville turned back onto his eastward course, heading for the Sicilian Narrows. At 2200 on 1 September, half way between the SE tip of Sardinia and the western tip of Sicily the force split in two. Force H turned to the nth, in preparation for a second attack on Cagliari (made early on 2 September, this attack was foiled by haze and low cloud), while Cunningham's reinforcements (now Force F), continued on to the SE at best speed, heading for Malta and the Med Flt. Somerville's force returned safely to Gibraltar early on 3 September.

Cunningham left Alexandria with BBs WARSPITE and MALAYA, CVL EAGLE (Ftr CAG still Sea Gladiators), the RAN CL SYDNEY and RN ORION and 9 DDs. This fleet was sighted at 1430 by an Italian Cant Z 510, which was soon shot down, but a second a/c was later heard overhead and escaped intact.

On 31 August, when off the sthn coast of Greece, Cunningham was joined by Adm Tovey and CruSqn 3 CA (KENT and CLs GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOLl). On the same day, a convoy of 3 AKs with a DD escort, heading for Malta, was attacked by the RA and one of the AKs became the only British ship to suffer serious damage during the operations (although the ship successfully reached Malta). At roughly the same time one of the EAGLES's Search a/c discovered an RM battle flt, consisting of 2 BBs and 7 cruisers, 180 miles from Cunningham's current position. Cunningham's natural instinct was to head for the Italian fleet in the hope of provoking a battle, but on the next day the Italian ships were sighted heading for Taranto and home.

At 08.00 on 2 September Cunningham's fleet sighted the VALIANT, and the two halves of the opn finally came together. VALIANT, COVENTRY and CALCUTTA were all carrying supplies for Malta, and so while the main Med flt waited 35 miles sth of Malta that night, these three ships sailed into the Grand Harbour and discharged their cargo, as did the AKs. Amongst the supplies they were carrying were 8x3.7in AA guns, predictors and height finders to support the existing park AA guns, replacement gun barrels, 10,000 rounds of Bofors ammunition and 100 Bren guns. Two air raids hit Malta while the ships were unloading, but by 1900 the three warships were able to leave Malta.

With his new carrier available and fighters to protect his fleet, Cunningham decided to attack the Italian airfields on Rhodes on his way home. The fleet was able to sail Nth of Crete, collecting a convoy on the way. Early on 4 September 13 Swordfish from the EAGLE and ILLUSTRIOUS, acting as dive bombers, attacked the Italian airfields at Maritiza and Callato, while HMAS SYDNEY bombarded Scarpanto. 9 enemy a/c were claimed destroyed in these attacks, including 3 in the air, however Italian records indicate that three a/c in the air were lost and on the ground considerable damage was done by the 30 HE and 20 incendiary bombs dropped. 2 SM.79s of 39o Stormo were destroyed and 3 were damaged, together with 2 Cant Z.1007bis, an SM 81 and an SM 82 all destroyed. 4 men were badly wounded and 20 injured, while a quantity of fuel, oil and bombs were destroyed. The enemy destroyed 4 Swordfish, which is corroborated by RN records. One loss was credited to biplane ace Giovanni D'Ajello flying a CR 42. 16 Italian fighters were scrambled (a mix of CR32s CR 42s and Meridonali a/c), and their records show a CR 32, and 2 CR42s were lost in air combat. There were no losses to the attacking fighters. The operation finally ended on 5 September when the Med Flt reached Alexandria. Opn HATS was one of a number of occasions during 1940 when the presence of RN Carriers deterred the otherwise powerful RM from sallying forth.

RN Cruisers rendevous with the Med Fleet during Opn HATS


Red Sea/Indian Ocean
RM DDs BATTISTI and MANIN operated in the Red Sea during the night of 30/31 August without success.

Australia/Pac/Far East
CL DURBAN arrived at Hong Kong

 

[Njaco]

August 30 Friday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post712133.html#post712133

UNITED KINGDOM: No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF was deemed operational in Britain.

WESTERN FRONT: The personnel of Hptm. Ensslen's II./JG 52 move their Bf 109s from Jever to Husum.

British RAF Bomber Command aircraft attacked oil refineries near Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

EASTERN EUROPE: A German sponsored conference concludes in Vienna. Hungary and Bulgaria have been recently trying to pick a quarrel with Romania so that, following the example of the USSR, they can seize portions of Romanian territory. The Germans do not wish their grain and oil supplies to be threatened by a Balkan war and, therefore, intervene to adjudicate the dispute. In exchange for a German guarantee of security, Romania ceded the region of Dobrudja to Bulgaria and ceded Transylvania to Hungary. This move was forced on Romania by Hitler in an effort to prevent a possible war between Romania and Hungary.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-32 sank three ships of Allied convoy HX-66A four miles off Isle of Lewis, Scotland, United Kingdom between 0200 and 0248 hours. British ship "Mill Hill" was sunk with the entire crew of 34 lost. British ship "Chelsea" was sunk with 24 lost and 11 rescued by armed trawler HMS "Lord Cecil", and Norwegian ship "Norne" was sunk with 17 lost and 11 survivors rescued by corvette HMS "Hibiscus". Several hours later, German submarine U-59 attacked two ships of Allied convoy OB-205 70 miles northwest of Ireland between 0934 and 0953 hours. British tanker "Anadara" was damaged but remained float and without any casualties, and would be towed to the Clyde in Scotland by tug HMS "Schelde". Greek ship "San Gabriel" also took on damage without sinking, but suffered 2 kills (she would later be declared a loss and her remaining 22 survivors would be taken off by destroyer HMS "Warwick"). Finally, also on this date, German submarine U-25 sank with all hands near Terschelling, the Netherlands after one of her own mines exploded.

NORTH AMERICA: Rear Admiral Charles S. Freeman relieved Rear Admiral Edward B. Fenner as the Commandant of the US Navy Thirteenth Naval District and as the Commandant of the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington, United States.

MEDITERRANEAN: The brand-new armored aircraft carrier, HMS "Illustrious", and a powerful escort left Gibraltar. Although her air group was small (only 15 fighters and 18 bomber aircraft), "Illustrious" was one of the first warships to be fitted with air-warning radars which gave her a big advantage in fleet defence, as she could detect and track hostile aircraft and give her aircraft time to gain altitude. With both "Illustrious" and "Eagle" under his command, Admiral Cunningham could now take the offensive.

ASIA: The Japanese-sponsored puppet state Manchukuo established a flight school in Fengtien Province to train military and civilian pilots.

Vichy signs the Matsuoka-Henry Pact and yields to Japanese demands for an end to shipments of war material to the Chinese nationalists via the Hanoi - Kunming railway, grants Japanese forces transit rights and access to military facilities in Indochina and the right to station troops in Tokinchina. Japan agrees to recognize continued French sovereignty over Indochina. Vichy reciprocates with formal recognition of Japan's "pre-eminent" role in the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. French Ambassador to Tokyo Arsène Henry announced to the Japanese that the French government would allow 6,000 Japanese troops to station in Indochina and would allow the military use of ports, airfields, and railroads in the region. However, the French government attempted to delay on the implementation of the plan as long as they could. The Japanese military begins its occupation of ports, airfields and railroads in northern Indochina as agreed to by Vichy France.

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command aircraft attacked Berlin, Germany.

Hitler announces that he will make a decision on Operation Sealion (the invasion of England) about September 10th. This will mean that the landings will be on September 21st.

.

 

[parsifal]

31 August 1940 (PartI)
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIc U-95

U-96 profile pictured

IJN Kagero Class DDs HAYASHIO NATSUSHIO

Rare colour photo of Kagero Class DD. This is the ISOKAZE

Cagni Class Sub RM AMMIRAGLIO MILLO

(Commissioned 1 May 1941)

Neutral
Soviet M (Malyutka) class Sub M-30

Sister ship M-60
Allied
Chacal Class FFL DD LEOPARD (Former Vichy),

La Melpoméne class HNMS TB BOUCLIER

BOUCLIER was seized by the British at Portsmouth on 3 July 1940; She was first transferred to RNN Navy but her service was brief due to machinery maintenence issues. She was then transferred o the FFL in January 1941, where she was put inot limited service. At the war's end she was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1950.

Losses
MV HAR ZION (UK 2508 grt) Sunk by U-38 (Heinrich Liebe) Crew: 37 (36 dead and 1 survivor) Cargo: Alcoholic Spirits and Fertilizer Route: Liverpool - Savannah Convoy OB 205 (Straggler) Sunk in the Western Approaches . At 0615 hrs the HAR ZION, a straggler from convoy OB-205, was hit amidships by one of two G7e torpedoes from U-38 and sank by the stern NW of Bloody Foreland. The sole survivor was seaman Osman Adem, who was picked up by ORP BLYSKAWICA the next day.

Liner VILLE DE HASELT (Be 7461 grt) Sunk by U-46 (Engelbert Endrass) Crew: 53 (0 dead and 53 survivors) Cargo: 800 tons of general cargo Route: Liverpool – Boston Unescorted. VILLE DE HASELT was torpedoed and sunk in the Western Approaches 100 nautical miles NW of Barra Head, Scotland. All 53 crew were rescued by the Icelandic trawlers EGIL SKALLGRIMSON and HILMIR and Belgian Trawler TRANSPORT.

MV BIBURY (UK 4616 grt) Sunk by U-59 (Joachim Matz) Crew:39 (39 dead - no survivors) Cargo: Coal Route: Cardiff - Milford Haven - Buenos Aires Convoy OB 205 (dispersed). Sunk in the Western Approaches At 0206 hrs, U-59 fired a spread of two torpedoes at a ship in a group of 3 steamers which were dispersed from convoy OB-205 on 30 August. The ship was hit by both torpedoes and sank by the bow in 5 minutes. U-59s log does not identify the ship but simply records a freighter being sunk. This was almost certainly the BIBURY. For a long time it was thought that she had been sunk by Raider WIDDER, but the body of a crew member was washed ashore in Ireland on 21 September.

MV MARNE (NL 175 grt) was lost on a mine five cables 106° from North Tyne Pier Light. 3 crew were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Armed yacht EMELLE (RN 43 grt) was lost, cause and location not known.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
At Sea 31 August 1940
U-28, U-32, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-65, U-100, U-101, U-124.
14 boats at sea

U.38 made an unsuccessful attack on a steamer in convoy OB.205 NW of Ireland.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Beginning on the 31st and through 2 September, DKM MLss TANNENBERG, COBRA, ROLAND laid minefield "SW.3" escort DDs STEINBRINCK, GALSTER, JACOBI of DesFlot 5, T.5, T.6, T.7, T.8 of the TB Flot 2 and FALKE, ILTIS, JAGUAR, GREIF TB Flot 5.

North Sea
DesFlot 20 consisting of DDs ESK, EXPRESS, IVANHOE, ICARUS, INTREPID departed the Humber escorted by DDs KELVIN, JUPITER, VORTIGERN to lay minefield CBX.5 off Vlieland. MSW SALAMANDER swept the Humber entrance before their departure. At 2250, an a/c reported a large number of enemy vessels to the nth of Terschelling steering west. The DDs were ordered to jettison their mines and attack the German vessels.

40 miles NW DesFlot 20 stumbled into a German minefield northwest of Texel, with disastrous results. DD EXPRESS struck a mine at 2307 badly damaging the ship and mortally wounding Captain J. G. Bickford DSC (who was also the flotilla commander), as well as and 58 other crew members. DDs ESK and IVANHOE going to her aid also struck mines, at 2325 and 0051 on 1 September, respectively.

"E" Class DD ESK (RN 1350 grt) was sunk outright by the mine explosion. Only two crew from ESK were rescued by British ships. with 136 crew members lost.

DD IVANHOE was badly damaged, but was able to proceed under her own power for a time. 8 ratings were lost in DD INTREPID.
DDs JUPITER, KELVIN, VORTIGERN were at sea to support DesFlot 20. At 0700 on 1 September, an a/c report of two damaged DDs was received by the covering Gp. JUPITER and KELVIN proceeded to assist, while VORTIGERN was left to mark the gap in the minefield for their return. DDs GARTH and HAMBLEDON, operating near Shipwash Light Vessel, were also dispatched. MSWs LEDA and SALTASH, tugs ST CYRUS, IRISHMAN, NORMAN, WHEELDON, MTB.29, MTB.30, MTB.31 were dispatched to assist the stricken flotilla.

LW a/c were involved in the rescue of British survivors from the DDs. They picked up 7 ratings from EXPRESS and 25 from the ESK. 24 crew from the IVANHOE were picked up by the LW. All but 37 of IVANHOE's crew were transferred to MTB.14, MTB.16, MTB.17 which had arrived at 0800. At 1415, the remaining crew were transferred to MTB.15 and IVANHOE was abandoned as she was rapidly sinking. However, later when IVANHOE was reported as still afloat by a aircraft, DD KELVIN and MTB.30 were ordered to search for her. DD GARTH was also dispatched to assist. DD JUPITER also rescued the crew of a Swordfish of 812 Sqn which ditched returning from a raid on Vlaardingen oil tanks. At 1619 on 1 September, DD GARTH sighted IVANHOE under bombing attack from a single German bomber. Destroyer KELVIN arrived and after examining IVANHOE, KELVIN scuttled GHI Class IVANHOE (RN 1335 grt) at 1700 with a single torpedo sinking in about a minute.

Meanwhile the fight to save DD EXPRESS continued. She was taken in tow by KELVIN at 0941 , but when the towing line fouled KELVIN's propeller JUPITER took over the tow. The tow was later given over to tug ST CYRUS which was later joined by tugs IRISHMAN , NORMAN and WHEELDON. DD JUPITER turned over to DD VORTIGERN the command of the towing operation and with DD KELVIN formed a support group. DD HAMBLEDON provided ASW protection. DD EXPRESS was safely towed back to Hull and eventually completed repairs on 30 September 1941.

OA.207 departed Methil escort DD ST LAURENT which stayed with the convoy until 6 September and corvette GODETIA. FN.268 departed Southend, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. Patrol sloop GUILLEMOT joined on 1 September. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2 September. MT.156 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.268 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops EGRET and WESTON. These escorts were detached on 1 September and DDs CATTISTOCK and WINCHESTER joined. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 September.

In a raid over Rotterdam, a Swordfish of 812 Sqn from PEREGRINE was shot down. Acting Lt G. Villiers was killed and Midshipman (A) M V Driver taken prisoner. A second Swordfish crashed in the sea returning and the crew rescued by DD JUPITER. Sub H.50 on patrol in the Nth Sea was attacked by DKM S-boats. In DC attacks, H.50 had one engine put out of action, but was able to escape.

S/Lt J G. Vaughan and Air Mechanic E C Woodley were killed when their Roc of 759 Sqn stalled on a climbing turn and crashed at Crawley, near Worthy Down.

Northern Waters
At 2233 the Home Flt was ordered to raise steam with an invasion imminent signal also sent. DDs ZULU, SIKH, PUNJABI were ordered to return to Scapa where they arrived at 0345 on 1 September and joined the Home Flts screen.

The Home Flt reverted to 1.5 hr's notice at 0102 and at 0726 returned to 4 hrs' notice. DDs TARTAR, BEDOUIN, ASHANTI departed Loch Alsh at 0600 to carry out an ASW which was soon cancelled due to weather conditions. TARTAR returned to Scapa, whilst BEDOUIN and ASHANTI met convoy HX.67 A to escort the convoy northward to Buchanness.

West Coast UK
BB PRINCE OF WALES, building at Birkenhead, was damaged by the near miss of a heavy German bomb. Br tkr BRITISH ENERGY was damaged by the LW strike on Birkenhead. Br tkr ATHELVISCOUNT was damaged by the LW at the Cammell Laird yard in the River Mersey.

Western Approaches
Dutch Liner VOLENDAM carrying child evacuees to Canada was torpedoed by U-60. She was towed back to the UK and repaired, returning to service as an AK in July 1941. She survived the war

 

[Njaco]

August 31 Saturday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post712527.html#post712527

UNITED KINGDOM: By the end of Aug 1940, a little over 51,000 British citizens had registered as conscientious objectors.

Anglo-Free French taskforce under Admiral Cunningham and General DeGaulle departs for Dakar.

GERMANY: RAF bombers attacked targets in Berlin, Cologne, Hanover, and Emden, Germany. Battleship "Bismarck" fired 46 3.7cm shells against raiding British aircraft without any hits.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Five British destroyers, ordered to intercept German ships, sailed into a new German airfield. HMS "Express" hit a mine and received serious damage; 56 were killed. HMS "Esk "moved closer to HMS "Express" to assist, but also ran into a mine, caused her sinking; 135 were killed and 25 survivors were captured on the beach. HMS "Ivanhoe", also trying to help HMS "Express", hit a mine and was damaged, killing 8 and wounding 3; she would be scuttled on the next day, and 23 of her survivors would be taken prisoner.

Allied convoy OB-205 was attacked by German submarines 100 miles north of Ireland. At 0000 hours, German submarine U-60 hit Dutch passenger ship "Volendam", carrying 273 crew and 606 British passengers (many were children) for Canada, killing 1 though the death occurred during the evacuation rather than during the attack. At 0206 hours, German submarine U-59 sank British ship "Bibury", killing the entire crew of 38 and 1 gunner. At 0615 hours, German submarine U-38 sank British ship "Har Zion"; 33 were killed and 1 survived (rescued by Polish destroyer "Blyskawica'' on the next day). To the west, 100 miles northwest of Ireland, German submarine U-46 sank Belgian passenger ship ''Ville de Hasselt''; the entire crew of 53 survived on 4 lifeboats

NORTH AFRICA: 8,000 British and French troops departed from Britain for Freetown, Sierra Leone, escorted by British cruisers HMS 'Devonshire" and HMS "Fiji" and five destroyers. Their destination would ultimately be Dakar in French West Africa, which was still under Vichy control.

NORTH AMERICA: US President Roosevelt called 60,000 men of the National Guard into federal service with the US Army.

ASIA: Chen Cheng was relieved from his position as the head of the political bureau of the Nationalist military.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Ca.331 OA prototype aircraft took its first flight at Ponte San Pietro, Italy with test pilot Ettore Wengi at the helm.

While escorting the Operation Hats convoy toward Malta, ''Garland'' was lightly damaged by Italian aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea.

.

 

[parsifal]

31 August 1940 (PartII)
OPERATIONS )Cont'd)
Nth Atlantic
US DesDivs 65 and 67 (8 ships), inprepration for transfer to the RN , departed Hampton Roads this date, making a call to Norfolk, Virginia. After loading torpedoes at Newport and Philadelphia, these ships arrived at Boston 3 September en route to Halifax.

Central Atlantic
The MENACE operation, Anglo French attack on Dakar, ships began to depart England for the forward base at Freetown. CA DEVONSHIRE, DD HARVESTER, French sloops COMMANDANT DOMINE and COMMANDANT DUBOC departed the Clyde. This gp rendezvoused with convoy "MP" nth of Ireland. This convoy was composed of CL FIJI, DDs AMBUSCADE, ANTELOPE, WOLVERINE, VOLUNTEER and AKs ETTRICK , KENYA and SOBIESKI which departed Scapa on the 31st. Convoy "MP" had been brought from Liverpool departing at 1600 on the 24th escort DDs DUNCAN and CATTISTOCK. The escort was joined by DDs WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER at sea. The convoy arrived at Scapa on the 26th. AKs WESTERNLAND, PENNLAND, KARANJA and store ship BELGRAVIAN with DDs MACKAY and VANOC and corvette ERICA departed Liverpool on the 31st.On 26 August, convoy OB.204, escorted by DDs ARROW, ACHATES, VISCOUNT, sloop DEPTFORD, ASW trawlers NORTHERN GEM and LADY ELSA, freighters ANADYR , CASAMANCE , FORT LAMY , NEVADA , carrying vehicles for the operation, RFA OCEAN COAST , escorted by FFLO sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA and patrol vessel PRESIDENT HONDUCE, departed Liverpool. On 30 August, the MENACE units were detached as convoy "MS".

Med- Biscay
Sub PARTHIAN off Taranto reported a sighting of the the Italian Fleet as it departed port at 0600. RM BBs LITTORIO, VENETO, CESARE, CAVOUR, DUILO departed Taranto with CAs POLA, ZARA, FIUME, GORIZIA of CruDiv 1, CLs ABRUZZI and GARIBALDI of CruDiv 8 and 27 DDs. BB CESARE suffered condenser problems and returned to Taranto, escorted by TBs PLEIADI and PARTENOPE, arriving on 1 September. CAs TRENTO, BOLZANO, TRIESTE of CruDiv 3 3rd and 8 DDs departed Messina to join the main body. CLs EUGENIO, AOSTA, ATTENDOLO, MONTECUCCOLI and 4 DDs departed Brindisi. Admiral Cunningham's recon a/c sighted the Italian Fleet and reported 2BBs, 7 cruisers, 8 DD on the 31st. Subs RAINBOW and PARTHIAN also reported units of the Italian Fleet at sea. Sub PARTHIAN attacked a group of four cruisers, which included ABRUZZI and GARIBALDI, 5 DDs and reported two hits. None were achieved

After a very heavy storm on the 31 August/1 September in which very many destroyers suffered storm damage, the Italian Fleet returned to port before ever nearing the British Med Flt.

Malta
Six Wellington bombers arrive at Luqa from the UK.

 

[parsifal]

Summary Of Losses August 1940
Allied
Allied Warships
S Class Sub SPEARFISH (RN 670 grt), Sub OSWALD (RN 1475 grt), ASW trawler CAPE FINISTERRE (RN 590 grt), MSW trawler DRUMMER (RN 297 grt), MSW trawler MARSONA (RN 276 grt), MSW trawler OSWALDIAN (RN 260 grt), MSW trawler RIVER CLYDE (RN 276 grt), AMC TRANSYLVANIA (RN 16893 grt), MSW trawler PYROPE (RN 295 grt), MSW trawler TAMARISK (RN 545 grt), MSW trawler ELIZABETH ANGELA (RN 253 grt), Tug QUEEN (RN 150 grt (est), MSW trawler RESPARKO (RN 248 grt), Netlayer KYLEMORE (RN 319 grt), GHI Class DD HOSTILE (RN 1370 grt), Sloop PENZANCE (RN 1025 grt), AMC DUNVEGAN CASTLE (RN 15007 grt), Armed Yacht WHITE FOX II (RN 23 grt), Armed yacht EMELLE (RN 43 grt), DD ESK (RN 1350 grt), GHI Class IVANHOE (RN 1335 grt)

(42700(RN)) (Total 42700 grt Naval Tonnage)

Allied Shipping
Steamer CITY OF BRISBANE (UK 8006 grt), Drifter EMBRACE (UK 94 grt), steamer TALLYRAND (Nor 6732 grt), steamer STATIRA (UK 4852 grt), Steamer WYCHWOOD (UK 2794 grt), MV GOGOVALE (UK 4586 grt), MV KING ALFRED (UK 5272 grt), MV GERALDINE MARY (UK 7244 grt), MV BOMA (UK 5408 grt), MV CAPE ST GEORGE (UK 5112 grt), steamer MOHAMED ALI EL KEBIR (EG 7527 grt), MV UPWEY GRANGE (UK 9130 grt), steamers HOLME FORCE (UK 1216 grt), MV FIFE COAST (UK 367 grt), Steamer OUSE (UK 1004 grt), steamer COQUETDALE (UK 1597 grt), Steamer EMPIRE CRUSADER (UK 1042 grt), Harbour Tug ANDOMEDA (UK 150 grt), Steamer CITY OF DUNDEE (UK 5273 grt), Drifter YOUNG SID (UK 100 grt), MV LLANFAIR (UK 4966 grt), Tkr British FAME (UK 8406 grt), MV BETTY (UK 2339 grt), Tkr SYLVAFIELD (UK 5709 grt), Steamer BRIXTON (UK 1557 grt), MV EMPIRE MERCHANT (UK 4864 grt), MV CLAN McPHEE (UK 6628 grt), Steamer MEATH (UK 1598 grt), Examination Vessel MANX LAD (UK 24 grt), Steamer CITY OF BIRMINGHAM (UK 5309 grt), Trawler VALERIA (UK 189 grt), MV AMPLEFORTH (UK 4576 grt), steamer TURAKINA (UK 9691 grt), Steamer LETTY (UK 339 grt), Hulk KENDAL (UK 178 grt), Hopper barge JAMES No. 70 (UK 182 grt), tramp steamer ANGLO SAXON (UK 5594 grt), MV SEVERN LEIGH (UK 5242 grt), Steamer MAKALLA (UK 6677 grt), MV LLANISHEHN (UK 5053 grt), MV BROOKWOOD (UK 5100 grt), Tkr LA BREA (UK 6665 grt), MV CUMBERLAND (UK 10939 grt), MV SAINT DUNSTAN (UK 5681 grt), steamer KING CITY (UK 4744 grt), MV JAMAICA PIONEER (UK 5471 grt), MV FIRCREST (UK 5394 grt), MV HARPALYCE (UK 5169 grt), MV BLAIRMORE (UK 4141 grt), MV YEWCREST (UK 3774 grt), Tkr ATHELCREST (UK 6825 grt), MV EMPIRE MERLIN (UK 5763 grt), Tkr PECTEN (UK 7468 grt), Steamer GOATHLAND (UK 3821 grt), steamer ILVINGTON COURT (UK 5187 grt), steamer BRITISH COMMANDER (UK 6901 grt), MV KYNO (UK 3946 grt), Trawler FLAVIA (UK 202 grt), MV DALBLAIR (UK 4608 grt), MV ASTRA II (UK 2393 grt), MV EMPIRE MOOSE (UK 6103 grt), MV MILL HILL (UK 4218 grt), MV CHELSEA (UK 4804 grt), MV HAR ZION (UK 2508 grt), MV BIBURY (UK 4616 grt),

Steamer CAPE YORK (Aus 5027 grt),
Steamer THOROLD (Cdn 1689 grt)
Liner REMUERA (NZ 11,445 grt)
Hybrid MV/Liner VILLE DE GAND (Be 7900 grt), Liner VILLE DE HASELT (Be 7461 grt),
Tkr BEAULIEU (Nor 6114 grt), Steamer TRES (Nor 946 grt), MV KERET (Nor 1718 grt), MV EVA (Nor 1599 grt), tkr FILEFJELL (Nor 7616 grt), steamer MORVIKEN (Nor 5008 grt), MV NORNA (Nor 3971 grt), Steamer MARSTENEN (Nor 1832 grt),

Steamer AJAX (NL 942 grt), steamer OOSTPLEIN (NL 5095 grt), steamer ALBULA (NL 329 grt), MV MARNE (NL 175 grt),

260828 (UK), 5027 (Aus), 1689 (Cdn), 11445 (NZ), 6541(NL), 15361 (Be), 28804 (Nor),
329695 grt (Mercantile)
Total Mercantile and Military losses: 372395 grt

Prizes captured
None

Mercantile Tonnage seized: None

Neutral shipping
MV SIGYN (SD 1981 grt), MV ATOS (SD 2161 grt), MV CANTON (SD 5779 grt), MV NILS GORTHON (SD 1787 grt), MV HEDRUN (SD 2325 grt), MV ALIDA GORTHON (SD 2373 grt), Steamer VARIA (SD 929 grt),

MV ROULA (Gk 1041 grt), MV PINDOS (Gk 4360 grt), MV ASPASIA (Gk 4211 grt), LEONIDAS M VALMAS (Gk 2089 grt), MV THEODORAS T (Gk 3409 grt), MV SAN GABRIEL (Gk 4943 grt),

MV RAD (Yu 4201 grt)

Sailing barque KILLORAN (FN 1817 grt), MV ELLE (FN 3868 grt)

Steamer NOTOU (Vichy 2489 grt),

MV KELET (Hu 4295 grt)

MV TUIRA (Pan 4397 grt)

17335 (SD), 20053 (Gk), 4201 (Yug), 5685(FN), 2489 (Vichy), 4295 (Hu), 4397 (Pan),
(58445 Mercantile)

Neutral warships
Greek CL HELLE (RHN 2600 grt)

(2600 Military)
Total Neutral Nercantile + Military: 61055 grt
Total Allied + Neutral: 433450 grt

Prizes taken


Axis
Warships
DKM
Type IA U-25 (DKM 862 grt), Aux SC UJ.175 (DKM 428 grt), R 21 (DKM 115 grt), Type VIIB U-51 (DKM 753 grt)
(2158 grt)
RM
Perla Class sub IRIDE (RM 680 grt), Depot ship MONTE GARGANO (RM 1976 grt)
(2656 grt)
IJN
Sub I-67 (IJN 1705 grt )
(1705grt)

6519 (Total)

Axis Shipping

GER
steamer TORUN (Ex-Nor 3318 grt), Steamer KIRSTEN (Ex-Den 1196 grt), Steamer MONGOLIA (SD 2124 grt...in German service), Trawler ANO (Den 189 grt), Coastal steamer AVIELD (Ex-Nor 127 grt), MV ODDA (Ex-Nor 835 grt), Steamer LISBETH CORDS (Ger 907 grt),

(FI)
Steamer LODOLETTA (FI 2822 grt), MV LEOPARDI (FI 3269 grt), Steamer MOREA (FI 1968 grt)

8686 (Ger), 8059 (FI)
16745 (Mercantile), 23264 (Total Axis losses)

Captured ships
None

 

[parsifal]

1 September 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
S-Boat S-28

Losses
MV EFPLOIA (Gk 3867 grt) Sunk by U-101 (Fritz Frauenheim) Crew:27 (0 dead and 27 survivors) Cargo: Empty Route: Liverpool - Quebec Convoy OB 205 straggler Sunk in the Western Approaches . At 0055 hrs the unescorted EFPLOIA, a straggler from convoy OB-205, was hit aft by a G7e torpedo from U-101 about 130 miles NW of Ireland. The Germans observed that the ship settled by the stern and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The survivors were picked up later that day by DD ANTHONY which scuttled the wreck by gunfire later that day.

While departing Grangemouth at 2130 for Rosyth, sub SUNFISH sank PV MESME ( RN 50 grt (est)) in an accidental collision. The crew of three were all lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MSW trawler ROYALO (RN 248 grt) was sunk on an aerial mine laid by a/c from LW IX Flieger Div in Mount's Bay, 90° from Penzance Pier. 7 crew were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sub TIGRIS, which departed Rothesay on 27 August, sank trawler SANCTE MICHAEL (Vichy 168 grt) in German service off Brest.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-100

At Sea 1 September 1940
U-28, U-32, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-65, U-101, U-124.
13 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLs GALATEA and AURORA had departed the Humber on 31 August to meet destroyers KELVIN, JUPITER and VORTIGERN off Sheringham Light Vessel, but GALATEA struck a mine off the Humber as she returned to port. It exploded on the port side abreast B-turret causing minor damage. The two cruisers arrived in the Humber on the 1st.

FN.269 departed Southend, escort DD VERDUN, sloop STORK, and patrol sloop PINTAIL. The patrol sloop was detached on the 2nd, and the convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd. MT.157 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that same day. FS.269 departed the Tyne, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD, and arrived at Southend on the 3rd.

Sub TUNA carried out an unsuccessful attack against a Uboat

West Coast UK
DDs VERSATILE and VIMY departed Rosyth at 1700 escorting ML MANCHESTER CITY to the Clyde where they arrived late on the 3rd. DDs SOMALI, MACKAY, WESTCOTT and HESPERUS were involved in a search for a UBoat after receiving a sighting report from a civilian aircraft.

OB.207 departed Liverpool escort DD HESPERUS and corvette GLADIOLUS. On 2 September, the convoy was reinforced by DDs KEPPEL and WITCH.

Western Approaches
CL FIJI , which departed Scapa on 31 August, was torpedoed and badly damaged NW of Ireland by U.32 at 1725. Five ratings were killed. DDs TARTAR, PUNJABI, JAVELIN, and JAGUAR departed Scapa at 1930 and joined FIJI. DDs BEDOUIN and ASHANTI departed their escort of convoy HX.67 to join. When FIJI was found capable of steaming, she was escorted by BEDOUIN, ASHANTI, VOLUNTEER and ANTELOPE. She was able to proceed under her own power at ten knots and arrived without further incident later on the 3rd at the Clyde. DDs WOLVERINE, AMBUSCADE, JAVELIN and JAGUAR were detached to join inbound convoy TC.7, while TARTAR and PUNJABI joined inbound convoy HX.67A. FIJI's place in operation MENACE was filled by RAN CA AUSTRALIA which arrived at Greenock on the 1st, and departed the Clyde on the 6th for Freetown. FIJI was repairing at Greenock through the end of January 1941.

Nth Atlantic
HX.70 departed Halifax escort RCN DD ASSINIBOINE and aux PV FRENCH . Convoy commodore was on steamer HILARY . Patrol boat FRENCH was detached from the convoy at 2100 and ASSINIBOINE stayed until 1605 on the 2nd. Ocean escort was AMC MONTCLARE which returned to Halifax when CL EMERALD joined the convoy on the 5th. BHX.70 departed Bermuda on 31 August escorted by ocean escort, CL EMERALD. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.70 on the 5th and the CL was detached shortly after. The convoy was joined by DDs ACHATES, ACTIVE, and VANQUISHER, sloop WESTON, and corvettes ERICA, MALLOW, and PRIMROSE on the 13th for the inbound escort and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 16th.

Central Atlantic
CL DESPATCH departed Kingston to return to England. SLS.46 departed Freetown escort AMC DUNNOTTAR CASTLE to 13 September when the convoy was dispersed. CL DELHI departed Lagos for Manoca.

Sth Atlantic
CL DRAGON departed Durban for Simonstown

Med- Biscay
CL ORION and RAN CL SYDNEY were detached at 1400 to rendezvous with escort ship/DD WRYNECK coming from Malta, and then join Force F. RAN DDs STUART, DEFENDER, VAMPIRE, and VENDETTA were detached from the Main Fleet at 2000 to proceed to Malta with supplies. On 2 September, CLAs COVENTRY and CALCUTTA with DDs NUBIAN, MOHAWK, JANUS and JUNO to bulk up the AA defences and take on fuel overnight. At 0900 CV ILLUSTRIOUS , BB VALIANT, CL ORION with DDs WRYNECK, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, and HOTSPUR from Gibraltar were met by the Med Flt. VAMPIRE and VENDETTA rejoined at 0930 on the 2nd and DDs HEREWARD and ILEX were detached to Malta to refuel. COVENTRY and CALCUTTA arrived at Malta at 1005, and SYDNEY also entered Malta. At 1010, VALIANT and DDs HYPERION, DECOY, HASTY, and WRYNECK were detached to Malta. Meanwhile Convoy MB.3, consisting of steamer VOLO (1587grt) and oiler PLUMLEAF (5916grt), arrived safely at Malta at 1130 on the 2nd, escort DDs DAINTY and DIAMOND. The third ship of the convoy, steamer CORNWALL (10,605grt), had been damaged by the RA on 31 August, was brought into Malta on the 3rd by tugs JAUNTY and ANCIENT, escort DDs JERVIS and JUNO. At 1415 JANUS was detached to Malta to refuel. At 1504, COVENTRY with JANUS, JUNO, NUBIAN, and MOHAWK joined the Main Fleet at sea. HEREWARD and ILEX rejoined at 1645. BB MALAYA, CVL EAGLE, together with COVENTRY and JANUS, JUNO, DAINTY, DIAMOND, RAN VAMPIRE and VENDETTA were detached at 1657 as Force E, and CA KENT, CLs GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL with NUBIAN and MOHAWK as Force A for Operation MB.3.

GALLANT and ILEX attacked a submarine contact near the fleet at 1730. At 1856, RAN DD VOYAGER was detached to Malta, and at 1900, CALCUTTA with HASTY, HERO, DECOY, and WRYNECK rejoined the Fleet. SYDNEY departed Malta at 1908 to rejoin the Med Flt. At 2200, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR, and GARLAND were detached to Malta to refuel. DDs IMPERIAL with BatSqn 1 and JANUS were unsuccessfully attacked by Italian Ju.87 dive bombers near Malta (one of the first divebombing attacks by the RA) on the 2nd. VALIANT with STUART, HYPERION, IMPERIAL and JANUS rejoined the Main Flt at 2330. At 0700 on the 3rd, DD DEFENDER, which had been delayed at Malta with a damaged Asdic dome, rejoined the flt.

Fce I for Operation MB.3 was formed with BBs WARSPITE and VALIANT, CV ILLUSTRIOUS, CLA CALCUTTA, and DDs STUART, VOYAGER, DECOY, DEFENDER, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL, HYPERION, ILEX, HASTY, and WRYNECK. STUART suffered a burst steam pipe at 2200 and was instructed to join convoy AS.3 of four steamers as they cleared the central basin. At 2230, CLs ORION and SYDNEY with DDs ILEX and DECOY were detached for a dawn bombardment of Scarpanto. Fce H arrived back at Gib on the 3rd. CLAs COVENTRY and CALCUTTA joined convoy AS.3 on the 4th.

Off Rhodes at 0345, ILLUSTRIOUS launched 9 Swordfish of the 815 and 819 Sqns plus escort at 0345 on the 4th to attack the airfield at Callado. The 9th Swordfish crashed on take off with plt killed. This accident prevented 3 more Swordfish for the operation from taking off. CVL EAGLE launched 12 Swordfish of 813 and 824 Sqns to attack the airfield at Maritza. 4 EAGLE Swordfish a/c of 813 Sqn were shot down over Maritza. One of these Swordfish, was able to successfully make a forced landing on Kasos Island where the crew were made pows. Other aircrew were captured.

ORION with DECOY and SYDNEY with ILEX bombarded Scarpanto and Port Maltezana in Stampalia. ILEX rammed and sank MAS.537 (RM 45 grt). MAS.536 was also attacked by ILEX, but was not damaged. MALAYA and EAGLE, escorted by JUNO, DAINTY, DIAMOND, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, and WRYNECK were detached to proceed independently to Alexandria, arriving at 2100 on the 4th. EAGLE was docked on the 5th. BBs WARSPITE and VALIANT, CV ILLUSTRIOUS, with DDs HYPERION, HERO, HASTY, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL, JANUS, and DEFENDER were some 40 miles to the nth of the MALAYA group and arrived at Alexandria early on the 5th.

CA KENT, CLs GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL, with DDs MOHAWK and NUBIAN were detached from the Med Flt on the 4th to the Gulf of Nauphlia to escort convoy AS.3 of four steamers to Port Said. DDs IMPERIAL and HEREWARD sailed on the 5th to relieve NUBIAN and MOHAWK.

ORP DD GARLAND, returning to Gib from Malta with GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, and HOTSPUR of Force H, was bombed by the RA between 1225 and 1430 on the 4th. No damage was done, but GARLAND, with leaks in two boilers, was taken in tow by GRIFFIN from 1715 to 1845, after which she was able to proceed on one boiler. The DDs arrived at Gib late on the 5th. After repairs, GARLAND departed Gib on the 14th for duty in the Western Approaches. KENT, GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL, CLAs COVENTRY and CALCUTTA, and DD STUART arrived at Alexandria during the morning of 6 September while DDs MOHAWK and NUBIAN arrived in the afternoon. Convoy AS 3 and DDs HEREWARD and IMPERIAL arrived at Port Said on the 6th. Swedish steamer STUREBORG, a straggler from the convoy, arrived at Port Said on the 8th.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
BS.3A departed Suez, escort sloop GRIMSBY. RAN CL HOBART with DDs KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY joined on the 3rd. The convoy was dispersed on the 6th.

 

[Njaco]

September 1 Sunday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post712981.html#post712981


ATLANTIC OCEAN: Already crippled from hitting a mine yesterday, the drifting British Destroyer HMS "Ivanhoe" is hit again by a German torpedo. Roughly 300 sailors are killed and another 100 taken POW.

British minesweeping trawler HMT "Royalo" hit a mine and sank off Penzance, Cornwall, England; 7 were killed.

British submarine HMS "Sunfish" collided with patrol launch "Mesme" shortly after departing Grangemouth, Scotland, United Kingdom. "Mesme" sank with the entire crew of 3 lost.

German submarine U-101 sank Greek ship "Efploia" 100 miles northwest of Ireland just after 0000 hours; the entire crew survived on two lifeboats and were rescued by British destroyer HMS "Anthony". 200 miles west of Isle of Lewis, Scotland, United Kingdom at 1725 hours, U-32 attacked British cruiser HMS "Fiji", killing 5 and badly damaging the ship. "Fiji" would be able to sail to the Clyde, Scotland under her own power for repairs. "Fiji's" place in the expedition to Dakar (Operation Menace) will be taken by Australian cruiser HMAS "Australia". To the south, near Brest, France, British submarine HMS "Tigris" sank the small French fishing vessel "Sancte Michael" with the deck gun.

MEDITERRANEAN: British Cruisers HMS "Orion" and HMAS "Sydney" and destroyers HMS "Decoy" and HMS "Ilex" shelled the Italian Dodecanese islands of Scarpanto (now Karpathos) and Stampalia (now Astypalea) in the Aegean Sea. HMS "Ilex" rammed and sank Italian motor torpedo boat MAS537.

The Italian Navy established a frogmen training school at the Naval Academy at Livorno, Italy under the command of Lieutenant Wolk.

The Fiat works at Turin, were attacked by the RAF.

GERMANY: Otto Skorzeny was promoted to the rank of Oberscharführer and was transferred to the 2nd SS Division "Das Reich".

German naval shipping began to move from North Sea ports to ports to the south in preparation for the invasion of Britain.

First RAF raid on Munich targets are BMW works and railway sidings.

EASTERN EUROPE: Vyacheslav Molotov complained that the Second Vienna Arbitration was in violation of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed in 1939.

The coke-fired two-retort furnace in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp crematorium was put into service for the disposal of bodies.

NORTH AMERICA: In an unprecedented event in United States history, conscription in peace-time was signed into law by Franklin Roosevelt.

SOUTH PACIFIC: The US Marine Corps Midway Detachment of the Fleet Marine Force, consisting of 9 officers and 168 enlisted Marines and approximately one-third of the 3rd Defense Battalion's equipment, was established.

NORTH AFRICA: In Kenya the Italians capture the small town of Buna in the northeast of the country.

WESTERN FRONT: Italian submarine command BETASOM established at Bordeaux.

.

 

[Crimea_River]

Chris, I'm wondering about the 406 squadron reference. This was an RCAF squadron that did not form until May 1941. They did fly Beaufighters out of Acklington but not until 1941.

 

[parsifal]

2 September 1940
Losses
MV THORNLEA (UK 4261 grt) Sunk by U-46 (Engelbert Endrass) Crew: 36 (3 dead and 33 survivors) Cargo:Coal Route: Swansea - Montreal Convoy OB 206 Lost in the Western Approaches . At 2204 hrs, U-46 attacked the convoy OB-206 about 200 miles west of Bloody Foreland and reported the sinking of a tkr and a freighter. However, only the THORNLEA was sunk in this attack. The master and 18 crew members were picked up by RCN DD SKEENA and landed at Greenock. The chief officer and 13 crew members were picked up the next day by the Norwegian freighter HILD and landed at Sydney on 15 September.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Liner VILLE DE MONS (Be 7463 grt) Sunk by U-47 (Günther Prien) Crew: 54 (0 dead and 54 survivors) Cargo: 4378 tons of general cargo, 1280 boxes of pears, 648 tons of corn and 536 tons of wheat Route: New York - Liverpool - Glasgow Sailing unescorted
Sunk in the Western Approaches. At 1635 hrs the unescorted VILLE DE MONS was hit by one G7e torpedo from a spread of three fired by U-47 NE of Rockall. The ship sank after being hit by a G7a coup de grâce at 1701 hrs.

HM Sub STURGEON sank steamer PIONIER (Ger 3285 grt) NE of Skagen . Approximately 1,000 German troops were lost in the sinking.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

ASW whaler UJ.121 (DKM 523 grt) was sunk on a mine off Ostend. The hulk of the sunken ship blocked the channel for the 2nd S-Flotilla.

DKM Raider WIDDER sank tkr CYMBELINE (UK 6317 grt) in the Central Atlantic. Seven crew were lost, while 25 crew and one distressed British seaman was made a pow.

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-58
Wilhelmshaven: U-29

At Sea 2 September 1940
U-28, U-32, U-38, U-46, U-47, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-60, U-61, U-65, U-101, U-124.
14 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
OA.208 departed Methil escort DD SKEENA, sloop LOWESTOFT, plus ASW trawlers DRANGEY, FANDANGO, and NORTHERN GEM. FN.270 departed Southend, escort DD WOLFHOUND, sloop BLACK SWAN, and patrol sloop WIDGEON, and arrived in the Tyne on the 4th. MT.158 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.270 departed the Tyne and arrived at Southend on the 4th.

Northern Waters
DD DUNCAN departed Scapa to rendezvous with DD MAORI at 2100 off Aberdeen to escort steamers BEN MY CHREE and LADY OF MANN to Kirkwall and Lerwick, respectively.

SW Approaches
HM Sub TIGRIS unsuccessfully attacked U.58 off the coast of France. BB BARHAM with DDs INGLEFIELD, ECHO, ESCAPADE, and ECLIPSE arrived at Gib after departing Scapa on 27 August. ECHO had left on the 28th. DD VELOX attacked a submarine contact near Alboran Island. These deployments out of home waters clearly suggest the Admiralty considered the threat of invasion to be receding by this time.

Nth Atlantic
SC.3 departed St Johns escorted by RCN DD ASSINIBOINE and armed yacht REINDEER in the local approaches and were detached on the 4th. Sloop DUNDEE was the ocean escort, but was lost on the 14th. On the 15th, DDs OTTAWA, SKEENA, and WITCH, with ASW trawler DRANGEY joined the escort. The trawler was detached the next day. DDs ST LAURENT and WANDERER joined on the 17th, and the convoy arrived at Liverpool next day on the 18th.

Central Atlantic
CL ENTERPRISE departed Freetown.

Australia/Pac/Far East
NZ Manned CL ACHILLES departed Melbourne and arrived at Auckland on the 5th. RAN CL ADELAIDE departed Sydney on the 2nd for Vila, New Caledonia, via Brisbane. On the 3rd, she was in a collision with steamer COPTIC . Neither ship was significantly damaged and ADELAIDE arrived at Vila on the 7th. She departed on the 16th escorting Norwegian tanker NORDEN carrying the new Free French govt to Noumea, and arrived off there on the 19th

Malta
(1 September 1940)
The Italains mount a series of small raids on the harbour to disrupt the shuttle activities of RN ships entering and leaving the harbour as part of operation HATS. Malta's HAA batteries destroy at least 4 enemy bombers with 5 others damaged . It was good shooting, with an average of 1344 rounds per kill . It is reported at the time that as yet there are no losses to LAA fire.

2 Sunderland. Departures 1 Sunderland. 1110-1415 hrs French Latecoere seaplane on recon of Tripoli reported 21 merchant vessels and two DDs in harbour, also two moored seaplanes. 1510-1745 hrs Skua on recon east coast of Sicily sighted three small RM DDs and a few merchant vessels at Messina, three small merchant vessels at Catania, two merchant vessels at Augusta of about 2500 tons, about 14 small merchant vessels at Taormina with escort vessels and 12 small flying boats at Syracuse. Three Sunderlands 228 and 230 Squadrons reconnaissance north west of Malta as far as west coast of Greece. One returned to Alexandria. The captain of a Hudson on reconnaissance at Trapani reported aircraft shot up by Skua. 1821 hrs Hudson reported landing at Tunis with petrol tanks holed.

9 Fulmars are operating from ILLUSTRIOUS to provide fleet protection, and, as available, search assets for the fleet. Two enemy a/c are shot down by the CAG and the enemy main fleet accurately reported and tracked

(2 September 1940)

Malta's first convoy arrived safely and was rapidly unloaded with elements of both the volunteer Infantry brigades providing personnel to expedite the unloading operation.

1212-1227 hrs Air raid alert for 6 enemy bombers and 15 fighters which cross the Island and travel eastwards in cloud, then head for Grand Harbour. They drop HE bombs in the sea, apparently attacking a destroyer lying offshore. Six Hurricanes are scrambled but fail to engage.

1533-1545 hrs Enemy a/c are engaged in low dive-bombing attacks on Naval units to the SE of the Island. Two seaplanes aim bombs at a DD off Delimara Point and turn away from the Island. Six Hurricanes are scrambled but fail to engage.

1800-1835 hrs Air raid alert. Four DDs are reported passing Delimara on a SW course. Six enemy a/c identified as RA JU87 dive bombers are seen over Grand Harbour and are followed by another formation. They turn away to dive-bomb Naval ships off the Island. Bombs are dropped near a destroyer off Fort St Elmo. CAG from the ILLUSTRIOUS brought down a claimed 5 a/c (with the RA admitting to the loss of 3). Malta Hurricanes were unable to take off in time as they had just landed and were refuelling. Five take off later but are unable to catch the retreating italians. No raiders cross the Island.

 

[stona]

Chris, I'm wondering about the 406 squadron reference. This was an RCAF squadron that did not form until May 1941. They did fly Beaufighters out of Acklington but not until 1941.

Formed on 10th May 1941. The squadrons first victory was on 1st September 1941, when pilot P/O R.C. Fumerton and operator Sgt. L.P.S. Bing claimed a Ju 88 in the 'Newcastle area'. This must be the victory referred to above.

Fumerton would return as a Wing Commander to command the squadron in August 1943.

Probably just a typo somewhere, easy to make 41 into 40

Cheers

Steve

 

[Crimea_River]

Yep, that jives with my info.

 

[Njaco]

Yep, wrong date and that was from a very reliable site. D@mn. I will remove and give myself 3 lashes and a keel-hauling.