This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning (1 Viewer)

[Njaco]

October 30 Wednesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: This Day in the Battle of Britain - Page 21

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command received orders to begin area bombing.

WESTERN FRONT: A British raid on the III./JG 2 airfield at LeHarve results in one Bf 109E being slightly damaged by bomb splinters.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-32 attacked British ship "Balzac" in a rain storm 100 miles northwest of Ireland at 1240, but the torpedo detonated prematurely, alarming "Balzac's" crew, which called for support. British destroyers HMS "Harvester" and HMS "Highlander" raced from 45 miles away to attack U-32. U-32 dove, but was damaged by depth charges. At 1908 hours, U-32 surfaced in an attempt to flee, but HMS "Highlander's" crew was able to detect U-32 despite a stormy night. Hit by gunfire that killed 9, U-32's crew scuttled the submarine. Back in Germany, fake news regarding U-32's triumphant return was broadcast shortly after to hide the news of the loss.

British destroyer HMS "Fearless" collided with British ship "Lanark" in stormy weather off Gourock, Scotland. HMS "Fearless" was heavily damaged and would remain in repair until the end of the year.

British destroyer HMS "Sturdy" ran aground at Tiree, Scotland, in stormy weather; 5 men drowned while swimming ashore.

MEDITERRANEAN: To support the Greek government, the British sent an expeditionary force to Crete and other Greek islands. In addition, the Soviet government sent 134 fighter aircraft to the Greeks to help stem the Italian invasion.

Wing Commander J. R. O'Sullivan was ordered to form a fighter squadron at the civilian airfield at Ta' Qali, Malta.

NORTH AMERICA: USS R-5 was assigned to US Submarine Division 42 at New London, Connecticut, United States.

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[parsifal]

30 October 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type IID U-146

U-146 was scuttled 12 May 1945. After 1941, whe was used mostly for training. This is a picture of the hulk being raised from Kiel (?) in 1945

Losses
Type VIIa U-32 (DKM 733 grt) Sunk on 30 October 1940 in the Western Approachesc NW of Ireland, by depth charges from the HM DDs HARVESTER and HIGHLANDER. 9 dead and 33 survivors. Two days after the spectacular bagging of the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, U-32 was again in the hunt. The boat operated in the Western Approaches west off Ireland, waiting for a convoy reported eastbound. The convoy was not found, instead an individual steamer was detected, judged to be a straggler of the convoy. About noon, Jenisch attacked the ship, but the torpedo misfired, and gave away his position. This alerted the escort, who raced into the assist. Jenisch did not realize the proximity of the convoy he was seeking. The Uboat continued to pursue the merchant ship. Jenisch was one of the most aggressive U-Boat commanders at the time, but on this occasion, his offensive fiery spirit proved his undoing. the The merchantman turned away and tried to make way with full speed. Laborious maneuvers began to reach a forward attack position, which soaked up precious time.

The hours ticked by as "U-32" worked to reach an underwater attack position by that evening. By this time, after receiving and responding to the MVs calls for help , the two RN DDs were now on the scene and detected the Uboat by ASDIC. The Uboat was caught in a vicious cross fire as pattern after pattern of DCs progressively damaged her. The two DDs worked well as a team, with one tracking whilst the other attacked. Thge end came when two series of depth charges hit "U-32", one at 120 meters, another one at 80 meters diving depth, forcing her to the surface, where she scuttled.

Whilst Escorting SC.8, HM DD STURDY (RN 1075 grt) of DesFlot 22 was wrecked on Tiree Island rocks off the west coast of Scotland. Five ratings were lost with STURDY. Commissioned Engineer E. J. A. Gibson was also injured on the destroyer.

Fairmile A Motor launch ML 109 (RN 57 grt) was sunk on a mine near Chequer Shoal Buoy off the Humber. The skipper and two ratings were lost.

Gate vessel PLACIDAS FAROULt (UK 136 grt) was stranded and foundered at Salcombe.

Tug SEAGEM (UK 92 grt) was lost.

Steamer VICTORIA (Gk 4202 grt) whilst part of convoy SLS-51 with a cargo of sugar, VICTORIA was sunk by the LW, NW of Ireland. 29 crew were rescued from the steamer.

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-99

At Sea 30 October 1940
U-28, U-29, U-31, U-65, U-99, U-124.
6 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD BULLDOG departed the Firth of Forth to rendezvous with ML AGAMEMNON and AMC COMORIN off the Tyne. The ships were escorted to the Pentland Firth and BULLDOG continued with the ML Loch Alsh and the Clyde. MSW LEDA was damaged in a collision with a merchant ship. LEDA was repaired at Aberdeen, completing in November.

FN.323 departed Southend, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop BLACK SWAN. The convoy arrived at Methil on 1 November. FS.323 departed Methil, escort DDs VERDUN and WATCHMAN. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 November.

Northern Patrol
DD VIMY departed Scapa on the 31st to escort the AMC COMORIN to her Northern Patrol station until dark on 1 November.

Northern Waters
DD VIMY departed Scapa to search for a Sunderland down ten miles west of Dunnet Head in Pentland Firth, but the DD returned about 4 hrs later after being informed the crew had alsready been rescued.

West Coast UK
DD FEARLESS was heavily damaged in a collision on the 30th with the British steamer LANARK anchored off Gourock. FEARLESS departed Greenock on 8 November for repairs at Troon which were completed at the end of the year. DD ESCAPADE departed Greenock to repair at Troon.

Channel
Sub UPRIGHT departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar, patrolling in Biscay en route. The submarine safely arrived on 9 November.

Malta
Air HQ Mediterranean issued instructions for Wing Commander J R O'Sullivan to proceed to Ta Qali airport with a small headquarters staff for the purpose of forming a temporary one squadron fighter station with immediate effect. Early that day W/Cdr O'Sullivan left RAF Station Hal Far for Ta Qali with 14 airmen, including three senior NCOs, accompanied by a detachment of 17 men of the King's Own Malta Regiment for guard duties.

The formation of 261 sqn was to take effect soon after from this location.

 

[parsifal]

31 October 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIB U-74

Four ships sunk (24,694 GRT);
one warship sunk - 925 tons;
one ship damaged – 123 GRT
one auxiliary warship damaged – 11,402 GRT
Sunk in April 1942 by RN DD HMS WISHART

Neutral
Soviet S (Stalinec) class Sub S-9

Listed as missing in August 1943. Possibly struck a mine near Lavensaari or in Narvski bay. 45 (all hands) lost. The body of a crewmember was found on 4 September on the shore of Seskar island. During her service she sank two ships in the Baltic, totalling 7800 grt

Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMS (later HMCS) TRILLIUM (K 172)

After workups at Tobermory, TRILLIUM was assigned to local escort group EG 4. She remained with this group until June 1941, when she left for Canada. After arriving in June 1941, Trillium was assigned to Newfoundland Command. She remained with this unit until March 1942. During her time with Newfoundland Command, she worked with escort groups 10N, 23N, N14 and N13. On 21 April 1941 she picked up 24 survivors from the British merchant Empire Endurance that had been torpedoed and sunk the previous southwest of Rockall.

In August 1942 she transferred to the Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF) after working up. She was assigned to MOEF escort group A-3. During her time with A-3 she took part in many major convoy battles; including SC 100 in September 1942, ON 166 in February 1943 and SC 121 in March 1943. On 22–23 February 1943, TRILLIUM picked up 158 survivors from three ships which had been torpedoed over those two days. She remained with A-3 until April 1943, when she departed for a major refit. She continued in various Atlantic escort force operations until the end of the war.

U Class Sub HMS UPHOLDER (N 99)

She was one of four U-class subs which had two external torpedo tubes at the bows in addition to the 4 internal ones fitted to all boats. They were excluded from the other boats because they interfered with depth-keeping at periscope depth.

UPHOLDER was commanded for her entire career by Lt-Cdr Malcolm David Wanklyn, and became the most successful RN sub of the war. After a working up period, she left for Malta on 10 December 1940 and was attached to SubFlot10 based there. She completed 24 patrols, sinking 93,031 tons of enemy shipping including the Maestrale-class destroyer LIBECCIO after the Battle of the Duisburg Convoy, two submarines (the TRICHERO and the SAINT BON ), three troopships, six cargo ships, an auxiliary ship and an aux MSW. Wanklyn was awarded the Victoria Cross for a patrol in her in 1941, which included an attack on a particularly well-defended convoy on 24 May 1941 in which UPHOLDER sank the 17,879 GRT Italian troop ship SS CONTE ROSSO . On 28 July 1941 she damaged the Italian cruiser GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI. On 18 September 1941 she sank two troopships within hours of each other: the sister ships MS NEPTUNIA (19,475 GRT) and MS OCEANIA (19,507 GRT).

UPHOLDER was lost between 6 and 14 April 1942, probably under DC attack by the RM TB PEGASO.

Losses
MV RUTLAND (UK 1437 grt) Sunk by U-124 (Georg-Wilhelm Schulz) Crew: 29 (29 dead - no survivors) Cargo: Bauxite, charcoal and general cargo Route: Demerara - Bermuda - Larne ;Convoy HX-82 (straggler); Sunk In the Western Approaches ; At 2158 hrs the unescorted RUTLAND, a straggler from convoy HX-82, was hit in the foreship by one torpedo from U-124 after a chase of 6 hrs and sank by the bow within 30 seconds about 100 miles NW of Rockall. There were no survivors

Steamer HILLFERN (UK 1535 grt) was lost to unknown external explosion 35 miles NNW of Buchanness. 8 crew were missing on the steamer.

Trawler ALDEBARAN (Ger 433 grt) was sunk on a mine off Libau.

UBOATS
At Sea 31 october 1940
U-28, U-29, U-31, U-65, U-99, U-124.
6 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FS.324 departed Methil, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 November. MTB 16 (RN 60 grt) was lost on a mine in the Thames Estuary. MTB.22 was damaged by mining in the same incident. British Steamer STARSTONE was damaged by the LW.

West Coast UK
CV ARK ROYAL, after refitting in the Clyde, departed the Clyde at 1700 escort CA BERWICK, CL GLASGOW, DDs ISIS, FOXHOUND, DUNCAN to Gibraltar. Free French liner PASTEUR accompanied this group to Gibraltar. PASTEUR arrived at Gibraltar escorted by DDs DUNCAN, ISIS and FOXHOUND. CLA CURACOA arrived in Pentland Firth after convoy EN.15 escort and proceeded to convoy WN.27 which was sheltering west of Dunnet Head. When the gale eased to permit passage, the convoy continued, and CURACOA continued with the convoy to Pentland Firth, after which she returned to Scapa Flow very late on the 31st. OB.237 departed Liverpool escort DDs ACHATES, ACTIVE, ANTELOPE and corvette PICOTEE. The escorts were detached on 2 November.

Western Approaches
British steamer STARSTONE was damaged by the LW.

SW Approaches
DKM Raider WIDDER arrived at Brest after having been met in the Bay of Biscay by U.29 on the 29th. During her deployment, WIDDER sank ten ships for 58, 645grt.

HG.46 with 51 ships departed Gibraltar. DDs INGLEFIELD and VIDETTE and sloop WELLINGTON departed Gibraltar with the convoy. VIDETTE was detached on 3 November and INGLEFIELD on 6 November. Sloop WELLINGTON was with the convoy for the entire voyage. On 8 November, sloop WELLINGTON was in a collision with British steamer SARASTONE (2473grt). The sloop was repaired at Liverpool. On 8 November, BC RENOWN was with the convoy and continued until 10 November. Also, on 8 November, ocean boarding vessel CAMITO joined the convoy and remained with the convoy until 15 November. AMC DERBYSHIRE with SL.53 was with the convoy from 9 to 19 November. Convoy SL.53 was in company with HG.46 from 9 to 12 November. RAN CA AUSTRALIA escorted the convoy from 11 to 14 November.

DDs VETERAN, VERITY, WITHERINGTON and corvettes CLEMATIS and PRIMROSE joined HG.46 on 15 November. These escorts transferred from OB.241. Corvette ARABIS joined the escort on 15 November having transferred from OB.239. DDs WARWICK, CLARE, WANDERER, WILD SWAN joined the escort from OB.242, on 15 November. British steamer ANDONI from the convoy broke down on 16 November. She was taken in tow by corvette CLEMATIS and escorted by DD CLARE, which left the convoy on 15 November. DDs VETERAN and VERITY were detached on 17 November and corvette CLEMATIS was detached on 16 November. Corvette ARABIS was detached on 18 November. Corvettes ASPHODEL and PICOTEE from OB.245 joined the convoy on 18 November. On 19 November, DDs WITHERINGTON, WARWICK, WANDERER, WILD SWAN and corvettes PRIMROSE, ASPHODEL, PICOTEE were detached. On 19 November, convoy HG.46 arrived at Liverpool.

Central Atlantic
Vichy steamer CONGO departed Fort de France for Casablanca with 1259 passengers, including 1206 naval personnel, on the 24th. The steamer was intercepted by AMC MORETON BAY and sent to Freetown. CL DRAGON joined the ships on 6 November and all arrived at Freetown on 7 November. It appears that RN policy toward Vichy ships that any ships heading away from France or German territory were being allowed to do so, but any ship travelling closer to metropolitan France or German territory was being apprehended. Passengers on the steamer were put on neutral ships between 14 December and 4 January and allowed to continue to Casablanca.

Med- Biscay
DD GRIFFIN followed Vichy DDs BRESTOIS, BORDELAIS, SIMOUN, TEMPETE, L'ALCYON through the Straits of Gibraltar westward. BB BARHAM, BC RENOWN, DDs FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, FURY, GREYHOUND departed Gib. DD FIREDRAKE made an attack on a sub contact. When the Vichy ships turned south, the British ships returned to Gibraltar. The BB, BC, DDs GREYHOUND, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, FURY arrived at Gibraltar on 1 November. DDs ENCOUNTER and GRIFFIN also arrived on 1 November but separately.

Gk DDs SPETSAI and PSARA departed the Gulf of Patras and bombarded Italian positions in Albania. Operation JUDGMENT was considered for this date while the Mediterranean Fleet was at sea, but unfavourable moon conditions ruled it out.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
During the night of 31 October/1 November, DKM Raider PINGUIN laid 40 mines off Hobart and her aux ML PASSAT laid 40 mines in Bass Strait.

CL DANAE departed Penang.

Malta
OPERATIONS REPORTS THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 1940

ROYAL NAVY: RAN DD VENDETTA ready for sea on completion of refit.

HMAS VENDETTA off Malta in 1940

AIR HQ Departures 4 Wellingtons.

KALAFRANA Operations by Sunderland a/c of 228 and 230 sqns. A working party of 60 technical NCOs and airmen were temporarily detached to Luqa to assist in special offensive operations being carried out from there, leaving only a skeleton staff of personnel in workshops at Kalafrana.

 

[Njaco]

October 31 Thursday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: This Day in the Battle of Britain - Page 21

MEDITERRANEAN: Italy's invasion of Greece begins to stall. Their troops lose momentum in the face of resistance from Greek screening forces in the rugged terrain of the Epirus Mountains along the Albanian border. Many Italians die in frontal assaults on well dug-in Greek positions. As the Italian invasion of Greece began to slow to a stop in the Epirus Mountains, British forces landed on the islands of Lemnos and Crete in southern Greece to prevent Italian landings on Greek islands. Greek destroyers "Spetsai" and "Psara" departed the Gulf of Patras and used their 120-mm guns to bombard Italian troops on the Ionian coast of Albania and northern Greece. Greek naval activity and the presence of the British Royal Navy persuade the Italian Navy to abandon plans for landing on Corfu.

RAF bombers attacked Naples, Italy.

British aircraft carrier "Argus" launches fourteen Hurricane fighter aircraft to Malta, but only five successfully fly the distance.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-124 sank British ship "Rutland" 300 miles northwest of Ireland at 2158 hours, killing the entire crew of 24.

German armed merchant cruiser "Widder" arrived at Brest, France after a 179-day long operation in the Atlantic Ocean that saw the sinking of 10 ships totaling 58,645 tons.

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[Njaco]

November 1 Friday
UNITED KINGDOM: A force of around ten Italian BR.20 bombers escorted by forty CR.42 fighters set off to attack the docks at Harwich, England. Eight of the bombers were claimed as destroyed by the RAF, which contributed to the Italian decision to withdraw from the Battle of Britain in the next few weeks.

MEDITERRANEAN: 11,000 Italian mountain troops marched for the pass at Metsovo, Greece but were trapped by 2,000 Greek troops, who knew the terrain far better than the Italians, in the Vovousa Valley 5 miles before they reached the pass. In southern Greece, British destroyer "Ajax" landed more troops at Suda Bay, Crete while under attack by Italian bombers. A small British bomber unit is sent to help the Greeks. This force is increased at Churchill's order during the next few days. About half the RAF strength from Egypt is sent. The British government believes that it is vital to fulfill the guarantees given to Greece to bolster neutral opinion, especially in the Balkans and Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkey declared neutrality in the Italo-Greek war.

RAF and Fleet Air Arm aircraft attack targets in Naples and Brindisi on the Italian mainland and Albanian ports.

WESTERN FRONT: Major Galland is promoted to Oberstleutnant and given command of JG 26, replacing Gotthardt Handrick, the Olympic champion of 1936. Wilhelm "Willi" Batz is promoted to Leutnant. Ob. Johannes Schalk, Gruppenkommandeur of III./ZG 26 is posted as Kommodore of ZG 26 'Horst Wessel' in place of Oblt. Joachim-Friedrich Huth. The Zerstörergeschwader is based at Memmingen flying Bf 110s.

The I Gruppe of JG 27 led by Major Eduard Neumann leave their airfield at Brest and move to new accommodations at Dinan.

The remnants of 1./ZG 2 are used to form 4./NJG 2.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-124 sank British ship "Empire Bison" 400 miles northwest of Ireland at 0706 hours, killing 30 crew and 1 gunner. 6,067 tons of scrap steel and 94 trucks, all from the United States, were lost with the ship. 4 survivors were rescued by Danish merchant ship "Olga S".

British sloop HMS "Black Swan" was damaged by a mine in the Firth of Forth, Scotland. She would remain under repair until Apr 1941.

The British mined the Bay of Biscay off France.

ASIA: Chuichi Nagumo was named the commandant of the Japanese naval war college. Rear Admiral Keizo Tanimoto replaced Rear Admiral Isamu Takeda as the chief of staff of Vice Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya (Ryojun Military Port, northeastern China). Captain Shunji Izaki was named the commanding officer of "Settsu".

During this month, Japanese Navy began receiving the carrier version of the A6M Zero fighter.

GERMANY: The German Oflag IV-C prisoner of war camp at the Colditz Castle, until now a transit camp, was redesignated an actual holding camp as Polish prisoners of war were transferred there from nearby Oflag IV-A and Oflag VIII-B.

SOUTH PACIFIC: Australia imposes an embargo on scrap iron and other strategic war materials to Japan.

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[parsifal]

Summary Of Losses October 1940
Allied
Allied Warships
Sub RAINBOW (RN 1475 grt), armed boarding vessel KINGSTON SAPPHIRE (RN 356 grt), MSW trawler SEA KING (RN 321 grt), Aux PV GIRL MARY (RN 25 grt), ASW trawler WARWICK DEEPING (RN 445 grt), rmed yacht AISHA (RN 117 grt), ASW trawler LORD STAMP (RN 448 grt), River patrol vessel MISTLETOE (RN 19 grt), T Class Sub TRIAD (RN 1090 grt), Sub H.49 (RN 423 grt), ASW trawler KINGSTON CAIRNGORM (RN 448 grt), V&W Class DD VENETIA (RN 1040 grt), MTB.17 (RN 18 grt), MSW trawler WAVEFLOWER (RN 550 grt), MSW trawler JOSEPH BUTTON (RN 290 grt), Naval trawler HICKORY (RN 505 grt), DD STURDY (RN 1075 grt), Fairmile A Motor launch ML 109 (RN 57 grt), MTB 16 (RN 60 grt),

DD MARGAREE (RCN 1375 grt)

Armed trawler LISTRAC (FNFL 778 grt)

(8762 grt(RN), (1375 grt (RCN), 778 grt (FNFL)) (Total 10915 grt Naval Tonnage)

Allied Shipping
Liner HIGHLAND PATRIOT (UK 14192 grt), MV KAYESON (UK 4506 grt), Steamer LATYMER (UK 2218 grt), Tug SIRDAR (UK 34 grt), Steamer ADAPTITY (UK 372 grt), MV BENLAWERS (UK 5943 grt), Tkr BRITISH GENERAL (UK 6989 grt), Drifter SCOTCH THISTLE (UK 84 grt), MV CONFIELD (UK 4956 grt), Steamer BELLONA II (UK 840 grt), steamer NATIA (UK 8715 grt), MV GRAIGWEN ( UK 3697 grt), Steamer ALDERNEY QUEEN (UK 663 grt), MV PORT GISBORNE (UK 8390 grt), MV PACIFIC RANGER (UK 6865 grt), MV STANGRANT (UK 5804 grt), Drifter SUMMER ROSE (UK 96 grt), Tug DANUBE III (UK 234 grt), Hopper barge CARGO FLEET No. 2 (UK 1130 grt), Steamer RECULVER (UK 683 grt), Collier GLYNWEN (UK 1076 grt), MV THISTLEGARTH (UK 4747 grt), MV BONHEUR (UK 5327 grt), Drifter APPLE TREE (UK 84 grt), Steamer FRANKRIG (UK 1361 grt), FV ALBATROSS (UK 15 grt), Tkr LANGUEDOC (UK 9512 grt), MV SCORESBY (UK 3843 grt), MV USKBRIDGE (UK 2715 grt), MV SANDSEND (UK 3612 grt), MV CREEKIRK (UK 3917 grt), MV SHEKATIKA (UK 5458 grt), MV BEATUS (UK 4885 grt), MV EMPIRE MINIVER (UK 6055 grt), MV FISCUS (UK 4815 grt), MV ASSYRIAN (UK 2562 grt), MV CLINTONIA (UK 3106 grt), MV SEDGEPOOL (UK 5556 grt), MV EMPIRE BRIGADE (UK 5154 grt), MV MATHERAN (UK 7653 grt), MV RUPERRA (UK 4548 grt), kr SHIRAK (UK 6023 grt), MV UGANDA (UK 4966 grt), MV WANDBY (UK 4947 grt), Steamer ARIDITY (UK 336 grt), FV VELIA (UK 290 grt), Tkr CAPRELLA (UK 8230 grt), Tkr SITALA (UK 6218 grt), MV LOCH LOMOND (UK 5452 grt), MV LA ESTANCIA (UK 5185 grt), MV WHITFORD POINT (UK 5026 grt), MV SULACO (UK 5389 grt), Steamer HOUSTON CITY (UK 4935 grt), FV ENCOURAGE (UK 45 grt), FV WINDSOR (UK 222 grt), Steam Drifter CARLTON (UK 207 grt), MV MATINA (UK 5389 grt), Troopship EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (UK 42,348 grt), Steamer SUAVITY (UK 634 grt), Drifter PERSEVERE (UK 20 grt), Steamer DEVONIA (UK 98 grt), Steamer SAGACITY (UK 490 grt), Steamer WYTHBURN (UK 420 grt), Steamer SHEAF FIELD (UK 2719 grt), Drifter HARVEST GLEANER (UK 96 grt), Drifter DUTHIES (UK 89 grt), Sludge vessel G. W. HUMPHREYS (UK 1500 grt), Gate vessel PLACIDAS FAROULt (UK 136 grt), Tug SEAGEM (UK 92 grt), MV RUTLAND (UK 1437 grt), Steamer HILLFERN (UK 1535 grt),


Steamer BELGION (Gk 2844 grt), Steamer LEONTIOS TERYAZOS (Gk 4479 grt), Steamers ATHINAI (Gk 2897 grt) and MARIA NOMIKOU (Gk 1165 grt), Steamer VICTORIA (Gk 4202 grt),

MV ST MALO (Cdn 5779 grt), MV TREVISA (Cdn 1813 grt),

MV HURUNUI (NZ 9331 grt)

Steamer OTTOLAND (NL 2202 grt), MV BOEKELO (NL 2118 grt), MV SOESTERBERG (NL 1904 grt), MV BILDERDIJK (NL 6856 grt), Steamer MARGARETHA (NL 325 grt)

Steamer KABALO (Be 5186 grt),

Tkr NINA BORTHEN (Nor 6123 grt), MV TOURAINE (Nor 5811 grt), Tkr STORSTAD (Nor 8998 grt), MV BRANDANGER (Nor 4624 grt), Tkr DAVANGER (Nor 7102 grt), steamer RINGWOOD (Nor 7302 grt), MV DOKKA (Nor 1168 grt), MV SNEFJELD (Nor 1643 grt), MV CUBANO (NW 5810 grt)


FV CHEERFUL (Faroes 65 grt)

262773 grt (UK), 15587 grt (Gk - Allied), 7592 grt(Cdn), 9331 grt (NZ), 13405 (NL), 5186 grt (Be), 48581 grt (Nor), 65 grt (Faeroes)
362520 grt (Mercantile)
Total Mercantile and Military losses: 373435 grt

Prizes captured
None

Neutral shipping
Steamer KERRY HEAD (Eire 825 grt)

steamer AGHIOS NICOLAOS (Gk 3687 grt), MV DELPHIN (Gk 3816 grt), Steamer ZANNES GOUNARIS (Gk 4407 grt), MV AENOS (Gk 3554 grt), MV NIRITOS (GK 3854 grt), MV THALIA (GK 5875 grt),

MV CONVALLARIA (SD 1996 grt), MV GUNBORG (SD 1572 grt), Tkr JANUS (SD 9965 grt), Trawler ESSIE (SD 55 grt), Tkr STROMBUS (SD 6549 grt), steamer MEGGIE (SD 1583 grt),

Steamer VIDO (Yug 1919 grt), steamer ORAO (Yug 5135 grt), steamer DURMITOR (Yug 5623 grt)

MV NORA (Est 1186 grt)

Steamer ASTRID (SU 603 grt)

825 grt (Eire), 25193 grt (Gk - neutral), 21720 grt (SD), 12677 grt (Yug), 1186 grt (Est), 603 grt (SU)
(62204 grt Mercantile)

Neutral warships
None

Total Neutral Mercantile + Military: 62204 grt
Total Allied + Neutral: 435639 grt

Prizes taken
None

Axis
Warships
DKM
Schnellboote S.37 (DKM 81 grt), Type VIIa U-32 (DKM 733 grt),

RM
Perla class Sub BERILO (RM 680 grt), Perla Class sub GEMMA (RM 657 grt), Spica Class TB ARIEL (RM 620 grt), Spica Class TB AIRONE (RM 620 grt), Soldati Class DD ARTIGLIERE (RM 1820 grt), ML Sub FOCA (RM 1305 grt), Adua Class sub DURBO (RM 680 grt), Adua Class sub LAFOLE (RM 680 grt),

Axis Naval tonnage lost
814 grt (DKM), 7062 grt (RM)
7876 grt (Axis)

Axis Shipping
GER
trawler HECHT (Ger 222 grt), trawler NORDENHAM (Ger 234 grt), netlayer GENUA (Ger 1949 grt), Steamer EULER (Ger 1879 grt), Steamer PRINSESSE RAGNHILD (Ex-Nor 1590 grt), steamer KYVIG (Ex-Nor 763 grt), Trawler ALDEBARAN (Ger 433 grt),

7070 grt (Ger)

(FI)
steamer FRANCA FASSIO (FI 1858 grt), Steamer NINA BIANCHI (FI 2180 grt), Steamer MARIA GRAZIA (FI 188 grt), steamer ANTONIETTA COSTA (FI 6880 grt), Steamer VERACE (FI 1219 grt),

12325 grt (FI)

(Vichy)
trawler CIMCOUR (Vichy 250 grt),


Total Axis Mercantile19645 grt)
Total Axis Mercantile and Naval Tonnage losses: (27521 grt)

Captured ships
steamer FRISIA (SD 1059 grt), Tkr STORSTAD (Nor 8998 grt), Steamer BELGION (Gk 2844 grt), Steamer LEONTIOS TERYAZOS (Gk 4479 grt), Steamers ATHINAI (Gk 2897 grt) and MARIA NOMIKOU (Gk 1165 grt)

 

[parsifal]

1 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type 1935 MSW M-30

Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMS HEATHER

Losses
MV EMPIRE BISON (UK 5612 grt) Sunk by U-124 (Georg-Wilhelm Schulz) Crew: 42 (38 dead and 4 survivors) Cargo: scrap steel and 94 trucks Route: Baltimore - Halifax - Clyde ;Convoy HX-82 (straggler); Sunk In the extremity of the Western Approaches; At 0706 hrs the unescorted EMPIRE BISPN, a straggler from HX-82 since a gale on 23 October, was hit on the port side by one torpedo from U-124 while steaming on a zigzag course at 9 knots in bad weather about 200 miles NW of Rockall. The ship had been spotted about 3 hrs earlier and missed by a first torpedo at 0618 hrs. The explosion felled the foremast that struck the starboard side of the bridge. The crew and passengers tried to abandon ship in the lifeboats, but none could be launched as the ship sank rapidly by the bow within 1 minute. The only survivors were the second officer, the boatswain, one fireman and one passenger who rescued themselves on a raft that floated free. After about 24 hours, they spotted a U-boat surfacing nearby which soon left without investigating the raft further because the occupants played dead to avoid being taken prisoner. On 5 November, the survivors were picked up by the British steam merchant OLGA S and landed at Gourock.
(New image source: SS Empire Bison)

Steamer LETCHWORTH (UK 1317 grt), in convoy FS.22, was sunk by the LW near the Oaze Buoy, with one crewman killed.
(Image from Tyne Built Ships Shipbuilders, credited to a Clive Ketley)

Aux MSW trawler TILBURYNESS (RN 279 grt) was sunk by the LW near East Oaze Buoy in the Thames Estuary. Ten ratings were lost. AA ship ROYAL EAGLE and tug SALVO rescued the survivors. ROYAL EAGLE had managed to shoot down a bomber during these air raids in the Thames Estuary.

Drifter TORBAY II (UK 83 grt) was sunk by the LW off the Downs.

Steamer SANTA LUCIA (NL 379 grt) was sunk on a mine 3.6 miles 44° from Pile Light, Belfast. Four crew were lost on the Dutch steamer.

Steamer HUNDVAAG (Nor 690 grt) was sunk on a mine one to two cables west of S. Goodwin Lightship. One crewman was lost on the Norwegian steamer. This mine had been laid by DKM TBs 29/30 October in minefield designated "ALFRED.

UBOATS
At Sea 01 November 1940
U-28, U-29, U-31, U-65, U-99, U-124.
6 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD EXMOOR departed the Tyne for Rosyth, but was delayed at Rosyth due to mining of the port. She departed Rosyth later on the 2nd and arrived at Scapa on the 3rd. Sloop BLACK SWAN, arriving with FN.323, was mined in the Firth of Forth. No one was killed. The sloop was towed to Rosyth, then to Dundee for repairs completed in mid April. Patrol sloop PINTAIL, escorting FS.323 with DDs WATCHMAN and VERDUN, was badly damaged by the LW in the Thames Estuary. 10 crew were killed. Three ratings were wounded. Sloop PINTAIL was under repair at London until mid February. FS.325 departed Methil, escort DDs VEGA and VIMIERA. The convoy arrived at Southend on 3 November.

Northern Waters
DD QUORN departed Scapa Flow for Lerwick to escort British troopship ROYAL ULSTERMAN to Aberdeen. Upon arrival at Aberdeen at midday on the 2nd, DD QUORN proceeded to Rosyth and continued her passage to Sheerness to join the Nore Command.

West Coast UK
DD BULLDOG arrived at Greenock to escort WS.4A. WS.4A departed the Clyde and Liverpool. This convoy was composed of troopships WARWICK CASTLE, STIRLING CASTLE , SCYTHIA, DUNEDIN STAR, HIGHLAND MONARCH, PORT WYNDHAM, CLAN LAMONT, CLAN CHATTAN and steamers CITY OF MANCHESTER, MARTAND, DELIUS, ABOSSO, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND, ALMANZORA, AKAROA, MALANCHA. The convoy was escorted by CA CORNWALL and AMC SALOPIAN and given local escort by CLA CAIRO and RCN DDs OTTAWA, SKEENA, SAGUENAY and RN DDs, BEAGLE, BULLDOG, HESPERUS which departed Greenock on the 2nd. The convoy was also given local escort by DDs HURRICANE, HARVESTER and ORP GARLAND which departed Liverpool.

Nth Atlantic
HX.85 departed Halifax escort RCN DD ASSINIBOINE and aux PVs FRENCH and ELK. At 1745, FRENCH departed and ASSINIBOINE departed the convoy later on the 2nd. BHX.85 departed Bermuda on 30 October escorted by AMC AUSONIA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.85 on the 4th and the AMC was detached. Ocean escort for the combined convoy was AMC RAJPUTANA. With the attack by DKM CS ADMIRAL SCHEER on convoy HX.84, convoy HX.85 was diverted to Sydney CB, where it arrived on the 9th.

Central Atlantic
SLS.54 departed Freetown and arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.

Med- Biscay
CL AJAX, which departed Alexandria on 30 October, landed troops of the 2nd Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment at Suda Bay on the 1st. CL AJAX was near missed by Italian bombing whilst unloading. DDs MOHAWK and NUBIAN examined Navarin Bay. As the force departed Suda Bay on the 2nd, CL AJAX and CLAs CALCUTTA and COVENTRY were again attacked by the RA, AJAX was again near missed. The ships arrived at Alexandria on the 4th.

Malta
A/c from Malta were involved in a bombing raid on Naples. Main targets were the seaport, industrial zones and railways to the east of the City, and a steel mill to the west. The mission was part of a co-ordinated British attack against the ports of Naples and Brindisi.

SUNDERLANDS UNDER ATTACK

One Sunderland flying boat of 228 Sqn was destroyed and another seriously damaged after they were attacked by Italian fighters. The a/c of Squadron Leader Menzies and Flying Officer S M Farries was on patrol over Sicily when it was intercepted by Italian fighters which launched a determined attack. The Sunderland was severely damaged and was observed falling into the sea. There were no reported survivors.

 

[Njaco]

November 2 Saturday
MEDITERRANEAN: Turkey declares neutrality in the war between Greece and Italy but keeps 37 divisions on the Bulgarian border and warned Bulgaria not to participate in the Italo-Greek war.

Delaying tactics by retreating Greek screening forces in the Epirus region, between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, have slowed the Italian advance. The Italians reach the main Greek defensive line on the Kalamas river between Elia and Kalamas and here they are stopped. In the Pindus Mountains, the Pindus detachment of Colonel Davakis continues to encircle the Italian Julia Division, but Davakis is badly wounded.

Departing from Suda Bay, Crete, for Alexandria, Egypt, British cruisers HMS "Ajax" and HMS "Coventry" are attacked by Italian bombers, which again score several near misses but do no damage.

Italian aircraft bomb Salonika (59 killed), Piraeus, Larissa, Corfu, Corinth and Candia (Crete). A squadron of 15 Italian Cant 1007Z bombers, with Fiat CR.42 fighter escorts, headed towards Thessaloniki. Soon they were spotted and intercepted by Greek PZL P.24 fighters of the 22nd Squadron. During the dogfights, three of the bombers were shot down, while the rest reached their targets, released their bombs and commenced their return to their base in Albania. Greek Flying Officer Marínos Metraléxes, who had already shot down one bomber, was now out of ammunition, so he aimed the nose of his PZL P-24 (serial no: Δ 130) right into an enemy bomber's tail (serial no: ΜΜ 22381), smashing the rudder and sending the bomber out of control. He then had to make an emergency landing near the crashed bomber. Having landed, Metraléxes arrested the four surviving crew members of the enemy aircraft using his pistol. For this extraordinary feat, Metraléxes was promoted to Wing Commander, and received Greece's highest medal for bravery, the Gold Cross of Valour. He was the only Royal Hellenic Air Force officer awarded the Gold Cross of Valour during the war.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British destroyer HMS "Antelope" attacked German submarine U-31 with depth charges, killing 2. Forced to the surface, the crew of U-31 scuttled the submarine before abandoning her. As HMS "Antelope" rescued the 43 German survivors, the wrecked hull of U-31 drifted into her, causing damage that would keep HMS "Antelope" under repair until Dec 1940. U-31 had previously been sunk by British aircraft on 11 Mar 1940, but was later raised and put back into action. She was the only German submarine to be sunk twice during the war.

British minesweeping trawler HMT "Rinovia" hit a mine and sank 10 miles south of St. Austell, Cornwall, England, killing 15. British destroyer HMS "Intrepid" hit a mine off Hartlepool, Durham, damaging both of her engines. She would remain under repair until late Dec 1940.

.

 

[parsifal]

2 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIc U-69

The lead ship of the Type VIIc sub type. She sank 17 ships, total tonnage 67,515 GRT. Sunk on 17 February 1943 in the North Atlantic east of Newfoundland, , by depth charges from the RN DD HMS FAME. 46 dead (all hands lost).

Losses
Type VIIa U-31 (DKM 733 grt) Was originally sunk in 11 March 1940 by RAF a/c with 58 dead. Raised and reinstated to service. Sunk again on 2 November 1940, in the North Atlantic NW of Ireland by DCs from the HM DD ANTELOPE, whilst in combat around OB 237. 2 dead and 44 survivors. Destroyer ANTELOPE was damaged alongside U.31 while boarding the UBoat. The British were unsuccessful in their attempts to board. DD ACHATES was also in the escort of convoy OB.237. DD ANTELOPE proceeded to Greenock for repairs. On 7 December, she was moved to Glasgow to complete repairs completed on 24 December. During her career U-31 had sunk 11 ships, total tonnage 27,751 GRT.
(Image source: German Submarine U-31 from Sharkhunters, the original and only true history of the U-Boats.)

Tugs LEA (RN 168 grt) and Tug DEANBROOK (RN 149 grt) were sunk on mines in the Tilbury Basin. Six crew were lost on tug LEA. The entire crew of tug DEANBROOK was lost.

MSW RINOVA (RN 429 grt) was sunk on a mine off Falmouth, 2.9 miles 154.5°, from St Anthony Light. 14 ratings were lost in the trawler.

Drifter GOODWILL (UK 28 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Firth of Forth.

UBOATS
At Sea 2 November 1940
U-28, U-29, U-65, U-99, U-124.
5 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.324 departed Southend, escort DDs VERDUN and WATCHMAN. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 4th. FN.325 departed Southend, escort DDs VANITY and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 4th. Minefield BS.44 was laid by MLs TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and DDs INTREPID and ICARUS. Following the minelay, INTREPID was damaged on a mine off Hartlepool. Both INTREPID's engines were damaged. INTREPID was repaired at Hartlepool in seven weeks.

Northern Patrol
DDs MASHONA and KEPPEL departed Scapa to meet AMCr LETITIA and troopships EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA and ANTONIA on passage from Iceland to the Clyde. All ships safely arrived in the Clyde on the 3rd. DD VIMY arrived at Scapa after escorting AMC COMORIN to her Northern Patrol Station.

Northern Waters
DD DOUGLAS departed Scapa to search for a boat reportedly containing four men. DOUGLAS arrived at Scapa on the 3rd with 12 survivors from MSW trawler WARDOUR mined on 31 October.

West Coast UK
OB.238 departed Liverpool escort DDs CASTLETON, VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL and corvette FLEUR DE LYS. The escort was detached on the 5th. DD CAMPBELTOWN, while on trials after refitting at Devonport, was damaged in a collision with Norwegian steamer RISOY. CAMPBELTOWN was repaired at Liverpool completing on the 24th. AMC RANPURA was damaged by fire. After being delayed by engine room defects, AA ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa at 0040 to escort convoy EN.17 from the vicinity of Aberdeen to Pentland Firth.

Channel
Sub TAKU attacked German tanker GEDANIA fifty miles off the Loire, without success. Sub TIGRIS unsuccessfully attacked RM Sub VENIERO off the Gironde.

Central Atlantic
CL NEPTUNE departed Lagos on patrol.

Med- Biscay
BB WARSPITE, CV ILLUSTRIOUS, other units of the Med Flt arrived at Alexandria after supporting initial Crete landings. Sub TETRARCH unsuccessfully attacked a steamer off Benghasi. DD KIMBERLEY was attacked unsuccessfully by RA bombers.

Malta
1228-1336 hrs Air raid alert for five Italian formations totalling 20 SM79 bombers accompanied by some 30 MC 200 and CR42 fighters which approach from the nth and fly over the Island. Bombs are dropped four miles in front of Fort St Elmo. AA guns open fire, splitting the first bomber formation. 6 Hurricanes and 2 Gladiators are scrambled and attack the raiders in several dogfights at 17000 feet.

One MC 200 is brought down by a Hurricane between Zeitun and Hompesch. The pilot bales out but his parachute fails to open fully and he is killed. A second Macchi is destroyed by another Hurricane. Two CR42s are also damaged by fighters. AA guns split the formations and shoot down one enemy a/c. After a brief lull bombers and fighters cross the coast and drop bombs on Luqa hitting a hangar on the aerodrome, and on Zabbar, demolishing four houses. 2nd Bn Royal West Kent Regiment carries out a search for unexploded bombs on the aerodrome: three are reported. No military or civilian casualties are reported.

 

[Njaco]

November 3 Sunday
MEDITERRANEAN: The tide turns on Italian forces in Greece. In the Pindus Mountains in northern Greece, Greek Pindus detachment counterattacked against Italian Julia Division, recapturing the villages of Samarina and Vovousa and defeat 3rd Alpini Division. Further West in Epirus, Italians bring up light L3/35 tankettes and medium M13/40 tanks to attack the Greek defenses on the Kalamas River. The tanks get stuck in the hilly, marshy terrain and are unable to support the infantry, who are slaughtered in front of the Greek machineguns. Far to the south, British troops began arriving on mainland Greece.

NORTHERN EUROPE: British submarine HMS "Sturgeon" sank Danish ship "Sigrun" in the Oslofjord, Norway.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Elders Fyffes cargo ship "Casanare", carrying bananas from Nigeria to England, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-99, with loss of 9 crewmembers. Armed merchant cruiser HMS "Laurentic" (former Cunard - White Star Line passenger liner) attempts to help but is struck by three torpedoes from U-99, but does not sink. Armed merchant cruiser HMS "Patroclus" (former Blue Funnel Line cargo ship) also attempts to help but is also struck by three torpedoes, without sinking. 368 survivors abandoned "Laurentic" and were rescued by "Patroclus". U-99 then surfaces and exchanges fire with "Patroclus" and puts a fourth torpedo in the ship, which remains afloat.

UNITED KINGDOM: This is the first night since September 7th that there is no raid on London. There have been 57 consecutive nights of attack and after tonight 10 more will follow. An average of 165 planes has attacked each night dropping 13,600 tons of high explosive and many incendiaries.

.

 

[parsifal]

A/C pictured is sitting on the ground on its belly. it suggests some mishap has befallen on the a/c and the ground crews are testing the systems for damage.

or is there some other explanation?

edit
nope. Looking at the picture again, its not sitting on the ground at all.

 

[parsifal]

3 November 1940
Losses
MV CASANARE (UK 5376 grt) Sunk by U-99 (Otto Kretschmer) Crew: 63 (9 dead and 54 survivors) Cargo: Bananas Route: Victoria, Cameroons (18 Oct) - Garston ;Independant sailing; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 2140 hrs the unescorted CASANARE was hit by one G7e torpedo from U-99 and sank later about 240 miles WSW of Bloody Foreland. Nine crew members were lost. The master and 53 crew members were picked up by DD BEAGLE and landed at Greenock. Her distress messages brought the AMCs LAURENTIC and PATROCLUS to the scene and the U-boat began a dramatic battle in which both ships were sunk.

AMC LAURENTIC (RN 18724 grt); 10th largest ship sunk by a Uboat Sunk by U-99 (Otto Kretschmer) Crew: 417 (49 dead and 368 survivors) Route: Mid Atlantic Patrols; (See 4 November entry for AMC PATROCLUS for further details on the battle)

Sub STURGEON sank steamer SIGRUN (Ex-Danish 1337 grt) about 10 nautical miles ESE of Larvik,Norway in Oslofjord.

FV VAN DER WEYDEN (Be 132 grt) sank after hitting a mine four and a half cables 262° from No. 4 Buoy, Milford Haven. Eight crew were lost from the vessel. There was only one survivor.

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient, France: U-47, U-137

At Sea 3 November 1940
U-28, U-29, U-47, U-65, U-99, U-124, U-137.
7 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 1000 to cover convoy WN.29 from Pentland Firth to Methil. Convoy WN.29 was under sustained LW attacks from 1821 to 1930. Steamer KILDALE (UK 3877 grt) was sunk by the LW in these attacks. Two crew were lost on the British steamer. British steamer EROS was damaged by the LW in these attacks.

FN.326 departed Southend, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 5th. FS.327 departed Methil, escort DDs QUORN, WALLACE, WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 5th.

Northern Waters
DDs MASHONA and KEPPEL departed the Clyde and arrived at Scapa on the 4th.

West Coast UK
CL DESPATCH, escort DDs VENOMOUS, VESPER, WINDSOR, which had departed Sheerness on the 1st and picked up DESPATCH at Portsmouth, arrived in the Clyde.

British steamer WINDSOR CASTLE was damaged by the LW in 54‑12N, 13‑18W. The steamer was escorted to the Clyde by DD BULLDOG. BULLDOG departed the Clyde on the 4th for Liverpool, arriving later the same day.

British steamer CAIRNGORM (394grt) was damaged on a mine in Bristol Channel.

Central Atlantic
CL DRAGON departed Freetown.

Sth Atlantic

Med- Biscay
CVL EAGLE, BBs VALIANT, RAMILLIES, MALAYA, the 7th Cruiser Squadron arrived at Alexandria after supporting initial landings at Crete

 

[Njaco]

November 4 Monday
NORTHERN EUROPE: The pilots and ground personnel of Hptm. Franz-Heinz Lange's II./JG 77 leave their northern airbase at Aalborg and move to the Western front airfield at Brest-Guipavas. Several Staffeln located at separate airfields in Norway, prepare to join their parent Geschwader outside Brest.

WESTERN FRONT: Hans Philipp, Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 54 is awarded the Ritterkreuz for twelve victories while the III Gruppe of the 'Grünherz' Geschwader receives a new Gruppenkommandeur when Hptm. Arnold Lignitz is appointed to command in place of the temporary commander, Oblt. Gunther Schölz.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-99's battle with British convoy escorts continues through the night. German submarine U-99 attacked British armed merchant cruiser HMS "Patroclus" 150 miles west of Ireland while she was rescuing survivors of HMS "Laurentic", which was disabled by U-99 at the end of the previous day. U-99 fired torpedoes at 0022 hours, 0044 hours, and 0118 hours from the surface, and then dove to avoid attacks. At 0435 hours, U-99 resurfaced, sinking HMS "Laurentic" with a torpedo which detonated "Laurentic's" depth charges. "Patroclus" was sunk at 0525 hours, killing 56. British destroyer HMS "Hesperus" arrived and chased away U-99 with depth charges.

MEDITERRANEAN: The first Greek counterattacks begin in the northern sector of the front. The Italian offensive, despite its numerical strength, is already in difficulties. In the Pindus Mountains, Italian Julia Division is trapped in the Vovousa valley, under attack by Greek 2nd Army Corps which has been brought in to reinforce the sector. Julia calls for help but they are too far away from reinforcements which are dispatched from Albania. Further West on the Ionian coast, Italian troops cross the Kalamas River and secure a bridgehead but are unable to breakout and outflank the Greek defenses further inland.

British cruiser HMS "Ajax" continues shuttling between Alexandria, Egypt, and Crete, to reinforce the garrison at Suda Bay. "Ajax" departs Alexandria with Australian cruiser HMAS "Sydney" with 14th Armoured Brigade HQ, anti-aircraft guns and troops.

Italian ports of Bari and Brindisi bombed by RAF aircraft from Crete.

Spanish administration established in former International Zone of Tangier.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler met with his top military leaders in Berlin, Germany to explore the possibility of attacking Gibraltar, Azores Islands, Madeira, and Portugal as means to block the British Royal Navy from entering the Mediterranean Sea.

.

 

[parsifal]

4 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
ELCO 70' USS PT-10

Allied
"N" Class DD ORP PIORUN

ORP DD PIORUN was completed. Following working up she operated in DesFlot 7 in the Home Fleet
Losses
AMC PATROCLUS (RN 11314 grt)Sunk by U-99 (Otto Kretschmer) Crew: 319 (56 dead and 263 survivors) Route: Mid Atlantic Patrol area At 2140 hrs on 3 Nov 1940, U-99 torpedoed the unescorted CASANARE west of Bloody Foreland Her distress messages brought the AMCs LAURENTIC and PATROCLUS to the scene and the U-boat began a dramatic battle at 2250 hrs when the first torpedo struck the engine room of LAURENTIC. At 2328 hrs, a second torpedo hit the vessel, but did not explode# A third torpedo was fired at 2337 hrs from a distance of 250 metres into the hole opened by the first torpedo, at this time the lookouts spotted the U-boat on the surface and Kretschmer had a hard time in evading the gunfire.

In the meantime, PATROCLUS began picking up survivors instead of participating in the fight against the U-boat and her lookouts did not see U-99 only 300m away. A first torpedo struck the ship at 0002 hrs, a second at 0022 hrs and a third at 0044 hrs# 14 minutes later, the U-boat opened fire with the deck gun and hit with two of the four fired rounds, before Kretschmer had again to evade the gunfire and hit her with a fourth torpedo at 0118 hrs.

After that, U-99 searched for the CASANARE to give the crew time for reloading the torpedo tubes, but only found two lifeboats at her position and questioned the survivors, the vessel had foundered in the meantime. At 0239 hours, a Sunderland flying boat suddenly appeared over the U-boat, which had to dive, but no bombs were dropped. At 0404 hours, the U-boat surfaced after reloading the torpedoes, went back to the AMCs at high speed and fired at 0453 hrs a coup de grace from a distance of 250m at LAURENTIC. The torpedo struck the stern and ignited the DCs stored there, causing the ship to sink by the stern within minutes. Two officers and 47 ratings were lost.

Around this time a DD was spotted and Kretschmer had to sink PATROCLUS in a hurry. A fifth torpedo at 0516 hrs had no significant effect, but the sixth torpedo at 0525 hrs broke the ship in two, the stern capsized and the bow sank slowly. The commander, six officers and 49 ratings were lost. After that, U-99 was attacked by DD HESPERUS, but the destroyer soon left the U-boat to pick up the commander, 51 officers and 316 ratings from the LAURENTIC. 33 officers and 330 ratings from PATROCLUS were picked up by DD BEAGLE and landed at Greenock.

UBOATS
At Sea 4 November 1940
U-28, U-29, U-47, U-65, U-99, U-124, U-137
7 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLA CURACOA arrived at Rosyth. FN-327 departed Southend, escort DDs VEGA and VIMIERA. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 6th.

Northern Waters
BBs NELSON and RODNEY, CLAs NAIAD and BONAVENTURE, DDs COSSACK, MAORI, MATABELE, ELECTRA, BRILLIANT departed the Firth of Forth. DD PUNJABI departed Scapa to join Home Fleet on battleship NELSON in the Firth of Forth. The RN force arrived at Scapa Flow on the 5th. AA ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 0900 to cover convoy WN.30 to the vicinity of Bell Rock#

West Coast UK
DD BULLDOG departed the Clyde for Liverpool arriving late on the 4th. OB.239 departed Liverpool, but due to the presence of DKM CS ADMIRAL SCHEER in the Nth Atlantic, she proceeded to Oban and did not sail until 10 November.

Central Atlantic
CL DIOMEDE departed Tortula. Convoy SL.54 departed Freetown escort AMC ESPERANCE BAY to 25 November. AMC SALOPIAN joined the convoy on the 22nd to 25 November. On 24 November, DDs CALDWELL, WALKER, WESTCOTT, corvettes CANDYTUFT, CROCUS, HEARTSEASE, HONEYSUCKLE, French sloop CHEVREUIL joined the convoy. DD CALDWELL was detached with the merchant cruisers on the 25th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.

Med- Biscay
CVL EAGLE developed defects to her machinery as a result of near misses from RA attacks over the preceding months. This caused her withdrawal from operation JUDGMENT. CLs AJAX and RAN CL SYDNEY departed Alexandria to embark troops at Port Said. The cruisers departed on the 5th carrying a further bn of troops and one HAA battery.

Convoy AN.6, escorted by ASW trawlers KINGSTON CRYSTAL and KINGSTON CYANITE, departed Port Said with British tkrs ADINDA and BRITISH SERGEANT and five steamers for Greece. Tanker PASS OF BALMAHA departed Alexandria and joined this convoy at sea. Both trawlers broke down and had to be relieved by DD DAINTY, which departed Alexandria late on the 4th with ASW trawlers KINGSTON CORAL and SINDONIS to join the convoy. The convoy arrived on the 8th. DD DAINTY later joined the Main Fleet for the MB 8 operation. Submarine TETRARCH damaged Italian steamer SNIA AMBA from a convoy off Benghazi. This convoy had departed Tripoli 2 November with SNIA AMBA and PALLADE, escorted by TB LA FARINA. The submarine claimed damaging steamer PALLADE, as well, but the steamer was not damaged. Italian submarine BIANCHI was damaged by DD GREYHOUND and a London flying boat near Gibraltar and put into Tangiers for refuge. Vichy DDs MAMELUCK, FLEURET, EPEE, LANSQUENET passed Gibraltar from west to east.

Convoy BS.8 departed Suez, escort sloop CLIVE. The convoy was joined on the 5th by sloop GRIMSBY. The sloops were detached when the convoy was joined by light cruiser LEANDER, destroyer KINGSTON, slops FLAMINGO and INDUS. The convoy was dispersed off Aden on the 12th.

Malta
0628-0705 hrs Air raid alert for enemy a/c approaching the Island from the nth. A Wellington bomber returning to Malta is chased in by an Italian CR42 fighter which then dives out of the clouds to machine-gun a beach post of the Dorset Regiment and Delimara before escaping out to sea.

2345 hrs Two Wellington bombers crash on take-off from Luqa.

Burned out Wellington bomber and houses in Qormi

 

[parsifal]

5 November 1940 (Part I)*
Known Reinforcements
Axis
DKM Raider HANSA

Allied
Motor Launch Fairmile B ML 154

Hunt Class Type I Escort DD HMS TYNEDALE (L 96)

Following working up, she was assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Portsmouth Command.

Losses
Tkr SCOTTISH MAIDEN (UK 6993 grt) Sunk by U-99 (Otto Kretschmer); Crew: 44 (16 dead and 28 survivors) Cargo: Diesel Oil and Marine Fuel oil Route: Curaçao - Halifax (24 Oct) - Avonmouth; Convoy HX-83; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0255 hrs the SCOTTISH MAIDEN in HX-83 was torpedoed and sunk by U-99 about 225 miles SW of Bloody Foreland. The U-boat fired its last torpedo at three overlapping ships from a distance of 3600m and observed a hit in the stern of a tanker. 16 crew members were lost. The master and 27 crew members were picked up by HMS BEAGLE and landed at Liverpool.
(New Photo Source: The MV Scottish Maiden : Convoy Cup Foundation )

HX.83 was at that time escorted by DDs ACTIVE, ACHATES, BEAGLE, HESPERUS, HURRICANE, WILD SWAN and corvette PICOTEE.
In the counter attack after the sinking of steamer, DD BEAGLE damaged U.123, which was able to return to Lorient.

Steamer HAIG ROSE (UK 1117 grt) was lost in Bristol Channel to unknown agent.
(New Photo source: Steamship Haig Rose (Cargo Vessel))

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-138

At Sea 5 November 1940
U-28, U-29, U-47, U-65, U-99, U-124, U-137, U-138.
8 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Nth Atlantic
At 1240, DKM CS ADMIRAL SCHEER sank steamer MOPAN (UK 5389 grt) in 52‑59N, 32-12W. MOPAN had departed Kingston, Jamaica, was en route to England. The Panzerschiff rescued the steamer MOPAN's 68 survivors.

The S.S. MOPAN had passed Convoy HX84 , and she had declined an invitation to join the convoy, preferring instead to sail on ahead, alone. The ADMIRAL SCHEER came across the MOPAN, and ordered her to stop, firing warning shots from her 5.9 inch guns, which exploded close to the freighters bow.

The abandoned MOPAN being shelled by the 5.9" btys of the SCHEER. On the right, a lifeboat carrying survivors from the MOPAN are hoisted onto the SCHEER. The crew were taken prisoner to minimise the chances of the SCHEER being discovered as she stalked HX 84

Sinking the JERVIS BAY and attacks on HX 84
SCHEERS commander (Krancke) was not happy about the time that had been spent bringing down the MOPAN it as it had wasted valuable time and daylight was running out, it was going to be close but he could still do it. So again he ordered full speed ahead.

HX 84 commanders still believed as twilight was setting in they could dodge the raider, but as sunset began, the HMS JERVIS BAY spotted a ship on the horizon. Capt Fegen flashed "What ship ?" but he received no reply, it was possible that it could be an escort for the convoy. When the vessel was about 10 miles away and the signals still being sent and no reply given, concern began to grow and the JERVIS BAY went to action stations, but they still could not recognise the ship as darkness was beginning to set. By 1730 hrs (5.30 pm) the ship was at about 8 miles range and closing, when the ship turned broadside on, allowing all of her six 11" guns to bear down on the convoy.

This time Kranke gave no warning and opened fire. Any confusion the convoy had about the ship ended when six flashes of light was seen coming from her and within seconds the sound of of the shells passing overhead were heard. Immediately the convoy was ordered to scatter. Capt Fegen (of the JERVIS BAY) immediately ordered full ahead and turned towards the enemy, dropping smoke floats as they went. He surely realised that his actions were a virtual death sentence for his ship, and most of the crew, but he stated to his Bridge officer the only thing to prevent the "SCHEER" from destroying the convoy entirely was to buy time by sacrificing his ship. There would be no rescue for the crew as the convoy had been ordered to run for it. He gave the order to open fire on the SCHEER even though he was still out of range, with only four old 6" guns and an out of date fire control system against six 11" modern guns with a modern radar fire control system he attacked the ship. Krancke seeing the JERVIS BAY attacking, realised he must first overpower this unlikely mismatch before he could get into the real work of sinking the convoy.

After the second or third salvo the SCHEER had the range and 11" shells started to rip the JERVIS BAY apart. First it was the foredeck that was hit and some of the gun crew, with little protection from the blast and splinters, were blinded and wounded, but still they managed to keep firing, then it was below the bridge a shell exploded and part of the bridge was ripped apart and her only gunnery control centre, it was left in a mess with men lying bleeding and dying, with broken bones, bust eardrums, in shock and gasping for air through the smoke, still the JERVIS BAY fought on doggedly setting a heading for a deliberate collision course for the SCHEER if she could just manage to ram her she could still save the convoy. The next shell was a direct hit on a forward gun and the crew was killed immediately. The bow now was a mess with flames everywhere and metal sheets twisted and bent. Again the bridge was hit but this time it was a direct hit, in which Capt Fegen's arm was blown off, even though he managed to stand up and return to what was left of the bridge and restore some resemblance of order in what was left of the bridge crew, he remained at the bridge until he died moments later when another shell ripped the bridge apart. Throughout all this time what was left of the forward guns continued to fire, though they were still out of range. As they got closer and closer more and more shells hit the JERVIS BAY . Now the ship was ablaze from stem to stern and men dead or dying everywhere, but still at full speed to destruction. At last a shell caused serious damage to the ships structure, as she stopped and started to topple on she side. The order to abandon ship was given, then she started to sink bow first with her propeller sticking out of the water she headed to her final resting place with 187 of her crew. For his actions Captain Fegen received the Victoria Cross (posthumously). It was a decoration surely deserving for such a gallant and brave crew. The battle was short but valuable time had been gained and most of thye convoy owe their survival to this supreme sacrifice.

SCHEER took just over 22 minutes to deal with AMC HMS JERVIS BAY (RN 14164 grt) , which ceased fire and sank at almost the same time at 2003 hrs.

SCHEER, as expected did not attempt to rescue or assist the stricken ship, and engaged what elements of the rapidly scattering convoy. she sank steamer MAIDAN (UK 7908 grt) in 52‑28N, 32‑08W,

Steamer TREWELLARD (UK 5201 grt) in 52‑27N, 32‑09W,

Steamer KENBANE HEAD (UK 5225 grt) in 52‑26N, 32‑34W,

MV BEAVERFORD (UK 10,042 grt) in 52‑26N, 32‑34W. As the SCHEER overhauled the BEAVERFORD, it was just getting dark, but not enough to escape. BEAVERFORD's skipper, Captain E. Pettigrew knew that his ship was doomed. In what has been described as an amazing act of bravery, Pettigrew turned his ship toward the looming raider, its single forward four-inch gun firing until the SCHEER destroyed the BEAVERFORD about 15 mins later . The ship exploded and sank, taking its entire crew of 77 to the bottom with it. More time lost however for the by now furious Krancke.

MV FRESNO CITY (UK 4955 grt) in 51‑47N, 33‑29W

Steamer ANDALUSIA (UK 3082 grt) was damaged, but survived.

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[Njaco]

November 5 Tuesday
WESTERN FRONT: Hermann Göring issued an order to loot the art treasures at the Louvre museum in Paris, France, which were to be distributed to German museums and private collections of Nazi leaders, with a large portion of the art reserved for himself.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German heavy cruiser "Admiral Scheer" has been in the North Atlantic since November 1 waiting to attack Allied convoys. Using German radio intercepts, she vectors in on convoy HX-84 (38 merchant ships from Halifax Nova Scotia to Britain). Late in the afternoon, "Admiral Scheer" appears over the horizon and approached Allied convoy HX-84 in the North Atlantic. British armed merchant cruiser "Jervis Bay" moved in to intercept. Hopelessly outgunned, "Jervis Bay" was sunk within 15 minutes of the gun battle; 190 were killed and 65 survived; Captain Fegen of "Jervis Bay" would be awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his efforts to slow "Admiral Scheer". Nevertheless, "Admiral Scheer" was able to sink 5 additional British ships in the convoy before the convoy scattered and escaped, killing an additional 208 sailors. The British suspend convoy sailings until November 17th but their pursuit fails to find the German ship which has moved toward the south Atlantic.

German submarine U-99 sank British tanker "Scottish Maiden" 180 miles northwest of Ireland at 0255 hours, killing 16. She was carrying 3,000 tons of diesel oil and 6,500 tons of marine fuel. British destroyer HMS "Beagle" picked up 28 survivors.

NORTH AMERICA: President Roosevelt is elected for an unprecedented third term. His majority in the popular vote is 10 percent -- 27,000,000 to Willkie's 22,000,000. In the Congressional elections the Democrats lose four Senate seats and gain eight seats in the House. They retain their majority in both chambers.

WEST AFRICA: Free French invasion of Gabon. Free French troops captured Lambaréné, French Equatorial Africa (in present day Gabon) about 100 kilometer inland up the Ogooué River. Since October 27, they have advanced 200 miles from their starting point in Cameroon and now threaten Gabon's capital Libreville. Meanwhile, Free French commanders Colonel Marie Pierre Kœnig and Major Philippe Leclerc sail from Douala, Cameroon, with French Foreign Legion, Senegalese and Cameroonian troops to attack Libreville from the sea.

MEDITERRANEAN: Greek cavalry troops under General Georgios Stanotas began a new attack on the enveloped Italian Julia Division in the Vovousa valley in northern Greece.

Italians bomb Yugoslav border town of Monastir.

NORTH AFRICA: While at Alexandria, Egypt, a leak was found in the fuel system of HMS "Eagle", requiring her to receive repairs. The damage was caused by near misses by Italian bombers on 12 Oct 1940.

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[parsifal]

5 November 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Nth Atlantic (Cont'd)
Attacks on the JERVIS BAY and HX 84 (Cont'd)

SCHEER also damaged damaged tker SAN DEMETRIO in 52‑48N, 32‑15W, The tkr was hit with several shells that destroyed the bridge and poop deck and left the upper deck in flames. Despite both the exploding shells and the resultant fire, the ship's highly flammable cargo did not explode. Nevertheless her Master, Captain Waite, believed that the fire could set off the aviation fuel at any moment so he gave the order to abandon ship. With the ship remaining under fire from the Scheer, the crew escaped in two lifeboats. Admiral Scheer then turned her attention to other ships of the rapidly scattering convoy.

The two lifeboats separated in the night and the lifeboat with the captain and 25 crew was picked up and taken to Newfoundland. The 16 men in the other lifeboat, including Second Officer Arthur G. Hawkins and Chief Engineer Charles Pollard, drifted for 24 hrs when they sighted a burning ship. To their surprise, they discovered that it was their own ship, SAN DEMETRIO. With few alternatives, the crew had to decide whether to risk death by exposure or to re-board and risk the fire. In the end they chose to remain in the lifeboat because the fire was too great and the weather too hazardous to attempt boarding, but after a second night in the boat and enduring a freezing Nth Atlantic winter gale, they regretted not re-boarding the tkr.

At dawn the following day, 7 November, the SAN DEMETRIO was about 5 nautical miles downwind so the crew set sail toward her and re-boarded. They fought the fire, repaired the port auxiliary boiler sufficiently to restart the ship's pumps and dynamos and repaired the auxiliary steering gear. No charts or navigational instruments had survived so the crew estimated a course from occasional glimpses of the sun. Her radio had not survived either. They managed to sail the tanker across the rest of the Atlantic, braving bad weather and U-boats. After seven days the SAN DEMETRIO reached waters off Ireland from where they were escorted on to the mouth of the River Clyde, docking on 16 November. They declined the offer of a tow from a tug because of the high cost.

Despite the damage and fire only 200 tons of SAN DEMETRIO 's highly volatile cargo had been lost. There was only one fatality, John Boyle, who had been injured jumping into the lifeboat after the original battle and gradually began to feel unwell. He was propped up in the engine room to watch the gauges but died of a haemorrhage after two days. He was posthumously awarded the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Since the crew had received no assistance from another vessel, in the ensuing case in the Probate, and Admiralty Division of the High Court they were able to claim the salvage money from the insurers for the ship and cargo. The oil and freight cargo were valued at £60,000. The ship herself, almost new, was worth £250,000. The High Court awarded the claimants £14,700 salvage money: £2,000 of it going to Second Officer Hawkins; £1,000 to the estate of Joe Boyle. Another £1,000 went to 26-year-old Oswald Ross Preston, an American seaman, because he played a "magnificent" part when the battle started. Hawkins was also given the tattered Red Ensign of the ship.

The ship's part in Convoy HX-84 was made into a film, San Demetrio London in 1943, starring Walter Fitzgerald, Mervyn Johns, Ralph Michael, and Robert Beatty. It was one of the few films to recognise the heroism of British Merchant Navy crews during the war.

SAN DEMETRIO....Lucky survivor

Troopship RANGITIKI was damnaged but managed to escape. Swedish steamer STUREHOLM rescued 65 and three bodies from JERVIS BAY. The steamer arrived at Halifax on the 12th. Most of the survivors were transferred to AMC COMORIN for return to England. British steamer GLOUCESTER CITY, from a dispersed OB.convoy rescued 92 survivors from the steamers - 25 survivors from TREWELLARD, 23 from SAN DEMETRIO, 27 from KENBANE HEAD, and 24 from FRESNO CITY. On 9 November, Greek steamer MOUNT TAYGETUS rescued a further twelve crew from the FRESNO CITY. On steamer BEAVERFORD, all 77 crew were lost. On steamer MAIDAN, all 91 were lost. One crewman was killed on steamer FRESNO CITY. 23 crew were lost on steamer KENBANE HEAD. Two crew were killed and fourteen crew were missing on steamer TREWELLARD. Steamer GLOUCESTER CITY arrived at St Johns on the 13th. On the 10th, CLA BONAVENTURE and DD MASHONA searched the area of the HX.84 attack.


Convoy SC.10, fourteen ships escorted by Sloop FOLKESTONE, was one hundred miles southeast of HX.84. The convoy was ordered away from the area of the attack. HX.86 departing Halifax was immediately recalled. BHX.66 departed Bermuda on the 3rd escorted by AMC MONTCLARE, but returned to Bermuda on the 5th. BCs HOOD and REPULSE, CLAs PHOEBE, NAIAD, BONAVENTURE, DDs ESKIMO, MASHONA, MATABELE, ELECTRA, SOMALI, PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow late on the 5th to SCHEER's last position. Later, BC HOOD, cruisers PHOEBE and NAIAD, DDs SOMALI, ESKIMO, PUNJABI proceeded to cover the approaches to Brest and Lorient. BC REPULSE, CLA BONAVENTURE, DDs MASHONA, MATABELE, ELECTRA continued towards SCHEER's last position. BBs RODNEY and NELSON departed Scapa Flow on the 6th with CL SOUTHAMPTON and DDs COSSACK, MAORI, BRILLIANT, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL, VIMY to cover the Iceland-Faroes Channel. BB RODNEY was sent to escort HX.83 and once she was safe, HX.85 from Halifax.

DDs CHURCHILL, LUDLOW, LINCOLN, LEWES, recent additions to the RN compliments of Destroyers for bases deal , had departed Halifax on 31 October and refuelled at St Johns on the 3rd before beginning the Atlantic crossing. These DDs intercepted signals from convoy HX.84 and rushed to its location. However, they never made contact and only sighted one empty life boat. The DDs went on without incident arriving at Belfast on the 9th. HX.85 which departed Halifax on the 1st and HX.86 which departed Halifax on the 5th were recalled to Halifax. DD STANLEY, also Ex-USN , which had departed Halifax on the 1st and St Johns on the 5th and RCN DD ST FRANCIS, departed Halifax to aid the convoy and escorted the convoy HX.85 back to Nova Scotia. On 8 November, BBp NELSON, CL SOUTHAMPTON, DDs COSSACK, MAORI, BRILLIANT, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL, VIMY were between Iceland the Faroes.
DDs DOUGLAS, VIMY, BULLDOG rendezvoused with the Home Flt after refuelling at Skaalefjord. BC REPULSE, CLA BONAVENTURE, DDs MATABELE, MASHONA, ELECTRA were in 52‑45N, 32‑15W. RAN CA AUSTRALIA was at the Clyde with turbine problems, probably a broken turbine blade, could not sail until late in the evening of the 8th.

BC REPULSE and DDs MATABELE and ELECTRA arrived at Scapa Flow for refuelling on the 11th. CLA BONAVENTURE and DD MASHONA arrived at Scapa Flow on the 11th for refuelling. The BC HOOD, CLAs PHOEBE and NAIAD, DDs SOMALI, ESKIMO, PUNJABI returned to Scapa Flow at on the 11th for refuelling. DD ESKIMO with weather damage to her asdic dome and her forecastle deck plates buckled was under repair from repair ship MAIDSTONE at Scapa Flow from 13‑16 November in the floating drydock. CLA BONAVENTURE departed Scapa on the 11th to continue to search for survivors. AMC CHITRAL was also at sea on this duty.
The AMC arrived back on the 19th. The CLA was weather damaged and was repaired at Rosyth from 25 November to 4 December.

Northern Patrol
AMCs CHITRAL, which was to the northwest of Iceland, CALIFORNIA and WORCESTERSHIRE, which were to the south of Iceland, departed their stations for the Clyde on the 8th. CL SOUTHAMPTON replaced AMC CHITRAL on her Northern Patrol station. AMC WORCESTERSHIRE joined the BB NELSON group on the 9th. AMC LETITIA departed the Clyde on the 11th to continue Northern Patrol duties. BC REPULSE, CLA NAIAD and DDs SIKH, MATABELE, MASHONA, PUNJABI returned to sea on the 12th to continue patrol and cover the Northern Patrol. BC REPULSE and DDs MATABELE, MASHONA, ASHANTI returned to Scapa Flow on the 19th.

Northern Waters
AA ship ALYNBANK transferred from convoy WN.30 to convoy EN.19 off the Firth of Forth. ALYNBANK escorted convoy EN.19 to Pentland Firth. CLA CAIRO arrived in the Clyde. DDs MAORI, KEPPEL, BRILLIANT departed Skaalefjord on the 10th after refuelling.
The DDs joined the Home Flt at sea.

BB NELSON with DDs BEAGLE, MAORI, BULLDOG, KEPPEL arrived at Scapa on the 13th. KEPPEL began boiler cleaning. BB RODNEY arrived at Scapa Flow on the 23rd.

West Coast UK
CVE ARGUS, CL DESPATCH, DDs VESPER, VENOMOUS, WINDSOR, departed the Clyde for Gib. ARGUS and her escorts after reaching Gib went nth to join RAN CA AUSTRALIA escorting convoys HG.46 and SL.53 the convoy brought north by the RENOWN group. ARGUS with DDs WISHART, WRESTLER, VIDETTE arrived at Gibraltar later on the 14th for operation WHITE.

CLA PHOEBE was weather damaged and was repaired at the Clyde from 18 November to 14 December.

 

[stona]

That Spitfire on 5th November, shot down near Gravesend, was Pingel's 22nd victory if you carry over his tally from Spain.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Njaco]

November 6 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: Luftwaffe daylight raid on Southampton. 190 aircraft raid London by night.

In a dogfight over the Isle of Wight, Ofw. Heinrich Klopp of 5./JG 2 is shot down and killed in his Bf 109E "Black One".

The British Under-Secretary for War announced measures to provide the Home Guard better equipment without altering its 'local and friendly character'. Home Guard officers to be commissioned.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Greek 2nd Army Corps mounted another attack on the enveloped Italian Julia Division in the Pindus Mountains region in northern Greece. To the west, Italian forces at the Kalamas River continued their attempt to break out of the bridgehead and batter fruitlessly against the Greek defenses on the Kalamas River. The Italian advance along the coast reaches Igoumenitsa.

The British promise of financial aid to Greece was cemented with an advance of £5,000,000.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Italian submarine "Comandante Faà Di Bruno" attacked British ship "Melrose Abbey" 200 miles northwest of Ireland with her deck gun. As Canadian destroyer HMCS "Ottawa" and British destroyer HMS "Harvester" approached with guns firing, "Comandante Faà Di Bruno" dove under the surface. The subsequent depth charging by the destroyers successfully destroyed the Italian submarine, killing the entire crew of 57.

British destroyer HMS "Encounter" misidentified British submarine HMS "Utmost" for an enemy submarine and rammed her off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal at 1225 hours. HMS "Utmost" sustained damage, but did not sink.

British minesweeping whaler HMS "Sevra" hit a mine and sank off Falmouth, England, without any casualties.

GERMANY: Three Canadian prisoners of war who had previously served in the British Royal Air Force arrived at the Oflag IV-C camp at the Colditz Castle. The men were Donald Middleton, Keith Milne, and Howard Wardle. They were transferred from Oflag IX-A/H.

EAST AFRICA: General Slim's 10th Indian Brigade attacks and captures Gallabat from the Italians.

.

.

 

[parsifal]

5 November 1940 (Part III)
Med- Biscay
Submarine TRIDENT was ordered to patrol south of Belle Ile in the approaches to St Nazaire. Submarine USK was ordered to the Brest approaches. Submarine TUNA off Gironde was relieved by submarine TIGRIS. Submarine TUNA then proceeded to position off the Scilly. Submarine TRIUMPH on passage to Gibraltar was ordered to a station in 47-30N, 08-00W.

CV ARK ROYAL arrived at Gibraltar with DDs VIDETTE and WRESTLER, cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW. CL SHEFFIELD arrived from Azores patrol at Gibraltar early on the 6th. BC RENOWN and DDs ENCOUNTER, FORESTER, one other departed on the 6th to escort convoys HG.46 and SL.53. Flag Officer Force H.transferred his flag to BB BARHAM and after the arrival of ARK ROYAL on the 6th to her. On the 6th in the Atlantic off Cape St Vincent, sub UTMOST was identified as enemy by DD ENCOUNTER, which rammed the sub UTMOST survived, and proceeded to Gibraltar arriving on the 7th. UTMOST departed Gibraltar on the 30th for Malta, arriving on 8 December, and was was under repair until 2 February. DD ENCOUNTER was escorted to Gibraltar by DD FORESTER. ENCOUNTER was under repair until 23 November. On the 11th, RAN CA AUSTRALIA relieved the RENOWN group of convoy HG.46 and they arrived back at Gibraltar on the 12th. On 8 November, BB RODNEY was in 56‑30N, 28‑30W proceeding to escort convoy HX.85. BC HOOD, CLAs PHOEBE and NAIAD, DDs ESKIMO, SOMALI, PUNJABI were in 45‑50N, west of 20W

On patrol in the Bay of Biscay, Submarine L.27 was damaged when her bridge was wrecked by DCs. Sub L.27 was able to return to Portsmouth on the 7th and was under repair there until 21 January 1941. DKM Zerstorerers JACOBI, ECKHOLDT, IHN, STEINBRINCK, RIEDEL departed Brest to return to Wilhelmshaven for repairs. The DD had been involved earlier in an operation in the Bay of Biscay towards Cape Finisterre, but mechanical problems forced cancellation of the sweep.

On 7 November, DDs ECKHOLDT, IHN, STEINBRINCK arrived at Hamburg, Stettin, Hamburg, respectively, for repairs. Destroyers JACOBI and RIEDEL were repaired at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel, respectively.

Convoy MW.3 of British steamers WAIWERA, DEVIS, VOLO, RODI and tkr PLUMLEAFdeparted Alexandria for Malta escorted by CLAs CALCUTTA and COVENTRY, DDs DIAMOND,RAN VAMPIRE, VOYAGER, WATERHEN, and RN MSW ABINGDON. Steamer BRISBANE STAR , Royal Fleet Auxiliary BRAMBLELEAF , armed boarding vessels CHAKLA and FIONA, netlayer PROTECTOR for Suda Bay travelled in company and was dropped off near Crete with CLA CALCUTTA and RAN DD VOYAGER. RAN CL SYDNEY and CL AJAX loaded troops, ammunition, stores and departed Port Said for Crete. The cruisers disembarked their charges at Suda Bay and departed Crete. Cruiser SYDNEY departed on the 6th and joined the Med Flt from the 7th. AJAX departed later and joined from the 8th.

Sub RORQUAL laid mines north of Tripoli in 34-14N, 11-56E. FI steamer CAFFARO was damaged on this minefield on 27 December. This minefield was extended by submarine RORQUAL on the 9th. RM TBs CALIPSO and FRATELLI CAIROLI were lost on this minefield on 5 and 23 December, respectively, at Ras Misurata.

Malta
The war cabinet decides to deploy up to 24 Wellington Bombers at Malta, to increase the islands offensive potential

There are four major raids by the RA over the island.

0933-0958 hrs Air raid alert for enemy aircraft which approach to within 15 miles of the Island before turning back for base.

1350-1415 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy formations reported 25 miles north of the Island; raid does not materialise.

2205-2234 hrs Air raid alert for a single Italian SM79 bomber which approaches the Island from the north east at 12000 feet and drops bombs on Senglea Point, where a fire is quickly doused, and in Grand Harbour. Malta fighters are scrambled and attack, scoring a direct hit on the raider's rear gunner and damaging the aircraft.

0613-0645 hrs Without prior warning, a single Italian CR42 fighter which flies down the north coast of the Island in pursuit of a Wellington bomber which lands at Luqa on its bomb racks. The enemy raider then dives out of the clouds to 300 feet over Delimara Point and fort, machine-gunning defences, and then attacks and damages the petrol tank and structure of a Sunderland flying boat in Marsaxlokk Bay. Defence posts at Kalafrana open fire with light machine guns: no claims.