This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning (2 Viewers)

[parsifal]

11 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
1936A Mob (Narvik) Class Zerstorer Z26

Losses
In German bombing attacks on the Vosper yard at Portsmouth, Motor torpedo boats MTB.37 (RN 39 grt), MTB.39 RN 39 grt ), MTB.40 (RN 39 grt), MTB.74 (RN 39 grt), MTB.75, (RN 39 grt), and MTB.108 (RN 49 grt) were destroyed on the stocks.

Drifter UBEROUS (UK 92 grt) was lost when she ran aground off Londonderry.

Convoy rescue ship BEACHY (UK 1600 grt) was sunk by the LW with 5 crew killed. ASW trawler ARAB rescued the survivors of the ship on the 29th.

Steamer BERTHA (SD 1216 grt) was sunk by mining between Saltholm and Middelgrund. 13 crew were rescued. 4 crew were missing.

FV ORIOLE (UK 172 grt) was sunk on a British mine 2.5f miles north of Stakken North Point, Faroes. The entire crew was lost.

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-93

At Sea 11 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-124.
8 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.381 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 13th. British steamer GREYFRIARS was damaged by the LW off Grimsby. 5 crew were lost. The steamer drifted ashore near Chapel St Leonards during the night of 11/12 January, but was refloated on the 14th and was towed to Hull for repairs.

West Coast UK
British tanker BRITISH FIDELITY was damaged on a mine near Cardiff. The tanker's engines were totally disabled. She was towed to Cardiff.


Nth Atlantic
HX.102 departed Halifax, escort AMC VOLTAIRE. Simultaneously BHX.102 departed Bermuda on the 9th escort by AMC RANPURA. The convoys rendezvoused on the 15th and one of the AMCs detached. The convoy was joined on the 23rd and replaced later that day by DDs WILD SWAN and WITCH, sloop ABERDEEN, corvettes CAMPANULA, FLEUR DE LYS, GARDENIA, PERIWINKLE. The remaining AMC was detached on the 22nd. DDs WILD SWAN and WITCH were detached on the 25th and corvette GARDENIA on the 27th. On the 28th, sloop ABERDEEN and corvettes CAMPANULA, FLEUR DE LYS, PERIWINKLE were detached, and arrived at Liverpool on the 29th.

Med- Biscay
CL GLOUCESTER and CL SOUTHAMPTON (RN 9100 Grt) with DD DEFENDER were steaming from Malta to join convoy ME.6 when attacked by FKX a/c near Malta at 1500. SOUTHAMPTON was badly damaged at 1605. CL GLOUCESTER picked up 33 officers and 678 ratings of which four officers and fifty eight ratings were wounded. DD DIAMOND picked up sixteen wounded ratings. CLs ORION and RAN PERTH and DDs JERVIS and JANUS were detached at 1645 to assist. However, DDs JUNO and NUBIAN, low on fuel, were detached to join the convoy. Destroyer HERO joined the Force A screen. DDs MOHAWK and GRIFFIN, after delivering DD GALLANT, departed Malta to 1700 to assist. 98 Crew members werre killed in the attacks.

CL GLOUCESTER was struck on the roof and suffered damage to of the forward 6" director. However the bomb passed through five decks without exploding. 9 crew members were killed14 others were wounded. CLs ORION and PERTH and DD JERVIS and JANUS joined that night. CL ORION that evening scuttled the SOUTHAMPTON.

CL GLOUCESTER's Walrus returned to the ship during the attack. The Walrus ditched alongside DD DIAMOND which took off the crew then scuttled the aircraft.

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BB BARHAM, CVL EAGLE, CL AJAX, DDs (RAN) STUART, WRYNECK, (RAN) VENDETTA, (RAN) VAMPIRE, and (RAN) VOYAGER departed Alexandria as Force X to cover the EXCESS convoy in the Aegean and later launch an air strike on Rhodes. This force joined Force A west of Crete on the 12th.​

Force X were sent to Suda Bay to refuel, where the force was reinforced by DDs ILEX, JUNO, HASTY, MOHAWK, GRIFFIN.

After refuelling, BB BARHAM, CVL EAGLE, CL AJAX with DD (RAN) STUART, JUNO, HEREWARD, HASTY, DAINTY departed SudaBay on the 13th. Destroyers ILEX, WRYNECK, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, after sweeping in Kithera Strait at dawn joined the Force at noon.

DDs VAMPIRE and VENDETTA were detached to investigate explosions which proved to be underwater volcanic activity. The destroyers then patrolled inKaso Strait. DDs ILEX and WRYNECK were detached to sweep towards Stampalia and then with VAMPIRE and VENDETTA proceeded to Piraeus to escort the EXCESS convoy to Alexandria. An air strike scheduled for the evening of 13 January on Rhodes was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

On the 14th, four Swordfish were sent to search the Libyan coast between Derna and Tolmeita. Lt (A) D. R. Hoar, A/Sub Lt (A) G. J. Woodley RNVR, Naval Airman H. J. S. Frank of 824 Squadron from aircraft carrier EAGLE were lost when their Swordfish ditched after running out of fuel. A search by destroyer MOHAWK did not locate the crew.

Later on the 14th, an air strike of eight Swordfish were flown off to strike at an Italian convoy, but returned without making contact that evening.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BN.12A departed Aden, escort CLA CARLISLE and DDs KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY, and arrived at Suez on the 15th.

Malta

AIR RAIDS DAWN 11 JANUARY TO DAWN 12 JANUARY 1941
Weather Wind slight; high cloud.
0745-0848 hrs Air raid alert for six enemy aircraft reported approaching the Island. One SM 79 flies over the Island at 33000 feet on reconnaissance. One Maryland is airborne with the task of shadowing any identified German aircraft, especially dive bombers, in order to track them back to their base. Six Hurricanes are scrambled; one sees the raiders but they are too far away to intercept. One Hurricane crashes in flames at Ta Qali, killing the pilot; the cause is unknown.
0837 hrs A defence post of 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment reports seeing a cruiser heading towards the Island with a damaged destroyer in tow.
0838 hrs Southern Infantry Brigade warns 2nd Bn Royal West Kent Regiment to expect 90 prisoners of war shortly, for which they are to provide a guard. Only three prisoners were disembarked.
AIR HQ 0445-1457 hrs Sunderland sweep ahead of eastbound convoy. 0530-1515 hrs Sunderland patrol western Ionian Sea. 0600 hrs Maryland despatched to reconnoitre Taranto for shipping and Catania and Comiso aerodromes. Pilot signalled at 0900 hrs information of ships at Brindisi, though not instructed to recce there. The aircraft has so far failed to return.

 

[Njaco]

January 11 Saturday
GERMANY: Hitler signs Directive No. 22 German Support For Battles In The Mediterranean Area that states that a Sperrverband (Special Blocking Force) be raised and sent to Tripoli to assist Mussolini with his invasion of North Africa. At this time the Italian Army has been defeated and pushed back from Tobruk and Benghazi and is on the brink of annihilation. Hitler orders the Luftwaffe to transfer X Fliegerkorps, led by General Hans Geisler, to Sicily to begin operations against British shipping and airbases in the Mediterranean. The operation is to be named 'Alpine Violets'. At this time X Fliegerkorps' aerial strength is limited to two Gruppen of Ju 87s, two Gruppen of Ju 88s, one Gruppe of He 111s, a Staffel of reconnaissance aircraft and a Bf 110 Gruppe (III./ZG 26). The division soon makes its headquarters at Catania with Palermo, Trapani, Gela and Comiso as the main airfields on Sicily. http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/22.html

During the night 16 British aircraft from RAF No. 49 and 83 Squadrons from Scampton, Lincolnshire attacked battleship "Tirpitz" at Wilhelmshaven, Germany to little effect. No hits were scored.

MEDITERRANEAN: The "Illustrious" Blitz: "Gallant" was beached in Malta's Grand Harbor at dawn but never repaired. As HMS "Mohawk" and the Force B cruisers steamed from Malta to rejoin Force A, they were surprised by 12 Ju-87R dive bombers of II./St.G.2 attacking out of the sun at 1520 hours. German Oberst Werner Ennecerus led the dive bomber attack on British cruisers HMS "Gloucester" and HMS "Southampton" 120 miles east of Sicily, Italy, hitting "Gloucester" with one 500kg bomb that failed to explode (9 killed, 13 wounded) and "Southampton" with two 500kg bombs (98 killed). "Southampton" was abandoned by the 727 survivors at 1900 hours, then scuttled by a torpedo from cruiser HMS "Orion" at 2000 hours. Force H returned to Gibraltar. Ju 87s again bombed the HMS 'Illustrious' now sitting in harbour at Malta. Further east, the Allied convoy Excess, which the cruisers were protecting, reached their destinations of Malta, Egypt, and Greece.

Italian 7th Infantry Lupi di Toscana ("Wolves of Tuscany") Division and the remnants of Italian 3rd Alpine Division Julia launched a failed counterattack on Klisura Pass in Albania, which was captured by the Greeks on the previous day. They are beaten back with heavy casualties including a battalion of Lupi di Toscana which is encircled.

Seven Wellingtons located and bombed the Royal Arsenal at Turin. All bombs fell in the target area causing large fires and heavy explosions. One other aircraft attacked a ball-bearing factory at Turin with similar results.

UNITED KINGDOM: The City of London, the commercial centre at the heart of London continued to be a target, long after the notable raid of 29th December had devastated so much of it. The Luftwaffe again attacked London overnight with 137 aircraft. Bank station lies under the intersection of roads in the heart of the City of London, close to the Bank of England. When it was hit by a bomb at a minute to 2000 hours on the 11th January it was initially thought that 35 people had died, mainly those in the booking hall immediately under the impact of the bomb. As the rescue and recovery work continued it became apparent that the blast had travelled down the escalators and stairs, killing people in its path as well as people on the platforms deep underground. The final death toll was believed to be 51. The damage was so extensive that it was necessary for the Army to build a temporary 'Bailey bridge' across the crater.

NORTH AMERICA: Convoy HX 102 departs Halifax for Liverpool.

ASIA: Thai troops continue to advance across the border into French Indochina.

Nationalist Chinese 3rd War Area attacking encircled Chinese Communist New 4th Army along Yangtze River near Maolin.

INDIAN OCEAN: German raider "Atlantis" completes overhaul in uninhabited Kerguelen Islands and resumes patrol.

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[Njaco]

January 12 Sunday
WESTERN FRONT: RAF Fighter Command begins Rhubarb operations.

At 1515 hours Fw. Helmut Brügelmann of 8./JG 26 shoots down a RAF Hurricane over Boulogne. Over Texel, Oblt. Kinzinger of I./JG 54 destroys a British Spitfire.

RAF Bomber Command sends 37 aircraft to attack Brest and various airfields overnight.

NORTH AFRICA: Operation Compass. As the Italian defenses at Tobruk are the same as Bardia, Australian 6th Division plans to use the same tactics to pierce the wire and anti-tank ditches at a weak point and peel back the lines of gun pits from the inside. However, they have to wait while British 7th Armoured Division repairs as many Matilda tanks as possible and for fuel and ammunition to be brought up. Matildas are moved forward on heavy artillery tractors to preserve their tracks and engines. Long Range Desert Group raids the Italian outpost at Murzuk oasis. Meanwhile, HMS "Protector" departed Bardia, Libya with 1,058 Italian prisoners of war, sailing for Alexandria, Egypt.

MEDITERRANEAN: British aircraft based on Malta attacked the Axis airbase at Catania, Sicily to prevent German and Italian bombers from attacking British shipping in the Mediterranean and the island of Malta. They are trying to protect damaged British aircraft carrier HMS "Illustrious" which limped into Valletta, Malta, for repairs due to Stuka attack. Photographic reconnaissance disclosed that thirty or forty aircraft on the ground were burned out or severely damaged. In addition, one hangar was destroyed, another severely damaged, and administrative buildings hit. Five RAF Wellingtons attacked the oil refineries at Venice. One large building was seen to collapse and another was hit by a heavy bomb. The last aircraft reported the target area to be a mass of flames. During these operations a large liner in the vicinity of Venice and hangars and workshops at Padua were machine-gunned.

Force A was reinforced west of Crete by Force B, the cruisers of Force D, and HMS "Barham" and "Eagle" from Alexandria.

NORTHERN EUROPE: In Norway, the Germans began recruiting for the Nordland Regiment of 5.SS-Wiking Division.

UNITED KINGDOM: 21-ship troop convoy leaves Britain for North Africa. Convoy WS 5B departs for North Africa via Durban with 40,000 troops, including NZ 5th Infantry Brigade.

ASIA: Thai troops attack toward Pakse while French Indochinese troops mutiny in Annam.

Nationalist Chinese 3rd War Area attacking encircled Chinese Communist New 4th Army along Yangtze River near Maolin.


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[parsifal]

12 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Shakespeare class ASW Trawler HMS CELIA (T 134)

Losses
Trawler STRATHRYE (UK 212 grt) was sunk by a mine in 50-35N, 3-59W. The entire crew was rescued.

Trawler OYAMA (UK 340 grt) was lost to unknown cause in the North Atlantic.

UBOATS
At Sea 12 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-124.
8 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.382 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 14th. FS.386 departed Methil, escort DDs VANITY and WESTMINSTER, and arrived at Southend on the 14th. ML TEVIOTBANK, escort DD INTREPID, laid minefield BS.49, off the East Coast of England.

Northern Waters
DD MONTGOMERY departed Scapa Flow for Liverpool on completion of her work up. The destroyer arrived on the 13th.

West Coast UK
WS.5B departed Avonmouth with four ships and Liverpool with six ships on the 7th. The ships were anchored in Moelfre Bay from 8 to 11 January, because fog delayed the departure of the 11 ships of the Clyde section. DD VANSITTART escorted the Bristol Channel portion of the convoy. RAN CA AUSTRALIA and DDs HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER, WITHERINGTON escorted the Liverpool section to Moelfre Bay and provided AA protection with CLA NAIAD. DDs (RCN) OTTAWA, LEOPARD, CHURCHILL, LINCOLN, WATCHMAN, FEARLESS, BEAGLE, BRILLIANT escorted the 5 ships of the Clyde section able to sail. DD FORESIGHT departed Liverpool 8 January and joined the convoy in Moelfre Bay. On the 11th, the ships in Moelfre Bay moved to Belfast Lough to take on water. The Clyde section rendezvoused with the other sections on the 12th. Convoy WS.5B of steamers DUCHESS OF BEDFORD , FRANCONIA, CAPETOWN CASTLE , NEA HELLAS , ARUNDEL CASTLE , EMPRESS OF JAPAN , WINDSOR CASTLE , MONARCH OF BERMUDA , ATHLONE CASTLE , EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA , PENNLAND , BRITANNIC , WINCHESTER CASTLE , ORMONDE , DURBAN CASTLE , SAMARIA , DUCHESS OF RICHMOND , HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN , HIGHLAND PRINCESS , DUCHESS OF YORK w as finally beginning to form up at this point. Escorting the convoy were, initially DDs WITHERINGTON and LEOPARD to 14 January. DDs LINCOLN, VANSITTART, FEARLESS, BRILLIANT, WATCHMAN, BEAGLE, JACKAL, LEAMINGTON to 16 January. DDs HIGHLANDER and HARVESTER to 16 January. CLAs NAIAD and PHOEBE proceeded with the convoy until 15 January. PHOEBE took steamers MONARCH OF BERMUDA and CAPETOWN CASTLE to Gibraltar, arriving on the 18th. Steamers MONARCH OF BERMUDA and CAPETOWN CASTLE embarked the troops which had been carried by troopship EMPIRE TROOPER.

These two steamers departed Gibraltar for Freetown on the 19th escort DDs ISIS, ENCOUNTER, DUNCAN, FEARLESS, FURY. The DDs joined CVL FURIOUS and CL NEPTUNE. They arrived off Gibraltar on the 22nd, but could not enter due to bad weather. The ships finally arrived at Gibraltar on the 23rd. PHOEBE departed Gibraltar on the 19th to return to England.

CL EMERALD departed Portsmouth. BB RAMILLIES was with the convoy until 17 January. RAN CA AUSTRALIA and CL EMERALD remained with the convoy arriving at Freetown on the 25th. Corvettes ASPHODEL and CALENDULA joined the convoy on the 21st. DD VELOX joined the convoy on the 22nd and DD VIDETTE and corvette CLEMATIS joined the convoy on the 24th. The convoy departed Freetown, minus DUCHESS OF YORK, plus British steamer CAMERONIA, escort DDs FAULKNOR and FORESTER, sloop MILFORD, corvettes CYCLAMEN and CLEMATIS to 1 February.

CL EMERALD arrived at Capetown on 8 February with ATHLONE CASTLE, CAPETOWN, CASTLE, ARUNDEL CASTLE, WINCHESTER CASTLE, DURBAN CASTLE, MONARCH OF BERMUDA, DUCHESS OF BEDFORD, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, EMPRESS OF JAPAN. The cruiser then went on to Simonstown.

CA AUSTRALIA with PENNLAND, NEA HELLAS, BRITANNIC, FRANCONIA, SAMARIA, CAMERONIA, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND, ORMONDE, WINDSOR CASTLE, HIGHLAND PRINCESS, HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN arrived at Durban on 11 February. The convoy departed Capetown on 12 February, escorted by CL EMERALD and from Durban on 15 February, also escorted by CA AUSTRALIA. The two sections rendezvoused off Durban.

On 21 February, liners EMPRESS OF JAPAN, WINDSOR CASTLE, ORMONDE, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, escorted by EMERALD, were detached to Mombasa. The rest of WS.5B continued to Suez escorted by AUSTRALIA now joined by HMS HAWKINS, arriving on 3 March. RAN sloop PARRAMATTA was the Red Sea escort for the convoy. On 22 February, the cruisers were detached to hunt the DKM CS SCHEER. This duty continued until 26 February.

This section departed Mombasa on 24 February as convoy WS.5 X escorted by CL ENTERPRISE, later reinforced on the 27 Feb by CL CAPETOWN, with the convoy arriving at Bombay on 3 March.

On 5 March, EMPRESS OF JAPAN and AQUITANIA departed Bombay again escorted by CL ENTERPRISE. They were joined by CL DURBAN on 8 March for this leg. ENTERPRISE departed the convoy on 9 March. On 11 March, the convoy arrived at Singapore.

Western Approaches
OB.273 departed Liverpool, escort DD AMBUSCADE, corvettes AUBRETIA, HEARTSEASE, HOLLYHOCK, ASW trawlers ANGLE, DANEMAN, LADY LILLIAN. The escort was detached when the convoy dispersed on the 16th

Channel
Norwegian steamer TIJUCA was damaged by mining near the isle of Wight. She was towed to Barry for repairs.

Nth Atlantic
Convoy SC.19 departed Halifax, escort AMC AURANIA and corvette ARROWHEAD. The corvette was detached the next day. On the 26th, the AMC also detached and corvettes HEATHER and PICOTEE, ASW trawler LADY MADELEINE, CVS PEGASUS joined the escort. On the 27th, DDs ANTELOPE and ANTHONY joined and on the 29th, DDs JACKAL, SARDONYX, SCIMITAR. DD JACKAL was detached later that day. On the 30th, DDs SARDONYX and SCIMITAR were detached. On the 31st, DDs ANTELOPE and ANTHONY CVS PEGASUS, ASW Trawler LADY MADELEINE were detached. On 1 February corvettes HEATHER and PICOTEE were detached and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 2 February.

Med- Biscay
RM BBs VENETO and DORIA, the ships of RM CruDiv3 , with 8 DDs, returned to La Spezia, after having put to sea to intervene in the complex operations being undertaken by the RN in the central basin, after receiving information that CV ILLUSTRIOUS was still operational.

BBs WARSPITE and VALIANT, CL GLOUCESTER, DDs JERVIS, JANUS, GREYHOUND, DIAMOND, VOYAGER, HERO, DEFENDER proceeded to Alexandria. CLs ORION and RAN PERTH, CA YORK, DDs MOHAWK and GRIFFIN, designated Force X, proceeded to Suda Bay to refuel.

Steamers CLAN CUMMING, CLAN MACDONALD, EMPIRE SONG detached from the EXCESS convoy arrived at Pireaus at 1000.

RAN CL SYDNEY passed through the Suez Canal to return to Australia after duty with the Med Flt.

Netlayer PROTECTOR, having completed laying anti torpedo net at Bardia, departed for Alexandria after embarking 1058 prisoners.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
BS.12C departed Port Sudan, escort CL CALEDON and sloops FLAMINGO and HINDUSTAN. The escorts were detached on the 15th and the convoy arrived at Aden on the 16th.

Malta
431 (Recon) Flight, was strengthened and renamed 69 Sqn. Formed August 1940 and equipped with the American Maryland Maryland a/c, 431 carries out patrols of the Central Med for potential enemy shipping targets. Their greatest success to date is the photographic reconnaissance of Taranto Harbour prior to the Fleet Air Arm attack on 10 November last.

AIR RAIDS DAWN 12 JANUARY TO DAWN 13 JANUARY 1941
Weather Clear

0826-0840 hrs Air raid alert for 6 JU88 a/c reported which fly over Grand Harbour from the north east, apparently on recon, then turn south over Luqa airfield before departing. 4 Hurricanes are scrambled. Three Fulmars are also airborne at the time and are fired at by AA. There are no hits before the friendly aircraft are identified and they and land at Hal Far without damage .

OPERATIONS REPORTS SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 1941

AIR HQ 0557-1532 hrs Sunderland on patrol western Ionian Sea for enemy shipping movements. 0720-1230 hrs Maryland special photo-recon as ordered but mission not fulfilled due to bad weather in target area; further attempt was to be made. 0937-1644 hrs Maryland heading for recon of Taranto when 40 miles NE of Malta was attacked by Macchi 200; intercommunication gear unserviceable so decided to abandon mission. 1045-1325 hrs Maryland recce Augusta and Catania; aerodrome photographed – 16 fighters and 18 bombers seen dispersed, probably more. 2100-0700 hrs Sunderland effected anti-convoy patrol between Malta and Tunisia; nil report. 2100-0050 hrs Sunderland special mission successfully accomplished.

ROYAL NAVY Subs TRIUMPH and UPHOLDER arrived to join SubFlot 1.

LUQA 148 Squadron: 10 Wellingtons bombing raid on Catania – one a/c force -landed on return, crew saved; another was shot down – crew missing. Two Wellingtons conducted two SAR trips each.

 

[parsifal]

13 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flowerr Class Corvette HMS PETUNIA (K 79)

In March 1942 HMS PETUNIA K 79 was allocated for service at Freetown for convoy escort duties, attached to 40th Escort Group with Corvettes HMS ARMERIA, HMS CLARKIA, DD HMS BOREAS and HMS WILDD SWAN.

She was very active in the sth Atlantic having rescued survivors from British Merchant AGAPENOR sunk 11 Oct 42 by U-87 in . 124 men including 36 survivors from Merchant GLENDENE sunk 8 Oct. AGAPENOR carried 6500 tons of general cargo and 750 tons of copper.

On 9 Oct 42 HMS PETUNIA rescued the master, 157 crew members, nine gunners, 79 passengers and five DBS from British ship ANDALUCIA STAR, sunk 06/10/42 by U – 107 in position 06º 38' N 15º 46'W. The ship was loaded with a cargo of 5374 tons of frozen meat and 32 tons of eggs. Survivors landed at Freetown.

On 24 Sep 42 HMS PETUNIA and HMS St WISTAN rescued the master, 44 crew members and six gunners from British BRUYERE sunk 23/09/42 by U – 125 . BRUYERE was loaded with a cargo of 6729 tons of foodstuffs and general cargo. Survivors were taken to Freetown.

In 1945, at the end of the war she was sold to the Chinese Navy in January 1946 and renamed FU PO. She was sunk on 19 March 1947.

Motor Torpedo Boat of the White 73 feet-type class HM MTB 43

UBOATS
At Sea 13 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-124.
8 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FS.387 departed Methil, escort DDs VERSATILE and VIMIERA, and arrived at Southend on the 16th.

Northern Waters
BC REPULSE, CLs EDINBURGH and BIRMINGHAM with DDs SOMALI, TARTAR, ESKIMO, BEDOUIN, ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0100. DD ESKIMO was found to have defects to rudder requiring docking.

Channel
British steamer WOOLER was damaged by the LW at Victoria Wharf, Plymouth. The steamer arrived Southampton in tow on 2 February.

Med- Biscay
CLs ORION and RAN PERTH arrived at Piraeus at 0230 to embark passengers from the EXCESS convoy. PERTH also embarked a number of RAF personnel from CVL EAGLE for Malta. The cruisers departed at 0600 that morning and proceeded to Malta.

Malta
The governor sent a signal to the war office requesting further strengthening of the AA defences on the island by a further 25%.

AIR RAIDS DAWN 13 JANUARY TO DAWN 14 JANUARY 1941

Weather Clear.

0932-1002 hrs Air raid alert for six JU88 aircraft which approach from the north, circle to the east and carry out reconnaissance over Grand Harbour. Six Hurricanes, three Fulmars, three Swordfish and one Glen Martin Maryland are airborne; no claims.

1120-1130 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy aircraft flying very high across the Island from the south west to the north. Six Hurricanes and three Fulmars are scrambled and anti-aircraft guns open fire; no claims.

OPERATIONS REPORTS MONDAY 13 JANUARY 1941

AIR HQ 0629-1224 hrs Maryland mission to reconnoitre Naples with instructions to execute if possible additional recce requested in secret signal. Reaching Gulf of Salerno observed heavy cloud which rendered special objective impossible. Enemy fleet sighted over Naples and on receiving signal to the effect another Maryland was despatched. 1315-1512 hrs Maryland reconnaissance to discover enemy and return immediately after sending sighting report: nil report despite excellent visibility. 1040-1338 hrs Maryland reconnaissance Catania to examine damage by Wellington operations; cloud prevented recce. 0535-1510 hrs Sunderland patrol western Ionian Sea.

LUQA 69 Squadron: 1 Maryland reconnaissance Naples and special mission (unsuccessful); 1 Maryland reconnaissance unsuccessful attempt to locate convoy; 1 Maryland reconnaissance Catania unsuccessful due to clouds.

 

[Njaco]

January 13 Monday
WESTERN FRONT: Wellington bombers of No. 57 Squadron RAF attacked Ostend, Belgium while other RAF bombers attacked the German submarine base at Lorient, France overnight.

Death of James Joyce, author of 'Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake', in Zurich, aged 58.

EASTERN EUROPE: Hitler meets with King Boris and presses Bulgaria to join the Tripartite Pact. Bulgaria stalled in response to German demand to join the Pact.

ASIA: Admiral Jean Decoux ordered Capitaine de Vaisseau Régis Bérenger to plan an attack on the Thai Navy within the coming days.

UNITED KINGDOM: German aircraft dropped 106 high explosive bombs on Plymouth, England, damaging the Sherwell Congregational Church on Tavistock Road, City Hospital at Freedom Fields, gas works at Coxside, and Corporation electricity works at Prince Rock (26 killed, 117 wounded). Electricity would be restored on the following day, but gas would not be restored for three weeks. Patrol Officer George Wright and Leading Fireman Cyril Lidstone of Auxiliary Fire Service would be awarded George Medals for putting out a fire on an oil tank that might otherwise have exploded.

A Halifax bomber operating from Linton on Ouse airfield near York, was on a climb and consumption test, when an engine caught fire at 12,000 ft. The fire burnt off the tail control surfaces and the pilot lost control. The aircraft crashed 1155 hours near Baldersby St James, 3½ miles N of Dishforth. The crew of six were killed.

NORTH AMERICA: All persons born in Puerto Rico since this day are declared U.S. citizens by birth, through U.S. federal law.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian General Soddu is relieved of command.

Mussolini meets with Albanian Prime Minister and other government leaders.

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[parsifal]

14 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Shakespeare Class ASW Trawler HMS MACBETH (T 138)

LSIs HM PRINCESS BEATRIX (4.44) and QUEEN EMMA

These vessels were basically converted ferries from the Netherlands built as sister ships

T Class Submarine HMS TORBAY (N 79)

Losses
DKM raider PINGUIN captured oil refinery ship OLE WEGGER (Nor 12,201 grt),
oil refinery ship SOLGLIMT (12,246grt)

and whalers POL VIII (Nor 298 grt), POL X (Nor 354 grt), POL IX (Nor 354 grt), TORLYN (Nor 247 grt), GLOBE VIII (Nor 297 grt), POL VII (Nor 338 grt), THORARINN (Nor 249 grt) in the far Southern Ocean. Whalers GLOBE VIII, POL VII, THORARINN escaped to the Falkland Islands where they were able to raise the alarm.

Pilot ship BORKUM (Ger 280 grt) was lost when she was stranded at Hubert Gat.

UBOATS
At Sea 14 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-123, U-124.
8 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic

North Sea
FN.383 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 16th. MSW FITZROY was damaged by mining.

The ship was beached at Harwich. Repair from 30 January to 31 May was done at Sheerness.

Northern Waters
BB RODNEY, with DDs ECHO, ELECTRA, KEPPEL, arrived back at Scapa Flow after repairing weather damage at Rosyth.
DD PUNJABI arrived at Scapa Flow after temporary duties in the Western Approaches. DD ESKIMO departed Scapa Flow for Immingham for rudder repairs. DD BROADWAY departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde after completing work up.
The DD arrived at Greenock on the 15th.

West Coast UK
Convoy OB.274 departed Liverpool, escort DDs VETERAN and WOLVERINE and corvettes ARBUTUS, CAMELLIA, DELPHINIUM, ERICA. Destroyer BEVERLEY joined on the 15th. The three DDs were detached on the 16th. The remainder of the escort was detached on the 17th when the convoy dispersed.

SW Approaches
ML ADVENTURE laid mines in minefield ZME.15 in St Georges Channel.

Central Atlantic

RM sub CAPPELLINI sank steamer​

EUMAEUS (UK 7472 grt) at 8-55N, 15-03W. Lloyds register records that Twelve crew and about fifteen naval ratings were lost. Walrus aircraft from CVS ALBATROSS dropped life rafts to the survivors. The British passenger/cargoship was torpedoed and then shelled by the CAPPELLINI and sank 118 miles W of Cape Sierra Leone.The records of Lloyds list 23 British fallen and 63 survivors, but the war log of the CAPPELLINI clearly describes a "swarming" of troops getting away from the ship. She is known to have been employed as a troopship, so perhaps there is some truth to the Italian claims. .

​

Med- Biscay
CL ORION and RAN CL PERTH landed troops at Malta. PERTH with machinery defects was berthed at Malta from 14 to 17 January. ORION and CLA BONAVENTURE with DD JAGUAR departed Malta for Alexandria, arriving on the 16th.

Convoy AN.12, escorted by 5 RHN DDs departed Port Said for Piraeus with 24 ships, in response to Greek appeals to the British for further assistance. MSW DERBY was in the escort of convoy AN.12. On the 17th, the MSW was detached to Suda Bay to relieve MSW FAREHAM. AS.11 departed Piraeus with 10 ships of which 3 were British. CLA CALCUTTA, escorting convoy AS.11, was detached at dusk on the 15th to join convoy AN.12 at daylight on the 17th. Corvettes PEONY and GLOXINIA departed Suda Bay on the 13th and joined AS.11, escorting it to Port Said. The corvettes then proceeded to Alexandria, arriving 20 January. DDs ILEX, WRYNECK, RAN DDs VENDETTA and VAMPIRE departed Suda Bay to join the EXCESS convoy. The DDs arrived back at Suda Bay on the 16th when it was found they were not required for EXCESS.

​

Submarine ROVER arrived at Malta from patrol with battery defects. Corvettes HYACINTH and SALVIA arrived at Port Said from EXCESS convoy duty. On the 16th, the corvettes departed Port Said escorting two steamers to Alexandria, where they arrived on the 17th.

​

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
NZ Manned CL LEANDER departed Aden for Colombo carrying out an anti raider patrol en route. The cruiser arrived at Colombo on the 21st and was assigned to CruSqn 4 of the East Indies Station.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 14 JANUARY TO DAWN 15 JANUARY 1941
Weather Thick cloud at 2500 feet.
No air raids.

OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 1941

AIR HQ 0620-1503 hrs Sunderland patrolled western Ionian Sea. 1609-1936 hrs Sunderland effected anti-convoy patrol between Malta and Tunis sighted Italian merchant vessels in Vichy territorial waters. They fired ineffectively at the Sunderland which was recalled due to a rising swell in Malta. 0651-1150 hrs Maryland photo-recon of Palermo Harbour and aerodrome and Catania aerodrome; latter prevented by bad weather. Intense AA fire from Palermo port – Maryland holed in tail plane by near burst. At Palermo aerodrome one large camouflaged aircraft, three SM79s, 15 medium bombers (single-engined), 17 CR 42s, three Macchi fighters. 0745-1055 hrs Maryland reconnaissance Naples harbour and to take photographs as per secret telegram: bad weather prevented mission completion.

 

[Njaco]

January 14 Tuesday
MEDITERRANEAN: British Commander-in-Chief Middle East General Wavell met Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas and Greek Commander-in-Chief General Alexandros Papagos in Athens, Greece. Papagos asked Wavell for 9 divisions of British troops plus air support, but Wavell only offered 2 or 3 divisions. Papagos, who thought 2 to 3 divisions was too few to effectively deter a German invasion while still putting Greece in an indebted position, rejected the offer, not wanting a British presence that will prompt a German invasion but be too small to help stop it. Wavell, Churchill and British War Cabinet are relieved to have fulfilled the obligation to assist Greece while still maintaining forces in Libya.

Mussolini meets with Italian generals about operations in Albania.

Axis air forces conduct heavy attacks against the island of Malta.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Pinguin" captured almost an entire Norwegian whaling fleet (whale oil tanker "Solglimt", factory ships "Ole Wegger" and "Pelagos", and 11 of their attendant whalers) without firing a shot in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. Three whalers escaped and provided warning to another whaling fleet nearby. "Pinguin" captured 20,000 tons of whale oil and 10,000 tons of fuel oil with this success. Skeleton crews are put on board and the ships reach French ports in March 1941. 3 whalers escape and warn another factory ship, "Thorshammer", which departs with its flotilla of whalers. This action effectively ended Southern Ocean whaling for the duration of the war.

Italian submarine "Cappellini" and British auxiliary cruiser "Eumaeus" engaged in a gun fight for three hours 100 miles west of Freetown, British West Africa. "Cappellini" suffered three casualties and was badly damaged. "Eumaeus" finally sinks (12 crew and 15 naval ratings lost). A Supermarine Walrus from seaplane carrier HMS "Albatross" responds to distress calls from "Eumaeus", dropping life rafts to the survivors and bombing "Cappellini" (which is badly damaged, requiring 3 days of repairs in the Canary Islands and a return to base at Bordeaux).

WESTERN FRONT: First use of "V for Victory" by Victor de Laveleye on the BBC's Belgian service, Radio Belgique.

EASTERN FRONT: There is a growing death toll in the Lodz ghetto. Before the arrival of the current frosts, when the death rate in the ghetto did not exceed 25 to 30 cases per day (before the war the average death rate among the Jewish population of the city amounted to six per day), there were 12 gravediggers employed at the cemetery. Today there are around 200.

Hitler backs Antonescu in power struggle with the Iron Guard and requests Rumania enter the war.

NORTH AFRICA: RAF night raids on Benghazi and Assab (Eritrea).

ASIA: Encircled and out of ammunition, Chinese Communist New 4th Army destroyed by Nationalist Chinese 3rd War Area along Yangtze River near Maolin.

UNITED KINGDOM: Price controls were applied to 21 foodstuffs to prevent speculation.

Six people are killed in an air raid on Port Talbot.

.

 

[parsifal]

15 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type IID U-151
(New image source: Diane & Peter Brendt - Ships)

Type VIIC U-554

U151 was used for training throughout the war. U554 carried out some war patrols but was also mostly a training boat

Neutral
Benson Class DD USS GWIN (DD433)

Losses
Sludge vessel MANCUNIUM (UK 1286 grt) was sunk on a mine two miles NE of Bar Light Vessel, Mersey.
All crew were saved.

Oil refinery tanker PELAGOS (Nor 12,083 grt) and whalers STAR XXI (298grt), STAR XXII (303grt), STAR XXIII (357grt), STAR XXIV (361grt), STAR XIX (249grt) were captured by DKM disguised Raider PINGUIN in the far Southern Ocean. STAR XIX and STAR XXIV though taken in prize by the germans were scuttled when intercepted by Sloop SCARBOROUGH on 13 March in 45N, 23W. The rest of the tankers and whalers, less the three whalers which escaped to the Falklands, captured on 14 and 15 January later arrived in France.

​

Italian submarine TORELLI sank Steamer NEMEA (Gk 5101 grt);
On the 15th January 1941 she was torpedoed by the Italian sub when 700 miles W of Fastnet while taking coals from Barry to Thessaloniki. The steamer was abandoned, but was reboarded on the 16th before the ship finally sank on the 17th. 17 of her crew lost.

Italian Sub TORELLI also sank steamer BRASK (Nor 4079 grt) in 52-45N, 23-59W. Twelve crew was lost on the steamer BRASK. Survivors from steamer BRASK were found on the Greek steamer NEMEA when she was reboarded. .

UBOATS
At Sea 15 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-123, U-124.
8 boats at sea


OPERATIONS
Baltic
Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic

North Sea
FS.388 departed Methil, escort DD GARTH and sloop FLEETWOOD, and arrived at Southend on the 17th. FS.389 departed Methil, escort DDs VIVIEN and WALLACE, and arrived at Southend on the 17th.

British steamer MAYWOOD was damaged on a mine. The steamer was beached in Whitmore Bay, Barry, after which she was later taken to Barry drydocks for repair. British trawler STALKER was damaged by the LW in Hawke Roads, Grimsby. The trawler anchored in Hawke Road, Grimsby. The trawler later sank but was refloated and repaired.

Northern Patrol
DDs LEGION and DOUGLAS departed Scapa Flow to meet and escort AMCs CHITRAL and LETITIA west of Cape Wrath at noon to their patrol positions in the Denmark Straits. On the 16th, the DDs transferred to AMC SALOPIAN and escorted her from the patrol position back to Cape Wrath.

Northern Waters
Churchill visited battleship KING GEORGE V at Scapa Flow. The PM was brought from Scrabster on DD NAPIER, arriving at 1240. MSWs SHARPSHOOTER and SPEEDY also carried some staff members to the BB. After a luncheon, the battleship, carrying Lord Halifax, the new British ambassador to the US, departed Scapa Flow at 1630 escorted by DDs SOMALI, MATABELE, TARTAR, BEDOUIN. This operation was codenamed PARCEL.
The PM returned to Scrabster on the NAPIER on the 16th.

DD COTTESMORE departed Scapa Flow for Aberdeen to escort steamer LOCHNAGAR to Stromness, and rendezvoused early on the 16th. COTTESMORE arrived back at Scapa Flow after the escort duty later that same day.

West Coast UK
British steamer KARRI was damaged by a mine two miles north of Bar Light Vessel, Mersey. One crewman was lost. The steamer was beached on the 16th at Tranmere, and later towed to Liverpool arriving on 10 April for drydocking and eventual repair. .

Nth Atlantic
HX.103 departed Halifax, escort BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN, RCN DD RESTIGOUCHE and corvette ARROWHEAD. The DD and the corvette were detached the next day. Simultaneously, BHX.103 departed Bermuda on the 13th escorted locally by armed yacht ELK and AMC MONTCLARE. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.103 on the 18th and the AMC was detached. The BB was detached on the 26th. On the 27th, DD VANQUISHER and corvettes GENTIAN and VERBENA joined the convoy and were detached later that day. On the 28th, DDs VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA joined the convoy and were detached on the 31st, and arrived at Liverpool on 1 February.

Sth Atlantic
From the 15th to the 17th of January, German tanker NORDMARK embarked food stores from captured British refrigerator ship DUQUESNA at sea. The German tanker then took the British ship in tow.

Med- Biscay
Sub TETRARCH departed Piraeus after a brief duty with the Greek submarines base at Salamis.

Sub REGENT sank Steamer CITTA DI MESSINA (FI 2472 grt), which departed Tripoli on the 11th for Benghazi, escorted by TB CENTAURO, off Benghazi. Lloyds records that she was reported lost on the 29th January, but this conflicts with the REGENT's log entries. .

Malta

AIR RAIDS DAWN 15 JANUARY TO DAWN 16 JANUARY 1941
Weather Hazy skies.
1107-1115 hrs Air raid alert for one enemy aircraft reported already over the Island, circling over Grand Harbour; identified as a Heinkel 111 or Junkers 88. No Malta fighters can be scrambled in time. A Glen Martin heads in for landing at Luqa and is followed in by an enemy aircraft marked with a Red Cross. A few AA guns open fire on the Maryland before recognition but cause no damage. No bombs are dropped.
1940-2050 hrs Air raid alert. Searchlights illuminated over Grand Harbour detect three enemy aircraft to the north. Searchlights at Sliema, St Thomas Bay and Hal Far are illuminated and one Hurricane fighter is scrambled. Due to low cloud, aircraft are heard but not seen circling over Luqa, Hal Far and Grand Harbour apparently searching for their target – presumed to be the Harbour. They leave without launching an attack.
2139-0015 hrs Air raid alert for enemy aircraft which approach singly and in pairs. Low cloud prevents searchlights from illuminating the aircraft. The raiders circle targets before dropping bombs in the sea off Grand Harbour, one between Hompesch and Zabbar one near Latnia crossroads, two near Bofors gun positions at Pretty Bay and one near a gun position at Pembroke. One Wellington lands at Luqa during the raid.
0115-0130 hrs Air raid alert; raid does not materialise.
OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 1941
AIR HQ Maryland standing by to shadow Junkers if they appeared. 0500-1000 hrs Maryland reconnaissance Maddelena but abandoned when near target due to bad weather. Sunderland recce of western Ionian Sea abandoned as impossible to take off during heavy swell. 0837-1114 hrs Maryland recce Taranto Harbour (abandoned due to bad weather) and Catania aerodrome: about 100 aircraft, of which 25 Junkers 87 and 88, seven Fiat BR 20, 20 Macchi 200, four SM 79 and 30-40 aircraft burned out or severely damaged – damage from raid of 13 January. West side hangar a total wreck and another badly damaged, others partly damaged. Damage on central administrative buildings and many bomb craters on the aerodrome. Two Macchis patrolling; one attacked the Maryland from very close range scoring with explosive bullets in the main spars of both wings and one tyre. Maryland's rear gunners first pan jammed and the Macchi was too far away by the time the second pan adjusted. No further damage done on landing but aircraft temporarily unserviceable. Crew unwounded.
LUQA 69 Squadron (431 Flight): 1 Maryland reconnaissance Catania aerodrome hit by Macchi 200; 1 Maryland reconnaissance Palermo and Catania, weather bad; 1 Maryland special reconnaissance Naples unsuccessful; 1 Maryland reconnaissance Maddalena abandoned due to bad weather. 148 Squadron: 9 Wellingtons bombing raid on Catania aerodrome.

 

[Njaco]

January 15 Wednesday
WESTERN FRONT: At 2246 hours, Oblt. Egmont zur Lippe of 4./NJG 1 achieved his second victory, shooting down a British Whitley bomber over Holland.

A fighter pilot for JG 53, Heinrich Kopperschläger, is killed in a flying accident near his airbase. He had destroyed six enemy aircraft during the war.

GERMANY: Overnight, Wellington bombers of No. 57 Squadron RAF attacked Emden, Germany while 76 RAF bombers attacked Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British minelaying cruiser HMS "Adventure" hit a mine and became damaged in Liverpool Bay en route from Milford Haven, Wales. She was towed into Liverpool for repairs.

Italian submarine "Luigi Torelli" attacked an Allied convoy 350 miles west of Ireland, sinking Norwegian ship "Brask" (12 killed, 20 survived) and Greek ship "Nemea" (17 killed, 14 survived).

In Iceland, 133 miles-per-hour winds sank three PBY Catalina aircraft of US Navy squadron VP-73 and sank two PBM Mariner aircraft of US Navy squadron VP-74.

ASIA: The Japanese Navy formed the 11th Air Fleet with the 21st, 22nd, and 24th Air Flotillas with Vice Admiral Eikichi Katagiri in command and Rear Admiral Takijiro Onishi as his chief of staff.

The rivalry between Chinese Nationalists and Chinese Communists becomes more evident; large numbers of the latter are forced to give up their arms, reluctantly of course.

Thai troops attacking toward Pakse dislodge Vichy French defenders. Main Thai force advances in Sisophon sector.

Ships of the French Groupe Occasionnel squadron made rendezvous at 1600 hours 20 miles north of Poulo Condore (Con Dao) archipelago south of French Indochina, and began moving toward the Thai-Cambodian border at 2115 hours.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British Air Ministry issues a directive to Bomber Command regarding the importance of German oil targets.

Luftwaffe attacks Derby overnight with 49 aircraft and night fighters attacked northern airfields, Driffield and Church Fenton among them. There were no casualties. On the airfield, the raiders dropped some eighty to ninety IBs but no damage was reported to have been done. The attacks by the night fighters of I./NJG 2 achieved a measure of success. Between 0200 hours and 0500 hours nine different plots were tracked to airfields at Church Fenton and three of five aircraft engaged on night training at Church Fenton (the home of No 54 Operational Training Unit) came under attack. The three aircraft, a Blenheim and two Defiants, were forced to make crash landings, but there were no casualties. The airfield defenses were unable to engage because of the presence of other friendly aircraft. At 0230 hours Oblt. Albert Schulz of 2./NJG 2 shot down two Blenheims in fifteen minutes for his first two victories.

NORTH AFRICA: Emperor Haile Selassie crosses from the Sudan and returns to Ethiopia.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian vessel "Citta di Messina" sunk by RN submarine "Regent" off Benghazi.

.

 

[Njaco]

January 16 Thursday

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Obst. Verlöhr, Gruppenkommandeur of I./KG 40, sights an Allied convoy west of Ireland and sinks two ships. But due to the small number of aircraft available, Obst. Verlöhr cannot be relieved by more bombers and the rest of the convoy is soon lost when he has to turn back to base.

German submarine U-96 sank British troopship "Oropesa" with three torpedoes 150 miles northwest of Ireland at 0616 hours; 106 were killed. Survivors drifted in 6 lifeboats, but only 5 lifeboats, containing 143, were found and rescued.

Italian submarine "Luigi Torelli" attacked an Allied convoy 350 miles west of Ireland, sinking Greek ship "Nicolas Filinis" (3 killed, 26 survived).

MEDITERRANEAN: The "Illustrious" Blitz: The Luftwaffe attacks began anew on the aircraft carrier HMS 'Illustrious' now sitting at Grand Harbour under repair. The three days grace since the last Luftwaffe attack had been put to good use by the defenders, with every available AA gun sited around the harbor. An experienced artillery officer, Brigadier Sadler, who had commanded the Dover guns during the Battle of Britain, had recently taken over and made sure a formidable box barrage would greet the Stukas. Gunners on other ships in the harbor, such as the cruiser HMAS "Perth", also stood ready, as well as the gunners on the "Illustrious" herself. The air-raid sirens wailed at 1355 hours, and soon the hordes of bombers - 70 Ju87s and Ju88s - came into view. Ten Macchi C.202s, ten CR.42s and twenty Bf110s escorted the Ju87s. The pre-planned barrage put up was fearsome, but the first wave of some sixty-five Ju88s dove into it, shallow diving from 8,000 feet. Following them were the Ju87s, stooping from 10,000 feet, keen to finish the job they started. The defending fighters (a trio of Fulmars from "Illustrious" now based ashore, four Hurricanes and a pair of Gladiators, survivors of the original "Three Graces") at first circled the barrage, sniping at bombers on their entry and exit from the maelstrom, but then threw caution to the wind and followed their targets into the cauldron. One Ju87 came through the box barrage and flew down the harbor so low it had to climb over the 15-foot sea wall at the entrance. As it did so, the Fulmar that had followed it throughout its dive shot it into the sea beyond. The Stukas of I./StG 1 led by Hptm. Werner Hozzel, came up against the heavy anti-aircraft fire and defending RAF Hurricane and RN Fulmar fighters. The Ju 87s succeed in gaining one hit on the HMS 'Illustrious' and damaging the supply ship HMS 'Essex'. A bomb exploded in "Essex 's" engine room killing 15 men and wounding 23 more. But at a cost to the Luftwaffe. The entire 2 Staffel of StG 1 is wiped out except for its Staffelkapitän. Bombs exploding in Grand Harbor killed numerous fish collected after the raid and eaten by the besieged Maltese. The remaining bombs found their mark in the Three Cities around Grand Harbour, destroying or damaging hundreds of houses and causing many civilian casualties.

ASIA: French troops launched a successful counterattack against Thai troops at the villages of Yang Dang Khum and Phum Preav in Cambodia, French Indochina, but poor intelligence forced the French to back off from any territory gained. The Thais were unable to pursue the retreating French, as their forward tanks were kept in check by the guns of the French Foreign Legion.

GERMANY: Hans-Joachim Marseille began a period of rest at home in Berlin, Germany.

UNITED KINGDOM: The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) was founded in Britain.

British minesweeping trawler HMT "Desiree" hit a mine and sank in the Thames estuary in southern England.

NORTH AFRICA: British forces start the first attacks of their East African counter-offensive, on Italian-held Ethiopia, from Kenya.

.

 

[parsifal]

16 January 1941
Losses
Liner OROPESA (UK 14118 grt)
Sunk by U-96 (Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock) : Crew: 249 (106 dead and 143 survivors) Cargo: Mixed Route: Mombasa (12 Dec) - Beira (19 Dec) - Capetown (25 Dec) - UK Convoy: Lost in the Western Approaches; At 0356 hrs the unescorted OROPESA was hit in the stern by one G7a torpedo from U-96 SE of Rockall. A first coup de grace fired at 0440 hrs became a cirle runner, but the two others fired at 0503 and 0559 hours hit underneath the bridge and amidships and caused her to capsize and sink at 0616 hrs. The master, 98 crew members, one gunner and six passengers were lost. 109 crew members, one gunner and 33 passengers were picked up by HMS SUPERMAN (W 89),HMS TENACITY (W 189 ) and HMS WESTCOOT (D 47) and landed at Liverpool.

MSW trawler DESIREE (RN 213 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary. There were no casualties on the trawler.

RM sub TORELLI sank steamer NICOLAOS FILINIS (Gk 3111 grt) in the western approaches. Three crew were lost.

Steamer MEANDROS (Gk 4581 grt) was badly damaged by the LW in the Western Approaches. All crew were rescued. The steamer was taken in tow, but lost touch with H. M. ship during night. The wreck was subsequently sunk by the RN.

Photo shows the MEANDROS under her former name (WILLIASTON)

​

Tkr ONOBA (NL 6256 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Western Approaches. The entire crew was rescued.

​

UBOATS
At Sea 16 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-123, U-124.
8 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.385 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 18th.

Northern Waters
CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to meet WN.69 in Pentland Firth. The ship returned to Scapa Flow after the escort duty lae on the 16th.

West Coast UK
ML ADVENTURE, entering Liverpool Bay from Milford Haven, struck a mine. The damaged cruiser was assisted by tugs. The cruiser was under repair at Liverpool from 23 January to 27 June.

British steamer GLADONIA was damaged by the LW off Sunk Light Vessel. British steamer ROMSEY ) was damaged on a mine. The steamer was beached in Dale Road.

​

British steamer SKJOLD (1345grt) was damaged by the LW north of Lundy Island.

​

British steamer LLANWERN was damaged by the LWQ at Avonmouth.

Med- Biscay
CV ILLUSTRIOUS was further damaged by the LW bombing in Malta, receiving one additional bomb hit. RAN CL PERTH, refitting at Malta, was also damaged by a near miss which caused underwater damage aft, including her propeller shafts. DD DECOY, which had completed repairs this day from her November 1940 bombing, was struck by bombs. British steamer ESSEX was damaged by the LW at Malta during the night of 16/17 January. ESSEX was damaged further by the LW on 9 March. PERTH departed Malta that evening and arrived at Alexandria on the 18th.

​

BB BARHAM, CVL EAGLE, CL AJAX and DD (RAN) STUART, DAINTY, HASTY, GRIFFIN departed Suda Bay to return to Alexandria. They were joined outside the net by HMA DDs VAMPIRE and VENDETTA and RN WRYNECK from Piraeus. Force X, less DDs DAINTY, HASTY, WRYNECK, which on the 18th.

CVL EAGLE was out of action, her speed reduced to 16 kts, due to problems with leaking stern glands.

​

CA YORK and DD ILEX, WRYNECK, RAN VENDETTA, RAN VAMPIRE departed Suda Bay to make an ASW sweep in the Kaso Strait before convoy AN.12's arrival. Sub URSULA departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Gulf of Genoa. She arrived at Malta on the 29th. Sub PARTHIAN departed Piraeus after a brief duty with the Greek submarine base at Salamis.

​

US008/1 departed Colombo for Suez with Norwegian steamer CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS , British steamers CITY OF LINCOLN , DEVONSHIRE, DILWARA , DOMINION MONARCH , Dutch steamers INDRAPOERA, JOHAN DE WITT , Egyptian steamer KHEDIVE ISMAIL), British steamers LANCASHIRE, NEVASA . Dutch steamers NIEUW HOLLAND and SLAMAT , British steamers RAJULA , ROHNA and THURLAND CASTLE

Australia/Pac/Far East
Vichy CL LAMOTTE PICQUET escorted by sloops AMIRAL CHARNER and DUMONT D'URVILLE and old sloops TAHURE and MARNE as Task Force 7 sortied from Saigon.

Malta
The Axis air fleets launched concentrated and ferocious attacks on Malta. Early in the afternoon cloud cover disappeared. A formation of Stuka dive-bombers screamed across the skies over Grand Harbour and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, berthed at Parlatorio Wharf. Wave after wave of LW a/c followed in their wake – more than 70 of them, raining bombs on the Dockyard and surrounding areas.

The lull in operations for the last few days previously had allowed the AA defences of Malta to be concentrated around the harbour, and this undoubtedly assisted the defence and made the LW bombing runs intense affairs. Malta's few defending Hurricane and Fulmar aircraft took to the air to try and repel the raiders. The valiant response succeeded in preventing all but one bomb from falling on
ILLUSTRIOUS. The merchant ship ESSEX was hit by a heavy bomb, killing 15 crew and seven Maltese dockyard workers.

"The show never seemed to end, but when the last plane had gone, and the thunder of guns changed into an echo and then, too, disappeared, a pall of white smoke covered the whole harbour area."

Some dozens of bombs intended for ILLUSTRIOUS rained down on the surrounding 'Three Cities' of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua instead. There was a measurable decrease in FKX bombing accuracy compared to their previous efforts. Malta's oldest urban communities established and fortified in the 16th century by the Knights of Malta, are now reduced to rubble. It was estimated at the time that some 200 houses were destroyed and another 500 damaged to an uninhabitable state . Casualties are reported to be high: with reported dead – men, women and children; most survivors have lost their homes and everything they own; hundreds were trapped under collapsed buildings. The sacristy of the parish church of St Lawrence, Vittoriosa, suffered a direct hit, entombing 35 people who were sheltering in the crypt. They were not rescued in time. Some have suggested it was a repeat at terror bombing as had happened in several British, Dutch, Norwegian and French cities previously during the war.

The devastation in the old "city" of Senglea after the LW attacks

AIR RAIDS DAWN 16 JANUARY TO DAWN 17 JANUARY 1941
Weather Heavy morning cloud; clear afternoon.

1047-1053 hrs Air raid alert for enemy a/c reported approaching Grand Harbour. Six Swordfish patrol across the Island in formation from NE to SW; three Fulmars are also airborne. The raiders do not cross the coast.

1355-1530 hrs Air raid alert for formations of LW bombers approaching the Island. 15 JU 88s approach from the north over Tigne at 8-12000 feet, wheel east and dive-bomb Grand Harbour before turning away over Ricasoli and Zonqor. The raiders are met by an extremely heavy barrage from all the heavy and light guns of the Dockyard, Luqa and Birzebbuga. Malta fighters are scrambled.

The first attack is followed in by several more large formations of JU 87 Stuka dive-bombers, totalling some 50 a/c, which swoop down singly from 14000 ft to a very low altitude to launch their bombs. Again the guns respond with a massive barrage and Malta fighters engage in dogfights with enemy a/c.

Bombs dropped from as little as a few hundred feet severely damage much civilian property and buildings across the Dockyard. No 2 boiler shop is badly damaged and part of No 2 dock destroyed. A large crater is blown in Sawmills Wharf; flying debris and splinters damage surround windows. MV ESSEX is hit in the engine room by a large bomb, killing 14 or 15 men and wounding another 15. Her vital cargo of guns, ammunition, torpedoes and other service stores is undamaged. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS is hit in the quarterdeck by one bomb. HMAS PERTH suffers a near-miss and is damaged underwater.

Several unexploded bombs are reported in the Dockyard and creeks. Eleven raiders are confirmed shot down and another six damaged, some by fighter aircraft and the remainder by AA fire.

1605-1640 hrs Air raid alert for approaching enemy aircraft. One JU88 approaches from the east and is later seen flying away from the coast to the SW, pursued by Malta fighters; the raider is believed damaged. No bombs are dropped.

 

[parsifal]

17 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Shakespeare Class ASW Trawler HMS HORATIO (T-153)
[NO IMAGE]
HMT HORATIO was torpedoed and sunk on 7 January 1943 by DKM S Boat S-58 off Cape de Garde, Algeria. Only two members (Stephen Hooper and George Venables) of the crew survived the sinking, they were picked up by the Germans.

Fairmile B HMS ML 173

Town Class DD HMNS CAMPBELTOWN (I 42)

The newly transferred HMS CAMPBELTOWN (right) alongside her sister HMS CASTLETON
​

On completion of the work on 28 March 1941, CAMPBELTOWN was transferred on loan to the RNeN, where she joined the 7th Escort Gp and deployed with them in April–May. The Dutch proposed to rename her Middelburg, but this was not agreed as it would have been contrary to the naming agreed with the USN . She underwent further repairs throughout June, and resumed convoy defence with the group in July–August. She was then nominated to be returned to the RN in September, but remained with the 7th Escort Group. She spent September working up with her RN crew and rejoined the group in October, where she covered convoys between Britain and West Africa. On 15 September she picked up the survivors of the Norwegian motor tanker VINGA, which had been damaged in an enemy air attack. She carried out escort duties in November–December, before taking passage to Devonport to undergo repairs and special conversion for the raid on St Nazaire.
.
CAMPBELTOWN began the Devonport repairs in January. She was to be used in Operation Chariot, a special sabotage operation on the vital docks at Saint-Nazaire. In 1942 the DKM BB TIRPITZ, anchored at Trondheimin Norway—was still a grave threat to Atlantic convoys. Should TIRPITZ enter the Atlantic, theLouis Joubert drydock at Saint-Nazaire—which had been built for the liner SS NORMANDIE was a vital target; it was the only German-held drydock on the European coast of the Atlantic that was large enough to service the battleship. If this drydock could be put out of action, any offensive sortie by TiIRPITZ into the Atlantic would be much more dangerous to carry out, making it less likely that they would risk deploying her. CAMPBELTOWN was used to block the dockyard entrance.

At 01:34 on 28 March, 4 mins later than planned, CAMPBELTOWN rammed the dock gate. The Commandos and ship's crew came ashore under heavy German fire, and set about demolishing the dock machinery. 162 of the raiders were killed (64 commandos and 105 sailors) out of the 611 men in the attacking force. Of the survivors, 215 were captured and 222 were evacuated by the surviving small craft. A further five evaded capture and travelled overland through France to Spain and then to Gibraltar. The charges in CAMPBELTOWN exploded at noon, 1.5 hrs later than the British had expected. Although the ship had been searched by the Germans, the explosives had not been detected. The explosion killed around 250 German soldiers and French civilians, and demolished both the front half of the DD and the 160 short tons caisson of the drydock, with the rush of water into the drydock washing the remains of the ship into it. The St. Nazaire drydock was rendered unusable for the rest of the war, and was not repaired until 1947.

Delayed-action torpedoes fired by the MTBs also forming part of the operation into the outer lock gate to the submarine basin detonated, as planned, on the night of 30 March. This later explosion led to panic, with German forces firing on French civilians and on each other. Further attrocities were meted out by the germans on the largely innocent French population. 16 French civilians were killed and around 30 wounded. Later, 1,500 civilians were rounded up and imprisoned without trial at labour camp at Savenay, and most of their houses were demolished. Many were to die in captivity, even though they had had nothing to do with the raid. Lt-Cdr Beattie—who was taken prisoner—received the Victoria Cross for his valour, and in 1947 received the French Légion d'honneur. His Victoria Cross was one of five that were awarded to participants in the raid, along with 80 other military decorations.

Losses
MV ZEALANDIC (UK 10572 grt) ; Sunk by U-106, (Jurgen Oesten) ; Crew: 73 (73 dead - no survivors); Cargo: Mixed Route: Liverpool - Panama - Brisbane, Australia Convoy: Inderpendant Lost in the Nth Atlantic; At 0045 hrs the unescorted ZEALANDIC was hit underneath the forward mast by one G7e torpedo from U-106 about 230 miles WNW of Rockall. The ship stopped for a short time, sent distress signals and then continued. The ship sank slowly after being hit amidships by two torpedoes at 0059 and 0127 hours. The Germans observed how the crew abandoned ship in three lifeboats, but they were never seen again. The master, 64 crew members, two gunners and six passengers were lost.

Liner ALMEDA STAR (UK 14936 grt)
Sunk by U-106, (Jurgen Oesten) ; Crew: 360 (360 dead - no survivors); Cargo: Passengers and mixed Route Liverpool - Trinidad - Buenos Aires Convoy: Independant Lost in the Nth Atlantic; At 0508 hrs , U-96 was chasing an unknown steamer that already evaded three G7e torpedoes when the unescorted ALMEDA STAR was spotted about 35 miles NE of Rockall. The U-boat then fired a fourth G7e torpedo at the first steamer at 0710 hrs, but it was also evaded and the boat forced to dive by gunfire. At 0745 hrs, U-96 fired one G7e torpedo at the ALMEDA STAR, which stopped after a hit amidships. As the ship did not sink after being hit in the stern and amidships by two coups de grace at 0805 and 0907 hrs, the U-boat surfaced to shell the ship. The Germans observed four lifeboats and still saw people on deck before opening fire from 0932 to 0948 hrs, hitting with about 15 of 28 incendiary shells. Only small fires were started which soon went out, so another torpedo was fired at 0955 hrs. The torpedo hit the forepart and caused her to sink by the bow within three mins in 58°40N/13°38W. 7 DDs were ordered to search the area, but found no survivors were found. Among the passengers were 21 officers and 121 ratings of the FAA (749, 750 & 752 FAA-Sqns) en route to RNAS Piarco, Trinidad.
DD DOUGLAS was detached from the escort of AMC SALOPIAN to assist, but was low on fuel and had to proceed to Scapa Flow, arriving at 2200. DD ST ALBANS, also escorting cruiser SALOPIAN, was sent in her place.

UBOATS
At Sea 17 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-96,
U-105 , U-106, U-123, U-124.
8 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.386 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 19th. FS.390 departed Methil, escorted by DD VERDUN and sloop EGRET, and arrived at Southend on the 19th.

​

Northern Waters
CLA NAIAD arrived at Scapa Flow after duty escorting WS.5B. DDs BEAGLE and BRILLIANT, after escorting WS.5B to the dispersal point, refuelled at Londonderry and were sent to search and sweep in the area after the loss of the ALMEDA STAR. DDs SOMALI, MATABELE, BEDOUIN, TARTAR, completing their escort of BB KG V, were ordered to carry out an ASW search along the latitude of 58 N, north of Rockall. If no results were obtained, the DDs were then ordered to return to Scapa Flow. On the 18th, DD BEAGLE was detached to escort steamer JAMAICA PLANTER clear of the danger zone to the Minches. The DD then proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving on the 20th.

On the 20th, an unsuccessful attack was made on a submarine contact in 59-40N, 17-52W by the SOMALI group.
On the 21st, DD TARTAR also attacked a submarine contact. DD BRILLIANT arrived at Scapa Flow on the 22nd. DD SOMALI developed hull defects on the 22nd. This, plus all the DDs now running low on fuel, caused the DesFlot 6 to proceed to Loch Alsh, arriving on the 22nd. The DDs were able to depart Loch Alsh on the 23rd to return to Scapa Flow, arriving on the 24th.

DDs LANCASTER departed Portsmouth and BRIGHTON departed Plymouth en route to Scapa Flow for work up.
DD BRIGHTON arrived on the 19th. DD LANCASTER, after being held up by bad weather, arrived at Scapa Flow on the 21st.

​

CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to meet convoy WN.70. However, the convoy was delayed and the ship was recalled to Scapa Flow, arriving that afternoon

West Coast UK
Corvette RHODODENDRON was damaged by mining in Liverpool Harbour. The corvette was repaired in 3 months at Liverpool.

British tkr ATHELDUKE was damaged on a mine in the Bristol Channel. The tkr was beached in Whitmore Bay. Norwegian steamer THOROY ) was damaged by the LW at Avonmouth. Panamanian tkr NORVIK was damaged by the LW at Swansea. Norwegian steamer NOVASLI was damaged by the LW in the drydock at Swansea.

​

SW Approaches
Convoy HG.51 departed Gibraltar, escorted by sloop FOLKESTONE. DD FIREDRAKE joined the escort on the 18th and continued with the convoy until 20 January.

On the 30th, DD VOLUNTEER and corvettes BLUEBELL and CANDYTUFT joined the escort. Sloops EGRET and LONDONDERRY joined on the 31st. DD WESTCOTT was involved in local escort duties near the destination, and arrived on 3 February at Liverpool.

Med- Biscay
Operation BLUNT was to have taken place. This was a raid on Kaso by naval forces and Commando troops from Crete. The operation was postponed for 24 hrs. CA YORK and DDs ILEX, MOHAWK, JUNO, HEREWARD for the operation were operating nth of Kaso Straits. MSW FAREHAM stood by at Candia. On the 18th, the operation was cancelled. YORK proceeded to Piraeus for escort duty with convoy AN.12. The DDs returned to Alexandria.

DDs GREYHOUND, JANUS, DEFENDER departed Alexandria to escort convoy AS.12 from Piraeus to Port Said.
Convoy AS.11 arrived at Port Said escorted by corvettes PEONY and GLOXINIA. Corvettes HYACINTH and SALVIA departed Port Said with two merchant ships for Alexandria arriving that day.
​

Monitor TERROR and gunboat APHIS departed Alexandria at 1800 for Operation IS 1, the bombardment of Tobruk during the nights of 18/19 and 19/20 January. CL ORION, CLA BONAVENTURE, DDs JERVIS, NUBIAN, HERO departed Alexandria on the 18th to support this operation. The cruisers operated NE of Tobruk and the DDs to the NW. However, Bad weather postponed the operation for 24 hrs.
Monitor TERROR and gunboats GNAT and LADYBIRD bombarded positions at Marsa el Shal near Tobruk during the night of 20/21 January.

Vichy submarine ATALANTE arrived at Oran after departed Toulon on the 14th. The sub departed Oran on 18 February and arrived at Casablanca on the 20th.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
BN.13 departed Aden, escorted by CL CALEDON, DD KIMBERLEY, sloops FLAMINGO, RIN INDUS, RAN PARRAMATTA, SHOREHAM, gunboat CRICKET. The DD, sloop SHOREHAM, and the gunboat were detached on the 18th, sloop PARRAMATTA on the 20th, CL CALEDON and sloop INDUS on the 21st, sloop FLAMINGO on the 22nd. Sloop CLIVE joined on the 22nd and the convoy arrived at Suez on the 24th.

Australia/Pac/Far East
A Vichy force led by CL LAMOTTE PICQUET attacked a force of Siamese warships (Siam was to become a Japanese client state, and at this time was aligned to Japanese interests. Conversely Vichy was more neutral, especially in the Far East), in Indo Chinese waters.

Without loss to themselves, the Vichy force damaged Siamese coastal defense ships SRI AYUTHIA and DONBURI and sank TBs TRAD (Royal Thai Navy (RTN) 379 grt) , SONGHKLA (RTN 318 grt) and CHOMBURI (RTN 318 grt) during operations in the Kho Chang Archipelago in the Gulf of Siam.

Defense ship DONBURI (RTN 2265 grt) was badly damaged and stranded. When the ship was towed off, she sank.

Defense ship SRI AYUTHIA was luckier and survived. She was torpedoed by LAMOTTE PICQUETT and beached in the River Chantaboum but was saved and repaired.

Malta
414-1423 hrs Air raid alert for enemy aircraft spotted 21 miles north of the Island. They attempt reconnaissance in very bad weather.
2020-2035 hrs Air raid alert for enemy aircraft reported off the coast. Flashes are seen in the direction of San Pietro. The aircraft do not cross the coast and no raid materialises.

 

[Njaco]

Was Campbelltown later used at Dieppe or am I confusing this with the blockship used during WWI?

 

[Njaco]

January 17 Friday
WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Herbert Ihlefeld of Stab I./LG 2 gains his twenty-sixth victory when he destroys a British Spitfire at 1600 hours.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-96 attacked British liner "Almeda Star" 200 miles west of Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland at 0745 hours, firing four torpedoes and her deck gun. Four lifeboats were launched before "Almeda Star" sank, but when seven British destroyers arrived, none of them were found, thus all aboard were lost (137 crew, 29 gunners, and 194 passengers).

Italian submarine "Marcello" approached an Allied convoy off the Outer Hebrides, Scotland but was detected by an escort destroyer, which attacked the submarine with five depth charges. "Marcello" suffered damage in her forward trim tank, forcing her end her war patrol to return to base.

German submarine U-106 sank British ship "Zealandic" off the Outer Hebrides, Scotland with three torpedoes. 73 survivors took to three lifeboats, but none were ever found.

ASIA: Chiang Kai-shek officially declared the disbanding of the Communist New Fourth Army. Kuomintang forces under the order of Chiang Kai-Shek opened fire at communist force.

The Battle of Ko Chang ended in a decisive victory for the Vichy French naval forces during the Franco-Thai War. A French naval squadron attacked the Thai anchorage at Ko Chang island near the Thai-Cambodian border, sinking two gunboats, damaging a coastal defense ship, and killing 36 men.

MEDITERRANEAN: German Luftwaffe Stuka dive bombers attacked Malta.

UNITED KINGDOM: British corvette HMS "Rhododendron" hit a mine in Liverpool Harbor, England. She was to remain out of action for three months for repairs.

Swansea was bombed by around 100 Luftwaffe bombers that dropped a high concentration of incendiaries, some 32,000 in all. The main damage was inflicted on the commercial and domestic areas as 178 High Explosive bombs and 7000 incendiaries landed on a snow-covered Swansea during its heaviest raid to date. St Thomas was easily the most affected region with other significant damage being recorded at Hafod and Bonymaen. 97 casualties and 55 deaths reported.

EASTERN EUROPE: Molotov meets German Ambassador Schulenburg in Moscow. The Soviets are surprised that they have not received any answer from Germany to their offer to join the Axis (November 26, 1940). Schulenburg replies that it has to be first discussed with Italy and Japan.

NORTH AMERICA: Maiden flight of the Consolidated LB-30A, the first production version of the B-24 Liberator. Six LB-30As were produced, all for the RAF.

The US 38th Division was inducted in to federal service (National Guard Division from Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia).

.

 

[parsifal]

Campbeltown was destroyed at St Nazaire, so no it wasnt at Dieppe. There was another 4 piper, but i forget the name. Ill try and find its name

 

[parsifal]

18 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIC U-77

14 ships sunk, total tonnage 31,186 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,050 tons
2 ships damaged, total tonnage 5,384 GRT
2 warships damaged, total tonnage 2,880 tons
2 ships a total loss, total tonnage 11,637 GRT

Fate
Sank at 0115 hrs on 29 March 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea east of Cartagena, in position 38.33N, 00.14E, after being badly damaged by depth charges from two British Hudson aircraft (500 Sqn RAF/C & 233 Sqn RAF/L) in position 37.42N, 00.10E on 28 March. 38 dead and 9 survivors..

Losses
AMC ASTURIAS captured steamer MENDOZA (Vichy 8199 grt) 60 miles east of Montevideo. The steamer was taken to Freetown, arriving on 1 February.

​

Tkr BRITISH UNION (UK 6987 grt) was sunk by DKM Disguised Raider KORMORAN at 26-34N, 30-58W. Thirty six crew were taken prisoner. Eight crew were rescued and one died.

​

Tkr SANDEFJORD (Nor 8038 grt) was captured in the Sth Atlantic by DKM CS ADM SCHEER.

UBOATS
At Sea 18 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-123, U-124.
8 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Steamer GODFRIED BUEREN (Ger 4664 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Kattegat,
20 miles E of Limfjorden, Denmark.
.

North Sea
FS.391 departed Methil, escort DDs VALOROUSD and VORTIGERN, and arrived at Southend on the 20th.

West Coast UK
OB.275 departed Liverpool, escort DDs MONTGOMERY, WILD SWAN, WITCH, sloop ABERDEEN, corvettes CAMPANULA, FLEUR DE LYS, GARDENIA, PERWINKLE. The escort was detached when the convoy dispersed on the 22nd.

Greek steamer CHELATROS was damaged by the LW at Swansea.

Channel
DD CASTLETON, under repair at Portsmouth, was damaged by near misses from LW attacks. DDs KELLY, KIPLING, KASHMIR, JACKAL arrived at Plymouth from Greenock for ASW duties.

Med- Biscay
CL GLOUCESTER departed Alexandria for Port Said to hoist out her DCT which was damaged in the 11 January bombing. The DCT was found beyond repair. GLOUCESTER departed Alexandria on 13 February for Port Said where damaged CL LIVERPOOL's DCT was fitted on GLOUCESTER for the time being.

Sub Lt A. S. Griffith was killed when his Fulmar of 806 Sqn from CV ILLUSTRIOUS was shot down off Malta. A second Fulmar of the Sqn was also shot down on this date, but the crew was rescued.

​

Steamer LELIO (FI 1384 grt) was sunk on a mine at La Spezia.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BS.12 D.departed Port Sudan, escorted by DD KIMBERLEY and RAN sloop YARRA. The convoy was dispersed off Aden on the 20th.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 18 JANUARY TO DAWN 19 JANUARY 1941
Weather Stormy in the morning; finer later.
It is evident in the changed targetting priorities that resistance offered by the air defences on the island were effective. For the moment FKX concentrates its efforts on neutralising those defences.
0940-1000 hrs Air raid alert for a single enemy a/c which crosses the Island at a great height on recon. Lt AA engage; no claims.
1415 hrs Air raid alert for 80+ Bandits spotted 18 miles off and heading for the Island. Three Fulmars and five Hurricane ftrs are scrambled. A large formation of dive bombers crosses the coast and attacks Hal Far, dropping 40 HE 500kg bombs, destroying one hangar and writing off a Hurricane inside, and setting two other hangars on fire. The officers' mess is destroyed, telephone communications are cut and water mains hit. There are several craters on the runways but the NW/SE strip remainsl serviceable.
1458 hrs Another large formation of enemy raiders is spotted heading inland over Delimara. The raiders dive-bomb Luqa, dropping 40 more 500kg bombs, destroying two hangars and badly damaging two more. The Signal Section, a barrack block and a decontamination centre are destroyed; other offices and the NAAFI are damaged. Several bombs cause craters on the runway and the aerodrome is rendered unserviceable. Electric power, telephone communications and water supplies are cut off. One Wellington is burned out, one Hurricane destroyed and one Maryland badly damaged. All remaining aircraft on the ground are slightly damaged by shrapnel.
1527 hrs Another formation of 8 enemy a/c crosses over St Thomas Bay and attacks Hal Far, damaging the aerodrome and buildings. Three Swordfish aircraft are burned out, another is a total loss; several more receive minor damage. An object is reported floating down over Marsa, possibly a mine.
The raiders are engaged by the aerodromes' ground defences; several hits are claimed. One enemy aircraft is reported in flames near Tarxien. Three Hurricanes and three Fulmars are airborne. One Fulmar is lost over Grand Harbour with no survivors. Another claims an enemy loss but the aircraft is hit in the dog fight and ditches in the sea off Kalafrana; one of the crew is saved.
Minutes later five more enemy aircraft cross the coast at great height and fly over the Island. AA guns engage the raiders; no bombs are dropped. In total Malta fighters claim five enemy losses confirmed. One enemy aircraft is reported crashing into the sea off Wied Zurrieq; ten more are believed damaged. An unexploded bomb is reported in a building at Marsaxlokk.
1610 hrs All clear.
1630-1645 hrs Air raid alert for a formation of three enemy aircraft reported 18 miles off the coast. Three Hurricanes are scrambled and AAt guns open fire; no raid materialises.
Military casualties Aircraftsman Trevor David Backes, Royal Air Force, 148 Squadron; Aircraftsman Edward Shirley Barlow, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; Gunner Norman Brady Goatley, 7 HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Enemy casualties Leutnant Horst Dunkel, 7/LG1, pilot of JU 88; Unteroffizier Arthur Haner, 7/LG1, JU 88 crew member; Gefreiter Heinrich Mueller, I/StG 1, gunner of JU 87 Stuka; Unteroffizier Heinrich Schurmann, 7/LG1, JU 88 crew member; Unteroffizier Richard Zehetmair, I/StG1, pilot of JU 87 Stuka.

 

[Njaco]

January 18 Saturday

MEDITERRANEAN: The "Illustrious" Blitz: The Luftwaffe returned, but the target switched to the airfields in an attempt to put them out of action. The fighters and bombers of X Fliegerkorps including the Zerstörers of III./ZG 26, attack the RAF airfields at Luqa and Hal Far, Malta. Takali was already unusable due to rain, which turned it into a bog, and the bombers managed to put Luqa out of action for a time, but lost eleven of their number in the process. They destroyed 6 RAF aircraft and damaged many more at the Luqa and Hal Far airfields.

WESTERN FRONT: Over the North Sea in the morning Fw. Mickel of 1./JG 1 shoots down a RAF Blenheim bomber for his first victory.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German cruiser "Admiral Scheer" captured Norwegian tanker "Sandefjord" 1,000 miles off the coast of Angola, Portuguese West Africa. The ship, along with her cargo of 11,000 tons of crude oil, was sent to France as a prize ship.

German armed merchant cruiser "Kormoran" sank British tanker "British Union" 700 miles west of the Canary Islands, killing 10. 28 survivors were captured by "Kormoran" and 7 survivors were rescued by British auxiliary cruiser HMS "Arawa" on the following day.

UNITED KINGDOM: British destroyer HMS "Castleton" was damaged by German bombing while under repair at Portsmouth, England.

NORTH AMERICA: A diplomatic incident occurred at the German consulate in San Francisco when the office displayed the Reich flag in recognition of the German national holiday (commemorating the anniversary of the country's unification in 1871). At noon the flag was hauled down and an angry crowd tore it to pieces.

.

 

[parsifal]

19 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Fairmile B ML 153

Losses
Steamer BONNINGTON COURT (UK 4909 grt) was sunk by the LW In the Thames estuary 9.5 cables 275° from the Sunk Light Vessel. Two crew were lost.

Steamer DIANA (Ne 312 grt) was sunk by a mine in 51-18N, 3-10W (west coast) . Two crew were rescued.​

UBOATS
At Sea 19 January 1941
U-38, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-123, U-124.
8 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CL GALATEA, repairing since 17 October at Chatham, departed Sheerness. The cruiser arrived at Scapa Flow on the 20th to rejoin the Fleet. CS.2 transferred to GALATEA on the 23rd. DD BOREAS, under repair at London, was damaged by the LW.

FN.387 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 21st. FN.388 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 21st.

British steamer ZELO was damaged by the LW in the Thames off the Sunk Light Vessel.​

West Coast UK
Corvette HONEYSUCKLE was damaged by mining off Bar Light Vessel. The corvette was repaired in three months at Liverpool.

SW Approaches
OG.50 departed Liverpool escort DDs MALCOLM, SHIKARI, SKATE, sloop DEPTFORD, corvettes ARABIS and LA MALOUINE, ASW trawlers LADY ELSA, WELLARD, ZENO, ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE. The DDs, corvettes, trawlers were detached on the 20th and the ocean boarding vessel on the 22nd. Sloop DEPTFORD escorted the convoy through to Gibraltar, arriving on the 31st.

Central Atlantic

SLS.63 departed Freetown, and arrived at Liverpool on 13 February.
​

Med- Biscay

RM subm NEGHELLI attacked RHN DD PSARA in the Aegean. CLA CALCUTTA and DDs GREYHOUND, DEFENDER, JANUS departed Piraeus at 0800 escorting convoy AS.12 of steamers CLAN CUMMING , CLAN MACDONALD , EMPIRE SONG from Pireaus to Alexandria. British steamer CLAN CUMMING was damaged by a torpedo at 1153 from RM NEGHELLI off Piraeus near San Giorgio Island. The steamer was able to arrive back at Piraeus at 1900 under its own steam with torpedo damage forward, escorted by DD JANUS. Sub ​

Adua Class sub NEGHELLI (RM 680 grt) was sunk by DD GREYHOUND off Crete early on the 19th. The other two ships of the convoy arrived safely at Port Said on the 21st.

CLA CALCUTTA and destroyers GREYHOUND, JUNO, DEFENDER proceeded to Alexandria. On the 19th, operation IS 1 was cancelled due to bad weather. The cruisers and DDs were withdrawn for other operations and proceeded to Suda Bay. Gunboat APHIS was having problems with the weather. Two DDs and an a/c were sent to assist her. The gunboat was found at 1300 off Damietta. Destroyer GRIFFIN escorted the gunboat to Port Said arriving on the 20th. APHIS was under repair until 27 January at Port Said. AN.12 arrived at Piraeus on the 18th. Escorting CA YORK also arrived at Piraeus. CL AJAX departed Alexandria for Suda Bay.
​

Red Sea/Indian Ocean

BS.13 departed Suez. The convoy was joined on the 20th by sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY. The sloops were relieved on the 22nd by CL CALEDON and sloops FLAMINGO, RIN INDUS, RAN PARRAMATTA. The convoy was dispersed on the 27th.​

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 19 JANUARY TO DAWN 20 JANUARY 1941
Weather Clear.
0930-1010 hrs Air raid alert for 43 JU 87 and JU 88s which approach the Island and dive-bomb Grand Harbour. 500kg and 1000kg bombs are dropped, severely damaging civilian property in Senglea, causing heavy casualties, and badly damaging buildings. Bombs on Bakery Wharf and near the electricity sub-station damage many buildings and put power cranes, electricity supplies and telephone communications out of action. No 3 Dock suffers a direct hit; IMPERIAL escapes without damage but bombs damage nearby buildings and a pumping station. A large bomb explodes in No 2 dock, causing a small crater. The MSW BERYL is damaged by a near miss. Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS is damaged again by a near-miss close to the engine room that pushes the carrier against the wharf . One raider crashes in the sea in flames off Delimara, two are brought down over Grand Harbour and another in the sea off Della Grazia. For this main attack the airborne defences have a peak strength of 6 Hurricanes and 3 Fulmars.
1024-1045 hrs An enemy flying boat with red cross marking, accompanied by a CR 42, circles north east of the Island.
1208-1225 hrs Air raid alert for an Italian Cant aircraft spotted eight miles north of Grand Harbour, evidently searching for missing aircraft. Four Hurricane fighters are scrambled and the aircraft turns away. Meanwhile the flying boat continues circling 22 miles off the coast. No raid occurs.
1242 hrs Air raid alert for two approaching formations ten miles off, heading for the Island. Two Hurricanes are scrambled. Three more formations are then spotted between 24 and 40 miles away, heading for Malta. Raiders total forty aircraft.
1302 hrs 30 dive-bombers launch a fierce attack on Grand Harbour, damaging civilian and Naval property and starting a fire between Corradino and the civilian prison. 500kg and 1000kg bombs damage buildings across Senglea and the Dockyard, and cause damage to CARBINE and CROSSBOW. All electric, water and telephone lines are severed. A 500kg armour-piercing bomb lands on Hamilton Wharf but fails to explode. Two further unexploded bombs are rendered safe at Corradino. Two bombs are dropped on Luqa aerodrome, causing slight damage. Malta fighters are scrambled and engage the enemy: six Hurricanes, one Fulmar and one Gladiator are airborne at any one time.
The harbour defences send up a heavy barrage which keeps the attackers high and brings down some enemey a/c.. Many enemy aircraft are hit; several are observed losing height. Four JU 88s, five JU 87s, one CR 42 and one Cant are confirmed destroyed by Malta fighters; one JU 87, one JU 88 and one CR42 unconfirmed; two JU 88s, one JU 87 and one CR42 damaged. In addition, AA claim at least three JU 87s and three JU 88s destroyed. One raider is brought down near Luqa, another crashes near Paola and a third off Delimara. A third is spotted heading out to sea over St Thomas' Tower, emitting smoke. A raider is reported in flames over Bir id Deheb. One raider is reported baling out near Tarxien and another near St Thomas' Tower. Two bodies are seen floating in the sea; the high speed launch sets out from Kalafrana.
1320 hrs Raiders passed.
1454-1500 hrs Air raid alert; raid does not materialise.
1800 hrs It is reported that 17 enemy aircraft were brought down during air raids today; one fighter was lost.
Military casualties Sergeant Eric Norman Kelsey, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 261 Squadron; Lance Bombardier John Rowley, 10 Battery, 7 HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Enemy casualties Franz Buczek, 2/StG 1, gunner of JU 87 Stuka; Hauptmann Wilhelm Durbeck, pilot of JU 88; Sergente Maggiore Ezio Iaconne, 70a Squadriglia, 23o Gruppo Autonomo, the Pilot of a CR.42 fighter, baled out; Obergefreiter Hans Kusters, II/StG 2, pilot of JU 87 Stuka; Unteroffizier Rudolf Vater, 1/StG 1, pilot of JU 87 Stuka; Franz Walburg; Oberfeldwebel 2/StG 1, pilot of JU 87 Stuka; pilot Fritz Nakosky; pilot Richard Zehetmanir.

AIR HQ Arrivals 1 PRU Spitfire from RAF Benson in England landed at Ta Qali after a mission to photograph Genoa; he had insufficient fuel to return to base. The aircraft will be employed locally.

A Fulmar of 806 Sqn, still flying to defend the carrier was shot down after itself shooting down a JU 87. Lt R. S. Henley and Naval Airman A. S. Rush were both picked up safe.

DD DECOY, under repair in dock at Malta, was damaged by FKX a/c. However, the completion of her repairs were not seriously delayed.​

 

[parsifal]

20 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Fairmile B ML 175

Dance Class ASW Trawler SWORD DANCE (T 132)

Lost in a collision in the Morey Firth on 5 July 1942. During the early hours of the morning, whilst acting as escort to the east coast convoy WN.5, HMS SWORD DANCE was rammed in dense fog by one of merchants of the convoy, the THYA II (1088 GRT). The starboard coalbunker was holed in, the engine room rapidly flooded and SWORD DANCE sank in less than an hour.

Losses
MV FLORIAN (UK 3174 grt) Sunk by U-94 (Herbert Kuppisch) : Crew 44 (44 dead - no survivors); Cargo: empty Route: Hull - New York Convoy: Independant Lost in the Western Approaches; At 0042 hrs , U-94 fired one G7a torpedo at an unescorted freighter after chasing the ship for about 8 hrs. The vessel was hit amidships and sank vertically by the stern after 42 seconds about 140 miles WSW of the Faeroe Islands. Post war research suggests this was the FLORIAN which was reported missing in the North Atlantic after 20 January. The master, 41 crew members and two gunners were lost.

MSW RELONZO (RN 245 grt) was sunk on a mine in Crosby Channel, liverpool. Slater, T/Skipper W. Copeman RNR, seventeen ratings were lost on the trawler.

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Steamer BARNEVELD (Ne 5597 grt) was captured by DKM CS ADM SCHEER at 1200 miles from Freetown in 7S, 3E. T/Instructor Lt C. L. Broad, BSc, en route to CL AJAX, Surgeon Lt Cdr W. Greaves MB, CHB, en route to DD depot ship WOOLWICH, Lt A. R. Cheyne, en route to submarine depot ship MEDWAY, were captured and made prisoners of war. The steamer was sunk the next day by the by the Panzerschiff.

Steamer HEEMSKERK (Ne 6516 grt) was badly damaged by the LW in the Western approaches at 53-43N, 16-07W. Eight crew were missing. The rest were rescued. The steamer sank on the 21st.

RM submarine MARCELLO sank steamer PORTUGAL (Be 1550 grt) in 50N, 19W. PORTUGAL reported missing after 20 January. German BDienst identified this ship as Greek steamer ELENI ​

Steamer STANPARK (UK 5103 grt) was sunk DKM CS ADM SCHEER at 9-27S, 3-00W.
The entire crew was taken prisoner.​

UBOATS
Departures
Kiel, Germany: U-48

At Sea 20 January 1941
U-38, U-48, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-105, U-106, U-123, U-124.
9 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
A possible breakthrough of a DKM raider through the Iceland-Faroes passage was detected by W/T traffic intercepts. CLs ARETHUSA and NIGERIA departed Scapa Flow at 0600 in response. .

Northern Waters
CL AURORA and DDs ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE, ECHO, ELECTRA departed Scapa Flow at 1030 to meet BB PRINCE OF WALES off Liverpool then about to commence trials. When the BB's departure was delayed until 25 January, the escort ships were ordered back to Scapa Flow, arriving aearly onb the 20th
DD BELMONT departed Scapa Flow for Liverpool after completing her work up. The DD arrived on the 22nd.

West Coast UK
Convoy OB.276 departed Liverpool, escorted by DDs ANTELOPE and ANTHONY, corvettes ORCHIS and PICOTEE, CVS PEGASUS, ASW trawlers ARAB, AYRSHIRE, LADY MADELEINE. Corvette PICOTEE was detached on the 23rd and the remainder of the escort on the 24th when the convoy dispersed.

British steamer TREGARTHEN was damaged by the LW in 55-54N, 7-00W. The steamer managed to get to Oban.​

Central Atlantic

SL.63 departed Freetown escorted by AMC CANTON to 9 February, sloop MILFORD to 24 January, corvettes CLEMATIS to 22 January and CYCLAMEN to 24 January. On 7 February, DDs ACHATES and ANTELOPE joined. On 8 February, corvette PICOTEE joined for the day only. On the 9th, the DDs were relieved by DDs ANTHONY for the day only and GEORGETOWN, sloop FLEETWOOD for the day only, corvette HEATHER to 10 February, ASW trawler AYRSHIRE for the day only, and arrived on 10 February.
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Med- Biscay

British steamer VASCO was damaged by bombing at Pireaus. One crewman was killed and eight were wounded.​

For Operation MBD 2, also called Operation INSPECTION, the extraction of damaged carrier ILLUSTRIOUS from Malta, the following forces were organised.

Force A - DDs JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS, GREYHOUND to operate in the vicinity of Suda Bay.
This force departed Suda Bay on the 21st for Malta.

Force B - CLs ORION and AJAX, CLA BONAVENTURE, CA YORK and DDs ILEX and HERO to operate in the vicinity of Suda Bay.

Force C - BBs BARHAM and VALIANT, CL PERTH, DDs (RAN) STUART, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, HASTY, DIAMOND, GRIFFIN came to short notice at Alexandria.

On the arrival of the convoy AS.12 escorts at Alexandria, DD HEREWARD relieved DD STUART in the Force C screen.

AN.13 departed Alexandria at 1800 escorted by CL:A COVENTRY and DDs WRYNECK and RAN VENDETTA with British steamers ULSTER PRINCE, LANARKSHIRE and PORT HALIFAX Corvettes SALVIA and HYACINTH proceeded in company to establish a patrol in the Kithera Straits, The Kithera Straits patrol began on the 22nd with the corvettes, ASW trawler KINGSTON CYANITE, Sutherland a/c from Scaramanga in the Piraeus area, and arrived at Suda Bay on the 22nd and Piraeus on the 23rd.

ASW trawlers SOUTHERN ISLE and SOUTHERN MAID of the 22nd ASW Gp departed Alexandria to relieve ASW trawler AMBER at Sollum. MSW trawlers MILFORD COUNTESS and ARTHUR CAVANAGH and boom working vessel MAGNET departed also departed Alexandria for Sollum to begin work clearing Tobruk Harbour.​

Malta

Damaged DD GALLANT, which had been mined on the 10th, was paid off into dockyard hands after further damage by FKX in Malta Harbour. The AA guns from the stricken ship were fitted on store ship BRECONSHIRE.
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Weather Fine.
0836-0845 hrs Air raid alert for 3 a/c reported 10 miles SE of Delimara; raid does not materialise.
1206-1220 hrs Air raid alert. One JU 88 aircraft carries out recon over Grand Harbour.
1755 hrs A single unidentified a/c is observed nearing Grand Harbour, then retreating Nth without crossing the coast.
0145-0430 hrs Air raid alert for a series of solo attacks by up to 10 enemy a/c. The raiders cross over the coast at intervals, dropping bombs indiscriminately in 7 different areas. The target appears to be Luqa but is not accurately located. Four houses are demolished and 34 damaged; one civilian is seriously injured. Searchlights are illuminated but unable to locate the raiders, who remain at very high altitude. One Hurricane is scrambled but does not engage.
AIR HQ Arrivals 1 Sunderland. 0530-1540 hrs Sunderland recon Ionian Sea. A Sunderland returning from the Middle East was shadowed by a JU 88 for 10 minutes on its approach to Malta; no attack.