This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[parsifal]

30 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIc U-555

Type VIIC U-995 as she is currently displayed. U-555 was very similar, and was used as a training vessel throughout her service
Losses
MV RUSHPOOL (UK 5125 grt) Sunk by U-94 (Herbert Kuppisch) : Crew: 40 (0 dead and 40 survivors) Cargo: Route: St. John, New Brunswick - Halifax - Belfast Convoy : SC-19 (straggler) Lost in the Western Approaches At 0247 hrs on 30 Jan 1941 the unescorted RUSHPOOL, a straggler from convoy SC-19, was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-94 SE of Rockall. The ship had been spotted at 0040 hrs and missed with a spread of two torps at 0209 hrs. She sank by the bow 35 minutes after being hit by a coup de grace at 0310 hrs. The master and 39 crew members were picked up by DD ANTELOPE and landed at Greenock.

Steamer AUSTVARD (Nor 3677 grt) was sunk by the LW 130 miles west of Galway Island. 23 crew of a 28 man crew were lost. The ship was hit by 5 bombs, 3 in the waterline on the port side and 2 on the boat deck. 2 of the lifeboats were destroyed in the attack and a 3rd was damaged during launching. MG fire destroyed the radio station, but it appears the radio operator had time to send out a distress call because 40 mins later DD ANTHONY was ordered out to assist an unknown ship in that position, but AUSTVARD was gone. The damaged lifeboat with 16 men got clear of the ship before she sank about 10 minutes after the first bomb had hit, but 12 were pulled under; only 6 came back up and were able to get on a raft. The people in the lifeboat found another raft, enabling them to repair the boat so that it could hold 8 men. The others distributed themselves on the 2 rafts and headed for Ireland in tow of the lifeboat, but in the bad weather it was very slow going, so the next day it was decided that the boat with 8 survivors commanded by the 1st Mate should go on ahead to get help as quickly as possible, because many of the men were injured. The lifeboat with 6 survivors (two crewman had died en route) landed at Clogher, Ballyferriter, County Kervy on Febr. 4. All 6 were taken to a hospital in Dingle, where another crew member died the next day. The 2 rafts and their occupants were never found. 23 had died in all, among them the captain, 3 British, 1 Finnish, 1 Estonian, the rest were Norwegian. Only 5 survived the ordeal.

​

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-37, U-96

At Sea 30 January 1941
U-37, U-48, U-52, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-123.
12 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic
Steamer KONIGSBERG-PREUSSEN (Ger 2530 grt) was sunk on a mine near ELBE I lightship.

North Sea
Sub SUNFISH attacked an escorted convoy off Kristiansand. The submarine unsuccessfully fired torpedoes against a tanker.
DKM BCs SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU refuelled at sea from German tanker ADRIA. Following the refuelling, the German ships ran the Denmark Strait on 2 February. On 5 February, the BCs refueled from DKM tkr SCHLETTSTADT south of Cape Farewell (the southern most point in the territory of Greenlnd).

DD VIMIERA, which departed Rosyth on the 27th, was damaged by the LW who strafed the ship while joining convoy FS.397 in the North Sea. The damage caused no time out of service and reach Rosyth on 2 February after the convoy escort.

Northern Waters
DD BOREAS arrived at Scapa Flow from the Nore to join the Home Flt.

SW Approaches
Belgian steamer OLYMPIER was badly damaged by the LW 250 miles SW of Ireland. The steamer was attacked again on the 31st in 56-04N, 11W.

Nth Atlantic
HX.106 departed Halifax, escort BB RAMILLIES and corvette COLLINGWOOD. The corvette was detached the next day.
BHX.106 departed Bermuda on the 28th escort AMC MALOJA. The convoy two rendezvoused on 2 February and the AMC was detached. The BB was detached on 10 February. On 12 February, DDs BURNHAM, MALCOLM, SALADIN, SARDONYX, SKATE and corvette LA MALOUINE joined the escort. DD SALADIN departed the escort on 14 February and DDs BURNHAM and MALCOLM on 15 February. On 15 February, corvette KINGCUP and ASW trawlers NORTHERN PRIDE and VIZALMA joined the escort for the inshore run in. Destroyer SARDONYX and corvettes KINGCUP and LA MALOUINE were detached and the remainder on 18 February, and arrived at Liverpool on 18 February.

Central Atlantic
SL.64 departed Freetown escort AMC ARAWA to 17 February and corvettes ASPHODEL and CALENDULA to 2 February.
DD HARVESTER, sloop FLEETWOOD, corvettes ARBUTUS, CAMELLIA, ERICA joined on 17 February. DD WOLVERINE joined on 18 February. All were detached on 20 February. ASW trawler YORK CITY joined on 22 February, and arrived on 22 February. Convoy SLS.64 also departed Freetown. On 12 February, the convoy dispersed when attacked by DKM CA ADMIRAL HIPPER.

Med- Biscay
Derna was captured by 6 Aus Div. The British Suez Canal Company's Dredger was sunk by German bombing in Lake Timsah. It was raised and returned to service. Submarine UPHOLDER attacked a convoy containing Italian steamers MOTIA and DELFIN , which departed Palermo on the 27th for Tripoli. UPHOLDERs attack was unsuccessful, and the submarine was counter-attacked by convoy escort TB ALDEBARAN.

CVL EAGLE was undocked and proceeded to sea for exercises escort DDs GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, JUNO, two other DDs.
The British ships returned to Alexandria the next day.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 30 JANUARY TO DAWN 31 JANUARY 1941
Weather Overcast.
No air raids.

OPERATIONS REPORTS THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 1941
AIR HQ Arrivals 6 Hurricanes from Middle East. 1 Sunderland. 0730-0900 hrs Maryland recon Pantelleria. Visual report one merchant vessel in harbour with fleet auxiliary patrolling outside. No aircraft seen on aerodrome. 0435-1307 hrs Sunderland convoy patrol east Tunisian coast; only two small French merchant ships.
KALAFRANA One Sunderland returned from Middle East with passengers.
LUQA 69 Squadron (431 Flight): 1 Maryland recon Pantelleria.

 

[Njaco]

January 30 Thursday

GERMANY: Rudolf Höss was promoted to the rank of SS-Sturmbannführer. Otto Skorzeny was promoted to the rank of Untersturmführer; he would not receive the notification for this promotion until Mar 1941, however.

Hitler gave a speech before 18,000 people at the Berlin Sportpalast on the eighth anniversary of the Nazis' coming to power. Hitler declared that any ship carrying aid to England within the range of German U-boats would be torpedoed, and also warned the United States that if anyone on the American continent tried to interfere in the European conflict, Germany's war aims would quickly change.

The Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was established.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-94 attacked Allied convoy SC-19 northwest of Ireland at 0310 hours, sinking British ship "Rushpool"; the entire crew of 40 survived and rescued by destroyer HMS "Antelope". "Rushpool" was the sixth and final ship sunk in a series of German submarine attacks in 24 hours, totaling 33,723 tons.

MEDITERRANEAN: British submarine HMS "Upholder" attacked Italian ships "Motia" and "Delfin" 30 miles north of Zavia, Libya. Italian torpedo boat "Aldebaran" chased off HMS "Upholder" before she was able to damage any Italian ships.

Italian forces counterattack Greek II Corps on heights west of Klisura in central sector of the front.

EASTERN EUROPE: Lavrentiy Beria was promoted to the rank of State Security General Commissar.

ASIA: Japan agrees to co-ordinate its intelligence collection efforts in the US with Germany and Italy.

The Battle of South Henan began. The Battle of South Henan was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. This battle was the first time the NRA engaged the Japanese in southern Henan. The Japanese 11th Army split into three routes to attack the Chinese positions. Their main objective was to eradicate Chinese control of the Ping-Han Railway's southern section. Li Zongren, commander of the Chinese 5th War Area, avoided frontal contact with the Japanese as much as possible. Instead, he fought conservatively, diverting his main forces towards the two flanks. Japanese 11th Army continued to advance, entering Wuyang as Chinese 5th War Area withdrew.

NORTH AFRICA: Australian troops capture Derna as the Italians begin to withdraw towards Benghazi. The 1st South African Division launches a feint attack against Mega in southern Abyssinia, in order to prevent the Italians from sending troops to reinforce their hard pressed forces in Somaliland.

Indian 4th Infantry Division attacking Italian 4th Colonial Division around Agordat.

UNITED KINGDOM: General Oliver Leese takes command of British 15th Infantry Division.

German 'hit-and-run' raiders attacked London in cloudy weather. Me109s strafed the Dover balloon barrage.

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[Njaco]

January 31 Friday

GERMANY: Oberstleutnant Hans Korte stepped down as the commanding officer of the German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing.

OKH composes preparatory documents for Operation Barbarossa.

Japanese military delegation meets with Hitler.

NORTHERN EUROPE: In Oslo, Reichsführer-SS Himmler accepted the oath of the first group of Norwegian enlistees in the Waffen-SS.

NORTH AFRICA: The battle known as the Capture of Kufra began in Libya. Free French forces from Chad, French Equatorial Africa attacked the Italian forces at Kufra, Libya, supported by the British Long Range Desert Group. Major Pat Clayton of LRDG was keen to join with the Free French to test the Italians. Clayton commanded G (Guards) and T (New Zealand) patrols of LRDG, a total of 76 men in 26 vehicles. The Free French commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jean Colonna d'Ornano was killed in an earlier raid along with one trooper of T Patrol. Colonel Philippe Leclerc assumed command in place of d'Ornano. The attacking column included about 400 men in 60 trucks, two Laffly S15 TOE armoured cars, four Laffly S15 all-terrain carriers and two 75 mm (2.95 in) mountain guns. Kufra was protected by two defensive lines around the El Tag fort with barbed wire, trenches, machine-guns and light anti-aircraft guns. The Regio Esercito forces in the fort were the 59th and 60th Machine-gun companies with a total of 280 "askari" colonial infantry and an Auto-Saharan Company, the Compagnia Sahariana di Cufra. The Saharan companies were a mixed force of motorized infantry with well-armed off-road vehicles, which could also call on the Regia Aeronautica for support. The "Compagnia Sahariana" in Kufra was around 120-men strong (45 Italians and 75 Libyans). On 31 January, Major Clayton was at Bishara (130 km (81 mi) south-south-west of Kufra) with T Patrol (30 men in 11 trucks). The patrol was spotted by an Italian aeroplane in the morning. T Patrol took cover in a small wadi at Gebel Sherif, a few kilometres north. The plane directed the Saharan patrol to attack the LRDG force. T Patrol was driven off, losing four trucks and Major Clayton, who was captured with several others. The remaining LRDG force withdrew to Egypt for refitting. Leclerc pressed on with his attack on Kufra, even though the Italians had a copy of his plan which they had captured with Major Clayton.

Indian 4th Division flanked and then captured Agordat, Eritrea, Italian East Africa. 1,000 Italian troops and 43 field guns were captured. Italian forces began retreat from Agordat. Indian 10th Infantry Brigade and 29th Infantry Brigade continued attacking Italian 2nd Colonial Division at Barentu. Meanwhile, the Italian force withdraws from Gallabat into Eritrea, pursued by a small detachment from the Indian 9th Infantry Brigade. South African 2nd Infantry Brigade and 5th Infantry Brigade advance across the border from Kenya.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian torpedo boat "Francesco Stocco" hit a mine, broke in two, and sank off Fiume, Italy (now Rijeka, Croatia).

Egyptian transport "Solloum", carrying 250 Italian POWs, sunk by Luftwaffe bombers off Sidi Barrani.

RN Force H sorties from Gibraltar for operations against Sardinia and Genoa.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Italian submarine "Dandolo" sank British tanker "Pizarro" 350 miles southwest of Ireland after dark with torpedoes; 23 killed and 6 survived.

INDIAN OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Atlantis" stopped British ship SS "Speybank" (carrying manganese, monazite, ilesite, carpets, tea and shellac from Cochin, India, to New York) with gunfire and captured the ship. "Speybank" would soon set sail for Bordeaux, France where she would be converted into an auxiliary minelayer named "Schiff 53/Doggerbank" and serve in the German Navy.

ASIA: The cease fire ending the Franco-Thai War was signed aboard Japanese cruiser "Natori" at Saigon, French Indochina, effective 28 Jan 1941.

UNITED KINGDOM: Churchill sends request to Turkey asking for permission to base ten RAF squadrons on Turkish territory.

German 'hit-and-run' raiders again attacked London and three London hospitals were damaged.

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[parsifal]

31 January 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIc U-751

U 751 in Saint-Nazaire in June 1942, 1 month before she was lost​

5 ships sunk, total tonnage 21,412 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 11,000 tons
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 8,096 GRT
Sunk on 17 July 1942 in the North Atlantic north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45.14N, 12.22W, by depth charges from a British Whitley (502 Sqn RAF/H) and a Lancaster aircraft (61 Sqn RAF/F). 48 dead (all hands lost).

Neutral
Benson Class DD USS EDISON (DD 439)

Allied
Fairmile B HDML ML 140

Losses
RM sub DANDOLO sank steamer PIZARRO (UK 1367 grt) in the SW Approaches. 23 crew of a 29 man crew were lost.

Steamer ROWANBANK (UK 5159 grt) was sunk by the LW from convoy SL.62 inthe Western Approaches

Naval collier BOTUSK (RN 3091 grt) and steamer EMMAPLEIN (NL 5436 grt) both in convoy HX.103 were sunk on British mines 6 miles NE of Nth Rona Island. Three crew were killed and one was missing on the British ship. Corvette VERBENA rescued eleven survivors. Thirty four crew were rescued from the Dutch ship by cable ship ARIEL and two corvettes. U boats were suspected and ASW whalers BUTTERMERE and WINDERMERE were sent from Stornoway to investigate. Aircraft and later DDs BEAGLE and DOUGLAS, which were also involved in the search. The DDs arrived back at Stornaway that evening when it was determined the ships had in fact struck mines.
[Image Source: Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank ]

No image for the BOTUSK. Image of the EMMAPLEIN

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-105

At Sea 31 January 1941
U-37, U-48, U-52, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-106, U-107, U-123.
11 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.396 departed Southend, escort DDs VALOROUS and VIMIERA, and arrived at Methil on 2 February. FS.400 departed Methil, escort DDs VANITY and VORTIGERN, and arrived at Southend on 2 February. FS.401 departed Methil, and arrived at Southend on 2 February.

Northern Waters
DD ZULU arrived at Scapa Flow from Rosyth on completion of refit. DD MEYNELL departed Scapa Flow late that evening on completion of work up. The DD arrived at Rosyth on 1 February, en route to the Nore.

West Coast UK
OB.280 departed Liverpool, escort DDs BEVERLEY and HARVESTER, corvettes ARBUTUS, CAMELLIA, ERICA, ASW yacht PHILANTE, ocean boarding vessels CAVINA, CORINTHIAN, CRISPIN. The ocean boarding vessels were detached on 3 February and the remainder of the escort on 4 February at which time the convoy was dispersed.

Dutch balloon barrage vessel SATURNUS was damaged by a mine. The vessel was abandoned and went ashore at Maughold Head. The Dutch ship was later refloated and arrived at Douglas.

Nth Atlantic
SC.21 departed Halifax, escort AMC MONTCLARE, which was detached on 13 February. On 13 February, corvettes FLEUR DE LYS and TULIP joined the convoy. On 14 February, DDs CALDWELL, VANOC, VOLUNTEER joined. Sloop ABERDEEN joined on 15 February. On 16 February DD CALDEWELL and sloop ABERDEEN were detached and on 17 February, ASW trawlers HUDDERSFIELD TOWN and YORK CITY joined. The escort was detached on 18 February, the same day the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

Med- Biscay
British Force H departed Gibraltar with BC RENOWN, CV ARK ROYAL, CL SHEFFIELD (now possibly the most well equipped RN ship for radar), ten DD for Operations PICKET and RESULT (audacious plans for baombardments of italian controlled territories, including a dam near Genoa).

There were four Gps in the TF.

Gp 1: BC RENOWN, BB MALAYA (which had joined the force at sea, <ALAYA was also well fitted with radar) CV ARK ROYAL, CL SHEFFIELD.

Gp 2 DDs FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FURY, FIREDRAKE, JERSEY.

Gp 3 DDs DUNCAN (D.13), ISIS, ENCOUNTER, JUPITER.

Gp 4 Support Gp, tkr ORANGELEAF and ASW trawlers ARCTIC RANGER and HAARLEM.

MSW HUNTLEY RN 500 grt (est)) was lost en route to Derna after attacks by LW divebombers, 30 miles west of Mersa Matruh (I have my doubts about this attack being by the LW). The captain died of wounds on 2 Feb, and 12 other crew were killed in the MSW. Five crew were missing. 26 crew were wounded.

​

British hospital ship DORSETSHIRE was also damaged by these LW attacks in the Gulf of Sollum. The ship was attacked again on 1 February, but survived. Steamer SOLLUM (EG 1290 grt) was bombed near Sidi Barrani and was run aground. She is not recorded as a loss Lloyds

​

DDs GREYHOUND and GRIFFIN were ordered to depart Alexandria and proceed to Port Said. The DDs were then to continue to Aden for escort duties. While leaving harbour, GREYHOUND collided with BB WARSPITE. The DD was docked for the damage. She was replaced by DD JUNO. BB WARSPITE's bulge was damaged. Emergency repairs were completed at Alexandria on 1 February.

British tkr DESMOULEA was damaged by an RM S boat in 35-20N, 25-34E. The tkr was towed to Suda Bay by DD DAINTY, arriving at 0800 on 1 February. The cargo was discharged into British tkr EOCENE. The tkr arrived at Suez on 6 May for use as a temporary storage vessel, pending repairs. Corvette PEONY with convoy AN.14 was missed by airborne torpedoes forty miles from Suda Bay.

Tug URSUS (FI 407 grt), on passage from Lissa to Curzola, was sunk by Submarine RORQUAL gunfire. The tug was towing barge GM 239 which was also damaged. The barge was later towed into Dubrovnik.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Steamer SPEYBANK (UK 5154 grt) was taken in prize in the Indian Ocean by DKM Disguised Raider ATLANTIS. The steamer was sailed to Japan. According to Motor Vessel SPEYBANK built by Harland & Wolff Ltd in 1926 for Bank Line Ltd. - A. Weir & Co., Glasgow, Cargo (which is also the source for the attached photo), the ship was taken to Bordeaux by a prize crew, Converted to an auxiliary minelayer and blockade runner, operated by Kriegsmarin. She was sunk 3 March 1943, in error, by U-34 on her way back from Japanese controlled waters

NZ manned CL LEANDER departed Colombo on patrol.

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

Malta

AIR RAIDS DAWN 31 JANUARY TO DAWN 1 FEBRUARY 1941
Weather Clear.

1050-1128 hrs Air raid alert for 4 enemy a/c approaching the Island in two pairs from different directions. 6 Hurricanes, one Wellington, one Fulmar and one Gladiator are scrambled. Four Swordfish and one Glen Martin approach the Island and land safely. No air raid materialises.

2320-0020 hrs Air raid alert for 2 a/c approaching the Island. They cross the coast and are picked up by searchlights as they circle over the Island. One is identified as a JU 88 bomber. AA opens fire: no claims. The raiders turn away, dropping bombs four bombs on open land near Grand Harbour and others in the sea off Rinella.

OPERATIONS REPORTS FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 1941
AIR HQ 0445-0906 hrs Sunderland patrolling eastern Tunisian coast for enemy shipping signalled two merchant vessels. Four Swordfish patrolling same area with torpedoes informed. They sighted the vessels but did not attack as they were in Tunisian territorial waters. 0907-1147 hrs Maryland photorecon Tripoli area confirmed munitions depot; photos to be forwarded to Middle East. Tripoli Harbour five DDs, 15 MVs (one damaged), two fleet auxiliary plus small craft. Mellaha 30-40 aircraft. 0719-1032 hrs Maryland photorecon Catania, Comiso and Gela aerodromes. Catania approximately 100 a/ct; Gela and Catania no visual contact. 0705-1054 hrs Maryland photorecon Syracuse, Augusta, Catania, Messina ports. Syracuse six seaplanes, four merchant vessels, three cruisers plus two destroyers and one merchantman in the Straits. Reggio Calabria aerodrome 25-30 "dark" bombers.
KALAFRANA 23 long patrols were undertaken by Sunderlands of 228 Squadron on 18 days during the month, mainly to observe enemy naval and merchant shipping movements.
LUQA 69 Squadron (431 Flight): 1 Maryland reconnaissance Catania, Comiso and Gela; 1 Maryland reconnaissance Tripoli area; 1 Maryland reconnaissance Catania, Messina, Augusta and Syracuse. 148 Squadron: 6 Wellingtons bomb Tripoli.

 

[parsifal]

Summary Of Losses January 1941 (Unfinished)
Allied
Allied Warships
GHI Class DD GALLANT (RN 1378 grt), 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), MTB.108 (RN 49 grt), CL SOUTHAMPTON (RN 9100 grt), MSW trawler DESIREE (RN 213 grt), MSW RELONZO (RN 245 grt), MSW trawler LUDA LADY (RN 234 grt), Naval tug ST CYRUS (RN 810 grt), MSW trawler DAROGAH (RN 221 grt), Naval collier BOTUSK (RN 3091 grt)

15497(RN)), (Total 15497 grt Naval Tonnage)

Allied Shipping
MV NALGORA (UK 6579 grt), Drifter NEW SPRAY (UK 70 grt), Steamer PINEWOOD (UK 2466 grt),
MV EMPIRE THUNDER (UK 5965 grt), Tug LION (UK 87 grt), Trawler GADRA (UK 219 grt), Steamer H. H. PETERSEN (UK 975 grt), Trinity House Tender STRATHEARN (UK 683 grt), Steamer CLYTONEUS (UK 6278 grt), MV BASSANO (UK 4843 grt), Drifter DUSKY QUEEN (UK 40 grt), Steamer MIDDLESEX (UK 9583 grt), Drifter UBEROUS (UK 92 grt), Convoy rescue ship BEACHY (UK 1600 grt), FV ORIOLE (UK 172 grt), EUMAEUS (UK 7472 grt), Sludge vessel MANCUNIUM (UK 1286 grt), Liner OROPESA (UK 14118 grt), MV ZEALANDIC (UK 10572 grt), Liner ALMEDA STAR (UK 14936 grt), Tkr BRITISH UNION (UK 6987 grt), Steamer BONNINGTON COURT (UK 4909 grt), MV FLORIAN (UK 3174 grt), Steamer STANPARK (UK 5103 grt), Steamer TEMPLE MEAD (UK 4427 grt), Tug ENGLISHMAN (UK 487 grt), Steamer LURIGETHAN (UK 3564 grt), Steamer LANGLEGORSE (UK 4524 grt), Steamer MOSTYN (UK 1859 grt), Steamer CORHEATH (UK 1096 grt), steamer MANDASOR (UK 5144 grt), MV LURIGETHAN (UK 3564 grt), Steamer MERIONES (UK 7557 grt), Steamer RINGWALL (UK 407 grt), Trawler CAERPHILLY CASTLE (UK 275 grt) , Barge HEDON (UK 73 grt), steamer URLA (UK 5198 grt), Steamer PANDION (UK 1944 grt), Steamer MENDIP GRELROSA (UK 4574 grt), MV KING ROBERT (UK 5886 grt), Tkr W. B. WALKER (UK 10468 grt), MV WEST WALES (UK 4353 grt), steamer EURYLOCHUS (UK 5723 grt), Steamer AFRIC STAR (UK 11,900 grt), MV RUSHPOOL (UK 5125 grt), steamer PIZARRO (UK 1367 grt) , Steamer ROWANBANK (UK 5159 grt), Steamer SPEYBANK (UK 5154 grt,

MV SESOSTRIS (EG 2962 grt)

oil refinery ship OLE WEGGER (Nor 12,201 grt), oil refinery ship SOLGLIMT (12,246grt), 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), 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), steamer BRASK (Nor 4079 grt), Tkr SANDEFJORD (Nor 8038 grt), MV VESPASIAN (Nor 1570 grt), Steamer AUSTVARD (Nor 3677 grt) ,


Steamer NEMEA (Gk 5101 grt), steamer NICOLAOS FILINIS (Gk 3111 grt), Steamer MEANDROS (Gk 4581 grt), steamer KAPETAN STRATIS (Gk 3574 grt), Steamer KATE (Gk 5197 grt), MV AIKATERINA ( Gk 4928 grt),

Tkr ONOBA (NL 6256 grt),
Steamer DIANA (NL 312 grt), Steamer BARNEVELD (Ne 5597 grt), Steamer HEEMSKERK (Ne 6516 grt), Steamer BEEMSTERDIJK (NL 6869 grt), steamer EMMAPLEIN (NL 5436 grt,

steamer PORTUGAL (Be 1550 grt)

208414 (UK), 2982 (EG), 57596 (Nor), 26492 (Gk), 30986 (NL), 1550 (Be)

328020 grt (Mercantile)

Total Mercantile and Military losses: 343517 grt

Prizes captured
steamer MENDOZA (Vichy 8199 grt), steamer SONTAY (Vichy 8917 grt), Steamer ELIZABETH BAKKE (Ex-Nor 5450 grt,), Steamer JOHN BAKKE (Ex-Nor 4718 grt), Steamer TAI SHAN (Ex-Nor 6962 grt),TAURUS (Ex-Nor 4767 grt), RANJA (Ex-Nor 6355 grt),


Neutral shipping
Steamer BERTHA (SD 1216 grt),

1216 (SD)

(1216 grt Mercantile)

Neutral warships
None

Total Neutral Mercantile + Military: 1215 grt
Total Allied + Neutral: 344733 grt

Prizes taken
None

Cumulative Losses since 9/39
6,178,028 grt Allied and Neutral Mercantile and Naval tonnage losses

Axis Warships
DKM
TB WOLF (DKM 933 grt),

(933 grt)

RM
Marcello Class Sub NANI (RM 1043 grt), Spica Class TB VEGA (RM 795 grt), Coast Defence ship SAN GIORGIO (RM 11122 grt),

(12960 grt)

Siam
TBs TRAD (Royal Thai Navy (RTN) 379 grt) , SONGHKLA (RTN 318 grt) and CHOMBURI (RTN 318 grt),
Defense ship DONBURI (RTN 2265 grt),

(3280 grt)

Axis Shipping
GER
Pilot ship BORKUM (Ger 280 grt), Steamer GODFRIED BUEREN (Ger 4664 grt), Steamer BRECHSEE (Ger 688 grt), Steamer ELIZABETH BAKKE (Ex-Nor 5450 grt,), Steamer JOHN BAKKE (Ex-Nor 4718 grt), Steamer TAI SHAN (Ex-Nor 6962 grt),TAURUS (Ex-Nor 4767 grt), RANJA (Ex-Nor 6355 grt), steamer INGO (Ger 3950 grt), Steamer KONIGSBERG-PREUSSEN (Ger 2530 grt),

(40364 grt)

(FI)
Steamer ALBANO (FI 2364 grt), steamer PALMA (FI 2715 grt), Steamer VALDIVAGNA (FI 5400 grt), steamer CARLO MARTINOLICH (FI 4208 grt), Coastal steamer GIOVANNI MARI (FI 636 grt), Steamer CITTA DI MESSINA (FI 2472 grt), Steamer LELIO (FI 1384 grt), Liner LIGURIA (FI 15,354 grt), steamer ISCHIA (FI 5101 grt), Tug URSUS (FI 407 grt)

(35194 grt)

Spain:
MV SAN CARLOS (SP 223 grt)
(223 grt)

(Vichy)
steamer MENDOZA (Vichy 8199 grt), steamer SONTAY (Vichy 8917 grt),

(17116 grt)

Finland
Steamer LIISA (Fn 1460 grt), Steamer YRSA (Fn 2803 grt),

(4263 grt)

Total Axis Mercantile (97160 grt)
Total Axis Mercantile and Naval Tonnage losses: ( 114332 grt)

Captured ships
oil refinery ship OLE WEGGER (Nor 12,201 grt), oil refinery ship SOLGLIMT (12,246grt),
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), 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)

(+) (40235 grt)

 

[parsifal]

1 February 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
S Boat S-61

S 61 being towed by MTB 670 in La Valetta/Malta Harbour
Allied
Harbour Defence Motor Launch HDML 1004 (ML 1004), Harbour Defence Motor Launch HDML 1023 (ML 1023), Motor Launch ML 196 (ML 196)

Losses
MV NICOLAS ANGELOS (Gk 4351 grt) Sunk by U-48 (Herbert Schultze) ; : Crew: Unknown (no survivors) Cargo: Empty: Route: Liverpool - New York Convoy: OB-279 (straggler) Lost in the Western Approaches; At 2125 hrs the unescorted NICOLAS ANGELOS , a straggler from convoy OB-279, was hit near the bridge by one torpedo from U-48 about 130 miles NW of Rockall after being missed by a first torpedo at 2058 hrs. The U-boat waited for the crew to abandon ship and then fired 28 rounds from the deck gun from 2150 to 2215 hours. The ship caught fire and sank by the bow at 2304 hrs. Schultze observed how the survivors set sail in their lifeboat, but they were never found.

UBOATS
At Sea 1 February 1941
U-37, U-48, U-52, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-106, U-107, U-123.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
DD KEPPEL departed Scapa Flow to escort AMC CALIFORNIA from the Butt of Lewis to her patrol position. Following this duty, the DD arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 3rd.

Northern Waters
DDs SOMALI, ECLIPSE, ESKIMO, NAPIER departed Scapa Flow to meet BB KGV on the 3rd and escort her to Scapa Flow. NAPIER was detached from the escort and arrived at Greenock on the 6th. The BB and the 3 DDs arrived at Scapa Flow on the 6th.

​

CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to escort WN.77 until dark. The ship returned to Scapa Flow late that night. Sub SEALION unsuccessfully attacked a German convoy off Stadlandet .

West Coast UK
OB.281 departed Liverpool, escort DDs MONTGOMERY, WILD SWAN, WITCH and corvettes CAMPANULA, PERIWINKLE, PIMPERNEL. The escorts were detached on the 5th when the convoy dispersed.

SW Approaches
DKM CA ADMIRAL HIPPER departed Brest to raid west of Biscay.

Med- Biscay
The Med Flt departed Alexandria as a diversion for operations by Fce H in Operation MC.4. CL ORION, CLA BONAVENTURE, DDs ILEX, HERO, HEREWARD departed Alexandria in the early hours.. After leaving harbour, the DDs proceeded to the NE to sweep the waters around Rhodes on the night of 1/2 February. The DDs then to proceed to Suda Bay to arrive at dawn on the 2nd. The cruisers proceeded past Kaso Strait and then turned towards Suda Bay and met the 3 DDs in the pre-dawn on the 2nd. BBs WARSPITE and BARHAM, CVL EAGLE, DDs JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, DIAMOND, DEFENDER, WRYNECK, and RAN VENDETTA and , VAMPIRE. CL AJAX, RAN CL PERTH, DD JAGUAR departed Suda Bay late on the 1st and joined the Main Force.
When these ships joined the Main Force, WRYNECK was detached to return to Alexandria, via the Western Desert coast. CLA BONAVENTURE was detached to return to Alexandria due to her shortage of ammunition. on the evening of the 2nd, CLs ORION, PERTH, AJAX with DDs ILEX and HEREWARD were detached to cover the movements of DDs DEFENDER and DECOY. DD HERO was detached from the ORION force to the Main Force.

RAF personnel were embarked on DD DEFENDER which proceeded to Malta for refitting. The destroyer arrived in daylight on the morning of the 3rd. DD DECOY was brought out from Malta, joining the Main Force on the 3rd.

CLs AJAX and PERTH were detached for duty in the Aegean and to cover convoys. DDrs VAMPIRE and VENDETTA were detached to fuel at Suda Bay and then escort convoy AS.14 to Alexandria and Port Said. Later on the 3rd, CL ORION with defects and DD ILEX with her ASW gear out of action were detached to Alexandria for repairs.

​

At 1800, DD HASTY and corvettes HYACINTH and SALVIA departed Suda Bay escorting British steamers ETHIOPIA and LEVERNBANK. DAINTY, after towing tanker DESMOULEA to Suda Bay, departed Suda Bay at 1400 to join convoy AN.14 before dark.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BN.14 departed Aden, escort CL CALEDON, DD KINGSTON, sloops INDUS and SHOREHAM. The convoy was dispersed on the 3rd.

Malta
MALTA FIGHTER STRENGTH

• 261 Sqn 28 Hurricanes (8 unserviceable)
• 806 Sqn 3 Fulmars (1 unserviceable; 4 Gladiators (1 unserviceable)

AIR RAIDS DAWN 1 FEBRUARY TO DAWN 2 FEBRUARY 1941
Weather Fine.
0944-1010 hrs Air raid alert for a single JU 88 which flies over the Island, apparently on recon. No bombs are dropped. Malta fighters are scrambled; no interception.
1140-1220 hrs Air raid alert for one SM 79 escorted by 12 CR 42 fighters which fly over the Island at 20000 feet. Hurricane fighters are scrambled and shoot down one CR42 , which crashes on land at St Andrews Barracks in the Pembroke area, and another in the sea north of Malta. The bodies of both pilots are recovered
1342-1352 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy a/c reported 5 miles NE of Grand Harbour. 4 Malta fighters are scrambled; raid does not materialise.
Enemy casualties Sergente Maggiore Andrea Baudone, 156th Gruppo Autonomo, pilot of Fiat CR 42 shot down and died. Other body not identified.

OPERATIONS REPORTS SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY 1941
AIR HQ 148 Sqn Wellington a/c attacked Tripoli. 0550-1231 hrs Sunderland anti-convoy patrol of Eastern Tunisian coast with a striking force standing by. 1013-1300 hrs Spitfire PRU despatched on special photorecon task: not completed due to cloud. 0945-1159 hrs Maryland recon of Syracuse, Augusta, Catania and Messina for ships in harbour. 0955-1530 hrs Maryland photorecon of Taranto. Slight and inaccurate AA. 0955 hrs one merchant vessel is spotted with two Cant flying boats patrolling nearby. 1451 hrs A Sunderland took off to intercept and attack an Italian ship leaving Tunis; striking force also standing by. Unable to locate ships; returned 2145 hrs.
Photorecon results (to treat interpretation with reserve): Taranto 1 BB, 4 cruisers, 7 DDs, 4 TBs, 3 MVs, 27 Cant flying boats; Catania port 3 MVs, aerodrome 3 SM 79 bombers, 42 JU 87 bombers, 12 JU 88 bombers, 2 JU 52 transport aircraft, 14 Macchi 200 fighters, one CR 42 fighter plus other aircraft; Augusta three submarines, 18 Cant flying boats; Syracuse no ships, seaplane base not shown.
LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland photorecon Syracuse, Augusta, Catania, Messina; one Maryland photorecon Taranto.

TOTAL MALTA GARRISON AT 1 FEBRUARY 1941
Officers 802; other ranks 14767
BRITISH COMMAND STAFF: officers 48; other ranks 3;
BRIGADES: staff (Inf): officers 8 other ranks 0
M AND C D BRIGADE

• 12 Field Regiment Royal Artillery (RA): officers 33; other ranks 548
• 13 Mob C D Regiment RA: officers 24; other ranks 269
• 4 Heavy Regiment RA: officers 21; other ranks 404
• 1 Heavy Regiment Royal Malta Artillery (RMA): officers 0; other ranks 32
• 7 Anti Aircraft (AA) Brigade, 7 AA Regiment RA: officers 31; other ranks 810
• 10 AA Regiment RA: officers 32; other ranks 578
• 2 AA Regiment RMA: officers 0; other ranks 11
• 11 AA Regiment RMA (T): officers 1; other ranks 4
• 4 Searchlight Regiment RA and RMA: officers 13; other ranks 423
• Royal Engineers (RE) Services: officers 19; other ranks 56
• Fortress Royal Engineers: officers 11; other ranks 341
• No 2 Works Company RE (T): officers 3; other ranks 2
• Royal Signals: officers 7; other ranks 201
• RM Chaplains Department: officers 7; other ranks 0
• 4th Bn The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment): officers 32; other ranks 663
• 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment: officers 29; other ranks 935
• 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regiment: officers 28; other ranks 837
• 2nd Bn Royal West Kent Regiment: officers 28; other ranks 879
• 2nd Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers: officers 36; other ranks 871
• 8th Bn Manchester Regiment: officers 37; other ranks 888
• Malta Tank Troop: officers 3; other ranks 62
• Royal Army Service Corps: officers 19; other ranks 191
• 30 Coy Royal Army Medical Corps: officers 40; other ranks 206
• 161 Field Ambulance: officers 14; other ranks 184
• Royal Army Ordnance Corps: officers 22; other ranks 124
• Royal Army Pay Corps: officers 9; other ranks 24
• AEC: officers 0; other ranks 8
• QAIMNS: officers 51; other ranks 0
• CMP: officers 0; other ranks 28
• 1st Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment: officers 2; other ranks 3
• 2nd Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment: officers 0; other ranks 4
• 3rd Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment: officers 0; other ranks 5
• MPSC: officers 0; other ranks 1
• Recruit Training Depot: officers 2; other ranks 13

LOCAL M and C D BRIGADE

• 13 Mobile CD Regiment RA: officers 0; other ranks 69
• 4 Heavy Regiment RA: officers 0; other ranks 81
• 1 Heavy Regiment RMA: officers 41; other ranks 840
• 7 AA Brigade 2 AA Regiment RMA: officers 30; other ranks 692
• 11 AA Regiment RMA (T): officers 21; other ranks 426
• 30 Light AA Battery RMA (T): officers 0; other ranks 396
• 4 Searchlight Regiment RA and RMA: officers 6; other ranks 167
• Fortress Royal Engineers: officers 3; other ranks 151
• Admin Commandant MI and Vol: officers 2; other ranks 0
• No 1 Works Company RE: officers 5; other ranks 213
• No 2 Works Company RE: officers 3; other ranks 215
• RAOC: officers 1; other ranks 20
• 1st Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment: officers 27; other ranks 746
• 2nd Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment: officers 28; other ranks 508
• 3rd Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment: officers 23; other ranks 558
• Recruit Training Depot: officers 2; other ranks 85

 

[Njaco]

February 1 Saturday
ASIA: Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto reveals Operation Z to his Chief of Staff, an attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He finally won assent from the Naval High Command by, among other things, threatening to resign. Although it was Yamamoto who initiated the plans for the attack against Pearl Harbor, Commander Minoru Genda was the plan's chief architect. The Japanese initially used the codename "Operation Hawaii" for the attack on Pearl Harbor. This was later changed to "Operation Z." For two decades, in keeping with the doctrine of Captain Alfred T. Mahan, the Naval General Staff had planned on using Japanese light surface forces, submarines and land-based air units to whittle down the American Fleet as it advanced across the Pacific, until the Japanese Navy engaged it in a climactic "Decisive Battle" in the northern Philippine Sea (between the Ryukyu Islands and the Marianas Islands), with battleships meeting in the traditional exchange between battle lines. Correctly pointing out this plan had never worked even in Japanese war games, and painfully aware of American strategic advantages in military productive capacity, Yamamoto proposed instead to seek a decision with the Americans by first reducing their forces with a preemptive strike, and following it with an offensive, rather than a defensive, "Decisive Battle." Yamamoto hoped, but probably did not believe, that if the Americans could be dealt such terrific blows early in the war, they might be willing to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Japan announces that it will be necessary to introduce rice rationing.

PACIFIC OCEAN: At Maug Island in the Mariana Islands, "Orion" received one Japanese-built E8N float plane, purchased from Japan earlier that year, from German ship "Munsterland".

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-48 sank Greek ship "Nicolas Angelos" with a torpedo and shots from the deck gun south of Iceland at 2215 hours. The crew was took to the lifeboat, which was never found.

The "Admiral Hipper" slips out of Brest for another sortie into the Atlantic.

NORTH AMERICA: The US Marine Corps brigades stationed on the east and west coasts of the United States were reorganized as the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions, respectively; it was the first time the USMC organized units on the divisional level. To the south on the island of Cuba, the US Marine Corps 4th Defense Battalion arrived at Guantanamo Bay from Parris Island, South Carolina, United States.

There is a major reorganization of the US Navy. General Order 143 split the United States Fleet into separate Atlantic, Pacific and Asiatic Fleets and ordered to gradually bring ship crews up to war establishment. Admiral Husband E. Kimmel became Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. Admiral Ernest King assumes command of USN Atlantic Fleet.

GERMANY: Oberstleutnant Benno Kosch was named the commanding officer of the German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing.

NORTH AFRICA: Indian 4th Division captured Agordat, Eritrea, Italian East Africa while Indian 5th Division captured Metemma, Abyssinia. Gazelle Force was held up in crossing the River Baraka some 40 mi (64 km) from Keren where the Ponte Mussolini had been blown and the approaches to the river heavily mined. 2nd Lieutenant Premindra Singh Bhagat of the Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners won the first Victoria Cross for the British Indian Army in WW2 for a "...continuous feat of sheer cold courage" clearing 15 minefields and 55 miles of roads in 48 hours.

South African 2nd Infantry Brigade captures Gorai while South African 5th Infantry Brigade captures El Gumu.

UNITED KINGDOM: In Britain, the Air Training Corps was established to provide pre-entry training for cadets over the age of 16 intending to enter the Royal Air Force or Fleet Air Arm.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Bomber Command sends 13 aircraft to attack Boulogne overnight.

MEDITERRANEAN: On the Italo-Greek Front, ground and air operations come to a virtual standstill due to weather conditions.

Italian submarines "Turchese" and "Uarsciek" patrol off Greek-Albanian coast.

.

 

[parsifal]

2 February 1941
Losses
Naval trawler ALMOND (RN 505 grt) was sunk on a mine off Falmouth. 18 crew members, including the skipper, were lost in the trawler.

Steamer THE SULTAN (UK 824 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Nth Sea. One crewman and one gunner were lost. Trawler LORD ST VINCENT rescued twelve survivors.

Surface raider ATLANTIS captured the tanker KETTY BROVIG (Nor 7031 grt) north of Madagascar. On 4 March, the tanker was intercepted by British warships off Italian Somaliland and scuttled herself.

UBOATS
At Sea 2 February 1941
U-37, U-48, U-52, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-106, U-107, U-123.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic
Sub SUNFISH unsuccessfully attacked a German steamer off Kristiansand.

North Sea
FN.398 departed Southend, escort DDs PYTCHLEY, WESTMINSTER, WOLFHOUND, and arrived at Methil on the 4th. FS.402 departed Methil, and arrived at Southend on the 4th. AA ship ALYNBANK was docked at Leith for collision damages.

Northern Waters
CLs ARETHUSA and AURORA and DDs MATABELE, TARTAR, INTREPID, IMPULSIVE departed Scapa Flow for ML operation EA. Mines were to be laid at Fro Havet (Nth of Trondheim), but bad weather prevented the operation. The ships, less AURORA, arrived back at Scapa Flow later that day with AURORA arriving about an hour later. The operation was cancelled and INTREPID and IMPULSIVE departed Scapa Flow for Immingham on the 4th.
CLA DIDO, refitting in the Tyne since 17 December, arrived at Scapa Flow for operations. CLA NAIAD departed Scapa Flow for refitting in the Tyne including the fitting of radar. DDs BRIGHTON and LANCASTER departed Scapa Flow independently during the evening after excercises for Loch Alsh.
CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at in the afternoon to cover WN.78 as far as the latitude of Buchan Ness. The ship returned to Scapa Flow late that night. 2300.

British steamer WAZIRISTAN was damaged by a near miss by the LW in Northern Waters. ASW trawler LORD MIDDLETON stood by the steamer. Later, DD DOUGLAS departed Scapa Flow to assist the steamer. The steamer was further damaged by a near miss on the 6th. She was taken in tow by tug BANDIT on the 6th, escorted by DOUGLAS. The DD was ordered to proceed to Skaalefjord for refuelling. She arrived at daylight on the 7th and departed after refuelling at 1440 to return to her escort duty. The steamer and DD arrived at Kirkwall on the 10th. On the 10th, DOUGLAS departed Scapa Flow for Londonderry to operate in the Western Approaches.

Med- Biscay
CV ARK ROYAL launched eight torpedo planes against the hydroelectric San Chiara Ula Dam on Lake Tirso in Sardinia, Operation PICKET. No success was obtained in destroying the dam or the facilities. One Swordfish of 810 Sqn was shot down and its crew made prisoners of war. A Skua of 800 Sqn force landed in the sea, with the crew rescued. Operation RESULT, bombardment of Genoa, was cancelled due to bad weather. Force H returned to Gibraltar on the 4th.

Netlayer PROTECTOR departed Alexandria with the second half of the anti torpedo boom for Suda Bay. The netlayer was to pass the Kithera Straits during the night of 3/4 February.

Submarines TETRARCH and ROVER departed Alexandria and Malta, respectively, for patrols off Tripoli.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
CLA CARLISLE, operating in the Red Sea, was found to have half of her starboard bracket bush missing. The cruiser could operate on only one propeller shaft. A replacement was sent from Malta on CLA BONAVENTURE in March.

Force K, with CV FORMIDABLE and CA HAWKINS were operating off Italian Somaliland in the area of DKM surface raider ATLANTIS. A/c from FORMIDABLE dropped mines in Mogadishu harbour. After the mining, 9 Albacore a/c attacked shore installations at Mogadishu in Operation BREACH.

CA SHROPSHIRE and CLs CERES and COLOMBO were blockading the port of Kismayu.

Convoy BS.14 departed Suez. The convoy was joined by CL CALEDON and sloops FLAMINGO and INDUS. The convoy was dispersed on the 8th

During the night of 2/3 February, RM DDs PANTERA, TIGRE, LEON from Massawa made an unsuccessful attack on a Convoy in the Red Sea.

Australia/Pac/Far East
RAN CL SYDNEY arrived home in Australian waters.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 2 FEBRUARY TO DAWN 3 FEBRUARY 1941
Weather Fine, cold.
1047-1057 hrs Air raid alert for enemy aircraft reported nine miles from the Island; raid does not materialise.
2350-0005 hrs Air raid alert; raid does not materialise.
OPERATIONS REPORTS SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY 1941
ROYAL NAVY Under cover of a cruiser force engaged on another operation,DECOY sailed on completion of damage repairs, and DEFENDER arrived for refit.
AIR HQ 148 Sqn Wellingtons attacked Castel Benito aerodrome. 0545-1000 hrs Maryland photorecon Taranto. 0735-1100 hrs Maryland photorecon Tripoli: Castel Benito approx. 50 aircraft mostly light camouflaged bombers; signs of fortifications five miles east of aerodrome. 0751-1307 hrs Sunderland patrol sighted hospital ships flying Italian flag. 0945-1428 hrs Maryland photorecon Naples and special task area; latter not approached due to cloud. Factories near Pozzuoli show signs of considerable activity. 1045 hrs Spitfire photorecon Genoa, Leghorn, Spezia reported considerably overdue; no further information available.
LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland photoreconnaissance Taranto; one Maryland photorecon Tripoli, Castel Benito, Zuara; one Maryland photorecon Naples not completed due to weather. 148 Sqn 7 Wellingtons bombing attack on Castel Benito.

 

[Njaco]

February 2 Sunday

MEDITERRANEAN: Torpedo bombers from British carrier HMS "Ark Royal" attacked the hydroelectric plant at the Santa Chiara Dam on the Tirso River on Sardinia, Italy. The attack failed to damage the facilities. One Swordfish aircraft was shot down, with its crew of 3 taken prisoner.

Benito Mussolini declared the southern portion of Italy to be a war zone and put it under martial law.

The British aircraft carrier HMS "Formidable" replaced the damaged "Illustrious" in the Mediterranean. The "Illustrious" was sent to the United States for repairs. On her way to the Mediterranean to replace the damaged "Illustrious", "Formidable" sends its planes to attack the harbor installations at Mogadishu.

British Force H raid against Genoa was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

NORTH AFRICA: Indian 5th Division captured Italian fortifications defended by 8,000 troops and 32 field guns at Barentu, Eritrea, Italian East Africa. Gazelle Force of Indian 4th Infantry Division reaches Italian defensive positions at Keren. RN cruisers blockade Kismayu.

The Australian forces have already advanced well to the west of Derna on the coast and are discovering that the Italians are withdrawing at speed. Wavel agrees with O'Connor that 7th Armored Division should be sent hurrying across the center of Cyrenaica in an attempt to cut the Italians off. Supplies are being assembled to support this move but because the Italian retreat is so rapid the advance will have to start before the preparations are complete.

INDIAN OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Atlantis" stopped and captured Norwegian tanker "Ketty Brøvig" in the Indian Ocean overnight. With 6,370 tons of fuel oil and 4,125 tons of diesel oil from Bahrain aboard, "Ketty Brøvig" was to be used as a supply ship for German raiders and warships deployed at sea.

WESTERN FRONT: Laval supports formation of a new pro-Nazi political party in Vichy France.

RAF Circus operation: Daylight raid by five Blenheim bombers to Boulogne heavily escorted by fighters. RAF Bomber Command sends 12 aircraft to attack Brest overnight.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British vessel "The Sultan" sunk by Luftwaffe aircraft.

ASIA: The Battle of South Henan: Chinese troops in Xinyang, Henan fight against the Japanese invaders. The Japanese 11th Army abandons Wuyang.

.

 

[parsifal]

3 February 1941
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Experimental Type PT Boat USS PT 6

Allied
FLOWER Corvette HMS ABELIA (K 184)

Flower Class Corvette HMS VIOLET (K 35)

Bangor Class MSW HMS BLACKPOOL (J 27)

Losses
MSW trawler ARCTIC TRAPPER (RN 352 grt) was sunk by the LW off Ramsgate. 16 crew were lost on the trawler.

Motor anti-submarine boat MA/SB.12 (RN 39 grt) was mined off Milford Haven. The boat sank in tow on the 6th

Drifter MIDAS (UK (89 grt), was sunk in a collision off Dungeness.

U.107 sank steamer EMPIRE CITIZEN (UK 4683 grt), a straggler from from OB.279 with passengers and general cargo embarked, in the Western Approaches. Of 69 crew, 2 gunners and 12 passengers, only 4 crew and one gunner were rescued. The ship was hit underneath the bridge by one torpedo from U-107 SW of Iceland. The ship had been spotted on a zigzag course 6 hrs before and missed with a first torpedo at 0019 hrs. The U-boat observed how she sank slowly on even keel and the crew abandoned ship, then fired a stern torpedo at 0223 hrs that hit aft and caused her to sink by the stern quickly. The survivors were picked up by HMS CLARKIA and landed at Londonderry.

U.107 badly damaged Ocean Boarding Vessel CRISPIN (RN 5051 grt) after being detached from convoy OB.280, in the swestern Approaches. The armed boarding vessel had been detached from the convoy with armed yacht PHILANTE, corvette ARBUTUS and British steamer COPELAND. 18 of the crew were lost and 3 others including RAF personnel embarked were wounded. The vessel sank on the 4th. At 2333 hrs was hit in the engine room by one torpedo from U-107 NNW of Rockall. The ship was just detached from the dispersed convoy OB-280 together with HMS ARBUTUS, the armed yacht HMS PHILANTE and rescue ship COPELAND to join the convoy SC-20 on 4 February. CRISPIN was abandoned and foundered the following day in 56°52N/20°22W. The commander, five officers and 14 ratings were lost. Eight survivors were picked up by the rescue ship and the remaining survivors by DD HARVESTER and landed at Liverpool.

Steamer DIONE II (UK 2660 grt) in convoy SC.20 was damaged by the LW in the Western Approaches. The steamer was sunk the next day in a U-Boat attack.

UBOATS
At Sea 3 February 1941
U-37, U-48, U-52, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-106, U-107, U-123.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
During the night of 3/4 February, minefield RUGEN was laid by DKM MLs TANNENBERG and BRUMMER, escorted by DKM TBs off the Norwegian coast. This was the same force composition as minefield began on 26 January.

North Sea
FS.403 departed Methil, and arrived at Southend on the 5th..

West Coast UK
DD WILD SWAN, corvette ANEMONE, MSW FITZROY departed Loch Ewe for Londonderry for refuelling. WILD SWAN and ANEMONE joined DDs WITCH and MONTGOMERY, corvettes CAMPANULA, PERIWINKLE, PIMPERNEL to escort convoy HX.105 on its inbound leg. Enroute, the DDs escorted OB.281 whilst moving outbound.

British steamer CALYX (212grt) was damaged on a mine eight miles northeast of Bar Light Vessel. The steamer arrived at Liverpool on the 3rd with engine damage.

OB.282 departed Liverpool, escort DDs ACHATES, ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, GEORGETOWN, sloop FLEETWOOD, corvette HEATHER, ASW trawlers AYRSHIRE and LADY MADELEINE. On the 5th, trawler LADY MADELEINE was detached. Corvette PICOTEE joined on the 6th. DDs ACHATES, ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, sloop FLEETWOOD, trawler AYRSHIRE were detached on the 7th. On the 8th DD GEORGETOWN and corvette HEATHER were detached when the convoy dispersed.

Nth Atlantic
HX.107 departed Halifax, escort AMC LACONIA and corvettes MAYFLOWER and SNOWBERRY. The corvettes were detached the next day and the AMC on the 16th. On the 17th, corvette HOLLYHOCK joined the convoy. On the 18th, DD SABRE joined the escort and on the 20th, DDs ARROW and WANDERER and corvette NASTURTIUM joined. DDs ARROW, SABRE, WANDERER and corvettes HOLLYHOCK and NASTURTIUM were detached on the 20th, and on the same day the the convoy arrived at Liverpool

Central Atlantic
CAs NORFOLK and DORSETSHIRE departed Freetown to search for DKM surface raider KORMORAN.

Med- Biscay
Convoy AS.14 of six ships, two of which were British, departed Piraeus escorted by CLA COVENTRY and corvettes SALVIA and HYACINTH. RAN DDs VAMPIRE and VENDETTA relieved the corvettes on the 4th, and arrived at Alexandria with COVENTRY on the 6th. The Port Said section was escorted by VENDETTA which arrived at Alexandria on the 7th. VENDETTA, en route from Port Said to Alexandria, developed a mechanical defect requiring ten days to repair.

ASF.14 of British steamers LANARKSHIRE, ETHIOPIA, PORT HALIFAX departed Piraeus escorted by CLA CALCUTTA and DDs HASTY and DAINTY, and arrived at Alexandria on the 6th.

On the 1st, steamer MULTEDO (FI 1130 grt), along with other Fascist merchant men GIOVINEZZA, UTILITAS departed Benghazi for Tripoli escorted by TBss CIGNO and CENTAURO. MULTEDO was lost in the Gulf of Sirte in probably a marine assident. Attacks by submarine TRUANT did not account for the loss. Three torpedoes fired at by TRUANT missed steamers GIOVENEZZA and UTILITAS.

A Swordfish of 815 Sqn from Maleme forced landed on Antikythera Island. The crew were recovered unhurt. British steamer DERWENTHALL was damaged by a mine in the Suez Canal. The steamer sustained no casualties. However the rudder was blown off and the steamer arrived at Suez on 28 March under tow. DERWENTHALL was towed to Calcutta for repairs.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 3 FEBRUARY TO DAWN 4 FEBRUARY 1941
Weather Cold and unsettled.
1142-1152 hrs Air raid alert for a single JU 88 bomber which approaches from the south east and flies over the Island at 12000 feet on reconnaissance. Two Hurricanes are scrambled and anti-aircraft guns opened fire: no claims.
AIR HQ 0812-1055 hrs Maryland photoreconnaissance Tripoli Harbour sighted four destroyers and twenty merchant vessels with another heading for harbour. Anti-aircraft opened fire: intense and accurate. The Maryland was attacked by an Italian G50 fighter and returned fire: no damage observed.
Rome radio announced that the Spitfire overdue from yesterday's reconnaissance mission came down yesterday near Viareggio and the pilot was taken prisoner.
LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland photoreconnaissance Tripoli attacked by a G 50.

 

[Njaco]

February 3 Monday
MEDITERRANEAN: Mussolini sent 33 Italian Fascist Party leaders to the Albanian front to bolster morale.

NORTH AFRICA: General Erwin Rommel was appointed as the head of a unit temporarily named "German Army Troops in Africa"; it would later become the Afrika Korps.

Italian troops in Eritrea, Italian East Africa withdrew into towns in the mountains. The British 'Northern Force' bumps into the Italian defences at Keren, but fail to crack them open. General Platt decides he must build up his forces for a major assault.

Italian 10th Army ordered to withdraw from Cyrenaica.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-107 sank British ship "Empire Citizen" 300 miles south of Iceland at 0223 hours; 77 were killed, 5 survived. At 2333 hours, U-107 struck again, sinking British ship HMS "Cirspin"; 20 were killed, 121 survived.

German submarine U-93 attacked British ship "Dione II" 50 miles northwest of Ireland at 1410 hours; the torpedo missed. A German Fw 200 aircraft arrived later in the day and bombed the ship, causing damage. At 2300 hours, U-93 surfaced near "Dione II" and engaged in a brief gun battle.

British minesweeping trawler HMT "Arctic Trapper" was sunk by German bombing off Ramsgate, Kent, England; 17 were killed, 3 were wounded.

The German battle cruisers "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" go on a commerce destroying expedition in the Atlantic under the command of Admiral Lutjens. During the night they pass through the Denmark Strait.

GERMANY: German military leaders presented detailed plans for Operation Barbarossa to Adolf Hitler. Hitler reviews the plans for Operation 'Barbarossa', as German intelligence estimates that 155 Red Army divisions are deployed in western Russia against just 116 German and Axis divisions. He again tries to draw attention away from the central drive toward Moscow which the Army planners think essential. The starting date is again confirmed as the 15th May 1941.

Field Marshal Fedor von Bock returns from medical leave and resumes command of German Heeresgruppe Mitte.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The US Marine Corps established an airfield near the Ewa villages at Kapolei, Honolulu County, US Territory of Hawaii with the aircraft of Marine Aircraft Group 2 originally based at Naval Air Station Ford Island, also on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. USS "Arizona" arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.

EASTERN EUROPE: The People's Commissariat for State Security was created in the Soviet Union. Vsevolod Merkulov was named the People's Commissar of State Security of the Soviet NKGB with responsibilities to oversee espionage and intelligence activities. The new ministry NKGB would last only until the German invasion when it would be merged back into the NKVD.

Kliment Voroshilov was awarded the Order of Lenin for the third time.

WESTERN FRONT: The Nazis forcibly restore Pierre Laval to office in occupied Vichy France.

RAF Bomber Command sends 118 aircraft on minelaying operations overnight.

ASIA: Tokyo pledges to support independence for Burma.

Battle of Southern Honan: With Japanese 11th Army having moved on, Chinese 5th War Area recovers Paoanchai and Wuyang. Japanese 11th Army captures Chenping.

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Very cool pic of the BARHAM

 

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4 February 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Raumboote R-65

Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMCS ALBERNI (K103)

Fairmile B ML HMS ML 189

Losses
Drifter IMBAT (UK 92 grt) was sunk in a collision at Scapa Flow.

Steamer GWYNWOOD (UK 1177 grt) was sunk by a parachute mine in the Humber anchorage. 9 crew and two gunners were lost.

U.52 sank steamer RINGHORN (Nor 1298 grt); At 0838 hrs the RINGHORN a straggler from convoy OB-280 since 2 February due to bad weather, was hit by one torpedo from U-52. The torpedo struck in the starboard bow, causing a list to port and destroying the starboard lifeboat. The port boat with about eleven men reached the water, but turned over when the ship capsized and was hit by the funnel. Four of the men managed to reach a raft in the heavy seas but were not able to help the others that cried for about one hour before they drowned or died of exhaustion in the cold water. The master and all officers were lost. The survivors later spotted another man sitting on the capsized boat and unsuccessfully tried to reach him. After six hours, the five survivors were found by DD HARVESTER , which already had 113 survivors from the CRISPIN on board that had been sunk the day before by U-107 . So the DD ordered Corvette CAMELLIA to pick them up. They were landed at Greenock on 9 February.

U.123 sank steamer EMPIRE ENGINEER (UK 5358 grt), an unescorted straggler from SC20, which was last seen 2 February straggling behind convoy SC.20, west of Ireland. There were no survivors, all 40 of the crew perished

Steamer CALATATIS (Gk 4443 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Western Approaches. 18 crew were missing from the steamer.

Steamer AGHIOS GEORGIOS (Gk 3283 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Suez Canal. Two crew were killed and one was missing. The wreck was removed to clear the canal.

UBOATS
At Sea 4 Febbruary 1941
U-37, U-48, U-52, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-106, U-107, U-123.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
ML TEVIOTBANK, escort DD MEYNELL, departed Immingham on the 3rd. The minelayer laid minefield BS.50 off the East coast of England on the 4th. This operation had been cancelled several times prior due to weather. The operation was first attempted on 18 January, when the ML and DD IMPULSIVE departed Immingham. Bad weather forced cancellation and the ML arrived at Rosyth and the DD returned to Immingham. On 24 January, ML TEVIOTBANK, escorted by DD WITHERINGTON, departed, but again was forced to return. On 30 January, the minelayer, escorted by DD QUORN, was forced to turn back from Spurn Point due to weather.

ORP DD PIORUN departed Scapa Flow for Greenock to form part of the escort for convoy WS.6, arriving at Greenock on the 6th.

FN.399 departed Southend, escort DDs HOLDERNESS and WOOLSTON. Corvette SNAPDRAGON joined on the 6th, and arrived at Methil on the 6th. FN.400 departed Southend, escort DDs VANITY, VORTIGERN, WORCESTER, and arrived at Methil on the 6th.

MSWs KELLETT and LEDA collided at Aberdeen. There was very minor

Northern Waters
The 1st Minelaying Squadron with MLs SOUTHERN PRINCE, AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS, PORT QUEBEC departed Loch Alsh on the 4th to lay minefield SN.7A, escort DDs BRIGHTON, LANCASTER, ST ALBANS, CHARLESTOWN. CL NIGERIA provided heavy cover for the operation. BB RODNEY and DDs INGLEFIELD, ELECTRA, ECHO, BRILLIANT cleared Scapa to act as distant cover for the operation. En route to the operation, ML MENESTHEUS exploded a mine nearby damaging her engines. This mine was twenty miles off the western end of minefield SN.3. There was no hull damage and no casualties. MENESTHEUS was taken in tow by AGAMEMNON and arrived back at Loch Alsh on the 7th. The mines were laid on the 6th. RODNEY, NIGERIA, INGLEFIELD, ECHO, ELECTRA, BRILLIANT returned to Scapa Flow on the 7th.

Damage to the KELLETT. LEDA was repaired at Leith from 4 February to 9 June.

Med- Biscay
British troopship ULSTER PRINCE and steamer DEVIS departed Alexandria at noon with troops from Tobruk. When news of aerial mining by the enemy of Tobruk Harbour was received, the ships were recalled to Alexandria. As there were no magnetic MSWs available for Tobruk, Corvettes PEONY, GLOXINIA, SALVIA, HYACINTH were recalled to Alexandria from the Kithera Patrol for refitting for magnetic sweeping. Corvettes SALVIA and HYACINTH arrived at Alexandria on the 5th. The other two corvettes arrived the next day. Sub TRUANT attacked Italian steamer CALINO as the steamer was departing Benghasi Harbour, escorted by TB LA FARINO. No damage was done.

Australia/Pac/Far East
Australian troop convoy US.9 departed Sydney with troopships AQUITANIA, MAURETANIA, NIEUW AMSTERDAM, and QUEEN MARY.From 4 to 6 February, Australian CL HOBART escorted the convoy from Sydney to Fremantle. On the 12th, the convoy departed Fremantle escorted by RAN CA CANBERRA. On the 16th, liner QUEEN MARY was detached to Singapore. Off Colombo on the 20th, CANBERRA was relieved by NZ manned CL LEANDER

Malta
One of Malta's first trio of defensive aircraft, the Gladiator nicknamed 'Hope', was written off today. In a heavy air raid on Hal Far, bombs caused damage across the aerodrome, including to three aircraft – one of which was 'Hope'. Newly arrived pilot, P/O John Pain, described the aftermath of the raid:

"All the hangars [at Hal Far] had been hit, but there were a few aircraft in them and in one was 'Hope' of the famous Malta trio. She was in the throes of becoming a six-gun Gladiator, the only one in the RAF, but she received a bomb smack through the centre section and that was the finish of her."

AIR RAIDS DAWN 4 FEBRUARY TO DAWN 5 FEBRUARY 1941
Weather Unsettled at first, becoming finer towards evening.
1407-1421 hrs Air raid alert; raid does not materialise.
1750 hrs Air raid alert for two formations of JU 88 bombers heading for the Island from the east. They cross the coast over Delimara and dive bomb Hal Far and Luqa aerodromes. Two bombs damage the runway and barrack rooms at Luqa; five fall on Hal Far. Four Hurricanes are scrambled and Bofors guns on the airfield open fire.
1801-1838 hrs A second formation crosses the coast over Rinella and launches a second attack. Two bombs land between Sans Souci and Marnisi. Every gun on Luqa aerodrome is firing, putting up a heavy barrage. Six more Hurricanes and two Fulmars are scrambled and engage raiders to the north of the Island.

 

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5 February 1941
Losses

ASW trawler TOURMALINE (RN 641 grt), was sunk by the LW off North Foreland.

Special service vessel MINNIE DE LARINAGA (RN 5046 grt) was sunk as a blockship at Dover.

Steamer IOANNIS M. EMBIRICOS (Gk 3734 grt) was sunk by the LW in 55-41N, 12-26W. The crew were all rescued.

An unknown motor schooner (RN 250 grt (est) was mined at Tobruk. Lost on the schooner was the Assistant King's Harbour Master, Tobruk, Lt Cdr J. Cochrane.

Steamer RANEE (UK 5060 grt) was sunk by a mine in the Suez Canal. Nine crew were lost. The forepart of the wreck was taken to Port Said for Navy use.

Steamer SNIA AMBA (FI 2532 grt) was scuttled at Benghasi. The steamer was later salved, effectively making the loss an allied capture.

Submarine SEALION sank steamer RYFYLKE (Ex-Nor 1151 grt) whilst in German service two miles Nth of Kvitenaes Point near Stadlandet.

UBOATS
At Sea 5 February 1941
U-37, U-48, U-52, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-106, U-107, U-123.
11 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
West Coast UK
CVL FURIOUS arrived in the Clyde from Operation MONSOON, flying off Hurricanes to Takoradi. The veteran carrier began refitting at Greenock. CLA PHOEBE at 1153 departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde arriving on the 6th. The cruiser departed the Clyde on the 8th to escort convoy WS.6 from the Clyde through to the Mediterranean, then join the Mediterranean Flt for operations. DDs NIZAM, COTTESMORE, ATHERSTONE, KEPPEL departed Scapa Flow.
Destroyer NIZAM proceeded to Greenock, where she arrived at noon on the 6th. COTTESMORE, ATHERSTONE, KEPPEL proceeded to Londonderry, where they arrived at 0900/6th to escort convoy WS.6. CL NEPTUNE arrived at Scapa Flow on the 5th after duty in the Sth Atlantic. On the 8th, the cruiser proceeded to Plymouth, then on to Chatham for refitting including a full outfit with radar. The ship was under refit from March to 1 May. The cruiser was damaged by the LW on the 9th at Plymouth. On the 16th while in dockyard at Chatham, she was damaged again. Damage from both bombings and the refit were completed on 1 May.

British steamer MERCHANT ROYAL was in convoy WN.74, escorted by escort vessel JASON and MSWs CAPE NYMEMTSKI and NORTH COATES, five miles NW of Duncansby Hd when her steering gear was disabled. Escort vessel JASON was ordered to assist the steamer. Later, CL AURORA departed Scapa Flow also to provide assistance. Tug ABEILLE 4 was sent from Peterhead to take the steamer in tow.

A Fulmar and its crew were lost when it went down whilst being ferried from Worthy Down, crashed Minerva Mountain, near Wrexham.

SW Approaches
Convoy OG.52 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers BELMONT, VANQUISHER, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, sloops EGRET and WESTON, corvette GENTIAN, anti-submarine trawler RUBENS. On the 6th, ocean boarding vessel REGISTAN escorted the convoy. On the 9th, sloop SCARBOROUGH relieved the DDs and sloops of the escort. DD ISIS from Gibraltar joined the convoy on the 20th, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 21st, escorted by DD ISIS, sloop SCARBOROUGH, corvette GENTIAN.

Central Atlantic
Submarine OTUS left her station in the Azores patrol, which began on 17 January, for Portsmouth, arriving on the 12th. The submarine was relieved by submarine TUNA on the 6th which came from Holy Loch after patrol off Gironde. However the patrol was terminated on the 12th and the submarine proceeded to Gibraltar, arrriving on the 16th.

Sth Atlantic
CA CORNWALL was refitting at Simonstown from 5 to 22 February. CORNWALL departed Simonstown on the 28th.

Med- Biscay
Submarine UPRIGHT made an unsuccessful torpedo attack on Italian shipping off Kerkenah.

Italian convoy of steamers ESPERIA, CONTE ROSSO, MARCO POLO, CALITEA, carrying some elements of the DAK, escorted by DDs FRECCIA, SAETTA, TARIGO departed Naples for Tripoli. The convoy was joined by CL GIOVANNI DELLA BANDE NERE on the 6th. The convoy safely arrived at Tripoli on the 7th. The convoy also made an uneventful return trip from 9 to 11 February.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 5 FEBRUARY TO DAWN 6 FEBRUARY 1941
Weather Overcast, some rain.
0001-0300 hrs Four alerts sounded but no air raid took place.
OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 1941
AIR HQ Arrivals Two Sunderland. 0730-1015 hrs Maryland visual reconnaissance Tripoli. 0540-1400 hrs Two Sunderlands and one Maryland reconnaissance of shipping routes Messina to Benghazi, Benghazi to Tripoli and Tripoli to Sicily.
KALAFRANA Two Sunderlands No 10 RAAF arrived from the United Kingdom with passengers and freight.
LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland photoreconnaissance Tripoli.

 

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I try to get interesting pics for that day. Sometimes it works!

 

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February 4 Tuesday
NORTH AMERICA: The United Service Organizations, USO, was established to maintain the morale of American military personnel.

The American newspaper Chicago Tribune featured an article on the US government's secret plan for war, including details such as a 10,000,000-strong military, half of which were to be destined for the to-be-established American Expeditionary Force for fighting in Europe.

USN and USMC conduct amphibious landing exercises in Puerto Rico.

NORTH AFRICA: The British advance across Cyrenaica has now begun. RAF reconnaissance planes report that the Italians are beginning to evacuate Benghazi in a withdrawal towards El Agheila. The 7th Armoured Division is given immediate instructions to advance from Mechili across the desert in order to cut off the Italians escape route. At dawn, British 7th Armoured Division departed from Mechili, and moved across the desert toward Jebel El Akhdar 150 miles away. Msus is taken and the forces then move toward Antelat. In the north the Italian retreat is continuing.

The Battle of Keren: The British forces begin to attack the strong Italian positions around Keren. There are 30,000 Italian troops in this area. In the first phase of the battle, which last until February 7th, the 11th Indian Brigade manages to take Cameron Ridge but is thrown back from other positions by Italian counterattacks.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-93, having damaged British ship "Dione II" on the previous day with gunfire northwest of Ireland, sank the ship at 0440 hours with the deck gun and the anti-aircraft gun; 28 were killed, 5 survived.

German submarine U-52 sank Norwegian ship "Ringhorn" 500 miles west of Ireland at 0838 hours; 14 were killed, 5 survived.

German submarine U-123 sank British ship "Empire Engineer" 1,000 miles west of Ireland at 1644 hours; the entire crew of 39 was lost, some during the sinking while others, aboard rafts, were never found.

German pocket battleships "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" broke out into the Atlantic Ocean via the Denmark Strait undetected by the British Royal Navy.

GERMANY: The Royal Air Force bombed Düsseldorf, killing 35.

Admiral Erich Raeder meets with Hitler to discuss cooperation with Japan. Raeder thought that the US entry into the war might be advantageous for the Germans as it would force Japan into belligerency.

WESTERN FRONT: Wolfgang Luth's U-43 accidentally sinks at its moorings in Lorient and requires three months of refitting.

RAF Bomber Command conducted numerous operations over the continent. 38 aircraft were sent to attack Brest and Le Havre overnight. German vessel "John A. Essberger" is sunk by Bomber Command aircraft at Brest. 31 aircraft attacked Bordeaux and Calais overnight and 37 aircraft attacked other targets in northern France.

UNITED KINGDOM: Luftwaffe conducts small-scale night raids against London and elsewhere. At anchor in the convoy anchorage in the Humber, the cargo ship 'SS Gwynwood' (1,177t) sank after a parachute mine landed on her deck aft and blew up. She was on a voyage from London to Sunderland.

SOUTH PACIFIC: Troop convoy US 9 departs Australia for Singapore and Egypt. General Gordon Bennett departs by air to establish HQ of Australian 8th Infantry Division in Malaya.

ASIA: Battle of Southern Honan: Japanese 11th Army captures Nanyang while 68th Army of Chinese 5th War Area unsuccessfully counterattacks around Hsinghokuan.

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February 5 Wednesday
NORTH AFRICA: The Battle of Beda Fomm: After crossing 150 miles of desert in 30 hours, armored cars of British 7th Armoured Division set up roadblocks at Sidi Saleh south of Benghazi, Libya, just in time to meet and stop the leading elements of the retreating Italian Tenth Army. In the evening, the British 4th Armoured Brigade reached Beda Fomm 10 miles north of the roadblocks, preventing Italian retreat to the east. Encircled Italian forces make desperate efforts to escape from British 7th Armoured Division and Australian infantry, south of Benghazi, but are completely defeated. Italians lose 20,000 men, 216 guns, 112 tanks and 1,500 trucks. Elements of Australian 19th Infantry Brigade take Barce.

The Battle of Keren: In the East African Campaign, the Battle of Keren began. British and Indian troops attacked Italian-held hills near Dongolaas Gorge en route to Keren, Eritrea, Italian East Africa. The 2nd Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders fought their way to the top of the ridge, feature 1616, in front of Sanchil. The ridge became a focus of fighting for the next ten days. The Cameron Highlanders and Rajputana Rifles narrowly hung on to their positions despite being under near constant attack and having to carry all food, water and ammunition up 1,500 ft (460 m) across the exposed terrain. At 1100 hours, Brig's Peak was still being held by the four platoons of 3/14 Punjab, who had suffered heavy casualties during the morning. Communications with Cameron Ridge -had been cut off and the Brig's Peak garrison was isolated. In spite of these difficulties, the Commander felt that there was no need to abandon the position before the arrival of relief. At about 1230 hours, the Italians attacked Brig's Peak supported by accurate mortar and machine-gun fire. At 1345 hours, they actually reached the top of the hill and had to be driven off by a bayonet charge. As there was little hope of relief, 3/14 Punjab withdrew from Brig's Peak at 1400 hours. It had suffered heavy casualties and was disorganized. It was ordered to collect and reorganize at the bottom of the hill where it had once again assembled by the evening. The situation at nightfall on 5 February was that 2 Camerons and 1 Rajputana Rifles were in position on Cameron Ridge, 3/14 Punjab was collected at the bottom of the hill and 3/1 Punjab was concentrated in the area of kilometres 109-110.

General Sir Leslie Morshead assumes command of Australian 9th Infantry Division. General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson named Military Governor and General Officer Commanding Cyrenaica.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British anti-submarine trawler HMT "Tourmaline" was sunk by German aircraft off North Foreland, Kent, England.

British submarine HMS "Sealion" sank Norwegian ship "Ryfylke" 2 miles off the Norwegian coast near Stadlandet.

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February 5 Wednesday continued.....

ASIA: Transport ship No. 74 under construction at Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation's shipyard at Kobe, Japan was named "Irako". She was assigned to the Sasebo Naval District.

Battle of Southern Honan: Japanese 11th Army burns down Nanyang and moves on to Tangho.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler issues general instructions for military cooperation with Italy in Tripoli, Albania, and Gibraltar. Adolf Hitler writes to Mussolini. In the letter goes his satisfaction for the work of the Italian officers at command operations in North Africa and he offers his help with one division with the condition of the Italian troops not to retreat to Tripoli.

General Walter Dornberger is notified that, per Hitler's orders, research and development of V-weapons, not their production, should have top priority.

WESTERN FRONT: The Luxembourgish and Belgian francs were withdrawn from circulation and replaced with the Reichsmark.

RAF Circus operation: Daylight raid by 12 Blenheim bombers to St Omer heavily escorted by fighters with nine downed by Luftwaffe interceptors.

UNITED KINGDOM: Wendell Willkie ended his visit to England with a statement intended for the German people:

"I am proud of my German blood, but I hate aggression and tyranny, and I now tell the German people that my convictions are fully shared by the overwhelming majority of Americans of German descent. They, too, believe in freedom and human rights. We German-Americans reject and hate aggression and the lust for power of the present German government."

SOUTH PACIFIC: Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) established.

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February 6 Thursday
NORTH AFRICA: The Battle of Keren: 6 February was a day of counter-attacks by the Italians. They carried out no less than five separate counter-attacks on the two forward battalions. The first of these took place between 0900 hours and 1000 hours on both 2 Camerons and 1 Rajputana Rifles. It was easily repulsed. There were reports of the Colonial troops trying to outflank 1 Rajputana Rifles from the west. Gazelle Force was, therefore, ordered to occupy Mt. Tafala and Mt. Jepio. At 1200 hours the Italians counter-attacked 1 Rajputana Rifles again. This attack was repulsed, heavy casualties being inflicted. The Italians kept up continuous artillery and machine-gun fire, and C Company 1 Rajputana Rifles, which was in an exposed position to the west of Cameron Ridge, suffered many casualties; the strength of the Company falling to almost half by the evening. 3/1 Punjab was therefore moved forward to the railway line below 1 Rajputana Rifles, reaching there at 1300 hours. The next counter-attack started at 1530 hours, again on 1 Rajputana Rifles. It was repulsed and was over by 1730 hours. At 1630 hours 3/1 Punjab moved up in support of 1 Rajputana Rifles for repulsing the attack. D Company moved into line while the other companies were in reserve. At 1930 hours the Italians counterattacked C Company 1 Rajputana Rifles again. Although the company's strength had been greatly reduced it beat off the attack with great gallantry. It was in this engagement that Lance Naik Bhaira Ram of the Rajputana Rifles distinguished himself. He was in command of a platoon reduced in strength to seven men. When the Italians launched a fierce counter-attack its brunt was borne by his two small platoon posts. A platoon of D Company 3/1 Punjab located in his immediate vicinity was forced to withdraw. Not daunted by this, Bhaira Ram continued to defend his post, knowing full well that if the Italians penetrated his position, the safety of the entire battalion would be endangered. Not only did he repulse this attack, but with his remaining two men he also chased the retiring Italians with the bayonet. When all was over 11 Italian soldiers lay dead just outside his post and many more on the hillside. The last Italian counter-attack came at 2330 hours and was mainly directed against D Company 3/1 Punjab. C Company 3/1 Punjab had to be sent up in support of D Company before it was finally repelled. The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade, less 4 Sikh, moved from Agordat and was concentrated in the area of kilometres 109-110. Plans had been made by the Commander of the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade for another attack to capture Brig's Peak during the day. At 1745 hours the Divisional Commander with the Commander of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade arrived at the headquarters of the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade, and it was decided to place 3/14 Punjab under the command of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade. All efforts to break through the Italian lines or even to capture the heights overlooking Keren north of the road had failed so far.

Australian 6th Division captured Benghazi while 7th Support Group of British 7th Armoured Division captured Sceleidima; these captures further secured the envelopment of the Italian Tenth Army.

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February 6 Thursday continued............

NORTH AFRICA: Battle of Beda Fomm: On the Benghazi-Tripoli road in Libya, the trapped Italian Tenth Army attempted to break out without success. A column of Italian 20,000 troops, 160 tanks and 200 field guns is strung out along 7 miles of the coast road. They are contained by Combe Force's roadblock at Sidi Saleh and 4th Armoured Brigade at Beda Fomm, despite a series of uncoordinated attacks all day. The British had 32 cruisers and 42 light tanks left near the Italians on the Via Balbia, with ten cruisers and eight light tanks in the 1st RTR to the north. At dawn, the Australians continued their attacks on Benghazi from the north and the 1st KRRC made slow progress at Scledeima, where Bignami was ordered to retire and send the Babini Group detachment south to reinforce the attack on the Pimple and keep the British off the rear of the column. The 2nd RTR was left near the Pimple and A Squadron, equipped with A13s (Cruiser Mk III), received the attack of the Babini Group at 830 hours. The first wave of ten M13s advanced slowly and were surprised, when turrets of the British cruisers appeared over a ridge. The cruiser gunners rapidly knocked out eight M13s, before the tanks disappeared below the ridge. The cruisers drove to the ridge near the white mosque and knocked out another seven M13s with the same tactic. The Italian artillery opened fire on the mosque and every operational tank the Babini Group had left, advanced towards the Pimple and the mosque. C Squadron, in its slower A9s (Cruiser Mk I) and A10s (Cruiser Mk II), arrived. At 1030 hours and in poor visibility, the 7th Hussars tried to find the rear of the Italian column and cut the road west of Beda Fomm, just as another big convoy arrived from the north. The Babini Group M13s mixed in with the column, kept the light tanks at a distance but these still managed to cause much damage and confusion. The units of the 4th Armoured Brigade moved from position to position among the ridges near the Pimple and mosque, raiding the column as more M13s arrived from the north. Combeforce could see the fighting and picked up Italians who got through, C Battery bombarding any Italian party which looked organized and by noon a lull had fallen. The attacks of the Babini Group left the convoy free to move past the Pimple and A Squadron pursued the Italians, firing into the convoy and setting many alight, forcing drivers to abandon their vehicles and others to leave the road for the dunes to the west, where they dodged British artillery-fire and attacks by light tanks of C Squadron, which took 350 prisoners. The 1st RTR arrived from Antelat as night was falling and intercepted the Babini Group as it was breaking out just to the north but several Italian vehicles and thirty tanks got past the Pimple. Bergonzoli abandoned attempts to hook round the eastern flank and sent the last of the Babini Group west through the dunes, just as the 2nd RTR had to rearm, which reported at 0600 hours that it was incapable of stopping the main column.

WESTERN FRONT: Adolf Hitler made his final appeal to Francisco Franco to bring Spain into the war on the Axis side.

RAF Bomber Command sends 25 aircraft to attack Boulogne during the day and 24 aircraft to attack Dunkirk overnight.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British House of Commons voted for the first £1,600,000,000 war credit of the year.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German Motor Torpedo Boats S.30, S.54, S.58, S.59 sank British ship "Angularity" on the east coast of England; 2 were killed, 1 was captured by S.30.

German submarine U-107 sank Canadian ship "Maplecourt" 250 miles northwest of Ireland at 1752 hours, killing the entire crew of 37. "Maplecourt" was part of convoy SC-20 from Montreal, Canada, to Preston, England.

GERMANY: Hitler issued Directive No. 23, Directions for Operations against the English War Economy. The focus of attacks is to be merchant shipping, harbors, and aircraft industry.
http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/23.html

Adolf Hitler ordered Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel to Africa in command of Germany's nascent Afrika Corps. Consisting of the 15th Panzer Division, and a motorized division, the 5th Light Division, the Afrika Corps was meant to stabilize the Axis position in North Africa against British Commonwealth forces that had spent the winter of 1940-41 decimating Italian forces in the region.

NORTHERN EUROPE: The Bishops of Norway start the Church's struggle against the occupying German forces.

NORTH AMERICA: Roosevelt appoints John Gilbert Winant ambassador to the United Kingdom.

ASIA: Battle of Southern Honan: With Japanese 11th Army having burned it down and moved on, Chinese 5th War Area recovers Nanyang.

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