parsifal
Colonel
26 February 1941 (Part I)
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
SC497 Class Submarine Chaser USS SC-500
USSSC-661, a fellowSC-497class submarine chaser
Allied
Type IV Hunt Class Escort DD HMS BRECON (L 76)
Shakespeare Class MSW Trawler OTHELLO (T 76)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Modified Black Swan Class Sloop HMS WREN (ii) (U 28)
Losses
Lugger SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE (Ger 200 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Elbe.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Steamer MINORCA (UK 1123 grt) was sunk by DKM S.28 in the Nth Sea off Cromer. 17 crew and 2 passengers were lost. Two crew and one passenger were rescued. The steamer was taken in tow, but was abandoned on the 28th in a sinking condition.
steamer GOTEBORG (Sd 820 grt), The Göteborg with 20 crew members and three passengers was reported missing after leaving Reykjavik on 25 Feb, 1941. It is considered likely that she was sunk by U-70 SE of Iceland the next day. It is not possible to confirm as this U-Boat was herself lost shortly afterwards. SE of Iceland.
Power barge BRACKELIER (UK 230 grt) and barge MONARCH (UK 230 grt) , under tow, were sunk on mines 80 feet off Alexandra Jetty, at the entrance to Alexandra Dock, Hull. Two crew were lost from the power barge and one crewman were rescued from barge MONARCH.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Steamer TENERIFFA (Nor 5655 grt) was sunk by German bombing in 51-30N, 4-55W. The entire crew was rescued. She was sunk in the Bristol Channel, after having been machine gunned and bombed by LW a/c. At 1405 hrs, 2 enemy a/c had machine gunned the ship's decks, coming in for attack 4 times and TENERIFE got 3 direct bomb hits on the starboard side, where deck plates and several plates in her side were blown out. The first hit was in No. 2 hatch, the second in the engine room and the third in No. 3 hatch. After the 4th attack, as soon as the machine gunning stopped, the crew was able to get 3 lifeboats out (the 4th having been blown away), and at 1425 they saw the ship sink in about 27 fathoms. Just 5 minutes later they were picked up by the MSW PERDITA and landed at Cardiff the next day, Feb. 27.
Convoy OB 290
[I consider this period the closest that Britain came to being forced to the surrender table. Things simply could not continue as they were up to and including OB 290].
(Extract from the SS SAMUEL BAKKE'S log)
"Between midnight and 0200 hrs in latitude 5536N and longitude 1342W the convoy is attacked by submarine and 3 ships are for certain known to have been sunk. When the attack began Commodore Hornell gave orders for emergency turn to starboard, but no ships responded. To avoid collision orders to turn back to original course were given. The first ship sunk was the rear ship in 3rd column on our port side. The two other ships were rear ships in the 4th column. At 09:00 same day in lat. 54 37W and long. 16 20W one enemy a/c approached and made a low level attack on the port wing column. All ships within range opened fire with H. A. and machine guns, but with little effect. 3 ships were hit in this attack. One was set on fire amidships, one had her engine room flooded and the 3rd was disabled. The Swedish steamer GYDNIA picked up 93 survivors from the stricken ships and returned to England escorted by one DD.
The same day at 1845 the convoy is again attacked from the air, now by 3 enemy planes. The planes used the same low level attack method. The planes attacked from 3 directions and 3 ships were destroyed. The convoy put up a heavy barrage with their HA. and MGs but with very little effect. One plane approached us at low height from port side. Our 4" gun was manned and so were our MGs. At reasonable distance 2 rounds were fired from our 4" gun and as the plane was about 50 yards away both MGs opened up. Direct hits could be seen as the tracer bullets hit the plane, but had no effect. One bomb dropped on our after deck close to the foreward corner of Nr. 4 hatch on port side and caused a heavy dent, thereafter it hit the bulkhead at the galley and dented this heavily and also smashed the bench and other fittings in the galley, thereafter the bomb continued over the starboard side and exploded into the sea about 20 yards away.
The plane also opened heavy MG fire against our gun crew and caused considerable damage to deck house bulwalk and other materials. Ship's carpenter who manned our 4" gun reports that he is certain that our second round hit the plane, as he saw parts from the under carriage being thrown away (Note, in fact there were no losses to the attacking a/c), and parts from the plane was later found on deck. Further, the carpenter reports that he saw bombs fell from the plane on both sides of our ship. During these attacks we suffered no casualties. The 2nd engineer who was on watch in the engine room reports that he heard several bombs exploded on both sides of the vessel and that they appeared to be very close. Due to the explosions it is experienced that both stern glands are leaking badly. When the attack was over, orders were given to disperse the convoy".
At Sea, March 5th 1941.
Signed by Captain J. Olsen
Attacks by KG 40 Kondors
Steamer SOLFERINO (Nor 2580 grt) was sunk by Kondor LR a/c in the western Approaches at 55-02N, 16-25W, The Norwegian SS SOLFERINO, in convoy from Manchester to Freetown carrying a cargo of coal, was bombed by German FW200 aircraft and sank W of Ireland. In the same attack the Dutch SS BEURSPLEIN, the Greek SS KYRIAKOULA, and the British SS LLANWERN, MAHANADA and SWINBURNE were sunk. Three crew were lost
The LW sank steamer MAHANADA (UK 7181 grt) in 54-07N, 17-06W,
They also sank Steamer SWINBURNE (UK 4659 grt) in 54-00N, 16-58W,
In this same attack the LW also sank Steamer LLANWERN (UK 4966 grt) in 54-07N, 17-06W
Steamer BEURSPLEIN (NL 4368 grt) was badly damaged by the LW bombing in the Western Approaches. 21 crew were lost. The ship was abandoned on fire on the 27th and later sank.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
SC497 Class Submarine Chaser USS SC-500
USSSC-661, a fellowSC-497class submarine chaser
Allied
Type IV Hunt Class Escort DD HMS BRECON (L 76)
Shakespeare Class MSW Trawler OTHELLO (T 76)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Modified Black Swan Class Sloop HMS WREN (ii) (U 28)
Losses
Lugger SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE (Ger 200 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Elbe.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Steamer MINORCA (UK 1123 grt) was sunk by DKM S.28 in the Nth Sea off Cromer. 17 crew and 2 passengers were lost. Two crew and one passenger were rescued. The steamer was taken in tow, but was abandoned on the 28th in a sinking condition.
steamer GOTEBORG (Sd 820 grt), The Göteborg with 20 crew members and three passengers was reported missing after leaving Reykjavik on 25 Feb, 1941. It is considered likely that she was sunk by U-70 SE of Iceland the next day. It is not possible to confirm as this U-Boat was herself lost shortly afterwards. SE of Iceland.
Power barge BRACKELIER (UK 230 grt) and barge MONARCH (UK 230 grt) , under tow, were sunk on mines 80 feet off Alexandra Jetty, at the entrance to Alexandra Dock, Hull. Two crew were lost from the power barge and one crewman were rescued from barge MONARCH.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Steamer TENERIFFA (Nor 5655 grt) was sunk by German bombing in 51-30N, 4-55W. The entire crew was rescued. She was sunk in the Bristol Channel, after having been machine gunned and bombed by LW a/c. At 1405 hrs, 2 enemy a/c had machine gunned the ship's decks, coming in for attack 4 times and TENERIFE got 3 direct bomb hits on the starboard side, where deck plates and several plates in her side were blown out. The first hit was in No. 2 hatch, the second in the engine room and the third in No. 3 hatch. After the 4th attack, as soon as the machine gunning stopped, the crew was able to get 3 lifeboats out (the 4th having been blown away), and at 1425 they saw the ship sink in about 27 fathoms. Just 5 minutes later they were picked up by the MSW PERDITA and landed at Cardiff the next day, Feb. 27.
Convoy OB 290
[I consider this period the closest that Britain came to being forced to the surrender table. Things simply could not continue as they were up to and including OB 290].
(Extract from the SS SAMUEL BAKKE'S log)
"Between midnight and 0200 hrs in latitude 5536N and longitude 1342W the convoy is attacked by submarine and 3 ships are for certain known to have been sunk. When the attack began Commodore Hornell gave orders for emergency turn to starboard, but no ships responded. To avoid collision orders to turn back to original course were given. The first ship sunk was the rear ship in 3rd column on our port side. The two other ships were rear ships in the 4th column. At 09:00 same day in lat. 54 37W and long. 16 20W one enemy a/c approached and made a low level attack on the port wing column. All ships within range opened fire with H. A. and machine guns, but with little effect. 3 ships were hit in this attack. One was set on fire amidships, one had her engine room flooded and the 3rd was disabled. The Swedish steamer GYDNIA picked up 93 survivors from the stricken ships and returned to England escorted by one DD.
The same day at 1845 the convoy is again attacked from the air, now by 3 enemy planes. The planes used the same low level attack method. The planes attacked from 3 directions and 3 ships were destroyed. The convoy put up a heavy barrage with their HA. and MGs but with very little effect. One plane approached us at low height from port side. Our 4" gun was manned and so were our MGs. At reasonable distance 2 rounds were fired from our 4" gun and as the plane was about 50 yards away both MGs opened up. Direct hits could be seen as the tracer bullets hit the plane, but had no effect. One bomb dropped on our after deck close to the foreward corner of Nr. 4 hatch on port side and caused a heavy dent, thereafter it hit the bulkhead at the galley and dented this heavily and also smashed the bench and other fittings in the galley, thereafter the bomb continued over the starboard side and exploded into the sea about 20 yards away.
The plane also opened heavy MG fire against our gun crew and caused considerable damage to deck house bulwalk and other materials. Ship's carpenter who manned our 4" gun reports that he is certain that our second round hit the plane, as he saw parts from the under carriage being thrown away (Note, in fact there were no losses to the attacking a/c), and parts from the plane was later found on deck. Further, the carpenter reports that he saw bombs fell from the plane on both sides of our ship. During these attacks we suffered no casualties. The 2nd engineer who was on watch in the engine room reports that he heard several bombs exploded on both sides of the vessel and that they appeared to be very close. Due to the explosions it is experienced that both stern glands are leaking badly. When the attack was over, orders were given to disperse the convoy".
At Sea, March 5th 1941.
Signed by Captain J. Olsen
Attacks by KG 40 Kondors
Steamer SOLFERINO (Nor 2580 grt) was sunk by Kondor LR a/c in the western Approaches at 55-02N, 16-25W, The Norwegian SS SOLFERINO, in convoy from Manchester to Freetown carrying a cargo of coal, was bombed by German FW200 aircraft and sank W of Ireland. In the same attack the Dutch SS BEURSPLEIN, the Greek SS KYRIAKOULA, and the British SS LLANWERN, MAHANADA and SWINBURNE were sunk. Three crew were lost
The LW sank steamer MAHANADA (UK 7181 grt) in 54-07N, 17-06W,
They also sank Steamer SWINBURNE (UK 4659 grt) in 54-00N, 16-58W,
In this same attack the LW also sank Steamer LLANWERN (UK 4966 grt) in 54-07N, 17-06W
Steamer BEURSPLEIN (NL 4368 grt) was badly damaged by the LW bombing in the Western Approaches. 21 crew were lost. The ship was abandoned on fire on the 27th and later sank.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
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