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Catalogue Reference:cab/66/15/4 Image Reference:0001 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTVS GOVERNMENT

SECRET. Copy No. 28

W.P. (41) 31 (Also Paper No. O.O.S. (41) 98) February 13, 1941 /

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCKf AND KEY.

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WAR CABINET

WEEKLY RESUME (No. 76) of the NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR SITUATION from 12 noon February 6th, to 12 noon February 13th, 1941

[Circulated with the approval of the Chiefs of Staff.]

Cabinet War Room NAVAL SITUATION. General Review. Heavy ships have carried out a successful bombardment of Genoa. Ostend was also bombarded by a 15-inch . Shipping between the Azores and Cape St. Vincent has been attacked by Focke-Wulfe aircraft and by a surface raider. Losses reported during the week show a decrease. The Suez Canal has been reopened.

Home Waters. 2. At noon on the 8th February H.M.S. Ramillies, escorting an eastbound convoy from Halifax, sighted the and of a warship, possibly of the Hipper Class, 900 miles west of Ireland and steering N.N.E. Extensive dispositions were made to intercept her, but she was not again sighted. H.M.S. Neptune was attacked by a Dornier aircraft on 9th whilst off the Thames Approaches. She received slight damage from a near-miss bomb and from machine-gun fire, but suffered no casualties and severely damaged the aircraft. H.M. Sealion attacked two enemy merchant ships in the vicinity of Stadlandet on the 1st February and one hit was possibly made. On the 5th she attacked a Norwegian merchant ship and hit with one . After evacuating the passengers and crew she set the ship on fire with gunfire. H.M. Monitor Erebus escorted by three and assisted by spotting aircraft, carried out a bombardment of the Ostend dock area during the night 10th/11th. Shells were seen to burst in the target area and in the new pens and several fires were started. The bombardment was preceded by a bombing attack by six aircraft. No enemy action was encountered during this operation. H.M. Drifter Eager destroyed a German Ju. 88 which attacked her in the Thames'Estuary on 12th.

North Atlantic. 3. H.M. Armed Merchant Cruiser Letitia ran aground in thick weather in the Halifax Approach on the 7th February. She was subsequently refloated and towed to Halifax.

Mediterranean. 4. A force composed of H.M. Ships Renown, Malaya, Ark Royal, Sheffield and destroyers carried out a successful bombardment of Genoa at dawn on the 9th February. Fire was opened at 0714 and continued till 0744, during which period 337 rounds of 15-inch and over 1,000 rounds of lighter calibre were fired. Large fires were observed in Ansaldo electric and boiler works, the main power station, the dry docks and round the inner harbour; hits were also observed on oil cisterns, marshalling yards and merchant ships. The only enemy opposition encountered was ineffective fire from about two 6-inch guns and slight anti-aircraft fire against spotting aircraft. At the same time Fleet Air Arm aircraft from Ark Royal laid mines in Spezia harbour and bombed Leghorn and Pisa aerodrome and railway junction. Two enemy aircraft were shot down and one Swordfish is missing. During the withdrawal the force was attacked by two enemy bombers which dropped four bombs, the nearest of which fell 1,500 yards from the nearest ship. The visibility decreased towards noon and the force was not again located. There was no damage to any of our ships, which returned to Gibraltar without further incident. 5. A south-east bound convoy of three merchant vessels escorted by two torpedo boats was unsuccessfully attacked bv H.M. Submarine Ursula 50 miles N.E. of Sfax P.M. on the 8th.

Anti-Submarine Operations. 6. Five attacks were made on U-Boats, of which two were by surface craft and three by aircraft. One of the latter, carried out in the North-West Approaches southward of Rockail, was possibly successful, but there was no visible result in the case of the remainder.

Enemy Intelligence. German. 7. The battleship Bismarck was reported at Gdynia on the 6th February. Previous mention has been made in this report of the sighting of the mast and top of a warship, possibly of a Hipper Class, in the North Atlantic on the 8th, and probably a Hipper Class cruiser attacked a convoy westward of Cape St. Vincent on the 12th. In addition, a report was made by aircraft on the 9th of a heavy ship described as a Hipper Class cruiser escorted by three destroyers south of the Lister Light steering into the Kattegat. There has been considerable activity off the Norwegian Coast during the week.

Italian. 8. The battleship Giulio Cesare was not at Genoa at the time of the bombardment on the 9th, and she has not yet been located.

Submarines. The position has been obscure owing to the small scale of activity, but it is estimated that five or six German and two Italian have operated in the North-West Approaches and one German in the Azores area.

Ice Conditions. Baltic Sea. 9. Stockholm is being kept open with difficulty. German ports, with the exception of Memel and Danzig, are closed. Fehmarn and Cadet Channels are probably impracticable, and the Kiel Canal is closed, so that the shipping now in Kiel Bay is inoperative. If present mild weather in this area continues, the Canal may re-open in a fortnight.

Approaches to Baltic Sea. Probably almost continuous ice within 20 miles of the North Coast of Denmark and much drift ice further out in the Skagerrak, particularly at the Eastern end. The Kattegat is navigable near the Swedish coast. Shipping can reach the Northern end of the Sound, but the Southern end is closed. It is improbable that any shipping can get to the Baltic except strongly-built ships keeping close behind an icebreaker.

North Sea. Off Germany and the West coast of Denmark ice is present up to the 10-fathom line and drift ice or floes up to the 15-fathom line. The ice situation in the German rivers is so serious now that it must be difficult even to keep the Elbe open, if indeed it is not already closed; at a similar period last year the Elbe was closed above Cuxhaven, and cruisers and heavy ships of the German Navy were observed to be at anchor off Heligoland. Emden is icebound. No ice on the West coast of Norway. On the South coast a fair amount of ice yvithin three miles of the coast and in the longer fjords.-

Enemy Attack on Seaborne Trade. 10. During the period the 6th to 12th February, 17 ships, a total of 50,944 tons, have been reported sunk and of these 12 ships (37,540 tons) were British. - Seven ships (26,530 tons) were sunk by U-Boat and nine (23,913 tons) by aircraft. One small vessel was sunk off the East Coast by enemy E-Boat. There were no losses from mines, Thirteen ships are reported damaged, including nine British; of the total, eight were damaged by air attack and five by mine. " [22225] ; ,,. B A homeward-bound convoy from Gibraltar was attacked by U-Boat .160 miles W.S.W. of Cape St. Vincent early A.M. on the 9th February and two British ships were sunk. Later in the d&y this convoy was attacked by six Focke-Wulfe aircraft and two more British and one Norwegian were sunk, and one ship damaged. A homeward-bound convoy from Sierra Leone was shelled by a surface raider, probably a Hipper Class cruiser, 640 miles West of Cape St. Vincent at 1135 on the 12th February. An ocean boarding vessel has picked up survivors from two British and a Greek ship, but full details are not yet available.

Protection of Seaborne Trade. 11. During the week ending Wednesday, 12th February, 853 ships, including 140 Allied and 22 Neutral, were convoyed of which six were lost. Since the commencement of hostilities the number of vessels convoyed has been 52,940, including 6,136 Allied and 4,371 Neutral of which 230, including 30 Allied and 19Neutral, have been lost. This gives ratios of losses to numbers convoyed of British 1 in 234, Allied 1 in 207, Neutral 1 in 230, total 1 in 230. One battleship, two cruisers, six armed merchant cruisers, forty-six destroyers, forty-two sloops and corvettes and one submarine were employed on escort duties. 12. Imports into Great Britain by ships in convoy during this week totalled 465,409 tons compared with 419,826 tons last week. Oil imports were considerably smaller, only four tankers having brought in 43,139 tons compared with 112,598 tons last week, but there was an increase in cereals which totalled 60,490 tons as compared with 29,269 tons. Other food imports amounted to 119,883 tons compared with 39,547 tons in the previous week. Two ships were fully laden with molasses, three with fruit—chiefly citrus and sour oranges—and one with West African produce. A considerable quantity of meat was brought in, and 20,475 tons of sugar. Mineral imports amounted to 164,208 tons, the corresponding figure for last week being 148,949 tons. Eight ships had full cargoes of iron ore, two carried sulphur, one was fully laden with pyrites and one with steel. Cotton and wool imports totalled 23,635 tons, but timber amounted to only 4,000 tons. General cargoes and sundries totalled 50,054 tons, and there were satisfactory quantities of aeroplanes, engines, spare parts, trucks, field kitchens, heavy lifts and ammunition.

British Minelaying. 13. On the 6th February, H.M. Minelayers Southern Prince and Port Quebec laid 1,110 mines between the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and on the 11th February H.M. Minelayer Plover laid 120 deep mines in the St. George's Channel. Minelaying by aircraft has been carried out on the North-West coast of Germany. Motor torpedo boats laid mines off the Belgian Coast on the night of the 6th/7th February.

Enemy Minelaying, British Minesweeping. Home Waters. 14. Minelaying enemy aircraft have been more active during the last week than during the previous weeks. On the East Coast the Humber has been visited several times, and mines have been seen to drop off the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts; parachutes were also reported dropping off Aberdeen. On the West Coast raiding aircraft have ranged from the Bristol Channel area, including Milford Haven, to as far north as Campbeltown in Kintyre, baking in the Menai Straits, Holyhead, and Liverpool Bay. On two nights, the 7th/8th and 11th/ 12th February, there was apparently no minelaying. in the Humber on the 11th February detonated 27 mines, of which 18 were acoustic and 9 magnetic. A high-speed motor launch was slightly damaged when she put up an acoustic mine in the entrance to the Wash on the 8th February. This is the first mine reported in the Wash area. There have been only three casualties in Home Waters this week, one being the M.L. mentioned above. No ships were sunk. During the week L.L. Sweeps have detonated 1 mine in the Firth of Forth, 19 in the Humber, 1 in the Thames Estuary, 2 off Plymouth, 1 in the Bristol Channel, and 3 off Campbelltown. S.A. Gear Type A have detonated 12 acoustic mines in the Humber, 2 in the Thames Estuary, 7 in the Bristol Channel, 8 off Liverpool, and 3 off Workington; S.A. Gear Type C have detonated 6 acoustic mines in the Humber, and 5 off Milford Haven. It has been decided to revise the total number of mines and to count only those ground mines (magnetic and acoustic) which have actually been detonated by sweeping craft. Up to now mines dropped on the foreshores, exploded by passing H.M. Ships, &c, have been counted, but these are now being excluded. The revised figures, including this week's sweepings, are, therefore : acoustic 168, magnetic 900, contact 798. The searched channels at Liverpool for inward- and outward-bound vessels have been extended about 8 miles to the westward so as to cover more of the water liable to be acoustically mined.

Foreign Waters. 15. Mines were dropped in the Suez Canal again on the 3rd, 4th and 5th February. After the Ranee, 5,060 tons, was mined on the 5th February traffic was again stopped except for tugs and small craft. The next day a Minesweeping Hopper and a Canal Hopper were mined and a skid detonated one mine, whereupon traffic was stopped again until the 9th February, when tugs and small craft were allowed to proceed freely throughout the Canal. Southbound ships, including one of 15,000 tons, were allowed to proceed to Suez on the 11th February, and northbound traffic was to start on the 12th February. Sixteen mines have been accounted for in the Canal and six were dropped along the shores. German aircraft are reported to have laid mines off Tobruk and Sollum. .

Enemy Merchant Shipping. German. 16. The s.s. Tannenfels, 7,840 tons, is reported to have left Kismayu in Italian Somaliland between the 30th January and the 5th February, and the s.s. Uckermark, 7,021 tons, and the s.s. Askari, 590 tons, have also left. The s.s. Uckermark was intercepted at sea on the 12th February. She attempted to scuttle herself and is unlikely to remain afloat. Thirty-seven prisoners have been taken. The only other German ship known to have been at Kismayu recently was the s.s. Kionga, 192 tons. The s.s. Tannenfels may be masquerading as a Dutch freighter under charter to the P. & O. S.N. Company. A document taken from the Captain of the Rhein when she was captured recently proved that she was under direct orders from the German Admiralty.

German-Controlled Danish Shipping, 17. Two Danish tankers, the Christian Holm, 9,919 tons, and the Scandia, 8,571 tons, which had been at St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands since last May, were intercepted by H.N.M.S. Van Kinsbergen at daybreak on the 5th February eleven miles out. They were taken in prize to Trinidad.

Italian. 18. The Italian merchant vessels Aclria (3,809 tons), Erminia Mazzela (5,742 tons), Savoia (5,490 tons), and Manon (5,597 .tons) were captured off the south coast of Italian Somaliland on the .11th February by H.M.S. Hawkins and the Leonardo da Vinci (7,515 tons) on the 12th, the latter being sent into Mombasa with thirty-seven prisoners from the German Uckermark. Four auxiliary schooners were captured during the Libyan operations. An examination of the port of Mogadishu on the 7th showed a complete absence of shipping, but four ships were reported to be still in Kismayu on the 12th. MILITARY SITUATION. Italy. 19. Italian military activity has, for the most part, been concerned with the finding of reinforcements for Albania. There have been reports that certain formations were destined for Libya, but no arrivals have been reported of fresh troops at Tripoli.

Balkan States. Bulgaria. 20. Almost all reports from Bulgaria this week have referred either to the feverish repairs which are being carried out on roads and bridges in various parts of the country and the special arrangements which have come into force on the railways, or to the mobilisation of the Bulgarian Army. The 1920 class has been called up. There is now no doubt about the mobilisation of the 1st and 9th Divisions and the Railway Regiment, and it is certain that the 1st is being sent to the Turkish frontier. The Bulgarians intend to build up a strength of 80,000 men on this frontier, and it is thought that this is being done at the request of Germany. The weather remains fine and above freezing point in the Sofia and Plovdic areas, while the Black Sea Coast is enjoying warm weather. Little snow is now left below 4,000 feet. The main roads are dry, and secondary roads are passable for normal traffic. The Danube is now clear of ice. Roumania. 21. The total number of German divisions in Roumania is now estimated to be 22 or 23, of which four are armoured, two or three motorised and two mountain divisions.

Africa. Libya. 22. Following a lightning advance our troops succeeded in cutting off the enemy line of retreat which resulted in the capitulation of Benghazi on the 6th February. The enemy attempted to break out and made a persistent attack with over 100 tanks, but these were repulsed with heavy losses, including 60 of the latter. The full number of prisoners has not yet been ascertained, but it is understood that they have surrendered in large numbers, and include an Army Commander, a Corps Commander and many other senior officers. Quantities of war material of all descriptions have also been captured. On the 8th February our patrols occupied Agheila. 23. Now that the whole of northern Cirenaioa is in our hands, nothing remains between our forces and the fertile regions of northern Tripolitania except the long, waterless and inhospitable tracts of the Sirte desert. This in itself, however, is such a formidable obstacle as to represent a very good defence for the remainder of Marshal Graziani's army, now estimated at 70,000.

Sudan. 24. In Eritrea the enemy is still holding a position 4 miles West of Keren, where he is being engaged by our troops. Enemy deserters on this front now total 400. On the 8th February our forces reached a position 40 miles South

of Keren. :.- In the North we have occupied Karora and Mersa Taclai.

East Africa. 25. In Northern Kenya we have made considerable inroads into enemy territory, and have occupied Kunchurro (50 miles North-East of Dukana). In Italian Somaliland our advance troops have gained touch with the enemy at Afmadu (160 miles South-East of Wajir and 75 miles inside Italian territory). The present locations of the Italian forces in Italian East Africa are obscure, as withdrawal is taking place from all the western and south-western frontiers of the colony. It is estimated that the present garrison of Italian East Africa consists of 105,000 white personnel including Blackshirts, and 190,000 native personnel including irregulars.

AIR SITUATION. General Review. 26. With the exception of a heavy attack on Hanover, operations by our Home Commands, together with those of the enemy, were at a low level owing to adverse weather. Our aircraft in Libya and Eritrea maintained their harassing attacks in co-operation with our land forces. Aerodromes at Malta, Jannina and Heraklion were attacked by the enemy. An unusually determined raid was made by Italian aircraft on Agordat, but elsewhere in Africa hostile air activity was negligible. Operational aircraft battle casualties and extracts from recent Raid Assess­ ment Reports are given in Appendices VI and VII.

Germany and Occupied Territory. 27. Bomber Command flew 32 sorties by day and 524 by night, and Coastal Command 18 by day and 15 by night. Stirling heavy bombers have been in action for the first time. Heavier bombs (1,000 lb. and 1,900 lb.) are being used in increasing quantities. 28. By day, repeated attacks were made on Invasion Ports, and barges and shipping were hit. On two days, large formations of fighters escorted medium bombers on several offensive sweeps of the Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne areas, during which the ports were successfully bombed and two or more enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat; we lost four fighters, but the pilot of one is safe. Fighters, unaccompanied by bombers, also carried out similar sweeps on other days. Coastal Command aircraft attacked shipping at Kristiansand South and a v/ireless station building nearby was straddled with bombs. The seaplane base at Thisted (Jutland) was successfully attacked, 29. Weather conditions were unfavourable during most of the week, but on the 10th/11th February, in clear weather, our heaviest night operation of the war was carried out. Two hundred and eighty-four aircraft were employed, including three Stirlings operating for the first time, and each carrying-8,000 lbs. weight of bombs; four aircraft were lost. During a raid lasting six hours, 146 tons of high explosive and 25,500 incendiary bombs were dropped on the industrial centre of Hanover and many large fires were left blazing in the target area. Rotterdam petrol harbour was also heavily and effectively bombed and Cherbourg and Ostend were attacked by aircraft of Coastal Command. The following night, under conditions of heavy cloud, Hanover was again attacked in addition to targets at Bremen. Owing to sudden deterioration in weather, resulting in widespread fog, twenty-two heavy bombers of the 109 despatched crashed in.this country on return, but only one crew was lost. Other objectives during the.period included oil stocks at Mannheim, aero-engine works at Brunswick and the Naval base at Wilhelmshaven.

United Kingdom. 30. Hostile activity was very restricted and during daylight consisted principally of reconnaissances, and isolated attacks on shipping. Enemy fighter patrols were maintained in the Straits of Dover. At night, small-scale scattered raids were made overland but no major attacks developed. Those aircraft that crossed our coast operated mainly over the East and South-East of England, their primary targets being apparently aerodromes in East Anglia. From a total of 210 enemy aircraft plotted at night, 115 are suspected of minelaying. 31. Fighter Command flew 313 patrols involving 1,043 sorties by day, including the operations over Northern France already described, and 174 patrols involving 231 sorties by night. ;V [22225] ; ' -c Coastal Reconnaissance, Patrols and Minelaying. 32. Bad weather again curtailed the activities of Coastal Command. Patrols numbering 132 and involving 510 sorties were flown, including 276 convoy escorts. 33. Sea mines were laid in the Ems River and Hubert Gat, and photographic reconnaissances included Bergen, Wangerooge to Borkum and numerous ports and aerodromes in occupied territory. A number of sightings of enemy vessels, including a cruiser, was reported during reconnaissances of Norwegian waters, and on the 8th and again on the 9th our aircraft attacked destroyers off Norway; on the second occasion an explosion amidships was observed on one of six of these ships after a torpedo attack. Two Swordfish assisted in the naval operations against Ostend recorded in the Naval Situation. 34. Enemy minelayers were active, more than half the total aircraft operating at night being so engaged. Long-range offensive reconnaissances by single aircraft continued in the Atlantic, and an attack by six Focke Wulf aircraft on a convoy has already been reported. 35. On the 9th February an enemy bomber machine-gunned the aerodrome at Kaldadarnes (Iceland), but no damage or casualties resulted.

Greece and Albania. 36. Three attacks against Tepelene, two against Duki and one on the military camp at Elbasan were made by our Blenheims, one of which is missing. Seven Italian fighters were shot down in the Kelcyre area by Gladiators for the loss of one aircraft, the pilot being safe. 37. Jannina Aerodrome was severely attacked by enemy aircraft on three successive days. The heaviest raid was made by force of fifty Italian bombers and fighters, two of which were destroyed and six damaged by Gladiators. The aerodrome was rendered unserviceable, and one of our aircraft was destroyed on the ground and six slightly damaged. Heraklion Aerodrome (Crete) was machine-gunned twice by six Italian fighters, one of our aircraft being destroyed.

Malta. 38. The island was persistently but ineffectively raided by enemy aircraft, which included German bombers and probably fighters. Forty-five bombers maintained a prolonged attack on the night of the 8th/9th, during which our Hurricanes destroyed two Ju. 88's and damaged a third; relatively unimportant damage was sustained at Luqa and Hal Far, though civilian property suffered considerably. On the 12th, two intercepting Hurricanes were lost, but one pilot was rescued from the sea. Me. 109's have been reported over Malta, but have not been in action. 39. Our aircraft reconnoitred Tunis and the coast and sea routes from Italy to Tripoli and Benghazi.

Italy. 40. On the night of the 11th/12th the aerodromes at Comiso and Catania, in Sicily, were attacked with over five tons of bombs by Wellingtons from Malta. At least four enemy aircraft were destroyed at Catania and large fires were started at both aerodromes. 41. Enemy transport activity on a considerable scale has been maintained between Sicily, Tripoli, and Sardinia.

Egypt and Libya. 42. Before Benina fell the aerodrome was bombed and machine gunned, a number of aircraft being damaged on the ground. One hundred unserviceable aircraft, including two German bombers, were found when our troops occupied the town. Aerodromes at Berka, where forty aircraft were later. found abandoned, and Jedabya (90 miles south of Benghazi) were also attacked.

Dodecanese. 43. Raids were carried out on three nights against aerodromes in Rhodes and at least fifteen enemy aircraft were burnt out. Buildings were hit at OalatO, Maritza and Kattavia, violent explosions following the attacks.

Italian East Africa. 44. In support of our military offensive, harassing attacks were maintained in the Keren-Asmara sectors. Enemy troops, mechanised transport, railway stations, trains, bridges and other targets were repeatedly bombed and machine­ gunned with marked success. Two Italian fighters were destroyed in combat over Asmara on the 5th, and on the 8th an encounter between two Hurricanes and five Italian aircraft resulted in the destruction of one and probably two enemy fighters. On the 9th Italian fighters machine-gunned our aircraft on three landing grounds at Agordat (Eritrea), destroying eight and damaging two. 45. In Abyssinia our aircraft machine-gunned the aerodrome at Bahar Dar, three Italian aircraft being destroyed together with a quantity of petrol. Addis Ababa aerodrome buildings and ground positions at Dessie were attacked by Blenheims from Aden, which also set on fire eight enemy aircraft on Allomata aerodrome. 46. At Afmadu, in Italian Somaliland, aircraft of the South African Air Force dropped six tons of bombs on military targets and machine-gunned enemy positions. . '

Air Intelligence. South-East Europe. 47. The German Air Force is consolidating its position in Roumania, and an operational command previously located in France is going to Roumania. Up to 500 aircraft will probably be deployed in the country and ready for operations by the 1st March. Preparations in Bulgaria are probably also well advanced, but the available aerodrome capacity is smaller than in Roumania.

China. 48. Japanese operations against the Burma Road are apparently now meeting with increasing success.

HOME SECURITY SITUATION. General. By Day. 49. Very little bombing has occurred by day. On the morning of the 7th February a low level attack was made on Fraserburgh, where a gasholder was fired and a number of U.X.B's. were dropped. That afternoon the swing and harbour works at Lowestoft were damaged and eight people killed. 50. During daylight this week a few bombs were dropped harmlessly in the Orkneys, Cornwall and the Eastern Counties and there has been occasional machine-gun fire. On the 6th, 9th and 12th February no bombs were dropped. On the 12th February seven houses were seriously damaged by enemy shell fire at and near Ramsgate, but there were no casualties. By Night. 51. No bombs were dropped on the nights 6th/7th and 7th/8th February. On other nights there were a few bombs, doing little damage and "causing few casualties. Campbeltown on the night 9th/T0th; Ipswich, other places in.the Eastern Counties, and London on the 9th/10th and 10th/ 11th; and Abera,von and Plymouth on the 11th/12th were the areas attacked.

Casualties, 52. Casualties for the week ending 0600 on the 12th February (including 6 killed and 44 seriously injured in London) were 36 killed and 89 seriously injured. About half of these were caused on the night of the 5th/6th February. APPENDIX I. la Enemy Attack on Trade. Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages reported lost by enemy action. (Note.—Tonnages are gross unless otherwise stated.) By Submarine.

Name and In Convoy Date. Nationality. Cargo. From— To- How sunk. Position. Fate of Crew and other Remarks. Tonnage. or not.*

Jan. 17 ... S.S. Almeda British General... Liverpool ... River Plate Torpedo ... Not 260 miles N.W. of No information regarding fate of crew Star Bloody Foreland and passengers. (14,935 tons)

Jan. 29 ... Sesostris Egyptian ... General... Hampton Liverpool ... Torpedo ... Yes Approximately 250 Not known. (2,962 tons) Roads miles West of Bloody Foreland

Jan. 31 ... M/V Cargo British Ballast ... London Seville Torpedo ... Yes 2650 Land"s End, 550 6 landed Lisbon. 23 missing. Pizarro miles (1,367 tons) Feb. 4 ... Dione II British Iron ore... Wabana ... Cardiff ... Gunfire Not... 200 miles W.N.W. of 1 survivor only. Previously attacked (2,660 tons) Bloody Foreland February 3 by aircraft and damaged.

Feb. 4 ... Binghorn Coal ' .... Port Talbot St. Johns, Torpedo ... 495 miles West of Norwegian Yes 5 picked up by H.M. ship. (1,298 ir-ons) N.B. Bloody Foreland

Feb. 9 ... Estrellano General... Gibraltar ... Torpedo ... 210 miles W.S.W. of British Yes 21 in H.M. ship. (1,983 tons) Liverpool ... Cape St. Vincent

Feb. 9 ... Courland Lisbon Torpedo ... 210 miles W.S.W. of British Yes... 30 in H.M. ship. (1,325 tons) London Cape St. Vincent

* This information is provisional and may be modified subsequently on receipt of Gommodore's report. By Aircraft,

Name and In Convoy Nationality. Cargo. From— To- How Sunk. Position. Fate of Crew and other Remarks. Tonnage. or not.*

S/Trawler British Fishing Bomb Not. 12 miles E. by S. All lost. Accepted by Joint Arbitra- Sansonnet grounds Muekle Flugga tion Committee as enemy action (212 tons) loss.

Grelrosa British Grain New York... Tyne Bomb Yes. 280 miles West. of 31 landed Greenock. (4,574 tons) Bloody Foreland

Rowanbank British ...1 Iron ore. Lourenco Oban Bomb Not. 156 miles West of (5,159 tons) Marques Bloody Foreland.

Calafatis Greek Steel Glasgow Bomb Not. 206 miles N.W. of 13 landed Greenock. 18 adrift in Philadelphia (4,443 tons) Bloody Foreland second boat.

Iohannes M Greek Lumber. Preston Bomb Not. 146 miles W. by N. 34 all landed, 1 injured. Halifax Embiricos of Bloody Foreland (3,734 tons)

Bay Fisher British ...J Govt. Scapa Rosyth Bomb Yes. 277­ Bell Rock, 2£ 4 landed Dundee, 8 missing. (575 tons) stores miles

Jura British Fruit Malaga Clyde Bomb Yes. (1,759 tons) 230 miles W.S.W. of Not known. Norwegian.. General. Oporto Belfast Bomb Yes. Tejo Cape St. Vincent (967 tons) .\ Britannic British Ore Almeria Barrow Bomb Yes. (2,490 tons)

By Surface Craft.

M/V Angularity British Phos- Ipswich Newcastle... E-boat Yes. East Coast between Claimed in German broadcast as sunk (501 tons) phates torpedo Ipswich and New- by E-boat, which took off survivors. castle

* This information is provisional and may be modified subsequently on receipt of Commodore's report. Merchant Vessels (excluding Commissioned Merchant Vessels) of all tonnages REPORTED damaged by Enemy Action.

Casualties to Name and In convoy Date. Nationality. Cargo. From- To- Cause. Position. Extent of Damage. Crew. Other Tonnage. or not.* Bemarks.

Jan. 28 .. Ruth I ... Norwegian Halifax West A/C. Not 55-45' N , 13-25' . Not known 2 wounded. (3,531 tons) Hartlepool W.

Ii Feb. 2 .. Waziristan British Ballast ... Tees Halifax A/C. Yes of Fa room and boilerrooms. (5,135 tons) 120milesW.S.Wroes . j 12 ft. water in engine Arrived Kirkwall in tow Feb. 8.

Feb. 4 .. Agios :Georgios. Greek Suez Canal Mine Not Suez Canal Nearly broken in two. (3,283 tons) Afterpart moved partly clear. Salvage or demolition being undertaken.

OS Feb. 5- .. Ranee .... British Mine ... Suez Canal Aground, bo*w water 18 injured, 11 (5,060 tons) borne, engine room and missing. forward bunker flooded.

Feb. 7 .. Scottish British Mine ... 1 mile from Steering gear and Co-operator Workington engine damaged. (513 tons) Harbour en- Arrived Workington. trance

Feb. 7 .. M/V Tanker Dutch Alexandria Tobruk .. Mine ... Off Tobruk Not stated Not stated. . Adinda (3,359 tons)

Feb. 8 .. Henri Jasper ... Belgian ...1 General j Cardiff Freetown .. Mine Off Cardiff Beached at Sullv 5 injured, 1 miss­ (5,760 tons) and fuel i . ing.

Feb. 9 .. Dagmar I British Fruit Malaga Clyde A/C. ... Yes 35.42' N. Abandoned. Still (2,471 tons) 15.22' W. afloat. Tug sent.

This information is provisional and may be modified subsequently on receipt of. Commodore's report. Casualties to Name and In Convoy Nationality. Cargo. From— To- Cause. Position. Extent of Damage. Crew. Other 11 Tonnage. or not.* Remarks.

Feb. 9 ... Varna ... British Pitwood... Leixoes South A/C. ... Yes 35.42' N. Not known Not known. (1,514 tons) 15.22' W. Wales Feb. 10 ... Benmacdhui ... British General... Almeria ... A/C. ... Yes ... Off Winterton ... Making water No. 1 No casualties. (6,869 tons) Barrow hold, trying to reach Middlesbrough

Feb. 11 ... Stea m Trawler British A/C 2 miles off Dun- Shaken by 2 near 10 landed. Eamont eath misses. 1 U.X.B. in (227 tons) wheelhouse. An­ chored Fishing ... Feb. 11 ... Cantick Head ... British Kirkwall ... Leith A/C. ... 30 miles N.W. Damaged by machine 1 wounded. (488 tons) Kinnaird Head gun attack. Arrived Frazerburgh

Feb. 11 ... Stea m Trawler British A/C. B. 13 miles N. by E. Derelict—may have 8 landed, 1 miss­ John Dunkin of Buckie sunk ing. (202 tons)

Fishing ... * This information is provisional and may be modified subsequently on receipt of Commodore's report. APPENDIX II. Merchant Ships (all sizes) other than Merchant Ships Commissioned for Naval Service, lost by Enemy Action up to Noon, Wednesday, 12th February, 1941.

British. Allied. Neutral. ; Together.

Gross Gross Gross Gross By - No. ; No. No. No. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.

Submarinee ...... 304 1,677,000 76 366,000 174 564,000 - 554 2,607,000 MinMinee ...... 171 440,000 33 97,000 79 232,000 283 769,000 SurfacSurfacee CrafCraftt 69 369,000 15 84,000 6 18,000 90 471,000 AircrafAircraftt 128 364,000 48 208,000 26 71,000 '202 643,000 OtheOtherr causescauses,, oorr causcausee 31 64,000 8 38,000 8 25,000 47 127,000 ,,,, unknowunknownn 703 2,914,000 180 793,000 ! 293 910,000 1,176 4,617,000. NOTE.—"Allied" figures include Polish; all French up to June 25, 1940; " Free " French from June 25, 1940; Norwegian from April 9, 1940; Dutch and Belgian from May 10, 1940; and Greek from October 28, 1940. "Neutral" figures include Italian u p t o June 10,1940; and " Vichy " French from June 25, 1940.

APPENDIX III. (1) Additions to and deductions from British Sea-going Merchant Tonnage (ships of 500 gross tons and over), including Merchant Ships Commissioned for Naval Service from 2nd September, 1939, to 9th February, 1941.

Tankers. Others.

Gross ' Gross No. No. Tons.' Tons.

BritisBritishh shipshipss oonn Septemberr 22,, 19319399 ...... '' ...... 519 3,274,000 3,578 15,392,000

Additions-— NeNeww shipshipss ...... 12 97,000 183 999,000 .... ,, EnemEnemyy shipshipss capturecapturedd ...... 1 6,000 48 247,000 "" "" '' '' ShipShipss transferredd frofromm otheotherr flags—flags— '' DanisDanishh ...... 6 ' 48,000 113 302,000 FrencFrenchh 10 57,000 79 369,000 Boumaniann ...... 2 " " 11,000 1 4,000 EstoniaEstoniann ...... 21 35,000 LatviaLatviann ...... :: :: —— '' ...... 3 6,000 OtherOtherss ...... 12 83,000 119 623,000 OtheOtherr additionadditionss ...... 10 15,000 92 191,000

TotaTotaTotaTotaTotaTotaTotalllllll additionadditionadditionadditionadditionadditionadditionsssssss ...... 53 317,000 659 2,776,000

Deductions--...... ShipShipShipShipShipShipShipsssssss sunsunsunsunsunsunsunkkkkkkk bbbbbbbyyyyyyy thethethethethethethe;;;;;;; enemyenemyenemyenemyenemyenemyenemy------­ (i(i(i(i(i(i(i))))))) Merchant''''''' shipshipshipshipshipshipshipsssssss commissioneddddddd fofofofofofoforrrrrrr 1111111 NavaNavaNavaNavaNavaNavaNavalllllll ServicServicServicServicServicServicServiceeeeeee ------...... ::::::: 13,0013,0000 24 212,00212,0000 """"""" (ii(ii(ii(ii(ii(ii(ii))))))) OtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOthersssssss ...... 62 470;00470;0000 519 2,395,002,395,0000 ShipShipShipShipShipShipShipsssssss capturecapturecapturecapturecapturecapturecaptureddddddd bbbbbbbyyyyyyy thththththththeeeeeee enemenemenemenemenemenemenemyyyyyyy ...... 1 6,006,0000 ... 5. 16,0016,0000

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,uuuuuuu...... OtheOtheOtheOtheOtheOtheOtherrrrrrr deductions——————— ...... (i.(i.(i.(i.(i.(i.(i))))))) Commissioneddddddd fofofofofofoforrrrrrr NavaNavaNavaNavaNavaNavaNavalllllll ServicServicServicServicServicServicServiceeeeeee 1111111 ...... r " 10,0010,0000 (ii(ii(ii(ii(ii(ii(ii))))))) OtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOthersssssss ...... ,,,,,,, ...... jjjjjjj " - 8 22,0022,0000 141 ::.. 471,001471,001))

TotaTotaTotaTotaTotaTotaTotalllllll deductionsssssss ...... jjjjjjj ...... 73 511,000 690 3,104,'e00

...... NeNeNeNeNeNeNettttttt additionadditionadditionadditionadditionadditionadditionsssssss (-[-(-[-(-[-(-[-(-[-(-[-(-[-))))))) ooooooorrrrrrr deductionsssssss (-^-)..(-^-)..(-^-)..(-^-)..(-^-)..(-^-)..(-^-)...... - 20 - 194,000 - 31 - 3,28,000

BritisBritisBritisBritisBritisBritisBritishhhhhhh shipshipshipshipshipshipshipsssssss ooooooonnnnnnn FebruarFebruarFebruarFebruarFebruarFebruarFebruaryyyyyyy 9999999,,,,,,, 1941941941941941941941111111 ...... 1111111 ...... 499 3,080,000 3,547 15,064,000*

, .,: ; * Of the total Non-Tanker tonnage, vessels representing about 3,750 thousand gross tons are engaged on Naval, Military or B.A.F. Services (including some commissioned for Naval Service)^ some of which bring cargoes t o the United Kingdom on their homeward voyage. After allowing for vessels (1) trading permanently abroad, (2) detained in French ports and (3) under­ going or awaiting repair, including the fitting of defensive protection, the balance is a little under 7£ million gross tons, some part of which is engaged in the coasting tr.ade of the United Kingdom and Eire. [22225] (2) Total losses of, and other deductions from, British Sea-going Merchant Ships of 500 gross tons and over, including Merchant Ships Commissioned for Naval Service, expressed as approximate annual rates of loss.

Total losses sunk or Approximate annual captured by the enemy, Period. loss if column (2) losses and other deductions in continued for a year. the period. ..

(1) ^ .' : (2) Y (3) First- 9 months of war : Gross Tons. Gross Tons. i.e., from September 3, 1939, to May 31, 1940 1,099.000 "1,500,000

Following 3 months : i.e., from June 1, 1940, to August 31, 1940 978,000 3,900,000 Month of September, 1940 332,000 4,000,000 October, 1940 ... 321,000 3,500,000 3fi,i ,,ri ! November, 1940 392,000 4,800,000 ,, December, 1940 296,000 3,500,000 ,, January, 1941 (169,000* 2,000,000)

February 1 to 9, 1941 (23,000* 900,000)

* These figures relate to losses so far notified and may be increased by late notifications.

(3) Merchant Ships (all sizes) under Construction in British Yards in the United Kingdom and abroad in week ending 8th February, 1941.

Tankers. Others. No. Gross Tons. No. Gross Tons. Colliers and coasting ships 3 2,000 42 53,000 1 Other ships ... " ' 36 299,000 125* 791,000

39 301,000 167 844,000 * Including 4 vessels (26,000 gross tons) building abroad, 2 merchant ships (18,000 gross tons) taken over by the Navy during construction and 12 ships (21,000 gross tons) of merchant type intended for Naval use. I n addition, there are 161 merchant ships totalling 992,000 gross tons on order or proposed t o order in the United Kingdom and abroad, (including 16 tankers of 88,000 gross tons).

APPENDIX IV.

Merchant Ships (all sizes) lost by the enemy up to 11th February, 1941.

German. Italian. Together.

Gross Gross Gross No. No. No. Tons. Tons. Tons.

CaptureCapturedd oorr seizeseizedd 60 269,000 32 151,000 92 420,000 ScuttleScuttledd oorr sunsunkk ...... 76 414,000 21 138,000 97 552,000 Unidentifiedd shipshipss reportereportedd bbyy S/MS/M,, A/CA/C,, &c&c,, aass sunsunkk oorr destroyedestroyedd 127 635,000 57 285,000 184 920,000

(Tonn.age,estimated).... 263. 1,318,000 110 574,000 373 1,892,000 '.

I n addition, 33 ships of 60,000 gross tons Hinder enemy control o r useful t o the enemy have been sunk. APPENDIX V.

Casualties to Naval Personnel. The following casualties have occurred to H.M. Auxiliary Vessels during the week under review :- . The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Fisher carrying Government stores was sunk by enemy aircraft while in a coastal convoy off the Firth of Tay on the 7th February. Four survivors were landed at Dundee. LL " drifter Boy Alan was sunk in collision with- the Minesweeping Trawler Ben Glas off Sheerness on the 10th. The following casualties have been reported :— . ,. Officers : 31 killed or missing, 3 wounded. Ratings : 190 killed or missing, 29 wounded. , ' 1 These figures include 24 officers and 146 ratings on passage in the S.S. Almeda Star (vide Resume No. 73).

APPENDIX VI.

Operational Aircraft Battle Casualties. 0600 hrs., 6th February, 1941, to 0600 hrs,, 13th February, 1941. Metropolitan Area. British. In the Air. On the Ground.. Bombers ... 9 Fighters ... 8 Coastal ... 8

Total 25 One fighter pilot is known to be safe.

Probably German. Destroyed. Destroyed. Damaged. Bombers 3 1 Fighters 3 1 2 Miscellaneous 1 1

Total ,.. ... 7 3 No account is taken of aircraft destroyed on the ground. Of the above totals one aircraft was destroyed by A.A. fire.

Middle East. British. In the Air. On the Ground. Bombers... 8 8 Fighters ... 3 1 Coastal ...

Total ...... 11 9 Of.the above, one bomber and one fighter were destroyed in the air and one bomber on the ground in the Grecian campaign.

I Probably Italian. Destroyed. Destroyed. Damaged.

Bombers ...... 1Q. -----10 15 - Fighters ...... ia . .-,,3,,.. . .1;.; '' ­ Miscellaneous 2

Total 163 No aircraft reported as casualties by A.A. fire. * These include aircraft found at Benina and Berka. Middle East (continued). Probably German. Destroyed. Destroyed. Damaged. Bombers ... 4 1 2 Fighters Miscellaneous

Total

APPENDIX YII.

Air Attacks on Enemy Territory in Europe. Extracts from Recent Raid Assessment Reports. The following reports of damage have been received during the past week from air reconnaissance and Intelligence sources :— France. Lorient.—As a result of the attack on the 28th/29th December one submarine at Lorient was sunk. Two submarines have been sunk at Lorient recently. Boulogne.—Photographs taken between 2118 hours and 2204 hours by Bomber Command P.I.U. of the attack on Boulogne on the night of the 7th/8th February show following results A 750-ft. long white building was straddled to the West of the goods station.. Fires were started across the railway bottleneck connecting the goods yard to the main railway station and in adjoining buildings. Fires were also to be seen in the town, on a large warehouse on the Quai Chanzy, near the goods yard, on the quay side of the Bassin de Retenue, and near the new road bridge. The photographs taken at 2204 hours show that the intensity of some of the fires had greatly increased since they had first been photographed during the earlier part of the raid.

Orly Aerodrome.—During the raid on the 10th November, 1940, four bombs hit the runway and three aircraft were destroyed. Evreux Aerodrome.—The attack on this aerodrome was successful (date unspecified). Hangars were partly demolished and some buildings under con­ struction were damaged.

Norway. As a result of the attack on the aerodrome at Mandal on the 15th January four bombers were destroyed.