Small Naval Battle Was Almost Miraculous
LONDON, .Tuly 12. The naval aetion in the Indiati Ocean on November 11, 1942, in wliich ihe * (iJO-ton Minesweeper Jl.M.A.S Bengal aml the Dutch tankcr Ondina engaged two Japanese cruisers and sauk oue of 10,0U() tons is deseribcd by Admiral •> . 1'. Somerville, the Commander-in-Cluef of the Kastern 1'leet, in an Admiralty dispateh publisii ed in the Londou Gazette. * The dispateh saui the. Ondina/ aftei beiug repeatedly Jnt, was abandoried. The Ondina rcceived two torpedoes. The Japanese niachi ne-gunned the sur vivors in the boats. The erew reboarded j the appareutly doomed tankor after tlu nction and ' brought her safely to Fre mantle. Tlie Admiralty narrative coinnfents: "Those who took part in. this aetioa will never ceasu to marvel at the result. I'o think that a small ship with only oue 12-pdr. gun should engage two raidcrs juore than 10 times her owu si/e and eaeh with about 20 times her guupouer, and so cnable the tanker to escape, sink oue cruiser and tlien gei away herself, is almost miraculous."
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Chronicle (Levin), 14 July 1948, Page 6
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175Small Naval Battle Was Almost Miraculous Chronicle (Levin), 14 July 1948, Page 6
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