British Submarines Sink Jap Aircraft-carrier

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 52, 4 March 1944, Page 5

British Submarines Sink Jap Aircraft-carrier

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 2. British submarines operating in Far Eastern waters have torpedoed a Japanese aircraft-carrier of approximately 7000 tons, which, it is believed, was sunk, and obtained a torpedo hit on a Japanese cruiser, states the Admiralty. The aircraft-carrier, which was escorted by five submarine chasers, was first sighted in the northern approaches to Malacca Strait. A course was at ■ once shaped to intercept the enemy, and a salvo of torpedoes was fired. No hits were observed and an immediate depth charge and counterattack by the submarine chasers forced the submarine to take avoiding action. Following a second attack the air-craft-carrier was seen hit and stopped. A further torpedo which struck the enemy amidships caused a violent explosion. The ship heeled over and it is believed that she sank. A successful attack on a Japanese cruiser was carried out in the same area by another British submarine, counter-measures by the enemy prevented observation of the full results. In addition to these successes, a | medium-sized supply ship has been tor- ) pedoed and sunk and a smaller supply ship destroyed by gunfire. The British submarines are under Lieut.-Commander R. M. Favell, Lieuts. S. D. Verschoyle-Campbell, and D. J. Beck.