CONVOY’S TRIP TO MALTA

Southland Times, Issue 24828, 21 August 1942, Page 5

CONVOY’S TRIP TO MALTA

AXIS SUFFERS HEAVY AIR LOSSES

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, August 20. Details now released by the Admiralty about the operations in the Mediterranean last week, when a convoy of supplies was taken to Malta, make a stirring story of Britain’s determination to keep the gallant island garrison supplied. The naval operations were under the command of ViceAdmiral E. N. Syfret in the Nelson, the aircraft-carriers were under Rear-Ad-miral A. L. St. G. Lyster and the light forces and close escort were under Rear-Admiral H. M. Burroughs. The Eagle was torpedoed and sunk by a U-boat on the afternoon of August 11 and attacks by U-boats that day were numerous. Counter-attacks by the screening destroyers prevented other hits and the Wolverine destroyed one attacker. Shortly before dark torpedocarrying and dive-bombing Axis aircraft attacked without success and with some losses. Next day the attack was resumed with the addition of bombers _ ana U-boats and while losses were inflicted on the convoy it is known that by evening 39 enemy aircraft had been destroyed, five probably destroyed and another U-boat destroyed by the Pathfinder and the Ithurial. ATTACKS BY E-BOATS The task of escorting the convoy through the Sicilian Channel in the final stages had to be left to Rear-Ad-miral Burroughs’s command and longrange fighters from Malta. The hazard was further increased by attacks from E-boats, two of which are known to have been sunk, and by extensive mining by the enemy. The Channel had to be swept before the passage of the convoy. During the night of August 12 the cruiser Manchester was seriously damaged by a torpedo or a mine. She subsequently sank, but the majority of the complement is known to be safe. Loss and damage were also suffered by the convoy. On the morning of August 13 enemy air attacks were resumed, but the Malta fighters were able to give more protection.

It is not yet possible to compile the final total of the damage inflicted on the enemy, but it is known that 66 aircraft were destroyed and 24 were probably destroyed. We lost eight, but four pilots are safe. The anti-aircraft cruiser Cairo and the destroyer Foresight were _ sunk by torpedoes, but the casualties were light. It is not the intention of the Admiralty to divulge the number of ships in the convoy or the number which arrived, as the extent of the reinforcements to the island would obviously be valuable information to the enemy. A Cairo message says that about 100 Axis planes are known to have been destroyed and damaged during the passage of the convoy. The Fleet Air Arm shot down 39 into the sea, the ships’ guns got another eight, the Royal Air Force destroyed 13 and probably between 30 and 40 others were damaged or destroyed by planes and by gunfire. It is regarded as significant that the convoy has not been further attacked since its arrival at Malta.

U-BOAT RAMMED BY DESTROYER

(Rec. 9.15 p.m.) GIBRALTAR, Aug. 19. The destroyer Wolverine at night 12 hours after the Eagle had been torpedoed rammed and sank a U-boat at a point where the U-boat which sank the Eagle might well have been. The Wolverine’s captain said the U-boat was sighted on the surface 1000 yards distant. The Wolverine increased her speed to full. The U-boat appeared to be moving in the same direction as the Wolverine, which rapidly overhauled her. The U-boat did not attempt to dive and seemed unaware of the fate rushing on her. The Wolverine was within a few hundred yards when the U-boat turned broadside on to the destroyer, which was steaming at 26 knots with a big bow wave. The Wolverine’s searchlight was switched on when tte U-boat was 50 yards away. The U-boat was hit just abaft the con-ning-tower and cut in two. The bow section was carried forward 30 yards. A destroyer which was following the Wolverine reported hearing cries and seeing members of the crew, but she was unable to pick them up.