REPEATED ATTACKS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 7

REPEATED ATTACKS

British Official Wireless.

NAZI SHIPS OFF NORWAY

Rugby, Sept. 10. Further successes by the Fleet Air Arm I against enemy supply ships off the Norwegian coast were disclosed in an Admiralty communique, which stated:— "Aircraft again carried out an offensive reconnaissance over the Norwegian coast yesterday. This confirmed that two of the three tanks of the oil depot of Dolvik attacked by Skuas on August 8 are completely destroyed and the third tank and pipe-line severely damaged. "Yesterday Skuas attacked an enemy supply ship of about 2500 tons at Haugesund, scoritig hits. Enemy huts south of the Bergen area were also attacked with bombs and hits obtained. Three of the huts were completely destroyed and others damaged. Our aircraft encountered intense opposition from anti-aircraft batteries and one Skua is missing." The Admiralty's announcement of a successful attack by the air arm on an enemy supply ship and a tanker off the Norwegian coast and an oil depot in Norway follows closely on other offensive operations oyer the Norwegian coast. Skuas and Swordfish on Sunday left two enemy supply ships sinking and abandoned by their crews, all the aircraft returning safely. On August 28 Skuas set fire to oil tanks in the Bergen area and a motor patrol vessel, and also scored direct hits on a 2000-ton supply ship. All the aircraft returned safely. Skuas on August 19 attacked two 3000-ton transports and obtained direct hits on one of them. They also attacked oil tanks north of Haugesund. All the aircraft returned safely.

■ Skuas on August 8 set fire to an oil depot at Dolvik. All the aircraft again returned safely. On August 1 Skuas successfully bombed a wireless station and j a 4000-ton supply ship, leaving the lat- j ter in a sinking condition and abandoned | by the crew. ,A11 the aircraft returned safely. I Many offensive operations were carried i out previous to this. These repeated at- j tacks are adding considerably to the j enemy's difflculties in the area where j sea transport and oil supplies are vital.