ATTACKS ON WARSHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1940, Page 5

ATTACKS ON WARSHIPS

BRITISH PLANUS SEEK ENEMY FORCES AMMUNITION VESSEL DESTROYED. FIVE MACHINES SHOT DOWN. Yesterday, a Daventry report states, the R.A.F. carried out extensive reconnaissances over the North Sea and Skagerrak in search of enemy naval forces. One formation found two German warships in Christiansund Fiord and in attacking them met with severe opposition and five of the planes were brought down. At least two enemy fighters were shot down and others seriously damaged. The full extent of the enemy losses is not known. British planes also carried out raids along the whole of the Skagerrak and Kattegat from Norway to the German coast. They destroyed one German ammunition ship and bombed and probably damaged a supply ship only 50 miles north of Kiel. They also attacked seaplane bases on the Baltic coast and bombed a German convoy further north, but owing to the darkness the damage could not be ascertained.

ATTACKS IN FORCE AGAINST ENEMY TRANSPORTS AND SUPPLY SHIPS. IN KATTEGAT AND GREAT BELT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 12. The Air Ministry reports that R.A.F. bombers during last night carried out attacks in force against enemy transport and supply vessels in the Kattegat, the Great. Belt and the Little Belt. Preliminary reports indicate that among the objectives attacked was a vessel of about 8000 tons which was blown up. There was a violent explosion so that she must have been carrying ammunition.

BRITISH BOMBERS RANGING OVER WIDE AREA. NUMBER OF SHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, April 12. Further details are available of the activities of bomber- command aircraft over area from Oslo fiord to the Baltic coast of Germany last night, in which, already reported, an 8,000 ton German munition ship is believed to have been sunk. A line of eight to 10 vessels was attacked in the narrow waters of the Great Belt. A 5000 tons supply ship is believed to have been damaged and bombing attacks were also made on a German seaplane base on the Baltic coast. In the Baltic another formation of enemy ships was attacked and heavily bombed, but the results could not be observed in the darkness. A 5000-ton supply ship was intercepted oft' the southern end of Langeland, just before midnight, and was probably damaged by two large bombs which were seen to burst close to her stern.