AMIDSHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1941, Page 6

AMIDSHIPS

BY TORPEDO FROM BRITISH BOMBER

Ok© of Germany’s Two Remaining Pocket-Battleships SHIP SHEPHERDED BY DESTROYERS BACK TO SKAGGERAK MOVING AT GREATLY REDUCED SPEED LONDON", June 13. The R.A.F., after hitting more heavily than ever at the industrial heart of Germany in the Ruhr, today torpedoed and damaged one of Germany’s two remaining- pocket battleships, which arc being used to raid shipping. An Air Ministry communique states that aircraft on reconnaissance reported seeing a German pocket battleship, escorted by five destroyers, oft’ the southern coast of Norway. A force of Beaufort bombers was immediately sent out to attack the warship. The battleship, which was heading northvzard, was hit amidships by a torpedo, but the results of later attacks could not be seen, as the battleship was obscured by dense clouds of white smoke. She was seen to be at a standstill off the most southerly point of Norway. Later she was seen returning to the Skagerrak at a greatly reduced speed. It is stated that the Germans must have been taken completely by surprise, as not a shot was fired. The Beaufort aircraft arc capable of launching half-ton torpedoes. One of our aircraft is missing from these operations. One enemy flying- beat was destroyed by a Hudson reconnaissance aircraft.