SEVEN HITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 February 1942, Page 3

SEVEN HITS

BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SCORED IN PURSUIT OF GERMAN BATTLE-CRUISERS. ENEMY SHIPS TAKE REFUGE IN HELIGOLAND BIGHT. LONDON, February 13. • It is believed that at least seven hits were scored on the German. warships' Seharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prince Eugen in yesterday’s air and naval attacks in the Straits of Dover. Bombs and torpedoes which found their mark reduced the speed of the enemy vessels by at least ten miles an hour and they were last seen, late yesterday evening, making for ports in the Heligoland Bight. Fifty torpedo bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked the enemy ships, diving at times to mast height. Our planes defied what is described as the heaviest barrage ever raised by ships. The weather throughout the day was favourable to the enemy but the British air and naval attack was pressed home. There were no British naval losses, though one destroyer is reported to have been hit, but we lost 20 bombers, 16 fighters, and six Swordfish planes of the Fleet Air Arm. At least 18 German fighters were brought down. RUNNING BATTLE TORPEDOES & BOMBS GET HOME. POOR VISIBILITY LIMITS OBSERVATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, February 13. In a dramatic running battle over 400 miles they were fiercely attacked by British bombers, torpedo-bombers and destroyers. Bad light restricted visibility to between three and five miles, but the torpedo-planes scored three hits and the bomber pilots declare that each big enemy ship was hit with bombs. During the height of the battle, ( while British planes were maintaining a non-stop tenacious mass attack on the enemy’s vessels, British coastal batteries joined in. German guns on the French side replied. Reports of the action stale that at 11 o’clock yesterday (Thursday) morning, aircraft reported that an enemy squadron consisting of the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Punz Eugen, accompanied by destroyers, torpedo-boats, E-boats and mine-

sweepers, was approaching the Dover Straits from the west. The enemy squadron was heavily escorted by fighter aircraft. There was low cloud, and the enemy ships were never visible from the English coast. On receipt of the information, coastal aircraft of the Dover Naval Command immediately went out to the attack, with Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm escorted by R.A.F. fighters. Attacks by Swordfish aircraft and coastal aircraft were pressed home closely in the face of intense fire from all the enemy surface vessels and opposition by fighters. Reports indicate that Swordfish aircraft scored one hit on one enemy heavy ship, and motor torpedo-boats claim a probable hit; but owing to the intense barrage and a heavy smoke-screen put up by the enemy it was impossible to see the results of the attack Some of the crews of the six Swordfish aircraft missing, are safe. Destroyers under Captain C. T. N. Tizey, R.N., immediately proceeded to intercept and attack the enemy. At 3.45 p.m. our destroyers sighted the enemy and went in to the attack in the face of very heavy bombing from enemy aircraft and heavy gunfire from the enemy surface vessels. Our destroyers took advantage of a rainstorm to press their attack home. Though visibility was poor and results could not be seen, there is reason to believe that at least one torpedo hit was obtained. Casualties on our destroyers were not heavy.