SPLENDID FIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1942, Page 3

SPLENDID FIGHT

IN DEFENCE OF CONVOYS FOR RUSSIA MADE BY BRITISH DESTROYERS FIVE SEPARATE ATTACKS BEATEN OFF. LOSS OF CRUISER EDINBURGH. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 30. Details have now been given by the Admiralty of a gallant action in which escorting destroyers beat off five separate attacks on one of our north Russian convoys by superior enemy forces. This action was referred to in. a communique issued by the Admiralty on May 7, and the award of decorations to the com- | inanding officers of the destroyers engaged is announced in tonight’s London. “Gazette.” Awards appear, among others, for distinguished service in taking convoys to and from Murmansk through dangers of ice and heavy seas and in the face of relentless attacks by enemy U-boats, aircraft and surface forces. ' Early in the afternoon of May 1, when the convoy was skirting a great patch of drift ice, three large enemy destroyers were sighted. They were large, modern vessels, armed with four or five-inch guns and faster and more heavily armed than any of the old destroyers opposed to them. The British destroyer Bulldog, however, immediately led round to attack and fire was opened at 10,000 yards. The enemy appeared to concentrate their fire on H.M.S. Amazon, which was hit and suffered some casualties, but she kept in action. The enemy was prevented from attacking the convoy and forced to retire. Half an hour later the enemy was again sighted and more British destroyers led in and opened fire. A third enemy attempt to reach the convoy was made about an hour later, but again the escort engaged and the enemy retired, none of the British ships being hit. A fourth attack was beaten off, while in the fifth and last attack British destroyers endeavoured to engage at close range, but the enemy broke off the action' and in ten minutes had disappeared in thick weather. It was noticed that the enemy fire was being reduced in every action, and the behaviour of the British ships was exemplary. VALIANT TOWING EFFORTS. A further account is also given by the Admiralty of the loss of the cruiser H.M.S. Edinburgh after she was torpedoed on April 30 while convoying a North Russian convoy.' After the Üboat attack, which disabled the Edinburgh’s steering gear, the destroyers Foresight and Forester and two Soviet destroyers came to her assistance. The Forester took her in tow, but the towropes parted and, in order to assist the Edinburgh steer in rough sea, the Foresight was then taken in tow by the cruiser, which proceeded in this way for about 16 hours. Valiant efforts were made for another 23 hours to continue the voyage. There were many U-boats in the vicinity, awaiting a chance to attack, but the vigilance of the destroyers forestalled every attempt and drove them off. Eventually a tug came out and attempted to assist and during this time three large enemy destroyers were seen through snow flurries.

STOPPED SHIPS HIT HARD. The British destroyers opened a running fight. The Forester was hit and stopped and another British destroyer, Foresight', altered course and interposed herself between the enemy and the Forester. At the same time one of the enemy destroyers was also seen to be hit. However, the enemy destroyers were able to launch a- torpedo attack, one of which struck the Edinburgh, which became unmanageable. All her crew were taken off by other British destroyers, who continued to engage the enemy. The Forester, which was still stopped, scored three hits on one of the enemy destroyers. The Foresight again drew the enemy fire, but later was hit herself in the boiler-room and stopped. Both destroyers, however, maintained so brisk a fire that the enemy retired. The Forester succeeded in getting under way again and screened the Foresight when the .enemy reappeared. The Foresight scored a hit on a stopped enemy destroyer, causing a tremendous explosion, and, when the smoke cleared, only two of the three enemy ships could be seen. There was also a heavy explosion on one of the remaining enemy destroyers. The Foresight got under way again, but by then the enemy had retired and no further contact was made. Subsequently it was found impossible on account ; of the weather and her damaged condition to continue the attempt to * get the Edinburgh away and she was sunk by our own forces.