GALLANT ACTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 3

GALLANT ACTION

ATTACK ON GERMAN WARSHIPS. TIRPITZ DAMAGED UNDERWATER MIDGET SUBMARINES’ FEAT. (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 11. An Admiralty communique states: “British midget, submarines carried out an attack on the main units of the German battle fleet in protected anchorages at Alten Fiord, in North Norway, inflicting under water damage on the battleship Tirpitz. This involved hazards of the first order. The attack was made on September 22, and two days later a German communique announced that an attack by submarines of the smallest type had been repulsed and prisoners taken. Insufficient evidence was avail able at tlie- time to assess the result of the attack as operations were ceeding. Interrogation of the crews of the midget submarines which took part in the exploit and subsequent photographic reconnaissance now leave no doubt that despite the enemy’s claims to the contrary, the attack met with success.

All the photographs taken after the attack show the Tripitz, which has not been moved from the anchorage, surrounded by thick oil which covered the fiord where she lay, and extended over two miles from her berth. Photographs also show a number of small unidentified craft alongside the battleship, possibly repair ships or ships to provide power and light. Personnel who took part in the operation report that on September 22, while still in the immediate vicinity of the anchorage, they heard a series of very heavy detonations at the time expected for the units to be attacking. Three British midget submarines have so far not returned from the operations, and must be presumed lost, but in view of the German claim that prisoners were taken, it is not unlikely that some of the personnel of these vessels are in enemy hands. .

To give some idea of the mag;nitude of the difficulties of this remarkable achievement it must be remembered that Alten Fiord, in which the Tirpitz lay, was hundreds of miles from the nearest British base. Midget submarines were set the task of penetrating a highly-defended base where enemy ships thought themselves safe. They had to pass through minefields guarding the approaches to the anchorage 4 and after negotiating an intricate fiord, always vigilantly patrolled by the enemy, they had to carry out an attack in the stronglyprotected and confined waters where the ships were moored. Finally, to regain their base the same obstacles had to be overcome. The Admiralty considers that the crews of the midget submarines displayed the highest qualities of courage, enterprise and skill. The commanding officers of the midget submarines which did not return from this very gallant enterprise, and who undoubtedly pressed home the attack to the full are: Lieutenant D. Cameron, R.N.R., Lieutenant Henry Greet, R.N.V.R., Lieutenant B. C. G. Place, R.S.C., R.N.”—British Official Wireless.