BATTLE IN IONIAN SEA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23295, 3 April 1941, Page 7

BATTLE IN IONIAN SEA

Hour-By-Hour Account

BRITISH FLEET’S DASH FROM ALEXANDRIA

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 1. The first consecutive hour-by-hour account of the Mediterranean naval engagement which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the British forces, and which will probably rank as one of the most impressive battles in naval history, can now be given. Strategists are already discussing the significance of Italy’s crushing defeat, but world opinion has been most immediately and most deeply impressed by the fact that while the - enemy's losses, at a conservative reckoning, are seven warships and probably 4000 personnel, of whom nearly 1000 are prisoners, the British ships escaped without a scratch to their paint or loss to their personnel. The total British loss during these operations was one naval aircraft. A naval officer, discussing the battle to-day, said: “This highly successful engagement can be accounted historic for two reasons. It is the first occasion in history in which skilful coordination of naval operations with attacks launched by aircraft has resulted in the enemy’s speed being reduced, and our main units being able to force action upon a reluctant enemy. It is also the first occasion in naval history in which such severe losses have been imposed upon an enemy, while our own forces were completely unscathed." It was about midday on March 27 that an air reconnaissance reported enemy cruisers at sea to the south-east of Sicily, The Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet (Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham) was then at Alexandria with the main body of his fleet. It was immediately clear to him that these enemy cruisers could not bo up to any good, and he concluded that their probable intentions were to attack our convoys between Egypt and Greece

hit on a destroyer, and two probables on another cruiser.

At 4 p.m. Admiral Cunningham received a report from the aircraft that the speed of the Littorio class battleship had been drastically reduced. He at once ordered the vice-admiral commanding the light forces to press on with his four cruisers to regain touch. At dusk two further torpedo and bombing attacks were launched by naval aircraft. It is not thought that the Littorio class battleship was again hit during these attacks, but one more enemy cruiser was definitely hit by a torpedo. The vice-admiral commanding the light forces regained touch just after dusk and some destroyers were ordered to attack, the others being retained with the battle fleet for screening duties against submarines. Having led the destroyers to a position from which they were to commence their attack, the vice-admiral commanding the light forces led his cruisers clear of his destroyers to the north-east. At 10.10 p.m. it was reported that an enemy vessel was lying damaged and hove-to three miles to port of the battle fleet's course. Admiral Cunningham at once turned the battle fleet to engage this unit—the Italian cruiser Pola. While approaching the Pola three enemy cruisers were sighted oh the starboard bow, namely, two Zara class cruisers led by a smaller cruiser of the Colleoni class.

This enemy force was crossing the bows of the British battle fleet from starboard to port. As the enemy cruisers passed ahead of the screen, H.M.S. Greyhound (Commander Marshall Adean) illuminated the leading heavy cruiser. The battle fleet at once opened fire. The enemy must have been taken completely by surprise. The first salvoes hit at very short range, about 4000 yards, and practically wrecked both heavy cruisers of the Zara class. The enemy destroyers astern of the cruisers were then seen to turn and fire torpedoes, and the British battle fleet turned away to avoid them. Destroyers Attack

Disposition of Forces

Acting on this supposition he made the following dispositions of his forces —The vice-admiral commanding the light forces, Vice-Admiral H. D. F. Pridham-Wippell, with his flag flying in H.M.S. Orion (Flag Captain Back), had with him the cruisers Ajax (Captain McCarthy), Perth, of the Royal Australian Navy (Captain Sir Philip Bowyer-Smyth), and Gloucester (Flag Captain Rowley), and some destroyers. This force, Admiral Cunningham ordered to proceed south of Crete, in which position it would be strongly placed to intercept any enemy forces attempting to interfere with our traffic with Greece.

Exactly what followed is still obscure, but H.M.S. Stuart (Captain Waller) and H.M.S. Havock (Lieutenant Watkins) • certainly did considerable execution. The destroyer attacking force searching for the damaged Littorio class battleship failed to locale her and it seems probable that she moved off during the action between the British battle fleet and the enemy cruisers. Some destroyers from this attacking force subsequently made touch with the destroyers sent in by Admiral Cunningham to mop up, and they assisted in sinking the Zara and Pola.

Admiral Cunningham, whose flag was flying in the Warspite (Flag Captain Fisher), had with him the battleships Valiant (Captain Morgan), and Barham (Flag Captain Cooke), the aircraft carrier Formidable (Flag Captain Bissett), and some destroyers. This force was ordered to raise steam with all dispatch. On March 27 Admiral Cunningham took the main fleet to sea from Alexandria and steamed to the north-west in the hope of intercepting the enemy forces and bringing them to action.

It is presumed that during the night the Lottorio class battleship became heavily engaged with her own forces, as heavy gunfire was heard at a time and from a direction which made it impossible for any British forces to be engaged. An extensive air search next morning failed to disclose any remaining Italian ships, which must have made their escape under cover of darkness.

At 7.49 a.m. on March 28 an air reconnaissance reported an enemy force, consisting of one Littorio class battleship, six cruisers, and seven destroyers, about 35 miles south of Gavdos Island, which is 30 miles south of Crete. This enemy force was steering to the south-east and soon after being sighted was joined by two more cruisers and at least two more destroyers.

The results at present known are that the Zara, Pola and Fiume were sunk, one six-inch gun cruiser of the Colleoni class was probably sunk, the large Italian destroyer Vincenzo Gioberti and the destroyer Maestrale were sunk, and the large destroyer Vittorio Alfleri was probably sunk. A new battleship of the Littorio class sustained serious underwater damage, and other enemy units were also certainly damaged. On the following day some 56 officers and 850 men from the Italian vessels sunk were picked up. by the British forces and by Greek destroyers, which were attentively co-operating. The live-saving operations were interrupted by an ineffective dive-bombing attack by the German Air Force. One Junkers 88 was shot down during these attacks. One Junkers 88, which attempted to interfere with the operations on the previous day, had also been shot down. Message to Italians When Admiral Cunningham reluctantly decided to abandon the rescue work he made a signal to the Chief of the Italian Naval Staff (Admiral Riccardi) stating that more than 350 Italian survivors were believed to be on rafts, giving their positions, and stating that a fast hospital ship would be needed to pick up such survivors. Admiral Cunningham received the following reply: "Thank you for your communication. Hospital ship Gradisca left Taranto last evening at 5 p.m.” Admiral Cunningham made a signal thanking the Greek Navy for its very prompt and valuable co-operation. The effect of Britain’s naval victory off Crete is enhanced by an authoritative statement of the relative strength of the forces engaged. The statement 'gives the following figures: British-Three battleships, one aircraft carrier, four cruisers, and destroyers. Greek—Some destroyers. Italian—Three battleships, 11 cruisers, 14 destroyers. The British naval force in the Mediterranean battle comprised the battleships Warspite, Valiant, and Barham, the aircraft-carrier Formidable, the cruisers Ajax, Orion, Gloucester, and Perth, and destroyers, including some Greek vessels. The Australian ships engaged were the Perth and Stuart. The Athens correspondent of “The Times” reports that the Stuart disabled the Zara with . torpedoes after the battleships’ broadsides. The survivors include members of the crews, of four destroyers, indicating that four were sunk. The Stuart is believed to have accounted for three of them. She was seen raking one Italian destroyer with her guns at pistol-shot range.

At the time of this sighting, the viceadmiral commanding the light forces, with a cruiser force, was about 40 miles to the south-east of the enemy. Admiral Cunningham, with the main fleet, was then about 95 miles to the south-east of the cruiser force and steaming to the north-west.

Acting on the aircraft report of sighting the enemy, the British cruiser force altered course to the north and made contact with the enemy cruisers at 8.02 a.m. The vice-admiral commanding the light forces then turned his cruisers to the south-east in order to draw the enemy on towards the battle fleet. Battleship Sighted About 9 a.m. the enemy cruisers turned 16 points and began to steer to the north-west. The British cruiser force followed suit to keep in touch. They did this until 10,28 a.m., when they sighted the Littorio class battleship, 16 miles to the north. The viceadmiral then turned his'cruisers once again to the south-east to keep outside the range of the heavy guns of the enemy battleship and draw the enemy forces towards Admiral Cunningham. A torpedo and bombing attack was launched from the Formidable, and this developed on the Littorio class battleship at 11.30 a.m. One possible hit was claimed in this attack. Either this attack or the knowledge of the presence of an aircraft-carrier caused the Littorio class battleship and her accompanying cruisers to turn to the north-west. The enemy was thus again heading for his bases. This abrupt turn by the enemy caused the vice-admiral commanding the light forces to lose touch, but the British cruiser force almost immediately came in sight arid the battle fleet and the whole of the British forces pressed on after the enemy. At 11.18 a.m. British aircraft sighted and reported a second enemy force about eight miles west of Gavdos Island. This force consisted of two Cavour class battleships, three cruisers, and four destroyers. About this time another torpedo and bombing attack by naval aircraft, was launched against the enemy forces which included the Littorio class battleship. One hit was claimed. ' During the early afternoon touch had often been temporarily lost, but the enemy was again located by naval aircraft. A torpedo and bombing attack was launched and three torpedo hits on the Littorio class battle«hin claimed. Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Royal Air Force Blenheim bombers attacked the enemy, claiming two /direct hits on one cruiser, one direct

Governor of Bank of England— Mr Montagu Norman has been reelected Governor of the Bank of England. It will be his twenty-first year of office.—London, April 1.

R.A.F.’S PART IN ACTION

Sir Arthur Longmore’s

Congratulations

PILOT’S ACCOUNT OF AN ATTACK

(8.0. W.) ‘RUGBY, April 1. Details of the part played by the Royal Air Force, which has received a message of congratulation from the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East (Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore), in the great naval action in the lonian Sea, are now revealed by an announcement from Royal Air Force headquarters in Cairo. Setting off on normal raids on military objectives in Tripolitania, the Royal Air Force received news that a large part of the Italian navy was

actually at sea. It is confirmed that the action of these squadrons resulted in one enemy cruiser being hit twice for certain, another cruiser probably hit. and one direct hit on a destroyer. A pilot who scored two direct hits with heavy-calibre bombs on a heavy ship, said: “Though they changed formation and zig-zagged quite a lot, we spent some time taking aim and made a low-level attack. I saw two of my biggest bombs hit the largest ship amidships. Clouds of black and yellow smoke issued from her for a long time and there she stopped.” All the Royal Air Force aircraft taking part returned undamaged. Air Chief Marshal Longmore said that reconnaissance aeroplanes first located the enemy ships, and kept them under observation all day. Bombers scored direct hits on one and possibly two enemy ships. The successful pilots only a few weeks ago were helping the army in its Libyan drive. Although the outcome of the battle had caused great satisfaction, he said, Britain would have many storms to weather yet.

ITALIAN ACCOUNT OF BATTLE

DAMAGE TO BRITISH CLAIMED ROME, April 2. An Italian communique on the battle in the lonian Sea states: “For some time, a growing intensification of enemy traffic between Egypt and Greece has been noticed. Our destroyers and aeroplanes have often taken action against this traffic, inflicting losses. Nevertheless, it was necessary to attempt a bigger offensive with the purpose of forcing the enemy to adopt more onerous methods of protection. “An offensive began on the night of March 25, with a brilliant action by shock units, which penetrated Suda Bay. “Next night, after* an air reconnaissance, eight Italian cruisers, escorted by destroyers, left their bases, supported by a battleship. This force on the morning of March 28, in waters south of Candia, exchanged shots with an enemy cruiser, which immediately evaded contact. “While our warships were returning from sweeping the sea, our aeroplanes attacked the enemy with torpedoes, hitting two cruisers, an aircraft-car-rier. and several merchantmen. “Enemy aeroplanes attacked . our fleet on the afternoon of March 2§. hitting a cruiser with a torpedo, and slowing it down. “A division, including a cruiser, was encountered in the night, the enemy forces, comprising, according to the British, several battleships. Our units opened fire,’the attack being pressed by destroyers right up to the British units. Numerous torpedoes . were launched . . , ... „ “Our air force the next day hit a cruiser with a torpedo and an aircraftcarrier with bombs.”

FRENCH ATTACK ON BRITISH SHIPS

COMMENT ON INCIDENT OFF ALGERIA (BOW) RUGBY, April 1. Reports from foreign sources refer to the possibility of the Vichy Government addressing a protest to Britain on the recent incident off the Algerian coast when French batteries fired on British naval units. No such protest has reached London, and in view of the facts some surprise is expressed in official quarters here at the suggestion. The French shore batteries opened fire on the British warships when they were engaged in a legitimate exercise of belligerent rights, and the British ships in self-defence were compelled to return the fire; but subsequently they were subjected on their way to port to three separate bombing attacks by French aircraft. The facts of the case appear to offer the Vichy Government an opportunity for an apology rather than a protest. ,