U-BOATS ROUTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1943, Page 5

U-BOATS ROUTED

BATTLE IN ATLANTIC

ATTACKS FRUSTRATED Rec. 11 a.m. RUGBY, August 3

An outstanding and significant success in the warfare against the U-boats is recorded in an official Admiralty and Air Ministry communique. A force of between 25 and 30 U-boats which had concentrated in a North Atlantic shipI»ing lane for some weeks was sub* ected to such relentless assaults by surface escorts of the Royal Navy and aircraft of the Coastal Command that the enemy was denied an opportunity to launch even one attack against a large and valuable east-bound convoy.

The successful passage of the entire convoy was an outstanding achievement because the enemy force had been built up for the purpose of launching a major attack. Dense fog and icebergs which were encountered during part of the passage formed additional hazards for both escorts and convoy. As the weather cleared air cover was provided during daylight and in bright moonlight by aircraft operating at great distances from their bases in Britain and Iceland.

, The battle opened just before dawn, when in perfect weather a Liberator sighted three U-boats on the surface. The aircraft concentrated their attack on one of the enemy, which is considered to have been sunk. Meanwhile, aircraft had signalled the positions of the two other U-boats to a convoy of surface escorts under Commander Peter Gretton in the destroyer Duncan. During the ensuing search a frigate sighted a U-boat, which she pursued and attacked, forcing the enemy to crash-dive. Shortly afterwards the corvette Snowflake sighted another U-boat proceeding at periscope depth, and with the Duncan it carried out a series of determined and skilful attacks with depth charges. Explosions brought large quantities of oil welling from the U-boat, which, it is considered, may have been destroyed. The battle developed in intensity as the corvettes Pink and Sunflower, in co-operation with aircraft, chased two other U-boats and drove them off.

UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS.

Meanwhile, about 15 miles from the convoy, look-outs in the crows-nests of the frigates Wear and Jed had sighted two U-boats travelling towards the convoy. As both ships altered course towards the enemy at full speed one U-boat fired torpedoes, which passed harmlessly between the frigates. Both U-boats quickly submerged, but the Jed regained contact with one of them, and in company with the cutter Sennen carried out a sustained counterattack. Detonations-of depth charges were followed by a series of muffled under-water explosions. The ships' companies of the Jed and the Sennen later sighted extensive patches of oil, interspersed with large pieces of splintered wood, cloth, paper, and other wreckage. This U-boat is also considered to have been destroyed. During the assault it is estimated that 20 U-boats were still in contact with the convoy, although proceeding at cautious distances. Several ultimately made attempts to approach but were quickly intercepted and engaged by Liberators. Within a few hours the aircraft made five attacks on the U-boats, which were all forced to turn away. . Night brought no respite. The aircraft continued to give the convoy strong cover, and just before dawn surface escorts detected a U-boat about six miles on the port quarter and another far out on the starboard quarter. The frigates Jed and Spey each attacked one of the enemy with depth charges, and both submarines were driven off. Dawn found the surface escorts still between the convoy and the U-boats, with aircraft carrying out many offensive sweeps in the vicinity.

On the following day Liberators made many more attacks on U-boats. — 8..0-. W.