NAVAL ACTION

Evening Star, Issue 23991, 16 September 1941, Page 8

NAVAL ACTION

ATTACK ON ENEMY CONVOY TWO GERMAN DESTROYERS DAMAGED LONDON, September 14. An eye-witness with the Home Fleet, describing Rear-admiral Vinn’s successful action against an enemy foroi, says three enemy vessels are known to have been sunk and one probably sunk. “ As we approached the North Cape the weather deteriorated until it was almost impossible to see ahead. A German destroyer suddenly emerged from a patch of mist 150yds away, crossed our bows, changed course, and came down our starboard side. She began laying a smoke screen, but before she was hidden a broadside from onr after guns crashed into her. We were only 500yds away by that time, and we saw the bridge control towers completely blown away. We emerged from the smoke screen and found the cruiser Bremse frantically trying to get away. Our guns again came into action, and the Bremse veered off, making for the mist, hut a tremendous explosion oc curred aboard her. “ We novV paid attention to another ship, and sank her with a broadside, then directly hit and probably sank a 600-ton trawler. The weather suddenly cleared, revealing another German destroyer 6,oooyds distant. Both sides fired, and a running fight started. There was a violent explosion on the German destroyer after at least seven direct hits. The improvement in the weather was temporary, and for the rest of the battle it "was impossible to estimate the damage or even see what type of ships we were engaging, hut at least two more ships were directly hit. The whole action lasted less than half an hour.”