U-BOAT PACK

Evening Star, Issue 25046, 13 December 1943, Page 3

U-BOAT PACK

ANOTHER MAJOR DEFEAT FIVE SUNK AND THREE DAMAGED RUGBY, December 12. A strong concentration of U-boats, which gathered in the North Atlantic to launuii a major attack on Allied shipping, was recently decisively defeated by British warships and R.A.F. Coastal Command aircraft working in close co-ope ration. During a series of gagements fought over a wide area intermittently during two days and nights, five. U-boats were destroyed and three damaged. " This vigorous offensive action," says an Admiralty and Air Ministry announcement, " prevented the enemy from launching any concerted attack on two valuable convoys and more than 99 per cent of the escorted ships leached harbour safely. The British warships suffered neither casualty nor damage. Three aircraft were damaged in combat and two were forced to alight on the sea. The aircrews suffered casualties, but the majority were rescued! by His Majesty's ships." The British warships mentioned as taking part in the action are the destroyers Duncan, Vanquisher, and Vidette, the corvettes Pink and Sun- [ flower, nnd the frigates Byard, BeneI tinck, Berry, Drury, and Bazely. In | one action between the frigate Byard and a U-boat the submarine was apparently blown to the surface by depth charges from the frigate and appeared about three cable lengths ahead of the British ship. Byard immediately engaged with every gun which could be brought to bear and scored hits along the waterline and base of the conning tower. The fire from the frigate's close-range weapons meanwhile prevented the U-boat's crew from manning the guns. While this engagement was still in progress the Germans abandoned ship and the U-boat sank a few minutes later. Twenty-seven survivors were picked up by the Byard. Three of the warships which took part in the sinking of U-boats, namely, the destroyer Duncan and the corvettes Sunflower and Pink, are veterans of the Atlantic convoy route and fought several successful actions with U-boats. The destroyers Vidette and Vanquisher are also veterans. Both are over 25 years old. The frigates mentioned in the action follow the general appearance of river class frigates, but details of their construction and armaments are still on the secret list. They are the new " Captain " class , frigates, built in the United States' for the Royal Navv and are now coming into service. Byard is the first of these ships to gain the honour of destroying a U-boat. A message of congratulation describing the operation as a decisive defeat for the enemy was sent by Admiral Sir Max Horton. Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches, to the ships and aircraft which took part.