HEAVY DAMAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20281, 24 June 1940, Page 6

HEAVY DAMAGE

NAZI BATTLESHIP THRICE HIT BY BOMBS STRUCK BY TORPEDO SUBMARINE’S ATTACK AIR TORPEDO’S VICTIM (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. June 24, 9 a.m.) LONDON, June 22. It is officially stated that the British naval and air forces considerably damaged the German battle-cruiser Scharnhorst and also torpedoed a German destroyer. A communique states that the Scharnhorst received considerable damage through an attack by our naval forces. One of our submarines sighted the Scharnhorst soon after she left Trondheim Fiord, when she was clearly on a passage to a safe port where she could repair the damage sustained when hit by at least one heavy bomb during an attack by Fleet Air Arm planes on June 13. The Scharnhorst was heavily escorted. The submarine attacked and hit her with a torpedo. Shortly afterwards. Fleet Air Arm. bombers delivered an attack. They scored no hits on the’ damaged battle-cruiser, but they torpedoed one or the escorting destroyers. Two of our planes failed to return. Coastal Command planes carried out a bombing attack on the Scharnhorst an hour later, despite intense opposition, resulting in the loss of three of our planes. The bombing attacks were pressed home and three direct hits with heavy bombs were made on the Scharnhorst. Two enemy fighters also were shot down in flames. Three Direct Hits The Royal Navy was immediately dispatched at high speed to intercept the German forces, but with visibility rapidly deteriorating, further contact was not made.

Fuller details of the attack on the Scharnhorst show that, notwithstanding her escort of destroyers and a guard of 50 Messerschmitt fightei’s, at least three direct hits were made with heavy bombs. Two struck alongside Nos. 1 and 2 gun turrets. The other was full on the stern, from which a great quantity of debris rose in the air.

The enemy ships were shadowed by a relay of Lockheed-Hudson reconnaissance aircraft for nearly nine hours. Often the Hudsons, with which a Sunderland flying-boat cooperated, were themselves intercepted by enemy aircraft, and a number of fierce combats took place. The British aircraft continued observation of the movements of the Scharnhorst until the light became suitable for a bombing attack, which was carried out by a mixed striking force of Beauforts and Hudsons.

What the pilots described as an avalanche of light and heavy antiaircraft shells met the striking force as they went into position for attack. Five of our aircraft failed to return. All the time combats were taking place between the attackers and the Scharnhorst’s escort. At least two Messersehmitts were destroyed, one by the Sunderland flying-boat. Other enemy fighters were seriously damaged.

A German communique states: “British bombers and torpedo planes unsuccessfully attacked a German battleship, whose anti-aircraft guns shot down six planes. German fighters which intervened destroyed a further seven. The total enemy air losses on Friday were 25. One German machine is missing.”