IN MEDITERRANEAN

Grey River Argus, 28 July 1941, Page 3

IN MEDITERRANEAN

Series of Attacks Foiled 12 ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED. ONE DESTROYER LOST. CRUISER AND DESTROYER DAMAGED. [British Official Wireless] LONDON, July 25. The British destroyer “Fearless,” of 1,300 tons, has been sunk in the Mediterranean, during an attack on a convoy by enemv aeroplanes ana submarines. ’ Only one ship in the convov was damaged, and she was able to continue her voyage. Further details wilt be announced when lull information has been received. The “Fearless” was one of eight vessels of the Fearless class, laid down in 1933. Her displacement was 1,375 tons, and she carried a complement of 145. Her main armaments were four 4.7 inch and six small guns. She was fitted with eight 21inch torpedo tubes, and carried two depth cnarge throwers. Her speed was believed to be about tnirty-eignl knots.

(Rec. 6.30). RUGBY Jqly 26 The Admiralty, in a communique states: It is now possible to give some account of the recent naval operations in the Mediterranean Under command of Vice-Admiral Somerville, there resulted in the successful passage of an important convoy through the Central Mediterranean witnout loss to the convoy. A merchant ship, however, was damaged. The destroyer. “Fearless,” was lost. The object of the operations, however, was successfully achieved and considerable losses were indicted on enemy air forces On the morning of Tuesday last, July 22nd., our ships were sighted by enemy reconnaissance aircraft That night a U-boat delivered an attack, which was not successful. It is possible that the U-boat was destroyed by a very strong counter attack to which it was subjected Next morning, the first of a series of air attacks was developed by tor-pedo-carrying enemy aircraft and nigh level bombers. Of six torpedocarrying aircraft, three were shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

“H.M.S. Fearless” was hit by a torpedo, and she subsequently had to be sunk by our force. Her casualties were not large, but their names have not yet been' received. The high-level bombing attack was completely unsuccessful. Two enemy bombers were shot down by naval aircraft. Two others probably were destroyed. Three of our aircraft were lost in this engagement, btit the crews of all were saved.

“During Tuesday afternoon, a further air attack by bombers and tor-pedo-carrying aircraft developed. These were abortive. Two “S. 79’s’ were shot down by our fighters, and a “Cant” was damaged. “The same evening, our ships and the convoy were again unsuccessfully attacked by bombers and torpedocarrying aircraft. At this critical period the convoy was close to an enemy base, but the convoy eluded the enemy air forces by determination and skilful handling. Enemy aircraft were seen to be searching unsuccessfully with the aid of a large number of flares.

Early on Thursday last, July 24, the convoy and its escort were attacked by E-boats. During this attack a ship of the convoy received damage, but she was able to continue under her own power. One E-boat was certainly sunk. Another was probably damaged. “Three separate air attacks then developed on the convoy and the escort between 6.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. These were carried out by German dive-bombers. At the same time, the ships were being subjected to high level bombing. None of our ships was hit. One German dive bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. “Enemy air attacks also developed against the Fleet, but no damage nor casualties were suffered by our ships. Shortly before the development of the most serious of these last air attacks, two “Cants” were shot down by our fighters.

The main attack was delivered by torpedo-carrying aircraft and high levpl bombers. It was intercepted, and was broken up by our lighters. Two “S 79’s” were shot down, and one damaged. Three of our naval aircraft, were lost, but the crew of one of them were saved. . “During these Operations one ol our cruisers and one destroyer suffered damage. ’J’here were a small number of casualties on both ol these ships. Apart from one attack by E-boats. in which one was sunk and another probably damaged, no attempt was made by enemy surface forces to interfere, although our important convoy had, of necessity, to be for some time in close proximity to the enemy's main bases. The enemy air forces were unable to prevent difficult operations being brought to a successful conclusion, and the long series of heavy air attacks resulted in the destruction of a minimum of twelve enemy aircraft. At least four others were damaged, and probably destroyed.—B.O.W.

AIR BATTLE AT MALTA (Rec. 7.30) RUGBY. July 26. The R.A.F. Middle East headquarters in a communique states: A large number of Italian aircraft approached Malta yesterday, at a fngh altitude. R.A.F. fighter planes intercepted them. They shot down a Breda 20 machine, which crashed in flames outside of the Grand Harbour of Malta. A Savoia 78 and three Macchi 200’s also were shot down. An enemy pilot was rescued from the sea. Another pilot abandoned his aircraft, but was killed after his parachute failed to open. During the engagement Maltese crowds enthusiastically cheered our pilots, al] of whom returned with their aircraft undamaged. E-Boats’ Attack REPULSED'AT MALTA. ABOUT A DOZEN VESSELS SUNK (Rec. 7.0) RUGBY, July 26. In a communique, the Joint Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry, state: An attack by enemy E-boats was made on the harbour of Valetta at Malta early on Saturdaymorning. It was repulsed with heavy enemy losses. Full details are not yet available. It is already known that about a dozen of the attacking E-boats were sunk by Maltese coast defences and aircraft of the R.A.F. A number of prisoners and bodies have been recovered.