ADMIRAL VIAN’S COUP

Grey River Argus, 16 September 1941, Page 5

ADMIRAL VIAN’S COUP

North Of Norway SINKING OF SEVERAL GERMAN SHIPS. (Rec. 7.15) 0N ;, I SeP knw An eve-witness . with the Home Fleet describes Rear-Admiral F. nVian’s successful actions gainst an enemy convey icrce last July, wne a German destroyer, an armed traw ler and another vessel were sunk, tne German light cruiser Bremse, damaged by the naval aircraft raid on Kirkenes in July is believed to have been sunk and other ships probably damaged. The action took place north of Norway. The eye-witness says: “As we approached Noit.i Cape the weather deteriorated until it wa» almost impossible to see ahead. A German destroyer suddenly emerged from a patch cl mist 150 yards away. She crossed our bows. She changed her course, and came down our staiboard side. She began laying a smoke screen, but, before she naci been hidden, a broadside from our after guns crashed into her. wi were onlv five hundred vards away. By that time we saw that her bridge control towers had been completely biown away. Wc emerged from tne smoke screen. We found the cruiser Bremse frantically trying to get away. Our guns again came into action. The Bremse veered off, making for some mist, but a tremendous explosion occurred aboard her. vye now paid attention to another ship, and sank her with a fourth broadside. Then we directly hit, and probably sank, a six-hundred ton trawler. The weather suadenly cleared, revealing another German destroyer six thousand yards distant. Both sides fired. 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 to see what type of ships were engaging in it. But at least two more ■ ships were directly, hit. The whole action lasted less than half an hour.