WITH ROYAL PASSENGERS

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1946, Page 5

WITH ROYAL PASSENGERS

“RIMUTAKA” ATTACKED IN WAR TIME (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14. An'-attack against the Rimutaka when it was taking the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Australxa in 1944 is disclosed in the Admiralty and Aix- Ministry’s official account of “The Battle of the Atlantic,” published to-day. The Rimutaka was one day out from Liverpool on December 17 when the submarine alarm was given. The convoy turned while a frigate remained behind to hunt. The frigate attacked at 11.38 p.m. and re-attacked at 11.58, when, after depth-charges were dropped, a violent submerged explosion lifted the frigate in the water, after’ which large quantities of oil coming to the surface told their own tale. The book says the U-boat crews fought to the end with discipline and efficiency. They did not relax their efforts, did not hesitate to incur risks and there was no reason to suppose they would not have fought on in a losing campaign if the army defeat in 1945 had not brought collapse. Britain’s shbrtage of the smaller anti-submarine escort vessels was so acute after Dunkirk that once only two destroyers were available for a 40-ship convoy. It was not until the famous spring of 1943 that the tide turned in favour of the Allies. From the night of D-day until June 10, 1944, aircraft in the bay and channel sighted 36 U-boats, attacked 23, sank six and severely damaged about the same number. Altogether 781 German and Italian submarines were destroyed during the war.