ATTACKS ON SHIPPING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 190, 14 July 1941, Page 2

ATTACKS ON SHIPPING.

NAZIS OUTMANOEUVRED

RUGBY, July 12. The unsuccessful tactics employed by German ships when attacked by a single lloyal Air Force bomber are described in an Air Ministry account oi bow a German minesweeper of 120 tons was swept by fire from end to end after being bombed off Ushant vesterday. The ship was the largest of three sighted by a Hudson aircraft of the Coastal Command, which closed to investigate. As soon as the aircraft came within range the ship opened fire and was followed by the two other ships. They had arranged themselves on three sides of a square, leaving the fourth side open for the aircraft’s course, . and they concentrated their fire on this passage. In order to attack the Hudson had to cleave its way almost at sea level through an intensive harrage. Tt was only 50 yards from the largest ship when the pilot let go a salvo of heavy bombs with a slight delav action on them to allow him to get clear before they exploded. Every bomb hit, and as the Hudson pulled away the crew saw the ship become a mass of flames. She ceased to fire immediately, listed heavily to port, and appeared likely to sink at any moment. ... Then the Hudson had to look to its own safety. The aircraft was hit many times and came out of the attack with its port engine on fire. The flames died down, hut the other engine cut out after the nilot had pulled the aircraft up to 1000 ft. The crew found that no fuel was reaching the engine, and it picked up again after petrol was pumped from the tank bv hand. They also managed to get the port engine going and made a safe landing. —Official Wireless.