Week’s Toll of Enemy Shipping

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 115, 16 May 1941, Page 7

Week’s Toll of Enemy Shipping

(British Official Wireless.) Received Thursday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, May 14. Enemy shipping was again continually attacked by units of the British Fleet and the R.A.F. during the week ending May 12. At least twelve vessels, ranging from an armed merchant cruiser acting as a commerce raider sunk by H.M.S. Cornwall in the Indian Ocean to patrol vessols destroyed off the coasts of 'Norway, Holland, France and Germany, werfr sunk or rendered a total loss. Supply ships with an estimated tonnage of 18,000 were sunk and at least six others severely damaged. During the attack by the British naval forces on Benghazi harbour on May 8, an enemy anlmunition ship of between five and six thousand tons was blown to pieces. A supply ship of 3000 tons was sunk in the same engagement while a further bombardment from point-blank range on tho night of the 10th caused more ‘damage to enemy shipping and military objectives.

The R.A.F. made two moro successful attacks on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest on the nights of May 4-5 and 6-7, direct hits with powerful armour-piercing bombs being obtained.

On May 11 a German raider in the Indian Ocean and the Norwegian tanker Ketty Brovig (7031 tons) captured by the raider were intercepted by H.M.S. Canberra and Leander.

Asked in the House of Commons what Greek naval vessels were available to assist the British Navy and whether any fell into enemy hrfftds, the Admiralty Parliamentary {Secretary replied: ‘ ‘As was to be expected in view of the very active and gallant part played by the Royal Holleuie Navy during the recent operations in Greece some losses were suffered, but I am glad to say that a number of extremely useful modern vessels arrived safely at Alexandria. 1 do not think it advisable to publish further details.”