Huge Axis Shipping Losses

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 266, 8 November 1941, Page 7

Huge Axis Shipping Losses

566,000 Tons in Three Months in Mediterranean R-.A.F.’s BIG TOLL NEARER HOME United Press Association—By Kleittlc Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 9.30 p.m. ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 7. It is officially announced that 8(5 Axis ships tdtaliing 339,000 tons were sunk in the Mediterranean in August, (September and October and 61 totalling 22/,000 tons damageu. The principal leature of British air activity during October has been the offensive against enemy shipping carried on with unabated zeal by the Bomber Fighter and Coastal Commands (says the British Official Wireless). In the North Wea and off’ the Atlantic Coast 71 ships are known to have been sunk or damaged, while in the Mediterranean a further 30 have been sunk or damaged. Many more ships ha.e been attacned and probably hit but as the results were not observed no claims have been put forward. The enemy shipping losses include supply vessels of all sizes, tankers, antiaircraft ships, patrol vessels, armed traw’lers, E-boats, lighters and warships. In the effective six months from May to October the R.A.F, has sunk or damaged 332 ships in the European theatre of war, while in the Middle East 201 ships have been sunk or damaged. This gives a total of 533 ships which felt the full weight of the R.A.F. offensive against shipping. In all the operations during October the R.A.F. made 195 attacks on 81 targets. The heaviest raid was made on the night of October 12-13 whon the main object was Nuremburg and more than 300 British aircraft were over Germany. The main effort in occupied territory has been directed against the ports used by the enemy. There were also several attacks on enemy aerodromes. Brost was attacked eight times, Boulogne six times, Ostend and Dunkirk five times, Calais and Havre three times.

Tho total number of attacks made in the Middle East was 119 against 44 targets. Benghazi and- Tripoli which are used by the enemy as supply bases for their North African forces still occupy first place, while another feature was the intensified effort against Italian ports and bases including five attacks on Naples. Benghazi was attacked 21 times, Tripoli 13 times and Bardia 12 times.

Although the R.A.F. operations during October were much curtailed by the exceptionally unfavourable climatic conditions, no operations having been possible on five days and .11 nights, nevertheless in all the operations the R.A.F. carried out 195 attacks against 81 targets.