LORIENT U-BOAT BASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 December 1940, Page 5

LORIENT U-BOAT BASE

Concentrated R.A.F. Attacks TARGET POUNDED FOR THREE DAYS Enemy-Occupied Ports Receive Attention [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] LONDON, 29th December. In the last few days British aircraft have resumed their attacks against enemy-occupied bases from Norway to the Bay of Biscay. The German submarine base at Lorient was the main objective of the R.A.F. last night. Behind this brief announcement lies a story of one of the most concentrated attacks yet delivered against an enemy target. Day and night for the past three days high-explosive and incendiary bombs have been rained down on this vital base from which German submarines go out to attack British shipping. 'Last night other targets along the enemy-occupied coast were also attacked. On Friday night the R.A.F. Bomber Command’s chief objectives were the submarine base at Lorient and the aerodrome at Merignac, near Bordeaux, from which Germany sends some of her heaviest bombers over the ocean trade routes. The communique detailing Friday night’s raids states: “The R.A.F. attacked targets in the docks at Cherbourg and Lorient and an aerodrome at Bordeaux. At Lorient stores, barracks, dry docks and a power station were bombed, and at Cherbourg the docks were straddled. At Bordeaux bad weather made it difficult to find the target, but many bombs were seen to burst among the hangars. St. Inglevert aerodrome and the shipbuilding yards at St. Nazaire were also bombed. Our programme of minelaying in enemy waters was continued. In all these operations two of our aircraft are missing.’’

The Air Ministry also announces that two attacks were made on Saturday on Lorient by bombers of the Coastal Command. Hits were observed, and all the planes returned safely. Skua aircraft on Friday without loss attacked enemy shipping and harbour works in the Haugesund area, north of Stavanger, Norway, states an Admiralty communique. One enemy supply ship of 4000 tons, which was lying alongside a jetty, was hit and set on fire, and hits were also scored on jetties and warehouses. One of the enemy’s anti-aircraft guns was silenced by machine-gun fire. A New Zealander navigated the Skua which set fire to the supply ship at Haugesund.