FIVE U-BOATS SUNK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 5 July 1943, Page 5

FIVE U-BOATS SUNK

BATTLE IN ENGLISH CHANNEL BRITISH CONVOY ATTACKED London, July 4. Five U-boats were sunk, and and three probably sunk, and many German planes destroyed and damaged in an attack on a British convoy in the Channel reports the British United Press Lisbon correspondent. German bombers and dive-bombers with packs of U-boats attacked the convoy consisting of 25 merchantmen escorted by warships and a small aircraft-carrier. Two small ships were lost and two others damaged but were taken in tow. The convoy was reported to be bound for Gibraltar with food and stores for troops and also carried a contingent of English, Canadian and American airmen.—P.A.

SHORE TO SHORE AIR COVER VALUABLE CONVOY REACHES PORT SERIES OF ATTACKS BY SUBMARINES Rugby, July 3. Complete shore-to-shore air cover was provided by carrier-borne aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm working in cooperation with land-based aircraft a few weeks ago and assured the passage of another valuable convoy across the Atlantic without interference from powerful forces of U-boats. An Admiralty and Air Ministry communique states the convoyo was also protected by surface escort. Close air cover was provided in the initial stages by the Royal Canadian Air Force and in the closing stages by the R.A.F. Coastal Command. The gap was bridged by aircraft from the carrier Archer. In a series of attacks extending over two days one U-boat was destroyed, another probably destroyed and others may have been damaged. The first U-boat to attempt the attack was forced to dive by aircraft dropping depth charges, the second was seen some miles from the convoy and depth charges straddled the conning tower, and it is considered this submarine was probably destroyed. A third U-boat was sighted by a Liberator of the Coastal Command and attacked. The result is not known. A ofurth was attacked by two aircraft, one of which scored many hits with cannon as the submarine dived, while the other dropped pattern depth charges over the vessel. The result is not known. A fifth U-boat was sighted on the surface about 15 miles from the convoy and was severely damaged. It attempted to dive but could not do so. It then endeavoured to get under way on the surface, turning in circles with oil pouring from the tanks. The U-boat crew manned anti-aircraft and forced the aircraft off, but later they abandoned the ship which went down. A number of survivors were picked up by the destroyer Escapade.—B.O.W. GERMAN ADMISSION London, July 2. A German naval officer writing in “Das Reich” admits that the Allies’ new devices for the moment have outmatched the U-boat, including autogyros on merchantmen, also new sound detectors. Excusing the failure of the U-boat campaign in June, a member of the German Admiralty in Berlin explained: “The High Command ordered us to take measures against expected invasion, thus reducing the number of submarines operating in the Atlantic.”— P.A.