DESTROYERS IN ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 5

DESTROYERS IN ACTION

FIRST BATTLE AT NARVIK H.M.S. HARDY’S GREAT FIGHT AUDACIOUS ENTRY INTO FIORD (By Radio—ll.3o p.m.) LONDON, April 23. A detailed account of the first naval battle in the Narvik Fiord has now been compiled. After the British destroyer flotilla had safely negotiated the difficult entrance H.M.S. Hardy entered the actual fiord first at 4.30 a.m. At that moment, only a merchant ship could be seen, but as the destroyer swung round the entrance a large German destroyer came into view. Immediately after two other destroyers were sighted.

The Hardy went into action immediately and scored a direct hit on the first destroyer with a torpedo. The German vessel then burst into flames.

Thousands of tracer ammunition went off, looking like a lot of bright stars. One enemy ship had been accounted for.

The Hardy was then engaged by the other two German destroyers, both of superior gunpower, and was also shelled by coastal batteries. Having

fired off her torpedoes the Hardy then withdrew and the other British destroyers went into action. Torpedoes played havoc with the German transports and supply ships and the destroyers in turn fired on the land batteries and quickly silenced them.

The Hardy led the third attack and three enemy vessels steamed towards her. Speed was increased to 30 knots and the signal was given for the British destroyers to withdraw. As the destroyers turned two more German destroyers were sighted ahead steaming out of the Rombaks Fiord. They were immediately engaged. The Hardy was hit in the engine room by the heavier shells of the German ships and her bridge was reduced to a shambles. Only one man on the bridge, the captain’s secretary, Lieutenant Stanning, was not dead or unconscious, and his left foot was useless. He crawled to the wheelhouse and steered the ship to the beach. H.M.S. Hunter was sunk and two other British destroyers were damaged, but against this one German destroyer was torpedoed and three others were set on fire. Two supply ships were sunk and an ammunition ship was also blown up by the British flotilla when returning down the fiord. No attempt at pursuit was made. When the Hardy was run aground the survivors made for the shore, where they were given food and clothing by cottagers. Captain Warburton Lee was lashed on to a stretcher, but died before reaching the shore.