15-HOUR ATTACK FROM AIR

Southland Times, Issue 24447, 29 May 1941, Page 5

15-HOUR ATTACK FROM AIR

SHIPS NOT PROTECTED BY FIGHTERS

(Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 27. The greatest battle of all time between aircraft and ships, staged northward of Crete, culminated on Thursday when the Germans flung in hundreds of bombers, subjecting the Navy to an incessant 15-hour attack. The warships’ guns blazed throughout the day until they were red hot. The air was filled with the scream of bombs, the roar of planes, the crashing of shells and the blasting of pom-poms. The Fleet was not protected by fighters and the German planes swooped at will, machine-gunning and bombing the crews of the sunken cruisers and destroyers while they were swimming for their lives.

The attack followed the smashing of one German convoy and the dispersal of another. British naval forces entered the Aegean on Tuesday to prevent sea-

borne landings in Western Crete. That night eight E-boats attacked the ships, but were repelled. At least three were sunk. The Juno was hit by a stick of bombs and plunged to the bottom within 70 seconds.

Reconnaissance reports on the night of Wednesday indicated that the attempt at a sea-borne invasion of Crete had started and it was this convoy which was broken up. Meanwhile, other units which found the shores of Candia all quiet during the night continued at dawn their search northward towards Milos. Throughout these days the Germans bombed the ships heavily, but hell was let loose at dawn on Thursday. The battle fleet was _ then going eastward through the Straits of Kythera to assist a hard-pressed squadron which had been dispersing a convoy. Some planes at 5.30 a.m. attacked the cruisers and other ships of the battle fleet. The bombing continued with only half an hour’s respite until 8.15 p.m. At least 500 planes participated, over 100 attacking simultaneously. CONTINUOUS BOMBING A British squadron, comprising four cruisers, including H.M.A.S. Perth, and three destroyers, was subjected to absolutely continuous bombing for two hours. Tire commander of one cruiser said; “We changed course constantly, speeding at over 30 knots. This was probably the heaviest attack bombers have ever meted out to a single ship, but other planes were swooping on every ship in sight. They just never ceased until nightfall. We and every other- ship were firing everything we had, sending up thousands of pom-pom, six-inch and four-inch shells. The storm and the fury reached indescribable heights soon after noon when the battle fleet, including the Warspite, linked up ’ with the cruisers and the destroyers in Kythera Straits to provide greater anti-aircraft protection. Junkers had dogged the battle fleet throughtout the morning, but after a brief interval the noon sky teemed with bombers. Land was visible on both sides and the bombers’ bases were only a few minutes distant. At the height of the onslaught we sighted a vanguard of 30 caiques with an Italian destroyer leading. Six six-inch shells straddled the convoy and probably hit the destroyer which made off at top speed and sank four of the caiques, each carrying at least 100 soldiers. Our firing disorganized the whole convoy, which immediately made northward.” After picking up two damaged cruisers the battle fleet started back through Kythera Straits. The windless weather was particularly favourable to the bombers and clouds provided them with good cover. The attack reached a new intensity at 1.30 p.m. after the Greyhound had sunk a German caique. Over 100 bombers made a mass attack on her, scoring several direct hits. Then a heavy bomb struck her, causing a terrific explosion and she buckled amidships. Great clouds of smoke poured from her hull. Two destroyers went to pick up the survivors. They were legitimate targets, but the Germans first concentrated on the sailors struggling in the water, dropping scores of bombs among them and coming down low to machine-gun them. DIVE BY MESSERSCHMITTS At this stage every ship in the battle fleet was being attacked by at least 10 planes. Diving at a speed of 400 miles an hour three Messerschmitt fighterbombers suddenly dropped out of the sky on to a battleship, unloaded their bombs and zoomed off at hair-raising speed. A bomb crashed on the battleship’s side, causing a slight fire, but only superficial damage. A direct hit on the Gloucester at 4

o’clock brought her to a standstill and she was unable to manoeuvre and became a simple target for the bombers. She was soon ablaze, but her guns continued at full blast until finally it was decided that she would inevitably be sunk. The Fiji was standing by and flinging everything except her anchor against the attackers. She threw out all her Carley rafts and floats and most of the Gloucester’s company are believed to have got on to them. The Germans again deliberately bombed and machine-gunned them as they set off in an attempt to reach Crete. Stukas then swooped down like vultures on the Fiji and dropped several sticks smash on the bridge, amidships and on the stern. The Fiji flopped over like a turtle and went down flaming after a terrific explosion. Destroyers picked up the survivors, again to the accompaniment of direct attacks on the survivors in the water.

Two enemy E-boats were sunk and two others damaged in these operations and it is known that a number of German aircraft was shot down by the British ships. Detailed reports of these have not yet been received. Operations of this type in confined waters and without fighter protection against the very large air forces employed by the enemy cannot be undertaken without loss.

Under cover of darkness the Kelly and the Kashmir went in close to Crete and bombarded the Germans at Malemi, but as they were returning to join the battle fleet they were viciously divebombed. The Kelly suffered a direct hit when doing 30 knots and overturned in a little over a minute. The Kashmir quickly followed. Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten, officer commanding the flotilla, was picked up from the Kelly. The battle fleet, having accomplished the task of reinforcing the army in Crete and warding off a seaborne invasion, steamed out into Kythera Straits to their base. The Kimberley, which picked up 250 survivors, reached port safely, in spite of incessant divebombing, high level attacks and machine-gunning throughout the voyage. The damaged ships were also beached in port. It is already known that the following numbers of survivors from the ships lost have been landed: 34 officers and 500 men from the Fiji. Eight officers and 120 men from the Kelly. Nine officers and 150 men from the Kashmir. Six officers and 98 men from the Juno.

Three officers and 88 men from the Greyhound. It is regretted that there is no news yet available of the survivors from the Gloucester, but as the Gloucester sank not far from the Greek mainland and it is known that ample boats and rafts were available it is hoped that many of her company survived.