U-BOAT ATTACKS FAIL

Southland Times, Issue 25513, 6 November 1944, Page 5

U-BOAT ATTACKS FAIL

CONVOY TO RUSSIA GETS THROUGH (8.0.W.) RUGBY, November 4. An Admiralty communique states that in a combined action ships of the Home Fleet and naval aircraft, operating from Allied escort carriers, frustrated determined attempts by strong U-boat forces to interfere with a large and important convoy, which recently made the double passage from the United Kingdom to Russia and back. The whole convoy was brought through in safety—no merchantman sustained any damage either on the outward or the homeward passage. H.M. sloop Kite was lost in the course of these operations. Enemy losses were three U-boats sunk and several others damaged during the engagements, which were all fought within the Arctic Circle. Wildcat fighter aircraft shot down an enemy plane which attempted to shadow the convoy. The operations were carried out under the command of Vice-Admiral F. H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, flying the United States flag in the escort carrier, Vindex. ATTACKS ON U-BOATS First reports of contact with the enemy were made by aircraft operating from the Vindex. They sighted a Üboat some miles from the convoy. Depth charges crippled the enemy, which sank by the bows. Flotsam and oil later welled to the surface and one survivor was seen swimming.

Later Hurricanes, equipped with rocket-firing apparatus, attacked two surfaced U-boats. One succeeded in submerging, but the second was hit by cannon fire and damaged before being forced to dive.

Rocket-firing Hurricanes and Swordfish attacked another U-boat as it was submerging and signalled the enemy’s position to nearby surface forces. Escorts, including the destroyer Keppel, the frigate Loch Dunvegan, and the sloops Peacock and Mermaid, carried out depth charge attacks, and from oil and much other evidence of destruction later seen on the surface it was considered that this U-boat was sunk.

A third U-boat was sunk by a concerted action by naval aircraft and ships of the Royal Navy. Constant patrols were maintained by carrier-borne aircraft, which kept the enemy at a considerable distance from the convoy and prevented them launching any concerted attack.