HOMEWARD BOUND But the fights are still on

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 152, 11 December 1942, Page 2

HOMEWARD BOUND But the fights are still on

From the “Daily Mirror,” London.

A convoy has to return. We are inclined to think only of the laden ships, fighting their way TO their destination with the desperately-needed munitions of war. But they have to return. And the U-boats and the planes are always waiting. Here is a seaman’s account of the return from a North Russian port of a convoyits cargoes safely delivered, but the fight still going on. We left a North Russian port in the evening, but it never got dark. The light continued all through the night. We had had a pretty hectic time at the docks, and everone was pleased to see the last of the place. But peace did not last long. One afternoon the alarm bells started. Every gun was manned. The cooks and stewards were ready with their stretchers and fire-fighting gear. All eyes were divided between the sky and the escort ships. When the plane came into view, it was a Focke-Wulf. This was on reconnaissance. The flanking escort ships fired their long-range guns, and he was driven off. - ’An hour or so afterwards, while we were still at the ready a number of Junkers 88s appeared. These came in to attack. This was dive-bombing proper. The attack lasts but a few minutes but during that time the excitement and racket is tremendous. The crash of the bombsmingled with the gunfire and rattling Marlins and flashes and water-spouts— on for two or three hours. At one time we were in the throes of a direct attack. At another, we would witness bombs being dropped round another ship. Suddenly, we were horror-struck to : see one of the ships one big red flame, ; her attacker crashed, on fire, a short distance from her. i To our amazement, when the flames i cleared, the ship was still afloat, but not under control. ; Steam was belching out of the en- i gineroom. The steering gear had gone, and she was wallowing around. 1 The commodore ship signalled to a i ship to stand by and pick up survi- : vors.' v . - . ■ i Afterwards we were pleased to hear 1 that sixty of the crew were saved, but although she was still seaworthy, dam-

age to the engine-room had made her unsailable. Later things quietened down to intermitten alarms. Had we been sailing on any other route, the darkness of night would have given us respite, and also a chance to escape. As it was, the continual twilight kept us always under observation, and gave us added worries. One morning a Focke-Wulf dropped flares on the horizon and soon afterwards there was a tremendous explosion on the port quarter. A ship began to sink. Slowly and silently, her stern slid below the surface and with sparks drifting from her funnel she dipped her bows and was lost to sight. Torpedoed. During this short time an alteration of course was made, and signals sent by the commodore to a rescue ship. The submarines were apparently ( satisfied with their work because no 1 more attempts were made by them, but aircraft made their appearance again. Individual low-level bombing attacks were made throughout the day. Everyone was on the alert the whole time. Rum, coffee and sandwiches were brought round at intervals. The a major attack conmmenced. Approximately forty dive-bombers simultaneously attacked the convoy. Coming from all directions about five would concentrate on one ship and the bombing was carried out mast-high. At this time a ship alongside us was badly holed below the water line. Fortunately she was able .to carry on. A few minutes later we— commodore ship—were singled out for the main attack. Planes came at us from all directions. The 12-pounder gun blew one of the machines to pieces. Everybody, despite ; the tenseness of the situation, cheered J uproariously. Hardly had ge got to • grips again when four bombs exploded ( near us. j The ship’s compass jumped out of the binnacle. Consequently the helms- j man was unable to steer. Electricity * failed in the engine-room, and in the i darkness, the engineer was hard put j to keep control. For the moment the entire crew was under the impression that we were

Even now we were still fighting off attacks. I can still vividly see the great black shadows as the planes came across the bridge. And I can still hear my Hotchkiss, as I pounded round after round into the bodies of the Junkers. We were certain of three victims. We could see them limping, towards the Norwegian coastlosing height, and doing their best to keep up above the sea. A - few. minutes later we were surrounded by thick fog. Usually our worst enemy, it' was now our best friend. Several days later we reached port, thankful that we had come through an action which, without great luck, would almost certainly have been fatal for us. sinking, but fortunately she was not making excessive water.