NAVAL LOSSES IN COMBINED OPERATIONS

Korero (AEWS), Volume 2, Issue 7, 10 April 1944, Page 15

NAVAL LOSSES IN COMBINED OPERATIONS

The magnitude of the effort needed to mount a major combined operation has not always been understood. It may therefore be of value to give a few facts about naval losses in some of these major operations so that the task that lies ahead of the Service Chiefs who are planning the entry into Europe may be better understood. In November, 1942, 850 ships took part in the landing in North Africa. The whole force, including 350 warships, sailed in three major convoys. The armada carried 56 per cent, of the entire list of British Army and R.A.F. equipment, in addition to its own landing-craft and locomotives — i.e., the 700,000 items of equipment which were distributed to British ports by over 1,100 special trains. Despite the time required to organize and escort the armada, German U-boats, aircraft, &c., failed to sink a single ship from the two convoys from Britain. Of the warships, 10 were lost during the landing less than 3 per cent. However, the actual landing was not fully opposed.

For the invasion of Sicily on July 10, 1943, 85,000 tons of merchant shipping in a force totalling 2,500 warships and merchantmen were employed. Seven thousand vehicles, 300 tanks, 700 guns, and 80,000 men were landed in the first forty-eight hours. The losses were confined to 2 submarines, 3 motor torpedoboats, and 1 motor gunboat.

Five hundred warships and merchant ships were used in the Salerno landing. Among these were 94 British warships and an immense fleet of small craft. The supply operations were considerable, and many minor amphibious engagements took place. The total loss, however, in the Sicilian landing, and in subsequent amphibious and supply operations up to the time of the Nettuno landing, was 8 destroyers, 1 minelayer, and a maximum of 6 other warships in minor classes.

The Nettuno landing cost the Navy 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers, and 5 major assault vessels. Since then, supply operations have been extensive.