Seelöwe

[Leandros]

Man muss dabei auch beachten das die RN im Mittelmeer unter 100%iger Luftherrschaft der Achse operierte, und trotzdem hin und wieder einen Stich machte (Tiger Konvoi z.B.). Die Luftwaffe war kein perfektes Instrument, siehe z.b. das Versagen des Luftschutzes der Dampfer Maritza und Procida gegen Force K im November 1941.

Alles Gute

Andreas

Hi, Andreas - here are some other examples:

This installment on Luftwaffe bombing results on Allied naval shipping still only includes naval vessels or civilian vessels manned by naval personnel - as far as is known. There were many times as many merchant vessels sunk and damaged. In that respect it should be considered that many of these much larger ships, often were harder to sink than, say, a destroyer. As this instalment also includes the Operation Dynamo it must be understood that the diversionary effect of all the civilian vessels present therein certainly made it easier for the RN vessels.

September 14, 1939: Polish minesweepers Jaskolka and Czapla sunk.

September 24, 1939: In German air attacks on the British forces, the screening GLASGOW was able to drive off an attack on SPEARFISH. ARK ROYAL was near missed and HOOD was struck by a glancing bomb that did not explode. LT B S. McEwen, flying aSkua of ARK ROYAL's 803 Squadron, shot down a Do.18 aircraft whose aircrew was picked up by SOMALI. Finally SHEFFIELD was bombed, but sustained no damage.

October 16, 1939: German aircraft attacked anchored ships in the Firth of Forth. Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was hit by a 1000 pounder that passed through three decks and came out of the bottom without exploding, but injuring three crew, one rating dying of wounds. Light cruiser EDINBURGH was slightly damaged by splinters from the near miss of three 500 pound bombs with eight crew wounded and Gunner G J Mitchell and one rating dying of wounds. SOUTHAMPTON's damage required only three days to repair while EDINBURGH remained in service. Destroyer MOHAWK, just arriving in the Firth from convoy duty, was bombed one and a half miles from May Island and sustained much topside damage. Commanding officer Cdr R F Jolly was fatally wounded, the ship's first officer Lt E J O'Shea and ten ratings killed and 33 crew, including her navigator, Lt A L Harper, wounded. MOHAWK berthed at Rosyth for temporary repairs and then repaired at Newcastle from 22 October to 9 December. Battlecruiser REPULSE was still at Rosyth on the 16th boiler cleaning, but German bombing restrictions forbidding bombing that endangered civilian lives were still in effect.
Three German aircraft bombed Scapa Flow, one of which was shot down by destroyer ESKIMO. Two near misses damaged old battleship IRON DUKE which took a heavy list and bomb blast damaged her electrical installations. She was towed into shallow water, settled onto the sea bed and ESKIMO provided electric power.

October 18, 1939: Base ship HMS Iron Duke beached after being bombed at Scapa Flow by JU88s.
January 1, 1940: A German air raid on Sullom Voe caused little damage to either port facilities or the ships in the harbour, which at this time were anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY as guard ship, destroyer AFRIDI to refuel, tanker WAR DIWAN (5551grt), and MANELA as a depot ship for sea planes. COVENTRY did however suffer concussion from a near miss which unseated machinery.

January 12, 1940: Armed patrol trawler VALDORA (251grt, T/Skipper A. Potterton RNR) was sunk by aircraft of German X Air Corps off Cromer with the loss of her entire crew of one officer and nine ratings.

February 3, 1940: Minesweeper SPHINX (Cdr J R N Taylor, SO 5th Minesweeping Flotilla), sweeping with minesweeper SPEEDWELL, was bombed and badly damaged at 1030 by He111's of KG26 (X Air Corps) 15 miles north of Kinnaird Head. Three ratings were killed, forty five were missing, and one died of wounds. Three crew members were rescued with serious wounds.

February 9, 1940: Minesweeping trawlers FORT ROYAL (550grt, Lt Cdr Edgar King Rtd), ROBERT BOWEN (290grt, Skipper J. Clark RNR), THOMAS ALTOFT (290grt) and OHM (302grt) were operating off Aberdeen when they were attacked and bombed by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps). FORT ROYAL was sunk with the loss of King, Temporary S/Lt R H Gill RNVR and five ratings, and ROBERT BOWEN with her entire crew  - Clark, Temporary S/Lt A S Wilson RNVR and twelve ratings.

Steamer CREE (4791grt) was bombed and damaged by aircraft of German X Air Corps, five miles east of Rattray Head. Steamer DALLINGTON COURT (6889grt) stood by and was joined by destroyer GRIFFIN as destroyer ACHATES headed for them to assist. Tug STALWART was sent to take the damaged ship in tow. During this time, GRIFFIN was herself machine-gunned by aircraft of German X Air Corps three miles 137° from Buchanness, and two crew wounded.

February 27, 1940: British trawler BEN ATTOW (156grt) was reportedly sunk on a mine seven miles east, one half mile south of May Island. Seekrieg lists her as bombed and sunk by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps). As He111's were carrying torpedoes during anti-shipping missions, a torpedo hit might have been mistaken for a mine explosion.  Even if this was a civilian vessel I am including it because of the interesting information in the final part – torpedo-carrying He 111.

March 16, 1940: Destroyer KASHMIR, escorting convoy ON.20, reported the approach of a German air raid on Scapa Flow. In this air raid, heavy cruiser NORFOLK at anchor in Scapa Flow was damaged at 1959. The bomb striking NORFOLK struck the quarter deck near Y turret. The bomb passed through the upper, main, lower decks and exploded near Y shell room. This blew a hole in the starboard side below the water line. A fire was started and X and Y magazines were flooded. In the same air attack, old battleship IRON DUKE was near missed by three bombs. Two bombs exploded astern of battleship RODNEY causing no damage. Most of the Home Fleet was at Scapa Flow at this time and this prompted the Admiralty to order Forbes to take his fleet to sea during the next moonlight period between 19 and 26 March.

March 28, 1940: German air attacked convoy FN.31 at 1950/29th in 54-25N, 00-23W. Sloop FLAMINGO was struck by machine gun fire but sustained no casualties or damage.

April 8, 1940: Tribal class destroyer HMS Gurkha damaged in an air attack, later foundered.

April 9, 1940: Later on the 9th, Norwegian destroyer AEGER was sunk by German Ju.87 aircraft already based at Sola. Seven crew were killed and one more was fatally wounded. One crewman was severely wounded.

April 11, 1940: During German bombing from 1540 to 1700, destroyer ECLIPSE of Forbes' Main Force was bombed and badly damaged at 1700 with a hit in the engine room northwest of Trondheim in 64‑48N, 07‑52E.

April 12, 1940: Norwegian torpedo boat STORM was run aground a total loss after German air attack south of Bergen at Bomlo.

April 17, 1940: Heavy cruiser Suffolk badly damaged (by aircrafts) after shelling Sola airfield.

April 19, 1940: French cruiser Emile Bertin withdrawn after receiving a hit from a German bomb.

April 30, 1940: Sloop Bittern sunk by German aircrafts off Namsos, Norway.

May 1, 1940: Late on the 1st, destroyer MAORI reached Kya Light off Namsenfjord and Vice Admiral J. Cunningham sent destroyers KELLY, GRENADE, GRIFFIN, French BISON to join her. As the destroyers went up Namsenfjord in dense fog early on the 2nd, destroyer MAORI was damaged by near misses of air bombs and sustained twenty three casualties (five dying of wounds). Cdr G. N. Brewer, Lt Cdr (E) T. T. Brandreth and Acting Gunner (T) S. C. White were among the wounded. Destroyer MAORI withdrew with her casualties.

May 2/3, 1940: The Tribal class destroyer HMS Afridi, and the French super destroyer Bison lost in air attacks. Afridi lost off Namsos. Destroyer AFRIDI stayed behind to pick up a late arriving detachment when the other ships left for the relative safety of the open sea. The evacuation was completed at 0445/3rd. Destroyer AFRIDI caught up with the allied force as the Germans launched heavy air attacks on the force. Air attacks concentrated on heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE and light cruiser MONTCALM. French destroyer BISON was hit by a German bomb which exploded her fore magazine and blew off the fore part of the ship at 1010 in these attacks in 65‑42N, 07‑17E. Her survivors were taken off by destroyer GRENADE which went alongside and destroyers IMPERIAL and AFRIDI which picked up men from the water. AFRIDI had rescued sixty nine BISON survivors. Destroyer AFRIDI scuttled destroyer BISON. Destroyer AFRIDI rejoined the Main Force after picking up BISON's survivors, but then was hit herself at 1400 in further German bombing in 66‑14N, 5‑45E. Destroyer AFRIDI foundered forty six minutes after being hit.

May 3, 1940: Early on the 3rd, British trawlers ST GORAN (565grt) of the 15th Anti-submarine Striking Force and ASTON VILLA (546grt) and GAUL (550grt) of the 16th Anti-submarine Striking Force, which had been badly damaged by German bombing near Namsos on 30 April, were scuttled before the allied ships left.

May 4, 1940: Polish destroyer Grom lost to German aircrafts. Polish destroyer GROM and destroyer FAULKNOR were on patrol off Narvik bombarding German positions when GROM was struck at 0828 on her torpedo tubes by a German bomb. Destroyer GROM (Cdr A. Hulewicz ORP) was sunk in the explosion and her survivors were picked up by light cruiser ENTERPRISE.

May 6, 1940: Light cruiser ENTERPRISE was near missed by German bombing at Narvik. The ship sustained splinter damage. Cdr M. F. L. Henstock was wounded.

May 7, 1940: Near Narvik in 68-30N, 14-15E, light cruiser AURORA was damaged at 1641 by a German bomb which landed forward of B-turret. A and B turrets were put out of action, but AURORA, required for operations around Narvik, was not withdrawn from the area for repairs until 25 May when she was relieved by light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON. Four Marines were killed and four Marines were wounded by the bomb. Light cruiser AURORA arrived at Portsmouth on the 29th and was under repair until 28 June. Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA was damaged by splinters from near misses in the same attack. Destroyer FAULKNOR was near missed but not damaged.

May 10, 1940: In a German air raid on Skelfjord, light cruiser PENELOPE was damaged by splinters from near misses and destroyer VANSITTART was hit by a small bomb putting her after guns out of action. The light cruiser had Paymaster Cdr W. A. Sharp and four ratings killed in the attack. Destroyer VANSITTART lost S/Lt C. C. Butt and Midshipman A. B. Meria RNR and Lt Cdr W. Evershed and S/Lt D. C. S. Currey were wounded. At 2237/10th, light cruiser PENELOPE departed Skelfjord towed by tug BANDIT (840grt).
In numerous air attacks at Ijmuiden, destroyer WHITSHED was damaged by near misses and set afire. Four ratings were killed and one officer and seven ratings were wounded. She departed Ijmuiden that night for Dover, arriving at 0530/11th. Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN, returning from the East Indies, had arrived in the Downs on the 5th from Lisbon. She continued on the 6th for Rotterdam arriving on the 8th for a refit at Den Helder. The Dutch destroyer was sunk by German bombing as she arrived to bombard the airfield.

May 11, 1940: Destroyers HYPERION and HAVOCK of the BIRMINGHAM force from Harwich and WILD SWAN and WIVERN from Dover were ordered on the 11th to Rotterdam to assist in resisting the Germans and neutralizing the airfield at Waalhaven. However,they were redeployed off Hook of Holland in view of VAN GALEN's fate and German air supremacy in the area.

May 12, 1940: At Mo on the 12th, destroyer HESPERUS, escorting store ship MARGOT (4545grt), was damaged by two near misses of air bombs.

May 13, 1940: Destroyer VERSATILE, while alongside the pier, was damaged by one bomb hit at 2140 from German bombing off Hook of Holland. In low level bombing attacks, troopship CHROBRY was hit by two or three bombs at 2350/14th in 67‑40N, 13‑50E in Vestfjord and was badly damaged. The troopship was set afire by the bombing and abandoned.

May 14, 1940: French torpedo boat L'INCOMPRISE was bombed and damaged while supporting the defense of Bergen op Zoom, Holland. Destroyer VESPER was damaged by near misses of German air bombing. Destroyer VESPER was repaired at Dover, completing repairs on 3 June. Destroyer MALCOLM sustained some damage from near misses of German bombs. Destroyer WIVERN was damaged by the near miss of two air bombs with Midshipman K. T. Briggs RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt R. S. Brown RNVR, twenty five ratings killed and thirty two wounded, including Lt S. E. Pritchard.

May 15, 1940: Destroyer SOMALI and French destroyer FOUDROYANT, returning from Mo, received the report of troopship CHROBRY's bombing and heavy damage. En route to assist at 0243, these destroyers were heavily bombed by German Ju.87 bombers and SOMALI was badly damaged by a near miss. Destroyer SOMALI had fore compartments flooded. Destroyer WINCHESTER, en route from Flushing, was near missed by German bombing early on the 15th off Hook of Holland and was badly damaged. Destroyer VALENTINE (Cdr H.J. Buchanan RAN), at the mouth of the River Scheldt within a mile of Terneusen, was bombed and badly damaged by German Ju.88 bomber. Struck by two bombs, destroyer VALENTINE's boiler blew up and she was run aground and abandoned a total loss. Minesweeper HUSSAR off Orfordness was struck by a glancing German bomb. The bomb itself did little damage, but it set off a depth charge on the minesweeper. Temporary Lt F. F. Wheeler RNR, two ratings were killed in the minesweeper.

May 16, 1940: Battleship RESOLUTION, anchored at Tjeldsundet, was struck at 1130 by a German bomb that pierced the starboard side of the quarterdeck and dove three decks before exploding in the Marines' messdeck. One ratings was killed and a second rating died of wounds the next day. Twenty two Marines and four naval ratings were wounded. A further rating was wounded in destroyer VANSITTART in the bombing. Sloop FLEETWOOD was bombed in the same attack as battleship RESOLUTION near Narvik. Splinters from a near miss mortally wounded Lt Cdr H.T. R. Bonham, which died on 8 June.
Destroyer MOHAWK required docking at Gibraltar for several days to make good damage sustained by German bombing in the North Sea.

May 17, 1940: The French 11th Destroyer Division on patrol off Dunkirk was attacked by German bombers. Torpedo boats (really light destroyers)  CORDELIERE (Capitaine de Fregate H.A. J. Robinet de Plas) and MELPOMENE (Capitaine de Corvette P. A. M. Bonny) were badly damaged.

May 19, 1940: Destroyer WHITLEY (Lt Cdr G.N. Rolfe), under French orders in port blocking and refugee lifting operations, was bombed at 0526 and badly damaged by German bombing two miles 006° east of Nieuport. After three near misses, destroyer WHITLEY with both engine rooms flooded and her back broken was run aground to prevent sinking. Four engine room ratings were killed on destroyer WHITLEY. French auxiliary minesweeper AUGUSTIN NORMAND (175grt) was sunk by German bombing near Qunette de Rochemont Lock at Le Havre.

May 20, 1940: At 1900, destroyer MALCOLM off the North Goodwins was attacked by German bombing and damaged by three near misses. Two ratings were killed and nineteen crew, including Lt Cdr E. P.F. Atkinson and Gunner D. E. Wright, were wounded on the Destroyer. Warrant Engineer G.F. Walters died of wounds on the 24th. A rating also died of wounds. Trawler RIFSNESS was sunk by German bombing. Trawler LORD INCHCAPE picked up her crew and returned to Dover. Lt L.L. Thornton RNR, one ratings were lost on RIFSNESS. One rating, reported lost, was taken as prisoner of war. Temporary Skipper C. G.Coombe and Probationary Temporary Lt E. G.Lock RNVR, were wounded in the RIFSNESS. Anti-submarine trawlers LADY PHILOMENA (417grt) and KINGSTON OLIVINE (378grt), while on anti-submarine patrol, were attacked by German bombing. On 21 May, it was determined near misses had made the trawlers unseaworthy and docking was required.

May 21, 1940: Destroyer KEITH was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb at Dunkirk. French destroyer L'ADROIT (Capitaine de Corvette H.M. A. Dupin de Saint-Cyr), waiting to escort this convoy, was bombed and beached in a sinking condition at Malo les Bains before ever joining the convoy. French submarine chaser CH.9, also waiting to escort the convoy, was bombed and badly damaged off Dunkirk. She was run aground a total loss to prevent sinking and abandoned. French auxiliary minesweepers SAINT BERNOIT (315grt), NOTRE DAME DE LORETTE (339grt), RIEN SANS PEINE (142grt), JACQUES COEUR (285grt), SAINT JOACHIM (192grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
Anti-submarine trawlers CAPE PASSARO (510grt, Lt Cdr M. B. Sherwood Rtd of the 15th AntiSubmarine Striking Force and MELBOURNE (466grt, Lt Cdr A. J. C. Pomeroy RNVR) of the 23rd AntiSubmarine Group were sunk by German bombing near Narvik. Four ratings were killed on the trawler CAPE PASSARO.

May 22, 1940: Destroyer WILD SWAN was near missed by a German bomb at Boulogne and suffered casualties.

May 23, 1940: Destroyers FAME and FIREDRAKE were damaged by German bombing near Narvik. French large destroyer MILAN was damaged by the near miss of two German bombs near Narvik. MILAN was forced to return to the Clyde, arriving on the 27th at 0625. She departed the Clyde that day with Contre Amiral Derrien aboard and arrived at Brest for repair and refitting on the 29th.
The evacuation of Boulogne, Operation BUNGALOW, began with Destroyers KEITH and VIMY entering harbour. A bomb exploded on the quay next to KEITH which was medium damaged and Captain Simson was killed by machine gun fire. After embarking one hundred and eighty troops, KEITH had to back out of the harbour stern first with a fire aft. In addition to Captain Simson, seven ratings were killed and twenty eight men were wounded, including Lt Cdr R. S. Miller RNR. Destroyer VIMY, while embarking troops, sustained medium damage and her commanding officer Lt Cdr C. G W. Donald was mortally wounded. The destroyer was able to embark one hundred and fifty troops. In addition to her commanding officer, Temporary S/Lt D. R. Webster RNVR was killed and several men were slightly wounded. Backing out of the harbour, destroyer KEITH was struck by a mortar shell on her forecastle. Destroyers WHITSHED and VIMIERA while standing off the harbour were attacked by German bombers. Destroyer WHITSHED sustained light damage from the near miss of an air bomb. Gunner (T) W. J. Wilson was killed and S/Lt P. L.K Needham and ten ratings were wounded on destroyer WHITSHED.
French destroyer ORAGE (Capitaine de corvette R. V. M. Viennot de Vanblanc) was bombed and set afire four miles west of Boulogne and destroyer FRONDEUR (Capitaine de corvette H.L. Alix) was badly damaged by German bombing off Boulogne. Twenty eight crew were lost in the destroyer. Destroyer ORAGE was later scuttled.
VENETIA was seriously damaged with a hit on her B-gun platform. Killed were S/Lt M. E. L.Maunsell and twenty ratings. The commanding officer Lt Cdr B. H.de C. Mellor, Lt R. J. R. Wratislaw, eleven ratings were wounded. VENETIA ran aground and was brought out of the harbour stern first, under the command of S/Lt D. H.Jones RNR. Destroyers VIMIERA and WESSEX were the only two undamaged destroyers of the Dover Command.
French large destroyer CHACAL (Capitaine de fregate J. E. N. Estienne), after delivering the demolition party to Calais, arrived off Boulogne and was sunk off Cape d' Alprecht by German bombing. French destroyer FOUGUEUX (Capitaine de fregate E. E. Y. Poher) was badly damaged by bombing in the same attack. French submarine chasers CH.5 and CH.42 rescued the twenty one survivors of CHACAL. The surviving destroyers of the French 2nd Destroyer Flotilla were ordered withdrawn from Boulogne to Cherbourg.

May 24, 1940: Off Calais, destroyer WESSEX (Lt Cdr W. A. R. Cartwright), which departed Dover at 0700, was sunk by German bombing when she was struck by three bombs between the funnels. Five ratings were killed, one died of wounds, fifteen were wounded. The survivors were rescued by destroyer VIMIERA. Minesweeping trawler JOHN CATTLING (276grt) picked up one officer and five ratings from a Carley float.
Polish destroyer BURZA was damaged by two bombs exploding in the water very near her bows. The concussion also damaged her superstructure and she could only steam three to four knots stern first. One rating was killed in the destroyer.  Destroyer VIMIERA was bombed and damaged off Calais.
French auxiliary minesweepers LA MATELOT (260grt) was sunk by German bombing and ETOILE DE NORD (317grt) was sunk in mining at Dunkirk.

May 25, 1940: Mobile Naval Base Ship MASHOBRA (Temporary Lt Cdr P. Taylor RNR) was bombed and badly damaged in German bombing near Harstad, and run aground to prevent her from sinking. No men killed, but several, including Temporary Paymaster Lt W H Reed RNR were wounded.
Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was near missed by German bombing at Harstad, but only sustained splinter damage. At 1032, destroyer GREYHOUND was ordered to patrol between Dover and Calais and await orders. GREYHOUND and sister-ship GRAFTON suffered damage to their directors from near misses of air bombs. Later, GREYHOUND bombarded the Calais suburb of St Pierre, but a German three inch battery east of Sangetti hit her once. Temporary Lt Sir M C H F J Blennerhassett Bt RNVR and one rating were killed, and three crew, including Lt Cdr H E F Tweedie, were wounded. Lt J P Pigot-Moodie died of wounds on 4 August. Both destroyers arrived back at Dover before midnight.
Destroyer VEGA was also attacked by German bombers and damaged by near misses. She was taken to Dover and repaired completing on 3 June. Minesweeping HARRIER, minesweeping off Zeebrugge, was attacked by German bombers. One hit and five near misses badly damaged the minesweeper. The hit entered through the upper deck and passed out through the port side.
French auxiliary minesweepers LA JEANNINE and LA TROMBE II  were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 26, 1940: Anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW (Captain B. C. B. Brooke), en route to Skaanland, was badly damaged by German bombing on the 26th in Ofotfjord and run aground a total loss. Paymaster Cdr William Yates, Paymaster S/Lt D. H.Jackson, Temporary Paymaster S/Lt A. M. L.Merry RNVR, Acting S/Lt H.N. Hinge RNVR, five ratings were killed on the cruiser. The survivors from CURLEW were ferried to destroyer BEAGLE which took them to Harstad. Boom defense vessel LOCH SHIN (255grt, Temporary Boom Skipper H.Sizer RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad. She was beached to prevent sinking, but capsized and sank. Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was again splinter damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Harstad.
Destroyer IVANHOE was damaged alongside an oiler at the Humber. The damage did not prevent the destroyer from continuing her duties. Minesweeping trawler MARETTA (350grt) was damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Calais. The minesweeper was towed by Dover by minesweeping trawler KINGSTON GALENA. Returning to Dover, destroyer WILD SWAN was damaged by a bombing near miss which damaged her screws. She proceeded to Tilbury for repairs from 29 May to 4 June.
Minesweepers SKIPJACK and HALCYON arrived at Dover during the afternoon. These were the only operational units of the 6th Mine Sweeping Flotilla. Minesweepers HUSSAR and HARRIER were bomb damaged and minesweeper SPEEDWELL was out of service due to defects. French auxiliary minesweeper DIJONNAIS (389grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 27, 1940: Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO was hit by two bombs at 0620/28th and was badly damaged with nine ratings killed and S/Lt B. H.Moss RNVR, Gunner J. L.Thundercliffe, six ratings wounded. One of the ratings died of wounds. One bomb struck abaft B.position, penetrated the deck, exploded among the supply party. The second bomb hit the starboard. 5" anti-aircraft gun mounting. Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was near missed by German bombing and had two ratings killed by bomb splinters. CaptainF. H.W. Jeans, CVO, was wounded. Damage to light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON required ten days to repair by local facilities. Anti aircraft cruiser COVENTRY was near missed and sustained one rating killed by bomb splinters. Destroyers HAVELOCK, WALKER, WHIRLWIND all sustained minor damage from near misses of air bombs. Destroyer WALKER's damage required ten days to repair once she returned to England.
After embarking troops at Dunkirk, armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE (1688grt) was damaged by German bombing west of Dunkirk, between Gravelines and Les Hemmes. Armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE was towed by tugs LADY BRASSEY and SIMLA and escorted by destroyer WINDSOR to Dover. French auxiliary minesweeper LA MAJO (47grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 28, 1940: Destroyer WINDSOR, which had been ordered to Dunkirk from Goodwins patrol, was near missed by German bombing at South Goodwin Light. The destroyer had one boiler room damaged and there were twenty to thirty casualties on the destroyer. Destroyers ANTHONY, CODRINGTON, JAVELIN, were damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk. French auxiliary minesweeper MARGUERITE ROSE (409grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 29, 1940: Sloop BIDEFORD went over to Dunkirk where she was struck by a German bomb on her quarter deck and had forty feet of her stern blown off. Lt P. A. Stewart, S/Lt A. B. Wood, S/Lt S. E. Edmundson RNR,and thirteen ratings were lost on the sloop; two officers and eighteen ratings were wounded. Of the passengers, Probationary Temporary S/Lt R. O. Wilcoxon RNVR, another officer and ten ratings were killed and two officers wounded. Sloop BIDEFORD was beached to prevent sinking. At 1129 destroyer GALLANT was near missed and damaged. Destroyer GALLANT departed Dover at 1620/31st for repairs in the Humber, but was able to return to duty in one week. Destroyer MISTRAL was bombed and badly damaged along the east mole and did not embark troops. Her commanding officer Capitaine de Corvette Lavene was fatally wounded and Lieutenant de Vaisseau J. D. J. Guillanton assumed command. Along the east mole, destroyer GRENADE was sunk at 1602 by German bombing. Fourteen ratings were killed and four more dying of wounds. Destroyer JAGUAR, alongside GRENADE outboard, was badly damaged at 1600 by German bombing. Destroyer JAGUAR was hit by one bomb. One boiler room out of action, her hull was holed, there was damage to oil tanks and her engine room. Thirteen ratings were killed and nineteen crew, including LtF. Bruen, were wounded. The troops on destroyer JAGUAR were transferred to other ships. Destroyer EXPRESS towed JAGUAR out into the channel. Destroyer JAGUAR departed Dover at 1620/31st in company of destroyer GALLANT and was repaired at Immingham in sixteen days. Destroyer INTREPID was badly damaged at 1830 by German bombing off La Panne with two ratings killed and nineteen wounded. One engine room was out of action and one was damaged. The destroyer returned under her own power. Destroyer INTREPID was repaired at Middlesborough completing in two weeks. Destroyer GREYHOUND was badly damaged at 1628 by a near miss off La Panne. Probationary Midshipman W. S. Underwood RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt M. H.Matthews RNVR, eighteen ratings were lost on the destroyer. Destroyers SALADIN, MALCOLM, WOLFHOUND were all moderately damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk. All three were returned to service after minor repairs at Chatham. Destroyer SALADIN was damaged by a near miss and was under repair for eleven days and was completed on 9 June. Destroyer WOLFHOUND was under repair for this damage and her propeller damage for ten days. Destroyer ICARUS was damaged by near misses and sustained one rating killed and twenty five men wounded.
The British Admiralty ordered all the H, I, J class destroyers (destroyers HARVESTER, HAVANT, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID, IVANHOE, JAVELIN) out of DYNAMO due to severe losses. All the G-class destroyers were already out of the operation due to loss or damage. This left only fifteen old destroyers, ESK, EXPRESS, ANTHONY, KEITH, CODRINGTON, MALCOLM, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, WORCESTER, WINDSOR, VERITY, VANQUISHER, SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI to continue DYNAMO.
Auxiliary minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS (393grt, Temporary Lt N. Larkin RNR) of the 10th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk, three miles west of Middelkerk Buoy. S/Lt A. J. Glover RNVR, was lost in the minesweeper. Temporary Lt N. Larkin RNR, Tempary Lt (E) R. W. Daish RNR, were wounded. Minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS's survivors were picked up by minesweeper PANGBOURNE after an unsuccessful attempt to tow her out of the area. Minesweeper PANGBOURNE was damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk. Probationary Temporary S/Lt I.F. Buckley RNVR, Lt G.MacClelland were wounded. Auxiliary minesweeper WAVERLEY (537grt, Lt S.F. Harmer-Elliot RNVR) of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk at 1800 by German bombing at Dunkirk. Some three hundred and sixty crew and passengers were lost in the minesweeper. Auxiliary anti-aircraft ship CRESTED EAGLE (1110grt, Temporary Lt Cdr B. R. Booth (probationary) RNR) was sunk by German bombing at 1850 at Dunkirk.
Anti-aircraft ship CRESTED EAGLE's survivors were rescued by minesweeper PANGBOURNE. Temporary Probationary Lt C. S. Elliott RNR, Temporary Lt (E) E. Jones RNR, Temporary S/Lt (E) A. W. Turnbull RNR, were wounded. Minesweeping trawler POLLY JOHNSON (290grt, Skipper Lt F. Padley RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk and later scuttled. Acting Skipper J. M. Greengrass RNR, was lost in the trawler. Minesweeping trawler CALVI (363grt, Temporary Skipper B. D. Spindler RNR) of Minesweeping Group 51 was sunk by German bombing in Dunkirk Harbour. French steamers MONIQUE SCHIAFFFINO (3236grt) and MARS (721grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk. French steamer SAINT OCTAVE (5099grt) was scuttled at Dunkirk, but was later salved by German forces and renamed ILSE FRITZEN for German service. French auxiliary minesweeper JOSEPH MARIE (41grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk. Belgian tugs VULCAIN (200grt), MAX (177grt) and THAMES (144grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 30, 1940: Destroyer BEAGLE was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb near Narvik. The destroyer spent no time of out action. At 1530, destroyers HARVESTER and HAVANT of the 9th Destroyer Flotilla and IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE, ICARUS, INTREPID of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla were ordered back into DYNAMO after having been withdrawn the day before to prevent their losses. Destroyers ANTHONY and SABRE were damaged at 1800 by German bombing at Dunkirk. Destroyer ANTHONY had damage to her engine room machinery. Destroyer ANTHONY departed Dover at 1850 on 1 June with destroyer WOLSEY and was repaired at Portsmouth in two weeks. Destroyer SABRE had no casualties, except Acting Gunner A.F. Coombe wounded by splinters, her damage was limited to her gyrocompass. She spent no time out of action. Minesweeper KELLET was damaged by the near miss of German bombing at Dunkirk. Minesweeper KELLET was leaking slightly. She was taken to Sheerness for repairs, then on 19 June was moved to Grimsby to complete the repairs. Minesweeper KELLET returned to service on 28 June. Armed boarding vessel KING ORRY (1877grt, Cdr J. Elliot, RD RNR) was damaged by German bombing near misses. The ship cleared the harbour and foundered at 0300 one half mile north of Dunkirk.

May 31, 1940: Destroyer EXPRESS was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb at Dunkirk. Destroyer EXPRESS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth and was repaired in one week. Destroyers ICARUS, KEITH, WINCHELSEA were damaged at Dunkirk by German bombing attack. Destroyer ICARUS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June with destroyers VIVACIOUS, EXPRESS, ESK, WINDSOR, WINCHELSEA, WHITSHED for Portsmouth. Destroyer ICARUS was repaired at Portsmouth completing on 13 June. Destroyer WINCHELSEA was returned to service after repairs at Dover. Destroyer WINCHELSEA departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth. Destroyer KEITH was able to continue off Dunkirk and was lost the next day. French large destroyer LEOPARD was damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk.
Between 0000 and 0200, French destroyer SIROCCO was torpedoed and badly damaged by German schnellboote S.23 and S.26 near West Hinder, in 51-18N, 2-15E. Attempting to effect emergency repairs, destroyer SIROCCO was sunk by German bombing. Destroyer SIROCCO had been credited with sinking three German submarines in the war. She went down with the colours of the 92nd French Infantry Regiment which its Colonel had smuggled out of the outskirts of Lille where the unit was encircled by German troops. Destroyer SIROCCO had on board 180 crew and 700 French troops. Fifty nine crew and over six hundred troops were lost.
Auxiliary minesweeper DEVONIA (622grt, Temporary Lt J. Brotchie RNVR) of the 7th Minesweeping Flotilla was beached and abandoned after damage from German bombing near La Panne at Dunkirk.

June 1, 1940: B class destroyer HMS Basilisk sunk by aircraft off the coast of Dunkirk. B class destroyer HMS Keith lost to German dive bombers.
H class destroyer HMS Havant attacked and heavily damaged by aircraft off Dunkirk. Later sunk by minesweeper HMS Saltash. Locust class river gunboat HMS Mosquito lost to aircraft off Dunkirk. Halcyon class minesweeper HMS Skipjack lost to aircraft off Dunkirk.

June 19, 1940: W class destroyer Whitely attacked by German aircraft and beached near Nieuport.

July 12, 1940 : Cruiser HMS Gloucester damaged in an air attack.

July 20, 1940: B class destroyer HMS Brazen lost by German aircraft.

July 27, 1940: HMS Wren a W class destroyer sunk by aircraft off the east coast of Aldeburgh. A class destroyer HMS Codrington lost by German aircraft in Dover.

July 29, 1940 D class destroyer HMS Diamond lost by German aircraft. Could be wrong as this is also listed as lost outside Greece in '41.

August 24, 1940: Destroyer HMS Acheron damaged in a bombing attack on Portsmouth.

December 15, 1940: HMS Cameron sunk (in dock...?) by aircraft Portsmouth.
In the Seelöwe orders the Luftwaffe was to concentrate on enemy naval vessels and installations on S-8 to S-1 – the day before the invasion. Then target priority should be changed to communications – roads, railway junctions, bridges leading to the invasion area and army assembly locations.

[Doveton]

Hallo,

Torpedotrefferchancen der RN, na da sind wir schnell fertig. Campbell (Naval Weapons of World War Two) gibt an dass laut offizieller Statistik die RN im ganzen Krieg 7770 Torpedos verfeuerte. Davon 606 durch Destroyer, Ergebnis 86 "certain hits" plus 12 "probable hits", macht zusammen 16,2% Trefferquote.

Ich schliesse mich Urs an, ohne eine detaillierte Aufstellung nützen diese Zahlen wenig. (zu beachten: die Japener konnte weniger, als die Halfte erreichen!). Die wenigen Schlachten, die ich mir gestern ansehen konnte, haben ca. 7% Treffer erreicht, und Punta Stilo war auch noch nicht dabei.

@Andreas:

Vernichten? Keine Ahnung. Schwer anschlagen und zum Umdrehen zwingen? Durchaus moeglich.

Schön, dass zumindest etwas Konjuktiv in den Satz gekommen ist. Ist wesentlich besser, als die allgemeine unumstössliche GEwissheit, die RN hätte alles ohne White Ensign versenken können. Und wir sprechen hier immernoch nur über EINEN der 5-6 Landungsflotten, die auf See wären!
(BTW: bei der BB-Flotte handelt es sich um Leyte  )

Also eine Ansicht das es zu diesem Zeitpunkt kein Radar gab auf den kleinen Einheiten ist schlicht falsch, aber nicht durchgehend schon richtig. Die Frage ist demnach aber auch wie gut Type 286 gewesen waere?

Die Aussage war, dass im Mittelmeer die Schiffe meistens bis durchgehend mit Radar ausgerüstet waren. Im Herbst 1940 waren sie weder meistens bis durchgehend mit Radar ausgerüstet, somit war meine Aussage durchaus zutreffend. 

@Doveton:
Thank you for your opinion!
UK Army: yes, maybe I overshot a bit with the assesment and the choice of words, but, as you also point out, the Army was very far from being an army to stand against the Wehrmacht. Unfortunately, you are to date the only British guy to accept it in regards to Seelöwe. To date I have only read about how easyly the Army could throw back the landing into the sea... That was definitly not the case!

Anti-invasion-fleet: here you make the usual mistake, counting nearly everything floats as capebel of being thrown against the invasion fleet or implying, all these ships would be available in the first wave. Neither are correct. Of these 60-something ships, how many where there in Sheerness and Harwich (i.e. the ports, from which a short-notice sortie is possible), and how many in Hull, on convoy-duty, or down in Plymouth?
Yes, the RN could possibly get 60-something destroyers and cruisers together - but not on the first night/day! As soon as these destroyers are commited piecemeal - and either they would, or the whole sortie would be postponed for a couple of days - there is a chance, that the smaller DKM with the Luftwaffe could defeat the given squadrons.
If I have to make an assesment, I would say, the RN could indeed inflict serious losses at night, WHEN and IF they know, where the invasion fleet is. I am however not convinced, that they could find it on the first night. In daylight, they would stand no serious chance. (lets say, the Luftwaffe flies 250 sorties with divebombers and normal bombers each, that would mount to at least 6000 bombs dropped. 0,5% hits, and a fleet of 30 warships is gone...)
If the destroyers manage to find a minefield - which should be there, directly on the destroyers tracks - even the night-attack could be easily botched.

mfg
alex

Good afternoon,

I think it was von Rundstedt who expressed the opinion that the British army was unimaginative in attack, but rock solid in defence, but in late 1940 I doubt that anyone in authority in the U.K., after the events in Norway, Belgium, Holland, and France, really believed that should substantial German forces establish a foothold then the army could drive them back into the sea, which is precisely why the Admiralty went to extreme lengths to ensure that enough resources were positioned in or near the Channel to ensure that such a foothold was never achieved.

As to the number of vessels committed on the first night, please remember that the British could read tide and moon tables as well as the Germans, and knew that the number of days when these factors were suitable for a dawn landing were quite few. Consequently, the anti-invasion flotillas were held at immediate readiness at the appropropriate times. Ignore the nonsense produced by Mr. Leander about the British only having four destroyers at sea on the night of the invasion scare. Does he really believe that the RN should have had sixty or so ships patrolling the Channel every night?
In fact, the regular nightly patrols were simply the trigger; If a substantial force was detected at sea, then the alarm would have reached Plymouth and the other ports within minutes.

As to minefields, firstly, the RN had a large number of minesweepers, both regular & auxiliary, in the area, and could sweep German minefields as fast as the Germans could lay them. Indeed, given the fact of the RN patrols, I would what the life expectancy of German minelayers. Don't forget, also, that many of the RN destroyers were fitted with TSDS (two speed destroyer sweeps) which could be deployed without significant loss of speed.

Finally, the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe in daylight can only be a matter of conjecture. My view, as you are aware, is that the Luftwaffe had not performed well at Dunkirk when the situation was much more advantageous, so I remain unconvinced that they would have been more effective in the Channel.

Still, as all this is theory only, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and at least a sensible debate is to be preferred to Mr. Leander and his constant theme of how the British were cowardly incompetent half-wits. I wonder if he was scared by someone waving a Union Flag over his cot as a baby, and he has never recovered from it?!

Sorry, only joking!  

[Doveton]

Man muss dabei auch beachten das die RN im Mittelmeer unter 100%iger Luftherrschaft der Achse operierte, und trotzdem hin und wieder einen Stich machte (Tiger Konvoi z.B.). Die Luftwaffe war kein perfektes Instrument, siehe z.b. das Versagen des Luftschutzes der Dampfer Maritza und Procida gegen Force K im November 1941.

Alles Gute

Andreas

Hi, Andreas - here are some other examples:

This installment on Luftwaffe bombing results on Allied naval shipping still only includes naval vessels or civilian vessels manned by naval personnel - as far as is known. There were many times as many merchant vessels sunk and damaged. In that respect it should be considered that many of these much larger ships, often were harder to sink than, say, a destroyer. As this instalment also includes the Operation Dynamo it must be understood that the diversionary effect of all the civilian vessels present therein certainly made it easier for the RN vessels.

September 14, 1939: Polish minesweepers Jaskolka and Czapla sunk.

September 24, 1939: In German air attacks on the British forces, the screening GLASGOW was able to drive off an attack on SPEARFISH. ARK ROYAL was near missed and HOOD was struck by a glancing bomb that did not explode. LT B S. McEwen, flying aSkua of ARK ROYAL's 803 Squadron, shot down a Do.18 aircraft whose aircrew was picked up by SOMALI. Finally SHEFFIELD was bombed, but sustained no damage.

October 16, 1939: German aircraft attacked anchored ships in the Firth of Forth. Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was hit by a 1000 pounder that passed through three decks and came out of the bottom without exploding, but injuring three crew, one rating dying of wounds. Light cruiser EDINBURGH was slightly damaged by splinters from the near miss of three 500 pound bombs with eight crew wounded and Gunner G J Mitchell and one rating dying of wounds. SOUTHAMPTON's damage required only three days to repair while EDINBURGH remained in service. Destroyer MOHAWK, just arriving in the Firth from convoy duty, was bombed one and a half miles from May Island and sustained much topside damage. Commanding officer Cdr R F Jolly was fatally wounded, the ship's first officer Lt E J O'Shea and ten ratings killed and 33 crew, including her navigator, Lt A L Harper, wounded. MOHAWK berthed at Rosyth for temporary repairs and then repaired at Newcastle from 22 October to 9 December. Battlecruiser REPULSE was still at Rosyth on the 16th boiler cleaning, but German bombing restrictions forbidding bombing that endangered civilian lives were still in effect.
Three German aircraft bombed Scapa Flow, one of which was shot down by destroyer ESKIMO. Two near misses damaged old battleship IRON DUKE which took a heavy list and bomb blast damaged her electrical installations. She was towed into shallow water, settled onto the sea bed and ESKIMO provided electric power.

October 18, 1939: Base ship HMS Iron Duke beached after being bombed at Scapa Flow by JU88s.
January 1, 1940: A German air raid on Sullom Voe caused little damage to either port facilities or the ships in the harbour, which at this time were anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY as guard ship, destroyer AFRIDI to refuel, tanker WAR DIWAN (5551grt), and MANELA as a depot ship for sea planes. COVENTRY did however suffer concussion from a near miss which unseated machinery.

January 12, 1940: Armed patrol trawler VALDORA (251grt, T/Skipper A. Potterton RNR) was sunk by aircraft of German X Air Corps off Cromer with the loss of her entire crew of one officer and nine ratings.

February 3, 1940: Minesweeper SPHINX (Cdr J R N Taylor, SO 5th Minesweeping Flotilla), sweeping with minesweeper SPEEDWELL, was bombed and badly damaged at 1030 by He111's of KG26 (X Air Corps) 15 miles north of Kinnaird Head. Three ratings were killed, forty five were missing, and one died of wounds. Three crew members were rescued with serious wounds.

February 9, 1940: Minesweeping trawlers FORT ROYAL (550grt, Lt Cdr Edgar King Rtd), ROBERT BOWEN (290grt, Skipper J. Clark RNR), THOMAS ALTOFT (290grt) and OHM (302grt) were operating off Aberdeen when they were attacked and bombed by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps). FORT ROYAL was sunk with the loss of King, Temporary S/Lt R H Gill RNVR and five ratings, and ROBERT BOWEN with her entire crew  - Clark, Temporary S/Lt A S Wilson RNVR and twelve ratings.

Steamer CREE (4791grt) was bombed and damaged by aircraft of German X Air Corps, five miles east of Rattray Head. Steamer DALLINGTON COURT (6889grt) stood by and was joined by destroyer GRIFFIN as destroyer ACHATES headed for them to assist. Tug STALWART was sent to take the damaged ship in tow. During this time, GRIFFIN was herself machine-gunned by aircraft of German X Air Corps three miles 137° from Buchanness, and two crew wounded.

February 27, 1940: British trawler BEN ATTOW (156grt) was reportedly sunk on a mine seven miles east, one half mile south of May Island. Seekrieg lists her as bombed and sunk by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps). As He111's were carrying torpedoes during anti-shipping missions, a torpedo hit might have been mistaken for a mine explosion.  Even if this was a civilian vessel I am including it because of the interesting information in the final part – torpedo-carrying He 111.

March 16, 1940: Destroyer KASHMIR, escorting convoy ON.20, reported the approach of a German air raid on Scapa Flow. In this air raid, heavy cruiser NORFOLK at anchor in Scapa Flow was damaged at 1959. The bomb striking NORFOLK struck the quarter deck near Y turret. The bomb passed through the upper, main, lower decks and exploded near Y shell room. This blew a hole in the starboard side below the water line. A fire was started and X and Y magazines were flooded. In the same air attack, old battleship IRON DUKE was near missed by three bombs. Two bombs exploded astern of battleship RODNEY causing no damage. Most of the Home Fleet was at Scapa Flow at this time and this prompted the Admiralty to order Forbes to take his fleet to sea during the next moonlight period between 19 and 26 March.

March 28, 1940: German air attacked convoy FN.31 at 1950/29th in 54-25N, 00-23W. Sloop FLAMINGO was struck by machine gun fire but sustained no casualties or damage.

April 8, 1940: Tribal class destroyer HMS Gurkha damaged in an air attack, later foundered.

April 9, 1940: Later on the 9th, Norwegian destroyer AEGER was sunk by German Ju.87 aircraft already based at Sola. Seven crew were killed and one more was fatally wounded. One crewman was severely wounded.

April 11, 1940: During German bombing from 1540 to 1700, destroyer ECLIPSE of Forbes' Main Force was bombed and badly damaged at 1700 with a hit in the engine room northwest of Trondheim in 64‑48N, 07‑52E.

April 12, 1940: Norwegian torpedo boat STORM was run aground a total loss after German air attack south of Bergen at Bomlo.

April 17, 1940: Heavy cruiser Suffolk badly damaged (by aircrafts) after shelling Sola airfield.

April 19, 1940: French cruiser Emile Bertin withdrawn after receiving a hit from a German bomb.

April 30, 1940: Sloop Bittern sunk by German aircrafts off Namsos, Norway.

May 1, 1940: Late on the 1st, destroyer MAORI reached Kya Light off Namsenfjord and Vice Admiral J. Cunningham sent destroyers KELLY, GRENADE, GRIFFIN, French BISON to join her. As the destroyers went up Namsenfjord in dense fog early on the 2nd, destroyer MAORI was damaged by near misses of air bombs and sustained twenty three casualties (five dying of wounds). Cdr G. N. Brewer, Lt Cdr (E) T. T. Brandreth and Acting Gunner (T) S. C. White were among the wounded. Destroyer MAORI withdrew with her casualties.

May 2/3, 1940: The Tribal class destroyer HMS Afridi, and the French super destroyer Bison lost in air attacks. Afridi lost off Namsos. Destroyer AFRIDI stayed behind to pick up a late arriving detachment when the other ships left for the relative safety of the open sea. The evacuation was completed at 0445/3rd. Destroyer AFRIDI caught up with the allied force as the Germans launched heavy air attacks on the force. Air attacks concentrated on heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE and light cruiser MONTCALM. French destroyer BISON was hit by a German bomb which exploded her fore magazine and blew off the fore part of the ship at 1010 in these attacks in 65‑42N, 07‑17E. Her survivors were taken off by destroyer GRENADE which went alongside and destroyers IMPERIAL and AFRIDI which picked up men from the water. AFRIDI had rescued sixty nine BISON survivors. Destroyer AFRIDI scuttled destroyer BISON. Destroyer AFRIDI rejoined the Main Force after picking up BISON's survivors, but then was hit herself at 1400 in further German bombing in 66‑14N, 5‑45E. Destroyer AFRIDI foundered forty six minutes after being hit.

May 3, 1940: Early on the 3rd, British trawlers ST GORAN (565grt) of the 15th Anti-submarine Striking Force and ASTON VILLA (546grt) and GAUL (550grt) of the 16th Anti-submarine Striking Force, which had been badly damaged by German bombing near Namsos on 30 April, were scuttled before the allied ships left.

May 4, 1940: Polish destroyer Grom lost to German aircrafts. Polish destroyer GROM and destroyer FAULKNOR were on patrol off Narvik bombarding German positions when GROM was struck at 0828 on her torpedo tubes by a German bomb. Destroyer GROM (Cdr A. Hulewicz ORP) was sunk in the explosion and her survivors were picked up by light cruiser ENTERPRISE.

May 6, 1940: Light cruiser ENTERPRISE was near missed by German bombing at Narvik. The ship sustained splinter damage. Cdr M. F. L. Henstock was wounded.

May 7, 1940: Near Narvik in 68-30N, 14-15E, light cruiser AURORA was damaged at 1641 by a German bomb which landed forward of B-turret. A and B turrets were put out of action, but AURORA, required for operations around Narvik, was not withdrawn from the area for repairs until 25 May when she was relieved by light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON. Four Marines were killed and four Marines were wounded by the bomb. Light cruiser AURORA arrived at Portsmouth on the 29th and was under repair until 28 June. Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA was damaged by splinters from near misses in the same attack. Destroyer FAULKNOR was near missed but not damaged.

May 10, 1940: In a German air raid on Skelfjord, light cruiser PENELOPE was damaged by splinters from near misses and destroyer VANSITTART was hit by a small bomb putting her after guns out of action. The light cruiser had Paymaster Cdr W. A. Sharp and four ratings killed in the attack. Destroyer VANSITTART lost S/Lt C. C. Butt and Midshipman A. B. Meria RNR and Lt Cdr W. Evershed and S/Lt D. C. S. Currey were wounded. At 2237/10th, light cruiser PENELOPE departed Skelfjord towed by tug BANDIT (840grt).
In numerous air attacks at Ijmuiden, destroyer WHITSHED was damaged by near misses and set afire. Four ratings were killed and one officer and seven ratings were wounded. She departed Ijmuiden that night for Dover, arriving at 0530/11th. Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN, returning from the East Indies, had arrived in the Downs on the 5th from Lisbon. She continued on the 6th for Rotterdam arriving on the 8th for a refit at Den Helder. The Dutch destroyer was sunk by German bombing as she arrived to bombard the airfield.

May 11, 1940: Destroyers HYPERION and HAVOCK of the BIRMINGHAM force from Harwich and WILD SWAN and WIVERN from Dover were ordered on the 11th to Rotterdam to assist in resisting the Germans and neutralizing the airfield at Waalhaven. However,they were redeployed off Hook of Holland in view of VAN GALEN's fate and German air supremacy in the area.

May 12, 1940: At Mo on the 12th, destroyer HESPERUS, escorting store ship MARGOT (4545grt), was damaged by two near misses of air bombs.

May 13, 1940: Destroyer VERSATILE, while alongside the pier, was damaged by one bomb hit at 2140 from German bombing off Hook of Holland. In low level bombing attacks, troopship CHROBRY was hit by two or three bombs at 2350/14th in 67‑40N, 13‑50E in Vestfjord and was badly damaged. The troopship was set afire by the bombing and abandoned.

May 14, 1940: French torpedo boat L'INCOMPRISE was bombed and damaged while supporting the defense of Bergen op Zoom, Holland. Destroyer VESPER was damaged by near misses of German air bombing. Destroyer VESPER was repaired at Dover, completing repairs on 3 June. Destroyer MALCOLM sustained some damage from near misses of German bombs. Destroyer WIVERN was damaged by the near miss of two air bombs with Midshipman K. T. Briggs RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt R. S. Brown RNVR, twenty five ratings killed and thirty two wounded, including Lt S. E. Pritchard.

May 15, 1940: Destroyer SOMALI and French destroyer FOUDROYANT, returning from Mo, received the report of troopship CHROBRY's bombing and heavy damage. En route to assist at 0243, these destroyers were heavily bombed by German Ju.87 bombers and SOMALI was badly damaged by a near miss. Destroyer SOMALI had fore compartments flooded. Destroyer WINCHESTER, en route from Flushing, was near missed by German bombing early on the 15th off Hook of Holland and was badly damaged. Destroyer VALENTINE (Cdr H.J. Buchanan RAN), at the mouth of the River Scheldt within a mile of Terneusen, was bombed and badly damaged by German Ju.88 bomber. Struck by two bombs, destroyer VALENTINE's boiler blew up and she was run aground and abandoned a total loss. Minesweeper HUSSAR off Orfordness was struck by a glancing German bomb. The bomb itself did little damage, but it set off a depth charge on the minesweeper. Temporary Lt F. F. Wheeler RNR, two ratings were killed in the minesweeper.

May 16, 1940: Battleship RESOLUTION, anchored at Tjeldsundet, was struck at 1130 by a German bomb that pierced the starboard side of the quarterdeck and dove three decks before exploding in the Marines' messdeck. One ratings was killed and a second rating died of wounds the next day. Twenty two Marines and four naval ratings were wounded. A further rating was wounded in destroyer VANSITTART in the bombing. Sloop FLEETWOOD was bombed in the same attack as battleship RESOLUTION near Narvik. Splinters from a near miss mortally wounded Lt Cdr H.T. R. Bonham, which died on 8 June.
Destroyer MOHAWK required docking at Gibraltar for several days to make good damage sustained by German bombing in the North Sea.

May 17, 1940: The French 11th Destroyer Division on patrol off Dunkirk was attacked by German bombers. Torpedo boats (really light destroyers)  CORDELIERE (Capitaine de Fregate H.A. J. Robinet de Plas) and MELPOMENE (Capitaine de Corvette P. A. M. Bonny) were badly damaged.

May 19, 1940: Destroyer WHITLEY (Lt Cdr G.N. Rolfe), under French orders in port blocking and refugee lifting operations, was bombed at 0526 and badly damaged by German bombing two miles 006° east of Nieuport. After three near misses, destroyer WHITLEY with both engine rooms flooded and her back broken was run aground to prevent sinking. Four engine room ratings were killed on destroyer WHITLEY. French auxiliary minesweeper AUGUSTIN NORMAND (175grt) was sunk by German bombing near Qunette de Rochemont Lock at Le Havre.

May 20, 1940: At 1900, destroyer MALCOLM off the North Goodwins was attacked by German bombing and damaged by three near misses. Two ratings were killed and nineteen crew, including Lt Cdr E. P.F. Atkinson and Gunner D. E. Wright, were wounded on the Destroyer. Warrant Engineer G.F. Walters died of wounds on the 24th. A rating also died of wounds. Trawler RIFSNESS was sunk by German bombing. Trawler LORD INCHCAPE picked up her crew and returned to Dover. Lt L.L. Thornton RNR, one ratings were lost on RIFSNESS. One rating, reported lost, was taken as prisoner of war. Temporary Skipper C. G.Coombe and Probationary Temporary Lt E. G.Lock RNVR, were wounded in the RIFSNESS. Anti-submarine trawlers LADY PHILOMENA (417grt) and KINGSTON OLIVINE (378grt), while on anti-submarine patrol, were attacked by German bombing. On 21 May, it was determined near misses had made the trawlers unseaworthy and docking was required.

May 21, 1940: Destroyer KEITH was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb at Dunkirk. French destroyer L'ADROIT (Capitaine de Corvette H.M. A. Dupin de Saint-Cyr), waiting to escort this convoy, was bombed and beached in a sinking condition at Malo les Bains before ever joining the convoy. French submarine chaser CH.9, also waiting to escort the convoy, was bombed and badly damaged off Dunkirk. She was run aground a total loss to prevent sinking and abandoned. French auxiliary minesweepers SAINT BERNOIT (315grt), NOTRE DAME DE LORETTE (339grt), RIEN SANS PEINE (142grt), JACQUES COEUR (285grt), SAINT JOACHIM (192grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
Anti-submarine trawlers CAPE PASSARO (510grt, Lt Cdr M. B. Sherwood Rtd of the 15th AntiSubmarine Striking Force and MELBOURNE (466grt, Lt Cdr A. J. C. Pomeroy RNVR) of the 23rd AntiSubmarine Group were sunk by German bombing near Narvik. Four ratings were killed on the trawler CAPE PASSARO.

May 22, 1940: Destroyer WILD SWAN was near missed by a German bomb at Boulogne and suffered casualties.

May 23, 1940: Destroyers FAME and FIREDRAKE were damaged by German bombing near Narvik. French large destroyer MILAN was damaged by the near miss of two German bombs near Narvik. MILAN was forced to return to the Clyde, arriving on the 27th at 0625. She departed the Clyde that day with Contre Amiral Derrien aboard and arrived at Brest for repair and refitting on the 29th.
The evacuation of Boulogne, Operation BUNGALOW, began with Destroyers KEITH and VIMY entering harbour. A bomb exploded on the quay next to KEITH which was medium damaged and Captain Simson was killed by machine gun fire. After embarking one hundred and eighty troops, KEITH had to back out of the harbour stern first with a fire aft. In addition to Captain Simson, seven ratings were killed and twenty eight men were wounded, including Lt Cdr R. S. Miller RNR. Destroyer VIMY, while embarking troops, sustained medium damage and her commanding officer Lt Cdr C. G W. Donald was mortally wounded. The destroyer was able to embark one hundred and fifty troops. In addition to her commanding officer, Temporary S/Lt D. R. Webster RNVR was killed and several men were slightly wounded. Backing out of the harbour, destroyer KEITH was struck by a mortar shell on her forecastle. Destroyers WHITSHED and VIMIERA while standing off the harbour were attacked by German bombers. Destroyer WHITSHED sustained light damage from the near miss of an air bomb. Gunner (T) W. J. Wilson was killed and S/Lt P. L.K Needham and ten ratings were wounded on destroyer WHITSHED.
French destroyer ORAGE (Capitaine de corvette R. V. M. Viennot de Vanblanc) was bombed and set afire four miles west of Boulogne and destroyer FRONDEUR (Capitaine de corvette H.L. Alix) was badly damaged by German bombing off Boulogne. Twenty eight crew were lost in the destroyer. Destroyer ORAGE was later scuttled.
VENETIA was seriously damaged with a hit on her B-gun platform. Killed were S/Lt M. E. L.Maunsell and twenty ratings. The commanding officer Lt Cdr B. H.de C. Mellor, Lt R. J. R. Wratislaw, eleven ratings were wounded. VENETIA ran aground and was brought out of the harbour stern first, under the command of S/Lt D. H.Jones RNR. Destroyers VIMIERA and WESSEX were the only two undamaged destroyers of the Dover Command.
French large destroyer CHACAL (Capitaine de fregate J. E. N. Estienne), after delivering the demolition party to Calais, arrived off Boulogne and was sunk off Cape d' Alprecht by German bombing. French destroyer FOUGUEUX (Capitaine de fregate E. E. Y. Poher) was badly damaged by bombing in the same attack. French submarine chasers CH.5 and CH.42 rescued the twenty one survivors of CHACAL. The surviving destroyers of the French 2nd Destroyer Flotilla were ordered withdrawn from Boulogne to Cherbourg.

May 24, 1940: Off Calais, destroyer WESSEX (Lt Cdr W. A. R. Cartwright), which departed Dover at 0700, was sunk by German bombing when she was struck by three bombs between the funnels. Five ratings were killed, one died of wounds, fifteen were wounded. The survivors were rescued by destroyer VIMIERA. Minesweeping trawler JOHN CATTLING (276grt) picked up one officer and five ratings from a Carley float.
Polish destroyer BURZA was damaged by two bombs exploding in the water very near her bows. The concussion also damaged her superstructure and she could only steam three to four knots stern first. One rating was killed in the destroyer.  Destroyer VIMIERA was bombed and damaged off Calais.
French auxiliary minesweepers LA MATELOT (260grt) was sunk by German bombing and ETOILE DE NORD (317grt) was sunk in mining at Dunkirk.

May 25, 1940: Mobile Naval Base Ship MASHOBRA (Temporary Lt Cdr P. Taylor RNR) was bombed and badly damaged in German bombing near Harstad, and run aground to prevent her from sinking. No men killed, but several, including Temporary Paymaster Lt W H Reed RNR were wounded.
Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was near missed by German bombing at Harstad, but only sustained splinter damage. At 1032, destroyer GREYHOUND was ordered to patrol between Dover and Calais and await orders. GREYHOUND and sister-ship GRAFTON suffered damage to their directors from near misses of air bombs. Later, GREYHOUND bombarded the Calais suburb of St Pierre, but a German three inch battery east of Sangetti hit her once. Temporary Lt Sir M C H F J Blennerhassett Bt RNVR and one rating were killed, and three crew, including Lt Cdr H E F Tweedie, were wounded. Lt J P Pigot-Moodie died of wounds on 4 August. Both destroyers arrived back at Dover before midnight.
Destroyer VEGA was also attacked by German bombers and damaged by near misses. She was taken to Dover and repaired completing on 3 June. Minesweeping HARRIER, minesweeping off Zeebrugge, was attacked by German bombers. One hit and five near misses badly damaged the minesweeper. The hit entered through the upper deck and passed out through the port side.
French auxiliary minesweepers LA JEANNINE and LA TROMBE II  were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 26, 1940: Anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW (Captain B. C. B. Brooke), en route to Skaanland, was badly damaged by German bombing on the 26th in Ofotfjord and run aground a total loss. Paymaster Cdr William Yates, Paymaster S/Lt D. H.Jackson, Temporary Paymaster S/Lt A. M. L.Merry RNVR, Acting S/Lt H.N. Hinge RNVR, five ratings were killed on the cruiser. The survivors from CURLEW were ferried to destroyer BEAGLE which took them to Harstad. Boom defense vessel LOCH SHIN (255grt, Temporary Boom Skipper H.Sizer RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad. She was beached to prevent sinking, but capsized and sank. Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was again splinter damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Harstad.
Destroyer IVANHOE was damaged alongside an oiler at the Humber. The damage did not prevent the destroyer from continuing her duties. Minesweeping trawler MARETTA (350grt) was damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Calais. The minesweeper was towed by Dover by minesweeping trawler KINGSTON GALENA. Returning to Dover, destroyer WILD SWAN was damaged by a bombing near miss which damaged her screws. She proceeded to Tilbury for repairs from 29 May to 4 June.
Minesweepers SKIPJACK and HALCYON arrived at Dover during the afternoon. These were the only operational units of the 6th Mine Sweeping Flotilla. Minesweepers HUSSAR and HARRIER were bomb damaged and minesweeper SPEEDWELL was out of service due to defects. French auxiliary minesweeper DIJONNAIS (389grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 27, 1940: Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO was hit by two bombs at 0620/28th and was badly damaged with nine ratings killed and S/Lt B. H.Moss RNVR, Gunner J. L.Thundercliffe, six ratings wounded. One of the ratings died of wounds. One bomb struck abaft B.position, penetrated the deck, exploded among the supply party. The second bomb hit the starboard. 5" anti-aircraft gun mounting. Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was near missed by German bombing and had two ratings killed by bomb splinters. CaptainF. H.W. Jeans, CVO, was wounded. Damage to light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON required ten days to repair by local facilities. Anti aircraft cruiser COVENTRY was near missed and sustained one rating killed by bomb splinters. Destroyers HAVELOCK, WALKER, WHIRLWIND all sustained minor damage from near misses of air bombs. Destroyer WALKER's damage required ten days to repair once she returned to England.
After embarking troops at Dunkirk, armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE (1688grt) was damaged by German bombing west of Dunkirk, between Gravelines and Les Hemmes. Armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE was towed by tugs LADY BRASSEY and SIMLA and escorted by destroyer WINDSOR to Dover. French auxiliary minesweeper LA MAJO (47grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 28, 1940: Destroyer WINDSOR, which had been ordered to Dunkirk from Goodwins patrol, was near missed by German bombing at South Goodwin Light. The destroyer had one boiler room damaged and there were twenty to thirty casualties on the destroyer. Destroyers ANTHONY, CODRINGTON, JAVELIN, were damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk. French auxiliary minesweeper MARGUERITE ROSE (409grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 29, 1940: Sloop BIDEFORD went over to Dunkirk where she was struck by a German bomb on her quarter deck and had forty feet of her stern blown off. Lt P. A. Stewart, S/Lt A. B. Wood, S/Lt S. E. Edmundson RNR,and thirteen ratings were lost on the sloop; two officers and eighteen ratings were wounded. Of the passengers, Probationary Temporary S/Lt R. O. Wilcoxon RNVR, another officer and ten ratings were killed and two officers wounded. Sloop BIDEFORD was beached to prevent sinking. At 1129 destroyer GALLANT was near missed and damaged. Destroyer GALLANT departed Dover at 1620/31st for repairs in the Humber, but was able to return to duty in one week. Destroyer MISTRAL was bombed and badly damaged along the east mole and did not embark troops. Her commanding officer Capitaine de Corvette Lavene was fatally wounded and Lieutenant de Vaisseau J. D. J. Guillanton assumed command. Along the east mole, destroyer GRENADE was sunk at 1602 by German bombing. Fourteen ratings were killed and four more dying of wounds. Destroyer JAGUAR, alongside GRENADE outboard, was badly damaged at 1600 by German bombing. Destroyer JAGUAR was hit by one bomb. One boiler room out of action, her hull was holed, there was damage to oil tanks and her engine room. Thirteen ratings were killed and nineteen crew, including LtF. Bruen, were wounded. The troops on destroyer JAGUAR were transferred to other ships. Destroyer EXPRESS towed JAGUAR out into the channel. Destroyer JAGUAR departed Dover at 1620/31st in company of destroyer GALLANT and was repaired at Immingham in sixteen days. Destroyer INTREPID was badly damaged at 1830 by German bombing off La Panne with two ratings killed and nineteen wounded. One engine room was out of action and one was damaged. The destroyer returned under her own power. Destroyer INTREPID was repaired at Middlesborough completing in two weeks. Destroyer GREYHOUND was badly damaged at 1628 by a near miss off La Panne. Probationary Midshipman W. S. Underwood RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt M. H.Matthews RNVR, eighteen ratings were lost on the destroyer. Destroyers SALADIN, MALCOLM, WOLFHOUND were all moderately damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk. All three were returned to service after minor repairs at Chatham. Destroyer SALADIN was damaged by a near miss and was under repair for eleven days and was completed on 9 June. Destroyer WOLFHOUND was under repair for this damage and her propeller damage for ten days. Destroyer ICARUS was damaged by near misses and sustained one rating killed and twenty five men wounded.
The British Admiralty ordered all the H, I, J class destroyers (destroyers HARVESTER, HAVANT, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID, IVANHOE, JAVELIN) out of DYNAMO due to severe losses. All the G-class destroyers were already out of the operation due to loss or damage. This left only fifteen old destroyers, ESK, EXPRESS, ANTHONY, KEITH, CODRINGTON, MALCOLM, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, WORCESTER, WINDSOR, VERITY, VANQUISHER, SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI to continue DYNAMO.
Auxiliary minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS (393grt, Temporary Lt N. Larkin RNR) of the 10th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk, three miles west of Middelkerk Buoy. S/Lt A. J. Glover RNVR, was lost in the minesweeper. Temporary Lt N. Larkin RNR, Tempary Lt (E) R. W. Daish RNR, were wounded. Minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS's survivors were picked up by minesweeper PANGBOURNE after an unsuccessful attempt to tow her out of the area. Minesweeper PANGBOURNE was damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk. Probationary Temporary S/Lt I.F. Buckley RNVR, Lt G.MacClelland were wounded. Auxiliary minesweeper WAVERLEY (537grt, Lt S.F. Harmer-Elliot RNVR) of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk at 1800 by German bombing at Dunkirk. Some three hundred and sixty crew and passengers were lost in the minesweeper. Auxiliary anti-aircraft ship CRESTED EAGLE (1110grt, Temporary Lt Cdr B. R. Booth (probationary) RNR) was sunk by German bombing at 1850 at Dunkirk.
Anti-aircraft ship CRESTED EAGLE's survivors were rescued by minesweeper PANGBOURNE. Temporary Probationary Lt C. S. Elliott RNR, Temporary Lt (E) E. Jones RNR, Temporary S/Lt (E) A. W. Turnbull RNR, were wounded. Minesweeping trawler POLLY JOHNSON (290grt, Skipper Lt F. Padley RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk and later scuttled. Acting Skipper J. M. Greengrass RNR, was lost in the trawler. Minesweeping trawler CALVI (363grt, Temporary Skipper B. D. Spindler RNR) of Minesweeping Group 51 was sunk by German bombing in Dunkirk Harbour. French steamers MONIQUE SCHIAFFFINO (3236grt) and MARS (721grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk. French steamer SAINT OCTAVE (5099grt) was scuttled at Dunkirk, but was later salved by German forces and renamed ILSE FRITZEN for German service. French auxiliary minesweeper JOSEPH MARIE (41grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk. Belgian tugs VULCAIN (200grt), MAX (177grt) and THAMES (144grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

May 30, 1940: Destroyer BEAGLE was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb near Narvik. The destroyer spent no time of out action. At 1530, destroyers HARVESTER and HAVANT of the 9th Destroyer Flotilla and IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE, ICARUS, INTREPID of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla were ordered back into DYNAMO after having been withdrawn the day before to prevent their losses. Destroyers ANTHONY and SABRE were damaged at 1800 by German bombing at Dunkirk. Destroyer ANTHONY had damage to her engine room machinery. Destroyer ANTHONY departed Dover at 1850 on 1 June with destroyer WOLSEY and was repaired at Portsmouth in two weeks. Destroyer SABRE had no casualties, except Acting Gunner A.F. Coombe wounded by splinters, her damage was limited to her gyrocompass. She spent no time out of action. Minesweeper KELLET was damaged by the near miss of German bombing at Dunkirk. Minesweeper KELLET was leaking slightly. She was taken to Sheerness for repairs, then on 19 June was moved to Grimsby to complete the repairs. Minesweeper KELLET returned to service on 28 June. Armed boarding vessel KING ORRY (1877grt, Cdr J. Elliot, RD RNR) was damaged by German bombing near misses. The ship cleared the harbour and foundered at 0300 one half mile north of Dunkirk.

May 31, 1940: Destroyer EXPRESS was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb at Dunkirk. Destroyer EXPRESS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth and was repaired in one week. Destroyers ICARUS, KEITH, WINCHELSEA were damaged at Dunkirk by German bombing attack. Destroyer ICARUS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June with destroyers VIVACIOUS, EXPRESS, ESK, WINDSOR, WINCHELSEA, WHITSHED for Portsmouth. Destroyer ICARUS was repaired at Portsmouth completing on 13 June. Destroyer WINCHELSEA was returned to service after repairs at Dover. Destroyer WINCHELSEA departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth. Destroyer KEITH was able to continue off Dunkirk and was lost the next day. French large destroyer LEOPARD was damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk.
Between 0000 and 0200, French destroyer SIROCCO was torpedoed and badly damaged by German schnellboote S.23 and S.26 near West Hinder, in 51-18N, 2-15E. Attempting to effect emergency repairs, destroyer SIROCCO was sunk by German bombing. Destroyer SIROCCO had been credited with sinking three German submarines in the war. She went down with the colours of the 92nd French Infantry Regiment which its Colonel had smuggled out of the outskirts of Lille where the unit was encircled by German troops. Destroyer SIROCCO had on board 180 crew and 700 French troops. Fifty nine crew and over six hundred troops were lost.
Auxiliary minesweeper DEVONIA (622grt, Temporary Lt J. Brotchie RNVR) of the 7th Minesweeping Flotilla was beached and abandoned after damage from German bombing near La Panne at Dunkirk.

June 1, 1940: B class destroyer HMS Basilisk sunk by aircraft off the coast of Dunkirk. B class destroyer HMS Keith lost to German dive bombers.
H class destroyer HMS Havant attacked and heavily damaged by aircraft off Dunkirk. Later sunk by minesweeper HMS Saltash. Locust class river gunboat HMS Mosquito lost to aircraft off Dunkirk. Halcyon class minesweeper HMS Skipjack lost to aircraft off Dunkirk.

June 19, 1940: W class destroyer Whitely attacked by German aircraft and beached near Nieuport.

July 12, 1940 : Cruiser HMS Gloucester damaged in an air attack.

July 20, 1940: B class destroyer HMS Brazen lost by German aircraft.

July 27, 1940: HMS Wren a W class destroyer sunk by aircraft off the east coast of Aldeburgh. A class destroyer HMS Codrington lost by German aircraft in Dover.

July 29, 1940 D class destroyer HMS Diamond lost by German aircraft. Could be wrong as this is also listed as lost outside Greece in '41.

August 24, 1940: Destroyer HMS Acheron damaged in a bombing attack on Portsmouth.

December 15, 1940: HMS Cameron sunk (in dock...?) by aircraft Portsmouth.
In the Seelöwe orders the Luftwaffe was to concentrate on enemy naval vessels and installations on S-8 to S-1 – the day before the invasion. Then target priority should be changed to communications – roads, railway junctions, bridges leading to the invasion area and army assembly locations.

Sorry, but I stopped reading after the comment that merchant ships were harder to sink than destroyers! Oh Dear!!!!

[Doveton]

Hallo, Andreas,

Ich erinnere mich nicht je behauptet zu haben das die RN alles versenken wuerde. Muessen sie ja auch nicht. Haben sie bei Kreta auch nicht getan und es gab trotzdem keine amphibische Landung.

1, allgemeiner Grundtenor ist, dass die Landungsflotten (keines der 6-7) nicht die Nordküste des Kanals hätte erreichen können. Eine annehmbare Begründung habe ich bisher noch nicht gelesen, nur dass 20-30 Zerstörer genügend wären, dies zu bewerkstelligen. Wie sie es gemacht hätten, tja, darauf hab ich nie eine Antwort bekommen. (bis auf 2pdr-Geschichten)

2, Du meinst, ausser den Italiener gab es keine amphibische Landung auf Kreta? 

The Italian landing took place after the British had taken the decision to abandon the island, and Cunningham had diverted his ships from intervention to evacuation. Until the land battle had been decided, the RN had ensured that no reinforcements reached Crete by sea, but I accept your point, and I should have been more precise when I made my original comment.



mfg

alex

[Matrose71]

Finally, the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe in daylight can only be a matter of conjecture. My view, as you are aware, is that the Luftwaffe had not performed well at Dunkirk when the situation was much more advantageous, so I remain unconvinced that they would have been more effective in the Channel.

Then you should explain why the exact same LW was very effective from begin January 1941 against the RN and the RAF at Malta and later Greek and Crete!?
The whole RN at the Mediterranean had no chance against the LW from january till june (begin Operation Barbarossa).
No convoy's to Malta, landing of the african corps from februar till mai at Tunis, lost of Greeke, lost of Crete. Not very impressive or impressive, from which side you want to see it.

And you will state the same LW is ineffective 3 month before?

[Doveton]

Finally, the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe in daylight can only be a matter of conjecture. My view, as you are aware, is that the Luftwaffe had not performed well at Dunkirk when the situation was much more advantageous, so I remain unconvinced that they would have been more effective in the Channel.

Then you should explain why the exat same LW was very effective from begin January 1941 against the RN and the RAF at Malta and later Greek and Crete!?
The whole RN at the Mediterranean had no chance against the LW from january till june (begin Operation Barbarossa).
No convoy's to Malta, landing of the african corps from februar till mai at Tunis, lost of Greeke, lost of Crete. Not very impressive or impressive, from which side you want to see it.

And you will state the same LW is ineffective 3 month before?

I didn't say that the Luftwaffe was ineffective, I said that, given the way it had performed at Dunkirk, I was unconvinced that their performance over the Channel would have been as devastating as has been suggested. Please remember that an ace Ju87 pilot (Oskar Dinort) and Wolfram von Richthofen, commander of Fleigerkorps VIII, both said that the Luftwaffe was not adequately trained in anti-shipping (and especially anti-warship) operations, and von Richthofen went further, informing Jeschonnek that he did not believe that he could protect the invasion convoys from the Royal Navy.

I agree that the Luftwaffe were much more effective in the Med., but this was after several months of training.

The fact is that, of course, we will never know, but my own view is that the RN in the Channel in force in September 1940 would not have been the push over that has often been suggested. Obviously, other people will have different opinions, which is why sites like this exist!

[mhorgran]

Stefan, bitte aufpassen, Nachtgefecht 1940.

Meinst du tatsächlich das Aussagen aus dem Kontext reißen etwas mit sachlicher, Faktenbasierter, Diskussion zu tun hat?

Aber wie schon gesagt, außer Voreingenommenheit und inzwischen ausgesprochener Arroganz kommt ja an Fakten von dir nicht wirklich viel.

Und das wird in nächster Zeit das letzte sein was ich dir mitzuteilen habe.

@Dirk

Und die Luftwaffe hätte bei Seelöwe gegen eine überlegene RAF kämpfen müssen.

Wahlloses Vermischen von verschiedensten Szenarios und dann für die eigene Sichtweise das passende herausziehen ist ziemlich schräg.

Die Operation Seelöwe war an bestimmte Bedingungen gebunden, sie wurden nicht erreicht - ergo keine Operation Seelöwe.
Gegenschluß:
Wann wäre die Op.Seelöwe durchgeführt worden? - Wenn diese Bedingungen erfüllt worden wären. Was heißt? Das Fighter Command ist ziemlich am Ende. Muß ich jetzt tatsächlich ausführen was das für den Luftkrieg über dem Kanal und der SO-Ecke GB heißt?

[Götz von Berlichingen]

The largest invasion force, Transport Force 'D'  consisted of 165 Barge Trains. After forming up outside the port, this force (according to Captain Lindenau, the force commander) would require four hours of daylight, plus the whole of the following night, in order to reach the allocated landing beaches by dawn. Thus, the RN would not need to be informed about when the invasion fleet sailed; observers would clearly see it coming!

As to the number of vessels committed on the first night, please remember that the British could read tide and moon tables as well as the Germans, and knew that the number of days when these factors were suitable for a dawn landing were quite few. Consequently, the anti-invasion flotillas were held at immediate readiness at the appropropriate times.

I fully agree with you.

As to the question whether the British would have been alerted in time, I'd like to remid of the well-known remark of Sir Alexander Cadogan (Permanent Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office):
»Intelligence is the missing dimension of most diplomatic history.«

And unfortunately British intelligence always was classes better and more reliable than German intelligence.

Especially when the fact is considered that in all the ports from Rotterdam to Cherbourg there were thousands of workers and other civilians, who were not very in favour of the German war efforts, to say the least, and the ultimate preparations for sailing of the invasion fleet of course never could been hidden from their views.

To summarize, I fully agree with Doveton's arguments and think it was a wise decision from the German High Command not to start this hazardous adventure. It obviously would have become a complete disaster for the Wehrmacht.

[Leandros]

Then you should explain why the exact same LW was very effective from begin January 1941 against the RN and the RAF at Malta and later Greek and Crete!?
The whole RN at the Mediterranean had no chance against the LW from january till june (begin Operation Barbarossa).
No convoy's to Malta, landing of the african corps from februar till mai at Tunis, lost of Greeke, lost of Crete. Not very impressive or impressive, from which side you want to see it.

And you will state the same LW is ineffective 3 month before?

My recent list of the Luftwaffe escapades in Northern Europe clearly shows how totally ridiculous the allegations that they did not have excellent anti-ship capacity are. Consider also that their concentrated assets would have been much larger in "our" scenario and much closer to the operational area. The Stuka units were pulled back in August to be refreshed for Seelöwe and were planned concentrated in the Calais area with short flying distances and the possibility for excellent fighter cover. The same can be said when we compare this with Dunkirk and Crete. In both instances the German resources were much smaller and less advantegously positioned. Longer distances to their targets and, particularly for Merkur, very inferior ground facilities.

Another resource which is rarely mentioned is the Küstenfliegers. They had torpedo capability.

[Leandros]

Und die Luftwaffe hätte bei Seelöwe gegen eine überlegene RAF kämpfen müssen.


Gruß

Dirk

Sorry, Dirk - this one does not hold water. History, not number-crunching, proves it - Dunkirk, Kanalkampf, the Fighter Command bases up till Sept. 7th. Seelöwe was not about bombing London....... Fighter Command flew almost exactly as many fighter missions over Dunkirk as Luftwaffe. Didn't help much. Kanalkampf: The British daylight shipping traffic had to be stopped, the destroyer escorts were sunk. The Fighter Command bases - for a large part incapacitated. Student was of the same opinion.

Fred

[AndreasB]

Stefan, bitte aufpassen, Nachtgefecht 1940.

Meinst du tatsächlich das Aussagen aus dem Kontext reißen etwas mit sachlicher, Faktenbasierter, Diskussion zu tun hat?

Aber wie schon gesagt, außer Voreingenommenheit und inzwischen ausgesprochener Arroganz kommt ja an Fakten von dir nicht wirklich viel.

Und das wird in nächster Zeit das letzte sein was ich dir mitzuteilen habe.

Ein einfaches Dankeschoen dafuer das ich mir die Muehe mache Deine Frage zu beantworten haette es auch getan. 

Am Anfang ist das Problem das nix von 1940 kommt, dann kommt was, und dann sind das auch keine Fakten. Naja.

Alles Gute

Andreas

[Doveton]

Then you should explain why the exact same LW was very effective from begin January 1941 against the RN and the RAF at Malta and later Greek and Crete!?
The whole RN at the Mediterranean had no chance against the LW from january till june (begin Operation Barbarossa).
No convoy's to Malta, landing of the african corps from februar till mai at Tunis, lost of Greeke, lost of Crete. Not very impressive or impressive, from which side you want to see it.

And you will state the same LW is ineffective 3 month before?

My recent list of the Luftwaffe escapades in Northern Europe clearly shows how totally ridiculous the allegations that they did not have excellent anti-ship capacity are. Consider also that their concentrated assets would have been much larger in "our" scenario and much closer to the operational area. The Stuka units were pulled back in August to be refreshed for Seelöwe and were planned concentrated in the Calais area with short flying distances and the possibility for excellent fighter cover. The same can be said when we compare this with Dunkirk and Crete. In both instances the German resources were much smaller and less advantegously positioned. Longer distances to their targets and, particularly for Merkur, very inferior ground facilities.

Another resource which is rarely mentioned is the Küstenfliegers. They had torpedo capability.

Perhaps you would care to enlighten us as to how many warships were sunk by the Kustenfliegers.

My more air minded colleagues tell me that the Ju87s were withdrawn from the Battle of Britain because of the heavy losses they were taking. Perhaps someone else on this site could let us know the truth of the matter.

Given your confidence in the ship-killing capabilities of the Luftwaffe, would you care to explain why Wolfram von Richthofen, who ought to have known something about the subject, totally lacked such certainty.

Please supply the names of the escort destroyers sunk during Kanalkampf, as histories of the period seem to have missed most of them. Odd, that!

Please advise the number of sorties flown by the Luftwaffe and the RAF respectively over Dunkirk. 

[Doveton]

The largest invasion force, Transport Force 'D'  consisted of 165 Barge Trains. After forming up outside the port, this force (according to Captain Lindenau, the force commander) would require four hours of daylight, plus the whole of the following night, in order to reach the allocated landing beaches by dawn. Thus, the RN would not need to be informed about when the invasion fleet sailed; observers would clearly see it coming!

As to the number of vessels committed on the first night, please remember that the British could read tide and moon tables as well as the Germans, and knew that the number of days when these factors were suitable for a dawn landing were quite few. Consequently, the anti-invasion flotillas were held at immediate readiness at the appropropriate times.

I fully agree with you.

As to the question whether the British would have been alerted in time, I'd like to remid of the well-known remark of Sir Alexander Cadogan (Permanent Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Office):
»Intelligence is the missing dimension of most diplomatic history.«

And unfortunately British intelligence always was classes better and more reliable than German intelligence.

Especially when the fact is considered that in all the ports from Rotterdam to Cherbourg there were thousands of workers and other civilians, who were not very in favour of the German war efforts, to say the least, and the ultimate preparations for sailing of the invasion fleet of course never could been hidden from their views.

To summarize, I fully agree with Doveton's arguments and think it was a wise decision from the German High Command not to start this hazardous adventure. It obviously would have become a complete disaster for the Wehrmacht.

Thank you for those comments. As a Brit. myself, I didn't really want to bring up this aspect of 1940 in case I caused offence, but in all honesty I don't know a single reasonable person who would disagree with your last remark. It seems particularly odd to me that the only person who does disagree persistently ignores the stated views of every senior German army or navy officer who ever gave an opinion.

For my part, I have studied & researched most aspects of Dynamo & Sealion since University days, and I am convinced that my conclusions are not jingoistic but entirely impartial. But for 23 miles of sea, there would have been no contest, but once again the Channel & the Royal Navy were there to save the day.

I think Alfred Theyer Mahan rather summed the whole thing up when, referring to the events of 1805, he described the Royal Navy as 'Those distant, storm-tossed, ships, upon which the Grande Armee never gazed, but which stood between it and the dominion of the world'.

[Knouterer]

Re: minor technical point: the effectiveness of pom-pom fire: as Huszar noted above, a misdirected burst against the cruiser Orion caused two killed and nine wounded. We may therefore assume that a similar wel-aimed burst against an S-Boot would have caused serious damage. I hope nobody is going to claim that they were better protected than cruisers. The armoured bridges were only introduced from S139 I think ... or am I wrong again?

[AndreasB]

Finally, the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe in daylight can only be a matter of conjecture. My view, as you are aware, is that the Luftwaffe had not performed well at Dunkirk when the situation was much more advantageous, so I remain unconvinced that they would have been more effective in the Channel.

Then you should explain why the exact same LW was very effective from begin January 1941 against the RN and the RAF at Malta and later Greek and Crete!?
The whole RN at the Mediterranean had no chance against the LW from january till june (begin Operation Barbarossa).
No convoy's to Malta, landing of the african corps from februar till mai at Tunis, lost of Greeke, lost of Crete. Not very impressive or impressive, from which side you want to see it.

And you will state the same LW is ineffective 3 month before?

Sorry Carsten, aber das ist ein reines Phantasiegemaelde welches Du da malst.

Ital. Konvoi wurde vernichtet, Schiffe versenkt, eine schwere Kreuzerdivision versenkt, 60,000 Mann ohne Probleme nach Griechenland geschafft, Genua und Tripoli von See aus beschossen, Malta versorgt, 200 Matilda Panzer quer durchs Mittelmeer verschifft, usw usw. Alles von Januar bis Mai.

http://www.naval-history.net/xAH-MaltaSupply01b.htm

Lass man die Kirche im Dorf. Die Luftwaffe war nicht so dufte das die Royal Navy zitternd in Alex und Gibraltar blieb.

Alles Gute

Andreas