Page 104
3
id
le
10
of
d
of
of
er
le
'S.
تین
ty
e-
k,
Տ
5g
of
ly
sh
't,
myzdk)號
L).
st
OS
1g
d
id
2
2
n.
H.M.S. Dunedin, on patrol in the Central Atlantic, has failed to answer signals for more than forty-eight hours and it is feared that she has been sunk by a U-boat.
East Indies.
6. H.M.S. Cornwall, to the south-east of Cape Guardafui, intercepted the French s.s. Surcouf (1,129 tons) north-bound with a cargo of foodstuffs.
Australia.
7. From the information at present available, it is understood that an action took place to the west of Cape Farquhar (West Australia) between H.M.A.S. Sydney and an enemy raider, resulting in both ships being sunk. German seamen survivors have been picked up in this vicinity by the British tanker Trocas (7,406 tons), but up to the present no survivors from Sydney have been found.
Anti-Submarine Operations.
8. During the week there have been six inconclusive attacks on U-boats, three by aircraft to the westward of Ushant, two by our surface craft in the Straits of Gibraltar and to the south-west of Freetown, and one by a Russian patrol boat in the approaches to the White Sea.
Enemy Intelligence.
German.
9. There is no change in the position of main units. The battleship Tirpitz shows no sign of impending activity, but the Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer remains at immediate notice.
U-boats.
Reports received indicate no important changes in the disposition of U-boats in the North Atlantic. In the South Atlantic U-boats have been reported off Freetown, in the St. Helena area, and two or three in mid-Atlantic near the Equator.
Enemy Attack on Seaborne Trade.
10. No casualties from U-boats or mines have been reported during the week. Two ships were sunk and another damaged in a southbound convoy, which was attacked by E-boats off the Norfolk coast. Enemy aircraft damaged two ships off the East Coast and have also attacked shipping off the Wexford coast, inside territorial waters.
Protection of Seaborne Trade.
11. During the week ending the 26th November, 1,110 ships, including 244 allied and 35 neutral were convoyed. Two cruisers, four anti-aircraft ships, 108 destroyers (including 30 United States destroyers), and 107 sloops, corvettes and minesweepers were employed on escort duties.
Imports into the United Kingdom by ships in convoy during the week ending the 22nd November were 602,000 tons, of which 240,811 tons were oil of various grades. Imports during the previous week were 606,354, and the average for the past ten weeks was 896,000 tons.
British Minelaying.
12. During the week mines have been laid off the Belgian Coast and off French Biscay Ports.
[23200]
1}
Page 104
Page 104
81
Page 104
Page 104