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Anti-Submarine Operations.
11. U-Boats have been very active during the week, as many as 11 being believed to be operating in waters other than the Mediterranean, mainly the Western Approaches.
Six attacks on U-boats have been carried out in Home Waters, 4 by aircraft which are considered promising.
In the Mediterranean 3 attacks on Italian U-Boats were carried out by H.M. Australian destroyers Stuart and Voyager and H.M.S. Diamond, and are all considered successful. There was also a promising attack by an aircraft 60′ west of Alexandria.
On the 19th the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, reported that an Italian U-Boat had been captured off Aden.
A U-Boat was reported by R.A.F. aircraft 7 miles West of Reykjavik, Iceland, at 1830/16th, and was subsequently searched for by destroyers without
success.
Enemy Minelaying and Allied Minesweeping.
12. Enemy aircraft have continued their activities during the week 12th June to 19th June, mainly between the North Foreland and Portland. Mines have been seen to drop off Portland, Weymouth Bay, Poole, Portsmouth, Dover and in the Downs. The ports and channels, however, have not been closed for more than a few hours at a time. Owing to the advance of the German forces in France it has been necessary to send LL trawlers to western Channel ports at the expense of ports on the East Coast. The Downs channel was swept successfully by a pair of trawlers on passage. When the evacuation of all our troops and material from France has been completed, it should be possible to redistribute the LL trawlers again.
Casualties include 2 minesweeping vessels. The skid-towing drifter Ocean Sunlight, degaussed, was mined off Newhaven in thick weather on the 13th June; the Oropesa trawler Myrtle, degaussed, was mined in the Princes Channel on the 14th June. Both these vessels were mined in comparatively shallow water.
LL Sweeps have exploded 5 mines during the week under review, skids have exploded 4, and the magnet sweep 1. A mine having been located off Poole, divers went down and removed a detonator, but the mine exploded while it was being towed ashore. The total number of magnetic mines dealt with now numbers 275.
13. Cherbourg, Brest, La Rochelle and the Rivers Loire and Gironde, have all been visited by enemy mine-laying aircraft this week. These ports have all usually been re-opened within a few hours, and in some cases have not been closed at all to degaussed ships. British LL trawlers have been employed at the French ports, though the French have assisted with various kinds of magnetic sweeps. In view of the probable cessation of hostilities in France, instructions have been given that every effort should be made to obtain or destroy everything relating to the French LL sweeps, including the specifications.
The dangerous area which had been declared south-east of Flamborough Head has now been cancelled. Twenty-four mines were swept in this area. Õn the 13th June 5 contact mines and 1 explosive sweep cutter were swept about 14 miles north-east of the North Goodwin Light Vessel. The total of contact mines dealt with is now 419.
Mediterranean.
14. Enemy mines are reported to have been laid in the Mediterranean about 20 miles north of Alexandria, and in the approaches to Tobruk and Derna in Libya. Two cruisers cut mines with their paravanes while bombarding Tobruk. There is evidence that German magnetic mines are being supplied to Italy and instructions in their use being given at Taranto.
New Zealand.
15. The loss of the British liner S.S. Niagara on the 18th June 60 miles north of Auckland, New Zealand, has disclosed a new minefield, probably laid
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