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Anti-Submarine Operations.

6. H.M. Destroyer Farndale sank an Italian U-boat off Bardia and took prisoner six officers and forty-seven ratings. Aircraft made three other attacks off the Libyan coast. To the westward of Gibraltar a number of attacks were carried out by air and surface craft, but although hits were claimed by aircraft in two cases, there was no definite evidence of destruction. Another attack was made by a United States destroyer south of Newfoundland.

Far East.

Malaya.

7. Early on the 6th December two Japanese convoys of twenty-five and ten ships respectively, each escorted by cruisers and destroyers and bound to the westward, were sighted by aircraft off Cambodia Point, French Indo-China. On the 8th, landings were made from fifteen ships on the northern Malayan coast, as reported in the Military Situation. Aircraft reconnaissance on the 9th sighted one battleship and three cruisers, with eleven destroyers and transports off Kota Bahru, and an aircraft-carrier off Singora, Kra Isthmus. On the 10th, H.M.S. Prince of Wales, wearing the Flag of the Commander-in- Chief, Eastern Fleet, with H.M.S. Repulse, which had left Singapore with escorting destroyers to intercept the enemy transports off Kota Bahru, were heavily attacked by aircraft off Kuantuan, on the east coast of Malaya. Two attacks were made on Repulse, which, after being hit by two or three torpedoes and one or more bombs, sank in a few minutes. Four attacks were made on Prince of Wales, which was hit by four or five torpedoes and one large bomb. She heeled over slowly and capsized in about twenty minutes. Approximately 130 officers and 2,200 ratings have been rescued and landed at Singapore. Commander-in-Chief is missing. During the engagement at least seven enemy aircraft were shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Philippines.

The

8. Large-scale landings are being attempted on Luzon, with naval and air support. The Japanese Battleship Haruna (1911. Eight-14-2-inch, 29,300 tons) has been hit by United States bombers to the north of Luzon. The Japanese have admitted that two of their transports have been sunk and two others damaged.

Shanghai.

9. H.M. River Gunboat Peterel is reported to have been sunk in action with a Japanese shore battery in the Whangpo River.

Hong Kong.

10. Enemy cruisers and destroyers have been operating in the vicinity and frequent dive-bombing attacks have been made on H.M. patrol vessels.

Gilbert Islands.

11.

Tarawa and Makin Islands have been occupied by the Japanese.

Wake Island.

12. The United States Navy Department announce that one Japanese light cruiser, one destroyer and ten aircraft were destroyed during an attack on the island on the 10th.

Honolulu.

13. Japanese aircraft and U-boats attacked Pearl Harbour at 1830 on the 7th. The Battleship Oklahoma (1912. Ten-14-inch, 29,000 tons) was hit and capsized and the Battleship Tennessee (1915. Twelve 14-inch, 32,300 tons) was set on fire. One destroyer in dock was blown up and another destroyer and the Minelayer Oglala (1907. 4,200 tons) were set on fire. Casualties among United States Naval Personnel were heavy. One U-boat and at least two enemy aircraft are reported to have been destroyed.

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