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NAVAL SITUATION.
General Review.
THE principal event of the week at sea has been the safe arrival of the first echelons of the Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Suez on the 12th February.
H.M.S. Exeter, which was severely damaged in the Battle of the River Plate, has arrived in the United Kingdom. H.M.S. Achilles is returning to Auckland to refit.
There has been an increase of U-Boat activity, but air attack on shipping has been less intense.
Home Waters.
2. The Home Fleet has been at sea covering the Norwegian Convoys and the Northern Patrol.
3. German air attacks on East Coast shipping between Scarborough and Kinnaird Head were carried out on the 9th February. Damage to merchant ships was negligible, one fishing trawler only being lost. (Details of these attacks are given in Appendix II.) Four minesweeping trawlers, the Thomas Altoft, the Fort Royal, the Robert Bowen and the Ohm, were attacked off Aberdeen. The Robert Bowen and Fort Royal were sunk, the former with the loss of all on board; the Ohm was damaged, but got into harbour.
H.M. Destroyer Griffin was also attacked with machine guns and sustained two casualties.
On the 10th February an attack by aircraft was carried out on a trawler, Theresa Boyle, which was sunk 115 miles north-east of Aberdeen.
4. The German S.S. Anhalt (5,900 tons) sent out distress signals on the evening of the 12th February off Hantsholm (N.W. point of Denmark) after being in collision. Three British submarines were ordered to take up special positions to try and intercept German naval units which might have proceeded to her assistance. Nothing, however, was sighted.
5. During the week under review H.M.S. Glasgow relieved H.M.S. Southampton on the Norwegian Coast patrol for the purpose of intercepting two German merchant ships believed to be taking ammunition to Murmansk. One German trawler, the Herrlichkeit (268 tons) was captured by the Glasgow.
Foreign Waters.
6. The first echelons of the Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Expeditionary Force arrived at Suez on the 12th February escorted by H.M.S. Ramillies, Eagle and Hobart. The French cruiser Suffren also assisted in the escort of this force.
German Intelligence.
7. Reports have been received indicating that most of the Enemy's main units have been in the North Sea area during the week, though at the beginning of February the new cruiser Prince Eugen with the Blucher in company was reported to be carrying out trials in the Baltic which would last till the end of the month. The Emden and Karlsruhe were also reported in the Baltic area on the 4th February.
On the 10th February reconnaissance placed the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Wilhelmshaven. No information was obtained regarding the whereabouts of the remaining units.
Latest indications place enemy submarines at sea on the 15th February as follows:-
2 in Western Approaches.
1 off Portugal.
1 West of Ireland (outward bound).
1 in Moray Firth.
1 off the Norwegian Coast, probably going northwards.
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