CAB80-8 — Page 344

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General Review.

NAVAL SITUATION.

THE period at sea has been relatively quiet.

There has been some German air activity and magnetic mining in the North Sea, but U-Boat activity has diminished.

Home Waters.

2. U. 63, a small U-boat of 250 tons, was sunk on the morning of the 25th February 80 miles east of Wick. The entire crew of 4 officers and 21 ratings, one of whom was dead, were picked up. U. 63 was first sighted on the surface by H.M. Submarine Narwhal, which was escorting a Norwegian Convoy. The U-Boat immediately dived, and was hunted by destroyers of the convoy escort, which attacked her with depth charges. Two hours later she was sighted on the surface. H.M. Ships Inglefield and Imogen immediately opened fire on her, and she sank 2 minutes later. The survivors stated that the submarine was undamaged by either depth charges or gunfire, but that her batteries and high pressure air were exhausted, rendering it impossible to remain submerged. Their statements are considered to be open to doubt. The morale of the crew was poor.

3. On the 26th February German aircraft attacked a trawler about 60 miles north-east of St. Abb's Head without result, and on the 27th February a heavier attack was made on shipping near the coast in the vicinity of St. Abb's Head, including the Methil-Tyne convoy. The convoy fighter escort quickly made contact, and two German machines were shot down. Three merchant ships and four trawlers reported being attacked, but only one, the British Governor (6,800 tons) was damaged, and she remained seaworthy. Details of the attacks are given in Appendix I to this résumé.

4. Gales delayed the Norwegian convoys, and during the bad weather on the 26th February H.M.S. Imperial collided with and sank the Swedish S.S. Nordia (1,316 tons). The Imperial was herself considerably damaged, but returned safely to Lerwick.

H.M. Minesweeping Trawler Benvolia was sunk off Spurn Point on the 23rd February, one officer and 9 ratings were killed and the single survivor was injured. Her sweeping gear fouled her propeller and, out of control, she drifted on to a mine in a known dangerous area.

5. It was reported from the Northern Patrol on the 22nd February that a continuous blizzard had been blowing for five or six days with visibility of about 100 yards. This weather accounts for the fact that two of the six ships which sailed from Vigo on the 10th February arrived safely in Norwegian or German waters. The other four were sunk or captured.

H.M.S. Orion, escorting the S.S. Duchess of Bedford, arrived in England on the 26th February. She brought home the ashes of the late Lord Tweedsmuir, and the Duchess of Bedford carried personnel of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

German Intelligence.

6. There are no reports of German main units, but there has been a marked decrease in naval wireless traffic during the past two days.

There appears to have been a substantial reduction in the number of U-boats at sea, and it is estimated that on the 28th February they were disposed as follows:

One in the Western Approaches.

One off the Moray Firth.

One homeward bound N.W. of Ireland.

One homeward bound between the Shetlands and Norway.

Aerial reconnaissance reported the Altmark in Josing Fjord on the 29th February.

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