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Three promising attacks were carried out on U-Boats in the Western Approaches; on the 1st February by H.M.S. Veteran and H.M.S. Vesper, on the 2nd February by H.M.S. Viscount and H.M.S. Wren when escorting a homeward-bound Sierra Leone convoy, and on the 2nd February by H.M.S. Antelope on the U-Boat which had previously sunk s.s. Beaverburn while in an outward-bound Atlantic convoy. It is now thought probable that two U-Boats were destroyed on the latter occasion,

Among other attacks carried out during the week, one was made by a patrol aircraft on the 7th February on a U-Boat 30 miles N.N.E. of Cape Wrath. Bombs were dropped, but without visible result.

German Attack on Seaborne Trade.

18. During the week three British and three neutral ships were attacked by U-Boats, and one British, one French and two neutral ships were mined.

The British s.s. Amble, which was damaged by mine on the 16th December, and s.s. Protesilaus, which was beached after striking a mine on the 21st January, are now to be broken up. They are, therefore, included in mercantile losses shown in Appendix IV. Tonnage statistics are shown at the bottom of Appendices I and II. Total tonnage British, Allied and neutral lost through enemy action during the week was 41,631, of which 26,799 was British.

The following ships are overdue :

Swedish Sylvia left Hull 9/1 for Gothenburg.

Belgian Meuse left Tyne 15/1 for Bruges.

British Trawler Newhaven last reported 14/1.

:

British Quiberon left Downs 19/1 for Boston, Lines.

Norwegian: Varild left Norway 22/1 for England.

Norwegian Segovia left Oporto 17/1 for Oslo.

British Ampleforth left Milford Haven 8/1 for Hampton Roads.

German Minelaying.

19. Three mines were cut by minesweepers in the War Channel north of Blyth, and one off the Tyne on the 2nd February. On the same day reports from Scapa indicated that an unknown ship had been mined or torpedoed two miles south of Auskerry (east Orkneys) and, in consequence, the eastern entrance to Kirkwall was closed to shipping. Floating mines were reported off St. Ives Head (north Cornwall) and in the south-west corner of Carmarthen Bay.

Ten floating mines were reported off the Thames Estuary on the 4th February. Enemy aircraft, very possibly minelaying, were reported to the eastward of Cromer, in the Would, during the afternoon of the 6th February. A magnetic mine was exploded on the 7th inst. off the mouth of the Tay close to the position where the Estonian s.s. Anu sank. The port of Dundee has been closed.

British Mine Sweeping.

20. Bad weather and fog have hampered and, in some areas entirely prevented, mine-sweeping during the last week. For this reason the approach to Cromarty, which was closed on the 26th January, and the eastern approach to Kirkwall, which was closed on the 2nd February due to the suspected laying of enemy mines, have not yet been re-opened. A thorough sweep of Scapa Flow and its approaches continues.

21. H.M.S. Borde has not yet been able to continue her search of the channel in the vicinity of the Sunk Light Vessel. It is proposed to increase her anti-aircraft armament to make her independent of air escort. The present conversion programme provides for 12 vessels of the Borde type. Experimental work with the double "L" sweep, and with aeroplanes carrying magnetic coils has again been held up by the weather.

Up to the present 62 of H.M. Ships have been de-magnetised and a further 190 are in hand, while 15 merchant ships have been treated and 106 are in hand. It is anticipated that every important ship will have been de-magnetised within six months.

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