August 21
Montoire
Once signed the armistice and the Collaboration Agreement, Hitler made to Laval honor of a personal encounter. It is organized for safety reasons, a small town in the Loir-et-Cher, Montoire - where no monument will commemorate the milestone ...
For Pierre Laval, this appointment is a culmination of its policy. It strengthens its position on Deat, Doriot and others, who all strive to conduct in-hand in negotiations with the Germans stating its position on the political spectrum. Certainly, he was Chairman of the Republic, but since 1936 it manifested hostility increasingly virulent plan through the newspaper articles which he owns or the support (Gringoire particular). A few weeks earlier, he thought it better to take the post of leader of a "New State", Bulky with ministers, but to find nothing. With the support of the Germans, he can now expect to play its "partners" against each other.
But on background, Laval, meeting Montoire is a failure. Far from offering elevated views of European strategy, Hitler merely highlight the need for close cooperation between their two governments. Despite repeated questions from the French, the Fuhrer refuses to give more than a broad outline on the future Treaty of Franco-German peace. Just accept it does indicate that its provisions - and even the date of signature - will depend on the supply by France "Concrete signs showing his involvement in the New Europe." It now seems that in the dictator's mind, these "Concrete evidence" should be primarily the participation of a large number of French soldiers (under German command) to the already planned invasion of the Soviet Union. But Laval, far from considering this case, imagine that this is the establishment of a "Economic cooperation" narrow and domestic policy measures aimed particularly Jews. In any case, as justified, at his trial, the establishment of the status of Jews.
In practice, meeting Montoire however leads to a tangible result: it allowed the Germans out of a finely-military legal imbroglio. Numerous French troops (the figures vary from 500 ... 000 to two million!) Have indeed been captured without arms or insignia and carrying a newsletter demobilization hastily drafted in a village hall, under the decree of July 21 signed by De Gaulle for soldiers who can not evacuate. First tempted not to accept the validity of this document, the Germans admit, if only for travel to occupied France to some hard work and enable it to pay war reparations under the Armistice Obviously, it costs nothing to Hitler's claim that these men are released to gracefully inaugurate auspiciously the new Franco-German relationship. This attitude also permits the 'Vichy Regime' to actively recruit these men. After all, they have ample (if old) light weapons in armouries, and men need to eat.
Meanwhile, the first double game commences. ‘Trapped’ in Free French territories are numerous men who would prefer to return home, many to join the 'Vichy regime'. ‘Trapped’ in France are many who would like to leave, to fight for the Free French. If such men stay ‘trapped’, then they are nothing but a problem for each respective government – each of which has too many problems as it is. In between Algiers and Paris are Spanish territories. In a series of shadowy meetings, never acknowledged publicly, intermediaries cut a bargain in Madrid. Soon, there is a steady two way flow of men through Spain.
Berlin
The Wilhelmstrasse is careful not to make the Department Policy Berne response after twenty-three hours and twenty minutes. It was written in French, yet universal language of diplomacy. Joachim von Ribbentrop was signed in person:
"The Foreign Minister of Great German Reich would like to present its compliments to the Head of Political Department of the Swiss Confederation. He requests to transmit to the proper message that follows:
- By order of His Excellency the Führer and Reich Chancellor, the Wehrmacht will apply the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 1864, 1906 and 1929, signed and ratified by the German State, the French soldiers in uniform, what they be.
- This order was sent that day from the commands of all combat units of the Great German Reich, its territorial authorities, to its police force and its diplomatic representations.
- The Great German Reich believes he can take it that its fighters, ipso facto, will benefit from the reciprocity of these provisions. He expects the confirmation will be sent to him by the right person within twenty-four hours.
- The Swiss Confederation and the International Committee of the Red Cross would respectively guarantors of the implementation of these provisions.
(Signed) Joachim von Ribbentrop "
Algiers
Paul Reynaud himself receives Stucki, the Swiss Minister.
- Sir, we knew to rely on through your country. I express our gratitude and pray you present my compliments to the head of your department policy. I am speaking of the President of the Republic that you share his feelings of friendship and gratitude to the President of the Confederation.
- I will pass, of course, Mr. Chairman.
- Margerie will give you our response form. Reciprocity was obvious.
Stücki is these men who use the banality as a weapon and as a refuge: "Mr. Chairman, that goes without saying is both the telling."
Ionian Sea
Deceived by the upbeat report of French destroyers, the Allied air searches only for survivors of the convoy C 14. Six vessels and MariEgeo Borea, all damaged to some degree, reached Taranto, followed by Barletta escorted by Crispi the convoy commander making sure of his slow auxiliary cruiser.
The operation C 14 and its annex Adriatic therefore cost the Regia Marina (excluding minor damage received by the battleships Vittorio Veneto and Giulio Cesare and heavy cruisers Gorizia and Zara) two destroyers, a destroyer and an auxiliary cruiser sunk, three against and four destroyers destroyers damaged. Added to the loss of two ships, or rather three, Gloriastella being stuck at Rhodes in very poor condition.
Eastern Mediterranean
While submarines Bragadin and Corridoni have returned to their base from the 18, Foca Which is not returned and gave no sign of life, is considered lost. Fearing he had been a victim of its own mines as they posed for Haifa (which would put its loss to August 12), the Italian naval authorities prefer to suspend any minelaying by submarine..
August 22
Basingstoke Castle Hackwood
Spaak, accompanied by Ambassador Cartier Marchienne, arrives at the castle of Lord Curzon. Cartier says: "It's a delicate attention of the British Government to put that remains available to the Princes. It is sufficiently far from the coast to avoid any risk of bombardment, and their father has long been in the Great War with his brother and sister. King Albert and Queen Elizabeth had in fact put their children in the custody of Lord Curzon, while they remained with the Army in Belgium. By inhabiting the same apartment that their father is twenty-five years, these poor children can probably feel a little closer to him ... "
Arriving in the hall, Cartier suggests Spaak wait a few minutes " I'll let the Prince Baudouin of your arrival. It is unclear who his visitor. Play it finely, and be convincing! "
Spaak was finally introduced into the library, which is expecting a boy of ten years, visibly tense.
-- Sir, what are you doing here? Prince said a voice.
-- My Lord, I just offer my regrets to the son of the man that I have offended, failing to present them directly to the father.
-- I just received a letter from my father. He wrote to distrust politicians like you.
-- There is not a day past three months I have been tormented by memories of the serious remarks that were held against the King. We now know how we are misled about its intentions. Believe me, my Lord, the entire Government aspires only the union of all Belgians around His Majesty to continue the fight until victory against the invader.
-- My father told me that only a public apology will repair the damage to his honor. You know what you have to do, Mr. Spaak.
Versailles
A series of legislative decrees decide theprohibition of political parties and organizations whose representatives are currently out of Metropolis (the Communist Party is not mentioned: the fact that it has already been banned by the Republic to avoid timely GPEF hamper the Germans in their relations with the 'Soviet Union).
The unions are dissolved. Courts Martial are established for judging "Traitors to the Fatherland exiles and fugitives."
The administration must be vetted by commissions created to that effect. This wide operation "National Cleaning" Administration seeks to eliminate the Jews, the Freemasons (or assumed) and, more broadly, the Republican personalities too important positions.
Sicily
On an auxiliary field near Comiso which has so far escaped Allied reconnaissance, landing the 15-87B2 Stuka Ju 96 ° Gruppo d'Tuffatore (Group dive-bombing), commanded by Maggiore Ercolano Ercolani. These planes are less efficient than the Ju-87D of the Luftwaffe, but the Italians are satisfied with them. They were quickly nicknamed Picchiatelli (cranks, Goofs) in the Regia Aeronautica. RAI airpower in Sicily is now able to heavily contest all Allied aerial activity within reach.
Bari
The operation C 14 is completed, the Regia Aeronautica retrieves the fighter units that were deployed as reinforcements to cover out of the fleet and the return of the convoy. It remains to defend Taranto, 2e Autonomous group of hunting, based in Grottaglie. With hitherto Fiat CR.32, it is currently retrofitting with Fiat G.50.
Libya
A Burst of Light
Colonel Gaius D’Avanzo grinned behind his five days of growth as he looked through the binoculars. The Jock Column was coiled in a wadi, betrayed by a single reflection off a truck windshield just before dusk. They had gone to ground after their latest exploit, waiting for the Italian searchers to move on. Their camouflage was exceptional.
This column had been a real pain in the arse, he thought. They had shot up two convoys, even mortared El Adem aerodrome. When he first crept up here with his recce scouts, he had been surprised by their make up. Just nine light vehicles and three armoured cars. Less than 70 men, he thought.
His men had crept up during the still, freezing night – no vehicles could be used on a night this still – to line one side of the wadi. Mines had been laid to the south, leaving only the escape route to the east. Now he had 120 men in position, and two 20mm Solothurn S18/1000 light anti-tank guns. He men made not a sound when they moved, everything was wrapped to prevent clinking. The hardest part had been spotting the British outposts (there were three, each with two men) and worming in between them.
This was probably their second and last night here.
“Oh, definitely their last night here...” he whispered.
“Sir?” the grizzled old sergeant lying next to him whispered back.
“Nothing. Two hours before dawn, they will start to move in an hour, to do their dawn stand-to. As soon as the runner gets here…”
Six minutes later, and a little late, a runner crept up the shallow depression behind them. It was only piece of dead ground about 1.3 metres deep, just enough to conceal a man on foot, if he was careful. It could never hide a vehicle, or a marching man. It was along little features like this that D’Avanso’s force had seeped quietly into position.
’Avanzo heard him approach, only the soft sloughing of his Hessian-wrapped feet in the sand gave him away. He smiled slightly, the training was paying off. He was being ambitious here; a gamble. He wanted part of this force to get away. One armoured car and a couple of trucks. The Ba.65’s were already up. Setting up effective cooperation with the RAI had been slow, frustrating and difficult. He had to prove the value of closely coordinated work between RE forces on the ground and the RAI. He had half the puzzle, a lucky Ba-65 had caught the glint yesterday. It just happened to be a 160th Squadriglia bird. While 50th Stormo did not like him much, and he had no dealings with 159th Squadriglia, he had a second cousin in 160th. And they were having a particularly frustrating war.
“All in place, sir. We had to grab one post about 12 minutes ago. Both captured without a sound beyond a squeak or two,” said his deputy.
“No point in waiting, then.” D’Avanzo rolled on to his knees, took out the flare pistol, loaded it, pointed it up, and fired. The red flare did not destroy night vision, but it made all hell break loose along the wadi.
The hammering of guns included the bark of the Carcano rifles, stuttering of the Beretta model 1918 sub machine guns, hammering of the 14/35’s and the deeper bark of the Solothurns. It had been far too difficult to get the damned Brixia’s in.
There was instant bedlam below. Dark figures rushed from sleeping scrapes, and the return fire was instant. Within thirty seconds, engines were turning over, but many figures stretched on the ground. Five vehicles rolled, three east, two heading for the more difficult southern route. The lead of the pair erupted with a loud boom after moving 200 metres. The truck behind it slammed on its brakes. Within seconds, four Italian figures were alongside it. To the shaken British crew, they just appeared from the dust like ghosts, only yards away.
The driver looked at the sub machine gun trained on him and raised his hands. So did the other four men in the vehicle.
“Three green, Sergeant! And behind me, I do not want to lose what night vision I have left.”
“Three green!”
“Confirmed!” This was important.
He did not reply again. In seconds, three green flares burned in the sky.
“Sir, three green flares from the communications post!”
“Excellent” breathed D’Avanzo.
“King, this is Centipede. Three vehicles moving east from Marble.”
“Centipede this is King. Acknowledged, three vehicles moving east from Marble”
The formation of Ba-65’s split up. Two, the flare-droppers, went to altitude. Three went low, orbiting for a brief time to let the flare-droppers get ahead. They spotted the vehicles quickly – dawn was lightening the sky and they were ants on a table top here. And started dropping flares behind them. The vehicles responded, they did not know it, but they were being herded.
Thirty minutes later, it was all over. The remnants of the Jock Column had found five Ba.65 orbiting, armoured cars to their north and south, and a wall of infantry and artillery east of them. They did what any sensible professional would, their vehicles stopped, they put up a white flag, and made tea. After all, they had missed breakfast.
“So what happened then, Giovanni?”
“Well, said the pilot, my bloody engine gave trouble…” there were howls of laughter and one cry of ‘you lying swine’, at which he grinned because it was his gunner who said it, “so I had to land next to them. Not hard to do, it was claypan. A motoguzzi appeared right away and I went over to see them while my loyal crew repaired the engine…” more howls of laughter.
He swigged his brandy. “Anyway, the British were quite calm and friendly, they had run a good race and they knew it, and so had we. They had stacked their arms and broken their radio, fair enough and what one would expect, and they were making breakfast. Tea, tinned beef and hard tack. Dreadful stuff. We all stayed there. About four hours later, my cousin arrived with the rest of them and the captured vehicles. He told them of their casualties, six killed, 19 wounded, 49 captured including them. Their commander, one of the ones with Gaius agreed it had been all fair and professional, and offered him lunch! Well, that was going to be more tea, beef and hard tack. We could not have that!” There was a chorus of agreement. “So Gaius ordered up some decent food. Our basic desert rations, that’s all, but much better than the rubbish the British have. He also ordered up two small barrels of brandy for them. You know he does not permit anything beyond a bit of wine, and all eat common in his unit? “
To the howls of disbelief he replied, “no, it’s true. And it builds good morale too. Even then, the British got the brandy, none of our men, not even Gaius. It was from the medical truck. Half a litre of wine each man he said. Not enough brandy to go around, so only the prisoners got it. And that’s when we got the armoured car.”
His own boss grinned like a thief. The 160th had a new Marmon-Herrington armoured car. It was parked outside the maintenance area while the lads looked it over. Nice piece of kit, and the 159th was green with envy. Stormo command was explaining to Benghazi just how brilliant they had been in working closely with the RE, inflating what had happened and taking all the credit, of course. But the insiders knew the real thing.
He did not know it, but he had just put his finger on the most lethal problem the Italians had, and the problem which would see them destroyed. In most places but especially in Libya, everything was inflated and overblown. They did not realise that this blinded their high command with a blizzard of false information, to which they reacted as if it were true.
Eastern Mediterranean
The Franco-British squadron left Alexandria and headed west to the operation "Judgment" under the authority of Admiral Cunningham. For the first time in history, the main attack force consists of aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and Eagle and MN Bearn, Under the command of Admiral Lyster cons.
"As an officer of the Mediterranean Fleet with meny years experience there, Lyster had planned, trained for and recommended a raid against the Italian naval base of Taranto during the Abyssinian crisis in 1935. He is now well placed to put his ideas into practice with regard to the time the largest concentration of naval air force ever assembled under Allied command:
- HMS Illustrious: 806 Sqn, with 15 Fulmar I, 815 Sqn with 12 Swordfish, 819 Sqn with 12 Swordfish.
- HMS Eagle: 813 Sqn with 8 Sea -Gladiator and 3 Swordfish and 824 Sqn with 9 Swordfish.
- MN Beam: AC3 squadrons with 10 B-339, AC4 with 10 B-339, AB1 with 10 SBC-4 for bombing and A/S work.
Admiral Lyster and had concentrated under his command 46 attack aircraft (36 Fairey Swordfish and 10 Curtiss SBC-4 dive bombers) and 45 fighters (including 41 modern, Fairey Fulmar and Brewster B-339, and 8 old, Gloster Sea Gladiator of low combat value and short-range). The French were there, but being relatively unskilled in carrier operations, were not included in the strike except as flare-droppers. As Lyster dryly noted, dive bombing at night was a skill most difficult to acquire.
The Fleet Air Arm was being modernised (the 15 Fulmar aboard Illustrious were at that time the only available modern British naval fighters throughout the Mediterranean theater), but this lack was compensated by the contribution of the French, with its Curtiss SBC-4 dive bombers and Brewster B-339 fighters (which had arrived from the United States in June, aboard the Normandie) ... and thanks to their pilots. " (Jack Bailey A Great Blue Cemetery - Battle Fleet Air MediterraneanNew York, 1955).
Dodecanese (Rhodes)
On the night of August 21 to 22, three SM.82 land on the airfield Gadurrà, introducing two MC.200 as well as spare parts and various supplies.
The next day, five Breda 88 land on the airfield of Maritsa to replace those lost. The loss of 17 August are compensated for.
August 23
London (Embassy of Belgium)
The Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Irish John Cudahy, who arrived a few days earlier in the British capital after his expulsion from India, receives the press at the American Embassy in London, accompanied by the Ambassador of the United States in Britain, Joseph Kennedy. Violating the instructions he received from the State Department, Cudahy calls on British to relax their blockade to allow the supply of people in occupied areas, which he described the food situation as dramatic: " The situation in Belgium is very serious. The current reserves, with severe rationing, will not last more than two or three weeks. Gentlemen, if you find that the Continent is hell now, what do you think it will be this winter? He is also directly involved in the story presented by Churchill to the House of Commons June 4: " Allies, Says he, have been fully informed of the decision to surrender to the Belgian Army no less than three days before the capitulation. "
On several occasions, Joe Kennedy tried to stop Cudahy, especially violently closing the windows of the room where the interview takes place. Deeply embarrassed by the words of its ambassador, the Secretary of State acting, Sumner Welles, hands shortly after the record straight " Nobody will doubt the sincerity of the sympathy of Ambassador to the Belgian people, a sympathy which is shared by the American people. However, the interview was given contrary instructions from the State Department [...] The views expressed by the Ambassador does not represent that of our Government. On the instructions of the President, Ambassador Cudahy was invited to return immediately to Washington for consultation. "
London (seat of government in exile Netherlands)
The defeatist attitude of the Dutch Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer is increasingly difficult borne by Queen Wilhelmina. It goes against his own actions and those of other members of his government in exile "Radio Oranje" (since July 28, this station helps to sustain the morale of the Dutch under occupation). Moreover, the population of the Netherlands seems to follow later Geer, as shown Carnation Day (June 29) and July 25, the first issue of the underground newspaper Hoen Pieter't.
Admittedly, August 20, the Dutch government decided that the organization and deployment of Dutch forces present in England would be under British command, officially anchoring the Netherlands in the Allied camp. But the behavior of De Geer is very annoying.
The Queen ultimately make the decision - at the edge of constitutionality - to dismiss the Minister-President. It designates the Minister of Justice Pieter Sjoers Gerbrandy form a new government. This will be done September 3.
Libya
The success of Colonel D’Avanzo in capturing a Jock Column is widely respected. These columns have been a genuine thorn in the Italian side.
The arrival of more M13/40 tanks means that an armoured force can start to be established in Cyrenaica.
Taranto
At dusk, Littorio and Vittorio Veneto leave port under heavy escort. Their recent use has revealed flaws and defects which have to be rectified. They are enroute Genoa for quick docking, and to prepare for an operation planned in the western basin.
Eastern Africa
The light cruiser HMAS Hobart leaves the port of Aden with its board on 2e Battalion Black Watch. The latter has landed in Djibouti and then join Zeila, the last parcel of Somaliland held by the Allies. The 1 / 2e and 3 / 15e Punjab will remain in Aden and the island of Perim, to avoid any nasty surprises from the Italians. The battalions came from East Africa to depart in a few weeks.
August 24
Taranto
The aircraft carriers commanded by Admiral Lyster cons approached southern Italy without being detected. It will open a chapter in the history of naval warfare.
2100 - The first wave of Judgment operation is launched: 17 Swordfish from Illustrious, each is armed with the usual 18-inch torpedo. The eighteenth, due to engine trouble, takes off with the second wave. Four SBC-4 flare-droppers and four bombers from Bearn also take off. Meanwhile Illustrious and Bearn both prepare their fighters for what is expected to be a long day of action. It is the presence of Bearn, with her fighters, which has made the attack so much easier and less risky for Lyster.
Taranto
2120 - The second wave is launched with 19 Swordfish. 3 Swordfish of 813 Sqn and 2 French SBC start A/S patrols, with one of each type up. Of these, 10 were bombers and 9 torpedo bombers, this atatck used nearly all the torpedoes available in the region.
The pilot Yvon Lagadec was in the first the second wave, in a flare-dropper. "I had the usual dry throat and sweaty palms. It was my first real combat mission, I mean a mission where I see the enemy and almost certainly confront face to face… it is not like today, flying a supersonic missile firing guided missiles. Moreover, this first battle would be a new sort, which we had not expected (and the Italians either, fortunately for us!). I wonder if Cunningham and Lyster were conscious of writing a new chapter in the history of naval warfare? Not me anyway. We took off in darkness, conducive to anxiety, but soon enough, the concerns of the moment overcame stray reflections, especially in reaching the goal, where the enemy fleet was waiting. "
(Above the Seven Seas - Memories of a Marine SkyBy the Admiral Yvon Lagadec, Editions France-Empire).
Taranto
2256 - When the planes of the first wave, led by LCDR K. Williamson, arrived over Taranto, the Italian defenders were just starting to wake up. The anti-aircraft guns began to fire fitfully at first and really begin to open fire after the attack was under way.
The critical flare droppers performed very well, circling the south and east sides of the Grand Harbour and dropping their flares at regular intervals. At the end of each run, they dropped bombs on the oil depot, part diversion, part trying to backlight the outer harbour. The MN bombers attacked the inner harbour, fulfilling their other critical role, that of diversion.
The leading sub-flight of three Swordfish, led by LCDR Williamson and flying at just 30 feet, attacked from the west. Williamson’s machine, the very first, was shot down into the harbour but not before he realeased his torpedo, which ran on to hit Conte di Cavour, on her port side, forward. This was followed by a second hit, this one on Caio Duilio’s port side The second sub-flight flew in on a parallel course, further to the north and rounded the northern tip of the balloon barrage. They achieved one hit on Duilio, this time on her starboard side. The third sub flight got disoriented, and flew into the balloon barrage. All three struck cables, but only one was brought down. Somehow, the other two managed to regain control and attack, but their torpedoes missed. The fourth sub flight followed the first – into a wall of AA. Two launched, one survived. Cavour took her second hit square amidships. The fifth sub-flight (now five machines instead of two as it had been their leader who had engine problems) attacked as the second had done. All were hit by AA but none shot down. Duilio took another hit. This time in the stern, on her port side. The ship was in desperate trouble, with a 25 degree list to port. Taking the only action he could, her CO ordered the starboard bulges and voids, and starboard boiler and engine rooms flooded. He realised that this meant the loss of his ship – but it would save his crew as she was in immediate danger of capsize. For this act fine professional judgement and of moral courage, he was later commended.
2321 Taranto
The second wave arrived with the defences fully alerted, and the faithful flare-droppers still on duty despite increasing damage Right on time, the remaining bombers attacked the inner harbour again. This time, the heavy cruiser Fiume received a bomb in the engine room. Shortly after, a second bomb struck the brand new light cruiser Duca Degli Abruzzi in the stern. These excellent results were followed by the 10 Swordfish bombers. With the smoke, the fires aboard Fiume and Abruzzi stood out, and they attracted the bombs. Both ships were hit again, Fiume twice and Abruzzi once, this time forward.
Meanwhile, the three sub-flights were attacking. The first came in as Williamson had. Two machines were lost, but all dropped. The results were good, a third hit on Cavour, right abeam A turret. The third sub-flight had mistimed their approach and were barely 300 yards behind the first, who they could not see due to the AA. They too launched on Cavour, and the results were stunning. What was known at the time was all speculative, and to some point the post-war joint investigation by the RMI and RN remains so. Post war investigation of records indicated that the most plausible theory was that a torpedo from the third fluight entered Conte di Cavour’s side through the hole blasted abeam A turret by the third torpedo to strike the ship. The time between the two hits was exactly that needed for an aerial torpedo to run 300 yards.
Conte de Cavour blew up like a firework. The huge fireball was seen of the city of Taranto as it rose above the dying battleship and a vast cloud of smoke covered the port began to sprout above the unfortunate Cavour. Casualties were appalling, 900 men died in the disaster.
Meanwhile, the second flight was actually late, starting its run just as Cavour blew up. Undisturbed, and in a near wingtip-to-wingtip line practiced for so long by these pre-war veteran crews, they dropped simultaneously.
The results were also disastrous for the Italians. Still afloat but settling fast from the flooding ordered to save her from capsize, Duilio was actually listing to starboard when the torpedoes arrived on her port side. They were set deep, to take advantage of their magnetic pistols. All three torpedoes were later thought to have actually passed beneath the hull right amidships, and when the first actuated, the other two did as well. The result was a massive explosion. Three warheads, 1,635lb of Torpex, went off simultaneously under her hull, almost beneath her two funnels. The explosion was so powerful that it vented upwards, striaight through the hull, breaking her back and literally gutting the hull. Both funnels fell into the hole left by the explosion as it tore the ship apart. What made the results so devastating was the simple fact that her machinery rooms were mostly flooded. Water is incompressible, to the effective ‘lower hull’ of the ship was actually the boiler room and engine room overheads.
Results
The Allies had reason to be delighted by their attack. While some damage had been done to the fuel farm, and two cruisers damaged, the two battleships were not damaged at all - they were destroyed. The next day, it was instantly apparent that both Duilio and Cavour were nothing more than scrap. Disturbingly, Duilio was even technically afloat. Both her bow and stern remained buoyant, the quarterdeck and cable decks quite dry. The crew had stayed aboard and successfully controlled the progressive leakage.
As any observer saw immediately, Duilio was not a flush-decked ship. If her midships was awash, and her cabledeck and quarterdeck were dry, then the ship was broken in two, the hull girder amidships totally destroyed.
0610 Taranto
With the disaster at Taranto, the RMI called urgently for every fighter within reach, certain that the Allied would follow up with attacks using land-based bombers. They also called for recce, and for strikes on the carriers. The Regia Aeronautica did its best to find the carriers during the morning, but guided by the Illustrious’ type 79Z radar, Fulmar and B-339 destroyed three Cant Z.501 floatplanes before they could see the fleet. The ships got away scot-free.
Malta
05h05 - Operation Chastise starts together with Operation Reckoning. Twenty-five Martin 167 (I/63 and II/63) depart, accompanied by 12 machines from squadrons B3 and B4 of the Aéronavale, playing the role of improvised escort. The 37 aircraft are on course for the base of the Regia Aeronautica in Grottaglie, responsible for the protection of Taranto. This operation is partly to cover a Bloch 174 reconnassance mission to evaluate results of the attack.
Grottaglie
06h32 - The Martin 167 from Malta arrive over the aerodrome Grottaglie to find it a hornet’s nest. As well as 2nd Independent Fighter Squadron (operating some G.50 with their CR.32 as they are in the process of changing types), the full strength of the 51st Fighter Wing’s G.50’s is also present. Unfortunately for them, they have just arrived from Roma-Ciampino and are very short of fuel., The 2nd is actually up covering their arrival.
The AdA strike does the only thing it can, it makes a shallow, diving, high-speed run over the base and then turns out towards the sea while continuing a shallow dive to maximise speed.
The CR.32 are unable to keep up, some of the 51st’s G.50’s can make a pass but they lack fuel to pursue, and only five of the 2nd’s G.50’s can attack. The two Fw-187 in the air are awaiting the inevitable reconnaissance effort, but they are pulled down to help deal with the bombers too. While the G.50 and Fw.187 down three Martins for one G.50, the attack is scattered and not very effective.
Nevertheless, the goal is achieves: the raid covers the reconnaissance the confusion disrupts efforts to get the Br.20 and SM.81 ready for an anti-shipping attack.
|
4th Territorial Air Zone | |||
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• Headquarters |
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Bari |
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• 116th (Independent) Bomber Squadron |
Br-20 |
Grottaglie |
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• 2nd (Independent) Fighter Squadron |
Cr-32 |
Grottaglie |
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– 35th Bomber Wing |
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Brindisi |
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• 86th Bomber Squadron |
Cant Z.501 |
Brindisi |
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• 96th Bomber Squadron |
Cant Z.506bis |
Brindisi |
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– 37th Bomber Wing |
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Lecce |
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• 54th Bomber Squadron |
SM.81 |
Lecce |
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• 29th Bomber Squadron |
SM.81 |
Lecce |
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0645 - Bloch 174 of GR II/33 reaches the top of Taranto and takes pictures of the results of the raid. Its pilot, aviator and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery, will describe later how he flew "A huge cloud of black smoke, rising on the horizon as if a new volcano was born at the tip of the Italian boot" (Orphans of the Sky, Where the sentence is extracted, will be published in New York in late 1941, when the propaganda tour that Saint-Exupery make the United States, while writing Le Petit Prince). The smoke comes from Conte di Cavour, Which is still burning after the explosion of the magazine, her leaking bunker fuel feeding the fires.. Saint-Exupery (who was hired when he was well past the age limit) makes his pass at only 1,500 meters in order to take better pictures.
1200 Images are in Malta and, after debriefing the crew of the Bloch 174, it was decided not to pursue the operations using the LeO 451 GB I/23, II/23 and II/31. The aircraft were too valuable to send in, especially once the images of the two battleships confirmed that they had been destroyed.
With the carriers not located, Admiral Cavagnari became worried about a possible repeat attack next day. He ordered Admiral Campioni to sortie into the Adriatic to prevent it. Giulio Cesare, three heavy cruisers, three light light cruisers and their escorts did so.
The reconnaissance photographs showed the extent of damage to the RMI. It was very heavy.
Battleships (in the Mare Grande):
Caio Duilio, broken in two. Completely destroyed.
Conte di Cavour, destroyed by magazine explosion.
Cruisers (in the Mare Piccolo):
CA Fiume, heavy bomb damage assessed, ship leaking oil.
CL Duca degli Abruzzi, heavy bomb damage assessed, ship leaking oil.
Destroyers (in the Mare Piccolo):
DD (unidentified), possibly leaking oil.
DD Borea, leaking oil and listing.
The operation was considered a major strategic success. The Italian Navy had been severely damaged and its ability to conduct operations in the central basin diminished.
Politically, the operation also marked a very important point. It demonstrated both the will and the ability of allied forces to take the strategic initiative in the Mediterranean, and this was observed carefully by neutral countries like Spain, Greece, Yugoslavia and Turkey.
To say that Mussolini was shocked upon hearing the news and discovered that the Allied fleet was able to withdraw without a loss was an understatement. Two days later, the Grand Council of the Fascist Party experienced a particularly stormy meeting and the king appointed the Chief Marshal Badoglio to head a Special Commission of Inquiry. Mussolini was at least able to report that he had taken positive action before the disaster to find answers – quickly – to the Italian equipment issues and problems the terrible blows inflicted by the Allies in Tripolitania and Taranto (and elsewhere, although he did not state this) had revealed.
The Balbo Mission became nationally vital.
Among the persons most deeply impressed by the operation was the Japanese naval attache in Rome, who visited Taranto on 30 August and will took many notes. The port was visited later in the year several times by teams from the Japanese Mission.
Within days, the small amount of additional surface to seafloor anti-torpedo netting needed to make the outer harbour secure against another such attack was in place, and the Fleet returned. Stripping of the two wrecked battleships was already well under way.
Brindisi
Regio Esercito asked Supermarina to organise another convoy to Albania. The Ufficio RTSO satisfied this new task by setting up a small convoy that left Brindisi in the night of August 24 to 25.
Mogadishu
An attack by four of the Fairey Battle Sqn 11 (SAAF) fire a fuel depot and warehouse.
Paris
At 20:00, the Vel'd'Hiv is far from full. Obviously, the Parisians chose to stay home in front of their radios, for news of the attack on Taranto, Algiers and London were announced shortly after noon and that Rome has reluctantly recognized around 18:00. Both duo headlining the program for the evening are yet to attract tons of attention: Marcel Deat and Jacques Doriot announced the creation of the French Revival Party, the PRF. Doriot, thanks to the members of his PPF, said taking control of the new party, while Deat hopes to take this opportunity to reverse its benefit balance of political forces. Both compete eloquently against those Doriot called "The Emigrants"Comparing Algiers in Koblenz and repeating that does not entail the Fatherland on the soles of his shoes! Deat booed by participants participation of French forces in Operation Judgment: "The men of Algiers, the men of yesterday, the men of the Old Regime were to prostitute our sailors and our airmen, to sell to the English against the Italian fleet with the dirty work the Royal Navy was not! How John Bull did he pay, gentlemen of Algiers, to make available a bit of French blood? Mr. Churchill was not he satisfied by that which has made our poor soldiers on all battlefields of France in favor of bankers in London? My friends! There must be incapable of harming these dealers in human flesh! Against the enemies of New France and New Order, I appeal to redemptive St. Bartholomew! "
August 25
Liverpool
The Belgian transport Thysville and Mar del Plata sailed for Casablanca on board with a batch of 29 Fairey Battle and their crews for the Belgian Military Aircraft in North Africa. In Morocco, reinforcements assembled in North Africa among various Belgian units evacuated from France will replace the Battle ships continue their voyage to Congo, where 15 Battle (which should continue through East Africa) have been delivered late flight July[3].
Strasbourg
The command of the German occupation forces said the attachment to the Reich of Alsace-Moselle. Frontier 1914 is restored. The use of French was prohibited in the territories concerned. Residents "Aryan race " (in practice: born in Alsace) are considered German citizens and, as such, subject to military obligations. The bishop of Metz, known for his hostility to the Nazi regime, is expelled.
Algiers
For the first time, listeners hear the announcer saying a new ad: "French Broadcasting, National Studio of Algiers, here is the newsletter». It will be repeated in each newsletter for more than four months.
Sicily
During the bombing of airfields on the island, AA fire knocks out the left engine of the LeO 451 of Lieutenant Philippart. The aircraft was destabilized and went into a spin, which Philippart managed to escape after losing altitude. This placed him at the mercy of Fiat CR.42. The plane had lost half its power, Philippart cannot escape and was shot down. His plane crashed at sea a few miles away. Philippart ordered the crew to jump, but only the gunner gets out alive and can tell after the war what happened.
Thus fell a hero, first Belgian to have resumed fighting in the Mediterranean. "Pilot exceptional, it was customary airshows where he accumulated dangerous acrobatics. Philippart had also played an important role in the modernization of the Belgian pilot training before the war, based on the internship he had done in October 1939 to the RAF. " (General Crahay, 20 heroes among us, 1940-1964, Ed J. M. Collet)
Central Mediterranean
00h10 GMT - The majority of the French squadron (Dunkirk and Strasbourg, Lorraine, 1era and 3e Divisions cruisers and their escorts), accompanied by Carlisle, Separates the Mediterranean Fleet and headed to Oran and Mers-el-Kebir. The Bearn, Courbet and escorts remain temporarily in the eastern Mediterranean.
At dawn, the aircraft carrier Argus heavy cruiser Cumberland and destroyers Faulknor and Forester join the French squadron. They come from Alexandria, where Argus has left its 18 aircraft to serve as reserves for the three aircraft carriers remaining in the Mediterranean. The carrier must first return to Gibraltar and then Liverpool. After having escorted to Gibraltar, the Faulknor and Forester will remain in the Western Mediterranean. While the four cruisers were grouped in the large base of Tunisia with a few escorts, the remaining vessels is divided between ports of Sousse and Sfax.
08h32 - The squadron is joined by five destroyers cons of intact 6e8e and 10e DCT, left Tripoli (two destroyers damaged August 20, Audacieux and MogadorHave already arrived at Bizerte for repairs).
1647 - While at 18 knots, the Argus group approaches the Sicilian narrows, where they are sighted by a CANT Z.501. Using the cloud cover, this aircraft shadows the force. The information is acted on quickly by the Italians, who decide to send against this enemy the Stuka squadron "Picchiatelli" Maggiore of Ercolano Ercolani. The allied ships have increase their speed to 20 knots (maximum speed that can given Argus). The dive bombers locate the force and use the clouds to avoid her fighters. They were not aware that the carrier was actually empty. Six Ju-87B conduct a letter-perfect attack on Argus.
What nobody else knows except the CO of Argus and his bridge crew is that the ship has reconditioned destroyer boilers from her 1935 refit. These give her a considerable excess of steam. Her powerplant is unbalanced. She also has old-fashioned and over-engineered mercantile turbines which can accept overload conditions. What this means is that Argus is unique – she is the only ship in the world which can conduct radical turns and not lose speed during the turn, simply by using the excess steam and overloading the turbines during such turns.
Despite a letter perfect attack, all the bombs miss because Argus dodges them. This marks the start of her legendary nickname, ‘The Bomb-Dodger’.
Strait of Otranto
A small Italian convoy from Brindisi to Valona was attacked by a British force detached from the squadron of Admiral Lyster cons (cruisers Orion, Ajax and Sydney, Destroyers Nubian and Mohawk, Commanded by Sir Henry Pridham-Wippel). The Italian cargo Premuda (4 427 GRT) and Catalani (2 429 GRT) is sunk, the destroyer Nicolo Fabrizi is seriously damaged and only the auxiliary cruiser Ramb III gets out unscathed. The latter owe their survival to the unexpected arrival of four MAS Brindisi, which feared a trap for the British and the incentive to retire after a partial success.
Brindisi
Surprised by the magnitude of the disaster of Taranto, the Duce demanded reprisals. Surprise may be: the Regia Aeronautica is ready to respond instantly to the call of the head! Indeed, a few weeks ago that the Italian strategic aviation prepares a daring raid that its officials are delighted to initiate.
The raid will be led by four massive three-engined Savoia SM.82 transports converted to bombers, a fifth plane being used in support. These aircraft possess qualities of endurance and cargo capacity quite remarkable. They can keep the air up to 15 hours (260 km / h only still), or pull up to 7 tons of payload. the new raid invented by the Italians, it remains a convenient stop Rhodes. So for the Dodecanese that fly five SM.82 crewed handpicked, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (and national secretary of the Fascist Party) Ettore Muti.
Libya - Abyssinnia
Nine SM.82 stage through Giarabub. After an uneventful flight, they arive in Addis Ababa. Overnight, they discharge their cargo, the first eight MC.200 fighters seen in the colony, along with pilots, ground crew and spares. They then return to Benghazi via Giarabub, and prepare for the next delivery.
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Italian East Africa Air Command - North | |||
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• Headquarters |
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Assab |
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• 25th Bomber Squadron |
Ca.133 |
Bahar Dar |
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• 26th Bomber Squadron |
Ca.133 |
Gondar |
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• 27th Bomber Squadron |
Ca.133 |
Assab |
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• 28th Bomber Squadron |
SM.81 |
Zula |
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• 118th Bomber Flight |
Ca.133 |
Assab |
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• Recon Flight "North" |
Ca.133 |
Agordat |
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• 409th Fighter Flight |
Cr-42 |
Massaua |
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• 413th Fighter Flight |
Cr-42 |
Assab |
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Italian East Africa Air Command - Central | |||
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• Headquarters |
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Addis Abeba |
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• 4th Bomber Squadron |
SM.81 |
Scenele |
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• 29th Bomber Squadron |
SM.81 |
Assab |
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• 44th Bomber Squadron |
SM.79 |
Ghiniele |
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• 49th Bomber Squadron |
Ca.133 |
Gimma |
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• 41st Recon Flight |
Ca.133 |
Addis Abeba |
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• 110th Recon and Fighter Flight (Cr-32 ex the 410th) |
Ro.37 Cr-32 |
Dire Daua |
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Ethiopia Fighter Group (formed Aug 40, reloc. from Dire Daua) |
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• 410th Fighter Squadron (formerly Flight) |
MC.200 |
Addis Ababa |
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• 411th Fighter Squadron (formerly Flight) |
MC.200 |
Addis Ababa |
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Italian East Africa Air Command - South | |||
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• Headquarters |
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Mogadiscio |
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• 31st Bomber Squadron |
Ca.133 |
Neghelli |
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• Recon Flight "South" |
Ca.133 |
Mogadiscio |
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August 26
Libya
The D’Avanzo Group is formed, west of Capuzzo. His activities in the region have made it the only area too dangerous for Jock Columns to operate.
Rhodes (Airfield Gadurra)
In the heat haze, Ettore Muti, who commanded the raid history, distinguishes the silhouettes of several mechanics perched on the wings of his aircraft. They are charged with a very specific task: the camouflage paint on huge white diamonds. These, illuminated by lights inside the device, used as a benchmark for the other three planes, avoiding using the radio. This is to preserve the element of surprise -- "Although we can assume that wherever we go, people are probably a thousand leagues from suspecting what awaits them! " think the Italian rider.
Each carries SM.82 fifteen hundred pounds of bombs, mostly small projectiles of 50 kg. The tailwind will allow devices in overload extend their range of almost an hour.
The crews earn their equipment and trying to get comfortable, thermos of coffee and snacks on hand. The distance is such that to enjoy the protection of the night on the goal, equipment must part fifteen hours before the scheduled time for the attack. The departure will therefore take place at eleven o'clock in the morning on 26 August. Almost the hottest time of day, and Rhodes is a credit to his reputation tourism: the weather is beautiful and the hot sun. The launch promises to be difficult ...
11:00 - The engines are started, heavy machinery leaving one by one their site and earn the end of the runway. Twenty tons removed with three engines of 800 hp on a dirt track ... In the cockpit, the tension rises gradually as the bombers are slow, very slow speed. Put the machine in flight line and then carefully but firmly pull on the handle and finally leave the ground ...
The four bombers fly smoothly and blend into the blue sky. They will need more than one hour to reach 6 000 feet elevation of part of their mission.
The first critical point is Palestine, the land under British mandate, which they reached after 6 hours of flight at 250 km / h average. The devices are still far from their target, the oil complex in Manama, is located in the Arabian Peninsula and whose role is critical for supplying the Royal Navy. But the Italian bombers, the danger decreases gradually as they move closer to Iraq: British air forces in the area are scarce, scattered and outdated.
Night falls. The bombers are now at 9 000 feet. The diamonds painted on the wings proved their usefulness in the long and dreary journey of vast desert areas. Syria, Iraq and finally the Persian Gulf after Basra. Muti and his teammates prepare for their attack in a total radio silence.
The fifth unit, which reached Eritrea, should be ready to refuel or troubleshoot aircraft Muti if they were prone to failure over the Arabian Peninsula.
August 27
London
The Council of Ministers of the Belgian Government obtains a note from the Minister of National Defense, General Denis, on the reorganization of the Belgian forces in England and North Africa. Then Spaak, very nervous, relates his meeting with Crown Prince to his colleagues.
Pierlot -- We apologize, never! It's the world upside down: the king has committed a serious error by refusing to accompany us, he failed to commit more serious in dealing with the Germans. By rallying around him with the oath of Leopoldville, we have shown clearly that we are ready to let bygones be bygones. The King to do the same!
De Schrijver -- However, the documents we received from Viscount Berryer show us that we probably misinterpreted the intentions of the King. We should have set the record straight from June 10, as I suggested then.
Spaak -- How can we make publicly carrier at odds with the statements of Messrs. Churchill and Reynaud? We depend entirely on them for continuing the war.
At this time, comes the subtle Minister of State Henry Carton de Wiart, who last month seeking a solution to the impasse " Gentlemen, can I afford to make a suggestion? We all understand that it is now impossible to disentangle the skein of events that occurred around May 28 Too many facts are still unknown. And as noted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, even if the Allies tolerate, even encourage, the Belgians rallying around the King prisoner, we can adopt a position that would publicly question the remarks by the leaders their respective Governments. We must therefore adopt a position that allows us to postpone the resolution of this issue in more favorable circumstances. So why not ensure the Crown Prince - and especially those, and that is it not that the advice - that the Government will not only continue, as it does for a month to show their support the position of king, but he will be fully prepared when the time comes, to take all remedial measures necessary. We invoke the diplomatic necessities and the need for further clarification to postpone the moment of truth. "
After a few more minutes of discussion, other ministers eventually join without enthusiasm at the proposal of Carton de Wiart. A delegation of Pierlot, Spaak and Janson, or leaders of the three parties represented in government, will as soon as possible in Basingstoke for a further meeting with the Prince.
Port Said
Following a false move, cargo Baalbeck and Sidi Aissa, Planned for the second echelon convoy of Operation Cordite, the collision occurred at the harbor entrance. They get away with few weeks of downtime. To compensate for their absence and disappearance of Vulcan. The British are available to French freighters Clan Campbell and GlaucusWhich, once discharged, as was held awaiting their return to Gibraltar and England.
Libya
The troops of brigadi Campbell entering El Agheila.
Manama (Emirate of Bahrain)
Along the Persian Gulf, the war seems distant to the staff of oil companies located in the comfortable bungalows. The main threats here are scorpions and heat stroke - because it is 50 ° C in the shade ... Fortunately, the night brings a very relative freshness.
On the stroke of 3 o'clock in the morning, bright explosions disturb the quiet of the desert and make the earth shake. As explained by Major Raina, one officer bomber this: "The target was easily identified, because the wells and refineries were bright as day. The English gave us the same courtesy to turn the spotlight of the airstrip nearby, I guess they thought for a moment that the approaching aircraft may belong to the enemy! "
One SM.82 lost contact with the leader and dropped his half ton of bombs on the facility in Dhahran, 30 miles west into Saudi territory.
Awakened with a start, the military and civilian officials give warning ... without knowing exactly what the attackers. Corsairs German and Italian submariners, paratroopers or camel, Fifth Column (the Germans have long struggled to turn the natives against the British presence), all hypotheses are considered and all available forces were put on alert and crisscross the area. Without more, the AA opened fire indiscriminately and rages for several minutes, the red tracers streaking the night in a horrible crash.
At daybreak, it becomes clear that it was an air raid carried out by a small number of aircraft. The projectiles were in fact caused little damage because the Italian pilots were ordered to cover the evacuation of flares waste gas, easily recognizable by their bright orange color. But they knew that the flares were removed from the facility a few days ago.
As soon as the first explosions, SM.82 have set sail on their landing point, Asmara, Italian East Africa. The crews relax, proud of having reached their target. A few hours of flight over Saudi and it finished after nearly 16 hours and 4 000 km of flight crews exhausted raise their three-engined, whose reservoirs are almost dry on the trail of Asmara . They are most warmly welcome they make a few kilograms of supplies (including drugs) and some sacks of mail for the fighters. The Duke of Aosta in person just congratulating Ettore Muti for his feat.
The announcement of the successful raid will raise the morale of AOI and the whole of Italy ... for a few days. For Mussolini, the propaganda operation is completely successful and may be paraded on the screens of newsreels and multiply the Italian sounding speech, even referring to the refueling aircraft for submarines! The warning in the direction of the United States could not be clearer ...
The protests of the allies and Washington remain unanswered. Oil concessions in Bahrain, independent state, are indeed granted to the Texas Corporation and Standard Oil of California, American companies (like most of their staff). But the Italian government has no trouble recalling that Standard Oil is controlled by British capital and Bahrain a protectorate of Her Majesty.
Muti and his men will return to Rhodes a few days later ... just in time to watch helplessly at the beginning of Franco-British operations in the Dodecanese. They will return to Italy as soon as possible with their all too vulnerable SM.82, dropping a few bombs in passing on the facilities of Port Sudan.
In Manama, after the first panic, the British will repair the damage within one week. For Axis, the more positive the result will be the requirement for the Allies to strengthen air defenses and ground oil installations in redeploying a fighter squadron, two infantry battalions and some anti-aircraft batteries.
Indian Ocean, south of Madagascar
The German raider Pinguin locates and inspects, through his seaplane He-114 A-2 bearing false marks RAF tanker ally carrying aviation gasoline with high octane. On the same day, he runs a second tanker moving empty to the Persian Gulf, and a freighter. But the three ships sent out distress messages and Captain Kruder must resolve to scuttle its decision (decision that will be charged by the SKL[4]Given the value of its cargo) and leave the area urgently. Although it takes, because the Royal Navy has dispatched two light cruisers, HMS Neptune and ColomboAnd two auxiliary cruisers, the HMS Arawa and Kanimbla.
August 28
Versailles
The GPEF (known to the Allies by the deliberately belittling term ‘Vichy Regime’) takes a series of decrees-laws, which complement very well for muscle arsenal of repressive new regime.
The first two address the favorite targets of political forces amalgamated around Laval. One, for Freemasonry, prohibits "Clandestine movements and factions". Another draft that will be soon the status of Jews: the industrial and commercial property belonging to "Persons of Jewish race" (whose definition remains to clarify!) were nationalized.
Another decree establishes the Department of Central Prisons and Camps Relegation (SCPCR) under the Ministry of Justice. Yet another scheme creates the internment of security.
Is then published an initial list of senior officials suspended " anti-national attitude. " Among the targets of this treatment is the prefect of Eure-et-Loir, Jean Moulin, a former chief of staff of Pierre Cot. The same day, it will also benefit the two previous decrees: just laid off, it is indeed interned "Preventively".
Other members of the Prefectural have better luck. Thus, the Secretary General of the Prefecture of the Marne, Rene Bousquet, who has maintained order in his department in the absence of the warden is appointed prefect. He will continue in Laval on work undertaken under running Reynaud and will thus be representative of a large number of administrators, whose actions during the Occupation is summarized by their legal troubles after the war.[5]
Finally, the GPEF shows he also knows to be generous. Thus the final decree of the day door amnesty for all convicted for belonging to Secret Committee of Revolutionary Action (better known as the balaclava). It is true that they are guilty only of murder, kidnapping, intelligence with a foreign power and other trifles.
Eastern Mediterranean
The Italian submarine FisaliaSent on patrol off the coast of Cyrenaica, not back. It is considered lost. Suppose then that was torpedoed by a British submarine, but at least two swear having obtained such a victory, and none was in the patrol area of Fisalia.
Libya
Twelve SM.82 stage to Giarabub oasis, where they refuel, then fly to Addis Ababa. All twelve arrive after an uneventful flight, unloading 8 more MC.200, crew, parts and spares, and 20mm Solothurn AT guns. This brings the total of MC.200 delivered to 16.
August 29
La Spezia
" After the terrible Franco-British raid on Taranto, Supermarina, traumatized, looking for an answer if possible "to reduce the score" but also to restore the honor of the Italian Navy in the eyes of our fellow citizens. Once again, the only wildcard available to the staff was using secret weapons. Admiral de Courten GeneralMAS (Inspector General means of assault, which depended on the secret weapons) we visited to order a new operation even more daring. The results of the first operation had been digested, the men were ready. "(Francisco marlieri. Audere Semper Memento - Luigi Durand de la Penne, story of a Gold Medal. Rome, 1965).
August 30
Turin
Today, Italian newspapers have a comment about the official meeting Mussolini-Laval. According to the newspapers fascist leader of GPEF just a halter ask Duce conditions of forgiveness of Italy.
Unlike Hitler, Mussolini was clear on its requirements for a future peace treaty. He claims Tunisia, a 50-year lease on the mineral resources of Algeria and the demilitarization of Corsica, Nice and Savoy (not even hide it for him is the prelude to annexation of these three territories).
Central Mediterranean
Operation Ravenna
2000 GMT (21h00 French time and British Summer Time [BST], 22.00 Italian time), Sousse - Check the sloops-draggers Chamois, The Battle and The Curious, Which must allow the force to attack Pantelleria a passage in the mine field stretched between the island and Lampedusa, and whose recent misfortune of cargo Clan Cumming revealed.
... ... ...
2110 GMT, Sousse -- Departure, is heading north-east, five troop transports for the attack on Pantelleria Under the escort of destroyers MN Trombe, Bombard, Iphigenia and Pomona and DDAA HMS Wryneck, 24, arrived in Malta.
... ... ...
2110 GMT, Bizerte -- The heavy cruisers MN Foch and HMS Cumberland out of the French base, accompanied by light cruisers MN Emile Bertin and HMS Dragon and destroyers HMS Echo, Eclipse, Escapade, GreyhoundAll six arrived in the western Mediterranean on 23, two days before the heavy cruisers. The support force must return troop convoy just west of the center line Pantelleria Lampedusa. Taking the safe route qu'auront contrived avisos-draggers, the two groups must travel together for some time to Malta prior to the bow to the port of Pantelleria.
... ... ...
22:30, Aerodrome Naples - The successive arrivals of ships to Bizerte allies have not escaped the Italian spies operating in Tunisia. Duly alerted, the Regia Marina was not too excited by the arrival of heavy cruisers. On 26 and August 27, Supermarina pointed emphatically to this Superaereo "Goal that is worthwhile". But the airmen wanted to complete the redeployment and reorganization of the 2 bomberse Air Wing, on the grounds of 3e and 4e Wings. The 30, all is finally a posto and a raid goes off with 24 SM-79: twelve "Sicilians" of 30e Bombardment Regiment of land and twelve devices provided equally by the two squadrons (206e and 207e) Of 42e BT Group, came to Orvieto.
... ... ...
22h40 GMT, Sfax - Out of the seven vessels aimed Pelagian Islands Among them, the Polish destroyer Garland, Came to Malta with HMS Wryneck 24.
Vienna
In an attempt to secure support against the German expansonnisme Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Manoilescu not hesitate to initial the "Second Vienna Award, which yields to the very pro-Nazi Hungary whole Northern Transylvania (over 40 000 km2 and over two and a half million inhabitants).
So, taking advantage of the difficulties of Romania, Bulgaria put pressure on its neighbor for a return to 1912 borders. It will obtain the surrender of South Dobrudja September 7, when the Treaty of Craiova.
Dodecanese (Rhodes)
01h27 GMT (03h27 GMT +2) - A six SM.79 of 34e BT Group returned from a raid on Alexandria. The fourth aircraft to land belonging to the 67e squadron, landed too long. As a result of a sudden brake abruptly pilot, the aircraft skidded to the left, leaving the runway and crashed in turn will service a tractor and a truck. Three crew members were slightly injured and SM.79 is only good supply parts.
This is the second bomber lost Aeronautics Aegean during the night raids carried out since June on Alexandria, Haifa and Beirut, more rarely on Cyprus, first by only SM.81 then also by SM.79 reinforcements arrived August 10. Performed most often by small groups of six to ten aircraft, such bombings have not obtained significant results: the Mediterranean Fleet never stopped using Alexandria. In return, they were not too expensive for the Italian airmen. If some units are returned damaged or with casualties on board, only one aircraft was destroyed by the AA opponent, in this case a SM.81 of 200e BT squadron shot down over Alexandria July 23 (no survivors).
Eastern Africa
The Italians controlled Somaliland, but they face north, with a strong perimeter defense ally organized around Obock, Djibouti and Zeila. The garrison in Djibouti has been reinforced by French troops transferred from Madagascar (1er and 2e Regiments mixed Malagasy [MMR] and two independent groups of colonial artillery [GAAC]) with some freighters and cruise ships Chairman Doumer and Felix Roussel. In Zeil, the Camel Corps was joined by the 2e Battalion Black Watch.
Several Italian attacks have already met with a defense very reactive, not hesitating to attack-cons.
The Duke of Aosta, arguing that its numerical superiority will feel better on most fronts expanded, Kenya and Sudan, decides to proclaim his victory over Somaliland and leave troops to retreat against Zeila and "fortress" of Djibouti, while preparing an offensive to Khartoum. Consequently, many troops are going back to Ethiopia and Eritrea.
In Italy, Mussolini is quick to exploit this, praising the prowess of the Italian army which "Conquered in the Horn of Africa a great country like England". In fact, Somaliland does virtually no economic nor strategic for the Italians, since the Red Sea fleet is unable to pass through the Indian Ocean where the Allied bases are already within the 'Italian Air Force.
The Italians go by cons continue the process of unification of Ogaden, which began with the conquest of Ethiopia. This historic area includes the eastern part of Ethiopia and the border area of Djibouti, Somaliland, Kenya and Somalia, predominantly populated by Muslim Somalis. The Somali clans were arbitrarily separated by borders Anglo-Italo-Ethiopian. The elimination of these artificial boundaries and the unification of the Somali peninsula will allow the Italians to set prices, to impose taxes and a common currency for the whole area, helping to tip the traditional exchange in kind to a monetary system.
August 31
North Sea
Bad day for the British Admiralty: a British fleet trying to intercept German ships fell into a minefield. The destroyer Esk flowing immediately, while Express and Ivanhoe are heavily damaged. The second will be scuttled the next day.
Casablanca
" What excitement! From the top of the Gateway ThysvilleI watch with fascination the port cranes installed on the bridge Copacabana aircraft arrived there three days of Oujda. Tomorrow we sail for Matadi with material that just arrived from England and what we could glean from the remains recovered at the "big move".
But how did I get here? Through an indiscretion captured in a cafe in Oran, I learned that they would send a detachment to join the artillery brigade of the Police Force who was preparing to march against the Italians in Abyssinia. It was an opportunity I could not miss! I immediately made the seat of Colonel Van Roosbroeck to get to accompany our gunners. Alas, my complete lack of military training did not make me a priority candidate. Never mind, I went to see Colonel Gilbert, the deputy Lieutenant General Wibier for him to assert that a good pen is welcome to tell future exploits of our colonial troops. Some stories of heroic victories are much needed to raise the morale of our soldiers and recruits brinquebalées since May of moving into makeshift camp. Colonel Gilbert was friendly to my patriotic ardor, but did not conceal the difficulties. Then I played my trump card, writing to Count d'Aspremont-Lynden, our Minister of Agriculture, London. With such powers, poor though it was boring! D'Aspremont was my mentor when I attended the young right Catholic party, and I hoped he could help me. Three weeks later I was back at Colonel Gilbert, receiving my instructions, and a train ticket to Casablanca.
Ah, the Congo! Every child I have dreamed to visit our tenth province upriver in dugout, meet pygmies in the depths of the jungle, enjoy the civilizing of our administrators and missionaries, watch the sunset over the savanna at Lake Kivu. I was finally able to visit this wonderful land that the genius of Leopold II had bequeathed to Belgium. "
Jo Gerard War reporter, op.cit.
Off the Western Isles
The steamer Belgian Ville de Hasselt was torpedoed by the submarine U-47.
Sicily and Sardinia
Confirming the reports of the concentration of means of transport in the French ports of North Africa, the Allied operation launched against Pantelleria Pelagie Islands and is feared to Mussolini and Marshal Pietro Badoglio, chief of the state General Staff (Stato Maggiore Generale - Stamag - or Commando Supremo), the next attack against Sicily or Sardinia. In the morning the three armed forces present in the two main islands were ordered to move in a state of heightened alert. Under this order, the land forces of mobile defense take more active positions. Not too many illusions in both cases, since it is at present in each island, plus a few coastal defense battalions, two infantry divisions.
Mussolini Badoglio immediately send more troops to Sicily. It will thus receive in the first weeks of September, two additional divisions, the divisions of infantry mountain XIVe Body previously attached to the 8e Army (32e Walking and 38e Puglie) To speed up the defense of the island, the Italians will even late September the risk of double track near-Earth Strait of Messina by the organization of maritime convoys from Naples, which will allow French submarines win some successes.
As for Sardinia, it will have to do its part with the only means at hand. As regards the Army, General Augusto De Pignier, commander of the XIIIe Corps and its subordinate working to prevent possible threats. In the north, General Petra di Caccuri tries to make his division, 31e Calabria, Able to respond both to Porto Torres qu'Alghero, without neglecting the possibility of a landing in Gallura. To the south, General Scanagatta is working with its 30e Division Sabauda, To cover both Oristano and Cagliari. The redeployment of troops will be completed September 3.
Central Mediterranean
Operation Ravenna
00h15 GMT, Bizerte - The AA cruiser HMS Carlisle located at Mers-el-Kebir and the radar evacuated Toulon not yet become fully operational, the possibility of an early warning is based only on the means of acoustic detection. This allows the formation of Italy, reduced to twenty-three aircraft, Quite ready to reach its goal before the alarm is given. Nine French fighter night available then take off very late, with inaccurate information. The SM-79 thus arrive unmolested over the naval base, but the targets for which they have made the trip have disappeared! While many bombs, and for good reason, fall into the water, one of them hit the dock which was docked three hours before the cruiser Foch! Some are still of damage: in addition to some damage to buildings of the arsenal of Sidi Abdallah, a fire bomb the oil barge Bitumen, Which will burn for hours and irreparable damaged, will be sold for demolition. However, the AA damage more or less seriously, four of the attackers. On the way home that they are overtaken by night fighters. Rendering easily identifiable by an engine fire, a SM.79 of the 206e BT squadron is shot down by a Potez 631. Sergeant Roger Savage managed to intercept one of Savoia intact, but it can only damage, problems with its left engine forcing it to stop the prosecution.
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02h52 GMT, off Pantelleria - The allied force reached the east of the island and headed west. While the five transport progressing under the protection of four French destroyers and HMS WryneckThe strength of the support ahead. Preceded by a good distance destroyers HMS Echo (port) and HMS Eclipse (starboard), the advance in two columns: the port followed by the British cruisers HMS GreyhoundTo starboard, followed by French cruisers. While everything had proceeded smoothly until a grain of sand is the reverse engineering - or rather, three grains three Spica class torpedo boats of the 2e Fleet, the Altair (FC Del Cima, head of fleet) Alcione (Bonatti LV) and Aretusa (LV Castelli della Vinca). Sailing yesterday morning from their base of Messina, the three destroyers went to Palermo to pick up the equivalent of half a battalion of infantry to reinforce the garrison of Pantelleria. They returned to sea at 18h05 GMT (20h05 Italian time) and arrived safely at half past five later. Having landed their passengers, they have begun returning to Messina, completing a circumnavigation of Sicily.
At 02h52 GMT, therefore (time recorded so concordant with the two camps), A look of theAltair seen at least 800 meters on the port bow, the silhouette of the Eclipse, Illuminating the way Allied ships, while the destroyer watch simultaneously sees the little Italian destroyer. Knowing only Italian force at sea in these latitudes, CF Del Cima immediately reacts: it is forcing the speed and opened fire while launching its torpedo port. Launch vain prompt handling of the Eclipse allowing him to avoid this threat. However, while following their leader, the Alcione and Aretusa perceive, at 02:54, at 700 meters on the starboard bow, a second figure, that of the Echo.
A minute later the Italian sentries on either side discern another ship, much larger: the heavy cruisers Foch and Cumberland. A sad fate seems destined for the small Italian division. But his chief took a risky decision that will assure his salvation. The two enemy cruisers sailing parallel, spaced approximately 1 000 meters, he ordered his two sailors back to follow between them at full speed, not without reason considering that his opponents can hardly make use of their main armament without risking inflict reciprocal damage. Taking all their guns, three "Spica" then move at speed into the allied ships to discover, once crossed the downforce, there are other opponents a little farther! This time Del Cima orderes to proceed northward emitting smoke and three Italians melt into the darkness. Given the velocity addition fighters when they are crossed (about one hundred km / h!), The action is brief, so brief that despite the short distance, no torpedoes launched by the Italians n ' reached his goal, no time to adjust fire. The Italian destroyers have been firing guns of medium and small caliber allies, but, as expected, the larger pieces remain silent time. This does not prevent some damage by friendly fire in the Franco-British: two 100 mm shells qu'encaisse the Foch, One was probably the CumberlandWhile the DragonThe three injured sailors have probably been in the firing of theEmile Bertin. Italian Training is doing but does not free. Located in the rear, theAretusa Cash including two rounds of 90 mm (French) at the bow and most importantly, once some distance from the combined training, a shell of 152 mm from HMS Dragon, Which destroys one of his pieces of 100 mm rear and reduced mobility of the other. In total, the Italian losses amounted to five killed and 27 injured, 3 killed and 16 wounded on theAretusa. The Allies lost 4 killed and 11 wounded, the biggest damage being suffered by theIphigeniaWhich part of 100 mm before was destroyed by a direct hit from theAltairThen she rushed forward, with Trombe, Bombard and PomonaTo take the "Spica" away from transportation.
The case has not affected the fighting ability of the allied force. But the surprise is actually stale, CF Del Cima that reported in clear and all the echoes of his meeting with "A strong enemy force of four cruisers, destroyers at least six but several transport", Enemy force "Moving towards Pantelleria.
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03h05 GMT, off Pantelleria - Having realized (but secure) in Algiers from untoward incident, Admiral Edmond Derrien says he will still try to implement the original plan by starting immediately, as expected, two transports and some 2 000 soldiers on the port or ports specifically contiguous (Vieux Port and Port Neuf) Pantelleria, where they should arrive around 0345 GMT, with quarter of an hour ahead of schedule originally set. Pushing the speed to 23 knots, the transport Prince Baudouin, Carrying about 1 100 men of 2e Foreign Infantry Regiment (REI), and the liner NewhavenWith the onboard I / 4e REI and the rest of 2e REI, rush to Pantelleria. Adapting to new circumstances, the destroyer MN Trombe and the destroyers HMS Echo, Escapade and Greyhound the frame to provide them if needed in support of their guns and the protection of smoke screens.
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03h25 at 03h41 GMT, off Pantelleria - Transport and their escorts arrive within range of the four 152 mm guns of the battery Bellotti. And it is wide awake. A burst of star shells suddenly illuminates the Allied ships. The shells began to fall, still unclear. Five minutes later, it was the turn of five pieces of 120 mm battery Caminiti into action.
The situation of French-British vessels deteriorates rapidly. In his memoirs (Heading for Victory) Captain Lepotier, who then commanded the destroyer Trombe with the rank of Commander, and reported the first hits enemies, obtained by the battery Bellotti: "Depending on Newhaven like his shadow, I see a heavy heart Italian shells exploding in the back of his superstructure. I order to force the speed to bring us up to him and interpose a smoke screen between him and the Italian guns. Suddenly, my poor Trombe shuddered under the impact of a shell which has hit the stern. Moment of anxiety while awaiting the report on the damage received. Relieved to learn that they are not material and do not diminish our ability to fight ... ". Then the Caminiti battery up a shot on the destroyer Getaway and above another at the stern, just above the waterline on the Prince Baudouin: The explosion disables her rudder. She circles, until we can operate the arm said rudder for the rear compartment. This is too much, especially as the ten guns of 76 mm from the Punta Croce (four) and Punta San Leonardo (six) are in turn entered into the dance and put one after four rounds on the Prince BaudouinCaught in the beams of several searchlights. They killed one and injured four crew, seven dead and twelve wounded in the ranks of 2e REI.
Admiral Derrien decides to order the withdrawal of transport and their escorts, but reached less than 2.5 knots.
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03h42 to 04h 07 GMT, off Pantelleria - Since it is definitely no question of lightning attack, Derrien is faced with the choice: to withdraw immediately, without glory but without much damage, take action in a more classical, trying to land after having silenced the enemy batteries. As he said later, "It was difficult to give up under the eye of English. Since, in its wisdom, the Army had inflated the numbers assigned to Ravenna, we could, we were running our luck in a classic ". Having set in Algiers terms of choice and preference, the admiral continues. However, the main scenario of Ravenna undergoes two changes. On the one hand, Italians are now on their guard, the airborne operation is canceled: the aircraft are recalled in extremis. On the other hand, three sloops, minesweepers were sent to check the possibility for the allied naval force to withdraw to the west of Pantelleria.
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0400 GMT, Porto Empedocle - The Allies were aware that without the power base in Pantelleria, too exposed, the Italians had gathered in the Sicilian port of Porto Empedocle a group of torpedo boats, nine units in total, belonging to 9e10e and 12e MAS flights. The Allies saw the danger posed by their presence within 100 km from the main objective, but if the French had proposed bombing preventive Porto Empedocle, the English were advised not to do so or risk to the Italians. It was decided that Martin 167F Malta celebrities attack the nest at the very hour when the assault would be launched from the port of Pantelleria. At the appointed hour, then fourteen aircraft squadrons B3 and B4, bombarding loss Porto Empedocle. In vain, or almost, because MAS available (7 of 9) are then being from the onslaught of the invading force, the warning was given! Already open water or leaving their berth in haste, escape the bombs all French, except MAS-519 and MAS-527, which are damaged. The French sink with bombs also a very small trawler (30 GRT) and two fishing boats ...
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0400 GMT, off Lampedusa and Linosa - The ship sent against the Pelagian islands were placed under the command of Captain Guillerm (taken from his battleship Paris reduced to a harbour depot ship), which has put its flag on the destroyer MN Alcyon. As the Commander of Bourgoing, head of the 8e division of destroyers, he was given the responsibility of making Linosa. Warned that the Italians must now be alert, Guillerm, however, decided not to rush. Allied forces are therefore presented on time before their goals. A Linosa, the destroyer Bordeaux and the destroyer ORP Garland wait 04h30 and visibility before bombing the island. In Lampedusa, while moving slowly, paravanes outputs, to seek (unsuccessfully) mines, The Impetuous plays the goat to 3 nautical miles from the port to bring guns to unmask Italian. Thus provoked, the battery Lanterna finally opened fire and put a shell on the small vessel. But she was immediately taken to task by the destroyers HMS Gallant and Inglefield and by theAlcyon.
04h30 at 08h15 GMT, Pantelleria - The batteries defending the access port of Pantelleria are extensively bombed. First, by the allied cruisers, whose shot was set for the French, by two Loire 130 catapulted by the Foch and, for English, two of the Walrus Cumberland.
An incident temporarily forced the Allied fleet to release the pressure: the attack at 05h33 by the six MAS from Porto Empedocles, who arrived at 30 knots. They attack but heavy fire forces them to fire from too loonmg a range, and th torpedoes are avoided.. Five of MAS launched in vain. The MAS-515 could not get a good position, hit an engine out of service, she retired at 20 knots with a shot on board.
Then, the island is attacked by nearly one hundred bombers from Tunisia. Among them, four Fairey Battle and three Douglas DB-8 Belgian, who take two raids, attacking in turn the batteries of Punta Croce and Punta San Leonardo, which they inflict serious damage. During the first raid, Battle hit a crash with his load of bombs on the battery Punta Croce, destroying one room, in the second, another Battle damaged, can landing near the Tunisian coast, its crew saved. The other bombers, attacking in horizontal flight and high altitude, have no loss. They pounded the batteries defending the port but also seek other points of the island, including the damaging power.
05h10 at 06h55 GMT, Lampedusa - Battery Lanterna has been properly stunned by Allied ships, after having hit once theInglefield who had taken the risk to approach within 000 yards of 6 to better adjust his shot. The battery has only a piece of state benefit.
Preceded by theImpetuous the transport Princess Marie-Jose then advances to the port where she dropped anchor at 05:21 AM, according to his logbook. The last 76/40 Italian tries to attack her, but he just misses and was immediately silenced by the Impetuous and the Inglefield. The 530 Legion of II / 4e REI begin immediately to land. Their entry into action is however hampered by the indirect fire of the five 90 mm cannon battery Punta Alaimo, who forced the Princess Marie-Jose to maneuver and change the anchor. But guns are both anti-ship and anti-air, so open, and they must deal shortly after to defend against the Martin 167F GB I/63 and II/63 from Malta then the Gallant and Alcyon will in turn hire. However, as a precaution, the coach left the Belgian port once the last Legionnaires landed, pending the final neutralization of 90/53. Meanwhile, the Legionnaires, soon took control of the port, attacked from behind and remove the battery Lanterna.
06h30 at 0715 GMT, Linosa - After two hours of bombardment, the Bordeaux and Garland anchored to the height of Scalo Vecchio, put their boats into the sea and began to land some 200 of Legionnaires II / 4e REI. They landed virtually unopposed and come together to undertake the conquest of the small island.
7h05 at 06h55 GMT, Airports of Southern Italy - The Regia Aeronautica, which has been properly alerted because of early detection of the allied fleet, made off the land south of the peninsula (from Viterbo to Naples via Rome) 30 bombers SM.79. The Sparviero are joined over Sicily by an escort of 32 Fiat CR.42.
The Italians are hoping that the raid "classic", it gives results or not, will attract the attention of the French hunting and enable a surprise attack on 20 Ju-87B2 of 96e Group Autonomous dive-bombing, commanded by Maggiore Ercolano Ercolani. Extra precaution, the precious "Picchiatelli, based in Sicily, will have as an escort across the 6e Group Autonomous CT. Equipped with all recent MC.200 Macchi, this group has been grounded by the flight ban that has struck these devices end June He has since moved temporarily Fiat G-50, until the Saetta was again cleared to fly. To avoid that they interfere with each other, Ercolani has decided to initiate its aircraft in two waves, spaced six minutes: the first ten planes of the 236e squadron, and those of 237e.
07h10 at 08h05 GMT, Porto Empedocle - The five intact MAS arrive in port for refueling and rearming. They are surprised by a new raid twelve Martin 167F Malta. Mobilized by the next offensive against the Allied ships, hunting does not Italian. In maneuvering to avoid projectiles, MAS-513 pass too close to the pier, tearing her bow and sank. The MAS-518 and 529 damaged by shrapnel. Once again, the French also affect civilian boats: a schooner trading from 89 GRT is destroyed and another fishing boat. However, the AA shoots down one of Martin of B1 (the three-man crew can evacuate and were taken prisoner) and damaged two other aircraft (one from B3 - two wounded, one of the B1 - a casualty).
The MAS-515 arrives limping shortly after 08:00, while the French bombers were already gone.
08h15 at 08h50 GMT, Pantelleria - The influence seems to have been taken from the Italian batteries. Also Admiral Derrien it comes to order ships Newhaven and Rouen - Bringing the I / 3e and part of IV / 3e RTS and replaces the Prince Baudouin damaged - to rush to the port. This time, the destroyer Trombe and three "600 tons" that must accompany them, holding the smoke screens.
It was at this point that the Regia Aeronautica. Under the plan, the bombers in horizontal flight appear first, biplanes with their escort. On the Allied side, 10 MS-406, GC III / 8 patrol in protecting naval force. In addition, 9 MS-406 GC II/16 and 8 of GC III / 5, assigned to cover the bombers committed against Pantelleria, will come and join the discussions. Finally, reinforcements will soon arrive in Malta: 15 Curtiss GC III / 2 will be on the premises between 08h30 and 08h35, 10 MS-406, GC III / 4 will arrive later in Tunisia.
The results of this first commitment is to support French. The French lost four fighter aircraft (1 Curtiss H-75 and 3 MS-406, one shot by the rear gunner of a SM.79) for eight victories: 6 CR.42 and 2 SM.79. The horizontal flight bombing does not work, except that it requires the Allied ships to disperse.
But, as hoped by the Italians, the first wave of Picchiatelli, which took off twenty minutes earlier from his base near Comiso and was escorted by 14 Fiat G-50, can attack at 08h37 unopposed air. Two by two, Ju.87 prey transport. The two pairs who dive on the ships Newhaven and Rouen have to face the AA lean a little French destroyers and transport themselves. Ercolani himself, who leads the first pair, is a hit in the engine room of the Newhaven, While a second bomb, narrowly missing the Rouen, It causes a major leak. And the four planes depart unscathed. For the six Picchiatelli who targeted three Belgian transports case happens worse because, while having had to maneuver to avoid the bombs SM.79 the DDAA HMS Wryneck remained on guard beside them. The destroyer, whose anti-aircraft fire was very violent for its time, destroyed one of the Ju-87 before he could launch his bomb and hinders the attack of a second, trailing away in a plume of smoke. However, maneuvering more slowly than other transports, the Prince Baudouin can not avoid a projectile that devastates its beach front and cause further losses in the ranks of 2e REI (21 killed and 14 wounded, not counting men intoxicated by the smoke from the fire that ensued, but can be mastered). The Princess Astrid is riddled by shrapnel from a bomb fell near the edge (one marine and three sharpshooters killed, seven wounded soldiers). Only Prince Albert escaped damage.
The second wave, reduced to nine aircraft Has less chance she has to face the 10 MS-406, GC III / 4, soon joined by 4 Curtiss GC III / 2, and 3 other Morane who dropped the melee when their main drivers, recognizing the Ju .87, understood that something was unusual. However, the French fighters are faced with them, besides the 12 Fiat G-50 assigned to the second wave, 8 of those in the first wave (six escorts were escorted the Picchiatelli of 236e squadron). Do not be left hanging by the Italian fighters, two MS-406, GC III / 4 manage to reach the Ju-87 during the approach phase and down one, while Curtiss and Moran are killed, three Fiat. Meanwhile, eight Italian Stukas attacking Allied ships: four are moving on Newhaven and Rouen, On the other three Belgian transports. One of them, followed by an MS-406, can continue his journey to the transports. Instead, escaping her attacker, he dives on HMS Cumberland. Despite the AA of the heavy cruiser, which damages it is the goal. The bomb hit the ship to port and enters the engine room, breaking the passage of steam pipes (eight sailors succumb to burns) and temporarily depriving the cruiser of all energy. But luck is partly with the English sailors: the bomb exploded without apparent between the engine room and a store of 102 mm, causing only limited leakage. Stuka is another victim of gunfire precise Wryneck and the last two of those who attack the transports can be better framed by the Prince Albert. The other four Picchiatelli attack as the year the Newhaven immobilized and Rouen leaky. The first is completed by a second shot at goal and a close shot. The second suffered two hits that increase its nearby damage, reducing his speed to 8 knots. Three of the attackers may withdraw unharmed, the fourth off again damaged by the AA theEmile Bertin who had approached the ships - is caught on the way home by a Curtiss who damages it.
9h30 at 08h50 GMT, off Pantelleria - When the last Italian aircraft was withdrawn, the Regia Aeronautica, for the first time since the conflict began, was clearly victorious. Certainly, she has lost 9 and 6 fighters 6 bombers against French fighter. But by sinking one transport allies and inflicting serious damage to two others (excluding Cumberland), She finally broke the assault against Pantelleria. Indeed, Admiral Derrien is forced to throw in the towel. However, before ordering the withdrawal, it must ensure hi units and recover injured survivors Newhaven. This does not happen without hassle. Taking advantage of the confusion prevailing in the Allied fleet, the batteries of Pantelleria awake. Two guns of the battery Caminiti are still able to shoot and one of them puts a hit on the destroyer Trombe, Claiming its central funnel "The punishment is immediate. In addition to the canons of Trombe, Battery is the target of 152 of theEmile Bertin. A third salvo of this year, a violent explosion occurred and the guns fall silent [The cruiser blew up a munitions store side, serving as a bridge between the powder room and main parts]. As a precaution, the Foch, Helped the Dragon"Trafficking" as battery Bellotti. " (Commander Lepotier, Heading for Victory).
The Trombe, Assisted by three "600 tons" and the destroyer GreyhoundCan then devote themselves to rescuing the passengers and crew Newhaven. Losses were heavy: the legionnaires have killed and 373 missing and 114 injured, 31 crewmen were missing and 16 were wounded. Although the Rouen can still move, Admiral Derrien ordered to evacuate the passengers (who were 5 killed and 11 wounded). The cruiser Emile Bertin recovers in part, the majority were split between the trunks Prince Albert and Princess Astrid. Derrien then divided his forces into two proven. Firstly, the unit can navigate to look good, be referred without delay to Sousse: cruisers Foch, Emile Bertin and DragonOr trunks Prince Albert, Princess Astrid and even Prince BaudouinIncluding machinery and the hull is intact, escorting destroyers English, except WryneckAnd three "600 tons", crowded with passengers. Units injured, HMS Cumberland and liner Rouen, Will retire at 10 knots, protected by the DDAA WryneckThe Trombe and three sloops-draggers. Admiral Derrien chooses to share the fate of this group and transfers his mark on the Trombe. Before leaving the battlefield, the Allied ships were also recovered all the French and Italian airmen shot they could find. The others will be looking for the Italians, it will be worth a pilot of GC III / 8 forgot to finish prisoner ...
09h20 GMT, Linosa -- The island is the first fragment of metropolitan conquered Italy by the Allies. Having been a little over 25% casualties (10 killed and 46 wounded) the garrison capitulated. As for the Legionnaires, they have lost only one killed and 15 wounded. The CF Bourgoing and his Polish counterpart, CF Doroczkowski, then reach down Terride Captain, Detachment Commander of the Legion. A small ceremony of possession was quickly improvised. Courtesy, Bourgoing first hoisted the Polish flag. He will get a little later CV Guillerm that Princess Marie-JoseMomentarily idle in Lampedusa, come to Linosa, escorted by theImpetuous, On board the 61 wounded French and Italian as well as the 147 prisoners valid and picket duty. This will be done shortly after noon. The transports then returns to Lampedusa.
09h30 at 1230 GMT, Sicily Channel - Duly covered by the fighters of the Air Force, which is about twenty turns over each group, and by the Naval Air seaplanes on patrol ASM (joined by those of Foch and Cumberland), The Allied ships take the way back via the western route previously inspected by the minesweepers.
Around 12:00, the Regia Aeronautica is an attempt to attack them. She did not commit his Picchiatelli quite experienced in the early morning attack (4 killed and as many damaged) And reserve for intervention, supposedly less risky around the Pelagian Islands. But crews Sparviero, poorly protected by thin armor, have suffered greatly from the French fighters. It is therefore only 23 SM.79 returning the air, accompanied this time by 22 Fiat CR.42. Spotted by a French reconnaissance plane, intercepted the raid when he will reach the convoy slowly. He faces not only the 8 Curtiss H-75, GC III / 2 and 14 Morane MS-406 that cover it, but the 20 MS-406 rounded up to guard the convoy quickly and 3 other GC Curtiss III / 2 as reinforcements arrived from Tunisia[26]. This time, things can go wrong for the Italian force. French hunters disperse SM-79 and prevent them from bombing with precision. The Italians lost four CR-42 and a Savoia, in exchange for a Curtiss and a Morane.
12:00 GMT, Lampedusa - The Legionnaires complete the conquest of the eastern third of the island by taking the battery Punta Alaimo, the garrison, before going, carefully sabotaged five parts and sighting devices.
13h00 to 13h 15 GMT, Sicily Channel - Building on the information provided by the Regia Aeronautica, the last two MAS operational Porto Empedocle, the MAS-514 and 517, Trying to attack the convoy slowly. Detected by a French aircraft, they are harassed by some Morane MS-406 and turn around.
Overall, the MAS has been well proven, and only two have been sunk and three damaged to varying degrees; Their crews to mourn 4 killed and 10 injured.
16h20 GMT, Malta - To attack without too much opposition Allied ships present at Lampedusa, the Italians, taking a proven recipe, go up against the island fortress a diversionary attack intended to retain the Allied fighter in the skies of Malta. Are involved in the large raid (for the time and the Regia Aeronautica) bombers available in the spring of 4e Wing (or 4e Air Zone Region), except seaplanes Cant Z.506B of 35e Bombing of Marine Regiment, that caution was advised not to undertake day to face the enemy fighter. Total of 37 machines, operating from the aerodrome of Lecce: 16 of 116 Fiat BR.20Me BT Group autonomous, but also 21 of 37 Savoia SM.81e Regiment BTAlthough slower. 2e Autonomous group CT was very mistreated during Operation JudgmentThe protection of the bombers was assigned to the 38 Fiat G.50 available on 22e and 24e Groups CT (52e Regiment CT), moved again in the south of the boot after the attack on Taranto. Given their limited autonomy, fighers operating from Reggio Calabria.
The attack in two waves: first the 21 SM.81, escorted by 20 G.50 of 22e Group, then the 16 BR.20, escorted by 3 G.50 of 22e Group and 15 of 24e.
The Potez 631 Squadron AC2 covering this time the attack of Lampedusa, the first wave, which has not escaped the radar of Dingli Cliff faces 8 Dewoitine 520 of the AC1, 6 Martin 167F B3 of the squadron, and 8 Hurricane[31] and 3 Gladiator of 261 Sqn. After an intense battle, Allied planes 2 and 8 Italian fall. The AC1 shot 3 Fiat G.50 at the price of one of its D-520. The Hurricanes also lost one of their own, but for two G.50 and SM.81. The B3 sends a carpet SM-81 while the Gladiator would adjudge another. A fourth SM-81 succumbed under the blows of the DCA. In return, the little minesweeper HMS Fermoy is sunk in the port and aircraft are affected on the airfields of Luqa and Hal Far: a Martin 167F is destroyed (the GB I/63) and two damaged (one of GB I/63 and II/63 of) as two Curtiss H-75, GC III / 2, while a bomb demolished a Gladiator repair.
The second wave faces 4 D-520 of the AC1, 2 Hurricane, 6 Martin 167F of the squadron B4 and 5 still available Curtiss GC III / 2. The fight is less bloody for the Italians. French and English lose a Martin (three others are damaged) and the Curtiss down three G.50 and two BR.20, a third bomber returning to the DCA. But the Italians bombed again with relative efficiency. Surprising ongoing supply and repair aircraft that have faced the first wave, they destroy a D-520 and Martin of the B3 and damaging two other Dewoitine. In total, the two waves have caused various damage and destroyed eight aircraft allies (4 on the flight and ground 4) for the loss of 15 machines[33] and their crews. But the Italians have achieved their major objective: to prevent the sending of reinforcements to air Lampedusa.
16:30 GMT, Sousse - Steaming at 18 knots, not too experienced the Prince BaudouinThe fast train, which took the precaution sometimes zigzag, joined Sousse. It was preceded by cruiser Emile Bertin who, shortly after 13.00, has slipped to 30 knots and to land its passengers. While the three transports and "600 tonners" entering the port, cruisers and destroyers, joined by Bertin, Leave to Bizerte to 20 knots. Their path crosses that of the submarine Ciro Menotti (LV Feci Carlo di Cossato), Whose attack is the latest manifestation of the Regia Marina in the case. Two torpedoes miss little HMS DragonIn return, the submarine escapes against attack by British destroyers.
16h45 GMT, Lampedusa - Protected by 12 Fiat G-50 of 6e Group Autonomous CT, 8 of 12 Picchiatelli still in flying condition after the two missions in the morning to reach the largest Pelagian. Training Italian case has only 9 Potez 631 Squadron AC2: six of them hire an escort to allow the other three to attack dive bombers. One Ju.87 was killed and another should jettison his bomb prematurely, while two Po.631 and a G-50 fall.
The six remaining Picchiatelli can attack the Allied ships. Anchored in the harbor and just beginning to be manoeuvrable, the transports Princess Marie-Jose is saved by the return of offensive Potez disrupts the attack Ju.87 who had made his target. Maneuvering at high speed, the other ships managed to avoid the bombs, with the exception of HMS Gallant. This is the first victim of a future as the dive-bombing, Lieutenant Giuseppe Cenni, who managed to reach the front: the bomb through the building and explodes on contact with the hull. Lost a good part of her bow, the destroyer will nevertheless survive through the strength of its watertight compartments.
18:00 GMT, Lampedusa - Darkness falls causes the end of ground fighting. Supported (up to air attack) by the firing of the downforce, the legionnaires were removed after the fulcrum point of support, eating into the middle third of the island. But the commander of the garrison, now much diminished, still refuses any notion of surrender. Not yielding ground foot by foot, he fell in the western part of Lampedusa. The Legionnaires will wait until tomorrow to complete the work.
21h30 at 2230 GMT, Bizerte - The seven cruisers and destroyers to reach the height of Bizerte 21:30. Destroyers Echo and Eclipse break away to go wait in the French base Cumberland then escort them to Gibraltar. The five other buildings continue to Oran, where they reach the next day at 23:45.
As the convoy slowly, walking at 10 knots and it also describes zigzags, sometimes in Bizerte 22.30. His probable destination was located at dusk by an SM-79 sent in recognition, which, unlike two of his comrades managed to escape a particularly surly French hunting.
Western Mediterranean
01h34 GMT (03h34 GMT +2) - On patrol off the coast of Algeria, the Italian submarine Tricheco (CC Alberto Avogadro di Cerrione), who navigates the surface near the shore, finds the submarine Souffleur (Lejay LV), returning from an outing of the year and also emerged. Before overview of the French ship, the Tricheco can earn a good launch position. Two torpedoes fired, one reaches the Souffleur and cut in two: there are only five survivors, only four will reach the coast by swimming. The Tricheco, Who had narrowly missed the Proteus in July, is the first Italian submarine to sink an enemy submarine.
