September 1940 (2 / 4)
September 6
Paris
The weekly I Am Everywhere Germans got permission to show. In his first issue, which does not hide his sympathies for Jacques Doriot, a scathing article by Xavier Vallat requires "De-judéification" of France.
Cyprus
10:00 (0800 GMT) - The convoy "Cordite" and his escort leave Limassol and Akrotiri Bay. They were joined at sea by six ships from Famagusta.
General Mittelhauser is aboard the battleship Courbet. Polish and French troops not slow to discover they are traveling companion most of the 3rd Moroccan Division (21th Regiment of Zouaves, 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 63th Regiment of Artillery in Africa) and 68th BCC.
11:30 (0930 GMT) - The tanker MN Le Tarn and transport MN Golo, from Bizerte via Alexandria (where the Golo has completed cargo) under the escort of the colonial aviso Rigault Genouilly auxiliary North Cape (P11), dock in Famagusta. The Cypriot port will serve as a base for supplies of fuel and ammunition, for smaller naval units engaged in Cordite, so as to prevent them from returning to refuel in Beirut or Alexandria.
12:10 (10:10 GMT) - The convoy, zigzagging at 10 knots, was joined off Paphos by the distant escort of Admiral Cunninghams battleships and carriers. (HMS Valiant and Warspite and the group of three aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, HMS Eagle and MN Bearn).
12:30 (10:30 GMT) - General Mittelhauser transmits to the force: "Our strength is about to attack the Italian possessions of the Dodecanese. Our next stop is the island of Karpathos. ". The same message is sent warships to the British and French. Shortly after, members of the staff of General Mittelhauser transmit their instructions to the Polish and French officers on various ships in the convoy.
General Larminat is transferred to the battleship Courbet.
The combined force spends the rest of the day zigzagging toward the west, covered by the patrol anti-submarine of the Swordfish from Illustrious and the Eagle.
September 7
Paris
Philippe Pétain suffers a massive stroke. He is dead on arrival at the Hospital de la Salpetriere. Laval decided to let the Marshal lie in state at the Invalides, where the coffin will remain two months. Tens of thousands of Parisians come to pay their respoects.
Libya
Normal patrol and reconnaissance activity..
Between Cyprus and Crete
The Allied force continues on towards its destination.
1350 - The RMI submarine Berillo is detected some 35 miles east of the allied naval force by a Swordfish of 813 Sqn of theEagle. She is driven under, and kept there by the destroyers HMS Havock and Hasty. These locate her after she fires two torpedoes at Hasty. She is depth-charged and forced to surface. Her crew abandon the sinking submarine and are rescued by the destroyers.
East Africa (Sudan)
Kassala town fell to the Italians. However, with effective air support, the Allies have had time to consolidate their positions west of the city. They manage to stabilize the front, despite several attempts by troops of the Duke of Aosta to break into Khartoum.
East Africa (Djibouti)
The Italian submarine Ferraris sinks eight Djibouti-based dhows off the port..
September 8
Paris
Published in the Journal Officiel of the French State "an order of Pierre Laval establishing an entity under the authority of the prime minister and the supervision of the Minister of Information, entity called" Havas - French Office Information ". This body, devoid of its own budget, will be responsible for "Provide information of all kinds to the French press and on national radio". The text does not specify how or by whom they are produced and edited.
The same day, Ambassador Reich, Otto Abetz, announced that to Pierre Laval, "By special decision of the Führer, on the advice of Dr. Goebbels'The building of Havas, Place de la Bourse, will be presented from two days to Havas-OFI.
- The Grand Reich Abetz said, attaches the greatest importance to the rebirth of a news agency as French as possible in the context of the Franco-German reconciliation.
But it does not add Havas-OFI, submitted by nature in a way, the double censorship of the French State and bodies of occupation, will depend almost exclusively of information sources German or Italian. Pretending (not without genuine reasons for that matter) of technical problems due to war damage, theOberbefehlshaber Frankreich until further order will deprive Havas-OFI all relations with U.S. agencies and the media from other neutral countries.
Paris
Joseph Darnand, having collected before the body of Petain, abandon any idea of joining "Marshal of the murderers' and decides to make contact with Pierre Laval. He has many friends who will support this approach.
Alexandria
In response to increasingly desperate signals from Cunningham, the Admiralty signaled that it had his first re-supply of ammunition for the fleet since pre-war ready to load. The question was whether he wanted it directly, or via the Cape. Despite his battleships being forced to use old 4crh ammunition held for the R class, and his light cruisers being dangerously low on 6” ammunition, Cunningham asked that it be sent via the Cape for safety, but in a fast ship. HATS had brought some 4.5” AA ammunition, but all ships were now down below 70%, and the stores were empty.
Dodecanese - Operation Cordite
Opening Cordite, the Franco-British planned a series of airstrikes, not less than five raids have been launched simultaneously against the airfields of Karpathos, Rhodes and Rhodes-Maritsa Gadurrà one hand, the port of Rhodes and Porto Lago other. These attacks were to be renewed as necessary, even though they used the last supply of bombs in the region. Once the threat of the Regia Aeronautica was reduced, ships of the strike force would use precious ammunition to bombard Porto Lago. Meanwhile, troops were to be landed on Karpathos and Kasos.
As in the attack on Taranto, the Admiral Lyster kept fighters to cover the Fleet, this being a major reason for the presence of Bearn.
0545 (0345 GMT) - The Karpathos aerodrome is attacked by planes from Illustrious (9 Swordfish of 815 Sqn, 8 Sqn Fulmar I 806) and Eagle (8 Swordfish of 813 Sqn). Warned by spotters, five of the six Fiat CR-32 of 163rd CT autonomous flight take off. The unserviceable CR.32 is destroyed on the ground by the bombs of the Swordfish, the Fulmars shoot down two more, one of their own being damaged.
0550 (0350 GMT) - The Port of Rhodes is bombed by 9 Swordfish 819 Sqn from Illustrious. They are escorted by 6 Fulmar I of 806 Sqn from Illustrious. Coming from the south-west, the raid’s direction is unexpected by the Italian anti-aircraft gunners, but the Swordfish are so slow that this is of no matter. Three Swordfish are shot down by the AA, and the raid achieves little beyond damaging the gunboat Sebastiano Caboto. There is no trace of MAS recently photographed by reconnaissance flights: the day before the Italians sent them to Alimnia Bay with minelayer Legnano as a support vessel. All vessels of 16th and 22nd squadrons already based in the port of Rhodes and the last unit of the 16th remain in Leros.
0555 (03h55 GMT) - Porto Lago is attacked by 19 of the 20 SBC-4 squadrons AB1 and AB2 from Bearn, escorted by 10 B-339 of AC3. The Italian base is not taken by surprise, because the French squadrons were spotted by a Cant Z-501 of 147th Squadron RM and reported before it was shot down. The submarines in Porto Lago, are Squalo and Onice, they submerge in the bay to avoid the bombs.
Offshore, EV2 Yvon Lagadec, frustrated to be relegated to cover the fleet, must be content to follow the fighting on the radio. His dairy entry for the day said:
"Our comrades of the AC4 had the pleasure of dealing with seaplanes hunting Ro-44 [six units of 161e Autonomous Flight CM]Courageous but poorly performing. They shot down two and damaging other [which one will be fuori uso, Unusable]But one of the Italians is actually a Ro-43, ie a two-seater, and his rear gunner is a box on the B-339 which was the wrong place itself right in his line of fire ! Engine smoking, our man is landing in the bay of Porto Lago, he will leave for a bath, a few days of captivity and a round when reinstate the Beam. "
B-339 of AC3 strafe the seaplane base, where they destroy one Cant Z-501 and damaged four. Meanwhile, the SBC-4 dive-bomb the significant targets (the gunboat Marzio Sonzini and Patmos Giorgio Orsini have gone to Astypalaia): the oil Cerere is burned and sunk. They also attack the 7th and 11th MAS squadrons, sinking MAS-430 and severely damaging MAS-521. They also damage base facilities, including barracks. But this is not without losses. The Italian anti-aircraft shot down two SBC-4 and damaged a third. One success was the pair of Breda 37mm installed on Monte Patella, who has not finished its work.
0545 at 06h10 (0345 at 04h10 GMT) - The two aerodromes of Rhodes Maritsa Gadurrà and are the target of French bombers based in Cyprus. Maritsa is attacked by 11-LéO 451 GB I/23 and 4 Martin 167 GB I/39, escorted by 7 Potez 63.11 of GAO I/583 and 6 other Martin 167 GB I/39 employees as extempore fighters. Gadurrà is bombed by 12-LéO 451 GB II/23 and 2 Martin 167 GB II/39, escorted by another 8 available Martin.
At Maritsa four Fiat CR-32 of 162th Autonomous Flight CT on CAP intercept. They are not successful, three are lost to only one Potez. The bombers can operate virtually undisturbed (a 167 Martin will return damaged by the AA) and therefore with considerable effectiveness. After the attack, 34th BT Group has but five SM-79 in flying condition (11 more are repairable), while the 162th and 163rd CT squadrons have but six Fiat CR-32 in flying condition and 14 more repairable.
A Gadurrà, four Breda 88 are in the air on CAP and two others took off to intercept. The four on CAP biounced the bombers and dispersed them, but then made the error of attacking the 8 Martin 167 (which they did not know were trying to act as fighters). The Martins stood no chance and five were shot down for no loss. The bombing had little affect on 39th Stormo BT’s 23 SM-81 and none of the 14 Breda 88 was damaged or lost.
0720 (05h20 GMT) – working furiously to prepare everything that could fly, Aviation Aegean can launch a raid consisting of seven SM-79, 20 SM-81 6 Fiat CR-32 and 12 Breda-88. Thanks to information provided by the lost Z-501 and the garrison of Karpathos, the raid finds the fleet.
When Italian strike arrives, the Allied planes that participated in the first raids were not all replenished. So they have to face the fighters kept in reserve by Admiral Lyster, plus three Fulmar I from Illustrious. The air battle was furious as the RAI pressed their attack hard.
From the diary of Lagadec:
"I do not think there will eventually naval confrontation more bizarre. From our side, Sea-Gladiator, the Fulmar and our B-339. Italian side of Fiat CR-32 and Breda 88. Even then, none of this represents the cream of the fighter world, but we go with a good heart. Result, a Gladiator and a B-339 shot down, against a CR-32 and a Ba-88 (our B-339 are at the party, it will happen much, subsequently, to their American brothers and the Netherlands). My leader and I on the one hand, the Fulmar on the other hand, we fall on the bombers - still a funny lot. The English descend on a Bat (an SM-81 Pipistrello) and damaged one of his teammates, who gets rid of his bombs and fled, Herons (the Z-506 Airone) we escape by spinning at low altitude while bravely, we attack the Hawks (the SM-79 Sparviero). The passion of battle seized me again - instead of follow my leader and gun down the same plane as him, I try to make me a alone; result, I can only scratch the gunner and made a pretty hole in my glass, just above my head. "
Meanwhile, one of Cant Z-506 is destroyed by the AA of several vessels and one of the SM-81 was shot down by accurate fire of CLAA Calcutta. The other bombers pressed home their attacks bravely, but with little affect. HMS Havoc is near-missed and gets a severe leak in the forward boiler room, which gradually fills. The ship returned to Limassol under the escort of Hasty. Illustrious was closely straddled. From eagle she was thought doomed, as she disappeared in the splashes of exploding bombs. One hit her, a 100kg bomb bouncing off the armoured deck and exploding above it with little effect and only 6 casualties. To replace Havoc Admiral Cunningham sent from Alexandria DD HMS Imperial.
The raid prompts the Allies to strike again.
0855 (06h55 GMT) -- New training taking off of aircraft carriers and land in Cyprus.
The grounds and Maritsa Gadurrà are targets of the same units as in the first raid, but the attacks are expected. AA is heavy and accurate. As the RAI machines landed they were rapidly dispersed and camouflaged. However, the runways are badly cratered. for the loss of a Potez shot down by flak at Cattavia and a Martin 167 GB I/39 victim of modern 90mm guns of the Maritsa AA. The Italians disperse their seaplanes at Leros (9 Cant Z-501) and the 2 Cant Z-506.
The raid against Porto Lago from 9 Sqn Swordfish of 815 of Illustrious and 8 of the Swordfish of 824 Sqn from Eagle, escorted by 12 Fulmar I 806Sqn, falls in a bit of a vacuum. While the last operational Ro-44 was shot down by fighter escort, the British bombers must be satisfied with attacks on buildings and facilities and not without loss. While one of the Eagle’s Swordfish is shot down over the seaplane base, the two Monte Patella Bredas distinguish themselves by damaging one of the Illustrious’s Swordfish and downing a strafing Fulmar.
The Italian problem is now a long response time due to runway damage and the difficulty of fuelling and arming dispersed aircraft.
Taking Kasos
0625 (04h25 GMT) - The destroyer MN Kersaint, preceded by the minesweeper Annamite approaches the island of Kasos (just over 69-km2). The area being found "clear", it can get quite near the shore to unload half a company of III e Battalion 24th RIC just east of Fry, the chief town of the island. At the same time, the destroyer MN Tartu, came in the wake of Commandant Rivière and landed another half-company directly opposite the airport. The firepower of the four French ships quickly discourages the 200 men of 9th regiment of infantry and thirty men of the Regia Aeronautica to attempt major resistance on the coast. Leaving behind a dozen men out of action, they withdrew in good order orderly to the villages and Arvanitokhori Polio and the mountainous area of the island. Prior to pursuit the French, which landed at the cost of only three killed and six wounded, secure the lower(and inhabited) part by Kasos.
In the afternoon, an atatck supported by the guns of the destroyers, observations of the Loire 130 from cruiser Gloire and two raids by aircraft forces the defenders to accept that their position is hopeless, they only have small arms.
1825 (16h25 GMT) - The small Italian garrison surrendered after losing a total of 18 killed and 55 wounded. The French losses amounted to a total of 9 killed and 21 wounded.
The attack on Karpathos
Land on Karpathos, the second of the Dodecanese islands in size (just under 325 km2) is entirely another matter. The Italian garrison is not negligible, it is expected to need the Polish brigade, supported by the bulk of III th Battalion 24th RIC and two batteries of mountain artillery. The Poles, carried by Oran and El-Djezaïr must land in the bay of Pigadia with the support of heavy cruisers Duquesne and Tourville. The Colonials, carried by three light cruisers of the 4th Division and destroyer Chevalier Paul must seize the airfield, near Elaari Bay and get the Poles to quickly take control the south of the island. The Italians have mined the two bays, giving the minesweepers work. The small auxiliary minesweeper Coubre is blown apart by one of the mines as the channel is swept.
1010 (08h10 GMT) - Two transport groups can begin to put their boats into the water to transport troops ashore. The British observers included one who had been at Gallipolli in 1915, he was shocked to see that the techniques were the same. On Kasos the Italian troops totalled a battalion and a half, but they lacked any heavy artillery, having only four 75 mm guns. The island also lacked any effective fortifications worthy of the name. When the Italian battery opened fire it was not on the French ships but on the landing beach, causing heavy casualties. Counter-battery fire from the ships took some time to be effective, as their high velocity, low angle guns could not reach the Italian field guns, which they had deployed in dead ground.
1235 (10:35 GMT) - Men's 24th RIC and Kopanski’s Brigade joined up near the village of Menetes: their progress was hampered by mines and hard-fighting Italian rearguard elements.
1500 (1300 GMT) - The Allies come in contact with the first line of Italian defense and is stopped. The intervention of artillery and naval shelling and aerial attack cracks this line after bitter fighting and allow further progress to the foot of Kali Limni. But when night falls, the garrison of Karpathos is conducting local counter-attacks. During the night, the Italians infiltrate between Allied units causing much disruption. Local counter-attacks push the French back in several areas.
However, the Allies hold their primary objective, the airfield, which was badly damaged but not knocked out. In the late afternoon twelve Morane 406 of the 2nd Squadron of GC I / 7 arrive led by Captain Tulasne. The fighters are followed shortly after by two Caudron Goëland bringing ground staff, and six old Amiot-143 converted to transports, bringing supplies, fuel, lubricating oil and ammunition. This is observed by the Italian garrison, who report it to Rhodes. The response is immediate.
1730 (1530GMT) Three Cr.32, Six Ba.88, two SM.79 and nine SM.81 from Rhodes arrive over the airfield while the French aircraft are still getting organized and refueled. They are all at very low altitude to achieve surprise. Only two MS.406 have been refueled and are on CAP, two more are just about to take off when the Ba.88 streak over the field. Both are strafed and turn into fireballs. The two on CAP are not looking low, but see the fireballs. They dive to attack the bombers, ignoring the CR.32.
The Italian bombers drop their large loads of light bombs accurately from only 800 feet while the Ba.88 turn back for second runs. The Amiot force is destroyed, all six machines, only partially unloaded, explode. Of the ten MS.406 on the ground, only two survive, and both are damaged.
The two on CAP (one is piloted by Captain Tulasne) havea field day, destroying three SM.81 without loss.
From the diary of Captain Tulasne:
“Well, what a bloody shambles of a day. Whatever lunatic decided to send us here in the middle of the afternoon obviously thought that the Italians were stupid, or weakened much further than they are. That attack was thoroughly professional and executed by competent men. 2nd Squadron of GC I / 7is essentially hors de combat. We can replace the fighters, and except for the two killed when taking off the rest were all getting some rest, but we lost fifteen of our essential ground staff when the Amiots blew up. Many were men I have long known, good friends. Good men. The survivors, many wounded, are slaving as I write, stripping parts from the wrecks and storing them,and using some to get our two damaged aircraft working. With only four machines we will have to be defensive. We will all be up for a dawn patrol, then we’ll maintain a two-plane CAP all day, then a four plane dusk patrol. I have already gotten the help of the Army and Navy, we have an observer picket, and told Cyprus that any aircraft sent here must arrive after dusk and leave before first light.”
The Bombing of Porto Lago and its Aftermath
1430 (12:30 GMT) - The Italian air threat reduced (and confidence building that their attacks on ships were not as dangerous as believed pre-war), Cunningham’s battleships and cruisers arrived at Leros. Lyster has been detached and is operating off eastern Crete to be clear of known RMI submarine operating areas. The battleships HMS Valiant and Warspite and three heavy cruisers conducted a slow, careful one hour of the base at Porto Lago. All ships were very short of ammunition, with the battleships deliberately using only old 4crh 15” shells stocked for the R class. This required minor modifications and different procedures in the gun-houses, reinforcing the need for a slow rate of fire.
Cunningham uses seaplane observation, sure he has nothing to fear in the air. This assessment is rudely broken at 1510, when a pair of Ba.88 arrive and promptly shoot down two of his observation aircraft.
Still, the 58 shells fired badly damage the port. A lucky shot from Valiant detonates the remaining torpedo warheads in the warhead magazine, causing a large explosion. This leaves the torpedoes intact (they are in a separate shelter) but there are now only the reserve warheads in the arming bunker. A message is immediately sent to Taranto, resulting in a risky night flight by two SM.82, which overfly Greece to deliver more warheads that night.
The ships had kept away from the shore batteries. Two MAS of the 11th MAS squadron (MAS-520 and MAS-523) were at sea, but a daylight attack was obviously impossible. They shadowed the force and waited for night. As for submarines Squalo and Onice, the first left Porto Lago around 13h00 (11h00 GMT) in the direction of Karpathos, saw the Fleet, and attempted to attack. However, she was repelled by the screen. The second, not yet ready to sail, was forced to submerge in the middle of the bay.
1630 (1430GMT) Nine SM.81 attack the Squadron. No damage is caused.
1720 (1520GMT) Four SM.81 attack the force. No damage is caused.
1900 (1700 GMT) - Cunningham retires at 21 knots towards the south-south-east overnight. Satisfaction at the progress of the operation reigned among the allies.
1950 (17h50 GMT) - Four of MAS Rhodes, out of their new bases at Alimnia (three units of 16th Squadron and MAS-551 of the 22nd), took the offensive. While MAS-542 and MAS-551 attracted Allied attention, MAS-536 and MAS-537 penetrated the screen at low speed and attacked the heavy cruisers, astern of the battleships. can get close enough to launch towards the heavy cruisers, after the two battleships. A torpedo from MAS-537 hits HMS Kent just forward of A turret and causes serious damage. She stops. The MAS, torpedoes expended, disengage with only minor damage. Assisted by HMS Janus, Kent is soon proceeding under her own power. She is detached to Alexandria escorted by Janus and Jervis, who hand over to HMAS Stuart and Vampire next day.
September 9
Paris
In an editorial The WorkMarcel Deat denounces "Those who sabotage by personal ambition gathering for revival of the country". He announced his desire to create a new party, the Rassemblement National Populaire. This statement was very vague about the positioning of the RNP from the PRF that is supposed to hold Deat with Doriot.
Libya
In his headquarters in Benghazi, Marshal Graziani informs Mussolini that the Allies are building up strength for a major offensive. He estimates nearly 350,000 troops oppose him, with perhaps 600 tanks and calls for redoubled delivery of modern equipment. In a secret letter, he and Mussolini also start negotiations on an extension of Graziani’s power to include plenipotentiary political authority within Libya. In eventually granting this, Mussolini sets in train a remarkable series of events.
Dodecanese
Operation Cordite - Night
Karpathos
0001 (2201 GMT) to 05:00 (0300 GMT) - The first night in the waters of the Dodecanese by Allied warships confirms that the Italians do not intend to give up without a fight. The night is suitable for MAS and submarines. Since the announcement of the Allied offensive, Maricosom, while warning them that the bases of Leros and Rhodes were safer, ordered the units closest to join the waters of the colony. This order, together with the orders not to attack submarines, has not yet produced any practical effect, except for some submarine previously based in the Dodecanese. Of the ten available submarines, Berillo has been lost, the Jantina damaged and Onice is unable to proceed to sea Narvalo must return from off Haifa where she had just arrived for a ten day patrol. Three others must do likewise, the coasts of Palestine (the Delfino) and the coasts of Egypt (the Zaffiro and Jalea).
Tthe Gemma, Squalo and Tricheco (the latter returned from an out of area patrol where only three of her twelve torpedoes were fired: two to sink Souffleur and one which missed a coaster. Kept away during the day by air patrols, they will try to attack under cover of darkness. Their instructions are clear: the priority targets are the transports, not the warships. Without radar, the three submarines provide a sleepless night for the Allies. All night, try to penetrate the screen protecting their designated prey. The A/S defence is in two layers, destroyers sloops, with minesweepers providing a close inner screen.
The Squalo is the first to commit.
Extract from diary written by L.V. Giuseppe Migeca, Commander R. Smg.[15] Squalo.
[September 8]
"22h51 - surfaced just north of the island of Saria, drive south-southeast at 12 knots.
22h57 - Overview of two silhouettes against destroyers. Have passed unnoticed by running awash.
23h09 - Overview silhouette of a battleship, probably Queen Elizabeth [According to British archives, HMS Valiant]. Following orders, I have not tried to get close, but have continued to sail in search of transport.
23h38 - Overview time against two enemy destroyers sailing in line ahead, 1 200 meters from each other, perpendicular to the coast and away from it. I decided to dive.
23h53 - Done surface for me to find three new escorts, destroyers and gunboats [avisos MN Elan, Fin and Lassigny], Pointing instead to the coast. I decided to try to slip in as close to the coast in maneuvering between the two screens enemies. Adopt a course parallel to that of escorts to get closer to shore. "
[September 9]
"00h01 - The three escorts reverse their course and go to sea. I expect that the door ajar to move before the torpedo boats return.
00h07 - The moment seems favorable heading south-east and forward transport, 10 and 12 knots running awash.
00h26 - Another escort the port bow. Diving immediate. The bottom must be 70 meters. Waiting for a possible depth-charging, but nothing happens. I decided to go up to 40 meters and resume speed at 8 knots.
00h39 - The boat strikes rocks on the starboard bow, we are too close to the coast. Leak in the position before the doors of the two torpedo tubes are starboard jammed. I'm fighting back and stop the engine. Waiting, listening: nothing moves toward the enemy. I decided to surface again, to depart from the coast and try to find targets on which run through the tubes that remain.
00h56 - The starboard lookout before me indicates at least two figures of cargo moving at low speed. I am preparing to attack them when we reach the south sound of explosions, depth charges, but also, I think torpedoes. One of our comrades should give trouble to the enemy.
01h03 - A destroyer goes fairly fast pace to about 3 500 meters from us, heading south [Admiral Cunningham took the risk of parting with a destroyer with a Asdic, HMAS Waterhen. He has sent reinforcements to guard the convoy]. He does not see us.
01h08 - Before us, at least one ship and two cargo at low speed. They are still at 3 000 meters. I would approach it more but I lookouts reported the return of the escorts of the second screen, which seem to be closer to our target and could detect our presence.
01h09 - Launched four stern torpedoes and set a course north-west to get away as I got closer to the coast.
01h11 - Heard an explosion and clearly saw a column of water up against the side of the biggest target. Two other shots later and nothing heard. I do not know if they hit or missed. The fourth torpedo appears not to have detonated [It is found by a Greek fisherman, stuck in a portion of sandy bottom].
01h12 - The enemy now knows that we're here and as the capacity of the vessel is diminished (it seems unwise to exceed a depth of 40 to 50 meters), we will have a hard time leaving. I gave orders to prepare for the destruction of records of board operation orders and codes to execute in the shortest time necessary.
01h16 - Fortune smiles: the escort closest to the coast turns to starboard, about 2,000 meters from us without seeing us.
01h41 – There is a screen of destroyers south of me. It remains to evade enemy forces encountered at the island of Saria. I decide to stay awash as long as possible.
01h56 - Three destroyers [HMS Griffin and Hotspur and the destroyer MN Tornado] down south, front, spaced from 2,500 to 3,000 meters. Fortunately, against the destroyer to the west [Griffin] does not close the coast too closely (fear of mines). I can sneak past without being seen.
02h23 - Rounded the northern tip of Saria. Reluctantly set course for Italy, because it is obvious that Rhodes is no longer a safe haven, and Squalo is unable to dive past 40m. "
The Squalo missed the freighter Anadyr and Capo Olmo but hit the ship Flanders (8,503 GRT), at the entrance of Pigadia Bay. Flanders, an old freighter, was mortally hit and bottomed in the shallow water (her machinery spaces and forward holds remained dry). When dawn came, passengers (some of 21ndregiment of Zouaves) were transferred to City-d'Oran and El-Djezaïr (who landed their men on Karpathos) and efforts to recover equipment commenced.
Meanwhile, coming from the south-east, Gemma made from midnight the first attempt to approach the transports. She penetrated the destroyer screen, but at 00h50 while progressing on the surface, she was spotted by aviso Dubourdieu. Before diving, she was the target of greeted by two or three rounds of 100 mm (which missed) and fired two torpedoes at long range at the transports. These detonated at the end of their runs. Meanwhile, the sloop, soon joined by the destroyer HMS Janus attacked her, but without success. This was the attack Squalo heard.
At 02:00, Gemma tried again. It was in vain, for she was spotted by the destroyer Simoun and hunted by her, Fortune and HMAS Waterhen. Towards 0300, after continual attacks, the commander of Gemma (CC Guido Cordero di Montezemolo), was forced to withdraw and await more favorable circumstances to make another attempt.
Around 0220, the Tricheco arrived. From the south-east as Gemma she finds the escorts allies already on alert. An attempt at direct approach seemed doomed to failure, but CC Avogadro di Cerrione tried to go first to the north-northeast before heading back west. But he could not escape the vigilance of the destroyer Le Mars and had to retire after diving. Towards 0315, a second attempt on approximately the initial heading was made, and was aborted turn. Tricheco was driven off by avisos Annamite and Commandant Rivière. Stubbornly, her commander tried one last time, this time from the south-west. This time, the road transport it is barred by the light cruisers of the 4th Division of cruisers and its destroyer escort. Somewhat exasperated, the Avogadro decides that the time has come to apply the second part of the orders and launched three torpedoes from his bow tubes against the cruisers, but their wakes are seen. After radical avoiding action, two pass down the sides of Georges Leygues while the third passes about fifty yards from the bow of Montcalm. The Tricheco escapes but her crew are very tired. CC Avogadro then imitates Gemma and withdraws temporarily: he has no plans to return to Italy before exhausting his remaining six torpedoes.
For the allies, after a few false alarms but additional, calm returned from 05:00 am (0300 GMT).
Leros
In his headquarters at Porto Lago, Admiral Luigi Biancheri quickly took stock of the damage suffered by the base and the loss of the cargo of Cerere and reserve torpedo warheads. There are also stocks in Rhodes, but now the place is unhealthy and may soon become inaccessible. However, he still has ten operational SS, seven of which still have their torpedoes. There are sixteen reserve torpedoes aboard Legnano and MAS-521 and 522 which, damaged or suffering mechnical problems do not need theirs. Once the MAS-523, 536 and 537 rearmed, he will remain fourteen torpedo stock. Then he has ten more warheads delivered overnight plus ten torpedo bodies for them, which are also on Legnano, raising the number to 26.
Believing, rightly, that the main enemy objective is Rhodes, Biancheri would prefer to concentrate his assets not at Alimnia (it is too close to Rhodes), but at Tilos (Piscop) in the various bays and inlets. The ten units intact to reach between 0200 and 0230 (00h00 GMT and 00:30), accompanied by MAS-522 which, on arrival, transfers its torpedoes to MAS-536 (the MAS-521, unable to sail, has transferred its torpedoes to the MAS-523 before departure from Porto Lago). The Legnano joins by 0310 (01h10 GMT), with its 26 torpedoes and fuel drums and will anchor in the bay south-east of Livadia. She is immediately camouflaged as best as possible. Equipment remains to be transported to Tilos. For this, the Giorgio Orsini saisl in from Astypalaia (Stampalia), arriving at Leros at 0415 (0215 GMT): if she survives the 9th, she will sail Porto-Lago - Tilos at night.
Rhodes (airfields and Maritsa Gadurrà)
04h00 (02h00 GMT) - Some Italian bomber (an SM-79 of 68th Squadron BT) and two SM-81 (201th and 222st BT) take off for Italy carrying critical passengers. With Rhodes in doubt, Superaereo has preferred to repatriate valuable specialists who are excess to local needs. In addition to the crews of machines, thirty-one specialists return. This is particularly the case of excess pilots, who will join the conversion on Ju-87 Picchiatelli. At 07:25, the aircraft land safely at Lecce.
In view of the danger, both surviving Airone are prepared to operate covertly at night to evacuate personnel. In addition, some local small craft (cacique) are acquired to establish a way for Italian personnel to reach the Turkish coast.
Operation Cordite - Day
Naval patrols
05h20 (0320 GMT) - The aircraft carriers Illustrious and Eagle launch a pre-dawn bombing attack against airfields on Rhodes, trying to destroy RAI aircraft while keeping their own aircraft safe from Italian interceptors. The 12 Swordfish bomb without loss, damaging one SM.81 beyond local repair. For their part, battleships and cruisers from the strike force sent (unsuccessfully) their seaplanes to search for Italian MAS. Illustrious also sends three pairs of Fulmar and Bearn three pairs of B-339 on fighter sweeps. These missions will continue rotating aircraft all day. They do not give results, apart from the destruction of Cant Z-501 placed in one of the coves of Astypalaia (Stampalia) by a pair of Fulmars, and involvement with the submarine Jantina.
Rhodes and Symi (Simi) - Jantina
0445 (02h45 GMT) - Teams from the port of Rhodes and his crew have worked hard to make the submarine Jantina seaworthy enough to proceed on the surface to the port of Kos (Coo). The latter was deemed safer as Rhodes. The aim is to continue work on her engines to enable a return to Italy. But the work took longer than expected and it was only just before dawn that she is finally able to sail on a single diesel engine . Believing that staying in Rhodes will doom his submarine, the commander of Jantina (CC Vincenzo Politi) decides to try his luck, especially since he is only trying for Gialos of the island of Symi to await the next night. Having taken on board the L.V. Carlo Todaro and eight other survivors Smeraldo and two specialists in diesel mechanics, Jantina leaves the port and heads off at 8 knots.
0612 (04h12 GMT) – Having gone only halfway, the diesel engine fails and can not be restarted. Politi decides to continue on its electric motors to Gialos, but the batteries become exhausted and he seeks refuge in Marathouda Bay. Unfortunately for him, as he enters the bay, Jantina is spotted by a Swordfish of 815 Sqn from Illustrious. The biplane attacks, but perhaps assessing her speed as more than it is, misses.
0620 (04h20 GMT) - Suspecting although the British plane called in reinforcements, CC Politi has a very quick consultation with his officers and LV Todaro. They said essentially that he sees only three options: wait until the allies had come to sink Jantina; Scuttle the submarine to save its crew, or try to reach Turkey and be interned there, leaving hope that the boat one day might return to Italy. His choice is made: Turkey. Even this voyage is dangerous and Politi only keeps essential personnel on board. The rest of the crew (40 men) and nine passengers from Smeraldo landed (eventually allre ached Italy). Classified documents and equipment are destroyed. However, even to reach Turkey, her diesel has to be repaired.
0641 (04h41 GMT) - While the lieutenant and his men try to repair the boat to enable her to reach Turkey, another of Illustrious’s Swordfish appears. It attacks the submarine, although it is in a creek mouth and difficult to bomb. Remaining on the fin with two sailors, the Politi himself mans a twin 13.2 mm and catches the Swordfish with a long burst. The Swordfish staggers away, trailing a heavy plume of smoke and soon after makes a forced landing near the island of Halki where the crew is taken prisoner by the garrison. The Jantina becomes the first Italian submarine to destroy an enemy plane. But this is no time for congratulations as the crew exploits the relief obtained.
0649 (04h49 GMT) - The diesel engine is restarted. Without missing a moment, the submarine heads for the Turkish coastline at 7 knots.
0703 (04h03 GMT) – With he Bozburun peninsula in sight and Jantina already in Turkish waters, two Swordfish of 815 Sqn appear, determined to finish with this stubborn opponent. As they start to deliver their attack, they find themselves face to face with two Turkish fighter from Gaziemir. Thehe government in Ankara has ordered increased patrols along the coast to strictly enforce the neutrality of country. These are two obsolete Curtiss Hawk II biplanes, but no more than the Swordfish. Warning shots are fired and the Swordfish – under standing orders not to cause diplomatic problems with Turkey and caught red-handed in broad daylight, are forced to land at Gaziemir, where the aircraft are interned. Having anchored in a small bay and contacted Tirkish authorities, Jantina is also interned. In 1943 the Turkish government release Jantina’s crew. Politi is then court martialled, but his conduct is approved. The Italian government, realising they will not get the submarine back during hostilities, cede it to Turkey. After the war, the Turkish navy will want to repair the boat by an Italian shipyard, asking for Italy to pay for this. When this is refused, the USA agrees to pay, earning diplomatic points in doing so. The two FAA Swordfish were quickly confiscated by the Turks and incorporated into their airforce as patrol planes.
Karpathos - Rhodes
06:00 (0400 GMT) - While transhipping passengers and cargo from the bottomed Flandre, four SM.81 escorted by six Ba.88 appear. The four Morane 406 of GC I / 7 are aloft, and intercept this raid. These tangle with the Ba.88 and the French fighters use their tactical advantage well. Two Ba.88 are lost for no French loss. However, the SM.81 accurately bomb the landing. Two bombs strike the bottomed Flandre amidships, causing an intense fire. This rapidly destroys the ship’s machinery spaces and superstructure before the heat causes the riveted plating amidships to buckle, letting in water and flooding the ruined machinery spaces. The only way to save the forward cargo is to flood No.2 hold (which leaves N.1 hold still dry).
0650. Landing after the raid, Captain Tulasne reaslises that he has a chance to an offensive mission against Rhodes. He takes it. The fiery captain will finally have the opportunity to inaugurate its list of successes. It is this flight which makes him an ace. He wrote:
"This time the big day, finally: a true offensive war mission. We take the air shortly after 06:00 with our four Morane. As we took off under the noses of the Italian garrison of Karpathos, which still holds the heights our arrival should be reported to Rhodes. I can not help but believe that they will meet us. Since our arrival, we hear stories of victories and successful bombing, and of ferocious aerial opposition.
Warrant Dufour flying at my side, the other pairs of "double patrol" behind. Arrived over Rhodes, nothing in sight. Suddenly, eight machines, 1,000 feet below and climbing hard. They're here! Four biplanes, Fiat CR-32, and four Breda 88 Lince (Lynx).
A nod to Dufour, who also saw the Italian machines. He waved and we attacked. I point to others that we attack.
The CR-32 is obsolete - a biplane with fixed undercarriage, low potency, poorly armed - but it is very maneuverable. Better not try the dogfight. He’s in my sights just briefly, a burst and it tears its tail off. No chute, poor devil.
Where did Dufour? After a quick look, I find him grappling with three Breda. The case seems unpromising. The Italians fight well, it seems that the Morane is doomed, while the fuselage on one side of his plane is ripped (the Breda three heavy machine guns grouped in the nose, not so bad!) and Dufour appears disabled. As I rush to his aid but before I can get there, he finally got on to the tail of his opponent, unfortunately above and not below it. The rear gunner of Breda let fly and hit him hard. His engine caught fire, but my friend opened fire and shells of 20 mm set fire to the right engine of the Italian. He kept flying, while underpowered the Breda was very tough. Looking at a wreck later I realized it was not monocoque, but of concentric build with steel ring-frames! Very rugged indeed. I hit him from the flank and put several 20mm into him. His other engine caught fire and the two crew baled out. I saw three parachutes floating. Dufour will unfortunately keep company with the Italians ...
On the way home, I pondered what we could have done better. No victory rolls, too much concern for Dufour as a prisoner. It was not until we arrived that my ground crew said this made me an ace, three SM.81, a CR.32 and a Ba.88…."
(After Jean Tulasne Ciel de Gloire, Paris 1982)
Badly wounded, the French pilot was captured and hospitalized in Rhodes at the same time that the crew of Breda (both of whom were also seriously wounded) - which marked the beginning of a long friendship between the three men. All were evacuated that day to Italy aboard an unarmed Alcione aerial ambulance on its routine run This aircraft, (one of six with Italian civil registry) was painted white and marked with the Red Cross, and was registered with the Protecting Power as an ambulance. Often inspected by FAA fighters on their declared routes, they were not molested after one was forced to divert to Cyprus for inspection. Finding everything in order and with a Swiss Red Cross inspector aboard, this machine and its wounded cargo was released.
"But the day has just begun. After returning to Karpathos, a pilot of the Aero - who landed a damaged SBC-4 on our field - said, jokingly, that in his opinion, just us all alone to destroy what remained of Italian Air Force in the Dodecanese ... Will we be condemned to monotonous patrols? Yet, these provided action, as the morning’s raid showed. "
Karpathos
0630 (0430 GMT) - Supported by the Polish mountain artillery fire and naval units, as set yesterday by the Loire 130 seaplanes, colonial troops and the Carpathians assaulted Kali Limni between Stes (west) and Volada (east). They gained ground, but it was relatively expensive: the Poles losing 10 killed and 48 wounded to seize the last positions on the slope of the Kali Limni, a hill rising to 862 meters. Not wanting to endure unnecessary losses, the Franco-Polish decide then, while holding their opponents under pressure, to suspend the frontal assault and take the Italian redoubt from the rear. For this, 300 men, 24thRIC, were embarked on destroyers Chevalier Paul, Tartu and Kersaint.
1100 (0900 GMT) – The 24th RIC land at the northeast end of the island in the harbor Diafani. From there, the Colonials will take a hand to clean the north of the island, where hundreds of Italian soldiers are manning field defences and the others march south to squeeze the defenders of Kali Limni.
By late afternoon, heavy fighting is taking place in the north. This continues until the middle of the next morning when the Italians run out of ammunition and are forced to surrender. In the south, the 24th RIC settled on a line-Spoa Mesochori ready to be squeeze defenders of Kali Limni. Italian propaganda is already celebrating the excellent RE resistance on Karpathos. As they are armed with only light arms, this is well earned.
Rhodes
0640 (04h40 GMT) - Covered by ten B-339 , twelve SBC-4 attack the barracks and the port of Rhodes, where the gunboat Sebastiano Caboto, damaged yesterday, is sunk (it capsized). Several dive bombers are damaged by AA, but only was shot down. Italian fighters were late, but four Ba.88, diving through the Buffaloes, attacked the SBC and shot two of them down. They then dived away.
Martin 167 GB I/39 and II/39 accomplished several reconnaissance flights.
1520 (13h20 GMT) - Escorted by twelve B-339 (AC3 and AC5), 12 SBC-4 bombard Porto Lago. Due to smoke and another effective interception by Ba.88 (two more SBC were shot down), the attack achieves little.
Karpathos
1600 (1400 GMT) - Tulasne is reinforced by four other Morane available from the 2nd Squadron of GC I / 7. This brings his total back up to 7. Six H-75 of GC I / 4) also arrive.
In the Allied fleet
0815 (GMT 0615) - The destroyers HMS Havoc and Hasty arrive in Limassol. The Hasty departs immediately to joins the fleet at 2030 (18h30 GMT). The Havoc departs at 1510 escorted by sloop MN Rigaut Genouilly, enroute Alexandria.
1125 (0925 GMT) - The heavy cruiser HMS Kent sets course for Cyprus at 10 knots, escorted by the destroyers HMS Janus and Jervis. These will be joined by HMAS Stuart and Vampire off the western extremity of the island.
1200 (10:00 GMT) - The destroyer HMS Imperial joined the ships of the strike force.
Operation Cordite - The beginning of the night
Karpathos
2225 – 2250 (2025 - 2050 GMT) Eight Cant Z-501 take off, loaded with flares and light bombs to both harass the Fleet and to backlight it for the MAS in a coordinated operation. While spotted by the radar of HMS Coventry, this availed the force little. The flying boats were at medium altitude. Much to everyone’s surprise, they achieve a hit with a 160 kg bomb on the Saint-Didier (1,778 GRT which severely damages her. She stops.
Under the cover of the attack and its flares, five pairs of MAS attack the convoy. Three pairs fall on the strike force and attack the warships. If the MAS-542 is destroyed by fire from destroyers HMS Imperial and Juno, MAS-434 puts a torpedo into the light cruiser Liverpool, seriously damaging her.
MAS-546 sights the fires of the burning freighter Saint-Didier and torpedoes her. She sinks immediately. While avoiding other torpedoes, the French auxiliary cruisers El-Kantara and City-d'Oran collide. However, the collision is at a low angle. Despite extensive shell plating and superstructure damage above the waterline, neither is in the slightest danger of sinking.
When Liverpool was torpedoed a fire was started and an explosion of her petrol and ammunition wrecked her bow which later fell off from just before her bridge.
Lt Cdr A. H. Browne, Midshipman R. C. Norris, Lt Cdr (E) P. Ross, twenty four, three more dying of wounds, ratings were lost in the cruiser. Forty two ratings were wounded in the cruiser.
Destroyers Hereward and Decoy were sent to stand by the cruiser. Tug St Issey was dispatched at 2345 on the 14th.
Liverpool was taken in tow stern first by light cruiser Orion and screened by anti-aircraft cruiser Calcutta arrived at Alexandria on the 16th, with destroyers Dainty, Decoy, Diamond, Vampire, which had been sailed from Alexandria at 1420 and joined at 1900/15th. After temporary repairs at Alexandria completed in April 1941, Liverpool proceeded to Mare Island, California for repairs from 16 June to 15 November 1941.
