Dutch merchant ship Escaut lost in air attack according to the War Cabinet Weekly Résumé No. 83 of the Naval, Military and Air Situation 27 March-3 April 1941

An item reported that on 26 March was lost to bombs and machine gunfire of enemy aircraft the Dutch merchant ship Escaut (1), tonnage 347 tons, loaded with coal, underway from Ayrto Par, Cornwall, part of convoy not, on the position 8 miles off Bude. One crew member wounded.

Note

1. Since June 1940 in time-charter of the British Ministry of Shipping, she was deliberately grounded to prevent her sinking and abandoned, salvaged and repaired in 1944 and operated by the British Ministry of Transport under her new name Empire Leech, renamed Seine in 1948 owned by Vianda Steamship Company Ltd., London, England and sunk in a collision underway from Paris, France towards London, England on 16 July 1955.

Source

National Archive UK. CAB-66-16-1. 

British merchant ship Rossmore lost in air attack according to the War Cabinet Weekly Résumé No. 83 of the Naval, Military and Air Situation 27 March-3 April 1941

An item reported that on 24 March was lost the British merchant ship Rossmore due to bombs of enemy aircraft, tonnage 627 tons, loaded with coal, underway from Hayle to Barry Docks, part of convoy not, on the position 12 miles north west Godrevy Island. Of the crew were 4 men landed including 2 injured, 5 men were missing.

Source

National Archive UK. CAB-66-16-1. 

British merchant ship Beaverbra lost in air attack according to the War Cabinet Weekly Résumé No. 83 of the Naval, Military and Air Situation 27 March-3 April 1941

An item reported that on 25 March was lost due to bombs of enemy aircraft the British merchant ship Beaverbrae, tonnage 9,956 tons , in ballast, underway from Liverpool, England to St. John, N.B. [New Brunswick, Canada?], part of convoy not, on the position 166 miles north west of Cape Wrath. All men saved.

Source

National Archive UK. CAB-66-16-1. 

Greek merchant ship Embiricos Nicolaos lost in air attackt according to the War Cabinet Weekly Résumé No. 83 of the Naval, Military and Air Situation 27 March-3 April 1941

An item reported that on 25 March was lost the Greek merchant ship Embiricos Nicolaos due to bombs of enemy aircraft, tonnage 3,798 tons , loaded with government stores, underway from Piraeus, Greeceto Port Said, Egypt, part of convoy yes, on the position off the south coast of Crete, Greece. Fate crew unknown.

Source

National Archive UK. CAB-66-16-1. 

Japan strengthening base facilities at Rabaul, New Guinea according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 21 February 1942

An item reported that the Japanese base facilities at Rabaul were expected to be completed by early March. In the meantime arrived continuously Japanese air and naval reinforcements.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 73 dated 21 February 1942

German interested in artificial fog to be used for war purposes according to the Australian newspaper The Labor Daily dated Wednesday 29 December 1926

An item reported that German chemists developed a method to produce artificial fog on large scale which could be used for naval or land warfare. It became for the enemy (nearly) impossible to see the movements of ships or men. The first experiments were successfully executed at the harbour of Swinemünde, Germany while the fortress could not be seen in the impenetrable mist. Experiments done by the German army resulted in a fog with a maximum sight of 2 yards ahead. An eminent British professor however stated that this was not a new invention. He thought that “what the Germans had probably done was to make such fog on a large scale cheaply and conveniently”, probably a new chemical smoke using a new method. Some British aircraft were also able to create a fox-bank allowing to disappear out of sight. 

Italian destroyer Turbine 1925-1943 and German TA 15 1943-1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Turbine-class preceded by Sauro-class succeeded by Navigatori-class. Identification code TR. Laid down by Odero, Sestri-Ponente on 24 March 1925, launched on 21 April 1927, completed on 27 August 1927, captured by German foces on 9 September 1943, commissioned as TA 14 on 29 October 1943, served as escort and sunk by rockets of USAAF aircraft in Salamis, Greece on 16 September 1944. 

Germany stationing part of her heavy warships in Norway according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 20 February 1942

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, MH 71390

Tirpitz anchored in the Alta Fjord, Norway between 1943-1944

Scharnhorst©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Gneisenau©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Hipper-classs©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that the German number of aircraft stationed in Norway was recently strengthened by 6-9 Focke Wulf 200 Condor-planes,36 Messerschmidt 109 and 36 Messerschmidt 110. The Messerschmidt escorted the German ships leaving Brest, France and were there in the past stationed. Their new post in Norway could indicate the transfer of heavy German warships to Norwegian waters. On noon 19 February was the German battleship Tirpitz seen on a north east course 20 miles off the Norwegian coast at Vigten according to the J.I.C. busy with routine training operations. The transfer of the German ships from Brest to North Sea harbors was a blessing for the Allies simplifying guard necessities.(1)

Note

1. This must be the battleships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and (Admiral Hipper-class) and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen leaving Brest on 11 February 1941 during Operation Cerberus.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 72 dated 20 February 1942

The Russian naval air force in 1929

The American Military Attaché major George E. Arneman at Riga, Latvia referred in his report dated 16 November 1929 No. 7319 to the notes he received from the French Naval Attaché at Riga. He had been three years stationed at Riga and specialised in the Russian Baltic Fleet, being satisfied with his sources considered his notes as reliable. Arneman had no reason to disagree.

An item reported that the Soviet Naval Air Force consisted of the 62nd and 66th detachments fitted out with seaplanes.

At Peterhof were on 1 January 1929 12 seaplanes, pursuit, M24 stationed

At Orienenbaum 16 seaplanes, scouts, Type Junkers W33 and W 34

At Grebnoy (island of Vasilievsky-Leningrad) 12 torpedo planes

On the Goutourievsky and Krestovsky islands (Leningrad) a squadron of the hydro-aviation school numbering 24 seaplanes, Junkers and Savoia

There should be at Archangel an observation squadron wit 24 seaplanes.

Source

National Archive. Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs Series: Security Classified Correspondence and Reports. File Unit. Russia: Navy - MID 2503-16 THRU 2503-265. Roll 1443.

The Russian Baltic air forces organisation in 1929

The American Military Attaché major George E. Arneman at Riga, Latvia referred in his report dated 16 November 1929 No. 7319 to the notes he received from the French Naval Attaché at Riga. He had been three years stationed at Riga and specialised in the Russian Baltic Fleet, being satisfied with his sources considered his notes as reliable. Arneman had no reason to disagree.

An item reported that for the Baltic a Chief of Naval Air Forces and a Chief of Land Air Forces were appointed and subordinate for operations to the Chief of Naval Forces respectively the Commander of the Leningrad Military District.

Source

National Archive. Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs Series: Security Classified Correspondence and Reports. File Unit. Russia: Navy - MID 2503-16 THRU 2503-265. Roll 1443.

British Fleet Air Arm attacked the harbor of Augusta, Italy according to the War Cabinet Weekly Résumé No. 45of the Naval, Military and Air Situation 4-12 July 1940

An item reported that in the afternoon of 10 July the British Fleet Air Arm attacked the harbor of Augusta, Italy but sighted none ships. In the vicinity however were a destroyer and a hulk with success destroyed.

Source

National Archive UK. CAB-66-9-42. 

German Lufthansa catapult ship Schwabenland (1925) 1934-1939 (1946)

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

In mid thirties possessed the German airline Lufthansa four mother ships from which planes were catapulted for the mail service between Europe (Azores) and the United States (New York). Two of the four ships were especially built for the Lufthansa. (1) Launched at the Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel, Germany 14 March 1925 as the freighter Schwarzenfels for account if the DDG Hansa and handed over to the company 16 July of the same year. Her dimensions were 148,8 x 18,4 x 8,49 metres and a measurement of 7,894 BRT. The 6-cylinder diesel engine supplied 3,600 hp allowing a speed of 12 knots with her two screws. As a freighter numbered her crew 45 men and was there accommodation available for maximum 10 passengers. Her sister ships were the Braunfels, Rotenfels, Altenfels, Neuenfels and Weissenfels. She was bought by the Lufthansa 28 February 1934 and fitted out at Bremen with a Heinkel K-7 catapult. Returning planes landed on the water surface and were with a 12 tons crane of Kampfnagel taken back on board again. She was rebuilt in 1939 again to be used on the German Antarctic Expedition 1939-1939 to search for a suitable whaler station. Her hull was strengthened considered the ice and she was fitted out with an auxiliary diesel. Her launching platform was shortened and strengthened. When the Second World War broke out she was seized by the German Luftwaffe 12 October 1939 to serve as a catapult ship for night flyers. Torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Terrapin on 24 March 1944 was she beached in the Flekkefjord and in May-June 1944 temporarily refloated and transported to Bergen where she was again damaged due to a British air attack 4 October of the same year. She was not complete repaired but since February 1945 used as a store ship for the Marineausrüstungstselle (M.A.S.T.) in the Oslofjord. After the war she was taken by the British Royal Navy and since January 1946 used as an accommodation ship at Sandvika, Oslofjord and finally loaded with 1.400 tons of poison, gas and  ammunition scuttled in the Skagerrrak. Call signs as the Schwarzenfels first QMBH and later DOFW and as the Schwabenland DOFW.

German pocket battleship active in defending Wilhelmshaven during British air attack according to a report of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Admiral Graf Spee. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Scheer. Source Werft-Reederei-Hafen 15 April 1933

Diary note dated Tuesday 5 September 1939. An item reported that the German press wrote about the unsuccessful British air attack the day before on the German cities Wilhelmshaven (Jade), Bremerhaven (Weser) and Cuxhaven (Elbe). Just one British aircraft reached her destination to be shot down and falling in the harbour of Wilhelmshaven. The commander of the Ostfriesland coast stated that 10 aircraft were schot down of which 4 by a warship. The Propaganda Department called her Graf Spee and Scheer.

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)

Dutch cargo steamship Boschdijk or Boschdyk 1922-Second World War

Exhibition Varen voor Vrijheid. Museum Katwijk

Launched by N.V. Industrieële Maatschappij 'De Noord', Alblasserdam, Netherlands with yard number 132 on 21 June 1922, delivered to owner/manager N.V. Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij 'Holland-Amerika Lijn', Rotterdam, Netherlands on 19 October 1922. set afire durings the battle for the Maasbridges, Rotterdam and burned out on 11 May 1940, towed to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Netherlands to be broken up by N.V. Holland Scheepswerf en Machinehandel on 16 July 1940, seized by the Germans in April 1942 and sunk in the Baltic when used by the Luftwaffe as target.

British bombers attacked the German cities/harbors Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven and Brunsbuttelkoog according to a report of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Admiral Graf Spee. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Diary note dated Monday 4 September 1939. An item reported that around British bombers attacked around 18.00 the German cities/harbors Wilhelmshvaen, Cuxhaven and Brunsbuttelkoog claiming to have damaged two warships. Reports dealing with the numbers and losses of the aircraft varies. German officials first claimed that the German pocket battleship Graf Spee fended off. Later was her name scrapped. First was every damaged denied, later was admitted that wreckage of a shot British plane fell on the forecastle of the German light cruiser Emden although with minor damage.

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)

German minesweeping Junker searched for mines in the Kerch Strait according to the German War Diary of Admiral Black Sea dated 1 October 1942

An item reported that a German minesweeping Ju[nker] did a check-sweep of the coastal shipping route in the Kerch Strait, south of the Kerch Peninsula, Crimea and Mariupol, Ukraine without finding mines.

Source

German War Diary of Admiral, Black Sea 1 1 October-31 December 1942. Published by Department of the Navy. Washington, 1955. 

Italian submarine Bagnolini performed well during diving depth test according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad No. 4 dated April 1940

An item referred to the Le Yacht dated January 1940 reporting that the Italian submarine Bagnolini dived on her trial to a depth of more as 100 metres.(1)

Note

1. B1. Part of Liuzzi-class, launched by Tosi, Taranto, Italy on 28 October 1939, completed on 22 December 1939, converted into the German transport submarine UIT-22, departed on 26 January 1944 and sunk by the No. 262 RAF Consolidated PBY Catalinas off Cape of Good Hope, South Africa on 11 March 1944. 

Dutch cargo-passenger ship (ex-Damsterdyk 1930-1940, RO 12 1940-1941, Mulhausen 1941-1949) Dalerdyk 1949-1963 (Presvia 1963)

Launched by N.V. Wilton’s Machinefabriek&Scheepswerf, Schiedam, Netherlands with yard number 322 on 17 May 1930, delivered as the Damsterdyk to owner/manager N.V. Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij 'Holland-Amerika Lijn', Rotterdam, Netherland on 27 August 1930, seized by the German Kriegsmarine since 7 August 1940, manager Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt A.G., Hamburg, Germany since 9 July 1941, arget for the Luftwaffe in 1942, target for submarines in 1943, damaged during Allied air attack at Kiel, Germany on 5 April 1945. as Dalerdyk owner/manager N.V. Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij 'Holland-Amerika Lijn', Rotterdam, Netherland since 5 January 1949, as Presvia owner/manager Belvientes Compañia Naviera S.A., Panama since 26 July 1963 and broken up in Japan in 1963. 

British aircraft patrolling over German seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt on 12 December 1939

An item reported the start of standing patrols over the German seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt on 12 December 1939 where aircraft were stationed used for mine laying.(1)

Note

1. The website Abandoned Forgotten&Litte known airfield in Europe reported on 12-11-2025 that the Marineflugstation Borkum Seewas already atacked by Blenheims in the evening of 28 November 1939 followed by another two attacks the same year. On Sylt was the Seefliegerhorst Hörnum, attacked by British bombers in the evening of 19 March 1940.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939. 

German seaplane tender Hans Rolshoven 1937-1951

Maritiem Museum Hamburg, Germany

Originally to be named Peter Strasser? (1) Flugsicherungsschiff IV. Part of Krischan-class. Launched by Norderwerft Köser&Meyer, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 697 on 20 February 1937, commissioned on 9 February 1938, sunk after striking a mine on 2 October 1942, salvaged on 26 July 1943, towed towards Sassnitz, during British air attack on 6 March 1945 hit and sunk, salvaged in 1949 and broken up between 1950-1951. Able to transport 3 floatplanes types He 60, Do 18, He 114 or Arado Ar 196. Belonged to the German Luftwaffe. For picking up and transporting float planes. Displacement 985 (standard)-1,168 (maximum) tons and as dimensions 73.1 (waterline)-762.2 (over all) x 10.6 x 3,5 metres. Crew numbered 63 men. Propulsion consisted of 4-12 cylinder 4 stroke MAN diesels delivering via 2 screws 8,800 hp allowing a speed of 21 knots. Original armament 3-3.7cm guns, 2-2cm machine guns since 1940 2-3.7cm guns and 4-2cm machine guns.

Note

1. This name is sometimes also used for the sistership of the aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin.