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Old 18th August 2010, 02:56
Martin Gleeson Martin Gleeson is offline
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Re: Luftwaffe claims for British shipping in November 1940

Hallo Jurgen and all,
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Checking further into the two sources provided by Andy and Robert one can find more Royal Navy and civilian vessels lost or damaged in the coastal waters off southern and SE England within the range of Ju 87s and Bf 109s. It should be noted that many other vessels were sunk or damaged on these four days, either by air attack or mines (many probably air-dropped), but in areas beyond the range of the above aircraft. It seems from the entries below that other types of German bombers were involved in these attacks and may have sunk or damaged some of the vessels. Unfortunately I have no further information. So although the claims were exaggerated there was some basis in them for every day.
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Most of the following comes from the very useful Naval History website and supported in part by the British Vessels Lost at Sea 1939-45 book. As far as I can tell Jurgen Rohwer's excellent naval website, www.wlb-stuttgart.de , seems to point to He 115s causing the loss of the steamer ASTROLOGER.
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November 1, 1940.
Patrol sloop PINTAIL, escorting convoy FS.323 with destroyers WATCHMAN and VERDUN, was badly damaged by German bombing in the Thames Estuary. Her commanding officer Lt Cdr T. H. Hill-Walker, Sub Lt E. C. Hopkins RNVR, eight ratings were killed. Three ratings were wounded.
Sloop PINTAIL was under repair at London until mid February.
British steamer LETCHWORTH (1317grt), in convoy FS.22, was sunk by German bombing one cable west by north of Oaze Buoy and one cable south, southwest of Mouse Light Vessel.
One crewman was killed on the British steamer.
Minesweeping trawler TILBURYNESS (279grt, T/Skipper W. S. Hawes RNR) was sunk by German bombing near East Oaze Buoy in the Thames Estuary.
Ten ratings were lost. Anti-aircraft ship ROYAL EAGLE and tug SALVO rescued the survivors.
Auxiliary anti-aircraft ship ROYAL EAGLE (T/Lt Cdr E. F. A. Farrow RNR) shot down a bomber during these air raids in the Thames Estuary.
British drifter TORBAY II (83grt) was sunk by German bombing off Downs. (This auxiliary patrol vessel was apparently sunk off Dover).
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November 7th.
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German bombers attacked convoy FS.28 in Barrow Deep.
British steamer ASTROLOGER (1673grt) was sunk by German bombing in 51-32N, 01-06E.
The entire crew of the steamer was rescued.
Steamer ASTROLOGER was beached on the 7th, but was wrecked in a gale on the 15th.
British steamer DAGO II (1993grt) was damaged by German bombing in 51-32N, 01-09E.
British steamer MEDEE (2163grt) was damaged by German bombing 51-10N, 01-12E.
Sloop EGRET shot down a Ju.88. Sloop EGRET sustained some casualties from a near miss.
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November 8th.
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Convoy FN.329 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WINCHESTER and EGLINTON and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. Destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop SHELDRAKE were detached on the 9th. Destroyers CATTISTOCK and WALLACE joined on the 9th.
German bombers attacked convoy FN.329 on the 8th.
Escort ship/destroyer WINCHESTER (Lt Cdr S. E. Crewe Read) shot down two Ju.87 bombers in air raids on the Thames Estuary.
Escort ship/destroyer WINCHESTER struck a mine one mile northeast of Swin Light Vessel and had to anchor to make emergency repairs. While anchored, she was damaged by near misses, but had no casualties.
Escort ship/destroyer WINCHESTER was under repair at London until 6 June.
Dutch steamer AGAMEMNON (1930grt) was sunk seven cables 222° from Swin Light Vessel.
Two crew were lost on the Dutch steamer.
British steamer FIREGLOW (1261grt) was damaged by German bombing southwest of Swin Buoy in the Thames Estuary.
British steamer EWELL (1350grt) was damaged by German bombing in 51-43N, 01-23E.
British steamer CATFORD (1568grt) was damaged by German bombing southwest of Swin Buoy in the Thames Estuary. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 10th.
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November 11th.
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German bombers attacked convoys FN.332 and FS.333.
British steamers CORSEA (2764grt), CORDUFF (2345grt), and COLONEL CROMPTON (1495grt) in a convoy were damaged by German bombing in Barrow Deep off Middlesborough.
Escorting escort vessel VIVIEN (Lt Cdr F. H. Beattie) shot down one Junkers bomber, sloop LONDONDERRY (Cdr J. S. Dalison) shot down another Junkers bomber, tug ST MELLONS (T/Lt H. L. Forster DSC RNR) shot down a Messerschmidt.
British steamer PITWINES (932grt) was damaged by German bombing north east of Yarmouth.
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Hope this helps, regards,
Martin Gleeson.
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