Attack On Shipping December 1939

[Mark McShane]

Hi All,

On 17 December 1939 the merchant ships Sultan Star and Agnita were attacked off Dungeness and Hastings respectively. I did not know that anti shipping attacks were taking place in the channel this early in the war. Does anyone know of any early attacks on shipping than this. Also what German units were involved in these anti shipping attacks. The aircraft in the 17 December attack was described as an HE-111.

Regards,

Mark

[Peter Cornwell]

That date actually signified a change in tactics adopted by Fliegerkorps X in its on-going offensive against Allied shipping off the East coast of England and the English Channel and there are many anti-shipping attacks recorded prior to this. Three He111s of Korpsfuhrungsstaffel Fl.Korps X were despatched over the Channel that day and one attacked the tanker Agnita carrying ballast from Cardiff to Amsterdam at position 50.42 N 00.44 E some 28 miles east of Beachy Head placing one SD-50 bomb in the engine room. She put in to Southampton for repair. Nothing on Sultan Star I'm afraid but the Tuscan Star was reported to have had a near miss.
(Source: Heinrich Weiss)

[Mark McShane]

Thanks Peter,

The change in tactics you mention, have you any further info? Was this the first attack on shipping in the Channel? (Not too bothered about attacks along the east coast).

Regarding the attack on Agnita, according to the accounts by the Master, the bomb was a near miss that fractured steam and seawater pipelines in the engine room.

Regards,

Mark