Loss of Heinkel He 111s on 27 May 1941

[CornwallPhil]

Thanks to Chris & Andy for the info. I shall see if I can get hold of Barth's account.

HMS Registan was attacked 8 miles NW of Cape Cornwall at 2212 just after its fighter escort had left to return to base. The attack came from the bow by 2 He 111s flying at about 50 feet above the water. There was little serious damage done but the ship's crew were left with an unexploded bomb (250lb) on the afterdeck. The return run came about 15 minutes later from the stern when survivors spoke of seeing 3 bombers. This was the run which saw a bomb hit near the funnel, another hit the engine room and according to survivor accounts incendiary bombs must have been dropped as the wooden structure of the bridge and cabins around it were set alight. There was a third bombing run which added to the inferno. (The blaze was visible from Trevose Head way up the north Cornish coast.) Fearing a capsize the order was given to 'Abandon ship' then cancelled, and then when the ship lurched still further given again. There were intermittent attacks for the next hour which caused further casualties both on the ship and in the water. When the ship was eventually towed into Falmouth the following day she was found to have a second unexploded bomb (the Admiralty signal simply describes it as 'large') still lying on her.

HMS Registan can be seen as a victim of the Bismarck as there were delays in sending Registan signals due to the action with the Bismarck. On passage from the Clyde to Southampton she had rounded the dangerous hotspot of Land's End when she received a signal telling her to go to Milford Haven. So she turned and rounded Land's End again. When Admiralty realised how far she had got they cancelled the Milford Haven order. So Registan was approaching Land's End for the third time when she was attacked.