The Mysterious Air Attack on Tripoli, May 3, 1941

[sergey]

I carefully reread the Admiralty War Diaries again and found the following entry from May 4: 3 Swordfish 830 Sqdn. F.A.A, despatched lay Cucumbers in Tripoli
harbour approaches. Arrived while airraid in progress b y Wellingtons from Mid East. First aircraft dropped flares. Other 2 dropped Cucumbers in channel between harbour entrance and 5 or 6 M/V’s.
stopped apparently awaiting raiders passed. Operation hindered by smoke screen laid 50 yards outside h a rbour and heavy smoke
from damage by Wellington bombs. A.A. fire heavy and accurate at least 12 search lights operating. 1 terrific flash and explosion
on or near refuelling Mole and several fires 1 edge of harbour. All aircraft returned safely.
So, there were Wellingtons in Tripoli, but it's unclear from which squadrons. Not 38, not 37, not 148, not 40, not 70. ???????????

[AndreasB]

I again doubt that entry.

At squadron level

40 and 140 were still in England. Detachments may have been in North Africa or Malta, but no records I have seen.

70 is missing before 4 May but there isn't a single Tripolis raid for the rest of the month so I doubt that.

At Group level
No. 204 Group only mentions that 9 Wellingtons went to Benghazi, Berca, Derna. There isn't a single attack on Tripoli for the first half of May 1941 at least.

I cannot find any evidence for this Wellington raid.

All the best

Andreas

[AndreasB]

Originally Posted by sergey

Andreas. Thank you for your help. The mine dropped by 830 Squadron's Swordfish (most likely a magnetic one) is the only explanation for the sinking of the Canopo. However, it's surprising that the aircraft crew didn't record the explosion upon impact; otherwise, it would have been mentioned in the Malta War Diary.

There is a note about a message (that I do not have) relating to the explosion in the 830 Sqn report that went to Admiralty.

The magazine explosion happened a bit after the initial hit, and the initial explosion may have occurred internally so not necessarily visible.

A mining expert on Facebook (Project Vernon Group) noted that the mine used could be rigged as a bomb.

All the best

Andreas

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Another possibility is that the Swordfish reported that they arrived during an air raid by Wellingtons, but actually saw smoke and damages coming from the accidental explosion of Birmania earlier during the day.

[sergey]

Yes. Indeed, at 10:10, while unloading German aerial bombs, the "Birmania" exploded, followed by the auxiliary cruiser "Citta di Bari," onto which the explosives were being transferred. Fires broke out. On the "Reichenfels," the fire was extinguished only at 19:00.
https://conlapelleappesaaunchiodo.bl.../birmania.html