Attack on allied shipping outside Swansea 1941 and Bristol Channel 1942

[TormodChristiansen]

Is there anything in Luftwaffe KTBs regarding attacks on allied shipping outside the coast of Swansea between 22 to 24 March in 1941 ?

Also looking for similar attacks between 11 to 13 May in 1942 in the Bristol Channel.

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi,

For 22 to 24 March 1941 there are entries in the Anlage to Lagebericht 577 (8.4.41)

21.3.41 20:10-20:15 I./KG 27 Merchant 4000 t South of Swansea Bay German Claim Sunk - Hit amidships, explosion and ship sank in 10 minutes.
21.3.41 20:10-20:15 I./KG 27 Tanker 4000 t South of Swansea Bay German Claim- 1 hit deck, 1 amidships, ship exploded, in 2-3 minutes sunk.
22.3.41 16:35 I./KG 27 Merchant 3000 t St George's Channel German Claim - 1 SC 500, hit amidships, ship sank immediately.
24.3.41 19:23 III./KG 27 Merchant 2000 t Bristol Channel German Claim - Damaged, 26 SC 50, hit on stern, smoke.

21.3.41 - possibly SS Millisle (617 t) en route from Cardiff to Cork - sunk near Helwick Light Buoy, Bristol Channel.
22.3.41 - Possibly SS Saint Fintan (495t) sunk near The Smalls, Marloe Pen. Pembrokeshire.
22.3.41 - Norwegian steamer INGER (1418grt) was damaged by German bombing ten miles south of Smalls.

Sources - www.naval-history.net and www.wrecksite.eu

Hope that this is of help.

[Andy Mitchell]

In addition this from some of the Lageberichten.

Translations are via Google and have not been amended.

Lagebericht 560 22.3.41 10.00 hrs pg 2, 3 and 5

In Bristol-Kanal wurde in den Abendstunden zwischen
Pembroke und Swansea lebhafter Verkehr kleinerer Handelsschiffe dicht unter der Nordküste in allgemeiner Richtung nach Osten wahrgenommen. Südwestlich Swansea standen in den Abendstunden mehere Handels— und Tank-schiffe die zum Teil erfolgreich angegriffen.

The Bristol Channel was between in the evenings
Pembroke and Swansea saw brisk traffic from smaller merchant ships just below the north coast in a general eastbound direction. Several merchant and tankers stood southwest of Swansea in the evening, some of which were successfully attacked.

Regarding the claims for 21.3.41 – pg 5 of the Lagebericht 560 indicates that the ships attacked were part of a convoy and that the tanker was attacked from a height of 80m.

Lagebericht 562 24.3.41 10.00 hrs pg 4

In den Tagesstunden des 23.3. wurden folgende Schiffsziele durch
je 1 Kampfflugzeug angegriffen:
Bei bewaffneter Aufklärung über dem äußeren Bristol-Kanal
0850 bis
0910 Uhr 1 Handelsschiff von 2000 BRT 70 km westlich Milfordhaven auf Südostkurs aus 40 m Flughöhe
mit 8 SC 250. 2 Bombeneinschläge etwa 1 Schiffsbreite vor dem Bug, 2 weitere 1 Schiffslänge zu kurz wurden beobachtet. Nach dem Bombenabwurf blieb das Schiff ohne Fahrt liegen, Schlagseite war nicht zu erkennen.

During the day of the 23.3. were the following ship objectives
1 plane attacked each:
During armed reconnaissance over the outer Bristol Channel
08.50 to
09.10 hrs. 1 merchant ship of 2000 GRT 70 km west of Milfordhaven on a southeast course from 40 m altitude with 8 SC 250. 2 bombs about 1 ship's breadth in front of the bow, 2 more 1 ship length were too short observed. After the bombing, the ship remained without drive lying, list was not recognizable.

[Chris Goss]

The recently reformed III./KG 26 was the main anti-shipping unit off the western coasts of Britain in May 1942

[TormodChristiansen]

Hello Andy,

thanks for the rundown of activity! But what specific Lagebericht does this come from?

Regarding my query about the attacks in march 1941, I have found there were a attack on a UK Coastal (probably) convoy during the night of March 23, at 2215 british time, as noted by one of the ships.

[TormodChristiansen]

Hello Chris,

thanks for the information about the possible unit to the attackers. I made a somewhat big error about the year in my inital post, the attack that I was looking for took place in between May, 11 - 13 1941, not 1942. Do you have anything more regarding attacks on shipping in the Bristol Channel for the same period in 1941 ?

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

The recently reformed III./KG 26 was the main anti-shipping unit off the western coasts of Britain in May 1942

[Chris Goss]

Nothing I am sorry

[TormodChristiansen]

Ok. Would units from KG 26 also have been enagaged with antishipping in the same area in may 1941 ?

[Chris Goss]

More like KG 27

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi,

The March activity is as stated in the Lageberichten quoted in my two posts.

I will look at the May 1941 Lageberichten and see what there is in them.
Will post what I find.

What ship recorded the March attack?