Liner 'City of Brisbane' bombed 2 August 1940

[BrianC]

Hi guy

The liner City of Brisbane was bombed and severely damaged off Margate by Ju87s on 2 August 1940; with 9 killed, she was set on fire and beached on South Long Sand, where the remaining 90 persons on board were rescued.

On 17 or 18 August the wreck was again bombed (by Ju87s?) and (quote) "when the Royal Navy inspected her they found a wrecked German aircraft on board." (see The Battle of the East Coast J.P. Foynes). Presumably the remains of a Ju87?

Any additional information available, please?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Sorry but sounds like another urban myth. No Stuka ops on 17 August and those on 18 August would have been against airfields or radar stations further west

[VtwinVince]

Not sure why Stukas would be sent to bomb an already-destroyed target?

[Chris Goss]

Furthermore, it appears that Erprobungsgruppe 210 were responsible for damaging a ship off Margate with 3 SC250 bombs on this date, not Ju 87s and no Bf 110s or Bf 109s from this unit were lost

[James A Pratt III]

I would like to point out plane ID was poor.

Having seen a plane ID guide from the late 1930s trying to ID an aircraft from that in 1940 is sort of difficult to put it mildly.

The follow up raid was because some one decided the ship may be salvageable and ordered it bombed again

[Chris Goss]

We all agree that aircraft identification was not 100% but the question was about a German aircraft crashing onto the ship for which there is no evidence

[BrianC]

Hi guys

The author J.P. Foynes in his book The Battle for the East Coast writes that the ship was again attacked 16 days after the initial bombing (hence 18 August) - apparently on this occasion, as Chris implies, by Bf110s: Foynes wrote:

"When the Royal Navy inspected her they found a wrecked German aircraft on board."

So, if there is any substance in this story, a German aircraft may have crashed into the disabled liner between 2 - 18 August, or even after, depending when the RN actually investigated the wreck. How do find more? Will a RN report have survived?

Interesting, is it not?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Erprobungsgruppe 210 was 2 Aug 40. If an aircraft crashed into the ship surely there would have been a noticeable explosion? If there is any substance to this Peter Cornwell would have uncovered it years ago?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by BrianC

Will a RN report have survived?

Cheers
Brian

You could always try the Admiralty War Diaries which are online at Fold3.com (and elsewhere if I remember rightly).

[Andy Mitchell]

Brian,

Here are some notes extracted from the Admiralty War Diaries for 1 & 2 August 1940. Sorry could not find anything on 16 Aug 1940.

Admiralty War Diaries 1/8/40

Casualties and Defects - City of Brisbane and City of Dundee

Aground 1 mile NE of L.1 buoy. Request tugs to be sent immediately (Wolsey 1142/1 to C. in C. Nore). Have tried and failed to tow off City of Dundee. Am proceeding (Wolsey 1308/1 to C. in C. Nore).

Admiralty War Diaries 2/8/40

Enemy Air Activity - City of Brisbane

(Ashore South Long Sand) Bombed 16.57 during salvage operations damaged by 2 bombs (C. in C. Nore 1807/2) Unlikely vessel can be floated (C. in C. Nore 1921/2) Salvage operations had to be abandoned 1915/2 owing to persistent bombing attacks - vessel now badly damaged, all compartments on fire aft near magazine. Some loss of life among crew. (C. in C. Nore 1426/2)

Casualties and Defects - City of Brisbane

Aground in 51 33 N, 1 20 E, (South Long Sand)
If available request fighter protection when enemy raids approach. (C. in C. Nore 0433/2 to A.C.C., in C., F.C.)