German tankers hit aerial mines 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

According to German Naval War Diary, two German tankers (one of 10,000-tons, the other 6,000-tons) were sunk on mines layed by RAF aircraft off St-Nazaire sometime in early to mid July 1940.

Can anyone identify the tankers and the date lost, please?

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

No German tanker was lost in July 1940.

See this webpage for the naval losses for 1940 (warships are on another page of the site): http://www.schiffswrackliste.de/BRT%201940.htm

[Brian]

Many thanks, Laurent

This is what the translated War Diary states:


13 July 1940 CONFIDENTIAL

The Groups will be advised accordingly.

English Channel :

FT boat flotillas off duty.

According to recent information one tanker of 15,000 tons (in
spite of her degaussing equipment) and another tanker of 6,000
tons were lost through striking mines (aerial) off St* Nazaire.
This shows that, despite all defense measures, aerial mines are
still effective and confirms the need of continuing to use them
as much as possible.

Presumably the "recent information" was incorrect!

Cheers
Brian

[Nick Beale]

This might be worth a look (it's in German): http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/chronik.htm

[Laurent Rizzotti]

My understanding of this:

According to recent information one tanker of 15,000 tons (in spite of her degaussing equipment) and another tanker of 6,000 tons were lost through striking mines (aerial) off St* Nazaire. This shows that, despite all defense measures, aerial mines are still effective and confirms the need of continuing to use them as much as possible.

is that the Germans learned in early July that two ALLIED tankers were lost to aerial mines off Saint-Nazaire, probably during June 1940, and so they were still efficient despite Allied counter-measures (like degaussing) and their use should continue.

Then the 15000-ton tanker will be the French tanker Palmyre (14715 tons) sunk on 17 June 1940 by a mine near Saint-Nazaire. I can't find another loss to mines in the same area, but the passenger ship Mexique (11953 tons) was sunk on the 18th off Le Verdon, more south.

[Brian]

Many thanks, Laurent (and Nick)

That makes sense!

Cheers
Brian

[Kutscha]

the Palmyre


from http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//arc.../t-146696.html posted by Caron:

"After that in June 18 1940 my father was captain on the tanker 'Palmyre' in St Nazaire harbour. He fled when the germans get there. Is ship not being finished he droped is propeller in tn the middle of the river 'Loire' ans was taken back to the harbour."

from http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...26299&start=15

"Palmyre - 13,750 GRT - not quite finished when sunk by mine off Saint-Nazaire 18 June 1940. Captured by the Germans, salvaged and turned to Kriegsmarine service as KMS Vierlande"

Seems there is some conflict about the Palmyre.