Axis units making attacks on shipping in Med March - June 43

[Juha]

Hello
I have several questions after reading G.G. Connell’s Fighting Destroyer and Stephen Harper’s Capturing Enigma. Can anyone identify the attacking Axis unit/units?

At noon 17 March 43 6 Ju 87s with Bf 109 escort attacked a small convoy from Tripoli to Malta, the escorting DDs claimed 2 Ju 87s and the 3rd was shot down by the Beuafighters which arrived to help the convoy. 2 merchantmen were lightly damaged by near misses.

At dusk 24 April 43 a plane, either, Ju 88, Bf 109 or Savoia, surprised and strafed HMS Petard and decimated its Y gun crew and part of its ammo supply party (4KIA, 1 DOW, 10 WIA). Petard was with HMS Numibian and HMS Paladin on “Club run” from Malta against Axis shipping between Tunisia and Sicily.

In the evening of 5 June 43 the assembled shipping off Sfax was attacked by 11 Bf 109s, a hurried half-hearted attack causing little damage, but one of the Bfs was shot down.

Around 15 June 43 off Pantelleria 6 Ju 88s attacked HMS Petard, Paladin, a armed trawler and a large merchantman without result.

At 0600 on next day same place and target, attacking planes this time 8 Ju 87s. Now after part of Petard was near missed twice causing leaks and splinter holes in the ship’s side. Spitfires arriving from the direction of Cap Bon eventually saved the day. I’m also interested in the identity of the Spits. HMS Petard sailed to Bizerta for emergency repairs.

During the night 16/17 June 43 again seaworthy Petard was again twice near missed at Bizerta harbour, also Fleet Aux. Agatha was hit and caught fire.


I have checked
http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg
Alfred Price’s Bombers of the Luftwaffe Jan 1942-Sept 43, Kampfflieger Vol Three
Jochen Prien’s JG 53
Siegfried Radtke’s Kampfgeschw. 54
Peter C. Smith’s Junkers Ju 87 STUKA
Harold Thiele’s Luftwaffe Aerial Torpedo A/c and Operations in WWII
Weal’s Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschw. of North Africa and the Med. (Osprey Combat A/c 6)

I also have a copy of MajGen I.S.O. Playfair et al The Mediterranean and Middle East Vol IV History of the SWW. UK Milit Series but have not have enough time to check it properly.

TIA
Juha