June 26 - July 4, 1942:
War continues all over the world.
Allied countries plan together for global conflict, while Italy worries.
The Peloponesseus is a cauldron, and Allies land on Zanthe.
Allied forces prepare for the last leg of Pedestal.
Algiers:
Arrival of Mr. Harry Hopkins to Algiers. In the evening he delivers President
Roosvelt's message to the French Prime-Minister.
Rome:
Reacting to a demand of Gen.Oberst Erwin Rommel, Benito Mussolini, to
the consternation of the Italian Army General Staff, decides to send two
new Infantry Divisions to Greece as well as 108 more M14/41 Medium tanks
and 36 Semovante 75/18 (vehicles intended for the Centauro Armoured Division).
The Italian General Staff is unable to stop this move despite pointing to
the fact it would deplete Italy of a large part of its mobile reserve forces.
Peloponnesus:
On the Tripolis front, after having regrouped his forces and added men
of one of the 22nd Airlanding Division regiments to the 21st panzer, Rommel
resumes his drive toward Agios Sostos and the Sparti-Tripolis road, hoping
to cut French forces holding the town from their main supply line. The Luftwaffe
Greece Commander concentrates all his forces to support this attack and furious
air battles rage over the area from 0615 to 1500, Axis forces losing 41
planes and the Allies 59. Advancing in the wake of Stuka strikes, German
tanks are able to take Agios Sostis by 1130 and begin to move on the road
going to Sradio toward Alea and Kamari. By noon, Geramn air support begins
to falter as Stuka formations have suffered heavy losses, both to Allied fighters
and AA fire. The French Army Corps commander, Ltn.Gen. Du Vigier then orders
a counter-strike "with all forces available".
By early afternoon, German forces are stopped in their drive south and
a combined group of the 9th Colonial Division and the 2nd Moroccan Infantry
division, supported by tanks of the Langlade armoured brigade clashes with
the German infantry at Agios Sostis.
The battle for Agios Sostis degenerated quickly into a murderous string
of small local battles among houses and orchards, fought by companies frequently
weakened down to platoon size. By 1830 men of the 25th RTS (25th Senegalese
Riflemen Regiment / 9th Colonial Infantry Division) had penetrated into Agios
Sostis where fighting reached new heights of ferocity. The 25th RTS had
been reconstituted in North Africa after a gallant but extremely vicious
campaign in France where two of its battalions had fought a bitter but effective
delaying battle north of Lyon in June 1940. During this battle, which stopped
cold the German advance for days, all Senegalese riflemen captured by German
troops had been murdered, as well as some of their officers. Some wounded
soldiers were even crushed alive by German tanks in front of the French civilian
population. This could explain why no German prisoners were taken during
this battle and the message sent at 2145 by the 25th RTS commander to 9th
DIC Headquarters simply stated "...troops in control of Agios Sostis. No
more Germans alive in the town".
Rommel’s attack had failed not just because of the ferocious French troops’
defence but also because the situation had turned sour for Italian troops.
Seeing his forces unable to stop the British XXXth Corps attack, General
Pafundi had ordered them to fall back north and to the coast. The British
attack was now threatening to reach the coastal road from Agiors Petros, and
tanks of the 7th Armoured divisions had rushed to Stadio to bolster French
troops. With the Luftwaffe significantly depleted and the enemy showing no
sign of retreat Rommel, who was in his usually precarious logistic situation,
had no choice but to call off the attack and order his troops to dig in on
a line south of the railway line going to Tripolis.
In Western Peloponnesus the situation was no more rosy for Axis forces.
Moroccan Mountain troops were now pushing to Stavrodomi and the Italian
Cuneense 4th Mountain Division was hard pressed to maintain contact with
its left flank, the two German Mountain divisions. In this situation Gen.
Dietl asked Rommel’s authorization to move back further north to avoid a
complete collapse.
Burma:
Moulmein based RAF Wellington night bombers begin to mount night raids
on Alor Setar. The first attack is launched by 11 planes and surprises the
Japanese defence, destroying two planes and damaging 5 others.
JUNE 27th
Algiers:
Meeting of the French National Defense Council, where President Roosevelt's
message is discussed. The very idea of sending both Dunkerque and Strasbourg
in the Pacific is coolly received by the Marine Nationale Chief of Staff
and by the deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Mr. George
Mandel, but for completely different reasons. Where the first is worried about
divesting precious assets from the Mediterranean theatre the second points
to political aspects of the US demand. Harry Hopkins' mission is creating
a pattern where the US President could by-pass the normal joint decisional
institutions to make specific demands to each Allies. Would this pattern be
accepted it would imply a de-facto dominance of the US Government in the joint
planning of the common war.
After some tense discussions, the Minister of War, Gen. Charles de Gaulle
proposes to answer in a favorable way to the US demand but as part of a global
package of French contributions to the joint effort against Japan. After
a 4h45 long meeting it is decided by the NDV to inform jointly on the latter
day Mr Hopkins, the US Ambassador in Algiers, the British Ambassador and
the Empire General Staff representative, the Dutch Ambassador and the Chinese
one that France is to increase its contribution to the common war effort
against Japan.
This is to be done during summer and early fall in successive steps.
(a) The French government is to send immediately one Airborne Regiment
(the 2 REP) to Australia, to participate in operations in New Guinea and/or
in the Solomons Area.
(b) The French Air Force is to bolster its current presence in China (Kunming)
and Tonkin (Dien Bien Phu) by transferring 50 Hawk-87 (P-40E) to re-equip
the 40th Fighter Wing (40è Escadre de Chasse with GC I/40, II/40 and
III/40) as well as sending 45 NA B25C for the 62nd Bomber Wing (I/62, II/62,
III/62) currently flying on Martin-167. These transfers are to take place
during from late August to October.
(c) The French Air Force is to send by late August to New Calédonia
or Australia the newly re-created 52th ACCS (Aviation de Cooperation, de
Combat et de Soutien or Air Co-operation and Close-Support) Wing (GCA I/52,
II/52) with 45 Vultee V-72 Vengeance-I delivered late spring. This wing is
to operate with RAAF and USAAF forces deployed in this area.
(d) The French Pacific Squadron, operating now from Nouméa, is
to be reinforced by the 3rd Battleship Squadron under R.Adm. Jacques Trolley
de Prevaux command, including BB Dunkerque (F) C.V. Jacques Garreau de la
Méchenie, BB Strasbourg C.V. Barrois and DD: Le Hardi, Le Foudroyant,
L'Adroit and Casque. These ships are to leave US shipyards where they are
now undergoing refits and modernization work by mid-September.
(Le Hardi class, refitted. 6 (3x2) 5.1/45 LA, 4 (1x2 and 2 x 1) 40mm Bofors,
4 x 20mm Oerlikon, 7 (1x3 and 2x2) 550mm tt, 4 DCT and 2 racks, 40 DCs.)
By presenting together different measures, some of them having been approved
by the NDC well before (like points (a) and (c)), the French government clearly
hoped to reap the maximum political benefit from what was still a quite
limited numerical involvement (even if actually significant in comparison
to French manpower resources). By diluting its answer to the US President's
request into other measures The French government hoped its decision would
be understood as a clear commitment to the principle to joint planning, without
risking a conflict with the US government on the eve of a major operation
where American presence and involvement were to be decisive.
Peloponnesus:
On the Tripolis front the fighting is easing a bit, even if on both sides
artillery is very active, with French and British guns poundings German positions
all the day, and German artillery trying to interdict the Sparti-Tripolis
road. However, the battle was still raging on both flanks. On the Eastern
one, South African troops had reached Paralia Tirou and was advancing toward
Agios Andreas along the coast, with the constant support of the 2nd IFSS,
which from dusk to day break shelled Italian positions. Indian troops were
pushing back Italian forces on their side toward Astros. Gen. Pafundi requested,
and got, air support during this day and air operations concentrated mostly
over the Argolikos Gulf. Allied planes were also very active and 34 Axis
planes were destroyed this day against 53 Allied ones.
On West Peloponnesus, Moroccan mountain troops were still pushing and
they entered Karkalou, not far from Stavrodomi, by the end of the day. Yugoslav
troops were busy mopping up what was left of enemy forces in the rear after
the fall of Andritsena. However, one regiment of the Yugoslav 1st Infanty
Division joined the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade in an attack aimed at cutting
the Olympia-Stavrodomi road west of Stavrodomi. After heavy fightings, the
combined Greek-Yugoslav force entered the small town of Loutra at dusk.
Having learnt the Italian decision to send reinforcement to Greece, Rommel,
Pafundi and Kesselring decided to move the 18th Infantry Division "Messina",
(Commanded by Gen. Francesco Zani and including 93th and 94th Inf. Rgmt,
108th Legion (102nd and 108th Bat., 108th mg Cy.), 2nd Art. Rgmt with 12x
100/17 howitzers and 24 x 75/27), which was based in Eubea and Andros to the
Peloponnesus to try to stabilise the situation at Astros. With nightfall,
and despite continuous Allied raids on communications, the 93th Inf. Rgmt
and the 108th Black Shirt Legion began to move toward Nafplio.
Port Blair:
16 Spitfire-II belonging to 132 SQN RAF arrive to the newly operational
Port-Blair airfields in the Andamans. These fighters are to supplement float-plane
fighters which till then have been the only air defense of this base.
Sumatra:
7 Blenheim bombers, using the Sabang airfield as a refuelling stop, attack
at dawn the Medan airfield destroying two Ki-51 Army co-operation planes
as well as 3 Ki-43 fighter.
JUNE 28th
Algiers:
Arrival in the morning coming from Gibraltar of Adm. Dudley Pound, British
First Sea Lord. Dudley Pound trip to Algiers is actually unconnected with
Harry Hopkins' mission but linked to the necessity to discuss with French
naval authorities a reorganization of Mediterranean Naval Commands.
By 1300 this Sunday, Allied Ambassadors and their military advisers are
invited in company of Mr. Hopkins to lunch by the French Prime-Minister,
who unveils then National Defence Committee decisions about the French contribution
to war effort against Japan. Mr. Paul Reynaud jumps to the occasion to defend
results of Operation "Pericles", which he argues has significantly weakened
enemy forces in Greece and the Balkans, and promises more offensive efforts
soon.
By the end of the afternoon Adm. Lemonnier and Minister of War Gen. Charles
de Gaulle meet the first Sea Lord to discuss reorganization of Allied Naval
forces in the Mediterranean and also the situation in the Far East.
Peloponnesus:
In East Peloponnesus the ground battle quiets a little around Tripolis,
but for artillery duels. South African troops are stopped by a strong Italian
defence at the entry of Agios Andreas. Indian troops of the 4th Indian Division
however enter Agios Astros.
In Western Peloponnesus, German troops entrenched in Stavrodomi are now
submitted to a three pronged attack, with French and Moroccan troops coming
from east and south and Yugoslav and Greek troops from west. Allied planes
repeatedly bomb German positions and the focus of the air battle shifts
progressively to West Peloponnesus. By the end of the day 38 Allied planes
will have been lost for 25 Axis ones.
On the West coast, Italian troops are falling back to Andravida and the
French 10th Infantry Division is in control of the coast line facing Zanthe
Island by the end of the day.
Burma:
Moulmein based Wellington raid again Alor Setar but results this night
are unconclusive. However during the raid the radio operator of 40 SQN 'Y'
plane (nicknamed "Y for Mistress") detects radio interferences typical of
a German Freya-type air warning radar. This information is communicated to
RN Headquarters in Colombo.
Sabang
The Sabang airfield is attacked by 18 Ki-21 escorted by a same number
of Ki-43 fighters. The raid is intercepted by 12 Hurricane of 155 SQN RAF
and 4 Bombers as well as 3 escorting fighters are destroyed to the cost
of 3 Hurricanes downed and 2 others damaged.
JUNE 29th:
Gibraltar:
Arrival of the Russia bound 1st Lend-lease convoy. The newly re-organized
Joint Mediterranean Fleet is to protect its crossing through Sicily Straits
and then up to the Bosphorus.
Algiers:
Arrival of Adm. Gensoul and Adm. Cunningham to discuss organization of
Allied naval forces in the Mediterranean with Adm. Lemonnier and Adm. Dudley
Pound. The French government, considering the necessity to have a more flexible
organization to take care of the combination of amphibious and Sea-Control
operations agrees with the ending of the division between a Western and an
Eastern Mediterranean Fleet, a structure inherited from the very beginning
of the war.
Both Fleets are to be re-united, but organized in different squadrons.
Admiral Cunningham is to be CinC Mediterranean Fleet or CinCMed. He is to
have V.Adm. Godfroy (MN) as deputy. The Mediterranean Fleet will have a strike
squadron around French Richelieu and RN Queen Elizabeth and Warspite, under
Adm. Rawlings command and a CV squadron under R.Adm Hewitt (USN) command
built around HMS Furious and USN Ranger.
A special Support and Amphibious Command is created uniting all support
and close escort forces, under V. Adm F.C. Michelier command with Adm. Sir
Bertram Ramsay as deputy for amphibious and logistic units. This command
is tasked with general support of amphibious and land operations (with a
heavy nucleus of French BB Lorraine and Provence and the two RN Heavy monitors
Erebus and Terror), transport and escort of local convoys. The Aegean squadron
is maintained as a semi-autonomous structure to provide support and Sea-Control
functions in the upper-Aegean. Once the USN commits more ships to support
amphibious operations, they are to be integrated into this theatre Support
and Amphibious Command with a USN Admiral as another of Michelier's deputies
(see annex on Mediterranean Fleet).
Peloponnesus
The ground battle now concentrates on Stavrodomi, which is shelled and
bombed by Allied forces all the day but where German mountain troops are
putting a very strong defence. By the end of the day Moroccan troops have
however began to turn Stavrodomi and, at midnight Gen. Dietl asks for authorization
to evacuate Stavrodomi and fall back to the Ladonas Lake region.
Air activity once more concentrates around Stavrodomi, but both sides
were exhausted and 17 Allied planes were lost to 13 Axis ones.
Benghazi:
Gen. Simovic, leader of the in exile Yugoslav Government commission the
Yugoslav 2nd Infantry Division as well as the Yugoslav 1st Tank Brigade.
Both units are to be transferred to the Peloponnesus where they are to form,
in combination with the 1st Yugoslav Infantry Division, the Yugoslav Expeditionary
Corps.
Sabang:
Arrival by 2115 of the fast minelayer Abdiel in company with destroyers
Nestor, Jervis, Ashanti, Eskimo to Sabang. The five ships unload nearly
550 tons of stores and supplies before leaving just before dawn on the 30th.
Penang:
The Penang airfield is raided twice in the day by 7th Hikodan Ki-21. The
two raids fail to inflict serious damages to installations.
JUNE 30th
Gibraltar:
The lend-lease convoy heading to Russia leaves Gibraltar at dawn escorted
by CA Colbert (F), Tourville, CL La Galissonière, CLAA La Marseillaise,
Large DD: Vauquelin, Simoun, Tramontane, Typhon, Le Mars, Ouragan, DE (Hunt
class) Middleton and Krite** (Greek).
Peloponnesus:
German mountain troops begin to evacuate Stavrodomi to reconstitute a
new defence line at the Ladonas Lake level. The fighting on the ground is
still very tough and it is not before dusk that Stavrodomi is at last in
Allied hands.
Allied bombers launch two violent raids against Italian positions on the
Zanthe Island.
By this time, after conferring with his deputy Gen. Ritchie and Adm. Cunningham,
Gen. Giraud authorized operation "Ajax" for July 2nd.
Sumatra:
Still using Sabang as a refuelling stop, it is now the turn of 11 Wellington
bombers to attack Medan and 7 others Palembang (of 14 and 104 SQN) during
the night of the 29th to the 30th. Results are not significant (two planes
damaged on Palembang airfield).
Port Blair:
Arrival to the new air base of 16 Beaufort Torpedo-Bombers (489 SQN RAF)
and 16 Beaufighter long-range figthers (253 SQN RAF).
Guadalcanal
Kikuzuki (one of the ships sunk by USN planes early June, which has been
raised with the help of tug Futugami) leaves for Rabaul, under tow by Futugami.
Escort is provided by Tulagi A/S force (2 Cha-1 auxiliary sub chasers)
JULY 1st:
Benghazi:
The newly formed Mediterranean Fleet Strike Force, reinforced by the two
French Battleships belonging to the Support and Amphibious Command (Provence
and Lorraine) leaves Benghazi harbour by 0830 to be in position to support
Operation AJAX by next dawn.
Peloponnesus:
For the first time since the beginning of operation PERICLES, the situation
on the ground is quiet. Allied planes are however still attacking Luftwaffe
bases around Athens and night bombers strike the Athens marshalling yard
using the Gee navigation system. 13 Allied planes are lost this day for 7
Axis ones.
By dusk, amphibious ships and those of the 1st and 3rd IFSS begin to concentrate
in Pyrgos Bay with a screen of Minesweepers and ASW PC-boats. Adm. Sir Bertram
Ramsay, RN, arrives in Pyrgos by flying-boat in the evening.
Two new air raids are delivered against Italian positions in Zanthe. Before
noon, 24 Martin-167 of GB I/81 and II/81 (Yugoslav) bomber squadrons pound
the 'San Marco' Italian Marine Infantry Battalion headquarters. At 1540 it
is the turn of 36 B25B/C of the French 12th Bomber Wing to attack Zanthe,
sonn followed by 9 Vultee V-72 Vengeance of the K-1 based IV/22 co-operation
squadron.
Trincomalee:
Arrival of the PEDESTAL convoy escorted by reinforcements for the RN Indian
Ocean Fleet.
This same day, the RN Indian Ocean Fleet sortie out for AA training and
exercise, using 211 SQN Blenheim to replicate IJNAF planes tactics. After
a full day of training, some useful lessons have been learned about air
control in the inner Fleet AA defence space. To avoid unfortunate loss of
carrier fighters to 'friendly' AA fire, when approaching the convoy fighters
were to fly in a stepped-up line-astern formation, coming in from the opposite
side of the sun. When five miles from the centre of the convoy, the formation
would make a complete orbit to permit radar and visual "de-lousing". This
was necessary to make sure that fighters had not been followed home by "undesirables".
Only when in hot pursuit would this rule be disregarded. Wing leading edges
and tails of fighters were to be painted yellow to provide a high-visibility
identification mark.
During the day it was confirmed that the old Type-89B air-warning radar
had better "height finding" capabilities than the longer ranged Type-281.
Anti-aircraft cruisers with Type-281 were then to be used for initial warning
and type-79B for refining the data.
Port Blair:
Planes of 223 SQN RAF (16 Wellington) move from Colombo to Port-Blair
in support of the fortcoming PEDESTAL operation.
Sabang:
9 Ki-21 try to retaliate against nocturnal RAF attacks by bombing Sabang
during the night and lose two aircraft to Defiant-IINF night fighters (Flight
'B' of 27 SQN RAF) operating from Sabang.
JULY 2nd:
Sicily Straits.
During the afternoon, Allied planes launch massive attacks against Axis
airfields in Sicily and Sardinia. 367 planes participate in this operation,
which cost the Allies 11 planes destroyed (7 by AA fire) but ends with destruction
of 21 Italian planes (17 on the ground). This operation sees the first combat
mission of the North American NA-89 "Mustang-II", when 8 planes of the I/5th
Fighter Squadron were part of top cover of a French DB-73 bomber formation
attacking Cagliari-Elmas airfield. No combat was reported.
By 1900h the Lend-Lease convoy bound to Russia is off Cape Blanc and in
position to cross the most dangerous part of Sicily straits during the night.
Zanthe Island:
After an initial naval bombardment involving 1st IFSS small monitors,
French Battleships Provence and Lorraine with heavy cruisers Algérie
and Dupleix and a 30 minutes air bombardment and strafing operation delivered
by Vultee V-72 Vengeance and P-39Ds of the 22nd ACCS Co-Operation and close
support Wing as well as by USN Ranger's SBDs, men of the 13th Foreign Legion
Half-Brigade (13th DBLE/Demi-Brigade de la Légion Etrangère)
and of Col. Gambiez "Shock Group" are landed at Laganas, Argassi and Akrotiri
ay 0715. Just before the landing, rocket-firing LCTs of the 3rd IFSS deliver
a huge blow on Italian beach defences.
Italian troops (The 'San Marco' naval infantry battalion and two independent
"Black Shirt" companies are quickly overwhelmed but not before a vicious
fight at Akrotiri claimed the life of Col. Dimitri Amilakhvari, the 13th DBLE
commander, who was killed at 1045. By 1140 French troops were in control of
Zakinthos harbour and began to push west toward Alikes and Koroni.
By 1300, the Mediterranean Fleet Strike Force began to retire South as
French troops were now solidly in control of Zanthe Island eastern part.
The first enemy reaction happened at 1545 when 17 Italian Ju-87 escorted
by 12 Re-2002 fighters tried to attack landing ships. The raid was intercepted
by 24 of Ranger's F4F-3 and 8 Ju-87 as well as 5 Re-2002 were destroyed for
the loss of 3 Wildcats. A second raid came two hours later when 18 I/LG 1
and II/LG II Ju-88 escorted by 16 Bf-109F attacked ships unloading troops
and equipments as well. Here again VF-9 and VF-41 F4F-3 guided by HMS Sirius
Type-281 radar intercepted the Xth FliegerKorps formation, downing 5 Ju-88
and 3 Bf-109 for the loss of 5 Wildcats. German bombers were however able
to sink two LCTs and damage seriously a LCI(L) (which had to be beached) but
lost another 3 Ju-88s to very dense AA fire during their dive attack.
By 2300 some Italian MTBs operating from Kephalonia tried to penetrate
the amphibious force screen as others were evacuating Italian soldiers from
Zanthe West coast. At 2317 MS-1 type MS 11, 12, 13, 14 MTBs ran into a force
made of Yugoslav MTBs Suvobor, Kajmakcalan and French VTB, 104, 107, 109,
112 (Higgins type boats) and VGB 112, 119, 122, 124, 129 (Fairmile), north
of Zanthe. After damaging slightly two of the French Fairmile boats on advanced
picket duty (VGB 122 and 124), Italian boats were quickly attacked by no less
than 6 MTBs and two MGBs. MS-12 was blown up by a torpedo launched by Suvobor
at short range and MS-14 fell to the combined weight of 20mm and 40mm guns
carried by French Higgins boats. The two others MTBs ran north.
News of the French landing on Zanthe raised considerable concern among
the Regia Marina staff. It was understood that once enemy forces in control
of Zanthe, fast patrol boats and MTBs could cut the Italian naval traffic
into the Corynthus Gulf. This would considerably reduce logistic possibilities
as forces fighting in Peloponnesus or garrisoning Greece would have to be
supplied only through the Balkan railway line going down along Yugoslavia
to northern Greece.
Sabang:
During the night 9 Wellington of 40 SQN attack Kuala-Lumpur after having
refuelled at dusk from Sabang.
Penang:
Two diesel powered fast MTB (MTB 502 and 503) travel from Penang to Singapore
during the night.
JULY 3rd
Occupied France:
At 0105 the huge Laroche-Migenne marshalling yard is rocked by several
explosions destroying a major part of the locomotives depot. This operation,
which the Socialist (SFIO) combat group claimed responsibility for, severely
disrupted railways operations on the Paris-Marseille main line for weeks.
Bari:
Italian destroyers Camicia Nera, Carabiniere, Corraziere and Lanciere
(Soldati class, 1st group), joined by two Orinai class boats (Alfieri and
Gioberti), leave Bari where they have fuelled during the night at 0800.
Alfieri and Gioberti were coming from Korcula Island (on the Dalmatian coast)
where they had escorted a convoy sailing down the Adriatic from Trieste to
the Patras Gulf. All 6 ships have been ordered by Supermarina to execute
a sweep against Allied shipping involved in the landing operation at Zanthe.
Zanthe:
From dawn French troops moved to the Island western part to mop up what
was left of Italian defenders. If fighting on the ground was mild, Italian
reaction to the landing in the air and under the sea was much more comprehensive.
No less than three raids were launched this day by the Regia Aeronautica.
The first one, 14 Ju-87 escorted by 12 Re-2002, was detected by 0615. Guided
by HMS Sirius radar, 16 F4F-3 from Ranger's VF-9 intercepted the raid West
of Zanthe, downing 5 Ju-87 and 3 Re-2002 to the loss of 3 Wildcats. By 0805
another raid, this time composed of 21 SM-79-II escorted by 10 Re-2000 was
detected. Furious Fulmars were unable to reach torpedo-bombers before being
bounced by escorting Reggiane fighters and lost 4 of their own for the destruction
of 2 Re-2000 and 1 SM-79-II. The raid was however disorganized to some extent,
and 4 other SM-79-II fell to VF-41 F4F-3, with two more to Allied AA fire.
Italian torpedo-bombers still went on, and sank two Greek freighters off
Pyrgos.
The third raid did not occur before the afternoon when at 1545 24 Italian
Ju-87 escorted by a mixed formation of 7 Re-2000 and 12 Re-2002 tried to
break through Adm. Hewitt's defence. Keeping Furious Fulmars for last ditch
patrol against possible low-flying torpedo-bombers, Hewitt reacted to the
raid by launching no less than 28 F4F-3 (16 from VF-9 and 12 from VF-41).
The raid was unable to pierce the Allied screen, losing 9 fighters (5 Re-2000
and 4 Re-2002) as well as 8 Ju-87 to Wildcats, of which 7 were lost in the
fight. Surviving Ju-87 bombed the Allied Fleet screen, damaging Yugoslav destroyer
Zagreb (whose speed was reduced to 25kts after splinter damage to her boilers)
and USN Rhind, which suffered losses in her bridge crew but kept on station.
Axis submarines were active in the area as well. The converted ferry Daffodil
and one LCI(L) were sunk between Pyrgos and Heraklion around noon, Daffodil
on her way back after having delivered some new SAV-42 tanks to French troops
operating on Peloponnesus Western coast. These losses were attributed to
Italian submarine Platino. A French small freighter was also sunk by Italian
Perla at 1530 off Pyrgos. However the ASM screen was very active too, with
two Greek manned PC boats claiming the Italian submarine Scire off Crete western
coast when escorting a convoy bound to Pyrgos and French L'Eveillé,
Le Rusé and L'Enjoué (PC boats too) spent part of the afternoon
hunting a particularly aggressive submarine, which tried to close to Pyrgos.
By 1935 L'Enjoué’s Mousetrap ASM rocket launcher ultimately claimed
the Italian submarine Cobalto.
If the Italian Regia Aeronautica tried its best to interfere with "AJAX"
it was not the only air force active in the area. French and Yugoslav fighters,
helped by Yugoslav Martin-167 bombers, based in Kalamata area (K1 and K2)
supported French troops in Zanthe. Yugoslav P-39Ds twice struck Kephalonia,
the second time surprising Italian MTBs, which were by then sailing close
to Zanthe north coast (probably on their way back after recovering some Italian
soldiers). The eight P-39Ds strafed repeatedly the four boats and sank MAS
513 and MAS 518. Two GC II/80 P-39Ds were lost to light AA fire during these
raids and a third had to belly land on the Pyrgos landing strip, having
been damaged by one of the Italian MTBs, which had blown up when the Yugoslav
pilots had pressed his attack at point blank range.
Peloponnesus.
But for some artillery duels on the Tripolis front, the day was quiet
as both sides were recovering and tending their wounds. On the Axis side
Rommel knew he had to wait for Italian reinforcements before attempting
a new attack. On the Allied side, Giraud and Ritchie could consider themselves
happy to have avoided a major collapse around Tripolis. The French offensive
in Western Peloponnesus had been a success, even if at a high human cost
and the worst had been avoided in Eastern Peloponnesus. The main access
road to Tripolis was still under German artillery fire, but the combination
of French and British counter-battery fire had a distinct quieting effect
on German artillerymen.
From Athens, Kesselring asking for more planes to make good losses the
Luftwaffe had suffered late June and to placate him Berlin promised 20 of
the new Bf-109G2 by July 10th. Rommel had succeeded for the moment in convincing
the local Italian commander to slow down Regia Aeronautica units return to
Italy, but it was obvious that the Allied operation against Zanthe Island,
which had surprised the Italian garrison, will add more weight to Italian
commanding officer arguing for concentrating operational fighter units in
Southern Italy.
JULY 4th
Occupied France:
The German Army unit preparing and rehearsing for the usual Sunday march
along Champs Elysées in Paris is caught by two hand made bombs exploding
from dustbins and killing 4 soldiers and officers as well wounding 11. This
operation is claimed by a Communist (PCF) group. The German local command
takes 100 hostages and put a ban on every theatre and movie-theatre in Paris
for a week.
Off Zanthe Island
At 0015 the Italian destroyer squadron, which had rounded Ithacus and
Kephalonia Islands under cover of the night was crossing the Patras Gulf
entry approaching the Straits between Zanthe and Western Peloponnesus coast.
The squadron's commander, after toying with the idea of rounding Zanthe
to the West to attack Allied ships from the South had changed his mind when
airplane reports had indicted that a strong enemy fleet was operating South
of the Island.
Actually V.ADM Michellier and his deputy Adm. Sir Bertram Ramsay had requested
some support from Rawlings, whose ships had moved South toward Benghazi after
having covered the landing for another day. Rawlings had detached first
the two Yugoslav destroyers Ljubljana and Zagreb, following the latters damage
during the previous day air raid and then a French combat group centering
around light cruiser Gloire, with large destroyers Volta, Cassard, Kersaint
and Tartu.
Ramsay expected some Italian action during the night and he sent the French
combat group to patrol the Kiparissia Gulf so to be in a position to protect
both Zanthe landing areas against an attack coming from south, but also convoys
sailing on the Heraklion/Canea/Kalamatta/Pyrgos line. French ships were
fast enough to cover a large area would the need be felt. To the north, between
Zanthe and the Peloponnesus coast, he sent as usual light forces composing
the "Pyrgos squadron" (the 3 Yugoslav MTBs Suvobor, Kajmakcalan and Triglav,
6 French Higgins boats, VTB 104, 107, 109, 112, 114 and 117, and three French
manned Fairmile boats, VGB 112, 119, 129). Considering enemy submarine activities,
he strengthened the patrol line with three French manned SC-boats (CH 50,
51 and 52) and the 3 PC boats, which had hunted an Italian submarine off
Pyrgos. The landing areas proper were covered by monitors of the 1st IFSS
and three French mine-sweepers (Sans Reproche, Sans Souci, Sans Peur). The
two Yugoslav destroyers arrived at Pyrgos by 2045, where Zagreb landed some
of her wounded sailors. Both ships left Pyrgos at 2305 but stayed in the
area, waiting for daylight before joining Rawlings ships.
The Italian commander had not erred when assuming that Kiparissia Gulf
would have been patrolled by Allied ships. He had expected his squadron to
be supported by the MAS group operating from Kephalonia. Supermarina however
failed to inform him that two MTBs had been destroyed in the previous afternoon
and it was not before 2310 on the 3rd he was informed that no MAS boats
could support his ships.
Just after mid-night the Italian squadron entered the Zanthe Straits.
At 0041 Lanciere "Guffo" radar detected ships 4nm ahead. It was a first
line of 1st IFSS small monitors (MN M100, 101 and 120, RYN M105). The six
Italian destroyers accelerated to 30kts and VGB 119 then detected them by
their bow wave at 0042. As warning signals began to flash through TBS but
failed to reach the three Yugoslav MTBs patroling near by, Italian look-outs
signalled what they understood to be "4 small destroyers, on a patrol line".
The Italian commander ordered to prepare to launch torpedoes and at 0045
the six ships fired each a 3 torpedoes salvo. At this moment star shells
began to light up the scene. Italian gunners answered immediately in kind,
straddling and then hiting M100 and M101 with their 4.7-in guns. Monitors
armed with 7.5-in guns were not well fitted for a night engagement as their
main gun, if powerful, was relatively slow firing. They replied mostly with
their single 4-in AA mount and then, as range closed with their pom-poms.
However, the AA monitor M120 opened fire with her two twin 4-in guns, and
her Octo pom-pom too when range closed enough. M100 took two hits on her
superstructure, and then three others (probably from Corraziere) destroying
her 7.5-in gun. The monitor was ablaze as "ready-use" ammunitions began to
explode. M101 took also a serious beating in the capable hands of Carabiniere
and Camicia Nera. This last was however hit just forward of her funnel by
a 7.5-in shell from Yugoslav manned M105 and then by 3 4-in shells from M120.
Fire began to spread amidhsip. Italian ships turned a little to South and
range was now less than 1,500 yards. At such distance nearly every shot found
range. If their shallow draft had saved small monitors from Italian torpedoes,
they were now the target of 24 4.7-in guns. M120 entered into a fire contest
with Carabiniere and destroyed the two aft gun mounts of the Italian ship.
However the AA monitor was left a burning wreck by concentrated fire of Carabiniere
and Camicia Nera. M105 had been ignored for some minutes by Italian gunners,
attracted either by fires raging on M100 and 101 or by the threat fast firing
M120 could mean. This allowed at 0050 and 0051 Yugoslav gunners to put two
7.5-in shells and 3 from their 4-in AA mount on Corrazziere. The Italian
destroyers had her bridge wrecked and turned to port, leaving the line. The
last two ships of the Italian line opened fire on two ships slightly behind
the monitors (still assessed as destroyers by some Italian crews) they identified
as torpedo-boats. It was two of the three Raven-class French minesweepers,
San Reproche and Sans Souci. Both ships answered with their pretty ineffectual
3-in/50 guns and Sans Reproche began to lay a smoke screen. Alfieri and
Gioberti then turned on M105 hitting hard the Yugoslav monitor, which soon
lost her 7.5-in gun and her 4-in one. However, Alfieri made the mistake of
closing too much the range and had her bridge the target of M105 quad pom-pom
mount, which resulted into heavy casualties among officers.
It was by then 0052 and the Italian squadron commander manoeuvred his
ships to get south of the "destroyer patrol line". More ships were now appearing
both on port and starboard beams. Another "patrol line" could be seen on
starboard, and shell splashes straddled Lanciere at 0053. Two bigger ships
could also be seen on port. They were the Greek monitor group (M102, 103,
104 and AA monitor M122), but also the two Yugoslav destroyers Ljubljana and
Zagreb. The Italian commander ordered another torpedo salvo on the "patrol
line" and switched fire on the two incoming ships. Range was closing fast,
with the Italian formation sailing at 30kts and the Yugoslav one at 25kts.
at 0053 the two Yugoslav destroyers fired their torpedoes and opened fire,
concentrating on the enemy lead ship. Lanciere was soon hit three times. However,
Ljubljana lost her "A" and "B" mountings to Carabiniere.
Greek monitors were using their single 4-in AA for illuminating shells,
but Italian destroyers were also silhouetted against burning French monitors.
Lanciere was hit by two 7.5-in shells at 0054. The last three Italian ships
then switched fire to the Greek ones they now clearly identified as coastal
monitors. M102 was soon hit and burning. However, at 0056 a huge explosion
lifted Alfieri. The destroyer soon broke in two, having been hit by at least
one and more probably two torpedoes. This gave a respite to Greek monitors
whose fire concentrated on Gioberti and Camicia Nera, the latter still being
illuminated by fires amidship. The Italian destroyer attracted much of M122
rapid 4-in fire and suffered accordingly. Gioberti fate was happier, disabling
M104 but losing her aft gun mount to a 7.5-in shell.
By this time the fight between the first two Italian ships (Lanciere and
Carabiniere) and the two Yugoslav destroyers has turned into an even duel.
Both Lanciere and Lubljana were on fire and had lost steering after multiple
hits at a range of less than 3,000 yards. Carabiniere and Zagreb were trading
amenities at rapid-fire rate. Better trained Zagreb gunners soon gained the
upper hand and destroyed Carabiniere front 4.7-in mount as well as part of
her bridge. The Italian destroyer turned north, trying to hide behind a
smoke screen. Zagred had however to switch her fire on a new customer as
the ship was engaged at 0102 by Corraziere, now back in the fight after her
unhappy brush with M105.
Sensing he could not break through to Allied landing ships, the Italian
commander gave retirement orders by 0104. It was however easier to say than
to do. His own ship was losing power and had slowed to 18kts and could only
steer through alternating machinery. Camicia Nera was burning heavily. Gioberti,
and Carabiniere were seriously damaged and only Corrazziere seemed to be
still in good fighting trim, and certainly in fighting spirit.
By then allied ships were rallying. French PC boats were escorting LCIs
and LCTs out of the area under the smoke screen laid by minesweepers and
the Gloire group was racing at 34kts toward the action. French and Yugoslav
MTBs had so far waited for a good opportunity, fearing to attack the wrong
ship in the confusion of the fight. They however moved up the Straits to
be in a postion to ambush retiring Italian ships.
At 0106 Gloire commanding officer was able to raise Zagreb's skipper to
have a good account of the situation. By then, the Yugoslav destroyer was
still firing on Italian ships but was also trying to protect Lubljana, nearly
stopped after two direct hits in her boiler rooms. In the meantime, fires
had gone out of control on M100 and M120 and both had to be scuttled. The
same fate happened to the Greek manned M102. Still seriously on fire, M105
had crawled to Zanthe coast to beach. Of the first group of small monitors
only M101 was sailing, with fires under control.
As Corrazziere began to lay a smoke screen, she was fired on by Zagreb
at 0107, which missed and began to concentrate on illuminating retreating
Italian ships by 0110. Still steered through her machinery, Lanciere took
the lead, sailing north, followed by Gioberti, Camicia Nera and Carabiniere,
with Corrazziere as the trailing ship. By 0114 Italian ships were challenged
by small combatants on their port bow. They were Greek monitors of the second
group and their fire was attracted by burning Camicia Nera, which soon took
another 7.5-in hit as well as many 4-in ones. Carabiniere and Corrazziere
answered heartily, seriously damaging M104 (which had to be beached soon
after) and M122. By 0120 the Italian squadron was mid-way in Zanthe Straits
when large splashes began to straddle the last two ships. They came from
Gloire radar-directed 6-in guns. Corrazziere immediately turned toward the
enemy and began to lay a smoke screen. Splashes continued to straddle and
at 0122 Corrazziere and Carabiniere went out from the smoke screen to make
a mock torpedo-attack on attackers.
The French commander had ordered his ships to approach bow on to minimize
the torpedo threat, and they were now in a parallel formation, not unlike
rake teeth. This implied that only 6 6-in and 10 5.5-in guns could bear,
but this was quite enough. Gloire and Volta had received during their refits
centimetric Type-271 radar sets, as well as Tartu. Gloire had received a further
Type-284 surface gunnery set and Volta a Type-281, which could also be used
for gunnery. This exemplified how much the fire-control gap has opened between
Allied navies and the RM since 1940.
Carabiniere was soon hit by several 5.5in shells and began to slow down.
Corrazziere turned again to lay smoke behind the crippled ships and attackers,
engaging Gloire with her 4.7-in guns. The French cruisers took two hits on
the forecastle, but not enough to impede her fire-direction officer. Corrazziere
was soon the recipient of at least six 6-in shells, which destroyed in quick
succession her front 4.7-in mount, her funnel and the two empty torpedo
tubes mount, and penetrated into her machinery space, wreaking havoc in
boiler rooms. The ship slowed and was on fire by 0124, but still firing with
her aft 4.7-in mount. Cassard and Kersaint switched fire to her, Cassard firing
a 3 torpedoes salvo at 0125. Corrazziere’s fire was now erratic. Range had
fallen to less than 3,000 yards and the two French "Contre-Torpilleurs" had
slightly turned to unmask their aft 5.5-in mounts, pumping now as much shells
as they could on the doomed ship. Kersaint fired another two torpedoes salvo
at 0127. Corrazziere was heavily burning and ready-use ammunitions was exploding
on the aft part of the ship. Only a single 37mm AA gun answered French ships
fire. Kersaint's torpedoes hit at 0129, breaking the back of the gallant
destroyer, which split in two and sank quickly.
Gloire had in the meantime switched fire on Carabiniere, now sailing at
less than 8kts and well lit by a heavy fire raging at the after superstructure
level. Several 6-in hit soon stopped the ship, which began to sink by the
stern.
Others Italian destroyers were now moving North. As they went through
Zanthe straits, they were attacked by Allied MTBs, which had kept sight
of the fight south and were listening to battle noises through their TBS.
French VTB 104, 109 and 112 attacked first but were sighted by Gioberti's
crew, which radioed an alarm call. All three Italian destroyers opened fire
with everything at hand, from 4.7-in guns down to 6.5mm mg. VTB 104 was
quickly hit by 37mm fire and began to burn but VTB109 and 112 launched their
torpedoes. Unfortunately in the heat of the action they probably overestimated
Italian ships speed (they actually were sailing at 18kts) and all torpedoes
missed. VTB112 was also hit soon after launching and was only saved by VTB109,
which quickly laid a smoke curtain. This action however distracted Italian
crews enough to prevent them seeing VTB 114, 116 and 117 closing at low
speed. The three boats launched their torpedoes at 0141, and Lanciere was
hit at 0143 and stopped outright. The three French boats then evaded fire
using their smoke bottles. Already badly damaged, the Italian lead ship Lanciere
was doomed with water now penetrating into her boiler rooms. The Italian commander
signaled to the two surviving ships to retire at maximum speed to Kephalonia,
which they did, reluctantly at first.
This would have put them into Yugoslav boats path but for two Italian
MTBs, MS-11 and MS-13, which had left their anchorage in Kephalonia when
learning through their radio-set the destroyers’ predicament. The two boats
charged gallantly the three Yugoslav ones as well as the French Fairmile
VGB 119 and 129 the fight has attracted. They succeeded in damaging Suvobor,
before succumbing to concentrated Allied fire. Their action however prevented
Yugoslav boats to attack the retiring destroyers. By 0149, they were both
crossing the Patras Gulf, but Camicia Nera speed began to fall as fires still
not checked were now sending smoke into machinery space. The two ships were
hoever able to steam at 20kts and headed to Kephalonia north coast.
By this time, Lanciere had capsized under the eyes of Gloire's crew.
Allied crews began to take stock of the battle. French manned monitor
M101 was beached by 0212 not far from Greek M105 and both M103 and M104
had to be taken on tow respectively by minesweeper Sans Peur and Sans Souci.
They were to be taken to Pyrgos for first repairs. Of the eight small monitors
present, only M122 was still sailing by her own means and was quite damaged.
French minesweeper Sans Reproche had been damaged too by several 4.7-in near
misses but was still operational.
Yugoslav destroyers Ljubljana had lost her front guns, steering and was
heavily burning. However her crew still was able to maintain steam and fires
were extinguished by 0330. The ship had however to be taken on tow by Zagreb
to Heraklion. The Italian raid had to any effect destroyed the fire support
force but failed to reach transports and came too late to have an impact
on ground operations.
By dawn French forces resumed advance and had effectively mopped up all
surviving Italian soldiers at noon. Zanthe was now completely under Allied
control and Army engineers were already busy selecting a place for the airfield
to be quickly built using US manufactured engineering equipment.
At 1350 an Italian air raid came undetected under a relatively heavy overcast
and stroke Zakhintos, the Island main town, but failed to inflict significant
damages on troops present. Ranger’s planes searched without results for the
two surviving destroyers.
Peloponnesus:
News of the naval battle in the Zanthe Straits did not affect the situation
in Peloponnesus. Air activity was by now relatively scarce (but for RAF Wellington
mining and night-bombing operations) and fighting on the ground limited
to some artillery duels in the Tripolis sector.