FROM: ALUSNA LONDON 231300CR984 DATE: 23 APRIL 1940 TO: OPNAV PRECEDENCE: TELETYPE RELEASE: X-Y-MCM TOR CODE ROOM: 1506 ON THE 17TH HMS SUFFOLK BOMBARDEDSTAVENGER AIRDROME X SHE WAS PROBABLY ALONE EXCEPT FOR AN ANTI-SUBMARINE SCREEN X SHE FIRED 217 ROUNDS USING 5 RAF PLANES FOR SPOTS X THE FIGHTER PATROL NEVER ARRIVED X THIS WAS HELD PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMB HIT X SHE RECEIVED X THIS SINGLE HIT WHICH WAS AFT, THE RESULT OF 33 DIVE BOMBING ATTACKS IN WHICH 82 BOMBS WERE DROPPED (WITH SEVERAL NEAR MISSES) KILLED 27, WOUNDED 34, REDUCED SPEED, AND DISABLED THE STEERING GEAR X SHE WAS BEACHED IN SCAPA FLOW THE NEXT DAY TO PREVENT HER SINKING, AFTER HAVING REACHED THERE UNDER HER OWN POWER WITH THE STERN AWASH. UNDERSTAND BRITISH NAVAL ATTACHE KNOWS THIS. DISTRIBUTION 16 ACTION 10. 11...13...NAVAIDE...FILE... NOTE: ANY REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE SHOULD BE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 66 OF THE "INSTRUCTIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF NAVAL COMMUNICATION FACILITIES AT WASHINGTON D.C." |