OPTEL No. 62
 
      Information received up to 7 A.M. 21st February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      The Free French submarine SURCCUF is overdue in the Panama Canal 
      zone. A U.S. Transport reported
 
      that on the night of the 18th she accidentally rammed and sank 
      a craft believed to be a submarine in the
 
      Canal Oone. A report has been received giving incomplete information 
      regarding a Naval action in the
 
      LOMBOK Strait. It is probable that we lost two destroyers and 
      sank or damaged one enemy cruiser and a
 
      destroyer. During the air attack on DARWIN on the 19th a U.S. 
      destroyer and six merchant ships were
 
      sunk. An australian minesweeper and two Merchant ships were seriously 
      damaged. A U.S 8,000 ton 
 
      tanker and a medium sized U.S. Merchant vessel have been torpedoed 
      off the East Coast of Florida and
 
      West of MARTINIQUE respectively. A British merchant vessel of 
      medium tonnage is reported torpedoed
 
      and sunk off MADRAS on the 15th.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      Libya.
 18th. Enemy columns with tanks were again active between 
      our GAOALA-BIR HAKEIY position 
 
      and their forward TMIMI - MEKILI Area Three of these columns 
      advanced but were later forced to
 
      withdraw by our light forces. Our armoured cars have been active 
      in this area. 1,500 dispersed M.T. were
 
      reported in MEKILI Area.
 
      
Burma.
 19th. Severe close fighting has contined on the 
      River BILIN during the last two days. There has 
 
      been little change in positions. Two of our Gurkha Battalions 
      have made successful counter-attacks.
 
      
Russia.
 Heavy fighting continues in the DONETS Area where 
      the Russians are effectively holding German
 
      attacks. 
 
      
 
 
3. 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      Western Front.
 20th. Six small offensive fighter operations 
      were successfully carried out against minor
 
      military objectives in Northern France. One enemy fighter was 
      destroyed and one Spitfire is missing.
 
      
Malta.
 20th. Nineteen enemy ai %rcraft attacked TAKALI Aerodrome 
      and KALAFRANA dockyard without 
 
      causing serious damage. Two bombers were damaged by Hurricanes.