OPTEL No. 21 Information received up to 7 a.m., 5th December, 1941. (I) NAVAL 3rd/4th. Motor torpedo boats and motor gun boats severely damaged a trawler in an attack on several enemy vessels off CAP GRIS NEO; our light craft sustained some damage and a few casualties. A Polish submarine attacked an escorted convoy of three ships on 2lst November off NAVARINO and considers 1 sunk. (II) MILITARY LIBYA. On morning of 3rd, enemy column of tanks and mechanical transport advanced East from GAMBUT towards MENASTIR and SIDI AOEIO and were successfully engaged by one mobile column. Morning 4th. West of MENASTIR 40 Germans were killed, 4 guns captured and a large number of mechanical transport vehicles destroyed. Pressure on enemy centres of resistance in frontier area continues. (III) AIR OPERATIONS 4th. A 2500 ton merchant vessel was attacked by a Hudson off Southern NORWAY and left on fire and sinking, 4th/5th. All operations cancelled. LIBYA . 2nd. Our fighters destroyed 1 enemy aircraft on ground at BARCE, probably destroyed 20 and damaged a further 6. 3rd. Though operations were restricted by bad weather, our bombers successfully attacked mechanical transport N.E. of SIDI REOEGH scoring many hits. 4th. Petrol and oil lorries were (?set) on fire in SIRTE area and 3 enemy aircraft were damaged on TAMET aerodrome. Report from military source states during fighter sweep in EL ADEM - SIDI REOEGH area we destroyed 13 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed 7 and damaged 11. 3 of our fighters are missing. CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN. 4th. Blenheims from MALTA attacked railway sidings at ST. GIOVANNI near REGGIO. A train of 24 petrol wagons was completely burnt out and 2 other fires were started in railway centre. 1 Blenheim is missing. |