Copy No. 15 OPTEL No. 38 Following is supplementary resume of operational events covering the period 4th to 11th December, 1941. (I) NAVAL Our submarines, operating against the Axis sea supply route to AFRICA, made a number of successful attacks on shipping. Light naval forces continued to support our military operations in LIBYA. Operations in far eastern waters since the outbreak of war with JAPAN have been fully recorded in the daily summaries. The German main units in the BALTIC were engaged in intensive exercises during the week. Submarines. There was a concentration of U-boats in the GIBRALTAR area throughout the week and a smaller number were working in the North-Western approaches, but otherwise there was little activity either in the North or South Atlantic. 15 or 16 U-boats are believed to be operating in the MEDITERRANEAN. Our shipping casualties were light, apart from 2 probably 3 ships torpedoed in convoy west of IRELAND, all were due to mines. Shipping losses for November amounted to 100,491 tons, 88,003 tons being British. This total is nearly 100,000 lower than the previous month, and, except for March, 1940, represents the smallest monthly total since the beginning of the war. Trade. During the week ending 10th December, 978 ships were convoyed. Imports into the United Kingdom from ships in convoy for the week ending 6th December were 973,000 tons, including 276,705 tons of oil imports. Enemy mine-laying by E-boats and aircraft took place off the east coast. 49 mines were accounted for during the period. (II) MILITARY LIBYA. The British forces have now regained the tactical initiative. Except for small parties at HALFAYA and BARDIA, who must sooner or later surrender, the enemy forces are now concentrated West of the line GAOALA-BIR HAKEIM, fighting a rearguard action in the hope of being able to stand on a defensive line further West. The object of the remnants of the 3 enemy armo %ured divisions, who are now probably grouped as one formation, must be to retain sufficient mobility and striking power to inflict casualties as they withdraw. The task of the British forces is to maintain such pressure on the retreating enemy that he cannot reorganize sufficiently to fight effectively. |