OPTEL No. 52.
 
      
 
 
Yesterday at 1042 A.M. Spitfires on patrol reported enemy 
      warships off Le Touquet steering a Northerly 
 
      course at high speed. These subsequently proved to be the battle 
      cruisers SCHARNHORST and
 
      GNEISENAU, and the cruiser PRINO EUGEN from Brest, accompanied 
      by destroyers and E-boats with
 
      heavy fighter protection. At 1230 P.M. five M.T.B's attacked 
      and claim one torpedo hit on a PRINO
 
      EUGEN. At one P.M. six naval Swordfish attacked and possibly 
      obtained one hit on a battle cruiser. At
 
      1545 P.M. when about 20 miles west of the Hook of Holland, three 
      of  H.M. Destroyers attacked the 
 
      cruisers at 3500 yards range and claim one probable and two possible 
      hits with torpedos.
 
      Simultaneously 2 further destroyers attacked a single ship probably 
      the PRINO EUGEN. After the attack 
 
      one of H.M. destroyers was badly on fire, but subsequently was 
      proceeding to base at eight knots and 
 
      reached harbour with several casualties. At 1615 P.M. torpedo-carrying 
      Beauforts carried out an attack.
 
      A total of between 200 and 300 bombers, including Coastal Command 
      aircraft and Naval Swordfish,
 
      with more than 300 fighters as cover were despatched at intervals 
      during the day, but owing to poor 
 
      visibility and low cloud only between 50 and 60 aircraft found 
      the ships and no definite hits are claimed,
 
      but in air fighting 17 enemy aircraft were destroyed, 5 probably 
      destroyed and 17 damaged. Our losses
 
      were 15 bombers, six coastal command aircraft, six Naval Swordfish 
      and 17 fighters, total of 44. One
 
      fighter pilot is safe. The enemy ships were last reported at 
      nine P.M. in two groups 20 miles apart off the
 
      Texel proceeding North at about 17 knots. ENDS.