Copy No. 11
 
      
 
 
OPTEL No. 17
 
      
 
 
Information received up to 0700, 3 December.
 
      
 
 
(I) 
NAVAL
 
      MEDITERRANEAN.
 A British destroyer was torpedoed on 1st December 
      by enemy aircraft to eastward of TOBRUK and has returned to ALEXANDRIA 
      under her own steam.
 
      
 
 
SOUTH ATLANTIC.
 Reference OPTEL No. 1. 72 survivors, 
      5 of whom have since died, have been picked up from British cruiser 
      which was torpedoed and sunk on November 24th. 
Attacks on 
      shipping.
 2nd. A ship of medium tonnage outwardbound to FREETOWN 
      was shelled by a U-boat 200 miles South of the AOORES.
 
      
 
 
A British tanker of medium tonnage was mined and sunk off 
      the Norfolk Coast.
 
      
 
 
(II) 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA.
 Nothing additional to OPTEL No. 16.
 
      
RUSSIA.
 Nothing additional to official communiques.
 
      
 
 
(III) 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      2nd and night 2nd/3rd. No offensive operations carried out by 
      Fighter or Bomber Command. Coastal Command report promising attacks 
      on enemy shipping off STAVANGER and on Naval Barracks NANTES. 
      Four aircraft are missing.
 
      
 
 
LIBYA. 
Night November 30/1st December. 20 tons of bombs 
      were dropped on BENGHAOI harbour; large fires were started among 
      railway sidings and at base of Cathedral Mole. 4 engined aircraft 
      was destroyed on BARCE aerodrome. One of our bombers is missing.
 
      
 
 
1st December. (Addition to OPTEL No. 16). A Beaufighter damaged 
      12 lorries Eastbound near SIRTE and set on fire 2 road tankers. 
      Our fighters carried out over 220 Sorties on offensive sweep 
      and bomber escort and, in combat, destroyed 9 enemy aircraft 
      probably destroyed 4 and damaged 4. Our losses 6 fighters (2 
      pilots safe).
 
      2nd. In MISURATA-HOMS LIBYA area a Beaufighter damaged 14 Eastbound 
      lorries and set 5 road tankers on fire.
 
      
 
 
(IV) 
G.A.F.
 
      2nd/3rd. 11 hostile aircraft operating between LANDS END - BRISTOL 
      CHANNEL - ANGLESEY of which 6 flew over-land. Our night fighters 
      destroyed  %2 enemy Bombers.