FEATURE white flag. HMS Wilton was sent to capture the vessel but in the meantime, a flight of Albacores from HMS Formidable, unaware that they had surrendered, attacked and sank her with a torpedo. 32 were killed and 17 survived
U413 This U Boat was attacked on November 19th 1942 by a Hudson of 608 Squadron, south west of Cape St. Vincent. Five bombs were dropped which severely damaged her and she was forced to return to Brest for repair
UNKNNOWN U BOAT At 04.00, 20th November 1942, a Wellington of 179 Squadron attacked a German U-Boat 300 miles to the west of Gibraltar. The U-Boat was straddled by the explosions may have been lethal. There is the usual difficulty of seeing results at night and obtaining the satisfactions of knowing that the U-Boat is seriously damaged or destroyed.
UA332 On December 2nd 1942, a Catalina of 202 Squadron, flown by Flight Lieutenant Ganell, caught the U Boat on the surface. As he approached, she began to dive. Some of the depth charges failed to release but two entered the sea some one hundred meters ahead of the swirl created by the submarine as it dived. Some bubbles and oil came to the surface later but the U332 was only damaged and was able to return to port for repairs.
UNKNOWN ITALIAN SUBMARINE At 22.00 hours on 10th December 1942, off the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The Wellington of 179 Squadron, attacked an Italian submarine which opened fire with its anti-aircraft gun, hitting the aircraft’s port engine, wing and petrol tanks.
UNKNOWN ITALIAN SUBMARINE At 0200 hours on 14th December 1942, to the west of Gibraltar an Italian submarine of the “Gomma” Class was attacked by a Wellington of 179 Squadron. Depth charges were released at 80 feet. The Italian put up heavy anti-aircraft fire from two guns. The aircraft returned, flying over just forward of the conning tower and the evidence of the splashes established that the depth charges straddle the submarine just abaft of the conning tower. As it was dark, the result was inconclusive.
UNKNOWN U BOAT On December 18th 1942 a similar attack was made by a Wellington of 179 Squadron at 22.00 hours on a U-Boat off Oran. The U-Boat appears to have expected the attack the depth charges could not be released before it dived. A night attack makes the placing of a stick very difficult when only the swirl remains as an aiming mark and the explosions were probably out of the lethal range astern of the U-Boat.
U442 On February 12th 1943 a Hudson of 48 squadron sighted the submarine off Cape St Vincent. The attack was made with depth charges sinking the U Boat with the loss of 48 crew.
U77
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
March 28th 1943, a Hudsons MkVI of 48 Squadron with Squadron Leader Harrop and another of 233 Squadron off Calpe, near Alicante encountered U77 on the surface. As they approached, she dived leaving only the swirl where she had been. Using this as a guide, the bombers dropped their depth charges just ahead of the disturbance. A large bubble burst to the surface followed by oil soon followed by the U77. Harrop called for assistance and the other Hudson came in finding the submarine some 30km from the original attack site. Dropping four depth charges finished off the U77 with the loss of 38 crew, the 9 survivors were picked up by a Spanish fishing trawler
U167 This submarine was scuttled off the Canary Islands following an attack by a Hudson AM931 (ZSW) of 233 Squadron on April 5th 1943, all 53 of the crew were picked up by the Spanish Coast Guard vessel Xauen. The submarine was raised in 1951.
U447 Sunk on May 7th 1943, by two Hudsons of 233 Squadron using depth charges in the Atlantic west of Gibraltar. 48 crew died.
U755 Attacked by a Hudson of 500 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader Holmes DFC, 13 miles north of Alboran Island, with three depth charges during the first attack. Despite receiving flak in the port engine, continued the attack dropping a further two and then one anti-submarine bomb, but survived. She was sunk two days later, on the 28th May 1943, north-west of Mallorca by a Hudson of 608 squadron using two rockets. Only nine crewmen survived having been picked up by the Spanish destroyer Velasco.
U617 Damaged by depth charges from a Wellington of 179 Squadron, she was beached by her crew near Cape Tres Forcas close to Melilla. Subsequently bombed by Hudsons of 48 and 233 Squadrons and two Swordfish of 833 and 886 Squadrons Catalinas from the US Navy and HMS Anthony and Wishart. The U761 was scuttled by her crew on February 14th 1944 resulting on nine dead and forty eight Survivors
In June 1942, “Operation Harpoon” was set up to take a convoy of six ships and aircraft from aircraft carriers, to Malta. As part of the preparation, No10 Squadron RAAF, with Sunderland Flying Boats, was stationed in Gibraltar to intercept reconnaissance aircraft getting near the convoy. During one of these flights, Flight Lieutenant Marks picked up a radar blip showing a submarine on the surface. It turned out to be Italian. As the Sunderland dived in for the attack, the submarine put up a heavy barrage of anti-aircraft fire. Having dropped the depth charges which fell some thirty yards on each beam, he pull out the dive but the starboard outer engine was hit by flak. A lively gun battle ensued but the damaged engine caused excessive vibration which made Marks turn away and head for Gibraltar. Later that day Flying Officer Corrie of 202 Squadron, found the submarine some sixty miles further east. The Catalina went in for the a kill but the depth charges did not release, so he turned and went in again, this time the charges dropped just as the submarine submerged. He circled around and saw bubbles and oil coming to the surface, a sure sign that the Italian had been badly damaged and would never to surface again. The pilot flew the aircraft to Ansiola in order that Sgt Lee, who had been wounded, could receive medical treatment. He returned to the scene but only found more oil. He was awarded the DFC On 13th June 1942, Squadron Leader Burrage, temporarily with 202 Squadron, in a Sunderland off the coast of Sardinia, attacked another Italian submarine, the Otaria who put up a fierce defence, but was badly damaged by a drop of seven depth charges. She was seen to heel over but recovered and dived with smoke coming from the conning tower. She survived the attack and returned to Cagliari and then on to Taranto for repairs. The Otaria surrendered to the allies on September 8th 1943 and ordered to Malta. She was later used for training. It is possible that one or more of the reports above on Italian submarines are those related here.
U761 This U Boat was attacked and badly damaged by a combination of naval and aerial attacks. The U761 was spotted just north of Tangier and attacked with depth charges from a Catalina from 202 Squadron, a Ventura and two aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm. She was finally destroyed by gunfire from HMS Hyacinth and HMAS Wollongong. All 48 crew survived. This is the last successful attack on a submarine in the Strait area in the war.
A HUDSON OF 48 SQUADRON
U620 This submarine was sunk by a Catalina of 202 Squadron north west of Lisbon on February 13th 1943 with a loss of 47 crew.
NEWCAMP SHOWING THE SEAPLANE
RAMP BEHIND THE
MASTS
U83 Article supplied by History Society Gibraltar. Email: historysocietygibraltar@hotmail.com
Sunk by a Hudson of 500 Squadron on March 3rd 1943 south east of Cartagena
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