TNA ADM 199 790

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8.
6.
second attempt TRU now David to tow the ship
clear but little progress had been made before a third attack
developped at about noon, carried out by 8 equairon of :
dive Dombers. By this time nearly all amunition TRIS expenied
and the 4.7 guns were firing in the hope of keeping the
enemy at a listance. The Germans however, cade 8 determined
diving attack which was well prossed home to about 400 feet.
The ship WAS completely smotherou 00 hits and near misses some
of which were of the "B" bomb type. The ship immidiately bogan
to settle and I gave the order to abanlon ship. Thanks to the
adequate preparations cade by if First ideutenant, Lieutonant-
Commander Moding there TIBUDS plenty of boats and carley
floats ready for survivors. fter collecting all strey swimers
the boats and floats pullod out to sea. LE JOLIE
picked up 8 officers an: 71 ratings and How.3. WHIT HALL" 20
officers and 52 ratings. One wholer and the notor boat had
proceeded to far over the shocls which run parallel to the
count for to piok them up.
7.
cank in about 4 fathers of
wator in approximate youition
with hor uppor Cook smash. Although the sodio and V.C.-V.F.
gear and all important documents had been destroyed I =
anxious to complete the destruction of the vessel. accordingly
I requested the Captain of to fire suns and
torpeloss. This W&J done and the ship 180 left on fire forward.
It 10 not certain whether any of the torredoes hit and I
consider further destruction advisable. 1 intimated this in &
signal time.: 40 6/1 to the log Community :over
despatched DO a secret Sand coosego.
8. the first attach I ordered the destruction of all Signal
when the chip TXC rendered imobile after
Publications except the Fleet Signal Book bridge
machine and current naval Syko card. This was done by Sub-
Lieutenant who burnt then in the two galleys.
All Confidential Books prefixed 10' more dumped overboard in
a weighted sack except those out on loan to officers SS these
could not be got at due to damage aft. The Asdic gear in the
cabinet and on the bridge was diamentied where possible and
thrown overboard and the remainder smashed The oscillator was
removed and brought on the upper dock anidships 80 the finel
attack developped. It is not known for certain whether the
oscillator slid overboard when the ship sant. lenterns
wore unshippod and thrown overboard.
9. on the bridge: C.B. _018 - and certain charge documents in the
The following books and documents were left
Captain's springback and the Meet Signal Book. The bridge was
burning fiercely when last seon and it can be confidently stated
that these documents and papers more lestroyed.
I would like to emphasise that the older
10. doctroyers with pan point using belted ammunition and 4.7° Guns
with only 30 degrees elevation are no match for a determined
air attack. Cur Lowis guno had also been recently surreniored.
when shipo of this type are operating within range of energy
air attack losses must be expected unless adequate fighter
protection is afforded. In all the enemy launched four big
uir attacks at about hourly intervals during the forenoon of
the 1st June. The first, secon: and fourth of these were
unoppeced
apparently unopposed by any British Aircraft