TNA ADM 199 790

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Dynam 93.
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,VCD
and Juno 1940.
Sir,
BASILISK
I regret to have to report the loss of
by enemy action at 1033 Lst June 1940 off the Bolgion
coast. The circumstances are as follows.
at about 0315 while enbarking British troors off
I TRUE attacked by B squadron of nine German JUNKINS
dive bombers. They approached from estern and on sighting 1 vent
full speed ahout 13 boilors connected, and as the bombu were
roleased turned hard to port. as far as I could judge each aircraft
released a pattern of five bombs one being & large "B" type and
four smaller bombs with elight dolay action. one of the latter
oxyloded at the ufter ond of 10.00 boilor room on the port side and
storess blow away the bulkhoad pioroing both nain and auxiliary
steam linos and main oil fuol supply. all engine room and boilor
room personnel were killet. about six of the B type bonds then
exploded underneath the ship flooding the after magazine and
shell room and probably the Fland compartments and storo rooms
just forward of this position. who upper lock and sideo of the
ship cracked right coross in the vioinity of the minnest. This is
is general line of contract in dostroyers.
In order to precerve stability the torpedoes and
le charges jottluonod und the ohi floated confortably
with little incroase in draught. I invested ongine room and No.3
boilor room and found that a mall amount of nuter was making its
way through shraphol holos. These were plussed and colligion net
placed over the morst looks. It WAS found incosible to got stean
to the engines und the unin thoroafter remined imobile.
1.
fforts were now made to send out medicares for
undistance. A tug who had been attending on Hamada "K"ITH" passed
no a signal tolling DD to sink to which I roplied that I
was out of action and required imediate assistance. I also
requested him to inform The YIng -fficer Commanding, Pover to
this effoct. Suc then dion geared. Signals for assistance were
also nido by using type 6 4 with battory power. it 18
Coubtful whether any of these sessuges nore received owing to very
heavy truffic at the time and comparative noukness of by cignals.
8.
Solcion flohing smok under French colours was
seen in the distance and the notor boat TRAD desrutched to suston
hor to our addistance. she WALL is JUNIA of CAN and after
JOLIO offorto a tow WHO pussed and corse set to open from the coast.
This he hardly been accomplished before & second attack devolloyped
ut about 0945. This consisted if lovel bumbing from about 6, 10000.
sach bomber acting independently. about hulf a squalron of 18
curried out the uttuck. Considering the ship was 8 stationary
turget and there was little wind these attacks were poorly curried C
out and no bumbu hit. This say have been due to pon pom firo if
which vunner in Best in charge. Unfortunately this
Callant officer WBS killed at his post by machino cun bullets which
LOTO fired continuously 40 the bombers passed overhead.