TNA ADM 199 792

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SECRET.
Bage 2.
186
188
June
6.
A second attempt was now made to tow the ship
clear but little progress had been made before a third attack
noon
developped at about noon, carried out by a squadron of HENSCHEL ?
dive bombers. By this time nearly all ammunition was expended
and the 4.7" guns were firing S.A.P. in the hope of keeping the
enemy at a distance. The Germans, however, made a determined
diving attack which was well pressed home to about 400 feet.
The ship was completely smothered by hits and near misses some
of which were of the "B" bomb type. The ship immediately began
to settle and I gave the order to abandon ship. Thanks to the
adequate preparations made by my First Lieutenant, Lieutenant-
Commander W.G.BOAKS, R.N., there were plenty of boats and carley
floats ready for survivors. After collecting all stray swimmers
the boats and floats pulled out to sea. LE JOLIE MASCOTTE
picked up 6 officers and 71 ratings and H.M.S. "WHITEHALL" 2
officers and 52 ratings. One whaler and the motor boat had
proceeded too far over the shoals which run parallel to the
coast for H.M.S. "WHITEHALL" to pick them up.
noon
Sunk
7.
H.M.S. 'BASILISK" sank in about 4 fathoms of
water in approximate position
with her upper deck awash. Although the Asdic and V.C.-V.F.
gear and all important documents had been destroyed I was
anxious to complete the destruction of the vessel. Accordingly
I requested the Captain of H.M.S. "WHITEHALL" to fire guns and
torpedoes. This was done and the ship was left on fire forward.
It is not certain whether any of the torpedoes hit and I
consider further destruction advisable. I intimated this in a
signal timed 2036/1 to the Flag Officer Commanding Dover
despatched as a secret hand message.
8.
When the ship was rendered immobile after
the first attack I ordered the destruction of all Signal
Publications except the Fleet Signal Book bridge copy, Syko
machine and current naval Syko card. This was done by Sub-
Lieutenant W.H.ELLIS, R.N. who burnt them in the two galleys.
All Confidential Books prefixed '0' were dumped overboard in
a weighted sack except those out on loan to officers as these
could not be got at due to damage aft. The Asdic gear in the
cabinet and on the bridge was dismantled where possible and
thrown overboard and the remainder smashed. The oscillator was
removed and brought on the upper deck amidships as the final
attack developped. It is not known for certain whether the
oscillator slid overboard when the ship sank. V.C.-V.F. lanterns
were unshipped and thrown overboard.
9.
The following books and documents were left
on the bridge: C.B. 1618 Q and certain charge documents in the
Captain's springback and the Fleet Signal Book. The bridge was
burning fiercely when last seen and it can be confidently stated
that these documents and papers were destroyed.
10.
I would like to emphasise that the older
destroyers with pom poms using belted ammunition and 4.7" guns
with only 30 degrees elevation are no match for a determined
air attack. OurcLewis guns had also been recently surrendered.
When ships of this type are operating within range of enemy
air attack losses must be expected unless adequate fighter
protection is afforded. In all the enemy launched four big
air attacks at about hourly intervals during the forenoon of
the 1st June. The first, second and fourth of these were
unopposed
apparently unopposed by any British Aircraft