TNA ADM 199 xxx

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After this first raid 1 realised that I would be at a
disadvantage at anchor during a raid and therefore remained under
way for the remainder of the time I use lying off the beach. This
was not so satisfactory #fom the embarkation point of view as
I could not keep as close to the beach as before but consid rations
of the safety of the ship outweighed this disadvantage.
At about 1730 the Schoot "Doggers Bank" came alongside to
transfer her full load of some 470 troops to "Icarus". This
appeared reasonable as the Schoot could remain closer inshore
and therefore enbark meter, while I me able to get back to
Dover and return much faster than he This transfer was interrupted
by the 1730 air raid but it was completed by about 1830 when we
proceeded to Dover by "X" route.
Shortly after getting under my when approaching Dunkirk
herbour, a cloud of enemy mehines WIS sighted above us. And fire
was at once opened as soon as suitable targets once in line. It
is difficult to estimate the mmber of planes that were in this
raid but I would say that there were at least forty. In an
incredibly short time dive boxibing attacks developed on all ships
in sight. A paddle mineswesper just ahead of "Issrus" and
approaching on opposite courses use attacked and sunk: the harbour
looked as if it use being attacked by any planes at onee and then
the dive bonbing attack d veloped on "Icarus". The cahnnol
restricted my covements considerably and it we not possible to
cake ange alteration of course and 80 1 did the best I could by
making violent alterations of speed from "Full Ahoad Both" to
"Stop Both" as the stacks developed. the engine POOR department,
realising what was required, worked the throttle valves as fast as
humanly possible, and it is no doubt that largely due to their
efforts the ship was not hit. I think that at least ten planes
attacked us add together, and some shortly after one another:
there were close misses shood which had 10 not stopped engines
a few seconds before must have hit us, and there were close nisses
estern shortly after we had increased to full speed again and
besides all these there were close nisses due to bad airing which
fell alongside the ship. There was one salvo of three boxbs which
I was certain was going to hit at "B" Own and which actually
landed in the water abroact "B" Own three feet from the ships side
and which miraculously did not explode. The ship was also mohine-
summed during these attacks and is U.S this which caused the
casualties which amounted to one killed, five seriously injured
and about twenty alightly injured, all with the exception of two
being soldiers.
bullet the ordinary moohine gun bullet. It Vill one of these
The Germans appeared to be using a cent-ermour piercing
a soldier calibre though be was wearing his tin belnet at the tim.
small inside bullete that penstrated the forecastle deck and killed
and also The the port steering motor: no other damage was apparent at
sheck even of the neer misses damaged the starboard dyname
the time.
5W buoy and altering course to 349° circled NO eighted
another On reaching benber and opened fire. This eachine cake low round
benibing then lined up about 1000 to 2000 feet. I made lined funnel and
and German astern on the port quarter to both a level
attack at and as soon an the honber was not up to start
his smoke at once increased to full speed . There were alteration 80 many
navigational attack I hazards and I therefore kept my until the
end of his attack.
The attack