TNA ADM 199 xxx

Dynams 247
49
- 59
H.M.S. IMPULSIVE
June 5th,1940
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report in accordance with your memorandum No.B14/0/1101/40 of 4th
June 1940.
H.M.S.Impulsive arrived at Dover from Immingham at 0840 on May 27th 1940, and sailed at 1140
with H.M.Ships Skipjack and Halcyon and Trinity House Vessel
Patricia to establish and buoy the searched channel from the
North Goodwin Light Vessel to Dunkirk, afterwards known as
Route I. This operation was completed by 1919 and Impulsive anchored in the Downs at 2200.
2.
At 2228 on May 27th orders were received by signal to proceed with all despatch to the beaches east of Dunkirk and enbark troops. Inpulsive weighed and proceeding by route Y arrived off La Panne at 0345 on May 28th and anchored as close inshore as possible. Both power boats being broken down the two whalers were sent inshore to enbark troops. These boats were employed ferrying troops from the beach to large motor boats which were lying further off the shore.
3.
At 0520 Impulsive was ordered by
Calcutta, anchored off La Panne, to proceed to Dunkirk and go alongside the Eastern Pier to embark troops. Ship secured alongside the outer end of the pier at 0620 and after embarking approximately 750 troops sailed for Dover. Route Y
was used and after an uneventful passage ship arrived at Dover at 1110. Troops were disembarked and, when several ratings who had missed the ship at Imminghen, had rejoined ship, sailed for Dunkirk at 1235 using route Y.
4.
It was during this passage, off
Kwinte Bank buoy, that the ship was attacked and heavily bombed by six Heinkels. By proceeding at full speed and making frequent and violent alterations of course, the bombs, which could be seen falling, were successfully avoided and no hits were scored. Aircraft were bombing from approximately
1000 feet. On completion of the bombing three aircraft remained behind and attacked with machine guns. A northerly course was steered during these attacks in order to avoid the narrow channels, and it was during these attacks that the ship was damaged and the casualties occurred --- 6 ratings being wounded, 2 seriously. B gun was put out of action by an armour pieroing bullet which penetrated the gun shield, wounded the trainer and lodged in the air pipe to the run out cylinder, causing the gun to remain in the recoil position. The D/G
goil was punctured by bullots and caught fire: this was quickly extinguished. On the first attack developing 1 cleared the bridge of lookouts and signalmen remaining up there by myself.