0013 Convoy turned SSE into the Italian convoy route.

0246 COSSACK’s radar picked up three small unidentified objects

0250 Short flashes of light were seen and motorboat engines were heard to start up. COSSACK lit up an Italian motorboat (MAS-boat) in her searchlight

COSSACK engaged Italian motor torpedo boats. A torpedo passed close astern

0300 SYDNEY STAR torpedoed and damaged in the bows.

0305 Noise of MAS-boat heard on COSSACK’s sonar. Captain Berthon orders immediate increase of speed intending to ram the boat close under the port bow.  The craft fired a torpedo that passed under COSSACK’s bow.  COSSACK opened fire but extent of damage to enemy boats not certain.  (Records show MAS 532 and 533 were lost) Some sources claim these boats were undamaged

Sounds of MAS-boat engines heard for the next twenty minutes

(See page 83 -‘Red Duster, White Ensign’- Ian Cameron. One E-boat rammed by Cossack)

Entered Grand Harbour Malta at 1530 with MAORI, SIKH, FOXHOUND and FARNDALE. DECUALION, followed by PORT CHALMERS, CITY OF PRETORIA, MELBOURNE STAR, and DURHAM.

 

SYDNEY STAR, HMAS NESTOR and HERMIONE arrived independently having used the northern route.

COSSACK left three hours later having refuelled.

Extract from War Weekly 5 August 1941.

 

On the morning of 22 July an important convoy was being escorted through the central Mediterranean by British naval forces under the command of Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville when it was sighted by enemy reconnaissance aircraft. That night an Italian submarine delivered an attack. This was unsuccessful and it is possible the enemy submarine was destroyed by the very strong counter-attack top which it was subjected.

 

Next morning the first of a series of air attacks developed. This was by torpedo carrying aircraft synchronised with high level bombing. Of the six torpedo carrying aircraft which pressed home their attacks, three were shot down by our anti-aircraft fire. HMS Fearless, a destroyer of 1,375 tons launched in 1934 was hit by a torpedo, and had to be sunk by our forces. Her casualties were not many.

The high level bombing attack was completely unsuccessful, two of the enemy bombers being shot down by out naval aircraft, and two others probably destroyed. Three of our aircraft were lost in this engagement, but the crews of all of them saved.

During the afternoon further attacks by bombers and torpedo carrying aircraft developed. These attacks were abortive, and two S79s were shot down by our fighters and another enemy aircraft was damaged. In the evening our ships were again unsuccessfully attacked by similar methods.  At this period the convoy was close to enemy bases but it eluded the air attacks by determination and skilful handling. Enemy aircraft were seen to be searching unsuccessfully for our ships with the aid of a large number of flares.  Early on 24 July the convoy and its escort were attacked by enemy motor torpedo boats. During this attack one ship of the convoy received damage, but was able to continue under her own power. One of the attacking boats was certainly sunk, another probably damaged.

 

Three separate air attacks then developed on the convoy and its escort between 6.30 and 10 am. The third of these attacks was delivered by German dive-bombers at the same time that our ships were being subjected to high level bombing. In none of these engagements were any of our ships hit, but one of the German dive-bombers was shot down by our anti-aircraft fire. Enemy air attacks were also made on the fleet but no damage or casualties were suffered by any of our ships. Shortly before the development of the most serious of these last attacks, two Italian aircraft, both Cants, were shot down by our fighters. The main attack was delivered by torpedo carrying aircraft and high level bombers, but was broken up by our fighters. Two S 79s were brought down, and one was damaged in the course of the fighting. Three of our naval aircraft were lost but the crew of one was saved. During these operations one of our cruisers and one destroyer suffered some damage, there being a small number of casualties in each ship. Beyond the attack by motor torpedo boats already mentioned, no attempt was made by enemy surface forces to interfere, although this important convoy had, of necessity, to be for some time in close proximity to the enemy’s main bases. Italian and German air forces were unable to prevent this difficult operation being brought to a successful conclusion, and the long series of air attacks resulted in the destruction of at least 12 enemy aircraft with at least four others damaged and probably destroyed.

 

A special Press Correspondent who was onboard one of our cruisers gave a vivid account of his experience in what he described as “the most brilliant convoy action fought by the Navy in this war”.

 

“For 27 hours on end we were subjected to continuous attacks from the air and from motor torpedo bots as we, with another cruiser and destroyers, convoyed merchantmen through the Mediterranean. All of them arrived safely at their destination, obeying Admiral Somerville’s signal “Convoy must go through”.

 

“Fighters from HMS Ark Royal – which, with the RENOWN was with us from the first day, July 23 – took off to engage Italian aircraft soon after breakfast. We hear their battle cry “Tally Ho” over the wireless as they engage the enemy on the skyline. Terrific engagements are being fought over there as the aircraft swoop and soar with the rattle of machine guns. Twenty minutes later we hear the boom of the destroyer’s guns as they open fire against the enemy formation ahead. A column of black smoke goes up from the FEARLESS as she is hit. At the same moment the look-out shouts: ‘Italian plane hit.’ I see the aeroplane sweep down to the water and two Italians climb into a rubber boat. Another aeroplane has its wings plucked off and falls like a stone into the sea.

 

There is a brief pause in the din. At the microphone the Commander announces: ‘Two planes shot down and one destroyer hit’ so that the crew below decks may know what is going on! We are delighted because we believe we got one of the aeroplanes.

The two Italians in the in the rubber boat drift through the lines of ships. The second wave of Italians cannot face the terrific barrage we are putting up: they drop a hail of bombs harmlessly into the water a few miles away and flee pursued by the fighters from the Ark Royal.

 

Far astern the FEARLESS, now almost enveloped in smoke, blows up as she is torpedoed by another destroyer after the survivors have been rescued. We can not stop to assist her because the convoy must get through whatever happens. More of the ARK ROYALs fighters take-off in the smoke of the battle as enemy formations are reported.

 

We eat supper of soup and sandwiches at action stations which nobody left for two days and nights.  At 7 pm torpedo bombers attack from starboard. Through glasses I see them skimming the water towards us like birds, shells bursting around them and pom-poms shooting a hail of fire into them. I see the torpedoes plop into the water as they swing away after the attack, one appearing to be hit. At 7.45another big formation attacks and more bombs fall erecting soundless columns of spray around us. The Italians flee before the withering barrage which shatters the tea cups on the bridge and spills tea on the navigating officer’s charts.  Two Italians are shot down. Empty shell cases fill the wash places and over flow into the crew’s recreation space.

 

There was a lull until 3 am the next day, when Italian motor torpedo boats – which they call Motoscafi antisommergibile, or anti-submarine motor launches – make an attack. In the inky blackness the cruisers open fire at dim targets, pom-poms spouting across the sea like fireworks. There is a terrific excitement as the look-outs, with their eyes glued to their glasses, scan the sea.

 

Suddenly a flood of light appears ahead as a cruiser boldly switches her searchlight on for half a minute and I see an enemy boat scudding through the water to escape the shells. She twists and turns to escape the shows of metal hurled from the guns but the flying woodwork seen by the look-out means a direct hit.

 

Ten minutes later there is an explosion astern as a merchantman is torpedoed but she carries on and we and a destroyer are despatched to assist her.

 

At 7.20 pm eight  Junkers 87 dive bombers come screaming to the attack.  ‘Here they come again. Look out, here come the bombs; one hitting the sea 40 yards from us raises a water spout 60 feet high. The merchantman is plodding along near us with a heavy list and swings away just in time as a bomb drops almost beside her.’

 

Our guns are still firing and the air is filled with the stench of cordite as the black puffs rising skyward like tiny clouds near the Germans show that our gunners are well on the target. Two of the attackers are brought down.  Altogether we were at action stations 60 hours, sleepless, red eyed and unshaven.

On 2 August 1941 the Italian Stefani News Agency reported that the Italians had sunk six steamers including a tanker – 10 to 15 thousand gross tonnage. The destroyer FEARLESS was hit by an aerial torpedo and finally had to be sunk by British units.

25 July 1941               Rejoined Force H off Galita Islands.

27 July 1941               Gibraltar

30 July 1941               Left Gibraltar with ARK ROYAL, ENCOUNTER, ERIDGE, FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FORESTOER, FOXHOUND, FURY, MAORI, NELSON, NESTOR, and RENOWN to create a diversion for Operation STYLE

(Another source quotes ARETHUSA, EDRIDGE HERMION and MANXMAN.)

(Operation STYLE  – Force X consisted of ARETHUSA, HERMIONE, LIGHTNING, MANXMAN and SIKH departed Gibraltar for MALTA 31 July carrying troops and supplies that had been on the MANCHESTER and LEINSTER)

(Force S consisted of the oiler BROWN RANGER and the destroyer AVONDALE)