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Two Ships Attack Eleven in Big Sea-Air Battle

The War Illustrated, Volume 7, No. 172, Page 532, January 21, 1944.

Bay of Biscay Battle of Dec. 27 and 28, 1943, resulted in the destruction of a 5,000-ton armed enemy blockade runner (see page 540) and the sinking of three German destroyers; others were damaged. The enemy force consisted of five modern Narvik class destroyers, each mounting five 5.9-in. guns, and six Elbing class destroyers, each mounting four 4.1-in. guns. H.M. cruisers Glasgow and Enterprise opened fire on the enemy ships and a running fight ensued; a number of hits were scored by our cruisers. Halifaxes and a Sunderland of Coastal Command with U.S. Liberators joined the battle, while Beaufighters and Mosquitoes provided air cover for the British cruisers. The blockade runner, making for a French port, was shadowed by the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. and was sunk by a Liberator.

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The War at Sea

Jan1944

The War at Sea

Seldom has an enemy loss given greater satisfaction to the Royal Navy than the sinking of the Scharnhorst in a night action. It is not generally appreciated that she was the ship which, in company wit

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The War in the Air

Jan1944

The War in the Air

It might at first sight appear that the entirely naval action in which the Scharnhorst was sunk off the North Cape (see pp. 518-520) was an incident in the war so completely maritime as to refute by i

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