Nazi mystery weapon sinks U.S. destroyer
SHAEF, England (UP) –
Allied destroyers sank one German destroyer off the coast of France last night, forced another to beach itself and drove off a force of heavily-armed enemy craft, it was announced today together with the disclosure that the first U.S. destroyer sunk in the invasion operation Tuesday was hit by a Nazi mystery weapon.
Although the U.S. ship went down near shore, its crew was in the water for two hours under enemy shellfire and many were lost. The young skipper, whose name was withheld, said the destroyer sank shortly after “something hit us – I have a pretty good idea what – but better not say just what.”
The German destroyers were hit in a running fight with eight Allied destroyers near Ushant, 26 miles northwest of Brest. One was torpedoed by the British destroyer HMS Ashanti and blew up on the spot. The other enemy craft, of the 2,000-ton Narvik class, was chased furiously by the Canadian destroyers HMCS Haida and HMCS Huron and hit the beach at a speed of at least 30 knots. Later, she was bombed and wrecked.
Two other German destroyers in the force escaped westward after being hit by fire from the British destroyers HMS Javelin and HMS Eskimo. The third British ship, HMS Tartar, taking part in the engagement, was damaged and the crew suffered a few casualties when the vessel stabbed through the enemy line, turned and opened fire on the leading German vessel. The other Allied ships were the Polish destroyers ORP Błyskawica and ORP Piorun.
It was believed that as a result of the loss, the Germans had only a few destroyers left, with possibly only four available for action.
The other enemy force was dispersed by a group of U.S. destroyers between the east coast of Cherbourg Peninsula and Îles Saint-Marcouf. Although details were not given, the German ships were presumably attempting to get into the flank of the Allied supply lines.