The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean Convoys by Malcolm Llewellyn-Jones

Author:Malcolm Llewellyn-Jones [Llewellyn-Jones, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780415864596
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2014-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

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The Bedouin and Partridge meanwhile had been making strenuous efforts to overcome the damage they had received. The former had received at least a dozen 6-in. hits, and was completely disabled, though Commander Scurfield, hoping continually to be able to steam shortly, made a sanguine report to Captain Hardy as late as midday. The Partridge was ready to steam at 12 knots again by 0745, three quarters of an hour after being put out of action. She prepared to take the Bedouin in tow, but the preparations were interrupted by two Italian destroyers, which had to be driven away. By 1000, however, Lieutenant-Commander Hawkins had his consort in tow, and the two ships were proceeding slowly towards the convoy, which they had orders to join. They met it at 1145, still hoping to get one engine to work in the Bedouin; but later on this hope had to be abandoned, and Commander Scurfield then thought it best to make for Gibraltar. At 1320 the Italian squadron came in sight again, and two destroyers were apparently closing the British ships, while there were also dive-bombers about. The Partridge accordingly slipped the tow by order of Commander Scurfield and laid smoke round the Bedouin. As the cruisers approached, after their chase of the Hebe, the Partridge stood away to draw their fire, and in this she succeeded, being straddled at long range at 1400. But she was disappointed of her further intention of returning to her consort. At 1425 an Italian aircraft torpedoed the Bedouin, which sank within a few minutes, after managing first to shoot down her assailant.1 Italian torpedo aircraft also sank the derelict Kentucky and Burdwan at about the same time.

The Partridge remained under fire from the Italian ships, which had an aircraft spotting for them, and whose shots fell close in spite of her smoke screen. After a while the enemy turned away, apparently under an air attack, which must have been made by their friends. Four German bombers, however, attacked the Partridge at 1530, and near misses jammed her rudder hard over. It took more than an hour to get it amidships, and during that time she had to lie stopped. She saw Italian ships approach the position where the Bedouin had sunk, some seven miles to the eastward, and thought they were picking up survivors. “It is deeply regretted,” wrote Lieutenant-Commander Hawkins, “that, even if the ship could not be saved, the Bedouin's commanding officer and her ship's company could not be rescued by a British warship.”2 When able to proceed, the Partridge went to the westward, intending to make good defects under shelter of the land; but a signal from Vice-Admiral Leatham at Malta ordered her back to Gibraltar, where she arrived without further incident on the 17th. The Italian ships made no effort to destroy the Partridge, but steered away to the northward,3 and at 1700 on the 15th again encountered British naval aircraft near Pantellaria. These were three Albacores that Vice-Admiral Leatham had sent to attack with torpedoes in aid of the Bedouin and Partridge.

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