Newspaper Report 1 –
April 1944

German news agency reported today that German speed boats last night attacked destroyers and a British convoy off the Isle of Wight.

The agency described the scene of the clash as “off the south coast of Britain, west of the Isle of Wight,” and added: “In spite of extremely strong enemy defence the German boats sank three ships, totalling 6,400 tons and torpedoed another of 200 tons, the loss of which may be presumed.

“In hard defensive clashes one enemy destroyer was so heavily hit by torpedoes that its loss can be assumed, but its sinking could not be observed owing to the powerful defensive activity of the enemy and the consequent rapid displacement of the scene of combat.

“The German speedboats returned to their bases intact, without loss or casualties.”