- Operation Grog
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Operation Grog was the name assigned to the British naval and air bombardment of Genoa and La Spezia between 6 and 11 February 1941, during the Second World War.[1]
Originally scheduled to start on 31 January 1941,[2] the bombardment was carried out by a fleet consisting of HMS Malaya, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Renown and HMS Sheffield, screened by ten fleet destroyers including HMS Foxhound, HMS Foresight, HMS Fury, HMS Firedrake and HMS Jersey.[1][2] The ships left Gibraltar on 6 February, with four destroyers carrying out an anti-submarine sweep whilst the heavy ships carried out a feint to deceive Italian and German observers into thinking they were supporting a convoy.[3] Genoa harbour was bombarded on 9 February, with the force sinking four ships and damaging 18.[3] A targeting error by a gunnery officer on board HMS Malaya led to an armour piercing round hitting Genoa Cathedral, the shell failed to explode and remains on display there.[4] Ark Royal's aircraft attacked Livorno and mined La Spezia.[3] An attempt by the Italian fleet to intercept the British force failed, and all ships returned to Gibraltar on 11 February.[3]
References
- ^ a b Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd). "SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2:HMS RENOWN - Renown-class 15in gun Battlecruiser". Naval-History.Net. http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-02BC-Renown.htm. Retrieved 9-July-2010.
- ^ a b Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd). "SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2:HMS Fearless(H67)". Naval-History.Net. http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-23F-Fearless.htm. Retrieved 9-July-2010.
- ^ a b c d "UK Battleship of WW1 and WW2:HMS Malaya (BB-6)". http://www.acepilots.com/ships/malaya.html. Retrieved 10-July-2010.
- ^ "Obituary:Commander Henry Hatfield". Daily Telegraph. 4-July-2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/science-obituaries/7871480/Commander-Henry-Hatfield.html. Retrieved 5-July-2010.
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