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August 1st, 1940 (THURSDAY)

 HMS Narwhal is paid off the same day. After leaving the Humber on 22 July for a minelaying mission off Norway, she fails to return.

German submarine U-25 is sunk in the North Sea, north of Terchelling, by a British mine in position 54.14N, 05.07E. All hands, 49 men, are lost.

Mine barrage Field No 7. was laid by the destroyers HMS Express, Esk, Icarus and Impulsive in the North Sea on 3 March, 1940. It probably accounted for several U-boats on their inbound or return journey. (Alex Gordon)

NETHERLANDS: The Hague: A Luftwaffe conference is held to plan the invasion of Britain.

GERMANY: Hitler sets the date for the invasion of Britain at 15 September, and issues his directive no 17 ordering intensification of the air war from 5 August.
OKW issues Führer Directive #17: In order to establish the necessary conditions for the conquest of England, air and sea warfare will be intensified against the English homeland. 
(i) The Luftwaffe is to overpower the RAF with all the forces at its command. The attacks are to be directed primarily against flying units, their ground installations, and their supply organizations. The aircraft industry (including anti-aircraft production) should also be targeted. 
(ii) After local air superiority is won, the air war will continue against ports and stores of food and provisions. Damage to ports on the south coast must be minimized in view of our future operations. 
(iii) Attacks on enemy warships and shipping may be reduced in order to concentrate on above mentioned operations. Operations should be carried out such that air support can be called upon for urgent naval activity, or an invasion, at any time. 
(iv) The Führer reserves the right to order terror attacks as measures of reprisal. 
(v) Intensified air and sea operations should begin on or after 5th August, weather permitting. (Marc Roberts)

U-96 launched.

U-575, U-576, U-577, U-578 laid down.

PORTUGAL: Lisbon: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor left here today aboard the US liner Excalibur after the collapse of a Nazi plot to pressure them into leading peace moves against the duke's brother, King George, and Churchill. The couple, who were living in France, fled to Spain when the Germans invaded and went on to Lisbon. At von Ribbentrop's request, the Falangist Miguel Primo de Rivera contacted the Duke and was gratified to be told that Churchill was a warmonger. Rivera suggested that the Duke might again be King. "Oh, no", said the Duke, "That would be unconstitutional!"


MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Submarine HMS Oswald on patrol south of the Strait of Messina reports Italian Navy movements. She is detected and later rammed and sunk by Italian destroyer 'Ugolini Vivaldi' off Cap Spartivento.

The RN submarine makes no attempt to escape or to attack the Italian ship, possibly because the commander suffers from night blindness when he is suddenly called to the bridge. The RN commander (who ordered abandon ship BEFORE the ramming occurred, when Vivaldi was 100 yards away) is court martialled on 5 charges for the loss of his ship and found to have been negligent in performing his duties. He is sentenced to forfeit all seniority as a lieutenant commander, to be dismissed and to be severely reprimanded. There were 3 casualties, but 52 of the crew survived to become POW. (Alex Gordon)

(Mark Horan) HMS Argus reaches the intended flying off position for the RAF reinforcements for Malta. At the pre-flight briefing, the RAF pilots are shocked to discover that distance to Malta is well beyond the capability of their aircraft. Acknowledging their willingness to follow orders, they casually bring up the point that plunking the 12 Hurricanes in the Mediterranean Sea can hardly be the desired goal of their lordships. Unwilling to take the pilots word for their aircrafts capability, a series of hasty messages are dispatched to England; the answers subsequently verify that the RAF pilots assessment of the their aircraft is correct. Having already been discovered by Italian reconnaissance planes, this means that the need for HMS Argus to close Malta will entail heavy risk as the flight must be delayed until the morrow.

Sure enough, later that afternoon the expected attacks from Regia Aeronautica units based in Sardinia develop, but numerous interceptions by HMS Ark Royal's Skua II fighter aircraft of both 800 and 803 Squadrons down one contact plane and chase off another, then break up the actual attacks while downing an S-79. No damage is sustained by the RN.

Now, as in the future, cover is provided by force H. The opportunity is taken for HMS Ark Royal's aircraft to hit Sardinian targets.

Submarine HMS Oswald is rammed and sunk by Italian destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi. The RN submarine makes no attempt to escape or to attack the Italian ship, possibly because the commander suffers from night blindness when he is suddenly called to the bridge. The RN commander (who ordered abandon ship BEFORE the ramming occurred, when Vivaldi was 100 yards away) is court martialled on 5 charges for the loss of his ship and found to have been negligent in performing his duties. He is sentenced to forfeit all seniority as a lieutenant commander, to be dismissed and to be severely reprimanded. There were 3 casualties, but 52 of the crew survived to become POW. (Alex Gordon)(108)

AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Bathurst launched.

U.S.A.: The book "While England Slept," written by 23-year-old John Fitzgerald Kennedy as his senior essay for Harvard, is published. This, his first book, describes England's lack of readiness for WWII.

Destroyer USS Niblack commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0345, the unescorted Sigyn was hit in aft part by one torpedo from U-59 and sank by the stern with a sharp list. The ship had been spotted at 0157 and missed with two torpedoes at 0217 and 0343.

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