October 25th, 1941 (SATURDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Battleship HMS Prince of Wales (53) and the destroyers HMS Electra (H 27) and Express (H 61) sails the Clyde for the Far East. Admiral Tom Phillips is aboard and will command the newly constituted British Far East Fleet.
London: Churchill condemns German reprisal killings in occupied territories.
USS Wickes (DD-75) is re-commissioned as HMS MONTGOMERY as part of the destroyers for bases deal. (Ron Babuka)
Submarine HMS Seraph launched.
GERMANY:
U-117, U-171, U-437 commissioned.
U-471 laid down.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Whilst
running supplies to the garrison at Tobruk, fast minelayer HMS Latona (M 76) and
the destroyers HMS Encounter (H 10), Hero (H 99) and Hotspur (H 01) are
attacked and bombed by German aircraft north of Bardia at 32 15N 24 14E. The
cargo and the ship’s ammunition explode, causing the death of 4 officers, 20
ratings and 7 soldiers, but the remainder are taken off by HMS Hero and
Encounter. There are 37 casualties. (Alex Gordon)(108)
CANADA:
Minesweepers ordered in Canada - HMS MMS 197, MMS 198, MMS 199, MMS 200 and MMS 201.
Corvette HMCS La Malbaie (ex-Fort William) launched Sorel, Province of Quebec.
U.S.A.: In a Department of State Bulletin, President Franklin D. Roosevelt comments on the execution of hostages by the Nazis: "The practice of executing scores of innocent hostages in reprisal for isolated attacks on Germans in countries temporarily under the Nazi heel revolts a world already inured to suffering and brutality. Civilized peoples long ago adopted the basic principle that no man should be punished for the deed. of another. Unable to apprehend the persons involved in these attacks the Nazis characteristically slaughter fifty or a hundred innocent persons. Those who would "collaborate" with Hitler or try to appease him cannot ignore this ghastly warning."
Anti-Aircraft cruiser USS Juneau launched.
Aircraft carrier USS Hornet commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
RCAF Eastern Command makes first attack on a U-boat off Newfoundland.
In the mid-Atlantic, U-107 transferred two ill crewmembers to U-125, which then returned to base.
The Italian submarine R. Smg. Ferraris is damaged by bombs from a British (PBY-5B) Catalina Mk. IB of No. 202 Squadron based at Gibraltar. The sub is unable to dive and the British escort destroyer HMS Lamerton (L 88) rushes to the scene and after a long gun duel Ferraris is scuttled about 264 nautical miles (489 kilometers) west-southwest of Lisbon, Portugal, in position 37.07N, 14.19W.