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338:. After a dive-bombing attack by I/KG 30, the convoy was approached by the torpedo-bombers, I/KG 26, in a formation of 42 aircraft. The sight was described by one observer as "a huge flight of nightmare locusts". Despite anti-aircraft fire from the ships and their escorts, the group continued on course, dropping their torpedoes as planned. The convoy
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attack was not repeated. Other air forces had found torpedo attacks were more effective against ships when delivered from different directions simultaneously. Whilst hitting eight ships in one attack was a huge success, it had taken over eighty torpedoes, ten for every hit, an inferior performance to
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ordered a turn to starboard to sail parallel to the torpedo tracks. In the confusion the signal was misread by the ships of the starboard columns, which continued ahead. Eight ships, six in the outermost starboard column and two further in, were sunk. This occasion was the most successful use of the
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forming line abreast, about forty aircraft flying approximately 30 m (33 yd) apart and approaching the convoy from a forward quarter, simultaneously to launch their torpedoes at a distance of 1,000 m (1,094 yd) then overfly the convoy and escape in the confusion. The tracks of up
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had proved against PQ 18, the Allies quickly found counter-measures which reduced its effectiveness and inflicted crippling losses on the attackers. The approaching formation was unable to take evasive action and was vulnerable to AA fire from the ships and escorts and attacks by fighter aircraft
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aircraft made more attacks on PQ 18 after the torpedo attack and two more ships were sunk but no successes similar to the first day were achieved. Aircraft losses mounted after the first attack and by the end of the air offensive against PQ 18, forty aircraft from the two groups had been lost.
389:(turning into the track of torpedoes to present a smaller target) was made more effective against torpedoes running in the same direction. The confusion over signals that contributed to the ship losses in PQ 18 during the first
290:(Golden Comb) anti-shipping tactic. The attack was planned for use in the half light period of dawn or dusk and would be in conjunction with a simultaneous dive bombing attack to divide opposing
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as naval matter. Germany had no torpedo bomber force, in contrast to the forces of other world powers, even the other Axis nations like Italy with the land-based
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To attack a convoy, a formation of 20 to 30 ships sailing in close formation at relatively slow speed, the commander of KG 26
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from the carrier. The combination of gun and fighter attack, aided by the bold and aggressive handling of
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Intelligence in the Second World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations
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to eighty torpedoes heading towards the target was likened to the teeth of a comb.
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lacked a means to attack ships at sea due to the inter-service rivalry between the
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499:]. Translated by Ziegler, F. (4th US ed.). New York: Ballantine Books.
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610:: The War at Sea 1939–1945. Vol. II (3rd impr. ed.). London:
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bombers, modified to carry two air-dropped torpedoes under the wings.
526:. History of the Second World War (2nd rev. abr. ed.). London:
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Luftwaffe Aerial
Torpedo Aircraft and Operations in World War Two
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465:Arctic Victory: The Story of Convoy PQ 18
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58:adding citations to reliable sources
674:Wood, Tony; Gunston, Bill (1990).
215:Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
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229:to Germany in early August 1942.
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608:History of the Second World War
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549:Convoy: Drama in Arctic Waters
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682:. New York: Crescent Books.
284:and his units developed the
553:. London: Arms and Armour.
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697:Woodman, Richard (2004) .
467:. London: William Kimber.
634:Schofield, B. B. (1964).
493:The Luftwaffe War Diaries
419:(December 1941), and the
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699:Arctic Convoys 1941–1945
600:Roskill, S. W. (1962) .
522:Hinsley, F. H. (1994) .
701:. London: John Murray.
655:Thiele, Harold (2004).
642:. London: BT Batsford.
517:. SBN: 345-22674-7-165.
491:Bekker, Cajus (1973) .
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659:. Ottringham: Hikoki.
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318:The first use of the
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638:The Russian Convoys
545:Kemp, Paul (1993).
368:Devastating as the
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678:Hitler's Luftwaffe
421:United States Navy
387:Combing the tracks
258:Kampfgeschwader 30
250:Kampfgeschwader 26
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666:978-1-902109-42-8
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537:978-0-11-630961-7
506:978-0-345-22674-7
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406:attack on
177:Background
110:April 2013
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364:Aftermath
352:Luftwaffe
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314:In action
235:Luftwaffe
203:torpedoes
190:Luftwaffe
184:Luftwaffe
150:Luftwaffe
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515:68-19007
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