 uses: Box art San Andrea 1942 Tobruk, Afrika Korps Konvoi 2:Italian Tanker |
| DBTyp | Model | |
| Base type | San Andrea 1942 | |
| Kit manufacturer | Fairy Kikaku | |
| Material | Resin | |
| Origin country | GB | Parent category: Europe |
| Operator country | Italy | Parent category: Europe |
| Build era | 0 (not yet built) | |
| Topics | Ship | (Ship:) http://uboat.net/allies/ (Ship:) http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm , http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishShips-Dittmar3WarshipsA.htm (Ship:) Navies: To the list of all ship classes |
| Aera of use | time(1908-1942) | |
| Scale | 1/700 | |
| TextEN | Rommel launched his offensive on 30 August. On the offensive’s launch date San Andrea, a tanker carrying fuel for the anticipated advance beyond the Nile, departed Taranto at 0530. Thirteen hours later, eight 39 Squadron Beauforts from Malta jumped San Andrea and its escort, the torpedo boat Antares, and hit the tanker with one torpedo from four dropped. The aircraft reported leaving their target "in flames having exploded throwing debris high into the air." The air umbrella of eight Italian C. 200 fighters could not break up the attack. On 31 August an important convoy of two tankers, Picci Fassio and Abruzzi, protected by two torpedo boats departed Suda, planning to arrive at Tobruk on 2 September. Though Rommel had canceled his offensive by the time of their scheduled arrival, their fate is often associated with his defeat. After the criticism sparked by the loss of San Andrea, all the SIS’s resources were dedicated to their protection. The convoy received three PAPA warnings but could not avoid a raid by a trio of USAAF B-24s at 1930 on 1 September. In a rare instance of effective high-altitude strike, near misses brought Abruzzi to a stop. However, five RAF Hudsons were unable to locate their target.65 Abruzzi was eventually towed to Ral Hilal Bay, where its cargo of 484 tons of fuel was recovered; the ship returned to Italy three months later. (20)(21)(22) | |
| BaseVehicle | Ship | |
| Referenced by | Afrika Korps Konvoi 2:Italian Tanker | |
| lime: | Excellent source, hardly any errors |
| green: | Very good source, only very few errors |
| black or blue: | Quality of this source is not yet mentioned |
| orange: | Good source, some errors |
| red: | Source cmay ontain some true facts. All facts need to be checked. |