THE AXIS AND ALLIED MARITIME OPERATIONS AROUND SOUTHERN AFRICA 1939 1945 - WAR ON SOUTHERN AFRICA SEA

Tables

1.1:  Priority rating schedule for the shipment of cargoes to South Africa        22           

1.2:   Interim four group division for outstanding cargoes for South Africa      23

1.3:   Ministry of War Transport shipments to South Africa, Jul-Nov 1942         24

1.4:  Summary of cargo awaiting shipment from North America to

South Africa, Nov-Dec 1942                                                                                    26

1.5:  Total number of ships repaired in South Africa, 1941–1944                        42

2.1: South African A/S vessels operational in South African waters,

1939-1945                                                                                                                 66

2.2: South African M/S vessels operational in South African waters,

1939-1945                                                                                                                 75

2.3: Strength returns of SAAF and RAF coastal squadrons, 1943                     78

3.1: Statistical data of German raiders operational in South African waters    84

3.2:   Merchant shipping lost to sea-mines in South African waters, 1942       88

3.3:  Shipping lost to German raiders in South African waters, 1940-1942       90

3.4:  Statistical data on the Japanese submarines                                              95

3.5:  Statistical data on the Japanese armed merchant cruisers                       96

3.6:  Merchantmen lost in the Mozambique Channel, Jun-Jul 1942                  98             

 3.7:  Statistical data on German U-boats operational in

South African waters                                                                                            105

3.8:  Merchantmen lost to the Eisbär Group, Oct-Nov 1942                              111

3.9:  Merchantmen lost to the first U-cruiser operation, Oct-Dec 1942            113

3.10: Merchantmen lost to the Seehund Group, Feb-Apr 1943                         115

3.11: Merchantmen lost to Italian submarine operations, Mar-Apr 1943         117

3.12: Merchantmen lost to the Second U-cruiser Operation, Apr-Aug 1943   119            

3.13: Merchantmen lost to U-boats, 1944-1945                                                  121

3.14: Comparative results of maritime losses in South African waters

and globally, 1939-1945                                                                                       122

5.1:   Proposed expansion of the SAAF in lieu of coastal defence, 1942       174

5.2:   Convoys operational in South African waters, 1943-44                          180

5.3:   Aircraft requirements in South Africa                                                       184

5.4:   Comparison between Operations WICKETKEEPER and TRICOLOUR  198

 GRAPHS

1.1: Monetary worth of South African imports and exports, 1930-1945           10

1.2: Export of principal South African products in weight, 1938-1945             13

1.3: Coal bunkered and exported from principal South African ports,

1940-1945                                                                                                               14

 1.4: South African wartime gold production, 1939-1944                                  17

1.5: Comparative statement of shipping tonnage from the United Kingdom

and North America to South Africa, Jan-Dec 1943                                            28

1.6: Shipments of commercial cargo from the United Kingdom to

South Africa, 1943-1944                                                                                       29

1.7: Total number of Allied naval vessels that called at the major

South African ports, 1939-1945                                                                           31

1.8: Fluctuations in the handling of vessels and cargo at South African

and South West African ports, 1939-1945                                                         35

1.9: Total merchant shipping handled at South African ports, 1939-1944     39

3.1: Comparative successes of the Eisbär Group,the first U-cruiser

operation,  and the Seehund Group                                                                116

5.2: Total number of convoys, including average number of

ships and escorts per convoy in South Africa waters, Mar-Aug 1943         181

5.3: Coastal air patrols employed on anti-submarine work

and convoy escort duties, 1943                                                                       183

5.4: Total number of coastal air patrols off the South African

coastline,1943                                                                                                   186

5.5: Total number of D/F fixes and reported attacks on U-boats, 1943       187

5.6: Decreasing merchant shipping losses in South African waters,

1943-45                                                                                                              195

 MAPS                                                         

1.1: Strategic location of the maritime nodal point of the

Cape of Good Hope                                                                                            4

1.2: Principal southern African harbours                                                         6

2.1: Predicted radar coverage along the South African coast, 1939-1945   62

2.2: Approximate air cover over the South African coast, 1943                   77

3.1: Shipping lost to German raiders and mines, 1939-1942                        89

3.2: Shipping lost to the Japanese submarine offensive, 1942                    99

 3.3 Shipping lost to German and Italian submarines, 1942                        114

3.4: Shipping lost tois submarines, 1943                                                      120

3.5: Shipping lost to German submarines, 1944-1945                                 121

4.1: The Cape Intelligence Area, 1939-1942                                                  143

4.2: The Cape Intelligence Area, 1942-1945                                                  146

4.3: The local “Y” Organisation and principal HF/DF stations in

Southern Africa, along with the general centre of illegal transmissions

in the Union                                                                                                     151

5.1: Location of the sinking of U-179                                                            169

5.2: Convoy assembly points, deep sea dispersal points, and the

major convoy routes along the South African coast                                  179

5.3: Extent of air cover available to convoys along the

African coastline,1943                                                                                   185

5.4: Location of the sinking of U-197                                                           193

5.5: Operation WICKETKEEPER and the sinking of UIT-22                       200