Action of 26 April 1944

Action of 26 April 1944
Part of Second World War, Battle of the Atlantic
Date25–26 April 1944
Location
English Channel, off Jentilez
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Canada Canada		 Nazi Germany Germany
Strength
1 Dido-class cruiser
4 Tribal-class destroyers		 3 Elbing-class torpedo boats
Casualties and losses

2 destroyers damaged

2 destroyers lightly damaged

1 Elbing-class torpedo boat (T29) sunk

2 torpedo boats damaged

The action of 26 April 1944 occurred as a part of Operation Tunnel, Allied destroyer sweeps of the coast of Brittany in preparation for Operation Overlord. On the night of 25–26 April, a sweep was conducted by the Dido-class cruiser HMS Black Prince and the Tribal-class destroyers HMS Ashanti, HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Haida and HMCS Huron. They engaged the Elbing-class torpedo boats T24, T27 and T29 off the île de Batz until T29 was destroyed. Both of the other torpedo boats were damaged in the engagement. T29 caused some casualties on Haida and Huron before sinking with a loss of 135 men. Haida and Ashanti collided with each other near the end of the action.[1]

  1. ^ O'Hara, Vincent P. (2013). The German Fleet at War, 1939–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-61251-397-3. Retrieved 11 August 2013.