BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC: A Ship Is Cheered

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Oil for Germany's war machine in Norway has had to travel by sea since Sweden recently withdrew tank-car rights on her railroads. To interrupt the oil traffic, and to lure any nearby German naval units into a fight, the mighty British Home Fleet (battleships, cruisers, destroyers) last week sailed 800 miles into Arctic waters. The Home Fleet also made naval history: it served as an escort for an American aircraft carrier.

In the tiny Norwegian port of Bodo the carrier's planes, thus handsomely escorted, scored heavily: they put at least twelve direct hits on eight merchantmen (ranging in size from 3,000 to 10,000 tons). The planes also buffeted a landing barge, a 500-ton ship, a 1,200-ton ore vessel. Lost: three U.S. planes, destroyed by anti-aircraft fire.

The U.S. Navy typically refused to name the U.S. carrier. Its crew and air men had to be content with the rare international honor accorded them by the Home Fleet's Vice Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser. As the carrier passed through the lines of the Home Fleet into a British harbor, British flags broke out a cheer to the ship.