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Conclusion

The "Cape Fortress's" vulnerability to attack was never subjected to a concerted test but a
sea war did take place off the South African coast. The first phase lasted from May to July

1942 when Japanese submarines were operating in the Mozambique Channel; the second
phase opened with the arrival of the first U-boat packs in October 1942 and resulted in the

sinking of 51 ships in 60 days, 13 of which were sunk in the first four days. At this time the
South Atlantic station was short of fast defensive craft and the SANF vessels endured a

long period of intense activity. The third phase lasted from February to September 1943

when the second U-boat pack was stationed off Africa. Only sporadic sinkings occurred
after that. A total of 155 Allied merchant ships were sunk by U-boats off our coast between

1942 - 44 and over 400 survivors were rescued from torpedoed ships. (Fig. 3.4).

References

Commander Mac Bisset: personal communication.

Bisset, W. M. (1988) The Union Defence Force's Buildings of Cape Town during the

Second World War 1939 - 45, Militaria, 52 - 57.

Crook, L. (1991) Young's Field - A History of the Anti-Aircraft School, Anti-Aircraft

School / 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Kimberley.

SSS Radar Contacts (undated) Outposts that Scanned the Sea & Sky, SSS Radar Contacts,
Claremont 7736.

Brain, P. (1993) South African Radar in World War 2, The SSS Radar Book Group, Cape
Town.

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