Junkers Ju-87 Stuka (German Dive Bombers)
On May 24, 1940 the British destroyers Wessex, Vimiera and Wolfhound, and the Polish Navy destroyer Burza bombard a German armored column advancing on Calais, France and receive return fire from German artillery ashore. Within 10 minutes of starting the bombardment, 27 German dive bombers attack the destroyers, hitting Wessex with three bombs. Wessex quickly sinks in 115 feet water. Vimiera rescued Wessex’s survivors but has to withdraw with damage from six near misses.
The German aircraft then focus their attack on the Polish destroyer Burza, which suffers heavy damage from two bomb hits but managed to limp back to Dover with Vimiera. The destroyers shoot down one German aircraft during the action.