operations moved to destroying Channel shipping—termed the Kanalkampf phase—and then Fighter Command defences in what became known as the Battle of Britain. The Oberkommando der Luftwaffe left the two German air fleet commanders, Sperrle and Kesselring to carry out attacks on targets of their choosing in June and early July for there was little direction from the OKL. On 2 July, German attacks caught convoy OA177G en route for Gibraltar. StG 2 sank the British steamer Aeneas () south-east of Start Point, Devon; 18 crewmen died and the rest were rescued by the destroyer and later StG 2 damaged the British steamer Baron Ruthven (). I. and II./StG 2 moved to Laon and Lannion before moving to the Pas-de-Calais and III./StG 2 group moved to Caen. On 4 July 1940 the wing attacked Convoy OA 178 (convoy outbound Atlantic) as it passed through the Channel. 14 merchantmen left the Thames Estuary, bound for the west coast and passed Dover on 3 July. German radar picked up the convoy and the Luftwaffe was ordered to intercept the ships. A Junkers Ju 88 reconnaissance aircraft from 1.(F)/123 flew over the Channel and reported that the convoy was south-west of Portland. I./StG 2 took off, led by Dinort with 24 Ju 87s, escorted by a Staffel of fighters from I./JG 1. The attack was followed by 23 Ju 87s of III./StG 51. The ships were close to the French coast when Dallas City was damaged, engulfed in flames and collided with Flimson which was also hit and the ships took 15 minutes to disengage; Dallas City later sank. Antonio was heavily damaged. Deucalion (), Kolga () and Britsum () were sunk and SS Canadian Constructor, was damaged for no German loss. Convoys "Booty" and "Agent" passed through on 11 July. Dinort's wing attacked shipping along the coast. The Stukas sank () with one casualty. 501 Squadron had scrambled but was engaged by the Bf 109 escort and lost one pilot shot down and drowned; No. 609 Squadron RAF arrived as the Ju 87s began their dives. The six Spitfires split, one section of three engaging the Stukas and the other taking on the escort. Overwhelmed by odds of 6:1, the squadron was routed, with the loss of two pilots killed for no loss to the Germans; none of the merchant vessels were hit. A second attack was ordered. At 11:00 GMT, Hawker Hurricanes