StG 2 and 77 intervened in the Battle of Arras on behalf of Erwin Rommel's 7th Panzer Division. StG 2 advanced into north-eastern France during the dash to the English Channel. It fought during the Siege of Calais and Battle of Boulogne. The ports were taken after bombardment from StG 2 and 77. Hitschhold's commanding officer Oskar Dinort lost both wingmen over Boulogne on 25 May. Four were lost. In a major action, Dinort led 39 Ju 87s and two in an attack on Admiral James Somerville's forces off Calais on 24 May. The 10th Panzer Division requested air support against Royal Navy warships bombarding their positions as the division fought its way into Calais. Dinort ordered Hitschhold to select a target. The light cruisers "Arethusa", "Galatea", and destroyers "Grafton", "Greyhound", "Verity", "Wessex", "Wolfhound", "Vimiera" and Polish Navy destroyer "Bzura" were subjected to an intense dive-bombing attack. "Wessex" was sunk; "Vimiera" and "Bzura" was damaged. The Ju 87s suffered no loss in their unopposed attacks. Six of the "Wessex" crew were killed and 15 wounded. From 29 May Hitschhold led his formation in the Battle of Dunkirk until 2 June 1940, attacking shipping and Royal Navy vessel supporting Operation Dynamo.