(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

China, East Indies, Australia & New Zealand Stations September 1939 to March 1942

	Areas of Operations (click to enlarge). Only some locations in text are shown

Click for Convoy Route Codes, Operation Code Names and Royal Navy  Minelaying

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Please Note:

(1) all available contents have been transcribed.

(2) The original typist did not have a good grasp of grammar or punctuation with some sentences running on, but the contents have been transcribed as they are.

(3) Some of the abbreviations are not known and cannot be deciphered without further research.

Don Kindell

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

JULY 1943

Thursday, July 1st
Operation PLAYER	Cancelled; NEWCASTLE and RACEHORSE return to Kilindini; SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS to Mauritius to refuel; SUFFOLK to Kilindini. RELENTLESS to Durban
NORMAN, QUICKMATCH and ROTHERHAM	Arrived Tulear having escorted W S 30 to vicinity Comoro Is.
BENGAL and ORISSA	Escorting convoy B P 85 arrived Khor Kuwai
AGRA	Escorting convoy B M 56 left Bombay for Colombo
KUMAON and KATHIAWAR	Arrived Bombay from Seychelles
SOLVRA	Left Aden for Kilindini
Friday, July 2nd
CANTON	Escorting 2 transports arrived Kilindini from R/V with ALAUNIA at 007 deg. S.
SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS	Arrived Mauritius from Operation PLAYER
NORMAN, QUICKMATCH and ROTHERHAM	Left Tulear to search vicinity 27 deg. S, 40 deg E thence Durban
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Escorting convoy M B 39 arrived Bombay from Colombo
CARTHAGE and NEPAL	Escorting one transport left Colombo. CATHAGE escorts transport to Kilindini. NEPAL breaks off at 70 deg E. to proceed to Seychelles for fuel.
SOBKRA	Left Diego Suarez to R/V ROSALIND July 4th at 09 deg. S.
BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8	Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban
Saturday, July 3rd
SUFFOLK	Left Mauritius for Kilindini
CANTON	Left Kilindini for Durban
LAUNCESTON and PUNJAB	Escorting P A 43 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf
Sunday, July 4th
SUSSEX	Left Mauritius for Kilindini
BATHURST	Arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
DURBAN	Left Kilindini for Tulear and Simonstown
BENGAL and ORISSA	Escorting convoy P A 44 left Kuwai Bay
Italian Repatriation liner SATURNIA	Left Mogadishu for Port Elizabeth under safe escort
Monday, July 5th
RELENTLESS	Left Mauritius for Durban
BOMBAY and KONKAN	Escorting convoy P B 46 arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8	Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles
MAURETANIA	Left Aden for Diego Suarez
KUMAON and TAMWORTH	Escorting convoy B P 86 left Bombay for Persian Gulf
Submarine	Reported by American aircraft in position 12 deg. 35N, 43 deg. 50E at 1330Z/4
Ship reported sinking	In position 24 deg. 21N, 59 deg. 04E with naval vessel in attendance. Ship later reported as ALCOA PROSPECTOR (U.S.) with BENGAL standing by.
Italian repatriation liner VULCANIA	Left Djibouti for Port Elizabeth under safe conduct
Tuesday, July 6th
CARNATIC	Escorting convoy A P 35 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
SUFFOLK	Arrived Kilindini from Mauritius
Dutch Sub O 23	Arrived Colombo from patrolling Malacca Straits
POONA	Escorting convoy M B 40 left Colombo for Bombay
Harbour tug ALLIGATOR	Left Beira for Kilindini
CERES, BATHHURST and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy P B 47 left Hormuz for Bombay
BENGAL	Now picking up survivors from ALCOA PROSPECTOR, torpedoed off Muscat, will proceed Karachi. ORISSA will take convoy to Aden
MICHAEL LIVANOS (Greek)	Reported sunk in Mozambique Channel 50 miles N. of Inhambane.
JASPER PARK	Torpedoed in position 32 deg. 52S, 42 deg. 15E
QUICKMATCH and QUIBERON	Left Durban to search for survivors of JASPER PARK
RELENTLESS	On passage Mauritius – Durban diverted to search for survivors from JASPER PARK
Wednesday, July 7th
SUSSEX	Arrived Kilindini from Mauritius
LAUNCESTON and PUNJAB	Escorting convoy A P 35 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
COMMANDANT DUBOC (FS)	Left Tamatave for Aden
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA (FS)	Escorting 1 ship left Tamatave for Diego Suarez
ROSALIND	Arrived Diego Suarez having escorted LUCIA to 15 deg S. from Kilindini
FS DUQUESNE and TOURVILLE	Left Aden for Kilindini
CANTON	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
NEPAL	Arrived Seychelles from Colombo for fuel and left again for Kilindini
'SSSS'	From SS LEANA in position 25 deg. 06S, 35 deg. 33E
'QQQQ'	From U.S. PHILIP SCHUYLER in position 27 deg. 45S, 53 deg. 04E – sighted suspicious ship.
'SSSS'	From SS AMERICAN MANUFACTER in position 27 deg. 27 S, 106 deg. 29E – attack by U boat
RELENTLESS	Having picked up survivors is now proceeding Durban. Survivors from HYDRAIOS (GRK) landed in Portuguese East Africa at Zawara Point. Survivors from BREIVIKEN (NOR) landed in Inhambane.
ALCOA PROSPECTOR	not sunk being towed to Bandar Abbas
Thursday, July 8th
RELENTLESS	Arrived Durban from Mauritius
BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8	Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez
CAPETOWN	Left Colombo for Bombay
ROHILKAND	Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles
DURBAN	Arrived Tulear from Kilindini for fuel and left again for Simonstown
FS SUFFREN, LORRAINE and DUGUAY TROUIN	Left Aden for Kilindini
RELENTLESS	Left Durban to R/V EASTERN PRINCE in North Mozambique Channel and escort her to vicinity Beira, thence to Kilindini
ROTHERHAM	Left Durban for Beira
CAPETOWN	Reports suspicious object probably S/M periscope in position 07 deg 04N, 78 deg. 59E
Friday, July 9th
RANPURA	Arrived Kilindini having escorted one transport from Bombay to vicinity Kilindini
BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8	Left Seychelles for Colombo
Dutch Sub O21	Left Colombo for Exmouth Gulf
ALAUNIA	Arrived Bombay having escorted W S 30 B from vicinity Kilindini
NEPAL	Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
Seychelles reports unidentified ship off Cape Tearney at 0030 hours. Naval Officer in Charge cannot identify ship. State of emergency later cancelled.
Saturday, July 10th
TAMWORTH and KUMAON	Escorting convoy B P 86 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
ALAUNIA	Escorting one transport left Bombay for Kilindini
ROHILKAND	Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez
BENGAL	Arrived Bandar Abbas having stood by torpedoed ship in Gulf of Oman. Survivors from SEBASTIEN CERMENO (Torpedoed 27th June) landed at Fort Dauphin
SS HOI HOW	Overdue at Tamatave from Mauritius. Search by air and sea forces reveal no trace. Ship presumed lost.
'SSSS'	ALICE F. PALMER sunk in approximate position 27 deg. South, 045 deg East by torpedo and gunfire
Sunday, July 11th
ROTHERHAM	Now to proceed with RELENTLESS and not to Beira. ROTHERHAM and RELENTLESS after escorting EASTERN PRINCE proceed Kilindini
SOBKRA	Arrived Diego Suarez having provided A/S escort to LUCIA in Northern Mozambique Channel.
CARTHAGE	Arrived Kilindini having escorted 1 transport from Colombo
LUCIA and MASTERFUL	towing 1 M.V. Escorted by FREESIA arrived Durban from Kilindini
CERES	Arrived Bombay from Bandar Abbas
U boat attack by aircraft in position 25 deg. 13S, 34 deg. 20E. Attack unsuccessful
Portuguese aircraft reports S/M north of Lourenco Marques
MARY LIVANOS	Torpedoed in position 15 deg. 40S, 40 deg. E 18 miles off shore
Monday, July 12th
FS DUQUESNE and TOURVILLE	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
SONDRA and R.F.A. BACCHUS	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
BURNIE, BATHURST and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy P B 47 arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
KUMAON and TAMWORTH	Escorting convoy P A 45 left Bandar Abbas from Aden
Cable ship RECORDER	Left Seychelles for Kilindini
Italian Repatriation liner SATURNIA	Arrived Port Elizabeth under safe conduct from Mogadishu
HOEGH SILVERDAWN	Reported sunk by raider (German) in position 25 deg. S, 90 deg. E on 15th June
Tuesday, July 13th
DURBAN	Arrived Simonstown from Tulear and Kilindini
LAUNCESTON and PUNJAB	Arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden escorting convoy A P 35
ORISSA	Escorting convoy P A 44 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf
CHITRAL	Escorting convoy B A 45 left Bombay for Aden
BOMBAY, KONKAN and BURNIE	Escorting convoy B P 87 left Bombay for Persian Gulf
RELENTLESS	Having failed to R/V EASTERN PRINCE arrived Kilindini from Durban, as ordered.
Aircraft from Pamanzi report A.S.V. contact probably S/M in position 18 deg. 52 S, 40 deg. 21E.
'SSSS'	CITY OF WINDSOR in position 12 deg. 24N, 50 deg. 20E attacked by S/M
Aircraft sighted submarine in position 24 deg 40N, 57 deg. 59E
Hudson attacked S/M in position 12 deg. 23N, 51 deg. 13E with depth charges – attack promising
Italian repatriation liners DUILO and GUILO CESARE	Under safe conduct left Djibouti for Port Elizabeth called at Aden en route
Wednesday, 14th July
CANTON	Left Durban for Kilindini route east of Madagascar
MAURETANIA	Arrived Diego Suarez from Aden
CERES	Escorting one transport left Bombay for Seychelles
ROHILKAND	Left Seychelles for Bombay
PUNJAB and LAUNCESTON	Escorting convoy P B 48 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay and Karachi
EMPIRE RAJA	Reports intercepting SSS from SS RAHMANI in position 14 deg. 52N, 52 deg. 06E at 0922/12th – torpedoed
NAPIER and RACEHORSE	Left Kilindini to R/V Force X and escort them to Kilindini
COMMANDANT DUBOC	Arrived Aden from Diego Suarez
ORISSA	Left Aden for Hormuz escorting convoy A P 36
CORNWALLIS and BARODA	Escorting convoy B M 57 left Bombay for Colombo
USS ROBERT BACON	Sunk in position 15 deg S. 42 deg E. at 0230 by submarine
Thursday, July 15th
MAURETANIA	Left Diego Suarez for Capetown route east of Madagascar
ROTHERHAM	Arrived Kilindini from Durban having escorted EASTERN PRINCE from 20 Deg S. to vicinity Beira
DEVON CITY (Boom Carrier)	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
KENYA	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
FS DUQUESNE and TOURVILLE	Left Kilindini for Durban route via Mozambique Channel
FS LORRAINE, SUFFREN and DUGUAY TROUIN	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
FS COMMANDANT DUBOC	Left Aden for Suez
The Commander in Chief, East Fleet with the Chief of Staff and the Secretary returned to Kilindini
Friday, July 16th
'SSSS'	From DUKE OF ATHENS in position 09 deg 05 North, 52 deg. 15 East – attack by submarine. DUKE OF ATHENS
	not in Indian Ocean, now thought to be FORT FINLAY
RANPURA	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
QUICKMATCH and QUIBERON	Left Durban to R/V RESOLUTION and LORRAINE at approx. 20 deg. S and escort them to Durban
BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8	Arrived Colombo from Seychelles
Italian repatriation liner VULCANIA	Under safe conduct arrived Port Elizabeth from Djibouti.
Saturday, July 17th
ROBERT BACON (U.S.)	British Vice Consul Lumbo reports ROBERT BACON (U.S.) sunk by torpedo in position 15 deg. 25S, 41 deg. 13E
	at 0035Z 14th July. 53 survivors picked up
RESOLUTION, LORRAINE (FS), NAPIER, ROTHERHAM and RELENTLESS	Left Kilindini for Durban
RACEHORSE and NEPAL	Left Kilindini to provide A/S escort to RESOLUTION and LORRAINE to 20 deg. S. thence return to Kilindini
KENYA	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
LAUNCESTON	Escorting Karachi portion of P B 48 arrived Karachi from Persian Gulf
1 unidentified Aircraft reported over Koggalla at 0001 hours and remained in vicinity for 30 minutes.
Sunday, July 18th
Cable ship RECORDER	Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
Tug ALLIGATOR	Arrived Kilindini from Duran having called at Beira and Lindi
CAPETOWN	Arrived Bandar Abbas from Bombay
Survivors from unknown Norwegian ship sunk by Japanese submarine June 17th were landed on east coast of Madagascar. Later reported as SS FERNCASTLE
Red Air Raid warning Trincomalee
CITY OF CANTON	Reported sunk off Inhambane
Monday, July 19th
RANPURA	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
PUNJAB and LAUNCESTON	Escorting convoy P B 48 arrived Bombay
CORNWALLIS and BARODA	Escorting convoy B M 57 left Bombay for Colombo
Tuesday, July 20th
ORISSA	Escorting A P 36 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
BURNIE, BOMBAY and KONKAN	Escorting convoy B P 87 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
Dutch Sub O 21	Arrived Exmouth Gulf from Colombo
FS DUQUESNE and TOURVILLE	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
LAUNCESTON	Arrived Bombay from Kilindini
ROHILKHAND	Arrived Bombay from Seychelles
KUMAON and TAMWORTH	Escorting convoy P A 45 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf
Wednesday, July 21st
BOMBAY and KONKAN	Escorting convoy P A 46 left Bandar Abbas for Aden
KUMAON and TAMWORTH	Escorting convoy A P 37 left Aden for Bandar Abbas
CARNATIC and MADRAS	Escorting convoy B P 88 left Bombay for Bandar Abbas
RANPURA	Left Diego Suarez escorting 1 transport to vicinity Dar es Salaam then proceeds Kilindini
KARACHI	Escorting convoy B P 87 ½ left Karachi for Persian Gulf
FS SUFFREN and DUQUAY TROUIN	Left Kilindini for Durban
CERES	Arrived Seychelles from Bombay and left again for Kilindini
LAUNCESTON	Escorting 2 ships left Bombay for Colombo
MAURETANIA	Arrived Capetown from Diego Suarez
ALAUNIA	Arrived Kilindini from Bombay
Thursday, July 22nd
NEWCASTLE	Wearing flag of C.S. 4 left Kilindini for Seychelles and Colombo
CANTON	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
RACHORSE and NEPAL	Returned Kilindini having escorted RESOLUTION and LORRAINE to vicinity 20 deg S.
LURCHER	Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
FORT FRANKLIN	Sunk July 16th between Madagascar and Mauritius
FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Left Diego Suarez via Nosi Be, Mayotte, Majunga, and Tulear.
Friday, July 23rd
RANPURA	Arrived Kilindini having escorted 1 transport from Diego Suarez to vicinity Dar es Salaam
CHITRAL	Arrived Aden having escorted B A 45 from Bombay
CORNWALLIS and BARODA	Escorting convoy B M 57 arrived Colombo from Bombay
Saturday, July 24th
CHITRAL	Escorting 1 transport left Aden for Kilindini
The Commander in Chief, flying his flag in SUSSEX left Kilindini with his staff for Colombo
Dutch Sub O 23	Left Colombo for patrol.
CERES	Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
RESOLUTION, FS LORRAINE, NAPIER, ROTHERHAM and RELENTLESS	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
QUICKMATCH and QUIBERON	Returned Durban having provided A/S escort to RESOLUTION and LORRAINE from 20 deg. South
Sunday, July 25th
NEWCASTLE	Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini and left again for Colombo
SUFFOLK	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
LAUNCESTON	Escorting 2 ships arrived Colombo from Bombay
Monday, July 26th
SOLVRA	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
FALMOUTH	Providing additional A/S to C B 1, left Durban to Kilindini, escorting MASTERFUL, towed B P T 8.
NIZAM	Escorting convoy C M 43 (STRATHAIRD and STRATHMORE) left Durban to R/V SUFFOLK south of Mauritius
DESPATCH, QUADRANT and REDOUBT	Escorting convoy W S 31 left Capetown to R/V FROBISHER south of Mauritius
KIRRIEMOOR	Escorted by NORTHERN CHIEF and LE TIGRE left Durban for Tulear
KUMAON and TAMWORTH	Escorting convoy P A 45 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
FS SUFFREN and DUGUAY TROUIN	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
Tuesday, July 27th
SUFFOLK	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini and left again to R/V NIZAM escorting C M 43. NIZAM proceeds Mauritius. SUFFOLK escorts convoy to Bombay
DUILO and GUILIO CESARE	Italian repatriation liners, arrived Port Elizabeth from Aden
ALAUNIA	Left Kilindini for Aden as escort to K A 8
MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy B P 88 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
MMS 107	Left Durban for Diego Suarez
SHILLONG	Escorting convoy J C 16 left Colombo for Calcutta
Wednesday, July 28th
FROBISHER	Left Kilindini for Mauritius thence to R/V DESPATCH, QUADRANT, and REDOUBT with convoy W S 31 south of Madagascar.
Thursday, July 29th
Catalina sighted U boat in position 04 deg 58 North, 77 deg. 38 East 0330Z 29th July
'SSSS'	JUDAH P. BENJAMIN reports unknown ship torpedoed and sunk in position 27 deg. 41S, 52 deg. 25E.
NEWCASTLE	Arrived Colombo from Seychelles and Kilindini wearing the flag of C S 4
SLUNA	Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles
SOBKRA	Left Diego Suarez for Mauritius
MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy P A 47 left Khor Kuwai for Aden
BATHURST, BALUCHISTAN and ROHILKAND	Escorting convoy B P 89 left Bombay for Persian Gulf.
Friday, July 30th
FROBISHER	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
CHITRAL	Escorting one ship arrived Kilindini from Aden
RACEHORSE and SORSRA	Escorting convoy M C 8 consisting of HONG SIANG, BALTAVIA, PHILOMEL, and HERON left Kilindini.
	RACEHORSE and SORSRA escort convoy to vicinity Beira then return Kilindini
CERES	Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
ALBATROSS	Escorting convoy B A 46 left Bombay to escort convoy to vicinity 55 deg. E then proceed Kilindini
BOMBAY and KONKAN	Escorting convoy P A 46 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf
Dutch Sub O 24	Left Colombo on patrol.
4 survivors from HOI HOW arrived Monte Video 27th July having been picked up by USS MORMACSWAN. Survivors report vessel was torpedoed and sank in 2 minutes. No other survivors. Sunk midnight 2nd/3rd.
AGRA and NETRAVATI	Escorting convoy B M 58 left Bombay for Colombo
SUSSEX	Wearing the Flag of the Commander in Chief arrived Colombo from Kilindini
WILLIAM ELLERY	Torpedoed 2115Z in position 33 deg. 00S, 36 deg. 00E, now proceeding Durban
Saturday, July 31st
Survivors from SS PEGASUS landed at Durban. Ship sunk by German U boat on 23/7 approximately 600 miles east of Durban
NEPAL	Escorting one transport left Kilindini for Durban
BOMBAY and KONKAN	Escorting convoy A P 38 left Aden for the Persian Gulf
NIZAM	Located and picked up survivors from SS CORNISH CITY torpedoed at 0900C 29th in approximate position 27 deg 40 S, 52 deg E.
DURBAN	Left Simonstown for Durban
OSIRIS	Left Suez or Aden and Kilindini
KUMAON and TAMWORTH	Escorting convoy P B 50 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay

 

 

Part II

 

NARRATIVE

 

(A) GENERAL

 

1. Docking and repairs on Heavy Units

 

REVENGE taken in hand at Duran for short refit 21st June, completed 21st July, considerable boiler retubing carried out.

 

2. Docking and repairs of Cruisers

 

HAWKINS taken in hand at Simonstown on 12th June, expected to complete refit on 21st August.

 

DURBAN taken in hand at Simonstown 13th July for refit and retubing of forward condenser completed 31st July

 

3. Cruisers

 

HMS EMERALD joined the Eastern Fleet having provided escort for convoy W S 30 arrived at Capetown on 21st July

 

4. Destroyers

 

The disposition of the Eastern Fleet destroyers on the 1st July was as follows:

 

At Kilindini - NAPIER, RACEHORSE

 

NEPAL (on escort duty)

 

On South Atlantic Station operating - NORMAN, NIZAM, QUICKMATCH, QUADRANT, ROTHERHAM, RELENTLESS, QUIBERON, and REDOUBT

 

Lent to the Freetown Escort Force - FOXHOUND, BLACKMORE, CATTERICK

 

Detached - QUILLIAM, QUALITY, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL

 

The following alterations to the above state occurred during the month of July:

(i). ROTHERHAM and RELENTLESS were sailed from Durban on 9th to provide additional A/S escort for FS LORRAINE and RESOLUTION who sailed from Kilindini on 17th July for Durban. On arrival at Durban on the 24th, these two destroyers rejoined the S.A. Escort Force.

 

(ii) NAPIER also sailed from Kilindini as escort for RESOLUTION and FS LORRAINE for docking and repairs at Durban. It is intended that she shall return to Kilindini on completion about end of August

 

(iii) RAPID joined the Eastern Fleet arriving Capetown on 21st July as escort to W S 31

 

(iv) NEPAL sailed from Kilindini for Durban on 31st July. It is intended that she shall return to Kilindini after fitting her after torpedo tube mounting and boiler cleaning

 

(v) NIZAM sailed from Durban on 26th July for Australia and should arrived Gerald on 13th August. She will refit at Melbourne.

 

(vi) QUADRANT sailed .......

(n.b. bottom of page chopped)

 

(vii) BLACKMORE and CATTERICK have been allocated to C in C Mediterranean and FOXHOUND is to remain on the West African Station until she returns to U.K. for conversion to long legged escort vessel.

5. R.F.A.s and M.F.A.s

 

At the beginning of this year, there were 24 oilers on the station. Seven have been sent to the Mediterranean, leaving 17. Allowing for there always being three ships docking and six ships “stationary”, eight ships only are available to freighting oil from Abadan to the various bases. With reduced fleet now on the station, stocks can be maintained or nearly maintained, but any increase of the fleet, without increase of oilers, would result in a definite depletion of stocks at all bases. The disposition of the six “Stationary” ships is as follows:

One each at Diego Suarez

Seychelles

Colombo

Durban

 

Two at Kilindini

Of the two ships at Kilindini, R.F.A. EAGLESDALE is for oiling at sea exercises.

 

(B). CONVOYS

 

HMS SUSSEX arrived Mauritius on 3rd and sailed on the 4th for Kilindini arriving on the 7th. SUSSEX remained at Kilindini until the 24th when she sailed wearing the Flag of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet for Colombo, arriving on the 30th.

 

HMS SUFFOLK arrives Mauritius from Operation PLAYER on 2nd and sailed on the 3rd for Kilindini where she arrived on the 6th. She left Kilindini on 25th, fuelled at Diego Suarez on 27th and then on the 30th rendezvoused with C M 43 S.E. of Madagascar as escort to Bombay.

 

HMS NEWCASTLE returned Kilindini from Operation PLAYER on the 4th. NEWCASTLE sailed from Kilindini on22nd, called at Seychelles on 25th and arrived Colombo on 29th to await departure of NIEUW AMSTERDAM from Fremantle

 

HMS KENYA docked at Colombo whence she sailed on the 15th for Trincomalee where she remained awaiting departure of U S 20 from Australia

 

HMS FROBISHER after completion of turbine defects sailed Kilindini for Diego Suarez where she arrived 30th, thence to sail to Mauritius for fuel and to relieve DESPATCH as escort W S 31 to Bombay

 

HMS CERES sailed Khasab Bay 6th and escorted P B 47 to Bombay, arriving on 11th. CERES sailed as escort to AORANGI on 14th and escorted her to vicinity of Seychelles, CERES fuelled Seychelles on 21st and arrived Kilindini 24th, whence she sailed as escort to NEVASA for Diego Suarez on 30th.

 

HMS ALAUNIA escorted W S 30 to Bombay arriving 9th, left Bombay on 10th and met NEVASA on 10th and escorted her to Kilindini where she arrived on 21st. ALAUNIA sailed from Kilindini on 27th escorting K A 8 to Aden

 

HMS CHITRAL sailed from Bombay on 13th and escorted B A 45 to Aden where she arrived on 23rd, and sailed again as escort to SIBAJAK on 24th arriving Kilindini 30th.

 

HMS RANPURA escorted EASTERN PRINCE from Bombay and arrived Kilindini on 9th. She left Kilindini on 16th for Diego Suarez where she arrived on the 19th and left on 21st as escort for KHEDIVE ISMAIL to Dar es Salaam. She returned Kilindini on 23rd.

 

HMS CARTHAGE sailed Colombo on 2nd escorting SALWEEN and arrived Kilindini on 11th where she cleaned boilers.

 

HMS CANTON acted as escort for W S 30 until 1st July when she was relieved by ALAUNIA and proceeded to Kilindini arriving on 2nd. CANTON sailed from Kilindini on 3rd for Durban arriving on 7th. She left Durban on 14th with naval draft and stores and arrived Kilindini on 22nd.

 

(C) BASES

 

General

 

1. HOI HOW, who had been employed as a supply ship to the Island bases, administered by Flag Officer, East Africa was lost by enemy action during the month. She is to be replaced by HUNAN.

 

 2. BDVs BARWIND and BARNABY are expected on station shortly, and BARSPEAR and BARHOLM at the end of the year.

 

 3. Fifteen of the 30 36 ft. Harbour Launches (Petrol) which are to form a reserve at Bombay have been shipped from the UK and are due to Bombay about 24th August.

 

 4. The question of the provision of bases for A/S escort vessels, which will be operating in the Eastern theatre in the future, is now under consideration.

 

Addu Atoll

 

 5. At the present rate of installing refrigerators and Plan “R” it should be possible to release HMS HAITAN, the Base ship, in November.

 

6. SINGU, the water tanker at present at Addu Atoll is going to refit shortly. During her absence, APPLELEAF will take her place, and at the same time, the hulk BRITISH LOYALTY, now at Diego Suarez, is being prepared for towing to Addu Atoll where she will be established as resident hulk for oil, coal, and water.

 

 7. R.N.A.S. GAN It is not now intended to complete No. 3 runway.

 

Colombo

 

8. Admiralty have approved the construction of a 400 ft graving dock.

 

9. The supply of skilled labour in Ceylon is now almost exhausted, and F.O. Ceylon has asked Admiralty for the immediate dispatch of a number of constructors, engineers, and electricians.

 

Diego Suarez

 

10. It has been decided that the control, administration, and ……………….shall be transferred from Commodore Durban to Flag Officer, East Africa

(n.b. damage to bottom of page obscuring text)

 

ESCORT FORCES IN THE NORTHERN INDIAN OCEAN

 

1. In order to facilitate the operation and administration of escort forces in the Northern Indian Ocean, Eastern Fleet, and RIN A/S vessels were pooled and the following groups were formed on 15th May.

 

2. The Arabian, Bengal, Ceylon Escort Force (Short Title ABCEF)

(a.) Bombay Group

 

BATHURSTs

 RAN

 BATHURST

 LAUNCESTON

 TAMWORTH

 RIN

 BENGAL

 BOMBAY

 MADRAS

 PUNJAB

 

BANGORS

 RIN

 BALUCHISTAN

 CARNATIC

 KATHIAWAR

 KHYBER

 KONKAN

 KUMAON

 ORISSA

 RAJPUTANA

 ROHILKAND

 

(b). Colombo Group

 

RIN Sloop HINDUSTAN
RIN Auxiliary SONAVATI
RNethN Minelayer WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN

 

(c) In addition to the above two groups:
Sloop FALMOUTH and corvettes ASTER, MARGUERITE, TULIP, and VERBENA have been lent to the South Atlantic Escort Force

3. Coastal Anti Submarine Force (Short Title C.A.S.F.)

(a) West Coast Group (RIN)

 

 Old sloop CORNWALLIS

 Auxiliaries DIPAVATI, NETRAVATI, and 4 Basset Class trawlers

 

(b) East Coast Group (RIN)

 

Auxiliaries IRRIWADI, RAMDAS, ST ANTHONY, PANSY, KALAVATI, 6 Basset Class Trawlers

 

(c) Hormuz Group

 

Auxiliaries SEABELLE and PANGKOR

RIN Auxiliaries RATNAGIRI, HIRAVATI, and INVESTIGATOR

RIN Old sloop CLIVE

4. F.O. Ceylon operated A.B.C.E.F. and East and West Coast Groups as required for coastal A/S duties. He administers ships other than RIN

 

 

APPENDIX I

 

 

S.N.O.P.G operated Hormus Group and administers other (.n.b. bottom of page chopped).

 

 

 

APPENDIX II

 

SHIPS DETACHED FOR SERVICE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

 

The following ships have, during April, May, June, and July, been temporarily detached for service in the Mediterranean.

 

H.M.S. MAURITIUS
H.M.S. EREBUS
H.M.S. RAIDER
Gunboats (2)	SCARAB and COCKCHAFER
Sloops (4)	SUTLEJ (R.I.N.), JUMNA (R.I.N.), SHOREHAM, R.N.N. SOEMBA
Netlayer (1)	BRITTANY
R.A.N. BATHURSTs (8).	CAIRNS, CESSNOCK, GAWLER, GERALDTON, IPSWICH, LISMORE, MARYBOROUGH, WOLLONGONG.
Boom Vessel (1)	BARCLOSE
L.L. Whalers (12)	NEBULA, NIMBUS, PACKICE, RAINSTORM, SAHRA, SANTA, SARKA, SATSA, SILHOUETTE, SNOWDRIFT, SQUALL, STORMWRACK.
Dockyard Ships (1)	WAYLAND
R.F.A. Oilers (3)	GREEN RANGER, PEARLEAF, CEDARDALE
Chartered Oilers (5)	ATHELMONARCH, BUCCINUM, MARIT, (n.b. last two lost in margin.PE......CULA)
A.S.I.S. (2)	KHETI, PACHECO
N.S.I.S. (1)	BONIFACE
V.S.I.S. (also N.S.I.S.) (1)	RELIANT
Hospital Ships (2)	VITA, VASNA
Hospital Carrier (1)	OPHIR

 

 

 

---

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

Area of operations, click to enlarge

 

 

AUGUST 1943

 

 

Sunday, 1st August
BOMBAY	Left A P 38 to pick up survivors from SS RAHMANI at Makalla, thence proceeds Bandar Abbas
POONA	Escorting M B 42 left Colombo for Bombay
U.S.N. WEST POINT	Left Capetown for Bombay
SOBKRA	Arrived Mauritius from Diego Suarez
NIZAM	Arrived Mauritius from Durban with survivors from CORNISH CITY and left again for Diego Suarez
FROBISHER	Left Diego Suarez for Mauritius
'SSSS'	MANGKALIHAT torpedoed in position 25 deg. S. 34 deg. E. Taken in tow, but later foundered.
FRITILLARY and JASMINE	Escorting convoy C B 2 left Durban for Beira
BARWIND	Left Durban for Diego Suarez
ROHILKAND	Arrived Karachi from Bombay with engine trouble and will not proceed to Persian Gulf with B P 89
Monday, 2nd August
DURBAN	Arrived Durban from Simonstown
ALAUNIA	Arrived Aden from Kilindini escorting convoy K A 8
SLUNA	Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez
NEWCASTLE	Wearing flag of C.S. 4 left Colombo to MOMP with NIEUW AMSTERDAM and VAN HEEMSKERK at 20 deg S. on August 7th.
SHENGKING	Left Colombo for Cocos – Keeling Island
CANTON	Left Kilindini for Seychelles and Addu Atoll
Tuesday, 3rd August
CITY OF ORAN	Torpedoed in position 13 deg. 29S, 41 deg. 7E. Later sunk. MASTERFUL standing by to pick up survivors
CERES	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini escorting one transport and sailed again independently fro Durban route through Mozambique Channel
FROBISHER	Arrived Mauritius from Diego Suarez and sailed again to R/V W S 31 and escort convoy to Bombay
MMS 107	Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban
TRIDENT	Arrived Aden from Suez
ROHILKIND	Left Karachi for Hormuz
BERAR	Escorting J C 16 arrived Calcutta from Colombo
Wednesday, 4th August
KENYA	Left Trincomalee to MOMP U S 20 at 20 deg. S and escort convoy to vicinity Addu Atoll, where convoy disperses. KENYA proceeds to Addu Atoll
EMERALD	Left Simonstown for Durban
BALUCHISTAN and BATHURST	Escorting convoy B P 89 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
NIEUW AMSTERDAM	Escorted by VAN HEEMSKERK left Fremantle for MOMP with NEWCASTLE August 7th at 20 deg. S.
TROMP	Escorting U S 20 left Fremantle for MOMP with KENYA at 20 deg S.
AGRA	Escorting convoy B M 58 arrived Colombo from Bombay
NETRAVATI	Escorting convoy J C 17 left Colombo for Calcutta
Thursday, 5th August
OSIRIS	Arrived Aden from Suez
REDOUBT	Left Mauritius for Durban
DESPATCH	Left Mauritius for Durban
AGRA	Escorting convoy MB 43 left Colombo for Bombay
DESPATCH, QUADRANT and REDOUBT	Arrived Mauritius for fuel having escort W S 31
QUADRANT	Left Mauritius for Diego Suarez
BATHURST and BALUCHISTAN	Escorting convoy P A 48 left Khor Kuwai for Aden
POONA	Escorting convoy M B 42 arrived Bombay from Colombo
BOMBAY and KONKAN	Escorting convoy A P 38 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
BENGAL and RAJPUTANA	Escorting convoy B P 90 left Bombay for Persian Gulf
SUSSEX	Wearing the Flag of Commander in Chief left Colombo for Bombay
CANTON	Arrived Seychelles for fuel and left again for Addu Atoll
Friday, 6th August
FALMOUTH	Arrived Kilindini from Durban having escorted convoy C B 1 from to vicinity Beira
MASTERFUL	Towing 1 BPT arrived Kilindini from Durban with 86 survivors from CITY OF ORAN
SOBKRA	Left Mauritius for Diego Suarez
EMERALD	Arrived Durban from Simonstown
NEPAL	Escorting one transport arrived Durban from Kilindini
DURBAN	Left Durban for Kilindini
MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy P A 47 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf
TAMWORTH and KUMAON	Escorting convoy P B 50 arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
Saturday, 7th August
'SSSS'	From UMVUMA (GSDJ) in position 20 deg. 21 S, 57 deg. 14E being torpedoed. Later reported sunk.
QUADRANT	Escorting one ship left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
'QQQQ'	GUEDA in position 17 deg. 43S, 92 deg. 44S (probably NEWCASTLE escorting NIEUW AMSTERDAM)
'QQQQ'	Cancelled 1453
SUFFOLK	Escorting C M 43 arrived Bombay from R/V south of Mauritius
SUSSEX	Wearing the flag of Commander in Chief arrived Bombay from Colombo
MMS 107	Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles
SHILLONG	Escorting J C 18 left Colombo for Calcutta
NETRAVATI	Escorting J C 17 arrived Calcutta from Colombo
Convoy B A 46	Arrived Aden having been escorted by ALBATROSS from Bombay to vicinity of Socotra
BOMBAY, KONKAN and ROHILKAND	Escorting convoy P B 51 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
Sunday, 8th August
CANTON	Arrived Addu Atoll from Seychelles
CERES	Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez
ALAUNIA	Escorting convoy A B 9 left Aden for Bombay
ALBATROSS	Arrived Kilindini having escorting B A 46 from Bombay to east of Socotra
MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy A P 39 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
Monday, 9th August
EFTHALIA MARI (GK)	Reported sunk in position 24 deg.21S, 48 deg.55E at 1850/5.
DESPATCH and REDOUBT	In company arrived Durban from Mauritius
CANTON	Left Addu Atoll to MOMP with NEWCASTLE and NIEUW AMSTERDAM S. of Addu Atoll. CANTON escorting NIEUW AMSTERDAM to 11 deg. (n.b. bottom of page chopped); CANTON escorted NIEUW AMSTERDAM to longitude 55E, then returned to Kilindini. NEWCASTLE fuelled at Addu Atoll, then returned to Kilindini)
INVESTIGATOR and HINDUSTAN	Left Colombo in company for Bombay
Tuesday, 10th August
EMERALD and REDOUBT	Escorting convoy C M 44 left Durban for Kilindini
NEPAL	Left Durban to provide local A/S escort for C M 44.
DURBAN	Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban having been diverted to call at Diego Suarez en route to Kilindini
MMS 107	Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez
AGRA	Escorting convoy M B 43 arrived Bombay from Colombo
SHILLONG	Arrived Madras from Colombo
SHAPINSAY	Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
QUADRANT	Escorting one ship arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez
Wednesday, 11th August
LAHORE and SHILLONG	Escorting J C 18 arrived Calcutta from Colombo
NEWCASTLE	Arrived Addu Atoll having escorted NIEUW AMSTERDAM from MOMP 20 deg. S to MOMP with CANTON in vicinity Addu Atoll
DURBAN	Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
BENGAL and RAJPUTANA	Escorting convoy B P 90 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
HM S/M OSIRIS	Left Aden for Kilindini
BARWIND	Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban
RACEHORSE	Returned Kilindini having escorted M C 8 to vicinity Beira and then Kilindini portion of C B 2 from Beira to Kilindini
OSIRIS	Returned to Aden with engine defects, expects to sail again in 36 hours.
KHYBER and POONA	Escorting convoy B M 59 left Bombay for Colombo
BERAR	Left Calcutta for Colombo
KATHIAWAR	Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
Thursday, 12th August
NEWCASTLE	Left Addu Atoll for Kilindini wearing flag of C S 4.
TRIDENT	Arrived Colombo for Aden
WEST POINT	Arrived Bombay from Capetown
SORSRA	Returned Kilindini from escort duty
Friday, 13th August
REDSHANK	Left Durban in C B 3 for Diego Suarez
FROBISHER	Arrived Bombay having escorted convoy W S 31 from R/V in vicinity Mauritius
ALAUNIA	Escorting convoy A B 9 arrived Bombay from Aden
BOMBAY, KONKAN and ROHILKAND	Escorting convoy P B 51 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
BENGAL and RAJPUTANA	Escorting convoy P A 49 left Bandar Abbas for Aden
BALUCHISTAN and BATHURST	Escorting convoy P A 48 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
NIZAM	Arrived Geraldton from Diego Garcia
DURBAN	Arrived Kilindini
Saturday, 14th August
MMS 107	Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles
ROHILKAND	Escorting convoy B M 60 left Bombay for Colombo
BARWIND	Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles
ORISSA and TAMWORTH	Escorting convoy B P 91 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
Sunday, 15th August
BATHURST	Escorting convoy A P 40 left Aden for Persian Gulf
FROBISHER	Sailed Bombay for Aden
CAPETOWN	Sailed Bandar Abbas for Aden
H M S/M OSIRIS	Left Aden for Kilindini
TRIDENT	Left Colombo to patrol Malacca Straits
MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy P B 52 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
Monday, 16th August
KENYA	Arrived Addu Atoll having escorted U S 20 from MOMP at 20 deg. South to dispersal point in vicinity of Addu Atoll
	and left again for Kilindini
NEWCASTLE	Arrived Kilindini from Addu Atoll wearing Flag of C S 4
'SSSS'	GLUX HAVILDAR sighted S/M at 1550Z in position 9 deg. 57N, 64 deg. 06E.
KHYBER and POONA	Escorting convoy B M 59 arrived Colombo from Bombay
ALTAMAHA (U.S.N.)	Left Fremantle for Karachi
SUFFOLK	Left Bombay for Colombo and Trincomalee
U.S. WEST POINT	Left Bombay for Australian waters.
Tuesday, 17th August
CHITRAL	Left Kilindini to R/V EMERALD and convoy C M 44 and escort convoy to Aden. EMERALD proceeds Kilindini
	escorting one ship
ALBATROSS	Sailed Kilindini for Tanga and Capetown
CANTON	Arrived Kilindini having escorted NIEUW AMSTERDAM from vicinity Addu Atoll to 55 deg. East. NIEUW AMSTERDAM
	proceeds independently to Suez.
BALUCHISTAN	Escorting convoy A P 31 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Left Mauritius for Tamatave
MAID MARION	Arrived Aden from Suez
Wednesday, 18th August
REDOUBT and NEPAL	Arrived Diego Suarez for fuel having escorted C M 44 from Durban
REDOUBT	Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini escorting one ship
NEPAL	Left Diego Suarez to R/V ALBATROSS and escort her to vicinity Durban
ROHILKAND	Escorting B M 60 arrived Colombo from Bombay
SUFFOLK	Arrived Colombo from Bombay and left again for Trincomalee arriving same day.
KATHIAWAR	Escorting C X 6 left Colombo for Addu Atoll
Thursday, 19th August
MANELA	Arrived Kilindini from Bombay
BERAR	Arrived M B 44 left Colombo for Bombay
SORSRA	Escorting M C 9 left Kilindini to escort convoy to R/V off Beira thence return Kilindini
HINDUSTAN	Escorting C X 7 left Colombo for Addu Atoll
SHILLONG	Escorting J C 19 left Colombo for Calcutta
TRAVANCORE	Escorting P B 52 ½ left Karachi for Bombay
ORISSA and TAMWORTH	Escorting B P 91 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
BARWIND	Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez having been 24 hours overdue
CAPETOWN	Arrived Aden from Bandar Abbas
FROBISHER	Arrived Aden from Bombay
EMERALD	Escorting convoy C M 44 R/V with CHITRAL. EMERALD proceeds Kilindini. CHITRAL escorts convoy to Aden
Friday, 20th August
KENYA	Arrived Kilindini from Addu Atoll
C S 4	Transferred his flag from NEWCASTLE to KENYA
NEWCASTLE	Left Kilindini for Simonstown route through the Mozambique Channel
Dutch Ship VAN HEEMSKERK	Escorting ATREUS and 1 merchant ship left Fremantle for dispersal point Addu Atoll. ATREUS proceeds Colombo. VAN HEEMSKERK proceeds Addu Atoll
SUFFOLK	Left Trincomalee for Fremantle
FARA	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
SUSSEX	Wearing the Flag of the Commander in Chief, left Bombay for Kilindini
MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting convoy P B 52 arrived Bombay from the Persian Gulf
BENGAL and RAJPUTANA	Escorting P A 49 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf
FROBISHER	Escorting one ship left Aden for Bombay
EMERALD	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
Saturday, 21st August
Catalina reports S/M destroyed in position 28 deg.20S, 42 deg. 40E
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Escorting convoy P A 50 left Khor Kuwai for Aden
KATHIAWAR	Escorting K X 6 arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
TRAVANCORE	Escorting P B 52 ½ arrived Bombay from Karachi
MMS 107	Arrived Colombo from Seychelles
CAPETOWN	Left Aden for Suez
REDOUBT	Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez escorting one ship.
Sunday, 22nd August
FALMOUTH	Left Kilindini escorting one ship to Aden
KATHIAWAR	Escorting one ship left Addu Atoll for Colombo
BENGAL and RAJPUTANA	Escorting convoy A P 41 left Aden for Persian Gulf
NIEUW AMSTERDAM	Left Suez for Massawa and Durban
REDSHANK	Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban
HINDUSTAN	Escorting convoy C X 7 arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
SONDRA	Left Kilindini to R/V S/M OSIRIS a.m. 24th August and escort her to Kilindini
BATHURST	Escorting convoy A P 40 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
DURBAN	Left Kilindini for Seychelles
Monday, 23rd August
NEPAL	Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez
BALUCHISTAN	Escorting A P 31 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
QUADRANT	Will now escort ship direct to Colombo and will not proceed Seychelles
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Escorting KIRRIEMOOR left Tamatave for Diego Suarez
KUMAON, KONKAN and INVESTIGATOR	Escorting B P 92 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
Tuesday, 24th August
BERAR	Escorting M B 44 arrived Bombay from Colombo
AGRA	Escorting B M 61 left Bombay for Colombo
RACEHORSE	Escorting convoy K R 6 (3 ships) left Kilindini for Colombo
HAWKINS	Arrived Durban from Simonstown
NIEUW AMSTERDAM	Left Massawa for Durban
Wednesday, 25th August
SUSSEX	Wearing the Flag of Commander in Chief arrived Kilindini from Bombay
OSIRIS	Escorted by SONDRA arrived Kilindini from Aden
CARTHAGE	Left Kilindini for Colombo
ALBATROSS	Arrived Capetown from Kilindini
ALAUNIA	Escorting B A 47 left Bombay for Aden
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Escorting KIRRIEMOOR arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave
DURBAN	Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini
Thursday, 26th August
FROBISHER	Arrived Bombay escorting one ship from Aden
NEWCASTLE	Arrived Simonstown from Kilindini
CHITRAL	Arrived Aden having escorted F M 44 from 05 deg. S to Aden
CROCODILE	Left Durban for Beira and Kilindini
KHYBER	Escorting B M 62 left Bombay for Madras
Friday, 27th August
SUFFOLK	Arrived Fremantle from Trincomalee
CHITRAL	Left Aden for Kilindini
Saturday, 28th August
ALTAMAHA	Arrived Karachi from Fremantle
HAWKINS, NORMAN, QUIBERON and RAPID	Left Durban escorting W S 32 to vicinity of Kilindini routed through the Mozambique Channel.
FROBISHER	Left Bombay for Colombo
FALMOUTH	Escorting one ship arrived Aden from Kilindini
DURBAN	Left Seychelles to R/V K R 6 and RACEHORSE to provide cruiser escort to Colombo
BENGAL and RAJPUTANA	Escorting A P 41 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
Sunday, 29th August
CARNATIC	Left Bombay for Colombo
ALSEY	Left Fremantle for Colombo
AGRA	Escorting convoy B M 61 arrived Colombo from Bombay.
D.S/M O 24	Arrived Colombo from patrol in Malacca Straits
KONKAN, KUMAON and INVESTIGATOR	Escorting B P 92 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
BARODA	Escorting B P 92 ½ left Bombay for Karachi
KATHIAWAR	Escorting X C 5 left Addu Atoll for Colombo
Monday, 30th August
SUFFOLK	Escorting U S 22 left Fremantle for Bombay
PUNJAB and MADRAS	Escorting B P 93 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
TOOWOOMBA, BATHURST and BALUCHISTAN	Escorting P B 53 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
AGRA	Escorting B M 61 arrived Colombo from Bombay
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Escorting P A 50 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
FROBISHER	Arrived Colombo from Bombay
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	Left Colombo for Madras
Tuesday, 31st August
MAID MARION	Left Aden for Kilindini
ORISSA and TAMWORTH	Left Aden fro Khor Kuwai escorting A P 43
ALAUNIA	Escorting B A 47 arrived Aden from Bombay
SUSSEX	Left Kilindini for Durban. Flag of Commander in Chief transferred from SUSSEX to CANTON
CERES	Left Durban for Kilindini

 

 

Part II

 

NARRATIVE

 

(A) GENERAL

 

1. Docking and repairs of Cruisers

 

FROBISHER docked at Colombo on 30th August for repairs to breakwater and re-wooding of “A” bracket. Completed on 8th September

 

NEWCASTLE taken in hand for half yearly docking and minor repairs at Simonstown on 26th August. To complete on the 17th September

 

CERES de ratted and carried out minor repairs at Durban commencing on 8th August, completed on 25th August.

 

HAWKINS taken in hand at Simonstown on the 12th June for refit and completed 21st August

 

EMERALD taken in hand at Simonstown on the 27th July for minor engine repairs and boiler clean completed 3rd August

 

SUFFOLK half yearly docking at Bombay commencing 8th August, completed 15th August

 

2. Destroyers

 

The disposition of the Eastern Fleet destroyers on the 1st August was as follows:

 

At Kilindini - None

 

On escort duty:

 

With convoy M C 8 to Durban - RACEHORSE (parted company from convoy for Beira and returned to Kilindini)

 

With convoy W S 31 - QUADRANT, REDOUBT

 

With SIBAJAK to Durban - NEPAL

 

Lent to South Atlantic Station - NORMAN, QUICKMATCH, RELENTLESS, QUIBERON

 

Lent to Mediterranean - RAIDER

 

On passage to Australia - NIZAM

 

Detached - QUILLIAM, QUEENSBOROUGH, QUAIL, QUALITY

 

Refit in South Africa - ROTHERHAM, NAPIER

 

The following alterations to the above state occurred during the month of August:

 

(i). QUADRANT arrived Kilindini on the 10th ex Convoy W S 31. Sailed 23rd August with SS STRATHAIRD, arrived Colombo 30 August.

 

(ii) REDOUBT returned to Durban ex convoy WS 31. Sailed from Durban on the 10th August and with convoy C M 44 arriving Kilindini on 21st August.

 

(iii) RACEHORSE arrived Kilindini 11 August having parted company from Convoy M C 8 off Beira. Sailed from Kilindini 24th August as escort to convoy K R 6 to Colombo.

 

(iv) QUIBERON, NORMAN, and RAPID sailed from Durban as anti submarine escort to convoy W S 32 on the 28th August, thence to Kilindini, due 4th September.

 

(v) NIZAM Geraldton on 12th August, thence to Melbourne for refit.

 

(vi) ROTHERHAM commenced refit in South Africa on 6th August and due to complete on 30th September.

 

(vii) ROEBUCK and QUALITY joined the Eastern Fleet with RAMILLIES early September

 

(B). CONVOYS

 

HMS SUFFOLK who sailed from Diego Suarez on the 27th July to rendezvous with and escort Convoy C M 43 to Bombay, arrived at the latter port on the 7th August. After docking at Bombay, ship sailed to Trincomalee where she remained until the 20th, sailing thence and arriving at Fremantle on the 28th August, sailing from Fremantle as escort to Convoy U S 22 on the 30th.

 

HMS NEWCASTLE sailed from Colombo on the 2nd August to rendezvous with NIEUW AMSTERDAM in approximate lat. 20 deg. S, 90 deg. E and escorted her to the vicinity of Addu Atoll where she was relieved by HMS CANTON. After proceeding to Addu Atoll for fuel, NEWCASTLE returned to Kilindini

 

HMS KENYA sailed from Colombo on the 4th August to MOMP convoy U S 20 in approximate position 20 deg. S, 90 deg. E on the 9th August. Convoy was dispersed in the vicinity of Addu Atoll where KENYA proceeded to fuel before returning to Kilindini

 

HMS HAWKINS after completing refit at Simonstown on the 21st August HAWKINS proceeded to Durban, sailing from that port on the 28th August. Sailed with QUIBERON, NORMAN, and RAPID in convoy as Ocean Escort to convoy W S 32

 

HMS FROBISHER sailed from Diego Suarez on the 1st August to Mauritius when after fuelling, she sailed to rendezvous with convoy W S 31 and provided Ocean Escort to Bombay where she arrived on the 13th August. FROBISHER left Bombay on the 15th for Aden and sailed from Aden on the 20th, providing Ocean Escort to the ASCANIUS, arriving Bombay on the 27th.

 

HMS EMERALD arrived at Simonstown from U.K. during July. After docking proceeded to Durban, whence she sailed with Convoy C M 44 on the 10th August, being relieved in the vicinity of Diego Suarez on the 19th August by CHITRAL. On relief EMERALD proceeded to Kilindini

 

HMS DURBAN provided Ocean Escort for Convoy K R 6 to Colombo. Owing to her limited endurance DURBAN was unable to proceed to Kilindini to Colombo without fuelling. She was accordingly sailed independently to the Seychelles where she fuelled, rendezvousing with the convoy in the vicinity of Dennis Island on the 27th August. The convoy reached Colombo on the 3rd September

 

HMS ALAUNIA arrived at Aden with convoy K A 8 on the 2nd August and sailed from that port on the 8th August as Ocean Escort to Convoy A B 9, arriving at Bombay on the 13th. After boiler cleaning at Bombay, ALAUNIA sailed as Ocean Escort for STAFFORDSHIRE with troops arriving Aden on the 31st

 

HMS CHITRAL sailed from Kilindini on the 17th August to rendezvous with Convoy C M 44 and relieve EMERALD and REDOUBT who proceeded to Kilindini. CHITRAL with convoy arrived at Aden on the 26th August, CHITRAL returning thence to Kilindini

 

HMS CARTHAGE after boiler cleaning at Kilindini, CARTHAGE was held for the First Flight of the N.H.Q. of the Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet, sailing from Kilindini on the 25th August, and arriving at Colombo on 1st September

 

CANTON sailed from Kilindini on the 2nd August for Addu Atoll calling at Seychelles for fuel. CANTON left Addu Atoll on the 10th to relieve NIEUW AMSTERDAM (n.b. typo in report. Escort should read NEWCASTLE) as the Ocean Escort to Aden. CANTON parted company from NIEUW AMSTERDAM on reaching longitude 55 deg.E and returned to Kilindini, arriving on the 17th August

 

(C) BASES

 

General

 

1. BARWIND and BARNABY are being sent to Trincomalee to assist in laying of moorings.

 

2. Sixteen 61½ ft. motor fishing vessels building at Simonstown have been allocated to the Eastern Fleet

 

3. KIRRIEMOOR is not now to return to the United Kingdom. She had been employed in collecting Boom Gear from Tamatave. After discharging at Kilindini she is to go to Diego Suarez to complete the A/S A/B boom there.

 

4. As a result of visits to Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles by B.G.S. and B.R.A., East African Command, some slight actuations in the proposed A.A. Defences have been suggested. These have been agreed to by the Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet.

 

Diego Suarez

 

5. The change in administration from Commander in Chief, South Atlantic to Flag Officer, East Africa took effect from 1st August

 

6. MANCHESTER CITY and REDSHANK are now at Diego Suarez to relay defective loops in the controlled minefield.

 

7. It has been approved to weight the partially laid A/T baffle at Port Nieuve.

 

Tamatave

 

8. KIRRIEMOOR has removed all the Boom Gear stored at Tamatave, and Admiralty have approved the abandoning of plans for underwater defences of the port and the Boom Depot.

 

Mauritius

 

9. The change in administration from Commander in Chief, South Atlantic to Flag Officer, East Indies took effect from 1^st August.

 

Seychelles

 

10. As a result of the B.G.S. and B.R.A. East Africa Command, some modifications of the A.A. gun layout have been approved. These proposals, are as follows:

 

Heavy A.A.	4 guns, just south of N.E. Point
	4 guns on the spur just south of the cemetery.
Light A.A.	3 guns on St Anne Island to protect the oil installations.

 

Ceylon

 

11. Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet visited Ceylon during the month and a report of proceedings 96 S/E.F. 682 of 23^rd August has been forwarded.

 

(D). AIR

 

Eastern Area

 

1. During the month, a detachment of 8 Catalina amphibians was maintained in South Africa, and 4 Catalina flying boats were detached to Mombasa as reinforcements. A detachment of 4 Catalina Flying Boats was also maintained at Aden.

 

Northern Area

 

2. The flying boat detachment of 4 aircraft which was sent from Karachi to operate over the Gulf of Hormuz from Bahrein had to be withdrawn to Karachi as the bad climatic conditions affected both the serviceability of aircraft and the health of the crews. Monsoon conditions prevents the use of Masirah as an advance flying boat base and all flying boat operations in the North Arabian Sea were conducted from Karachi.

 

Western Area

 

3. A detachment of 8 Catalina flying boats has been maintained in South Africa, operating from Durban and Langabaan. Aircraft were detached to advanced based and were operated to meet the U boat threat in the Mozambique Channel, and South and East of Madagascar. To enable detachments to be made to the advanced bases at Tulear and Mauritius, 4 reinforcing aircraft from Ceylon were moved to the Western Area.

 

Southern Area

 

4. Aircraft, including detachments of Catalinas from Mombasa and Catalina Amphibians from Ceylon operated mainly to the eastward of Durban, and one U Boat, in cooperation with surface craft and Ventura aircraft of the S.A.A.F. resulted in the probable sinking of a U boat about 400 miles south of Madagascar.

 

5. The disposition of flying boats by areas are the end of August was as follows:

 

Eastern Area	26
Northern Area	18
Western Area	24
Southern Area	25
Australia	2
Middle East	5

 

(E). MINESWEEPERS

 

1. There has been no evidence of enemy minelaying.

 

2. The LL Whalers HINNOY and MAALOY after connecting in Karachi arrived Colombo on August 30^th for working up.

 

3. M.M.S. 107 arrived Colombo on August 21^st via Diego Suarez and Seychelles.

 

 

---

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

Area of operations, click to enlarge

 

 

SEPTEMBER 1943

 

 

Wednesday, 1st September
CARTHAGE	Arrived Colombo from Kilindini with 1st party of Commander in Chief's Staff
NETRAVATI	Escorting 1 ship left Cochin for Colombo
SONDRA	With KIRRIEMOOR left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
Thursday, 2nd September
HONG SIANG	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
PANSY	Escorting 1 ship arrived Madras from Calcutta
EMERALD	Left Kilindini to R/V W S 32 and provide escort for Bombay portion of convoy.
ALTAMAHA	Left Karachi for Melbourne
TRIDENT	Left patrol and returns Colombo
Friday, 3rd September
CARTHAGE	Left Colombo for Aden and U.K.
DURBAN and RACEHORSE	Arrived Colombo from Kilindini with convoy K R 6
HINDUSTAN and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Arrived Colombo having provided local A/S escort for K R 6
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	Escorting convoy M A 1 left Madras for Vizagapatam
BARODA	Left Karachi escorting 1 ship to Bombay
ATREUS	Sailed Trincomalee for Colombo
BARWIND	Left Seychelles for Colombo
Saturday, 4th September
CALCUTTA	Arrived Vizagapatam from Calcutta
BATHURST	Escorting 1 ship arrived Colombo from Bombay
SHENGKING	Left Colombo for the Maldives
FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Escorting one ship left Diego Suarez for Tamatave
BARWIND	Returned Diego Suarez with boiler defects
ANGBY	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
H.S. OPHIR	Arrived Colombo from Bombay
NETRAVATI	Escorting convoy J C 21 left Colombo for Madras
CUTTACK	Left Calcutta for Colombo
HAWKINS, NORMAN, RAPID and QUIBERON	Arrived Kilindini having escorting convoy W S 32 from Durban to R/V with EMERALD off Kilindini
POONA	Escorting one tanker arrived Bombay from Colombo
Sunday, 5th September
DEVON CITY	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	With convoy M A 1 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
SUSSEX	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
CARNATIC and KATHIAWAR	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
NORMAN and RAPID	Left Kilindini escorting convoy M C 9 A to Durban
RECORDER	Left Zanzibar for Kilindini
CALCUTTA	Left Vizagapatam for Colombo
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	With convoy M A 1 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
PUNJAB and MADRAS	With B P 93 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
CERES, SONDRA and KIRRIEMOOR	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
Monday, 6th September
DURBAN and QUADRANT	Left Colombo escorting one ship for Kilindini. DURBAN parts company for Seychelles
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Left Colombo escorting one ship for R/V with BARODA, thence return Colombo
JACOB VAN HEEMSKERK	Left Addu Atoll to R/V U.S. ALTAMAHA and escort her to Fremantle
BENGAL, BURNIE and RAJPUTANA	Escorting P B 54 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
FALMOUTH	Escorting one ship left Aden for Kilindini
MAID MARION	Left Aden for Kilindini
SHROPSHIRE	Left Capetown for Durban
PUNJAB and MADRAS	Escorting P A 52 left Bandar Abbas for Aden
BARODA	Escorting one ship arrived Bombay from Karachi, sailed again to R/V WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and one ship, thence return Bombay, escorting one ship
KATHIAWAR and CARNATIC	With M A 2 left Madras for Vizagapatam
BOMBAY	With B M 63 arrived Colombo from Bombay
WARINA	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
ATREUS	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
INTREGRITY	Left Colombo for Condenada
ORISSA and TAMWORTH	With B P 43 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
Tuesday, 7th September
BALTA	Arrived Colombo from Cochin
KHYBER	Left Male to proceed to assistance of LYMAN STUART in position 3 deg.30N, 75 deg.E.
ADMIRAL BOUVET (tug)	Left Diego Suarez for Mauritius
BOMBAY	Left Colombo for Madras
NETRAVATI	With J C 21 arrived Madras from Colombo
SHILLONG	Left Colombo to R/V one ship and return with her to Colombo
KUMAON	With P A 51 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
Tug SAMSON	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Escorting one ship left Tamatave for Diego Suarez
Wednesday, 8th September
FROBISHER	Left Colombo for Kilindini
NARBADA and ALAUNIA	Left Aden for Bombay with A B 10
KUMAON	Left Aden for Khor Kuwai with A P 44
ST ANTHONY	Escorting one ship left Cochin for Colombo
KATHIAWAR and CARNATIC	With M A 2 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
H.S. OPHIR	Left Colombo for Addu Atoll
ROHILKAND	Detached from M A 1 to search for crew of A/C in approx. position 20deg.41N, 90 deg.E thence proceed to Vizagapatam
LAUNCESTON	With M A 1 arrived Chittagong from Madras
KATHIAWAR and CARNATIC	With M A 2 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
SIMBRA	Escorting one ship left Aden for Mukalla thence to return Aden
KONKAN, KARACHI and BALUCHISTAN	Escorting B P 94 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
CHITRAL, CANTON and REDOUBT	With 2nd flight of Commander in Chief's staff left Kilindini for Colombo. After 24 hours CANTON proceeds ahead
QUIBERON	Left Kilindini for Durban
LURCHER and SONDRA	With M C 10, consisting of MANELA, BACCHUS, and RECORDER left Kilindini for Durban
LAUNCESTON	Left Chittagong for Vizagapatam
Thursday, 9th September
FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Escorting one ship arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave and left again for Dar es Salaam
ST ANTHONY	Escorting one ship arrived Colombo from Cochin
CARTHAGE	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo and sailed again same day for Aden
PANSY and NETRAVATI	With M A 3 left Madras for Vizagapatam
POONA and BERAR	With B M 64 left Bombay for Colombo
Tug SAMSON	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
Friday, 10th September
S/M TRIDENT	Returned Colombo from patrol
WILLEN VAN DER ZAAN	Returned Colombo escorting one ship
ST ANTHONY	Escorting one ship left Colombo for Cochin
MAID MARION	Returned Aden owing to bad weather
H.S. OPHIR	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
BOMBAY	Arrived Madras from Colombo
LAUNCESTON	Arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
RANCHI	Escorting Karachi portion B P 94 arrived Karachi from Khor Kuwai
TEMPLAR	Left Suez for Aden
BARODA	Escorting one ship returned from R/V with WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN
EMERALD	Arrived Bombay from Kilindini escorting W S 32
SUFFOLK	Escorting U S 22 arrived Bombay from Fremantle
SANDSTORM	Left Karachi for Bombay
Saturday, 11th September
H.S. OPHIR	Sailed Addu Atoll for Diego Garcia
MLs 439 and 475	Left Madras for Vizagapatam
PANSY and NETRAVATI	With M A 3 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras and sailed again for Madras
ROHILKAND	Returned Vizagapatam from searching for crew of crashed aircraft
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	With M A 3 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
DURBAN	Arrived Seychelles from Colombo and sailed again for Kilindini
BULOLO	Arrived Aden from Suez
BULOLO and KEREN	Left Aden for Bombay
BARNABY	Left Aden for Bombay
KHYBER	Returned Colombo having been searching for LYMAN STUART
Dutch Sub O 23	Left Colombo for Aden
CALCUTTA	Escorting one tanker left Colombo for Bombay
KATHIAWAR and CARNATIC	With M A 2 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam and left again for Vizagapatam
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Left Addu Atoll for Colombo
Sunday, 12th September
SHILLONG	Returned Colombo having escorted one ship from R/V
AGRA and BOMBAY	Escorting M A 4 left Madras for Vizagapatam
PANSY and NETRAVATI	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
RACEHORSE	Left Colombo to R/V CANTON at 70 deg.E and escort her to Colombo
CUTTACK	Left Colombo for Cochin
Dutch Sub O 24	Left Colombo for patrol in Malacca Straits
KHYBER	With C X 8 left Colombo for Addu Atoll
BARNABY	Returned Aden with cot case and sailed again for Bombay
H.S. ORANJE	Left Aden for Suez
ML 439 and 475	Arrived Vizagapatam
SHINGKING	Returned Colombo from Maldives
ANGBY	Returned Trincomalee from Colombo
ST ANTHONY	Arrived Cochin from Colombo
SANDSTORM	Arrived Bombay from Karachi
FALMOUTH	Escorting one ship arrived Kilindini from Aden
LURCHER	With MANELA ex M C 10 arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
Monday, 13th September
KATHIAWAR and CARNATIC	Returned Vizagapatam from Chittagong
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	With B P 94 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
SUFFOLK	Left Bombay for Kilindini
SORSRA	Left Kilindini for R/V QUADRANT escorting one ship. SORSRA escorts ship to Dar es Salaam and QUADRANT proceeds to Kilindini
MADRAS and PUNJAB	With P A 52 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
ALSEY	Arrived Colombo from Fremantle
POONA and BERAR	With B M 64 arrived Colombo from Bombay
FALMOUTH	Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Durban
H.S. OPHIR	Arrived Diego Garcia from Addu Atoll and sailed again for Mauritius
QUADRANT	Escorting one ship arrived Kilindini from Colombo
NORMAN and RAPID	Escorting M C 9 A arrived Durban from Kilindini
Tuesday, 14th September
SHILLONG	Escorting one ship left Colombo for Madras
MADURA	Returned Sandheads having escorted one tanker to Vizagapatam
AGRA and BOMBAY	With M A 4 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
AGRA	Left Vizagapatam for Madras
LURCHER and PLADDA	Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
KARACHI	Left Karachi to R/V P b 56 and provide additional escort to Bombay
ALAUNIA and NARBADA	With A B 10 arrived Bombay from Aden
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	With P B 55 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
CUTTACK	Arrived Cochin from Colombo
SHROPSHIRE	Left Durban for Fremantle
Italian ship ERITREA	Arrived Colombo to surrender
BOMBAY and CARNATIC	With M A 4 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	With M A 3 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam
DURBAN	Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
MASTERFUL	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
CUTTACK	Left Cochin for Bombay
ST ANTHONY	Escorting one ship left Cochin for Colombo
KUMAON	With A P 44 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
RAMILLIES	With NEPAL, NAPIER, QUICKMATCH, ROEBUCK, and RELENTLESS escorting C M 45 to vicinity Kilindini left Durban for Kilindini
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	Left Chittagong for Vizagapatam
INTEGRITY	Left Vizagapatam for Colombo
Wednesday, 15th September
PANSY and NETRAVATI	With M A 5 left Madras for Vizagapatam
CANTON	With part of 2nd Flight of Commander in Chief's staff arrived Colombo from Kilindini
RACEHORSE	Returned Colombo having provided A/S escort to CANTON from 70 deg. East
RAJPUTANA	With B M 65 left Bombay for Colombo
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	With P A 53 left Bandar Abbas for Aden
KHYBER	With C B 8 arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
CALCUTTA	Escorting one tanker arrived Bombay from Colombo
MADRAS and PUNJAB	Escorting A P 45 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
MMS 129	Left Cochin for Bombay
EMPIRE FAIRY	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
The Commander in Chief, flying his flag in HAWKINS left Kilindini for Colombo.
Thursday, 16th September
H.S. TJITALENGKA	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
AGRA	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
CHITRAL and REDOUBT	With remainder of 2nd Flight of Commander in Chief's staff arrived Colombo with Kilindini
ST ANTHONY	Escorting one ship arrived Colombo from Cochin
STAGPOOL	Left Kilindini from Diego Suarez
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	Arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
MMS 129	On passage from Cochin to Bombay anchored off Mangalore with engine trouble.
BENGAL	With B P 95 ½ left Bombay for Karachi
BURNIE and TRAVANCORE	With B P 95 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
MAID MARION	Left Aden for Kilindini
TEMPLAR	Arrived Aden from Suez
H.S. ORANJE	Left Suez for Kilindini
KUMAON and KARACHI	With P B 56 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
Friday, 17th September
PANSY and NETRAVATI	Left Vizagapatam for Madras
SHILLONG	Escorting one ship arrived Madras from Colombo
RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Left Colombo for Bombay
MANELA	Left Diego Suarez for Tulear
KHYBER	With X C 6 left Addu Atoll for Colombo
POONA	Left Colombo for Cochin
JAY	Left Colombo for Trincomalee and returned same day with defects
SHENGKING	Left Colombo for Bombay
PANSY and NETRAVATI	Arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
H.S. OPHIR	Arrived Mauritius from Diego Garcia, and left again for Durban
SORSRA	Arrived Kilindini escorting one ship from Dar es Salaam
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	With M A 5 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
INTEGRITY	Arrived Colombo from Vizagapatam
FRITILLARY, TULIP, CAPE WARWICK, NORTHERN ISLES, NORWICH CITY and FREESIA	Escorting convoy D K 1 left Durban for Kilindini
BOMBAY and CARNATIC	With M A 4 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam and left again for Vizagapatam
Saturday, 18th September
NAUTILUS	With MMS 129 left Mangalore for Cochin
LURCHER and PLADDA	Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez
MASTERFUL	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
KARACHI	Failed to R/V convoy P B 56 and returned to Karachi
SCOUT	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
BULOLO and KEREN	Arrived Bombay from Aden
CUTTACK	Arrived Bombay from Cochin
AGRA and IRRIWADI	With M A 6 left Madras for Vizagapatam
NETRAVATI and PANSY	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
ST ANTHONY	With M B 45 left Colombo for Bombay
BALTA	Escorting one ship left Colombo for Trincomalee
NEWCASTLE	Left Simonstown for Kilindini
ALAUNIA	Left Bombay to relieve ADRIA as Base Ship in Persian Gulf
BARODA	Escorting one ship let Bombay for Cochin
ANGBY	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
TAY and DERG	Left Durban to join FREESIA as additional escort to D K 1 to Kilindini
TEMPLAR	Left Aden for Colombo
SUFFOLK	Arrived Kilindini from Bombay
MADURA	With one ship left Calcutta for Chittagong
Sunday, 19th September
DURBAN	Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Seychelles and Colombo
RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Arrived Bombay from Colombo
BOMBAY and CARNATIC	Arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
POONA	Arrived Cochin from Colombo
SCOUT	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
BERAR	With J C 22 left Colombo for Madras
HOXA	Left Addu Atoll for Diego Garcia
H.S. MAUNGANUI	Left Fremantle for Colombo
NIEUW AMSTERDAM	Arrived Fremantle from Durban
KARACHI	Arrived Karachi from Persian Gulf and left again for Bombay
Monday, 20th September
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	Escorting M A 6 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	Escorting M A 5 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam and left again for Vizagapatam
IRRAWADI and AGRA	With M A 6 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras and returned again to Madras
RAJPUTANA	With B M 65 arrived Madras from Bombay
FROBISHER and QUADRANT	Left Kilindini to R/V RAMILLIES with C M 45. RAMILLIES and destroyers proceed Kilindini. FROBISHER escorts convoy to Bombay and QUADRANT provides escort for Aden portion
QUICKMATCH	Arrived Kilindini having provided A/S escort to RAMILLIES and C M 45 and left again to rejoin convoy and proceed Aden
SONDRA and SOBKRA	Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez having provided escort to M C 10 and C B 5
FALMOUTH	Escorting one ship arrived Durban from Kilindini
ROCKROSE and JASMINE	Left Durban for Kilindini
VIRGINIA	Left Durban to overtake ROCKROSE and JASMINE thence proceed Kilindini
CANTON	Left Colombo for MOMP with HMS ADELAIDE and one ship on the 25th, thence escorts ship to Colombo
CHITRAL	Left Colombo for Durban
H.S. KARAPARA	Left Bombay for Basra
Tuesday, 21st September
The Commander in Chief, flying his flag in HAWKINS arrived at Colombo from Kilindini
SHILLONG and NETRAVATI	With M A 7 left Madras for Vizagapatam
Dutch Sub O 23	Arrived Aden from Colombo
FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Left Nosi Be in search of EMPIRE FAIRY, 48 hours overdue at Diego Suarez, thence proceed to Kilindini
POONA	Left Cochin escorting one ship to Colombo
PUNJAB and MADRAS	With convoy A P 45 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
HOXA	Arrived Diego Suarez from Addu Atoll
TRAVANCORE	Left Karachi escorting one tanker to Port Okha
'QQQQ – QQQQ'	CORNELIA P. SPENCER reports being torpedoed at 0430Z in position 02 deg. 08N, 509 deg. 10E
H.S. OPHIR	Left Mauritius for Durban
KUMAON and KARACHI	With P B 56 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
CERES, ROEBUCK and RELENTLESS	Left Kilindini for Aden
RAMILLIES, ROEBUCK, RELENTLESS and NAPIER	Arrived Kilindini from Durban having provided 1st leg of escort to C M 45
Wednesday, 22nd September
ATREUS and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Left Colombo for Addu Atoll
EMPIRE FAIRY	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini, 48 hours overdue as she was leaking badly
LAUNCESTON and ROHILKAND	Arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
CHALLENGER	Left Seychelles for Colombo
BARODA and MMS 129	Left Cochin for Bombay
QUIBERON and QUALITY	Left Durban for Kilindini
ALAUNIA	Arrived Hormuz from Bombay
RAJPUTANA	Left Madras for Colombo
KARACHI	Left Karachi for Port Okha, and Khor Kuwai
BURNIE and BENGAL	With B P 95 arrived Khor Kuwai from Karachi and Bombay
Thursday, 23rd September
SOBKRA	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
SHILLONG and NETRAVATI	With M A 7 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras left again for Madras
ST ANTHONY	With M B 45 arrived Bombay from Colombo
STAGPOOL	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
BERAR	With J C 22 arrived Madras from Colombo
HOXA	Left Diego Garcia for Addu Atoll
ROHILKAND and LAUNCESTON	With M A 7 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
DURBAN	Escorting one ship arrived Seychelles from Kilindini
BALTA	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	With M A 6 arrived Vizagapatam for Chittagong and returned to Vizagapatam (n.b. as written – should read arrive Chittagong from Vizagapatam and returned to Vizagapatam)
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	With B P 96 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
Friday, 24th September
ADRIA	Left Bandar Abbas for Bombay
IRRAWADI and KALAVATI	With M A 8 left Madras for Vizagapatam
TRAVANCORE	Returned Karachi from Port Okha
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	With A P 46 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
DURBAN	Escorting one ship left Seychelles for Colombo
NETRAVATI and SHILLONG	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
ATREUS and WILLEM VAN DE ZAAN	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
NARBADA	Escorting RAMDAS and B M 67 left Cochin for Colombo
NORMAN	Left Durban for Kilindini
'SSSS'	ELIAS HOWE torpedoed in position 11 deg. 37N, 45 deg. 46E on 24/9
BURNIE and BENGAL	With P A 54 left Khor Kuwai for Aden
MADRAS and PUNJAB	With P B 57 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
DANAE	Left Suez for Aden
NEWCASTLE	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
MAID MARION	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
Saturday, 25th September
CERES	Arrived Aden from Kilindini
LISMORE	Left Suez for Aden
JAY	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
BALTA and RAJPUTANA	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
POONA	Left Colombo for Cochin and Bombay
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	With M A 6 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
NARBADA and RAMDAS	With F M 67 left Bombay for Colombo and Madras
HOXA	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
Sunday, 26th September
BARNABY and ST ANTHONY	Escorting B M 67 ½ left Bombay for Colombo
ROHILKAND and LAUNCESTON	With M A 7 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam and left again for Vizagapatam
GERALDTON, CESSNOCK and WOLLONGONG	Left Suez for Aden
S/M TACTICAN	Arrived Aden from Suez
CERES	Left Aden for Med and U.K.
IRRAWADI and KALAVATI	With M A 8 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras and left again for Madras
BERAR	With one ship left Madras for Calcutta
ALSEY	Left Colombo for Addu Atoll
KARACHI	With one ship left Port Okha for Khor Kuwai
QUALITY and QUIBERON	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	Escorting M A 8 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
Monday, 27th September
KHYBER	Left Colombo escorting 1 tanker to Addu Atoll
KALAVATI and IRRAWADI	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
PANSY and NETRAVATI	With M A 9 left Madras for Vizagapatam
BARODA and MMS 129	Arrived Bombay from Cochin
JUMNA	Arrived Aden from Suez
QUADRANT, QUICKMATCH, RELENTLESS and ROEBUCK	Arrived Aden from Kilindini with Aden portion of C M 45
DANAE	Arrived Aden from Suez
RAPID	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
ROCKROSE and JASMINE	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
SHOREHAM and TALLYHO	Left Suez for Aden
CAIRNS	Arrived Suez and left again for Aden
NIGELLA	Left Durban for Kilindini
Tuesday, 28th September
FROBISHER	With Bombay portion of C M 45 arrived Bombay from Kilindini
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	With B P 96 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
EMERALD, RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Arrived Aden from Bombay with B A 48
TAURUS	Arrived Aden from Suez
NORMAN	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
DERG, TULIP, PRUDENT, TAY, NORTHERN ISLE, FREESIA, CAPE WARWICK, FRITILLARY and NORWICH CITY	With convoy D K A 1 arrived Kilindini from Durban
ADAMANT, NAPIER, NORMAN and NEPAL	Left Kilindini for Colombo
RAPID, QUALITY and QUIBERON	Left Kilindini to provide local A/S escort to ADAMANT
ROHILKAND	Arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
FALMOUTH, ASTER, STELLA POLARIS, WELLARD, INDIAN STAR and LADY ROSEMARY	Escorting D K A 2 left Durban for Kilindini
Wednesday, 29th September
S/M TRIDENT	Left Colombo for Aden
S/M TEMPLAR	Arrived Colombo from Aden
RAMDAS and NARBADA	Arrived Colombo from Bombay with B M 67
ALSEY	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
NARBADA	With J C 23 left Colombo for Madras
PANSY and NETRAVATI	With M A 9 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras and left again for Madras
DANAE, RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Left Aden for Kilindini
LAUNCESTON and PATNA	With M A 9 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
KARACHI	Arrived Khor Kuwai from Port Okha
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	With M A 8 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam and left again for Vizagapatam
'SSSS'	In position 9 deg.26N, 71 deg.20E at 2020Z probably BANFFSHIRE
Thursday, 30th September
'SSSS'	YORK (USS) sighted periscope 1 deg 20N, 77deg 57E
RAJPUTANA	Left Colombo to search for survivors in position 9 deg. 35N, 71 deg. 18E from BANFFSHIRE who made
	SSSS during night.
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	With P A 55 left Bandar Abbas for Aden
IRRIWADI and AGRA	With M A 10 left Madras for Vizagapatam
NETRAVATI and PANSY	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
ROEBUCK and LISMORE	With A K D 2 left Aden for Kilindini
LISMORE	Arrived Aden from Suez
TACTICIAN	Left Aden for Colombo
MADRAS and PUNJAB	Escorting P B 57 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
ADRIA and LAWRENCE	Arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	Arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
FREESIA, FRITILLARY, NORWICH CITY, TAY, TULIP, ROCKROSE, JASMINE and RANPURA	With D K A 1 left Kilindini for Aden

 

 

Part II

 

NARRATIVE

 

 

(A) GENERAL

 

Transfer of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet's Headquarters

 

1. During September the Commander in Chief's Headquarters was transferred from Kilindini to Colombo. A first flight consisting of sufficient staff to take over the Station until the arrival of the main body left Kilindini on 25^th August in H.M.S. CARTHAGE and arrived at Colombo on 1^st September. The Deputy Commander in Chief remained at Kilindini until the 1^st September when he left by air and arrived at Colombo on the 3^rd September. The Colombo Headquarters took over the Station at noon F.G. on 4^th September. The main body left Kilindini on 8^th September in H.M. Ships CANTON and CHITRAL had arrived at Colombo on 15^th and 16^th September respectively. The Commander in Chief arrived at Colombo on 21^st September in H.M.S. HAWKINS.

 

Redisposition of Escort Forces

 

2. By the middle of September there were clear indications that an increase in U boat activity in the Arabian Sea was to be expected.

 

3. To meet this threat, it was decided to put as much shipping as possible into convoy and to cover such shipping as still had to proceed independently by the establishment of approach positions outside focal areas, air patrols being provided to cover the routes between the approved position and the port.

 

4. This policy necessitated the institution of regular convoys between Durban, Kilindini, Aden (DKA, AKD), Aden, Bombay direct (BA, AD), and Colombo, Bombay (BM, MB) and the provisions of A/S escorts for these convoys. It was also necessary to allow for the increase of escorts for the convoys into and out of the Persian Gulf (PA, AP, PB, BP).

 

5. Arrangements had earlier been made for the institution of convoys on the Durban Kilindini route, and the first of these sailed from Durban on 17^th September; since the threat on the Mozambique Channel was now reduced it was possible for some of the escorts allocated for these convoys to be made available for work with the Kilindini Aden portion. In addition, Commander in Chief, South Atlantic loaned 8 escort vessels for work on the Aden Bombay route. Further reinforcements were available by the return of 3 sloops and 5 Bathursts from the Mediterranean. These were allocated as follows – the 5 Bathursts to reinforce the Persian Gulf convoys, the 2 AA sloops to troop convoys in the Bay of Bengal to relieve 2 Bangors, these two Bangors with the third sloop to be used for the Bombay Colombo convoys.

 

6. The four coastguard cutters to come from the U.K. were earmarked for Kilindini. Four destroyers were allocated to the Aden Bombay escort force and FALMOUTH to Kilindini Aden force so that the escort forces are now established as follows:

 

Aden Escort Force for escort on the Aden Bombay route

 

QUADRANT	TAY	THYME
QUICKMATCH	DERG	NIGELLA
ROEBUCK		JASMINE
RELENTLESS		ROCKROSE

 

 Kilindini Escort Force for escort on Kilindini Aden Route

 FALMOUTH

 MAID MARION

 VIRGINIA

 TULIP

 FRITILLARY

 FREESIA

 (On arrival)

 SCRIVEN

 LANDGUARD

 LULWORTH

 BANFF

 

 A.B.C. Escort Force – reinforcements

 CESSNOCK

 CAIRNS

 WOLLONGONG

 LISMORE

 GERALDTON

 To reinforce Persian Gulf convoys on arrival.

7. It is intended that the new routine convoys should start early in October working on an eight day cycle with the exception of the DKA and AKD which will work on an alternate 10 and 11 day cycle. The convoys will include ships of speeds from 9 to 13 knots, ships outside these speeds proceeding independently making use of the approach positions mentioned above.

 

8. The redisposition of air forces necessary to meet the altered situation is dealt with under Air Operation.

 

(B). EMPLOYMENT OF EASTERN FLEET UNITS

 

SUFFOLK escorting U S 22 arrived Bombay 10th, sailed 13th for Kilindini arriving 18th

 

SUSSEX arrived Durban from Kilindini 5th, taken in hand for Dry Docking and refit 7th

 

NEWCASTLE docking and refitting at Simonstown. Sailed 185h for Kilindini arriving 24th. Hoisted flag of Rear Admiral, Eastern Fleet

 

KENYA at Kilindini for exercises, flew flag of Rear Admiral Eastern Fleet until relieved by NEWCASTLE

 

HAWKINS escorting W S 32. Relieved by EMERALD 3rd, arrived Kilindini 4th. Sailed Kilindini 15th with Flag of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet, arrived Colombo 21st

 

FROBISHER docked Colombo 3rd to 7th. Sailed Colombo 8th arriving Kilindini 14th. Sailed Kilindini to rendezvous with, and take over ocean escort from RAMILLIES fro C M 45 on 20th. Arrived Bombay with C M 45 B 28th.

 

EMERALD sailed Kilindini 2nd to rendezvous with HAWKINS 3rd and take over ocean escort to W S 32. Arrived Bombay 10th. Docked Bombay 11th to 15th. Sailed Bombay 23rd as ocean escort to BA 48 arriving Aden 28th

 

DANAE sailed from Clyde 2nd arrived Aden after passage through Mediterranean 27th, sailed Aden 29th for Kilindini

 

DURBAN escorting K R 6. Arrived Colombo 3rd. Sailed Colombo 6th with QUADRANT as ocean escort to NIEUW HOLLAND. Parted company with NIEUW HOLLAND and QUADRANT 10th, arrived Seychelles 11, sailed after fuelling for Kilindini, arriving 14th. Sailed Kilindini 19th as ocean escort for KHEDIVE ISMAIL. Called Seychelles for fuel 23rd to 24th, arriving Colombo 30th.

 

CERES arrived Kilindini 5th, sailed 21st for Aden arriving 25th, sailing 26th for Suez and United Kingdom via Mediterranean

 

RAMILLIES arrived Capetown from United Kingdom 6th. Sailed 7th arriving Durban 10th. Sailed Durban 14th in company with QUICKMATCH, RELENTLESS, ROEBUCK, NAPIER, and NEPAL as ocean escort to C M 45. Relieved as ocean escort to C M 45 by FROBISHER 20th, arriving Kilindini 21st.

 

ALAUNIA sailed Aden 8th as ocean escort to A B 10. Arrived Bombay 14th, sailed 18th arriving Hormuz 22nd for duty in Persian Gulf.

 

CHITRAL arrived Kilindini 1st. Sailed Kilindini 8th with part of Second Flight of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet Headquarters Staff, arriving Colombo 16th. Sailed Colombo 20th for Durban arriving 1st October

 

RANPURA carrying out repairs at Kilindini. Sailed from Kilindini 30th with convoy D K A 1 for Aden and United Kingdom via Mediterranean

 

CARTHAGE arrived Colombo 1st with First Flight of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet Headquarters Staff. Sailed Colombo 3rd. Arrived and sailed Aden 9th. Arrived Suez 12for for passage to United Kingdom through Mediterranean

 

CANTON sailed Kilindini 8th with first part of Second Flight of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet Headquarters Staff, arrived Colombo 15th. Sailed Colombo 20th to MOMP with ADELAIDE and take over ocean escort of SAMBRIDGE carrying important cargo of moorings for Trincomalee

 

FALMOUTH visiting Djibouti and Perim with Commodore, Aden, returning to Aden 3rd. Sailed Aden 6th as escort to ORDUNA arriving Kilindini 12th. Sailed Kilindini 13th with ORDUNA arriving Durban 20th. Sailed Durban 28th as escort to D K A 2 for Kilindini

 

RNethN JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK arrived Addu Atoll 1st October (n.b. should read September) after escorting O W 6 to dispersal point in vicinity. Sailed Addu Atoll 5th to rendezvous with and act as ocean escort to ALTAMAHA on 7th, parting company off Fremantle 13th, arriving that port 14th.

 

SHROPSHIRE arrived Cape from United Kingdom 3rd, sailed 5th arriving Durban 7th. Held at Durban to be available for operations. Sailed Durban 14th, arriving Fremantle on 24th to join Royal Australian Navy.

 

QUADRANT arrived Colombo 1st escorting HMS CARTHAGE. Sailed Colombo 6th with HMS DURBAN as A/S escort to NIEUW HOLLAND, parted company with NIEUW HOLLAND on 13th off Kilindini, arriving there same day. Sailed Kilindini 19th to rendezvous with, and act as ocean escort to C M 45 on 20th, arrived Aden with C M 45 A 27th.

 

QUALITY arrived Simonstown 6th. Sailed 10th, arriving Durban 11th for boiler cleaning and repairs. Sailed Durban 22nd as A/S escort to HMS ADAMANT, parting company 30th, returned to Kilindini

 

QUIBERON A/S escort o W S 32, parted company 3rd, arriving Kilindini 5th. Sailed Kilindini 8th , arriving Durban 15th for boiler cleaning and repairs. Sailed Durban 22nd arriving Kilindini 26th. Sailed 28thth as A/S escort to ADAMANT parting company 30th, returning to Kilindini

 

QUICKMATCH sailed Cape 7th as A/S escort to HMS RAMILLIES arriving Durban 10th. Sailed 14th as A/S escort to HMS RAMILLIES parting company 19th arriving Kilindini for fuel 20th, sailing same day to rendezvous with C M 45 21st and act as A/S escort to Aden, arriving there 27th.

 

REDOUBT sailed Kilindini as A/S escort to HMS CHITRAL arriving Colombo 16th. Sailed 17th arriving Bombay 19th. Sailed Bombay 23rd as A/S escort to B A 48 arrived Aden 28th. Sailed 29th for Kilindini

 

RACEHORSE A/S escort to K R 6 arriving Colombo 3rd. Sailed Colombo 12th to rendezvous with CANTON 13th and escort her to Colombo, arriving 15th. Sailed Colombo 17th arriving Bombay 19th. Sailed 23rd as A/S escort to B A 48 arriving Aden 28th.

 

RELENTLESS sailed Durban 14th as A/S escort to RAMILLIES and C M 45 arriving Kilindini 21st, fuelled and sailed same day to rendezvous with C M 45 A 25th, arriving Aden 27th.

 

RAPID A/S escort to W S 32 parting company 3rd. Arrived Kilindini 5th. Fuelled and sailed same day as A/S escort to M C 9 A arriving Durban 13th. Carried out boiler cleaning, repairs, and docking, sailed Durban 23rd, arrived Kilindini. Sailed 28th as A/S escort to ADAMANT

 

ROEBUCK arrived Cape 6th, sailed 7th as A/S escort to RAMILLIES arriving Durban 10th. Sailed Durban 14th as A/S escort to RAMILLIES arriving Kilindini 21st, fuelled and sailed again same day to rendezvous with C M 45 A, arriving Aden 27th.

 

NAPIER refitting at Durban. Sailed 14th as A/S escort to RAMILLIES arriving Kilindini 21st. Sailed 28th as A/S escort to ADAMANT to Colombo.

 

NEPAL refitting at Durban. Sailed 14th as A/S escort to RAMILLIES arriving 21st. Sailed 28th as A/S escort to ADAMANT to Colombo

 

NORMAN A/S escort to W S 32 parting company 3rd arriving Kilindini 5th, fuelled and sailed same day as A/S escort to M C 9 A arriving Durban 13th. Carried out boiler cleaning and repairs, sailed 24th arriving Kilindini 28th. Fuelled and sailed same day as A/S escort to Colombo.

 

NIZAM refitting at Melbourne

 

BATTLER arrived Suez from Mediterranean

 

(C). BASES

 

10. Trincomalee

 

The outer boom has been completed and has been in operation since 28 September. The submerged net has also been laid.

 

(ii). Work on the baffles and moorings continues. Flag Officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy has been asked to hasten the supply of clumps for auxiliary vessels' mooring, as it appears that there may be a delay in completion if these clumps are not delivered soon.

 

(iii). The laying of the D.G. ranges is in hand.

 

11. Kilindini

 

(iv). The new berthing plan proposed by Flag Officer, East Africa has been approved. This provides for 16 corvettes or Bathursts and ten Hunts or frigates. Included in the above are berths for 6 destroyers.

 

(v). Commander F.J. Lambert, R.N. has been appointed C.D. and K.H.M., Kilindini. He is experienced in mooring work, and should be able to solve Flag Officer, East Africa's problems of mooring for A.F.D. XXIII.

 

12. Manza Bay

 

(vi). Admiralty have given approval for the following reductions in the Naval Defences of Hansa Bay:

 

(a). Controlled minefield. A system of non continuous watch keeping and care and maintenance to be adopted, so that although the field is not normally in operation, it can be put into commission for short periods.

 

(b). Indicator Nets to be weighed.

 

13. Diego Suarez

 

(vii). After visiting Diego Suarez during the month, Boom Defence Officer, East Africa has reported that the bad weather is having a bad effect on the boom and that in order to lay the second line of nets, and maintain the boom subsequently, more Boom Defence Vessels than are available would be required. It is intended therefore to abandon the laying of the second line of nets in the boom and to carry out such maintenance work as the two Boom Defence Vessels now there are capable. Protection for the dockyard and dock entrance y A/T baffles is under consideration.

 

14. Admiralty have approved the proposal that the development of the Boom Department should be limited to requirements for maintenance of booms during the war.

 

15. Mauritius

 

(ix). Naval Officer in Charge reports that, subject to replacement of materials lost in transit, two tanks of the Grand Port Oil installation are expected to complete in March 1944.

 

(x). Admiralty have approved the reduction of the Controlled Minefield at Grand Port to a care and maintenance basis.

 

16. Seychelles

 

(xi). Admiralty approval has been received to discontinue the construction of the Boom Depot.

 

(D). GUNNERY

 

17. H.S.B.P.T. No. 8 having arrived and been rigged at Kilindini, the first Battle Practice Target firing in the Eastern Theatre in December 1942 was carried out by KENYA on 3^rd September.

 

(E). ANTI SUBMARINE

 

18. The beginning of September saw the arrival of a group of German U boats, estimated up to six in number, in the area southeast of Madagascar. It was considered a refuelling operation was intended in this area prior to depredations against shipping in the focal areas around ports, and in the shipping lanes, of the North Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. Dispositions of A/S escorts and air A/S forces was made accordingly, and the system of convoys reorganised to meet this impending threat.

 

19. On the 4^th September, the Admiralty estimated that 4 or 5 German and 1 Italian U boat were within 200 miles of 34S, 47E bound East or East North East, and on the 10^th September that 6 German and 1 Italian were unfixed in the South West Indian Ocean possibly within 400 miles of 30S, 57E. The northward trend of the German U boats now began to show and on the 13^th September, a German U boat was plotted by poor D/F fix to be about 300 miles to the south of Mauritius, probably northbound.

 

20. Meanwhile, a Japanese submarine had entered the Indian Ocean and on 7^th September fired torpedoed at the S.S. LYMAN STUART (U.S.) in a position 350 miles to the South West of Colombo. On the 9^th September, the S.S. LARCHBANK was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese U boat in approximate position 07-38N, 73-12E. A second Japanese U boat was plotted by D/F fix to be within 250 miles of 04S, 85E on the 19^th September. This position was to the South East of Ceylon.

 

21. On the 21^st September, the S.S. CORNELIA P. SPENCER (U.S.) was torpedoed and sunk by a U boat 300 miles east of Mogadischio in position 02-08N, 50-10E. This incident indicated that the German U boats were moving northwards to operate off the approaches to the Gulf of Aden, and it was estimated that about four others were likely to be northward of 10S, also moving North.

 

22. On the 29^th September, the S.S. BANFFSHIRE (British) was torpedoed in position 009-27N, 71-05E by a German U boat and it was considered that this U boat appeared to be proceeding towards Bombay and may operate off there and off Karachi. The S.S. SANDOWN CASTLE (British) reported sighting an enemy submarine on the same day in position 11-10N, 45-31E (Gulf of Aden).

 

23. On the 30^th September, a report of periscope sighting was made by the S.S. YORK in position 1-20N, 77-07E. This may have indicated another German U boat which was proceeding towards Ceylon.

 

24. Thus, by the end of September, German and Japanese U boats were operating against shipping in the Northern Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

 

25. U boat attack on shipping – Summary (see overleaf).

 

Attacks on U boats – Reports

 

26. On the 26^th September, H.M.S. ROEBUCK attacked a submarine contact near the position of 02-08N, 50-10E. No further details have been received.

 

27. U boat Attacks on Shipping

 

Date	Time	Ship	Position	Result
7/9	0435Z	S.S. LYMAN STUART (U.S.)	03-30N, 73-12E	Escaped Torpedo did not explode
9/9	0400Z	S.S. LYMAN STUART (U.S.)	07-25N, 73-12E	Escaped
9/9	1700Z	S.S. LARCHBANK (British)	07-38N, 74-00E.	Sunk. Torpedoed
21/9	0430Z	S.S. CORNELIA P. SPENCER (U.S.)	2-08N, 50-10E.	Sunk. Torpedoed
24/9	0320Z	S.S. ELIAS HOWE (U.S.)	11-37N, 45-46E	Sunk. Torpedoed
29/9	2010Z	S.S. BANFFSHIRE (British)	09-27N, 71-05E	Sunk. Torpedoed

  

28. Reported Submarine Contacts and Sightings

 

Date	Time	Position	Originator	Remarks
14/9	0800Z	07-20N, 66-49E	S/M 0.23	U/B sighted and chased. No result.
16/9	2130Z	24-31N, 58-30E	H.M.I.S. KARACHI	A/S Contact. Considered non sub
19/9	---	60 miles N.E. of Ormara	Civil Aircraft	Sighting. Probably whale
20/9	1222Z	11-53N, 47-22E	Aircraft	Considered U boat
23/9	---	vicinity of 02-08N, 50-10E	H.M.S. ROEBUCK	A/S Contact. No details
27/9	2115Z	36-30S, 44-40E	S.S. DAVID B. HUGHES	SSSS Signal. Considered Unlikely.
29/9	---	14-50N, 53-30E	H.M.S. QUADRANT	U boat sighted and attacked. No results seen.
30/9	0617Z	11-40N, 45-31E	S.S. SANDOWN CASTLE	SSSS Signal. U boat sighted.
30/9	0405Z	01-20N, 77-07E	S.S. YORK	SSSS signal Periscope sighted.

 

29,. D/F Fixes of U boats

 

Date	Time	Position	Nationality	Remarks
3/9	2115Z	35-00S, 47-00E.	German	Reliable within 150 miles
17/9	1552Z	17-00N, 56-00E	Japanese	Reliable within 150 miles
19/9	1515Z	04-00S, 85-00E.	Japanese	Reliable within 250 miles
28/9	1555Z	08-00N, 51-00E	Japanese	Reliable within 100 miles
29/9	1613Z	10-00N, 86-00E.	Japanese	Reliable within 100 miles

 

(F). COMMUNICATIONS

 

30. Communications of the East Indies Station have undergone a very considerable reorganisation during the period under review.

 

31. Concurrently with the move of the Naval Headquarters of the Eastern Fleet from Kilindini to Colombo, Group V was converted to a Broadcast controlled from Colombo W/T. This follows upon recent introduction of the Indian Ocean Broadcast and the similar conversion of Group NU to a broadcast. Broadcast V is till the main operational broadcast for ships and authorities in the North West and South Western parts of the Station, while Broadcast NU caters for the Northwestern and South Western parts and is the main operational broadcast for submarines on patrol and temporarily also provided an additional line for Flag Officers traffic. The Indian Ocean Broadcast takes the place of Rugby for the promulgation to the Station General and Weather messages, basegrams, etc. Simultaneously with the introduction of Broadcast V, new fixed W/T services were opened, some others between Colombo and Basra, Basra and Aden, and Bombay and Aden, and between Colombo and Indian ports.

 

32. The recent abolition of a separate small W/T station to the South of the Mozambique Channel (Area J) has further simplified the W/T watch keeping arrangements for Eastern Fleet ships proceeding to and from ports in the South Atlantic Station.

 

33. Almost universally satisfactory reports of the new arrangements have been received, particularly from the Persian Gulf to which communications in the past have always been a weak link in the organisation.

 

34. The arrival of much W/T Plan 'R' material has enabled the new arrangements to be progressed and although no Plan 'R' Station is yet in commission, the organisation envisaged by that plan is rapidly being adopted.

 

35. The unfortunate state of W/T equipment in many U.S. merchant ships and the absence of a sufficiently high powered L/F transmitter in the East Indies prevents the fulfillment of the whole of the plan for reorganisation of the B.A.M.S. organisation for the area. As soon as the majority of such ships are fitted with H/F reception, it is the intention that Colombo W/T shall replace Rugby whose reception is unsatisfactory in the South Indian Ocean, as Zone Station for all areas concerned, ie. Areas 7A, 7B, 7C.

 

36. The transfer of the Naval Headquarters to Colombo from Kilindini went smoothly from the point of view of W/T traffic and organisation. Insufficient personnel to provide dummy traffic was the chief factor in the eventual decision not to attempt any W/T deception to cover the move. Accordingly, on 4^th September, Service 100 (Kilindini to Admiralty) and 97 (Kilindini to Bombay) were closed down.

 

(G). AIR

 

37. During the month it was decided to redistribute the G.R. Squadrons operating in the Indian Ocean as the U boat threat had moved from the area south of Madagascar to the northern portion of the Indian Ocean, especially in the entrance to the Gulf of Aden, the Persian Gulf, and the approaches to Bombay.

 

38. Various searches were carried out during the month for survivors of torpedoed ships and air exercises were also carried out with H.M.S. HAWKINS and H.M.S. ADAMANT. Catalinas, Beauforts, and Hurricanes took part.

 

39. The distribution of G.R. Squadrons for September as follows:

 

Eastern Area
CEYLON	15 including one amphibian
MADRAS	7
BANGALORE	4
REDHILLS LAKE	3
COCONADA	2
Northern Area
KARACHI	11
MASIRAH	1
ADEN	4
Western Area
MOMBASA	7
KISUMU	3 (including one 1 Sunderland)
SEYCHELLES	1 Sunderland
DIEGO SUAREZ	1
PAMANZI	1
DAR ES SALAAM	3
Southern Area
DURBAN	14
DARLING	4 (amphibians)
LANGEBAAN	5
ST ALBANS	3 (amphibians)

 

The above distribution has since been altered and by September 30^th a completely new layout was decided upon as follows'

 

Eastern Area
CEYLON	16
MADRAS	2
BANGALORE	5
REDHILLS LAKE	4
COCONADA	3
Northern Area
KARACHI	10
MASIRAH	1
ADEN	6
BOMBAY	3
SOCOTRA	4
Western Area
MOMBASA	9
PAMANZI	2
SEYCHELLES	3
KISUMU	3
MIDDLE EAST	3
DIEGO SUAREZ	1
EASTLEIGH	3 (G.R. Wellingtons) refitting.
MOGADISHU	3 (G.R. Wellingtons)
Southern Area
DURBAN	9 (3 are leaving)
LANGEBAAN	2
WALVIS BAY	1
ST ALBANS	1
ZWARTKOP	1
From Durban, 2 amphibians are proceeding to Socotra and 1 to Masirah.

 

 

(H). HYDROGRAPHY

 

40. A Hydrographic office was set up at Naval Headquarters of the Fleet Hydrographic Officer to control the promulgation of operational hydrographic information.

 

41. A Staff Officer (H) was appointed to the Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet staff at New Delhi to act as liaison officer between the Fleet Hydrographic Officer and the Director of Survey, Indian, and to advise the staffs of all three Services on hydrographic subjects including Beach gradients.

 

42. A Cartographer was sent out from the Middle East to assist and advice the Fleet Hydrographic Officer and the Director of Survey, India, on the production of charts.

 

43. H.M.S. CHALLENGER broke off her surveys in the Seychelles after completing the anchorages at Port Victoria and proceeded to Colombo to land the Fleet Hydrographic Officer prior to commencing further work at Trincomalee.

 

44. Much preliminary work was done towards organizing an efficient Hydrographic service for the future needs of the Eastern Fleet.

 

(J). MINESWEEPING

 

45. There has been no evidence of enemy minelaying.

 

46. It has been agreed with Commander in Chief, Levant, that in order to avoid long passages, M.M.S. 100 and 101 shall be retained in the Mediterranean, and that two LL/SA Whalers SANDSTORM and SHOOTING STAR, converting in India, be retained in the Eastern Fleet.

 

47. H.M.S. 145 was launched on September 28.

 

 

 

---

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

Area of operations, click to enlarge

 

 

OCTOBER 1943

 

Friday, 1st October
RAMDAS	With M B 46 left Colombo for Bombay
BARODA	Escorting B M 68 left Bombay for Colombo
BERAR	Arrived Calcutta from Madras escorting 1 ship
NEPAL	Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini
CHALLENGER	Arrived Colombo from Seychelles
ST ANTHONY and BARNABY	With B M 67 ½ arrived Colombo from Bombay
KHYBER	Escorting one ship left Addu Atoll for Colombo
OKAPI	With J C 24 left Colombo for Trincomalee
CHITRAL	Arrived Durban from Colombo
BATTLER, LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Left Suez for Aden
BURNIE and BENGAL	With P A 45 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
GERALDTON, CESSNOCK, WOLLONGONG and SHOREHAM	Arrived Aden from Suez
QUADRANT and QUICKMATCH	With A B 15 left Aden for Bombay
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	With B P 97 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
ST ANTHONY	Left Colombo for Cochin
'SSSS'	STORVIKEN torpedoed and sunk at 0900 in position 11 deg.45N, 48 deg. E. Survivors say submarine was Japanese
'SSSS'	TAHSINIA torpedoed and sunk at 1530Z in position 6 deg. 57N, 73 deg. 48E. attack made by two Japanese U Boats
Saturday, 2nd October
FROBISHER	Left Bombay for Colombo
'SSSS'	VERNON L. KELLOG at 1345Z sighted submarine in position 14 deg 29N, 80 deg. 36E.
TALLYHO	Arrived Aden from Suez
TAURUS	Left Aden for Colombo
LAUNCESTON and PATNA	With M A 9 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam and left again for Vizagapatam.
IRRIWADI and AGRA	With M A 10 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras and left again for Madras.
NORMAN and NAPIER	Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini for fuel and left again to rejoin ADAMANT and proceed Colombo
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	With M A 10 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
HATCHLING	Sunk in position 18 deg 46N, 71 deg 55E. No SSSS made. Survivors landed Bombay
QUIBERON and QUALITY	Returned Kilindini having provided local A/S escort to ADAMANT
BARWIND	Arrived Trincomalee from Seychelles having failed to go into Addu Atoll as ordered.
'SSSS'	NAWAB sighted submarine 2100Z in position 7 deg.18N, 78 deg.38E
BALUCHISTAN, KONKAN and KARACHI	Left Khor Kuwai for Bombay with P B 58.
Sunday, 3rd October
IRRAWADI and AGRA	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
O 24	Returned Colombo from patrol
KHYBER	Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
CANTON	Arrived Trincomalee having escorted SAMBRIDGE from MOMP at 90 deg. E to R/V with SCOUT off Ceylon
RAPID	Arrived Seychelles from escorting ADAMANT and left again for Kilindini
QUADRANT	Sighted submarine on surface at 1855 in position 14 deg 50N, 53 Deg. 30E. Attacked with depth charges, submarine submerged, no results seen.
CAIRNS	Arrived Aden from Suez
BURNIE and BENGAL	With A P 47 left Aden for Khur Kuwai
KENYA	With K R 7 left Kilindini for Colombo
QUIBERON and QUALITY	Left Kilindini to provide local A/S escort to K R 7
SUFFOLK	Left Kilindini for Durban
DERG	Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Aden
NIGELLA	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
NARBADA	Arrived Vizagapatam from Colombo
Monday, 4th October
OKAPI	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo with J C 24
BRITISH LOYALTY, EMPIRE FAIRY, MASTERFUL and SOBKRA	Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez being unable to make Addu Atoll
ST ANTHONY	Arrived Cochin from Colombo
PANSY and NETRAVATI	With M A 11 left Madras for Vizagapatam
CARNATIC	Left Vizagapatam for Colombo
RAJPUTANA	Returned Colombo with survivors from BANFFSHIRE
FROBISHER	Arrived Colombo from Bombay
NIGELLA	Left Kilindini for Aden
BATTLER	Arrived Aden from Suez
LAUNCESTON and PATNA	Arrived Vizagapatam
DANAE, RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
Tuesday, 5th October
PUNJAB and MADRAS	Left Bombay for local escort duty.
ST ANTHONY	Left Cochin for Bombay
RAMDAS	With M B 46 arrived Bombay from Colombo
ANNA KNUDSEN	Torpedoed at 0258 in position 14 deg.20N, 50 deg.47E
'SSSS'	BRITANNIA in position 24 deg.24N, 58 deg. 02E being torpedoed at 2230Z
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	With M A 11 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
TALLYHO	Left Aden for Colombo
LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Arrived Aden from Port Said
PANSY and NETRAVATI	With M A 11 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras and left again for Madras.
RAMDAS	With B M 69 left Bombay for Colombo
RAPID	Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
HAWKINS	Left Colombo for MOMP in Australian waters
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	With M A 10 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam and left again for Vizagapatam
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	With B P 97 arrived Khor Kuwai.
Wednesday, 6th October
HOXA	With X C 7 left Addu Atoll for Colombo
IRRAWADI and KALAVATI	With M A 12 left Madras for Vizagapatam
RAJPUTANA	With C X 9 left Colombo for Addu Atoll
KHYBER	Made 3 attacks on suspected S/M contact in position 09 deg.38N, 76 deg 05E. No results
EMERALD	Left Aden for Kilindini
RAMILLIES, RACEHORSE, REDOUBT and RAPID	Left Kilindini for Durban
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	With B P 97 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
ORISSA and TAMWORTH	With P A 55 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
RELENTLESS and JUMNA	With A B 15 A left Aden for Bombay
Thursday, 7th October
OKAPI	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
EMILE BAUDOT	Left Colombo for Talaimannar
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	Arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
BRITISH LOYALTY, MASTERFUL and EMPIRE FAIRY	Left Seychelles for Addu Atoll
PANSY and NETRAVATI	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
PUNJAB and MADRAS	Returned Bombay from local escort
CARNATIC	Arrived Colombo from Madras
ADELAIDE	Left Fremantle with G. WASHINGTON for MOMP with HAWKINS 90 deg. E. ADELAIDE returns Fremantle
Friday, 8th October
ADAMANT, NAPIER, NEPAL and NORMAN	Arrived Colombo from Kilindini
KATHIAWAR and BOMBAY	Escorting convoy M A 12 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
NIGELLA	Arrived Aden from Kilindini
KONKAN	Escorting P B 58 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
QUADRANT and QUICKMATCH	Escorting A B 15 arrived Bombay from Aden
CLYDEFIELD	Arrived Bombay from Hormuz
IRRAWADI and KELAVATI	Left Vizagapatam for Madras
ST ZENO, NORTHERN CHIEF, COVENTRY CITY and HERTFORDSHIRE	Escorting D K A 3 left Durban for Kilindini
Saturday, 9th October
CARNATIC and BARODA	Escorting M B 50 left Colombo for Bombay
DURBAN	Left Colombo for Aden
NEPAL, NAPIER and NORMAN	Left Colombo for Bombay
EASEDALE	Left Bombay for Abadan
RAJPUTANA	Left Addu Atoll for Colombo
ROEBUCK, SHOREHAM, GERALDTON, WOLLONGONG and NIGELLA	Escorting A B 16 left Aden for Bombay
TRAVANCORE	Escorting P B 58 ½ left Karachi for Bombay
RANPURA, TAY, ROCKROSE and FRITILLARY	Arrived Aden from Kilindini
TAMWORTH, ORISSA and CAIRNS	Escorting A P 48 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
MADRAS and PUNJAB	With B P 9 left Bombay for Persian Gulf
POONA and CALCUTTA	With B M 70 left Bombay for Colombo
TEMPLAR	Left Colombo on patrol
QUIBERON and QUALITY	Returned Kilindini after escorting K R 7 to MOMP
LISMORE	Arrived Kilindini escorting convoy A K D 2
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	Escorting P A 56 left Khor Kuwai for Aden
Sunday, 10th October
CANTON	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
PANSY and AGRA	Escorting M A 13 left Madras for Vizagapatam
DURBAN	Arrived Cochin from Colombo
KALAVATI	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
LANDGUARD, SENNEN and FRITILLARY	Escorting A K D 3 left Aden For Kilindini
TULIP, THYME, ASTER and FREESIA	Escorting D K A 2 left Kilindini for Aden. THYME left convoy and proceeded independently
EMERALD	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
Captain S 4	Moved into ADAMANT
VAN DER ZAAN	Left Addu Atoll for Colombo
TEMPLAR	Left for patrol duties, from Colombo
Monday, 11th October
RAMILLIES, REDOUBT, RACEHORSE and RAPID	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
NAPIER, NORMAN and NEPAL	Arrived Bombay from Colombo
MARIPOSA	Arrived Bombay from Rio de Janiero
BENGAL and BURNIE	Escorting P B 59 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
STELLA POLARIS, WELLARD and LADY ROSEMARY	Escorting A K D 2 left Kilindini for Durban
JALABAL	Torpedoed and sunk in position 11 deg. 40N, 75 de. 19E at 15340Z
FALMOUTH	Left Kilindini escorting A K D 2 remaining with the convoy as long as possible, returning to Kilindini by 15th October
Tuesday, 12th October
KENYA, SCOUT and RAJPUTANA	Arrived Colombo escorting K R 7.
TAURUS and TACTICIAN	Arrived Colombo from Aden
ARTHUR P. DAVIES and 'SSSS'	attacked by submarine in position 18 deg. 50N, 72 deg East
JUMNA and QUICKMATCH	Escorting B A 50 left Bombay for Aden
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	Escorting M A 13 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
QUIBERON, QUALITY and ROTHERHAM	Left Kilindini for Aden
FROBISHER	Left Colombo for MOMP with GEORGE WASHINGTON
NORMAN, NAPIER and NEPAL	To carry out A/S patrol off Bombay
American SS ARTHUR P. DAVIES	Reports being attacked by a U boat in position 18 deg 35N, 71 deg 50 deg E at 1020Z. Aircraft striking force dispatched. No damage done to ship
Wednesday, 13th October
IRAWADI and KELAVATI	Escorting M A 14 left Madras for Vizagapatam
SCOUT	Left Colombo for Addu Atoll
HILDASAY	Escorting BURMA arrived Diego Suarez
RAMDAS	Left Colombo for Cochin
CHALLENGER	Left Colombo for Trincomalee escorted by RAJPUTANA
BULAN	Left Suez for Aden
Thursday, 14th October
CALCUTTA and POONA	Escorting B M 70 arrived Colombo from Bombay
CARNATIC and BARODA	Arrived Bombay escorting M B 50 from Colombo
RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Arrived Simonstown for refit
TALLYHO	Arrived Colombo from Aden
RELENTLESS and CARNATIC	Escorting M B 50 arrived Bombay from Colombo
Friday, 15th October
SCOUT	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
TIA MARU	Repatriation ship arrived Marmugoa
HAWKINS	Arrived Addu Atoll from MOMP with GEORGE WASHINGTON
FROBISHER	Left Addu Atoll for MOMP thence to Bombay
DURBAN	Arrived Aden from Cochin
CANTON	Left Colombo for rendezvous with LURLINE thence Bombay
CALCUTTA and POONA	Escorting B M 70 arrived Colombo from Bombay
KATHIAWAR and KALAVATI	Escorting M A 14 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
H.S. ORANGE	Left Durban for Aden, routed through Mozambique Channel
INDIAN STAR	Left Kilindini for rendezvous and to escort D K A 3 to Kilindini
Saturday, October 16th
HAWKINS	Left Addu Atoll for Kilindini
DURBAN	Arrived Aden from Bombay
CESSNOCK, CAIRNS, TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
J. VAN HEEMSKERCK	Left Fremantle escorting LURLINE to R/V with CANTON
PUNJAB, MADRAS and CESSNOCK	Escorting P A 57 left Khor Kuwai for Aden
PANSY, ROHILKAND and NARBADA	Escorting M A 15 left Madras for Vizagapatam
ARCTIC EXPLORER, LADY ELSA, NORTHERN ISLES and CAPE WARWICK	Escorting D K A 4 left Durban for Kilindini
Sunday, October 17th
CALCUTTA and NETRAVATI	Escorting M B 51 left Colombo for Bombay
RELENTLESS	Left Bombay escorting MARIPOSA to R/V returning Bombay 18/10
ROEBUCK, SHOREHAM, GERALDTON, WOLLONGONG and NIGELLA	Escorting A B 16 arrived Bombay from Aden
DURBAN	Left Aden for Suez and U.K.
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	Escorting B P 99 left Bombay for Persian Gulf
ROTHERHAM, QUALITY and QUIBERON	Arrived Aden from Kilindini
FALMOUTH, LISMORE and MAID MARION	Left Kilindini to R/V and to take over escort of D K A 3 to Aden
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	Escorting M A 13 arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
KARACHI	Escorting P B 59 A left Karachi for Bombay
BURNIE and BENGAL	Escorting P B 59 arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
KUMAON and TOOWOOMBA	Escorting P A 56 arrived Aden from Khow Kuwai
'SSSS'	SS NIZAM attacked by U boat in position 08 deg.55N, 74 deg. 48E. Two torpedoes fired and missed.
RAJPUTANA	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
CALCUTTA	Left Colombo for Bombay
NETRAVATI	Left Colombo for Bombay
Monday, 18th October
SCOUT	Escorting X C 8 arrived Colombo fro Addu Atoll
TACTITIAN	Left Colombo on patrol
PANSY and AGRA	Escorting M A 15 arrived Vizagapatam
KALAVATI and KATHIWAR	Escorting M A 14 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam
LAUNCESTON and VAN DER ZAAN	Escorting M B 51 A left Colombo for Bombay
KUMAON and TOOWOOMBA	Escorting A P 49 left Aden for Persian Gulf
THYME, DERG and TAY	With LST 238 and escorting A B 17 left Aden for Bombay.
CARNATIC, SHOREHAM and BARODA	Escorting B M 71 left Bombay for Colombo
AGRA	Left Vizagapatam for Madras
ST ANTHONY	Left Bombay to rendezvous with P B 59 and escort to Bombay
NORMAN and NEPAL	Left Bombay to rendezvous FROBISHER and GEORGE WASHINGTON and escort to Bombay
WOLLONGON	Left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
SHENGKING	Left Bombay for Cochin
NARBADA, ROHILKAND and PANSY	Escorting M A 15 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
CAIRNS	Escorting P B 60 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
Tuesday, 19th October
ANGBY	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
TACTICIAN	Left Colombo on patrol
MONTAGU DOUGLAS	Left Mandapan for Colombo
STELLA POLARIS and WELLARD	Escorting A K D 2 arrived Durban
IRRAWADI and SHILLONG	Escorting M A 16 left Madras for Vizagapatam
CORNWALLIS	Left Bombay for Karachi
CUTTACK	Left Cochin for Bombay
BARBOURNE	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
Wednesday, 20th October
NEWCASTLE, EMERALD and DANAE	To encounter HAWKINS for exercise returning Kilindini 21st October. DANAE is to proceed to Manza Bay where
	she will remain until 25th October thence to Kilindini
Tug MASTERFUL	Left Addu for Colombo
RAMDAS (HMS)	Unsuccessfully attacked by U boat at 0827A in position 10 deg 28N, 75 deg. 15E. search is being carried out.
OKAPI	Left Diego Garcia for Addu Atoll
LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Escorting A K D 3 arrived Kilindini from Aden
SS BRITISH PURPOSE	Torpedoed in convoy in position 11 deg. 49N, 74 deg.54E at 1730. HMS RAMDAS carried out search.
EMPIRE GNOME	Left Suez for Aden
CHITRAL, TEVIOT, RAPID, BANN and TRENT	Escorting W S 33 left Durban for Kilindini
KARACHI and ST ANTHONY	Escorting P B 59 A arrived Bombay from Karachi
CONVENTRY CITY, NORTHERN CHIEF, ST ZENO, HERTFORDSHIRE and FRITILLARY	Escorting A K D 3 left Kilindini for Durban
LISMORE, FALMOUTH and MAID MARION	Escorting D K A 3 left Kilindini for Aden
JUMNA and QUICKMATCH	Escorting B A 50 arrived Aden from Bombay
Thursday, 21st October
'SSSS'	British tanker ATHELVIKING torpedoed by U Boat at 0350Z in position 24 deg. 36N, 57 deg. 43E.
EMILE BAUDOT	Arrived Trincomalee from Pamban
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Escorting one ship left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
IRRIWADI and SHILLONG	Escorting M A 16 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
RAMDAS	With damaged tanker BRITISH PURPOSE arrived Cochin
JAY	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
AGRA	Left Madras for Colombo
HAWKINS	Arrived Kilindini from Addu Atoll
LULWORTH, FREESIA and JASMINE	Escorting A K D 4 left Aden for Kilindini
TRESPASSER	Left Aden for Colombo
17th M.T.B. Flotilla	Arrived Tuticorin from Bombay
NORTHERN CHIEF, ST ZENO, COVENTRY CITY and HERTFORDSHIRE	Escorting A K D arrived Kilindini from Aden
Friday, 22nd October
RAMDAS	Escorting two paddle steamers left Cochin for Mandapam
LAUNCESTON and W. VAN DER ZAAN	Escorting M B 51 A arrived Bombay
ML 1104	Left Vizagapatam for Madras
BALUCHISTAN, KONKAN and WOLLONGONG	Escorting B P 99 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
CALCUTTA, NETRAVATI and CUTTACK	Escorting M B 51 arrived Bombay from Colombo
Saturday, 23rd October
SHOREHAM and CARNATIC	Escorting B M 71 arrived Colombo from Bombay
LIBBY and BRITISH ENERGY	Arrived Abadan
JAY	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
SCOUT	Escorting two ships left Colombo for Addu Atoll
EMILE BAUDOT	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
CAIRNS	Escorting P B 60 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
KARACHI	Escorting one ship left Bombay for Karachi
ORISSA, CAIRNS and TAMWORTH	Escorting P B 60 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
SONDRA	Escorting BURMA left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
Sunday, 24th October
DABCHICK	Left Suez for Aden
SUFFOLK	Left Durban for Kilindini
IRRAWADI and SHILLONG	Escorting M A 16 arrived Chittagong from Vizagapatam
'SSSS'	SS CONGELLA shelled and on fire in position 01 deg-02N, 71 deg. 14E at 1453Z
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	Escorting H C 1 left Calcutta for Chittagong
LAHORE	Escorting one tanker left Vizagapatam for Bombay
CORNWALLIS and TRAVANCORE	Escorting P B 60 B left Karachi for Bombay
CESSNOCK, PUNJAB and MADRAS	Escorting P A 57 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
BRITISH ENERGY	Left Abadan for Kilindini
Monday, 25th October
FROBISHER, NAPIER and NEPAL	Escorting G. WASHINGTON left Bombay. FROBISHER proceeds Seychelles. Destroyers return Bombay
KALAVATI and BOMBAY	Escorting convoy H C 2 for Calcutta for Chittagong
EMILE BAUDOT	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
AGRA, POONA, RAJPUTANA and BROOMDALE	Escorting M B 52 for AMERICAN ARROW left Colombo for Bombay
JUMNA, KALE and ROCKROSE	Escorting A B 18 left Aden for Bombay
CESSNOCK, PUNJAB and MADRAS	Escorting A P 50 left Aden for Persian Gulf
BURNIE and BENGAL	Escorting B P 100 left Bombay for Persian Gulf
GERALDTON	Left Bombay for Persian Gulf
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	Escorting A P 49 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
RAMDAS	Escorting two paddle steamers arrived Mandapam from Trincomalee
Tuesday, 26th October
CHITRAL, RAPID, TRENT, BANN and TEVIOT	Escorting W S 33 arrived Kilindini from Durban
KARACHI	Arrived Karachi escorting one ship from Bombay
SCOUT	Escorting X C 10 arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
RAMDAS	Left Mandapam for Cochin
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	Escorting P B 61 left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
BATTLER, ROTHERHAM, QUIBERON and QUALITY	Arrived Bombay from Aden
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	Escorting H C 1 arrived Chittagong from Calcutta
QUADRANT	Arrived Aden from Bombay
STELLA POLARIS, DRANGEY, WELLARD and SPHENE	Escorting D K A 5 left Durban for Kilindini
Wednesday, 27th October
17th M.T.B. Flotilla	Arrived Madras from Mandapam
GAWLER	Left Suez for Aden
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave
RAMDAS	Arrived Cochin from Mandapam
ROHILKAND	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
KATHIAWAR	Arrived Calcutta from Vizagapatam
TAY, DERG and THYME	Escorting A B 17 and with LST 238 arrived Bombay from Aden
FALMOUTH, LISMORE and MAID MARION	Escorting D K A 3 arrived Aden from Kilindini
KARAPARA	Left Bombay for Durban
CHITRAL, BANN and TEVIOT	Escorting W S 33 left Kilindini for Bombay
RAPID and TRENT	Escorting C M 46 left Kilindini for Aden
ROEBUCK and RELENTLESS	Escorting B A 51 arrived Aden from Bombay
OKAPI	Arrived Addu Atoll with survivors from shelled M.V. CONGELLA
KALAVATI and BOMBAY	Escorting H C 2 left Calcutta for Chittagong
VIRGINIA	Left Durban to overtake D K A 5 and proceed to Kilindini
Thursday, 28th October
KENYA	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
KARACHI	Escorting one ship left Karachi for Khor Kuwai
CANTON, NAPIER and NEPAL	Escorting LURLINE from MOMP arrived Bombay
RAMDAS	Escorting BRITISH PURPOSE left Cochin for Bombay
TAY and NIGELLA	Escorting B A 52 left Bombay for Aden
NARBADA	Arrived Vizagapatam from Chittagong
PATNA	Escorting two paddle steamers arrived Madras from Mandapam
LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Escorting D K A 4 left Kilindini for Aden
SUFFOLK	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
ARCTIC EXPLORER, LADY ELSA, CAPE WARWICK and NORTHERN ISLES	To rendezvous with D K A 4 and escort to Kilindini
Tug MASTERFUL and GNOMB	Arrived Aden from Mediterranean
SONDRA	Escorting HOUSTON left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
Friday, 29th October
CORNWALLIS	Left Bombay for Karachi
KENYA	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
ROEBUCK	Left Aden for Durban
NEWCASTLE, HAWKINS, DANAE, SUFFOLK and EMERALD	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
NORTHERN CHIEF, ST ZENO and HERTFORDSHIRE	Escorting A K D 3 arrived Durban from Kilindini
PANSY and KATHIAWA	Escorting H C 3 left Calcutta for Chittagong
QUADRANT and RELENTLESS	Escorting HIGHLAND BRIGADE left Aden for Kilindini
FRITILLARY, INDIAN STAR and COVENTRY CITY	Escorting A K D 3 arrived Durban from Aden
Saturday, 30th October
LAHORE	Escorting STAGPOOL left Colombo for Addu Atoll
CANTON	Left Bombay for Kilindini. QUALITY and QUIBERON provided A/S escort through the focal area
IPSWICH	Left Suez for Aden
STAGPOOL	Left Colombo for Addu Atoll
TRESPASSER	Arrived Colombo from Aden
BURNIE and BENGAL	Escorting B P 100 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
FROBISHER	Left Seychelles for Durban
LAUNCESTON and NETRAVATI	Escorting B M 72 arrived Colombo from Bombay
RAJPUTANA, POONA and AGRA	Escorting M B 52 arrived Bombay from Colombo
Sunday, 31st October
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Escorting NAVASSA left Colombo for Calcutta
ARCTIC EXPLORER, CAPE WARWICK, LADY ELSA and NORTHERN ISLES	Escorting A K D 4 left Kilindini for Durban
CORNWALLIS	Arrived Karachi from Bombay
TEMPLAR	Arrived Colombo from patrol
RAMDAS	Escorting 1 ship arrived Bombay from Cochin
LAWRENCE	Escorting P A 60 A arrived Karachi from Khor Kuwai
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	Arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai escorting P A 58
LULWORTH, JASMINE and FREESIA	Escorting A K D 4 arrived Kilindini from Aden
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez
MANCHESTER CITY	Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	Escorting P B 61 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
FALMOUTH	Escorting A K D 5 left Aden for Kilindini
ROBERT INGERSOLL	Unsuccessfully attacked by submarine in position 05 deg 25N, 80 deg. 54 E at 0030Z 'SSSS' sent

 

 

Part II

 

NARRATIVE

 

(A) EMPLOYMENT OF EASTERN FLEET UNITS

 

1.

HMS KENYA left Kilindini on the 3rd and arrived Colombo on the 12th escorting convoy K R 7

 

HMS HAWKINS left Colombo on the 5th to MOMP with U.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON on the 11th, relieved by HMS FROBISHER on the 15th and arrived Addu Atoll on the 16th.

 

HMS FROBISHER left Colombo on the 12th, rendezvoused with SS GEORGE WASHINGTON on the 15th, escorted her to Bombay arriving on the 20th. Left Bombay, escorting SS GEORGE WASHINGTON on the 25th. Arrived and left Seychelles for Durban on the 30th.

 

HMS CHITRAL left Durban on the 20th escorting W S 33. Arrived and left Kilindini for Bombay on the 27th

 

HMS CANTON arrived Trincomalee on the 2nd, after escorting SS SAMBRIDGE from MOMP. Left Colombo on the 15th to MOMP with SS LURLINE on the 20th. Escorted SS LURLINE to Bombay arriving on the 28th. Left Bombay for Kilindini on the 30th.

 

HMS RANPURA arrived Aden on the 8th escorting convoy D K A 1. Left Aden on the 14th for U.K. via Mediterranean

 

(B) CONVOYS

 

2.

K R 7 Left Kilindini on the 3rd October and arrived at Colombo on the 12th October, ocean escort being provided by HMS KENYA. Locally escorted from Kilindini by QUIBERON and QUALITY. Locally escorted to Colombo by SCOUT and RAJPUTANA

 

W S 33 and C M 46 Combined left Durban on the 20th escorted by CHITRAL, RAPID, TRENT, BANN, TEVIOT and arrived and left Kilindini on the 27th.

 

3. Routine Convoys

 

Routine sailings of A B – B A convoys on an 8 day cycle started this month, A B 15 leaving Aden on the 1st and B A 50 leaving Bombay on the 12th.

 

Escorts were provided from QUADRANT, QUICKMATCH, RELENTLESS, ROEBUCK, KALE, TAY, DERG, NIGELLA, THYME, and ROCKROSE.

 

Routine sailings of B M – M B convoys on an 8 day cycle began on the 9th, M B 50 leaving Colombo and B M 70 leaving Bombay on that day.

 

Owing to increased U boat activity on the West Coast of India, LAUNCESTON, NETRAVATI, and AGRA were withdrawn from the East Coast Escort Group so that the number of escorts for the B M – M B convoy could be increased from 2 to 3.

 

The last M A Troop convoy, M A 16, left Madras for Chittagong on the q9th. H C Troop convoys from Calcutta to Chittagong were then instituted sailing every 3 days. M C 1 left Calcutta on October 24th. 2 escorts were provided for each convoy.

 

4. Routeing

 

 Standard routines for AB – BA and A K D – DKA convoys were established during the month.

 

(C) BASES

 

Trincomalee

 

5. The C.M and H.D.A. Station was completed on 3rd October and is now in full operation. The controlled minefield has since been modified to take PVA, the sloops balanced, and one small guard loop covered covering the N.E. end of the channel.

 

6. A.F.D. XXIII, due to completed in January 1944, is now to go to Trincomalee instead of Kilindini

 

7. The shallow D.G. Range has been laid.

 

8. Water supply. It has been decided to make some alterations and modifications to the water and diesel oil pipe lines in order to increase the supply of water to No. 1 jetty.

 

9. Work on the baffles and moorings continue. The prospects of the timely supply of clamps are now more hopeful.

 

10. Due to loss of engines in transit, the completion of the “Z” lighters buildings at Calcutta, and destined for Trincomalee, will be delayed. This will cause difficulties in the transport of heavy stores and the disposal of sullage when the Fleet arrives.

 

Colombo

 

11. EMILE BAUDOT after laying a cable between Ceylon and India arrived at Colombo on 25th October. It is intended that she should start to lay the Colombo indicator loops on 1st November.

 

Addu Atoll

 

12. Acting Commander E.A.C. Ball, RN has been appointed Naval Officer in Charge, Addu Atoll to relieve Commander H.V. Briscoe, RN (Retd) who has been Naval Officer in Charge since February 1942.

 

13. ATREUS and ALSEY are now relaying the controlled minefields in all entrances.

 

Kilindini

 

14. A.F.D. XXIII is now to go to Trincomalee instead of Kilindini. A.F.D. XXXII, building in U.S.A., has been allocated to Kilindini,

 

Manza Bay

 

15. The Controlled Mining Station has been reduced to a care and maintenance basis.

 

Mauritius

 

16. The Controlled Mining Station at Grand Point has been reduced to a care and maintenance basis.

 

Diego Suarez

 

17. Consequent to the decision to reduce the Boom Depot Construction to war needs only, Flag Officer, East Africa has reported that all orders for machinery for the Boom Depot can be cancelled except for the Diesel Capstan and 6 ton mobile crane.

 

18. MANCHESTER CITY and REDSHANK completed relaying the modifying the controlled minefield during the month.

 

Seychelles

 

19. The floating pipe line has been moved to the S.E. fuelling berth were it is being rigged as a submerged pipe line.

 

General

 

20. MANCHESTER CIT is now at Kilindini pending further orders, and is refitting. REDSHANK will remain at Kilindini for care and maintenance of controlled minefields at Manza Bay and Diego Suarez.

 

(D). ANTI SUBMARINE

 

21. During the month, 5 German and 3 Japanese U boats were operating on the station. Six ships, totaling 25,833 tons gross, were sunk and 3 ships were damaged but reached port under their own power.

 

22. The U boat activity slackened towards the end of the month when 3 German U boats left the Station, Eastwards. One Japanese U boat was still estimated to be in the Mozambique Channel and it was this U boat which probably used its seaplane to make a reconnaissance of the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Suarez early in the month. One Japanese, after sinking a merchant vessel by gunfire in the vicinity of Addu Atoll, was estimated to be homebound and the third either still off the South West coast or homeward bound.

 

23. Of the two other German U boats, one was probably sunk by aircraft in the Gulf of Oman on 16^th October, and the second was estimated to be in the Indian Ocean still and possibly approaching the Malabar Coast from the North West.

 

24. Six attacks were made by surface vessels on U boat contacts, although in two cases only was the presence of the U boat confirmed.

 

25. Full details of all U boat incidents and reports will be included in the C.B. 04199 series for the month of October 1943.

 

(E). AIR

 

26. On the 9^th, a Catalina proceeded to Male to interview survivors of an unknown ship but was unable to land owing to swell.

 

27. A widespread search was carried out to the West of Addu Atoll in order to locate and destroy a U Boat which was thought to be in the area, but with negative results.

 

28. 244 Squadron attacked and sank a German U boat in the Gulf of Oman on 16^th October in position 25-28N, 56-50E. This has since been confirmed by Admiralty.

 

29. A search was carried out for a U boat which attacked the S.S. NIZAM. Nil results.

 

30. An A/S Sweep was carried out by three Catalinas off the west coast of India for a U boat which sank (n.b. handwritten note. Ship only attacked) the S.S. BRITISH PURPOSE. Nil results.

 

31. Catalinas searched for and found survivors of the S.S. CONGELLA which was shelled and sunk by a U boat 140 miles N.W. of Addu Atoll.

 

32. During the month, thirteen Beaufighters arrived in Ceylon to re inforce the fighter defense of Ceylon.

 

 

 

---

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

Area of operations, click to enlarge

 

 

NOVEMBER 1943

 

Monday, 1st November
ROEBUCK	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
CORNWALLIS	Escorting P B 61 A left Karachi for Bombay
TOOWOOMBA and KUMAON	Escorting P B 61 arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
AMERICAN ARROW	Left Bombay for Abadan
BROOMDALE	Left Bombay for Abadan
NEWCASTLE, HAWKINS, DANAE, EMERALD and SUFFOLK	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Escorting H C 4 left Calcutta for Chittagong
PANSY and KATHIAWAR	Escorting H C 3 arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
SONDRA	Escorting one ship arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
TAMWORTH, ORISSA and TRAVENCORE	Escorting B P 101 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
SATYAVATI	Left Bombay for Cochin
SCOUT	Arrived Addu Atoll from Diego Garcia
CESSNOCK, PUNJAB and MADRAS	Escorting AP 50 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
GERALDTON and BURNIE	Escorting P A 59 left Hormuz for Aden
Tuesday, 2nd November
ROEBUCK	Left Kilindini for Durban
LAUNCESTON, CARNATIC and NETRAVATI	Escorting M B 53 left Colombo for Bombay
SOLVRA	Escorting one ship left Mauritius for Diego Suarez
SUSSEX	Arrived Durban having turned back with engine trouble
LAWRENCE	Escorting P B 60 A left Karachi for Bombay
DABCHICK	Escorted by HMS QUICKMATCH left Aden for Colombo
ASTER and LISMORE	With LSTs and escorting A B 18 A left Aden for Bombay
RAJPUTANA and AGRA	Escorting B M 73 left Bombay for Colombo
RAPID and TRENT	Escorting C M 46 arrived Aden from Kilindini
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	Escorting A P 51 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
TULIP	Escorting A B 19 left Aden for Bombay
KARACHI	Escorting one ship arrived Khor Kuwai from Karachi
QUICKMATCH	To 58 deg. E thence Colombo
Wednesday, 3rd November
CORNWALLIS	Escorting P B 61 A arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
BULAN	Arrived Bombay from Aden
LAHORE	Escorting STAGPOOL arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Escorting H C 4 arrived Chittagong from Calcutta
QUIBERON, QUALITY, LISMORE and ASTER	Escorting A B 18 left Aden for Bombay
SHILLONG	Towing one ship left Madras for Vizagapatam
TJITJALENGKA	Arrived Bombay from Durban
SORSRA	Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
TAMWORTH and TRAVENCORE	Escorting three ships arrived Karachi from Bombay
NEWCASTLE, DANAE and SUFFOLK	Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
KARACHI	Escorting P B 62 A left Hormuz for Karachi
SEPIA	Arrived Abadan from Seychelles
JUMNA	Escorting A B 18 arrived Bombay from Aden
Thursday, 4th November
BATTLER, QUIBERON and QUALITY	Left Bombay to rendezvous A B 18 A and escort back to Bombay
CHITRAL, TEVIOT and BANN	Escorting W S 33 arrived Bombay from Kilindini
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
GAWLER and IPSWICH	Arrived Aden from Suez
QUADRANT and RELENTLESS	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
ACHELOUS	Left Massawa for Aden
NIZAM	Left Geraldton for Colombo
Friday, 5th November
ROEBUCK	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
CANTON	Arrived Kilindini from Bombay
KENYA	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
QUADRANT and RELENTLESS	Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Durban
LANDGUARD, SENNEN, TAY and NIGELLA	Escorting D K A 4 arrived Aden from Kilindini
LAWRENCE	Escorting P B 60 A arrived Bombay from Karachi
TJITJALENGKA	Left Bombay for Colombo
LAHORE	Escorting STAGPOOL and DEMODOCUS left Addu Atoll for Colombo
PANSY and KATHIAWAR	Escorting H C 5 left Calcutta for Chittagong
W.H. LIBBY	Arrived Hormuz from Abadan
SHILLONG	Towing one ship arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
EGERO	Left Abadan for Colombo
NAUTILUS	Towing MMS 130 arrived Cochin from Bombay
ANGBY	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
SATYAVATI	Left Bombay for Cochin
DERG and KALE	Escorting B A 53 left Bombay for Aden
Saturday, 6th November
RAJPUTANA and AGRA	Escorting B M 73 arrived Cochin from Bombay
GLENGYLE	Left Suez for Aden
NORTHERN CHIEF, INDIAN STAR, HERFORDSHIRE, LADY ROSEMARY and COVENTRY CITY	Escorting D K A 6 left Durban for Kilindini
BOXER	Left Suez for Massawa
BARBOUR	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
CANTON	Left Kilindini for Durban
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Escorting B P 101 arrived Hormuz from Bombay
TAURUS	Left Colombo on patrol
FROBISHER	Arrived Durban from Bombay
Sunday, 7th November
RAJPUTANA	Escorting B M 73 arrived Colombo from Bombay
LST 238	Arrived Colombo from Bombay
TACTICIAN	Arrived Colombo from patrol
MMS 108	Left Suez for Aden
BALTA	Left Colombo to rendezvous one ship and escort to Addu Atoll
LULWORTH and FREESIA	Escorting D K A 5 left Kilindini for Aden
SOLVRA	Escorting one ship arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave
IRRAWADI	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
LAUNCESTON, CARNATIC and NETRAVATI	Escorting M B 53 arrived Bombay from Colombo
STELLA POLARIS, DRANGY and SPHENE	Escort D K A 5 arrived Kilindini from Durban
REDSHANK	Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez
LAHORE	Escorting STAGPOOL and DEMODOCUS arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
NARBADA and BOMBAY	Escorting H C 6 left Calcutta for Chittagong.
Monday, 8th November
PATNA and BARODA	Escorting two paddle steamers arrived Calcutta from Madras
ANGBY	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
PANSY and KATHIAWAR	Escorting H C 5 arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
GERALDTON, BURNIE and BENGAL	Escorting P A 59 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
KARACHI	Escorting P B 62 A arrived Karachi from Hormuz
FREESIA and WELLARD	Escorting D K A 5 arrived Kilindini from Durban
SATYAVATI	Arrived Cochin from Bombay
BROOMDALE	Arrived Abadan from Bombay
SORSRA	Escorting one ship arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
Tuesday, 9th November
LAHORE	Escorting J C 25 left Colombo for Vizagapatam
BARBOUR	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
KENYA	Left Colombo for Bombay
SANDSTORM	Left Bombay for Colombo
BATTLER, QUIBERON and QUALITY	Escorting A B 18 A arrived Bombay
SHILLONG	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
CARNATIC and CAIRNS	Escorting B P 102 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
CARNATIC	Developed engine trouble and returned to Bombay. KHYBER sailed from Bombay to relieve her.
W. VAN DER ZAAN	Escorting one tanker left Calcutta for Trincomalee
TRAVANCORE	Escorting P B 62 A left Karachi for Bombay
HAWKINS	Arrived Simonstown from Diego Suarez
EMPIRE GNOME	Left Aden for Bombay
NAUTILUS	Left Cochin for Bombay
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA and HMRT PRUDENT	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
BROOMDALE	Left Abadan for Bombay
CESSNOCK, PUNJAB and MADRAS	Escorting P B 62 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
ARCTIC EXPLORER, CAPE WARWICK, NORTHERN ISLES and LADY ELSA	Escorting A K D 4 arrived Durban
BOMBAY and NARBADA	Escorting H C 6 arrived Chittagong and left again for Calcutta
KHYBER	Escorting one ship arrived Bombay
Wednesday, 10th November
TRESPASSER	Left Colombo on patrol
NARBADA and BOMBAY	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
STELLA POLARIS, DRANGEY, WELLARD and SPHENE	Escorting A K D 5 left Kilindini for Durban
LAWRENCE	Left Bombay for Karachi
ASTER and LISMORE	Escorting A B 18 A arrived Bombay
SUTTACK	Left Bombay escorting one ship for Karachi
AMERICAN ARROW	Left Abadan for Hormuz
TULIP	Arrived Bombay escorting A B 19
ANGBY	Arrived Colombo
FALMOUTH and JASMINE	Escorting A K D 5 arrived Kilindini
GLENGYLE	Arrived Aden
GERALDTON and BENGAL	Sailed Aden escorting B P 52
GLENGYLE and RAPID	Sailed Aden in A B 20 F
NIGELLA, TRENT, IPSWICH, ACHELOUS, LST 239 and LST 73	Sailed Aden in A B 20 S
BRITISH COMMODORE	Put back to Bombay; defects
SS SAMBLADE	Shelled in position 13-06N, 52-35E
PANSY and KATHIAWAR	Escorting H C 7 left Calcutta
Thursday, 11th November
QUICKMATCH	Arrived Colombo from Aden
RAMILLIES, ROEBUCK, RELENTLESS and QUADRANT	Left Durban for Kilindini
QUICKMATCH	Escorting KHEDIVE ISMAIL left Colombo to join convoy B M 54. After making rendezvous QUICKMATCH is to return to Colombo
SHOREHAM, BATHURST and RAJPUTANA	Escorting M B 54 left Colombo for Bombay
LANDGUARD, TAY, SENNEN and BURNIE	Escorting A K D 6 left Aden for Kilindini
DANAE	Left Kilindini for Aden
FREESIA	Left Kilindini escorting one ship to rendezvous and turn over escort to SONDRA thence to proceed to join A K D 5 as additional escort to Durban
KENYA	Arrived Bombay from Colombo
BATTLER, NAPIER, ROTHERHAM and NEPAL	Left Bombay to rendezvous A B 20 and escort to Bombay
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN	Arrived Trincomalee
JUMNA, LISMORE, NETRAVATI and LAUNCESTON	Escorting B M 74 left Bombay
BALTA	Escorting JOHN W. MACKAY arrived Addu Atoll
CHITRAL	Sailed Bombay for Aden (recalled Bombay)
PATNA	Sailed Calcutta for Vizagapatam
Friday, 12th November
FORELAND	Left Massawa for Aden
EMERALD	Left Kilindini for Durban
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	With HMRT PRUDENT arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
SHENGKING	Left Colombo for Addu Atoll
CHITRAL	Arrived Bombay
LAWRENCE	Arrived Karachi
(n.b. page 6 missing) including Saturday, 13th to Sunday, 14th November
Monday, 15th November
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Arrived Nosi Be
ST ANTHONY	Escorting HESPERIA and EMPIRE THYME sailed Bombay for Cochin
Tuesday, 16th November
EMERALD	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
QUIBERON, QUALITY and NAPIER	Left Bombay for Kilindini via Seychelles
KENYA	Left Bombay for Kilindini
LAUNCESTON and LISMORE	Sailed Colombo to rendezvous and escort LSTs
AGRA, NETRAVATI and JUMNA	Arrived Colombo from escorting B M 74
LST 261	Returned Colombo from J C 26 with defects
ARCTIC EXPLORER, ST ZENO, LADY ELSA and CAPE WARWICK	Escorting D K A 7 sailed Durban for Kilindini
PANSY and KATHIAWAR	Escorting H C 9 left Calcutta
SCOUT and ARNDALE	With X C 10 sailed Addu Atoll
VERBENA	Arrived Durban
SONDRA	Escorting BACCHUS sailed Seychelles for Durban
Wednesday, 17th November
QUICKMATCH and DEVON CITY	Escorting C X 11 left Colombo for Addu Atoll
EGERO	Arrived Bombay from Abadan
TALLY HO	Arrived Colombo from patrol
ANGBY	Arrived Trincomalee
CAIRNS and KHYBER	Escorting P A 61 left Khor Kuwai
GERALDTON and BENGAL	Escorting A P 52 arrived Khor Kuwai
BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	Escorting P B 63 arrived Bombay
NIZAM	Arrived Colombo from Fremantle
RAMILLIES, RELENTLESS, QUADRANT and ROEBUCK	Arrived Kilindini from Manza Bay and Durban
SOLVRA	Escorting one ship arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez
VIVIANA	Escort 2nd Division 49th M.L.F. arrived Diego Suarez
POONA	Escorting EMPIRE HARRY towing two barges arrived Cochin
Thursday, 18th November
CHITRAL	Escorting B A 54 F arrived Aden
FROBISHER	Towing B.P.T. left Durban for Kilindini
CARNATIC, MADRAS and PUNJAB	Escorting B P 103 sailed Bombay for Khor Kuwai
RAPID	Escorting one ship left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
SHILLONG	Escorting LST 238 arrived Calcutta (J C 26)
FALMOUTH and JASMINE	Sailed Kilindini to rendezvous and escort D K A 6 to Aden. FALMOUTH to return Kilindini when relieved by BANFF
IRRAWADI	Escorting M A 16 A arrived Calcutta
PANSY and KATHIAWAR	Escorting H C 9 arrived Chittagong
BURNIE	Sailed Kilindini for Durban
NAUTILUS	Arrived Karachi from Bombay
TEMPLAR	Left Colombo for patrol.
Friday, 19th November
VIVIANA	Sailed Diego Suarez for Durban
TRENT, NIGELLA and IPSWICH	Escorting A B 20S arrived Bombay
POONA	Escorting EMPIRE HARRY towing 2 oil barges sailed Cochin for Colombo
SCOUT	Escorting X C 10 arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
GERALDTON and BENGAL	Escorting P B 64 sailed Khor Kuwai for Bombay
BROOMDALE	and AMERICAN ARROW Sailed in P B 64 for Bombay
TRAVANCORE, SHOREHAM, CALCUTTA, DABCHICK, ACHELOUS, EGERO and U.S. LST 73	Left Bombay in B M 75 for Colombo
EMPIRE SANDY	Towed BPT also sailed in B M 75
ARNDALE	Arrived Colombo in X C 10
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	Escorting H C 10 sailed Calcutta
RELENTLESS	Sailed Kilindini for Durban
FREESIA	Arrived Durban and sailed same day for East London
SPHENE, STELLA POLARIS, WELLARD and DRANGEY	Escorting A K D 5 arrived Durban
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Escorting A P 53 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN, NETRAVATI and AGRA	Escorting M B 55 left Colombo
PANSY	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
SHILLONG	Left Calcutta for Madras
TOOWOOMBA	Arrived Seychelles from Bombay
BANFF	With 12th L.C.I. Flotilla arrived Aden
Saturday, 20th November
NIZAM	Left Colombo for Kilindini via Seychelles
QUICKMATCH and DEVON CITY	With C X X11 arrived Addu Atoll
BANFF	Left Aden to rendezvous with D K A 6
LANDGUARD, SENNEN and TAY	Escorting A K D 6 arrived Kilindini from Aden
ST ANTHONY and HESPERIA	Arrived Cochin
TAIPING	Arrived Addu Atoll in C X 11
NORTHERN CHIEF, HERTFORDSHIRE, INDIAN STAR, COVENTRY CITY and LADY ROSEMARY	Left Kilindini to rendezvous and escort A K D 6 to Durban
GAWLER, PLYM and MMS 108	Escorting A B 21 left Aden for Bombay
CEYLON	Sailed Suez for Aden
FREESIA	Arrived East London
TAY	Left Kilindini to rejoin A K D 6
DONAU	Towing two lighters and PATRICIA left Beira for Kilindini
TOOWOOMBA	Sailed Seychelles for Durban
HELFORD and VERBENA	Escorting C B 6 left Durban for Dar es Salaam
Sunday, 21st November
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Arrived Diego Suarez
SONDRA	Escorting BACCHUS arrived Addu Atoll
BALTA	Escorting JOHN W. MACKAY arrived Addu Atoll
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	Escorting H C 10 arrived Chittagong
SUFFOLK	Arrived Colombo from Kilindini
POONA	Escorting EMPIRE HARRY towing two barges arrived Colombo
MARYBOROUGH	Arrived Aden from Suez
BANN and ASTER	Escorting B A 54 arrived Aden
DANAE, KALE, DERG and BRUISER	Left Aden for Bombay
CHITRAL	Left Aden for Durban
LULWORTH and MAID MARION	Left Aden for Kilindini
RAPID	Escorting one ship arrived Hormuz and sailed same day for Colombo (independently).
CHITRAL	Escorting A K D 7 (fast) left Aden for Durban routed east of Madagascar
FALMOUTH, CAPE WARWICK, ST ZENO and ARCTIC EXPLORER	Escorting A K D 7 (Slow) left Aden for Kilindini
Monday, 22nd November
BARBOURNE	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA and PRUDENT	Escorting MLs 831, 832, 381, 846 sailed Diego Suarez for Seychelles
JUMNA	Sailed Colombo for JAMES
TRUCULENET	Left U.K. for Eastern Fleet
SONDRA	Escorting one ship left Addu for Kilindini
KENYA	Arrived Kilindini from Bombay
ML 1104	Arrived Madras from Mandapam
W.H. LIBBY	Arrived Kilindini from Abadan
QUICKMATCH, JOHN W. MACKAY and BACCHUS	Sailed Addu Atoll for Colombo
ROHILKAND	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
ROCKROSE and NIGELLA	Escorting B A 55 sailed Bombay
RELENTLESS	Arrived Durban from Kilindini and sailed same day for Simonstown
TULIP	Escorting BERGENSFJORD left Bombay for Aden
Tuesday, 23rd November
SHILLONG	Arrived Madras from Calcutta
IRRIWADI	Left Calcutta for Vizagapatam
ML 1104	Sailed Madras fro Vizagapatam
FROBISHER	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN, NETRAVATI and AGRA	Escorting M B 55 arrived Bombay
CEYLON	Arrived Aden
CORNWALLIS	Left Bombay for Karachi
HONESTY	Left Suez for Aden
Wednesday, 24th November
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Escorting H C 11 arrived Chittagong
BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
CEYLON	Left Aden for Bombay
BURNIE	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
TRAVANCORE, SHOREHAM, DABCHICK, USS ACHELOUS, US LST 73, EGERO and EMPIRE SANDY	In B M 74 arrived Colombo from Bombay
CAIRNS and KHYBER	Escorting P A 61 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
NAPIER, QUIBERON and QUALITY	Arrived Kilindini from Bombay
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Escorting PRUDENT and 49th ML Flotilla (2nd Div.) arrived Seychelles
LISMORE	Escorting J C 26 arrived Calcutta
HOXA	Escorting EMPIRE ELAINE arrived Mandapam
NIZAM	Arrived Seychelles from Colombo
Thursday, 25th November
RELENTLESS	Arrived Simonstown for refit
CORNWALLIS	Arrived Karachi from Bombay
CALCUTTA	Arrived Colombo from Bombay
RAPID	Arrived Colombo from Hormuz
QUICKMATCH	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
SUFFOLK	Left Colombo for Bombay
KONKAN, CESSNOCK and BALUCHISTAN	Escorting B P 104 left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
CARNATIC, PUNJAB and MADRAS	Escorting P A 62 left Khor Kuwai for Aden
LE TRIOMPHANT	Escorting O W 8 left Fremantle for Diego Garcia
CALCUTTA	With ACHELOUS, LST 73, and escorting J C 27 left Colombo for Calcutta
Friday, 26th November
BALUCHISTAN	Left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
NEPAL	Escorting BATORY left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
GERALDTON and BENGAL	Escorting P B 64 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
TRAVANCORE, POONA and SHOREHAM	Escorting M B 56 left Colombo for Bombay
SCOUT	Escorting C S 12 left Colombo for Addu Athol
TEVIOT, BANN, ASTER and MARYBOROUGH	With 12th LCI (L) Flotilla left Aden for Bombay
NIZAM	Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Escorting A P 53 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden
MASTIFF	Escorting HUNAN left Kilindini for Seychelles
BROOMDALE and AMERICAN ARROW	Arrived Bombay in P B 64 from Khor Kuwai
MARYBOROUGH	With 12th LCI (L) Flotilla and escorting A B 22 left Aden for Bombay
CAIRNS and KHYBER	Escorting A P 54 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
Saturday, 27th November
CORNWALLIS	Left Karachi for Bombay
RAJPUTANA, AGRA, BATHURST and BARODA	Escorting B M 76 left Bombay for Colombo
BARODA	Put back to Bombay with defects
EMERALD	Escorting C M 47 left Durban for Aden. EMERALD to rendezvous with destroyers off Kilindini and hand
	over escort duties. EMERALD to proceed to Kilindini
SUFFOLK	Arrived Bombay from Colombo
CEYLON	Arrived Bombay from Aden
TULIP	Escorting BERGENSFIORD arrived Aden from Bombay
TAURUS	Arrived Colombo from patrol
TACTICIAN	Left Colombo for patrol
HOXA	Escorting EMPIRE ELAINE arrived Colombo from Pamban
QUICKMATCH	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
DANAE, KALE and DERG	Escorting A B 20 A arrived Bombay from Aden
BRUISER	Arrived Bombay from Aden with A B 20 A
'SSSS'	SS SCOTIA torpedoed and sunk in position 03-00 South, 69-08 East at 1240Z
NARBADA	Escorting M A 18 left Vizagapatam for Calcutta
OKAPI	Left Addu Atoll to pick up survivors from torpedoed ship SCOTIA
ODBERG, STANDERTON, CEDERBERG and PRETORIA	Escorting D K A 8 left Durban for Kilindini
Sunday, 28th November
GAWLER, PLYM and MMS 108	Escorting A B 21 arrived Bombay from Aden
BALTA	Escorting ZUIDER KRUIS arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
SONDRA	Escorting TAIPING arrived Seychelles from Addu Atoll
Dutch S/M O 21	Left Fremantle for Colombo
ARCTIC EXPLORER, CAPE WARWICK, LADY ELSA and ST ZENO	Escorting A K D 7 arrived Kilindini from Durban
LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Escorting D K A 7 left Kilindini for Aden
BANFF and JASMINE	Arrived Aden after rendezvous with D K A 6 to provide additional escort
HONESTY	Arrived Aden from Suez
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Escorting P B 65 left Hormuz for Bombay
ROTHERHAM	Arrived Bombay from escort duties
Monday, 29th November
EMPIRE GNOME	Arrived Colombo from Bombay
BARACUDA	Arrived Colombo from Calcutta
TRENT and THYME	Escorting B A 56 left Bombay for Aden
'SSSS'	ALTHENA LIVANOS torpedoed in position 12-20N 44-00E at 1630C
LISMORE	Escorting one ship left Calcutta for Colombo
NEPAL	Arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
HONESTY	Left Aden for Kilindini
SINGU	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
YING CHOW	Arrived Colombo from Mandapam
NORTHERN CHIEF, LADY ROSEMARY, HERTFORDSHIRE, INDIAN STAR and COVENTRY CITY	Escorting A K D 6 arrived Durban from Kilindini
TAY	Arrived Durban with A K D 6 from Kilindini
TOOWOOMBA	Arrived Durban from Seychelles
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Escorting PRUDENT and MLs 831, 832, 846
SCOUT	Escorting C X 12 arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
SCOUT	Escorting WINGSANG left Addu Atoll for Diego Garcia
Tuesday, 30th November
AGRA, RAJPUTANA, BARODA and BATHURST	Escorting B M 76 arrived Cochin from Bombay
BOMBAY	Escorting M A 19 left Vizagapatam for Chittagong
AMERICAN ARROW	Arrived Cochin in B M 76 from Bombay
RAMILLIES, NEWCASTLE, FROBISHER and destroyers	Exercising off Kilindini
The Commander in Chief left Colombo for Delhi
NEPAL	Escorting EMPIRE PRIDE left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
OUDH	Arrived Madras from Calcutta. Left Madras for Colombo
TEVERA	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
SONDRA	Escorting TAIPING left Seychelles for Kilindini
LILAVATI	Left Karachi for Bombay
ROHILKAND	Escorting M A 18 arrived Chittagong from Calcutta
CORNWALLIS	Arrived Bombay from Karachi
PATNA	Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam
THRUSTER	Arrived Aden from Suez
KALAVATI	Escorting M A 19 left Vizagapatam for Calcutta

 

 

Part II

 

NARRATIVE

 

(A) CONVOYS

 

 1. General

(a) Escorted sailings of M.T. ships from Vizagapatam re commenced with M A 17 on November 24th. Troop Ships continued to sail from Calcutta joining the M A convoys off the west Channel Light Vessel

 

(b) Standard routes for B P and P A convoys were issued during the month

 

(c) The standard dividing line for shipping between Calcutta and Chittagong was revised in order to shorten the route for the H C convoy.

2. Troop Convoys

 

C M 45 (3 ships), arrived Aden November 2nd escorted by RAPID and TRENT.

 

C M 47 (3 ships) left Durban on November 27th escorted by EMERALD.

 

WS 33 (5 ships) arrived Bombay on November 4th escorted by CHITRAL, TEVIOT, and BANN.

 

A B 20 F (HMS GLENGYLE and 4 ships) left Aden in company with AB 20 S on November 10th. Fast portion detached from slow portion on November 14th and arrived Bombay November 17th escorted by BATTLER, ROTHERHAM, RAPID, NORMAN, and NEPAL.

 

A B 20 A HMS BRUISER and 3 ships left Aden November 21st and arrived Bombay November 27th escorted by DANAE, KALE, and DERG.

 

A K D 7 F (2 ships) escorted by LULWORTH and MAID MARION, detached south of Guardafui and proceeded east of Madagascar escorted by CHITRAL

 

3. Ocean Escort Duties

 

FROBISHER arrived Durban on November 6th after escorting GEORGE WASHINGTON from Bombay. NIZAM left Geraldton on November 4th escorting O W 7 and arrived Colombo on November 17th. QUICKMATCH left Aden with A B 19 on November 2nd and arrived Colombo escorting troop ship KHEDIVE ISMAIL on November 11th. QUANDRANT and RELENTLESS escorting troop ship HIGHLAND BRIGADE arrived Kilindini November 4th, left Kilindini 5th November and arrived Durban November 10th.

 

NEPAL left Bombay November 26th escorting troop ship BATORY to Hormuz arriving November 29th. Left Hormuz November 30th escorting troop ship EMPIRE PRIDE.

 

HMS BATTLER screened by ROTHERHAM, NORMAN, and NEPAL provided A/S air cover for LST convoy A B 18 A between November 7th and 9th.

 

HMS BATTLER screened by ROTHERHAM, NORMAN, and NEPAL provided ocean and A.S air escort for fast troopship section of A B 20 between November 14th and 17th.

 

4. New Escorts

 

The following escort vessels joined the station during November:

 

BANFF, GENISTA, and HONESTY.

  

Aden Escort Force

 

 TEVIOT, TRENT, BANN, and PLYM

 

Arabian – Bengal – Ceylon Escort Force

 

 GAWLER, IPSWICH, and MARYBOROUGH

 

 

(B). BASES

 

Addu Atoll

 

5. DEVON CITY and BARBOURNE were sent Addu Atoll in the middle of the middle of the month to weigh the remains of the booms in Gan and Willingili Channels and to lay moorings for landing craft. On completion, BARBOURNE is to go to Diego Garcia and DEVON CITY to return to Colombo.

 

6. ATREUS and ALSEY completed the relaying of the controlled minefields on 27^th November.

 

Colombo

 

7. EMILE BAUDOT has been engaged during the month in laying the indicator loops at Colombo.

 

Trincomalee

 

8. The inner (old) A/S boom has now been removed.

 

9. Work on laying the warship and auxiliary moorings continues.

 

10. Lack of labour is till handicapping work in general and it has been approved for personnel of M.N.B.D.O. to be loaned to Trincomalee in order to accelerate the building of the various wharfs and jetties necessary for the Fleet.

 

Kilindini

 

11. It has been approved to remove the KIPEVU Heavy A.S. battery to make way for expansion of the R.A.F. Flying Boat Base, and it has also been decided not to install the planned A.A. defences of Tanga.

 

12. The A.A. defences of the remaining Indian Ocean bases are under review.

 

Diego Suarez

 

13. The repairs to the Controlled Minefield have now been completed. All loops are very satisfactory, but this is expected to settle down in due course.

 

n.b. top of page chopped

 

(C).

 

...........have been operating in the Indian Ocean during the month. Another Japanese U Boat, returning from Europe to the Far East, was on passage across the Indian Ocean during the second half of the month.

 

15. One German U boat was operating at the beginning of the month off Cochin, but after dark on 3^rd November, it was attacked by a Catalina escort aircraft and probably damaged. The U boat left the area for its Eastern base and as a result of searches and patrols was very probably attacked again on the 8^th November, but without result.

 

16. Three ships totaling 21,869 tons were sunk during the month, these were all independents and no attacks on convoys were made.

 

17. A number of attacks by surface vessels were made on suspected U Boat contacts during the month, but in attacks analysed to date, the actual presence of a U boat has not been confirmed.

 

(D). AIR

 

18. Escorts were given to convoys during the month. The Catalina escorting Convoy MB.53 attacked a submarine and reported probable hits. The submarine fired at the Catalina causing slight damage to the tail plane. Submarine dived and was not seen again although searches were laid on.

 

19. On November 9^th, Liberator P/160 stated he was over a submarine and attacked, but the depth charges failed to release. Searches were flown to find the submarine but were not successful.

 

20. Japanese Navy. Four engined flying boats visited Madras, Trincomalee, and Colombo on the night of the 12^th and one was shot down off Colombo by a Beaufighter. Bodies and documents were picked up later in the day.

 

21. S.S. SCOTIA was torpedoed 300 miles S.W. of Addu Atoll on the 27^th. All the crew were located by Catalinas and H.M.S. OKAPI was led to the scene and picked them up. Six of the crew had been shot including the Chief Engineer. The Captain was taken prisoner. Catalina K/205 was responsible for this fine piece of rescue work. 205 Squadron now hold the records for lives saved, it being nearly 500.

 

 

---

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

Area of operations, click to enlarge

 

 

DECEMBER 1943

 

Wednesday, 1st December
FALMOUTH, CAPE WARWICK, ST ZENO and ARCTIC EXPLORER	Escorting A K D 7 (S) left Kilindini for Durban
ADAMANT, QUICKMATCH and RAPID	With one M.S. left Colombo for Trincomalee
SCOUT	Escorting WINGSANG arrived Diego Garcia from Addu Atoll. Left Diego Garcia for Addu Atoll
ROHILKAND and IRRIWADI	Arrived Calcutta having made rendezvous with M A 18 and provided additional escort
ALSEY	Left Addu Atoll for Colombo
SHOREHAM, POONA and TRAVANCORE	Escorting M B 56 arrived Bombay from Colombo
SORSRA	Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini
MASTIFF	Escorting HUNAN arrived Seychelles from Kilindini
OKAPI	Arrived Addu Atoll with survivors from torpedoed ship SCOTIA
LULWORTH and MAID MARION	With BURNIE and FORELAND and escorting A K D 7 arrived Kilindini from Aden
PUNJAB, MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting P A 62 arrived Aden from Hormuz
NIGELLA and ROCKROSE	Escorting B A 55 arrived Aden from Bombay
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Escorting M A 19 left Calcutta for Chittagong
Thursday, 2nd December
BATHURST, RAJPUTANA, BARODA and AGRA	Escorting B M 76 arrived Colombo from Bombay
OUDH	Arrived Colombo from Madras
DIPAVATI	With BROOMDALE arrived Colombo from Bombay
KALE and DERG	Escorting B a 56 A left Bombay for Aden
TEVIOT and BANN	Arrived Aden, having been ordered to return to act as additional escort for A B 23
INTEGRITY	Towing two LCM left Colombo for Mandapam
MADRAS, PUNJAB and CARNATIC	Escorting P A 62 arrived Aden from Hormuz
JASMINE and VIRGINIA	Escorting A K D 8 left Aden for Kilindini
IPSWICH	Escorting one ship left Bombay for Colombo
SUFFOLK	Left Bombay for Colombo
S/M attack	SS NITSA torpedoed in position 11-42N, 45-32E at 2145.
SCOUT	Arrived Addu Atoll from Diego Garcia
SHILLONG	Escorting NEVASA arrived Calcutta from Madras
LILAVATI	Arrived Bombay from Karachi
VERBENA and HELFORD	Left Kilindini for Aden
Friday, 3rd December
TALLY HO	Left Colombo on patrol
CITY OF TOKIO	Left Durban for Bombay
FROBISHER	Left Kilindini for Trincomalee
GERALDTON and BENGAL	Escorting B P 105 left Bombay for Hormuz
LISMORE	Escorting CHALLENGER and SINGU left Trincomalee for Colombo
QUIBERON, ROEBUCK and QUALITY	Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
ADAMANT, RAPID and QUICKMATCH	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
TRESPASSER	Arrived Trincomalee from patrol
RAJPUTANA and AGRA	Escorting J C 28 left Colombo for Vizagapatam
LURCHER	Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
'SSSS'	SS FORT CAMOSUN torpedoed in position 11-21N, 46-03E at 2003Z. Ship still afloat and proceeding from Colombo
CALCUTTA	Escorting J C 27 arrived Calcutta from Colombo
OVERDALE WYKE	Left Colombo for Addu Atoll
SCOUT	Left Addu Atoll for Colombo
TEWERA	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
JASMINE and VIRGINIA	Escorting A K D 8 left Aden for Kilindini
BOMBAY and KALAVATI	Escorting M A 19 arrived Chittagong from Calcutta
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Arrived Addu Atoll from Seychelles
INTEGRITY	Escorting landing craft arrived Mandapam from Colombo and returned.
CESSNOCK, KONKAN and BALUCHISTAN	Escorting P A 63 left Hormuz for Aden
Saturday, 4th December
TAMWORTH and ORISSA	Escorting P B 65 arrived Bombay from Hormuz
RAPID	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
NEWCASTLE and KENYA	Left Kilindini for Trincomalee
H.S. TJITALENGKA	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
ML 1082	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
JAY	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
QUIBERON, ROEBUCK and QUALITY	Escorting C M 47 left Diego Suarez for Aden
ASTER	Escorting A B 22 arrived Bombay from Aden
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Left Addu Atoll for Seychelles
ALSEY	Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
LISMORE	Escorting CHALLENGER and SINGU arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
GENISTA	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
MASTIFF	Escorting HUNAN left Seychelles fro Diego Suarez
ASTER	Escorting A B 22 arrived Bombay from Aden
ROHILKAND	Escorting M A 20 left Calcutta for Chittagong
Sunday, 5th December
SUFFOLK	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
QUICKMATCH	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8	Arrived Mandapam from Colombo
MARYBOROUGH	Escorting NORTHERN SUN arrived Bombay from Aden
CAIRNS and KHYBER	escort P B 66 left Hormuz for Karachi
SHILLONG	Left Calcutta for Madras
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN, SHOREHAM and POONA	Escorting B M 77 left Bombay for Colombo
SORSRA	Escorting BURMA left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
FLICKER and FULLMOON	Escorting p B 65 A left Hormuz for Karachi
RAPID	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
Monday, 6th December
CEYLON	Left Bombay for Trincomalee
ERITREA (Italian ship)	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
SUFFOLK	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
RAPID	Escorting J C 28 A left Colombo for Trincomalee
ML 1082	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
SUSSEX	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
TJITJALENGKA	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
CHITRAL	Escorting A K D 7 (Fast) arrived Durban from Aden
CARPIO	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
OKAPI	Arrived Diego Garcia from Addu Atoll
OKAPI	Left Diego Garcia escorting WINGSANG for Addu Atoll
TULIP, BANN and THRUSTER	Escorting A B 23 left Aden for Bombay
ROHILKAND	Escorting M A 20 arrived Chittagong from Calcutta
SCOUT	Escorting S C 12 arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
TRAVANCORE	Escorting B P 105 A left Bombay for Karachi
IPSWICH	Escorting BRADFORD CITY arrived Colombo from Bombay
PUNJAB, MADRAS and CARNATIC	Escorting A P 55 left Aden for Khor Kuwai
TULIP and BANN	Escorting A B 23 left Aden for Bombay
Tuesday, 7th December
QUICKMATCH	Escorting KHEDIVE ISMAIL left Colombo for Trincomalee
JAY	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
IPSWICH, BATHURST, BARODA and DIPAVATI	Escorting M B 57 left Colombo for Bombay
EMERALD	Escorting EMPIRE FAIRY arrived Kilindini from Seychelles
RESOURCE	Left Suez for Aden
BYMS	Arrived Colombo from Mandapam
NARBADA	Arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
DERBYSHIRE	Left Suez for Aden
LE TIGRE, HERTFORDSHIRE, COVENTRY CITY and NORTHERN DUKE	Escorting D K A 9 left Durban for Kilindini
INTEGRITY	Towing B P T left Colombo for Trincomalee
OVERDALE WYKE	Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
FROBISHER	Arrived Addu Atoll from Kilindini
TRENT and THYME	Escorting B A 56 arrived Aden from Bombay
KALE and DERG	Escorting B A 56 A arrived Aden from Bombay
Dutch S/M K 15	Left Suez for Aden
FROBISHER	Left Addu Atoll to MOMP with LE TRIOMPHANT and CEDERMILS and take over tow of LE TRIOMPHANT
GAWLER and MARYBOROUGH	Escorting B A 57 left Bombay for Aden
LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Escorting D K A 7 arrived Aden from Kilindini
KALAVATI	Escorting M A 21 left Calcutta for Chittagong
Wednesday, 8th December
ERITREA	Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
OKAPI	Escorting WINGSANG arrived Addu Atoll from Diego Garcia
HELFORD and VERBENA	Arrived Aden from Kilindini
MASTIFF	With RUNAN arrived Diego Suarez from Seychelles
TRESPASSER	Escorted by ERITREA left Trincomalee for Colombo
OVERDALE WYKE	Escorting 49th ML Flotilla left Addu Atoll for Colombo
RAPID	Arrived Trincomalee after assisting in U boat hunt south of Ceylon
QUADRANT	Left Kilindini for Durban
CHITRAL	Left Durban for Kilindini
TEMPLAR	Arrived Trincomalee from patrol
GERALDTON and BENGAL	Escorting B P 105 left Hormuz for Bombay
KHYBER and CAIRNS	Escorting P B 66 left Karachi for Bombay
Thursday, 9th December
KALAVATI	Escorting M A 21 arrived Chittagong from Calcutta
SHILLONG	Arrived Madras from Calcutta
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Arrived Seychelles and left again for Diego Suarez
SORSRA	Escorting BURMA arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini
CEYLON	Arrived Trincomalee from Bombay
TRESPASSER	Escorted by ERITREA arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
NORMAN	Escorting MOOLTAN left Bombay for Colombo
FLICKER and FULLMOON	Escorting P B 65 A arrived Karachi from Hormuz
LULWORTH and GENISTA	Escorting D K A 8 left Kilindini for Aden
COBERG, STANDERTON, PRETORIA and CEDERBERG	Escorting D K A 8 arrived Kilindini from Durban
NEWCASTLE and KENYA	Arrived Trincomalee from Kilindini
TAURUS	Escorted by TEWERA left Colombo for Trincomalee
RAJPUTANA and AGRA	Escorting J C 28 arrived Vizagapatam from Madras
Friday, 10th December
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN, SHOREHAM and POONA	Escorting B M 77 arrived Colombo from Bombay
INTEGRITY	Towing BPT arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
RAPID	Left Trincomalee to rendezvous with OVERDALE WYKE and tow to Colombo
ARCTIC EXPLORER, LADY ELSA, ST ZENO, CAPE WARWICK and FALMOUTH	Escorting A K D 7 (Slow) arrived Durban from Kilindini
Saturday, 11th December
SHILLONG	Escorting one ship left Madras for Vizagapatam
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN, SHOREHAM and POONA	Escorting J C 29 and with DEMODOCUS and SINGU left Colombo for Trincomalee
SCOUT	Escorting C X 13 left Colombo for Addu Atoll
CESSNOCK and KONKAN	Escorting P A 63 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
QUIBERON, ROEBUCK and QUALITY	Escorting C M 47 arrived Aden from Diego Suarez
QUADRANT	Arrived Durban from Kilindini
FALMOUTH	Left Durban for Simonstown
SORSRA	Escorting DURMA left Diego Garcia for Mauritius
CUTTACK	Escorting B P 105 A arrived Hormuz from Karachi
OUDH	Left Colombo for Bombay
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA	Arrived Diego Suarez from Seychelles
TRAVANCORE	Escorting BATORY left Karachi for Bombay
CAIRNS and KHYBER	Escorting P B 66 arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
BENGAL	Escorting P A 64 left Hormuz for Aden
2nd Division 49th ML Flotilla	Arrived Colombo from Durban
Sunday, 12th December
INTEGRITY	Left Trincomalee for Colombo
NORMAN	Escorting MOOLTAN arrived Colombo from Bombay
IPSWICH, BATHURST, DIPAVATI and BARODA	Escorting M B 57 arrived Bombay from Colombo
JUMNA	Arrived Colombo from James
LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Escorting A K D 7 left Aden for Kilindini
FLICKER and FULLMOON	Escorting P B 65 A left Karachi for Bombay
PATNA	Escorting J C 28 arrived Calcutta from Vizagapatam
LURCHER	Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Diego Suarez
BATTLER, ROTHERHAM, NEPAL and PLYM	Left Bombay to MOMP with A B 24 A and take over escort to Bombay
RAPID	Left Colombo to MOMP with A B 24 A as additional escort to Bombay
TAMWORTH	Left Bombay for Khor Kuwai
TAURUS	Escorted by TEWERA arrived Trincomalee from Colombo
JASMINE, BANFF and VIRGINIE	Escorting A K D 8 arrived Kilindini from Aden
CUTTACK	Left Bandar Abbas with one ship towing 'Z' craft to Ras al Hadd thence Bombay
Monday, 13th December
INTEGRITY	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
DIPAVATI and LILAVATI	Escorting B M 77 A 1 Bombay for Colombo
SUFFOLK	Left Trincomalee to MOMP with JACOB VAN HEEMSKIRK and escort two ships to Colombo
S/M K 15	Arrived Aden from Suez
QUIBERON, ROEBUCK and QUALITY	Escorting A B 24 with RESOURCE, BOXER, and AIMWELL in company left Aden.
CHITRAL	Arrived Kilindini from Durban
CESSNOCK, BALUCHISTAN and KONKAN	Escorting P A 63 left Aden from Hormuz
IPSWICH and ORISSA	Escorting B M 78 left Bombay for Colombo
ROCKROSE and THYME	Escorting convoy A B 24 left Aden for Bombay
Tuesday, 14th December
SCOUT	Escorting C K 15 arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
TRESPASSER	Escorted by ERITREA left Colombo for Trincomalee
NORMAN	Left Colombo for Kilindini
JACOB VAN HEEMSKIRK	Left Fremantle escorting two ships to MOMP with SUFFOLK and hand over escort duties, thence to Colombo
OUDH	Arrived Bombay from Colombo
SORSRA	Escorting BURMA arrived Mauritius from Diego Suarez
GAWLER and MARYBOROUGH	Escorting B A 57 arrived Aden from Bombay
U-boat attack	DAISY MOLLER sunk in position 16-21N, 82-13E at 2150Z/13
BANN and TULIP	Escorting A B 23 arrived Bombay from Aden
KALAVATI	Escorting H C 13 left Calcutta for Chittagong
Wednesday, 15th December
QUIBERON, ROEBUCK and QUALITY	Escorting A B 24 met BATTLER, ROTHERHAM, and RAPID who will escort A B 24 A to Bombay. RESOURCE escorted by QUALITY and QUIBERON proceed to Trincomalee. HMRT AIMWELL proceeds independently to Colombo
Dutch S/M K 15	Left Aden for Colombo
PLYM	Detached from BATTLER and proceeded independently to Aden
GAWLER and MARYBOROUGH	Left Aden for Kilindini
LAUNCESTON, RAJPUTANA and AGRA	Escorting C J 8 arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
SCOUT	Escorting EMPIRE MOUNTAIN left Addu Atoll for Diego Garcia
HILDASAY	Escorting STORE NORDISKE left Diego Suarez for Seychelles
FROBISHER	Handed over tow of LE TRIOMPHANT to HMRT PRUDENT and proceeds to Diego Suarez
TAMWORTH	Escorting EMPIRE PRIDE arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay
FULLMOON and FLICKER	Escorting P B 65 A arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai
MADRAS and PUNJAB	Left Khor Kuwai for Bombay
LAHORE	Left Vizagapatam fro Madras
Thursday, 16th December
FROBISHER	Arrived Diego Suarez
SHILLONG	Left Madras for Colombo
QUADRANT	Arrived Simonstown from Durban
MASTIFF	Escorting HUNAN left Diego Suarez for Mauritius
KALAVATI	Arrived Calcutta having escorted H C 13 to Chittagong
Friday, 17th December
SCOUT	Escorting EMPIRE MOUNTAIN arrived Diego Garcia from Addu Atoll
LAUNCESTON, JUMNA and AGRA	Escorting M B 58 left Colombo for Bombay
NARBADA	Escorting H C 14 left Calcutta for Vizagapatam
SORSRA	Escorting BURMA left Mauritius for Diego Suarez
QUICKMATCH	Arrived Kilindini from Colombo
BANFF	Left Kilindini for Aden escorting K A 9
VIRGINIA	Escorting M N 1 A left Kilindini for Seychelles
Saturday, 18th December
IPSWICH and ORISSA	Escorting B M 78 arrived Colombo from Bombay
HILDASAY	Escorting STORE NORDISKE arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez
LISMORE and SONAVATI	Escorting C X 14 left Colombo for Addu Atoll
BENGAL	Escorting P A 64 arrived Aden from Khor Kuwai
DANAE	Left Bombay for Persian Gulf
SHOREHAM and POONA	Escorting J C 29 arrived Vizagapatam from Colombo
CUTTACK	Arrived Bombay from Bandar Abbas
RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Escorting C M 48 left Durban for Kilindini
LURCHER	Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini
DIPAVATI and LILAVATI	Escorting BM 77 A arrived Cochin from Bombay
GERALDTON	Arrived Karachi from Khor Kuwai
Sunday, 19th December
IPSWICH and ORISSA	Escorting J C 30 left Colombo for Vizagapatam
NEWCASTLE	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
SHILLONG	Arrived Colombo from Madras
ERITREA	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
BATTLER, ROTHERHAM, ROEBUCK, KALE, DERG and RAPID	Escorting A B 24 A with BOXER arrived Bombay from Aden
LE TRIOMPHANT	Towed by PRUDENT and SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA arrived Diego Suarez
LE TIGRE, HERTFORDSHIRE, NORTHERN DUKE and COVENTRY CITY	Escorting D K A 9 arrived Kilindini from Durban
SHOREHAM, POONA and BERAR	Escorting C J 9 left Vizagapatam for Colombo
PUNJAB and MADRAS	Arrived Bombay from Hormuz
PATNA	Escorting C J 9 left Vizagapatam
MASTIFF	Escorting one ship arrived Mauritius from Diego Suarez
LULWORTH and GENISTA	Escorting D K A 8 arrived Aden from Kilindini
NEPAL	Escorting ARUNDEL CASTLE arrived Kilindini from Aden
VEREENIGING, IMMORTELLE, TURFFORNTEIN and SONNEBLOM	Escorting D N 60 A left Durban for Kilindini
Monday, 20th December
SCOUT	Escorting X C 13 left Addu Atoll for Colombo
O 24	Left Colombo for Aden
SUTLEJ, BENGAL, PLYM and TRENT	Escorting A B 25 A left Aden for Bombay
NARBADA	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
2nd Division 49th ML Flotilla	Left Colombo for Cochin
NEPAL	Escorting M C 10 A left Kilindini for Durban
LURCHER	Left Seychelles for Diego Suarez
TACTICIAN	Arrived Trincomalee from patrol
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and IRRAWADI	Escorting J C 29 arrived Calcutta from Vizagapatam
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and KALAVATI	Escorting C J 9 A left Calcutta for Colombo
SORSRA	Escorting BURMA arrived Diego Suarez from Mauritius
CESSNOCK, KONKAN and BALUCHISTAN	Escorting A P 56 arrived Hormuz from Aden
FALMOUTH	Taken in hand at Simonstown
Tuesday, 21st December
SONAVATI and LISMORE	Escorting ZUIDERKRUIS arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo
ROCKROSE and THYME	Escorting A B 24 arrived Bombay from Aden
LANDGUARD and SENNEN	Escorting A K D 9 arrived Kilindini from Aden
KHYBER and BARODA	Escorting B M 79 left Bombay
BATHURST	For Colombo
WOLLONGONG and CARNATIC	Escorting P B 66 A left Bandar Abbas for Bombay
DANAE	Arrived Bandar Abbas from Bombay
FROBISHER	Left Diego Suarez for Durban
SCOUT and SONAVATI	Escorting X C 13 left Addu Atoll for Colombo
NORMAN	Arrived Kilindini from Colombo
Wednesday, 22nd December
GAWLER and MARYBOROUGH	Arrived Kilindini from Aden
MASTIFF	Escorting HUNAN left Mauritius for Diego Suarez
RESOURCE, QUALITY and QUIBERON	Arrived Trincomalee from Aden
NEWCASTLE	Left Colombo to exercise with CEYLON and KENYA off Ceylon thence to Trincomalee
VIRGINIA	Escorting M N 1 A arrived Seychelles from Kilindini
JUMNA and LAUNCESTON	Escorting M B 58 arrived Bombay from Colombo
LISMORE	Escorting ZUIDERKRUIS left Addu Atoll for Diego Garcia
KATHIAWAR and PANSY	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
CHITRAL	Escorting K R 7 A left Kilindini for Colombo, JASMINE acting as additional escort to Seychelles
CESSNOCK and CARNATIC	Escorting P B 66 B left Hormuz for Bombay
Thursday, 23rd December
PESHAWAR	Torpedoed and sunk in position 11-25N, 80-30E
ODBERG, STANDERTON, PRETORIA and CEDARBERG	Escorting A K D 8 arrived Durban from Kilindini
LURCHER	Arrived Diego Suarez from Seychelles
ASTER	Left Bombay for Aden
Friday, 24th December
SHOREHAM, BERAR and POONA	Escorting C J 9 arrived Colombo from Vizagapatam
DIPAVATI	Escorting CORMORANT arrived Colombo from Bombay
LISMORE	Escorting ZUIDERKRUIS arrived Diego Garcia from Addu Atoll
CUTTACK	Left Bombay for Karwar
HELFORD	Escorting A B 25 B left Aden for Bombay
NEPAL	Escorting M C 10 A arrived Durban from Kilindini
FROBISHER	Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez
NAPIER and NIZAM	Left Kilindini to take over escort of C M 48 to Aden
KUMAON	Left Bombay for Hormuz
LAHORE	Arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
QUALITY	Left Trincomalee for Madras
SCOUT and SONAVATI	Escorting X C 13 arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll
Saturday, 25th December
RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Arrived Kilindini from Durban having handed over escort duties of C M 48 to NAPIER and NIZAM
WOOLWICH and BETONY	Arrived Aden from Suez
WOLLONGONG	Escorting P B 66 A arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf
IRRIWADI	Escorting C J 10 left Calcutta for Vizagapatam
QUALITY	Arrived Madras from Trincomalee
SORSRA	With one ship. Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez
K 15	Arrived Colombo from Aden
CANTON	Arrived Bombay from Durban
MASTIFF	Escorting one ship arrived Diego Garcia from Mauritius
BANFF	Escorting K A 9 arrived Aden from Kilindini
Sunday, 26th December
RAJPUTANA, AGRA, DIPAVATI and BERAR	Escorting M B 59 left Colombo for Bombay. RAJPUTANA to detach off Cochin with three M/V for Aden and act as escort to dispersal point thence Colombo
BOMBAY	Left Calcutta to overtake C J 10 and act as additional escort
KHYBER, BARODA and BATHURST	Escorting B M 79 arrived Colombo from Bombay
NARBADA and ROHILKAND	Escorting H C 16 arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
TRESPASSER	Left Trincomalee for patrol
SUFFOLK, RAPID and ROEBUCK	Escorting U S 23 arrived Bombay
SHILLONG	Escorting one dredger left Colombo for Madras
AMRITSAR	Escorting H C 17 A left Calcutta for Chittagong
BANFF	Escorting K A 9 arrived Aden from Kilindini
BATTLER, ROTHERHAM, ROEBUCK, RAPID, KALE and DERG	Left Bombay for Aden
Monday, 27th December
KATHIAWAR and PANSY	Escorting H C 17 left Calcutta for Chittagong
BATHURST and BARODA	Escorting J C 31 left Colombo for Calcutta
JACOB VAN HEEMSKERK	Left Colombo for Aden
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and KALAVATI	Escorting C J 9 A with QUIBERON as additional cover arrived Colombo from Calcutta
LISMORE	Left Addu Atoll to R/V K R 7 and act as additional escort to Colombo
CESSNOCK and CARNATIC	Escorting P B 66 B arrived Bombay from Hormuz
SS ASIAN	Sunk in collision with merchant ship in position 7-45 North, 77-40 East night of 26/27
JOSE NAVARRO	Torpedoed and sunk in position 73-35 East, 8-20 North at 2330Z
JASMINE	Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini
SUSSEX	Left Kilindini for Colombo
IPSWICH and ORISSA	Escorting C J 10 left Vizagapatam for Colombo
SUTLEJ, TRENT and PLYM	Escorting A B 25 A arrived Bombay from Aden
49th ML Flotilla, 2nd Division	Arrived Bombay from Colombo
QUICKMATCH	Left Kilindini for Durban
GENISTA	Escorting A K D 10 A left Durban for Kilindini
Tuesday, 28th December
QUIBERON and KHYBER	Escorting M B 59 A left Colombo
NORMAN, RACEHORSE and REDOUBT	Escorting RAMILLIES left Kilindini for Aden
'SSSS'	ROBERT F. HOKE torpedoed in position 20-00N, 59-25E at 0347Z
KATHIAWAR and PANSY	Escorting H C 17 arrived Calcutta from Chittagong
PLYM	Escorting B A 58 left Bombay for Aden
TEMPLAR	Left Trincomalee for patrol
TALLY HO	Left Trincomalee for patrol
PATNA	Escorting J C 30 arrived Calcutta from Vizagapatam
TAURUS	Arrived Trincomalee from patrol
Wednesday, 29th December
NEWCASTLE, CEYLON and KENYA	Left Trincomalee for exercises
STONEHENGE and TRUCULENT	Left Suez for Aden
ASTER	Escorting D. S/M O 24 arrived Aden
Thursday, 30th December
CHITRAL	Escorting K R 7 A arrived Colombo from Kilindini
AGRA and DIPAVATI	Escorting M B 59 arrived Bombay from Colombo
VEREENIGING, IMMORTELLE, TURFONTEIN and SONNEBLOM	Escorting D N 60 A arrived Kilindini from Durban
HELFORD	Escorting A B 25 B arrived Bombay from Aden
(n.b. bottom of page chopped)
Friday, 31st December
KONKAN and TAMWORTH	Escorting P B 66 C left Bandar Abbas for Bombay
ERITREA	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
CEYLON	Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee
QUALITY	Escorting two LSTs arrived Colombo from Madras
DEVON CITY and LISMORE	Left Colombo for Trincomalee
DANAE	Left Bandar Abbas for Muscat
TRAVANCORE	Escorting B P 105 B arrived Karachi from Bombay
HERMITAGE	Left Bombay for Melbourne
SHILLONG	Escorting J C 50 A
NAPIER and NIZAM	Escorting C M 48 arrived Aden
SOLVRA	Escorting M H 1 A left Kilindini for Durban
QUALITY	Escorting two LSTs left Colombo for Aden
CANTON	Left Bombay for Colombo
NEWCASTLE and KENYA	Returned to Trincomalee from exercises

 

 

Part II

 

NARRATIVE

 

(A) CONVOYS

 

General

 

1.

(a) To meet the U boat threat on the East Coast of India route convoy sailings between Colombo and Calcutta were instituted at the beginning of the month.

 

J C 28 left Colombo on December 3rd and C J 2 left Calcutta on December 9th, subsequent convoys sailing at eight day intervals

 

Sailing dates of B M and M B convoys were adjusted so as to connect with the J C and C J at Colombo

 

(b) Owing to the limited entrance of escort vessels it was necessary to provide relief escorts at Vizagapatam

 

The scale of escort of these convoys was two or three escort vessels between Colombo and Vizagapatam, and one coastal A/S vessel between Vizagapatam and Calcutta

 

(c) Owing to the strong southerly current persisting on the east coast of India and Ceylon, some difficulty was experienced in arranging rendezvous times off Vizagapatam, Madras, and Trincomalee, so that ships joining or leaving convoys from these ports can do so in daylight

 

In order to maintain convoy cycle, it was found necessary to make a minimum speed for inclusion in J C convoys 9 knows. Ships of 8 knots and over were included in the C J convoys.

 

2. To meet a possible U boat threat west of Ceylon, ships found for Aden from the East Coast of India, Ceylon, and Cochin were included in an Aden section of MB convoys, commencing with M B 59 on December 26th. This section was detached with independent escort off Cochin and route through a 9 degree channel to Longitude 70E, where ships were dispersed to proceed independently.

 

3. Sailing of M/T ships from Vizagapatam to Chittagong ended with convoy M A 21 on December 6th. These ships were then included in H C convoys from Calcutta, commencing with H C 12 on December 11th.

 

Steps Taken to Speed Up Shipping

 

4. Ships have been divided into classes according to their speed, viz.

 Class A 13 knots and over

 Class B 12 knots and over

 Class C 11 knots and over

 Class D All ships eligible for convoy.

 

On December 4th, Class A were released from P B, H P, B M, M B, D K A, A K D.

 

From December 13th, all ships except troop ships were released from the following convoys:

 

 A K D, D K A, A B , B A , A P, P A, P B, B P.

 

Class A ships were released from J C and C J convoys.

TROOP CONVOYS

 

5.

C M 47 (3 ships) arrived on Aden on 11th December, escorted by QUIBERON, QUALITY, and ROEBUCK

 

A K D 7 F (2 ships) arrived at Durban on 6th December, escorted by CHITRAL

 

A B 24 A, consisting of HMS RESOURCE, HMS BOXER, and twelve ships left Aden on 13th December escorted by QUIBERON, QUALITY, ROEBUCK, KALE, and DERG. HMS BATTLER, screened by NEPAL, ROTHERHAM, and PLYM, momped with these convoys on 15th December and escorted the Indian section to Bombay. The Durban section was escorted by NEPAL calling at Kilindini on 19th December and arrived at Durban on 24th December. The Ceylon section, consisting of HMS RESOURCE and one ship, escorted by QUIBERON and QUALITY arrived at Trincomalee on 22nd December.

 

C M 48 left Durban on 18th December escorted by RACEHORSE and REDOUBT, who were relieved by NAPIER and NIZAM off Kilindini. The convoy arrived at Aden on 31st December.

 

U S 23 (2 ships) left Fremantle on 14th December, escorted by HEEMSKERK. SUFFOLK relieved HEEMSKERK at MOMP on 18th December and escorted to Bombay where the convoy arrived on the 26th. ROEBUCK and RAPID provided A/S escort on the 25th and 26th.

 

K A 9 (2 ships) left Kilindini on 17th December escorted by BANFF and arrived at Aden on the 25th

 

B A 58 (3 ships) left Bombay on 28th December escorted by PLYM

 

SINGLE ESCORTED TROOP SHIPS

 

6.

NEPAL escorted EMPIRE PRIDE and arrived at Bombay on 3rd December

 

QUICKMATCH left Colombo on 7th December, escorting KHEDIVE ISMAIL and arrived Kilindini on 17th December

 

NORMAN left Bombay on 9th December, escorting MOOLTAN, and arrived Colombo 12th December

 

CHITRAL left Kilindini on 22nd December, escorting KHEDIVE ISMAIL (K R 7 A) and arrived Colombo on 30th December. LISMORE provided A/S escort from 1 ½ degree channel.

 

GENISTA left Aden on the 27th, escorting SONTAY ( A K D 1 C A).

 

HELFORD left Aden on the 24th, escorting CITY OF PARIS (A B 25 B) and arrived Bombay on the 30th.

 

ESCORT VESSELS

 

7. The following escort vessels joined the Eastern Fleet during the month

 

Aden Escort Force	MELFORD
	VERBENA
Arabian-Bengal-Ceylon Escort Force	BETONY
	ROSEBAY

 

(B). ANTI SUBMARINE

 

8. U boat activity in the Indian Ocean during the month has been on a slightly increased scale. Japanese U boats have operated in the Gulf of Aden, off Masira, and in the Bay of Bengal. One German U boat is believed to have operated in the Madras area before moving to the Maldivis area.

 

9. Four ships, totaling 23,997 tons have been sunk and 3 others damaged, of which one of the latter has reached port, one is proceeding under her own power, and the third is in tow.

 

10. F.F.S. SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA made, what appears from initial reports, a promising attack on 13^th December in position 11-20S, (n.b. letter chopped) 6-50E. Full report is not yet in hand.

 

11. A search was organized by the Commodore Aden for the U boat which attacked a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden on 3^rd December. Several contacts wee attacked but the U boat is considered to have cleared the area immediately after it had fired, and escaped.

 

12. Three other attacks were made by surface vessels and one by aircraft but the full reports have not yet been received. The presence of a U boat, in two cases, was possible.

 

(C) GUNNERY

 

13, The first Bombardment practice on the Bombardment Range at Trincomalee was carried out by ships of the 4^th Cruiser Squadron on 29^th December.

 

(D). Bases

 

General

 

14. The A.A. and Coast Defences of East African bases have been under review, and it has been decided to make no alteration to the existing equipments, which the exception of Kilindini where the 6 inch and 6 pdr C.D. guns will be mounted as planned.

 

Addu Atoll

 

15. DEVON CITY and BARBOURNE have been working at Addu Atoll and Diego Garcia during the month and have completed the following works'

 

(a). Boom in GAN channel cleared.

 

(b). Indicator nets in Northern entrance cleared.

 

(c). Boat moorings laid at Addu Atoll and Diego Garcia.

 

16. MATIANA with 'Q' Company R.M.E. has left Addu Atoll, and is now at Colombo, en route to Trincomalee.

 

Colombo

 

17. The laying of the Indicator loops was completed on 28^th December.

 

Trincomalee

 

18. Work on booms, baffles, and mooring continues. The booms and baffles are almost complete.

 

19. 'Q' Company R.M.E. are being sent to Trincomalee to accelerate the building of the wharves and jetties, which are at present inadequate for the needs of the Fleet.

 

20. The presence of a Cruiser Squadron during the month has pointed more definitely the shortage of harbour service craft. 'Z' craft and R.C.L.s (B) from India are earmarked for harbour service work, and the delay in their delivery is causing anxiety.

 

Diego Suarez

 

21. Admiralty reports that the equipment for MILLS will not now be ready to leave U.K. before July 1944.