British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day by Don Kindell ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, 1 SEPTEMBER 1939 Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HM S/M H.49 (NavyPhotos/Mark Teadham, click photographs for enlargements)

on to French, Polish, German Navies, USN in Europe, September 1939 or back to Naval-History.Net

Contents 1. HOME WATERS 2. FOREIGN STATIONS 3. DOMINION and INDIAN NAVIES Background Events September 1939-March 1940 Battle of Atlantic starts, 'Phoney War' on land, Battle of River Plate

1. HOME WATERS Naval Commands, and Sub Commands/ship locations within them, are listed approximately north to south/east to west

HOME FLEET

Adm Sir Charles M Forbes on NELSON

Scapa Flow

2nd Battle Squadron (Rear Adm Henry E C Blagrove on ROYAL OAK) - battleships NELSON (Capt G J A Miles), RAMILLIES (Capt H T Baillie-Grohman DSC, OBE), RODNEY (Capt E N Syfret), ROYAL OAK (Capt W G Benn), ROYAL SOVEREIGN (Capt L V Morgan CBE MVO DSC)

Battlecruiser Squadron (Rear Adm William J Whitworth on HOOD) - HOOD (Capt I G Glennie), REPULSE (Capt E J Spooner DSO)

Aircraft carrier (Vice Adm Lionel V Wells on ARK ROYAL) - ARK ROYAL (Capt A J Powers CVO)

7th Cruiser Squadron (Capt Edward B C Dicken OBE DSC, Cdre 2nd Class on DIOMEDE) - light cruisers CALYPSO (Capt N J W William-Powlett DSC), CALEDON (Capt C P Clark), DIOMEDE (Capt Dicken), DRAGON (Capt R G Bowes-Lyon MVO)

12th Cruiser Squadron (Vice Adm Sir Max K Horton KCB, DSO, Vice Adm Commanding Northern Patrol on EFFINGHAM), CARDIFF (Capt P K Enright), DUNEDIN (Capt C E Lambe CVO), EFFINGHAM (Capt J M Howson), EMERALD (Capt A W S Agar VC, DSO)

18th Cruiser Squadron (Rear Adm Ronald H C Hallifax, also Rear Adm, Destroyers on AURORA from 30 Aug), AURORA (Capt G B Middleton), BELFAST (Capt G A Scott DSC), EDINBURGH (right, at the time of her loss in 1942 - NavyPhotos) (Capt F C Bradley), SHEFFIELD (Capt E de F Renouf CVO)

Anti-aircraft ship - anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA (Capt H A Packer)

6th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt R S G. Nicholson DSC)

Division 11 - ASHANTI (Cdr W G Davis), MASHONA (Cdr P W McLaughlin), MATABELE (Cdr G K Whitmy Smith), SOMALI (Nicholson)

Division 12 - BEDOUIN (Cdr J A McCoy), ESKIMO (Cdr St J A Micklethwait), PUNJABI (Cdr J T Lean), TARTAR (Capt G H Warner, Lt Cdr D E Holland-Smith from 13 Oct)

8th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt C S Daniel)

Destroyer FAULKNOR (Daniel)

Division 15 - FEARLESS (Cdr K L Harkness), FORESTER (Lt Cdr E B Tancock), FOXHOUND (Lt Cdr P H Hadow), FURY (Cdr G F Burghard)

Division 16 - FAME (Cdr P N Walter), FIREDRAKE (Lt Cdr S H Norris), FORESIGHT (Lt Cdr G T Lambert), FORTUNE (Cdr E A Gibbs)

Destroyer Depot ship - GREENWICH (Cdr J H Pipe) no repair stores on board, boiler cleaning parties only arr on 31 Aug

1st Minesweeping Flotilla (Capt R O FitzRoy) - minesweeper BRAMBLE (FitzRoy, SO), BRITOMART (Lt Cdr E P Hinton), HAZARD (Lt Cdr W T W Curtis), HEBE (Lt Cdr J B G. Temple), SEAGULL (Cdr D H Harries RAN), SHARPSHOOTER (Cdr J Peterson DSC), SPEEDY (Lt Cdr J C Richards)

Fleet Target Service - target ship CENTURION (Capt R V Symonds-Taylor DSC), destroyer SHIKARI (Cdr J Hext Lewis), both ships at Devonport

TB Target and PV ranging vessel - destroyer SABRE (Lt Cdr B Dean) at Scapa Flow

Netlayer - GUARDIAN (Capt E G N Rushbrooke DSC) at Sullom Voe

Admiralty Drifters - see 1 Aug 39

ROSYTH COMMAND

Vice Adm C G Ramsey

Rosyth Escort Force

escorted FN and FS convoys

Depot ship, Rosyth - COCHRANE (Capt R B Wilmot-Sitwell Rtd)

Rosyth Escort Force (Capt R Kerr)

15th Destroyer Flotilla (administered by Commander Rosyth Escort Force)

Division 29 - BROKE (Lt Cdr R I A Sarell, Cdr B G Scurfield from 27 Sep), WANDERER (Cdr R F Morice), WHITEHALL (Lt Cdr A B Russell), all dep Rosyth on patrol 1 Sep, WITCH (Lt Cdr J R Barnes) dep Rosyth for Harwich 31 Aug

Division 30 - VERITY (Lt Cdr A R M Black), VOLUNTEER (Lt Cdr H Gartside-Tippinge), WOLVERINE (Cdr R C Gordon, Cdr R H Craske from 27 Nov), WITHERINGTON (Lt Cdr G C Fryer), all Division 30 at Milford Haven for escort duty.

Convoy C (administered by Cdr Rosyth Escort Force) - escort ships, ex-destroyers VALOROUS (Lt Cdr E Mack) dep Rosyth on 2 Sep for Pentland Firth patrol, WALLACE (Lt Cdr W M L Astwood) arr at Leith 1 Sep, under repair for collision on 13 Sep, WHITLEY (Lt Cdr E H Dyke) dep Harwich on patrol 3 Sep, sloops BITTERN (Cdr G F Stevens-Guille OBE) at Rosyth, ENCHANTRESS (Cdr A K Scott-Moncrief) dep Rosyth on 2 Sep for Pentland Firth patrol, HASTINGS (Lt Cdr A B Alison) at Plymouth refitting to comp 16 Sep, PELICAN (Cdr L A K Boswell) dep Harwich on patrol 3 Sep, STORK (Cdr A C Behague) at Devonport since 14 Apr refitting to comp 9 Sep

At the end of September, Rosyth Escort Force was organised into four escort groups. With Destroyer Division 30 of the 15th Flotilla transferred to Western Approaches Command and at Plymouth, the rest of the Force was grouped as follows:

Group 1 - destroyer WANDERER (SO), escort ship VALOROUS, sloop HASTINGS

Group 2 - sloops BITTERN (SO), ENCHANTRESS, destroyer BROKE

Group 3 - sloop STORK (SO), destroyer WITCH, escort ship WHITLEY

Group 4 - sloops PELICAN (SO), WESTON, destroyer WHITEHALL

In mid October, Destroyer Division 29 was transferred to Western Approaches Command, but remained on East Coast duty through to the end of October

3rd Anti-Submarine Group - anti-submarine trawlers AGATE, AMETHYST (SO), JASPER

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Blyth - DEE (Lt E J Robinson Rtd, SO), JAMES LUDFORD, OHM, THOMAS ALTOFT

Outfitting at Tyne - FLANDERS, GUNNER

Dundee

2nd Submarine Flotilla (Capt W D Stephens on FORTH) - depot ship FORTH (Stephens) arr at Rosyth on 14 Oct, submarines OXLEY (Lt Cdr H G Bowerman), SEAHORSE (Lt D S Massey-Dawson), SEAWOLF (Lt Cdr J W Studholme), SPEARFISH (Lt J H Eaden), STARFISH (Lt T A Turner), STERLET (Lt G H S Haward), STURGEON (Lt G D A Gregory), SWORDFISH (Lt C B Crouch), SUNFISH (Lt Cdr J E Slaughter) refitting at Sheerness until 18 Oct, THISTLE (Cdr R W Stirling-Hamilton) at Portsmouth repairing to comp 9 Sep, TRIAD (Lt Cdr R McC P Jonas) commissioned, to join 16 Sep 39 after working up, TRIBUNE (Lt Cdr G P S Davies) completing, to join 17 Oct 39 after working up, TRIDENT ( Cdr J G Gould) commissioned, to join 1 Oct 39 after working up, TRITON (Lt Cdr H P de C Steel), TRIUMPH (Lt Cdr J W McCoy), TRUANT (Lt Cdr R W Peers) completing, to join 30 Oct 39 after working up

Minesweeping trawlers - HAWTHORN, WILLOW, WINDWARD, all at Dundee

Rosyth

Aircraft carrier - FURIOUS (Capt M L Clark DSC) training aircraft carrier at Rosyth

Seaplane tender - PEGASUS (Capt W G Agnew, Capt R G. Wodehouse Rtd, from 18 Sep) arr in the Tyne on 3 Sep en route to Scapa Flow, via Rosyth

Rear Admiral, Submarines - Rear Adm B C Watson CB, DSO at Aberdour. Operational headquarters only arrived on 30 Aug from Gosport where the administrative staff remained

Blyth

6th Submarine Flotilla (Cdr J S Bethell) - depot ship TITANIA (Bethell), submarines H.32 (Lt R F Jenks), L.26 (Lt Cdr F W Liscombe OBE), L.27 (Lt P J Cowell), UNDINE (Lt Cdr A S Jackson), UNITY (Lt Cdr J F B Brown), URSULA (Lt Cdr G C Phillips), all submarines dep Blyth on 31 Aug for patrol

HUMBER FORCE

Vice Adm Sir George F B Edwards-Collins

2nd Cruiser Squadron - light cruisers GLASGOW (Capt F H Pegram), SOUTHAMPTON (Flag, Capt F W H Jeans CVO), both ships dep the Humber 1 Sep

7th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt P J Mack)

Division 13 - JAVELIN (Cdr A F Pugsley), JERSEY (Lt Cdr A M McKillop), JERVIS (Mack), all dep Humber 1 Sep, JUPITER (Lt Cdr D B Wyburd) at Grimsby.

Division 14 - ECHO (Cdr S H K Spurgeon RAN) arr in the Humber 1 Sep, JACKAL (Cdr T M Napier) dep Humber 1 Sep, JAGUAR (Lt Cdr J F W Hine) to comp 12 Sep and on her arrival at Rosyth 28 Sep relieved ECHO, JANUS (Lt Cdr J A W Tothill), JUNO (Cdr W E Wilson), both arr in the Humber on 3 Sep

Minesweeping trawlers – GARRY, LIFFEY, both at Humber

Outfitting at Humber - BUCKINGHAM, FANE, GLEN KIDSON, LUNE, MALAYAN, SANDRINGHAM

NORE COMMAND

Adm Sir H Brownrigg

19th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt D J R Simson) - CODRINGTON (Simson)

Division 37 - BASILISK (Cdr M Richmond), BEAGLE (Lt Cdr R H Wright), BOREAS (Lt Cdr M W Tomkinson), KEITH (Cdr H T W Pawsey OBE) to join 19th Flotilla as a private ship when relieved by destroyer MONTROSE from the 17th Flotilla, but retained in the 17th Flotilla until Jan 40

Division 38 - BLANCHE (Lt Cdr R M Aubrey), BOADICEA (Lt Cdr G B Kingdon), BRAZEN (Lt Cdr R H Mills, Lt Cdr R C. Beckett from 1 Nov), BRILLIANT (Lt Cdr F C Brodrick)

CODRINGTON and the B-class destroyers dep Dover on patrol on 31 Aug, KEITH dep Plymouth on patrol on 3 Sep, BRILLIANT arr back at Dover on 2 Sep

5th Minesweeping Flotilla - minesweepers HALCYON (Cdr L V Lloyd Rtd, Cdr St. J Cronyn from 12 Oct), HARRIER (Lt Cdr B L Clark), HUSSAR (Lt Cdr T G P Crick), NIGER (Lt Cdr M A O Biddulph), SALAMANDER (Lt Cdr L J S Ede) at Sheerness, SELKIRK (Lt Cdr D H M Leggatt ret), SKIPJACK (Lt Cdr F B Proudfoot) at Dover, SPEEDWELL (Lt Cdr F R G Maunsell) at Harwich, SPHINX (Cdr J R N Taylor, SO)

6th Minesweeping Flotilla - minesweeping trawlers CEDAR, CYPRESS, HOLLY at Sheerness, SYRINGA (Lt Cdr A F L Evans, SO)

Minesweeping Trawlers

Outfitting at Dover - ARAGONITE, CAPE BARRACOUTA, CHALCEDONY, EASTCOATES, RUNSWICK BAY, OSAMA, OYAMA, SATA, ST MELANTE and one trawler as base ship

Outfitting at Sheerness - DARNETT NESS, DROMIO, GRAMPIAN, LADY ENID, LARCH, MASTIFF (Lt Cdr A A C Ouvry, SO), MYRTLE, NORTHCOATES, OAK, RIFSNES, TAMARISK

PORTSMOUTH COMMAND

Adm Sir William James

16th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt Thomas E Halsey)

Division 31 - MALCOLM (Halsey) arr Le Havre 3 Sep, VETERAN (Cdr J E Broome from 11 Oct) at Chatham repairing until 6 Nov 39, WREN (Cdr W H Selby) at Portsmouth

Division 32 - VANSITTART (Lt Cdr R G K Knowling) arr Le Havre 3 Sep, VENOMOUS (Lt Cdr D G F W MacIntyre) at Portsmouth, WIVERN (Lt Cdr W Evershed) arr Le Havre 3 Sep

18th Destroyer Flotilla

Division 35 - with Channel Force

Division 36 (at Portland on 3 Sep) - ACHATES (Lt Cdr R J Gardner), AMAZON (Lt Cdr N E G Roper), ANTHONY (Lt Cdr N J V Thew), ARROW (Cdr H W Williams)

Attached destroyers - SALADIN (Lt Cdr L J Dover) at Portsmouth, requiring boiler retubing, SARDONYX (Lt Cdr W A F Hawkins) dep Portsmouth on 2 Sep for Dundee, SCIMITAR (Lt Cdr M Thornton) at Portsmouth, RAF reconnaisance duties, SKATE (Lt Cdr A O Johnson) at Portsmouth, tender to VERNON

5th Submarine Flotilla (Training Flotilla at Gosport, Capt C G B Coltart CVO) - tender ship DWARF (Cdr L M Shadwell)

submarines H.28 (Lt D E Mansfield), H.31 (Lt P R Ward), H.33 (Lt Cdr H J Caldwell), H.34 (Lt Cdr B T Simons), H.43 refitting at Sheerness until 7 Oct (Lt Cdr W A K N Cavaye from 7 Oct), H.44 (Lt H A V Haggard), H.49 (Lt E F Balston), H.50 refitting at Sheerness until 14 Oct (Lt Cdr J R G Harvey from 7 Oct), L.23 (Lt F J Brooks) refitting at Portsmouth comp in Sep, OBERON (Lt Cdr H C Cumberbatch), THAMES refitting at Plymouth to comp 15 Jun 40 (Cdr D V Sprague from 27 Dec)

1st Motor Anti-submarine Flotilla (Lt Cdr H W Falcon-Steward) - MA/SB.1 (Lt M E Impey), MA/SB.2 (Lt J C Lapage), MA/SB.3 (Lt J D. Ritchie), MA/SB.4 (Lt B J Anderson), MA/SB.5 (Lt E M Thorpe)

1st Anti-Submarine Group - anti-submarine trawlers BASSET (Cdr G H Brown Rtd, SO), SAPPHIRE, TOPAZE, TOURMALINE, and TURQUOISE

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Portsmouth - minesweeping trawlers ALDER, BEECH, BERBERIS, BOYNE, COLNE, DOON, HORNBEAM, LILAC (Lt Cdr E P H Pinckney, SO), trawlers HATSUSE, SASEBO, YASHIMA, drifter NONIWA,

Outfitting at Yarmouth - minesweeping trawlers ARCTIC HUNTER, CLYTHNESS, EARL KITCHENER, EBOR WYKE, KING'S GREY, LORD GREY, LORD IRWIN, LORD INCHCAPE

CHANNEL FORCE

Rear Adm Lancelot E Holland, Rear Admiral, Channel Force, and 3rd Battle Squadron on RESOLUTION

The Command was terminated on 7 Oct when the last of the ships in the force departed for other duties

3rd Battle Squadron - battleships RESOLUTION (Capt C H Knox-Little), REVENGE (Capt E R Archer), Squadron at Portland

Aircraft carriers - COURAGEOUS (Capt W T Makeig-Jones) at Plymouth, HERMES (Capt F E P Hutton) at Portland.

Light cruisers - CARADOC (Capt E W L Longley-Cook), CERES (Capt E G Abbott), both at Portland, transferred to Western Approaches Command 0n 7 Sep

Anti-aircraft ship - CAIRO (Capt H P K Oram) at Portland, operating with Dover Command since 10 Sep, formally transferred on 19 Sep

18th Destroyer Flotilla - KEMPENFELT (Capt C Caslon*, Lt Cdr C E Glasfurd from 20 Sep, *see Western Approaches Command note below) at Portland

Division 35 - ACASTA (Cdr P J Oliver) at Portsmouth repairing to comp 3 Sep, ACHERON (Lt Cdr R W F Northcott) at Portsmouth repairing to comp 2 Sep arr Portland 3 Sep, ANTELOPE (Lt Cdr R T White DSO) at Portsmouth, ARDENT (Lt Cdr J F Barker) at Portland

18th Flotilla transferred to Western Approaches Command on 7 Sep

WESTERN APPROACHES COMMAND

Adm Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith

(* see below) After the outbreak of the war, the problems of administering Western Approaches destroyers from a flotilla leader at sea were recognised. Having to observe radio silence, the Flotilla Commander was unable to control the activities of his ships. Flotilla Commanders and their staffs were ordered ashore.

Vian (D.11) transferred to EAGLET on 26 Sep, Phillips (D.17) to SKIRMISHER on 28 Sep, and Caslon (D.18) to DRAKE on 21 Sep. Vian was replaced by Caslon (who remained in DRAKE) in Nov and Rear Adm C H Knox-Little Rtd, on 5 Jan 40. Phillips was replaced by Capt F C Bradley on 29 Jan 40. Caslon remained in DRAKE until 29 May 40.

Portland

12th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt R S Benson)

Division 23 - ECLIPSE (Lt Cdr E L Woodhall, Lt Cdr I T Clark from 9 Nov) at Plymouth, ELECTRA (Lt Cdr S A Buss) dep Portland 2 Sep, EXMOUTH (Benson) dep Portland 3 Sep

Division 24 - ENCOUNTER (Lt Cdr A St Clair Ford, Lt Cdr E V St J Morgan on 9 Nov) dep Portland 2 Sep for Plymouth, ESCAPADE (Cdr H R Graham) dep Portland 3 Sep, ESCORT (Lt Cdr J Bostock) dep Portland 2 Sep

1st Motor Anti-Submarine Boat Flotilla (Lt Cdr H W Falcon-Steward) - MA/SB.1 (Lt M E Impey), MA/SB.2 (Lt J C Lapage), MA/SB.3 (Lt J D. Ritchie), MA/SB.4 (Lt B J Anderson), No.5 (Lt E M Thorpe) at Portland

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Portland – AVONA, BRITISH, COURTIER, ERIMO

Plymouth

11th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt P L Vian*) - MACKAY (Vian, Cdr G H Stokes from 25 Sep)

Division 21 - VANOC (Lt Cdr J G W Deneys) refitting at Portsmouth until 14 Oct, VANQUISHER (Lt Cdr K H Fraser, Lt Cdr C B Alers Hankey from 11 Oct) dep Plymouth on 2 Sep for the Clyde, WALKER (Cdr W J C Robertson), WALPOLE (Lt Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), WINCHELSEA (Cdr C T Jellicoe)

Division 22 - VERSATILE (Cdr T E Hussey Rtd), VIMY (Lt Cdr I T Clark, Lt Cdr C G W Donald from 8 Nov), WARWICK (Lt Cdr M A G Child), WHIRLWIND (Lt Cdr M B Ewart-Wentworth Rtd, Lt Cdr J M Rodgers from 10 Oct)

11th Flotilla less VANQUISHER and VANOC at Plymouth on 3 Sep

17th Destroyer Division (Capt A J L Phillips*)

KEITH (Phillips) relieved by destroyer MONTROSE (Phillips, Cdr C R L Parry from 27 Sep) on 15 Sep. KEITH was then attached to the 34th Destroyer Division as a private ship - Capt F C. Bradley, D.17 from Jan 1940, Capt D J R Simson, D.19 from 29 Jan 40

MONTROSE, under repair at Plymouth until 6 Sep, traded crews with KEITH which was then commanded by Cdr H T W Pawsey OBE from 6 Sep

Division 33 - VANESSA (Lt Cdr J H Plumer), VENETIA (Cdr J W M Eaton, Cdr G R Pilcher from 13 Oct), VISCOUNT (Lt Cdr M S Townsend) refitting at Plymouth until 15 Sep, WESSEX (Lt Cdr W A R Cartwright)

Division 34 - VESPER (Lt Cdr W F E Hussey), VIVACIOUS (Cdr C R L Parry, Lt Cdr F R W Parish from 27 Sep), WAKEFUL (Cdr R St V Sherbrooke), WINDSOR (Lt Cdr P D.H.R. Pelly from 1 Nov) refitting at Portsmouth until 4 Nov

17th Flotilla less WINDSOR at Plymouth on 3 Sep

Destroyer - STURDY (Lt Cdr G T Cooper) at Devonport

6th Minesweeping Flotilla - minesweeping trawlers LAUREL, MAGNOLIA, SYCAMORE (Lt Cdr A E Sercombe, SO)

2nd Anti-Submarine Group - anti-submarine trawlers CORNELIAN, PEARL, RUBY

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Plymouth - ARCANES, BRECON CASTLE, CAERPHILLY CASTLE, CARDIFF CASTLE, CLYNE CASTLE, CONWAY CASTLE, RADNOR CASTLE

Outfitting at Swansea – BLACKWATER, KENNET

Milford Haven

Convoy B

Patrol sloops - KITTIWAKE (Cdr E R Conder), MALLARD (Lt Cdr D V Clift), PUFFIN (Lt Cdr W F Hollins, Lt Cdr The Hon J M G Waldegrave DSO from 3 Oct), all dep Holyhead for Liverpool on 3 Sep, then on to Dover arr 7 Sep

Patrol sloops - KINGFISHER (Lt Cdr G A M V Harrison), SHELDRAKE (Lt Cdr A E T Christy), WIDGEON (Lt Cdr R Frederick), all at the Clyde.

On 18 September formed as 1st Anti-Submarine Striking Force at Belfast with new patrol sloop SHEARWATER (Lt Cdr P F Powlett) and escort ships patrol sloop PC.74 (Lt Cdr C E H White DSO Rtd) and minesweeper GLEANER (Lt Cdr H P Price)

Escort ship/minesweeper JASON (Lt Cdr D H Fryer) upon comp of repairs also joined this unit

REFITTING IN HOME WATERS

Battleships - QUEEN ELIZABETH refitting since 10 Apr 37 at Portsmouth until 31 Jan 41, arr Scapa Flow for trials 21 Feb 41 (Capt C B Barry DSO from 31 Oct 40), VALIANT refitting since 1 Mar 37 at Devonport until 11 Dec 39 (Capt H B Rawlings OBE), made ready for trials in the West Indies where she worked up, arr back in England on 7 Feb 40 after escorting convoy TC.3

Battlecruiser - RENOWN (Capt C E B Simeon) comp refit at Portsmouth on 28 Aug, dep 2 Sep, arr Scapa Flow for duty 4 Sep

Cruisers

Heavy cruisers LONDON rebuilding since 15 Mar 39 at Chatham until 10 Feb 41 (Capt R M Servaes CBE), NORFOLK (Capt A G B Wilson DSO MVO) completing refit at Devonport at beginning of Sep, dep 3 Sep, arr Scapa Flow for duty 6 Sep 39, SUFFOLK (Capt J W Durnford) refitting at Portsmouth to comp 23 Sep, dep 29 Sep, arr Scapa Flow for duty 1 Oct 39

Light cruisers CARLISLE rearming as anti-aircraft ship at Plymouth until 12 Jan 40 (Capt G M B Langley OBE from 21 Nov), CURACOA rearming as anti-aircraft ship at Chatham until 26 Jan 40 (Capt E A Aylmer DSC from 5 Dec), DELHI (Capt L H K Hamilton DSO) comp refit at Nore and working up at Portland, arr Scapa Flow 13 Sep to join 11th Cruiser Squadron, ENTERPRISE (Capt H J Egerton) refitting at Portsmouth, dep 9 Sep, arr Scapa Flow 11 Sep to join 11th Cruiser Squadron, NEWCASTLE (Capt J Figgins) refitting at Plymouth until 7 Sep 39, dep 12 Sep for Scapa Flow, arr 13 Sep, joined the 18th Cruiser Squadron on 15 Sep

Anti-aircraft cruiser - CURLEW (Capt B C B Brooke) refitting at Chatham completing 23 Sep, dep 25 Sep to work up at Portland, arr 29 Sep. Departed Portland on 1 Oct, arr Scapa Flow for duty 2 Oct

Destroyers

At the Nore - CAMPBELL refitting until 12 Feb 40 (Capt F C Bradley from early Feb), VIVIEN rearming as escort ship until 7 Oct 39 (Lt Cdr W D G Weir from 19 Sep), WORCESTER awaiting boiler spares, refitting until 4 May 40 (Cdr J H Allison from 12 Mar), WOOLSTON rearming as escort ship until 9 Oct 39 (Lt Cdr W J Phipps from Sep), WOLFHOUND rearming as escort ship until 2 May 40 (Lt Cdr J W McCoy from 19 Mar)

At Chatham - VETERAN refitting until 6 Nov 39 (Cdr J E Broome from 11 Oct)

At Portsmouth - ACASTA (Cdr P J Oliver) repairing to comp 3 Sep, AMBUSCADE refitting until 27 May 40 (Lt Cdr A O Johnson from 21 Mar), placed on a low priority on 4 Dec 39 due to workmen being required for higher priority work, then on 7 Mar 40, a dock allocated to AMBUSCADE was required for damaged destroyer VENOMOUS, ESK (Lt Cdr R J H Couch) refitting as destroyer minelayer from 23 Aug to 7 Sep, EXPRESS (Cdr J G Bickford) refitting as destroyer minelayer from 23 Aug to 7 Sep, VANOC (Lt Cdr J G W Deneys) refitting until 14 Sep, VIMIERA rearming as escort ship until 12 Feb 40 (Lt Cdr R B N Hicks from 15 Jan), WINDSOR refitting until 4 Nov (Lt Cdr P D H R Pelly from 1 Nov), WINCHESTER rearming as escort ship until 9 Apr 40 (Lt Cdr S E Crewe-Read from 9 Mar)

At Plymouth - MONTROSE (Cdr H T W Pawsey OBE, Capt A J L Phillips from 6 Sep, Cdr C R L Parry from 27 Sep) refitting until 6 Sep, VEGA rearming as escort ship until 27 Nov 39 (Cdr C I Horton from 19 Sep), VISCOUNT (Lt Cdr M S Townsend) refitting until 15 Sep 39, WESTMINSTER rearming as escort ship until 8 Jan 40 (Lt Cdr A A C Ouvry from 20 Dec), VALENTINE rearming as escort ship until 28 Mar 40 (Cdr H J Buchanan RAN from 1 Feb)

Escort ships - escort ships/minesweepers GLEANER (Lt Cdr H P Price) at Devonport refitting from survey ship role to comp 9 Sep 39, JASON (Cdr A Jones, Lt Cdr D H Fryer from 28 Sep) at Portsmouth refitting from survey ship role to comp 27 Sep 39), sloops HASTINGS (Lt Cdr A B Alison) refitting at Plymouth to comp 16 Sep, STORK (Cdr A C Behague) refitting at Devonport since 14 Apr to comp 9 Sep, WESTON at Portsmouth under refit to escort vessel to comp 8 Sep (Cdr A G Davidson Rtd, from 8 Sep)

Submarines - H.43 refitting at Sheerness to comp 7 Oct (Lt Cdr W A K N Cavaye from 7 Oct), H.50 refitting at Sheerness to comp 14 Oct (Lt Cdr J R G. Harvey from 7 Oct), L.23 (Lt F J Brooks) refitting at Portsmouth comp in Sep, THAMES (Lt Cdr B E O'Brien, Engineering Officer) refitting at Plymouth to comp 16 Jun 40 (Cdr D V Sprague from 27 Dec), THETIS lost on trials 1 Jun 39, salved and returned to Birkenhead for rebuilding, renamed THUNDERBOLT, comp 1 Nov 40 (Lt C B Crouch from 16 Sep 40), THISTLE (Cdr R W Stirling-Hamilton) refitting at Portsmouth to comp 9 Sep, SUNFISH (Lt Cdr J E Slaughter) refitting at Sheerness to comp 18 Oct

IN RESERVE IN HOME WATERS

Cruisers - FROBISHER (Cdr M H Evelegh) at Portsmouth, work suspended until 5 Jan 40 when began refit, to Devonport for refit and rearming in Feb 40, in service 13 Feb 42 following trials (Capt J F W Mudford from 13 Jan 42) arr at Scapa Flow on 4 Mar 42 to work up, HAWKINS (Cdr W A Whitaker) at Portsmouth, to refit and rearm until 9 Dec (Capt E Rotherham from 15 Nov) ready for sea on 23 Dec, in service 9 Jan 40, left Portland for duty in the South Atlantic arr station 29 Jan 40. Both ships had been disarmed for refit as EFFINGHAM, but reshipped their original 7.5in guns.

Minelaying cruiser - ADVENTURE (Capt A R Halfhide) at Portsmouth, dep 7 Sep, arr in the Downs next day, arr at Dover on 9 Sep for operations

Aircraft carrier - ARGUS at Portsmouth, recommissioned 7 Oct (Capt H C Bovell from 7 Oct), dep Devonport 11 Nov with destroyer STURDY for Toulon. In Nov 39, began operations in the Gulf of Lyons as a training carrier with STURDY as attendant destroyer

Destroyers - VANITY (Lt Cdr A A Tait) at Rosyth in Maintenance Reserve until mid Dec, then to Plymouth for conversion to escort vessel comp on 12 Aug 40, VERDUN (Lt Cdr E O T Keeling) at Sheerness, taken in hand for conversion to escort ship and comp on 11 Jul 40, VICEROY at Portsmouth, taken in hand for conversion to escort ship, towed to Chatham Apr 40 and conversion begun in May, heavy demands on the dockyard prevented comp until 10 Jan 41 (Lt Cdr D P Trentham), WHITSHED at Portsmouth with defects, joined 18th Destroyer Flotilla on 18 Nov 39 (Cdr E R Conder from 15 Nov), WILD SWAN (Lt Cdr J L Younghusband) at Portsmouth with defects, joined 18th Destroyer Flotilla on 25 Feb 40

Escort ships - sloops FOXGLOVE (Lt Cdr T I S Bell), LUPIN moored, ROSEMARY (Lt Cdr R C.D Grimes), all at Portsmouth, patrol sloop PC.74 (Lt Cdr C E H White DSO Rtd) at the Nore

2. FOREIGN STATIONS

MEDITERRANEAN FLEET

Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham on WARSPITE

1st Battle Squadron (Vice Adm Geoffrey Layton) - battleship BARHAM (Flag, Capt H T C Walker), MALAYA (Capt I B B Tower DSC),