British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day by Don Kindell NAVAL EVENTS, NOVEMBER 1939, Part 2 of 2 Wednesday 15th - Thursday 30th

HM S/M Oxley (NavyPhotos, click photographs for enlargements)

on to Naval Events, DECEMBER 1939 or back to Naval-History.Net

Note: all vessels and aircraft are British or Dominion unless otherwise identified or implied - all ships lost in bold - click for abbreviations

Corrections with thanks to Donald Bertke

Background Events - September 1939-March 1940
Battle of Atlantic starts, 'Phoney War' on land, Battle of River Plate

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1939

Wednesday, 15 November

Convoy HN.2 of eight British and one Finnish steamer departed Bergen and was joined by destroyers ICARUS, IMOGEN, IMPULSIVE. The convoy was covered by battleships NELSON and RODNEY and accompanying forces which departed Rosyth on the 12th. ICARUS was relieved by destroyer IMPERIAL and then proceeded to Rosyth for boiler cleaning.

Destroyers ASHANTI and PUNJABI getting underway to join the battleships collided at Rosyth on the 15th, but the damage was not serious, and they and sister ship SOMALI, which departed Rosyth with them, joined the battleships at sea as planned. Destroyer MASHONA departed Loch Ewe on the 16th and joined the Home Fleet in 62-15N, 00-04W and TARTAR, completing the escort of steamer MARYLYN to Stromness, and joined them at the same location as sister ship MASHONA.

Destroyers ISIS and KANDAHAR were assigned to escort the three steamers of the west coast section of HN.2 when it arrived off the Shetlands. KANDAHAR had departed on the 15th to join the Home Fleet at sea, but was recalled for this escort duty. Destroyer WALLACE was assigned to escort the Tyne section of HN.2 but because of fog, had to anchor off the Tyne for an hour.

A submarine contact on the 17th did not hamper the convoy's progress and HN.2 arrived safely on the 18th with IMOGEN, IMPERIAL, IMPULSIVE. The battle force arrived at Loch Ewe on the 17th, departed on the 19th and arrived in the Clyde on the 21st.

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On Northern Patrol, three cruisers were between the Orkneys and the Faroes, two cruisers and one AMC between the Faroes and Iceland, and one cruiser and three AMCs in the Denmark Strait.

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The deep minefield in the Clyde was begun and completed on the 18th in Operation CP.

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Destroyer FURY completed her repairs in the Clyde, but was retained in the Clyde to escort base ship MASHOBRA.

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Destroyer INGLEFIELD completed her repairs at Liverpool and departed for Scapa Flow.

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Sloop PELICAN and submarine TRIAD departed Rosyth to exercise outside May Island with RAF personnel. Both ships arrived back at Rosyth later that day.

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Polish destroyer GROM rendezvoused off North Goodwin Light with destroyers EXPRESS and ESK, which had sailed from Harwich.

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Destroyers BROKE and ECLIPSE were submarine hunting in 53‑50N, 5‑25W.

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Convoy FN.37 departed Southend for Methil, escorted by sloops GRIMSBY, FLAMINGO, WESTON. Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA, destroyers JUNO and JUPITER departed Grimsby in support.

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Convoy FS.37 departed Methil escorted by escort ships VIVIEN, VALOROUS and sloop BITTERN. Minesweeper TEDWORTH sailed with the convoy for the passage south. VALOROUS developed condenser problems and was replaced by destroyer JAGUAR. VALOROUS began repairs at the Tyne, which completed on the 16th.

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Convoy BC.15 of ten steamers, including BARON CARNEGIE, BLACKHEATH, DEVON COAST, NIGERIAN (Commodore) departed Bristol Channel, escorted by destroyers VIVACIOUS, VESPER, VANESSA. The convoy safely arrived in the Loire on the 17th.

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U.20 was attacked nine miles 90° from Tongue Light Vessel by British aircraft which called in destroyers KEITH and GRIFFIN. Destroyer GREYHOUND later joined in the search, but U.20 escaped serious damage and was able to lay mines off Newarp Light Vessel later, on the 22nd.

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French destroyer SIROCCO attacked a contact in 25‑50N, 7‑20W after a submarine was reported by an aircraft. Destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE, after leaving convoy HG.7, also searched the area.

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Australian light cruiser HOBART (right - NavyPhotos/Mark Teadham) departed Colombo and arrived at Bombay on the 18th.

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Heavy cruiser SUSSEX arrived at Durban.

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German pocket battleship DEUTSCHLAND arrived in German waters and was renamed LÜTZOW to prevent the possibility of a ship bearing the name of the Fatherland being sunk. LÜTZOW anchored at Gdynia on the 17th.

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German pocket battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE sank steamer AFRICA SHELL (706grt) 10½ miles SW by S of Cape Zavora Light in Mozambique Channel in 24-40-42S, 35-12E. Submarine OLYMPUS on patrol in the Indian Ocean set off in pursuit, but failed to make contact.

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Admiral Wells of Force K transferred his flag to battlecruiser RENOWN, and aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL departed Freetown for England to refit and receive new aircraft. When news of the sinking of AFRICA SHELL reached the Admiralty on the 17th, ARK ROYAL was ordered back to Freetown.

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Light cruiser LIVERPOOL departed Colombo on the 15th and arrived at Singapore on the 19th for patrol duties on the China Station. She proceeded to Saigon and arrived at Hong Kong on 10 December.

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Canadian destroyers OTTAWA and RESTIGOUCHE departed Esquimalt, Canada, for Halifax on the east coast after being relieved in the Pacific by British light cruiser CARADOC.  They refuelled on the 25th off the Isla del Coco off the Costa Rican coast from Australian light cruiser PERTH, which had entered the Pacific through the Panama Canal, refuelled again at Kingston and reached Halifax on 7 December.

These movements were to allow Canadian destroyers FRASER and OTTAWA to join the America and West Indies Station, and Canadian destroyer SAGUENAY which had been operating in the Caribbean since late September to return to Canada. However, heavy demands for convoy escorts caused OTTAWA to be retained at Halifax and FRASER did not arrive in the Caribbean at Kingston until 31 March 1940.

Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE arrived at Halifax on the 17th from Plymouth, and departed Halifax on 5 December for Jamaica, arriving at Kingston on the 8th to relieve SAGUENAY.

SAGUENAY arrived back at Halifax in mid-December and resumed convoy duties from that port.

ASSINIBOINE remained in the Caribbean until 31 March 1940 when she arrived back at Halifax after being relieved by FRASER.

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German trawler ELSE (141grt) was lost near Skargaard.

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Lithuanian steamers PANEVEZYS (1607grt) and NIDA (945grt) were sunk on mines near Tallinn.

Thursday, 16 November

Sloop FLAMINGO, escorting convoy FN.37, was damaged in a collision with steamer LOWLAND (974grt) in 54‑38N, 0‑46W. She arrived at Leith on the 17th and was docked for repair, completed on 10 December.

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Destroyer FORESTER completed her refit in the Clyde.

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On Northern Patrol were three cruisers between the Orkneys and the Faroes, two cruisers and two AMCs between the Faroes and Iceland, and one cruiser and three AMCs in the Denmark Strait.

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Light cruiser CALYPSO captured a merchant ship (SISALMANN ?) and was en route with her to Loch Ewe. She requested a trawler to meet her in West Ray Firth to take over the escort. Armed boarding vessel KINGSTON JACINTH was delayed by weather, but did so, and both ships arrived at Loch Ewe at 1700/17th.

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Light cruiser CARDIFF departed Sullom Voe and arrived at Loch Ewe on the 20th to repair weather damage.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW departed Grimsby on patrol duties and arrived back later the same day.

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Destroyer KASHMIR at Scapa Flow was ordered to join Forbes at sea, but she had mechanical defects and was unable to sail.

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Destroyers KEITH and GIPSY were ordered to rendezvous with destroyer GRIFFIN off Kentish Knock Light Vessel.

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Minelaying operation FE was completed on the 15th/16th and 16th/17th between the English end of the Folkestone-Cape Griz Nez field and the shore off Dover by auxiliary minelayer HAMPTON escorted by two destroyers. Survey ship FRANKLIN laid the navigational buoys.

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Convoy OA.36G of 19 ships departed Southend on the 16th escorted by destroyers WAKEFUL and WHITEHALL on the 16th and 17th, and destroyers WOLVERINE and VERITY on the 18th and 19th.

Convoy OB.36G departed Liverpool on the 17th, escorted by destroyers WALKER and VANOC, which remained with the convoy until the 19th. Anti-submarine trawler NORTHERN SPRAY (655grt) was with the convoy on the 17th only. The Bristol section of OB.36G was escorted by destroyer MONTROSE which remained with the convoy until the 20th.

Accompanying OA.36G were anti-submarine trawlers ARCTIC RANGER (493grt), KINGSTON CORNELIAN (449grt), LORD HOTHAM (464grt), LEYLAND (452grt) on passage to Gibraltar for local anti-submarine duties, which were with the convoy from the 17th to 24th. OA.36G rendezvoused with OB.36G on the 19th and the became convoy OG.7 with 43 ships. It was then escorted by French destroyers CHACAL and MISTRAL from the 19th and destroyer KEPPEL from the 20th. The convoy reached Gibraltar on the 24th.

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U.43 sank steamer ARLINGTON COURT (4915grt) from convoy SL.7A, 320 miles 248° from Start Point in 48-14N, 11-42W. Five crew were lost, but Dutch steamer ALGENIB (5483grt) rescued 22 survivors from a lifeboat, and on the 22nd, Norwegian tanker SPINANGER (7429grt) picked up another seven.

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U.28 sank Dutch tanker SLIEDRECHT (5133grt) 200 miles south of Rockall Bank. Twenty six crewmen went missing but trawler MERISIA (291grt) rescued five survivors during the night of the 23rd/24th.

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Italian steamer VELOCE (5464grt) ran aground near Dungeness Light.

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When steamer HOPESTAR (5257grt) was attacked by a submarine in 48‑47N, 8‑28W, destroyers BROKE and ECLIPSE searched in the area.

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Destroyer WATCHMAN boarded Italian liner VULCANIA (24,469grt) outside Portuguese territorial waters.

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French destroyers TIGRE and PANTHÈRE arrived at Gibraltar for convoy escort duty.

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Convoy SL.9 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser SALOPIAN. Disabled destroyer HAVOCK travelled with them and detached to Gibraltar on the 25th, arriving on the 27th. At 0800/2 December, destroyers MACKAY, VIMY, ACASTA, ARDENT met the convoy in Home Waters, which arrived later that day.

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French submarine SIDI FERRUCH arrived at Port of Spain after patrol.

Friday, 17 November

Battlecruiser REPULSE sustained damage to her breakwater and aircraft carrier FURIOUS had engine trouble which limited her speed to 23 knots while at sea from Halifax.

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Light cruisers EDINBURGH, BELFAST, GLASGOW, SOUTHAMPTON, AURORA arrived at Rosyth.

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Light cruiser NEWCASTLE departed Scapa Flow for Loch Ewe, leaving there on the 21st for Northern Patrol.

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Light cruiser CARDIFF departed Loch Ewe after refuelling and repairing damage sustained in heavy weather, and arrived back on the 20th.

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Light cruisers DIOMEDE and DUNEDIN departed Loch Ewe on Northern Patrol duties. DIOMEDE arrived back on the 21st.

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Armed merchant cruiser AURANIA departed the Clyde for Northern Patrol duties.

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On Northern Patrol were two cruisers between the Orkneys and the Faroes, two cruisers and two AMCs between the Faroes and Iceland, and one cruiser and three AMCs in the Denmark Strait.

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Polish destroyers BLYSKAWICA, BURZA, GROM arrived at Rosyth for a visit by the Polish Prime Minister. They left on the 18th to return to Harwich.

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Destroyers ESK and EXPRESS arrived at Harwich for minelaying in the Thames approaches in operation RG. They departed Harwich at 0815 for the lay, accompanied by minesweepers SKIPJACK and LEDA. ESK and EXPRESS laid more mines in this minefield on the 29th assisted by minesweepers HARRIER and HUSSAR, followed on 1 December by auxiliary minelayer HAMPTON and four destroyers which laid another line of mines, assisted by minesweepers SKIPJACK and LEDA.

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Destroyer FURY departed the Clyde with base ship MASHOBRA on the 16th. FURY was relieved by destroyer INGLEFIELD at 1735/17th which took MASHOBRA on to Rosyth, arriving on the 19th. FURY proceeded to Loch Ewe, and after refuelling, joined the Main Fleet at sea.

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Convoy FN.38 departed Southend, escorted by escort vessels/destroyers VIVIEN, VALOROUS and sloop BITTERN. On passage, VIVIEN was damaged in a collision with an unknown merchant ship, which carried on without stopping, arrived at Harwich on the 17th and was later taken to North Shields for repairs completed on 5 December. Destroyer JERVIS, which had been searching the Outer Dowsing area joined the convoy on the 18th from dawn to dark, and the convoy arrived at Methil on the 19th.

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Convoy FS.38 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WHITLEY, WALLACE and sloop STORK. Seaplane carrier PEGASUS travelled in company. Destroyers JAGUAR and JUNO operated in the area of FS.38 from dawn to dark on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

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German steamer HENNING OLDENDORFF (3986grt), which had departed Huelva, Spain, on the 2nd disguised as a Russian ship, was captured by light cruiser COLOMBO near Iceland in 62‑59N, 10‑44W. The German ship, the Royal Navy's 19th prize of the war, was taken to Kirkwall by a prize crew commanded by Lt Cdr L A Lambert on the 19th due to insufficient coal for the voyage to Leith. She was later renamed EMPIRE INDUSTRY for British service.

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German destroyers HERMANN KÜNNE and WILHELM HEIDKAMP of the 5th Destroyer Division, escorted by destroyer BERND VON ARNIM, laid 180 magnetic mines in the Thames Estuary during the night of the 17th/18th. Returning to Wilhelmshaven, they were met off Terschelling by light cruisers LEIPZIG, NÜRNBERG and torpedo boats LEOPARD, ILTIS, and SEEADLER. Seven merchant ships grossing 27,565 tons were sunk and one more damaged in the field:

On the 18th, Dutch steamer SIMON BOLIVAR (7906grt) in 51‑49N, 01‑41E. Destroyer GREYHOUND, anti-submarine trawlers MAN O'WAR (517grt), CAPE WARWICK (516grt), DANEMAN (516grt), WELLARD 514grt), LADY ELSA (518grt), and tug FAIRPLAY II (282grt) rescued the survivors. However, 84 passengers and crew went missing.

On the 18th, steamer BLACKHILL (2492grt), 7½ cables 145° from Longsand Head Light Vessel in 51‑47N, 01‑39E. One crewman was lost and destroyer GIPSY rescued the survivors.

On the 18th, tanker JAMES J MAGUIRE (10, 525grt) of convoy OA.37 was severely damaged in 51‑46N, 01‑40E.

On the 19th, steamer TORCHBEARER (1267grt), two miles 25° from Shipwash Light Vessel. Four crew were lost and destroyer GREYHOUND rescued the eight survivors.

On the 20th, naval trawler MASTIFF (520grt, Lt Cdr A A C Ouvry) one mile off the Tongue. Five ratings went missing and one rating died of wounds. The survivors were rescued by the Margate lifeboat and minesweeping trawler CAPE SPARTEL (346grt).

On the 21st, Japanese liner TERUKUNI MARU (11, 930grt) in 51‑50N, 01‑30E. All 206 passengers and crew were picked up by trawler GAVA (256grt) and other small craft.

On the 22nd, steamer GERALDUS (2495grt), three miles WNW of Sunk Light Vessel. Destroyer WIVERN rescued the survivors.

On the 22nd, steamer LOWLAND (924grt) two miles ENE of Northeast Gunfleet Buoy. Nine crew were lost and minesweeping trawler MYRTLE (550grt) rescued three survivors.

On 10 December, auxiliary minesweeper RAY OF HOPE (98grt, Skipper W Hayes RNR) off Ramsgate. Four crew were killed and five missing. Auxiliary minesweeper SILVER DAWN (85grt) sweeping in company with RAY OF HOPE picked up Cdr C E Hamond DSO, DSC Rtd of VERNON, Hayes and the mate.

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U.19 laid mines off Orfordness during the night of the 17th/18th. Destroyer GIPSY and one merchant ship was lost in this field. The merchantman was Yugoslav steamer CARICA MILICA (6371grt), sunk on the 18th, 3½ miles 005° from Shipwash. The entire crew was rescued.

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Anti-submarine trawler DRANGEY (434grt) was damaged in a collision at Rosyth.

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Destroyers BROKE and ECLIPSE were submarine hunting in 48‑05N, 6‑32W, and joined by destroyers VANESSA, VESPER, VIVACIOUS, released from the escort of convoy BC.15.

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Minesweeping trawler CORENA (352grt) reported sighting a U-boat in 50N, 4-35W. Destroyers WOLVERINE and VERITY sailed to investigate.

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Destroyer WALLACE attacked a submarine contact 10 miles NE of Blyth.

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Anti-submarine trawler CAPE ARGONA (494grt) attacked a submarine contact 1½ miles 010° from Outer Dowsing.

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Steamer COREA (751grt) sighted a submarine in 57‑44N, 5‑52W, and destroyers WOLVERINE and VERITY were ordered to carry out a search.

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U.57 sank Lithuanian steamer KAUNAS (1566grt) 6½ miles WNW of Noordhinder Light Vessel. One crewman was lost and 15 survivors picked up.

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U.15 laid mines off Lowestoft during the night of the 16th/17th. One merchant ship was sunk in this field.

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Convoy HXF.9 departed Halifax at 1200 escorted by Canadian destroyer ST LAURENT until detached on the 18th. Ocean escort was armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 29th.

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Aircraft carrier ARGUS, and destroyers STURDY and GALLANT arrived at Gibraltar. GALLANT left to return to Plymouth and was ordered en route to search for German merchant ships reported leaving Vigo.

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Convoy SLF.9 departed Freetown escorted by sloop AUCKLAND, and was joined on the 29th by destroyers ESCAPADE, GALLANT, GRAFTON. The convoy arrived later that day and AUCKLAND reached Portsmouth on the 30th.

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Light cruiser CARADOC arrived at San Diego, California, for refuelling. She was the first foreign warship to visit a US port since the start of the war.

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Light cruiser DESPATCH (Captain Allen Poland DSC), which entered the Pacific through the Panama Canal on the 1st, arrived at Callao, Peru with steamer LOBOS (6479grt).

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Light cruiser GLOUCESTER, attached to Force I from the 16th, departed Rangoon and on the 18th sailed from Colombo to patrol north of Madagascar.

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Swedish steamer VALAPARISO (3759grt) was seized by German warships for contraband violations in the Baltic.

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French submarine SIDI FERRUCH departed Port of Spain for Martinique.

Saturday, 18 November

On Northern Patrol were two cruisers between the Orkneys and the Faroes three cruisers and three AMCs between the Faroes and Iceland, and one cruiser and two AMCs in the Denmark Strait.