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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1940

 

 

Thursday, 1 February

 

The Northern Patrol sighted 49 eastbound merchant ships from the 1st to 14th and sent 21 into Kirkwall for inspection.

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Destroyers were transferred to the Rosyth Command to assist in anti-submarine patrols. BRAZEN and BOREAS of the 19th Destroyer Flotilla arrived at Rosyth from Harwich on the 1st. GRIFFIN was delayed in her departure due to DG fitting, but both she and GALLANT of the 1st Flotilla departed Harwich on the 2nd and arrived at Rosyth on the 3rd. INTREPID and IVANHOE of the 20th Flotilla arrived on the 8th.

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Destroyer BASILISK departed Dover for Boulogne with Lord Gort, and came back d later that day carrying the Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Imperial General Staff and other staff members.

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Destroyer JACKAL and JAVELIN arrived at Rosyth escorting  tanker ATHOLLKNIGHT (8940grt).

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Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON departed the Tyne for Scapa Flow after her refitting.

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Sloop FLAMINGO arrived at Rosyth escorting minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA, which had departed Immingham at 0200/1st and joined convoy FN.83, escorted by FLAMINGO and sloop WESTON.

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Destroyers KASHMIR and KHARTOUM departed Rosyth, escorting A.S.I.S. SARDIS (970grt) to Aberdeen, where steamer CYPRIAN PRINCE was to join for the passage to Scapa Flow. However, because of bad weather, CYPRIAN PRINCE was unable to join.

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Destroyer JUNO, escorting convoy HN.9B, made an attack on a submarine contact.

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Heavy cruiser BERWICK (right - NavyPhotos) and armed merchant cruisers TRANSYLVANIA and CARINTHIA arrived at the Clyde after Northern Patrol duties.

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Submarines URSULA and H.34 departed Rosyth for Blyth and were escorted as far as the Longstones by destroyer ENCOUNTER. The submarines arrived at Blyth on the 2nd and ENCOUNTER back at Rosyth also on the 2nd.

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Two Royal Marines were lost at sea in light cruiser CARLISLE, en route to Gibraltar to work up.

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French destroyer OURAGAN was damaged in a collision with French patrol vessel/trawler LOUISE MARIE which was lightly damaged. OURAGAN was temporarily repaired at Boulogne, departed on the 14th, and arrived at Brest on the 25th for completion of work.

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Convoy FN.84 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop PELICAN, and arrived in the Tyne on the 2nd.

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Convoy FS.84 departed Methil for the Thames escorted by escort vessel/destroyer WHITLEY and sloop EGRET. The convoy consisted of 27 ships, but two more joined at Middlesborough and nine more in the Humber. Off Blea Wyke Point on the 2nd, a submarine contact was made at 0820 by EGRET. WHITLEY dropped depth charges and was later relieved at the scene by destroyer GLOWWORM and escort vessel/destroyer WESTMINSTER, both of which attacked the contact. Destroyer GREYHOUND also joined the hunt, but the search was abandoned at 1400. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.

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Convoy MT.1 departed Methil, escorted by escort vessel/destroyer WESTMINSTER and sloop STORK, and arrived in the Tyne on the 2nd.

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Destroyers VETERAN and VESPER, on an anti-submarine sweep, attacked a submarine contact west of Scilly Island, in 49‑56N, 08‑07W.

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U.48 departed Wilhelmshaven for, during which she laid mines off Weymouth. No shipping was sunk or damaged in this minefield.

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U.13 sank Swedish steamer FRAM (2491grt) in 57‑43N, 02‑06W off Rosehearty Buoy in Aberdour Bay with the loss of six crew. The thirteen survivors were picked up by destroyer KHARTOUM and armed patrol trawler VIKING DEEPS (226grt).

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U.59 sank steamer ELLEN M. (498grt) in 52‑33N, 02‑15E.

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Convoy HG.17 departed Gibraltar with 20 ships, escorted by destroyers VIDETTE, the French CHACAL and French patrol vessel CAPITAINE ARMANDE. CHACAL later detached and arrived in Brest on the 9th and the patrol vessel on the 10th. The convoy was escorted in Home Waters by destroyer VIMY from the 8th to 11th when the convoy arrived.

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Convoy SL.19 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE from the 1st to 16th, merged with SLF.19 on the 16th, and the two convoys arrived at Liverpool on the 20th.

 

 

Friday, 2 February

 

Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FURY, FOXHOUND, FAME, FORTUNE, FORESIGHT, FIREDRAKE, DELIGHT, DARING and DIANA departed Greenock for an anti-submarine sweep towards the Mull of Kintyre, before joining Canadian troop convoy TC 3 in the Western Approaches. DELIGHT was diverted after sailing to escort convoy ON.10 and was replaced by destroyers KINGSTON and KELVIN. The convoy of five liners had been escorted across the Atlantic by battleship VALIANT, which had completed working up the Caribbean, and supported in the Western Approaches by battlecruiser HOOD. The convoy was met at 1000/5th. Light cruiser ENTERPRISE had already been detached and arrived back at Halifax on the 4th. Convoy TC 3, battleships VALIANT and MALAYA and destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE, FAME, FURY, DIANA, DARING, KELVIN, KINGSTON and HUNTER arrived in the Clyde without event on the 7th.

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Light cruiser MANCHESTER departed Scapa Flow, and armed merchant cruisers CORFU and WORCESTERSHIRE from the Clyde, all for Northern Patrol

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Heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE and armed merchant cruiser ANDANIA arrived in the Clyde, and armed merchant cruiser PATROCLUS at Liverpool, all from Northern Patrol.

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Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON arrived at Scapa Flow, and departed the same day for North Cape in Operation WR to intercept German merchant ships attempting to return to Germany. She was ordered to return to Scapa Flow at daylight on the 6th if no contact had been made.

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Destroyer ILEX departed Liverpool for Rosyth after refitting.

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Destroyers BOREAS and BRAZEN departed Rosyth for anti-submarine operations off Kinnaird Head.

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Destroyers VISCOUNT and WREN attacked a submarine contact south of the Scilly Island in 49‑25N, 06‑22W.

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Anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON CHRYSOBERYL (448grt) attacked a submarine contact off Owers Light Vessel in 50-36N, 0-40W.

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Submarine SHARK arrived at Sheerness to refit, and completed on 26 March.

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Submarine L.23 arrived at Blyth after patrol.

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Submarine THISTLE arrived at Rosyth after patrol.

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Convoy OA.84 departed Southend escorted by destroyer VERITY from the 2nd to 4th, and also destroyer ANTELOPE from the 2nd to 5th, when she joined HXF.18. Convoy SA.28 of two steamers departed Southampton on the 2nd and travelled with OA.82 until the 3rd, when it detached without escort and arrived at Brest on the 4th.

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Convoy OB.84 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyer VANOC and sloop DEPTFORD from the 2nd to 3rd. DEPTFORD then joined HXF.18 and OB.84 dispersed on the 5th.

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Convoy FN.85 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop PELICAN, and arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd.

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Convoy FS.85 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WESTMINISTER and sloop STORK, and with submarines UNITY and H.34 in company. Destroyer VEGA replaced WESTMINSTER shortly after sailing, and on the 3rd, He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) attacked the convoy, but were driven off by VEGA. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 4th.

 

Note: German X Air Corps flew He111's of KG26, Ju88's of KG30, and two reconnaissance squadrons flying He59's or Do17's.

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Convoys MT.2 and MT.3 departed the Methil. Weather had delayed sailing and the number of ships was too large for one convoy. Destroyers ESCAPADE and JACKAL escorted the convoys, which arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd.

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U.59 sank steamers CREOFIELD (838grt) in 52‑33N, 02‑25E, PORTELET (1064grt) in 52‑40N, 02‑13E, and attacked a third three to four miles SW by W from Smith's Knoll, but she escaped damage. PORTELET lost two crew killed, with eleven survivors, nine of them rescued by Finish steamer OSCAR MIDLING.

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Tanker BRITISH COUNCILLOR (7048grt) struck a mine laid by U.26 (Seekrieg) off Withernsea in 53‑48N, 00‑34E. Destroyers GALLANT and GRIFFIN stood by and took off the survivors. Forty three survivors were picked up by destroyer WHITLEY. Tug YORKSHIREMAN was dispatched to assist, but the tanker sank on the 3rd.

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Armed merchant cruiser VOLTAIRE arrived at Gibraltar from Portsmouth, sailed the same day for Malta and arriving, was in a collision with Danish steamer JENNY (843grt).

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Having previously arrived from Halifax, French steamers LEOPOLD LD (5267grt, carrying 47 aircraft for shipment to France), OREGON (7706grt, carrying 34) and SAN PEDRO (5947grt, carrying 26) left New York, escorted by heavy cruisers DUPLEIX and FOCH (Force X) for Bermuda, departing there at 0800/5th. Meanwhile, on the 4th, large destroyer MAILLE BREZE sailed from Algiers and on the 6th VAUTOUR and ALBATROS from Oran, arriving at Casablanca on the 6th and 7th respectively. The destroyers then left on the 11th to meet the convoy in 31-30N, 19W. Destroyers FORTUNE, SIMOUN and BASQUE departed Casablanca on the 12th also to meet the convoy. Late on the 15th, MAILLE BREZE, FORTUNE, BASQUE were detached to Casablanca with the merchant ships, arriving at 1000/16th. The other warships, DUPLEIX, FOCH, VAUTOUR, ALBATROS and SIMOUN, proceeded to the Mediterranean with SIMOUN later detaching to Casablanca and the other ships to Oran, arriving on the 16th. The cruisers carried on to Toulon reaching there on the 18th, while MAILLE BREZE arrived there on the 23rd after escorting a steamer from Casablanca.

 

 

Saturday, 3 February

 

Minesweeper SPHINX (Cdr J R N Taylor, SO 5th Minesweeping Flotilla), sweeping with minesweeper SPEEDWELL, was bombed and badly damaged at 1030 by He111's of KG26 (X Air Corps) 15 miles north of Kinnaird Head. Three ratings were killed, forty five were missing, and one died of wounds. Three crew members were rescued with serious wounds. Those lost were Lt Cdr Taylor, Lt A H Nicholls, Temporary Lt A L Tessier RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt J S G Comfort RNVR, Commissioned Engineer F A Braham and forty one ratings. SPEEDWELL took SPHINX in tow, which parted at 1045, and she was unable to regain the tow for a time. After an unsuccessful attempt to tow was made by minesweepers SPEEDWELL and HARRIER, destroyer BOREAS went alongside and took off survivors but sustained damage to her hull forward in the process. SPHINX capsized in heavy weather early on the 4th and went ashore a total loss. Destroyers BOREAS and BRAZEN, minesweepers SKIPJACK, SPEEDWELL, HARRIER and tug WATERMEYER arrived at Invergordon on the 4th. The damage to BOREAS was repaired at Aberdeen completing on the 7th.

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Light cruiser PENELOPE departed Portland for Rosyth to arrive on the 5th, but was delayed by fog and did not arrive until the 7th.

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Destroyers KHARTOUM and KASHMIR arrived in the Clyde.

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Destroyer JAGUAR arrived at Rosyth from Scapa Flow.

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Destroyer ISIS departed Rosyth for the Clyde. Destroyer KANDAHAR was to have sailed in company, but had so many sick cases on board she was unable to leave.

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Armed merchant cruisers DERBYSHIRE and CIRCASSIA arrived in the Clyde from Northern Patrol.

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Minesweeping trawler FIREFLY (392grt) was damaged when a mine being hoisted inboard exploded near Dundee. Temporary Lt D B Johnstone RNVR (SO), Temporary S/Lt C Dodson RNVR, Temporary S/Lt N F Peat RNVR, Temporary S/Lt G W Vaughn RNVR and seven ratings were killed. Chief Skipper A Finlayson RNR, Temporary Lt A. M Maclean RNVR (who died of wounds on the 18th), and thirteen ratings were wounded. She was towed to Leith by minesweeping trawler WARDOUR (335grt) and arrived at Rosyth on the 4th.

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Convoy OA.83GF sailed from Southend on 30 January, escorted by destroyers WHITEHALL and BROKE, and OB.83GF from Liverpool on the 1st with destroyers VERSATILE and WINCHELSEA. On the 3rd, they merged as OG.17F with thirty ships, escorted by BROKE, VERSATILE, WINCHELSEA on the 3rd and sloop ENCHANTRESS from the 3rd to 7th. All four escorts detached to convoy HG.17F. OG.17F was escorted by destroyer VELOX from the 5th to 8th, and destroyer HERO from the 7th to 8th, on which day it arrived at Gibraltar.

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Convoy ON.10 was to have sailed, but was delayed 24 hours and then another 24, and did not sail until the 5th.

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Convoy TM, with an escort of the 1st Anti-Submarine Group, departed Newcastle, and arrived at Methil on the 4th escorted by the trawlers and destroyers ESCAPADE and JACKAL.

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Convoy FS.86, escorted by sloops FLAMINGO and WESTON, departed the Tyne supported by destroyer JUNO, but was forced to anchor in heavy fog. Convoy FS.88 joined them, FLAMINGO and WESTON proceeded to Rosyth and left destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop GRIMSBY to escort both convoys. WOOLSTON later had to detach to Sheerness as she was short of fuel. Both convoys arrived at Southend on the 9th. Convoy FS.87 was cancelled.

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Sloop DEPTFORD, escorting convoy OB.84, collided with American steamer ANTIGUA (6982grt). Other sources show the merchant ship as British steamer ANTIGONE (4545grt). The sloop sustained only slight damage.

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U.26 made an unsuccessful attack on a steamer in the North Sea.

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U.58 sank Estonian steamer REET (815grt), which departed Methil on 31 January for Gotenberg, in the North Sea. There were no survivors.

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Norwegian steamer TEMPO (629grt) was bombed and sunk by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) off Longstone Light, Farne Island in 55-59N, 1-35W. Five crew were lost, and the survivors rescued by tug BRAHMAM.

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Dutch steamer LAERTES (5825grt) was damaged by mining off Royal Sovereign Light Vessel in 50‑43N, 00‑35E, and tug BUCCANEER was to sent to assist.

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Steamer KILDALE (3877grt) was bombed and damaged by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) in 53‑47N, 00‑34E. Destroyer JACKAL was able to drive off further attacks, minesweeper trawler ST DONATS (349grt) took off the crew and she was towed to the Humber by tug YORKSHIREMAN.

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Steamer YEWDALE (823grt) was bombed and damaged by aircraft of German X Air Corps (He111's of KG26 or Ju88's of KG30) four miles NNE of Scarborough.

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Steamer BEECHWOOD (4897grt) was bombed and damaged by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) three miles east of Smiths Knoll Light Vessel.

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Steamer HARLEY (400grt) was bombed and damaged by aircraft of German X Air Corps (He111's of KG26 or Ju88's of KG30) eight miles SSE of Flamborough Head.

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Steamer NEW MINSTER (967grt) was damaged by German bombing in 54‑49N, 01‑03E.

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Trawler ROSE OF ENGLAND (223grt) was bombed and damaged by aircraft of German X Air Corps (He111's of KG26 or Ju88's of KG30) five to six miles east of Scarborough Castle.

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Trawler NAIRANA (225grt) was bombed and damaged by aircraft of German X Air Corps (He111's of KG26 or Ju88's of KG30) in 54‑00N, 02‑20E.

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Greek steamer ALEXANDRA (4355grt) was attacked and bombed by aircraft of German X Air Corps (He111's of KG26 or Ju88's of KG30) six miles off Longstone, but was not damaged.

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Greek steamer NICOLAOU ZOGRAFIA (7050grt) was bombed and attacked by aircraft of German X Air Corps (He111's of KG26 or Ju88's of KG30) in 55-25N, 1-23W, but not damaged.

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U.25 sank steamer ARMANISTAN (6805grt) from convoy OG.16 west of the mouth of the Tagus River in 38‑15N, 11‑15W. The entire crew were picked up by Spanish steamer MONTE ABRIL (2955grt).

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Light cruiser DELHI arrived at Gibraltar from Portsmouth to join the Mediterranean Fleet, and departed on the 4th, arriving at Malta on the 6th to relieve light cruiser GALATEA as flagship Vice Admiral Destroyers, Mediterranean. The flag was shifted on the 8th.

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Destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER departed Gibraltar to carry out an anti-subgmarine patrol off the Portuguese coast. At 2310, DEFENDER was detached to stand by steamer OREGON which had broken down in 40-57N, 10-42W. DECOY arrived back at Gibraltar on the 8th.

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French heavy cruiser TOURVILLE and destroyers VAUBAN and AIGLE arrived at Malta at 0700 from Beirut carrying out a contraband patrol in the Aegean en route, and departed Malta the next day for Toulon.

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French destroyers FORTUNE, SIMOUN and submarine PROTÉE departed Oran for Casablanca, passed Gibraltar on the 4th, and were sent to investigate an explosion near the Danish steamer JAVA (8681grt) in 36-34N, 8-55W.

 

 

Sunday, 4 February

 

Light cruiser AURORA arrived at Scapa Flow, and armed merchant cruisers ASTURIAS and CALIFORNIA in the Clyde, all from Northern Patrol.

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Light cruiser NEWCASTLE sailed from Scapa Flow, and armed merchant cruiser CARINTHIA from the Clyde, both on Northern Patrol.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO collided with steamer LULONGA (821grt) while entering the Humber. CAIRO was not damaged, but the steamer was beached to prevent her sinking.

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Destroyers EXPRESS, IVANHOE, INTREPID, ESK arrived in the Humber at 1255 after Minelaying Operation JB in the North Sea. The minelaying was screened by Motor Torpedo Boats 22, 24, 25 which arrived in the Humber at 1228.

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Submarines SEAL and NARWHAL exercised in the Firth of Forth. Afterwards SEAL set off on patrol, while NARWHAL was to have joined convoy ON.10. When the convoy was delayed, NARWHAL returned to Rosyth.

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Destroyer BRAZEN departed Invergordon to hunt for a submarine off Lossiemouth reported by aircraft, but was later recalled.

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Destroyers JERVIS and JUPITER departed Rosyth on the 4th, patrolled in the vicinity of Farne Island and then proceeded to the Humber. Destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop GRIMSBY, waiting for convoy FS.87, also patrolled the area.

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Destroyer COSSACK departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow, where she arrived on the 5th.

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Destroyer KANDAHAR departed Rosyth for the Clyde, where she arrived on the 5th.

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Destroyers KIPLING and KIMBERLEY departed Greenock for Scapa Flow with steamers KYLE FISHER (520grt) and FLORISTAN (5478grt). FLORISTAN arrived at Scapa Flow on the 6th.

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Destroyers BASILISK, carrying the Prime Minister, the War Cabinet and the Chiefs of Staff, and BRILLIANT departed Dover for Boulogne. Both ships returned to Dover that evening.

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Destroyers WHITSHED, HAVANT, ARDENT departed Plymouth for a position 40 miles 270° from Cape Finisterre.

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Destroyers WOLSEY, WINCHELSEA and sloop SANDWICH, escorting convoy SLF.18 west of Ushant in 48‑23N, 09‑27W, attacked a submarine contact.

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Submarines UNITY and H.34 accompanied convoy FS.85 on the 3rd and 4th, when they arrived in the Nore. They were then escorted by patrol sloop PUFFIN on to Portsmouth on the 7th.

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U.21 sank Yugoslav steamer VID (3547grt) in 58‑15N, 00‑48W with all hands.

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U.37 sank British steamer LEO DAWSON (4330grt) in 60‑10N, 00‑39W and Norwegian steamer HOP (1365grt), which had departed Bergen on the 3rd for Middlesbrough, in 58‑55N, 00‑14W. There were no survivors from HOP.

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Steamer BARON RUTHVEN (3178grt) ran aground off the Tees.

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Norwegian steamer JERNFJELD (1369grt) ran aground off Whitby Bay.

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French collier MARIE DAWN (2157grt) was damaged by a mine six miles NE of the Sunk with one crewman killed. She was abandoned by the survivors who reached Harwich, but then towed in by tugs.

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Convoy HXF.19 departed Halifax at 1400 escorted by Canadian destroyers SAGUENAY and SKEENA, which detached on the 5th. Ocean escort was armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA which left