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Background Events - September 1939-March 1940
Battle of Atlantic starts, 'Phoney War' on land, Battle of River Plate
1940
Thursday,
15 February
Light cruiser MANCHESTER departed Scapa Flow on Northern
Patrol.
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Armed merchant
cruiser CARINTHIA arrived in the Clyde from Northern
Patrol.
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Submarine
TETRARCH and tender CUTTY SARK arrived in the Clyde.
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Submarine SWORDFISH
and destroyer IMPERIAL departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow. From there
IMPERIAL was to join the west coast section of convoy HN.12, but on the 16th,
the order was cancelled and she was ordered to the Norwegian coast.
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Submarine
TRIBUNE was exercising in the Firth of Forth.
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Submarine
SEAWOLF departed Sheerness with convoy OA.92 for Portsmouth.
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Anti-aircraft
cruiser CAIRO departed Scapa Flow for Sullom Voe.
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Destroyer TARTAR
departed Scapa Flow to relieve armed merchant cruiser FORFAR
in 64-22N, 12-05W.
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Destroyer MOHAWK
arrived in the Clyde escorting tanker MONTENOL (2646grt).
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Destroyers
ESCAPADE, ECHO and ECLIPSE arrived at Rosyth, and
ELECTRA separately from Dover.
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Destroyer JERVIS
arrived at Rosyth from the Humber.
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Motor torpedo
boats MTB.22, MTB.24 and MTB.25 carried out
a night patrol off Farne Island.
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Convoy OA.92
departed Southend, escorted by destroyers BROKE from the 15th to 16th, and
VANESSA from 16th to 18th when the convoy dispersed. Submarine SEAWOLF joined
the convoy for passage to Portsmouth.
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Convoy OB.92
departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VANOC and
WINCHELSEA from the 15th to 18th, when VANOC joined HX.19.
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Convoy OA.90G
sailed from Southend on the 12th escorted by destroyers VISCOUNT and
VANQUISHER, and OB.90G from Liverpool with 45 ships,
also on the 12th, escorted by sloops DEPTFORD and SCARBOROUGH. They merged on the 15th as OG.18, escorted
by French destroyer PANTHČRE and auxiliary
patrol ship MERCEDITA from then until the 21st, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd,
escorted by destroyer VELOX of the local escort. Destroyer ACTIVE, also of
the local escort, arrived the next day with steamer MACLAREN (2330grt), which
had broken down on the 22nd.
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Convoy FN.95
departed Southend escorted by sloops FLEETWOOD, BITTERN and HASTINGS, and joined by
destroyer JANUS on the 16th. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 17th.
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Convoy FS.97
departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop
PELICAN, and with submarine STERLET joining from Blyth for the passage
south. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.
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Convoy MT.11
departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN, sloop PELICAN, and
anti-submarine trawlers of the 19th Anti-Submarine Group, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.
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Convoy MT.12
departed Methil, escorted by sloops FLAMINGO, WESTON and anti-submarine
trawlers of the 3rd Anti-Submarine Group, and arrived in the Tyne the next day. Convoy
MT.13 was cancelled.
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Destroyer VENETIA, escorting the Liverpool section of a
homebound convoy, attacked a submarine contact east of Fastnet in 50‑59N,
8‑38W.
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Destroyer DARING
attacked a contact NNE of Kinnaird Head in 58‑10N, 1‑45W. Destroyers
KIPLING and IMPERIAL were also hunting in the area, and the search continued
on the 16th.
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Anti-submarine
trawlers NORTHERN SPRAY (SO), NORTHERN DAWN, NORTHERN GEM, NORTHERN WAVE and NORTHERN
PRIDE of the 12th Anti-Submarine Striking Force were on patrol north of the
Shetland Islands in 61-27N, 1-09W, when NORTHERN DAWN attacked a submarine
contact.
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Mine destructor
ship BORDE was damaged by a mine off the Kent coast near the Downs, and repaired
at Chatham from 25 February to April.
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U.14 sank Danish
steamers RHONE (1064grt) with
the loss of nine crew and SLEIPNER
(1066grt) in 58‑18N, 01‑48W. Destroyer KIPLING rescued twelve men
and Swedish fishing boat STANDARD thirty nine from the two ships - the
survivors from RHONE and all the crew of SLEIPNER. On the
19th, ECLIPSE found a raft from RHONE in 58-40N,
1-05W with two dead.
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U.26 sank
Norwegian steamer STEINSTAD
(2476grt) west of Ireland, 50 miles off
Clare coast, with the loss of thirteen crew.
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U.37 sank Danish
steamer AASE (1206grt) in 49‑17N,
08‑15W. Fifteen crew were lost and the only survivor was rescued by
destroyer VERITY on the 17th.
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U.48 sank Dutch
tanker DEN HAAG (8971grt) in 48‑02N,
08‑26W. The thirteen survivors were rescued by British steamer GLEN
ORCHY.
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U.50 sank Danish
steamer MARYLAND (4895grt),
which left Madeira on the 7th for Copenhagen, in 57‑09N,
12‑00W. There were no survivors.
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The Northern
Patrol sighted 61 eastbound ships between the 15th and 29th and sent 24 into Kirkwall for inspection.
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German supply
ship ALTMARK (10,847grt), received a perfunctory contraband check at Bergen, and put to sea
for her return to Germany escorted by
Norwegian torpedo boats SKARV and KJELL.
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Heavy cruiser EXETER finally arrived
at Plymouth, screened by
aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, battlecruiser RENOWN and light cruiser GALATEA,
but without destroyer HERO. In the South Western Approaches, she had been
joined by her close destroyer escort, starting with HASTY on the 13th, ACASTA
and WHITSHED earlier on the 14th, and ARDENT, HEARTY, WOLVERINE and WREN
later in the day. ARK ROYAL also reached Plymouth on the 15th
escorted by destroyers KEITH, WAKEFUL, VETERAN and ANTELOPE, and EXETER repaired at
Devonport until 10 March 1941.
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Minesweeper
FERMOY arrived at Gibraltar from Malta to replace
minesweeper GOSSAMER, which had returned to England with convoy
HG.18F.
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French armed
merchant cruiser KOUTOBIA, large destroyer CASSARD and torpedo boat BAYONNAISE passed Gibraltar
eastbound – KOUTOBIA sailing from Casablanca for Marseille for repairs, where
she arrived on the 17th, CASSARD from Dakar for Toulon after duty in the
South Atlantic, also arriving on the 17th, and BAYONNAISE from Casablanca,
arriving at Oran on the 16th.
Friday,
16 February
Just after midnight, Admiral Forbes
ordered the ships of Operation DT, which began late on the 14th, to intercept
German supply ship ALTMARK. The British force split up to search the Leads
and offshore islands south of Bergen. Light cruiser ARETHUSA sighted ALTMARK
a short time later off Egero Light and destroyers IVANHOE and INTREPID were
dispatched to stop her. However, the Norwegian escorts intervened and ALTMARK
was able to enter Jossing Fjord. At that time, Norwegian naval units in the
Fjord and nearby were torpedo boats KJELL, SKARV, TEIST and armed auxiliaries
FIRERN and HVAL IV. Destroyer COSSACK followed ALTMARK in and after unsuccessful
talks with the Norwegian escort commander, a boarding party of three officers
and thirty ratings (under the command of Lt Cdr B. T Turner) boarded ALTMARK
from COSSACK. ALTMARK ran aground, four German sailors were killed and five
wounded, but 299 British prisoners from ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE's sinkings were
released. Gunner J J F Smith in the boarding party from light cruiser AURORA was
wounded. While alongside ALTMARK, COSSACK's bow and side plates were damaged
and port propeller cracked. When IVANHOE approached German merchant ship
BALDUR (5805grt) off Jossing Fjord near Lister Light, she was scuttled.
Still on the 16th,
submarines SEAL, TRIAD, ORZEL were ordered into the area and joined SALMON
and SEALION which were already there. SEAL sighted the sinking BALDUR and the
DT operation ships, but the other submarines sighted nothing at all.
Battleship
WARSPITE, battlecruiser HOOD, and destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FURY, FAME, FORESIGHT,
FORTUNE and FIREDRAKE of the Home Fleet were at sea near Pentland Firth covering the
operation. And after leaving Scapa Flow on the 16th, heavy
cruiser NORFOLK met light
cruisers SOUTHAMPTON, EDINBURGH and destroyers DARING and IMPERIAL to provide
support. There was no German Fleet reaction.
After the rescue,
the SOUTHAMPTON group joined convoy HN.12 on the 17th,
together with ARETHUSA in support, COSSACK and her force returned to Rosyth
arriving on the 17th after which she reached Leith on the 19th for
repairs, and the HOOD force arrived back in the Clyde on the 18th.
German steamer
WIEGAND (5869grt) arrived in Jossing Fjord on the 21st, supposedly to tow ALTMARK,
but left alone the next day. Instead, ALTMARK remained aground under the
guard of Norwegian minelayer OLAV TRYGVASSON until 6 March when she was
refloated, and headed for Sandefjord escorted by two Norwegian destroyers
while submarine UNITY shadowed and the Polish ORZEL patrolled nearby. After
reaching Sandefjord, ALTMARK’s repairs were completed on 22 March.
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Armed merchant
cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE arrived in the Clyde from Northern
Patrol.
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Submarines
TRUANT and TRITON exercised in the Firth of Forth.
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Aircraft carrier
ARK ROYAL, battlecruiser RENOWN and destroyer HERO arrived at Portsmouth and Force K was
dissolved. After short refits, the three oined the Home Fleet.
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Anti-submarine
whaler THIRLMERE (560grt) at 0905 attacked a submarine contact west of
Sumburgh Head in 59-58N, 3-08W. Anti-submarine whaler ELLESMERE was sent to
assist, but no further contact was made and the search was abandoned at
1700/17th.
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Convoy FN.96
departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WOOLSTON, JANUS and sloop GRIMSBY, and arrived in
the Tyne on the 18th.
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Convoy FS.98
departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer JERVIS and sloops
FLAMINGO and WESTON, was forced to anchor in the Humber overnight, but
arrived at Southend on the 18th.
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U.14 sank
Swedish steamers OSMED (1526grt) 20
miles and LIANA (1664grt) 24 miles
north of Kinnaird Head, with the loss of thirteen and ten crew respectively.
Survivors were picked up by Swedish steamer SANTOS (3840grt) and British
trawler LOCH HOPE (274grt), but of the eight onboard SANTOS, six were lost
when she was sunk on the 24th
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Convoy HN.12 of three
British, fifteen Norwegian, eight Swedish, one Danish, two Finnish and one
Estonian ship departed Bergen escorted by
destroyers INGLEFIELD, ILEX, IMOGEN, DELIGHT and submarine THISTLE. Anti-aircraft
protection was provided by anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA and close
support by light cruisers EDINBURGH and ARETHUSA. Destroyer DARING departed
Rosyth on the 15th to join the convoy at sea. On the 17th, INGLEFIELD and
IMOGEN, and EDINBURGH and ARETHUSA detached to Scapa Flow to refuel and
arrived on the 18th. Three merchant ships joined from the Orkneys for passage
to the east coast, and destroyer IMPERIAL escorted the Methil section. The
convoy arrived on the 19th
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Convoy HX.20
departed Halifax at 0800 escorted by Canadian destroyers FRASER, ST LAURENT and the British
HEREWARD. Canadian destroyer SKEENA accompanied the
convoy until it was clear of the harbour. Light cruiser ORION and liner
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD departed Halifax with HX.20 and
then proceeded independently to Liverpool. HEREWARD
returned to Halifax on the 20th, but
before then, the other destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, light cruiser ENTERPRISE, at 1400/17th.
Destroyers VOLUNTEER, WITCH and sloops FOWEY and ROCHESTER escorted from
29 February to 4 March, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
Saturday,
17 February
Heavy cruiser NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow and departed to
relieve heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE on Northern
Patrol. DEVONSHIRE reached Greenock on the 20th.
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Light cruiser NEWCASTLE arrived at Scapa Flow after Northern
Patrol, and destroyer KINGSTON departed Scapa Flow for Northern Patrol.
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Destroyers
DIANA, ENCOUNTER and BRAZEN escorted two tankers from Rosyth to Aberdeen, after which
they left with steamers HIRONDELLE (1243grt) and RUTLAND (1437grt).
Destroyer KIPLING joined en route, with HIRONDELLE being taken into Lerwick
and RUTLAND into Scapa Flow.
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Submarines
TRIBUNE and TRUANT exercised in the Firth of Forth with destroyer ELECTRA serving
as the target ship.
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Submarine URSULA
departed Blyth on patrol, but had to return with engine
problems.
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Convoy BC.25 of
five steamers, including BARON CARNEGIE and BATNA, which had sailed from Nantes on the 13th and
14th respectively, departed Quiberon Bay on the 16th. It
arrived in Barry Roads on the 17th escorted by destroyer MONTROSE.
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Destroyer
WOLVERINE on convoy escort, attacked a submarine contact southwest of the
Scilly Isle on the 17th in 49‑38N, 06‑40W and the 18th in 49-37N,
7-10W.
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Sloop ABERDEEN, on convoy
escort with OG.19F, attacked a contact southwest of Portland Bill in 50-10N,
2-52W.
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Anti-submarine
trawler PEARL (649grt)
attacked a contact in Lune Deep in Morecombe Bay in 53-53N,
3-33W.
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Destroyer HAVANT
developed defects while on escort duty.
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Convoy ON.14
with ten British, seven Norwegian, one Swedish, five Finnish and one Estonian
ship departed Methil escorted by destroyers ESCAPADE, ESCORT, ECLIPSE,
ELECTRA and submarine NARWHAL. (There was no ON/HN.13.) ECLIPSE attacked a
submarine contact in the Firth of Forth in 56-09N, 2-49W, and one merchant
ship detached before the North Sea crossing. Light
cruisers EDINBURGH and ARETHUSA left Scapa Flow on the 19th to rendezvous
with the convoy at 0700/20th, and when German surface ships appeared in the
North Sea, ON.14 put into Kirkwall, still on the 19th, but left next day once
the German ships had returned to Wilhelmshaven, reaching Bergen on the 22nd.
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U.10 sank
Norwegian steamer KVERNAAS
(1819grt) four miles NW of Schouwen Bank in 51‑50N, 03‑19E,. The
crew of 20 was rescued by Dutch steamer ORANJEPOLDER (856grt).
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U.48 sank Finnish
steamer WILJA (3396grt) southwest
of the Scilly Isles in 49‑00N, 06‑33W and the 27 survivors were
rescued by destroyer VANESSA and Dutch steamer MAASDAM (8810grt). VANESSA was
escorting convoy OA.92 at the time, saw the sinking and attacked U.48 in 49‑25N,
07‑10. 6W. She was joined by destroyer WREN and sloop DEPTFORD at 1230
and 1520/18th, respectively. DEPTFORD left for Gibraltar at 1700/18th, and
sloop ENCHANTRESS joined.
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Convoy HG.19 of 35
ships departed Gibraltar with sloops LEITH and BIDEFORD as
ocean escort from the 17th to 27th. Before then, on the 24th, the convoy split
into two. HG.19 A was escorted in Home Waters by BIDEFORD and destroyer
WHITSHED, and HG.19B by destroyers WALPOLE, WHITSHED and MACKAY from the 24th
to 27th when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
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ggg
Convoy OG.18,
escorted by French destroyer PANTHERE and French auxiliary patrol vessel
MERCEDITA, was attacked off Cape Finisterre by U.37. U.37
was en route to join U.53 for attacks on French convoys 10 RS, en route from
Gibraltar to Brest, 65 KS, en route from Oran/Casablanca to Brest/St Nazaire,
off Portugal. U.37 sank British steamer PYRRHUS (7418grt) from convoy OG.18
in 44‑02N, 10‑18W. The steamer broke in tow. The aft section sank
immediately, but the fore part not for two days. Eight Chinese crew were lost
on the British steamer. The survivors, including Convoy Vice Commodore Vice
Admiral A. E. Evans, CB, CBE, his staff,
from PYRRHUS were rescued by British steamers USKSIDE (2706grt) and SINNINGTON
COURT (6910grt). Also on convoy OG.18 were the
British steamers AGAPENOR (7392grt), PROMETHEUS (6095grt), GLENIFFER
(9559grt). The joint operation netted only three independents sunk. U.37 sank
Greek steamer ELLIN (4917grt) on the 18th twenty five miles northwest of Cape Finisterre. The crew were
picked up by Spanish fishing vessel MANIN (251grt). U.37 sank French steamer PLM 15 (3754grt)
from convoy 10 RS in 43‑37N, 09‑15W on the 18th. The entire crew
from the French steamer was lost. French anti-submarine trawlers LA
TOULONNAISE (738grt) and LA SETOISE (738grt) made anti-submarine attacks on
submarine U.37. U.53 sank Spanish steamer BANDERAS (2140grt) eight miles
northwest of Cape Velano on the 18th.
Twenty two crew were lost on the Spanish steamer. The six survivors were
rescued by Spanish fishing vessel TRITONIA (268grt). U.53 also attacked
French tanker GARONNE (3533grt) in convoy 10 RS, but
malfunctioning torpedoes prevented damage being done. U.26 and U.50 had also
been ordered to operate with U.37 and U.53, but were too distant to join in
time.
18
February, Sunday
Destroyer DARING
(Cdr S. A. Cooper), escorting convoy HN.12, was sunk by U.23 off Duncansby
Head in 58‑40N, 01‑40E. Cdr Cooper, executive officer Lt P. L.
Roberts, Lt P. C. Gordon RNVR, engineering officer Lt W. J. K. Shaxby, S/Lt
L.G. M. Potts, Gunner W. H. Easton, Midshipman A. V. Dumfrey RNR, Surgeon LtG.
J. Kearney, MB, ChB, Probationary Temporary Midshipman J. L. Coleman RNVR,
145 ratings were lost with DARING. Destroyers BRAZEN and ENCOUNTER, which had
been submarine hunting in the area, were ordered to hunt the submarine
responsible. They were joined by the convoy escort and destroyers DIANA,
which had departed Rosyth on the 17th, KIPLING, which had departed Scapa Flow
on the 14th, INGLEFIELD, ILEX, DELIGHT which earlier were released from HN.12
escort, anti-submarines trawlers of the 11th Anti-Submarine Group. Submarine
THISTLE rescued Lt L. A. Rogers and four ratings from DARING. The British
11th Anti-Submarine Striking Force made an attack onsubmarine U.23 east of
Duncansby Head in 58-37N, 1-18W, but did no damage. Destroyers GALLANT,
JAGUAR, NUBIAN, SIKH departed Rosyth as convoy escorts and joined HN.12
bringing it into Methil without further interference on the 19th. After a
loop crossing, destroyers GRIFFIN, IVANHOE,
INTREPID were hunting another submarine in the Forth of Forth. They were
joined by escort vessel VALOROUS. Destroyer KIPLING arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th.
With prior defects, KIPLING went on to the Tyne for repairs
arriving on the 20th.
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German Admiral
Marschall departed Wilhelmshaven in Operation
NORDMARK with battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU, heavy cruiser ADMIRAL
HIPPER, destroyers GALSTER, HEIDKAMP, ZENKER with the object of attacking
allied shipping between the Shetlands and Bergen. However,
ZENKER was damaged by ice and forced to return to Wilhelmshaven at the start.
The force was escorted through the Skagerrak by destroyers
JACOBI, RIEDEL, SCHOEMANN, MAAS and torpedo
boats LUCHS and SEEADLER which raided in the Skagerrak after being
detached. U.boats were disposed to support this operation. Three submarines
to operated between the Shetlands and Norway. Two submarines
to operate in Fair Isle Channel. Three submarines to operate off Pentland Firth. Three
submarines were held in reserve near the north coast of Scotland. Submarines deployed
were U.60, U.61, U.57, U.23, U.22, U.62, U.19, U.13, U.63, U.18, U.14, U.18
and U.14 operated off Kinnnaird Head. Submarine SALMON in the heligoland
Bight was ordered to attack the German surface ships. Convoy ON.14 was
ordered into Kirkwall to avoid contact with the German force
and arrived on the 19th. Admiral Forbes was in the Clyde having only
arrived on the 17th from supporting the ALTMARK hunt. After refuelling,
Forbes departed on the 19th with battleship RODNEY, battlecruiser HOOD,
destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FURY, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE.
Destroyer HARDY departed Greenock on the 19th,
destroyer KHARTOUM departed Scapa Flow on the 19th,
destroyers KANDAHAR and TARTAR
departed Scapa Flow on the 20th and joined Forbes at sea. On
21/22 February, east north east of Muckle Flugga in 61‑19N, 01‑30E,
destroyer HARDY made attacks on a submarine contact. She was joined by
destroyer FORTUNE, but the search was unsuccessful. With Admiral Forbes at
sea and extreme cold immobilizing his seaplanes, Admiral Marschall was forced
to return to Wilhelmshaven empty handed.
Ice breakers were required to clear the Rivers Jade and Weser before the
German ships could reenter Wilhelmshaven on the 20th.
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Minelayer
TEVIOTBANK and minelaying destroyers EXPRESS and ESK laid Deep Line
"S" in operation DML 8 east of Outer Gabbard escorted by destroyers
KEITH and BOADICEA. Minesweeper FRANKLIN had already
laid the marker buoys on the 16th. After the minelay, the Minelaying ships
proceeded to Immingham on the 19th.
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Anti-aircraft
cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyer
KELVIN arrived at Sullom Voe. The ships refuelled and departed again later
that day.
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Motor torpedo
boats MTB.22, MTB.24, MTB.25 departed
Rosyth on patrol.
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Submarine
SEALION arrived at Harwich after patrol.
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Submarine
TETRARCH and tender CUTTY SARK was to depart the Clyde for Portsmouth, but engine
defects on the submarine prevented the sortie.
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Armed merchant
cruiser ASTURIAS on Northern Patrol picked up the survivors of British
fishing vessel SEA RAMBLER.
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Convoy OA.94
departed Southend escorted by destroyer WITCH. Destroyer ACASTA joined the
convoy on the 19th and was detached the next day. On 21 February, the convoy
was dispersed.
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Convoy OB.94 departed
Liverpool escorted by
destroyers WALKER and VENETIA. The destroyers
were detached on 20 and 21 February, respectively. Destroyer VENETIA joined convoy
HXF.20.
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Convoy SA.30 of
two steamers departed Southampton, escorted by
sloops FOXGLOVE and ROSEMARY. The convoy arrived at Brest on the 20th.
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Convoy MT.14
departed Methil escorted by the 3rd Anti-Submarine Group, supported by
destroyer VEGA, sloop STORK, destroyer JAGUAR. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
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Convoy FN.97
departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WESTMINSTER and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy
arrived at Methil on the 20th.
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Convoy FS.99
departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and JAGUAR
and sloop STORK, which had just arrived from Methil in convoy MT.14. The
convoy arrived at Southend on the 20th.
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U.10 sank Dutch
steamer AMELAND (4537grt) in 51‑54N, 03‑01E. The entire crew, 48
survivors, were rescued by Dutch steamer MONTFERLAND. Patrol sloops PINTAIL
and GUILLEMOT and two motor torpedo boats were searching in the area.
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U.61 sank
Pananamian steamer EL SONADOR (1406grt) east of the Shetlands.
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U.61 sank
Norwegian steamer SANGSTAD (4297grt) east of Kirkwall in 59‑00N,
00‑25E. The Master of the Norwegian steamer was lost. Destroyer BRAZEN
picked up twenty two of the crew and took them into Kirkwall.
_____
Sloop ABERDEEN, on escort duty
with convoy OB.93GF, attacked a submarine contact south of Wolf Rock in
49-42N, 5-45W.
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Anti-submarine
trawler CAPE PORTLAND (497grt) made
an attack on a submarine contact off Aberdeen in 57-19N,
1-50W.
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Convoy HX.21
departed Halifax at 0800
escorted by Canadian destroyers OTTAWA and SAGUENAY, which were
detached on the 19th. Ocean escort for the convoy was Armed merchant cruiser
ALAUNIA, which was detached on 1 March. Destroyers WINDSOR and WOLVERINE
escorted the convoy 2 to 4 March, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
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Convoy SL.21
departed Freetown escorted by
armed merchant cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE until 4 March.
Destroyer WANDERER joined the convoy on 4 March and destroyer VERSATILE on 5
March. The convoy arrived on 7 March.
19
February, Monday
Light cruiser
GLASGOW arrived at Scapa Flow with rudder
defects. Light cruiser GLASGOW departed Scapa Flow for refitting
at Belfast, where she arrived on the 24th.
Light cruiser GLASGOW later went on to Rosyth for refitting which was
completed in early April.
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Armed merchant
cruiser ASTURIAS boarded and sent in for inspection Norwegian steamer
SKRAMSTAD (4300grt).
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Destroyer KIMBERLEY departed Scapa Flow on Northern
Patrol.
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Armed merchant
cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE departed the Clyde on Northern
Patrol.
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Armed merchant
cruiser ANDANIA arrived at the Clyde after Northern
Patrol.
_____
Destroyers GRIFFIN, INTREPID,
IVANHOE, VALOROUS arrived at Rosyth after a submarine hunt.
_____
Destroyers
JAGUAR and ILEX arrived at Rosyth.
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Convoy OG.19F
was formed from convoys OA.93GF, which departed Southend on the 16th escorted
by destroyer WREN and sloop ENCHANTRESS, OB.93GF, which departed Liverpool on the 17th
escorted by sloops ABERDEEN and DEPTFORD,
with twenty eight ships. The convoy and both sloops, joined by destroyer
WISHART, arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.
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A TM Convoy departed
the Tyne escorted by the 19th Anti-Submarine
Group and supported by destroyer JACKAL.
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Convoy FN.98
departed Southend escorted by sloop PELICAN and destroyers VIVIEN and JERVIS.
The convoy arrived at the Tyne | 