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, 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 PANTHÈRE 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 13 survivors were rescued by 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 (right - NP/Paul Simpson & Ian Mort) 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

 

RESCUE OF BRITISH SEAMEN FROM GERMAN TANKER ALTMARK

 

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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U.37 was en route to join U.53 for attacks off Portugal on French convoys 10 RS, en route from Gibraltar to Brest, and 65 KS, en route from Oran/Casablanca to Brest/St Nazaire. Off Cape Finisterre, U.37 attacked British convoy OG.18, escorted by French destroyer PANTHÈRE and French auxiliary patrol vessel MERCEDITA, and torpedoed British steamer PYRRHUS (7418grt) in 44‑02N, 10‑18W. She broke in two, the aft section sank immediately, but the fore part stayed afloat for two days. Eight Chinese crew were lost and the survivors, including Convoy Vice Commodore Vice Admiral A. E. Evans CB, CBE and his staff were rescued by British steamers USKSIDE (2706grt) and SINNINGTON COURT (6910grt). Also in OG.18 were British steamers AGAPENOR (7392grt), PROMETHEUS (6095grt) and GLENIFFER (9559grt).

 

The joint U-boat operation also netted three other ships. On the 18th, U.37 sank independently sailing Greek steamer ELLIN (4917grt) 25 miles NW of Cape Finisterre, the crew being picked up by Spanish fishing vessel MANIN (251grt, and French steamer PLM 15 (3754grt) from convoy 10 RS in 43‑37N, 09‑15W with the loss of her entire crew. French anti-submarine trawlers LA TOULONNAISE (738grt) and LA SETOISE (738grt) carried out attacks on U.37.

 

U.53 sank Spanish steamer BANDERAS (2140grt) eight miles NW of Cape Velano, also on the 18th. Twenty two crew were lost and six survivors rescued by Spanish fishing vessel TRITONIA (268grt). The U-boat also attacked French tanker GARONNE (3533grt) in convoy 10 RS, but malfunctioning torpedoes prevented any damage being done.

 

U.26 and U.50 had been ordered to operate with U.37 and U.53, but were too far away 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 Lt G J Kearney MB, ChB, Probationary Temporary Midshipman J L Coleman RNVR and 145 ratings were lost. Destroyers BRAZEN and ENCOUNTER, which had been hunting in the area, were ordered to search for the submarine responsible. They were joined by the convoy escort and by destroyers DIANA, which had departed Rosyth on the 17th, KIPLING, which had left Scapa Flow on the 14th, INGLEFIELD, ILEX, DELIGHT which earlier were released from HN.12’s escort, and anti-submarine trawlers of the 11th Anti-Submarine Striking Force. Submarine THISTLE rescued Lt L A Rogers and four ratings from DARING. The 11th A/S Striking Force did make an attack on U.23 east of Duncansby Head in 58-37N, 1-18W, but did no damage.

 

Destroyers GALLANT, JAGUAR, NUBIAN and SIKH departed Rosyth as convoy escorts and joined HN.12 bringing it into Methil on the 19th without further interference. After a loop crossing had been detected, destroyers GRIFFIN, IVANHOE, INTREPID hunted for another submarine in the Forth of Forth and were joined by escort vessel VALOROUS.

 

KIPLING reached Scapa Flow on the 18th and because of prior defects, went on to the Tyne for repairs arriving on the 20th.

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ABORTIVE GERMAN BATTLECRUISER SORTIE

 

German Admiral Marschall departed Wilhelmshaven for Operation NORDMARK with battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU, heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER, and destroyers KARL GALSTER, WILHELM HEIDKAMP, WOLFGANG ZENKER with the object of attacking allied shipping between the Shetlands and Bergen. However, ZENKER was damaged by ice and forced to return at the start. The remaining force was escorted through the Skagerrak by destroyers PAUL JACOBI, THEODOR RIEDEL, HERMANN SCHOEMANN, LEBERECHT MAAS and torpedo boats LUCHS and SEEADLER which raided in the Skagerrak after being detached. U-boats were disposed to support this operation. Three operated between the Shetlands and Norway, two in the Fair Isle Channel, three off the Pentland Firth and three 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, including some off Kinnnaird Head.

 

Submarine SALMON in the Heligoland Bight was ordered to attack the German surface ships, and convoy ON.14 was ordered into Kirkwall to avoid any contact with the enemy force, arriving on the 19th. Admiral Forbes was in the Clyde having only arrived on the 17th from supporting the ALTMARK hunt. After refuelling, he departed, still on the 19th with battleship RODNEY, battlecruiser HOOD, and destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FURY, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE. Destroyers HARDY left Greenock on the 19th, KHARTOUM Scapa Flow the same day, and KANDAHAR and TARTAR from Scapa on the 20th and joined Forbes at sea. With the British out 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 they could reenter on the 20th. On the 21st/22nd, ENE of Muckle Flugga in 61‑19N, 01‑30E, HARDY attacked a submarine contact, was joined by FORTUNE, but the search was unsuccessful.

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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 lay, the minelaying ships proceeded to Immingham on the 19th.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyer KELVIN arrived at Sullom Voe, refuelled and departed again later that day.

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Motor torpedo boats MTB.22, MTB.24 and 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 were to depart the Clyde for Portsmouth, but TETRARCH engine defects prevented them leaving.

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Armed merchant cruiser ASTURIAS on Northern Patrol picked up the survivors of fishing vessel SEA RAMBLER.

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Convoy OA.94 departed Southend escorted by destroyer WITCH. Destroyer ACASTA joined on the 19th, detached the next day and on the 21st, the convoy dispersed.

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Convoy OB.94 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers WALKER and VENETIA. They detached on the 20th and 21st respectively, with VENETIA joining HXF.20.

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Convoy SA.30 of two steamers departed Southampton, escorted by sloops FOXGLOVE and ROSEMARY, and arrived at Brest on the 20th.

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Convoy MT.14 departed Methil escorted by the 3rd Anti-Submarine Group, supported by destroyers VEGA, JAGUAR and sloop STORK, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FN.97 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WESTMINSTER and sloop LONDONDERRY, and arrived at Methil on the 20th.

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Convoy FS.99 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA, JAGUAR and sloop STORK, which had just arrived from Methil with 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 and the entire crew, 48 survivors, was rescued by Dutch steamer MONTFERLAND. Patrol sloops PINTAIL, 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 and Norwegian steamer SANGSTAD (4297grt) east of Kirkwall in 59‑00N, 00‑25E. The Master of the Norwegian ship was lost and destroyer BRAZEN picked up 22 of the crew and took them into Kirkwall.

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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) attacked 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 detached on the 19th. Ocean escort was armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA, which left on 1 March. Destroyers WINDSOR and WOLVERINE escorted the convoy 2 to 4 March, when it arrived at Liverpool.

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Convoy SL.21 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE until 4 March. Destroyers WANDERER joined on the 4th, VERSATILE on the 5th and the convoy arrived on the 7th.

 

 

19 February, Monday

 

Light cruiser GLASGOW arrived at Scapa Flow with rudder defects and then left for refitting at Belfast, where she arrived on the 24th. She 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.

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Destroyers GRIFFIN, INTREPID, IVANHOE, VALOROUS arrived at Rosyth after a submarine hunt.

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Destroyers JAGUAR and ILEX arrived at Rosyth.

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Convoy OA.93GF sailed from Southend on the 16th escorted by destroyer WREN and sloop ENCHANTRESS, and OB.93GF from Liverpool on the 17th escorted by sloops ABERDEEN and DEPTFORD with twenty eight ships. The two convoys joined on the 19th as OG.19F escorted by ABERDEEN and DEPTFORD, were joined by destroyer WISHART, and 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, and arrived in the Tyne on the 21st. Convoy FN.99 did not sail.

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Convoy FS.100 departed the Tyne escorted by sloops FLEETWOOD, HASTINGS and destroyers VALOROUS and JANUS, and arrived at Southend on the 21st.

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Destroyer WOLVERINE joined convoy HX.19 at 0815 with destroyers VANOC and VANESSA joining shortly after. WOLVERINE attacked a submarine contact WSW of Cape Clear in 50‑50N, 11‑23W, while the other two destroyers continued with the convoy. Destroyer WINCHELSEA joined WOLVERINE to continue the hunt.

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The 14th Anti-Submarine Striking Force attacked U.13 ESE of Duncansby Head in 58-30N, 1-30W, but did no damage.

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Two German 250 ton U-boats were reported five miles off Vlieland in 53-16N, 05-00E at 1000 steering northwest and one 500 ton boat was reported six miles off Ijmuiden in 52-28N, 4-34E at 1300 steering southwest. French sloop AMIENS was ordered to join anti-submarine trawler LADY PHILOMENA to hunt for them, but did not join. AMIENS returned to Dunkirk early on the 20th.

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Submarine SUNFISH at 0951 fired four torpedoes at U.14 in 54-28N, 07-11E.

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Minelayer TEVIOTBANK was slightly damaged in collision with tug GOOLE No. 10 in Immingham Dock.

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U.19 attacked tanker DAGHESTAN (5742grt) in 59‑21N, 01‑48W, but the attack failed due to torpedo defects.

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Steamer TIBERTON (5225grt) was believed lost to unknown cause in the Moray Firth with all her crew. Uboat.Net and Rohwer's "Axis Submarine Successes" confirm she was sunk by U.23 in 58.07N, 02.39W.

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Swedish steamer START (1765grt) was seized in the Baltic by German warships, and taken to Bremerhaven.

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Aircraft carrier HERMES arrived at Dakar after VO operations, escorted by destroyers DAINTY, DIAMOND, DEFENDER and DECOY.

 

 

20 February, Tuesday

 

He111 bombers of German KG26 (X Air Corps) attacked anti-submarine trawlers of the 11th Anti-Submarine Striking Force operating 52 miles 090° from Copinsay. FIFESHIRE (540grt) (S/Lt J V Searles-Wood) was sunk in 58‑53N, 1‑12W with Searles-Wood, Acting S/Lt J C Cooper RNR and nineteen ratings lost. Temporary S/Lt N F Villiers-Stewart RNVR, was the only survivor. AYRSHIRE (540grt) was attacked and badly damaged, and CAPE SIRETOKO (590grt) also attacked. Destroyer INGLEFIELD departed Scapa Flow to support them. (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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Submarine L.23 was depth charged by a German destroyer off the Danish coast, and sustained damage to her OF tanks. She reached Rosyth on the 22nd, left on the 23rd for Blyth and was repaired there from the 27th until March.

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Destroyer ILEX was damaged at Rosyth while berthing alongside destroyer SIKH, and was repaired at Rosyth completing on 11 March.

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Destroyers GALLANT, GRIFFIN, INTREPID, IVANHOE departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow to operate under the Orkneys and Shetlands Command.

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Destroyer KIPLING arrived in the Tyne.

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Destroyer ECHO arrived at Leith for refitting.

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Destroyers DELIGHT and INGLEFIELD arrived at Scapa Flow.

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Submarine URSULA departed Rosyth on patrol.

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After arriving at Kirkwall on the 19th to avoid contact with the German Battlecruiser force, convoy ON.14 left there escorted by destroyers ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE, ESCORT, ELECTRA and submarine NARWHAL. It was met by light cruisers EDINBURGH and