British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day by Don Kindell

NAVAL EVENTS, MARCH 1940, Part 2 of 2
Friday 15th – Sunday 31st

HMS Carlisle, light cruiser
(NavyPhotos, click photographs for enlargements)

on to Naval Events, APRIL 1940
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

 


 

 

1940

 

 

Friday,  15 March

 

Battlecruiser HOOD with destroyers HARDY (D.2), HOTSPUR, IMOGEN arrived in the Clyde from Scapa Flow.

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Heavy cruisers DEVONSHIRE and NORFOLK ran several runs over the D.G. range in the Firth of Forth. The cruisers then departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow. The cruisers were designated for Northern Patrol duties. Heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE proceeded directly to patrol in the Denmark Strait.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA arrived at Sullom Voe.

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Destroyers HAVELOCK and HAVANT departed Portsmouth for the Clyde, and arrived on the 16th. They left again on the 16th escorting submarine TARPON to Portsmouth.

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Destroyer MATABELE arrived in the Clyde after refitting at Devonport.

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Light cruisers GALATEA and AURORA escorted by destroyers SOMALI, TARTAR, MATABELE departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow where they arrived at 0700/16th.

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Destroyer MASHONA escorting tanker WAR BHARATA arrived at Scapa Flow.

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Destroyers JERVIS and JANUS arrived at Rosyth.

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Destroyer WOOLSTON departed Rosyth to act in conjunction with a Bomber Command exercise in the North Sea.

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Submarine CLYDE departed Portsmouth for Blyth, joined convoy FN.122 on the 16th, and detached when the convoy was abreast Blyth, arriving on the 18th.

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French torpedo boats BOUCLIER, FLORE, MELPOMENE under the command of C.C. J.J.M.J. Fourniere arrived at Dover from Dunkirk for a courtesy visit. The torpedo boats were retained to assist in covering the 10th Minesweeping Flotilla operations between North Goodwin Light Vessel and Fairy Bank Buoy on 17 and 18 March. The torpedo boats then returned to Dunkirk.

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Heavy weather again carried away a 500 to 600 foot section of the anti-submarine nets at Scapa Flow. Anti-submarine trawler COVENTRY CITY went ashore at Longhope. Destroyer KIMBERLEY commenced an anti-submarine patrol off Hoxa Boom south a line from Cantick Head to Sandwick Bay, South Ronaldsay. At 1900, destroyer KIMBERLEY was relieved by destroyer FORESIGHT. At 0800/16th, destroyer FORESIGHT was relieved by destroyer FEARLESS. The nets were repaired at 1100/16th and destroyer FEARLESS returned to Scapa Flow.

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Anti-submarine trawler PERIDOT (550grt, Probationary Skipper W. H. Burgess RNR) was badly damaged on a mine off Dover in 51N, 1-35E, while on station LD 6. Anti-submarine trawler SAON (386grt) on station LD 7 took off the crew of the trawler. There were no casualties. Destroyer BRILLIANT took the trawler in the tow and transferred the tow at daylight at 0825 to tug LADY DUNCANNON (181grt). However, the trawler PERIDOT sank before arriving in harbour.

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Destroyer BEAGLE was instructed to order Train Ferry No. 1 (2683grt), en route from Calais, to pass three miles southwest of the position where trawler PERIDOT was mined.

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Convoy ON.20 of nine British, eighteen Norwegian, seven Swedish, two Danish, two Finnish, two Panamanian ships departed Methil escorted by destroyers ENCOUNTER, ESCORT, ELECTRA, ESCAPADE. The convoy was joined at sea by destroyers KASHMIR and KIMBERLEY which departed Kirkwall at 0715/16th with a detachment of twelve ships for the convoy. These ships are included in the Methil sailing breakdown. Antiaircraft cruiser CAIRO, assigned to this convoy, sustained sea damage and arrived at Scapa Flow. On the 17th, cruiser CAIRO arrived at Sullom Voe to repair the damage. Light cruiser SHEFFIELD departed the Tyne on the 17th and provided close cover for the convoy. The convoy arrived safely at Bergen on the 18th.

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Convoy MT.31 of five ships departed Methil escorted by the 19th Anti-submarine Group, destroyer VEGA, sloop STORK. Destroyer VEGA and sloop STORK detached themselves at dark from the convoy to escort convoy FS.122 which departed the Tyne at 2100. Convoy MT.31 arrived in the Tyne that night.

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Convoy TM.27 departed the Tyne at 1700 escorted by the 3rd Anti-submarine Group and destroyer BRAZEN. Submarine SPEARFISH departed Blyth and joined the convoy on passage to Scapa Flow. Once the convoy was abeam Rosyth, BRAZEN took SPEARFISH on to Scapa Flow.

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Convoy FN.121 departed Southend escorted by sloops LOWESTOFT and HASTINGS and destroyer VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 17th.

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Seventeen miles south of Needles, a civilian aircraft reported a submarine. Destroyer ISIS and anti-submarine yacht ST MODWEN (237grt) were ordered into the area, later joined by destroyers HERO and WILD SWAN.

 

Destroyer HERO, en route from Portsmouth to the Clyde, made an attack on a submarine contact off the Needles Channel in 50-36.2N, 1-40.4W. Destroyers ARROW, WILD SWAN, ANTHONY joined destroyer HERO in the search of Christchurch Bay and Poole Bay.

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Anti-submarine trawler STELLA DORADO (416grt) stopped Belgian trawler IBIS (160grt) and brought her to the Downs for examination.

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The Northern Patrol from 15 March to 31 March sighted sixty nine eastbound merchant ships of which thirteen were sent into Kirkwall for inspection. One German ship was intercepted in this period.

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Australian armed merchant cruiser KANIMBLA seized Soviet steamer VLADIMIR MAIAKOVSKY (3972grt) in the Sea of Japan and took her into control because she was carrying a cargo of copper from the United States to Germany. On the 26th, near Hong Kong the Soviet steamer was handed over to French light cruiser LAMOTTE PICQUET. The steamer was taken to Saigon, arriving on 1 April. KANIMBLA also captured Russian steamer SELENGA.

 

 

Saturday,  16 March

 

Heavy cruiser NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow from the Rosyth at 1020 in preparations of sailing on Northern Patrol duties.

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Battleship WARSPITE departed the Clyde at 1400 escorted by destroyers HARDY, HOTSPUR, HOSTILE, HUNTER. They arrived safely at Scapa Flow at 1600/17th.

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Destroyers ESKIMO and PUNJABI arrived at Greenock at 2200 after being relieved of convoy NS 1 by destroyer WANDERER in North Channel.

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Destroyer KASHMIR, escorting convoy ON.20, reported the approach of a German air raid on Scapa Flow. In this air raid, by Ju88's of KG30, heavy cruiser NORFOLK at anchor in Scapa Flow was damaged at 1959. The bomb striking NORFOLK struck the quarter deck near Y turret. The bomb passed through the upper, main, lower decks and exploded near Y shell room. This blew a hole in the starboard side below the water line. A fire was started and X and Y magazines were flooded. Midshipmen J. W. Busk and R.C. Evans-Lombe, Paymaster Midshipman D.B.P. Pick, Warrant Engineer J.F. Baxter RNR, were killed. Midshipman R.H. Cooper, Gunners H.R. Richards and D.A. Holdsworth, Acting Warrant Electrician M.A. Smith, three ratings were wounded. In the same air attack, old battleship IRON DUKE was near missed by three bombs. Two bombs exploded astern of battleship RODNEY causing no damage. Heavy cruiser NORFOLK was the only ship hit, but the Germans claimed hitting three battleships and one cruiser. Most of the Home Fleet was at Scapa Flow at this time and this prompted the Admiralty to order Forbes to take his fleet to sea during the next moonlight period between 19 and 26 March. Gutter Sound was closed due to the danger of magnetic mining from this air raid. Gutter Sound was reopened at 1116/17th. Heavy cruiser NORFOLK departed Scapa Flow at 1630/19th, attended by tug BUCCANEER and escorted by destroyers GURKHA, COSSACK, IVANHOE, GALLANT. The tug was detached en route and returned to Scapa Flow. Destroyers ESKIMO and PUNJABI escorting Tender C (dummy aircraft carrier HERMES - special service vessel MAMARI) traded charges with Destroyers IVANHOE and GALLANT near Cape Wrath. Cruiser NORFOLK arrived in the Clyde at 2230/20th, escorted by destroyers COSSACK, GURKHA, ESKIMO, PUNJABI. The heavy cruiser entered the dockyard in the Clyde on the 27th.NORFOLK was repairing until 14 June 1940. After safely delivering the cruiser, destroyer GURKHA and COSSACK returned to Scapa Flow.

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Armed merchant cruiser WOLFE arrived in the Clyde from Northern Patrol.

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Armed merchant cruiser FORFAR departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol.

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Light cruiser BIRMINGHAM and destroyer HERO departed Portsmouth for Scapa Flow and the Clyde, respectively. HERO arrived in the Clyde at 1430 after refitting at Portsmouth.

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Destroyer HYPERION arrived in the Clyde.

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Destroyers IVANHOE, INTREPID, GALLANT departed Invergordon to patrol in Moray Firth. On the 17th, they were involved in operation HSM with air cooperation.

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Submarines SALMON and STERLET arrived at Harwich on patrol.

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Submarines SEAL and THISTLE on patrol in the Skagerrak were ordered to exercise contraband control.

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Convoy OA.111 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer AMAZON from 16 to 18 March. The convoy dispersed on the 19th.

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Convoy OB.111 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WHIRLWIND and sloop ROCHESTER from 16 to 19 March.

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Convoy FN.122 departed Southend escorted by sloops LONDONDERRY and FLEETWOOD and destroyer VIMIERA. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 18th.

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Convoy FS.122 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and WOOLSTON and sloop STORK, from convoy MT.31. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.

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Convoy MT.32 departed Methil and arrived at the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy TM.28 departed the Tyne escorted by the 19th Anti-submarine Group and destroyer VALOROUS.

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Convoy BC.29 of four steamers, including BARON KINNAIRD (Commodore) departed Loire escorted by destroyer VIVACIOUS. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on the 18th.

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Minesweeping drifter MAIDA (107grt, Temporary Skipper R. M. Utting RNR) was sunk on a mine off Margate, ten miles east of North Foreland. Utting and five ratings were lost. Six crew were picked up by minesweeping drifter MARE (92grt) and taken to Dover.

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Yugoslav steamer SLAVA (4512grt) was sunk on a mine five miles south of Start Point, in 51-19-45N, 3-38-45W. One crewman was lost.

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Light cruiser DELHI arrived at Alexandria with CINCMED aboard.

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Australian destroyer WATERHEN departed Gibraltar for Malta.  

 

 

Sunday,  17 March

 

Destroyers HERO and HYPERION departed the Clyde at 2015 with RFA tanker PETROBUS (475grt) for Scapa Flow. En route, the tanker was sent into Stornoway and HERO and HYPERION were ordered to Scapa Flow with dispatch, arriving at 0724/19th.

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Destroyer INTREPID in an accidental collision in the Pentland Firth 50 miles northeast of Kinnaird Head sank trawler OCEAN DRIFT (227grt). Eight survivors were picked up and INTREPID proceeded to Invergordon with a damaged stem for emergency repairs, escorted by destroyers IVANHOE and GALLANT. She departed on the 18th for Southbank near Middlesbrough where repairs were completed on 28 April.

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At 1750, steamer BELLWYN (1670grt) collided with heavy cruiser SUFFOLK in Princess Dock at Govan. The cruiser required docking, but there was no delay in the ultimate completion date for the cruiser's repair.

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Light cruiser EDINBURGH arrived in the Tyne for repairs.

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Destroyer BRAZEN arrived at Scapa Flow at 0700 with Submarine SPEARFISH.

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Destroyer IMOGEN departed the Clyde at 0800 for Portsmouth for escort duties.

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Destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3) and ILEX departed Scapa Flow at 0017 to join destroyers IVANHOE and GALLANT on Moray Firth anti-submarine striking force duties. After this, INGLEFIELD and ILEX arrived at Scapa Flow at 2000/18th.

 

At this time, the Moray Firth Anti-submarine Striking Force was no longer operating. IVANHOE and GALLANT joined the Home Fleet from the Orkneys and Shetlands Command at 0730 and 0830/19th, respectively.

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Minelayers PRINCESS VICTORIA and TEVIOTBANK, escorted by minelaying destroyers ESK, EXPRESS, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, departed the Humber for Invergordon for minelaying mission PA 4. The ships arrived at Invergordon on the 19th.

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The 7th Destroyer Flotilla was assigned to the Commander in Chief, Home Fleet at midnight.

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Submarine TRIDENT and Polish submarine ORZEL arrived at Rosyth after patrol.

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Submarine SUNFISH on patrol in the North Sea sighted two large unescorted trawlers, but was unable to attack.

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Convoy FS.123, delayed twenty four hours by fog, departed the Tyne escorted by destroyer WALLACE and sloop FLAMINGO. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

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Netlayer GUARDIAN departed Scapa Flow on the 16th for Rosyth. On the 17th off Bell Rock, she was attacked by German bombers of KG2, but was not damaged, and arrived at Rosyth later on the 17th.

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Anti-submarine trawler STOKE CITY (422grt) was attacked by German bombers of KG26 off Girdleness, but was not damaged.

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Italian steamer VERBANIA (6640grt) broke down in 60-54N, 08-52W. Armed boarding vessel NORTHERN DUKE (655grt) stood by and tug WATERMEYER was dispatched to take her in tow. Steamer CARIBOU (2222grt) sighted the ship on the 21st and NORTHERN DUKE located her on the 22nd. Tug ST MELLONS was ordered to replace WATERMEYER on the 23rd, while tug BRIGAND was also ordered to proceed. On the 27th, the Italian steamer in tow of BRIGAND and escorted by armed boarding vessels NORTHERN WAVE (655grt) and NORTHERN GEM (655grt) arrived at Stornoway.

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Norwegian steamer VESPASIAN (1570grt) grounded on west side of Copt Point near Folkestone, but was refloated by tugs LADY BRASSEY and GANDIA with no apparent damage.

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German submarines were ordered to positions to attack damaged British ships leaving Scapa Flow after the 16 March air raid. U.57 and U.19 in the North Sea were ordered to the west side of Pentland Firth. U.21 and U.22 were ordered to the east side of Pentland Firth.U.22 departed Wilhelmshaven on the 20th and U.21 departed Wilhelmshaven on the 21st. On the 22nd, U.22 was ordered to assist a German ship grounded on the southern coast of Norway. On the 26th, U.22 was ordered to Moray Firth. On the 27th, U.22 was ordered to assist U.21 which had run aground. U.22 acknowledged none of the changes of orders, and was apparently lost soon after her departure from Wilhelmshaven around 23 March. The submarine was lost with all twenty seven crew on the 27th.

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U.38 sank Danish steamer ARGENTINA (5375grt), which had departed Copenhagen on the 13th for Las Palmas, in the North Sea. There were no survivors from the steamer.

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Convoy HG.23F departed Gibraltar with thirty ships, escorted by destroyer BULLDOG, as local escort. French destroyer PANTHERE and auxiliary patrol vessel MINERVE escorted the convoy from 17 to 23 March. Destroyers WINCHELSEA and WAKEFUL came from convoy OG.23F and escorted the convoy from 23 to 26 March. Destroyer WHITEHALL joined the convoy on the 23rd and escorted the convoy until 26 March when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

 

 

Monday,  18 March

 

Light cruiser MANCHESTER departed Scapa Flow on Northern Patrol.

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Destroyer HIGHLANDER (Cdr W. A. Dallmeyer) was completed. Following working up, destroyer HIGHLANDER was assigned to the 9th Destroyer Flotilla operating with the Home Fleet.

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Destroyers IVANHOE and GRIFFIN departed Invergordon. Destroyer IVANHOE arrived at Scapa Flow later the same day. Destroyer GRIFFIN arrived at Aberdeen later the same day.

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Destroyers JERVIS, JAVELIN, JANUS departed the Humber for Scapa Flow. En route, the destroyers were diverted to pick up convoy ON.21 off Rosyth and escort the convoy to Norway.

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Destroyers COSSACK and GURKHA departed Rosyth at 1800 for Scapa Flow where they arrived at 0930/19th.

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Destroyers ESKIMO and PUNJABI departed the Clyde at 1000 for Scapa Flow escorting  Tender C (dummy aircraft carrier HERMES - special service vessel MAMARI). On the 19th, destroyers ESKIMO and PUNJABI joined the escort of damaged heavy cruiser NORFOLK. Destroyers IVANHOE and GALLANT were detached from cruiser NORFOLK and took Tender C to Scapa Flow, arriving on the 20th.

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Destroyer BEDOUIN arrived at Scapa Flow during the morning after refitting at Newcastle.

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Destroyer IMOGEN reported a defective anti-submarine transmitter.

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Submarines TRITON and NARWHAL arrived at Rosyth after patrol. On the 19th, submarine NARWHAL was docked at Rosyth for repairs to the muffler valves.

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Patrol sloops PINTAIL and SHEARWATER departed Harwich to establish an anti-submarine patrol between Kentish Knock and a position 15 miles 130° from Kentish Knock.

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Convoy HN.20 departed Bergen with eight British, twenty one Norwegian, nine Swedish, two Danish, three Finnish ships escorted by destroyers ENCOUNTER, ESCORT, ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, KASHMIR, KIMBERLEY. Despite the protection of anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO, on the 20th, German bombers attacked convoys HN.20 and ON.21. When the convoy split into sections, destroyers ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER left the convoy with the seven ships of the west coast section. The west coast section dispersed off Cape Wrath. On the 20th, anti-submarine trawlers SCOTTISH (558grt) and IMPERIALIST (520grt) departed Kirkwall with three steamers for the convoy. They were ordered that if the convoy was not encountered to proceed independently to Methil. Destroyers ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500/21st. Convoy HN.20 arrived at Methil the morning of 22 March escorted by destroyers KASHMIR (SO), KIMBERLEY, ESCORT, ESCAPADE.

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Convoy OA.112 departed Southend escorted by destroyer WOLVERINE from 18 to 20 March and destroyer VANSITTART from 19 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 21st.

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Convoy OB.112 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VIMY and VENETIA from 18 to 20 March. The convoy dispersed on the 23rd.

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Convoy FN.123 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WOOLSTON and VIVIEN and sloops VEGA and PELICAN.This convoy contained 14 ships of cancelled convoy FN.124. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 20th.

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Escort vessel VIMIERA was damaged in a collision with steamer CLERMISTON (1448grt) off Rosyth. There was only minor damage to both vessels. Escort vessel VIMIERA was repaired at Rosyth from 25 to 30 March.

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Convoy OG.22 was formed with forty nine ships from convoy OA.110G, which departed Southend on the 15th, escorted by destroyer WINDSOR on 15 and 16 March, destroyer WILD SWAN joining on the 26th, destroyer BROKE joining on the 17th, OB.110G, which departed Liverpool on the 15th, escorted by destroyer VANQUISHER and sloop FOLKESTONE. The convoy was escorted by destroyers BROKE and WILD SWAN from 18 to 20 March.French destroyer CHACAL and patrol vessel CAPITAINE ARMANDE escorted the convoy from 18 to 24 March. Destroyer WISHART joined on the 21st and destroyer WRESTLER on the 23rd and both continued to Gibraltar. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.

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Convoy MT.33 of twenty five ships departed Methil escorted by the 3rd Anti-submarine Group and supported by sloops LOWESTOFT and HASTINGS and destroyer VALOROUS. On arrival off the Tyne, the sloops and the destroyer escorted convoy FS.124 from the Tyne.

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Convoy TM.29 departed the Tyne escorted by the 1st Anti-submarine Group and destroyer JUPITER. Destroyer BRAZEN, which had departed Scapa Flow on the 17th for Rosyth, was ordered to relieve destroyer JUPITER which was required at Scapa Flow. After being relieved, en route to Scapa Flow, destroyer JUPITER was diverted to Rosyth to escort convoy ON.21.

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Sloop BIDEFORD, escorting convoy OG.22F, attacked a submarine contact south of Cape St Vincent in 35-58N, 8-55W. Sloop FOWEY was in company escorting this convoy.

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Dutch trawler PROTINUS (202grt) was sunk by German bombers of KG26 off Ijmuiden near Middle Rough Bank. Four crew were lost and submarine UNITY (Lt J F B Brown) rescued seven crew members on the 25th.

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Convoy HX.28 departed Halifax at 0800 escorted by Canadian destroyers SAGUENAY, SKEENA, OTTAWA. Destroyer OTTAWA returned to Halifax after dark. The destroyers turned over the convoy to ocean escort Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN at 1800/19th. The battleship was detached on the 27th. Destroyers ANTELOPE and WARWICK joined the convoy on the 27th, destroyers HAVOCK and VANESSA on the 28th, destroyer VIMY on the 29th. Destroyers HAVOCK and WARWICK were detached on the 28th, destroyer VIMY and VANESSA on the 28th, destroyer ANTELOPE on 2 April, when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

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Light cruiser DAUNTLESS reported main condenser problems.

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Light cruisers CERES and COLOMBO arrived at Port Said.

 

 

Tuesday,  19 March

 

Battleships RODNEY, VALIANT and WARSPITE and destroyers HARDY (D.2), HERO, HUNTER, HASTY, HOTSPUR, HYPERION, HOSTILE of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, FORESTER and FEARLESS of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla departed Scapa Flow at 1500. Battlecruisers REPULSE and RENOWN and destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3), ILEX, DIANA, DELIGHT of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, BEDOUIN of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, destroyer FORTUNE of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla departed Scapa Flow at 1500. While at sea, the Home Fleet would cover the movement of convoys HN.20 and ON.21 and the Operation DU activities.

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A German submarine was sighted near Holm Sound between 1730 and 1800 about 250 yards seaward of the blockships. Destroyers departed Scapa Flow between 2030 and 2100 to search. Destroyers FOXHOUND and FIREDRAKE searched the area to seaward. Destroyer FOXHOUND attacked a submarine contact at 2135 off Grimness in 58‑49N, 2‑46W. Destroyers SOMALI (D.6), MASHONA, MATABELE, SIKH, FORESIGHT searched Scapa Flow with anti-submarine trawlers. Destroyer FAME patrolled the north end of Gutter Sound. The search was abandoned at 0030/20th. Destroyer SIKH proceeded to the anchorage to cover ships anchored in Scapa Flow. Destroyer FAME assigned a station to cover the entrance to Gutter Sound.