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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.
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