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Note: all vessels and aircraft are British unless otherwise identified or implied - click for abbreviations |
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Background Events - April-May 1940
1940 This is the
status of the destroyer flotillas in Home Waters on Home
Fleet 2nd Destroyer Flotilla (Captain B. A.
W. Warburton-Lee) - HARDY (Warburton-Lee) Division 3, HOTSPUR (Cdr H F H Layman),
HAVOCK (Lt Cdr R.E Courage), HERO (Cdr H W Biggs DSO), HEREWARD (Lt Cdr C W
Greening, repairing at Division 4, HYPERION (Cdr H St L
Nicolson DSO), HUNTER (Lt Cdr L de Villiers), HOSTILE (Lt Cdr J P Wright),
HASTY (Lt Cdr L R.K Tyrwhitt, damaged at 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Captain P Todd)
- INGLEFIELD (Todd) Division 5, ISIS (Cdr J C Clouston),
ILEX (Lt Cdr P L Saumarez DSC), IMPERIAL (Lt Cdr CA de Division 6, DELIGHT (Cdr M Fogg-Elliot
DSO), DIANA (Lt Cdr E G LeGeyt), IMOGEN (Cdr C L Firth MVO) 4th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain P L
Vian) Division 7, AFRIDI (Vian), GURKHA (CdrA
W Buzzard), SIKH (Cdr JA Giffard), MOHAWK (Cdr J W M Eaton) Division 8, ZULU (Cdr J S.Crawford),
COSSACK (Cdr R.St V Sherbrooke), MAORI (Cdr G N Brewer, repairing in the 5th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain Lord
Louis Mountbatten) Division 9, KELLY (Mountbatten,
repairing at Blackwell), KIPLING (Cdr A St Clair Ford, repairing in the Division 10, 6th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain R.S G
Nicholson) Division 11, SOMALI (Nicholson), Division 12, BEDOUIN (Cdr JA McCoy),
PUNJABI (Cdr J T Lean), ESKIMO (Cdr St JA Micklethwait), TARTAR (Cdr L P
Skipwith) 7th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain P J
Mack) Division 13, JERVIS (Mack, repairing in
the Division 14, JACKAL (Cdr T M Napier,
repairing at 8th
Destroyer Flotilla (Captain A F de Salis) - FAULKNOR (de Salis) Division 15, FOXHOUND (Cdr G H Peters),
FEARLESS (Cdr K L Harkness), FURY (Cdr G F Burghard, repairing at Division 16, 20th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain J G
Bickford DSC) Division 39, EXPRESS (Bickford,
repairing at Division 40, INTREPID (Cdr R.C Gordon,
repairing at Rosyth
Command 12th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain
R.Kerr, Captain D Rosyth) Division 23, Division 24, ESCAPADE (Cdr H R.Graham),
ENCOUNTER (
Miscellaneous
attached Destroyer DUNCAN (Lt Cdr C Gwinner Rtd,
repairing at Grangemouth) Convoy C (Captain R.Kerr, Captain D
Rosyth Escort Force) Sloops AUCKLAND (Cdr J G Hewitt DSO),
BITTERN (Lt Cdr R.H Mills), BLACK SWAN (Captain A L Poland), EGRET (Cdr D P
Evans, repairing at Rosyth), FLAMINGO (Cdr J H Huntley), FLEETWOOD (Cdr A N
Grey DSO), GRIMSBY (Cdr K J D'Arcy), HASTINGS (Lt Cdr A B Alison),
LONDONDERRY (Cdr Sir Thomas L Beevor Bt), LOWESTOFT (Cdr A M Knapp), PELICAN
(Cdr LA K Boswell DSO), STORK (Cdr A C Behague), WESTON (Lt Cdr S C Tuke) Escort ships/destroyers VALENTINE (Cdr
H J Buchanan RAN), VALOROUS (Lt Cdr E Mack), VEGA (Cdr C I Horton, repairing
at Rosyth), VIMIERA (Lt Cdr R.B N Hicks), VIVIEN (Lt Cdr W D G Weir), WALLACE
(Cdr B I Robertshaw), WESTMINSTER (Lt Cdr A A C Ouvry), WHITLEY (Lt Cdr G N
Rolfe), WOLSEY (Cdr C H Campbell), WOOLSTON (Cdr W J Phipps) Nore
Command 1st Destroyer Flotilla (Captain G E
Creasy) Division 1, CODRINGTON (Creasy),
GRENADE (Cdr R.C Boyle), Polish BLYSKAWICA (Cdr S Nahorski, ORP), GROM (Cdr A
Hulewicz (Hulewiscowi ?), ORP) and BURZA (Cdr W Francki, ORP), Division 2, GRAFTON (Cdr C E C
Robinson, repairing at 19th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain D J
R.Simson) Division 37, KEITH (Captain D J
R.Simson), BASILISK (Cdr M Richmond, repairing at Blackwall) Destroyer BEAGLE
(Lt Cdr R.H Wright), BOREAS (Lt Cdr M W Tomkinson, repairing at Division 38, BOADICEA (Lt Cdr G B
Kingdon), BRAZEN (Lt Cdr Sir Michael Culme-Seymour Bt), BRILLIANT (Lt Cdr F C
Brodrick) 16th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain T E
Halsey) Division 31, MALCOLM (Halsey), VENOMOUS
(Lt Cdr J E H McBeath, repairing at Division 32, ARROW (Cdr H W Williams),
ANTHONY (Lt Cdr N J V Thew), ACHATES (Cdr R.J Gardner), ACHERON (Lt Cdr R.W F
Northcott) Western
Approaches Command 9th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain E B K
Stevens DSC), 11th Destroyer Flotilla (Rear Admiral C
H Little Rtd, Captain D Liverpool) Division 21, MACKAY (Cdr G H Stokes),
WALPOLE (Lt Cdr H G Bowerman), VANQUISHER (Cdr C B Alers-Hankey), WINCHELSEA
(Lt Cdr WA F Hawkins, repairing at Division 22, VERSATILE (Cdr T E Hussey
Rtd), VIMY (Lt Cdr C G W Donald), WHIRLWIND (Lt Cdr J M Rodgers), WARWICK (Lt
Cdr MA G Child), SALADIN (Lt Cdr L J Dover) 15th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain C
Caslon, Captain D Plymouth) Division 29, BROKE (Cdr B G Scurfield),
WANDERER (Cdr R.F Morice), Division 30, WOLVERINE (Cdr R.H
Craske), WITHERINGTON (Lt Cdr J B Palmer), VOLUNTEER (Lt Cdr N Lanyon),
VERITY (Lt CdrA R.M Black, repairing at 17th Destroyer Flotilla(Captain F C
Bradley, Captain D Plymouth from 8 April) Division 33, CAMPBELL (Captain F C
Bradley, Lt Cdr R.M Aubrey from 8 April), MONTROSE (Cdr C R.L Parry),
VISCOUNT (Lt Cdr M S Townsend OBE, DSC), Division 34, WAKEFUL (Cdr R.L Fisher),
VESPER (Lt Cdr W F E Hussey), VANESSA (Lt Cdr EA Stocker DSC), 18th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain D
Plymouth) Division 35, ACASTA (Cdr C E Glasfurd),
ANTELOPE (Lt Cdr R.T White DSO), AMAZON (Lt Cdr N E G Roper), ARDENT (Lt Cdr
J E Barker) Division 36, VETERAN (Cdr J E Broome,
repairing at Not
assigned or undergoing long-term conversions/refittings Grangemouth
- SABRE (Cdr B Dean Rtd) Sheerness - WORCESTER (Cdr J H Allison)
_____ Monday,
1 April Destroyer
ISIS, transferring five torpedoes to submarine All
the men and the torpedoes were recovered. _____ Destroyers
SOMALI (D.6), MATABELE, MASHONA departed During
the night of 1/2 April, a strong gale scattered convoys ON.24, HN.23A, the _____ After
repairs at At
1100, destroyer JUPITER attacked an anti-submarine contact in 58‑31N, 0‑34W.
Because
of heavy weather, destroyer JUPITER proceeded to Destroyer
_____ Destroyer
ILEX departed Bad
weather delayed work and destroyer ILEX returned to Scapa Flow at 2015 to
anchor north of Flotta on immediate notice as the weather conditions were too
bad to continue the patrol. The
weather eased and destroyer ILEX commenced Hoxa Sound Patrol at 0530/2nd. The
work was completed on the boom at 1600 and destroyer ILEX returned to _____ The
British 1st Destroyer Flotilla departed Harwich at 1300 and swept to twelve
miles north of Smith's Knoll. The Flotilla then swept northeast across the
mine barrier for forty miles. The 1st Destroyer Flotilla then swept eastward
reaching Smith's Knoll at dawn on the 2nd. Destroyer
CODRINGTON sighted a German aircraft at 0530/2nd, but was not attacked. _____ Patrol
sloop PUFFIN attacked a submarine contact off The
contact was later assessed as non submarine. _____ Submarine
NARWHAL arrived at _____ Submarine
SHARK arrived at Harwich after refitting. _____ British
mine destructor ship BORDE exploded two mines in the Sunk area. The
ship sustained leaks forward and proceeded to _____ The
British Northern Patrol between 1 and 9 April sighted thirty four eastbound
ships and sent twelve into _____ Convoy
OA.121 departed Southend escorted by destroyer ARDENT on 1 to 4 April, sloop _____ Convoy
OB.121 departed _____ Convoy
BC.31 of steamers BARON CARNEGIE, KERMA, LOCHEE, _____ Convoy MT.42 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY, sloop _____ Convoy FS.135 departed the _____ Norwegian
coastal defense ships NORGE and EIDSVOLD arrived at Narvik from Horten. _____ French
armed merchant cruisers EL DJEZAIR, EL MANSOUR, VILLE D'ORAN departed The
ships arrived at _____ Light
cruiser ORION departed
Tuesday, 2 April The
1st Destroyer Flotilla was transferred from the Nore to operate with the Home
Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Destroyers Home Fleet. On
the 2nd, destroyers GREYHOUND and GLOWWORM departed the Nore escorting
British steamer CYCLOPS (9076grt) to Rosyth. En route, destroyer GLOWWORM was
detached to rescue a downed Spitfire pilot which was picked up by trawler
SILVER LINING (40grt). Destroyer
GREYHOUND and steamer CYCLOPS arrived safely at Rosyth on the 3rd and
destroyer GLOWWORM arrived independently later in the day. At
1800/3rd, destroyers GREYHOUND and GLOWWORM departed Rosyth escorting British
steamer On
the 3rd, destroyer GRENADE departed Harwich for Rosyth where she arrived on
the 4th. On
the 4th, destroyer CODRINGTON departed Harwich at 0600 and Polish destroyers
GROM, BURZA, BLYSKAWICA departed Harwich at 1200 for Rosyth. Destroyer
CODRINGTON arrived at Rosyth at 0900/5th and the Polish destroyers arrived
during the afternoon of 5 April. _____ Patrol
sloop SHELDRAKE on patrol in the An
attack was not made as the contact was found to be non submarine. _____ Destroyers
FORTUNE and FORTUNE departed The
destroyers attacked a submarine contact in 49-36N, 6-46W on the 3rd. The
contact was later found to be a wreck. Both
destroyers arrived in the _____ Destroyer
FAULKNOR departed Destroyer
FAULKNOR arrived in the _____ Destroyer
BEAGLE on North Goodwins patrol made an attack on a submarine contact in
51-19.2N, 0-49.4E. Destroyer
BRILLIANT joined to assist and both destroyers remained at the scene through
the day. The
contact was later determined to be "non sub. " _____ Destroyers
INGLEFIELD (D.3), IMOGEN, ISIS, JUPITER departed The
destroyers made no contact and arrived back at _____ At
2101 a report was received of an outbound German submarine in 59-10N, 1-40W
at 2025. The
Commander in Chief Home Fleet ordered destroyers to 57-23N, 4-55W by
0600/3rd. Destroyer
MOHAWK was detached from convoy HN.23A. Destroyer
JUPITER departed The
destroyers were recalled to _____ Destroyers
HARDY, HUNTER, HAVOCK, HOTSPUR departed _____ At
2033, German bombers raided Two
to four bombs were dropped near destroyer depot ship WOOLWICH. There was no
damage. _____ Destroyer
_____ Submarine
SPEARFISH arrived at _____ U.38
sank Finnish steamer SIGNE (1540grt), a straggler from convoy HN.23A, in 60N,
01E. Destroyer
SIKH, escorting the convoy, reported an explosion at this time that was
probably the torpedoing of steamer SIGNE. On
the 4th, British trawler GOOD SHEPHERD found a raft with one body from SIGNE
six miles north, northeast of _____ Convoy
OA.122 departed Southend escorted by destroyers VANESSA and ANTELOPE from 2
to 4 April. The convoy dispersed on the 5th. _____ Convoy
OA.122 did not sail. _____ Convoy FN.135 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WHITLEY and _____ Convoy FS.136 departed the _____ On
the 2nd, there was a reorganization of Minesweepers. 2nd
Minesweeping Flotilla – ABERDARE, 3rd
Minesweeping Flotilla - HUNTLEY, ABINGDON, BAGSHOT, 4th
Minesweeping Flotilla - 5th
Minesweeping Flotilla - GOSSAMER, LEDA, ALBURY, KELLET, LYDD, PANGBOURNE, 6th
Minesweeping Flotilla - HALCYON, SPEEDWELL, HUSSAR, HARRIER, SKIPJACK. The
1st Minesweeping Flotilla operating with the Home Fleet was unaltered. _____ German
auxiliary Schiff 11 (steamer Submarine
SEALION, which had departed Harwich on patrol on the 1st pursued On
26 April, British steamer On
30 April, Minesweeper DUNOON of the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk on
this minefield off Great Yarmouth. _____ Submarine
depot ship MEDWAY and submarines They
were at At
the same time, the 8th Submarine Flotilla was moving from the Submarines
_____ Convoy
HG.25F departed French
destroyer Destroyers
WITCH and VIMY joined on the 8th and escorted the convoy until 9 April. Destroyer
VISCOUNT and sloop _____ Minesweeper
LYDD arrived at _____ Convoy
HX.32 departed Before
joining the convoy, the destroyers escorted Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN from
her HX.25 duty. Canadian
destroyer At
1800/3rd, the destroyers turned the convoy over to battleship On
13 April, destroyer VANQUISHER joined and on the 14th, destroyers VERSATILE
and WILD SWAN joined. Destroyer VANQUISHER was detached on the 15th,
destroyer VERSATILE on the 16th, destroyer WILD SWAN on the 17th when the
convoy arrived at _____ French
battleships DUNKERQUE and _____ French
light cruiser EMILE BERTIN and large destroyer MAILLE BREZE, which departed The
destroyer was a replacement for large destroyer VAUQUELIN which departed Cruiser
EMILE BERTIN and destroyer MAILLE BREZE arrived at
Wednesday,
3 April Destroyers
FORTUNE and FORESTER en route from Plymouth to the Clyde conducted an
anti-submarine search in 49‑36N, 06‑36W after a depth charge
attack by destroyers WAKEFUL and VENETIA brought up oil. Destroyers
FORTUNE and FORESTER arrived in the _____ Destroyers
JAVELIN, _____ Hea |