British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day by Don Kindell NAVAL EVENTS,  APRIL 1940, Part 1 of 4 Monday 1st – Sunday 7th

HM S/M Thames (CyberHeritage, click photographs for enlargements)

on to APRIL 1940, Part 2 or back to Naval-History.Net

Note: all vessels and aircraft are British unless otherwise identified or implied - click for abbreviations

Background Events - April-May 1940
Invasion of Norway, Battles of Narvik, Blitzkrieg on Western Europe, Dunkirk evacuation starts

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1940

This is the status of the destroyer flotillas in Home Waters on 1 April 1940. Some 44 destroyers were in dockyard hands less than a week before the start of the Norwegian campaign.

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 Portsmouth)

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 Scapa Flow, taken to Dundee for repairs)

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 W Kitcat, repairing in the Tyne)

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 Clyde), NUBIAN (Cdr R.W Ravenhill, repairing in the Tyne)

5th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten)

Division 9, KELLY (Mountbatten, repairing at Blackwell), KIPLING (Cdr A St Clair Ford, repairing in the Tyne), KASHMIR (Cdr HA King), KELVIN (Lt Cdr J L Machin)

Division 10, KANDAHAR (Cdr W GA Robson, repairing at Hull), KIMBERLEY (Lt Cdr R.G K Knowling), KHARTOUM (Cdr D T Dowler, repairing at Falmouth) Destroyer KINGSTON (Lt Cdr P Somerville DSO, repairing at Falmouth)

6th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain R.S G Nicholson)

Division 11, SOMALI (Nicholson), ASHANTI (Cdr W G Davis), MATABELE (Cdr G K Whitmy-Smith), MASHONA (Cdr W H Selby)

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 Tyne), JANUS (Cdr J A W Tothill), JAVELIN (Cdr A F Pugsley), JERSEY (long repairs at Hull)

Division 14, JACKAL (Cdr T M Napier, repairing at Blyth), JAGUAR (Lt Cdr J F W Hine, repairing at Dundee), JUNO (Cdr W E Wilson), JUPITER (Cdr D B Wyburd)

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 Newport), FORESTER (Lt Cdr E B Tancock DSC)

Division 16, FAME (Cdr P N Walter, repairing at Grimsby), FORESIGHT (Lt Cdr G T Lambert, repairing at Grimsby), FORTUNE (Cdr EA Gibbs), FIREDRAKE (Lt Cdr S.N Norris, repairing at Cardiff)

20th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain J G Bickford DSC)

Division 39, EXPRESS (Bickford, repairing at Hartlepool), IVANHOE Cdr P H Hadow), ESK (Lt Cdr R.J H Couch)

Division 40, INTREPID (Cdr R.C Gordon, repairing at Middlesbrough), ICARUS (Lt Cdr C D Maud), IMPULSIVE (Lt Cdr W S.Thomas)

Rosyth Command

12th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain R.Kerr, Captain D Rosyth)

Division 23, ECHO (Cdr S H K Spurgeon DSO RAN, repairing at Leith), ELECTRA (Lt Cdr SA Buss, repairing at Rosyth), ESCORT (Lt Cdr J Bostock, repairing at Rosyth)

Division 24, ESCAPADE (Cdr H R.Graham), ENCOUNTER (Lt Cdr E V St J Morgan), ECLIPSE (Lt Cdr I T Clark)

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 Hull), GREYHOUND (Cdr W R.Marshall-A'Dean), GLOWWORM (Lt Cdr G B Roope), GRIFFIN (Lt Cdr J Lee Barber), GALLANT (Lt Cdr C P F Brown, repairing at Southampton)

Dover

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 London)

Division 38, BOADICEA (Lt Cdr G B Kingdon), BRAZEN (Lt Cdr Sir Michael Culme-Seymour Bt), BRILLIANT (Lt Cdr F C Brodrick)

Portsmouth Command

16th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain T E Halsey)

Division 31, MALCOLM (Halsey), VENOMOUS (Lt Cdr J E H McBeath, repairing at Portsmouth) Destroyer WIVERN (Lt Cdr W C Bushell),

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), HAVELOCK (Stevens, repairing at Plymouth), HESPERUS (Lt Cdr D G F W MacIntyre), HAVANT (Lt CdrA F Burnell-Nugent), HIGHLANDER (Cdr WA Dallmeyer)

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 Liverpool), WALKER (Lt CdrA A Tait), VANOC (Lt Cdr J G W Deneys)

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), WHITEHALL (Lt Cdr A B Russell), WITCH (Lt Cdr J R.Barnes), VANSITTART (Lt Cdr W Evershed)

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 Plymouth)

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), WESSEX (Lt Cdr WA R.Cartwright, repairing at Milford Haven), VIVACIOUS (Lt Cdr F R.W Parish)

Division 34, WAKEFUL (Cdr R.L Fisher), VESPER (Lt Cdr W F E Hussey), VANESSA (Lt Cdr EA Stocker DSC), VENETIA (Lt Cdr B H de C Mellor)

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 Plymouth), WREN (Cdr H T Armstrong, repairing at Plymouth), WHITSHED (Cdr E R.Conder, repairing at Plymouth), WINDSOR (Lt Cdr P D H R.Pelly), WILD SWAN (Lt Cdr J L Younghusband)

Not assigned or undergoing long-term conversions/refittings

Grangemouth - SABRE (Cdr B Dean Rtd)

London - SARDONYX (dockyard control)

Chatham - WOLFHOUND (Lt Cdr J W McCoy DSC), VERDUN (dockyard control)

Sheerness - WORCESTER (Cdr J H Allison)

Portsmouth - AMBUSCADE (Lt Cdr A O Johnson), SCIMITAR (Lt F D Franks), WINCHESTER (Lt Cdr S.E Crewe-Read), SKATE (Lt Cdr R.A Fell), VICEROY (dockyard control)

Plymouth - VANITY (dockyard control)

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Monday, 1 April

Destroyer ISIS, transferring five torpedoes to submarine CLYDE after torpedo firings in Scapa Flow, lost her whalers and motorboat when they capsized in a heavy squall in Sandoyne Bay.

All the men and the torpedoes were recovered.

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Destroyers SOMALI (D.6), MATABELE, MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 1030 to pick up the Kirkwall contingent and then join convoy ON.24. Destroyer SOMALI would become Senior Officer of the Escort.

During the night of 1/2 April, a strong gale scattered convoys ON.24, HN.23A, the Kirkwall contingent of ON.24 all eastwards of the Orkneys.

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After repairs at Dundee, destroyer GRIFFIN departed Invergordon on patrol on 30 March and was already on Moray Firth patrol with destroyer JUPITER.

At 1100, destroyer JUPITER attacked an anti-submarine contact in 58‑31N, 0‑34W.

Because of heavy weather, destroyer JUPITER proceeded to Scapa Flow, arriving at 1800/1st and destroyer GRIFFIN arrived at Invergordon on the 1st.

Destroyer GRIFFIN departed Invergordon on the 2nd and destroyer JUPITER departed Scapa Flow on the 2nd to continue the patrol.

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Destroyer ILEX departed Scapa Flow at 0810 for anti-submarine patrol while two sections of Hoxa Boom was being repairs a half mile to the south of a line Cantick to the Nev.

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 Scapa Flow.

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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.

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Patrol sloop PUFFIN attacked a submarine contact off Yarmouth.

The contact was later assessed as non submarine.

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Submarine NARWHAL arrived at Blyth after patrol.

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Submarine SHARK arrived at Harwich after refitting.

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British mine destructor ship BORDE exploded two mines in the Sunk area.

The ship sustained leaks forward and proceeded to Chatham for docking and repairs completed on the 28th.

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The British Northern Patrol between 1 and 9 April sighted thirty four eastbound ships and sent twelve into Kirkwall for inspection.

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Convoy OA.121 departed Southend escorted by destroyer ARDENT on 1 to 4 April, sloop WELLINGTON from 2 to 4 April, destroyers WINDSOR and VERSATILE from 3 to 4 April, when the convoy dispersed.

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Convoy OB.121 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers WALKER and VANQUISHER from 1 to 4 April, when the convoy dispersed. The destroyers then joined convoy SL.25.

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Convoy BC.31 of steamers BARON CARNEGIE, KERMA, LOCHEE, PEMBROKE COAST, SCHOLAR (Commodore) departed Loire escorted by destroyer VIVACIOUS. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on the 2nd.

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Convoy MT.42 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY, sloop AUCKLAND, anti-submarine trawlers of the 3^rd Anti-Submarine Group. The convoy arrived later that day.

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Convoy FS.135 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY and sloop AUCKLAND. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.

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Norwegian coastal defense ships NORGE and EIDSVOLD arrived at Narvik from Horten.

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French armed merchant cruisers EL DJEZAIR, EL MANSOUR, VILLE D'ORAN departed Marseilles and proceeded to Oran, arriving on the 2nd. On the 4th, they departed, escorted by large destroyer BISON to return to Brest for operations off the Norwegian coast.

The ships arrived at Brest on the 8th.

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Light cruiser ORION departed Bermuda on patrol.

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 DEVON CITY (4928grt) for Scapa Flow, where they arrived at 1400/4th.

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.

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Patrol sloop SHELDRAKE on patrol in the English Channel made a submarine contact.

An attack was not made as the contact was found to be non submarine.

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Destroyers FORTUNE and FORTUNE departed Plymouth at 1300 for the Clyde to participate in Plan R.4, the Norwegian operation.

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 Clyde at 2015/3rd.

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Destroyer FAULKNOR departed Scapa Flow at 1800 for the Clyde to participate in Plan R.4.

Destroyer FAULKNOR arrived in the Clyde at 1300/3rd.

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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. "

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Destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3), IMOGEN, ISIS, JUPITER departed Scapa Flow at 0100/2nd to search in Moray Firth for a reportedly damaged German submarine.

The destroyers made no contact and arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1900 that evening.

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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 Scapa Flow at 0330/3rd to join destroyer MOHAWK.

The destroyers were recalled to Scapa Flow for other duty at 1209/3rd.

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Destroyers HARDY, HUNTER, HAVOCK, HOTSPUR departed Scapa Flow at 1930 and arrived at Sullom Voe at 0700/3rd.

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At 2033, German bombers raided Scapa Flow.

Two to four bombs were dropped near destroyer depot ship WOOLWICH. There was no damage.

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Destroyer KASHMIR was damaged at Rosyth while coming alongside a tanker. The damage was repaired by 7 April.

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Submarine SPEARFISH arrived at Blyth from Scapa Flow.

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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 Fair Island.

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Convoy OA.122 departed Southend escorted by destroyers VANESSA and ANTELOPE from 2 to 4 April. The convoy dispersed on the 5th.

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Convoy OA.122 did not sail.

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Convoy FN.135 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 4th.

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Convoy FS.136 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WALLACE and sloop FLAMINGO. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 4th.

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On the 2nd, there was a reorganization of Minesweepers.

2nd Minesweeping Flotilla – ABERDARE, HARROW and modified gunboat COCKCHAFER.

3rd Minesweeping Flotilla - HUNTLEY, ABINGDON, BAGSHOT, FAREHAM, STOKE.

4th Minesweeping Flotilla - NIGER, SALAMANDER, DUNOON, DUNDALK, FITZROY, SELKIRK, SUTTON, ELGIN.

5th Minesweeping Flotilla - GOSSAMER, LEDA, ALBURY, KELLET, LYDD, PANGBOURNE, ROSS, SALTASH.

6th Minesweeping Flotilla - HALCYON, SPEEDWELL, HUSSAR, HARRIER, SKIPJACK.

The 1st Minesweeping Flotilla operating with the Home Fleet was unaltered.

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German auxiliary Schiff 11 (steamer ULM, 3071grt) departed Schillig Roads on 31 March disguised as the Norwegian steamer OREGON EXPRESS. Schiff 11 laid a contact mine field southeast of Smith's Knoll on the 2nd.

Submarine SEALION, which had departed Harwich on patrol on the 1st pursued ULM in the North Sea for some time without success.

On 26 April, British steamer CREE (4791grt) was damaged on this minefield in 52‑53N, 02‑19E.

On 30 April, Minesweeper DUNOON of the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk on this minefield off Great Yarmouth.

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Submarine depot ship MEDWAY and submarines PHOENIX, PARTHIAN, PROTEUS departed Hong Kong.

They were at Singapore from 8 to 10 April and at Colombo from 14 to 17 April. The ships departed Aden on the 26th and arrived at Suez on 1 May. These units departed Port Said on 2 May and joined the Mediterranean Fleet.

At the same time, the 8th Submarine Flotilla was moving from the Indian Ocean. Submarine ORPHEUS departed Diego Suarez on 30 March and arrived at Aden on the 6th. She departed Aden on the 14th, departed Port Said on the 21st. ODIN departed Colombo on 31 March and arrived at Port Said on the 21st in company of ORPHEUS. On 26 April, they arrived at Malta and ODIN immediately commencing refit.

Submarines OLYMPUS and OTUS departed Colombo on the 16th and departed Aden on the 26th. They arrived at Suez on 1 May, departing Port Said on 2 May, arrived at Malta on 7 May. Submarine OLYMPUS immediately commenced refit.

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Convoy HG.25F departed Gibraltar with twenty three ships.

French destroyer TIGRE and patrol vessel VIKINGS and destroyer DOUGLAS escorted the convoy from 2 April. Vessel VIKINGS was detached that evening. Destroyer DOUGLAS was detached on the 5th and destroyer TIGRE was detached on the 8th.

Destroyers WITCH and VIMY joined on the 8th and escorted the convoy until 9 April.

Destroyer VISCOUNT and sloop ROCHESTER joined the convoy on the 8th and escorted the convoy until 11 April when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

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Minesweeper LYDD arrived at Gibraltar from Malta. On the 5th, the minesweeper departed for Plymouth.

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Convoy HX.32 departed Halifax at 0800 escorted by Canadian destroyers SAGUENAY and RESTIGOUCHE, which were detached on the 3rd.

Before joining the convoy, the destroyers escorted Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN from her HX.25 duty.

Canadian destroyer ST LAURENT escorted Battleship MALAYA from Halifax.

At 1800/3rd, the destroyers turned the convoy over to battleship MALAYA, which was detached on the 14th.

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 Liverpool.

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French battleships DUNKERQUE and STRASBOURG, light cruisers GLOIRE and MONTCALM, destroyers MOGADOR, INDOMPTABLE, TRIOMPHANT, MALIN, TERRIBLE departed Brest. They arrived at Mer el Kebir on the 5th.

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French light cruiser EMILE BERTIN and large destroyer MAILLE BREZE, which departed Toulon on the 1st, departed Oran to proceed to Brest for operations off Norway.

The destroyer was a replacement for large destroyer VAUQUELIN which departed Brest for repairs at Toulon, where she arrived on the 10th.

Cruiser EMILE BERTIN and destroyer MAILLE BREZE arrived at Brest on the 5th.

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 Clyde at 2015/3rd.

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Destroyers JAVELIN, JUNO, ECLIPSE departed convoy HN.23B after dark to proceed directly to Rosyth for duty escorting convoy ON.25.

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Hea