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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 Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

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

on to APRIL 1940, Part 2

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 - 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and MASHONA (Cdr W H Selby)

Division 12, BEDOUIN (Cdr JA McCoy), PUNJABI (Cdr J T Lean), ESKIMO (Cdr St JA Micklethwait), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and ESK (Lt Cdr R.J H Couch)

Division 40, INTREPID (Cdr R.C Gordon, repairing at Middlesbrough), ICARUS (Lt Cdr C D Maud), and 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), and ESCORT (Lt Cdr J Bostock, repairing at Rosyth)

Division 24, ESCAPADE (Cdr H R.Graham), ENCOUNTER (Lt Cdr E V St J Morgan), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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 and 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), and 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 Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), and 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), and 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), and 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), and VANSITTART (Lt Cdr W Evershed)

Division 30, WOLVERINE (Cdr R.H Craske), WITHERINGTON (Lt Cdr J B Palmer), VOLUNTEER (Lt Cdr N Lanyon), and 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), and 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), and 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), and 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), and WILD SWAN (Lt Cdr J L Younghusband)

Not assigned or undergoing long-term conversions

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, while 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 and MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 1030 to pick up the Kirkwall convoy 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, and the Kirkwall contingent of convoy 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 a 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 were being repaired a half mile to the south of a line from Cantick to the Nev. Bad weather delayed work on the Boom and destroyer ILEX returned to Scapa Flow at 2015 to anchor north of Flotta on standby notice as the weather conditions were too bad to continue the patrol. The weather eased and destroyer ILEX commenced the Hoxa Sound Patrol at 0530/2nd. The work was completed on the Hoxa Boom at 1600 and destroyer ILEX returned to Scapa Flow.

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The 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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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 Northern Patrol between 1 and 9 April sighted 34 eastbound ships and sent twelve into Kirkwall for inspection.

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Convoy OA.121 departed Southend escorted by destroyer ARDENT from 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 inbound convoy SL.25.

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Convoy BC.31R with steamers BARON CARNEGIE, KERMA, LOCHEE, PEMBROKE COAST, SCHOLAR (Commodore) departed the 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, and anti-submarine trawlers of the 3rd Anti-Submarine Group. The convoy arrived in the Tyne 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 and 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 steamer CYCLOPS (9076grt) to Rosyth. En route, destroyer GLOWWORM was detached to rescue a downed Spitfire pilot who 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 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 and 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 and 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 and HOTSPUR departed Scapa Flow at 1930 and arrived at Sullom Voe at 0700/3rd.

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At 2033, German bombers of II/KG30 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 (Uboat.net - 58.52N, 01.31W). Destroyer SIKH, escorting HM.23A, reported an explosion at this time, which was probably SIGNE being torpedoing. On the 4th, trawler GOOD SHEPHERD found a raft with one body from SIGNE six miles NNE 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. Convoy OA.123 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 and STOKE. 4th Minesweeping Flotilla - NIGER, SALAMANDER, DUNOON, DUNDALK, FITZROY, SELKIRK, SUTTON and ELGIN. 5th Minesweeping Flotilla - GOSSAMER, LEDA, ALBURY, KELLET, LYDD, PANGBOURNE, ROSS and SALTASH. 6th Minesweeping Flotilla - HALCYON, SPEEDWELL, HUSSAR, HARRIER and SKIPJACK.

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

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German auxiliary Schiff 11/HANONIA (steamer ULM, 3071grt) departed Schillig Roads on 31 March disguised as the Norwegian steamer OREGON EXPRESS, and laid a minefield with 90 EMC and 84 contact mines southeast of Smith's Knoll on the 2nd. Submarine SEALION, which had departed Harwich on patrol on the 1st, pursued Schiff 11 in the North Sea for some time without success.

On 26 April, steamer CREE (4791grt) was damaged in this minefield in 52‑53N, 02‑19E. (Note: The Luftwaffe claims it was an aerial mine laid by the 9th Air Division). On 30 April, Minesweeper DUNOON of the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk in the Schiff 11 minefield off Great Yarmouth. (Note: Again the Luftwaffe claims otherwise - aerial mines laid by I or II group of KGR126, 9th Air Division).

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Submarine depot ship MEDWAY and submarines PHOENIX, PARTHIAN and PROTEUS departed Hong Kong. They were at Singapore from 8 to 10 April and Colombo, Ceylon from 14 to 17 April before sailing for Aden. The ships departed Aden on the 26th and arrived at Suez on 1 May, left Port Said on 2 May and joined the Mediterranean Fleet. At the same time, the 8th Submarine Flotilla (ORPHEUS, ODIN, OLYMPUS and OTUS) 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, and 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, patrol vessel VIKINGS and British destroyer DOUGLAS escorted the convoy from 2 April. VIKINGS was detached that evening, DOUGLAS on the 5th and TIGRE on the 8th. Destroyers WITCH and VIMY joined HG.25F on the 8th and escorted the convoy until 9 April. Destroyer VISCOUNT and sloop ROCHESTER joined HG.25F 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 detached on the 3rd. Before joining the convoy, the destroyers escorted battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN to Halifax from her HX.25 duty. Canadian destroyer ST LAURENT escorted battleship MALAYA from Halifax. At 1800/3rd, the destroyers turned the convoy over to MALAYA, which detached on the 14th. On the 13th, destroyer VANQUISHER joined and on the 14th, destroyers VERSATILE and WILD SWAN.

VANQUISHER detached on the 15th, VERSATILE on the 16th, and 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 and 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 departed Toulon on the 1st, then 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. EMILE BERTIN and 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 and ECLIPSE departed convoy HN.23B after dark to proceed directly to Rosyth for duty escorting convoy ON.25.

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Heavy cruisers DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK (right - NavyPhotos) and destroyers ZULU and KELVIN arrived at Rosyth in preparation for Norway operations. Destroyers ZULU and KELVIN had departed Scapa Flow at 1815/2nd.

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Destroyers ESK (D.20), ICARUS, IMPULSIVE and IVANHOE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0600 with minelayer TEVIOTBANK. The destroyers refuelled, departed Scapa Flow at 1100/3rd, and arrived at Sullom Voe at 1925/3rd.

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Destroyer DIANA departed Rosyth to take part in a Bomber Command Interception exercise. After the exercise, destroyer DIANA proceeded to the Humber to repair asdic direction gear. Destroyer DIANA arrived at Hull at 0645/5th.

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Destroyer BEAGLE brought the British CIGS back from Boulogne, arriving at Dover at 1730.

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Convoys OA.120G and OB.120G joined to form convoy OG.24 with fifty-four ships. On the 3rd, destroyer WAKEFUL detached to escort convoy HG.24, and destroyer MONTROSE detached on the 4th. French destroyer LYNX and auxiliary patrol vessel MINERVA escorted the convoy from the 3rd to 8th. The convoy was joined near Gibraltar by destroyer VELOX from the 6th to 8th, when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar.

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Convoy FN.136 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 5th.

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Convoy MT.43 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN, sloop PELICAN, and anti-submarine trawlers of the 23rd Anti-Submarine Group. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.137 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop PELICAN. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 5th.

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The German supply ships for the Norwegian invasion began to leave Hamburg. At 0200/3rd, steamers RAUENFELS (8460grt), ALSTER (8514grt) and BARENFELS (7569grt) departed for Narvik. At 2100/4th, steamer SAO PAULO (4977grt) departed for Trondheim. At 0200/5th, steamers LEVANTE (4769grt) and MAIN (7624grt) departed for Trondheim. At 0200/7th, steamer RODA (6780grt) departed for Stavanger.

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German tanker KATTEGAT (6031grt) departed Wilhelmshaven for Narvik to refuel the German invasion Group I. German tanker SKAGERRAK (6044grt) departed Wilhelmshaven on the 4th for Trondheim to refuel German invasion Group II. In addition, German tanker JAN WELLEM (11,776grt) departed Murmansk during the evening of 6 April for Narvik.

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Trawler GORSPEN (208grt) was bombed and badly damaged by a German He.111 of KG.26, and abandoned 31 miles northeast of the Outer Skerries, 20 miles east by south of Muckle Flugga. The entire crew was rescued. (Note: Luftwaffe records claim she was sunk)

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Trawler SANSONNET (212grt) was sunk by German bombing eighteen miles east by south of Muckle Flugga.