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

 

 

Monday,  22 April

 

Light cruisers GALATEA, SHEFFIELD, GLASGOW with destroyers ICARUS, IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE, VANSITTART, WITCH and CAMPBELL embarked 2200 troops of the 15th Brigade, stores and three trucks at Rosyth on the 21st. They departed  on the 22nd and arrived at Aandalsnes and Molde on the 23rd. SHEFFIELD, VANSITTART and CAMPBELL went to Molde and the rest  to Aandalsnes. The troops and equipment were disembarked from all ships beginning at 2100 and the British force got away before dawn on the 24th. GALATEA had embarked some 200 cases of gold at Aandalsnes for transshipment to England. She proceeded to Rosyth, and destroyers IVANHOE, ICARUS and IMPULSIVE to Immingham, with the rest of the force proceeding to Scapa Flow.

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Steamer ST MAGNUS (1312grt) of convoy AP.1, escorted by destroyers JACKAL and JAVELIN, arriving in Moldefjord was attacked by German bombers. JACKAL's main radio antenna was damaged by bomb splinters, and she was detached to escort damaged sloop PELICAN. Norwegian steamer SIGURD JARL (924grt) was set afire in the bombing.

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Destroyer SOMALI  sighted an object on the surface at 0240 which changed position before it could be attacked in 64‑22N, 8‑32E, but SOMALI and sister ship TARTAR attacked the contact. TARTAR attacked another submarine contact at 1210 in 63‑43N, 07‑49E. U.29 escaped with only light damage.

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Sloop PELICAN, en route with a Naval Base Party (under the Command of Captain C H Champness) for Molde, was attacked by two German Ju.87 bombers at 1350 in Romdalsfjord in 62‑49N, 4‑20E . She was badly damaged after a bomb hit caused the detonation of her depth charges. Lt Cdr H R Thompson of the sloop, Cdr A A F MacLeish (ret), Lt Cdr H N C  Webber, Paymaster Lt E F Burkitt and Boatswain H Howell of the Base Party, and forty seven ratings from both units were killed, and Lt A A F Talbot of the Base Party wounded. The uninjured members of the Base Party were put aboard steamer ST SUNNIVA, which escorted by destroyer SOMALI proceeded to Molde for fuel. The wounded were put aboard destroyer JACKAL and sloop FLEETWOOD. Steamer ST MAGNUS was coaling at Aalesund, while destroyer JAVELIN was standing by. JAVELIN was then attacked by four German Ju bombers in Heisse Fjord but was undamaged.

 

JACKAL and ST SUNNIVA departed the fjord at 0500/23rd for Kirkwall, while PELICAN was towed by FLEETWOOD and escorted to Lerwick by JACKAL,  SOMALI and sister ship TARTAR joining them at 1930/22nd. Tug ST MELLONS came out from Lerwick and tug BRIGAND was detached from destroyer HOTSPUR's convoy. While screening PELICAN, JACKAL attacked a submarine contact at 2307/22nd in 62‑44N, 03‑48E. She also attacked a contact at 1524/23rd. SOMALI (D.6) arrived at Scapa Flow at 0600/24th, and PELICAN, in tow of ST MELLONS at Lerwick at 1000/24th.

 

JACKAL and TARTAR proceeded from Lerwick and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500. On 2 May at 1020, PELICAN left Lerwick in tow of BRIGAND and escorted by destroyer WANDERER to Rosyth. They were diverted en route to Sheerness and  arrived in the Nore at 2200 on 5 May. PELICAN was taken to Chatham for repairs lasting until 3 December 1940.

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A Swordfish from 818 Squadron from aircraft carrier FURIOUS was shot down north of Narvik by German flak, Lt C R D Messenger died of wounds and Leading Airman T G Cutler was killed. The pilot S/Lt (A) R C Roberts was wounded, but  rescued by light cruiser AURORA.

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Anti-submarine whaler BUTTERMERE (560grt) ran aground at Narvik, and requested relief to permit repairs to be done.

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Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL (Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers) departed Greenock at 0700 escorted by destroyers SIKH, MASHONA and JUNO. They arrived at Scapa Flow at 0800/23rd.

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Battleship RESOLUTION with destroyers BASILISK, WREN and HESPERUS departed Greenock at 1200 for the Narvik area. On the 25th in 66‑34N, 07‑34E, they met southbound battleship WARSPITE with destroyers HAVOCK, HOSTILE, HERO and FOXHOUND returning to Scapa Flow.   RESOLUTION and her destroyers arrived at Bygden at 1615/26th.

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Battlecruiser REPULSE and destroyers HAVELOCK, HAVANT and FAME arrived at Scapa Flow.

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Destroyers KIMBERLEY and GRIFFIN departed Scapa Flow at 0740 for Rosyth to escort  steamer RUTLAND (1437grt) to Namsos.

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Destroyer MAORI with cargo ship BLACKHEATH (4637grt) was diverted from Namsos to Skelfjord  on the 22nd, but was redirected back to Namsos. They arrived there, but at 2028 were ordered to stand off  and arrive at dusk on the 23rd. They went back out to sea and returned the next night. Destroyer FORTUNE departed Scapa Flow at 2359/22nd to join MAORI for escort duties. During the night of the 23rd/24th, from 2330 to 0230, BLACKHEATH's cargo of trucks and a small quantity of ammunition and fuel were unloaded. French destroyer BISON  ran aground at Namsos and was towed off by  MAORI. Destroyer FORTUNE was detached at 1800/24th for Narvik, and BLACKHEATH returned to Namsos at 2130/24th to complete unloading during the night of the 24th/25th. A limited amount of motor transport and all the petrol, ammunition and  rations were unloaded. At daylight on the 25th,  BLACKHEATH proceeded to Scapa Flow, arriving there at 1500/27th with MAORI.

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Destroyer VANSITTART, screening the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, attacked at 2120 a submarine contact closing to attack the cruisers in 59‑52N, 00‑10W.

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Sloop BLACK SWAN attacked a submarine contact at 2150 in 60‑12N, 00‑31W.

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Convoy DS.1 departed Bristol Channel for the Clyde as part of the HAMMER operation. The steamers in this convoy were JOHN HOLT (3815grt), THISTLEFORD (4764grt), PIZZARO (1367grt) and CISNEROS (1886grt).

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French submarine SFAX fired two torpedoes at German steamers PALIME (2863grt) or PELIKAN (3264grt) on their way to Stavanger in 58-15N, 06-00E, which missed.

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German aircraft laid mines in the Downs and off Harwich, which sank two ships for 2607 tons. On the 22nd, Norwegian steamer BRAVORE (1458grt)  one mile south of Gull Buoy; fourteen crew members and four French Naval ratings were lost, and there were six survivors. On the 24th, British steamer STOKESLEY (1149grt)  in 51‑32N, 01‑16E with the lose of fifteen crew.

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Midshipman (A) J.O. Burr was killed when his Skua of 759 Squadron crashed on take off at Eastleigh.

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Convoy OA.134 departed Southend escorted by destroyer WHITEHALL.

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Convoy OB.134 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop ROCHESTER from the 21st to 25th, and dispersed on the 26th.

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Convoy OG.27F was formed from convoy OB.133GF from Liverpool and Bristol, escorted by sloops LEITH and FOWEY on the 20th, convoy OA.133GF, which departed Southend on the 20th escorted by sloops SCARBOROUGH and BIDEFORD, with sixty ships. The convoy was escorted by sloops SCARBOROUGH and LEITH from 22 to 24 April. The sloops were then detached to convoy HG.27 F.Sloop BIDEFORD escorted the convoy from 22 to 28 April. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th.

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Convoy FN.152 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON, sloop HASTINGS, armed patrol yacht BREDA. The convoy arrived at Rosyth on the 24th.

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Convoy MT.57 (convoys leaving Methil on both 21 and 22 April bore designation MT.57) departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WHITLEY and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.153 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WHITLEY and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy had to anchor in the Tees, owing that no ship was allow south of that point a channel could be swept in the German minefield laid by aircraft the night before. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.

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Patrol sloop PINTAIL intercepted Dutch skoot WOCANA inside the mine barrier east of Yarmouth. A collision occurred between the two ships. The sloop was slightly damaged and the skoot sank.

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Operation "SHELLFISH" was implemented by the Nore Command. The operation was to intercept U-boats or surface craft using the telegraphic cable as an aid to navigation. The operation began on the 22nd and was conducted on subsequent nights. One patrol sloop was stationed between 52-37.5N, 2-5.25E and 52-39.25N, 2-32.5E. A second patrol sloop was station between Haisborough Light Vessel and 10 miles 285° from the Light Vessel. Anti submarine yacht MOLLUSC with one MTB.in tow and a second MTB.operated in the vicinity of Haisborough Light.

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Minesweeper HALCYON completed boiler cleaning at Dover.

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French anti-submarine trawlers L'ORIENTAISE, LA NANTAISE, LA CANCALAISE arrived at Dover for training prior to taking over part of the Dover Strait patrol.

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From 22 to 27 April, light cruiser CERES was refitting at Singapore.

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Light cruiser ORION arrived at Gibraltar for duty with the Mediterranean Fleet after having departed Trinidad on the 14th.

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French submarine LE CONQUERANT departed Casablanca on the 21st, escorted by destroyer TORNADE.Both ships arrived Oran 23 April.

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Light cruiser DUNEDIN departed Kingston on patrol.

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Convoy HX.37 departed Halifax at 0700 escorted by Canadian destroyers RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT, which were detached on the 23rd.. At 1800/23rd, the destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort Armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA, which was detached on 6 May. Destroyer VIVACIOUS and sloop LEITH joined the convoy on 4 May and escorted it until its arrival at Liverpool on 7 May.

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Dutch fishing vessel BEP (151grt) was sunk by a German S-boat off Terschelling. The crew of the fishing vessel was rescued.

 

 

Tuesday,  23 April

 

French light cruiser MONTCALM and destroyers VAUTOUR and ALBATROS, which departed Brest on the 22nd, arrived at the Clyde to relieve damaged light cruiser EMILE BERTIN.

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Destroyers KIMBERLEY and GRIFFIN departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth at 0740/22nd to escort Bsteamer RUTLAND (1437grt) to Namsos. Danish steamer GUNVOR MAERSKE (1977grt), carrying the British 166th Anti-Aircraft Battery, escorted by destroyers KIMBERLEY, BRAZEN, WOLVERINE departed Leith at 1945 for Namsos where they arrived on the 27th.

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12th Anti-Submarine Group of trawlers STELLA CAPELLA, CAPE ARGONA, CAPE CHELUYSKIN, BLACKFLY arrived at Namsos escorting  petrol carrier RONAN (1489grt). The Anti-Submarine Group then proceeded to Skelfjord. On 26 April, the Group departed for Molde.Trawler BLACKFLY was damaged in a collision on the 26th in Skelfjord and remained behind. The group arrived on 27 May at Molde. The group remained at Molde until the 30 April/1 May evacuation.

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At the insistence of Vice Admiral Sir Max Horton, destroyers JAVELIN (SO), TARTAR, BLYSKAWICA, GROM, supported by air cover at dawn,were to sweep for German anti-submarine trawlers during the night of 17/18 April in the Western Skagerrak. This operation was postponed for twenty four hours at 0023/17th, then on 0034/18th cancelled due to the heavy threat of air attack. Finally, on the 23rd French large destroyers conducted this operation. French large destroyers INDOMPTABLE (Capitaine de Vaisseau E.G.M. Barthes), MALIN (Capitaine de Fregate E.J.H.L. De Prez) and TRIOMPHANT (Capitaine de Fregate M.M.P.L. Pothuau) of the 8th Large Destroyer Division, which had departed Cherbourg on the 19th for Rosyth, departed Rosyth on Operation RAKE. Cdr C.A.N. Chatwin was aboard INDOMPTABLE as a liaison officer. They operated in the Skagerrak to the longitude of Hamburg, 10 East.Returning on the 24th, the French destroyers engaged German auxiliary patrol boats Vp.702 (trawler MEMEL: 444grt) and Vp.709 (trawler GUIDO MOHRING: 289grt) of the 7th Patrol Boat Flotilla and motor torpedo boats S.10 and S.12.After an indecisive action, the engagement was broken off. This early morning engagement was the only surface contact of the operation. The French destroyers attacked U.26, which was able to escape and arrived in Germany on the 25th.  U.56, returning to Germany, sighted the French ships south of Skudesnes at 1600/24th. The French ships were then bombed in the North Sea. TRIOMPHANT was near missed and sustained damage to her port propeller shaft bracket. All three French ships arrived back at Rosyth late on the 24th.

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Destroyer VANOC departed Scapa Flow at 0025 with tanker WAR NIZAM for Sullom Voe. The destroyer was to wait and escort the tanker back to Scapa Flow after the oil was discharged.

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After U-boat reports at 0635 and 0745 in 60‑20N to 60-50N, 4W to 6W, destroyers HAVELOCK and HAVANT departed Scapa Flow at 1100 for anti-submarine patrol.

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At 1830, submarine TETRARCH fired two torpedoes at German steamer WOLFRAM (3648grt) escorted by three small escort ships in the Skagerrak in 58-21N, 11-02E. The submarine did not hit the merchant ship and was badly damaged in the counterattack by old torpedo boat T.155. At 2222, submarine TETRARCH fired two torpedoes at the 5th UJ Group. Auxiliary submarine chaser U-Jager-B (trawler TREFF V: 330grt) was sunk with only three survivors in 58-21N, 10-24E. U-Jager-A (trawler TREFF IV: 330grt) was also in the group. Submarine TETRARCH returned to Rosyth for repairs which were promptly carried out.

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Submarine TRIAD arrived at Rosyth after patrol.

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Aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL (Vice Admiral L. V. Wells) and GLORIOUS departed Scapa Flow at 1230 on Operation DX with heavy cruiser BERWICK, anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW, destroyers FEARLESS, FURY, HASTY, HEREWARD, HYPERION, JUNO. Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL carried nine Skuas and two Rocs of the 800 Squadron, nine Skuas and two Rocs of the 801 Squadron, twelve Swordfish of the 810 Squadron, nine Swordfish of the 820 Squadron. Aircraft carier GLORIOUS carried nine Gladiators of the 802 Squadron, eleven Skuas of the 803 Squadron, nine Gladiators of the 804 Squadron.GLORIOUS also carried the RAF 263 Squadron. That evening, aircraft carrier GLORIOUS flew eighteen Gladiator aircraft of the 263 Squadron to an airfield at Lake Lesjaskog. These planes were intended for the air defense of Aandalsnes and Molde, but were destroyed by German bombing on the 25th. On 24 April, six Skuas of 800 and 801 Squadrons from ARK ROYAL and six Skuas of 803 Squadron from GLORIOUS flew missions over Aandalsnes. All aircraft returned safely to the aircraft carrier, but two Skuas crashed landed near the carrier, Lt C.P. Campbell-Horsdall and Petty Officer A.E. Suggitt and Midshipman C. Treen and Naval Airman A.E.T. Goble were rescued by destroyers. The British force positioned itself midway between Namsos and Trondheim. At 0300/25th, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL launched six Swordfish of the 820 Squadron, eight Swordfish of the 810 Squadron, seven Skuas of the 801 Squadron, two Skuas of the 800 Squadron. Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS launched eleven Skuas of the 803 Squadron. These aircraft were to attack the Vaernes airfield and other military targets at Trondheim. Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS lost four Skuas of 803 Squadron in the raid, but all the aircrews (Lt G.R. Callingham and Naval Airman D.A. Prime; Lt A.B.F. Fraser-Harris and Leading Airman G.S. Russell; Lt H.E.R. Torin DSC, Midshipman T.A. McKee; and L/Lt I.H. Easton and Naval Airman A.J. Hayman) were rescued. The crews returned to England in a Sunderland aircraft. Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL lost one Swordfish from the 820 Squadron and three Swordfish from the 810 Squadron, Lt A.A. Pardoe and Petty Officer L.M. Lloyd of the 810 Squadron were lost; Captain W.H.N. Martin RM, Lt J.A. Crawford, Leading Airman H.G. Edwards were picked up by destroyer MAORI; Lt N.R. Corbet-Milward and Petty Officer J. Black were picked up by a destroyer; Captain A.C. Newsom RM, Lt Cdr G.B. Hodgkinson, Leading Airman R.H. McColl were picked up by a destroyer. At 0725/26th, the destroyer screen was sent to Sullom Voe for refuelling. These destroyers were relieved at 0700/26th by destroyers GRENADE, BEAGLE, FORTUNE, VOLUNTEER, ENCOUNTER, ESCORT, which sailed from the Narvik area at 1630. The original screen arrived at Sullom Voe at 2130 at 26 April. They departed to rejoin at 0400/27th. On 26 April, a Skua of 803 Squadron was shot down, Lt C.H. Filmer was rescued, but Petty Officer K.G. Baldwin was killed. Lt Cdr H.P. Bramwell with Lt J.W. Collett in a Skua of 801 Squadron was shot down on the 26th. The plane force landed near a snow drift and both crew were unhurt. On 27 April, two Skuas from ARK ROYAL were shot down by German aircraft, Lt (A) W.C.A. Church and Acting S/Lt (A) D.G. Willis of the 803 Squadron were lost. The other aircrew was rescued. At 2100/27th, aircraft carrier GLORIOUS was sent to Scapa Flow escorted by destroyers GRENADE, HASTY, FURY, ESCORT, ENCOUNTER, FORTUNE. They arrived at 1800/28th. The raid was repeated on the 28th when ARK ROYAL, escorted by heavy cruiser BERWICK, light cruiser SHEFFIELD, destroyers HYPERION, HEREWARD, FEARLESS, JUNO, launched twelve Swordfish and seven Skuas to attack Trondheim area targets. One Skua of 800 Squadron was shot down.Midshipman (A) L.H. Gallagher and Naval Airman G.W. Halifax were rescued and returned to Hatston by air.

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A British force under Captain L. H. K. Hamilton, commanding officer of AURORA, was formed at Harstad with light cruisers AURORA and ENTERPRISE and destroyers FAULKNOR, CODRINGTON, ARDENT, ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, ACASTA, ZULU, BEDOUIN, one Polish destroyer assigned the duty of maintaining close British control of the waters around Narvik.

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Destroyers FORTUNE and WALKER departed Scapa Flow at 1215 for Sullom Voe to escort flying boat depot ship MANELA to the Clyde.

 

After delivering the depot ship, destroyer WALKER continued on to Liverpool.

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Destroyer JAVELIN escorting steamer ST MAGNUS (1312grt), which was carrying the survivors from sunken steamer CEDARBANK, arrived at Kirkwall from Aalesund at 2230/23rd. Destroyer JAVELIN went on to Scapa Flow arriving at 0315/24th.

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Steamer ROMANSBY (4887grt), alongside the jetty at Narvik, was destroyed when the jetty was blown up. The steamer's crew of thirty eight were interned in Sweden.

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Destroyer BRILLIANT completed boiler cleaning at Dover and proceeded to patrol stations OC 1 and OC 2 to relieve destroyer BOADICEA which had developed a defect. Destroyer BOADICEA's defect was corrected in twenty four hours and returned to service.

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Destroyer VANESSA and minesweeper HUSSAR entered the submarine basin to boiler clean. Destroyer VANESSA completed boiler cleaning on the 26th.

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Convoy BC.35 seven steamers, including steamers BARON KINNAIRD and DAVID LIVINGSTONE (Commodore) departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer MONTROSE. The convoy arrived at Loire on the 24th.

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Convoy SA.38 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

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Convoy FN.153 departed Southend, escorted destroyer VALOROUS and sloop WESTON. Destroyers WHITLEY and WINCHESTER supported the convoy then joined FN.155. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 25th.

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Norwegian steamer SIGURD JARL (924grt) sank at Moldefjord after having been hit and set afire by German bombing on the 22nd.

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German steamer SAYN (2321grt) was sunk on a mine in Hubert Bay near Borkum.

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Light cruiser NEPTUNE and destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER arrived at Gibraltar for duty with the Mediterranean Fleet after having departed Freetown on the 18th.

Destroyer DECOY sailed for Malta, but was recalled to escort repair ship RESOURCE.

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Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was met at sea by destroyers KEPPEL and WATCHMAN,arrived at Gibraltar for duty in the Mediterranean Fleet.

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Light cruiser DRAGON departed Malta.

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French armed merchant cruiser KOUTOBIA departed Algiers escorting four liners to Brest.

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Convoy SL.29 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE until 7 May.

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Light cruiser DANAE arrived at Penang.  

 

 

Wednesday,  24 April

 

Submarine TRUANT departed Rosyth for Operation KNIFE in the Sognefjord area. Operation KNIFE was to supply arms and ammunition to the Norwegian forces in Sognefjord. On 25 April, off the Norwegian coast, a mine exploded close ahead and TRUANT was forced to return badly damaged to Rosyth for repairs. Submarine CLYDE, which had departed Blyth on patrol on the 24th, was recalled to replace submarine TRUANT. Submarine CLYDE arrived at Rosyth on the 26th and departed Rosyth on the Operation on the 27th.

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Submarine CLYDE departed Blyth on patrol.

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Submarine SEVERN departed Rosyth for Dundee where she arrived later that day.

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Submarine NARWHAL departed Blyth for Immingham to embark mines.

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French submarines PASTEUR, THETIS, CALYPSO departed Harwich. The first with defects and returning to Cherbourg and the second two on patrol.

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French submarine ORPHEE arrived at Harwich after patrol. Submarine ORPHEE had defects which required repair before patrol could be resumed. The defects were found to be serious and the submarine was sent with submarine PASTEUR back to Cherbourg for repairs.

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S/Lt S. Lyver was killed when his Swordfish of the Gosport Torpedo Training Unit hit the sea on a practice torpedo run on auxiliary minesweeper ROYAL DAFFODIL northwest of Troon.

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Lt V.C. Marryat RM, was killed when his Gladiator of 759 Squadron crashed southwest of Wilton.

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Trawler LEONARD (217grt) was sunk by German bombing in the North Sea.

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Battleship WARSPITE, light cruisers EFFINGHAM, ENTERPRISE, AURORA, destroyer ZULU, screened by destroyers ENCOUNTER, ESCORT, FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, HAVOCK, HERO, HOSTILE and Polish destroyers BLYSKAWICA and GROM bombarded Narvik. Light cruiser EFFINGHAM sank captured British steamer RIVERTON (5378grt) moored along an outlying pier. The  steamer's crew of thirty three were interned in Sweden. British troops were embarked on repair ship VINDICTIVE at Bogen to be landed at Narvik should the Germans be induced to surrender. However, the Germans made no such overtures and these troops were disembarked after the operation and returned to Harstad. Low visibility prevented an assessment of the bombardment. Destroyers FAULKNOR and ENCOUNTER were left off Narvik to patrol the area. The destroyers were joined later that day by anti-submarine trawler NORTHERN SPRAY (655grt) and the next day by light cruiser ENTERPRISE and Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA. After this bombardment, battleship WARSPITE with destroyers HAVOCK, HOSTILE, HERO, FOXHOUND left the Narvik area for Scapa Flow in preparation for WARSPITE's return to the Mediterranean. Battleship WARSPITE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1615/26th, WARSPITE departed for the Clyde on the 27th at 1100. Battleship WARSPITE arrived in the Clyde escorted by destroyers INGLEFIELD, HERO, FOXHOUND at 1100/28th.

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Heavy cruiser YORK, light cruisers MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM, destroyers ACHERON, ARROW, GRIFFIN departed Rosyth at 0700 with 1600 troops, the rest of the 15th Brigade. At dusk on the 24th, light cruiser MANCHESTER disembarked troops at Molde and heavy cruiser YORK and light cruiser BIRMINGHAM disembarked troops at Aandalsnes. General Paget, which had taken passage in MANCHESTER, boarded Norwegian destroyer SLEIPNER, which carried him to Aandalsnes.  U.23 made two unsuccessful attacks on heavy cruiser YORK as she was leaving the area on the 25th.

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In heavy air attacks on Aandalsnes, anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA (Captain E. A. Aylmer DSC) was badly damaged when she was struck by a bomb below the bridge at 2000 and it exploded between decks killing forty five ratings and wounding thirty six, including Aylmer and navigator Lt Cdr R.M.P. Williamson. Antiaircraft cruiser CURACOA was escorted seaward by sloop FLAMINGO which relieved her as the Aandalsnes guard ship. Light cruisers SHEFFIELD and GLASGOW and destroyers WITCH, CAMPBELL, VANSITTART closed to provide cover. The destroyers were low on fuel and proceeded directly to Scapa Flow. Cruiser CURACOA arrived at Scapa Flow on the 26th escorted by light cruisers SHEFFIELD and GLASGOW. Cruiser CURACOA departed Scapa Flow with damaged destroyer HOTSPUR at 2030/26th and arrived at Chatham on 1 May was repairing until late August 1940.

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The heavy air attacks continued on the 25th at Aandalsnes and Norwegian torpedo boat TRYGG and anti-submarine trawlers BRADMAN (452grt) Lt A.N. Blundell RNR), HAMMOND (452grt, Skipper A. McKay RNR), LARWOOD (452grt, Skipper P. Quinlan RNR) were badly damaged and run aground. Skipper A. McKay RNR, of trawler HAMMOND was wounded. The entire crew of the trawler BRADMAN was rescued. The  trawlers were all units of the 22nd AntiSubmarine Group. The four ships were later salved by German forces for their own use and renamed ZICK, Vp.6112 (trawler FRIESE), Vp.6115 (trawler SALIER), V P 6111 (trawler FRANKE), respectively.

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Sloop BITTERN relieved sloop AUCKLAND as anti-aircraft guard ship and for wireless duties at Namsos at 1935/24th.

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Destroyers ASHANTI, MOHAWK, NUBIAN, SIKH departed Scapa Flow at 1800 to operate in the fjords around Trondheim against German coastal shipping. The destroyers cruised the fjords from 0900 on 26 to daylight on the 28th supported by light cruisers MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM without success. Destroyers NUBIAN and ASHANTI operated in Kraakvaagsfjord and off Fro Havet. Destroyers MOHAWK and SIKH operated in the Trondheim Leads. On 27 April in Kraakvaagsfjord, destroyers ASHANTI and NUBIAN explored the fjord while MOHAWK and SIKH patrolled at the mouth of Trondheimsfjord. Destroyer ASHANTI was taken under attack by German bombers which were able to damage her with near misses. Destroyers ASHANTI and NUBIAN arrived at Scapa Flow at 0900/29th. Destroyer ASHANTI departed Scapa Flow at 1000/30th for repairs at Dundee until 23 May when she arrived back at Scapa Flow for duty.

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Destroyer JUPITER departed Scapa Flow at 0800 to search for a Walrus seaplane of light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON, flying from Hatston, last reported twenty miles from 59‑30N, 2‑00W. The search was unsuccessful and the destroyer returned to Scapa Flow at dusk. Petty Officer Airman C.L. Smeathers of light cruiser EDINBURGH, Midshipman (A) P.L. Furber and Naval Airman 1/c C.E. Adams of SOUTHAMPTON were lost on the Walrus of 700 Squadron.

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Damaged French cruiser EMILE BERTIN departed the Clyde for Brest escorted by French destroyers ALBATROS and VAUTOUR.

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French convoy FP.3 of troopships COLOMBIE (13,391grt), MEXIQUE (12,220grt), CHENONCEAUX (14,825grt), PROVIDENCE (11,996grt), escorted by French destroyers VALMY, VERDUN, LEOPARD, arrived in the Clyde. French troopship GENERAL METZINGER (9312grt) was damaged in a collision on the 25th in St George's Channel en route and arrived at Liverpool. French troopship VILLE D'ALGER (10,172grt) departed Scapa Flow on the 26th escorted by French destroyer FOUDROYANT and destroyer ANTELOPE to embark the troops from the damaged troopship. On 27 April, the French troopship and destroyer FOUDROYANT arrived at Liverpool.

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After dark there was a German air raid on Scapa Flow. The area west of Cava was closed until it was declared free of mines at 1530/25th.

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