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

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

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1940

           

Wednesday, 22 May

 

Destroyers FIREDRAKE and FAME and French large destroyer MILAN bombarded Narvik. FAME and MILAN were hit by shore gunfire, and FAME retired to Skelfjord for repairs, but spent no time out of service.

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Battlecruiser RENOWN was on DG trials at Rosyth, escorted by destroyers HIGHLANDER, ASHANTI, BULLDOG. Fog prevented completion of trials and she re-entered harbour.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA at Rosyth was ordered to Portsmouth to serve under Commander in Chief, Nore, but on the 24th, was diverted to Harwich.

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Destroyers ARROW and FORTUNE departed Scapa Flow at 0700 to investigate two or three fishing vessels flying Swedish colours in 58‑14N, 0‑54W, reported at 1405/21st. They were not found, but there was evidence of recent fishing. The destroyers were ordered to patrol during the night on meridian 1W between 58N and 59N to search for suspicious vessels including fishing vessels, motor torpedo boats and U-boats. At 2130, ARROW sighted a periscope and FORTUNE dropped depth charges, but the contact was probably false. They left the area at 0600/23rd.

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The duty destroyer at Scapa Flow was put to fifteen minute notice from 2100 to 0600 to protect against U boats and motor torpedo boats entering Scapa Flow through the eastern entrance.

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The trawlers of the 11th Anti-Submarine Striking Force and available trawlers of the 1st and 19th Anti-Submarine Groups were ordered to Harwich. This reduced the forces at Scapa Flow to the point that anti-submarine patrols were not possible.

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Submarine SALMON carried out Operation LAMP, the cutting of the cable off Amsterdam, with trawler BARBADOS (211grt). The operation was covered by destroyers CODRINGTON and JAGUAR and completed on the 24th but was not successful.

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Submarine STURGEON departed Blyth on patrol.

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French submarine CALYPSO departed Lowestoft for Harwich.

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Submarines SNAPPER and L.26 departed Harwich on patrol.

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Submarine depot ship MAIDSTONE departed Greenock for Rosyth. After calling at Scapa Flow she departed on the 24th for Rosyth.

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Temporary S/Lt (A)F Leach RNVR, flying a Skua of 758 Squadron from Eastleigh, was badly injured when the sliding hood of his cockpit came away in the air and struck him in the face.

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French minelayer POLLUX departed Dundee for Rosyth.

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French cargo steamers CAP HADID (1700grt) and VILLE DE MAJUNA (4792grt) escorted by anti-submarine trawlers LEEDS UNITED and ARSENAL departed the Clyde for Brest. These ships formed convoy FR. 3, and were joined by steamers ROSE SCHAIFFINO and CAP BLANC, which departed Liverpool on the 23rd. The convoy arrived at Brest on the 25th.

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U.37 damaged British steamer DUNSTER GRANGE (9494grt) in 49‑20N, 08‑40W. Destroyers MONTROSE, WAKEFUL, VANQUISHER and sloop DEPTFORD were searching for the submarine.

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Destroyer WILD SWAN was near missed by a German bomb at Boulogne and suffered casualties.

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Destroyers WHITSHED and VIMIERA escorted British steamers BIARRITZ (2388grt) and QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL (1162grt), carrying an anti-tank company and one company of the 69th Anti-Tank Regiment, to Boulogne departing Dover at 0520/22nd. WHITSHED embarked refugees and the steamers embarked 800 personnel, who were returned to Dover. British steamer CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH (6009grt), carrying tanks, arrived later on the 22nd at Calais escorted by destroyers VIMY and WOLSEY.

 

British steamer MONA'S QUEEN (2756grt) departed Dover at 0948 for Boulogne escorted by destroyer VENOMOUS.

 

Destroyer VERITY with steamers MAID OF ORLEANS and CANTERBURY departed Dover for evacuation duties at Calais and returned that day.

 

Destroyers WILD SWAN and WOLSEY with British steamers ST HELIER and SOLIDARITY proceeded to Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer WOLSEY evacuated one hundred wounded. Steamer ST HELIER stayed with the destroyers and returned to Dover.

 

Destroyer VERITY departed Dover the evening of 22 May to act as a guardship at Boulogne. The destroyer arrived early on the 23rd.

 

Destroyers VENETIA and WINDSOR departed Dover escorting British steamer AUTOCARRIER (22grt) to Calais where they arrived at 1200. The destroyers then acted as guardships at Calais.

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Demolition parties for the French Channel ports were embarked on Destroyers at Dover. Destroyer WILD SWAN embarked the Dunkirk party XD.E (Cdr W. E. Banks). Destroyer VENOMOUS embarked the Calais party XD.F (Cdr C. S. B. Swinley). Destroyer VIMY embarked the Boulogne party XD G.(Lt Cdr A. E. P. Welman DSO DSC Rtd.

 

Destroyer WILD SWAN departed Dover at 1026 and arrived at Dunkirk at 1305.

 

Destroyer WOLSEY arrived at Dunkirk with steamers ISLE OF THANET and WORTHING from New Haven and moored alongside destroyer WILD SWAN.

 

Destroyer WILD SWAN arrived back at Dover at 1700 with seventy five airmen, eight civilians, seventy five soldiers.

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Convoy FN.177 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.

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Convoy MT.71 departed Methil, escorted by sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne, later that day.

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Convoy FS.177 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.

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French steamer PORTRIEUX (2257grt) was sunk by German bombing off Gravelines.

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French steamer TLEMCEN (4425grt), which was picking up survivors from PORTRIEUX, collided with British steamer EFFORD (393grt) three miles southwest of Dover and EFFORD sank.

 

French steamer TLEMCEN was towed to Dover by tug SIMLA.

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British fishing smack TEASER (9grt) was sunk by a mine four hundred yards west of Tollesbury Pier, East Blackwater.

 

The crew of two were rescued.

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Belgian yacht ALOHA (181grt) was sunk in mining off Ostend.

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Aircraft carrier EAGLE, light cruiser GLOUCESTER, which departed Simonstown on the 14th,and Australian light cruiser SYDNEY, which departed Colombo on the 18th, arrived at Aden.

 

They departed Aden on the 23rd. On the 26th, the cruisers arrived at Alexandria as reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet.

 

On the 27th, aircraft carrier EAGLE arrived at Alexandria.

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German steamer HELENE (2160grt) was sunk on a mine in Hubert Bay near Borkum.

 

 

Thursday, 23 May

 

Destroyers FAME and FIREDRAKE were damaged by German bombing near Narvik.

 

Destroyer FIREDRAKE arrived at Harstad for repairs on the 24th, but due to bombing had to make her repairs while constantly underway. FIREDRAKE returned to her patrol station on the 26th.

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French large destroyer MILAN was damaged by the near miss of two German bombs near Narvik. MILAN was forced to return to the Clyde, arriving on the 27th at 0625. She departed the Clyde that day with Contre Amiral Derrien aboard and arrived at Brest for repair and refitting on the 29th.

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Aircraft carriers FURIOUS and GLORIOUS, escorted by destroyers VETERAN, VISCOUNT, DIANA, AMAZON, arrived at Scapa Flow at 2134 for refuelling.

 

Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS departed the next day at 1315 escorted by destroyers WREN, ARROW, HIGHLANDER to disembark RAF 46 Squadron to a shore aerodrome in Norway.

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Destroyers HIGHLANDER, ASHANTI, BULLDOG escorted Battlecruiser RENOWN on DGtrials on Inchkeith Range.

 

The destroyers then proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving at 1915/23rd.

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Destroyers ACASTA and ARDENT departed Greenock at 1800 escorting British troopship ULSTER PRINCE 3791grt).

 

The troopship carried an army detachment to the Faroes to relieve the Marine Guard brought there by heavy cruiser SUFFOLK in April.

 

The troops were safely delivered.

 

The destroyers remained at the Faroes to escort a homebound convoy from Narvik.

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Submarine TRUANT unsuccessfully attacked captured German steamer ALSTER, escorted by anti-submarine whaler ULLSWATER at 1436 at 71.03N, 24-26E. Submarine TRUANT fired two torpedoes at the steamer, not knowing she had been captured in April by British forces.

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Prime Minister Churchill asked the Canadian Navy for all available destroyers to aid in operations in Home Waters.

 

Canadian destroyers RESTIGOUCHE (Cdr H.N. Lay RCN), SKEENA (Lt Cdr J. C. Hibbard RCN), ST LAURENT (Lt Cdr H.G.DeWolf RCN) departed Halifax on the 24th and arrived at Plymouth on the 31st.

 

Canadian destroyer FRASER (Cdr W. B. Creery RCN), on patrol in the Caribbean, set off from Bermuda on the 26th and arrived at Plymouth on 3 June.

 

Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE, after refitting in April and May at Halifax, arrived at St Johns for docking at the end of May to complete at the end of the first week of June.

 

Destroyer OTTAWA, which was damaged in a 10 April collision with Canadian tug BANSURF, was repairing at Halifax until mid June.

 

Destroyer SAGUENAY was long overdue for docking, in poor shape, unable to make the Atlantic crossing.

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Light cruiser SHEFFIELD was involved in a minor collision with boom defense vessel MILFORD DUKE (277grt).

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Destroyer HARVESTER was completed. Without working up, she proceeded to Dunkirk for evacuation duties.

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French large destroyer JAGUAR (Capitaine de fregate M. J. Adam), after radioing her time of arrival, arrived off Dunkirk at 0020/23rd. She was sunk by German schnellboote S.21 and S.23 near Malo les Bains.

 

Thirteen crew were lost in the destroyer.

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Submarine TETRARCH stopped three Danish fishing vessels in 56‑55N, 06‑50E. One vessel was sunk and the other two were sent into Leith as prizes.

 

At 1202, Danish fishing vessel TERIEVEN was stopped in 56-55N, 6-50E. Vessel TERIEVEN was scuttled.

 

At 1330, Danish fishing vessel EMMANUEL was stopped in 56-59N, 06-58E.

 

At 1730, Danish fishing vessel JENS HVAS was stopped in 57-00N, 07-00E.

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At 51‑29N, 02‑38E in the North Sea, U.9 sank German steamer SIGURDS FAULBAUMS (3256grt), which had been taken in prize by Belgian forces at Antwerp on the 10th 1940.

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Greek steamer GALAXIAS (4393grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dieppe.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

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DestroyerVIMIERA (Lt Cdr R. B. N. Hicks) brought British steamers KOHISTAN (5884grt) and BENLAWERS (5943grt) to Calais with tanks and motor transport for the troops ashore.

 

Steamer KOHISTAN got away from Calais the next day with a large number of troops and wounded and arrived at Dover on the 24th.

 

Destroyer WINDSOR (Lt Cdr P. D. H.R. Pelly) brought the 30th Brigade to Calais on steamers ARCHANGEL (2448grt) and ROYAL DAFFODIL (2060grt) screened on their trip across the channel by destroyers KEITH and WHITSHED (Cdr E. R. Conder).

 

Destroyer VENETIA (Lt Cdr B. H.de C. Mellor) from the Nore joined the Destroyer WINDSOR at Calais.

 

Destroyer VERITY (Lt Cdr A. R. M. Black) arrived at Dover early on the 23rd from Boulogne with General Brownrigg, the Adjutant General of the B. E.F. and his staff, to clarify the situation.

 

Destroyer VERITY departed Dover and arrived at Calais at 2300 bringing the commander of the Canadian Division, Major General A. G.L. McNaughton. The General was to see if it were feasible to keep the B. E.F. 's line of communication open through Calais or Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer VERITY returned to Dover on the 24th with two General officers and 150 troops.

 

Destroyer WOLSEY escorted two hospital carriers to Calais and remained there on guard duties.

Approaching Dover on their return, destroyer WHITSHED was ordered to Boulogne.

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At Boulogne all day were Destroyers KEITH (Captain D. J. R. Simson, Captain D.17), VIMY (Lt Cdr C. G.W. Donald), WILD SWAN (Lt Cdr J. L.Younghusband) bombarding German targets.

 

Additionally off Boulogne was French Destroyer Flotilla 2 (Capitaine de Vaisseau Urvoy de Portzamparc on destroyer CYCLONE) with large destroyers LEOPARD and CHACAL and destroyers CYCLONE, FOUGUEUX, BOURRASQUE, ORAGE, MISTRAL, FRONDEUR, SIROCCO, FOUDROYANT.

 

French destroyer OURAGAN of this Flotilla was repairing at Brest and destroyers BOULONNAISand BRESTOIS, after operations off Norway, were en route to the Mediterranean.

 

This Flotilla, based at Brest, had already lost large destroyer JAGUAR and destroyer L'ADROIT in the past few days.

 

In late afternoon, destroyers VENETIA, VIMIERA, VENOMOUS arrived from Dover to reinforce ships off Boulogne.

 

Destroyer VIMY landeda party of 200 seamen and a detachment of Royal Marines to restore order in the harbour of Boulogne.

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The evacuation of Boulogne, Operation BUNGALOW, began with Destroyers KEITH and VIMY entering harbour. A bomb exploded on the quay next to KEITH which was medium damaged and Captain Simson was killed by machine gun fire. After embarking one hundred and eighty troops, KEITH had to back out of the harbour stern first with a fire aft.

 

In addition to Captain Simson, seven ratings were killed and twenty eight men were wounded, including Lt Cdr R. S. Miller RNR.

 

Destroyer VIMY, while embarking troops, sustained medium damage and her commanding officer Lt Cdr C. G W. Donald was mortally wounded. The destroyer was able to embark one hundred and fifty troops.

 

In addition to her commanding officer, Temporary S/Lt D. R. Webster RNVR was killed and several men were slightly wounded.

 

Backing out of the harbour, destroyer KEITH was struck by a mortar shell on her forecastle.

 

Destroyers WHITSHED and VIMIERA while standing off the harbour were attacked by German bombers. Destroyer WHITSHED sustained light damage from the near miss of an air bomb.

 

Gunner (T) W. J. Wilson was killed and S/Lt P. L.K Needham and ten ratings were wounded on destroyer WHITSHED.

 

French destroyer ORAGE (Capitaine de corvette R. V. M. Viennot de Vanblanc) was bombed and set afire four miles west of Boulogne and destroyer FRONDEUR (Capitaine de corvette H.L. Alix) was badly damaged by German bombing off Boulogne. Twenty eight crew were lost in the destroyer.

 

Destroyer ORAGE was later scuttled.

 

Destroyers WHITSHED and VIMIERA entered Boulogne harbour next. Embarking troops, both destroyers escaped further damage.

 

Destroyer WHITSHED embarked five hundred and eighty troops and destroyer VIMIERA embarked one thousand, nine hundred and fifty five troops in two trips.

 

Destroyers WILD SWAN, VENOMOUS, VENETIA entered the harbour after WHITSHED and VIMIERA left.

 

Destroyers WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS ran aground, but were able to get themselves off. VENETIA was seriously damaged with a hit on her B-gun platform. Killed were S/Lt M. E. L.Maunsell and twenty ratings. The commanding officer Lt Cdr B. H.de C. Mellor, Lt R. J. R. Wratislaw, eleven ratings were wounded. VENETIA ran aground and was brought out of the harbour stern first, under the command of S/Lt D. H.Jones RNR.

 

Destroyer WILD SWAN embarked four hundred and three troops. Destroyer VENOMOUS embarked five hundred troops. Destroyer VENETIA did not embark any troops.

 

Destroyer WINDSOR (Lt Cdr P. D. H.R. Pelly), off Calais, was ordered to Boulogne where she picked up six hundred men, including thirty wounded, at about 2030.

 

Captain S. E. Thomas Rtd of VICTORY was killed by gunfire at Boulogne.

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Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON departed Rosyth for operations off Narvik.

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British steamer COXWOLD (1124grt) escorted by anti-submarine trawlers PRESTON NORTHEND (419grt) and LINCOLN CITY (398grt) departed Scapa Flow for Harstad.

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British steamers BROOMDALE (8334grt), NARVA (1575grt), META (1578grt), CALUMET (7268grt), MARINA (5088grt) and Norwegian steamer CLIO (556grt) departed Harstad unescorted.

 

On the 26th, destroyers ACASTA and ARDENT departed the Faroes to join the convoy.

 

Destroyer MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 1000/27th to meet the convoy.

 

All three destroyers could not locate the convoy until 0240/28th after a search in low visibility.

 

On the 27th, steamers CALUMET and MARINA were detached to Destroyer MASHONA which arrived with them in Scapa Flow at 1600/28th.

 

The rest of the convoy arrived safely in the Clyde at 1415/29th.

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Submarine TRITON stopped a Danish fishing vessel in the North Sea.

 

The submarine was told to sink the fishing vessel if she could accomodate the crew. If not, she was to release the fishing vessel which she was forced to do.

 

Submarine TRITON was ordered to release French submarine SFAX on patrol.

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Polish submarine ORZEL departed Rosyth on patrol.

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French submarine SFAX arrived at Dundee after patrol.

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Convoy AB 2 with British steamers SICILIAN PRINCE (3489grt, Commodore Rear Admiral K. E. L.Creighton, MVO Rtd), LYCAON (7350grt), BELLEROPHON (9019grt), DORSET COAST (646grt) departed the Clyde for Reykavik escorted by anti-submarine trawlers AYRSHIRE (540grt), NOTTS COUNTY (541 tons, NORWICH CITY (541grt), CAPE COMORIN (504grt). The convoy was met by armed merchant cruiser SALOPIAN south of Iceland and the convoy safely arrived at Reykavik on the 27th.

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Convoy FN.178 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WALLACE. French submarine CALYPSO traveled with the convoy. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 25th.

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Convoy MT.72 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.178 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th.

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Convoy HG.31 with twenty two ships departed Gibraltar. The convoy was escorted by destroyer KEPPEL from 24 May to 2 June. The convoy was given ocean escort by sloop SCARBOROUGH from 23 May to 2 June.

 

Corvette ARABIS escorted the convoy from 31 May to 2 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 2 June.

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Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, light cruiser CALEDON, destroyers DIAMOND and VENDETTA departed Alexandria for Malta.

 

These ships were joined on the 24th by British steamer NEVASA (9213grt).

 

On the 25th, light cruiser CALYPSO joined.

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German steamer FRANZ HANIEL (2188grt) was sunk on a German defensive minefield near Kiel.

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British troopships ORONSAY arrived at Gibraltar from Malta, escorted by destroyers DOUGLAS and WISHART. She departed the next day for Liverpool, escorted by destroyer DOUGLAS.

 

Destroyer DOUGLAS was detached and joined British steamer WINDSOR CASTLE on the 26th. The steamer arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th, escorted by destroyers DOUGLAS and WISHART. Steamer WINDSOR CASTLE then departed and proceeded to Freetown.

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French large destroyer LION departed Malta escorting British troopships OTRANTO and ORFORD to Toulon, arriving on the 24th.

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Convoy SL.33 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser BULOLO to 6 June.

 

On 6 June, sloop LEITH and corvette ARABIS joined the convoy and escorted it to arrival on 9 June.

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French submarine REDOUTABLE departed Casablanca escorted by armed patrol vessel PASCAL PAOLI.

 

The submarine arrived at Bizerte on the 27th.

 

 

24 May, Friday

 

Late on the 23rd, destroyer VIMIERA on her second trip picked up the last of the Boulogne evacuatees, some 800 French and Belgian troops. Destroyer WESSEX operated off Boulogne but did not enter the harbour.

 

Some two hundred troops had to be left behind and were captured by German forces on the 24th.

 

At 0200, destroyers VIMIERA and WESSEX arrived at Dover.

 

Destroyers VIMIERA and WESSEX were the only two undamaged destroyers of the Dover Command.

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French large destroyer CHACAL (Capitaine de fregate J. E. N. Estienne), after delivering the demolition party to Calais, arrived off Boulogne and was sunk off Cape d' Alprecht by German bombing.

 

French destroyer FOUGUEUX (Capitaine de fregate E. E. Y. Poher) was badly damaged by bombing in the same attack.

 

French submarine chasers CH.5 and CH.42 rescued the twenty one survivors of CHACAL.

 

The surviving destroyers of the French 2nd Destroyer Flotilla were ordered withdrawn from Boulogne to Cherbourg.

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Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville KCB, DSO, commanded the British Calais support force.

 

Destroyers GRAFTON and GREYHOUND and Polish destroyer BURZA (Cdr Wojciech Francki), on patrol off Aldeburgh, were ordered to Dover. They then set off to Calais to provide fire support for the British troops ashore.

 

Light cruisers ARETHUSA (Captain Q. D. Graham) and GALATEA (Captain B. B. Schofield) departed Portsmouth to operate in the area in support roles, but returned when they found they could not arrive off Calais before dark.

 

Destroyers WOLFHOUND and VIMIERA departed Dover for Calais at 1000.

 

Off Calais, destroyer WESSEX (Lt Cdr W. A. R. Cartwright), which departed Dover at 0700, was sunk by German bombing when she was struck by three bombs between the funnels.

 

Five ratings were killed, one died of wounds, fifteen were wounded. The survivors were rescued by destroyer VIMIERA. Minesweeping trawler JOHN CATTLING (276grt) picked up one officer and five ratings from a Carley float.

 

Polish destroyer BURZA was damaged by two bombs exploding in the water very near her bows. The concussion also damaged her superstructure and she could only steam three to four knots stern first. One rating was killed in the destroyer.

 

Destroyer VERITY and tug LADY BRASSEY arrived on the scene to assist BURZA, but she was able to proceed under her own power.

 

Destroyer BURZA departed Dover on the 25th towed by two tugs and escorted by anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON OLIVINE. She was taken to Portsmouth for repairs which were completed on 27 July.

 

Destroyer VIMIERA was bombed and damaged off Calais.

 

Destroyer VIMIERA was withdrawn for repairs which were completed in ten days. Destroyer VIMIERA arrived at Scapa Flow for escort duties on 9 June.

 

Minesweeping trawler JOHN CATTLING (276grt) was sent to Calais to act as a W/T link.

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Destroyers WOLSEY and WINDSOR departed Dover at 0935 with demolition parties for Le Havre.

 

The destroyers were then sent to Calais before returning to Dover.

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Destroyers WOLFHOUND and VERITY were ordered at 1339 to bring ammunition to Calais for the British troops encircled there.

 

Destroyer VERITY, after assisting Polish destroyer BURZA, also landed a Royal Marine Guard to protect the harbour.

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Motor torpedo boat MTB.25 proceeded to Calais with primers for the demolition charges.

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After bombing southwest of Calais, a Swordfish of 825 Squadron was shot down. Lt M. R. North and Leading Airman C. A. Chichester were killed.

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Destroyers GALLANT, JACKAL, JAVELIN, JAGUAR screened the six minesweeping trawlers, which had also been used in operation QUIXOTE on the 20th, cutting the telegraph cables between Lowestoft, Benacre, Aldeburgh on the East Coast and Zaandvoort and Domburg in Operation QUENTIN.

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Tug DAPPER (419grt) was sent from Dover at 0830 to assist British steamer BHUTAN (6104grt) which had been badly damaged in a collision.

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Lt K. P. Gurr and Lt R. Carpmael were killed when their Swordfish of 812 Squadron was shot down over the Calais-Gravelines road.

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Aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS was completed.

 

Aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS departed Liverpool on the 24th.

 

Destroyers ESCORT, VANOC, WITHERINGTON departed the Clyde at 0300 and rendezvoused with aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS off the Bar Light Vessel at 1400 for acceptance trials.

 

The British ships arrived in the Clyde at 2030/25th.

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Heavy cruiser SUSSEX departed the Clyde after refitting and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1415/25th.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE was completed. She was the first cruiser of the new DIDO class to be completed.

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Light cruiser ENTERPRISE departed Harstad with the remaining nineteen tons of Norwegian gold reserves.

 

Despite two German air attacks en route, the cruiser safely arrived at Scapa Flow at 1740/26th. She then proceeded at 1600/27th to Greenock where the gold was offloaded.

 

Cruiser ENTERPRISE continued on to Plymouth, arriving on the 29th for refitting. The cruiser was under refit from 31 May to 22 June.

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Destroyers ANTELOPE and BRAZEN arrived at Scapa Flow at 0720 and 1900, respectively, after having been detached from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL's screen.

 

The aircraft carrier was delayed due to fog.

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Destroyer ATHERSTONE at Lerwick was ordered to investigate a direction finding reading in 59-55N, 00-00W. Fog hindered the unsuccessful search.

 

The destroyer arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0430/26th.

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Six Tribal destroyers to be joined by destroyer TARTAR (D 6) were designated to form a Striking Force at Rosyth.

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The 9th Destroyer Flotilla was returned to the Western Approaches Command.

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Destroyers BRAZEN, BASILISK, BULLDOG were returned to the Nore Command.

 

Destroyer BULLDOG departed Scapa Flow at 1600 for Harwich to rejoin the Nore Command.

 

Destroyer BRAZEN departed Scapa Flow at 2230 for Rosyth to boiler clean prior to rejoining the Nore Command.

 

Destroyers BASILISK and MATABELE departed Greenock at 1130 for Devonport.

 

Destroyer BASILISK repaired brickwork and boiler cleaned at Devonport. After repairs, the destroyer proceeded to the Nore Command.

 

Destroyer MATABELE continued on to Falmouth to repair grounding damage.

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Destroyer WOLVERINE departed Greenock at 1430 for Plymouth to make good defects.

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Submarine SHARK and French submarine SYBILLE arrived Rosyth after patrol.

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Submarine SPEARFISH arrived at Blyth after patrol.

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French submarine AMAZONE docked at Rosyth.

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British steamer BRIGHTON (2391grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dieppe Quay.

 

Steamer BRIGHTON had been bombed and badly damaged on the 21st. There was no crew aboard her on the 24th.

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French auxiliary minesweepers LA MATELOT (260grt) was sunk by German bombing and ETOILE DE NORD (317grt) was sunk in mining at Dunkirk.

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Convoy OA.154 departed Southend escorted by sloop ABERDEEN.

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Convoy OB.154 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop SANDWICH from 24 to 27 May. The convoy dispersed on the 28th.

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Convoy FN.179 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WALPOLE. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 26th.

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U.37 sank Greek steamer KYMA (3994grt) in 48‑30N, 09‑30W.

 

Seven crew were lost on the Greek steamer. The survivors were picked up in 49-08N, 06-06W.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE, destroyers KANDAHAR, KHARTOUM, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO arrived at Suez from the Mediterranean as convoy escorts for Red Sea shipping.

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French sloops ANNAMITE, SURPRISE, which was escorting steamers CHANTILLY and COMPIEGNE, GAZELLE, CHAMOIS passed Gibraltar en route from Brest to Algiers, where they arrived on the 25th.

_____

 

Convoy HX.45 departed Halifax at 1200 escorted by Canadian destroyers SAGUENAY, SKEENA, ST LAURENT, which were detached on the 25th.

 

Convoy BHX.45 departed Bermuda on the 23rd escorted locally by sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of armed merchant cruiser RAJPUTANA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.45 on the 29th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

The ocean escort for the convoy was Armed merchant cruiser VOLTAIRE which joined the convoy at 1830/24th. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on 4 June.

 

On 5 June, sloop SANDWICH and corvette PERIWINKLE joined the convoy. On 6 June, the corvette was detached and the sloop was detached on 7 June. Corvette HIBISCUS joined the convoy on 7 June and escorted it to its arrival at Liverpool on 8 June.

_____

 

Australian light cruiser HOBART arrived at Port Sudan.

 

 

Saturday, 25 May

 

Aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL (Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers) and FURIOUS with destroyers ANTELOPE, CAMPBELL, AMAZON, ENCOUNTER, VISCOUNT departed Scapa Flow at 1545 for the Clyde. Shortly after sailing, destroyer VOLUNTEER departed Scapa Flow at 1615 and relieved ENCOUNTER which proceeded to Rosyth for boiler cleaning and repairs. The ARK ROYAL group safely arrived in the Clyde at 1600/26th.

_____

 

Destroyer FURY and a second destroyer departed Scapa Flow at 1000 to investigate Italian steamers BARBANA C. (6161grt) and ANDREA (5152grt) anchored in Saviskaill Bay, Westray Firth, Orkneys. Anti-submarine trawler HUGH WALPOLE had been ordered to this location on the 24th, but was unable to make contact due to very thick fog. The Italian steamers were escorted by destroyer FURY to Kirkwall for inspection. FURY arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1915.

_____

 

Destroyers BEDOUIN and FOXHOUND departed the Clyde at 1550 for Scapa Flow. En route, they conducted an anti-submarine sweep from North Channel to Lower Minch, then from North Minch to Pentland Firth, arriving at Scapa Flow at 1745/26th.

_____

 

Destroyer KELVIN departed the Tyne at 1715 after refit and repairs, and called at Rosyth for tests on the DG range.

_____

 

Destroyer WARWICK departed Greenock for Liverpool where she arrived at 0130/26th.

_____

 

Polish submarine ORZEL (Lt Cdr J. Grudzinski ORP), which had departed Rosyth on patrol on the 23rd, was lost in mining off the southwest coast of Norway.

_____

 

French depot ship JULES VERNE and submarines SYBILLE, CALYPSO, THETIS arrived at Dundee.

_____

 

French submarine ACHILLE and minelayer POLLUX departed Rosyth for Cherbourg.

_____

 

Submarine SEVERN departed Rosyth for patrol off Stadlandet, but had to return to Dundee to effect repairs to a leaking conning tower hatch. She was able to depart later that same day.

_____

 

Mobile Naval Base Ship MASHOBRA (Temporary Lt Cdr P. Taylor RNR) was bombed and badly damaged in German bombing near Harstad, and run aground to prevent her from sinking. No men killed, but several, including Temporary Paymaster Lt W H Reed RNR were wounded.

_____

 

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was near missed by German bombing at Harstad, but only sustained splinter damage.

_____

 

Anti-submarine trawler CAPE WARWICK reported making a strong contact at position 7.5 miles 108° from Auskerry. After attacks on a stationary target, she proceeded to join her convoy and anti-submarine trawler SCALBY WYKE was sent from Kirkwall to remain over it until 1727/26th.

_____

 

Anti-submarine trawlers JUNIPER, HAZEL, WHITEHORN of the 19th Anti-Submarine Striking Force departed Scapa Flow with oilers COWRIE and SYLVAFIELD and collier KIRKWOOD for the Clyde. A second collier was to join them from Stornoway.

_____

 

Minesweeping Group 14 of minesweeping trawlers EPINE, THEIR MERIT, CARDIFF CASTLE, STAR OF ORKNEY departed Scapa Flow for Yarmouth.

_____

 

Swedish steamers DAHLIA (1078grt), LYGIA (1480grt),and BRITA (1345grt) were seized by German forces at Bergen. DAHLIA was renamed JOHANNES WILLI in German service, LYGIA renamed MALMEDY, and BRITA renamed DESIDERIUS SIEDLER.

_____

 

German operation BIENE was successfully completed by the 181st Infantry Division against a British communications centre on Alsten Island near Mosjoen.

_____

 

At 1032, destroyer GREYHOUND was ordered to patrol between Dover and Calais and await orders. GREYHOUND and sister-ship GRAFTON suffered damage to their directors from near misses of air bombs. Later, GREYHOUND bombarded the Calais suburb of St Pierre, but a German three inch battery east of Sangetti hit her once. Temporary Lt Sir M C H F J Blennerhassett Bt RNVR and one rating were killed, and three crew, including Lt Cdr H E F Tweedie, were wounded. Lt J P Pigot-Moodie died of wounds on 4 August. Both destroyers arrived back at Dover before midnight.

_____

 

Light cruisers GALATEA and ARETHUSA arrived at Sheerness.

_____

 

Early on the 25th, destroyer WOLFHOUND, after bombarding German targets off Calais, arrived at Calais to disembark ammunition for the British troops. Also aboard was Vice Admiral Somerville which had come to Calais to inform Brigadier Nicholson that there would be no evacuation from Calais.

_____

 

Late on the 25th, destroyers VERITY and WINDSOR escorted the six minesweepers, trawlers, yachts clearing the evacuation route to Calais. Captain Armed Patrol Boats was also in the area with six drifters. While at sea, the ships were advised that the evacuation was cancelled and the destroyers covered the minesweepers' retirement. The ships returned to Dover and Harwich by dawn in the absence of orders.

_____

 

Destroyer JACKAL at 0215 attacked a submarine contact in 52-15N, 2-00E, and destroyers GALLANT, JAGUAR, JAVELIN joined in the search for U.9, but without success. The submarine escaped.

_____

 

Destroyer VEGA (Cdr C I Horton), patrol sloops MALLARD, WIDGEON, SHELDRAKE, minesweepers FITZROY, SUTTON, SALTASH departed Sheerness on the 24th with blockships FLORENTINO (1822grt, Cdr G.A. Garnons-Williams in charge of the operation) and TRANSEA (1499grt) for Zeebrugge in Operation EF, also known as Operation LYSTER. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER joined from convoy escort and relieved sloop WIDGEON shortly after sailing. Motor torpedo boats MTB.15 and MTB.16 and minesweeping trawlers CLYTHNESS and LORD GREY also took part in this operation.

 

Patrol sloop SHEARWATER attacked a submarine contact in 51-21. 5N, 2-46E.

 

The attempt failed the night of 24/25 May when FLORENTINO accidentally ran aground out of the channel and TRANSEA, not seeing the error, scuttled herself nearby. MTB 15 and MTB.16 took off the crews of the blockships.

 

Destroyer VEGA, sloops MALLARD, SHEARWATER, SHELDRAKE,MTB 14, MTB.15, most of the original force, less the minesweepers, returned the night of 26/27 May with blockships ATLANTIC GUIDE (1943grt) and BORODINO (2004grt) which were originally designated for Ostend, Operation DF.

 

The blockships sank between 0642 and 0655/27th and Zeebrugge harbour was blocked, their crews rescued by MTB.14 and MTB.15.

 

Destroyer VEGA escorting Dutch submarine O 13 off Zeebrugge was unsuccessfully attacked by German motor torpedo boats which claimed sinking both ships.

 

Destroyer VEGA was also attacked by German bombers and damaged by near misses. She was taken to Dover and repaired completing on 3 June.

 

Minesweeping HARRIER, minesweeping off Zeebrugge, was attacked by German bombers.

 

One hit and five near misses badly damaged the minesweeper. The hit entered through the upper deck and passed out through the port side.

 

Minesweeper HARRIER arrived in the Thames on the 27th was repaired completing on 9 July.

_____

 

Motor torpedo boat MTB.22 from Harwich joined motor torpedo boat MTB.25 off Dover, then both proceeded to Dunkirk.

 

The boats brought back twenty to thirty members of the Belgian government.

 

On arrival back at Dover, MTB.25 proceeded to Harwich.

_____

 

Minesweeping trawler CHARLES BOYES (290grt, Temporary Skipper G.Reynolds RNR) was sunk on a mine off the east coast of England.

 

Reynolds, Temporary Skipper W. Gregson RNR, thirteen ratings were missing from the trawler.

_____

 

British steamer SPINEL (680grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

Her crew of nine was rescued.

 

On 4 July, she was salved by German forces and taken in prize.

 _____

 

French auxiliary minesweepers LA JEANNINE (49grt) and LA TROMBE II (tons) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

_____

 

Panamanian tanker JOSEPH SEEP (7088grt) was sunk in a mining off Le Havre Roads.

 

The entire crew in liferafts from the tanker were towed to safety by a lifeboat from Norwegian steamer LYSTAAD.

_____

 

Convoy OG.31F was made from convoys OA.153GF, which departed Southend on the 22nd escorted by destroyer MACKAY, OB.153GF, which departed Liverpool on the 22nd escorted by sloops ENCHANTRESS and LEITH, of fifty five ships.

 

Submarine H.31 accompanied convoy OA.153GF on passage to Portsmouth.

 

Sloop ENCHANTRESS escorted the convoy on the 25th.

 

Destroyer MACKAY escorted the convoy from 25 to 27 May.

 

Sloop LEITH escorted the convoy from 25 to 28 May and then was detached to convoy HG.32F.

 

Destroyer WATCHMAN joined on the 28th and escorted the convoy to Gibraltar, where it arrived on the 30th.

_____

 

Convoy SA.42 arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

_____

 

Convoy FN.180 departed Southend, escorted by sloop HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 27th.

_____

 

Convoy MT.73 departed Methil, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne, later that day.

_____

 

Convoy FS.179 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 27th.

 

 

Sunday, 26 May

 

Destroyer KELVIN departed Rosyth at 1800 escorting A. S. I. S. NGAKAO and ARBROATH to Scapa Flow.

 

Destroyer FORESIGHT departed Scapa Flow at 0400/27th to assist.

 

Destroyer FORESIGHT and the A. S. I. S. ships arrived at Scapa Flow at 0830/28th.

 

Destroyer KELVIN had lost touch in the fog and arrived off Scapa Flow after the visibility improved at 1200/28th.

 

Destroyer KELVIN was joined by destroyer ZULU at Hoxa Entrance to screen heavy cruiser SUSSEX for HA firings.

 

The destroyers returned to the harbour entrance at 1945/28th.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW (Captain B. C. B. Brooke), en route to Skaanland, was badly damaged by German bombing on the 26th in Ofotfjord and run aground a total loss.

 

Paymaster Cdr William Yates, Paymaster S/Lt D. H.Jackson, Temporary Paymaster S/Lt A. M. L.Merry RNVR, Acting S/Lt H.N. Hinge RNVR, five ratings were killed on the cruiser.

 

The survivors from CURLEW were ferried to destroyer BEAGLE which took them to Harstad.

_____

 

Boom defense vessel LOCH SHIN (255grt, Temporary Boom Skipper H.Sizer RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad. She was beached to prevent sinking, but capsized and sank.

_____

 

British tanker OLEANDER (7048grt) was badly damaged by German bombing at Harstad.

 

The tanker's crew of thirty eight crew and one gunner were rescued.

 

She was run aground on the 27th to prevent sinking.

_____

 

Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS flew Hurricanes of 46 Squadron ashore to the Harstad area for local defense duties.

_____

 

Late on the 26th, light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON, anti-aircraft cruisers COVENTRY and CAIRO, destroyers FIREDRAKE, FAME, BEAGLE bombarded Narvik.

_____

 

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was again splinter damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Harstad.

_____

 

Destroyer ESCORT departed Greenock at 1000 for Plymouth.

_____

 

Minesweepers HEBE and SHARPSHOOTER of the 1st Minesweeping Squadron departed Scapa Flow for Dover to replace damaged units in the 6th Minesweeping Squadron.

_____

 

Light cruiser GALATEA screened by destroyer GRAFTON departed Sheerness at 0440 and bombarded German targets at Calais from 0700 to 1000.

 

Destroyers WOLSEY and WOLFHOUND bombarded Calais.

 

Light cruiser ARETHUSA departed Sheerness at 1537. Screened by destroyer GRAFTON, the light cruiser bombarded German targets later in the day until 2030 when poor visibility due to fog forced stopping the bombardment.

 

A Swordfish spotting for light cruiser GALATEA was attacked by German fighters. S/Lt J. B. Kiddle and Naval Airman 1st Class V. S. A. Moore were unhurt, but Lt G.N. Beaumont was thrown from the plane and lost during evasive manuevers.

_____

 

Destroyer IVANHOE was damaged alongside an oiler at the Humber. The damage did not prevent the destroyer from continuing her duties.

_____

 

Minesweeping trawler MARETTA (350grt) was damaged by the near misses of German bombing at Calais.

 

The minesweeper was towed by Dover by minesweeping trawler KINGSTON GALENA.

_____

 

Destroyer WILD SWAN on two trips to Dunkirk escorted British steamers MAID OF ORLEANS (2386grt) and CANTERBURY (2910grt) from Dover to Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer WILD SWAN departed Dunkirk early on the 27th escorting MAID OF ORLEANS, CANTERBURY, MONA'S QUEEN (2756grt) to Dover and French steamer ROUEN (1182grt) leaving for Cherbourg.

 

Returning to Dover, destroyer WILD SWAN was damaged by a bombing near miss which damaged her screws. She proceeded to Tilbury for repairs from 29 May to 4 June.

_____

 

Destroyer WOLSEY was sent to Dunkirk to act as a W/T link.

_____

 

Submarine TETRARCH arrived at Rosyth after patrol.

_____

 

Submarines SUNFISH and SEALION departed Harwich to patrol in the vicinity of Brown Ridge to protect British forces from interference by German naval vessels.

 

Submarine STURGEON left her patrol area to reinforce these submarines.

 

Submarine TAKU departed Rosyth on the 27th to take over submarine STURGEON's billet.

_____

 

Submarine SALMON searched for a downed air crew in her area in the North Sea, due to no surface vessels being available for the duty.

_____

 

There was some reorganization of the Submarine Flotillas.

 

French submarines CASABIANCA, SFAX, RUBIS were transferred to the 10th Submarine Flotilla.

 

Submarines SEVERN and CLYDE were transferred to the 3rd Submarine Flotilla.

 

Submarine PORPOISE was transferred to the 6th Submarine Flotilla.

 

The 9th Submarine Flotilla command lapsed at this time.

_____

 

Minesweepers SKIPJACK and HALCYON arrived at Dover during the afternoon.

 

These were the only operational units of the 6th Mine Sweeping Flotilla. Minesweepers HUSSAR and HARRIER were bomb damaged and minesweeper SPEEDWELL was out of service due to defects.

_____

 

French auxiliary minesweeper DIJONNAIS (389grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

_____

 

French steamer SAINT CAMILLE (3274grt) was sunk by German bombing off Dunkirk.

_____

 

French steamer CERES (3073grt) was sunk by German bombing between Rouen and Dunkirk.

_____

 

Convoy FN.181 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 28th.

_____

 

Convoy MT.74 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VANSITTART. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

_____

 

Convoy FS.180 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VANSITTART. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.

_____

 

Belgian dredger VOLKRACHT IV (300grt) was sunk by a mine in the Zeebrugge Canal.

_____

 

Armed merchant cruiser ASTURIAS, which had arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd, was damaged when a fire broke out in the ship at 0200/26th at Gibraltar.

 

The fire took thirty hours to control by local fire authorities and parties from destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE.

_____

 

Armed merchant cruiser CHESHIRE departed Gibraltar, escorted by destroyer KEPPEL. The cruiser was proceeding to patrol off Vigo.

_____

 

With Italy entering the war at any time, Australian troop convoy US 3 was ordered to Capetown while still in the Indian Ocean, rather that risking a passage through the Red Sea.

 

On 20 May, Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA of the US 3 escort was relieved by heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE.

 

Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA returned to Australia.

 

On the 26th, the convoy and her escorts arrived at Capetown.

 

On the 31st, convoy US 3, less troopship EMPRESS OF JAPAN (26,032grt), departed Capetown with Heavy cruisers SHROPSHIRE and CUMBERLAND for Freetown arriving on 7 June.

 

 

Monday, 27 May

 

Battlecruiser HOOD, her refit completed, departed Devonport at 1100 escorted by destroyers ESCORT, WITCH, WOLVERINE for Liverpool where they arrived on the 28th.

_____

 

Destroyer ATHERSTONE was at Lerwick to provide local defense protection until shore batteries were erected.

_____

 

Destroyer ESKIMO was towed by repair ship VINDICTIVE from Skelfjord to Harstad arriving on the 17th.

 

Destroyer ESKIMO departed Harstad at 0100/27th under the tow of tug BANDIT and escorted by sloop FLEETWOOD. British steamer DEVON CITY (4928grt), cable ship LASSO, captured German steamer ALSTER (8514grt) accompanied this force.

 

Destroyer AMAZON joined this group on the 30th.

 

Destroyer VOLUNTEER left her convoy of troopships BATORY and SOBIESKI, en route to Harstad, to join the ESKIMO group on the 30th.

 

Sloop FLEETWOOD was relieved on the 31st by destroyer WREN, which departed Scapa Flow on the 31st, FLEETWOOD arrived in Scapa Flow at 0300 on 1 June.

 

Boom carrier DEVON CITY arrived at Scapa Flow at 2157/31st with her commanding officer, ten other officers, 184 other ranks of a Royal Marine Field Unit.

 

Steamer ALSTER arrived with her prize crew at Scapa Flow at 2200/31st with passengers embarked of twenty seven British officers and one hundred and eighty two other ranks, nine officers and thirty seven Norwegian, ten officers and sixy two German prisoners.

 

Destroyer ESKIMO at 2300 on 1 June was ordered to proceed directly to Barrow and Furness.

 

Steamer ALSTER arrived at Rosyth during the forenoon of 4 June.

 

Destroyer ESKIMO arrived at Barrow in Furness at 1130/4 June.

 

Destroyers WREN and VOLUNTEER returned to the Clyde after the escort duty. They arrived at 1600/4 June.

Destroyer ESKIMO was under repair until late September 1940.

_____

 

Destroyer ELECTRA departed Greenock at 0030 for Scapa Flow after repairs.

 

En route, destroyer ELECTRA investigated two suspicious vessels, one in Loch Indaal and one southwest of Ame Island, Islay.

 

There was nothing to report and the destroyer arrived at Scapa Flow at 2300.

_____

 

Submarine TRUANT arrived at Harstad.

_____

 

When a Blenheim aircraft was reported by Wick to be down in the sea off Dunnet Head, anti-submarine trawlers PETER HENDRICKS and PAUL RYKENS were ordered to search. The search was later cancelled when aircraft were unable to locate any survivors.

_____

 

U.37 sank British steamer SHEAF MEAD (5008grt) in 43‑48N, 12‑38W, straggling behind convoy OG.31F, Argentine steamer URUGUAY (3225grt) 160 miles off Cape Villano, in 43-40N, 12-16W.

 

Thirty one crew from the steamer SHEAF MEAD were lost. Seven crew were rescued by Greek steamer FRANGOULA B. GOULANDRIS (6701grt).

 

Fifteen crew from the steamer URUGUAY were lost. Thirteen survivors were landed at Corunna.

_____

 

French submarine RUBIS, which departed Dundee on the 23rd, laid minefield FD.15 at 0435 near Haugesand at Bleivik in 59‑28N, 05‑13E.

 

On the 28th, Norwegian steamer BLAMMARREN (174grt) was lost on this minefield.

 

On the 31st, Norwegian steamer JADARLAND (938grt) was lost on this minefield.

 

In October, Norwegian steamer OYULF (173grt) was lost on a mine in Haugesand. This loss may be from the RUBIS minefield.

 

French submarine RUBIS safely arrived back at Dundee on the 30th.

_____

 

The final assault on Narvik began at 2340 27 May.

 

Destroyers HAVELOCK, BEAGLE, FAME, WALKER, WHIRLWIND operated in Rombaksfjord.

 

Anti-aircraft cruisers CAIRO (Flag Lord Cork) and COVENTRY (Flag Vivian) with destroyer FIREDRAKE were in Ofotfjord.

 

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was in position to bring support to the Ankenes peninsula and sloop STORK protected the landing craft of the operation.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO was hit by two bombs at 0620/28th and was badly damaged with nine ratings killed and S/Lt B. H.Moss RNVR, Gunner J. L.Thundercliffe, six ratings wounded. One of the ratings died of wounds.

 

One bomb struck abaft B.position, penetrated the deck, exploded among the supply party.

 

The second bomb hit the starboard. 5" anti-aircraft gun mounting.

 

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was near missed by German bombing and had two ratings killed by bomb splinters. CaptainF. H.W. Jeans, CVO, was wounded.

 

Damage to light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON required ten days to repair by local facilities.

 

Anti aircraft cruiser COVENTRY was near missed and sustained one rating killed by bomb splinters.

 

Destroyers HAVELOCK, WALKER, WHIRLWIND all sustained minor damage from near misses of air bombs.

 

Destroyer WALKER's damage required ten days to repair once she returned to England.

 

Destroyers HAVELOCK and WHIRLWIND had no time out of service.

 

At 0630, Lord Cork withdrew with his force seaward leaving anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY and destroyers BEAGLE and FIREDRAKE to support the troops.

 

Destroyers DELIGHT and ECHO joined COVENTRY later in the day.

 

Cruiser CAIRO departed Harstad with the survivors from cruiser CURLEW and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1700/30th.

 

At Scapa Flow, the CURLEW survivors were taken aboard minesweepers SEAGULL and SPEEDY and taken ashore.

 

The minesweepers departed Scapa Flow at 0530/31st escorted by destroyer MASHONA to Scrabster.

 

Cruiser CAIRO departed Scapa Flow on the 31st for the Tyne for repairs completed on 7 August. On 12 August, anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO was back in service.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO between 11 May and 28 May in operations near Narvik had fired 5700 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition. Several of her guns, the rifling in the barrels worn smooth, were out of action.

 

At 2200/28th, Narvik was announced captured by Anglo-French forces.

_____

 

French troopships EL KANTARA (5079grt), EL D'JEZAIR (5818grt), EL MANSOUR (5818grt), VILLE D'ALGER (10172grt) departed the Clyde at 1930 escorted by destroyers HAVANT, SALADIN, VISCOUNT and French destroyer MILAN for Cherbourg and St Nazaire.

 

Destroyer SALADIN was detached during the afternoon on the 28th. Destroyer HAVANT was reassigned to the Western Approaches Command after the escort.

 

Destroyer VISCOUNT arrived in the Clyde at 1200/30th after the escort. She then returned to Scapa Flow.

_____

 

British oiler OIL PIONEER and steamer CORMINSTER (1703grt) arrived at Harstad from Scapa Flow.

_____

 

Anti-submarine trawler CAPE PORTLAND departed Scapa Flow escorting oiler OIL RELIANCE to Methil.

 

With this trawler's departure, no anti-submarine trawlers remained at Scapa Flow.

_____

 

British steamer DALLINGTON COURT departed the Clyde, unescorted, for Vaagsfjord.

_____

 

A British Floating dock, in tow of tug WATERMEYER and escorted by anti-submarine trawlers LE TIGER, LOCH OSKAIG, WISTARIA, departed Leith for the Sullom Voe seaplane base. They all arrived safely on the 30th.

_____

 

Light cruisers ARETHUSA and GALATEA arrived at Sheerness.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA departed Harwich at dawn for the Downs.

_____

 

Destroyers JAGUAR, JAVELIN, GRENADE departed Harwich at 0042 to a "special operation. "

_____

 

Destroyer VERITY, escorting British steamers BIARRTIZ and ARCHANGEL to Dunkirk, was damaged by German shellfire six miles east, northeast of Calais and her commanding officer, Cdr A. R. M. Black, was seriously wounded. S/Lt C.F. Alington was also wounded.

_____

 

Gunboat LOCUST arrived at Sheerness from Portsmouth.

_____

 

British steamer SEQUACITY (870grt) was sunk by German shore guns one and a half miles from number two buoy to the east of Calais, in 52-04-20N, 1-38-36E.

 

Steamer SEQUACITY's thirteen man crew were rescued by British steamer YEWDALE (823grt).

_____

 

British steamer YEWDALE (823grt) was damaged by German shoreguns off the French Channel Coast at 0400.

_____

 

Late on the 26th, the Admiralty ordered Operation DYNAMO to commence. Major warships participating in the evacuation of allied troops from the Dunkirk area from 27 May to 4 June were as follows.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser – CALCUTTA, 1st Anti-Aircraft Cruiser Squadron (Captain D M Lees)

 

French large destroyers – EPERVIER, 11th Large Destroyer Division (Capitaine de Fregate J J G Bros), LEOPARD, 2nd Large Destroyer Division (Capitaine de Fregate C A Loisel)

 

Destroyers – ANTHONY, 16th Flotilla (Lt Cdr N V J T Thew), BASILISK, 19th Flotilla (Cdr M Richmond), CODRINGTON, 1st Flotilla (Captain GF Stevens-Guille, DSO, D.1), ESK, 20th Flotilla (Lt Cdr R J H Couch), EXPRESS, 20th Flotilla (Captain J G Bickford, D.20), GALLANT, 1st Flotilla (Lt Cdr C P F Brown), GRAFTON, 1st Flotilla (Cdr C E C Robinson, Lt H C J McRea after death of Robinson), GRENADE, 1st Flotilla (Cdr R C Boyle), GREYHOUND, 1st Flotilla (Cdr W R Marshall-A'Dean), HARVESTER, 9th Flotilla (Lt Cdr M Thornton), HAVANT, 9th Flotilla (Lt Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), ICARUS, 20th Flotilla (Cdr C D Maud), IMPULSIVE, 20th Flotilla (Lt Cdr W S Thomas), INTREPID, 20th Flotilla (Cdr R C Gordon), IVANHOE, 20th Flotilla (Cdr P Hadow), JAGUAR, 7th Flotilla (Lt Cdr J F W Hine), JAVELIN, 7th Flotilla (Cdr A F Pugsley), KEITH, 19th Flotilla (Captain E L Berthon DSC, D.19), MACKAY, 11th Flotilla (Cdr G H Stokes), MALCOLM, 16th Flotilla (Captain T E Halsey, D.16), MONTROSE, 17th Flotilla (Cdr C R Parry), SABRE, attached destroyer (Cdr B Dean, ret), SALADIN, 11th Flotilla (Lt Cdr L J Dover), SCIMITAR, 16th Flotilla (Lt R D Franks), SHIKARI, 16th Flotilla (Cdr H N A Richardson), VANQUISHER, 11th Flotilla (Lt Cdr C B Alers-Hankey until the 29th (sick), Cdr W C Bushell after the 30th), VENOMOUS, 16th Flotilla (Cdr J E H McBeath), VERITY, 15th Flotilla (Cdr A R M Black, wounded on the 27th, Lt E L Jones from the 27th), VIMY, 11th Flotilla (Lt Cdr R G K Knowling, lost on the 28th en route to Dunkirk, Lt A P W Northey for the rest of this trip, Lt Cdr M W Ewart-Wentworth from the 30th), VIVACIOUS, 17th Flotilla (Lt Cdr F R W Parish (sick), Cdr E F V Dechaineux RAN on the 30th; this officer was the commanding officer of destroyer EGLINTON under construction), WAKEFUL, 17th Flotilla (Cdr R L Fisher), WHITEHALL, 15th Flotilla (Lt Cdr A B Russell), WHITSHED, 18th Flotilla (Cdr E R Conder), WILD SWAN, 18th Flotilla (Lt Cdr J L Younghusband DSC), WINCHELSEA, 11th Flotilla (Lt Cdr W A F Hawkins), WINDSOR, 18th Flotilla (Lt Cdr P D H R Pelly), WOLFHOUND, Convoy C of Rosyth Command (Lt Cdr J W McCoy), WOLSEY, Convoy C of Rosyth Command (Cdr C H Campbell), WORCESTER 18th Flotilla (Cdr J H Allison)

 

Polish BLYSKAWICA 1st Flotilla (Cdr Stanislaw Nahorski ORP)

 

French destroyers of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla – BOURRASQUE, 4th Division (Capitaine de Fregate R G A Fouque), CYCLONE, 6th Division (Capitaine de Vaisseau Y F C A M Urvoy de Portzamparc), FOUDROYANT, 5th Division (Capitaine de Corvette P L A Fontaine), MISTRAL, 6th Division (Capitaine de Corvette E R Lavene), SIROCCO, 6th Division (Capitaine de Corvette G P C M J M de Toulouse-Latrec Montfa)

 

Sloop – BIDEFORD, 1st Sloop Division (Lt Cdr J H Lewes)

 

Patrol sloops - GUILLEMOT, 2nd Anti-Submarine Striking Force (Lt Cdr H M Darell-Brown), KINGFISHER, Experimental Ship (Lt Cdr G A M V Harrison), MALLARD, 1st Anti-Submarine Striking Force (Cdr The Hon V Wyndham-Quinn), SHEARWATER, 2nd Anti-Submarine Striking Force (Lt Cdr C F Powlett), SHELDRAKE, 1st Anti-Submarine Striking Force (Lt Cdr A E T Christie), WIDGEON, 2nd Anti-Submarine Striking Force (Lt Cdr R Frederick),

 

French torpedo boats - BOUCLIER, 14th Torpedo Boat Division (Capitaine de Fregate C M H de La Fourniere), BRANLEBAS, 11th Division (Capitaine de Corvette H M de Cacqueray), FLORE, 14th Division (c J M P Roussel de Courcy), L'INCOMPRISE, 11th Division (Capitaine de Corvette A A P Gras)

 

French sloops - AMIENS (anti-aircraft ship), attached sloop (Capitaine de Corvette M E J Monick), ARRAS, 1st Sloop Squadron (L V J P M Bidal), BELFORT, Naval Aviation Tender (Capitaine de Corvette P A Viel), LA BOUDEUSE, 2nd Sloop Squadron (Capitaine de Corvette M F L Hilly), COMMANDANT DELAGE, 2nd Sloop Squadron (Capitaine de Corvette A R P Froget), COMMANDANT RIVIERE, 2nd Sloop Squadron (Capitaine de Corvette J F U M De Gantes), DILIGENTE, Naval Aviation Tender (L V P H M Le Roux), L'IMPETUEUSE, 2nd Sloop Squadron (Capitaine de Corvette F M J Bachy)

 

Gunboats – LOCUST (Lt A N P Costobadie), MOSQUITO, both Thames Estuary Defense Flotilla (Lt D H P Gardiner)

 

Minesweepers - ALBURY, 5th Mine Sweeping Flotilla (Lt Cdr C H Corbet-Singleton), BRIGHTON BELLE, 10th Flotilla (Temporary Lt L K Perrin RNVR), BRIGHTON QUEEN, 7th Flotilla (Temporary Lt A Stubbs RNR), DEVONIA, 7th Flotilla (Temporary Lt J Brotchie RNVR), DUCHESS OF FIFE, 12th Flotilla (Temporary Lt J Anderson RNR), DUNDALK, 4th Flotilla (Lt CdrF A I Kirkpatrick), EMPEROR OF INDIA, 10th Flotilla (Temporary Lt C Pawley RNR), FITZROY, 4th Flotilla (Lt Cdr R A Forbes), GLEN AVON, 8th Flotilla (Temporary Lt B H Loynes RNR), GLEN GOWER, 8th Flotilla (Acting Cdr M A O Biddulph (SO 8th Flotilla), GOSSAMER, 5th Flotilla (Lt Cdr R Ross, SO 5th Flotilla), GRACIE FIELDS, 10th Flotilla (Temporary Lt N Larkin RNR, Temporary Lt A C Weeks RNVR), HALCYON, 6th Flotilla (Lt Cdr J M S Cox DSC with Cdr E P Hinton MVO, SO 6th Flotilla), HEBE, 1st Flotilla (Cdr J S Temple), KELLET, 5th Flotilla (Cdr R C Hasket-Smith), LEDA, 5th Flotilla (Lt Cdr H Unwin), LYDD, 5th Flotilla (Lt Cdr R C D Haig), MARMION, 12th Flotilla (Temporary Lt H C Gaffney RNVR), MEDWAY QUEEN, 10th Flotilla (Temporary Lt A T Cook RNR), NIGER, 4th Flotilla (Cdr St J Cronyn, S O 4th Flotilla), ORIOLE, 12th Flotilla (Temporary Lt E L Davies RNR), PANGBOURNE, 5th Flotilla (CdrF Douglas-Watson), PLINLIMMON, 7th Flotilla (Lt G P Baker RNVR), PRINCESS ELIZABETH, 10th Flotilla (Temporary Lt C J Carp RNVR), QUEEN OF THANET, 7th Flotilla (Temporary Cdr S P Herival RNVR, SO 7th Flotilla), ROSS, 5th Flotilla (Acting CO Lt K A Gadd RNR, Cdr J P Apps Rtd), SALAMANDER, 4th Flotilla (Lt Cdr L J S Ede), SALTASH, 5th Flotilla (Lt Cdr T R Fowke), SANDOWN, 10th Flotilla (Acting Cdr K M Greig DSO Rtd, SO 10th Flotilla), SHARPSHOOTER, 1st Flotilla (Lt A E Doran), SKIPJACK, 6th Flotilla (Lt Cdr F B Proudfoot), SNAEFELL, 8th Flotilla (Temporary Lt F Brett RNVR), SPEEDWELL, 6th Flotilla (Lt Cdr F R G Maunsell), SUTTON, 4th Flotilla (A/Cdr G M Temple, SO 4th Flotilla), WAVERLEY, 12th Flotilla (Lt S F Harmer-Elliot RNVR, SO 12th Flotilla), WESTWARD HO, 7th Flotilla (Temporary Lt A L Braithwaite RNVR), WHIPPINGHAM, unattached (Temporary Lt E Reed RNR)

 

In the 4th, 5th, 6th Mine Sweeping Flotillas, only the 4th Flotilla's SELKIRK and ELGIN and 6th Flotilla's HARRIER and HUSSAR were absent from DYNAMO, all under repairs. The 6th Minesweeping Flotilla's SPEEDWELL was under repair at Chatham from 26 to 30 May

 

Motor torpedo boats - MTB.16, 1st Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla (Lt P F S Gould), MTB.22, 4th Flotilla (Lt A B Cole), MTB.67,10th Flotilla (Lt C G Anderson), MTB.68, 10th Flotilla (Lt R K L Walker RNVR), MTB.102, 3rd Flotilla (Lt C W S Dreyer), MTB.107, 10th Flotilla (Lt J Cameron RNVR)

 

Motor Launch – ML.100, 3rd Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla (Lt W L Stephens RNVR)

 

Motor Anti-Submarine Boats - MA/SB.5 (Lt E M Thorpe), MA/SB.6 (Lt W G Everitt, SO 1st MA/SB Flotilla), MA/SB.7 (S/Lt A Ecclestone), MA/SB.10, all 1st MA/SB Flotilla (Lt R G H G Eyre)

 

French motor torpedo boats - VTB.23, VTB.24, VTB.25, VTB.26, VTB.27, VTB.28, CH.5 (LV M A Detroyat), CH.6 (EV Desmoutis, CH.7, CH.11 (EV Montillier), 42 (P M T Y Jule), C.106

 

Patrols were deployed in the southern North Sea as follows just prior to DYNAMO's activation.

 

Light cruiser GALATEA and Nore destroyers CODRINGTON, JAVELIN, JAGUAR were south of Inner Gabbard and west of the Galloper to south Falls Buoy in 52-00N, 00-30E. Light cruiser GALATEA departed Sheerness at daylight on the 27th, but was recalled.

 

South Fairy Bank to Kwinte Buoy were Dover destroyers GREYHOUND and GRAFTON off Yarmouth.

 

On Stations OC.1 and OC.2 was Dover destroyer GRENADE.

 

Off the North Goodwins to T Buoy and 51-18N, 2-13E on the Wandelaar searched channel were destroyers GALLANT, VIVACIOUS, BLYSKAWICA.

 

At each end of the R, S, T Buoys were two anti-submarine trawlers.

 

Minesweepers SKIPJACK and HALCYON and Trinity House Vessel PATRICIA covered by destroyer IMPULSIVE swept the "X" route to DYNAMO.

 

Captain Tennant, who was to direct DYNAMO from France, arrived at Dunkirk on destroyer WOLFHOUND.

 

Destroyer WOLFHOUND was to have been the communications link with Dover, but she was soon released to carry troops.

 

Destroyers WOLSEY and WOLFHOUND escorted two trawlers back to Dover after embarking troops at Dunkirk.

 

After embarking troops at Dunkirk, armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE (1688grt) was damaged by German bombing west of Dunkirk, between Gravelines and Les Hemmes.

 

Armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE was towed by tugs LADY BRASSEY and SIMLA and escorted by destroyer WINDSOR to Dover.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA, destroyers ANTHONY, GALLANT, IMPULSIVE, SABRE, VIVACIOUS, VIMY and four minesweepers, including SKIPJACK and HALCYON, also operated off Dunkirk on the 27th. Destroyer WAKEFUL arrived at Dover from Plymouth and proceeded immediately to Dunkirk.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA operated off La Panne.

 

Destroyer IMPULSIVE had arrived at Dover for another purpose, but was diverted to DYNAMO operations.

 

By the end of 27 May, 7669 troops had been evacuated from Dunkirk.

_____

 

At 1418, destroyers WAKEFUL, MACKAY, WORCESTER, MONTROSE from the Western Approaches Command and destroyer SHIKARI and SCIMITAR from Portsmouth were ordered to Dover for DYNAMO operations.

_____

 

French steamer ADEN (8033grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

_____

 

French auxiliary minesweeper LA MAJO (47grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

_____

 

British steamer WORTHTOWN (868grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

Steamer WORTHTOWN was later salved and renamed ILSE SCHULTE for German service.

_____

 

British steamer BIARRITZ (2388grt) was damaged by German shore guns near Dunkirk.

_____

 

British drifter OCEAN REWARD (95grt, Probationary Temporary Lt H.C. Slater RNR) was sunk in a collision with British steamer ISLE OF THANET (2701grt), just arriving from Dunkirk, off Dover.

 

Drifter OCEAN REWARD sank with no survivors and steamer ISLE OF THANET was seriously damaged.

 

Tug LADY BRASSEY searched for survivors.

_____

 

Light cruisers SHEFFIELD, MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM departed Rosyth at dawn and arrived at the Humber to reinforce the Nore command.

_____

 

Light cruiser CARDIFF departed Portland for Portsmouth for operations with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron.

_____

 

Convoy OA.156 departed Southend escorted by corvette PERIWINKLE from 27 to 29 May.

_____

 

Convoy OB.156 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop FOLKESTONE from 27 to 30 May. The sloop was detached to convoy SL.32.

_____

 

Convoy MT.75 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

_____

 

Convoy FS.181 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 29th.

_____

 

French battleships PROVENCE and BRETAGNE, large destroyers TIGRE and LYNX, destroyers BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS departed Mer el Kebir on patrol.

_____

 

French large destroyer FANTASQUE arrived at Oran from Lorient.

 

 

Tuesday,  28 May

 

Heavy cruiser YORK departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth.

_____

 

British steamer ROYAL SCOTSMAN (3244grt) escorted by destroyers VANOC and WITHERINGTON departed the Clyde at 0300 for Harstad.

 

En route, destroyer WITHERINGTON was detached at the Faroes to escort British steamer ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt) at Thorshavn back to the Clyde.

 

Steamer ULSTER PRINCE departed the Faroes on the 29th escorted by anti-submarine trawlers IMPERIALIST and ALOUETTE. The trawlers were to be relieved by destroyer WITHERINGTON.

 

Destroyer WITHERINGTON arrived at Thorshavn at 1600/29th.

 

On the 31st, steamer ULSTER PRINCE and destroyer WITHERINGTON arrived at the Clyde at 0400.

 

Steamer ROYAL SCOTSMAN and destroyer VANOC arrived at Harstad early on 1 June.

_____

 

Hospital ship ABA departed Scapa Flow for Harstad, routed west of the Shetlands.

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Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS 802 Squadron was operating near Narvik. A flight of Lt (A) G.H. J. Feeny (SO), Lt G.D. D'E. Lyver, Lt G.H. N. Ogilvy shot down a Heinkel near Narvik.

 

Destroyer WREN recovered a body.

_____

 

Destroyer CAMPBELL departed Greenock at 1730 with Convoy slow NS 4 of steamers BLACKHEATH (4637grt), HARMATTAN (4558grt), OLIGARCH (6897grt). British steamer MARINA (5088grt) joined the convoy on the 30th from Scapa Flow.

_____

 

British troopships MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22424grt), GEORGIC (27759grt), FRANCONIA (20175grt), LANCASTRIA (16243grt), escorted by destroyer AMAZON departed Greenock at 2300 for Harstad.

 

On the 31st, destroyer WREN departed Scapa Flow to relieve destroyer AMAZON in 63N. Destroyer AMAZON was ordered to proceed to the Clyde.

_____

 

Destroyers FURY, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE proceeded to the Humber to operate under orders of Vice Admiral, 18th Cruiser Squadron.

 

Destroyers FURY and FORESIGHT arrived in the Humber at 2345.

_____

 

Destroyer SIKH departed Scapa Flow for refitting in the Clyde.

 

At 2215/28th, a German submarine was reported by the Coast Guard 10 miles 285° from Strathie Point.

 

Destroyer SIKH was ordered to search for this submarine.

 

The destroyer made no contact and left the area at 0600/29th and arrived in the Clyde at 0630.

_____

 

Destroyer ATHERSTONE at Lerwick was ordered to proceed to hunt for a U boat reported by aircraft in a position twelve miles north of North Foreland.

 

The search was cancelled when nothing was found. Destroyer ATHERSTONE departed for Scapa Flow at 2330 and arrived at 0600/29th.

_____

 

Destroyer ESCORT arrived at Greenock at 2212 from Liverpool.

_____

 

Destroyer ANTELOPE departed Greenock at 2030 escorting Norwegian steamer MARITA (1931grt) and British steamer YEWMOUNT (859grt) for Harstad.

_____

 

Submarine TRUANT departed Harstad for Rosyth.

_____

 

Submarine TRIBUNE arrived at Rosyth after patrol.

_____

 

French submarines ANTIOPE and AMAZONE arrived at Dundee.

_____

 

Belgium surrendered to German forces.

_____

 

French battleships COURBET (Capitaine de Vaisseau A. M. J. Croiset) and PARIS (Capitaine de Vaisseau P. L.Guillerm) of the 3rd Battleship Division arrived at Cherbourg after a ninety six hour refit at Brest which included the installation of anti-aircraft guns.

 

These two battleships had been demilitarized, as had their sister ship JEAN BART (renamed OCEAN) for use as training ships in 1931.

 

Battleships COURBET and PARIS were to be used against the Germans as expendable gun platforms to extend the Dunkirk perimeter.

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French Amiral Marcel Landriau was named commander of the "Pas de Calais" Flotilla at Dover.

 

This force, whose flagship was sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA at Dover, was composed of large destroyers EPERVIER and LEOPARD, destroyersFOUGUEUX and FRONDEUR of the 2nd Destroyer Division, BOURRASQUE of the 4th Destroyer Division, FOUDROYANT of the 5th Destroyer Division, CYCLONE, MISTRAL, SIROCCO of the 6th Destroyer Division, torpedo boats BRANLEBAS, L'INCOMPRISE, CORDELIERE of the 11th Torpedo Boat Division, MELPOMENE, BOUCLIER, FLORE of the 14th Torpedo Boat Division, sloops ARRAS, AMIENS, EPINAL, AMIRAL MOUCHEZ, auxiliary sloops PATRIE, REINA DES FLOTS, ASIE, CERONS, SAUTERNES, PESSAC, LISTRAC, L'ATLANIQUE, but not all ships were fit for operations.

_____

 

At 0131/28th, destroyers WAKEFUL, MONTROSE, WORCESTER, MACKAY arrived at Dover from the Western Approaches for DYNAMO duty.

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Destroyers CODRINGTON, GRENADE, JAVELIN, JAGUAR on patrol together in the North Sea were ordered to Dunkirk to pick up troops.

British steamer ABUKIR (694grt) departed Ostend at 2300/27th after evacuating Ostend. The steamer was sunk in 51‑29N, 02‑16E by German motor torpedo boat S.34 at 0130.

 

There was a crew of 21 and 210 passengers on steamer ABUKIR.

 

Sixteen crew and 189 passengers were lost on steamer ABUKIR.

 

Destroyers CODRINGTON, JAGUAR, JAVELIN en route to Dunkirk picked up her thirty three survivors.

At 0205, a French patrol boat struck a wreck near Deal Bank Buoy. British drifter COMFORT was sent from Dover to locate and tow back the patrol boat.

British personnel ship QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL (1162grt) was sunk by German bombers at 0425 in 51-15N, 2-40E after she had embarked 920 men at Dunkirk.

 

There were no casualties on the ship QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL.

 

British steamer DORRIEN ROSE (1039grt) picked up her survivors and was escorted back to Dover by destroyer GREYHOUND.

 

Destroyer WINDSOR, which had been ordered to Dunkirk from Goodwins patrol, was near missed by German bombing at South Goodwin Light.

 

The destroyer had one boiler room damaged and there were twenty to thirty casualties on the destroyer.

 

Destroyer WINDSOR returned to Dover with several hundred troops on board. She spent no time out of service.

 

Destroyers ANTHONY, CODRINGTON, which embarked 1600 men in two trips, ESK, EXPRESS, GALLANT, which brought back 681 men, GRENADE, which brought back 700 men, HARVESTER, which brought back 700 men, JAGUAR, JAVELIN, MACKAY, MALCOLM, MONTROSE, SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI, VERITY, WORCESTER embarked troops at Dunkirk during the morning of 28 May.

 

Destroyers ANTHONY, CODRINGTON, JAVELIN, were damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

The destroyers spent no time out of action.

 

Destroyer GRAFTON and Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA embarked troops from the beach between Malo les Bains and Zuydcoote.

 

Destroyers VERITY, HARVESTER, ESK, MALCOLM, EXPRESS, SHIKARI, SCIMITAR were ordered into DYNAMO.

 

Later in the day, destroyers INTREPID, IVANHOE, ICARUS, VANQUISHER were ordered to Dover for DYNAMO.

 

Minesweepers ALBURY, GOSSAMER, LEDA, KELLET, SUTTON operated off the Bray.

 

Minesweepers SALAMANDER, HALCYON, SKIPJACK, WAVERLEY operated off La Panne.

 

Minesweepers ROSS, PANGBOURNE, LYDD were at Dunkirk.

 

Minesweepers HEBE, SHARPSHOOTER, DUCHESS OF FIFE, EMPEROR OF INDIA reached Dunkirk during the night of 28/29 May.

 

Minesweepers ORIOLE and MARMION arrived off the Dunkirk beaches at 0600/29th.

 

Auxiliary minesweeper BRIGHTON BELLE (396grt, Temporary Lt L.K. Perrin RNVR) of the 10th Mine Sweeping Flotilla was sunk in collision with a wreck in the Downs, near the Goodwin Knoll Buoy.

 

The minesweeper was taken in tow, but sank before she got to harbour.

 

Her survivors were rescued by Auxiliary minesweeper MEDWAY QUEEN.

 

Minesweeping trawler THOMAS BARTLETT (290grt, Temporary Skipper J. J. Tomlinson RNR) was sweeping mines off Calais with three other minesweeping trawlers.

 

Trawler THOMAS BARTLETT struck a Mine at 1025 and sank off Calais.

 

Eight crew were missing from the trawler.

 

Anti-submarine trawler THURINGIA (550grt, Chief Skipper D. W. L.Simpson DSC, DSM RNR) of the 21st AntiSubmarine Group was sunk on a mine at 0600 in the North Sea.

 

Chief Skipper Simpson was killed. There were only four survivors from trawler THURINGIA.

 

British drifters BOY ROY (95grt) and PAXTON (92grt) were damaged by German bombing and were run aground and abandoned at Dunkirk.

 

There were no casualties on either drifter.

 

French auxiliary minesweeper MARGUERITE ROSE (409grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

British drifter GIRL PAMELA (93grt) was sunk at 2330 in an accidental collision passing the entrance to Dunkirk harbour on her way to the beaches.

 

British steamer MARJORY H.(84grt) was seized as a prize by German forces near Dunkirk.

On the 28th, 17,804 troops were lifted from Dunkirk.

_____

 

British operation QUIXOTE, the cutting of the six cables between Bacton and Borkum, continued with Destroyers CODRINGTON, GRENADE, JAVELIN, JAGUAR escorting minesweeping trawlers CAPE MELVILLE, GRAMPIAN, PELTON, MILFORD QUEEN, MILFORD PRINCESS, JAMES LAY.

_____

 

Two Skua aircraft of 806 Squadron were attacked down near Goodwin Sands by French fighters. Lt (A) C. P. Campbell Horsfall and Petty Officer Airman L.Clare were wounded their aircraft shot down. They were picked up by a destroyer. Midshipman (A) G.A. Hogg RNVR, was able to return to base with his badly damaged aircraft, but Naval Airman J. B. Burton later died of wounds.

 

A third Skua of the Squadron was lost on take off from Manston on this date.

 

A Swordfish of 825 Squadron forced landed on Goodwin Sands. S/Lt P. H.L. Rylands was killed, while Captain W. G.S. Aston RM, unhurt.

 

Another Swordfish of the Squadron crashed into the sea on take off. The crew were unhurt.

_____

 

British steamer CARARE (6878grt) was sunk on a mine in 51‑18N, 03‑44W.

 

The steamer was carrying a crew of 97 and 29 passengers.

 

Seven crew and three passengers were lost on the steamer CARARE. Armed yacht RHODORA rescued eighty six survivors and anti-submarine trawler CAMBRIDGESHIRE rescued two survivors.

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Convoy OA.157 departed Southend escorted by corvette GLADIOLUS.

_____

 

Convoy OB.157 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop ROCHESTER from 28 to 31 May. The sloop was detached to convoy HX.44.

_____

 

Convoy FN.182 departed Southend, escorted sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 30th.

_____

 

Convoy MT.76 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WALLACE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

_____

 

Convoy FS.182 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WALLACE. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 30th.

_____

 

Convoy HG.32F of thirty two ships departed Gibraltar.

 

Destroyers ACTIVE and WATCHMAN escorted the convoy from 28 May. Destroyer WATCHMAN was detached to convoy HG.32 on the 29th. Destroyer ACTIVE was detached on 1 June.

 

Sloop LEITH escorted the convoy from 29 May to 4 June.

 

Corvette GLADIOLUS escorted the convoy from 3 to 6 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 6 June.

_____

 

Convoy HX.46 departed Halifax at 0800 escorted by Canadian destroyer SAGUENAY, which was detached on the 29th.

Convoy BHX.46 departed Bermuda on the 27th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser AURANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.46 on 2 June and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

Destroyer SAGUENAY turned over the convoy to Armed merchant cruiser COMORIN at 2130/28th. Armed merchant cruiser was detached on 2 June.

 

Armed merchant cruiser AURANIA departed Bermuda and relieved merchant cruiser COMORIN which arrived at Bermuda on 6 June. Armed merchant cruiser AURANIA was detached on 9 June.

 

Corvette CLARKIA and anti-submarine trawler HUDDERSFIELD TOWN escorted the convoy from 9 to 12 June when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

_____

 

American heavy cruiser VINCENNES (CA.44, Captain J. R. Beardall) and destroyers TRUXTON (DD.229, LCDR B. B. Adell) and SIMPSON (DD.221, LCDR H.W. Chanler) departed Norfolk, Virginia to proceed to Lisbon to reinforce Squadron 40-T.

 

This squadron arrived at Ponta Delgada on 4 June and departed for Casablanca on 6 June.

_____

 

U.37 sank French steamer BRAZZA (10,387grt) in 42‑43N, 11‑00W and escorting trawler JULIEN (177grt) in 42‑50N, 10‑40W.

 

The entire crew of ten of the trawler was safely landed.

_____

 

Light cruiser DRAGON arrived at Aden, transferring to the 4th Cruiser Squadron.

 

Light cruiser DRAGON proceeded to Durban for refitting.

 

 

Wednesday,  29 May

 

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON bombarded German positions on the Ankenes Peninsula.

_____

 

The areas around Bodo and Hopen were evacuated on three consecutive nights by two destroyers. Nine hundred and seventy six troops, ferried by destroyers HAVELOCK and ARROW, embarked on British repair ship VINDICTIVE early on the 30th and taken directly to Scapa Flow, arriving on 1 June at 0057.

 

On the second on 30/31 May, destroyers FAME, FIREDRAKE, BEAGLE departed Bodo after embarkation at 0102/31st. On the 31st/1 June, destroyers ARROW, DELIGHT, ECHO embarked troops. Fifteen hundred troops were embarked each night on the destroyers and taken to Harstad.

 

Hopen was completely evacuated of allied troops by 30 May.

 

On the third night, destroyer VANOC was added, but the evacuation was completed prior to her arrival.

 

By the end of 31 May, Bodo was clear of allied troops. Destroyer FIREDRAKE picked up the demolition parties at Bodo and took them to Harstad.

_____

 

Destroyer VOLUNTEER with Polish troopships BATORY (14287grt) and SOBIESKI (11,030grt) departed Greenock at 1230 for Harstad.

 

The destroyer was detached on the 30th to join the destroyer ESKIMO force.

_____

 

Destroyer ELECTRA departed Scapa Flow at 1030 for exercises.

 

However, fog forced cancellation of the exercises. The destroyer remained at sea during the night.

_____

 

French steamer SAINT CLAIRE (3824grt) was sunk by German bombing at Tjeldsundet.

_____

 

German auxiliary patrol boat Vp.1109 (trawler ANTARES, 291grt) was sunk on minefield FD.12 laid by submarine NARWHAL in 62-58N, 06-48E.

_____

 

Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed Scapa Flow, escorted by destroyer ATHERSTONE, for Rosyth.

_____

 

Convoy OG.31 made formed from convoys OA.155G, which departed Southend on the 26th escorted by destroyer WHITEHALL, OB.155G, which departed Liverpool on the 26th escorted by destroyer MACKAY and sloop WELLINGTON, with forty ships. The convoy was escorted by destroyer WHITEHALL on the 29th.

 

Sloop WELLINGTON escorted the convoy from 29 May to 2 June when she was detached to convoy HG.32.

 

Destroyer DOUGLAS escorted the convoy from 31 May to 4 June.

 

Destroyer WATCHMAN from convoy HG.32 escorted the convoy from 2 to 3 June. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 3 June.

_____

 

Convoy BC.39 with six steamers, including BARON CARNEGIE, BARON NAIRN, DUNKWA (Commodore), MARSLEW departed Bristol Channel escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HUDDERSFIELD TOWN and YORK CITY. The convoy arrived at Loire on 1 June.

_____

 

Convoy FN.183 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 31st.

_____

 

French armed merchant cruiser VILLE D'ORAN (10,172grt) was ordered to embark two hundred tons of gold at Pauillac and take it to Casablanca. The gold was embarked and the armed merchant cruiser departed on 3 June and arrived at Casablanca on 7 June.

 

Early negotiations were for American warships to embark the gold at Saint Jean de Luz, but the threat of air attack in the open harbour caused modification of plans.

 

American heavy cruiser VINCENNES (CA.44) and destroyers TRUXTON (DD.229) and SIMPSON (DD.221) arrived at Casablanca at 1100 on 9 June and embarked this gold for transshipment to the United States.

 

The American Force departed Casablanca at 2030 on 10 June and arrived at New York on 20 June.

_____

 

Lt R. J. Hyland was killed when his RAF Hind of RAF No. 1 Flying Training School at Netheravon crashed three miles east, northeast of Netheravon.

_____

 

U.37 sank French steamer MARIE JOSE (2477grt) forty miles northwest of Vigo near Salvora Island and badly damaged British steamer TELENA (7406grt) in 42‑25N, 09‑08W.

 

There were eighteen dead on steamer TELENA. The steamer was abandoned, but it was later towed to Vigo by Spain. Steamer TELENA was sold to Spain and on 7 October was renamed GERONA.

_____

 

Destroyer VEGA was searching for a submarine from daylight between South Falls and the Whistle Buoy near Kwinte Bank.

 

Destroyer VEGA made an attack at 0707 on a submarine contact in 51-22N, 02-45E.

_____

 

At 0015, destroyer MONTROSE collided with tug SUN V, towing eleven naval cutters, off Cape de Griz and sustained heavy damage to her bow.

 

Destroyer MONTROSE's stem was broken and a piece ten feet long was completely taken out.

 

Destroyer MONTROSE was run aground to prevent sinking and later in the day was towed back to Dover stern first by tugs LADY BRASSEY (362grt) and SIMLA (144grt).

 

Destroyer MONTROSE departed Dover on the 30th for the Thames for docking. The destroyer was repaired at Woolwich and returned to duty on 24 June.

 

Destroyer MACKAY, en route to Bray, ran aground at 0136 at Zuydcote Pass with heavy damage to her propellers. She was able to get herself off at high tide and returned to Sheerness.

 

Destroyer MACKAY departed Dover on the 30th for docking in the Thames.

 

New destroyer HARVESTER had arrived from the yards without charts. She had been ordered to follow destroyer MACKAY. Destroyer HARVESTER continued to Dunkirk after destroyer MACKAY's accident.

 

German schellboote S.25 (SO), S.30, S.34 departed Wilhelmshaven during the afternoon of 28 May to operate off Dunkirk.

 

Destroyers WAKEFUL and GRAFTON left the beaches at the same time after embarking troops at Dunkirk late on the 28th.

 

Patrol sloop SHEARWATER at 0120 south of Fairy Bank was attacked by two German motor torpedo boats.

 

Destroyer WAKEFUL, with 600 troops on board, was torpedoed and sunk at 0136 by German schnellboote S.30 of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla close to North Kwinte Boy in 51-20N, 2-45E.

 

S/Lt J. S. Percival Jones, S/Lt W. L.Cranefield, Probationary S/Lt W. P. Creak, Warrant Engineer H.J. Tucker, Probationary Temporary Surgeon Lt DGWalker, MB, CHB RNVR, ninety two ratings, one NAAFI personnel, 650 troops were lost on the destroyer WAKEFUL. Midshipman M. M. Patterson RNR, was wounded.

 

Destroyer WAKEFUL's twenty five crew and one soldier which survived were picked up by destroyer GRAFTON, minesweeper GOSSAMER, drifters NAUTILUS (64grt) and COMFORT (60grt).

 

At 0420 destroyer GRAFTON was torpedoed and badly damaged by U.62 in 51‑22N, 02‑45E.

 

The submarine thought she had torpedoed a merchant ship.

 

Cdr Robinson, Lt H.C. C. Tanner, fourteen ratings were lost on the destroyer GRAFTON.

 

At 0430, arriving destroyers JAVELIN, ICARUS, VANQUISHER, INTREPID, IVANHOE encountered the GRAFTON wreck.

 

Destroyer INTREPID, after taking off the survivors, scuttled GRAFTON by firing three shells into the destroyer's hull. British steamer MALINES (2980grt) also rescued survivors from the destroyer.

 

On the 30th, patrol sloop SHELDRAKE proceeded to the area of the Kwinte Bank and destroyed the anti-submarine gear on the capsized wreck of destroyer WAKEFUL with gunfire and depth charges.

 

After the loss of destroyer GRAFTON, ships were ordered not to stop to assist a ship in distress.

 

British drifter COMFORT (60grt, Temporary Skipper J. D. Mair RNR) was rammed and sunk off Dover by minesweeper LEDA which believed her to be a German S.boat.

 

Four crew, including Mair, from the drifter were lost. Only two survivors were picked up.

 

Destroyer WOLSEY damaged her propellers on debris at Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer WOLFHOUND damaged her propellers on debris at Dunkirk and required docking.

 

Sloop BIDEFORD of the 1st Sloop Division of the Western Approaches Command arrived at Dover on the 28th from Gibraltar with HG.31F. She was to pick up convoy OA.158GF for convoy OG.32F.

 

Sloop BIDEFORD went over to Dunkirk where she was struck by a German bomb on her quarter deck and had forty feet of her stern blown off.

 

Lt P. A. Stewart, S/Lt A. B. Wood, S/Lt S. E. Edmundson RNR,and thirteen ratings were lost on the sloop; two officers and eighteen ratings were wounded. Of the passengers, Probationary Temporary S/Lt R. O. Wilcoxon RNVR, another officer and ten ratings were killed and two officers wounded.

 

Sloop BIDEFORD was beached to prevent sinking. Minesweeper KELLET came alongside and took off the passengers.

 

Tugs LADY BRASSEY (362grt) and FOREMOST 87 (163grt) were sent over on the 30th to retrieve BIDEFORD but could not locate her.

 

Sloop BIDEFORD was later gotten off and towed towards Dover by Gunboat LOCUST. LOCUST was relieved off Dover by tugs SIMLA (144grt) and GONDIA (200grt) and all arrived safely on the 31st after thirty six hours in tow.

 

Sloop BIDEFORD departed Dover at 0615 on 4 June in tow and escorted by anti-submarine trawlers TOPAZE and OLVINA.

 

Repaired at Portsmouth, sloop BIDEFORD did not return to service until 15 April 1941 when she sailed for Greenock.

 

Destroyers GALLANT, GRENADE, JAGUAR were plotting a new route for DYNAMO. They were sent to test the strength of shore batteries at Gravelines. They drew no fire, but they were attacked by German bombers.

 

At 1129 destroyer GALLANT was near missed and damaged.

 

Destroyer GALLANT departed Dover at 1620/31st for repairs in the Humber, but was able to return to duty in one week.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA, escorted by patrol sloop MALLARD off La Panne, evacuated 1856 men which were ferried out to her by minesweepers SALAMANDER and SUTTON, tug JAVA, eight smaller ships.

 

Also at La Panne were destroyers SHIKARI, HARVESTER, ANTHONY, SABRE, GREYHOUND and minesweepers EMPEROR OF INDIA, GRACIE FIELDS, HALYCON, HEBE, ORIOLE, PRINCESS ELISABETH, WAVERLEY.

 

French destroyers MISTRAL, CYCLONE, SIROCCO began the evacuation of French troops from Dunkirk.

 

However, destroyer MISTRAL was bombed and badly damaged along the east mole and did not embark troops. Her commanding officer Capitaine de Corvette Lavene was fatally wounded and Lieutenant de Vaisseau J. D. J. Guillanton assumed command.

 

Destroyer CYCLONE lifted 733 passengers, including 158 men from the Sloop BIDEFORD, SIROCCO lifted 509 men.

 

Along the east mole, destroyer GRENADE was sunk at 1602 by German bombing. Fourteen ratings were killed and four more dying of wounds. Destroyer JAGUAR, alongside GRENADE outboard, was badly damaged at 1600 by German bombing.

 

Destroyer JAGUAR was hit by one bomb. One boiler room out of action, her hull was holed, there was damage to oil tanks and her engine room. Thirteen ratings were killed and nineteen crew, including LtF. Bruen, were wounded.

 

The troops on destroyer JAGUAR were transferred to other ships.

 

Destroyer EXPRESS towed JAGUAR out into the channel.

 

Destroyer JAGUAR was able to make most of the voyage back to Dover on her own, but off Dover she was joined by tug SIMLA (144grt) which towed her into Dover.

 

Destroyer JAGUAR departed Dover at 1620/31st in company of destroyer GALLANT and was repaired at Immingham in sixteen days.

 

Destroyer INTREPID was badly damaged at 1830 by German bombing off La Panne with two ratings killed and nineteen wounded.

 

One engine room was out of action and one was damaged. The destroyer returned under her own power.

 

Destroyer INTREPID was repaired at Middlesborough completing in two weeks.

 

At 1321 Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA, operating in 51-19N, 2-07E in the Channel in a division of four destroyers, was near missed by torpedoes from U.60.  U.60 was depth charged in return, but sustained no damage.

 

Destroyer GREYHOUND was badly damaged at 1628 by a near miss off La Panne.

 

Probationary Midshipman W. S. Underwood RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt M. H.Matthews RNVR, eighteen ratings were lost on the destroyer.

 

After emergency repairs,destroyer GREYHOUND was towed by Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA towards Dover. Off the North Goodwins Light Ship, BLYSKAWICA was relieved by tug LADY BRASSEY which took GREYHOUND into Dover.

 

Destroyer GREYHOUND departed Dover at 1419/31st for Sheerness. The destroyer was repaired at Chatham, returning to service in three weeks.

 

Destroyers SALADIN, MALCOLM, WOLFHOUND were all moderately damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

All three were returned to service after minor repairs at Chatham. Destroyer SALADIN was damaged by a near miss and was under repair for eleven days and was completed on 9 June. Destroyer WOLFHOUND was under repair for this damage and her propeller damage for ten days.

 

Destroyer VERITY was damaged in a collision with a sunken drifter off Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer VERITY returned to service on 15 June after repairs at Portsmouth.

 

Destroyers CODRINGTON, EXPRESS, HARVESTER, ICARUS, IVANHOE, KEITH, SABRE, SCIMITAR, WINCHELSEA, WOLSEY were also at Dunkirk on the 29th.

 

Destroyer ICARUS was damaged by near misses and sustained one rating killed and twenty five men wounded.

 

On the 29th, the following destroyers made one round trip to lift troops:

 

ANTHONY, CODRINGTON, ESK, EXPRESS, GREYHOUND, HARVESTER, INTREPID, IVANHOE, JAVELIN, MALCOLM, SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI, VANQUISHER, VERITY, WOLSEY, WORCESTER.

 

Destroyer ICARUS made two round trips.

 

Minesweepers ALBURY, DUCHESS OF FIFE, EMPEROR OF INDIA, FITZROY, HALCYON, HEBE, LEDA, MARMION, SHARPSHOOTER lifted troops from the beaches on the 29th.

 

The British Admiralty ordered all the H, I, J class destroyers (destroyers HARVESTER, HAVANT, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID, IVANHOE, JAVELIN) out of DYNAMO due to severe losses. All the G-class destroyers were already out of the operation due to loss or damage.

 

This left only fifteen old destroyers, ESK, EXPRESS, ANTHONY, KEITH, CODRINGTON, MALCOLM, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, WORCESTER, WINDSOR, VERITY, VANQUISHER, SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI to continue DYNAMO.

 

Destroyers SALADIN, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA were ordered to Dover for DYNAMO operations.

 

Auxiliary minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS (393grt, Temporary Lt N. Larkin RNR) of the 10th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk, three miles west of Middelkerk Buoy.

 

S/Lt A. J. Glover RNVR, was lost in the minesweeper. Temporary Lt N. Larkin RNR, Tempary Lt (E) R. W. Daish RNR, were wounded.

 

Minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS's survivors were picked up by minesweeper PANGBOURNE after an unsuccessful attempt to tow her out of the area.

 

Minesweeper PANGBOURNE was damaged by German bombing at Dunkirk. Probationary Temporary S/Lt I.F. Buckley RNVR, Lt G.MacClelland were wounded.

 

The minesweeper was repaired at Grimsby in June.

 

Auxiliary minesweeper WAVERLEY (537grt, Lt S.F. Harmer-Elliot RNVR) of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla was sunk at 1800 by German bombing at Dunkirk. Some three hundred and sixty crew and passengers were lost in the minesweeper.

 

French destroyer CYCLONE, auxiliary anti-air craft ship GOLDEN EAGLE, a tug, two drifters picked up the survivors.

 

Auxiliary anti-aircraft ship CRESTED EAGLE (1110grt, Temporary Lt Cdr B. R. Booth (probationary) RNR) was sunk by German bombing at 1850 at Dunkirk.

 

Anti-aircraft ship CRESTED EAGLE's survivors were rescued by minesweeper PANGBOURNE.

 

Temporary Probationary Lt C. S. Elliott RNR, Temporary Lt (E) E. Jones RNR, Temporary S/Lt (E) A. W. Turnbull RNR, were wounded.

 

Minesweeping trawler POLLY JOHNSON (290grt, Skipper Lt F. Padley RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk and later scuttled.

 

Acting Skipper J. M. Greengrass RNR, was lost in the trawler.

 

Minesweeping trawler CALVI (363grt, Temporary Skipper B. D. Spindler RNR) of Minesweeping Group 51 was sunk by German bombing in Dunkirk Harbour.

 

The survivors were picked up by minesweeping trawler JOHN CATTLING.

 

Temporary S/Lt Everitt RNVR, which died of wounds on 12 June, two ratings were lost.

 

French steamers MONIQUE SCHIAFFFINO (3236grt) and MARS (721grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

French steamer SAINT OCTAVE (5099grt) was scuttled at Dunkirk, but was later salved by German forces and renamed ILSE FRITZEN for German service.

 

French auxiliary minesweeper JOSEPH MARIE (41grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

Belgian tugs VULCAIN (200grt), MAX (177grt) and THAMES (144grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

French steamer DOUAISIEN (2954grt) was bombed and badly damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk.

 

Three passengers were killed in the bombing.

 

Steamer DOUAISIEN was sunk in further attacks on 1 June.

 

British steamer CLAN MACALISTER (6787grt) was set on fire by German bombing at Dunkirk, off No. 6 Buoy, Dunkirk East Buoy. The steamer was abandoned.

 

Eighteen lives were lost on the steamer.

 

Steamer CLAN MACALISTER's survivors were picked up by destroyer MALCOLM and minesweeper PANGBOURNE.

 

British steamer MONA'S QUEEN (2756grt) was sunk by a mine off Dunkirk, one half mile east of Dunkirk Pier Head.

 

Twenty six lives were lost on the steamer.

 

Steamer MONA'S QUEEN 's survivors were rescued by destroyer VANQUISHER and taken to Dover.

 

British steamer LORINA (1578grt) was sunk by German bombing in Dunkirk Roads.

 

Eight lives were lost on the steamer.

 

British steamer FENELLA (2376grt) was sunk by German bombing off Dunkirk.

 

The steamer was set on fire by the bombing and was abandoned. The steamer was observed sinking on the 30th. Fifteen lives were lost on the steamer.

 

Flare drifter YORKSHIRE LASS (111grt) was escorted back to Dover in an unseaworthy condition after she passed close to a steamer when it struck a mine.

 

French steamer MARS (721grt) was sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

British drifter NAUTILUS (64grt) was lost at Dunkirk.

In operations by 825 Squadron over Dunkirk. Five Sowrdfish were shot down by German fighters.

 

Leading Airman L.P. Gardner were killed when his Swordfish was shot down; Lt R. H.G.Grey was taken prisoner, but died as a POW on 29 August 1941.

 

Lt Cdr J. B. Buckley and Lt R. G.Wood were taken prisoner when their Swordfish crashed landed. Buckley died in POW camp on 21 March 1943.

 

S/Lt C.F. S. Hogg and Leading Airman H.K. Murrin was killed when their Swordfish crashed.

 

S/Lt (A) J. T. Nicholson and Naval Airman V. S. A. Moore were taken prisoner when their Swordfish crashed.

 

Lt A. D. Neely and Naval Airman F. G.Rumsey were taken prisoner when their Swordfish was shot down.

 

Two other Swordfish of the Squadron were also lost, but their crews were able to return to England through Dunkirk.

_____

 

On the 29th, 47,310 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk.

 

_____

 

Escort destroyer FERNIE was completed. Following a brief working up at Portland, she was employed in the evacuation of the French north coast.

_____

 

Submarine H.43 was patrolling with Anti-submarine trawler MANOR (314grt) off Dingle Bay to sink U boats and inspect merchant ships outside Irish territorial waters.

_____

 

Submarines TRIAD and SEAWOLF departed Rosyth to relieve submarines L.23 and L.26 on patrol off the Dutch coast.

 

Submarine SALMON was ordered to a new billet to allow submarine L.26 to return to port.

_____

 

Submarine CLYDE departed Dundee and arrived at Rosyth later that day.

_____

 

Submarine TETRARCH at Rosyth was docked. She was undocked the next day.

_____

 

Convoy SA.43 of one steamer arrived at St Malo from Southampton.

_____

 

Convoy AXF.6 departed Southampton for St Malo.

_____

 

French submarine CENTAURE, escorted by sloop COMMANDANT BORY, passed Gibraltar, en route from Brest for Bizerte, where she arrived on 1 June.

 

 

Thursday,  30 May

 

Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL with destroyers ARDENT, ACASTA, ACHERON departed the Clyde at 0545 for Scapa Flow where they arrived on the 31st at 0529.

_____

 

Aircraft carrier GLORIOUS with destroyers HIGHLANDER and WREN arrived off Scapa Flow from patrol off Norway at 1600/29th, but could not enter due to fog.

 

Destroyer ELECTRA was ordered to join the aircraft carrier off Sule Skerry to relieve destroyer WREN which was detached for refuelling at Scapa Flow.

 

The aircraft carrier arrived in Scapa Flow at 1515/30th.

_____

 

Destroyer BEAGLE was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb near Narvik. The destroyer spent no time of out action.

_____

 

Battleship REVENGE and destroyers ESCORT and WESTCOTT departed the Clyde at 2315 to escort British troopships DUCHESS OF RICHMOND (20,022grt) and ANTONIA (13,867) which departed Liverpool at 1845 with destroyers WOLVERINE, WARWICK, WITCH.

 

Battleship REVENGE was carrying 40 million pounds sterling in gold bullion and ANTONIA and DUCHESS OF RICHMOND each carried another 10 million pounds sterling in gold.

 

At 15W, REVENGE and her group met the troopships. The destroyers were detached and ESCORT and WOLVERINE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1800 on 1 June and WARWICK, WESTCOTT, WITCH arrived in the Clyde at 1800 on 1 June.

 

Battleship REVENGE and the troopships safely proceeded to Halifax.

_____

 

Destroyer BRAZEN, which departed Rosyth on the 29th for Harwich, struck a sunken wreck on the 30th which badly damaged her and flooded both boiler rooms.

 

Destroyer BRAZEN was able to reach the Humber at 1030/30th and she was under repair at Hull until 30 June. Her completion was delayed due to machinery defects.

_____

Destroyer VETERAN departed Scapa Flow at 0030 with British steamers ARBROATH (553grt) and NGAKOA (507grt) for Harstad.

 

Leaving Scapa Flow, destroyer VETERAN was in a minor collision in thick fog at Switha Gate with steamer NGAKOA. The convoy returned to Scapa Flow at 0200, but all ships were able to depart at 1545 that day for Harstad.

 

Destroyer ANTELOPE departed the Clyde on the 29th at 2030 with Norwegian steamer MARITA (1931grt) and British steamer YEWMOUNT (859grt) for Harstad. This group arrived at Stornoway at 1615/30th to await destroyer VETERAN's departure from Scapa Flow.

 

The destroyer ANTELOPE group departed Stornoway and rendezvoused off Cape Wrath with the VETERAN group at 0300/31st.

 

After the two groups rendezvoused, destroyer ANTELOPE was detached to Scapa Flow.

_____

 

U.56 attacked British troopship ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt), returning to the Clyde escorted by destroyer WITHERINGTON, in 59‑32N, 06‑23W.

 

Prematurely exploding torpedoes prevented any damage.

 

At 0425, destroyer WITHERINGTON attacked U.56 without result.

_____

 

Belgian steamer EGYPTE (2568grt) was seized as a prize off Cape Bon in the Mediterranean.

_____

 

German steamer FINKENAU (916grt) was sunk on a mine south of Drogden near Copenhagen.

_____

 

U.101 sank British steamer STANHALL (4831grt) off Cape Finisterre in 48‑59N, 05‑17W.

 

One crew was lost on the steamer STANHALL. The survivors were picked up by British steamer TEMPLE MOAT (4427grt), formerly in convoy HX.43.

 

Canadian destroyers RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT, on passage from Canada, were ordered to search for the submarine after detaching destroyer SKEENA to Plymouth for fuel.

 

Destroyers RESTIGOUCHE, ST LAURENT, SKEENA attacked a submarine contact in 48-51N, 5-04W off Ushant on the 31st.

 

On the 31st, U.101 attacked Convoy HG.31 and sank British steamer ORANGEMOOR (5775grt) in 49‑53N, 03‑23W before being slightly damaged and driven away from the convoy by escorting British corvette ARABIS.

 

Eighteen crew of the steamer ORANGEMOOR were missing. The survivors were rescued by British steamer BRANDENBURG (1473grt).

 

Canadian destroyer RESTIGOUCHE was ordered to hunt for the submarine. Destroyer FERNIE was ordered to join corvette ARABIS.

_____

 

Boom defense vessel CAMBRIAN (338grt, Temporary Boom Skipper A. L.Wood RNR) was sunk on a mine off Spithead.

 

Wood and Temporary Boom Engineer A.F. Ross RNR, were lost in the vessel.

_____

 

Destroyers FURY and FORESIGHT arrived at the Humber from the Home Fleet.

_____

 

Destroyer BASILISK arrived at Dover after repairs at Plymouth.

_____

 

On the 30th, the covering patrol station north of Dunkirk was assigned to destroyers VEGA and BLYSKAWICA and patrol sloops SHELDRAKE and WIDGEON.

 

Destroyer VANQUISHER was sent over to Dunkirk by Admiral Ramsay to confirm the situation there.

 

French destroyers CYCLONE, which was having engine troubles limiting her speed to sixteen knots, SIROCCO departed Dover to operate off Dunkirk.

 

At 1530, destroyers HARVESTER and HAVANT of the 9th Destroyer Flotilla and IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE, ICARUS, INTREPID of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla were ordered back into DYNAMO after having been withdrawn the day before to prevent their losses.

 

French destroyers FOUDROYANT and BOURRASQUE and torpedo boats BOUCLIER and BRANLEBAS embarked troops at Dunkirk.

 

French torpedo boat BRANLEBAS was damaged in a collision while embarking troops.

 

French destroyer BOURRASQUE, with 880 men on board, struck a mine and then was sunk by German artillery within sight of Ostend.

 

Sixteen crew from the destroyer were lost. French torpedo boat BRANLEBAS rescued one hundred survivors and other ships in the area picked up two hundred more. The rest of the 880 were killed or captured.

 

Destroyers ESK, EXPRESS, which lifted 1431 troops this date, SABRE, which lifted 1700 men in two trips, VANQUISHER, which lifted 1204 men, VIMY, which lifted 1472 men, VIVACIOUS, which lifted 1023 men, WHITEHALL, which lifted 1248 men, WINDSOR, WOLSEY, which lifted 1677 men in three trips on this date, WORCESTER, which lifted among many others British General Brook, were among the ships lifting troops from Dunkirk and delivering them to Dover on the 30th.

 

Destroyers ANTHONY and SABRE were damaged at 1800 by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer ANTHONY had damage to her engine room machinery. Destroyer ANTHONY departed Dover at 1850 on 1 June with destroyer WOLSEY and was repaired at Portsmouth in two weeks.

 

Destroyer SABRE had no casualties, except Acting Gunner A.F. Coombe wounded by splinters, her damage was limited to her gyrocompass. She spent no time out of action.

 

Destroyer ICARUS reported German motor torpedo boats off Bray at 2209.

 

Destroyer HARVESTER was missed by torpedoes at 2306 in Zuydcote Pass. The destroyer reported these were fired by an enemy motor torpedo boat.

 

Destroyer WOLSEY was in a collision off Dunkirk with British steamer ROEBUCK (776grt).

 

Destroyer WOLSEY was able to proceed at a reduced speed. At 1850 on 1 June, destroyer WOLSEY departed Dover in the company of destroyer ANTHONY for repair and refit at Portsmouth completing on 21 June.

 

Minesweeper KELLET was damaged by the near miss of German bombing at Dunkirk. Minesweeper KELLET was leaking slightly.

 

She was taken to Sheerness for repairs, then on 19 June was moved to Grimsby to complete the repairs. Minesweeper KELLET returned to service on 28 June.

 

Minesweeper SHARPSHOOTER was damaged in a collision with British personnel ship ST HELIER (1952grt) off Dunkirk. The two ships were locked together and continued towards Dover in that way for forty minutes.

 

The minesweeper was cut from the forecastle deck to the keel.

 

Minesweeper SHARPSHOOTER was towed to Dover by tug EMPIRE HENCHMAN (391grt).

 

Minesweeper SHARPSHOOTER departed Dover for Sheerness on 2 June.

 

Minesweeper DUNDALK departed Grimsby and proceeded independently to Dunkirk.

 

Flare drifters GOLDEN GIFT (89grt) and SHIPMATES (82grt) went ashore on the Goodwins.

 

Both drifters were later refloated.

 

Armed boarding vessel KING ORRY (1877grt, Cdr J. Elliot, RD RNR) was damaged by German bombing near misses. The ship cleared the harbour and foundered at 0300 one half mile north of Dunkirk.

 

The drifter VIVACIOUS, trawler LORD GREY, other small ships picked up the survivors.

 

British steamer PRINCESS MAUD (2883grt) was damaged by German shell guns midday near Gravelines.

 

The damage was not serious.

 

British steamer ST JULIEN (1952grt) was damaged by German bombing midday at Dunkirk.

 

The damage was not serious.

 

British steamer NORMANNIA (1567grt) was badly damaged by German bombing four miles 271° from the Dunkirk breakwater.

 

The steamer was taken in tow, beached, abandoned.

 

There were no casualties on the steamer NORMANNIA.

 

British steamer FULHAM IV (1584grt) was damaged by German bombing off Orfordness.

 

British trawler CORRENIE (203grt) was lost in the North Sea.

 

On the 30th, 53,823 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk.

 

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Mine destructor ship CORFIELD was damaged by mining and fire late on the 30th in the Dover area. salvage tug DAPPER came to her assistance and she repaired at Chatham completing on 25 July.

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French submarine RUBIS arrived at Dundee.

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Convoy FN.184 departed Southend, escorted by sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 1 June.

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Convoy MT.77 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FN.183 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 June.

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Light cruisers DURBAN and DANAE departed Singapore.

 

 

Friday,  31 May

 

Aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS departed Scapa Flow at 0830 with destroyers HIGHLANDER, ACASTA, ARDENT, DIANA, ACHERON for operations off Vestfjord.

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Lt R. L.Strange and Petty Officer N. Reid and Probationary Temporary S/Lt (A) J. B. Marsh RNVR, Naval Airman G.R. Nicholson were lost in the crashes of Skuas from 801 Squadron shot down off Nieuport.

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Sgt Pilot L.W. C. Sturgess was killed when his Gladiator of 804 Squadron crashed at Hatston.

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British troopships ORONSAY (20043grt), ULSTER MONARCH (3791grt), ARANDORA STAR (15501grt), ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt),and VANDYCK (13241grt) departed the Clyde at 2030 for Harstad escorted by destroyers WITHERINGTON and VISCOUNT.

 

The destroyers were detached in 63N and arrived back at Scapa Flow on 3 June.

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Destroyer ASHANTI proceeded to Rosyth to rendezvous with troopships ORAMA (19,840grt) and ORMONDE (14,982grt) at 1800 and escort them to Scapa Flow.

 

The three ships arrived at Scapa Flow at 0515 on 1 June. However, on arrival, troopship ORAMA grounded south of Cava Island. The troopship was refloated during the afternoon with no apparent damage. The three departed Scapa Flow at 2050 on 1 June.

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Destroyers BEDOUIN and MASHONA at 1600 exercising at sea was ordered to proceed to the east of the Orkneys to establish a patrol line.

 

Destroyers BEDOUIN and MASHONA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1105 on 1 June after being sent to investigate five Dutch trawlers in Holm Sound.

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Destroyers MAORI and KELVIN departed Scapa Flow at 1745 to carry out a patrol east and northeast of the Orkneys.

 

Destroyers ZULU and ELECTRA departed Scapa Flow at 1815 to carry out a patrol as destroyers MAORI and KELVIN.

 

Destroyer ELECTRA arrived at Scapa Flow at 0650 on 1 June.

 

Destroyers MAORI, ZULU, KELVIN arrived at Scapa Flow at 0800 on 1 June after patrol. Firing practices were cancelled due to weather.

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Destroyer MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 0530 escorting Minesweepers BRAMBLE and SPEEDY to Scrabster.

 

The destroyer then carried out gunnery and torpedo exercises.

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Anti-submarine trawlers JUNIPER and WHITETHORN departed Scapa Flow escorting oiler CONCH to Harstad.

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Destroyer FORESTER departed the Humber at 1900 after refitting for Scapa Flow.

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Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers ATHERSTONE and ENCOUNTER departed Rosyth at 1500 on minelaying mission BS.10.

 

The minelay was carried out from 1302 to 1348 on 1 June.

 

After the operation, the minelayers returned to the Humber and the destroyers returned to Rosyth.

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Sloop WESTON attacked U.13 ahead of convoy FN.184 fourteen miles southeast of Lowestoft in 52‑27N, 02‑02E.

 

Destroyer FORESIGHT approaching from the north during the hunt was unable to assist due to being en route to meet northbound liners.

 

The submarine, which had departed Germany on the 26th on patrol, was sunk. All the crew, three officers and twenty three ratings, of the submarine were rescued and taken prisoner.

 

On 23 June, minesweeper TEDWORTH, escorted by patrol sloop PUFFIN, carried out diving operations on the submarine in Operation ROBIN.

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Convoy FN.185 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WALLACE. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on 2 June.

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Convoy MT.78 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WALPOLE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FN.184 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WALPOLE. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 June.

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Destroyer VIVACIOUS was hit by German shore guns off Bray at Dunkirk.

 

Three ratings were killed and twelve wounded, including LtF. P. Baker, on the destroyer VIVACIOUS.

 

Destroyer VIVACIOUS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth for repair.

 

Destroyer EXPRESS was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb at Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer EXPRESS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth and was repaired in one week.

 

Destroyers BASILISK and IMPULSIVE damaged their propellers on debris in Dunkirk Harbour.

 

Destroyer IMPULSIVE damaged both propellers on debris at 1554. Destroyer IMPULSIVE departed Dover at 1735 on 1 June for Blackwall and was repaired completing on 4 July.

 

Destroyer BASILISK was lost before any repairs were made.

 

Destroyers ICARUS and SCIMITAR collided at 1147 off Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer ICARUS was slightly damaged. Destroyer SCIMITAR was considerably damaged and was forced to return to Dover. Destroyer SCIMITAR departed Dover at 0630 on 2 June for repairs at Sheerness.

 

Destroyer SCIMITAR was also involved in a collision with a drifter (either British flare burning drifter GERVAIS RENTOUL (100grt) or Armed patrol drifter EILEEN EMMA (102grt) which both returned to Dover with collision damage.)

 

Destroyer WOLFHOUND brought a large party of naval signalmen to Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer WOLSEY arrived at Dunkirk to serve as a communications link with Dover.

 

Destroyers ICARUS, KEITH, WINCHELSEA were damaged at Dunkirk by German bombing attack.

 

Destroyer ICARUS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June with destroyers VIVACIOUS, EXPRESS, ESK, WINDSOR, WINCHELSEA, WHITSHED for Portsmouth. Destroyer ICARUS was repaired at Portsmouth completing on 13 June.

 

Destroyer WINCHELSEA was returned to service after repairs at Dover. Destroyer WINCHELSEA departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth.

 

Destroyer KEITH was able to continue off Dunkirk and was lost the next day.

 

Destroyer MALCOLM sustained damage to her bow when she collided with the pier at Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer WHITEHALL damaged her propellers on debris and had one engine out of service.

 

Destroyer WORCESTER damaged her propellers when she grounded in Dunkirk Roads.

 

Destroyer VANQUISHER sustained propeller damage when she struck debris at Dunkirk.

 

French large destroyer LEOPARD was damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk.

 

Between 0000 and 0200, French destroyer SIROCCO was torpedoed and badly damaged by German schnellboote S.23 and S.26 near West Hinder, in 51-18N, 2-15E.

 

Attempting to effect emergency repairs, destroyer SIROCCO was sunk by German bombing.

 

Destroyer SIROCCO had been credited with sinking three German submarines in the war. She went down with the colours of the 92nd French Infantry Regiment which its Colonel had smuggled out of the outskirts of Lille where the unit was encircled by German troops.

 

Destroyer SIROCCO had on board 180 crew and 700 French troops. Fifty nine crew and over six hundred troops were lost.

 

On patrol nearby, destroyer BLYSKAWICA picked up fifteen survivors, patrol sloop WIDGEON picked up 166 survivors, STELLA DORADO (416grt) picked up twenty one survivors, WOLVES (422grt) picked up fifty survivors.

 

French destroyer CYCLONE was torpedoed and badly damaged when her bow was blown off by German

S.24 off Dunkirk.

 

Destroyer CYCLONE was able to return to Dover at four knots escorted by two French ships. After emergency repairs, she was taken to Brest.

 

Minesweeper LEDA was slightly damaged in a collision at Dunkirk.

 

French torpedo boats BOUCLIER, which among her passengers were French General Blanchard, General Langlois, Commander of the French Cavalry Corps, their staffs, BRANLEBAS, FLORE, INCOMPRISE and sloop IMPETEUESE, which lifted 649 troops, evacuated troops from Dunkirk.

 

Auxiliary minesweeper DEVONIA (622grt, Temporary Lt J. Brotchie RNVR) of the 7th Minesweeping Flotilla was beached and abandoned after damage from German bombing near La Panne at Dunkirk.

 

Anti-submarine trawler ST ACHILLEUS (484grt, Temporary Lt H.A. Gellet RNVR) of the 11th AntiSubmarine Striking Force was sunk on a mine off Dunkirk.

 

Gellet was lost with the trawler. Probationary Temporary LtF. W. Cundiff RNVR, Skipper C. Hodson RNR, were wounded.

 

French steamers AIN EL TURK (2008grt) and COTE D'AZUR (3047grt) and trawlers PUISSANT (200grt), COSTAUD (140grt), ADJADER (414grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.

 

Steamer COTE D'AZUR was later salved and renamed ELSASS for German service.

 

Lt D H King RNVR of LUCIFER, was killed at Dunkirk. He was posted missing until the summer of 1945.

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During the night of 31 May/1 June, French large destroyer EPERVIER patrolled seven miles from North Goodwin Light.

 

French large destroyer LEOPARD patrolled fourteen miles from North Goodwin Light.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO patrolled twenty three miles from North Goodwin Light.

 

On the 31st, 68,014 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk.

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In air combat over Dunkirk, a Skua of 801 Squadron was shot down. Midshipman (A) R. M. S. Martin RNVR, Naval Airman R. Hedger were injured, but both returned to the UK.

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Submarine NARWHAL departed Blyth for Immingham.

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Submarine H.33 arrived at Campbeltown.

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Dutch submarine O 9 arrived at Portland.

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Submarines H.43, after Dingle Bay patrol was abandoned, OTWAY arrived at Plymouth.

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Submarines L.23 and L.26 arrived at Harwich.

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Reallocations were made in Home Waters within the Submarine Command.

 

At Portsmouth, submarine OTWAY and OBERON were assigned to submarine training.

 

At Portland, Dutch submarines O 9 and O 10 were assigned to anti-submarine training. After refitting, submarine H.32 joined this unit.

 

At Plymouth, submarine H.43 was assigned to anti-submarine training.

 

At Harwich, submarines H.34, H.44, H.49, H.50 were involved in operational duties.

 

At Blyth, submarines H.28 and H.31 were involved in operational duties.

 

At Dundee, submarines L.23 and L.26 and the remaining Dutch submarines were involved in operational duties.

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Convoy BC.38 with stamers BALTRAFFIC, BARON KINNAIRD, DAVID LIVINGSTONE (Commodore), KERMA departed Loire escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HUDDERSFIELD TOWN and YORK CITY and armed yacht ZAZA. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on 2 June.

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Convoy HG.32 with twenty four ships departed Gibraltar escorted by destroyer WISHART from 31 May to 1 June.

 

Destroyer VORTIGERN escorted the convoy from 1 to 4 June.

 

Destroyer WATCHMAN came from convoy HG.32F and escorted the convoy from 1 to 2 June. The destroyer was then detached to convoy OG.31.

 

Sloop WELLINGTON from convoy OG.31 escorted the convoy from 2 to 10 June.

 

Sloop FOLKESTONE from convoy OG.32 escorted the convoy from 7 to 10 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 10 June.

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Convoy AXF.7 departed Southamtpon for St Malo.

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Convoy SL.34 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE to 14 June.

 

Sloop LEITH and corvette HIBISCUS joined the convoy on 14 June and escorted it to arrival on 15 June.

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Light cruiser DUNEDIN arrived at Bermuda.

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French submarines IRIS, PALLAS, VENUS, CERES passed Gibraltar en route from the Antilles to Toulon, where they arrived on 3 June.

 

The submarines left the Antilles command on the 1st. They had been in the command since 22 February.

 

 

May, miscellaneous

 

Operator MEDOR - in late May, the four cruisers and destroyers of French Amiral Rene Godfroy's Mediterranean Fleet French detachment departed Alexandria for Beirut to embark troops for the proposed occupation of Crete and Milos. Also, British troops were to have embarked on British cruisers at Port Said. This operation, after several postponements, was finally cancelled on 8 June unless Italy invaded Greece.

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