Background Events - June 1940
Evacuation
of Dunkirk ends, Italy at war, Action at sea in
the Mediterranean, France falls
1940
Saturday,
8 June
Mobile
Naval Base Ship MASHOBRA, bombed and badly damaged by German bombing on 25
May and ran aground to prevent sinking, was scuttled to prevent her capture
near Harstad.
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Tanker OLEANDER (7048grt), bombed and badly damaged by German bombing on 26
May and ran aground to prevent sinking near Harstad, was scuttled to prevent
her capture.
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British
Troopship Group I and battleship VALIANT and her destroyers rendezvoused at
0100, and VALIANT remained with the convoy until it was west of the Faroes.
VALIANT and her destroyers then left Group I and picked up Group II on the
10th. The convoy was continually bombed. VALIANT remained with
Group II until they reached 59N, and then proceeded to Scapa Flow.
Group
I arrived in the
Clyde at 0600/10th with her escorts of repair ship VINDICTIVE and
destroyers VISCOUNT, WITHERINGTON, WOLVERINE, ANTELOPE and ATHERSTONE.
Troopship GEORGIC went directly to Brest arriving on the 14th to
disembark her French troops.
Battlecruiser
RENOWN and destroyers ZULU and KELVIN departed Icelandic waters for
refuelling at Scapa Flow, where they arrived at 0515 and 520, respectively, on
the 9th.
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Tanker
OIL PIONEER (5666grt) and escorting trawler JUNIPER
(Lt
Cdr G. S.Grenfell (emcy) of the 19th Anti-Submarine Striking Force, which had
departed Tromso on the 7th were attacked and sunk off Jan Mayen Island in 67‑20N,
04‑10E by German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER and the four destroyers
of the JUNO operation.
The
Master and nineteen crew of the tanker were lost. Twenty
five survivors from the tanker and four from JUNIPER were picked up by the
German ships. Grenfell, Probationary Temporary Lt R. C. B. A. Daniel RNVR,
Probationary Temporary Lt N. L.Smith RNVR, and the rest of the crew of the trawler
were lost.
Troopship
ORAMA (19,840grt) was also located in 67‑44N, 03-52E and sunk
by the German ships which had sunk OIL PIONEER and JUNIPER, but her
companion, hospital ship ATLANTIS, was not molested. Of
a crew of 297 men and two gunners, eighteen crew were missing and one died of
injuries.
ADMIRAL HIPPER and the four destroyers were then ordered to Trondheim for refuelling. Destroyer
STEINBRINCK arrived at
Trondheim on the 10th with one engine
operating. The defects were corrected by 10 June.
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German
battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU encountered aircraft carrier GLORIOUS
(Captain G. D'Oyly Hughes) with destroyers ACASTA (Cdr C. E. Glasfurd) and
ARDENT (Lt Cdr J. E. Barker) at 1600 west of the Lofoten Islands in 68‑45N, 4‑30E. GLORIOUS had been detached from the Narvik evacuation covering force
and was proceeding independently to
Scapa Flow.
All
three British ships were sunk west of Narvik, but not before ACASTA was able
to torpedo SCHARNHORST and badly damage her, putting an end to Marschall's operation.
She had her centre and starboard engine room flooded, the after
turret out of action, and speed reduced to twenty knots. Two officers and
forty six ratings were killed.
On
11 June, Lt Cdr R. C. O. Hill, FAA Petty Officer Pilot R. T. Leggott of 802
Squadron and officers S/Lt I. V. MacLachlan and Midshipman E. Baldwin of the
823 Squadron, RAF officers Squadron Leader K. B. B. Cross and Flight Lt P. C.
Jameson, thirty ratings from GLORIOUS, two ratings from ACASTA, a RAF non
commissioned officer were picked up by Norwegian trawler BORGUND (303grt)
which landed them in the Faroes on the 13th. One GLORIOUS survivor died before
arriving, and one GLORIOUS survivor and one ACASTA survivor died shortly after arriving. Destroyers VETERAN and FORESTER were
detached from the Commander in Chief on the 14th to call at the Faroes on the
16th and pick up these men, taking them to Scapa Flow.
Another
five ratings, of whom one died, from GLORIOUS were picked up by Norwegian
trawler SVALBARD 2 (270grt). The trawler returned
to Tromso, arriving on the 14th and was captured by German forces. Two
ratings from destroyer ARDENT, of whom one died, were picked up by a German
seaplane and made prisoners of war. Norwegian steamer MARITA (1136grt) picked
up five bodies from GLORIOUS on the 10th and landed in the Faroes. One other
rating, who soon died, from ARDENT was picked up by Faroes fishing boat
ROKUR.
Lost on the three British ships were 1474 officers and ratings of the Royal Navy
and 59 RAF personnel:
With GLORIOUS were Captain D'Oyly Hughes, Cdr A E F Lovell, Lt Cdr J R F
Newnham, Lt Cdr C H Wells, Lt Cdr R W J Pringle-Nicholson, Lt Cdr W G D
Blakeney, Lt Cdr A Malcouronne,Lt Cdr A N R Keene Rtd, Lt Cdr J R de la H
Marett Rtd, Lt D V Whinney, Captain M N Humphreys, RM, Temporary Lt H W
Brooks RNVR, Probationary Lt G R Gibb RNVR, Probationary Temporary Acting
S/Lt T J Earle RNVR, S/Lt H Dann RNVR, Cdr (E) J M Goodman, Lt Cdr (E) D E
Smeeton, Lt (E) W H Forbes, Lt (E) C Howlett, Lt (E) A T Noble, Lt (E) R H
Woodifield, Probationary Temporary S/Lt (E) P M Blunt RNVR, Probationary
Temporary S/Lt (E) D L McIntyre RNVR, Reverend J B King, Instructor Lt G
Steel, Surgeon Lt T A M Maunsell, Surgeon Cdr C H Egan, MRCS, LRCP, Surgeon
Lt (D) G P Pearse, LDS, Surgeon Lt Cdr H A Lockhart RNVR, Paymaster Cdr C S
Bishop, Paymaster Cdr H A Gibbons, Paymaster Lt Cdr C C Elliot, Paymaster
S/Lt E J L Wright, Temporary Paymaster S/Lt A G Bailey RNVR, Commissioned
Electrician A J Abraham, Gunner E G Meadows, Commissioned Gunner (T) H P
Scott, Commissioned Gunner L J Werran, Signal Boatswain C Rogers, Warrant
Telegraphist R R Clark,Warrant Engineer A E W Elliott, Warrant Engineer H E E
May, Warrant Engineer J H Longman, Warrant Shipwright B B Cole, Warrant Air
Mechanic L P Ayres, Acting Warrant Shipwright J H Hoppins, Acting Warrant
Engineer F B T Cusse, Warrant Writer R C V C Roberts, Warrant Supply Officer
F G Penny, Warrant Supply Officer J L Porter, Acting Boatswain P J
Caddy,Schoolmaster H G Hallum, 1086 ratings, 18 RAF pilots of 46 and 263
Squadrons and 41 RAF ground personnel.
Lt
Cdr E H P Slessor, Lt Cdr W H Parkin Rtd, Lt Cdr J D Watson, Lt (A) B P Hart,
Probationary S/Lt (A) E A Phillips RNVR, of the air staff were lost in
GLORIOUS.
Lt
J F Marmont (Squadron CO), Lt D N H Ogilvy, Lt N E Ward, Lt G D D'E Lyver,
Captain R J W Nott, RM, Captain J R Owens, RM, Lt (A) G H J Feeny, Lt (A) R J
B Miles of 802 Squadron, and Lt Cdr C J T Stephens (Squadron CO), Lt J L
Hallewell, Lt S F W Hebblethwaite, Lt G Starkey, Lt B J C Wise, S/Lt (A) J H
Radclift, S/Lt (A) G P Ritchie, Acting S/Lt (A) J M Franklin, S/Lt (A) J F
Shillitoe RNVR, of 823 Squadron were lost in GLORIOUS.
With ACASTA were Cdr Glasfurd, Lt C F S Robinson, Lt S L Haydock, Lt B Pares,
Lt (E) F J Boyland, Probationary Temporary Surgeon Lt H J Stammers, MRCS,
LRCP, MC, BS RNVR, S/Lt R J D Law, Probationary Temporary S/Lt J H Hide RNVR,
Acting Gunner (T) A Sharpe, 152 ratings. One rating survived.
With ARDENT were Lt Cdr Barker, Lt G L de Pury, Temporary Surgeon Lt D H T
Duggan, MD, BCH, BAO RNVR, S/Lt D P Robertson, S/Lt G V R Read-Davis,
Probationary S/Lt K S Wood RNVR, Commissioned Engineer B G Clynick, Acting
Gunner (T) G H Moses, Probationary Midshipman J F Hawkins RNR, 142 ratings. Two ratings,
one of whom died in captivity, were rescued.
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Polish
submarine ORZEL, mined and sunk on 25 May, was declared lost after failing to
return from her second Norwegian war patrol. Lt K D'O Nott, a British
observer and two British communications ratings were lost with the Polish
crew.
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Battleship
NELSON with destroyers WARWICK, WITCH, AMAZON arrived in the Clyde at 1115. AMAZON departed the
Clyde at 1830 for Scapa Flow.
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Destroyer
INGLEFIELD (D.3) arrived at Scapa Flow at 2215 after refitting at Devonport.
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Anti-submarine
trawler STOKE CITY ran around south of Duncansby Head, but was
refloated.
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British
steamer CORMINSTER arrived at Scapa Flow from Harstad.
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A
German submarine was reported by a British aircraft at 0840 in 55-52N, 2-40E.
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Escort
destroyer HAMBLEDON was completed. Following working up at Milford Haven, she
was attached to the Home Fleet.
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Swedish
steamer KJELL BILLNER (1106grt) was seized by German forces at Stavanger. She
was renamed HELGA SCHRODER for German service. The
crew were returned to Gotenburg.
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Destroyers
VESPER and WANDERER, which had departed Dover on the 7th, bombarded German
targets on the roadway between Abbeville and Treport, east of Dieppe on the
8th, before arriving at Dover later that same day. Light
cruiser CARDIFF at 1715/8th and VESPER and WANDERER later arrived
at Dover to stand by for operations off Dieppe.
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British
steamer HARDINGHAM (5415grt), detached from convoy FS.89, struck a mine in
51-34N, 01-37E, and sank in 51-39N, 01-40E. Two
crew were lost.
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Convoy
BC.40 departed Bristol Channel, escorted by anti-submarine trawler AGATE. The
convoy arrived at Loire on the 10th.
______
Convoy FN.191 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WOLFHOUND and
VALOROUS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 10th.
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Convoy
HG.33 departed Gibraltar with twenty three ships.
Destroyers
DOUGLAS and VIDETTE escorted the convoy from 8 to 10 June. Sloop
ABERDEEN from convoy OG.32 escorted the convoy from 10 to 17 June. It arrived at Liverpool on the 18th.
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Troop convoy US 3 departed Freetown escorted by aircraft carrier HERMES and
heavy cruisers CUMBERLAND and SHROPSHIRE. HERMES was detached on the 10th and
heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE accompanied the convoy on 12 to 14 June.
US 3 was joined off Gibraltar by battlecruiser HOOD, which departed the Clyde
on the 12th, aircraft carrier ARGUS, destroyers BROKE, WANDERER, WESTCOTT,
and Canadian destroyers ST LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA which joined DORSETSHIRE, CUMBERLAND, SHROPSHIRE on the 14th. The
fourth Canadian destroyer in Home Waters, FRASER, had arrived at Plymouth on
the 3rd and was repairing defects; she did not return to service until 11
June.
DORSETSHIRE conducted a patrol off the Canary Islands and arrived at
Gibraltar on the 16th. On 23 June, she departed for Dakar, changed in view of
Armistice to Freetown.
On
15 June, the convoy was joined by destroyers WARWICK and WITCH. On 16 June,
the convoy, CUMBERLAND, SHROPSHIRE and escorts safely arrived
in the Clyde, SHROPSHIRE to refit, completing at the beginning
of August.
From
12 to 16 June, U.29, U.43, U.46, U.48, U.101 were involved in an unsuccessful
attempt to intercept the convoy.
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Light
cruiser DELHI arrived at Gibraltar, sailed the next day with
important RAF stores, but was recalled to Gibraltar, arriving back on the
11th.
______
Convoy
SL.35 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE
to 22 June. On that date, destroyer WARWICK and corvette CLARKIA joined the convoy and
escorted it to arrival on the 25th.
Sunday,
9 June
French
submarine RUBIS, which had departed Dundee on the 5th, arrived off
Fedjeonsonfjord, near Bergen. She sighted German destroyer RIEDEL, which had
departed Trondheim on the 8th for Wilhelmshaven. RUBIS dived to evade, but
RIEDEL did not pursue, continuing south. RUBIS laid mines at 2210 in Fedjeosonfjord in 60‑36N, 04‑54E for
minefield FD.17. On the 10th, Norwegian steamer SVERRE SIGURDSON (1081grt)
was lost on this minefield.
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Submarines
PORPOISE and NARWHAL departed Immingham to lay minefields FD.18 on the 14th
off Fro Havet in 63‑30N, 08‑12E and FD.19 on the 12th off
Haugesand 59‑26N, 05‑10E, respectively.
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Submarines
STURGEON, H.28 and H.31 departed Blyth on patrol.
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Late
on the 9th, German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST arrived at Trondheim with
sister-ship GNEISENAU and were escorted into harbour by torpedo boats
GREIF and KONDOR which were just arriving from Germany.
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Destroyers
ESCORT and ELECTRA departed Scapa Flow at 0900 to rendezvous with heavy
cruiser DEVONSHIRE and escort her to the Clyde, but they were recalled to Scapa Flow for other duty.
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Light
cruiser NEWCASTLE (CS.18) and heavy cruiser SUSSEX was ordered to leave the
Iceland area for a position off the west coast of Iceland.
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At
1030/9th, hospital ship ATLANTIS met battleship VALIANT and the first
intelligence of Marschall's forces was received by the Admiralty and the Home
Fleet. She advised she had observed a pocket battleship engaging a two
funnel transport in 67-44N, 0-52E at 0900/8th. This was presumed to be liner ORAMA. ATLANTIS arrived at Scapa Flow on the 10th at 1600.
Battleship
RODNEY, battlecruiser RENOWN, destroyers ZULU, KELVIN, INGLEFIELD (D.3),
ELECTRA and ESCORT departed Scapa Flow at 1245 to escort the convoys. Aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL was ordered to join this force on the 10th.
A
Swordfish of 810 Squadron from ARK ROYAL ditched in the sea after missing the
aircraft carrier on its return from a reconnaissance mission looking for SCHARNHORST. S/Lt R. C. Eborn, Midshipman G. T.
Shaddick and Leading Airman P. W. Clitheroe were picked up by Norwegian fishery
protection vessel SYRIAN and taken to Iceland.
Battlecruiser
REPULSE, heavy cruiser SUSSEX, light cruiser NEWCASTLE, and destroyers MAORI,
FOXHOUND, FORESTER were still in Icelandic waters. They were ordered at 1026
to sweep northeast and join Troopship Group II and the slow auxiliary convoy
which were travelling together. NEWCASTLE arrived at Scapa Flow on the 11th.
MAORI, FOXHOUND, FORESTER arrived at Sullom Voe for refuelling at 0100/10th
and departed at 0800 after refuelling.
Destroyers
VOLUNTEER and WHIRLWIND departed Scapa Flow at 2000 for Sullom Voe. FOXHOUND experienced a turbine problem and returned to Sullom Voe,
to be replaced
by WHIRLWIND, which sailed from Sullom Voe at 1530/10th.
FOXHOUND departed Sullom Voe at 0845/11th and arrived at Scapa Flow at 2100.
WHIRLWIND was soon detached to hunt a U-boat in 60‑04N, 1‑50E,
sighted by air at 0633/10th, and was ordered to hunt for twenty four hours.
Destroyer
FIREDRAKE at 1300, with Group II, attacked a submarine contact in 68-05N,
2-30E. Destroyers
FEARLESS, AMAZON, ANTELOPE, ESCAPADE departed Sullom Voe at 2230/11th to join
the Home Fleet at sea.
Late on the 11th, VALIANT and REPULSE with destroyers TARTAR (D.6), BEDOUIN,
MAORI, DIANA, ACHERON and FORESTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 2200 for refuelling.
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While
following the British slow convoy, Norwegian steamers PRINS OLAV (2147grt)
and ARIADNE (2029grt) were sunk by German bombing in 67‑55N, 02‑10E,
northeast of the Shetlands. One crewman was missing from PRINS OLAV and nine
from ARIADNE. Destroyer
ARROW rescued seventy two male and nine female survivors.
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Destroyers
VETERAN and VANOC arrived at Sullom Voe at 2350.
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Destroyers
WARWICK and WITCH departed the Clyde at 2330 for Liverpool.
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Minelayers
TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER escorted by destroyers GALLANT and WALPOLE departed the
Humber to lay minefield BS 12 in the North Sea, arriving back in the Humber on the 10th after the minelay.
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Operation
CYCLE, the evacuation of the French north coast was set into action.
Destroyers
RESTIGOUCHE, BROKE, ST LAURENT, CODRINGTON and sloop WELLINGTON were ordered
at 1509/9th to proceed to rendezvous with destroyer SALADIN seven miles 270°
from Cape De Le Havre. At
1533 the same orders were sent to anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA and
destroyers BULLDOG and BOADICEA. The
ships were ordered not to arrive at Havre before 0400/10th.
Destroyers
AMBUSCADE, HARVESTER, FERNIE and corvette GARDENIA from the Western
Approaches were also ordered to CYCLE and departed Portland on the 9th.
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Drifter
DEWEY EVE (109grt) was sunk in an accidental collision at Scapa Flow with
British trawler
GOLD CROWN (178grt).
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Destroyer
ENCOUNTER, sailing with a convoy to Aberdeen, was delayed by fog. They were
able to proceed and departed Scapa Flow at 1345/10th.
British steamers ST MAGNUS, LOCH NAGAR, ROYAL SCOTSMAN and Norwegian
steamer IRIS were escorted by ENCOUNTER and
trawlers ANGLE, INDIAN
STAR, ST KEENAN, LADY ELSA for Aberdeen, arriving at 0430/11th. ENCOUNTER returned to
Scapa Flow.
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Trawlers BARBARA ROBB, MOUNT ARD, FORT RYAN arrived at Scapa Flow from
Norway.
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U.46
sank Finnish steamer MARGARETA (3598grt) in 44‑04N, 12‑30W. Five
crew were lost.
______
Steamer EMPIRE COMMERCE (3857grt) was badly damaged on a mine five cables
west, northeast, 220° of the NE Spit
Buoy, near Margate. Two
crew were missing.
She was beached 19 cables 261° from NE Spit Buoy, refloated on
the 11th and again beached on the 12th in 51-26N, 01-24E.
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Steamer
DULWICH (4102grt) was sunk by German bombing off Villequier. She was later salved and renamed HOLTENAU for German service.
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French
auxiliary minesweepers NOTRE DAMES DES DUNES (481grt) and MADELEINE
LOUISE (464grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
______
Greek
steamer MAX WOLF (6694grt) was sunk by German bombing in the
English Channel between Roque and Berville. Two crew were killed and she was
beached at Tancarville. The wreck was later used as a target for German
aircraft.
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Convoy
OA.164 did not sail.
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Convoy
OB.164 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop SANDWICH from 9 to 12 June. The
sloop was detached to convoy HX.47.
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Convoy
OG.33F was formed from (1) convoys OA.163GF, which departed Southend on the 7th
escorted by corvette GLADIOLUS, and (2) OB.163GF, which departed Liverpool on the 7th
escorted by sloop SCARBOROUGH, with a total of fifty two ships. Corvette
PERIWINKLE escorted the convoy from 9 to 10 June and was then detached to
convoy HG.33F.
SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 9 to 13 June and was then detached to
convoy HG.34F. Destroyer
DOUGLAS joined on the 13th and escorted the convoy into Gibraltar, arriving
on the 14th.
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Convoy FN.192 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN.
Destroyers JACKAL and FORESIGHT were ordered to close the convoy for the
night of 9/10 June and remain with it until daylight. The convoy arrived at
the Tyne on the 11th.
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Convoy MT.85 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and
sloop FLEETWOOD. The convoy arrived at the Tyne later that day.
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Convoy FS.191 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and
sloop FLEETWOOD. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 11th.
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Convoy
HX.49 departed Halifax at 0900 escorted by Canadian destroyers SAGUENAY and
ASSINIBOINE, which were detached on the 10th.
Ocean escort was armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA. Armed
merchant cruiser LACONIA had departed with the convoy but ran aground in
Halifax Harbour, and AUSONIA was sailed in her place at 1900/9th. She was
detached on the 20th. Also on
20 June, sloops FOWEY and SANDWICH joined the convoy. FOWEY was
detached on the 23rd. SANDWICH escorted the convoy to Liverpool,
arriving on the 24th.
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German
steamer DOCKENHUDEN (216grt) was sunk at Stolpmunde.
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German
auxiliary patrol boat Vp.801 (trawler BAYERN, 437grt) was sunk off Ameland in
53‑33N, 06‑02E on a mine. Auxiliary patrol boat Vp.803 (trawler
WIESBADEN, 325grt) on patrol nearby rescued the survivors. Although
some German sources indicate that Vp.801 was a victim of a submarine attack,
auxiliary patrol boat Vp.803 reported that Vp.801 struck a mine. Two British submarines in the area, TRIAD and SWORDFISH, reported no vessels sighted on
their respective patrols and the French submarines had since been withdrawn
to Brest in preparation for duty in the Mediterranean.
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Between
7 and 9 June, thirty three Italian submarines departed Italian ports on
patrol in the Mediterranean.
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During
the night of 9/10 June, Italian light cruisers BARBIANO and CARDONA,
destroyers CORAZZIERE and LANCIERE, and torpedo boats CALIPSO and POLLUCE laid
mines between Lampedusa and Kerkenah. Feared
intervention by Bizerte-based French units did not materialize.
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Italian
steamer AVVENIRE (957grt) was sunk north of Pantelleria on an Italian mine.
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Italian
steamer ANGIULLIN (873grt) was sunk off Cape Granitola
on an Italian mine.
Monday,
10 June
After
proceeding to one of the inner evacuation rendezvouses after British forces
had already departed, armed boarding vessel
VANDYCK (13,241grt, Captain G F W Wilson Rtd) was sunk by German
bombing off Andenes. Temporary Lt Cdr (E) E Watson RNR, Refrigerating Engineer D
Elias and five ratings were lost. The rest of the crew, Captain Wilson, Lt K
L Alger RNR, Temporary Paymaster Lt J E L Jones
RNR, Temporary Lt (E) W
Henderson RNR, Cdr J L Croasdaile
RNR, Temporary S/Lt R L
Callaghan RNR, 3rd Electrician C Bell, Temporary S/Lt J B Kennedy
RNR, Chief Steward G S Thorpe,
4th Engineer E Champion, Lt W F Graves RNR Rtd, Temporary Probationary
S/Lt D F Rees RNR, 10th Engineer W Purdy, 11th Engineer R T
Frost, Junior Engineer W B Carter, Acting Temporary Surgeon Lt Cdr R G
Knight, 3rd Engineer R G Beatty, 7th Engineer R Smith, Acting Paymaster Lt Cdr
C W Linton RNVR, 8th Engineer A J Green, 9th Engineer T H Parry, Engineer T
Yates and one hundred and thirty two ratings, were able to row ashore in the
ship's boats and taken prisoner. Temporary S/Lt (E) J Lavender
RNR, C G Evans, 2nd Engineer
and five ratings were wounded. Lt D Conolly RNR, died as a prisoner of war
on the 22 June 1940 and Gunner S.J. Gooch Rtd on 20 February 1941. Two ratings
also died as prisoners of war. Destroyer DELIGHT was sent to unsuccessfully
search for her when she failed to arrive at the rendezvous.
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Destroyer
WHIRLWIND at 2048 attacked a submarine contact in 61-42N, 3-56W.
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Destroyer
ATHERSTONE and ANTELOPE departed the Clyde at 1930 for Scapa Flow.
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Destroyers
WOLVERINE, VISCOUNT, WITHERINGTON departed the Clyde at 1600 for Sullom Voe,
arriving on the 11th. Destroyers ESCAPADE, VISCOUNT, ANTELOPE had arrived
earlier on the 11th. They joined destroyers FEARLESS and AMAZON.
______
Destroyers
VOLUNTEER, WHIRLWIND from the Clyde and VETERAN, VANOC, WALKER arrived at
Sullom Voe for refuelling.
VETERAN and VANOC arrived at 2350. After
refuelling, WALKER joined the slow store convoy.
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Destroyer
ESCAPADE departed Liverpool at 1200. She proceeded to Sullom Voe, proceeding
at twenty knots, due to a loss of lubricating oil.
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Anti-submarine
trawlers LE TIGER and LEICESTER CITY were ordered to investigate
a direction finding bearing in Fair Isle Channel.
______
Submarine
TRIBUNE departed Rosyth for patrol off Fro Havet.
______
German
battlecruiser GNEISENAU, heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER, and destroyers LODY,
STEINBRINCK, SCHOEMANN, GALSTER departed Trondheim to attack the Allied Convoys
evacuating Norway. It was soon decided that the convoys were beyond reach and the German ships
arrived back at Trondheim late on the 10th.
______
Submarine
CLYDE at 1400 reported one German pocket battleship and one HIPPER class cruiser
in 64-35N, 9-45E, steering 300°.
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Destroyer
ECHO arrived at Scapa Flow at
1130/11th to oil, and departed at 1530 to rejoin
British Troopship Group II. The Group, with anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY and destroyers FIREDRAKE,
FAME, HAVELOCK, BEAGLE, DELIGHT,
ECHO arrived at Greenock at
2300/12th.
French
troops on troopship ORMONDE were transferred to troopship ULSTER PRINCE, which
then went to Brest, arriving on the 15th. Troopship
ROYAL ULSTERMAN arrived at Lorient on the 16th and troopship ROYAL SCOTSMAN
arrived at Brest on the 17th to disembark French troops.
Light
cruiser SOUTHAMPTON and anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY were detached to Scapa
Flow.
COVENTRY went on to Glasgow, then the Clyde. SOUTHAMPTON arrived in the Clyde at 1306/12th. COVENTRY departed the Clyde on the 15th and arrived in the Tyne for
refitting on the 16th. Following a short refit, she departed on the 29th for
Scapa Flow, arriving on the 30th.
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Destroyers
TARTAR (D.6), BEDOUIN, MAORI and ASHANTI departed Scapa Flow at 1130/13th to
rendezvous with the Commander in Chief, Home Fleet in 65N, 4W. Destroyers
VETERAN, CAMPBELL, MASHONA departed Sullom Voe at 0400/13th and destroyer
FORESTER departed Scapa Flow at 2100/12th also to rendezvous with the Commander in
Chief Home Fleet, in 63-00N, 4-00W at 1300/13th.
At
dawn on the 13th, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL launched an air attack of
fifteen Skuas on Trondheim harbour to be coordinated with a Royal Air Force
strike of four Beauforts of 22 Squadron and six Blenheim aircraft on the
Vaernes airfield near Trondheim. German
battlecruiser SCHARNHORST was hit by a bomb that did not explode and no other
ships were hit.
Eight
Skuas were shot down. From the 800 Squadron, Captain R. T. Partridge, RM, was
made a prisoner of war, but his observer Lt R. S.Bostock was
killed in the crash. Lt G. E. D. Finch-Noyes. DSC, was shot down and killed,
but Petty Officer Airman H.G. Cunningham survived. Midshipman (A) L.M.
Gallagher, DSC and Acting Petty Officer W. Crawford died when their Skua crashed.
Midshipman (A) D. T. R. Martin was shot down and was taken prisoner, but
Leading Airman W. J. Tremeer was killed. Martin was picked up by the German
seaplane which had just picked up the two ARDENT survivors. From the 803
Squadron, Lt Cdr J. Casson and his observer Lt P. E. Fanshawe, and Lt C.
H.Filmer and his observer Midshipman (A) T. A. McKee were shot down and made
prisoners of war. S/Lt J. A. Harris and Naval Airman S.R. Stevenson were shot
down; Harris died of injuries shortly thereafter and Stevenson died of injuries
on 31 May 1941. S/Lt R. E. Bartlett and Naval Airman 1/c L.G. Richards were
shot down and were made prisoners of war.
Surviving
aircraft, piloted by Lt K. V. V. Spurway and Petty Officer Airman H.A. Monk
of 800 Squadron and S/Lt (A) G. W. Brokensha, Petty Officer Airman T. F.
Riddler, Midshipman (A) A. S.Griffiths, Midshipman (A) A. S.Gibson, Petty
Officer Airman H.Gardiner of 803 Squadron returned to the aircraft carrier.
Later
on the 13th, destroyers ELECTRA and ANTELOPE collided, while escorting ARK ROYAL off central Norway in heavy fog. Destroyer
ZULU took ELECTRA in tow, while destroyer INGLEFIELD stood by ANTELOPE. This
signalled an end to the Norwegian operations. The retirement of the two
damaged destroyers was covered by battleship RODNEY and battlecruiser RENOWN. Tug
BRIGAND proceeded on the 15th and joined ELECTRA, which was
taken in tow, and at 2000 they were proceeding at eight knots in 60-36N,
4-00W. ELECTRA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1430/16th, attended by tug BRIGAND and
escorted by ZULU and ESCAPADE. She then departed on the 18th escorted by destroyer CAMPBELL and arrived at Troon on the 20th.
Repairs were completed on 24 August.
ANTELOPE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0330/15th escorted by destroyer INGLEFIELD.
She departed the Scapa Flow at 2213/15th to the Tyne, and
returned to duty on 16 August.
ARK ROYAL with destroyers KELVIN, ESCORT, CAMPBELL arrived at Scapa
Flow on the 14th at 1545.
RODNEY, RENOWN, and destroyers TARTAR, FEARLESS, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, MASHONA, MAORI arrived at Scapa Flow at 1640/15th.
______
Light
cruisers MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM, SHEFFIELD departed the Humber on the 9th and
arrived at Rosyth on the 10th. They joined heavy cruiser YORK, which had been there since
28 May.
______
Minelayers
ATREUS and LINNET were ordered to lay a controlled minefield in Bressay
Sound, Lerwick with a guard loop to seaward. Following the operation, ATREUS proceeded to Scapa Flow and LINNET
proceeded to the Clyde.
______
Trawler
RIVER NESS (203grt) was sunk by German bombing eight miles northeast
by north of the Skerries. Eight crew were lost and two rescued.
______
Destroyer
VEGA (Captain G. A. Garnons-Williams on board) took blockships JACOBUS
(1262grt), KAUPO (2420grt), RIVER TYNE (1525grt) to Dieppe from Portsmouth in
Operation C P to block the harbour which was accomplished.
______
Operation
CYCLE was the evacuation of allied troops from the French north coast.
On
10 and 11 June, 3321 troops were embarked at St Valery.
British
warships in CYCLE were destroyers CODRINGTON (Captain G. L.Warren, SO ), AMBUSCADE,
BULLDOG, BOADICEA, HARVESTER, BROKE, SALADIN, FERNIE, Canadian destroyers
RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT, sloop WELLINGTON, corvette GARDENIA, auxiliary
minelayer HAMPTON.
CODRINGTON had completed repairs and was due for return to Dover when she was
detached to the Portsmouth Command for this operation. Anti-aircraft
cruiser CALCUTTA departed Harwich at 0917/10th for Portsmouth to arrive at
1800.
On
the 10th during the evacuation of the Le Havre Peninsula, destroyer AMBUSCADE
was damaged by shore guns off Fecamp near St Valery. Damage was limited to
minor hull damage and splinter damage. There were men killed in AMBUSCADE. She was repaired at Portsmouth from 12 to 15 June. After working up
from 16 to 22 June at Portland and 23 to 27 June at Portsmouth, she arrived
at Harwich for duty on the 27th.
BULLDOG and BOADICEA were badly damaged by German bombing off Le Havre at
1738/10th in 49-53N, 0-28E. BOADICEA was hit by three bombs and immobilised due to flooded and wrecked
machinery spaces. AMBUSCADE, later relieved by tug KROOMAN towed
destroyer BOADICEA to Portsmouth. Commissioned
Engineer F. R. J. Drake and five ratings were killed and two ratings were
wounded on BOADICEA.
BULLDOG was also struck by three bombs, one of which came to rest in number
three boiler without exploding and a second passing into number three boiler
and exploding ten minutes later. No men were killed. Destroyer
BROKE found BULLDOG at anchor damaged and unable to proceed, and towed her to Portsmouth.
BULLDOG and BOADICEA, taken to Portsmouth for repairs, did not return to duty
until 26 July 1940 and 16 February 1941, respectively. The delay in BOADICEA's repair was due to mechanical defects.
CODRINGTON was slightly damaged by air attack. She was repaired at Portsmouth
completing on the 21st. Motor
torpedo boat MTB.69 was damaged in this operation.
On
11 June, light cruiser CARDIFF departed Dover to cover the evacuation at St
Valery. She was joined by destroyer HARVESTER off the French coast.
Destroyer
BROKE and corvette GARDENIA evacuated wounded from St Valery on the 11th.
Canadian
destroyer RESTIGOUCHE embarked troops off Veules on the 11th. Destroyer
SALADIN reported St Valery was occupied by German troops at 0100/12th.
Troopship
BRUGES (2949grt) was sunk by German bombing on the 11th near Le
Havre. During
the night of 12/13 June, 11,059 troops were evacuated from Le Havre; 9000 of
them were taken to Cherbourg.
______
Convoy
OA.165 departed Southend escorted by corvette ARABIS.
______
Convoy
OB.165 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop LEITH from 10 to 11 June.
______
Convoy
BC.39 of steamers BARON CARNEGIE, BARON NAIRN, GLOUCESTER CITY, KUFRA (Commodore),
LURIGETHAN departed Loire escorted by anti-submarine trawlers AGATE (627grt)
and LORD HAILSHAM (445grt). The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on the
11th.
______
Convoy MT.86 departed Methil, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and
HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne later that day.
______
Convoy FN.193 departed Southend, escorted by sloops LOWESTOFT and
WESTON. Upon reaching the Tyne, LOWESTOFT was detached to escort
minelayer PORT QUEBEC to Rosyth. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on
the 12th.
______
Light
cruisers BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD departed the Humber and arrived at
Rosyth later the same day.
______
After
delivering the Narvik ALPHABET Group I, destroyers WOLVERINE, VISCOUNT,
WITHERINGTON, ATHERSTONE and ANTELOPE departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow.
______
French
destroyers FRONDEUR and FOUGUEUX departed Brest escorting troopships EL
MANSOUR, EL KANTARA, VILLE D'ALGER to Plymouth. British steamer PRINCESS BEATRIX
joined the convoy en route. The convoy arrived on the 11th and embarked
Canadian troops.
EL MANSOUR and VILLE D'ALGER departed Plymouth on the 11th, escorted by the
same two destroyers and arrived at Brest on the 12th.
EL KANTARA departed Plymouth on the 12th and was escorted by destroyer
WANDERER. They arrived at Brest on the 13th.
On
the 12th, EL MANSOUR and VILLE D'ALGER departed Brest, escorted by
French destroyer EPERVIER on another trip to Plymouth, arriving on the 13th. On the
13th, the troopships returned, escorted by French destroyers EPERVIER and MISTRAL,
arriving at Brest on the 14th.
EL KANTARA departed Brest on another trip to Plymouth, escorted by
French sloop SUIPPE, on the 13th, arriving on the 14th. On
the same day, she departed Plymouth and arrived at Brest on the
17th.
On
14th June, EL MANSOUR and VILLE D' ALGER departed Brest on a third
trip, again escorted by EPERVIER and MISTRAL. That evening, the mission
was cancelled and the ships returned to Brest.
______
Destroyer
VIVIEN, escorting convoy FN.192 east of Lowestoft, reported attacks by German
E-boats. Astern
of the convoy, steamer BARON ELPHINSTONE (4635grt) was attacked by
the E-boats near Smith's Knoll. Destroyers
JACKAL and FORESIGHT and two Anson and two Hudson aircraft joined the convoy.
The
Hudson aircraft attacked the German vessels northeast of Schouwen Bank at 0355.
FORESIGHT was relieved by destroyer FURY from Rosyth in mid morning.
______
Anti-submarine
trawler HICKORY (530grt) attacked a submarine contact three miles 120° from
Hartlepool.
Destroyer
WOOLSTON and anti-submarine trawler CYPRESS (548grt) joined in the hunt.
______
Submarine
TRITON departed Rosyth for patrol off Fro Havet.
______
Submarine
SEVERN arrived at Dundee.
______
Submarine
STURGEON arrived at Blyth.
______
Polish
submarine WILK arrived at Rosyth.
______
German
light cruiser NURNBERG with Luftwaffe stores and mining equipment for
Trondheim departed Kiel the evening of 10 June escorted by torpedo boats
JAGUAR and FALKE and at the start by escort ship F.3. On
the 12th, the torpedo boats were detached to Stavanger for refuelling.
On
the 13th, NURNBERG arrived at Trondheim escorted on the last
leg of her voyage by minesweepers of the 2nd Flotilla. After disembarking the
supplies, she continued north arriving at Harjangerfjord and Narvik on the
17th.
______
German
armed merchant cruiser ATLANTIS captured Norwegian steamer TIRRANNA (7230grt)
in the Indian Ocean near 12S, 68E. Eight
crew and one passenger were lost.
______
On
the 10th, Italy declared war on France and Britain.
War in the
Mediterranean
At 1645, the
Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs informed the British Ambassador in Rome
that at one minute past midnight on the 11th, a state of war would exist
between Italy and the United Kingdom.
_____
Anticipating
this action for some time, destroyers HYPERION, HAVOCK, HERO, WATERHEN,
HOSTILE, IMPERIAL, DECOY, DEFENDER of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla and two
flying boats departed Alexandria early on the 10th to sweep for Italian
submarines. They were to return to Alexandria to refuel at 0400/11th, then
join the Fleet at sea. Just before 2200, DECOY made an attack on an Italian
submarine south of Crete.
Light
cruiser CALYPSO had just relieved light cruiser CAPETOWN on patrol in Kithera
Channel. CAPETOWN, returning from the patrol off Crete to Alexandria, was
diverted to Port Said. Light cruiser CALEDON was at Port Said.
_____
Late
on the 10th, submarine RORQUAL departed Malta to lay mines off Brindisi on
the 14th. ODIN, ORPHEUS, OSWALD and GRAMPUS also departed Malta on the 10th to operate off Gulf
of Taranto, off Syracus, southwest of Rhodes, and off Augusta, respectively.
Submarines
PARTHIAN from 14 June, PANDORA, PROTEUS from 14 June, and PHOENIX from 4 June
operated from Alexandria in the Eastern Mediterranean. PARTHIAN
operated off Tobruk, PANDORA in the Doro Channel, PROTEUS in the Kithera and
antikithera Channels, and PHOENIX off Suda Bay.
_____
French
submarines LE CENTAURE, PASCAL, FRESNEL, VENGEUR, REDOUTABLE, NARVAL, CAIMAN,
MORSE, SOUFFLEUR, MONGE, PEGASE, LE TONNANT departed Bizerte and Sousse to
operate in the Central Mediterranean.
PHOQUE,
ESPADON, PROTEE, ACHERON, ACTEON from Beirut operated in the Dodecanese,
PROTEE and ESPADON east of Leros, and PHOQUE east of Rhodes.
IRIS,
VENUS, PALLAS, ARCHIMEDE from Toulon operated in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
ARIANE,
EURYDICE, DIANE, DANAE from Oran operated off Gibraltar.
SAPHIR,
NAUTILUS, PERLE, TURQUOISE were at sea to lay mines off the Italian coast.
_____
Destroyer
DIAMOND departed Malta and shortly after departure attacked a submarine off
Malta, nine miles 92° from St Elmo Light without success.
_____
Italian
heavy cruisers POLA, TRENTO, BOLZANO of the 3rd Cruiser Division with
destroyers MAESTRALE, LIBECCIO, GRECALE, SCIROCCO of the 10th Destroyer
Division departed Messina. The Italian light cruisers at
Naples sortied for operations.
_____
Italian
steamer UMBRIA (9349grt) scuttled herself at Port Sudan after being brought
into port by sloop GRIMSBY. Light
cruiser LEANDER took off the crew.
_____
Italian
steamers OLTERRA (4995grt), LAVORO (7886grt), LIBANO (5192grt) scuttled
themselves at Gibraltar and PAGAO (6101grt) scuttled herself at Rada di
Algeciras, across the harbour. LIBANO was salved for British service.
_____
Italian
steamer POLINICE (1373grt) was captured at sea and sent into Malta. On
the 11th at Malta, she was scuttled.
_____
Italian
steamer CAPO NOLI (3921grt) was captured in the Gulf of St Lawrence by
Canadian auxiliary minesweeper BRAS D'OR, and renamed BIC ISLAND for Canadian use.
_____
Italian
steamer SAN PIETRO (5199grt) was seized by French forces at
Bordeaux and taken to Casablanca. She was later returned to the Italian
owners.
_____
Italian
steamers CAPO OLMO (4781grt) and NICOLO ODERO (6003grt) were seized by French
forces at Marseilles.
CAPO OLMO was later used by the British under the same name.
_____
A
number of Italian steamers were seized in British ports and taken for allied
use.
|
Italian
Steamer Names
|
B. R. T. |
Where
seized
|
British name |
|
ADIGE
|
2189 |
Malta |
name not changed (5) |
|
AMELIA
LAURO
|
5335
|
Immingham
|
EMPIRE
ACTIVITY |
|
ANDREA
|
5152
|
Newcastle
|
EMPIRE
ADVENTURE |
|
ANGELINA
LAURO
|
5787
|
Liverpool
|
EMPIRE
ADVOCATE |
|
BARBANA
C.
|
6161
|
Newcastle
|
EMPIRE
AIRMAN (1)
|
|
CALABRIA
|
9515 |
Calcutta |
EMPIRE INVENTOR (6) |
|
CELLINA
|
6140 |
Gibraltar |
EMPIRE SAILOR |
|
ELIOS
|
5202
|
Newcastle
|
EMPIRE BRIGADE
|
|
ERICA
|
4704
|
Liverpool
|
EMPIRE DEFIANCE
|
|
ESQUILINO
|
8657
|
Straits of Perim
|
EMPIRE GOVERNOR
|
|
FELICE
|
5639
|
Haifa
|
EMPIRE DEFENDER
|
|
GABBIANO
|
6584
|
Liverpool
|
EMPIRE
ENERGY(2)
|
|
GIOACCHINO
LAURO
|
5345
|
Hartlepool
|
EMPIRE
ENGINEER |
|
LIBANO
|
5192 |
Gibraltar |
EMPIRE RESISTANCE
|
|
MARZOCCO
|
5106
|
North
Sea
|
name not changed (4)
|
|
MINCIO
|
5404
|
Liverpool
|
EMPIRE
FUSILIER |
|
MONTE PIANA
|
5890
|
Aden
|
EMPIRE BARON
|
|
MOSCARDIN
|
4374
|
Newcastle
|
EMPIRE GUNNER (1)
|
|
MUGNONE
|
5213
|
Newcastle
|
EMPIRE PROGRESS (1)
|
|
PAMIA
|
6245
|
Newcastle
|
EMPIRE PROTECTOR (1)
|
|
PELLICE
|
5360
|
Newcastle
|
EMPIRE STATESMAN (3)
|
|
POLLENZO
|
6470
|
Gibraltar
|
name not changed
|
|
PROCIDA
|
5366
|
Cardiff
|
EMPIRE VOLUNTEER
|
|
REMO
|
9780
|
Fremantle
|
REYNELLA |
|
RODI
|
3320
|
Malta
|
EMPIRE PATROL
|
|
SISTIANA
|
5827
|
Capetown
|
EMPIRE UNION |
|
VERBANIA
|
6640
|
Port Said
|
EMPIRE TAMAR
|
(1) BARBANA C., MOSCARDIN, MUGNONE, PAMIA departed the Tyne on the 10th and were
captured at sea. PAMIA was seized by British trawler LIFFEY
(292grt) . They were all sent to Methil. On 28 June, PAMIA and PELLICE departed
for Leith, while MOSCARDIN, MUGNONE, BARBANA C. departed for the Tyne.
(2) GABBIANO was captured by the officers and men of the light cruiser
GLASGOW which was repairing near the berth of the Italian ship.
(3) PELLICE departed the Tyne on the 9th and was captured at sea and
taken to Methil.
(4) MARZOCCO departed Sunderland at 0619/9th for Falmouth. She was
intercepted at 2359/10th by patrol trawlers and was purposely ran aground by
her crew on the 10th one and a half miles north of Peterhead. The steamer was
abandoned. Tugs SAUCY and IRON AXE stood by.
(5)
ADIGE was captured at sea and sent to Malta.
(6)
CALABRIA was lost before she was formally renamed EMPIRE INVENTOR.
Tuesday, 11 June
At
0540, destroyers VETERAN and VANOC were ordered to assist Vice Admiral
Northern Patrol in rounding up Italian merchant ships.
_____
At
1030, destroyers ATHERSTONE and VOLUNTEER were ordered to Scapa Flow. ATHERSTONE arrived at 1315.
VOLUNTEER departed Sullom Voe at 1300 for Scapa Flow, arrived at 2200, then departed for
Liverpool for boiler cleaning and repairs.
_____
Destroyers
WOLVERINE and WITHERINGTON, en route to Sullom Voe, were ordered at 1310 to
59-58N, 0-10W to rescue the crew of a Sunderland down in the water. They were later advised the plane had taken off again,
and arrived at Sullom Voe at 1900.
_____
Troopship BRITANNIC (26,943grt) departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers
WARWICK and WITCH for Bermuda.
_____
After
a Wellington went down in the sea in 51-47N, 1-57E, destroyers JACKAL and
FORESIGHT were sent to search.
_____
Dutch
submarine O.13 arrived at Aberdeen and departed that day on patrol.
_____
Submarine
SHARK departed Rosyth on patrol.
_____
Submarines
SEALION, SALMON, SNAPPER departed Rosyth on exercises, and
returned later that same day.
_____
Convoy FS.192 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and
HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 12th.
_____
Canadian
troop convoy TC.5 departed Halifax, escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE
and SAGUENAY, at 0900 with troopships DUCHESS OF ATHOLL (20,119grt),
SAMARIA (19,597grt), and DUCHESS OF BEDFORD (20,123grt) carrying 1173, 787, and 1792
troops, respectively.
DUCHESS OF ATHOLL came from Montreal departing on the 8th and joined the
other two liners at Halifax.
Troopship
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (21,833grt) departed Halifax with the convoy and was
detached on the third day to Iceland.
ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY were detached at 1800/12th. Battleship
REVENGE was the ocean escort.
Convoy
TC.5 safely arrived at Liverpool on the 20th escorted by destroyers WANDERER
and WITCH and Canadian destroyers ST LAURENT, SKEENA, RESTIGOUCHE and FRASER. On
the 21st, REVENGE arrived at Plymouth at 0645 and the Canadian
destroyers arrived at Plymouth at 0640.
_____
Destroyer
WANDERER departed Dover at 1225 for Plymouth.
This
left only destroyer VESPER available at Dover.
She was on patrol from South Goodwins to Dungeness.
_____
Canadian
destroyers RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT and destroyer BROKE operated off St
Valery en Caux. BROKE and corvette GARDENIA embarked wounded from St Valery and took them to
Portsmouth.
Destroyer
HARVESTER was shelled ten miles west of Havre, but sustained no
damage.
RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT bombarded German targets at Veules.
At Veules, 2137 British troops and 1184 French troops were evacuated on the
11th. RESTIGOUCHE embarked troops off the beach at Veules.
The
demolition party for Le Havre and Veules was XD J (Cdr C. A. N. Chatwin) .
Canadian
destroyer ST LAURENT, sloop WELLINGTON, tugs STALWART and RESOLVE, drifters
GOLDEN HARVEST and GOLDEN NEWS were unable to stay in St Valery Harbour
during low water and returned to Havre.
_____
The
total number of troops evacuated in CYCLE (French north coast) and the later
AERIAL (French Biscay coast), which began on the 17th, was 191,870.
_____
French
auxiliary patrol vessel PATRICE II (247grt) was sunk by German gunfire off Fecamp.
_____
French
auxiliary minesweeper LA BRETONNIERE (628grt) was scuttled at Le Havre.
_____
Steamer
BRUGES (2949grt) was hit by German bombing off Le Havre,
and was beached to avoid sinking. Seventy
two men were rescued.
_____
French
steamers GENERAL METZINGER (9345grt), NIOBE (1684grt), SYRIE (2460grt) were
sunk by German bombing at Le Havre.
_____
Belgian
steamers ALBERTVILLE (11,047grt) and PIRIAPOLIS (7340grt) were sunk by German
bombing off Le Havre.
ALBERTVILLE was en route to Le Havre from Bordeaux to embark troops.
_____
Norwegian
steamer ELLAVORE (1302grt) was sunk by German bombing at Le Havre. The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
The
first Italian air raid on Malta occurred. Monitor TERROR and gunboats
APHIS and LADYBIRD were in Grand Harbour. Australian destroyer VENDETTA and
submarines OTUS and OLYMPUS were in the dockyard.
Lt
(E) E. E. Wellman DSC Rtd and three ratings from ST ANGELO were killed on the
11th and two more ratings died from wounds the next day from this air raid. There
was no damage to any of these vessels. However, after further air raids,
Malta was abandoned on the 21st as a submarine base until the anti-aircraft
protection could be augmented. The
submarines did return to Malta as a base in September.
_____
7th Cruiser Squadron of light cruisers ORION, NEPTUNE, SYDNEY,
LIVERPOOL, GLOUCESTER departed Alexandria at 0100 ahead of the Main Fleet. The
Mediterranean Fleet departed Alexandria at 0230 with battleships WARSPITE and
MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE, and destroyers STUART, VAMPIRE, VOYAGER, DAINTY,
HASTY, ILEX, JANUS,
JUNO, NUBIAN.
Light
cruiser CALEDON joined the fleet at 0840. Light cruiser CALYPSO, which
departed Port Said on the 10th, joined at 1325. Destroyer MOHAWK,
which departed Alexandria on the 11th after the fleet, joined that afternoon.
The
Australian destroyers were detached at 1953, and relieved by destroyers HAVOCK,
HYPERION, HERO, HEREWARD, HOSTILE and IMPERIAL which joined at 1840 after
refuelling. Destroyer
DIAMOND, which had departed Malta on the 10th, joined the Fleet at sea.
French
heavy cruisers SUFFREN, DUQUESNE, TOURVILLE, light cruiser DUGUAY TROUIN,
and destroyers FORBIN, FORTUNE, BASQUE under Amiral Godfroy departed Beirut to
operate in the Kaso Strait as a diversion for the "VADO" operation
in the western Mediterranean.
On
the 12th, Australian destroyers STUART, VAMPIRE, VOYAGER, WATERHEN departed
Alexandria on anti-submarine patrol. VOYAGER claimed sinking a submarine soon after the destroyers's
departure at dawn off Alexandria. Late
on the afternoon of the 12th, STUART found the minefield laid by
Italian submarine MICCA earlier on the 12th. She summoned minesweepers
ABINGDON and BAGSHOT which cleared a channel for light cruiser CALEDON and
destroyer DAINTY which later arrived at Alexandria from Crete.
_____
Light
cruiser DELHI arrived at Gibraltar.
_____
Destroyers
WATCHMAN, VELOX, KEPPEL, STURDY, WISHART and WRESTLER were deployed to the west
of the Straits of Gibraltar to intercept and engage any enemy surface ships
trying to pass.
_____
Cable ship MIRROR, escorted by destroyer ACTIVE and anti-submarine trawler
LEYLAND, proceeded on cable cutting operations. They returned later that day.
Danish
tug VALKYRIAN, escorted by destroyer WRESTLER and anti-submarine trawler LORD
HOTHAM, departed to cut the Malaga-Rome and Malaga-Barcelona cables.
Cover was provided by light cruiser ARETHUSA and a French submarine.
On
the 12th, MIRROR, escorted by anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON CHRYSOLITE, sailed
to replaced VALKYRIAN, which reported her gear
was not suitable to the task. The tug and LORD HOTHAM returned
to Gibraltar, as did ARETHUSA. MIRROR returned to Gibraltar on the 14th after successfully cutting the
cables.
_____
Australian
light cruiser HOBART and destroyers KINGSTON and KHARTOUM departed Aden to
sweep in the Red Sea off the Italian Somali coast.
Italian
bombers attacked them, but caused no damage. They arrived back late on the 12th without contact.
_____
Late
on the 11th Italian heavy cruisers BOLZANO, POLA, TRENTO of the 3rd Cruiser
Division with destroyers ARTIGLIERE, CAMICIA NERA, AVIERE, GENIERE of the
11th Destroyer Division and light cruisers D'AOSTA and ATTENDOLO of the 7th
Cruiser Division with destroyers LANCIERE, CARABINIERE, CORAZZIERE, ASCARI of
the 12th Destroyer Division carried out sweeps in the Sicilian Channel.
_____
Italian
steamers TIMAVO (7549grt) and GERUSALEMME (8052grt) departed Durban during
the night of 9/10 June. On the 11th, aerial strafing drove TIMAVO ashore five miles north of St
Mary's Hill, north, northeast of Durban. GERUSALEMME was intercepted by armed merchant cruiser RANCHI and ran herself
ashore near Oro Point, Mozambique. She was later refloated and taken to Lourenco Marques.
_____
Greek
steamers ZINOVIA (2975grt) and MAKIS (3546grt) were sunk by mines twenty
miles and fifteen miles north of Pantellaria Island, respectively, in the
Mediterranean. Two crew was missing from ZINOVIA, but the entire crew of MAKIS
was rescued.
_____
U.48
sank Greek steamer VIOLANDO N. GOULANDRIS (3598grt) in 44‑04N, 12‑30W. Six
crew were missing.
_____
U.101
sank Greek steamer MOUNT HYMETTUS (5820grt) in 42‑12N, 11‑20W. The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
U.46
damaged Motor tanker ATHELPRINCE (8782grt) in convoy OG.33F in 43‑42N,
13‑20W.
_____
Steamer
ST RONAIG (509grt) was sunk on a mine one mile 132° from West
Breakwater Light, Newhaven. Two
crew were killed, two missing and four crew were rescued.
Wednesday, 12 June
At
0200, Italian heavy cruisers ZARA, FIUME, GORIZIA of the 1st Cruiser Division
and light cruisers ABRUZZI and GARIBALDI of the 8th Cruiser Division with destroyers
ALFIERI, CARDUCCI, GIOBERTI, ORIANI of the 9th Destroyer Division and DA
RECCO, USODIMARE, PESSAGNO (TARIGO did not sail) of the 16th Destroyer
Division departed Taranto to patrol in the Ionian Sea while two other
destroyer divisions operated between Sicily and Malta.
During
the operations of Cruiser Divisions 1 and 8, British submarines made five attacks on
these ships without causing any damage.
ORPHEUS sighted three cruisers escorted by destroyers southeast of Syracuse, but was unable to attack. In
three sweeps by destroyers and one by torpedo boats, submarine ODIN was sunk
on the 13th.
_____
Italian
submarine BAGNOLINI sank light cruiser CALYPSO (Captain H. A. Rowley)
southwest of Crete in 33‑45N, 24‑32E at about 0200. One officer,
Lt A. W. Whitfield
RNR, and thirty eight ratings were lost.
Light
cruiser CALEDON and destroyer DAINTY in company picked up the twenty four
officers and three hundred and ninety four rating survivors and took them to
Alexandria.
_____
Italian
submarine NEREIDE torpedoed and badly damaged Norwegian tanker ORKANGER
(8029grt), en route from Suez to Malta, in 31‑42N, 28‑50E at
0503. Italian
submarine NAIADE then torpedoed and sank her at 2157. Four
crew were killed.
_____
Early
on the 12th, Italian submarine MICCA laid mines off Alexandria.
_____
Light
cruiser DELHI departed Gibraltar to patrol off the Canary Islands. On
termination of patrol, she was to proceed to Dakar for refuelling and join
the South Atlantic Station.
_____
Aircraft
carrier ARGUS departed Gibraltar to join heavy cruisers SHROPSHIRE,
CUMBERLAND, DORSETSHIRE with convoy US.3. She was given
local protection by destroyers VELOX and WATCHMAN and French aircraft. The
destroyers arrived back at Gibraltar on the 12th.
_____
French
destroyer FLEURET departed Toulon. She passed Gibraltar on the 14th and
arrived at Casablanca on the 15th.
_____
New
Zealand light cruiser LEANDER departed Port Sudan, and arrived at Aden on the 13th.
_____
The
French Raiding Force departed Mer El Kebir in response to a rumour that
German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU were preparing to enter the
Mediterranean through Gibraltar. French
light cruisers MARSEILLAISE, LA GALISSONNIERE, JEAN DE VIENNE and destroyers
BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS were operating together when they were attacked by
Italian submarine DANDOLO on the 13th. The torpedo fired passed between JEAN DE
VIENNE and LA GALISONNIERE.
_____
British
cruisers steering west were sighted by Italian aircraft south of Crete.
Italian cruisers BOLZANO, POLA, TRENTO of the 3rd Cruiser Division and
destroyers ARTIGLIERE, CAMICIA NERA, AVIERE, GENIERE of the 11th Destroyer
Division and LANCIERE, CARABINIERE, CORAZZIERE, ASCARI of the 12th Destroyer
Division were sent to investigate, but no contact was made.
_____
Light
cruisers LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER supported by aircraft carrier EAGLE
aircraft, sank small Italian gunboat GIOVANNI BERTA off Tobruk at 0400 off
Tobruk in an action with Italian gunboats PALMAIOLA, GRAZIOLI, LANTE,
GIOVANNI BERTA and coastal defense ship SAN GIORGIO.
SAN GIORGIO was damaged by air bombing from British
202 Squadron which was operating in conjunction with the British ships.
_____
Light
cruisers ORION and SYDNEY were sweeping off Benghazi at dawn on the 12th.
_____
Italian
steamer ROMOLO (9780grt) departed Brisbane on the 5th. Australian
armed merchant cruiser MANOORA intercepted her in Torres Strait, and she scuttled herself at 1915/12th.
_____
Destroyer
INTREPID arrived in the Humber.
_____
Battlecruiser
HOOD and Canadian destroyers RESTIGOUCHE, ST LAURENT, SKEENA departed
Liverpool for US.3 convoy escort duty.
_____
Light
cruiser SOUTHAMPTON arrived in the Clyde.
_____
Destroyer
VOLUNTEER departed Scapa Flow for Devonport.
_____
Destroyer
FORESTER departed Scapa Flow to rendezvous with destroyers VETERAN, CAMPBELL,
MASHONA, which departed Sullom Voe at 0400/13th, in 63N on the 13th.
_____
Destroyers
FORTUNE and FORESIGHT joined convoy FN.94, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON, as
far as Outer Dowsing. The two destroyers then proceeded to the Humber for
stores. Sloop FLEETWOOD joined the convoy when the destroyers were detached.
FORTUNE and FORESIGHT then proceeded to patrol between Smith's Knoll and Outer Gabbard.
_____
Destroyer
HAMBLEDON and steamer KYLE FISHER (520grt) arrived in the Clyde.
_____
Destroyers
HIGHLANDER and ASHANTI arrived at Scapa Flow at 1600 to refuel.
HIGHLANDER departed Scapa Flow at 2200 for Plymouth to join the Commander in
Chief, Western Approaches. En
route, she was detached to assist damaged armed merchant
cruiser SCOTSTOUN on the 13th.
_____
Destroyer
AMAZON departed Sullom Voe at 1700 for Scapa Flow where she arrived at
0500/13th.
_____
Destroyer
ATHERSTONE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1645.
_____
Destroyer
ENCOUNTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 1745.
_____
Minelayer
PORT QUEBEC escorted by sloop
LOWESTOFT departed Tees for Rosyth where they arrived that day.
_____
Convoy
"Hebrew" departed Scapa Flow at 0600 with British steamers DROMORE
CASTLE (5242grt), RUTLAND (1437grt), HERON (2374grt), LOMBARDY (3379grt),
CYPRIAN PRINCE (1988grt), ST CLAIR (1637grt), tanker INVERSHANNON (9154grt),
French steamers ALBERTE LE BORGE (3921grt), PAUL EMILE JAVARY (2471grt),
VULCAIN (4362grt) . The convoy was escorted by destroyers ATHERSTONE and
ENCOUNTER and anti-submarine trawlers LE TIGRE (516grt) and LEICESTER CITY (422grt) .
On
the 12th, destroyers VISCOUNT, WOLVERINE, VANOC, WITHERINGTON, WHIRLWIND
departed Sullom Voe at 0200 to relieve the escort north east of Cape Wrath.
French
steamers ARMENIER (914grt) and British steamer NAILSEA LASS (4289grt) joined
the convoy off Stornoway on the 13th.
These
two steamers had to be escorted independently by destroyer WITHERINGTON. The
convoy and NAILSEA LASS arrived at Greenock at 0630/14th. WITHERINGTON and steamer ARMENIER arrived at Greenock at 0915.
_____
French
tanker TARN departed the Clyde for Brest.
_____
Submarine
NARWHAL laid minefield FD.19 in 56-26N, 5-10E at 2119.
She then patrolled off Utsire to intercept German transports. Norwegian
steamer JAEDEREN (908grt) was lost on this minefield and German patrol boat
NB 15 (trawler BIENE (178grt) damaged on 16 August. Norwegian
fishing trawler ARILD (128grt) was sunk on this minefield on 26 August. German
auxiliary minesweepers (former Norwegian fishing vessels) GNOM 7 (50grt),
KOBOLD 1 (50grt),
KOBOLD 3 (50grt) were sunk on 13 October.
_____
Submarines
TAKU and TRIAD arrived at Rosyth after patrol.
_____
Submarines
H.31 and H.28 with submarine tender WHITE BEAR were exercising off Blyth.
_____
Submarines
TRUANT and TRIDENT were exercising in the Forth of Forth.
_____
Submarine
THAMES arrived at Campbeltown.
_____
French
submarine RUBIS arrived at Dundee after minelaying operation FD.17.
_____
French
light cruiser EMILE BERTIN departed Brest, escorted by destroyer GERFAUT for
Halifax. She arrived on the 18th with 300 tons of gold, but the
gold was not disembarked.
_____
Light
cruiser CARDIFF departed Dover at 1235 to cover the evacuation near St Valery
en Caux.
_____
Convoy FN.194 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON.
Sloop FLEETWOOD was to have been in the escort, but was not ready. She was
ordered to departed when ready and overtake the convoy. The convoy was joined
by destroyers FORTUNE and FORESIGHT as far as Outer Dowsing when the
destroyers proceeded to the Humber. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 14th.
_____
Convoy MT.87 escorted by destroyer VALOROUS and armed patrol yacht
BREDA departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
_____
Convoy FS.193 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and
sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 14th.
_____
Early
on the 12th, Trinity House Vessel PATRICIA, covered by anti-submarine trawler
GRIMSBY TOWN was lifting buoys B to H between the indicator loops and the
deep minefield.
_____
Trinity
House Vessel STRATHEARN, escorted by anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON GALENA,
replaced the Lydd Light Vessel with a float.
_____
Steamers BAHARISTAN (5479grt) and FLORISTAN (5478grt) departed Falmouth for
Brest.
_____
Steamer BARON SALTOUN (3404grt) was sunk in mining in the outer roads of
Cherbourg. One
crewman was lost.
_____
Steamer
TRAIN FERRY No. 6 (2678grt), after damage from shore batteries, was
beached and abandoned at St Valery en Caux. Two
crew were killed and twelve were missing.
_____
Steamers
SWALLOW (209grt) and INNISULVA (264grt) were beached and abandoned
in the River Seine in Paris. There
was a crew of five on the INNISULVA; one crewman survived and was
made a prisoner. She was later salved by German forces and used under that name for
German service. There
was a crew of six on the SWALLOW. These were all saved. She was also later salved by German forces and renamed SCHWABLE.
_____
French
auxiliary sloop CERONS was sunk by German gunfire off Fecamp/Veule des Roses.
_____
French
auxiliary minesweeper GRANVILLE (511grt) was sunk by German shore guns off St
Valery/Fecamp.
_____
Steamers ST BRIAC (2312grt), AMSTERDAM (4220grt), TYNWALD (2376grt), THEEMS
(553grt), EMERALD (736grt) departed St Valery for Cherbourg during the night
of 12 / 13 June with 4000 troops, including the rear guard. Steamer LOWICK (586grt) carried the beach party.
They were escorted by destroyers FERNIE and VEGA.
_____
Steamer ROEBUCK (776grt) was damaged by German gunfire off St Valery.
_____
French
auxiliary patrol vessel ETIENNE RIMBERT (197grt) was scuttled at Dieppe.
_____
Minesweeping
trawler SISAPON (326grt, Temporary Skipper F. A. Henson RNR), minesweeping with
minesweeping trawler LORD IRWIN, was sunk on a mine near Cork Light Vessel,
Harwich. Henson, Probationary
Temporary S/Lt W. T. McCalla, ten ratings were lost in the trawler.
_____
Tug
TWENTE (239grt) was lost in mining in the North Sea.
_____
Belgian
steamer YVONNE (668grt) was lost in mining two miles north of Goodwin Knoll
Buoy. Ten crew were killed, and two rescued.
_____
Dutch
coastal steamer PRINSES JULIANA (198grt) was sunk on a mine 1½ cables 50°
from Beacon Training Bank, Poole. Two
crew were killed.
_____
U.46
sank British steamers BARBARA MARIE (4223grt) and WILLOWBANK (5041grt) of
convoy SL.34 in 44‑16N, 13‑54W. Thirty
two crew were missing on BARBARA MARIE, but the entire crew of WILLOWBANK was rescued. Sloop
LEITH, escorting SL.34B and steamer SWEDRU (4124grt) from convoy SL.34B,
rescued survivors on the 14th.
_____
U.101
sank British steamer EARLSPARK (5250grt) of convoy OG.33F in 42‑26N, 11‑33W. There
were four dead and three missing.
_____
U.38
landed an agent on the Irish coast.
Thursday, 13 June
U.25
torpedoed armed merchant cruiser SCOTSTOUN (Captain S. K. Smyth Rtd) at 0600
northwest of Ireland in 57‑00N, 09‑57W. She had departed the Clyde
for patrol on the 12th. Destroyers
HIGHLANDER, which was diverted from her voyage to Plymouth, DELIGHT and ECHO, which departed Greenock at
0900, tugs BANDIT and MARAUDER were sent to assist, but SCOTSTOUN sank prior
to their arrival. Temporary
Lt W. A. D. Van Oosterwyk-Bruyn RNVR, Temporary Lt (E) T. Martin RNR, and five ratings were missing,
and the survivors taken aboard HIGHLANDER. HIGHLANDER, DELIGHT and
ECHO proceeded to the Clyde, arriving on the 14th.
_____
Destroyer
ATHERSTONE departed Scapa Flow at 1345 for Aberdeen, met steamers LOCHNAGAR (1619grt) and MACCLESFIELD (1018grt)
at Aberdeen and escorted them to Lerwick. ATHERSTONE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1740/14th after the escort duty.
_____
Destroyers
DIANA and ACHERON departed Scapa Flow at 1800 to search for a German
submarine reported by aircraft at 1505 in 59-07N, 1-30W on a course of 315°.
They also investigated a further report of a another submarine in
59-54N, 00-10E at 1904, were then ordered at 1530/14th to return to Scapa Flow,
and arrived at 0115/15th.
_____
The
British XD.L (Cdr J. A. Grindle) demolition party departed Chatham for
Portsmouth, and then proceeded on to Cherbourg.
_____
Minelayers
TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed the Humber escorted by destroyers GALLANT,
INTREPID, WALPOLE to lay minefield BS.14 in the North Sea, during the night of 13/14 June.
_____
Destroyer
EXPRESS, on passage from Portsmouth to Immingham, was diverted into Dover for
the night. She arrived at 2205/13th, then departed at 0347/14th to continue her voyage.
_____
Destroyer
FAULKNOR departed the Humber at 2000 after refitting and proceeded to Methil
where she arrived. She then proceeded to Rosyth, departing Rosyth on the 14th to escort tanker WAR PINDARI (5559grt).
That night, FAULKNOR drove off a submarine that had attempted to attack
the tanker. Both ships arrived safely at Scapa Flow at 0830/15th.
_____
Convoy
OG.33 was formed from (1) convoys OA.166G, which departed Southend on the 11th
escorted by corvette CALENDULA from 11 to 12 June, and (2) OB.166G, which departed
Liverpool on 11 June escorted by anti-submarine trawler HUDDERSFIELD TOWN on 11
and 12 June and sloop ENCHANTRESS on the 12th, a total of thirty two ships. Sloop
ENCHANTRESS escorted the convoy from 13 to 18 June.
Destroyer
WRESTLER joined on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on
the 19th with WRESTLER.
_____
Convoy
OA.167 departed Southend escorted by corvette CLARKIA.
_____
Convoy
OB.167 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer VOLUNTEER from 13 to 16 June.
Destroyer VOLUNTEER was detached to convoy HX.48.
_____
Convoy FS.194 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS and armed
patrol yacht BREDA. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 15th.
_____
Convoy MT.88 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and
WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
_____
Convoy
HX.50 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and
OTTAWA. On the 14th, they turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed
merchant cruiser VOLTAIRE, which was detached on the 24th.
Convoy
BHX.50 departed Bermuda on the 12th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant
cruiser COMORIN. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.50/17th and the armed
merchant cruiser was detached.
On
25 June, destroyers VOLUNTEER and WHIRLWIND and corvettes ARABIS and
HEARTSEASE escorted the convoy until 27 June. The convoy reached Liverpool on
the 30th.
_____
Convoy
FF.1 of British troopships DUCHESS OF YORK (20021grt), SOBIESKI
(11030grt), BATORY (14287grt), GEORGIC (27759grt) escorted by destroyers
BEAGLE, HAVELOCK (D.9), HAMBLEDON, WREN departed the Clyde for Brest. HAMBLEDON was later detached and returned to the Clyde on escort duties.
She arrived in the Clyde at 1800/14th.
_____
French
aircraft carrier BEARN was at Halifax.
She had brought 250 tons of gold to Halifax in late May. Some of
the 50
SBC4 dive bombers and 93 A17A attack bombers, ordered
from the United States, had been embarked by this date.
_____
French
auxiliary minesweeper MARTHE ROLAND (85grt) and auxiliary harbour defence
vessel REINES
DES FLOTS were scuttled at Le Havre.
_____
Tanker
BRITISH INVENTOR (7101grt)
was badly damaged on a mine five miles 230° from St Albans Head. The entire
crew was saved. Anti-submarine yacht CONQUEROR (900grt), corvette GARDENIA,
and ML.100 carried out an anti-submarine hunt. The tanker was beached and sank,
and broke in two on the 30th. The after section was towed to Portland,
arriving on 31 July.
_____
Drifter OCEAN SUNLIGHT (131grt,
Chief Skipper R J Crane
RNR) was sunk on a mine 4. 4
cables 129° from the W. Breakwater Light, Newhaven. Eight ratings were lost.
_____
Dutch
steamer ABEL TASMAN (314grt) was
sunk on a mine in Swash Channel, Poole. There were no survivors. Among
the men lost were Probationary Lt E T Mudie RN and Probationary Temporary
S/Lt I R Grant
RNR of EXCELLENT, both on passage.
_____
Submarine
ODIN (Lt Cdr K Mac I Woods)
attempted to attack Italian heavy cruisers FIUME and GORIZIA in the Gulf of
Taranto. In the counterattack, ODIN was sunk by destroyers STRALE and
BALENO off Cape St Vito. At the time, she was presumed mined. Lt Cdr Woods,
Lt I M Anderson, Lt R R Simpson, S/Lt P L C M. Lee, Warrant Engineer G H
Cook, all fifty rating, and the Chinese steward were lost.
_____
French
submarine SAPHIR laid thirty two mines off Cagliari during the night of 12/13
June. Italian steamer ALICANTINO (1642grt) was sunk on this minefield on the
28th. Sailing vessel
SAN CALIGERO (57grt) claimed on this minefield was
lost before the minefield was laid.
_____
French
submarine TURQUOISE laid mines off Trapani; fourteen off Sotille Point and sixteen off Marsala Point.
_____
French
submarine PERLE laid thirty two mines off Bastia.
_____
Italian
submarines FINZI and CAPPELINI had departed Cagliari on 5/6 June. FINZI passed the Straits of Gibraltar for patrol in the Atlantic,
and passed back through
on 6 July
on her return, to arrive at Spezia on 13
July. She was the first Italian submarine to operate in the Atlantic, and
was soon followed in June by CALVI, CAPPELINI, MALASPINA and VENIERO. In
all twenty seven Italian submarines operated in the Atlantic.
_____
French
steamer GOUVENEUR GENERAL LAFERRIERE (3463grt), en route from Oran to
Marseilles, arrived at Alicante after being followed by an Italian submarine. The
crew and troops were interned.
_____
Australian
light cruiser HOBART and anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE at Aden were
unsuccessfully attacked by Italian bombers.
CARLISLE shot down one aircraft.
_____
Australian
light cruiser SYDNEY made a reconnaissance of the Ionian Islands.
_____
Australian
destroyer STUART on anti-submarine patrol off Alexandria sighted gun flashes
in the distance and reported a contact, which later proved to be Australian
destroyer VOYAGER.
Destroyers
DAINTY and DECOY and Australian destroyer VAMPIRE were dispatched to assist.
STUART and VOYAGER made attacks on a submarine contact. Early
on the 14th, VOYAGER, STUART and DECOY
attacked on another submarine contact.
_____
Convoy
HG.34F departed Gibraltar with twenty four ships.
Destroyer
DOUGLAS escorted the convoy until joining convoy OG.33F later on the 13th.
Destroyer
STURDY and sloop SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 13 to 19 June.
STURDY then arrived at Plymouth. Destroyer
HIGHLANDER escorted the convoy from 17 to 19 June, on which date it arrived at Liverpool.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser ORION laid mines in Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New
Zealand as New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES was entering harbour.
On
the 18th, steamer NIAGARA (13,415grt) was lost on this minefield. After
her loss, light cruisers ACHILLES and PERTH and armed merchant
cruiser HECTOR searched for ORION without success. Later,
on 14 May 1941, New Zealand minesweeper PURIRI was lost on this minefield.
_____
Dutch
light cruiser SUMATRA departed Halifax for the Dutch East Indies, via Bermuda
and Curacoa. She reached Curacoa on the 22nd, and after patrols from there, departed on 7 August for the Dutch East Indies via South Africa. SUMATRA arrived at Surabaya on 15 October.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser WIDDER captured British tanker BRITISH PETROL
(6891grt) on the Trinidad-Azores track at 20‑10N, 46‑56W, 1000
miles from Trinidad. Two
of the crew were lost, and the rest made
prisoners of war. She sank BRITISH PETROL on the 14th in 18N,
54-30W.
Friday,
14 June
Operation
"VADO" was the French bombardment of Genoa on Cape Vado. On
the 13th, the French ships departed Toulon.
3rd Squadron (Vice Amiral Emile Duplat) was divided into two groups.
Group
1 - heavy cruisers ALGERIE (Flagship Duplat) and FOCHwith destroyers VAUBAN,
LION, AIGLE of the 1st Large
Destroyer Division and TARTU, CHEVALIER PAUL, CASSARD of the 5th Large Destroyer
Division.
Group
2 - heavy cruisers DUPLEIX (Flagship Contre Amiral Edmond Derrien) and
COLBERT with destroyers ALBATROS and VAUTOURof the 7th Large Destroyer
Division and GUEPARD, VALMY, VERDUNof the 3rd Large Destroyer Division.
French
submarines IRIS, VENUS, PALLAS, ARCHIMEDE operated in the area of Savona in
support.
Early
on the 14th, VADO was conducted. French destroyer ALBATROS was the only
casualty when an Italian 152 mm shell exploded in a fireroom and ten men were
burnt to death.
In
response to the operation, Italian torpedo boat CALTAFIMI and MAS Squadron 13 (MAS.535, MAS.539, MAS.534, MAS.538) sortied from Spezia to
attack the French force. After
a brief encounter with the Italian ships, the French units retired and
returned to Toulon.
Italian
Torpedo Boat Division 11 (torpedo boats ALTAIR, ANDROMEDA, ANTARES,
ALDEBARAN) departed Trapani and proceeded to Spezia. Italian
submarines NEGHELLI and VENIERO were at sea and submarines IRIDE and SCIRE
departed Spezia, but none contacted the French force.
_____
The
British Mediterranean Fleet and the French forces in the Eastern Mediterranean
arrived at Alexandria.
_____
French
submarine NAUTILUS laid mines off Tripoli.
_____
From
0349 to 0405, Italian destroyers TURBINE, NEMBO and AQUILONE of the 2nd
Destroyer Division shelled Sollum.
_____
Italian
submarine CAPPELINI was damaged by a anti-submarine trawler ARCTIC RANGER
(493grt) near Gibraltar. Destroyer VIDETTE joined to assist, but CAPPELINI
was able to escape and arrive at Ceuta on the 15th. After emergency repairs,
she departed on the 24th.
_____
Light
cruiser ARETHUSA departed Gibraltar for Verdon, where she arrived on the
16th.
_____
Aircraft
carrier HERMES and light cruiser DELHI were ordered to leave their patrol off
the Canary Islands when fuel necessitated and proceed independently to Dakar.
_____
Light
cruiser CARDIFF arrived at Sheerness on the 14th.
_____
On
the 14th, steamers
PORT MONTREAL (5882grt) and EURYADES
(5801grt) departed Falmouth in the morning for Brest. Steamers
BAHARISTAN (5479grt) and FLORISTAN (5478grt) also departed Falmouth, in the
afternoon for Nantes.
_____
Aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL arrived at Scapa Flow escorted by destroyers KELVIN,
ESCORT and CAMPBELL.
_____
Aircraft
carrier FURIOUS departed the Clyde at 2030 with £18,000,000 of gold
bullion for Halifax for safekeeping. She was accompanied by heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE and destroyers HAMBLEDON,
ECHO
and WITHERINGTON to 15W. DEVONSHIRE was detached for Iceland and arrived at Halifax on the 23rd.
The destroyers detached at the same time; ECHO arrived at Scapa Flow and HAMBLEDON and WITHERINGTON
in the Clyde.
FURIOUS safely arrived at Halifax on the 21st.
_____
Destroyer
HIGHLANDER departed the Clyde at 0400 for Plymouth.
_____
Minelayers
TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers EXPRESS and INTREPID departed the Humber on
minelaying operation BS.15, carried out during the night of 14/15 June. The
ships arrived back in the Humber on the 15th.
_____
Sloops
LOWESTOFT and WESTON departed Rosyth for the Tyne.
_____
Convoy FN.195 departed Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and
HASTINGS. On the 15th, the convoy became separated in fog. BLACK SWAN
took one section and HASTINGS the second. The convoy arrived at Rosyth
on the 16th. BLACK SWAN’s section, together with minesweeper
SHARPSHOOTER arrived during the early afternoon. HASTINGS section
arrived hours later.
_____
Convoy FS.195 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and
WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 16th.
_____
Sloop
STORK departed Scapa Flow at 1930 to join the Commander in Chief, Rosyth, and arrived at Rosyth on the 15th.
_____
Anti-submarine
trawlers ELM, HAZEL, WINDERMERE and ST LOMAN escorted cable ship MONARCH laying
cable in Fair Isle Channel.
_____
Submarine
H.28 departed Blyth on patrol.
_____
Submarine
PORPOISE laid minefield FD.18 at 1448 in 63-30N, 08-12E, and then then patrolled off Fro Havet. German
minesweeper M.5 and Swedish steamer SONJA (1828grt) were lost on this minefield
on the 18th.
_____
Convoy
FF.2 of British troopships FRANCONIA (20,175grt), LANCASTRIA (16,243grt),
ORONSAY (20,043grt) and ORMONDE (14,982grt) departed the Clyde for Brest
escorted by destroyers VANOC, WOLVERINE and WHIRLWIND.
_____
French sloop D'ENTRECASTEAUX captured Italian steamer FORTUNATA
(4786grt) in the Atlantic and took her to Port Lyautey.
_____
Minesweeping
trawler MYRTLE (550grt, Chief Skipper W. G. Cleveland, RD RNR) of the 2nd Minesweeping
Group was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary. Cleveland,
Temporary Skipper W. H. Winter RNR, Cdr S. G. Spickernell Rtd
and eighteen ratings were lost on the trawler. There were no survivors.
_____
U.38
sank Greek steamer MOUNT MYRTO (5403grt) in 50‑03N, 10‑05W. Four
crew were killed.
_____
U.47
sank steamer BALMORALWOOD (5834grt), a straggler from convoy HX.48,
in 50‑19N, 10‑28W. The entire crew was rescued by Greek steamer
GERMAINE (5217grt) and taken to Liverpool.
_____
U.101
sank Greek steamer ANTONIS GEORGANDIS (3557grt) northwest of Cape Finisterre,
in 42-45N, 16-20W. The entire crew was
lost.
