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Background Events - July-August 1940 Fall of France, Battle of Britain, War in Mediterranean
1940
Monday, 1 July
Battleship BARHAM with destroyers IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE, FERNIE, and WARWICK departed Liverpool at 0900/1st for Scapa Flow, and arrived safely at 2152 on the 2nd. _____
Aircraft carrier FURIOUS and heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE departed Halifax escorting troopship EMPRESS OF CANADA (21,517grt). FURIOUS arrived at Scapa Flow on the 15th. _____
Light cruiser MANCHESTER departed Rosyth for Sheerness. _____
After British aircraft bombed a submarine contact at 0600 in 58‑21N, 2‑51W, destroyers ASHANTI, COSSACK (D.4), MAORI, and ECHO were ordered to hunt for the submarine. ASHANTI departed Scapa Flow and joined the other destroyers at sea. ECHO had left Scapa Flow at 0800 escorting minelayer ATREUS to Greenock, but shortly after departure, was detached to join them. _____
Destroyer WALKER departed the Clyde at 0700 escorting troopship EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (42,348grt) to Liverpool. After delivering her, WALKER returned to the Clyde. _____
Destroyer BERKELEY arrived at Greenock at 1730 escorting steamer KOHISTAN (5884grt). _____
After British aircraft bombed a submarine contact in 55‑02N, 5‑38W, destroyer WALKER and escort ship JASON were ordered at 2226 to hunt for the submarine, but they failed to make contact. _____
Hunt class destroyer GARTH completed, and worked up at Scapa Flow in the 23rd Destroyer Division before transferring to the 21st Destroyer Flotilla, arriving at Sheerness on 28 August. _____
Convoy FN.210 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY, sloop EGRET, and patrol sloop MALLARD, and arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd. _____
Convoy MT.100 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 2nd. _____
Convoy FS.209 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS, and arrived at Southend on the 2nd. _____
U.52 refuelled from German tanker BESSEL (1878grt) at Vigo. _____
U.26 damaged steamer ZARIAN (4871grt) in convoy OA.175 in 48‑03N, 11‑11W, and corvette GLADIOLUS stood by her overnight. Destroyer VANSITTART, escorting tug SALVONIA (571grt) to meet ZARIAN, attacked and sank U.102 with the loss of all 43 crew off Ushant in 48-33N, 10-26W. U.102 was on her first war patrol, had attacked a convoy on 30 June off North Channel, and was not heard from again, believed lost, cause unknown, but probably mined off the southwest of Ireland. However recent investigation has now attributed her loss to VANSITTART. _____
U.30 sank steamers BEIGNON (5218grt) in 47‑20N, 10‑30W and CLEARTON (5219grt) of convoy SL.36 in 47‑53N, 09‑30W.
Steamer BEIGNON had picked up the survivors of British steamer AVELONA STAR (13,376grt).
One crewman was lost and two were missing on the steamer BEIGNON. Three survivors from the steamer AVELONA STAR were missing. Destroyer VESPER picked up the survivors of BEIGNON.
Eight crew were lost on the steamer CLEARTON. Destroyers VESPER and WINDSOR picked up the survivors of CLEARTON 240 miles 42° from The Smalls. _____
U.29 sank Greek steamer ADAMASTOS (5889grt) in 46‑20N, 14‑30W.
The entire crew was rescued. _____
U.65 damaged Dutch steamer AMSTELLAND (8156grt) in 47‑53N, 13‑23N. _____
German heavy cruiser PRINZ EUGEN, under construction at Kiel, was damaged in air bombing during the night of 1/2 July. _____
German armed merchant cruiser THOR captured Dutch steamer KERTOSONO (9289grt) in 12N, 31W in the Central Atlantic. Steamer KERTOSONO arrived Lorient on the 12th. _____
Special service vessels TWEEDLEDEE (163grt) and TWEEDLEDUM (163grt) were sunk as blockships. _____
The Mediterranean Fleet arrived back at Alexandria. _____
Light cruiser LIVERPOOL departed Alexandria carrying troops to Aden and arrived at Suez later that day.
Arriving at Aden, after disembarking the troops, she embarked the Eastern Fleet's reserve of six inch ammunition and returned to Mediterranean arriving on the 6th.
Light cruiser LIVERPOOL departed Port Said on the 7th and joined the Mediterranean Fleet at sea. _____
Convoy SL.38 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE to 17 July.
On the 17th, destroyer VANQUISHER, sloop FOWEY, and corvettes CAMELLIA and CLARKIA joined the convoy and escorted it to Liverpool arriving on the 20th.
The armed merchant cruiser proceeded to Belfast for refitting. _____
Light cruiser DRAGON departed Freetown for Manoca. The light cruiser called at Lagos for refuelling at Lagos on 3 and 4 July.
Tuesday, 2 July
Force H, consisting of Battlecruiser HOOD, battleships VALIANT and RESOLUTION, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE, and destroyers ESCORT, ACTIVE, FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FEARLESS, FORESTER, KEPPEL, WRESTLER, VIDETTE, and VORTIGERN departed Gibraltar on Operation CATAPULT, the neutralization of the French Fleet at Mer el Kebir.
Destroyers KEPPEL and WRESTLER carried special demolition parties to scuttle the French ships at Mer el Kebir.
At sea, destroyer VORTIGERN was attacked by Italian submarine MARCONI 36‑20N, 03‑46W without damage. VIDETTE and VORTIGERN were detached to hunt the submarine. _____
Destroyer JERVIS arrived at Malta after arriving from repairs in Home Waters.
Destroyer JERVIS in berthing bumped the dock and sustained some damage to her bow. She spent no time out of service due to this damage. _____
Italian troopships ESPERIA (11,398grt) and VICTORIA (13,098grt), escorted by torpedo boats PROCIONE, ORSA, PEGASO, and ORIONE departed Tripoli for Naples.
Italian heavy cruisers ZARA, FIUME, and GORIZIA of the 1st Cruiser Division with destroyers ALFIERI, CARDUCCI, ORIANI, and GIOBERTI and light cruisers BANDE NERE and COLLEONI of the 2nd Cruiser Division with destroyers MAESTRALE, LIBECCIO, GRECALE, and SCIROCCO were at sea covering the convoy. The convoy arrived safely at Naples on the 4th. _____
Convoy HGY departed Gibraltar with twenty seven ships escorted by French patrol vessel PRESIDENT HOUDUCE from 2 to 14 July, destroyers WITCH from 2 to 10 July and VISCOUNT from 2 to 14 July.
Four ships of the convoy carried service and civilian refugees from France.
Destroyer WESTCOTT escorted the convoy from 10 to 11 July. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 14th. _____
Battleship RODNEY, heavy cruiser NORFOLK, light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON, anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY, and all available destroyers at Scapa Flow were put at two hours notice from 2200 to 0500/3rd. _____
Destroyer BERKELEY departed Greenock at 1055 escorting minelayer SOUTHERN PRINCE to Loch Alsh.
After delivering the minelayer, the destroyer proceeded to Scapa Flow. _____
British minefield BS.20 was laid by minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers EXPRESS and ICARUS. _____
In a raid from KESTREL Acting S/Lt (A) B. P. Grigson and Acting S/Lt (A) F. L. Lees from a Swordfish of 825 Squadron were killed over Rotterdam. A second Swordfish of 825 Squadron was shot down. S/Lt E. B. Kiddell was captured, but was later shot and died of wounds while trying to escape as POW on the 1st 1943. Leading Airman H. W. V. Burt of Kiddell's plane was killed in the crash. Two more Swordfish of the Squadron were lost returning from the raid, but the crews were rescued. _____
British tug QUEENS CROSS with barge MEDWAY in tow encountered at 0315 what they identified as a conning tower of a submarine six miles north of Strathie Point. They did not report their sighting until arriving at Scapa Flow at 0930.
Anti-submarine trawlers ALOUETTE, COVENTRY CITY, WHITEHORN, and BUTTERMERE were dispatched to search. _____
Cable ship ARIEL, escorted by anti-submarine trawlers IMPERIALIST and HAZEL departed Scapa Flow to lay cable between the Orkneys and the Shetlands. _____
Convoy FN.211 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND and patrol sloop PUFFIN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th. _____
Convoy FS.210 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and WINCHESTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd. _____
U.26 was sunk after an attack by British corvette GLADIOLUS on the 1st and aircraft from RAAF Squadron 10 southwest of Bishop Rock in 48‑03N, 11‑30W on the 2nd.
The entire crew of four officers and forty four ratings of the submarine were rescued by Sloop ROCHESTER. _____
U.29 sank Panamanian steamer SANTA MARGARITA (4919grt) in 47N, 15‑30W and badly damaged British steamer ATHELLAIRD (8999grt) in 47‑24N, 16‑49W.
Three crew were missing from the Panamanian steamer. Twenty one survivors were picked up by the British steamer KING JOHN (5228grt). Three of these survivors were missing after the steamer KING JOHN was sunk on the 13th.
Steamer ATHELLAIRD sank on the 3rd. The entire crew was rescued by sloop SANDWICH. _____
U.47 at 0610 sank British troopship ARANDORA STAR (15,501grt), which departed Liverpool on the 1st, in 55‑20N, 10‑33W.
Troopship ARANDORA STAR was carrying 176 crew, 254 troops, and 1178 German and Italian civilians being taken to America.
Canadian destroyer ST LAURENT, which was detached from the screen of battleship NELSON, rescued the survivors.
Destroyer ST LAURENT arrived in the Clyde at 0730/3rd.
Destroyers WALKER and ECHO and patrol vessel JASON were also ordered to the area.
Destroyer ECHO was again ordered away from escorting minelayer ATREUS.
Destroyer FIREDRAKE was detached from the escort of British liner ANDES (25,689) leaving destroyer PUNJABI as sole escort of the liner.
When it was learned the survivors had already been picked up, destroyer FIREDRAKE was ordered at 1631 to return to the ANDES screen.
One hundred and nineteen crew, one hundred and sixty three troops, and five hundred and eighty six aliens were rescued. The rest were lost. _____
British steamer AENEAS (10,058grt, Convoy Commodore), in convoy OA.177G, was sunk by German bombing at twenty miles southeast of Start Point.
Eighteen crew were missing and three dead on the steamer AENEAS. Survivors from steamer AENEAS were rescued by destroyer WITHERINGTON.
The wreck was sunk on the 4th eleven miles from 50N, 3W. _____
British steamer BARON RUTHVEN (3178grt) was damaged by German bombing 50‑25N, 01‑27W. _____
German motor torpedo boat S.23 sank in tow after striking a mine off Foreland. _____
Aircraft carrier HERMES arrived at Freetown with evacuated Fleet Air Arm personnel and stores embarked at Dakar.
The aircraft carrier had arrived at Dakar at 0900 on 29 June and sailed at 1800. She remained off the port until relieved by heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE at 1800 on 30 June.
Wednesday, 3 July
Destroyer PUNJABI departed Greenock at 1530 after escorting troopship ANDES.
Destroyer PUNJABI arrived at Scapa Flow at 0900/4th. _____
Destroyer MASHONA and submarine tender BREDA passed May Island at 0700 escorting British steamer SHOAL FISHER (698grt) to Scapa Flow.
Destroyer WARWICK and Canadian destroyer SKEENA departed Scapa Flow at 2245 on the 3rd to relieve destroyer MASHONA and submarine tender BREDA.
Destroyers WARWICK and SKEENA to report to the Commander in Chief, West Approaches on arrival at Greenock on the 5th. _____
Destroyer HAMBLEDON arrived at Scapa Flow at 2000 from Portland to work up with the Commander in Chief Home Fleet. _____
Five Skuas of 801 Squadron, escorted by three Blenheims from 18 Group, departedHatston to attack concentrations of German prepared boats and oil tanks at Bergen.
All five Skuas returned safely without sighting the boats. _____
A submarine was reported off Marwick Head by shore watchers. Anti-submarine trawlers COVENTRY CITY, WHITEHORN, and BUTTERMERE, returning from their search off Strathie Point, were dispatched to search. _____
Submarine SEAWOLF landed reconnaissance parties near Lindesnes in Operation THWART. _____
Submarine SNAPPER sank Norwegian steamer CYGNUS (1333grt) off Egersund in 58-18N, 5-13E. A second ship attacked was not damaged.
Submarine SEALION attacked a German convoy off Skudesnshavn in Boknafjord at 1550/3rd. She came under heavy counterattack for forty five hours and withdrew. _____
Temporary Lt (A) T. Miller RNVR, was killed when his Shark of 774 Squadron crashed near Evanton. _____
British steam barge BIJOU (98grt) was sunk by German bombing at Mistley Quay, near Harwich.
The crew of the barge was rescued. _____
Special services ship JAMES 83 (397grt) was sunk as a blockship. _____
Convoy OA.178 departed Southend on the 3rd escorted by corvette CLARKIA from 3 to 6 July and destroyer BROKE from 5 to 6 July.
This was the last Channel routed OA.convoy. _____
Convoy OB.178 departed Liverpool on the 3rd escorted by sloop LEITH from 3 to 7 July and destroyer WHIRLWIND on 3 to 5 July.
Sloop LEITH was detached to convoy HX.53.
Destroyer WHIRLWIND was badly damaged by U.34 on the 5th and scuttled after destroyer WESTCOTT took off the crew. _____
Mate T. W. Cole of trawler DAMITO died of injuries on this date. _____
Convoy OB.177G, which departed Liverpool on the 1st escorted by destroyers VANOC and VOLUNTEER, and convoy OA.177G, which departed Southend on the 1st escorted by destroyer VANESSA on the 1st and destroyer WITHERINGTON on 1 and 2 July and Plymouth on the 1st escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS and corvette CAMELIA, merged as OG.36 with twenty one ships. The convoy was escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS from 3 to 8 July when she was detached to convoy HG.37.
Destroyer VANOC from convoy OB.176 joined the convoy on the 1st. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 8th with storeship PALOMARES and destroyer VOLUNTEER. Fifteen ships of the convoy with French troops for repatriation had had company earlier and proceeded unescorted to Casablanca. _____
Convoy MT.101 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th. _____
Convoy FS.211 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 4th. _____
German armed merchant cruiser KOMET departed Gydnia for Bergen. _____
Operation CATAPULT was the British plan under which French warships that would not come under British control would be destroyed.
French ships in England
Plymouth (Amiral L. M. G. Cayol, all ships were under repair) - battleship PARIS, large destroyer LE TRIOMPHANT, destroyers MISTRAL and OURAGAN, torpedo boat BOUCLIER, sloops COMMANDANT DUBOC, COUCY, and BELFORT, submarines SURCOUF, JUNON, and MINERVE, and submarine chasers CH.8, CH.11, CH.12, CH.15.
Portsmouth (Amiral R. M. A. Gaudin de Vilaine, all ships were under repair - battleship COURBET, large destroyer LEOPARD, sloops CHEVREUIL, AMIENS, ARRAS, DILIGENTE, EPINAL, QUENTIN ROOSEVELT, SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA, and LA CAPRICIEUSE, corvette LA MALOUINE, torpedo boats BRANLEBAS, CORDELIERE, INCOMPRISE, FLORE, and MELPOMENE (these torpedo boats and BOUCLIER at Plymouth were later formed into the 23rd Destroyer Flotilla), minelayer POLLUX, armed patrol vessel REINA DES FLOTS, submarines ORION and ONDINE, and submarine chasers CH.5, CH.6, CH.7, CH.10, CH.13, CH.14, CH.41, CH.42, CH.43, C 98, C 106.
Southampton - auxiliary minelayer INGENIEUR CACHIN and armed patrol vessels PATRIE, LA NANTAISE, and L'ORANAISE.
Falmouth - target vessel L'IMPASSIBLE, sloops COMMANDANT DOMINE, LA MOQUEUSE, SUIPPE, and CONQUERANTE, hydrographic sloop PRESIDENT THEODORE TISSIER, and VTB.11.
Swansea - submarine CREOLE (she had only been launched on 8 June 1940 at Le Havre and was towed to La Pallice. She departed La Pallice under tow on 18 June for Swansea)
Dundee - submarine RUBIS
Hythe - motor torpedo boats VTB.8, VTB.12, VTB.23, VTB.24, VTB.25, VTB.26, VTB.27.
Barry - armed patrol vessel ARMENIER
Greenock - armed patrol vessel LEOVILLE
Sheerness - armed patrol vessels LE VAILLANT and VIKINGS.
The only resistance was at Plymouth.
Destroyer MISTRAL was partially scuttled by opening of the sea valves by her crew.
Submarine SURCOUF, berthed alongside Submarine THAMES, was the scene of armed resistance. Cdr D. V. Sprague, commanding officer of the THAMES, Lt P. M. K. Griffiths, from submarine RORQUAL, a British rating from battleship REVENGE, and a French guard were killed in the take over of the French ship. _____
French ships at Mer el Kebir were battleships DUNKERQUE (Flagship of Amiral Gensoul, Capitaine de Vaisseau H. J. M. Seguin) and STRASBOURG (Capitaine de Vaisseau D. A. J. Collinet) of the 1st Line Division, battleships PROVENCE (Flagship Contre Amiral Bouxin, Capitaine de Vaisseau G. T. E. Barois) and BRETAGNE (Capitaine de Vaisseau L. R. E. Le Pivain) of the 2nd Line Division, large destroyers VOLTA and MOGADOR of the 6th Large Destroyer Division (VOLTA was the Flagship of Contre Amiral E. M. La Croix, Commander of the 2nd Light Squadron), large destroyer LE TERRIBLE of the 10th Large Destroyer Division, large destroyers LYNX and KERSAINT of the 4th Large Destroyer Division (KERSAINT was under repair), and large destroyer TIGRE, Seaplane tender COMMANDANT TESTE, sloop RIGAULt DE GENOUILLY, and trawlers ESTEREL and TERRE NEUVE.
At Oran were destroyers TRAMONTANE, TROMBE, TYPHON, TORNADE, BOULONNAIS, BRESTOIS, BORDELAIS, CASQUE, and LE CORSAIRE, torpedo boat LE POURSIVANTE, and submarines EURYDICE, ARIANE, DANAE, DIANE, PYSCHE, and OREADE.
French ships at Algiers were light cruisers LA GALISSONIERE, MARSEILLAISE, and JEAN DE VIENNE of the 3rd Cruiser Division and GEORGES LEYGUES, GLOIRE, and MONTCALM of the 4th Cruiser Division, and large destroyers INDOMPTABLE and MALIN of the 8th Large Destroyer Division and FANTASQUE and AUDACIEUX of the 10th Large Destroyer Division.
Destroyer FOXHOUND, of Force H which departed Gibraltar on the 2nd, anchored one mile from the Mer el Kebir Channel and commenced negotiations with Amiral Gensoul on battleship DUNKERQUE on the de militarisation of the French ships.
When negotiations failed, a general engagement ensued and the French ships attempted to put to sea.
The destroyers left first. Large destroyer MOGADOR was struck by a 15 inch shell which detonated her depth charges and blew off 100 feet of her stern, killing three petty officers and thirty five ratings. MOGADOR sank in the channel, but was later salved.
Battleship BRETAGNE was sunk with thirty six officers, one hundred and fifty one petty officers, and eight hundred and twenty five ratings killed as she attempted to leave the harbour.
Battleship DUNKERQUE was struck four times, including a hit on her power supply, sustaining five officers and forty one ratings killed.
Battleship PROVENCE was hit and had two turrets knocked out. One officer and two ratings were killed.
Two Swordfish aircraft from ARK ROYAL were damaged attacking battleship STRASBOURG. They landed in the sea and their crews were rescued by destroyer WRESTLER. The aircraft carrier was screened by destroyers FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, and ESCORT for these operations.
Off the harbour, large destroyers LE TERRIBLE and VOLTA attacked Destroyers FOXHOUND and FORESTER without damage to either side.
Sloop RIGAULt DE GENOUILLY was damaged by gunfire from Light cruiser ENTERPRISE.
The submarines at Oran changed berths during the battle causing the British to think they were preparing to go to sea.
Petty Officer T. F. Riddler and his gunner Naval Airman 1/c H. T. Chatterley of 803 Squadron were lost when their Skua was shot down by a French fighter.
Another Skua of 803 Squadron was lost when force landed into the sea near ARK ROYAL. Petty Officer H. A. Glover and Naval Airman J. A. Burkey were picked up by a destroyer FORESIGHT.
After the bombardment, Force H drew away leaving destroyer WRESTLER to watch the port, but French battleship STRASBOURG and the destroyers leaving port forced WRESTLER to withdraw.
Two Swordfish of 818 Squadron were badly damaged and force landed after attacking the STRASBOURG force and one Swordfish was lost shadowing STRASBOURG. Their crews were safely picked up. Destroyer WRESTLER picked up the two crews of 810 Squadron.
After the Mer el Kebir battle, Amiral Gensoul (Commander Atlantic Fleet Raiding Force) was replaced by Amiral Estava (Commander French Naval Forces, North Africa) _____
French forces at Dakar on the 3rd were battleship RICHELIEU, destroyers MILAN, EPERVIER, FLEURET, armed merchant cruisers EL D'JEZAIR, VILLE D'ORAN, VILLE D'ALGER, EL MANSOUR, EL KANTARA, VICTOR SCHOELSCHER, and CHARLES PLUMIER, escort ship BOUGAINVILLE, submarines HERO and GLORIEUX, escort vessels AIR FRANCE I and AIR FRANCE II, and seven auxiliaries, including the examinations vessel CALAIS. _____
Aircraft carrier HERMES departed Freetown to join heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE off Dakar on the morning of 5 July.
Heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA, which had just arrived with convoy BC F from Capetown, departed Freetown at 0100/4th to join heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE as well. _____
Destroyer VELOX on patrol off Casablanca was fired on by French shore batteries.
No damage was done to the destroyer.
Armed yacht SAYONARA, which departed Gibraltar on the 2nd to relieve destroyer VELOX, was recalled and destroyer WISHART was sent to relieve VELOX. _____
Australian light cruiser SYDNEY departed Alexandria to cover an Aegean convoy.
The light cruiser arrived back at Alexandria the same day. _____
Light cruiser DELHI arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown. _____
Destroyer JERVIS at Malta was near missed by Italian bombing.
The destroyer spent no time out of service due to the slight damage.
Thursday, 4 July
French battleship STRASBOURG with large destroyers VOLTA, KERSAINT, TIGRE, and TERRIBLE and destroyers BORDELAIS and LA POURSIUVANTE, which had escaped from Mer el Kebir for Toulon were joined at sea by the six light cruisers of the 3rd and 4th Cruiser Divisions, destroyers L'INDOMPTABLE, LE MALI, LE FANTASQUE, and L'AUDACIEUX which had departed Algiers on the 3rd.
British carrier planes from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL attacked this force three times without success.
French large destroyers VOLTA and TERRIBLE fired torpedoes at long range at Battlecruiser HOOD which was able to easy evade the torpedoes.
French heavy cruisers ALGERIE, FOCH, and COLBERT with destroyers VAUBAN, LION, AIGLE of the 1st Large Destroyer Division, GUEPARD, VALMY, and VERDUN of the 3rd Large Destroyer Division, TARTU, LE CHEVALIER, and CASSARD of the 5th Large Destroyer Division, and VAUTOUR, GERFAUT, and ALBATROS of the 7th Large Destroyer Division departed Toulon under the Command of C. A. Derrien and joined the ships east of Minorca.
The French ships arrived safely at Toulon at 2010/4th. Derrien's force arrived back at Toulon at 0445 on the 5th.
British Force H arrived back at Gibraltar that evening.
Also departing on the 3rd was destroyer TROMBE from Oran which arrived at Algiers on the 4th. On the 6th, the destroyer left and arrived at Toulon on the 7th.
Destroyers BRESTOISE and BOULONNAIS departed Oran on the 3rd and arrived at Algiers on the 4th. On the 6th, the destroyers departed and arrived at Toulon on the 7th.
Destroyers TRAMONTANE, TORNADE, and TYPHON departed Oran on the 3rd and arrived at Algiers on the 4th. On the 11th, they departed and arrived at Bizerte on the 12th.
Sloops LE CHAMOIS, L'IMPETEUSE, and LA BATAILLEUSE departed Oran on the 3rd and arrived at Bizerte on the 5th.
Seaplane tender COMMANDANT TESTE departed Mers el Kebir on the 4th and arrived at Arzew on the 4th. On the 6th, she departed and arrived at Bizerte on the 8th.
Destroyers CASQUE and CORSAIRE departed Oran on the 7th and arrived at Toulon on the 8th.
Sloop L'ANNAMITE departed Algiers on the 8th and arrived at Toulon the 10th.
Sloop LA GRANDIERE departed Oran on the 7th and arrived at Algiers on the 8th. _____
Submarines PANDORA and PROTEUS, which had been detached from the Mediterranean Fleet to the North Atlantic Command upon departing Malta for patrol on 28 June, were off Mer el Kebir and Algiers.
Submarine PROTEUS off Mer el Kebir sighted French seaplane tender COMMANDANT TESTE, which was en route to Toulon, but could not achieve an attack position.
Submarine PROTEUS was taken under attack by French large destroyers TIGRE and LYNX.
Submarine PANDORA off Algiers sank French sloop RIGAULt DE GENOUILLY which was en route to Bizerte. _____
French submarines LE GLORIEUX and LE HEROS, the armed merchant cruisers EL D'JEZAIR, EL KANTARA, EL MANSOUR, and VILLE D'ORAN, and destroyers MILAN and EPERVIER at Dakar were ordered to attack British shipping as a reprisal for the Mer el Kebir action.
On the 5th, British steamers ARGYLL (2953grt), GAMBIAN (5452grt), and TAKORADIAN (5452grt) and Danish ships under British flag HARALD (1970grt), TACOMA (5905grt), and ULRIK HOLM (1502grt) were seized by these forces.
The steamers were renamed for French service. Steamer ARGYLL was renamed ST HENRI, steamer GAMBIAN was renamed ST GABRIEL, steamer TAKORADIAN was renamed ST PAUL, steamer HARALD was renamed ST CLAUDE, and steamer ULRIK HOLM was renamed STE ISABELLE. Steamer TACOMA was not renamed. _____
British steamer TEMPLE PIER (4312grt) was seized at Algiers by French Forces.
Steamer TEMPLE PIER was renamed ST FERNAND for French service. _____
French steamer CARAIBE (4048grt) departed Kilinini on the 4th. At 0612 on the 5th, Heavy cruiser KENT intercepted the French ship in 6‑57S, 42‑19E.
Cruiser KENT escorted the French ship to Mombasa arriving on the 6th. _____
Light cruiser DRAGON departed Lagos to evacuated Subjects from Santa Isabel on the 5th. These subjects were removed and taken to Manoca, arriving on the 6th.
The light cruiser then proceeded to Duala, arriving on the 7th, on similar duties. Despite Vichy orderers, the French Governor stated he would support the British and requested DRAGON to remain at Duala. _____
Destroyer MASHONA at 0047 was ordered from Scapa Flow to investigate a Swedish ship in the vicinity of Clyth Ness.
This steamer was found to be Danish steamer RAGNHILD (2252grt) under British control. Destroyer MASHONA escorted the steamer to Wick and then returned to Scapa Flow. _____
Destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3), IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE, and FERNIE on anti-submarine exercises were ordered to 59‑24N, 1‑15W westward of Hoy to search for a German submarine reported by aircraft of 612 Squadron at 1125.
By midnight, no contact had been made and the destroyers returned to Scapa Flow. _____
Destroyers TARTAR (D.6), BEDOUIN, ASHANTI, and MASHONA on gunnery trials were ordered to 59‑10N, 5‑35W to search for a German submarine reported by an aircraft of 612 Squadron aircraft at 1310.
Following this search, at 0600/5th, they swept towards Fair Island Channel. _____
Submarine NARWHAL laid minefield FD.21 off Grip Holen, southwest of Trondheim.
German auxiliary patrol vessel UJ.D (trawler TREFF VIII (356grt) was sunk on this minefield in 63-15N, 7-39E on the 6th. _____
British minefield BS.21 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK, escorted by destroyers JACKAL and JAGUAR. _____
Battleship REVENGE (Captain E. R. Archer) departed Plymouth on the 4th with destroyers HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, and WANDERER.
On the 5th, battleship REVENGE met anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE (Captain H. J. Egerton) and troopships MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22,424grt), SOBIESKI (11,030grt), and BATORY (14,287grt). These five ships, which carried $1,750,000,000 in gold and securities from the Bank of England for safekeeping in Canada, departed Greenock at 0545 on the 5th escorted by destroyer GARTH.
The destroyers detached beyond the local approaches. Destroyer GARTH returned to the Clyde.
The British ships arrived safely at Halifax on the 12th.
Troopship BATORY with engine room defects was detached to St Johns escorted by anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE which then continued on to Halifax. Troopship BATORY arrived at Halifax on the 13th. _____
Convoy OA.178 was attacked by German bombers and motor torpedo boats south of Portland Harbour.
British auxiliary anti-aircraft ship FOYLE BANK (5582grt, Captain H. P. Wilson Rtd) was sunk by German bombing in Portland harbour.
Temporary Lt Cdr (E) B. Nish RNR, Temporary Lt (E) J. R. Bissett RNR, Temporary S/Lt (E) J. W. McMullan RNR, Lt W. G. P. Brigstocke RNVR, Probationary Temporary Surgeon Lt E. I. Smith, MB, ChB RNVR, and one hundred and seventy one ratings were lost on the ship. Thirteen officers and one hundred and forty four ratings were rescued.
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