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 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. BEIGNON had
previously picked up the survivors from steamer
AVELONA STAR (13,376grt). One crewman was lost,
two missing and three survivors from AVELONA
STAR missing from BEIGNON, with destroyer VESPER
picking up the survivors.
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.
British
steamer ELMCREST (4343grt) was sunk by German
motor torpedo boat S.19 thirteen miles south of
Portland.
Sixteen
crew were lost on the steamer ELMCREST. The
survivors were rescued by destroyer SABRE.
British
motor tanker British CORPORAL (6972grt) was
damaged by German motor torpedo boats S.20 and
S.26at 50‑13N, 02‑35W.
British
steamer HARTLEPOOL (5500grt) was damaged by
German motor torpedo boats S.20 and S.26 sixteen
miles south, southwest of Portland.
The
survivors from steamer HARTLEPOOL were rescued
by destroyer SCIMITAR.
British
steamer DALLAS CITY (4952grt) was sunk by German
bombing in 50‑09N, 02‑01W.
Because
of the bomb damage, steamer DALLAS CITY collided
with British steamer FLIMSTONE (4674grt) before
sinking.
The
entire crew of the steamer DALLAS CITY was
rescued by destroyer SHIKARI.
While
standing by steamer DALLAS CITY, destroyer
SHIKARI was bombed by German bombers. The
destroyer did not sustain any damage.
Dutch
steamer DEUCALION (1796grt) was sunk by German
bombing twenty miles south, southwest of
Portland.
There
were twenty seven survivors from steamer
DEUCALION.
Dutch
steamer BRITSUM (5255grt) was sunk by German
bombing off Selsey, in 50-04N, 1-55W.
Estonian
steamer KOLGA (3526grt) was sunk by German
bombing 50‑13N, 02‑00W.
One
crewman was lost on the steamer KOLGA.
British
tug SILVERDIAL (55grt) was sunk by German
bombing in Portland Harbour.
British
steamer FAIRWATER (4108grt) was damaged by
German bombing in 50‑16N, 02‑14W.
British
steamer FLIMSTON (4674grt) was damaged by German
bombing off Portland.
British
steamer ANTONIO (5225grt) was damaged by German
bombing twenty miles south, southwest of
Portland Bill.
British
steamer EASTMOOR (5812grt) was damaged by German
bombing 12 miles 314° from Portland Bill.
British
steamer ARGOS HILL (7178grt) was damaged by
German bombing off Portland.
British
steamer CITY OF MELBOURNE (6630grt) was damaged
by German bombing in Portland harbour.
British
steamer KING FREDERICK (5106grt) was damaged by
German bombing in 50‑10N, 02‑33W.
British
steamer IRENE MARIA (1860grt) was damaged by
German bombing in 50‑30N, 02‑00W.
British
steamer BRIARWOOD (4019grt) was damaged by
German bombing off Portland.
British
steamer LIFLAND (2254grt) was damaged by German
bombing off Portland.
British
steamer EAST WALES (4358grt) was damaged by
German bombing in Portland Harbour.
British
steamer WILLIAM WILBERFORCE (5004grt) was
damaged by German bombing in Portland Harbour.
Destroyers
SABRE, ACHERON, SHIKARI, and SCIMITAR were
involved in rescue operations with convoy
OA.178.
_____
Convoy
FN.212 departed Southend, escorted by sloops
BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 6th.
There
was no convoy FN.213.
_____
Convoy
MT.102 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 5th.
_____
Convoy
FS.212 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
VALOROUS and sloop STORK. The convoy arrived at
Southend on the 5th.
There
was no convoy FS.213.
_____
British
dredger COQUET MOUTH (477grt) was sunk by mine
off Amble, two hundred and fifty yards east by
north of the South Pier.
Three
crew were lost on the dredger.
_____
British
fishing vessel REMEMBRANCE (7grt) was sunk on a
mine 51‑53N, 01‑22E.
The
crew of two were rescued.
_____
Convoy
HX.55 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian
destroyers ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA which departed
at 0730 on an anti-submarine sweep.
Convoy
BHX.55 departed Bermuda on the 2nd with a local
escort of sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of
armed merchant cruiser RANPURA. The convoy
rendezvoused with HX.55 on the 7th and the armed
merchant cruiser was detached.
At
1913, armed merchant cruiser MONTCLARE joined as
ocean escort and at 2115, the local escort left
the convoy to return to Halifax.
Destroyer
WINCHELSEA joined the convoy on the 14th for the
day only. Sloop FOLKESTONE joined on the 14th
and was detached on the 18th when the convoy
arrived in Liverpool. Destroyer SKEENA joined on
the 15th for the day only. Corvette GARDENIA
joined the convoy on the 15th and was detached
on the 17th.
_____
Convoy
SLF.38 departed Freetown escorted by armed
merchant cruiser MALOJA to 17 July.
The
armed merchant cruiser arrived in the Clyde for
fuel and water on the 19th. The convoy arrived
at Liverpool on the 20th.
Friday,
5 July
Destroyer
WHIRLWIND (Lt Cdr J. M. Rodgers) of the 11th
Destroyer Flotilla was badly damaged by U.34
southwest of Ireland in 50‑17N, 08‑48W.
Fifty
six ratings and the NAAFI manager were lost on
the destroyer. Lt Cdr J. M. Rodgers, Lt C. R.
Bax, and twenty one ratings were wounded.
Destroyer WESTCOTT took off the survivors and
scuttled destroyer WHIRLWIND with gunfire.
Sloop
LEITH was also standing by. She then returned to
convoy OB.178.
_____
Destroyer
IMOGEN damaged her propellers in contact with a
submerged object in the Fair Isle Channel.
_____
British
corvette CALENDULA was damaged by near misses of
German bombing off Plymouth at 1413.
The
corvette returned to Plymouth.
_____
Six
Swordfish of 823 Squadron and nine Skuas of 801
Squadron departed Hatston to attack a damaged
merchant ship reported by a Hudson of 269
Squadron off the Norwegian coast.
No
contact was made, but returning Swordfish
attacked Submarine TETRARCH in 59-13N, 3-13E
mistaking her for a German submarine.
Five
torpedoes were launched, but no damage was done
to the Submarine.
_____
Destroyer
GARTH departed the Clyde at 1300 with minelayer
MENESTHEUS for Loch Alsh. The destroyer
continued on to Scapa Flow.
_____
British
minefield AW was laid in the Wash by minelayer
PLOVER and Dutch minelayer WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN
on 5 and 6 July.
_____
Convoys
OA.179 and OA.180 departed Methil escorted by
Canadian destroyer ST LAURENT from 9 to 13 July
and corvette HIBISCUS from 9 to 12 July. The
convoy passed through the Pentland Firth on the
10th.
_____
Convoy
OB.179 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer
WALKER and sloop DEPTFORD from 5 to 8 July. The
escorts were detached to convoy SL.37. The
convoy dispersed on the 9th.
_____
Convoy
FN.214 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers
VANESSA, VEGA, and WINCHESTER. The convoy
arrived at the Tyne on the 7th.
_____
Convoy
MT.103 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 6th.
_____
Convoy
FS.214 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
WOLSEY and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at
Southend on the 6th.
_____
Convoy
FS.215 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. Destroyers JAVELIN
and JUPITER joined the convoy for 6 July. Patrol
sloop SHEARWATER joined on the 6th and arrived
with the convoy. The convoy arrived at Southend
on the 7th.
_____
Special
service ship EMERALD WINGS (2139grt) arrived at
Scapa Flow as a blockship and she was
subsequently deployed.
_____
U.99
sank Canadian steamer MAGOG (2053grt), a
straggler from convoy HX.52, 58 miles WSW of
Fastnet in 50‑31N, 11‑05W.
The
crew was rescued.
_____
Nine
Swordfish of 813 Squadron from aircraft carrier
EAGLE took off from Sidi Barrani and raided
Tobruk.
Italian
destroyer ZEFFIRO was sunk.
Italian
destroyer EURO was badly damaged and her bow was
blown off. She was later towed to Taranto and
repaired.
Italian
liner LIGURIA (15,354grt) was bombed and beached
to prevent sinking.
Italian
steamers MANZONI (3955grt) was sunk and
SERENITAS (5171grt) was badly damaged.
Both
steamers were later repaired by the British for
their use.
Light
cruisers CAPETOWN and CALEDON with destroyers
JANUS, JUNO, IMPERIAL, and ILEX, which all
departed Alexandria on the 5th, were at sea to
render assistance to downed flyers of the Tobruk
raid.
_____
Australian
heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA joined Aircraft carrier
HERMES and heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE off Dakar.
Saturday,
6 July
French
Amiral Estava from Bizerte made a broadcast that
French battleship DUNKERQUE was not seriously
damaged in the 3 July Mer el Kebir attack and
would soon be repaired.
Upon
receipt of this, British Force H, which was
about to strike at French battleship RICHELIEU
at Dakar, was ordered to make a second strike on
DUNKERQUE.
Force
H departed Gibraltar at 2000/5th with
battlecruiser HOOD, battleship VALIANT, aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruisers ARETHUSA and
ENTERPRISE, and destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND,
FORESTER, ESCORT, WISHART, VORTIGERN, VIDETTE,
ACTIVE, and VELOX on operation LEVER, the
neutralization of French battleship DUNKERQUE.
Aircraft
from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL arrived at Mer
el Kebir and sank French auxiliary minesweeper
ESTEREL V (30grt). One petty officer and five
ratings were lost in the minesweeper.
French
auxiliary patrol boat TERRE NEUVE (780grt),
alongside DUNKERQUE, was sunk and her depth
charges exploded ripping a huge gash in
DUNKERQUE's side. Four officers and one hundred
and fifty ratings were killed or wounded. One
officer, one petty officer, and six ratings were
killed in the patrol boat.
Total
French casualties for the raids of 3 and 6 July
on Mer el Kebir were 1297 killed and 351
wounded.
Battleship
DUNKERQUE was repaired sufficiently to be moved
in February 1942. She arrived at Toulon on 19
February, escorted by destroyers FOUGUEUX,
FRONDEUR, KERSAINT, TARTU, and VAUQUELIN.
A
Skua of 803 Squadron was damaged by gunfire from
French fighters and ditched off Oran. Petty
Officer G. W. Peacock and Leading Airman B. P.
Dearnley were rescued.
_____
Light
cruisers CAPETOWN and CALEDON of the 3rd Cruiser
Squadron and destroyers JANUS, JUNO, ILEX, and
IMPERIAL bombarded Bardia from 0537 to 0631.
Italian steamer AXUM (249grt) was sunk and one
merchant ship was damaged.
At
0820, the force was attacked by Italian bombers,
but no damage was done.
The
British force arrived back at Alexandria on the
6th.
_____
An
Italian convoy of steamers ESPERIA (11,398grt),
CALITEA (4013grt), MARCO FOSCARINI (6342grt),
and VETTOR PISANI (6339grt) escorted by Italian
torpedo boats ORSA, PEGASO, PROCIONE, and ORIONE
of the 4th Torpedo Boat Division departed Naples
for Benghazi. The convoy was joined on the 7th
by Italian steamer FRANCESCO BARBERO (6343grt)
and torpedo boats ABBA and PILO from Catania.
_____
Submarine
SEALION had attacked a German convoy off
Skudesnshavn in Boknafjord at 1550/3rd. She came
under heavy counterattack for forty five hours
and withdrew.
However,
submarine SHARK (Lt Cdr P. N. Buckley) coming
into the patrol area to relieve SEALION was
taken under attack at 2200 at 5 July and badly
damaged by German auxiliary minesweepers M.1803
(trawler SPITZBERGEN: 469grt), M.1806 (trawler
CUXHAVEN: 491grt), and M.1807 (trawler MULSUM:
480grt) in 58‑18N, 5‑13E.
Submarine
SHARK was able to get off a distress message at
2250 advising her location of 58-51N, 4-50E and
that she was unable to dive.
Light
cruiser SOUTHAMPTON, anti-aircraft cruiser
COVENTRY, and destroyers COSSACK (D.4), MAORI,
FAME, and FORTUNE set out from Scapa Flow at
0215 to escort submarine SHARK to Rosyth.
However,
SHARK was captured and sank in tow before the
British force could arrive. Lt Cdr Buckley, Lt
D. H. B. Barrett, Lt D. E. Wheeler, S/Lt R. D.
J. Barnes RNR, Warrant Engineer C. C. Loder
(act), and twenty seven ratings were captured
and taken prisoner. Two crew were killed and one
crewman was fatally wounded. Also, another
rating was killed 27 August 1940 when dealing
with an unexploded British bomb near the prison
camp.
By
1000, the destroyers had searched submarine
SHARK's track without success.
Destroyer
FAME was damaged at 1240 aft by the straddling
of a salvo of nine bombs twenty eight miles west
of Scotstoun Head.
Destroyer
FAME's speed was reduced to twenty knots.
Lt
(E) A. R. R. Knowles and two ratings were
killed, one rating died of wounds, and sixteen
ratings were wounded on destroyer FAME.
The
entire British force proceeded to Rosyth,
arriving at 2330. The force passed Oxcars Boom
at 0040/7th.
Destroyer
FAME began repairs at Rosyth completed 5
October.
The
British force departed Rosyth at 2015 on the 7th
for Scapa Flow, arriving at 0830/8th with
SOUTHAMPTON, which had conducted firing
practices, arriving at 1130.
_____
Destroyer
GARTH arrived at Scapa Flow at 1840 to work up.
_____
Convoy
FN.215 departed Southend, escorted by sloops
LOWESTOFT and WESTON and patrol sloop MALLARD.
Destroyers KASHMIR and KELVIN joined the convoy
for 7 July. Sloop MALLARD was detached on the
7th. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 8th.
_____
U.30
sank British steamer SEA GLORY (1964grt) south
of Ireland.
There
were no survivors and the fate of SEA GLORY is
not certain. She was reported missing on the
11th. She may have been sunk by U.34 on the 6th
or U.99 on the 7th.
_____
U.34
sank Estonian steamer VAPPER (4543grt) in
49‑30N, 09‑15W.
One
crewman was killed on the Estonian steamer. The
survivors were rescued by Canadian destroyer
RESTIGOUCHE.
_____
British
steamer APRICITY (402grt) was damaged by German
bombing south of Portland Bill.
Steamer
APRICITY in convoy OA.178 had been attacked on
the 4th, but not damaged.
_____
Convoy
BC of troopships REINA DEL PACIFICO, ORION,
STRATHEDEN, KENYA, KARANJA, and ASKA departed
Freetown escorted by heavy cruiser CORNWALL. The
convoy arrived in England on the 19th.
Sunday,
7 July
Eight
Skuas of 801 Suqadron departed Hatston to attack
oil tanks at Bergen.
No
damage was done to intended targets and no
aircraft were lost.
_____
British
oiler CAIRNDALE and cable ship ARIEL departed
Scapa Flow for the Clyde, escorted by
anti-submarine trawlers THIRLMERE and
WINDERMERE.
_____
At
0054, Turkish minelaying sloop YUZBASI HAKKI
(built in the UK and just completed) was damaged
in a collision with destroyer BROKE, escorting
convoy OA.178, at Plymouth.
There
was slight damage to the destroyer. The damage
was repaired at Plymouth from 10 to 12 July.
Destroyer
BROKE escorted the minelaying sloop to Falmouth
for repairs.
_____
British
minefield BS.22 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK
and destroyers ESK and INTREPID.
_____
Submarine
H.43 (Lt G. R. Colvin) landed a reconnaissance
party on Guernsey in Operation ANGER in
preparation for operation AMBASSADOR, a commando
raid to be held on the 14th.
_____
Minesweeper
MERCURY was damaged by German bombing at
Portland.
Four
ratings were killed and three were wounded,
including Temporary Acting LDR H. W. C. Hyde
RNR.
_____
Convoy
OB.180 departed Liverpool and was routed
northabout Ireland. Bristol Channel ships
reroute from Milford Haven as OBM convoys.
The
convoy was escorted by sloop SANDWICH and
destroyer WANDERER from 7 to 10 July when they
were detached to convoy HX.54. Destroyers
HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, WOLVERINE, and WITHERINGTON
joined the convoy for 9 July, with the exception
of destroyer HESPERUS which escorted the convoy
on 9 and 10 July. Destroyer HIGHLANDER joined
the convoy for 10 July.
_____
Convoy
FN.216 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer
VALOROUS, sloop STORK, and patrol sloop
SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the
9th.
_____
Convoy
MT.104 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 9th.
_____
Convoy
FS.216 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops
BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS and patrol sloop
MALLARD. The convoy arrived at Southend on the
9th.
_____
Convoy
HX.56 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian
destroyers OTTAWA and SAGUENAY at 0730.
The
destroyers turned over the convoy beyond the
local approaches on the 8th to Armed merchant
cruiser COMORIN and arrived back at Halifax
midmorning on the 8th. The armed merchant
cruiser was detached on the 20th.
Convoy
BHX.56 departed Bermuda on the 6th escorted by
ocean armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA. The convoy
rendezvoused with convoy HX.56 on the 11th when
the armed merchant cruiser was detached.
On
the 19th, destroyer WARWICK, sloops HASTINGS,
LEITH, and ROCHESTER, and corvette HEARTSEASE
joined the convoy. Sloop HASTINGS was detached
on the 20th. The remaining escort arrived with
the convoy at Liverpool on the 22nd.
_____
Convoy
HG.37 of twenty two ships departed Gibraltar
escorted locally by destroyers WISHART and
VIDETTE on 7 and 8 July.
Sloop
ENCHANTRESS from convoy OG.36 escorted the
convoy from 8 to 16 July. The convoy arrived at
Liverpool on the 16th.
_____
German
auxiliary submarine chaser UJ.D (trawler TREFF
VIII: 356grt) was sunk on a mine in 63-16N,
7-30E, laid by submarine NARWHAL on the 4th.
_____
U.30
arrived at Lorient. She was the first U-boat to
use a French port.
U-boats
U.34, U.52, and U.99 followed later in the
month.
_____
U.34
sank Dutch motor tanker LUCRETIA (2584grt) in
49‑50N, 08‑07W.
Two
crew were killed on the Dutch tanker. The
survivors were picked up by Portuguese steamer
ALFERRAREDE (1452grt).
_____
U.99
sank Swedish steamer BISSEN (1514grt) in 50‑06N,
10‑23W and damaged another steamer whose
identity may be British steamer SEA GLORY (see 6
July).
The
entire crew of the steamer BISSEN was rescued.
_____
The
British launched CATAPULT operations at French
battleship RICHELIEU at Dakar.
Aircraft
carrier HERMES, heavy cruisers DORSETSHIRE and
AUSTRALIA, and sloop MILFORD arrived off Dakar.
Sloop
MILFORD delivered an ultimatum to the French
commander on RICHELIEU. The ultimatum was
rejected and at 0210/8th a motor launch from
aircraft carrier HERMES dropped depth charges
under the stern of RICHELIEU. The attack failed
due to shallowness of the water.
Three
hours later, six torpedo bombers of 814 Squadron
from HERMES attacked RICHELIEU. The battleship
was hit one of her propeller shafts was damaged
and three compartments were flooded.
At
1820/9th, Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA
departed the Dakar CATAPULt force and on the
11th rejoined the convoy she had escorted
earlier from Capetown. The convoy and heavy
cruiser AUSTRALIA arrived in the Clyde on the
16th and Scapa Flow on the 20th.
_____
Italian
air reconnaissance reported that two British
cruisers had arrived at Malta that day.
These
ships were Destroyer JERVIS which came from
Gibraltar and Destroyer DIAMOND which came from
Alexandria to assist in convoy operations from
Malta.
However,
the presence of these ships set into motion
considerable support for the Italian convoy at
sea.
_____
The
Italian convoy that had departed Naples the day
before was being covered by Italian light
cruisers BANDE NERE and COLLEONI of the 2nd
Cruiser Squadron (Admiral F. Casardi) and
destroyers MAESTRALE, LIBECCIO, GRECALE, and
SCIROCCO of the 10th Destroyer Division.
The
covering force was joined by the flagship of the
Second Squadron (Admiral R. Paladini), heavy
cruiser POLA, departing Augusta at 1840 with
destroyers LANCIERI, CARABINIERI, CORAZZIERE,
and ASCARI of the 12th Destroyer Division: heavy
cruisers ZARA, FIUME, and GORIZIA of the 1st
Cruiser Division (Admiral P. Matteucci) departed
Messina at 1410 with destroyers ALFIERI,
CARDUCCI, GIOBERTI, and ORIANI of the 9th
Destroyer Division; heavy cruisers BOLZANO and
TRENTO of the 3rd Cruiser Division (Admiral C.
Cattaneo) departed Messina at 1545 with
destroyers ARTIGLIERE, CAMICIA NERA, AVIERE, and
GENIERE; and light cruisers EUGENIO, D'AOSTA,
ATTENDOLO, and MONTECUCCOLI of the 7th Cruiser
Division (Admiral L. Sansonetti) departed
Palermo at 1235 and destroyers GRANATIERE,
FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE, and ALPINO of the 13th
Destroyer Division.
Italian
battleships CAVOUR and CESARE (Flagship Admiral
Campioni) with destroyers FRECCIA, SAETTA,
STRALE, and DARDO of the 7th Destroyer Division
and FOLGORE, FULMINE, BALENO, and LAMPO of the
8th Destroyer Division departed Taranto at
1410/7th for distant cover for the convoy.
Italian
light cruisers BARBIANO, GUISSANO, CARDONA, and
DIAZ of the 4th Cruiser Squadron (Admiral A. M.
Di Moriondo) and ABRUZZI and GARIBALDI of the
8th Cruiser Squadron (Admiral A. Legnani)
departed Taranto at the same time as the
battleship force with destroyers PIGAFETTI and
ZENO of the 15th Destroyer Division and DA
RECCO, PESSAGNO, and USODIMARE of the 16th
Destroyer Division.
Italian
destroyers VIVALDI, DA NOLI, and PANCALDO of the
14th Destroyer Division later departed Taranto
at 0618/9th to reinforce the Italian force.
However,
light cruisers DIAZ and CADORNA of the 4th
Cruiser Division and destroyers STRALE and DARDO
of the 7th Destroyer Division and destroyer DA
NOLI of the 14th Destroyer Division developed
mechanical defects.
The
destroyers were allowed to return to Taranto,
but the cruisers remained with the fleet.
_____
The
Mediterranean Fleet sortied from Alexandria to
cover convoys MS.1 and MF.1 coming from Malta.
The
Fleet was divided into three sections.
Force
A was light cruisers NEPTUNE, ORION, GLOUCESTER,
and SYDNEY under Vice Admiral J. C. Tovey on
ORION with Australian destroyer STUART which
departed Alexandria and light cruiser LIVERPOOL
which departed Port Said and joined the Force at
sea. Force B was battleship WARSPITE (Admiral A.
Cunningham's flagship) with destroyers NUBIAN,
MOHAWK, HERO, HEREWARD, and DECOY. Force C was
battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN (Flagship Rear
Admiral H. D. Pridham Wipple, BS.1) and MALAYA,
aircraft carrier EAGLE, and destroyers HASTY,
HYPERION, ILEX, VOYAGER, VAMPIRE, HOSTILE, JUNO,
JANUS, DEFENDER, and DAINTY.
Destroyer
IMPERIAL departed with this force, but a burst
steam pipe caused her return to Alexandria.
Force
D, which later departed Malta with the convoy,
was destroyers DIAMOND, JERVIS, and VENDETTA.
Destroyer
HASTY attacked two Italian submarines soon after
the Fleet departure from Alexandria.
Later
that night, Italian submarine BEILUL sighted and
attacked the Mediterranean Fleet without success
32‑40N, 28‑10W. Later, she was able to report
her sighting to the Supermarina.
_____
Submarine
OLYMPUS in dock at Malta was bombed and badly
damaged in an Italian air attack.
The
submarine was slightly damaged in another air
attack on 7 September.
Submarine
OLYMPUS was repairing and refitting until 29
November.
_____
Convoy
BS.1 of eighteen ships departed Suez escorted by
sloops GRIMSBY and CLIVE from 7 to 10 July.
The
convoy was dispersed on the 10th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser THOR sank British steamer
DELAMBRE (7032grt) in the South Atlantic at
06‑13S, 25‑06W.
Some
of the crew were made prisoners of war.
Monday,
8 July
Heavy
cruiser GLASGOW arrived at Scapa Flow from
Liverpool at 1400.
_____
Heavy
cruiser DEVONSHIRE arrived at Scapa Flow from
the Clyde at 1909.
_____
Heavy
cruiser NORFOLK departed Scapa Flow at 1935 for
the Clyde.
_____
Destroyer
DIANA departed Scapa Flow at 2230 to rendezvous
with Finnish steamer LAHTI (616grt) at 0400/9th
three miles 064° from Rattray Head and escort
her to Rosyth.
Destroyer
DIANA did not locate the Finnish ship. At 1234
on the 9th, the destroyer was ordered to search
for a Blenheim in the sea in 58-14N, 1-04W.
This
search was also unsuccessful and destroyer DIANA
arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0200/10th.
_____
French
sloop SUIPPE was damaged by German bombing at
Falmouth.
No
crew was aboard the sloop at the time. Sloop
SUIPPE was beached at St Just's Pool.
_____
Submarine
SEALION attacked the wreck of sunken German
steamer PALIME (2863grt) at Obrestad.
_____
Convoy
FN.217 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer
WOOLSTON and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 10th.
_____
U.99
sank British steamer HUMBER ARM (5758grt) from
convoy HX.53 in 50‑36N, 09‑24W.
The
entire crew was rescued from the British
steamer.
_____
British
steamer EASTWOOD (1551grt) was damaged by German
bombing one mile north of 20D Buoy, Hartlepool.
_____
British
steamer CORUNDUM (929grt) was damaged by German
bombing seven miles southwest of Folkestone.
_____
Anti-submarine
trawler CAYTON WYKE (550grt, Chief Skipper D. F.
Noble DSC RNR) of the 9th Anti-submarine Group
was reported lost on a mine off Dover, but may
have been sunk by German motor torpedo boat
S.36.
Noble
and Probationary Temporary Lt A. E. Brown RNR,
and sixteen ratings were lost on the trawler.
_____
Special
service ship JAMES 9 (85grt) was sunk as a
blockship.
_____
German
heavy cruiser LUTZOW while in dock at Kiel was
hit by a British bomb which did not explode.
_____
Force
H consisting of battlecruiser HOOD, battleships
RESOLUTION and VALIANT, aircraft carrier ARK
ROYAL, light cruisers ARETHUSA, DELHI, and
ENTERPRISE, and destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER,
FOXHOUND, ESCORT, FEARLESS, ACTIVE, DOUGLAS,
VELOX, VORTIGERN, and WRESTLER sortied from
Gibraltar to cover the Mediterranean Fleet. As a
diversion for the convoys leaving Malta, ARK
ROYAL was to launch an air raid against
Cagliari, but the raid was later cancelled.
Light
cruiser ARETHUSA arrived back at Gibraltar on
the 10th.
Destroyer
ESCORT (Lt Cdr J. Bostock) of Force H was
torpedoed by Italian submarine MARCONI southwest
of Minorca in 36‑20N, 03‑46W at 0300/11th.
Destroyer
ESCORT was taken in tow by destroyer FORESTER
and screened by destroyer FAULKNOR. In addition,
after safely delivering Force H to Gibraltar on
the 11th, destroyers KEPPEL, FORESIGHT, and
FOXHOUND returned to screen ESCORT's withdrawal.
However,
destroyer ESCORT was lost later that day when
she foundered in tow.
Two
ratings were lost and Commissioned Gunner F. E.
V. Mathews and twelve ratings were wounded in
ESCORT.
_____
Light
cruiser GLOUCESTER of the Mediterranean Fleet
was bombed by Italian aircraft. A bomb struck
the compass platform of the bridge of the
cruiser killing Captain F. R. Garside, his first
officer Cdr J. R. H. D'Aeth, Lt Cdr M. Lindsay,
Lt Cdr P. N. Churchill, S/Lt W. K. M. Murray,
Paymaster S/Lt B. V. Layard, and Paymaster
Midshipman A. J. Atkinson and eleven ratings and
wounding Lt Cdr J. Brett, S/Lt R. H. Basford
RNVR (SAD), and Midshipman P. N. Wylie and six
ratings.
Damage
to GLOUCESTER was not serious, but the loss of
many officers on her caused her to be assigned
to the aircraft carrier EAGLE's screen.
At
0515, submarine PHOENIX sighted the Italian
Fleet at sea midway between Taranto and
Benghazi.
The
submarine unsuccessfully attacked Italian
battleships GIULO CESARE and CONTE DI CAVOUR.
Tuesday,
9 July
BATTLE
OF CALABRIA or PUNTA STILO
The
battle took place between the Mediterranean
Fleet and Italian Fleet units, both on convoy
escort missions.
Light
cruiser GLOUCESTER operated with aircraft
carrier EAGLE.
Italian
heavy cruiser BOLZANO was hit by three medium
caliber hits.
Italian
battleship CESARE (Flagship of Campioni) was hit
by one 381 mm shell.
Light
cruiser NEPTUNE was damaged at 1525 by a near
miss which damaged her aircraft and catapult.
Battleship
WARSPITE had a fire, caused by the flash of her
own guns which fired and demolished one of her
seaplanes.
Destroyers
STUART and VOYAGER attacked an Italian submarine
during the engagement.
Destroyers
NUBIAN, MOHAWK, JUNO, and JANUS were formed into
a group to fend off Italian ships that might
attempt to fire torpedoes at the British ships.
Submarine
PARTHIAN was at sea in the area during the
battle.
_____
Force
H was to have raided Cagliari. Before the raid
was launched, Force H was attacked by Italian
bombers south of Minorca. Battleship RESOLUTION
was straddled and battlecruiser HOOD was near
missed. The raid was cancelled.
_____
A
convoy of merchant ships, MF.1, consisting of
Egyptian steamer EL NID (7769grt), British
steamer KNIGHT OF MALTA (1553grt), and former
Italian steamer RODI (3220grt) put to sea from
Malta at 2300/9th escorted by destroyers
VENDETTA, JERVIS, and DIAMOND.
Light
cruiser GLOUCESTER and destroyer STUART also
arrived for refuelling. After refuelling, they
joined the convoy which was covered by light
cruisers ORION and NEPTUNE.
Destroyers
STUART, DAINTY, DEFENDER, HYPERION, HOSTILE,
HASTY, ILEX, and JUNO were detached to Malta to
refuel late on the 9th. They arrived at 0530 and
departed at 1115 on the 10th.
In
turn, destroyers HERO, HEREWARD, DECOY, VAMPIRE,
and VOYAGER were sent to Malta to refuel.
A
slow convoy, MS.1, of four merchant ships,
British steamers KIRKLAND (1361grt), TWEED
(2697grt), and MASIRAH (6578grt), former Dutch
steamer under British flag ZEELAND (2726grt),
and Norwegian steamer NOVASLI (3204grt),
departed Malta early on the 10th escorted by
destroyers DECOY, VAMPIRE, and VOYAGER.
At
2030/10th, battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN with
destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK, and JANUS were to
detached to refuel at Malta.
This
group sailed at 0800/11th with destroyers HERO
and HEREWARD. Destroyers HERO and HEREWARD later
were transferred to convoy MF.1 and destroyer
JANUS joined MS.1, replacing destroyer VAMPIRE.
On
the 11th, air attacks on the British ships saw
Gunner (T) J. H. Endicott on Australian
destroyer VAMPIRE badly wounded by bomb
splinters. He was transferred to destroyer
MOHAWK and died of wounds later that day.
On
the 12th, air attacks on the British ships saw
two ratings killed in LIVERPOOL and several
wounded, including Cdr J. J. Weld MVO.
Both
convoys were given cover by battleships ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE,
light cruiser GLOUCESTER, and destroyers HASTY,
HYPERION, ILEX, HOSTILE, DEFENDER, DAINTY, HERO,
and HEREWARD.
Battleship
WARSPITE, light cruisers LIVERPOOL and SYDNEY,
and destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK, VAMPIRE, and JUNO
pressed onto Alexandria arriving at 0600/13th.
The
fast convoy MF.1 arrived safely at Alexandria at
0900/13th.
On
the 13th, Light cruisers CALEDON and CAPETOWN of
the 3rd Cruiser Squadron met convoy MS.1 midway
between Cape Spada and Derna. These ships were
given heavy support by battleship RAMILLIES and
destroyers DIAMOND, HAVOCK, IMPERIAL, and
VENDETTA which departed Alexandria on the 13th.
At
0900/15th, battleship RAMILLIES, the 3rd Cruiser
Squadron, and the slow convoy arrived safely at
Alexandria.
_____
Submarine
SALMON (Lt Cdr E. O. B. Bickford DSO) was sunk
in mining off Egersund in 57‑22N, 5‑00E.
Lt
Cdr Bickford, Lt M. F. Wykeham-Martin DSC, Lt R.
H. M. Hancock DSC, Lt K. D. Skelt, Warrant
Engineer W. L. Davis, and the thirty six ratings
of the crew were lost with SALMON.
_____
Sloop
FOXGLOVE, proceeding to Portsmouth, was bombed
at 1130 and badly damaged off the Nab.
Acting
Gunner F. Brown died of wounds on the sloop.
Sloop
FOXGLOVE was able to proceed under tow by naval
trawler HOLLY, which was relieved en route by
tug RESOLVE to Portsmouth, where she was under
repair until July 1941.
_____
At
0030/9th, heavy cruisers SHROPSHIRE and SUSSEX
and destroyers FIREDRAKE and ECHO departed the
Clyde to escort British troopships ORMONDE
(14,982grt) and ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt) to
Iceland.
They
convoy arrived at Reykavik at 2030/11th.
Destroyer
ECHO took ULSTER PRINCE departed Reykavik at
1430/12th for Akreyri arriving on the 13th. Then
they proceeded on to Seidisfjord on the 13th.
Destroyer
ECHO and troopship ULSTER PRINCE departed
Seidisfjord on the 15th and returned to
Reykavik.
The
heavy cruisers arrived at Scapa Flow after the
operation on the 14th. On the 16th, the
Destroyers and troopships departed Reykavik on
their return.
_____
Destroyers
INGLEFIELD, IMOGEN, HAMBLEDON, FERNIE, and
ATHERSTONE departed Scapa Flow at 2145 for Loch
Alsh for escort duties with the 1st Minelaying
Squadron.
_____
Convoy
FN.218 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer
WOOLSTON, sloop FLEETWOOD, and patrol sloop
PINTAIL. The convoy was joined on the 10th by
destroyers JAVELIN and JUPITER. The two J
destroyers and the patrol sloop were detached
later on the 10th. The convoy arrived at the
Tyne on the 11th.
_____
Convoy
MT.105 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 11th.
There
was no convoy MT.106
_____
Convoy
FS.217 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy
arrived at Southend on the 10th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser KOMET sailed from Bergen
to raid in the Pacific. She reached this
destination by going around the north of Russia
assisted by Russian icebreakers.
Armed
merchant cruiser KOMET carried twenty five
ground mines for this operation.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser THOR sank Belgian steamer
BRUGES (4983grt) in the South Atlantic in 4S,
28W. The crew was made prisoners of war.
_____
U.34
sank Estonian steamer TIIU (1865grt) 280 miles
west of St Ann's in 50‑20W, 12W. The entire crew
was rescued.
_____
U.43
sank British steamer AYLESBURY (3944grt) in
48‑39N, 13‑55W. The entire crew was rescued.
_____
Latvian
steamer TALVALDIS (534grt) in convoy CW.2 was
sunk by German bombing three miles 120° from
Prawle Point. One crewman was lost.
_____
British
steamer SAN FELIPE (5919grt) was damaged by
German bombing at Roath Docks, Cardiff.
_____
British
steamer KENNETH HAWKSFIELD (1546grt) was damaged
by German bombing in the Dover area.
_____
British
steamer POLGRANGE (804grt) was damaged by German
bombing in 51‑46N, 01‑46E.
_____
British
steamer EMPIRE DIAFFODIL (398grt) was damaged by
German bombing 13 miles SSW of Portland.
_____
Dutch
steamer JOLA (269grt) was damaged by German
bombing three miles SW of Start Point.
_____
Greek
steamer AEGEON (5285grt) was damaged by German
bombing at Weymouth.
_____
Submarine
PROTEUS arrived at Gibraltar after patrol off
Mer el Kebir.
_____
Convoy
SL.39 departed Freetown escorted by armed
merchant cruiser CORFU. When the cruiser was
damaged in a collision the next day with
aircraft carrier HERMES, armed merchant cruiser
DUNVEGAN CASTLE joined the convoy to 25 July.
The convoy merged with convoy SLF.39 on the
19th.
Armed
merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE arrived at the
Clyde for refuelling and watering on the 26th.
On
the 25th, destroyers HESPERUS, RESTIGOUCHE, and
WALKER and corvette MALLOW joined the convoy and
escorted it Liverpool, arriving on the 29th.
Wednesday,
10 July
Minelayers
MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC, and
SOUTHERN PRINCE departed Loch Alsh at 1100/10th
and laid minefield SN 1 north of Rona at 2025 to
2234 on the 10th, escorted by destroyers
INGLEFIELD (D.3), IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE, HAMBLEDON,
and FERNIE. Anti-aircraft ship COVENTRY departed
Scapa Flow at 1238 to rendezvous with the
minelaying force.
After
the minelay, the I's went to Scapa Flow arriving
at 1645 on the 11th and the three Hunts arrived
at Loch Alsh at 1100/11th. The Hunts departed
Loch Alsh at 1430/11th and proceeded to
Liverpool.
_____
Nine
Skuas of 801 Squadron departed Hatston for
Sumburgh in preparation for an attack on Bergen.
Leaving
Sumburgh, they encountered poor visibility and
returned to Sumburgh before proceeding half way
to the objective.
_____
Convoy
OA.182 departed Methil escorted by destroyer
SKEENA and corvette GARDENIA from 10 to 14 July.
_____
Convoy
MT.107 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 11th.
_____
Convoy
FS.218 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
WINCHESTER and sloops LOWESTOFT and WESTON. The
convoy arrived at Southend on the 11th.
_____
U.34
sank Finnish steamer PETSAMO (4596grt) in
51‑08N, 09‑22W.
Four
crew were killed on the Finnish steamer.
_____
U.61
sank Dutch steamer ALWAKI (4533grt) of convoy
OA.180, 10 miles northeast of Cape Wrath in
58‑46N, 04‑46W.
Canadian
destroyer ST LAURENT reported the steamer's
damage at 1234.
Destroyer
ST LAURENT and escorting aircraft indicated the
explosion was internal, probably sabotage.
British
steamer HARMONIC (4558grt) rescued the crew of
eight from the Dutch ship.
Tugs
BANDIT and THAMES were sent to assist.
Destroyers
ZULU, MAORI, and BERKELEY departed
anti-submarine exercises to join the convoy.
Destroyers
TARTAR, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, and MASHONA exercising
at Scapa Flow were ordered to search in the
area.
Destroyers
BEDOUIN and MASHONA remained in the vicinity of
Cape Wrath until the evening of 11 July when a
westbound convoy had passed the area. The
destroyers then proceeded to Scapa Flow.
_____
British
tanker TASCALUSA (6499grt) was sunk by German
bombing in Falmouth Harbour, alongside the
Northern Arm. Greek steamer MARI CHANDRIS
(5840grt), which had been towed to Falmouth in
June after a collision, was set afire by
TASCALUSA. The entire crew of the Greek steamer
was rescued. TASCALUSA was refloated on 29
August and beached at Mylor Flats for scrapping.
_____
British
steamer WATERLOO (1905grt) was sunk by German
bombing two and a half miles NE of Smith's Knoll
Bouy. The crew was rescued.
_____
Dutch
steamer BILL S. (466grt) was badly damaged by
German bombing six miles 260° from Dungeness
from convoy CW.3, escorted by destroyer
VERSATILE.
The
steamer sank 6.7 miles 67° from Dungeness.
The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
British
tanker British CHANCELLOR (7085grt) was damaged
by German bombing off Falmouth.
_____
Submarine
PANDORA arrived at Gibraltar after patrol off
Algiers.
_____
Aircraft
carrier EAGLE launched nine Swordfish of the 813
Squadron on an air attack on Augusta.
Italian
destroyer LEONE PANCALDO was sunk in harbour,
but was salved on 26 July 1941 and returned to
duty. A fleet oiler was damaged.
_____
Italian
submarine SCIRE sank French steamer CHEIK
(1058grt) 54 miles 310° from Semaphore d'Asmare.
_____
Convoy
HG.38 of six ships departed Gibraltar. The
convoy was escorted by destroyer VOLUNTEER from
10 to 18 July. Destroyer VOLUNTEER returned to
Gibraltar on the 10th to make good defects and
was relieved by destroyer VIDETTE. Destroyer
VOLUNTEER then returned to the convoy and
VIDETTE returned to Gibraltar. The convoy was
given escort by British corvette GLADIOLUS from
21 to 27 July. The convoy arrived at Liverpool
on the 27th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser WIDDER sank British
steamer DAVISAN (6433grt) in the Central
Atlantic at 18‑09N, 54‑40W, four hundred and
fifty miles north, northeast of Guadalope.
The
entire crew was made prisoners of war.
_____
Aircraft
carrier HERMES was damaged in a collision at
0302 with Armed merchant cruiser CORFU 130 miles
west, northwest of Freetown at 9‑10N, 15‑48W.
Heavy
cruiser DORSETSHIRE was in company of HERMES and
stood by these ships. CORFU had been escorting
convoy SL.39 which continued on without her.
The
two ships were locked together for just under an
hour and a half during which CORFU was almost
completely abandoned, 141 crew being taken
aboard HERMES. There were no casualties in
either ship. The armed merchant cruiser was
later reboarded by crew in HERMES' cutter.
Aircraft
carrier HERMES arrived at Freetown at 1800 that
day. DORSETSHIRE attempted to tow CORFU. Sloop
MILFORD arrived at Freetown at 1200/10th and
after refuelling, sailed at 0520/11th to escort
heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE and the armed merchant
cruiser. Dutch tug DONAU departed Freetown at
0600/11th.
Heavy
cruiser DORSETSHIRE arrived at Freetown at
1700/12th.
Armed
merchant cruiser CORFU with sloop MILFORD and
Dutch tug DONAU anchored outside harbour during
the night of 12/13 July.
Armed
merchant cruiser CORFU, towed stern first by tug
DONAU and escorted by sloop MILFORD arrived at
Freetown at 1330/13th.
Armed
merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE was allocated
to escort convoy SLF.39, but sailed to escort
SL.39. Convoy SLF.39 when it did sail proceeded
unescorted, after a local one day escort of
sloop MILFORD.
Aircraft
carrier HERMES after emergency repairs departed
Freetown on 5 August and arrived at Simonstown
on 17 August with convoy RS.5, joined at sea by
Light cruiser DRAGON. HERMES had been designated
to participate in MENACE in September, but was
still under repair at Simonstown at that time.
HERMES did not leave Simonstown until 18
November and she arrived back at Freetown for
operations on 30 November.
Armed
merchant cruiser CORFU was under repair at
Freetown. She was intentionally run aground on
19 August to facilitate repairs to her bow. She
was finally repaired in early 1941.
Thursday,
11 July
British
minefield BS.23 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK
and destroyers EXPRESS and ESK.
_____
Convoy
OB.182 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop
FOLKESTONE from 11 to 14 July. The sloop was
detached to convoy HX.55.
_____
Convoy
FN.219 departed Southend, escorted by sloops
BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 13th.
_____
Convoy
MT.108 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 12th.
_____
Convoy
FS.219 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers
WALLACE and WOLFOUND.
_____
Anti-submarine
yacht WARRIOR II (1124grt, Captain A. E.
Johnston Rtd) was sunk by German bombing off
Portland. One rating was killed.
_____
British
steamer MALLARD (352grt) was sunk by German
motor torpedo boat S.26 between St Catherine's
Point and Beachy Head. Five crew and the naval
gunner were lost. Three crew were picked up by
the S-boat and made prisoners of war.
_____
Belgian
fishing vessel PROVIDENTIA (139grt) was sunk by
German bombing 49‑55N, 09‑12W.
_____
British
steamer KYLEMOUNT (704grt) was damaged by German
bombing ten miles west of Dartmouth.
_____
British
steamers PERU (6961grt) and CITY OF MELBOURNE
(6630grt) were damaged by German bombing in
Portland harbour.
_____
British
steamer ELEANOR BROOKE (1037grt) was damaged by
German bombing off Portland.
_____
Dutch
steamer MIES (309grt) was damaged by German
bombing seven miles south of Portland Bill.
_____
U.34
sank Norwegian steamer JANNA (2197grt), which
was a straggler from convoy HX.54, in 50‑34N,
12‑10W.
There
were twenty five survivors from the Norwegian
steamer.
_____
Convoy
HX.57 departed Halifaxat 0730 escorted by
Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY,
which were detached on the 12th.
At
2115 that evening, the destroyers turned the
convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant
cruiser ASCANIA, and returned to port. The armed
merchant cruiser was detached on the 23rd.
Convoy
BHX.57 departed Bermuda on the 10th escorted
locally by sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of
light cruiser EMERALD. The convoy rendezvoused
with convoy HX.57 on the 15th and the light
cruiser was detached.
On
the 23rd, destroyer WANDERER, sloops DEPTFORD
and SANDWICH, and corvette PERWINKLE joined the
convoy and remained until the convoy arrived at
Liverpool on the 26th.
_____
Australian
light cruiser SYDNEY arrived at Alexandria.
_____
Light
cruisers CALEDON and CAPETOWN departed
Alexandria to escort a convoy to Greece.
The
light cruisers arrived back at Alexandria on the
13th.
_____
Italian
submarine TARANTINI sank Panamanian tanker BEME
(3039grt) in 33‑12N, 33‑38E near Haifa.
The
entire crew from the Panamanian tanker were
rescued.
_____
Convoy
SLF.39 departed Freetown escorted by sloop
MILFORD to 12 July.
Armed
merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE had been
allocated, but was diverted to convoy SL.39
after the collision of armed merchant cruiser
CORFU with aircraft carrier HERMES.
On
the 19th, the convoy merged with convoy SL.39.
The convoys were joined on the 25th by
destroyers RESTIGOUCHE, HESPERUS, and WALKER and
corvette MALLOW.
Both
convoys arrived at Liverpool on the 29th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser ATLANTIS sank British
steamer CITY OF BAGHDAD (7506grt) in the Indian
Ocean in 00‑14N, 86‑43E. Two crew were lost.
Eighty crew and one gunner were made prisoners
of war.
Friday,
12 July
Convoys
OB.181G, which departed Liverpool on the 10th
escorted by destroyer VANOC and sloop
SCARBOROUGH became convoy OG.37 with sixteen
ships. Convoy OA.181G did not sail from Methil.
Destroyer
VANOC escorted the convoy on the 12th.
Sloop
SCARBOROUGH escorted the convoy from 12 to 17
July when the convoy arrived at Gibraltar.
Anti-submarine
trawler LORD HOTHAM joined the convoy off
Gibraltar.
_____
Convoy
OA.183 departed Methil by sloop FOWEY. The
convoy passed Dunnet Head on the 13th, escorted
by sloop FOWEY and corvette CAMELLIA.
_____
Convoy
FN.220 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers
VIMIERA and VERDUN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The
convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 14th.
_____
Convoy
MT.109 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 13th.
_____
Convoy
FS.220 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at
Southend on the 13th.
_____
Convoy
FS.221 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. Destroyers JACKAL
and JAGUAR and patrol sloop MALLARD joined on
the 13th. The two J destroyers were detached
later that day. The convoy arrived at Southend
on the 14th.
_____
U.56
attacked British steamer DUNERA (11,162grt) off
North Channel without damage being done. The
torpedo did strike DUNERA, but it glanced of
without exploding.
_____
U.99
sank Greek steamer IA (4860grt) in 51N, 14W.
Three
crew were lost on the Greek steamer.
_____
U.99
took in prize Estonian steamer MERISAAR
(2136grt). She was ordered to a French port, but
was sunk on the 15th by German bombing south of
Queenstown.
_____
British
steamer HORNCHURCH (2162grt) was sunk by German
bombing off Aldeburgh Light Vessel, in
52-11-15N, 1-52-30E.
The
entire crew was rescued by patrol sloop WIDGEON.
_____
British
trawler VOLANTE (255grt) was sunk by German
bombing ten miles east of Hvalbam, Faroe
Islands. The Master of the British trawler was
drowned.
The
master was Alfred George Coulam, whose body "was
taken to a northern port" (with thanks to his
niece Candice Baxter). Further research gives an
alternative loss position 10 miles S of Whale
Back Rock which is near the village of Hvalba in
the Faroes.
_____
British
steamer JOSEWYN (1926grt) was damaged by German
bombing eight miles west, northwest of St
Catherine'sPoint.
_____
Light
cruiser LIVERPOOL was near missed by Italian air
bombs. One rating was killed and two wounded by
a bomb that did not explode, but there was no
material damage.
A
Sea Gladiator of 801 Squadron from aircraft
carrier EAGLE, after shooting down an Italian
bomber, forced landed alongside cruiser
LIVERPOOL which picked him up.
Battleship
WARSPITE was attacked seventeen times between
0850 and 1150, but sustained no damage.
_____
Australian
heavy cruiser CANBERRA departed Capetown with
transport STRATHMORE for Freetown.
The
heavy cruiser escorted the transport for the
first thirty six hours and then returned to
Simonstown, arriving on the 15th.
Saturday,
13 July
Aircraft
carrier FURIOUS, escorted by destroyers
HAMBLEDON, ATHERSTONE, and FERNIE departed
Liverpool at 1800 for Prestwick to fly on
aircraft.
The
British ships then went on to Scapa Flow,
arriving at 0615 on the 14th.
_____
Convoy
CW.5 departed Dover escorted only by destroyer
VANESSA. The convoy was immediately taken under
German air attack between Dover and Eastbourne
and destroyer VANESSA was disabled by near
misses of air bombs.
Destroyer
VANESSA was towed by destroyer GRIFFIN to
Sheerness where VANESSA was repaired completing
on 4 November.
_____
Destroyer
TARTAR (D.6) departed Scapa Flow at 1015 for
Liverpool for docking repairs to asdic
installation and damage to propellers.
_____
A
redisposition of Destroyers in the North
Atlantic Command was made.
Destroyers
DOUGLAS, ACTIVE, WATCHMAN, KEPPEL, and VORTIGERN
left the North Atlantic Command on the 14th to
join the Home Fleet Command.
Destroyers
HOTSPUR and ENCOUNTER of the Home Fleet and
threeG class destroyers of the Nore Command were
to join the North Atlantic Command.
Three
worked up HUNT class destroyers were to leave
the Home Fleet and join the Dover Command.
_____
Convoy
OB.183 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer
VANQUISHER and corvette CLARKIA until 16 July.
The escorts were detached to convoy SL.38.
_____
Convoy
FN.221 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer
WINCHESTER and sloops LOWESTOFT and WESTON. The
convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 15th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser ATLANTIS sank British
steamer KEMMENDINE (7769grt) in the Indian Ocean
at 04‑12S, 81‑47E.
Fifty
seven crew, twenty two passengers, and three
distressed British seamen (DBS) were made
prisoners of war.
One
crewman later died in France.
Eighteen
crew, eleven passengers, and one DBS were lost
when steamer TIRRANNA, to which they later were
transferred, was lost.
One
crewman died on the raider.
Thirty
one crew and three gunners were transferred to
steamer DURMITOR and taken to Italian
Somaliland. They were released in early 1941.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser WIDDER sank British
steamer KING JOHN (5228grt) in the Central
Atlantic at 20‑40N, 59‑26W, two hundred and
fifty miles east, northeast of Sombrero Channel.
Five
crew were made prisoners of war.
Sunday,
14 July
British
operation AMBASSADOR was a small commando raid
on the island of Guernsey.
Late
on the 14th, destroyers SALADIN and SCIMITAR
from Dartmouth carried Commandos to Guernsey,
but had no success as they made no contact with
the enemy.
_____
Destroyers
KEPPEL, ACTIVE, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN, and DOUGLAS
departed Gibraltar for Liverpool arriving on the
20th.
The
destroyers were formed into the 12th Destroyer
Flotilla for duty with the Home Fleet.
_____
Destroyers
WRESTLER and VIDETTE departed Gibraltar to meet
troopship ATHLONE CASTLE and relieve escorting
destroyer HURRICANE.
The
ships arrived at Gibraltar on the 17th.
_____
Armed
merchant cruiser ESPERANCE BAY, carrying ten
million pounds in gold, was bombed and badly
damaged shortly after leaving England at 1250 in
49-30N, 6-40W, one hundred miles west of Land's
End.
Lt
Cdr H. Close RNR, and six ratings were killed.
Destroyer
VANOC and Canadian destroyer RESTIGOUCHE
escorted the merchant cruiser. Dutch tug ZWARTE
ZEE was sent.
Destroyer
VANOC and tug ZWARTE ZEE was reassigned when it
was found the armed merchant cruiser could
proceed on her own to Plymouth with the gold.
_____
Turkish
minelaying sloop YUZBASI HAKKI was attacked by
German bombers off Weymouth at 1145 near the
Shambles.
The
British delivery crew were still on board. One
crewman was killed and the Captain was wounded.
The
sloop arrived at Weymouth on the 15th.
_____
Minesweeper
FITZROY was damaged in a collision with
Minesweeping trawler SEA MIST (324grt) off the
Humber.
Minesweeper
FITZROY was repaired in the Humber from 15 July
to 10 August.
_____
Anti-submarine
trawlers CAPE WARWICK from Balta Sound and
THIRLMERE from Dundee arrived at Scapa Flow.
_____
British
minefield MN in the Straits of Dover was laid by
minelayer PLOVER and Dutch minelayer WILLEM VAN
DER ZAAN, escorted by four motor torpedo boats.
The
force departed Dover at 2215 on the 13th for the
minelay early on the 14th.
_____
British
Leading Airman I. G. Farquhar, at the 1 SFTS
Netheraven, was killed when his Hind undershot
in forced landing and crashed at Pylle, near
Shepton Mallet.
_____
Convoy
OA.184 departed Methil by sloops ROCHESTER,
HASTINGS, and LEITH from 14 to 19 July. The
sloops were detached to convoy HX.56.
_____
Convoy
FN.222 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers
WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived in the
Tyne on the 16th.
_____
Convoy
MT.109 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 15th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser THOR sank British steamer
GRACEFIELD (4631grt) in the South Atlantic at
20‑20S, 30‑43W.
The
crew was made prisoners of war.
_____
U.A
sank Norwegian steamer SARITA (5824grt) at
15‑22N, 26‑28W, 120 miles southwest of St
Vincent.
The
survivors were picked up by British steamer
DUNSTAN (5149grt) on the 18th at 15-31N, 30-04W.
_____
U.52
sank Greek steamer THETIS A (4111grt) in 47‑40N,
13‑20W.
Nine
crew were lost on the Greek steamer.
_____
British
steamer ISLAND QUEEN (779grt) of convoy CW.5 was
badly damaged by German bombing four cables off
A Buoy, Dover, east of Folkestone Gateway Light
Vessel.
Steamer
ISLAND QUEEN sank in tow of British trawler
KINGSTON ALALITE (412grt) later that day one
half mile 350° from Folkestone Light Vessel.
Three
crew were lost on the British steamer.
_____
British
steamer MONS (641grt) from convoy CW.5 was
damaged by German bombing one and a half miles
south of Dover Pier.
_____
Norwegian
steamer BALDER (1129grt) from convoy CW.5 was
damaged by German bombing off Dover.
Steamer
BALDER was taken in tow by British tug LADY
BRASSEY and escorted by destroyers GRIFFIN and
BOREAS.
_____
Belgian
trawler PROVIDENTIA (139grt) was sunk by German
bombing in 49-55N, 9-12W.
The
entire crew was lost.
_____
Heavy
cruiser KENT arrived at Durban after escorting
West Afircan troop convoy to Mombasa and
preparatory to escorting convoy WS 1 from the
rendezvous in the vicinity of Durban.