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Background Events - July-August 1940 Fall of France, Battle of Britain, War in Mediterranean
1940
Thursday, 1 August
Submarine NARWHAL (Lt Cdr R. J. Burch DSO), which departed the Humber on 22 July to lay mines in operation FD.22, was declared lost after failing to return from a patrol southwest of Stavanger. Her loss most likely took place in a German bombing attack on 23 July in 58‑50N, 02‑20E off Aberdeen. Lt Cdr Burch, Lt Cdr S. R. White, Lt C. S. Green DSC, Lt H. R. W. Twynar, Lt (E) J. E. Ackery DSC, S/Lt J. Cringle RNVR, the fifty four ratings of the crew were lost with NARWHAL. _____
Submarine SPEARFISH (Lt Cdr J. H. Forbes DSO), which departed Rosyth on 31 July, was sunk by U.34 off Cape Nose Head west of Stavanger. She was declared lost on the 5th. Lt Cdr Forbes, Lt D. A. Pirie, Lt A. R. Gimblett RNR, S/Lt J. P. Best, Warrant Engineer H. E. Archer, thirty six ratings of the crew were lost with SPEARFISH. U.34 picked up A/B W. V. Pester from the SPEARFISH, the sole survivor. _____
Destroyer DUNCAN departed Rosyth at 1500 to rendezvous with destroyer MAORI and escort steamer LOCHNAGAR from Aberdeen to Lerwick. Destroyer MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 0145 on the 2nd to relieve DUNCAN escorting LOCHNAGAR. DUNCAN proceeded to Scapa Flow, but was delayed entering harbour due to fog. She did arrive at Scapa Flow at 1730/3rd. On arrival at Lerwick at 1300/2nd, destroyers MAORI and MASHONA proceeded to an anti-submarine search in the vicinity of the one hundred fathom line north of the Shetlands. No contact was made. _____
Hunt-class destroyer CATTISTOCK was completed. She worked up at Scapa Flow with the 23rd Destroyer Division, and departed on the 30th for the Nore and duty in the 21st Destroyer Flotilla. _____
Temporary S/Lt (A) I. H. Kestin, flying a Hurricane of RAF 145 Squadron Westhampnett, was killed when he was shot down ten miles south of Hastings. _____
Dutch submarine O.21 attacked U.62, as she was arriving in the Helgoland from patrol in the North Sea, but without result. _____
U.59 sank Swedish steamer SIGYN (1981grt) in 56‑10N, 09‑25W. The entire crew was rescued. _____
Steamer CITY OF CANBERRA (7484grt) was damaged on a mine in 52‑06N, 01‑52E. _____
Steamer KERRY HEAD (825grt) was damaged by German bombing at four miles east, southeast of Old Head of Kinsale. _____
Tanker GOTHIC (2444grt) was damaged by German bombing 12 miles 310° from Flamborough Head. _____
Convoy FN.239 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER, sloop WESTON, patrol sloop MALLARD. Steamer HIGHLANDER (1216grt) was damaged by German bombing in 56‑56N, 02‑04W. One plane shot down crashed on the poop deck of HIGHLANDER. WESTON also shot down a German bomber. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd. _____
Convoy MT.127 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. _____
Submarine OSWALD (Lt Cdr D. A. Fraser) was sunk by Italian destroyer VIVALDI off Calabria. VIVALDI was part of an anti-submarine sweep of destroyers DA NOLI, USODIMARE, DA RECCO, PESSAGNO, which departed Augusta 1 August. Three ratings were lost with OSWALD, but the remainder of the crew, Fraser, Lt G. R. Marsh, Lt M. D. Pope, Lt M. S. Hodson, Warrant Engineer G. Mitchell and forty seven ratings, were rescued by VIVALDI and made prisoners of war. _____
Force H departed Gibraltar on 31 July for Operation HURRY with battlecruiser HOOD, battleship VALIANT, aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL and ARGUS, light cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FEARLESS, ESCAPADE, ACTIVE, WRESTLER, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, HOTSPUR.
Light cruiser ENTERPRISE was southeast of Minorca simulating activity in the northern part of the Western Basin in Operation SPARK. The light cruiser was also to have contacted French steamer GENERAL GUEYDON, but contact was not made.
Diversion for HURRY was by the Mediterranean Fleet which departed Alexandria on 31 July withlight cruisers NEPTUNE, SYDNEY, ORION, destroyers NUBIAN, JUNO, GARLAND as Force A and battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE,HERO, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, HASTY, ILEX, IMPERIAL, JERVIS, VENDETTA as Force B.
However, when a mechanical breakdown occurred on battleship MALAYA, Force B returned to Alexandria on the 1st. Force A returned the next day.
On the 2nd, HURRY, the flyoff of fighters from aircraft carrier ARGUS to Malta was conducted. While the rest of Force H turned north, aircraft carrier ARGUS, escorted by destroyers ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, HOTSPUR, conducted the operation.
Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, screened by battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser ENTERPRISE, destroyers FAULKNOR, FOESTER, FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, launched aircraft to raid Cagliari in Operation CRUSH.
Lt J. R. Robins, Lt J. M. M. Tarver, Petty Officer J. Clarke of 810 Squadron were lost when their plane crashed on take off. Lt (A) G. R. Humphries, Lt D. Williams, Leading Airman C. Pendleton in a Swordfish of 820 Squadron were shot down and made prisoners of war.
Force H arrived back at Gibraltar on the 4th.
After HURRY, Somerville took Force H with battlecruiser HOOD, battleship VALIANT, aircraft carrier ARGUS, light cruiser ARETHUSA, destroyers of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla back to England. Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser ENTERPRISE, destroyers GREYHOUND, GALLANT, ENCOUNTER, HOTSPUR sailed with Force H, but returned to Gibraltar on the 8th after parting with the rest of Force H
On 9 August, Force H was met west of Ireland by destroyers PUNJABI, TARTAR, BEDOUIN which escorted battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser ARETHUSA, destroyers ESCAPADE and FOXHOUND to Scapa Flow, arriving 0600/10th.
Battleship VALIANT, aircraft carrier ARGUS, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FORESTER arriving at Liverpool at 1530/10th.
Destroyer FEARLESS was in a minor collision with Armed patrol trawler FLYING WING (226grt) at 0312 off the Mull of Cantyre in 55‑14N, 5‑58W. Destroyer FAULKNOR stood by to assist.
Destroyer FEARLESS proceeded to the Clyde and then was taken to Glasgow where she was under repair until 8 October.
Aircraft carrier ARGUS and destroyer FORESTER were detached to enter Liverpool together. _____
Italian submarine MAMELI sank Greek steamer ROULA (1044grt) in 34‑06N, 26‑30E.
The entire crew was rescued.
Friday, 2 August
At 0800, the destroyers under Rear Admiral Home Fleet destroyers were reorganised.
3rd Destroyer Flotilla, destroyers INGLEFIELD, ISIS, DUNCAN, ECHO, ECLIPSE, ELECTRA. (destroyer ENCOUNTER on her return to England).
4th Destroyer Flotilla, destroyers COSSACK, ZULU, SIKH, MAORI, FAME, FORTUNE. Temporarily attached destroyers FURY and FIREDRAKE. (on return to England, destroyer FOXHOUND).
6th Destroyer Flotilla, destroyers TARTAR, ASHANTI, MATABELE, MASHONA, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, ESKIMO, SOMALI.
12th Destroyer Flotilla, destroyers KEPPEL, DOUGLAS, ARROW, ACHATES, ACTIVE, ANTHONY, AMAZON. Temporarily attached destroyers VORTIGERN and WATCHMAN. _____
Destroyers MAORI and MASHONA departed Lerwick for an anti-submarine sweep north of the Shetlands.
No contact was made. _____
Destroyers BEDOUIN and PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow at 1315 to search in the area of North Minch, then join convoy WN.4.
The destroyers would stay with WN.4 until Rattray Head when they were detached to join convoy OA.193. _____
British minefield BS.30 was laid by minelayers PLOVER and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and destroyers EXPRESS, ESK, ICARUS, INTREPID, IMPULSIVE. _____
Anti-submarine trawler CAPE FINISTERRE (590grt) was sunk by German bombing off Harwich.
One rating was lost in the trawler. _____
Convoy OG.40 of twenty one ships departed Liverpool. The convoy was escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS from 2 to 14 August.
Destroyer WESTCOTT escorted the convoy from 2 to 7 August when she was detached to convoy HG.40. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 14th. _____
Convoy FN.240 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 4th. _____
Convoy MT.128 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 2nd. _____
Convoy FS.239 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.
Convoy FS.240 was cancelled. _____
Dutch submarine O.22 attacked a U.37 or U.38, which had set out on patrol from Wilhelmshaven on the 1st, in the North Sea without result. _____
British steamer CITY OF BRISBANE (8006grt) was sunk by German bombing off South Longsand Buoy, Thames Estuary in 51-32-30N, 1-23-30E.
The steamer went ashore at South Longsand. Steamer CITY OF BRISBANE was still afire on the 5th.
Eight crew were lost on the British steamer. _____
U.99 damaged Norwegian tanker STRINDA (10,973grt) in 55‑10N, 17‑16W and British tankers LUCERNA (6556grt) in 55‑18N, 16‑39W and ALEXIA (8016grt) in 55‑30N, 15‑30W. _____
British drifter EMBRACE (94grt) was lost after stranding at Loch Alsh. _____
German armed merchant cruiser ATLANTIS captured Norwegian steamer TALLYRAND (6732grt) in 30S, 67E.
Steamer TALLYRAND was scuttled on the 3rd in 32‑03S, 66‑36E.
The crew were transferred to steamer TIRRANNA. When TIRRANNA was lost, three of the steamer TALLYRAND crew was lost. _____
Convoys SL.42 and SLF.42 departed Freetown escorted by light cruiser DELHI to 8 August when she was relieved by armed merchant cruiser MALOJA. The light cruiser refuelled at St Vincent on the 11th and arrived at Freetown on the 20th, patrolling en route.
On 18 August corvettes BLUEBELL and CLARKIA and escort vessel GLEANER joined the convoy. on the 19th, destroyer VISCOUNT joined.
Armed merchant cruiser MALOJA was detached on the 20th. The convoy arrived on the 21st at Liverpool.
Saturday, 3 August
Minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, PORT QUEBEC, PORT NAPIER departed Loch Alsh at 1130/3rd and laid minefield SN.32 in St Georges Channel screened by Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA on the night of 4/5 August.
Survey ship SCOTT laid the marker buoys for this minefield.
They were escorted by destroyers ECHO, GARTH, BERKELEY which departed Scapa Flow at 2050/2nd for this operation, and destroyer INGLEFIELD, which departed Greenock at 1830/2nd. _____
Heavy cruiser SUSSEX was taken in hand for repair to turbine defects at the Clyde. _____
Light cruiser CARDIFF, destroyers VENOMOUS, VERITY, WILD SWAN, WIVERN, patrol sloops PUFFIN, SHEARWATER, SHELDRAKE operated from Harwich on anti-invasion patrol during the night of 3/4 August. _____
Destroyer DUNCAN arrived at Scapa Flow at 1730 after completing repairs of her 15 January collision damage. _____
Destroyer KEPPEL arrived at Scapa Flow at 1930 to join the Home Fleet. _____
Destroyers SIKH and AMAZON arrived at Scapa Flow in company from Greenock. _____
Hunt-class destroyer QUORN was completed.
Destroyer QUORN worked up at Scapa Flow in the 23rd Destroyer Division. She was then transferred to the Nore for duty in the 2lst Destroyer Flotilla. _____
Convoy OA.193 departed Methil escorted by destroyer RESTIGOUCHE and sloop DEPTFORD from 3 to 7 August. The escorts were then detached to convoy HX.61. Escort vessel VERDUN escorted the convoy on the 3rd and destroyers PUNJABI and BEDOUIN escorted the convoy on the 4th. _____
Convoy FN.241 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON, sloop FLEETWOOD, patrol sloop PINTAIL. The patrol sloop was detached on the 4th. Destroyers JAGUAR and JAVELIN joined the convoy on the 4th and were detached on the 5th. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 5th.
Convoy FN.242 did not sail. _____
Convoy MT.129 departed Methil. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 3rd. _____
Convoy FS.241 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend O.5 August. _____
U.25 was mined and sunk off Terschelling in 54‑00N, 5‑00E.
All forty nine crew were lost on the submarine. _____
German aircraft were over Scapa Flow and convoy WN.4 between midnight and 0100.
British steamer STATIRA (4852grt) in convoy WN.4 was badly damaged by German bombing thirty eight miles north of Stornoway.
Anti-submarine trawler ARAB (531grt) assisted the steamer.
The entire crew was taken off by destroyers PUNJABI and BEDOUIN.
The steamer was taken in tow on fire to Stornoway by British tug THAMES and escorted by destroyer PUNJABI, which was later relieved by destroyer SIKH.
The steamer later left Stornoway and put in Rothesay Bay. Steamer STATIRA was later taken to Glasgow where her cargo was unloaded. The steamer was then broken up. _____
U.A sank Yugoslavian steamer RAD (4201grt) at 11‑20N, 21W.
On 5 August, British steamer CAPE ST GEORGE in convoy SL.42 collided with the sunken wreck of steamer RAD. Twenty nine crew from steamer RAD were rescued by steamer GRODNO, which also stood by steamer CAPE ST GEORGE, which later sank from the damage.
The crew of sixty five from the British steamer were all rescued by steamer GRODNO. _____
U.57 sank Swedish steamer ATOS (2161grt) in 56N, 07W.
One crew on the Swedish steamer was lost. _____
British steamer WYCHWOOD (2794grt) was sunk on a mine in 52‑00N, 01‑48E, four miles north west, one quarter mile west of Shipwash Light Vessel.
Patrol sloop MALLARD took off the twenty two survivors. _____
Because of the lack of anti-aircraft armament, light cruiser CAPETOWN and CALEDON left the Mediterranean for duty in the Indian Ocean.
Light cruiser CAPETOWN departed Alexandria on the 3rd for the East Indies Station.
The light cruiser engaged in a battle practice target shoot. After light cruiser CAPETOWN had completed, destroeyrs DAINTY, VENDETTA, DEFENDER and destroyers JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS participated.
Light cruiser CALEDON departed Alexandria on the 10th. _____
Submarine PERSEUS, which departed Hong Kong on 18 June and arrived at Colombo on 30 June and Aden on 24 July, arrived at Alexandria. _____
Italian steamer LODOLETTA (2822grt) was sunk by British bombing at Derna. _____
Australian light cruiser HOBART made a reconnaissance of Cape Guardafui from 3 to 5 August.
The cruiser then returned to Berbera.
Sunday, 4 August
Heavy cruiser BERWICK departed Liverpool after refitting on the 3rd.
In a fog at 0034 on the 4th, heavy cruiser BERWICK was in a collision in 55-32N, 6-27W with an unknown ship. There was no damage to the cruiser below the water line.
Heavy cruiser BERWICK was repaired at Glasgow from to 7 to 22 August. The cruiser arrived in the Clyde on the 25th. _____
Destroyers ACHATES and FIREDRAKE departed Scapa Flow at 0730 to search for a German submarine bombed by aircraft at 0510 in 59‑48N, 5‑30W.
This may have been the submarine Destroyers MAORI and MASHONA were searching for on the 3rd north of the Shetlands.
Destroyers MAORI and MASHONA arrived at Scapa Flow at 2200/4th.
After an unsuccessful search, destroyers ACHATES and FIREDRAKE swept towards Fair Island Channel to reach 59-10N, 5-00W by 0600/5th. _____
Destroyers BEDOUIN and PUNJABI departed convoy OA.193 on its arrival at Cape Wrath at 2200.
The destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow at 0400/5th. _____
Submarine SEALION sank Norwegian steamer TORUN (3318grt) in Homborsund southwest of Stavanger in 58-17N, 8-38E. _____
Destroyers FORTUNE and FURY departed Scapa Flow at 1050 for escort duty in the Clyde. _____
Anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON CHRYSOBERYL (448grt) engaged a German motor torpedo boat off St Catherine. _____
Minesweeping trawler DRUMMER (297grt, Temporary Skipper H. C. Hall RNR) was sunk on a mine off Brightlingsea, Essex.
Two ratings were lost in the trawler. _____
Minesweeping trawler MARSONA (276grt, Chief Skipper A. W. Ellis RNR) of Minesweeper Group 43 was sunk on a mine off Cromarty.
Ellis, Temporary S/Lt I. S. I. Trehearne RNVR, ten ratings were lost in the trawler. _____
Minesweeping trawler OSWALDIAN (260grt, Temporary Skipper J. Darkins RNR) was sunk on a mine off Breaksea Light Vessel in Bristol Channel.
Twelve ratings were lost in the trawler. Seven survivors from the trawler were landed at Barry. _____
In a British raid on oil tanks and barges at Rotterdam, S/Lt R. C. Eborn and Lt T. A. Johnston RM, were killed when their Swordfish of 812 Squadron was shot down off Noorwijk. _____
British steamer WHITE CREST (4365grt) was damaged by German bombing off Cape Wrath. _____
Convoy OB.193 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VANQUISHER and VISCOUNT from 4 to 7 August. The escorts were detached to convoy HX.61. _____
Convoy MT.130 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th. _____
Convoy FS.242 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIMIERA and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 6th. _____
On attacks on convoy HX.60, U.52 sank British steamers KING ALFRED (5272grt) and GOGOVALE (4586grt) in 56‑59N, 17‑38W and GERALDINE MARY (7244grt) in 56‑46N, 15‑48W.
That evening U.58 sank Greek steamer PINDOS (4360grt) in 55‑22N, 08‑50 from convoy HX.60.
Four crew were lost on the steamer KING ALFRED. Two crew and one gunner were lost on the steamer GOGOVALE. Two crew and one passenger were lost on the steamer GERALDINE MARY. Three crew were killed on the steamer PINDOS. _____
U.56 sank British steamer BOMA (5408grt) from convoy OB.193 in 55‑44N, 08‑04W.
Three crew were missing from the British steamer.
Survivors from the steamer were rescued by Norwegian steamer VILJA (6672grt).
The steamer was still afloat on the 5th, but sank before the tug arrived. _____
German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ.175 (trawler PERSEUS, 428grt) was sunk on a mine north of Ameland. _____
Convoy HX.63 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE, OTTAWA, SAGUENAY at 0630.
At 2100, the Canadian destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA, turned back towards Halifax. Destroyers ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY were detached on the 5th and destroyer OTTAWA on the 6th. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 16th.
Convoy BHX.63 departed Bermuda on the 3rd with an ocean escort of armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy on the 8th when the armed merchant cruiser was detached.
On 16 August, destroyer MACKAY, sloop LEITH, corvettes HEARTSEASE and HIBISCUS joined the convoy and remained with the convoy until its arrived at Liverpool on the 19th. _____
Destroyers HERO, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL departed Alexandria for an anti-submarine sweep along the Nile Delta, up the Palestine coast and Syrian coast, along the north coast of Cyprus to the west before returning to Haifa.
Destroyer HEREWARD returned to Alexandria on the 5th with defects.
Destroyer HASTY was sent to replace HEREWARD in the sweep.
Light cruisers LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER with destroyers JERVIS and HOSTILE departed Alexandria during the afternoon of 4 August to sweep in the Aegean. They were also to cover the movement of Danube barges from Athens to Alexandria.
Destroyers HERO, HASTY, IMPERIAL arrived at Haifa on the 7th.
The light cruiser force arrived back at Alexandria on the 8th. Destroyers JERVIS and HOSTILE arrived at Alexandria on the 10th with four Danube barges and a tug. _____
Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA departed Simonstown for Freemantle to effect repairs to A brackets and propeller shaft. _____
German armed merchant cruiser WIDDER sank Norwegian tanker BEAULIEU (6114grt) in the Central Atlantic at 25‑46N, 48‑44W.
Three crew were killed on the Norwegian tanker.
Monday, 5 August
Destroyers ACHATES and FIREDRAKE patrolled in the area of Cape Wrath-North Rona-Butt of Lewis area after a submarine was reported in the area. _____
Destroyers ASHANTI and MASHONA proceeded to Lerwick to escort British steamer LOCHNAGAR which departed Lerwick at 1705 for Aberdeen. _____
Due to heavy losses to shipping by submarine attacks, destroyers KEPPEL and the A class destroyers were to be transferred to the Commander in Chief Western Approaches.
A division of the J and K destroyers were to join the Nore Command. _____
Minesweeping trawler RIVER CLYDE (276grt, Temporary Skipper J. Grant RNR) of Minesweeper Group 6 was sunk on a mine off Aldeburgh Light Float.
Eleven ratings were killed and one died of wounds in the trawler. Skipper Grant was wounded. _____
Convoy OA.194 departed Methil escorted by destroyer HESPERUS and sloop HASTINGS. _____
Convoy FN.243 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 7th. _____
Convoy MT.131 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 5th. _____
Convoy FS.243 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS and patrol sloop KITTIWAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 7th. _____
American heavy cruisers WICHITA and QUINCY departed Bahia for Perambuco, arriving on the 9th.
The cruisers departed on 13 September and arrived at Montevideo 23 August. Departing on the 28th, they arrived at Buenas Aires on the 29th.
Cruisers WICHITA and QUINCY departed Buenas Aires on 3 September and arrived at Rio de Janiero on 6 Serptember. They departed Rio on 10 September and arrived back at Norfolk, Virginia on 24 September.
Tuesday, 6 August
Destroyers EXPRESS, ESK, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla departed Immingham on the 5th and met their motor torpedo boat escort.
Early on the 6th, the destroyers laid minefield CBX.4 off the Dutch coast in the Schoonveld and West Pit Passages off Thornton Ridge. _____
The Clyde section of Convoy WS.2 of British steamers EMPRESS OF CANADA (21,517grt), ES (25,689grt), FRANCONIA (20,175grt), SUFFOLK (11,063grt), MEMNON (7506grt), LANARKSHIRE (9816grt) departed at 0630 escorted by heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE, light cruiser EMERALD, destroyers FORTUNE, FURY, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN.
The Liverpool section of Convoy WS.2 of British steamers CLAN MACAULEY (10492grt), WAIWERA (10792grt), ASKA (8323grt), ORMONDE (14982grt), MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22424grt), ORION (23,371grt), OTRANTO (20032grt), STRATHEDEN (23772grt), BATORY (14287grt), EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (42348grt), STRAITHARD (22284grt) departed escorted by heavy cruiser CORNWALL and destroyers HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK, HURRICANE, HARVESTER. Steamer ORION was forced to put into the Clyde the same day with engine defects.
Both sections rendezvoused on the 6th and traveled together at sea.
Various ships were detached en route and the troopships arrived safely at Capetown. on the 31st, the "slow group" WS.2 B of liners ORION, STRATHEDEN, ORMONDE, BATORY departed Capetown for Bombay. On 12 September, the "fast group" WS.2 A of liners EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, EMPRESS OF CANADA, ANDES departed Capetown.
Heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE arrived at Simonstown on the 28th and joined the East Indies Command.
Heavy cruiser CORNWALL arrived at Simonstown on the 30th.
In the Indian Ocean,WS 2 A was escorted by cruisers HOBART and CARLISLE and destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON and WS.2 B was escorted by heavy cruiser CORNWALL and armed merchant cruiser KANIMBLA. _____
Destroyers ACHATES and FIREDRAKE patrolling off Cape Wrath joined convoy HX.60 A to give anti-submarine protection in Pentland Firth at 2200.
The destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow at 1000/7th after escorting the convoy to Pentland Firth. _____
Destroyer INGLEFIELD (D.3), on passage from Loch Alsh to Scapa Flow, destroyer ANTHONY, escorting aircraft carrier FURIOUS on practices, proceeded to intercept two Dutch motor coasting vessels proceeding westward through the Pentland Firth.
The Dutch ships were intercepted. They were turned over to anti-submarine trawler REGAL (409grt) which brought them to port for examination. _____
Destroyers COSSACK and SIKH departed Scapa Flow to carry out anti-submarine patrols from 1700 in Fair Island Channel. No contact was made.
The destroyers met convoy WN.5 on the 7th in the Minches near Trodday Island and escorted it to Pentland Firth.
The destroyers were relieved at 0400 in convoy WN.5 off Cape Wrath by destroyer BERKELEY, which departed Scapa Flow at 2015 on the 8th. Destroyer BERKELEY continued south with the convoy to join the Nore Command.
Destroyers COSSACK and SIKH joined convoy OA.195 at 1515 on the 8th and escorted it to Cape Wrath.
Destroyers COSSACK and SIKH arrived at Scapa Flow at 0240. _____
Destroyer AMAZON departed Scapa Flow to investigate a suspicious merchant ship report two miles 080° from Wick. _____
Destroyer KEPPEL (D.12), ANTHONY, AMAZON departed Scapa Flow at 2200 and with destroyer ACHATES of convoy HX.60A proceeded to the Clyde to join the Western Approaches Command. _____ Submarine SEALION was rammed at periscope depth by German auxiliary anti-submarine vessel UJ.123 while attacking a convoy southwest of Stavanger in 57-51N, 7-24E.
The submarine's periscopes, masts, aerials were wrecked.
German steamer CLARE HUGO STINNES (5295grt) was missed by torpedoes and not damaged.
Submarine SEALION arrived at Rosyth on the 10th. She was repaired in the Tyne from 15 August to 23 October. _____
Convoy OB.194 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers WARWICK and HARVESTER and corvette CLARKIA from 6 to 9 August. Destroyer WARWICK and the corvette were detached to convoy SL.41. _____
Convoy FN.244 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN, sloop LOWESTOFT, patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 8th. _____
Convoy MT.132 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. _____
Convoy FS.244 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 8th. _____
Italian light cruisers BARBIANO and GUISSANO with destroyers PIGAFETTA and ZENO laid mines near Pantelleria escorted by torpedo boats CASSIOPEA, CIGNO, PLEIAI, ALDEBARAN. _____
In Operation TUBE, submarine PANDORA, which departed Gibraltar on 31 July, arrived at Malta with supplies of spares and ground equipment for the Hurricanes aircraft carrier ARGUS delivered in HURRY. _____
Convoy BN2A departed Aden, escorted by light cruiser CERES and sloop PARRAMATTA. The convoy arrived at Suez on the 12th. _____
German steamer FULDA (7744grt) at Dairen was sold to Japan as TAKAI MARU.
Wednesday, 7 August
Destroyers TARTAR (D.6), BEDOUIN, ASHANTI departed Scapa Flow at 2000 to carry out an anti-submarine sweep northward of North Rona mined area to Rockall.
The destroyers then joined battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser ARETHUSA, destroyer FOXHOUND to escort them to Scapa Flow.
Destroyers TARTAR, BEDOUIN, ASHANTI with battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser ARETHUSA, destroyers FOXHOUND and ESCAPADE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0600/10th. _____
Destroyers JAVELIN and JAGUAR, en route from the Humber to join the Home Fleet, were diverted to meet British steamers ST MAGNUS and ROGNVALD off Aberdeen at 1400 for escort to Kirkwall and Lerwick, respectively.
On 8 August, on their arrival at Lerwick, the destroyers embarked ten officers and one hundred and fifteen ranks of the British Army repatriated from Petsamo, Finland on the Swedish steamer GOTEBORG (880grt).
The British Army personnel were landed at Scrabster and the destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow. _____
Convoy OA.195 departed Methil escorted by sloop FOWEY. _____
Convoy OB.195 departed Liverpool escorts by destroyer VANOC and corvettes PERIWINKLE and GERANIUM from 8 to 12 August. _____
Convoy FN.245 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 9th. _____
Convoy MT.133 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. _____
Convoy FS.245 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON, sloop FLEETWOOD, patrol sloop MALLARD. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 9th. _____
German minelayers ROLAND, COBRA, BRUMMER laid mines in the southwest North Sea for minefield "SW 1" escorted by torpedo boats T.2 of the 1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla, T.7 of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla, FALKE, KONDOR, JAGUAR of the 5th Torpedo Boat Flotilla.
It was on this minefield that Destroyers ESK and IVANHOE were lost and destroyer EXPRESS was badly damaged at the end of the month. _____
German auxiliary submarine chaser Vp.1501 (trawler WIKING 7, 381grt) was sunk on a mine near Frederickshavn.
Trawler WIKING 7 was later salved in 1940 and restored to duty as Vp.1501. _____
U.38 sank Egyptian steamer MOHAMED ALI EL KEBIR (7527grt) from convoy HX.61 in 55‑22N, 13‑18W.
There were 162 crew, one gunner, 697 troops on the steamer. Ten crew and fifty troops were lost. The survivors from this steamer were picked up by destroyer GRIFFIN.
Thursday, 8 August
Destroyers EXPRESS, ESK, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, IVANHOE departed Immingham and joined four motor anti-submarine boats from Harwich.
During the night of 8/9 August, the destroyers laid minefield MP (A), an extension of the MN minefield to Falls Bank and to back up the MN minefield.
During the night of 10/11 August, the same destroyers conducted MP (B).
After MP (B), the destroyers returned to Immingham. _____
Polish destroyer BURZA made three attacks at 1410 on a submarine contact in 52‑21N, 5‑06. 5W.
Destroyer BURZA was en route to Scapa Flow to work up after repairs. She arrived on the 9th at 1900. _____
Destroyers BULLDOG of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla and FERNIE departed Portsmouth to support Convoy CW.9.
In convoy CW.9 British steamers HOLME FORCE (1216grt) off Newhaven and FIFE COAST (367grt) ten to fifteen miles west of Beachy Head were sunk by German motor torpedo boats S.21 and S.27.
The Master, two crew, three gunners were lost on the steamer HOLME FORCE. Four crew and one naval rating were lost on the steamer FIFE COAST.
In addition to S.21 and S.27, S.20 and S.25, all of the 1st Flotilla made attacks on this convoy.
British steamers JOHN M (500grt) ten miles south of Needles, IOW and POLLY M (380grt) 15 miles 190° from Cape Wrath were damaged by German motor torpedo boat attacks.
British steamer OUSE (1004grt) was sunk off Newhaven in a collision with British steamer RYE (1048grt) while avoiding a torpedo from one of the motor torpedo boats.
Twenty three survivors were rescued from steamer OUSE.
In air attacks on convoy CW.9, British steamers COQUETDALE (1597grt) and EMPIRE CRUSADER (1042grt) were sunk fifteen miles west of St Catherine's Point.
The entire crew of steamer COQUETDALE was rescued. The Master, two crew, two naval gunners were lost on the steamer EMPIRE CRUSADER.
Dutch steamer AJAX (942grt) was sunk by German bombing fifteen miles west of St Catherine's Point.
Four crew on the Dutch steamer were lost.
Dutch steamers VEENENBURGH (433grt), OMLANDIA (400grt), SURTE (244grt) were damaged by German bombing fifteen miles west of St Catherine's Point.
British steamers SCHELDT (497grt) and BALMAHA (1428grt) were damaged by German bombing fifteen miles west of St Catherine's Point.
Norwegian steamer TRES (946grt) was damaged by German bombing 1950 yards 036° from Nodes Point, St Helen's Roads.
Steamer TRES later sank in St Helens Bay.
During these attacks, anti-submarine yachts WILNA and RION and anti-submarine trawlers CAPE PALLISER, KINGSTON CHRYSOBERYL, KINGSTON OLIVINE, STELLA CAPELLA were damaged by German bombing in the area.
In the RION, Cdr J. K. B. Birch was wounded and died of wounds on the 14th. In the WILNA, Temporary Lt S. Behennah RNVR, Temporary Lt H. H. Dimmick RNVR, were wounded. |
