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

Background Events - July-August 1940

Fall of France, Battle of Britain, War in Mediterranean

1940

Thursday,  15 August

Destroyers HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE departed Switha at 2330 to be in position 60-30N, 3-30W by 0530/16th to sweep for a submarine. If no contact had been made by 0700, they were to proceed to Thorshavn to escort troopship ULSTER MONARCH to the Clyde. HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE arrived at Thorshavn at 1400/16th and departed with the troopship at 1800. All three ships arrived safely in the Clyde at 0630/18th.

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Destroyer WATCHMAN departed Scapa Flow at 0045 to overtake convoy WN.7 and proceed with it to Methil. She then went on to the Humber en route to the Nore.

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Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA departed Portsmouth at 2100 for Scapa Flow to work up, arriving at 1630/17th. After working up, she proceeded to Portsmouth to join the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.

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Convoy OA.199 departed Methil escorted by sloop SANDWICH and corvette GARDENIA from the 15th to 19th. The escorts were detached to convoy HX.64.

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Convoy FN.253 departed Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER was with the convoy on the 16th, which arrived in the Tyne on the 17th.

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Convoy MT.141 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.253 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS, VERDUN and sloop STORK, and arrived at Southend on the 17th.

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S/Lt (A) H. W. Begg, on loan to the RAF and flying a Hurricane of 151 Squadron, ditched in the sea near Dover. He was picked up and was not seriously wounded.

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Steamer BRIXTON (1557grt) was sunk on a mine in 52‑06N, 01‑49E, but the entire crew was rescued.

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U.A sank Greek steamer ASPASIA (4211grt) in 35N, 20W with the loss of all her crew.

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U.51 sank tanker SYLVAFIELD (5709grt), a straggler from convoy HX.62, in 56‑39N, 11‑16W. Two crew were killed and one missing.

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Convoy SC.1 departed St Johns escorted by Canadian destroyer OTTAWA and auxiliary patrol vessel REINDEER and Sloop PENZANCE.

After destroyer OTTAWA was detached, Sloop PENZANCE continued with the convoy as the ocean escort, until her loss on the 24th.

On the 27th, destroyers HAVELOCK and HURRICANE, sloop LEITH, corvette CLARKIA joined. All but the sloop were detached before the convoy’s arrival at Liverpool on the 29th.

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Greek light cruiser HELLE was sunk by Italian submarine DELFINO at Tinos.

Greek destroyers VASILISSA OLGA and VASILEVS GEORGIOS I escorting merchant ships away from Tinos back to Greek ports were attacked by Italian bombers off Syros.

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Australian light cruiser HOBART at Berbera was damaged by splinters from near misses in an Italian air attack.

Air attacks were conducted by Italian air units on 12, 14, 15, 16, 30 August in the Gulf of Aden and off Berbera.

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Light cruiser NEPTUNE departed Suez with a battalion of troops to reinforce Berbera, but the operation was cancelled before she ever arrived.

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Polish destroyer GARLAND departed Alexandria on escort duties in the Eastern Mediterranean to and from Haifa.

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New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Auckland and arrived at Wellington on the 16th.

Friday,  16 August

Destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3), FIREDRAKE, JAVELIN, JAGUAR departed Scapa Flow at 0700 to join Minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC, MENESTHEUS departed Loch Alsh at 0530/17th to lay minefield SN.12.

Destroyer ECHO departed Scapa Flow at 1030/18th to relieve destroyer FIREDRAKE which went to Scapa Flow.

Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO provided anti-aircraft protection.

After the operation, destroyers INGLEFIELD and ECHO remained at Loch Alsh for the next operation. Destroyers JAVELIN and JAGUAR arrived at Scapa Flow at 0630/18th.

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Battlecruiser HOOD and destroyers COSSACK (D.4), SIKH, MAORI, VORTIGERN departed Scapa Flow at 0620 for Rosyth.

The Tribal destroyers were to reinforce the Rosyth Escort Force and the VORTIGERN went on to the Humber for duty in the Nore Command.

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Because of continued heavy German air bombing, light cruisers SOUTHAMPTON and BIRMINGHAM were ordered moved from Sheerness to Rosyth and light cruiser CARDIFF was ordered moved from Harwich to the Humber.

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After a loop crossing in the Firth of Forth, destroyers VIMERA and WOLFHOUND and sloop LONDONDERRY carried out an unsuccessful search.

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Temporary S/Lt (A) H. L. Greenshields RNVR, flying a Spitfire of RAF 266 Squadron Hornchurch, was killed when he was shot down near Deal.

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The first successful attack on a German submarine by British Coastal Command aircraft occurred when U.51 was seriously damaged in an air attack on the 16th 170 miles northwest of Tory Island.

U.51 was sunk, while returning to port from her fourth war patrol, in the Bay of Biscay in 47‑06N, 04‑51W by submarine CACHALOT on the 20th.

All forty three crew on the German submarine were lost.

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British minefield BS.32 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK and destroyers INTREPID and IMPULSIVE.

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Convoy FN.254 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 18th.

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Convoy MT.142 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.254 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 18th.

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Convoy OA.200 departed Methil. No escorts were listed.

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Convoy OB.199 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WARWICK and corvette MALLOW from 16 to 20 August an destroyers ANTHONY, ARROW, ACHATES, HARVESTER from 18 to 20 August. The convoy was dispersed on the 20th. Destroyer WARWICK and corvette MALLOW were detached to convoy HX.64.

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British steamer MEATH (1598grt) and British examination vessel MANX LAD (24grt), which was alongside steamer MEATH, were sunk on a mine six to seven cables northeast of Breakwater Rock Light House.

The entire crew of steamer MEATH was rescued.

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Probationary Temporary Acting S/Lt (A) D. Drane RNVR, was badly injured when his Shark of 755 Squadron crashed into a hillside three miles north of Ardrossan. Drane died in hospital.

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British steamer CLAN FORBES (7529grt) was damaged by German bombing at Tilbury Dock.

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Minesweeping trawler REGARDO (248grt) was damaged by German bombing in Osbourne Bay.

The trawler was towed to Cowes by minesweeping trawler CAPE SPARTEL (346grt) for repair.

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Auxiliary steamer LOCH RYAN (210grt) was damaged by German bombing forty miles northwest by north of Longships Light.

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Convoy HX.66 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA at 1523. The destroyers were detached on the 17th.

Convoy SHX.66 departed Sydney, CB escorted by Canadian destroyer SAGUENAY and joined HX.66 at sea. The destroyer was detached on the 18th.

At 1750, the convoy was turned over to Armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA, but ASSINIBOINE remained with the convoy until 2020. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 27th.

Convoy BHX.66 departed Bermuda on the 15th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.66 on the 20th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

Destroyer HIGHLANDER, escort ship JASON, corvette HIBISCUS joined on the 27th. The destroyer was detached later that day. The other two escorts arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on the 31st.

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U.30 sank British steamer CLAN MACPHEE (6628grt) in 57‑30N, 17‑14W.

Sixty seven crew were lost on the British steamer.

The survivors were rescued by Hungarian steamer KELET (4295grt) which was sunk herself on the 19th.

Sloop WELLINGTON of convoy OG.41 picked up twenty one survivors of KELET and thirteen survivors of CLAN MACPHEE and arrived with them at Gibraltar on 2 September.

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U.46 damaged Dutch steamer ALCINOUS (6189grt) from convoy OB.197 in 57‑16N, 17‑02W.

The steamer was assisted by sloop ROCHESTER.

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U.48 sank Swedish steamer HEDRUN (2325grt) in 57‑10N, 16‑37W.

Ten crew were lost on the Swedish steamer.

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U.100 sank British steamer EMPIRE MERCHANT (4864grt) in 55‑23N, 13‑24N.

Six crew and one gunner was lost with the steamer. Steamer EMPIRE MERCHANT sank in 55-21N, 13-40W.

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British steamer CITY OF BIRMINGHAM (5309grt) was sunk on a mine 5 1/2 miles 115° from Spurn Point in 53-32-26N, 00-15-30E.

The entire crew was rescued.

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Italian steamer MOREA (1968grt) was sunk on the Durazzo-Bari route fifty miles from Durazzo by submarine OSIRIS.

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Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser ENTERPRISE, destroyers HOTSPUR, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER, WRESTLER departed Gibraltar to carry out aircraft practices, then meet with battleship RENOWN returning from England.

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Dockyard mooring vessel MOORSTONE was sunk in shallow water by Italian bombing at Alexandria and later salved. One crewman was killed.

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On the 16th, 17th, 18th, British troops at Berbera, Italian Somaliland, were evacuated to Aden.

The evacuation was conducted by armed boarding vessels CHAKDINA (3033grt) and CHANTALA (3129grt) and steamers LAOMEDON (6491grt), AKBAR (4043grt), steamer VITA (4691grt) which was being employed as a hospital ship.

The evacuation was covered by Australian light cruiser HOBART, light cruisers CERES and CALEDON, anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE, destroyers KIMBERLEY and KANDAHAR, sloops SHOREHAM, PARRAMATTA, AUCKLAND and HINDUSTAN, minesweeper DERBY, net layer PROTECTOR.

On 17 August, light cruiser CERES bombarded Italian targets and temporarily halted the Italian advance.

On 18 August, light cruiser CALEDON and destroyer KANDAHAR bombarded Bulhar and Berbera roads.

The evacuation was completed on the 18th with 5690 troops, 1266 civilians, 184 sick cases evacuated for a total of 7140.

Tug QUEEN was lost in the evacuation.

Light cruiser HOBART departed Berbera early on the 19th for Aden with remaining personnel and the demolition parties.

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Convoy RS.5, escorted by light cruiser DRAGON arrived at Capetown on the 15th. They sailed the next day and arrived at Durban on the 19th.

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German armed merchant cruiser ORION captured Vichy French steamer NOTOU (2489grt) in the Pacific at 23‑50S, 164‑10E.

Twenty six natives were landed at Emirau Island on 21 December.

The Europeans on the steamer were made prisoners of war.

Saturday,  17 August

Destroyer KIPLING and Polish destroyer BURZA departed Scapa Flow at 2130.

Destroyer KIPLING was to relieve Canadian destroyer RESTIGOUCHE in convoy OA.200.

Polish destroyer BURZA was to meet convoy WN.8 in the Minches and provide additional escort to Rattray Head.

Canadian destroyer RESTIGOUCHE arrived at Scapa Flow at 2100/17th. She discharged oil fuel contaminated by seawater.

The Canadian destroyer departed Scapa Flow at 0600/18th.

At 1315 on the 18th, destroyer RESTIGOUCHE relieved destroyer KIPLING on convoy duties. Destroyer KIPLING then returned to Scapa Flow.

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At 0800, 12th Destroyer Flotilla was placed under the control of Captain A/S Belfast.

Destroyers ARROW, AMAZON, ACHATES, ANTHONY formed a anti-submarine striking force in the NorthWest Approaches.

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Convoy FN.255 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 19th.

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Convoy MT.143 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.255 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

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Leading Airman E. G. Culley of 7 SFTS Peterborough was killed when his Hart spun in from low height and crashed at Deeping St Nicholas, near Spalding. Leading Airman CB Irving was also killed in the crash.

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British steamer ST PATRICK (1922grt) was damaged in German bombing in St George's Channel.

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British steamer YEWKYLE (824 ton) was damaged by German bombing in 52‑27N, 05‑45W.

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Operation MB.2 was the bombardment of Bardia.

Destroyers HYPERION, ILEX, JUNO, HERO departed Alexandria at noon on the 15th to sweep off Sollum Bay and join the main fleet at 1400/16th in 31-30N, 29-10E.

Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA, RAMILLIES, heavy cruiser KENT, destroyers HOSTILE, HEREWARD, STUART, WATERHEN, VENDETTA, DIAMOND, NUBIAN, MOHAWK departed Alexandria at 1030/16th.

Bardia was bombarded from 0658 to 0720 by Force A with battleship WARSPITE, heavy cruiser KENT, destroyers HYPERION, ILEX, HOSTILE, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, DIAMOND and Force B with battleships MALAYA and RAMILLIES and destroyers STUART, WATERHEN, VENDETTA, JUNO, HERO, HEREWARD.

The Fleet arrived back at Alexandria on the 18th.

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Destroyers GRIFFIN arrived at Gibraltar from England, escorted by destroyer VELOX, which joined from convoy HG.41.

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Submarine RORQUAL, which departed Alexandria on the 4th, laid mines east of Tolmeita, Cyrenaica.

The submarine arrived back at Alexandria on the 27th.

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United States Naval Reserve Fleet operation.

On 17 August from New York, American destroyers LEARY (DD.158, LCDR E. Watts) of the 53rd Destroyer Division of the 27th Destroyer Squadron, HAMILTON (DD.141, LCDR T. C. Evans) of the 55th Destroyer Division of the 27th Destroyer Squadron,BROOME (DD.210, LCDR J. Y. Dannenberg) of the 56th Destroyer Division of the 31st Destroyer Squadron, REUBEN JAMES (DD.245, LT H. L. Edwards) of the 62nd Destroyer Division of the 41st Destroyer Squadron, SHURBRICK (DD.268, LCDR K. D. Dawson) of the 71st Destroyer Division of the 36th Destroyer Squadron, BAILY (DD.269, Cdr E. H. Jones, CDD.72), SWASEY (DD.273, LCDR B. D. Kelley), MEADE (DD.274, LCDR C. A. Printup) of the 72nd Destroyer Division of the 36th Destroyer Squadron, BANCROFT (DD.256, LT E. S. Von Kleeck) of the 73rd Destroyer Division of the 36th Destroyer Squadron departed for operations in the Caribbean south of Cuba.

On 17 August from Philadelphia, American destroyers COLE (DD.155, LT C. W. Moses) and DUPONT (DD.152, LT E. M. Waldron) of the 60th Destroyer Division of the 30th Destroyer Squadron and HUNT (DD.194, LCDR J. D. Hayes), SATTERLEE (DD.190, LCDR H. R. Demarest), BRANCH (DD.197, Cdr D. L. Ryan, CDD 68), MASON (DD.191, LCDR C. A. Dillavou) of the 68th Destroyer Division of the 31st Destroyer Squadron departed for the Caribbean.

On 18 August from New York, American battleships NEW YORK (BB.34, Captain D. E. Barbey) and ARKANSAS (BB.33, Captain J. F. Hall, Jr) and training ship (former battleship) WYOMING (AG.17, Captain D. F. Patterson) departed for the maneuvers.

Many of the destroyers employed in this fleet maneuver would join the Royal Navy over the next few months through Lend Lease.

Sunday,  18 August

Destroyers DUNCAN and CATTISTOCK departed Scapa Flow at 1000 for Liverpool.

At Liverpool, the destroyers joined two Western Approaches destroyers to escort convoy "MP" to Scapa Flow.

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Destroyer ACTIVE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0600 to work up prior to joining the 12th Destroyer Flotilla.

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Convoy OA.201 departed Methil escorted by destroyer SKEENA and corvette GODETIA, which was departed on the 22nd.

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Convoy OB.200 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WALKER and covette ARABIS from 18 to 21 August. The escorts were detached to convoy HG.41. Destroyer ACHATES escorted the convoy on 20 to 22 August and destroyer ARROW from 21 to 22 August.

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Convoy FN.256 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 20th.

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Convoy MT.144 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.256 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIMIERA and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 20th.

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Armed merchant cruiser CIRCASSIA was attacked by a U-boat 120 miles 255° from 40N, 20W.

The armed merchant cruiser counterattacked and claimed sinking the submarine.

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In a German air raid on HMS PEREGRINE at Ford, Lt Cdr H. H. C. Young Rtd, Lt Cdr W. J. McC Spens Rtd, Lt Cdr the Honourable M. J. R. de Courcy Rtd were killed.

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British trawler VALERIA (189grt) was sunk by German bombing eight miles 35° from The Smalls. The crew of nine was rescued.

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British dredger LYSTER (619grt) was damaged by German bombing at Brunswick Dock, Liverpool.

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Convoy SL.44 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CANTON to 5 September.

The armed merchant cruiser proceeded to Greenock for fuel, water, boiler cleaning.

Destroyer BLYSKAWICA, sloop SANDWICH, corvette GARDENIA joined on 3 September. On 4 September, destroyers SHIKARI and SKATE and corvette ERICA joined. On 5 September, corvette LA MALOUINE joined. The convoy arrived on 7 September.

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Light cruiser DELHI in the South Atlantic intercepted Spanish steamer CIUDAD DE SEVILLE and sent her into Freetown under armed guard.

The cruiser also intercepted Portuguese steamer JOAO BELO and removed six Germans.

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Convoy BS.3 departed Suez, escorted by sloop CLIVE. Light cruiser LEANDER and anti sircraft cruiser CARLISLE joined on the 21st. The convoy arrived at Aden on the 26th.

Monday,  19 August

After emergency repairs at Greenock, light cruiser PENELOPE departed Greenock at 1800/19th for the Tyne escorted by destroyers HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE.

The destroyers then proceeded on to the Nore Command.

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Submarine CACHALOT laid fifty mines in minefield FD.24 fifty miles off Penmarch in 47‑40N, 04‑23W.

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Convoy OG.41 with twenty nine ships departed Liverpool escorted by sloop WELLINGTON and corvette GERANIUM and from Milford Haven by Anti-submarine trawlers DERBY COUNTY and ARSENAL.

Sloop WELLINGTON escorted the convoy from 19 August to 2 September.

Corvette GERANIUM escorted the convoy only on the 19th. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 2 September.

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Convoy FN.257 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 21st.

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Convoy MT.145 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.257 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st.

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British steamer PROTISLAUS (9577grt), salved from 21 January torpedoing for use as a blockship, departed Swansea under tow for Scapa Flow, escorted by anti-submarine trawlers KINGSTON ALALITE (412grt) and KINGSTON ANDALUSITE (415grt).

Later on 13 September, the steamer was under the tow of tugs EMPIRE HENCHMAN and ABEILLE 21 and escorted by anti-submarine trawler KING SOL (486grt) and whaler ELLESMERE (580grt).

The tow parted and the ship was declared derelict seven miles southwest of Skerryvore.

The steamer was sunk by gunfire from trawler KING SOL.

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U.A sank Hungarian steamer KELET (4295grt) in 50N, 22W. The entire crew was rescued.

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U.48 sank Belgian steamer VILLE DE GAND (7590grt) in 55‑28N, 15‑10W. Fifteen crew were lost were lost.

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U.101 sank British steamer AMPLEFORTH (4576grt) in 56‑10N, 10‑40W. Nine crew were missing and the survivors rescued by destroyer WARWICK.

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Italian submarine MALASPINA attacked a tanker without success in 39‑20N, 21‑25W.

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Italian submarine BARBARIGO attacked British steamer AGUILA (3255grt) without success in 31‑15N, 13‑02W.

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British steamer WALDINGE (2462grt) was damaged by German bombing at Milford Haven.

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Destroyers HOTSPUR, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT arrived at Gibraltar to refuel and then departed to rejoin aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL and light cruiser ENTERPRISE to meet battlecruiser RENOWN arriving on the 20th.

Detsroyers VELOX and GRIFFIN also departed Gibraltar to meet the battlecruiser.

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American heavy cruisers WICHITA and QUINCY departed Santos.

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British steamer ASKA departed Freetown to deliver troops and refrigerated cargo, brought from the UK in MONARCH OF BERMUDA, to the RAF unit at Takoradi.

The steamer arrived back at Freetown on the 31st.

Tuesday,  20 August

German aircraft in small numbers raided Scapa Flow from 0115 to 0315. Movements of all ships larger than trawlers were prohibited due to mining.

At 0945, Scapa Flow was declared clear of mines north of Barrel of Butter.

The Fleet Channel was swept.

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Floating dock AFD.12 departed the Tyne on the 20th under tow escorted by sloops LOWESTOFT and EGRET and two trawlers.

The dock arrived at Lyness on the 26th.

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Convoy OB.201 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WESTCOTT and corvette GLADIOLUS from 20 to 24 August.

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Convoy FN.258 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop WESTON. Sloop PINTAIL was with the convoy on the 21st. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 22nd.

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Convoy MT.146 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.258 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIVIEN, SIKH, ZULU. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.

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The first successful attack on a German submarine by British Coastal Command aircraft occurred when U.51 was seriously damaged in an air attack on the 16th.

U.51 was sunk, while returning to port from her fourth war patrol, in the Bay of Biscay in 47‑06N, 04‑51W by submarine CACHALOT on the 20th.

All hands on the German submarine were lost.

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Midshipman P. J. Patterson, flying a Hurricane of RAF 242 Squadron from Coltishall, was killed when his aircraft dived into the sea five miles northeast of Winterton.

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British minefield BS.33 was laid by minelayers TEVIOTBANK, PLOVER, WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and destroyers ICARUS and IMPULSIVE.

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U.A sank Panamanian steamer TUIRA (4397grt) in 54‑46N, 20‑30W.

Two crew were killed on the Panamanian steamer.

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U.46 badly damaged Greek steamer LEONIDAS M. VALMAS (2080grt) in 55‑13N, 10‑13W.

Sixteen crew were missing from the Greek steamer.

Two crew were picked up by destroyer ARROW which arrived with them in the Clyde on the 27th.

Although, LEONIDAS M. VALMAS was towed into Greenock, she was found to be beyond repair and was declared a total loss.

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Minesweeping trawler RESPARKO (248grt, Temporary Skipper J. Fountain RNR) was sunk by German bombing at Falmouth.

The entire crew was rescued.

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