Note: all vessels and aircraft are British or Dominion unless otherwise identified or implied - all ships lost in bold - click for abbreviations.

Corrections with thanks to Donald Bertke 

Background Events - September-December 1940

U-boat packs in Atlantic, Blitz on Britain, Attack on Taranto, German raiders at sea

 

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1940

 

 

Sunday, 1 September

 

Light cruiser FIJI (Captain W G Benn), which departed Scapa Flow on 31 August, was torpedoed and badly damaged in 58‑25N, 13‑10W northwest of Ireland by U.32 at 1725. Five ratings were killed. Destroyers TARTAR, PUNJABI, JAVELIN, and JAGUAR departed Scapa Flow at 1930 and joined FIJI. Destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI departed their escort of convoy HX.67 to join. When FIJI was found capable of steaming, she was escorted by BEDOUIN, ASHANTI, VOLUNTEER and ANTELOPE. She was able to proceed under her own power at ten knots and arrived without further incident at 1930/3rd at the Clyde.

 

Destroyers WOLVERINE, AMBUSCADE, JAVELIN and JAGUAR were detached to join inbound convoy TC.7, while TARTAR and PUNJABI joined inbound convoy HX.67A. FIJI's place in operation MENACE was filled by Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA which arrived at Greenock on the 1st, and departed the Clyde on the 6th for Freetown. FIJI was repairing at Greenock through the end of January 1941.

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Destroyers VERSATILE and VIMY departed Rosyth at 1700 escorting minelayer MANCHESTER CITY to the Clyde where they arrived at 2100/3rd.

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Destroyers SOMALI, MACKAY, WESTCOTT and HESPERUS were involved in a search for a German submarine in 54‑21N, 5‑05W after the U-boat was reported by a civilian aircraft.

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Light cruiser GALATEA, which was with light cruiser AURORA had departed the Humber on 31 August to meet destroyers KELVIN, JUPITER and VORTIGERN off Sheringham Light Vessel, struck a mine off the Humber as she returned to port. It exploded on the port side abreast B-turret causing minor damage. The two cruisers arrived in the Humber on the 1st.

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Convoy OB.207 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HESPERUS and corvette GLADIOLUS. On 2 September, the convoy was joined by destroyers KEPPEL and WITCH.

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Convoy FN.269 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VERDUN, sloop STORK, and patrol sloop PINTAIL. The patrol sloop was detached on the 2nd, and the convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd.

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Convoy MT.157 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that same day.

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Convoy FS.269 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD, and arrived at Southend on the 3rd.

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While departing Grangemouth at 2130 for Rosyth, submarine SUNFISH sank patrol launch MESME in an accidental collision. The crew of three were all lost.

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Submarine TUNA unsuccessfully attacked a German submarine in 56‑09N, 02‑15E.

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U.101 badly damaged Greek steamer EFPLOIA (3867grt) in 55‑27N, 13‑17W. The entire crew were picked up by destroyer ANTHONY, and the Greek ship was so badly damaged she was sunk by ANTHONY the same day in 55-43N, 13-05W.

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Minesweeping trawler ROYALO (248grt) was sunk on an aerial mine laid by German IX Air Division aircraft in Mount's Bay, 90° from Penzance Pier. Temporary Lt I W Watt RNR, Temporary Skipper W D.Warford RNR, and five ratings were lost.

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Submarine TIGRIS, which departed Rothesay on 27 August, sank a French trawler SANCTE MICHAEL (168grt) off Brest.

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Convoy HX.70 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE and auxiliary patrol boat FRENCH at 1520. Convoy commodore was on steamer HILARY (7403grt). Patrol boat FRENCH was detached from the convoy at 2100 and destroyer ASSINIBOINE stayed until 1605 on the 2nd. Ocean escort was armed merchant cruiser MONTCLARE which returned to Halifax when light cruiser EMERALD joined the convoy on the 5th.

 

Convoy BHX.70 departed Bermuda on 31 August escorted by ocean escort, light cruiser EMERALD. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.70 on the 5th and the light cruiser was detached. The convoy was joined by destroyers ACHATES, ACTIVE, and VANQUISHER, sloop WESTON, and corvettes ERICA, MALLOW, and PRIMROSE on the 13th and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 16th.

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Lt (A) E. W. Lockwood, Acting S/Lt (A) R. G. D. Kite, and Acting Leading Airman S. Simpson of 813 Squadron from aircraft carrier EAGLE crashed at sea and were made prisoners of war after eight days in a dingy.

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Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL launched an air strike on the airfield at Cagliari in operation SMASH. On 2 September, ARK ROYAL was to have launched an air strike in operation GRAB for another strike on the Cagliari airfield and the Cagliari power plant, but the planes could not locate the target in poor weather.

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FLEET OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, INCLUDING CONVOYS MB.3 AND AS.3

 

Light cruiser ORION and Australian light cruiser SYDNEY were detached at 1400 to rendezvous with escort ship/destroyer WRYNECK coming from Malta, and then join Force F.

 

Destroyers STUART, DEFENDER, VAMPIRE, and VENDETTA were detached from the Main Fleet at 2000 to proceed to Malta.

 

On 2 September, anti-aircraft cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA with destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK, JANUS and JUNO were detached to Malta.

 

At 0900 aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS (right - NavyPhotos), battleship VALIANT, light cruiser ORION with destroyers WRYNECK, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, and HOTSPUR from Gibraltar were met by the Mediterranean Fleet.

 

VAMPIRE and VENDETTA rejoined at 0930/2nd and destroyers HEREWARD and ILEX were detached to Malta to refuel.

 

COVENTRY and CALCUTTA arrived at Malta at 1005, and SYDNEY also entered Malta.

 

At 1010, VALIANT and destroyers HYPERION, DECOY, HASTY, and WRYNECK were detached to Malta.

 

Convoy MB.3, consisting of steamer VOLO (1587grt) and oiler PLUMLEAF (5916grt), arrived safely at Malta at 1130/2nd, escorted by destroyers DAINTY and DIAMOND.

 

The third ship of the convoy, steamer CORNWALL (10,605grt), which had been damaged by Italian bombing on 31 August, was brought into Malta on the 3rd by tugs JAUNTY and ANCIENT, escorted by destroyers JERVIS and JUNO.

 

At 1415, JANUS was detached to Malta to refuel.

 

At 1504, COVENTRY with JANUS, JUNO, NUBIAN, and MOHAWK joined the Main Fleet at sea.

 

HEREWARD and ILEX rejoined at 1645.

 

Battleship MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE, together with COVENTRY and JANUS, JUNO, DAINTY, DIAMOND, VAMPIRE, and VENDETTA were detached at 1657 as Force E, and heavy cruiser KENT, light cruisers GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL with NUBIAN and MOHAWK as Force A for Operation MB.3.

 

GALLANT and ILEX attacked a submarine contact near the fleet at 1730.

 

At 1856, destroyer VOYAGER was detached to Malta, and at 1900, CALCUTTA with HASTY, HERO, DECOY, and WRYNECK joined the Fleet.

 

SYDNEY departed Malta at 1908 to rejoin the Mediterranean Fleet.

 

At 2200, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR, and GARLAND were detached to Malta to refuel.

 

Destroyers IMPERIAL with the 1st Battle Squadron and JANUS were unsuccessfully attacked by Italian Ju.87 dive bombers near Malta on the 2nd.

 

VALIANT with STUART, HYPERION, IMPERIAL and JANUS rejoined the Main Fleet at 2330.

 

At 0700/3rd, destroyer DEFENDER, which had been delayed at Malta with a damaged Asdic dome, rejoined the fleet.

 

Force I for Operation MB.3 was formed with battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, anti-aircraft ship CALCUTTA, plus destroyers STUART, VOYAGER, DECOY, DEFENDER, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL, HYPERION, ILEX, HASTY, and WRYNECK.

 

STUART suffered a burst steam pipe at 2200 and was instructed to join convoy AS.3 of four steamers.

 

At 2230, light cruisers ORION and SYDNEY with destroyers ILEX and DECOY were detached for a dawn bombardment of Scarpanto.

 

Force H arrived back at Gibraltar after HATS on the 3rd.

 

Anti-aircraft ships COVENTRY and CALCUTTA were detached off the Island of Hydra and joined convoy AS.3 on the 4th.

 

Off Rhodes at 0345, ILLUSTRIOUS launched nine torpedo bombers of the 815 (Lt Cdr R. Williamson) and 819 Squadron (Lt Cdr J. W. Hale DSO) at 0345 on the 4th to attack the airfield at Callado. The ninth Swordfish crashed on take off and observer Lt A E. Ogilvy of 815 Squadron was killed. Lt L. J. Kiggell and Leading Airman K. Allum of the crew were rescued by destroyer IMPERIAL. This accident prevented three more Swordfish for the operation from taking off. Aircraft carrier EAGLE launched twelve torpedo bombers of the 813 (Lt Cdr N. Kennedy DSC) and 824 Squadron (Lt Cdr A J. Debenham DSC) to attack the airfield at Maritza.

 

Four EAGLE Swordfish aircraft of 813 Squadron were shot down over Maritza. One of these Swordfish, piloted by Lt (A) R. H. Hain, with a crew of Observer Probationary S/Lt (A) V. H. Smith RNVR, and Naval Airman W. F. Taylor was able to successfully make a forced landing on Kasos Island where they were made prisoners of war. One aircraft crew of the pilot Lt (A) S. Hook and Leading Airman L. C. White was captured, but the observer Lt K. S. Bell was lost with the aircraft. Pilot Lt (A) D. N. Collins, Observer R. H. Marsh, and Petty Officer A Wilson of another aircraft were picked up by an Italian submarine and made prisoners of war. Pilot Lt (A) D. R. M. Drummond, Observer Acting S/Lt (A) A M. Todd, and Leading Airman G. E. Derwent were lost when their aircraft crashed into the sea. Todd's body later washed ashore on the coast of Egypt weeks later.

 

ORION with DECOY and SYDNEY with ILEX bombarded Scarpanto and Port Maltezana in Stampalia. ILEX rammed and sank Italian motor torpedo boat MAS.537. The MAS.536 was also attacked by ILEX, but was not damaged.

 

MALAYA and EAGLE, escorted by JUNO, DAINTY, DIAMOND, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, and WRYNECK were detached to proceed independently to Alexandria, arriving at 2100/4th. EAGLE was docked on the 5th.

 

Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, with destroyers HYPERION, HERO, HASTY, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL, JANUS, and DEFENDER were some forty miles to the north of the MALAYA group and arrived at Alexandria at 0700/5th.

 

Heavy cruiser KENT, light cruisers GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL, with destroyers MOHAWK and NUBIAN were detached from the Mediterranean Fleet on the 4th to the Gulf of Nauphlia to escort convoy AS.3 of four steamers to Port Said. Destroyers IMPERIAL and HEREWARD  sailed on the 5th to relieve destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK.

 

Polish destroyer GARLAND, returning to Gibraltar from Malta with GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, and HOTSPUR of Force H, was bombed by Italian bombers between 1225 and 1430/4th. No damage was done, but GARLAND, with leaks in two boilers, was taken in tow by GRIFFIN from 1715 to 1845, after which she was able to proceed on one boiler. The destroyers arrived at Gibraltar late on the 5th. After repairs, GARLAND departed Gibraltar on the 14th for duty in the Western Approaches.

 

KENT, GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL, anti-aircraft ships COVENTRY and CALCUTTA, and destroyer STUART arrived at Alexandria during the morning of 6 September while destroyers MOHAWK and NUBIAN arrived in the afternoon. Convoy AS 3 and destroyers HEREWARD and IMPERIAL arrived at Port Said on the 6th. Swedish steamer STUREBORG, a straggler from the convoy, arrived at Port Said on the 8th.

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Light cruiser DRAGON departed Durban for Simonstown.

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Light cruiser DESPATCH departed Kingston to return to England.

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Convoy SLS.46 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE to 13 September when the convoy was dispersed.

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Light cruiser DELHI departed Lagos for Manoca.

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Convoy BS.3A departed Suez, escorted by sloop GRIMSBY. Light cruiser HOBART with destroyers KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY joined on the 3rd. The convoy was dispersed on the 6th.

 

 

Monday, 2 September

 

Destroyer DUNCAN departed Scapa Flow at 1330 to rendezvous with destroyer MAORI at 2100 off Aberdeen to escort steamers BEN MY CHREE and LADY OF MANN to Kirkwall and Lerwick, respectively.

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Convoy OA.208 departed Methil escorted by destroyer SKEENA, sloop LOWESTOFT, plus anti-submarine trawlers DRANGEY, FANDANGO, and NORTHERN GEM.

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Convoy FN.270 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOLFHOUND, sloop BLACK SWAN, and patrol sloop WIDGEON, and arrived in the Tyne on the 4th.

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Convoy MT.158 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.270 departed the Tyne and arrived at Southend on the 4th.

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Submarine STURGEON sank German steamer PIONIER (3285grt) northeast of Skagen in 57-50N, 10‑46E. Approximately 1,000 German troops were lost in the sinking.

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Submarine TIGRIS unsuccessfully attacked U.58 in 47-29N, 4-24W.

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In an air raid over Flushing, an Albacore of the 826 Squadron from PEREGRINE was shot down. S/Lt (A) H. M. Howard, Probationary Midshipman (A) C. A Wright RNVR, and Naval Airman T. R. R. Harwood were captured and made prisoners of war.

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U.46 sank steamers THORNLEA (4261grt) in 55‑14N, 16‑40W and BIBURY (4616grt) at approximately the same location from a group of ships from dispersed convoy OB.205. There were no survivors from BIBURY, and three crew from THORNLEA were lost. Canadian destroyer SKEENA and Norwegian steamer HILD (1356grt) rescued the THORNLEA survivors.

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U.47 sank Belgian steamer VILLE DE MONS (7463grt) in 58‑20N, 12W, but the entire crew was rescued.

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German bombing attacks were launched again convoy WN.12. Steamer LAGOSIAN (5412grt) was damaged 13 miles ESE of Peterhead, and her survivors rescued by anti-submarine trawler SOUTHERN GEM (593grt), steamer ASHBY (4868grt) and the Dutch DELFTDIJK (10,220grt), both off Rattray Head. Destroyers DUNCAN and HOLDERNESS joined the escort to provide further anti-aircraft protection.

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Convoy SC.3 departed St Johns escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE and armed yacht REINDEER in the local approaches and were detached on the 4th. Sloop DUNDEE was the ocean escort, but was lost on the 14th. On the 15th, destroyers OTTAWA, SKEENA, and WITCH, with anti-submarine trawler DRANGEY joined the escort. The trawler was detached the next day. Destroyers ST LAURENT and WANDERER joined on the 17th, and the convoy arrived at Liverpool next day on the 18th.

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German anti-submarine whaler UJ.121 (whaler JOCHEN, 523grt) was sunk on a mine off Ostend. The hulk of the sunken ship blocked the channel for the 2nd S-Flotilla.

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Battleship BARHAM with destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECHO, ESCAPADE, and ECLIPSE arrived at Gibraltar after departing Scapa Flow on 27 August. ECHO had left on the 28th.

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Destroyer VELOX attacked a submarine contact near Alboran Island.

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Light cruiser ENTERPRISE departed Freetown.

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German armed merchant cruiser WIDDER sank tanker CYMBELINE (6317grt) in the Central Atlantic at 27‑55N, 36‑01W. Seven crew were lost, while 25 crew and one distressed British seaman were made prisoners of war.

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New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Melbourne and arrived at Auckland on the 5th.

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Australian light cruiser ADELAIDE departed Sydney on the 2nd for Vila, New Caledonia, via Brisbane. On the 3rd, she was in a collision with steamer COPTIC (8533grt). Neither ship was significantly damaged and ADELAIDE arrived at Vila on the 7th. She departed on the 16th escorting Norwegian tanker NORDEN (8440grt) carrying the new Free French government to Noumea, and arrived off there on the 19th

 

 

Tuesday, 3 September

 

All movements at Scapa Flow were held up due to mine laying by German IX Air Divison aircraft during the night in the southern entrances. Destroyer DUNCAN remained at sea after escorting steamer LADY OF MANN to Lerwick. Destroyer HOLDERNESS was delayed in sailing until 1230 to provide additional escort for convoy WN.12 to Methil .

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Destroyers ZULU, SIKH, KASHMIR, and KIPLING departed Scapa Flow at 1200 for Loch Alsh where they arrived at 1900. On the 4th, they escorted minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, PORT QUEBEC, and MENESTHEUS from Loch Alsh at 1400/4th on minelaying operation SN 5A, which was conducted during the night of the 4th/5th, and arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1400/6th after the lay.

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Destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow, arriving at 1635 on the 4th.

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Destroyers INTREPID, ICARUS, and IMPULSIVE departed Immingham to lay minefield MS (A) near South Goodwin Light Vessel. They were escorted by six motor torpedo boats and the minelay was completed early on the 4th. They departed Immingham again on the 5th and laid minefield MS (B), an extension of the first field.

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Convoy OB.208 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WESTCOTT, sloop FOLKESTONE, and corvette PERIWINKLE. The next day, the convoy was joined by destroyer SCIMITAR. On 6 September, WESTCOTT and PERIWINKLE were detached and on the 7th, SCIMITAR and FOLKESTONE left the convoy.

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Convoy FN.271 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop EGRET. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER joined on the 4th, on which day the convoy arrived in the Tyne.

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Convoy MT.159 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.271 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS and WESTMINSTER. Sloop SHEARWATER joined the convoy en route, which arrived at Southend on the 5th.

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U.60 sank steamer ULVA (1401grt) at 55‑45N, 11‑45W, with the loss of three crew.

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U.57 was sunk in an accidental collision with Norwegian steamer RONA (1376grt) at Brunsbuttel. Six crew were lost and 19 rescued, she was salved on 11 January 1941, repaired for training duties, and recommissioned on 30 May 1941.

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Sloop SHOREHAM intercepted Greek steamer EVROS (5283grt) in the Red Sea.

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Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE departed Simonstown for Durban.

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Light cruiser DRAGON arrived at Capetown from Lobito.

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Norwegian steamer TROPIC SEA (5781grt), captured by German armed merchant cruiser ORION on 18 May 1940, was scuttled when intercepted by submarine TRUANT in the Bay of Biscay, in 46-30N, 11-30W. The survivors,  included the crew from steamer HAXBY sunk by ORION, were picked up by TRUANT. Twenty one survivors were landed at Corunna. Ten survivors were picked up by a flying boat.

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VICHY FRENCH NAVY MOVEMENTS

 

Armed merchant cruiser CAP DES PALMES escorted by submarine PONCELET and sloop BOUGAINVILLE departed Dakar for Libreville where they arrived with troops on the 10th.

 

Sloop D'ENTRECASTEUX and submarine AJAX departed Casablanca for Libreville on the 3rd.

 

Light cruiser PRIMAUGEUT, sloop GAZELLE, and tanker TARN also departed Casablanca for Libreville on the 4th.

 

Sloops D'IBERVILLE, SURPRISE, and COMMANDANT RIVIERE followed over the next few days, .

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Due to the presence of Vichy French submarine SIDI FERRUCH at Libreville, light cruiser DELHI departed Duala to carry ten French officers to Pointe Noire.

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Sloop BRIDGEWATER departed Lagos for Freetown.

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Convoy SL.46 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser BULOLO until the 19th, when the convoy was joined by Polish destroyer GARLAND and corvettes GARDENIA, GERANIUM, and PERIWINKLE. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 23rd.

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American light cruiser ST LOUIS embarked an evaluation board under Rear Admiral J. W. Greenslade to examine base sites acquired under Lend Lease. She departed Norfolk, Virginia on the 3rd, arrived at Bermuda on the 5th and departed on the 8th to return to Norfolk, arriving on the 10th. Leaving again on the 12th for St Johns, Newfoundland, she arrived there on the 16th, and departed on the 18th for Argentia. On the 21st, she departed Argentia, arrived at Boston on the 23rd, sailed again the same day, and arrived back at Norfolk on the 25th.

 

 

Wednesday, 4 September

 

Light cruisers MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON, and BIRMINGHAM departed Rosyth at 1300 with destroyer HOLDERNESS, were joined at sea by destroyers KELVIN and JUPITER, and proceeded to Immingham.

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Destroyer JAVELIN departed the Clyde for the Humber.

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Destroyer JAGUAR departed the Clyde for Rosyth.

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Rear Admiral Destroyers, Home Fleet transferred to destroyer depot ship GREENWICH at 0800.

 

Destroyer depot ship WOOLWICH, escorted by destroyers MAORI and DUNCAN departed Scapa Flow for Liverpool at 1700, and arrived safely at 1200/6th. DUNCAN and MAORI then proceeded to Lough Foyle to escort submarine depot ship TITANIA to Rosyth. They sailed from Lough Foyle at 1030/7th.

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Convoy OA.209 departed Methil escorted by sloop FOWEY and corvette CAMELLIA from 4 to 8 September.

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Convoy OB.209 departed Liverpool escorted by corvettes CLARKIA and HEARTSEASE, and was joined on the 5th by destroyer WINCHELSEA and on the 6th by destroyers AMBUSCADE and ARROW, plus anti-submarine trawlers ST KENAN and ST LOMAN. The ARROW detached later on the 6th, followed by AMBUSCADE, WINCHELSEA, CLARKIA and HEARTSEASE on the 8th. ST KENAN and ST LOMAN remained until the 9th.

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Convoy FN.272 departed Southend with destroyer WOOLSTON, sloop FLEETWOOD, and patrol sloop PUFFIN, and arrived in the Tyne on the 6th.

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Convoy MT.160 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.272 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. Sloop PUFFIN joined on the 5th, and the convoy arrived at Southend on the 6th.

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Submarine TUNA made contact a German submarine in 56-26N, 1-17E, but was unable to attack.

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U.46 sank steamer LUIMNEACH (1074grt) in 47‑50N, 09‑12W, picked up three survivors and made them prisoners of war, while the rest of the crew were later rescued by Allied ships.

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U.47 sank steamer TITAN (9035grt) in 58‑14N, 15‑50W and reported damaging a steamer at the same time and location, also from convoy OA.207. Six crew were lost on TITAN, and the survivors rescued by Canadian destroyer ST LAURENT and corvette GODETIA.

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ATTACK ON CONVOY FS.271

 

German motor torpedo boats of the 1st Flotilla launched a highly successful attack on FS.271 northeast of Great Yarmouth in 52‑50N, 02‑09E.

 

S.21 sank steamers CORBROOK (1729grt) and NEW LAMBTON (2709grt). CORBROOK went down 30 miles east of Cromer and NEW LAMBTON in 52-50N, 2-07-30E (also 52-52N, 02.40E), but both crews were rescued.

 

S.18 sank steamer JOSEPH SWAN (1571grt) and the Dutch NIEUWLAND (1075grt). Both ships were lost between 56 and 55A Buoy, JOSEPH SWAN with only one survivor and NIEUWLAND with the loss of eight crew.

 

S.22 sank steamer FULHAM IV (1562grt) two miles north of 55A Buoy, but here entire crew was rescued.

 

S.54 damaged steamer EWELL (1350grt).

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Tug SAUCY (Temporary Lt J. Cordery RNR) was mined and sunk off Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth. Temporary S/Lt F. D. Phillips RNR, Temporary S/Lt D. L. Thomas RNR, Temporary S/Lt (E) W. H. Anderson RNR, Temporary S/Lt (E) F. W. Jones, and twenty three ratings were lost.

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Estonian steamer JAAK (1351grt) was damaged by German bombing off Royal Pier, Southampton.

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US DESTROYERS FOR British BASES DEAL

 

The first US destroyers for transfer to the Royal Navy, destroyers AARON WARD (DD.132), HALE (DD.133), and ABEL P UPSHUR (DD.193) departed Boston for Halifax.

 

On 1 September, American destroyer depot ship DENEBOLA (AD.12) had departed Norfolk, Virginia, and arrived at Halifax on the 6th to act as a depot ship for the destroyers. She remained at Halifax in this role until returning to Norfolk on 3 November.

 

By 6 September, all eight destroyers of Destroyer Divisions 65 and 67 had arrived at Halifax.

 

The British crews for these destroyers arrived at Halifax on troopship DUCHESS OF RICHMOND (20,022grt).

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Convoy HG.43 departed Gibraltar with 21 ships escorted by sloop WELLINGTON and as far as Lisbon, by destroyers WISHART and FORTUNE.

 

 WISHART experienced defects and returned to Gibraltar, being replaced by destroyer VIDETTE which sailed from Gibraltar on the 5th with troopship ROYAL SCOTSMAN (3244grt) to join the convoy.

 

WELLINGTON escorted the convoy from the 4th to 18th. It was joined in Home Waters by destroyer WARWICK with corvettes COREOPSIS and CLEMATIS from the 14th to 18th, and by destroyer WESTCOTT and sloop ROCHESTER on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool that same day.

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Destroyer VELOX departed Gibraltar escorting steamers BARON VERNON and FIDRA to within ten miles of Melilla, when they carried on to load iron ore. On the 8th, destroyer HOTSPUR escorted FIDRA back to Gibraltar.

 

 

Thursday, 5 September

 

Submarine TUNA fired five torpedoes in two attacks at 0301 at a German submarine 65 miles 077° from May Island in 56-26N, 0-43W, and was attacked herself. Destroyers JACKAL and VORTIGERN were sent to investigate.

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Destroyers VERSATILE and VIMY departed the Clyde at 2000 as additional escort for convoy BAS.3, four ships for Reykavik. They left the convoy during the afternoon of the 8th and returned to Scapa Flow.

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Light cruisers AURORA, GALATEA, and CARDIFF departed Humber for Sheerness and were joined at sea off the Humber Light Vessel by destroyers WILD SWAN and WIVERN.

 

The ships arrived at Sheerness on the 6th.

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Minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, MENESTHEUS, and PORT QUEBEC laid mines south of the Faroes, escorted by destroyers ZULU, SIKH, KIPLING, and KASHMIR, and given anti-aircraft protection by anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO.

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 Escort vessel GLEANER experienced boiler defects requiring immediate repair.

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Convoy FN.273 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VEGA and VIMIERA and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 7th.

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Convoy MT.161 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.

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Convoy FS.273 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VANITY and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 7th.

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 Steamer MELBOURNE STAR (12,806grt) was damaged by German bombing 53‑27N, 15‑12W.

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Greek steamer AEGEON (5285grt) was damaged by German bombing 30 miles southwest of Holyhead.

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Convoy OG.42 with 51 ships departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers ANTELOPE and AMAZON from 5 to 8 September, and destroyers SABRE and MACKAY with corvette GERANIUM from 5 to 7 September. Sloop LEITH escorted the convoy from 5 to 16 September when it arrived at Gibraltar.

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German torpedo boats T.5, T.6, T.7, and T.8 of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla laid minefield WALTER in the Straits of Dover.

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U.47 in operations in the Atlantic lost a crewman overboard.

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German auxiliary patrol boat Vp.403 (trawler DEUTSCHLAND: 432grt) was sunk on a mine off Westerschelde.

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German auxiliary patrol boat Vp.201 (trawler GEBRUDER KAHLER:460grt) was sunk on a mine at Dunkirk Roads.

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Italian Torpedo Boat Division 12, torpedo boats ALTAIR, ALDEBARAN, ANTARES, and ANDROMEDA (Seekrieg - ALTAIR, ALCIONE, ARIEL and ARETUSA) laid mines off Valletta, Malta. Thirty five more minelays were made in Maltese waters by Italian naval units during the war and these claimed destroyers JERSEY and SOUTHWOLD, Polish destroyer KUJIWIAK, and submarine OLYMPUS.

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Australian light cruiser HOBART, escorting convoy BS.3 at 15‑25N, 41‑46E, was unsuccessfully attacked eight times by Italian bombers. Italian torpedo boats MANIN, BATTISTI and SAURO searched the Red Sea trying to find BS.3.

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Aircraft carrier ARGUS arrived at Takoradi with 30 Hurricanes to be flown overland to Khartoum. They left ARGUS on the 6th.

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Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE arrived at Durban for repairs.

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Light cruiser NEPTUNE departed Durban on patrol to examine anchorages in Southern Madagascar.

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Light cruiser SHEFFIELD departed Gibraltar and arrived in the Clyde on the 8th.

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A London flying boat of 200 Group force landed 100 miles to the west of Cape Spartel. Destroyer FORESTER located the aircraft, taking it in tow and returning to Gibraltar.

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Convoy HX.71 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY at 1850. The ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser RANPURA was met and ASSINIBOINE detached at 2020 and SAGUENAY at 2000 the next day.

 

Convoy BHX.71 departed Bermuda on the 4th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser RAJPUTANA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.71 on the 9th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

Sloop FLEETWOOD and corvettes BLUEBELL and FLOXINIA joined on the 16th, corvette GLADIOLUS on the 17th, and destroyer WINCHELSEA on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 20th.

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Convoy BS.4 departed Suez, escorted by sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY. The sloops were detached on the 8th when the convoy was joined by light cruiser LEANDER, anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE, destroyer KINGSTON, plus sloops AUCKLAND and PARRAMATTA. The convoy dispersed on the 13th.