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   British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day
by Don Kindell

NAVAL EVENTS, SEPTEMBER 1940 (Part 1 of 2)
Sunday 1st – Saturday 14th

HMS Liverpool, light cruiser (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

on to SEPTEMBER 1940, Part 2

 

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

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 


Background Events - September-December 1940

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


 

 

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.

_____

 

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

_____

 

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

_____

 

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.

_____

 

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.

_____

 

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

_____

 

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

_____

 

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

_____

 

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.

_____

 

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.

_____

 

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

_____

 

Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE arrived at Durban for repairs.

_____

 

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

_____

 

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

_____

 

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.

_____

 

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.

_____

 

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.

_____

 

German armed merchant cruiser KOMET transitted the Bering Straits into the Pacific Ocean after going across the north of Russia.

 

 

Friday, 6 September

 

Corvette GODETIA (Lt Cdr G. V. Legassick RNR), which had been escorting convoy OA.207, was sunk in an accidental collision with steamer MARSA (4405grt), a straggler from convoy OA.209, three miles off Altacarry Head off Northern Ireland in 55‑18N, 5‑57W. Probationary Temporary Surgeon Lt A G. Bellamy MRCS, LRCP RNVR, Acting S/Lt P. D. Hincks RCNVR, Acting S/Lt F. S. Ker RCNVR, and eleven ratings were killed, and eighteen ratings were missing with the corvette. Leggasick, Probationary Temporary S/Lt D. M. Edwards DSC RNR, and about fifteen ratings were rescued.

_____

 

Aircraft carrier FURIOUS, battleship NELSON, anti-aircraft cruisers NAIAD and BONAVENTURE, and destroyers SOMALI, TARTAR, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, ASHANTI, ESKIMO, and MATABELE departed Scapa Flow at 0900 on Operation DF to raid shipping off Trondheim.

 

At 0500/7th in 62‑00N, 00‑50E, FURIOUS flew off nine Skuas of 801 Squadron and twelve Swordfish of 816 and 825 Squadrons. Two ships were sighted and one was reported sunk between Sognefjord and Grip Light, but no confirmation exists for this claim.

 

The aircraft returned directly to Hatston, and the force arrived back at Scapa Flow at 2000/7th.

_____

 

Destroyers JACKAL and JAGUAR departed Rosyth at 1800 escorting submarine depot ship FORTH and submarine TUNA to the Clyde, and safely arrived at 0600/9th.

_____

 

Convoy OA.210 departed Methil escorted by escort ship JASON.

_____

 

Convoy FN.274 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS, WESTMINSTER and patrol sloop PUFFIN, and arrived in the Tyne on the 8th. There were no convoys FN.275 and FN.276.

_____

 

Convoy MT.162 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day. There was no convoy MT.163.

_____

 

Convoy FS.274 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VERDUN and WALLACE, and arrived at Southend on the 7th. There was no convoy FS.275.

_____

 

 

Submarine TRIBUNE, returning from patrol west of the Hebrides, attacked a German submarine in 57‑58N, 08‑13W off the Butt of Lewis.

_____

 

Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA departed the Clyde for Freetown to replace light cruiser FIJI in the MENACE operation. On 8 September, U.56 unsuccessfully attacked AUSTRALIA, which arrived at Freetown on the 14th.

_____

 

In German air attacks on convoy SL.44A, 15 miles east of Aberdeen, steamer ST GLEN (4647grt) was sunk in 57‑25N, 01‑38W. Three crew were lost, and sloop SANDWICH rescued the survivors. Steamer GANNET (1336grt) was damaged in 57‑25N, 01‑45W and towed to Peterhead.

_____

 

 Trawler IWATE (314grt) was damaged by German bombing in 53‑30N, 14‑00W.

_____

 

 Trawler ILFRACOMBE (165grt) was damaged by German bombing in 51‑20N, 11‑22W.

_____

 

Convoy SC.2, which had departed St Johns on 25 August, was escorted by Canadian destroyer SKEENA, destroyer WESTCOTT, sloops LOWESTOFT, SCARBOROUGH, corvette PERIWINKLE, plus anti-submarine trawlers ST APOLLO (580grt) and BERKSHIRE (466grt) when it was attacked by U.65. U.47 arrived that night, followed on the 9th by U.28 and U.99, which made attacks. In all five merchant ships were sunk.

_____

 

German minelayers TOGO, KAISER and torpedo boats GREIF, FALKE, ILTIS, and JAGUAR of the 5th Flotilla, escorted by torpedo boats T.1, T.2, and T.3 of the 1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla, laid minefield SW 0 in the southwest North Sea. Escort was provided by destroyer GALSTER and torpedo boat KONDOR, and the force arrived at Rotterdam on the 8th.

_____

 

Force H units, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, battleships BARHAM and RESOLUTION, with destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FORTUNE, FURY, GREYHOUND, ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE, and INGLEFIELD, departed Gibraltar on MENACE. Destroyer ECHO with defects was able to depart the next day and joined the force at sea.

 

The Italian reaction to this sortie, which was viewed as an incursion into the Mediterranean was the sortie of battleships VENETO, LITTORIO, CESARE, and DUILO, with six heavy cruisers, and eighteen destroyers.

 

Force H joined the MENACE "MP" convoy at sea on the 13th. In addition, Heavy cruisers DEVONSHIRE, with the convoy, and heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND, which joined at sea, travelled in company with Force H and the convoy.

_____

 

Submarines TRIAD and TRUANT arrived from Home Waters at Gibraltar escorted by destroyer WRESTLER, which departed Gibraltar on the 5th to join, for duty with the 8th Submarine Flotilla to operate from Gibraltar.

_____

 

Light cruiser DELHI arrived off Pointe Noire, French Congo, but two of the three Vichy steamers there had departed prior to her arrival.

 

Vichy French steamer JEAN LABORDE (11,591grt) departed during the night of 5/6 September and arrived at Dakar on the 8th. Steamer TOUREG (5135grt) departed on the 5th and was later intercepted by light cruiser DELHI on the 16th. Steamer CAP PADARAN (8009grt) departed on the 9th for Dakar, via Tabu, but was forced to put into Conakry on the 23rd to avoid contact with British forces.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser HAWKINS departed Montevideo on patrol and arrived back later that day.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND arrived at Freetown.

_____

 

Light cruiser LEANDER, escorting convoy BN.4 with Sloop AUCKLAND, was unsuccessfully attacked by Italian bombers north of Jebal at Tair. Two Italian aircraft were shot down.

_____

 

New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Auckland with staff officers of the New Zealand Government for government conferences in Tahiti, arriving on the 10th. She departed on the 15th for further talks at Raratonga, arrived on the 17th and returned to Auckland on the 23rd.

_____

 

Italian submarine GUGLIELMOTTI sank Greek tanker ATLAS (4008grt), a straggler from convoy BN.4, at 15‑10N, 41‑50E, 14 miles north of Jebel Tier. The crew was landed at Aden.

 

 

Saturday, 7 September

 

At 0048, cruisers and destroyers at Scapa Flow were brought to one hour's notice. The destroyers were kept at one half hour's notice during dark hours.

_____

 

Battlecruiser REPULSE, heavy cruisers NORFOLK and BERWICK, with destroyers ZULU, SIKH, KASHMIR, and KIPLING departed Scapa Flow at 1300 to sweep off the east coast of Iceland. They arrived back after an uneventful patrol at 2130/10th.

_____

 

Destroyers DUNCAN and MAORI escorting submarine depot ship TITANIA departed Lough Foyle at 1030 for Rosyth.

_____

 

Destroyer DOUGLAS departed Portsmouth at 1900 to join the 12th Destroyer Flotilla operating at Scapa Flow. She arrived at 1730/9th, but was found to have faulty boiler tubes and secured alongside depot ship GREENWICH for repairs.

_____

 

Destroyers ATHERSTONE, BEAGLE, BULLDOG, and SALADIN at sea on patrol were ordered to attack German motor torpedo boats off Calais. They were ordered to be west of Dungeness by dawn and no contact was made.

_____

 

Minesweeping trawler ABRONIA (Temporary Skipper H. Kerrison RNR) foundered in the Thames. Five ratings were lost.

_____

 

German trawler NIENDORF (257grt) was sunk on a mine off Calais. (Seekrieg - by Norwegian MTB 6, British MTBs 15 and 17 off Calais.)

_____

 

U.47 in attacks on convoy SC.2 sank British steamers NEPTUNIAN (5155grt) in 58‑27N, 17‑17W, JOSE DE LARRINGA (5303grt) and the Norwegian GRO (4211grt) in 58‑30N, 16‑10W. One British naval rating was lost in NEPTUNIAN, and eleven crew were missing from GRO. British steamer BURDWAN rescued twenty-one GRO survivors on the 10th in 56-25N, 09-35W.  Corvette PERIWINKLE found a raft with GRO dead on the 27th.

_____

 

Trawler SALACON (211grt) was sunk on a mine 5.3 miles 114° from Spurn Light House. Eight crew were lost.

_____

 

The German Luftwaffe launched heavy air attacks on the Port of London, with 300 aircraft dropping 337 tons of bombs. Tug BECKTON (45grt) was sunk at the Beckton Gas Works, London River, but there were no casualties. Many ships were damaged - British steamers BARONESA (8663grt), GOTHLAND (1286grt), BENNEVIS (5264grt), UMGENI (8180grt), GLENSTRAE (9460grt), KNITSLEY (2272grt), UMTALI (8162grt, attacked again on the 11th), INANDA (5985grt, attacked again on the 8th and 9th), INKOSI (6618grt, attacked again on 8th and 9th), FRUMENTON (6675grt, attacked again on 8th and 9th), HETTON (2714grt), EASTWOOD (1551grt), WILLIAM CASH (1186grt), and OTAIO (10,298grt), Dutch steamers PRINS FREDERIK HENDRIK (1288grt), SCHIE (1967grt), ABBEKERK (7906grt), MOENA (9286grt), ANTJE (157grt), REIGER (155grt), and PRINS MAURITS (1287grt), Belgian steamer SAMBRE (683grt, attacked again on the 11th), and Estonian steamers LAKE HALLWIL (3165grt) and ELNA (3195grt).

 

Steamer INANDA at the Albert Docks was outfitting as an ocean boarding vessel, but because of the damage, conversion was abandoned.

_____

 

German motor torpedo boat S.33 in attacks on convoy FS.273 sank Dutch steamer STAD ALKMAAR (5750grt) in 52‑25N, 02‑02E east of Lowestoft, but the entire crew was rescued. S.36 also participated in the attack.

_____

 

Armed yacht RHODORA (687grt) was sunk in an accidental collision with steamer NGATIRA (525grt) off Cardiff in the Bristol Channel.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY departed Alexandria and proceeded to Port Tewfik in the Red Sea. She sailed at once with destroyers KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY to escort convoy BS.4 to Aden arriving on the 12th.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND departed Freetown to intercept reported German steamer OSTMARK, supposedly en route to Dakar.

 

On 8 September, the heavy cruiser reported Vichy French light cruiser PRIMAUGUET, two destroyers, and an oiler in 18-27N, 17-40W on a course of 180°. The light cruiser, sloops LA SURPRISE and GAZELLE, and oiler TARN had departed Casablanca on the 4th and arrived at Dakar on the 9th.

 

 

Sunday, 8 September

 

During the night of 8/9 September, light cruiser GALATEA with destroyers CAMPBELL, GARTH, and VESPER plus light cruiser AURORA with destroyers HAMBLEDON, HOLDERNESS, and VENETIA were to shell German shipping concentrations off Calais and Boulogne. From 0225 to 0245, British Anson aircraft dropped flares over both ports. No shipping was found in Calais Roads, and GALATEA did not conduct a bombardment. However, AURORA did bombarded the Boulogne harbour area. Destroyers ATHERSTONE, BERKELEY, BULLDOG, BEAGLE, and FERNIE swept along the French coast in a broad sweep from Le Tonquet to the southwest up to five miles north of Cape Antifer. The cruisers arrived back at Sheerness on the 9th. On her return, GALATEA struck a mine at 0525 off Sheerness and repaired at Chatham until 8 January 1941.

_____

 

Armed merchant cruiser CHITRAL was at sea escorted by destroyers AMAZON and ANTELOPE in the Western Approaches. The two destroyers were detached for anti-submarine operations, and replaced by Canadian destroyer SKEENA.

_____

 

Convoy OA.211 departed Methil escorted by sloop WESTON and corvette PRIMROSE.

_____

 

Convoy OB.210 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer SKATE with corvettes ANEMONE and ARABIS. Destroyer SHIKARI joined on the 9th. The escort was detached on the 10th.

_____

 

Motor torpedo boats MTB.15 and MTB.17 attacked and reported sinking a German ammunition ship and damaging a cargo vessel off Ostend. MTB.14 was also in the attack.

_____

 

S/Lt J. C. Carpenter, flying a Hurricane of RAF 46 Squadron from Stapleford Tawney, was killed when his aircraft was shot down near Sheerness.

_____

 

Italian submarine FAA DI BRUNO made an unsuccessful attack on a tanker in 37N, 21W.

_____

 

In continued German air attacks on the Port of London, British steamers TYNEMOUTH (3168grt) and SHERWOOD (1530grt), Belgian tanker PRESIDENT FRANQUI (4919grt) and steamer ANNA (695grt), and Dutch steamer THEA (273grt) were damaged.

_____

 

In German air attacks, sloop STORK was torpedoed at anchor in Methil Roads. Her stern was wrecked and she was badly damaged. Gunner R. Motts was wounded. STORK repaired at Grangemouth, completing on 16 March 1941. Dutch steamer STAD VLAARDINGEN (8501grt) was damaged by German bombing, also in Methil Roads. She was taken in tow by Norwegian destroyer SLEIPNER, but was then in a collision with Dutch steamer ALGORAB (4938grt).

_____

 

In an air raid on Malta, submarine OLYMPUS in dock suffered slight damage.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser CORNWALL departed Simonstown for Freetown, arriving on the 15th.

_____

 

German armed merchant cruiser Schiff 21/WIDDER captured Greek collier ANTONIOS CHANDRIS (5866grt) in the Central Atlantic in 11‑25N, 34‑10W. Twenty two crew were landed at Rio de Janeiro, and ten at Buenos Aires.

 

 

Monday, 9 September

 

Destroyer BEDOUIN was docked at Scapa Flow for repairs to her asdic directing gear. She was the first destroyer to use the newly constructed dock, Admiralty Floating Dock, AFD.12 which had arrived on 26 August. On docking, further defects were found, and damage to her rudder was also repaired.

_____

 

Destroyer JAGUAR departed Greenock for Scapa Flow where she arrived at 0850/10th.

_____

 

Destroyers VANOC and VISCOUNT were in a collision at Plymouth. VANOC received temporary repairs at Devonport, completing on the 10th, and later received permanent repairs at Portsmouth from 18 to 25 November. VISCOUNT was repaired in one week.

_____

 

Convoy OA.212 departed Methil escorted by anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO until the 11th, and by sloop ROCHESTER and corvette CLEMATIS.

_____

 

Convoy FN.277A departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN, sloop LONDONDERRY, and patrol sloop GUILLEMOT, and arrived in the Tyne on the 11th.

_____

 

Convoy FN.277B departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VANITY, WOLSEY plus patrol sloops MALLARD, SHEARWATER, and WIDGEON, and arrived in the Tyne on the 11th.

_____

 

Convoy MT.164 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.

_____

 

Convoy FS.276 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VERDUN and sloop BLACK SWAN, and arrived at Southend on the 11th.

_____

 

 British aircraft of the 801 Squadron from Hatston attacked German shipping in the Bergen area. One Skua was lost on its return and the crew, Petty Officer H. C. Kimber and Petty Officer Airman A G. Clayton, were killed. The raid was repeated on the 13th, when two Skuas were shot down. Petty Officer E. G. R. Harwin and Naval Airman J. R. Maunder from one aircraft were killed, and Lt T. E. Gray and Lt J. C. W. Iliffe from the other were captured.

_____

 

S/Lt L. A de Sandoval Sievier, in a Battle of RAF Squadron 103 from Newton, was killed when his aircraft was shot down over Calais. The two RAF crew were killed.

_____

 

Steamer MINNIE DE LARRINGA (5049grt) was sunk by German bombing in the Port of London, but without casualties. She was later salved and sunk as a blockship at Dover on 5 February 1941. Steamer RYAL (367grt) was damaged, also in the Port of London.

_____

 

 Trawler JOHN BAPTISH (290grt) was sunk on a British defensive minefield south of Coningbeg Light Vessel.

_____

 

Minesweeping trawler DERVISH (346grt) was sunk on an aerial mine laid by aircraft of German IX Air Division, 2.6 miles 156° from the Humber Light Vessel. Four crew were lost, and eleven rescued.

_____

 

Trawler HARVEST MOON (72grt) and drifter ALFRED COLEBROOK (56grt) were sunk as blockships in Richborough Channel.

_____

 

German destroyers LODY, GALSTER, RIEDEL, ECKHOLDT, and IHN departed Wilhelmshaven for Cherbourg, arriving on the 11th, and escorting minelayers Schiff 23 (steamer CAIRO:4778grt), TANNENBERG, COBRA, TOGO, and SCHWERIN.

_____

 

U.28 sank steamer MARDINIAN (2934grt) from convoy SC.2 in 56‑37N, 09W, with six crew missing. Trawler APOLLO rescued 21 MARDINIAN survivors and AMC AURANIA rescued one.

_____

 

U.47 sank Greek steamer POSSIDON (3840grt) from convoy SC.2 in 56‑43N, 09‑16W. Seven crew were killed, and ten survivors rescued by destroyer ARROW on the 13th.

_____

 

Italian submarine FAA DI BRUNO torpedoed and damaged tanker AURIS (8030 BRT)  in 36N, 22W.

_____

 

The first eight US destroyers, US Destroyer Divisions 65 and 67, were transferred to the Royal Navy at Halifax.

 

US Name

 British Name

 

Commanding Officer

 

USS BUCHANAN (DD.131)

 

HMS CAMPBELTOWN

 

 

Lt I W T Beloe

USS AARON WARD (DD.132)

 

HMS CASTLETON

Cdr F H.E Skyrme Rtd

USS HALE (DD.133)

 

HMS CALDWELL

Lt Cdr M W Tomkinson

USS CROWNINSHIELD (DD.134)

 

HMS CHELSEA

Lt Cdr R D.H.S Pankhurst

USS ABEL P UPSHUR (DD.193)

 

HMS CLARE

Lt CdrC Gwinner (emgcy)

USS WELBORNC WOOD (DD.195)

 

HMS CHESTERFIELD

Lt Cdr G EC Wood, Lt Cdr E Gleave RNR, before sailing to England

USS HERNDON (DD.198)

 

HMS CHURCHILL

Cdr G R Cousins DSC

USS WELLES (DD257)

 

HMS CAMERON

Lt Cdr P G Merriman

 

_____

 

Convoy HX.72 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer SAGUENAY plus auxiliary patrol vessels FRENCH, LAURIER, and REINDEER.

 

At 1815, patrol vessel FRENCH departed the convoy.

 

At 1200/10th, steamer TUDOR PRINCE (7199grt) joined the convoy.

 

Canadian destroyer SAGUENAY left the convoy to ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser JERVIS BAY at 1750/10th, which herself detached on the 20th.

 

Convoy BHX.72 departed Bermuda on the 8th escorted by ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser VOLTAIRE. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.72 on the 13th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

On 21 September, destroyers SCIMITAR, SHIKARI, SKATE, sloop LOWESTOFT, with corvettes CALENDULA, HEARTSEASE, and LA MALOUINE joined the convoy, which was then dispersed on the 21st.

_____

 

Late on the 8th and into early 9th, German torpedo boats T.5, T.6, T.7, and T.8 of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla laid minefield HANNELORE in the southwest North Sea.

_____

 

French Force Y (Contre Amiral C. J. L. Bourrague), composed of light cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES (CV A G. Lemonnier), MONTCALM (CV M. H. M. Ferriere), GLOIRE (CV J. P. L. Broussignac) and large destroyers FANTASQUE (CV P. A B Still), MALIN (C. F. E. J. M. L. Deprez), and AUDACIEUX (C. F. E. Derrien) departed Toulon for Dakar.

_____

 

Destroyers HOTSPUR, GRIFFIN, and ENCOUNTER departed Gibraltar on the 9th for an anti-submarine sweep between Gibraltar and Alboran Island.

_____

 

 

Light cruiser DRAGON departed Simonstown for Lagos.

_____

 

Light cruiser DELHI departed Pointe Noire.

_____

 

Sloop BRIDGEWATER arrived at Freetown from Lagos.

_____

 

German armed merchant cruiser Schiff 16/ATLANTIS sank tanker ATHELKING (9557grt) at 21‑52S, 67‑20E. Four crew were killed and 36 made prisoners of war. The East Indies Station at Colombo received ATHELKING's raider report and dispatched light cruisers NEPTUNE, CAPETOWN and armed merchant cruisers ARAWA and WESTRALIA, none of which made contact with the German ship.

 

 

Tuesday, 10 September

 

Rear Admiral H. M. Burrough CB, Cruiser Squadron 10, hoisted his flag on light cruiser NIGERIA at Scapa Flow.

_____

 

Convoy AP.3, consisting of British steamers BRITANNIC (26943grt, Commodore of convoy Rear Admiral K. E. L. Creighton, MVO Rtd), ATHLONE CASTLE (25564grt), BRISBANE STAR (11076grt), IMPERIAL STAR (10733grt), DURBAN CASTLE (17388grt), ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt), DOMINION MONARCH (27155grt), and GLAUCUS (7586grt), carrying 6050 troops, and steamers CLAN MACARTHUR (10528grt) and CLAN CAMPBELL (7255grt) departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HAVELOCK, HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER, HURRICANE, WOLVERINE, and VOLUNTEER from 10 to 12 September. Light cruiser SHEFFIELD and two destroyers departed Greenock on the 10th and joined the convoy at Lough Foyle on the 11th.

 

SHEFFIELD was ordered back to Greenock on the 11th, and the destroyers detached after passing the northwest approaches.

 

The ocean escort was mainly armed merchant cruisers - WOLFE and CILICIA from 13th to 23rd, when the convoy arrived at Freetown, and CANTON and CARNARVON CASTLE from 25 September to 4 October. The convoy arrived at Capetown on 4 October and sailed on the 6th. CANTON escorted from 6th to 9th, CARTHAGE from 9th to 15th, and heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE from 15th to 20th.

 

Convoy AP.3 was joined by light cruiser CARLISLE, destroyers KINGSTON, KANDAHAR, and sloop FLAMINGO, and arrived safely at Suez on 22 October. The arrival of AP.3 concluded operation APOLOGY.

_____

 

Destroyers DUNCAN and MAORI departed Rosyth at 0815 to search for an aircraft down in the sea, and at 1041, were ordered to the Tyne.

_____

 

Destroyers MALCOLM, VETERAN, and WILD SWAN departed Harwich late on the 10th. Early on the 11 October, they struck at a German coastal convoy off Ostend.

_____

 

Destroyers BULLDOG, BERKELEY, and BEAGLE departed Portsmouth and joined destroyers HAVELOCK (SO), HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER and HURRICANE. The destroyers were to intercept twelve enemy merchant ships escorted by thirty S-boats reported at 1605, 15 miles 315° from Dieppe. At 1630, the report was amplified to include the presence of five destroyers in the area. If no contact was made with the German force, the destroyers were to sweep northeast towards Le Toquet.

_____

 

Convoy OB.211 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer VANQUISHER plus corvettes ERICA and MALLOW, which detached on the 12th.

_____

 

Convoy MT.165 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.

_____

 

Convoy FS.277 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and VORTIGERN, and arrived at Southend on the 11th.

_____

 

Submarine STURGEON attacked U.43 forty miles southwest of the Naze in 57‑14N, 06‑04E.

_____

 

Norwegian steamer ELI (4332grt) was sunk by German bombing 12 miles 144° from Skerryvore Light House. Her naval gunner was lost.

_____

 

Convoy SC.4 departed Sydney, CB at 1000 escorted locally by Canadian armed yachts HUSKY, LYNX and ocean sloop DEPTFORD, which detached on the 12th. Destroyers ACTIVE, KEPPEL, VANQUISHER, sloop LOWESTOFT, plus corvettes ARABIS, CAMELLIA, FLEUR DE LYS and HEARTSEASE joined the convoy on the 23rd and escorted it to its arrival at Liverpool on the 26th.

_____

 

Convoy SHX.72 departed Sydney, CB escorted by Canadian auxiliary patrol vessel LAURIER and armed yacht REINDEER.

_____

 

Destroyers JUNO and JANUS departed Alexandria for Port Said for escort duties with convoy AN.3 which sailed on the 11th. Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyer JERVIS supported the convoy on the 14th, with JERVIS detaching the same day, and CALCUTTA the next. When it was found steamer EASTLEA could only make six knots, she was detached to Alexandria while the destroyers continued with steamers VASCO and PALERMO, which arrived on the 15th.

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Aircraft carrier ARGUS arrived at Freetown after delivering aircraft to Takoradi.

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Convoy BN.5 departed Bombay on the 10th escorted by armed merchant cruisers ANTENOR and HECTOR until the 19th. Light cruiser LEANDER and sloop INDUS were escorts from Aden from 19th to 23rd, and sloops AUCKLAND and PARRAMATTA from 19th to 22nd.

 

Submarine X.2 (former Italian submarine GALILEO GALILEI, captured on 19 June) departed Aden with the convoy, but she returned to Aden, escorted by netlayer PROTECTOR, after a mechanical breakdown. Sloops GRIMSBY and SHOREHAM escorted the convoy from Port Sudan on the 23rd until its arrival at Suez on the 26th.

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On 10 September, Vichy French armed merchant cruiser CAP DES PALMES escorted by submarine PONCELET and sloop BOUGAINVILLE, which departed Dakar on the 3rd, arrived at Libreville with troops and supplies to augment the Vichy government.

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German armed merchant cruiser Schiff 16/ATLANTIS sank steamer BENARTY (5800grt) in the Indian Ocean, 480 miles east of Rodrigues in 18‑32S, 70‑07E. There were no casualties.

 

 

Wednesday, 11 September

 

Destroyer JACKAL and ELECTRA departed Greenock for Loch Alsh at 1530/9th, while destroyers VERSATILE and VIMY were ordered to Loch Alsh on the 9th. The four ships then departed Loch Alsh at 0730/11th with minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC and MENESTHEUS on minelaying operation SN 41. After its completion the ships arrived back at Loch Alsh at 1300/12th, the destroyers departed for Scapa Flow at 1945 and arrived at 0630/13th.

_____

 

Destroyers MATABELE, ASHANTI, TARTAR, and PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow at 0600 for Rosyth.

_____

 

Destroyers DUNCAN and MAORI arrived in the Tyne at 1800/11th to escort store carrier KYLE FISHER (520grt) to Rosyth. They departed the Tyne at 1200/12th. Destroyer SOMALI took over the escort at Rosyth, and departed with KYLE FISHER at 1500/14th for Scapa Flow.

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Destroyers WOLVERINE, VANOC, SALADIN, and VOLUNTEER conducted a BOARD sweep off the French coast during the night of 11/12 September.

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Convoy OB.212 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WARWICK, sloop ENCHANTRESS, and corvette COREOPSIS. Anti-submarine trawler ARAB joined on the 12th and minelayer SOUTHERN PRINCE on the 13th. ARAB and SOUTHERN PRINCE detached on the 13th, WARWICK and COREOPSIS on the 14th, and ENCHANTRESS on the 16th.

_____

 

Convoy FN.278 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND, and arrived in the Tyne on the 13th.

_____

 

Convoy MT.166 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 12th.

_____

 

Convoy FS.278 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIVACIOUS and WOOLSTON, and arrived at Southend on the 14th.

_____

 

Submarine PORPOISE laid minefield FD.26, 48 mines along a 1.2 mile line 205° from 46‑24‑48N, 01‑59‑45W.

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Destroyers ATHERSTONE and FERNIE were escorting convoy CW.11 when attacked and bombed by German aircraft off Ramsgate. ATHERSTONE was badly damaged near South Edinburgh Buoy, with six ratings killed. FERNIE continued with the convoy, while tug TURQUOISE towed ATHERSTONE to Chatham, where her repairs were completed in early January.

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Destroyers CAMPBELL, GARTH, and VESPER patrolled off the Dutch coast during the night of 11/12 September.

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Dover was bombed and shelled. MTB.71 was set afire and MTB.29 damaged. MTB.71 required four months to repair, but MTB.29 was quickly returned to service.

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In a British attack on Calais, an Albacore of 826 Squadron force landed after being damaged by German fighters. Lt A S. Downes was slightly wounded, and together with S/Lt C. R. Mallett, rescued by a MTB. Naval Airman J. A M. Stevens was killed in the attack. In a second aircraft, S/Lt T. Winstanley and S/Lt (A) J. D. Watson were wounded, but got back, and in a third, S/Lt E. G. Brown and Naval Airman R. E. Mathews were badly wounded, with S/Lt A M. Tuke escaping unscathed.

_____

 

U.28 in attacks on convoy OA.210 damaged British steamer HARPENDEN (4678grt) and sank Dutch steamer MAAS (1966grt) in 55‑34N, 15‑56W. There were only two survivors from the Dutch ship, while HARPENDEN was assisted by escort vessel JASON and towed to Greenock by tug MAURADER. U.28 also attacked a tanker in the convoy and claimed damage to her, but no confirmation is available.

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U.99 sank steamer ALBONIC (2468grt) northwest of Ireland. ALBONIC had departed Wabana, Newfoundland on 31 August and was later declared missing with the loss of all hands. Most sources showed her as a victim to a German raider.

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 Steam trawler BEATHWOOD (209grt) was sunk by German bombing one mile east of Montrose Coast Guard Lookout. Seven crew were lost, and there were two survivors.

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Steam trawler RESPONDO (209grt) was lost off Old Head of Kinsale to unknown cause.

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 British steamer NORMAN QUEEN (957grt) and the Swedish TORKEL (1236grt) were damaged by German bombing in the Port of London.

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Tanker ALEXIA (8016grt) was damaged by German bombing in 57‑26N, 02‑02E, and assisted by tug BUCCANEER.

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German steamer CORDOBA (4611grt) was sunk on a mine off Le Havre.

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ENCOUNTER WITH VICHY FRENCH NAVY FORCE Y

 

At 0512, destroyer HOTSPUR, which was submarine hunting with destroyers GRIFFIN, and ENCOUNTER, sighted French cruiser Force Y. Battlecruiser RENOWN (presumably in Gibraltar) signalled the French commander and asked their destination, adding that they would not be allowed to enter a German port.

 

The French replied that they were southbound. The British commander ordered them into Casablanca and that if they proceeded further they would be stopped. Soon after this, HOTSPUR lost contact, and GRIFFIN was sent into Gibraltar to refuel.

 

RENOWN with destroyers GRIFFIN and VIDETTE departed Gibraltar at 1600 to intercept French force Y. Destroyer VELOX, which was refuelling when RENOWN departed, sailed when refuelling was completed and joined her at sea.

 

At 0800/12th, destroyers HOTSPUR, ENCOUNTER, and WISHART, which after refuelling had sailed at 2100/11th from Gibraltar, joined the RENOWN force.

 

At that time, destroyer WRESTLER was at Gibraltar, destroyers GALLANT, GARLAND and FIREDRAKE were under repairs there, and the remainding Gibraltar destroyers were employed on Operation MENACE.

 

Submarine TRIAD departed Gibraltar on the 11th for patrol, as did submarine TRUANT on the 12th for patrol off Gibraltar.

 

French Force Y put into Casablanca but the light cruisers left the following morning at 0400. The large French destroyers later departed on the 16th for Dakar arriving on the 19th.

 

VIDETTE off Casablanca sighted and fired upon French large destroyer MILAN at 0405, but no damage was done and the French ship retired under smoke towards Casablanca.

 

French submarine AMPHITRITE sighted VIDETTE but did not attack her. Submarines AMAZONE and SYBILLE, also on patrol off Casablanca, made no contact with the British ships.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY joined convoy BS.4 which was being bombed in the Red Sea, and remained in company until the 13th off Massawa.

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Convoy SL.47 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE until the 26th, when destroyers HARVESTER, HIGHLANDER, HURRICANE, armed merchant cruiser MOOLTAN, sloop FOWEY, plus corvettes ANEMONE, MALLOW, and PEONY joined. Sloop WESTON joined on the 27th, with destroyer SABRE only joining the escort for the 28th. On that date, all the escorts except MOOLTAN and WESTON were detached, and they left on the 30th, when anti-aircraft ship CURACOA and corvette PRIMROSE joined. The convoy arrived on 1 October.

 

 

Thursday, 12 September

 

Destroyers MALCOLM, WILD SWAN, and VENOMOUS departed Harwich to patrol off Boulogne, then sweep towards Cape Griz Nez.

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Convoy LG.1 departed Liverpool with steamers DUCHESS OF ATHOLL (20,119grt), ROSLIN CASTLE 7016grt), ORBITA (15,495grt), and MARTIN BAKKE (5484grt), escorted by destroyers OTTAWA, SKEENA, and ARROW. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 20th.

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Convoy OA.213 departed Methil escorted by destroyer ST LAURENT, sloop FLEETWOOD, and corvette BLUEBELL from the 12th to 16th. Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO was with the convoy on the 12th and anti-submarine trawler COVENTRY CITY on the 13th.

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Convoy MT.167 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne the next day.

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Convoy FS.279 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS and WESTMINSTER. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER joined on the 13th, and the convoy arrived at Southend on the 14th.

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Tug SALVAGE KING (1164grt) was lost by grounding one and a half miles west of Duncansby Head. Destroyer EGLINTON departed Scapa Flow at 0600 to stand by her, but salvage was abandoned by the Fleet tugs and the destroyer arrived back at Scapa Flow at 2200.

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 Tanker GOTHIC (2444grt) was sunk on a aerial mine laid by German IX Air Division aircraft, 7500 yards 130° from Spurn Point. Two crew, including a naval rating, were killed and ten missing.

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Naval store carrier GLENROY (9809grt) and troopship HIGHLAND PRINCESS (14,133grt) were damaged by German bombing at Liverpool.

_____

 

Steamer TINTERN ABBEY (2471grt) was damaged by German bombing six miles 270° from Chicken Rock, Isle of Man.

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German steamer BORKUM had been captured by British forces and sunk in a German attack in November 1939. She salved and brought to Kirkwall, leaving there on the 12th.

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At 1620, battlecruiser RENOWN aircraft reported that there were no French cruisers in Casablanca and later sighted French Force Y steaming south towards Dakar at high speed. Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL and heavy cruisers DEVONSHIRE, AUSTRALIA, and CUMBERLAND approaching Freetown, were ordered to intercept the French force. Reaching their positions on the afternoon of 14 September, the French had already arrived at Dakar. The British ships returned to Freetown on the 17th.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA departed Alexandria to escort convoy AN.3 north through the Kaso Strait, and on the 13th, the convoy was attacked by Italian bombers. Heavy cruiser KENT, light cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, plus destroyers HERO, HASTY, JERVIS and HEREWARD left Alexandria on the 13th to provide anti-aircraft support. HERO and HASTY were detached and arrived back at Alexandria on the 14th, and after delivering the convoy, CALCUTTA and destroyers JUNO and JANUS proceeded to Alexandria, arriving there on the 16th. The KENT support group was detached to support the air attack on Benghazi.

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Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND arrived at Freetown from patrol.

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Convoy BS.4B departed Suez, was joined on the 14th by light cruiser HOBART and destroyer KANDAHAR, and arrived at Aden on the 16th.

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German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN sank steamer BENAVON (5872grt) at 25‑20S, 52‑17E in the Indian Ocean. Twenty three crew and the naval gunner were lost, and 25 crew made prisoners of war.

 

 

Friday, 13 September

 

Battleship NELSON, battlecruiser HOOD, anti-aircraft cruisers NAIAD, BONAVENTURE, with destroyers KASHMIR, KIPLING, ZULU, SIKH, SOMALI (D.6), and ESKIMO were ordered from Scapa Flow at 0700 to Rosyth for anti-invasion duties. They left on the 13th and were joined at sea by destroyers JACKAL and ELECTRA, after refuelling at Scapa Flow. Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO joined off Noss Head, and the force arrived at Rosyth that same day.

 

This force joined battleship RODNEY, which had arrived at Rosyth on 25 August, the same day destroyers COSSACK and MAORI reached there from other duties. Destroyers MATABELE, ASHANTI, TARTAR, and PUNJABI arrived on 11 September. Meanwhile destroyer BEDOUIN undocked from the Scapa Flow floating dock at 1600/15th and proceeded to Rosyth at 1945 on the 15th. On the 16th, CAIRO returned to Scapa Flow for convoy anti-aircraft protection duties.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA arrived at Scapa Flow to work up.

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Destroyer AMAZON and troopship ULSTER MONARCH (3244grt) departed the Clyde for Iceland, with AMAZON arriving back on the 17th.

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The following destroyers were engaged in anti-invasion operations - CAMPBELL, GARTH, and VESPER at sea during the 13th/14th to bombard Ostend, but cancelled due to bad weather, BROKE, WITHERINGTON, VANSITTART, and the Polish BURZA and BLYSKAWICA swept the French coast westward from Roches Douvres, HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER, BULLDOG, and BEAGLE swept from Cherbourg to Le Havre, and MALCOLM, WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS from Boulogne to Cape Griz Nez. Off Boulogne, the latter force engaged German trawlers from 0115 to 0135, but the action was broken off when they came under shore gunfire.

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Convoy OB.213 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WINCHELSEA plus corvettes GLADIOLUS and GLOXINIA.

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Convoy FN.279 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VEGA, VERDUN, VORTIGERN, sloop BLACK SWAN, plus patrol sloops GUILLEMOT and MALLARD, and arrived in the Tyne on the 15th.

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Convoy MT.168 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne the next day.

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Convoy FS.280 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop EGRET, and arrived at Southend on the 15th.

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Submarine PORPOISE laid minefield FD.26 with 48 mines off Ile d'Yeu, north of La Rochelle.

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German torpedo boats T.1, T.2, and T.3 departed Rotterdam on the 12th. Off the Scheldt on the afternoon of the 13th, they were attacked by an RAF Blenheim which near missed T.2, damaging her with splinters, both underwater and on the bridge. She proceeded to Vlissingen, was temporarily repaired at the Wilton yard, and continued on to Wilhelmshaven, arriving on the 25th for repairs completed in May 1941. The other two arrived at Le Havre on the 15th.

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Steamer INISHTRAHULL (869grt) was damaged by German bombing in Belfast Lough.

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German auxiliary minesweeper M.1306 (trawler HERMANN KRONE: 449grt) was sunk on a mine off Hanstholm.

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Convoy HX.73 departed Halifax at 1400 escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE plus auxiliary patrol vessels FRENCH, LAURIER, and REINDEER which later turned the convoy over to ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA on the 14th. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 24th.

 

Convoy BHX.73 departed Bermuda on the 12th escorted by ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA, and rendezvoused with HX.73 on the 17th, when AUSONIA detached.

 

On the 23rd, destroyers ANTELOPE and ANTHONY joined the convoy, followed on the 24th by destroyer WALKER with corvettes ANEMONE and MALLOW, and on the 25th by sloop FOWEY and corvette PEONY. The sloop and corvettes detached on the 26th, and anti-submarine trawler MAN O WAR joined the convoy in Home Waters, which arrived at Liverpool on the 28th.

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Destroyers HYPERION and DIAMOND departed Alexandria for Port Said to escort convoy LW 16.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY arrived at Aden and joined destroyer KIMBERLEY. They departed the same day and joined troopships ANDES, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, and EMPRESS OF CANADA of convoy WS.2A. COVENTRY remained with the convoy until the 14th when it had passed Massawa, and then proceeded to Port Sudan.

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Escorting convoy BS.4, Australian sloop PARRAMATTA attacked a submarine contact in the Red Sea. The convoy continued with New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER, which returned to Aden when the convoy was dispersed.

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Vichy French steamers GINETTE LE BORGNE (1619grt) and CASSIDAIGNE (1417grt) were sunk, and CAP TOURANE (8009grt) damaged on mines west of Sardinia. They were carrying demilitarized troops from North Africa to France.

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Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND departed Freetown for the UK, but next day, was ordered for join Force M.

 

 

Saturday, 14 September

 

Rear Admiral (Destroyers) Home Fleet transferred his flag to battlecruiser REPULSE at 0800.

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Destroyers ESKIMO and MATABELE arrived at 1200/14th at Scapa Flow escorting depot ship MAIDSTONE. They then departed at 1600 to search for a submarine reported by aircraft 20 miles north of Cape Wrath. Destroyer EGLINTON departed Scapa Flow at 1630 to join them. All three destroyers returned to Scapa Flow on the 15th without making contact.

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Battleship REVENGE and light cruiser EMERALD departed the Clyde to come under the command of Western Approaches. The ships were escorted from the Clyde by destroyers MACKAY, WESTCOTT, SCIMITAR and SKATE, and REVENGE arrived at Plymouth on the 15th.

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Minelayer TEVIOTBANK departed Immingham to lay minefield ZMD (A) in channels in the Faroes Islands. Escorted by anti-submarine whalers WASTWATER, BUTTERMERE, and THIRLMERE, she laid mines in Hestofjord, Dimonfjord and Skuofjord, and then proceeded to Loch Alsh after the minelay was completed.

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Convoy OL.1 departed Liverpool, but no escorts were listed. The convoy dispersed on the 19th. Convoy OL.2 did not sail.

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Convoy OA.214 departed Methil escorted by sloop SANDWICH and corvette GARDENIA from the 14th to 19th.

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Convoy FN.280 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VIVACIOUS and WOOLSTON, and arrived in the Tyne on the 16th.

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Convoy MT.169 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne the next day.

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Convoy FS.281 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VANITY, VIMIERA, and WOLSEY, and arrived at Southend on the 16th.

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German anti-submarine trawler UJ.173 (trawler HINRICH WESSELHOFT (510grt)) was lost by stranding at Hardangersfjord.

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Italian submarine EMO sank steamer SAINT AGNES (5199grt) from dispersed convoy SLS.46 in 41‑27N, 21‑50W, but the entire crew was rescued.

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Convoy SHX.73 departed Sydney, CB escorted by Canadian auxiliary patrol vessel LAURIER and armed yacht REINDEER.

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Battlecruiser RENOWN and her destroyers arrived back at Gibraltar at 2014 for refuelling. Destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE had been detached earlier to refuel there. Destroyer ENCOUNTER, which had been searching for a London flying boat shot down by French fighters, arrived at Gibraltar the next morning.

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Submarines TRITON and TETRARCH arrived at Gibraltar from Home Waters for duty with the 8th Submarine Flotilla, escorted by destroyer WRESTLER, which departed to join them on the 12th.

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At 0730/14th, destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECHO, GREYHOUND, FORTUNE, ESCAPADE, and ECLIPSE from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL's screen arrived at Freetown to refuel.

 

At 0900, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, and FURY arrived at Freetown to refuel.

 

At 1215, convoy MP escorted by French sloops COMMANDANT DOMINE and COMMANDANT DUBOC arrived at Freetown.

 

At 1230, battleships BARHAM and RESOLUTION arrived at Freetown.

 

At 1350, INGLEFIELD, ECHO, FORTUNE, ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE, and FURY departed Freetown. ECLIPSE had mechanical problems and reported at 0015 on the 15th that she was returning to Freetown.

 

At 0515 on the 15th, FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, and FORESTER and at 0530, battleships BARHAM and RESOLUTION and destroyers departed Freetown. These ships were recalled to Freetown at 1621 on the 15th to refuel destroyers, arriving at 2300 that night.

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Sloop BRIDGEWATER departed Freetown on patrol, but was recalled later in the day to return for anti-submarine duties off Freetown.

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Polish destroyer GARLAND departed Gibraltar to return to England. On the 15th, she made two attacks on submarine contacts in 37-08N, 10-42W, arrrived at Belfast for refuelling on the 18th, and reached Plymouth on the 22nd.

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Convoy BS.4A departed Suez, was joined on the 17th by sloop SHOREHAM, and arrived at Port Sudan on the 18th.

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Convoy BS.4C departed Port Sudan, was joined on the 15th by heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE, anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY, destroyers KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON, plus sloop FLAMINGO, and arrived at Aden on the 18th.

 
 

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revised 7/4/12
further editing is required