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.
_____
Destroyers
VERSATILE and VIMY departed Rosyth at 1700 escorting
minelayer MANCHESTER CITY to the Clyde where they
arrived at 2100/3rd.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
OB.207 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HESPERUS
and corvette GLADIOLUS. On 2 September, the convoy was
joined by destroyers KEPPEL and WITCH.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
MT.157 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later
that same day.
_____
Convoy
FS.269 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON
and sloop FLEETWOOD, and arrived at Southend on the 3rd.
_____
While
departing Grangemouth at 2130 for Rosyth, submarine
SUNFISH sank patrol launch MESME in an
accidental collision. The crew of three were all lost.
_____
Submarine
TUNA unsuccessfully attacked a German submarine in
56‑09N, 02‑15E.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Submarine
TIGRIS, which departed Rothesay on 27 August, sank a
French trawler SANCTE MICHAEL (168grt) off
Brest.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
__________
Light
cruiser DRAGON departed Durban for Simonstown.
_____
Light
cruiser DESPATCH departed Kingston to return to England.
_____
Convoy
SLS.46 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant
cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE to 13 September when the convoy
was dispersed.
_____
Light
cruiser DELHI departed Lagos for Manoca.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
OA.208 departed Methil escorted by destroyer SKEENA,
sloop LOWESTOFT, plus anti-submarine trawlers DRANGEY,
FANDANGO, and NORTHERN GEM.
_____
Convoy
FN.270 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer
WOLFHOUND, sloop BLACK SWAN, and patrol sloop WIDGEON,
and arrived in the Tyne on the 4th.
_____
Convoy
MT.158 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later
that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.270 departed the Tyne and arrived at Southend on the
4th.
_____
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.
_____
Submarine
TIGRIS unsuccessfully attacked U.58 in 47-29N, 4-24W.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
U.47
sank Belgian steamer VILLE DE MONS (7463grt) in
58‑20N, 12W, but the entire crew was rescued.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Destroyer
VELOX attacked a submarine contact near Alboran Island.
_____
Light
cruiser ENTERPRISE departed Freetown.
_____
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.
_____
New
Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Melbourne and
arrived at Auckland on the 5th.
_____
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 .
_____
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.
_____
Destroyers
BEDOUIN and ASHANTI departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow,
arriving at 1635 on the 4th.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
MT.159 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later
that day.
_____
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.
_____
U.60
sank steamer ULVA (1401grt) at 55‑45N, 11‑45W,
with the loss of three crew.
_____
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.
_____
Sloop
SHOREHAM intercepted Greek steamer EVROS (5283grt) in
the Red Sea.
_____
Heavy
cruiser DORSETSHIRE departed Simonstown for Durban.
_____
Light
cruiser DRAGON arrived at Capetown from Lobito.
_____
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.
_____
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, .
_____
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.
_____
Sloop
BRIDGEWATER departed Lagos for Freetown.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Destroyer
JAVELIN departed the Clyde for the Humber.
_____
Destroyer
JAGUAR departed the Clyde for Rosyth.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
OA.209 departed Methil escorted by sloop FOWEY and
corvette CAMELLIA from 4 to 8 September.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
FN.272 departed Southend with destroyer WOOLSTON, sloop
FLEETWOOD, and patrol sloop PUFFIN, and arrived in the
Tyne on the 6th.
_____
Convoy
MT.160 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later
that day.
_____
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.
_____
Submarine
TUNA made contact a German submarine in 56-26N, 1-17E,
but was unable to attack.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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).
_____
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.
_____
Estonian
steamer JAAK (1351grt) was damaged by German bombing off
Royal Pier, Southampton.
_____
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).
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Escort
vessel GLEANER experienced boiler defects requiring
immediate repair.
_____
Convoy
FN.273 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VEGA
and VIMIERA and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy
arrived in the Tyne on the 7th.
_____
Convoy
MT.161 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
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.
_____
Aircraft
carrier ARGUS arrived at Freetown after delivering
aircraft to Takoradi.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Destroyers
WOLVERINE, VANOC, SALADIN, and VOLUNTEER conducted a
BOARD sweep off the French coast during the night of
11/12 September.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Destroyers
CAMPBELL, GARTH, and VESPER patrolled off the Dutch
coast during the night of 11/12 September.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Steam
trawler
RESPONDO (209grt) was lost off Old Head of
Kinsale to unknown cause.
_____
British
steamer NORMAN QUEEN (957grt) and the Swedish TORKEL
(1236grt) were damaged by German bombing in the Port of
London.
_____
Tanker
ALEXIA (8016grt) was damaged by German bombing in
57‑26N, 02‑02E, and assisted by tug BUCCANEER.
_____
German
steamer CORDOBA (4611grt) was sunk on a mine off Le
Havre.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
MT.167 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne the next
day.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Heavy
cruiser CUMBERLAND arrived at Freetown from patrol.
_____
Convoy
BS.4B departed Suez, was joined on the 14th by light
cruiser HOBART and destroyer KANDAHAR, and arrived at
Aden on the 16th.
_____
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.
_____
Anti-aircraft
cruiser CURACOA arrived at Scapa Flow to work up.
_____
Destroyer
AMAZON and troopship ULSTER MONARCH (3244grt) departed
the Clyde for Iceland, with AMAZON arriving back on the
17th.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
OB.213 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer
WINCHELSEA plus corvettes GLADIOLUS and GLOXINIA.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
MT.168 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne the next
day.
_____
Convoy
FS.280 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
WINCHESTER and sloop EGRET, and arrived at Southend on
the 15th.
_____
Submarine
PORPOISE laid minefield FD.26 with 48 mines off Ile
d'Yeu, north of La Rochelle.
_____
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.
_____
Steamer
INISHTRAHULL (869grt) was damaged by German bombing in
Belfast Lough.
_____
German
auxiliary minesweeper M.1306 (trawler HERMANN
KRONE: 449grt) was sunk on a mine off Hanstholm.
_____
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.
_____
Destroyers
HYPERION and DIAMOND departed Alexandria for Port Said
to escort convoy LW 16.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
OL.1 departed Liverpool, but no escorts were listed. The
convoy dispersed on the 19th. Convoy OL.2 did not sail.
_____
Convoy
OA.214 departed Methil escorted by sloop SANDWICH and
corvette GARDENIA from the 14th to 19th.
_____
Convoy
FN.280 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers
VIVACIOUS and WOOLSTON, and arrived in the Tyne on the
16th.
_____
Convoy
MT.169 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne the next
day.
_____
Convoy
FS.281 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VANITY,
VIMIERA, and WOLSEY, and arrived at Southend on the
16th.
_____
German
anti-submarine trawler UJ.173 (trawler HINRICH
WESSELHOFT (510grt)) was lost by stranding at
Hardangersfjord.
_____
Italian
submarine EMO sank steamer SAINT AGNES (5199grt)
from dispersed convoy SLS.46 in 41‑27N, 21‑50W, but the
entire crew was rescued.
_____
Convoy
SHX.73 departed Sydney, CB escorted by Canadian
auxiliary patrol vessel LAURIER and armed yacht
REINDEER.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
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.
_____
Sloop
BRIDGEWATER departed Freetown on patrol, but was
recalled later in the day to return for anti-submarine
duties off Freetown.
_____
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.
_____
Convoy
BS.4A departed Suez, was joined on the 17th by sloop
SHOREHAM, and arrived at Port Sudan on the 18th.
_____
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.