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

Background Events - September-December 1940

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

1940

Tuesday,  15 October

Battleship REVENGE departed Portsmouth late on the 15th escorted by destroyers WANDERER and WITCH and Polish destroyer BURZA, arriving at Plymouth early on the 16th.

 _____

In operation D.H.U, Battlecruiser HOOD departed Scapa Flow at 1550 to screen Aircraft carrier FURIOUS and heavy cruisers BERWICK and NORFOLK with destroyers MATABELE and PUNJABI to raid Tromso on the 16th.

Destroyers SOMALI, ESKIMO, MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 1550 and were exercising in the Pentland Firth prior to DHU. These destroyers joined aircraft carrier FURIOUS.

Aircraft carrier FURIOUS aircraft attacked oil tanks and the seaplane base and shipping at Tromso on the 16th.

Lt H. S. Hayes and Lt E. G. Savage in a Skua of 801 Squadron landed in Sweden and eventually to return to England.

At 1540/17th, destroyers DUNCAN, ISIS, DOUGLAS departed Scapa Flow to join the FURIOUS force.

On 18 October, Phase II of the DHU operation was abandoned due to low visibility. The forces returned to Scapa Flow.

Destroyer DOUGLAS and ISIS proceeded to Skaalefjord to meet tanker MONTENOL and take her to Scapa Flow.

Destroyers SOMALI, ESKIMO, MASHONA arrived in Pentland Firth and carried out full caliber firings before arriving at Scapa Flow at 1230/19th.

Aircraft carrier FURIOUS, heavy cruisers BERWICK and NORFOLK, destroyers DUNCAN, PUNJABI, MATABELE arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1300/19th.

Destroyers DOUGLAS and ISIS arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1100/20th escorting tanker MONTENOL.

_____

British minefield BS.41 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK and destroyer INTREPID, escorted by destroyer VORTIGERN and minesweeper LYDD.

_____

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1000 after covering convoy OA.229 to Pentland Firth.

_____

Convoy OB.229 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers CHELSEA, STURDY, WHITEHALL, corvettes ARABIS and HELIOTROPE, anti-submarine trawlers BLACKFLY and LADY ELSA. Destroyer CHELSEA was detached on the 16th and the rest of the escort on the 18th.

_____

Convoy FN.309 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 18th.

_____

Convoy FS.310 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 18th.

_____

Destroyer QUORN departed Lerwick at 1735 escorting British steamer LOCHNAGAR to Aberdeen.

_____

Submarine L 27 (Lt R. E. Campbell) attacked a German convoy off Cape Barfleur in 47-55N, 1-30E and claimed three torpedo hits on a 7000 ton steamer, escorted by seven trawlers.

However, there is no confirmation for the damage.

_____

U.65, leaving Lorient, was attacked by a British submarine.

_____

U.93 sank British steamer HURUNUI (9331grt) from convoy OB.227 in 58‑58N, 09‑54W.

Two crew were lost on the British steamer. Survivors from steamer HURUNUI were picked up by Sloop FOWEY.

_____

U.103 sank British steamer THISTLEGARTH (4747grt) from convoy OB.227 in 58‑43N, 15‑00W.

Twenty nine crew and the naval gunner were lost on the British steamer.

_____

U.138 in attacks on convoy OB.228 sank British steamer BONHEUR (5327grt) and damaged British tanker BRITISH GLORY (6993grt) in 57‑10N, 08‑36W.

The entire crew of steamer BONHEUR was rescued.

_____

Italian submarine CAPPELLINI sank Belgian steamer KABALO (5186grt) from convoy OB.223 in 31‑59N, 31‑20W.

One crewman was lost from the steamer. Survivors from KABALO were picked up by American steamer PAN AMERICAN (9862grt).

_____

British drifter APPLE TREE (84grt) was lost in a collision with RAF Pinnace No.50 in Oban Harbour.

_____

River patrol vessel MISTLETOE (19grt) was sunk on a mine, eight cables 310° from Bull Sand Fort.

Four crew were lost from the vessel. Two crew were rescued.

_____

Submarine TRIAD (Lt Cdr G. S. Salt) departed Malta on the 9th to patrol in the Gulf of Taranto. She was then to proceed, via the Libya coast, to Alexandria to arrive on the 20th.

The submarine was on the surface 50 miles south of Cape Collonne in Otranto Strait in 38‑15N, 17‑37E.

Early on the 15th at 0140, Italian submarine ENRICO TOTI, which because of a mechanical breakdown could not submerge, encountered submarine TRIAD.

In a gun engagement and torpedo engagement, submarine TRIAD was sunk by Italian submarine TOTI.

Lt Cdr Salt, Lt M. Keith-Roach, Lt L. J. Brown RNR, Lt (E) W. E. Collinge, S/Lt H. Dean, the forty seven ratings of the crew were lost with TRIAD.

_____

Battleship BARHAM and destroyer ECHO, ESCAPADE, FORTUNE arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.

Battleship BARHAM, which had been damaged off Dakar, was docked at Gibraltar on the 16th.

Heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA arrived at Gibraltar from patrol.

Also, arriving on this date were transports ETTRICK and KARANJA, escorted by destroyers GREYHOUND, WISHART, VIDETTE, arriving from Freetown.

_____

Italian submarine FOCA, while laying a minefield, was sunk in mining off Haifa.

_____

Convoy SC.8 departed St Johns at 1343 escorted by Canadian armed yacht ELK and ocean escort Sloop SANDWICH.

The convoy was joined on the 26th by SLOOP WESTON, corvettes CAMPANULA, CLARKIA, GLADIOLUS, anti-submarine trawlers FANDANGO, MAN O.WAR, STELLA CAPELLA, VIZALMA. Destroyers HARVESTER and HIGHLANDER joined the convoy on the 27th. Destroyer STURDY joined the convoy on the 30th, but was lost that day.

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 31st.

Wednesday,  16 October

Battleship KING GEORGE V had completed construction at Vickers Armstrong, Tyne, in mid October and was to be taken away from the Tyne for final completion and working up at Rosyth.

Due to the acoustic mine threat, six destroyers were to run up the Tyne to simulate the magnetic field of the battleship prior to KING GEORGE V's departure.

Anti-aircraft cruisers NAIAD (Rear Admiral CS 15) and BONAVENTURE and destroyers FAME, ASHANTI, MAORI, SIKH, ELECTRA, BRILLIANT departed Rosyth on the 16th.

The destroyers proceeded up the Tyne to detonate acoustic mines. They were then to pick up the battleship and escort her to Rosyth with anti-aircraft cruisers NAIAD and BONAVENTURE.

At 0459 on the 17th at Whitburn Rifle Range near Sunderland in 54-47-05N, 1-21W, destroyers FAME and ASHANTI ran aground and were badly damaged and destroyer MAORI ran aground, but was able to get herself off with light hull damage.

The damaged destroyer crews went ashore during the night of 17/18 October due to heavy swells. Only the anti-aircraft crews, damage control, salvage personnel remained on board.

Destroyer ASHANTI was refloated on 1 November and towed to Sunderland. On 9 November, the destroyer was towed to the Tyne. She was repaired at Wallsend completing at the end of August 1941.

Destroyer FAME was refloated on 1 December. She was under temporary repair at Sunderland until 5 February 1941. She then was taken to Chatham and rebuilt on a new hull. She was repairing until 29 August 1942.

Meanwhile, battleship KING GEORGE V was joined by anti-aircraft cruisers NAIAD and BONAVENTURE and destroyers MAORI, SIKH, BRILLIANT, ELECTRA at 0900/17th.

The screen was augmented at 1000 by destroyers BEAGLE, WESTMINSTER, WALLACE. At 1030, destroyer FEARLESS joined the screen.

At 1440, the force reached the Oxcars Boom at Rosyth.

Destroyer MAORI lost her asdic dome in the grounding and was repaired at Rosyth by the end of the month.

_____

Light cruiser MANCHESTER, on passage from the Firth of Forth to the Humber, detonated a mine in 54-21N, 0-18W.

There was no damage to the cruiser.

_____

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON departed the Humber for Scapa Flow.

_____

Convoy OA.230 departed Methil escorted by sloop FLEETWOOD and corvette CLEMATIS. The sloop was detached on the 20th and the corvette on the 21st when the convoy rendezvoused with OB.230.

_____

Convoy FN.310 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VEGA and VIMIERA. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 18th.

_____

Convoy FS.311 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop BLACK SWAN. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

_____

Submarine TIGRIS sank French trawler CIMCOUR (250grt) in 45-44N, 3-45W.

_____

German aircraft raided the Orkneys at 1920. Bombs were dropped on Deerness and Shapinsay.

There was suspected minelaying in the area 58-20N to 58-30N, 2-20W to 2-35W.

_____

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 1000 to meet convoy OA.230 before dusk and escort her to Pentland Firth.

_____

In Operation P S, British monitor EREBUS, escorted by destroyers GARTH and WALPOLE, departed the Nore and bombarded Calais from 0010 to 0042 on the 17th.

On the return, EREBUS's port engine broke down and the monitor was assisted by British tug ST CLAIR (255grt).

_____

British escort ship VIVIEN, escorting convoy FN.9, engaged German motor torpedo boats in 52‑55. 5N, 2‑03. 7E.

_____

Minesweeper DUNDALK (Lt Cdr F. A. I. Kirkpatrick Rtd) of the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla was badly damaged on a mine off Harwich in 51‑57N, 1‑27E at 1831. She was taken in tow by minesweeper SUTTON but sank in tow at 0242 on the 18th.

Four ratings were lost in the minesweeper. Seven ratings were wounded.

_____

Motor torpedo boat MTB.106 (S/Lt I. A. B. Quarrie RNVR) was sunk on a mine near the Nore Light Vessel in the Thames Estuary.

_____

U.124 sank Canadian steamer TREVISA (1813grt), a straggler from convoy SC.7, in 57‑28N, 20‑30W.

Seven crew were lost on the Canadian steamer.

_____

British motor fishing vessel PRIDE (25grt) was sunk on a mine off Scarborough East Pier.

Four crew were lost on the vessel.

_____

British steamer ACTIVITY (358grt) was damaged on a mine in 51‑31N, 00‑55E.

_____

Convoy HX.81 at 1130 escorted by Canadian destroyers COLUMBIA and ST FRANCIS and auxiliary patrol boats HUSKY and REINDEER.

At 1750/17th, the destroyers returned to Halifax and Armed merchant cruiser VOLTAIRE took the ocean escort. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 27th.

On 27 October, destroyers CALDWELL, VANSITTART, WALKER, sloop ABERDEEN, corvettes CALENDULA. GARDENIA, GLOXINIA joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 2 November.

_____

Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE, FURY, ESCAPADE, which had arrived at Freetown on the 7th after leaving Duala on the 6th, departed Freetown with destroyer FORESTER.

_____

Submarine PANDORA on patrol in the Otranto Strait made unsuccessful attacks on Italian submarines on 16 and 17 October.

_____

Italian steamer VERACE (1219grt) was sunk on a mine at Benghazi.

Thursday,  17 October

Early on the 17th, German destroyers STEINBRINCK, LODY, IHN, GALSTER departed Brest to raid British shipping at the west exit of the Bristol Channel.

German torpedo boats GREIF, SEEADLER, KONDOR, FALKE, WOLF, JAGUAR departed Cherbourg to act as a support force.

The German destroyers were sighted at 0719 near Brest by British aircraft.

Three convoys were in immediate danger, convoy OG.44 escorted by Sloop WELLINGTON, convoy SL.50 escorted by Armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE, convoy HG.45 escorted by British escort vessel GLEANER. These convoys were ordered to steer west until the threat was dealt with.

Light cruisers NEWCASTLE and EMERALD with destroyers JACKAL, JUPITER, KASHMIR, KIPLING, KELVIN departed Plymouth at 1100.

The German ships were sighted at 1600 and an action ensued that continued until 1800 when the German destroyers had outdistanced the British force.

No damage was received by either side, but destroyer JUPITER experienced mechanical problems limiting her speed before the engagement and light cruiser NEWCASTLE had a breakdown in number three boiler room in the pursuit.

The British and German forces were never less than 18, 000 yards apart.

Both forces were back in their respective ports early on the 18th.

_____

Convoy OB.230 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers ANTELOPE and CLARE, corvettes ANEMONE, CLEMATIS, MALLOW, anti-submarine trawlers ST LOMAN and ST ZENO from 17 to 20 October.

_____

Convoy FN.311 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VERDUN and WATCHMAN. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 19th.

_____

Convoy FS.312 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

Convoy FS.313 was cancelled.

_____

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred to convoy SL.49 A east of Pentland Firth and escorted it towards Buchanness.

At that point, the cruiser began escorting convoy EN.10.

_____

U.38 sank Greek steamer AENOS (3554grt), a straggler due to bad weather from convoy SC.7, in 59‑00N, 13‑00W.

Four crew were lost from the Greek steamer.

_____

U.48 in attacks on convoy SC.7 sank British tanker LANGUEDOC (9512grt) and British steamer SCORESBY (3843grt) and damaged British steamer HASPENDEN (4678grt) in 59‑14N, 17‑51W.

Forty one crew were rescued from tanker LANGUEDOC. The Master reboarded the tanker on the 18th, but damage was too great to save the ship.

There were no casualties on steamer SCORSBY.

_____

U.93 in attacks on convoy OB.228 sank Norwegian steamer DOKKA (1168grt) 60‑46N, 16‑30W and British steamer USKBRIDGE (2715grt) in 60‑40N, 15‑50W.

Ten crew were lost on the Norwegian steamer. Two crew were lost on the British steamer.

_____

British steamer FRANKRIG (1361grt) was sunk on a mine in 52‑03N, 01‑48E.

Nineteen crew from the steamer were rescued by destroyer HOLDERNESS.

_____

British fishing vessel ALBATROSS (15grt) was sunk on a mine off Grimsby.

All but five crew were lost on the fishing vessel.

_____

British steamer HAUXLEY (1595grt) in convoy FN.311 was torpedoed by German motor torpedo boat S.18 six miles north, northwest of Smith's Knoll.

Steamer HAUXLEY sank in tow of Destroyer WORCESTER at 0645 on the 18th in 50-03-30N, 1-35-30E.

One crew was lost on the British steamer.

British steamers P. L. M. 14 (3754grt) and GASFIRE (2972grt) in the same convoy were damaged by German motor torpedo boats S.24 and S.27 in 52‑52N, 02‑06E.

British steamer BRIAN (1074grt) claimed sinking one of the German S.boats.

_____

Faroes motor fishing vessel CHEERFUL (65grt) was sunk on a mine off the Faroes Island.

_____

British steamer ETHYLENE (936grt) was damaged on a mine one quarter mile north, northeast of East Oaze Light Buoy.

_____

British steamer GEORGE BALFOUR (1570grt) was damaged on a mine 12,900 yards 230° from Aldeburgh Light Vessel.

_____

Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA and destroyers ECHO and GRIFFIN departed Gibraltar, escorting troopships KARANJA and ETTRICK to the United Kingdom. They were recalled when a report was received that French battleship STRASBOURG and twenty other warships were departing Toulon.

When the report was found to be incorrect, the heavy cruiser and destroyers ECHO and ESCAPADE with the troopships departed Gibraltar on the 18th.

_____

British troopship REINA DEL PACIFICO arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.

_____

British storeship CITY OF DIEPPE, escorted by destroyer GALLANT, arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.

_____

French torpedo boat LA BATAILLEUSE passed Gibraltar westbound escorting submarines PEGASE and MONGE, which had departed Bizerte on the 11th and submarines ESPOIR and VENGEUR, which had departed Toulon on the 11th. These ships proceeded to Casablanca to relieve submarines LE HEROS, LE GLORIEUX, CIRCE, CALYPSO.

To return, submarines CIRCE, CALYPSO, LE GLORIEUX, LE HEROS departed Casablanca on 2 November, escorted by torpedo boat LA BATAILLEUSE and in an unnumbered convoy with two steamers, arrived at Oran on 5 November.

Friday,  18 October

Submarine H.49 (Lt R. E. Coltart) was sunk by German auxiliary submarine chasers UJ.116 (trawler GRONLAND, 447grt) and UJ.118 (trawler ELBE, 462grt) off Terschelling.

Lt Coltart, Lt C. H. Peterkin, S/Lt A. Carew-Hunt, Probationary S/Lt L. H. L. Dearden, twenty two ratings were lost with H.49.

One rating was rescued and made a prisoner of war.

_____

Aircraft carrier ARGUS with destroyers BEAGLE, HURRICANE, ACHATES departed the Clyde at 1600 to embark the RAF 701 Squadron at Reykavik.

Aircraft carrier ARGUS and destroyer ACHATES arrived at Reykavik at 2300/20th.

Destroyers HURRICANE and BEAGLE were detached during the night of 19/20 October and did not arrive at Reykavik until 1035 on the 21st.

_____

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred from convoy EN.10 to HX.78 off Duncansby Head.

_____

Convoy OA.231 departed Methil escorted by sloop HASTINGS and corvette FLEUR DE LYS from 18 to 23 October.

_____

Destroyers KEPPEL and DOUGLAS of the 12th Destroyer Flotilla at Greenock were placed under the command of the Commander in Chief, Home Fleet.

_____

Hunt-class destroyer EXMOOR was completed. She worked up at Scapa Flow and then was transferred to the 21st Destroyer Flotilla operating in the Nore.

_____

Anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON CAIRNGORM (448grt), which was mined off Portland on the 17th, sank in tow at 0318 on the 18th.

_____

U.38 damaged British steamer CARSBRECK (3670grt) from convoy SC.7 in 58‑46N, 14‑11W.

Steamer CARSBRECK was escorted from the area by corvette HEARTSEASE.

_____

U.48 sank British steamer SANDSEND (3612grt) from convoy OB.229 in 58‑12N, 21‑29W.

Five crew were lost on the British steamer.

_____

U.123 damaged with three torpedoes British steamer SHEKATIKA (5458grt) which was romping ahead of convoy SC.7 in 57‑12N, 11‑08W.

U.100 damaged with one torpedo British steamer SHEKATIKA an hour later in 57‑12N, 11‑08W.

U.123 finally sank British steamer SHEKATIKA early on the 19th in 57‑12N, 11‑08W.

The reason that steamer SHEKATIKA was so durable was that she was carrying a cargo of lumber.

The entire crew of the steamer was rescued by Sloop FOWEY.

_____

U.46 in attacks on convoy SC.7 sank British steamer BEATUS (4885grt) in 57‑31N, 13‑10W and Swedish steamer CONVALLARIA (1996grt) in 57‑22N, 11‑11W. In a third attack on a steamer, U.46 claimed damage to a large steamer, but no confirmation is available.

The entire crew of steamer CONVALLARIA's were rescued by Sloop FOWEY. The entire crew of steamer BEATUS's were picked up by Dutch steamer BOEKOLO, which was soon sunk herself, corvette BLUEBELL.

_____

U.101 in attacks on convoy SC.7 sank British steamer CREEKIRK (3971grt) in 57‑30N, 11‑10W and claimed sinking another steamer at the same location, but no confirmation exists for this claim.

There were no survivors from the British steamer.

_____

U.99 in attacks on convoy SC.7 sank British steamer EMPIRE MINIVER (6055grt) 250 miles 310° from Rathlin Head.

Three crew were lost on the steamer. Steamer EMPIRE MINIVER's survivors were picked up by corvette BLUEBELL.

_____

U.46 in attacks on convoy SC.7 sank Swedish steamer GUNBORG (1572grt) in 57‑14N, 11‑00W.

Steamer GUNBORG's twenty three survivors were picked up by corvette BLUEBELL.

_____

In attacks on convoy SC.7, U.101 damaged British steamer BLAIRSPEY (4155grt) in 57‑55N, 11‑10W with two torpedoes.

U.101 attacked two other steamers in SC.7 claiming to have sunk one and damaged one, but no confirmation is available.

Early on the 19th, U.100 damaged British steamer BLAIRSPEY with two torpedoes in 57‑55N, 11‑10W.

However, as with steamer SHEKATIKA, steamer BLAIRSPEY was loaded with lumber and proved very difficult to sink. Steamer BLAIRSPEY was able to continue and was not sunk.

_____

U.99 sank Greek steamer NIRITOS (3854grt) from convoy SC.7 in 57‑14N, 10‑38W.

One crewman was lost on the Greek steamer. Steamer NIRITOS's survivors were picked up by corvette BLUEBELL.

_____

U.100 in attacks on convoy SC.7 damaged Dutch steamer BOEKOLO (2118grt), which remained behind to rescue survivors, in 56‑40N, 10‑45W.

_____

U.99 sank British steamer FISCUS (4815grt) from convoy SC.7 in 57‑29N, 11‑10W.

There was only one survivor from the British steamer.

_____

British trawler KING ATHELSTAN (159grt) was damaged by German bombing about fifteen miles off Mizzen Head.

_____

Canadian auxiliary minesweeper BRAS D'OR (221grt, Acting Temporary Lt C. A. Hornsby RCNR) was lost in the Gulf of St Lawrence while shadowing Rumanian steamer INGINER N. VLASSPOL (3610grt) during the night of 18/19 October.

Hornsby, Lt (E) M. Cumming RCNR, Acting Skipper J. H. Ruel RCNR, Temporary Acting Skipper J. P. L. Burton RCNR, Temporary Acting Skipper E. R. Conrad RCNR, twenty five ratings were lost in the minesweeper. There were no survivors.

_____

Convoy HX.79, which had departed Halifax on the 8th escorted by Armed merchant cruisers MONTCLARE and ALAUNIA and Dutch submarine O.14, was reinforced in the Western Approaches by destroyers WHITEHALL and STURDY, escort vessel JASON, corvettes HIBISCUS, HELIOTROPE, COREOPSIS, ARABIS, anti-submarine trawlers LADY ELSA (531grt), BLACKFLY (428grt), ANGLE (531grt) in the Western Approaches.

_____

Destroyers FIREDRAKE, WRESTLER, VIDETTE attacked and sank Italian submarine DURBO off Alboran Island in 34‑54N, 04‑17W.

Forty eight survivors were picked up by the British ships and landed at Gibraltar. The Italian personnel were placed aboard troopship REINA DEL PACIFICO for transport to England.

_____

Italian steamer CUMA (6463grt) was sunk off Gela/Licata, Sicily, in 37‑01‑50N, 14‑06‑12E on a mine.

_____

Heavy cruiser CORNWALL intercepted French steamer INDOCHINOIS, which had departed Casablanca on the 15th for Conakry, in 5-46N, 13-43W.

The steamer was sent under prise crew to Freetown, arriving on the 19th.

_____

Convoy SL.52 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser MOOLTAN to 5 November, when the convoy rendezvoused with convoy SLF.52. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 10 November.

Saturday,  19 October

Destroyers VENETIA, WALPOLE, GARTH departed Dover on the 18th patrol in Straits of Dover.

Returning on the 19th, destroyer VENETIA (Lt Cdr D. L. C. Craig) was mined and sunk in the Thames Estuary near East Knob Buoy in 51‑33N, 01‑10E.

Craig, S/Lt D. H. Jones DSC RNR, S/Lt J. S. E. Rogers, Temporary Surgeon Lt S. P. H. Fergus, MB, CHB RNVR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt D. Drew RNVR, thirty ratings were lost in the destroyer. Eighteen ratings were wounded.

_____

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1415 after escorting convoy OA.231 from the vicinity of Buchanness.

_____

Convoy OB.231 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers CASTLETON and WANDERER, corvettes ERICA and PICOTEE, anti-submarine trawlers CAPE ARGONA, DRANGEY, PAYNTER.

Destroyer WANDERER and corvette PICOTEE were detached on the 22nd and the remainder of the escort the next day.

_____

Convoy OL.8 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers MARGAREE, HAVELOCK, SKEENA, HESPERUS on 19 to 21 October. The convoy dispersed on the 22nd. Destroyer HAVELOCK was detached to convoy HG.45.

_____

Convoy FN.312 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 21st.

Convoy FN.313 was cancelled.

_____

Convoy FN.314 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop BLACK SWAN. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 20th.

_____

 <