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

Friday, 15 November

In Operation STRIPE, Aircraft carrier FURIOUS departed Liverpool with 34 Hurricanes of 73 Squadron and 3 Fulmars. The aircraft carrier joined anti-aircraft cruiser DIDO which departed the Clyde also for Takarodi.

British steamer NEW ZEALAND STAR departed with the aircraft carrier and destroyers HAVELOCK and HESPERUS escorted the ships from Liverpool.

Light cruisers MANCHESTER, which had just completed a refit at Rosyth, and SOUTHAMPTON departed Scapa Flow. At Gibraltar they would embark troops carried in troopship FRANCONIA. They were joined by destroyers JAGUAR and KELVIN from Plymouth. British steamers CLAN FORBES, CLAN FRASER, FRANCONIA also proceeded to Gibraltar.

The two forces rendezvoused in North Channel and escorted the merchant ships to Gibraltar.

Aircraft carrier FURIOUS arrived at Freetown, escorted by destroyers FOXHOUND and FORTUNE, on the 25th. FURIOUS arrived at Takoradi on the 27th and the aircraft flown off to Takoradi on the 29th.

Aircraft carrier FURIOUS arrived back at Liverpool on 15 December.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser NAIAD (Rear Admiral, 15th Cruiser Squadron) departed Scapa Flow on the 11th. On the 13th, the cruiser was detached from the battlecruiser REPULSE group to raid the wireless station in Jameson Bay on Jan Mayan Island.

This raid was covered by battlecruiser REPULSE and destroyers SIKH, MATABELE, PUNJABI.

On the 15th, the cruiser arrived and the wireless station was burnt.

British naval trawlers ELM (530grt) and WISTARIA (515grt) arrived from Iceland for support on the 16th.

On the 16th, light cruiser NAIAD chased and drove ashore German trawler HINRICH FREESE (384grt).

The ships returned to Scapa Flow at 0015/19th.

Cruiser NAIAD was weather damaged in this operation.

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Convoy FN.335 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VERDUN and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 17th.

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Convoy FS.336 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.

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Minelaying cruiser ADVENTURE laid a series of minefields.

On the 15th, designated ZME.1.

On the 20th, designated ZME.2.

On 23 November, designated ZME.3.

On 2 December, off Little Sole Bank, designated GQ 1.

For GQ 1, minelayer ADVENTURE departed Milford Haven at 1000 on 1 December. She rendezvoused with destroyer KASHMIR and KIPLING off Hartland Point. At 1345, destroyer JUPITER joined.

At 1730, the escort was sent to Plymouth. The minefield was laid at 0318 to 0358. The minelayer arrived back at Milford Haven at 1730 on 2 December.

On 7 December, designated ZME.4.

On 10 December, designated ZME.5.

On 14 December, designated ZME.6.

On 17 December, designated ZME.7.

On 20 December, designated ZME.8.

On 23 December, designated ZME.9.

On 30 December, designated GQ 2.

Operation GQ 2 was originally set for 5 December, but was cancelled due to weather.

Minelayer ADVENTURE departed Milford Haven at 1000 on 29 december and met destroyers JERSEY, JUPITER, KASHMIR off Trevose Head. The mines were laid the minelayer arrived back at Milford Haven at 1700 on 30 December.

On 2 January, designated ZME.10.

ZME 11 to ZME.14 were conducted in the first two weeks of January.

On 16 January, designated ZME.15.

Cruiser ADVENTURE conducted sixteen operations in sixty days.

The cruiser, returning from ZME.15, was badly damaged on 16 January entering Liverpool Bay when she struck a mine.

Minelayer PLOVER took over the ZME.minelays beginning with ZME.16. The series was completed with ZME.31 on 21 April.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred to convoy WN.37 and escorted it from Pentland Firth to Buchanness.

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Destroyer VIMY departed Scapa Flow at 0930 for Lerwick.

At Lerwick, destroyer VIMY joined British steamer BEN MY CHREE and escorted her to Aberdeen.

The steamer arrived off Aberdeen at 0303 on the 16th and destroyer VIMY continued on to Rosyth.

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Destroyer SOUTHDOWN called at Holyhead at 1130 to land passengers.

Later, she encountered Armed patrol trawler LORD COLLINGWOOD (116grt) at 2035 and took her in tow towards the Clyde. Destroyer SOUTHDOWN arrived with the trawler in tow on the 16th.

Destroyer SOUTHDOWN oiled at the Clyde. She departed at 1515/16th and arrived at Scapa Flow at 0930/17th.

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In a British raid on Barley airfield, Lt T. G. Bentley and P/Sub Lt (A) A. R. J. Davis RNVR, in a SWORDFISH of 812 Squadron from DAEDALUS were shot down and made prisoners of war.

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U.65 sank British steamer KOHINUR (5168grt) and Norwegian tanker HAVBOR (7614grt) in 4‑24N, 13‑46W.

Forty six crew and two gunners were lost on steamer KOHINUR. One crewman was made a prisoner of war.

The one prisoner of war was transferred to supply ship NORDMARK when U.65 refuelled at sea on 28 and 29 November.

Nineteen crew were lost from the Norwegian tanker. Four crew were rescued.

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British steamer AMENITY (297grt) was sunk on a mine in 53‑33N, 00‑09E.

The entire crew of seven was rescued.

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British steamer APAPA (9333grt, convoy Commodore Rear Admiral G. H. Knowles DSO Rtd was sunk from convoy SL.53 by German bombing in 54‑34N, 16‑47W.

Anti-submarine trawler ST APOLLO (580grt) stood by the steamer.

Eighteen crew and five passengers were missing from the steamer. Survivors from the steamer were rescued by British steamers MARY KINGSLEY (4017grt) and NEW COLUMBIA (6574grt).

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British steamer BLUE GALLEON (712grt), in convoy FN.34, was sunk by German bombing in 52‑57N, 01‑56E.

Three crew were lost on the steamer.

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British trawler DUNGENESS (263grt, P/T/Skipper C. W. Neesham RNR) was badly damaged by German bombing at Haisborough and considered a constructive total loss.

There were no casualties on the trawler.

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British tug GUARDSMAN (102grt) was sunk on a mine off North Foreland, one half cable east by northeast of Spit Buoy.

Two crew were lost on the tug.

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In operation BARBARITY, Heavy cruisers BERWICK and YORK and light cruisers GLASGOW and GLOUCESTER of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron and light cruiser SYDNEY departed Alexandria at 1500 with 3400 troops for Piraeus.

All five cruisers arrived on the 16th at Piraeus.

These cruisers ran twenty one hours at an average of thirty knots. After disembarkation, the cruisers patrolled in the Aegean before arriving back at Alexandria on the 18th.

Light cruisers ORION and AJAX departed Alexandria to take general control of the operation and to call at Suda Bay, Pireaus, Candia as necessary. The cruisers arrived at Piraeus on the 16th.

After disembarking the troops, cruisers BERIWCK, GLOUCESTER, GLASGOW that day departed for Alexandria. Heavy cruiser YORK departed that day for Port Said. All arrived on the 17th.

Anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY with destroyers VAMPIRE, NUBIAN, MOHAWK departed Alexandria on the 15th with steamers CLAN MACAULAY, IMPERIAL STAR, NIEUW ZEELAND. Steamer JOAHNN DE WITT, escorted by destroyer WATERHEN, departed Port Said on the 14th and joined the convoy at sea. The convoy arrived at Piraeus on the 16th.

On their return, destroyers VAMPIRE, MOHAWK, NUBIAN conducted an anti-submarine sweep in the Aegean. Destroyer WATERHEN had been detached to Suda Bay to refuel and rejoined before the destroyers arrived back at Alexandria on the 18th.

Convoy AN.7 of five transports carrying 830 men and 710 vehicles and a bulk petrol carrier departed Alexandria and Port Said, escorted by trawlers, anti-aircraft ship CALCUTTA, destroyer ILEX. The convoy was covered by cruisers ORION and AJAX.

The convoy arrived at Piraeus on the 19th. The trawlers returned to Suda Bay. CALCUTTA and ILEX proceeded to Alexandria.

Battleships BARHAM and VALIANT, aircraft carrier EAGLE, destroyers HYPERION, VENDETTA, DAINTY, DIAMOND, JERVIS, GREYHOUND, GALLANT, GRIFFIN departed Alexandria early on the 16th to cover these movements.

The covering force called at Suda Bay on the 17th. Later that day, engine problems in battleship BARHAM forced The ships to return.

Nine Greek troopships, escorted by eight Greek destroyers, departed Suda Bay at 1800/17th for Salonika. Anti-aircraft ship COVENTRY departed Pireaus and joined this convoy on the 18th until arriving in the Petali Gulf. The cruiser arrived back at Alexandria on the 19th. The convoy arrived on the 20th.

All warships were back at Alexandria on the 19th.

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Force H.of battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL and ARGUS, light cruisers SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, WISHART, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE, DUNCAN departed Gibraltar on Operation WHITE.

The forces were divided into Force A with aircraft carrier ARGUS, light cruiser DESPATCH, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE.

ForceB was battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser SHEFFIELD, destroyers FURY, WISHART, DUNCAN.

This was a flyoff of Hurricanes from aircraft carrier ARGUS to Malta. Flyoff took place on the 17th in two flights of six Hurricanes each, each lead by a Fleet Air Arm Skua. Two Hurricanes crashed short of Malta in the first flight; the pilot of one was rescued by a Sunderland Flying Boat. The rest of this flight, the Skua and four Hurricanes, arrived at Malta. The second flight was lost en route to Malta through a navigational error, with no survivors from the Hurricanes. The Skua crashed landed on southwest coast of Sicily. The pilot, Petty Officer (A) W. E. J. Stockwell, observer P/T/A/Sub Lt (A) R. C. Neil were taken prisoner.

Light cruiser SHEFFIELD arrived back at Gibraltar on the 18th and the rest of Force H.arrived back on the 19th.

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Destroeyrs VIDETTE and WRESTLER departed Gibraltar to meet battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, arriving from Freetown.

The ships arrived at Gibraltar on the 18th.

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Light cruiser COLOMBO was off Mogadishu in a patrol established on the 12th.

On the 15th, COLOMBO bombarded merchant ships off Mogadishu and reported two hits.

On the 18th, COLOMBO was bombed sixty miles east, northeast of Kismayu.

On the 28th, COLOMBO was relieved on this station by light cruiser CERES.

Saturday, 16 November

Heavy cruiser NORFOLK completed repairs in the Tyne begun in October.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred from convoy WN.38 to convoy EN.26 and escorted it to Pentland Firth.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 0545 to meet convoy WN.38 in Pentland Firth and escorted it to Methil.

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Destroyer SIKH was detached from the battlecruiser REPULSE's screen to refuel at Skaalefjord.

The destroyer refuelled and departed on the 17th to rejoin the force.

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Hunt-class destroyer COTSWOLD was completed.

Destroyer COTSWOLD departed Greenock to work up at Scapa Flow. She arrived at Scapa Flow at 1520/17th.

Following working up, the destroyer was assigned to the 21st Destroyer Flotilla operating in the Nore.

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Polish destroyer BURZA accidently sank Anti-submarine trawler ARSENAL (550grt, Skipper C. R. Radford RNR) in a collision off the Clyde, four miles south of Toward.

The trawler sustained no casualties. Destroyer ARROW and tug SUPERMAN stood by.

Destroyer ARROW was damaged by the explosion of trawler ARSENAL's depth charges. Repairs to her machinery were done in the Clyde, completing on 14 January.

Destroyer BURZA was repaired in the Clyde completing on 27 January 1941.

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U.65 sank British steamer FABIAN (3059grt) at 02‑49N, 15‑29W.

Six crew were lost on the steamer FABIAN.

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U.137 sank British steamer PLANTER (5887grt) from convoy OB.244 in 55‑38N, 08‑38W.

Twelve crew and one DBS was lost on the British steamer.

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German bombers attacked convoy FS.335.

British steamer SHERBROOKE (2052grt) was damaged by German bombing eight miles southeast of Orfordness.

British steamer DAGENHAM (2178grt) was damaged on a mine two and a half cables east, northeast of Mouse Light Vessel.

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Submarine TRIUMPH arrived at Gibraltar from England.

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New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Sydney to patrol off Auckland Island on the 20th and Campbell Island on the 21st.

The light cruiser arrived at Lyttleton on the 23rd.

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German steamers PHRYGIA (4137grt), IDARWALD (5181grt), RHEIN (6031grt) departed Tampico in an attempt to return to Germany.

A fourth German steamer, steamer ORINOCCO (9660grt) also departed Tampico, but broke down near the mouth of the Rio Panuco which connects Tampico with Gulf of Mexico. She was towed back to Tampico by the tug that was accompanying her to sea.

American destroyers PLUNKETT (DD.431, LCDR P. G. Hale), MCCORMICK (DD.223, CDR T. V. Cooper, CDD 63), BROOME (DD.210, LCDR T. E. Fraser) were on patrol off Tampico.

Immediately shadowed by the US destroyers, steamer PHRYGIA thought she had been intercepted and scuttled herself.

After unsuccessful attempts to throw off the US destroyers, steamers IDARWALD and RHEIN arrived back at Tampico on the 18th.

Sunday, 17 November

British minefield BS.47 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK and destroyer ICARUS.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK transferred from convoy WN.38 to EN.27 and then to WN.39 off Buchanness.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA departed convoy WN.38 in Pentland Firth and arrived at Scapa Flow at 0635/17th.

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Convoy OB.244 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers CASTLETON, VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL, sloop SANDWICH, corvettes CYCLAMEN, HIBISCUS, RHODODENDRON. The escort, less sloop SANDWICH, was detached on the 21st. Sloop SANDWICH was detached on the 22nd.

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Convoy FN.336 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 19th.

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Convoy FS.337 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS and VERSATILE. The convoy arrived at Southend on 19November.

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Destroyer DOUGLAS departed Liverpool at 1245 for Scapa Flow where she arrived at 0730/18th.

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Destroyer BURNHAM departed Plymouth at 1730 to work up at Scapa Flow.

The destroyer arrived at Scapa Flow at 1645/19th.

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Destroyer VIMY departed Rosyth for the Tyne to escort British steamer KYLEFISHER.

Destroyer VIMY departed the Tyne at 1700/18th. At 0330/19th she rendezvoused off May Island with Destroyer SOMALI and submarine depot ship TITANIA from Rosyth.

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Units of Convoy WS.4B departed Liverpool on the 17th and units from Clyde departed the next day. The two sections met on the 18th. The convoy was composed of troopships ANDES (25,689grt), VICEROY OF INDIA (19,267grt), DUCHESS OF ATHOLL (20,119grt), OTRANTO (20,026grt), ORCADES (23,456grt), STRATHALLAN (23,772grt), STRATHAIRD (22,284grt), EMPRESS OF CANADA (21,517grt), REINA DEL PACIFICO (17,702grt), STRATHNAVER (22,283grt). The convoy was escorted by heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE, which was relieved on the 20th by heavy cruiser NORFOLK from Scapa Flow, light cruiser EDINBURGH from the Clyde and given local escort by British and Canadian destroyers OTTAWA, SKEENA, ST LAURENT, SAGUENAY, ST ALBANS, ST MARYS, BATH.

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Petty Officer H. G. Eves, Leading Supply Assistant R. N. Smith, Supply Assistant K. Pimlott were killed when their Proctor crashed during an engine test near St Vigeans.

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U.137 in attacks on convoy OB.244 sank Swedish steamer VERONICA (1316grt) in 55‑20N, 08‑45W and British steamer SAINT GERMAIN (1044grt) in 55‑40N, 08‑40W.

Three crew from the steamer VERONICA were rescued.

The entire crew of the steamer SAINT GERMAIN were rescued.

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Convoy HX.89 with twelve steamers departed Halifax at 1300 escorted by Canadian destroyers COLUMBIA and ST FRANCIS and auxiliary patrol boats ELK and HUSKY.

The Canadian destroyers departed the escort at 1715/18th. Ocean escort was armed merchant cruiser COMORIN, which was detached on the 28th.

Convoy BHX.89 departed Bermuda on the 15th, but returned to Bermuda later that same day and did not join HX.89.

On the 28th, destroyer WARWICK and corvettes CAMPANULA, FLEUR DE LYS, PERIWINKLE joined the convoy. On 29 November destroyer WANDERER and corvette CLEMATIS joined. Corvette CAMPANULA was detached on the 30th. Anti-submarine trawler HUDDERSFIELD TOWN escorted the convoy in Home Waters. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 1 December.

Monday,  18 November

Minelaying in St Georges Channel began to extend the SN.1 and SN.2 minefields. On the 18th, minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, AGAMEMNON, PORT QUEBEC, PORT NAPIER, MENESTHEUS laid minefield SN.3 in the northwest approaches, escorted by destroyers BRILLIANT, BULLDOG, BEAGLE.

The destroyers had departed Scapa Flow at 1100/17th for Loch Alsh, arriving at 1800.

The minelayers and destroyers departed Loch Alsh at 0110/18th for the minelaying.

The force arrived back at Loch Alsh at 1340/19th after the operation.

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Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA arrived at Liverpool.

Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA was docked and refitting at Liverpool from 22 November.

During an air raid on Liverpool a 3000 pound dud bomb just missed the cruiser and landed in the dry dock.

The heavy cruiser was under repair until 27 December.

Heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA departed Liverpool on 29 December.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK transferred to convoy EN.28 at Methil. The convoy was escorted to Pentland Firth.

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Convoy OB.245 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer SABRE and corvettes ASPHODEL and PICOTEE and anti-submarine trawler VIZALMA. Corvettes ASPHODEL and PICOTEE was detached later that day. On the 19th, destroyers MALCOLM and SARDONYX, corvette HELIOTROPE and anti-submarine trawler WELLARD joined the escort. On the 20th corvette MALLOW joined. The escort was detached on the 22nd.

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Convoy FN.337 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 20th.

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Convoy FS.338 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 20th.

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British Sub Lt (A) L. E. H. Scholefield, in a Whitley of RAF 502 Squadron from Aldergrove, was killed when his aircraft ditched off Londonderry.

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U.65 sank British tanker CONGONIA (5056grt) at 08‑21N, 16‑12W.

One crewman was lost on the British tanker.

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Italian submarine BARACCA sank British steamer LILIAN MOLLER (4866grt) from dispersed convoy SLS.53 in 57‑00N, 17‑00W.

The entire crew of the British steamer were lost.

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British steamer NESTLEA (4274grt), which was a straggler from convoy SL.53, was sunk by German bombing in 50‑38N, 10‑00W.

The entire crew of the British steamer were rescued.

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Motor barge ABILITY (293grt) was sunk on a mine in 51‑45ZN, 01‑11E.

The entire crew of seven were all rescued.

The mine was laid by German torpedo boats on 29/30 October in minefield "Alfred. "

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British drifter GO AHEAD (100grt) was sunk in a collision at Sheerness.

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German bombers attacked convoy FN.337.

British steamer S. N. A. 8 (2569grt) was damaged by German bombing off Swin Light Vessel.

British steamer LANGLEETARN (4908grt) was damaged by German bombing off Lowestoft.

Norwegian steamer FAVORIT (2826grt) was damaged by German bombing in 52‑26N, 02‑03E.

Sloop LOWESTOFT, escorting convoy FN.336 off Lowestoft, shot down a Heinkel bomber.

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British steamer BIELA (5298grt) was damaged by German bombing in 52‑26N, 16‑31W.

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Heavy cruiser YORK departed Port Said with a battalion of troops for Suda Bay and anti-aircraft guns for Piraeus.

The cruiser arrived at Suda Bay on the 19th and departed that day for Piraeus.

The guns were delivered and cruiser YORK departed Piraeus on the 20th.

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On the 10th, Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE turned over convoy WS.3 to Red Sea escorts. The heavy cruiser then departed Aden for Durban.

In operation ROPE on the 18th, Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE bombarded Dante, Italian Somaliland.

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British tanker EL NAWRAS (323grt) was damaged by Italian bombing at Alexandria.

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Italian coastal steamer ARDITA IV (54grt) was sunk by Greek bombing at Valona.

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Convoy BN.9 departed Aden, escorted by light cruiser LEANDER, destroyer KINGSTON, sloops AUCKLAND, HINDUSTAN, SHOREHAM. Destroyer KINGSTON and sloop SHOREHAM were detached on the 20th. Light cruiser LEANDER and the two remaining sloops were detached on the 22nd. Sloop CLIVE joined on the 22nd and arrived with the convoy at Suez on the 25th.

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Convoy BS.9B departed Port Sudan, escotted by destroyer KIMBERLEY and sloop YARRA. The convoy was joined on the 21st by sloop INDUS. The convoy was dispersed off Aden on the 21st.

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German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN sank British steamer NOWSHERA (7920grt) in the Indian Ocean in 31‑02S, 100‑51E.

All Europeans on the steamer were made prisoners of war.

Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA was in the area returning to port after searching for the ship that sank Norwegian tanker OLE JACOB, but no contact was made.

Tuesday, 19 November

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 0845 to join convoy WN.40. The convoy was attacked by German bombing at 1740. The attacking planes were driven off by cruiser CURACOA's gunfire and escorting British Blenheim aircraft.

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Destroyers COSSACK (D.4), MAORI, ESKIMO departed Scapa Flow at 0715 on Operation DL, a sweep off the Norwegian coast commencing at 2135 in 63N and passing Budgrunden Bank and Langgrunds Bank until 0200/20th when the course was altered to the west.

Only one fishing boat was sighted and the weather was too rough to permit boarding.

The destroyers arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0900/21st.

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Destroyer PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow at 0115 to boiler clean at Rosyth.

The destroyer arrived at Rosyth at 1100.

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Destroyer BEDOUIN departed Portsmouth at 1700 to return to Scapa Flow after repairs.

The destroyer arrived at Scapa Flow at 1400/21st.

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Destroyer DOUGLAS departed Scapa Flow at 2130 to take over the escort of British steamer KYLE FISHER and submarine depot ship TITANIA to the Clyde.

Destroyer SOMALI arrived at Scapa Flow.

Destroyers DOUGLAS and VIMY parted company with the convoy at 1600/21st.

The destroyers arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1115/22nd.

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Destroyers BEVERLEY and BROADWAY departed Plymouth at 1735 to work up at Scapa Flow.

The destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow at 2130/21st.

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Destroyers CAMPBELL and GARTH on patrol in the Thames Estuary attacked German motor torpedo boats S 38, S 54, S 57 sinking S 38.

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