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

NAVAL EVENTS, NOVEMBER 1940 (Part 2 of 2)
Friday 15th – Saturday 30th

HMS Eagle, aircraft carrier (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

on to Naval Events, DECEMBER 1940

 

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

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

 


Background Events - September-December 1940

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


 

 

1940

 

                                                           

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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Convoy FS.339 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VANITY and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st.

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Minesweeping trawler FONTENOY (276grt, T/Skipper J. C. Coaker RNR) was sunk by German bombing off Lowestoft in 52‑31N, 1‑55E.

 

There were no casualties on the trawler.

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Convoy OG.46 of thirty nine ships departed Liverpool, Clyde, Oban, Bristol with Corvette CANDYTUFT from the Clyde and corvette CALENDULA from Oban escorting the convoy from Home Waters.

 

Destroyer CALDWELL escorted the convoy from 19 to 24 November.

 

Corvette HONEYSUCKLE escorted the convoy from 19 to 24 November.

 

Corvette CALENDULA was relieved on the 20th by corvette BLUEBELL, which remained with the convoy until 24 November.

 

Corvette CANDYTUFT escorted the convoy until 24 November.

 

Sloop DEPTFORD escorted the convoy from 19 November to 5 December.

 

Destroyer WESTCOTT escorted the convoy on the 22nd.

 

Near Gibraltar, the convoy was joined by destroyer WISHART on 3 December. Destroyer WISHART escorted the convoy until its arrival at Gibraltar on 5 December.

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British steamer FOLDA (1165grt) was damaged by German bombing in 51‑47N, 01‑30E.

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Light cruiser NEWCASTLE, which departed Gibraltar on the 17th, arrived at Malta with the 200 airmen and stores for Operation WHITE.

 

Cruiser NEWCASTLE was to have arrived at the same time as the aircraft flown off by aircraft carrier ARGUS on the 17th, but German minelaying around Plymouth delayed her departure from Plymouth until 13 November, arriving at Gibraltar on the 16th.

 

The light cruiser proceeded to Alexandria arriving on the 22nd.

______

 

Destroyers DUNCAN and FORESTER departed Gibraltar to meet arriving light cruiser MANCHESTER and troopship FRANCONIA.

 

They arrived at Gibraltar on the 21st.

 

Light cruiser SHEFFIELD departed Gibraltar to meet light cruiser SOUTHAMTPON relieving her as escort of steamers CLAN FORBES, CLAN FRASER, NEW ZEALAND STAR.

 

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd

 

On 22 November, destroyers WISHART, WRESTLER, VELOX departed Gibraltar to join light cruiser SHEFFIELD. Destroyer VIDETTE sailed on the 23rd to relieve destroyer WISHART.

 

Light cruiser SHEFFIELD arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th after leaving the convoy.

 

Destroyers DUNCAN and HOTSPUR with corvettes PEONY, SALVIA, HYACINTH, GLOXINIA departed Gibraltar to join the steamers and escort them through the Straits of Gibraltar by dark.

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Submarine UPRIGHT departed Gibraltar for patrol, then proceeding to Malta.

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Convoy SLS.56 departed Freetown.

 

Destroyer LEAMINGTON escorted the convoy from 5 to 9 December.

 

Convoy SLS.56 rendezvoused with convoy SL.56. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 12 December.

______

 

Convoy BS.9 departed Suez, escorted by sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY. The sloops were detached when the convoy was joined by light cruiser LEANDER, anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE, destroyer KINGSTON, sloops AUCKLAND and HINDUSTAN. Light cruiser HOBART joined on the 26th. The convoy was dispersed off Aden on the 26th.

 

 

Wednesday, 20 November

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred to convoy EN.29.

______

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK arrived at Scapa Flow at 0830 after convoy EN.28 escort.

______

 

Destroyers BRILLIANT, BEAGLE, BULLDOG departed Loch Alsh at 1435 and joined destroyer ELECTRA which departed Scapa Flow at 1430.

 

The destroyers rendezvoused off the Butt of Lewis and proceeded to 60N, 17W to meet Battleship RODNEY and escort her to Scapa Flow.

 

The four destroyers met battleship RODNEY on the 22nd. Destroyer BULLDOG lost touch after the rendezvous during the night and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1400/23rd.

 

The battleship and the other destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow at 1430/23rd.

______

 

Destroyers BRADFORD and BROADWATER departed Plymouth at 1800 to work up at Scapa Flow.

 

Destroyer BROADWATER put into Milford Haven at 1200/21st to correct defects.

 

Destroyer BRADFORD arrived at Scapa Flow at 1600/22nd.

______

 

Convoy OB.246 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WALKER. On 21 November, sloop CHEVREUIL and corvettes CROCUS and HEARTSEASE joined the escort. The escort was detached on the 24th.

 

Convoy OB.247 did not sail.

______

 

Convoy FN.338 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS and VERSATILE. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 22nd.

______

 

Convoy FS.340 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Southend on22 November.

______

 

The Walrus from light cruiser MANCHESTER capsized and sank at Sullom Voe. Naval Airman D. W. Charnock was lost.

______

 

British tanker CHESAPEAKE (8955grt) was damaged by German bombing off the Lizard.

______

 

Convoy HG.47 departed Gibraltar with thirty ships.

 

Sloop ROCHESTER escorted the convoy from 20 November to 4 December. Destroyer HOTSPUR escorted the convoy on the 20th only.

 

Destroyers HIGHLANDER and SAGUENAY joined the convoy on the 30th. Destroyer SAGUENAY was torpedoed on 1 December and was assisted by destroyer HIGHLANDER to port.

 

Destroyers ACHATES and ANTHONY were detached from convoy SL.55 to replace the destroyers. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 4 December.

______

 

Destroyers FOXHOUND and FORTUNE departed Gibraltar to join aircraft carrier FURIOUS and escort her to Freetown.

______

 

 

Italian torpedo boat CONFIENZA was sunk in an accidental collision with Italian armed merchant cruiser CAPITANO A. CECCHI (2321grt) off Brindisi.

______

 

Italian coastal steamer ARDITA III (57grt) was sunk by British bombing at Assab.

______

 

German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN sank British steamer MAIMOA (8011grt) in the Indian Ocean at32‑14S, 100‑56E.

 

The entire crew were made prisoners of war.

 

Heavy cruiser CANBERRA arrived at Fremantle.

 

The heavy cruiser departed the same day for steamer MAIMOA's position.

 

On 22 November, heavy cruiser CANBERRA rescued some crew from steamer PORT WELLINGTON sunk the next day and searched for the German ship until 24 November.

 

The Australian cruiser returned to Fremantle on the 27th.

______

 

Australian minesweeping trawler GOORANGI (223grt, T/Commissioned Officer from Warrant Rank D. McGregor, RANVR (S) was lost in a collision off Port Phillip with British troopship DUNTROON (10, 346grt).

 

The entire crew, McGregor, T/Warrant Officer K. J. Matheson, RANR, Lt Cdr G. W. Boyle, RANR (minesweeping advisor), twenty one ratings, were lost in the trawler.

 

 

Thursday,  21 November

 

A German submarine was attacked and claimed sunk by Corvette RHODODENDRON, which was escorting convoy HX.87/OB.244 with destroyers VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL, CASTLETON and corvette HIBISCUS, in 56‑28N, 14‑13W.

 

Submarine U.103 was not damaged. However, U.104, which is generally credited to corvette RHODODENDRON in this attack, survived several more days to sink two tankers on the 27th.

 

Submarine U.104 was lost on the 28th northwest of Tory Island to a mine. The submarine on her first war patrol was lost with all hands of forty nine crew.

 

After the convoy duty, the corvettes arrived at Liverpool on the 26th and the destroyers arrived at the Clyde on the 28th.

______

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred to convoy WN.41.

______

 

Convoy FN.339 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 23rd.

______

 

Convoy FS.341 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VERDUN and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 23rd.

______

 

T/A/Lt Cdr (A) G. B. Legge RNVR, P/T/Sub Lt (A) A. J. Franklin RNVR, were killed when their Proctor of 752 Squadron crashed north of Exeter.

______

 

U.103 in attacks on convoy OB.244 sank British steamer DAYDAWN (4768grt) in 56‑30N, 14‑10W and Greek steamer VICTORIA (6085grt) in 56‑17N, 14‑12W.

 

Two crew were missing from the steamer DAYDAWN. The survivors were picked up by corvette RHODODENDRON. There were twenty seven survivors from the Greek steamer. Destroyer CASTLETON rescued the crews of both steamers. Canadian destroyers SKEENA and ST LAURENT with convoy SC.11 were dispatched to the area.

 

Submarine U.103 attacked a third steamer at the same area, but the torpedo glanced off the steamer's hull and did not explode.

______

 

British steamer DAKOTIAN (6426grt) was sunk on a mine in Dale Roads, Milford Haven.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

______

 

Greek steamer PELEUS (4695grt) was damaged on a mine at Milford Haven.

______

 

British drifter XMAS ROSE (96grt, A/T/Skipper J. Merson RNR) was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary, 51-47-45N, 1-25-30E.

 

Merson died of wounds. Three ratings were lost.

______

 

Convoy HX.90 departed Halifax at 1300 escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE, auxiliary patrol vessel FRENCH, corvette WINDFLOWER. The convoy was given ocean escort by Armed merchant cruiser LACONIA which was detached on 1 December.

 

Convoy BHX.90 departed Bermuda on the 19th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser MALOJA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.90 on the 24th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

Destroyers VANQUISHER and VISCOUNT joined on 1 December and sloop FOLKESTONE and corvette GENTIAN on 2 December. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 5 December.

______

 

German coastal steamer BRIGETTE RAABE (375grt) was badly damaged in a collision eighteen miles south of Utklippan. She was not salvable and her wreck was sunk.

______

 

Greek destroyer AETOS claimed sinking an Italian submarine between Skiathos and Trikeri Channel.

______

 

Anti-submarine trawler LYDIARD attacked a submarine contact in 31-45N, 32-18E, near Port Said.

 

The trawler was damaged by the explosion of one of her depth charges and was forced to return to harbour.

 

Destroyers HAVOCK and HASTY departed Alexandria on the 22nd to search in the area.

______

 

German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN sank British steamer PORT BRISBANE (8739grt) in the Indian Ocean at 29‑29S, 95‑35E.

 

One crewman was lost from the British steamer. Fifty eight crew, two gunners, a passenger were made prisoners of war.

 

Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA refuelling at Fremantle and light cruiser PERTH on convoy duty were dispatched to search for the German ship. Light cruiser PERTH escorted her convoy away from the danger area before joining the search.

 

No contact was made, but heavy cruiser CANBERRA was able to rescue the survivors from PORT WELLINGTON and take them to Fremantle.

______

 

Convoy SL.56 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser BULOLO to 8 December and sloop BRIDGEWATER to 22 November. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy SLS.56.

 

On 9 December destroyer HIGHLANDER and on 10 December destroyer BURNHAM joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 12 December.

 

 

Friday,  22 November

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred to convoy EN.30.

______

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 0900 for gunnery practice then joined convoy WN.42 in Pentland Firth.

______

 

Convoy FN.340 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VANITY and WOLFHOUND and patrol sloop SHEARWATER. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 24th.

______

 

Convoy FS.342 departed Methil, escorted by sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.

______

 

U.123 sank British steamer CREE (4791grt) in 54‑39N, 18‑50W.

 

The entire crew of the steamer was lost.

______

 

Motor launch ML.127 (T/Lt E. Kneen RNVR) was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary.

 

Kneen and ten ratings were lost in the motor launch.

______

 

British trawler ETHEL TAYLOR (276grt, T/Skipper R. Cowling RNVR) was lost on a mine 7.5 cables 090° from the Tyne Pier Light.

 

Two ratings were lost on the trawler.

______

 

British steamer PIKEPOOL (3683grt) was sunk on a mine twenty three miles east, southeast of Smalls Light.

 

Sixteen crew and the naval gunner were lost on the steamer.

______

 

British tug HERCULES (82grt), towing 116 Hopper Barge, was sunk on a mine in 55‑01N, 01‑23W.

 

Four crew were missing and one was killed on the tug.

 

The Barge was towed into the Tyne.

______

 

Swedish steamer BIFROST (1781grt) was damaged by German bombing at Alfred Dock, Birkenhead.

______

 

Convoy SC.13 departed St Johns at 1145 escorted by Canadian armed yacht HUSKY.

 

At 0830/23rd, HUSKY left the convoy. No ocean escort was provided.

 

In heavy weather, three steamers foundered in this convoy. Greek KOLCHIS ( 2219grt) on the 23rd, British LISIEUX (2594grt) on the 27th, Greek EUGENIA CAMBANIS (3470grt) on the 28th. Twenty three crew were lost in KOLCHIS; none in the other two steamers.

 

On 5 December, destroyers SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI, sloop WELLINGTON, corvettes CLARKIA and HELIOTROPE joined. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 7 December.

______

 

French steamer (former armed merchant cruiser) CHARLES PLUMIER (4504grt) was captured by destroyers FAULKNOR and FORESTER one hundred and ten miles off Gibraltar in 35‑32N, 3‑05W.

 

This was a RATION operation and light cruiser DESPATCH was at sea to cover the destroyers.

 

Destroyer BOULONNAIS escorting the steamer retired unmolested.

 

Steamer CHARLES PLUMIER arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd and was renamed LARGS for British use.

______

 

British tanker ZAHRA (821grt) was damaged by Italian bombing at Alexandria.

 

 

Saturday,  23 November

 

Battlecruiser HOOD and destroyers ESCAPADE, COSSACK, SIKH, ESKIMO departed Scapa Flow at 1730 to cover minelaying by the 1st Minelaying Squadron escorted by light cruiser AURORA which also departed Scapa Flow on the 23rd.

 

Destroyer KEPPEL departed Scapa Flow at 1535 to rendezvous with Rear Admiral Minelayers five miles 030° from Butt of Lewis at 2045.

 

During the night of 22 November, minelayer PORT NAPIER's port propeller was fouled by the cable of collier BALMAHA. The minelayer was unable to proceed on the minelaying operation.

 

Minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS, PORT QUEBEC departed Loch Alsh on the 23rd, escorted by destroyers BATH and ST ALBANS.

 

Minefield SN.11 was laid off the southern tip of Iceland in the Denmark Strait.

 

The minelayers returned to Loch Alsh on the 26th.

 

Minelayer PORT NAPIER was lost in a fire in Loch Alsh in 57‑17N, 5‑44W on the 27th.

 

Destroyer KEPPEL was detached to arrive for refuelling in Iceland at 0305/27th.

 

Destroyers BATH and ST ALBANS refuelled at Iceland on the 27th.

 

The covering force was joined by destroyer KEPPEL arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0830/29th.

______

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK relieved Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA at 1115 in convoy EN.30.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving at 1845.

______

 

Convoy OB.248 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VERITY and WITHERINGTON, sloop FOLKESTONE, corvettes ARBUTUS and CAMELLIA. The escort was detached on the 26th.

______

 

Convoy FS.343 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th.

______

 

U.100 in attacks on convoy SC.11 sank British steamer JUSTITIA (4562grt) in 55‑00N, 13‑10W, British steamer BRADFYNE (4740grt) and Norwegian steamer BRUSE (2205grt) in 55‑04N, 12‑15W, Dutch steamer COTMARSUM (3628grt) in 55‑00N, 12‑00W, Norwegian steamer SALONICA (2694grt) in 55‑16N, 12‑14W, British steamer LEISE MAERSK (3136grt) in 55‑30N, 11‑00W, Dutch steamer BUSSUM (3636grt) in 55‑39N, 08‑58W.

 

Thirteen crew were lost on steamer JUSTITIA. Thirty nine crew were lost on the steamer BRADFYNE. Sixteen crew were lost on the steamer BRUSE. Canadian destroyer SKEENA rescued the survivors of Norwegian steamer BRUSE. Nine crew were lost on the steamer SALONICA. Sloo ENCHANTRESS picked up the crew of the Norwegian steamer. Seventeen crew were missing from the steamer LEISE MAERSK. Canadian destroyer OTTAWA rescued the crew of steamer BUSSUM.

 

Steamer BRUSE was picked up by a tug on the 28th and towed to the Clyde where they arrived on the 30th for salvage.

______

 

U.123 in attacks on convoy OB.244 sank British steamer OAKCREST (5407grt) in 53‑00N, 17‑00W, Greek steamer KOLCHIS (2219grt) in 56‑44N, 19‑13W, British steamer KING IDWAL (5115grt) in 56‑44N, 19‑13W, British steamer TYMERIC (5228grt) in 57‑00N, 20‑30W, Swedish steamer ANTEN (5135grt) in 56‑57N, 18‑18W.

 

Thirty five crew were lost on the steamer OAKCREST. There were no survivors from steamer KOLCHIS. Twelve crew were lost on the steamer KING IDWAL. Seventy two crew were lost from steamer TYMERIC. Only three survivors from TYMERIC were rescued. One crewman from steamer ANTEN was lost.

 

Sloop SANDWICH rescued the survivors from steamers KING IDWAL and ANTEN.

______

 

British tug BONAPARTE (38grt) was sunk by German bombing at Southampton, near Northam Bridge.

______

 

British drifter NEW COMET (245grt) was sunk on a mine 3000 yards 072° from Tyne Point War Signal Station.

 

The drifter was beached inside the river entrance. The was refloated but sank during the night of 27/28 February 1941.

______

 

British drifter SAILOR KING (41grt) was sunk on a mine off Brightlingsea.

______

 

British troopship LLANDOVERY CASTLE (10, 640grt) was damaged by German bombing at Southampton.

______

 

British steamer DUCHESS OF CORNWALL (302grt) was damaged by German bombing alongside Royal Pier, Southampton.

 

Steamer DUCHESS OF CORNWALL had been hired as a paddle minesweeper. She was not handed over because of this damage.

______

 

Destroyers HAVOCK and HASTY, which departed Alexandria on the 22nd for an anti-submarine sweep, arrived back in time to depart with the Fleet.

 

In Operation MB 9, Force C of Battleships MALAYA and RAMILLIES, aircraft carrier EAGLE, light cruisers ORION, SYDNEY, AJAX, destroyers HYPERION, HAVOCK, HASTY, ILEX, GALLANT, DAINTY, DIAMOND departed Alexandria to cover the movement of convoy MW.4 of steamers BRECONSHIRE, MEMNON, CLAN FERGUSON, CLAN MACAULAY escorted by Force D.of anti-aircraft cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY and destroyers VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, GREYHOUND.

 

Force C arrived at Suda Bay for refuelling at 0800/24th.

 

Heavy cruiser BERWICK departed Alexandria later in the day and joined Force C off Suda Bay on the 24th.

______

 

A Greek convoy of nine ships, escorted by six destroyers, departed Candia for Piraeus.

______

 

Corvettes SALVIA, PEONY, GLOXINIA, HYACINTH arrived at Gibraltar from England.

______

 

Destroyers JAGUAR and KELVIN arrived at Gibraltar from Plymouth and temporarily joined the 8th Destroyer Flotilla.

 

Destroyer KELVIN had a number of British and other passengers from Casablanca whom had been removed from Portuguese steamer MIRA AZUL off Cape Spartel.

______

 

Convoy BN.9A departed Aden, escorted by destroyer KIMBERLEY. Sloop PARRAMATTA joined on the 24th. Both ships were detached on the 25th. Sloop GRIMSBY joined on the 27th and arrived at Suez with the convoy on the 28th.

 

 

Sunday,  24 November

 

Aircraft carrier FORMIDABLE was completed and arrived in the Clyde for trials on the 28th. On 18 December, FORMIDABLE and heavy cruiser NORFOLK were detached from the Home Fleet for duty as Force K in the South Atlantic.

______

 

Convoy OB.249 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers WANDERER, WARWICK and corvettes CAMPANULA, CLEMATIS, FLEUR DE LYS, PERIWINKLE. WANDERER was detached on the 27th. The remainder of the escort detached on the 28th.

______

 

Convoy FN.341 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WATCHMAN and sloop EGRET, and arrived at Methil on the 26th.

______

 

Convoy FN.342 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VERDUN and WOLSEY, and arrived at Methil on the 26th.

______

 

Convoy FS.344 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS, VERSATILE and corvette SNAPDRAGON, and arrived at Southend on the 26th.

______

 

German destroyers GALSTER, LODY, BEITZEN departed Brest on the 24th to operate off Plymouth.

 

The German destroyers attacked at 0015 a group of fishing trawlers twelve miles southeast of Wolf Rock sinking Belgian trawler MARGUERITE SIMONNE (70grt) eight miles southeast by south of Wolf Rock and damaging British trawler LENT LILY (44grt) six miles east southeast of Wolf Rock.

 

The crew of trawler MARGUERITE SIMONNE landed at Newlyn.

 

They then attacked a small convoy of three steamers, one tug, two barges five miles off Penzance sinking Dutch steamer APOLLONIA (2086grt) and damaging Norwegian steamer STADION II (629grt).

 

Fifteen crew were lost on the steamer APOLLONIA.

 

Norwegian steamer FERNWOOD (4695grt) escaped damage.

 

Destroyers JAVELIN, JERSEY, JACKAL, JUPITER, KASHMIR were at sea south of Prawle Point and proceeded towards the engagement, but were unable to contact the German ships.

 

The German destroyers returned undamaged at Brest on the 25th.

______

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK left convoy EN.30 in Pentland Firth and arrived at Scapa Flow at 0830. She departed at 1030 and escorted convoy WN.43 from Pentland Firth.

______

 

British steamer ALMA DAWSON (3985grt) wassunk on a defensive minefield in 55‑32N, 06‑44W.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

______

 

Anti-submarine trawler AMETHYST (627grt, T/Lt Hon. W. K. Rous RNVR) was sunk on a mine in the Barrow Deep in the Thames Estuary.

 

Seven ratings were wounded in the trawler.

 

Survivors from AMETHYST were picked up by Anti-submarine trawler LE TIGER (516grt).

______

 

Armed yacht GAEL (101grt, T/Lt F. J. B. Hart RNVR) was sunk on a mine at the entrance to Humber, northeast by north of the Spurn Light House.

______

 

British salvage vessel PRESERVER (630grt) was sunk on a mine one cable 54° from No. 1 Buoy, Milford Haven.

 

Four crew were lost on the vessel.

______

 

British steamer RYAL (367grt) was sunk on a mine laid by German torpedo boats on 29/30 October in minefield "Alfred” in 51‑32N, 01‑04E.  Only one survivor of a crew of nine was rescued.

______

 

British steamer BEHAR (6100grt) was badly damaged on a mine in 51‑42N, 05‑07W. The entire crew was rescued. BEHAR was run aground 4½  cables 230° from Great Castle Head Lower Light to prevent her sinking but was a total loss.

______

 

British steamer THOMAS M. (310grt) was sunk on a mine 1½  miles 135° from Yarmouth Harbour entrance.  Seven crew were lost.

______

 

British steamer ALICE MARIE (2206grt) was sunk on a mine eight cables 255° from Knob Light Vessel, Barrow Deep.  The entire crew was rescued.

______

 

British steamer CAMROUX IV (590grt) was damaged on a mine one mile 45° from East Oaze Light Vessel.

______

 

Heavy cruiser BERWICK, light cruiser NEWCASTLE, destroyers DEFENDER, GREYHOUND, HERO, HEREWARD departed Alexandria to escort convoy ME.4 back from Malta.

 

They are joined at sea by anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY and destroyer GALLANT which departed Alexandria the day before.

______

 

Light cruiser DANAE arrived at Singapore.

______

 

German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL SCHEER sank British steamer PORT HOBART (7448grt) near the Azores at 24‑44N, 58‑21W.

 

The entire crew of the British steamer were made prisoners of war.

 

 

Monday,  25 November

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK transferred to convoy EN.31.

______

 

Destroyer VIMY departed Scapa Flow at 0900 to rendezvous with Armed merchant cruisers LETITIA and WOLFE and destroyer ST MARYS ten miles 090° from Butt of Lewis at 1515/25th to provide escort.

 

Owing to weather, destroyer VIMY could not make seven knots and could not join.

 

Destroyer VIMY arrived at Scapa Flow at 1720/27th.

______

 

Destroyer VERDUN completed her conversion to fast escort vessel.

______

 

Submarine TALISMAN reported torpedoing a German tanker off Lorient in 47-37N, 3-50W.

 

Submarine TALISMAN left the tanker dead in the water with a trawler standing by her.

 

Later in the day, the submarine captured French fishing vessel LE CLIPPER (40grt) off Lorient. The vessel was used to observe German submarine movements.

______

 

Motor launch ML.111 (Lt A. V. C. Hoadley RNR) was sunk on a mine near Chequer Shoal Buoy off the Humber. Two ratings were missing and Lt Hoadley wounded.

 ______

 

Minesweeping trawler CONQUISTADOR (224grt, T/Skipper J. Paterson (act) RNR) was sunk in a collision in the Thames Estuary.

______

 

Minesweeping trawler KENNYMORE (225grt, T/Skipper J. W. Greene RNR) was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary, off the East Oaze Light Vessel.

 

Four ratings were lost in the trawler. Greene was wounded.

______

 

British hopper barge TCC HOPPER No. 3 (698grt) was sunk on a mine 54‑40N, 01‑07W.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

______

 

Convoy HX.91 departed Halifax at 1600 escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE and auxiliary patrol vessel FRENCH. Auxiliary patrol vesselsELK and HUSKY operated within the harbour approaches .

 

Patrol vessel FRENCH departed the convoy at 1711 and destroyer ASSINIBOINE departed at 1450/26th. The ocean escort was Battleship REVENGE and Canadian destroyer ST CLAIR. The battleship was detached on 4 December. The destroyer continued with the convoy and arrived in the Clyde on 11 December.

 

Convoy BHX.91 departed Bermuda on the 23rd escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.91 on the 28th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

On 6 December destroyers VANSITTART and WALKER and corvette CANDYTUFT joined the convoy. Corvette HONEYSUCKLE joined on the 8th. The destroyers were detached on10 December. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 11 December.

______

 

Force H.departed Gibraltar on COLLAR. Departing were battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruisers SHEFFIELD, DESPATCH, MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON (the last two carrying 700 RAF personnel each for Alexandria embarked from troopship FRANCONIA), destroyers HOTSPUR (proceeding to Malta for repairs), FIREDRAKE, FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, WISHART, DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, JAGUAR, KELVIN, VIDETTE.

 

Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was repairing at Gibraltar, was considered for this operation, but not used as she was not ready in time.

 

Force F light cruisers SOUTHAMPTON and MANCHESTER and destroyer HOTSPUR were en route to Alexandria. Force F was escorted by destroyers DUNCAN and VIDETTE.

 

Also sailing were British steamers CLAN FORBES (7529grt), CLAN FRASER (7529grt), NEW ZEALAND STAR (10, 740grt) and new corvettes SALVIA, HYACINTH, PEONY, GLOXINIA.

 

Corvette GLOXINIA arrived at Malta with engine room defects.

 

The other three corvettes proceeded to Alexandria and steamer NEW ZEALAND STAR went directly to Suda Bay.

______

 

The Mediterranean Fleet departed Alexandria at 0325 for COLLAR as Force A with battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, destroyersDECOY (for repairs at Malta), JERVIS, JANUS, JUNO, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, GRIFFIN, WATERHEN, WRYNECK.

 

At noon, troopship ULSTER PRINCE, with the last of BARBARITY details, joined the Fleet.

 

Heavy cruiser YORK and light cruisers GLASGOW and GLOUCESTER of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron departed Alexandria later in the day and joined the Fleet at sea at 1600.

 

Destroyers HERO and HEREWARD, which departed Malta at 0500 that day, joined the WARSPITE force on the 26th.

 

All the Mediterranean Fleet destroyers, less IMPERIAL and STUART under repairs, were involved in COLLAR.

______*

 

British netlayer PROTECTOR and armed boarding vessels FIONA and CHAKLA departed Alexandria for Suda Bay.

______

 

A Greek convoy of seven steamers, escorted by four destroyers, departed Suda Bay for Piraeus.

______

 

British steamer PATRIA (11, 885grt) was blown up at Haifa by Zionist terrorists to prevent the ship's use as a deportation vessel for Palestinian Jews.

______

 

German armed merchant cruisers ORION and KOMET sank New Zealand steamer HOLMWOOD (546grt) in the South Pacific twenty seven miles west by south of Durham Point, Chatham Island in 43‑44S, 177‑30W.

 

Seventeen crew and thirteen passengers were landed at Emirau Island on 21 December.

 

 

Tuesday,  26 November

 

Aircraft carrier FORMIDABLE departed Greenock and arrived at Glasgow on the 27th, escorted by destroyer VESPER.

______

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK arrived at Scapa Flow at 1040 after escorting convoy EN.31 in Pentland Firth.

______

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 1000 to join convoy WN.44.

______

 

Convoy OB.250 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers ACHATES, ACTIVE, ANTHONY and corvette PICOTEE. The escort was detached on the 29th.

______

 

Convoy FN.343 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 28th.

______

 

Convoy FN.344 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 28th.

______

 

Convoy FS.345 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VANITY and escort ship/destroyer GLEANER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.

______

 

Convoy FS.346 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.

______

 

Destroyer COTSWOLD departed Scapa Flow at 1315 and met British steamer BEN MY CHREE with troops off Aberdeen.

 

The destroyer escorted the steamer to Lerwick arriving at 1200/27th.

______

 

Free French armed patrol coaster MEDOC (1166grt, under the command of Polish Cdr Stankiewicz) was sunk by a German aircraft torpedo off Rame Head in the English Channel.

 

The Polish Commander was lost with the vessel. Lt T. O'Shanohun RNR, T/Lt H. J. Murray RNVR, Polish Midshipman Krasicki, thirty six British ratings, a Polish petty officer were lost on MEDOC.

______

 

Dutch steamer WALENBURG (496grt) was damaged on a mine in 50‑40N, 01‑08W.

______

 

US destroyers of the 72nd Destroyer Division and six newly recommissioned, unassigned destroyers were transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend Lease.

 

US Name

 

British Name

Commanding Officer

USS SIGOURNEY (DD.81)

 

HMS NEWPORT

 

Lt Cdr A H.P Noble

USS ROBINSON (DD.88)

 

HMS NEWMARKET

 

Lt Cdr G B O'B Harding

USS RINGGOLD (DD.89)

 

HMS NEWARK

 

Lt Cdr R H.W Atkins

USS FAIRFAX (DD.93)

 

HMS RICHMOND

 

Lt Cdr A F L.Evans

USS TILLMAN (DD.135)

 

HMS WELLS

 

Lt Cdr E J Lee

USS CLAXTON (DD.140)

 

HMS SALISBURY

 

Cdr E G A Clifford

USS BAILEY (DD.269)

 

HMS READING

 

Cdr R Heathcote

USS SWASEY (DD.273)

 

 

HMS ROCKINGHAM

 

Cdr L.M Shadwell

USS MEADE (DD.274)

 

HMS RAMSEY

 

Cdr P G Agnew Rtd

USS SHUBRICK (DD.268)

 

HMS RIPLEY

 

Lt Cdr J A Agnew

 

WELLS, SALISBURY, NEWMARKET, NEWARK, RICHMOND, NEWPORT were not commissioned until 5 December.

 

NEWARK was damaged on 9 December 1940 in a collision with destroyer NEWMARKET. After repairs at St Johns from 19 December to 29 January, she departed for England but had to turn back when two depth charges were washed overboard in heavy weather and exploded close aboard.

 

RAMSEY, ROCKINGHAM, WELLS had faulty stop valves which required extensive repairs.

 

RAMSEY arrived at Devonport on 17 December and was under repair until 29 January. Destroyer ROCKINGHAM arrived at Plymouth 22 December and was under repair until 22 February.

 

READING and RIPLEY departed Halifax with convoy HX.93 on 3 December and arrived at Plymouth on 17 December.

 

NEWPORT, SALISBURY, RICHMOND departed Halifax on 15 December after convoy HX.96 and the first two arrived at Belfast on 30 December and RICHMOND arrived at Plymouth on 31 December.

 

NEWMARKET departed Halifax on 15 January 1941 with convoy HX.104 and arrived at Belfast on 26 January and Plymouth on 30 January.

 

NEWARK and WELLS finally departed Halifax on 4 February 1941, but WELLS had to be towed back by NEWARK after twelve hours steaming because of a faulty lubrication system. NEWARK was damaged by weather.

 

NEWARK and WELLS departed again on 26 February and arrived at Belfast on 5 March and Plymouth on 9 March.

______

 

Aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, light cruisers GLOUCESTER and GLASGOW, destroyers JANUS, JUNO, MOHAWK, NUBIAN raided the Italian seaplane base at Port Laki, Leros at 0600 before joining ME.4 cover.

 

One Swordfish of the 819 Squadron was lost with Lt R. W. V. Hamilton, A/Sub Lt (A) J. R. B. Weekes, Naval Airman J. C. H. Garnham.

 

Heavy cruiser YORK was detached to Suda Bay at 0500 to refuel and join the 3rd Cruiser Squadron off Cape Matapan at 1530.

 

The remainder of Force A and troopship ULSTER PRINCE arrived at Suda Bay for refuelling of the destroyers between 0700 and 0830. Force A departed Suda Bay at 1030.

 

Eight Swordfish from aircraft carrier EAGLE raided Tripoli at 0520 in Operation TRIPE. No aircraft were lost.

 

Drifters FELLOWSHIP and LANNER departed Malta for Suda Bay at 0800.

 

Convoy MW.4 of steamers BRECONSHIRE, MEMNON, CLAN FERGUSON, CLAN MACAULEY with battleships RAMILLIES and MALAYA arrived at Malta at 0813.

 

Battleship RAMILLIES, light cruiser NEWCASTLE, anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY, destroyers GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER, HEREWARD departed Malta at noon to join Force B, the ARK ROYAL group of Force H. The ships joined heavy cruiser BERWICK at sea.

 

Battleship MALAYA departed at noon after repairing a flooded water tight compartment which had limited her speed.

 

Convoy of steamers WAIWERA, DEVIS, VOLO, RODI, CORNWALL departed Malta at 1613, escorted by anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyers VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER. Destroyer DAINTY was delayed with engine defects and joined later.

 

During the night of 26/27 November, battleship RAMILLIES and cruisers BERWICK and NEWCASTLE were attacked by Italian torpedo bombers.

______

 

New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER was relieved in the Red Sea Force by Australian light cruiser HOBART.

______

 

German armed merchant cruisers KOMET and ORION sank New Zealand troopship RANGITANE (16,712grt) in the Pacific in 36‑48S, 175‑07W. Seven crew and six passengers were lost and the rest made prisoners of war.

 

New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES and armed merchant cruiser MONAWAI were dispatched to intercept. ACHILLES departed Lyttleton on the 27th, but no contact was made with the German ship. She returned to patrol off Auckland on the 30th and arrived at Auckland on 1 December.

 

 

Wednesday,  27 November

 

Destroyer WALLACE was damaged in a collision with the Newarp Light Float. She was repaired in 48 hours in dock at Rosyth.

______

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred to convoy EN.32.

 

The cruiser left convoy EN.32 to return to Rosyth for a conference at 1000/28th.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA arrived at Rosyth at 0600/29th.

______

 

Convoy FN.345 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS and VERSATILE. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 30th.

______

 

Convoy FS.347 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VERDUN and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 29th.

______

 

Destroyer PUNJABI departed Rosyth at 0830 after boiler cleaning to return to Scapa Flow where she arrived at 1700.

______

 

Destroyers EXMOOR and PYTCHLEY departed Scapa Flow at 1445 to patrol east of Fair Isle during the night to investigate reports of ships passing through Fair Island Channel.

 

A damage German submarine was expected to pass through the Channel.

 

The patrol area was left at 1000/28th. The destroyers met destroyer SOUTHDOWN to exercise. They then returned to Scapa Flow arriving at 1630/28th.

______

 

Submarine H.33, entering Tobermory, was in a collision with corvette HEATHER. H.33 was repaired at Oban in December.

______

 

British steamer GALACUM (585grt) was damaged on a mine in 51‑34N, 01‑09E.

______

 

British trawlers CHARMOUTH (195grt) and RATTRAY (182grt) were damaged by German bombing off Milford Haven.

______

 

Minesweeping trawler ELK (181grt, Chief Skipper J. S. Bush RNR) was sunk on a mine 114 cables 185° from Penlee Point at Plymouth. There were no casualties on the trawler.

______

 

U.104 sank British steamer DIPLOMAT (8240grt), a straggler from convoy HX.88, in 55‑42N, 11‑37W.

 

Fourteen crew from the British steamer were lost.

 

U.104 damaged British tanker CHARLES F. MEYER (10, 516grt) from convoy HX.87 in 56‑00N, 13‑52W.

______

 

U.95 sank British steamer IRENE MARIA (1860grt) northwest of Ireland.

______

 

U.103 sank British steamer GLENMOOR (4393grt) in 54‑35N, 14‑31W.

 

Thirty one crew was lost on the steamer. Two survivors were rescued.

______

 

German trawler PETER (405grt) was lost in stranding on the Swedish coast.

______

 

Battleship RAMILLIES, heavy cruiser BERWICK, light cruiser NEWCASTLE joined Force H.at 1130.

 

Light cruiser DESPATCH and destroyers DUNCAN and WISHART turned over the Gibraltar to Malta convoy to anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY and destroyers GALLANT, GREYHOUND, HEREWARD, DEFENDER, GRIFFIN which escorted the ships to their destination.

 

Italian battleships VENETO and CESARE with destroyers GRANATIERE, FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE, ALPINO of the 13th Destroyer Division and FRECCIA, SAETTA, DARDO of the 7th Destroyer Division departed Naples.

 

Heavy cruisers POLA, FIUME, GORIZIA and destroyers ALFIERI, CARDUCCI, GIOBERTI, ORIANI of the 9th Destroyer Division departed Naples.

 

Heavy cruisers TRENTO, TRIESTE, BOLZANO with destroyers LANCIERI, ASCARI, CARABINIERI of the 12th Destroyer Division departed Messina.

 

Also at sea was the 10th Torpedo Boat Division of ALCIONE, VEGA, SAGITARRIO, SIRIO and two MAS divisions were in the Sicilian Strait.

 

The Italian forces engaged British cruisers BERWICK, NEWCASTLE, MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON west of Malta off Cape Spartivento.

 

In the action, Italian heavy cruiser FIUME suffered an engine breakdown during the battle.

 

Italian destroyer LANCIERI was badly damaged by British gunfire and was left dead in the water. She was towed from the scene by one of the heavy cruisers of the 3rd Division.

 

Heavy cruiser BERWICK was damaged by two eight inch shell hits, one of which put her after turret out of action.

 

T/Surgeon Lt W. W. Wildman RNVR, six ratings were killed on the cruiser. Nine ratings were wounded.

 

On 26 November, a Fulmar of 808 Squadron crashed astern of aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL. Lt (E) J. P. Coates was killed.

 

On 27 November, a Fulmar, piloted by A/Sub Lt (A) R. M. S. Martin RNVR, from 808 Squadron from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL was shot down. Martin and Leading Airman A. L. M. Noble were lost.

______

 

Gunboat LADYBIRD bombarded Mersa Matruh.

______

 

Italian submarine TEMBIEN unsuccessfully attacked heavy cruiser YORK and light cruiser GLOUCESTER in 36‑00N, 14‑47E.

______

 

Convoy BN.10 departed Bombay, escorted by armed merchant cruiser HECTOR. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on 1 December when relieved by light cruiser HOBART. Anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE, destroyer KIMBERLEY, sloops AUCKLAND and INDUS joined on 3 December. The anti-aircraft cruiser and destroyer KIMBERLEY were detached on 5 December. Sloop INDUS was detached on 6 December and light cruiser HOBART and sloop AUCKLAND on 7 December. On 7 December, sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY joined the convoy and arrived with it at Suez on 10 December.

______

 

New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES and two liners had departed Wellington on the 7th and arrived at Sydney on the 12th in preparation for convoy US 7.

 

Australian troop convoy US 7 departed Fremantle with Polish liner BATORY (14287grt) and British liners ORION (23371grt), STRATHMORE (23428grt), STRATHEDEN (23722grt), escorted by light cruiser PERTH. Heavy cruiser CANBERRA joined the convoy on the 28th and escorted it until 3 December when she returned to Fremantle.

 

Light cruiser CAPETOWN escorted the convoy from 3 to 5 December. The convoy arrived at Colombo on 7 December.

 

On 10 December, light cruiser CALEDON joined the escort and remained until 12 December.

 

On 12 December, anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE and destroyers KINGSTON and KANDAHAR joined the convoy escort.

 

Light cruiser PERTH arrived at Aden on 12 December and left the convoy escort. On her arrival in the Mediterranean, PERTH relieved light cruiser SYDNEY in the Mediterranean Fleet. The convoy arrived at Suez on 15 December.

 

 

Thursday,  28 November

 

Battleship NELSON and destroyers SOMALI, MASHONA, MAORI, DOUGLAS departed Scapa Flow at 2310 for Rosyth where they arrived at 1415/29th.

______

 

Heavy cruiser NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow.

______

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA departed Rosyth in the afternoon to rendezvous with convoy EN.33.

______

 

Convoy OB.251 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT and corvette GENTIAN. The escort was detached on 1 December.

______

 

Destroyer COTSWOLD with British steamer BEN MY CHREE departed Lerwick at 2300 and proceeded to Aberdeen where they arrived at 1030/29th. The destroyer returned to Scapa Flow.

______

 

Destroyer VIMY departed Scapa Flow at 1400 for the Clyde to escort Norwegian steamer OSLOFJORD (18,673grt). Destroyer VIMY arrived at 1300/29th. Both ships departed the Clyde at 1700/29th for the Tyne.

______

 

German steamer U.95 damaged Norwegian steamer RINGHORN (1298grt) in 55‑29N, 18‑01W.

______

 

U.103 sank British steamer ST ELWYN (4940grt) in 55‑30N, 19‑30W and Greek steamer MOUNT ATHOS (3578grt) in 55‑30N, 15‑25W. Twenty nine crew were lost from the British steamer and 19 from the Greek.

______

 

British steamer SKIPJACK (1167grt) was damaged at Dover by German shore gun battery.

______

 

Minesweeping trawler MANX PRINCE (221grt, T/Skipper A A Grounds RNR) was sunk on a mine at the entrance to the Humber, 3.5 miles 130˚ from Spurn Light House. There were no casualties and the crew was rescued by minesweeping trawler CORTINA (213grt).

______

 

Escort ship/destroyer WRYNECK from detached from the WARSPITE group to refuel at Malta at 0700 and rejoined later that day.

 

Steamers CLAN FRASER and CLAN FORBES arrived at Malta, escorted by destroyers DECOY and HOTSPUR at 1430.

 

Both destroyers remained at Malta for repairs.

 

Destroyer GREYHOUND joined the WARSPITE group.

 

Steamer NEW ZEALAND STAR, escorted by destroyers DEFENDER and HEREWARD and covered by light cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON, proceeded to the east.

 

At 1700, destroyer GRIFFIN was sent into Malta with engine defects.

 

Heavy cruiser YORK and light cruisers GLASGOW and GLOUCESTER swept to the northward of Hurd Bank to cover the passage of the corvettes.

 

The MALAYA group was covering the passage of convoy ME.4. Destroyers DIAMOND and WATERHEN were detached to escort convoy AS.7 of four ships to Port Said, where they arrived o 2 December.

______

 

Italian submarine DESSIE made an unsuccessful attack on Light cruiser GLASGOW in 36‑30N, 12‑59E.

______

 

Italian destroyers PIGAFETTA, DA RECCO, PESSAGNO, RIBOTY and torpedo boats BASSINI and PRESTINARI shelled Greek positions near Corfu.

______

 

New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER completed escorting convoy BS.9 on the 26th and was relieved on the Red Sea convoy escort route by Australian light cruiser HOBART.

 

Light cruiser LEANDER departed Aden on the 28th. On 29 November at 1038, she conducted Operation CANNED, the bombardment of a factory and wireless station at Banda Alulu, Italian Somaliland. Ninety eight rounds of six inch ammunition was fired.

 

Following the bombardment, she arrived at Bombay on 2 December. Light cruiser LEANDER remained there until 27 December.

______

 

Convoy SL.57 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CANTON to 15 December, sloop BRIDGEWATER to 30 November, anti-submarine trawler BENGALI to 30 November.

 

On 15 December, destroyers VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, corvettes GENTIAN and HIBISCUS joined. On 16 December, catapult ship PEGASGUS joined. The destroyers and the catapult ship were with the convoy for one day only. Corvette GENTIAN was detached on 17 December and corvette HIBISCUS on arrival. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 19 December.

______

 

Convoy SLS.57 departed Freetown escorted by anti-submarine trawler SPANIARD to 30 November.

 

On 18 December, destroyers AMAZON and AMBUSCADE, corvettes CROCUS and HEARTSEASE, anti-submarine trawler LADY LILLIAN joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Liverpool n 22 December.

______

 

Light cruiser DURBAN departed Penang.

 

 

Friday,  29 November

 

German destroyers GALSTER, BEITZEN, LODY departed Brest and destroyers JUPITER, KASHMIR, JAVELIN, JERSEY, JACKAL departed Plymouth on the 28th.

 

In operations eight miles off Start Point late on 28 October, the German destroyers sank British tug AID (134grt) and barge B. H. C. 10 (290grt) and damaged French tug ABEILLE 14 (126grt).

 

Five crew were lost and five rescued from the tug AID. Three crew were lost and five rescued from the barge B. H. C. 10.

 

Destroyer JAVELIN sighted the gun flashes of the German destroyers attacking the small tugs.

 

In the engagement twenty miles south of the Lizard, destroyer JAVELIN was hit by two torpedoes from destroyer LODY and lost her bow and stern.

 

A/Lt J. I. A. Mitchell, Midshipman L. E. R. Jack, P/T/Surgeon Lt H. F. Sloan RNVR, forty three ratings were killed in destroyer JAVELIN. Lt E. T. L. Dunsterville was wounded.

 

Attended by destroyer JACKAL, later the other three destroyers as well, destroyer JAVELIN was towed to Devonport by tug CAROLINE MOLLER (444grt) arriving from Falmouth.

 

Destroyers KASHMIR, JERSEY, JUPITER were in a brief encounter with the German destroyers which were able to escape.

 

German destroyer LODY was struck several times and all three German destroyers had splinter damage, but none suffered appreciable damage and no casualties were sustained.

 

Destroyer JAVELIN was under repair at Devonport for thirteen months completing on 28 December 1941.

______

 

Destroyer ICARUS arrived at Portsmouth on the 26th from Immingham.

 

The destroyer departed Portsmouth on the 28th and laid minefield J H.in the Havre to Cherbourg sea lane early on the 29th.

Destroyer ICARUS was escorted by destroyers VANOC, WITCH, VOLUNTEER.

______

 

Destroyer EXMOOR carried out an oiling sea trial from British tanker ALDERSDALE (8402grt).

 

The stirrup method was used while the ships were at anchor.

______

 

Convoy FS.346 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VANITY, patrol sloop WIDGEON, escort ship/destroyer GLEANER. The convoy arrived at Methil on 1 December.

______

 

British drifter YOUNG FISHERMAN (95grt) was lost when she ran around at Oban.

______

 

British steamer FERMAIN (759grt) at Dover was damaged by German shore guns.

______

 

Minesweeping trawler CALVERTON (214grt, T/Skipper J. Fountain RNR) was sunk by a mine at the entrance to the Humber, 3.7 miles 117° from Spurn Light House.

 

Two ratings were lost on the trawler.

______

 

British drifter YOUNG FISHERMAN (95grt) was lost when she ran aground at Oban.

______

 

Battlecruiser RENOWN, heavy cruiser BERWICK, light cruiser SHEFFIELD, destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORESTER, FIREDRAKE arrived at Gibraltar at 1430.

 

Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, battleship RAMILLIES, light cruisers NEWCASTLE and DESPATCH and destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, WISHART, KELVIN, JAGUAR arrived at Gibraltar at 1530.

 

Heavy cruiser BERWICK was transferred to the North Atlantic Command.

______

 

Greek submarine PAPANICOLIS attacked Italian steamer CHISONE (6168grt) off Durazzo without success.

______

 

Italian submarine DELFINO attacked two Greek destroyers twelve miles east of Kalojeri and near missed Greek destroyer SPETSAI.

______

 

The MALAYA/EAGLE force and convoy ME.4 arrived at Alexandria. Steamers VOLO, RODI, CORNWALL, escorted by two destroyers proceeded to Port Said.

______

 

Convoy HX.92 departed Halifax at 1400 escorted by Canadian destroyer RESTIGOUCHE and corvette WINDFLOWER.

 

The local escort parted company at 1652 on the 30th. Ocean escort was armed merchant cruiser MONTCLARE, which was detached on 8 December.

 

Due to a lack of suitable escorts, BHX.92 was cancelled. Ships en route to Bermuda to join were diverted to Halifax to join an HX.serial direct.

 

Destroyer WOLVERINE joined on 8 December, destroyer VETERAN on 10 December, destroyer CHELSEA and corvette CAMILLIA on 11 December. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 12 December.

______

 

Aircraft carrier HERMES, heavy cruisers DEVONSHIRE and CUMBERLAND, light cruiser EDINBURGH arrived at Freetown.

______

 

German steamers RHEIN (6031grt) and IDARWALD (5181grt) departed Tampico and were immediately screened by US destroyers SIMPSON (DD.221) and BROOME (DD.210). The German ships return to Tampico until 3 December when they once again attempt to escape the Caribbean.

 

In addition, US light cruiser MEMPHIS (CL.13) and a destroyer escort departed Key West to patrol the passages into the Atlantic.

 

 

Saturday,  30 November

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA transferred from convoy EN.33 to convoy WN.46 in Moray Firth. She continued with the convoy until dark and arrived at Scapa Flow at 2359 on the 30th.

______

 

Convoy OB.252 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VANSITTART and VETERAN. The convoy was joined on 1 December by destroyers SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI, corvettes CLARKIA and HELIOTROPE and anti-submarine trawlers ST ELSTAN and WELLARD. Destroyer WALKER joined on 2 December. Destroyer VANSITTART was detached on 2 December.

 

On 4 December, destroyers HARVESTER and HAVELOCK and sloop WELLINGTON joined the convoy. Later on 4 December, the escorts, less destroyer WALKER, were detached from the convoy. Destroyer WALKER left the convoy on 6 December.

______

 

Convoy FN.347 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Methil on 2 December.

______

 

Convoy FS.348 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA, sloop WESTON, minesweeper GOSSAMER. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 December.

______

 

Convoy FS.349 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 December.

 

Convoy FS.350 was cancelled.

______

 

Motor torpedo boats MTB.32 (SO), MTB.31, MTB.30 departed Harwich to investigate German shipping off Flushing. En route, MTB.32 broke down and returned to Harwich.  MTB.31 and MTB.30 encountered an anchored German convoy off the Schelde. MTB.30 was damaged by German gunfire and forced to withdraw  while MTB.31 damaged German steamer SANTOS (5943grt) by dropping a depth charge alongside.

______

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 0600 to join convoy WN.45 from the Pentland Firth.

______

 

British naval trawler CHESTNUT (505grt, Lt J. E. Finch, NZRNVR) was sunk on a mine off North Foreland.

 

There were no casualties on the trawler.

______

 

Dutch steamer GORECHT (187grt) was damaged by German bombing at Southampton.

______

 

German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER departed the Elbe to raid in the North Atlantic.

______

 

U.101 sank British steamer ARACATACA (5378grt) in 57‑08N, 20‑50W.

 

Eight crew were lost on the British steamer. The survivors were rescued by British steamer POTARO (5410) and French steamer DJURDJURA (4070grt).

______

 

Convoy SC.14 at 1340 with Canadian armed yacht HUSKY as local escort. HUSKY left the convoy at 1900.

 

Canadian destroyers ST CROIX and NIAGARA departed St Johns also on the 30th.

 

Destroyer ST CROIX ran into a hurricane and sustained considerable damage. She arrived back at St Johns on 18 December for repairs.

 

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 17 December.

______

 

The WARSPITE/ILLUSTRIOUS group arrived at Alexandria at 1800.

 

Light cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON arrived at Alexandria and disembarked their personnel and stores.

 

Light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON departed Alexandria on 2 December and proceeded into the Red Sea to escort convoy WS.4B before further Mediterranean Fleet duties.

 

Heavy cruiser YORK and light cruisers GLOUCESTER and GLASGOW arrived at Suda Bay with the corvettes.

 

Drifters FELLOWSHIP and LANNER also arrived at Suda Bay.

 

Monitor TERROR departed Suda Bay for Alexandria.

 

Troopship ULSTER PRINCE, escorted by destroyers DIAMOND, WATERHEN, VENDETTA arrived at Port Said. Destroyers WATERHEN and VENDETTA then sailed with depot ship WOOLWICH for Alexandria.

______

 

Destroyer ENCOUNTER departed Gibraltar to meet ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE and escort her to Gibraltar.

______

 

Submarine TRIUMPH departed Gibraltar to carry out an anti-submarine patrol south of Alboran Island.

______

 

Light cruiser EDINBURGH departed Freetown.

______

 

Convoy BN.9B departed Aden, escorted by light cruiser CALEDON, destroyer KINGSTON, sloop FLAMINGO. The escorts were detached on 2 December and the convoy arrived at Suez on 4 December.

______

 

Convoy BS.9A departed Suez. The convoy was escorted by light cruiser CALEDON, destroyer KINGSTON, sloops FLAMINGO and YARRA. The convoy was dispersed on 5 December.

______

 

German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN captured British steamer PORT WELLINGTON (8301grt) in the Indian Ocean in 30‑50S, 73‑20E and scuttled her the next morning in 31‑10S, 70‑37E.

 

Two crew were lost on the steamer. The rest of the crew were made prisoners of war.

 

 

November, miscellaneous

 

The Vichy French Fleet on the 5 November 1940.

 

Toulon

 

High Seas Fleet (Amiral Laborde)

 

Battleship STRASBOURG (Flagship Laborde)

 

1st Cruiser Squadron (Vice Amiral Lacroix)

 

1st Cruiser Division (Vice Amiral Lacroix) - heavy cruisers ALGERIE, DUPLEIX, FOCH

 

3rd Cruiser Division (Vice Amiral Marquis) - light cruisers MARSEILLAISE and LA GALISSONNIERE

 

3rd Light Squadron (C. A. Jardel) VOLTA, CHEVALIER PAUL, VAUQUELIN, TARTU of the 5th Large Destroyer Division. VAUTOUR and ALBATROS of 7th Large Destroyer Division, INDOMPTABLE and CASSARD of the 8th Large Division, destroyers BORDELAIS, MARS, PALME of the 1st Destroyer Division.

 

Naval Forces of 3rd Region (Amiral Marquis, Commandant of Toulon N. D.)

 

Forces of Metropolitan Division of Police (on 19 March 1941, these ships came under the command C. A. Urvoy de Portzampac when this group became an individual command)

 

1st Destroyer Squadron. 10th Destroyer Division - EPEE (renamed ADROIT on 1 April 1941), LE HARDI, MAMELUCK and 13th Destroyer Division - BALISTE, LA BAYONNAISE, LA POURSIVANTE.

 

3rd Sloop Squadron - COMMANDANT BORY, ELAN, LA BATAILLEUSE, LA CURIEUSE, CHAMOIS, L'IMPETUEUSE.

 

1st Patrol Flotilla

Submarines disarmed in September - ARCHIMEDE, AURORE, LA VESTALE, LA SULTANE, ARETHUSE, ARGONAUTE, LA PSYCHE, OREADE.

 

Destroyer under repair at Toulon;LE TERRIBLE

 

4th Maritime Region (V. A. E. Moreau)

 

Battleship DUNKERQUE at Mers el Kebir(On 20 February 1942, the battleship arrived at Toulon and was placed in caretaker status)

 

Vice Amiral Tunisia (V. A. Derrien)

 

7th Destroyer Division TRAMONTANE, TORNADE, TYPHON

 

Contre Amiral Algiers (C. A. Fenard)

 

4th Patrol Squadron - ENGAGEANTE, TAPAGEUSE, ESTAFETTE

ContreAmiral Oran (C. A. Jarry)

 

5th Patrol Squadron - L'AJACCIENNE, LA TOULONNAISE, LE SETOISE.

 

Contre Amiral Levant (C. A. De Capentier)

 

3rd Large Destroyer Divsion - Destroyers GUEPARD and VALMY

 

Sloops - LA GRANDIERE and ANNAMITE

 

10th Submarine Division - PHOQUE, DAUPHIN, ESPADON

 

Ships disarmed at Toulon

 

Group of large warships - Battleship PROVENCE (arriving 8 November), heavy cruiser COLBERT, light cruiser JEAN DE VIENNE, seaplane tender COMMANDANT TESTE

 

Group of large destroyers

1st subgroup - MOGADOR, TIGRE, PANTHERE, LYNX

2nd subgroup - KERSAINT and GERFAUT

3rd subgroup - AIGLE, VAUBAN, LION, VERDUN

Destroyer MOGADOR arrived 5 November from mers el Kebir and was taken to La Seyne for repairs which were never completed.

Destroyers of the 1st and 3rd subgroup were disarmed in September and destroyers of the 2nd subgroup were disarmed in October.

Group of destroyers

1st subgroup - LANSQUENET, CASQUE, FLEURET (renamed FOUDROYANT on 1 April 1941)

2nd subgroup - LE CORSAIRE (renamed SIROCCO on 1 April 1941), LE FLIBUSTIER (renamed BISON on 1 April 1941), TROMBE

Group of Submarines

1st subgroup - LE HEROS, LE GLORIEUX, LE TONNANT, LE CONQUERANT

2nd subgroup - LE CENTAURE, ARGO, ACHERON, REDOUBTABLE

3rd subgroup - PASCAL, HENRI POINCARE, FRESNEL, ACTEON

4th subgroup - IRIS, VENUS, PALLAS, CERES

5th subgroup - GALATEE, SIRENE, NAIADE, ATALANTE, PERLE, LE DIAMANTE

 

Group of sloops and auxiliaries - GLADIATEUR, YSER, DEBAIGNEUSE, RANCE, DURANCE, COETLOGON, HAMELIN

 

Ships disarmed at Bizerte

 

Group of surface ships - LA POMONE, BOMBARDE, IPHIGENIE, CASTOR, YPRES, LASSIGNY

 

Group of submarines - MARSOUIN, REQUIN, CIRCE, CALYPSO

 

Ships disarmed at Oran

 

Group of surface ships - LA DROME, FORFAIT

 

Group of submarines - DIANE, ARIANE, EURYDICE, DANAE

 

Casablanca

 

Battleship JEAN BART

 

Light cruisers PRIMAUGEUT and GLOIRE

 

Large destroyers MILAN of the 5th Large Destroyer Division and ALBATROS of the 7th Large Destroyer Division

 

Destroyers FRONDEUR, BRESTOIS, L'ALCYON, FOUGUEUX, BOULONNAIS, SIMOUN, TEMPETE.

 

Submarines SIDI FERRUCH, AMPHITRITE, MEDUSE, AMAZONE, SIBYLLE, ORPHEE, ANTIOPE, SFAX.

 

Dakar

 

Battleship RICHELIEU

 

Light cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM

 

Large destroyers MALIN of the 8th Large Destroyer Division and AUDACIEUX (wrecked by gunfire - did not departed Dakar until 7 August 1941 to return to the Mediterranean) and FANTASQUE of the 10th Large Destroyer Division.

 

Diego Suarez

 

Submarines BEVEZIERS and LE MONGE

Libreville

 

Submarine PONCELET

 

Sloop BOUGAINVILLE

 

Saigon

 

Light cruiser LAMOTTE PICQUETT

 

Guadalope

 

Training cruiser JEANNE D' ARC

 

Martinique

 

Aircraft carrier BEARN

 

Light cruiser EMILE BERTIN

 

______

 

At the end of November, the following destroyers were under repair - ACHERON at Portsmouth repairing, AMAZON at Liverpool repairing, AMBUSCADE at Greenock repairing, ANTELOPE at Greenock repairing, ARROW at Clyde refitting, ASHANTI at Sunderland repairing, ATHERSTONE at Chatham repairing, BOREAS at London repairing, BRIGHTON at Plymouth repairing, BROADWATER at Cardiff repairing, BURWELL at Plymouth repairing, CAMERON at Portsmouth repairing, CAMPBELTOWN at Liverpool repairing, CHELSEA at Liverpool repairing, ECHO at Clyde repairing, EXPRESS at Humber repairing, FAME at Rosyth aground, FEARLESS at Troon repairing, FORESIGHT at Liverpool refitting, GEORGETOWN at Plymouth repairing, HAMBLEDON at Chatham repairing, HAMILTON at St Johns repairing, HOLDERNESS at Sheerness repairing, HOTSPUR at Malta repairing, IMPERIAL at Malta repairing, INGLEFIELD at London repairing, INTREPID at Hartlepool repairing, IMPULSIVE at Humber repairing, JAVELIN at Plymouth repairing, KANDAHAR at Bombay repairing, KELLY at Tyne repairing, MACKAY at Plymouth reboilering, MENDIP at Tyne repairing, MONTROSE at Chatham repairing, ROXBOROUGH at St Johns repairing, SHIKARI at Cardiff repairing, SKATE at Belfast repairing, TARTAR at Plymouth refitting, VEGA at Hull repairing, VIVACIOUS at Humber repairing, WALPOLE at London repairing, WHITSHED at Chatham repairing, WINCHELSEA at Liverpool refitting, WINCHESTER at London repairing, WINDSOR at Humber repairing, WIVERN at Liverpool repairing, WOLVERINE at Falmouth refitting, ZULU at Rosyth repairing, Australian STUART at Malta repairing, Canadian SKEENA at Clyde repairing, French BRANLEBAS at Portsmouth repairing, LA CORDELIERE at Portsmouth repairing, LA FLORE at Portsmouth repairing, L'INCOMPRISE at Portsmouth repairing, LEOPARD at Plymouth repairing, Polish BLYSKAWICA at Clyde repairing, BURZA at Clyde repairing.

 
 

on to Naval Events, DECEMBER 1940
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revised 7/4/12
further editing is required