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

Sunday,  15 December

Battleship RODNEY and destroyers MATABELE, ESCAPADE, ELECTRA, BULLDOG arrived at Scapa Flow at 1300.

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Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and her escorts arrived at Rosyth at 1330.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA departed Methil at 1830 escorting convoy EN.41, after arriving off May Island at 1300 escorting battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH.

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Destroyers SOUTHDOWN and BRILLIANT arrived at Scapa Flow at 2100 after escorting battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH.

On the passage from Rosyth, destroyer BRILLIANT picked up a fighter pilot crashed off May Island.

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Destroyer ECLIPSE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0245 after duty with Force H.

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Destroyer LEAMINGTON arrived at Scapa Flow at 1400 after escorting Convoy SL.56 with destroyer BURNHAM.

Destroyer LEAMINGTON began working up at Scapa Flow.

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Minesweeper BRITOMART was in a collision with Minesweeper SEAGULL.

Minesweeper BRITOMART was repaired at Aberdeen completing on 11 January.

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In a flying accident north of Kirriemuir, a Swordfish of 767 Squadron crashed killing Sub Lt (A) B. C. Pocock RNVR, Lt P. K. L. Odhams and Leading Airman H. V. Jones.

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British steamer N. C. MONBERG (2301grt), in convoy FS.360, was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.58 east of Yarmouth in 52‑40N, 02‑10E.

Eight crew and the naval gunner were lost on the British steamer.

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Convoy SC.16 departed Halifax at 1100 with ocean escort of battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN.

On the 29th, destroyers ACTIVE, ANTELOPE, GEORGETOWN joined the convoy. They were detached on the 30th. Corvettes HEATHER and PICOTEE and anti-submarine trawler LADY MADELEINE joined on the 29th and escorted the convoy into Liverpool arriving on the 31st.

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Monitor TERROR bombarded Bardia from 1220 to 1717.

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British Port Said section of convoy MW.5B of steamers VOLO, RODI, PONTFIELD, ULSTER PRINCE departed Port Said in Operation HIDE.

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Light cruiser ORION departed Alexandria for Suda Bay and Piraeus.

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Free French submarine NARVAL, which had departed Malta on her third patrol on the 2nd, was lost in a mining off Kerkenah.

The submarine was to have arrived back at Malta on the 16th.

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Light cruiser SHEFFIELD arrived at Gibraltar from Azores patrol.

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Convoy SL.59 departed Freetown escorted by anti-submarine trawlers KELt and SPANIARD to 17 December. The convoy was joined on the 20th by armed merchant cruiser CATHAY to 31 December.

On 1 January, destroyers SCIMITAR and SKATE, ocean boarding vessel CRISPIN, corvettes ARABIS, CLARKIA, MALLOW, anti-submarine trawlers MAN O WAR, NORTHERN DAWN, NORTHERN PRIDE, ST ELSTAN joined. The ocean boarding vessel and corvette CLARKIA were detached on 3 January. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 5 January.

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Convoy SLS.59 departed Freetown escorted by anti-submarine trawler BENGALI to 17 December.

On 2 January, corvettes HEARTSEASE and HOLLYHOCK joined the convoy; HOLLYHOCK was detached on 5 January. Corvettes BLUEBELL and CANDYTUFT joined on 3 January and were detached on 4 January. Destroyers AMAZON and AMBUSCADE and anti-submarine trawler LADY LILLIAN joined on 5 January. The convoy arrived on 7 January.

Monday,  16 December

Battleship RODNEY and destroyers ESCAPADE, ELECTRA, ECLIPSE departed Scapa Flow at midnight and arrived at Rosyth at 1145/17th.

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Light cruiser BIRMINGHAM completed a refit at Liverpool begun in September.

The light cruiser rejoined the 18th Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow on the 27th.

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Convoy OB.260 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers CALDWELL and VANSITTART, sloop SCARBOROUGH, corvettes BLUEBELL and HONEYSUCKLE. Destroyer CALDWELL was detached on the 18th and the remainder of the escort of 19 December.

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Convoy FN.360 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VORTIGERN and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 18th.

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Destroyer BLENCATHRA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1300 from Liverpool to work up.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 1100 to meet convoy WN.53 in Pentland Firth.

The ship covered convoy WN.53 to Methil where she met convoy EN.42.

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Submarine TRIBUNE attacked German tanker KARIBISCHES MEER (6864grt) in 46-46N, 2-38E without success.

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British steamer BIC ISLAND (3921grt) was damaged by German bombing in 54‑12N, 17‑45W.

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U.37 sank Spanish steamer SAN CARLOS (223grt) off Cape Juby, thirty miles south of Jandia Point.

One crewman was lost from the Spanish steamer.

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German motor trawler HELTRAUD (103grt) was sunk by enemy action.

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Canadian troop convoy TC 8 departed Halifax at 0630 escorted by Canadian destroyers RESTIGOUCHE and ASSINIBOINE with troopships PASTEUR (30, 447grt), CAPETOWN CASTLE (27, 000grt), PENNLAND (16,082grt) carrying 2995, 1415, 1865 troops, respectively. Liner COLOMBIA (10,782grt) was also in the convoy.

Ocean escort was Battleship REVENGE.

In Home Waters, the convoy was divided into two sections.

TC 8 A (fast) was escorted by destroyers OTTAWA (SO), ST LAURENT, LE TRIOMPHANT, PIORUN, WORCESTER, WATCHMAN with liners PASTEUR and CAPETOWN CASTLE.

TC 8B (slow) was escorted by destroyers BATH (SO), ST MARYS, MONTGOMERY, WITHERINGTON, WITCH with liners PENNLAND and COLOMBIA.

The liners, less CAPETOWN CASTLE which was detached to Glasgow, arrived safely at Greenock on the 25th.

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In Operation HIDE, battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, heavy cruiser YORK, light cruiser GLOUCESTER, destroyers JERVIS, JANUS, JUNO, MOHAWK, GREYHOUND, DAINTY, HYPERION, ILEX, HERO, HASTY, HEREWARD departed Alexandria at 0100 to cover the MC 2 movements.

At 0745, heavy cruiser YORK, light cruiser GLOUCESTER, destroyers DAINTY and GREYHOUND were detached to Suda Bay to refuel.

The Alexandria section of convoy MW.5B with steamers DEVIS and HOEGH HOOD and submarine PARTHIAN, escorted by destroyer HAVOCK, departed Alexandria in the morning. When it was found HOEGH HOOD could not keep up, she was detached on the 17th with destroyer HAVOCK to proceed independently.

Convoy MW.5 A of steamers WAIWERA and LANARKSHIRE, escorted by battleship MALAYA and destroyers DEFENDER and DIAMOND departed later in the day.

Light cruiser ORION arrived at Piraeus and transferred correspondence to light cruisers AJAX and SYDNEY. Cruisers AJAX and SYDNEY then departed for Suda Bay.

Allied convoys AS.9 and AN.10 made passage during these movements.

Aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS launched air attacks on Rhodes and Stampalia between 0345 and 0430/17th, but the attacks were hindered by bad weather.

Heavy cruiser YORK, light cruiser GLOUCESTER, destroyers DAINTY and GALLANT arrived at Suda Bay at 0500, refuelled, sailed at 0700. The cruisers carried out a sweep west of Kithera Channel and the destroyers carried out an anti-submarine patrol while the Fleet refuelled at Suda Bay.

Light cruiser ORION arrived at Suda Bay at 0600 and sailed again at 1130 joining light cruisers AJAX and SYDNEY west of Crete.

At 0830, the Main Fleet entered Suda Bay at 0830. Aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, battleship VALIANT, destroyers JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS, MOHAWK proceeded independently at 1130. Battleship WARSPITE and the ships of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla departed at 1415. The two groups rendezvoused on the 18th.

Destroyer GRIFFIN departed Malta at 1600 to join the Main Force.

On the 18th at 1600, light cruisers ORION, AJAX, SYDNEY and destroyers JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK were detached to sweep in the Adriatic.

Aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, heavy cruiser YORK, light cruiser GLOUCESTER, destroyers DAINTY, GREYHOUND, GALLANT, GRIFFIN were detached at 1800 for operations in MC 3.

In Operation MC 3, battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT fired one hundred fifteen inch shells at Italian positions at Valona from 0113 to 0120. Destroyers HEREWARD and HASTY were sweeping ahead of the battleships with minesweeping equipment.

At noon, heavy cruiser YORK, light cruisers GLOUCESTER, ORION, AJAX, SYDNEY, destroyers DAINTY, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, HASTY were detached to cover the convoys to Malta.

As a diversion for the movement of battleship MALAYA to the western basin, Greek destroyers VASILEVS GEORGIOS I, VASILLISA OLGA, HYDRA, PSARA, SPETSAI, KONDOURIOTIS made a sweep in the Adriatic towards Valona.

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Submarine TRUANT sank Italian tanker BONZO (8177grt) off Punta Stilo in 38-28N, 16-44E.

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Italian coastal steamer ARRIGONI (103grt) was lost in a marine accident at Francavilla.

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Battleship RESOLUTION, repair ship VINDICTIVE, destroyers FORTUNE and FOXHOUND arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.

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Departing Freetown on the 10th, Light cruiser NEWCASTLE arrived on the South America Station on the 16th.

Tuesday,  17 December

Running trials after refit, destroyer ACHERON (Lt J. R. Wilson) of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla was lost in mining at 0640 off the Needles off the Isle of Wight in 50‑31N, 1‑31W.

Wilson, Lt J. E. H. Coleright, Lt W. J. Compton, Sub Lt G. F. Cleveland, P/T/Surgeon Lt C. L. Pretre RNVR, T/A/Boatswain R. Heany, one hundred and forty seven ratings, twenty two dockyard workers were lost in the destroyer.

There were only sixteen survivors, T/Sub Lt K. C. Villiers RNVR, Gunner (T) F. H. Reeve, thirteen ratings wounded, from the crew and three survivors of the dockyard workers.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA arrived at Scapa Flow at 0930 after covering convoy EN.41.

The cruiser departed Scapa Flow at 1215 to meet convoy WN.54 in Pentland Firth and cover the convoy until dark.

Anti-aircraft cruiser CURACOA arrived at Scapa Flow at 2130.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK arrived at Methil at 1400 with convoy WN.53.

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Methil at 2200 with convoy EN.42.

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Convoy FN.361 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 19th.

Convoy FN.362 did not sail.

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Convoy FS.362 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS and VERSATILE. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER joined on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

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Convoy FS.363 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

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Destroyers DOUGLAS and BEAGLE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1745 after escorting armed merchant cruiser CHITRAL.

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Destroyer TARTAR arrived at Scapa Flow at 1215 after refitting at Plymouth.

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Destroyer GEORGETOWN departed Scapa Flow at 1700 for Greenock. The destroyer's working up was completed.

The destroyer was delayed by weather, but was able to arrive at 0031 on the 19th.

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Destroyers ACTIVE and ANTELOPE with convoy HX.93 attacked a submarine contact in 55-58N, 13-34W.

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Between No.1 and No.2 Sea Reach Buoy off Southend, British steamers INVER (1543grt), MALRIX (703grt), BENEFICENT (2944grt), AQUEITY (370grt), BELVEDERE (869grt) were lost on mines.

Steamer INVER was lost outside the boom at Southend. Fifteen crew, the naval gunner, the pilot were lost.

Steamer MALRIX was lost 1.75 miles 081° from Nore Light Vessel. Eight crew were lost on the steamer.

Steamer BENEFICENT was lost about two cables off Southend Gate. Six crew were lost on the steamer.

Six crew were lost on the steamer AQUEITY.

Steamer BELVEDERE was lost fifty yards west, northwest from M.Boom Vessel off Southend. Four crew were lost on the steamer.

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British fishing vessel CARRY ON (93grt) was sunk on a mine east of Nore Sand Light Vessel.

Seven crew were missing on the vessel.

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British boom defense vessel THOMAS CONNOLLY (290grt, T/Boom Skipper A. Martell RNR) was sunk on a mine in Medway Channel off Sheerness.

T/Lt R. L. Langridge RNVR, was lost in the vessel. T/Boom Skipper Martell was wounded.

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T/Lt (A) C. M. Beavis RNVR, was killed when his Walrus of 701 Squadron forced landed near Dunkeld and struck a wall.

The remainder of the crew were badly injured.

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Greek steamer MENTOR (3050grt) was damaged by German bombing in 52‑48N, 19‑22W.

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Monitor TERROR and gunboat LADYBIRD, escorted by Australian destroyers VOYAGER and VENDETTA bombarded Bardia.

Italian steamers GALATA (618grt), GIUSEPPINA D. (431grt), VINCENZINO (190grt) were sunk in the bombardment.

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Heavy cruiser BERWICK departed Gibraltar for the Azores patrol.

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French large destroyer ALBATROS departed Toulon escorting submarines AURORA, LA PSYCHE, OREADE. The ships called at Oran on 19 to 21 December and passed Gibraltar on the 22nd. All arrived at Casablanca on the 23rd.

Wednesday,  18 December

Aircraft carrier FORMIDABLE and heavy cruiser NORFOLK departed Scapa Flow at 2000 to operate as Force K in the South Atlantic to search for the German heavy cruiser.

The aircraft carrier and heavy cruiser were escorted from Scapa Flow by destroyer BEDOUIN, MATABELE, MASHONA, ESKIMO.

The destroyer screen parted company in 55N, 25W.

The British ships travelled with convoy WS.5A for the first part of the voyage, but had been detached prior to the attack on the convoy on the 24th.

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Destroyers ESCAPADE, ELECTRA, ECLIPSE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0130 after taking battleship RODNEY to Rosyth.

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Battleship NELSON, battlecruiser REPULSE, destroyers COSSACK, SIKH, TARTAR, BRILLIANT, BULLDOG, BEAGLE, DOUGLAS, ESCAPADE, ELECTRA, ECLIPSE departed Scapa Flow to carry out tactical exercises west of the Orkneys.

The British force arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0930/20th.

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Destroyer TYNEDALE departed Scapa Flow at 1500 to rendezvous with British steamer BEN MY CHREE off Aberdeen at 0200/19th and take her to Kirkwall.

Following disembarkation, the steamer was taken to Aberdeen.

Destroyer TYNEDALE arrived at Scapa Flow on the 20th after this duty.

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Destroyer VIMY departed Scapa Flow at 2020 to rendezvous with armed merchant cruiser SALOPIAN in 61N, 15-30W at 1200/20th.

Destroyer VIMY was to have met Armed merchant cruiser SALOPIAN, but she could not locate her.

When cruiser SALOPIAN reported she had already passed the Butt of Lewis at 1900, destroyer VIMY was ordered back to Scapa Flow.

Destroyer VIMY arrived at Scapa Flow at 0800/22nd.

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The slow units of Convoy WS5A departed the Clyde and Liverpool on the 18th.

The Clyde section was escorted by anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO and destroyers BATH, ST MARYS, ST ALBANS, WORCESTER, WATCHMAN.

The Liverpool section was escorted by destroyers WITHERINGTON and WITCH, sloop WELLINGTON, corvettes CLEMATIS, JONQUIL, CYCLAMEN, GERANIUM. The corvettes travelled with the convoy for duty in the South Atlantic.

Ships from Belfast were escorted by destroyer VENOMOUS.

The slow units were met at daylight on the 19th by anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE and destroyers VESPER, HARVESTER, HIGHLANDER. The destroyers were detached on the 21st.

These steamers were British steamers TAMAROA (Commodore, 12, 405grt), auxiliary minelayer HMS ATREUS (Vice Commodore), SETTLER (6000grt), BHUTAN (6104grt), DELANE (6054grt), ORBITA (15,495grt), CITY OF LONDON (8956grt), NEURALIA (9182grt), ANSELM (5954grt), STENTOR (6148grt), MENELAUS (10,307grt), CITY OF DERBY (6616grt), ARABISTAN (5874grt), EMPIRE TROOPER (13,994grt) and CITY OF CANTERBURY (8331grt), Belgian steamer ELISABETHVILLE (8351grt), Dutch steamer COSTA RICA (8672grt). British steamer ERNEBANK (5388grt) sailed but was forced to return to Liverpool.

Liner RANGITIKI (16,984grt) proceeded from Avonmouth and travelled with this section.

Belgian steamer LEOPOLDVILLE (11,509grt) departed with this convoy and proceeded to Halifax. She arrived at 1445/28th escorted into harbour by battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN.

The fast units were British steamers ESSEX (11063grt), NORTHERN PRINCE (10917grt), CLAN MACDONALD (9653grt), CLAN CUMMING (7264grt), EMPIRE SONG (9228grt) which departed the Clyde and Liverpool on the 19th. The convoy was met at daylight on the 20th by escorts anti-aircraft cruiser NAIAD, aircraft carrier ARGUS, destroyers OTTAWA, ST LAURENT, PIORUN from the Clyde, destroyers HIGHLANDER (SO), HARVESTER, LE TRIOMPHANT from Londonderry, Aircraft carrier FURIOUS and destroyers BEVERLEY, KELVIN, KIPLING from Liverpool. Aircraft carrier FURIOUS was carrying aircraft to Takoradi for Operation MONSOON. The destroyers were detached on the 22nd.

The fast section and the slow section rendezvoused on the 23rd.

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Submarine TUNA attacked Italian submarine BRIN, which was returning from Ceuta with submarine BIANCHI, in 45-28N, 2-27W. No damage was done to the Italian submarine.

Later in the day, submarine TUNA sank French tug CHASSIRON (172grt) off the Gironde.

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British tanker OSAGE (1010grt) was sunk by German bombing four miles northeast of Arklow Light Vessel, County Wicklow.

The crew of the tanker were rescued.

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British steamer TWEED (2697grt) was damaged by German bombing in 53‑40N, 04‑40W.

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Minesweeping trawler REFUNDO (258grt, T/Skipper A. S. Dorward RNR) was sunk on a mine off Harwich in 51-56-06N, 1-21-02E.

Two ratings were killed in the trawler.

The trawler was taken in tow, but sank ten yards west of Beach End Buoy.

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German steamer BIRKENFELS (6322grt) was lost on a mine, laid by British MTBs off the Schelde.

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Italian submarine VENIERO sank Greek steamer ANASTASSIA (2883grt) from dispersed convoy SC.15 in 54‑24N, 19‑04W.

Sixteen crew were lost, two crew were missing, ten crew were made prisoners of war.

British steamer FLOWERGATE (5156grt) sighted the wreck of steamer ANASTASSIA awash on the 20th.

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U.96 damaged Dutch tanker PENDRECHT (10,746grt) from convoy OB.259 in 59‑05N, 17‑47W.

The tanker was escorted to port by destroyer LEGION.

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U.100 sank British steamer NAPIER STAR (10,116grt) in 58‑58N, 23‑13W.

Fifty nine crew and twelve passengers, including Paymaster Midshipman N. H. Bryan, RAN, were lost on the steamer. The survivors were rescued by Swedish steamer VAALAREN (3406grt).

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Convoy HX.97 departed Halifax at 1300 escorted by Canadian corvette HEPATICA, which proceeded through for refitting and arming at Greenock.

Ocean escort was Armed merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE, which was with the convoy from 18 to 18 December. Destroyers VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL and corvette GENTIAN were with the convoy from 30 December to 3 January. Corvette RHODODENDRON was with the convoy on 1 and 2 January. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 3 January.

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Heavy cruiser YORK and light cruiser GLOUCESTER with three destroyers were detached from the Mediterranean Fleet to sweep in the Adriatic.

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Submarine TRITON (Lt G. C. I. StB. S. Watkins) was declared lost after failing to arrive at Malta after patrol on the 17th. She was probably sunk by an Italian mine in the Otranto Strait on the 7th in 40-45N, 18-01E.

Lt Watkins, Lt C. J. R. Cave, Lt M. J. R. Smith, Lt R. E. Dean RNR, Warrant Engineer R. G. Milne, the forty nine ratings of the crew were lost with TRITON.

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Italian light cruisers EUGENIO and MONTECUCCOLI and destroyers PIGAFETTA, DA RECCO, PESSAGNO, RIBOTY bombarded Greek positions near Corfu.

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Convoy BN.11 departed Aden, escorted by light cruiser CALEDON and sloops AUCKLAND, FLAMINGO, SHOREHAM. These escorts were detached on the 22nd when joined by sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY. The convoy arrived at Suez on the 25th.

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German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL SCHEER captured British steamer DUQUESNA (8651grt) in the South Atlantic at 00‑57N, 22‑42W.

Ninety one crew and eight passengers were made prisoners of war.

Aircraft carrier HERMES, light cruiser DRAGON, armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE from St Helena were searching for the German cruiser.

Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND and light cruisers NEWCASTLE and ENTERPRISE were searching in the Rio-Montevideo area.

Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE and light cruiser NEPTUNE were also searching. Heavy cruiser BERWICK was to have joined this group, but did not.

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Light cruiser DUNEDIN was refitting at Portsmouth from 18 to 23 December.

Thursday,  19 December

Destroyer LEGION was completed. Following working up, she was assigned to the 19th Destroyer Flotilla operating with the Home Fleet.

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Convoy OB.261 departed Liverpool escorted by destoyer WOLVERINE, sloop ABERDEEN, corvettes ARBUTUS, CAMELLIA, COLUMBINE. The escort was detached on the 22nd.

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Convoy FS.364 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VIVIEN and WALLACE. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.

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Convoy FS.365 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VERDUN and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st.

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Destroyers VETERAN and VERITY were damaged in a collision in Lough Foyle near Londonderry.

Both destroyers proceeded to Londonderry and anchored off Moville.

Destroyer VETERAN with slight damage to her stem was repaired at Londonderry in the Barrow yard from 19 to 21 December. She was able to depart on the 22nd.

Destroyer VERITY's engine room was flooded. She was repaired at Londonderry from 19 December to 6 January. Permanent repairs were done at Belfast from 7 January to 5 March.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK arrived at Scapa Flow at 0845 after escorting convoy EN.42 from Methil to Duncansby Head.

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Destroyer ECHO departed Greenock at 1530 after repairs.

The destroyer arrived at Scapa Flow at 1200/20th.

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Destroyer KELLY departed the Tyne at 0830 to carry out gunnery trials and proceeded to Scapa Flow.

The destroyer arrived at Scapa Flow at 0900/20th to work up.

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Destroyer CHURCHILL arrived at Scapa Flow at 1000 to work up.

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Submarine TRIBUNE attacked a large steamer forty miles west of Belle Ile in 47-02N, 4-14W, without success.

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British tanker ARINIA (8024grt) was sunk on a mine eight miles east, southeast of Southend Pier.

Fifty four crew, the pilot, five gunners were lost on the tanker.

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British steamer ISOLDA (Light Vessel Tender, 734grt) was sunk by German bombing in the vicinity of Barrels Rock Light Vessel, South Wexford.

Six crew were lost on the steamer.

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British drifter PROFICIENT (57grt) was lost after grounding off Whitby.

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Dutch steamer TWEE GEBROEDERS (400grt) was damaged on a mine near No. 2 Yantlet Buoy, Thames Estuary.

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Norwegian steamer AROSA (5043grt) was damaged on a mine three cables 130° from Bull Fort, Humber.

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Italian submarine BAGNOLINI sank British steamer AMICUS (3660grt) from dispersed convoy SC.15 in 54‑10N, 15‑50W.

The entire crew of the steamer was lost.

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Force H.with battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser SHEFFIELD, destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE, DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, ISIS, WISHART, JAGUAR departed Gibraltar on the 19th meet the forces coming from Alexandria in Operation HIDE and SEEK.

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Gunboat APHIS bombarded the Bardia area.

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U.37 sank in error Vichy French submarine SFAX and tanker RHONE (2785grt), which were travelling together from Casablanca to Dakar, off Cape Juby.

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German ste