Background Events - June-November 1941
Invasion of
Russia, Malta Convoys, Japan prepares for war
1941
Sunday, 15 June
Light cruiser EDINBURGH and destroyer INGLEFIELD
departed Iceland.
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Convoy OB.336 departed Liverpool, escorted by corvettes AGASSIZ and WETASKIWIN. The
convoy was joined on the 16th by destroyers LINCOLN and SHIKARI. On the 17th,
destroyers SABRE and VENOMOUS, catapult ship PEGASUS, corvettes ALISMA and
SUNFLOWER, and anti-submarine trawlers LADY ELSA, MAN O.WAR, and NORTHERN DAWN joined the
convoy.Minesweepers GOSSAMER, HAZARD, and HEBE were with the convoy on the
18th. The convoy was dispersed on the 22nd.
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Destroyer INTREPID arrived at Scapa Flow at 2359 from the Humber where she fitted TSDS equipment.
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Destroyer CHARLESTOWN arrived at Scapa Flow at 2230 to work up after refitting prior to
rejoining the Minelaying Force at loch Alsh.
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Submarine THUNDERBOLT unsuccessfully attacked U.557
in 42-00N, 47-00W.
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British fishing vessel AUDACIOUS (7grt) was sunk on
a mine in 51-28N, 00-51E. One crewman was rescued from the fishing vessel.
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Bombarding Sidon, Light cruisers PHOEBE and LEANDER and destroyers
ILEX, HASTY, and ISIS off Syria were attacked by French bombers.
Destroyer ISIS was damaged by German bombing from a
near miss at 1700.
The destroyer proceeded to Haifa, escorted by anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY.
Destroyer ISIS departed Haifa on 26 July, escorted by corvette HYACINTH, for
Alexandria. The destroyer was able to depart Alexandria on 8 August for the transit of the Suez Canal.
Destroyer ISIS with destroyer NUBIAN arrived at
Bombay on 27 September. Destroyer ISIS departed Bombay on 2 October for Colombo. Destroyer ISIS arrived at Singapore on 13 October for repairs.
The destroyer was still under repair at Singapore on 17 January 1942. On that date, she was damaged by Japanese
bombing. The destroyer was towed in February by destroyer ELECTRA to Batavia arriving on 7 February and later in the month by
British steamer MALANCHA (8124grt) ship to Colombo. Her repairs were completed in March.
Destroyer ILEX was also damaged by French bombing
at 1900 and taken to Haifa.Party towed by destroyer HASTY and finally under
her own power at daylight on the 16th.
Destroyer ILEX was towed from Haifa at 1800/28th by destroyer DECOY and escorted by
anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE and destroyers HOTSPUR and NIZAM.
On arrival at Port Said, destroyer NIZAM proceeded to
Alexandria.Anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE and
destroyers HOTSPUR and DECOY returned to Haifa.
Destroyer ILEX departed Port Said on 20 July after temporary repairs and arrived at
Aden on 24 July.She departed Aden on 15 September and proceeded to Mombasa with engine room problems. The destroyer arrived
at Durban in November and departed on 5 February. The
destroyer departed Simonstown on 11 February for Freetown and finally Charlestown, South
Carolina,
arriving on 14 March 1942. Repairs were completed in October.
There were only two minor injuries from the damage
of the two destroyers.
Destroyer JACKAL was struck on the upper deck by a
bomb which passed through the deck and into the sea. The bomb exploded in the
sea causing superficial damage.
The destroyer spent no time out of service.
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German tanker LOTHRINGEN (10,746grt) surrendered
when she was intercepted in Operation SALVAGE by light cruiser DUNEDIN and
aircraft from aircraft carrier EAGLE of Force F in 19-49N, 38-30W.
The tanker was taken for British use and renamed
EMPIRE SALVAGE.
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Battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL
and VICTORIOUS, and destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FEORESIGHT,
FORESTER, and HESPERUS departed Gibraltar for a position 49N, 29-30W.
Aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS and destroyer HESPERUS
were detached to return to the UK.
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Light cruiser EMERALD, which departed Basra on the 1st for Singapore, collided with light cruiser DAUNTLESS, which
departed Singapore on the 15th, near Malacca Light.
Both ships were slightly damaged and repaired at
Singapore. Light cruiser DAUNTLESS had one rating killed.
Light cruiser EMERALD had twelve ratings and one Marine died of injuries.
Light cruiser EMERALD was under repair until 2
August.
Light cruiser DAUNTLESS arrived at Singapore on the 17th and was under repair until 13 August.
Monday, 16 June
Minelayers AGAMEMNON and MENESTHEUS with destroyers
BRIGHTON, CASTLETON, ST MARYS, and WELLS departed Loch Alsh
on the 15th.
Light cruiser AURORA departed Scapa Flow for anti-aircraft support on the 15th.
British minefield SN.66 in the Iceland Faroes field
was laid on the 16th by Minelayers AGAMEMNON and MENESTHEUS covered by light
cruisers AURORA, NIGERIA, and KENYA.
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Battleships KING GEORGE V and NELSON and destroyers
BEDOUIN, INTREPID, JUPITER, NESTOR, PUNJABI, and ESKIMO were brought to one
hour's notice on the report of two unidentified ships departing Brest.
When it was found these two ships were merchant
ships, the notice was cancelled.
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Convoy OB.335 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers RIPLEY and SHERWOOD, sloop
FLEETWOOD, and corvettes CELANDINE and NASTURTIUM. The convoy was joined on
the 23rd by armed merchant cruisers CHESHIRE and DERBYSHIRE. The escorts were detached on the
24th. The convoy arrived at Halifax on 2 July.
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British steam trawler ATLANTIC (167grt) was damaged by German bombing three miles southeast of
Eddystone.
The trawler returned to Plymouth on the 16th.
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French destroyer CHEVALIER PAUL was sunk by British
aircraft near Latakia in 35-18N, 35-18E at 0400 as she attempted to carry
supplies to Syria.
The attack was made by six British Swordfish of 815
Squadron. One was shot down and its crew of Lt M.G.W. Clifford and Sub Lt P. Winter were
taken prisoner.
The survivors from the destroyer were picked up by
French destroyers VALMY and GUEPARD which also picked up the crew of the
downed British aircraft.Six French sailors were lost in the destroyer and
nine wounded.
The French destroyers were engaged at 0400 by
destroyers JERVIS and KIMBERLEY and both French destroyers suffered some damage.
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Light cruiser NAIAD and destroyers KINGSTON, HAVOCK, and JAGUAR departed Alexandria to relieve light cruiser PHOEBE and destroyers
GRIFFIN and DEFENDER.
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Submarine UNBEATEN unsuccessfully attacked a large,
zigzagging liner south of the Messina
Strait.
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Submarine
CLYDE arrived at
Gibraltar from patrol in the Mediterranean.She had on board
seven Italian prisoners from Italian steamers STURLA (1195grt) and GIOVANNI
BOTTIGLIERE (331grt).
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Convoy HX.133 departed Halifax, escorted by armed merchant cruiser WOLFE and
destroyer ANNAPOLIS. Destroyer ST CROIX joined the convoy on the 17th.
Destroyer ANNAPOLIS was detached on the 20th.
Convoy BHX.133 departed Bermuda on the 14th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser
LACONIA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.133 on the
20th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.
On the 20th, destroyer OTTAWA and corvettes CHAMBLY, COLLINGWOOD, ORILLIA, and VIOLET joined and destroyer ST CROIX was detached. Corvette POLYLANTHUS joined on the 23rd. Destroyers
MALCOLM, RIPLEY, SCIMITAR, and WATCHMAN, sloop FLEETWOOD, corvettes ARABIS,
CELANDINE, GLADIOLUS, and NASTURTIUM, and minesweepers
NIGER and SPEEDWELL joined on the 27th.Armed merchant
cruiser WOLFE and the OTTAWA
escort group were detached on the 27th.Sloop FLEETWOOD and corvettes GLADIOLUS
were detached on the 27th. On the 29th, destroyer RIPLEY and corvette
NASTURTIUM were detached. Destroyers MALCOLM, SCIMITAR, and WATCHMAN and
corvette CELANDINE were detached on the 30th. In Home Waters, the convoy was
escorted by destroyer ICARUS, catapult ship MAPLIN, and anti-submarine
trawlers NORTHERN GEM, NORTHERN PRIDE, and NORTHERN WAVE. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 3 July.
Tuesday, 17 June
Light cruiser KENYA arrived at Scapa Flow from Iceland Faroes passage and covering minelay
SN.66.
Light cruiser AURORA also arrived at Scapa Flow after covering SN.66.
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Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK and destroyer ACTIVE departed Iceland for the Denmark Straits patrol.
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Light cruiser HERMIONE arrived at Iceland from Denmark Straits patrol, refuelled, and was
sailed for Scapa Flow.
Light cruiser HERMIONE arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th.
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Destroyer LANCE departed Scapa Flow at 1100 to join Western Approaches following
working up.
The destroyer arrived at Greenock at 0700/18th.
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Destroyer WINCHESTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 1630 to work up following repairs prior to join
Nore Command.
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Submarine P.33 departed the Clyde for Gibraltar arriving on the 28th.
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Minelayer PLOVER, escorted by patrol sloop
GUILLEMOT, laid minefield BS.58 off the east coast of England.
Minesweepers ELGIN, SUTTON, and ALBURY of the 4th Minesweeping
Flotilla accompanied the minelay.
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U.43 sank British steamer CATHRINE (2727grt) in
49-30N, 16W.
Twenty four crewmen were lost on the steamer. Three
crewmen were rescued.
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British steamer JIM (833grt) was damaged by German
bombing off T.2 Buoy, Tyne. The steamer returned to the Tyne on the 18th.
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Admiral King transferred his flag to light cruiser
NAIAD from light cruiser PHOEBE off Syria.
Light cruiser PHOEBE and destroyers GRIFFIN and DEFENDER arrived at Alexandria on the 18th.
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Minelayer ABDIEL departed Alexandria for Famagusta with Fleet Air Arm torpedoes and a small quantity
of stores.
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The flag of Rear Admiral Cruiser Squadron 7 was
transferred from damaged light cruiser ORION to light cruiser AJAX.
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A British Buffalo of 805 Squadron failed to return
from a patrol over British ships northwest of Sidi Barrani.
LT K.L. Keith was taken prisoner, but died of
wounds on the 26th.
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Ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE arrived at Gibraltar from Western Patrol.
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Dutch submarine O.24 unsuccessfully attacked a
tanker off La
Spezia.
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British steamer TOTTENHAM (4762grt) was sunk by
German raider ATLANTIS in 7-38S, 19-12W.
Seventeen crewmen landed at Trinidad on 2 July.Twenty six crewmen were made prisoners of war.
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Armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA
CASTLE captured Vichy steamer DESIRADE (9645grt) east of the Antilles.
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Petty Officer G.H. Fynn and Petty Officer S.G.
Blatchford in a Walrus of 773 Squadron were lost when they failed to return
to Bermuda after dummy attacks at sea.
Wednesday, 18 June
Destroyer IMPULSIVE departed Scapa Flow at 0200 for Immingham for refitting and
installation of TSDS equipment.
The destroyer arrived at 1830
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Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND arrived at Scapa Flow EN.route to refitting after
duty in the South Atlantic and escorting convoy SL.76 with light cruiser
SHEFFIELD.
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Light cruiser EDINBURGH arrived at Scapa Flow from Denmark Straits patrol.
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Light cruiser MANCHESTER and destroyer ACHATES arrived at Iceland from Denmark Straits patrol.
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Polish destroyer KUJIWIAK, working up, was attacked
by German aircraft.
Machine gun from the aircraft set off the four inch
ready use ammunition locker. One man was killed. The destroyer called at
Dundee to repair and land the dead man.
The destroyer arrived at Scapa Flow to work up on the 20th.
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Destroyer BATH departed
Scapa Flow at 1400
after working up practices and arrived at Liverpool at 1630/19th.
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Destroyer WINDSOR departed Dundee at 1430 on completion of repairs to continue working up practices.
The destroyer arrived at Scapa Flow at 2350.
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Destroyer INTREPID departed Scapa Flow at 2100 for Iceland to join the anti-submarine force operating there.
The destroyer arrived at Reykjavik at 1340/20th.
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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 0630 and escorted convoy WN.41 from Pentland Firth.
In the afternoon, the ship transferred to convoy
EC.34 covering this convoy until its arrival in Pentland Firth.
Ship ALYNBANK arrived at Scapa Flow at 2330.
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U.552 sank British steamer NORFOLK (10,948grt) in 57-17N, 11-14W. One crewman was
lost on the steamer. The survivors were rescued by destroyer SKATE.
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British fishing vessel DORIS II (6grt) was sunk on
a mine three cables southeast of Outer Bar Bell Buoy off Sheerness.
The crew of two were missing.
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Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORESTER,
and FOXHOUND, returning to Gibraltar after escorting aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS away,
attacked a submarine contact. U.138 was sunk by destroyers FAULKNOR and
FORESTER seventy miles off Cape
Trafalgar in 36-04N,
7-29W.
Destroyer FEARLESS picked up the entire crew of
four officers and twenty three ratings.
The destroyers arrived at Gibraltar later that day.
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Destroyer WISHART departed Gibraltar to join troopship SCYTHIA and destroyer DUNCAN, arriving from
Freetown.
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Ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE departed Gibraltar on Western Patrol in company with Norwegian
steamer SYDHAV and destroyer FURY as local escort.
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French destroyers VALMY and GUEPARD bombarded
British advanced positions in Syria for a short time.
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Australian sloop PARRAMATTA and British tug ST ISSEY and anti-submarine whaler
SOUTHERN SEA returned to Alexandria from Mersa Matruh.
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British troopship GLENROY carried five lighters,
some stores, petrol, and military personnel and netlayer PROTECTOR carried a
full load of cased petrol to Mersa Matruh where it was unloaded on the 18th.
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Convoy SL.78 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser ESPERANCE
BAY
to 27 June, sloop BRIDGEWATER to 21 June, and corvettes ARMERIA, ASHODEL, ASTER,
and BURDOCK to 28 June.
Heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE was with the convoy on 26 to 27 June. The cruiser
was ordered to leave the convoy and position her self one hundred miles west
of the convoy.
After further attacks on the 27th, armed merchant
cruiser ESPERANCE BAY
also left the convoy.
Corvette FLEUR DE LYS departed Gibraltar on the 27th and was with the convoy on the 29th.
The convoy was ordered dispersed on the 29th and the corvette returned to
Gibraltar.
On 7 July, destroyers CHELSEA, MANSFIELD, and
VERITY, catapult ship PEGASUS, corvettes ARBUTUS to 11 July, BEGONIA,
CONVOLVULUS, JASMINE, LARKSPUR, PIMPERNEL, and ROHODENDRON joined the convoy,
and arrived at Liverpool on 12 July.
Thursday, 19 June
The Flag of A/Vice Admiral A T B. Curteis CB,
Second in Command, Home Fleet, transferred his flag from light cruiser
ARETHUSA to battleship PRINCE OF WALES.
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Rear Admiral E.N. Syfret CB, assumed command of
18th Cruiser Squadron on light cruiser KENYA. On the 20th, the flag was transferred to light
cruiser EDINBURGH.
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Destroyers ECLIPSE and ECHO departed
Scapa Flow at 2000
for Reykjavik to reinforce the anti-submarine screen for the
cruisers on the Denmark Straits patrol.
The destroyers arrived during the afternoon on the
21st.
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Destroyer VANESSA was damaged by German bombing in
the North Sea. The destroyer was then involved in a collision
with anti-submarine trawler TURQUOISE (430grt).
The destroyer was towed to Yarmouth by destroyer VESPER. The destroyer received
temporary repairs at Great Yarmouth from 19 to 30 June. The destroyer was
then towed to the Thames and repairing at London to 15 April 1942.
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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 1240 to meet convoy WN.42 in the Pentland Firth and escorted it to Methil where they arrived at
1900/19th.
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Minelayer PLOVER, escorted by destroyer COTSWOLD,
laid minefield BS.59 off the east coast of England.
Minesweepers accompanied the minelay.
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Destroeyr WRESTLER departed Gibraltar for Freetown to join the South Atlantic Command.
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British steamer EMPIRE WARRIOR (1306grt), after
breaking away from convoy HG.64 was sunk by German bombing two and three
quarters miles off Guadiana Bar, Gulf of Cadiz, 37-06N, 7-24W. The entire
crew were rescued by a Portuguese destroyer.
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Swedish steamer GUNDA (1770grt) after breaking away
from convoy HG.64 was sunk by German bombing in 37-36N, 9-53W.
The steamer had been taken in tow by British
steamer PETEREL, but later sank. The entire crew were rescued by the steamer
and anti-submarine trawler IMPERIALIST.
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British steamer ELLENGA departed Singapore with forty three personnel. The steamer called at
Penang on the 21st and embarked eighty three additional personnel. The
steamer was escorted by light cruiser
DURBAN to 85E.
Friday, 20 June
Light cruiser SHEFFIELD departed
Scapa Flow to
refit at Rosyth.
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Destroyer HAMBLEDON departed Scapa Flow at 0300 to meet steamers AMSTERDAM and LADY OF MANN off the entrance of Aberdeen at 1030.Steamer LADY OF MANN was detached off
Duncansby Head to Kirkwall.Steamer AMSTERDAM was escorted to Lerwick,
arriving at 2200.
The two ships departed Lerwick at 1030/21st and
steamer LADY OF MANN joined at 1630. The ships arrived off Aberdeen at 2300. The destroyer then proceeded to Chatham for fitting of SA equipment prior to joining the
Nore Command.
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Convoy OB.337 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers CHELSEA and VETERAN,
catapult ship SPRINGBANK, and corvettes ARBUTUS, BEGONIA, LARKSPUR,
PIMPERNEL, and RHODODENDRON. Destroyers MANSFIELD and VERITY and corvette JASMINE joined on the
21st. Destroyer VETERAN was detached on the 21st and destroyers MANSFIELD and
VERITY on the 24th. The convoy was dispersed on the 28th.
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Minesweeping trawler RESMILO (258grt, Skipper R.D.
Stephen RNR) was sunk by German bombing at Peterhead.
There were no casualties on the trawler.
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Minelayer TEVIOTBANK laid mines in the North Sea in minefield BS.64, escorted by destroyer MENDIP.
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U.123 sank Portuguese steamer GANDA (4333grt) in
34-10N, 11-40W. Two crewmen and three passengers were lost on the steamer.
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Norwegian steamer SCHIELAND (2249grt) from convoy
FS 520 was sunk by German bombing in 53-18N, 1-01E.
There were nine survivors from the steamer; one of
which later died of injuries, picked up by destroyer MENDIP.
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British tanker INVERARDER (5578grt) was damaged by
German bombing off the Isle
of Wight.
The tanker was beached off Motherbank Buoy, Solent. The taken was refloated and taken to
Southampton for repairs.
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British steamer ILSE (2844grt) was damaged on a
mine on the west side of Hartlepool Approach Channel, in 54-41N, 1-20W. One
crewman was killed.
The back of the ship was broken. The afterpart was
taken to Middlesborough and a new forepart was built on.
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British steamer CORMOUNT (2841grt) was damaged by
German aerial torpedoing off Outer Dowsing Light Vessel.
One gunner was killed on the steamer.
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U.203 sighted American battleship TEXAS, escorted by destroyer TRIPPE, off Iceland.
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Destroyers DECOY, HOTSPUR, and HAVOCK departed
Alexandria for Haifa.
On the 21st destroyers HERO, KIMBERLEY, and JACKAL departed Haifa on relief for Alexandria.
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Submarine PARTHIAN departed Alexandria to patrol off Syria to destroyer Vichy warships.
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Submarine
SEVERN
unsuccessfully attacked a steamer off Palermo.
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Submarine TETRARCH unsuccessfully attacked a
steamer off Lemnos.
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Italian submarine ONDINA sank Turkish steamer REFAH
(3805grt) forty miles south of Mersin.
Twenty five crewmen and one hundred and forty two
passengers were lost on the steamer.
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Italian steamer BUCCARI (4543grt) was lost in an
explosion at Taranto.
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Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESTER, and
FOXHOUND departed Gibraltar to escort battlecruiser RENOWN and aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL into Gibraltar.
Destroyer FURY was ordered to part company with
ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE and join the escort.
On the 22nd, Force H.arrived back at Gibraltar.
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British deperming vessels SPRINGTIDE and SPRINGDALE and naval trawler CANNA departed Gibraltar for Freetown with destroyer AVONVALE as local escort. Norwegian
tanker NORVINN sailed and company and proceeded to the west.
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Convoy HX.134 departed Halifax, escorted by battleship REVENGE, armed merchant
cruiser MALOJA, corvettes DAUPHIN and NAPANEE, and auxiliary patrol vessel
RAYON D’OR. The corvettes and the patrol vessel were detached later that day.
Convoy BHX.134 departed Bermuda on the 19th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA.
On the 23rd, the convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.134 and the armed
merchant cruiser was detached.
On the 24th, sloops ABERDEEN and
SANDWICH and
corvettes HEPATICA, PRIMROSE, TRILLIUM, and WINDFLOWER joined. This group,
including the armed merchant cruiser, was detached on 4 July. Corvette
BITTERSWEET joined on 3 July and on 4 July, destroyers ROSBOROUGH, SALISBURY, and SHERWOOD, corvettes CARNATION, HOLLYHOCK, and
NIGELLA, minesweepers BRITOMART and SALAMANDER, and anti-submarine trawler ST
APOLLO joined. Destroyer BULLDOG joined on 5 July. Destroyer BULLDOG, sloop
ABERDEEN, and corvette AUBRETIA were detached on 8 July.
The remainder of the escorts arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on 9 July.
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Convoy SC.35 departed Sidney CB, escorted by armed
merchant cruiser AUSONIA and auxiliary patrol boats RACCOON and REINDEER. The
patrol vessels were detached on the 24th. On the 24th, sloop ABERDEEN and corvettes TRILLIUM and WINDFLOWER joined the
convoy. The corvettes were detached on 4 August. On 4 August, destroyers
BULLDOG and SALISBURY, corvettes AUBRETIA, CARNATION, HOLLYHOCK, and
NIGELLA, and minsweepers BRITOMART and SALAMANDER joined the
convoy.Minesweepers SEAGULL and SHARPSHOOTER joined on 7 July. Corvette
PICOTEE joined on 8 July. On 8 July, sloop ABERDEEN and the minesweepers were detached. The convoy
arrived in the Clyde on 9 July.
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Light cruiser MAURITIUS relieved heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE in the 4th Cruiser Squadron at Colombo.
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American aircraft carrier WASP, heavy cruiser TUSCALOOSA, and destroyers ANDERSON and ROWAN departed
Hampton Roads on neutrality patrol. The patrol concluded on 4 July at Bermuda.
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American submarine O.9 (LT H.J. Abbot) on a test
dive southeast of Portsmouth, in 42-59N, 70-27W, is lost in an accident with
the entire crew of Abbot, one other officer, and thirty two enlisted men.
Saturday, 21 June
Aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS arrived in the Clyde after ferrying aircraft to
Malta.
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Convoy OB.338 departed Liverpool. On the 22nd, destroyers MALCOLM, SCIMITAR, and
WATCHMAN, catapult ship MAPLIN, corvettes ARABIS and VIOLET, minesweepers
NIGER and SPEEDWELL, and anti-submarine trawlers
NORTHERN GEM, NORTHERN PRIDE, NORTHERN SPRAY,and NORTHERN WAVE joined the convoy outside Liverpool. This group was detached on the 26th. On the 26th,
destroyers NIAGARA and SAGUENAY, armed
merchant cruiser RANPURA, and corvettes PICOU and RIMOUSKI joined. Destroyer NIAGARA was detached on 2 July. The convoy was dispersed on 3 July.
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Light cruiser HERMIONE was attached to the Western
Approaches Command.
The light cruiser departed Scapa Flow for the
Clyde to escort
aircraft carrier FURIOUS on a ferry trip to Gibraltar.
On the 22nd, the ships with destroyers LANCE and
LEGION departed the Clyde for Gibraltar.
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Light cruiser AURORA departed Scapa Flow to relieve light cruiser NIGERIA on patrol west of the Iceland Faroes minefield.
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Destroyer ARROW departed Chatham to rejoin the Home Fleet after repairs.
However, off Flamborough Head, the destroyer struck
a mine at 2000 and was badly damaged.
Destroyer ARROW arrived at Middlesborough for
repairs on the 22nd.
Repairs were completed on 20 November.
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Destroyer ELECTRA departed Scapa Flow at 1015 for Sheerness for refitting. The destroyer
arrived at 1330/22nd.
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Sloop STORK departed Scapa Flow at 0530 for Rosyth on completion of working up
exercises.
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Destroyer ANTHONY departed Scapa Flow at 1115 for Rosyth to clean boilers. The destroyer
arrived at 1930.
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Destroyers ECLIPSE and ECHO arrived in Iceland. The ECHO departed that day to join heavy cruiser SUFFOLK on Denmark Straits patrol.
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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Methil at 1130
and escorted convoy EC.35 to Pentland
Firth, arriving at
0930/22nd. The ship then proceeded to Scapa Flow.
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Destroyer PYTCHLEY was escorting convoy FN.483 with
destroyer VORTIGERN.
Destroyer PYTCHLEY was damaged by a mine two miles
off Flamborough Head. There were no casualties.
Destroyer VORTIGERN towed the destroyer to the
Tyne.
Destroyer PYTCHLEY was under repair until December
1942.
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Minesweeper PLOVER, escorted by destroyer EGLINTON,
laid minefield BS.60 off the east coast of England.
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Canadian troop convoy TC.11 departed Halifax with liners ANDES (25,689grt), BRITANNIC (26,943grt), INDRAPOERA (10,825grt), PASTEUR
(29,253grt), STIRLING
CASTLE (25,550grt), and WINDSOR
CASTLE (19,141grt).
Battlecruiser REPULSE, battleship RAMILLIES, and
destroyers ASSINIBOINE, BUXTON, HAVELOCK, SKEENA, and ST LAURENT departed Halifax on the 21st.Battleship RAMILLIES was detached on
the 27th. Destroyer ASSINIBOINE was detached on the 24th. Destroyer HAVELOCK was detached on the 27th. Destroyers SKEENA and ST
LAURENT were
detached on the 24th. The battlecruiser and destroyer BUXTON proceeded to
England with the convoy.
Destroyers ACHATES, ACTIVE, ANTELOPE, INGLEFIELD,
and INTREPID departed Iceland to meet TC.11 at 0100/25th. Destroyer ICARUS,
detailed for the duty, was unable to proceed due to damaged propellers and
was replaced by destroyer SHERWOOD. These destroyers and COSSACK and SIKH
joined the convoy. On the 28th, Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK joined the convoy on
the 26th. Destroyer SHERWOOD was detached on the 28th. The rest arrived in
the Clyde with the convoy at 0800/30th.
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British steamer GASFIRE (3001grt) was sunk on a
mine ten miles east of Southwold in 52-19N, 1-59E.
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British steamer KENNETH HAWKSFIELD (1546grt) was
sunk on a mine in 52-18N, 1-59E. One crewman was lost on the steamer.
______
British steamer DORINE (3176grt) was damaged by
German bombing off Sheringham.
The steamer arrived at Hartlepool on the 23rd.
______
Norwegian steamer SKUM (1304grt) was damaged by
German bombing near No. 57 Buoy.
The steamer was towed to Great Yarmouth and
subsequently to London for repairs.
______
German supply ship BABITONGA (4422grt) was scuttled
when she was intercepted by Heavy cruiser LONDON at 02-05N, 27-42W, near St Paul Rocks.
______
French steamer CRITON (4564grt) was captured by
Armed merchant cruiser CILICIA on 9 May off Freetownat 10-11N, 20-17W. The
steamer was taken to Freetown
arriving on 11 May.
The steamer joined convoy SL.78 on the 19th for
passage to Belfast. The steamer fell out of the convoy and was
returning to Freetown.
She was intercepted by French patrol vessel AIR FRANCE IV which ordered her to proceed to Konakri.
When the steamer made a radio report, the patrol
vessel sank the steamer.
Ten crewmen were killed on the steamer.Twenty four
crewmen and the armed guard from armed merchant cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA
under the command of Sub Lt S.K. Stretton RNR, were interned at Konakri.
______
Minelayer LATONA arrived at Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Fleet.
The minelayer had departed England on 16 May and proceeded, via Capetown.
______
Corvette ERICA arrived at Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Fleet.
______
French destroyer VAUQUELIN arrived at Beirut at 0840/same mission as destroyer CHEVALIER PAUL
had attempted earlier.
The destroyer had been sighted by British aircraft
at 1340/20th in 35-56N, 29-25E. However, contact was lost and no attack was
made.
______
French hospital ship CANADA (9684grt) was intercepted by destroyer JACKAL in
34-12N, 31-05E at 1400.
ForceB of light cruiser NAIAD and destroyers DECOY,
HOTSPUR, and HAVOCK supported the operation.
The hospital ship was taken to Haifa, escorted by destroyer JACKAL, for inspection and
released on the 22nd.
______
Submarine OSIRIS arrived at Gibraltar from Holy Loch after refitting at Chatham from 25 January to 10 May.
Sunday, 22 June
Destroyer HEYTHROP arrived at Scapa Flow at 1700 to work up.
______
Naval trawler BEECH (540grt, T/LTA.P. Cocks RNVR)
was sunk by German bombing at Scrabster.
Cocks was lost with the trawler.
______
U.141 sank Swedish steamer CALABRIA (1277grt) from convoy SL.75 100 miles from
Inishtrabull. Three crewmen were lost on the steamer.
______
U.77 sank British weather ship ARAKAKA (2379grt) in
47N, 40W.
______
British steamer BALZAC (5372grt) was sunk by German
raider ATLANTIS at 12S, 29W. Two crewmen were killed and one died on the
steamer.Forty five crewmen were made prisoners of war.
______
Submarine THRASHER departed Gibraltar with supplies for Malta, arriving on the 29th.
______
Submarine
UNION sank Italian
steamer PIETRO QUERINI (1004grt) south of Pantelleria in 36-11N, 12E.
______
Submarine
SEVERN
unsuccessfully attacked a submarine in 40-44N, 14-20E.
______
French destroyer VAUQUELIN, which arrived on the
21st from Toulon, was damaged by British bombing at Beirut.
______
British
tanker PASS OF BALMAHA (758grt) departed Alexandria escorted by sloops AUCKLAND and PARRAMATTA for Tobruk.
______
Greek store ship ANTIKLIA (951grt) departed Alexandria for Tobruk, escorted by sloop FLAMINGO.
Due to air attacks on the tanker convoy, this group
was ordered on the 25th to remain at Mersa Matruh.
______
Destroyers WISHART and DUNCAN with troopship SCYTHIA arrived at Gibraltar.
______
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FOXHOUND,
and FURY departed Gibraltar on the 22nd to intercept a German supply ship
sighted by ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE.
______
Submarine THRASHER departed Gibraltar with stores for Malta and Alexandria.
______
British deperming ship CORBRAE and anti-submarine
whalers KOS 10 and KOS 11 departed
Gibraltar for Freetown, with local escort of destroyer ERIDGE.
______
The following ships were seized on the 22nd by
Germany upon invasion of Russia.
Estonian steamer HILDUR (1856grt) at Stettin. Renamed RIMAGE.
Latvian steamer AUSEJKUS (1309grt). Renamed
CORTELSBURG.
Soviet steamer DNESTR (3580grt). Renamed PERNAU.
Soviet steamer ELTON (1799grt). Renamed INSTERBURG.
Soviet steamer KAGANOVITCH (3663grt). Renamed
LIBAU.
Soviet steamer KHASAN (3979grt). Renamed PALATIA.
Soviet steamer MAGNITOGORSK (3566grt). Renamed TROSTBURG.
Latvian steamer SPIDOLA (2833grt). Renamed RUDAU.
Soviet steamer TALLINN (4479grt). Renamed DITMAR KOEL.
Soviet steamer VOLGOLES (3946grt). Renamed CALMAR.
Soviet steamer hopper MAJA was built at Hamburg for Russia, completing trials on the 19th.
Monday, 23 June
Light cruiser NIGERIA arrived at Scapa Flow from Faroes Iceland patrol.
______
Light cruiser MANCHESTER and destroyer ECLIPSE departed Iceland to relieve heavy cruiser SUFFOLK on Denmark Straits patrol.
______
Minesweeping trawler NOGI (299grt, Skipper E.C.
King DSC RNR) was sunk by German bombing in 52-57N, 1-28E off
Norfolk.
______
Convoy HX.133 was sighted by U.203.
______
German supply ship ALSTERTOR was located on the
22nd by Ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE and a Catalina aircraft, but contact
was lost. The supply ship scuttled in 41-12N, 13-10W after she was
intercepted by destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, and FURY
of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla.
Survivors from the ship included seventy eight
British prisoners from British steamers TRAFALGAR and RABAUL. The destroyers
rescued the survivors from ship'S-boats.
The destroyers then proceeded to meet aircraft
carrier FURIOUS arriving from the Clyde.
Submarine P.33, which had also been searching for
the German ship was directed to continue her passage to Gibraltar.
______
Dutch submarine O.24 arrived at Gibraltar from patrol in the Mediterranean.
______
British steamer HULL TRADER (717grt) was sunk on a
mine one mile 270° from No.57C Buoy, Cromer.
Eleven crewmen were lost on the steamer.
______
British steamer TRELISSICK (5265grt) was sunk by
German bombing 3˝ miles 114° from
Sheringham Buoy, Cromer.
Two crewmen were lost on the steamer.
______
British steamer CAMROUX II (324grt) was damaged on
a mine one mile northeast of No.17 Buoy, Flamborough Head.
The steamer was towed to Immingham.
______
British steamer TOLWORTH (1351grt) was damaged by
German bombing in 53-05N, 1-25E.
The steamer was drydocked in the Tyne for repairs.
______
French destroyer GUEPARD was engaged by light
cruisers NAIAD and LEANDER and destroyers JAGUAR, KINGSTON, and NIZAM north of Beirut in 34-05N, 35-33E at 0148.
Destroyer GUEPARD was damaged by British gunfire.
Light cruiser LEANDER was struck by one shell which
did not explode.
Destroyers JERVIS, HAVOCK, HOTSPUR, and DECOY were
submarine hunting in the area.
______
Following temporary repairs at Alexandria, light cruiser ORION departed Alexandria on the 23rd for Port Said to have her catapult reembarked.
The cruiser departed Aden for Simonstown on the 29th.
At Simonstown, her catapult was removed and
installed on seaplane carrier ALBATROSS.
The light cruiser went across the Pacific and
departed Balboa on 28 August.Cruiser ORION arrived at Mare
Island on 5 September and was under repair until
15 February 1942.
______
There was a German air raid on Alexandria from 0315 to 0510/23rd.
Battleship WARSPITE was slightly damaged by a near
miss of a heavy bomb.Two bulges were flooded.
______
Soviet submarine M.78 was sunk by U.144 east of
Ventspils, Latvia, west of Windau.
______
Soviet cruiser MAKSIM GORKI was mined in the
Baltic.
The cruiser lost her bow back to A turret.
The cruiser was repaired at Leningrad.
______
Soviet destroyer GNEVNY was sunk by a mine off
Hango.
______
Soviet destroyer BYSTRY was sunk by German bombing
at Sevastapool.
The destroyer was later salved.
______
Soviet submarine S.3 was sunk by German motor
torpedo boats S.35 and S.60 off Stienort.
Tuesday, 24 June
Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK and destroyer ECHO arrived at Iceland from Denmark Straits patrol.
______
Fast minelayer MANXMAN arrived at Scapa Flow to work up.
______
Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 2300 and met convoy WN.44 in Pentland Firth.
At noon on the 25th, the ship transferred to convoy EC.37 off Buchan
Ness.Sloop BLACK SWAN departed Scapa Flow at
1300/25th to provide additional protection for the convoy. In North Channel, the sloop was detached and proceeded to Belfast to join the Western Approaches following working
up at Scapa Flow. The anti-aircraft ship transferred to convoy
WN.45 at 0500/26th and provided cover to Methil where they arrived at noon on the 27th.
______
Convoy OG.66 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers BATH and WALKER, sloop
SCARBOROUGH, and
ocean boarding vessel MALVERNIAN.
On the 25th, destroyer VANOC and anti-submarine
trawlers CORDELLA, FANDANGO, MORRIS DANCE, NORSE, and SARABANDE joined the
convoy. Corvette HYDRANGEA joined the convoy on the 26th.
The destroyers and the corvette were detached on
the 29th. The ocean boarding vessel left the convoy on the 30th.
On 3 July, destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESTER,
LANCE, and LEGION joined the convoy. On 4 July, corvette COREOPSIS and
anti-submarine trawlers LADY HOGARTH and LADY SHIRLEY joined the convoy.
Destroyers ERIDGE and FARNDALE joined on 6 July.
Destroyers LEGION and LANCE were detached on 3
July, destroyer FAULKNOR on 5 July, destroyers FEARLESS and FORESTER on 6
July, and arrived at Gibraltar on 8 July with sloop SCARBOROUGH and
anti-submarine trawlers FANDANGO, MORRIS DANCE, SARABANDE, CODRELIS, NORSE,
and local escorts.
______
U.203 attacked convoys HX.133 and OB.336.
Norwegian steamer SOLOY (4402grt) was sunk in
44-39N, 39-43W from convoy HX.133. The entire crew of the steamer were
rescued.
U.203 also reported damaging one tanker and one
steamer from convoy HX.133.
Eight hours later, British steamer KINROSS
(4956grt) and Dutch steamer SCHIE (1967grt) were sunk in 55-23N, 38-49W from
convoy OB.336. The entire crew of the British steamer were rescued.
______
U.371 sank Norwegian steamer VIGRID (4765grt),
straggling from convoy HX.133, in 55N, 41W.
Nineteen crewmen, four passengers, and one gunner
were missing from the steamer.
American destroyer CHARLES F. HUGHES rescued
fourteen survivors on 7 July.
______
U.651 sank British steamer BROCKLEY HILL (5297grt),
straggling from convoy HX.133, in 58-30N, 38-20W. The entire crew was
rescued.
______
British steamer LEVENWOOD (803grt) was damaged by
German bombing off Tees Bay.
The steamer arrived at Hartlepool in tow on the 25th.
______
Soviet submarines S.1, M.71, M.80, RONIS
(ex-Latvian), and SPIDOLA (ex-Latvian) were scuttled at Libau.
______
New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER and destroyers HASTY and
JAGUAR shelled the Syrian coast north of Beirut at dawn on the 24th.
Minesweeper HARROW swept the coast off Sidon.
______
Corvettes PEONY was sailed to Haifa and HYACINTH to Famagusta from Alexandria.
______
The British Tobruk convoy was attacked by aircraft.
Tanker
PASS OF BALMAHA was damaged by bombing and abandoned.
Sloop AUCKLAND (Cdr M.S.
Thomas DSO) was sunk in 32-15N, 24-30E at 1530.
LT (E) C.L. Meadley, thirty two ratings and the
NAAFI manager were killed on the sloop. Three ratings died of wounds. Surgeon
Lt C.J. Robarts and seven ratings were
wounded.
Sloop PARRAMATTA picked up the one hundred and sixty two surivours,
including Cdr Thomas, Lt D.G.D. Hall-Wright, Lt A.P. Culmer, Lt J.F. House, Surgeon Lt C.J. Robarts, and T/A/Sub Lt P. Whitehead
RNVR and proceeded to Alexandria, arriving on the 25th.
Australian destroyers VENDETTA and WATERHEN arrived
to assist. They picked up the survivors from AUCKLAND. Destroyer WATERHEN took the PASS OF
BALMAHA in tow and proceeded to Tobruk, screened by destroyer VENDETTA.
The tanker was unloaded on the 28th and escorted
from Tobruk by sloop PARRAMATTA and anti-submarine whaler SOUTHERN MAID.
______
Light cruiser NEPTUNE arrived at Simonstown.
______
British seaplane carrier ALBATROSS was docked for
refitting at Simonstown.
The refitting was completed on 4 August.
______
Convoy HG.66 departed Gibraltar escorted by destroyers FARNDALE and WISHART, sloop
FOLKESTONE, corvette AZALEA, Dutch submarine O.21, anti-submarine trawler
STELLA CARINA, and three motor launches as additional local escort.
The trawler was detached later that day. Destroyer WISHART
was detached on the 27th. Destroyer FARNDALE was detached on the 30th.
Submarine O.21 was detached on 1 July.
On 4 July, the convoy was met by destroyers GARLAND, MAORI, SARDONYX, and WESTCOTT and on 5 July by
destroyer ST ALBANS and corvettes FREESIA and MYOSITIS.
Sloop FOLKESTONE was detached on 8 July.
The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 9 July.
______
German raider KORMORAN, approaching Madris to lay
mines, encountered armed merchant cruiser CANTON.
The German ship escaped undetected, but the
minelaying was cancelled.
______
New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Wellington escorting British liner AQUITANIA (44,786grt) to Bass Strait.
On the 30th, the light cruiser joined liners QUEEN
MARY (81,235grt), and QUEEN ELIZABETH (83,673grt) to
form convoy US.11A.
Wednesday, 25 June
Light cruiser NIGERIA and destroyers BEDOUIN, TARTAR, and JUPITER
departed Scapa Flow at 2100 on Operation EC to locate German weather
ship LAUENBERG (344grt).
The ships proceeded to Skaalefjord to first refuel.
The ships departed on the 26th.
On the 28th, weathership LAUENBURG was captured off
Jan Mayen Island in 73-02N, 3-13W.After a thorough search of the
vessel, weathership LAUENBURG was sunk by destroyer TARTAR.
The ships arrived at Scapa Flow after the operation on the 30th. Destroyers
BEDOUIN and TARTAR at 1630 and destroyer JUPITER at 2200.
______
Destroyer LIDDESDALE was damaged by German bombing
in the North Sea, but had no time out of action.
______
Minefield SN.70B Operation
and Collision between HMS Kenya and HMS Brighton
Minefield SN.70B was laid by Minelayers AGAMEMNON
and MENESTHEUS, escorted by destroyers BRIGHTON, CASTLETON, and WELLS.
The operation was covered by light cruisers KENYA
and ARETHUSA which departed Scapa Flow on the 23rd. Light cruiser AURORA
relieved ARETHUSA on the 25th. ARETHUSA went to Iceland Faroes
patrol.
On the 25th, destroyer BRIGHTON came out of a dense fog and hit KENYA starboard side abreast B turret. No deaths
are reported and there is no reference to any injuries. However, one man was
reportedly thrown or jumped into the water, but was rescued.
KENYA proceeded to Scapa Flow, arriving on the 27th, and later to the Tyne for repairs.
BRIGHTON, whose bow was severely damaged, was
escorted to Reydarfjord by AURORA and WELLS. Destroyer ECLIPSE sailed from Reykjavik to provide additional anti-submarine support for
the minelayers.
Destroyer ECHO departed Hvalfjord to assist on the 25th and
arrived on the 26th at Reydarfjord where the damaged destroyer and AURORA had arrived.
ECLIPSE arrived at Loch Alsh on the 27th
after assisting the escort.
KENYA departed
Scapa Flow for
Rosyth on the 28th, arriving on the 29th.
On the 28th, BRIGHTON departed for the Clyde in tow of tugs
MARAUDER and THAMES escorted by AURORA and
ECHO. The escort ships were reinforced en route by
destroyer LIGHTNING, which departed Scapa Flow at
1700/29th.
BRIGHTON, still under tow, detached in the North Minches. AURORA, LIGHTNING and
ECHO arrived at Scapa Flow at 0200 on 1 July.
BRIGHTON arrived
in the Clyde on 1 July without her bow, which had broken away en route.
______
Minelayer TEVIOTBANK, escorted by destroyer
WALPOLE, laid minefield BS.65 off the east coast of England.
______
U.77 sank Greek steamer ANNA BULGARIS (4603grt) in
55N, 38W. The entire crew were lost.
______
U.108 sank Greek steamer ELLINICO (3059grt) in 55N,
38W.
______
U.75 sank an eastbound steamer west of Ireland. The
steamer was observed to sink, but was not identified.
______
U.108 sank Greek steamer NICOLAS PATERAS (4362grt),
a straggler from convoy OB.336, in 55N, 38W. The entire crew were lost.
______
Steamer DASHWOOD (2154grt) was sunk by
German bombing in 52-59N, 1-52E. The entire crew were rescued.
______
Trawler ISLE OF WIGHT (176grt) was damaged by German bombing
off Scarborough.
______
New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER and destroyers DECOY,
HAVOCK, and NIZAM swept north of Beirut during the night of 25/26 June. At dawn on the 26th, the force bombarded the Damur
area.
______
Submarine PARTHIAN sank French submarine SOUFFLEUR
off Beirut, in 33-49N, 35-26E at 1242.
______
Australian light cruiser PERTH and anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE departed Alexandria at 1530/25th to relieve cruisers LEANDER and COVENTRY off Syria.
Cruiser CARLISLE had been
in the floating dock at Alexandria from 21 to 25 June.
Light cruiser PERTH was only partially repaired from the Crete bombing damage.
New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER and Anti-aircraft cruiser
COVENTRY off Syria were relieved by Australian light cruiser PERTH and Anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE on the 26th.
Cruisers LEANDER and COVENTRY departed Haifa and joined the Battle Fleet at sea. They returned
to Alexandria on the 27th.
______
Destroyers HASTY and JAGUAR departed Haifa to return to Alexandria.
______
Submarine RORQUAL departed Alexandria on a supply run to Malta.
______
Estonian steamer ESTONIA (1181grt) was seized by German forces.
______
An Italian convoy of troopships ESPERIA, MARCO
POLO, OCEANIA, and NEPTUNIA departed Naples for Tripoli, calling at Taranto on the 27th.
The convoy was escorted by destroyers AVIERE,
GENIERE, GIOBERTI, and DA NOLI and was given cover by heavy cruisers TRIESTE and GORIZIA and destroyers CORAZZIERE and
CARABINIERE. Destroyer ASCARI departed Messina on the 25th and joined the covering force.
Submarine URGE, already on patrol off Messina, and submarines UNBEATEN and UPHOLDER, at Malta, were ordered to intercept the convoy.When no
contact was made, submarines UNBEATEN and UPHOLDER returned to Malta on the 27th.
In British air attacks on the convoy on the 25th,
Sub Lt (A) D.A.R. Holmes and Leading Airman J.R. Smith were lost when their
Swordfish of the 830 Squadron hit the side of the ship being attacked.
Liner ESPERIA received light damage from the air
attacks.
Destroyer ASCARI arrived at Messina on the 29th. The convoy arrived at Tripoli on the 29th.
______
Aircraft carrier FURIOUS, light cruiser HERMIONE,
and destroyers LEGION and LANCE and destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESTER,
FOXHOUND, and FURY, which joined on the 24th, arrived at Gibraltar.
______
Submarine OSIRIS departed Gibraltar for Malta with seventy tons of petrol.
______
Dutch submarine O.23 departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Gulf of
Genoa.
______
American light cruisers PHILADELPHIA and SAVANNHA with destroyers LANG and WILSON
departed Hampton Roads on neutrality patrol ending at Bermuda on 8 July.
Thursday, 26 June
Light cruiser EURYALUS was commissioned at Chatham.
______
Convoy OB.339 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyer BROADWATER, sloop LEITH, and corvettes BITTERSWEET and FENNEL. On 2 July, destroyers RAMSEY
and RICHMOND and corvettes COBALT and POLYANTHUS joined.
Destroyer RAMSEY was detached on 3 July.Armed merchant cruiser WOLFE joined
on 6 July. On 9 July, destroyers BURWELL and RICHMOND and sloop LEITH were detached. On 10 July, destroyer BROADWATER and corvette COBALT
were detached. The convoy arrived at
Halifax on 12 July.
______
Destroyer WINCHESTER departed
Scapa Flow at 1030
for the Clyde to form part of the escort for aircraft carrier
VICTORIOUS to Scapa Flow.
______
Destroyer HAMBLEDON arrived at Scapa Flow at 1830 from Chatham after fitting of SA equipment.
______
Indian sloop JUMNA departed Scapa Flow escorting tanker WAR BHARATA to the Faroes.
The sloop arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0400/27th to problems with the tanker's
machinery. The sloop sailed again at 1400 escorting tanker WAR PINDARI, which
had taken the place of the original tanker.
After delivering the tanker, the sloop departed at
2300/28th escorting tanker WAR DIWAN and QUENTIN ROOSEVELT to Scapa Flow arriving at noon on the 30th.
______
Minesweeping trawler TRANIO (275grt, T/LTA.L.G.
Gillies RNR), in tow, was sunk by German bombing near No. 57
Buoy (Smith's Knoll).
There were no casualties on the trawler.
______
Battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL,
light cruiser HERMIONE, and destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FEARLESS,
and FOXHOUND departed Gibraltar.
Destroyers FEARLESS and FOXHOUND were relieved
before the operation by destroyers LANCE and LEGION.
On the 27th, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL flew
aircraft off to Malta in Operation RAILWAY.
Force H.arrived back at Gibraltar on the 28th.
______
Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, WARSPITE, and VALIANT,
light cruiser AJAX, minelayer ABDIEL, and destroyers KANDAHAR, GRIFFIN, HERO,
JAGUAR, DEFENDER, KIMBERLEY, and HASTY departed Alexandria for gunnery and
other exercises between Alexandria and Port Said.
Battleship WARSPITE was detached that afternoon for
Port Said, escorted by destroyers KANDAHAR, GRIFFIN, and KIMBERLEY arriving at 2200/26th. The battleship transited
the Canal and began the passage to the USA, via Colombo and Singapore.
Destroyers KANDAHAR and GRIFFIN then proceeded to Haifa to operate off Syria.
Destroyer KIMBERLEY rejoined the Battle Fleet.
On the 26th, light cruiser PHOEBE and minelayer
LATONA joined the Fleet exercises.
______
Submarine SEVERN sank Italian steamer POLINNIA
(1292grt) was sunk southeast of Ischia in 40-05N, 12-08E.
______
Submarine UTMOST sank Italian steamer ENRICO COSTA
(4080grt) four miles from Cape Todaro in 38-07N, 14-37E.
______
Submarine P.33 arrived at Gibraltar from the
Clyde. On the
28th, the submarine departed for Malta.
______
Convoy HX.135 departed Halifax, escorted by
destroyer ST CROIX, sloop LONDONDERRY, corvettes BARRIE and MATAPEDIA, and
auxiliary patrol vessel REINDEER. The corvettes and the patrol vessel were
detached that day. The destroyer was detached on the 29th.
Convoy BHX.135 departed Bermuda on the 24th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser PRINCE
DAVID. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.135/29th and the armed merchant
cruiser was detached.
On 1 July, escort ships CULVER and HARTLAND joined
the convoy and BANFF and FISHGUARD joined on 4 July.Minesweeper HUSSAR
and corvettes ABELIA and ANEMONE joined on 6 July. Destroyers BROKE, DOUGLAS, SALADIN, and SKATE, corvette VERONICA, and anti-submarine trawlers
ST ELSTAN, ST KENAN, and ST ZENO. Destroyers SALADIN and SKTA were detached
on 10 July and the remainder of the escort on 11 July. The convoy arrived at
Liverpool on 12 July.
______
British troopship NIEUW AMSTERDAM departed Suez
with the King of Greece, members of the Royal Family, the Greek Prime
Minister, other ministers and their families, British, Dutch, and Polish
Ministers and families, 151 other passengers, five naval personnel, 1000
prisoners of war, and seventy five escorts.
The troopship was met by heavy cruiser CORNWALL on 3 July. They arrived at Durban on 7 July.
______
British steamer MAREEBA (3472grt) was sunk by
German raider KORMORAN at 8-15N, 88-06E.
Twenty six crewmen were lost and twenty five were
rescued and made prisoners of war.
______
Yugoslavian steamer VELEBIT (4153grt) was sunk by
German raider KORMORAN in the Bay of Bengal.
Six crewmen were rescued; of which two died.Twelve
crewmen were made prisoners of war.Seven were killed by the gunfire which
sank the ship and seven crewmen were missing.
______
Soviet destroyers MOSKVA and KHARKOV bombarded contanza, Rumania.
The bombardment was covered by cruiser VOROSHILOV
and destroyers SMYSHLENY and SOOBRAZITELNY.
Destroyer MOSKVA was sunk by a mine as the
destroyers retired. Destroyer KHARKOV was damaged by near misses of German bombing.
Destroyers SMYSHLENY and SOOBRAZITELNY escorted
destroyer KHARKOV.
Cruiser VOROSHILOV was damaged by the explosion of
a mine.
Destroyers BESPOSCHADNY and BODNY departed
Sevastapool to join the cruiser and escort it back to port.
______
During the night of 26/27 June, Soviet destroyer
STOROZHEVOI was torpedoed by a German S-boat in the Irben
Strait.
The destroyer was towed to Leningrad and repaired.
______
Soviet submarine M.83 was scuttled at Libau.
______
Soviet submarine M.101 or M.72 was torpedoed by
U.149 in 59-20N, 21-12E.
Submarine M.101 was sunk.
Submarine M.72 was damaged and taken to Kronstadt.
There is dispute which Soviet submarine was hit by
the German submarine and which was mined.
Friday, 27 June
Ships for Convoy WS.9B departed Avonmouth on the
27th, Liverpool on the 28th, and the Clyde on the 29th. The three sections rendezvoused at sea on the 30th.
Steamers TAMAROA (12,405grt), PULASKI (6345grt),
ANSELM (5954grt, which returned with defects), ORONSAY (20,043grt), ATHLONE
CASTLE (25,564grt), MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22,424grt), CERAMIC (18,713grt),
CLAN FORBES (7529grt), ARUNDEL
CASTLE (19,118grt), MATAROA (12,390grt),
PAMPAS (5415grt), RANGITATA (16,737grt), and ELISABETH BAKKE (5450grt)
composed the convoy.
Destroyer WELLS escorted the convoy from 29 June to
1 July.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO and destroyers ST FRANCIS, GARLAND, READING, PIORUN, VANQUISHER, WINCHELSEA, MAORI, and
CASTLETON escorted the convoy from 29 June to 2 July.
Light cruiser EDINBURGH, which departed Scapa Flow on the 25th for the Clyde and arrived on the 26th, and destroyer WOLVERINE escorted the convoy
from 28 June to 3 July.
Armed merchant cruiser CATHAY was with the convoy from 29 June to 4 July.
Armed merchant cruiser CHITRAL was with the convoy
from 29 June to 7 July.
Light cruiser GALATEA and armed merchant cruiser
MORETON
BAY
were with the convoy for the entire voyage to Freetown.
Destroyers WIVERN, WILD SWAN, and BRILLIANT and
corvette ASPHODEL joined the convoy on 10 July and escorted it to Freetown, and arrived at Freetown on 13 July.
On 16 July, the convoy sailed escorted by
destroyers BRILLIANT, VELOX, VANSITTART, and BOREAS from 16 to 18 July. Light
cruiser GALATEA escorted the convoy through to Capetown.
Steamers CERAMIC, CLAN FORBES, PAMPAS, ELISABETH BAKKE, PULASKI, and RANGITATA arrived at Capetown on 27
July.Steamers ORONSAY, ATHLONE
CASTLE, MONARCH OF BERMUDA, ARUNDEL
CASTLE, TAMAROA, and MATAROA arrived at
Durban on 30 July.
Steamers CLAN FORBES, PULASKI, PAMPAS, and ELISABETH BAKKE departed Capetown on 30 July escorted by armed
merchant cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA. They rendezvoused with ORONSAY,
ARUNDEL
CASTLE, MONARCH OF BERMUDA, and ATHLONE
CASTLE which sailed from Durban
on 3 August escorted by light cruiser GALATEA, and arrived Aden on 14 August. The ships travelled independently to
Suez.
______
Convoy OB.340 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers ASSINIBOINE and BULLDOG, corvettes AUBRETIA, CARNATION,
HOLLYHOCK, and NIGELLA, minesweepers BRITOMART and SALAMANDER, and
anti-submarine trawlers ANGLE, KING SOL, NOTTS
COUNTY, and ST APOLLO. This section was detached on 3 July when destroyer
HAVELOCK, sloop FLEETWOOD, and corvettes ALBERNI, CHAMBLY, COLLINGWOOD, and ORILLIA joined. The convoy was dispersed on 13 July.
______
Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND, escorted by HAMBLEDON and WINDSOR, departed Scapa Flow at 1030 to refit at Chatham.
The heavy cruiser arrived at Sheerness on the 28th.
______
Destroyers LIGHTNING, ESKIMO, NESTOR, and KRAKOWIAK
departed Scapa Flow at 1930 to search for a submarine reported by air
in 59-20N, 4-04W.
The destroyers arrived back at 2200/28th.
______
Destroyer ICARUS, with damaged propellers, departed
Reykjavik at 1200 to meet convoy HX.133 and then proceed to Ardrossan
to repair.
______
Submarine L 26 grounded on the west coast of Mull.
The submarine was refloated on the 28th.
Submarine L 26 was repaired at Ardrossan from 8
July to 26 July.She was permanently repaired at Plymouth from 19 September to 5 February 1942.
______
Minesweeping trawler FORCE (324grt, A/T/Skipper
C.E. Smalley RNR) was sunk by German bombing off Great Yarmouth.
______
U.70 damaged Dutch tanker TIBIA (10,356grt) from
convoy HX.133 in 59-55N, 30-49W.
The tanker was repaired in the Tyne.
______
U.69 sank British steamer EMPIRE ABILITY (7603grt)
from convoy SL.78 at 23-50N, 21-10W. Two crewmen were missing from the
steamer.
U.69 also sank British steamer RIVER LUGAR
(5423grt) from this convoy at 24N, 21W.
Six crewmen from the steamer were rescued by
corvettes BURDOCK and ARMERIA.
______
U.556 and U.564 attacked convoy HX.133.
U.564 sank Dutch steamer MAASDAM (8812grt) in 60N,
30-35W.
Two passengers were lost on the steamer.
U.564 sank British steamer MALAYA II (8651grt) in
59-56N, 30-35W.
Thirty nine crewmen were lost and six were rescued
from the steamer.
U.564 damaged Norwegian tanker KONGSGAARD (9467grt)
in 60N, 30-42W.
The tanker arrived at Belfast Lough on 2 July.
U.556 was sunk by Corvettes NASTURTIUM, CELANDINE,
and GLADIOLUS southwest of Iceland in 60-18N, 29-20W.
The commanding officer, four other officers, and
thirty five were rescued.An engineer officer and four ratings were missing.
______
U.123 attacked convoy SL.78.
British steamer P.L.M. 22 (5646grt) and Dutch steamer
OBERON (1996grt) were sunk at 25-43N, 22-47W.
Thirty two crewmen were lost on the British
steamer. Corvette ARMERIA rescued twelve survivors from the steamer.
Six crewmen were killed on the Dutch steamer.
The submarine claimed hitting a third ship, but no
confirmation is available.
______
Dutch steamer MONTFERLAND (6790grt) was sunk by
German bombing in 52-47n, 1-50E. The entire crew were rescued.
______
Italian submarine GLAUCO was sunk by destroyer WISHART,
which just left convoy HG.66, west of Gibraltar in 35-06N, 12-41W.
Seven officers and forty four ratings were rescued
from the submarine. The destroyer arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th.
______
Destroyer FIREDRAKE departed Chatham after repairs to return to Gibraltar and duty with Force H.
______
Submarine
CLYDE departed
Gibraltar westward for Operation VIGOROUS.Due to mistaken
identity, she was attacked by destroyer AVONVALE in the Straits and sustained
some damage. However, the submarine was able to continue on her mission.
The operation was a patrol in the area of the Canary Islands for a German supply ship, reportedly due to supply
a German submarine on the 30th. Nothing was found and the submarine returned
to Gibraltar on 5 July.
______
Submarine OSIRIS unsuccessfully attacked a steamer
in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
______
Submarine TRIUMPH sank Italian submarine SALPA off
Mersa Matruh in 32-05N, 26-47E.
______
Italian submarine JANTINA unsuccessfully attacked
Australian sloop PARRAMATTA in 31-34N, 27-28E.
The sloop counterattacked and was joined by
destroyerSTUART, but the submarine was not damaged.
______
Light cruiser NAIAD and destroyers KINGSTON, JERVIS, and HOTSPUR bombarded Damur at dawn on
the 27th.
______
Light cruiser MAURITIUS arrived at Mombasa after escorting convoy CM 11 to Aden.
______
Observer Sub Lt (A) M.S.T. Broadwood of 700
Squadron, Petty Officer Airman H.D. Millington, Petty Officer Airman W.A.H.
Peters, and Air Artificer 4/c T.G. Finan were killed in an air accident in
Heavy cruiser EXETER at 13-38S, 42-02E in Mozambique Channel.
______
Soviet submarine S.10 was torpedoed and sunk by
German motor torpedo boats S.59 and S.60 in Irben
Strait.
______
Convoy SL.79 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser DUNOTTAR
CASTLE to 10 July and corvettes COLUMBINE, CROCUS, and CYCLAMEN to 5 July.
Ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE departed Gibraltar on 11 July and joined the convoy for passage to
England.
On 14 July, the convoy joined convoy HG.67 for the
passage to England, and arrived at Liverpool on 24 July.
Saturday, 28 June
Aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS departed the Clyde escorted by destroyers CHARLESTOWN, ST MARYS,and WINCHESTER for
Scapa Flow.
Destroyer ECLIPSE departed Loch Alsh at 2330/28th
to join the escort.
Destroyer ESKIMO departed Scapa Flow at 0030/29th to meet the aircraft carrier.
The aircraft carrier, escorted by destroyers
ESKIMO, ECLIPSE, and WINCHESTER, arrived at Scapa
Flow at 1800/29th.
______
Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Methil at 1130
and joined convoy EC.38 off May Island.
The convoy was escorted to Pentland Firth and the ship arrived at Scapa Flow at 1130/29th.
______
U.146 sank Finnish steamer PLUTO (3496grt) 100
miles NNW of the Butt of Lewis, 59-39N, 8-20W.
The steamer had been ordered by Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK to
Kirkwall for
inspection.
Eighteen crewmen were rescued by Armed boarding
vessel NORTHERN DUKE.Twelve crewmen were lost.
______
Italian submarine DA VINCI sank British tanker
AURIS (8030grt) in 34-27N, 11-57W.
Thirty two crewmen were lost on the steamer.
Destroyer FARNDALE departed convoy HG.66 to assist and picked up twenty seven
crewmen.
______
British steamer BARRHILL (4972grt) was sunk by
German bombing in 52-50N, 1-46E. Five crewmen were lost on the steamer.
______
Australian light cruiser PERTH and destroyers KANDAHAR, GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, and JERVIS carried out a T.S.D.S. sweep
of Damur during the night of 27/28 June.
The light cruiser, supported by anti-aircraft
cruiser CARLISLE and destroyers JERVIS, DECOY, HAVOCK, HOTSPUR, and
NIZAM, bombarded Damur during the afternoon of 28 June.
______
Submarine
SEVERN sank
Italian steamer UGO BASSI (2900grt) five miles 24° from Capo Monte Santi in
the Gulf of Orosei.
______
Submarine OSIRIS unsuccessfully attacked a steamer
in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
______
Italian light cruisers ATTENDOLO and DUCA D'AOSTA
and destroyers PIGAFETTA, PESSAGNO, DA MOSTO, DA VERAZZANO, and DA RECCO laid
mines in the Sicilian Channel.
______
For RAILWAY 2, Aircraft carrier FURIOUS, light
cruiser HERMIONE, and destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, LANCE, and LEGION
departed at 1800/28th to feint to the west as ForceA. Destroyer LANCE was
later moved to the battlecruiser RENOWN group.
As Force B, battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft carrier
ARK ROYAL, destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORESTER, WISHART, and AVONVALE
departed at 0130/29th. Destroyers WISHART and AVONVALE were detached after
local escort duties.
The two groups proceeded to Malta in company.
Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL flew twenty six
Hurricanes off to Malta on 30 May.FURIOUS flew eight Hurricanes off to
Malta.
The operation did suffer a mishap when one of the
aircraft crashed into the bridge structure and started a fire on the flight
deck.Two officers and one rating were killed. One other officer and two
ratings died of injuries on the 30th.Two officers and four ratings later died
of wounds.Ten ratings were seriously injured.
From aircraft carrier FURIOUS, A/Sub Lt (A) O.M.
Wightman of 807 Squadron and A/Sub Lt (A) J.G. Biddle, P/T/Sub Lt (A)A.F.
Hallett RNVR, and Sub Lt (A) C.D. Livingstone of 816 Squadron and one rating
were killed. Surgeon Lt D.A. Prothero,
MRCS, LRCP, DA, and Sub Lt (A) F.W. Follows of 816 Squadron died of wounds on
1 July.Four RAF officers and four ratings, one of which died of wounds, were
injured. The mishap prevented the last six aircraft from being flown off.
The force returned to Gibraltar after the operation on 1 July.
______
Submarines UNIQUE, UPRIGHT, UNIQUE, and UPHOLDER
departed Malta to intecept French Vichy vessels expected to
proceed to support Syria.
All, less UPHOLDER, arrived back at Malta without contact on 3 July.UPHOLDER arrived at
Malta on 8 July.
______
Anti-submarine trawlers LORD IRWIN and LAERTES and whaler
GOS 7 departed Gibraltar for Freetown. Norwegian tanker SILDRA departed in company and
set off for the west.
______
Soviet destroyer LENIN was scuttled at Libau.
Sunday, 29 June
Heavy cruiser NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow after escorting convoy SL.77.
______
Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND arrived at Sheerness for refitting at Chatham completed on 11 October.
______
Minelaying cruiser ADVENTURE arrived at Scapa Flow to work up after repairs for her January mining.
______
Light cruiser KENYA began repairs for her collision and refitting in
the Tyne.
______
U.103 sank in error Italian steamer ERNANI
(6619grt), which had departed Teneriffe to escape to Bordeaux, 450 miles west of Las Palmas.
______
German attacks on convoy HX.133.
Destroyers MALCOLM and SCIMITAR, corvettes ARABIS
and VIOLET, CAM ship MAPLIN, minesweepers NIGER and SPEEDWELL, and three anti-submarine trawlers
joined the convoy.
U.651 sank British steamer GRAYBURN (6342grt) in
59-30N, 18-07W.
Thirty five crewmen were lost on the
steamer.Eighteen crewmen were rescued.
U.651 was sunk by destroyers MALCOLM and SCIMITAR,
corvettes ARABIS and VIOLET, and minesweeper SPEEDWELL in 59-52N, 18-36W. The
entire crew was rescued.
______
U.66 in attacks on stragglers from convoy SL.78
sank Greek steamer GEORGE J. GOULANDRIS (4345grt) at 29-05N, 25-10W and Greek
steamer KALYPSO VERGOTTI (5686grt) at 29N, 25W. The entire crew of steamer
GEORGE J. GOULANDRIS were rescued.
______
U.123 sank British steamer RIO AZUL (4088grt) from convoy SL.78 at 29N, 25W. Two
crewmen drowned, nine died on raft or later on rescue ship, and twenty two
crewmen were missing. Fifteen crewmen were rescued.
______
U.564 sank Icelandic steamer HEKLA (1215grt) in 58-20N, 43W.
Fourteen crewmen were lost on the steamer.
______
British steamer CUSHENDALL (626grt) was sunk by
German bombing in 56-57N, 2-03W. Two crewmen were killed on the steamer.
______
British steamer SILVERLAUREL (6142grt) was damaged
by German bombing in King George Dock, Hull.
______
British steamer EMPIRE METEOR (7457grt) was damaged
by German bombing in 53-05N, 1-30E.
The steamer arrived in the Humber on the 30th in tow.
______
British tug EMPIRE LARCH (487grt) was damaged by
German bombing off Great Yarmouth.
The steamer arrived at Great Yarmouth on the 30th
______
Norwegian tanker LEIESTEN (6118grt) was damaged on
a mine offB 3 Buoy, Barrow Deep.
The tanker arrived at Gravesend on the 30th in tow.
______
Light cruiser NAIAD and two destroyers operated off
Damur during the night of 29/30 June and carried out minor bombardments.
______
Destroyer JERVIS was detached from operations off
Syria to Alexandria.
______
Destroyer DEFENDER and Australian destroyer
WATERHEN, carrying supplies to Tobruk, were attacked by German bombers.
Destroyer WATERHEN was badly damaged at 2005.As
destroyer DEFENDER approached to tow, a submarine was sighted close ahead of
the destroyer.Anti-submarine attacks were conducted on Italian submarine
TEMBIEN, but no damage was done.
The Australian destroyer was taken in tow by
destroyer DEFENDER.
Destroyer WATERHEN capsized and was lost in 32-15N,
25-20E at 0150/30th.
There were no casualties on the destroyer.
Destroyer JACKAL departed Alexandria to assist destroyer WATERHEN, but when it was
found she had been lost, she returned with destroyer DEFENDER.
______
Submarine URGE unsuccessfully attacked an Italian
GORIZIA heavy cruiser at 0914 in 37-55N, 15-35E.
Heavy cruiser BOLZANO was in the company of a second heavy cruiser and four
destroyers.
The submarine was heavily counterattacked, but did
not sustain damage.
______
Submarine UTMOST unsuccessfully attacked an Italian
heavy cruiser in the same force on that day.
______
Destroyers WISHART and AVONVALE departed Gibraltar to meet arriving armed merchant cruiser CILICIA escorting troopship CAMERONIA from
Freetown. The destroyers relieved the cruiser and took the
troopship to Gibraltar, arriving on 4 July.
______
Light cruiser DANAE arrived at Penang.
______
Light cruiser DAUNTLESS arrived at Singapore.
______
American aircraft carrier YORKTOWN, heavy cruisers
QUINCY and VINCENNES, and destroyers WAINWRIGHT, HAMMANN, MUSTIN, and STACK
departed Hampton Roads on neutrality patrol.Aircraft carrier YORKTOWN and
destroyers WAINWRIGHT and STACK are detached on 10 July and arrived back at
Hampton Roads on 12 July.
Heavy cruisers QUINCY and VINCENNES and destroyers HAMMANN and MUSTIN continued patrol
and arrived at Bermuda on 15 July.
Monday, 30 June
Battlecruiser REPULSE, Dutch light cruiser
HEEMSKERK, and destroyers COSSACK, SIKH, INGLEFIELD, ACHATES, ACTIVE,
ANTELOPE, and INTREPID arrived in the Clyde at 0800 after escorting convoy TC.11.
______
Convoy OB.341 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers ST ALBANS and WESTCOTT and corvettes AURICULA, FREESIA,
HIBISCUS, MARIGOLD, MYOSOTIS, and PERIWINKLE. Corvette PERIWINKLE was
detached on 4 July. The destroyers and corvettes FREESIA and MYOSOTIS were
detached on 5 July. The convoy was dispersed on 6 July.
______
Heavy cruiser NORFOLK departed
Scapa Flow and
arrived in the Tyne at 2200 for refitting.
______
Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK departed Iceland to relieve light cruiser MANCHESTER on Denmark Straits patrol.
______
Light cruiser ARETHUSA arrived at Scapa Flow after Faroes Iceland patrol.
______
Destroyer CROOME departed Greenock at 1630 to work up at Scapa Flow, where
she arrived at 1400 on 1 July.
______
U.66 sank British steamer ST ANSELM (5614grt) in
31N, 26W.
Thirty four crewmen were lost on the steamer.
______
Light cruiser DUNEDIN captured Vichy French steamer VILLE DE TAMATAVE
(4993grt) east of St
Paul.
______
Dutch submarine O.23 sank Italian steamer CAPACITAS
(5371grt) south of Livorna, seven miles off San Vincenzo in 43-06N, 10-26E.
The submarine unsuccessfully attacked a second
steamer in the Ligurian
Sea.
______
Submarine
TORBAY sank a
caique off Cape Malea with artillery.
______
German air attacks on a Tobruk bound convoy
composed of Greek steamers MIRANDA (279grt) and Greek ANTIKLIA (951grt),
which departed Mersa Matruh on the 29th escorted by sloop FLAMINGO, trawler
SOUTHERN ISLE, and gunboat CRICKET.
The convoy was taken under attack by a large German
bombing force from 1340/30th.
Sloop FLAMINGO was damaged by a near miss.
Gunboat CRICKET was severely damaged.She was towed
back to Alexandria by sloop FLAMINGO and later tug ST ISSEY. On 2
July, gunboat CRICKET arrived at Alexandria in the tow of tug ST ISSEY.
Sloop FLAMINGO also arrived at Alexandria on 2 July.
The gunboat was judged to be a total loss.
______
Greek cruiser GEORGIOS AVEROFF, destroyer PANTHER,
torpedo boat SPHENDONI, submarine KATSONIS, and depot ship HIPHAISTOS
departed Alexandria, escorted by Greek destroyers IERAX and AETOS, for
the transit of the Canal.
These Greek ships were temporarily stationed at
Suez.
______
Ocean boarding vessels MARSDALE and MALVERNIAN were
ordered to sweep to locate an unidentified freighted sighted by air on 25/26
June.
______
Convoy HX.136 departed Halifax, escorted by armed merchant
cruisers ASCANIA and CALIFORNIA, corvettes ARROWHEAD, CAMELLIA, EYEBRIGHT, and MAYFLOWER,
anti-submarine yacht PHILANTE, and anti-submarine trawler KOS XX.
Convoy BHX.136 departed Bermuda on the 28th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA.
The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.136 on 3 July and the armed merchant
cruiser was detached.
On 4 July, destroyers BURNHAM and CHESTERFIELD, corvettes AGASSIZ and WETASKIWIN joined.
Destroyer CHURCHILL joined on 6 July. On 13 July, the original escorts and
those joining on 4, less trawler KOS XX, and 6 July were detached. Destroyers
KEPPEL, SABRE, and SHIKARI, corvettes DIANELLA and KINGCUP, minesweeper HEBE,
and anti-submarine trawlers LADY ELSA and WELLARD joined. The convoy arrived
at Liverpool on 18 July.
______
Light cruiser ENTERPRISE departed Colombo on patrol.
June, miscellaneous
Destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER joined in Tobruk
reinforcement duties.
