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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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