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

NAVAL EVENTS, AUGUST 1941 (Part 1 of 2)
Friday 1st - Thursday 14th

HMS Audacity, escort carrier (Cyberheritage - no enlargement)

on to AUGUST 1941, Part 2

 

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

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

 


Background Events - June-November 1941

Invasion of Russia, Malta Convoys, Japan prepares for war


 

 

1941

 

 

Friday, 1 August

 

Heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE arrived at Akureyri from Denmark Strait patrol. Later that day, she departed for Hvalfjord, arriving on the 2nd.

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Monitor EREBUS arrived at Scapa Flow, escorted by destroyer QUORN.

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Destroyer LIVELY arrived at Scapa Flow from Greenock at 0900 to work up.

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Minesweeper HARRIER arrived at Scapa Flow at 1400 to take the place of minesweeper NIGER, which had developed defects.

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 Steamer TRIDENT (4317grt) was badly damaged by German bombing four miles 208° from 20C Buoy, Tyne, but the entire crew were rescued. TRIDENT sank on the 2nd.

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Corvette HYACINTH departed Port Said with motor transport ship SALAMAUA for Famagusta in Serial S.11 of the GUILLOTINE operation. They arrived on the 3rd.

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Destroyers JERVIS, KINGSTON, JACKAL, and NIZAM departed Alexandria to sweep north of Bardia for a reported submarine. A flying boat cooperating in the search was shot down by the submarine Italian DELFINO, but the destroyers had no contact. The destroyers arrived back at Alexandria on the 2nd.

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Destroyers HERO and DECOY departed Alexandria on a supply run to Tobruk.

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Submarine THUNDERBOLT departed Gibraltar with aviation spirits for Malta, arriving on the 8th. After delivering the aviation spirits at Malta, the submarine departed on the 10th and arrived at Alexandria on the 18th.

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Convoy HX.142 departed Halifax, escorted by destroyer ANNAPOLIS, armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA, and corvettes COLLINGWOOD and ROSTHERN. Corvette ROSTHERN was detached later that day. Corvettes DAUPHIN and NAPANEE joined on the 2nd and were detached later that day. Destroyer ANNAPOLIS was detached on the 3rd. Destroyer CHESTERFIELD and corvettes HEPATICA, TRILLIUM, and WINDFLOWER joined on the 4th, destroyer CHURCHILL and corvettes ARROWHEAD and EYEBRIGHT joined on the 5th, and corvette CAMILLIA joined on the 6th. Corvette COLLINGWOOD was detached on the 5th and the remaining escorts were detached on the 12th when relieved by destroyers BEAGLE, BOADICEA, KEPPEL, SABRE, SALISBURY, SHIKARI, and SKATE, corvettes HEATHER, ORCHIS, andSNOWDROP, minesweepers HAZARD, HEBE, and SEAGULL,and anti-submarine trawlers ARAB, AYRSHIRE, and NORWICH CITY. Destroyers KEPPEL, SHIKARI, and SKATE, the minesweepers, and the trawlers were detached on the 13th. On the 14th, destroyer SALISBURY was detached, on the 15th, destroyer SABRE and corvette ORCHIS were detached, on the 16th, destroyer BEAGLE. On the 17th, corvette ARABIS joined and on the 18th, the convoy arrived at Liverpool with destroyer BOADICEA and corvette ARABIS.

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Convoy SC.39 departed Sydney, CB , escorted by armed merchant cruiser MALOJA and corvettes BARRIE and CHICOUTIMI. These three escorts were detached on the 4th. On the 4th, destroyer CHESTERFIELD and corvettes BUCTOUCHE, HEPATICA, TRILLIUM, and WINDFLOWER joined the convoy. Corvettes HEPATICA and TRILLIUM were detached on the 8th and remainder of the escorts were detached on the 12th, when relieved by destroyers KEPPEL, LINCOLN, and SHIKARI, corvettes ALISMA, DIANELLA, MATAPEDIA, and SUNFLOWER, minesweepers HAZARD and HEBE, and anti-submarine trawlers MAN O.WAR and NORTHERN DAWN. Thisescort group was detached on the 17th. Destroyers BOADICEA and SABRE joined on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 19th.

 

 

Saturday, 2 August

 

Destroyer HEYTHROP departed Scapa Flow for Greenock at 1300 on completion of working up exercises, and arrived at 1100/3rd.

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Destroyer ORIBI departed Scapa Flow at 1630 for Scrabster to convey Admiral Horton to Scapa Flow, and arrived back at 2030.

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Minesweeper HARRIER departed Scapa Flow at 2330 for Seidisfjord, where she arrived at 0100/5th.

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Anti-aircraft ship CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 0615 to provide escort for convoy WN.60 from the Pentland Firth until joining convoy EC.53 at 2300. She parted company with convoy EC.53 in Pentland Firth at 2115/3rd and arrived at Scapa Flow.

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 Steamer KOOLGA (1110grt) was damaged by German bombing in 52-40-03N, 2-11E, near 54.D Buoy, Smiths Knoll, and arrived in tow at Great Yarmouth on the 3rd.

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LL magnetic minesweeper SOIKA was recalled from Port Said to aid in minesweeping at Tobruk. Corvette SALVIA departed Beirut to relieve her at Port Said. SOIKA proceeded to Alexandria and minesweeping whaler SOTRA departed Alexandria for Tobruk.

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Australian destroyer VENDETTA and destroyer HAVOCK, en route to Tobruk, were attacked by German bombers and fighters. South African air support was able to repulse the attack and the destroyers were undamaged.

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 tanker LAURELWOOD and Panamanian tanker NORVINN departed Gibraltar for Curacoa and Trinidad, respectively, escorted until dark on the 4th by destroyer WISHART and anti-submarine trawler LADY HOGARTH.

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Dutch submarine O.23 departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

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Motor launches ML.130, ML.129, and ML.168 departed Gibraltar to conduct an anti-submarine search north of Alboran Island.

 

 

Sunday, 3 August

 

Aircraft carrier FURIOUS, heavy cruiser SUFFOLK (right - NavyPhotos) and destroyers INTREPID, ECHO, and ECLIPSE arrived at Seidisfjord at 1000 on completion of Operation EF. The ships went on to Scapa Flow after refuelling. FURIOUS, ECHO and ECLIPSE arrived at 0830/5th. INTREPID which had been separated in bad weather, proceeded to Loch Ewe to fuel and arrived at 1115. The destroyer later proceeded to Greenock.

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Heavy cruiser BERWICK departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow and arrived later that day. Turbine problems had not yet been repaired and she was only capable of a maximum of 22.5 knots.

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Destroyer QUORN departed Scapa Flow at 1200 after a short period of practices for Rosyth.

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Destroyers HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, and HARVESTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 0815 from Reykjavik.

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Destroyer ANTHONY departed Scapa Flow for Scrabster at 1615 to embark special personnel, and arrived back later that evening.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 1800 and escorted convoy WN.61 to southward. On the 4th, she transferred to convoy EC.54 in the vicinity of Tod Head, and arrived at Scapa Flow at 0030/6th after parting from the convoy to the west of the Orkneys.

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Minesweeper NIGER departed Scapa Flow at 0300 for Dundee to refit, arriving at 2100 for refitting which was completed on 28 September. She returned to Dundee on 6 October for further refitting which continued until 15 December.

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 CAM (Catapult-Armed Merchantman) ship MAPLIN, which had left convoy OG.70 en route to convoy SL.81, scored the first success for a ship of this type when her Hurricane shot down a German FW 200 aircraft. LT (A) R. W. H. Everett RNVR was the pilot, and after his success, landed in the sea near destroyer WANDERER of convoy SL.81 and was rescued.

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U.401 was sunk by convoy SL.81 escorts, destroyers WANDERER and ST.ALBANS and corvette HYDRANGEA, formerly of convoy SC.81, south of Iceland, in 50-27N, 19-50W. The entire crew of forty four were lost. Destroyer CAMPBELTOWN and corvettes LA MALOUINE, ZINNIA, CAMPANULA, BLUEBELL, WALLFLOWER, CARNATION, and HELIOTROPE were also escorting this convoy.

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Convoy WS.10 was formed at sea from ships departing Avonmouth on 30 July, Liverpool on 31 July, and the Clyde on the 2nd. It was composed of steamers PHEMIUS, DIOMED, INDIAN PRINCE, INDRAPOERA, ANDES, RANGITIKI, ORCADES, BRITANNIC, HIGHLAND MONARCH, MANCHESTER PORT, STARTHALLAN, VOLENDAM, CAMERONIA, REINA DEL PACIFICO, NEA HELLAS, STIRLING CASTLE, WINDSOR CASTLE, WARWICK CASTLE, and NIGERSTROOM.

 

On the 6th, steamers WINDSOR CASTLE and WARWICK CASTLE collided. WARWICK CASTLE was detached to Halifax and escorted by armed merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE.

 

The convoy was escorted by armed merchant cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE and destroyers GURKHA, PIORUN, ISAAC SWEERS, BROADWAY, LANCE, and LEGION from 2 to 6 August.

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO and destroyers WHITEHALL, WITCH, and WINCHELSEA escorted the convoy from 2 to 5 August.

 

Heavy cruiser LONDON escorted the convoy from 2 to 10 August. On the 10th, light cruiser EDINBURGH, which departed Gibraltar on the 8th, relieved the heavy cruiser and escorted the convoy until 17 August when it arrived at Freetown. The heavy cruiser proceeded to 40N, 30W to attempt to intercept an armed enemy merchant ship reported by civil aircraft.

 

Destroyers WRESTLER and VELOX and corvette BERGAMOT escorted the convoy from 14 to 17 August and corvette CYCLAMEN escorted the convoy from 15 to 17 August.

 

Destroyer JUPITER was involved in the escort of the convoy at some time prior to the arrival at Freetown.

 

The convoy arrived at Freetown on the 17th. The convoy departed on the 21st, escorted by light cruiser EDINBURGH to 2 September when BRITANNIC, INDRAPOERA, REINA DEL PACIFICO, STIRLING CASTLE, STRATHALLAN, VOLENDAM, WINDSOR CASTLE, NIGERSTROOM , and PHEMIUS arrived at Capetown.

 

On 6 September, liners ORCADES, ANDES, CAMERONIA, HIGHLAND PATRIOT, NEA HELLAS, RANGITIKI, DIOMED, INDIAN PRINCE, and MANCHESTER PORT arrived at Durban, escorted by heavy cruiser HAWKINS.

 

On 6 September, liners BRITANNIC, STIRLING CASTLE, WINDSOR CASTLE, VOLENDAM, INDRAPOERA, STRATHALLAN, NIGERSTROOM, and PHEMIUS departed Capetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE.

 

Liner BRITANNIC was detached on 8 September to Durban to embark passengers from liner CAMERONIA. She rejoined with steamer ARONDA departing Durban on 9 September with heavy cruiser HAWKINS.

 

On rendezvous, armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE was detached with VOLENDAM, INDRAPOERA, PHEMIUS, and NIGERSTROOM to Durban.

 

Heavy cruiser HAWKINS then escorted the convoy until 15 September in 3-25S, 51-12E, when light cruiser EMERALD took over the escort of the convoy.

 

The convoy arrived at Bombay on 20 September.

 

Steamers not departing Capetown on 6 September went forward to Aden in convoy CM.17.

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Convoy OS.2 departed Liverpool. On the 4th, destroyers CHELSEA and WOLVERINE joined the convoy and were detached on the 8th. Also joining on the 4th were sloop SANDWICH which was detached on the 19th, corvettes GENTIAN, HIBISCUS, and MYOSOTIS which were detached on the 8th, and anti-submarine yacht PHILANTE which was detached on the 19th. French sloop COMMANDANT DOMINE joined the convoy on the 4th and was detached on the 18th.

 

On the 7th, destroyers VICEROY and WOOLSTON joined the convoy and were detached on 9 and 10 August, respectively.

 

On the 19th, destroyer BRILLIANT and corvettes AMARANTHUS, ARMERIA, and WOODRUFF joined the convoy and arrived at Freetown with the convoy on the 22nd.

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Dutch submarine O.21 unsuccessfully attacked a sailing vessel south of Sardinia.

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Submarine UTMOST arrived at Malta from patrol.

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Belgian motor vessel ESCAUT (1087grt) was sunk by German bombing 17.3 cables 232° from South Beacon Ships Head, Attika Bay, Suez. The Master and two crew were missing.

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Belgian tanker ALEXANDRE ANDRE (5322grt) was damaged by German bombing eight miles S of Suez.

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Australian sloop PARRAMATTA arrived at Port Said from Famagusta.

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Sloop FLAMINGO departed Port Said with motor transport ship KEVINBANK for Famagusta in Serial S.12 of the GUILLOTINE operation. they arrived on the 5th.

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Australian minesweeper BATHURST passed through the Suez Canal and proceeded to Alexandria for duty with the Mediterranean Fleet. BATHURST and LISMORE had been retained at Suez to assist with the large liners of the US.11A convoy.

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Tanker DESMOULEA (8120grt) was damaged by German bombing at Suez off the west beacon, and towed to Bombay for repairs.

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Italian steamer ELISA (216grt) was sunk by British bombing off Benghazi.

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Destroyers WIVERN, WILD SWAN, and BOREAS departed Freetown at 0800 to proceed to Bathurst to refuel en route to Gibraltar.

 

 

Monday, 4 August

 

Destroyers ORIBI and CROOME departed Scapa Flow at 0720 for Scrabster and returned to Scapa Flow at 1130 with personnel.

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Battleship PRINCE OF WALES departed Scapa Flow at 1730 escorted by destroyers ORIBI, HAVELOCK, HARVESTER, and HESPERUS, but ORIBI returned to Scapa Flow that evening. The other destroyers were detached at 0030/5th in heavy weather and proceeded to Reykjavik.

 

On the 6th, the battleship was met by Canadian destroyers RESTIGOUCHE and ASSINIBOINE and destroyer RIPLEY, which came out from Iceland.

 

PRINCE OF WALES and her destroyer escort arrived at Placentia Bay on the 9th.

 

In harbour at this time were American battleship ARKANSAS, heavy cruisers AUGUSTA and TUSCALOOSA, destroyers MCDOUGAL, MADISON, SAMPSON, WINSLOW, MOFFETT, BELKNAP, RHIND, and MAYRANT, Destroyer READING, and American oiler SALINAS.

 

RESTIGOUCHE while refuelling touched ground and damaged her screws. She was repaired at St Johns and Halifax, completing on 9 October.

 

The Atlantic Charter was signed on the 10th.

 

PRINCE OF WALES departed Placentia Bay on the 14th escorted by RIPLEY, ASSINIBOINE, SAGUENAY, and READING and the American RHIND and MAYRANT.

 

RIPLEY and READING were detached on the 16th.

 

Destroyers TARTAR, PUNJABI, and ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow at 1530/11th and arrived at Hvalfjord at 2100/12th. The destroyers put to sea on the 14th to meet the battleship.

 

At 0900/16th, the battleship arrived at Hvalfjord, escorted by TARTAR, PUNJABI, and ESCAPADE. Churchill went on to Reykjavik on ASSINIBOINE.

 

Churchill addressed the crews of ships at Hvalfjord on this date. Included at Hvalfjord on the 16th were American battleship NEW MEXICO, battleship RAMILLIES, heavy cruisers SHROPSHIRE and QUINCEY, five destroyers, including CHURCHILL, five US.destroyers and destroyer depot ship HECLA.

 

PRINCE OF WALES departed Hvalfjord at 2045/16th escorted by TARTAR, PUNJABI, and ESCAPADE.

 

On the 17th, when a submarine was reported off Cape Wrath, destroyers ECLIPSE and ORIBI departed Scapa Flow to search for the submarine. The destroyers joined the battleship at midnight on the 17th.

 

The battleship, escorted by the five destroyers, arrived at Scapa Flow at 0900/20th.

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Ex-US Coast Guard cutter. escort ship BANFF was damaged in a collision with a Thames lighter in the Thames Estuary. She had just departed Tilbury, and returned following for repairs, which were completed on the 8th.

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Submarines TIGRIS and TRIDENT departed Holy Loch 26 July and 1 August, respectively and arrived at Polyarnoe on the 4th and 10 August. They were relieved by submarines SEALION and SEAWOLF, which departed Portsmouth on 16 and 25 October, respectively and arrived at Polyarnoe on 6 and 10 November. These two then returned to Home Waters in December, and were relieved by submarine STURGEON which departed Scapa Flow on 1 January and arrived on 11 January.

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 Steamer TUNISIA (4337grt) was sunk by German bombing in 53-53N, 18-10W. Thirty eight crew of a crew of 43 were missing.

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U.126 sank fishing trawler ROBERT MAX (172grt) with gunfire in 36-47N, 21-15W. The crew of six were all rescued and landed at Ponta Delgada.

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Force H and Force X arrived at Gibraltar.

 

On the 8th, destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, ZULU, and LIGHTNING escorted battlecruiser RENOWN and troopship PASTEUR, carrying 15 officers and 157 ratings of damaged light cruiser MANCHESTER to the Clyde.

 

Destroyers INGLEFIELD, IMPULSIVE, and ECLIPSE departed Scapa Flow at 2000/11th to meet the battlecruiser at 1700/12th in 55-45N, 13W and escort her to Rosyth for refitting, arriving at 0945/14th. INGLEFIELD was taken in hand for boiler cleaning.

 

The Force H destroyers and the troopship arrived in the Clyde. MAORI proceeded to London for refitting. The other two Tribal destroyers returned to the Mediterranean escorting convoy WS.11 which departed the Clyde on the 30th. LIGHTNING returned to the Home Fleet.

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Submarine UNIQUE arrived at Malta from patrol.

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Light cruiser CALEDON departed Suez for Bombay where she was refitting from 18 August to 13 October.

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Light cruiser CARLISLE departed Alexandria for Suez to provide anti-aircraft defense.

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Light cruiser NEPTUNE, minelaying cruiser ABDIEL, and destroyers JACKAL and KIPLING departed Alexandria for Port Said for one serial of GUILLOTINE operation. The ships would then relieve light cruiser HOBART and destroyers at Haifa.

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Destroyers JAGUAR and NIZAM carried supplies to Tobruk.

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Minesweeping whaler SOTRA (A/Lt J. M. Davies RCNVR) was attacked by German aircraft off Mersa Matruh. T/Skipper W. T. Allen RNR, was killed.

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Corvette VERVAIN broke down with boiler problems at 18-50N, 20-35W while on patrol duty . On the 5th, she was able to proceed on one boiler, but by mid-afternoon on the 8th, could not steam at all with both boilers defective. Corvette CLOVER took her in tow for Freetown, arriving on the 9th.

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Ocean boarding vessel CAVINA intercepted German steamer FRANKFURT (5522grt) west of the Azores in 31-34N, 37-42W. The steamer scuttled herself to avoid capture, and 26 crew were rescued. A second boatload refused to be picked up and were lost. CALVINA arrived at Gibraltar on the 11th.

 

 

Tuesday, 5 August

 

Heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE, aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS, and destroyers INGLEFIELD, ICARUS, and ESCAPADE arrived at Seidisfjord. The ships departed the next day for Scapa Flow, where they arrived on the 7th.

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Heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE departed Hvalfjord to cover minelaying cruiser ADVENTURE's return from Archangel. After successfully escorting ADVENTURE, SHROPSHIRE arrived back at Hvalfjord on the 10th. ADVENTURE arrived at Loch Alsh on the 11th.

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French submarine MINERVE arrived at Scapa Flow from a submarine patrol off the Faroes.

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Convoy SL.81 was attacked on the 5th by U-boats. U.372 sank steamers BELGRAVIAN (3136grt) in 53-03N, 16-54W and SWIFTPOOL (5205grt) in 53-03N, 16-00W. Two crew were lost from BELGRAVIAN, and forty two crew from SWIFTPOOL out of a crew of 49.

 

U.372 claimed to have damaged steamer VOLTURNO (3424grt), but she was undamaged, and U.204 made a similar claim for another large steamer.

 

U.75 sank steamer HARLINGEN (5415grt) and badly damaged CAPE RODNEY (4512grt) in 53-26N, 15-40W. Two crew were lost on HARLINGEN, but the entire crew of CAPE RODNEY was rescued. CAPE RODNEY was taken in tow for Rothesay Bay, but sank in tow on the 9th in 52-44N, 11-41W.

 

U.74 made four attacks on the convoy (presumably and sank steamer KUMASIAN (4922grt) in 53-26N, 15-40W, with the loss of one crewman.

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Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, light cruiser NAIAD, and destroyer JERVIS, KINGSTON, HERO, and VENDETTA departed Alexandria for exercises. Battleship, cruiser, HERO and VENDETTA arrived back at Alexandria on the 6th. However, JERVIS and KINGSTON were detached for Mersa Matruh to intercept a reported enemy supply ship. No contact was made and they returned to Alexandria, arriving on the 7th.

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Australian light cruiser HOBART and destroyers KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, and KIPLING arrived at Port Said from Haifa. They sailed again later that day for Famagusta in Serial S.14 of the GUILLOTINE operation. They arrived on the 8th.

 

The light cruiser and the destroyers arrived back at Alexandria on the 6th.

 

Australian sloop PARRAMATTA departed Port Said, escorting motor ship GUJARAT to Famagusta in Serial S.12 of the GUILLOTINE operation. they arrived on the 7th.

 

Light cruiser NEPTUNE, minelaying cruiser ABDIEL, and destroyers JACKAL and KIPLING arrived at Port Said from Alexandria. KIPLING departed that day for Serial S.14 of the GUILLOTINE Operation.

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Greek destroyer KONDOURIOTIS departed Alexandria carrying torpedoes for Fleet Air Arm Squadron 815 at Famagusta, and arrived back at Alexandria on the 7th.

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Destroyers HERO and DECOY carried supplies to Tobruk.

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Cruiser minelayer MANXMAN and light cruiser ARETHUSA departed Gibraltar for Loch Alsh and the Clyde, respectively. ARETHUSA arrived in the Clyde on the 10th.

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Convoy SL.83 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruisers CATHAY and CITY OF DURBAN to 28 August, destroyer BRILLIANT to 11 August, sloop MILFORD to 9 August, and corvettes ANCHUSA, ASPHODEL, and CALENDULA to 8 August and LAVENDER to 7 August. The corvettes joined convoy OS.1 and escorted it to Freetown.

 

Sloop WELLINGTON to 28 August and escort vessels CULVER to 28 August and LANDGUARD to 23 July joined on the 8th.

 

On the 22nd, ocean boarding vessel CORINTHIAN joined to 28 August.

 

Destroyers CHELSEA and WOLVERINE joined on the 24th to 28 August.

 

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 28th.

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Convoy HX.143 departed Halifax escorted by destroyers ANNAPOLIS and NIAGARA and armed merchant cruiser WOLFE. The destroyers were detached that night. Corvettes DAUPHIN and NAPANEE joined on the 6th and were detached on the 7th. Destroyer BURNHAM and corvettes AGASSIZ, GALT, LEVIS, and MAYFLOWER joined on the 8th. The escorts were detached on the 17th when relieved by destroyers MALCOLM, SARDONYX, SCIMITAR, and WATCHMAN, corvettes ARABIS, VERBENA, and VIOLET, and anti-submarine trawlers NORTHERN GEM, NORTHERN PRIDE, and NORTHERN WAVE. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 20th.

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American heavy cruisers NORTHAMPTON and SALT LAKE CITY arrived at Brisbane, followed by Port Moresby on the 13th and Rabaul on the 16th on goodwill visits.

 

 

Wednesday, 6 August

 

Destroyers CASTLETON, CHARLESTOWN, and ECHO departed Scapa Flow at 1000 for Greenock to join destroyer INTREPID, which departed Loch Alsh for the Clyde, for escort duties with convoy SW.8 C.

 

The destroyers arrived at 0700/7th.

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Destroyer IMPULSIVE departed the Humber at 1900 on completion of refitting for Scapa Flow.

 

The destroyer arrived at 1630/7th.

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Anti-aircraft ship CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 1000 to join convoy EC.55 off Buchan Ness and escort it to Pentland Firth.

 

After this escort, the ship arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0345/7th.

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Convoy ON.4 departed Liverpool, escorted by corvette SNOWDROP and minesweeper SEAGULL. The convoy was joined on the 7th by corvettes HEATHER, ORCHIS, and PICOTEE, and anti-submarine trawlers ARAB, AYRSHIRE, and ST.LOMAN. Destroyers BEAGLE, BOADICEA, ROSBOROUGH, and SALISBURY, and anti-submarine trawlers LADY MADELEINE and NORWICH CITY on the 8th. These escorts were all detached on the 12th. On the 11th, corvettes BITTERSWEET, CANDYTUFT, and FENNEL joined and on the 15th, corvettes ALBERNI, ORILLIA, and PRIMROSE joined. The corvettes escorted the convoy until it was dispersed on the 18th.

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Convoy ON.5 departed Liverpool, escorted by anti-submarine trawlers MAN O WAR and NORTHERN DAWN. On the 7th, destroyers KEPPEL, LINCOLN, and SHIKARI and corvettes ALISMA, DIANELLA, and SUNFLOWER. Minesweepers HAZARD and HEBE joined on the 8th. These escorts were all detached on the 11th. On the 11th, destroyer SKEENA, armed merchant cruiser MONTCLARE, and corvettes ALBERNI, ORILLIA, and PRIMROSE joined. These escorts were detached on the 14th when the convoy was dispersed.

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Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 1830 and escorted convoy WN.62 to May Island.

 

The ship arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0300 after parting company with convoy EC.56 in Pentland Firth.

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Anti-submarine trawler AGATE (627grt, Lt L. H. Cline RNVR) was lost when she ran aground off Cromer in heavy weather. Cline, T/Sub Lt P. G. Beard RNVR, T/Sub Lt A. G. Tree RNVR, and the entire crew were lost.

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U.652 sank Soviet anti-submarine trawler KAPITAN VORONIN (558grt) off Cape Teriberka.

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Dutch submarine O.24 sank Italian steamer BOMBARDIERE (613grt) six miles off Fregene in 41-47N, 12-06E.

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On the 4th, an Italian convoy of steamers AQUITANIA (4971grt), NITA (6813grt), CASTELVERDE (6666grt), ERNESTO (7272grt), and NIRVO (5164grt) departed Naples for Tripoli escorted by destroyers AVIERE, GENIERE, CAMICIA NERA, GIOBERTI, ORIANI and torpedo boat CALLIOPE. Tanker POZARICA joined from Palermo on the 5th. On the 6th, NITA was sunk by British aircraft of 830 Squadron from Malta 20 miles SW of Lampedusa in 35-15N, 12-17E. Destroyer CAMICIA NERA and torpedo boat CALLIOPE assisted her. The convoy arrived at Tripoli on the 7th.

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Anti-aircraft ship CARLISLE arrived at Suez to give anti-aircraft protection to ships in the anchorage.

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Destroyers HAVOCK and DECOY ran supplies to Tobruk.

 

Destroyers NIZAM and JAGUAR departed Alexandria later that day to carry supplies to Tobruk. The destroyers arrived back at Alexandria on the 7th.

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Netlayer PROTECTOR departed Alexandria for Suez with nets to be laid as anti torpedo baffles.

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Convoy HG.34F of steamers THERMOPYLAE and TALABOT for New York and LEINSTER and AMERIKA for Liverpool departed Gibraltar escorted by destroyers FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, HIGHLANDER, and WISHART.

 

Destroyer WISHART was detached on the 8th and proceeded to Southampton for refitting. Destroyer FORESIGHT was detached on the 8th to convoy OG.70 and return to Gibraltar. Destroyer FOXHOUND was detached on the 13th for refitting at Sheerness. Destroyer HIGHLANDER arrived with the two steamers at Liverpool on the 14th.

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Destroyer HIGHLANDER, which departed Freetown on 30 July, arrived at Gibraltar.

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Dutch submarine O.21 arrived at Gibraltar from patrol in the Mediterranean.

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American aircraft carrier WASP, battleship MISSISSIPPI, heavy cruisers QUINCY, WICHITA and five destroyers arrived at Reykjavik with transport AMERICAN LEGION, stores ship MIZAR and cargo ship ALMAACK with US Army troops.

 

 

Thursday, 7 August

 

Destroyers ANTELOPE and ACTIVE arrived Seidisfjord at 0600 on completion of Operation EF.

 

ACTIVE departed later in the day for Scapa Flow arriving at 1330/8th.

 

ANTELOPE departed at 2200 escorting damaged destroyer ACHATES in the tow of tug ASSURANCE sailing for the Tyne.

 

At 2200/10th, the destroyers arrived at the Faroes after having been hove to in bad weather. They later arrived at Skaalefjord at 1230/11th.

 

ANTELOPE departed and went on to Scapa Flow, arriving at 2200/11th.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE, aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS, and destroyers INGLEFIELD, ICARUS, and ESCAPADE arrived at Scapa Flow at 2330 on completion of Operation EF.

_____

 

Light cruisers NIGERIA and AURORA and destroyers TARTAR and PUNJABI arrived at Scapa Flow at 1815 on completion of Operation FB.

_____

 

Destroyer SOMALI departed Southampton for Greenock on completion of refitting.

 

The destroyer arrived at Greenock at 1700/8th and sailed at 2200 for Scapa Flow, where she arrived at 1700/9th.

_____

 

Minesweeper HARRIER departed Seidisfjord to investigate a submarine and minesweeping search in Vidfjord.

_____

 

T/Sub Lt (A) J. R. Allen RNVR, Leading Airman A. A. Shields, and Mr. J. Goddard were killed when their Albacore of 820 Squadron crashed off Stokes Bay Pier.

_____

 

Motor minesweeper MMS.39 was lost on a mine in the Thames Estuary.

_____

 

Submarine SEVERN unsuccessfully attacked a submarine in 34-48N, 13-04W.

_____

 

 Tanker GOLD SHELL (8208grt) was damaged by German bombing in 55-05N, 1-32E. She was towed to Hull and then taken to Middlesborough for repairs.

_____

 

Dutch submarine O.24 sank Italian coastal steamer MARGHERITA MADRE (296grt) 15 miles off Anzio in 41-23N, 12-38E. The submarine had made an unsuccessful attack on another steamer in the Ligurian Sea four hours earlier.

_____

 

Light cruiser NEPTUNE, minelaying cruiser ABDIEL, and destroyer JACKAL departed Port Said for Famagusta in Serial S.15 of the GUILLOTINE operation. The troops were landed during the night of 7/8 August. They ships then proceeded to Haifa.

_____

 

Destroyers KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh, but they were recalled at dark.

_____

 

Tug AMIRAL LACAZE (332grt) was sunk by German bombing at Famagusta, but was later refloated and repaired.

_____

 

The 17th Motor Launch Flotilla of ML.242,ML 266, ML.256,ML 261, ML.263,ML 265, and ML.274 arrived at Gibraltar, escorted by anti-submarine whaler SOUTHERN GEM. ML.272 of the Flotilla arrived on the 8th, escorted by anti-submarine whaler SOUTHERN PRIDE. On the 16th, the Flotilla, escorted by the two whalers and anti-submarine trawler ARRAN departed Gibraltar for Bathurst, arriving on the 23rd. The ML’s and whalers proceeded to Freetown separately at the end of the month.

 

 

Friday, 8 August

 

Destroyer PUCKERIDGE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1300 from Rosyth to work up.

_____

 

Destroyer ACTIVE departed Scapa Flow at 2000 for Rosyth for boiler cleaning. The destroyer arrived at 0700/9th.

_____

 

Destroyer CROOME departed Scapa Flow at 1730 for Liverpool on completion of working up exercises, and arrived at 1500/9th.

_____

 

Polish destroyer GARLAND arrived at Hvalfjord with anti-submarine trawler SEALYHAM and oiler OLIGARCH, and then reverted to the Western Approaches Command.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft ship CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 1200 to escort convoy WN.63 from Pentland Firth southward. She arrived at Rosyth at 0600/11th to clean boilers and carry out repairs.

_____

 

Convoy WS.8C (Exercise LEAPFROG) departed the Clyde at 0500/8th with landing ships KARANJA, ROYAL SCOTSMAN, ULSTER MONARCH, BACHAQUERO, MISOA, QUEEN EMMA, and PRINCE CHARLES, oilers DEWDALE and ENNERDALE, steamers NARKUNDA, WINCHESTER CASTLE, BATORY, ORMONDE, CLAN MACDONALD, MACHARDA, SUFFOLK, DUNEDIN STAR, SILVERTEAK, and POTARO, escorted by destroyers BULLDOG, INTREPID, ECHO, CHARLESTOWN, CASTLETON, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, and WITCH. This convoy was the force for the intended seizure of the Azores Islands.

 

The convoy entered Scapa Flow on the 10th. Steamers SUFFOLK and POTARO were in a collision when entering Scapa Flow.

 

Destroyers DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, GEORGETOWN, and SALADIN arrived at Scapa Flow on the 15th to escort the convoy.

 

When the operation was cancelled, the ships, less SUFFOLK and POTARO, sailed for the Clyde at 1400/15th, escorted by destroyers DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, INTREPID, CHARLESTOWN, CASTLETON, GEORGETOWN, ANTELOPE, SALADIN, and LEAMINGTON and anti-aircraft ship POZARICA.

The convoy arrived back in the Clyde on the 17th.

_____

 

 Steam fishing trawler OCEAN VICTOR (202grt) was sunk by German bombing off Iceland.

_____

 

Minesweeper SELKIRK was damaged by a near miss of German bombing, but did not spend any time out of action.

_____

 

Swedish steamer VENERSBORG (1065grt) was damaged by bombing in the Great Belt, and towed to a Danish port.

_____

 

Soviet destroyer KARL MARX was sunk by German bombing at Reval.

_____

 

Destroyers HERO and JAGUAR departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh to intercept an enemy supply ship reported by air. No contact was made and the destroyers returned to Alexandria, arriving on the 9th.

_____

 

Destroyers DECOY and HOTSPUR were at sea exercising with submarine OTUS.

_____

 

Sloop FLAMINGO departed Port Said with motor transport ship SALAMAUA for Famagusta in Serial S.16 of the GUILLOTINE operation.

 

The sloop arrived at Famagusta on the 10th and sailed for Port Said, where she arrived on the 11th.

 

Serial S.17 of the Operation was cancelled.

_____

 

Destroyers VANSITTART and VELOX joined aircraft carrier EAGLE and light cruiser DUNEDIN at sea and escorted them to Freetown, arriving on the 10th.

_____

 

Convoy BA.4 departed Bombay, escorted by armed merchant cruiser HECTOR, sloop CORNWALLIS, and auxiliary patrol ship DIPAVATI. The sloop and patrol vessel were detached on the 9th. The convoy was dispersed on the 12th.

 

 

Saturday, 9 August

 

Destroyer ELECTRA, her refitting completed, departed Sheerness at 0615 as additional escort for convoy FN.503. Steamer CORDENE (2345grt) in the convoy was sunk by German bombing in 53-00-32N, 1-48-30E, but the entire crew was rescued. ELECTRA arrived at Scapa Flow on the 11th.

_____

 

Dutch submarine O.14 departed Scapa Flow for the Faroes and anti-submarine patrol.

_____

 

Motor gunboat MGB.62 was sunk in a collision in the North Sea.

_____

 

Norwegian submarine B.1 was damaged by an explosion of her battery and ammunition while under repair at Blyth.

_____

 

Steamer GLENDALOUGH (868grt) was damaged by German bombing in 52-56N, 2-02E, towed to Yarmouth Roads, then to Hull.

_____

 

Norwegian steamer DAGNY I (1392grt) was sent by light cruiser NIGERIA from Spitzbergen to Thorshavn, and safely arrived on the 7th. The steamer and whaler WASTWATER then departed at 1105/9th for Kirkwall. En route, DAGNY I was attacked by German bombers in 61-40N, 6-10W at 1430/9th and sank at 0900/10th in tow of trawler LEICESTER CITY. Two passengers were killed, and the survivors rescued by LEICESTER CITY.

 

Destroyer IMPULSIVE departed Scapa Flow at 0600/10th and proceeded to Thorshavn to embark the 61 survivors from the steamer. She arrived at 1800 and departed at 1930 for Scrabster, arrived there at 0700/11th and disembarked the volunteers. IMPULSIVE arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0840.

_____

 

German destroyers HANS LODY, FRIEDRICH ECKHOLDT, and RICHARD BEITZEN made a sweep towards Kilden Island and the mouth of the Kola Inlet, and sank Soviet patrol ship SKR.12. On their return, RICHARD BEITZEN was bombed and damaged by near misses from Soviet aircraft. The destroyers arrived back on the 10th.

_____

 

U.144 was sunk by Soviet submarine SC.307 in the Gulf of Bothnia.

_____

 

German steamer GERTRUD III (210grt) was sunk on a mine near Windau.

_____

 

Destroyers JERVIS and KINGSTON departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh, and returned to Alexandria on the 10th.

_____

 

Destroyers DECOY and HAVOCK departed Alexandria with supplies for Tobruk.

_____

 

Destroyers KANDAHAR and VENDETTA departed Alexandria to rescue a crew of a bomber in the sea about 180 miles northwest of Alexandria, but were later recalled.

_____

 

Convoy HG.70 departed Gibraltar, escorted by destroyers ERIDGE and AVONVALE, submarine CLYDE, corvettes BEGONIA, JASMINE, LARKSPUR, PIMPERNEL, and RHODODENDRON, and anti-submarine trawlers LADY HOGARTH and LADY SHIRLEY. The trawlers were detached that night.

 

Destroyers FAULKNOR joined the escort on the 10th as Senior Office Escort. She was returning to England for turbine repairs at Portsmouth.

 

CLYDE was detached and arrived at Gibraltar on the 11th. On the 11th, destroyers ENCOUNTER, NESTOR, sloop DEPTFORD, and corvette CONVOLVULUS joined. All but NESTOR of this group were detached that evening.

 

On the 12th, BOREAS and WILD SWAN joined the escort. They had departed Gibraltar on the 11th with destroyers DUNCAN and FORESTER, later joined by destroyer FURY, for an anti-submarine sweep west. After the sweep, the two destroyers proceeded to join HG.70.

 

Sloop STORK joined the convoy on the 13th and was detached that evening.

 

BOREAS and NESTOR were detached on the 13th, AVONVALE and ERIDGE on the 14th, and WILD SWAN on the 15th. They all arrived at Gibraltar on the 16th.

 

Destroyer COSSACK joined the escort on the 14th and was detached that night. Destroyer DUNCAN, which departed Gibraltar on the 13th, and sloop BLACK SWAN joined the escort on the 15th.

 

BLACK SWAN was detached on the 21st. DUNCAN arrived at Londonderry on the 20th; she departed on the 22nd for convoy OG.72 for the return to Gibraltar.

 

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 23rd.

_____

 

After a commercial aircraft sighted a suspicious merchant ship in 46-37N, 9-22W, destroyer WISHART, which had been detached from convoy HG.34F on the 8th, was directed to investigate.

 

Light cruiser HERMIONE departed Gibraltar at 2330/9th to attempt to locate merchant ship.

 

On the 10th, heavy cruiser LONDON, detached from convoy WS.10, also proceeded to this position.

 

No contact was made by any of the searching warships. On the 11th, HERMIONE was ordered to return to Gibraltar, arriving on the 13th.

_____

 

Destroyer DUNCAN departed Gibraltar to join destroyers WIVERN, WILD SWAN, and BOREAS, which had departed Freetown on the 3rd and refuelled at Bathurst, en route. WIVERN had developed condenser problems and was in tow. The four destroyers arrived at Gibraltar on the 10th.

_____

 

Submarine SEVERN sighted an Italian submarine in 35-16N, 10-09W, but the Italian submerged before SEVERN could attack.

_____

 

Submarine PARTHIAN arrived at Gibraltar from Malta. On the 11th, she departed Gibraltar for Portsmouth. On the 28th, she left Portsmouth and arrived at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 16 September for refitting completed on 30 January 1942.

 

 

Sunday, 10 August

 

Light cruiser ARETHUSA arrived in the Clyde from Gibraltar.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 2130 and escorted convoy WN.65 from Pentland Firth to Methil, where they arrived at 2039 on the 11th.

_____

 

U.79,U 93, U.94, U.109, U.124, U.126, U.331, and U.371 and Italian boats FINZI, MARCONI, and VENIERO concentrate on shipping, thought to be convoy HG.69, from 10 to 16 August, but no ships were lost.

_____

 

German fishing vessel H. A. W. MULLER (460grt) was sunk by British bombing near Lindesnes.

_____

 

U.451 sank Soviet patrol ship ZHEMCHUNG west of Kanin.

_____

 

Destroyers KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh to act as a strike force. Originally, their orders called for an attack on Bardia harbour during the night of 10/11 August, but this was later cancelled. They returned to Alexandria on the 11th.

_____

 

Destroyers DECOY and HAVOCK departed Alexandria to carry supplies to Tobruk, and arrived back at Alexandria on the 11th.

_____

 

Australian destroyer VENDETTA departed Alexandria for Haifa for mechanical repairs.

_____

 

Corvettes FLEUR DE LYS and AZALEA departed Gibraltar to meet arriving tanker CAPSA (8229grt) from Trinidad, while destroyer VIDETTE and anti-submarine trawler ST.NECTAN left to meet arriving tanker BENEDICK (6978grt) from Curacao. Both groups arrived at Gibraltar on the 17th.

_____

 

Submarine SEVERN arrived at Gibraltar from patrol in the Atlantic.

_____

 

Convoy HX.144 departed Halifax, escorted by destroyer ANNAPOLIS and armed merchant cruiser MALOJA. On the 11th, corvettes DAUPHIN and NAPANEE joined, and on the 13th the destroyers BURWELL and COLUMBIA and corvettes DIANTHUS, HONEYSUCKLE, and SNOWBERRY. Corvettes DAUPHIN and NAPANEE were detached on the 12th and destroyer ANNAPOLIS was detached on the 13th. The remaining escorts were detached on the 22nd when relieved by destroyers AMAZON, BELMONT, DULLDOG, GEORGETOWN, SKATE, WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL, and WITCH, corvettes AUBRETIA and HEARTSEASE, minesweeper BRITOMART, and anti-submarine trawlers ANGLE, CAPE WARWICK, DANEMAN, and NOTTS COUNTY. Destroyers SKATE, WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL, and WITCH, the minesweeper, and the trawlers were detached later that day. Corvette NIGELLA joined on the 23rd. On the 24th, destroyers BURNHAM and CHURCHILL joined for the day. Destroyers BELMONT and GEORGETOWN were detached on the 27th, destroyers AMAZON and BULLDOG and corvette AUBRETIA on the 28th, and corvettes HEARTSEASE and NIGELLA on the 29th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 30th.

_____

 

Convoy SC.40 departed Sydney, CB escorted by corvettes BARRIE, CHICOUTIMI, and MATAPEDIA. These escorts were detached on the 13th, when relieved by destroyer NIAGARA and corvettes ALYSSE, CELANDINE, and COLLINGWOOD.

 

 Armed merchant cruiser CHITRAL joined on the 19th. The escorts were detached on the 22nd. On the 22nd, destroyers DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, and VETERAN, corvettes ABELIA, ANEMONE, and VERONICA, and minesweepers LEDA and SPEEDY. On the 28th, minesweepers GOSSAMER, HAZARD, and HEBE joined. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 29th.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser EXETER arrived at Bombay from Aden, and departed on the 11th, escorting convoy BP.12 of troopships KHEDIVE ISMAEL, RAJULA, TALMA, VARELA, LANCASHIRE, ROHNA, SANTHIA, and VARSOVA to Basra. She returned to Bombay on the 17th. There was no convoy BP.13.

 

 

Monday, 11 August

 

HM King George VI, who had arrived at Scapa Flow, on the 9th, visited the destroyer depot ship TYNE during the forenoon and inspected representative contingents from the Home Fleet destroyers. He then visited destroyers ECLIPSE and CHARLESTOWN berthed alongside.

 

The King inspected the Lyness Base and then embarked in destroyer INGLEFIELD at 1230 for transport to Scrabster, escorted by destroyers TARTAR and PUNJABI. Destroyer ICARUS departed Scapa Flow at 1340 and proceeded to Scrabser to provide passage back to Scapa Flow for the Captain of the Fleet.

_____

 

Destroyers TARTAR, PUNJABI, and ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow at 1530 for Hvalfjord, arriving at 2100/12th.

_____

 

Destroyer ECHO departed Scapa Flow at 0600 for Sheerness for refitting, and arrived at 1630/13th.

_____

 

Convoy ON.6 departed Liverpool, escorted by corvette ARABIS. Anti-submarine trawler NORTHERN SPRAYThe convoy was joined on the 13th by destroyers MALCOLM, SARDONYX, SCIMITAR, and WATCHMAN, corvettes VERBENA and VIOLET, and anti-submarine trawlers NORTHERN PRIDE and NORTHERN WAVE. Destroyers MALCOLM and WATCHMAN and corvette VERBENA were detached on the 15th, destroyer SCIMITAR and anti-submarine trawlers NORTHERN PRIDE and NORTHERN WAVE on the 16th, and corvettes ARABIS and VIOLET and anti-submarine trawler NORTHERN SPRAY on the 17th. On the 17th, destroyers CHESTERFIELD and RIPLEY, armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA, and corvettes HEPATICA, TRILLIUM, and WINDFLOWER joined and escorted the convoy until it was dispersed on the 24th.

_____

 

Minelayer PORT QUEBEC, escorted by surveying ship SCOTT, laid minefield SN.22 A in the Northern Barrage.

_____

 

Submarine TIGRIS departed Murmansk on patrol, and on the 17th, sank Norwegian coaster HAAKON JARL (1482grt) in 70-58N, 26-48E.

_____

 

 Steamer SIR RUSSELL (1548grt) was sunk by a German S.49 of the 4th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla six cables 349° from No.10 Buoy. The entire crew was rescued.

_____

 

Italian submarine MARCONI attacked and claimed to have sunk sloop DEPTFORD, which had been detached from convoy OG.70 to join convoy HG.70 in 37-16N, 9-50W. She was undamaged, and with corvette CONVOLVULUS carried out a search for the submarine.

_____

 

 Steamer EMPIRE HURST (2852grt), which had fallen astern of convoy HG.70, was being escorted by anti-submarine trawler LADY HOGARTH, when she was sunk by German bombing in 36-48N, 9-50W. Twenty six crew were killed, and nine survivors rescued by the trawler.

_____

 

Netlayer PROTECTOR, on passage from Port Said to Alexandria, was badly damaged by an aerial torpedo in 31-42N, 32-04E at 1700. Destroyer HERO was sent from Alexandria to assist, and sloop FLAMINGO, corvette SALVIA, and trawlers from Port Said. SALVIA was able to take her in tow and they arrived at Port Said at 0600/12th.

 

She received temporary repairs at Suez, and on 25 November, departed in tow of British steamer EMPIRE KANGAROO (6219grt).

_____

 

Destroyers JERVIS and KINGSTON departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh to act as a striking force, and arrived back at Alexandria on the 13th.

_____

 

Australian sloop PARRAMATTA departed Port Said, escorting motor transport ship KEVINBANK, for Famagusta in serial S.18 of the GUILLOTINE operation. They arrived on 13 July.

_____

 

Italian hospital ship CALIFORNIA (13,060grt) at Syracuse was sunk by a Swordfish from the 830 Squadron from Malta.

_____

 

Destroyers FORESTER, FURY, DUNCAN, BOREAS, and WILD SWAN departed Gibraltar to sweep. BOREAS and WILD SWAN were then ordered to join convoy HG.70, while FORESTER, FURY, and DUNCAN arrived at Gibraltar late on the 11th.

 

 

Tuesday, 12 August

 

On Biscay patrol in 40-24N, 29-51W, heavy cruiser LONDON sighted a submarine, which was bombed by her Walrus aircraft.

_____

 

Light cruiser SHEFFIELD, after refitting, departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow to work up, and arrived that evening.

_____

 

Destroyer ANTHONY, escorting salvage tug LE LUTTEUR, departed Scapa Flow at 2030 for Skaalefjord, where the tug was to effect repairs to destroyer ACHATES to render her seaworthy for the passage to the Tyne. They arrived at Skaalefjord at 0200/14th, and ANTHONY sailed at 2000 to return to Scapa Flow, where she arrived at 0700/15th.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Methil at 1130 and escorted convoy EC.58 from May Island to Pentland Firth. In the Firth on the 13th, the ship left the convoy and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1000.

_____

 

Minesweepers HARRIER, SALAMANDER, and HALCYON departed Seidisfjord for Reykjavik. HALCYON with defects put into Reydarsfjord and with SALAMANDER returned to Seidisfjord. HARRIER arrived at Reykjavik on the 13th.

_____

 

 steamer EAGLESCLIFFE HALL (1900grt) was damaged by German bombing 1/2 mile south of S.2 Buoy, approximately two miles east of Sunderland. She was towed to Sunderland arriving on the 13th.

_____

 

Auxiliary vessel EXPRESS (16grt) was sunk on a mine one mile SW of East Spaniard Buoy off Whitstable.

_____

 

Corvette PICOTEE (Lt R. A. Harrison RNR), escorting convoy ON.5, was sunk by U.586 south of Iceland. Harrison, T/Sub Lt H. E. Brisland RNVR, A/Sub Lt J. P. Roberts RNR, T/Lt T. H. Williams RNR, T/A/Sub Lt J. A. Wymer RNVR, and sixty ratings were lost. U.586 also claimed hitting a steamer.

_____

 

Light cruiser NEPTUNE, minelaying cruiser ABDIEL, and destroyer JACKAL departed Haifa for Port Said for a GUILLOTINE operation.

_____

 

Destroyers KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh to load then proceed to Tobruk. They arrived back at Alexandria on the 13th.

_____

 

Submarine TORBAY attacked a convoy of steamers BOSFORO and ISEO, escorted by torpedo boat PARTENOPE, four miles west of Benghasi, without success.

_____

 

Subamrine RORQUAL arrived at Malta from Alexandria, having departed on 31 July, with petrol and stores.

_____

 

Submarine P.33 departed Malta on patrol.

_____

 

Dutch submarine O.24 unsuccessfully attacked a steamer in the Ligurian Sea.

_____

 

Lighter A.14 (Lt A. S. Mullens RNR) was sunk on a mine in Tobruk Harbour. No crew were killed.

 

_____

 

Italian submarine TAZZOLI attacked and claimed to have damaged steamer SANGARA (5445grt) in 4N, 9W, but she was unharmed.

 

 

Wednesday, 13 August

 

Destroyer LIGHTNING departed Greenock at 2000 for Scapa Flow to rejoin the Home Fleet after operations in the Western Approaches and Western Mediterranean. She arrived at Scapa Flow at 1530/14th.

_____

 

Convoy OG.71 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer BATH, sloop LEITH, and corvette ZINNIA.

 

Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMPANULA, CAMPION, HYDRANGEA, and WALLFLOWER joined on the 15th.

 

BATH was detached on the 18th and was sunk early the next day by U.204.

 

Destroyers GURKHA and LANCE from convoy WS.10 X joined the escort on the 20th and destroyers BOREAS departed Gibraltar on the 19th, joining on the 23rd and WIVERN on the 20th to join on the 22nd. Destroyer VIDETTE departed Gibraltar on the 21st and joined the convoy on the 23rd.

 

ZINNIA was sunk on the 23rd by U.564 in 40-43N, 11-39W.

 

The convoy was dispersed on the 23rd to Lisbon.

 

HYDRANGEA arrived at Gibraltar on the 22nd with nine survivors from BATH. Destroyers LANCE, GURKHA and corvettes WALLFLOWER, CAMPION, and CAMPANULA arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.

 

On the 25th, LANCE and corvette SPIRAEA departed Gibraltar to carry out an anti-submarine patrol off Cape St Vincent to cover steamers sailing independently from Lisbon to Gibraltar from the former convoy. Later in the day, destroyer WILD SWAN arrived at Gibraltar and departed to join in the patrol off Cape St Vincent.

 

WILD SWAN, VIDETTE, LEITH, BLUEBELL and SPIRAEA arrived at Gibraltar on the 27th.

_____

 

Convoy OS.3 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyer ST.ALBANS which was detached on the 18th and corvette CAMPION which was detached on the 15th. On the 14th, destroyers CAMPBELTOWN and WANDERER joined and was detached on the 17th and 29 August, respectively, armed merchant cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE joined and arrived with the convoy on 1 September, escort vessel BANFF joined and detached to Bathurst on the 29th, and ocean boarding vessel MARON joined and was detached on the 17th. On the 15th, sloop EGRET joined and was detached on the 29th to Bathurst. On the 16th, escort vessel FISHGUARD joined and was detached to Bathurst on the 29th. On the 29th, corvettes ASTER, BURCOCK, and STARWORT joined and arrived with the convoy at Freetown on 1 September.

_____

 

Faroes fishing vessel SJOBORG (158grt) was sunk on a mine about 61-31N, 5-40W while fishing in a prohibited area.

_____

 

Light cruiser NEPTUNE, minelaying cruiser ABDIEL, and destroyer JACKAL departed Port Said with personnel for Famagusta in Serial S.20 of the GUILLOTINE operation.

 

The troops were landed on the 14th, after which NEPTUNE proceeded to Alexandria, and ABDIEL and JACKAL to Port Said.

 

Australian light cruiser HOBART and destroyers DECOY and HAVOCK departed Alexandria for Port Said to relieve NEPTUNE.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft ship COVENTRY departed Beirut to return to Alexandria, where she arrived on the 14th.

_____

 

Destroyers HASTY and JAGUAR departed Alexandria with supplies for Tobruk.

_____

 

 British schooner KEPHALLINIA (1267grt) foundered and sank off Alexandria, while en route to Tobruk with supplies. Destroyer HERO assisted her.

_____

 

Italian convoy of steamers ANDREA GRITTI, RIALTO, VETTOR PISANI. FRANCESCO BARBARO, and SEBASTIANO VENIER, escorted by destroyers VIVALDI, FOLGORE, STRALE, MALOCELLO, FULMINE and torpedo boat ORSA departed Naples for Tripoli. On the 14th, during an air attack, one of VIVALDI’s guns exploded and she was forced to return to Italy. There were also reported submarine attacks during the air attack, but there is no corresponding report. The convoy arrived at Tripoli and 15 August, undamaged by the British.

 

 

Thursday, 14 August

 

Destroyer MATABELE departed Barrow at 1600 to carry out trials after repairs, and arrived at Scapa Flow on the 16th.

_____

 

Destroyer FOXHOUND arrived at Scapa Flow at 1400 for fuel while on passage from the Force H to Sheerness.

 

Anti-aircraft ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 1145 and escorted convoy WN.66 to the south. Off Buchan Ness that night, German aircraft attacked the convoy, but no damage was done.

 

The ship transferred to convoy EC.59 shortly after midnight. On arrival in Pentland Firth, she left the convoy and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1700.

_____

 

Armed merchant cruiser CIRCASSIA captured Italian steamer STELLA (4272grt), which had departed Recife, west of Cape Verde Island at 24-55N, 40-23W. She was sent under prize crew to Bermuda, and used by the British as EMPIRE PLANET.

_____

 

Yugoslav steamer SUD (2589grt), steaming independently, was damaged by gunfire from Italian submarine MARCONI, which was part of the group attempting to attack convoy HG.69, in 41N, 17-41W. The entire crew was rescued by Portuguese steamer ALFERRAREDE (1452grt) and SUD was sunk four hours later by torpedoes from U.126.

_____

 

German steamer LOTTE HALM (1193grt) was sunk by British bombing off Borkum.

_____

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY departed Alexandria with destroyers NIZAM and KINGSTON escorting troopship GLENROY to Port Said. She was passed through the Suez Canal on the 15th.

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Greek destroyer VASILISSA OLGA departed Alexandria for Famagusta, arrived on the 16th and departed that day to return to Alexandria.

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Submarine TALISMAN fired torpedoes in error at submarine OTUS in 32-41N, 27-35E. At the time, TALISMAN was arriving at Alexandria while OTUS had just left for Malta with stores. Neither submarine was damaged.

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Battleship NELSON, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser HERMIONE and destroyers departed Gibraltar for the east for exercises. On the 16th, NELSON, HERMIONE, and destroyer VIMY arrived back at Gibraltar, followed on the 17th, by ARK ROYAL with destroyers NESTOR, ENCOUNTER, FURY, FORESIGHT, and FORESTER.

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 Steamer AUSTRALIND (5020grt) was sunk by German raider KOMET in 4-13S, 91-03W. Two crew were killed, and the rest made prisoners of war, but one died on the raider.

 
 

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revised 8/4/12
further editing is required