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Background Events - December 1941-February 1942
Pearl
Harbor attacked, Loss of 'Repulse' & 'Prince
of Wales', Singapore falls, 'Channel Dash' by
German big ships, to February 1942
1942
Thursday,
15 January
Light
cruiser EDINBURGH departed Scapa Flow at 0300 for the Tyne, escorted by destroyer
WORCESTER. En route, the destroyer was released and returned to Scapa Flow, arriving at 0545/16th,
sustaining weather damage en route.
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Destroyers
BEDOUIN and ESKIMO departed Scapa Flow at 1500 to patrol off Cape Wrath against possible submarines.
On meeting heaving cruiser NORFOLK, the destroyers provided an
anti-submarine screen for the cruiser to Scapa Flow. A strong gale during the
16th caused the delay for the rendezvous. The three ships arrived at Scapa Flow at 0530/17th.
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In
a heavy storm at Hvalfjord, American heavy cruiser WICHITA was damaged in a collision
with American steamer WEST NOHNO (5769grt) and a British trawler, before running
aground. The cruiser was refloated the next day and damage was found to be
minor.
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Minelayer
PLOVER, escorted by MGB.322, MGB.324, MGB.328, and MGB.330 of the 14th
MGB.Flotilla, departed Dover to lay minefield NQ (A) in
the English
Channel. Returning to Dover on the 16th, she was in a
collision with trawler DEODAR, requiring temporary repair at Dover.
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Gunner
(T) A.C. Stonehouse in destroyer DOUGLAS was lost overboard.
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Convoy AT.10, with troop transports for the UK, departed New York City, escorted by American
destroyers CHARLES F HUGHES, HILARY P JONES, INGRAHAM, LANSDALE, and LUDLOW. These escorts were detached
on the 16th when relieved by battleship TEXAS, aircraft carrier WASP, heavy
cruiser QUINCEY and destroyers EBERLE, GWIN, LIVERMORE, MAYRANT, MONSSEN,
ROE, ROWAN, STACK, STERETT, TRIPPE, and WAINWRIGHT. This group was relieved
on the 22nd by heavy cruisers TUSCALOOSA and WICHITA and destroyers GRAYSON and
MEREDITH. The convoy arrived at Londonderry on the 27th.
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Steamer EMPIRE BAY (2824grt) was sunk by German
bombing in 54-41-08N, 1-08-36W. The entire crew was rescued.
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U.552
sank steamer DAYROSE (4133grt) in 46-32N, 53-00W. Thirty two crew and six
gunners were lost. Ten crew were rescued by American destroyer STACK.
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U.123
sank British tanker COIMBRA (6768grt) in 40-25N, 72-21W.
Of a crew of 40 and six gunners, 25 were missing and one was killed. Ten of
the survivors died in boats and only ten were finally rescued.
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U.203
sank Portuguese trawler CATALINA (632grt) in 47N, 52W.
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U.553
badly damaged British tanker DIALA (8106grt) from dispersed convoy ON.52 in
44-50N, 46-50W. The crew abandoned the tanker on the 20th. Of a crew of 55
and 10 gunners, 48 crew and nine gunners were lost. The tanker was located on
21 February by an HM ship and reboarded. On the 24th one officer and nine
ratings were put on board and the tanker was taken in tow. After unsuccessful
attempts, a tug was summoned and arrived on the 25th. The tow parted on 26
February and the tanker apparently later sank.
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Submarine
TURBULENT departed Gibraltar for patrol off Alboran Island.
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Destroyer
EXMOOR attacked a submarine contact
three miles 200° from Cape Trafalgar. The next day, an aircraft
in transit reported a submarine on the sruface in 36-10N, 6-08W. Destroyer EXMOOR unsuccessfully searched for
this submarine.
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U.205
attacked a steamer without success near Bardia.
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Light
cruisers DANAE, DRAGON, DURBAN, destroyers EXPRESS, JUPITER, ENCOUNTER,
ELECTRA, STRONGHOLD, and VAMPIRE and sloop JUMNA (to be joined by sloop
YARRA) formed the Far Eastern Squadron (China Force, Commodore J.A. Collins,
CB, RAN in base ship ANKING at Batavia), employed on convoy duties between
Singapore, Sunda Strait, and Java.
Rear
Admiral Malaya operated minelayer ABDIEL, destroyers THANET, TENEDOS, SCOUT
and submarines TRUSTY and TRUANT for the local defence of Singapore. Also included in this group
were all auxiliary patrol and minesweeping vessels based at Singapore.
TRUSTY
had departed Colombo on the 12th en route to Singapore, via patrol in the Malacca Strait. TRUANT departed Aden for Colombo on the 17th.
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Heavy
cruiser EXETER, light cruisers EMERALD,
DANAE and destroyers ELECTRA and STRONGHOLD arrived at Batavia. EXETER and DANAE then departed to
meet convoy BM.10.
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Survey
ship ENDEAVOUR departed Batavia for Padang and Colombo.
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Japanese
submarine I.65 sank Indian steamer JALARAJAN (5102grt) in 0-12S, 97-00E. Of a
crew of 75 and three gunners, four were lost.
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Convoy
SL.98 departed Freetown, escorted by destroyer WILD
SWAN and corvettes AURICULA, FRITILLARY, NIGELLA, and ORCHIS. They were
detached on the 18th, when sloops BIDEFORD and LONDONDERRY, escort vessels CULVER, LANDGUARD,
and LULWORTH, and survey ship CHALLENGER joined the convoy. CULVER was lost
on the 31st to submarine attack. The rest of the escorts continued with the
convoy to arrive at Liverpool on 5 February.
Friday,
16 January
Heavy
cruiser BERWICK arrived at Hvalfjord from patrol in the Denmark Strait.
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Anti-aircraft
ship CURACOA departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth.
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Destroyer
ASHANTI departed Rosyth at 1115 for Scapa Flow on the completion of boiler
cleaning. Heavy weather caused her to heave to and she did not arrive until
0145/17th.
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Russian
ice breaker STALIN was attacked by German bombers at Gorlo and damaged. Two
weeks repair were required.
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Minesweeping
trawler IRVANA (276grt, Skipper J.L. Borrett RNR) was sunk by German bombing off
Yarmouth. There were no casualties.
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French
submarine RUBIS, which had departed Blyth on the 3rd and Dundee on the 8th, laid minefield
FD.36 off St Jean de Luz. She arrived at Falmouth on the 20th.
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U.402
damaged Steamer LLANGIBBY CASTLE (12,053grt) in 46-04N,
19-06W. Of 181 crew, 11 gunners, 1168 RN, RAF and military passengers, 26
passengers were lost. The steering gear and rudder was completely destroyed.
German aircraft attacked her on the 19th and she arrived at Fayal, Azores the same day for light
repairs. One crewman and one passenger were interned by the Portuguese at Fayal.
Destroyers
WESTCOTT, EXMOOR, and CROOME departed Gibraltar on the 28th to refuel from
oiler DINGLEDALE prior to escorting the damaged troopship.
WESTCOTT
sank U.581 southeast of Fayal Channel in 39N, 30W on 2 February. Four crew
were lost and 41rescued by the destroyer.
On
2 February, the troopship departed Horta with CROOME, EXMOOR, WESTCOTT and tug
THAMES.They were joined by destroyers LAFOREY and BLANKNEY, which departed Gibraltar on 4 February, and corvette
PENTSTEMON, which was returning from escort duty. Destroyers LIGHTNING and WHITEHALL departed Gibraltar on 7 February, WISHART and
VIDETTE from convoy OG.79 were ordered to join on 7 February. Destroyer WESTCOTT
arrived at Gibraltar on 7 February. Destroyer WIVERN and the 37th Escort
Group, just arriving with convoy OG.79, of sloops BLACK SWAN, FOWEY and
corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMPION, CARNATION, LA MALOUINE, MALLOW, MYOSOTIS, and
STONECROP departed Gibraltar on 8 February. All ships arrived safely on 8
February.
The
troops on board were transferred to troopships ULSTER MONARCH and ROYAL
ULSTERMAN for transport to Freetown. LLANGIBBY CASTLE was later sent on to the UK for repairs.
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U.86
damaged tanker TOORAK (8627grt) from dispersed convoy ON.52 in 47-54N,
52-11W. She arrived at St Johns on the 16th.
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Submarine
P.39 departed Gibraltar for patrol off Alboran Island.
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U.133
attacked a destroyer near Bardia without success.
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For
Malta operation MF.3, convoy MW.8A
of steamers AJAX and THERMOPYLAE, escorted by anti-aircraft
ship CARLISLE and destroyers GRIFFIN
(D.2), ARROW, HASTY, and HERO departed Alexandria at 0815/16th. Convoy MW.8B
of steamers CLAN FERGUSON and CITY OF CALCUTTA, escorted by destroyers
GURKHA (SO), LEGION, MAORI, and ISAAC SWEERS departed Alexandria at 1530 the same day.
Covering
Force B consisted of light cruisers NAIAD (Flagship Vian), DIDO, EURYALUS
with destroyers KELVIN, KIPLING, FOXHOUND, HOTSPUR, and HAVOCK.
Departing
Alexandria, destroyers FOXHOUND and KINGSTON collided and HOTSPUR fouled
a propeller. The destroyers were left behind. Only KELVIN had left the
harbour. The cruisers and destroyers HAVOCK and KIPLING anchored and were two
hours late departing. Light cruiser DIDO, unable to obtain the service of a
tug, departed Alexandria six hours late.
KINGSTON required three and a half
weeks to repair her stern and FOXHOUND four weeks to repair her bow.
Force
K of light cruiser PENELOPE and destroyers SIKH, ZULU, LANCE, LIVELY and
JAGUAR, departed Malta on the 17th to rendezvous
with the Alexandria ships during the morning on
the 18th.
Submarines
TORBAY from Alexandria and UNIQUE and UPHOLDER from
Malta were at sea to support the
operation.
In
heavy weather, convoy MW.8B was late in arriving at the rendezvous and MW.8A
reversed course to join.
Destroyer
GURKHA (Cdr C.N. Lentaigne) was torpedoed by U.133 in 31-50N, 26.15E. Lt Cdr
(E) G.J.S. Gay, Temporary Lt T.H. Goodchild RNVR, Lt E.A.O.G. Herring, Lt
J.V. Yelland, Midshipman A.P. Yorke, and five ratings were missing. Temporary
Acting S/Lt E.E.F. Keal RNVR, Probationary Temporary Surgeon Lt W.M. Brown
RNVR, Acting Temporary Lt A.C. Grammar RNVR, less seriously, and four ratings
were wounded.
Dutch
destroyer ISAAC SWEERS (Cdr W. Harmsen, RNN) took off Lentaigne, Grammar,
Commissioned Gunner (T) A.V. Rogers, Keal, Brown, and two hundred and thirty
four ratings. With a skeleton crew of 35 petty officers and ratings, GURKHA
was towed for a time by ISAAC SWEERS, but sank at 0903. ISAAC SWEERS landed
the survivors at Tobruk and rejoined destroyer LEGION early on the 18th.
Destroyer
MAORI made four anti-submarine attacks and lightly damaged U.133.
At
2000/17th, steamer THERMOPYLAE slowed to make good a defect and was detached
from MW.8A screened by destroyers ARROW and HERO.
When
the steamer fell behind the convoy, she was detached to Benghazi escorted by anti-aircraft
ship CARLISLE and destroyers ARROW and
HAVOCK.
Corvette
GLOXINIA departed Malta on the 17th and proceeded to
Benghazi under cover of the operation.
Force
K from Malta joined Force B at 1315/18th.
The two forces parted at 1930 after exchanging destroyers MAORI for JAGUAR.
Force K proceeded to Malta with the steamers. Destroyer
LEGION also proceeded to Malta for repair.
Destroyers
HASTY and HERO were detached from Force B to join steamer THERMOPYLAE, but did not arrive before
she was damaged. THERMOPYLAE (6655grt) was badly damaged by German bombing in
34-03N, 24-14E at 0930/19th. Three crew were lost from a crew of 38. In
addition there were a number of troops on board, bringing the total to 385.
Twenty seven troops were lost. Destroyer HAVOCK rescued 297 survivors and
destroyer ARROW rescued 54. Some of the lost were drowned or crushed between
the steamer and HAVOCK. ARROW scuttled the steamer.
Anti-aircraft
cruiser NAIAD was near missed by German bombing, with six crew wounded and
superficial damage to the ship from splinters.
Destroyer
GRIFFIN was slowed by a boiler defect.
Destroyer
KELVIN was detached to Tobruk at 1310 to embark destroyer GURKHA's survivors.
Force
K and the Malta convoy arrived at Malta at 1530/19th.
Force
B arrived at Alexandria at 0800/20th, and the CARLISLE group at 0920.
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Light
cruiser DRAGON departed Singapore for Colombo.
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Vice
Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton transferred his flag from light cruiser DURBAN to light cruiser EMERALD,
which departed Batavia for Colombo, arriving on the 21st. Layton's flag was transferred
ashore at Colombo.
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Destroyer
TENEDOS, escorting steamer KLANG, arrived at Tjilatjap.
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Steamers
NARKUNDA and AORGANI departed Singapore to proceed to Australia independently.
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Dutch
steamer SENANG (1207grt) was sunk in a Dutch minefield in 1-15N, 104-05E.
Fifty four crew were missing and 39 survivors rescued.
Saturday,
17 January
The
Home Fleet was ordered to raise steam for full speed with dispatch at 0800 on
the report of a possible break out by German naval units in the Atlantic.
At
1600, battleships KING GEORGE V (C-in-C Home Fleet), RODNEY, aircraft carrier
VICTORIOUS, heavy cruiser SUFFOLK, light cruisers NIGERIA (10th Cruiser
Squadron), KENYA, SHEFFIELD (18th Cruiser Squadron), and destroyers
INGLEFIELD (D.3), FAULKNOR (D.8), MARNE, PANTHER, BEDOUIN, ASHANTI, ESKIMO,
INTREPID, ECHO, and ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow for Hvalfjord,
where they arrived late on the 19th. The units of the Home Fleet at Hvalfjord
departed under the command of the C-in-C, Home Fleet at 1600/20th and
proceeded to 61N, 25W.
Light
cruisers CLEOPATRA and ARETHUSA departed Scapa Flow for the Iceland-Faroes
passage. Heavy cruiser BERWICK departed Reykjavik to join heavy cruiser KENT in the Denmark Strait.
Heavy
cruiser CUMBERLAND, on passage to Scapa Flow from convoy QP.5 duty, was
ordered to Seidisfjord, arriving on the 18th.
Dutch
submarine O.14 departed Scapa Flow for patrol off Frohavet.
Force
H at Gibraltar was brought to four hours'
notice for operations in the Atlantic. Oiler DINGLEDALE, corvettes GERANIUM, SPIRAEA,
and submarine CLYDE departed Gibraltar on the 20th for postion 33N, 22W to support
operations.
Operation
EM was postponed. Armed merchant cruisers CITY OF DURBAN, CAPE SABLE and destroyer CALPE were ordered to remain at
Sullom Voe.
In
German Operation POLARNACHT, battleship TIRPITZ and destroyers BEITZEN,
HEINEMANN, JACOBI, and Z.29, which departed Wilhelmshaven on the 14th, arrived at Trondheim.
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Minesweepers
LEDA, SPEEDY, and SEAGULL departed Scapa Flow at 2230. LEDA proceeded to
Port Edgar, SPEEDY to Sheerness, and SEAGULL to Grimsby, all to refit. SPEEDY
arrived at Sheerness at 1240/21st prior to proceeding to London to refit.
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Battleship
DUKE OF YORK departed Bermuda, escorted by US destroyers LANG, EDISON, and
NICHOLSON, for the Clyde. On the 21st, the destroyers were detached and
British destroyers LIGHTNING, HARVESTER, and HIGHLANDER joined. Destroyers
BADSWORTH, LAMERTON, and WIVERN joined on the 23rd. On the 25th, the
battleship arrived in the Clyde with LIGHTNING and WIVERN.
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Motor
torpedo boat MTB.47 (Lt W.I.C. Ewart) was sunk in action by
surface craft off Gris Nez. Lt Ewart, Temporary S/Lt A.J. Orchard, Temporary
S/Lt W.D. Phelan RNVR, and the rest of the crew were taken prisoner.
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U.454
torpedoed Soviet minesweeping trawler TCS.68 (557grt) in 69-30N, 39-05E. The
forepart of the trawler sank, but the rest remained afloat.
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U.454
damaged steamer HARMATRIS (5395grt) of convoy PQ.8 in 69-16N, 36-08E, but she
was able to reach Murmansk on the 20th in tow of
minesweeper SPEEDWELL. The submarine attacked three other steamers in convoy
PQ.8 without success.
Destroyer
MATABELE (Cdr A.C. Stanford DSC), escorting convoy PQ.8, was sunk by U.454 in
the Barent's Sea in 69-21N, 35-34E. Cdr Stanford, Lt R.P. Britten, Gunner (T)
W.C. Doidge, Temporary Lt J.E. Mees RNVR, Midshipman R.A. Noel-Hill, Lt E.R.
Partridge RNVR, Lt J.A. Plumridge RNVR, Temporary Surgeon Lt E.A. Spouse
RNVR, Acting Lt P.C. Webb, Temporary Acting S/Lt W.R. White, Lt Cdr (E) J.T.
Winn, Temporary Acting S/Lt G.R. Wright RNVR, and two hundred and twenty one
ratings were lost. Three survivors were picked up by minesweeper HARRIER but
one died of wounds and exposure shortly after rescue. The other two died in
hospital in England.
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U.87
sank Norwegian tanker NYHOLt (8087grt) from dispersed convoy ON.52 in 45-46N,
54-18W. Of 35 crew, three passengers, and two gunners, 17 crew, two
passengers, and one gunner were lost.
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U.203
sank Norwegian steamer OCTAVIAN (1345grt) in 45N, 60W.
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U.123
sank American steamer SAN JOSE (1932grt) in 39-15N, 74-09W.
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Submarine
UTMOST departed Gibraltar for the UK. After a patrol in the Bay of Biscay, she arrived in the Clyde on 5 February, then
proceeded to Blyth, arriving on 11 February for refitting.
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Boom
defence vessels BARCLOSE, BARFOAM, and BARFORD departed Gibraltar and proceeded unescorted to Freetown.
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Submarine
P.35 sank Italian steamer RAMPINO (301grt) near Pantelleria in 35-59N,
10-45E. One survivor was rescued.
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Convoy
TA 17 departed Tobruk with empty storeships, escorted by destroyer AVONVALE
and escort ship ANTWERP. The convoy arrived at Alexandria on the 18th.
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Convoy SC.65 departed Halifax, escorted by destroyer ANNAPOLIS, corvettes LUNENBURG, THE PAS, and minesweepers BURLINGTON and RED DEER. BURLINGTON was detached on the 18th and
the corvettes and the other minesweeper on the 20th. Destroyer ST LAURENT and
corvettes KAMSACK, NAPANEE, RIMOUSKI, TRAIL, and TRILLIUM joined
on the 20th. This group was detached on the 29th when the convoy was joined
by destroyers CALDWELL, VANOC, WALKER and corvette GENTIAN.
Corvette HONEYSUCKLE joined on the 30th and GENTIAN detached on the 31st, the
destroyers on 1 February, and HONEYSUCKLE on 2 February. The convoy arrived
at Liverpool on 4 February.
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French
sloop D'IBERVILLE, tanker ELORN, and two submarines departed Djbouti.
Submarines
VENGEUR and L'ESPOIR (departed Diego Suarez on 22 March), MONGE (the fourth
boat of this division PEGASE arrived at Saigon in March 1941), and LE
GLORIEUX and LE HEROS (arrived Diego Suarez 27 October) on station changes.
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Destroyer
JUPITER had escorted American steamer MOUNT VERNON which had departed Singapore on the 16th through the Sunda Strait. After being detached, the
destroyer was sent to assist a merchant ship under attack by Japanese
submarine. At 6-19-30S, 104-49-20E, the destroyer sank Japanese submarine
I.60. The destroyer lost its A gun in the battle. Three ratings were killed
and seven wounded. Two survivors from the submarine were picked up and taken
to Batavia.
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British
gunboat SCORPION, Australian minesweepers BENDIGO and MARYBOROUGH, and motor
launches were on the west coast of Malaya in operations against
Japanese landings.
Sunday,
18 January
Destroyer
WORCESTER departed Scapa Flow at 1000 escorting tanker SAN ZOTICO to Skaalefjord, where
they arrived at 1430/19th.
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Convoy
OS.17 departed Liverpool.
On
the 20th, sloops FOLKESTONE, WELLINGTON, and WESTON joined the
convoy. FOLKESTONE and WESTON detached on 5 February, and WELLINGTON on 7 February. Also joining
on the 20th was escort vessel GORLESTON which detached on 5 February.
Escort
vessel SENNEN joined on the 21st and was detached on 5 February.
Corvettes
ARMERIA, BERGAMOT, and ROCKROSE joined the convoy on 4 February and arrived
with it on 7 February at Bathurst. On 5 February, destroyer
BRILLIANT joined and arrived with the convoy. On 7 February, corvettes
AURICULA, BURDOCK, and ORCHIS joined and then continued to Freetown, arriving on 9 February.
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U.86
sank Greek steamer DIMITRIOS G. THERMIOTIS (4271grt), a straggler from convoy
SC.63, in 51N, 62W. The entire crew was lost.
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U.552
sank American steamer FRANCES SALMAN (2609grt) off Newfoundland. The steamer had departed St John's on the 17th for Corner Brook, Newfoundland, but never arrived.
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U.66
sank American tanker ALLAN JACKSON (6635grt) in 35-37N, 74-20W. Thirteen crew
of a crew of 35 were rescued.
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U.333
sank steamer CALEDONIAN MONARCH (5851grt) from convoy SC.53 in 57N, 26W.
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Destroyer
ANTHONY arrived at Gibraltar after escorting convoy WS.15.
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Submarine
TALISMAN arrived at Gibraltar from Malta.
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Submarine
SEVERN departed Gibraltar and arrived at Portsmouth on the 24th. After repairs,
she departed Portsmouth on 17 February for the USA, arriving at Halifax on 27 February with weather
damage. She was able to depart on 12 March and arrived at Portsmouth, NH on 16 March. Her USA refit was completed on 10
October.
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Anti-submarine
trawler ERIN (Temporary Lt W.G. Swanston RNVR) at Gibraltar was sunk by Italian frogmen.
Anti-submarine trawler IMPERIALIST and minesweeping trawler HONJU moored
alongside were both badly damaged. Acting S/Lt (A) J.W. Duckham, Officer of
the Watch of aircraft carrier ARGUS 807 Squadron (on board HONJU during the
attack) and seven ratings were killed. Four ratings were wounded. HONJU was
not repaired.
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Convoy
AT.18 departed Alexandria for Benghazi, escorted by destroyer
HEYTHROP, corvette HYACINTH and anti-submarine trawler SOUTHERN SEA. The convoy arrived on the
20th. HEYTHROP and corvettes HYACINTH and GLOXINIA departed on the 20th to
escort empty storeships to Alexandria, arriving on the 21st.
Corvette
PEONY departed Tobruk with store ship MANOULA for Benghazi.
On
the 21st, in thick weather, store ship MANOULA and corvette PEONY ran aground
at Ras Aszaz. Tug ST MONANCE, anti-submarine whaler SOTRA, and ML.1051 were
sent to assist. The ships were refloated on the 22nd and the corvette
returned to Alexandria for docking.
Destroyers
FARNDALE and ERIDGE, escorting store ship EOCENE, departed Alexandria on the 19th for Tobruk,
arriving on the 21st.
On
the 24th, FARNDALE and ERIDGE departed Tobruk escorting empty store ships for
Alexandria. On the 26th, ERIDGE was detached to assist
destroyer HOTSPUR in an anti-submarine search. FARNDALE arrived with the
storeships at Alexandria on the 26th.
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Swordfish
of 830 Squadron attacked a convoy of Italian tanker GUILIO GIORDANI, escorted
by destroyers DA RECCO and USODIMARE. No damage was done to any of the ships,
despite the claim that the tanker and one of the destroyers were damaged.
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