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

NAVAL EVENTS, APRIL-DECEMBER 1942
 

HMS Alisma, corvette
(NP/Michael Pocock, click photographs for enlargements)

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

 


 

 

1942

 

 

Background Events - March-May 1942

Russian convoys, Raid on St Nazaire, Battle of Sirte Gulf, SE Asia & SW Pacific occupied, British landings on Madagascar

 

 

APRIL

 

Wednesday, 1 April

 

Minesweeping trawler SOLOMON (Skipper Lt C Dale RNR) was sunk on a mine north of Cromer. There were no casualties.

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Submarine PANDORA (Lt R L Alexander) was sunk at Malta by German bombing. Lt L Walford RNR, Warrant Engineer F J Hickman DSC and twenty five ratings were killed. Lt J A Lindsell was wounded and later evacuated in submarine OLYMPUS, when he was lost.

 

 

Sunday, 5 April

 

JAPANESE CARRIER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS IN INDIAN OCEAN AND ON CEYLON

 

Heavy cruiser CORNWALL (Captain P C W Manwaring) was sunk by Japanese bombing in the Indian Ocean. Chaplain Rev J M Bird, Ty/Gunner F E Cowell, Ty/Lt (E) M L Edgar, Warrant Ordnance Officer W H Emberton, Lt J F R Fearfield, Paymaster Sub Lt P Goddard, Ty/Surgeon Lt C C Kirby RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt R F Millett RNR, Lt D S Reid, RM, Paymaster Lt Cdr W R Vallance, one hundred and fifty nine ratings and twenty Marines were lost, and two ratings died of wounds. Paymaster Midshipman M H Marsh RAN was wounded.

 

Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE (Captain A W S Agar VC) was also sunk by Japanese bombing in the Indian Ocean. Ty/Act/Gunner (T) J Austin, Surgeon Cdr F C M Bamfort, Lt (E) P V Bouquett, Cdr (E) C P Buttar, Surgeon Lt (D) H B Concanon RNVR, Ty/Act/Warrant Electrician W Davey, Warrant Engineeer W A Ferris, Act/Lt (E) G F C Hooker, Ty/Sub Lt J S W Jarvie RNVR, Warrant Shipwright R W Jack, Act/Paymaster Sub Lt J E T Jennings, Ty/Chaplain Rev E D B Laborde RNVR, Lt Cdr (E) J F Mansell, Ty/Paymster Lt E D Paul RNVR, Ty/Surgeon Lt S W Pratt RNVR, Paymaster Lt Cdr, N G Pring RNVR, Paymaster Sub Lt J R B Sidebotham, Warrant Ordnance Officer S J Scoble, Ty/Lt (E) D Wilson, one hundred and eighty eight ratings and twenty four Marines were lost, and two ratings died of wounds. Cdr C W Byas, Ty/Act/Sub Lt M H Furnivall RNR and Paymaster Lt Cdr T T Pheophilus were wounded.

 

Armed merchant cruiser HECTOR (Captain F Howard DSC Rtd) was bombed by Japanese aircraft and burnt out at Colombo, where she was reconverting to trade duties. Lt Cdr (E) W Peterson RNR was lost.

 

Destroyer TENEDOS (Lt R Dyer), which was repairing defects, was also sunk by Japanese bombing at Colombo. Lt R J Stokes RNR, Lt F H George RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt W B S Begg RNVR and thirty ratings were lost.

 

Submarine depot ship LUCIA was struck by splinters. Two ratings were killed.

 

Destroyer DECOY was also in harbour with her main feed pump broken down, but was not damaged.

 

A flight of six Swordfish of 788 Squadron was attacked by aircraft from aircraft carrier HIRYU, and all six shot down – (1) Lt S M de L Longsdon and his observer Sub Lt N A MacKay were badly wounded and TAG Petty Officer (A) J Heath slightly wounded, (2) Sub Lt (A) A W D Beale DSC and his TAG Leading Airman F H Edwards were killed, (3) Sub Lt P A Meakin crashed landed on the beach and was seriously wounded. His TAG, Naval Airman G E H Skingley was killed, (4) Ty/Act/Sub Lt (A) C T Shaw RNVR was killed and his observer Sub Lt J E Cope wounded, (5) Lt C Pountney and his observer Sub Lt G Creese were wounded and TAG Petty Officer Airman J Hall seriously wounded. Hall died of wounds, and (6) Lt D Carter was shot down and his TAG, Leading Airman D A Bolton died of wounds.

 

Two Fulmar’s of 806 Squadron from LANKA were lost and their pilots killed - Ty/Sub Lt (A) K J M Pettitt RNVR when his Fulmar crashed in the jungle and Ty/Sub Lt (A) L K White-Smith RNVR when his was shot down.

 

Light cruiser GLASGOW’s Walrus crashed near the Clampalmin landing ground. Sub Lt D A Baptie was killed.

 

An Albacore of 827 Squadron from aircraft carrier INDOMITABLE was shot down. Sub Lt R J F Streatfield, Sub Lt T Weston and Naval Airman K Porter were lost.

 

 

Monday, 6 April

 

Destroyer HAVOCK (Lt Cdr G R G Watkins DSC), which had departed Malta for Gibraltar earlier that day, was wrecked on the Tunisian coast in 36-52-27N, 11-08-30E, with one rating killed. Lt Cdr Watkins, Lt J B Burfield DSC, Lt M A Baille-Grohman,Lt (E) R Andrewes, Ty/Surgeon Lt R D Royds MB, CHB RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt C J Spearin RCNVR, Act/Sub Lt R H Lack RNVR, all ratings and about a 100 passengers, totalling some 250, were interned, but liberated on 11 November after the invasion of North Africa. Among the passengers were Cdr R F Jessel, Sub Lt R F Morgan RNVR, and Lt Cdr (E) M H Sayers of destroyer LEGION, Sub Lt (A) J B Blakely RNVR, Sub Lt (A) D J Bunyan RNVR and Sub Lt (A) T G Davison RNVR of 828 Squadron, ST ANGELO, and Midshipman J Duncan and Midshipman D M Ellis who had been drafted to battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH on 30 November. Surgeon Lt Royds died on 25 September during internment.

______

 

Indian sloop INDUS was sunk by Japanese bombing at Akyab, Burma, and ten crew wounded.

 

 

Wednesday, 8 April

 

In German bombing attacks on Malta, light cruiser PENELOPE was targeted. Lt J S Miller and two ratings were killed.

 

 

Thursday, 9 April

 

CONTINUING JAPANESE CARRIER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS IN INDIAN OCEAN AND ON CEYLON

 

Aircraft carrier HERMES (Captain R F J Onslow, MVO DSC) was sunk by Japanese bombing east of Ceylon. Ty/Sub Lt (E) A H L Briggs, Lt Cdr E A N Gardiner, Lt (A) A F Russell and Ty/Sub Lt (A) H Worthy RNVR of 814 Squadron, and one rating were killed, and Capt Onslow, Surgeon Lt Cdr R S Anderson RNVR, Ty/Lt R W Close RANVR, Ty/Sub Lt (A) J C G Cranston RNVR of 814 Squadron, Commissioned Gunner (T) F W Grant DSC, Ty/Act/Shipwright G C Grey, Cdr M F L Henstock, Boatswain C A Hincks, Gunner F J Jordan, Ty/Chaplain Rev A C H Leeke RNVR, Lt W A McLachlan RNVR, Lt Cdr (E) C H Martin, Observer Sub Lt (A) J S Quayle RNVR of 814 Squadron, Pilot Ty/Sub Lt (A) W G Thomson RNVR of 814 Squadron, Lt Cdr T B Wardle, two hundred and forty eight ratings, and twenty seven Marines missing. Surgeon Cdr J M McNamara died of wounds on the 9th, Lt Cdr R T Shaw on the 11th, six ratings, one on the 12th and one on the 16th, and one Marine.

 

Operations with RAF 273 Squadron. Observer Ty/Sub Lt (A) A L Mass RNVR of 824 Squadron and Flight Officer A Gregg RAF were lost in the same aircraft.

 

Australian destroyer VAMPIRE (Cdr W T A Moran RAN) was sunk by Japanese bombing east of Ceylon. Six ratings were killed, one died of wounds, and Cdr Moran and one RN signalman rating were missing.

 

Corvette HOLLYHOCK (Lt Cdr T E Davies OBE RNR) was attacked by Japanese bombing east of Ceylon, while escorting tanker ATHELSTANE.  Tanker ATHELSTANE was sunk.  While rescuing survivors, the corvette was hit by two bombs and sank within 30 to 45 seconds.  Davies, Ty/Lt B Simpson RNR, Ty/Sub Lt D J Cory RNVR and forty six ratings were missing.  Sixteen survivors were rescued by ATHELSTANE’s boat. 

 

 

Monitor EREBUS at Trincomalee had slight damage from a near miss. Nine ratings were killed and twenty two crewmen were wounded

 

Operations while on loan to RAF Squadron 11. Observers Ty/Sub Lt (A) F W Bonnell RNVR and Ty/Sub Lt (A) A Peace RNVR of 806 Squadron were lost.

 

On loan to RAF Squadron 273 (F). Pilots Ty/Act/Sub Lt (A) R F H Jacob RNVR and Ty/Sub Lt (A) P R Peirano RNVR of 803 Squadron were lost.

 

 

Saturday, 11 April

 

Anti-submarine trawler ST CATHAN (Lt J Mackay RNR), lent to the US Navy, was sunk in collision off South Carolina. Ty/Sub Lt H B Hodgshon RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt G P Allwork RNVR and twenty nine ratings were lost.

 

 

Monday, 13 April

 

Submarine THRASHER sank German steamer ATLAS (2297grt) near Benghasi.

 

 

Tuesday, 14 April

 

Destroyer CHURCHILL and the Polish PIORUN escorted convoy TC.14 of troopships BATORY and LETITIA to Canada. The destroyers each carried five tons of Russian gold after it had been brought from Archangel by light cruiser KENYA in convoy QP.3. The ships arrived in Halifax on the 16th.

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Submarine UPHOLDER (Lt Cdr M D Wanklyn VC, DSO) was sunk by Italian torpedo boat PEGASO north of Tripoli. Cdr Wanklyn, Lt P R H Allen, Ty/Sub Lt J H Norman DSC RNVR, Lt F Ruck-Keene DSC and twenty eight ratings were lost, together with passenger L/Cpl C Parker of the Beds and Herts Regiment.

 

 

Saturday, 18 April

 

German steamer SEEFAHRER (2978grt) was sunk on a mine near Borkum.

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Submarine THRASHER sank German steamer BELLONA (1297grt) near Tobruk.

 

 

Monday, 20 April

 

Submarine TRIDENT sank German steamer HODOR (5386grt) NW of Namsos.

______

 

Escort destroyers COTSWOLD and QUORN, escorting convoy FS.80, struck mines off Aldeburgh. COTSWOLD was severely damaged near the bow. Five ratings were killed and twenty three wounded. She was taken in tow by destroyer LEEDS, which was later relieved by tug SUPERMAN with tug KENIA and salvage vessel DAPPER assisting. Towed to Shotley Spit and beached, she was refloated on 3 May and taken to Chatham, repairs completing 8 May 1943. QUORN had two ratings killed and one wounded. She was towed by patrol sloop SHEARWATER, and needed 17 weeks to repair, completing at Chatham on 19 August.

 

 

Wednesday, 22 April

 

Russian submarine M.173 sank German steamer BLANKENESE (3323grt) off the Kirkenes.

 

 

Monday, 27 April

 

Submarine URGE (Lt Cdr E P Tomkinson DSO) was sunk by Italian aircraft off Ras el Hilal. Cdr Tomkinson, Lt D B Allen, Lt J M S Poole DSC, Ty/Lt J S D Ransome DSC RNR, twenty eight ratings and 11 RN rating passengers for Alexandria were lost.

 

 

Thursday, 30 April

 

Light cruiser EDINBURGH was damaged by U.456 near Murmansk. Lt (E) V G Manfield, Act/Lt (E) J Moir and twelve ratings were lost.

 

 

 

MAY

 

 

Saturday, 2 May

 

Following her torpedoing on 30 April, light cruiser EDINBURGH (Captain H W Faulkner) was sunk by German destroyer torpedoes in the Barent's Sea. An additional forty three ratings were missing, and Ty/Act/Sub Lt R A Rendel RNVR wounded.

 

Destroyer FORESTER lost Lt Cdr G P Huddart and destroyer FORESIGHT lost Lt R A Fawdry in this engagement.

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Polish submarine JASTRZAB (Lt Cdr Romanowski), which had departed Holy Loch on 22 April, was attacked in error by Norwegian destroyer ST ALBANS (Lt Cdr S V Storeheil) and British minesweeper SEAGULL off Northern Norway. Two British communications ratings were lost with three of the Polish crew. Cdr Romanowski and British Sub Lt M A Hanbury RNVR were among six wounded. When the mistake was realised, ST ALBANS and SEAGULL rescued the survivors, after which SEAGULL scuttled the badly damaged submarine.

 

 

Sunday, 3 May

 

German steamer KONSUL CARL FISSER (5843grt) was sunk by British bombing near Aalsund.

 

 

Monday, 4 May

 

German steamer KLAUS FRITZEN (2936grt) was sunk at Maaloy near Bergen by British bombing.

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German steamer WARTENFELS (6181grt) was scuttled at Diego Suarez.

 

 

Tuesday, 5 May

 

German steamer SIZILIEN (4647grt) was sunk by bombing near Borkum.

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LANDINGS IN DIEGO SAUREZ, MADAGASCAR

 

Corvette AURICULA (Lt Cdr S L B Maybury) was mined in Courrier Bay, Madagascar, and sank the next day in Operation IRONCLAD

 

Friday, 8 May

 

Submarine OLYMPUS (Lt Cdr H G Dymott), carrying survivors from submarines PANDORA, P.36 and P.39, was lost when she struck a mine leaving Malta Harbour, six miles from St Elmo's Light. Cdr Dymott, Lt B H Band DSC, Lt R A Milne-Thomson, Lt H N Edmonds DSC of P.36, Lt J A Lindsell of PANDORA, Lt N Marriott DSC of P.39, Sub Lt G P Bulmer of P.39, Warrant Engineer H G Howes, Ty/Lt R P G Owen RNR of P.39, Act/Sub Lt D Hawkyard RNR of P.39, Sub Lt J F Wilford RNVR and seventy seven ratings – 22 from P.39, three from light cruiser PENELOPE, and two from P.36, were lost. The nine survivors - three from OLYMPUS and six from P.39, managed to swim ashore.

 

 

Monday, 11 May

 

Destroyers JERVIS, KIPLING, JACKAL and LIVELY departed Alexandria to attack a German-Italian convoy en route to Benghazi, and were instead attacked by German bombers in the Eastern Mediterranean on the 11th. KIPLING (Cdr A St Clair Ford DSO) and LIVELY (Lt Cdr W F E Hussey DSO, DSC) were sunk, and JACKAL (Cdr R Mc P Jonas DSC) was damaged at the same time as KIPLING, and sank in tow next day. Casualties were as follows:

 

KIPLING - six ratings killed, Lt (E) P G Fyers-Turner DSC and 17 ratings missing, Act/Sub Lt A J C Baker RNR died of wounds two days later and a rating died of wounds in August.

 

LIVELY -  Cdr Hussey and one rating killed, and fifty seven ratings missing. Lt Cdr (E) A H Bacchus was wounded.

 

JACKAL -  five ratings killed, three missing and one died of wounds.

 

JERVIS rescued 630 survivors from the three ships.

______

 

Tug C.308 (Boatswain C M Radcliffe) was sunk by German bombing at Malta. Boatswain Radcliffe and nine ratings were lost.

______

 

Anti-submarine trawler BEDFORDSHIRE (443grt, Lt R B Davis RNR), on loan to the USN, was sunk by U.558 off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Lt Davis, Ty/Sub Lt H Chitterbuck RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt B Hall RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt T Cunningham RNVR and all ratings were lost.

 

 

Friday, 15 May

 

Light cruiser TRINIDAD (Captain L S Saunders) was sunk in the Barent's Sea. Lt (E) J G Boddy, forty nine ratings and twelve Marines were missing. Py/Ty/Surgeon Lt R P M Miles RNVR, was wounded.

 

 

Saturday, 23 May

 

German steamer ASUNCION (4626grt) was sunk on a mine in Norwegian waters.

 

 

Wednesday, 27 May

 

Minesweeper FITZROY (Cdr A C A C Duckworth) was sunk by mining off Great Yarmouth. One rating died of wounds and twelve were missing. Ty/Surgeon Lt G P Fahrni RCNVR was wounded.

 

 

May, miscellaneous

 

At the time of the landings at Diego Suarez, French steamers MARECHAL GALLIENI (1559grt) and AMIRAL PIERRE attempted to escape to Lourenco Marques. AMIRAL PIERRE was intercepted and scuttled herself. MARECHAL GALLIENI was captured and taken to a South African port.

 

 

 


 

Background Events - June-October 1942

Malta, Atlantic & Russian convoy battles, Raid on Dieppe, Battles of Midway, Alamein, and for Guadalcanal

 

 

JUNE

 

 

Wednesday,   3 June

 

Whaler COCKER (ex-KOS XIX, Lt D H Crampton RNR) was sunk by U.331 off Bardia. Ty/Lt M P Gallop RNVR and fourteen ratings were missing. Ty/Lt D M Engeler RANVR was wounded.

 

 

Friday, 12 June

 

Destroyer GROVE (Lt Cdr J W Rylands) was sunk by submarine torpedo in the Eastern Mediterranean. Four ratings died of wounds, and Ty/Act/Gunner B J Fleetwood, Ty/Sub Lt A C Hermon-Hodge RNVR and one hundred and six ratings were missing.

 

 

Sunday, 14 June

 

MALTA CONVOYS OPERATIONS HARPOON AND VIGOROUS

 

Light cruiser LIVERPOOL was damaged by an Italian torpedo bomber in HARPOON, and taken in tow by destroyer ANTELOPE

 

 

Monday, 15 June

 

MALTA CONVOYS HARPOON AND VIGOROUS (continued)

 

Light cruiser NEWCASTLE in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by a motor torpedo boat. There were no casualties.

 

Destroyer BEDOUIN (Cdr B G Scurfield OBE) was sunk by aircraft torpedo in the Central Mediterranean. Sub Lt C N Parker, Lt F T Skinner and twenty six ratings were missing. Cdr Scurfield, Lt P Bullard, Sub Lt R J Evans RNVR, Lt Cdr (E) J S Mc N Jay, Lt E A S Manners, Ty/Lt J G Marshall RNVR, Ty/Lt J A R Moller RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt C J Montgomery RNVR, Ty/Surgeon Lt R St. CMooney RNVR, Schoolmaster R S G Wilson and 203 ratings were taken prisoner.

 

Destroyer HASTY (Lt Cdr N H G Austen) in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by German motor torpedo boat S.55 in 34-10N, 22-00E. One rating was killed, eleven missing, and one died of wounds. Destroyer HOTSPUR scuttled HASTY

 

Escort destroyer AIREDALE (Lt Cdr A G Forman) in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by bombing in 33-50N, 24-00E. Lt J C K McCKinsman and forty four ratings were lost. Nine officers and 124 ratings were rescued, before AIREDALE was scuttled by sister ship ALDENHAM, one of whose officers, Lt H T Tanner was killed the same day.

 

Australian destroyer NESTOR (Cdr A S Rosenthal DSO RAN) in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by bombing in 33-36N, 24-30E. She was taken in tow by destroyer JAVELIN, but had to be scuttled on the 16th. Three RAN and one RN rating were lost.

______

 

Anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON CEYLONITE (448grt, Skipper W Mc K Smith RNR), on loan to the USN, was sunk on a mine in Chesapeake Bay. Skipper Smith, Ty/Skipper T O FLeiper RNR and eighteen ratings were missing.

 

 

Tuesday, 16 June

 

MALTA CONVOYS HARPOON AND VIGOROUS (continued)

 

Light cruiser HERMIONE (Captain G N Oliver DSO) was sunk by U.205 in the Western Mediterranean in 33-20N, 26-00E. Cdr (E) S T G Bartwell DSC, Lt (E) L F Guppy, Paymaster Cdr G C G Marfell, Warrant Engineer L R B Pearce, Warrant Engineer W Wright, Ty/Surgeon Lt J W Ashley BM, BCh RNVR, Paymaster Lt G B Kidd RNVR, Ty/Lt R J Browne RCNVR and seventy nine ratings were lost. Four hundred and forty crew were rescued.

 

 

Wednesday, 17 June

 

Destroyer WILD SWAN (Lt Cdr C E L Sclater) was sunk by German bombing in the Western Approaches. Thirty one ratings were lost.

 

 

Sunday, 21 June

 

German steamer REICHENFELS (7744grt) was sunk by a British torpedo bomber in 34-43N, 11-58E.

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Submarine P.514 (Lt Cdr R M E Pain), which had lost her escort corvette PRIMROSE in low visibility, was sunk by Canadian minesweeper GEORGIAN, escorting convoy CL.43, in 46-33N, 53-40W. Cdr Pain, Lt W A Phillimore, Ty/Lt C A Bentley RNR, Ty/Lt J Taylor RNR, Ty/Lt (E) J F Magill RCNR and thirty seven ratings were lost. Corvette DIANTHUS departed St Johns later that day to join PRIMROSE in her search for the submarine.

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South African minesweeping whaler PARKTOWN (Lt L J Jagger, SASDF) was sunk by an Italian motor torpedo boat off Tobruk. Lt Jagger was killed. Sub Lt E R Francis was wounded.

 

 

Sunday, 28 June

 

German steamer SAVONA (2120grt) departed Benghazi on the 28th, escorted by Italian torpedo boat CIRCE and two German S-boats, and was lost after stranding near Sidi Sueicher.

 

 

 

JULY

 

 

Sunday, 5 July  

 

Russian submarine SC/320 sank German steamer ANNA (677grt) west of Memel.

 

 

Thursday, 9 July

 

Anti-submarine trawler MANOR (314grt, Skipper B Pile RNR) was sunk by a German motor torpedo boat in the English Channel. Skipper Pile, Ty/Skipper J Jaques RNR, Skipper J Wood RNR and twenty six ratings were missing.

 

 

Saturday, 25 July

 

Anti-submarine trawler LAERTES (Act/Skipper Lt P J Quinlan DSC RNR) was sunk by a U.201 off Freetown in 6-00N, 14-17W. Skipper Quinlan, Skipper A Lawrence RNR, Ty/Skipper J Reid RNR and sixteen ratings were missing.

 

 

 

AUGUST

 

 

Sunday, 2 August

 

MALTA CONVOY, OPERATION PEDESTAL

 

Designated WS 21, but not in fact properly one of the convoys of this series as the title was applied to the ships destined for Operation Pedestal,a relief convoy to Malta from the UK Prior to passing theStraits of Gibraltar on 10.8.42 however, the convoy did bear the style shown and the convoy sailing order is therefore included from the Clyde from which it sailed on 2.8.42 until passing the Straits on 10.8.

 

DEUCALION

11

 

PORT CHALMERS

21

 

EMPIRE HOPE

31

 

GLENORCHY

41