17th
– At
0001 ARK ROYAL escorted by the destroyers TARTAR, VOLUNTEER, BRAZEN and
ENCOUNTER was steaming in a generally south westward course, to achieve a
flying off position from which to cover the EFFINGHAM convoy.
[At 0400/17 the heavy cruiser EFFINGHAM with 1,020 troops embarked,
comprising the 2nd Battalion the South Wales Borderers, 24th (Guards) Brigade
HQ and support troops, 10 Bren Gun Carriers, and 130 tons of supplies, escorted
by the anti-aircraft cruisers COVENTRY (Flag Rear Admiral G. VIVIAN, Rear
Admiral, Anti-Aircraft Ships), CAIRO and the destroyers MATABELE and ECHO,
sailed from Harstad for Boda. The route that the force took was outside the
leads so as to reduce the risk of air attack. Speed of advance 20 knots.
At 0503 EFFINGHAM informed the Flag that she would like to arrive off
Svartoksen Light at 2000. Increased speed to 23 knots.
At 1034 EFFINGHAM suggested to the flag that, in view of the possible
submarine danger in the main approach to Boda, the force should proceeded
between Briksvaer and Terra Islands, stating that a large scale Norwegian
Chart, No. 65, was held onboard.
Rear Admiral, Anti-Aircraft Ships informed EFFINGHAM accordingly,
stating he would be ordered to lead the force in, preceded by MATABELE and ECHO
as A/S screen, and that he should make the necessary course signals.
At 1615 two Skuas arrived over the force and Skuas remained over the
force until the operation was abandoned.
At 1730 an enemy aircraft was sighted by the force
At 1912 the force was in position 67-13N, 13-28E and EFFINGHAM was
ordered to exchange stations with COVENTRY and take the lead.
At 1923 EFFINGHAM altered course to 080¡, speed 23 knots.
At 1925 EFFINGHAM was in position 67- 15N, 13-37E, course O4O ¡.
The gyros had previously been checked by
transits.
At 1945 EFFINGHAM was ordered to take MATABELE and ECHO under orders and
proceed independently to Boda. COVENTRY and CAIRO were to follow.
At 1947 in the
Briksvaer
Channel, about 8½ miles west of Boda, EFFINGHAM ran aground at a speed
of 23 knots, in what was apparently very deep water. MATABELE was ordered to
tow her off and ECHO was ordered provide an A/S screen, but MATABELE informed
the Flag that she had also been aground and reported damage to her starboard A
bracket and propeller. CAIRO was ordered to proceed to Boda with all dispatch
and send out all puffers and trawlers that were available.
It soon became clear that EFFINGHAM was lost so ECHO was ordered to
commence taking off the 1750 souls on board.
By 2240 ECHO had taken off all on board and transferred them to COVENTRY]
At 1500 ARK ROYAL was in position 68-08N, 07-00E
At 1500 a Walrus of 701 Sqd from GLORIOUS landed on ARK ROYAL.
[At 2130/14/5/40 the aircraft carriers GLORIOUS (with 18 Hurricane 1s of
46 Sqd RAF embarked) and FURIOUS (with 18 Gladiator IIs of 263 Sqd RAF
embarked) escorted by the destroyers
DIANA, VETERAN, VISCOUNT and WITHERINGTON sailed from the Clyde for operations
off Norway.
Early on 15/5/40 destroyer AMAZON joined from Scapa Flow and the
WITHERINGTON detached.
During the afternoon of 17/5/40 the force arrived in the vicinity of the
ARK ROYAL]
Between 1510 and 2200 ARK ROYAL flew off four fighter patrols to cover
the EFFINGHAM convoy.
At 1700 ARK ROYAL flew off the 701 Sqd Walrus to Harstad, taking with it
for the information of the Flag Officer, Narvik, proposals for the
disembarkation of the RAF Squadrons from GLORIOUS and FURIOUS.
At 2030 ARK ROYAL received news of the grounding of EFFINGHAM, west of
Boda, while shortly before midnight a signal was received from the Admiral
Commanding Anti-Aircraft ships, that the operation had been abandoned, and
requesting that air protection be continued while ECHO remained to arrange for
the sinking of EFFINGHAM.
At 2145 the Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers received the Flag Officer,
Narvik's signal timed 1731/17, requesting reconnaissance of the Rombaksfjord
and area south of it, and bombing of Sildvik and Hundalen. It was decided that ARK ROYAL would
proceed northwards on completion of present operations to comply with this
request.
18th
– At
0030 and 0300 ARK ROYAL flew off Skua fighter patrols to cover Boda and
operations around the EFFINGHAM.
At 0630 the last fighter patrol was landed back on. Following which
course was altered at this time to the Northwest, preparatory to carrying out
fighter operations off Narvik in the evening.
At 1700 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-06N, 15-15E.
At 1710 and 1830 ARK ROYAL flew off fighter patrols of three Skuas for
Narvik. Neither patrol sighted any enemy aircraft and
both patrols reported unfavourably on the weather, Clouds were reported to be
9/10th at 1000 feet, therefore no further patrols were sent.
At 1810 ARK ROYAL was joined by GLORIOUS and FURIOUS. This was the first
time in the war that three aircraft carriers had operated together.
The combined force now consisted of the aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL,
GLORIOUS and FURIOUS escorted by the destroyers TARTAR, VOLUNTEER, BRAZEN,
ENCOUNTER, DIANA, VETERAN, VISCOUNT and WITHERINGTON.
At 1900 ARK ROYAL flew off a Swordfish to take photographs of Bardufoss
Aerodrome for the RAF pilots embarked on GLORIOUS and FURIOUS.
19th
– At
0800 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-27N, 15-47E. The carrier force remained in
this approximate position with ARK ROYAL prepared to launch a bombing attack by
Swordfish aircraft on Sildvik and Hundalen. The weather, however, was consistently bad inshore and
patches of thick weather were frequently met at sea. It was therefore necessary to wait until conditions improved,
and ship retired to the north west in the evening.
At 1115 a signal was received from the Flag Officer, Narvik (T.O.O.
2331/18) giving arrangements for disembarking the RAF Gladiators from FURIOUS
to Bardufoss on Tuesday, 21/5/40.
The signal also stated that Hurricanes from GLORIOUS could not be received
until Sunday, 26/5/40. The Vice
Admiral, Aircraft Carriers, signalled the Flag Officer, Narvik (T.O.O. 1308/19)
suggesting that GLORIOUS should leave for the United Kingdom forthwith and that
ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS should return in company on Tuesday, 21/5/40, after the Gladiators
had been disembarked. No reply was
received.
At 1700 ARK ROYAL was in position 71-16N, 16-19E.
20th
– A
signal was received reporting a considerable improvement in the weather over
night.
At 0330 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-24N, 16-10E. Weather O, wind south southeast force 1, sea calm.
At 0330 ARK ROYAL flew off a strike force of nine Swordfish of 810 and
820 Sqds, armed with 20 lb Cooper bombs and 25 lb Incendiary bombs, plus either
2x500 lb or 4x250 lb GP bombs, their objective was Hundalen and Sildvik The 250
lb GP bombs included the last twelve of these bombs on the ship.
At 0330 ARK ROYAL flew off a Skua fighter patrol for Narvik.
[As the strike force approached the
coast the weather deteriorated.
One sub flight of three proceed up to Narvik below the cloud, but at
Narvik the cloud ceiling was at 500 feet and coming lower, and the sub flight
returned having jettisoned its bombs.
The other flight of six tried above the cloud layer at 5000 feet, but
was unable to find gaps large enough to enable an attack to be made. This flight also jettisoned its bombs
on its return trip to the ship, which by then was in rain with visibility down
to two miles, a front having arrived rapidly from the south west. All aircraft
returned to ARK ROYAL]
At 0400 ARK ROYAL flew off a Skua fighter patrol for Narvik to support
the Swordfish strike force. On arrival at the coast, this section found the
weather so bad that they returned to the ship at 0630.
At 0600 ARK ROYAL flew off a Skua fighter patrol for Narvik.
[This Fighter patrol was carried
out at 50 to 400 feet over Ofotfjord and narrowly escaped hitting a previously
unknown HT cable between Skogoy Island, in Bogen Bay and the mainland when
returning to ARK ROYAL]
At 0950 the Skua patrol returned to ARK ROYAL, by which time the
visibility had deteriorated to under one mile. Further operations were abandoned and ARK ROYAL held off to
the North.
At 1600 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-33N, 16-21E. At this time the
Weather was getting steadily worse.
Wind southwest force 6 and freshening, sea 41, and visibility 1 to 2
miles. Continuous rain, though by
this time the weather in the Narvik area had apparently cleared.
[At 2101 the Flag Officer, Narvik,
signalled that weather conditions were suitable at Bardufoss and ordered
FURIOUS to fly off the RAF GLADIATORS of 263 Sqd immediately. FURIOUS replied that Gladiators would
arrive between 0300 and 0400 tomorrow morning. The advanced echelon of 263 Sqd
had arrived in the Bardufoss area since 11/5/40 and had been joined by the
second echelon on 20/5/40]
21st
– At
0300 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-25N, 15-50E. Weather OC; wind west by south,
sea state 21.
At 0300 ARK ROYAL flew off six Skuas, the first section of three 6F, 6G
& 6H of 800 Sqd and the second section of three 8A, 8B & 8C of 803 Sqd,
Their mission was to patrol over Bardufoss airfield, 100NM distant, to cover
the landing of 265 Squadron Gladiators from FURIOUS.
[All encountered banks of fog, rain, and low cloud on
the coast. 8A and 8C returned at
0430 having lost 8B in cloud. 8B,
pilot Sub Lt I Easton, finally arrived over Harstad and forced landed at Sands¿y,
north of Harstad at the end of patrol, as visibility to seaward was less than
half a mile. 6F, 6G, and 6H came back and landed at 0530 having experienced
similar conditions, and flying ceased until weather improved]
[At approximately 0300,
in poor flying weather, FURIOUS commenced flying off the 18 Gladiators of 263
Sqd for Bardufoss. Each section was led by a Swordfish who provided navigation.
The first section was led by Swordfish P4216 of 818 Sqd, near Senja Island they
ran into thick mist and due to a navigational error the Swordfish and two
Gladiators, N5697 pilot P/O Walter
Philip Richards and N5693 pilot P/O Randolph Stuart Mills, flew into
H¿ystakktind mountain, 2060 feet high, which is between Sifjord and Osterfjord
on Senja Island. Pilot Officer Richards was killed all the other aircrew
survived. By 0930 sixteen Gladiators had safely landed at Bardufoss]
At 0730 Swordfish 2K, pilot Lieut. NR Corbett, of 820 Sqd landed back on
ARK ROYAL from SkŒnland where they had made a successful forced landed on
13/5/40. The crew had waited until the field to dry out enough for a successful
takeoff with ARK ROYAL within range.
At 1120 ARK ROYAL flew off a Skua fighter patrol to Bardufoss. This
patrol reported clouds very low inshore.
Further patrols were impracticable.
At 1230 a signal was received from FURIOUS stating that 18 Gladiators had
been disembarked, but that one Swordfish and two Gladiators were overdue and
missing.
[ARK ROYAL was now in need of
replenishment of her aircraft ordnance stores. So when Flag Officer Aircraft
Carriers received the signal from FURIOUS and with the knowledge that 46 Sqd
Hurricanes could now be landed before 26/5/40 he ordered ARK ROYAL and escort
proceeded to Scapa. GLORIOUS and FURIOUS and escort were ordered to proceed
independently to Scapa.
During her latest operations off
Norway, the ARK ROYAL air group had flown 250 sorties, 60% of them by the Skua
Sqds. Aircraft losses had been 8 Skuas and 5 Swordfish. Two
aircrew had been lost Lt. WP Lucy and Lt. MCE Hanson both of 803 Sqd]
At approximately 1300 ARK ROYAL escorted by the destroyers ANTELOPE,
BRAZEN, VOLUNTEER and ENCOUNTER set course for Scapa.
22nd
– At
0800 ARK ROYAL was in position 68-11N, 02-04E. Course 230¡, speed 14 knots. Weather, thick fog.
At 1200 ARK ROYAL was in position 67-37N, 00-52E.
At 2000 ARK ROYAL was in position 66-21N, 03-10W. Thick fog continued
throughout most of the day.
23rd
– At
0800 ARK ROYAL was in position 63-38N, 04-12W. Course 190¡, speed 14 knots. Fog
continued except for a break during the afternoon.
At 1200 ARK ROYAL was in position 62-44N, 04-54W.
At 2000 ARK ROYAL was in position 61N, 04-42W.
[At 2130/23/5/40 GLORIOUS, FURIOUS and the destroyers VETERAN, DIANA,
AMAZON and VISCOUNT arrived at Scapa Flow]
24th
– At
0500 North West of the Orkneys, ANTELOPE was detached to proceed to Scapa
independently as she was getting short of fuel. She arrived at Scapa at
0720/24/5/40.
At 0800 ARK ROYAL was in position 59-17N, 04-17W. Thick fog prevented ARK
ROYAL entering the Pentland Firth and she stood off to the northwest until fog
cleared.
At 1200 ARK ROYAL was in position 59-17N, 0409W.
The fog cleared in the evening
At 1915 ARK ROYAL, escorted by
BRAZEN, VOLUNTEER and ENCOUNTER entered Hoxa Gate, Scapa Flow
25th
– At 1600 ARK ROYAL (Flag Vice Admiral,
Aircraft Carriers) and FURIOUS, screened by the destroyers ANTELOPE, AMAZON,
ENCOUNTER, CAMPBELL and VISCOUNT sailed from Scapa for the Clyde via the
Minches.
At 1700 in the Pentland Firth the
destroyer VOLUNTEER, who had sailed from Scapa at 1615/25, joined and ENCOUNTER
detached for Rosyth.
At 1800 replacement aircraft were
flown on from RNAS Hatston.
[In the Minches the ARK ROYAL force passed
the destroyers BEDOUIN and FOXHOUND who were en route to Scapa from the Clyde.
They had departed the Clyde at 1550/25 for Scapa. En route, they conducted an
anti-submarine sweep from North Channel to Lower Minch, then from North Minch
to Pentland Firth, arriving at Scapa Flow at 1745/26th]
26th – At 1100 the force was in position
55-19N, 06-05W.
[At 1100 FURIOUS flew off five Swordfish to
RNAS Campbeltown and ten Skuas to RNAS Abbotsinch]
At 1730 ARK ROYAL, FURIOUS, ANTELOPE,
AMAZON, VOLUNTEER, CAMPBELL and VISCOUNT arrived off Greenock.
[Immediately
after ARK ROYAL picked up her mooring the process of replenishment commenced
and damaged aircraft were disembarked on to lighters. Crew were given local
leave]
27th to 29th
– ARK ROYAL off Greenock
carrying out replenishment.
30th
– At 0515 ARK ROYAL (Flag Vice Admiral,
Aircraft Carriers) screened by the destroyers ACASTA, ARDENT and ACHERON sailed
from the Clyde for Scapa via the Minches.
At 0755 off the Isle of Arran, ARK
ROYAL landed on three Swordfish from RNAS Abbotsinch. A further four Swordfish
and two Skuas failed to arrive due to low cloud and rain. The four Swordfish that
were unable to find ARK ROYAL landed at RNAS Machrihanish, the Skuas returned
to Abbotsinch and then flew to RNAS Hatson.
At 1830 ARK ROYAL was in position
55-32N, 06-35W and she landed on the four Swordfish from Machrihanish.
31st
– At 0600 ARK ROYAL, ACASTA, ARDENT and
ACHERON arrived at Scapa.
At 0800 ARK ROYAL (Flag Vice
Admiral, Aircraft Carriers) and GLORIOUS escorted by the destroyers HIGHLANDER,
DIANA, ACASTA, ARDENT and ACHERON sailed from Scapa for Operation ALPHABET.
Course was set to pass west of the Orkneys.
[Operation ALPHABET was the code name for the
Allied withdrawal from Norway. The role of ARK ROYAL was to provide fighter
cover and that of GLORIOUS to evacuate RAF fighters.
On 24/5/40 the British Government decided that
events in the Low Countries and northern France necessitated a withdrawal of
Allied forces from Norway. The troops were required in the UK and the warships
were wanted for possible anti- invasion operations and deployment to the
Mediterranean, for possible action against Italy.
The withdrawal order was communicated to the
Flag Officer Narvik early on 25/5/40, with the proviso that the operation was
to be carried out in a manner that would keep it secret from the Germans for as
long as possible. The Allied commanders agreed that the attack on Narvik should
continue as this would disguise the retreat and allow the destruction of the
harbour and iron ore loading facilities.
(On 29/5/40 Narvik was captured by a combined
force of French Foreign Legion, Polish and Norwegian troops supported by naval
gunfire. The German troops retreated along the railway line towards Sweden,
destroying the railway tunnels as they went)
The evacuation would entail the embarkation of
23000 troops from the Harstad/Narvik area and 4000 from Boda.
On 26/5/40 the Flag Officer Narvik decided to
carry out the evacuation in three phases, as follows:-
First Phase,
embark valuable stores in five ships then at Harstad and sail them to Scapa.
Second
Phase, embark valuable stores in three MT ships and 13000 troops from the Narvik
area in liners in fjords to the west and north of Harstad and also embark the
Boda force.
Third
Phase, embark 10000 troops from the Narvik area in liners as in the second
phase.
The date proposed by the Flag Officer Narvik
for the second phase was 1/6/40 and for the third phase 4/6/40. These dates
were later amended]
Between
0925 and 1630 ARK ROYAL's Swordfish carried out A/S patrols.
At 1015 in
position 59N, 04-20W, ARK ROYAL flew on Skuas of 803 Sqd from RNAS Hatston together with two replacement Skuas for 800 Sqd, these latter two were the
aircraft that failed to find ARK ROYAL on the morning of 30/5/40. On completion, course was set to the Northward, to
proceed towards the Narvik Area.
[ARK ROYAL now had embarked 24 Skuas, 12 of 800 Sqd
and 12 of 803 Sqd, and 21 Swordfish, 12 of 810 Sqd and 9 of 820 Sqd]
JUNE
1st
– At 0730 ARKROYAL was in position 64-50N,
02-40W and steering northerly, the weather was foggy and the fog persisted
intermittently throughout the day.
At 2201 the
Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers signalled the Flag Officer Narvik with an RV
position for 1700/2/6/40, for a Walrus bringing out orders for Operation
ALPHABET.
2nd
– ARK
ROYAL continued steering northerly and maintained ADA patrols during daylight
hours.
At 1710 ARK
ROYAL was in position 68-58N, 00-33E when she landed on a Walrus from Narvik.
[In a
signal timed 1959/1/6/40, the Flag Officer, Narvik, indicated his requirements
from the Carrier Squadron. Embarkation operations were to begin on the night of
3/6/40; he requested fighter patrols each night over the points of embarkation
ashore and the rendezvous of ferrying destroyers with transports, and also
reconnaissance and bombing of troop movements in the S¿rfold – Drag area,
and bombing of enemy headquarters at Hundalen]
At 1748 the
destroyers ARDENT and ACASTA were detached to refuel at Harstad.
At 1825 ARK
ROYAL flew off the Walrus to return to Narvik.
3rd
– At
0730 GLORIOUS and HIGHLANDER were detached to the northwest, to conserve fuel
until required for embarking shore based aircraft.
[During ARK
ROYAL's last operations off Norway it had become obvious that the weather on
shore was often different from the weather at sea. In order to combat this
problem the Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers took the decision that before
fighter patrols were despatched a Swordfish would be flown off to ascertain
weather conditions over the patrol area]
At 1002 The
Flag Officer Narvik signalled; operation ALPHABET is to start tonight, Monday,
without further orders.
[Destroyers were to evacuate the troops then ferry
the troops to troopships that would be assembled in Ersfjorden, position
69-42N, 18-17E or if the weather was suitable at sea. The Flag Officer Narvik
had the following destroyers at his disposal HAVELOCK, BEAGLE, CAMPBELL,
DELIGHT, ECHO, FIREDRAKE, FAME, ARROW, WALKER, VANOC and VETERAN]
At 1600 ARK
ROYAL was in position 71N, 12-56E and flew off two Swordfish 4K & 4C of 820
Sqd for an ADA patrol. Searching sector, 130¡ to 180¡.
At 1700 the
ACASTA and ARDENT rejoined from refuelling. Following which DIANA and ACHERON
were detached to Harstad to refuel.
At 1700
Deck landing practice for new pilots carried out.
At 1835 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2P & 2Q of 810 Sqd for an ADA patrol.
Searching sector 130¡ to 180¡
At 2050 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 4A & 4B of 820 Sqd, 4B for an ADA patrol,
searching sector 130¡ to 230¡, and 4A for a weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
[The weather
report indicated low cloud and conditions generally unsuited for bombing. It was therefore decided to postpone
bombing attacks by Swordfish which were to have been delivered on Hundalen from
0130/4 onwards]
At 2230 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 6B & 6C of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over the
troop transports. Aircraft 6C returned soon after taking off with undercarriage
jammed in the down position.
At 2337 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 4G & 4H of 820 Sqd, 4G for an ADA patrol,
searching sector 130¡ to 230¡, and 4H for a weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
4th
– At
0001 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-22N, 16-00E; weather O; wind west force 3;
sea state 34.
[Fighter
patrols were continued throughout the night, morning, and forenoon in
accordance with the Flag Officer, Narvik's signal timed 1959 of 1st
June. Cloud conditions remained unsuitable for bombing]
At 0035 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 6G & 6H of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over the
troopships at position C.
[At
0035although the latest weather reports were still unfavourable, however it was
decided that further fighter patrols must leave the ship and attempt to reach
the objectives. The patrol which
took off at 0035 found that the embarkation of troops at Position 'C' was about
to commence; a thick layer of cloud at 1000 feet lay above the ships and there
were frequent rainstorms]
[Position C was Ersfjorden which is located
north of Harstad and about 84NM by sea from Harstad. The troops were embarked
at Narvik and Bod¿ on destroyers and Norwegian fishing boats and transported to
Harstad, From Harstad they were taken by destroyer to Ersfjorden where they
trans-shipped on to the troopships]
At 0245 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2P & 2Q of 810 Sqd, 2P for an ADA patrol,
searching sector, 130¡ to 230¡, and 2Q for a weather reconnaissance over
Narvik.
[The weather report from
2Q indicated low cloud
and poor visibility for the whole of the
Narvik area, and in particular Rombaksfjord]
At 0345 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6P, 6Q & 6R of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopships at position C.
At 0550 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 8F, 8G & 8H of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
Reisen Fjord; this patrol reported
that there was no sign of activity in or near the fjord.
At 0550
ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 4C
& 4L of 820 Sqd, 4C for an ADA patrol, searching sector 130¡ to 230¡, and 4L
for a weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
[In late May the German high command became
concerned about the situation in Northern Norway, particularly at Narvik.
On 25/5/40 the Seekriegsleitung, German Naval High Command, SKL, informed German
Army Group XXI in Oslo that they were going to undertake an operation against
Allied naval operations off Northern Norway.
The purpose of the operation was to interrupt
Allied re-supply convoys and to relieve the pressure on German troops fighting
around Narvik. The operation was
to be called Operation JUNO.
On 1/6/40 Army Group XXI signalled their
requirements to SKL; these were the destruction of all transports and small
vessels in the Narvik, Namsos and Bod¿ areas also any target in Narvik except
the hospital.
At
0800/4/6/40 the German battlecruisers GNEISENAU
( flag Admiral Marschall), SCHARNHORST, heavy cruiser ADMIRAL
HIPPER, with destroyers HERMAN SCHOEMANN, KARL GALSTER, ERICH STEINBRINCK and
HANS LODY sailed from Kiel on Operation JUNO.
At
Bletchley Park Harry Hinsley had been studying German W/T traffic and had
reached the conclusion that heavy German units were at sea. Hinsley contacted
the OIC at the Admiralty that analysis of wireless intercepts indicated that
German heavy units had left the Baltic and might be moving north into the
Norwegian Sea. However because Hinsley's work was tentative and could not be
confirmed from other intelligence, the OIC decided to take no action. Therefore
the Admiralty did not pass this information on to the fleet or RAF Coastal
Command]
At 0645 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6K & 6L of 800 Sqd and 8M of 803 Sqd for a
fighter patrol over the troopships at position C. This patrol
reported that the
embarkation appeared to be proceeding smoothly.
At 0750 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 8K, 8L & 8M of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
Reisen Fjord; this patrol reported
that a ship was loading at pier in Reisen Fjord.
At 0850
ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 4H
& 4G of 820 Sqd, 4H for an ADA patrol, searching sector 130¡ to 230¡, and 4G
for a weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
At 1005 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 8P & 8Q of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over the
troopships.
At 1115 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 6A & 6B of 800 Sqd for a
reconnaissance of the road
between S¿rfold and Drag, and of the area near
Korsnes.
[This patrol found that the clouds were low and
the S¿rfold-Drag road could not be investigated. Aircraft 6B, pilot PO H.A. Monk, dropped one 250 lb GP bomb on the jetty at S¿rfold. A small vessel flying the Norwegian flag was seen in Sorfolla, this is believed to have been a British ship disguised]
At 1145
ARK ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6F,
6G & 6H of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over the troopships at position C.
At 1200 ARK
ROYAL was in position 70-08N, 16-31E. At this time the destroyers DIANA and
ACHERON rejoined from Harstad.
[At 1430
the 1145 patrol
reported transports
leaving the fjord.
The troop
transports, GEORGIC 27759grt, MONARCH OF BERMUDA 22424grt and LANCASTRIA
16243grt, with 4700 troops embarked, escorted by the destroyer ARROW and sloop
STORK, sailed from Ersfjorden at 1425/4/6/40
and steered for rendezvous B. At the RV they were to await the other three
transports of Group 1 before proceeding to the UK]
At 1515
ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2P
& 2Q of 810 Sqd, 2Q for an ADA patrol, searching sector, 130¡ to 230¡, and 2P
for a weather reconnaissance.
[By 1515/4
the weather inshore was now bad and
the visibility near ARK ROYAL was poor.
Aircraft 2P was sent inshore to see if there were any signs of
improvement; this aircraft reported conditions unsuitable for flying and
operations were temporarily suspended. None of ARK ROYAL's aircraft had so far
sighted any enemy]
At 2200 ARK
ROYAL flew off Swordfish 4F of 820 Sqd to carry out an A/S over a convoy which
had left Harstad at 2200/4.
[The convoy was Convoy Greek, consisting of the
British merchant ships MV HERON 2374grt, SS MARINA 5088grt and SS BALTEAKO 1328grt and the French merchant
ships SS ENSEIGNE MAURICE PRECHAC 4578grt, SS VULCAIN 4362grt and MV PAUL EMILE
JAVARY 2471grt, escorted by the anti-submarine trawlers ST ELSTAN and
WASTWATER
The SS BALTEAKO whilst at Harstad had been
subjected to frequent bombing attacks that had culminated on 20/5/40 in a
number of bombs near missing her. Her whole superstructure amidships was
damaged and distorted, and she was holed near the waterline in 36 places. Her
master, Captain Francis Butcher, beached her, the destroyer DELIGHT was
alongside at the time and assisted in the beaching. Later the chief engineer Robert
Towns, plugged the holes. As she was lying at a steep
angle she was moved to a more level beach and more lasting repairs were made.
Finally, with the assistance of one of H.M.'s trawlers, she was refloated and
joined Convoy Greek]
At 2330 ARK
ROYAL sighted the anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY (Flag Rear Admiral Anti-Aircraft
Ships).
At 2350 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7A, 7B & 7C of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound. (Ris¿y Sound is
off Andfjorden located between the Island of Gryt¿ya and the Lyng¿yan Islands)
[The troopships were the SS
MONARCH OF
BERMUDA 22575grt and the Polish ships MV BATORY 14287grt and MV SOBIESKI
11030grt. There vessels didn't arrive at the anchorage until 0551/5]
At 2350 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Swordfish 2B, 2C & 2F of 810 Sqd, 2B for an ADA
patrol, searching sector, 130¡ to 230¡, 2F for a weather reconnaissance over
Narvik and 2C for an A/S patrol over Convoy Greek.
5th
– At
0320 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish 4B of 820 Sqd for an A/S patrol over Convoy
Greek.
At 0325 ARK
ROYAL recovered Skuas 7A, 7B & 7C.
Rain and low cloud on the coast now made the weather too bad for flying
to be continued; operations were therefore temporarily suspended.
[At 0400 the
COVENTRY who was in Andfjorden reported
weather as wind southwest force 3, rain, slight swell, cloud 10/10ths at 1000
feet]
At 0540 ARK ROYAL
flew off Swordfish 4G of 820
Sqd for an A/S patrol over Convoy Greek.
At 0715 ARK
ROYAL was in position 70-26N, 15-57E. At this time she landed on a Walrus who
was carrying despatches from Harstad. At the same time ARK ROYAL ran into fog.
At 0727
Flag Officer Anti-Aircraft Ships in COVENTRY made the following signal to Flag
Officer Aircraft Carriers, 'no fighters over Ris¿y Sound yet'.
At 0835 ARK
ROYAL flew off the Walrus to return to Harstad.
At 0910
Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers replied to Flag Officer Anti-Aircraft Ships 0727/5
with the following signal.
'Your 0727
last patrol left Ris¿y at 0300. Conditions since then unsuitable.
Report
cloud conditions at Ris¿y every hour'.
[At 1254/5 the troop transports
MONARCH OF
BERMUDA, BATORY and SOBIESKI having competed loading and with 4900 troops
embarked sailed from Ris¿y Sound
escorted by the COVENTRY and steered for the ocean RV with the troop transports
GEORGIC and LANCASTIA.
At 2000/5 the
COVERNTRY, MONARCH OF BERMUDA, BATORY and SOBIESKI were in position 69-31N,
14-05E.
At 2015/5
the MONARCH OF BERMUDA, BATORY and SOBIESKI detached to wait at the ocean RV.
At 2118/
COVENTRY closed the repair ship VINDICTIVE, (VINDICTIVE had sailed from Scapa
at 2116/1) GEORGIC and FRANCONIA. The
four vessels then steered for Andfjorden and
Ris¿y Sound]
At 1420 ARK
ROYAL with the destroyers ACASTA, ARDENT, DIANA and ACHERON in company, was in
position 70-38N, 15-50E, in which position she RVed with GLORIOUS and
HIGHLANDER
At 1430
HIGHLANDER detached to refuel at Harstad.
At 1930 there
was a slight improvement in the weather.
At 1935 ARK
ROYAL was in position
70-15N,
16-20E and she flew off two Swordfish 2B & 2P of 810 Sqd, 2P for an
ADA patrol and 2B for a weather reconnaissance over Narvik. 2B reported
low visibility inshore.
At 2047 ARK ROYAL flew off a Swordfish of 810 Sqd to relieve 2P on the ADA patrol.
[At 2231/5 the
Flag Officer Anti-Aircraft Ships Informed
ships and authorities concerned that Ris¿y Sound was to be the rendezvous for tomorrow, Thursday, 6th June 1940,
embarkation of troops]
At 2305 ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2C & 2H
of 810 Sqd, 2H for an ADA patrol and 2C for a
weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
At 2330 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6P, 6Q & 6R of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound.
The weather was still bad inshore and the fighters reported
that the transports had not yet arrived in position for embarkation.
[GLORIOUS who
was in company was waiting
for the weather to clear in order to land on the Gladiators of 263 Sqd RAF and
the Hurricanes of 46 Sqd RAF from Bardufoss and return them to the UK]
6th
– At
0200 ARK ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6A, 6B & 6C of 800 Sqd for a fighter
patrol over the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound.
The patrol reported on their return that the transports had not arrived by the
time they left the area.
[Late on 5/6/40 the Allied ground forces that
were pursuing the retreating German forces along the railway line towards
Sweden requested an aerial bombing attack on German headquarters at Hundalen.
Swordfish of 823 Sqd, embarked on GLORIOUS were tasked with this attack and a
Swordfish of 810 Sqd was tasked to lead them to their target]
At 0200 ARK
ROYAL flew off Swordfish 2A of 810 Sqd to lead the four Swordfish of 823 Sqd,
each armed with
with four 250 lb GP
bombs, four Cooper bombs, and four incendiary bombs. Their orders were to
attack Hundalen.
At 0200 ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 4C & 4L
of 820 Sqd, 4C for an ADA
patrol and 4L for a weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
At 0230 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6A, 6B & 6C of 800 Sqd, Their
orders were to attack suitable targets and protect
the Hundalen strike force.
[The Hundalen strike force
encountered a thick layer of low cloud
and generally poor visibility this made it impossible to these aircraft to
reach an objective, and the bombs were jettisoned in the sea.
Low cloud also prevented the fighter covering force carrying out their
mission. Bombers and fighters
jettisoned their bombs in the sea, before
returning at 0530/6]
At 0315 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Swordfish 2K, 2L & 2M of 810 Sqd for a reconnaissance
in sector 220¡ to 270¡ to a depth of 125 miles. This search was because it was
considered possible from intercepted messages that an enemy surface force might
be in the vicinity.
Clearing searches such
as these were to be made at intervals until the probability of surprise by
enemy surface vessels no longer existed.
At 0430 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7P, 7Q & 7R of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound.
[At 0450/6, (two hours late) the VINDICTIVE,
GEORGIC and FRANCONIA arrived in Ris¿y Sound. They immediately commenced
embarking troops. The COVENTRY remained in Andfjorden]
At 0530 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 4F & 4H of 820 Sqd for an ADA patrol.
At 0645 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7F, 7G & 7C of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound.
At 0645 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 6K & 6L of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over Sagfjorden. The patrol reported that one destroyer
had loaded and left the fjord.
At 0900 ARK
ROYAL was in position 70-03N, 16E when she flew off three Swordfish 2F, 2Q
& 2R of 810 Sqd for a reconnaissance in sector 220¡ to 270¡ to a depth of
150 miles. The objective was to search for enemy ships in the direction from
which they would be most likely to approach. Nothing was sighted except for an Allied Convoy.
At 1015 the
destroyer HIGHLANDER rejoined from Harstad. Following which GLORIOUS and
HIGHLANDER detached to the Northwest to conserve fuel until required for
embarking aircraft during pm 7th June.
At 1030 the
destroyers ARDENT and ACASTA were detached to Harstad to refuel.
[At 1100/6 the troopships GEORGIC and
FRANCONIA with VINDICTIVE (VINDICTIVE had embarked the RAF ground crews of 46
and 263 Sqds) having completed with troops sailed for the ocean RV, escorted by
the destroyers HAVELOCK,
ECHO and WALKER,
to join the other troopships of Group 1]
At 1200 ARK
ROYAL was in position 70-15N, 16-56E. Weather
BC, wind W by S force 4; sea state 33.
[The weather was reported as bad at Rombaksfjord, but suitable for bombing
at Drag. The decision was made to make a
reconnaissance of the Drag and Sorfold
areas and to bomb any suitable
targets]
At 1210 ARK ROYAL flew off two Skuas 7A & 7B of 803 Sqd, each armed with a 250lb GP bomb
to make a reconnaissance of the Drag and S¿rfold areas, and to bomb any suitable targets.
[Aircraft 7A,
pilot, Lt. Cdr. J Casson, bombed the runway of the landing ground behind
Boda. Aircraft 7B, pilot, Sub Lt GW Brokensha,
found German troops
at Finneid, near Fauske, in Sorfolla; two platoons of
troops appeared to be using the hotel as their Headquarters and several army
vehicles were seen on the road leading north from Finneid. The aircraft dropped a
bomb on the hotel and missed by ten yards. When ARK ROYAL received 7B's report
of German troops; the decision was taken to carry out a strike mission as soon
as possible]
At 1210 ARK ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6B, 6C & 6L of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol
over the troopships that
were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound.
At 1210 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2B & 2H of 810 Sqd, 2H for an ADA patrol and
2B for a weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
At 1535 the
last fighter patrol returned and patrols ceased until later in the day.
At 1710 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish 4C of 820 Sqd for a
weather reconnaissance over Narvik.
[The
purpose of this mission was to ascertain whether a dive bombing attack could be
carried out on the railway stations at Sildvik and Hundalen where the German
headquarters were reported to be. The French Military Headquarters had asked for
these objectives to be attacked and ARK ROYAL was particularly desirous to meet
their demands. Aircraft 4C reported
that the clouds had lifted in Rombaksfjord and that attacks could now be
expected to have a good chance of success]
At 1715 ARK
ROYAL flew off a strike force of six Skuas 7K, 7L, 7M, 7P (L2984), 7Q (L2955)
& 7R (L2956) of 803 Sqd. Each aircraft was armed with one 250 lb GP bomb,
four 20 lb Cooper bombs and four incendiary bombs. Yellow section comprising 7K,
7L & 7M and red section comprised 7P, 7Q & 7R. Their mission was to
bomb the German troops at Finneid, near Fauske. Because ARK ROYAL was so far from the
objective at this time the Swordfish could not have covered the distance and
retuned with safety.
[Report on the attack by yellow section. We
proceeded to our objective via Andenes Point, Korsnes, Drag, Musken, S¿rfjordmo,
Sorfold, and Djupvik. An extensive reconnaissance of all roads was made at 1000
ft. for troop movements. The
weather deteriorated towards the south and at Fauske. The cloud ceiling was between 1500 and 2000 ft.
Fire was opened by the enemy as we approached and no
troops were visible at any point in the town. From this it can be assumed that warning of our approach had
been given to the enemy sometime before our arrival.
Yellow section was the first to attack. The first objective was a hotel,
believed to be the enemy HQ, near a large warehouse at the S.E. of the
town. The attack was made at 1845
with 250 lb bombs diving from 1800 to 1000 ft. However, owing to the low ceiling, accurate dive bombing was
impossible and no hits were observed on the hotel.
The bombs were observed to fall as follows:
Yellow 1, 7K, 30 yards from hotel, between
it and the warehouse.
Yellow 2, 7L, on the road south of the
warehouse about 100 yards from the hotel.
Yellow 3, 7M, 20 yards south of the
warehouse.
An attack was then made on the warehouse with
incendiary bombs dropped in sticks of four. One fire was observed, but lasted only a short time.
Aircraft then attacked independent objectives as
follows, with 20 lb bombs:
Yellow 1, attacked a row of houses to the right of
the main pier from which intensive flak and machine gun fire was coming. A stick of four 20 lb bombs was dropped
and direct hits were observed. It
is estimated that three or four machine gun and Flak posts were destroyed.
Yellow 2, attacked the main pier. A stick of four 20 lb bombs was dropped
just north of the pier damaging houses were troops had been previously
reported.
Yellow 3, chose the same objective as Yellow 2 and
scored one direct hit on the pier.
The remaining three fell in the sea.
On completion of this attack, Red Section began
theirs. In the meantime yellow section
made an extensive reconnaissance of the area to the north of the town. No troops were seen]
[Report on the attack by Red Section. Followed
Yellow Section to the objective. On arrival at Fauske, we separated from Yellow
Section and proceeded to the west to await completion of Yellow's attack.
At 1840, 7P led the Red Section on an attack on the
warehouse and hotel at Fauske. Owing to extremely bad visibility and clouds at
1200 feet accurate bombing was difficult.
Attack by Red 1, 7P, one 250 lb bomb miss in water
alongside warehouse, 4 x 20 lb bombs in grounds of wireless station, 4 x
Incendiary bombs caused a fire alongside the wireless station.
Attack by Red 2, 7Q, one 250 lb bomb in grounds of
the warehouse, 4 x 20 lb bombs in grounds of the warehouse, 4 x Incendiary
bombs caused fire near wireless station.
Attack by Red 3, 7R, one 250 lb bomb close to hotel,
4 x 20 lb bombs on road near hotel, 4 x Incendiary bombs caused a fire among
cars outside hotel.
Red 1 and Red 2 were hit in several places by small
calibre AA fire (.303 probably).
This appeared to come from the shrubbery of the wireless station, the
unit was made to stop firing, and probably put out of action by the 20 lb bombs
and extensive low altitude front gun attack. On completion of the attacks, at
1900, Red Section left the target and proceeded up the road leading north from
Fauske. Military Lorries on this
road were attacked closely with the remainder of our front gun ammunition. They were obviously hit. The Lorries
had drawn up under the trees and the personnel had taken shelter in a
wood.
We arrived back on ARK ROYAL at 2015]
[At 1813 in
position 70-06N, 11-56E, the COVENTRY (Flag
Rear Admiral Anti-Aircraft Ships) RVed
with the troopships of Group II, comprising ORAMA 19840grt, ORONSAY 20,043grt,
ORMONDE 14,982grt, ARANDORA STAR 15,501grt, DUCHESS OF YORK 20,021grt, ROYAL
ULSTERMAN 3244grt, ULSTER PRINCE 3791grt and ULSTER MONARCH 3791grt and the
Armed boarding vessel VANDYCK.
The ORAMA, ARANDORA STAR, DUCHESS OF YORK and
VANDYCK were ordered to remain at sea.
The ORAMA reported that she was short of fuel
oil and water, so after consultation with FO Narvik, FO AA Ships ordered ORAMA to return to the
UK.
The remaining
troopships then proceeded under escort to Ris¿y Sound]
At 2105 ARK
ROYAL flew off six Swordfish, 2K, 2L, 2M, 2F, 2G & 2Q of 810 Sqd. Each
aircraft was armed with four x 250 lb GP bombs, four 20 lb Cooper bombs and
four incendiary bombs. The first sub-flight comprising 2K, 2L & 2M were
tasked to strike at Hundalen and the second sub-flight comprising 2F, 2G &
2Q were tasked to strike at Sildvik.
[Report on
the attack on Hundalen. The sub flight proceeded to Hundalen in very good
weather conditions. The Objective
was sighted at 2210 and approached from a height of 4500 ft. A group of four Bofors guns immediately
opened fire. These guns were well
concealed in some scrub, about 400 yards north of the village of Hundalen and
could only be located by the gun flashes.
Flak fire was observed coming from positions on the hill side. The target was buildings at
Hundalen. The approach was in line
astern on a southerly course at a height of 4500 ft. Continuous fire was experienced from a group of four Bofors
guns, and a number of MG.s.
2K dropped
a number of bombs on a group of small buildings and a large fire was started,
which appeared to be spreading satisfactorily when the sub flight returned.
2M scored a
direct hit on a large white building several stories high, with a number of
windows and was possibly a residential building of some nature. Further bombs were dropped amongst
smaller buildings. Two of the 250 lb bombs on 2L hung in the racks, but near
misses were obtained with the remaining bombs on the tunnel mouth and on some
corrugate iron roofing over the railway line.
2M was hard
hit by flak causing considerable damage to the tail unit, and severing one
control wire, but the aircraft remained airworthy. The sub flight returned to
the ship at 2400]
[Report on
the attack on Sildvik. Sildvik was approached from North West in line astern at
6500 feet.
2F made an
approach dive to 4000 feet in the same direction then to 2500 feet and
released, made away to the East, and climbed to 4000 feet. The second attack by
2F was made from eastward along the railway line. A hit was made on the junction
of railway lines. No AA fire was experienced during the attack.
2Q followed
2F after one minute making one attack from the North West on Sildvik and
thereafter machine gunning huts in the vicinity. 2G dived in the same direction scoring one hit about 5 yards
from the track and fired a building]
[At 2200 the
ORANSAY, ORMONDE, ULSTER PRINCE, and ULSTER
MONARCH arrived in Ris¿y Sound.
The DUCHESS OF YORK remained in Andfjorden and the
ROYAL
ULSTERMAN went to Harstad]
At 2330 ARK
ROYAL was in position 70-14N, 16-14E. Weather
bc, wind
SE force 3, sea state 22
At 2330 ARK
ROYAL flew off six Skuas 7A, 7B, 7C, 7F, 7G & 7K of 803 Sqd for a fighter
patrol over Reisen and Ris¿y Sound to protect the embarkation of troops.
At 2330 ARK ROYAL flew off three
Swordfish 4F, 4H & 4L of 820 Sqd for search
between the bearings
220¡
and
270¡ to a
depth of 140 miles, with the object of clearing the bearing upon which enemy
surface craft were most likely to approach. Only a Norwegian gunboat and a small loaded tanker were
seen.
At 2330 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish
4K of 820 Sqd for reconnaissance over Drag and the road leading there from the
south. No enemy forces were
sighted and two 250 lb GP bombs were dropped near the bridge on the road ten
miles to the southwest of Drag.
7th – At 0035
ARDENT and ACASTA rejoined from refueling at
Harstad. Following which DIANA
and ACHERON detached to Harstad to refuel.
At
0200 ARK ROYAL flew off two Skuas 6K & 6L of 800 Sqd for a
fighter patrol over the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y
Sound.
At 0200 ARK
ROYAL flew off Swordfish 2C of 810 Sqd for an ADA patrol.
At 0435 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6A, 6B & 6C of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound. This patrol reported
no enemy aircraft in sight and loading of transports proceeding satisfactorily.
At 0445 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Swordfish 4A, 4B & 4C of 820 Sqd each armed with 4 x
250 lb GP bombs, 4 x 20 lb Cooper bombs and 4 x 25 lb incendiary bombs. Their
mission was to attack enemy positions and the Flak and Bofors positions reported
and located at Hundalen by aircraft of the previous day's night raid.
[This is
the report of the attack on Hundalen by a sub-flight of 820 Sqd. On approaching
the land, the section climbed to 7000 feet above a scattered layer of thin Stratocumulus
cloud and conditions appeared ideal for bombing. However, the cloud layer became denser and more extensive as
the objective was approached, and when within 20 miles the section was forced
to come below the clouds. Rombaksfjord
was entered in the base of the clouds at 1500 feet with clouds down on the
hills on either side. Breaks in
the cloud were observed at the head of the fiord and it was decided to press on
in the hopes of getting through to Hundalen. AA fire was encountered from a Bofors gun when passing
Sildvik. On reaching the head of
the Rombaksfjord, it was found that Hundalen could not be reached and it was
decided to attack enemy positions in Sildvik.
Attacks
were made on Sildvik, dives being started from inside the cloud at a height of
3500 feet and bombs released about 1000 feet. 12 x 250lb GP, 12 x 20 lb, and 12
incendiary bombs were dropped.
Attacks
were continued for about 10 minutes.
Direct hits
with 250 lb GP bombs were obtained on two buildings and a fire started. Four x 250 lb GP bombs fell on the
railway lines. A machine gun was
silenced by Cooper bombs.
Fire was
encountered from what was probably a Bofors gun which appeared to be located in
the mouth of the tunnel and was possibly mounted on a railway truck, also from
an Oerlikon, or similar guns, and machine guns.
No hits
were obtained by the enemy on our aircraft]
At
0445 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish 2A of 810 Sqd to report on the weather at
Drag and Vestfjord as it was the
intention to send further bombing forces to Fauske if bombing conditions were
good.
At
0540 ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2B & 2N of 810 Sqd for an
ADA patrol.
At 0800 ARK
ROYAL was in position 70-09N, 16-55E. Weather bc,
wind, light airs, sea state 02.
At 0800 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6F, 6G & 6H of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y Sound. The patrol
reported five destroyers hunting a submarine in Andfjorden; three destroyers
loading transports at Ris¿y; weather conditions unsuitable for enemy bombers.
At 0800 ARK
ROYAL flew off Swordfish 2P of 810 Sqd to report on the weather on the Drag
area.
At
0900 ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2L & 2R of 810 Sqd. 2L was to carry
out an ADA patrol and 2R was to fly to Bardufoss airfield to communicate with the
R.A.F.
At
0930 ARK ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6P, 6Q & 6R of 800 Sqd for a
fighter patrol over the troopships that were loading troops and stores in Ris¿y
Sound.
[At 0650/7 the ROYAL ULSTERMAN joined the
transports in Ris¿y Sound.
At 1052/7 the embarkation of troops and the
ORANSAY,
ORMONDE, DUCHESS OF
YORK and ROYAL ULSTERMAN escorted by the COVENTRY and the destroyers HAVELOCK,
ARROW and WALKER sailed for the Ocean RV. The ULSTER PRINCE and ULSTER MONARCH
sailed for Harstad escorted
by the destroyers DELIGHT, BEAGLE, and CAMPBELL.
During the
7th about 5200 troops were embarked.
The 0930 fighter patrol reported the movements of
the ULSTER PRINCE and ULSTER MONARCH]
At 1205 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish 4K of 820 Sqd for an ADA patrol.
[At 1314/7 the
COVENTRY reported that the convoy was being shadowed by a FW 200 Condor, which
at 1315/7 she opened fire on, without apparent success]
At 1330 in position 71-11N, 15-25E, GLORIOUS and
HIGHLANDER rejoined the Flag from the Northwest.
At 1355 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7K, 7L & 7M of 803 Sqd to attack enemy aircraft which had been reported in position 310 degrees 20
miles from Andenes point. This was
probably the FW 220 Condor sighted by COVENTRY. No enemy aircraft were sighted by
this patrol.
[At 1430
GLORIOUS flew off four Swordfish to Bardufoss for navigating fighter aircraft back to carrier]
At 1550 DIANA and ACHERON rejoined from Harstad.
At 1615 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish 2K of 810
Sqd to Bardufoss aerodrome with the orders for embarkation of Hurricane,
Walrus, and Gladiator aircraft in the Carrier Squadron on Saturday, 8th
June.
[At 1925 the
GNEISENAU [flag
Admiral Wilhelm Marschall], SCHARNHORST, heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER, with
destroyers HERMAN SCHOEMANN, KARL GALSTER, ERICH STEINBRINCK and HANS LODY on
Operation JUNO RVed with the fleet supply ship DITHMARSCHEN in approximate
position 67-52N, 2W and refuelling of the HIPPER and the destroyers commenced.
Whilst
refueling Admiral Marschall received a reconnaissance report of a seven ship convoy on a south
westerly course,
whose course and speed would put it about 110 NM south east of his current
position.
(This was the Group 1 troopship convoy comprising
the MONARCH OF BERMUDA, BATORY, SOBIESKI, FRANCONIA, LANCASTRIA and GEORGIC
escorted by the VINDICTIVE)
Admiral Marschall, who was unaware that the Allies had
commenced the evacuation of Norway, was undecided what to do about the convoy
believing it to be of empty ships. So at 2030 Marschall called a captains' conference on board
the GNEISENAU. Just as the conference was ending Marschall received a signal
informing him that only one warship remained at Harstad. From this he deduced
that the evacuation had begun so he could profitably attack south bound shipping.
At 2215 the captains' conference
ended and at 2300 the Force got under way. The ships set off due south in line
abreast 10 miles apart]
[At
1930 GLORIOUS landed on three Hurricanes of 46 Sqd RAF as a trial to test the
feasibility of landing Hurricanes without arrester hooks on a carrier. The aircraft landed on very
successfully, and it was decided to embark the remainder in GLORIOUS a.m.,
tomorrow, Saturday]
At 2000 hours ARK ROYAL landed on five Walrus of 701
Squadron from Harstad.
[At 2000 the
Heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE (Flag Vice Admiral
Cunningham, FO 1st Cruiser Squadron) departed Tromso for the Clyde with the
King of Norway, his government and allied legations embarked]
[At 2035
GLORIOUS flew off a Swordfish of 823 Sqd to Bardufoss with
instructions for landing on remaining RAF fighters]
At 2305 ARK
ROYAL flew off nine Skuas 6A, 6B, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6K, 6L & 6M of 800 Sqd
for fighter patrols over Narvik, SkŒnland, and Bardufoss, each patrol being
charged with the protection of evacuating allied troops from air attack.
[The
patrols reported that Norwegian fishing boats were ferrying men and stores, to
three destroyers off Narvik, and that the R.A.F. were striking camp at
Bardufoss. The patrol which went
to SkŒnland was fired on by Allied demolition parties. A large convoy of 15
ships was seen to be assembling off Andenes Point]
At 2305 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2F & 2M of 810 Sqd for an ADA patrol.
At 2310 ARK
ROYAL sighted the COVENTRY.
[At around midnight the cruiser SOUTHAMPTON
(Flag Flag Officer Narvik) embarked the last Allied troops from Narvik. These
were the rear guard, troops of 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade. SOUTHAMPTON then sailed for Harstad]
8th
– At
0100 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-05N, 15-53E Weather ocp, wind WNW, sea state 32.
In company were the GLORIOUS and destroyers ARDENT, ACASTA,
DIANA, ACHERON and HIGHLANDER.
At 0100 ARK ROYAL flew off two Skuas 7A & 7P of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over Narvik. The
patrol reported that destroyers were bombarding the piers.
[By 0115 GLORIOUS had landed on ten
Gladiators of 263 Sqd RAF, (the first
Gladiator had taken off just after 2300/7) followed by seven Hurricanes of 46 Sqd RAF, all from Bardufoss, and one
Walrus of 701 Sqd FAA, ferrying Group Captain Wood, RAF from Harstad. All
landings were completely successful.
GLORIOUS then landed on the Swordfish of 823 Sqd that had acted as navigating
aircraft]
At 0130 ARK
ROYAL flew off four Skuas 7F, 7G, 7Q & 7R of 803 Sqd, 7F & 7G for a
fighter patrol over Reisafjorden (RAF ground crew were being evacuated through
S¿rreisa and taken in fishing boats to Harstad) and Bardufoss aerodrome and 7Q & 7R for a fighter patrol
over Ris¿y Sound.
At 0130 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2G & 2Q of 810 Sqd for an ADA patrol.
At 0207 ARK
ROYAL landed on Walrus 5A of 701 Sqd, pilot Lt
M B Francklin from GLORIOUS. (This was
to be the last aircraft to take off from GLORIOUS)
At 0300 ARK
ROYAL flew off six Skuas 6P, 6Q & 6R of 800 Sqd and 7K, 7L & 7M of 803
Sqd, 7K, 7L & 7M for a fighter patrol over Reisafjorden and Bardufoss
aerodrome and 6P, 6Q & 6R for a fighter patrol over Ris¿y Sound.
[At 0300 in position 70-17N, 14-10E,
GLORIOUS, ARDENT and ACASTA detached for Scapa. They were routed through the
following positions, speed of advance 16 knots, 69-30N, 06-40E, 66-00N, 02-00W
& 63-00N, 04-30W.
The Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers agreed to
the CO of GLORIOUS, Captain, D'Oyly-Hughes RN, request for GLORIOUS to proceed
independently to Scapa to expedite a Court Martial]
At 0515 ARK
ROYAL flew off six Skuas 6F, 6G. 6H, 6K, 6L & 6M of 800 Sqd, 6F, 6G &
6H for a fighter patrol over Reisafjorden and Bardufoss aerodrome and 6K, 6L
& 6M for a fighter patrol over Ris¿y Sound. This patrol reported that
embarkation at Reisafjorden was completed.
[At about 0530 in position 67-26N, 4-23E, the
German Force were steaming south in line abreast when the HIPPER sighted two
ships, these were the tanker MV OILPIONEER 5666grt escorted by the trawler
JUNIPER of the 19th Anti-Submarine Striking Force, they had departed Tromso on
the 7/6 for the UK. On sighting the Enemy force JUNIPER hoisted her battle
ensign and turned towards the enemy. HIPPER took on JUNIPER and amazingly
JUNIPER managed to survive for 90 minutes before being overwhelmed by HIPPER.
GNEISENAU attacked the OILPIONEER with her secondary armament setting her
ablaze and the destroyer SCHOEMANN despatched the tanker with a torpedo.
Neither of the British ships got off an enemy sighting signal]
At 0805 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7P, 7Q &7R of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over Ris¿y
Sound. The fighters sighted a He 111K (this
was probably a He 111H of KG 26) when on patrol and immediately chased
after him, but the Heinkel was able to take cover in a convenient layer of
thick cloud and escaped after an indecisive action.
At 0815 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2H & 2P of 810 Sqd for an ADA patrol.
[At 0900/8/6/40in position 68-02N, 03-36E the HIPPER
and HANS LODY came upon two ships, the empty troopship SS ORAMA 19840 grt and
the hospital ship ATLANTIS. The HIPPER sank the ORAMA but allowed the ATLANTIS
to proceed on her way. In accordance with the Geneva Convention ATLANTIS
maintained radio silence]
At 1030 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 7F & 7G of 803 Sqd for an ADA patrol and to look
for a shadower which had been sighted from the bridge. The shadower disappeared as the Skuas took
off and was not seen again.
At 1050 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6A, 6B & 6C of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the transports leaving Andfjorden. The patrol also had orders to search for a
shadower reported by COVENTRY, but no enemy aircraft were seen.
At 1100 ARK
ROYAL escorted by the destroyers HIGHLANDER, DIANA, and ACHERON steered to the
westward to keep to northward of convoys.
At 1330 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7K, 7L & 7M of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the Store ship convoy which had been bombed by a four engine flying boat. The
patrol reported very low cloud near the convoy and no enemy aircraft in sight.
[The convoy was of slow (7knot) auxiliaries that
had departed Harstad late on the 7th. The convoy consisted of the RFA SS OLIGARCH
6897grt, the tanker MV CONCH 8376grt and the freighters SS BLACKHEATH 4637grt,
SS HARMATTAN 4558grt, SS CROMARTY FIRTH 538grt, SS THESEUS 6527grt, SS ACRITY
403grt and SS COXWOLD 1124grt. At 0300/8 the convoy was off Andenes Point and was
escorted by the anti-submarine trawlers ST CATHAN and LOCH MONTEITH of the 18th
Anti-submarine Striking Force. At 1300/8 the convoy was in approximate position
69-30N, 13E]
At 1515 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6P, 6Q & 6R of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopship convoy.
[At 1005/8 the troopship convoy which was
part of Group II had completed with troops and had sailed from Ris¿y Sound. (This completed the withdrawal of Allied
troops from Norway) The convoy
comprised ARANDORA STAR, DUCHESS OF YORY, ULSTER MONARCH and ULSTER PRINCE
escorted by
COVENTRY (flag Rear Admiral Anti-Aircraft Ships), the light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON (Flag
of Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Cork and Orrery, who had delegated command of the convoy to
Rear
Admiral Anti-Aircraft Ships) and the destroyers HAVELOCK (D 9), CAMPBELL,
FAME, DELIGHT, BEAGLE, ECHO, FIREDRAKE, VANOC and VETERAN.
At 1200/8
this convoy was in position 69-32N, 16-08E and steering for an RV with the
other troopships of Group II]
[At 1546 the GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST (At 1300 HIPPER and the destroyers had been
detached to refuel at Trondheim) were
in position 69N, 3-10E steering 345¡ speed 19 knots with the flag ship leading,
when a lookout on the SCHARNHORST sighted smoke bearing 60¡. The Germans
initially identified the vessel sighted as ARK ROYAL but it was actually the
GLORIOUS escorted by ARDENT and ACASTA they were steering 205¡ speed 17 knots. The
German battlecruisers turned on to a south easterly course and closed to attack.
At 1600 the battle cruisers were sighted by
GLORIOUS and ARDENT was ordered to close and identify them.
At 1627 ARDENT was fired on by GNEISENAU and at
1630 by SCHARNHORST at a range
of about 14600M. ARDENT withdrew, firing torpedoes, one of which was seen to
pass close ahead of the SCHARNHORST. Both
destroyers made smoke to screen the GLORIOUS.
The smoke was effective enough to cause the Germans to cease fire from
about 1658 to 1720. ARDENT achieved one hit on SCHARNHORST with her 4.7-inch guns, but was
extensively damaged by return fire from the 150mm secondary armament of
the battlecruisers, and sank at about 1725.
At 1630 at a range of 26150M on a bearing 120¡
the battlecruisers opened fire on GLORIOUS, ARDENT and ACASTA made smoke and
turned towards the enemy.
At 1652, GNEISENAU picked up GLORIOUS
transmitting the following message on 8.29 MHz addressed to Scapa W/T;
"Two battlecruisers bearing 308¡ 15 miles course 030¡, my position 54-69N,
4¡E'. This signal was not picked up by any British station or ship.
At about 1730, ACASTER passed ahead of SCHARNHORST
and turned to run down her starboard side, ACASTER then fired two four-tube
salvos of torpedoes. One torpedo hit SCHARNHORST below Caesar turret, causing
heavy damage and casualties, and causing a sharp reduction in speed. ACASTER also
made a hit on SCHARNHORST's B turret with her 4.7 "guns, but came under
heavy and accurate fire after she had turned away, which left her burning and
in a sinking condition. The Germans ceased fire on ACASTER at about 1808 and
she sank at about 1820.
AT 1638
GLORIOUS received
her first 280mm hit from SCHARNHORST's third salvo.
At 1720 the heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE who was
then about 70 miles west of GLORIOUS picked up a weak signal on 3.7 MHz,
addressed to VAA front GLORIOUS. DEVONSHIRE took no action upon receipt of the
broken and distorted signal.
At about 1740 the German ships ceased fire and
GLORIOUS sank at about 1820.
At 1815, the German ships set course for
Trondheim and left the scene at SCHARNHORST's best speed of about 20 knots.
At 1851 the SCHARNHORST signalled GNEISENAU 'hit
by torpedo on the starboard side in compartments III and IV. Turret C
unserviceable".
At 1200/9 they entered the Frohavet.
At 1530/9/6/40 they arrived off Munkholman
Island outside of Trondheim harbour]
At 1715 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7A, 7B & 7C of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopship convoy.
At 1915 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7P, 7Q & 7R of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troopship convoy.
At 2208 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 4C & 4K of 820 Sqd for ADA patrols. ARK ROYAL
was now so close to the troop convoy that A.D.A. patrols to cover both forces
could be provided. Swordfish 4C carried out the ADA patrol around ARK ROYAL and
4K around the troop convoy.
At 2358 ARK
ROYAL sighted the troop convoy.
9th
– At 0108
ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2A & 2L of 810 Sqd for an ADA patrol
around the convoy and ARK ROYAL.
[At 0230 the troopships
ORONSAY,
ORMONDE and ROYAL ULSTERMAN joined the troop convoy. The armed boarding vessel
VANDYCK should have joined at this time but had failed to RV with the other
troopships]
[At 0310 the
destroyers DELIGHT and FIREDRAKE were detached from the escort of the troop
convoy with orders to search for the VANDYCK]
At 0400 ARK ROYAL was in position 70-11N, 7-20E. (This
was position A, the assembly point for the troop transports of Group II) Weather,
wind northwest force 4, slight swell, cloud 8/10ths at 6,000 feet.
At 0405 ARK
ROYAL flew off four Swordfish 4A, 4B, 4G & 4H of 820 Sqd to carry out a reconnaissance
of the sector 130¡ and 225¡ with the object of searching for enemy surface
vessels upon their most probable line of approach to the convoy. A Store ship convoy was reported at
0440/9 and many small 'stragglers' were seen to the leaving Norway after the
main convoys.
At 0406 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6F, 6G & 6H of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the troop convoy.
[At 0431 the FO Anti-Aircraft Ships
Sent
following signal to FO Aircraft Carriers (R) DELIGHT; 'Request air search for
SS VANDYCK two masts one funnel painted hull black, upper works grey, which
should have made rendezvous 'A' at 0300 on approximate course 250 degrees. If
located request that DELIGHT and FIREDRAKE be informed.']
AT 0718 ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish 2P and 2B
of 810 Sqd they were sent back
to the position in which the ships of the convoy gathered, the object being to
find SS VANDYCK, which had failed to join the convoy. VANDYCK was not sighted, but FAME and DELIGHT were seen
looking for her.
At 0720 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 7F & 7G of 803 Sqd for a fighter patrol over the
troop convoy.
[At 0750 the destroyer
FIREDRAKE
rejoined the convoy having failed to locate VANDYCK]
[At 0810 the Following
signal was received from VANDYCK (R) DELIGHT and FIREDRAKE; 'am at rendezvous X']
[At 0847 the destroyer DELIGHT was ordered to
to bring VANDYCK on and inform CINC Rosyth and authorities concerned of expected time of arrival in position
63-00N, 04-00E. The DELIGHT failed to RV with VANDYCK because VANDYCK was
bombed and sunk]
At 1000 ARK ROYAL was in
position
69N, 3-24E, and course approximately 210 ¡.
At 1000 ARK
ROYAL flew off four Swordfish 4C, 4F,
4K & 4L of 820 Sqd for a
reconnaissance
between headings 130¡ and 210¡, to a depth of 80 miles. The search sighted
nothing.
At 1000 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6K, 6L & 6M of 800 Sqd for a fighter patrol over
the convoy.
[At 1014 the
Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers received a signal from the battleship VALIANT
timed 0901/ 9 reporting enemy battleships and destroyers in position 67-44N, 3-52E
at 0900/8. This was the first
intimation received that enemy surface forces were at sea]
[At 1020 the CINC Home Fleet signalled VALIANT,
make all possible speed to join Group II]
At 1110 ARK
ROYAL was in position 68-50N, 3-05E when she flew off three Swordfish 2B, 2H
& 2Q of 810 Sqd to carry out a search between 225¡ and 275¡ to a depth of
90 miles to search for the enemy force. Nothing was sighted.
At 1200 ARK
ROYAL was in position 68-46N, 3-03E, weather oc, wind northerly force 4, sea
state 30.
[At 1155 the SOUTHAMPTON sighted a body in
the water. She altered course to investigate a sighted a further three bodies.
(These were almost certainly from the previous days engagement between
GLORIOUS, ACASTER and ARDENT and SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU). At 1205
SOUTHAMPTON proceeded at 20 knots to re-join the convoy]
At 1300 ARK
ROYAL was in position 68-30N, 2-59E when she flew off Walrus 5A of 701 Sqd and seven
Swordfish 2B, 2C & 2P of 810 Sqd and 4A, 4B, 4G & 4M of 820 Sqd these 8
aircraft were to carry out a search between 110¡ and 285¡ to a depth of 100
miles to search for the enemy force. Also flown off were three Skuas 7K, 7L
& 7M of 803 Sqd these 3 aircraft were to carry out a search between 310¡
and 085¡ to a depth of 20 miles astern of the convoy.
[The
weather was difficult for air navigation, as the visibility was low and the
wind extremely changeable; a few of the less experienced observers had to be
brought back to the ship by D/F at the completion of this and subsequent
searches. The general standard of air navigation was high considering the
weather was so unsuitable and the ship often unable to maintain the mean line
of advance given to the aircraft when they took off]
At 1545 ARK
ROYAL was in position 68-10N, 2-00W, when she flew off two Walrus 5C & 5F
of 701 Sqd and six Swordfish 2B, 2E, 2F, 2K, 2L & 2Q of 810 Sqd and 4L of
820 Sqd these 8 aircraft were to carry out a search between 110¡ and 285¡ to a
depth of 100 miles to search for the enemy force. Also flown off were three
Skuas 7A, 6B & 6C of 803 Sqd these 3 aircraft were to carry out a search
astern of the convoy.
At this
time ARK ROYAL was operating close to the main troop convoy in order to offer
maximum protection.
[At 1707, as VALIANT had reported being
shadowed, the Vice Admiral, Aircraft Carriers suggested to the Flag Officer,
Narvik, that course of convoy should be altered to 270¡ in order to open the
distance from the enemy air base at Trondheim (Vaernes Aerodrome)]
At 1800 ARK
ROYAL and the convoy altered course to 270¡, speed of advance 13 knots.
At 1830 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Walrus 5G, 5H & 5K of 701 Sqd and six Swordfish 2A, 2C
& 2P of 810 Sqd and 4C, 4H & 4K of 820 Sqd for a reconnaissance between
the bearings of 175¡ and 340¡ to a depth of 120 miles. This reconnaissance
sighted the VALIANT and passed the position, course, and speed of the convoy to
her. Also flown off were three Skuas 7A, 7B & 7C of 803 Sqd these 3
aircraft were to carry out a search astern of the convoy.
At 1830 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6A, 6B & 6C of 800 Sqd with orders to pass a
message to VALIANT and attack an enemy aircraft showing her. When the Skuas
arrived over the VALIANT they found that she was being shadowed by a He 115 which
they attacked and drove off, but were unable to close due the float plane
disappearing into low cloud.
At 2030 ARK
ROYAL received Admiralty signal timed 1936/9ordering convoy to steer 270¡ to
longitude of Faroe Islands, then turn south.
[At 2115 the battleship VALIANT and the
destroyers
MASHONA, TARTAR, BEDOUIN and ASHANTI were sighted. The
Vice
Admiral, Aircraft Carriers ordered VALIANT to take station five miles ahead of
the convoy.
At 2145in position 67-58 N, 1W, VALIANT,
MASHONA,
TARTAR, BEDOUIN and ASHANTI took
station ahead of the convoy]
At 2145 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Walrus 5L & 5M of 701 Sqd and six Swordfish 2B & 2C
of 810 Sqd and 4A, 4B, 4G & 4M of 820 Sqd for a reconnaissance between the
bearings of 155¡ and 355¡ to a depth of 120 miles. Three Skuas covered the arc
astern of the convoy.
At 2300 in
position 67-55N, 2-10W six He 111H's (probably of II./KG26
from Vaernes) approached ARK ROYAL from astern and flew up the starboard
side. ARK ROYAL opened fire on the
enemy aircraft, without success. When nearly ahead of the ship, they broke formation,
four Heinkels disappeared into the clouds above the ship while the remaining
two shadowed from either bow. The sub slight of fighters already in the air,
shot down one He 111H and damaged another.
At 2315 ARK
ROYAL flew off a second section of fighters immediately the He 111H's were
seen, these were 6F, 6G & 6H of 800Sqd. This patrol attacked one He 111H
and probably damaged it.
At 2355 ARK
ROYAL flew off six Skuas 6A, 6B & 6C of 800 Sqd and 7K, 7L & 7M of 803
Sqd to attack the Heinkels and defend the convoy and escort. The Heinkels had
all been driven away by 0300/10 and some of them had jettisoned their bombs
while being attacked by the Skuas.
The convoy and escort suffered no damage from these enemy aircraft.
10th
– At
0001 Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Cork, hauled down his Flag on the SOUTHAMPTON.
At 0107 the
Vice Admiral, Aircraft Carriers suggested to the Flag Officer, 20th
Cruiser Squadron (Rear Admiral Anti-Aircraft Ships) that he
should inform, REPULSE, NEWCASTLE, and SUSSEX of the position of the convoy and
escort. This was done at 0144.
At 0400 the
convoy was in position
67-48N, 5-02W. Weather: east southeast wind,
force 2, cloud 9/10ths at 6000 feet.
At 0245 ARK
ROYAL was in position 67-23N, 3-30W when she flew off Ten Swordfish 2B, 2C, 2F,
2K, 2P & 2R of 810 Sqd and 4C, 4F, 4K & 4L of 820 Sqd for an all round
search to a depth of 120 miles. No
enemy forces were sighted.
[At 0725 whilst
being brought back to the ship by D/F, Sub/Lt R C Eborn in aircraft 2C lost his
way and forced landed in sea. The crew of three were picked by the Norwegian
fishery protection trawler SYRIAN and landed in Iceland]
At 0400 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas 7F & 7G of 803 Sqd for a patrol over the convoy.
At 0445 ARK
ROYAL sighted the NEWCASTLE (Flag CS18) and SUSSEX. The convoy altered course
to 195¡.
At 0518 the
NEWCASTLE joined and was
stationed one
mile on starboard quarter of convoy to provide AA defence on that flank.
At 0532 the SUSSEX joined and was ordered to provide
AA defence for the ARK ROYAL.
At 0709 the NEWCASTLE was ordered to provide AA defence for the ARK ROYAL.
At 0730 ARK
ROYAL was in position 66-47N, 4-55W. Weather OC, wind south east by south force
3, sea state 44.
At 0730 ARK
ROYAL flew off three walrus 5C, 5H & 5K of 701 Sqd to carry out a search
for Swordfish 2C.
At 0800 the
Vice Admiral, Aircraft Carriers, ordered
SUSSEX and NEWCASTLE to part company and support the store ship convoy in
approximately position 67-35N, 4-18W.
[At 0846 hours
a RAF Blenheim IVF of 254 Sqd from Sumburgh on reconnaissance over Trondheim
reported sighting 4 enemy cruisers; this was subsequently amended to a
battlecruiser and a large transport and 7 destroyers patrolling off the fiord
entrance]
At 0857 the battlecruiser REPULSE joined. Vice Admiral, Aircraft Carriers ordered
her to take VALIANT under her orders. These ships and their screening
destroyers MASHONA, TARTAR, BEDOUIN and ASHANTI
were designated Force 'A'.
[By the morning of 9/6 it was clear to Admiral
Marschall that the Allies were evacuating northern Norway; so he decided that
he must immediately attack Allied shipping. At 0902 the GNEISENAU, HIPPER and
the destroyers LODY, GLASTER, SCHOEMANN and STEINBRINCK sailed from Trondheim.
In the afternoon the submarine CLYDE on patrol
off the Frohavet sighted this force.
At 1400 the CLYDE reported 'a pocket battleship
and 8" cruiser in 64-35N, 9-45E, steering 300¡', by this time the
destroyers had returned to Trondheim.. The German
force had sighted the CLYDE so Marschall knew his mission was compromised. But
it was not until intelligence was received that the heavy units were covering
the Allied convoys that Marschall was ordered to abort the mission.
At 2010 the GNEISENAU and HIPPER turned east
and headed back to Trondheim.
At 1130/11 the GNEISENAU and HIPPER arrived
back off Trondheim]
At 1000 the
CINC Home Fleet ordered ARK ROYAL to join him.
At 1100 ARK ROYAL's escorting destroyers
DIANA and
ACHERON were exchanged for the destroyers MASHONA and ASHANTI from REPULSE's
screen, as the latter had more fuel remaining. (DIANA and ACHERON joined VALIANT returning to Scapa)
At 1130 in
position 66N, 6W the ARK ROYAL with the destroyers HIGHLANDER, MASHONA and
ASHANTI detached from the convoy and steered easterly to join the CINC Home
Fleet in RODNEY.
At 1445 ARK
ROYAL sighted RODNEY (flag CINC Home Fleet), RENOWN and the destroyers
INGLEFIELD (D.3), ZULU, KELVIN, ELECTRA and ESCORT.
At 1525 in
position 66-40N, 2-30W, ARK ROYAL joined the CINC Home Fleet. The destroyers
HIGHLANDER, MASHONA and ASHANTI detached to refuel. The Home Fleet then steered
in a generally eastward direction.
At 1540 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6K, 6L & 6M of 800 Sqd to attack a shadower
which had been sighted from the bridge. The patrol chased off the He 115 but
could not close the range sufficiently to open effective fire as the Heinkel
made full use of the low clouds for avoiding action.
At 1600 the
CINC Home Fleet ordered the Fleet to steer north eastward at maximum speed. This
was in response to CLYDE's 1400/9 signal. The CINC's intention was to locate
the enemy force and carry out an air strike from ARK ROYAL.
At 1650 ARK ROYAL flew off three Skuas 7A, 7B & 7C of 803 Sqd
to attack a shadower. An
attack was made on a He 115 and it is possible that the enemy aircraft was
damaged.
At 1813 the
Fleet altered course to 115¡.
At 1910 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6P, 6Q & 6R of 800 Sqd to attack another
shadower, but no enemy aircraft was seen and the patrol returned to guard the Fleet.
At 2000 ARK
ROYAL was in position 66-29N, 00-33W. Weather OC, wind east south
east force 4, sea state 21.
At 2000 ARK
ROYAL flew off nine Swordfish 2B, 2K & 2K of 810 Sqd and 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4K
& 4L of 820 Sqd to carry out a search between bearing 020¡ and 210¡ to a
depth of 150 miles, the object of the search being to locate the enemy
battleships or battleship, reported by CLYDE and believed to be in the
vicinity. At 2100 a submerged
submarine was reported 20 miles ahead of the Fleet.
At 2330 the
Swordfish returned having sighted nothing.
At 2355 the
Fleet altered course to 320¡ to provide close cover for the slow convoys and
numerous single merchant ships that were proceeding from Narvik and Tromso to
the UK.
[Between 2345/10 and 0555/1, in position
68-15N, 2-20E the Norwegian ship SS BORGUND 341grt, sighted rafts with 38
survivors from GLORIOUS and one from ACASTA. The 39 survivors were taken on
board and landed at T—rshavn, Faroe Islands]
11th
–
[At 0645 the submarine CLYDE on patrol off
the Frohavet sighted what was
believed to be a pocket battleship off Lines¿ya Island at the entrance to the
Frohavet. This was certainly the GNEISENAU
and HIPPER returning to Trondheim]
At 0800 ARK
ROYAL was in position 67-13N, 2-20W. Weather BC, Wind south east force 3, sea
state 22.
At 0812 ARK
ROYAL flew off nine Swordfish 2A, 2F, 2G, 2K. 2Q & 2R of 810 Sqd and 4F, 4G
& 4M of 820 Sqd to carry out a search between bearing 181¡ and 359¡, to a depth
of 120 miles. No enemy forces were
sighted and thick weather was reported ahead.
At 0830 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6F, 6G & 6H of 800 Sqd to attack a shadower. No
enemy was sighted and it seems possible that one of our own flying boats had
been reported as the shadower. (This may
have been a Sunderland 1 of 204 Sqd from Sullom Voe that was searching for the
ships reported the CLYDE)
[At 1130 twelve Hudson 1's of 269 Sqd RAF, each
armed with four x 250lb SAP bombs, (this
size and type of bomb was useless against the targets they were to attack)
took off from Sumburgh. Their mission was to
bomb the enemy heavy ships at Trondheim reported by the Blenheim IVF of 254 Sqd
at 0846/10.
At about 1415 they arrived over the target
where they were attacked by Bf 109's of II,/JG77 and Me
110's of 3./ZG76. Although three hits were claimed no bombs hit any of the
German ships. Two aircraft were shot down, UA-G, N7361 pilot Sgt E B Lascelles,
this aircraft was shot down by A Bf 110 and UA-P, P5131, pilot Sgt G W Robson,
this aircraft was shot down by a Me109]
At 1300 the
weather closed in and no further flying was possible for the rest of the day.
[At 1706
the Admiralty signalled the CINC Home Fleet with the intelligence report of the
RAF attack. The Admiralty went on to state that if weather conditions were
suitable a further attack would be made, and suggested that Skuas should be
used to finish off the enemy ships]
[The CINC
Home Fleet ordered the Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers to commence planning for
the operation on the basis that the Fleet would remain undetected and reach a
position 65N, 4-40E by 0001/13/6.
Because at
this time of the year there is almost 24 hours of daylight and the last 40
miles would be over land and the enemy ships were lying 17 miles from the
largest airfield in Norway at which were located many Bf 109 and Me 110
fighters the mission would be very difficult and dangerous.
In
conjunction with the RAF a three pronged attack was planned. First Beauforts of
22 Sqd RAF would carry out a low level attack on Vaernes aerodrome to keep the
German fighters grounded before the attack by the FAA developed. Second Skuas
of 800 and 803 Sqds would carry out a dive bombing attack. Third as the Skuas
were attacking, Swordfish of 810 and 820 Sqds would carry out a torpedo attack.
To provide a degree of protection to the Skuas and Swordfish during the attack,
Blenheim IV fighters of 254 Sqd RAF would RV with the attack force as they took
off from ARK ROYAL.
In the
event the weather proved unsuitable for the Swordfish, they would be flying
into a strong south easterly wind that would reduce their speed and make them
easy prey for fighters and AA fire. So the Swordfish were dropped and the
attack would be carried out by the Skuas alone. Each Skua was to be armed with
a 500lb SAP bomb which, even with the added impetus of the diving aircrafts
speed would not generate sufficient velocity to penetrate the armoured decks of
the German battlecruisers. This fact was known to those who authorised, planned
and executed to raid.
Therefore
it is difficult to understand why the Admiralty suggested that Skuas should be
used to finish off the enemy ships.
Cabinet
Office minutes from 11/6/40 state 'the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill,
expressed grave doubts as to the wisdom of the operation, t would be a gallant
operation, but one which, in his opinion, might prove far too costly']
The Fleet
steered for position 65N, 4-40E.
12th -
The Fleet
steered for position 65N, 4-40E. Weather low clouds and frequent rain storms.
At 0630 the
destroyers AMAZON, ANTELOPE, ESCAPADE and FEARLESS joined the CINC. The Fleet
now comprised NELSON, RODNEY, RENOWN and the destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3), AMAZON,
ANTELOPE, ESCAPADE, FEARLESS, ZULU, KELVIN, ELECTRA and ESCORT.
At 0935 the
Fleet altered course to 080¡ and increased speed to 18 knots, the maximum that RODNEY
was capable, to reach the flying off position for the attack on Trondheim.
At 1200 the
Fleet was in position 64-23N, 3-19W. Weather OV, wind south south east force 5, sea
state 32.
[At 1616
the CINC Rosyth signalled the CINC Home Fleet that at 0200/13 precisely four
RAF aircraft would attack Vaernes aerodrome and six Blenheim fighters would be
in the vicinity of Trondheim at that time as a protective escort for the Skuas
and to prevent them from being pursued out to sea]
At 1650 the
weather was becoming generally more suitable for flying;
the cloud lifting and the visibility improving. ARK ROYAL flew off three Skuas 6P, 6P & 6R for defensive
patrol over the fleet.
[At 1802
the CINC Rosyth signalled the CINC Home Fleet informing him that RAF aircraft
would be bombing targets at Bergen during the night from 0001 to 0300/13]
At 2230 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Skuas for fighter patrol over Fleet.
13th
– The
Fleet arrived at the flying off position, 64-58N, 4-38E.
At 0002 ARK
ROYAL flew off 15 Skuas 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H & 6K of 800 Sqd and 7A, 7B, 7C,
7F, 7G, 7L, 7P, 7Q & 7R of 803 Sqd, each Skua was armed with a 500lb SAP
bomb, to attack enemy warships in
Trondheim harbour.
[The formation climbed to 11,000 feet, formed up, then
headed for the coastline to the north west of Trondheim. The attack by the Skuas was timed to synchronise at 0200 with an attack on Vaernes aerodrome by four Beaufort aircraft of 22 Sqd RAF;
also the arrival of six Blenheim IV
long range fighters of 254 Sqd RAF who were to provide fighter protection.
At 0123 the
15 Skuas were north of Halten Lighthouse, no doubt from where they were
reported, and they crossed the coast near to Lys¿ysundet in brilliant sunshine,
35 miles from the target, except that the one thing all the pilots wanted was a
cloudy day. In the van was 803 Squadron, led by Lt Cdr J Casson in 7A, in three
flights of three. Following was 800 Squadron, led by Capt RJ Partridge RM, in
6A, in two flights of three.
The
Blenheims of 254 Sqd failed to arrive at the RV on time due to an error in
calculating the range. Therefore because of time pressures the Skuas left the
RV and headed for Trondheim without the Blenheims.
Seven
Bauforts of 22 Sqd took off from Wick, three got lost in bad weather, the
remaining four attacked Vaernes aerodrome at 0150. The Beauforts landmark for
crossing the coast was the Grip Lighthouse, but as they flew over the
lighthouse they were sighted from the light cruiser NURNBERG who was on passage
to Trondheim. The NURNBERG made a sighting report that was received by the
SCHARNHORST at 0134. The raid on Vaernes caused little damage and was over by
the time the Skuas arrived. However it had the opposite effect to that intended
as the Bf109's of II./JG77and Me110's of I./ZG76 that were scrambled to defend
the aerodrome were perfectly placed to attack the Skuas even before they
reached their target.
The enemy
fighters attacked the rear section of 803 Sqd which comprised 6F, 6G & 6H.
Skua 6G, L3028, pilot Mid LH Gallagher was the first to be shot down by a Me109,
second was 6H, L3047, pilot Mid DTR Martin and third 6F, L3000, pilot Lt GED
Finch-Noyes.
Lt Cdr
Casson in 6A led 800 Sqd into the dive from 5,000ft from the direction of SCHARNHORST's
bow, into a storm of AA fire. Lt Gibson in 7P, at the rear of the formation
took his flight in the opposite direction, attacking from stern to bow. Despite
the flak and fighters, the pilots were determined to get their bombs on target.
Capt Partridge
in 7A led the remaining three aircraft of 800 Sqd round to the stern of the
ship and dived from 7,000ft, to give them the best chance of an accurate bomb
run. Lt Spurway in 6K, following Partridge down, saw one bomb near miss off the
starboard quarter and then a bright flash just aft of the funnel.
A further
five Skuas were lost these were, 6A, L2995, pilot Capt RJ Partridge RM, shot
down by a Me109, 7A, L2896, pilot Lt Cdr J Casson shot down by a Bf109, 7F,
L2963, pilot Lt CH Filmer shot down by a Me110. 7L, L2992, pilot Sub Lt JA
Harris shot down by a Me110 and 7Q, L2955, pilot Sub Lt RE Bartlett shot down
by a Me110.
The
Blenheim fighters
As the seven remaining aircraft made
their way back to ARK ROYAL, some pilots asked for a D/F bearing from the
carrier. This was unusual as a broadcast from the ship could give away its position
to the enemy, but the aircrews had been told that they could radio their call-sign
once for a D/F bearing. However, as the Skuas returned, ARK ROYAL did not break
radio silence and the crews were forced to navigate back by taking a fix using
the ship's revolving beacon, which was quite a feat of navigation for a TAG not
trained in formal navigation.
In the analysis of the attack the VA
Aircraft Carriers considered that two hits had been achieved, but in fact only
one hit had been achieved and that failed to explode]
Following the launch of the strike
mission the Fleet steered north, north easterly to a pre-arranged flying on
position.
At 0207 ARK ROYAL flew off three Skuas for fighter patrol over Fleet.
By 0345 all the remaining seven Skuas, two
from 800 Sqd and five from 803 Sqd, had
landed back on. ARK ROYAL remained in the pre-arranged flying on position until 0600, this being the
latest time any of the stragglers could be expected to return.
[The high loss rate effected the morale of the entire ships company. But particularly
affected were those that had planned the mission. The total losses amounted to
almost an entire squadron, and effectively reduced the FAA's two premiere fighter
squadrons to a small nucleus of experienced flyers]
At 0425 the Fleet entered a fog bank.
At 0553 the Fleet cleared the fog bank and the three Skuas on
fighter patrol were landed back on.
At 0600 ARK ROYAL escorted by the destroyers
KELVIN and
ESCORT detached for Scapa Flow at a speed of 22 knots.
At 1115 ARK
ROYAL flew off Swordfish to carry out patrols ahead of the ships.
At 1340 ARK
ROYAL flew off Swordfish to carry out patrols ahead of the ships.
At 1610
ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish to
carry out patrols ahead of the ships.
At 1930 ARK ROYAL was in position 66-46N, 1-30W.
At 1935 ARK ROYAL flew off
six
Swordfish and two Walrus to carry out a reconnaissance to a depth of 110 miles
between bearings 110¡ and 250¡ to give warning of approach of enemy surface
vessels. Four destroyers,
CAMPBELL, FORESTER, MASHONA and VETERAN were sighted approaching a RV, arranged
by the CINC Home Fleet. The CAMPBELL was ordered to join the flag of Vice
Admiral, Aircraft Carriers, as part of ARK ROYAL's screen in accordance with
instructions received from the CINC Home Fleet.
2150 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish for a warning patrol ahead of the ships.
14th
– At 0015 ARK ROYAL
flew off two Swordfish and a Walrus
to
relieve warning patrol.
At 0124 ARK ROYAL
passed the destroyers TARTAR, ASHANTI,
MAORI and BEDOUIN who were on passage to a RV with the CINC Home Fleet.
At 0245 ARK
ROYAL flew off Swordfish to relieve warning
patrol.
At 0517 ARK ROYAL commenced Swordfish A/S patrols
and continued them until arrival at Scapa.
At 1300 ARK ROYAL was in position 59-27N, 4-07W.
At 1300 a Hawker Henley (a 270mph target tug!)
towing a flare target, of 771 Sqd from RNAS Hatson (HMS SPARROWHAWK) RVed with
ARK ROYAL and a trial shoot by the 4.5" HA AA and pom poms was carried
out.
[Early in 1937
A meeting at the admiralty of the board of Admiralty, the agenda was: - Future
aircraft for the FAA.
The meeting was
appraised of the aircraft being developed at that time for the FAA:-
Swordfish,
role TBR biplane with radial engine, slow but rugged. No alternative
available at this time.
Skua, role, DB,
monoplane with radial engine, good DB but slow and under armed for other roles,
Roc, role,
FF2s, Monoplane with radial engine and turret, slow, (slower than most bombers)
single roll only.
Sea Gladiator
FF1s Biplane with radial engine. Slow and under armed when compared to newest
land based aircraft.
The First Sea Lord looked up and said 'so thanks to the AM and RAF we are
liable to start the next war with second rate aircraft and that is despite
expansion scheme F starting last February! What are we going to do about it? Any
ideas?'
The Head of the
aircraft technical section pause and replies, 'Actually Sir we do;
Our proposed plan is technically practicable, the problem will be getting
political support and overcoming the inevitable opposition from the RAF and AM
and the Treasury'
'Leave that to
me' responded the FSL, 'Let's hear your proposal.
'Right Sir' is
the response,' We propose to accept the Swordfish as there is no viable
alternative for that role, currently flying or even in the design stage,
However a specification should be prepared and issued immediately for a radial
engine monoplane TBR capable of a minimum 250 knots top speed using the next
generation of 1500hp+ radial engines or their equivalents.
The Hawker
Henley built to specification P4/34 is about to be ordered by the AM as a
target tug! , Not only is it nearly 70 knots faster than the Blackburn Skua but by using standard
Hurricane outer wings it can be armed with up to 8 x 303' machine guns (Hawker tell
us that the Hurricane outer wing is currently being configured for 4 x 20mm
Oerlikon cannon as in specification F37/35 as an alternative). Currently the aircraft does not have folding
wings, or dive breaks but is stressed for dive bombing. Informal discussions
with the Hawker design team show no problems with fitting arrester gear.
Folding wings would take a little longer so initial
production (to use the capacity allocated by Gloster Aircraft) would start with
fixed wings to get aircraft flying for crew training. Though the wingspan at
47'10' would seem to preclude use at sea, due to the 46' maximum lift width,
land trials will be carried out to see if the aircraft can be skewed on the
lifts if required.
The design
effort being expended by the AM required to turn the Henley into a target tug
would better used optimising it for Naval service]
At 1450 ARK ROYAL flew of the Walrus aircraft of 701
Sqd to Hatston aerodrome for onward routing to RNAS Donibristle (HMS MERLIN)
At 1515 ARK ROYAL
with the destroyers KELVIN, ESCORT and CAMPBELL
arrived at Scapa Flow.
15th
and 16th – ARK ROYAL at Scapa Flow.
17th
– At 1515 ARK ROYAL (Flag Vice Admiral,
Aircraft Carriers) screened by the destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS and
ESCAPADE sailed from Scapa Flow with orders to proceed to the Clyde.
At 1630 the destroyer FOXHOUND joined the screen.
At 1815 ARK ROYAL was in position 59N, 3-45W and
commenced to fly on replacement aircraft from RNAS Hatson.
At 1900 flying on completed, ARK ROYAL set course
for the Clyde.
18th
– At 0345 when ARK ROYAL was in the Minches,
in approximate position 57-33N, 6-52W, signal 2314/17 was received from the CINC
Home Fleet, ordering the Vice Admiral, Aircraft Carriers in ARK ROYAL, to RV with
the battlecruiser HOOD in position 55-44N, 13-10W at 2200/18, and then to
proceed to Gibraltar.
[At 1630/10/40
the British and French Ambassadors in Rome were informed by Count Ciano that
from 11/6/40 Italy considered herself at war with the Allies. At 1900/10The
Admiralty ordered the Navy to commence hostilities against Italy. This was the
same day that the advancing Germany Army forced the French Government to leave
Paris for Tours. The overall situation in France looked bad and a French
collapse would cause a problem in the Western Mediterranean. At 1000/ 14/6/40
German forces marched into Paris and on 15/5/40 the French cabinet voted to ask
Germany for the terms of an armistice. On the 16/6/40 Marshal Henri Ptain
takes over the government of France.
Also on 14/6/40
Spain had exchanged her neutrality for non-belligerency and occupied the international
zone of Tangier on the pretext of guaranteeing its neutrality. It seemed
possible that, following the example of Italy, she was preparing to declare war
and join the Axis.
Therefore the
Admiralty took the decision as a precaution against total French collapse to
build up naval forces in the Western Mediterranean, based on Gibraltar. ARK
ROYAL and HOOD were the first capital ships to be allocated for the new force]
At 0415 FOXHOUND, being short of fuel, was detached
to Milford Haven to refuel and RV later with the Vice Admiral, Aircraft
Carriers southwest of Ireland.
At 0730 when Barra Head had been passed, course was
set 253¡, speed 17 knots to position 50-00N, 15-30W, and thence by the
following positions (a) 50-00N, 15-30W, (b) 39-00N, 15-30W and (c) 36-00N,
10-00W to Gibraltar, speed of advance 16 knots.
At 1020 ARK ROYAL flew off six Swordfish to
Aldergrove RAF Coastal Command aerodrome to collect personnel of 818 Sqd and
fly them back to the carrier.
At 1415 in position 56-12N, 10-02W the ARK ROYAL
force RVed with the battlecruiser HOOD escorted by the destroyers ATHERSTONE
and HMCS FRAZER, RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA and ST LAURENT
At 1540 ARK ROYAL sighted Swordfish of 818 Sqd flying
in from Aldergrove led by six Swordfish of 810 Sqd.
Between 1555 and 1625 the Swordfish were landed on.
ARK ROYAL's air component was now 800 Sqd with 12
Skuas, 803 Sqd with 12 Skuas, 810 Sqd with 12 Swordfish, 818 Sqd with 9
Swordfish and 820 Sqd with 9 Swordfish.
At 1625 the destroyers FRAZER, RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA
and ST LAURENT were detached to execute previous orders from the CINC Western
Approaches.
19th
- Intermittent fog was encountered in the afternoon.
At 1440 when in position 51-47N, 14-43W, a signal
was received from the CINC Western Approaches to amend route to pass through
the following positions; (1) 45-00N, 20-00W, (2) 40-00N, 20-00W and (3) 36-00N,
10-00W. Course was altered according.
During the day aircraft from ARK ROYAL made
dive-bombing attacks on HOOD and the destroyers.
20th
– Intermittent fog was encountered in the
morning.
At 1100 ARK ROYAL was in position 46-28N, 18-45W.
At 1100 ARK ROYAL flew off five Swordfish the search
for the destroyer FOXHOUND who was expected to join from Milford Haven. The
FOXHOUND was not located.
At 1320 ARK ROYAL flew off a further three Swordfish
to search for FOXHOUND these also failed to locate FOXHOUND.
Between 1600 and 2150 the destroyers FEARLESS,
FAULKNOR and ESCAPADE were refuelled by HOOD, each receiving 100 tons.
At 2230 Speed was increased to 20 knots to make up
for time lost during fuelling of destroyers.
21st
– At 1820 in position 40-32N, 20-12W the
FOXHOUND was sighted.
At 1900 FOXHOUND joined and ATHERSONE detached.
At 1938 reduced speed to 19 knots.
22nd
– ARK ROYAL maintained A/S patrols during
afternoon and evening.
[At 1600/22/6/40 General Keitel for Germany and General
Charles Huntziger for France signed surrender terms in the same railway car
that the Germans had signed their armistice in November 1918.
Under the terms
of the Armistice the French Fleet was obliged to keep its ships under Axis
control and be disarmed under German or Italian control. However, little
attempt to impose this clause of the Armistice was made, with the Axis being
content to leave the French ships in French hands so long as they were
withdrawn from the British war effort]
23rd
– At 0035 sighted Cape Spartel light, bearing
098¡, 30 miles.
At 0730 the Vice Admiral, Aircraft Carriers in ARK
ROYAL with HOOD and the destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND and ESCAPADE arrived
Gibraltar and secured alongside.
24th and 25th
– ARK
ROYAL at Gibraltar.
[24/6 the
destroyer DOUGLAS of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, with Admiral Sir Dudley North
CINC North Atlantic aboard, departed Gibraltar for Mers el Kebir to learn the
terms of the French Armistice. The DOUGLAS with the CINC NA arrived back at
Gibraltar later that same day]
26th - ARK ROYAL at
Gibraltar.
At 1030 ARK ROYAL (Flag Vice Admiral Aircraft
Carriers), HOOD and the destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, ESCAPADE,
DOUGLAS and WRESTLER sailed from Gibraltar. Their objective was to intercept
the French battleship RICHELIEU reported to have sailed from Dakar at 1415 (Z +
1) on 25/6.
[On 18/6/40
the uncompleted (95% complete) battleship RICHELIEU escorted by the French destroyers
FOUGEAUX and FRONDEUR sailed from Brest for Dakar. Shortly after leaving she
was bombed by the Luftwaffe, one hit was scored but it caused little damage. En
route the destroyers detached to Casablanca.
23/6/40 the
RICHELIEU arrived at Dakar.
On arrival at
Dakar the CO of RICHELIEU Captain Marzin found that the local French Governor
and naval Flag Officer were considering continuing the fight
against Germany, with the British Navy, a unit of which, the aircraft carrier HERMES
was moored in the inner harbour. (The German-French
Armistice terms didn't come into effect until 25/6/40).
The HERMES reported the arrival of the RICHELIEU and the Admiralty
ordered the heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE from Freetown to Dakar to assist the
HERMES in watching the RICHELIEU.
The CINC of the French Fleet, Admiral Darlan had, following the signing
of the Armistice, had sent instructions to the COs of all French warships that
their ships must remain under the French Flag and any attempt to take them over
must be countered by scuttling or sailed them to the USA.
On 25/6/40 RICHELIEU escorted by the destroyer FLEURET sailed from Dakar
for Casablanca. Captain Marzin decided on this course of action because of the
uncertain political situation at Dakar. The sailing was immediately reported to
the Admiralty. The DORSETSHIRE shadowed the RICHELIEU as she steered north. The
Admiralty believing that the RICHELIEU may be returning to France immediately
ordered the sailing of ARK ROYAL and HOOD]
At 1250 in position 35-56N, 05-42W, the destroyers DOUGLAS
and WRESTLER were detached to return to Gibraltar.
At 1600 ARK ROYAL flew off six Swordfish to search
to a depth of 160 miles between the bearings 195 degrees to 295 degrees and
along the African Coast. Nothing
of importance was sighted.
[At 1915 a signal timed 1125/26/6/40 was intercepted
from the DORSETSHIRE reporting that her seaplane had sighted the RICHELIEU at
0730/26/6/40 in position 19-28N, 18-52W, steering north at 18 ½ knots,
and that RICHELIEU had altered course to 195¡ at 0741/6/40]
[At 1940/6/40 the Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers received
DORSETSHIRE's signal timed 1630/26/6/40 reporting that the RICHELIEU had
informed her that she was returning to Dakar. (This reversal of course was due to Admiral Darlan ordering the battleship
back to Dakar)]
[Following
receipt of DORSETSHIRE's signal 1630/26 the Vice Admiral Aircraft
Carriers decided to remain in present vicinity during the night, and to send a
Swordfish to Casablanca a.m. on 27/6/40 to order the ten Swordfish of 767 Sqd,
presently at Rabat, to embark in ARK ROYAL]
At 2315 Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers received
Admiralty signal, timed 2107/26/6/40 ordering him to return to Gibraltar and to
embark 767 Sqd during passage.
27th
– At 0030 course was altered to the south east.
At 0230 ARK ROYAL sighted French auxiliary Vessel
FADO steering 170¡ at 8 Knots.
At 0300 Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers received
Admiral Commanding North Atlantic's signal timed 0148/276/40, giving a RV for
767 Sqd with ARK ROYAL at 1100 today.
At 0735 ARK ROYAL flew off a Swordfish to Rabat to
rendezvous with 767 Sqd and lead them out to ARK ROYAL. Altered course 020¡ towards the
arranged RV position 35-20N, 07-25W.
At 1020 ARK ROYAL flew off six Skuas for dive
bombing practice.
At 1135 in position 35-30N, 07-43W nine Swordfish of
767 Sqd arrived from Rabat and landed on.
[767 Sqd had
been a training squadron at Hyres in southern France. On 18/6/40 when the
German Army reached Tours the squadron was evacuated to Bone, North Africa.
From where part of the squadron flew to Malta where on 1/7/40 they formed 820
Sqd. The remaining 10 aircraft were to return to the UK via Morocco. At Bone
one aircraft was cannibalised for spares the remaining nine were the aircraft
that landed on ARK ROYAL, some of the Swordfish that landed on were not fitted
with an arrestor hook]
At 1240 ARK ROYAL altered course 080¡ to return to
Gibraltar.
At 1700 ARK ROYAL increased speed to 22 knots for
entering Gibraltar Straits.
At 1945 the HOOD, followed by ARK ROYAL and destroyers
FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND and ESCAPADE entered Gibraltar Harbour and secured
alongside.
[By the
27/6/40 the UK Government was aware of the terms of the Franco German
Armistice, particularly with regard to the French Navy and they were concerned
that the ships would fall into the hands of the Germans or Italians. On this
day the British cabinet approved Operation CATAPULT an operation which ordered
the Royal Navy to seize, disable or destroy the French fleet. The Prime Minster
Winston Churchill states, "No act was ever more necessary for the life of
Britain". The men charged with carrying it out were Vice Admirals, Sir
James Somerville and Andrew Cunningham]
[At
1530/27/6/40 Vice Admiral James Fownes Somerville, at a meeting held at The
Admiralty, was informed that it had been decided to assemble a force at
Gibraltar to be known as Force H. Force H was to be a detached squadron under
the direct control of the Admiralty with Somerville as its Flag Officer.
The initial
task of Force H would be to secure the transfer, surrender or destruction of
the French warships at Oran and Mers el Kebir, to ensure that those vessels
didn't fall into German or Italian hands.
At 1430/28/6/40
the light cruiser ARETHUSA flying the flag of Vice Admiral Somerville sailed
from Spithead for Gibraltar]
28th
– At 0545 the ARK ROYAL (Flag Vice Admiral,
Aircraft Carriers), HOOD and the destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS, FOXHOUND
and ESCAPADE sailed from Gibraltar and set course for the Canary Islands at 20
Knots in accordance with Admiralty signal timed 0021/28/6/40.
[The Admiralty signal 0021/28 stated that the
RICHELIEU had sailed from Dakar. However the report proved to be false and when
confirmation was received the RICHELIEU was still at Dakar the force was
recalled to Gibraltar]
At 0640 the destroyer ESCAPADE detached and returned
to Gibraltar (with a defective dynamo)
At 0800 ARK ROYAL was in position 35-53N, 05-52W.
At 0830 the destroyer VIDETTE, who was on
A/S patrol in the Straits of Gibraltar, joined as replacement for ESCAPADE.
At 0845 the Vice Admiral, Aircraft Carriers received
Admiralty Signal 0755/28/6/40 ordering his force to return to Gibraltar. Force altered course to comply.
At 1130 the VIDETTE was detached to resume patrol in
Gibraltar Straits.
At 1230 the force entered Gibraltar and secured
alongside breakwaters.
29th
– ARK ROYAL at
Gibraltar.
30th
– ARK ROYAL at
Gibraltar.
[At 0220 the
Vice Admiral Commanding Aircraft Carriers received Admiralty message
0015/30/6/40, ordering him to establish a destroyer patrol thirty miles west of
Oran and that should DUNKERQUE and STRASBOURG proceed to the westward, they
were to be captured and taken to the UK]
[At 1745/30
the light cruiser ARETHUSA with Admiral Somerville embarked arrived at
Gibraltar and secured alongside HMS CORMORANT the Gibraltar Naval Base]
[The
battleship VALIANT and the destroyers FORESTER, FORESIGHT and ESCORT arrived at
Gibraltar to join Force H]
[In the
evening Vice Admiral Sir James Fownes Somerville hoisted his flag in the HOOD
and the detached squadron Force H came into being. The VA Force H then called a
meeting in HOOD of Flag Officers and senior Commanding Officers to discuss the
Oran operation. The Vice Admiral Commanding Aircraft Carriers considered that
torpedo attack by aircraft would be difficult and unproductive unless
anti-aircraft gunfire was first silenced. Net defences and the restricted area
of the harbour appeared to rule out torpedo attack by destroyers.
In the case of
Oran, it was agreed that gunfire would cause a large number of civilian
casualties and it was hoped that the action taken at Mers el Kebir would induce
the French to scuttle their ships at Oran.
The view held by
those present at the meeting, was that it was highly improbable that the French
would use force to resist our demands.
Admiral North,
Vice Admiral Wells and Captain CS Holland (CO of ARK ROYAL) all expressed themselves as being strongly
opposed to the use of force. They considered that there was little fear of the
French allowing their ships to fall into German hands.
It was around
this time that the suggestion was made that a personal approach should be made
to Admiral Marcel Gensoul, the CINC at Mers el Kebir. The person suggested for
the mission was Captain Holland who had been the Naval Attach at the British
Embassy in Paris from 17/1/38 to 9/4/40, was a known Anglophile, spoke fluent
French and considered Admiral Gensoul a personal friend.
Captain Holland
agreed to carry out the mission]
[The French Naval
Force at Mers el Kebir was believed to be the battleships DUNKERQUE (Flag
Admiral Marcel Gensoul) STRASBOURG, BRETAGNE and PROVENCE, seaplane tender COMMANDANT
TESTE and the destroyers MOGADOR,
VOLTA, LE TERRIBLE, KERSAINT, LYNX and TIGER. At Oran were thought to be 7
destroyers and 4 submarines. (Actually
at Oran were the destroyers
TRAMONTANE, TROMBE, TYPHON, TORNADE, BOULONNAIS, BRESTOIS, BORDELAIS, CASQUE
and LE CORSAIRE, torpedo boat LE POURSIVANTE, and submarines EURYDICE, ARIANE,
DANAE, DIANE, PYSCHE and OREADE).
The aerial photographs of the harbours were obtained
by an RAF 202 Sqd Saro London flying boat from Gibraltar.
The shore
defences were believed to be, 3 x 5'
guns at Ponte Canastel, (Actually Batterie Canastel 3 x 240mm), 2
x 4' guns 2,700 yards East of Oran Light, 4 x 4.7' guns at Fort Saint Grgoire,
just to the West of Oran harbour, 4 x 4.7' guns half way up the hill South of
Mers el Kebir Harbour and 6 x 6' guns on top of the hill to the West of Mers el
Kebir Harbour (Actually Fort Santon 3 x 194mm)
There was a mine net that stretched from Cap Falcon
to point one mile north of Pointe du Canastel.
There were Anti-Torpedo and Anti- Submarine booms
protecting the harbour.
Also five miles south of Oran was the La Snia
aerodrome where there were two squadrons of French
Arme de l'Air equiped with
Curtiss Hawk H-75A fighter aircraft]
JULY
1st
– ARK ROYAL at
Gibraltar.
[At 0410 Somerville received Admiralty
message 0225/1/7/40, giving four alternatives to put before the French, these
were:
To bring their ships to British harbours and fight with us,
To steam their ships to a British port.
To Demilitarise their ships to our
satisfaction,
To sink their ships]
[At 0812 Somerville informed the Admiralty that the
earliest date on which Operation CATAPULT could be put into effect was early on
3rd July. Somerville also suggested that Captain C.S. Holland, who he had
arranged should act as an emissary in view of his long and recent association
with the French, should arrive at Oran on afternoon of 2nd July, so that
whichever alternative was adopted, the operation could be carried out by dusk
on 3rd July]
[The light
cruiser ENTERPRISE arrived at Gibraltar to join Force H]
[At
1000/1/7/40, at the suggestion of Admiral North, Somerville called a meeting to
hear the views of Captain Holland, Lieutenant Commander A.Y. Spearman and
Lieutenant Commander G.P.S. Davies, the latter had recently been Naval Liaison
officers with the French naval authorities. They were unanimous in considering
that the use of force should be avoided if possible, as this was bound to
alienate the French completely and transform them from a defeated ally into an
active enemy]
2nd
- ARK ROYAL at
Gibraltar.
[During the
forenoon Somerville held a meeting of Flag and Commanding Officers, at which
the orders for Operation CATAPULT were explained and discussed. The orders had
to be framed in general terms since the exact situation which would arise could
not be foreseen.
In the light of
the after events, it is clear that these orders did not make sufficient
provision for dealing with any French ships that might attempt to leave harbour
after the entrance had been mined and the ships subjected to bombardment.
Somerville was
informed by Vice Admiral Commanding Aircraft Carriers that aircraft could be
armed with magnetic mines at short notice and the plan for laying at Mers el
Kebir was discussed. However It was not Somerville's intention, to lay mines,
except as a last resort, since this would have prevented the French for
accepting the first or second alternatives and it would also have prevented the
entrance of our destroyers with demolition parties]
[At 1426
Somerville informed the Admiralty that he intended to sail Force H at 1500/2/7
to carry out Operation CATAPULT and that Captain Holland in FOXHOUND would
arrive at Oran at 0700/3. Force 'H' would arrive at 0900/3/7. By a regrettable
error, ARK ROYAL was not included in the list of ships sailing, and this
omission led to some subsequent signals until the situation was cleared up]
At 1500, Force H destroyers, ACTIVE, ESCORT, FAULKNOR
(D8), FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND (with Captain Holland embarked), FORESTER, KEPPEL
(D13), VORTIGERN, WATCHMAN and WISHART sailed from Gibraltar to carry out an
anti-submarine sweep in advance of the main force leaving harbour.
At 1700 Force H comprising battlecruiser HOOD (Flag
VA Force H), battleships RESOLUTION and VALIANT, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL (in
the absence of Captain Holland she was under the command of Cdr R M T Taylor
RN) (Flag VA Aircraft Carriers) and the light cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE
sailed from Gibraltar to carry out Operation CATAPULT. After clearing Europa
Point the Force formed up and headed east at 17 knots.
[At 2010 the VA
Force H informed Captain Holland who was aboard the FOXHOUND that the Admiralty
had informed him that the French had a scheme for demilitarisation at two
hours' notice. Should necessity arise, he was to question them on this and
satisfy himself the proposed measures would be effective, that is, that the
ships could not be ready for service again within twelve months, even with
dockyard assistance]
3rd
- At 0300 the FOXHOUND was detached to proceed ahead
with Captain Holland who was to communicate the UK Government's message to
Admiral Gensoul (CINC Atlantic Fleet Raiding Force) on his Flag Ship the battleship
DUNKERQUE.
[At 0545
FOXHOUND closed Cap Falcon (six miles from the entrance to Mers el Kebir) signal
station at 0545. Communication was established with the Port War signal station
and at 0558 permission was requested to enter port. At 0620 a similar request
was passed to the port Admiral's signal station, together with a message for
Admiral Marcel Gensoul.
At 0742
permission was granted for FOXHOUND to enter Mers el Kebir. The pilot came
aboard bringing instructions for FOXHOUND to proceed inside Mers el Kebir and
to berth near the battleship DUNKERQUE. Berthing in that position would have
prevented FOXHOUND from leaving in a hurry. So Holland used the excuse that
messages may have to be conveyed between CINC's, so refused the berth.
At 0800 FOXHOUND
anchored 1.4 NM, 115¡ from Mers el Kebir light and outside the anti torpedo
net.
At 0810 Admiral
Gensoul's Flag Lieutenant, Bernard Dufay, arrived alongside in the Admiral's
barge and informed Captain Holland that the Admiral was unable to see him and if
he had any message for Gensoul he would take them to the Admiral. Captain
Holland handed the Flag Lieutenant a copy of proposals as contained in
Admiralty message 0103/2/7 and informed him that he would wait for a reply. The
proposals probably reached Admiral Gensoul at about 0935.
At 0847
FOXHOUND received a signal from Admiral Gensoul ordering her to sail
immediately. In the belief that Gensoul would listen to reason if only he could
be approached in person, Holland made a daring move. He boarded the FOXHOUND's
whaleboat and made a dash across the harbour to the DUNQUERQUE. Captain Holland
accompanied by Lt Cdr AY Spearman and Lt Cdr GPS Davies (both of whom had
recently been the British Naval Liaison Officers to French units at Bizerte) embarked in FOXHOUND's
motor-boat and FOXHOUND weighed, with hands fallen in on deck and sailed.
FOXHOUND proceeded out of the entrance of Mers-el-Kebir harbour but remained in
visual touch with HOOD and DUNKERQUE.
When the French
saw that FOXHOUND's boat was making for the DUNKERQUE, the Admiral's barge turned
and intercept Holland. The Flag
Lieutenant said he regretted that the Admiral would not see him. Captain
Holland then asked him to take our proposals and deliver them personally to the
Admiral. I said I would wait for a reply. These, copies of Admiralty message
0108/2, had been placed in a sealed envelope addressed to the Admiral Gensoul.
The Flag Lieutenant then proceeded to the DUNKERQUE, arriving at 0920. Holland
estimated that they were delivered to Admiral Gensoul not later than 0935. The
message was:-
To: Monsieur Admiral Gensoul from Admiral
Somerville.
His Majesty's Government have commanded me to inform
you were as follows: -
They agreed to the French government approaching the
German Government only on conditions that if an armistice was concluded, the
French Fleet should be sent to British ports. The Council of Ministers declared
on 18/6/40 that before capitulating on land, the French Fleet would join up
with the British force or sink itself.
Whilst the present French Government may consider
the terms of their armistice with Germany and Italy are reconcilable with these
undertakings, HM Government finds it impossible from their previous experience
to believe that Germany and Italy will not at any moment which suits them seize
French warships and use them against Britain and allies. Italian Armistice
prescribes that French ships should return to Metropolitan ports, and under
armistice France is required to yield up units for a coast defence and
minesweeping.
It is impossible for us, your comrades up till now,
to allow your fine ships to fall into the power of the German or Italian enemy.
We are determined to carry on till the end, and if we win, as we think we
shall, we shall never forget that France was our ally, that our interests are
the same as hers, and that our common enemy is Germany. Should we conquer, we
solemnly declare we shall restore the greatness and territory of France. For
this purpose we must be sure that the best ships of the French Navy will also
not be used against us by the common foe.
In these circumstances, HM Government have
instructed me to demand the French Fleet now at Mers el Kebir and Oran shall
act in accordance with one of the following alternatives:-
a Sail with us and continue to fight for
victory against the Germans and Italians.
b Sail with reduced crews under our control
to British ports. The reduced crew will be repatriated at the earliest moment.
If either of these courses is adopted by you we will restore your ships to
France at the conclusion of the war, or pay for compensation if they are
damaged meanwhile.
c Alternatively, if you feel bound to
stipulate that your ships should not be used against Germans or Italians, since
this would break the Armistice, then sail them with their us with reduced crews
to some French port in the West Indies - Martinique, for instance - where they
can be demilitarised to our satisfaction, or perhaps be entrusted to the United
States of America, and remain safely until the end of the war, the crew being
repatriated.
If you refuse these fair offers, I must with
profound regret require you to sink your ships within six hours. Finally,
failing the above I have orders from HM Government to use whatever force may be
necessary to prevent your ships from falling into German or Italian hands.
At 1000 the Flag Lieutenant returned with a reply.
The gist of which was that the assurances given by Admiral Gensoul to Admiral
North some days ago still stood and that owing to the form of this 'veritable
ultimatum', the French ships would defend themselves by force. Captain Holland
then had a discussion with the Flag Lieutenant and reminded him of his
association with the French Navy and with Admiral Jean-Francois Darlan
personally. This impressed the Flag Lieutenant and at 1050 he returned to the
DUNKERQUE.
At 1109 the Flag Lieutenant returned with the Chief
of Staff, Captain Lucien Henri Danb, whom Holland had met before. Holland was
handed a written reply from Admiral Gensoul the gist of which was:-
(a) Admiral Gensoul can only confirm the reply
already sent
(b) He had decided to defend himself by every means
possible.
(c) He would draw Admiral Somerville's attention to
the fact that the first round fired will put the whole of the French Navy
against the British, which is the opposite to which H.M. Government wishes.
As Admiral Gensoul seemed determined not to see
Holland and there appeared no point in going over the same ground with the
Chief of Staff, and it was imperative that CINC Force H should have the reply
as soon as possible. Before parting from the Chief of Staff, Holland agreed
with him that should he have anything further to communicate, he would signal
the DUNKERQUE, and send in the motor boat to meet him or his representative.
Holland then returned to the FOXHOUND, arriving on board at about 1125.
Captain Holland had meant to keep FOXHOUND close in
to the inner harbour boom, but FOXHOUND's CO, Lt Cdr GH Peters, pointed out
that in this case we should have to run the gauntlet of the shore batteries
should hostilities commence.
At about 1200,
FOXHOUND proceeded outside the outer boom in order to avoid having to run the
gauntlet of the shore batteries should hostilities commence, whilst still
remaining within easy touch by visual signalling with DUNKERQUE.
At 1222 Holland signalled the VA Force H, giving the
latest confirmation received from the Chief of Staff with regard to the sinking
of the ships.
At 1236 Holland received Somerville's signal asking
him if he thought there was any alternative now to Anvil.
At 1242 Holland replied. Your 1236 am afraid not, I
am waiting in V/S touch in case acceptance before expiration of time.
At 1419 Holland received VA Force H's 1338 signal
asking Admiral Gensoul to hoist a large square flag at the mast head if he
accepted the terms, otherwise fire would be opened at 1500. This was translated
into French and passed to the DUNKERQUE at 1442.
At 1450 I received VA FORCE H's signal informing Gensoul
that unless terms were accepted or ships abandoned, they would be destroyed at
1530. This signal was not passed to the DUNKERQUE as at the same time, Holland received
Admiral Gensoul's message 1330 GMT stating that he was now ready to receive
delegates for honourable discussion. Holland immediately passed this signal to CINC
Force H and made preparations to proceed inshore, receiving orders to do so at
1500 and to get an immediate answer. From that moment until Holland finally
went over the DUNKERQUE's side, Holland thought that there was a chance of
winning through and that the French Admiral would accept one or other of the
proposals.
At 1510 Holland and Davies set out for the DUNKERQUE
in FOXHOUND's motor boat. From where FOXHOUND was anchored it was about 7
½ miles to the DUNKERQUE. On passing the boom gate vessel they were met
by the Admirals Barge with the Flag Lieutenant onboard. Holland and Davies
transferred to the barge and as the barge proceeded Holland noted that all
ships were in an advanced state of readiness for sea. All directors and control
positions visible were manned, and all director rangefinders in tops of
battleships with the exception of the STRASBOURG were trained in the direction
of Force H. Tugs were ready by the sterns of each battleship. Guns were trained
fore and aft.
At about 1615 they arrived on board the DUNKERQUE.
They were shown into the Admiral's cabin by the Chief of Staff where they were
greeted very formally by Admiral Gensoul. The Chief of Staff remained during
the discussion. The Admiral was clearly extremely indignant and angry at the
course of events. He commenced by stating that he had only consented to see
Holland at this stage because should we open fire the first shot fired would
not only alienate the whole French Navy but would be tantamount to a
declaration of war between France and Great Britain. That if our aim was to
ensure that the French Fleet was not used against Great Britain, the use of
force would not achieve this aim. We might sink his ships at Oran but we should
find the whole of the rest of the French Navy actively against us. He was angry
at the sudden presentation of terms which he considered as an ultimatum, and
also at the laying of mines at the entrances to the harbour which he pointed
out prevented him in any case from being able to accent or carry out terms (a),
(b) and (c), and he rejected out of hand the sinking of his ships forthwith,
saying it was impossible to abandon his ships at a moment's notice and he
reiterated his former statement given to Admiral North that he should sink his
ships to prevent them from falling into German or Italian hands.
Holland explained most carefully to him that the
British Government were unable to accept this latter statement as a guarantee
that the ships would not fall into enemy hands and so be used against us.
Although we trusted his word and the similar promises given by Admiral Ollive
de Laborde and Esteva that they would do everything possible to prevent their
ships falling into enemy hands, we could not trust the Germans or the Italians
who would by treachery do all they could to achieve this end. Admiral Gensoul,
however, would not listen to this argument and said he was convinced that steps
taken were adequate to sink his ships whatever happened. Holland pointed out
that by sinking his ships, he would anyway be breaking the terms of the
Armistice, and by his own action. Should he accept any one of the terms we had
offered to him that morning, he would be acting under 'Force majeure' and the
blame for any action taken would rest on us. To this, he replied that, so long
as Germany and Italy abided by the Armistice terms, and allowed the French
Fleet to remain with reduced crews, flying the French flag in a French
Metropolitan or Colonial port, he should do the same, and not until Germany or
Italy had broken their promises would he break the terms laid down, and that
these were his orders signed by Admiral Darlan.
Holland then explained that the orders given by the
British Government to Admiral Somerville were those contained in the terms that
he, Admiral Gensoul, had received that morning, and unless these were accepted
or immediate preparations made to sink the ships, Admiral Somerville would act
under these orders and use force. Already Holland said, Admiral Somerville had
on his own responsibility disobeyed these orders by not taking the action
within the time laid down, thus showing his desire to avoid the use of force if
this were possible.
It was at this point that Admiral Gensoul began to
think that force might really be used and he produced a secret and personal copy
of the orders received from and signed by Admiral Darlan at 1255/24/6/40, It
was in French:-
De l'Amiraute Francaise
Clauses Armistice vous sont notifies en clair
par ailleurs. Je profite
des dernieres communications que
je peux transmettre en chiffre pour vous faire connaitre me ponsee sur ce sujet.
1. Les navires de guerre
demobilises doivent rester Francias avec pavillon Francais,
equipage reduit Francais sejournant dans port Francaise Metropole ou Colonies.
2. Precautions secretes d'auto-sabotage
doivent etre prises pour qu' ennemi ou
etranger s'emparant d'un batiment par la force ne puisse
pas s'en servir.
3.Si Commission Armistice chargee
d'interpreter texte decidait autrement que dans. I, au moment d'executer cetter decision
nouvelle, navires de guerre seraient
sane ordre nouveau, soit conduite ETATS-UNIS, soit sabordes, s'il ne peut pas etre fait autrement, pour les soustraire a l'ennemi. En aucun cas ils
ne devront etre laisses intacts a l'ennemi.
4. Navires ainsi refugies a l'etranger ne devront pas etre utilises a operations guerre contre
ALLEMAGNE ou ITALIE sane orders du C.E.C. F.M.F.
It was noted that the opening sentence read that
this would be the last cipher message from him (Admiral Darlan) that they would
receive. This would seem to be a further indication of the argument I put to
Admiral Gensoul through the Flag Lieutenant that morning, that Admiral Darlan
was now no longer in control.
Admiral Gensoul asked for and received Holland's
assurances that the contents of the signal would not be allowed to be
disseminated, as if the Italians or Germans knew of the existence of these
orders they would take action immediately.
The order appeared to be so close to the British
term (c) that there seemed to be a chance to persuade the Admiral to accept
this latter one.
By 1700 Admiral Gensoul still remained intransigent
and would not give way further, except to state that steps had been taken to
commence the reduction of crews that morning by demobilising a certain number
of reservists. Holland again pointed out that Admiral Somerville must obey his
orders and use force unless the terms were accepted to our satisfaction
immediately, to which Admiral Gensoul reiterated that the first shot fired
would alienate our two navies and do untold harm to us, and that he would reply
to force by force.
At 1715 a message was received from Admiral
Somerville informing Admiral Gensoul that unless the terms were accepted by
1730, he would sink his ships. (This message resulted from Churchill
becoming impatient. Suspecting that Admiral Darlan had ordered eastern
Mediterranean units of the French fleet to come to Gensoul's assistance, he
finally ordered Force H to resolve the impasse at once)
Holland then drafted a brief signal in plain language;
from Captain Holland via FOXHOUND, Admiral Gensoul says crews being reduced and
if threatened by enemy would go to Martinique or U.S.A. but this is not quite
our proposition. Can get no nearer. Admiral Gensoul then wrote a short
statement in pencil, stating:
1.
The French
Fleet cannot do otherwise that apply the clauses of the Armistice on account of
the consequences which would be borne by Metropolitan France.
2.
Formal orders
have been received, and these orders have been sent to all Commanding Officers,
so that if, after the Armistice, there is risk of the ships falling into enemy
hands they would be taken to the U.S.A. or scuttled.
3.
These orders
will be carried out.
Since yesterday, 2/7/40, the ships now at Oran and
Mers el Kebir have begun their demobilisation (reduction of crews). Men
belonging to North Africa have been disembarked.
Holland felt that he could get no nearer than this
in reaching a settlement, so Holland and Davies then their leave. The leave
taking was friendly, and from the Admiral more friendly than the reception. Even
at that stage Holland still didn't believe that that fire would be opened.
At 1726 Holland left the DUNKERQUE in the Admirals
barge and at the same time 'Action Stations' was sounded off.
At 1735 Holland and Davies transferred to FOXHOUND's
motor boat.
At 1754 Holland was
clear of the net defences and about one
mile to seaward when Force H opened fire.
At 1920 Holland sighted Force H.
At 1935 Holland, Davis and the crew of
the motor boat were picked up by the destroyer FORRESTER, the motor boat was
abandoned]
At 0458 ARK ROYAL flew
off two Swordfish to patrol to the westward of the Fleet during dawn period. At
daylight these aircraft became A/S air patrols.
At 0530 ARK ROYAL flew
off six Swordfish to search between bearings 315¡ and 080¡ to a depth of 150
miles, or the Spanish coast. Object of reconnaissance to report Italian and
French warships which might be at sea.
At 0530 ARK ROYAL flew
off three Skuas to act as fighter cover for Force H. Their orders were to
engage any aircraft which threatened the Fleet.
At 0631 ARK ROYAL flew
off one Swordfish to reconnoitre Mers el Kebir and Oran harbours and to maintain
a watch on these harbours and to assist the FOXHOUND if required.
[At 0710 the Swordfish
that was watching Mers el Kebir and Oran harbours signalled that the warships
in harbour were as in the latest photograph. Three tankers east of Oran were
raising steam]
At 0800 ARK ROYAL streamed
paravanes.
At 0820 ARK ROYAL
screened by the destroyers FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and ESCORT parted company with
Force H. While Force H steamed past Oran, ARK ROYAL conformed keeping about
five miles to seaward of them.
[The operating position
for ARK ROYAL was governed by the direction of the wind, which for the whole
period of operations was from the North-East, force two. The area therefore lay
between a position 4 miles 000 degrees from Cap Falcon and position 13 miles
000 degrees from Cap L'aiguille. ARK
ROYAL with her destroyer screen of FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and ESCORT manoeuvred independently
as necessary for flying off aircraft]
[In the planning it was decided that if the
French offered organised and spirited resistance it would be necessary to
develop a full offensive with all the means at the disposal of Force H, against
the French ships and shore batteries. In this case the code word ANVIL will be
signalled to all ships in company. Senior Officers are then to take all
necessary action to crush the resistance, ceasing fire as soon as it is
apparent that the French have ceased to resist. Screening destroyers are not to
leave the screen unless so directed.
Under the ANVIL plan ARK
ROYAL's aircraft to bomb the heavy ships in Mers el Kebir and the submarines
and light craft berthed in Oran harbour. And aircraft torpedo attack on the
heavy ships had also been prepared. To launch these attacks when required and
to provide for essential reconnaissance, aircraft spotting, observation, A/S
and fighter patrols was a difficult problem of organisation. It could have been
done if ANVIL had commenced at 1500. Also under ANVIL, ARK ROYAL was to provide
fall of shot spotting aircraft as required by the HOOD, RESOLUTION and VALIANT.
Also with a special part in ANVIL were the
destroyers KEPPEL and WRESTLER who had embarked special demolition parties who
were to place scuttling charges in any French ships not sunk by gunfire,
bombing or torpedo attack.
Under ANVIL the cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE were
to engage the shore batteries]
[At 0835 the Swordfish that was flown off at 0631 reported
that the French battleships and cruisers (cruisers was later amended to
destroyers) appeared to be raising steam.
At 0915 a further report was made that the
battleships were furling awnings.
At the request of the VA Force H this aircraft was
ordered to also watch the submarines in Oran.
At 0940 the Swordfish reported that there was, as
yet, no sign of activity from the submarines]
At 0930 ARK ROYAL flew
off four Swordfish for relief reconnaissance between bearings 020¡ and 070¡ to
a depth of 170 miles.
[At 0910 Force
H less the ARK ROYAL and her destroyers and the destroyer FOXHOUND arrived off
Oran. A message in French ('Pour Amiral Gensoul de Amiral Somerville.
Nous esperons tres sincerement
que les propositons seront acceptables et que nous vous trouverons
a nos cotes.'), was sent from HOOD, VALIANT, RESOLUTION,
ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE by signal projectors trained on the French capital ships]
At 1015 ARK ROYAL was in
position 36-01N, 00-30W. Course was altered to close the HOOD to regain V/S
contact.
[At 1105 the VA Force H
ordered ARK ROYAL to drop six aircraft magnetic mines across the entrance to
Mers el Kebir Harbour. The mines to be dropped were,
A Mark I airborne
ground mines. These mines were a similar size to an 18" torpedo and were designed
to fit the same dropping gear as the 18" Mark XI torpedo. Weight was
about 1,500 lbs, with a 750 lbs explosive charge. The mines were known
colloquial as cucumbers]
At 1115 ARK ROYAL was two
miles to the north east of the HOOD.
[At 1122 the VA Force H
ordered ARK ROYAL to be prepared to drop two further mines across the entrance
to Oran Harbour]
At 1130 ARK ROYAL's
escort was reinforced by the addition of the light cruiser ARETHUSA. This was
in response to a request from
the Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers for
increased AA protection.
[At 1125 the
Swordfish that was watching
Mers el Kebir and Oran harbours signalled that he estimated that the ships at
Mers el Kebir will be ready to leave harbour by 1230.
At 1215 this aircraft
reported that the battleships were sending their floatplanes ashore.
At 1230 reported that
three tugs were en route from Mers el Kebir to Oran]
At 1230 ARK
ROYAL was two miles north of the HOOD.
[At 1252 the
VA Force H signalled the ARK ROYAL and ordered the mining of the entrance to
Mers el Kebir Harbour. This was in response to
Holland's signal 1242/3 which replied to the
VA Force H signal of 1236/3, am afraid not, I am waiting in V/S touch in case
acceptance before expiration of time]
At 1307 ARK
ROYAL flew off five Swordfish armed with mines and six Skuas as escort to carry
out the mining of the entrance to Mers el Kebir Harbour. Their orders were one
mine to be dropped in gate of boom and four mines to be dropped across A/T boom.
Approach course 255 ¡, echelon port. Mines to be laid on line
of bearing 000 ¡, from 300 feet at 95 knots.
[At 1342 the
Swordfish that was watching
Mers el Kebir and Oran harbours signalled four submarines leaving Oran.
At 1358 following receipt
of this signal the VA Force H ordered his destroyers to Oran to stop and if
necessary sink the submarines.
At 1352
the
Swordfish that was watching
Mers el Kebir and Oran harbours signalled four submarines shifting berth.
At 1405 the aircraft
signalled, no submarines have yet left Oran
At 1415 the VA Force H
signalled the Swordfish asking, are submarines in the process of leaving]
At 1345 ARK
ROYAL flew off four 4 Swordfish to relieve the reconnaissance aircraft, one Swordfish
to relieve the observations aircraft, two Swordfish to relieve the A/S patrols
and three Skuas to relieve the fighter patrol.
At 1355 ARK
ROYAL commenced flying on relieved aircraft.
At 1401 one
Skua of 803 Sqd, pilot
Petty
Officer H A Glover,
forced-landed in sea while waiting to land
on. The crew of two were picked up by the FORESIGHT.
[At 1425 the
VA Force H signalled the ARK ROYAL and ordered the mining of the entrance to
Oran Harbour]
[At 1417 the
Swordfish that was watching
Mers el Kebir and Oran harbours signalled that the submarines at Oran were
going alongside jetty near entrance.
At 1426 the aircraft
signalled, considerable boat activity in Mers el Kebir.
At 1429 the aircraft
signalled, DUNKERQUE and STRABOURG have all turrets trained on our battleships,
western Bretagne class (PROVENCE) fore and aft, eastern Bretagne class
(BRETAGNE) turrets training.
At 1432 the aircraft signalled,
some activity on aerodrome.
At 1448 the aircraft
signalled, both Strabourgs now have tugs pushing on their port quarters]
At 1440 ARK
ROYAL completed the landing on of relieved aircraft, and commenced fitting
mines in accordance with VA Force H signal 1425/3.
[At 1512 the
Swordfish that was watching
Mers el Kebir and Oran harbours signalled, one destroyer under way at Mers el
Kebir.
At 1532 the aircraft
signalled all turrets of all battleships now fore and aft]
At 1525 ARK
ROYAL flew off two Swordfish, 4K & 4M of 820 Sqd each armed with a mine to
mine the entrance to ORAN Harbour.
[Both
aircraft reached the breakwater at 1545, flying at 400 feet.
4K dived
over the breakwater, turned towards the entrance, and dropped her mine from a
height of 150 feet, at a distance of 200 yards, inside the narrow entrance, and
in the centre of the channel.
4M,
following in line astern dropped her mine from a height of 150 feet, 200 yards
outside the same entrance in the centre of the channel.
It appeared
that it would be impossible for any ship of over 1000 tons to avoid passing
over one, or other, of these two mines.
Having
dropped the mine, 4K flew along the breakwater, towards the inner docks at a
height of 200 feet. Seventeen destroyers were counted, lying close together in
the trots, and there were a large number of transports, (the largest was the
SS MARIETTA PACHA 12239grt) auxiliaries, and small craft of every
description in the harbour; also a large hospital ship (this was the SPHINX
11375grt) lying abeam on to the breakwater.
No
opposition of any kind was offered by the enemy during the mission]
At 1620 ARK
ROYAL flew off three Swordfish to relieve spotting aircraft. Also commenced
landing on 13 Swordfish, 9 Skuas and three Swordfish floatplanes.
[At 1646
the VA Force H received signal 1614/3 from the Admiralty instructing the VA
Force H, 'settle matters quickly or you will have reinforcements to deal with'.
This signal had been dictated by Churchill and was in response to a signal from
Admiral Darlan directing all ships in the western Mediterranean, especially the Third Squadron and
Algiers Squadron, to steam immediately for Oran to meet force with force. This
signal had been picked up by British Intelligence and brought the response in
Admiralty signal 1614/3.
The VA Force H immediately sent a V/S and
radio signal to Admiral Gensoul, (received by
Admiral Gensoul at 1715/3) informing him that if the terms were not
accepted fire would be opened at 1730.
The French immediately replied, in
English, from the DUNKERQUE, it said, 'Do not create the irreparable'.
At 1730 the VA Force H signalled all
Force H ships 'prepare for ANVIL]
[At 1754 at a range of 17500 yards Force H opened
fire on the French warships. Fire was opened from the north west of the harbour,
G.I.C. (Gunnery Individual Control) concentration, with aircraft spotting, firing
over Mers el Kebir fort. Fall of shot spotting was carried out by Swordfish
from ARK ROYAL. Force H maintained fire whilst steering easterly.
The effect of the opening salvoes was observed and
from the FOXHOUND's motor boat. The first salvo fell short; the second hit the
breakwater, sending large fragments of concrete flying into the air.
At about 1755 the DUNKERQUE and SRASBOURG opened
fire, followed almost immediately by the shore batteries. The DUNKERQUE fired
40 shells at the HOOD from about 17500 yards all missed but splinters caused two
wounded and some splinters holes. (The
330mm guns in the quadruple turrets suffered from unsolved dispersion problems,
this may have contributed to the failure to hit the HOOD) The shore
batteries were immediately engaged by the ARETHUSA, the older guns of the ENTERPRISE
were out ranged.
At 1800 the third salvo fell among the ships, and
the battleship BRETAGNE was hit, with at least one shell penetrating her central
turret magazine and at about 1804 she blew up, killing in the region of 1000 of
her crew.
At around this time a 15" shell struck the
DUNKERQUE aft passing through the aircraft hanger, several crew compartments
and out through the light side plating on the port side of the ship. This shell
did very little damage to the ships fighting capacity was unaffected. However about
two minutes later, another salvo struck the DUNKERQUE scoring three hits and
causing serious damage. DUNKERQUE was run aground in the harbour to prevent her
from sinking.
The PROVENCE received at least three 15" hits putting
her out of action. PROVENCE was run aground in the harbour to prevent her from
sinking.
The French destroyer MOGADOR whilst still
moored fired at a destroyer 16500 yards away; this was WRESTLER, who was
watching the entrance to Oran. MOGADOR's first salvo was a straddle, in all
MOGADOR 16 x 138mm rounds in a few seconds. Meanwhile MOGADOR slipped her
moorings and went behind the tug boat JO LASRY II, who was opening the boom.
At 1804 the MOGADOR was straddled by a salvo
of 15" shells one of which hit her on the stern, causing her depth charges
to explode, blowing her stern off. MOGADOR sank in the channel
A total of 1297 French seamen lost their lives and 351
wounded in the action.
At 1804 after 36 salvoes of 15inch Force H checked
fire. Force H then steered to the westward to take up a position from which, if
necessary, the bombardment could be renewed without causing casualties to men
in boats or exposing Force H to fire from the shore batteries]
[At 1804
the Swordfish that was watching Mers el
Kebir and Oran harbours signalled, STRASBOURG has slipped.
At 1813 both Dunkerques (the
DUNKERQUE was manoeuvring to beach and STRASBOURG was making for the harbour
entrance) under way inside boom.
At 1818 one Dunkerque has
left harbour and is steering east. (This was the STRASBOURG. At 1808 the
destroyers VOLTA and LE TERRIBLE had left the harbour ahead of the STRASBOURG
and had fired on the destroyers FOXHOUND and FORESTER without scoring any hits.
Also they made a long range torpedo attack on the HOOD without success. They
were recalled to escort the STRASBOURG)
At 1827 at present one Dunkerque and eight
destroyers at sea on eastern side of Oran Bay. (This
was the STRASBOURG with the destroyers VOLTA. TIGRE, KERSAINT and LE TERRIBLE
who had all sailed from Mers el Kebir and were joined by the
destroyers BORDELAIS
and LA POURSIUVANTE from Oran]
At 1825 ARK ROYAL flew off six Swordfish of 818 Sqd
each armed with four 250lb SAP bombs and eight 20lb cooper bombs and three Skuas,
L2927, L2997 & L2915 of green section 803 Sqd. These aircraft were delayed
taking off due to the large number of aircraft that had to be recovered who
were running low on fuel. Their mission was to carry out a bombing attack on
the ships in Mers el Kebir Harbour. However when the VA Force H learned that
the STRASBOURG was at sea he
ordered the mission changed to an attack on the STRASBOURG.
[The Swordfish were equipped for attacking the small
vessels expected to have escaped the 15" shells of Force H, their bomb
load was completely inadequate for attacking a ship with desk armour of 115 to
125mm; so any hits were likely bounce off.
At 1840 the attacking force made for the STRASBOURG
and her escorting destroyers. On sighting the STRASBOURG, who was steering approximately 070¡ at 26 knots,
they climbed to 4000 ft and then dive bombed her in a 50¡ dive. As soon as the
first bomb was dropped the French force opened fire.
One or two probable hits were claimed and two
Swordfish were shot down. The crews of both Swordfish were picked up by
WRESTLER.
The WRESTLER also picked up the three man crew of an
810 Sqd Swordfish that had been spotting for the HOOD then shadowed the
STRASBOURG until running out of fuel and landing in the sea]
[At 1830 the Skuas observed 5 French fighters, Curtiss
Hawk H-75As (these had a top speed that
was about 100mph faster than the Skuas) attacking spotting aircraft on the starboard quarter of ARK ROYAL. The
section broke up to attack these, and after a short engagement, the French
fighters returned to Oran. During the engagement they succeeded in
shooting down Skua L 2915, pilot Petty Officer Airman, TF Riddler, observer
Naval Airman HT Chatterley; both of whom were killed. The remaining two Skuas returned to escort the Swordfish.
At 1910 while at 12,000
feet, 9 French fighters, Curtiss 75As and Morane 406s, (both had a
top speed that was about 100mph faster than the Skuas) were observed
above and astern of the Swordfish. A section which appeared to be about
to attack them was engaged and a dog fight ensued, with all the fighters,
during which L2997, pilot Sub Lt GW Brokensha obtained some hits on a Curtiss
75 which broke off the engagement. L2927, pilot Lt J M Bruen, was able to get a
long burst on a Morane, which was on L2997s tail.
Several other aircraft
were engaged by both Skuas. 3 guns on each Skua jammed during this fight.
At about 1930 three
H-75As appeared, and a dog fight ensued with no apparent results on either
side.
Shortly after this the
Swordfish started their attack, and the STRASBOURG put up a barrage in front of
us. The two Skuas set course to return to ARK ROYAL; on the way back they
encountered a
Breguet Br.521 Bizerte flying boat and carried
out attacks on it. During L2927s second attack, she dropped some bombs on a
destroyer. (This was the WRESTLER). Skua L2997 put one engine (it was a
three engine machine) out of action and observed streams of petrol come out
of the tank. The Skuas returned to the carrier and landed on just after sunset]
[It was not until the VA Force H received the 1827/3
signal from the shadowing Swordfish that he was prepared to accept that a
French heavy unit (STRASBOURG) had
broken out from Mers el Kebir and was heading for Algiers or Toulon. He immediately
realized that he had positioned Force H on the wrong side of Oran Bay to
prevent a break out towards
Southern France.
At 1838 the HOOD commenced a turn of 180¡ to face
easterly to commence a stern chase.
At 1843 the VA
Force H commenced a stern chase after the French force and he ordered the
cruisers and destroyers into the van leaving the VALIANT,
RESOLUTION
to follow
unscreened, whilst the HOOD, cruisers and destroyers pressed on at their best
speed]
[It was around this time that a
'one
off' incident occurred on ARK ROYAL. Earlier in the day the VALIANT had flown
off one of her float equipped Swordfish to carry out fall of shot spotting.
When the VALIANT joined the HOOD in a stern chase she could not stop to recover
her aircraft. Rather than ditch the aircraft her pilot Petty Officer JE Breese
asked permission to land on ARK ROYAL, permission was granted. As he made the descent his crew, Sub-Lieu
Peter Starmer and Naval Airman Roy Tolley, loosened their straps in preparation
for leaping overboard when the Swordfish skidded over the side. But Breese made
a near-perfect landing, going straight down the middle of the flight deck to
stop dead after a few yards.
A Fairey
Aviation mechanic on board then knocked out the dent in one of the floats and
declared the aircraft fit to fly.
When ARK ROYAL arrived back at Gibraltar the Swordfish was lowered to the water
and it taxied over to the VALIANT. it was then recovered by crane]
[In his official report the VA Force H
stated; between 1933 and 1945 a French destroyer, steering east close inshore,
was engaged at ranges of 12,000 and 18,000 yards by the ARETHUSA and
ENTERPRISE. Later the HOOD and VALIANT fired a few 15" salvoes at her. At
least three hits were observed before the Destroyer turned back to Oran. The
'destroyer' was actually the sloop RIGAULT DE GENOUILLY that had sailed from Oran
and was heading east when sighted. The RIGAULT DE GENOUILLY received several
hits from the ENTERPRISE and she had 12 crew killed before reversing course and
returning to Oran]
At 1835 ARK ROYAL was in approximate
position 36N, 00-38E, 19 miles north of Oran and following the report of a
Dunkerque class battleship steering north east from Mers el Kebir, it was
realised that if the visibility improved then ARK ROYAL would be within gun
range of the battleship. Course was
accordingly altered to 315¡ and full speed was ordered for 25 minutes. Speed
was then reduced and course 315¡ maintained to increase the distance from the
enemy.
[At 1939
ARK ROYAL received an accurate report of position of enemy battleship from the shadowing
aircraft. A strike force of six torpedo armed
Swordfish was then prepared to attack the STRASBOURG]
At 1950 ARK
ROYAL flew off six Swordfish A4A, A4C, A4H, A4K, A4M & A2M of 818 Sqd each
armed with a torpedo, fitted with Duplex pistols and with a depth setting of
twenty feet, to attack the DUNKERQUE. Use was to be made of failing light to
press home the attack.
[The
initial approach consisted of a search along the coast about 15 miles off
shore. On sighting the STRASBOURG she was steaming eastward at high speed about
three miles off shore escorted by six destroyers. Weather conditions, were
thick haze up to 1000 feet above which visibility was extreme. Visibility at
time of attack was about two miles when looking towards the afterglow, sunset
was at 2035, no cloud, sea calm.
The
attacking force worked round in a wide sweep ahead and on the starboard bow of
the enemy and between him and the land from which position the target would be
silhouetted against the afterglow and the aircraft would have a land
background.
When
closing to identify the target, aircraft came under long range AA fire. Fire
was continued for about two minutes and considering the long range and low
angle of sight, was surprisingly accurate.
At 2055 the
attack commenced the aircraft were flying at the height of twenty feet and at
300 yard intervals. The attack was delivered unseen and except for the last two
aircraft who encountered some machine gun fire from the destroyer of the
screen, unopposed. One or two hits were possibly obtained. Darkness and funnel
smoke made definite observation impossible. (Actually no damage was caused
to the STRASBOURG)]
[At 2020 the
hot pursuit of STRASBOURG was abandoned by Force H. At that time the enemy
force was about 25 miles ahead of HOOD, and RESOLUTION and VALIANT were falling
behind. (One of the reasons for calling off the pursuit was a report
received from the submarine PANDORA, who was on patrol off Algiers, TOO 1645/3,
stating six French cruisers and four destroyers steering westwards. These were
six light cruisers of the
3rd and 4th Cruiser Divisions and the destroyers L'INDOMPTABLE, LE MALI, LE
FANTASQUE and L'AUDACIEUX)]
[Between 1930
and 2100 French reconnaissance and bomber aircraft were fired upon. These
dropped a few bombs, which all fell wide except for four about 50 yards from
the WRESTLER. The attacks were not pressed home. The aircraft that dropped the
bombs was a
Breguet Br.521 Bizerte flying boat that was attacked
by Skuas L2927 and L2997. (See above)]
[At 2250/3/ the VA Force
H received a signal from Admiral Gensoul stating that 'His ships were hors de combat
and that their personnel had been ordered to evacuate them']
By 2310 ARK
ROYAL had recovered all of the strike force.
At 2310 ARK
ROYAL altered course to pass astern of Force H and to reach position 36- 2N, 1- 48W, by 0430/3 in readiness to launch
air strike to attack the French battlecruiser at MERS EL KEBIR at dawn
4th
– At 0100 ARK
ROYAL ran into fog, her escorting destroyers were ordered astern.
At 0200
visibility improved.
At 0300 ARK
ROYAL sighted the HOOD and altered course to 060¡.
At 0330 ARK
ROYAL's escorting destroyers resumed their positions in screen.
At 0430 ARK
ROYAL prepared twelve Swordfish, each armed with six 250lb SAP bombs, were
ready to take off to attack French battleship reported by aircraft the previous
evening to have been beached under Fort Mers el Kebir. (This was the
DUNKERQUE with similar armour to the STRASBOURG so the 250lb SAP bombs would
have been useless). It was intended that this striking force should be
immediately followed by a second, composed of nine Skuas each armed with a 500lb
SAP bomb, to carry out a dive-bombing attack on the same ship.
At 0420 ARK
ROYAL ran into thick fog, which persisted until after 0600.
At 0620 ARK
ROYAL sighted Force H bearing 180¡.
[At 0630 the
Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers signalled the VA Force H stating that he had abandoned
the attack. He took the decision because a successful attack on the battleship in
its well defended position depended on surprise attack before full daylight]
At 0645 ARK
ROYAL adjusted course and speed to take station in the line and set course to
return to Gibraltar.
At 1900
Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
[Operation
CAPAPULT had cost ARK ROYAL:-
Two
Swordfish from the bombing force;
One Swordfish shadowing battleship after spotting for HOOD;
One Skua shot down in combat;
On Skua forced landing near ARK ROYAL.
All crews
were rescued, except for the crew of Skua
L
2915, pilot Petty Officer Airman, TF Riddler and observer Naval Airman HT
Chatterley; both of whom were killed.
These were the only British losses in the action]
[On the arrival of
Force H at Gibraltar the ships were immediately completed with fuel and
ammunition in readiness, if required, to proceed to carry out operations
against the French battleship RICHELIEU at Dakar]
5th
– ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At 0100 Vichy French
aircraft, possibly, Glenn Martin 167 A-3's, from Port Lyautey attacked
Gibraltar. Their main target was the HOOD. All the bombs fell into the sea and
no damage was caused by the raid]
[Overnight the VA
Force H was in touch with the Admiralty regarding the condition of the
DUNKERQUE. There was uncertainty over the operational state of the DUNKERQUE; RAF
photo-reconnaissance had established that she was aground on an even keel off
the town of Mers el Kebir heading 295¡, but had failed to accurately assess her
damage. However when news was received that the
French Admiral Jean-Pierre Estava at Bizerte
had made a broadcast stating that the DUNKERQUE was not seriously damaged and
would soon be repaired; the Admiralty cancelled Force H's attack on the
RICHELIEU and ordered the VA Force H to prepare to carry out a further attack
on the DUNKERQUE. The dead line for the attack was 6/7/40.
The staff of the VA
Force H immediately drew up plans for Operation LEVER which was to be a further
attack on the DUNKERQUE. At around 1230 the Admiralty was informed that the
attack would take place at 0900/6. The ships taking part would be as for
CATAPULT less the RESOLUTION and a destroyer]
[At
1800 the VA Force H signalled the Admiralty that when drawing up plans for
LEVER it had been realised that owing to the position of the DUNKERQUE a bombardment
could only be effected at considerable loss of French lives and damage to
property ashore]
At 2000 Force H, comprising the battlecruiser HOOD (Flag
VA Force H), battleship VALIANT, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL (Flag VA Aircraft
Carriers), light cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE, and destroyers
FAULKNOR (D8),
FEARLESS, FOXHOUND,
FORESTER, ESCORT, WISHART, VORTIGERN, VIDETTE, ACTIVE
and VELOX sailed from Gibraltar to carry out Operation
LEVER. The Force steered west into the Atlantic then under cover of darkness
reversed course for Oran.
6th
– Force H en route to Mers el Kebir.
[At 0250/6 the VA
Force H, received an Admiralty signal cancelling the bombardment, and ordering
instead a continuous attack by aircraft to be carried out until the DUNKERQUE was
thoroughly damaged. The orders for LEVER were then altered and recast as an air
strike]
At around 0400 ARK ROYAL
signalled that she would be ready to launch the strike 0515.
At 0520 ARK ROYAL was in
position 36-19N, 2-23W, (about 100 miles from Mers el Kebir) from where she
flew off six Swordfish of 820 Sqd, each was armed with 18" torpedoes Mk
XII with Duplex pistols, set for a depth of 12th feet, speed 27 knots.
At 0545 ARK ROYAL flew
off three Swordfish of 810 Sqd, each armed as above, and six Skuas of 800 Sqd.
At 0620 ARK ROYAL flew
off three Swordfish of 810 Sqd, each armed as above, and six Skuas of 803 Sqd.
[The first wave of six
Swordfish made landfall over Hababis Island (about 24½ miles west of
Mers el Kebir) then flew east, at 7000ft keeping 15 miles from the coast to
gain an up-sun position from the target as soon as the sun rose. (Sunrise was
at 0553)
At 0628 as the first rays
of the sun, rising above thick haze, struck the DUNKERQUE the first wave, led
by 820s squadron commander Lt Cdr GB Hodgkinson commenced a shallow dive in
line ahead down the path of the sun. Coming in low over the breakwater the
aircraft attacked in succession. The first torpedo hit the DUNKERQUE amidships
glanced off and, continuing its run exploded against the jetty. It had probably
been released inside pistol safety range.
The second hit and
exploded under the bridge on the starboard side.
The third missed the
target and exploded ashore.
The remaining three
torpedoes all hit the DUNKERQUE exploding near B turret, on her starboard side.
The attack proved a complete surprise, only one aircraft was fired on at during
the getaway]
[At 0647 the second wave
of three Swordfish, led by Captain AC Newson RM, manoeuvred into a position up sun
at 2,000ft then in line astern formation dived to attack, being met by heavy AA
fire that was coming from over the breakwater.
When Newson pressed the
torpedo release button the master switch did not complete the firing circuit
and he was unable to release his torpedo.
The second and third
torpedoes were successfully launched and were observed to have hit the
starboard side of the DUNKERQUE.
During the getaway a
large explosion was observed, smoke and spray rising in a great column over
600ft high. This was thought to have been a magazine exploding. (Unbeknown
at the time, a torpedo had hit the
auxiliary patrol boat TERRE
NEUVE P18
(780grt), which was alongside the
DUNKERQUE. The exploding torpedo set off her depth charges causing a massive
explosion, blowing the TERRE NEUVE apart and ripping a huge gash in DUNKERQUE's
side)
No enemy aircraft were
encountered, but the 6"and 4" batteries to the east of Oran kept up
continuous accurate fire throughout the attack]
[At 0650 the third wave
of three Swordfish led by
Lt. DF Godfrey-Faussett, made a landfall at a height of 4,000ft over
Cap Falcon. This wave made its approach over the town of Mers el Kebir and In line astern they commenced a shallow dive taking avoiding
action as the grounded PROVENCE and shore batteries opened fire.
The first torpedo hit DUNKERQUE
on her port side amidships but did not explode.
The second torpedo was
believed to have hit, as an explosion was seen. (This torpedo hit the tug
Estrel (333grt), that was about 70 yards
off DUNKERQUE's port side, the torpedo blew the tug apart)
The third torpedo was
dropped too close, and was not armed and therefore didn't explode]
[The Skua escort of the
third wave had several dog fights with French Curtiss H75 fighters
of GC II/5, which,
although they easily outmanoeuvred the Skuas did not press home their attacks.
One Skua of 803 Sqd crew, pilot Petty Officer GW Peacock and Leading Airman BP
Dearnley, was damaged in combat and was forced to ditch. The crew were picked
up by the VIDETTE. There were no casualties, although several aircraft were
damaged by gunfire]
[The attacking
aircraft made their approaches based on aerial photographs which were
interpreted to show the DUNKERQUE lying at a heading of 295¡. This put her
starboard quarter to attackers coming in over the harbour breakwater from
seaward. However, when the post strike photographs were analyzed in 1943 it was
realised that DUNKERQUE was in fact lying at a heading of 250¡. This meant that
attackers coming over the breakwater were presented with an attack angle from
0¡ to 15¡ of the stern axis, or from virtually astern. This had a an effect on
the final outcome of the attack]
[When the VA Force H
evaluated the results of the attack he was satisfied that the DUNKERQUE had
been put out of action for at least a year. The order was then given to return
to Gibraltar. So ended the tragic action against the
French Fleet at Mers el Kebir, the action had cost the French
1297 killed and 351
wounded, the British lost two aircrew killed]
At 1830 Force H arrived
back at Gibraltar.
[On arrival back at
Gibraltar the engine room staff began to address defects that had built up over
preceding months. the main one being a leakage from one of three propeller
shaft glands. The leakage was so bad that the pumps could only just keep the
water level below the shaft bearings.]
7th
– ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[After Force H
returned to Gibraltar the VA Force H was directed by the Admiralty to operate
against the west coast of Italy, Sicily, or possibly Sardinia at his
discretion, in an operation to coincide with an operation to be carried out by
the Mediterranean Fleet (This was Operation MA5 a sweep by the
Mediterranean Fleet to cover the passage of two convoys, MF1 and MS1, from
Malta to Alexandria. This operation led to the action with the Italian Fleet
off Calabria).
Although the VA Force H was reluctant to take Force
H on an operation until they had been trained and exercised as a fleet he was
under orders to carry out a supporting action. The VA Force H decided to make
an air attack on Cagliari, Sardinia supported by the whole of Force H]
8th -
At 0700 H comprising HOOD
(Flag VA Force H), RESOLUTION, VALIANT, ARK ROYAL (Flag VA Aircraft Carriers), light
cruisers ARETHUSA, DELHI, and ENTERPRISE and the destroyers FAULKNOR (D8),
FORESTER, FOXHOUND, ESCORT, FEARLESS, ACTIVE, DOUGLAS, VELOX, VORTIGERN and
WRESTLER sailed from Gibraltar to create a diversion for the convoys sailing
from Malta to Alexandria. Part of the plan was for ARK ROYAL was to launch an
air strike against Cagliari. Since Force H
decoys no subterfuge was necessary. (As hoped
Force H was seen
leaving Gibraltar and reported by Italian agents in Spain). Course was set for a flying off position south east of Mallorca.
9th – Force H continued steering easterly towards a flying off position
south east of Mallorca.
At around 1400 in approximate position 38N, 2-30E Force H was detected
by Italian reconnaissance aircraft. (Probably a Cant CZ 506 from
Cagliari-Elmas)
At 1545 Force H was in approximate position 38-30N, 3-30E when the
Force was attacked by about six high level Savoia SM 79 aircraft. Their
main target was the ARK ROYAL but they also attacked the HOOD both ships were
near missed.
At 1750 a further wave of
12 high level Savoia SM 79 aircraft bombed Force H and
again ARK ROYAL was near missed.
From 1820 to 1840 two
further waves of 22 high level Savoia SM 79 aircraft
bombed Force H and again ARK ROYAL was near missed.
(The
SM 79's were from the
10a Brigata,
including 8¡ Stormo from Villacidro airfield and 32¡ Stormo from Decimomannu airfield on
Sardinia)
[ARK ROYAL's Skuas
managed to shoot down one of the SM 79's, even though the SM 79's were at about
18,000 ft and faster than the Skuas. (Savoia-Marchetti SM 79, Sparviero, top
speed 270mph at 13,940 ft, cruising speed 232mph)]
[Following the attack the
VA Force H signalled Vice Admiral Wells in the ARK ROYAL; 'In view of the heavy
scale bombing and the nature of our objective, do you think continuance of
operations justified'. Vice Admiral immediately replied; 'Definitely not'. So
because of
the loss of surprise and the possibility of
serious damage to the ARK ROYAL on an operation that was only a diversion and
with Wells concurring, Somerville ordered the abandoning of the operation and a
return to Gibraltar]
[Various sections of the Italian media reported
that 40 bombers had intercepted a British naval force near the island of
Majorca and for more than one and half hours, attacked in successive waves. In
the attack the HOOD had been heavily damaged and ARK ROYAL had its flying deck
hit by two bombs causing the loss of seven aircraft. Some escorting destroyers
were also heavily hit. One SM.79 was shot down, 5 others were damaged; the 8¡
Stormo was awarded a silver medal]
At 2215 Force H reversed course and set course for Gibraltar.
10th
– Force H en route to Gibraltar
11th
– At 0215 Force H was in approximate position 36-11N, 3-37E when
the destroyer ESCORT was torpedoed
in the forward boiler room
by
the Italian submarine GUGLIELMO MARCONI.
[The FORESTER had witnessed the attack a made an unsuccessful
attempt to ram the submarine. Attempts were made to salvage ESCORT by FORESTER
towing her stern first and FAULKNOR providing an escort. But she was too badly
damaged and her list increased.
At 1115 hours the
ESCORT sank. FAULKNOR and FORESTER, having taken off all ESCORT's crew, then
set course for Gibraltar.
Two ratings were
lost in the attack on ESCORT and Commissioned Gunner F. E. V. Mathews and
twelve ratings were wounded]
At 0800 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
12th to 22rd
-
ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
23rd- At 0400 the ARK ROYAL (Flag VA Aircraft
Carriers), light cruiser ENTERPRISE and the destroyers
FAULKNOR (D8), ESCAPADE, FORESIGHT and FORESTER sailed from Gibraltar and
steered west into the Atlantic. Their mission was to carry out an air strike
against shipping in Bordeaux harbour.
[The attack on Bordeaux was occasioned
by intelligence that the Germans were assembling
shipping at Bordeaux for a possible attack on the Azores and/or the Canary
Islands]
24th
– The force were on a northerly course steering for the flying
off position.
25th
– At 0100 the Admiralty called off the attack and the force
reversed course to return to Gibraltar.
26th
– At 1100
the ARK ROYAL,
ENTERPRISE and the destroyers
FAULKNOR (D8), ESCAPADE, FORESIGHT and FORESTER arrived back at Gibraltar.
27th to 30th
-
ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
[With the entry of
Italy into the war on 10th June 1940 the air defence situation at Malta had
become critical.
In the middle of July Churchill urged the Admiralty
to urgently consider the possibility of flying in Hurricanes to bolster the air
defence of Malta.
On 24/7/40 the aircraft carrier ARGUS with 12
Hurricane Mk 1's of RAF 418 flight
(Including ground crew and aircraft spares) and
two Skuas embarked sailed from the Clyde escorted by the destroyers
GALLANT and
GREYHOUND, also in company was the AMC MALOJA. Off Northern Ireland the joined
convoy RS 5, Liverpool to Freetown, escorted by the destroyers ENCOUNTER and
HOTSPUR.
On 28/7/40 in
approximate position 40-30N, 19W the ARGUS and the destroyers
ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND and HOTSPUR detached
for Gibraltar.
At 0330/30/7/40
the ARGUS and the destroyers
ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND and HOTSPUR
arrived in Gibraltar.
At Gibraltar the ground crews disembarked and 11
tons of spares, 0.303" ammunition and mail were off loaded]
[The VA Force H was
ordered to provide an escort for the ARGUS to a flying off position about 420
miles from Malta. This was known as Operation HURRY.
In conjunction with HURRY Force H were to carry out
an air strike against Cagliari to provide a diversion for HURRY, this was
Operation CRUSH.
The ground crew, kit, tools, spares and stores were
to be transported from Gibraltar to Malta the submarines PANDORA and PROTEUS,
this was Operation TUBE.
The light cruiser ENTERPRISE was to position herself
southeast of Minorca and using radio signals, simulate activity in the northern
part of the Western Basin, this was Operation SPARK]
31st -
ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
At 0700 Force H comprising
battlecruiser HOOD (Flag VA Force H), battleships VALIANT and RESOLUTION,
aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL and ARGUS, light cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE
and the destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER, FEARLESS, ESCAPADE, ACTIVE,
WRESTLER, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND and HOTSPUR sailed from Gibraltar on
Operations HURRY and CRUSH.
At 1200 the destroyers
ACTIVE and WRESTLER detached and returned to Gibraltar.
AUGUST
1st
– Force H sailing eastwards.
From 0530 ARK ROYAL had
Swordfish A/S patrols airborne
[At 1530 Force H was
attacked by Savoia SM 79 aircraft from 10a Brigata, led by Generale Cagna,
aircraft from 8¡ Stormo, 18¡, 52¡
and 10¡ Squadr“glie took part in the attack, flying from Villacidro, Sardinia.
Each aircraft was armed with 4 x 250kg bombs. The first wave of 25 bombers came
in at 14,000ft and the second wave of 15 also bombed from 14,000 ft. There were
several near misses but no ship was hit. The Italians lost three planes one
shot down by AA fire and two shot down by Skuas. One of the SM 79's shot down
had Generale Cagna on board]
At 2045, when in
approximate position 38-20N, 4-30E, the Force split into two groups. Group one,
the HOOD, ARK ROYAL, ENTERPRISE, FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FEARLESS and ESCAPADE
detached and proceeded north easterly towards a flying off position about 60
miles from Cagliari for Operation CRUSH.
[Group two the ARGUS,
VALIANT, ARETHUSA, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND and HOTSPUR proceeded to the
flying off position for Operation HURRY]
At 2130 the ENTERPRISE
detached and proceeded north westerly to close Minorca to carry out Operation
SPARK.
2nd
– At 0230 ARK ROYAL had reached the flying
off position and commenced flying off the Swordfish strike force for Operation
CRUSH. Fourteen aircraft of 810, 818 and 820 Sqds formed the strike, but
Swordfish A2K, P4273, of 810 Sqd crashed when taking off and the crew, Lt JR
Robins, Lt J MM Tarver and Petty Officer J Clarke were killed.
By 0315 the last of the
strike force had taken off.
[Ten Swordfish attacked Elmas
airfield, destroying a number of Italian aircraft, and three laid mines in the
outer harbour. One of the Swordfish attacking the airfield, A4F, P4127, of 820
Sqd, was shot down and landed on the airfield. The crew of Lt GR Humphries, Lt
D Williams and Leading Airman C Pendleton were made prisoners of war.
(Swordfish P4127 was
captured almost intact; it was repaired at the Elmas Caproni plant and fitted
with an Alfa Romeo 125 radial engine. Later it went to the Italian mainland and
underwent flight testing at Guidonia's Flight Test Centre)]
[At 0515 the ARGUS was
in position 37-45N, 7-20E, from which position she commenced to fly off the
Hurricanes. They were flown off in two groups of six each group led by a Skua. By
0600 all aircraft had been flown off and ARGUS reversed course for Gibraltar.
The aircraft started to arrive at Malta from 0800.
All aircraft arrived but one Hurricane crashed on landing. It had been intended
that the Skuas would return to ARGUS, but this would have required ARGUS to
remain in the flying off position for a further six hours so they were retained
in Malta. The crashed Hurricane was restored to operational efficiency by the
Malta ground crews using spares on hand. Subsequently, on 4/8/40 the Hurricanes
of flight 418, together with the Gloster Sea Gladiators and the one Hurricane
already at Malta formed 261 Squadron RAF.
The submarines PANDORA and PROTEUS arrived at Malta
on August 6th and 8th respectively]
At 0530 Group 1 rejoined
Group 2.
At 0700 following the
recovery of ARK ROYAL's aircraft, returning from Operation CRUSH, Force H
reversed direction and set course for Gibraltar.
3rd
– Force H sailing easterly en route to
Gibraltar.
4th – At 0600 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
[This was the end of
the first of 28 of what came to be called 'club runs']
[The Admiralty took
the decision to reorganise Force H, with HOOD being replaced by RENOWN,
the change was to take place in the UK]
At 1915 hours Force H, comprising HOOD (Flag VA Force H),
VALIANT, ARGUS, light cruiser ARETHUSA escorted by destroyers ESCAPADE,
FAULKNOR (D8), FORESIGHT, FORESTER and FOXHOUND sailed from Gibraltar for the UK.
The ARK ROYAL, light cruiser ENTERPRISE and destroyers
GREYHOUND, GALLANT, ENCOUNTER and HOTSPUR also sailed with Force H.
[En
route Force H was instructed to search for neutral merchantiles thought to be
breaking the blockade. To increase the effectiveness of the search Force H was
initially accompanied by ARK ROYAL and her escort]
5th – The destroyer FEARLESS
joined Force H.
6th - At 1050 ARK ROYAL, ENTERPRISE,
GREYHOUND, GALLANT, ENCOUNTER and HOTSPUR detached and returned to Gibraltar.
8th - ARK ROYAL, ENTERPRISE, GREYHOUND,
GALLANT, ENCOUNTER and HOTSPUR arrived back at Gibraltar.
9th to 14th -
ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
15th
– The
ARK
ROYAL (Flag VA Aircraft Carriers), light cruiser ENTERPRISE and the destroyers
HOTSPUR, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER and WRESTLER sailed from Gibraltar for
exercises in the Atlantic.
18th – 750 miles west of Ushant the
ARK ROYAL, ENTERPRISE, HOTSPUR, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER and
WRESTLER, RVed
with the battlecruiser
RENOWN (Flag VA Force H)
Force H then set course for Gibraltar.
En route ENTERPRISE detached to investigate a
suspicious vessel.
19th
–
At 0215 Force H received a signal from the independently sailing freighter ROWALLAN CASTLE 7798grt, stating that
she was under attack from a raider.
The
destroyers HOTSPUR, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER and WRESTLER
were detached to Gibraltar to refuel and RENOWN and ARK ROYAL made for ROWALLAN CASTLE position off Southern
Portugal.
20th – At 1230 it was established
that the 'raider' that had fired on the ROWALLAN CASTLE was the AMC CIRCASSIA.
So RENOWN and ARK ROYAL resumed their course for Gibraltar.
At 1100 they RVed with the destroyers
HOTSPUR,
GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GRIFFIN and VELOX.
At 1900 Force H arrived at Gibraltar and the Vice
Admiral Aircraft Carriers struck his flag.
21st to 24th –
ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
25th
-
At 0730 ARK ROYAL, ENTERPRISE and destroyers GALLANT, HOTSPUR and GRIFFIN
sailed from Gibraltar to carry out flying exercises in the Atlantic.
At 2025
RENOWN (Flag VA Force H), escorted by destroyers VELOX, ENCOUNTER, GREYHOUND
and VIDETTE sailed from Gibraltar to join the ARK ROYAL force at sea.
26th
–
Early in the morning the RENOWN force and the ARK
ROYAL force RVed
and all came under the command of CINC Force H in RENOWN.
The whole of Force H then carried out exercises
together.
27th
– At 0600 250 miles west of Cape St Vincent Force H, RVed
with the aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, battleship VALIANT, light cruiser
SHEFFIELD, anti-aircraft ships COVENTRY and CALCUTTA and the destroyers
FAULKNOR (D8), FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY and FORTUNE and the LSI
ROYAL SCOTSMAN.
ENTERPRISE, VELOX and VIDETTE detached and escorted
ROYAL SCOTSMAN into Gibraltar.
The combined force then carried out battle practice
under the command of CINC Force H.
29th
– At 0600 Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL,
SHEFFIELD, FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY, FORTUNE and
ENCOUNTER. Force F comprising VALIANT, ILLUSTRIOUS, COVENTRY, CALCUTTA,
GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR arrived at Gibraltar.
Later in the day Force A the destroyers JANUS, HERO,
MOHAWK and NUBIAN arrived at Gibraltar from MALTA.
30th
– At 0845 Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL,
SHEFFIELD, FAULKNOR (D8), FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY, FORTUNE,
ENCOUNTER, VELOX and WISHART.
Force F comprising VALIANT, ILLUSTRIOUS, COVENTRY,
CALCUTTA, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR.
Force A comprising JANUS,
HERO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN.
Sailed from Gibraltar on Operations HATS, SQUAWK, SMASH
and GRAB.
[The
objectives of the Operations were:-
HATS, was to
cover the passage of Force F (reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet) to
the Sicilian Channel. En
route Force F was to call into Malta to offload military supplies. Force A had
been detached from the Mediterranean Fleet to provide additional escorts for
Force F.
SQUAWK, the destroyers
VELOX and
WISHART were
to carry out radio deception measures.
SMASH, ARK ROYAL's Swordfish to carry out air strike on Elmas
airfield, Cagliari, Sardinia
GRAB, ARK ROYAL's Swordfish to carry out air strike on Cagliari
power station, Sardinia]
31st – The fleet steered towards the south of the
Balearic Islands. During the day Skuas from the ARK ROYAL shot down two
shadowing Italian seaplanes a Cant Z 506B and a Cant Z 501.
At 2150 south east of the
Balearic Islands, Force W, VELOX and WISHART were detached to carry out
Operation SQUAWK and steered for the north of the Island of Minorca.
[Operation SQUAWK
required the two destroyers to proceed to the north of the Balearic Islands and
then to make extensive wireless signals as if they were the entire fleet, in
the hope that any Italian radio monitoring service would report that Force H
was heading for Genoa. This attempt at deception may well have succeeded, for
on the morning of 1 September Somerville reported that his fleet was not being
shadowed]
At 2200 Forces F and H
turned to the south east and headed for southern Sardinia.
SEPTEMBER
1st
– At 0330 in position 38-06N, 10-51E, ARK
ROYAL launched a strike force of 9 Swordfish, each armed with 4 x 250lb HE
bombs and 8 x 25lb incendiaries, to attack the airfield at Elmas, Cagliari.
(Operation SMASH) Following the launch the fleet continued towards the
Sicilian Channel.
[At 0600 hours the Swordfish attacked the airfield and seaplanes in the
adjacent harbour]
By 0800 all the Swordfish
had been recovered.
At 2200 half way between
the south-eastern tip of Sardinia and the western tip of Sicily Force H turned
to the north, in preparation for a second attack on Cagliari and Force F
maintained a south easterly course heading for Malta and the Mediterranean
Fleet.
At 2300 Force H turned
west and headed for the south of Sardinia.
2nd
- At 0330
launched a further strike force of 9 Swordfish, each armed with 4 x 250lb HE
bombs and 8 x 25lb incendiaries, to attack the airfield at Elmas, Cagliari
power station. (Operation GRAB) Following the launch the fleet continued
towards Gibraltar. The attacked had to be aborted due to low
cloud and mist obscuring the targets,
3rd
– At 1100 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
4th & 5th – ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
6th – The ARK ROYAL,
battleships BARHAM and RESOLUTION, screened by the destroyers FAULKNOR(D8),
FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FORTUNE, FURY, GREYHOUND, ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE and INGLEFIELD
(D3) sailed from Gibraltar into the Atlantic to participate in Operation
MENACE. The destroyer ECHO joined the force later after completing repairs at
Gibraltar.
[Operation
MENACE was the joint British and Free French attack on Dakar.
When General de Gaulle arrived in
Britain after the fall of France he had very few followers and no troops,
although after the withdrawal from Norway and Dunkirk a small number, about
7000, of French troops were persuaded to join the Free French cause.
General de Gaulle didn't consider that
France had lost the war; instead he believed that France had only lost a campaign.
So he set about trying to bring the French overseas colonies on to the side of
the Free French. He also believed that it was necessary for the seat of the
Free French Government to be on French soil, if he could achieve this it would
give him legitimacy, prestige and French colonial troops. Ideally General de
Gaulle would have liked to have bought the French North African colonies on
side, but these were too close to the influence of Vichy and after Mers el
Kebir these were defiantly ruled out. He had success in French Equatorial Africa
but he wanted a base nearer to the wars centre of gravity. So he set his sights
on Senegal and particularly its capital of Dakar which had the best harbour on
the North West African coast. So General de Gaulle set about planning to bring
Senegal into the Free French fold or failing that to seize Dakar by force.
In late July General de Gaulle put his
scheme, for an all French assault on Dakar, to Churchill; at first Churchill
was non committal. Churchill, realizing the strategic importance of Northwest Africa,
quickly became enthusiast and endorsed de Gaulle's idea of establishing a Free
French government on the shores of West Africa, in Dakar. On 5/8/40 the War
Cabinet gave the plan their approval.
(Churchill's enthusiasm may in part have stemmed
from his knowledge that in or near Dakar was 275 tons of gold. On 17/6/40 the
French AMC VICTOR
SHOELCHER 4504grt, carrying 200 tons of Belgian gold and 75 tons of Polish gold
had sailed from Lorient escorted by destroyer EPƒE. The VICTOR SHOELCHER had
arrived at Dakar on 28/6/40).
The initial plan was to land a
Free French force at
Conakry,
the force would then proceed overland, gathering strength as they went, and
taking Dakar from the rear. To prevent the Vichy French naval forces at Dakar from
sailing south and annihilating the expedition, General de Gaulle
requested cover from a British
naval force. From the British perspective this request had the disadvantage of
immobilizing a substantial British naval force for a long time off the western
coast of Africa at a time when Britain badly needed all her forces for the
defence of Britain. This led to the British becoming more involved in the
planning. From 7/8/40 the British became more and more committed to the
operation and Churchill and the Chiefs of Staff agreed that the expedition
should have enough British backing to ensure its success.
On 26/8/40, the first
military equipment and stores sailed from Liverpool in the French
freighters ANADYR 5278grt, CASAMANCE 5817grt,
FORT LAMY 5234grt and NEVADA 5693grt
British tanker OCEAN COAST 1173grt, escorted by the
French sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA and patrol vessel PRESIDENT HONDUCE attached
to convoy OB 204.
On 27/8/40 the War Cabinet gave their approval
to the plan drawn up by Vice Admiral Cunningham, Major General N.M.S. Irwin and
Major General E.L. Spears. The plan provided for separate landings at dawn on
six beaches on the North, West and South shores of the Cape Verde Peninsula and
on Gore Island with a view to surprising and confusing the defence. The
landing parties were to be mainly British, with Free French elements to
proclaim their friendly intentions.
The various
elements of the assault force were to assemble at Freetown which had been
designated the forward base]
7th to 11th
–
The ARK ROYAL force steering towards the west of the Canary Islands. En route
ARK ROYAL's aircraft carried out mock attacks on the attached ships and
maintained A/S patrols. On 8/9/40 the ARK ROYAL refuelled the destroyers
FORTUNE and GREYHOUND.
12th
– At 1145 a Swordfish from ARK ROYAL made contact with convoy MP.
The ARK ROYAL force then steered to RV with Convoy MP.
[Convoy MP comprised Naval, troop ships and MT
ships that formed Force M, the assault force for Operation MENACE]
[At 0512/11/9/40 the destroyer HOTSPUR, which was on anti-submarine patrol
in company with destroyers GRIFFIN, and ENCOUNTER, sighted the Vichy French
Force Y.
(The
French Force Y, comprised the Vichy light cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES, MONTCALM
and GLOIRE escorted by the large destroyers L' AUDACIEUX, Le FANTASQUE and Le MALIN. Force Y had departed
Toulon at 1600/ 9/9/40 for Libreville, Gabon. Because of Operation MENACE the
Admiralty wanted Force Y stopped from leaving the Mediterranean. The Admiralty
knew of the sailing but the information had not been communicated to Admiral
Sir Dudley North CINC North Atlantic station due to an oversight by the duty
officer at the Admiralty. The duty officer
received in due course the expression of their Lordships displeasure.
That is all he got, while Admiral North got the sack. The First Sea Lord
received the information about the Vichy force in the morning during a Chiefs
of Staff meeting and immediately ordered RENOWN and the destroyers to raise
steam)
At 1600/11/9/40 the RENOWN
with destroyers GRIFFIN and VIDETTE sailed from Gibraltar with orders to
intercept French Force Y. The destroyer VELOX joined at sea.
At 0800/12/9/40 the RENOWN,
GRIFFIN, VELOX and VIDETTE were joined by the destroyers HOTSPUR, ENCOUNTER,
and WISHART.
At 1620/12/9/40 the RENOWN's
Walrus aircraft reported that there were no French cruisers in Casablanca and
later sighted French Force Y steaming south towards Dakar at high speed]
At approximately 1700
the ARK ROYAL and the destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FORTUNE, FURY, ECHO GREYHOUND, ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE and
INGLEFIELD sighted Force M.
ARK ROYAL with the destroyers
INGLEFIELD, ECHO,
GREYHOUND, FORTUNE, ESCAPADE and ECLIPSE operated independently from Force M
whilst steering toward Freetown.
13th – ARK
ROYAL with Force M en route to Freetown.
14th - ARK ROYAL and Force M en route to Freetown.
At 0200 ARK ROYAL
was in approximate position 9N, 17W when she received a signal from the FO
Force M in DEVONSHIRE. The signal ordered ARK ROYAL to join the heavy cruisers
DEVONSHIRE (Flag Officer Force M), AUSTRALIA and CUMBERLAND to attempt to
intercept a force of French cruisers reported to heading for Dakar.
ARK ROYAL set
course northerly and the destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECHO, GREYHOUND, FORTUNE,
ESCAPADE and ECLIPSE detached to refuel at Freetown.
[At 0220 in approximate position 9N, 15-30W,
the DEVONSHIRE was joined by AUSTRALIA and they set course northerly for Dakar.
At 1940 off Dakar the DEVONSHIRE and AUSTRALIA were
joined by CUMBERLAND
At 2320 the three cruisers arrived at a position 75
miles NW of Dakar, approximately 15-50N, 18W and commenced a line ahead patrol
in a northerly direction four miles apart]
[On this day the main body of ships of Force
M arrived at Freetown]
15th - At 0200 in approximate position 16-30N,
18W, ARK ROYAL joined the DEVONSHIRE, AUSTRALIA and CUMBERLAND.
The ARK ROYAL
was ordered to carry out a dawn (about 0600) reconnaissance of Dakar harbour
and an air search extending 100 miles 020¡ from DEVONSHIRE.
The dawn patrol by two Skuas from ARK
ROYAL reported that the cruisers were not at Dakar. They also reported that the
battleship RICHELIEU was alongside the north jetty with her awnings spread.
A further air
reconnaissance in the morning reported that the
cruisers were in the Harbour
ARK ROYAL, DEVONSHIRE,
AUSTRALIA and CUMBERLAND patrolled off Dakar
At 1345 the
destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECHO, FORTUNE, ESCAPADE and FURY
joined from Freetown
At 1500 A further air reconnaissance of Dakar was
carried out and reported the cruisers were still in the Harbour.
At 1530 ARK ROYAL,
DEVONSHIRE, AUSTRALIA and the destroyers
INGLEFIELD,
ECHO, FORTUNE, ESCAPADE and FURY set course southerly for Freetown. The
CUMBERLAND was left on patrol off Dakar.
16th
-
ARK ROYAL, DEVONSHIRE, AUSTRALIA and the destroyers
INGLEFIELD, ECHO, FORTUNE, ESCAPADE and FURY en route to Freetown.
[At 1400 the British
Government came to the conclusion, following the arrival of the cruisers at
Dakar, that the execution of MENANCE was impracticable they considered the best
plan would be for de Gaulle's force to land at Duala to consolidate the
Cameroons and then march into Chad]
17th
– At 0700
ARK ROYAL, DEVONSHIRE, AUSTRALIA and the destroyers
INGLEFIELD, ECHO, FORTUNE, ESCAPADE and FURY arrived at Freetown.
[In
response to British Government's 1400/16 a meeting was held between Vice Admiral Cunningham, Major General Irwin
and General de Gaulle they expressed the opinion that the presence of the
cruisers at Dakar had not sufficiently increased the risks to justify the
abandonment of MENACE. This was communicated to the War Cabinet]
[After
refuelling the AUSTRALIA commenced off loading the two disassembled Caudron C
272 Luciole aircraft that she had embarked in the Clyde. The aircraft together
with the Free French airmen and mechanics were transferred to the ARK ROYAL]
18th
– The
ARK ROYAL was at Freetown where her engine room staff were
carrying out urgent repairs.
19th
- The ARK
ROYAL was at Freetown where her engine room staff were
carrying out urgent repairs.
[Sometime during the day the first elements
of Operation
MENACE, the transports OCEAN COAST, NEVADE, CASANANCE, FORT LAMY, and
ANADYR escorted by the sloop BRIDGEWATER, boom defence vessel QUANNET, and French patrol ship PRESIDENT
HOUDACE departed Freetown for Dakar]
[At 2019/18/9/40 the heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA
had sailed from Freetown to relieve the CUMBERLAND on patrol south of Dakar.
At 0820/19 in position 10-12N, 16-50W the
AUSTRALIA sighted the CUMBERLAND en route to Freetown. Close to their position
was the MV EMPIRE STAR 11093grt, on a northerly course, with Rear Admiral Sir
Henry Harwood embarked.
At 0910 the AUSTRALIA sighted a number of masts
sailing towards her.
At 0917 the masts were recognised as three
cruisers about 14 miles distant and sailing on a reciprocal course. (These proved to be the
Vichy 4th Division light cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES
(Flag Rear Almirante Celestin Jean Bourragu), MONTCALM and GLOIRE they had sailed from Dakar and
were en route to Libreville. They had orders to
re-establish
Vichy's authority in Gabon,
following Governor Georges Masson
declaration for de Gaulle)
At 0921 the AUSTRALIA signalled the CUMBERLAND
to join her. At the same time she noticed that the EMPIRE STAR had altered
course to southerly. The AUSTRALIA signalled the EMPIRE STAR and told her that
it was quite safe for her proceed northerly, she then promptly altered course
back to northerly.
At 0950 the AUSTRALIA was abreast the Vichy
cruisers, who were on course 142¡, speed 15½ knots. AUSTRALIA reversed
course to keep the Vichy cruisers abeam.
At 1032 the CUMBERLAND was sighted ahead and on
joining the AUSTRALIA swung into line astern and AUSTRALIA's CO, Commodore RR Stewart
took command. Captain Stewart ordered both cruisers to keep steam for full
speed. The Vichy cruisers remained in line ahead with turrets trained fore and
aft. The British cruisers commenced zigzagging remaining from 13 to 19 miles
abeam of the Vichy cruisers, keeping them in sight in changing visibility and
rain squalls.
The AUSTRALIA sent off regular shadowing
reports.
At 1730 the CUMBERLAND moved into her agreed
night shadowing position which was astern of the French force.
At 1735 the French force changed course in turn
and settled on a northerly course.
At 1745 the CUMBERLAND reported that the French
had increased speed.
At 1754 the Admiralty signalled the CINC South
Atlantic ordering that the Vichy cruisers must not be allowed to return to
Dakar.
By 1809 the French cruisers were making 30
knots.
From 1830 to 1900 the AUSTRALIA exchanged
signals, in French, with the Vichy force.
At 1940 AUSTRALIA changed course to 329¡ and
worked up to a speed of 31 knots, with the objective of reaching Dakar before
the French cruisers.
At 2010 AUSTRALIA sighted a ship on her
starboard bow which turned out to be one of the cruisers, the ship flashed the
message 'I am steering for Honskri; Port Francais', this ship turned out to be
the GLOIRE, who it transpired had engine trouble. AUSTRAILA remained with the
GLOIRE but was aware that CUMBERLAND was now unsupported.
At 2139 the DEVONSHIRE with the destroyer
INGLEFIELD in company, who was en route from Freetown to join AUSTRALIA;
signalled AUSTRALIA to show her position by shining her searchlight into the
air at 45¡.
At 2145 AUSTRALIA switched on her searchlight
which was seen by DEVONSHIRE.
At 2200 CUMBERLAND reported that the other two
cruisers were still proceeding north.
At 2223 AUSTRALIA had slowed down was circling
the GLOIRE.
At 2252 the destroyer INGLEFIELD closed the
GLOIRE and commenced parleying with her. It was found that GLOIRE had engine trouble
and could only make 4 knots.
At 0100/20 AUSTRALIA closed the DEVONSHIRE for
orders, and was ordered to escort the GLOIRE back to Casablanca.
At approximately 0530/20 the CUMBERLAND having
failed to stop them, the Vichy French cruisers
GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM arrived back at Dakar.
At 1500/20 the AUSTRALIA and CUMBERLAND passed on
reciprocal courses.
At 0700/21 the AUSTRALIA,
satisfied that the GLOIRE would continue to Casablanca, signaled GLOIRE ''Bon
voyage. Je vous remerci
pour votre courtoisie dans une situation difficile' and set course southerly]
20th –
The ARK
ROYAL was at Freetown.
[Vice Admiral Cunningham FO Force H, shifted
his flag to the battleship BARHAM and during the day he held a pre-operation
conference on board the BARHAM]
21st
–
[At 0645the heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE, the
destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER, FURY, the sloops MILFORD, COMMANDANT
DOMINE, COMMANDANT DUBOC, and SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA with transports ETTRICK,
KENYA, SOBIESKI, KARANJA, WESTERNLAND and PENNLAND and the food ship BELGRAVIAN
departed Freetown on Operation MENACE]
At
0930 the ARK ROYAL, battleships BARHAM (Flag VA
Force M) and RESOLUTION and destroyers INGLEFIELD (D3), FORTUNE, FORESIGHT,
GREYHOUND, ECHO, and ESCAPADE sailed from Freetown for Dakar and Operation
MENACE.
[At 1430 the
heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND departed Freetown on Operation MENACE]
22nd
– The ARK ROYAL
together with the other ships involved in Operation MENACE en route to Dakar.
[Early in the morning the MENACE
convoys were joined at sea by the heavy cruisers CUMBERLAND and AUSTRALIA and
the cruiser DRAGON (DRAGON was a replacement for destroyer
ECLIPSE which developed engine problems)]
23rd – At around 0400 ARK ROYAL arrived about 20
miles south of Dakar, the visibility in the area was poor due to fog. Closer
inshore, south of Cap Manuel, where the main force was,
the
visibility was even less.
At around 0515 ARK ROYAL flew off
13 Swordfish and the two Caudron C 272 Luciole aircraft with Free French
markings.
[The orders of Vice Admiral Cunningham were
to negotiate with Pierre Franois Boisson, the governor-general of
French West Africa and high commissioner for French Africa, for a peaceful
occupation, but if this was unsuccessful, he was to take the city by force.
Part of the plan was to present the Vichy
French with an impressive array of force in the guise of Force M. However this
part of the plan was immediately negated by the fog]
[One of the
Swordfish led the two French aircraft to Ouakam airfield. Following which the
Swordfish was to observe the landing and report back.
The two Caudron
C 272's carried Free French air force officers who were representatives of de
Gaulle and were to land on the military airfield and attempt to bring their
fellow air force officers over to the Free French side and to pave the way for the
landing of further French air force officers and the later landing in the
harbour by emissaries of General de Gaulle.
Four
Swordfish carried further Free French officers who were to be landed at Ouakam
airfield if the mission of the crews of the two Caudron C 272's was a success.
Four
Swordfish carried leaflets that they dropped over Dakar. At around 0545 when
over Dakar the battleship RICHELIEU and the Forts on the Ile de Gore opened
fire on the Swordfish, without achieving any hits.
Two
Swordfish to carry out photo reconnaissance.
Two Swordfish to carry out A/S patrols.
On landing
the Free French officers saw troops on their morning parade they seized the
officer in charge and bound him while the troops stood by. This led the Free
French to believe that their mission would be successful so they spread out
markers announcing their success. Other Vichy officers soon arrived and
arrested the Free French.
The
patrolling Swordfish signalled success, but then observed Vichy French Curtis
Hawk 75A-3 fighters taking off and at the same time the Swordfish came under AA
fire from the ground.
When ARK
ROYAL received the signal about the fighters all the Swordfish, except the two
on A/S patrol, were recalled]
[At 0600 the Free French sloop SAVORGANAN DE
BRAZZA was about four miles south of the Ile de Gore when she dropped off two
launches with emissaries from de Gaulle, led by Capitaine de Corvette Georges
Thierry d'Argenlieu. The launches proceeded under a white flag and berthed in
the harbour at around 0700. On landing d'Argenlieu was met by an officer with a
drawn revolver, but later friendlier officers arrived and d'Argenlieu informed
them that he had letters to deliver to the Governor General and insisted that
he hand them over personally. The naval CINC Admiral Landriau was contacted;
Admiral Landriau dismissed the envoys story as bluff, partly because he
couldn't see the invasion force, and ordered that the emissaries be arrested.
When d'Argenlieu was told he was to be arrested the Free French party jumped
back into their launches and made off. A few shots were fired at the launches,
one of which seriously wounded d'Argenlieu.
At 0755 the RICHELIEU opened fire on the
SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA followed shortly afterwards by the battery on the Ile de
Gore.
The party were eventually picked up by the
SAVORGANAN DE BRAZZA. So ended the attempt at negotiation]
[The news of the landing of the Free French
aircraft at Ouakam quickly reached Pierre
Franois Boisson, the Governor General, followed by news of the
emissaries landing in the harbour. At 0750 he called a meeting of the service
chiefs following which he immediately declared a state of siege and Dakar was
put under the control of General Jean Barrau. By 0830 Admiral Landriau had entered
his command bunker in the harbour, from where he had sight of the RICHELIEU, the
police were rounding up Gaullist sympathizers and all civilians had been
confined to their homes]
At 0850 the
Swordfish on A/S patrol reported that two submarines were leaving the harbour.
[The submarines were the PERSƒE and AJAX,
they had been ordered by Admiral Landriau to sail and establish patrol lines off
Dakar. (The AJAX was attacked later in the day by a Swordfish from ARK
ROYAL, without success)]
Aircraft from
the ARK ROYAL maintained A/S patrols and fighter patrols over the invasion
force throughout the day.
[Throughout the day the area of operations
remained shrouded in fog, at no time was the visibility in excess of two miles]
24th
– ARK ROYAL was operating south of Dakar.
At about 0645 ARK ROYAL flew off
six Skuas of 800 Sqd each armed with a 500 lb SAP bomb and six Swordfish of 820
Sqd. The mission of the Skuas was to attack the battleship RICHELIEU which was
moored alongside the outer mole of Dakar harbour with its main armament facing
almost due south. The mission of the Swordfish was to attack Fort Manoel which
was armed with two 240mm guns and was the fort nearest to the attacking force.
[At 0700
the six Skuas in line astern dived through the fog to bomb the RICHELIEU, one
near miss was achieved, that caused minimal damage.
At 0720 the
six Swordfish attacked Fort Manoel, hits were claimed, but despite its canvas
roof, no hits were achieved and the output of the battery was not affected]
At about 0845
ARK ROYAL flew off six Swordfish of 810 Sqd each armed with a torpedo, their
target was the RICHELIEU.
[At 0910
the six Swordfish attacked the RICHELIEU without scoring any hits. Three were
shot down two by AA fire and one by a fighter. One the shot down aircraft crashed
landed in the bay near the light cruiser GEORGES LEYGUES. Before the plane sank
the French managed to retrieve its signal code book]
[At 1230
the Vichy French destroyer LE HARDI picked up an injured British airman]
At about 1445 ARK ROYAL flew off
nine Swordfish each armed with a torpedo escorted by three Skuas. The target of
the Swordfish was the light cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM who were
manoeuvring in Rufisque Bay and constituted a threat to the transports.
[At 1534
the eight (one was forced to ditch en route to the target) Swordfish commenced
their attack through a barrage of AA fire, two were shot down almost
immediately one by the destroyer LE MALIN and the other by MONTCALM. At the
time of the attack the MONTCALM was almost stopped but quickly worked up to 20
knots and managed to avoid the three torpedoes fired at her; GEORGES LEYGUES
also managed to avoid the one torpedo fired at her. Three explosions, hits,
were reported by the attackers but these turned out to be prematures]
Throughout
the day ARK ROYAL maintained A/S and fighter patrols. However the A/S patrols
failed to sight the Vichy French submarine BƒVEZIERS returning to harbour in
the evening after having been on patrol 10 miles south of Ile de Gore.
[During the
day ARK ROYAL lost six Swordfish most of the crews became POW's of the Vichy
French. The crew of Swordfish L2844 of 810 Sqd were picked up by the destroyers
ESCAPADE and ECHO.
Also lost
was Skua 7K, L2954 of 803 Sqd the crew were picked up by the destroyer ECHO]
25th
- ARK ROYAL
was operating south of Dakar.
[The weather on this day was light airs, flat
calm sea, clear skies and maximum visibility. After much confusion and the
exchange of signals between the CINC Force M, the Admiralty and Churchill the
operation was to be continued into a third day]
ARK ROYAL's
aircraft were not required for strikes today, even though ARK ROYAL had put
forward a proposal for a dawn strike on Ouakam airfield. So ARK ROYAL was to
provide only A/S and fighter patrols.
[At around
0630 a Swordfish from ARK ROYAL on patrol over the harbour reported the light
cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM manoeuvring in Rufisque Bay and
destroyers in position ready to lay smoke screens. The report also observed
that the RICHELIEU was now moored to the outer mole by her bow and a tug was
secured to her stern so she could be swung to bring her guns on to the most
effective bearing]
[At 0530 six Vichy French Curtis Hawk 75A-3
fighters were airborne, at 0652 one of them sighted Force M steaming up from
the south to carry out what the CINC Force M hoped would be the 'knock out'
blow.
At 0740 the lookout at Fort Manoel sighted the
BARHAM and RESOLUTION steaming up from the south]
[As the British battleships steamed towards
their bombardment positions, their movements were observed by Capitaine de Corvette Pierre Lancelot
the CO of the Vichy French submarine BƒVEZIERS.
On the 24/9/40 the BƒVEZIERS had tried three
times to achieve a firing position from where she could launch torpedoes at the
British battleships, but each time he had been frustrated by air attack from
ARK ROYAL's Swordfish. At 1700/24 the BƒVEZIERS returned to Dakar harbour to
recharge her batteries.
Admiral Landriau, who together with the CO of the
RICHELIEU Capitaine de Vaisseau
Marzin had studied the courses taken by the British battleships in the first
two days of the operation which they noted, was a course that kept them out of
range of the 240mm guns of the Gore and Mamelles batteries. At 0400/25 the
BƒVEZIERS had been ordered to sea by Admiral Landriau and given a position that
she take up in expectation that the next arrival of the bombarding force would
be in accordance with their previous positions.
At 0904/25 the BƒVEZIERS achieved a firing
solution on the RESOLUTION and fired a salvo of 4 torpedoes from 2500 yards at
RESOLUTION, 3 missed but at 0910 the fourth hit
her on the port side amidships. This immediately caused flooding in her port
boiler-rooms and she instantly took on a 12¼ list to port and was down by the
bow. Her main armament was rendered in operative as the turrets jammed up.
At 0913
AUSTRALIA was damaged by two 155mm shell hits, but
the damage did not require her withdrawal from the operation and there were no
injuries to the crew.
At 0915 BARHAM
was hit in the bows by a 380mm shell from RICHELIEU.
At 0917 the
DEVONSHIRE and AUSTRALIA were ordered to withdraw. At the same time AUSTRALIA's
Walrus was shot down astern of the BARHAM.
At 0930 the CINC Force M Vice Admiral Cunningham
called off the bombardment
and the Force turned south.
Following a
discussion between the force commanders the CINC Force M signalled the
Admiralty reporting the events of the morning with his recommendation to call
off Operation MENACE.
At the War
Cabinet meeting that commenced at 1130, the signal was discussed and at 1327
Churchill signalled the CINC Force M, 'Unless something has happened which we
do not know, which makes you wish to attempt landing in force, you should
forthwith break off'. The CINC Force M signalled back; 'Concur in breaking
off'. So ended the debacle of Operation MENACE]
At
1200 hours the various units of Force M including the ARK ROYAL set course
south to return to Freetown. ARK ROYAL's aircraft provided fighter cover for
the RESOLUTION who was severely damaged and making slow progress.
At
around 1700 the Vichy French submarine
SIDI FERRUCH, from Conakry,
French Guinea, attempted an attack on ARK ROYAL. The SIDI FERRUCH was sighted
by ARK ROYAL's A/S patrol and forced to dive and stay submerged.
At 1800 the
destroyers FAULKNOR and
FORESTER joined ARK ROYAL's screen.
26th
– ARK ROYAL steering
south at slow speed to provide aircraft cover for the damaged RESOLUTION who
was now under tow by BARHAM.
27th - ARK ROYAL steering south
at slow speed to provide aircraft cover for the damaged RESOLUTION who was now
under tow by BARHAM.
28th
- ARK ROYAL steering south
at slow speed to provide aircraft cover for the damaged RESOLUTION who was now
under tow by BARHAM.
At 1400 ARK ROYAL
arrived at Freetown.
29th – ARK ROYAL
was at Freetown.
30th
– At 0615 ARK ROYAL,
heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA and the destroyers FORTUNE, GREYHOUND and FORESTER
departed Freetown for the Clyde.
OCTOBER
1st
to 4th – ARK
ROYAL and escort were en route to the UK.
5th
– When on the latitude
of the Azores the AUSTRALIA was detached to investigate a rumour of an invasion force heading for the Azores.
6th
- ARK ROYAL and escort were
en route to the UK.
7th
– Late afternoon when
off Northern Ireland ARK ROYAL flew off the Swordfish of 818 Sqd to RNAS Campbeltown
8th
– At around 0800 the ARK ROYAL was off the
Firth of Clyde when she commenced flying off the rest of her air component, 800 Sqd to RNAS
Crail, 803 and 820 Sqds to RNAS Dinibristle and 810 Sqd to RNAS
Arbroath.
At around 1300 the ARK ROYAL arrived at Liverpool.
She entered Gladstone dock and was
placed
in the hands of Cammell, Laird & Co. Ltd for a short refit which included repairs
to her machinery and the installation of a new flight deck barrier. The new
barrier speeded up flying on operations and this reduced the time that ARK
ROYAL had to remain on a set course for recovery operations.
9th
to 28th ARK ROYAL at Liverpool under refit.
29th
– Early in the morning ARK ROYAL sailed from
Liverpool for the Clyde en route she flew on Swordfish of 810 Sqd from RNAS Arbroath
and Swordfish of 818 Sqd from Campbeltown.
In the evening ARK ROYAL arrived off Greenock.
30th
– ARK ROYAL off Greenock embarking stores.
31st –
In the morning the ARK ROYAL sailed into the Firth
of Clyde to land on the remainder of her air component; 12 Skuas of 800 Sqd
from RNAS Prestwick, 12 Fulmars of 808 Sqd (this was the first Fulmar Sqd formed
and the second one to embark on a carrier. They were 40mph faster than the
Skuas) from RNAS Donibristle and 12 Swordfish of 820 Sqd from RNAS Campbeltown.
[808 Sqd was formed at Worthy Down on 1/7/40 with 12
Fulmar Is. After working up it moved to Castletown,
Isle of Man on 5/9/40 and carried out land based patrols over the Western
Approaches and Irish Sea. On 2/10/40 it moved to Donibristle in preparation for
joining ARK ROYAL]
At
1800 the ARK ROYAL was joined by the
heavy cruiser BERWICK, light cruiser GLASGOW and the
destroyers ISIS, FOXHOUND and DUNCAN in company was the Free French liner HMT PASTEUR
30477grt. The force was bound for Gibraltar.
[The PASTEUR had embarked army units, 4th
Battalion the Buffs, two 25pdr field batteries, 67troops of the
1st Independent
Troop, Royal Tank Regiment, gunners of one
light AA and two heavy AA batteries, together with Navy and Air Force personal,
in all a total of 2150; for Gibraltar and onward passage to Malta. The heavy
equipment was to be transported in Operation COLLAR]
NOVEMBER
1st to 5th
– The ARK ROYAL force
was en route to Gibraltar.
6th
– At around 0400 the destroyers
VIDETTE and WRESTLER joined the force from Gibraltar.
At around 0430 the
ARK ROYAL and the destroyers VIDETTE and WRESTLER detached for Gibraltar.
At 1315 ARK ROYAL
and the destroyers VIDETTE and WRESTLER arrived at Gibraltar.
[At 1430 the BERWICK and GLASGOW arrived at
Gibraltar and at 1630 the PASTEUR and destroyers ISIS, FOXHOUND and DUNCAN
arrived at Gibraltar]
At 1500 the Flag
Officer Force H, Vice Admiral Somerville hoisted his flag in ARK ROYAL.
7th
– At 1800 Force H
comprising, the ARK ROYAL (Flag CINC Force H), light cruiser SHEFFIELD (fitted
with air warning radar Type 79Y, range 60NM) and the destroyers DUNCAN, FAULKNOR
(D8), FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FURY, FORTUNE, FOXHOUND and ISIS. In company was
Force F, comprising the battleship BARHAM, heavy cruiser BERWICK, light cruiser
GLASGOW and the destroyers GREYHOUND, GALLANT and GRIFFIN departed Gibraltar on
Operations COAT and CRACK.
[Operation COAT was an operation to transport
the troops carried to Gibraltar on board PASTEUR onward to Malta. BARHAM (700 embarked),
BERWICK (750 embarked, these
included troops of the 12th Field Regiment RA. She also carried 12 x 40mm Bofors guns for Crete), GLASGOW (400 embarked)
and GREYHOUND, GALLANT and GRIFFIN (50 embarked on each); also the Force H destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORTUNE and FURY (had a further 150 troops
embarked between them). After
disembarking the troops at Malta Force F were to continue eastwards to join the
Mediterranean Fleet. The guns, tanks and equipment for the troops were to be
conveyed to Malta by merchant ship.
Operation CRACK was an air raid by aircraft from ARK
ROYAL on the Italian seaplane base and airfield at Elmas near Cagliari.
The operation
was designed to draw attention away from Force F; it was also intended to
distract attention from the planned attack on the Italian naval base at Taranto
(Operation
JUDGEMENT)]
8th
– In the morning an
Italian reconnaissance aircraft sighted the force and was shot down by one of
ARK ROYAL's fighters.
At 1530 in
approximate position 37-43N, 2-04E the ARK ROYAL, escorted by SHEFFIELD, GLASGOW,
DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FOXHOUND and ISIS detached from Force F, increased
speed and steered for a position south west of Cagliari.
At around 1800
SHEFFIELD's Radar picked up an unidentified aircraft approaching from the north
east. The aircraft was a
Savoia-Marchetti
SM79, probably from Sardinia
[The lone SM 79 was at 3,000ft some 50 miles south
of Sardinia when it was shot down by a Fulmar of 808 Sqd piloted by Lt Rupert Tillard, observer Lt Mark Somerville. Tillard's
attack appeared to kill the rear gunner, and he then shot the aircraft down
into the sea. This was 808 Sqds first victory]
9th
- At 0430 ARK ROYAL flew off
9 Swordfish each armed with six x 250lb bombs to carry out Operation CRACK the attack
on the Italian seaplane base and airfield at
Elmas near Cagliari. After launching the aircraft Force H turned south
easterly to RV with Force F.
[At 0950 red section
Fulmars of 808 Sqd intercepted an Italian Cant Z-506B of the 196a Squadr“glie at 6500
ft that was shadowing Force H.
The shadower
was shot down by Lt Tillard
the CO of 808 Sqd].
At around 1015 ARK ROYAL flew off a section of three
Fulmars to Malta; these were for onward passage to join 806 Sqd on the aircraft
carrier ILLUSTRIOUS
By 1035 ARK ROYAL
had recovered all the strike force.
[At 1100 SHEFFIELD's radar picked up 20 plus
unidentified aircraft approaching from the north; these turned out to
Savoia-Marchetti
SM79's from Decimomannu airfield Sardinia]
[When SHEFFIELD's radar picked up the approaching
aircraft ARK ROYAL had three Fulmars of 808 Sqd and six Skuas, 6F L3015, 6G
L2952, 6H L3017, 6K L2908, 6L L3049 and 6M L3007 of 800 Sqd airborne. These
aircraft were immediately vectored towards the attacking Italians.
At 1115 Fulmars of red section 808 Sqd attacked a
formation of 25
SM 79s about ten miles from the carrier. Lt Tillard attacked
the leader of one formation. This bomber was reported to have crashed into the
sea by another pilot, and by watchers on the GLASGOW.
At 1130 the Skuas joined the fight and claimed hits
to several bombers, but none shot down.
Actually none of the SM 79s were lost, but of the 25
taking part, 18 were hit, many members of the crews being killed or wounded]
The SM 79's that got through the fighters carried
out a high level bombing attack on Force H, there were several near misses but
no hits.
At around 1200 Force H RVed with Force F; following
which ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FOXHOUND and ISIS
turned westerly to return to Gibraltar.
10th
- ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD,
DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FOXHOUND and ISIS en route to Gibraltar.
11th
– At 0930 ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD,
DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FOXHOUND and ISIS arrived at Gibraltar.
12th – The ARK ROYAL was
at Gibraltar.
At 1400 the battle
cruiser RENOWN arrived at Gibraltar.
13th - The ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar. Vice Admiral Somerville struck his flag and transferred his flag to
RENOWN.
14th - Aircraft carrier ARGUS,
with 12 Hurricanes embarked for Malta, with destroyers WISHART, WRESTLER,
VIDETTE arrived at Gibraltar later for operation WHITE.
15th – At 0400 Force H comprising, the RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL and
ARGUS, light cruisers SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH, destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER,
FURY, WISHART, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE and DUNCAN sailed from Gibraltar on
Operation WHITE.
[Operation WHITE was an operation to deliver
12 Hurricanes to Malta. The Hurricanes were to be flown off the ARGUS. Somerville was also planning to carry out a strike against the
airfield at Alghero,
north west Sardinia]
After sailing the
force was divided into Force A that comprised the ARGUS, DESPATCH and the destroyers
FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND and FORTUNE.
Force B that
comprised the RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD and the destroyers FURY, WISHART and
DUNCAN.
[The sailing of Force H was observed by
Italian agents in Spain and details were immediately communicated to Supermarina (Italian Naval HQ).
On receipt of the sighting report Supermarina concluded that the British
force was probably going to carry out a further attack on airfields on Sardinia.
16/11 based on
this intelligence Supermarina ordered a force of two battleships VITTORIO
VENETO and CIULIO CESARE, (these two battleships had only recently
arrived at Naples having sailed from Taranto after Operation JUDGEMENT) two heavy cruisers and destroyers to sail
from Naples to an interception point south west of Sardinia.
Early on 17/11 the Italian force was sighted by a reconnaissance plane from Malta and its composition and position
was signaled to the CINC Force H.
By the morning of the 17/11 the Italian Force was
about 30NM south west of Sardinia]
16th
– Force A and B were
sailing easterly, in worsening weather, restricted in speed of advance by the
ARGUS who was barely capable of 16 knots.
At 1200 the weather deteriorated further and flying
operations were cancelled. Also because of the weather Somerville abandoned his
plan to carry out a strike against
Alghero airfield.
17th –
[Early in the morning Somerville received the
signal informing him that an Italian naval force was heading towards southern
Sardinia. From this intelligence Somerville considered that this force could
well be intent on engaging his much weaker force, so he decided to launch the
Hurricanes as soon as possible. Under ideal conditions the Hurricane Mk 1 had a
maximum range of 520NM at 10000ft, the wind at 0500 was westerly, about 20
knots at 2000ft, this was the height that the Hurricanes were ordered to fly
at, and the forecast from Malta was of a westerly wind. Therefore Somerville
took the decision to launch 400NM from Malta]
At 0500 Force A
detached and went ahead to the flying off position.
[At 0615 in position 37 29N, 6-43E the first
flight of six Hurricanes lead by a FAA Skua took off from
ARGUS. Only four of the first flight reached RAF Luqa.
The Hurricanes took time forming up, consuming
valuable fuel, before setting off westerly following the Skua. En route near Galite Island they RVed with a Sunderland of 228 Sqd from Malta. Two Hurricanes crashed about 30NM short
of Malta; one pilot was rescued by the Sunderland, the other was never found.
The four remaining Hurricanes and the Skua landed at Luqa at 0920.
At 0715 in
position 37-24N, 6-52E the second flight of six Hurricanes lead by a FAA Skua
took off from ARGUS. Soon after
launching the wind veered from south west to south east, this not only slowed
their westerly advance but also blew them towards Sicily. The Sunderland that
should have RVed with this flight failed to take off due to engine problems. All
six of the second flight were lost en route to Malta there were no survivors
from the Hurricanes.
The Skua 6G, L2987 of 800 Sqd crashed
landed on south west coast of Sicily, the beach at Punta Palo near Syracuse. The pilot Petty Officer (A) W. E. J.
Stockwell, observer P/T/A/Sub Lt (A) R. C. Neil were
taken prisoner.
A RAF Martin
Maryland of flight 431 was sent out from Malta to search for the missing
aircraft but failed to sight any survivors]
At 0830 Force A rejoined Force B and course was set for Gibraltar at
ARGUS' best speed and in deteriorating weather.
By 1400 the Force
was steaming into a full gale and speed was reduced to 15 knots, and later to
9knots
At 1545 the
SHEFFIELD detached and pressed on ahead to Gibraltar.
[At 1500 the CINC Force H, received a signal
from the Admiralty reporting that the panzerschiffe ADMIRAL SHEER was thought to be in the vicinity of
the Azores
(the report was incorrect, at the
time the SHEER was about 1350NM south west of the Azores replenishing from the NORDMARK).
The CINC Force H was ordered to proceed
with dispatch to Gibraltar with RENOWN and ARK ROYAL. the
CINC Force H compromised and sent the SHEFFIELD on ahead.
At 1805 the SHEFFIELD took a huge wave over her
forecastle which caused structural damage. SHEFFIELD arrived at Gibraltar at
1800/18/11/40]
18th
– Force H was steaming
westward towards Gibraltar.
19th – At 0300 Force H
arrived back at Gibraltar.
[Just before arriving at Gibraltar the
Admiralty order to the CINC Force H to search for the ADMIRAL SHEER was
cancelled]
20th to 24th
– The ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
Whilst at Gibraltar
Captain Holland expressed his concern to the CINC Force H regarding the urgent
need for training of the Swordfish aircrews, many of whom were inexperienced in
strike operations, especially torpedo attacks. However, due to the lack of
suitable shipping targets in Gibraltar at the time the CINC Force H was unable
to help.
[The next operation that involved Force H was
Operation COLLAR. Operation COLLAR had three main objectives:-
First six
merchant ships (two from Alexandria and four from Gibraltar) were to take supplies to Malta and one from
Gibraltar to Alexandria.
Second the
battleship RAMILLIES, too slow,
and the cruisers BERWICK, turbine
problems, and NEWCASTLE, boiler
problems, were being transferred from the Mediterranean fleet because
Admiral Cunningham considered them liabilities.
Thirdly the
cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON
(each carrying
660 and 760 respectively, RAF and Army personnel for Egypt) with four corvettes fitted with LL sweeps
for sweeping magnetic mines were to pass through the Mediterranean and join the
Mediterranean Fleet.
Somerville
informed the Admiralty that because of the possibility of the Italian Navy
intervening in Operation COLLAR he considered the inclusion of the battleship
ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was repairing at Gibraltar,
should be included in his force. The Admiralty agreed, but ROYAL SOVEREIGN
could not be completed in time for inclusion in the operation. For operation
Force H was designated Force B and all the other vessels sailing east were
designated Force F. Force F was under the command of
Vice Admiral
Holland who was of equal rank to Somerville]
[21st –
The light cruiser MANCHESTER (Flag of Vice Admiral
Lancelot
Holland CS18) and the troopship HMT
FRANCONIA 20158grt (with 1420, mainly RAF
ground crews
for air reinforcements being flown to Egypt from Takoradi
and some Army personnel embarked) escorted by the
destroyers DUNCAN and FORESTER arrived at Gibraltar]
[When CS18 was
made aware that MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON were to be attached to Force F,
maximum speed 16 knots, he objected to the CINC Force H; stating that with so
many passengers on board the cruisers would not be in a condition, should it
become necessary, to fight. Further CS18 considered the safe and timely arrival
of the RAF and army personnel should take precedence over his cruisers being
attached to the slow Force F. Since CS18 and CINC Force H were of equal rank
the matter was referred to the Admiralty. The Admiralty signalled 'personnel',
but later amended the reply to 'CS18's cruisers 'must be the same as if
personnel were not on board']
[22nd – The light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON
arrived at Gibraltar]
[23rd – The destroyers JAGUAR and
KELVIN and the corvettes SALVIA, HYACINTH, PEONY and GLOXINIA arrived at
Gibraltar.
The light cruiser DESPATCH arrived at Gibraltar]
[24th – The light cruiser
SHEFFIELD arrived at Gibraltar.
In Gibraltar harbour the 1400 RAF and
Army personnel were transferred to
MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON, 700 embarked on
each]
[At 2400/24/11
part of Force F comprising the
destroyers DUNCAN
(D13) and
HOTSPUR and the corvettes PEONY, SALVIA, HYACINTH and GLOXINIA sailed from
Gibraltar and steered into the Mediterranean to join the British MT ships SS CLAN
FORBES 7529grt, SS CLAN FRASER 7529grt (At
0315/6/4/41 the CLAN FRASER was in Piraeus harbour loaded
with armaments and 250 tons of TNT when she was bombed by the Luftwaffe and her
cargo exploded. The shock wave of the blast was felt fifteen miles away in
Athens. White hot debris detonated the ΤΝΤ in other ships moored
nearby, setting them and buildings ashore, on fire. By morning Piraeus port had
been severely damaged) (The Malta bound ships were carrying
of 4 Infantry
MKII's, Matilda, tanks 2 MKIV B's. The Matildas were
later named Faulknor, Gallant, Greyhound and Griffin
after the destroyers which escorted the convoy)
and MV NEW ZEALAND
STAR 10,740grt. Operation COLLAR was under way]
25th
–
[At 0300
DUNCAN, HOTSPUR, PEONY, SALVIA, HYACINTH and
GLOXINIA joined CLAN FORBES, CLAN FRASER, NEW ZEALAND STAR and their escort of
destroyers VELOX, VIDETTE and WRESTLER.
VELOX and WRESTLER then detached for Gibraltar. The
convoy then became Force F and steered easterly into the Mediterranean]
At 0700 Force B
(Force H) comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD, DESPATCH
and the destroyers FIREDRAKE, FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER, FURY, WISHART, DUNCAN,
ENCOUNTER, JAGUAR and KELVIN.
At same time the
remainder of Force F, comprising the MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON sailed from
Gibraltar and steered into the Mediterranean to join the rest of Force F
escorting the MT ships.
Force B moved out to
the north of Force F to provide distant cover.
[The sailing from Gibraltar was communicated
almost immediately to Supermarina in Rome. Supermarina took the decision, in the aftermath of the Taranto
attack, to abandon its 'Fleet in Being' philosophy and attack the British
force. To carry out the interception Supermarina ordered
Vice Admiral Inigo Campioni to take
2 battleships, 6 heavy cruisers and 14 destroyers to
sea]
26th
– Force B and F
continued on an easterly course.
ARK ROYAL operated
Swordfish A/S and reconnaissance patrols throughout the day.
[During the days flying
operations a Fulmar of 808 Squadron crashed astern of ARK ROYAL. Lt (E) J. P.
Coates was killed.]
[The speed of Force F was 16 knots, which was
the maximum speed of the NEW ZEALAND STAR and notionally the corvettes. However the best speed that the corvettes could
achieve was 14 knots so the corvettes were left astern to follow at their best
speed]
[At around 1200 in response to orders from Supermarina the battleships VITTORIO VENETO
(Flag Vice
Admiral Inigo Campioni fleet commander)
and GUILE
CESARE with
destroyers GRANATIERE, FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE and ALPINO of the 13th Destroyer
Division and FRECCIA, SAETTA and DARDO of the 7th Destroyer Division departed
Naples.
Also sailing from Naples were the heavy cruisers
POLA (Flag Vice Admiral Angelo Iachino squadron
commander), FIUME
(Flag Admiral Matteucci division commander)
and GORIZIA of 1st Cruiser Division and destroyers
ALFIERI, CARDUCCI, GIOBERTI and ORIANI of the 9th Destroyer Division
They were joined at sea by the heavy cruisers
TRENTO, TRIESTE
(Vice Admiral Luigi Sansonetti division
commander)
and BOLZANO of the
3rd Cruiser Division with destroyers LANCIERI, ASCARI and CARABINIERI of the
12th Destroyer Division who had sailed from Messina.
The combined force steered for the south of Sardinia
to intercept what Supermarina thought was Force H
carrying out another aircraft delivery to Malta.
The VITTORIO VENETO had been commissioned on 28/4/40
and was large, 41177 tons standard displacement, fast 29 knots, and armed with
nine 15" guns that had a range of 26½ miles. She was a formidable
opponent for both RENOWN and RAMILLIES]
27th – At 0800 Force B was
in position 37-48N, 07-24E. Force F was in position 37-37N, 06-54E and the
corvettes were 10 miles astern of Force F.
At 0800 ARK ROYAL
flew off three fighters for a CAP, one Swordfish for an A/S patrol, one
Swordfish for a meteorological flight and 7 Swordfish to carry out reconnaissance
between north and east.
At 0900 Force B
altered course to the south west to close Force F to provide additional AA defence in anticipation of the first bombing attack.
At 0906 a report was
made by one of ARK ROYAL's Swordfish, timed at 0852 of enemy surface forces,
but this report was not received by any ship.
At 0920 Force B was
in sight of Force F who was in approximate position 37-37N, 7-20E.
[At 0945an
Imam Romeo
Ro43 reconnaissance
floatplane that had been launched by the Italian heavy cruiser BOLZANO sighted
the British Force. The sighting report stated
one battleship, two light cruisers, and four
destroyers, about 135 miles to the south-west of Cape Spartivento, steering
east. The report undoubtedly referred to the RENOWN and the ships of Force B. However the position given was
well to the west of the actual position and no report was made of ARK ROYAL]
At 0956 ARK ROYAL
sent a visual signal to RENOWN, repeating an aircraft sighting report timed at
0920, reporting the presence of 5 enemy cruisers and 5 destroyers to the north
steering south west. So at around the same time both commanders knew of the
presence of the other force.
At 1016 ARK ROYAL signalled the RENOWN reporting the
presence of battleships and heavy cruisers to the NW.
[By1035 the plot in RENOWN was showing the
presence of enemy battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Somerville ordered DUNCAN
and HOTSPUR to remain with the MT ships and DESPATCH and WISHART to join them;
he also ordered that COVENTRY when she joined with Force D was also to join the
MT ships. The MT ships and escort were then to continue towards their
destination on course 120¼ (this would take the convoy towards the Tunisian
coast) to keep away from any action. All other units, except ARK ROYAL and her
escort of JAGUAR and KELVIN who were to operate independently between Force B
and Force F, to concentrate on RENOWN]
[At 1058 when Force F was in approximate
position 37-37N, 8E, a RAF Sunderland of 228 Sqd, from Malta closed
RENOWN and reported the position of Force D, as being 34 miles, 070¼. This
would put Force D in approximate position 37-55N, 8-34E. Somerville then ordered
the Sunderland to shadow and report the composition of the enemy bearing 025¼]
[Force D comprised battleship RAMILLIES,
heavy cruiser BERWICK , light cruiser NEWCASTLE, anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY
and the destroyers GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER and HEREWARD had
departed Malta at 1200/26/11 to join Force B]
[At 1128 Force D was sighted by RENOWN bearing
073¼ approximately 24 miles]
[At 1128
Admiral Campioni led his Fleet round to the
south east. He expected to encounter a battleship or battle cruiser, with
possibly two cruisers and a few destroyers, and he wished to bring this about
in waters nearer to Sicily than to Sardinia. At this time Campioni was unaware
of Force D]
The 16 point turn was witnessed by an observer in
one of ARK ROYAL's Swordfish and he later reported that the manoeuvre had
thrown the Italian Fleet into utter confusion such that several collisions were
only narrowly avoided.
At 1130 ARK ROYAL,
screened by JAGUAR and KELVIN, flew off a strike force of 11 Swordfish of 810 Sqd armed with torpedoes, their mission was to attack
the Italian battleships.
[At 1135 the MANCHESTER and SHEFFIELD
launched their Walrus aircraft]
[At 1140 RENOWN altered course to 050¼ and
speed increased to 28 knots. At this time MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON and SHEFFIELD
were in line ahead, speed 22 knots working up to 29 knots, course 350¡, about 5 miles fine on the port bow of
RENOWN with BERWICK and NEWCASTLE joining CS18 from the eastward. RAMILLIES was
trying to catch up by cutting the corner. The destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE,
FORESTER, FURY, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER and HEREWARD were between
the cruisers and RENOWN.
ARK ROYAL was astern of RENOWN between her and the
MT convoy.
BERWICK signaled that she was unable to exceed
26knots due to condenser failure]
[At 1145 an
Imam Romeo
Ro43 reconnaissance floatplane that had been
launched by the Italian heavy cruiser GORIZIA sighted and reported the presence
of Force F]
At 1147 ARK ROYAL
signaled CINC Force H (received 1213) an aircraft sighting report of an enemy
force of 2 battleships, 6 cruisers and destroyers.
[At 1154 hours the RAF Sunderland reported 6
cruisers and 8 destroyers bearing 330¼, 30 miles from RENOWN and that no
battleships had been sighted]
[At 1207 RENOWN's engine room reported a hot
bearing on one shaft causing a speed reduction to 27½ Knots]
[At 1207 the aircraft from the GORIZIA
reported the presence of Force D who had now joined the CINC Force H and ARK
ROYAL, with the nearest enemy forces 20 miles away.
Admiral
Campioni wrote in his official report, 'was thus created which at best was
unfavourable to us both in numbers and quality'. In reality there were two
capital ships on each side; seven Italian 8-inch cruisers against one 8-inch
and four 6-inch British; sixteen Italian destroyers against ten British. But
Campioni attached particular significance to the presence of the ARK ROYAL, whose aircraft could cause
much damage if their action was synchronized with that of the surface ships. He
had been warned by the Minister of Marine that it was particularly important to
avoid damage now that half the Italian battle fleet had been put out of action
at Taranto. In view of these instructions Admiral Campioni considered that it
was his duty not to become involved in battle in the existing circumstances.
At 1215 he
hoisted the signal to alter course to due east, and ordered: 'Do not join action'.
But he was too late; his
lead cruiser
formation had already angled toward the British and was committed to combat]
[At 1220 the heavy cruiser FIUME opened fire
on the cruisers in the van; the first 8" salvo fell near MANCHESTER. At
the same time the Italian force were turning to the north east to conform with
the order not to join action.
At 1221 the
heavy cruisers POLA and GORIZIA opened fire; their fire was concentrated on the
BERWICK.
At 1222 BERWICK was hit by an 8" shell on Y
turret, killing seven and wounding 9 and caused a fire that took an hour to
extinguish.
At 1223 Somerville informed Cunningham that he was
engaging the enemy.
The cruisers BERWICK, MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD and
NEWCASTLE concentrated their fire on the TRENTO, TRIESTE and BOLZANO. The
SOUTHAMPTON fired on the FIUME, POLA and GORIZIA.
At 1224 RENOWN opened fire at the cruiser TRENTO at
a mean range of 26,500 yards; six salvos were fired before the target became
lost in smoke.
At 1226 RAMILLIES fired two salvos at maximum
elevation to test the range. Thereafter proceeding at her best speed of 20.7
knots she dropped astern and took no further part in the action.
At 1230 RENOWN fired two salvos at the cruiser
BOLZANO.
At 1235 RENOWN fired 8 salvos, but at 1245 hours
fire was checked when the target was lost in smoke.
At 1235 BERWICK received a second hit from an
8" shell that destroyed her after electrical switchboard causing a loss of
power to the entire after section including X turret]
At 1244 the eleven Swordfish led by Lt Cdr Mervyn
Johnson from the ARK ROYAL located the two Italian battleships 25 to 30 miles
to the eastward, screened by eight destroyers.
[On arrival over the Italian Fleet the VITTORIO
VENETO was selected as the target. Johnson overshot the VITTORIO VENETO and made
his target the GUILE
CESARE,
all the torpedoes were dropped within the destroyer
screen at distances from 700 to 800 yards. One hit was claimed just abaft the
after funnel of the VITTORIO VENETO but in fact all torpedoes missed. Admiral
Campioni reported that although the attack was carried out with resolution it
was effectively countered by manoeuvring and gunfire. In his turn he claimed
that two British aircraft were brought down, whereas in fact they all returned
safely to ARK ROYAL]
[At 1300 the two Italian battleships were sighted from
the British cruisers, and almost immediately large projectiles began to fall
round the cruisers so CS18 altered course to the south east and ordered smoke, in
order to draw the enemy towards the RENOWN; but the enemy did not conform so
CS18 altered back and continued the chase.
At 1302 the cruisers in the van sighted two Vichy
passenger liners bearing 320¼, these vessels were carrying
French
civilians and troops. They were left
unchallenged but did cause some initial confusion.
At 1308 Somerville signaled CS18, 'is there any hope
of catching cruisers', the answer was 'no'.
At 1311 RENOWN
fired two ranging salvos. Both salvos fell well short as the range was rapidly
opening as the enemy speed away to the north.
At 1312 with the coast of Sardinia only 30 miles
away and the enemy force withdrawing at speed northward, Somerville called off
the chase and ordered a course of 130¼ to close the MT convoy]
[During the action, the heavy cruiser FIUME
suffered an engine breakdown during the battle. The destroyer LANCIERI was
badly damaged by British gunfire and was left dead in the water. She was towed
from the scene by one of the heavy cruisers of the 3rd Division]
[Thus ended what the British called the
Battle of Cape Spartivento and the Italians
the Battle of Cape Teulada. The only British success, other than forcing the
superior force to turn away, was damage to
the Italian destroyer LANCIERE hit by a 6"
salvo from MANCHESTER. In the exchange of fire the initial Italian cruiser
salvos were very accurate and highlighted the difference between Italian,
stereoscopic range finding and British coincidence range finding gunnery;
Italian telemetry was far superior, but Italian salvos were dispersed. British
salvos were well grouped but generally short. Both CS18 and the CINC Force H
raised this matter with the Admiralty]
[When Somerville called off the
pursuit of the enemy he considered ordering a further air strike against the Italian
battleships. However he decided against because the attack could not take place
before 1530 by which time the enemy fleet might well be covered by shore
defences of Cagliari. Instead, he ordered ARK ROYAL to make an air strike on an
enemy cruiser which had been reported stopped and damaged some 30 miles north
of RENOWN, this was the destroyer LANCIERI]
At around 1330 ARK ROYAL
received orders from CINC Force H to launch an air strike on a damaged cruiser reported
dead in the water some 30 miles north of RENOWN. However Captain Holland, correctly
appreciating that Admiral Somerville had not received the report of the first
air striking force, in which a certain hit had been claimed on the VITTORIO
VENETO, decided to send a nine Swordfish strike against the enemy's main force
and seven Skuas to bomb the damaged cruiser.
At 1410 ARK ROYAL
flew off a strike force of 9 Swordfish of 820 Sqd armed with torpedoes. The target for the strike force was the damaged
battleship, but they were given permission to attack targets of
opportunity.
[When Lt Cdr
Stewart-Moore the leader of 9 Swordfish sighted the Italian Fleet he decided
that the battleships were so well screened by 10 destroyers that the planned
attack from the north hoping to be unobserved would be impossible. So he took
the strike force around the stern of the enemy battleships intending to attack
out of the sun. However as this meant the strike force flew right over the three
heavy cruisers of the 1st Cruiser Division so Stewart-Moore chose these as the
target instead. All their torpedoes missed]
[At 1410 the
RENOWN force was attacked by 10
Savoia-Marchetti SM 79 high level bombers of the 32o Stormo,
escorted by five Fiat CR.42s of the 153a Squadr“glie, 3o
Gruppo Autonomo]
[At 1430 the attackers
were set upon by seven Fulmars of 808 Sqd. Lt Tillard leading green section claimed one SM 79 shot down just before the
Fulmars were bounced by the CR 42s.
The Fulmars forced the SM 79s to release their bombs prematurely, their
bombs fell close to the destroyers but no hits were obtained.
In the melee no SM 79s were shot down but
eight out of the ten were
damaged by the Fulmars and the AA fire.
One Fulmar, N1941, was
shot down into the sea and its crew pilot Sub Lt Martin and TAG L/A Noble were
killed. It was thought that Lt Martin had mistaken the CR 42s for Sea Gladiators
and held his fire until it was too late.
The Bomber claimed shot
down by Lt Tillard may well have been a French
SNCAC (Farman) NC.223.4 mail plane, named La Verrier,
that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea while on a mail flight from Marseille,
France, to Beirut and Damascus. On board was the newly-appointed Vichy High
Commissioner to Lebanon and Syria, M. Jean Chiappe. The
crew reportedly radioed that they were hit by machine-gun fire.
When the Italian force returned to base the fighters
reported a combat against
seven British fighters probably, Hurricanes, over the sea 200 km south-west of
Cagliari. They claimed five victories with the use of 1080 rounds]
At 1500 ARK ROYAL
flew off a strike force of 7 Skuas of 800 Sqd armed with bombs led by Lt R M Smeeton. Their mission was to
attack the cruiser reported dead in the water.
[The Skuas failed to find the damaged cruiser, which was in
fact the destroyer LANCIERI
then under tow
to Cagliari. However off Cape Teulada steering northerly
up the west coast of Sardinia they sighted the three heavy cruisers of the 3rd
Cruiser Division and they carried out a dive bombing attack on these ships.
Near misses were scored on the BOLZANO which failed to cause any damage no
other hits or near misses were achieved.
On their way back to
ARK ROYAL, Skua 6F L3015, pilot Lt J A Pooper,
claimed to have shot
down an Italian IMAM RO 43 reconnaissance float plane. However the Italians denied this loss]
At 1630 further bombing attacks were made on ARK ROYAL by two groups of
8 high level SM 79 bombers. Reporting the attack
Somerville stated that ARK ROYAL was
completely obscured by bomb splashes two at least of which fell within ten
yards of the carrier, without causing any damage. Bomb splinters caused damage
to the destroyers FIREDRAKE and DEFENDER.
At 1900 the detached forces sighted the MT convoy.
After having seen Force F and the MT convoy safely to the north of Cape
Bon Force H reversed course and steered for Gibraltar.
[Although the results of the attack on the Italian Fleet were
disappointing and reinforced Captain Holland's fears about the lack of training
of the Swordfish crews, Somerville had achieved his objectives. The MT ships
had been passed through to the Mediterranean Fleet as had the corvettes and Force D had arrived at Gibraltar and
all without loss to his forces]
[When
Winston Churchill
received the report of the battle he demanded Somerville's scalp, having
questioned the admiral's offensive spirit ever since his objections to
attacking the French at Mers-el-Kebir. Churchill was determined to get
Somerville this time. He immediately ordered the First Sea Lord Admiral of the
Fleet Dudley Pound to set up a Board of Inquiry at Gibraltar. The FSL then
despatched Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Cork to Gibraltar]
28th
– Force H were steering westerly heading for Gibraltar.
During the day ARK ROYAL had A/S patrols and fighters airborne.
29th – At 1430 RENOWN, BERWICK, SHEFFIELD and destroyers FAULKNOR,
FURY, FORESTER and FIREDRAKE arrived at Gibraltar.
At 1530 ARK ROYAL,
RAMILLIES, NEWCASTLE, DESPATCH and destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, WISHART,
KELVIN and JAGUAR arrived at Gibraltar.
[Though the
operation had been completely successful, Somerville was criticized by the
First Sea Lord Admiral Dudley Pound in London for not continuing the pursuit of
the Italian fleet. The Admiralty had actually set up a Board of Inquiry at
Gibraltar before Somerville returned to base. The admiralty had dispatched Admiral
the Lord Cork to run a board of enquiry at Gibraltar. Lord Cork arrived on the
rock before Somerville had even returned from the operation, but any tension as
to the result must have disappeared when Somerville was met on the quayside by
Lord Cork who congratulated him on his successful action. The board of enquiry
sat from the 3rd to 5th December and their findings fully supported all of
Somerville's decisions during the fighting, and his career continued
uninterrupted]
[After the hearing
Somerville wrote to the First Sea Lord to say that action taken against him was
quite unsatisfactory and hoping that, the FSL would accept his frank opinion]
30th & 31st
– ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
DECEMBER
1st to 7th
– ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
8th
-
ARK ROYAL and the destroyers
FAULKNOR (D8), FIREDRAKE and FURY departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Atlantic
and flying exercises.
[The reason for the exercises was to give the Swordfish crews
experience with attacking moving ships with torpedoes. Their two attacks on the
Italian Fleet in the action of 27/11/40 had shown up their inexperience in this
form of attack]
9th & 10th
– Operating in the North Atlantic carrying out flying exercises.
During the flying operations a Swordfish and Fulmar were lost in accidents and their
crews were saved. The 2 crew members of the 808 Sqd Fulmar
that ditched on 10/12/40, were picked by the FIREDRAKE.
[On 10/12/40 Hitler sanctioned
Operation MITTELMEER, the transfer of the anti-shipping
X Fliegerkorps from Norway to
Sicily. This was to assist Mussolini whom Hitler believed was in danger of
being overthrown due to his failures in North Africa, Greece and also because
of the humiliation of the Regia Marina at Taranto]
11th
- Operating in the North Atlantic carrying out flying exercises, in
which a Swordfish of 818 Sqd ditched and the crew of Lt Sidney G J
Appleby, Act/Sub Lt Joseph W A Grant and Leading A/M Leslie O Clark were lost.
ARK ROYAL, FAULKNOR (D8), FIREDRAKE and FURY arrived back at Gibraltar.
12th & 13th
-
ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
14th
-
At 1100 Force H
comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H),
ARK
ROYAL, SHEFFIELD and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FOXHOUND,
FORTUNE, FURY, DUNCAN (D 13), ISIS and ENCOUNTER sailed from Gibraltar to
patrol in the area north of the Azores following reports of an invasion force
near the islands.
15th to 18th
– Force H on patrol in the vicinity of the Azores. During this
patrol ARK ROYAL developed a defect in one of her six boilers; it required time
to rectify and in the meantime her speed was reduced to a maximum of 26 knots.
Whilst on patrol no enemy forces were sighted.
19th
– Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
20th
- At 1715 Force H comprising the RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL (restricted
to 26 knots) and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER, FURY, DUNCAN (D13), ISIS
and ENCOUNTER sailed from Gibraltar and steered into the Mediterranean on
Operation HIDE.
[Operation
HIDE was an operation to cover the passage of the battleship MALAYA and convoy
MG 1 from Malta to Gibraltar]
21st
– Force H steering easterly.
[At 1250 the MALAYA sailed from Malta
screened by destroyers HEREWARD, HYPERION and ILEX and escorting convoy MG 1
formed of the empty freighters SS CLAN FORBES and SS CLAN FRASER and the
personal ship HMS ULSTER PRINCE, they were later joined by destroyers HASTY and
HERO]
22nd
- Force H steering easterly.
[At 0156,
24 miles 087¡ from Cape Bon
Light HYPERION was torpedoed and seriously
damaged by the Italian submarine SERPENTE. ILEX was detached to assist HYPERION]
At 0940 hours off Galita
Island Force H RVed with MALAYA, HASTY, HEREWARD and HERO and convoy MG 1.
Force H and the joining
vessels then steered westerly towards Gibraltar.
24th
- At 1000, Force H with MALAYA, HASTY, HEREWARD and
HERO and convoy MG 1 arrived at Gibraltar.
25th
- At 1038 hours Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag
CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL
(restricted to 26 knots) , SHEFFIELD, FAULKNOR (D8),
FOXHOUND,FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, DUNCAN (D13), HEREWARD, HERO and WISHART sailed
from Gibraltar into the Atlantic and steered north westerly to go to the aid of
convoy WS 5A.
[On
30/11/40 the German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER sailed from Kiel to carry out
raider operations in the Atlantic.
On the night of 6-7/12/40, the HIPPER transited the Denmark Strait and 'broke' into the North Atlantic.
On the night of
24/12/40 the HIPPER, using her radar, discovered a convoy (this
was a convoy of 26 vessels comprising WS 5A which consisted of
19 vessels with almost 14000 troops embarked
including the 25th Australian and 5th New Zealand Brigades and 7 faster vessels
that had joined WS5A on 23/12/40 five of which for Operation EXCESS) and shadowed it through
the night intending to attack at first light. The nominal speed of the convoy
was 11 knots, course SSE.
At 0838/25/12/40, when
in position 43-58N, 24-15W, in rough seas and poor visibility, the HIPPER
attacked the convoy from the west. At the same time as HIPPER opened fire she
was sighted by the corvette CLEMATIS who turned to attack. HIPPER's first
targets were the HMT EMPIRE TROOPER 13994grt (ex German
CAP NORTE captured 10/39) who was hit by an
8" shell forward on her starboard side, killing 16; and the SS
ARABISTAN 5874grt who was also hit by
an 8" shell which passed through her bows without exploding just missing a munitions store.
At 0840 the heavy
cruiser BERWICK opened fire on the HIPPER and thus saved the CLEMATIS from
destruction. The BERWICK turned towards the HIPPER and was later joined by the
light cruisers BONAVENTURE
and DUNEDIN. Orders were given for the convoy to scatter.
On sighting BERWICK the HIPPER
turned away and the two ships were then on parallel courses. There then
commenced an exchange of fire between the two heavy cruisers.
Until 0905 no hits were registered,
then an 8" shell struck and disabled BERWICK's X turret, four marines were
killed and one seriously wounded.
At 0908 BERWICK was hit by two
8"shells, only one exploded abreast of B turret below
the waterline, this disabled B turret and caused flooding, the other put a
4" gun out of action.
At 0914 the HIPPER having fired 174
x 8" shells, broke off the action, she was low on fuel and her engines
were giving trouble, and headed west.
At around 1530 HIPPER was in
position 44-15N, 27-45W when she encountered the independent SS JUMNA 6078grt, from
the dispersed convoy OB 260. The JUMNA was sunk with the loss of all on board.
Late on 27/12/40 the HIPPER arrived
at Brest]
Force H
sailed into a full gale and heavy seas, RENOWN sustained damage to starboard
bulge which peeled back for a distance of 30 feet forcing her to reduce speed
to 20 knots.
26th - During the day the weather
moderated slightly so ARK ROYAL was able to fly off reconnaissance aircraft.
27th – The weather was too rough for
flying.
In the
morning Force H arrived in the general position that it was expected that the
convoy was but there was no sign of any vessels.
Force H then spent
many hours rounding up the scattered ships of convoy WS 5A.
[The
SHEFFIELD detached to escort the MV
ESSEX to Gibraltar.
The Destroyers DUNCAN and HERO were detached to assist troopship HMT
EMPIRE TROOPER]
Later in the day Force H left the area and steered for
Gibraltar.
28th &
29th – Force H en route for Gibraltar.
30th
- At 0830
Force H
comprising RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, destroyers FAULKNOR, DUNCAN, HASTY, HERO, JAGUAR
and FIREDRAKE arrived at Gibraltar.
[The aircraft carrier ARGUS and light cruiser
DUNEDIN with destroyers FORTUNE and FOXHOUND with the merchant ships steamers
NORTHERN PRINCE, CLAN MACDONALD, EMPIRE SONG from the WS 5A convoy arrived at
Gibraltar. The ARGUS had embarked 5 Swordfish of 821X flight; these 5 aircraft
were flown off to North Front airfield prior to being flown on to ARK ROYAL]
31st
–
ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
1 9 4 1
JANUARY
1st to 6th
-
ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar. ARK ROYAL's engineering staff were working on
her defective boiler.
[On 2/1/41 the Chief of
the Italian Air Staff, General Francesco Pricolo,
broadcast a message of welcome to the German air units arriving in Italy to
partake in the air and naval struggle in the Mediterranean. By this time
British intelligence was aware that Luftwaffe transport aircraft were already
moving personnel to Sicily. On 5/1/41 a reconnaissance aircraft from Malta flew
over the Sicilian airfields, but found nothing unusual. However by this date
only seven Luftwaffe bombers had arrived]
[At the turn of the year Gibraltar was hit by
extreme weather and this considered with the harbour being full of shipping. On 1/1/41
the MV NORTHERN PRINCE 10927grt dragged her anchor and ran aground and the MV CLAN
MACDONALD, 9653grt, cable parted]
[The next operation that involved Force H was
Operation EXCESS. Operation EXCESS had
three main objectives:-
One was to cover the
passage of a convoy of 4 merchant ships, SS CLAN CUMMING 7264grt, MV CLAN
MACDONALD 9653grt and SS EMPIRE SONG 9228grt for Piraeus and MV ESSEX 11063GRT (with
4000 tons of ammunition, 3000 tons of seed potatoes and a deck cargo of 12
crated Hurricanes) for Malta. The
NORTHERN PRINCE was unable to sail so her 400 embarked troops were transferred
to the BONAVENTURE.
Two cover the passage
of Force F, comprising the light cruiser BONAVENTURE and the destroyers DUNCAN (D13),
HASTY, HEREWARD and HERO, reinforcements
for the Mediterranean Fleet.
Three cover the passage
of Force B, units from the Mediterranean Fleet]
[6/1/41in the evening
Operation EXCESS commenced with the sailing of Force F from Gibraltar. Force F
comprised the 4 merchant ships, the cruiser BONAVENTURE and destroyers DUNCAN,
HASTY, HEREWARD and HERO (the cruiser
and the destroyers had embarked 400 troops from the damaged merchant ship MV
NORTHERN PRINCE) steered west into
the Atlantic and after dark they reversed course and steered through the strait
of Gibraltar and continued steering east]
7th – At 0800 Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), MALAYA, ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD and
destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FURY and
DUNCAN (D13) sailed from Gibraltar to cover the EXCESS convoy.
Off Gibraltar ARK ROYAL flew on 5 Swordfish of 821X flight
from North Front airfield Gibraltar.
When Force H caught up with the convoy BONAVENTURE detached
and joined Force H.
Force H then took up a position to the north east of the
convoy.
8th – Force H and the EXCESS convoy
steered easterly towards Malta.
In the evening ARK ROYAL escorted by RENOWN, SHEFFIELD and destroyers
FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FORTUNE and FIREDRAKE increased speed to reach a
position from which to fly off the Swordfish of 821X flight to Malta.
At the same time MALAYA, BONAVENTURE and destroyers FOXHOUND
and DUNCAN detached from Force H and joined the convoy.
[During the night of
8-9/1/40 RAF Wellington bombers, possibly of 148 Sqd from Luqa, Malta, bombed
Naples harbour. The battleship GUILE
CESARE
was badly damaged by 3 near misses and the VITTORIO VENETO
was hit but no serious damage was caused. Following this attack both ships
moved to La Spezia]
9th – At 0230 when in approximate
position 38N, 7E, ARK ROYAL flew off 5 Swordfish of 821X flight for Hal Far
airfield, Malta. (The aircraft arrived
safely at Malta at 0530/9)
At 0530 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish to carry out a
reconnaissance to the east of the Skerki Channel and north to Capo Carbonara.
At around 0645 the aircraft carrying out the reconnaissance
to the east sighted two cruisers approaching from the west and made an enemy
sighting report. The cruisers turned out to be the light cruisers GLOUCESTER (flag
CS3 Rear Admiral E. de F. Renouf) and SOUTHAMPTON and
destroyer ILEX who had been sent ahead by the CINC Mediterranean Fleet to
provide additional support for the convoy through the Sicilian Narrows.
[One of the Swordfish reconnaissance aircraft of 818 Sqd was
forced to ditch130 miles from ARK ROYAL. The ditched crew were sighted by a
Swordfish of 820 Sqd who vectored the destroyer FOXHOUND to their position and
she picked up Lt A H Appleton and Sub Lt R I W Goddard]
At 1020 off Galite Island Force B comprising cruisers
GLOUCESTER and SOUTHAMPTON and the destroyer ILEX RVed with the convoy and
joined the escort for the passage through the Sicilian Narrows.
The RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD and destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORESTER, FURY, FORTUNE and FIREDRAKE remained in contact with the convoy to
the north.
At 1226 the CINC Force H received a negative reconnaissance
report re the Italian battle fleet, from a 228 Sqd Sunderland from Malta.
At 1320 SHEFFIELD's radar detected aircraft approaching from
the north at 11000 ft about 40 miles distant.
At 1346 hours the force was attacked by 10 Savoia-Marchetti
SM79's bombers. The attackers were intercepted by Fulmars of 808 Sqd and two
were shot down by a Fulmar piloted by
Lt Cd Tillard. The bombers selected the GLOUCESTER and MALAYA, at the head of the
convoy, as their targets and near misses were achieved but no hits.
[Of the two SM 79's
shot down, one crewman from one bomber was picked up by destroyer FOXHOUND; two
crew of the other bomber were picked up by destroyer FORESTER]
At 1530 hours north of Cape Bon Force H reversed course and
set course for Gibraltar.
10th - Force H were steaming west for
Gibraltar.
[At 1238 the EXCESS
convoy and its escort were attacked by 40 Ju 87R-1 dive bombers from Trapani,
Sicily. The Ju 87's singled out the ILLUSTRIOUS for attack and severely damaged
her]
11th - At 1920 Force H arrived back at
Gibraltar. Prior to entering harbour ARK ROYAL flew off six Swordfish of 820
Sqd and three Fulmars of 808 Sqd to North Front.
[On 26/1/41 one of ARK ROYAL's Swordfish, 4H of 820 Sqd,
operating from North Front ditched in Algeciras Bay the crew of three were picked
up by FURIOUS' crash tender]
12th to 27th -
ARK
ROYAL was at Gibraltar. ARK
ROYAL's engineering staff were working on her
defective boiler. After 15 days of continuous effort and with the help of
dockyard staff the boiler was finally operational.
[By 12/1/41, Luftwaffe
X. Fliegerkorps had transferred the following aircraft from Norway;-
At Catania, East Sicily, 80 x Ju 88A-4 of LG1 and 12 x Ju 88D-5 of 1.(F)/121.
At Comiso, South East Sicily, 27 x He 111H-6 of
KG26.
At Palermo, North East Sicily, 34 x Bf 110C-4 of ZG26.
At Trapani, West
Sicily, 80 x Ju 87R-1 of St.G1 and St.G2]
28th
–
The ARK ROYAL escorted by the RENOWN and destroyers FORESIGHT, ENCOUNTER, FIREDRAKE and JERSEY, joined
later by destroyers FOXHOUND and JUPITER departed Gibraltar to carry out flying
exercises in the Mediterranean. ARK ROYAL's Swordfish carried out dummy torpedo
attacks on the RENOWN.
On leaving
harbour ARK ROYAL recovered her 8 aircraft from North Front.
29th - RENOWN retuned to Gibraltar,
followed later in the afternoon by the ARK ROYAL.
31st – At 1215 Force H sailed from
on Gibraltar Operations PICKET and RESULT. Force H was split into 4 groups:-
Group 1 was
RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), MALAYA, ARK ROYAL and SHEFFIELD.
Group 2 was
destroyers FEARLESS (D.8), FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FURY, FIREDRAKE and JERSEY.
Group 3 was
destroyers DUNCAN (D.13), ISIS, ENCOUNTER and JUPITER.
Group 4 was
the refuelling group with the RFA oiler ORANGELEAF and anti-submarine trawlers
ARCTIC RANGER and HAARLEM.
[Operation PICKET was an air attack on Lake Omodeo Dam and its hydroelectric generating capacity which
produced 30% of Sardinias electricity. Lake Omodeo is a large artificial lake that was created between
1919 and 1924. The lake was formed by a dam on the Tirso
River in the Santa Chiara d'Ula
gorge. The dam was situated in central Sardinia about 23 miles inland. Operation
RESULT the bombardment of Genoa]
[The reason for the
operations was that following the attack on Taranto the Italian Fleet withdrew
to Naples. On 10/1/41 Vickers Wellingtons operating from Malta bombed the
Italian Fleet anchorage at Naples. The battleship GIULIO CESARE was damaged and
the Italian Navy withdrew its remaining battleships further north to Genoa. The
operation to bombard Genoa was designed to undermine Italian morale, cause
damage to the port and manufacturing capacity and damage the Italian
battleships LITTORIO and GIULIO CESARE that were thought to be undergoing
repairs. Even after it was ascertained that the battleships were not in port
but were actually being refitted in La Spezia, Genoa was kept as the primary
target. It was later discovered that the battleship CAIO DUILIO was indeed under repair at Genoa]
FEBRUARY
1st – Force H en route to the
flying off position.
2nd - At 0530, in position 40-07N, 6-54E approximately 80
miles west of Cape Mannu and 103 miles from the
target ARK ROYAL flew off 8 torpedo armed Swordfish of 810 Sqd to carry out an
air strike against the Santa Chiara d'Ula dam on Lake Omodeo, central
Sardinia (Operation PICKET). One of the Swordfish returned early due to engine
trouble.
The target
was 1200 ft above sea level and the weather was overcast with the cloud base at
1500 ft and icing conditions above the cloud base. Due to the bad weather only
4 aircraft reached the dam and they attacked from the east and four torpedoes
were dropped but none hit the dam. On the run in they encountered an intense
barrage from the sides of the gorge and on the dam. One aircraft, L7680 was shot
down when they attacked an AA site, and the crew taken prisoner.
By 0845
hours all 6 aircraft had been recovered. The returning aircraft thought that
three torpedoes had hit the target, but in fact none had hit the dam.
At 0900 Force H proceeded northerly so as to be off Genoa at
dawn for Operation RESULT. During the day the weather deteriorated until a full
gale was blowing from the North West.
At 1830 due
to weather Somerville took the decision to call off Operation RESULT. En route
back to Gibraltar all ships carried out a practice shoot.
4th - At 1800 hours Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
[The attack on the dam had
been planned to take place early on a Sunday morning in the expectation that
the defences would be caught napping. But the reverse was the case the
attacking aircraft were met with heavy AA fire all along their run in. Because
the enemy was so alert it was thought that there must have been a security leak
possibly due to loose talk in Gibraltar. After returning to Gibraltar it was
found that news of Operations PICKET and RATION had leaked out prior to Force H
sailing. Which is why the Italians were ready and waiting at the Santa Chiara d'Ula dam? For the reasons
the stated above it was considered important to carry out the bombardment of
Genoa, so the operation was re-scheduled under strict security and the
employment of various subterfuges. One of the subterfuges was to divide Force H
into 3 groups which would sail at different times and directions]
5th – ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
6th – For the re-run of Operation
RESULT (also known as Operation GROG) Force H was divided into:-
Group 1: RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), MALAYA, ARK ROYAL and SHEFFIELD
Group 2: Destroyers FEARLESS, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND,
FURY and JERSEY.
Group 3: Destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, ISIS and JUPITER.
At 1400 convoy HG 53 of 21 merchantiles escorted by the
destroyer VELOX and the sloop DEPTFORD sailed from Gibraltar. Groups 1 and 2
attached themselves to this convoy and sailed out into the Atlantic.
At 1800 Group 3 sailed from Gibraltar and carried out an
anti-submarine sweep in the Strait of Gibraltar.
At 2100 Groups 1 and 2 reversed course and steered east into
the Mediterranean.
[HG 53 was a very slow
convoy maximum speed of advance 6½ knots. Therefore by 2100 it was in
approximate position 36N, 6W. Groups 1 and 2 had proceeded ahead and to the
north of the convoy before reversing course and re-entering the Mediterranean
in the dark]
[The subterfuges failed
and Supermarina was aware from various sources that Force H had sailed and believed
that it was another attack on Sardinia or a Malta convoy.
On the 8/1/41 various
units of the Italian fleet sailed to intercept Force H.
At 1900/8 the
battleships VITTORIO VENETO (Flag Ammiraglio di Armata
Angelo Jachino), GIULIO CESARE and ANDREA DORIA with the destroyers MAESTRALE,
LIBECCIO, GRECALE and SCIROCCO of the 10th Destroyer Division and GRANATIERE,
FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE, and ALPINO of the 13th Destroyer Divisions sailed from
La Spezia
At 0700/8 the heavy cruisers
TRENTO, TRIESTE and BOLZANO of the 8th squadron with the destroyers CORAZZIERE
and CARABINIERE of the 12th Destroyer Division sailed from Messina.
At 1145/8 the destroyer
CAMICIA NERA of the 11th Destroyer Division joined the cruiser force from Naples.
At 0800/9 the two
forces RVed, 40 miles west of the Strait of Bonifacio]
7th – At 0200 all three groups RVed
in 36N, 04-30W. Course was then set to pass between Ibiza and the Spanish
Mainland.
8th
– At 0800 Force H was in
approximate position 40-30N, 3E and sailing on a North Easterly course.
[In the
belief that Force H were carrying out an attack on Sardinia or covering a
convoy to Malta; early on the 8/2/41 Italian aircraft from Sardinia carried out
reconnaissance flights covering the area to the west and south west of
Sardinia. However since Force H had sailed north of the Balearic Islands the
air patrols failed to sight Force H]
[During the late
afternoon and early evening Force H was sighted by a Spanish civil aircraft and
two Vichy French civil aircraft. So Admiral Somerville had no doubt that the
presence of Force H would have been reported and that those reports would get
back to
Supermarina. He therefore decided to
detach two of his destroyers to feint towards Sardinia and make radio signals
as though they were Force H]
At 1800 in approximate position 31-30N, 4E, Force H
turned easterly in an attempt to convince the enemy that the target was
Sardinia. At the same time the destroyers FIREDRAKE and JERSEY were detached
and remained north of Majorca simulating radio traffic as though they were Force
H.
At 1900 Force H resumed its north easterly course
steering for the Ligurian Sea.
9th
- At 0400 when in approximate position 43-11N,
8-27E ARK ROYAL and the destroyers DUNCAN, ISIS and ENCOUNTER detached to carry
out air strikes.
The sea was rough and due to mist the visibility
was poor.
At 0505 ARK ROYAL flew off 16 Swordfish, 12 armed
with 4 x 250lb bombs and incendiaries and four with magnetic mines. Their
targets were the Azienda oil refinery at Livorno (Leghorn)
and the mining of La Spezia Harbour.
At 0615 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish with a fighter
escort to carry out fall
of shot observations for the heavy units of Force H who were to bombard Genoa.
[The attack on Livorno was carried out by 10
Swordfish. Two of the attacking force missed the landfall and attacked the
railway station and airfield at Pisa. The four Swordfish armed with mines
dropped them at the ends of the breakwater. The attacks took place at around 0545
and both forces achieved complete surprise but shortly after arriving an
intense AA barrage opened up which was inaccurate and no aircraft was lost to
AA fire. However, Swordfish 4G, L9773 of 820 Sqd, pilot A/Sub Lt (A) N G
Attenborough, crew A/T/Sub Lt (A) S Foote RNVR, Leading Airman GW Halifax, was
lost along with the crew when they hit barrage balloon cables]
By 0700 ARK ROYAL had recovered all 13 Swordfish of
the strike force.
[At 0711 one
of the spotting aircraft reported, that no battleship was in the harbour (but it was incorrect because the battleship
CAIO
DUILIO was in fact in dry dock and she
was not hit in the bombardment)]
[Between 0715
and 0745 whilst 10 miles off the Italian coast RENOWN, MALAYA and SHEFFIELD
carried out a bombardment of Genoa. The 2 Walrus aircraft from SHEFFIELD with
Swordfish from ARK ROYAL carried out fall of shot observations. The 3 ships
fired 273 rounds of 15", 125 rounds from RENOWN, 782 rounds of 6" and
400 rounds of 4.5". The result was the Italians suffered 144 casualties,
28 civil vessels sunk or damaged and harbour installations destroyed and
damaged.
At 0754 the
bombarding force set course to the south]
At around 0800 ARK ROYAL also recovered the two
Walrus aircraft from the SHEFFIELD who had been used to spot fall of shot; but
who could not be recovered by SHEFFIELD because of the need to leave the area
with despatch.
[At 0800 the
Italian naval forces from La Spezia and Messina had RVed 40 miles west of the Strait of Bonifacio. At
this time the Italian were 210 miles south of Force H and in an excellent
position to cut off the withdrawal of Force H. However at this time the Italian
Fleet turned on to a South Westerly course and 0855 and 0935 the heavy cruisers
TRENTO and BOLZANO launched their IMAM
Ro.43float planes to carry out a reconnaissance off the west coast of Sardinia.
The aircraft of course failed to sight Force H who at the time were about 170
miles to the north]
At 0845 the
ARK ROYAL Force rejoined the bombarding Force. Force H then set course South
Westerly to pass between Majorca and the Spanish mainland, heading back to
Gibraltar. The return journey was made at the best speed that MALAYA could
make, which at one point was only 17 knots. At this time Somerville expected
heavy retaliation from the Regia Aeronautica but this was not forthcoming.
ARK ROYAL
maintained a fighter CAP of six aircraft throughout the day. Because the wind
was from astern, ARK ROYAL had to reverse course for take offs and landings,
therefore it was necessary for these operations to be carried out in the
shortest possible time. During one of the landing operations a Skua went into
the crash barrier.
[Between 0740 and 0832
Supermarina became aware of the attack on Genoa. Supermarina then signalled Ammiraglio di Armata
Jachino with the news of the bombardment.
At 0950 the Italian
Fleet turned on to a northerly course to intercept Force H]
At 1140 when
Force H was approximate position 43-24N, 8-48E a CANT Z.506 floatplane reconnaissance
aircraft of the 287 Squadriglia sighted Force H, but
was shot down by Skua L3015 of 800Sqd pilot Lt JA Pooper, before they could
make a sighting report. This was the last Skua combat success of the war.
At 1200
Force H sighted a Vichy French convoy that was en route from Marseille to
Bizerte, whose course was route was to the north of Corsica then south along
the east coast of Corsica. Force H ignored the convoy and pressed on south
westerly.
At 1300 Force
H was attacked by 10 Cant Z.1007s from Sardinia. The attack was broken up by
ARK ROYAL's fighters and two were shot down by an 808 Sqd Fulmar piloted by Lt Cdr
R C Tillard. The attackers failed to achieve any hits
and further more failed to inform Supermarina of the position of Force H.
[At 1300 the Italian Fleet was in approximate
position 42N, 7-38E and Force H were in approximate position 43N, 8-12E; making
the two opposing forces about 65NM apart and closing. At this time the Italian
Fleet turned west of north for the cruisers to launch their IMAM Ro.43float planes, the planes flew off
North Westerly and at 1316 the Fleet turned on to a course east of north.
The Italian reconnaissance aircraft crossed ahead of Force H's course and then
turned parallel on a reciprocal course, so they failed to sight Force H]
[At 1524, about fifty
miles west of Cape Corso, The TRIESTE sighted the
masts of a ship and transmitted 'enemy in sight' to the other Italian units. An
action with Force H appeared imminent, and the VITTORIO VENETO who was about
32000 meters from the enemy gave the order to load the main armament.
At 1548, the enemy were identified as a Vichy French convoy. At this time the
Italian Fleet turned on to a course of 270¡ steering for the coast of France.
At 1600 Force H were
about 60NM from the Italian Fleet and increasing the distance.
At 1800 the two Forces
were about 50NM apart when Ammiraglio di Armata Jachino
gave the order to turn north.
At 1900 the two Forces
were about 75NM apart, at this time Jachino concluded
that he had missed Force H and Italian Fleet turned east to return to its bases.
It was around this time that Jachino learned
from the rescued crew of the CANT Z.506 floatplane shot down at 1140 that he finally
realized he had missed Force H]
10th - At 0800 Force H were in approximate
position 40N, 2E, passing between the Balearic Islands and the Spanish
mainland, heading for Gibraltar.
[At around 0800 the
Italian Fleet was in the Ligurian Sea when Supermarina signalled Ammiraglio di Armata Jachinoand ordered the
battleships to Naples and the heavy cruisers to return to Messina]
11th - At 1430 Force H arrived back at
Gibraltar.
[The bombardment of
Genoa, the bombing of
Livorno (Leghorn) and the mining of
La Spezia harbour was one of the most audacious operations carried out by the
Royal Navy in the Mediterranean. Force H had sailed over a 1000 miles through
seas dominated by the Regia Aeronautica and into the 'back
yard' of the Regia Marina. The operation had been successfully carried out,
although the main target, the battleship had escaped damage, and Force H had
returned without loss.
Force H had been
extremely lucky because at 0800/9 the Regia Marina had been in the ideal
position to cut off the retreat of Force H, but they had been saved by the poor
visibility and the faulty liaison between the Naval and Air High Commands.
The official Italian
naval historian, Captain Bragadin, stated that the
bombardment caused extensive damage in Genoa and in the harbour, although the
CAIO DUILIO was not hit. The moral effect was serious, all the more because the
action of the Italian aircraft, though obviously ineffective, was praised,
while there was no mention of the naval sortie; as a result, the Italian people
thought the Navy had let them down.
On 23/2/41 Mussolini
addressing the Italian people stated:-
The morale of the Axis
people is infinitely superior to the morale of the British people. The Axis
fights in certainty of victory, while the British fight because, as Lord
Halifax said, they have no other choice. It is highly ridiculous to count on
the eventual moral breakdown of the Italian people. This will never happen. To
speak of a separate peace is idiotic.
Churchill has not the
least idea of the spiritual forces of the Italian people or of what Fascism can
do. We can understand Churchill's ordering the shelling of industrial plants at
Genoa to disrupt work, but to shell the city in order to break down its morale
is a childish illusion. It means that the British do not at all know the race
temperament of the Ligurian people in general and the Genoese in particular. It
means that they are ignorant of the civilian virtues and proud patriotism of
the people who gave the fatherland Columbus, Garibaldi and Mazzini]
12th
– ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
[On the morning of 1/2/41the German
cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER sailed from Brest on her second raiding mission with
orders to join up with the battlecruisers GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST.
On 4/2/41
ADMIRAL HIPPER
re-fuelled from the tanker SPICHERN.
Due to the inexperience of tanker crew some of HIPPER's crew were sent to
assist and because HIPPER had not been released by SKL for operations HIPPER
re-fuelled again on the following three days.
At 0440/9/2/41 BST in
position 35-53N, 13-13W the 21 ship convoy HG53, with only the sloop DARTFORD
as escort, was attacked by U 37, following the attack U 37 made a sighting
report. On receipt of the report Danitz sensed an
opportunity to mount a combined U boat, air and surface attack on the convoy. Danitz ordered U 37 to shadow the convoy and transmit
beacon signals.
At 1600/9/2/41 in
35-54N, 14-41W five FW 200's made a low level bombing attack on HG53 sinking 5 ships.
At first the Oberkommando der Marine [OKM]
was reluctant to release the ADMIRAL HIPPER, but at 1140/10/2/41 when in
approximate position 45N, 30W, ADMIRAL HIPPER was ordered to attack HG53.
On the afternoon of 11/2/41, in position 37-03N, 19-50W, HIPPER sighted, stopped
and sank the SS ICELAND 1236grt,
(the Master of the ICELAND was taken prisoner) a straggler from convoy HG53. In deteriorating weather the HIPPER failed
to locate HG53.
At 2355 the HIPPER's radar
located two vessels at 15Km and shortly afterwards several others, she circled
the vessels and soon determined that it was a slow moving convoy on a northerly
course.
At dawn, around 0800 HIPPER discovered 19 unescorted ships of convoy SLS64.
At 0925/12/2/41 in position 37-10N, 21- 20W, ADMIRAL HIPPER opened fire
on the ships of SLS64 and quickly sank 7 and damaged three. 250 seamen from
convoy SLS64 were lost. Their deaths have not been acknowledged in convoy loss
statistics as the Admiralty regarded these ships as independents
By 1000 HIPPER had fired all her tube-loaded torpedoes and about 65% of
her 203mm head fused HE shells.
At 1040 as the convoy had by then become well scattered and the weather
and visibility deteriorated with rain squalls, HIPPER broke off the action]
[At 0930 BST a RRR raider report that was picked up by the SS
EGYPTIAN PRINCE in
convoy HG53. At this time EGYPTIAN PRINCE was in approximate position
37-36N, 20-21W, however, having had no sights for 36 hours this position was
doubtful. If the position was correct then HIPPER was only 53NM to the South
West of HG53.
When the Admiralty received the raider
report part of their response was to signal Somerville at 1240/12/2/41 ordering
Force H to sail to the aid of convoy HG53]
At 1600 RENOWN (Flag CINC FORCE H), ARK ROYAL,
SHEFFIELD and destroyers WISHART, JERSEY, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE and FURY sailed
from Gibraltar to cover convoy HG53.
At 2030, when Force H was in approximate position
36N, 7W, Somerville was ordered to locate and escort troop convoy WS6A.
SHEFFIELD detached to find and escort convoy HG53.
[At
2030/12/2/41 convoy WS6A and was in approximate position 53-30N 19-30W and
steering approximately SSW, speed of advance was approximately 7½ knots.
The convoy comprised 17 troop transports with almost 23000 troops embarked and
12 MT ships. The convoy was weakly escorted by the light cruisers BIRMINGHAM
and PHOEBE and the AMC CATHAY]
At 2100 Force H turned on to a North
Westerly course.
13th – The weather
quickly deteriorated and flying became very difficult.
At 0900 ARK ROYAL flew off five
Swordfish reconnaissance aircraft of 820 Sqd. Due in part to the weather
conditions these aircraft sighted nothing. When the time came for these
aircraft to land back on two of them were unable to locate the carrier, even
thought as it transpired they were only five miles away and searchlights were
used to try and alert them to ARK ROYAL's position. In the end ARK ROYAL had to
transmit a D/F signal.
[Convoy
HG53 spent all day hove too in a NNW gale and mountainous seas]
14th – The weather continued difficult for
flying.
The destroyers WISHART, JERSEY, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE
and FURY detached and returned to Gibraltar.
At 1200 Force H was in approximate position 46N,
23W.
15th
– At 1200 RENOWN and ARK ROYAL were in
approximate position 47-10N, 30-40W. At this time they turned south.
[At 0700 in approximate position
45-30N, 23W, the battleship RODNEY joined
convoy WS6A]
16th
- RENOWN and ARK ROYAL were steering southerly to join convoy WS6A.
17th – At 0830 in approximate position 38-30N,
23W, convoy WS6A and its escort of RODNEY, BIRMINGHAM and CATHAY was joined by the RENOWN and ARK
ROYAL
At 0900 hours RODNEY, ECLIPSE and ELECTRA detached
from WS 6A.
18th
– Convoy WS 6A steering southerly escorted by
RENOWN, ARK ROYAL and BIRMINGHAM.
19th – Convoy WS 6A steering southerly escorted
by RENOWN, ARK ROYAL and BIRMINGHAM was joined by the battleship MALAYA.
20th
- Convoy WS 6A steering southerly escorted by
RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, MALAYA and BIRMINGHAM.
21st – At 0930 the light cruiser PHOEBE re-joined
from Gibraltar.
At 1000 hours in approximate position 30N, 31W,
RENOWN and ARK ROYAL detached from WS6A and returned to Gibraltar.
22nd
– The RENOWN and ARK ROYAL were en route to
Gibraltar.
23rd
– Late in the day RENOWN and ARK ROYAL were
joined by the destroyers FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE and FORTUNE from
Gibraltar.
24th
– The RENOWN, ARK ROYAL and the destroyers
FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE and FORTUNE were en route Gibraltar
25th – The RENOWN,
ARK ROYAL and the destroyers FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE and FORTUNE arrived
back at Gibraltar. RENOWN went straight into dry dock for essential repairs.
26th to 28th
– The ARK
ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
MARCH
1st & 2nd
– The ARK
ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
3rd – The ARK
ROYAL escorted by the destroyers FORTUNE and DUNCAN departed Gibraltar for
flying exercises. One of the reasons for the exercises was to assess the flying
characteristics of the Swordfish that had been fitted with auxiliary 60 gallon fuel
tanks, these had been fitted in the observers position and extended the range
from four to six hours; this additional tank also reduced the maximum speed of
the Swordfish from about 100 knots to 90 knots. When the auxiliary tank was
fitted a TAG was not carried.
[On 3/3/41 the German battlecruisers GNEISENAU (Flag Admiral GŸnther LŸtjens) and SCHARNHORST
arrived off the Canary Islands. Their mission for this part of Operation BERLIN
was to attack convoys sailing between Freetown and the UK. Also operating in
the area were the U-Boats U105, U106 and U124]
4th - The ARK ROYAL and
the destroyers FORTUNE and DUNCAN arrived back at Gibraltar.
5th to 7th
– The ARK
ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At
0920/7/3/41, north east of the Cape Verde Islands, in approximate position
18-24N, 12-42W,
a lookout on the SCHARNHORST observed a mast
on the horizon. A closer examination showed that it was the mainmast of a
battleship which was soon was identified as the MALAYA who was escorting convoy
SL67. This was a convoy of 54 merchant ships that had sailed from Freetown on
the morning of 1/3/41. The destroyers FAULKNOR (D8) and FORESTER and the
corvette ASPHODEL were also part of the escort.
The
SCHARNHORST called up the GNEISENAU and
LŸtjens, who was under orders not to engage enemy
capital ships, decided to shadow the convoy and call up the U-Boats in the
area. LŸtjens' plan was for the U-boats to attack the
convoy and sink or disable the MALAYA, following which he would then sink the
merchant ships]
[At
0340/8/3/41 in position 20-35N, 20-40W the U-105 torpedoed and sank the SS
HARMODIUS 5229grt from convoy SL67.
At
0600/8/3/41 in position 20-51N, 20-32W the U-124 torpedoed and sank the SS
HINDPOOL 4897grt, the SS NARDANA 7974grt, the SS TIELBANK 5084grt and the SS
LAHORE 5304grt from convoy SL67.
Neither
of the U-Boats sighted the MALAYA.
By
0630/8/3/41 LŸtjens was aware of the U-Boat attack; however the U-Boats had lost contact
with the convoy.
At
1030 LŸtjens decided to close the convoy to search
for stragglers or damaged vessels.
At 1330/8/3/41, in position 21-50N, 19-40W the destroyer FORESTER, who
was 10 miles west of convoy SL67, briefly sighted the German battlecruisers
GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST steaming towards the convoy. The German ships were
also sighted at the same time by MALAYA's patrolling Swordfish.
At 1415 the MALAYA made the signal 'One large ship bearing 251¡, 40
miles, course unknown, own position 21-50N, 19-22W'. This signal was picked up
and decoded by the German B Dienst unit on the
GNEISENAU.
For the next eight hours both sides played 'cat and mouse' with each
other; until LŸtjens decided to abandon his attempt on the
convoy and set off North Westerly to RV with his oilers]
8th – At 2115 Force
H, comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, light cruiser ARETHUSA,
and the destroyers VELOX and WRESTLER sailed from Gibraltar and set course for
the Canary Islands to go to the aid of convoy SL67.
9th – The
ARETHUSA and destroyers VELOX and WRESTLER detached and returned to Gibraltar.
[In
the morning the GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST
in approximate position 30N, 30W came across the independent Greek freighter
the SS MARATHON 6352grt, en route from Swansea to Alexandria with a cargo of
coal. The MARATHON was sunk by gunfire and all the crew rescued. No RRR was
received from the MARATHON]
10th – At 1500 in
position 26-15N, 19-35W, RENOWN and ARK ROYAL joined MALAYA, FAULKNOR, FORESTER
and ASPHODEL escorting convoy SL67.
Shortly afterwards the MALAYA
detached to return to Freetown.
The RENOWN and ARK ROYAL took up
station in the centre of the convoy and proceeded at the convoy speed of
7½ knots.
When ARK ROYAL was operating aircraft
the morning and afternoon Swordfish reconnaissance and A/S flights it was
necessary for her move out of the convoy and operate independently.
11th – Convoy SL67
and escort continued on their northerly course at 7½ knots.
[The
ASPHODEL with the tankers SS BEACONSTREET 7467grt and MV BRITISH HOPE 6951grt
detached from convoy SL67 for Gibraltar]
12th - Convoy SL67 and
escort continued on their northerly course at 7½ knots.
During the day Somerville became so
frustrated at the slow progress of the convoy that he ordered an increase in
speed to 8 knots. This immediately caused the Greek SS TAXIARCHIS 4221grt, built
in 1913, to drop astern, so the convoy resumed its 7½ knot speed of
advance.
13th - Convoy SL67 and
escort continued on their northerly course at 7½ knots.
In the morning the destroyers
FAULKNOR and FORESTER detached for Gibraltar.
14th to 18th
- Convoy SL67
escorted by RENOWN and ARK ROYAL continued on their northerly course at
7½ knots.
[At
1900/16/3/41RODNEY, who was escorting convoy HX114, briefly sighted a ship in
approximately 46-15N, 45W. RODNEY signalled what ship? and
received the reply HMS EMERALD, the ship then made off at speed to the east. At
2000/16/3/41 RODNEY picked up 27 survivors from the MV CHILEAN REEFER which had
just been sunk by the GNEISENAU. When the survivors were questioned they were
able to definitely recognise the raider as the GNEISENAU. This was the first
positive evidence for the Admiralty that the raiders were the battlecruisers
GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST]
19th - Convoy SL67
escorted by RENOWN and ARK ROYAL continued on their northerly course at
7½ knots.
Around midday in approximate position
47-36N, 30-03W the light cruiser KENYA joined from Plymouth. Following KENYA
joining the RENOWN and ARK ROYAL detached to return to Gibraltar.
[As
Somerville detached from the convoy he received orders to search for a German
tanker the MV ANTARKTIS 10711grt that had sailed from Vigo
on the 18/3/41. Also the Admiralty informed Somerville of the vessels that had
been attacked by the German battlecruisers on 16/3/41, some of which it was
thought may have been captured and could be en route to France]
[In the evening in approximate
position 45-22N, 23-35W a patrolling Swordfish sighted a tanker that was
definitely identified as the Norwegian tanker MV BIANCA 5688grt. The BIANCA had
been taken as a prize by the GNEISENAU, in position 40-30N, 43-45W. A prize
crew of 15 was put on board and when sighted the BIANCA was en route to Bordeaux]
20th – The RENOWN
and ARK ROYAL were steering for the position of the vessel sighted the evening
before.
At 0900 hours the BIANCA was
re-located 60 miles away and RENOWN set course to intercept. ARK ROYAL operated
independently.
[At 1150 one ARK ROYAL's Swordfish
reported sighting the British tanker MV SAN CASIMIRO 8046grt. Shortly
afterwards another Swordfish sighted the Norwegian tanker MV POLYKARP 6405grt.
Both of these ships had been taken as prizes, the SAN CASIMIRO by the
SCHARNHORST and POLYKARP by the GNEISENAU, in approximate position 39N, 43W,
prize crews had been put on board and they were en route to Bordeaux]
At approximately 1200 in position
44-16N, 19-21W, Force H came upon the MV BIANCA.
[When
RENOWN came over the horizon the German prize crew on BIANCA placed explosives
in the engine room and pump room and opened all the valves, the crew of 34
including the captain's wife and small son and the 10 prize crew took to the
boats. When RENOWN arrived on the scene the boarding party took some of the
Norwegian crew back on board, the fires were extinguished and they closed all
the deck valves, but the engine room had filled with water and the ship could
not be saved. The captain, his wife, baby son plus the Norwegian crew and
German prize crew were taken on board RENOWN, the BIANCA was then sunk by
RENOWN]
At approximately 1430 Force H set
course to locate the two tankers sighted at 1150.
At approximately 1630 Force H came
upon the MV SAN CASIMIRO in position 45-12N, 19-42W. Although ARK ROYAL's
aircraft had attempted to stop the scuttling of the SAN CASIMIRO, when RENOWN
arrived at her position she was on fire and sinking RENOWN picked up 38 crew
and 3 prize crew.
At 1600 in an attempt to locate the
POLYKARP before darkness ARK ROYAL launched two Fulmars.
[At 1730 one of the Fulmars of 808
Sqd, pilot Lt Cdr Rupert Tillard, observer Lt Mark
Somerville, sighted the GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST in position 46-50N, 21-25W,
steering north east at 20 knots, but on being sighted they changed course to
northerly. Their position was approximately 140 miles and 330¼ from RENOWN. Mark
Somerville transmitted a sighting report in clear but due to a radio
malfunction the transmission was not picked up by Force H. The Fulmar aware that
its sighting report may not have been picked up returned to ARK ROYAL at
maximum speed to make a visual report.
At 1815 the Fulmar arrived over the RENOWN
and made a report by aldis light. At the time ARK
ROYAL was about 20 miles away from RENOWN]
At 1815 when Somerville was made aware of the
presence of the German battlecruisers he immediately ordered RENOWN and ARK
ROYAL to increased speed to RENOWN's maximum of about 27 knots and set course northerly
for the reported position. But Somerville was immediately informed that when
first sighted the enemy was steering north easterly, for Brest.
At 1830 ARK ROYAL launched another Fulmar crewed by
Tillard and Somerville but when it arrived at the location
of the sighting fog had descended on the area and the battlecruisers were lost.
By 1850 ARK ROYAL had ranged a strike force of nine
Swordfish armed with torpedoes. But Captain Holland refused to allow the
aircraft to take off since it would soon be dark and the precise position of
the enemy battlecruisers was not known.
RENOWN and ARK ROYAL steamed through the night
closing the estimated position at 27 knots. Because when last sighted the
Germans had been sailing due north Somerville had assumed that they were
heading for Iceland. However at 1800 hours the battlecruisers had turned west
and were in fact heading for Brest.
21st
– The RENOWN and ARK ROYAL were steaming
northerly through the night closing the estimated position of the German
battlecruisers at 27 knots.
At 0645 ARK ROYAL launched Swordfish
reconnaissance patrols to attempt to relocate the battlecruisers, all they
found was thick fog in the area.
At approximately 1000 in position 49-44N, 18-29W,
ARK ROYAL catapulted off Swordfish L7636 of 818 Sqd armed with depth charges,
for an A/S patrol. During the launch something went wrong and the aircraft
crashed into the sea ahead of ARK ROYAL. The depth charges exploded killing the
crew of Sub Lt P E Opdall, Sub Lt C R Hearn and L/A B
C Biggs, the explosion also caused minor damage to the carrier.
[At
2014 a RAF Hudson of 220 Sqd sighted the battlecruisers with an escort of one
destroyer, (the destroyer was
actually two torpedo boats the JAGUAR and ILTIS) in position 47-17N, 07-13W, steering east at 21 knots.
With the chances of catching the battlecruisers now gone and RENOWN's
low fuel state, the Admiralty ordered Somerville back to Gibraltar]
22nd - The RENOWN and
ARK ROYAL were steaming southerly through the day towards Gibraltar.
Throughout the day ARK ROYAL flew off
A/S patrols and reconnaissance patrols searching for German supply ships.
[At
0845/22/3/41 the battlecruisers arrived at Brest. The Admiralty thought they
were at Brest, but due to low cloud over the port their presence was not
definitely established until late on 28/3/41 when a PR Spitfire brought back
photographs of the battlecruisers]
23rd - The RENOWN and
ARK ROYAL were steaming southerly through the day towards Gibraltar.
Throughout the day ARK ROYAL flew off
A/S patrols and reconnaissance patrols searching for German supply ships.
In the morning the destroyers
FEARLESS, FORESTER, VELOX and WRESTLER joined from Gibraltar.
24th – At 0830 RENOWN,
ARK ROYAL and the destroyers FEARLESS, FORESTER, VELOX and WRESTLER arrived at
Gibraltar and immediately commenced to refuel.
[At
1931 CINC Force H signalled the Admiralty with his plans for attacking the
GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST if they were located off the French coast. This
relied on him having information of then leaving port]
At 2200 Force H comprising RENOWN
(Flag CINC FORCE H), ARK ROYAL and the destroyers FORESIGHT, FORTUNE and
FORESTER sailed from Gibraltar to patrol off the Bay of Biscay to intercept the
German battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU should they attempt to leave
Brest.
[At 2253 the Admiralty
signalled, 'air reconnaissance of the environs of Brest and French Biscay coast
inconclusive owing to weather conditions']
25th – Force H
sailing northerly towards the Bay of Biscay.
The destroyers FORTUNE and FORESIGHT
detached from Force H.
[At
0920 the CINC Force H signalled the Admiralty. 'Information received from the
German prisoners, ex. GNEISENAU Reliability cannot be assessed, GNEISENAU
left Kiel on 23/1/41 and her maximum speed stated to be 26 knots']
[At
2249 the Admiralty signalled the CINC Force H, 'your 1931/24. It is not
considered that shore based air reconnaissance can be relied on to detect
departure of enemy in time for action you suggest. With submarine patrols that
are now being established it may be hoped that information of enemy's departure
may be received from this source. It is considered Force H should normally
operate outside the area of enemy's shore based air reconnaissance, both to deny
enemy knowledge of its presence and to provide security from attack by
submarines. Force H alone can give any measure of cover to HG, OG and SL convoys
in this area. It is consequently considered that Force H should operate
generally in the vicinity of convoy routes between the latitudes of Ushant and
Lisbon']
26th - Force H sailing
northerly towards the Bay of Biscay.
The destroyers FORESTER detached from
Force H.
[At 1753 the Admiralty
signalled; 'air reconnaissance reports no enemy large warships in Gironde
estuary as far as Bordeaux']
27th – At 001
Force H were i approximate position 47N, 15W.
Force H then commenced to patrol in
this general area.
28th – Force H
patrolling in Bay of Biscay.
29th – At approximately
1000 Force H set course to return to Gibraltar.
[At
1600 the aircraft carrier ARGUS (With
12 RAF Hurricanes IIA's embarked for Malta. These were to be transferred to ARK
ROYAL), light cruiser SHEFFIELD, depot ship MAIDSTONE, and troopship MV
HIGHLAND MONARCH 14139grt escorted by the destroyers NAPIER and NIZAM, arrived
at Gibraltar]
30th – Force H
sailing southerly en route to Gibraltar.
31st - Force H sailing
southerly en route to Gibraltar.
The destroyers NAPIER, NIZAM and
FORTUNE joined Force H from Gibraltar.
APRIL
1st – RENOWN, ARK
ROYAL and the destroyers NAPIER, NIZAM and FORTUNE arrived back at Gibraltar.
ARK ROYAL secured close to the ARGUS
and the 12 Hurricane IIAs and 9 Fulmar Is were transhipped from ARGUS to ARK
ROYAL.
2nd - At 0300 Force H
comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC FORCE H), ARK ROYAL (with twelve Hurricanes
embarked for Malta), SHEFFIELD, and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS,
FORESIGHT, FORTUNE and FURY sailed from Gibraltar eastwards on Operation WINCH.
[Operation
WINCH was a 'club run' to supply Hurricane and Fulmar fighters to Malta. These
were desperately required following the arrival of the Luftwaffe in Sicily.
Even though the Hurricanes could cope with their Italian opponents, and with
the German bombers the Bf 109Es posed a serious problem. It had been intended
that the Hurricanes and Fulmars would be flown off ARGUS as Operation WHITE.
However Somerville insisted that that they must be flown off ARK ROYAL as her
longer deck would enable the Hurricanes to carry more fuel and at the same time
ensuring that Force H remained in the danger zone for the shortest possible
time]
3rd - At 0400 The RAF
pilots were awoken.
At 0620 when in position 37-42N,
6-52E the first of the 12 RAF Hurricane IIA's was flown off lead by 2 Skuas of
800 Sqd. All arrived safely at
Malta but one Hurricane crashed on landing. (The Hurricanes subsequently became 185 Sqd)
At 0700 Force H reversed course and
steered for Gibraltar.
Once ARK ROYAL's deck was clear of
the Hurricanes she launched a CAP of three Fulmars.
[At
0840, yellow section of 808 Sqd was advised by SHEFFIELD of a shadower that was
lurking in the clouds. One of the Fulmars pilot Petty Officer (A) D. E. Taylor
located the shadower; it was a Cant Z.506B from the 287a Squadriglia, which on seeing the Fulmar made off. However
the Fulmar gave chase and shot it down.
At 0900 the other two Fulmars piloted by
Lt Cdr Tillard RN and Lieutenant RC Hay RM, spotted
another Cant Z.506B as they were heading back towards the carrier, and
attacked. The enemy made for nearby cloud with its port engine damaged, and
possibly the rear gunner killed.
At around 0915 a He 111 was sighted, the
first time one had been sighted in the Mediterranean]
[Because the Admiralty was concerned that
the Vichy French battlecruiser DUNKERQUE was about to put to sea the CINC Force
H was ordered to check out the status of the battlecruiser. So when passing
north of Oran a Fulmar carried out a reconnaissance of Mers El Kebir harbour and
found DUNKERQUE at her usual berth with awnings spread]
[3/4/41 the
battle cruiser REPULSE, aircraft
carrier FURIOUS, and troopship
SS NARKUNDA escorted by destroyers HIGHLANDER, VELOX and WRESTLER arrived at
Gibraltar.
On
5/3/41 the FURIOUS had sailed from the Clyde with a cargo of 24 created
Hurricanes for Takoradi. The Hurricanes for Takoradi had been delivered and FURIOUS
was returning to the UK, but first she had to carry out a swop of aircraft with
ARK ROYAL. FURIOUS had embarked ten Fulmar IIs of 807 Sqd and six Swordfish of
825 Sqd, four of the Swordfish were equipped with ASV. The Fulmars and ASV
Swordfish were to be embarked by ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS was to embark the SKUAS
of 800 Sqd from ARK ROYAL]
At Approximately 1600 ARK ROYAL and the
destroyers FAULKNOR and FORTUNE detached from Force H and proceeded ahead to
prepare to transfer aircraft to and from the aircraft carrier FURIOUS.
4th
- At 1045 ARK ROYAL, FAULKNOR and
FORTUNE arrived back at Gibraltar. Followed shortly afterwards by the remainder
of Force H.
At 1900 hours Force H comprising RENOWN,
ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD and destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORTUNE and FORESIGHT,
with FURIOUS attached sailed from Gibraltar into the Atlantic.
5th – At sea the transfer of four Swordfish, fitted
with Anti-Surface-Vessel (ASV) radar of 825 Sqd and ten Fulmar II of 807 Sqd
from FURIOUS to ARK ROYAL and four Swordfish and nine Skuas of 800 Squadron
from ARK ROYAL to FURIOUS was carried out. ARK ROYAL retained three Skuas on
board.
Three of the ASV equipped Swordfish were allocated
to 810, 818 and 820 Sqds and one was kept as a spare.
[At
1045 hours FURIOUS escorted by destroyers FAULKNOR and FORTUNE detached to join
the REPLUSE force that had earlier sailed from Gibraltar and return to the UK]
At 1600 hours FAULKNOR and FORTUNE
rejoined Force H.
At 2330 hours Force H arrived back at
Gibraltar.
[At
2311/5/4/41 the Admiralty signalled the CINC Force H that there are indications
that the German battlecruisers may leave Brest during the night of 6/4/41.
This because on the 5 /4/41GNEISENAU
had been moved out of dry dock due to a UXB and moored in mid stream. Early on
6/4/4l, four Beauforts of 22 Squadron of RAF Coastal Command flown by F.O. Kenneth
Campbell, who was posthumously awarded the VC. carried
out a torpedo attack on GNEISENAU and aircraft X/22 achieved a hit on the
starboard side aft causing considerable damage. However, this was not known to
the Admiralty for some time. On 7/4/41 GNEISENAU was moved back into dry dock]
6th – At 0230 Force H comprising RENOWN
(Flag CINC FORCE H), ARK ROYAL, light cruisers FIJI and SHEFFIELD, and
destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS and FORESIGHT departed Gibraltar to operate
in Biscay to blockade the German battleships at Brest.
At sea Force H was joined by the destroyers HIGHLANDER and FURY, which
had been detached from the escort of battlecruiser REPULSE.
7th – The destroyers refuelled from RENOWN.
8th – In the evening Somerville assumed command of all the blockading
vessels including Home Fleet units that were operating in the Bay of Biscay.
9th - The destroyers refuelled from RENOWN.
Exercises were carried out using SHEFFIELD as a target and FIJI using
her Type 284 radar to pass range and bearing to RENOWN.
10th - The destroyers refuelled from RENOWN.
11th – Force H on patrol in Bay of Biscay.
12th - The destroyers refuelled from RENOWN.
14th - The destroyers refuelled from RENOWN.
During the day RENOWN and ARK ROYAL carried out 4.5" at a splash
target towed by one of the destroyers.
At 1630 Somerville handed over command of the blockading force to
Admiral Tovey CINC Home Fleet.
Force H then covered the minelayer ABDIEL while she laid 300 mines in
the approaches to Brest.
Following which Force H set course for Gibraltar.
16th – On the approach to Gibraltar ARK ROYAL
flew off four Swordfish of 820 Sqd to North Front; these were to carry out A/S
patrols of the Straits to attempt to interdict U-Boats entering the
Mediterranean.
At 1245 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
[On 16/4/41
the Chief of the German Naval General Staff (Seekriegsleitung, Vizeadmiral
Kurt Fricke),
demanded that Vizeadmiral Doenitz should send German U-Boats to
the Mediterranean. Doenitz was unwilling to carry out the demand as he believed
that it would only be at the expense of his main task, the destruction of
British shipping. The order was repeated, and Doenitz, on the third order,
expressed disapproval that he had not been informed of the intended attack on
Greece and Crete, which knowledge would have enabled U-Boats to be sent to the
Mediterranean before it was too late. All Italian U-Boats, except 11
large ones unsuitable for Mediterranean operations, were to be withdrawn from
the Atlantic. See below on 6/8/41]
17th to 23rd – The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar
[19/4/41: Captain Loben E. Maund RN took over
command of the ARK ROYAL from Captain Holland RN]
24th -
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar
[The aircraft
carrier ARGUS escorted by SHEFFIELD and destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE and
WRESTLER arrived at Gibraltar. (ARGUS
had embarked 24 Mk1 and Mk II Hurricanes for Malta). Immediately on arrival 23 of the Hurricanes, one remained unserviceable
on board ARGUS due to damage incurred en route, were transferred to ARK ROYAL]
25th –
At 2300 Force H comprising RENOWN
(Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD, and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8),
FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FURY and FORTUNE sailed from Gibraltar and set course east
on Operations DUNLOP and SALIENT.
[At 2200
Force S comprising light cruiser DIDO, minelayer ABDIEL, and destroyers KELLY
(D5), KASHMIR, KELVIN, KIPLING, JERSEY and JACKAL had sailed from Gibraltar.
They fainted west into the Atlantic before reversing course to join Force H]
[Operation
DUNLOP was the supply of RAF Hurricanes to Malta. Operation SALIENT was the
transfer of Force S through the Mediterranean to join the Mediterranean Fleet
and for the cover provided by Force H.
The
Hurricanes flown off to Malta during April enabled the formation of 185
Squadron RAF on 12/5/41at Hal Far]
26th – Force H
proceeding easterly towards the flying off position.
27th - Between 0515 and 0613
the 23 RAF Hurricanes were flown off ARK ROYAL in three flights of eight, eight
and seven lead by 3 FAA Fulmars.
By 1047 all had arrived safely at Malta.
Force H waited to the south of Sardinia to
provide Force S with air cover if required as it passed through the Sicilian
Narrows.
At 1000 Force H set course for Gibraltar.
28th – At 1330 ARK
ROYAL flew off four Swordfish of 810 Sqd and three Fulmars of 808 Sqd to North
Front.
At 1800 ARK ROYAL landed on four Swordfish of
820 Sqd from North Front.
Just
before ARK ROYAL entered harbour Swordfish L2770 of 810 Sqd was landing on when
a gust of wind caused it to go over the side. The pilot and observer were
picked up by the SHEFFIELD but the TAG L/A Evans was lost.
At 2000 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
29th
& 30th – The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
MAY
1st to
4th –
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[On the 20/4/41the ships of convoy WS8A were embarking
troops in the UK for the Middle East. Included in the convoy were five 15 knot
MT ships loaded with 295 tanks and 53 crated Hurricanes. On the same day
General Wavell sent a message to the CIGS in London, telling them of his
inferiority in armoured vehicles, and that the situation was to get worse. When
Churchill saw the message, he decided to make a bold stroke and send the ships
carrying the tanks through the Mediterranean to Egypt. The Admiralty was
opposed; Admiral Cunningham thought the risks were acceptable, despite the
increased air threat from the Luftwaffe Fliegerkorps X. At Churchill's
insistence the operation, code named TIGER went ahead. Included in Operation
TIGER were reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet.
On
26/4/41 Convoy WS 8A comprising the merchant ships HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
14,135grt, EMPRESS OF ASIA 16,909grt, DOMINION MONARCH 27,155grt, REINA DEL
PACIFICO 17,702grt, EMPRESS OF RUSSIA 16,810grt, STRATHAIRD 22,281grt, SOBIESKI
11,030grt, ABEEKERK 7889grt, ARONDA 4062grt, NEW ZEALAND STAR 10,740grt, CLAN
CAMPBELL 7255grt, CLAN LAMONT 7250grt, CLAN CHATTAN 7262grt and EMPIRE SONG 9228grt,
sailed from the Clyde. The last five vessels were to make up the Operation
TIGER convoy]
[4th the
cruisers FIJI from convoy SL72 and NAIAD from convoy WS 8A arrived at Gibraltar
and embarked ammunition for the passage to the Eastern Mediterranean as part of
Operation TIGER.
At 1600
hours the battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and destroyers FEARLESS, FORESIGHT,
FORTUNE and VELOX sailed from Gibraltar into the Atlantic to RV with the Tiger
convoy]
5th –
[At 0000
200 miles west of Gibraltar the battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and destroyers
FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE and VELOX RVed with the 5 MT ships, SS CLAN LAMONT
7268grt, SS CLAN CHATTAN 7262grt, SS CLAN CAMPBELL 7255grt, MV NEW ZEALAND STAR
10,941grt, and SS EMPIRE SONG 9228grt, of the TIGER convoy. The MT ships were
carrying a variety of military stores but their most important cargo was the 295 tanks (185 Matilda I tanks Mk II A and II A*, 28 light VIC, 15 cruisers A13
Mk II, IVA, 67 A15, Crusader I) and 53 created Hurricanes.
At 0615
the battlecruiser REPULSE destroyers HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, and HARVESTER detached
from the convoy and proceeded ahead to Gibraltar]
At
1000 Force B comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, light cruisers
FIJI and SHEFFIELD and destroyers WRESTLER, KASHMIR and KIPLING sailed from
Gibraltar into the Atlantic to RV with the TIGER convoy.
[At 1320
the light cruiser NAIAD (Flag Rear Admiral Edward Leigh Stuart King CINC 15th
CS), sailed from Gibraltar into the Atlantic to RV with the TIGER convoy]
At 1700 RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, cruisers FIJI and
SHEFFIELD and destroyers WRESTLER, KASHMIR and KIPLING joined the TIGER convoy.
[At 1730
REPULSE destroyers HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, and HARVESTER arrived at Gibraltar]
[At 2200
NAIAD joined the TIGER convoy and RA 15th CS took command of the convoy and the
reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet]
6th – At 0200 the
TIGER convoy and escorting warships passed through the Strait of Gibraltar.
[At 0330
destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER, FURY, HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and HESPERUS
sailed from Gibraltar to join the escort of convoy TIGER.
At 0345
the light cruiser GLOUCESTER sailed from Gibraltar to join convoy TIGER]
At 0500 GLOUCESTER, FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY,
HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and HESPERUS joined convoy TIGER.
At
0630 Force B, RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, FIJI, SHEFFIELD and destroyers WRESTLER,
KASHMIR and KIPLING increased speed and moved to the north east of the convoy
to provide cover should the Italian navy decided to attack.
At 2400 Force B was approximately 70 miles
south of Majorca and 150 miles east north east of the convoy.
7th – In the morning
QUEEN ELIZABETH and GLOUCESTER joined RENOWN and the covering force.
At 0500 ARK ROYAL flew off one of her new ASV
equipped Swordfish; these searched out to 140 miles, south and west of Sardinia
and found no sign of the Italian Fleet.
At 0830 Somerville determined that with no sign
of the Italian Fleet the main threat to the convoy would be from the air so the
covering force closed the convoy.
At 1115 an enemy signal was intercepted stating
that the convoy had been sighted.
At 1300 the covering force regained contact
with the convoy.
At
1930 two unidentified aircraft were reported approaching the convoy from dead
ahead and ARK ROYAL flew off three Fulmars to intercept. The unidentified
aircraft turned out to be two RAF Sunderlands en
route from Malta to Gibraltar.
VELOX from the TIGER convoy and returned to
Gibraltar.
8th – At 0600 the
visibility was poor, with low clouds and showers, and gusting winds.
At 0700 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish 4H of 820
Sqd for an A/S patrol.
At 0830 with only 12 out of 18 Fulmars serviceable,
ARK ROYAL flew off Red section of two Fulmars, Red 1, pilot Lt Cdr.Douglas
and Red 2, pilot Petty Officer Leggott, for the CAP.
At 0855 a shadower was picked up on radar and
it was chased off by the Fulmar CAP, but not before he had signalled the
location of the convoy.
At 1032 ARK ROYAL flew off Blue section of two
Fulmars, Blue 1, pilot Lt Gardner
and Blue 2, pilot Lt Firth to relieve Red section, flying the CAP.
At 1033 ARK ROYAL recovered Red section.
At 1143 ARK ROYAL flew off White section of two
Fulmars, White 1, pilot Lt Hallett and White 2, pilot
Petty Officer Johnson, to join Blue section flying the CAP.
At 1234 ARK ROYAL flew off Black section of two
Fulmars, Black 1, pilot
Lt Cdr Tillard and Black 2, pilot Lt Hay RM to join White section
and relieve Blue section flying the CAP.
At 1238 ARK ROYAL recovered Blue section.
At 1333 ARK ROYAL flew off Green section of three
Fulmars, Green 1, pilot Lt Taylour, Green 2, pilot
Petty Officer Dubber and Green 3, pilot Lt Guthrie to
join Black section and relieve White section flying the CAP.
At 1334 ARK ROYAL recovered White section.
[At 1345 the first incoming raid of 8 SM 79
torpedo bombers of 38o Gruppo from Decimomannu, Sardinia with an
escort of 12 CR 42 fighters of the 3o Gruppo CT from Monserrato, Sardinia was reported approaching from the
south east at low level about 32 miles from the convoy]
At
1359 ARK ROYAL immediately flew off four Fulmars two of Red section, Red 1,
pilot Lt Cdr.Douglas and Red 2, pilot Petty Officer Leggott and two of Blue section, Blue 1, pilot Lt Gardner
and Blue 2, pilot Lt Firth to join Black and Green sections flying the CAP.
[In the ensuing melee Black 1, piloted by Lieutenant
Commander Rupert Tillard, was shot down by a CR 42
and the pilot and his observer, Lieutenant Somerville, were killed. (Although
the Fulmar I had the edge in speed over the CR 42 up to 10000 Ft, the CR 42 was
much more manoeuvrable so the general instruction to Fulmar pilots was not to
dogfight with CR 42s)]
In the melee other Fulmars were hit, while in Green
1, Lt Taylour's aircraft the TAG, Petty Officer (A)
L. G. J. Howard received a severe leg wound from an explosive bullet which shattered
both tibia and fibula.
At 1405 ARK ROYAL recovered Green 1.
At 1439 ARK ROYAL recovered Green 2 and Green
3.
At 1436 ARK ROYAL flew off two Fulmars of White
section, White 1, pilot Lt Hallett and White 2, pilot
Petty Officer Johnson, to join Red and Blue section flying the CAP.
At 1437 ARK ROYAL recovered Black 2.
[A Fulmar of 807 Sqd, White 1, pilot Lt NG Hallett, observer Lt VA Smith RAN,
shot
down a SM 79, piloted by Captain Armando Boetto,
95m SSE of Sardinia, with 3 other Fulmars. Their own aircraft was hit,
and they were forced to ditch. After half hour they were picked up by the
destroyer FORESIGHT.
The
other three Fulmars were hit, two sustaining damage to their tail units.
Two further SM 79s were shot down by shipboard
AA fire]
At 1538 ARK ROYAL recovered Red section.
At 1546 ARK ROYAL recovered Blue section.
[At the end of the engagement the number of
serviceable Fulmars was reduced to seven]
At
1615 ARK ROYAL flew off three Fulmars of Yellow section, Yellow 1, pilot
Lt. Kindersley, Yellow 2, pilot Lt Guthrie and Yellow 3 pilot Lt Hay RM
for the CAP. Yellow 2 was unable to retract his undercarriage so returned to ARK
ROYAL.
[At 1615 a small number of high level SM 79s
approached but these were chased off by the Fulmars. One SM 79 was shot down by
Yellow 3 a Fulmar of 808 Sqd piloted by Lt RC Hay RM]
At 1648 ARK ROYAL landed on Yellow 2.
At 1658 ARK ROYAL landed on White 2.
[Between 1640 and 1730 a series of attacks by
small formations of SM 79s took place. These were all beaten off, mostly by
ships AA. In the last of the attacks a stick of bombs straddled the ARK ROYAL,
no damage was caused but the flight deck was drenched by water from the near
misses]
At 1720 ARK ROYAL flew off four Fulmars two of
Red section, Red 1, pilot Lt Cdr.Douglas and Red 2,
pilot Petty Officer Leggott and Blue 1, pilot Lt Gardner
and Blue 2, pilot Lt Firth for the CAP.
At 1740 ARK ROYAL landed on Yellow 1 and Yellow
3.
At 1750 ARK ROYAL landed on Blue 1. Following
which Blue 2 became Red 3.
[At 1930 just as it was getting dark radar
picked up a large formation of planes at 70 miles and closing from ahead.
The attacking force was 28 Ju 87R of I/StG1 in
three groups, these were from Comiso, Sicily. Top
cover was provided by 6 Me 110C of 9/ZG26, from Larissa,
Sicily.
The CAP of three Fulmars of 807 Sqd, Red 1,
pilot Lt Cdr J Sholto Douglas RH, Red 2, pilot Petty
Officer Leggett and Red 3, pilot Lt Firth RNVR, were vectored towards the
attackers.
Red section on contact with the attackers
immediately tore into the Luftwaffe force, forcing them to break up and many to
jettison their bombs well away from the ships. Douglas shoot down a Ju 87 and
Leggett a possibly a Me 110.
ARK ROYAL immediately worked up to full speed
to fly off the remaining four serviceable Fulmars to join the three of Red
section. Everyone on ARK ROYAL was aware that the Ju 87Rs were the same
aircraft that had attacked the ILLUSTRIOUS and put her out of action in
minutes]
At 1933 ARK ROYAL flew off four Fulmars, Yellow
1, pilot Lt Taylour, Yellow 2, pilot Petty Officer Dubber, Blue 1, pilot Lt Gardner and Blue 2, pilot S/Lt
Walker.
[These four aircraft immediately climbed to
9000 feet and ploughed into the attackers. Gardner shot down a Ju 87 and Walker
shot down a Ju 87 and a possibly Me 110.
All the dive bombers were forced to jettison
their bombs well away from the ships, following which the whole attacking force
headed back to Sicily]
At 1945 ARK ROYAL landed on Blue 1, which due
to combat damage, crashed on landing.
At 1950 ARK ROYAL landed on Red 1 and Red 2.
At 1953 ARK ROYAL landed on Red 3.
At 2000 ARK ROYAL landed on Yellow 1.
[Of these five Fulmars landing back on ARK
ROYAL, four of them had battle damage, Blue 1 flown by Lt RE Gardner crash
landed on ARK ROYAL. The serviceable Fulmars were now down to three]
[At 2015 the ships of Operation TIGER had
reached a position north of Cap Bone where in accordance with the plan Force B
was to reverse course.
At the same time the Force was attacked without
any radar warning, by three SM 79 torpedo bombers flying at wave top height,
which made their targets the RENOWN and ARK ROYAL. One SM 79 was hit by AA fire
and turned away but the other two continued towards the RENOWN and ARK ROYAL.
Each aircraft dropped two torpedoes. Through the brilliant ship handling both captains
managed to avoid all the torpedoes]
At 2020 the RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD and
destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK, HESPERUS and WRESTLER now steered west heading
back to Gibraltar.
At 2031 ARK ROYAL flew off two Fulmars Green 1,
pilot Lt Hay RM and Green 2,
pilot Lt Guthrie, but
they failed
to catch the SM 79s.
At 2136 ARK ROYAL landed on Green 1, Green 2,
Yellow 2 and Blue 2.
[The
TIGER convoy continued eastwards into the Sicilian Narrows. The 5 MT ships were
in line astern and the F class destroyers of the 8th DF acted as minesweepers.
The 5 MT ships also streamed paravanes but in spite of these precautions first
the NEW ZEALAND STAR exploded a mine that caused only minor damage but at
0002/9/5/41 the EMPIRE SONG struck two mines with her port bow. The crew of the
FORESTER were going to attempt salvage when the EMPIRE SONG blew up, 18 of her
crew were lost as were 57 tanks and 10 Hurricanes.
12/5/41 the
remaining 4 MT ships arrived safely at Alexandria where they disembarked 135 Mk.II & Mk II* Matilda Infantry Tanks, 82 Mk.I Crusader Cruiser Tanks and 21 Mk.VIC light tanks and
43 crated Hurricanes. The tanks were used in Operation BATTLEAXE which
commenced on 15/6/41]
9th – Force H sailed
slowly along the Algerian coast waiting for the destroyers of the 8th DF to
re-join from Malta.
10th – At 1400 Force
H was off Algiers when having received a signal that the 5 destroyers of the
8th DF were under air attack. So Somerville reversed the course of Force H to
go the aid of the 8th DF.
At 1800 Force H RVed
with the destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FEARLESS and FORTUNE. (The FORTUNE had received several near bomb misses causing damage to her
turbines and damage to her stern this meant that her speed was much reduced).
The FORESIGHT had returned to Malta with engine problems.
11th – The naval
rescue tug ST DAY 800 grt and four motor launches from Gibraltar, RVed with the
destroyer FORTUNE. SHEFFIELD, HARVESTER and HESPERUS detached from Force H to
provide an escort for the damaged FORTUNE.
12th – At 1815
RENOWN, ARK ROYAL and destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FEARLESS, HAVELOCK,
and WRESTLER arrived at Gibraltar.
At 2040 SHEFFIELD, HARVESTER and HESPERUS
escorting the damaged FORESTER arrived at Gibraltar.
16th – At 1800 Force
H comprising RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, flying the flag of VA Somerville, SHEFFIELD,
and destroyers WRESTLER, FEARLESS, FORESTER, and FURY sailed from Gibraltar
into the Atlantic for exercises.
17th – In the morning
RENOWN carried out a 'throw off' shoot with her main armament fall of shot
spotting was carried out by a Swordfish 4C of 820 Sqd from ARK ROYAL. Following
the shoot the whole of 820 Sqd carried out a dummy torpedo attack on the
RENOWN.
At 1900 Force H returned to Gibraltar.
18th – The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At 2000 the
aircraft carrier FURIOUS, with 64 RAF Hurricane Is & IIs and 9 Fulmar Is
of 800X Sqd embarked for Malta, heavy
cruiser LONDON with 550 troops embarked for the Gibraltar garrison, dummy
battleship ANSON (old battleship
CENTURION with wooden guns), and
destroyer BRILLIANT, HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, and HARVESTER arrived at Gibraltar]
On arrival at Gibraltar FURIOUS moored stern to stern with ARK ROYAL and
transferred 22 of the Hurricanes and 5 of the Fulmars to ARK ROYAL across a
timber bridge that was erected between the two carriers.
19th – At 0330 Force H comprising RENOWN, ARK
ROYAL, SHEFFIELD, and destroyers HESPERUS, HAVELOCK, and HARVESTER departed
Gibraltar to feint westwards into the Atlantic prior to commencing Operation
SPLICE.
[Operation
SPLICE was a 'club run' delivering 48 of the Hurricanes, bought out by FURIOUS,
to Malta. The balance of the Hurricanes, 16, were landed at Gibraltar to await
the next 'club run']
At 1500 the FURIOUS, LONDON and destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FURY and
FORESTER sailed from Gibraltar westwards to RV with Force H.
At 1900 the two forces RVed, following which LONDON and destroyers
HAVELOCK and HARVESTER were detached to sail westward to cover the movement of
dummy battleship ANSON and troopship ARUNDEL CASTLE.
Force H then formed up and turned eastwards into the Mediterranean.
20th – At 0700 the destroyer BRILLIANT joined
Force H from Gibraltar.
At 1345 Force H was over flown by a Spanish commercial aircraft.
21st – Between 0600 and 0729 hours in position
37-47N, 6-08E the 48 RAF Hurricanes, each fitted with two 44 gallon long range
tanks, were flown off from ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS lead by 5 Fulmars of 800X
flight. The first 11 Hurricanes flown off ARK ROYAL were led by F/Lt RA Barton
DFC, the second 11 was led by F/Lt TF Neil DFC. The section led by F/Lt Neil
were off Cape Bon when they lost their Fulmar leader, Neil then led the section
back to ARK ROYAL where they arrived two hours after taking off. ARK ROYAL flew
off another Fulmar and Neil and his group followed it to Malta, after 5½
hours in the air Neil and the other 10 Hurricanes landed on Malta.
In all 47 Hurricanes and 4 Fulmars arrived safely at Malta.
[The Hurricanes formed 249 Sqd. One of the Hurricane pilots was F/Lt
Charles Palliser DFC. He remained on Malta until February 1942; which made him
one of the longest serving Malta pilots. Also on 27/11/41 he carried out a
meteorological flight in the Gloster Gladiator that was named 'Faith']
[After the
flying off her Hurricanes FURIOUS and destroyers BRILLANT and HESPERUS were
detached to return to Gibraltar for a quick docking for the aircraft carrier to
repair damage and repack her stern glands from the bomb damage she received on
the 5/5/41 whilst at Belfast]
The remainder of Force H then reversed course steering at low speed for
Gibraltar, waiting for FORESIGHT to join from Malta.
At 1600 hours failing to have RVed with FORSIGHT, who sailed on to
Gibraltar, Force H increased speed and headed for Gibraltar.
22nd – At 2300 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
[On 18/5/41
German battleship BISMARCK, flying the flag of Admiral GŸnther
LŸtjens, and heavy cruiser PRINZ EUGEN departed
Gdynia on Operation RHEIN†BUNG. On 21/5/41 the BISMARCK and PRINZ EUGEN
departed Korsfjord, near Bergen, for a shipping sweep
in the North Atlantic. The sailing was not confirmed until 22/5/41 when a
Martin Maryland of 771 Squadron from Hatson advised the German ships had
sailed. At 1922/23/5/41 AB Alfred Newell the starboard lookout of the cruiser
SUFFOLK sighted BISMARCK at a
distance of 7 miles NNE, SUFFOLK's position was 66-44N, 26-41W. At 1923 hours a
sighting report was made, but this was only picked up by NORFOLK. At 2032 hours
NORFOLK made the radio report that she had BISMARCK in sight at a range of 6
miles. Following the sighting report the Admiralty started to order various
deployments of fleet units. One of the forces deployed was Force H]
24th – At 0200 Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag
CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD, and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER,
FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FURY and HESPERUS sailed from Gibraltar to join and escort
convoy WS 8B. At the time Force H sailed convoy WS 8B was approximately 200
miles west of Orsay sailing at 13½ knots.
Force H set course for a RV with WS 8B in position 47-20N, 26-05W
At 1245 the destroyers FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND and FURY were detached to
return to Gibraltar.
[Throughout
the 24/5/41 SUFFOLK and NORFOLK shadowed the BISMARCK. During the period she
was being shadowed BISMARCK made 22 radio transmissions [the decryption of these signals was carried
out by GC and CS at Bletchley Park, but too late to be of any tactical value]
but all the transmissions were monitored
by the Y service, that by DF were able to give an accurate longitude and
approximate latitude. At 0300/25/5/41 BISMARCK turned to starboard making a
360¼ turn this during a zig zag
by SUFFOLK caused SUFFOLK to lose contact. BISMARCK then set course 130¼ and
was not immediately aware that contact had been broken and she made further
signals that the Y service DFed all of which
indicated to the OIC that BISMARCK was making for France. Also GC and CS
advised that whereas the normal control station for BISMARCK W/T frequency was
Wilhelmshaven, control had been transferred to Paris]
25th – At 0330 Force H was in position 39-35N,
14-10W, steering 310¼ at 24 knots.
At 0400 Force H was taken under direct control by the Admiralty and
Somerville was ordered to 'Cancel my signal ordering Force H to join convoy WS
8B. Steer to intercept the BISMARCK'.
At 0900 destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER and HESPERUS were detached to
return to Gibraltar.
At 1100 Force H was in position 41-30N, 17-10W when the Admiralty
instructed Somerville to act on the assumption that BISMARCK was proceeding to
Brest. Force H then turned on to course 360¼.
At 1805 the Admiralty finally signalled to Admiral Tovey CINC Home Fleet
that he should assume that BISMARCK was making for Brest.
At 1215 Force H altered course to 345¼, into the teeth of a north
westerly gale.
At 2340 Force H had to reduce speed to 21 knots.
26th – At 0112 as Force H ploughed on into
mountainous seas, the waves were washing right over RENOWN and SHEFFIELD; speed
had to be reduced, ultimately to 17 knots.
At 0300 Force H altered course to 360¼. Somerville reasoned that in
consequence of Force H's reduction in speed which BISMARCK with a following sea
would not have suffered this was the best course to keep Force H to the east of
BISMARCK.
[At 0330 RAF
Catalina I, AH545, WQ-Z/209 Z of 209 Sqd, from Castle Archdale,
the most westerly flying-boat base in the UK, took off from
Lough Erne. The CO of the Catalina was Pilot
Officer Dennis Briggs RAF and his second in command was Ensign Leonard B
Smith USN. (When the UK took delivery of the first Catalinas, US PBY-5, early in 1941, the USN had provided 17
pilots to train RAF personnel in flying the Catalinas.
The USN also believed, rightly, that it would give their pilots combat training).
The Catalina took
off and over flew natural Eire via what was known as the Donegal gap and headed
out into the Atlantic, their task to find the BISMARCK.
At 1010 the
Catalina was being piloted by Ensign Smith and flying at 2000 ft, when it
emerged from cloud and was engaged by accurate AA fire from a large capital
ship below which was the BISMARCK. The Catalina immediately jettisoned her four
depth charges and took evasive action after her hull was holed by shrapnel.
The W/op LAC Alan
Martin then signalled, "One battleship, bearing 240¼, distance 5 miles,
course 150¼, speed 20 knots. My position 49- 33N, 21- 47W; time of transmission
1030/26"]
At 0835 in position 48-26N, 19-13W, ARK ROYAL flew off 10 Swordfish to
carry out a search for the BISMARCK in a 180¼ arc from south west to north
east. The weather conditions at this time were wind force 7 from 330¼,
overcast, and visibility 10-12 miles. ARK ROYAL's round down was rising and
falling up to 56 feet.
At 0930 Force H was proceeding at 15 knots on course 015¼.
At 1050 the sighting report from Catalina Z/209, timed at 1030/26 was received
in RENOWN stating that, they had sighted BISMARCK in position 49-33N, 21-47W
(the position was 35 miles out) course 150¼, speed 20 knots. At this time Force
H was 112 miles at 285 ¼ from BISMARCK crossing the track that the German ship
would take for Brest.
[At the time
of the sighting by Z/209 the battleship KING GEORGE V (Flag Admiral Tovey CINC Home Fleet)
was 135 miles to the north of BISMARCK and the battleship RODNEY was
125 miles to the north east of BISMARCK and unless the BISMARCK could be slowed
down there was no way the two battleships could catch up with the BISMARCK. So
now it was up the ARK ROYAL's Swordfish to slow BISMARCK down.
Admiral Tovey, with
the destruction of the HOOD in mind, ordered Somerville not to engage BISMARCK
with RENOWN]
[At 1114 Swordfish 2H pilot S/Lt JV Hartley of 810
Sqd from ARK ROYAL made contact with the BISMARCK, but reported her as a cruiser,
(this was because they were unaware that the PRINZ EUGEN was no longer in
company with BISMARCK and because the two ships were similar in shape) and gave
a position making the enemy 77 miles to the west of Force H.
At 1121 Swordfish 2F pilot Lt JR Callander of 810 Sqd also made contact with the BISMARCK and
her observer reported the vessel as a battleship. The BISMARCK was reported on
a south easterly course, making 20 knots with a following sea.
Swordfish 2H and 2F were ordered to remain in
contact until relief Swordfish fitted with long range tanks could take over]
[At 1145 the Admiralty concerned that Somerville would attempt to engage
with RENOWN, signalled 'that RENOWN was not to become engaged with BISMARCK
unless the latter was heavily engaged with by either KING GEORGE V or RODNEY']
[At 1154 LŸtjens signalled Group West; 'Enemy aircraft maintains
contact, wheeled aircraft, my position approximately 48N, 20W'. (The position was approximately 90 miles out)
A wheeled aircraft could only mean that
there was an aircraft carrier nearby and probably other heavy ships]
At 1200 hours Force H turned on to course 115¼ parallel and to the north
of BISMARCK.
[At 1200 ARK ROYAL flew off two Swordfish one from
810 Sqd and one from 818 Sqd; the 818 Swordfish was piloted by Lt Lawrence
Ryder Tivy, each aircraft was fitted with long range
tanks. Their task was to confirm the identification of the enemy ship and to
take over the shadowing from 2H and 2F.
At the same time a strike force of 15 Swordfish
armed with duplex magnetic pistol torpedoes was being prepared.
The weather continued to as it was at 0300/26]
[At 1300 the
CINC Force H ordered the SHEFFIELD to make contact with the BISMARCK, shadow
and report. The signal to SHEFFIELD was repeated to the Admiralty and ARK
ROYAL. Because the signal was not direct to the ARK ROYAL it was not
immediately de-coded and no one on ARK ROYAL, probably due to the appalling
weather conditions, noticed that SHEFFIELD had detached]
[At around 1400 Swordfish 2H and 2F landed back on
ARK ROYAL. Their pilots and observers were immediately ordered to the bridge
where they were interrogated as to what they had actually sighted. They agreed
that there was only one ship, but they could not say categorically if it was
the BISMARCK or PRINZ EUGEN.
Captain Maund the CO of
ARK ROYAL signalled the CINC Force H stating that there was only one enemy ship
and the evidence favours it being the PRINZ EUGEN. However, Maund
added that he believed that the vessel was the BISMARCK]
[At 1450 ARK ROYAL flew off a strike force of 15
Swordfish from 810 and 820 Sqds armed with duplex magnetic pistol torpedoes.
The strike contained a Swordfish fitted with ASV radar and was led by Lt Cdr JA Stewart-Moore RN, the CO of 820 Sqd.
The strike force was briefed: -
1. There the only vessel out there was
the BISMARCK, which was currently being shadowed by two Swordfish.
2. The target was to be located by the lead aircraft that was equipped with ASV
radar.
3. The strike force was to approach at high altitude.
4. The attack approach was to be made in a high-speed descent with the sub flights
fanning out to attack from multiple points of the compass]
[At 1500 the SHEFFIELD was steering south easterly at 31½ knots,
the wind was from the west south west force 6. SHEFFIELD had turned off her
Type 79Y radar set so as not the alert the BISMARCK to her presence]
[At 1550 the ASV equipped
Swordfish of the strike force obtained a radar contact on a ship and notwithstanding
that the contact was 20 miles from BISMARCKs expected position the 14 Swordfish, one had turned back. Lieu Cdr JA
Stewart-Moore ordered a sub-flight attack and the Swordfish dived to attack. However the ship they were
about to attack was not the BISMARCK it was the SHEFFIELD.
As the Swordfish came
into attack Captain Charles A Larcom RN the CO of
SHEFFIELD recognised his attackers and called for full ahead and ordered all
guns not to fire.
At 1600 the attack on
'BISMARCK' commenced with all 14 aircraft attacking from all points of the
compass and dropping their torpedoes. As each section attacked Larcom attempted to identify his ship to the attackers and
when he failed he manoeuvred to comb the torpedoes. A total of 11 torpedoes
were dropped, 7 missed, 3 exploded in SHEFFIELD's wake and 2 exploded on impact
with the water. Three Swordfish didn't attack as they recognised the SHEFFIELD,
one of them made a signal to her, 'Sorry for the Kipper', as they turned for
home.
At around the time the
strike force were completing their attack the deciphered signal informing ARK
ROYAL that SHEFFIELD had been detached to shadow BISMARCK became known to
Captain Maund. ARK ROYAL immediately signalled the
strike force about SHEFFIELD but the signal arrived too late.
When the strike force
arrived over ARK ROYAL the conditions on the deck were worse than when they had
taken off.
The three Swordfish still
carrying torpedoes had to ditch them before landing on. However, one of them
failed to release and when that Swordfish landed on the torpedo broke loose and
rolled across the deck, fortunately without exploding.
Three Swordfish crashed on
the flight deck as they landed on, the rising stern smashing their
undercarriages, and the wreckage had to be cleared away before the others could
be taken on.
By 1710 all the strike
force had been recovered]
[The fact that SHEFFIELD
had refrained from firing at her attackers meant that all 14 Swordfish had been
able to make it back to the ARK ROYAL. The skill of the pilots and the flight
deck crews had ensured that most of the returning aircraft were still
serviceable.
This meant that Swordfish
were available to relieve the shadowing aircraft and time and weather
conditions permitting mount a further strike against the BISMARCK]
[At 1740 SHEFFIELD gained contact with BISMARCK on 068¡, at a range of
10 miles and made her first sighting report at 1747/26. BISMARCK sighted the SHEFFIELD at the same
time and correctly identified her. At 1824 LŸtjens
signalled Group West and reported the presence of SHEFFIELD and gave her course
as 115¡, speed 24 knots]
[The situation was now
desperate. Unless the BISMARCK could be slowed the CINC Home Fleet Admiral Tovey
could not catch her. The only hope was another strike by Swordfish from ARK
ROYAL. But with nightfall approaching and the weather steadily worsening, the
question was, were further air operations possible. All the crew on ARK ROYAL
were of one mind, another strike must be mounted.
So the flight deck personnel
put in a herculean effort to get the maximum number of aircraft serviceable
then get them fuelled and armed. Fifteen Swordfish were made ready on to the
lifts and onto the pitching flight deck.
While the aircraft were
being prepared the air staff was putting together the attack plan. Because of
the premature explosions of 45% of the torpedoes on the first attack, the Duplex
fused torpedoes were replaced by the older, but more reliable, contact
exploders. The strike leader was to be Lt Cdr T P
Coode RN, CO of 818 Sqd, he was briefed to led the strike force to the
SHEFFIELD who shadowing the BISMARCK from about 12 miles astern. On arrival
over SHEFFIELD he was to receive a bearing and distance to the BISMARCK. One of
the Swordfish was equipped with ASV radar and Lt Cdr T P Coode RN would lead
the first wave and Lt Cdr. JA Stewart-Moore RN, CO 820 Sqd would lead the
second wave.
A coordinated attack with
the sub flights coming in simultaneously from different angles was planned; the
first wave were to attack from the port side and the second wave from the
starboard side]
At 1900 the ARK ROYAL was
in position 48-35N, 16-54W and she turned into the 50 knot wind and the first of
the 15 Swordfish took off.
By 1915 all 15 aircraft
were airborne. After launching the strike force ARK ROYAL and RENOWN turned on
to an easterly course.
[The strike force formed
up over RENOWN in sections, the sections were:-
First 5A
of 818 Sqd, pilot, RN; 5C of 818 Sqd, pilot S/Lt JWC Moffatt
RNVR and 5B of 818 Sqd, pilot S/Lt E Dixon- Childe RNVR.
Second 2B
ASV equipped of 810 Sqd, pilot Lt DF Godfrey-Faussett, RN; 2A of 810 Sqd, pilot
S/Lt KS Pattisson, RN and 2P of 810 Sqd, pilot S/Lt AWD
Beale, RN.
Third 5K
of 818 Sqd, pilot Lt S Keane, DSC, RN and 2M of 810 Sqd, pilot S/Lt CM Jewell.
Fourth 4A
of 820 Sqd, pilot Lt H de G. Hunter, RN; 4B ASV equipped of 820 Sqd, pilot S/Lt
MJ Lithgow, RN and 4C of 820 Sqd, pilot S/Lt FA Swanton,
RN.
Fifth 4K
of 820 Sqd, pilot Lt ASS Owensmith, RN and 4L of 820
Sqd, pilot S/Lt JRN Gardner, RN.
Sixth 4F
of 820 Sqd, pilot S/Lt MFSP Willcocks, RN and 4G of
820 Sqd, pilot S/Lt AN Dixon, RN.
At 1925 the strike force
set off south easterly to RV with SHEFFIELD.
At 1954 the strike force
arrived over SHEFFIELD and by signal light SHEFFIELD informed them that
BISMARCK's position was 110¡, distance 12 miles. The weather conditions were
terrible with seven-tenths cloud cover extending from 2000 to 5000 feet and the
force became disorientated and the force leader Lt Cdr Coode had to relocate
the SHEFFIELD.
At 2035, Coode relocated the
SHEFFIELD and obtained a new bearing and distance. Coode rejoined the force and
they climbed to 6000 feet, and formed up in line astern, but after about 6
minutes the aircraft started to ice up.
At 2048 Coode estimated
that they were at the position to commence the dive. The force then dived
through the thick cloud.
At 2055 the strike force
reached 700 feet and broke out of the cloud and then commenced a disjointed
attack on BISMARCK. The BISMARCK immediately opened extremely accurate fire on
her attackers.
At 2105 as BISMARCK was
turning to port she was hit on the port side aft by a torpedo dropped by 5C of
818 Sqd, pilot S/Lt JWC Moffatt RNVR, observer S/Lt JD
Miller, RNVR and TAG Leading Airman AJ Hayman, Jx.151230. This hit jammed
BISMARCK's rudder at left 12 degrees.
One possibly two other
torpedo hits were achieved but the one that did the damage was the hit that
jammed the rudder. Several aircraft were hit by AA fire but no aircraft was lost.
By 2115 thirteen
Swordfish were on their way back to ARK ROYAL. Swordfish 4G and 4L were still
attempting to get into an attacking position but due to the AA fire and weather
conditions they abandoned their attack and turned for home.
At 2125 the attack was
over.
[At 2115 LŸtjens signalled OKM that the ship
was no longer steerable]
[At 2137 the SHEFFIELD who was still shadowing from astern of BISMARCK,
suddenly saw the BISMARCK emerge out of the gloom, 9 miles away bows on.
At 2140 the BISMARCK opened fire on SHEFFIELD, the first two salvos were
HE that had been loaded for firing against the Swordfish, and they fell short
and exploded on impact with the sea. These caused splinter damage and 14
casualties.
SHEFFIELD reported BISMARCK's change of course. When Tovey received the
signal, he uttered the deadly insult, 'SHEFFIELD has joined the reciprocal
club' – meaning of ships that have steered a course 180¡ off true. But
she hadn't.
At 2142 SHEFFIELD made smoke and turned away]
[At 2205 the first of the
returning Swordfish landed on ARK ROYAL. Three crashed on landing, five had
been damaged by AA fire and 4C who had a pilot and TAG hit by shrapnel, and was
so badly damaged it was declared beyond repair and cannibalised for spares.
Only six of the returning Swordfish were serviceable and these were immediately
struck down below to prepare for another strike should it be necessary.
Immediately on landing
the observers were de-briefed, following which it was decided that there had
been two possible hits]
At 2220 ARK ROYAL reported that one torpedo had definitely hit BISMARCK
amidships.
At 2235 ARK ROYAL reported that a second hit had most probably been
obtained aft.
[At 2235 LŸtjens signalled 'am surrounded by RENOWN and light
forces'. Although at this time RENOWN was not in sight of the BISMARCK]
[At 2300 the last of the
Swordfish strike force landed back on ARK ROYAL]
[At 2325, after five
hours in the air, the two shadowing Swordfish landed back on ARK ROYAL. They
bought the news that following the air strike BISMARCK had made two complete
circles and was apparently out of control. When they left BISMARCK had been
steaming slowly in a north westerly direction]
At 2345 RENOWN and ARK ROYAL were in position 48-42N, 15-17W.
27th
– Through the night ARK ROYAL's air staff
worked to get as many Swordfish serviceable as possible for a further strike.
[At 0112
Somerville signalled Tovey that RENOWN, at 2345 hours, was 165¼, 41 miles from
BISMARCK]
At 0509 ARK ROYAL launched a Swordfish to spot fall of shot for the
battleship KING GEORGE V, but the aircraft failed to find her and had to return
to ARK ROYAL.
[Sunrise was
at 0722 and when it came the wind was blowing force 8 to 9 from the north west
with a rising sea and swell, visibility was 12 to 13 miles but was at times
down to 500 yards with rain squalls and the cloud base about 2000 feet]
At 0800 Force H was approximately 20 miles to the south of BISMARCK.
[At 0848,
with the BISMARCK sailing directly towards the CINC Home Fleet in his flagship
KING GEORGE V, the flagship opened fire on the BISMARCK at a range of about
25,500 yards. Followed by the battleship RODNEY]
At 0920 the wind speed over the deck was 56 knots,
when ARK ROYAL launched a strike force of 12 Swordfish armed with torpedoes.
Their task was to be available should the CINC Home Fleet require their
services.
At 0940 SHEFFIELD rejoined RENOWN and ARK ROYAL.
[At 0947
Somerville signalled Tovey that ARK ROYAL and SHEFFIELD had been detached and
RENOWN was closing him from the southward]
[At 1036 the
battered BISMARCK turned over and sank]
[Following the sinking of the BISMARCK, the strike
force that had been circling the area of the battle, left the scene and
returned to ARK ROYAL]
At 1045 as ARK ROYAL was recovering the strike force, Force H came under
attack from Luftwaffe He 111's. AA fire from RENOWN and SHEFFIELD kept the
bombers away and the closest bombs fell 600 yards astern of ARK ROYAL.
By 1152 ARK ROYAL had completed recovery of her aircraft and Force H
shaped course for Gibraltar at 24 knots.
28th –
Force H en route to Gibraltar.
29th – At 0830 in position 36-20N, 9-35W Force H
were joined by destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESTER, FURY and WISHART from
Gibraltar.
En route to Gibraltar FORESTER and FURY were detached to search for a
reported U-boat.
[At 1334 both
of SHEFFIELD's Walrus aircraft were catapulted off. One to carry out an A/S
patrol around Force H, and the other to deliver a message to the RENOWN and
then to fly on to Gibraltar to collect mail.
At 1340 having
dropped his message on RENOWN's forecastle, the Walrus flew low over the stern
of RENOWN and as it flew through the hot gases from the funnel it went out of
control and crashed hitting RENOWN's stern before crashing into the sea and
killing the three crew. A passenger RPO Marjoram, who was on board to collect
the mail, was picked up by destroyer WISHART, but died of injuries]
At 1900 RENOWN, ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD, FAULKNOR and WISHART arrived back
at Gibraltar.
30th –
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At 2400 hours aircraft
carrier ARGUS with 29 crated Hurricanes embarked, escorted by destroyers
FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and FOXHOUND arrived at Gibraltar.
ARGUS berthed astern of FURIOUS, who whilst Force H had been in the
Atlantic had had her stern glands re-packed and had embarked the 16 Hurricanes
left over from Operation SPLICE]
31st – The ARK ROYAL was Gibraltar.
[The cased Hurricanes
from ARGUS were off-loaded on to FURIOUS and assembly commenced in preparation
for flying off to Malta]
JUNE
1st to 3rd – The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[The next 'club
run' for Force H was Operation ROCKET, this was the
flying off to Malta of 44 Hurricanes from ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS. In order to
address some of Somerville's concerns the plan for Operation ROCKET was to be
different from the previous ones. All the Hurricanes were fitted with auxiliary
fuel tanks to increase their range so they could be launched 600 miles from
Malta. They would be launched from one carrier at a time so the un-engaged
carrier could provide fighter cover. The escorts would be RAF Blenheims to
preserve Force H's precious Fulmars]
4th
- FURIOUS was moored stern to stern with ARK ROYAL
and transferred 24 of the Hurricanes to ARK ROYAL across a timber bridge that
was erected between the two carriers.
[Nine RAF
Blenheim IVs of 82 Sqd arrived at Gibraltar from RAF Bodney
via RAF St Eval; these were the aircraft that were to
act as escorts for the Hurricanes]
5th
– At 1200 Force H sailed from Gibraltar on
Operation ROCKET. For the operation the force was divided into two groups.
Group 1 was RENOWN (Flag
CINC Force H), FURIOUS, and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FORESIGHT, FORESTER and
FOXHOUND.
Group 2 was ARK ROYAL, SHEFFIELD, and destroyers
FEARLESS and FURY.
6th – At 0900 Force H formed into its two groups
and Group 1 moved to the north of the mean line of advance and group 2 moved to
the south.
At 1000 in approximate position 39N, 3E the fly off
of the 44 Hurricanes commenced. At the same time the Blenheims from Gibraltar
arrived. One Hurricane, that had defects, returned to FURIOUS, the remaining 43
Hurricanes and 9 Blenheims all arrived safely at Malta.
Force H then set course for Gibraltar.
At 1100 a Swordfish from ARK ROYAL carried out a
reconnaissance of Mers-el-Kebir harbour.
[The reason
for the reconnaissance was to see if the DUNKERQUE was in harbour as there had
been intelligence that she may have sailed to Toulon. The Admiralty wanted to
know her location as Operation EXPORTER, the invasion of the Vichy French in
Syria was due to commence on the night of 7/6/41]
[During the
day the aircraft carrier ARGUS and troopship SS NEA HELLAS 16991grt with 1000
Gibraltarian evacuees embarked, escorted by the destroyers WIVERN, WILD SWAN
and VANSITTART, departed Gibraltar for the UK]
7th – Before entering Gibraltar ARK ROYAL flew
off ten Fulmars to North Front airfield to provide an air defence should Vichy
aircraft attack following the British invasion of Syria.
At 0845 Force H returned to Gibraltar.
At 2230 Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC
Force H), ARK ROYAL, FURIOUS, SHEFFIELD and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS,
FOXHOUND, FORESTER and FURY sailed from Gibraltar into the Atlantic so as to be
clear of the harbour should Vichy aircraft attack. Then they proceeded west
into the Atlantic to RV with the aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS.
[At
2230/31/5/41 convoy WS 8X comprising SS DOUCHESS OF BEDFORD 20123grt with 3100
troops embarked; escorted by the aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS with 6 Fulmars of
800Z Sqd, 9 Swordfish of 825 Sqd and 48 crated Hurricane I embarked; also
embarked were a RAF Maintenance Party who were to assemble the Hurricanes en
route, heavy cruiser NORFOLK, light cruiser NEPTUNE and AMC ESPERANCE BAY, sailed
from the Clyde.
At 0700/1/6/41, in
position 55-40N, 6-43W the convoy was joined by the MT ships MV WAIWERA 10800grt
and MV PORT WYNDHAM 8580grt and the destroyers BRIGHTON,
LEGION, PIORUN, SAGUENAY, ST MARYS, SHERWOOD, VANSITTART, WILD SWAN and WIVERN.
After forming up the convoy then headed west into
the Atlantic at a speed of 14½ knots, this being the maximum speed of
the AMC ESPERANCE BAY]
[At around
1745/4/6/41 in position 43.32N, 23.56W, a Swordfish of 825 Sqd from VICTORIOUS,
sighted a vessel that turned out to be the German reconnaissance ship MV
GONZENHEIM 4104grt (ex Norwegian MV
KONGSFJORD 4000grt). The GONZENHEIM
had been intended to operate with the BISMARCK and had been in contact with the
heavy cruiser PRINZ EUGEN on 27/5/41.
The Swordfish challenged
the German vessel and ordered her to stop and await the arrival of the AMC
ESPERANCE BAY who was nearby. However, the GONZENHEIM failed to stop and the
ESPERANCE BAY didn't have the speed to catch her.
At 1830 the NEPTUNE
detached from WS 8X and at around the same time the battleship NELSON detached
from convoy SL 75and both headed for the GONZENHEIM.
At 2030 in position
43-29N, 24-04W, the NELSON and NEPTUNE intercepted the GONZENHEIM and NEPTUNE
was ordered to board. But before this could be achieved the GONZENHEIM scuttled
and NEPTUNE picked up the 63 survivors. Both vessels then returned to their
respective convoys]
[At
0001/7/6/41 when convoy WS 8X was in position 28N, 23W, the VICTORIOUS and
NEPTUNE detached to RV with Force H]
8th
– Force H exercising in the Atlantic waiting
to RV with VICTORIOUS.
[During the
day there were several submarine alerts and there was a report of a U Boat in
the Strait of Gibraltar from a patrolling RAF aircraft. Many of these may well
have been false alarms, however, at the time there were several Italian
submarines in the area]
[At 1100 in
approximate position 36N, 17-45W, the VICTORIOUS and NEPTUNE were joined by the
destroyers WIVERN, WILD SWAN and VANSITTART. Later in the day the destroyer
WRESTLER joined]
9th
– At 0650 in approximate position 36-30N,
11-30W, Force H RVed with VICTORIOUS, NEPTUNE, WIVERN, WILD SWAN, WRESTLER and
VANSITTART.
At 0730 the FURIOUS and SHEFFIELD detached from
Force H to join the ARGUS in 47N, 24W and hence to the UK.
Force H then cruised to the south west to keep
clear of Gibraltar until the Vichy French reaction to Operation EXPORTER could
be quantified.
The destroyers WIVERN, WILD SWAN, WRESTLER and
VANSITTART were detached to Gibraltar.
The NEPTUNE was detached to Gibraltar to land
German prisoners and captured documents from the German ship GONZENEHEIM.
10th
– At 0100 the Admiralty signalled CINC Force
H that Operation TRACER was to commence without further delay.
At 0130 Force H set course for Gibraltar.
[A Swordfish of 820 Sqd, pilot S/Lt JRN Gardner RN,
sighted a surfaced submarine which dived and the Swordfish attacked with bombs
that failed to detonate because the aircraft was too low when they were dropped.
Because of the need to return to Gibraltar with despatch no destroyer was
detached to carry out a sonar search]
11th – During the early hours Force H passed
through the Straits of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean.
At around 0300 ARK ROYAL, VICTORIOUS and the
destroyers detached and proceeded into the Mediterranean.
At around 0500 VICTORIOUS flew off the 9 Swordfish
of 825 Sqd and they landed on ARK ROYAL. All nine Swordfish of 825 were
equipped with ASV radar.
At around 0800 ARK ROYAL, VICTORIOUS and the
destroyers arrived at Gibraltar.
[After both
carriers had completed with fuel and stores; VICTORIOUS transferred 26
Hurricanes to ARK ROYAL together with stores for 825 Squadron. ARK ROYAL
transferred stores for 820 Squadron to VICTORIOUS]
12th –
ARK ROYAL at Gibraltar
[On 12/6/41 the
first group of RAF Hudsons of 200 Squadron landed at
North Front airfield Gibraltar en route from RAF
Bircham Newton to Jeswang,
Gambia. Four of the Hudsons were held back at North
Front to participate in Operation TRACER]
13th
– At about 0500 Force H comprising RENOWN
(Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, VICTORIOUS, and the destroyers FAULKNOR (D8),
FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, HESPERUS and WISHART departed
Gibraltar to fly off 47 Hurricanes to Malta, Operation TRACER.
[Operation
TRACER was a 'club run' to deliver 48 RAF Hurricanes to Malta]
14th - At around 0430 in approximate
position 38-56N, 3E the four RAF Hudsons of 200 Sqd
RV with Force H and ARK ROYAL and VICTORIOUS commenced to fly off the RAF
Hurricanes for Malta. Each group of 12 was led by a Hudson.
[47
Hurricanes fitted with long range tanks were flown off. The navigation of at
least two of the Hudson's was poor and they took their charges to the north and
south of the island. This was seen by Malta radar and aircraft were scrambled
to lead them to the island, but before this happened many of the Hurricanes
were getting desperately short of fuel. 45 aircraft arrived at Malta but two
crashed on landing due to running out of fuel and the pilot of one, Sgt Robert MacPherson was killed. One ditched en route about 40 miles
south east of Malta and the pilot was picked up by an air sea rescue launch. One
experienced difficulties and landed in North Africa.
On arrival the
Hurricanes were formed into 238 and 260 Sqds]
At around 0545 Force H set course for Gibraltar.
15th
- At 1030 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
At 1800 Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC force H), ARK ROYAL (who
had most of her aircraft ranged on deck, in an attempt to fool watching eyes
that this was to be another delivery of fighters to Malta) ,
VICTORIOUS, and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT,
FORESTER and HESPERUS sailed from Gibraltar to escort VICTORIOUS part way to
the UK. In order to attempt to confuse watchers in Spain they sailed east into
the Mediterranean.
At 2050 Force H reversed course and passed through the straits and set
course for position 49N, 29-30W at 18 knots.
16th
- At 0200 when Force H was in approximate position
36N, 6-34W, Somerville received a report, timed at 2100/15/6/41, of two
unidentified vessels departing from Brest. They could have been the SCHARNHORST
and GNEISENAU, so Force H was ordered to take up a blocking position and cover
convoy WS 9A. At the time convoy WS 9A was about 1000NM SSE of Force H.
[Aerial
reconnaissance later confirmed that the two battle cruisers were still in Brest
and the two unidentified vessels were merchant ships]
17th – Force H were steering north westerly.
At about 0600 RENOWN commenced to refuel HESPERUS.
At about 1000 VICTORIOUS and HESPERUS were detached
to proceed to the UK.
At 1140 when in position 38-22N, 15-22W the destroyers
FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORESTER and FOXHOUND were detached from Force H
to return to Gibraltar.
18th – Force H were cruising northerly with ARK
ROYAL's aircraft searching for the German battlecruisers.
[At 0500 the
destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORESTER and FOXHOUND were off Cape
St Vincent; at which time the destroyers commenced an anti submarine exercise
with FAULKNOR in the centre and two destroyers on each beam.
At 0920 FAULKNOR obtained
an asdic contact that was confirmed as a submarine. Both FAULKNOR and FORESTER
made successful DC attacks and the submarine, U 138.
At about 1115, in
position 36-04N, 7-29W, U 138 was forced to the surface. The crew of 4
Officers, 11 Petty Officers and 12 men abandoned ship and were picked up by
FAULKNOR.
The U 138, a Type
IID, had sailed from Lorient on 12/6/41 on a secret and possibly dangerous mission.
The interrogation of the crew at first revealed very little, but it was noted
that of the 27 crew only two were married.
Eventually by
piecing together various remarks and admissions from the crew it was assessed that
U 138's mission was to enter the Mediterranean (had she
have succeeded she would have been the U-Boat to do so) and to enter Gibraltar harbour on the
surface and torpedo any vessel of cruiser size and above. This would have been
an attempt to emulate U 47's attack on Scapa Flow]
19th & 20th
– Force H cruised in the Bay of Biscay.
21st – At 0800 in position 36W, 13W, RENOWN and
ARK ROYAL en route to Gibraltar RVed with destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS,
FORESTER and FOXHOUND.
22nd – At 0230 RENOWN arrived back at Gibraltar.
ARK ROYAL with FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESTER and
FOXHOUND carried on into the Mediterranean to carry out exercises.
At 1000 ARK ROYAL, FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESTER and
FOXHOUND arrived back at Gibraltar.
23rd and 24th
– The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
25th
– The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At 1830
aircraft carrier FURIOUS, with 64 Hurricanes embarked for Malta and 9 Swordfish
of 816 Sqd, light cruiser HERMIONE, and the destroyers LEGION and LANCE, from
the Home Fleet, and destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESTER, FOXHOUND and FURY,
who had joined west of Gibraltar on the 24/6/41, arrived at Gibraltar]
On arrival FURIOUS moored stern to stern with ARK
ROYAL and 22 Hurricanes and their pilots were transferred to ARK ROYAL
26th
– At 0400 RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), ARK
ROYAL, HERMIONE (Fitted with a Type 279 Radar), and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8),
FORESTER, FURY, LANCE and LEGION sailed from Gibraltar on Operation RAILWAY 1.
[Operation
RAILWAY 1 was the next 'club run' for Force H, delivering Hurricanes to Malta]
27th – At 0500 in approximate position 39N, 3E,
ARK ROYAL commenced flying off the 22 Hurricanes, the RAF provided an escort of
Blenheims from Gibraltar. One Hurricane crashed on landing the remaining 21
Hurricanes arrived safely at Malta.
28th – At 0930 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
FURIOUS transferred 26 Hurricanes to ARK ROYAL.
[The next
'club run' for Force H was Operation RAILWAY II the flying off to Malta of 26
Hurricanes from ARK ROYAL and 16 Hurricanes from FURIOUS. Some of the
Hurricanes were tropicalised type IIC's
which were fitted with four 20mm cannon]
At 1800 Operation RAILWAY II commenced with Force A
comprising FURIOUS, HERMIONE, and the destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, LANCE and
LEGION sailing from Gibraltar and feinting to the west. After dark Force B
reversed course and steered easterly.
29th – At 0130 Force B comprising RENOWN (Flag
CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, and destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FURY, FORESTER, WISHART
and AVONVALE.
At 0700 Force A and Force B joined forces. WISHART and AVONVALE detached and
returned to Gibraltar.
30th – At 0430 FURIOUS, FEARLESS, LANCE and
LEGION detached and moved to the south in preparation for flying off the
Hurricanes.
At 0515 in approximate position 39N, 3E, ARK ROYAL commenced flying off her 26
Hurricanes; the RAF provided an escort of Blenheims (possibly a detachment from
110 Sqd) from Gibraltar.
[At 0630 FURIOUS
commenced flying off her 16 Hurricanes; the RAF provided an escort of
Blenheims. The first 9 Hurricanes were flown off without problems; the
tenth aircraft crashed into the bridge structure during takeoff and a long
range fuel tank fell off starting a fire on the flight deck. The accident
caused the death of 12 and injured 10. The accident prevented the last six
aircraft from being flown off.
35 Hurricanes
arrived safely at Malta. On arrival some of the Hurricanes formed 126 Sqd]
[On 30/6/41 Somerville received a signal
from the Admiralty advising him that the RENOWN would be relieved by the
REPULSE so that RENOWN could return to the UK for a long-awaited refit]
JULY
[On 1/7/41
Somerville was advised by the Admiralty that the REPULSE would be available to relieve the RENOWN around the end of the
month. Somerville informed the Admiralty that he was convinced that the REPULSE
was totally unsuited for any operation which involved facing modern heavy ships
or aircraft. The Admiralty, after consideration of Somerville's opinion,
changed their orders so that, on 16/7/41, when the RENOWN was ordered home to
refit she was to be relieved instead by the battleship NELSON]
1st
– At 0530 ARK ROYAL flew off the Swordfish of
818 Sqd for transfer to the FURIOUS.
At 0600 ARK ROYAL landed on the 9 Swordfish of 816
Sqd from FURIOUS.
At 1000 Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
2nd to 20th – The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[4/7/41 the
FURIOUS and troopships SS SCYTHIA 19761grt and SS CAMERONIA 16297grt, escorted
by light cruiser HERMIONE and the destroyers LANCE, LEGION, WISHART, and FURY
departed Gibraltar for the Clyde]
(The next
operation for Force H was Operation SUBSTANCE. This involved the passing of a
convoy, GM 1, consisting of 6 MT ships and a personnel ship; together with
troops embarked in the escorting warships to Malta. Also to cover the passage
of convoy MG 1, 7 empty MT ships, from Malta to Gibraltar. For the operation
Force H was reinforced by a battleship, three cruisers and 5 destroyers from
the Home Fleet. Force X was the designated escort to take GM 1 through to Malta
and Force H was the designated covering force)
[At 0145/20/7/41
the light cruiser EDINBURGH (Flag of
Rear Admiral E N Syfret, 18thCS), cruiser minelayer MANXMAN, and the destroyers
HMAS NESTOR, LIGHTNING, FARNDALE, AVON VALE and ERIDGE sailed from Gibraltar to
take over the escort of convoy WC 9C. The convoy comprised the MT ships, MV
DEUCALION 7740grt, MV DURHAM 10893grt, SS CITY OF PRETORIA 8046grt, MV
MELBOURNE STAR 12086grt, MV PORT CHALMERS 8535grt and MV SYDNEY STAR 11219grt.
At 1200 in position 36N, 9-10W, EDINBURGH, MANXMAN, and destroyers NESTOR,
LIGHTNING, FARNDALE, AVON VALE and ERIDGE joined convoy WC 9C.
Following which; the destroyers FEARLESS, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FURY, FORESIGHT
and FORESTER detached for Gibraltar.
At 2345 convoy WS 9C
entered the Strait of Gibraltar. There was thick fog in the Strait which caused
problems with timings in the early part of Operation SUBSTANCE]
21st –
[At 0145
having passed through the Strait of Gibraltar the convoy number changed to GM1.
At 0200 the RFA oiler MV BROWN RANGER 3400grt escorted by destroyer BEVERLEY
sailed from Gibraltar.
At 0320 hours cruisers MANCHESTER and ARETHUSA sailed from Gibraltar to join convoy
GM1]
[The troop
carrier MV LEINSTER 4302grt, with 914 military personnel embarked including RAF
maintenance personnel for Malta, sailed at the same time; but at 0400 in the
fog she ran aground off Carnero Point, south of
Algeciras, Spain]
At 0430 Force H comprising RENOWN (Flag CINC Force H), battleship NELSON,
ARK ROYAL, HERMIONE and the destroyers FAULKNOR (D8), FEARLESS, FIREDRAKE,
FOXHOUND, FURY, FORESIGHT and FORESTER sailed from Gibraltar. Owing to the fog
all the units of Force H were ordered to proceed independently to the eastward
until daylight.
[At 0530 the destroyers
COSSACK (D4), MAORI and SIKH sailed from Gibraltar, these vessels should have been
escorting the LEINSTER]
At 0600 all
the ships of Force H had formed on RENOWN.
[At 0630 three
Swordfish from Gibraltar airfield arrived over ARK ROYAL. They were ordered to
search ahead for 40 miles to locate and report the position of all ships. These
aircraft reported sighting LEINSTER, although at the time she was aground on
the Spanish coast]
[At 0630 a RAF Sunderland
1of 204 Sqd from Gibraltar arrived over the fleet and commenced A/S patrol
ahead]
At 0630
hours Somerville signalled that the ships formed on RENOWN would be known as
Group 4, and those formed on the MT ships as Group 5. (This was because Forces
H and X were mixed up and would not revert to H and X until the Skerki Channel
was reached)
ARK ROYAL
maintained a section of Fulmars ranged on deck whilst the RAF Sunderlands from Gibraltar maintained A/S patrols ahead.
[At 0815 COSSACK, MAORI
and SIKH joined Group 4]
[At 0915 Somerville was
informed by VA North Atlantic that LEINSTER was aground.
Because the RAF
personnel were urgently required at Malta, Somerville did consider sending
HERMIONE back to embark them, but rejected the move on several grounds]
At 1000
clocks were advanced by one hour.
At 1230
Group 4 now comprising RENOWN, NELSON, ARK ROYAL, HERMIONE and destroyers
FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, COSSACK, MAORI and SIKH, was abeam and to the north of
Group 5.
[At 1255 RENOWN in
position 36-28N, 03-16W, a merchant ship, probably Vichy French, was sighted
westbound, 15 miles north of RENOWN]
At 1500
Group 4 altered course to 060¼ to open out from Group 5.
At 1600 the
two groups were 30 miles apart.
[At 1900 RENOWN in
position 37-02N, 00-41W, a merchant ship, probably Vichy French, was sighted
northbound, 10 miles E.S.E of RENOWN]
22nd – At 0400 as dawn was breaking,
Group 4 was in position 38-16N, 01-59E; the sea was calm, the sky cloudless and
the wind was a light breeze from the north east. So that ARK ROYAL could
operate her aircraft, Group 4 altered course to 070¼.
[Commencing at 0400 the
destroyers commenced refuelling in batches from the oiler
RFA MV BROWN RANGER who was escorted by the destroyer BEVERLEY]
At 0700 with
Group 4 in position 38-41N, 03-03E, Group 4 altered course to 130¼.
At 0715 ARK
ROYAL flew off fighter and A/S patrols.
[At 0810 one of ARK ROYALs aircraft reported a southbound
ship 18 miles south west of Group 4. It was estimated that it would pass 13
miles ahead of Group 5 at 1230]
[At 0850 an
unidentified floatplane was sighted about 10 miles north of Group 4; and chased
away by ARK ROYAL's Fulmars. A few
minutes later an Italian signal was intercepted timed at 0850, which appeared
to only refer to Group 4]
At 1200 when
in position 37-41N, 04-32E Group 4 reversed course to the westward to close the
distance from Group 5.
At 1400
Group 4 turned east. At the same time aircraft were detected passing 25 miles
north of RENOWN. ARK ROYAL flew off six Fulmars but they failed to intercept.
[At 1453 a visual
signal was passed to the escorting RAF Sunderland to locate Group 5 and inform
RA 18thCS that group 4 would remain 20 miles to the eastward of Group 5 during
the night and close during the day.
At 1732 the Sunderland
returned to Group 4 and signalled Group 5 were bearing 240¼, 25 miles from
RENOWN. She also signalled that the RA CS18 reported that a Vichy merchant ship
had passed northbound 9 miles ahead of Group 5 at 1300; also that all the
destroyers had had been fuelled during the day from the BROWN RANGER and that
Group 5 would pass through 37-40N, 6-25E at 0300/23]
At 1800 in
position 37-49N, 05-04E Group 4 streamed paravanes.
At 2030
Group 4 turned west.
[At 2315 when in
position 38-03N, 05-45E, proceeding at 15 knots on course 085¼, NESTOR, who was
on the starboard wing of Group 4s destroyer screen reported a torpedo
approaching from starboard. RENOWN carried out a drastic turn to port shortly
afterwards 4 explosions were felt, the closest about a cable ahead of RENOWN.
Whilst on the surface
on patrol off Bougie, Algeria, the Italian submarine
DIASPRO fired four torpedoes against, what she reported was an aircraft
carrier, but failed to hit it anything. NESTOR who had heard the torpedoes
running, then launched an attack on the DIASPRO who then fired two torpedoes
against the NESTOR, narrowly missing NESTOR]
23rd – At 0648 ARK ROYAL flew off
the first fighter patrol of the day, and Group 4 closed Group 5.
[At 0657 RENOWN
reported a shadowing aircraft in sight ahead of Group 4]
At 0700 ARK
ROYAL flew off fighters to intercept the shadower but due to low Sun and mist
they failed intercept.
[At 0729 a second
shadowing aircraft was reported 10 miles to the north. But again the fighters
failed to intercept]
At 0745
Group 4 took up position on the port side (north) of Group 5 in a flexible
column with the objective of providing AA protection. RENOWN and HERMIONE
remained in loose contact with ARK ROYAL to provide her with radar early
warning and protective AA fire.
At 0910 a group
of 8 enemy aircraft was detected at 60 miles bearing 055¼; and ARK ROYAL
launched 7 more Fulmars lead by Lt Cdr Sholto
Douglas, CO of 807 Sqd, to join the four on patrol to meet the attackers.
[At 0930 EDINBURGH of
Group 5 recorded a formation of enemy bombers 40 miles away being attacked by
two groups of fighters from ARK ROYAL. Also an enemy bomber formation was
recorded approaching from ahead, 24 miles distant.
This turned out to be
synchronized attack by 8 high level bombers and 7 torpedo bombers. The Fulmars
concentrated on the interception the high level bombers, whose attack was
broken up and failed, but the torpedo bombers were not seen until it was too
late for the Fulmars to intercept]
[At 0942 in 37-40N,
8-20E the air attack commenced and developed into a synchronised high level
bombing attack by the 8 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79's of 280 and 283 Squadr“glie,
from Elmas, Sardinia, flying from north to south and a torpedo attack
from ahead by 7 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79's
of 32 Stormo, from Decimomannu, Sardinia.
By 0947 the attack was
over.
In the attack the
destroyer FEARLESS, who was positioned on the starboard bow of the screen, was
torpedoed on the port side aft, abreast the 3inch gun, 26 crew were killed.
Both engines failed, all electrical power was lost and a fuel fire started aft,
causing FEARLESS to be entirely disabled. Somerville ordered FORESTER to take
off the crew and sink FEARLESS. This action was completed by 1055 hours.
Also torpedoed in the
attack was the cruiser MANCHESTER who was hit on the port side aft. MANCHESTER
had 26 crew killed and 1 wounded, also 13 military personnel were killed and 4
wounded (MANCHESTER had embarked 750 military
personnel, mostly the 8th Battalion
King's Own Royal Regiment). She was severely damaged and only her
starboard outer shaft was operational. Somerville ordered MANCHESTER back to
Gibraltar escorted by the destroyer AVON VALE]
[In the attack the Fulmars shot
down two SM 79s of 283 Squadr“glie and
lost three of their number, one from 807 Sqd and two from 808 Sqd. Sub Lt KG
Grant RNVR, and his gunner Leading Airman H. McLeod of 807 Sqd and Lt AJ
Kindersley and his gunner Petty Officer FA Barnes of 808 Sqd were lost. A crew
from 808 Sqd were picked up by a destroyer]
[The AVON DALE picked up six Italian airmen from one of the shot down SM
79s]
At 1011 in position 37-47N, 08-22E, 5 high level bombers, probably Fiat
BR.20's, attacked Group 4 from north to south at 17,000 feet, bombs fell close
to FOXHOUND and SIKH who were on the port bow of the screen. Five Fulmars who
were at 1000 feet at the time attempted to make an interception but could not
gain the height quickly enough to make contact.
[At 1304 EDINBURGH of Group 5 was in approximate position 37-47N, 9E]
[At 1643 a group of enemy aircraft
was detected at 43 miles, flying at 5000 feet, bearing 338¼, closing the
convoy.
At 1658 five Savoia-Marchetti SM 79
torpedo bombers led by a Cant Z 506B floatplane were sighted low down on the
port quarter, (coming out of the Sun) being chased by four Fulmars. The Fulmars
broke up the attack and shot down a SM 79 and damaged the Z 506b, no attack
developed on the convoy]
[At 1658 Force H passed through the area of the morning air battle and
the FORESIGHT picked up four Italian airmen from one of the shot down SM 79s]
At 1706 ARK ROYAL flew off 11
Fulmars.
At 1713 the entrance to the Skerki Channel was reached. HERMIONE was
detached from Group 4 to take MANCHESTER's place in Group 5.
The two forces now resumed their planned nomenclature of Force X and Force
H. Force H now comprised RENOWN, NELSON, ARK ROYAL, DUNCAN, FAULKNOR, FURY,
FORESIGHT, FORESTER and LIGHTENING and remained to the west of the Skerki Channel.
[A section of ARK ROYALs Fulmars
remained over Force X until 1830]
[Between 1747 and 1803, 9 Beaufighter 1Cs of
252 Sqd, from Malta arrived over Force X]
[At 1805 the crippled MANCHESTER escorted by the AVON DALE was attacked
by three torpedo bombers; no hits were achieved]
At 1922 ARK ROYAL landed on the section of Fulmars that had been covering
Force X.
[At 1945 north of Cape Bon, a high level bombing attack took place on
the convoy, in which FIREDRAKE was seriously damaged when she was narrowly
missed by a 500kg bomb which exploded on her starboard side, close alongside
No.1 boiler room, causing severe structural damage; the side plating which was
blown inwards from upper deck to bilge keel over most of the length of No.1
boiler room, and over the fore end of No.2 boiler room; both boiler rooms were
flooded and Nos.1 and 2 boilers actually shifted position as a result of the
blast. Syfret ordered ERIDGE to stand by FIREDRAKE.
By 2038 hours ERIDGE had FIREDRAKE under tow heading west for Gibraltar]
24th – At
0100 in position ARK ROYAL 37-42N, 07-17E and flew off 6 Swordfish fitted with
long range tanks to join 830 Sqd at Malta, All arrived safely.
At 0615 Force H was in position 37-35N, 05-15E. ARK ROYAL flew off two
Swordfish to locate the MANCHESTER. A further three Swordfish were flown off to
carry out a search between 000¡ and 100¡ to a depth of 50 miles to locate any
surface forces that might be in a position to attack the MANCHESTER.
[At 0710 the Swordfish reported
MANCHESTER in position 37-19N, 03-44E, listing to port, down by the stern and
leaving a large oil track. The search Swordfish failed to sight any enemy
surface forces]
[At 0816 a Cant Z.506B floatplane
shadower, from Elmas, Sardinina, was sighted 10 miles
east of RENOWN and was shot down by a Fulmar]
At 1000 Force H was in position 37-18N, 04-30E, steering, 290¼ at 18
knots.
[Convoy MG 1A, which had sailed from Malta commencing 0500/23/7/41. The
seven ship 'convoy' was escorted by the destroyer ENCOUNTER and comprised the
supply ship HMS BRECONSHIRE 10000grt, 18knots, MV AMERIKA 10218grt, 15knots, the
tanker MV H¯EGH HOOD 9351grt, 12knots, SS SETTLER 6202grt, 14knots, RFA tanker
MV SVEN¯R 7616grt, 12knots, MV TALABOT 6798grt, 16¼Knots and MV
THERMOPYLAE 6655grt, 15knots. When sighted it was in three groups, ranging from
20 miles to 40 miles east of Galita Island; with the SVEN¯R just having left
Malta, delayed when she hit the breakwater on departure. The ENCOUNTER was with
the second group.
The ships of the convoy were following a course that took them 20 miles
south of Pantellaria to Kilibia
light and into French territorial waters around Cape Bon and south of Zembra Island to a position 30¡, 10 miles from Cani Rocks]
[ERIDGE and FIREDRAKE were south of Galita Island making 8 knots and
AVON VALE and MANCHESTER were about 60 miles west of RENOWN making 11 knots]
[At 1230 the ENCOUNTER who was in company with AMERIKA and THERMOPYLAE of convoy MG 1A, reported aircraft in the
vicinity and later reported an attack by torpedo bombers; no hits were
achieved.
At 1300 the ENCOUNTER group was subjected to a high level bombing attack,
again without effect.
At 1345 ENCOUNTER reported two unknown ships bearing 283¡, 12 miles from
position 37-18N, 08-35E; these vessels were later identified as FIREDRAKE and
ERIDGE ]
[At around 1300, north of Algiers, the MANCHESTER and AVON DALE were
joined by the destroyers VIDETTE and VIMY fro Gibraltar]
[At 1342 Group 1 of convoy MG 1A that
consisted of BRECONSHIRE and TALABOT
was in position 37-19N, 8E, when they requested help to defend them against a
high level bomber attack. This attack achieved near misses but no damage]
At 1345 in approximate position 37-48N, 03-24E, Force H reversed course
and steered eastward.
[At 1430 the ENCOUNTER detached from group 2 and proceeded ahead at 28
knots to join group 1.
At 1740 ENCOUNTER was attacked unsuccessfully by three high level
bombers.
At 2140 ENCOUNTER joined group 1]
At 1445 in position 37-45N, 03-47E ARK ROYAL flew off 5 Swordfish to
search to a depth of 90 miles between bearings 000¼ and 100¼. Nothing was
sighted.
[At 1800 the cruisers of Force X and MANXMAN sailed from Malta. Force X
then set course westerly to RV with Force H
At 1845 the destroyers of Force X sailed from Malta, except for FARNDALE
who had developed condenser trouble and remained at Malta. The destroyers
sailed south of Pantelleria and when off the island
the SIKH suddenly stopped in a cloud of steam of boiling water, she was left to
sort out her boiler problem and follow on. The remaining destroyers continued
at high speed towards the RV with Force H]
25th – At
0130 when in approximate position 37-40N, 08-15E, Force H reversed course and
steered westward.
At 0330 Force H reversed course and steered eastwards to RV with Force X.
[At 0512 a flashing light was sighted to the north east, of RENOWN]
At 0520 ARK ROYAL flew off a Swordfish armed with DC' to investigate the
flashing light sighed by RENOWN. It turned out to be the Italian hospital ship
SORRENTO, she was small ship of about 500grt, and was thought to be searching
for survivors of the air attack that had taken place on the morning of the
23rd.
At 0556 in position 37-37N, 07-32E, ARK ROYAL flew off 3 Swordfish to
carry out a search for enemy forces between Force H and Force X. Nothing was
sighted.
At 0615 ARK ROYAL flew off a fighter patrol. ARK ROYAL maintained a two
Swordfish A/S patrol throughout the day.
[At 0715 a shadower, reported as a
Cant, was sighted but the fighters failed to intercept]
[At 0748 the cruisers of Force X
were sighted and reported by ARK ROYALs aircraft as bearing 110¡, 22 miles from
RENOWN and the destroyers six miles astern]
At 0815 in position 37-49N, 08-56E, Force H RVed with Force X, which was
minus FARNDALE who had remained at Malta with condenser trouble. Course was
then set for Gibraltar at NELSON's best speed.
[At 0822 a Cant Z 506B shadower, from
Elmas, Sardinia, was shot down by ARK ROYALs Fulmars. However before being shot
down the enemy aircraft shot down an 807 Sqd Fulmar, the crew of which were
killed. The destroyer FOXHOUND picked up four Italian airmen from the Cant]
[At 0930 after FIREDRAKE had been under tow for 37 hours the tow was
slipped and ERIDGE then towed FIREDRAKE from alongside for two hours, during
which 10½ tons of feed water and 2 tons of drinking water was
transferred to FIREDRAKE. Following which the tow was cast off and FIREDRAKE
was able to proceed at 9 knots under her own power]
[At 1035 a large group of aircraft,
approximately 20, was detected bearing 080¼, 69 miles and closing.
At 1100 the first Fulmars made
contact with the SM 79s.
At 1103 another section of Fulmars
made contact with the SM 79s.
The attack was broken up by the
Fulmars and the attackers jettisoned their bombs away on RENOWN's port quarter.
Three SM 79s were shot down but two Fulmars were also lost. S/L Grant and
Leading Airman McLeod of 807 Sqd were lost; but at 1309 Lt RC Cockburn RNVR,
and Petty Officer Airman WE Cuttriss of 808 Sqd, were
picked up by the destroyer NESTOR]
[At 1610 a signal was intercepted from the FIREDRAKE reporting that at
1315 her position was 37-10N, 4E, course 270¡, speed 9knots, proceeding under
her own steam escorted by ERIDGE and AVON DALE. The AVON DALE had joined after
being relieved by WISHART as escort to MANCHESTER]
At 1720 FORESTER was detached to proceed at her best speed for Gibraltar
to land the wounded and survivors from FEARLESS.
26th
– Force
H and X steered west towards Gibraltar.
During the day the units of Force H and X passed FIREDRAKE escorted by ERIDGE
and AVON VALE. Somerville signalled all the ships of Force to cheer the
FIREDRAKE as they passed her, and every ship with all their crews on deck
cheered FIREDRAKE as they sailed by.
[At 0239 the MANCHESTER and the destroyers VIDETTE and VIMY arrived at
Gibraltar]
[At 0800 Group 1 of convoy MG
1A, the BRECONSHIRE and TALABOT escorted
by the ENCOUNTER arrived at Gibraltar]
[At 1530 Group 2 of convoy MG 1A, the AMERIKA and THERMOPYLAE arrived at Gibraltar]
27th
- Force H
and X steered west towards Gibraltar.
[At 0215 the SETTLER of convoy MG 1A arrived at Gibraltar]
[At 0300 the ARETHUSA, HERMIONE and MANXMAN were detached to proceed to
Gibraltar]
At 0600 ARK ROYAL, EDINBURGH and 4 destroyers were detached to proceed to
Gibraltar.
At 0700 ARK ROYAL, EDINBURGH and 4 destroyers arrived at Gibraltar.
[At 0900 RENOWN and the remainder of the force entered Gibraltar]
[At 0915 the H¯EGH HOOD of convoy MG 1A arrived at
Gibraltar]
28th
-
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At 0500 the
SVEN¯R of convoy MG 1A arrived at
Gibraltar]
[So ended Operation SUBSTANCE and was in . All
the ships of convoy GM 1 had arrived at Malta and delivered 65,000 tons of
food, equipment, fuel and ammunition. The 7 MT ships of MG 1 had reached
Gibraltar safety. Somerville was surprised to learn that a number of women and
children had been embarked in the ships of MG 1. Had he have known before the
vessels sailed he said he would have provided more destroyer escorts.
However, there remained the unfinished business of transporting the
military personnel who were on the LEINSTER and the MANCHESTER to Malta]
29th
-
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
30th – At
0030 in thick fog Force H comprising ARK ROYAL and destroyers COSSACK (D4),
MAORI, NESTOR, FAULKNOR (D8), FURY, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, ENCOUNTER,
and ERIDGE sailed from Gibraltar on Operation STYLE.
[The next operation for Force H was Operation STYLE. This operation was
necessary to convey the military personnel and equipment that had been embarked
in the LEINSTER and MANCHESTER to Malta. The forces involved were split into
Force H, Force X and Force S. Force X carried the military personnel and
equipment to Malta while Force H would create a diversion and provide distant cover.
Force S was the refuelling force]
At 0600 the battleship NELSON (Flag CINC Force H) and RENOWN sailed from
Gibraltar on Operation STYLE, they should have sailed with the rest of Force H
but were unable to leave due to the fog.
The combined Force H then steered eastwards then north easterly to pass
between the Spanish mainland and Ibiza.
Force S comprising the RFA oiler BROWN RANGER escorted by AVON VALE sailed
from Gibraltar.
31st
– At
0000 Force H was steering north easterly off the Spanish coast.
[At around 0600 Force X comprising the light cruisers HERMIONE and
ARETHUSA and cruiser minelayer MANXMAN with destroyers SIKH and LIGHTNING
sailed from Gibraltar with 1746 military personnel embarked and 130 tons of
stores for Malta]
At 1900 in position 40-23N, 04-05E, COSSACK and MAORI were detached from
Force H and proceeded at 25 knots to Alghero, Sardinia.
AUGUST
1st
– At
0001 Force H were north east of the Balearic Islands, steering easterly.
At 0310 in position 40-47N, 6-20E ARK ROYAL flew off a strike force of 9
Swordfish armed with bombs and flares to carry out a bombing attack on Alghero
airfield.
[At around 0315 the COSSACK entered Alghero harbour and turned on her
searchlight and fired star shell to simulate a commando raid and to search out
any vessels that may have been in the harbour. At the same time the MAORI was
off Porto Conte firing star shell and bombarding the seaplane slipway and
buildings. No shipping was present at Alghero but star shells set alight a
building on the outskirts of the town. After 15 minutes both ships withdrew and
set course to rejoin Force H.
It was later discovered that the Italians thought these actions might be
the prelude to a landing, but not necessarily in Sardinia. Orders were issued
to area defence commands in Sicily and all round the Tyrrhenian Sea as well as
in Sardinia to be on the alert for a landing]
[At around 0415 the 9 Swordfish
attacked the aerodrome at Alghero, where buildings were hit, including the
Eastern hangar. No aircraft were seen either on the ground or in the air]
At around 0550 in position 40-00N, 06-30E, the Swordfish strike force
arrived back over the ARK ROYAL and commenced landing.
The third Swordfish to land which was from 810 Sqd, piloted by Lt CM
Jewell, was still armed with a 40lb GP bomb which had hung up. As the aircraft
touched down the bomb detached, fell on the deck and exploded killing the
pilot, the observer, Sub Lt LA Royall, and the TAG. The bomb also blew a hole
in the deck and killed four members of the flight deck party.
The remaining six Swordfish had to circle until the wreckage was cleared
and the hole plated over.
At 0700 Force H steered south to provide cover for Force X.
During the day the Force H destroyers re-fuelled from the BROWN RANGER.
2nd
– During
the day Force H were cruising between the Balearic Islands and Sardinia.
[At 0300 Force X was in position 36 21N, 12-40E when the HERMIONE
sighted the Italian submarine TEMBIEN on the surface recharging her batteries.
The HERMIONE rammed the submarine, and sank; there were no survivors. The
HERMIONE sustained a 20 ft gash to her bows, but she carried on without
stopping.
At 0600 Force X arrived at Valetta and disembarked there military
personal and stores
At 1600 Force X departed Malta with the destroyer FARNDALE her condenser
problems overcome. However, FARNDALE with further problems that reduced her
speed to 18 knots had to return to Malta for additional repairs]
3rd
- At 0600 in position 37-26N, 7-48E, Force H
RVed with Force X. Course was then set for Gibraltar at RENOWN's best speed,
which was much reduced due to damage to her port bulge.
4th
– At 1900 Force H and Force X arrived
back at Gibraltar.
5th to 13th
– The ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
[On 6/8/41 Vizeadmiral Donitz stated that
demands that German U-Boats should be sent to the Mediterranean would receive
further consideration]
14th
- NELSON, ARK ROYAL, HERMIONE and the
destroyers NESTOR, ENCOUNTER, FURY, FORESIGHT and FORESTER sailed from
Gibraltar to carry out exercises in the western Mediterranean.
15th
– Exercising in the western
Mediterranean.
16th
- Exercising in the western Mediterranean.
[NELSON and HERMIONE detached and returned to
Gibraltar]
17th
-
ARK ROYAL
and the destroyers NESTOR, ENCOUNTER, FURY, FORESIGHT and FORESTER arrived back
at Gibraltar.
18th to 20th
– The ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
21st - At 2200 Force H
comprising NELSON (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, HERMIONE and the destroyers
NESTOR, FORESTER, FURY, FORESIGHT and ENCOUNTER sailed from Gibraltar and
steered east into the Mediterranean on Operation MINCEMEAT.
[Admiral Somerville had his first encounter with the cruiser minelayer
MANXMAN in Operation SUBSTANCE and was impressed with her mine laying
capability and speed. On completion of Operation STYLE he and his staff set
about planning and operation in which the MANXMAN could be used in her designed
capacity. He came up with Operation MINCEMEAT which was a plan to lay mines in
the Gulf of Genoa under cover of a diversion carried out by Force H.
As part of the deception, before Force H sailed a
number of soldiers in uniform with full kit were embarked on warships at
Gibraltar in full view of observers in Spain. The ruse worked, because when the
intelligence was communicated to Supermarina in Rome it was assumed that a
convoy was to run to Malta. So the Italian Fleet were sailed so as to meet an
inferior British force south of Sardinia]
[On 14/8/41 the MANXMAN was lying in the Kyle of Lochalsh;
when her CO received a telegram from the Admiralty, stating that for her next
operation it is desired that Manxman should resemble the French destroyer LEOPARD
as far as is reasonably practicable. This work was carried out over the next 24
hours.
On 15/8/41 MANXMAN, disguised as the French
destroyer LEOPARD, sailed for Milford Haven to load mines.
At around 1800 on 17/8/41 the MANXMAN having loaded
168 mines, sailed from Milford Haven for Gibraltar]
22nd - Force H steering eastward simulating a
Malta reinforcement operation.
[At 0100/22/8/41 MANXMAN arrived at Gibraltar where she refuelled and
received her orders for Operation MINCEMEAT]
[On 22/8/41 Hitler raised the subject of sending U-Boats into the
Mediterranean with Grossadmiral Raeder. Raeder agreed
with Dontiz that the U-Boats should be concentrated
in the Atlantic. Raeder believed that the conditions in the Mediterranean were
not suitable for U-Boats and that at least 40 boats would be required.
Hitler thought that North Africa was very important
to the British and the Afrika Corps might be relieved
by a few boats, say six.
Raeder proposed a discussion with the Duce for the provision of an Italian base, Hitler agreed.
However Raeder thought the Duce would not agree]
23rd - Force H steering eastward simulating a
Malta reinforcement operation.
[At 0200/23/8/41 the MANXMAN sailed from Gibraltar in her disguise as
the French LEOPARD and with her visible crew dressed in French uniforms. She steered
easterly and then sailed between the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands,
simulating a Vichy French ship sailing from Oran to Toulon. Off Toulon she was
to turn easterly along the Rivera coast heading for the Gulf of Genoa]
At around 0900 Force H
altered course northerly steering for 39-30N, 6E.
[At around 0700/ 23/8/41 the Italian battleships LITTORIO and VITTORIO VENETO
with six destroyers departed Taranto. The heavy cruisers TRIESTE, TRENTO,
BOLZANO and GORIZIA with four destroyers departed Messina. Five destroyers
departed Trapani to join the Italian force. They then steered for a position
south of Sardinia from where they expected to met an inferior Force H and bring
it to battle.
The light cruisers ABRUZZI, ATTENDOLO and
MONTECUCCOLI of the 8th Cruiser Division and five destroyers departed Palermo
and steered for a position north of Tunisia off Galita Island. This force was
intended to intercept the expected convoy]
At 2000 in approximate position 39-30N, 6E, ARK
ROYAL, HERMIONE and one destroyer detached and made for a position to the west
of Alghero. The NELSON and four destroyers proceeded to the approximate
position 41-45N, 7-30E to provide distant cover.
24th - In the early hours of
the morning in approximate position 40-30N, 8E, ARK ROYAL launched a strike of ten
Swordfish. The aircraft dropped incendiary bombs in the cork woods west and
southeast of Tempio, Sardinia
At approximately 0500 in position 41N, 6E
Force H reformed and set course for Valencia, Spain.
[Between 0208 and 0338/24/8/41 the MANXMAN carrying out the laying of
her mines off the port of Leghorn (Livorno).
She then set course to return to
Gibraltar at 10 knots.
By 0415 she had passed Gorgona
Island she then increased speed to 33 knots which she maintained most of the
way back to Gibraltar]
[At around 1100/24/8/41 Somerville received a report from Malta of a
sighting made by a Malta based reconnaissance aircraft of an Italian force 30
miles south of Cagliari]
[At around 1500/24/8/41 Somerville received a report from the submarine
UPHOLDER, on patrol off the western coast of Sicily, who at 1250 had sighted a number
of warships 40 miles northwest of Sicily. They included a battleship, two cruisers
and six destroyers. These vessels were steering west north west, towards the
position of the force reported by Malta. The UPHOLDER fired her last two
torpedoes from a range of 3 miles. One explosion was heard, following which she
was DCed]
[Somerville now had
confirmation that the Italian Fleet was at sea and close to his position so he
ordered the ARK ROYAL to launch reconnaissance aircraft to locate the Italian
Fleet which he expected to be closing Force H from the south east]
At 1615 ARK ROYAL launched Swordfish to
search for 110 miles to the eastward. These aircraft sighted nothing as the
Italian Fleet had reversed course to stay close to its land based air cover.
At 1900 hours Force H were six miles off
Valencia at which time ARK ROYAL had 15 Fulmars and 10 Swordfish flying over
Force H in a show of force to counter Italian propaganda that Force H no longer
existed.
25th
– Force H en route
to Gibraltar.
[Following sighting reports from reconnaissance aircraft who had sighted
Force H returning to Gibraltar; Supermarina decided that the Italian Fleet had
forced the British to abandon their 'Malta convoy'. So at around 1000/25/8/41
the Italian Fleet was ordered to return to its bases]
[At 1030/25/8/41 the MANXMAN arrived back at Gibraltar]
26th – At 0200 Force H arrived back at
Gibraltar.
[At 0600 in position 38-22N, 15-38E the submarine TRIUMPH sighted
a number of ships to the North-Westward (these were
the heavy cruisers TRIESTE, TRENTO, BOLZANO
and GORIZIA and four destroyers returning to Messina).
At 0638 Triumph fired
two torpedoes from 5300 yards at the rear cruiser, the BOLZANO, one of the
torpedoes hit the cruiser's stern, blowing off her screws and rudder. She was
later towed to Messina]
27th to 30th
–
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[On
28/8/41 the morning
Chiefs of Staff conference decided that a supply
convoy should be sent through the Western Mediterranean to Malta with further
essential supplies. Because of the importance of the supplies reaching Malta it
was agreed that the escort would be as large as possible. So the date of the
Operation had to be chosen when the necessary warships could be spared
from the Home Fleet and North Atlantic to reinforce Force H at Gibraltar. The
Operation was given the name HALBEARD]
SEPTEMBER
1st to 6th –
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
7th -
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At
1500/7/9/41 the aircraft carrier FURIOUS and the destroyers COSSACK, LEGION,
ZULU and LIVELY arrived at Gibraltar from the UK. The FURIOUS had embarked 49 RAF
Hurricane IIs, that were to be flown off ARK ROYAL and
FURIOUS to Malta.
Before entering
Gibraltar harbour FURIOUS flew off nine Swordfish of 812 Sqd to North Front]
The FURIOUS moored stern to stern with ARK ROYAL
and transferred 26 Hurricanes to ARK ROYAL.
8th
–
At around 0100 ARK ROYAL (Flag CINC Force H) with 26 Hurricanes embarked for
Malta, and the destroyers GURKHA, FORESTER, LIVELY and LANCE departed Gibraltar
on Operation STATUS.
[Operation
STATUS was another 'club run' to fly off Hurricanes to Malta. Because ARK
ROYALs deck was full of the Hurricanes the aerial A/S patrols were carried out
by RAF Catalinas, possibly of 209 Sqd, from Gibraltar]
At around 0300 the light cruiser HERMOINE joined
the force.
9th
–
At around 0330 north of Galite Island ARK ROYAL commenced flying off the first
of the 26 Hurricanes for Malta. After flying off 14 Hurricanes the operation
was aborted.
[The
Hurricanes were to be guided to Malta by Bristol Blenheim IVs of 107 Sqd but
only two Blenheims arrived from Gibraltar. So after flying off 14 Hurricanes
the operation was aborted and ARK ROYAL, with 12 Hurricanes still embarked, set
course to return to Gibraltar]
10th
–
At around 0700 ARK ROYAL commenced flying on the nine Swordfish of 812 Squadron
from North Front.
At 0900 ARK ROYAL, light cruiser HERMOINE and the destroyers
GURKHA, FORESTER, LIVELY and LANCE arrived back at Gibraltar.
ARK ROYAL tied up alongside FURIOUS and transferred
the nine Swordfish of 810 Squadron to FURIOUS.
[At
1900/10/9/41the FURIOUS and the destroyers LEGION, FORESIGHT and FORESTER
sailed from Gibraltar]
At 2100 Force H comprising NELSON (Flag CINC Force
H), ARK ROYAL, HERMIONE, and destroyers ZULU, GURKHA, LANCE and LIVELY sailed
from Gibraltar on Operation STATUS II.
[Operation
STATUS II was a 'club run' to fly off RAF Hurricanes from the carriers ARK
ROYAL and FURIOUS; these were the balance of the aircraft that FURIOUS had
brought from the UK, the first tranche of which had been flown off during
Operation STATUS]
At sea Force H was joined by FURIOUS and the destroyers
LEGION, FORESIGHT and FORESTER.
11th
–
Force H steering easterly towards flying off position.
12th
- By 0800 ARK ROYAL had flown off twelve Hurricanes and FURIOUS a further
nineteen Hurricanes. One Hurricane crashed as it was taking off from FURIOUS, caught
fire and catapulted into the sea, the pilot was killed. Force H then turned for
Gibraltar steaming at 20 knots, FURIOUS's best speed.
[The
Hurricanes were guided to Malta by seven Bristol Blenheim IVs of 107 Sqd from
Gibraltar]
14th
- At 0400 all forces arrived back at Gibraltar.
15th to 19th
–
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[On
17/9/41 Donitz reported that two U-Boats were on en route to the Mediterranean
(the first one U 371 had sailed from Brest on 16/9/41) and two more would
follow shortly]
20th
–
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[During the early hours of the morning vessels in Gibraltar
harbour was attacked by 3 SLC Maiale (Italian human
torpedoes) from the Decima Flottiglia
MAS. The main Italian targets were the NELSON, who was tried up alongside the
south mole and the ARK ROYAL who was moored to buoy 27. However due to the patrolling
ML's who randomly dropped explosives the Maiales were
unable to attack their primary targets. But three merchant ships were attacked.
The merchant ships were the RFA oiler DENBYDALE
8145grt, the oil lighter FIONA SHELL 2444grt. FIONA SHELL was tied up alongside
DENBYDALE. FIONA SHELL was sunk and DENBYDALE was badly damaged. The third ship
attacked was the MV DURHAM 10893grt which was anchored in the roads and was
badly damaged. The DURHAM was in ballast and already damaged after being mined
on her return trip from Malta]
21st to 23rd
– The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[On 21/9/41 the first U-Boat to enter the
Mediterranean, U 371 passed through the Strait of Gibraltar]
24th – The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At 0900 the battleship RODNEY and destroyers HNethMS
ISAAC SWEERS, ORP PIORUN and ORP GARLAND arrived at Gibraltar, having detached
from convoy WS 11X, and commenced refuelling.
At 1800 Vice Admiral Somerville CINC Force H
transferred his flag from NELSON to RODNEY. This was part of a deception to
make spies in Spain believe that Force H was remaining at Gibraltar. However
although Somerville's flag continued to be flown by RODNEY, Somerville slipped
back to the NELSON who then sailed with Somerville on board, but not flying his
flag, into the Atlantic]
[At 1815 the NELSON (Flag CINC
Force H) departed Gibraltar in
company with the destroyers ISAAC SWEERS, PIORUN and GARLAND and steered
westwards into the Atlantic, This was the commencement of Operation HALBERD. By
sailing NELSON westward Somerville hoped to convince the watching eyes that
NELSON was returning to the UK]
[Operation HALBERD was an operation to pass a supply convoy to Malta.
The convoy had formed off Orsay, as convoy WS 11X on
17/9/41 and consisted of CLAN MACDONALD 9,653grt, CLAN FERGUSON 7,347grt, AJAX
7,539grt, IMPERIAL STAR 10,733grt, CITY OF LINCOLN 8,039grt, ROWALLAN CASTLE
7,798grt, DUNEDIN STAR 11,168grt, CITY OF CALCUTTA 8,063grt, HM supply ship
BRECONSHIRE and
HM troopships PRINCESS BEATRIX, QUEEN EMMA, ROYAL
SCOTSMAN, ULSTER MONARCH and LEINSTER.
As the convoy passed through the Strait of Gibraltar,
Force Z which comprised the PRINCESS BEATRIX, QUEEN EMMA, ROYAL SCOTSMAN,
ULSTER MONARCH (whose ultimate destination was Freetown) and LEINSTER with
their escort of the corvettes JONQUIL, SPIREA and AZALEA detached to Gibraltar.
At 0130/25/9/41 the
convoy passed south of Europa Point and became
convoy GM2]
[At 1900 ZULU, GURKHA and LANCE arrived at
Gibraltar to refuel]
[At 2030 the RFA oiler MV BROWN RANGER 3,400grt (nominally capable of
14.5 knots but due to a fouled bottom her maximum speed was 11 knots) escorted
by the corvette FLEUR DE LYS sailed from Gibraltar to be in position to refuel
the destroyers on day 2]
[At 2130 in approximate position 36N, 6-20W the NELSON,
ISAAC SWEERS, PIORUN and GARLAND reversed
course and steered back towards the Strait of Gibraltar]
At 2330 the RODNEY, ARK ROYAL, light cruiser
HERMIONE, and destroyers DUNCAN (D13), FORESIGHT, FORESTER, LIVELY, ZULU,
GURKHA, LEGION and LANCE departed Gibraltar and sailed east to simulate a
normal sortie by Force H but in reality to take part in Operation HALBERD.
[Following the attack on Gibraltar harbour the Italian Supermarina was
expecting a reaction from the British and the arrival of the RODNEY at
Gibraltar led them to believe that it was the start of the British response. So
on receipt of the intelligence of RODNEYs arrival Supermarina
ordered the Italian Fleet to sea.
24/9/41 late in the evening, the Italian
battleships LITTORIO
(flag Admiral
Iachino CINC Regia Marina) and VITTORIO
VENETO with destroyers GRANATIERE, FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE, and GIOBERTI of the
13th Destroyer Division and DA RECCO, PESSAGNO, and FOLGORE of the 16th
Destroyer Division sailed from Naples and steered south westward to intercept
the RODNEY force.
26/9/41, heavy cruisers TRENTO (flag CS3
Rear Admiral Bruno Brinovesin),
TRIESTE, and GORIZIA
with destroyers CORAZZIERE, CARABINIERE, ASCARI, and LANCIERE of the 12th
Destroyer Division sailed from Messina and steered north, then westward to RV
with light cruisers ABRUZZI and ATTENDOLO with destroyers MAESTRALE, GRECALE,
and SCIROCCO of the 10th Destroyer Division, who sailed from Palermo to
intercept the convoy.
The two battleships and seven destroyers operated
as one group. The five cruisers and seven destroyers as the
second group. The remainder of the Italian Fleet could not sail due to
fuel shortages]
25th
– D1,
for Operation HALBEARD. The RODNEY and ARK ROYAL group steered
easterly into the Mediterranean.
[At about 0100 in approximate position 36N, 5-30W Force Z which
comprised the PRINCESS BEATRIX, QUEEN EMMA, ROYAL SCOTSMAN, ULSTER MONARCH
(whose ultimate destination was Freetown) and LEINSTER with their escort of the
corvettes JONQUIL, SPIREA and AZALEA detached from WS 11X for Gibraltar]
[At 0130 convoy WS 11X passed south of Europa Point and became convoy GM
2(OPERATION HALBEARD)]
At 0800 in approximate position 37N, 2W, the RODNEY and ARK ROYAL group
were joined company; following which the convoy and escorts were formed into
two groups, group 1 and group 2.
Group 1, comprising NELSON, ARK ROYAL, HERMIONE and destroyers COSSACK
(D4), ZULU, FORESIGHT, LAFOREY (D19) and LIGHTNING, preceded ahead of convoy
GM2; at 18 knots, steering a course to the south of the convoy.
[Group 2 comprised the battleship PRINCE OF WALES (flag of CINC 2BS and
2IC Home Fleet, Vice Admiral Alban Thomas Buckley Curteis),
RODNEY, the light cruisers KENYA (flag CS10 Rear Admiral Harold Martin Burrough, CINC close escort), EDINBURGH (flag CS18 Rear
Admiral Edward Neville Syfret), SHEFFIELD and
EURYALUS and the destroyers DUNCAN (D13), GURKHA, LEGION, LANCE, LIVELY, ORIBI,
ISAAC SWEERS, PIORUN, GARLAND, FURY, FARNDALE and HEYTHORP. Escorting convoy GM
2, comprising the supply ship HMS BRECONSHIRE and the merchant ships CLAN
MACDONALD, CLAN FERGUSON, AJAX, IMPERIAL STAR, CITY OF LINCOLN, ROWALLAN
CASTLE, DUNEDIN STAR, and CITY OF CALCUTTA]
At 1000 clocks were advance by one hour.
At 1105 ARK ROYAL flew off Swordfish A/S patrols, these were maintained
until dusk. During the day ARK ROYAL flew off 24 of her 27 Fulmars to carry out
exercises in interception. Two provided targets for a height finding exercise
and six flew round the two groups for recognition purposes.
At 1115 Group 1 sighted the oiler BROWN RANGER escorted by the FLEUR DE
LYS. The CINC Force H signalled FLEUR DE LYS to increase speed from 11 knots to
12½ knots. Although it was not known at the time, due to her fouled
bottom, the BROWN RANGER was unable to go faster.
[At 1800 Group 1 sighted two Vichy French merchant ships were sighted.
Several other unidentified ships were reported by ARK ROYAL's aircraft but
didn't sight Group 1]
26th – D2,
Group 1 and convoy GM2 and escort proceeded easterly towards Malta.
At approximately 0515 ARK ROYAL flew off a Swordfish for A/S patrol and
a section of three Fulmars as a CAP. The A/S and CAP were maintained through
the day until dusk.
At 0920 Group 1 reduced speed to 17 knots.
[At 0650 hours the first two destroyers were detached to refuel from
BROWN RANGER. However because of BROWN RANGER's slower than expected speed she
was 22 miles to the west of her expected position. This was to cause problems
throughout the day and refuelling of Group 2's 12 destroyers was not completed
until after dark]
During the day, Group 1 was ahead to the south eastward and out of sight
of the convoy.
[At 0932 lookouts on NELSON sighted a shadowing aircraft, bearing 150¡,
10 miles and flying very low; this aircraft was not detected by radar. Owing to
a complete failure of R/T in the Fulmar leaders aircraft the CAP could not be
vectored on to the bogie]
At 1048 Group 1 sighted the Swiss merchant SS
TUNISIAN. At 1537 hours Group 1was also sighted by two aircraft, though to be
RAF Hudson's so they were not intercepted.
[At 1200 the first ship of convoy MG 2, the SS MELBOURNE STAR, sailed
from Malta for Gibraltar. This vessel
was un-escorted]
At 1300 Group 1 reversed course to close
Group 2. ARK ROYAL and HERMIONE were stationed astern of Group 1 to allow ARK
ROYAL freedom of manoeuvre and for HERMIONE to provide AA protection and radar
cover.
At 1537 ZULU, NELSON and HERMIONE sighted two
aircraft low down to the eastward; ZULU reported them as probably SM 79's, but
since they appeared to be operating IFF they were thought to be RAF Hudsons.
At 1745 Group 1 altered course to 225¡.
At 1835 Group 1 streamed paravanes.
At 1900 Group 1 altered course to 090¡.
By 2000 ARK ROYAL's Swordfish were all struck
down below and in anticipation of air attacks the following day all the
Swordfish fuel tanks were drained.
27th – At 0710 Group 1 altered course to
290¡.
At
0720 Group 1 sighted Group 2 right ahead. The EURYALUS detached from Group 2
and joined Group 1.
At
0750 ARK ROYAL commenced to manoeuvre within the screen with EURYALUS ahead and
HERMIONE astern to provide AA protection and radar cover.
At
0720 radar indicated that enemy reconnaissance aircraft were in the vicinity of
the Force.
At
0800 ARK ROYAL flew off four Fulmars for the CAP.
[At 0810 an Italian Cant Z 506B reconnaissance aircraft of 287 Squadriglia from Elmas, Sardinia, sighted units of
Operation HALBERD west of La Galite Island and sent off the following signal;
'position 37-43N, 08-55E,course 90¡, speed 12 nm per hour; 1 battleship, 1
carrier, 4 cruiser, unspecified number of destroyers and steamboats'. The
signal was received around noon by the Comando Aeronautica della Sardegna]
At 1000 in expectation of air attacks, Group
1, less ARK ROYAL, EURYALUS and HERMIONE who manoeuvred ahead of the convoy,
joined the convoy escort. ARK ROYAL flew off a further six Fulmars, making the
CAP 10 Fulmars.
[At 1030 the remaining two ships of convoy MG 2 SS PORT CHALMERS and SS
CITY OF PRETORIA escorted by the corvette GLOXINIA sailed from Malta for
Gibraltar. At 1930 the GLOXINIA detached and returned to Malta]
At 1100 ARK ROYAL flew off a further two
Fulmars, bringing the CAP up to 12.
At 1158 radar detected an aircraft bearing
210¡, at 14 miles. The LEGION reported this aircraft as an Italian Fiat BR 20.
ARK ROYAL's Fulmars failed to shoot it down and a sighting report was
subsequently intercepted.
At 1200 ARK ROYAL flew off a further four
Fulmars, bringing the CAP up to 16.
As the Fulmars ran low on fuel they were
landed on and refuelled.
[At 1255 radar reported two formations at 30 miles and closing, one from
the north and one from the east. These were eleven Savoia-Marchetti SM 84's
torpedo bombers from Decimomannu airfield, north of Cagliari. Seven attacked
from the north with top cover of five Fiat CR 42 fighters, and four from the
east]
At
1259 eight Fulmars of 808 Sqd attacked the northern group of
six SM 84's, and shot one down. (The
Fulmars were mistakenly identified as Hurricanes by the Italians)
[At 1302 a SM 84 flown by Capitano Rotolo was shot down either by RODNEY or PRINCE OF WALES;
the damaged aircraft collided with his right wingman, Tenente
Barro and both crashed into the sea]
[At 1300 two SM 84's targeted RODNEY, one
flown by Maggiore Arduino Buri
of 256 Squadriglia and the other by Tenente Piercarlo Amante of 257 Squadriglia. As the
two torpedoes were approaching, RODNEY made an emergency turn of 60¡ to port
and avoided both]
At 1315 ARK ROYAL flew off seven Fulmars to
make 14 airborne at the time.
[At 1327 radar reported another wave of aircraft closing from the east.
These were five SM 84 torpedo bombers of 258 and 259 Squadriglia,
from Decimomannu airfield and they attacked the Force
from the starboard side]
[At 1330 NW of La Galite Island two aircraft flown by Colonnello Seidl and Tenente Tomasino targeted NELSON
who was hit by a torpedo (probably Seidl's and
probably a Type W airborne torpedo 45cm diameter with a 200 kg warhead) on the
port bow; the second torpedo missed. As they pulled away both Seidl and Tomasino were shot down
by AA fire from PRINCE OF WALES and SHEFFIELD. The only survivor from the two
shot down SM 84s, a radio operator, was picked up by the destroyer FORESTER.
The NELSON had been hit on the port side just
forward of A-turret in the torpedo room, which had only recently been evacuated;
the damage, from the 40ft x 20ft hole in her hull caused her to immediately
reduce speed to 18 knots, but she remained with the convoy]
[During this action, a
Fulmar of 807 Sqd was shot down by RODNEY, but luckily the crew, Sub-Lieutenant
Percy Guy and Leading Airman Jones, were rescued by the DUNCAN. The RODNEY also
shot down a further Fulmar of 807 Sqd and again the crew Lieutenant Guthrie and
Petty Officer Goodman were rescued by the DUNCAN.
A Fulmar of 808 Sqd was
shot down by the PRINCE OF WALES; the crew Lieutenant Watson and Sub Lieutenant
Couch were lost]
[At 1345 the Force was
attacked by twelve Savoia-Marchetti SM 79's torpedo bombers of 278, 280, 282
and 283 Squadriglia, from Decimomannu
airfield, escorted by twelve CR 42's, from the north, south and west. They were
met by the Fulmars and intense AA fire, which prevented them from attaining a
dropping position. Most were driven off but three returned and one pressed on
to attack the ARK ROYAL]
At 1354 a single SM 79 of
280 Squadriglia piloted by Tenente
Carlo Deslex attacked the ARK ROYAL from astern;
however the aircraft was shot down by AA fire from ARK ROYAL and/or NELSON
before it could release its torpedo.
[At 1359 a CR 42 flown by Sergente Maggiore
Luigi Valiotti of the 354a Squadriglia, in an attempt to divert the AA from the
torpedo-bombers, began to perform aerobatic manoeuvres over the heads of the
starboard wing destroyers, who after a while started to shoot at him. Valiotti avoided their shells for six minutes before being
killed when his CR.42 crashed into the sea. However Valiotti's
sacrifice was in vain as after several unsuccessful attempts, to penetrate the
AA barrage the remaining SM 79's gave up and returned to base]
[At 1404 Admiral Somerville received an emergency report from aircraft
B, a RAF Maryland of 69 Squadron on a reconnaissance flight from Malta, timed
at 1340 hours. The signal read, '2 battleships and 8 destroyers in position
38-20N, 10-40E, steering 190¡, speed 20 knots'. At the time of receipt NELSON's
position was 37-46N, 09-04E, the enemy was therefore 74 miles, bearing 076¡
from NELSON]
At 1408 ARK ROYAL was ordered to fly off two
Swordfish to take over shadowing duties and to prepare a Swordfish strike
force.
[At 1415 the Italian Fleet was in approximate position 38-30N, 10-15E
and steering 180¡. Although the Italian air force had been in contact with the
British Force most of the day, Admiral
Iachino had not received any intelligence from the
air force or from his scout planes that he had launched at 1130 and 1350.
Further he had not received the fighter cover he had been promised and he was
being shadowed by an enemy aircraft that was transmitting his position.
The weather to the south west, the direction he
expected to sight the British, was closing in and he was losing sight of his
scouting cruisers. Rear Admiral Bruno Brinovesin in
the TRENTO signalled Admiral Iachino that the
battleships were clearly defined against the sky to the North West]
[At 1417 Somerville ordered RODNEY and PRINCE OF WALES to form up on
NELSON ahead of the convoy]
[At 1425 Somerville received a further emergency report from aircraft B,
timed at 1350 hours. The signal read '4 cruisers and 8 destroyers some 15 miles
WSW of the enemy battle fleet and steering same course and speed']
[At 1430 NELSON was forced to reduce speed to 15 knots to reduce
flooding; by now she had taken on board approximately 3700 tons of water, and
further damage from her torpedo hit. Somerville ordered Vice Admiral Curteis in PRINCE OF WALES to proceed with PRINCE OF WALES,
RODNEY, EDINBURGH, SHEFFIELD and 6 destroyers at best speed to close the enemy.
At the same time NELSON took station astern of the convoy.
The surface strike force steered north at their
best speed with the two cruisers ahead, working up to 30 knots and PRINCE OF
WALES and RODNEY trailing behind]
[At 1430 Admiral Iachino decided that there
were too many unknowns for him to continue; so he ordered the Italian Fleet to reverse
course and increased speed to 26 knots]
At 1448 ARK ROYAL flew
off two Swordfish of 810 Sqd, 2B and 2H, their mission was to find the Italian
Fleet, report its position and shadow.
[At 1506 a signal was received from the RAF shadowing aircraft, timed at
1445 hours stating that the enemy had reversed course and was now steering 360¡]
At 1530 a Fulmar that
was low on fuel force landed astern of ARK ROYAL and the crew were picked up by
the destroyer PIORUN.
[At 1530 fighter cover, comprising CR 42's, finally arrived over the
Italian Fleet, and the destroyer LANCIERI immediately shot one down]
At 1540 ARK ROYAL flew off a strike force of
12 Swordfish of 816 and 825 Sqds, armed with torpedoes, escorted by 4 Fulmars
of 807 Sqd.
[At 1543 a further signal was received from the RAF shadowing aircraft,
timed at 1503 hours stating that the enemy was now steering 060¡]
[At 1658 with no news from the Swordfish shadowing aircraft, the RAF
Maryland which had departed, or the strike force; Somerville ordered Vice
Admiral Curteis to return to the convoy]
At 1740 the strike force
reported that they had been unable to locate the enemy Fleet. So they were
recalled. The failure of the strike force to locate the enemy was attributed to
the fact that no report from the RAF Maryland was received after 1543, timed at
1503. However it was later established that the Maryland had sent a signal
timed at 1515, reporting that the enemy had altered course to the north, but
this signal was not received by Malta or any British vessel.
[At 1830 the PRINCE OF WALES, RODNEY, EDINBURGH, SHEFFIELD and the 6
destroyers rejoined the convoy]
At 1855 in approximate position 37-30N,
10-15E, the entrance to the Skerki Channel, Force A comprising NELSON, PRINCE
OF WALES, RODNEY, ARK ROYAL and destroyers DUNCAN, GARLAND, GURKHA, ISAAC
SWEERS, LANCE, LEGION, LIVELY and PIORUN detached from the convoy, turned on to
285¡ and proceeded at 14 knots, this being NELSON's best speed.
By 1915 all 12 of the Swordfish strike force
had been landed back on ARK ROYAL some aircraft had almost dry tanks.
[At
2032 in position 37-31N, 10-46E the convoy was attacked by two SM 79s of 278 Squadriglia from Pantelleria and
they succeeded in torpedoing the MV IMPERIAL STAR, the torpedo hit her stern,
blowing away her propellers and rudder, in addition to her cargo had embarked
300 troops. The destroyer HEYTHROP went alongside the IMPERIAL STAR and took
off the troops. Attempts were then made to tow the IMPERIAL STAR, but these
failed and she was eventually sunk at 0500/28/9/41]
28th – Force A
continued on a westerly course at NELSON's best speed of 14 knots.
At 0725 ARK ROYAL flew off a Swordfish A/S
patrol and 3 Fulmar fighters. The Fulmars carried out a search to a depth of 40
miles astern, but nothing was sighted.
At 0730 ARK ROYAL flew off 3 Fulmar fighters
for the CAP. The CAP was maintained for the remainder of the day.
At 0812 an enemy shadower was sighted, but
escaped into cloud.
[At 0958 Somerville received a
RAF reconnaissance report, timed at 0940 hours stating, '2 enemy battleships, 5
cruisers and 13 destroyers, 70 miles, 105¡ from Cagliari, steering 195¡']
[At 1025 NELSON sighted
a Cant Z506B reconnaissance aircraft low down to the south east; Fulmars were
vectored and they gave chase, finally catching the float plane and shooting it
down off Cap de Fer]
[At 1640 and 1740
shadowing aircraft were reported but due to the failure of ARK ROYAL's R/T
transmitter it was not possible to vector the fighters for an interception]
At 2000, now dark, in approximate position
37-30N, 03-14E, and the speed of Force A was reduced to 12 knots to reduce the
strain on NELSON's bulkheads and decks.
At 2010 the PRINCE OF WALES, RODNEY, ARK
ROYAL and destroyers GURKHA, ISAAC SWEERS, LANCE, LEGION and LIVELY detached
and steered easterly to RV with Force X, the convoy escort, on their return
from Malta.
[NELSON, who was now experiencing steering difficulties and the destroyers
DUNCAN, GARLAND and PIORUN continued at 12 knots heading for Gibraltar]
29th – At 0555 in
position 37-30N, 6-25E, the PRINCE OF WALES obtained a radar surface contact
dead ahead. (The contact was the Italian
submarine DIASPRO)
At 0609 Force A made an emergency turn of 40¡
to port on to course 050¡ to avoid the contact.
[At 0612 the destroyer GURKHA sighted a torpedo track approaching from
an approximate bearing of 330¡, a few seconds later a second track was sighted.
It was too late for GURKHA to alter course to avoid the torpedoes, but both
passed under the ship. GURKHA turned to port; the direction that the torpedoes
had come from and joined by the ISAAC SWEERS they commenced a sonar search. At
0622 the torpedoes were heard to explode at the end of their run. The two
destroyers failed to obtain a sonar contact and no DCs were dropped.
At 0700 the two destroyers re-joined Force A]
At 0835 in approximate position 37-30N, 7-12E, the destroyers FARNDALE
and HEYTHROP of Force X joined Force A from Malta.
At 1030 in approximate position 37-35N, 8-00E the remainder of Force X,
comprising EDINBURGH, KENYA, SHEFFIELD, EURYALUS and the destroyers FORESIGHT,
FORESTER, FURY and ORIBI, joined from Malta and the combined Force set course
for Gibraltar.
[At 1930 the PRINCE OF WALES, KENYA, SHEFFIELD and destroyers LAFOREY,
LIGHTNING, ORBI, FORESIGHT, FORESTER and FURY detached and proceeded ahead]
The EDINBURGH, RODNEY, ARK ROYAL, HERMOINE, EURYALUS and the destroyers
FARNDALE, HEYTRHOP, COSSACK, LEGION, LANCE, LIVELY, ZULU, ISAAC SWEERS and
GURKHA followed astern at 17 knots, RODNEYs best speed.
30th
– At 0928 the EDINBURGH force was in position 37-10N, 00-56E the GURKHA obtained
a sonar contact on 240¡ at 2000 yards, this was confirmed as a submarine, it
was the Italian submarine ADUA, and GURKHA turned to attack, at the same time
being joined by LEGION. The remainder of the Force continued on course for
Gibraltar.
[At 0933 GURKHA attacked the ADUA with shallow set pattern of 14 pattern
DCs. At 0945 a loud underwater explosion was heard and oil started to rise to
the surface and GURKHA lost contact.
At 0955 LEGION obtained a sonar contact and also
attacked with a 14 DC pattern and then lost contact. At 1001 LEGION regained
contact and at 1009 attacked with another 14 DC pattern. During the second
attack wreckage and oil appeared close to where LEGION's first pattern had been
dropped. The evidence collected confirmed that the submarine had been
destroyed. The ADUA was sunk with all hands]
OCTOBER
1st
–
At 0700 the EDINBURGH Force commenced entering Gibraltar harbour.
Before entering harbour ARK ROYAL flew off 810 Sqd
Swordfish to North Front airfield, this was so she could accommodate the
Albacores of 828 Sqd.
At 0900 the final members of the Force GURKHA and
LEGION arrived at Gibraltar.
2nd to
7th
– The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar carrying out
essential maintenance, particularly on her boilers; but the list of defects was
growing and Captain Maund reported that it would be
difficult to keep her operational after mid November.
8th
–
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[At around 0400 the aircraft carrier ARGUS escorted by the destroyers
COSSACK, ZULU, and SIKH arrived at Gibraltar. The ARGUS moored stern on to the
ARK ROYAL to facilitate the transfer of her embarked aircraft.
The ARGUS had sailed from the Clyde on 30/9/41 with
12 Albacore 1s fitted with long range tanks & 2 Swordfish of 828 embarked.
She had sailed with convoy WS 12 and detached for Gibraltar at 1700/5/10/41.
The11 Albacores & 2 Swordfish were to be transferred to ARK ROYAL for
flying off to Malta where they were to reinforce the Islands torpedo bomber
force. This operation was code named CALLBOY]
9th to
15th
– The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
16th
–
Force H comprising the battleship RODNEY (Flag CINC Force H), ARK ROYAL, light
cruiser HERMIONE, and the destroyers COSSACK, FORESTER, FORESIGHT, FURY,
LEGION, SIKH and ZULU sailed from Gibraltar and headed east into the
Mediterranean on Operation CALLBOY.
17th
–
Force H steering easterly through the Mediterranean.
18th
–
At 0140 ARK ROYAL in position 37-28N, 6-00E, flew off 11 Albacores (the
Albacore piloted by T/Sub Lt (A) T. G. Davison RNVR failed to take off and
joined the squadron later) and two Swordfish for Hal Far airfield, Malta. One
Swordfish was lost en route and pilot T/Sub Lt (A) DM Muller RNVR and Observer
T/Sub Lt (A) AS Denby RNVR were lost.
Following completion of the flying off Force H
steered west for Gibraltar.
19th
– Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
20th
–
The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar carrying out self maintenance.
21st
- The
ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar carrying out self maintenance.
[The aircraft carriers EAGLE and ARGUS escorted by the destroyers
FORESIGHT, FORESTER, and FURY departed Gibraltar for the UK. Local escort was
provided by destroyers VIDETTE and LAMERTON until 0915 and 1140/10/41 and ZULU
and SIKH until 24/10/41.
About two hours after sailing the Force was sighted
by U 83; the submarine fired a salvo of torpedoes claiming a hit on a
destroyer, but no hits were achieved]
22nd
to 31st
- The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar carrying out self
maintenance.
NOVEMBER
1st to
7th
- The ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar carrying out self
maintenance.
[On 4/10/41 the U 81 sailed from Brest with orders to enter the
Mediterranean]
8th
- The
ARK ROYAL was at Gibraltar.
[The aircraft carrier ARGUS with 23 Hurricanes embarked, aircraft
transport HMS ATHENE 7473 grt (ex CLAN BRODIE) with 39 Hurricanes embarked and
the destroyers LAFOREY (D19), ZULU, GURKHA, LIGHTNING and HNLMS ISAAC SWEERS.
The ARGUS moored astern of ARK ROYAL and
transferred 12 Hurricanes to ARK ROYAL and 14 crated Hurricanes were
transferred from ATHENE to ARK ROYAL]
9th -
The ARK ROYAL was at
Gibraltar.
10th
–
At 0235 Force H comprising the battleship MALAYA (Flag CINC Force H), ARK
ROYAL, ARGUS, light cruiser HERMIONE and the destroyers LAFOREY (D19), LEGION,
LIGHTNING, GURKHA, SIKH, ZULU
and ISAAC SWEERS sailed
from Gibraltar into the Mediterranean on Operation PERPETUAL.
[Operation PERPETUAL was a 'club run' to fly off RAF Hurricanes from ARK
ROYAL and ARGUS to Malta]
At around 0700 ARK ROYAL commenced landing on
Swordfish of 810 Sqd from North Front airfield.
11th
–
Force H steering easterly into the Mediterranean towards the flying off
position.
At around 0600 Force H arrived at the flying off
position. But due to poor weather conditions at Gibraltar the RAF Blenheim
guide aircraft had been unable to take off, so Force H was forced to cruise
about in the general area to await the arrival of the Blenheims.
Italian shadowing aircraft were in the vicinity of
Force H but ARK ROYAL was unable to launch fighters due to her flight deck
being full of Hurricanes.
[During the night of 11/12 November the German submarines U 81 and U 205
passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean]
12th -
Force H cruising around the flying off position.
At around 1015 Force H was in position 37-30N, 4E,
when the first three RAF Blenheims (probably from 82 Sqd) guides arrived and
ARK ROYAL and ARGUS commenced flying off the RAF Hurricanes to Malta.
By 1100 ARK ROYAL had flown off 13 Hurricanes and
ARGUS had flown off six.
At around 1045 two further Blenheims arrived and
further Hurricanes, 13 from ARK ROYAL and five from ARGUS, one Hurricane was
damaged whilst taking off from ARGUS, were flown off.
[Of the 37 Hurricanes flown off 34 arrived at Malta, one landed in
Sicily, two landed in North Africa. At 1625 Malta reported the safe arrival of
the four Blenheims and 34 Hurricanes, one Hurricane that arrived at Malta
crashed on landing at Hal Far airfield]
At around 1200 Force H
set course for Gibraltar at 16 knots, which because of the weather conditions
was the maximum speed the destroyers could achieve and maintain position. At
the same time ARK ROYAL flew off three Fulmars for a CAP and a Swordfish for
A/S patrol.
[At 1425 the Fulmars chased off an Italian shadower]
[During the afternoon the CINC Force H was informed that an RAF aircraft
had sighted a submarine, possibly a U Boat, North West of Alboran
Island, this was probably U 81. Somerville also received intelligence of the
sinking of a Spanish vessel in Melilla Bay, west of Ceuta. (The sinking referred to the Spanish merchant
ship SS CASTILLO OROPESA 6600grt which had been torpedoed and sunk by the
Italian submarine DANDOLO on 8/11/41). The
sighting and the sinking put U Boats near to the return route for Force H]
[At 1500 an Italian reconnaissance aircraft reported a British force
consisting of a battleship, aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers north of
Algiers, course 270¡, speed 15 knots
At 2120 when U 81 surfaced after passing through
the Strait of Gibraltar she received the Italian signal timed at 1500]
13th
–
Force H steering westerly returning to Gibraltar in adverse weather conditions.
[At 0413 the LEGION reported a heavy underwater explosion in her wake.
This was thought to have been caused by the premature explosion of a torpedo,
which is what in fact it was.
Force H had been sighted by U 205, who at 0406 had
fired three torpedoes aimed at ARK ROYAL, all the torpedoes missed.
After Force H had passed U 205 surfaced and sent
off a sighting report. The sighting report was picked up by U 81]
At 0645 ARK ROYAL flew
off six Swordfish to carry out an ahead A/S search.
[At 0817 the CINC Force H signalled the ships in company warning that
submarines had been reported in the vicinity so great vigilance was called for]
During the morning the
weather conditions improved and with the wind from the west so ARK ROYAL could
carry out flying operations without having to move outside the destroyer
screen.
[At 1500 in position CG 9652 (36-15N, 4-54W), Kapitanleutnant
Friedrich Guggenberger the CO of U 81 sighted
Force H. He recorded in his log that the force consisted of one battleship of
the Revenge or Malaya class, and aircraft carrier of the Ark Royal class, the
aircraft carrier FURIOUS, three or four large destroyers of the latest design
and a further three destroyers. Force is on a westerly course, steering in line
ahead with a 40¡ stagger to port in the order set out above. Every 15 minutes
they make a turn of up to 50¡. The destroyers are in an A/S screen with one
stationed 8000 metres on the starboard bow. Around 15 to 20 aircraft are
circling the force at an altitude of about 100 metres, float planes as outer
escort, wheeled aircraft flying in formations of three and two providing close
cover]
At 1515 ARK ROYAL was sailing in line with MALAYA, ahead and ARUS astern,
she had 14 aircraft in the air and several waiting to take off.
[At 1515 the destroyer LAFOREY
signalled she had a submarine contact. Force H made an emergency alteration of
course.
At 1519 LAFOREY signalled
that the contact was non-sub]
By 1529 Force H was back on its base course and ARK ROYAL flew off six
Swordfish and two Fulmars and landed on five Swordfish.
[At 1536 U 81's war dairy states
her position as CG 9655 (39-06N,
4-54W), Guggenberger
fired four torpedoes with a spread of 150
metres and a depth setting of 5 metres. His aiming point was the MALAYA who he
estimated was at a range of 3500 meters and making 16 knots.
The torpedoes fired were
G7e electric torpedoes, speed 30 knots for 5000 metres and a warhead of 300Kg]
At 1538 ARK ROYAL was making 19 knots when she altered course to
starboard, on to 290¡, putting her on MALAYAs starboard quarter and a Swordfish
commenced lining up to land on.
[At 1540 the hydrophone (passive sonar)
operator on the LEGION detected an unidentified sound, assumed to be
propeller noise of a nearby destroyer. But this was in fact U 81's torpedoes]
At 1541, in
recorded position 36-03N, 4-45W, just as the Swordfish landed, one of U 81's
torpedoes hit ARK ROYAL on her starboard side abreast the bridge; causing a
great spout of water to shoot up and the aircraft on the deck to jump. Captain Maund was on the flight deck when the torpedo struck and he
raced to the bridge to take command, but communications within the ship were immediately
lost and ARK ROYAL continued moving ahead and started to list to starboard.
The only crew
member lost was Able Seaman E Mitchell, who was the oldest rating on board, and
was on duty in the lower steering position when the torpedo struck he was
believed killed in the explosion.
[The torpedo hit ARK ROYAL on the starboard side, abreast of the Island. Because
it was set to run at a depth of 5 metres it struck the joint between the side
protection (the side protection was designed to protect against an explosive
warhead of 750lb, 341Kg) and the turn of the bilge. Length wise the position
was the worst possible being almost dead amidships, it was where the list
caused would be the greatest and its position relative to the transverse
bulkheads was such that four main compartments were immediately subject to
flooding. The explosion blew a hole in her side approximately 130ft x 30ft, the
size of which increased during the time it took to bring ARK ROYAL to a halt,
resulting in additional hull plating being peeled off. The starboard boiler
room, air spaces, oil tanks, the main switchboard and the lower steering
position were immediately flooded. The starboard drive shaft was also disabled by
the explosion, causing the rear half of the ship to lose electrical power and communications
were severed throughout the ship and telephone also the engine room telegraphs
failed. However, the port and centreline drive shafts were unaffected.
The ship whipped violently with the explosion which caused the aircraft on
the flight deck to jump into the air. However, very little shock damage occurred
internally.
Following the explosion ARK ROYAL immediately started to list to
starboard and very quickly reached 10¡ and after 3 minutes it was at 12¡.
Because ARK ROYAL had lost electrical power, and she didn't have a diesel
generator back up, the pumps could not be operated; so water flowed in
unchecked. However she did have battery powered auxiliary lighting which had
been activated when power was lost]
At about 1552 ARK ROYAL finally came to a stop.
By around 1600 ARK ROYAL's list had reached 18¡.
[At around 1600 the MALAYA escorted
by the destroyers SIKH, ZULU and ISAAC SWEERS departed the scene and made for
Gibraltar.
At 1622 the ZULU was
detached to return to assist the ARK ROYAL.
At 1830 the MALAYA and
the destroyers SIKH and ISAAC SWEERS arrived at Gibraltar
On arrival at Gibraltar the
CINC Force H immediately transferred his flag to the SIKH and returned to the
scene of the attack]
At around 1605 Captain Maund had decided that
ARK ROYAL was going to sink. So he ordered the destroyer LEGION alongside and
ordered the evacuation of all surplus crew on to LEGION. The LEGION was unable
to go alongside due to ARK ROYAL's masts being horizontal (in the flying
operations position) so LEGION put her bow against ARK ROYAL's port quarter. Ropes
were lowered from ARK ROYAL and A 'bed' of hammocks
was piled on LEGION's forecastle and most of ARK ROYAL's evacuating crew landed
or jumped on the hammocks. During the evacuation of the machinery spaces many hatches
were left open, allowing the flooding to spread into other compartments.
Many of the crew, who were taken off including shipwrights and electrical
staff, deprived the damage control crews of much-needed expertise.
[While the main bulk of the crew were being evacuated Commander (E) H
Dixon, Engineering Officer and Lt Cdr (E) A G Oliver
the Senior Engineer were below. Cdr Dixon was in the machinery control room but
because of the failure of the internal communications he was not aware of the
extent of the damage, he sent Oliver to investigate. Oliver found the starboard
boiler room rapidly filling with water and almost covering the top of the two
boilers, the compartment had been abandoned; he then entered the centre boiler
room and discovered water rising from below and above through the uptake casing
vents, this compartment was also abandoned. Oliver secured both compartments by
closing hatches, fan intakes and vents. He then checked the port boiler room
and found this to be dry and the two boilers in steam and the flat manned by
Warrant Engineer S A Woodriffe, Chief Stoker H Walley, Mechanician J Hall and
Stoker H D Scott.
At around 1630, while Oliver was carrying out his inspection, Captain Maund had ordered counter flooding, but Cdr
Dixon could not carry out the order until the necessary specialists returned to
the machinery spaces]
[Between 1625 and 2120 Guggenberger recorded that U 81 was hunted by three
destroyers who between them dropped 162 DC's, none of which caused any adverse
effects. The submarine moved slowly away to the north. During this time none of
the destroyers obtained a confirmed sonar contact on U 81.
At 2122 U 81 surfaced and
sighted destroyers 8 to 10 Kilometres away to the south, U 81 then continued
north on the surface towards the Spanish coast]
[At around 1630 the destroyer WILD
SWAN, the tugs ST DAY 860grt and THAMES 624grt, and Fairmile
B motor launches ML.121, ML.130, ML.132 and ML.135 from the 3rd Motor Launch
Flotilla and ML.170, ML.172, and
ML.176 from the 9th Motor Launch Flotilla sailed from Gibraltar to the
assistance of ARK ROYAL]
By 1648 LEGION had embarked 1487 crew from ARK ROYAL and she pulled away
and rejoined the screen.
At 1700 the men in
the port boiler room lost boiler feed water and were forced to shut down the
two boilers this caused the loss of all power within the ship, and stopping
what few pumps were operational. Ship board communications were still out but a
field telephone had been set up from an emergency conning position on the
flight deck and the machinery control room.
At around 1715 Captain
Maund called the LAFOREY alongside to provide some
electrical power to ARK ROYAL.
At around 1730
counter flooding of port side compartments had reduced the list to 14¡, but
because of the lack of specialist expertise in the damage control parties only
half of the available compartments on the port side were flooded. However,
again due to lack of expertise, some of flooding valves were not closed, so the
water in the counter flooded compartments was gradually expelled as more water
entered through the hole in the starboard side.
At around 1800 the
HERMIONE went alongside ARK ROYAL and put on board an electrical repair party.
By around 1830
LAFOREY had power cables running into ARK ROYAL providing power for lighting
and the pumps, a hose had also been connected to pump boiler feed water to ARK
ROYAL's port boiler room.
[At around 1900 the destroyer WILD
SWAN, the tugs ST DAY and THAMES, and motor launches ML.121, ML.130, ML.132,
ML.135, ML.170, ML.172, and ML.176 arrived on the scene]
At around 1930 the two boilers in the port boiler room were producing
steam at a sufficient pressure to drive a dynamo.
By 2000 the tug
THAMES had attached a line to ARK ROYAL. The ST DAY initially failed to get a
line aboard and stood off to try later.
By 2059 the tug ST
DAY had got a line on to ARK ROYAL and the two tugs worked up to a towing speed
of two knots.
At 2140 a number of
ARK ROYAL's electrical staff were returned to ARK ROYAL by boat from LEGION.
By 2200 two of ARK
ROYAL's dynamos were operating, proving electricity for lighting and pumps.
[At 2230 the destroyer SIKH (Flag CINC Force H)
arrived on the scene from Gibraltar]
14th
–
The ST DAY and THAMES continued at two knots, to tow ARK ROYAL westwards
towards Gibraltar. But ARK ROYAL was getting lower in the water.
At around 0130 the list started to rapidly
increase. Water reached the
boiler room fan flat which ran the full width of the ship above the boiler
rooms. In the engine room the steam pressure started to fall from 200lbs/sq inch.
At 0215 a fire broke out in the port boiler room.
The boiler room crew fought the fire but eventually they had to give up. This forced the shutdown of the port boilers.
By 0220 the list had reached 20¡.
By 0400 the list had reached 27¡.
By 0430 the list had reached 35¡ and the order was
given to abandoned ship and the 250 men still onboard left, most climbed down
on the ST DAY.
At about 0445 the LAFOREY and the ST DAY cast off.
At about 0530 the THAMES cast off.
At 0619 ARK ROYAL's list reached 45¡ and she
continued rolling to 90¡, in which position she remained for three minutes, she
then went vertical standing on her stern and started sinking.
By 0624 ARK ROYAL's bow had disappeared below the
surface of the Mediterranean.
[Casualty Lists were
published on 17th and 20th November 1941. (Casualty List -
note on casualties)]
[In December 2002 the wreck of ARK ROYAL was located and reported as
being 30 NM east of Gibraltar lying at 3500 ft, this would make the final
resting place of ARK ROYAL in the approximate position 36-06-35N, 4-43-51W]
PRIMARY SOURCES
Admiralty War Dairies
Admiralty Home Fleet Narrative
Admiralty publication THE
WAR at SEA
ARK ROYAL 1939 –
1941 by William Jameson
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett
THE RELUCTANT ENEMIES by
W Tute
WINGS AT SEA by G A
Woods
THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre
BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by
Baron Burkard von MŸllenheim-Rechberg
SQUADRONS of the FLEET
AIR ARM by Ray Sturtivant
THE SWORDFISH STORY by
Ray Sturtivant
MALTA CONVOYS by Richard
Woodman
SOMERVILLE'S FORCE H by
R Dannreuther
ONWARD TO MALTA by T E
Neil
U-BOAT ATTACK LOGS by
Morgan and Taylor
NELSON to VANGUARD by D
K Brown
Die TORPEDOS der DEUTSCHEN UBOOTE by Eberhard
Rassler
Uboat.net
freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/fanad.htm
usswashington.com/worldwar2plus55
rafandluftwaffe.info/
epibreren.com
ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway