Ex USS MADDOX (Type C -
ANNAPOLIS-Class) built by
Bethlehem Steel Fore River. The ship was launched on 27th October 1918 and completed on 10th March 1919. She was transferred to the RN
under the US/UK Lend Lease Agreement on 23rd September
1940.
On commissioning she was named HMS MADDOX as the names to be used by this Class
of destroyers had not been announced. The ship was later renamed HMS
GEORGETOWN which is a name cannon to a town in USA and the capital of the then
British Guiana. In March 1942 following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in May 1942 this
ship was adopted by the
civil community of Battle, East Sussex.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1940-43
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge On a Field White, a cross couped
red enfiled in chief by a mural
crown gold charged with a hurt thereon a mullet White.
D e t a
i l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search)
1 9 4 0
September
Pre-acceptance trials.
10th - Ex USN destroyers to given names of towns common to UK and USA. (Note: There were a few
exceptions as in this case.)
23rd - Commissioned for RN service as HMS MADDOX at Halifax. (Note: Only names of first eight
ships had been formally announced).
Prepared for passage to UK.
29th - Sailed to Newfoundland.
October
1st - On arrival at St John's damaged in collision with HM Destroyer
HAMILTON. (Note: HMS
HAMILTON was another Ex US Navy destroyer being transferred).
Returned to Halifax for repair.
4th - Names of second batch of ships announced and ship became HMS
GEORGETOWN.
On completion
of repair took passage to Plymouth.
November
Atlantic Passage with call at St Johns, Newfoundland.
13th - Arrived at Devonport. Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Devonport for limited
refit (Note: This
did not include all requirements for RN service.).
Nominated for service with 4th Escort Group. Took passage to Scapa Flow to
work-up for convoy defence duties.
17th - Completed work-up and took passage to join Group at Greenock.
20th - Deployed with Group for convoy escort in NW Approaches.
December
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
(Assumed)
1 9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
February
26th - Damaged in collision but remained in service.
March to May
Convoy defence duties with Group in continuation.
June
Taken in hand for repair in Tyne shipyard.
July
Repair work transferred to Clyde shipyard. Nominated for service with 3rd Escort Group on
completion.
20th - Deployed with Group in NW Approaches.
August
Convoy defence in continuation.
15th - Deployed with HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, CASTLETON, CHARLESTOWN,
DOUGLAS, INTREPID,
LEAMINGTON and SALADIN as escort for military convoy WS8C from Scapa Flow during passage to Clyde
after cancellation of planned operation to occupy Azores.
17th - Detached from WS8C on arrival in Clyde and resumed duties with
Group.
September
Part of escort for Convoy SC44 with ships of Group.
Part of escort for Convoy SC48
with ships of Group. (For details
of dates see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by A Hague.)
Transferred to 27th Escort
Group.
November
Under refit in Clyde shipyard to complete modification required to suit
RN service. (Note: Stage 2
alterations included fitting of surface warning radar Type 271 and an Anti-Submarine Mortar (HEDGEHOG). See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann for details of these outfits).
December
Under refit for Stage 2 Modifications.
13th - Completion delayed by fire in boiler room.
1 9 4 2
January to March
Under repair and modification.
April
On completion of post refit trials resumed convoy defence duties.
5th - Deployed with HM Destroyers BADSWORTH, LANCASTER, LAUDERDALE and
ST MARY'S as escort for
military convoy WS18 during passage from Clyde in NW Approaches.
20th - Detached from WS18 with ships of Local Escort and returned to
Clyde.
May
Deployed with HM Destroyers ECHO, INTREPID, sister HMS SALISBURY, US
Destroyers LANG and
STERRETT as screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and US Aircraft Carrier WASP during passage to Gibraltar
(Operation BOWERY).
8th - Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruiser
CHARYBDIS, HMS RENOWN and USS WASP with same destroyers from Home Fleet and supplemented by
destroyers from Force H for aircraft delivery to Malta. (Note: Force H destroyers were HMS VIDETTE, PARTRIDGE,
ITHURIEL, WISHART, WESTCOTT, WRESTLER and ANTELOPE of 13th Destroyer Flotilla (Operation BOWERY).).
10th - Passage to Scapa Flow as escort for HMS RENOWN and USS WASP with
the same RN and US destroyers.
Taken in hand for further repair
in Clyde shipyard.
June
On completion of repair joined Clyde Escort Force.
21st - Joined HM Destroyers SALISBURY, BOADICEA, RIPLEY, ST ALBANS,
VIDETTE, WOLVERINE and
VANSITTART as Local Escort for military convoy WS20 during passage from Clyde in N W Approaches.
24th - Detached from WS20 with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.
July
Clyde Escort Force deployment in continuation.
17th - Deployed with HM Destroyer BUXTON as Local Escort for military
convoy WS21P during passage from
Clyde in NW Approaches. (Note: HM Cruiser ORION, HM Destroyer NEPAL and Dutch destroyer TJERK
HIDDES were Ocean Escort
for Atlantic passage from Clyde.)
22nd - Detached from WS21P with HMS BUXTON and returned to Clyde.
August to October
Deployed with Clyde Escort Force including detached service for escort
of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during final stages of Northern Barrage minelay.
Nominated for loan service with
Royal Canadian Navy in Western Local Escort Force at St Johns.
S e r v i c e a
s H M C S G E O R G E T O W N
November
Passage to Newfoundland and joined Western Local Escort Force.
December
Deployed with sister ship HMS LINCOLN in support of escort for Convoy
HX218. (For details
of weapons and tactics used in anti-submarine warfare see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and
U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).).
1 9 4 3
January
Deployed in support of passage of Convoy HX222 for initial phase of
passage to UK with HM Destroyer ROXBOROUGH, another Ex US Navy destroyer.
15th - Encountered very heavy weather during which HMS ROXBOROUGH
sustained major damage to bridge structure and was totally disabled. Unable to stand by stricken ship due to fuel shortage.
February
Western Local Escort Force service in continuation.
March
Taken in hand for refit at Charleston, South Carolina.
April
Under refit.
May
Resumed convoy defence duty at St Johns.
June to October
Convoy defence duty in continuation. Future deployment under consideration.
November
Passage to UK for reduction to Reserve status. Called at Azores to refuel.
December
Paid off and reduced to Reserve at Hartlepool.
1 9 4 4
January to May
Laid up at Hartlepool.
Selected for transfer to USSR
June
Prepared for service and refitted at Middle Docks, Tyneside.
July
Refit work completed and Soviet Navy personnel joined ship. Renamed ZHOSTKI
T r a n s f e r t o R u s s i a n N a v y
August
Took passage to Murmansk to join Northern Fleet. (Note: Ship joined Russian
Convoy JW59 with other ships being transferred on loan.)
P o s t R N S e r v i c e
HMS GEORGETOWN served
in the Russian Northern Fleet as ZHOSTKI until August 1952 when she was towed
to Rosyth. This ship reverted to her previous identity on 9th September 1952
.Immediately placed on the Disposal List she was sold to BISCO for demolition
by T W Ward for demolition at Inverkeithing, near Rosyth and arrived in tow at
the shipbreaker’s yard on 16th September 1952.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS GEORGETOWN
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
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Date Convoy Sailed
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Joined Convoy as Escort
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Convoy No.
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Left convoy
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Date Convoy Arrived
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24/12/40
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24/12/40
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OB 264
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29/12/40
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29/12/40
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15/12/40
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29/12/40
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SC 016
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30/12/40
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31/12/40
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07/01/41
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08/01/41
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OG 049
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11/01/41
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21/01/41
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29/12/40
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11/01/41
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HG 049
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15/01/41
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15/01/41
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03/02/41
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04/02/41
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OB 282
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08/02/41
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08/02/41
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20/01/41
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09/02/41
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SL 063
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11/02/41
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09/02/41
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18/02/41
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18/02/41
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OB 288
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22/02/41
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22/02/41
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08/02/41
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24/02/41
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SC 022
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28/02/41
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28/02/41
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11/07/41
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11/07/41
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OB 345
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16/07/41
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26/07/41
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06/07/41
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17/07/41
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HX 137
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21/07/41
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22/07/41
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27/07/41
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30/07/41
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ON 002
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01/08/41
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08/08/41
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22/07/41
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03/08/41
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SC 038
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07/08/41
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08/08/41
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15/08/41
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16/08/41
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ON 007
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21/08/41
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25/08/41
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10/08/41
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22/08/41
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HX 144
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27/08/41
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30/08/41
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17/09/41
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19/09/41
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ON 017
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21/09/41
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29/09/41
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11/09/41
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22/09/41
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SC 044
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28/09/41
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30/09/41
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08/10/41
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10/10/41
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ON 024
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13/10/41
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15/10/41
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05/10/41
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17/10/41
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SC 048
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21/10/41
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22/10/41
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28/10/41
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30/10/41
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ON 031
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04/11/41
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15/11/41
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28/10/41
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08/11/41
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HX 157
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11/11/41
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13/11/41
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04/05/42
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18/05/42
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SL 109
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28/05/42
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28/05/42
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30/06/42
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04/07/42
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HG 085
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07/07/42
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12/07/42
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16/08/42
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28/08/42
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ON 122
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03/09/42
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03/09/42
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04/09/42
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04/09/42
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BX 036B
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06/09/42
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06/09/42
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05/09/42
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18/09/42
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ON 128
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22/09/42
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24/09/42
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13/09/42
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unknown
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HX 207
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unknown
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25/09/42
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24/09/42
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27/09/42
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HX 209
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29/09/42
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09/10/42
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19/09/42
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04/10/42
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ON 132
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07/10/42
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08/10/42
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26/10/42
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29/10/42
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HX 213
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31/10/42
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10/11/42
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and as HMCS GEORGETOWN
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01/11/42
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14/11/42
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ON 143
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16/11/42
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16/11/42
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25/11/42
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25/11/42
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SC 111
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30/11/42
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17/12/42
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05/12/42
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11/12/42
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HX 218
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15/12/42
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21/12/42
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09/12/42
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21/12/42
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ON 152
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23/12/42
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31/12/42
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06/01/43
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11/01/43
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HX 222
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14/01/43
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22/01/43
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12/01/43
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24/01/43
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ON 161
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27/01/43
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31/01/43
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03/02/43
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06/02/43
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SC 119
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14/02/43
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22/02/43
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27/06/43
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27/06/43
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SC 135
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02/07/43
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11/07/43
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01/07/43
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07/07/43
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ON 191
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14/07/43
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15/07/43
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15/07/43
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17/07/43
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HX 248
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18/07/43
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29/07/43
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16/07/43
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27/07/43
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ON 193
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30/07/43
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31/07/43
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08/08/43
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08/08/43
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HX 251
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13/08/43
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23/08/43
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08/08/43
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16/08/43
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ON 196
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19/08/43
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21/08/43
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21/08/43
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01/09/43
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ON 198
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04/09/43
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04/09/43
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01/09/43
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12/09/43
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EN 200
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15/09/43
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18/09/43
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18/10/43
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18/10/43
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HX 262
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21/10/43
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02/11/43
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06/11/43
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06/11/43
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HX 265
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11/11/43
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21/11/43
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06/11/43
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17/11/43
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ON 210
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19/11/43
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23/11/43
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(Note on Convoys)
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