Background
Events - July-August 1940
Fall
of France, Battle of Britain, War in Mediterranean
1940
Thursday, 1 August
Submarine
NARWHAL (Lt Cdr R. J. Burch DSO), which departed the
Humber on 22 July to lay mines in operation FD.22, was
declared lost after failing to return from a patrol
southwest of Stavanger. Her loss most likely took place
in a German bombing attack on 23 July in 58‑50N, 02‑20E
off Aberdeen. Lt Cdr Burch, Lt Cdr S. R. White, Lt C. S.
Green DSC, Lt H. R. W. Twynar, Lt (E) J. E. Ackery DSC,
S/Lt J. Cringle RNVR, the fifty four ratings of the crew
were lost with NARWHAL.
_____
Submarine
SPEARFISH (Lt Cdr J. H. Forbes DSO), which
departed Rosyth on 31 July, was sunk by U.34 off Cape
Nose Head west of Stavanger. She was declared lost on
the 5th. Lt Cdr Forbes, Lt D. A. Pirie, Lt A. R.
Gimblett RNR, S/Lt J. P. Best, Warrant Engineer H. E.
Archer, thirty six ratings of the crew were lost with
SPEARFISH. U.34 picked up A/B W. V. Pester from the
SPEARFISH, the sole survivor.
_____
Destroyer
DUNCAN departed Rosyth at 1500 to rendezvous with
destroyer MAORI and escort steamer LOCHNAGAR from
Aberdeen to Lerwick. Destroyer MASHONA departed Scapa
Flow at 0145 on the 2nd to relieve DUNCAN escorting
LOCHNAGAR. DUNCAN proceeded to Scapa Flow, but was
delayed entering harbour due to fog. She did arrive at
Scapa Flow at 1730/3rd. On arrival at Lerwick at
1300/2nd, destroyers MAORI and MASHONA proceeded to an
anti-submarine search in the vicinity of the one hundred
fathom line north of the Shetlands. No contact was made.
_____
Hunt-class
destroyer CATTISTOCK was completed. She worked up at
Scapa Flow with the 23rd Destroyer Division, and
departed on the 30th for the Nore and duty in the 21st
Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Temporary S/Lt (A) I. H. Kestin, flying
a Hurricane of RAF 145 Squadron Westhampnett, was killed
when he was shot down ten miles south of Hastings.
_____
Dutch submarine O.21
attacked U.62, as she was arriving in the Helgoland from
patrol in the North Sea, but without result.
_____
U.59 sank Swedish steamer
SIGYN (1981grt) in 56‑10N, 09‑25W. The entire crew was
rescued.
_____
Steamer CITY OF CANBERRA
(7484grt) was damaged on a mine in 52‑06N, 01‑52E.
_____
Steamer
KERRY HEAD (825grt) was damaged by German bombing at
four miles east, southeast of Old Head of Kinsale.
_____
Tanker GOTHIC (2444grt)
was damaged by German bombing 12 miles 310° from
Flamborough Head.
_____
Convoy FN.239 departed
Southend, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER, sloop
WESTON, patrol sloop MALLARD. Steamer HIGHLANDER
(1216grt) was damaged by German bombing in 56‑56N,
02‑04W. One plane shot down crashed on the poop deck of
HIGHLANDER. WESTON also shot down a German bomber. The
convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 3rd.
_____
Convoy MT.127 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Submarine OSWALD (Lt Cdr
D. A. Fraser) was sunk by Italian destroyer VIVALDI off
Calabria. VIVALDI was part of an anti-submarine sweep of
destroyers DA NOLI, USODIMARE, DA RECCO, PESSAGNO, which
departed Augusta 1 August. Three ratings were lost with
OSWALD, but the remainder of the crew, Fraser, Lt G. R.
Marsh, Lt M. D. Pope, Lt M. S. Hodson, Warrant Engineer
G. Mitchell and forty seven ratings, were rescued by
VIVALDI and made prisoners of war.
_____
Force H departed
Gibraltar on 31 July for Operation HURRY with
battlecruiser HOOD, battleship VALIANT, aircraft
carriers ARK ROYAL and ARGUS, light cruisers ARETHUSA
and ENTERPRISE, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FEARLESS,
ESCAPADE, ACTIVE, WRESTLER, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT,
GREYHOUND, HOTSPUR.
Light cruiser ENTERPRISE
was southeast of Minorca simulating activity in the
northern part of the Western Basin in Operation SPARK.
The light cruiser was also to have contacted French
steamer GENERAL GUEYDON, but contact was not made.
Diversion for HURRY was
by the Mediterranean Fleet which departed Alexandria on
31 July withlight cruisers NEPTUNE, SYDNEY, ORION,
destroyers NUBIAN, JUNO, GARLAND as Force A and
battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and MALAYA, aircraft carrier
EAGLE,HERO, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, HASTY, ILEX, IMPERIAL,
JERVIS, VENDETTA as Force B.
However, when a
mechanical breakdown occurred on battleship MALAYA,
Force B returned to Alexandria on the 1st. Force A
returned the next day.
On the 2nd, HURRY, the
flyoff of fighters from aircraft carrier ARGUS to Malta
was conducted. While the rest of Force H turned north,
aircraft carrier ARGUS, escorted by destroyers
ENCOUNTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, HOTSPUR, conducted the
operation.
Aircraft carrier ARK
ROYAL, screened by battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser
ENTERPRISE, destroyers FAULKNOR, FOESTER, FORESIGHT,
FOXHOUND, launched aircraft to raid Cagliari in
Operation CRUSH.
Lt J. R. Robins, Lt J. M.
M. Tarver, Petty Officer J. Clarke of 810 Squadron were
lost when their plane crashed on take off. Lt (A) G. R.
Humphries, Lt D. Williams, Leading Airman C. Pendleton
in a Swordfish of 820 Squadron were shot down and made
prisoners of war.
Force H arrived back at
Gibraltar on the 4th.
After HURRY, Somerville
took Force H with battlecruiser HOOD, battleship
VALIANT, aircraft carrier ARGUS, light cruiser ARETHUSA,
destroyers of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla back to
England. Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser
ENTERPRISE, destroyers GREYHOUND, GALLANT, ENCOUNTER,
HOTSPUR sailed with Force H, but returned to Gibraltar
on the 8th after parting with the rest of Force H
On 9 August, Force H was
met west of Ireland by destroyers PUNJABI, TARTAR,
BEDOUIN which escorted battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser
ARETHUSA, destroyers ESCAPADE and FOXHOUND to Scapa
Flow, arriving 0600/10th.
Battleship VALIANT,
aircraft carrier ARGUS, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT,
FORESTER arriving at Liverpool at 1530/10th.
Destroyer FEARLESS was in
a minor collision with Armed patrol trawler FLYING WING
(226grt) at 0312 off the Mull of Cantyre in 55‑14N,
5‑58W. Destroyer FAULKNOR stood by to assist.
Destroyer FEARLESS
proceeded to the Clyde and then was taken to Glasgow
where she was under repair until 8 October.
Aircraft carrier ARGUS
and destroyer FORESTER were detached to enter Liverpool
together.
_____
Italian submarine MAMELI
sank Greek steamer ROULA (1044grt) in 34‑06N, 26‑30E.
The entire crew was rescued.
Friday,
2 August
At 0800, the destroyers
under Rear Admiral Home Fleet destroyers were
reorganised.
3rd Destroyer Flotilla,
destroyers INGLEFIELD, ISIS, DUNCAN, ECHO, ECLIPSE,
ELECTRA. (destroyer ENCOUNTER on her return to England).
4th Destroyer Flotilla,
destroyers COSSACK, ZULU, SIKH, MAORI, FAME, FORTUNE.
Temporarily attached destroyers FURY and FIREDRAKE. (on
return to England, destroyer FOXHOUND).
6th Destroyer Flotilla,
destroyers TARTAR, ASHANTI, MATABELE, MASHONA, BEDOUIN,
PUNJABI, ESKIMO, SOMALI.
12th Destroyer Flotilla,
destroyers KEPPEL, DOUGLAS, ARROW, ACHATES, ACTIVE,
ANTHONY, AMAZON. Temporarily attached destroyers
VORTIGERN and WATCHMAN.
_____
Destroyers MAORI and
MASHONA departed Lerwick for an anti-submarine sweep
north of the Shetlands.
No contact was made.
_____
Destroyers BEDOUIN and
PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow at 1315 to search in the
area of North Minch, then join convoy WN.4.
The destroyers would stay
with WN.4 until Rattray Head when they were detached to
join convoy OA.193.
_____
British minefield BS.30
was laid by minelayers PLOVER and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN
and destroyers EXPRESS, ESK, ICARUS, INTREPID,
IMPULSIVE.
_____
Anti-submarine trawler
CAPE FINISTERRE (590grt) was sunk by German bombing off
Harwich.
One rating was lost in
the trawler.
_____
Convoy OG.40 of twenty
one ships departed Liverpool. The convoy was escorted by
sloop ENCHANTRESS from 2 to 14 August.
Destroyer WESTCOTT
escorted the convoy from 2 to 7 August when she was
detached to convoy HG.40. The convoy arrived at
Gibraltar on the 14th.
_____
Convoy FN.240 departed
Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 4th.
_____
Convoy MT.128 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 2nd.
_____
Convoy FS.239 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and WESTMINSTER.
The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3rd.
Convoy FS.240 was
cancelled.
_____
Dutch submarine O.22
attacked a U.37 or U.38, which had set out on patrol
from Wilhelmshaven on the 1st, in the North Sea without
result.
_____
British steamer CITY OF
BRISBANE (8006grt) was sunk by German bombing off South
Longsand Buoy, Thames Estuary in 51-32-30N, 1-23-30E.
The steamer went ashore
at South Longsand. Steamer CITY OF BRISBANE was still
afire on the 5th.
Eight crew were lost on
the British steamer.
_____
U.99 damaged Norwegian
tanker STRINDA (10,973grt) in 55‑10N, 17‑16W and British
tankers LUCERNA (6556grt) in 55‑18N, 16‑39W and ALEXIA
(8016grt) in 55‑30N, 15‑30W.
_____
British drifter EMBRACE
(94grt) was lost after stranding at Loch Alsh.
_____
German armed merchant
cruiser ATLANTIS captured Norwegian steamer TALLYRAND
(6732grt) in 30S, 67E.
Steamer TALLYRAND was
scuttled on the 3rd in 32‑03S, 66‑36E.
The crew were transferred
to steamer TIRRANNA. When TIRRANNA was lost, three of
the steamer TALLYRAND crew was lost.
_____
Convoys SL.42 and SLF.42
departed Freetown escorted by light cruiser DELHI to 8
August when she was relieved by armed merchant cruiser
MALOJA. The light cruiser refuelled at St Vincent on the
11th and arrived at Freetown on the 20th, patrolling en
route.
On 18 August corvettes
BLUEBELL and CLARKIA and escort vessel GLEANER joined
the convoy. on the 19th, destroyer VISCOUNT joined.
Armed merchant cruiser
MALOJA was detached on the 20th. The convoy arrived on
the 21st at Liverpool.
Saturday,
3 August
Minelayers SOUTHERN
PRINCE, PORT QUEBEC, PORT NAPIER departed Loch Alsh at
1130/3rd and laid minefield SN.32 in St Georges Channel
screened by Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA on the night
of 4/5 August.
Survey ship SCOTT laid
the marker buoys for this minefield.
They were escorted by
destroyers ECHO, GARTH, BERKELEY which departed Scapa
Flow at 2050/2nd for this operation, and destroyer
INGLEFIELD, which departed Greenock at 1830/2nd.
_____
Heavy cruiser SUSSEX was
taken in hand for repair to turbine defects at the
Clyde.
_____
Light cruiser CARDIFF,
destroyers VENOMOUS, VERITY, WILD SWAN, WIVERN, patrol
sloops PUFFIN, SHEARWATER, SHELDRAKE operated from
Harwich on anti-invasion patrol during the night of 3/4
August.
_____
Destroyer DUNCAN arrived
at Scapa Flow at 1730 after completing repairs of her 15
January collision damage.
_____
Destroyer KEPPEL arrived
at Scapa Flow at 1930 to join the Home Fleet.
_____
Destroyers SIKH and
AMAZON arrived at Scapa Flow in company from Greenock.
_____
Hunt-class destroyer
QUORN was completed.
Destroyer QUORN worked up
at Scapa Flow in the 23rd Destroyer Division. She was
then transferred to the Nore for duty in the 2lst
Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Convoy OA.193 departed
Methil escorted by destroyer RESTIGOUCHE and sloop
DEPTFORD from 3 to 7 August. The escorts were then
detached to convoy HX.61. Escort vessel VERDUN escorted
the convoy on the 3rd and destroyers PUNJABI and BEDOUIN
escorted the convoy on the 4th.
_____
Convoy FN.241 departed
Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON, sloop
FLEETWOOD, patrol sloop PINTAIL. The patrol sloop was
detached on the 4th. Destroyers JAGUAR and JAVELIN
joined the convoy on the 4th and were detached on the
5th. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 5th.
Convoy FN.242 did not
sail.
_____
Convoy MT.129 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 3rd.
_____
Convoy FS.241 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop
LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend O.5 August.
_____
U.25 was mined and sunk
off Terschelling in 54‑00N, 5‑00E.
All forty nine crew were
lost on the submarine.
_____
German aircraft were over
Scapa Flow and convoy WN.4 between midnight and 0100.
British steamer STATIRA
(4852grt) in convoy WN.4 was badly damaged by German
bombing thirty eight miles north of Stornoway.
Anti-submarine trawler
ARAB (531grt) assisted the steamer.
The entire crew was taken
off by destroyers PUNJABI and BEDOUIN.
The steamer was taken in
tow on fire to Stornoway by British tug THAMES and
escorted by destroyer PUNJABI, which was later relieved
by destroyer SIKH.
The steamer later left
Stornoway and put in Rothesay Bay. Steamer STATIRA was
later taken to Glasgow where her cargo was unloaded. The
steamer was then broken up.
_____
U.A sank Yugoslavian
steamer RAD (4201grt) at 11‑20N, 21W.
On 5 August, British
steamer CAPE ST GEORGE in convoy SL.42 collided with the
sunken wreck of steamer RAD. Twenty nine crew from
steamer RAD were rescued by steamer GRODNO, which also
stood by steamer CAPE ST GEORGE, which later sank from
the damage.
The crew of sixty five
from the British steamer were all rescued by steamer
GRODNO.
_____
U.57 sank Swedish steamer
ATOS (2161grt) in 56N, 07W.
One crew on the Swedish
steamer was lost.
_____
British steamer WYCHWOOD
(2794grt) was sunk on a mine in 52‑00N, 01‑48E, four
miles north west, one quarter mile west of Shipwash
Light Vessel.
Patrol sloop MALLARD took
off the twenty two survivors.
_____
Because of the lack of
anti-aircraft armament, light cruiser CAPETOWN and
CALEDON left the Mediterranean for duty in the Indian
Ocean.
Light cruiser CAPETOWN
departed Alexandria on the 3rd for the East Indies
Station.
The light cruiser engaged
in a battle practice target shoot. After light cruiser
CAPETOWN had completed, destroeyrs DAINTY, VENDETTA,
DEFENDER and destroyers JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS
participated.
Light cruiser CALEDON
departed Alexandria on the 10th.
_____
Submarine PERSEUS, which
departed Hong Kong on 18 June and arrived at Colombo on
30 June and Aden on 24 July, arrived at Alexandria.
_____
Italian steamer LODOLETTA
(2822grt) was sunk by British bombing at Derna.
_____
Australian light cruiser
HOBART made a reconnaissance of Cape Guardafui from 3 to
5 August.
The cruiser then returned
to Berbera.
Sunday,
4 August
Heavy cruiser BERWICK
departed Liverpool after refitting on the 3rd.
In a fog at 0034 on the
4th, heavy cruiser BERWICK was in a collision in 55-32N,
6-27W with an unknown ship. There was no damage to the
cruiser below the water line.
Heavy cruiser BERWICK was
repaired at Glasgow from to 7 to 22 August. The cruiser
arrived in the Clyde on the 25th.
_____
Destroyers ACHATES and
FIREDRAKE departed Scapa Flow at 0730 to search for a
German submarine bombed by aircraft at 0510 in 59‑48N,
5‑30W.
This may have been the
submarine Destroyers MAORI and MASHONA were searching
for on the 3rd north of the Shetlands.
Destroyers MAORI and
MASHONA arrived at Scapa Flow at 2200/4th.
After an unsuccessful
search, destroyers ACHATES and FIREDRAKE swept towards
Fair Island Channel to reach 59-10N, 5-00W by 0600/5th.
_____
Destroyers BEDOUIN and
PUNJABI departed convoy OA.193 on its arrival at Cape
Wrath at 2200.
The destroyers arrived at
Scapa Flow at 0400/5th.
_____
Submarine SEALION sank
Norwegian steamer TORUN (3318grt) in Homborsund
southwest of Stavanger in 58-17N, 8-38E.
_____
Destroyers FORTUNE and
FURY departed Scapa Flow at 1050 for escort duty in the
Clyde.
_____
Anti-submarine trawler
KINGSTON CHRYSOBERYL (448grt) engaged a German motor
torpedo boat off St Catherine.
_____
Minesweeping trawler
DRUMMER (297grt, Temporary Skipper H. C. Hall RNR) was
sunk on a mine off Brightlingsea, Essex.
Two ratings were lost in
the trawler.
_____
Minesweeping trawler
MARSONA (276grt, Chief Skipper A. W. Ellis RNR) of
Minesweeper Group 43 was sunk on a mine off Cromarty.
Ellis, Temporary S/Lt I.
S. I. Trehearne RNVR, ten ratings were lost in the
trawler.
_____
Minesweeping trawler
OSWALDIAN (260grt, Temporary Skipper J. Darkins RNR) was
sunk on a mine off Breaksea Light Vessel in Bristol
Channel.
Twelve ratings were lost
in the trawler. Seven survivors from the trawler were
landed at Barry.
_____
In a British raid on oil
tanks and barges at Rotterdam, S/Lt R. C. Eborn and Lt
T. A. Johnston RM, were killed when their Swordfish of
812 Squadron was shot down off Noorwijk.
_____
British steamer WHITE
CREST (4365grt) was damaged by German bombing off Cape
Wrath.
_____
Convoy OB.193 departed
Liverpool escorted by destroyers VANQUISHER and VISCOUNT
from 4 to 7 August. The escorts were detached to convoy
HX.61.
_____
Convoy MT.130 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th.
_____
Convoy FS.242 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIMIERA and WOLFHOUND.
The convoy arrived at Southend on the 6th.
_____
On attacks on convoy
HX.60, U.52 sank British steamers KING ALFRED (5272grt)
and GOGOVALE (4586grt) in 56‑59N, 17‑38W and GERALDINE
MARY (7244grt) in 56‑46N, 15‑48W.
That evening U.58 sank
Greek steamer PINDOS (4360grt) in 55‑22N, 08‑50 from
convoy HX.60.
Four crew were lost on
the steamer KING ALFRED. Two crew and one gunner were
lost on the steamer GOGOVALE. Two crew and one passenger
were lost on the steamer GERALDINE MARY. Three crew were
killed on the steamer PINDOS.
_____
U.56 sank British steamer
BOMA (5408grt) from convoy OB.193 in 55‑44N, 08‑04W.
Three crew were missing
from the British steamer.
Survivors from the
steamer were rescued by Norwegian steamer VILJA
(6672grt).
The steamer was still
afloat on the 5th, but sank before the tug arrived.
_____
German auxiliary
submarine chaser UJ.175 (trawler PERSEUS, 428grt) was
sunk on a mine north of Ameland.
_____
Convoy HX.63 departed
Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE,
OTTAWA, SAGUENAY at 0630.
At 2100, the Canadian
destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort,
armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA, turned back towards
Halifax. Destroyers ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY were
detached on the 5th and destroyer OTTAWA on the 6th. The
armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 16th.
Convoy BHX.63 departed
Bermuda on the 3rd with an ocean escort of armed
merchant cruiser ALAUNIA. The convoy rendezvoused with
convoy on the 8th when the armed merchant cruiser was
detached.
On 16 August, destroyer
MACKAY, sloop LEITH, corvettes HEARTSEASE and HIBISCUS
joined the convoy and remained with the convoy until its
arrived at Liverpool on the 19th.
_____
Destroyers HERO,
HEREWARD, IMPERIAL departed Alexandria for an
anti-submarine sweep along the Nile Delta, up the
Palestine coast and Syrian coast, along the north coast
of Cyprus to the west before returning to Haifa.
Destroyer HEREWARD
returned to Alexandria on the 5th with defects.
Destroyer HASTY was sent
to replace HEREWARD in the sweep.
Light cruisers LIVERPOOL
and GLOUCESTER with destroyers JERVIS and HOSTILE
departed Alexandria during the afternoon of 4 August to
sweep in the Aegean. They were also to cover the
movement of Danube barges from Athens to Alexandria.
Destroyers HERO, HASTY,
IMPERIAL arrived at Haifa on the 7th.
The light cruiser force
arrived back at Alexandria on the 8th. Destroyers JERVIS
and HOSTILE arrived at Alexandria on the 10th with four
Danube barges and a tug.
_____
Australian heavy cruiser
CANBERRA departed Simonstown for Freemantle to effect
repairs to A brackets and propeller shaft.
_____
German armed merchant
cruiser WIDDER sank Norwegian tanker BEAULIEU (6114grt)
in the Central Atlantic at 25‑46N, 48‑44W.
Three crew were killed on
the Norwegian tanker.
Monday,
5 August
Destroyers ACHATES and
FIREDRAKE patrolled in the area of Cape Wrath-North
Rona-Butt of Lewis area after a submarine was reported
in the area.
_____
Destroyers ASHANTI and
MASHONA proceeded to Lerwick to escort British steamer
LOCHNAGAR which departed Lerwick at 1705 for Aberdeen.
_____
Due to heavy losses to
shipping by submarine attacks, destroyers KEPPEL and the
A class destroyers were to be transferred to the
Commander in Chief Western Approaches.
A division of the J and K
destroyers were to join the Nore Command.
_____
Minesweeping trawler
RIVER CLYDE (276grt, Temporary Skipper J. Grant RNR) of
Minesweeper Group 6 was sunk on a mine off Aldeburgh
Light Float.
Eleven ratings were
killed and one died of wounds in the trawler. Skipper
Grant was wounded.
_____
Convoy OA.194 departed
Methil escorted by destroyer HESPERUS and sloop
HASTINGS.
_____
Convoy FN.243 departed
Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 7th.
_____
Convoy MT.131 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 5th.
_____
Convoy FS.243 departed
the Tyne, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS and
patrol sloop KITTIWAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 7th.
_____
American heavy cruisers
WICHITA and QUINCY departed Bahia for Perambuco,
arriving on the 9th.
The cruisers departed on
13 September and arrived at Montevideo 23 August.
Departing on the 28th, they arrived at Buenas Aires on
the 29th.
Cruisers WICHITA and
QUINCY departed Buenas Aires on 3 September and arrived
at Rio de Janiero on 6 Serptember. They departed Rio on
10 September and arrived back at Norfolk, Virginia on 24
September.
Tuesday,
6 August
Destroyers EXPRESS, ESK,
ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID of the 20th Destroyer
Flotilla departed Immingham on the 5th and met their
motor torpedo boat escort.
Early on the 6th, the
destroyers laid minefield CBX.4 off the Dutch coast in
the Schoonveld and West Pit Passages off Thornton Ridge.
_____
The Clyde section of
Convoy WS.2 of British steamers EMPRESS OF CANADA
(21,517grt), ES (25,689grt), FRANCONIA (20,175grt),
SUFFOLK (11,063grt), MEMNON (7506grt), LANARKSHIRE
(9816grt) departed at 0630 escorted by heavy cruiser
SHROPSHIRE, light cruiser EMERALD, destroyers FORTUNE,
FURY, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN.
The Liverpool section of
Convoy WS.2 of British steamers CLAN MACAULEY
(10492grt), WAIWERA (10792grt), ASKA (8323grt), ORMONDE
(14982grt), MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22424grt), ORION
(23,371grt), OTRANTO (20032grt), STRATHEDEN (23772grt),
BATORY (14287grt), EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (42348grt),
STRAITHARD (22284grt) departed escorted by heavy cruiser
CORNWALL and destroyers HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK, HURRICANE,
HARVESTER. Steamer ORION was forced to put into the
Clyde the same day with engine defects.
Both sections
rendezvoused on the 6th and traveled together at sea.
Various ships were
detached en route and the troopships arrived safely at
Capetown. on the 31st, the "slow group" WS.2 B of liners
ORION, STRATHEDEN, ORMONDE, BATORY departed Capetown for
Bombay. On 12 September, the "fast group" WS.2 A of
liners EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, EMPRESS OF CANADA, ANDES
departed Capetown.
Heavy cruiser SHROPSHIRE
arrived at Simonstown on the 28th and joined the East
Indies Command.
Heavy cruiser CORNWALL
arrived at Simonstown on the 30th.
In the Indian Ocean,WS 2
A was escorted by cruisers HOBART and CARLISLE and
destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON and WS.2 B was escorted
by heavy cruiser CORNWALL and armed merchant cruiser
KANIMBLA.
_____
Destroyers ACHATES and
FIREDRAKE patrolling off Cape Wrath joined convoy HX.60
A to give anti-submarine protection in Pentland Firth at
2200.
The destroyers arrived at
Scapa Flow at 1000/7th after escorting the convoy to
Pentland Firth.
_____
Destroyer INGLEFIELD
(D.3), on passage from Loch Alsh to Scapa Flow,
destroyer ANTHONY, escorting aircraft carrier FURIOUS on
practices, proceeded to intercept two Dutch motor
coasting vessels proceeding westward through the
Pentland Firth.
The Dutch ships were
intercepted. They were turned over to anti-submarine
trawler REGAL (409grt) which brought them to port for
examination.
_____
Destroyers COSSACK and
SIKH departed Scapa Flow to carry out anti-submarine
patrols from 1700 in Fair Island Channel. No contact was
made.
The destroyers met convoy
WN.5 on the 7th in the Minches near Trodday Island and
escorted it to Pentland Firth.
The destroyers were
relieved at 0400 in convoy WN.5 off Cape Wrath by
destroyer BERKELEY, which departed Scapa Flow at 2015 on
the 8th. Destroyer BERKELEY continued south with the
convoy to join the Nore Command.
Destroyers COSSACK and
SIKH joined convoy OA.195 at 1515 on the 8th and
escorted it to Cape Wrath.
Destroyers COSSACK and
SIKH arrived at Scapa Flow at 0240.
_____
Destroyer AMAZON departed
Scapa Flow to investigate a suspicious merchant ship
report two miles 080° from Wick.
_____
Destroyer KEPPEL (D.12),
ANTHONY, AMAZON departed Scapa Flow at 2200 and with
destroyer ACHATES of convoy HX.60A proceeded to the
Clyde to join the Western Approaches Command.
_____
Submarine SEALION was
rammed at periscope depth by German auxiliary
anti-submarine vessel UJ.123 while attacking a convoy
southwest of Stavanger in 57-51N, 7-24E.
The submarine's
periscopes, masts, aerials were wrecked.
German steamer CLARE HUGO
STINNES (5295grt) was missed by torpedoes and not
damaged.
Submarine SEALION arrived
at Rosyth on the 10th. She was repaired in the Tyne from
15 August to 23 October.
_____
Convoy OB.194 departed
Liverpool escorted by destroyers WARWICK and HARVESTER
and corvette CLARKIA from 6 to 9 August. Destroyer
WARWICK and the corvette were detached to convoy SL.41.
_____
Convoy FN.244 departed
Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN, sloop LOWESTOFT,
patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 8th.
_____
Convoy MT.132 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.244 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloop
WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 8th.
_____
Italian light cruisers
BARBIANO and GUISSANO with destroyers PIGAFETTA and ZENO
laid mines near Pantelleria escorted by torpedo boats
CASSIOPEA, CIGNO, PLEIAI, ALDEBARAN.
_____
In Operation TUBE,
submarine PANDORA, which departed Gibraltar on 31 July,
arrived at Malta with supplies of spares and ground
equipment for the Hurricanes aircraft carrier ARGUS
delivered in HURRY.
_____
Convoy BN2A departed
Aden, escorted by light cruiser CERES and sloop
PARRAMATTA. The convoy arrived at Suez on the 12th.
_____
German steamer FULDA
(7744grt) at Dairen was sold to Japan as TAKAI MARU.
Wednesday,
7 August
Destroyers TARTAR (D.6),
BEDOUIN, ASHANTI departed Scapa Flow at 2000 to carry
out an anti-submarine sweep northward of North Rona
mined area to Rockall.
The destroyers then
joined battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser ARETHUSA,
destroyer FOXHOUND to escort them to Scapa Flow.
Destroyers TARTAR,
BEDOUIN, ASHANTI with battlecruiser HOOD, light cruiser
ARETHUSA, destroyers FOXHOUND and ESCAPADE arrived at
Scapa Flow at 0600/10th.
_____
Destroyers JAVELIN and
JAGUAR, en route from the Humber to join the Home Fleet,
were diverted to meet British steamers ST MAGNUS and
ROGNVALD off Aberdeen at 1400 for escort to Kirkwall and
Lerwick, respectively.
On 8 August, on their
arrival at Lerwick, the destroyers embarked ten officers
and one hundred and fifteen ranks of the British Army
repatriated from Petsamo, Finland on the Swedish steamer
GOTEBORG (880grt).
The British Army
personnel were landed at Scrabster and the destroyers
arrived at Scapa Flow.
_____
Convoy OA.195 departed
Methil escorted by sloop FOWEY.
_____
Convoy OB.195 departed
Liverpool escorts by destroyer VANOC and corvettes
PERIWINKLE and GERANIUM from 8 to 12 August.
_____
Convoy FN.245 departed
Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 9th.
_____
Convoy MT.133 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.245 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON, sloop
FLEETWOOD, patrol sloop MALLARD. The convoy arrived at
Southend on the 9th.
_____
German minelayers ROLAND,
COBRA, BRUMMER laid mines in the southwest North Sea for
minefield "SW 1" escorted by torpedo boats T.2 of the
1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla, T.7 of the 2nd Torpedo Boat
Flotilla, FALKE, KONDOR, JAGUAR of the 5th Torpedo Boat
Flotilla.
It was on this minefield
that Destroyers ESK and IVANHOE were lost and destroyer
EXPRESS was badly damaged at the end of the month.
_____
German auxiliary
submarine chaser Vp.1501 (trawler WIKING 7, 381grt) was
sunk on a mine near Frederickshavn.
Trawler WIKING 7 was
later salved in 1940 and restored to duty as Vp.1501.
_____
U.38 sank Egyptian
steamer MOHAMED ALI EL KEBIR (7527grt) from convoy HX.61
in 55‑22N, 13‑18W.
There were 162 crew, one
gunner, 697 troops on the steamer. Ten crew and fifty
troops were lost. The survivors from this steamer were
picked up by destroyer GRIFFIN.
Thursday,
8 August
Destroyers EXPRESS, ESK,
ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, IVANHOE departed Immingham and joined
four motor anti-submarine boats from Harwich.
During the night of 8/9
August, the destroyers laid minefield MP (A), an
extension of the MN minefield to Falls Bank and to back
up the MN minefield.
During the night of 10/11
August, the same destroyers conducted MP (B).
After MP (B), the
destroyers returned to Immingham.
_____
Polish destroyer BURZA
made three attacks at 1410 on a submarine contact in
52‑21N, 5‑06. 5W.
Destroyer BURZA was en
route to Scapa Flow to work up after repairs. She
arrived on the 9th at 1900.
_____
Destroyers BULLDOG of the
1st Destroyer Flotilla and FERNIE departed Portsmouth to
support Convoy CW.9.
In convoy CW.9 British
steamers HOLME FORCE (1216grt) off Newhaven and FIFE
COAST (367grt) ten to fifteen miles west of Beachy Head
were sunk by German motor torpedo boats S.21 and S.27.
The Master, two crew,
three gunners were lost on the steamer HOLME FORCE. Four
crew and one naval rating were lost on the steamer FIFE
COAST.
In addition to S.21 and
S.27, S.20 and S.25, all of the 1st Flotilla made
attacks on this convoy.
British steamers JOHN M
(500grt) ten miles south of Needles, IOW and POLLY M
(380grt) 15 miles 190° from Cape Wrath were damaged by
German motor torpedo boat attacks.
British steamer OUSE
(1004grt) was sunk off Newhaven in a collision with
British steamer RYE (1048grt) while avoiding a torpedo
from one of the motor torpedo boats.
Twenty three survivors
were rescued from steamer OUSE.
In air attacks on convoy
CW.9, British steamers COQUETDALE (1597grt) and EMPIRE
CRUSADER (1042grt) were sunk fifteen miles west of St
Catherine's Point.
The entire crew of
steamer COQUETDALE was rescued. The Master, two crew,
two naval gunners were lost on the steamer EMPIRE
CRUSADER.
Dutch steamer AJAX
(942grt) was sunk by German bombing fifteen miles west
of St Catherine's Point.
Four crew on the Dutch
steamer were lost.
Dutch steamers
VEENENBURGH (433grt), OMLANDIA (400grt), SURTE (244grt)
were damaged by German bombing fifteen miles west of St
Catherine's Point.
British steamers SCHELDT
(497grt) and BALMAHA (1428grt) were damaged by German
bombing fifteen miles west of St Catherine's Point.
Norwegian steamer TRES
(946grt) was damaged by German bombing 1950 yards 036°
from Nodes Point, St Helen's Roads.
Steamer TRES later sank
in St Helens Bay.
During these attacks,
anti-submarine yachts WILNA and RION and anti-submarine
trawlers CAPE PALLISER, KINGSTON CHRYSOBERYL, KINGSTON
OLIVINE, STELLA CAPELLA were damaged by German bombing
in the area.
In the RION, Cdr J. K. B.
Birch was wounded and died of wounds on the 14th. In the
WILNA, Temporary Lt S. Behennah RNVR, Temporary Lt H. H.
Dimmick RNVR, were wounded.
_____
S/Lt F. A. Smith, flying
a Hurricane of RAF 145 Squadron Westhampnett, was killed
when he was shot down over convoy CW.9 south of South
Catherine's Point.
_____
Convoy FN.246 departed
Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS and
patrol sloop SHEARWATER. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 10th.
_____
Convoy MT.134 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.246 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS and sloop
STORK. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 10th.
_____
Convoy HX.64 departed
Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE and
auxiliary patrol boat FRENCH at 1630. Destroyer SAGUENAY
and auxiliary patrol boat LAURIER departed escorted
SHX.64 and joined at sea
Patrol boat FRENCH
returned to Halifax after dark on the 8th and destroyer
ASSINIBOINE remained with the convoy until 2030/9th
leaving the convoy to ocean escort, armed merchant
cruiser RAJPUTANA. The armed merchant cruiser was
detached on the 20th.
Convoy BHX.64 departed
Bermudaon 7 August escorted by her ocean escort of light
cruiser CARADOC. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy
HX.64 on the 12th and the light cruiser was detached.
On the 20th, destroyer
WARWICK, sloop SANDWICH, corvettes GARDENIA and MALLOW
joined the convoy. They arrived with the convoy at
Liverpool on the 23rd.
_____
U.37 sank British steamer
UPWEY GRANGE (9130grt) in 54‑20N, 15‑28W.
Thirty three crew and
three passengers were missing from the British steamer.
The survivors were
rescued by British trawler NANIWA (340grt).
_____
Three Italian air raids
were launched on Berbera. Australian light cruiser
HOBART, sloop AUCKLAND, anti-submarine trawler AMBER,
several steamers were in port.
Light cruiser HOBART and
armed boarding vessel CHAKDINA were damaged by splinters
from near misses.
_____
Destroyers HERO, HASTY,
IMPERIAL departed Haifa to east east and north of
Cyprus.
Destroyer HASTY was
detached off Haifa to escort a local convoy.
Destroyers IMPERIAL and
HERO arrived back at Alexandria on the 10th. Destroyer
HASTY arrived later on the 10th.
_____
In Operation TUBE,
submarine PROTEUS, which departed Gibraltar on the 1st,
arrived at Malta with spares and ground equipment for
the Hurricanes brought to Malta by HURRY.
In harbour, submarine
PROTEUS was in a collision with British tug ANDROMEDA.
The submarine was repairing until 22 August.
_____
Light cruiser DURBAN
completed her refitting begun at Singapore in July.
_____
Light cruiser DRAGON
arrived at Lobito to refuel prior to joining convoy
RS.5.
The cruiser departed the
next day and joined the convoy on the 11th.
_____
American destroyers WALKE
and WAINWRIGHT departed Santos for Rio de Janiero.
_____
German armed merchant
cruiser WIDDER sank Dutch steamer OOSTPLEIN (5095grt) in
the Central Atlantic 200 miles south of the Azores.
The crew were made
prisoners of war and were landed at St Nazaire on 9
October.
_____
Italian minelayer SCILLA
escorted by torpedo boats ANTARES and SAGITARIO laid
mines off Pantelleria.
Destroyer HOSTILE was
lost later this month on this minefield.
Friday,
9 August
Destroyer JAVELIN
departed Scapa Flow at 1415 for Lerwick to escort
British steamer ROGNVALD to Aberdeen.
At Aberdeen, destroyer
JAVELIN meet LOCHNAGAR and escorted her to Lerwick,
arriving at 1545 on the 11th.
Destroyer JAVELIN then
arrived at Scapa Flow.
_____
Convoy OA.196 departed
Methil escorted by sloop ROCHESTER and corvette PRIMROSE
on the 9th. Anti-submarine trawlers KING SOL and
AYRSHIRE escorted the convoy on the 11th.
_____
Convoy FN.247 departed
Southend, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER, sloop
WESTON, patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in
the Tyne on the 11th.
_____
Convoy MT.135 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.247 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and WESTMINSTER.
The convoy arrived at Southend on the 11th.
_____
U.30 sank Swedish steamer
CANTON (5779grt) seventy miles west of Tory Island.
Sixteen crewmembers were
missing in the loss of the steamer.
_____
Italian destroyers
MAESTRALE, GRECALE, LIBECCIO, SCIROCCO laid mines off
Pantelleria.
_____
Dutch light cruiser
SUMATRA departed Trinidad for Freetown.
The light cruiser arrived
on the 20th, en route to the Dutch East Indies.
Saturday,
10 August
Destroyers COSSACK, SIKH,
MAORI, DUNCAN departed Scapa Flow at 0830 to join convoy
OA.196 which was escorted by sloop ROCHESTER and
corvette PRIMROSE.
The destroyers stayed
with the convoy as far as Cape Wrath, then proceeded to
Loch Alsh for minelaying operation SN.13.
_____
Destroyers JAGUAR and
CATTISTOCK were to join convoy HX.61 from Cape Wrath to
Pentland Firth, but were unable to do so.
Convoy HX.61 was delayed
by a full northerly gale in the Minches.
Destroyer JAGUAR rescued
the crew of British steamer ALBULA (329grt) of convoy
OA.196. The steamer had been abandoned in a sinking
condition after a collision in 58‑38N, 4‑35. 5W.
Destroyer CATTISTOCK was
unable to make headway against seas experienced to the
westward of Pentland Firth.
Destroyers JAGUAR and
CATTISTOCK arrived at Scapa Flow at 0900/11th.
_____
Destroyer ARROW departed
Scapa Flow at 2200 to return to the Western Approaches
Command.
_____
S/Lt F. Combes RNR, was
lost overboard from Destroyer ANTHONY at sea.
_____
British Hunt destroyer
HOLDERNESS was completed.
Destroyer HOLDERNESS
arrived at Scapa Flow on the 12th for working up at
Scapa Flow in the 23rd Destroyer Division. She departed
on 2 September for duty in the Nore with the 21st
Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Armed merchant cruiser
TRANSYLVANIA (Captain F. N. Miles Rtd), which departed
the Clyde on the 9th, was sunk at 0011 by U.56 west of
Ireland in 55‑50, 08‑03W.
Temporary Lt Cdr J. A.
Lefevre RNR, Lt (E) R. W. Calderwood RNR, Gunner H. H.
Buckley Rtd and thirty two ratings were lost on the
armed merchant cruiser.
At 0215, destroyer
ASHANTI, on passage to the Clyde, was ordered to assist
the armed merchant cruiser.
Destroyers HAVELOCK and
FORTUNE were ordered to assist TRANSYLVANIA.
Destroyer HAMBLEDON put
to sea escorting tugs SALVONIA and ENGLISHMAN to assist
the armed merchant cruiser, but this was cancelled when
it was found she was found beyond salving.
Destroyers HAVELOCK,
FORTUNE, ASHANTI, ACHATES, ANTHONY conducted an
anti-submarine search for the submarine responsible.
Destroyers ASHANTI,
FORTUNE, ACHATES, ANTHONY, HAVELOCK proceeded to
Greenock after the anti-submarine patrol and arrived at
1915 on the 10th.
_____
British steamers CITY OF
DUNDEE (5273grt) and CITY OF BRISBANE (8006grt) in
convoy FS.247 were lost when grounded near Southend in
51-32-30N, 1-23-30E.
_____
Convoy FN.248 departed
Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop
FLEETWOOD. Patrol sloop PINTAIL joined on 11 and was
detached later that day. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 12th.
_____
Convoy MT.136 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.248 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOLSEY and sloop EGRET.
Patrol sloop PINTAIL joined on the 11th and was detached
on the 12th.
_____
Swedish steamer VARIA
(929grt) was sunk by German bombing sixty miles
southeast of Fastnet.
Seven crew were missing
on the Swedish steamer.
_____
British steamer
BLAIRCLOVA (5083grt) was damaged by German bombing
twenty miles north, northeast of Holyhead.
_____
Dutch steamer HAULERWIJK
(3278grt) was damaged by German bombing in 51‑54N,
05‑45W.
_____
British drifter YOUNG SID
(100grt) was sunk in a collision in Moray Firth with a
collier.
_____
Danish steamer KIRSTEN
(1196grt) was sunk on a mine off the Danish coast.
_____
Convoy BN.3 departed
Bombay carrying the troops brought to India in convoy
WS.1.
Troopships TALMABA
(8018grt), TAKLIWA (7936grt), DEVONSHIRE (11,275grt),
DILWARA (11,080grt), LANCASHIRE (9557grt), KHEDIVE
ISMAEL (7290grt), RAJULA (8478grt), ROHNA (8602grt)
comprised the convoy.
Armed merchant cruisers
RANCHI and ANTENOR escorted the convoy from 10 to 15
August.
Light cruiser LEANDER
escorted the convoy from 15 to 21 August.
Sloop HINDUSTAN escorted
the convoy from 16 to 17 August.
At Aden, destroyers
KINGSTON and KIMBERLEY and sloop PARRAMATTA joined the
convoy and continued with it until 21 August.
On the 21st, sloops
GRIMSBY and CLIVE joined the convoy and continued with
it until arriving at Suez on the 23rd.
_____
British troopship
NEURALIA with evacuees from Gibraltar sailed for
Madeira, escorted locally by destroyer GALLANT.
_____
German armed merchant
cruiser WIDDER sank Finnish barque KILLORAN (1817grt)
south, southwest of the Azores in the Central Atlantic,
in 32-30N, 34W.
The Finnish crew was
returned to Abo.
Three Argentines were
returned to Argentina.
Some of the crew were
interned.
Sunday,
11 August
Battleship REVENGE,
carrying £14.5 million pounds in gold being transferred
to Canada, armed merchant cruiser ASTURIAS, steamers
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (21,833grt), ORONSAY (20,043grt),
SAMARIA (19,597grt), ANTONIA (13,867grt), DUCHESS OF
YORK (20,021grt), GEORGIC (27,759grt) departed the Clyde
at 1030 escorted by destroyers ASHANTI, which departed
Scapa Flow at 1000/9th, GRIFFIN, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN.
The gold transfer and
convoy was designated convoy "ZA".
Steamer ORION (23,371grt)
departed the Clyde at the same time as this convoy. She
was joined at sea by armed merchant cruiser ASTURIAS
which escorted her to Freetown. The steamer was taken by
Dutch light cruiser SUMATRA to Capetown to rejoin convoy
WS.2 B.
_____
Destroyers COSSACK (D.4),
SIKH, MAORI, DUNCAN joined Rear Admiral Minelaying on
minelayer SOUTHERN PRINCE with minelayers PORT QUEBEC,
PORT NAPIER, MENESTHEUS, which departed Loch Alsh at
0230/11th to lay minefield SN.13.
Survey ship SCOTT laid
the navigational buoys.
The minefield was laid
and the destroyers arrived back at Scapa Flow at
0700/13th.
_____
Destroyer HOLDERNESS, on
passage north to Scapa Flow, was diverted to Rosyth to
act as part of the escort for submarine depot ship
TITANIA to Belfast.
_____
Light cruiser ARETHUSA
and destroyer FOXHOUND departed Scapa Flow at 0630 for
repairs and refitting at Chatham.
Light cruiser ARETHUSA
was under repair from 17 August to 30 September at
Chatham.
Destroyer FOXHOUND was
under repair at London until 12 October.
_____
Destroyer WINDSOR was
damaged by German bombing off Botany Buoy in the Thames
Estuary.
Destroyer WINDSOR was
taken to London for repairs, completed at the end of
October.
_____
Destroyer ESK was damaged
by German bombing at Harwich. She was repaired in one
week.
_____
Destroyer SCIMITAR was
damaged by near misses while in Portland Harbour.
Destroyer SCIMITAR was repaired in four days.
_____
While in Portland
Harbour, destroyer SKATE was damaged by near misses
which wrecked her bridge. She did not require immediate
repair for the damage.
_____
S/Lt H. W. Isherwood was
killed when his Fulmar of 806 Squadron crashed near
Aberdour.
_____
Convoy OA.197 departed
Methil. No escorts were listed.
_____
Convoy OB.197 departed
Liverpool escorted by destroyer WINCHELSEA from 11 to 14
August,sloop SCARBOROUGH from 11 to 15 August,
destroyers ARROW and ANTHONY on the 12th.
_____
Convoy FN.249 departed
Southend, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS and sloop
STORK. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 13th.
_____
Convoy MT.137 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.249 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIMIERA and WOLFHOUND
and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on
the 14th.
_____
U.38 sank British steamer
LLANFAIR (4966grt) in 54‑48N, 13‑46W.
Two crew were killed and
one died later from the British steamer. Thirty
survivors were picked up by Armed merchant cruiser
CALIFORNIA.
_____
British trawler EDWARDIAN
was damaged by bombing off Kent. Three crew were killed
and three wounded. The trawler was run agroun at North
Foreland to prevent sinking.
_____
British steamer KIRNWOOD
(3829grt) was damaged by German bombing in 52‑27N,
02‑10E.
_____
British tanker OIL TRADER
(5550grt) was damaged by German bombing 3½ miles 071°
from Shipwash Light Vessel.
_____
Convoy HG.41 with 45
ships departed Gibraltar escorted by destroyer VELOX
from 11 to 15 August.
Sloop FOLKESTONE escorted
the convoy from 11 to 24 August.
Destroyers RESTIGOUCHE
and VANOC escorted the convoy from 22 to 24 August.
Destroyer WALKER and
corvette ARABIS from convoy OB.200 escorted the convoy
from 22 August to 24 and 25 August, respectively. The
convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.
_____
Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE
arrived at Freetown from patrol in the northern half of
the South Atlantic.
_____
Britihs convoy SL.43
departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser
DUNVEGAN CASTLE to 27 August and sloop MILFORD to 13
August.
Due to the lack of
escorts,Convoy SLF.43 departed Freetown at the same
time. The convoy was joined by light cruiser DELHI,
after refuelling at St Vincent and departing the evening
of 10 August, to 16 August, when the convoy rendezvoused
with convoy SL.43.
Sloop MILFORD escorted
the Polish steamer CIESZYN to Bathurst, then returned to
Freetown, arriving on the 15th.
Included in the convoy
was steamer STAFFORDSHIRE, carrying the survivors from
sunken steamer CAPE ST GEORGE.
Light cruiser DELHI
arrived back at Freetown on the 20th.
On 26 August, sloop FOWEY
and corvette PERWINKLE joined the convoy. on the 27th,
destroyer WINCHELSEA and corvette PRIMROSE joined the
convoy. The convoy arrived on the 31st.
_____
British steamers CERAMIC
and TESTBANK collied at 27-15S, 10-00E.
Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND
took steamer CERAMIC in tow, but it was not successful
and the tow was later slipped. Steamer British VISCOUNT
was in company.
The passengers in steamer
CERAMIC were transferred to VICEROY OF INDIA.
Tug MCEWEN took steamer
CERAMIC in tow and the heavy cruiser proceed to
Simonstown for refuelling, arriving on the 17th.
Steamer TESTBANK
proceeded to Capetown with damaged bows, accompanied by
steamer British VISCOUNT.
Steamer TESTBANK arrived
at Capetown on the 15th and steamer CERAMIC at Walvis
Bay on the 16th.
_____
Convoy BS.2A departed
Suez, escorted by sloop GRIMSBY. Light cruiser CALEDON
joined on 13 September. The convoy arrived at Aden on
the 17th.
Monday,
12 August
Heavy cruiser NORFOLK and
Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA departed Scapa Flow
to patrol north of the Faroes for German shipping.
The cruisers were
relieved by anti-aircraft cruisers NAIAD and BONAVENTURE
and returned to Scapa Flow after an uneventful patrol on
the 16th.
The anti-aircraft
cruisers patrolled until returning to Scapa Flow on the
20th.
_____
The Home Fleet at Scapa
Flow was brought to two and a half hour's notice at
2217.
_____
Destroyer WATCHMAN was
damaged by near misses of air bombs north of Ireland.
She spent no time out of service, but proceeded later in
the month to Hull for refitting.
_____
Destroyer GARTH departed
Greenock at 1750 to join convoy WN.7 and proceed with it
to Methil.
_____
Destroyer VANITY
completed her conversion to escort vessel.
_____
Minesweeping trawlers
PYROPE (295grt, Temporary Skipper A. J. Folkard RNR) and
TAMARISK (545grt, Skipper S. C. W. Bavidge RNR) of
Minesweeper Group 2 were sunk by German bombing off
North East Spit Buoy in the Thames Estuary.
Six ratings were lost on
trawler PYROPE. Seven ratings were lost on the trawler
TAMARISK.
_____
British trawlers ERMINE
(181grt), KERNEVAL (172grt), RIVER YTHAN (161grt) were
damaged by German bombing off Smalls.
_____
Convoy OB.197 departed
Liverpool escorted by destroyer MACKAY, sloop LEITH,
corvette HEARTSEASE from 13 to 16 August. The destroyer
and the corvette were detached to convoy HX.63.
_____
Convoy FN.250 departed
Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 14th.
_____
Convoy MT.138 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.250 departed
the Tyne, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS.
Patrol sloop GUILLEMOT joined on the 13th. The convoy
arrived at Southend on the 14th.
_____
Convoy HX.65 departed
Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE and
auxiliary patrol boat FRENCH at 1540.
Convoy SHX.65 departed
Sydney, CB escorted by Canadian destroyer SAGUENAY and
auxiliary patrol boat LAURIER. They joined HX.65 at sea.
At 1940, FRENCH was
ordered to return to Halifax.
Destroyer ASSINIBOINE
arrived back at Halifax at 0645 on the 14th after
turning over the convoy to armed merchant cruiser
VOLTAIRE. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the
23rd.
Convoy BHX.65 departed
Bermuda on the 11th escorted by ocean escort armed
merchant cruiser MONTCLARE. The convoy rendezvoused with
convoy HX.65 on the 16th and the armed merchant cruiser
was detached.
On 24 August, destroyers
SKEENA and WESTCOTT and corvette GODETIA joined the
convoy. Sloop LOWESTOFT joined on the 26th. They arrived
with the convoy on the 27th at Liverpool.
_____
Italian submarine
MALASPINA sank British tanker British FAME (8406grt),
which had been dispersed from convoy OB.193, in 37‑44N,
22‑56W.
Three crew were lost and
one was taken prisoner from the British tanker.
Portuguese destroyer DAO proceeded to assist.
_____
Destroyers NUBIAN,
MOHAWK, IMPERIAL, HOSTILE departed Alexandria at 0600 on
an anti-submarine sweep MD 6.
Light cruiser NEPTUNE and
Australian light cruiser SYDNEY departed Alexandria at
0700 on an anti shipping sweep and to provide cover for
the destroyers.
Light cruisers NEPTUNE
and SYDNEY and destroyer IMPERIAL arrived back at
Alexandria on the 14th. Destroyers NUBIAN and HOSTILE
remained at sea to search for submarine MICCA which
unsuccessfully attacked light cruisers in 32-06N,
28-31E.
Destroyers NUBIAN and
HOSTILE arrived back at Alexandria on the 15th.
_____
German steamers QUITO
(1230grt) and BOGOTA (1230grt) arrived at Yokohama.
Tuesday,
13 August
Vice Admiral Somerville
departed Scapa Flow at 1600 to return to Gibraltar with
battlecruiser RENOWN, escorted in the local approaches
by destroyers TARTAR, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, MASHONA.
Returning to Scapa Flow,
the destroyers carried out an anti-submarine sweep.
Destroyers TARTAR,
BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, MASHONA arrived at Scapa Flow at
0630/15th.
_____
Light cruiser SHEFFIELD
and anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO arrived at Scapa Flow.
_____
At 0440, the Home Fleet
at Scapa Flow was brought to one hour's notice.
At 1031, the Admiralty
advised no ship was to be taken in hand for boiler
cleaning or refitting until further orders.
_____
British minefield BS.31
was laid by minelayers PLOVER and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN
and destroyers INTREPID and IMPULSIVE.
_____
Convoy OA.198 departed
Methil escorted by sloop DEPTFORD on the 13th and
corvette BLUEBELL and escort vessel GLEANER on the 14th.
The corvette and the escort vessel were detached to
convoy SL.42.
_____
Convoy FN.251 departed
Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 15th.
_____
Convoy MT.139 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.251 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and sloop
FLEETWOOD. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 15th.
_____
S/Lt (A) P. T. Eckersley
RNVR, Naval Airman S. J. Snow were killed when their
Proctor of 755 Squadron crashed near Winchester.
_____
U.60 sank Swedish steamer
NILS GORTHON (1787grt), a straggler from convoy HX.62,
twenty five miles north, northeast of Malin Head, in
55-45N, 7-30W.
Four crew were lost on
the Swedish steamer.
_____
Minesweeping trawler
ELIZABETH ANGELA (253grt, Temporary Skipper F. A.
Meggitt RNR) was sunk by German bombing in the Downs, in
51-19-57N, 1-33-03E.
One crewman was killed on
the trawler.
_____
Destroyer KIMBERLEY and
sloop AUCKLAND bombarded El Sheika, forty miles west of
Berbera.
_____
Swedish steamer MONGOLIA
(2124grt) was sunk on a mine twelve to fifteen miles
from land in Kiel Bay.
_____
Nine Swordfish of 830
Squadron from Malta attacked Augusta.
Midshipman (A) D. S.
Edmondson and Naval Airman R. Pearson were lost when
their aircraft was shot down. Lt D. W. Waters and Naval
Airman S. D. Harris were shot down and captured. A third
plane, piloted by Lt Cdr A. F. Hall with Lt B. Walford
and Leading Airman F. Pickles,was lost, but the crew was
rescued by a British rescue boat.
_____
American heavy cruisers
WICHITA and QUINCY departed Pernambuco for Montevideo.
Wednesday,
14 August
Aircraft carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow escorted
by destroyers HAMBLEDON, ATHERSTONE, ECLIPSE.
These ships arrived at
Scapa Flow at 0600/15th.
_____
At Scapa Flow during a
gale, anti-aircraft cruiser NAIAD dragged across the
bows of light cruiser AJAX.
Light cruiser AJAX's bow
was damaged. There was superficial damage to NAIAD.
Light cruiser AJAX
proceeded to Liverpool for repairs.
_____
Destroyers ESCAPADE and
CATTISTOCK departed Scapa Flow at 0100 to search for a
German submarine reported by aircraft in 60-47N, 2-22W
at 1803. They were to be in 59‑00N, 5‑30W for an
anti-submarine sweep. The search was unsuccessful.
British aircraft bombed a
contact at 0553 in 60-00N, 4-13W, on course 230. This
was determined to probably be the same submarine of the
earlier report.
Destroyers INGLEFIELD and
FIREDRAKE departed Scapa Flow at 1115 to join the
search.
These four destroyers
were ordered to return to harbour if no contact was made
by 0800/15th.
Destroyers DUNCAN and
JAGUAR were exercising to the west of Hoy.
At 0854, on her return to
Hatston, the same aircraft as had made the attack at
0553, sighted a submarine diving.
Destroyers DUNCAN and
JAGUAR were sent to search in the area.
_____
Destroyer KIPLING
departed the Humber at 1050 after repairs and arrived at
Scapa Flow at 0600/15th.
_____
Destroyers ASHANTI, just
arrived from Loch Alsh, ECHO departed Scapa Flow at 2000
to escort British steamer ULSTER MONARCH (3791grt) to
the Faroes.
The destroyers arrived
back at Scapa Flow at 1615 on the 16th.
_____
Destroyers WATCHMAN and
VORTIGERN arrived at Scapa Flow at 1945 from convoy "ZA"
escort.
Destroyer VORTIGERN was
damaged alongside an oiler in harbour. She was repaired
by depot ship WOOLWICH, but was unable to depart with
WATCHMAN as planned.
_____
Lt W. A. F. Fryer, S/Lt
(A) A. J. Mourilyan RNVR, Petty Officer A. T. Tyler were
killed when their Swordfish of 821 Squadron crashed in
60-00N, 3-06W while on anti-submarine patrol.
_____
Destroyers WITHERINGTON
and VOLUNTEER were escorting a convoy off Portland when
it was unsuccessfully attacked by a German submarine.
_____
Destroyers MALCOLM and
VERITY with motor torpedo boats MTB.18, MTB.14, MTB.16
in sweep PO attacked a German convoy of six trawlers
escorted by three S.boats off Texel. They claimed
sinking one S.boat and one trawler.
MTB.18 was damaged when
it rammed a motor minesweeper, but was able to return.
_____
Patrol sloop KINGFISHER
and tug CARBON were damaged by German bombing in
Portland Harbour.
_____
Convoy OB.198 departed
Liverpool escorted by destroyers VISCOUNT and HESPERUS
and corvette CLARKIA from 14 to 17 August. The convoy
was dispersed on the 18th.
_____
Convoy FN.252 departed
Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 16th.
_____
Convoy MT.140 departed
Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
_____
Convoy FS.252 departed
the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop
FLEETWOOD. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 16th.
_____
U.59 sank British steamer
BETTY (2339grt) 35 miles 260° from Tory Island.
Thirty crew were lost on
the British steamer.
_____
U.60 made an unsuccessful
attack on a steamer north of Tory Island.
_____
U.65 was to land an agent
on the Irish coast.
However, this operation
was cancelled when the agent died en route.
_____
German minelayers
TANNENBURG, COBRA, ROLAND laid mines in the southwest
North Sea in "SW.2". The minelayers were escorted by
torpedo boats T.2 and T.3 of the 1st Torpedo Boat
Flotilla and GREIF, FALKE, KONDOR, ILTIS, JAGUAR of the
5th Torpedo Boat Flotilla.
Destroyers JACOBI and
GALSTER laid mines in this operation.
_____
Heavy cruiser KENT
departed Colombo on the 4th and arrived Aden on the
11th.
Heavy cruiser KENT
arrived at Suez on the 14th to join the Mediterranean
Fleet.
_____
Battleship ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, DECOY
departed Alexandria on the 11th for Port Said. They
departed Suez on the 12th to depart the Mediterranean
through the Red Sea.
Battleship ROYAL
SOVEREIGN was unsuccessfully attacked in the Red Sea by
Italian submarine FERRARIS at 2355 on the 14th.
The Destroyers were
relieved on the 15th by Australian sloop PARRAMATTA.
Battleship ROYAL
SOVEREIGN arrived at Durban on 15 September and was
repairing and refitting until 15 October. She then
proceeded to Gibraltar arriving from Capetown and
Freetown on 18 November. The battleship after repairing
defects proceeded on 1 December to Halifax.
_____
Destroyers HOTSPUR,
GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT departed Gibraltar to
rendezvous with battlecruiser RENOWN.
The next day, the
destroyers returned to harbour as the battlecruiser was
delayed in Home Waters.
_____
Sloop BRIDGEWATER
departed Lagos for Victoria with the Governor's
representatives and one of de Gaulle's mission.
The sloop arrived later
that day. The sloop arrived back at Lagos on the 18th.
_____
Sloop BRIDGEWATER
departed Lagos for Victoria with the Governor's
representatives and one of de Gaulle's mission.
The sloop arrived later
that day. The sloop arrived back at Lagos on the 18th.
