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

NAVAL EVENTS, DECEMBER 1941 (Part 1 of 2)
Monday 1st – Sunday 14th

HMS Repulse, battlecruiser (Maritime Quest, click to enlarge)

on to DECEMBER 1941, Part 2

 

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

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 


Background Events - December 1941-February 1942

Pearl Harbor attacked, Loss of 'Repulse' & 'Prince of Wales', Singapore falls, 'Channel Dash' by German big ships, to February 1942


 

 

1941

           

 

Monday, 1 December

 

Destroyer ECLIPSE departed Scapa Flow at 0400 to meet armed merchant cruiser ESPERANCE BAY and destroyer WHITSHED off May Island at 1130.

 

On meeting, destroyer ECLIPSE relieved destroyer WHITSHED and escorted the armed merchant cruiser to the Clyde, arriving at 0100/3rd.

 

Destroyer ECLIPSE then returned to Scapa Flow, arriving at 2230 that day.

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Battleship RAMILLIES and destroyers ESCAPADE and WHEATLAND departed Scapa Flow at 0925 for the Clyde. The ships arrived in the Clyde at 1200/2nd.

 

Rear Admiral S. S. Bonham-Carter CB, CVO, DSO, hoisted his flag of Battle Squadron 3 in battleship RAMILLIES in the Clyde.

 

Destroyer WHEATLAND departed to return to Scapa Flow, arriving at 1130/3rd. Destroyer ESCAPADE departed the Clyde at 1400/3rd and arrived at 0930/4th.

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Light cruiser ARETHUSA departed Scapa Flow to relieve heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND on patrol in the Iceland - Faroes passage.

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Convoy ON.42 departed Liverpool. The convoy was joined on the 2nd by destroyers SABRE and SKATE and corvettes ALISMA, KINGCUP, and SUNFLOWER. The destroyers were detached on the 6th. The corvettes were detached on the 7th when the convoy was joined by corvettes KENOGAMI, LETHBRIDGE, MAYFLOWER, NANAIMO, and PRESCOTT.

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All the A class destroyers of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla were transferred on this date to the Western Approaches.

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Dutch submarine O.14 departed Scapa Flow for Dundee.

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Minesweeper ROSS was damaged by German bombing off the east coast of Scotland. The damage required ten days to repair.

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Fishing trawler ST LEONARD No. 1 (210grt) was sunk by German bombing in 60-58N, 1-10W. The crew of ten were all rescued.

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Destroyers JERVIS, JACKAL, JAGUAR, and KIPLING departed Alexandria on 30 November to intercept three Italian destroyers reported approaching Derna.

 

No contact was made with the Italian ships, which were Italian destroyers VIVALDI, DA NOLI, and PESSAGNO, which had departed Derna en route to Benghazi and Suda Bay.

 

Destroyer JACKAL was attacked by a torpedo bomber sixty miles south of Crete near Derna and was badly damaged at 0300/1st.

 

Light cruisers EURYALUS and NAIAD and destroyers HERO and HASTY, which were covering the destroyers' sweep, closed to assist, but were ordered to maintain the Derna interception patrol. The light cruisers and destroyers arrived back at Alexandria during the night of 2/3 December. There were no casualties in the destroyer JACKAL. The destroyer arrived at Alexandria, escorted by destroyers JERVIS, JAGUAR, and KIPLING on the 2nd and was under repair at Alexandria until April. The commanding officer Lt Cdr J. F. W. Hine of destroyer JAGUAR was accidently killed by a shell burst from destroyer JERVIS. A rating on destroyer JAGUAR was also killed and another rating later died of wounds.

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Gunboat APHIS bombarded enemy concentrations and supply dumps near the Bardia - Tobruk road during the night of 1/2 December.

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Submarine REGENT damaged Italian steamer ENRICO (2350grt) off Trapani in 37-52N, 11-52E.

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Italian submarine ENRICO TOTI reported sinking a Submarine off Zante.

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Corvettes AZALEA and COLTSFOOT departed Gibraltar escorting tanker WINAMAC outbound and then to meet arriving tanker CONSUL, arriving on the 9th.

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Troopship RANGITATA arrived at Gibraltar, escorted by destroyers HURWORTH and EXMOOR.

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Destroyers WISHART and LEGION attacked a submarine target 23 miles 307° from Cape Spartel without result.

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German supply ship PYTHON, which had been refuelling German submarines U.A and U.68, was scuttled at 27-53S, 3-55W when she was intercepted by Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE.

 

No attempt to rescue survivors was attempted due to the submarines. Corvettes ASTER and MARGUERITE, passing through the area on the 8th en route to the Cape, were ordered to search for survivors, but none were located. The four hundred and fourteen survivors, including merchant cruiser ATLANTIS's survivors, were picked up by submarines U.A, U.68, U.124, U.129, TAZZOLI, FINZI, CALVI, and TORELLI.

 

Submarines U.A, U.68, and TAZZOLI arrived at St Nazaire on the 25th. Submarines U.129 and CALVI arrived on the 27th. Submarine FINZI on the 28th, and U.124 on the 29th.

 

 

Tuesday, 2 December

 

Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK arrived at Hvalfjord from Denmark Strait patrol.

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Heavy cruiser NORFOLK departed Hvalfjord for Denmark Strait patrol.

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Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND departed patrol in the Iceland - Faroes passage upon relief by light cruiser ARETHUSA. The heavy cruiser arrived at Scapa Flow on the 4th.

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Destroyer SOMALI departed Scapa Flow at 0045 for Rosyth where she arrived at 1200 that day for boiler cleaning.

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Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500 to carry out working up practices after a long refit.

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Destroyer MARNE departed Methil at 2000 for the Clyde to conduct torpedo trials. The destroyer arrived at 0830/4th.

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Minesweper SALTASH departed Sheerness for passage to the Faroes to rejoin the 4th Minesweeper Squadron.

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British tanker BRITISH CAPTAIN (6968grt) was sunk on a mine near 54 C Buoy in 52-13-10N, 1-54-41E. One crewman was missing on the tanker.

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Italian submarine CAPPELLINI sank Steamer MIGUEL DE LARRINAGA (5231grt) in 35-14N, 29-52W.  Portuguese destroyer VOUGA was despatched from Ponta Delgada to search for survivors.

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U.43 sank American tanker ASTRAL (7542grt) in 35-40N, 24-00W. The entire crew of eight officers and twenty nine men were lost.

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U.562 sank Steamer GRELHEAD (4274grt) two miles north of Point Negri, Morocco. Two crew were rescued.

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U.557 sank Norwegian steamer FJORD (4032grt) off Estepona Point, Spain.  Fourteen crew were lost on the steamer.

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German steamer CORDELIA (1357grt) was sunk of Konstanza by a Soviet submarine.

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U.205 attacked a destroyer near Alexandria.

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Destroyers NAPIER, GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR, and DECOY departed Alexandria to sweep off the Cyrenician coast. The destroyers returned to Alexandria on the 4th. As destroyer DECOY was proceeding to her mooring, she collided withPolish steamer WARSZAWA (2487grt). Destroyer DECOY's bow was seriously damaged. The destroyer departed Alexandria on the 15th for repair at Malta, completed on 10 February.

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Submarine PERSEUS unsuccessfully attacked a steamer in the Ionian Sea.

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Indian patrol vessel NETRAVATI engaged French sloop ELORN five miles north of Musha Island. The French sloop was escorting a submarine northbound from Djibouti. The action had no results and ELORN returned to Djibouti.

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Destroyers ARROW and BLANKNEY arrived at Gibraltar from the UK, carrying RAF stores, and destroyer HARVESTER arrived from escorting convoy OG.77 at the start.

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Submarine CLYDE arrived at Gibraltar after patrol. She departed again that day to relieve Dutch submarine O.24 on patrol off Oran. The Dutch submarine then proceeded to patrol off Naples.

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After British aircraft reported a submarine 13 miles 340° from Cape Spartel, sloop STORK attacked a contact at this location. The hunt was continued with destroyer BRADFORD and corvette MARIGOLD without result.

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Battleship PRINCE OF WALES, battlecruiser REPULSE, and destroyers ELECTRA, EXPRESS, ENCOUNTER, and JUPITER arrived at Singapore. These ships with battleship REVENGE and destroyer VAMPIRE were the British Eastern Fleet.

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Light cruiser MAURITIUS arrived at Singapore for repairs.

 

 

Wednesday, 3 December

 

Minelaying cruiser MANXMAN departed Loch Alsh at 0930 and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1700 that day.  Sister ship WELSHMAN departed Scapa Flow for Loch Alsh at 1530 and arrived at 0130/4th for boiler cleaning.

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Convoy ON.43 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer BROKE. Corvettes CAMELLIA and HIBISCUS joined on the 4th and destroyers NEWPORT and VERITY and corvette ROSTHERN on the 5th. The destroyers were detached on the 7th. Corvette BEGONIA joined on the 8th and corvette ROSTHERN was detached on the 9th. Destroyer HAVELOCK joined on the 10th and was detached later that day. Corvette BEGONIA was detached on the 11th when American destroyers BERNADOU, DUPONT, MACLEISH, ROE, and WOOLSEY joined. Corvettes CAMELLIA and HIBISCUS were detached on the 12th. The American destroyers were detached on the 15th when the convoy dispersed.

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Landing ship PRINCE CHARLES departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow, where she arrived on the 4th.

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Steamer MACLAREN (2330grt) was sunk on a mine in 51-21-21-N, 3-17-17W. Three crew were lost on the steamer.

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U.124 sank American steamer SAGADAHOC (6275grt) at 21-20S, 7-50W. One crewman was lost on the steamer.

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German fishing trawler FAROER (470grt) was sunk near Rolusoy by Soviet submarine K.3.

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Submarine OLYMPUS departed Malta for Gibraltar with stores and personnel. The submarine arrived on the 10th.

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Convoy HX.163 departed Halifax, escorted by destroyer HAMILTON and corvettes KAMLOOPS and SASKATOON. These ships were relieved on the 5th by American destroyers BENSON, EDISON, HILARY P. JONES, NIBLACK, and TARBETLL. Destroyer EDISON was detached on the 13th. On the 15th, the American group was relieved by corvettes ARABIS, BEGONIA, CAMELLIA, and DAHLIA. Destroyers BROKE and WATCHMAN joined on the 16th. Destroyer BROKE and corvettes ARABIS, CAMELLIA, and DAHLIA were detached on the 18th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 19th.

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Submarine UPHOLDER arrived at Malta from patrol off Colonne.

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Light cruisers DANAE and DRAGON and destroyer STRONGHOLD arrived at Singapore.

 

 

Thursday, 4 December

 

Destroyers ECLIPSE and FURY departed Scapa Flow at 1200 for the Humber to refit at Hull and Immingham, respectively. The destroyers arrived in the Humberat 1410/5th.

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German steamer EDITH FAULBAUM (1318grt) was sunk on a mine off Warnermunde.

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Submarine TRUSTY sank Italian steamer ERIDANO (3586grt) off Argistoli.

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Italian submarine GUGLIEMO MARCONI was declared lost after failing to return from a patrol in the Atlantic.  Some sources suggest the submarine was sunk in error in November by U.67, but this is not possible.

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Destroyers JERVIS, HERO, and HAVOCK departed Alexandria to patrol off Derna. The destroyers returned to Alexandria during the night of 5/6December.

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Gunboat APHIS bombarded Derna - Tobruk road early on the 4th.

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Convoy AT.2 departed Alexandria for Tobruk. The slow section was two store ships and three landing ship tanks A lighters, escorted by sloops YARRA and FLAMINGO and two anti-submarine trawlers departing at 1600. The fast section was armed boarding vessel CHANTALA and steamer CRISTA (2590grt) and WOLBOROUGH (459grt), escorted by destroyers HEYTHROP and AVONVALE and one anti-submarine trawler departing a short time after the slow section. The convoys arrived at Tobruk on the 6th. The sloops proceeded to carry out an anti-submarine sweep in the area.

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Destroyers SIKH, ZULU, HIGHLANDER, and HESPERUS arrived at Gibraltar from Londonderry.

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Submarine P.31 arrived at Malta from patrol off Colonne.

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Convoy SC.58 departed Sydney, CB, escorted by corvettes DRUMHELLER, KAMSACK, SHAWNIGAN, and SUMMERSIDE and minesweeper THUNDER. These escorts were detached on the 6th when the convoy was joined by destroyer ST LAURENT and corvettes BUCTOUCHE, HEPATICA, MOOSE JAW, NASTURTIUM, PICTOU, and WINDFLOWER. Corvette WINDFLOWER was lost in a collision on the 7th and corvette NASTURTIUM was detached. The remaining escorts were detached on the 15th when relieved by destroyers BROKE and WATCHMAN and corvettes CAMELLIA and MONTBRETIA. Destroyer BROKE was detached on the 16th, corvette CAMELLIA on the 18th, destroyer WATCHMAN on the 19th, and corvette MONTBRETIA on the 20th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 21st.

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Convoy ST.10 departed Freetown, escorted by destroyer WILD SWAN, sloop BRIDGEWATER, and corvettes CLOVER, FREESIA, and NIGELLA. The convoy arrived at Takoradi on the 9th.

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Steamer ELLENGA departed Singapore with one naval and one hundred and sixty three miltary personnel. She called at Penang where she embarked three RIN and ninety five military personnel. Light cruiser DANAE escorted the steamer to 81E. Steamer ELLENGA continued unescorted and arrived at Madras on the 14th.

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Destroyer EXPRESS departed Singapore.

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Eighteen Japanese transports departed Hainan with 26,640 troops for the Malaya landings. The transports were escorted by the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla with light cruiser SENDAI, destroyers MURAKUMO, SHINONOME, SHIRAKUMO, and USUGUMO of the 12th Destroyer Division, ISONAMI, URANAMI, SHIKINAMI, and AYANAMI of the 19th Destroyer Division, and AMAGIRI, ASAGIRI, and YUGIRI of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla.

 

Heavy cruiser CHOKAI (Ozawa) with destroyer SAGIRI of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla accompanied the convoy.

 

A covering force of heavy cruisers KUMANO, MIKUMA, MOGAMI, and SUZUYA and destroyers FUBUKI, HATSUYUKI, and SHIRAYUKI of the 11st Destroyer Division was deployed.

 

On the 5th, this force was joined by minesweepers W.1, W.5, and W.6, a submarine chaser division, minelayer HATSUTAKA, and two transports from Poulo Condore Island.

 

Also on the 5th, minesweepers W.2, W.3, and W.4 join from Camranh Bay.

 

Light cruiser KASHII with four transports and frigate SHIMUSHU with three transports departed Saigon and joined the force on the 6th south of Cape Camao.

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Admiral Kondo was in charge of the distant cover force for the Malayan - Luzon landings. His force departed the Pescadores with heavy cruisers ATAGO and TAKAO of the 1st Division of the 4th Cruiser Squadron, battleships HARUNA and KONGO of the 2nd Division of the 3rd Battleship Squadron, and destroyers ARASHI, HAGIKAZE, MAIKAZE, and NOWAKE of the 4th Destroyer Division, IKAZUCHI and INAZUMA of the 2nd Group of the 6th Destroyer Division, and ASASHIO, OSHIO, MICHISHIO, and ARASHIO of the 8th Destroyer Division.

 

 

Friday, 5 December

 

Destroyer WHEATLAND departed Scapa Flow at 0745 for Scrabster to embark six Army officers and twenty four other ranks and returned to Scapa Flow at 1300.

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Destroyer CHIDDINGFOLD join the Orkneys and Shetlands command at 1200 on completion of working up practices.

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Submarine P.37 departed Scapa Flow for patrol and operation KITBAG.

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Submarine SEALION sank Norwegian steamer ISLAND (638grt) in 71-07N, 27-54E off northern Norway.

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Dutch submarine O.21 departed Gibraltar for the United Kingdom.

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Supply ship BRECONSHIRE with destroyers KINGSTON and KIMBERLEY departed Malta at 1700 for Alexandria. Light cruisers AJAX and NEPTUNE and destroyer LIVELY departed Malta at 2000 to support the operation.

 

Destroyers KINGSTON and KIMBERLEY took supply ship BRECONSHIRE on to Alexandria.

 

Light cruisers AJAX and NEPTUNE and destroyer LIVELY met destroyers JAGUAR and KANDAHAR, which departed Alexandria on the 6th, on the 7th. These ships all arrived at Malta on the 8th.

 

Supply ship BRECONSHIRE, light cruisers HOBART and GALATEA, antiaircraft ship CARLISLE, and destroyers GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR, KIMBERLEY, and KINGSTON arrived at Alexandria on the 8th.

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Submarine THORN was in a collision with cable ship BULLFINCH in Alexandria Harbour. The submarine was under repair at Port Said from 7 to 16 December.

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Greek destroyers PANTHER and NIKI departed Alexandria to patrol off Sollum.  After the patrol, the destroyers returned to Mersa Matruh on the 6th. The destroyers arrived back at Alexandria on the 9th.

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Convoy TA.1 of steamers CHAKDINA and KIRKLAND departed Tobruk, escorted by destroyers FARNDALE and ERIDGE, anti-submarine whaler THORGRIM, and an anti-submarine trawler.

 

Three landing ship tankers A lighters departed Tobruk for Mersa Matruh.

 

Armed boarding vessel CHAKDINA (Lt Cdr W. R. Hickey RNR) was sunk by German bombing in 31-11N, 24-30E in the Eastern Mediterranean.

 

Destroyer FARNDALE and anti-submarine whaler THORGRIM rescued about two hundred survivors. There were about three hundred British wounded and one hundred prisoners of war on the vessel when it sank.

 

T/Lt (E) T. Bell RNR, and seventeen ratings of the ship's crew were killed.

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Submarine TALISMAN unsuccessfully attacked a submarine in the Kithera Channel.

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U.81 attacked a tanker, escorted by a destroyer, near Tobruk. The submarine claimed hitting both ships.

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Dutch submarine O.21 departed Gibraltar for the UK, escorted by destroyer BRADFORD. The destroyer was later detached and refuelled at Ponta Delgada prior to joining monitors ROBERTS and EREBUS and corvette FRITILLARY, en route from the UK to Freetown.

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Corvette SPIRAEA departed Gibraltar to meet destroyer STANLEY, escorting steamer CLAN MCINNES, formerly in convoy SL.94, and escort them to Gibraltar, arriving on the 12th.

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Convoy BA.10 departed Bombay, escorted by battleship REVENGE. The convoy arrived at Aden on the 10th.

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Troopship RANGITATA departed Gibraltar for Freetown escorted by destroyers HURWORTH, VIDETTE, which was detached to refuel at Bathurst, and HIGHLANDER, which was detached at dusk on the 6th. Destroyer VIDETTE arrived back at Gibraltar on the 18th.

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Battlecruiser REPULSE and destroyers VAMPIRE and TENEDOS departed Singapore for Darwin. The battlecruiser was also escorted by destroyers JUPITER and ELECTRA at the start. The battlecruiser and the destroyers were recalled the next day.

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American aircraft carrier LEXINGTON, heavy cruisers ASTORIA, CHICAGO, and PORTLAND, and destroyers PORTER, FLUSSER, DRAYTON, LAMSON, and MAHAN departed Pearl Harbour to fly off Marine aircraft of VMSB 231 to Midway.

 

Heavy cruiser INDIANAPOLIS departed Pearl Harbour with this group and was detached for exercises off Johnson Island. The planes were not flown off and the force returned to Pearl Harbour.

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Norwegian steamer HALLDOR (1515grt), which was en route from Bangkok to Hong Kong, was intercepted by Japanese destroyer URANAMI seventy five miles west of Saigon. The steamer was boarded and her wireless equipment was disabled. The Norwegian ship was then allowed to continue, but shortly after her arrival at Hong Kong, she was seized by Japanese forces.

 

 

Saturday, 6 December

 

Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK departed Hvalfjord for patrol in the Denmark Strait.

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Light cruiser ARETHUSA departed the Iceland - Faroes passage patrol for Hvalfjord, refuelled, and departed for Scapa Flow where she arrived on the 8th.

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US battleships MISSISSIPPI and IDAHO and five US destroyers arrived at Hvalfjord from patrol in the Denmark Strait.

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Destroyer NEWMARKET collided with Steamer GRENAA (1262grt) at Londonderry. The destroyer remained in service.

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Steamer GREENLAND (1281grt) was sunk on a mine in 52-14-30N, 1-56-30E.  Nine crew were missing on the tanker.

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U.131 sank Steamer SCOTTISH TRADER (4016grt) south of Iceland.

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Submarine PERSEUS (Lt Cdr E. C. D. Nicolay) was mined seven miles off Zante.  Only one rating survived and swam to Cephalonia. Nicolay, Lt T. M. G. Codrington RNR, Lt J. Tait RNR, A/Warrant Engineer A. Johnson, Sub Lt A. S. Robertson, and fifty three ratings were lost.

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Light cruiser GALATEA, Australian light cruiser HOBART, Antiaircraft ship CARLISLE, and destroyers GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR departed Alexandria to meet arriving supply ship BRECONSHIRE. The ships, supply ship BRECONSHIRE and destroyers KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON arrived at Alexandria on the 8th.

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Submarine ULTIMATUM unsuccessfully attacked a steamer in 37-56N, 15-39E.

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U.81 attacked and claimed damaging a steamer near Tobruk.

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Submarine REGENT arrived at Gibraltar from Malta.

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Steamer ERINPURA departed Madras with 984 Military and twenty naval personnel for Singapore. At 10N, 92-30E, light cruiser DRAGON joined the steamer. The steamer was ordered to Port Swettenham, rather than Penang, and arrived at Singapore on the 12th with light cruiser DRAGON.

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In preparation for operations, Japanese submarines I.55 and I.54 were northeast of Kuantan.

 

Submarine I.53 was north of Anamba.

 

Submarines I.57, I.58, I.62, I.64, and I.66 were on a patrol line near Tregganu.

 

Submarine I.57 was northeast of Redang.

 

During the night of 6/7 December, submarines I.121 and I.122 laid mines at the northeast exits from Singapore.

 

Japanese auxiliary minelayer TATSUMIYA MARU laid a mine barrage between the islands of Tioman and Anamba.

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Takagi departed Palau with heavy cruisers HAGURO, MYOKO, and NACHI of the 5th Cruiser Division, aircraft cruiser RYUJO of the 4th Carrier Division with attendant destroyer SHIOKAZE, and the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla with light cruiser JINTSU with destroyers KUROSHIO, OYASHIO, HAYASHIO, and NATSUSHIO of the 15th Destroyer Division, HATSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE, YUKIKAZE, and TOKITSUKAZE of the 16th Destroyer Division for operations off the Philippines.

 

 

Sunday,  7 December

 

Heavy cruiser NORFOLK departed Denmark Strait patrol and arrived at Hvalfjord at 1550.

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Destroyer SOMALI departed Rosyth after boiler cleaning for Invergordon.

 

Destroyer SOMALI arrived at Invergordon at 1130/8th and embarked the Right Hon. Anthony Eden, the Russian Ambassador, and a party of ten other delegates. The destroyer departed at 1130 and arrived at Scapa Flow at 1600. The passengers were transferred to heavy cruiser KENT.

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Sloop PELICAN was damaged by German machine gun fire from aircraft off the east coast of Scotland.

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Convoy ON.44 departed Liverpool escorted by anti-submarine trawlers NORTHERN PRIDE and NORTHERN SPRAY. The convoy was joined on the 9th by destroyers NEWMARKET and WATCHMAN and corvettes ARABIS, DAHLIA, MONTBRETIA, and ROSE. Destroyer NEWMARKET and corvette MONTBRETIA were detached on the 10th. The rest of the escort was detached on the 12th when destroyer RESTIGOUCHE joined. Destroyer RESTIGOUCHE was detached on the 14th and the convoy dispersed on the 15th.

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Motor vessel SEVERN TRANSPORT (119grt) was sunk on a mine in 51-27N, 3-04W. The crew of four landed at Barry.

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Steamer WELSH PRINCE (5148grt) was sunk by a mine five cables 110°from 59 Buoy, Spurn Point. The entire crew were rescued.

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Canadian corvette WINDFLOWER (Lt J. Price RCNR), escorting convoy SC.58, was lost in a collision with Dutch steamer ZYPENBERG (4973grt) in the fog off the Grand Banks.  Price, Sub Lt J. P. C. Peck RCNVR, Sub Lt W. E. Shields, Mate A. J. K. Collin RCNR, and nineteen ratings were lost on the corvette. Lt G. G. Fraser RCNVR, and forty three ratings were rescued by corvettes PICTOU and NASTURTIUM.

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Destroyers HARVESTER and HESPERUS attacked U.208 on the surface in 35-57N, 7-56W. Destroyer HESPERUS reported sighting a man in the water afterwards. The entire crew of forty five were lost in the submarine.

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Sloop FLAMINGO, returning with sloop YARRA to Tobruk after the anti-submarine sweep, in 32-16N, 24-21E was damaged by German bombing. The sloop was taken in tow by sloop YARRA and supported by light cruiser HOBART, which had been involved in escorting supply ship BRECONSHIRE from Malta.

 

Sloop FLAMINGO arrived at Tobruk on the 8th and sloop YARRA departed for Alexandria. Destroyers AVONVALE and HEYTHROP departed Alexandria to meet the Australian sloop. The ships arrived at Alexandria on the 9th.

 

Sloop FLAMINGO departed Tobruk, in the tow of tug ST MONANCE and escorted by destroyer FARNDALE, on the 17th.

 

Sloop FLAMINGO was used, unrepaired, as an antiaircraft defense platform until 5 February 1943.

 

On that date, sloop FLAMINGO, towed by tug AKBAR, departed Suez for Aden. From Aden, the sloop was towed by Egyptian steamer STAR OF CAIRO (4579grt) to Bombay arriving on 26 March 1943. The repairs were completed in February 1944.

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Armed boarding vessel CHANTALA (Lt Cdr C. E. I. Gibbs Rtd) was sunk on a mine as she was leaving Tobruk Harbour.  One naval rating and two native crew were killed. A native trimmer died of wounds. Sixteen crew were wounded.

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British trawler MOY was slightly damaged by German bombing at Tobruk.

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Gunboat APHIS bombarded the Derna-Tobruk road late on the 7th.

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Submarine TALISMAN unsuccessfully attacked a destroyer in Kithera Channel.

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Submarine PROTEUS unsuccessfully attacked a steamer in Kithera Channel.

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Submarine TRUANT unsuccessfully attacked German steamer BELLONA off Suda Bay.

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Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbour.

 

US battleship OKLAHOMA (Captain H. D. Bode) was sunk with LCDR H. R. Alexander, ENS S. W. Allen, of VO 1, Chief Warrant Officer J. A. Austin, Pay Clerk J. G. Connolly, Ensign M. E. Darby Jr, Ensign J. C. England, Ensign W. M. Finnegan, Ensign F. C. Flaherty, 2nd LT H. H. Gaver, USMC, Ensign J. P. Hittorff Jr, Ensign R. H. Hunter, LT J. B. Jordan, Ensign L. B. Pride Jr, LT (jg) H. G. Roberts, A/Chaplain LT (jg) A. H. Schmitt,Ensign J. D. Sederstrom, Ensign C. M. Stern Jr, Ensign L. S. Stockdale, Ensign I. A. R. Thompson, Ensign W. M. Thompson, Ensign E. P. Wyman, 382 enlisted men and thirteen Marine enlisted men killed; ENS J. T. McFall, ENS A. H. Mortensen, LT (jg) H. G. Roberts, CDR F. M. Rohow, and forty men wounded.

 

US battleship ARIZONA (Flagship Rear Admiral I. C. Kidd, Commander Battleship Division 1; Captain F. Van Valkenburgh) was sunk with officer Ensign L. D. Anderson and forty two enlisted men killed and officers LT (jg) D. H. Barnes, Ensign E. M. Bates Jr, Ensign R. S. Booth Jr, Ensign R. N. Brooks, A/Pay Clerk P. T. Carter, Ensign E. B. Cloues, Ensign D. L. Cole, LCDR T. E. Crowley, Ensign J. M. Emery, Ensign E. F. Evans, LCDR J. E. French, Ensign P. R. Gazecki, Ensign E. W. Gosselin, Ensign W. I. Halloran, Ensign J. W. Haverfield, Ensign R. Hollis, LT C. T. Janz, CDR S. E. Johnson, MC, Ensign T. R. Jones, Rear Admiral I. C. Kidd,, Ensign R. N. King Jr, Captain T. L. Kirkpatrick (ChC), A/Pay Clerk J. E. Lake Jr, Ensign R. L. Leopold, Ensign F. S. Lomax, Warrant Officer A. C. Manlove, Ensign B. R. Marsh Jr, Ensign H. M. McClung, Ensign H. D. Merrill, Ensign T. L. Nowosacki, Ensign E. E. K. Olsen, Ensign W. T. O'Neill Jr, LCDR P. J. Register, Ensign E. T. Sanders, Ensign W. S. Savage Jr, LT (jg) A. J. Smith, Ensign O. S. Smith, Ensign A. C. Uhrenholdt, Captain F. Van Vankenburgh, Ensign C. Weeden, Ensign U. I. Whitehead Jr, Ensign L. A. Williams of VO 1, Warrant Mechanic N. M. Wilson, Ensign E. Winter, Ensign G. A. Wolf Jr, Ensign E. R. Young, 945 enlisted men, LT COL D. R. Fox, USMC, 2nd LT C. E. Simensen, USMC, and seventy one enlisted Marines were missing; ENS W. J. Bush, ENS H. D. Davison, ENS J. P. Field Jr, ENS G. S. Flanagan Jr, Ensign D. Hein, ENS A. R. Schubert and thirty three enlisted men were wounded.

 

US battleship CALIFORNIA (Flagship Vice Admiral W. S. Pye, Commander Battle Force; Captain J. W. Bunkley) was sunk with Ensign R. K. Bowers of VO 2, Ensign G. H. Gilbert, LT (jg) R. C. Hohenstein, Ensign H. C. Jones, Ensign I. W. Jeffery, Ensign J. L. Richey of VO 2, and eighty eight enlisted men and four Marine enlisted killed; ENS B. C. Hall, LCDR B. N. Hanlon, ENS P. S. Haring, LT JG R. C. Hohenstein, ENS E. H. Kiefer, ENS D. C. McCartin, nine one enlisted men wounded.

 

US battleship WEST VIRGINIA (Captain M. S. Bennion) was sunk with Bennion, Ensign T. A. McClelland, and one hundred and three enlisted men killed; ENS T. R. Bowler, ENS J. M. Brophy Jr, CDR R. H. Hillenkoetter, ENS R. S. Norton Jr, ENS R. V. Parlette Jr, LCDR F. C. White and seventy seven enlisted men wounded.

 

Battleships CALIFORNIA and WEST VIRGINIA were salved and returned to duty.

 

Target ship UTAH (CDR J. M. Steele) was sunk with LCDR R. P. Bielka, LT (jg) J. E. Black, LT (jg) H. A. Harveson, Ensign D. W. Jackson, LCDR J. G. Little, II, LCDR C. O. Michael, and fifty two enlisted men lost and LCDR S. S. Isquith and eleven enlisted men wounded.

 

US battleship NEVADA (Captain F. W. Scanland) was damaged with Ensign H. J. Christopher, Ensign F. C. Davis of VO 1, Ensign E. H. Dunlap Jr, and forty seven enlisted men and seven Marine enlisted killed and ENS E. H. Dunlap Jr, ENS A. J. Huttenberg, LT (jg) C. W. Jenkins, ENS J. K. Taussig Jr, ENS T. H. Taylor, and one hundred and seven enlisted men wounded.

 

US battleship PENNSYLVANIA (Captain C. M. Cooke, Jr) was damaged with LCDR J. E. Craig, LT (jg) R. R. Rall and twenty one enlisted men and six Marine enlisted men killed and twenty nine enlisted men wounded.

 

US battleship TENNESSEE (Captain C. E. Reordan) was damaged with five enlisted men killed and ENS A. W. Hudgell, LT (jg) J. C. Luce, and twenty two enlisted men wounded.

 

US battleship MARYLAND (Flagship Rear Admiral W. S. Anderson, Commander Battleship Division 4; Captain D. C. Godwin) was damaged with Ensign H. D. Crow, LT (jg) J. B. Ginn of Cruiser Scouting Squadron 4, and two enlisted men crew killed and LCDR J. F. Luton and nineteen enlisted men wounded.

 

Also damaged were light cruisers RALEIGH (Captain R. B. Simons)- seven enlisted men wounded, HONOLULU (Flagship Rear Admiral H. F. Leary; Captain H. Dodd)- one enlisted man wounded, and HELENA (Captain R. H. English)- thirty three enlisted men and one enlisted Marine killed and CDR V. C. Barringer, ENS A. W. Kerschner, ENS J. L. Raschbacher, ENS P. V. Thompson, LT JG R. J. Watson and fifty eight enlisted men wounded, destroyers CASSIN (Flagship CDR L. P. Lovette, Commander Destroyer Division 5; LCDR D. F. J. Shea) - six enlisted men wounded, DOWNES (LCDR W. R. Thayer)- eighteen enlisted men killed and ENS R. L. Stewart and five enlisted men wounded, and SHAW (LCDR W. G. Jones)- twenty four enlisted men killed and ENSW. F. Seedlock and twenty six enlisted men wounded, minelayer OGLALA (Flagship Rear Admiral W. R. Furlong; CDR E. P. Speight)- five enlisted men wounded, and repair ships CURTISS (CDR S. P. Ginder)- twenty enlisted men killed and LT S. Butrick, ENS R. Carter, ENS R. G. Kelley, ENS G. K. Nicodemus Jr, LCDR W. T. Rassieur, and fifty four enlisted men wounded,and VESTAL (CDR C. Young) - seven enlisted men killed and ENS J. A. Buchans Jr, LT F. E. Frates Jr, ENS R. L. Mohle, ENS R. R. Rodgers, LT (jg) J. H. Seaver, and seventy six enlisted men wounded.

 

Destroyer BLUE had one enlisted man wounded; destroyer CHEW had one enlisted man killed and one enlisted man missing; destroyer CRAVEN had one enlisted man wounded; destroyer CUMMINGS had three enlisted men wounded; destroyer DALE had one enlisted man wounded; ligth cruiser DETROIT had two enlisted men wounded; destroyer tender DOBBIN had four enlisted men killed and three enlisted men wounded; destroyer JARVIS had one enlisted man wounded; destroyer MCFARLAND had one enlisted man wounded; repair ship MEDUSA had LCDR G. R. Cooper and one enlisted man wounded; destroyer MONAGHAN had one enlisted man wounded; tanker NEOSHO had three enlisted men wounded;submarine tender PELIAS had two enlisted men wounded; destroyer minesweeper PERRY had one enlisted man wounded; destroyer minelayer PRUITT had one enlisted man killed; repair ship RIGEL had four enlisted men wounded; heavy cruiser SALt LAKE CITY had LT (jg) L. L. Letterman wounded; heavy cruiser SAN FRANCISCO had two enlisted men wounded; destroyer SCHLEY had one enlisted man wounded;destroyer minelayer SICARD had one enlisted man killed; hospital ship SOLACE had one enlisted man killed; auxiliary ship SUMNER had one enlisted man wounded, seaplane tender SWAN had one enlisted man wounded; seaplane tender TANGIER had five enlisted men wounded;destroyer minelayer TRACEY had three enlisted men killed; tug VIREO had one enlisted man wounded; destroyer depot ship WHITNEY had one enlisted man wounded; and destroyer WORDEN had one enlisted man wounded.

 

A total of 2403 men were killed and 1178 were wounded in Japanese attacks on ship and land targets. The Japanese lost five torpedo bombers, fifteen bombers, and nine fighter aircraft, five midget submarines, and fifty five men were killed.

_____

 

At sea in addition to the ENTERPRISE and LEXINGTON task groups, heavy cruiser INDIANAPOLIS, which departed Pearl Harbour with the LEXINGTON group on the 5th, with destroyer minesweepers SOUTHARD, LONG, DORSEY, ELIOT, and HOPKINS off Johnson Island.

 

Heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS with destroyer minesweepers CHANDLER, HOVEY, BOGGS, and LAMBERTON were twenty five miles south of Oahu.

 

After the Japanese attack, light cruisers DETROIT, ST LOUIS, and PHOENIX, destroyers BAGLEY, PATTERSON, SELFRIDGE, CASE, TUCKER, REID, JARVIS, CUMMINGS, PHELPS, WORDEN, DEWEY, MACDONOUGH, HENLEY, RALPH TALBOT, HELM, DALE, MONAGHAN, FARRAGUT, ALYWIN, and BLUE and destroyer minesweepers TRACEY, TREVOR, and PREBLE departed Pearl Harbour and joined the heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS for search operations.

 

Light cruiser DETROIT with destroyers WORDEN, PHELPS, and HELM investigated reported Japanese transports of the west coast of Oahu.

 

Later, heavy cruiser MINNEAPOLIS, light cruisers DETROIT, ST LOUIS, and PHOENIX, and seventeen destroyers searched for the Japanese ships.

_____

 

Japanese destroyers AKEBONO and USHIO bombarded Midway Island. One Navy enlisted man was killed, 2nd Lt G. H. Cannon, USMC, and two enlisted Marines were killed.

_____

 

Japanese submarine I.26 sank American steamer CYNTHIA OLSON (2140grt) with gunfire one thousand miles northeast of Hawaii in 33-42N, 145-29W.  Thirty three crew and two soldiers were lost on the steamer.

_____

 

The Japanese Malay transport force divided into its respective units.

 

One transport proceeded to Prachuab.

 

Two transports proceeded to Jumbhorn.

 

One transport with light cruiser KASHII proceeded to Bandon.

 

Three transports with frigate SHIMUSHU proceeded to Nakhorn.

 

Seventeen transports, including RYUJO MARU and KASHII MARU, with the 20th and 12th Destroyer Division, four minesweepers, the submarine chaser division, and nine assault vessels proceeded to Singora and Patani.

 

Light cruiser SENDAI, the 19th Destroyer Division, minesweepers W.2 and W.3, submarine chasers, and three transports, including AWAJISTAN MARU and AYATOSAN MARU, proceeded to Kota Bharu.

 

Heavy cruiser CHOKAI and destroyer SAGIRI join Kurita's force south of Cape Camao.

_____

 

Japanese forces for the invasion of the Philippines set out.

 

Destroyer YAMAGUMO, torpedo boats CHIDORI, HATSUKARI, MANADZURU, and TOMODZURU, two minesweepers, two gunboats, two patrol boats, nine submarine chasers, and two transports departed Takao, Formosa.

 

Troops were landed on Bataan Island on the 8th.

 

Light cruiser NATORI, destroyers FUMITSUKI, SATSUKI, NAGATSUKI, MINATSUKI, HARUKAZE, and HATAKAZE, three minesweepers, nine submarine chasers, and six transports departed Mako, Pescadores.

 

On the 10th, troops were landed at Aparri.

 

Minesweeper M.19 was damaged by American bombing and run aground.

 

Light cruiser NAKA with destroyers MURASAME, YUDACHI, HARUSAME, and SAMIDARE of the 2nd Destroyer Division, ASAGUMO, MINEGUMO, and NATSUGUMO of the 4th Destroyer Division, six minesweepers, nine submarine chasers, and six transports departed the Pescadores.

 

On the 10th, an attempt to land troops at Padan in northwest Luzon was abandoned due to weather.

 

Minesweeper W.10 was sunk by American bombing. Light cruiser NAKA received minor damage from strafing.

 

On the 11th, the troops were landed at Vingan. The cover for the Philippine operations was heavy cruisers ASHIGARA and MAYA, light cruiser KUMA, destroyers ASAKAZE and MATSUKAZE, and seaplane carriers SANUKI MARU and SANYO MARU.

 

 

Monday, 8 December

 

Heavy cruiser KENT departed Scapa Flow with the British Foreign Secretary, the Soviet Ambassador to London, and staffs to Murmansk, arriving on the 12th.

_____

 

Destroyer ICARUS departed Hvalfjord at 0027 for Scapa Flow. At 1640, her sailing orders were cancelled and the destroyer proceeded to Sullom Voe, arriving at 1700/9th.

_____

 

Light cruiser EDINBURGH and destroyers ECHO and ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow at 1830 for Seidisfjord, to refuel prior to escorting convoy PQ.6.

_____

 

Convoy PQ.6 departed Hvalfjord at 1600 with steamers Soviet DEKABRIST (7363grt), Panamanian EL OCEANO (6767grt), EMPIRE MAVIS (5704grt), Panamanian MOUNT EVANS (5536grt), EL MIRLO (8092grt), ELONA (6192grt), EXPLORER (6235grt), and ZAMALEK (1567grt).

 

Trawlers HUGH WALPOLE, CAPE ARGONA, and STELLA CAPELLA escorted the convoy from 8 to 12 December.

 

Light cruiser EDINBURGH and destroyers ECHO and ESCAPADE joined the convoy at 1200/12th in 69-30N, 11-30W. The ships continued with the convoy until 1530/20th when the escort arrived at Murmansk. They had been bombed at 1230, but no damage was done.

 

On the 17th, German destroyers Z.23, Z.24, Z.25, and Z.27 engaged Minesweepers HAZARD and SPEEDY (identified as two Soviet destroyers), which had departed Archangel on the 16th to meet convoy PQ.6 east of Murmansk, fourteen miles north of Cape Gorodetski in 68-12N, 40-00E.

 

Minesweeper SPEEDY received four shell hits and was replaced by minesweeper LEDA, which departed Archangel that day.

 

Heavy cruiser KENT and Russian destroyers GROSZNY and SOKRUSHITELNY set out from the Kola Inlet to support the minesweepers, but the German ships had already retired.

 

On the 19th, minesweepers LEDA and HAZARD met and convoy and all arrived safely at Murmansk on the 20th.

 

Minesweeper SPEEDY arrived at Murmask on the 28th. She returned to the United Kingdom in convoy QP.4, arriving at Scapa Flow on 14 January. The minesweeper was under repair in the Thames from 23 January to 22 March.

_____

 

Minesweeping trawlers PHINEAS BEARD (278grt, Skipper W. McRuvie RNR) and MILFORD EARL (290grt, Lt J. S. Neate RNVR) were sunk by German bombing off the east coast of Scotland.

 

McRuvie, T/Skipper G. W. Yorston RNR, and ten ratings were lost on the trawler PHINEAS BEARD.

 

Neate and four ratings were lost on the trawler MILFORD EARL. Five crew were rescued on trawler MILFORD EARL.

_____

 

Lt A. C. E. Ayre, Lt T. H. B. Oates, and A/Leading Airman W. A. M. Bayley were killed when their Walrus of 751 Squadron crashed four miles east of Arbroath.

_____

 

Steamer FIREGLOW (1261grt) was sunk on a mine 2½ miles 312° from 57C Buoy Hearty Knoll Channel, three miles south of Dudgeon Buoy. One crewman was killed on the steamer.

_____

 

Steamer GERTIE (341grt) was sunk on a British mine two miles northeast of Tuskar Rock Light. The entire crew were rescued.

_____

 

British fishing trawler LORD SHREWSBURY (167grt) was sunk on a mine one mile east one half mile south of Chequer Shoal Buoy. The entire crew of ten were lost.

_____

 

Light cruiser EURYALUS and destroyers HERO and HOTSPUR departed Alexandria to operate off Derna. The ships arrived back at Alexandria on the 10th.

_____

 

Italian light cruiser CARDONA, carrying gasoline from Taranto to Benghazi, encountered heavy weather and put into Argostoli. The cruiser was able to later depart and arrived at Benghazi on the 11th.

_____

 

Submarine TALISMAN unsuccessfully attacked Italian torpedo boat ORIONE in 38-00N, 20-28E.

_____

 

Submarine P.34 arrived at Malta after patrol in the Straits of Messina.

_____

 

Light cruiser HERMIONE and destroyers BLANKNEY, EXMOOR, and MAORI departed Gibraltar and joined destroyers LAFOREY, ISAAC SWEERS, and ARROW to search for a convoy off Malaga steering towards Gibraltar reported by a British Wellington aircraft.

 

Destroyer LAFOREY attacked submarine U.372 off Europa Lighthouse without result. The British force returned to Gibraltar on the 9th after failing to locate the convoy.

_____

 

Convoy HX.164 departed Halifax, escorted by destroyer ANNAPOLIS and minesweepers MALPEQUE and MINAS. These ships were detached on the 10th when relieved by American destroyers DALLAS, ELLIS, GLEAVES, and UPSHUR and American Coast Guard cutter INGRAM. Corvette HEARTSEASE joined on the 17th, corvettes AUBRETIA and ROSELYS on the 18th and destroyer WANDERER on the 19th. The American ships were detached on the 19th. Anti-submarine trawlers DANEMAN and KING SOL escorted the convoy in Home Waters. Corvette ROSELYS arrived at Liverpool with the convoy on the 23rd.

_____

 

American aircraft carrier SARATOGA departed San Diego, escorted by destroyers DENT, WATERS, and TALBOT. The ships arrived safely at Pearl Harbour on the 15th. The aircraft carrier was carrying eighteen Marine aircraft of VMF 221 to reinforce the Wake Island garrison.

_____

 

American Army transports PRESIDENT JOHNSON, BLISS, ETOLIN, and PRESIDENT GARFIELD, en route to the Philippines, were ordered to return to San Francisco.

_____

 

Japanese submarines I.68 and I.69 were attacked south of Pearl Harbour by American warships.

_____

 

Italian steamers VOLPI (5292grt), XXVIII OTTOBRE (4888grt), and SUMATRA (4859grt) were scuttled at Puket Harbour in the Andaman Sea.

_____

 

Allied Dispositions in the Far East

 

Singapore

 

Battleship PRINCE OF WALES (Vice Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, Captain J. C. Leach MVO, DSO)

 

Battlecruiser REPULSE (Captain W. G. Tennant CB, MVO)

 

Light cruisers DANAE (Captain F. J. Butler MBE), DRAGON (Captain R. J. Shaw MBE), DURBAN (Captain P. G. L. Cazalet DSC)

 

Destroyers ELECTRA (Cdr C. W. May), EXPRESS (Lt Cdr F. J. Cartwright), TENEDOS (Lt R. Dyer),

Australian VAMPIRE (Cdr W. T. A. Moran)

 

GunboatsDRAGONFLY (Lt A. H. Diack, GRASSHOPPER (Cdr J. S. Hoffman Rtd), SCORPION (Lt Cdr G. C. Ashworth SSRNVR), all for local defense,

 

Australian armed merchant cruisers MANOORA (A/Captain A. H. Spurgeon RAN), KANIMBLA (A/Captain W. L. G. Adams) at Penang.

 

Australian minesweepers BENDIGO (Lt Cdr J. A. R. Patrick RANR (S)), MARYBOROUGH (Lt Cdr G. L. Cant RAN), WOLLONGONG (T/Lt C. A. Keith RANR (S)), BALLARAT (T/Lt A. D. Barling RANR (S)), TOOWOOMBA Lt Cdr P. H. Hirst RAN (emergency), GOULBURN (Lt B. Paul RANR (S)), BURNIE (T/Lt G. E. Gough (RANR (S))

 

Refitting or under repair at Singapore

 

Light cruiser MAURITIUS (corroded firemain, Captain W. D. Stephens). The cruiser departed on the 15th through the Straits of Malacca and arrived Colombo on the 18th. She departed Colombo on 2 January for Durban, arriving on 15 January. She departed the same day escorting troopship EMPRESS OF RUSSIA for Simonstown, arriving on 17 January. The cruiser departed on 21 January and arrived at Freetown on 30 January. She departed 2 February for Devonport, arriving on 11 February 1942. Repairs were completed on 16 April.

 

Destroyer ENCOUNTER (bottom "corrugated" from grounding in Med, Lt Cdr E. V. St J. Morgan).

 

Destroyer JUPITER (stability problems, ship listed when fuel tanks full, Lt Cdr N. V. J. T. Thew).

 

Destroyer STRONGHOLD for local defense (Lt Cdr G. R. Pretor-Pinney Rtd).

 

Australian destroyer VENDETTA (Lt Cdr C. J. Stephenson)

 

Destroyer ISIS (Cdr C. S. B. Swinley DSC, to HMS MIRANDA, Cdr B. Jones from 16 December) repairing bomb damage.

 

Submarine ROVER (Lt Cdr R. M. T. Peacock to HMS DOLPHIN; Lt Cdr G. H. Reynolds from 13 December) repairing bomb damage.

 

Hong Kong

 

Destroyers SCOUT (Cdr K. St. B. Collins) and THANET (Lt Cdr B. S. Davies Rtd), both departed Hong Kong 7 December and Tarakan on the 13th

 

Gunboats TERN, CICALA, ROBIN, all for local defense

 

Motor Torpedo Boats MTB.7-12 inclusive, and MTB.26 and MTB.27

 

Under repair

 

Destroyer THRACIAN (Cdr A. L. Pears Rtd) for local defense

 

Gunboat MOTH for local defense

 

Shanghai

 

Gunboat PETEREL (Lt S. Polkinghorn RNR) for local defense

 

East Indies

 

Battleships REVENGE Captain L. V. Morgan CBE, MVO DSO) after escorting convoy WS.12 to Aden, arrived Trincomalee on the 13th, and ROYAL SOVEREIGN (Captain R. H. Portal DSC), arriving at the Seychilles 2 January after escorting convoy WS.1 Z.

 

Heavy cruiser EXETER (Captain O. L. Gordon MVO) in Bay of Bengal en route to Singapore, arriving on the 10th.

 

Armed merchant cruisers CORFU (Captain J. P. Landon Rtd) at Colombo, and RANCHI (A/Captain Sir J. M. Alleyne Bt, DSO, DSC Rtd) at Addu Atoll

 

Aircraft carrier HERMES (Captain R. F. J. Onslow MVO, DSC) refitting at Simonstown to complete 27 January

 

Light cruisers ENTERPRISE (Captain J. C. Annesley DSO) refitting at Colombo, and GLASGOW (Captain J. W. Cuthbert) departed Colombo on the 6th for Laccadive Islands in Bay of Bengal.

 

Heavy cruiser CORNWALL (Captain P. C. W. Manwaring) and light cruiser EMERALD (Captain F. C. Flynn) were off the west coast of Africa.

 

Australia

 

Heavy cruisers AUSTRALIA (Captain G. D. Moore) and CANBERRA (Captain H. B. Farncomb MVO)

 

Light cruiser PERTH (Captain H. M. L. Waller DSO)

 

Armed merchant cruiser WESTRALIA (Captain H. V. Hudson OBE (emergency)

 

French destroyer LE TRIOMPHANT

Sloops SWAN (Lt Cdr A. J. Travis) and WARREGO (Cdr R. V. Wheatley)

 

French sloop CHEVREUIL

 

Armed merchant cruiser MONOWAI (A/Captain G. R. Deverell) refitting

 

Destroyer STUART (Lt Cdr R. C. Robison) refitting

 

Destroyer VOYAGER (Cdr J. C. Morrow DSC) refitting

 

Indian Navy

 

Sloops JUMNA (Cdr W. R. Shewring RIN), HINDUSTAN (Cdr I. B. W. Heanly RIN), SUTLEJ (Captain P. A. Mare RIN)

 

New Zealand

 

Light cruisers ACHILLES (Captain H. M. Barnes) and LEANDER (Captain R. H. Bevan)

 

Dutch Navy (based mainly at Surabaya)

 

Light cruisers DE RUYTER (Captain E. E. B. Lacomble) in Alas Strait, JAVA (Captain P. B. M. Van Straelen) departed Surabaya on the 7th for Singapore, arriving on the 9th, TROMP (Captain J. B. De Muster) in Karimata Strait, and SUMATRA refitting at Surabaya, recommissioned with skeleton crew on 27 January and taken to Trincomalee, arriving 15 February.

 

Destroyers VAN NES (Lt Cdr C. A. Lagaay) in Sunda Strait, VAN GHENT (Lt Cdr P. Schotel) refitting at Surabaya, BANCKERT (Lt Cdr F. J. E. Krips, Division Commander) in Sapeh Strait, WITTE DE WITH in Alas Strait, later under repairs, then manned by crew from destroyer VAN GHENT and commanded by Lt Cdr P. Schotel, KORTENAER (Lt Cdr A. Kroese) in Lombok Strait, PIET HEIN (Lt Cdr J. M. L. I. Chompff) in Alor Strait, and EVERTSEN (Lt Cdr W. M. de Vries) in Sunda Strait.

 

Submarines K.11 (Lt Cdr A. H. De Keth) arrived Singapore on the 8th from parol in Karimata Strait, K.12 (Lt Cdr H. C. J. Coumou) in Karamata Strait, K.13 (Lt Cdr M. A. J. Derksema) Karimata Strait, K.17 (Lt Cdr Besancon) departed Singapore on the 6th for patrol off east coast of Malay coast, O.16 (Lt Cdr A. J. Bussemaker) departed Singapore for patrol off east coast of Malay coast, K.9 refitting at Surabaya, commissioned 1 March 1942 (Lt Th Burnsting), K.10 (Lt Cdr P. G. De Back), K.14 (Lt Cdr P. A. Mulock v. d. Vlies Bik) off Kuching, K.15 (Lt Cdr C. W. TH Baron von Boetzelaer) departed Tarakan 9 December for Surabaya, arriving on the 15th, K.16 (Lt Cdr L. J. Jarman) Departed Singapore 19 December for patrol off Kuching, O.19 (Lt Cdr H. F. Back Kolling) arrived Singapore 11 December from Karimata Strait, departed Singapore on the 14th for operations off Singgora - Kota Bharu area, O.20 (Lt Cdr P. G. J. Snippe) arrived Singapore 11 December from Karimata Strait, departed 14 December for patrol in Gulf of Thailand, K.7 under repair in reserve, K.18 (Lt Cdr C. A. J. van W. Groenenveld) under repair at Surabaya, K.8 decommissioned. recommissioned 7 January 1942 (Lt Cdr M. A. J. Derksema)

 

American Navy

 

Manila

 

Destroyer Division 59 (CDR P. H. Talbot) - destroyers POPE (LCDR W. C. Blinn), JOHN D. FORD (LCDR J. E. Cooper), PEARY (CDR H. H. Keith) under repair, PILLSBURY (LCDR H. C. Pound) under repair, PEARY and PILLSBURY repairing collision damage of 16 October

 

Submarines Asiatic Fleet (Captain W. E. Doyle, Captain J. Wilkes from 10 December), submarines departed for patrol areas shown

 

Submarine Division 201 (CDR R. B. Van Zant) - submarines S.37 (LT J. C. Dempsey) near Mindoro, S.38 (LT W. C. Chapple) near Mindoro, S.40 (LT N. Lucker Jr) off Lingayen Gulf, S.41 (LT G. M. Holley) near Mindoro

 

Submarine Division 203 (CDR E. H. Bryant) - PIKE (LCDR W. A. New) near Hainan, TARPON (LCDR L. Wallace) off Lingayen Gulf, PERCH (LCDR D. A. Hurt) west of Luzon, PICKEREL (LCDR B. E. Bacon Jr), PERMIT (LCDR A. M. Hurst) west of Luzon, SHARK (LCDR L. Shane Jr) under repair, then near Lingayen

 

Submarine Division 21 (CDR S. S. Murray) - SALMON (LT E. B. McKinney), SEAL (LCDR K. C. Hurd) near Vingan, SKIPJACK (LT C. L. Freeman) near Palau SARGO (LCDR T. D. Jacobs) Gulf of Siam, SAURY (LCDR J. L. Burnside) near San Bernadino, SPEARFISH (LT R. F. Pryce) off Camranh

 

Submarine Division 22 (CDR J. A. Connolly) - SNAPPER (LCDR H. L. Stone) near Hainan, STINGRAY (LCDR R. S. Lamb) near Lingayen Gulf, STURGEON (LCDR W. L. Wright) near Formosa, SCULPIN (LT L. H. Chappell) east of Luzon, SAILFISH (LCDR M. C. Mumma Jr) near Lingayen Gulf, SWORDFISH (LCDR C. C. Smith) near Hainan

 

Submarine Division 202 (CDR W. M. Percifield) - SEARAVEN (LCDR T. C. Aylward) near Formosa, SEAWOLF (LCDR F. B. Warder) near San Bernadino, SEADRAGON under repair (LCDR W. E. Ferrall), SEALION under repair (LCDR R. G. Voge)

 

Olongapo (Submarine Division 203)

 

Submarine PORPOISE (LCDR J. A. Callaghan) under repair

 

Iloilo

 

Heavy cruiser HOUSTON (Captain A. H. Rooks)

 

Cebu

 

Light cruiser BOISE (Captain S. B. Robinson)

 

At sea (Submarine Division 201) – submarines S.36 ( LT J. R. McKnight Jr) near San Bernadino Strait, S.39 (LT J. W. Coe) in Sorsogon Bay, Luzon

 

Tarakan

 

Light cruiser MARBLEHEAD (Captain A. G. Robinson)

 

Destroyer Squadron 29 (Captain H. V. Wiley) - destroyer PAUL JONES (LCDR J. J. Hourihan)

 

Destroyer Division 58 (CDR T. H. Binford) - destroyers STEWART (LCDR H. P. Smith), BULMER (LCDR L. J. Manees), BARKER (LCDR L. G. McGlone), PARROTT (LCDR E. N. Parker)

 

Balikpapan

 

Destroyer Division 57 (CDR E. M. Crouch) - destroyers WHIPPLE (LCDR E. S. Karpe), ALDEN (LCDR L. E. Coley), JOHN D. EDWARDS (LCDR H. E. Eccles), EDSALL (LCDR J. J. Nix)

 

The ships at Balikpapan departed on the 7th for Batavia, but the orders were changed when the battleship PRINCE OF WALES and battlecruiser REPULSE were lost. They arrived at Singapore on the 11th and departed on the 14th.

 

Tentative composition of Allied Eastern Fleet

 (to be achieved by 1 April 1942)

 

Singapore

 

Battleships PRINCE OF WALES, REVENGE, and ROYAL SOVEREIGN

 

Battlecruiser REPULSE

 

Light cruisers MAURITIUS, ACHILLES, HOBART and Dutch TROMP or DE RUYTER

 

May be heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA

 

Ten destroyers - six Dutch and four US

 

Surabaya - Borneo - Port Darwin

 

Heavy cruisers HOUSTON and CORNWALL

 

Light cruisers MARBLEHEAD and JAVA

 

Four US destroyers

 

Australasia

 

Heavy cruiser CANBERRA or AUSTRALIA

 

Light cruisers PERTH and LEANDER

 

Three armed merchant cruisers

 

Indian Ocean

 

Heavy cruiser EXETER

 

Light cruiser GLASGOW

 

Nine C, D, E light cruisers

 

Five armed merchant cruisers

_____

 

Japanese bombers badly damaged US gunboat PENGUIN (LT J. W. Haviland III) at Agana, Guam by near misses. The gunboat was scuttled a mile and a half off the beach in deep water.

 

Ensign R. C. White and six enlisted men were killed. Lt Haviland and one enlisted man were wounded. The survivors were taken prisoner and three enlisted men died while prisoners of war.

 

Japanese transports escorted by the 7th Gunboat Division, 15th Minesweeping Division, and 59th and 60th Submarine Chaser Divisions landed troops at Guam.

 

Japanese heavy cruisers AOBA, KINUGASA, KAKO, and FURUTAKA of the 6th Cruiser Division with destroyers KIKUZUKI, UZUKI, and YUZUKI supported the operation.

_____

 

Japanese light cruiser YUBARI of the 6th Cruiser Division, destroyers HAYATE and OITE of the 29th Destroyer Division and MUTSUKI, MOCHIZUKI, YAYOI, and KISARAGI of the 30th Destroyer Division, patrol boats P.32 and P.33, and transports KINRYU MARU and KONGO MARU departed Kwajalein for the invasion of Wake Island. The operation was covered by light cruisers TATSUTA and TENRYU and submarines RO.60 and RO.61.  On 8, 9, and 10 December, Japanese shore based aircraft from Kwajalein attacked Wake Island.

_____

 

Japanese minelayers OKINOSHIMA, TOKIWA, and TSUGARU with two transports departed Kwajalein.

 

On 9 and 10 December, the ships land troops at Tarawa and Makin in the Gilbert Islands.

_____

 

Battleship PRINCE OF WALES, battlecruiser REPULSE, and destroyers ELECTRA, EXPRESS, TENEDOS, and VAMPIRE departed Singapore.

 

Destroyer TENEDOS was detached, low on fuel, on the 9th. The British force was sighted by Japanese submarine I.65/9th. The British force proceeded southwest during the evening of 9 December to attack the Japanese landings at Kuantan during the morning of 10 December. The Japanese redispose their surface forces to deal with the ships.

 

Kondo with heavy cruisers ATAGO and TAKAO, battleships HARUNA and KONGO, and destroyers ARASHI, HAGIKAZE, NOWAKE, MAIKAZE, IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA, ASASHIO, OSHIO, MICHISHIO, and ARASHIO proceeded south from Paulo Condore to meet Kurita during the night of 9/10 December with heavy cruisers KUMANO, MIKUMA, MOGAMI, and SUZUYA and destroyers FUBUKI, HATSUYUKI, and SHIRAYUKI and Ozawa with heavy cruiser CHOKAI and destroyer SAGIRI.

 

From the assault area, light cruiser SENDAI and destroyers ASAGIRI, MURAKUMO, SHINONOME, USUGUMO, AMAGIRI, YUGIRI, AYANAMI, ISONANI, SHIKANAMI, and URANAMI.

 

Light cruisers KINU and YURA operating between Poulo Condore and Kurita's force was also brought up.

 

Japanese submarine I.58 sighted the Battleship after midnight on the 10th and made an unsuccessful attack.

_____

 

New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Suva for Port Moresby to join the Battleship PRINCE OF WALES group. The light cruiser ACHILLES arrived at Port Moresby on the 11th. With the battleship already lost, the light cruiser departed on the 12th for Auckland, arriving on the 16th.

_____

 

Japanese aircraft carrier RYUJO launched thirteen bombers and nine fighters to attack Davao. The destroyers of the 15th Destroyer Division entered the Gulf of Davao. The rest of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla supported these operations.

_____

 

Japanese light cruiser NAGARA and destroyers UMIKAZE, YAMAKAZE, KAWAKAZE, and SUZUKAZE of the 22nd Destroyer Division, seaplane carriers CHITOSE and MIZUHO of the 11th Carrier Division, minelayers ITSUKUSHIMA and YAEYAMA of the 17th Minelaying Division, and seven transports joined the Takagi force on 9 and 10 December.

_____

 

Japanese submarine I.124 laid mines off Manila.  During the night of 8/9 December, Japanese submarines I.121 and I.122 laid mines off Singapore.  Submarine I.123 laid mines off Balabac.

_____

 

Japanese transports AWAJISTAN MARU and AYATOSAN MARU were damaged by Australian aircraft at Kota Bharu; transport AWAJISTAN MARU sank from the damage in 6-08N, 102-16E.

_____

 

Gunboat PETEREL (Lt S. Polkinghorn RNR) was stationed at Whangpoo River, Shanghai, as a W/T station for the Consulate. The gunboat was sunk by a Japanese surface ship.

 

Polkinghorn, T/Paymaster Lt W. Hart-Baker RNVR, T/Paymaster Lt R. Horne RNVR, T/Paymaster Lt R. D. Keene RNVR, Paymaster Cdr J. H. Kennedy, T/Lt D. E. Kermode RNVR, A/Cdr L. C. S. Sheppard, Cdr J. D. Wooley, T/Lt L. J. Farmborough RNVR, A/Cdr P. C. Gilmore, T/A/Lt G. F. C. McLorn, RVR, and T/Lt H. J. West RNR, were captured in the gunboat. Of the officers, all but Polkington, Farmborough, McLorn, West, and Wooley, were repatriated in mid 1942.

 

American gunboat WAKE (LCDR C. D. Smith, USNR) was there in the same capacity for the US consulate. The gunboat was surrendered after scuttling of the gunboat by the crew failed. The fourteen crew were captured and made prisoners of war. The gunboats were attacked by Japanese armoured cruiser IZUMO, a Japanese gunboat, and a destroyer.

 

American steamer PRESIDENT HARRISON (10,509grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Whangpoo River.

 

Steamer CHEKIANG (2172grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Whangpoo River.

_____

 

American heavy cruiser HOUSTON departed Iloilo on the 8th to escort American auxiliary ships to the Dutch East Indies.

 

American light cruiser BOISE and destroyers PAUL JONES and BARKER joined early on the 9th. On the 10th, these ships joined American seaplane tender LANGLEY and oilers TRINITY and PECOS, escorted by destroyers STEWART and JOHN D. FORD which had departed Manila.

 

Gunboats TULSA and ASHVILLE also sailed escorted by minesweepers LARK and WHIPPOORWILL.

 

Submarine depot ships HOLLAND and OTUS and yacht ISABEL also sailed. The ships arrived at Balikpapen on the 14th.

 

On the 15th, heavy cruiser HOUSTON with JOHN D. EDWARDS and STEWART departed Balikpapen with submarine tenders HOLLAND and OTUS.

 

Oilers PECOS and TRINITY, seaplane tender LANGLEY, and transport GOLD STAR also departed and were escorted by light cruisers BOISE and MARBLEHEAD.

_____

 

Light cruiser GLASGOW in the Bay of Bengal encountered Indian escort ship PRABHAVATI (Lt D. M. Stafford, RINR) towing lighters HETAMPUR and HINGOLI to Karachi. The cruiser identified the ship and lighters as a large Japanese submarine on the surface and sank her. The commanding officer, two other officers, and twenty five ratings were rescued. Of these twelve were seriously wounded. P/Sub Lt G. L. Jackson, RINVR, Probationay Sub Lt M. Mani, RINR, and seventeen ratings were lost. One rating died of wounds. Light cruiser GLASGOW arrived at Bombay on the 9th with the survivors.

_____

 

Greek steamers AEGEUS S (1366grt) and AENOS S (1521grt) which had been sunk during hostilities in the Upper Yangtse in 1938 and beached were seized by Japanese forces.

_____

 

Greek steamers ANTIGONE (1372grt), APHRODITE (1101grt), ARES S (1372grt), ARGOSTOLI (1673grt), ATHENA (1445grt), and ATTICA (1405grt) were seized by Japanese forces in Chinese Waters.

_____

 

Greek steamers ERATO (5904grt) and VALENTINI (4713grt) were seized by Japanese forces at Yokohama.

_____

 

Greek steamer HELIOS (1922grt) was seized by Japanese forces at sea in 8N, 107E.

_____

 

Steamer SAGRES (2333grt), which had been seized by Japanese at Chauan Bay on 8 April 1939, was confiscated by Japanese forces.

_____

 

Steamers ST QUENTIN (3528grt), VITORLOCK (5030grt), FEDERLOCK (6607grt), and ANALOCK (6638grt) and DESLOCK (5015grt) at Yokohama, HATTERLOCK (5138grt), and MUNLOCK (5240grt) which had been chartered by the Japanese in May-June 1941, were confiscated by Japanese forces.

_____

 

Steamer FATSHAN (2639grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Canton.

_____

 

British salvage tug MARIE MOLLER (593grt) towing lighter AUTUMNLIGHT (800grt) were captured off Ningpo by Japanese forces. The tug and the lighter was taken to Tinghai, Chusan Islands.

_____

 

Steamer MARY MOLLER (2698grt) was seized by Japanese forces off Ningpo. The steamer was taken to Shanghai.

_____

 

Steamer KONG SO (789grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Tinghai.

_____

 

British salvage tug CARMEN MOLLER (366grt), towing lighters COTTONLIGHT (438grt) and RUNNINGLIGHT (438grt) were captured by Japanese forces south of Amoy. The ships were taken to Amoy.

_____

 

British tender EDITH MOLLER (645grt), towing lighter TAIKOO 24 (202grt) and steamer LIEN SHUI (91grt) were captured by Japanese forces south of Amoy. The ships were taken to Amoy.

_____

 

British salvage ship ELSIE MOLLER (1145grt) was captured by Japanese forces off Amoy. The ship was taken to Amoy.

_____

 

British salvage tug READY MOLLER (268grt) was seized by Japanese forces off Amoy. The tug was taken to Amoy.

_____

 

Steamer KIANGSU (2676grt) was seized by Japanese forces off Amoy.

_____

 

Steamer BENNEVIS (5356grt) was captured by Japanese forces in the China Sea. The steamer was taken to Hainan Island and the crew made prisoners of war.

_____

 

Steamer SHINHWA (1460grt) was seized by Japanese forces off Hong Kong.

_____

 

Steamers HSIN CHANG WO (582grt), KIA WO (1311grt), KIANG WO (2209grt), SHASI (1327grt), and SIANGTAN (1195grt) and tugs CHANG NING (251grt) and CHENGLING (141grt) were seized by Japanese forces at Ichang.

_____

 

British barges B.1 (477grt) and B.2 (477grt), grab hopper barges CHUN PING (426grt) SHUN PING (289grt), and TUG 4 (136grt) and TUG 5 (236grt) were captured by Japanese forces at Tientsin.

_____

 

Steamers KUT WO (2665grt), LOONGWO (3923grt), CHANGSHA (2482grt), WOOSUNG (3426grt), and WUHU (2938grt) and tugs CHINKONG (250grt), PATUNG (48grt), and CHENYANG (144grt) and motor vessel ROOSTER (34grt) were seized at Hankow by Japanese forces.

_____

 

Steamer HSIN PEKING (1204grt), en route Tongku to Hong Kong, was seized off the Yangtse Delta by Japanese forces. The Master of the steamer beached the vessel, but it was later refloated by the Japanese.

_____

 

Steamers BRAMTOCO VI (14grt) and PAOWO (2517grt) and tug MIN WO (287grt) were seized by Japanese forces at Hankow.

_____

 

Steamer KALGAN (2655grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Bangkok.

_____

 

Motor boat KIANG SI (28grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Kiukiang.

_____

 

Lighter MIGHTYLIGHT (399grt) was seized by Japanese forces at the Parcel Island.

_____

 

Norwegian steamers SHENG HWA (5492grt) and VEN KOH (5752grt) were seized by Japanese forces in a Japanese port.

_____

 

Norwegian steamer DUKAT (1350grt) was captured at sea. The steamer was sent to Hie Che Chin Bay, north of Hong Kong.

_____

 

Norwegian steamer HAFTHOR (1350grt) was seized by Japanese destroyer URANAMI one hundred and twenty miles north of Kota Bharu. The captain and crew were put in boats and reached the Thai coast in three days. The steamer was renamed NIYO MARU for Japanese use.

_____

 

Norwegian steamer NGOW HOCK (1329grt) was seized by Japanese forces in Camrack Bay.

_____

 

Dutch steamer BEATRICE (4128grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Yokohama.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer BOYACA (2559grt) was seized at Shanghai by Japanese forces.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer CAPTELLA (2398grt) was captured by Japanese forces off Saigon.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer NEEDWOOD (2042grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Tsingtao.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer FOCH (2894grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Yokohama while discharging cargo.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer HERLEIK (1893grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Chinwangtao while discharging cargo.

_____

 

Tug ST DOMINIC (451grt) was sunk by Japanese surface craft south of Saddle Island. The tug had been towing vessels SIANG NAN (46grt), TUNG KIANG (49grt), and KAI KOU (56grt) which were cut adrift. The vessels were salved by the Japanese and towed to Shanghai.

_____

 

Steamers HSIN TSEANGTAH (933grt), KINTANG (435grt), liNG KONG (850grt), SUI TAI (1816grt), and WANTUNG (1061grt), coastal steamers CHING SHUI (153grt), SCOT I.(274grt), and SUITING (296grt), motor vessels CHISOCO (23grt), DUNVULIG (23grt), FENG HUANG (28grt), KA SOO (57grt), PING KIANG (75grt), PURSUIT (30grt), SENG MAO (50grt), SUNBEAM (34grt), TAI SU (30grt), TIEN ZEANG (14grt), WINNER (20grt), WU MING (15grt), and YUAN PAO (63grt), lighters A. P. C. 1 (53grt), A. P. C. 2 (53grt), A. P. C. 3 (53grt),A. P. C. 4 (53grt), AVERMIS (300grt), B. G. O. D. No. 9 (54grt), HENG KIAN G (38grt) NEREUS (250grt), CB B. No. 2 (256grt), PROTEUS (250grt), SAN KIANG (32grt), STYX (300grt), TETHYS (250grt), and TRITON (250grt), lighter auxiliary CROSS (36grt), motor lighter WU KIANG (108grt), barge ACHERON (165grt), motor tank barge BARANG (54grt), barge BEAUTYLIGHT (118grt), barge CHERRYLIGHT (39grt), hopper barge ECHIDNA (450grt), launches AN LEE (8grt), KWAITUNG (48grt), I.PING 935grt), LUKADU (19grt), and LUNG CHONG No 1 (16grt), oil barge TAN KIANG (38grt), motor launches DEBEN, HARBOUR PILOT (15grt), KWANG MING (37grt), LUNG CHONG III (18grt), MABEL (15grt), MOLLER LINE No. 2 (4grt), MOYNA (53grt), POSI (28grt), SEA PILOT (6grt), SHANGHAI PILOT (9grt), SOY YUN (18grt), and WINIFRED SAY-YUNG (39grt), steam launches GUTZHALL (136grt), LUNG CHONG No. 2 (40grt), and PLUTO (47grt), river launch MERRYLIGHT, motor tug ANNETTE MOLLER (69grt), salvage tug CHRISTINE MOLLER (800grt), which was undergoing repairs, salvage tug JESSIE MOLLER (530grt), tugs DIANA MOLLER (252grt), MERRY MOLLER (382grt), MURIEL MOLLER 969grt), MURIEL WOOD (23grt), APHRODITE I.(90grt), CHANGLO (248grt), HENG CHANG (35grt), HU MING (47grt), POOTUNG (86 tons, TAIKOO (88grt), and WATUNG I.(144grt), ferry DEMETER (63grt), stores vessel DOROTHY MOLLER (12grt), water boats E. SHUI (91grt) and TIEN SHUI (84grt), yachts MIGNON (7grt), THAIS (10grt), and UNDINE (26grt), motor yacht EVELINE (13grt), steam yacht HAVEN (9grt), yacht INGOMAR (3grt), auxiliary yachts JENNIFER (8grt) and KERT (20grt), motor boat LOONG MOW No. 1 (21grt), motor oil barges REG. G. B. (57grt) and REG. G. B. 3 (60grt), oil barge T. J. 12 (45grt), iron barge SCAMANDER (246grt), motor sampan M. S. No. 12 (22grt), motor boats MOW YEUN (11grt), RUTH MOLLER (22grt), and TAIKOO YANG (9grt), sailing vessels N. L. No. 32 (54grt), N. L. No. 33 (54grt), N. L. No. 34 (54grt), SHANGHAI RAMBLER (15grt) and VALERIE SHANGHAI (7grt), house boat TAI AN (19 tons, American tugs MEIFFO No. 5 (36grt) and MEI KANG (40grt), American tankers MEI NAN (364grt), MEI YING (44grt), and MEI YUN (274grt), Panamanian steamers FOLOZU (2486grt), MORAZAN (2984grt), and RAMONA (3513grt) were seized at Shanghai on the 8th.

 

British welding vessel ANNE MOLLER (20grt), lighters B. G. O. B. No. 12 (39grt), HENG KIANG 5, LETHE (300grt), IV, VIII, XVI, PALANG, TAIKOO No. 2 (199grt), TAIKOO No. 6 (150grt), TAIKOO A. 1 (97grt), TAIKOO A. 2 (97grt), TAIKOO A. 3 (77grt), TAIKOO A. 6 (288grt), TAIKOO A. 7 (288grt), TAIKOO A. 8 (172grt), TAIKOO A. 9 (170grt), TAIKOO C 1 (150grt), TAIKOO B 12 (45grt), motor lighters KAI SOO 57grt), tugs EWO IV 982grt), EWO VIII (41grt), EWO IX (47grt), and FUMIN, motor boat EWO X (10grt), communications boat PAOSHIH, barges G. B. No. 2 and G. B. No. 3,and Chinese steamers FEI HSING (625grt) and HSIN YANGTSE (1108grt) were seized at Shanghai on the 9th.

_____

 

Australian bombers attacked Japanese ships off Kota Bharu. Steamer AWAGISAN MARU (9794grt) was sunk in 6-08N, 102-16E. Steamers AYATOSAN MARU (9800grt) and SAKURA MARU (7100grt), escorted by light cruiser SENDAI and destroyers ISONAMI, SHIKINAMI, AYANAMI, and URANAMI, were not damaged.

_____

 

Italian ships seized in US ports

 

Italian name

GRT

Where seized

US name

ADA O.

 

5234 tons

New Orleans

name not changed

ALBERTA

 

6131 tons

New York

name not changed

ANTONIETTA

 

4423 tons

Norfolk

OLAMBALA

ARSA

 

5441 tons

New York

FRIAR ROCK

AUSSA

 

5441 tons

New York

AFRICANDER

BELVEDERE

 

6889 tons

Philadelphia

name not changed

BRENNERO

 

4946 tons

New York

name not changed

CLARA

 

6131 tons

Savannah

name not changed

COLORADO

 

5039 tons

San Juan

VILLALOBOS

CONFIDENZA

 

6458 tons

Jacksonville

name not changed

CONTE BIANCAMANO

 

23255 tons

Christobal

HERMITAGE

DINO

 

5592 tons

Boston

MERIDIAN

EURO

 

4687 tons

Norfolk

BATEAU

GIUAN

 

5473 tons

Norfolk

GALLANT FOX

GUIDONIA

 

5060 tons

Norfolk

PLAUDIT

IDA Z. O.

 

4035 tons

Mobile

MACBETH

ICARNIA

 

4815 tons

Jacksonville

RACELAND

LACONIA

 

5932 tons

Newport News

ELWOOD

LEME

 

8059 tons

Astoria, Oregon

name not changed

MAR GLAUCO

 

4690 tons

Norfolk

MOKATAM

MONFIORE

 

5498 tons

New Orleans

WHITE CLOVER

MONGIOIA

 

6113 tons

Houston

EXTERMINATOR

PIETRO CAMPANELLA

 

6140 tons

Norfolk

EQUIPOISE

SAN GIUSEPPE

 

5074 tons

Norfolk

ANEROID

SANTA ROSA

 

3027 tons

Norfolk

RAMAPO

SAN LEONARDO

 

4657 tons

New York

name not changed

VILLARPEROSA

 

6255 tons

Wilmington

COLIN

VITTORIN

 

3349 tons

Norfolk

GREY LAG

 

_____

 

Italian tankers ANTEO (6772grt) and RAPALLO (5812grt) were seized at Cartagena, Colombia.

 

 

Tuesday, 9 December

 

Second in Command, Home Fleet transferred his flag to battleship DUKE OF YORK at 1400. The battleship departed Scapa Flow at 1600 for the Clyde, escorted by destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, and MATABELE.  On the 10th at 1215, the battleship was recalled to Scapa Flow, arriving at 1015/11th. The ships departed Scapa Flow at 1630/11th and arrived in the Clyde at 1500/12th.

_____

 

US battleships IDAHO and MISSISSIPPI departed Hvalfjord for Boston.

_____

 

Minelaying cruiser MANXMAN departed Scapa Flow at 0045 for Milford Haven, arriving at 0830/10th.

_____

 

Light cruiser ARETHUSA departed Scapa Flow for Sullom Voe, arriving later that day for Operation KITBAG.

 

Destroyers INGLEFIELD, INTREPID, and OFFA and landing ship PRINCE CHARLES departed Scapa Flow at 0300 for Sullom Voe for Operation KITBAG. The ships arrived at 1400 that day and joined destroyer ICARUS already there.

 

Light cruiser ARETHUSA departed Sullom Voe on the 11th for Blue Mull Sound in the Shetlands to cover Operation KITBAG.

 

Destroyers INGLEFIELD, INTREPID, ICARUS, and OFFA and landing ship PRINCE CHARLES departed Sullom Voe for Operation KITBAG on the 11th.

 

Operation KITBAG was abandoned at 0600/12th due to low visibility. Light cruiser ARETHUSA arrived at Scapa Flow on the 12th. The rest of the ships in the Operation arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1100/13th.

_____

 

Destroyers ONSLOW, IMPULSIVE, and ORIBI departed Hvalfjord at 1630 for Scapa Flow. The destroyers arrived at 1300/11th.

_____

 

Troop convoy WS.14 with ships departing Liverpool on the 7th and the Clyde on the 8th rendezvoused for ocean passage on the 9th. The convoy was composed of steamers TROILUS, CITY OF PRETORIA, EMPIRE CURLEW, WARWICK CASTLE, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, EMPIRE ORIOLE (which fell out on the 11th), EMPIRE CONDOR, ORESTES, SCYTHIA, ORONSAY, ANDES, ABOSSO, ESPERANCE BAY, REINA DEL PACIFICO, ORCADES, DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, STRATHALLAN, CAMERONIA, HMS ENGADINE, DURBAN CASTLE, ATHLONE CASTLE, EMPIRE PEREGRINE, HIGHLAND PRINCESS, HIGHLAND MONARCH, EMPIRE EGRET, EMPIRE WIDGEON, EMPIRE PINTAIL, CLAN CAMERON, and HMS CILICIA. The convoy was escorted by antiaircraft ship ULSTER QUEEN and destroyers WESTCOTT, BEVERLEY, SHERWOOD, CROOME, LANCASTER, NEWARK, and WITHERINGTON from 9 to 12 December.

 

Destroyers NESTOR, GURKHA, and FOXHOUND escorted the convoy from 9 to 13 December.

 

Destroyer VANQUISHER escorted the convoy from 13 to 14 December.

 

Destroyers WITCH and VOLUNTEER escorted the convoy from 13 to 15 December.

 

Battleship RAMILLIES, armed merchant cruiser CILICIA, and destroyers BEAUFORT and BADSWORTH escorted the convoy from 13 to 21 December.

 

Destroyer BADSWORTH refuelled at Bathurst and arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th.

 

Destroyers BRILLIANT and HURWORTH joined the convoy on the 18th and destroyers VANSITTART and WILD SWAN on the 19th. These destroyers escorted the convoy to Freetown, arriving on the 21st. The convoy sailed from Freetown on the 25th, escorted by destroyer BRILLIANT from 25 to 26 December, destroyer VIMY from 25 to 27 December, battleship RAMILLIES and destroyers BEAUFORT and HURWORTH from 25 December to 5 January.

 

Armed merchant cruiser DERBYSHIRE joined the convoy on 4 January and escorted it to 8 January. Light cruiser CERES joined the convoy on 6 January and escorted it to 8 January.

 

Steamers EMPIRE ORIOLE, MALANCHA, EMPIRE PINTAIL, EMPIRE CONDOR, EMPIRE CURLEW, EMPIRE EGRET, EMPIRE WIDGEON, EMPIRE PEREGRINE, WARWICK CASTLE, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, HIGHLAND MONARCH, ORCADES, CITY OF PRETORIA, TROILUS, CLAN CAMERON, and ORESTES arrived at Capetown on 5 January.

 

Steamers HIGHLAND PRINCESS, STRATHALLAN, CAMERONIA, ORONSAY, ESPERANCE BAY, SCYTHIA, DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, REINA DEL PACIFICO, ATHLONE CASTLE, DURBAN CASTLE, and ANDES arrived Durban 8 January.

 

On 9 January, the Capetown ships sailed escorted by battleship RAMILLIES and corvettes HOLLYHOCK and VERBENA. The corvettes were detached on 10 January. The Durban ships departed on 13 January and rendezvoused with the Capetown section.

 

Steamer DUCHESS OF ATHOLL of the Durban section, returned to Durban with defects. Her troops were transferred to steamer ANDES which sailed with light cruiser CERES and joined the convoy on 16 January.

 

Steamers MENDOZA and SALWEEN joined the convoy from Mombasa, escorted by light cruiser COLOMBO. The convoy was escorted by battleship RAMILLIES from 9 to 20 January. Armed merchant cruiser CORFU escorted the convoy from 13 to 22 January. Light cruiser CERES escorted the convoy from 16 to 22 January. Light cruiser COLOMBO escorted the convoy from 20 to 22 January.

 

On 19 January, steamers WARWICK CASTLE, DEVONSHIRE, MALANCHA, CITY OF CANTERBURY, PLANCIOUS, DUNERA, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, EMPRESS OF ASIA, CITY OF PRETORIA, and FELIX ROUSSEL were detached as convoy DM.2.

 

Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted the convoy from 19 to 26 January.

 

Armed merchant cruiser RANCHI escorted the convoy on 26 to 28 January.

 

Light cruiser EMERALD escorted the convoy from 28 to 31 January.

 

Light cruisers DANAE and JAVA escorted the convoyon 31 January to 3 February.

 

Sloops YARRA and SUTLEJ escorted the convoy from 1 to 3 February.

 

Heavy cruiser EXETER and destroyers JUPITER and VAMPIRE escorted the convoy on 2 and 3 February.

 

On 3 February, the convoy arrived at Batavia.

 

On 22 January, convoy WS.14 split into two sections.

 

WS.14B was steamers ORESTES, EMPIRE ORIOLE, EMPIRE PINTAIL, HIGHLAND MONARCH, EMPIRE EGRET, THYSVILLE, SALWEEN, and MENDOZA escorted by light cruiser CERES. The convoy, less THYSVILLE, arrived at Aden on 26 January. Steamer THYSVILLE arrived at Aden on 27 January.

 

WS.14B was steamers NOVA SCOTIA, ESPERANCE BAY, CLAN CAMERON, DUNERA, EMPIRE CONDOR, EMPIRE CURLEW, DILWARA, EMPIRE PEREGRINE, EMPIRE WIDGEON, and ANDES. The convoy was escorted by armed merchant cruiser CORFU and arrived at Bombay on 28 January.

_____

 

Convoy ON.45 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroy WANDERER, corvettes AUBRETIA, HEARTSEASE, and ROSELYS, and anti-submarine trawlers ANGLE, DANEMAN, and KING SOL. The escort was detached on the 16th when the convoy was dispersed.

_____

 

German steamer MADRID (8777grt) was sunk by British bombing near Den Helder.

_____

 

German fishing vessel BURGERMEISTER SMIDT (500grt) was sunk by British bombing at Brest.

_____

 

Light cruisers NEPTUNE, AURORA, and PENELOPE and destroyers KANDAHAR and JAGUAR departed Malta at 1830 to intercept a reported convoy. The ships arrived back at Malta on the 10th without making contact.

_____

 

Light cruiser NAIAD and destroyers GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR departed Alexandria to sweep off Derna.  At daylight on the 10th, the ships bombarded Derna scoring some hits on a merchant ship in harbour.  Withdrawing to the eastward, the ships were taken under heavy air attack. Light cruiser NAIAD sustained some damage from a near miss, but spent no time out of service. The ships arrived back at Alexandria on the 11th.

_____

 

Australian light cruiser HOBART departed Alexandria to return to the Pacific.

The light cruiser departed Aden on the 13th.

_____

 

U.134 sank German steamer STEINBEK (2185grt) in error in 71-09N, 29-25E, off Tanafjord.

_____

 

Italian light cruisers DI GUISSANNO and BARBIANO departed Palermo with a cargo of gasoline for Tripoli. The cruisers were sighted by Malta aircraft south of Trapani and were forced to return to Palermo.

_____

 

Submarine PORPOISE badly damaged Italian steamer SEBASTIANO VENIER (6311grt), returning from Benghazi with 2000 prisoners of war, five miles south of Navarino.

 

Hospital ship ARNO was able to rescue 1800 of the prisoners.

 

Submarine TORBAY sank the steamer off Cape Methene on the 15th.

_____

 

U.652 sank French steamer ST DENIS (1595grt) south of Balearen Islands.

_____

 

Submarine URSULA arrived at Gibraltar from Malta.

_____

 

Submarine SEVERN arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.

_____

 

Corvette AZALEA attacked a submarine contact nine miles 280° from Cape Spartel.  Destroyer HESPERUS sighted a submarine in 40-06N, 13-12W and attacked it without result.  On the 11th, destroyer HESPERUS attacked a contact five miles 325° from Cape St Vincent.

_____

 

Japanese forces attacked Wake Island on 10/11 December, destroyers KISARAGI and HAYATE were sunk and light cruisers YUBARI, TENRYU, TATSUTA, destroyers OITE, YAYOI, and MUTSUKI, and troopship KINRYU MARU were damaged by American aircraft and shore gunnery.

 

Destroyer KISARAGI was carrying a large load of depth charges. There were no survivors on the destroyer from a crew of some one hundred and fifty. There were also no survivors on destroyer HAYATE from her crew of one hundred and sixty eight.

 

Nineteen men were wounded on destroyer OITE. One man was killed and seventeen wounded on destroyer YAYOI. Five men were wounded on light crusiser TENRYU.

 

On 10/11 December, fifty one Japanese aircraft were flak damaged with thirteen airmen killed and thirteen wounded. The Japanese were unable to capture the island. The Japanese forces returned to Kwajalein on the 13th.

_____

 

Minesweeping coaster BANKA (623grt, T/Lt A. E. Stephenson RNR) was sunk by mining at Tioman.

 

Stephenson, T/Sub Lt F. W. Hodgson RNR, T/Lt (E) J. R. Smith RNR, Sub Lt R. E. Scales SSRNVR, and forty Malay ratings were missing. Six crew were rescued.

_____

 

Steamer ON.LEE (1026grt) was scuttled at Hong Kong.

_____

 

Japanese submarine I.10 sank Panamanian steamer DONERAIL (4473grt) with gunfire at 8N, 152W.  Twenty five crew and seven passengers were lost on the steamer.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer GRAN (1983grt) was captured by Japanese forces at Bangkok.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer ISLAS VISAYAS (516grt) was stopped by a Japanese naval trawler at 21-23N, 112-08E and ordered to Nampang Island. The steamer was seized by Japanese forces on the 9th.

_____

 

Steamers KANTUNG and MACAU (1665grt) were sunk as blockships at Anking Harbour.

 

 

Wednesday, 10 December

 

Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND departed Scapa Flow for patrol in the Iceland - Faroes passage, then Hvalfjord.

_____

 

Light cruiser CLEOPATRA departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow, where she arrived later that day, for working up practices.

_____

 

Minesweeper HUSSAR departed Scapa Flow at 1200 for refitting at West Hartlepool. The minesweeper arrived at 1430/11th to commence her refit.

_____

 

T/Sub Lt (A) L. H. Briffet RNVR. Leading Airman B. H. Packman, and Leading Airman F. R. Piggin were killed when their Albacore of 767 Squadron crashed near Arbirlot.

 

T/Sub Lt (A) L. E. Mitchell, RNZVR, was killed when his Albacore of 767 Squadron crashed on take off near Arbroath.

 

A/Leading Airman D. Henshaw of 1 SFTS Netheravon was killed when his Battle crashed two miles east of Shrewton RLG.

_____

 

British steam drifter KINCORTH (148grt) was sunk on a mine seven miles 82° from Point Lynas. The entire crew of eleven were lost on the drifter.

_____

 

U.130 sank Egyptian steamer STAR OF LUXOR (5298grt) in 56-57N, 16-35W, Steamer KURDISTAN (5844grt) in 56-51N, 16-36W, and Steamer KIRNWOOD (3829grt) in 56-57N, 16-35W from convoy SC.57. Four crew were missing on the steamer STAR OF LUXOR.

 

Seven crew, two of the Convoy Commodore's staff, and one gunner were lost on steamer KURDISTAN.

 

Twelve crew were lost on the steamer KIRNWOOD.

 

Corvette SUNFLOWER, in the escort, rescued survivors from these steamers.

_____

 

Convoy TA.2 departed Tobruk for Alexandria, escorted by destroyer FARNDALE and trawlers.

_____

 

U.431 attacked and claimed damaged a destroyer near Tobruk.

_____

 

Submarine REGENT departed Gibraltar for Portsmouth. After repairs there until 10 January, the submarine proceeded to Philadelphia, arriving on 16 February for refitting.

_____

 

Submarine OLYMPUS arrived at Gibraltar from Malta.

_____

 

Destroyers WHITEHALL and CAMPBELTOWN arrived at Gibraltar from the UK.

_____

 

Convoy SC.59 departed Sydney, CB, escorted by corvettes LOUISBURG and SUDBURY, andminesweepers GEORGIAN and THUNDER. These escorts were relieved on the 12th by destroyer BURNHAM and corvettes ALGOMA, NAPANEE, SUMMERSIDE, and TRILLIUM. Destroyer ST CLAIR and corvette CHILLIWACK joined on the 14th. Destroyer ST CLAIR was detached on the 18th and the rest of the escorts on the 21st when destroyers DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, and VETERAN joined. The destroyers were detached on the 25th and anti-submarine trawler KIRKELLA joined. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 27th.

_____

 

Battleship PRINCE OF WALES (Flagship of A/Admiral Sir Tom S. V. Phillips, KCB, Captain J. C. Leach, MVO, DSO) was sunk by Japanese bombing off the east coast of Malaya.

 

Leach, T/Lt B. R. Armitage RNVR, six ratings were killed.

 

Philipps, T/Paymaster Captain S. T. Beardsworth, A/Lt Cdr G. C. I. Ferguson RNVR, T/Midshipman P. A. B. Hunt RNR, A/Surgeon Lt Cdr (D) R. D. Johnston, Lt Cdr C. G. Lawson, Cdr H. F. Lawson, Lt M. J. H. Major, RM, Commissioned Electrician E. H. Marchant, Chaplain the Reverent W. G. Parker, A/Warrant Writer F. Partridge, T/Electrician Lt R. H. Peters RNVR, Cdr M. Price, Lt Cdr H. N. Reid, Lt (E) P. J. A. Slade, T/Paymaster, Sub Lt R. C. Taylor RNVR, Midshipman D. R. W. Tribe, T/Sub Lt J. B. Womersley RNVR, two hundred and seventy four ratings, and twenty seven Marines were missing.

 

Three ratings died of wounds.

 

Destroyers EXPRESS, ELECTRA, and VAMPIRE picked up 90 of 110 officers and 1195 of 1502 ratings.

 

Destroyer EXPRESS sustained some damage alongside PRINCE OF WALES while taking off survivors.

 

Battlecruiser REPULSE (Captain W. G. Tennant) was sunk by Japanese bombing off the east coast of Malaya.

 

Commissioned Supply Officer J. W. H. Atkey, MBE, P/T/Sub Lt (E) P. L. Bennett RNVR, Lt (E) C. T. Blair, Warrant Mechanician A. J. Brewer, Midshipman A. C. R. Bros, Senior Master H. J. E. Campbell, T/Surgeon Lt W. A. Cavanaugh RNVR, Commissioned Electrician A. F. Cavell, Lt Cdr C. H. Cobbe, Midshipman R. I. Davies RAN, A/Warrant Mechanician T. W. Day, Midshipman J. M. Hawkins, Lt R. A. Hunting, Warrant Shipwright J. E. Jackson, Midshipman R. Kinder, Engineer Cdr H. Lang, DSM, Surgeon Cdr D. A. Newberry, Gunner J. B. Page, T/Sub Lt W. R. D. Page RNVR, Warrant Engineer S. H. Perry, Gunner (T) C. W. Pudifoot, T/Lt (E) E. R. Rowe, Commissioned Ordnance Officer H. G. Ward, Paymaster Midshipman J. L. C. Watson, Paymaster Cdr L. V. Webb, OBE, T/Lt (E) L. F. Wood, four hundred and forty one ratings, and forty one Marines were missing.

 

Four ratings were killed.

 

T/Lt J. R. Gifford RNVR, on the 10th, Midshipman J. P. H. Bremridge on the 13th, and one rating died of wounds.

 

Destroyers picked up 42 of 69 officers and 754 of 1240 ratings.

 

As the destroyers returned to Singapore, they met northbound STRONGHOLD and American destroyers ALDEN, EDSALL, JOHN D. EDWARDS, and WHIPPLE which had been ordered from Singapore to support the ships. The American destroyers searched the area of the sinking, but found no more survivors.

 

Battlecruiser REPULSE's Walrus force landed in the water out of fuel. Her crew of Petty Officer T. W. J. Crozier, Petty Officer S. Damerell, and TAG M. F. A. Rose were unhurt. The Walrus was towed to Singapore by destroyer STRONGHOLD.

_____

 

Minelayer TEVIOTBANK departed Singapore to lay mines in the northern portion of the Dorian Straits minefield. The minelayer arrived back later that day after the minelay.

_____

 

Dutch submarines K.11, K.12, K.13, K.17, and O.16 were ordered to attack Japanese forces off Singora.

_____

 

In a Japanese air attack on Cavite Naval Base in Manila Bay, US destroyer PEARY (CDR H. H. Keith), submarine SEALION (LCDR R. G. Voge), and minesweeper BITTERN (LT T. G. Warfield) were damaged. Submarine SEADRAGON (LCDR W. E. Ferrall) alongside submarine SEALION suffered damage from splinters from the bombs striking SEALION. Destroyer PILLSBURY (LCDR H. C. Pound) was also damaged by splinters.

 

Destroyer PEARY had LT A. E. Gates Jr and eight enlisted men killed. CDR Keith, LT (jg) D. W. Hamilton Jr, and Ensign C. S. George Jr, were wounded and sent ashore for treatment. LCDR J. M. Berlingham assumed command of the destroyer.

 

Destroyer PILLSBURY had two enlisted men killed and sixteen enlisted men wounded, of which twelve were sent to the hospital. LT (jg) T. A. Hilger, Ensign H. P. Fisher, and Ensign L. S. Sulkie were wounded, but remained on board.

 

Submarine SEADRAGON had Ensign S. H. Hunter killed. LT N. G. Ward, LT (jg) C. S. Manning Jr, and three enlisted men were wounded.

 

Submarine SEALION had four enlisted men killed and three wounded.

 

Submarine SEALION was scuttled on the 25th.

 

Minesweeper BITTERN had two enlisted men killed and one enlisted man wounded.

 

Minesweeper TANAGER (LCDR E. A. Roth) sustained one enlisted man killed and eight enlisted men wounded in the attack, but sustained no damage to the ship. Three more enlisted men were killed on the 12th.

_____

 

Japanese minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA, escorted by destroyers KUROSHIO and OYASHIO, laid mines in San Bernadino Strait.

 

Japanese minelayer YAEYAMA, escorted by light cruiser JINTSU and destroyers HAYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, laid mines in Surigao Strait.

 

US submarine S.36 (DDD – S.36?) attempted to attack one of the minelaying forces.

_____

 

Japanese minesweeper W.10 was sunk by US bombing at 17-32N, 120-22E.

_____

 

Japanese minesweeper W.19 was damaged by US bombing and run ashore a total loss at 18-22N, 121-38E.

_____

 

Japanese submarine I.70 was sunk by an aircraft from US aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE at 23-45N, 155-35W.

_____

 

Steamer HARLEDAWINS (1523grt) was sunk by Japanese bombing eight miles west of Barigayos Point, Luzon.

 

Japanese submarine I.124 also claimed sinking this vessel. The entire crew were rescued.

_____

 

Norwegian steamer HAI TUNG (1187grt), which had departed Bangkok on the 4th for Singapore, was sunk by Japanese submarine I.56 in 5-08N, 104-32E. The entire crew were lost in the steamer.

_____

 

Tug HSIN FUHLE (184grt) was lost at Hong Kong.

_____

 

American steamer SAGOLAND (5334grt) was badly damaged by Japanese bombing at Manila. The steamer sank the next day.

_____

 

Auxiliary ship HELENA A. (85grt) was sunk when she ran ashore on Butaritari Reef, Gilbert Islands.

_____

 

Steamer CHUNGSHAN (1085grt) was scuttled at Hong Kong.

_____

 

Steamers ANHUI (3494grt) and ANSHUN (3188grt) were damaged by Japanese bombing in the Outer Harbour at Manila.

_____

 

Steamer CHUNGHAN (1085grt) was scuttled at Hong Kong.

 

 

Thursday, 11 December

 

Heavy cruiser NORFOLK departed Hvalfjord for patrol in the Denmark Strait.

_____

 

Destroyer PYTCHLEY departed Scapa Flow at 0700 for Methil and onward passage to Sheerness. The destroyer, which had completed her working up practices, joined convoy FS.70 as an additional escort for her passage south.

_____

 

Destroyer CALPE departed the Tyne at 0845 for Methil carryout out full speed trials en route. The destroyer arrived at Methil at 1530 that day.

_____

 

Destroyer MARNE departed the Clyde at 1330 for Scapa Flow, where she arrived at 0900/12th to carry out working up practices.

_____

 

Destroyer ONSLOW departed Scapa Flow at 2100 for boiler cleaning at Rosyth and repair weather damage. The destroyer arrived at 1000/12th.

_____

 

A tanker (10,000grt), which had been launched on 14 June 1941 for the United States at Hamburg was seized by German forces.

_____

 

Destroyers SIKH, MAORI, and LEGION and Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS departed Gibraltar to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet.

 

Italian light cruisers DI GUISSANO and DA BARBIANO departed Palermo, escorted by torpedo boat CIGNO, for Benghazi. The destroyers contacted and sank the Italian cruisers after they had turned back after passing Cape Bon when sighted by British aircraft. The torpedo boat was damaged by destroyer ISAAC SWEERS with gunfire, but was able to escape. In the engagement, the Dutch destroyer almost collided with the Italian torpedo boat.

 

One thousand and twenty crew, including Admiral Toscano and his entire staff in light cruiser DA BARBIANO, were lost in the two cruisers. Torpedo boats CIGNO and SIRTORI, four MAS boats, and other small vessels picked up 645 survivors. The British and Dutch destroyers arrived at Malta on the 13th.

_____

 

Destroyer FARNDALE sank Italian submarine CARACCIOLO off Bardia in 32-09N, 25-19E. The submarine was evacuated personnel from Bardia. An Italian General was among those lost. Six officers and forty seven ratings were rescued by the destroyer.

_____

 

Dutch submarine O.24 unsuccessfully attackeda German submarine in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

_____

 

Corvette BLUEBELL attacked and slightly damaged U.69 west of Gibraltar. This attack was originally identified as sinking the U.208.

_____

 

Anti-submarine trawler LADY SHIRLEY (472grt, Lt Cdr A. H. Callaway DSO RANVR), in a patrol line with three other trawlers, was sunk by U.374 off Gibraltar in 35-59N, 5-26W.  Callaway, T/Lt I. P. Boucant DSC RANVR, T/Sub Lt F. E. French DSC RNR, T/Lt P. A. H. Hardinge-Katon RNVR, and twenty nine ratings were missing in the trawler.

_____

 

Armed patrol yacht ROSABELLE (Lt H. S. Findlay RNR) was sunk by U.374 in 35-59N, 5-17W in the Straits of Gibraltar.  Findlay, T/Sub Lt C. Smith RNVR, T/Lt G. J. P. Merifield RNVR, and twenty seven ratings were missing on the trawler.  Lt Cdr P. S. Thompson RNR, T/Lt (E) E. Gulliver RNVR, T/Sub Lt (E) J. J. Brocket RNVR, and one rating were wounded and eight survivors were not wounded.

_____

 

Submarine TRUANT damaged Italian torpedo boat ALCIONE in 36-23N, 20-33E. The torpedo boat was run aground a total loss.

_____

 

Italian steamer CALITEA (4013grt), escorted by destroyer FRECCIA, departed Brindisi for Benghazi. The steamer was sunk by Submarine TALISMAN ninety miles south of Cape Matapan in 36-23N, 20-33E.

_____

 

Submarine TORBAY sank small Greek steamer SOFIA with artillery northwest of Suda Bay.

_____

 

Several Italian destroyers, carrying supplies, arrived at Derna.

_____

 

Light cruiser HERMIONE departed Gibraltar to search for a merchant ship sighted by aircraft in 35-40N, 10-00W. The cruiser arrived back on the 13th without making contact.

_____

 

On reports that Vichy French armed merchant cruiser BARFLEUR had put to sea from Martinique to return to France, US aircraft carrier WASP, light cruiser BROOKLYN, and destroyers STERETT and WILSON departed Bermuda to intercept this ship.  However, it was found that the French ship had not departed port and the US ships returned to Bermuda.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser EXETER departed Singapore for Colombo.

_____

 

Steamer TINLEY (420grt) was scuttled at Hong Kong.

_____

 

Japanese submarine I.156 reported sinking a ship in 5-08N, 104-32E.

_____

 

Japanese submarine I.9 sank American steamer LAHAINA (5645grt) at 27-42N, 147-38W. Two crew were killed and two were missing on the steamer. The survivors were rescued by Coast Guard cutter TIGER.

_____

 

Steamer KANCHOW (2001grt) was scuttled at Hong Kong.  Five officers from the steamer were made prisoners of war.

_____

 

Convoy SL.95 departed Freetown escorted by destroyer VIMY, corvettes BERGAMOT and CLOVER, and anti-submarine whalter SOUTHERN GEM to 17 December.

 

On the 15th, sloops FOLKESTONE, WELLINGTON, and WESTON and escort vessels GORLESTON, SENNEN, and TOTLAND joined to 31 December.

 

On the 30th, anti-submarine trawler SOUTHERN BREEZE escorted the convoy. Anti-submarine trawler COVENTRY CITY escorted the trawler on the 31st.

 

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 31st.

 

 

Friday, 12 December

 

Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK arrived at Hvalfjord from Denmark Strait patrol.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND arrived at Hvalfjord from patrol in Iceland - Faroes passage.

_____

 

Destroyer CALPE departed Methil at 0600 for Scapa Flow, where she arrived at 1500 that day for working up practices.

_____

 

Minesweeper GOSSAMER departed Scapa Flow at 1200 for Sheerness for refitting. The minesweeper accompanied convoy FS.72 for the passage south. The minesweeper arrived on the 16th.

_____

 

Submarine TIGRIS arrived at Scapa Flow from Stornoway for Operation ANKLET.

_____

 

T/A/Sub Lt (A) J. C. Tattersfield and Leading Airman G. H. Hall of 771 Squadron were killed when their Roc crashed during exercises.

_____

 

Steamer DROMORE CASTLE (5242grt) was sunk on a mine in 53-29-08N, 0-52E, twenty miles south, southeast of Humber. The entire crew were rescued.

_____

 

Canadian destroyer RESTIGOUCHE departed Hvalfjord with five corvettes to escort a Halifax bound convoy. The destroyer was badly damaged by heavy weather.  RESTIGOUCHE arrived at Greenock on the 16th.

_____

 

Panamanian steamer ALBA (3495grt) was seized by German forces at Antwerp.

_____

 

Submarine TORBAY sank small Greek steamer PIII northwest of Suda Bay.

_____

 

Submarine UTMOST unsuccessfully attacked an Italian convoy in 39-47N, 17-22E.

_____

 

Submarines UPHOLDER, P.31, P.34 and Polish SOKOL departed Malta at short notice to patrol in the Central Ionian Sea.

_____

 

Destroyers HARVESTER, HIGHLANDER, and LIGHTNING departed Gibraltar to refuel at Ponta Delgada and await further orders.

_____

 

Light cruisers DRAGON and DURBAN and minesweepers BURNIE, BENDIGO, GOULBURN, and MARYBOROUGH were at Singapore for escort duties and were later joined by destroyers SCOUT and THANET which arrived from Hong Kong at Tarakan on the 12th.  Also employed were destroyers ELECTRA, EXPRESS, and VAMPIRE from the PRINCE OF WALES escort and destroyer JUPITER when repairs were completed.

_____

 

Gunboat MOTH was scuttled at Hong Kong.

_____

 

In Japanese air attacks on Penang, harbour ferry TANJONG was sunk and British examination vessel TUNG WO (1337grt) was damaged. The examination vessel was abandoned the next day.

 

Anti-submarine ship KAMPAR (971grt, Lt R. Hamer RNVR) was damaged a near miss by Japanese bombing. The ship was run aground. The next day, the ship was bombed again and set on fire, exploding the magazine. The crew was rescued.

 

Patrol craft SIN AIK LEE (Lt J. M. Brander SSRNVR) and BAN HONG LIONG (Lt C. L. Brown RNVR) were attacked but not damaged.

 _____

 

American steamer GOVERNOR WRIGHT (496grt) was sunk by Japanese bombing at 12-55N, 123-55E.

_____

 

Norwegian steamer HYDRA II (1375grt) was sunk by American S.38, mistaking the ship for Japanese, off Mindoro Island, thirty miles off Manila.  Nine crew were rescued from the steamer. Forty one crew were missing.

_____

 

Japanese armed merchant cruisers HOKOKU MARU and AIKOKO MARU captured American steamer VINCENT (6210grt) below Pitcairn Island at 25-41S, 118-19W.

_____

 

Steamer SHINAI (2410grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Kuching.

_____

 

Dutch submarine K.12 sank Japanese steamer TORO MARU (1932grt) in 6-00N, 102-20E.

_____

 

Dutch submarine O.16 badly damaged Japanese steamers TOZAN MARU (8666grt), KINKA MARU (9306grt), ASOSAN MARU (8811grt), and SAKURA MARU (7170grt) off Patani. The steamers were later salved.

 

Returning to Singapore, the submarine was sunk on a British mine off Troman Island on the 15th. The Commanding Officer and some bridge personnel survived the explosion, but only one rating was able to swim ashore after thirty six hours in the water; the rest drowning.

_____

 

Convoy SM 1 departed Singapore. British SILVERBEECH (5319grt), American MOBILFUEL (9860grt) and MAGNOLIA (9511grt), and Greek NEREUS (5205grt) for Melbourne and I. KWANG (275grt) and British MARUDU (1926grt) for Colombo. Dutch light cruiser JAVA, Australian armed merchant cruiser KANIMBLA, and destroyers ENCOUNTER,STRONGHOLD, and TENEDOS escorted the convoy on 12 to 15 December. Dutch destroyer EVERTSEN joined on the 13th at sea. The destroyers escorted the convoy to the area of Batavia.

 

Destroyers STRONGHOLD and TENEDOS departed Batavia on the 16th escorting steamers BELLEROPHON and DOLIUS to Singapore.

 

 

Saturday, 13 December

 

Battleship DUKE OF YORK, carrying Winston Churchill to the United States, departed the Clyde escorted by destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, and MATABELE. The destroyers were detached on the 17th to the Azores. En route, destroyer FORESIGHT's steering gear broke down. The destroyers were relieved by destroyers HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER, and LIGHTNING, which departed Ponta Delgada after refuelling on the 17th. The destroyers arrived on the 19th. After refuelling,theoriginal destroyers departed for Scapa Flow. On 20December, destroyer MATABELE was detached to proceed ahead independently.

 

On the 21st, the battleship was met by USdestroyers BRISTOL, TRIPPE, and WARRINGTON. All arrived in Chesapeake Bayon the 22nd.

 

Destroyer MATABELE arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0800/22nd. Destroyers FAULKNOR and FORESIGHT arrived at 0600/23rd.

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Heavy cruiser SUFFOLK departed Hvalfjord for Scapa Flow, where the cruiser arrived on the 16th to correct defects.

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Convoy ON.46 departed Liverpool escorted by corvette THYME. On the 14th, The convoy was joined by destroyer LEAMINGTON and corvettes ABELIA, ANEMONE, SWEETBRIAR, and VERONICA and corvette THYME was detached. Destroyer DOUGLAS joined on the 15th. Corvette SWEETBRIAR was detached on the 16th. Corvettes ABELIA, ANEMONE, and VERONICA were detached when destroyers OTTAWA and VETERAN and corvettes ARVIDA, BADDECK, POLYANTHUS, PRIMROSE, ROSTHERN, SHERBROOKE, and TRAIL joined on the 17th. Destroyers DOUGLAS, LEAMINGTON, and VETERAN were detached on the 18th and corvette TRAIL on the 19th. The rest of the escorts were detached on the 20th and the convoy was dispersed on the 21st.

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Destroyer PUCKERIDGE, en route from Portsmouth to Liverpool, was damaged by German bombing.  Eighteen ratings were killed and twenty crew wounded on the destroyer. The destroyer was repaired at Milford Haven, completing on 13 August 1942.

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Polish destroyer KUJAWIAK departed Plymouth for Scapa Flow, arriving on the 17th for Operation ANKLET.

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Convoy OS.14 departed Liverpool, escorted by ocean boarding vessel MARON, which was detached on the 22nd. The convoy was joined on the 15th by sloops EGRET, FLEETWOOD, and HASTINGS, escort vessels BANFF and FISHGUARD, and anti-submarine yacht PHILANTE which were all detached on 1 January.

 

On the 31st, corvettes AURICULA and CROCUS joined and arrived with the convoy on 3 January. Destroyers VANSITTART and VELOX and corvettes FRITILLARY and ORCHIS joined on 1 January and arrived with the convoy at Freetown on 3 January.

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Italian steamers FABIO FILZI (6836grt) and CARLO DEL GRECO (6836grt), en route to join a convoy at Taranto, escorted by destroyers DA RECCO and USODIMARE, were sunk by Submarine UPRIGHT fifteen miles south of Cape St Vito in 47-10N, 17-06E.

 

Italian steamers MONGINEVRO (5324grt), NAPOLI (6142grt), and VETTOR PISANI (6339grt) departed Taranto escorted by destroyers PESSAGNO and USODIMARE and torpedo boat PEGASO for Benghazi.

 

German steamer ANKARA (4768grt) departed Taranto escorted by destroyers SAETTA and MALOCELLO for Benghazi.

 

Steamers CAPO ORSO (3149grt) and ISEO (2366grt) with destroyers STRALE and TURBINE departed Argostoli for Benghazi.

 

Battleship DUILO, heavy cruiser GORIZIA, light cruisers GARIBALDI and MONTECUCCOLI with destroyers MAESTRALE, ORIANI, and GIOBERTI departed Taranto at 1840.

 

Battleship DORIA, light cruisers DUCA L'AOSTA and ATTENDOLO, and destroyers AVIERE, ASCARI, and CAMICIA NERA departed Taranto at 1940 to support.

 

Destroyers CORAZZIERE, GENIERE, and CARABINIERE departed Taranto later.

 

Battleships LITTORIO and VITTORIO VENETO with destroyers GRANATIERE, FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE, and ALPINO and torpedo boats CENTAURO and CLIO departing Naples at 1740. Destroyers VIVALDI, DA NOLI, MALOCELLO, DA RECCO, and ZENO had departed Taranto at 1500 and joined the LITTORIO group.

 

Light cruisers GALATEA, NAIAD, and EURYALUS, and destroyers JERVIS, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, NAPIER, NIZAM, KIPLING, GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, and HOTSPUR departed Alexandria to intercept. No contact was made with the Italian ships and Force B was recalled to Alexandria.

 

Due to the lack of information on British movements, the convoys are aborted until the situation is clarified. The two Argostoli steamers collided and were out of action.

 

Destroyers NAPIER, NIZAM, KIPLING, and HAVOCK were detached at 1800/13th to search for a reported submarine.

 

Submarine URGE torpedoed battleship VITTORIO VENETO on the 14th near Cape dell'Armi in 37-53N, 15-29E. The torpedo hit one of the battleship's magazines. The battleship was seriously damaged, but was able to reach Taranto under her own power, escorted by destroyers VIVALDI, DA NOLI, AVIERE, GENIERE, CAMICIA NERA, and CARABINIERE and torpedo boats ARETUSA and LINCE.

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Sub Lt J. S. Kyffin, Lt T. I. Harray, and Leading Airman R. J. Carmichael were killed when their Albacore of 826 Squadron crashed on take off at El Adem.

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U.453 sank Spanish tanker BADALONA (4202grt) in 36-43N, 3-30W. Three crew were killed on the tanker.

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Convoy in AT.3 departed Alexandria escorted by destroyers FARNDALE, AVONVALE, and HEYTHROP.

 

Tanker MYRIEL departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh escorted by two anti-submarine whalers SOUTHERN MAID and SOUTHERN ISLES.

 

U.431 damaged British tanker MYRIEL (3560grt) in 31-03N, 29-00E, forty eight miles west of Alexandria. The tanker arrived at Alexandria in tow on the 14th.

 

Convoy AT.3 arrived at Tobruk on the 15th, escorted by destroyer FARNDALE. On arrival, steamer RODI was slightly damaged by the near miss of an air bomb.

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Thirty nine Japanese transports departed Camranh Bay for further landings on the Malay Peninsula.

 

Light Cruiser KASHII, frigate SHIMUSHU, minesweeper W.4, and destroyers ISONAMI, URANAMI, SHIKINAMI, and AYANAMI of the 19th Destroyer Division, ARASHI, HAGIKAZE, MAIKAZE, and NOWAKE of the 4th Destroyer Division, and AMAGIRI, ASAGIRI, and YUGIRI of the 20th Destroyer Division.

 

Heavy cruiser CHOKAI and light cruiser KINU provided cover, along with seaplane carrier SAGARA MARU.

 

On the 14th, heavy cruisers MIKUMA and MOGAMI and destroyers HATSUYUKI and SHIRAYUKI joined from Poulo Condore and took up a covering position northeast of Kuantan during the night of 16/17 December.

 

During the night of 16/17 December, submarines I.58, I.57, I.56, and I.55 formed a patrol line north of Anamba Island.

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Ten Japanese transports departed Camranh Bay for landings at Miri.

 

Light cruiser YURA, destroyers MURAKUMO, SHINONOME, SHIRAKUMO, and USUGUMO of the 12th Destroyer Division, submarine chaser CH 7, and seaplane carrier KAMIKAWA MARU provided escorts for the transports.

 

Heavy cruisers KUMANO and SUZUYA and destroyers FUBUKI and SAGIRI covered the movement.

 

Distant cover for this operation and the Malay landings was heavy cruisers ATAGO and TAKAO, battleships HARUNA and KONGO, destroyers ASASHIO, OSHIO, MICHISHIO, and ARASHIO, and submarines I.62, I.64, I.65, and I.66 between Natoma Island and northwest Borneo.

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American tanker MANATAWNY (5030grt) was sunk by Japanese bombing at Manila.

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Steamer CHUNG ON.(968grt) was scuttled at Hong Kong.

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Dutch submarine K.12 sank Japanese tanker TAIZAN MARU (35245grt) near Cape Camau.

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Panamanian steamer ESSI (1192grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Hongay.

 

 

Sunday, 14 December

 

Light cruiser KENYA, after short repairs, departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow.

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Destroyer BEDOUIN, escorting landing ship PRINCE CHARLES, departed Scapa Flow at 0340 and arrived at Invergordon at 1000.  At 0300 on 15 November, the two ships departed Invergordon and arrived back at Scapa Flow at 0900.

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Destroyer FORESTER departed Scapa Flow at 0930 to convoy Vice Admiral, Second in Command Home Fleet to Scrabster.  After this duty, destroyer FORESTER returned to Scapa Flow.

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Landing ship PRINCE LEOPOLD departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow, arriving on the 15th.

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Submarine P.37 arrived at Lerwick from patrol.

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Minesweeper HALCYON departed London after repairs for Sheerness.

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Motor anti-submarine boat MA/SB 30 was sunk when the fouled the boom at Humber.

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U.108 sank Portuguese steamer CASSEQUEL (4751grt) in 35-08N, 11-14W. The entire crew were rescued. Thirteen men were picked up by corvette CAMPION on the 17th.

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Returning from the unsuccessful sweep against the Italian convoys, light cruiser GALATEA (Captain E. W. B. Sim) was sunk by U.557 off Alexandria in 31-17N, 29-13E. The destroyer screen had been detached into Alexandria before the submarine attack.

Sim, Lt (E) V. N. A. Baldwin, T/Chaplain Reverend A. R. Botting RNVR, T/A/Gunner (T) L. G. E. Boulter, A/Cdr R. E. Butler, Warrant Engineer C. R. Calver, A/Paymaster Sub Lt L. B. Caudle, T/Lt (E) J. Crichton, T/Lt A. H. W. Fancett RNR, Cdr (E) L. Fogg-Elliot, T/A/Gunner W. T. Harris, Lt Cdr G. V. W. Harrison, T/A/Shipwright H. J. W. Henderson, T/Sub Lt L. F. Herniman RNVR, Paymaster Midshipman G. W. Jackson, Paymaster Cdr A. G. Jones, Lt (E) L. R. E. Kennedy, Lt J. B. King-Church, Paymaster Lt J. A. Messenger RNVR, Lt J. A. Somershield, RM, Warrant Engineer F. A. Talbot, T/Electrician Lt K. Votikas RNVR, three hundred ninety seven ratings, and fifty Marines were lost on the cruiser.

 

Destroyer GRIFFIN picked up one hundred survivors. Destroyer HOTSPUR picked up about seventy five survivors. A total of thirteen officers and one hundred and forty one men were rescued.

 

Destroyers JERVIS, KINGSTON, KIMBERLEY, NAPIER, NIZAM, KIPLING, HAVOCK, GRIFFIN, and HOTSPUR, after anti-submarine operations, arrived at Alexandria on the 15th.

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Motor torpedo boat MTB.68 (Lt R. R. Smith RNVR) was sunk in a collision off Tobruk with MTB.215 (T/Sub Lt A. P. G. Joy RCNVR), as they were setting out to operate off Derna.  MTB.215 was considerably damaged and returned to Tobruk.

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Submarine TALISMAN damaged German subamrine U.561 slightly with artillery in 34-05N, 25-39E.

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Convoy HG.76 of thirty two ships departed Gibraltar escorted by sloops DEPTFORD and STORK from 14 to 22 December, sloops FOWEY and BLACK SWAN from 14 to 16 December and corvettes MARIGOLD, CONVOLVULUS, PENTSTEMON, JONQUIL for refitting in the UK, SAMPHIRE, and VETCH for the entire voyage, corvette CARNATION on 14 and 15 December when she was detached to join the WISHART convoy, corvette LA MALOUINE on 14 to 16 December, corvette GARDENIA on 14 to 19 December, and corvette CAMPION on 15 and 16 December.

 

Destroyer HESPERUS and corvette COLTSFOOT departed Gibraltar on the 15th and was additional local escort for the convoy for 16 December only.

 

A support group of destroyers BLANKNEY and EXMOOR operated near the convoy from 14 to 18 December.

 

Escort carrier AUDACITY accompanied the convoy from 14 to 21 December and destroyer STANLEY from 14 to 19 December.

 

Destroyers CROOME, GURKHA, FOXHOUND, and NESTOR, arriving from the UK, swept for submarines ahead of the convoy.

 

On the 23rd, destroyers VANOC, VANQUISHER, and WITCH joined the convoy and destroyer VOLUNTEER joined on the 25th. These destroyers were detached on the 29th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 30th.

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British tankers CONSUL and PRESIDENT DE VOGUE for Curacoa, and VELMA for Trinidad and steamer EMPIRE BARRACUDA for Capetown departed Gibraltar escorted by destroyer WISHART and corvettes GERANIUM, AZALEA, and COLTSFOOT.

 

When corvette COLTSFOOT was detached with survivors from EMPIRE BARRACUDA, corvette CARNATION left convoy HG.76 to convoy.

 

Corvettes GERANIUM and AZALEA arrived back at Gibraltar on the 23rd with Norwegian tanker LEIF ERICKSSON.

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The US Navy began its operations to relieve Wake Island.

 

Task Force 11 departed Pearl Harbour with aircraft carrier LEXINGTON, heavy cruisers CHICAGO, INDIANAPOLIS, and PORTLAND, and the 1st Destroyer Squadron with destroyers PHELPS, DEWEY, HULL, MACDONOUGH, and WORDEN of the 1st Destroyer Division, and AYLWIN, DALE, and DRAYTON of the 2nd Destroyer Division. The force was to raid Jaluit as a diversion, but this was cancelled on the 20th and the force was added to the main force.

 

On the 16th, Task Force 16 departed Pearl Harbour with aircraft carrier SARATOGA, heavy cruisers MINNEAPOLIS (Fletcher), ASTORIA, and SAN FRANCISCO, the 4th Destroyer Squadron with destroyers SELFRIDGE, HENLEY, BLUE, and HELM of the 7th Destroyer Division and JARVIS, MUGFORD, PATTERSON, and RALPH TALBOT of the 8th Destroyer Division, and seaplane carrier TANGIER.

 

Task Force 8 departed Pearl Harbour on the 19th with aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE, heavy cruisers NORTHAMPTON (Spruance), CHESTER, and SALt LAKE CITY, and the 6th Destroyer Squadron with destroyers BALCH, CRAVEN, GRIDLEY, MCCALL, and MAURY of the 11th Destroyer Division and FANNING, DUNLAP, BENHAM, and ELLET of the 12th Destroyer Division.

 

Destroyer CRAVEN was damaged by heavy seas soon after departure and was forced to return to Pearl Harbour.

 

On the 23rd, Wake Island fell and the operation was cancelled. All ships returned to Pearl Harbour.

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American submarine SWORDFISH damaged Japanese steamer NIKKOKU MARU (2728grt) at 18-05N, 109-18E near Hainan Island.

 

Submarine SWORDFISH damaged Japanese transport KASHII MARU (8407grt) at 18-08N, 109-22E off Samah.

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American submarine SEAWOLF attacked Japanese seaplane carrier SANYO MARU (8360grt) of Aparri. The torpedo struck the seaplane carrier, but did not explode.

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Japanese submarine I.4 sank Norwegian steamer HOEGH MERCHANT (4858grt) twenty nine miles from Cape Makapuu, Oahu. There were no casualties on the steamer.

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"Gull Force" of Dutch steamers BOTH (2601grt), VALENTIJN (2071grt), and PATRAS (2065grt) departed Port Darwin, escorted by Australian light cruiser ADELAIDE and minesweeper BALLARAT.  Troops carried on these steamers were landed at Ambon on the 17th.

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Minelayer TEVIOT BANK, escorted by destroyer VAMPIRE, laid mines in the Pulo Aur area.

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Destroyer THRACIAN, en route to attack a Japanese artillery battery, ran aground outside Hong Kong Harbour. The destroyer was able to refloat herself.  THRACIAN attacked and sank two Japanese river steamers landing troops before returning to Hong Kong.

 
 

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revised 8/4/12
further editing is required