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

NAVAL EVENTS, JUNE 1940 (Part 3 of 4)
Saturday 15th -  Friday 21st

HMS Javelin, destroyer (CyberHeritage, click to enlarge)

on to JUNE 1940, Part 4

 

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 - June 1940

 Evacuation of Dunkirk ends, Italy at war, Action at sea in the Mediterranean, France falls


 

 

1940

           

                                                                             

Saturday,  15 June

 

Destroyer GRIFFIN arrived at Dover at 2145, the first arrival of the newly reconstituted 1st Destroyer Flotilla. The Flotilla was to be composed of CODRINGTON (Captain D 1), GREYHOUND, GALLANT, GRIFFIN, BULLDOG, BRILLIANT, BOADICEA, BOREAS, BEAGLE, BRAZEN, BLYSKAWICA, BURZA. Most of these destroyers were under repair on this date.

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French large destroyer MILAN took French General De Gaulle from Brest to Plymouth.

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Destroyers MACKAY and WINCHELSEA were ordered from Plymouth to escort convoys from France to England, and departed at 0700/16th.

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Steamers EMPIRE ABILITY (7603grt) and CITY OF FLORENCE (6862grt) departed Falmouth for Brest, while steamers ETTRICK (11,279grt), KONINGIN EMMA (4135grt), ROYAL ULSTERMAN (3244grt), ROYAL SCOTSMAN (3244grt) departed Falmouth for La Pallice in the afternoon. Next day, the morning of the 16th, and also from Falmouth, troopship ORMONDE (14,982grt) departed for Plymouth and then to Quiberon Bay, and troopship ORONSAY (20,043grt) for Quiberon Bay. Troopships ARANDORA STAR (15,501grt), OTRANTO (20,026grt), STRATHAIRD (22,281grt) were ordered to Brest from Cardiff.

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Destroyer ESK escorted cable ship ARIEL from St Peter's Point, Guernsey to Southend.

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Light cruiser NEWCASTLE and destroyers AMAZON and KELVIN departed Scapa Flow at 0945 for firing practices in Pentland Firth.

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Battleship RODNEY, battlecruiser RENOWN, destroyers TARTAR, FEARLESS, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, MASHONA, MAORI arrived at Scapa Flow at 1650.

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Destroyer AMAZON departed Scapa Flow at 2100 for Sullom Voe with oiler ROSEWOOD (5989grt) and anti-submarine trawlers SCOTTISH (558grt) and LOCH OSKAIG (534grt) .

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Destroyers ATHERSTONE, ACHERON, WALKER, VISCOUNT and anti-submarine trawlers KING SOL, ST CATHAN, ST ELSTAN, LOCH MONTEITH departed Scapa Flow at 0600 with a convoy for the Clyde. It was composed of steamers BLACKHEATH (4637grt), YEWMOUNT (859grt), MARINA (5088grt), HARMATTAN (4558grt), THESEUS (6527grt), DALLINGTON COURT (6889grt), REDCAR (1475grt), COXWOLD (1124grt), and the Danish GUNVOR MAERSK (1977grt).

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U.A torpedoed armed merchant cruiser ANDANIA (Captain D. K. Bain Rtd) northwest of Ireland in 62‑36N, 15‑09W at 2330/15th. Icelandic trawler SKALLAGRIMUR (403grt) rescued the entire crew of 347 men before she sank. Destroyer FORESTER departed Thorshaven to assist. A transfer of the crew was attempted on the 16th when FORESTER met the trawler, but the weather was too rough. The crew were transferred on the 17th and FORESTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 2230/17th with the survivors, who were taken by minesweeper HAZARD to Scrabster.

  

Destroyer AMAZON, escorting oiler ROSEWOOD, came from Sullom Voe and destroyer KELVIN departed Scapa Flow at 0200/16th to assist. Armed boarding vessel DISCOVERY II also arrived on the scene.

 

Oiler ROSEWOOD, now escorted by anti-submarine trawlers SCOTTISH and LOCH OKAIG, arrived at Sullom Voe later that day.

 

Destroyer AMAZON reported later on the 16th that her starboard turbine bearing had run and she was returning to Scapa Flow, arriving at 1112/17th.

 

Destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI had departed Scapa Flow at 0240 for Reykavik and attempted to locate trawler SKALLAGRIMUR en route. However, they were unable to locate the trawler due to low visibility.

 

Anti-submarine trawlers CAPE CORMORIN and AYRSHIRE in Iceland were sent to the area.

 

Heavy cruiser SUSSEX, light cruiser NEWCASTLE, armed merchant cruiser CIRCASSIA patrolled in the area in case this attack was a forerunner of an attempt by an armed raider to enter the Atlantic.

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Anti-submarine trawler ARAB (531grt) attacked a submarine contact in 52-26N, 1-57E.

 

The trawler was joined by patrol sloop PINTAIL.

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Swedish destroyers PSILANDER, PUKE, ROMULUS, REMUS with supply ship PATRICIA and tanker CASTOR had arrived at Cobh (Queenstown) on the 2nd to embark Swedish citizens to return to Sweden. They departed on the 15th, en route to Sweden from Italy.

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Convoy OF 34F was formed from convoys OA.168GF and OB.168GF with nineteen ships.

 

British steamer CITY OF WINDSOR (7218grt) was diverted to Cherbourg from convoy OA.168 GF. The convoy was escorted by sloop DEPTFORD from 15 to 22 June. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.

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Convoy BC 41 departed Bristol Channel escorted by anti-submarine trawlers AGATE and CAMBRIDGESHIRE for Loire.

 

The was the last convoy of the BC series.

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Convoy FN.196 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 17th.

 

Convoy FN.197 did not sail.

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Convoy FS.196 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops WESTON and LOWESTOFT. The convoy became separated in fog and anchored, one section with sloop WESTON and the other with sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 17th.

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U.38 sank Norwegian motor tanker ITALIA (9973grt) and Danish steamer ERIK BOYE (2238grt), under British control, from convoy HX.48 in 50‑37N, 08‑44W.

 

Nineteen crew from the Norwegian tanker were lost. The survivors were rescued by sloop FOWEY.

 

The entire crew of the Danish steamer were rescued by sloop FOWEY.

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German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN departed Gydnia and was escorted by Sperrbrecher IV to Bremen.

 

Armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN was joined by torpedo boats JAGUAR and FALKE on the 18 June in the Skagerrak for the passage to Bergen.

 

On the 19th, PINGUIN was joined by minesweepers M.17 and M.18 off Skudesnes.

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French destroyers FORBIN, FORTUNE, BASQUE departed Alexandria for Beirut.

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French submarine MORSE (LV J. G. C. Paris) of the 9th Submarine Division was sunk on a mine off Sfax with all officers and ratings aboard lost.

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Submarine RORQUAL reported unsuccessfully attacking an Italian submarine in Otranto Strait.

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Destroyer WRESTLER attacked a submarine contact seven miles 138° from Europa Point.

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Italian submarine MACALLE, which had departed Massawa at 1600/10th, was wrecked on a reef near Port Sudan at 19‑00N, 38‑00E. The entire crew were rescued by Italian submarine GUGLIELMOTTI on the 22nd.

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Convoy SL.36 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE. The convoy arrived at Liverpool 3 July.

 

 

Sunday,  16 June

 

Heavy cruiser SUSSEX and light cruiser NEWCASTLE departed Scapa Flow to patrol along 59N from 16 to 20W. They arrived on station at 0100/17th to search for a raider.

 

After no contact, they were ordered at 0954/18th to return to Scapa Flow, arriving at 0455/19th.

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The Australian - New Zealand troop convoy US.3 arrived in the Clyde.

 

Heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND departed the Clyde on the 16th for Liverpool arriving on the 17th.

 

Escorting destroyers BROKE and WESTCOTT then proceeded to Plymouth.

 

Escorting destroyer WARWICK proceeded to Liverpool.

 

Escorting destroyers WANDERER, WITCH, ST LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA, FRASER departed the Clyde to join Canadian troop convoy TC.5.

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Destroyer DELIGHT departed the Clyde with British steamers NAILSEA LASS (4289grt) and LOMBARDY (3379grt) for Plymouth.

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Armed boarding vessel NORTHERN DUKE picked up a raft from Norwegian steamer KRISTIANIAFJORD (6759grt) in 62-04N, 7-46W.

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At 0508, submarine TETRARCH encountered a southbound German convoy. Submarine TETRARCH fired four torpedoes.

 

German tanker SAMLAND (5978grt) was sunk off Korsfjord, five miles west of Lister, in 58-18N, 05-40E.

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Submarine TRUANT and Polish submarine WILK departed Rosyth for exercises in the Firth of Forth.

 

After the exercises, submarine TRUANT set off on patrol and submarine WILK returned to Rosyth.

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Submarine L.23 and submarine tender WHITE BEAR arrived at Scapa Flow.

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Sloop BLACK SWAN and minesweeper SHARPSHOOTER arrived at Rosyth with part of convoy FN.195.

 

Sloop HASTINGS with rest of the convoy arrived later.

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Minesweepers HALCYON and HEBE and destroyer ESK with cable vessel ARIEL were held for several hours at Dover while the Downs was cleared.

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At 2000, destroyer GRIFFIN departed Dover to join light cruiser GALATEA and destroyer IMOGEN en route from the Nore to Spithead.

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Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA departed Harwich for Portsmouth.

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Operation AERIAL was the evacuation of allied troops from French Biscay ports.

 

On the 16th, destroyers WOLVERINE, VANOC, WHIRLWIND were detailed to escort loaded ships from France to the UK.

 

From 15 to 18 June, 30,630 troops were evacuated from Cherbourg and taken to Portsmouth.

 

On 16 and 17 June, 21,474 troops were lifted from St Malo and taken to Portsmouth.

 

The demolition party for St Malo was XD.M (Cdr C. D. Howard-Johnston), delivered on destroyer WILD SWAN on 0050/17th, after calling at St Helier en route.

 

On 16 and 17 June, 32,584 troops were evacuated from Brest and taken to Plymouth.

 

From 16 to 18 June, 57,235 troops were evacuated from St Nazaire and Nantes to Plymouth.

 

Destroyers VEGA, FERNIE, SABRE and sloops FOXGLOVE and ROSEMARY were employed as escorts along the evacuation route.

 

Destroyers HAVELOCK, WOLVERINE, BEAGLE with troopships GEORGIC (27,759grt), DUCHESS OF YORK (20,021grt), BATORY (14,287grt), SOBIESKI (11,030grt) of convoy FF.1 were at Quiberon Bay on the 15th. These liners departed St Nazaire at 0119/17th, escorted by destroyers WHIRLWIND and BEAGLE.

 

On the 16th, destroyers HIGHLANDER and VANOC joined the force.

 

British troopship FRANCONIA (20,175grt) of convoy FF.2 was damaged by German bombing at Brest on the 16th. She was temporarily out of action due to mainshaft and gearing out of line. On the 17th at 0700, she was able to proceed independently to Plymouth.

 

British troopships LANCASTRIA (16,243grt) and ORONSAY (20,043grt) of convoy FF.2 were damaged by air bombing at Quiberon Bay on the 17th.

 

British troopship ORONSAY (20,043grt) departed St Nazaire on the 17th.

 

On the 17th two hours after being damaged by bombing, British troopship LANCASTRIA (16,243grt) was sunk by German bombing at St Nazaire with a heavy loss of life.

 

On the 18th, British liners FRANCONIA (20,175grt), ARANDORA STAR (15,501grt), ORMONDE (14,982grt) departed Brest.

 

British steamers BELLEROPHON (9019grt), EURYADES (5801grt), LYCAON (7350grt) OTRANTO (20,026grt), STRAITHAIRD (22,281grt) arrived at Brest in the same convoy as FRANCONIA and ORMONDE and were sent to Quiberon Bay.

 

Liner STRAITHAIRD (22,281grt) evacuated 32,584 troops from Brest.

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Light cruiser ARETHUSA arrived at Le Verdon from Gibraltar.

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Convoy MT.89 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. Destroyer ENCOUNTER traveled in this convoy for passage to Chatham. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 17th.

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U.101 sank British steamer WELLINGTON STAR (13,212grt) in 42‑39N, 17‑01W.

 

The entire crew were picked up by French steamer PIERRE L D (5795grt) .

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French aircraft carrier BEARN and light cruiser JEANNE D'ARC departed Halifax at 0600/16th to return to France, but arrived in the Antilles on the 27th.

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French General De Gaulle ordered new French liner PASTEUR (30,447grt), en route from Halifax to Bordeaux, to put into a British port.

 

Liner PASTEUR on the first half of the voyage, her maiden passage, carried 400 tons of gold to Halifax.

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Convoy HG.34 departed Gibraltar with fifteen ships, escorted by destroyers VIDETTE and WRESTLER until 18 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.

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German steamer KONIGSBERG (6466grt) was scuttled when intercepted by French auxiliary patrol boat PRESIDENT HOUDUCE (1178grt) in 41‑36N, 10‑37W.

 

Steamer KONIGSBERG had earlier refuelled German armed merchant cruiser WIDDER.

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At 1400, destroyers departed Alexandria on an anti-submarine sweep.

 

Force M:destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK, JANUS, JUNO.

 

Force H:destroyers HYPERION, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HASTY.

 

Force S:destroyers STUART, VAMPIRE, DAINTY, VOYAGER.

 

Destroyers ILEX and IMPERIAL were already at sea to cover tanker movements between Port Said, Alexandria, Haifa.

 

On the 17th, light cruiser GLOUCESTER departed Alexandria to join the sweep.

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Submarine GRAMPUS, (Lt Cdr C. A. Rowe), which had laid mines off Port Augusta on the 13th,was sunk by Italian torpedo boats POLLUCE, CALLIOPE, CIRCE, CLIO off Augusta.

 

After the minelay, the submarine had unsuccessfully attacked Italian submarine BAUSAN on the 13th and torpedo boat POLLUCE on the 13th.

 

Destroyer DIAMOND was sent on the 18th to search for the missing submarine.

 

Submarine GRAMPUS was declared lost on the 24th and presumed mined.

 

Lt Cdr Rowe, Lt E. B. Bull, Lt K. J. Dorrell, S/Lt CC Wilson RNR, Warrant Engineer L.E. Buckler, the fifty three ratings of the crew, the Chinese steward were lost with GRAMPUS.

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Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE arrived at Gibraltar after US.3 convoy duty until 14 June, then a patrol off the Canary Islands.

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Italian submarine DURBO attacked a French destroyer in 36‑06N, 11‑33E, in the Gulf of Hammanet, northeast of Sousse.

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Italian submarine GALILEI sank Norwegian tanker JAMES STOVE (8215grt) south of Aden at 12‑35N, 45‑03E.

 

The entire crew of the tanker were rescued.

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Italian steamer RASTRELLO (1550grt) was sunk by an underwater explosion at Naples.

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New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER was searching for submarine GALILEI from 16 to 18 June. British trawler MOONSTONE captured this submarine on the 19th.

 

 

Monday,  17 June

 

Destroyers FOXHOUND and DIANA departed Scapa Flow at 0130 for the Clyde, but were recalled to escort aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL.

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Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL with destroyers FAULKNOR (D.8), FEARLESS, ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow at 1545 for the Clyde.

 

Destroyer FOXHOUND joined the screen outside Scapa Flow. Destroyer DIANA entered Scapa Flow.

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Destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI were sent at 0047 to hunt for a German submarine reported off Reykavik in 64-09N, 22-16W.

 

Destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI arrived off Reykavik on the 18th and maintained an anti-submarine patrol off Reykavik of one destroyer and one trawler.

 

The destroyers were then to escort British troopship EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA from Iceland to Halifax.

 

Heavy cruiser DEVONSHIRE was sent to Halifax to escort troopship EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA on her return voyage to Iceland with Canadian troops.

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Armed merchant cruiser CANTON on Northern Patrol reported she was attacked by a German submarine.

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Destroyers HAMBLEDON and WITHERINGTON arrived in the Clyde.

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Destroyer VISCOUNT departed the Clyde for Plymouth.

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Destroyers KASHMIR and JUPITER departed the Tyne for the Humber where they arrived later the same day.

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Destroyers GALLANT and WALPOLE arrived at Rosyth from the Humber.

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Minelayer PORT NAPIER arrived at Rosyth from the Tyne.

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Submarine SALMON departed Rosyth on patrol.

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Destroyer BRILLIANT arrived at Dover to join the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.

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Destroyer WILD SWAN, en route from Portsmouth to Harwich, spent the night at Dover. The destroyer arrived at 2208/17th and departed the next morning at 0535.

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On patrol, destroyer VESPER rescued three British officers, one British NCO, five French soldiers and took them to Dover.

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Destroyer VIVACIOUS, en route from Portsmouth to Harwich, reported sighting enemy boats seven miles east of Dungeness late on the 17th.

 

Destroyer VIVACIOUS soon reported a torpedo missed ahead.

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In support of the Cotentin Peninsula (Cherbourg area), French battleship COURBET, Anti-aircraft ship AMIENS, submarine chasers CH.13 and CH.43 operated off the east coast and large destroyer LEOPARD, torpedo boats BRANLEBAS, FLORE, INCOMPRISE, sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA operated off the west coast.

 

On the 19th, these ships proceeded to Portsmouth.

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French steamers SAUMUR (2955grt), ENSEIGNE MAURICE PRECHAC (4578grt), VULCAIN (4362grt), PAUL EMILE JAVARY (2471grt), ARMENIER (914grt), SAINTE CLAIR (3824grt) departed the Clyde for Brest escorted by British trawlers.

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Destroyer WESTCOTT was damaged in a collision with British steamer NYROCA (786grt) at Brest.

 

The destroyer could steam only eight knots and returned to Plymouth, where she was under repair from 18 to 30 June.

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A convoy of twenty six ships departed Quiberon Bay escorted by destroyer WOLVERINE for Bristol Channel.

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At St Nazaire on the 17th was the British liner LANCASTRIA (16,243grt) . She was joined by British liners ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt), ULSTER MONARCH (3791grt), ROYAL SCOTSMAN (3244grt), ROYAL ULSTERMAN (3244grt) .

 

In the Loire anchorage was British tanker CYMBULA (8033grt) and British steamers CLAN FERGUSON (7347grt), BAHARISTAN (5479grt) FLORISTAN (5478grt), GLENAFFARIC (7782grt), JOHN HOLt (3815grt), TEIRESIAS (7405grt) .

 

Destroyers HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK, BEAGLE worked in the anchorage.

 

British steamer TEIRESIAS (7405grt) was badly damaged by German bombing in 47‑07N, 02‑23W.

 

One crewman killed on the British steamer. The steamer was abandoned one mile northwest Wreck Buoy off the entrance to St Nazaire.

 

British steamer HOLMSIDE (3433grt) rescued the survivors.

 

British steamer DUNDRUM CASTLE (5259grt) had been diverted from Dunkirk and was waiting in St Nazaire to discharge her military cargo.

 

Hospital ship SOMERSET (8790grt) was also at St Nazaire.

 

A convoy was arriving from the Bristol Channel. It was composed of British steamers ROBERT L. HOLt (acting commodore, 2918grt), CITY OF LANCASTER (3041grt), DAVID LIVINGSTON (4022grt), FABIAN (3059grt), GLENLEA (4252grt) .

 

Destroyers HAVELOCK and HIGHLANDER were involved in ferrying troops to the evacuating ships in the harbour.

 

Destroyer HAVELOCK had her starboard engine out of action and was to return to Plymouth with troopship LANCASTRIA.

 

British troopship LANCASTRIA (16,243grt) while evacuating troops at St Nazaire was sunk by German bombing in Charpentier's Roads.

 

Anti-submarine trawler CAMBRIDGESHIRE (443grt) rescued 1009 survivors and transferred them to British steamer JOHN HOLt (3815grt) in harbour. 829 survivors on steamer JOHN HOLt were sailed for England on the 17th.

 

Destroyer HIGHLANDER, tanker CYMBULA (8033grt), steamers FABIAN (3059grt), GLENAFFARIC (7782grt), ORONSAY (20,043grt), ROBERT L. HOLt (2918grt), ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt) were also involved in rescue efforts.

 

Only 2477 survivors out of 5310 passengers and crew on LANCASTRIA were rescued. Sixty six crew and 2833 troops and refugees were lost.

 

Destroyer WREN and armed yacht ZAZA were ordered to St Nazaire to assist destroyer HIGHLANDER.

 

At 0630/18th, British steamers OLIVE, ROYAL ULSTERMAN, ULSTER PRINCE, FLORISTAN, BAHARISTAN, CLAN MACPHERSON, DUNDRUM CASTLE, DAVID LIVINGSTONE, FABIAN, CITY OF MOBILE, GLENAFFARIC departed St Nazaire, escorted by destroyers VANOC and BEAGLE.

 

Steamers CLAN FERGUSON, ULSTER PRINCE, BAHARISTAN each carrying 3000 troops, DAVID LIVINGSTON carrying 800 troops, destroyer BEAGLE carried 600 troops.

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Destroyer STURDY was ordered to join destroyer MACKAY at Brest.

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At 1704, destroyers IMOGEN and GRIFFIN were ordered towards Brest for anti-submarine patrols.

 

At 2041, destroyers PUNJABI and HARVESTER were ordered to patrol between Ushant and the Loire.

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Minesweeping trawler MURMANSK (348grt) was accidently grounded and abandoned at Brest.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

 

Trawler MURMANSK was later salved by German forces. She was placed into service in 1941 as auxiliary minesweeper KFK.76 which was later renumbered as FB.06. The trawler did not survive the war.

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French steamer CHAMPLAIN (28,124grt) was badly damaged on a mine off the entrance to La Pallice and settled to the sea bed.

 

Eleven crew were lost on the French steamer. Three hundred and fifty nine crew and passengers were rescued.

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Norwegian steamer KOMET (1147grt) was sunk by German bombing in the English Channel.

 

The Master of the Norwegian steamer was lost.

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Convoy OG.34F was formed at sea from convoy OA.168GF which departed Southend on the 15th escorted by corvette PERIWINKLE, conovy OB.168GF which departed Liverpool on the 15th, escorted by sloop DEPTFORD.

 

Sloop DEPTFORD escorted the convoy from 17 to 22 June. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th.

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Convoy OA.169 departed Southend escorted by sloop FOWEY from 17 to 20 June. The sloop was detached to convoy HX.49.

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Convoy OB.169 departed Liverppol escorted by sloop SANDWICH from 17 to 20 June. The sloop was detached to convoy HX.49.

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Convoy FN.198 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WALLACE, WOLFHOUND, VALOROUS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 18th.

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Convoy FS.197 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. Destroyer ENCOUNTER traveled in this convoy en route for refit. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 19th.

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German light cruiser NURNBERG and two steamers took the 2nd Infantry Regiment and an artillery regiment of the 3rd Mountain Division from Trondheim to Narvik and Tromso. The light cruiser arrived in Harjangsfjord on the 17th.

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U.46 sank Greek steamer ELPIS (3651grt) in 43‑46N, 14‑06W.

 

The entire crew of the Greek steamer was rescued.

Destroyers PUNJABI and HARVESTER were ordered to the area.

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Destroyer DIAMOND was near missed and slightly damaged by Italian bombing at Malta, but remained in service.

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French sloop LA CURIEUSE, which with sloop COMMANDANT BORY was escorting French convoy IR.2F to North Africa, damaged and captured Italian submarine PROVANA thirty miles north of Cape Palos near Oran.

 

However, PROVANA sank in tow before she could be gotten into port.

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Submarine PARTHIAN unsuccessfully attacked Italian destroyer NEMBO off Tobruk.

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Italian submarine ADUA attacked a French convoy between Marseilles and Toulon. A detonation was heard but there is no confirmation on damage.

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Convoy HX.51 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA and auxiliary patrol vessels ACADIA and FRENCH. On 8 June, the destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser JERVIS BAY, which was detached on the 28th.

 

Convoy BHX.51 departed Bermuda on the 16th escorted locally by sloop PENZANCE and ocean escort armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.51 on the 21st and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

On 29 June, destroyers VERSATILE and VIVACIOUS and sloop SANDWICH joined the convoy. Destroyer VERSATILE was detached on 1 July. The other escorts were detached on 2 July when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.

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Aircraft carrier HERMES, returning from patrol off the Canary Islands to Dakar, was ordered to Freetown due to the peace terms. The order was then cancelled at 0245/18th.

 

 

Tuesday,  18 June

 

Battlecruiser HOOD with Canadian destroyers ST LAURENT, FRASER, RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA and destroyer WANDERER departed the Clyde at 0400.

 

At 0520, destroyer ATHERSTONE departed the Clyde and relieved destroyer WANDERER.

 

A Swordfish from ARK ROYAL crashed into the sea on the 18th and destroyer ATHERSTONE rescued the crew.

 

When the battlecruiser HOOD group and the aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL group met, the Canadian destroyers were detached to meet convoy TC.5 and destroyer ATHERSTONE proceeded to Liverpool.

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Destroyer FOXHOUND called at Milford Haven to refuel.

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Light cruiser GALATEA and destroyers IMOGEN and GRIFFIN were ordered to Plymouth from Portsmouth with all dispatch.

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French battleship RICHELIEU (Capitaine de Vaisseau P. J. Marzin) completed trials and put to sea from Brest escorted by destroyers FOUGUEUX and FRONDEUR.

 

The destroyers were detached at Casablanca. Battleship RICHELIEU arrived at Dakar on the 23rd.

 

French battleship PARIS with hurried repairs of her 11 June aerial bombing damage departed Brest for Plymouth, escorted by French auxiliary patrol vessels HEUREUX and GROENLAND.

 

French depot ship JULES VERNE and submarines CASABIANCA and SFAX of the 2nd Submarine Division, PERSEE, PONCELET, AJAX of the 6th Submarine Division, CIRCE, THETIS, CALYPSO of the 13th Submarine Division, SIBYLLE, AMAZONE, ANTIOPE, ORPHEE of the 16th Submarine Division, MEDUSE and AMPHITRITE of the 18th Submarine Division departed Brest for Casablanca.

 

Submarine SURCOUF (Capitaine de Corvette P. Martin), which was unable to depart with the JULES VERNE group, departed Brest for Plymouth, where she arrived on the 20th.

 

French submarines MINERVE in the tow of French tug ZEELEW and JUNON in the tow of French tug NESSUS departed Brest, escorted by auxiliary patrol vessels PESSAC and SAUTERNE. They later were taken in tow by tugs QUEENS CROSS and WATERCOCK. Off Ushant, they were joined by destroyer BROKE, which departed Brest at 0030/19th after the demolition of the port with the XD. O demolition party.

 

Destroyer STURDY took over the tow of submarine JUNON as her tug was short of coal.

 

Destroyer BROKE and the submarines arrived at Plymouth on the 20th.

 

French submarines ORION and ONDINE also departed Brest under tow and safely arrived at Portsmouth.

 

French sloop VAUQUOIS hit a mine leaving the channel from Brest off Le Conquet. She returned to Brest Channel and scuttled herself.

 

Carrying 1200 tons of French gold, French armed merchant cruisers EL D'JEZAIR, EL MANSOUR, EL KANTARA, VILLE D'ALGER, VILLE D'ORAN departed Brest escorted by French destroyers MILAN and EPERVIER.

 

French armed merchant cruiser VICTOR SHOELCHER, carrying 200 tons of Belgian gold and 75 tons of Polish gold,departed Lorient on the 17th escorted by destroyer EPEE. VICTOR SCHOELCHER joined the armed merchant cruisers from Brest for the voyage to Casablanca where they arrived on the 21st. Destroyer EPEE was detached and went to St Nazaire to escort battleship JEAN BART.

 

Destroyer OURAGAN (CC E. P. Brunet) departed Brest under the tow of French tug ABEILLE 22 and escorted by auxiliary patrol vessel POMEROL, which had engine problems.

 

On the 20th, destroyers IMOGEN and GRIFFIN were ordered to take over the tow of the destroyer in 48-57N, 5-03W.

 

They safely arrived at Plymouth at 2100/19th.

 

Scuttled at Brest to prevent their capture were the incomplete battleship CLEMENCEAU, damaged destroyer CYCLONE, repairing submarines PASTEUR and ACHILLE of the 2nd Submarine Division and OUESSANT and AGOSTA of the 8th Submarine Division, sloops ETOURDI and VAUQUOIS, auxiliary patrol vessel MOUETTE, auxiliary minelayer ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE (1256grt), auxiliary minesweepers INGENIEUR REIBEL (675grt) and ROCHE NOIRE (208grt), tugs ATHLETE and LUTTEUR, tanker DORDORGNE (7333grt), steamer CAPITAINE MAURICE EUGENE (4499grt).

 

The British demolition party for Brest was XD.O (Cdr G. C. Congreve) .

 

When Brest fell on the 19th to German forces, the only naval vessel left afloat was the old six stack cruiser JEANNE DE ARC (1899) .

_____

 

Destroyer MACKAY and steamer ROYAL SCOTSMAN arrived at Plymouth from Brest.

 

Destroyer MACKAY carried forty nine naval and military ratings and thirty nine ratings and other ranks.

_____

 

British demolition party XD.P (Cdr R. W. Stirling Hamilton) departed Plymouth at 0115 on Armed yacht CUTTY SARK for Lorient.

 

The yacht was damaged by German bombing at 1245.

 

The party arrived back at Plymouth at 1232/19th. Destroyer VISCOUNT carried XD.P to Lorient.

_____

 

French submarine LA CREOLE had only been launched on the 8th and towed by tug MAMMOUTH from Le Havre on the 9th, escorted by patrol vssel RAMIER. They arrived at La Pallice on the 11th. The submarine departed La Pallice under the tow of French tug ABEILLE 21 on the 22nd. They both safely arrived at Swansea.

 

French naval vessels scuttled at Lorient were sloop ENSEIGNE HENRY, auxiliary minesweepers KERGROISE (261grt) and PLUVOISE (150grt), water carrier ONDINE II, tug LA VALETTE (100grt) .

_____

 

Destroyers SABRE and FERNIE took off the last of the evacuatees, 800 troops and fifty naval demolition personnel, from Cherbourg.

_____

 

French auxiliary minesweeper MARQUITTA (74grt) and tug GOURY (179grt) were scuttled at Cherbourg and French auxiliary minesweeper GAULOIS (301grt) was scuttled at St Servan.

_____

 

French steamers PIERRE L.D. (5795grt), SAN ANTONIO (6013grt), INDOCHINOIS (6500grt), which had just arrived from Halifax with American aircraft, departed St Nazaire on the 18th for Casablanca where they safely arrived on the 23rd.

 

Also departing St Nazaire were steamers ROYAL ULSTERMAN, CITY OF LANCASTER, BELTOY, MAURICE ROSE, GLANLEA, HARPATHIAN, GELNDENNING, POLLUX, LECHISTAN carrying troops, hospital ship ROBERT E. HOLT, oiler CASPIA, Polish steamer LEWANT, trawlers ST MELANTE, CLOUGHTON WYKE, OSAMA, ARMENA, destroyers HIGHLANDER and WREN.

_____

 

French steamers MARGUERITE FINALY, VILLE DE HAVRE, BOURGOGNE, GROIX, MARIS STELLA, TADORNE, PIERRE CLAUDE, MAURICE DELMAR, CARIMARE departed Le Verdon in convoy for Dakar.

_____

 

British steamers HESTER (1199grt) and RONWYN (1766grt) and Norwegian steamer JACOB CHRISTENSEN (3594grt) were damaged and abandoned after scuttling at Rochefort.

 

Steamer HESTER was taken in prize by German forces and used under the same name for German service.

 

Steamer RONWYN was renamed HOCHHEIMER for German use. Steamer JACOB CHRISTENSEN was renamed BALDUR for German use.

_____

 

British steamer DIDO (3554grt) was damaged and abandoned at Brest.

 

The British steamer was salved by German forces and renamed DORPAT for their use.

_____

 

Destroyer ZULU departed Scapa Flow at 1200 for Aberdeen.

 

Off Aberdeen, the destroyer met British steamer LOCHNAGAR which she escorted from Aberdeen to Lerwick.

_____

 

Destroyer WARWICK arrived at Liverpool.

_____

 

Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers ESK and INTREPID departed the Humber on minelaying mission BS.16.

 

The minefield was laid during the night of 18/19 June.

 

The ships arrived back in the Humber on the 19th.

_____

 

British steamers CORMINSTER and BALTEAKO, escorted by anti-submarine trawlers LEICESTER CITY and COVENTRY CITY, departed Scapa Flow.

_____

 

British troopship EMPIRE TROOPER (13,615grt) towed by tugs SCOTSMAN, SEAMAN, PRIZEMAN and escorted by destroyers GALLANT and WALPOLE departed Rosyth for the Tyne.

_____

 

Destroyer VESPER at 0114 on patrol reported an enemy motor boat near No. 10 Buoy, 23 miles 160° from Dungeness.

_____

 

Destroyers VESPER and VIVACIOUS engaged German motor torpedo boats without result off Dungeness.

_____

 

Destroyer ANTHONY, en route from Portsmouth to Harwich, anchored at Dover at 2053. The destroyer departed to continue at 0612/19th.

_____

 

Anti-submarine trawler ELM departed Scapa Flow to escort oiler ROSEWOOD from Sullom Voe for onward routing to Curacao.

_____

 

Submarines SPEARFISH and NARWHAL arrived at Blyth after patrols.

_____

 

Submarines SUNFISH, TRIDENT, TRITON and Polish submarine WILK departed Rosyth on patrol.

_____

 

Convoy FN.199 departed Southend, escorted by sloops LOWESTOFT and WESTON. Submarine L.26 departed Harwich and traveled with this convoy for Dundee. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 19th.

_____

 

Convoy FS.198 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIVIEN and VEGA. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 20th.

_____

 

Convoy MT.90 departed Methil, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

_____

 

German minesweeper M.5 and Swedish steamer SONJA (1828grt) were sunk on mines laid by submarine PORPOISE in minefield FD.18 off Fro Havet, southeast of Fiskolmnes Light in 63-30N, 8-12E, on the 14th.

 

Twelve crew were lost on the Swedish steamer. Nine crew were rescued by Norwegian steamer INGER (1409grt) .

_____

 

Convoy OA.170 departed Southend escorted by corvette HIBISCUS from 18 to 20 June.

_____

 

Convoy OB.170 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WARWICK from 18 to 21 June. The destroyer was detached to convoy SL.35. The convoy dispersed on the 23rd.

_____

 

U.28 sank Finnish steamer SARMATIA (2417grt) in 49‑04N, 12‑05W.

 

The entire crew of the Finnish steamer were rescued.

_____

 

U.32 badly damaged Norwegian steamer ALTAIR (1522grt) in 49‑39N, 11‑15W and sank Spanish trawlers SALVORA (108grt) and FARO-ONS (108grt) in 49‑39N, 11W.

 

The entire crews of the steamer ALTAIR and trawler SALVORA were rescued.

 

Five of the crew of the trawler FARO-ONS were lost with the trawler and one died later. Seven of the crew were rescued.

 

Steamer ALTAIR was sunk by the gunfire of HM ship on the 21st in 49‑36N, 11‑22W.

_____

 

U.99 sailed from Kiel on her first mission, passed through the Kiel Canal and reached Brunsbuttel on the 19th. Heading for Bergen she was mistaken for a British boat and attacked at 1623 on the 21st by a German Arado flying from SCHARNHORST. U.99's attack periscope jammed, the lens broken and both compasses put out of action. After being repaired at Wilhelmshaven, she left for her patrol. (Correction with thanks to Michele Magnozzi)

_____

 

Italian submarine GALILEI stopped Yugoslavian trawler DRAVA (199grt) in the Red Sea but released her after inspection.

 

That night, submarine GALILEI was surprised on the surface by destroyer KANDAHAR, but was able to escape in the darkness without damage.

_____

 

British steamer NIAGARA (13,415grt) was sunk on a German mine in 35‑53S, 174‑54E in Hauraki Gulf, near Auckland, New Zealand.

 

New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Auckland. The light cruiser towed the lifeboats of the steamer from Maro Tiki towards Hauraki Bay.

 

There were 201 crew and fifty three passengers on the steamer. All were rescued.

 

The light cruiser arrived back at Auckland on the 24th after searching the area near Kermadec Islands.

 

The steamer NIAGARA was carrying gold bullion. £2,379,000 sterling was recovered from the sunken vessel.

_____

 

German armed merchant cruiser ORION captured Norwegian steamer TROPIC SEA (5781grt) in 28‑43S, 166‑08W.

 

Steamer TROPIC SEA was sent back to France as a prize and was scuttled on 3 September 1940 as she arrived off Bordeaux when intercepted by submarine TRUANT.

 

At the time of her loss, steamer TROPIC SEA had twenty four crew from the British steamer HAXBY intercepted by ORION on 24 April.

_____

 

Italian steamer RENO (1002grt) was sunk on a mine 28° from Faro Monte Cappuccino, eleven miles off Arcona in the Adriatic.

 

 

Wednesday,  19 June

 

After reports of eight unknown destroyers and three escort vessels east of the Orkneys at 1304 and 1335 from Burgh Head, Deerness, battlecruiser RENOWN with destroyers TARTAR, MAORI, MASHONA which had been carrying out firing practices in Pentland Firth were sent to intercept.

 

It was later determined these unknown ships were Destroyer ZULU, proceeding south from Lerwick, minesweeper BRAMBLE, SEAGULL, SPEEDY in the swept channel.

 

The British RENOWN force returned to Scapa Flow at 1500 that day.

_____

 

Destroyer HIGHLANDER departed Aberdeen for Lerwick.

_____

 

Destroyer VETERAN departed Rosyth for Harwich.

_____

 

Submarine SWORDFISH arrived at Blyth after patrol.

_____

 

Submarine H.31 departed Blyth on patrol.

_____

 

At 0300, French battleship JEAN BART (Capitaine de Vaisseau P. J. Ronarc'h), in an incomplete state, sailed from St Nazaire.

 

Destroyer VANQUISHER (Vice Admiral T. J. Hallett, CB, CBE Rtd aboard), which had departed Sheerness on the 18th, had been sent to assure that JEAN BART sailed or was destroyed.

 

Tugs had also been dispatched to St Nazaire to assist JEAN BART and joined French tugs MINOTAURE (889grt), URSUS (472grt), TITAN (276grt) .

 

Destroyer VANQUISHER left St Nazaire with battleship JEAN BART, destroyersLE HARDI (Vice Amiral E. M.J. M. Laborde aboard, CC A. de Tannenberg), MAMELUCK (CC P. P. L. Charrasse) and EPEE (C. F. J. M.A. V. Molas), tanker ODET. However, ODET could only make eight knots and oiler TARN was substituted at the last moment.

 

Battleship JEAN BART was attacked three times in the St Nazaire Channel and was hit once bybomb that failed to pierce the armour deck.

 

Battleship JEAN BART was refuelled. Destroyer VANQUISHER remained in company until the French ships turned south for Casablanca where they arrived on the 22nd.

 

Destroyer WATCHMAN, departing Gibraltar on the 23rd, was stationed off Casablanca to observe the French ships.

_____

 

British steamers CITY OF MOBILE, FLORISTAN, ESSEX DRUID, DUNDRUM CASTLE embarked troops at St Nazaire, protected by destroyer VANOC.

 

Steamer FLORISTAN was damaged by German bombing at St Nazaire.

_____

 

Scuttled at Cherbourg were incomplete French submarines ROLAND MORILLOT and LE MARTINIQUE on the slips.

_____

 

French steamer MEXIQUE (12,220grt), entering Verdon Roads, was sunk on a mine.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

_____

 

French trawler TANCHE (277grt) was sunk on a mine at Lorient.

_____

 

Operation AERIAL continued.

 

From Bayonne and St Jean de Luz 19,000 troops were evacuated from 19 to 25 June.

 

Although DYNAMO was more widely known, the later CYCLE and AERIAL operations succeeded in evacuating 191,870 troops before France fell.

_____

 

Destroyer HIGHLANDER (D.9) arrived at Plymouth from St Nazaire with Captain L.H. K. Hamilton DSO, on board.

 

D 9 reembarked on destroyer HAVELOCK on the 20th.

_____

 

Destroyer GREYHOUND arrived at Dover at 1331 to join the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.

_____

 

The 10th Mine Sweeping Flotilla, composed of auxiliary minesweepers MEDWAY QUEEN and PRINCESS ELIZABETH arrived at Dover.

 

Two more auxiliary minesweepers of this Flotilla would join when refitting was completed.

_____

 

The 11th Mine Sweeping Flotilla, composed of auxiliary minesweepers JEANIE DEANS, SCAWFELL, GOATFELL, HELVELLYN, MERCURY departed Dover at 0630/22nd for Portland.

_____

 

Convoy FS.199 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st.

_____

 

Convoy MT.91 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

_____

 

S/Lt (A) D. K. Marks, who had been lent to the RAF, was killed when his Hurricane of 7 OTU crashed near Brynford, Holywell.

_____

 

In a raid by British 801 Squadron against Boulogne and Calais, Lt J. W. Collett was wounded. The Skua he was observer in forced landed at Manston on its return.

_____

 

German auxiliary minesweeper M.1802 (trawler FRIEDRICH MULLER: 497grt) was sunk on a mine northwest of Helgoland.

_____

 

U.25 torpedoed a tanker in the Bay of Biscay.

 

U.25, while still submerged, was rammed by the ship following the tanker. Upon surfacing, she observed a ship stopped. Returning to the scene 45 minutes later, the heavily damaged tanker could not be found.

_____

 

U.28 sank Greek steamer ADAMANDIOS GEORGANDIS (3443grt) in 49‑35N, 11‑15W.

 

One crewman was lost on the Greek steamer.

_____

 

U.32 sank Yugoslavian steamer LABUD (5334grt) southwest of Fastnet.

 

The entire crew of the Yugoslav steamer was rescued.

_____

 

U.48 sank Norwegian steamer TUDOR (6607grt) from convoy HG.34F, escorted by sloop SCARBOROUGH, in 45‑10N, 11‑50W.

 

One crewman was lost from the Norwegian steamer. The survivors were rescued by corvette ARABIS. Corvette CALENDULA picked up five survivors.

 

Corvettes CALENDULA, ARABIS, GARDENIA were searching in the area.

 

U.48 sank British steamers BARON LOUDOUN (3164grt) and BRITISH MONARCH (5661grt) in 45N, 11‑21W from convoy HG.34 F.

 

Three crew were missing from steamer BARON LOUDOUN. There were no survivors from steamer BRITISH MONARCH.

_____

 

U.52 sank British steamer THE MONARCH (824grt) in 47‑20N, 04‑40W and Belgian steamer VILLE DE NAMUR (7463grt) in 46‑25N, 04‑35W, 250 miles off Corunna.

 

There were no survivors from the British steamer. There were five crew killed and twenty missing from the Belgian steamer.

_____

 

U.43 refuelled from German tanker BESSEL (1878grt) at Vigo.

_____

 

British steamer PATELLA (7468grt) reported a German submarine twenty miles southwest of Ailsa Craig.

 

Escort vessels JASON and GLEANER were sent to search.

_____

 

British steamer ROSEBURN (3103grt) was badly damaged by German motor torpedo boats S.19 and S.26 five miles off Dungeness.

 

Steamer ROSEBURN was taken in tow by destroyer VESPER. Tug LADY BRASSEY (362grt) later relieved destroyer VESPER which screened the ships to Denge Marsh, west of Dungeness where the steamer was run aground a total loss.

 

British drifter LORD HOWE (75grt) picked up all the crew members which had abandoned ship.

_____

 

Motor barge GOLDEN GRAIN (101grt) was damaged by German bombing off Felixstone.

_____

 

British troopship EMPIRE TROOPER (13,615grt), captured German liner CAP NORTE, arrived in the Tyne in tow of tugs SCOTSMAN, SEAMAN, PRIZEMAN and escorted by destroyers GALLANT and WALPOLE.

 

The destroyers returned to Rosyth arriving that same day.

_____

 

Submarine ORPHEUS (Lt Cdr J. A. S. Wise) was sunk by Italian destroyer TURBINE off Tobruk.

 

Submarine ORPHEUS was declared lost on the 27th and presumed mined.

 

Lt Cdr Wise, Lt C. T. Davies, Lt P. F. Fawkes, S/Lt J. D. Symonds, Warrant Engineer E. K. Cross and the fifty ratings of the crew were lost with ORPHEUS.

_____

 

Submarine PARTHIAN fired two torpedoes into Tobruk Harbour again Italian coastal defense ship SAN GIORGIO. The torpedoes exploded in the harbour mud and no damage was done.

_____

 

Light cruiser DELHI departed Gibraltar for Dakar. The destination was later changed to Freetown in view of the Armistice.

_____

 

French large destroyer GERFAUT, which departed Brest, passed Gibraltar en route to Toulon, where she arrived on the 21st.

_____

 

Australian light cruiser HOBART bombarded Centre Peak Island W/T Station off Massawa.

_____

 

Italian submarine GALILEI, which had departed Massawa on the 10th, surfaced near Anti-submarine trawler MOONSTONE (615grt) off Aden and attacked her with gunfire.

 

Trawler MOONSTONE returned fire killing the Italian commanding officer and capturing the submarine at 12‑48N, 45‑12E.

 

The submarine was towed to Aden by destroyer KANDAHAR.

 

From information gained from documents from GALILEI, four Italian submarines were located:the wreck of MACALLE lost on the 14th and submarines TORICELLI and GALVANI which would soon be dealt with.

_____

 

Italian submarine ZOEA, which departed Taranto on the 18th, arrived at Tobruk with supplies.

 

 

Thursday,  20 June

 

Swedish destroyers PUKE (ex-Italian GIOVANNI NICOTERA, Commodore T. Hagman, RSN) and PSILANDER (ex-Italian BETTINO RICASOLI) and torpedo boats ROMULUS (ex-Italian SPICA) and REMUS (ex-Italian ASTORE) arrived at Skaalefjord in the Faroes on the 19th as they were en route to Sweden from Italy. They were accompanied by depot ship PATRICA (ex-Italian PATRIS II) .

 

Tanker CASTOR (8714grt) of this group was delayed. Earlier on the voyage, she had been captured by a French cruiser and taken to Casablanca. She was soon released and arrived in the Faroes shortly after the arrival of the Destroyers on the 20th.

 

Destroyers TARTAR (D.6), MASHONA, MAORI, after departing Scapa Flow at 1930/19th, arrived at Skaalefjord in the Faroes early morning on the 20th to requisition the Swedish warships at 1100.

 

The crews of the Swedish ships were put aboard depot ship PATRICIA and tanker CASTOR and sailed to Sweden on the 21st.

 

Care and maintenance parties were placed aboard PSILANDER and ROMULUS and passage crews were placed aboard PUKE and REMUS.

 

After the reported movement of German warships in the North Sea, destroyers MAORI and MASHONA were ordered to reembark their crew from the passage parties for the Swedish destroyers.

 

At 0620/21st, destroyers MAORI and MASHONA departed the Faroes to join the Home Fleet at sea.

 

At 1630/21st, Swedish ships PUKE and REMUS departed Skaalefjord escorted by destroyer TARTAR for Scapa Flow.

 

Swedish ships PATRICIA and CASTOR returned to the Faroes on the 22nd to demand the return of the Swedish destroyers. The British Naval Officer in Charge of the Faroes reported at 1100/22nd that the Swedish ships had returned to Thorshavn and had were demanding the release of the Swedish warships.

 

Destroyers MASHONA was ordered to the Faroes where she arrived at 2230/22nd.

 

Destroyer MAORI departed Scapa Flow at 1345/22nd to assist D 6. En route, she joined the screen of destroyer PUKE.

 

On the 22nd, PUKE broke down in 61‑15N, 6‑06W and was taken in tow by armed boarding vessel KINGSTON PERIDOT. Tug SAUCY departed Kirkwall at 0340/22nd to join the Swedish destroyer. The tug attempted to get a line aboard but collided with PUKE in the progress.

 

Destroyer MAORI was able to take the destroyer in tow. Despite heavy weather and continued problems, PUKE was brought into Scapa Flow in tow of the tug BUCCANEER, at 1200/23rd, escorted by destroyer MAORI.

 

Destroyers TARTAR and REMUS arrived at Scapa Flow at 0115/23rd.

 

The two destroyers berthed alongside destroyer depot ship WOOLWICH for repairs.

 

Escorted by anti-submarine whalers BUTTERMERE and WINDERMERE, British accomodation ship ST MAGNUS (1312grt) departed Scapa Flow on the 22nd with steaming partiesfor destroyers PSILANDER and ROMOLUS. The parties were drawn from battleships RODNEY and VALIANT.

 

At 1830/25th, destroyer MASHONA with Swedish destroyers PSILANDER and ROMOLUS departed the Faroes. Also in company was British accomodation ship ST MAGNUS,and anti-submarine whalers BUTTERMERE and WINDERMERE. Destroyer MASHONA was damaged by weather en route to Kirkwall.

 

Destroyer MASHONA and her group arrived at Kirkwall at 1330/26th.

 

Destroyer MASHONA went on to Rosyth arriving on the 27th and was drydocked for damage to her hull.

 

Destroyer BEDOUIN departed Scapa Flow at 0800/30th to escort Swedish destroyers PUKE and REMUS.

 

Swedish destroyers PUKE and REMUS arrived at Kirkwall on the 30th, depot ship PATRICIA arrived there later the same day.

 

Destroyer BEDOUIN arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1350/30th.

 

On 2 July, the Swedish ships were returned to Swedish control and the five ships departed Kirkwall on 5 July. They were joined at sea by tanker CASTOR which had departed from the Faroes.

 

The Swedish ships were bombed by aircraft of 18 Group, Coastal Command, on 7 July, but no damage was done.

The Swedish ships arrived at Goteborg, via Kristiansand, on 10 July.

_____

 

Aircraft bombed a submarine at 1030 and brought up oil in 60-32. 5N, 5-18W. Destroyers ZULU, ESCORT, FORESTER left exercises with submarine L.23 at 1105 joining Anti-submarine whalers BUTTERMERE (560grt) and WINDERMERE (560grt), which had been detached from the Norwegian Thorshaven to Kirkwall convoy, to search in the area to hunt.

 

Armed boarding vessels KINGSTON TOPAZ and KINGSTON SAPPHIRE were also ordered to search. They returned to Northern Patrol duties at 0500/21st.

 

The destroyers were ordered back to Scapa Flow on the 21st.

_____

 

German battlecruiser GNEISENAU and heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER departed Trondheim to raid towards Iceland as a diversion so damaged battlecruiser SCHARNHORST could make her way home without opposition.

 

However, just outside of Trondheim in 64‑43N, 9‑53E, submarine CLYDE reported she had contacted a German force of one battlecruiser, one battleship, one destroyer.

 

Submarine CLYDE was able to torpedo and badly damage battlecruiser GNEISENAU at 2232.

 

A large hole was torn in battlecruiser GNEISENAU's side at the bow and she was later repaired at Kiel completing on 5 November 1940.

 

Due to submarine CLYDE's report, destroyers ZULU, ESCORT, FORESTER returned to Scapa Flow with dispatch arriving at 0800/21st.

 

Destroyers MAORI and MASHONA reembarked their boarding parties from the Swedish destroyers and proceeded at 0620 with dispatch towards Scapa Flow.

 

The Fleet at Scapa Flow was brought to one hour's notice.

 

Nevertheless, battlecruiser SCHARNHORST arrived safely back at Kiel on the 23rd.

_____

 

Polish submarine WILK, which departed Rosyth on the 18th, was damaged in a collision at 0025 while submerged with another submarine in 56‑50N, 03‑57E.

 

Recent sources indicate that this submarine was Dutch submarine O.13 (Lt Cdr E. H. Vorster RNIN), which had departed Aberdeen on patrol on the 11th, which was earlier thought to have been mined.

 

Lt B. E. Greswell, an observer on the submarine, two communications ratings were lost with the entire Dutch crew.

 

There was damage to the propellers and after planes, but the Polish submarine was able to continue patrol.

 

Light cruisers SHEFFIELD and BIRMINGHAM and destroyer GALLANT departed Rosyth at 1030/23rd to support WILK. These ships returned to Rosyth before joining the Polish submarine when it was found that WILK could dive.

 

Light cruiser NEWCASTLE and destroyer ECHO departed Scapa Flow at 0950/23rd to search for a destroyer reported by aircraft at 0600 in 58-45N, 4-20E. They also covered submarine WILK's return.

 

Submarine WILK arrived at Dundee on the 25th. She went on to Rosyth for repairs arriving on the 26th underwent repairs for this damage. The repairs were completed in early July.

_____

 

Destroyer FORESIGHT departed Harwich for Rosyth where she arrived on the 21st.

_____

 

Destroyer ARROW departed Scapa Flow at 1430 for Harwich to join the Nore Command.

_____

 

At 1630, submarine SALMON fired two torpedoes at southbound convoy in 58-18N, 05-40E off Lister.

_____

 

Submarines SHARK and TETRARCH arrived at Rosyth after patrol.

_____

 

Submarine L.26 arrived at Dundee escorted by sloop WESTON.

 

The sloop then returned to Rosyth.

_____

 

Dutch submarines O.21 and O.22 and torpedo boat Z.5 departed Belfast for Dundee, via Stornoway.

_____

 

British liner EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (19,665grt) escorted by destroyers BEDOUIN and ASHANTI in the local approaches departed Reykavik for Halifax.

_____

 

British troopships ROYAL SCOTSMAN (3244grt), SOBIESKI (11,030grt), OTRANTO, ORONTES, ARANDORA STAR, ST HELIER, ETTRICK and destroyers IMOGEN, PUNJABI, GRIFFIN, WITCH, HARVESTER, VISCOUNT departed Plymouth late on the 19th for St Nazaire to embark Polish troops there.

 

Destroyers IMOGEN, HARVESTER, PUNJABI were ordered to return to Plymouth very early on the 20th for refuelling.

 

Later on the 20th, troopship SOBIESKI went to Le Verdon and destroyers IMOGEN, GRIFFIN, WITCH, VISCOUNT to Rade de Coisic.

 

Destroyer PUNJABI embarked 409 troops at St Nazaire.

 

Polish troops evacuated from Rade de Coisic were 340 on WITCH, 500 on VISCOUNT, 466 on IMOGEN.

 

Destroyer GRIFFIN with 350 Polish troops returned to Plymouth for refuelling later at 1425.

 

Destroyer VISCOUNT escorted British steamer BRITTANY from Rade de Coisic past Ushant. Destroyers GRIFFIN and WITCH escorted steamers KAIPAKI and ROYAL SCOTSMAN.

 

British steamer ALDERPOOL (4313grt) embarked 4000 Polish troops and British steamer EMPIRE INDUSTRY embarked forty British refugees at La Pallice. These ships were sailed to Falmouth.

 

Troopship ROYAL ULSTERMAN went to La Pallice and then to Gironde.

_____

 

Light cruiser ARETHUSA and destroyer BERKELEY evacuated the British Ambassador to Poland and thirty of his staff personnel, the Staff of the British Embassies of Brussels and Paris, the President of Poland from Le Verdon. The two ships sailed at 1120 and safely arrived at Plymouth at 0801.

_____

 

Destroyer BEAGLE (Rear Admiral F. B. Watson DSO Rtd aboard) arrived at Bordeaux with a demolition party for the port, but due to the Armistice, the demolition was not carried out and BEAGLE departed early on the 23rd.

_____

 

At 0610, Corvette GLADIOLUS, escorting convoy HX.48, picked up two French FAA officers, two petty officers, four ratings from a small boat.

 

The men were landed at Dover.

_____

 

Convoy FN.200 departed Southend, escorted by sloops FLEETWOOD and WESTON. The convoy arrived at Rosyth on the 22nd in two sections. One escorted by armed patrol yacht BREDA and the other by the two sloops.

_____

 

Convoy FS.200 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.

_____

 

Convoy MT.92 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.

_____

 

Destroyer BOREAS arrived at Dover at 1455 to join the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.

_____

 

Destroyer VESPER departed Dover at 1552 for Sheerness.

_____

 

Auxiliary minesweeper SANDOWN arrived at Dover at 1630 after refitting to join the 10th Mine Sweeping Flotilla.

_____

 

British steamers BIARRITZ (2388grt) and MALINES (2980grt) evacuated the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, respectively.

 _____

 

French steamer FOUCAULD (11,028grt) was sunk by German bombing at La Pallice.

_____

 

French tanker BRUMAIRE (7638grt), which had departed Brest, was sunk by German bombing off Belle Ile.

 

The tanker was beached on the 21st on Ile de Re.

 

Armed yacht VIVA II tried unsuccessfully to sink the bows of the tanker above water on the 22nd.

_____

 

Greek steamer ADAMANTIOS (4277grt) was sunk by German bombing at La Rochelle, off Ile de Re.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

 

Steamer ADAMANTIOS was later salved and taken in prize by German forces.

_____

 

French light cruiser PRIMAUGUET departed Bordeaux with the last shipment of gold from France and proceeded to Dakar.

_____

 

U.30 sank British steamer OTTERPOOL (4876grt) in 48‑45N, 08‑13W.

Twenty two crew and a gunner were lost with the British steamer. The survivors were rescued by sloop SCARBOROUGH at 0157/21st.

 

Earlier that day OTTERPOOL and British steamer ANDALUSIAN (3082grt) were attacked by U.51.

_____

 

U.38 sank Swedish steamer TILIA GORTHON (1776grt) in 48‑32N, 06‑20W.

 

Ten crew were missing from the Swedish steamer. The survivors were picked up by sloop LEITH.

_____

 

U.48 sank Dutch motor tanker MOORDRECHT (7493grt), a straggler from convoy HX.49, in 43‑34N, 14‑20W.

 

Twenty five crew were lost from the Dutch tanker.

_____

 

U.122 sank British steamer EMPIRE CONVEYOR (5911grt) in 56‑16N, 08‑10W.

 

Tug AMSTERDAM and destroyers ATHERSTONE and CAMPBELL, which received orders at 1316, were sent to assist the steamer, but she sank as the ships arrived.

 

Three crew from the British steamer were missing. Destroyer CAMPBELL rescued the thirty eight survivors. Destroyer CAMPBELL remained in the area until 0800/21st before proceeding to Liverpool.

 

After disembarking the survivors at Liverpool, destroyer CAMPBELL proceeded to Sheerness.

 

Destroyer ATHERSTONE at 0045/21st met Armed merchant cruiser MONTCLARE in North Channel on passage from the Clyde to Canada. When 13-40W was reached, destroyer ATHERSTONE returned to the Clyde with dispatch.

_____

 

British steamer STESSO (2290grt) was sunk by German bombing at Cardiff.

 

The entire crew was rescued.

 

The steamer was later refloated and left Cardiff on 31 December for breaking up at Briton Ferry.

_____

 

Panamanian tanker JAMES MCGEE (9859grt) was sunk on a mine 2. 4 miles 208° from Nash Point.

 

The entire crew of the tanker were picked up by destroyer WOLVERINE.

_____

 

Italian submarine DIAMANTE was sunk by submarine PARTHIAN off Tobruk in 32‑42N, 23‑49E.

_____

 

Italian destroyers ARTIGLIERE, CAMICIA NERA, AVIERE, GENIERE of the 11th Destroyer Division departed Augusta on the 19th and arrived with supplies at Benghazi on the 20th.

_____

 

In operation MD 3, French battleship LORRAINE, light cruisers ORION (Flagship), NEPTUNE, SYDNEY with destroyers HASTY, DECOY, DAINTY, STUART departed Alexandria at 1130 and bombarded Bardia from 0548 to 0606/21st.

 

Destroyers HYPERION, HAVOCK, HERO, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, which had departed Alexandria at 0800 were sweeping along the Libyan coast.

 

French heavy cruiser SUFFREN, light cruiser DUGUAY TROUIN, destroyers IMPERIAL, ILEX, NUBIAN departed Alexandria at 1730 and were sweeping in the area on reports of an Italian cruiser and destroyers at Tobruk.

 

Light cruiser SYDNEY's Seagull on spotting duty was attacked and damaged by RAF Gladiators. The Seagull was able to return to the light cruiser and Flight Lt T. MacBride, RAAF and Lt J. C. Bacon were not wounded. .

 

Italian submarine SIRENA attempted to attack the French cruiser force without success and was damaged by depth charges in return.

 

The force arrived back at Alexandria on the 21st.

_____

 

Destroyer KEPPEL departed Gibraltar for Port Vendres to transport H.M. Ambassador and a party of nine to a "North African port. "

 

On the 22nd, destroyer KEPPEL was ordered to Sete.

_____

 

Australian light cruiser PERTH departed Sydney with British liner STRATHMORE (23,428grt) .

The ships arrived at Melbourne on the 22nd.

 

Both ships departed on the 22nd and on the 23rd, light cruiser PERTH turned the liner over to Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA.

 

Light cruiser PERTH patrolled Bass Strait until 25 June.

_____

 

Destroyer KHARTOUM refuelled at Djoubiti.

 

 

Friday,  21 June

 

German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST departed Trondheim escorted by destroyers STEINBRINCK, LODY, SCHOEMANN, GALSTER and torpedo boats GREIF, KONDOR, FALKE, JAGUAR.

 

On the 21st off Utsire, three Swordish with Lt J. H. Stenning and Lt V. A. Smith, RAN, Lt W. A. F. Fryer and Acting Petty Officer G. L. Taylor, S/Lt (A) O. A. G. Oxley and Naval Airman E. D. Milsom of the 821 Squadron, three Swordfish with Lt J. C. Reed and S/Lt (A) P. Winter, S/Lt (A) M.P. White and Naval Airman C. H.A. G. Hull, S/Lt (A) L.B. Cater and Leading Airman F. W. Davis of the 823 Squadron, six Hudsons of 233 Command, nine Beauforts of 42 Squadron of the RAF unsuccessfully attacked the German ships.

 

S/Lt (A) L.B. Cater and Petty Officer Airman F. W. Davis andS/Lt (A) M.P. White and Naval Airman C. H.A. G. Hull were lost when two Swordfish were shot down. Three Beauforts and one Hudson were also shot down and a Sunderland of 204 Squadron was damaged.

 

At 1120, aircraft reported one battlecruiser and six destroyers in 61-00N, 4-14E on course 190 at 25 knots.

 

Battlecruisers RENOWN (VA Battlecruisers) and REPULSE with destroyers FORESTER, ESCORT, ZULU, INGLEFIELD (D.3), DIANA departed Scapa Flow at 1220/21st.

 

Destroyers MAORI and MASHONA, which had departed the Faroes at 0620/21st, joined the force at sea.

 

On the 21st, light cruisers MANCHESTER (CS 18), SHEFFIELD, BIRMINGHAM, heavy cruiser YORK, destroyer GALLANT departed Rosyth to join Heavy cruiser SUSSEX and light cruiser NEWCASTLE in 58‑50N, 00‑20E, then meet the Battlecruiser Squadron.

 

At 1850, the operation was cancelled when the German ships were reported inside the Fjords in the vicinity of Haugesand.

 

At 0240/22nd, failing to make contact with the German force, the British ships withdrew to westward.

 

Battlecruisers RENOWN and REPULSE and destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3),ZULU, FORESTER, ESCORT, DIANA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1120/22nd.

 

Light cruiser NEWCASTLE and heavy cruiser SUSSEX arrived at Scapa Flow an hour after the RENOWN group.

Light cruisers BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, heavy cruiser YORK, destroyer GALLANT arrived back at Rosyth on the 22nd.

 

The German ships put into Stavanger Fjord. They departed the next day and arrived safely at Kiel on the 23rd. Battlecruiser SCHARNHORST was repairing at Kiel until 19 October 1940.

 _____

 

There was a reorganization of the destroyers under Rear Admiral Destroyers, Home Fleet.

 

3rd Destroyer Flotilla - Destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3), ISIS, IMOGEN, DELIGHT, DIANA, HOTSPUR, ECLIPSE, ELECTRA.

 

23rd Destroyer Division of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla:Destroyer ATHERSTONE and other HUNT destroyers as completed.

 

4th Destroyer Flotilla - Destroyers COSSACK (D.4), SIKH, ZULU, MAORI, ESCAPADE, ECHO, ESCORT, ENCOUNTER.

 

6th Destroyer Flotilla - Destroyers TARTAR (D.6), ASHANTI, MATABELE, MASHONA, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, ESKIMO, SOMALI.

 

8th Destroyer Flotilla - Destroyers FAULKNOR (D.8), FURY, FORESTER, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FAME, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE.

_____

 

Canadian destroyers SKEENA, ST LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, FRASER arrived at Plymouth at 0640 after TC.5 escort duty. Battleship REVENGE arrived at Plymouth at 0645.

_____

 

French destroyer TRIOMPHANT arrived at Plymouth from Lorient.

_____

 

Aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS departed Devonport for working up at Bermuda escorted by destroyers IMOGEN, GRIFFIN, ST LAURENT.

_____

 

Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers ESK, INTREPID, ICARUS departed the Humber on minelaying mission BS.17 during the night of 21/22 June.

 

The British ships arrived back in the Humber on the 22nd.

_____

 

Destroyer FORESIGHT arrived at Rosyth from Harwich.

 

Destroyer FORESIGHT departed immediately with destroyer WALPOLE for Scapa Flow, arriving at 0545/22nd.

_____

 

Destroyer WITHERINGTON arrived in the Clyde.

_____

 

British oiler ROSEWOOD, escorted by aircraft and anti-submarine trawlers CAPE WARWICK and ELM, arrived at Scapa Flow from Sullom Voe.

_____

 

Destroyer CODRINGTON arrived at Dover at 1420 to join the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.

_____

 

Auxiliary minesweeper EMPEROR OF INDIA arrived at 2130 at Dover after refitting to join the 10th Mine Sweeping Flotilla.

_____

 

At 0840, destroyer GREYHOUND observed an underwater explosion two miles 30° from No. 10 Buoy.

 

The cause was never established.

_____

 

Destroyer BOREAS during the night of 21/22 June was on patrol in North Goodwins between R Buoy and U Buoy to guard against German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST movement through the Channel.

 

The rest of the destroyers at Dover were placed at a quarter hour notice.

_____

 

Destroyer HURRICANE (Lt Cdr H.C. Simms) was completed.

 

She arrived at Plymouth on the 30th for working up and joined 9th Destroyer Flotilla operating in the Western Approaches.

_____

 

U.28 sank Special services vessel CAPE HOWE (acting Cdr E. L. Woodhall DSO, MVO), which was disguised as RFA PRUNELLA (4443grt), south of Ireland in 49‑45N, 8‑47W.

 

Woodhall, Surgeon Lt F. H. Williams, LMSSA, LAH, Lt E. J. Ormsby RNR, Probationary Acting Lt A. G. Daniels RNR, S/Lt W. A. Lawrence RNR, Temporary Lt (E) J. Wilkinson RNR, Temporary S/Lt J. B. Bell RNVR, Temporary S/Lt I. R. W. Stileman RNVR, forty eight ratings were lost in the British ship.

 

Twenty seven crew were rescued on the 24th by French steamer CASAMANCE (5817grt) . Thirteen survivors were picked up from a raft by destroyer VERSATILE on the 27th in 48-47N, 7-59W.

_____

 

British drifter CHARDE (99grt) was sunk in a collision at Portsmouth.

_____

 

Anti-submarine yacht VIVA II (502grt), escorting a transport in the Bay of Biscay, attacked a submarine contact in 46‑28N, 3‑51W.

_____

 

At 1810, submarine H.44 sank Danish steamer ALFA (844grt) off Texel.

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Canadian destroyer FRASER departed Plymouth with Captain CC A Allen and beach and communications parties for evacuation of St Jean de Luz.

_____

 

Convoy OG.34 was formed from convoys OA.171G, which departed Southend on the 19th escorted by sloop ABDERDEEN from 19 to 21 June, OB.171G, which departed Liverpool on the 19th escorted by sloop LEITH, with twenty eight ships.

 

Sloops LEITH and WELLINGTON escorted the convoy from 21 June to 3 July. The convoy arrived Gibraltar on 3 July.

_____

 

Convoy OA.172 departed Southend escorted by corvette GLADIOLUS from 21 to 24 June.

_____

 

Convoy OB.172 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers VOLUNTEER and WHIRLWIND from 21 to 24 June. The convoy was dispersed on the 26th.

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Convoy FN.201 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VIVIEN and VEGA and patrol sloop SHEARWATER. The sloop was detached to convoy FS.102 when met. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 23rd.

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Convoy FS.201 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS and sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 23rd.

_____

 

Convoy MT.93 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at the Tyne the next day.

_____

 

Four Skuas and five Rocs of 801 Squadron from SPARROWHAWK, escorted by twelve Hurricanes attacked a new German gun battery at Cap Blanc.

 

S/Lt (A) A. V. M. Day flying a Roc was killed when he was shot down in the attack. His crewman Naval Airman F. Berry was also lost.

_____

 

A German convoy was reported near the Frisian Islands. Eight British Albacores of the 826 Squadron from PEREGRINE and nine Hudsons from Coastal Command were sent to intercept the convoy. The convoy was not located. Six Albacores attacked the DeKooy airfield and Willemsoord. Two Albacores were lost andwith pilot Lt (A) J. L. Mackenzie Bell, Acting S/Lt F. B. Hookins, Naval Airman R. G. Poole of one aircraft killed.

 

The crew of the other Albacore was captured. Pilot S/Lt (A) W. S. Butterworth survived as a prisoner of war, observer S/Lt V. J. Dyke died of wounds. Leading Airman R. J. Jackson died as a POW on 18 January 1945.

_____

 

In an attack by nine British Hudson aircraft of 206 Squadron, dismantled old Dutch coastal battleship VLIEREEDE was sunk at Den Helder. The ship was later salved as German ARIADNE in 1941.

_____

 

Convoy HX.52 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA and auxiliary patrol vessels ACADIA and FRENCH. On 22 Jul, the destroyers turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser AURANIA, which was detached on 2 July.

Convoy BHX.52 departed Bermuda on the 20th escorted locally by sloop PENZANCE and ocean escort armed merchant cruiser RAJPUTANA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.52 on the 25th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.

 

On 2 July, destroyers HURRICANE and WOLVERINE, sloop SCARBOROUGH, corvette GARDENIA joined the convoy. Destroyer HURRICANE was detached later that day. The remaining escorts were with the convoy until it arrived at Liverpool on 6 July.

_____

 

Convoy HG.35 departed Gibraltar with twenty one ships escorted by destroyers WATCHMAN and VIDETTE.

 

Destroyer WATCHMAN was detached on the 22nd and destroyer VIDETTE was detached on the 25th.

 

Sloop DEPTFORD escorted the convoy from 22 June to 1 July. The convoy was joined in Home Waters by destroyer WITHERINGTON on the 28th from convoy OG.35 and remained with the convoy until 1 July.

 

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 1 July.

_____

 

French steamer BISCAROSSE (1937grt) was scuttled at Le Havre.

_____

 

French steamer MECANICIEN PRINCIPAL CARVIN (4282grt) was sunk by German bombing at Le Verdon.

_____

 

French auxiliary patrol vessel MERCEDITA was beached after mining off Le Verdon and scuttled.

_____

 

British steamer LUFFWORTH (279grt) was abandoned at Brest. She was later taken in prize by German forces.

_____

 

Destroyer WRESTLER departed Gibraltar to meet French convoy 7 P, which departed Marseille, Sete, Port Vendres on the 19th with eighteen ships escorted by destroyers BOULONNAIS and TYPHON and armed patrol vessels SIDI OKBA and CYRNOS. Also, large destroyers TIGRE and LYNX covered the convoy.

 

The Destroyer was to escort the Atlantic bound ships to Gibraltar. Convoy 7 P arrived at Oran on the 22nd.

_____

 

French armed merchant cruiser MASSILIA departed the Gironde with French ministers and Members of Parliament. When shearrived at Casablanca on the 24th, the Vichy authorities arrested them.

_____

 

U.122 made an attack on a convoy off North Channel on the 21st, but was not heard from again after making her report. She may have been lost with all 48 crew in an accident in 48-33N, 10-26W. .

_____

 

German motor torpedo boats S.21 and S.32 were sunk on a mine 15 miles south of Dungeness. S.31 and S.35 picked up the survivors, but OzS Toniges and six crew  were lost.  S.21 was salved in 1941 and returned to service.

_____

 

U.29 refuelled from German tanker BESSEL (1878grt) at Vigo.

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U.25 attacked French steamer ARAGAZ (5009grt) in the Bay of Biscay, but without damage.

_____

 

U.38 sank Belgian steamer LUXEMBOURG (5809grt) in 47‑25N, 04‑55W, but the entire crew was saved.

_____

 

U.43 sank steamer YARRAVILLE (8627grt) from convoy 65X in 39‑40N, 11‑34W. Five crew were lost, but French trawler MARIE GILBERTE (286grt) arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th with 45 survivors.

_____

 

U.47 made attacks on three steamers in convoy HX.49. SAN FERNANDO (13,056grt) was badly damaged in 50‑20N, 10‑24W, but the other two were unharmed. SAN FERNANDO was taken in tow and was still afloat at 2100/22nd. However, she sank before arriving in port. Seventeen survivors  were picked up by sloop SANDWICH.

_____

 

U.52 sank Finnish steamer HILDA (1144grt) in 45‑46N, 03‑17W, after she had been damaged by German bombing on the 19th. Five crew were killed in the sinking.

_____

 

U.65 torpedoed French steamer CHAMPLAIN (28,124grt) in La Pallice Roads. However, CHAMPLAIN had already been mined on the 17th and had sunk resting on the sea bed with the most of her still above water.

_____

 

Greek steamer CORINTHIAN (3701grt) reported she was attacked by a U-boat in 51-47N, 6-24W. Destroyers WANDERER and WITHERINGTON were ordered to search for her. Sister ship WREN departed Milford Haven at 0335 to join them, and another sister ship, WHIRLWIND also left Milford  at 0530 for the same duty. When WREN and WHIRLWIND arrived in the area, WANDERER and WITHERINGTON were ordered to the Clyde with all dispatch.

_____

 

Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK departed Alexandria to intercept Greek steamer ERMOINI (440grt) in the Aegean. No contact was made and they returned to other duties.

_____

 

Italian submarine MOROSINI attacked an allied merchant ship without result sixty five miles off Cape Palos.

 
 

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revised 7/4/12
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