Background Events - June 1940
Evacuation
of Dunkirk ends, Italy at war, Action at sea in
the Mediterranean, France falls
1940
Saturday, 22 June
Heavy
cruiser
SUSSEX and light cruiser NEWCASTLE arrived at Scapa Flow.
_____
Light
cruiser SOUTHAMPTON departed the
Clyde for
Scapa Flow where she arrived on the
23rd.
_____
Destroyers
ATHERSTONE and WANDERER arrived in the Clyde.
_____
British
troopships
AQUITANIA (45,647grt) and
MAURETANIA (35,738grt) departed the
Clyde for Liverpool escorted by destroyers WINCHESTER and WITHERINGTON.
The
ships arrived safely later the same day.
Destroyer
WINCHESTER then departed
Liverpool for Rosyth where she arrived
on the 24th.
_____
British
troopship EMPRESS OF CANADA (21,517grt) escorted by destroyer WANDERER
departed the
Clyde for
Liverpool.
_____
British
oilers CLAM, CONCH, ROSEWOOD departed Scapa Flow escorted by anti-submarine
trawlers IMPERIALIST, CAPE WARWICK, ELM for passage through the
Minches and onward passage to Curacoa and Port of Spain.
_____
Destroyer
WALPOLE departed
Scapa Flow at 1400 escorting British trawler
SEA MONARCH (329grt) to Aberdeen.
Destroyer
WALPOLE then escorted British steamers DEVON CITY (4928grt) and ARBROATH
(553grt) from
Aberdeen to Scapa Flow, arriving on the 23rd.
_____
Anti-submarine
yacht CAMPEADOR V (195grt, Cdr C H
Davey OBE Rtd) was mined and sunk three miles 310° from Nab Tower off Portsmouth. Davey, Temporary Lt J R
Muir RNVR, Temporary Lt V W M Macandrew RNVR, Temporary Lt C E Turner RNVR,
and fifteen ratings were lost. There were only two survivors.
_____
British-built
French Flower Class corvette LA
BASTIAISE was mined and sunk on trials off Hartlepool. Losses included the French
Captain and a number of crew and shipyard employees.
_____
French
auxiliary patrol vessel HEUREUX and tugs ABEILLE 8 and ABEILLE 22 departed
Plymouth to attempt to recover an
incomplete 15,000 tons tanker at La Falaise.
_____
As
Submarine TRIBUNE was leaving her patrol area to return to Rosyth, she
sighted a German steamer. At 0136, submarine TRIBUNE fired torpedoes at a
7000 to 8000 ton merchant ship near Stadlandet.
There
was no damage.
_____
Submarine
SNAPPER departed Rosyth on patrol.
_____
Convoy FN.202 departed Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and
HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the
Tyne on the 24th.
_____
Convoy FS.202 departed the
Tyne, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND.
Patrol sloop SHEARWATER from convoy FN.201 joined on the 22nd. The convoy
arrived in the
Tyne on the 24th.
_____
Convoy FS.202 departed the
Tyne, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND.
The convoy arrived at Southend on the 24th.
_____
Light
cruiser GALATEA and Canadian destroyer FRASER operated off St Jean de Luz.
_____
British
liner ETTRICK (11,279grt) embarked 2000 troops and King Zog of Albania from St Jean De Luz.
_____
French
steamer AMIENOIS (3713grt) was sunk by German bombing off Le Verdon.
_____
British
Trinity House Light Vessel VESTAL evacuated light house personnel and
civilians from
Alderney.
_____
French
light cruiser EMILE BERTIN departed Halifax with the 300 tons of gold
brought there from
Brest to proceed to Fort de
France.
Heavy
cruiser DEVONSHIRE shadowed the French light
cruiser, but lost touch with her.
Light
cruiser EMILE BERTIN arrived at
Martinique on the 24th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN, carrying 300 moored mines and 25 torpedoes
and 80 mines to replenish U boats at sea, departed Bergen to raid in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctic.
_____
U.30
sank Norwegian motor ship RANDSFJORD (3999grt) from convoy HX.49 seventy
miles south, southeast of Queenstown.
Four
crew were missing from the Norwegian ship. The survivors were picked up on
the 23rd.
_____
U.32
badly damaged Norwegian motor tanker
ELI KNUDSEN (9026grt) from convoy HX.49
in 50‑36N, 08‑44W. The entire crew was saved - 38 crew by sloop
SANDWICH and 14 by anti-submarine
trawler AGATE (627grt) . Destroyers IMOGEN, GRIFFIN, ST LAURENT, SKEENA and corvettes ARABIS and
HEARTSEASE searched for the submarine. Destroyers WARWICK and WINCHELSEA were
nearby searching for U.47 which sank steamer SAN FERNANDO on the 21st. The tanker was
taken in tow on the 23rd, but sank later that day in 50-36N, 7-51W.
_____
U.38
sank Greek steamer NEION (5154grt)
in 47‑09N, 04‑17W. One crewman was missing.
_____
U.46
made an unsuccessful torpedo attack on aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL southwest
of
Ireland as she and other units were
en route to
Gibraltar to form Force H.
_____
U.65
sank Dutch steamer BERENICE
(1177grt) in 47‑10N, 03‑35W. Eighteen crew and 21 passengers were
lost.
_____
The
Mediterranean Fleet began to sortie from Alexandria to bombard Augusta and raid in the Messina area in Operation BQ. A
number of steamers were to departed Malta and proceed to Alexandria during this operation.
At
1700, aircraft carrier EAGLE and destroyers HYPERION, HOSTILE, HASTY,
HEREWARD, HAVOCK, HERO, IMPERIAL, ILEX of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of Force
C departed. At 2000, battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES, also of Force
C, departed
Alexandria.
Force
B with light cruisers ORION (VAD),
LIVERPOOL, GLOUCESTER with destroyers JUNO and JANUS departed Alexandria at 2130.
At
2200, battleship WARSPITE, light cruisers NEPTUNE and SYDNEY, destroyers
NUBIAN, MOHAWK, DAINTY, DEFENDER, DECOY of Force A were to sail.
However,
at 2153 the operation was cancelled due to the French Armistice.
French
heavy cruisers TOURVILLE and DUQUESNE (VAX), light cruiser DUQUAY TROUIN,
destroyers STUART and VAMPIRE of Force D did not cast off.
Force
A returned to
Alexandria immediately. Forces B and C
returned to
Alexandria the next day.
_____
Italian
Cruiser Squadron 7 (Sansonietti) with light cruisers EUGENIO, D'AOSTA,
ATTENDELO, MONTECUCCOLI escorted by destroyer Division 13 sortied from
Messina westward as far west of Minorca to interfere with French convoys
which were being escorted by French Cruiser Division 4 (Contre Amiral C. J.
L. Bourrague, light cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM) and destroyers
between Marseilles and Oran.
Destroyers
INDOMPTABLE and MALIN were on patrol off Minorca.
On
convoy duty and at sea were destroyers GERFAUT, KERSAINT, TRAMONTANE,
BOULONNAIS, TYPHON, BORDELAIS, TROMBE, BALISTE, submarines HENRI POINCARE, LE
CENTAURE, PEGASE, NARVAL, CAIMAN, aircraft tender COMMANDANT TESTE.
French
Cruiser Division 3 (Contre Amiral A. A. A. Marquis, light cruisers
MARSEILLAISE, LA GALISSONIERE, JEAN DE VIENNE) sortied from Algiers on the 23rd to intercept the
Italian force, but Sansonietti returned to base before the French Force made
contact.
At
0800/22nd, battleships DUNKERQUE, STRASBOURG, PROVENCE, BRETAGNE, light
cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM, destroyers MOGADOR, VOLTA, LE
FANTASQUE, L'AUDACIEUX, LE TERRIBLE, TIGRE, LYNX, BRESTOIS, TORNADE were at
Oran.
Submarine
LE REDOUBTABLE was at Bone.
Destroyer
L'ALCYON and submarines LE TONNANT, FRESNEL, PASCAL, MONGE, VENGEUR,
TURQUOISE were at
Bizerte.
Submarines
MARSOUIN and REQUIN were at Sousse.
Submarines
NAUTILUS and SOUFFLEUR were at Sfax.
Heavy
cruisers ALGERIE, DUPLEIX, FOCH, COLBERT, destroyers VAUBAN, LION, AIGLE, GUEPARD, VERDUN,
VALMY, VAUTOUR, CASSARD, escort vessels LES EPARGES and YSER, submarines
VENUS, IRIS, AURORE, CERES, PALLAS, submarines LE CONQUERANT, GALATEE, LE
DIAMANTE, PERLE at Hyeres, refitting submarines NAIADE, ARCHIMEDE, L'ESPOIR,
ARGONAUTE, ATALANTE, ARETHUSE were at Toulon.
Destroyers
TARTU and CHEVALIER PAUL were at Sete.
Destroyers
LA PALME, MARS, TEMPETE were at Port Vendres.
_____
Italian
submarine ASCIANGHI fired four torpedoes at a steamer south of Balearic
Islands. She then fired several rounds from her deck gun but was forced to
retire after several hits before sinking the steamer.
_____
Italian
submarine CAPPONI sank Swedish steamer ELGO (1888grt) north of Sfax.
One
crewman was lost from the Swedish steamer.
_____
Light
cruiser DANAE departed Penang for Singapore.
Sunday, 23 June
Italian
submarine TORICELLI, which had departed Massawa on the 14th, engaged Sloop
SHOREHAM at 0530 in the Red Sea north of Perim, approximately 13N, 43E.
SHOREHAM was hit by a shell from TORICELLI and was later repaired at Aden.
Destroyers
arrived on the scene, joined also by Indian sloop INDUS,and TORICELLI was
sunk by the combined gunfire of destroyers KINGSTON, KHARTOUM, KANDAHAR and
sloops SHOREHAM and INDUS north of Perim at 12‑34N, 43‑16E.
The
survivors from submarine TORICELLI were taken by destroyers KINGSTON and
KANDAHAR to Aden.
_____
Destroyer
KHARTOUM was detached to patrol in the area. At 1400, destroyer KHARTOUM (Cdr
D. T. Dowler) was badly damaged by the explosion of one of her torpedoes on
her deck. She ran herself aground near Perim to prevent sinking.
One
rating was killed and Lt Cdr (E) A. C. Reed and three ratings were injured.
Destroyer
KHARTOUM was a total loss and was never repaired.
_____
Heavy
cruiser DORSETSHIRE departed Freetown and joined Aircraft carrier HERMES off
Dakar to watch French battleship RICHELIEU, escorted by destroyer FLEURET,
which arrived at Dakar on the 23rd.
Armed
merchant cruiser MALOJA was already patrolling off Dakar.
_____
Late
on the 23rd, Italian light cruisers EUGENIO, MONTECUCCOLI, D'AOSTA, ATTENDOLO
of the 7th Cruiser Division and destroyer Division 13 patrolled between
Sardinia and the Balearic Islands to intercept French traffic en route to
Algerian ports.
Off
western Sardinia, heavy cruisers ZARA, FIUME, GORIZIA of the 1st Cruiser
Division, heavy cruisers POLA, BOLZANO, TRENTO of the 3rd Cruiser Division,
light cruisers COLLEONI and BANDE NERE of the 2nd Cruiser Division with
Destroyer Divisions 9, 10, 12 waited in support for Cruiser Division 7.
_____
French
Amiral Darlan ordered the French aircraft carrier BEARN, which had put to sea
from Halifax on the 16th, to proceed to the West Indies.
French
destroyers FORTUNE, BASQUE, FORBIN departed Haifa for Alexandria.
The
next day, Amiral Godfroy at Alexandria was ordered to take his force to
Beirut, but Admiral Cunningham informed Amiral Godfroy that he would not be
allowed to comply.
_____
Aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL and destroyers FEARLESS, FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, ESCAPADE
departed Scapa Flow at 0400/17th.
Destroyer
FOXHOUND was detached at Milford Haven to refuel and did not rejoin.
Battlecruiser
HOOD departed the Clyde on the 18th with destroyers WANDERER, ST LAURENT,
FRASER, RESTIGOUCHE, SKEENA at 0400. Destroyer ATHERSTONE sailed at 0520 and
relieved destroyer WANDERER in the escort. The two forces joined at sea on
the 19th at 1530.
Destroyer
ATHERSTONE was detached late on the 19th and returned to Liverpool. The
Canadian destroyers joined convoy TC.5.
En
route Aircraft carrier ARK ROYALwas unsuccessfully attacked by U.46 on the
22nd, but all ships safely arrived at Gibraltar on the 23rd.
_____
Heavy
cruiser NORFOLK departed the Clyde after repairs for Scapa Flow.
_____
Light
cruiser NEWCASTLE and destroyer ECHO departed Scapa Flow to
investigate an enemy destroyer force reported in the North Sea and cover
Polish submarine
WILK, damaged on the 20th.
_____
Light
cruiser EMERALD (Captain F. C. Flynn) departed Greenock at 2330 on Operation
FISH escorted by destroyers COSSACK and ATHERSTONE.
In
heavy weather the destroyers were detached outside the local approaches at
12W on the 25th.
Destroyer
COSSACK arrived at Scapa Flow on the 26th at 1720 and destroyer ATHERSTONE
arrived in the Clyde.
Light
cruiser EMERALD arrived at Halifax on the 29th carrying 2229 cases of gold
for safekeeping.
_____
Destroyers
JACKAL and JAGUAR departed the Humber to patrol in the North Sea.
_____
British
steamer HORSA, with government stores, escorted by armed boarding vessels
NORTHERN
ISLE and NORTHERN
SUN departed Scapa Flow for
Iceland.
_____
In
Operation ROBIN, patrol sloop PUFFIN escorted salvage ship TEDWORTH, carrying
out diving operations on sunken U.13 north of Lowestoft.
_____
British
steamers
ISLE OF SARK (2211grt), ALDERNEY QUEEN (633grt),
SHERINGHAM (1088grt), three others escorted by destroyer SABRE evacuated
Alderney.
_____
Destroyer
KEPPEL departed Port Vendres for Sete to organize the evacuation of Czech and
Polish troops. Destroyer VELOX was sent to Port Vendres from Gibraltar.
Destroyer
VELOX entered Vendres at 0600/23rd.
Destroyer
KEPPEL arrived Sete at 0740/23rd and found French destroyers TARTU, CHEVALIER
PAUL, CASSARD in harbour.
At
1345, the French destroyers departed Sete. At 1830, French destroyer PALME
and tanker LA RANCE arrived.
During
the afternoon of 24 June, British steamers OAKCREST (5407grt), BRITANNIC
(26,943grt), LORD COCHRANE (4157grt) arrived at Sete.
Involved
in the evacuation of Port Vendres and Sete were British steamers APAPA
(9333grt), COULTARN (3759grt), GARTBRATTAN (1811grt), VICEROY OF INDIA
(19,627grt), ASHCREST (5652grt), SALTERSGATE (3940grt), NORTHMOOR (4392grt),
NEURALIA (9182grt) and Egyptian steamers MOHAMED ALI EL KEBIR (7290grt) and ROD
EL FARAG (6369grt) . Thirty nine ships in all were employed.
12,832
troops were evacuated from Sete, Vendres, Marseilles.
Destroyer
KEPPEL departed Sete with Egyptian steamer MOHAMED ALIEL KEBIR and joined
destroyer VELOX which departed Vendres at 0300/26th with British steamer
APAPA. The ships travelled in company to Gibraltar. They arrived at Gibraltar
later on the 26th.
_____
Canadian
destroyer FRASER evacuated personnel, including the British Ambassador to
France, off Arachon at noon on the 23rd and these personnel were transferred
to light cruiser GALATEA.
Late
on the 23rd, light cruiser GALATEA evacuated British and Canadian diplomatic
personnel from Bordeaux.
The
warships arrived at Plymouth on the 24th.
_____
French
destroyer LANSQUENET, which was nearing completion and indrydock at Bordeaux
for painting and outfitting, was floated out and towed to Pauillac where she
was fuelled. She departed the Gironde early on the 23rd and arrived at
Casablanca on the 27th.
_____
French
patrol boat LA CHERBOURGEOISE was scuttled at Le Verdon.
_____
Destroyer
BROKE assisted British troopship ORMONDE under air attack at Bayonne.
_____
Submarine
H.32 departed Dover escorted by destroyer VIVACIOUS to Portsmouth.
_____
Convoy FN.203 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA, sloop
LONDONDERRY, patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the
25th.
_____
Convoy MT.94 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON and
sloop FLEETWOOD. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
_____
Tug
CORINGA (294grt) was lost in the Atlantic to unknown agent.
Lt
(E) W. H. Inson
RNR, was lost in the tug.
_____
Heavy
cruiser DORSETSHIRE and destroyer WATCHMAN departed Gibraltar for Dakar and
Casablanca, respectively.
Destroyer
WATCHMAN was to consult with British consul and impress upon the French the
British intention of continuing the war.
_____
Indian
patrol vessel PATHAN (Lt Cdr K. Durston RIN) was badly damaged at 0100/23rd
and sank the next day off Bombay at 18‑56N, 72‑45E.
Although
contemporary sources stated that PATHAN was a victim of an enemy mine or
torpedo from Italian submarine GALVANI, sloop PATHAN was lost through the explosion
of her own depth charges.
Lt
Cdr Durston, S/Lt D. V. R. Curry RINVR, three ratings were killed and one
officer and sixteen ratings, one of which later died of wounds, were wounded.
_____
Australian
heavy cruiser CANBERRA (Captain H.B. Farncomb, CB DSO, MVO) departed
Fremantle and relieved light cruiser PERTH of the escort of British liner
STRATHMORE (23,428grt) en route to Colombo.
Both
ships departed Adelaide for Capetown on the 29th.
Heavy
cruiser CANBERRA and liner STRATHMORE safely arrived at Capetown on 11 July.
The heavy cruiser was assigned to the South Atlantic Command.
Heavy
cruiser CANBERRA's duty in the South Atlantic was cut short when she had to
depart on 4 August from Simonstown for Sydney to repair defects to one of her
propeller shafts. This repair was completed in August.
_____
Convoy
BN.1 of nine ships departed Bombay. The convoy was escorted by light cruiser
CERES and armed merchant cruiser CATHAY from 23 June to 4 July.
Light
cruiser LEANDER escorted the convoy from 2 to 10 July.
Indian
sloop HINDUSTAN escorted the convoy from 2 to 5 July.
Sloop
SHOREHAM was with the convoy on 2 July.
Destroyer
KINGSTON escorted the convoy from 5 to 10 July.
Anti-aircraft
cruiser CARLISLE, destroyer KANDAHAR, sloop FLAMINGO escorted the convoy from
6 to 10 July.
Sloops
GRIMSBY and CLIVE escorted the convoy from 10 to 12 July when the convoy
arrived at Suez.
_____
Light
cruiser DAUNTLESS departed Singapore for Penang, arriving on the 25th.
Monday, 24 June
Heavy
cruiser NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow after completing repairs in the Clyde
of her 19 March bombing damage.
_____
Light
cruiser NEWCASTLE and destroyer ECHO arrived at Scapa Flow at
0445.
_____
Destroyers
FIREDRAKE and PUNJABI departed the Clyde at 0100/24th to escort aircraft
carrier ARGUS and liner ANDES (25689grt) to Iceland where they safely arrived
at Reykavik at 2015/26th and Seidisfjord on the 30th.
The
ships departed Reykavik at 1900/27th and arrived at Akreyri at 1320/28th.
Troops were landed at Akreyri on the 28th.
Destroyers
FIREDRAKE and PUNJABI and liner ANDES departed Akreyri at 1020/29th for
Seidisfjord. Fog delayed the passage and the ships arrived in the Fjord at
1030/30th. Troops were landed at Seidisfjord on 1 July.
The
British ships completed their mission and departed Seidisfjord at 1400 on 1
July.
The
ships arrived in the Clyde at 1030 on 3 July.
_____
Destroyer
FORESIGHT departed Scapa Flow at 0615 for Sullom Voe to escort minelayer
ATREUS.
Destroyer
FORESIGHT and minelayer ATREUS departed Sullom Voe at 1715 for Scapa Flow.
They arrived at Scapa Flow at 0500/25th.
_____
Destroyers
BEDOUIN and ASHANTI arrived at Scapa Flow from Iceland.
_____
Destroyer
DIANA departed Scapa Flow at 2000/24th for Aberdeen.
At
Aberdeen, destroyer DIANA and minesweeping trawler WHITETHORN (515grt) and
anti-submarine trawler STOKE
CITY (422grt) escorted British
steamer LOCHNAGAR (1619grt) and store carrier KYLEBROOK to Lerwick and Scapa
Flow, respectively.
Store
carrier KYLEBROOK and minesweeping trawler WHITETHORN were detached to Scapa
Flow on the 25th.
Destroyer
DIANA, anti-submarine trawler STOKE CITY, steamer LOCHNAGAR arrived
at Lerwick at 1440.
Destroyer
DIANA proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving at 2130.
_____
Destroyer
AMAZON departed Scapa Flow for repairs at Chatham.
_____
At
0332, submarine TRIDENT fired four torpedoes at German tanker DITHMARSCHEN,
escorted by destroyers IHN and GALSTER, in 64-21N, 09-12E.
All
torpedoes missed.
_____
Submarine
H.28 arrived at Blyth after patrol.
_____
Submarines
SEAWOLF, SEALION, SHARK exercised in the Firth of Forth.
_____
Minelayers
TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers INTREPID, ICARUS, EXPRESS, which
departed the Humber on the 24th, laid minefield BS.18 during the night of
24/25 June.
_____
Destroyer
BOREAS on OD 2 (South Goodwins Patrol) was ordered to investigate a surface
craft steering in circles.
(Note:OD
1 was North Goodwins Patrol. OD 3 was the Dungeness Patrol. )
Destroyer
CODRINGTON was sent to support destroyer BOREAS.
Destroyer
BOREAS proceeded within three and a half miles off Boulogne. She reported no
ships underway. The destroyer experienced considerable artillery fire, but no
damage was sustained.
Later,
destroyer CODRINGTON brought British whale factory ship SVEND FOYN
(14,795grt) to anchorage west of Dungeness.
_____
British
steamer ALBUERA (3477grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.36 at two
miles south west of Lydd Light Float off Dungeness.
Seven
crew were lost on the British steamer. Twenty nine survivors from steamer
ALBUERA were rescued by a Dutch steamer MEROPE (1162grt) which transferred
them to Anti-submarine trawler GRIMSBY TOWN (422grt) .
_____
British
steamer KINGFISHER (276grt) was sunk by German motor torpedo boat S.19 in 50‑30N,
00‑28E off Beachy Head.
One
crewman was lost on the British steamer.
_____
British
steamers GLENAFFARIC (7782grt), CYCLOPS (9076grt), CLAN ROSS (5897grt) were off St Jean
de Luz to join British liner ETTRICK (11,279grt) embarking troops at St Jean
de Luz.
British
liner ARANDORA
STAR (15,501grt) also joined for the evacuation.
British
steamer CLAN
ROSS (5897grt) was damaged by German bombing in 43‑54N,
1‑53W off St Jean de Luz.
_____
Convoy FN.204 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VALOROUS,
sloop EGRET, patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the
26th.
_____
Convoy FS.203 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops FLEETWOOD and
WESTON and patrol sloop PINTAIL. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 26th.
_____
Convoy MT.95 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers VEGA and VIVIEN.
The convoy arrived at the Tyne the next day.
_____
U.47
sank Panamanian steamer CATHRINE (1885grt) in 50‑08N, 14W.
Nineteen
survivors were landed at Milford Haven.
_____
Italian
submarine GALVANI, which departed Massawa on the 10th,was rammed and sunk by
sloop FALMOUTH in the Gulf of Oman at 25‑55N, 56‑55E.
_____
Destroyer
DOUGLAS of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, with Sir Dudley North aboard,
departed Gibraltar for Mer el Kebir to learn the terms of the French
Armistice.
Destroyer
DOUGLAS arrived back at Gibraltar later that same day.
_____
British
liaison officers departed Oran on French destroyer TYPHON for Gibraltar, arriving
on the 25th. The destroyer returned to Oran that day.
_____
Convoy
HGZ (formed as HG.36) departed Gibraltar with twenty four ship sescorted by
destroyer WISHART and anti-submarine trawler LORD HOTHAM as local escort.
Destroyer
WISHART remained with the convoy until 28 June when she was detached to
convoy OG.35.
Sloop
FOWEY joined from convoy OG.35 and escorted the convoy from 28 June to 4 July
when the convoy arrived at Liverpool.
_____
Heavy
cruiser
KENT was attached to the 3rd Cruiser Squadron,
Mediterranean Fleet.
_____
Heavy
cruiser CORNWALL departed Simonstown for Liverpool to refit completing on 5
August.
_____
New
Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Auckland for anti raider patrol
around Curtis and Macauley Islands.
The
light cruiser arrived back at Auckland on the 28th.
Tuesday, 25 June
Light
cruiser NEWCASTLE departed Scapa Flow at 0800 for Rosyth where she arrived
later the same day.
_____
British
repair ship VINDICTIVE departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde, but was recalled
before arriving.
_____
Destroyers
JACKAL and JAGUAR departed the Humber for Rosyth.
_____
Destroyer
FURY departed Sheerness for Rosyth.
_____
Destroyer
WINCHESTER departed Rosyth for the Tyne.
_____
Destroyer
AMAZON joined convoy FS.5 off the Tyne for passage to Chatham. Because she
could not steam more than fifteen knots, she was not regarded as part of the
escort.
_____
At
1535, submarine SNAPPER fired three torpedoes at a convoy in 58-54N, 5-05.
5E. German auxiliary patrol vessel V p 1107 (trawler PORTLAND: 295grt) was
sunk in this attack.
At
1604, submarine SNAPPER fired three torpedoes at a merchant ship in this
convoy, but missed.
_____
Submarine
TRIBUNE arrived at Rosyth after patrol.
_____
Submarine
PORPOISE arrived at Blyth after patrol.
_____
Submarine
SEALION departed Rosyth on patrol.
_____
Submarines
SEAWOLF and SHARK exercised in the Firth of Forth.
_____
Rear
Admiral F. B. Burgess-Watson DSO Rtd in destroyer BROKE departed Plymouth with
destroyers VANQUISHER and WINCHELSEA for Gironde.
Destroyer
HIGHLANDER and another destroyer were to join Burgess-Watson's command.
_____
Anti-aircraft
cruiser CALCUTTA (Flag Rear Admiral Curteis, 2nd Cruiser Squadron) and Canadian
destroyers FRASER and RESTIGOUCHE patrolled off Bordeaux covering the
evacuation of St Jean De Luz where troopships ETTRICK (11,279grt), ARANDORA
STAR (15,501grt), BATORY
(14,287grt), SOBIESKI (11,030grt) were lifting troops from 22 to 24 June. The
convoy departed St Jean De Luz at 1300/24th escorted by destroyers MACKAY and
WREN.
Searching
for French steamer DE LASALLE (8400grt) in the area, CALCUTTA accidently ran
down FRASER (Cdr W. B. Creery, RCN) at 2000 cutting her in half
in 45‑44N, 1‑31W. CALCUTTA and RESTIGOUCHE picked up the
survivors and a boarding party at 0001/26th scuttled the stern half which had
not yet sunk.
Forty
five Canadian ratings and fourteen British ratings were lost with FRASER. One
rating from destroyer RESTIGOUCHE was lost in the rescue efforts. Eleven
officers, including Lt E. P. Tisdall, Lt R. C. Pope, RCNVR, Lt C. A.
Rutherford, Lt W. M. Landymore, Lt (E) A. C. K. Layman, RN, Temporary S/Lt A.
E. McMurtry, RCNVR, Acting Temporary Surgeon Lt T. B. McLean, RCNVR,which was
injured, Gunner (T) B. A. Lewis, one hundred and four ratings were rescued by
destroyer RESTIGOUCHE. Destroyer RESTIGOUCHE also had Captain CC A. Allen and
two other officers embarked in France and six ratings from CALCUTTA's whaler.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA rescued three officers, Creery, Acting LCR F.
C. Smith, RCNR, Lt H.V. W. Groos, thirty ratings (eight injured) . Destroyer
RESTIGOUCHE arrived at Plymouth at 1715/26th.
Cruiser
CALCUTTA and arrived at Plymouth for repairs at 0932/27th. Repairs were
completed in late July.
Destroyers
HARVESTER and HIGHLANDER, also in the area, continued on to search for the
French ship.
_____
Destroyer
ESK was damaged in a collision with the Sheringham Light Float.
The
destroyer's maximum speed was reduced to eighteen knots and the destroyer
returned to the Humber for repairs. The destroyer was under repair from 25
June to 8 July.
_____
Convoy
OA.174 departed Southend escorted by corvette HIBISCUS from 25 to 27 June.
The convoy was escorted by sloop ABERDEEN and corvette CALENDULA on 27 to 28
June. Convoy OA.174 included steamer SAN ANDREAS carrying the
Norwegian gold to Montreal.
_____
Convoy
OB.174 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop SANDWICH from 25 to 28 June.
_____
Convoy FN.205 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and
WOLFHOUND and patrol sloop MALLARD. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the
27th.
_____
Convoy FS.204 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and
VIVIEN and patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the
27th.
_____
On
25 June, convoy HX.52 was ordered routed through the Irish Sea to Liverpool.
Up
to this point, the convoys had been going to Plymouth.
Convoy
HX.52 arrived on 4 July.
_____
French
auxiliary patrol vessel SAINT MARGUERITE (48grt) was scuttled at Le Verdon.
_____
U.30
refuelled from German tanker
MAX ALBRECHT (5824grt) at El
Ferrol.
_____
U.53
sank British steamers WINDSORWOOD (5395grt) in 48‑31N, 14‑50W and
SARANAC (12,049grt) in 48‑24N, 15‑05W.
The
entire crew of the steamer WINDSORWOOD was rescued.
Two
crew were killed and two were missing from the steamer SARANAC. Seventeen
survivors were rescued by destroyer HURRICANE. The remaining survivors were
picked up on the 29th fourteen miles
from
Castletown by British steamer AINDERBY (4860grt) .
_____
French
Amiral Gensoul was to have bombarded Genoa on this date, but the operation
was cancelled on the 24th due to the Armistice.
_____
British
steamers were seized by French forces at Casablanca. The steamers were
renamed for French service.
|
British
name
|
B. R. T.
|
French name
|
|
STORAA
|
1967
|
ST EDMOND
|
|
PENGREEP
|
4806
|
STE JACQUELINE
|
|
TOUSSIKA
|
1828
|
ST HUGHES
|
|
HILDE
|
1595
|
ST BENOIT
|
|
BELGIEN
|
1979
|
not renamed
|
The
first escorted Italian convoy departed Naples for Tripoli with troopships
ESPERIA (11,398grt) and VICTORIA (13,098grt) escorted by armed merchant
cruiser RAMB II and torpedo boats ORSA and PROCIONE.
_____
Italian
submarine BRAGADIN, which departed Taranto on the 24th, arrived at Tobruk
with supplies for the airport.
_____
French
battleship RICHELIEU and destroyer FLEURET departed Dakar for Casablanca but
returned when she found that Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE was shadowing her.
Seaplane
tender ALBATROSS, carrying Admiral D'Oyly Lyon, had departed Freetown for
Dakar, but did not arrive until after RICHELIEU had departed.
Aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL, battlecruiser HOOD, anddestroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS,
FOXHOUND, ESCAPADE departed Gibraltar to intercept towards the Canary
Islands.
While
at sea, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL embarked ten Swordfish from Rabat.
The
British force was ordered back to Gibraltar at 1900/26th, arriving on the
27th.
Battleship
RICHELIEU arrived back off Dakar at 0500/27th with French armed merchant
cruisers EL D'JEZAIR, EL KANTARA, EL MANSOUR, VILLE D'ORAN and large
destroyers MILAN and EPERVIER.
However,
the battleship and destroyer did not enter port. They turned back north
again. They finally arrived at Dakar at 0500/28th.
_____
Light
cruiser DUNEDIN arrived at Martinique to watch the French warships there.
Light
cruiser FIJI departed Bermuda on the 24th and joined DUNEDIN.
Light
cruiser DIOMEDE was also on this patrol.
The
British ships were ordered to neutralize the French warships in CATAPULt
operations, but negotiations averted an armed encounter.
Light
cruiser FIJI departed Martinique on the 30th to refit at St Lucia. Light
cruiser DUNEDIN remained off Fort de France.
After
CATAPULt operations in Africa, the British warships were ordered to leave
French waters and the patrol was terminated on 12 July.
_____
Dutch
light cruiser HEEMSKERCK departed Halifax for Falmouth. The cruiser returned
to Portsmouth for conversion to an anti-aircraft cruiser completed on 17
February 1941.
_____
Australian
heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA, which had just escorted British steamer ULYSSES
(14,652grt) from Capetown to Durban and returned escorting troopship
STRATHEDEN, departed Capetown with troopships ORION (23,371grt), REINA DEL PACIFICO (17,702grt),
STRATHEDEN (23,722grt) .
All
ships arrived at Freetown without event on 3 July.
Seaplane
carrier ALBATROS was at Freetown at that time.
_____
Convoy
HX.53 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and
OTTAWA. On 26 June, they turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, armed
merchant cruiser ALAUNIA, which was detached on 7 July.
Convoy
BHX.53 departed Bermuda on the 24th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant
cruiser COMORIN. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.53 on the 29th and the armed
merchant cruiser was detached.
On
7 July, destroyers SABRE and SCIMITAR, sloop LEITH, corvette CLARKIA joined
the convoy. On 8 July, destroyers HURRICANE, VANQUISHER, WINCHELSEA joined;
they were detached the next day. On 10 July, the convoy arrived at Liverpool
with the earlier escort ships.
_____
Convoy
SL.37 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser MOOLTAN to 9 July.
On
9 July, destroyer WALKER and sloop DEPTFORD joined the convoy and escorted it
to arrival on 12 July.
Wednesday, 26 June
Battleship
VALIANT and destroyers FORESTER, FORESIGHT, ESCORT departed Scapa Flow at1900
for Gibraltar where they arrived on the 30th.
_____
Destroyer
ASHANTI departed Scapa Flow at 0940 to search for a Gladiator of 804 Squadron
down two miles southeast of Pentland Skerries.
The
search was unsuccessful and the destroyer returned to Scapa Flow at 1410.
Temporary Lt (A) H.C. Maudslay RNVR, was lost in the aircraft.
_____
Destroyer
MASHONA departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth.
_____
Destroyers
FERNIE and ATHERSTONE arrived in the Clyde.
_____
Destroyers
FURY, VANSITTART, JACKAL, JAGUAR arrived at Rosyth.
_____
Destroyers
FURY and VANSITTART escorting minelayers PORT NAPIER and PORT QUEBEC departed Rosyth for
Loch Alsh, where they arrived on the 28th.
_____
Destroyer
IMOGEN and submarine TALISMAN departed Liverpool for the Clyde, arriving at
1030/27th.
_____
Submarine
STURGEON departed Blyth on patrol.
_____
French
submarine RUBIS, which departed Dundee on the 20th, laid mines at 0300 in
Trondheimsfjord in minelaying mission FD.20.
_____
Convoy FS.205 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops LOWESTOFT, STORK,
WESTON and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. Destroyer AMAZON was in the convoy and as
she could not steam more than 15 knots was not considered an escort. The
convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.
_____
Convoy MT.96 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VIMERIA and sloop
LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
_____
French
submarine NARVAL (Lieutenant de Vaisseau F. Drogou) of the 11th Submarine
Division, refusing to be demilitarised at Bizerte, arrived at Malta to join
British forces.
_____
Italian
submarine GUGLIEMOTTI ran aground on a shoal in the Red Sea.
The
grounding left GUGLIEMOTTI badly damaged, but she was soon salved.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser WIDDER captured Norwegian tanker KROSSFONN (9323grt)
at 21‑55N, 45‑00W on the Trinidad-Azores track in the South
Atlantic.
Two
crew members of the tanker were made prisoners of war.
The
tanker was renamed SPICHERN for German use.
_____
U.A
sank Norwegian steamer CRUZ (3828grt) in convoy OG.34 in 36‑53N, 14W.
The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
U.29
sank Greek steamer DIMITRIS (5254grt) in 44‑23N, 11‑41W.
The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
U.62
sank British trawler CASTLETON (211grt) off the Orkneys.
_____
Italian
submarine GLAUCO attacked an allied steamer off Cape Corbelin in the
Mediterranean.
_____
Italian
steamer LOASSO (5968grt) was sunk on a mine laid by submarine RORQUAL on the
14th off Testa del Gargano, north of Brindisi in the Adriatic.
Italian
steamer RINA CROCE (569grt) was lost on a mine two and half mines off
Brindisi on 25 September on this minefield.
Thursday, 27 June
Light
cruiser BIRMINGHAMwas boiler cleaning and refitting at Rosyth from 27 to 30
June.
_____
Destroyers
ASHANTI and COSSACK arrived at Scapa Flow.
_____
Destroyer
MASHONA arrived at Rosyth.
_____
Destroyer
FORTUNE departed Sheerness for Rosyth, arriving on the 28th.
_____
British
steamer CAIRNDALE (8129grt) escorted by submarine tenders BREDA (1431grt) and
WHITE
BEAR (1822grt) departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow.
_____
Destroyers
MAORI and
ECHO departed Scapa Flow at 1300 to hunt for a German
submarine north of Muckle Flugga in 60‑24N, 5‑59W, reported
damaged at 0700 in an air attack. The submarine was on course 030, apparently
homebound.
This
was U.32 which had not been damaged.
Armed
boarding vessels NORTHERN
SUN and NORTHERN ISLES,
submarine L.23, which had been on exercises, four Swordfish from Hatston were
also ordered to search.
The destroyers were recalled
at 1030/28th after failing to make contact and arrived at Scapa Flow later
that day.
_____
Destroyers
ATHERSTONE and FERNIE and escort vessel GLEANER departed the Clyde to search
for a submarine in the Clyde approaches.
The
ships were advised to return if no contact was made by 0600/28th. The ships
arrived back at Greenock at 1130/28th.
_____
Destroyer
BOREAS and Anti-submarine trawler GRIMSBY TOWN were ordered to investigate a
submarine contact three miles southeast of Dover.
This
contact was later found to be the wreck of steamer ALBUERA lost on the 24th.
_____
Submarines
SUNFISH, TRUANT, SALMON arrived at Rosyth after patrol.
_____
Submarine
TRIAD departed Rosyth on patrol.
_____
Destroyer
HARVESTER and troopship ARANDORA STAR arrived at Liverpool.
_____
Destroyer
HIGHLANDER arrived at Plymouth after operations off southern France.
_____
Convoy
OB.173GF departed Liverpool on the 24th escorted by destroyer WITHERINGTON on
24 to 27 June,and merged on the 27th with convoy OA.173GF, which departed
Southend on the 24th, as convoy OG.35 with fourteen ships. Convoy segments
which departed Plymouth and Falmouth on 25 and 26 June also joined.
Destroyer
WITHERINGTON was then detached to convoy HG.35. Corvette GARDENIA escorted
the convoy from 28 June to 1 July.
Sloop
FOWEY escorted the convoy segment from 25to 26 June when she was detached to
convoy HGZ. The convoy was joined by destroyer WISHART from convoy HGZ on the
28th.
Convoy
OG.35 arrived at Gibraltar on 1 July, escorted by destroyer WISHART.
_____
Briish
convoy OA.174 departed Southend on the 27th escorted by destroyer VANESSA on
26 and 27 June and corvette CLARKIA on the 27th.
_____
Convoy
OB.174 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop ROCHESTER from 27 to 30 June.
_____
Convoy FN.206 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON,
sloop FLEETWOOD, patrol sloop SHEARWATER. Norwegian destroyer SLEIPNER from
the Tyne joined this convoy en route. The convoy arrived at Rosyth on the
29th.
_____
Convoy FS.206 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA, sloop
LONDONDERRY, patrol sloop MALLARD. The convoy arrived at Southend on the
29th.
_____
Convoy MT.97 departed Methil, escorted by WINCHESTER and WOLSEY and
sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
_____
U.47
sank Norwegian steamer LENDA (4005grt) 160 miles southwest of Fastnet in
50-12N, 13-18W and Dutch steamer LETICIA (2580grt) in 50‑11N, 13‑15W.
One
crewman was killed on the Norwegian steamer. Destroyer HURRICANE rescued
nineteen survivors.
Two
crew were killed on the Dutch steamer. Destroyer HURRICANE rescued thirty
survivors.
Destroyers
HAVELOCK and HURRICANE were searching in the area.
_____
German
steamer KOLN (7881grt) was lost in stranding near Gefle.
_____
Destroyers
DAINTY (Cdr M. S. Thomas, Cdr D), DECOY, DEFENDER, ILEX, VOYAGER departed
Alexandria on an anti-submarine sweep to be followed by a voyage to Malta to
escort convoy MA 3 back to Alexandria. Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, ILEX
carried stores for Malta. Destroyer DIAMOND would sail from Malta with this
group and escort the two convoys.
However,
the second half of the operation was cancelled and the convoys were brought
away early in early July.
Italian
submarine CONSOLE GENERALE LUIZZI was sunk by destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER,
ILEX south of Crete in 33-36N, 27-27E.
Destroyers
VOYAGER and DAINTY rescued the survivors.
Thirteen
ratings were rescued by destroyer VOYAGER. The destroyer was ordered to
return to Alexandria and destroyers HOSTILE and STUART departed to join the
hunt. were taken by destroyer VOYAGER from submarine LUIZZI. The destroyer
was ordered to return to Alexandria and destroyers HOSTILE and STUART
departed to join the hunt.
From
this submarine and submarine UEBI SCEBELI, which was sunk by the same group
on the 29th, ten officers and seventy two ratings were rescued by destroyer
DAINTY. Destroyers DECOY and ILEX had three more ratings between them.
_____
British
steamer
CITY OF CAIRO, carrying Anti-aircraft guns and troops,
arrived at Gibraltar, escorted by destroyers WITCH and VISCOUNT.
_____
Off
the coast of Eritrea near Port Sudan, New Zealand light cruiser LEANDER and
destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON shelled beached Italian submarine MACALLE
and LEANDER's aircraft dropped four bombs on the submarine.
Submarine
MACALLE was lost.
Light
cruiser LEANDER and destroyer KINGSTON arrived at Aden on the 28th.
_____
Italian
destroyers ESPERO, OSTRO, ZEFFIRO departed Taranto for Tripoli with 120 tons
of ammunition, ten anti tank guns, 160 artillerymen.
Later
that day, destroyers PILO and MISSORI departed Taranto for Tripoli with
supplies and fifty two soldiers.
_____
Light
cruiser DURBAN arrived at Singapore.
Friday, 28 June
Aircraft
carrier ARGUS was damaged in heavy weather when she was dragged ashore at
Reykavik.
The
aircraft carrier was refloated on the 29th with no apparent damage.
_____
Destroyers
FURY and VANSITTART escorting Minelayers PORT QUEBEC and PORT NAPIER arrived at Loch Alsh.
_____
Destroyer
CODRINGTON was ordered to pick up a Hurricane pilot seven miles 270° from
Boulogne. The destroyer was taken under fire from German guns at Boulogne,
but no damage was done. The pilot was not located.
_____
During
the night of 28/29 June, two motor torpedo boats from Dover were damaged when
they struck wreckage.
_____
Destroyer
FORTUNE and minesweeping trawler HAZEL (530grt) departed Methil escorting
Aircraft transport ship FOSSBECK and cable ship ARIEL at 1200.
The
British ships arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500/29th.
_____
Armed
patrol yacht WHITE
BEAR, escorting steamer SHOALFISHER and oiler
CAIRNDALE, attacked a submarine contact in 58‑23N, 5‑33W at
2300/28th. The patrol yacht expended all her depth charges and claimed
sinking the contact.
Destroyer
FORTUNE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1500/29th. She joined the hunt later on the
29th.
Destroyer
FORTUNE fired three patterns of depth charges on this contact before being
recalled to Scapa Flow.
_____
Submarine
TAKU departed Rosyth on patrol after exercising in the Firth of Forth.
_____
Submarine
L.26, escorted by Dutch torpedo boat Z.5, arrived at Scapa Flow. Submarine
L.26 relieved submarine L.23.
Submarine
L.23 and torpedo boat Z.5 departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth later that day.
_____
Destroyer
IMOGEN and submarine TALISMAN exercised in the Firth of Clyde.
_____
Convoy FN.207 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VEGA and
VIVIEN and patrol sloop PUFFIN. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 30th.
_____
Convoy FS.207 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers WOLSEY and
WINCHESTER, sloop EGRET, patrol sloop SHEARWATER.
The convoy arrived at Southend on the 30th.
_____
Convoy MT.98 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND.
The convoy arrived in the Tyne the next day.
_____
U.30
sank British steamer LLANARTH (5053grt) in 47‑30N, 10‑30W.
The
entire crew from the steamer were rescued by Corvette GLADIOLUS.
_____
British
Force H.was formed under the command of Vice Admiral Sir James F. Somerville
at Gibraltar.
Battleship
RESOLUTION, which had departed Scapa Flow on the 4th, arrived off Gibraltar
on the 10th and was escorted into port by destroyers DOUGLAS and VIDETTE.
Aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL, battlecruiser HOOD, destroyers FOXHOUND, FEARLESS,
FAULKNOR, ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow on the 17th arrived at Gibraltar on
the 23rd.
Destroyer
JERVIS which departed Plymouth on the 26th, en route to the Mediterranean
Fleet arrived at Gibraltar on the 29th and sailed for Malta on the 30th.
Battleship
VALIANT departed Scapa Flow at 1900/26th with destroyers ESCORT, FORESTER,
FORESIGHT and arrived at Gibraltar on 2 July.
Light
cruiser ARETHUSA departed Portsmouth on the 28th with Admiral Somerville
embarked and arrived at Gibraltar at 1745/30th.
Light
cruiser ENTERPRISE departed Plymouth on the 29th and arrived at Gibraltar on
1 July.
At
Gibraltar was the 13th Destroyer Flotilla which was composed of Destroyers
ACTIVE, WRESTLER, VIDETTE, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL, VORTIGERN, WISHART, VELOX,
WATCHMAN which were attached to Force H as required.
In
July, destroyers KEPPEL, DOUGLAS, ACTIVE, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN, VIDETTE, VELOX
departed Gibraltar on 14 July and arrived at Liverpool on 20 July.
Destroyers
VIDETTE and VELOX were in England for refitting and eventual return to
Gibraltar, but the rest were taken and formed into the 12th Destroyer
Flotilla for service with the Home Fleet.
_____
Destroyer
VELOX departed Gibraltar to relieve destroyer WATCHMAN on patrol duty off
Casablanca. Destroyer VELOX was relieved by armed yacht SAYONORA which
departed Gibraltar on 2 July.
_____
Italian
destroyers ESPERO (Captain Baroni, D1), ZEFFIRO, OSTRO were sighted by air
reconnaissance.
At
1100/27th, light cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION, SYDNEY
departed Alexandria.
At
1800, light cruisers GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL, supported by the other light
cruisers, contacted the Italian force.
Destroyer
ESPERO was sunk in the Ionian Sea in 35‑18N, 20‑12E, but the
other two destroyers were able to escape and continue to Tripoli.
Light
cruiser LIVERPOOL was struck by a single 4. 7 inch shell which cut the
degaussing wire.
Australian
light cruiser SYDNEY attempted to rescue survivors, but Italian air attacks
cancelled the effort. Only forty four crew were picked up by the cruiser.
_____
The
light cruisers that sank Italian destroyer ESPERO were covering allied convoy
AS.1 of eleven merchant ships that had departed Port Helles on the 28th en
route from the Dardanelles and Greek ports to Port Said. The convoy was
escorted by light cruiser CALEDON and destroyers GARLAND and VAMPIRE which
departed Alexandria at 1800/26th and light cruiser CAPETOWN and destroyers
NUBIAN and MOHAWK which departed Port Said on the 27th. The convoy was
covered by battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES, aircraft carrier EAGLE,
destroyers HAVOCK, HASTY, HERO, HEREWARD, HYPERION, JUNO, JANUS of the 2nd Flotilla,
all of which departed Alexandria on the 28th.
On
29 June, destroyer IMPERIAL departed Alexandria to escort oilers between
Alexandria, Port Said, Haifa.
During
the afternoon of 30 June, the 7th Cruiser Squadron with the convoy was
attacked by Italian bombers. Light cruiser NEPTUNE suffered some splinter
damage and had three crew wounded.
After
the escort brought the convoy from Cape Helles, the British 7th Cruiser
Squadron arrived at Alexandria on the 30th. The battleships, aircraft carrier
EAGLE, their destroyers arrived at Alexandria on 2 July. The convoy arrived
that afternoon.
_____
Convoy
HG.36 departed Gibraltar with twelve ships, escorted by destroyer DOUGLAS
which was detached on 2 July. The convoy was escorted by sloop WELLINGTON
from 28 June to 7 July.
Convoy
HG.36 arrived at Liverpool on 8 July.
_____
Italian
submarine ANFITRITE was bombed by aircraft of RAFT 230 Squadron and damaged
off Tobruk.
_____
Italian
submarine ARGONAUTA was sunk in 35-24N, 20-10E by the Destroyers of Cdr
Thomas' group.
_____
Italiansteamer
MARIA (440grt) was sunk by British bombing thirteen miles north of Tobruk.
_____
Italian
steamer ALESSANDRO PODESTA (663grt) was sunk on a mine in 40‑59N, 08‑34E
in Asinara Gulf.
_____
Italian
steamer PAGANINI (2427grt) was lost in the Adriatic in 41-47N, 19-11E in a
fire.
Saturday, 29 June
Battleship
NELSON departed the Clyde escorted by destroyers FURY and FAME and Canadian destroyers ST
LAURENT and SKEENA for Gibraltar.
On
1 July at 0251, the ships were ordered to return to Scapa Flow.
The
ships, less destroyer ST LAURENT which was assisting British steamer ARANDORA
STAR, arrived at Scapa Flow at
0530 on 3 July.
_____
At
2024, the ships at Scapa Flow were brought to immediate notice.
Destroyer
FORTUNE was recalled to Scapa Flow.
At
2121, notice was brought to one hour's notice.
At
0110/30th, the ships at Scapa Flow returned to normal notice.
_____
Anti-aircraft
cruiser COVENTRY departed the Tyne for Scapa Flow where she arrived on the
30th.
_____
Destroyer
IMOGEN departed the Clyde for Liverpool arriving on the 30th.
_____
Destroyers
JAVELIN and JUPITER arrived in the Humber.
_____
Escort
vessel GLEANER arrived at Belfast.
_____
Destroyer
WALKER departed Greenock at 1400 with British steamers CITY OF AUCKLAND (8336grt), CITY OF FLORENCE (6862grt),
MARINA (5088grt), DALLINGTON COURT (6889grt), LYCAON (7350grt) for Belfast.
Destroyer
WALKER then returned to the Clyde.
_____
Dutch
submarines O.21 and O.22 arrived at Rosyth from Dundee.
_____
Submarine
L.23 and Dutch torpedo boat Z.5 arrived at Dundee from Scapa Flow.
_____
Submarine
TALISMAN completed diving trials.
_____
Submarine
NARWHAL departed Blyth for Immingham.
_____
Destroyer
GRIFFIN arrived at Dover at 0618 to join the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Anti-submarine
trawler WELLARD (514grt) was attacked by German motor torpedo boats fourteen
miles east of Beachy Head at 0200.
Destroyer
CODRINGTON was ordered to search for these boats.
At
0658, destroyer CODRINGTON one mile 10° from Folkestone Gate Light Vessel was
attacked by a single German Heinkel bomber.
No
damage or casualties were sustained by the destroyer.
_____
At
0430, destroyer BRILLIANT on OD.3 (Dungeness Patrol) investigate Very Lights
four miles 135° from the Coast Guard Station at Sandgate.
_____
Destroyers
EXPRESS, INTREPID, ICARUS with minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed the
Humber and conducted minelaying operation BS.19 during the night of 29/30
June.
_____
Convoy FN.208 departed Southend, escorted by sloops LOWESTOFT, STORK,
WESTON, patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on 1 July.
_____
Convoy FS.208 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and
WOLFHOUND. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 July.
_____
U.47
sank British steamer EMPIRE TOUCAN (4421grt) in 49‑20N, 13‑52W.
Three
crew were missing from the steamer.
The
bow section of the steamer was sunk on the 29th by destroyer HURRICANE which
also rescued the survivors.
_____
U.51
sank special service vessel WILLAMETTE VALLEY (acting Cdr R. E. D. Ryder),
which was disguised as RFA EDGEHILL (4724grt), southwest of Ireland.
Lt
E. F. M. Seymour, Temporary Lt Cdr W. Thomson RNR, Lt F. F. Balchin RNR, Lt D. G. Collins RNR, Temporary Lt Cdr (E) R. P.
Beatty
RNR, Temporary Lt (E) W. J. Walker
RNR, Temporary Paymaster Lt L.W.
Williams
RNR, Temporary Lt J. H. Martin RNVR, Temporary S/Lt E. A.
Dicks RNVR, Temporary Surgeon Lt H.A. Wallace, MRCS, LRCP RNVR, fifty six
ratings were lost in the ship.
Twenty
seven survivors were picked up by British tanker INVERLEE (9158grt) on 3
July.
_____
Convoy
WS.1, consisting of liners AQUITANIA (45,647grt) and MAURETANIA (35,738grt)
departed Liverpool for the Indian Ocean and ultimately North Africa, via
Capetown, escorted by heavy cruiser CUMBERLAND.
Liner
QUEEN
MARY (80,774grt) departed the Clyde at 1050 escorted by
destroyers ATHERSTONE and FERNIE and joined the convoy at sea. The two
destroyers returned to Liverpool.
Local
escort was given by destroyers HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER, VOLUNTEER, WHIRLWIND.
The two H's were detached to Plymouth and the two V's to Liverpool. The
convoy arrived at Freetown on 8 July and departed on 9 July. The convoy
safely arrived at Capetown on 16 July and departed Simonstown on 19 July.
Heavy
cruiser
KENT departed Durban on 20 July to rendezvous with the
convoy south of Durban. On 21 July, heavy cruiser
KENT relieved heavy cruiser
CUMBERLAND. The convoy safely arrived at Trincomalee on 28 July.
_____
Convoy
OA.176 departed Southend escorted by destroyer WOLVERINE and corvette
GARDENIA on 1 and 2 July when they were detached to convoy HX.52. Corvettes
HEARTEASE and ARABIS escorted the convoy on 1 July.
_____
Convoy
OB.176 departed Liverpool escorted by sloop SCARBOROUGH from 29 June to 2
July and destroyer VANOC on the 30th. The convoy was dispersed on 2 July.
Destroyer VANOC returned to Liverpool on 1 July and sloop SCARBOROUGH to
convoy HX.52.
_____
Italian
submarine RUBINO was sunk by aircraft of RAF 201 Group in the Ionian Sea in
39‑10N, 18‑49E. The flying boat picked up some survivors.
_____
Italian
submarine SIRENA was damaged by aircraft of RAF 230 Squadron off Tobruk.
_____
Italian
submarines UEBI SCEBELI was sunk and SALPAwas damaged by destroyers DAINTY,
ILEX, DEFENDER, VOYAGER west of Crete in 35‑29N, 20‑06E.
The
crew of the sunken submarine was rescued by destroyer DAINTY which arrived in
Alexandria at 1934/30th.
A
large number of secret documents were recovered by destroyer VOYAGER. The
destroyer was ordered to return to Alexandria and destroyers HOSTILE and
STUART departed to join the hunt.
Destroyers
STUART and HOSTILE departed Alexandria to hunt submarines north of Derna.
Early
on 1 July, the destroyers attacked a submarine contact without result. Both
destroyers arrived back at Alexandria on 2 July.
_____
Italian
submarine BEILUL conducted a reconnaissance of the Mediterranean Fleet at
Alexandria.
_____
Destroyer
DOUGLAS, with convoy HG.36, stopped three French armed trawlers bound for
Casablanca, but was unable to persuade them to proceed to Gibraltar. Two
French destroyers, apparently for the same destination were also sighted.
(all destroyers going to Casablanca, already accounted for - me)
_____
Convoy
HX.54 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA
which departed Halifax on anti-submarine duties at 0730/29th.
The
local escort turned the convoy over to Armed merchant cruiser RAJPUTANA at
2115 and arrived back at Halifax 0740/30th. The armed merchant cruiser was
detached on 4 July.
Convoy
BHX.54 departed Bermuda on the 28th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant
cruiser ASCANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.54 on 3 July and the armed
merchant cruiser was detached.
On
11 July, destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK, WANDERER and sloop SANDWICH joined
the convoy. Destroyers HARVESTER and WANDERER were detached. Destroyer
HAVELOCK was detached on 13 July. Sloop SANDWICH arrived with the convoy at
Liverpool on 14 July.
Sunday, 30 June
After
temporary repairs at Rosyth, mine damaged light cruiser BELFAST, escorted by
destroyers GALLANT and WALPOLE, departed Rosyth on the 28th and arrived at
Plymouth on the 30th for repairs.
_____
Destroyer
WALKER arrived in the Clyde.
_____
Submarine
SNAPPER unsuccessfully attacked a German submarine 27 miles 207° from Lister.
_____
Submarine
SEVERN unsuccessfully attacked a northbound German destroyer in 57-28N,
5-31E. The signal was not received until 0030 on 1 July and then it was too
late to mount an air attack from Hatston.
_____
Submarine
NARWHAL arrived at Immingham and departed the same day for minelaying
operation FD.21 southwest of Trondheim. The minefield was laid
on
4 July, 35° from 63‑14‑52N, 07‑33‑47E.
_____
French
submarine RUBIS arrived at Dundee after minelaying mission FD.20 and a patrol
off Peterhead on 29/30 June.
_____
Acting S/Lt (A) J M P Davies and S/Lt C. A. Conn in a Swordfish of 812
Squadron, based on PEREGRINE, were shot down over Holland on a minelaying
mission and taken prisoner.
_____
Convoy FN.209 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIMIERA, sloop
LONDONDERRY, and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2
July.
_____
Convoy MT.99 departed Methil, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN,
HASTINGS and patrol sloop GUILLEMOT, and arrived in the Tyne the next
day.
_____
Major German warships
operational at this time were heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER, light
cruisers KOLN and NURNBERG, and destroyers SCHOEMANN, LODY, IHN, GALSTER.
_____
U.26
sank Greek steamer FRANGOULA GOULANDRIS (6701grt) in 49‑59N, 11‑24W, and six
crew drowned.
_____
U.43
badly damaged steamer AVELONA STAR (Commodore of convoy SL.36
which had departed Freetown on the 16th, 13,376grt) in 46‑46N, 12‑17W
and she sank next day, the 1 July, in 46-59N, 11-39W. One
crewman was killed and two missing. Survivors were rescued by steamer BEIGNON (5218grt),
with two being picked up by escorting armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE.
When BEIGNON was sunk on 1 July, three survivors from AVELONA STAR were missing.
_____
U.65
damaged steamer CLAN OGLIVY (5802grt) of convoy SL.36 in 46‑17N,
14‑35W. Sher was escorted by destroyer VESPER and corvette GLADIOLUS.
_____
U.47
sank Greek steamer GEORGIOS KYRIAKIDES (4201grt) in 50‑25N, 14‑33W. The
entire crew were rescued.
_____
U.102
sank Norwegian steamer BELMOIRA (3214grt) in 48‑15N, 10‑30W and
Estonian steamer MERKUR (1291grt) in 48‑26N, 10‑58W. The
entire crew of the Norwegian ship were rescued, but four
of the Estonian crews were lost.
_____
Steamer HELDER (979grt) was damaged by German motor torpedo boat S off St
Catherine's Point, IOW
_____
Australian
light cruiser HOBART departed Aden escorting armed boarding vessel CHANTALA
carrying 690 troops to Berbera where they arrived safely on 1 July.
_____
Light
cruisers CALEDON, CAPETOWN and destroyers GARLAND, VAMPIRE, NUBIAN,
MOHAWK,arrived at
Alexandria after covering a convoy from Cape Helles.
_____
Destroyers
FAULKNOR and FEARLESS departed Gibraltar to establish a patrol off Oran to
report any French ships attempting to proceed to the west.
They were ordered to return to Gibraltar
on 1 July.
_____
Italian
submarine CORRIDONI departed Italy with supplies for the Tobruk airport.
_____
Light
cruiser DANAE arrived at Singapore.
June,
miscellaneous
Greek
destroyer HYDRA from Melos was bombed by Italian aircraft while investigating
an attack on a Greek merchant ship near Crete.
_____
At
the end of June, the following destroyers were under repairs -
AMAZON at Chatham repairing, ANTELOPE at Tyne
repairing, BOADICEA at Portsmouth repairing, BULLDOG at Portsmouth repairing,
DELIGHT at Portsmouth refitting, DUNCAN at Grangemouth repairing, ECLIPSE at
Clyde refitting, ELECTRA at Greenock repairing, ENCOUNTER at Chatham
repairing, ESKIMO at Barrow repairing, HOTSPUR at Chatham refitting, IMPULSIVE
at London repairing, ISIS at Plymouth repairing, IVANHOE at Chatham
repairing, JERSEY at Hull repairing, KELLY at Tyne repairing, KIPLING at
Southampton refitting, MACKAY at Plymouth boiler cleaning, MATABELE at
Falmouth repairing, MONTROSE at Woolwich repairing, SARDONYX at London
refitting, SKATE at Portsmouth refitting, SOMALI at Liverpool repairing,
STURDY at Portsmouth refitting, VENETIA at Plymouth repairing, WESTMINSTER at
Portsmouth repairing, WORCESTER at London repairing, WHITEHALL at Plymouth
refitting, Polish BLYSKAWICA and BURZA, both at Portsmouth repairing.
