Background
Events - July-August 1940
Fall
of France, Battle of Britain,
War in Mediterranean
1940
Thursday,
15 August
Destroyers
HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE departed Switha at 2330 to be in
position 60-30N, 3-30W by 0530/16th to sweep for a
submarine. If no contact had been made by 0700, they were
to proceed to Thorshavn to escort troopship ULSTER MONARCH
to the Clyde. HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE arrived at
Thorshavn at 1400/16th and departed with the troopship at
1800. All three ships arrived safely in the Clyde at
0630/18th.
_____
Destroyer
WATCHMAN departed Scapa Flow at 0045 to overtake convoy
WN.7 and proceed with it to Methil. She then went on to
the Humber en route to the Nore.
_____
Polish
destroyer BLYSKAWICA departed Portsmouth at 2100 for Scapa
Flow to work up, arriving at 1630/17th. After working up,
she proceeded to Portsmouth to join the 1st Destroyer
Flotilla.
_____
Convoy
OA.199 departed Methil escorted by sloop SANDWICH and
corvette GARDENIA from the 15th to 19th. The escorts were
detached to convoy HX.64.
_____
Convoy
FN.253 departed Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN
and HASTINGS. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER was with the convoy
on the 16th, which arrived in the Tyne on the 17th.
_____
Convoy
MT.141 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that
day.
_____
Convoy
FS.253 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS,
VERDUN and sloop STORK, and arrived at Southend on the
17th.
_____
S/Lt
(A) H. W. Begg, on loan to the RAF and flying a Hurricane
of 151 Squadron, ditched in the sea near Dover. He was
picked up and was not seriously wounded.
_____
Steamer
BRIXTON (1557grt) was sunk on a mine in 52‑06N, 01‑49E,
but the entire crew was rescued.
_____
U.A
sank Greek steamer ASPASIA (4211grt) in 35N, 20W with the
loss of all her crew.
_____
U.51
sank tanker SYLVAFIELD (5709grt), a straggler from convoy
HX.62, in 56‑39N, 11‑16W. Two crew were killed and one
missing.
_____
Convoy
SC.1 departed St Johns escorted by Canadian destroyer
OTTAWA and auxiliary patrol vessel REINDEER and Sloop
PENZANCE.
After
destroyer OTTAWA was detached, Sloop PENZANCE continued
with the convoy as the ocean escort, until her loss on the
24th.
On
the 27th, destroyers HAVELOCK and HURRICANE, sloop LEITH,
corvette CLARKIA joined. All but the sloop were detached
before the convoy’s arrival at Liverpool on the 29th.
_____
Greek
light cruiser HELLE was sunk by Italian submarine DELFINO
at Tinos.
Greek
destroyers VASILISSA OLGA and VASILEVS GEORGIOS I
escorting merchant ships away from Tinos back to Greek
ports were attacked by Italian bombers off Syros.
_____
Australian
light cruiser HOBART at Berbera was damaged by splinters
from near misses in an Italian air attack.
Air
attacks were conducted by Italian air units on 12, 14, 15,
16, 30 August in the Gulf of Aden and off Berbera.
_____
Light
cruiser NEPTUNE departed Suez with a battalion of troops
to reinforce Berbera, but the operation was cancelled
before she ever arrived.
_____
Polish
destroyer GARLAND departed Alexandria on escort duties in
the Eastern Mediterranean to and from Haifa.
_____
New
Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed Auckland and
arrived at Wellington on the 16th.
Friday,
16 August
Destroyers
INGLEFIELD (D.3), FIREDRAKE, JAVELIN, JAGUAR departed
Scapa Flow at 0700 to join Minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE,
PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC, MENESTHEUS departed Loch Alsh at
0530/17th to lay minefield SN.12.
Destroyer
ECHO departed Scapa Flow at 1030/18th to relieve destroyer
FIREDRAKE which went to Scapa Flow.
Anti-aircraft
cruiser CAIRO provided anti-aircraft protection.
After
the operation, destroyers INGLEFIELD and ECHO remained at
Loch Alsh for the next operation. Destroyers JAVELIN and
JAGUAR arrived at Scapa Flow at 0630/18th.
_____
Battlecruiser
HOOD and destroyers COSSACK (D.4), SIKH, MAORI, VORTIGERN
departed Scapa Flow at 0620 for Rosyth.
The
Tribal destroyers were to reinforce the Rosyth Escort
Force and the VORTIGERN went on to the Humber for duty in
the Nore Command.
_____
Because
of continued heavy German air bombing, light cruisers
SOUTHAMPTON and BIRMINGHAM were ordered moved from
Sheerness to Rosyth and light cruiser CARDIFF was ordered
moved from Harwich to the Humber.
_____
After
a loop crossing in the Firth of Forth, destroyers VIMERA
and WOLFHOUND and sloop LONDONDERRY carried out an
unsuccessful search.
_____
Temporary
S/Lt (A) H. L. Greenshields RNVR, flying a Spitfire of RAF
266 Squadron Hornchurch, was killed when he was shot down
near Deal.
_____
The
first successful attack on a German submarine by British
Coastal Command aircraft occurred when U.51 was seriously
damaged in an air attack on the 16th 170 miles northwest
of Tory Island.
U.51
was sunk, while returning to port from her fourth war
patrol, in the Bay of Biscay in 47‑06N, 04‑51W by
submarine CACHALOT on the 20th.
All
forty three crew on the German submarine were lost.
_____
British
minefield BS.32 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK and
destroyers INTREPID and IMPULSIVE.
_____
Convoy
FN.254 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne
on the 18th.
_____
Convoy
MT.142 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.254 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and
WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 18th.
_____
Convoy
OA.200 departed Methil. No escorts were listed.
_____
Convoy
OB.199 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WARWICK
and corvette MALLOW from 16 to 20 August an destroyers
ANTHONY, ARROW, ACHATES, HARVESTER from 18 to 20 August.
The convoy was dispersed on the 20th. Destroyer WARWICK
and corvette MALLOW were detached to convoy HX.64.
_____
British
steamer MEATH (1598grt) and British examination vessel
MANX LAD (24grt), which was alongside steamer MEATH, were
sunk on a mine six to seven cables northeast of Breakwater
Rock Light House.
The
entire crew of steamer MEATH was rescued.
_____
Probationary
Temporary Acting S/Lt (A) D. Drane RNVR, was badly injured
when his Shark of 755 Squadron crashed into a hillside
three miles north of Ardrossan. Drane died in hospital.
_____
British
steamer CLAN FORBES (7529grt) was damaged by German
bombing at Tilbury Dock.
_____
Minesweeping
trawler REGARDO (248grt) was damaged by German bombing in
Osbourne Bay.
The
trawler was towed to Cowes by minesweeping trawler CAPE
SPARTEL (346grt) for repair.
_____
Auxiliary
steamer LOCH RYAN (210grt) was damaged by German bombing
forty miles northwest by north of Longships Light.
_____
Convoy
HX.66 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers
ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA at 1523. The destroyers were
detached on the 17th.
Convoy
SHX.66 departed Sydney, CB escorted by Canadian destroyer
SAGUENAY and joined HX.66 at sea. The destroyer was
detached on the 18th.
At
1750, the convoy was turned over to Armed merchant cruiser
AUSONIA, but ASSINIBOINE remained with the convoy until
2020. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 27th.
Convoy
BHX.66 departed Bermuda on the 15th escorted by ocean
escort armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA. The convoy
rendezvoused with convoy HX.66 on the 20th and the armed
merchant cruiser was detached.
Destroyer
HIGHLANDER, escort ship JASON, corvette HIBISCUS joined on
the 27th. The destroyer was detached later that day. The
other two escorts arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on
the 31st.
_____
U.30
sank British steamer CLAN MACPHEE (6628grt) in 57‑30N,
17‑14W.
Sixty
seven crew were lost on the British steamer.
The
survivors were rescued by Hungarian steamer KELET
(4295grt) which was sunk herself on the 19th.
Sloop
WELLINGTON of convoy OG.41 picked up twenty one survivors
of KELET and thirteen survivors of CLAN MACPHEE and
arrived with them at Gibraltar on 2 September.
_____
U.46
damaged Dutch steamer ALCINOUS (6189grt) from convoy
OB.197 in 57‑16N, 17‑02W.
The
steamer was assisted by sloop ROCHESTER.
_____
U.48
sank Swedish steamer HEDRUN (2325grt) in 57‑10N, 16‑37W.
Ten
crew were lost on the Swedish steamer.
_____
U.100
sank British steamer EMPIRE MERCHANT (4864grt) in 55‑23N,
13‑24N.
Six
crew and one gunner was lost with the steamer. Steamer
EMPIRE MERCHANT sank in 55-21N, 13-40W.
_____
British
steamer CITY OF BIRMINGHAM (5309grt) was sunk on a mine 5
1/2 miles 115° from Spurn Point in 53-32-26N, 00-15-30E.
The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
Italian
steamer MOREA (1968grt) was sunk on the Durazzo-Bari route
fifty miles from Durazzo by submarine OSIRIS.
_____
Aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser ENTERPRISE, destroyers
HOTSPUR, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER, WRESTLER departed
Gibraltar to carry out aircraft practices, then meet with
battleship RENOWN returning from England.
_____
Dockyard
mooring vessel MOORSTONE was sunk in shallow water by
Italian bombing at Alexandria and later salved. One
crewman was killed.
_____
On
the 16th, 17th, 18th, British troops at Berbera, Italian
Somaliland, were evacuated to Aden.
The
evacuation was conducted by armed boarding vessels
CHAKDINA (3033grt) and CHANTALA (3129grt) and steamers
LAOMEDON (6491grt), AKBAR (4043grt), steamer VITA
(4691grt) which was being employed as a hospital ship.
The
evacuation was covered by Australian light cruiser HOBART,
light cruisers CERES and CALEDON, anti-aircraft cruiser
CARLISLE, destroyers KIMBERLEY and KANDAHAR, sloops
SHOREHAM, PARRAMATTA, AUCKLAND and HINDUSTAN, minesweeper
DERBY, net layer PROTECTOR.
On
17 August, light cruiser CERES bombarded Italian targets
and temporarily halted the Italian advance.
On
18 August, light cruiser CALEDON and destroyer KANDAHAR
bombarded Bulhar and Berbera roads.
The
evacuation was completed on the 18th with 5690 troops,
1266 civilians, 184 sick cases evacuated for a total of
7140.
Tug
QUEEN was lost in the evacuation.
Light
cruiser HOBART departed Berbera early on the 19th for Aden
with remaining personnel and the demolition parties.
_____
Convoy
RS.5, escorted by light cruiser DRAGON arrived at Capetown
on the 15th. They sailed the next day and arrived at
Durban on the 19th.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser ORION captured Vichy French steamer
NOTOU (2489grt) in the Pacific at 23‑50S, 164‑10E.
Twenty
six natives were landed at Emirau Island on 21 December.
The
Europeans on the steamer were made prisoners of war.
Saturday,
17 August
Destroyer
KIPLING and Polish destroyer BURZA departed Scapa Flow at
2130.
Destroyer
KIPLING was to relieve Canadian destroyer RESTIGOUCHE in
convoy OA.200.
Polish
destroyer BURZA was to meet convoy WN.8 in the Minches and
provide additional escort to Rattray Head.
Canadian
destroyer RESTIGOUCHE arrived at Scapa Flow at 2100/17th.
She discharged oil fuel contaminated by seawater.
The
Canadian destroyer departed Scapa Flow at 0600/18th.
At
1315 on the 18th, destroyer RESTIGOUCHE relieved destroyer
KIPLING on convoy duties. Destroyer KIPLING then returned
to Scapa Flow.
_____
At
0800, 12th Destroyer Flotilla was placed under the control
of Captain A/S Belfast.
Destroyers
ARROW, AMAZON, ACHATES, ANTHONY formed a anti-submarine
striking force in the NorthWest Approaches.
_____
Convoy
FN.255 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 19th.
_____
Convoy
MT.143 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.255 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER
and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the
19th.
_____
Leading
Airman E. G. Culley of 7 SFTS Peterborough was killed when
his Hart spun in from low height and crashed at Deeping St
Nicholas, near Spalding. Leading Airman CB Irving was also
killed in the crash.
_____
British
steamer ST PATRICK (1922grt) was damaged in German bombing
in St George's Channel.
_____
British
steamer YEWKYLE (824 ton) was damaged by German bombing in
52‑27N, 05‑45W.
_____
Operation
MB.2 was the bombardment of Bardia.
Destroyers
HYPERION, ILEX, JUNO, HERO departed Alexandria at noon on
the 15th to sweep off Sollum Bay and join the main fleet
at 1400/16th in 31-30N, 29-10E.
Battleships
WARSPITE, MALAYA, RAMILLIES, heavy cruiser KENT,
destroyers HOSTILE, HEREWARD, STUART, WATERHEN, VENDETTA,
DIAMOND, NUBIAN, MOHAWK departed Alexandria at 1030/16th.
Bardia
was bombarded from 0658 to 0720 by Force A with battleship
WARSPITE, heavy cruiser KENT, destroyers HYPERION, ILEX,
HOSTILE, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, DIAMOND and Force B with
battleships MALAYA and RAMILLIES and destroyers STUART,
WATERHEN, VENDETTA, JUNO, HERO, HEREWARD.
The
Fleet arrived back at Alexandria on the 18th.
_____
Destroyers
GRIFFIN arrived at Gibraltar from England, escorted by
destroyer VELOX, which joined from convoy HG.41.
_____
Submarine
RORQUAL, which departed Alexandria on the 4th, laid mines
east of Tolmeita, Cyrenaica.
The
submarine arrived back at Alexandria on the 27th.
_____
United
States Naval Reserve Fleet operation.
On
17 August from New York, American destroyers LEARY
(DD.158, LCDR E. Watts) of the 53rd Destroyer Division of
the 27th Destroyer Squadron, HAMILTON (DD.141, LCDR T. C.
Evans) of the 55th Destroyer Division of the 27th
Destroyer Squadron,BROOME (DD.210, LCDR J. Y. Dannenberg)
of the 56th Destroyer Division of the 31st Destroyer
Squadron, REUBEN JAMES (DD.245, LT H. L. Edwards) of the
62nd Destroyer Division of the 41st Destroyer Squadron,
SHURBRICK (DD.268, LCDR K. D. Dawson) of the 71st
Destroyer Division of the 36th Destroyer Squadron, BAILY
(DD.269, Cdr E. H. Jones, CDD.72), SWASEY (DD.273, LCDR B.
D. Kelley), MEADE (DD.274, LCDR C. A. Printup) of the 72nd
Destroyer Division of the 36th Destroyer Squadron,
BANCROFT (DD.256, LT E. S. Von Kleeck) of the 73rd
Destroyer Division of the 36th Destroyer Squadron departed
for operations in the Caribbean south of Cuba.
On
17 August from Philadelphia, American destroyers COLE
(DD.155, LT C. W. Moses) and DUPONT (DD.152, LT E. M.
Waldron) of the 60th Destroyer Division of the 30th
Destroyer Squadron and HUNT (DD.194, LCDR J. D. Hayes),
SATTERLEE (DD.190, LCDR H. R. Demarest), BRANCH (DD.197,
Cdr D. L. Ryan, CDD 68), MASON (DD.191, LCDR C. A.
Dillavou) of the 68th Destroyer Division of the 31st
Destroyer Squadron departed for the Caribbean.
On
18 August from New York, American battleships NEW YORK
(BB.34, Captain D. E. Barbey) and ARKANSAS (BB.33, Captain
J. F. Hall, Jr) and training ship (former battleship)
WYOMING (AG.17, Captain D. F. Patterson) departed for the
maneuvers.
Many
of the destroyers employed in this fleet maneuver would
join the Royal Navy over the next few months through Lend
Lease.
Sunday,
18 August
Destroyers
DUNCAN and CATTISTOCK departed Scapa Flow at 1000 for
Liverpool.
At
Liverpool, the destroyers joined two Western Approaches
destroyers to escort convoy "MP" to Scapa Flow.
_____
Destroyer
ACTIVE arrived at Scapa Flow at 0600 to work up prior to
joining the 12th Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Convoy
OA.201 departed Methil escorted by destroyer SKEENA and
corvette GODETIA, which was departed on the 22nd.
_____
Convoy
OB.200 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WALKER and
covette ARABIS from 18 to 21 August. The escorts were
detached to convoy HG.41. Destroyer ACHATES escorted the
convoy on 20 to 22 August and destroyer ARROW from 21 to
22 August.
_____
Convoy
FN.256 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne
on the 20th.
_____
Convoy
MT.144 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.256 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIMIERA
and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 20th.
_____
Armed
merchant cruiser CIRCASSIA was attacked by a U-boat 120
miles 255° from 40N, 20W.
The
armed merchant cruiser counterattacked and claimed sinking
the submarine.
_____
In
a German air raid on HMS PEREGRINE at Ford, Lt Cdr H. H.
C. Young Rtd, Lt Cdr W. J. McC Spens Rtd, Lt Cdr the
Honourable M. J. R. de Courcy Rtd were killed.
_____
British
trawler VALERIA (189grt) was sunk by German bombing eight
miles 35° from The Smalls. The crew of nine was rescued.
_____
British
dredger LYSTER (619grt) was damaged by German bombing at
Brunswick Dock, Liverpool.
_____
Convoy
SL.44 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser
CANTON to 5 September.
The
armed merchant cruiser proceeded to Greenock for fuel,
water, boiler cleaning.
Destroyer
BLYSKAWICA, sloop SANDWICH, corvette GARDENIA joined on 3
September. On 4 September, destroyers SHIKARI and SKATE
and corvette ERICA joined. On 5 September, corvette LA
MALOUINE joined. The convoy arrived on 7 September.
_____
Light
cruiser DELHI in the South Atlantic intercepted Spanish
steamer CIUDAD DE SEVILLE and sent her into Freetown under
armed guard.
The
cruiser also intercepted Portuguese steamer JOAO BELO and
removed six Germans.
_____
Convoy
BS.3 departed Suez, escorted by sloop CLIVE. Light cruiser
LEANDER and anti sircraft cruiser CARLISLE joined on the
21st. The convoy arrived at Aden on the 26th.
Monday,
19 August
After
emergency repairs at Greenock, light cruiser PENELOPE
departed Greenock at 1800/19th for the Tyne escorted by
destroyers HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE.
The
destroyers then proceeded on to the Nore Command.
_____
Submarine
CACHALOT laid fifty mines in minefield FD.24 fifty miles
off Penmarch in 47‑40N, 04‑23W.
_____
Convoy
OG.41 with twenty nine ships departed Liverpool escorted
by sloop WELLINGTON and corvette GERANIUM and from Milford
Haven by Anti-submarine trawlers DERBY COUNTY and ARSENAL.
Sloop
WELLINGTON escorted the convoy from 19 August to 2
September.
Corvette
GERANIUM escorted the convoy only on the 19th. The convoy
arrived at Gibraltar on 2 September.
_____
Convoy
FN.257 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 21st.
_____
Convoy
MT.145 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.257 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend
on the 21st.
_____
British
steamer PROTISLAUS (9577grt), salved from 21 January
torpedoing for use as a blockship, departed Swansea under
tow for Scapa Flow, escorted by anti-submarine trawlers
KINGSTON ALALITE (412grt) and KINGSTON ANDALUSITE
(415grt).
Later
on 13 September, the steamer was under the tow of tugs
EMPIRE HENCHMAN and ABEILLE 21 and escorted by
anti-submarine trawler KING SOL (486grt) and whaler
ELLESMERE (580grt).
The
tow parted and the ship was declared derelict seven miles
southwest of Skerryvore.
The
steamer was sunk by gunfire from trawler KING SOL.
_____
U.A
sank Hungarian steamer KELET (4295grt) in 50N, 22W. The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
U.48
sank Belgian steamer VILLE DE GAND (7590grt) in 55‑28N,
15‑10W. Fifteen crew were lost were lost.
_____
U.101
sank British steamer AMPLEFORTH (4576grt) in 56‑10N,
10‑40W. Nine crew were missing and the survivors rescued
by destroyer WARWICK.
_____
Italian
submarine MALASPINA attacked a tanker without success in
39‑20N, 21‑25W.
_____
Italian
submarine BARBARIGO attacked British steamer AGUILA
(3255grt) without success in 31‑15N, 13‑02W.
_____
British
steamer WALDINGE (2462grt) was damaged by German bombing
at Milford Haven.
_____
Destroyers
HOTSPUR, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER, GALLANT arrived at
Gibraltar to refuel and then departed to rejoin aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL and light cruiser ENTERPRISE to meet
battlecruiser RENOWN arriving on the 20th.
Detsroyers
VELOX and GRIFFIN also departed Gibraltar to meet the
battlecruiser.
_____
American
heavy cruisers WICHITA and QUINCY departed Santos.
_____
British
steamer ASKA departed Freetown to deliver troops and
refrigerated cargo, brought from the UK in MONARCH OF
BERMUDA, to the RAF unit at Takoradi.
The
steamer arrived back at Freetown on the 31st.
Tuesday,
20 August
German
aircraft in small numbers raided Scapa Flow from 0115 to
0315. Movements of all ships larger than trawlers were
prohibited due to mining.
At
0945, Scapa Flow was declared clear of mines north of
Barrel of Butter.
The
Fleet Channel was swept.
_____
Floating
dock AFD.12 departed the Tyne on the 20th under tow
escorted by sloops LOWESTOFT and EGRET and two trawlers.
The
dock arrived at Lyness on the 26th.
_____
Convoy
OB.201 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer WESTCOTT
and corvette GLADIOLUS from 20 to 24 August.
_____
Convoy
FN.258 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER
and sloop WESTON. Sloop PINTAIL was with the convoy on the
21st. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 22nd.
_____
Convoy
MT.146 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.258 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VIVIEN,
SIKH, ZULU. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 22nd.
_____
The
first successful attack on a German submarine by British
Coastal Command aircraft occurred when U.51 was seriously
damaged in an air attack on the 16th.
U.51
was sunk, while returning to port from her fourth war
patrol, in the Bay of Biscay in 47‑06N, 04‑51W by
submarine CACHALOT on the 20th.
All
hands on the German submarine were lost.
_____
Midshipman
P. J. Patterson, flying a Hurricane of RAF 242 Squadron
from Coltishall, was killed when his aircraft dived into
the sea five miles northeast of Winterton.
_____
British
minefield BS.33 was laid by minelayers TEVIOTBANK, PLOVER,
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and destroyers ICARUS and IMPULSIVE.
_____
U.A
sank Panamanian steamer TUIRA (4397grt) in 54‑46N, 20‑30W.
Two
crew were killed on the Panamanian steamer.
_____
U.46
badly damaged Greek steamer LEONIDAS M. VALMAS (2080grt)
in 55‑13N, 10‑13W.
Sixteen
crew were missing from the Greek steamer.
Two
crew were picked up by destroyer ARROW which arrived with
them in the Clyde on the 27th.
Although,
LEONIDAS M. VALMAS was towed into Greenock, she was found
to be beyond repair and was declared a total loss.
_____
Minesweeping
trawler RESPARKO (248grt, Temporary Skipper J. Fountain
RNR) was sunk by German bombing at Falmouth.
The
entire crew was rescued.
_____
Dutch
tug ZWARTE ZEE (793grt) was damaged by German bombing at
Falmouth.
_____
British
steamer MACVILLE (666grt) was damaged by German bombing in
Blacksod Bay.
_____
British
steamer PEEBLES (4982grt) was damaged by German bombing
twenty miles east of Tuskar Rock, Irish Sea.
_____
British
trawler OUR MAGGIE (17grt) was damaged by German bombing
at Brixham.
_____
Vice
Admiral J. C. Tovey, Commander of the 7th Cruiser Squadron
of the Mediterranean Fleet, became Vice Admiral Light
Forces.
The
3rd Cruiser Squadron became the primary Mediterranean
Fleet Cruiser Squadron.
_____
Vice
Admiral Somerville arrived back at Gibraltar in
battlecruiser RENOWN. Also arriving were aircraft carrier
ARK ROYAL and destroyers HOTSPUR, GREYHOUND, ENCOUNTER,
GALLANT, GRIFFIN, VELOX.
Vice
Admiral Aircraft Carriers departed aircraft carrier ARK
ROYAL and took passage in sloop ENCHANTRESS leaving that
day in convoy HG.42.
_____
Convoy
HG.42 with seventeen ships departed Gibraltar.
Sloop
ENCHANTRESS and armed boarding vessel TIERCEL escorted the
convoy from 20 August to 3 September.
Destroyer
WRESTLER escorted the convoy from 20 to 22 August.
Destroyer
WRESTLER escorted steamer HIGHWEAR, which had collided
with steamer POLLUX in the convoy, to Lisbon on the 25th.
Anti-submarine
trawler MAN O' WAR and anti-submarine whaler ULLSWATER
escorted the convoy from 29 August to 3 September.
Destroyer
VISCOUNT from convoy OB.204 and corvette CLEMATIS escorted
the convoy from 30 August to 1 September.
On
1 September, destroyers ARROW from convoy OB.204, ACTIVE
and KEPPEL escorted the convoy. The convoy arrived at
Liverpool on 3 September.
_____
Convoy
HX.67 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer
ASSINIBOINE and auxiliary patrol vessel FRENCH, but much
difficulty with fog prevented the convoy from forming up
until 0645 on the 21st.
Convoy
SHX.67 departed escorted by destroyer SAGUENAY, which was
detached on the 22nd. The convoy joined HX.67 at sea.
At
1325, the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser LACONIA,
was sighted and destroyer ASSINIBOINE remained with the
convoy until 2020. The escort was detached on the 21st.
Convoy
BHX.67 departed Bermuda on the 19th escorted by ocean
escort light cruiser EMERALD. The convoy rendezvoused with
convoy HX.67 on the 24th and the light cruiser was
detached.
On
31 August, destroyers WALKER and WARWICK, sloop ROCHESTER,
corvettes ARABIS and BLUEBELL joined the convoy. They
remained with the convoy arriving at Liverpool on 4
September.
_____
Light
cruiser DRAGON departed Durban for Capetown.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser ORION sank British steamer TURAKINA
(9691grt) on the Cook Strait-Sydney, Australia route in
38‑33S, 167‑12E.
Thirty
eight crewman were killed and twenty one crew were made
prisoners of war.
The
remainder of the crew were landed at Emirau Island on 21
December.
New
Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES departed from Wellington
and Australian light cruiser PERTH departed Sydney, but no
contact was made with the German ship.
Light
cruiser ACHILLES refuelled at Auckland on the 22nd. She
was raider hunting off Campbell Island on the 25th. The
light cruiser returned to Wellington on the 27th.
Light
cruiser PERTH established a patrol off Gabo Island.
Wednesday,
21 August
Minelayers
SOUTHERN PRINCE, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC, MENESTHEUS
departed Loch Alsh at 1140/21st escorted by destroyers
INGLEFIELD (D.3) and ECHO to lay minefield SN.2, which was
an extension of minefield SN.1.
Destroyers
ESCAPADE and ECLIPSE departed Scapa Flow at 2230/20th and
met the minelayers off Loch Alsh.
The
minefield was laid on 21/22 August north, northwest of
Cape Wrath.
The
destroyers arrived at Scapa Flow at 2040/22nd after the
minelay.
_____
Anti-aircraft
cruiser COVENTRY arrived at Greenock and joined
anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE, which had arrived there
earlier in the day.
_____
Convoy
OA.202 departed Methil escorted by sloop FOWEY and
corvette PERWINKLE until 25 August.
_____
Convoy
FN.259 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 23rd.
_____
Italian
submarine DANDOLO damaged Dutch tanker HERMES (3768grt) in
38‑57N, 13‑50W.
_____
U.48
made two unsuccessful torpedo attacks on two different
steamers west, northwest of Ireland.
_____
British
steamer LETTY (339grt) was lost en route from Liverpool to
Buncrana in Lough Swilly, Ireland, to unknown agent.
_____
British
hulk KENDAL (178grt) was sunk by German bombing at the
Woolston Barge Dock, Southampton.
_____
Netlayer
KYLEMORE (319grt) was sunk by German bombing off Harwich.
_____
British
hopper barge JAMES No. 70 (182grt) was sunk by German
bombing at Southampton.
_____
British
steamer ALACRITY (554grt) was damaged by German bombing at
Falmouth.
_____
British
trawler WOLSELEY (159grt) was damaged by German bombing
nine miles west of Smalls Light.
_____
Danish
trawler ANO (189grt) was sunk on a mine off the Danish
coast.
_____
Five
miles northwest of Ras Hilal, submarine RORQUAL attacked
Italian steamers VERACE (1219grt) and DORIS URSINO
(891grt) in Italian convoy escorted by Italian torpedo
boat PAPA and was heavily counterattacked in return.
_____
Destroyer
VIDETTE arrived at Gibraltar escorting patrol ship BRITISH
COAST from England.
_____
Sloop
BRIDGEWATER departed Lagos for Victoria with de Gaulle's
representatives.
The
sloop arrived on the 22nd and departed later that day to
rendezvous with Free French transports.
When
the Sengalese troops refused to sail for the Duala
operation, the sloop returned to Victoria arriving on the
23rd.
Sloop
BRIDGEWATER departed Victoria at 1700/23rd towards
Takoradi to meet a possible troop convoy, but was then
ordered to return and arrived at Victoria on the 25th.
_____
Armed
merchant cruiser CARTHAGE and convoy RS.5 departed Durban
for Aden.
_____
Armed
merchant cruiser ASTURIAS and troopship ORION arrived at
Freetown from the UK at 1300.
At
1715, the troopship and Dutch light cruiser SUMATRA
departed Freetown for the Cape. on the 25th, the Dutch
cruiser was relieved by Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE which
took the troopship to Capetown, arriving on the 30th.
_____
American
destroyers WALKE and WAINWRIGHT arrived at Para.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser WIDDER sank British steamer ANGLO
SAXON (5594grt) in the Central Atlantic at 26‑12N, 34‑08W.
There
were only two survivors. They landed at Eleuthera Island
after drifting 2500 miles in seventy one days.
One
of these survivors was lost aboard the Swedish steamer
VALAPARISO lost on 31 December.
Thursday,
22 August
Aircraft
carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, heavy cruiser YORK, light cruiser
SHEFFIELD, destroyer FIREDRAKE departed Scapa Flow at
0730/21st, but due to heavy weather, the Liverpool section
could not sail and the ships returned to Scapa Flow at
1430.
The
force was able to proceed at 1045 on the 22nd.
The
ships were escorted in the local approaches by destroyers
ASHANTI, TARTAR, BEDOUIN. The destroyers were detached on
the 24th and joined armed merchant cruiser SALOPIAN,
returning from patrol. The armed merchant cruiser was
escorted to Liverpool, arriving at 1500/26th.
Anti-aircraft
cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY and destroyer FORTUNE
departed the Clyde at 2030/22nd.
Battleship
VALIANT, light cruiser AJAX and destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY departed Liverpool.
These
groups joined the Scapa Flow group at sea.
Convoy
AP.1 of liners DUCHESS OF BEDFORD (20123grt, Convoy
Commodore), DENBIGHSHIRE (9100grt), WAIOTIRA (12823grt),
departed the Clyde on the 23rd escorted by anti-aircraft
cruiser COVENTRY which travelled with this group.
Convoy
AP.2 of liner SYDNEY STAR (11095grt) and aircraft carrier
ARGUS departed the Clyde escorted by light cruiser AJAX
later that day.
The
AP convoys and AP.3 departing in September were designated
operation APOLOGY.
The
British Mediterranean Fleet reinforcements were designated
Force F.
In
the group of merchant ships was also British steamer ROYAL
SCOTSMAN (3244grt) which was detached on the 28th
Gibraltar.
Steamer
ROYAL SCOTSMAN arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th, escorted
by destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE.
Convoys
AP.1 and AP.2 continued past Gibraltar escorted by heavy
cruiser YORK and light cruiser AJAX and arrived at
Freetown. AP.1 with YORK arrived on 1 September and
departed later that day.
Convoy
AP.2 with light cruiser AJAX and aircraft carrier ARGUS
arrived on 2 September and sailed later that day. Light
cruiser ENTERPRISE arrived at Freetown from Gibraltar at
the same time as the convoy.
Aircraft
carrier ARGUS was detached en route to Takoradi and
arrived at Takoradi on 5 September to fly aircraft
overland via Khartoum to Egypt. The convoy AP.1 arrived
safely at Capetown and the heavy cruiser at Simonstown on
9 September. Heavy cruiser YORK departed Simonstown and
the convoy from Capetown on 10 September.
Convoy
AP.2 and light cruiser AJAX arrived at Durban 13 September
and sailed later that day.
Convoy
AP.1 was escorted in the Red Sea by cruisers YORK and
HOBART and destroyers KANDAHAR and DIAMOND and arrived at
Suez on 23 September.
On
22 September convoy AP.2 was joined by British steamer
ARMADALE (5066grt) and heavy cruiser YORK and destroyers
DAINTY and KINGSTON. The convoy arrived at Suez on 25
September.
_____
Convoy
OA.203 departed Methil escorted by sloop LEITH, escort
ship JASON, corvette HIBISCUS until 27 August.
_____
Convoy
FN.260 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on the 24th.
_____
Convoy
MT.147 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.259 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend
on the 24th.
_____
In
a British raid over Daedereide, Holland, S/Lt (A) R. L. G.
Davies and Lt N. M. Hearle in a Swordfish of 812 Squadron
from PEREGRINE were shot down and made prisoners of war.
_____
British
steamer THOROLD (1689grt) was sunk by German bombing two
and a half miles south of Smalls, in 51-41N, 5-40W.
Eleven
crew were lost on the British steamer.
_____
Destroyers
DIAMOND, ILEX, JUNO and Australian destroyers STUART and
WATERHEN departed Alexandria and were joined by Australian
light cruiser SYDNEY which departed six hours later.
_____
British
air attack on Bomba was carried out by three British land
based Swordfish, piloted by Captain O. Patch RM, Lt (A) J.
W. C. Wellham, Lt (A) N. A. F. Cheesman, of 824 Squadron
from aircraft carrier EAGLE.
Italian
torpedo boat CALIPSO had brought SLC's to Bomba for
Italian submarine IRIDE to carry onto Alexandria that
night.
In
this attack, submarine IRIDE and depot ship MONTE GARGANO
(1976grt) were sunk and torpedo boat CALIPSO was damaged.
_____
Force
A of destroyers MOHAWK, NUBIAN, HOSTILE and Force B of
light cruisers ORION and LIVERPOOL and destroyersJERVIS
and JANUS and departed Alexandria on the 20th to patrol in
area of Gavdo Island in Operation MD 7.
Light
cruiser LIVERPOOL and destroyers JERVIS and JANUS
rendezvoused with British steamer MYRIEL (3560grt) and
French tanker PHENIX (5907grt) from Chanak en route to
Port Said.
Destroyers
HOSTILE, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, HERO arrived at Malta after an
anti-submarine sweep on the 22nd. They refuelled and
departed for Gibraltar the next day to assist in HATS.
However, destroyer NUBIAN was forced to return to Malta
with a lubrication defect.
Light
cruisers ORION and LIVERPOOL arrived at Alexandria on the
23rd. Destroyer JANUS was detached from the convoy and
arrived later on the 23rd. Destroyer JERVIS and the convoy
safely arrived at Port Said.
_____
Anti-submarine
trawler LOCH MELFORT reported a submarine contact at 13
miles 320° from Ras el Tin. Destroyers JUNO and ILEX
departed Alexandria to assist, but no further contact was
made.
Friday,
23 August
Battleship
RODNEY departed Scapa Flow at 0640 escorted by destroyers
INGLEFIELD, ECHO, ESCAPADE, JAVELIN. They arrived at
Rosyth on the 23rd.
_____
In
Operation DR, heavy cruiser NORFOLK (Captain A J L
Phillips) and Australian heavy cruiser AUSTRALIA (Captain
R R Stewart RN) departed Scapa Flow at 1939 to operate in
the area of Bear Island to capture German fishing vessels.
No contact was made and they arrived back at 0728/29th.
_____
Convoy
OB.202 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers
WINCHELSEA and WITCH and corvette PRIMROSE from 23 to 25
August.
_____
Convoy
FN.261 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne
on the 25th.
_____
Convoy
MT.148 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.260 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend
on the 25th.
_____
Destroyer
AMAZON departed the Clyde with British steamer ROYAL
ULSTERMAN (3244grt).
The
destroyer arrived back in the Clyde on the 28th.
_____
Destroyer
PUNJABI departed Scapa Flowat 1130 for Aberdeen where she
picked up British steamer LOCHNAGAR (1619grt).
The
steamer with troops was escorted to Lerwick.
_____
Probationary
Midshipman (A) J. A. McShane RNVR, Probationary Temporary
Acting S/Lt (A) R. H. Read RNVR, were killed when their
Swordfish of 767 Squadron crashed near Dunnichen while on
exercises.
_____
Midshipman
(A) A. Taylor, lent to the RAF and flying a Battle of 142
Squadron, was shot down near Boulogne on a mission to
attack German S.boats. He and one of the RAF were captured
and made a prisoner of war; the third RAF crewman was
killed.
_____
German
torpedo launching aircraft sank two British ships of
convoy OA.203 in Moray Firth.
British
steamers MAKALLA (6677grt) and LLANISHEHN (5053grt) were
torpedoed and sank in 58‑17N, 02‑27W.
Tugs
BUCCANEER and SALVAGE KING were sent to assist the
steamers.
Eight
crew were lost on the steamer LLANISHEHN.
There
were twelve crew lost on steamer MAKALLA. The survivors
from MAKALLA were picked up by sloop LEITH.
The
survivors from steamer MAKALLA were landed in the Orkneys.
British
steamer BEACON GRANGE (10,119grt) was damaged by German
bombing in 58‑39N, 02‑27W and taken in tow by tug
BUCCANEER which was later relieved by tug MAURADER.
Destroyer
KIPLING departed Scapa Flow at 1230/24th to screen BEACON
GRANGE from Clythness to Kirkwall, where the steamer was
beached.
_____
British
steamer OVERTON (426grt) was damaged by German bombing off
Bardsey Island.
_____
U.37
sank British steamer SEVERN LEIGH (5242grt) in 54‑31N,
25‑41W and Norwegian steamer KERET (1718grt) in 54‑16N,
23‑08W.
Thirty
two crew and the gunner were lost on the steamer SEVERN
LEIGH.
Thirteen
crew were lost on the steamer KERET.
_____
British
drifter NEW ROYAL SOVEREIGN (68grt) was sunk by German
bombing in Bridlington Harbour.
There
was no crew aboard at the time.
_____
German
auxiliary ship Schiff 13 (trawler DUSSELDORF, 259grt) was
sunk by a mine off Dieppe.
The
ship was later salved and recommissioned as auxiliary
patrol boat Vp.607.
_____
Destroyer
HOSTILE (Lt Cdr A. F. Burnell-Nugent DSC) struck a mine at
0317 and was badly damaged off Cape Bon in 36‑53N, 11‑19E.
Cdr
A. P. Gibson, aboard for passage to Gibraltar, four
ratings were lost in the destroyer and three ratings were
injured.
Destroyer
HOSTILE was scuttled by HERO. Destroyers HERO and MOHAWK
took the survivors back to Malta.
On
24 August, destroyer JANUS departed Alexandria to replace
destroyer HOSTILE.
On
the 27th, destroyers JANUS, HERO, MOHAWK departed Malta
for Gibraltar.
Destroyer
NUBIAN followed on the 28th after her defects were
corrected.
All
four ships arrived at Gibraltar on the 29th.
_____
In
Operation MB.1, destroyers STUART, DIAMOND, ILEX, JUNO
bombarded the Italian seaplane base at Bomba.
Australian
destroyer WATERHEN, which had departed with these
destroyers the day before, had been detached to cover the
retirement of Gunboat LADYBIRD, which departed Alexandria
for Mersa Matruh on the 20th.
_____
Heavy
cruiser CUMBERLAND departed Simonstown on patrol, and
arrived at Freetown on 6 September.
_____
American
heavy cruisers WICHITA and QUINCY arrived at Montevideo.
Destroyers WALKE and WAINWRIGHT departed Para for Havana.
Saturday,
24 August
Pilots
Acting S/Lt (A) A. G. Day RNVR, Naval Airman 1/c H. Newton
and Acting S/Lt (A) A. L. Ayres RNVR, Petty Officer Airman
S. H. Gould of the 806 Squadron of aircraft carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS were lost when their Fulmars of 806 Squadron
collided in the Mediterranean.
_____
Destroyer
MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 1830 for Liverpool for
docking and repair.
_____
Destroyer
KASHMIR departed the Humber at 1430 for Scapa Flow to join
the Home Fleet.
_____
British
monitor EREBUS was attacked by a German motor torpedo boat
eleven miles east of Lowestoft. There was no damage in the
attack.
_____
Destroyer
ACHERON in Portsmouth Harbour was badly damaged by German
bombing. Two ratings were killed and three crew were
wounded.
Destroyer
BULLDOG, which was moored alongside, was damaged by
splinters and her commanding officer, Cdr J. P. Wisden,
was mortally wounded and died on the 29th.
French
torpedo boat FLORE's bridge in Portsmouth Harbour was
damaged by falling masonry in this attack.
Destroyer
BULLDOG was repaired at Portsmouth completing on 2
September.
Destroyer
ACHERON was repaired at Portsmouth completing on 2
December.
_____
Convoy
OB.203 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer MACKAY and
corvette HEARTSEASE from 24 to 27 August and
anti-submarine trawlers ANGLE and KING SOL from 24 to 28
August.
_____
Convoy
MT.149 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.261 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER
and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the
26th.
_____
Convoy
HX.68 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer
ASSINIBOINE and auxiliary patrol vessel FRENCH at 1600.
At
2030, the local escort left the convoy to ocean escort,
armed merchant cruiser AURANIA, returned to Halifax. The
armed merchant cruiser was detached on 4 September.
Convoy
BHX.68 departed Bermuda on the 23rd escorted by ocean
escort armed merchant cruiser MONTCLARE. The convoy
rendezvoused with convoy HX.68 on the 28th and the armed
merchant cruiser was detached.
On
7 September, anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO, destroyer ST
LAURENT, corvette FLEUR DE LYS joined the convoy and
remained with it until its arrived at Liverpool on 8
September.
_____
Convoy
SC.1 south of Greenland was attacked by U.34.
Sloop
PENZANCE (Cdr A. J. Wavish) which was escorting the convoy
was sunk in 56‑16N, 27‑19W.
Wavish,
Lt J. H. Smyth, Probationary Temporary S/Lt G. C. Courtney
RNR, Commissioned Engineer C. T. Gaughan, Acting Gunner F.
G. Hunt, Temporary Paymaster S/Lt R. A. S. MacDonald RNVR,
eighty four ratings were lost in the sloop.
S/Lt
J. W. T. Draisey was wounded, but was rescued.
_____
U.37
sank British steamer BROOKWOOD (5100grt) in 54‑40N,
27‑57W. One crewman was missing.
_____
U.48
sank British tanker LA BREA (6665grt), a straggler from
convoy HX.65, in 57‑24N, 11‑21W. Two crew were
missing.
_____
U.57
in attacks on convoy OB.202 sank British steamers SAINT
DUNSTAN (5681grt) and CUMBERLAND (10,939grt) in 55‑44N,
07‑32W.
Fourteen
crew were lost on the steamer SAINT DUNSTAN. Four crew
were killed on the steamer CUMBERLAND.
Steamer
SAINT DUNSTAN was badly damaged and taken in tow on the
26th. She sank in tow on the 27th, 4.7 miles 68° from
Pladda.
Steamer
CUMBERLAND sank eight miles 5° from Inishtrahull.
U.57
in attacks on convoy OB.202 badly damaged British steamer
HAVILDAR (5407grt) in 55‑39N, 07‑18W.
_____
Heavy
cruiser KENT, light cruiser GLOUCESTER, destroyers
HYPERION, HEREWARD, DEFENDER departed Alexandria to cover
the movements of two steamers from Piraeus to Port Said.
Destroyer JANUS was sailed with this force and was
detached to arrived at Malta at 0600/26th.
Heavy
cruiser KENT and light cruiser GLOUCESTER, escorting two
merchant ships from Piraeus to Port Said, were attacked by
Italian torpedo bombers in 32‑53N, 27‑00E on the 27th.
There
was no damage in the attack.
The
cruisers arrived at Alexandria on the 27th.
Destroyers
HYPERION and DEFENDER were escorting British steamer
PALERMO (2928grt) and Spanish steamer VASCO (1193grt).
Destroyer
HYPERION arrived at Alexandria on the 28th. Destroyer
DEFENDER and the merchant ships arrived at Port Said on
the 28th.
_____
Early
on the 24th, gunboat LADYBIRD, escorted by Australian
destroyer WATERHEN, bombarded Bardia in Operation MB‑1.
This
bombardment was covered by Australian light cruiser SYDNEY
and destroyers STUART, DIAMOND, ILEX, JUNO.
Destroyer
WATERHEN later rejoined the covering force and the entire
covering force arrived back at Alexandria on the 24th.
Gunboat
LADYBIRD arrived at Alexandria on the 25th.
_____
Italian
destroyers NULLO and SAURO operated without contact in the
Red Sea during the night of 24/25 August.
_____
Convoy
BN.3A departed Aden, escorted by light cruiser CALEDON and
sloops PARRAMATTA and SHOREHAM. The convoy was dispersed
on the 27th.
_____
Armed
merchant cruiser ASTURIAS departed Freetown and after full
calibre firings proceeded to rendezvous with armed
merchant cruiser ALCANTARA for patrol.
_____
German
armed merchant cruiser ATLANTIS sank British steamer KING
CITY (4744grt) in the Indian Ocean at 16‑53S, 65‑17E.
Six
crew were lost on the steamer.
Sunday,
25 August
Battlecruiser
HOOD with destroyers INGLEFIELD, ESCAPADE, ECHO, JAVELIN
arrived at Scapa Flow at 0640 from Rosyth.
_____
All
Home Fleet units, except heavy cruiser BERWICK, at Scapa
Flow raised steam with dispatch.
At
0140/26th, steam was reverted to normal notice.
_____
Light
cruisers GALATEA and CARDIFF departed Scapa Flow for the
Humber.
_____
Convoy
OA.204 departed Methil escorted by escort ship GLEANER and
corvette CLEMATIS from 25 to 29 August. on the 26th, the
escort was supplemented by destroyers JAGUAR, JAVELIN,
EGLINTON.
_____
Convoy
FN.262 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VERDUN,
VIMIERA, GARTH. Patrol sloops GUILLEMOT and PUFFIN joined
for 26 August. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 27th.
_____
Convoy
MT.150 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.262 departed the Tyne. The convoy arrived at Southend
on the 27th.
_____
British
minefield BS.34 was laid by minelayers TEVIOTBANK, PLOVER,
WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN and destroyers ESK, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE.
_____
U.37
sank British steamer BLAIRMORE (4141grt) from convoy SC.1
in 56N, 27‑30W. our crew were lost.
_____
U.37
sank British steamer YEWCREST (3774grt) in 55‑10N,
25‑02W. One crewman was lost and she sank on the
26th.
_____
Convoy
HX.65A was escorted by sloops LONDONDERRY, EGRET,
LOWESTOFT and destroyer SKEENA.
U.48
sank from convoy HX.65A British tanker ATHELCREST
(6825grt) in 58‑24N, 11‑15W and British steamer EMPIRE
MERLIN (5763grt) in 58‑30N, 10‑15W.
Thirty
crew were missing from tanker ATHELCREST. The tanker was
sunk by HM ship gunfire. There was only one survivor from
steamer EMPIRE MERLIN.
U.124
on attacks on convoy HX.65A sank British steamers
HARPALYCE (5169grt, Convoy Commodore Vice Admiral B. G.
Washington, Commodore 2/c, CMG DSO RNR,) and FIRCREST
(5394grt) in 58‑52N, 06‑34W, damaged British steamer
STAKESBY (3900grt) twenty three miles north of Butt of
Lewis, attacked another steamer in 58‑24N, 06‑34W without
success.
Thirty
seven crew, including Commodore Washington, were lost on
the steamer HARPALYCE. There were no survivors from the
steamer FIRCREST.
_____
U.57
sank British tanker PECTEN (7468grt), a straggler from
convoy HX.65, in 56‑22N, 07‑55W. Forty nine crew were
lost.
_____
U.100
sank British steamer JAMAICA PIONEER (5471grt) in 57‑05N,
11‑02W. Two crew were lost and the survivors rescued by
destroyer ANTHONY.
_____
British
steamer GOATHLAND (3821grt) was sunk by German bombing in
50‑21N, 15‑08W. The entire crew was rescued.
_____
British
steamer HAMPSHIRE COAST (485grt) was damaged by German
bombing six miles SW of St Ann's Light.
_____
British
steamer OSSIAN (1514grt) was damaged by German bombing in
51‑39N, 05‑51W.
_____
British
steamer SANFRY (946grt) was damaged by German bombing in
50‑26N, 00‑22W, and attacked by a German motor torpedo
boat on the 26th.
_____
Convoy
SC.2 departed St Johns escorted locally by Canadian armed
yacht REINDEER and ocean escort Sloop SCARBOROUGH.
The
convoy was joined on 7 September by destroyers SCIMITAR
and SKEENA, sloop LOWESTOFT, corvette PERIWINKLE,
anti-submarine trawlers APOLLO and BERWICKSHIRE. Destroyer
SCIMITAR and corvette PERIWINKLE were detached on 8
September. The remainder of the escorts, including sloop
SCARBOROUGH, arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on 10
September.
_____
At
0730, Aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser
ENTERPRISE, destroyers GALLANT, HOTSPUR, GRIFFIN departed
Gibraltar to carry out exercises.
Battlecruiser
RENOWN, destroyers VELOX, ENCOUNTER, GREYHOUND, VIDETTE
departed at 2025 on the 25th and joined aircraft carrier
ARK ROYAL at sea.
This
force joined the aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS force and
escort them into Gibraltar.
The
British force was aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, battleship
VALIANT, light cruiser SHEFFIELD, anti-aircraft ships
COVENTRY and CALCUTTA, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE,
OFRESTER, FoRESIGHT, FURY, FIREDRAKE from Scapa Flow was
met off Gibraltar on the 28th and escorted into harbour,
arriving on the 29th.
Destroyers
WRESTLER and WISHART were involved in local escort duties.
_____
Italian
submarine BIANCHI attacked an armed patrol boat off
Gibraltar without success.
_____
Convoy
BN.4 departed Bombay, escorted by armed merchant cruisers
HECTOR and RANCHI. These escorts were detached on 1
September when light cruiser LEANDER joined.
Light
cruiser LEANDER turned the convoy over on 8 September to
sloops CLIVE and SHOREHAM. The convoy arrived at Suez on
11 September.
Monday,
26 August
Destroyers
VERSATILE, VIMY, ANTELOPE, AMBUSCADE departed the Nore to
reinforce the Home Fleet.
Destroyers
VERSATILE and VIMY proceeded to Rosyth.
Destroyers
ANTELOPE and AMBUSCADE proceeded to the Tyne to relieve
destroyers of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla for release to
Scapa Flow.
_____
Destroyer
EGLINTON arrived at Scapa Flow at 0930 to work up after
providing additional escort for convoy OA.204.
_____
After
a German air raid on the Orkneys, mines were found and
exploded in the Fleet anchorage. No movements of ships was
permitted.
_____
Convoy
FN.263 departed Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN
and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 28th.
_____
Convoy
MT.151 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.263 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VEGA and
WOLSEY. Patrol sloop GUILLEMOT joined on the 27th. The
convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th.
_____
Italian
submarine DANDOLO sank British steamer ILVINGTON COURT
(5187grt) in 37‑14N, 21‑52W. The entire crew was rescued.
_____
German
air attacks on convoy HX.65A off Kinnaird Head.
British
steamer REMUERA (11,445grt) was sunk at 57‑50N, 01‑54W.
The
entire crew of the steamer REMUERA was rescued.
British
steamer CAPE YORK (5027grt) was badly damaged 10 miles 45°
from Kinnaird Head.
The
entire crew of the steamer CAPE YORK was rescued.
Steamer
CAPE YORK was so badly damaged that she was abandoned. The
steamer sank on the 27th under tow, eight miles 55° from
Rattray Head in 57-42N, 1-33-05W.
British
steamer CITY OF HANKOW (7360grt) was badly damaged by
German bombing off Peterhead.
Greek
steamer NELLIE (4826grt) was damaged fifteen miles
northeast of Kinnaird Head.
Destroyers
JAVELIN and JAGUAR departed Scapa Flow at 0320 to escort
the convoy past Cape Wrath to Pentland Firth due to U-boat
attacks on the convoy at 2254 on the 25th.
The
destroyers were detached at dawn on the 27th for Lerwick.
Destroyers
JAVELIN and JAGUAR departed Lerwick at 1730 with British
steamer LOCHNAGAR for Aberdeen.
_____
German
steamer LISBETH CORDS (907grt) was sunk ten miles from
Kiel Light Ship on a mine.
_____
Norwegian
coastal steamers AVIELD (127grt) and ODDA (835grt) were
lost on mines off the Norwegian coast.
_____
Destroyer
JERVIS escorting British tanker MYRIEL (3560grt) and
French tanker PHENIX arrived at Port Said. The destroyer
then proceeded to Alexandria, arriving that day.
_____
Submarine
PERSEUS attacked Italian steamer FILIPPO GRIMANI (3431grt)
off Durazzo without success.
_____
Light
cruiser DELHI departed Freetown for Lagos to relieve sloop
BRIDGEWATER. She arrived at Lagos on the 29th.
_____
Convoy
SL.45 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser
CATHAY to 14 September.
The
armed merchant cruiser proceeded to Glasgow for refitting.
The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 15 September.
Tuesday,
27 August
After
a German air raid on Scapa Flow, there was a prohibition
of ship movements in Scapa Flow.
Gutter
Sound and Switha were clear of mines. It was possible for
the destroyers to proceed to anti-submarine exercises west
of Hoy.
_____
Battleship
BARHAM departed Scapa Flow at 2200 escorted by destroyers
INGLEFIELD, ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE for Gibraltar.
They
were joined at sea by destroyer ECHO which departed at
0100/28th.
The
ships arrived at Gibraltar on 2 September.
_____
Convoy
OB.204 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer VISCOUNT,
which remained with the convoy until 29 August, sloop
DEPTFORD, French patrol vessel PRESIDENT HONDUCE on the
26th. The convoy was joined on the 27th by destroyers
ARROW and ACHATES until 28 August. French sloop SAVORGNAN
DE BRAZZA and anti-submarine trawlers NORTHERN GEM
(655grt) and LADY ELSA (518grt) joined on the 28th. In
this convoy were freighters ANADYR (5278grt), CASAMANCE
(5817grt), FORT LAMY (5234grt), NEVADA (5693grt), carrying
vehicles for the MENACE operation and British tanker OCEAN
COAST (1173grt).
_____
Convoy
FN.264 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER
and sloop WESTON. Patrol sloop WIDGEON joined on the 28th.
The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 29th.
_____
Convoy
MT.152 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.264 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers VALOROUS
and WESTMINISTER. Destroyer SIKH was also with the convoy
on the 27th. Patrol sloop WIDGEON joined on the 28th. The
convoy arrived at Southend on the 29th.
_____
British
minefield BS.35 was laid by minelayer TEVIOTBANK and
destroyers EXPRESS, ESK, ICARUS.
_____
Destroyers
WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER departed Scapa Flow at 1600 and
carried out an anti-submarine sweep west of Flannan
Islands and east of St Kilda.
After
this sweep, the destroyers met convoy SL.43 A and provided
additional anti-submarine escort to the Pentland Firth.
_____
Destroyers
AMBUSCADE and ANTELOPE departed Rosyth to overtake convoy
OA.205 and provide additional escort to Cape Wrath.
The
destroyers then proceeded to Scapa Flow.
_____
Destroyer
ACTIVE, on completion of exercises off Scapa Flow,
proceeded to rendezvous off the northern entrance to the
Inner Sound to Loch Alsh at 0600/28th. Destroyer ACTIVE
joined the escort of the 1st Minelaying Squadron for
minelaying operation SN.14.
_____
Canadian
troop convoy TC 7 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian
destroyers ASSINIBOINE and OTTAWA with British troopships
ORONSAY (20,043grt), DUCHESS OF YORK (20,021grt), GEORGIC
(27,759grt), PASTEUR (30,447grt), EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
(21,833grt), SCYTHIA (19,761grt) with 2627, 1548, 2801,
1153, 1625, 1204 troops, respectively.
Ocean
escort was Battleship REVENGE and Canadian destroyer
OTTAWA.
On
2 September, the convoy was joined by destroyers
WOLVERINE, AMBUSCADE, JAVELIN, JAGUAR. The convoy arrived
safely at Greenock at 0600 on 4 September, less troopship
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA which arrived safely at Glasgow on
the same day.
Canadian
destroyer OTTAWA arrived at Greenock to relieve Canadian
destroyer RESTIGOUCHE on the Western Approaches station.
Canadian
destroyer RESTIGOUCHE then returned to Halifax arriving on
5 September.
_____
S/Lt
W. J. M. Moss, flying a Hurricane of RAF 213 Squadron at
Exeter, was killed when his aircraft flew into the sea off
Sidmouth.
_____
Lt
A. N. Young of 824 Squadron, based at Dekheila, was killed
when his Swordfish crashed.
_____
U.28
sank Norwegian steamer EVA (1599grt) in 57‑50N, 11‑15W.
One crewman was killed, and the wreck abandoned and washed
ashore about one mile from the Butt of Lewis Light House.
_____
U.37
sank Greek steamer THEODOROS T (3409grt) in 50‑10N,
19‑50W. The entire crew was rescued by destroyer
ECLIPSE and taken to Gibraltar.
_____
U.46
sank armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE (Captain H.
Ardill Rtd), proceeding independently to Belfast after
SL.43 escort, in 55N, 11W.
Acting/Lt
Cdr R. L. R. Bull RNR, Temporary S/Lt R. Anderson RNR,
Temporary S/Lt D. E. Smedley RNR, twenty four four ratings
were lost.
Temporary
Paymaster Lt J. L. A. Williamson RNR, eleven ratings were
wounded.
The
armed merchant cruiser's 250 survivors were rescued by
destroyer HARVESTER and corvette PRIMROSE.
The
armed merchant cruiser sank at 2300/28th.
_____
British
steamer SIR JOHN HAWKINS (930grt) was damaged by German
bombing at Plymouth.
_____
Armed
yacht WHITE FOX II (23grt) was lost in a fire.
_____
British
troop convoy US.4 departed Auckland on the 27th with
troopships MAURETANIA (35738grt) and EMPRESS OF JAPAN
(26032grt) from Wellington and ORCADES (23456grt) from
Lyttleton escorted by New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES.
Troopship
AQUITANIA (45647grt) departed Sydney on the 30th to join
the convoy escorted by Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA
which relieved light cruiser ACHILLES.
Australian
light cruiser PERTH joined in the Tasman Sea on the 30th
and returned to Sydney on the 31st.
New
Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES and the convoy arrived at
Melbourne on the 31st. The convoy arrived at Fremantle on
2 September.
Convoy
US.4 departed Fremantle on 5 September escorted by heavy
cruiser CANBERRA. On 13 September, light cruiser COLOMBO
relieved the heavy cruiser and remained with the convoy
until 15 September when the convoy arrived at Bombay.
Troopships
EMPRESS OF JAPAN and ORCADES arrived at Aden on 24
September. The troops in MAURETANIA and AQUITANIA were
delivered in other vessels, rather than risk the large,
new troopships in the Red Sea.
_____
Sloop
BRIDGEWATER departed Victoria and arrived at Duala later
that day.
_____
Off
the south tip of Madagascar, German armed merchant cruiser
PINGUIN captured the Norwegian tanker FILEFJELL (7616grt)
at 29‑38S, 45‑11E and sank British steamer BRITISH
COMMANDER (6901grt) at 29‑30S, 46‑06E and Norwegian
steamer MORVIKEN (5008grt) in 30‑08S, 46‑15E.
The
entire crew on the tanker FILEFJELL were made prisoners of
war, as was the entire crew of the steamer BRITISH
COMMANDER.
The
crew of the steamer MORVIKEN later arrived at Oslo.
Signals
from steamer BRITISH COMMANDER alerted listening stations
and British cruisers NEPTUNE and COLOMBO and armed
merchant cruisers ARAWA and KANIMBLA put to sea, but no
contact was made.
Light
cruiser NEPTUNE arrived at Durban on the 31st.
Wednesday,
28 August
Minelayers
SOUTHERN PRINCE, MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC
escorted by destroyers TARTAR, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, which had
departed Liverpool on the 26th for Loch Alsh, departed
Loch Alsh at 2130 for minelaying SN.14 in St Georges
Channel, screened by anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO.
They
were joined at sea by destroyer ACTIVE from Scapa Flow.
The
minefield was laid during the night of 28/29 August.
At
2145 on the 29th, destroyers TARTAR, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN with
minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, MENESTHEUS, PORT QUEBEC
arrived at Loch Alsh.
Destroyer
ACTIVE and minelayer PORT NAPIER proceeded to the Clyde.
On delivering the minelayer, destroyer ACTIVE proceeded to
Scapa Flow to join the 12th Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Destroyers
SIKH and ZULU arrived at Scapa Flow.
_____
Destroyers
JAVELIN, JAGUAR, ANTELOPE departed Scapa Flow at 1700 to a
position 14 miles 360° from Sule Skerry. From that point,
they carried out an anti-submarine sweep towards Sumburgh
Head to search for a submarine sighted at 1200, ten miles
270° from Sumburgh Head, steering course 270°.
There
was no contact with the submarine and the destroyers
returned to Scapa Flow at dawn on the 29th.
_____
British
minefield BS.36 was laid by minelayers PLOVER and WILLEM
VAN DER ZAAN and destroyers INTREPID and ICARUS.
There
were no minefields BS.37, BS.38, or BS.39.
_____
Hunt-class
destroyer EGLINTON was completed. She arrived at Scapa
Flow on the 28th for working up with the 23rd Destroyer
Division. She was transferred to Harwich arriving on 29
September for duty with the 16th Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Convoy
FN.265 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WOOLSTON
and sloop FLEETWOOD. Patrol sloop SHEARWATER joined on the
29th. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 30th.
_____
Convoy
MT.153 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.265 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN.
The convoy arrived at Southend on the 30th.
_____
U.28
sank British steamer KYNO (3946grt) from convoy HX.66 in
58‑06N, 13‑26W.
Five
crew were killed on the steamer KYNO.
Destroyers
WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER joined the convoy for support.
_____
U.101
sank Finnish steamer ELLE (3868grt) in 57‑43N,
12‑18W. Two crew were lost and 27 rescued.
_____
British
trawler FLAVIA (202grt) was lost in the North Sea.
_____
Convoy
HX.69 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer
ASSINIBOINE and auxiliary patrol boat FRENCH at 1550,
which were detached on the 28th.
Convoy
SHX.69 departed escorted by destroyer SAGUENAY and joined
the convoy at sea.
Patrol
boat FRENCH was detached at 2100 and destroyer ASSINIBOINE
at 2010/29th turned the convoy over to the ocean escort,
armed merchant cruiser ALAUNIA.
Convoy
BHX.69 departed Bermuda on the 27th escorted by ocean
escort armed merchant cruiser ASCANIA. The convoy
rendezvoused with convoy HX.69 on 1 September and the
armed merchant cruiser was detached.
On
9 September destroyers AMBUSCADE. ARROW, WINCHELSEA, sloop
FOWEY, corvettes CAMELLIA, CLARKIA, HEARTSEASE joined the
convoy. Destroyers AMBUSCADE and ARROW were detached on 11
September. The remaining escorts and the convoy arrived at
Liverpool on 12 September.
_____
Light
cruiser ENTERPRISE departed Gibraltar for patrol duties
from Freetown and escorting British troopship ROYAL
SCOTSMAN (3244grt).
_____
Italian
destroyers PANTERA and TIGRE operated in the Red Sea
without contact during the night of 28/29 August.
_____
Dutch
light cruiser SUMATRA arrived at Lobito from Freetown.
After refuelling, she proceeded later that day for
Capetown, arriving on 2 September.
_____
Light
cruiser DAUNTLESS arrived at Penang.
Thursday,
29 August
At
2051, a patrol trawler dropped depth charges on a
submarine contact in Hoxa Sound. Later a submarine was
suspected at Hoxa Boom.
Destroyer
patrols were stationed at Nevi Skerry entrance, Hoxa
Sound, between Little Risa and Fara, between Cava and the
Barrel of Butter.
Destroyers
KASHMIR and KIPLING escorted light cruisers MANCHESTER and
BIRMINGHAM to sea until they were clear of the Pentland
Skerries.
Precautions
were relaxed at 0742 on the 30th.
_____
Destroyer
MATABELE arrived at Scapa Flow at 1450 after repairs.
_____
In
a PO sweep, destroyers CAMPBELL, HAMBLEDON, VESPER, GARTH
departed Aldeburgh Light Float to sweep off the French
coast.
_____
Convoy
OA.204, escorted by Corvettes GLEANER and CLEMATIS, was
attacked by U.100.
British
steamer HARTISMERE (5498grt) was badly damaged in 56‑04N,
13‑06W. Corvette GLEANER stood by the damaged steamer and
escorted her from the area.
British
steamer DALBLAIR (4608grt, convoy Commodore) was sunk in
56‑06N, 13‑33W.
Twenty
three crew and one gunner was lost on the steamer
DALBLAIR.
Survivors
from DALBLAIR were picked up by corvette CLEMATIS and
Swedish steamer ALIDA GORTHON.
British
steamer ASTRA II (2393grt) was sunk in 56‑09N, 12‑14W.
Five
crew were missing from the steamer ASTRA II.
Swedish
steamer ALIDA GORTHON (2373grt) was sunk in 56‑09N,
12‑14W.
Eleven
crew from the Swedish steamer were lost. Of the twenty
four survivors on board from British steamer DALBLAIR,
twenty were lost.
British
steamer EMPIRE MOOSE (6103grt) was sunk in 56‑06N, 13‑33W.
The
entire crew of the British steamer was rescued.
_____
Convoy
OA.206 departed Methil escorted by sloop SANDWICH,
corvette GARDENIA and anti-submarine trawlers LADY ELSA,
LADY MADELENE, ST KENAN, VIZALMA until 3 September. The
convoy was joined on the 30th by Polish destroyers
BLYSKAWICA and BURZA which stayed with the convoy until 3
September.
_____
Convoy
OB.205 departed Liverpool.
_____
Convoy
FN.266 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers VEGA and
WOLSEY. Patrol sloop MALLARD joined on the 30th. The
convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 31st.
_____
Convoy
MT.154 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.266 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VERDUN and
sloop STORK. Patrol sloop MALLARD joined on the 30th. The
convoy arrived at Southend on the 31st.
_____
British
steamer BALTISTAN (6803grt) was damaged by German bombing
in 55‑06N, 15‑39W.
_____
Convoys
FS.264 and FN.264 converged.
One
steamer was sunk and two steamers were damaged off
19 Buoy.
The
damaged ships proceeded into the Tyne.
The
sunk and damaged ships cannot be identified.
_____
Light
cruiser DRAGON departed Capetown escorting troopship
FRANCONIA for Durban.
The
troopship then joined LLANGIBBY CASTLE and proceeded,
escorted by armed merchant cruiser KANIMBLA to join WS.2
A.
Light
cruiser DRAGON returned to Simonstown.
_____
American
heavy cruiser QUINCY and WICHITA arrived at Buenas Aires.
_____
Japanese
submarine I.67 foundered in an operational mishap off
Bonin Islands in heavy weather.
Friday,
30 August
Light
cruisers BIRMINGHAM and MANCHESTER departed Scapa Flow for
Rosyth at 0135 for anti-invasion duties.
No
destroyers were mentioned in the movement.
East
coast convoys were instructed to put into the nearest
port.
The
report of enemy vessels approaching the coast later proved
to be an enemy convoy of seven or eight vessels.
The
cruisers arrived at Immingham on 5 September.
_____
Destroyers
ZULU, SIKH, PUNJABI departed Scapa Flow at 2300 to reach
position 60-00N, 4-00W by 0400/31st.
The
destroyers were to carry out anti-submarine sweeps in a
direction 50° to intercept a German submarine reported by
aircraft at 0720 in position 60-29N, 1-08E, steering
course 300°.
_____
Destroyers
VERSATILE and VIMY departed Scapa Flow at 0800 escorting
Fleet Tenders A, B, C to Rosyth.
_____
Convoy
OB.206 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer VANOC and
corvette ERICA, which remained with the convoy until 4
September, anti-submarine trawlers BERKSHIRE and ST
APOLLO. The convoy was joined on 2 September by destroyers
ACTIVE, ARROW, SHIKARI,and SKATE which stayed with the
convoy until 4 September.
_____
Convoy
FN.267 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
on 1 September.
_____
Convoy
MT.155 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.267 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WOLFHOUND
and sloop BLACK SWAN. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1
September.
_____
Polish
destroyers BLYSKAWICA and BURZA departed Scapa Flow at
0900 to provide additional escort for convoy OA.206 from
Pentland Firth to the North West Approaches.
The
Polish destroyers then proceeded to Portsmouth to join the
1st Destroyer Flotilla.
_____
Destroyer
WITCH was out of service with engine defects.
_____
Destroyer
WALLACE was out of service with damage to her port
propeller.
_____
Lt
(A) I. G. Williamson RNVR, Leading Airman R. C. Burden,
Leading Airman J. Hare were killed when their Shark of 753
Squadron collided with another aircraft and crashed near
St Vigeans.
_____
U.32
on attacks on convoy HX.66 A, escorted by British escort
vessel JASON and corvette HIBISCUS, sank British steamers
MILL HILL (4318grt) in 58‑48N, 06‑49E and CHELSEA
(4804grt) in 59‑45N, 07‑00W and Norwegian steamer NORNE
(3971grt) in 58‑48N, 06‑49W.
Twenty
four crew from steamer CHELSEA were missing in the loss of
the steamer.
There
were no survivors, thirty four crew, from MILL HILL.
_____
U.59
on attacks on convoy OB.205 damaged Greek steamer SAN
GABRIEL (4943grt) in 56‑04N, 09‑54W and British tanker
ANADARA (8009grt) in 56‑15N, 09‑10W.
Two
crew were lost on the Greek steamer. The survivors were
rescued by destroyer WARWICK.
Steamer
SAN GABRIEL was towed into the Clyde on 3 September by
British tug THAMES, but found to be a total loss.
Steamer
ANADARA was towed by British tug SCHELDE to the Clyde.
_____
Due
to the attacks on the convoys, destroyers WOLVERINE and
VOLUNTEER were ordered to leave convoy SL.43 A and join
convoy SL.66 A.
Destroyers
WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER arrived at Scapa Flow at 0600/31st
after the escort duty.
Destroyers
KASHMIR and KIPLING departed Scapa Flow at 1843 to join
convoy SL.43A.
Destroyers
KASHMIR and KIPLING returning from convoy SL.43 A duty
were ordered to Rattray Head to search for an open boat
reported by air at 1738 in 58-18N, 00-24E.
The
destroyers located five Norwegian refugees in the boat and
arrived at Scapa Flow at 1800/31st.
_____
British
hopper barge SH 3 (389grt) was damaged by German bombing
at Victoria Dock at Hull.
_____
Norwegian
steamer MARSTENEN (1832grt), in convoy WN.11, was sunk by
German bombing in 58‑23N, 03‑37W, off Duncansby Head.
The
entire crew was rescued by destroyer CATTISTOCK. The crew
was later transferred to examination vessel MINNA.
_____
In
Operation HATS, the British Mediterranean Fleet, including
every single operational destroyer of the Fleet,departed
Alexandria to escort a convoy to Malta.
The
convoy departed Alexandria at 2045 on the 29th. It was
composed of British steamer CORNWALL (10,603grt), escorted
by destroyer JERVIS and JUNO and steamer VOLO (1587grt)
and Fleet Auxiliary PLUMLEAF escorted destroyers DAINTY
and DIAMOND. The convoy was covered by battleships
WARSPITE and MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE, light
cruisers ORION and SYDNEY, destroyers STUART, VOYAGER,
VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, DECOY, DEFENDER, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL,
GARLAND which departed Alexandria at 0445.
Cruiser
Squadron 3, heavy cruiser KENT and light cruisers
GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL, with destroyers HYPERION, HASTY,
ILEX departed Alexandria late on the 29th to sweep in the
southern Aegean.
British
Force H departed Gibraltar with battlecruiser RENOWN,
aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser SHEFFIELD,
destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY,
FORTUNE, ENCOUNTER.
Force
H covered the movement of battleship VALIANT, aircraft
carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, anti-aircraft cruisers CALCUTTA and
COVENTRY, Mediterranean Fleet destroyers MOHAWK, JANUS,
HERO which departed Malta on the 27th and NUBIAN which
departed Malta on the 28th, Force H destroyers GALLANT,
GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR which accompanied the VALIANT
force to Malta.
Diversion
for this operation, designated SQUAWK, was by two of
Somerville's destroyers VELOX and WISHART north of
Balearic Island with radio deception making it seem Force
H was about to bombard the Genoa area.
Heavy
cruiser KENT with light cruisers GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL
were detached from the Main Fleet at 1554 on the 31st to
give anti-aircraft protection to the convoy.
British
steamer CORNWALL (10,603grt) was damaged by Italian
bombing six miles 258° from Elephonisi Island, south of
Crete at 1635 on the 31st.
Destroyer
DECOY was detached at 1815 to join the heavy cruiser KENT
group protecting the convoy.
Destroyer
GARLAND was also slightly damaged near misses of bombing
on the 31st.
_____
Italian
destroyers BATTISTI and MANIN operated in the Red Sea
during the night of 30/31 August without success.
_____
Due
to Free French successes in the Congo, the Cameroons,
Chad, Vichy submarine SIDI FERRUCH, which had been at
Duala from 10 to 25 August, arrived at Libreville on the
30th to boost failing support for the Vichy government.
_____
Light
cruiser EMERALD departed Bermuda.
_____
Light
cruiser DURBAN arrived at Hong Kong.
Saturday,
31 August
Battleship
PRINCE OF WALES, building at Birkenhead, was damaged by
the near miss of a heavy German bomb.
_____
20th
Destroyer Flotilla, consisting of destroyers ESK, EXPRESS,
IVANHOE, ICARUS, INTREPID departed the Humber escorted by
destroyers KELVIN, JUPITER, VORTIGERN to lay minefield
CBX.5 off Vlieland.
Minesweeper
SALAMANDER swept the Humber entrance before their
departure.
At
2250, an aircraft reported a large number of enemy vessels
to the north of Terschelling steering west. The Destroyers
were ordered to jettison their mines and attack the German
vessels.
At
2233 Home Fleet units at Scapa Flow were ordered to raise
steam.
Destroyers
ZULU, SIKH, PUNJABI were ordered to return to Scapa Flow
where they arrived at 0345 on 1 September.
Forty
miles northwest of Texel in 53‑25N, 3‑48E, destroyer
EXPRESS struck a mine at 2307 badly damaging the ship and
mortally wounding Captain J. G. Bickford DSC, D.20, who
died on 10 September.
Lt
Cdr D. W. Deane, Temporary S/Lt R. P. Lawrence RNVR,
Temporary Surgeon Lt A. C. Shelford, MB, BCH RNVR, fifty
five ratings were killed on destroyer EXPRESS. Lt C. M. K.
Bruton, Lt D. H. Maitland-Makgill-Crichton, twenty ratings
were wounded.
Destroyers
ESK (Lt Cdr R. J. H. Couch) and IVANHOE (Cdr P. H. Hadow)
going to her aid also struck mines, at 2325 and 0051 on 1
September, respectively.
Destroyer
ESK was sunk outright by the mine explosion. Only two crew
from ESK were rescued by British ships. Lt Cdr Couch, Lt
C. W. Carter, Acting S/Lt M. P. FitzGerald, Acting Gunner
(T) H. M. Long, Temporary Surgeon Lt J. F. Newman RNVR,,
Lt Cdr (E) E. W. Relph, Temporary S/Lt G. R. Weller DSC
RNVR, 128 ratings were lost.
Destroyer
IVANHOE was badly damaged, but was able to proceed under
her own power for a time.
Eight
ratings were lost in destroyer INTREPID.
Destroyers
JUPITER, KELVIN, VORTIGERN were at sea to support the 20th
Destroyer Flotilla. At 0700 on 1 September, an aircraft
report of two damaged destroyers was received. Destroyers
JUPITER and KELVIN proceeded to assist, while destroyer
VORTIGERN was left tomark the gap in the minefield for
their return. Destroyers GARTH and HAMBLEDON, operating
near Shipwash Light Vessel, were also dispatched.
Minesweepers
LEDA and SALTASH, tugs ST CYRUS, IRISHMAN, NORMAN,
WHEELDON, motor torpedo boats MTB.29, MTB.30, MTB.31 went
to assist destroyer EXPRESS.
German
aircraft were involved in the rescue of British survivors
from the destroyers. They picked up seven ratings from
EXPRESS. Lt W. F. C. Elstob and Probationary Temporary
S/Lt J. E. Proctor RNVR, twenty three ratings from
destroyer ESK were picked up. Gunner J. W. Goble and
twenty three ratings from destroyer IVANHOE were picked
up.
All
but thirty seven of IVANHOE's crew were transferred to
motor torpedo boats MTB.14, MTB.16, MTB.17 which had
arrived at 0800. At 1415, the remaining crew were
transferred to MTB.15 and IVANHOE was abandoned as she was
rapidly sinking.
However,
later when IVANHOE was reported as still afloat by a
British aircraft, destroyer KELVIN and MTB.30 were ordered
to search for her. Destroyer GARTH was also dispatched to
assist.
Destroyer
JUPITER also rescued the crew of a Swordfish of 812
Squadron which ditched returning from a raid on
Vlaardingen oil tanks.
At
1619 on 1 September, destroyer GARTH sighted IVANHOE under
bombing attack from a single German bomber. Destroyer
KELVIN arrived and after examining IVANHOE, KELVIN
scuttled IVANHOEat 1700 with a single torpedo sinking in
about a minute.
Destroyer
EXPRESS was taken in tow by destroyer KELVIN at 0941 on 1
September, but when the towing line fouled KELVIN's
propeller JUPITER took over the tow. The tow was later
given over to British tug ST CYRUS (860grt) which was
later joined by tugs IRISHMAN (222grt), NORMAN (222grt),
WHEELDON (222grt). Destroyer JUPITER turned over to
destroyer VORTIGERN the command of the towing operation
and with destroyer KELVIN formed a support group.
Destroyer HAMBLEDON provided anti-submarine protection.
Destroyer
EXPRESS was safely towed back to Hull and was repaired on
30 September 1941.
_____
The
Home Fleet at Scapa Flow reverted to one and a half hour's
notice at 0102 and at 0726 returned to four hours' notice.
_____
Destroyers
TARTAR (D.6), BEDOUIN, ASHANTI departed Loch Alsh at 0600
to carry out an anti-submarine sweep which was soon
cancelled due to weather conditions.
Destroyer
TARTAR returned to Scapa Flow.
Destroyers
BEDOUIN and ASHANTI met convoy HX.67 A to escort the
convoy northward to Buchanness.
_____
Convoy
OA.207 departed Methil escorted by destroyer ST LAURENT
which stayed with the convoy until 6 September and
corvette GODETIA.
_____
Convoy
FN.268 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN and
sloop LONDONDERRY. Patrol sloop GUILLEMOT joined on 1
September. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2 September.
_____
Convoy
MT.156 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne
later that day.
_____
Convoy
FS.268 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops EGRET and
WESTON. These escorts were detached on 1 September and
destroyers CATTISTOCK and WINCHESTER joined. The convoy
arrived at Southend on 2 September.
_____
US
Destroyer Divisions 65 and 67 (eight ships) which had been
called to Norfolk, Virginia, departed Hampton Roads this
date.
After
loading torpedoes at Newport and Philadelphia, these ships
arrived at Boston 3 September en route to Halifax.
_____
The
MENACE operation, Anglo French attack on Dakar, ships
began to depart England for the forward base at Freetown.
Heavy
cruiser DEVONSHIRE, destroyer HARVESTER, French sloops
COMMANDANT DOMINE and COMMANDANT DUBOC departed the Clyde.
This
group rendezvoused with convoy "MP" north of Ireland. This
convoy was composed of Light cruiser FIJI, destroyers
AMBUSCADE, ANTELOPE, WOLVERINE, VOLUNTEER and transports
ETTRICK (11,279grt), KENYA (9890grt), SOBIESKI (11,030grt)
which departed Scapa Flow at 1300/31st.
Convoy
"MP" had been brought from Liverpool departing at
1600/24th escorted by destroyers DUNCAN and CATTISTOCK.
The escort was joined by destroyers WOLVERINE and
VOLUNTEER at sea. The convoy arrived at Scapa Flow at
0700/26th.
Transports
WESTERNLAND (16,479grt), PENNLAND (16,082grt), KARANJA
(9891grt) and store ship BELGRAVIAN (3136grt) with
destroyers MACKAY and VANOC and corvette ERICA departed
Liverpool on the 31st.
On
26 August, convoy OB.204, escorted by destroyers ARROW,
ACHATES, VISCOUNT, sloop DEPTFORD, anti-submarine trawlers
NORTHERN GEM (655grt) and LADY ELSA (518grt), freighters
ANADYR (5278grt), CASAMANCE (5817grt), FORT LAMY
(5234grt), NEVADA (5693grt), carrying vehicles for the
operation, British tanker OCEAN COAST (1173grt), escorted
by French sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA and patrol vessel
PRESIDENT HONDUCE, departed Liverpool.
On
30 August, the MENACE units were detached as convoy "MS".
_____
Submarine
H.50 on patrol in the North Sea was attacked by German
S-boats. In depth charge attacks, H.50 had one engine put
out of action, but was able to escape.
_____
In
a raid over Rotterdam, a Swordfish of 812 Squadron from
PEREGRINE was shot down. Acting Lt G. Villiers was killed
and Midshipman (A) M V Driver taken prisoner. A
second Swordfish crashed in the sea returning and the crew
rescued by destroyer JUPITER.
_____
S/Lt
J G. Vaughan and Air Mechanic E C Woodley were killed when
their Roc of 759 Squadron stalled on a climbing turn and
crashed at Crawley, near Worthy Down.
_____
Beginning
on the 31st and through 2 September, German minelayers
TANNENBERG, COBRA, ROLAND laid minefield "SW.3" escorted
by destroyers STEINBRINCK, GALSTER, JACOBI of the 5th
Destroyer Flotilla, T.5, T.6, T.7, T.8 of the 2nd Torpedo
Boat Flotilla, FALKE, ILTIS, JAGUAR, GREIF of the 5th
Torpedo Boat Flotilla.
_____
U.38
made an unsuccessful attack on a steamer in convoy OB.205
northwest of Ireland in 56N, 10W.
_____
U.46
sank Belgian steamer VILLE DE HASSELt (7461grt) in 57N,
09W, west of Lewis.
The
entire crew were rescued by Icelandic trawler HILMIR
(306grt) and Belgian trawler TRANSPORT (359grt).
Destroyer
WARWICK, escort vessel GLEANER, tug ENGLISHMAN were
involved in searching for the steamer which was originally
thought to be only damaged and abandoned.
_____
U.59
sank British steamer HAR ZION (2508grt) from convoy OB.205
in 56‑20N, 10W. There was only one survivor.
_____
U.60
damaged Dutch steamer VOLDENDAM (15,434grt, Convoy
Commodore) from convoy OB.205 in 56‑04N, 09‑52W. She was
carrying children being evacuated to Canada.
Destroyer WARWICK stood by and she was towed by tug
SALVONIA to the Clyde arriving on 2 September and beached.
The damage took 10 months to repair.
_____
Dutch
motor vessel MARNE (175grt) was lost on a mine five cables
106° from North Tyne Pier Light. Three crew were lost.
_____
British
tanker BRITISH ENERGY (7209grt) was damaged by German
bombing at Birkenhead.
_____
British
tanker ATHELVISCOUNT (8882grt) was damaged by German
bombing at the Cammell Laird yard in the River Mersey.
_____
Armed
yacht EMELLE (43grt) was lost, cause and location not
known.
_____
Submarine
PARTHIAN off Taranto sighted the Italian Fleet departing
port at 0600.
Italian
battleships LITTORIO, VENETO, CESARE, CAVOUR, DUILO
departed Taranto with heavy cruisers POLA, ZARA, FIUME,
GORIZIA of the 1st Cruiser Division, light cruisers
ABRUZZI and GARIBALDI of the 8th Cruiser Division, twenty
seven destroyers.
Battleship
CESARE suffered condenser problems and returned to
Taranto, escorted by torpedo boats PLEIADI and PARTENOPE,
arriving on 1 September.
Italian
heavy cruisers TRENTO, BOLZANO, TRIESTE of the 3rd Cruiser
Division and eight destroyers departed Messina.
Italian
light cruisers EUGENIO, AOSTA, ATTENDOLO, MONTECUCCOLI of
the 7th Cruiser Division and four destroyers departed
Brindisi.
Admiral
Cunningham's reconnaissance sighted the Italian Fleet and
reported two battleships, seven cruisers, eight destroyers
on the 31st.
Submarines
RAINBOW and PARTHIAN also reported units of the Italian
Fleet at sea. Submarine PARTHIAN attacked a group of four
cruisers, which included ABRUZZI and GARIBALDI, five
destroyers in 37-48N, 18-30E and reported two hits.
However,
after a very heavy storm on the 31 August/1 September in
which very many destroyers suffered storm damage, the
Italian Fleet returned to port before ever nearing the
British Mediterranean Fleet.
August,
miscellaneous
The
Admiralty considered taking the guns from long repairing
light cruisers BELFAST (mined 21 November 1939) and
GLASGOW (collision damage of 16 July 1940) for the defence
of Dover.
_____
Battleship
REVENGE, target ship CENTURION, light cruiser NEWCASTLE
were brought to Plymouth for coastal defence.
REVENGE arrived on 15 September, NEWCASTLE arrived on 14
July, but was not formally transferred to the Western
Approaches Command until 2 September, and CENTURION had
been at Plymouth since June.
_____
Australian
sloop YARRA arrived in the Red Sea for convoy duty from
Australia.
_____
At
the end of August, the following destroyers were under
repair -
BOREAS at
London repairing, BRILLIANT at Chatham repairing, COSSACK
at Rosyth repairing, DIANA at London refitting, DOUGLAS at
Portsmouth repairing, ELECTRA at Greenock repairing,
ESKIMO at Barrow repairing, FAME at Rosyth repairing,
FEARLESS at Glasgow repairing, FOXHOUND at London
refitting, HAVOCK at Suez repairing, ISIS at Plymouth
repairing, MASHON at Liverpool repairing, MONTROSE at
Chatham repairing, QUORN at Southampton docking, SOMALI at
Liverpool repairing, VANESSA at Sheerness repairing,
VIVACIOUS at Chatham repairing, WATCHMAN at Hull
repairing, WHITSHED at Chatham repairing, WINDSOR at
London
repairing.
