1 9 3 9
September
Deployed with 2nd Cruiser Squadron
Home Fleet.
3rd
Detached
for patrol off Norway with Humber Force to intercept any
Commerce Raider attempting passage to
Atlantic or any blockade runner
on passage
to German port.
4th
During
patrol with HM Destroyer JERSEY
Intercepted German freighter
JOHANNES MOLKEN
BUHR which was then scuttled by crew.
8th
Patrol
duty in North Sea in continuation with
HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON
22nd
Deployed
with HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON, SHEFFIELD
and AURORA
for
offensive patrol in Skaggerak.
Returned to Rosyth when operation
cancelled after HM Destroyers JERSEY
JAVELIN were
involved in collision.
26th
Deployed
with Home Fleet units to escort damaged
submarine HMS
SPEARFISH on passage to base in North
Sea.
Under air attacks.
October
8th
Joined
HM Battlecruisers HOOD and REPULSE with
screen of Home Fleet
destroyers
to carry out search for German
battlecruiser GNEISENAU and
cruiser KOLN
reported on passage in North
Sea.
November
12th
Deployed
with HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE as escort for
convoy of 19
tankers in
SW Approaches.
25th
Detached
from convoy and returned to Scapa
Flow
10th
Joined
HM Cruisers BELFAST, SOUTHAMPTON and
AURORA
to form
North Sea Striking Force based at
Rosyth.
21st
Returned
to Rosyth after HMS BELFAST detonated a
magnetic mine
when
Striking Force was leaving harbour and
planned operation was
cancelled.
November
23rd
Carried
out unsuccessful search off Norway with
two destroyers for
German liner BREMEN.
Diverted to join Home Fleet ships in
NW Approaches in search for
battlecruisers
SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after the
sinking of
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI
which had been escorting
an Atlantic
convoy.
28th
Deployed
in an unsuccessful search for ss
CITY OF FLINT which had
been
captured by a German commerce raider and
was on passage with
a Prize Crew
to Germany.
December
Deployed in North Sea and NW Approaches for interception patrol.
1
9 4 0
January
Transferred to 18th Cruiser
Squadron, Home Fleet.
7th
Escorted
convoy in NW Approaches with HMS
NEWCATLE.
February
North Sea escort and patrol duties in continuation
17th
Captured German trawler off Trondheim
during patrol.
On release took passage to Belfast for
routine docking and maintenance.
Deployed at Belfast.
(Note: During docking period
Degaussing equipment fitted to prevent
protection
against detonation of magnetic mines
See THE TORPEDOMEN by A Poland.)
For details of Home Fleet activities
and work of the Northern
Patrol see
Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and ARMED
MERCHANT
CRUISERS by K Poolman).
March
20th
Resumed Home Fleet duties on
completion of repair.
April
6th
Passage
to Rosyth from Scapa
Flow.
7th
Embarked
troops and stores in Forth with HM
Cruisers BERWICK,
YORK and DEVONSHIRE to take part in
planned allied landings
in Norway
(Operation RUPERT/R4)
8th
Troops
disembarked when Operation cancelled
Took passage from Forth
with same cruisers to intercept enemy
warships
reported on passage in North
Sea.
9th
Detached
from search with HM Cruisers MANCHESTER,
SHEFFIELD, SOUTHAMPTON and AURORA to
attack shipping at
Bergen
after German invasion of Norway.
Bergen attack cancelled by Admiralty and
rejoined Fleet
units.
Under heavy and sustained air attacks
during which HM Destroyer
GURKHA was sunk. Two ratings killed
on board when ship was
near
missed. See Naval Staff History (HMSO
2001)
10th
Detached
with HMS SHEFFIELD and took passage to
refuel at Scapa
Flow. Under
further air attacks.
11th
Sailed
from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser
SHEFFIELD screened by
HM Destroyers SOMALI, SIKH, MASHONA,
AFRIDI, MATABELE
and MOHAWK
to carry out sweep in search of enemy
vessels taking
troops to
Norway.
13th
Deployed
with same destroyers to search for
warships reported by
aircraft in Alesund
area of Norway.
Diverted on Admiralty orders to carry
out landings at Namsos
by
seamen and
marines from the two cruisers (Operation
HENRY)
14th
Landed
advance party at Bangsund,
near Namsos.
On completion carried out patrol
northwards (Operation HARRY).
17th
Recovered landing party from
destroyers.
Passage to Scapa
Flow to replenish.
Nominated reinforcement of allied
force at Andalsnes
(Operation SICKLE)
Passage to Rosyth
for troops and stores.
22nd
Sailed
from Rosyth HM Cruisers GALATEA and SHEFFIELD,
screened by
HM Destroyers VANSITTART, CAMPBELL,
ICARUS,
IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE
and WITCH.
23rd
Anchored
off shore on arrival and discharged
passengers and stores
into
destroyers and small craft for landing
(Operation SICKLE)
On completion took passage to rejoin
Home Fleet ships east of Shetlands.
28th
Passage to Molde with HM Destroyers
JACKAL and JAVELIN.
29th
Embarked
King Haakon
of Norway at Molde with Crown Prince
,
Government ministers and allied
legation personnel for passage to Tromso.
(Note: A quantity of gold bullion was
also embarked.)
30th
Passage
to Scapa Flow from Tromso
escorted by HMS
JAVELIN
and HMS
JACKAL, after passengers transferred to
a Norwegian warship.
(For details of the disastrous
operations off Norway see NARVIK by
D MacIntyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by
J Adams and
Naval Staff
History).
May
On arrival at Scapa Flow nominated for special duty and took
passage to
Greenock.
7th
Embarked
Royal Marines at Greenock.
8th
Sailed
from Greenock for Iceland with HM
Cruiser BERWICK,
HM Destroyers FEARLESS and FORTUNE to
carry out initial
occupation
prior to landing of military occupation
force.
(Operation FORK)
10th
Arrived at Reykjavik
and disembarked Marines.
Sailed for with German nationals for
internment and carried
out patrol
in eastern fjords before final
departure.
On arrival at Liverpool taken in hand for refit
June
Under refit.
(Note: Work included installation of an
RAF air-surface radar
modified for
naval use (Radar Type 286M). For details
of
development
and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse.).
10th
Boarded
and captured Italian freighter GAMBIANO
in Liverpool
docks after
Italy declared war.
July
1st
Resumed
Home Fleet deployment on completion of
refit.
16th
Deployed
in North Sea with HM Cruisers
SOUTHAMPTON,
SUSSEX
and SHROPSHIRE in search for German
warships.
During passage
in fog at high speed, collided with HM
Destroyer
IMOGEN off Duncansby
Head.
Extensive fires
started and structural damage forward
above the waterline.
Rescued crew of
HMS IMOGEN when fires became out of
control
and this
warship had to be abandoned.
22nd
Taken in hand for repair at Liverpool.
August
Under repair.
to
September
October
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
Resumed operational
service on completion.
30th
Took
passage to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft
Carrier ARK ROYAL and
HM Battleship BARHAM with screen of
four destroyers.
November
6th
Arrived
at Gibraltar.
7th
Embarked
troops for passage to Malta and joined
Force X with
HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruiser
BERWICK, HM
Destroyers, GALLANT, GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND
and
ENCOUNTER for passage to Malta
(Operation COAT).
(Note: Cover for the passage of these
reinforcements for the Fleet
in Alexandria
was provided by Force H. See MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by D Macintyre and Naval Staff
History).
11th
Landed
troops in Malta and joined 7th Cruiser
Squadron.
Deployed as escort for HM Aircraft
Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS with
HM Cruisers BERWICK, GLOUCESTER and YORK
to provide cruiser cover
during air
attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto
(Operation JUDGEMENT).
14th
Embarked
troops in Alexandria with HM Cruisers
BERWICK,
YORK
and SYDNEY (RAN) for passage to
Piraeus, Greece.
16th
Disembarked
troops in Piraeus and took return
passage to Egypt
23rd
Deployed
with HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS YORK with
screen
of four
destroyers for escort of Malta relief
convoy MW4 as Force E
(Operation MB9 Covered by Force D,
HM Battleship RAMILLIES,
HM Cruisers BERWICK, COVENTRY and
NEWCASTLE screened
by HM
Destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND, GALLANT,
GREYHOUND and
HEREWARD. Force C. HM Aircraft
Carrier
EAGLE, HM Battleships MALAYA
and BARHAM provided
Distant Cover.
Part of major Operation COLLAR))
26th
Arrived in Malta
with ships of Force E and MW4.
27th
Took passage from Malta
with Force E.
28th
Joined
HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON
on
passage as
Force F from Gibraltar to join
Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.
29th
Deployed
with Ships of Forces D, E and F as
escort for Convoy ME4
during
passage from Malta to Alexandria.
December
1st
Arrived
at Alexandria.
2nd
Passage
to Suda
Bay, Crete.
3rd
Under
air attack at Suda
Bay and damaged by two torpedoes.
Extensive flooding
and some fires aft. Two shafts
were damaged.
Returned to Alexandria
at 17 knots.
10th
Under temporary repair at Alexandria.
(Note: For further details see above
references.)
1
9 4 1
January
Under repair.
February
Transferred to East Indies
Station because of speed limitation
to 24 knots
following damage at Suda Bay.
(Note: Only two shafts were available
as repair not possible at Alexandria.)
15th
Transit of Suez
Canal; on passage to Indian Ocean.
(Note: Ship provided cover for
passage of HM Supply Ships
GLENEARN, GLENGYLE and GLENROY to
Mediterranean
as Force Y.
They were to be deployed with
Mediterranean Fleet
and later
converted for use as Landing Ships
(Infantry).
21st
Diverted
on passage to join search in Indian
Ocean by East Indies
Fleet ships for German ADMIRAL SCHEER
which had sunk a
Canadian Armed Merchant Cruiser.
22nd
Continued search with HM Aircraft
Carrier HERMES. HM
Cruisers
AUSTRALIA (RAN), CANBERRA (RAN),
EMERALD, SHROPSHIRE
and
ENTERPRISE.
Ships WALRUS aircraft sighted SCHEER
in a position 140 miles from ship
and surface
contact not attempted because of
inadequate fuel remaining.
28th
Joined Force Y on release from search
and escorted during
passage to Aden.
March
16th
Joined
HM Cruiser CALEDON with HM Destroyers
KIPLING and
KANDAHAR for escort of HM Armed Boarding
Vessels
CHAKDINA and
CHANTALA during passage to Berbera.
17th
Provided
naval gunfire support during landings of
military units
at Berbera,
British
Somaliland, which was
captured.
(Operation APPEARANCE)
On release from APPEARANCE deployed
for convoy defence
and
interception patrol in Indian
Ocean.
April
Passage to Seychelles for escort of ss
TALAMBA.
Deployed with HM Cruiser CANBERRA (RAN)
as escort for ss
TALAMBA from Seychelles to join military
convoy WS6 on
passage from
Mombasa to Aden.
10th
Joined
WS6 and relieved HM Cruisers CORNWALL
and PHOEBE as
Ocean Escort.
(Note: HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE
remained with WS6)
13th
Detached
from WS6 and resumed interception patrol
duties in
conjunction
with HM Cruiser COLOMBO.
24th
At Mombasa
with HMS COLOMBO.
28th
Joined
military convoy WS7 as Ocean Escort with
HMS
COLOMBO
as relief for HM Cruiser HAWKINS.
(Note: WS7 included troopships on
passage to Aden and Bombay.)
May
1st
Remained
with WS7 when convoy divided into
sections for Aden
and Bombay
(WS7X)
3rd
Detached
from WS7 Ocean Escort when convoy
dispersed on its
arrival off Perim
20th
During
passage from Aden to Colombo diverted to
carry out search for
commerce
raider PINGUIN known to be active in Indian Ocean.
June
Indian
Ocean
interception patrol and convoy defence
duties in
to
continuation,
including call at Singapore.
September
October
17th
Joined
military convoy WS11X as Ocean Escort
for passage to Bombay
after it had
detached from WS11 during passage from
Durban.
22nd
Detached from WS11X on arrival at Bombay
and resumed patrol duties.
November
17th
Joined
military convoy WS12 during passage from
Durban to Aden and
detached as
Ocean Escort for new convoy WS12J during
passage to
Colombo.
(Note: WS12J comprised the troopships
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND,
DOMINION MONARCH
and EMPRESS OF CANADA.)
23rd
Detached from WS12J on arrival at Colombo.
24th
Deployed
as Ocean Escort for DOMINION MONARCH and
EMPRESS OF CANADA as Convoy WS12
during passage in
Indian
Ocean to Singapore.
26th
Relieved
by HM Cruiser DRAGON as Ocean Escort for
rest of
passage to
Singapore and returned to Colombo as
escort for ss
AWATEA.
30th
Resumed
Indian Ocean patrol duties on arrival at
Colombo
December
Deployed in Bay of Bengal.
9th
Opened
fire and sank Royal Indian Navy Patrol
Vessel HMIS
PRABNAVATI which had been mistakenly
identified as a
Japanese submarine.
Landed survivors at
Bombay.
(Note: This 500 ton ship had been
requisitioned by the RIN).
1
9 4 2
January
Convoy defence and patrol in
continuation.
to
February
March
Passage from Durban with HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser
WORCESTERSHIRE to
reinforce escort for military convoy.
25th
Joined
HMS NEWCASTLE and HM Sloop MILFORD
as
Ocean Escort for military convoy
WS16.
(Note: HMS
NEWCASTLE detached later that day.)
April
Nominated for repair and refit in USA.
1st
Detached
from WS16 on relief by HM Cruiser
COLOMBO
and HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser ALAUNIA.
(Note: Japanese naval units were
known to be operating in
Indian
Ocean.
See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
Took return passage to Mombasa.
Prepared for passage to USA and sailed
from Mombasa.
May
6th
Taken
in hand for repair and refit by US
Navy Yard in New
York.
June
Under refit.
to
(Note:
Work done included
Main armament Fire-control Radar Type
284, Aircraft warning
July
Fire-control Radars Type 285 and 282,
Aircraft warning Radar
Radar Type 281 installation and Radar
Type 286M replaced by
new Type
271.
Close range AA armament improved by
fit of additional 20mm
Oerlikon guns.)
August
On completion of Post Refit trials took
passage to UK to complete radar
installations
at Portsmouth.
September
On completion of refit work carried
out trials off Portsmouth..
3rd
Joined
10th Cruiser Squadron and worked-up at
Scapa Flow.
October
Resumed operational service
with Squadron in Home Fleet
based at
Scapa Flow.
November
Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
December
Under repair at Clyde commercial
shipyard.
1
9 4 3
January
Rejoined Squadron in Home
Fleet.
20th
Deployed
with HM Cruisers BERMUDA and KENT to
provide cruiser
cover
against attack on Russian Convoy JW52
and return convoy RA52
during
transit.
(Note: For details of all Russian
Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO
RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
CONVOY ! by
P Kemp, ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by
B Schoefield.)
February
Deployed with Squadron for Home
Fleet duties.
Provided cover for Atlantic convoys
based in Iceland.
23rd
Dragged
anchor at Seidisfjord
and grounded.
Towed clear by tugs.
March
2nd
Deployed
with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and
HOWE to provide Distant Cover for
return passage of
Convoy RA53 from Kola Inlet. See
references.
30th
Deployed
for Northern Patrol based in Iceland.
During Area WHITE Patrol in Denmark
Strait intercepted German
blockade
runner REGENSBERG on passage from Japan.
Enemy
ship
scuttled on approach. Six survivors were
rescued.
April
Home Fleet deployment for interception
and
convoy defence
in
continuation.
May
Transferred to Plymouth Command for
interception of coastal
shipping and
blockade runners in SW Approaches.
June
12th
Deployed
to cover destroyer operations against
French coastal
shipping
with HMS BERMUDA.
20th
Deployed
in Bay of Biscay and SW Approaches to
cover HM Escort
Aircraft Carrier ARCHER and frigates
of Escort Group B5 during
anti-submarine
operations.
(For details of the offensive carried
out against U-Boats in transit
to and from
Atlantic convoy routes see HITLERS
U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair, THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and
Naval Staff
History).
29th
Provided
Ocean Escort for ships of 1st Minelaying
Squadron
during
minelay in Northern Barrage.
(Operation SN22A See Naval Staff
History (Mining).)
July
Channel deployment in continuation.
20th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers ATHABASKAN (RCN),
IROQUOIS (RCN) and Polish ORP ORKAN for offensive
patrol in Bay
of Biscay.
August
Under refit by HM Dockyard
Devonport.
to
(Note:
Aircraft facilities removed. Additional
20mm weapons
September
fitted to improve Close Rage air
defence. Radar outfits
modernised
with new Fire-Control Type 283 fitted.
IFF
equipment
was installed and VHF radio-telephone
outfits.
October
On completion transferred to
Portsmouth Command in continuation.0
27th
Embarked
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Andrew
Cunningham
and Lady
Dudley Pound for ceremonial interment of
Admiral
of the Fleet
Sir Dudley Pound whose ashes were
scattered 30
miles off Nab Tower.
November
Deployed in English Channel and SW
Approaches to cover
attacks on
French coastal shipping (Operation
TUNNEL Series)
December
Interception patrol and covering
duties in continuation.
12th
Deployed
with HM Cruiser GAMBIA NNW of Azores to
intercept
blockade runners known to be on passage
from Far East
(Operation STONEWALL).
27th
After
sighting by SUNDERLAND aircraft,
redeployed with HM Cruisers
ENTERPRISE, PENELOPE and ARIADNE to
intercept blockade runner
ALSTERUFER.
In action with German destroyers and
torpedo boats sent to meet blockade
runner and
with HMS ENTERPRISE sank destroyer Z25
and torpedo
boats T25
and T26.
Sustained slight
structural damage from splinters.
ALSTERUFER was abandoned after air
attacks and later sank.
62
survivors were rescued.
28th
Under
attack by Glider Bombs controlled by
aircraft whilst on passage to
Plymouth with HMS ENTERPRISE after
engagement
29th
Arrived
at Plymouth.
1
9 4 4
January
Convoy defence, cover and
interception patrol duties in
to
continuation.
April
Nominated for support of planned allied
landings
in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE)
Allocated for service with Western
Task Force under US Navy
Command in Bombarding Force C with US
Battleships USS
TEXAS and ARKANSAS, Free French Cruisers
MONTCALM and
GEORGES LEYGUES, nine US Navy
destroyers and three RN
HUNT Class Destroyers.
(For details of naval activities
before and during NEPTUNE See
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY.
June 1944 (HMSO) and
OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards.)
Prepared for
bombardment duties.
May
Took part in bombardment exercises in
Cape Wrath area.
June
3rd
Passage
from Belfast
to Channel with ships of Force C.
4th
Operation
postponed for 24 hours.
5th
Passage
through Swept Channel to OMAHA Beach head with Convoy O1
from St
Albans Head.
6th
Provided
covering fire during landings on OMAHA
Beaches with ships
of Force C,
7th
Remained
off beaches to provide naval support
gunfire as required.
(Note: Replenished ammunition and
supplies during Build-Up Phase and
returned to
Assault area
20th
Nominated
for naval bombardment of defences of
Cherbourg and took
passage to
Portland to join Task Force 129.
21st
At Portland
for briefing.
See references
Joined Bombardment Group No 1 with
HMS ENTERPRISE, US cruisers
TUSCALOOSA,
QUINCY and NEVADA.
(Note: British 9th Minesweeping
Flotilla and US 159th Minesweeping
Flotilla were
part of Group 1 with screen of six US
Navy destroyers.
24th
Sailed
from Portland with Task Force.
25th
Carried
out preliminary bombardment with ships
of Group 1 from position
25,000
yards NW of Cherbourg
(For details see LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY.)
On completion of preliminary
bombardment took passage with ships of
Group 1 to Fire Support Area No.3 for
close range joint bombardment of
defences
with Groups 1 and 2 after mine
clearance..
Under heavy shore fire before minesweep
completed and carried out
bombardment
to north of Fire Support Area.
Sustained damage by
two direct hits and one near miss.
(Note: Structural damage in hangar
area and aft with damage
to electric
cabling and fire control equipment. See
reference)
30th
Withdrawn from Western Task Force.
July
Withdrawn from operational service and
took
passage to Tyne
Called at Belfast
during passage for refit in
commercial shipyard.
3rd
Arrived
in Tyne.
Paid-off and taken in hand for refit
and repair to action damage.
August
Under refit and repair
to
(Note:
Modern radar were fitted together with
an Aircraft Homing
December
Beacon (Outfit YE). Type 281B with
single aerial replaced
Air Warning Type
281 which required use of both masts.
Type 293 replaced Surface Warning
Type 273. Type 274
new Gunnery
radar replaced Type 284 for main
armament.
X Turret removed.
1
9 4 5
January
Refit and repair in
continuation
to
May
June
Re-commissioned for service and post
refit
trials.
29th
Dockyard
work completed.
July
Prepared for foreign
service with East Indies Fleet
Worked-up for
operational war service in Mediterranean.
August
22nd
Sailed to join Fleet in East
Indies with HM Cruiser JAMAICA.
SECRET
Subject: Bombing
Attack on the 18th Cruiser
Squadron on 9th April 1940
and
Damage sustained by H.M.S. GLASGOW
From: THE
COMMANDING OFFICER, H.M.S. GLASGOW
Date: 18th
APRIL
1940
No.
0460/017
To: THE VICE
ADMIRAL COMMANDING, EIGHTEEN CRUISER
SQUADRON
The following report is submitted,
departmental reports are being forwarded
as enclosures.
2. Weather Conditions
Visibility
maximum
Weather
blue sky with strong sun, cumulus cloud
varying in density from 1/10
8/10 covered.
Sea
3-4
Wind
NE force 5
3. Method of Attack
Between approximately 1430 and 1500, a number of dive
bombing attacks were made by
individual aircraft. At 1445, one
such attack on H.M.S.
GLASGOW delivered from the starboard
quarter resulted in two very near misses
port side. Gunfire was impeded by
the fine angle of approach but the
aircraft was engaged by
close range weapons. Ship's
course 340 degrees speed 17 knots.
4. Two bombs of
250 500 lbs. Weight were released at a
height of about 1500 feet while
still in the dive. It is
considered probable that they fell about
15 feet from the ship's side, one
bursting on impact abreast 70 station
and the other under water further
forward.
5. State of ship at 1445
Hands were at Action Stations, all men not required for
fighting the A.A. armament being off the
upper deck. All ratings between
decks were distributed as far as
possible throughout the ship. The
upward trend of the splinters again
being demonstrated the value of men
lying
flat on the deck away from the ship's
side. Had this not been enforced
casualties would have been
greater.
6. Doors,
hatches, and ventilation were in the
action state.
7. Damage sustained
A large proportion of the bomb which burst on impact entered
the ship three feet above the lower deck
level, holding an area of
approximately six feet by three feet; in
addition further penetration of the
ship's side was caused by scattered
splinters of varying size numbering
about
sixty. A further effect of the
bomb was blast which blew in four dead
lights, one of which coming inboard was
responsible for the death of a
rating.
Considerable quantities of water entered
with movement of the ship, and
the messdecks
between 53 74 stations were
about one foot under water.
Certain subsidiary flooding occurred and
minor underwater damage further
for'd was
experienced, probably as a result of the
other bomb.
8. 'A' turret
was temporarily out of action (see
Appendix III).
9. Details of
the damage are given in the Appendices.
10. Action Repairs
A good deal of smoke and debris impeded a rapid examination
of the area affected but at 1500 my
Executive Officer was able to report
that
there was no considerable flooding and
by 1515, it had been ascertained that
the lower deck was intact and that there
were only very minor leaks below
it. Power had by this time been
restored to าAำ turret.
11. Until a more
complete inspection of the structural
damage could be made and the holes
blocked to get flooding under control, a
request was made that speed should not
be increased except in case of
emergency.
The obvious damage in frames and plates
made it doubtful at this time
whether high speed could be possible
even when shored.
12. By 1540, a
complete inspection had been made and
shoring was well under way. My
signal times 1547 reported that the
ship would be ready for service and high
speeds in half an hour's time.
Shoring was completed and all
important holes blocked by
1700.
13. Work was
then started in building cofferdams of
wood and cement round important hatches
on the lower deck, such as lower
steering position, to preserve access to
them
should the ship go further down by the
bow due to further damage or the
displacement of puddings. These
were completed by 2230.
14. That
evening, the ship was steamed at speeds
up to 26 knots and the following day 30
knots was maintained for a considerable
period.
15. Harbour repairs
On the following day, 10th April, the ship was
ordered to Scapa and plates were
prepared on passage to effecting more
permanent repairs.
16. The ship
anchored at 1905, but subsequently
nearly two hours' work
were lost due to an air raid.
17. At
midnight, the Base Engineer Officer and
Mr. Mackenzie of Metal Industries
estimated that good temporary repairs
could be effected
in forty eight hours. Twenty
two hours later, the ship
proceeded to sea and the
repairs which were done entirely by the
ship's staff have stood up to a week of
hard steaming.
18. Casualties
I regret to report the following casualties
Killed
Eric
William Sizer,
Acting Leading Signalman, P/JX 138361
Arthur Gudger,
Stoker 2nd Class, P/KX 97026
Wounded
Royston
Walter Burrows, Ordinary Signalman,
P/SSX 23322 (since died)
Robert Nisbet
Milligan, Able Seaman, P/JX 132375
Robert
George Edwards, Able Seaman, P/JX 144393
Ivor
Stuart Lockier,
Signalman, P/JX 145592
David
Cowper Pattie, Ordinary Signalman, P/SSX
25072
19. The wounded
were transferred to H.M. Hospital Ship
AMARAPOORA on arrival in
harbour.
20. Recommendations
Detailed recommendations are included in the Appendices, but
the following are most strongly
urged:
(a). At least two tons of rapid
hardening
cement or alternatively one ton of
Portland cement and one ton of ciment
fondu should
be carried in
war time.
(b). A supply of tongued and
grooved 9" by 3"
deals should be carried for building
cofferdams. (These could be made
into mess tables to facilitate
stowage).
(c). All water tight hatches
situated on the
lower deck which lead to important
compartments below should have higher coamings
where possible level to the deck head.
(d). Second Welding set. It
is strongly recommended that a second
single point welding set should be
carried.
21. Bomb
splinters have been forwarded to the
Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and
Shetlands,
in accordance with Orkneys and Shetlands
General Memorandum No. 249.
22. Copies of
Appendices II and III are being
forwarded under separate cover to the
Director
of Electrical Engineering, the Director
of Naval Construction and the Captain,
H.M.S. VERNON in accordance with C.A.F.O.@s
3376/39 and 2833/39.
Damage Control Organisation
23. The damage
control organisation
worked smoothly, and the work of
the repair parties in bringing the ship
back to full efficiency so rapidly is
worth of high praise. The direct
credit for this, under my Executive
Officer, must go to Lieutenant (E)
Horatio
Peter Bowen Evans, Royal Navy, Damage
Control Officer, and Mr. Albert Groves,
Warrant Shipwright, Royal Navy.
24. The behaviour of all
officers and ratings, both immediately
after the damage occurred and during the
subsequent repairs, was
exemplary, and morale was quite
unaffected during the subsequent
attacks.
25. The energy,
initiative and fine example shown by the
following ratings is worthy of special
mention:
Chief
E.R.A. 2nd Class John Edward
Milne, P/M 24939
Chief
Stoker Percy John Bowen, P/K 66145
Chief
Shipwright 2nd Class Gilbert
Henry Robinson, P/M 15163
Stoker 1st
Class Leslie Price, P/K 95358
26. The whole
of this creditable state of affairs is
basically due to the skilled organisation,
cool leadership, and personality of my
Executive Officer, Commander John Wilson
Cuthbert, Royal Navy, whole name I
should particularly like to bring to
your notice.
(Signed)
F.H. Pegram
CAPTAIN
