1
9 4 1
May
Contractors
harbour and sea trials
18th
Commenced
Acceptance Trials and commissioned for
service in 19th Destroyer Flotilla
.
(Note: Many of
the ship’s company had previously served in
HM Destroyer ASHANTI which
had Paid-off
after being badly damaged in a collision off
the mouth of the Tyne in
October
1940.)
28th
Passage from Tyne
to Scapa Flow.
29th
Commenced
work-up at Scapa Flow with ships of Home
Fleet.
June
Deployed
at Scapa Flow.
11th
On completion of work-up deployed for
Fleet duties.
(Note:
One source records ship was part of escort
for Atlantic convoy to Gibraltar and returned
to Scapa Flow. The dates provided cannot be identified for any routine convoy.
Further research is required).
July
1st
At
Scapa
Flow
and
deployed for Fleet duties.
Nominated for detached
service in support of Malta Relief convoy
(Operation SUBSTANCE).
12th
Deployed
with HM Battleship NELSON, HM Cruisers
MANCHESTER and ARETHUSA, HM
Destroyers COSSACK, NESTOR (RAN)
and SIKH for escort of Convoy WS9C and
took
passage from Scapa Flow to Londonderry.
13th
Joined
convoy during passage in NW Approaches.
(Operation SUBSTANCE – Malta relief convoy.
For details see MALTA CONVOYS by R
Woodman, The
Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY, THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, THE
NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
by J
Green and A Massignini
and Naval Staff History for
details.)
17th
Detached
from WS9C with HMS MANCHESTER and HM
Destroyer NESTOR (RAN) for escorted
of ss
PASTEUR into Gibraltar to embark troops for passage to Malta.
20th
At Gibraltar
21st
Deployed
with ships of Force H to provide cover for
passage of convoy, now redesignated
GM1,
during
passage to western Mediterranean to Sicilian
Narrows.
(Other ships in covering force
and screen were `HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM
Battleship NELSON,
HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Cruiser
HERMIONE, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORESTER, FURY
and DUNCAN.
22nd
Under threat of attack by Italian
submarine DIASPRO which was
driven off by HMAS NESTOR.
23rd
Under
air attacks during which HMS MANCHESTER and
HM Destroyer FEARLESS were hit
by
torpedoes and sustained serious damage.
(Note:
HMS MANCHESTER had to be withdrawn and was
escorted back to Gibraltar.
HMS FEARLESS had to be sunk by
sister destroyer HMS FORESTER.)
23rd
(sic)
Remained with Force H ships west of Sicilian
Narrows when Convoy and its Close Escort
by
Force X continued passage to Malta.
25th
Took
passage to Gibraltar as part of screen after
Force X rejoined waiting
Force H
(Note:
Cover was also provided for passage of
Convoy GM1 from Malta.)
27th
Arrived
at Gibraltar on completion of SUBSTANCE and
retained for support
of planned operation
to take
RAF personnel and stores to Malta.
(Note:
For details see above references.)
31st
Deployed with HM Destroyer SIKH as screen
for HM
Cruisers ARETHUSA, HERMIONE and
MANXMAN during passage in
western Mediterranean covered by ships of
Force H which were
also to
carry out concurrent air attack and
bombardment on Alghero.
(Operation STYLE – See references.)
August
1st
Detached
from cruisers and joined Group I of Force H
as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS
HERMIONE with HM Destroyers
SIKH, ENCOUNTER and FORESTER during passage
to
Gibraltar.
4th
Returned
to Gibraltar with ships of Force H
8th
Took passage to Scapa
Flow from Gibraltar on release from Force
H duty.
12th
Arrived
at Scapa Flow.
19th
Resumed Fleet duties after maintenance at
Scapa
Flow.
20th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, PUNJABI and
TARTAR as screen for HM Battleship
KING
GEORGE V.
22nd
Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Destroyer
LIVELY to assist damaged Free
French submarine
RUBIS
damaged off Norway.
Joined
HM Cruiser CURACOA and located submarine
which was under way to Dundee
having
repaired a
machinery defect.
26th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers LAMERTON, INTREPID and HM
Trawler REGAL for anti-
submarine search
in NW Approaches.
29th
Deployed
with HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD, HM Destroyers
VIVACIOUS, BADSWORTH and HM
Auxiliary
Despatch Yacht JEAN as screen for HM
Battlecruiser REPULSE during post refit
trials.
September
3rd
Deployed
with HM Cruiser KENYA to provide cover for minelay off Norwegian coast by HM
Fast
Minelayer MANXMAN (Operation EH – See Naval
Staff History (Mining) for
details.)
5th
Returned
to Scapa Flow.
6th
Took
passage from Scapa Flow to Greenock for
repair and boiler clean in Clyde
commercial shipyard
17th
Nominated
for support of planned Malta relief
(Operation HALBERD) and joined military
convoy WS11X
with HM Battleships PRINCE OF WALES, RODNEY,
HM Cruisers
EURYALUS, KENYA, SHEFFIELD, EDINBURGH,
HM Destroyers LAFOREY, ORIBI,
Dutch
destroyer ISAAC SWEERS, Polish destroyers
ORP GARLAND and PIORUN.
24th
Escort
joined by destroyers from Gibraltar and
Force H ships provided cover for passage
October
1st
Arrived
at Gibraltar.
(Note:
Passage of three mercantiles
identified at Convoy MG2
and without escort was covered
presence
of Force A and X.)
2nd
Sailed from Gibraltar
as part of screen for HMS PRINCE OF WALES
during
passage to Scapa Flow.
6th
Arrived
at Scapa Flow and took passage to Rosyth for
maintenance period.
14th
Sailed
from Rosyth to resume Flotilla duties and
took passage to Greenock.
17th
Deployed for anti-submarine operations in
NW Approaches on
arrival at Greenock.
25th
Transferred
to Force H with HMS LAFOREY of Flotilla and
took passage to Gibraltar.
29th
Joined
Force H for screening and convoy defence
duties based at Gibraltar.
(Note:
Passage may have been independent as no
routine convoy sailed in this period.)
November
10th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LEGION, SIKH,
ZULU, GURKHA and
Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS as
screen for HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Aircraft
Carriers ARK
ROYAL.
ARGUS and HM Cruiser HMS HERMIONE during
provision of
cover
for Malta aircraft delivery from the two
aircraft carriers
(Operation PERPETUAL)
13th
Carried out unsuccessful anti-submarine
operations after
suspected contact.
Under attack
by U81 during which HMS ARK ROYAL was hit
by torpedo and disabled.
Took part in unsuccessful search
for submarine with HMS GURKHA
Embarked personnel not required
for damage control from HMS ARK ROYAL
14th
Returned to Gibraltar
after sinking of HMS ARK ROYAL.
17th
Deployed for anti-submarine patrol and
convoy defence.
26th
Returned
to Gibraltar
(Note:
One source records escort of UK bound
convoy.
During this period there was
extensive U-Boat activity in the area.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by c
Blair.)
December
Under maintenance at Gibraltar.
Nominated for special detached
duty as escort for HM Battleship DUKE OF
YORK during
passage
from UK to USA with Prime Minister to attend
ARCADIA conference with President
of USA.
(Note:
Commander RG Stuart, in command discharged
sick and relieved by First
Lieutenant.)
11th
Sailed
from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers HARVESTER
and HIGHLANDER to meet
HMS
DUKE
OF YORK
15th
Arrived at Ponta
Delgardo, Azores
to refuel and replenish.
(Note: Weather
during passage had delayed journey.)
17th
Sailed
from Azores.
22nd
Arrived in Bermuda
after failing to meet HMS DUKE OF YORK due
to extreme weather conditions.
29th
Sailed
from Bermuda for Norfolk, Va.
with HMS HARVESTER and HMS HIGHLANDER
31st
Arrived
at Norfolk.
1
9 4 2
January
12th
Took
passage from Norfolk to St Johns, Newfoundland with same ships,.
16th
Arrived at Johns to refuel and embark
stores.
18th
Sailed from St
Johns for Greenock with same ships.
(Note: This
passage may have been independent.)
25th
Arrived
at Greenock.
New
commanding officer, Commander HG Walters
joined ship.)
26th
Under maintenance.
February
WARSHIP WEEK held in Doncaster.
1st
Took
passage from Greenock to rejoin Force H at
Gibraltar.
(Note: One
source records two US Navy destroyers were
in
company.)
4th
Resumed
service at Gibraltar with Force H
6th
Deployed
for escort of inward convoy to Gibraltar
from Liverpool.
(Note: Convoy
OG79 arrived on 7th.)
9th
Took
passage to UK with HMS LAFOREY for escort of
military convoy
during Atlantic
passage from Clyde.
13th
Arrived
in Clyde
17th
Joined
Convoy WS16 with HM Destroyers ACTIVE,
ANTHONY, BLANKNEY,
CROOME, DUNCAN,
FIREDRAKE and LAFOREY as Ocean
Escort during Atlantic passage.
21st
Detached
from WS16 with same ships and returned to
Gibraltar.
(Note: HM
Aircraft Carrier ARGUS was part of WS16 and
on
passage to Gibraltar
to carry out
Malta aircraft delivery. It may be assumed
that the
destroyers
detached as
escort for HMS ARGUS.)
23rd
Arrived
at Gibraltar.
27th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
WHITEHALL,
WISHART, BLANKNEY, EXMOOR
and CROOME as screen for HMS ARGUS, HMS
EAGLE, HMS HERMIONE and HMS
MALAYA providing escort for Malta aircraft
delivery
from carriers (Operation SPOTTER I)
28th
Operation
cancelled due to aircraft fuel tank defects
and returned to Gibraltar
March
6th
Deployed
for Operation SPOTTER II with same ships as
SPOTTER I
8th
Arrived
at Gibraltar
after successful launch of
aircraft.
14th
Sustained
damage to rudder during anti-submarine
search operations in Straits of
Gibraltar
and returned to Gibraltar for
repair.
16th
Docked for repair by HM Dockyard Gibraltar.
(Note: During
the period in dock a rating fell into the
dock
and was badly injured.
30th
Nominated
for support of planned landings in
Madagascar with other ships of Force H on
completion of
planned aircraft delivery (Operation
IRONCLAD).
31st
Prepared for passage to Indian
Ocean.
April
(…) destroyers for escort
of assault convoy during passage to
Madagascar.
1st
Sailed
for Gibraltar for Freetown with HM
Battleship MALAYA,
HMS HERMIONE,
HM Destroyers LAFOREY,
LOOKOUT and DUNCAN.
5th
Joined
military convoy WS17 during passage.
(Note: HM
Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS was deployed
periodically with this convoy.)
6th
Called
at Freetown to refuel..
9th
Sailed
from Freetown with HMS MALAYA, HMS HERMIONE,
HM Destroyers ACTIVE,
ANTHONY, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN,
LAFOREY, LOOKOUT and PAKENHAM as Ocean
Escort for WS17A Section of
convoy.
14th
Detached from WS17A to refuel at St
Helena.
16th
Rejoined Ocean Escort.
19th
Called at Cape
Town to refuel.
22nd
Arrived
at Durban
28th
Sailed
from Durban to join screen for HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS HERMIONE with
May
2nd
Carried
out bombardment exercises.
3rd
Joined HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE and
HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE to provide
cover during
landings.
4th
Entered
Courier Bay with HMS LAFOREY and HMS ANTHONY
after passage
through
channel
previously swept by minesweepers.
5th
Acted as marker using searchlight to guide
HM Landing Ship
(Infantry) ROYAL ULSTERMAN
carrying Commando
force to assault area. Went to assist HM
Corvette AURICULA which
detonated a mine
but no support required.
Provided naval gunfire
support after landing.
6th
Provided further support bombardment before
leaving to join
HMS LAFOREY and HMS
LIGHTNING
for escort of HMS RAMILLIES during departure
to carry out search for
presumed Japanese
surface ships.
(Note: No enemy
ships were found.
HMS
AURICULA sank in Courier Bay due to mine
damage.)
7th
Provided naval gunfire support during
military operations
at Oranjia
prior to assault
on Diego Suarez.
8th
Deployed for anti-submarine operations with
aircraft from
HMS INDOMITABLE and
other destroyers.
11th
After
surrender of Diego Suarez provided working
parties to assist ashore.
Remained at
Diego Suarez for anti- submarine patrols
and to support occupation.
For full details of IRONCLAD see
Naval Staff History.
27th
Transferred
to Eastern Fleet with HMS LAFOREY and HMS
LIGHTNING
29th
Took passage to Colombo
from Diego Suarez.
31st
Called at Seychelles
to refuel.
and sailed on
completion.
June
1st
Joined
HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carriers
ILLUSTRIOUS, FORMIDABLE
and HM Cruiser
GAMBIA during passage to Colombo
3rd
Took
part in Fleet exercises including AA
shoot.
5th
Arrived
at Colombo
6th
Commenced
maintenance period.
12th
Resumed
Fleet duties and joined HMS LAFOREY and HMS
LOOKOUT in screen for
HMS WARSPITE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,
HMS INDOMITABLE and HMS GAMBIA
deployed
as Force A for offensive sweep of Indian Ocean to Chagos
islands.
16th
Called at Addu
Atoll with Force A
to refuel after delay due to monsoon
weather.
Took passage from Addu
Atoll for Colombo
on completion.
18th
Arrived
at Colombo.
22nd
Deployed with HMS LAFOREY for
anti-submarine patrol.
23rd
Took passage to Mombasa
with ships of Force A.
28th
Called at Seychelles
to refuel.
July
1st
Arrived
at Mombasa
and carried out maintenance.
9th
Nominated
for return to Mediterranean
for support of Malta relief operation.
Sailed from Mombasa
with HMS LAFOREY and HMS LOOKOUT as screen
for HMS
INDOMITABLE during passage to Gibraltar.
11th
Rescued
Norwegian seaman in Indian
Ocean, the sole survivors
from a ship sunk on 9th.
13th
Called
at Durban.
19th
Called
at Cape Town
23rd
Called
at Pointe Noire, Belgian Congo for fuel.
(Note: Ship
passage delayed by deployment for trade
defence
in Atlantic.)
27th
Joined
by HM Cruiser PHOEBE
28th
Arrived
at Freetown.
23rd
Took passage to Mombasa
with ships of Force A.
28th
Called at Seychelles
to refuel.
July
1st
Arrived
at Mombasa
and carried out maintenance.
9th
Nominated
for return to Mediterranean
for support of Malta relief operation.
Sailed from Mombasa
with HMS LAFOREY and HMS LOOKOUT as screen
for HMS
INDOMITABLE during passage to Gibraltar.
11th
Rescued
Norwegian seaman in Indian
Ocean, the sole survivors
from a ship sunk on 9th.
13th
Called
at Durban.
19th
Called
at Cape Town
23rd
Called
at Pointe Noire, Belgian Congo for fuel.
(Note: Ship
passage delayed by deployment for trade
defence
in Atlantic.)
27th
Joined
by HM Cruiser PHOEBE
28th
Arrived
at Freetown.
August
1st
Sailed
from Freetown
for Gibraltar as screen for same ships.
Rescued
survivors from Norwegian mercantile sunk on
25th July.
4th
Refuelled
from HMS INDOMITABLE.
5th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers FORESIGHT, FURY, ICARUS,
INTREPID, LAFOREY,
LOOKOUT, VANSITTART, WESTCOTT
and WRESTLER as screen for HM Aircraft
Carriers ARGUS, EAGLE,
INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers PHOEBE,
CHARYBDIS and SIRIUS during
Exercise BERSERK west of Gibraltar to carry
out
tactics
for use during planned defence of PEDESTAL
convoy, identified as Convoy GM4.
10th
Refuelled
and nominated with HMS LOOKOUT for escort of
HM Aircraft Carrier
FURIOUS during aircraft delivery
to Malta (Operation BELLOWS –Coincident with
PEDESTAL.
11th
During
screening of HMS FURIOUS detached when HMS
EAGLE was hit by torpedo
fired
by U73 and sank within eight minutes.
Carried out rescue work with HMS LOOKOUT
and HM
Tug JAUNTY
(Note:
These ships rescued a total of 927 survivors
from a ships company of 1160.)
Transferred survivors to HM
Destroyer KEPPEL and refuelled from tanker
in Force R
Took passage
to join ships covering passage of PEDESTAL
convoy after refuelling.
(Note:
These were HMS RODNEY, HMS NELSON, HMS
VICTORIOUS,
HMS PHOEBE, HMS SIRIUS, HM
Destroyers LAFOREY, LOOKOUT,
QUENTIN, AMAZON, ITHURIEL,
ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, VANSITTART,
WESTCOTT, WISHART and ZETLAND
deployed as Force Z.)
12th
Under air attacks.
Carried out successful
anti-submarine operations against Italian
submarine BRIN with
HM Destroyers FORESIGHT and FURY
and drove submarine away from convoy.
Despatched with HMS SOMALI, HMS
LOOKOUT and HMS CHARYBDIS to assist
damaged
HMS INDOMITABLE after being hit and badly
damaged in air attacks.
Remained with Force Z ships when
GM4 detached and entered Sicilian Narrows
escorted
by
Force X.
13th
Deployed
with HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS PHOEBE, HMS
LAFOREY, HMS LOOKOUT
and HMS
QUENTIN west of Narrows to provide cover for
returning ships of Force X.
(Note:
HMS INDOMITABLE, HMS RODNEY screened by HM
Destroyers AMAZON
ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, VANSITTART,
WESTCOTT, WISHART and
ZETLAND had been detached to
return to Gibraltar.)
14th
Passage to Gibraltar
as part of screen for ships of Forces X
and Z.
(Note: For
details of PEDESTAL see PEDESTAL by P Smith
and
above references.)
15th
Arrived
at Gibraltar
16th
Deployed
as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS
and HMS CHARYBDIS with
HM Destroyers LOOKOUT, LAFOREY,
ANTELOPE, WISHART, MALCOLM,
KEPPEL, ESKIMO. SOMALI,
VENOMOUS, DERWENT and BICESTER during
Malta aircraft delivery from HMS FURIOUS
(Operation
BARITONE)
21st
After
return to Gibraltar from BARITONE carried
anti-submarine operations in
Gibraltar Straits.
24th
Took
passage from Gibraltar as screen for HMS
INDOMITABLE with HM Destroyers
ITHURIEL BRAMHAM and
LEDBURY for return to UK.
28th
Arrived
and Liverpool and sailed for Scapa Flow.
29th
Arrived
at Scapa Flow.
31st
Arrived at Sheerness and de-ammunitioned
before refit.
September
1st
Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Chatham
October
Under refit
15th
Formal
visit to Doncaster by some of ship’s company
with commanding officer for
recognition of
adoption by civil community of the Borough.
November
7th
Commenced
post refit harbour trials
10th
Complete
post refit sea
trials.
11th
Took passage to Scapa
Flow to work-up with ships of Home Fleet
after shakedown.
19th
Arrived
at Scapa Flow.
December
Work-up in continuation.
7th
Sailed
from Scapa
Flow
to
Greenock with HMS LAFOREY to resume
operational service.
in Mediterranean.
8th
Arrived
at Greenock and nominated for escort of
military convoy KMF5 to Gibraltar.
12th
Passage to Liverpool
for escort of troopship DUCHESS OF ATHOLL
to join
KMF5.
15th
Joined
escort of convoy in NW Approaches.
17th
Petty
Officer Telegraphist
died on board of heart failure
and buried at sea during a short
break in
particularly atrocious weather,
20th
Arrived at Gibraltar
after stormy passage.
21st
Sailed from Gibraltar
as part of escort for KMF5 during passage
to Algiers.
Took part in rescue operations
when troopship STRAHALLAN was torpedoed by
U654 off
Algerian coast.
(Note:
For details see STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. Several
hundred troops including
American nurses were rescued by
ships of escort.)
22nd
Landed
survivors at Oran.
(Note:
STRATHALLAN foundered on 23rd after fires
became
uncontrollable.)
24th
Took
part in Fleet exercises with ships deployed
in western Mediterranean..
25th
Remained
at sea when call at Algiers was cancelled
after assassination of Admiral Darlan.)
26th
Arrived
at Algiers.
30th
Took passage from Algiers
to Bone to join Force Q.
1
9 4 3
January
1st
Arrived
at Bone and joined Force Q. See
references
(Note: Force
Q included HM Cruisers AJAX, AURORA,
PENELOPE, DIDO, SIRIUS,
HM Destroyers
LAFOREY, LOYAL and LOOKOUT of Flotilla.)
2nd
Assisted
in fire-fighting on ships hit during air
raid at Bone.
(Note: HMS AJAX
was badly damaged during this air raid.)
3rd
Deployed
for patrol off Bone and returned during air
raid.
Involved in collision with HM
Destroyer LAMERTON during harbour movements
when
tanker EMPIRE MORN was hit and set on fire
by a bomb.
(Note HM Fleet Minesweeper ALARM
was damaged in this attack and beached.
6th
Provided
fire-fighting party on board British
freighter ST MERRIEL.
7th
Deployed
with HMS LOYAL as escort for HMS AJAX under
tow to Algiers
10th
Arrived
at Algiers.
12th
Took
return passage to Bone.
13th
Arrived at Bone after carrying out
interception patrol.
18th
Deployed
with HMS LOYAL for interception patrol south
of Cagliari
and sank one
mercantile
which exploded after surface gunfire. Repelled
aircraft
during intermittent attacks.
(Note:
One source record that this was Italian
naval oiler
TANARO sunk in Gulf of Gabes
23rd
Returned
to Algiers.
30th
Deployed as escort for HM Fast Minelayer
ABDIEL during
minelay on Skerki
Bank.
See
Naval Staff History (Mining) for details.)
31st
Minelay
abandoned after engagement with E-Boats and
returned to Bone
(Note: One
unconfirmed source records sinking of two
Italian mercantiles.)
February
8th
Resumed
Force Q duties at Bone.
13th
Returned to Algiers
for maintenance period.
25th
Passage to Bone to resume Force Q duties.
March
1st
Sustained
damage during air raid at Bone with 10
casualties, two of whom were fatal.
3rd
Took
passage to Algiers
for minelaying escort.
5th
Deployed
with HMS LOYAL for escort of HMS ABDIEL
during passage for further
minelay
on Skerki Bank.
Carried out
diversionary sweep to the north during
minelay.
6th
Escorted
HMS ABDIEL to reload mines at Algiers and
for return passage to Bone
8th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers LOYAL, PAKENHAM and
PALADIN for escort and
cover
during minelay on Skerki
Bank.
Stationed to
north east of lay position with HMS LOYAL
during operation.
(Note:
The other two destroyers were stationed
south east of lay position.)
Passage to Algiers.
9th
Deployed
with HMS LOYAL as escort for HM Landing Ship
Infantry ROYAL
ULSTERMAN
during passage from Algiers
to Bone with troops.
Under torpedo
attack by aircraft on passage.
10th
Sailed from Bone with Landing Ships after
refuelling and took
passage to Algiers.
11th
Embarked
120 RAMC personnel and sailed from Algiers
for AA Guardship
duty off
the port to
supplement shore AA defences.
12th
On
release took passage with HMS LOYAL as
escort for HM Landing Ships (Infantry)
ROYAL
ULSTERMAN and ROYAL SCOTSMAN taking troops
to Bone.
13th
Arrived
at Bone with troopships and resumed Force Q
duties
Sailed from Bone with HMS LOYAL
as screen for HMS AURORA, HMS SIRIUS
during
planned attack on convoy during its passage
from Sicily to North
Africa.
Under air
attack soon after departure and threat of
attack by E-Boats.
Came under E-Boat attack and hit
on port side forward by torpedo from S55
which
caused
major damage and totally disabled ship,
presenting a “sitting duck” target.
Hit amidships soon afterwards by
second torpedo from same German craft which
inflicted
tremendous damage breaking the ship’s back.
Sank quickly in position 37.53N
09.50E north of Bizerta
with the loss of 45 of the
ship’s
company. Eight others were injured. 183
survivors from a total complement of
227 were
rescued
by HMS LOYAL after some delay during which
period one of the ship’s company was
take
prisoner by the enemy ship and later freed
when the allied forces landed in Sicily.
Survivors were landed in Bone on
14th March and the loss of this ship was
announced
on 7th April
1943. Further details of the loss are given
in STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.
