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Type
II HUNT-Class Escort
Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend
on
Tyne under 1939 War Emergency Programme on 3rd
September 1939. The ship was
laid down as Job No J4142 on 10th April 1940
and launched on 14th December 1940
as the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Build
was completed on 16th August
1941 and she was adopted by the civil
community of Tavistock,
Devonshire following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in
March 1942.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-42 -
ARCTIC 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942–43 - SICILY
1943 - SALERNO 1943 - MEDITERRANEAN 1944
- AEGEAN 1943 -
ADRIATIC
1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field per fess
wavy Red and Green three
arrows
White,
flighted Gold, two in saltire
and
one in fess interlaced with
a horseshoe inverted Blue.
D
e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
(for more
ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search)
1 9 4
1
August
Contractor's trial and commissioned for
service.
16th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of
Home Fleet for operational service on
completion
of trials and storing.
September
Joined 12th Escort Group in Western Approaches
Command for Atlantic convoy defence.
October
Deployment for defence of Atlantic convoys in
continuation..
25th
Part of escort for Convoy HG74 to Gibraltar.
Sank Italian Submarine GALILEO FERRARIS after
gunfire duel.
(For details of Atlantic convoy defence and
U-Boat deployments see THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).)
December
Detached for duty with Home Fleet.
22nd
Joined HM Cruiser ARETHUSA, HM Destroyers
SOMALI, ESKIMO, ASHANTI and
BEDOUIN
with HM Escort Destroyers WHEATLAND, Polish
Escort Destroyers ORP
KUJAWIAK
and ORP KRAKOWIAK to cover a raid by 12 Cdo on
Lofoten Islands.
(Operation ARCHERY - For details see THE
WATERY MAZE by B Fergusson).
Returned to Scapa Flow with defects.
27th
HM Landing Ships (Infantry) PRINS ALBERT,
PRINSES JOSEPHINE CHARLOTTE landed
Commandos after RAF air attacks and naval
bombardment.
1 9 4
2
January
Home Fleet Flotilla duties in continuation
to
(Note: Deployment for anti-shipping operations
off Norway to be confirmed.)
February
March
Attached to 6th Destroyer Flotilla.
10th
Joined escort of Russian Convoy PQ13 during
initial stage of passage to Iceland
with HM
Destroyer SABRE, SALADIN and Polish ORP
BLYSKAWICA.
16th
Detached from PQ13 to join Fleet Auxiliary
Tanker OLIGARCH as Force Q for refuelling of
destroyers during passage to
Murmansk.
20th
Sailed with PQ13 as escort or RFA OLIGARCH.
23rd
Detached for refuelling of destroyers in Home
Fleet covering force.
Rejoined PQ13 on completion.
(For details of all Russian Convoy operations
see CONVOY! by P. Kemp, THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B. Schofield and ARCTIC CONVOYS by
R Woodman).
25th
Left escort after the convoy was dispersed by
gales.
April
27th
Deployed as part of destroyer screen for the
Battleships HMS KING GEORGE V and US
Battleship USS WASHINGTON, HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers KENYA
US Navy cruisers USS WICHITA and USS
TUSCALOOSA.
(Note: The destroyers screen comprised HM
Destroyers ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, MARNE,
MARTIN, ORIBI, PUNJABI and INGLEFIELD, HM
Escort Destroyers BELVOIR,
MIDDLETON and HURSLEY with four US Navy
destroyers USS MADISON,
USS PLUNKETT, USS WAINWRIGHT and USS WILSON.
May
Provided cover for passage of Russian Convoy
PQ15 and the returning Convoy QP11.
1st
HMS PUNJABI sunk in collision with HMS KING
GEORGE V east of Iceland.
HMS KING GEORGE V detached from convoy for
damage repair and returned to Iceland.
(Note: Relieved in covering force by HM
Battleship DUKE OF YORK.)
13th
Deployed with escort for Home Fleet units
covering return passage of damaged cruiser
HMS TRINIDAD following her temporary repair in
Murmansk.
14th
Took passage to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet
after HMS TRINIDAD sank.
(For details see above references).
21st
Deployed with destroyer screen for HMS DUKE OF
YORK,
US battleship USS
WASHINGTON, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM
Cruiser LONDON and US Navy
cruiser WICHITA to cover passage of Russian
Convoy PQ16 and returning Convoy QP12.
(Note: Screen comprised HM Destroyers ECLIPSE,
FAULKNOR, FURY, ICARUS and
INTREPID, HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY,
MIDDLETON and WHEATLAND
with US Navy destroyers USS MAYRANT, USS
RHIND, USS ROWAN and USS
WAINWRIGHT).
June
Nominated for service in Mediterranean and
detached for refit.
Taken in hand for refit.
July
Under refit and on completion of dockyard work
carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.
28th
Passage to Clyde to join escort of Convoy
WS2IS for passage to Mediterranean
(Operation PEDESTAL)
August
1st
Damaged in collision with mercantile ss
ALMENARA and sustained serious damage during
assembly of convoy in Clyde. See MALTA CONVOYS
by R Woodhead.)
Detached and returned to Liverpool for repair
in commercial shipyard.
September
Under repair.
26th
Carried out post repair trials before
rejoining Home Fleet
October
Deployed in Home waters
Nominated for service in support of planned
allied landings in North Africa.
Passage to join military convoy for passage to
Gibraltar to join 57th Destroyer Division..
Part of escort for convoy
November
Deployed at Gibraltar and prepared for TORCH
duties with Eastern Task Force,
(For details of TORCH see Naval Staff History.
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and
for information about all ships involved see
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser).
5th
Sailed from Gibraltar to supplement escort for
military convoy KMF1 during passage to Algiers
6th
Joined KMF1
8th
Arrived off Algiers BAKER Beach Head and
deployed for support duties.
9th
Assisted HM Auxiliary AA Cruiser PALOMARES
which had been damaged in air attacks.
10th
Provided gunfire support during landings at
Bougie.
11th
Embarked troops for passage to Bone for
planned landings.
12th
Landed troops at Bone.
December
Deployed for convoy escort and support for
military operations in Algeria.
1 9 4
3
January
Provided anti-submarine defence for inshore
convoys and patrol duty in western
to
Mediterranean.
(For details of development and use of new
anti-submarine weapons see SEEK
February
AND
STRIKE
by W
Hackmann).
March
Deployed off Tunisian coast in support of
operations and convoy defence.
20th
Searched for U443 with HM Destroyers WHEATLAND
and B1CESTER in conjunction with
aircraft for 63 hours.
(Note: U443 had been detected by shore radar
off Algiers.)
23rd
Carried extensive depth charge attacks and
sank U443 in position 36.55N, 0.22.25E, NW of
Algiers with same ships
There were no survivors. For details see
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
April
Escort and patrol deployment in central
Mediterranean.
May
Took part in Blockade of Cap Bon area to
prevent evacuation of enemy troops from
North Africa
(Operation RETRIBUTION - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff
History.)
Carried cut bombardment of Kelebia.
June
Deployed in central Mediterranean for
anti-submarine patrol and escort duty
Nominated for support of planned allied
landings in Sicily with
Support Force East’
(Operation HUSKY)
Prepared for HUSKY support.
July
6th
Sailed from Algiers as part of escort for
assault Convoy KMS18
7th
Detached from KMS18 to refuel at Sousse
9th
Part of escort for assault Convoy SBF1
10th
Detached from SBF1 in arrival at BARK SOUTH
Beach Head
Deployed for support of landings by British
1st Airborne Division SW of of Syracuse
Provided naval gunfire support (Operation
HUSKY).
(For details see above references.)
August
Deployed on patrol and escort duty in central
Mediterranean.
Nominated for support of planned allied
landings at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE)
September
Deployed at Malta
9th
Part of escort for Follow-up Convoy NSS1
11th
Deployed for naval gunfire support at Salerno
and defensive patrols to intercept
interference
to landings by E-Boats
October
Transferred to Alexandria for support of
operations in Aegean after surrender of Italy.
(Note: British troops were landed to prevent
German forces replacing the Italian garrison.)
Carried out
offensive sweeps to intercept invasion
craft.
Embarked troops and supplies for Leros.
(Note: No specific details of actions are
given in Admiralty Battle Summary
No 36 - BR1736
(40)
or in WAR IN THE AEGEAN by Peter Smith and E.
Walker but award of a Battle Honour
was made).
November
Returned to Central Mediterranean and deployed
for convoy escort and support of allied
to
military
operations on West coast of
Italy
and in Adriatic.
December
(See THE LAST DESTROYER by FA Mason for
details of Adriatic naval activities)
1 9 4
4
January
Deployed in Adriatic for convoy escort and
support of military operations in the
Adriatic
to
including
assistance
and supply of guerrilla forces.
August
September
Supported allied re-occupation of Aegean
Islands. Landed troops and stores.
to
Carried out patrols to intercept craft taking
enemy personnel to mainland.
November
Transferred to 5th Destroyer Flotilla at
Alexandria.
December
Deployed on patrol and support in Greek
coastal waters during the landings of
allied forces on
Greek mainland. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY.
1 9 4
5
January
Provided support to military operation in
Greece and Albania.
to
Convoy escort and anti-submarine duty in
Eastern Mediterranean.
February
Nominated for return to UK.
March
Passage to
UK to join 16th
Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich.
(Note: This deployment was needed to increase
A/S defence of UK coastal convoys
against
attacks by Schnorkel-fitted submarines which
were concentrating at focal points
of convoy assembly and dispersal.
See SEEK AND STRIKE, and BUSINESS IN GREAT
WATERS by J Terraine).
April
Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in
North Sea.
(See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by
P Smith).
May
Harwich deployment in continuation.
June
Nominated for duty with 18th Destroyer
Flotilla, East Indies Fleet based at
Trincomalee after
refit.
July
Passage to Simonstown.
August
Taken in hand for refit at Simonstown.
P o s t W a r N o t e
On
completion of refit HMS
LAMERTON returned to UK in December 1945 to
pay off and reduce to Reserve status at
Harwich.. In 1953
she was transferred on loan to the Indian Navy
and renamed INS GOMATI. Five years later the
ship was purchased
outright and she continued to be used as a
training ship for another 17 years.
This destroyer was taken out of
service and sold for breaking-up in 1975.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS LAMERTON
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked with
the text above
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Date convoy
sailed
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Joined convoy as escort
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Convoy
No.
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Left convoy
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Date convoy
arrived
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13/09/41
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17/09/41
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ON 016
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18/09/41
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27/09/41
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27/09/41
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04/10/41
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OG 075
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12/10/41
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13/10/41
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22/10/41
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22/10/41
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HG 075
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27/10/41
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03/11/41
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19/02/42
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26/02/42
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AT 012
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02/03/42
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02/03/42
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10/03/42
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10/03/42
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PQ 013
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16/03/42
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31/03/42
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10/04/42
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28/04/42
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PQ 015
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04/05/42
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05/05/42
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28/04/42
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28/04/42
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QP 011
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04/05/42
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07/05/42
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21/05/42
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23/05/42
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PQ 016
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29/05/42
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30/05/42
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21/05/42
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23/05/42
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QP 012
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29/05/42
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29/05/42
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21/07/42
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21/07/42
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HG 086
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27/07/42
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01/08/42
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26/10/42
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06/11/42
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KMF 001
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08/11/42
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08/11/42
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27/11/42
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06/12/42
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KMF 004
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07/12/42
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07/12/42
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11/12/42
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11/12/42
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MKF 004Y
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12/12/42
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24/12/42
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20/12/42
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21/12/42
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KMF 005A
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22/12/42
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22/12/42
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08/01/43
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16/01/43
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KMF 007
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17/01/43
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17/01/43
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03/03/43
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03/03/43
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TE 017
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05/03/43
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05/03/43
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06/03/43
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06/03/43
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ET 013
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08/03/43
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09/03/43
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11/03/43
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11/03/43
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ET 013X
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13/03/43
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13/03/43
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24/03/43
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24/03/43
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KMF 011X
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25/03/43
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25/03/43
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25/03/43
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26/03/43
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MKF 011
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unknown
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05/04/43
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05/04/43
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05/04/43
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TE 020A
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unknown
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08/04/43
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07/04/43
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07/04/43
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TE 020B
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08/04/43
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08/04/43
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10/04/43
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10/04/43
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MKS 011
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14/04/43
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16/04/43
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15/04/43
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17/04/43
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ET 018
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20/04/43
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20/04/43
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24/04/43
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24/04/43
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KMS 013G
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26/04/43
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26/04/43
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26/04/43
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26/04/43
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KMS 013
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29/04/43
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29/04/43
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24/05/43
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24/05/43
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GTX 001
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28/05/43
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04/06/43
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21/06/43
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25/06/43
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GTX 003
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unknown
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04/07/43
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29/06/43
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29/06/43
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MKS 016A
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06/07/43
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09/07/43
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17/10/43
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17/10/43
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MKF 025
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21/10/43
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04/11/43
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25/11/43
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25/11/43
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VN 010
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27/11/43
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27/11/43
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05/12/43
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05/12/43
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VN 011
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07/12/43
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07/12/43
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24/01/44
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24/01/44
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VN 017
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25/01/44
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25/01/44
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04/02/44
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04/02/44
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VN 019
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06/02/44
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06/02/44
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18/03/44
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18/03/44
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VN 028
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19/03/44
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19/03/44
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28/03/44
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28/03/44
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VN 030
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29/03/44
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29/03/44
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07/04/44
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07/04/44
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VN 032
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08/04/44
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08/04/44
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17/04/44
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17/04/44
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VN 034
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18/04/44
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18/04/44
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17/05/44
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17/05/44
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VN 040
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18/05/44
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18/05/44
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04/06/44
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04/06/44
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VN 044
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05/06/44
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05/06/44
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(Note
on Convoys)
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