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Type II HUNT Class Escort Destroyer
built by Yarrow in
Glasgow as Job No J1849 under 1939 War
Emergency Programme and ordered on 4th
September 1939. The
ship was laid down on 30th May 1940 and
launched on 7th June 1941. She was the first
RN ship
to carry the name which is that of a Foxhunt
in Shropshire. The completion date was 3rd
November 1941 and
following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted
by
the civil community of Uttoxeter.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC 1942 - NORTH
AFRICA 1942-43 - MEDITERRANEAN
1943 - SICILY
1943 - SALERNO 1943 - ADRIATIC
1944
H e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge: On a field Red. three ears of
wheat one erect
and two in
saltire
interlaced with a horseshoe inverted Gold.
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
October
Acceptance trials and commissioned for
service.
November
4th
Took passage for work-up at Scapa Flow.
On completion deployed with Home Fleet.
December
Nominated for support of planned landing in
Lofoten Islands by Commando units.
(Operation ANKLET)
Took part in preparatory exercises for ANKLET.
(Note: The primary objective of ANKLET was to
obtain information about the ENIGMA
coding machine. One was taken from GEIER with
the associated wheels and
documentation was taken from GEIER for
delivery to Bletchley Park.
For details see ENIGMA by H Sebag-Montefiore)
24th
Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser
ARETHUSA, HM Destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN,
ESKIMO, SOMALI, LAMERTON, Polish destroyers
ORP KUJAWIAK and KRAKOWIAK.
HM Corvettes ACANTHUS and EGLANTINE, HM Fleet
Minesweepers HARRIER,
HALCYON, SPEEDWELL and SCOTT, HM Landing Ships
(Infantry) PRINSES
JOSEPHINE CHARLOTTE and PRINCE ALBERT to carry
out landing on Lofotens.
(Note: HMS SCOTT was deployed as a
Navigational Ship and HM Submarine SEALION
had been stationed in landing area as a
Marker.)
25th
After period sheltering at Sullom Voe took
passage to Lofotens
26th
Detached from other ships to escort PRINSES
JOSEPHINE CHARLOTTE back to Scapa Flow.
(Note: Defects on board the Landing Ship had
made it impossible for her to take part in
ANKLET.)
(For details see THE WATERY MAZE by B
Fergusson, CAMERA IN
CONVOY by I Saul and The Naval Staff History).
1 9 4 2
January
Released from Home Fleet and took passage to
joined 1st Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth
for
convoy defence and patrol English Channel.
February
Convoy defence based at Portsmouth in
continuation.
March
Detached for duty with Home Fleet in support
of planned Russian convoy cover operation.
Passage to Scapa Flow.
(Note: Because of the known presence in
Northern waters of the German battleship
TIRPITZ,
armoured ship ADMIRAL SCHEER and cruiser
ADMIRAL HIPPER it was essential
to have adequate Home Fleet deployment
including destroyers for screening of major
warships.
20th
Deployed with Home Fleet ships covering the
passage of Russian Convoy PQ13 and
returning Convoy QP9.
(Note: Other Home Fleet ships involved were HM
Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE
OF YORK, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM
Cruisers EDINBURGH and KENT screened by HM
Destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN,
ECHO, ESCAPADE. ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, ICARUS, INGLEFIELD.
MARNE, ONSLOW, PUNJABI and TARTAR. HM Escort
Destroyers LEDBURY and
MIDDLETON. For full details of passage and
names of mercantiles involved in Russian
Convoy operations see THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by
B. Schoefield, CONVOYS TO
RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, CONVOY! by P Kemp and
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by R
Woodman).
April
Home Fleet detachment in continuation.
9th
Part of Home Fleet covering force for passage
of Russian Convoy PQ14 and returning
Convoy QP10.
(Note: Major Home Fleet ships involved were as
for PQ13 and QP9 cover and Fleet destroyers
in screen were BEDOUIN, ESCAPADE, ESKIMO,
FAULKNOR, MATCHLESS,
OFFA, ONSLOW and SOMALI with HM Escort
Destroyers BELVOIR, LEDBURY and
MIDDLETON.
Deployed in Iceland area on release from Home
Fleet screen.
May
3rd
Part of escort for damaged battleship HMS KING
GEORGE V for her passage from
Iceland to UK after the collision with HM
Destroyer PUNJABI during cover for Russian
Convoy PQ15.
20th
Escorted HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK to Iceland
from Scapa Flow to join Home Fleet
in place of HMS KING GEORGE V to provide
Distant Cover for Russian Convoy PQ16.
and returning QP12
23rd
Part of Home Fleet covering force for PQ16 and
return Convoy QP12.
(Note: Unusually the Home Fleet Distant Cover
included US Battleship USS WASHINGTON,
US cruiser WICHITA, screened by US destroyers
MAYRANT, RHIND, ROWAN and
WAINWRIGHT. Home Fleet major warships involved
were HMS DUKE OF YORK,
HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser LONDON screened by
HM Destroyers ECLIPSE,
FAULKNOR, FURY, ICARUS, INTREPID and HM Escort
Destroyers BLANKNEY,
LAMERTON and MIDDLETON.
29th
Returned to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet ships.
June
Detached service with Home Fleet in
continuation.
Nominated for further screening of major
warships of Home Fleet deployed to provide
Distant
Cover for outward Russian Convoy PQ17 and
returning QP13.
Sailed from Scapa Flow with Home Fleet Distant
Cover ships.
July
Deployed with screen for major Home Fleet
warships which included US Navy warships
on detached service to ensure adequate
strength available in the event of an attack
by German
TIRPITZ, ADMIRAL SHEER, LUTZOW (Ex
DEUTSCHLAND) and ADMIRAL HIPPER
known to be available in northern waters
specifically for an attack on allied ships to
and from
Kola Inlet.
(Note: HM Cruisers LONDON and NORFOLK, US cruisers WICHITA and
TUSCALOOSA
were deployed to provide Close Cover for PQ17
and screened by US destroyers USS
WAINWRIGHT and ROWAN. The Distant Cover Force
comprised HMS DUKE OF
YORK, USS WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS and HM Cruisers
CUMBERLAND
and NIGERIA screened by HM Destroyers ASHANTI,
ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR,
MARNE, MARTIN, ONSLAUGHT and ONSLOW with HM
Escort Destroyers
BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON and WHEATLAND.)
4th
As the order to scatter PQ17 was given direct
from Admiralty the Distant Cover Force
remained
west of Bear Island to avoid the air threat as
previously decided.
(Note: The background to the ill conceived and
disastrous is well documented and is
fully described in ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and
THE CONVOY IS TO SCATTER by J Broome,)
6th
Returned to Scapa Flow.
(Note: QP13 arrived at Reykjavik on 7th after
a most tragic journey although not subject to
attacks and aided by thick weather and the
attention being given to PQ17.)
Released from detached service with Home Fleet
and took passage from Scapa Flow for
repair and refit in Humber commercial
shipyard.
22nd Under
repair at Hull shipyard.
August
22nd On
completion of post refit trials rejoined Home
Fleet for further detached service.
Nominated for escort of HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier AVENGER with HMS WILTON.
September
(Note: The deployment of an aircraft carrier
to provide air cover for a Russian Convoy
for the first time was one of the many lesson
learnt from the appalling defence of
PQ17. Coupled with the additional provision of
a fighting escort the convoy
had two Auxiliary AA cruisers as well as a
strong Close Escort.)
5th
Escorted HM Escort Carrier AVENGER with HM
Escort Destroyer
WILTON for passage
to join Russian Convoy PQ18.
9th
Joined PQ18 and remained until detached for
escort of return Convoy QP14.
(Note: Distant cover was provided by Home
Fleet major warship including two RN
battleships,
and two cruisers with a screen of four
destroyers.)
The Fighting Escort comprised HM Cruiser
SCYLLA with 16 Fleet destroyer. No
Escort Destroyers were deployed with this
unit.)
17th
Detached from PQ18 and took passage to join
Convoy QP14 with HM Cruiser SCYLLA, HMS
AVENGER and the Fighting Escort from Convoy
PQ18 later that day.
20th
Detached from QP14 as escort for HM Cruiser
SCYLLA and HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier AVENGER with HM Escort Destroyers
WHEATLAND and WILTON
because of increasing threat of submarine
attack
(Note: Flag transferred to HM Destroyer
MILNE.)
October
Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.)
Nominated for duty in support of allied
landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH)
November
Deployed with escort for HM HQ Ship BULOLO
from UK to Gibraltar.
Joined 57th Destroyer Division with HM Escort
Destroyers LAMERTON and WILTON.
(Note: This was a local designation for Hunt
Class Destroyers serving in the Mediterranean
and made up of the other sister destroyers
BICESTER and ZETLAND with
BRAMHAM under repair,)
8th
Part of Eastern Naval Task Force for support
of landings at Algiers with HMS BULOLO,
HM Escort Carrier AVENGER, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD, SCYLLA and CHARYBDIS.
(Operation TORCH - See Naval Staff History,
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute and
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Barnett).
12th
Landed troops at Bone with HMS LAMERTON.
14th
Deployed as Inshore Escort for Fast B Convoys.
December
Deployed with Division for continuation.
1 9 4 3
January
Convoy defence and patrol in continuation in
western Mediterranean.
February
17th
Sank Italian submarine ASTERIA NW off Bougie
with HMS EASTON.
23rd
Sank U443 off Algiers with HM Destroyers
LAMERTON and BICESTER during escort
of Convoy KMF10A.
(For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
March
Deployment with 57th Division in continuation.
to
April
May
Part of escort for Convoy KMF14/UGS8
Took part in operations to intercept craft
evacuating troops from Tunisia when
enemy resistance collapsed (Operation
RETRIBUTION).
On completion deployed in central
Mediterranean including cover for minesweeping
operations prior to assault landings on
Pantellaria as a prelude for bombardment of
the
island and the subsequent landings (Operation
CORKSCREW)
(Note: This ship was not fitted for
minesweeping.)
June
Nominated for support of attack on
Pantellaria.
11th
Present at occupation of Pantellaria
(Operation CORKSCREW).
Resumed escort duties in central Mediterranean
July
Joined Support Force East for Sicily landings (Operation
HUSKY).
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History).
Allocated with HM Escort Destroyer WILTON for service in Escort
Group U.
7th
Sailed from Algiers as part of escort of
military convoy KMS18.
8th
Detached at Sousse and joined escort for
Assault Convoy SBF1.
10th
Detached from SBF1 at BARK South beach head
and deployed on patrol to protect
shipping off and for convoy defence.
31st
Carried out bombardment of Taormina, Sicily in support of military
operations.
August
Support and patrol duties in continuation
16th
Provided cover for landings by Royal Marines
at Cape Scarletta, Sicily
September
Escorted military convoys for Salerno landings
(Operation AVALANCHE).
(For details see above references).
October
Deployed on escort of convoys between Naples
and Augusta.
November
Convoy defence in central Mediterranean in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Convoy defence in Mediterranean in
continuation.
to
May
June
Transferred to 22nd Destroyer Flotilla based
in Malta
Joined HM Escort Destroyers EXMOOR, CATTERICK,
LEDBURY. LIDDESDALE,
TETCOTT and CHIDDINGFOLD.
July
Nominated for escort of Carrier Task Force
during landings in South of France.
(Operation DRAGOON - See Naval Staff History SOUTH FRANCE and ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
August
Nominated for escort of TG88.1
(Note: TG88.1 comprised HM Escort Carriers
KHEDIVE, EMPEROR, SEARCHER,
PURSUER and ATTACKER, H M Cruisers ROYALIST
and DELHI with H M
Destroyers TROUBRIDGE, TUSCAN, TYRIAN, TEAZER,
TUMULT and Greek
destroyer NAVARINO.
10th
Sailed from Algiers to relieve HMS TUMULT
15th
Deployed off the assault area with TG88.1.
19th
Withdrew with TG88.1 to refuel and rest air
crews at Maddalena.
21st
Resumed escort duties when TG881 carried out
air operations off assault area.
24th
Withdrew to Maddalena.
27th
TG88.1 released from DRAGOON.
Resumed duties with Flotilla in Malta
September
Deployed in Adriatic for convoy defence and
support operation for resistance groups.
to
(For details of Adriatic operations see THE
LAST DESTROYER by F Mason).
October
November
1st
Sank German Torpedo Boat TA20 and Corvettes
UJ202 and UJ208 south of Lussino.
Three officers and 68 ratings captured.
15th
Bombarded shore targets at Bar, Yugoslavia
28th
Deployed with sister destroyer ALDENHAM to
support landings at Peg,
Yugoslavia
(Operation EXTERMINATE)
December
Adriatic deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 5
January
Support of Adriatic military operations and
patrol deployment in continuation.
to
February
March
Taken in hand for refit in Taranto.
April
Under refit.
to
Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet.
June
July
20th
On completion of post refit trials returned to
UK
August
Prepared for foreign service at Devonport.
P o s
t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
WHEATLAND was withdrawn from
operational service after the end of
hostilities with Japan. The ship reduced to
Reserve status at
Devonport where she remained until transferred
to Penarth for a brief period in
1953. Later that year, in September
this destroyer was towed to Gibraltar and
joined the Reserve Fleet. After being placed
on the Disposal List she
returned to UK and was used as part of a
breakwater at Harwich. In September 1957 she
was sold to BISCO for
breaking-up at Bo'ness by McClellan and
arrived in tow at the Breakers yard on 20th of
that month.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
WHEATLAND
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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10/03/42
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22/03/42
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PQ 013
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23/03/42
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31/03/42
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21/03/42
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22/03/42
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QP 009
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28/03/42
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03/04/42
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26/03/42
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12/04/42
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PQ 014
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13/04/42
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19/04/42
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10/04/42
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12/04/42
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QP 010
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13/04/42
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21/04/42
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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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27/06/42
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29/06/42
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PQ 017
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04/07/42
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04/07/42
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26/06/42
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29/06/42
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QP 013
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04/07/42
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07/07/42
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02/09/42
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09/09/42
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PQ 018
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17/09/42
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21/09/42
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13/09/42
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17/09/42
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QP 014
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20/09/42
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26/09/42
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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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11/01/43
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14/01/43
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TE 013
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15/01/43
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15/01/43
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19/01/43
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19/01/43
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MKS 006
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20/01/43
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01/02/43
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25/01/43
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27/01/43
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ET 010
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27/01/43
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29/01/43
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06/03/43
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06/03/43
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MKF 010A
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08/03/43
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14/03/42
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16/03/43
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16/03/43
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TE 019
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20/03/43
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20/03/43
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23/03/43
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23/03/43
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MKS 010
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25/03/43
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05/04/43
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25/03/43
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26/03/43
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MKF 011
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26/03/43
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05/04/43
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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
|
14/04/43
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16/04/43
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22/04/43
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22/04/43
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MKS 012
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26/04/43
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04/05/43
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09/05/43
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09/05/43
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ET 020
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14/05/43
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14/05/43
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28/04/43
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18/05/43
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UGS 008
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19/05/43
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21/05/43
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17/05/43
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18/05/43
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KMS 014
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19/05/43
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21/05/43
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24/05/43
|
27/05/43
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GTX 001
|
30/05/43
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04/06/43
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21/06/43
|
25/06/43
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GTX 003
|
unknown
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04/07/43
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29/06/43
|
29/06/43
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MKS 016A
|
06/07/43
|
09/07/43
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14/12/43
|
14/12/43
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NV 011A
|
15/12/43
|
15/12/43
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18/12/43
|
18/12/43
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VN 012A
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19/12/43
|
19/12/43
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10/01/44
|
10/01/44
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VN 015
|
11/01/44
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11/01/44
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07/04/44
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07/04/44
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VN 032
|
08/04/44
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08/04/44
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17/04/44
|
17/04/44
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VN 034
|
18/04/44
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18/04/44
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04/05/44
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04/05/44
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SNF 021
|
07/05/44
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07/05/44
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05/05/44
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14/05/44
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KMF 031
|
19/05/44
|
19/05/44
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22/05/44
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23/05/44
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XIF 015
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28/05/44
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28/05/44
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28/05/44
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unknown
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IXF 015
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unknown
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01/06/44
|
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05/06/44
|
05/06/44
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XIF 016
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
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11/06/44
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unknown
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IXF 016
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unknown
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15/06/44
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21/06/44
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21/06/44
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MKF 032
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27/06/44
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04/07/44
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03/09/44
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03/09/44
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MKF 034
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06/09/44
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14/09/44
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08/12/44
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unknown
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XIF 026
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unknown
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12/12/44
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(Note
on Convoys)
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