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Type I
HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend
on Tyne on 17th April 1939 under
the1939 Programme with nine others of This Type. The ship was laid down as Job No. J4111 on 10th August 1939 and launched on 9th April
1940 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name of the Fox-Hunt in Somerset.. Build
was completed on 16th October 1941. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community
of Shepton Mallet, Somerset. Her career was most
unusual as she served in the navies of three other nations after her use by the
Royal Navy during WW2.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
NORTH SEA 1941-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-43
- SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - MEDITERRANEAN 1943 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a field Red, on a White roundel, a bugle horn stringed
Black within the strings a blue rose.
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 0
October Contractor’s trials and commissioning.
14th Acceptance trials and took passage to Scapa Flow for work-up with ships of Home Fleet
after completion of storing.
28th Sustained damage to stern structure abaft 4in
mounting after early explosion of own depth
charges during work-up exercises.
November At Scapa Flow awaiting repair.
11th Passage under tow by tug CHAMPION to Middlesbrough
for repair by Smith’s Dock.
December Under repair.
1 9 4 1
January Under repair at Middlesbrough.
February Post repair trials.
18th Resumed work-up at
Scapa Flow.
March Joined 21st Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness for convoy
escort and patrol duties in North Sea and
English Channel.
30th Under air attack during escort of Convoy FS449 in
North Sea.
April Flotilla duties in continuation.
to May
June (Note:
21st Destroyer Flotilla comprised:
HM Destroyers CAMPBELL, CATTISTOCK, COTTESMORE,
GARTH,
HAMBLEDON, HOLDERNESS, MENDIP, VANESSA, VESPER
and
VIVACIOUS.)
20th Detached to escort HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOTBANK
during minelay in East
Coast Barrage (Operation BS64 – For details of
all minelaying operations see Naval
Staff History (Mining).)
On completion resumed Flotilla duties.
21st Rescued survivors from Dutch ss SCHIELAND which had
been sunk during air attack on
North Sea convoy.
July Nominated for planned operation in English Channel.
Bombarded Dieppe with HM Destroyers CATTISTOCK
and QUORN.
August North Sea and Channel escort and patrol duties in continuation.
September
17th In action with aircraft attacking North Sea convoy FS605.
October
3rd Drove off E-Boats attack during escort of Convoy
FS615
November Convoy escort and patrol with Flotilla in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January Flotilla duties in continuation.
February
19th Under E-Boat attacks during escort of southbound
East Coast convoy.
Avoided hit by torpedo, which could have caused
major damage.
March Flotilla escort and patrol deployment in continuation.
to
August
September Nominated for service as Senior Officer’s ship in
Flotilla.
16th Captain C R L Parry, RN joined with Flotilla staff
from HMS MEYNELL.
October Convoy defence and patrol duties with Flotilla in
continuation.
November
9th Deployed with HM Destroyer WINDSOR as escort for
North Sea convoy.
In action in defence of convoy off Great
Yarmouth under E-Boat attacks.
(Note: Two mercantiles were sunk.)
December
12th Deployed with HMS MEYNELL as escort for north bound
North Sea Convoy.
In action in defence of convoy against E-Boat
attacks.
(Note: Four mercantiles were sunk.)
1 9 4 3
January Convoy defence duties in continuation.
25th In action against E Boats with HMS WINDSOR in
defence of coastal convoy off
Great Yarmouth.
February Flotilla duties in continuation.
to
April Nominated for service in Mediterranean after refit
May Passage to Chatham for refit.
19th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
June Prepared for foreign service.
9th Post refit trials commenced.
15th Deployed at Scapa Flow for exercises in preparation
for escort of military
convoy to Gibraltar
20th Joined escort for Convoy KMF17 at Moville. Ulster .
21st Deployed with HM Cruiser UGANDA, HM Destroyers
ARROW, BLANKNEY,
BLENCATHRA, BRECON, BRISSENDEN, HAMBLEDON,
LEDBURY, VICEROY,
WALLACE, WITHERINGTON and WOOLSTON as Ocean
Escort for joint Convoy
WS31 to Middle East and KMF17 to Mediterranean.
(Note: Joint convoy comprised 15 ships of which
eight formed KMF17 and
included mv BRITANNIC. This convoy was taking
troops to take part
in planned allied landings in Sicily.)
26th Detached from joint convoy when it divided into two
sections and deployed
as escort for KMF17 during passage to Gibraltar.
27th After refuelling rejoined KMF17 as part of escort.
28th Detached from KMF17 with HMS BLENCATHRA and took
passage to Algiers
(Note: Still nominally part of 21st Flotilla on
detached service)
Prepared for support of landings in
Sicily as well as for Local
Escort of convoys
in western Mediterranean.
July Local escort and took passage to Malta to join
Support Force East prior to taking
part in Sicily landings (Operation HUSKY)
9th Arrived in Malta and joined escort for assault
convoy during passage to BARK
WEST beaches.
10th Deployed to provide AA defence during landings and
for patrols in defence
against submarine or E-Boat attacks.
20th On release from HUSKY took passage to Algiers to
resume convoy defence in
western Mediterranean.
21st Deployed for escort of convoys between ports in
North Africa and Gibraltar.
August
6th Boiler clean at Bizerta with Local Leave granted.
13th On completion deployed with HM Destroyer PUCKERIDGE
as escort for convoy
of three troopships on passage to Gibraltar.
September Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.
Nominated for support of planned allied landings
at Salerno as part of the
Northern Attack Force (Task Force 85).
6th Deployed for patrol off Bizerta before joining
convoy of Landing Ships (Tank)
during passage to Salerno
7th Joined HMS BRECON and HMS BLANKNEY as escort for
convoy
(Operation AVALANCHE).
11th Under air attack on approach to Salerno and
sustained damage from near miss.
(Note: Machinery including port shaft was
affected but ship remained operational.)
Provided naval gunfire support during landings
despite reduction of speed.)
12th Released from AVALANCHE and took passage to Malta
for repair.
15th Under repair by HM Dockyard Malta.
October Transfer for completion of repair at Gibraltar
approved.
3rd Passage to Gibraltar as part of escort for convoy.
(Note: Speed restriction still required.)
13th Under repair by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar,.
15th Captain D21 left ship. New Commanding Officer:
Lieutenant P Davey, RN.
Transferred to 58th Destroyer Division based at
Malta.
22nd Post Repair Sea Trials on completion .Speed
restrictions lifted.
November
1st Deployed with HMS BRECON, HMS BLANKNEY and HM
Destroyer HAYDON
as escort for HM Battleship WARSPITE during
passage under tow from Malta to
Gibraltar.
(Note: HMS WARSPITE had been badly damaged by
an air attack off Salerno
and was returning to UK for repair.)
8th Detached from escort and resumed convoy defence
duties
9th Deployed for escort of convoys to Naples.
22nd Nominated for bombardment operation in support of
military.
24th Deployed with HM Destroyers ILEX and NUBIAN for
bombardment of shore
positions near mouth of Garigliano River.
25th On release resumed convoy escort in western
Mediterranean.
December Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.
(Note: Significant increase in U-Boat attacks
during which HM Destroyers
HOLCOMBE and TYNEDALE were sunk in defence of
convoys.)
Deployed to increase escorts available for
convoy defence.
25th At Malta.
26th Resumed convoy escort with HMS CATTERICK for passage
of French troopship
VILLE D’ORAN during passage to Algiers.)
(Note: During extreme weather conditions in
late December two ratings
were injured by falls in these adverse
conditions.)
1 9 4 4
January Return passage as escort for convoy to Malta.
Routine docking in Malta.
Resumed convoy escort duties on completion.
February Convoy escort and patrol in Mediterranean in
continuation.
March Deployed as escort for Convoy SNF17 during passage from
Naples.
17th In action in defence of SNF17 from attacks by U371
off Bougie, during which
Dutch troopship DEMPO and American freighter
MAIDEN CREEK were
sunk. See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR Volume II by C
Blair for details.
Took part in attacks on submarine with HMS
CATTERICK. without success.
20th Boiler clean at Algiers.
25th Deployed for convoy escort between Algiers and
Naples.
(Note: HM Destroyer LAFOREY was sunk by U-Boat
attack north of
Sicily during search for U223 which was later
also sunk. See
above reference and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
April Nominated for return to UK on release from
Mediterranean convoy escort
and patrol duties.
May
4th Deployed with HMS BLANKNEY as escort for convoy
from Algiers to Gibraltar.
5th Under U-Boat attack off Alboran and took part in
anti-submarine operations
which were later joined by HMS HAMBLEDON and HMS
BLENCATHRA.
8th Released from Mediterranean duties and took passage
to Sheerness
Gibraltar to rejoin 21st Destroyer Flotilla.
13th Arrived at Sheerness and took passage to Chatham
Nominated for escort duties during planned
allied landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE)
26th Sailed from Chatham to rejoin 21st Flotilla.
Took passage to Milford Haven with HMS
BLENCATHRA of Flotilla to join
111th Escort Group for convoy escort.
30th At Milford Haven.
June Deployed with HM Sloops PELICAN and LAPWING, HM
Frigates
NARBROUGH and RUPERT as 111th Escort Group.
4th NEPTUNE delayed by 24 hours and carried out
Anti-Submarine patrol in
Bristol Channel.
(Note: For details of naval activities prior to
and during NEPTUNE see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).)
5th Joined Assault Convoy EBP1 with ships of Group in
Bristol Channel as escort
during passage to Solent.
(Note: Pre-Loaded Convoy EBP1 comprised four
personnel ships and two
other Depot ships taking US personnel of
Build-Up Division to
Western Task Force area for landing on June 7th.
6th Passage from Solent through Swept Channel.
7th After arrival off Port en Besin in OMAHA Beach area took part in rescue
of
US troops from Commodore of Convoy ship which
detonated an OYSTER
mine began to sink. 400 men, some of whom were
wounded were embarked,
and later all were transferred to shore by
landing craft
(Note: One source records that the ship was
named SUSAN B ANTHONY,
but no ship of this name is included in list of
damaged merchant
ships in the Naval Staff History. FRANCIS C
HARRINGTON
is included as being damaged on this date.)
8th Return passage from OMAHA to Plymouth to take up
escort duty with Build-up
convoys to landing beaches.
24th Released from escort duty based at Plymouth and took
passage to Liverpool
26th Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard.
July Under refit.
to
September
October Post refit trials.
29th On completion of sea trials took passage to Clyde
are for calibration of D/F
equipment and prepare for work-up.
November Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of Home Fleet.
15th Over ran mooring buoy at Scapa Flow during work-up with damage to both
screws and underwater detection equipment Dome.
16th Docking delayed by weather conditions.
18th Repair in Floating Dock commenced.
24th On completion of replacement of both screws undocked
and took passage to
Sheerness to resume Flotilla duties.
26th Rejoined 21st Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness.
Nominated for escort of military convoys to
Antwerp as part of Nore Local Escort Force.
(Note: Port was not opened until 28th after the
Scheldt Estuary had been
cleared of mines (Operation CALENDAR)
28th Deployed with HMS GARTH for escort of military
convoys and patrol in Nore area.
December Nore Local Escort Force deployment in continuation.
Escorted military convoys to and from Antwerp
and carried out patrols
in Thames Estuary and southern North Sea.
1 9 4 5
January Military convoys to and from Antwerp and commercial
North Sea
convoy escort in continuation.
(Note: Patrols for interception of SCHNORKEL
fitted submarines enemy
minelaying craft were increased, In addition
Atlantic convoys to
London were being routed through English Channel
after the
allied advance in NW Europe.)
21st Sustained underwater damage when ship ran aground
23rd Under repair to underwater fittings by HM Dockyard
Chatham
February
13th Resumed duties in Nore Local Flotilla on completion
of repair work.
21st In action with HMS GARTH and Motor Gunboats of
Coastal Forces
against E-Boats attacking North Sera convoy near
Hearty Knoll LV.
(Note: Free French Destroyer LA COMBATTANTE (Ex
HM Destroyer
HALDON, a Type II HUNT Class) was lost in an
adjacent area on
23rd, either by mine or E-Boat attack.)
March Nore Local Flotilla duties for escort and patrol in
continuation.
April Military and commercial convoy escort in
continuation.
12th New Commanding Officer, Lieutenant L E Blackmore
joined ship.
May Escort deployment continued after VE Day for military
convoys and Nore Command
to
June requirements with Local Flotilla.
July Nominated for duty in Clyde for destruction of
surrendered U-Boats
(Operation DEADLIGHT)
Took passage to Greenock for DEADLIGHT duties.
August Deployed in Clyde area.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS MENDIP was deployed for tow
of U-Boats during DEADLIGHT until January 1946 when the ship returned to Sheerness to prepare for
Paying off. The ship’s company transferred to HMS BLEASDALE on 25th January
when the ship formally transferred to
Reserve Fleet administration. On completion of de-storing and reduction to Reserve
status she was laid-up at Harwich. Placed on the Disposal List this escort
destroyer was sold to China and recommissioned for passage on 21st January 1948.
Formally transferred and renamed LIN FU the ship remained as part of the
Chinese Navy until returned to RN control
on 29th May 1949 after the Nationalist Government fell. By
June that year she had been transferred to the Far East
Fleet and deployed as replacement for HM Destroyer CONSORT which was under
refit. On 12th September 1949 the ship was Paid-off and had been the only HUNT
Class Destroyer to be deployed in the Far East. Whilst on return passage to UK
this destroyer was sold to Egypt on 9th
November whilst at Alexandria. and was renamed MOHAMMED ALI. In 1951 she was
again renamed as IBRAHIM AWAL and took part in the war against Israel. She was
captured off Haifa on 31st October 1956 and became part of the Israeli Navy as
HAIFA. She was deployed for training duties until 1970 when relegated to the
role of Accommodation Ship before being scrapped in 1972.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS MENDIP
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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23/10/42
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23/10/42
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CW 128
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24/10/42
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24/10/42
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04/04/43
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04/04/43
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CW 168
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05/04/43
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05/04/43
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06/04/43
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06/04/43
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CE 166
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07/04/43
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07/04/43
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13/06/43
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02/07/43
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UGS 010
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06/07/43
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10/07/43
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28/06/43
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07/07/43
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KMF 018
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10/07/43
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11/07/43
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05/07/43
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unknown
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MKF 017A
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unknown
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17/07/43
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22/07/43
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22/07/43
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GUS 010X
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25/07/43
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13/08/43
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12/07/43
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29/07/43
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UGS 012
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07/08/43
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10/08/43
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29/07/43
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29/07/43
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KMS 021
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07/08/43
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10/08/43
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07/09/43
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07/09/43
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FSS 002
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09/09/43
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09/09/43
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29/09/43
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03/10/43
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GUS 017
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09/10/43
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27/10/43
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16/10/43
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24/10/43
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KMF 025
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26/10/43
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30/10/43
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15/01/44
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26/01/44
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KMF 028
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29/01/44
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29/01/44
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03/02/44
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04/02/44
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XIF 009
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07/02/44
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08/02/44
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09/02/44
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09/02/44
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IXF 009
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13/02/44
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13/02/44
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23/02/44
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unknown
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IXF 010
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unknown
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26/02/44
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02/03/44
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02/03/44
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MKF 029
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09/03/44
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16/03/44
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11/03/44
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13/03/44
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NSF 017
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14/03/44
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14/03/44
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15/03/44
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15/03/44
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SNF 017
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18/03/44
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18/03/44
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28/03/44
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28/03/44
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SNF 018
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31/03/44
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31/03/44
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05/12/44
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05/12/44
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TAM 009
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06/12/44
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06/12/44
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09/12/44
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09/12/44
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ATM 009
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10/12/44
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10/12/44
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09/12/44
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09/12/44
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TAM 012
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10/12/44
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10/12/44
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15/12/44
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15/12/44
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ATM 013
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16/12/44
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16/12/44
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(Note on Convoys)
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