Naval History Homepage and Site Search

  British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day
by Don Kindell

NAVAL EVENTS, MARCH 1942 (Part 1 of 2) (in outline only)
Sunday 1st - Saturday 14th

HMS Bickerton, frigate (CyberHeritage, click to enlarge)

on to MARCH 1942, Part 2

 

Note: all vessels and aircraft are British unless otherwise identified or implied - click for abbreviations

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

More information on naval events in this period may be found in:

 

ADMIRALTY WAR DIARIES

 

Background Events - March-May 1942

Russian convoys, Raid on St Nazaire, Battle of Sirte Gulf, SE Asia & SW Pacific occupied, British landings on Madagascar

 


 

 

1942

 

 

Sunday, 1 March

 

BATTLE OF THE SUNDA STRAIT

 

American heavy cruiser HOUSTON and Australian light cruiser PERTH departed Batavia to pass through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean. Dutch destroyer EVERTSEN departed later with the intention of joining them at sea.

 

HOUSTON (Captain A H Rooks) was sunk in Sunda Strait by Japanese heavy cruisers MOGAMI, MIKUMA and destroyers.

 

ENS F J Bourgeois, LCDR J K Chisholm, ENS J R Darter, LCDR R H Gingras, LT E D Hodge, CDR J A Hollowell Jr, LCDR F W Keith, LT H G Kirkpatrick, LT D W Knoll, LT (jg) K L Kollmyer, Acting Pay Clerk J A Lafferty, ENS H A Levitt,ENS L H Mainey Jr, ENS F F Mallory, ENS C A Mayo III, ENS A F Nethken, LT J C Patty Jr, Captain F M Ramsey USMC, CDR G S Rentz, CDR D W Roberts, Captain A H Rooks, ENS C Sellers III, LT B D Skidmore, LCDR S L Smith, ENS G S Stewart, Acting Pay Clerk R B Thompson, LT (jg) J F Woodruff and six hundred and twenty nine enlisted men were missing.

 

Colonel A Back USMC, 2nd LT E M Barrett USMC, LT C D Burroughs USMC, ENS P R Clark, LT J F Dalton, CDR W A Epstein, LT R B Fulton II, LCDR W J Galbraith, 2nd LT F E Gallagher Jr USMC,ENS J M Hamill, LT (jg) H S Hamlin Jr, CDR A L Maher, ENS J B Nelson, LT T B Payne, LT L W Rogers, LT R R Ross, ENS C D Smith II, ENS J B Stivers, LT (jg) F B Weiler, LT (jg) W G. Winslow and three hundred and thirty six enlisted men were rescued and made prisoners of war.  LT Ross died as a prisoner of war on 5 May 1942 at Batavia, LT Weilner on 26 March 1942 at Pendeglagang, Java and seventy four enlisted men during captivity.

 

PERTH (Captain H M L Waller DSO) was sunk in the Sunda Straits by MOGAMI, MIKUMA and destroyers.

 

Cdr (E) R Gray, Commissioned Shipwright H T Haylock, Acting Warrant Mechanician H S Hill DSC, Lt N D McWilliam RANR and thirty three ratings were killed, and nineteen officers and 291 ratings missing. The missing Australian officers were S/Lt A L Ball RANR, Chaplain the Reverend R S Bevington, Temporary Engineering Lt W H Gidney RANR (S), Lt P S F Hancox,S/Lt J S Lester, Cdr W H Martin, Lt (E) A H J Mears, Lt D J Sutton, Paymaster Midshipman F M Tranby-White, Surgeon Lt Cdr (D) A S Tregar, LDS, BDSC, Surgeon Lt Cdr E M Tymms DSC, MD, BS RANR, Captain H M L Waller DSO, Lt Cdr L L Watkins, and Acting S/Lt T B Wolley RANR. Missing British officers were Lt Cdr G D Clarke, Lt Cdr J K Johnson, Lt M H Highton, Lt C H Palairet, Warrant Engineer J E H Tuersley. Two British ratings, three RAAF airmen and three canteen staff were also among those missing.

 

Probationary Paymaster S/Lt R M Barker RANR, Paymaster S/Lt G D M Black RANR, Probationary Lt L T Burgess RANR, Paymaster Midshipman G R Campbell, S/Lt W L Gay, Probationary Electrician Lt F D Gillan RANR, Lt J A Harper, Gunner F E Hawkins, Paymaster Lt Cdr R F M Lowe, Schoolmaster N E Lyons, S/Lt J B Martin RANR, Chaplain J K W Mathieson, Paymaster Lt Cdr P O L Owen, Probationary Engineering S/Lt T F Robbins RANVR, Probationary Engineering S/Lt W H Roberts RANVR, Commissioned Gunner G L Ross, Temporary Gunner L C Smith, Surgeon Lt S E L Stening RANR, Lt J A Thode RANR, Warrant Electrician C V Vowles, Acting S/Lt N H S White, Temporary Warrant Supply Officer C J Woodley and three hundred and one ratings were rescued and made prisoners of war. Flying Officer A V McDonough RAAF and two ratings were also captured. Of those captured, one hundred and four ratings Australian, one British and one RAAF rating died as prisoners of war.  Two hundred and twenty nine crewmen, including all the officers and the RAAF Flying Officer survived to return to Australia at war's end.

 

EVERTSEN (Lt Cdr W M De Vries RNN) running behind the cruisers was attacked by Japanese destroyers SKIRAKUMO and MURAKUMO,  badly damaged and run aground in Sunda Strait to prevent her sinking.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser EXETER (Captain O L Gordon MVO) was sunk by Japanese heavy cruisers NACHI, HAGURO and destroyer INAZUMA off Bawean Island in the Java Sea in 5-00S, 111-00E.

 

Temporary Lt C G Bird RNVR, eleven ratings, and one Marine were killed and Temporary S/Lt D B Jewell RNVR, thirty four ratings and four Marines were missing.

 

Midshipman G P Allen, Midshipman P Anson, Temporary Lt D M Beadle RNVR, Warrant Mechanician W G Beckford, Temporary S/Lt (E) N J M Bennett, Temporary S/Lt (E) R G Blain, Lt P Brougham, Lt D W E Chubb, Lt Cdr (E) E J Chubb, Acting Lt K H F Clark, Lt Cdr G T Cooper, Acting Paymaster S/Lt P G Cranefield, Cdr (E) A H Drake, Temporary Warrant Engineer C E T Farren, Midshipman W F B Faulkner, Probationary Temporary Midshipman T H Finn, Temporary Chaplain G O Fitzgerald RNVR, Captain O L Gordon, Warrant Shipwright W E Harding, Acting Paymaster Lt Cdr J P K Harkness, Warrant Ordnance Officer M E Higman, Lt Cdr R K Hudson, Lt H A Hutcheson, Gunner J E John, Temporary Paymaster Lt A W Kerr RNVR, Lt M W B Kerr, Midshipman R H Leir RCN, Lt Cdr E S Lipscomb, Captain J H McCahon, RM, Instructor Lt J F Potter, Temporary Probationary S/Lt N H Power RNVR, Cdr H P Richardson, Lt D G Roome, Surgeon Lt D N Ryalls, Temporary Acting Gunner (T) G G Shelley, Warrant Electrican M A Smith, Temporary Lt (E) E Southwold, Lt M H Syms, RM, Probationary Temporary Midshipman P Spear RNR, Temporary Lt G H Tidy RCNVR, Midshipman K A Townsend-Green, Lt Cdr F R Twiss, Surgeon Cdr V F Walsh, Gunner J White, Schoolmast R K Wood, Surgeon Lt J C Wyatt, and six hundred and seven ratings were made prisoners of war. Surgeon Lt Cdr D N Ryalls RNVR died as a prisoner of war 24 June 1944 (NAVY LIST, 20 June according to Naval Historical Branch) when the Japanese transport he was in was sunk. Additionaly, one hundred and thirty one ratings and twenty one Marines died in captivity during the war.

 

Destroyer ENCOUNTER (Lt Cdr E V St J Morgan) was sunk by Japanese heavy cruisers MYOKO and ASHIGARA off Bawean Island in the Java Sea in 5-00S, 111-00E.

 

Seven ratings were lost. Lt Cdr St J Morgan, Lt J A V Hickley, Lt S Falle, Acting Temporary Lt R J M Conibear RNVR, Lt (E) E Tyrrell, Probationary Surgeon Lt D R Syred, MRCS, LRCP RNVR, S/Lt D C Hazelton RNR, Acting Gunner (T) J V Leiper and one hundred and forty three ratings were made prisoners of war. Thirty seven ratings died in captivity, and S/Lt D. C. Hazelton was lost on 18 September 1944 when the transport he was in was sunk.

 

American destroyer POPE (LCDR W C Blinn), in company with EXETER and ENCOUNTER, was sunk by Japanese bombers from aircraft carrier RYUJO.  The entire crew, one hundred and fifty one officers and enlisted men, were picked up and made prisoners of war. Twenty seven enlisted men died in captivity.

_____

 

American destroyer EDSALL (LT J J Nix) was sunk by Japanese battleships HIEI and KIRISHIMA near Christmas Island.  LT C G Butler, LT (jg) R C Dell, LT J F Fairbanks Jr, LT (jg) M D Gilmore Jr, ENS J W Gustin, LT R W Meyers, LT J J Nix, LT (jg) R A Snodgrass, LT P G Wild Jr, and one hundred and thirty seven enlisted men were lost. Two of the enlisted men were formerly in destroyer STEWART.  Five enlisted men were rescued, but died of wounds while prisoners of war.

_____

 

Troop convoy SU.1 (former JS.3) of EASTERN PRINCE (10,926grt), CITY OF PARIS (10,02grt), CITY OF LONDON (8956grt), ESPERANCE BAY (14,204grt), KOSCIKSKO (6852grt), EGRA (5108grt), SALWEEN (7063grt), SILVERWILLOW (6373grt), PENRITH CASTLE (6369grt), MATHURA (8890grt), MADRAS CITY (5092grt) and EMPIRE GLADE (7006grt) departed Colombo at 0130Z/1st, escorts:

 

 

departed to join

detached to arrive

28th

battleship Royal Sovereign, destroyers Nizam, Vampire, AMC Manoora departed Trincomalee 28 February to meet and escort JS.3

 

1st

heavy cruiser Cornwall, destroyer Express, corvette Hollyhock departed Addu on the 1st,  to meet and escort SU.1 from the 1st

 

2nd

 

Express, Hollyhock arrived Colombo 2nd

3rd

 

Royal Sovereign, Nizam, Vampire detached 3rd, arrived Trincomalee 7th

14th

 

Manoora (with Madras City, Silver Willow, Mathura, Empire Glade), detached for Adelaide, arrived 14th

rest of convoy arrived Fremantle 15 March with Cornwall

_____

 

Detached from convoy DM.3, battleship RAMILLIES and destroyer NORMAN arrived at Addu to refuel.

_____

 

Monitor EREBUS and corvette MARGUERITE departed Addu with an unnumbered convoy of three steamers, two for Trincomalee and one for Calcutta. They arrived at Colombo on the 3rd3 March.

_____

 

Indian sloop SUTLEJ departed Addu.

_____

 

Destroyers ARROW and HOTSPUR departed Aden for Bombay.

_____

 

Minelayer TEVIOTBANK departed Trincomalee for mining operation P.1 in South Preparis Channel, Arakan. She was escorted by corvette ASTER and covered by light cruiser CALEDON.

_____

 

Indian minesweeping trawler SOPHIE MARIE (Lt D G C Courtenay RINR) sank on a mine at the south entrance to MacPherson Strait, Nicobars laid by minelayer ABDIEL. Two ratings were killed.

_____

 

Submarine UNBEATEN sank French tanker PLM.25 (3415grt) off Misurata.

 

 

Monday,  2 March

 

S/Lt (A) J A K Watson RNVR and S/Lt (A) T H Greet RNVR, in a Swordfish of 821 Squadron were lost when their plane went missing off Malta.

_____

 

Acting S/Lt (A) S W Chapman RNVR and Acting S/Lt (A) P F C Brown RNVR, both of 815 Squadron, were killed when their Swordfish of 830 Squadron went missing off Malta during a ferrying mission from El Adem to Hal Far.

_____

 

Destroyer STRONGHOLD (Lt Cdr G R Pretor-Pinney) was sunk by Japanese heavy cruiser MAYA and destroyers ARASHI and NOWAKE. Cdr Pretor-Pinney,  Temporary S/Lt (E) S  J  M  Cornwell RNVR,  Temporary Acting Warrant Engineer A  G  Dunn, Lt H  J  Eason SSRNVR, Temporary Lt R  V  Gunn RNZNVR, Commander J  S  Hoffman (retired) formerly of gunboat GRASSHOPPER, Temporary Lt W  S  McFarlane RNR, Acting Cdr E  K  H  St Aubyn DSC formerly of SULTAN, Temporary Acting Gunner (T) R  F  Steed and sixty one ratings were missing. Lt I  D  S  Forbes and some fifty rating survivors were picked up by captured Dutch steamer DUYMAER VAN TWIST and transferred to MAYA. Five ratings died while prisoners of war.

_____

 

Dutch destroyer WITTE DE WITH was sunk in drydock at Surabaya by Japanese bombing.

_____

 

American destroyer PILLSBURY (LCDR H  C  Pound) was sunk by Japanese heavy cruisers ATAGO and TAKAO south of the Java coast.  LT A  C  Bookout, LT (jg) G  L  Fisher, LT (jg) E  Gandia, LT R  W  Germany Jr , ENS W  H  Harris, LT T  A  Hilger, LCDR H  C  Pound, ENS J  J  Riley, ENS L  S  Sulkis, LT A  H  Vorpahl and one hundred and seventy enlisted men were lost. ENS Harris and twenty eight enlisted men were from destroyer STEWART. There were no survivors.

_____

 

Patrol vessel KEDAH, with ABDA COM HQ on board, reported her machinery had broken down in 2-10S, 90-44S. Australian light cruisers HOBART and the British DRAGON were ordered to assist. DRAGON took her in tow and arrived at Colombo on the 6th.

_____

 

American light cruiser MARBLEHEAD departed Trincomalee for Simonstown for repairs.

_____

 

Convoy SU.3 departed Colombo with troopships STRATHALLAN, DURBAN CASTLE, ANDES and ORCADES, escorted by light cruiser GLASGOW. The convoy dispersed in 4-20N, 82-38E. Destination and routing were changed en route and instead of proceeding to Fremantle, arrived at Adelaide.

 

 

Tuesday,  3 March

 

Convoy ON.72 departed Liverpool 3 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

5th

destroyers Chesterfield, Churchill, corvettes Camellia, Pimpernel

 

14th

 

Chesterfield, Churchill

16th

destroyers Montgomery, Vanoc, corvettes Mahone, Saskatoon

 

17th

 

Camellia, Pimpernel

18th

 

Montgomery,  Saskatoon

convoy arrived Halifax 19 March

_____

 

Convoy HX.178 departed Halifax 3 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

3rd

destroyers Walker, Witherington, corvettes Bittersweet, Calgary, Oakville, minesweeper Drummondville

 

4th

 

Calgary

6th

American destroyer Gleaves, US Coast Guard cutter Spencer, corvettes Algoma, Chilliwack, Shediac

Bittersweet

7th

 

Walker, Witherington, Calgary, Oakville

16th

 

Gleaves, Spencer, Algoma, Chilliwack

17th

Anti-submarine whaler Narvik

 

convoy arrived Liverpool 17 March

_____

 

American gunboat ASHEVILLE (LCDR J W Britt) was sunk by Japanese warships south of the Java coast. LCDR Britt, ENS D  L  Goff, LT L  J  Gulliver Jr , LT (jg) J  W  Hays, LT L  T  Miles, LT G  H  Moseley, LT K  E  Pound, LT (jg) G  R  Rings, ENS R  J  Tonill, Warrant Officer H  A  Walstromand one hundred and sixty enlisted men were lost. There were no survivors.

_____

 

Battleship RAMILLIES and destroyer NORMAN departed Addu to rejoin convoy DM.3.

_____

 

Light cruiser BIRMINGHAM arrived at Simonstown for refitting.

 

 

Wednesday,  4 March

 

Australian sloop YARRA (Lt Cdr R W Rankin RAN) escorting depot ship ANKING (Captain J  P  L  Reid) and tanker FRANCOL with motor minesweeper MMS.51 (Lt F  Nixon RNR) which all departed Tjilatjap on the 2nd, were sunk by Japanese warships 300 miles south of Java.  Indian sloop JUMNA had been with the convoy, but detached at Tjilatjap for other duties.

 

YARRA - Cdr Rankin, Lt F  E  Smith RANR, Probationary Temporary Lt K  L  Dawson RANR, Lt G  L  Wright RANVR, Lt N  M  Anderson RANVR, Temporary Engineering Lt C  J  Wilks RANR, Surgical Lt W  J  McLaren-Robinson RAN, Gunner R  W  D  Bull RAN and 124 ratings were missing. Five British ratings were also lost. Also lost were survivors from Dutch steamer PARIGI picked up on the 3rd March. Only one of the PARIGI's survivors survived the second sinking. Twenty crew and the sole Dutch survivor died on the rafts prior to rescue.

 

ANKING - Lt Cdr S  L  Garrett RNR, Temporary Lt J  McN  Morren RNR, Temporary Lt J  Neville RNZNVR, Paymaster Lt L  E  O'Shaughnessy RNR, Lt M  Melville MRNVR, Temporary Paymaster Lt A  W  G  Gibson RNR, Temporary S/Lt R  W  Smith RNZNVR, S/Lt E  E  Leyden MRNVR, Lt Cdr (E) J  Robertson RNR, Lt (E) J  Millar RNR, Temporary Acting Warrant Supply Officer F  Oliver, Temporary Lt (E) W  F  Phillips RNR, S/Lt (E) S  Lee RNR, S/Lt (E) C  J  Wood RNR, Temporary S/Lt K  T  Hamblett RANVR, and twenty five RAN ratings were lost. Lt L  L  Cooper, MRNVR, Temporary Lt C  O'Neill RNR (died 8 March), Temporary Surgeon Lt G  S  Cross MRNVR (died 21 March), Temporary Lt F  Taylor RNZNVR and fifty three ratings were picked up by Dutch steamer TAWALI.

 

FRANCOL - two survivors were picked up.

 

MMS.51 - survivors were rescued by Dutch steamer TJIMANOEK on the 7th.

 

Thirteen ratings from YARRA and three from ANKING were rescued on the 7th by Dutch submarine K.11 and landed in Colombo on the 13th.

 

Sixteen survivors from ANKING and MMS.51 reached the Java coast and were made prisoners of war.

 

One steamer, one of a number unnamed ones which  sailed at the same time with the convoy, was captured.

_____

 

Light cruiser SHEFFIELD departed Seidisfjord on Russian convoy duty and was mined three hours out. One rating died of wounds. Escorted to Seidisfjord by destroyers BEDOUIN and FAULKNOR, she arrived at 1100/5th and after temporary repairs, departed on the 23rd for Scapa Flow, arriving on the 29th. Repaired at the Hebburn yard in the Tyne, she completed 20 July.

_____

 

Convoy OS.21 departed Liverpool 4 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

4th

sloop Aberdeen, escort ships Hartland, Walney

 

5th

corvette Thyme, minesweeper Boston

 

11th

sloop Ibis

 

19th

destroyer Wivern, corvettes Aubretia, Tamarisk

 

21st

sloop Commandant Drogou, corvettes Bellwort, Bergamot, Genista

Aberdeen, Hartland, Walney, Ibis

convoy arrived Freetown 24 March

_____

 

Convoy SL.102 departed Freetown 4 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

5th

destroyer Boreas, corvettes Genista, Violet

 

7th

sloops Egret, Fleetwood, corvette Orchis, escort ships Banff, Fishguard, A/S yacht Philante

 

8th

 

Boreas, Genista, Violet

26th

A/S trawler Man O’ War

 

convoy arrived Liverpool 26 March

_____

 

Three groups of ships arrived at Colombo – (1) Convoy DM.3, battleship RAMILLIES and destroyer NORMAN, (2) destroyers DECOY, FORTUNE and the Dutch ISAAC SWEERS, (3) netlayer GUARDIAN, armed merchant cruiser RANCHI and Dutch submarine depot ship COLUMBA.

_____

 

Light cruiser DURBAN arrived at Mauritius.

 

 

Thursday,  5 March

 

Acting S/Lt P N Hopper RNR, was lost overboard from destroyer INTREPID.

_____

 

Convoy ON.73 departed Liverpool 5 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

6th

American destroyers Mayo, Simpson,  British corvettes Acanthus, Aglantine, Morden, Potentilla, Rose

 

16th

destroyers Walker, Witherington, corvettes Drummondville, Oakville

Mayo, Simpson,  Acanthus, Aglantine, Morden, Potentilla, Rose

convoy dispersed 18 March

_____

 

German steamer ARGUS (3143grt), carrying munitions, was lost in an explosion of her cargo at Hambukt, Norway.

_____

 

Submarine P.31 sank Italian steamer MARIN SANUDO (5081grt) 10½  miles 215° from Lampedusa.

_____

 

Three groups of ships arrived at Colombo – (1) light cruiser ENTERPRISE after convoy MS.5 escort duty, (2) Australian light cruiser HOBART, British light cruiser DANAE and destroyers SCOUT and TENEDOS from Batavia, (3) Convoy MS.5 of troopships KATOOMBA, HOLBROOK, and DUNTROON.

_____

 

Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE, after convoy MR.5 escort duty, and corvette VERBENA arrived at Trincomalee.

 

 

6 March, Friday

 

Convoy SC.73 departed Halifax 6 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

6th

destroyers Annapolis, Vanoc, corvettes Calgary, Saskatoon, minesweeper Mahone

 

10th

destroyer Reading, corvettes Dauphin, Lethbridge, Primrose, Shawnigan, minesweeper Minas

Annapolis, Vanoc, Calgary, Saskatoon, Mahone, Minas

13th

 

Lethbridge

17th

American destroyers Babbitt, Schenck

Babbitt, Schenck (later)

23rd

A/S whaler Bodo

Reading, Dauphin, Primrose, Shawnigan

convoy arrived Liverpool 24 March

__________

 

Convoy SU.2 departed Colombo with troopships RAJULA, NEVASA, TAKLIWA, DILWARA and ARONDA, escorted by Australian light cruiser HOBART, British sloop SHOREHAM and corvette TULIP, the latter two detaching en route. American light cruiser PHOENIX and destroyers JOHN D FORD and ALDEN met the convoy on the 18th, and arrived at Fremantle on the 20th.

_____

 

Aircraft carrier INDOMITABLE flew off the first of two batches of Hurricanes of RAF Squadrons 30 and 261 to Ceylon aerodromes. The remainder were flown off next day. INDOMITABLE and destroyers NAPIER and NESTOR arrived at Trincomalee early on the 7th.

_____

 

Three more groups of ships arrived at Colombo – (1) light cruiser GLASGOW, after escort duty with convoy SU.3, (2) patrol vessel KEDAH in tow of light cruiser DRAGON, (3) submarine TRUSTY after duty in the Dutch East Indies.

_____

 

Aircraft transport ENGADINE arrived at Trincomalee.

 

 

Saturday,  7 March

 

Ocean boarding vessel NORTHERN PRINCESS (655grt, Lt D B Phillipson RNR) was sunk by U.94 in the Western Atlantic. Lt Phillipson, Temporary Lt L W Kevis RNR, Temporary Lt E Shepherd RNVR, Temporary S/Lt J Macdonnell RNVR and all the ratings were lost.

_____

 

Two battleship groups arrived at Trincomalee – (1) ROYAL SOVEREIGN with destroyers NIZAM and VAMPIRE at 0345/7th after escort duty with convoy SU.1, (2) RAMILLES with destroyers DECOY and FORTUNE at 1140/7th from Colombo. At 0313, before arriving in port, RAMILLIES reported a periscope, but a search by DECOY was unsuccessful.

 

 

Sunday,  8 March

 

Anti-submarine trawler NOTTS COUNTY (541grt, Temporary Lt R. H. Hampton RNR) was sunk south of Iceland on a mine. Lt Hampton, Temporary S/Lt F P S. Davies RNVR, Temporary S/Lt R R Humble-Smith RNVR, Temporary S/Lt A C Joy RNVR and thirty seven ratings were missing.

 

 

Monday,  9 March

 

In an attack on German battleship TIRPITZ, S/Lt D J Shephard, S/Lt L Brown and Leading Airman S G Hollowood were killed when their Albacore of 832 Squadron was shot down. S/Lt R C Jones and Leading Airman C F Sivewright in an Albacore of 817 Squadron were also killed.

_____

 

Convoy ON.74 departed Liverpool 9 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

10th

destroyer Assiniboine, corvettes Amherst, Celandine, Hepatica

 

11th

corvette Fennel

 

12th

corvette Brandon

 

20th

destroyers Niagara, Witch, minesweepers Gananoque, The Pass

Assiniboine, Amherst, Celandine, Hepatica, Fennel, Brandon

convoy arrived Halifax 25 March

_____

 

A Swordfish of 767 Squadron crashed near Forfar. S/Lt J Lawson and S/Lt L T Hardy both died of injuries.

_____

 

Convoy HX.179 departed Halifax 9 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

9th

destroyers St Clair, Verity, corvettes Calgary, Halifax, minesweepers Charlottetown, Clayoquot

 

13th

American destroyers Bristol, Buck, British corvettes Dianella, Kingcup, Loosestrife, Roselys

St Clair, Verity, Calgary, Halifax, Charlottetown, Clayoquot

convoy arrived Liverpool 22 February

_____

 

Allied forces in Java capitulated.

_____

 

Destroyer FOXHOUND departed Suez for Aden, en route to the East Indies.

 

 

Tuesday,  10 March

 

In flying exercises, a Swordfish of 813 Squadron collided with another Swordfish near North Front. Lt G R L Bell, S/Lt G Dinnis and Leading Airman T H Clarke were all killed. The other Swordfish survived and had no casualties.

_____

 

Convoy ON.75 departed Liverpool, and  was joined on the 11th by American destroyers BENSON, BROOME, MACLEISH and corvettes ALBERNI and COLLINGWOOD. The convoy dispersed on the 19th.

_____

 

Convoy ST.16 departed Freetown and arrived at Takoradi on the 18th.

_____

 

Light cruiser ENTERPRISE, minelaying cruiser ABDIEL, destroyers EXPRESS, NORMAN, sloop JUMNA and minelayers ATREUS and ALSEY departed Colombo. ABDIEL reached Addu on the 11th,  EXPRESS Trincomalee on the 11th, and NORMAN, ATREUS and ALSEY Trincomalee on the 12th.

 

 

Wednesday,  11 March

 

Light cruiser NAIAD (Captain G Grantham DSO) was sunk by U.565 south of Crete. Lt (E) D H Jewell, Temporary Lt (E) J J Woods, and eighty ratings were lost, and Probationary Temporary Lt (E) J Smith RNVR wounded. The survivors, including Adm Vian, were rescued by destroyers JERVIS, KIPLING and LIVELY.

_____

 

Anti-submarine trawler STELLA CAPELLA (440grt, Temporary Lt W L Sadgrove RANVR) was sunk by U.701 off Iceland. Lt Sadgrove, Temporary Acting Lt J S Adams RNVR, Temporary Lt A J Harris RNVR, Temporary Lt J K Mason RNVR, and twenty nine ratings were missing.

_____

 

Battleship RESOLUTION (Vice Admiral Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron) departed Capetown for Durban, arriving on the 13th.

_____

 

Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers TENEDOS and EXPRESS departed Trincomalee for Colombo, arriving on the 13th.

 

 

Thursday,  12 March

 

Air target vessel ST BRIAC (2312grt, Captain R E Lubbock) was sunk by a mine off Aberdeen. Temporary Lt J H Norfolk RNVR, Acting S/Lt (E) J McK Adams RNVR, Acting S/Lt (E) J C Ferguson RNVR, Acting S/Lt (E) D H Kelly RNVR, Acting S/Lt (E) F D Lutton RNVR were lost, and Capt Lubbock, Temporary Acting S/Lt (E) C Cromack RNVR, Temporary S/Lt (E) D Ditchburn RNR and Temporary Acting Lt D D Day RNVR wounded.

_____

 

Convoy SC.74 departed Halifax 12 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

12th

destroyers Niagara, Witch, corvette The Pas, minesweeper Gananoque

 

16th

destroyer Hurricane, corvettes Anchusa, Dahlia, Monkshood, Snowflake

 

18th

 

Niagara, Witch, The Pas, Gananoque

26th

 

Hurricane, Dahlia

27th

 

Anchusa, Monkshood, Snowflake

convoy arrived Liverpool 28 March

_____

 

Aircraft carrier FORMIDABLE (Flagship Admiral Sir James Somerville) and destroyers PALADIN and PANTHER departed Capetown for Colombo.

_____

 

Australian minesweeper LISMORE and Indian sloop SUTLEJ departed Colombo.

 

 

Friday,  13 March

 

Convoy OS.22 departed Liverpool 13 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

13th

corvette Campanula

 

14th

sloops Deptford, Folkestone, Weston escort ships Gorleston, Sennen

 

15th

corvette Cyclamen

Cyclamen

19th

escort ship Totland

 

28th

destroyer Wild Swan, corvettes Bergamot, Snowdrop, Violet

 

29th

 

Wild Swan

30th

 

Folkestone

31st

corvette Genista, minesweepers Boston, Seaham, Whitehaven

 

convoy arrived Freetown 1 April

_____

 

Two groups of ships departed Trincomalee – (1) destroyers NAPIER, NIZAM, NESTOR and NORMAN for exercises, arriving back next day, (2) aircraft transport ship ENGADINE and corvette TULIP for Colombo.

_____

 

Destroyer GRIFFIN, corvette VERBENA and Dutch submarines K.15 and K.11 (with survivors from sloop YARRA) arrived at Colombo.

_____

 

Corvette HOLLYHOCK departed Colombo.

_____

 

Destroyer FOXHOUND arrived at Aden and departed that day for Bombay.

 

 

Saturday,  14 March

 

Convoy HG.80 departed Gibraltar 14 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

14th

destroyers Whitehall, Wishart, sloops Pelican, Stork, catapult ship Maplin, corvettes Asphodel, Campion, Gardenia, Mallow, Pentstemon, Vetch

 

15th

 

Campion, Gardenia

17th

 

Whitehall, Wishart, Pelican

19th

 

Mallow

convoy arrived Liverpool 26 March

 _____

 

Convoy SL.103 departed Freetown 14 March, escorts:

 

 

joined

detached

14th

destroyers Brilliant, Wivern, corvettes Aubretia, Burdock, Tamarisk, Wallflower

 

16th

sloops Hastings, Londonderry, corvettes Coreopsis, escort ships Landguard, Lulworth

 

19th

 

Wivern, Aubretia, Tamarisk

24th

French sloop Commandant Detroyat

 

25th

corvettes Coltsfoot, Mallow, A/S whaler Molde

 

26th

 

Coltsfoot, Mallow, Molde

28th

 

Commandant Detroyat

29th

destroyers Beverley, Keppel, Sabre, Saladin, Volunteer

Beverley, Keppel (that night)

30th

destroyers Sardonyx, Scimitar

 

31st

 

Sabre, Saladin, Hastings, Burdock, Coreopsis, Wallflower, Landguard

convoy arrived Liverpool 2 April

_____

 

German steamer KELLERWALD (5032grt) was sunk on a mine in German waters.

_____

 

Greek destroyer AETOS, escorting an unnumbered convoy that departed Trincomalee for Colombo on the 11th, attacked a submarine contact in 6-52N, 78-57E. The convoy arrived at Colombo that morning.

_____

 

American light cruisers MEMPHIS and destroyers ELLIS, GREER and WINSLOW escorted convoy AS.1 of two army transports from Charleston, SC. ELLIS and GREER detached on the 15th while light cruiser CINCINNATI and destroyers JOUETT and SOMERS joined. The convoy arrived at Ascension on the 31st to build an airfield.

 
 

on to Naval Events, MARCH 1942, Part 2
or back to RN Day-by-Day Homepage

revised 8/4/12
further editing is required