Francis Howard DSC, RN
| Born | 31 Dec 1889 |
 | Ranks
Retired: 10 Apr 1935 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Francis Howard, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Hector (F 45) | Capt. (Retd.) | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 7 Nov 1940 | 2 Apr 1942 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Hector (F 45)
21 Nov 1940
Around 1000EF/21, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from convoy escort duty. (1)
6 Dec 1940
Around 1300EF/6, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from convoy escort duty.
At Colombo she was to undergo a refit. (2)
10 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) is docked in the King George dry dock at Colombo. (2)
5 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) is undocked. (3)
9 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0615EF/9, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Colombo to patrol off the east coast of Ceylon to provide cover for shipping movements through the area. (3)
12 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0505EF/12, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) struck a submerged object while on patrol to the south-east of Trincomalee.
She sustained some hull damage but repairs were not immediately necessary and were eventually only undertaken during a docking in late July 1941. (4)
19 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830EF/19, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) returned to Colombo from patrol. (3)
21 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500EF/21, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Bombay. (3)
24 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030EF/24, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from Colombo. (3)
1 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0445C/1, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from convoy escort duty.
She departed around 0815C/1 to make rendezvous with convoy WS 5A.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 5A ' for 18 December 1940.] (5)
11 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1115C/11, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from convoy escort duty. (5)
13 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800C/13, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. (5)
18 Feb 1941
Around 0815EF/18, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from Aden. She then commenced to clean her boilers. (5)
26 Feb 1941
Convoy US 9A.
This convoy departed Bombay on 26 February 1941.
The convoy was made up of the following (troop) transports; Cap. St.Jacques (British (former French), 8009 GRT, built 1922, 758 troops and stores), Khedive Ismael (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922, 841 troops and stores, the troops included nurses), Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913, 1213 troops and stores), Slamat (Dutch, 11636 GRT, built 1924, 972 troops and stores) and Westernland (Dutch, 16479 GRT, built 1918, 2041 troops and stores).
On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN).
Around 0830C/5, the sloops HMS Auckland (Cdr. E.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) and HMAS Parramatta (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Walker, MVO, RAN) joined followed about an hour later by the light cruiser HMS Caledon (A/Cdr. C.S. Britton, RN). HMS Hector was then detached and proceed to Aden.
The auxiliary A/S whalers, HMS Syvern (?), HMS KOS XIX (?), HMS KOS XXI (T/Lt. A.R.J. Tilston, SANF(V)), HMS KOS XXII (Lt.(Retd.) H.D. Foxon, RNR) and HMS KOS XXIII (Lt.Cdr. J.J. Reid, RNVR) also joined the convoy for passage to Suez.
Around 2000C/6, HMS Kos XIX dropped astern due to engine trouble. HMAS Parramatta and HMS Kos XXI went to her assistance and the following morning they almost caught up with the convoy. They were then however ordered to proceed to Port Sudan together with the troop transport Cap St. Jacques. The four ships arrived at Port Sudan on 8 March 1941.
HMS Auckland parted company with the convoy on 7 March 1941 to return to Aden.
Around 2100C/9, HMS Caledon parted company with the convoy to return to Aden via Port Sudan.
The convoy anchored off Mahamad Gul and proceeded to Suez arriving there 15 March. The Westernland had gone ahead and had already arrived on 13 March. The three remaining A/S whalers had also gone ahead arriving at Suez on 10 / 11 March 1941. (6)
5 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1330C/5, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from convoy escort duty. (7)
6 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400C/6, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. (7)
11 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700E/11, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from Aden. (7)
15 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) conducted D/G trials off Bombay. (7)
21 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1330EF21, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from convoy escort duty. (7)
25 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800EF/25, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for a short patrol in the entrance to the Bay of Bengal and then onwards to Bombay. (8)
1 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1015EF/1, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from patrol. (9)
5 Apr 1941
Around 1445EF/5, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Bombay escorting the troop transport Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930, with 1375 personnel for the U.K.) to Durban. (10)
16 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200B/16, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) and the troop transport Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930, with 1375 personnel for the U.K.) arrived at Durban from Bombay. (9)
19 Apr 1941
Around 1315B/19, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Durban escorting the (troop) transport Dalia (South African, 5188 GRT, built 1931, 230 personnel and military stores) part of the way to Kilindini / Mombasa. (10)
22 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0615B/22, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) parted company with the (troop) transport Dalia (South African, 5188 GRT, built 1931, 230 personnel and military stores). (9)
26 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200C/26, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilinidini / Mombasa. (9)
5 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130C/5, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Kilinidini / Mombasa for patrol. She is ordered to patrol along the east coast of Africa, from Somalia to the northern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (11)
15 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800C/15, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilinidini / Mombasa from patrol. (11)
16 May 1941
Around 1045C/16, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Kilinidini / Mombasa to escort the troop
transport Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920) part of the way towards Durban. (11)
19 May 1941
Around 1445C/19, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) turned over the escort of the troop transport Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920) to HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN).
HMS Hector then set course to return to Kilindini / Mombasa. (11)
22 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700C/22, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilinidi / Mombasa from escort duty. (11)
26 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700C/26, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Zanzibar. (12)
27 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0825C/27, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Zanzibar from Kilindini / Mombasa.
Around 1645C/27, she departed Zanzibar for patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the African east coast. (12)
3 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1315C/3, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from patrol. (13)
6 Jun 1941
Convoy CM 10.
This convoy departed Kilindini / Mombasa on 6 June 1941.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; President Doumer (British, 11898 GRT, built 1935, 1098 troops), Shirala (British, 7841 GRT, built 1925, approx. 500 military personnel) and Yoma (British, 8131 GRT, built 1928, 1646 troops).
The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN).
The convoy arrived at Aden on 12 June 1941. The President Doumer had been detached to proceed to Berbera wher she also arrived on the 12th. (6)
15 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0645C/15, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Kilindini / Mombasa. (13)
23 Jun 1941
Around 0900C/23, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Aden. (13)
29 Jun 1941
Convoy CM 13.
This convoy departed Kilindini / Mombasa on 29 June 1941.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Ascanius (British, 10048 GRT, built 1910, 1159 troops), Burma (British, 7821 GRT, built 1914, 1190 troops), President Doumer (British, 11898 GRT, built 1935, 1190 troops), Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937, 1351 troops) and Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924, 1110 troops).
The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN).
The convoy was dispersed in the Gulf of Aden on 4 / 5 July 1941. (6)
5 Jul 1941
Around 0900C/5, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from convoy escort duty. (14)
16 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1430C/16, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Aden to make rendezvous with convoy WS 9A.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 9A ' for 4 June 1941.] (14)
22 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1445EF/22, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay with convoy WS 9AX. (14)
24 Jul 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) is docked in the Hughes dry dock at Bombay for hull cleaning and repairs to the damage she had sustained on 12 January 1941. (14)
7 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) is undocked. (15)
8 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy BA 4.
This convoy departed Bombay on 8 August 1941.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931, 1718 troops), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939, 1483 troops), Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912, 1949 troops) and Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924, 977 troops).
On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN), sloop HMIS Cornwallis (Lt. W.J.G. Hughes, RIN) and the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Dipavati (T/Lt. P. Munday, RINR).
On 9 August 1941, HMIS Cornwallis and HMIS Dipavati parted company with the convoy.
At 0600C/13, the convoy was dispersed off the entrance to the Gulf of Aden in position 15°26'N, 53°56'E.
13 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1320C/13, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) joined convoy WS 9BX.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 9B ' for 30 June 1941. (15)
16 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1815EF/16, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay with convoy WS 9BX. (15)
20 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Bombay with officers and ratings from the RIN gunnery school on board. (15)
21 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) conducted D/G and compass swing trials off Bombay. (15)
25 Aug 1941
Combined convoy BA 5 / BP 13.
This combined convoy departed Bombay on 25 August 1941.
Convoy BA 5 was made up of the transport; City of London (British, 8956 GRT, built 1907).
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Convoy BP 13 was made up of the transport; Islami (British, 5879 GRT, built 1934).
On departure from Bombay the combined convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) and the auxiliary patrol vessels HMIS Dipavati (T/Lt. P. Munday, RINR) and HMIS Sonavati (Lt. M.B. Hall, RIN).
On the 26th, both auxiliary patrol vessels parted company.
Around 1200D/28, the Islami (convoy BP 13) parted company in position 22°30'N, 61°30'E.
Around 2300C/31, HMS Hector parted company with the City of London in position 13°40'N, 50°00'E. (15)
4 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1515EF/4, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from convoy escort duty. (16)
5 Sep 1941
Convoy BP 14.
This convoy departed Bombay on 5 September 1941.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Khedive Ismael (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922, 906 troops and stores), Lancashire (British, 9557 GRT, built 1917, 1407 troops and stores), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926, 1002 troops and stores), Santhia (British, 7754 GRT, built 1925, 964 troops and stores), Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923, 1058 troops and stores), Varela (British, 4651 GRT, built 1914, 834 troops and stores) and Varsova (British, 4701 GRT, built 1914, 800 troops and stores).
On departure from Bombay the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN), sloop HMIS Cornwallis (Lt. W.J.G. Hughes, RIN) and the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Sonavati (Lt. M.B. Hall, RIN).
Around 1740EF/5, HMIS Cornwallis and HMIS Sonavati were detached.
Around 1200E/5, the (troop) transport Rohna (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926, 978 troops and stores) joined the convoy in position 24°02'N, 65°51'E. She had left Karachi earlier that day.
Around 1400D/8, HMS Hector parted company with the convoy in position 24°28'N, 60°00'E.
The convoy arrived at Basra on 11 September 1941. (6)
10 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1900EF/10, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from convoy escort duty. (16)
19 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1045EF/19, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Bombay for Aden. She was escorting the troop transport Felix Roussell (British, 17083 GRT, built 1930, 1660 military personnel). (17)
24 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1645C/24, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) and the troop transport Felix Roussell (British, 17083 GRT, built 1930, 1660 military personnel) arrived at Aden from Bombay. (16)
2 Oct 1941
Around 0800C/2, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. She is escorting the (troop) transport City of London (British, 8956 GRT, built 1907) part of the way to Karachi. (18)
6 Oct 1941
Around 1600D/6, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) parted company with the (troop) transport City of London (British, 8956 GRT, built 1907) in position 20°29'N, 62°30'E. (18)
9 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300EF/9, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from escort duty. (18)
15 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) conducted compass adjustment trials off Bombay. (18)
16 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Bombay. (18)
27 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0630EF/27, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Bombay escorting convoy WS 11X to Colombo.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 11 ' for 31 August 1941.] (18)
30 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630EF/30, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo having escorted convoy WS 11X to that place.
Before entering harbour, HMS Hector conducted D/G trials. (18)
14 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600EF/14, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Bombay for Port Victoria, Seychelles. On leaving harbour compass adjustment trials were carried out. (19)
19 Nov 1941
Around 1745D/19, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles from Bombay. (20)
21 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500D/21, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles for Durban. She was routed to the east of Madagascar. (20)
29 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/29, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from Port Victoria, Seychelles. (20)
9 Dec 1941
Around 0900B/9, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Durban. At sea she joined the RFA tanker Cedardale (8132 GRT, built 1939) to escort this ship to Mauritius. (21)
16 Dec 1941
Around 0800D/16, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) and the RFA tanker Cedardale (8132 GRT, built 1939) arrived at Mauritius. (21)
20 Dec 1941
Around 1800D/20, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) and the RFA tanker Cedardale (8132 GRT, built 1939) departed Mauritius for Port Victoria, Seychelles. (21)
22 Dec 1941
Around 1130D/22, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) and the RFA tanker Cedardale (8132 GRT, built 1939) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles from Mauritius. (21)
26 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100D/26, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles for Mauritius. (21)
29 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0650D/29, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Mauritius from Port Victoria, Seychelles. (21)
30 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0650D/30, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Mauritius for patrol and to make rendezvous with the RFA tanker Olcades (6891 GRT, built 1918) which was en-route from Durban to Mauritius. (21)
1 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700D/1, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) made rendezvous with the RFA tanker Olcades (6891 GRT, built 1918). HMS Hector was to escort the tanker to Mauritius. (22)
4 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0745D/4, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) and the RFA tanker Olcades (6891 GRT, built 1918). HMS Hector arrived at Mauritius. (22)
10 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300D/10, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Mauritius for Port Victoria, Seychelles. (22)
13 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800D/13, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles from Mauritius. (22)
15 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200D/15, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles for Kilindini / Mombasa. On board were the Governor of the Seychelles and members of the Seychelles Volunteer Corps. (22)
18 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930C/18, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Port Victoria, Seychelles. (22)
20 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1545C/20, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Aden. (22)
25 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1745C/25, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from Kilindini / Mombasa. (22)
12 Feb 1942
Convoy AJ 2.
This convoy departed Aden on 12 February 1942.
The convoy was made up of the following (troop) transports; Mendoza (British (former French), 8233 GRT, built 1919, 1523 troops and equipment) and Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937, 1398 troops and equipment).
The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN).
The convoy arrived at Colombo on 20 February 1942. On entering harbour HMS Hector was ordered to departed immediately for Cochin. (23)
22 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0940EF/22, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Cochin. (24)
25 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy BM 14.
This convoy departed Bombay on 25 February 1942.
It was made up of the (troop) transports; Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936, 1595 troops), Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913, 1725 troops) and Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924, 1100 troops).
On departure from Bombay the convoy was unescorted.
On the 25th, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Cochin to make rendezvous with the convoy which was affected around 1430EF/26 in position 15°00'N, 72°15'E.
The convoy arrived at Colombo on 1 March 1942. HMS Hector did not enter harbour but set course to return to Cochin. (25)
2 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1415EF/2, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) returned to Cochin from convoy escort duty. (26)
2 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy C 5.
This convoy departed Colombo on 2 March 1942.
It was made up of the following transports; Mendoza (British (former French), 8233 GRT, built 1919), Silverteak (British, 6770 GRT, built 1930) and Yoma (British, 8131 GRT, built 1928).
On departure from Colombo the convoy was escorted by the minesweeper HMAS Bathurst (Lt.Cdr. A.V. Bunyan, RANR(S)).
Around 0105EF/4, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) joined the convoy in position 10°30'N, 74°48'E. HMAS Bathurst then parted company.
The convoy arrived at Bombay on 6 March 1942. (23)
3 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1600EF/3, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Cochin to make rendezvous with convoy C 5.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy C 5 ' for 2 March 1942.] (26)
11 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1645EF/11, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. (26)
14 Mar 1942
Around 1615F/14, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay.
At Bombay she is to prepare for decommissioning and to be returned to the trade. (26)
1 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) is docked in the Walkers dry dock at Colombo. (27)
Sources
- ADM 53/112423
- ADM 53/112424
- ADM 53/114391
- ADM 53/114391 + ADM 199/2556
- ADM 53/114392
- ADM 199/408
- ADM 53/114393
- ADM 53/114393 + ADM 199/408
- ADM 53/114394
- ADM 53/114394 + ADM 199/408
- ADM 53/114395 + ADM 199/408
- ADM 53/114395
- ADM 53/114396
- ADM 53/114397
- ADM 53/114398
- ADM 53/114399
- ADM 53/114399 + ADM 199/408
- ADM 53/114400
- ADM 53/114401 + ADM 199/408
- ADM 53/114401
- ADM 53/114402
- ADM 53/116053
- ADM 199/426
- ADM 53/116054
- ADM 53/116054 + ADM 199/426
- ADM 53/116055
- ADM 53/116056
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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