Laid down (34)

1934: Light cruiser Southampton (83)

1938: Minelayer M 1 (M 19) - Submarine Torbay (N 79)

1939: Light cruiser Argonaut (61) - Escort destroyer Eridge (L 68) - Escort destroyer Farndale (L 70)

1941: Landing craft tank LCT 388 (LCT 388) - Submarine chaser SC-643 (SC-643) - Minesweeper YMS-92 (YMS-92)

1942: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-317 (LCI(L)-317) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-313 (LCI(L)-313) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-314 (LCI(L)-314) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-315 (LCI(L)-315) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-316 (LCI(L)-316) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-317 (LCI(L)-317) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-318 (LCI(L)-318) - Tank landing ship LST 360 (LST 360) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-313 (LCI(L)-313) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-314 (LCI(L)-314) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-315 (LCI(L)-315) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-316 (LCI(L)-316) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-317 (LCI(L)-317) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-318 (LCI(L)-318) - Tank landing ship LST 267 (LST 267) - Tank landing ship LST 359 (LST 359) - Tank landing ship LST 360 (LST 360) - Motor torpedo boat PT 190 - Destroyer Escort Sloat (DE 245) - Minesweeper YMS-276 (YMS-276)

1943: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-390 (LCI(L)-390) - Destroyer John W. Thomason (DD 760) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-390 (LCI(L)-390)

1944: Tank landing ship LST 972 (LST 972) - Motor torpedo boat PT 647

Launched (67)

1907: Submarine Depot Ship Lucia (F 27)

1918: Minesweeper Albury (J 41) - Rescue Tug Respond (W 92) - Submarine S-30 (135)

1925: MS Trawler Loch Alsh

1933: Submarine Cuttlefish (171)

1934: ASW Trawler Drangey (FY 195)

1940: Corvette Lethbridge (K 160)

1941: Rescue Tug Charon (W 109) - Motor minesweeper MMS 149 (J 649) - Motor minesweeper MMS 88 (J 588) - Battleship Indiana (BB 58) - Submarine chaser SC-525 (SC-525)

1942: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-298 (LCI(L)-298) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-299 (LCI(L)-299) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-301 (LCI(L)-301) - Minesweeper Portage (J 331) - Minesweeper BYMS 2171 (J 971) - Minesweeper BYMS 2217 (J 1017) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-248 (LCI(L)-248) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-297 (LCI(L)-297) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-298 (LCI(L)-298) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-299 (LCI(L)-299) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-300 (LCI(L)-300) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-301 (LCI(L)-301) - Landing Craft Tank LCT 617 (LCT 617) - Tank landing ship LST 159 (LST 159) - Tank landing ship LST 414 (LST 414) - Tank landing ship LST 415 (LST 415) - Motor minesweeper MMS 286 (J 786) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 422 (MTB 422) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-248 (LCI(L)-248) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-297 (LCI(L)-297) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-298 (LCI(L)-298) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-299 (LCI(L)-299) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-300 (LCI(L)-300) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-301 (LCI(L)-301) - Landing craft tank LCT 173 (LCT 173) - Destroyer Escort Le Hardy (DE 20) - Tank landing ship LST 159 (LST 159) - Tank landing ship LST 414 (LST 414) - Tank landing ship LST 415 (LST 415) - Tank landing ship LST 467 (LST 467) - Motor torpedo boat PT 163 - Motor torpedo boat PT 239 - Motor torpedo boat PT 240 - Motor torpedo boat PT 92 - Minesweeper Sage (AM 111) - Submarine chaser SC-1018 (SC-1018) - Submarine chaser SC-1046 (SC-1046) - Submarine chaser SC-684 (SC-684) - Minesweeper YMS-171 (YMS-171) - Minesweeper YMS-217 (YMS-217) - Minesweeper YMS-335 (YMS-335)

1943: Tank landing ship LST 289 (LST 289) - Destroyer Zambesi (R 66) - Frigate Zanzibar (K 596) - Minesweeper Incredible (AM 249) - Destroyer Laffey (ii) (DD 724) - Tank landing ship LST 289 (LST 289) - Patrol craft PC-1219 (PC-1219) - Destroyer Escort Willmarth (DE 638)

1944: Minesweeper Romola (J 449) - Landing craft tank LCT 1380 (LCT 1380)

1945: Submarine Tabard (P 342) - Cutter Minnetonka (WPG 67) - Destroyer Damato (DD 871)

Commissioned (38)

1918: Minesweeper Penguin (AM 33)

1919: Destroyer Herbert (DD 160)

1939: Auxiliary patrol vessel Parvati (4.179) - Armed Merchant Cruiser Worcestershire (F 29)

1941: Motor Launch ML 298 (ML 298) - Motor Launch ML 446 (ML 446) - Motor Launch ML 457 (ML 457) - Motor minesweeper MMS 82 (J 582)

1942: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-171 (LCI(L)-171) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-245 (LCI(L)-245) - Rescue Tug Prosperous (W 96) - Landing craft tank LCT 168 (LCT 168) - Landing craft tank LCT 173 (LCT 173) - Landing craft tank LCT 256 (LCT 256) - Landing craft tank LCT 328 (LCT 328) - Destroyer MacKenzie (ii) (DD 614) - Submarine Peto (265) - Destroyer Philip (ii) (DD 498)

1943: Corvette Riviere du Loup (K 357) - Minesweeper Fancy (J 308) - Harbour Defence Motor Launch HDML 1362 (ML 1362) - Minesweeper Logic (AM 258) - Escort carrier Solomons (CVE 67) - Destroyer Escort Thomas (ii) (DE 102)

1944: Minesweeper New Liskeard (J 397) - Minesweeper Lysander (ii) (J 379) - Motor minesweeper MMS 1054 (FY 1054) - Motor minesweeper MMS 1055 (FY 1055) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 387 (MTB 387) - Frigate Gladwyne (PF-62) - Landing craft support LCS(L)-80 (LCS(L)-80) - Medium landing ship (rocket) LSM(R) 190 (LSM(R) 190) - Medium landing ship (rocket) LSM(R) 191 (LSM(R) 191) - Medium landing ship (rocket) LSM(R) 192 (LSM(R) 192) - Medium landing ship (rocket) LSM(R) 193 (LSM(R) 193) - Medium landing ship (rocket) LSM(R) 194 (LSM(R) 194) - Medium landing ship (rocket) LSM(R) 195 (LSM(R) 195) - Patrol craft PCS-1448 (PCS-1448)

1939: Destroyer Gipsy (H 63)

1941: Motor Launch ML 219 (ML 219)

1954: Motor Fishing Vessel MFV 1163 (MFV 1163)

1956: Submarine M-200

More information on Allied Warships losses.

1939

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: HMS Devonshire (Capt. J.M. Mansfield, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.H.D. Cunningham, CB, MVO, RN) departed Plymouth for the Clyde.

Heavy cruiser HMS Kent: ' Force M ', made up of the British heavy cruiser HMS Kent (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN) and French heavy cruiser Suffren (Capt. R.J.M. Dillard) departed Singapore for Nancowry.

Light cruiser HMS Ceres: HMS Ceres (Capt. E.G. Abbott, AM, RN) departed Loch Ewe for the Northern Patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Iceland-Faeroer gap.

Light cruiser HMS Dauntless: HMS Dauntless (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) arrived in the Sunda Strait. Here she spoke the Dutch destroyer HrMs Van Nes (Lt.Cdr. J.S. Bax) which is on neutrality patrol.

Light cruiser HMS Effingham: HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN) arrived at Bermuda.

Light cruiser HMS Birmingham: HMS Birmingham (Capt. E.J.P. Brind, RN) is ordered to make rendezvous of Shanghai with the French transport André Lebon (14365 GRT, built 1915) and escort her to Hong Kong.

Light cruiser HMS Liverpool: HMS Liverpool (Capt. A.D. Read, RN) is docked in AFD 9 at Singapore.

Light cruiser HMS Newcastle: HMS Newcastle (Capt. J. Figgins, RN) departed Loch Ewe for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer passage.

Light cruiser HMS Sheffield: HMS Sheffield (Capt. E. de F. Renouf, CVO, RN) arrived at Loch Ewe from patrol.

Light cruiser HMS Southampton: Light cruisers HMS Southampton (Capt. F.W.H. Jeans, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) departed Rosyth around 0915A/21 for gunnery exercises off the Firth of Forth. The destroyer HMS Afridi (Capt. G.H. Cresswell, DSC, RN) was with them. At 1059A/21, HMS Belfast detonated a magnetic mine in approximate position 56°05'N, 02°32'W. The mine had been laid on November 4th by the German submarine U-21. HMS Belfast was badly damaged with her back broken. She was towed to the Rosyth Dockyard by the tugs Krooman, Bramham, Grangebourne and Oxcar. Tug Bulger was standing by as was the escort destroyer HMS Vivien (Lt.Cdr. W.D.G. Weir, RN). HMS Belfast was immediately docked in No.2 Dock. HMS Belfast, which had a broken back was out of action for about three years during which the ship was reconstruced.

Light cruiser HNMS Tromp: HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.W. Termijtelen, RNN) anchored off Tandjung Pandan, Banka Island (Pulau Banka).

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Transylvania: The German merchant Tenerife (4996 GRT) is intercepted of the south coast of Iceland in position 62°55'N, 20°00'W by the British armed merchant cruiser HMS Transylvania (Capt. F.N. Miles, OBE, RN). However before the German ship can be captured she is scuttled by her own crew.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle: During the night of 21/22 November 1939, HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) G.B. Lewis, RN) conducted exercises off Freetown.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda: HMS Queen of Bermuda (Capt.(Retd.) M.B. Birkett, DSO, RN) conducted special trials off Portsmouth.

Submarine HMS Unity: HMS Unity (Lt. J.F.B. Brown, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Blyth.

Submarine HMS Orpheus (i): HMS Orpheus (Cdr. C.J. Blake, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong.

Submarine HMS Perseus (i): HMS Perseus (Lt.Cdr. P.J.H. Bartlett, RN) departed Singapore for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the West coast of Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies. For the daily and attack positions of HMS Perseus during this patrol see the map below. HMS Perseus 6th war patrol click here for bigger map

Submarine HMS Sterlet: HMS Sterlet (Lt. G.H.S. Haward, RN) arrived at Newcaste on Tyne where she started a refit at the Swan Hunter shipyard.

Submarine HMS Triton: Around 1125A/21, HMS Triton (Lt.Cdr. H.P. de C. Steel, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Rosyth. The patrol had been uneventful.

Submarine HMS Tribune: At 0800Z/21, HMS Tribune (Lt.Cdr. G.P.S. Davies, RN) departed from Portland for Portsmouth. She arrived at Portsmouth at 1400Z/21.

Submarine HMS Truant: Around 0815Z/21, HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Peers, RN) departed Portland to Portsmouth (Fort Blockhouse) where she arrived around 1345Z/21. She was escorted by HMS Warrior II (Capt.(Retd.) K.A. Beattie, DSO, RN).

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. M. Keith-Roach, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with A/S trawlers.

Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt.Cdr. W.A.K.N. Cavaye, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Plymouth.

Submarine HMS H 44: HMS H 44 (Lt. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland.

Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland.

Battleship HMS Malaya: HMS Malaya (Capt. I.B.B. Tower, DSC, RN), HMS Glorious (Capt. G. D’Oyly-Hughes, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, RN) anchored off Socotra. Here they were joined by HMS Ramillies (Capt. H.T. Baillie-Grohman, OBE, DSO, RN) and HMS Delight (Cdr. M. Fogg-Elliott, RN) which had also been patrolling in the area.

Battlecruiser HMS Renown: HMS Neptune (Capt. J.A.V. Morse, DSO, RN) parted company with HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN) and HMS Ark Royal (Capt. A.J. Power, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L.V. Wells, CB, DSO, RN) around noon to proceed ahead at high speed to the position where the German merchant vessel Adolph Woermann (8577 GRT, built 1922) had been reported by the British merchant vessel Waimarama (12843 GRT, built 1938). After the German ship had been intercepted the following day, ' Force K ' set course to proceed to the Cape area via the east of St. Helena to conserve fuel. It had originally been intended to proceed to the West of St. Helena and to search the area for the German supply vessel Altmark.

Destroyer HMS Jaguar: HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) patrolled off the Humber in the afternoon / evening. She returned to the Humber late in the evening. She had been attacked by a German seaplane at 1919 hours but was only strafed with tracer bullets.

Destroyer HMS Dainty: HMS Dainty (Cdr. F.M. Walton, RN) departed Ajaccio for Malta.

Submarine ORP Wilk: ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) conducted diving trials in the Tay estuary near Dundee.

Minesweeper FR Chamois: Departed Brest on 21 November 1939 as escort for convoy 14-BS, bound for Casablanca (due there on 27 November 1939. The French steamer Arijon was sunk during the first 24hrs of convoy on the 22 November 1939, being torpedoed by U-43.

Submarine HMS L 27: HMS L 27 (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portsmouth with HMS Puffin (Lt.Cdr. Hon. J.M.G. Waldegrave, RN) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN).

1940

Heavy cruiser HMS York: HMS York (Capt. R.H. Portal, DSC, RN) arrived at Alexandria.

Light cruiser HMS Ceres: Convoy CM 6. This convoy departed Durban on 21 November 1940 for Mombasa where it arrived on 27 November 1940. The convoy was made up of the troop transports; Llangibby Castle (British, 11951 GRT, built 1929), Llanstephan Castle (British, 11340 GRT, built 1914), Selandia (South African, 8482 GRT, built 1938) and Westernland (Dutch, 16313 GRT, built 1918). The convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Ceres (Capt. E.G. Abbott, AM, RN). [Note: File ADM 199/383 does not list the Selandia as being part of this convoy but the sailing and arrival dates match according to file BT-389-26-183.]

Light cruiser HMS Colombo: Around 0800C/21, HMS Colombo (Capt. C.A.E. Stanfield, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from patrol.

Heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins: Around 1100B/21, HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN) arrived at Simonstown from patrol. The Vichy French ship she was ordered to try to intercept had not been sighted.

Light cruiser HMS Liverpool: The badly damaged HMS Liverpool (Cdr. R.S. Wellby, DSO, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Alexandria for temporary repairs.

Light cruiser HMS Manchester: Late in the afternoon, HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN), HMS Duncan (A/Capt. A.D.B. James, RN) and HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN) (these had joined at 1400/20 coming from Gibraltar) and the merchant ship Franconia (20175 GRT, built 1923) of the convoy arrived at Gibraltar.

Light cruiser HMAS Adelaide: Around 2210K/21, HMAS Adelaide (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN) arrived at Sydney from Williamstown.

Submarine HNMS O 14: HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H. Tichelman, RNN) arrived at Tobermory. From here she assists in A/S exercises.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Formidable: Around 0230A/21, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Belfast for Greenock where she arrived around 1250A/21. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). Later that day she carried out D/G trials off Helensburg.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Hector: Around 1000EF/21, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) arrived at Bombay from convoy escort duty.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Asturias: HMS Asturias (Capt. J.R.S. Haines, RN) is docked in the Selborne graving dock at the Simonstown Dockyard.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Ranchi: Around 0945EF/21, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from convoy escort duty and patrol.

Submarine HMS Oberon: HMS Oberon (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Pizey, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS St. Modwen (Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Ford, RN) and HMS Terje 2 (Skr. S.G. Jinks, RNR).

Submarine HMS Porpoise: HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) shifted from Ardrossan to Holy Loch.

Submarine HMS Sealion: HMS Sealion (Cdr. B. Bryant, DSC, RN) departed Blyth for her 11th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Utvaer, Norway. For the daily and attack positions of HMS Sealion during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Trident: Around 1740A/21, HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ended her 14th war patrol at Holy Loch. The patrol had been uneventful.

Submarine HMS Taku: Around 0930A/21, HMS Taku (Lt. J.F.B. Brown, RN) departed from Holy Loch for her 8th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Bay of Biscay off the Gironde estuary. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Upholder (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN). The submarines were escorted by HMS La Surprise (Capt.(Retd.) E.Stubbs, RN). The submarines parted company with the escort around 0335A/23 when off Wolf Rock. For the daily positions of HMS Taku during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Tuna: HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, DSO, RN) is docked at Ardrossan.

Submarine HMS Talisman: At 1325A/21, HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. P.S. Francis, RN) sighed three armed trawlers west of Belle Ile, France, in position 47°19'N, 03°24'W. They were in line abreast 1500 yards apart. They were transmitting on ASDIC on course 210°. They changed course to 020° at 1535A/21 and were subsequently lost from sight. This were most likely ships from the 12th UJ-flotilla which were patrolling between Ile de Groix and Belle Ile during this day. Most likely it thus must have been three ships out of the following five; UJ 122, UJ 124, UJ 128, UJ D and UJ E.

Submarine HMS Upholder: Around 0850A/21, HMS Upholder (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) departed Holy Loch for Portsmouth. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Taku (Lt. J.F.B. Brown, RN). The submarines were escorted by HMS La Surprise (Capt.(Retd.) E.Stubbs, RN).

Submarine HMS Usk (i): HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Portsmouth, escorted by by the Brisitsh ASW trawler HMS Kingston Amber (Skr. J. Flett, RNR), for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the English Channel.

Submarine HMS H 31: HMS H 31 (Lt. R.D. Whiteway-Wilkinson, DSC, RN) departed Tobermory for Rothesay. She was escorted by HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN).

Submarine HMS H 32: HMS H 32 (Lt. R.L. Alexander, RN) arrived at Londonderry.

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) arrived at Tobermory.

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. L.W. Napier, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Heather (Cdr.(Retd.) J.G.C. Gibson, RN) and HMS Rumba (T/Lt. N.E. Hendy, RNVR).

Light cruiser HMS Neptune: HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.H.D. Cunningham, CB, MVO, RN, the Vice-Admiral commanding 1st Cruiser Squadron) proceeded from Duala to Victoria. She departed for Porte Noire later the same day.

Light cruiser HMS Galatea: HMS Galatea (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN) is undocked.

Light cruiser HMS Kenya: HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. These were followed by RIX (range and inclination) exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, RN). And finally, HMS Kenya conducted more gunnery exercises.

Battleship HMS Nelson: HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN, flying the flag of Admiral of the Fleet C.M. Forbes, GCB, DSO, RN) conducted 6" gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow.

Destroyer HMAS Voyager: During 21/22 November 1940, the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. D.W. Boyd, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.L.St.G. Lyster, CVO, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises off Alexandria. She was escorted by the destroyers HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades RAN) and HMAS Voyager (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN), HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Havock (Cdr. R.E. Courage, DSO, DSC, RN).

Destroyer HMS Juno: HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) returned to Alexandria.

Destroyer HMS Kelvin: HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) departed Plymouth to join the escort of a convoy to Gibraltar. They departed a day late as they could not departed earlier as the harbour was closed due to enemy mines. [See the event for 16 November 1940 for more information on the convoy.]

Destroyer HMS Wryneck (i): The AA cruiser HMS Calcutta (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Wryneck (Lt.Cdr. R.H.D. Lane, RN) and HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. P.L. Saumarez, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Piraeus.

Corvette HMS Rhododendron: German U-boat U-103 was attacked with depth charges by the British corvette HMS Rhododendron (Lt.Cdr. W.N.H. Faichney, RNR) north-west of Ireland, in position 56°28'N, 14°13'W. This attack is often credited with the destruction of U-104, this is however not the case and the cause of U-104's loss is still not clear.

Corvette HMS Rhododendron: Rhododendron (Lt.Cdr. W.N.H. Faichney, RNR) picks up 36 survivors from the British merchant Daydawn that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-103 about 250 nautical miles west of Bloody Foreland in position 56°30'N, 14°10'W.

1941

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: On the way home after 622 days of patrol, the German raider Atlantis (Capt. B. Rogge) made rendezvous with the U-boat U-126 to refuel her north of Ascension Island. During that operation, a lookout reported a warship that turned out to be the British heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire (Capt. R.D. Oliver, DSC, RN) (Capt. R.D. Oliver, DSC, RN) that arrived due to an intelligence report on the rendezvous (Ultra decrypt). The Atlantis was then sunk in position 04°12'S, 18°42'W. As the British suspected an enemy submarine to be present, Devonshire made off at high speed, not daring to pick up the survivors. At 0520N/21, HMS Devonshire launched her Walrus aircraft for a reconnaissance and A/S patrol ahead of the ship. When the aircraft returned at 0710N/21 it reported that a merchant vessel had been sighted in position 04°20'S, 18°50'W. From the description given to him by the aircrew, Capt. Oliver suspected that this might well be an enemy raider that he had secretly been made aware of. He immediately altered course to close the suspicious ship at 25 knots. At 0809N/21, in position 04°12'S, 18°42'W the masts of a ship were sighted bearing 160°. There was a moderate breeze from the south-east and a slight sea with a short slow swell. The visibility was 10 miles. HMS Devonshire at once turned to launch her aircraft which was done at 0820N/21. By this time Captain Oliver's suspicions were throughly aroused by the manoeuvres and appearance of the ship which closely resembled Raider No. 16, with the exception of movable fittings such as ventilators and samson posts. He therefore manoeuvred HMS Devonshire at 26 knots, and kept her at a range of between 12000 and 18000 yards from the unknown ship to frustrate possible torpedo attack. Immediately after the Walrus aircraft had taken off, the stranger turned 32 points to starboard and made off in a south-easterly direction. At 0837N/21, HMS Devonshire fired two salvos spread to right and left, intended to provoke a return fire and establish the stranger's identity as a raider beyond doubt, or to induce her to abandon ship and avoid unnecessary bloodshed, especially as she probably had a number of Allied prisoners on board. The stranger at once stopped and, turning round, transmitted by wireless at 0840N/21 the warship raider report; " RRR RRR RRR de Polyphemus 4°12'S, 18°35'W. 0940 G.M.T. ". It was noted that the R's were in groups of three and not of four and that no signal letters (secret call sign) were included. Captain Oliver could not ignore the possibility that the ship might be the genuine Polyphemus, which was a vessel of similar appearance with a counter stern. To remove all doubts a signal was sent to the Vice-Admiral commanding the South Atlantic Station asking if it was possible that this was the real Polyphemus. While waiting for a reply the aircraft was asked what type of stern the ship had. The reply was a cruiser stern. At 0934A/21, a signal was received from the Vice-Admiral commanding the South Atlantic Station that the ship could not be the Polyphemus. One minute later HMS Devonshire opened fire from 17000 yards. Her fourth salvo hit and started a fire which, she reports, eventually spread to the enemy's magazine and blew her up. The enemy put up an efficient smoke screen, but made no attempt to return fire. By 0939N/21, HMS Devonshire had fired 30 salvoes, and Captain Oliver checked fire and turned to the eastward to clear the enemy's smoke screen. He then tried indirect firing by RDF range, but gun blast put the RDF transmitter out of action. By 0943N/21 the enemy was again visibly and according to the aircraft was maintaining a steady 15 knots. HMS Devonshire therefore re-opened fire until 0956N/21 when the enemy was seen to be heavily on fire and down by the stern. Captain Oliver thought that she had consistently attempted to draw him to the south-eastward a d was determined to steam no further in that direction. At 1002N/21 there was a heavy explosion on the enemy ship which was followed by another one at 1014N/21 and at 1016N/21 the enemy vessel sank. Captain Oliver's next anxiety was to recover his Walrus aircraft, which had a damaged propeller. It was picked up at 1038N/21, It reported that almost certainly an enemy submarine had been present. He was therefore unable to stop and rescue survivors without running a grave risk of being torpedoed.

Heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire: HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. A.W.S. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) departed Freetown to patrol in the mid/south Atlantic.

Light cruiser HMS Colombo: Around 1130C/21, HMS Colombo (Capt. C.C.A. Allen, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban.

Light cruiser HMS Cairo: HMS Cairo (A/Capt. I.R.H. Black, RN) is docked in No.9 dock at the Devonport Dockyard.

Light cruiser HMS Despatch: HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) arrived at St. Thomas. She departed for Bermuda later the same day.

Light cruiser HMS Dunedin: HMS Dunedin (Capt. R.S. Lovatt, RN) departed Freetown in the mid-Atlantic to search for German blockade breakers and supply vessels.

Light cruiser HMS Birmingham: HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) arrived at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Light cruiser HMS Liverpool: During 21/22 November 1941, HMS Liverpool (Capt. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Bermuda. These included night exercises.

Light cruiser HMS Sheffield: HMS Sheffield (Capt. A.W. Clarke, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol.

Submarine HNMS O 21: HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) attacked a liner in a convoy about 15 nautical miles South-West of Civitavecchia, Italy in position 41°55'N, 11°27'E. Two torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained. These were the passenger/cargo ship Città' di Trieste (4658 GRT, built 1915) which was escorted by Armed Merchant Cruiser Piero Foscari (3423 GRT, built 1928) and the auxiliary Loredan (1357 GRT, built 1936) on passage from Olbia to Civitavecchia, This attack was observed and Piero Foscari and Loredan hunted the submarine and were later reinforced by a MAS-boat from Civitavecchia. (All times are zone -1) 0645 hours - Heard HE bearing 110°. 0705 hours - Sighted a medium seized merchant vessel on a course of 300°. Started attack. 0710 hours - The ship now proved to be a heavily zigzagging Armed Merchant Cruiser belonging to a convoy of 2 medium seized merchant ships and 1 liner that was escorted by 2 AMC's. General course of the convoy was 045°. 0715 hours - Dived to a greater depth as a Cant Z 501 flying boat passed overhead just after the nearest AMC had hoisted a pendant. Returned to periscope depth shortly afterwards. 0739 hours - Fired two torpedoes at the liner from 1800 yards. Went deep. No hits were obtained. 0810 hours - The convoy was now out of sight.

Submarine HNMS O 24: HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN) was docked at Gibraltar.

Submarine HNMS O 9: HrMs O 9 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory together with HNoMS Rose, HMS Bluebell (Lt.Cdr. R.E. Sherwood, RNR), HMS Rockrose (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Birch, RNR) and HMS Snowflake (Lt. H.G. Chesterman, RNR).

Aircraft Carrier HMS Hermes: HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN) is taken in hand for refit at the Simonstown Dockyard.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Hector: 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.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Circassia: During 21/22 November 1941, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) conducted exercises off Bermuda. These included gunnery and night exercises.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Ranchi: HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) J.M. Alleyne, DSO, DSC, RN) made a short stop at Port Victoria, Seychelles. She left after about one hour for Addu Atoll (Port T).

Submarine HMS Otway: HMS Otway (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) returned to Campbeltown. She proceeded from Campbeltown to Rothesay later the same day.

Submarine HMS Clyde: Around 1800 hours, HMS Clyde (Cdr. D.C. Ingram, DSC, RN) parted company with RFA Dingledale, HMS Jonquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RD, RNR) and HMS Coreopsis (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR), and proceeded to Gibraltar independently.

Submarine HMS Seawolf: HMS Seawolf (Lt. R.P. Raikes, RN) attacked an enemy convoy off the Syltefjord. Four torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained. The convoy attacked was made up of the Norwegian merchants (in German service) Trondhjemsfjord (6753 GRT, built 1922), Sandnaes (578 GRT, built 1914) and the German merchants Steinbek (2185 GRT, built 1936), Jersbek (2804 GRT, built 1938). They were escorted by the German minesweepers M 30, M 17 and the auxiliary patrol vessels Polarsonne, UJ 1708, UJ 1403. (All times are zone -3) 0034 hours - Sighted a dim white light to the southward. This proved to be a convoy of three or four ships. Started attack. Enemy course was 090°, speed 10 knots. 0100 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 5000 to 6000 yards. No hits were obtained. Two of the torpedoes had a gyro failure and ran off to starboard. No explosions were heard.

Submarine HMS Thunderbolt: At 0531B/21, HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) arrived in the position ordered (35°53'N, 18°12'E). At 2221B/21, HMS Thunderbolt was ordered to patrol in position 35°58'N, 19°06'E (Capt. S 1's signal timed 1611B/21).

Submarine HMS Urge: Around 0800B/21, HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, RN) ended her 13th war patrol (11th in the Mediterranean) at Malta.

Submarine HMS Utmost: HMS Utmost (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Cayley, DSO, RN) torpedoed and damaged the Italian heavy cruiser Trieste South of the Straits of Messina in position 37°48'N, 15°32'E. (All times are zone -1) 2300 hours - In position 37°48'N, 15°32'E heard HE. Shortly afterwards sighted three Italian cruisers and three destroyers bearing 275°, range about 5 nautical miles, enemy course 110°, speed 20 knots. Started attack in which four torpedoes were fired at the rear cruiser. 2312 hours - One hit was obtained just abaft the fore funnel. A column of flame rose over 200 feet in the air and the sea was illuminated for considerable distance so dived. Two depth charges were dropped shortly afterwards. Utmost meanwhile retired to the South-East. 2355 hours - A rumbling noise was heard. It was hoped that this was the cruiser sinking. A further 84 depth charges were dropped but by now Utmost was well clear. According to Italian sources Trieste (III Cruiser Division) was in company with the heavy cruisers Trento and Gorizia and covering the right flank of an important convoy of four transport ships (Napoli, Vettor Pisani, Mantovani and Monginevro) for Tripoli, the light cruisers Giuseppe Garibaldi and Luigi di Savoia Duca Delgi Abruzzi (VIII Division) were on the left flank. The group was screened by the destroyers Granatiere, Aviere, Ugolino Vivaldi, Geniere, Camicia Nera, Corazziere, Carabiniere, Alpino, Turbine, Emanuelle Pessagno, Antonio Da Noli and the torpedo-boat Perseo. Trieste was hit in boiler no.3 and had 22 killed and three wounded and temporarily immobilised but at 0038 hours managed to proceed. It was estimated that she had embarked 3000 tons of water. Shortly after the light cruiser Abruzzi was hit by an aircraft torpedo and disabled but both cruisers managed to limp back to Messina while the convoy was ordered to Taranto. The Trieste was out of action until mid-July 1942.

Submarine HMS P 36: HMS P 36 (Lt. H.N. Edmonds, DSC, RN) departed Portsmouth to participate in A/S exercises off Dartmouth.

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. W.A. Phillimore, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.

Submarine HMS H 44: HMS H 44 (Lt. J.S. Stevens, DSC, RN) departed Londonderry for Rothesay.

Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. E.T. Stanley, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS St. Cathan (Lt. J. Mackay, RNR).

Submarine HMS P 511: HMS P 511 (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN) departed St. Johns, Newfoundland for the U.K.

Minelayer HMS Manxman: Around 1700A/21, HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Port ZA (Loch Alsh).

Light cruiser HMS Phoebe: HMS Phoebe (Cdr. F.A. Ballance, RN) proceeded from Gravesend Bay to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where she was to be taken in hand for repairs.

Battleship HMS Barham: Operations ME 7 and Landmark. Diversionary attack on Tripoli to divert enemy air strenght away from the Bardia / Halfaya pass area during land operations. The battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. C.B. Barry, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Admiral Sir A.B. Cunningham, GCB, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Barham (Capt. G.C. Cooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.D. Pridham-Whippell, KCB, CVO, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. C.E. Morgan, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Naiad (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral P.L. Vian, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Euryalus (Capt. E.W. Bush, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Galatea (Capt. E.W.B. Sim, RN) and the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jackal (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, DSC, RN), HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Kimberley (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN), HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St.Clair Ford, RN), HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, RAN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, RN) departed Alexandria for operation ME 7. At noon, the light cruisers HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN), HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) and the escort destroyers HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN), HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, RN), HMS Farndale (Cdr. S.H. Carlill, RN) and HMS Heythrop (Lt.Cdr R.S. Stafford, RN) joined the fleet at sea having completed their bombardment. The four hunt-class destroyers were however detached to return to Alexandria where they arrived around 1500B/21. After dark HMS Naiad, HMS Euryalus, HMS Galatea were detached after dark to make false W/T reports further to the west. The fleet then turned back towards Alexandria. The fleet arrived back at Alexandria at daybreak on the 22nd. The detached cruisers arrived back later the same day. To simulate a fake landing attempt on the coast near Tripoli (Operation Landmark) a convoy made up of the transports HMS Breconshire (9776 GRT, built 1939), Ajax (7540 GRT, built 1931), Clan Ferguson (7347 GRT, built 1938) and Sydney Star (12696 GRT, built 1936) departed Malta. It was escorted by the corvette HMS Gloxinia (Lt.Cdr. A.J.C. Pomeroy, RNVR) and cover was provided by ' Force K ', made up of HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, RN), HMS Penelope (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, RN) and the destroyers HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN) and HMS Lively (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN). These ships all departed Malta around 1415/21. [Both destroyers had actually departed around 1235/21, presumably to conduct an A/S sweep before the other ships departed the harbour.] ' Force K ' returned to Malta around 0600/22 followed around 2 hours later by the convoy. It does not appear the convoy had been sighted by the enemy.

Battleship HMS Revenge: HMS Revenge (Capt. L.V. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Bombay.

Battlecruiser HMS Renown: With her refit completed HMS Renown (Capt. C.S. Daniel, CBE, DSO, RN) conducted D/G trials off Rosyth. On completion of these trials she departed for Scapa Flow escorted by the destroyers HMS Arrow (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN), HMS Vimiera (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Mackenzie, RNR) and HMS Wallace (Lt.Cdr.(Emy.) E.G. Heywood-Lonsdale, RN).

Destroyer HMAS Vampire: HMAS Vampire (Cdr. W.T.A. Moran, RAN) is docked in No.2 Dock at Singapore for repairs to her hull damage.

Submarine ORP Jastrzab: ORP Jastrzab (Lt.Cdr. B. Romanowski) departed St.John's, Newfoundland for the U.K.

Submarine ORP Sokol: ORP Sokol (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B. Karnicki) attacked but missed the Italian destroyer Strale inside Navarino Bay. It was however thought the destroyer had been sunk as breaking up noises had been heard. Later the same day she attacked an Italian convoy south-west of Sapientza Island but no hits were obtained. This convoy was made up of the merchant vessels Tinos (German, 2826 GRT, built 1914) and Bolsena (Italian, 2384 GRT, built 1918). It was escorted by the destroyer Strale and the torpedo boat Orione en route from Navarino to Benghazi. (All times are zone B/-2) 1205 hours - Closed the entrance to Navarino Bay. Two destroyers were seen inside the bay, an Avieri (Soldati) class and a Spica class (torpedo boat). No merchant ships was seen from our position. Decided to attack the Avieri class destroyer. 1540 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 4000 yards. 1542 hours - Fired a third torpedo but it had a gyro failure and it ran across Sokol which was fortunately not hit. 1543 hours - Heard two torpedo explosions thought to be hits as further gurgling sounds and smaller explosions were heard on the ASDIC. Sokol retired to the north-west. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2315 hours - In position 10 miles 270° Cape Sapienza sighted one destroyer and three merchant vessels in convoy at a range of about 4000 yards. Course south-west, estimated speed 10 knots. It was a very dark night and the convoy was invisible from time to time against the clouds on the horizon. 2320 hours - The convoy altered course to the south. Gave chase at full speed - but still trimmed down. 2335 hours - The convoy altered course to the south-west again. Range 6000 to 7000 yards. 2338 hours - Fired three torpedoes at 20 second interval on 125 degree track, point of aim was the leading ship of the convoy. Altered course 90 degrees after firing. 2340 hours - Dived for trim and reloading. 2345 hours - Heard two loud explosions at 3 seconds interval followed by a grating or grinding noise (heard only on the ASDIC) for 2 minutes.

Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. T.E. Barlow, RN) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class off new submariners.

Submarine HMS L 27: HMS L 27 (Lt. N.L.A. Jewell, RN) participated in A/S exercises in Conception Bay.

1942

Corvette HMCS Timmins: HMCS Timmins (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.M. Gillison, RCNR) and HMCS Minas (T/Lt. W.F. Wood, RCNR) together pick up 60 survivors from the British merchant Empire Sailor that had been torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-518 about 200 nautical miles southeast of Sydney, Nova Scotia in position 43°53'N, 55°02'W. However, several survivors had been poisoned by the phosgene gas carried as cargo and twenty of them died at sea or shortly after arriving at Halifax.

Heavy cruiser HMS Kent: HMS Kent (Capt. A.E.M.B. Cunninghame-Graham, RN) and HMS Ajax (Capt. J.J. Weld, MVO, RN) conducted exercises at Scapa Flow.

Light cruiser HMS Dragon: HMS Dragon (Capt. P.F. Glover, RN) arrived at Bathurst from Freetown.

Light cruiser HMS Birmingham: HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.B. Crane, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) departed Bombay for Kilindini.

Submarine HNMS K XII: HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. T. Brunsting, RNN) arrived at Exmouth Gulf to take on board fuel, water and fresh supplies. She departed for the South coast of Java later the same day.

Submarine HNMS O 14: The Dutch submarine HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) and the Polish submarine ORP Sokol (Lt.Cdr. J. Kozio³kowski) departed Dundee for Holy Loch. She is escorted by the British ASW trawler HMS Preston North End (Lt. K.A. Vasey, MBE, RNR). On the 23th the British ASW trawler HMS Quadrille (T/Lt. N.T. Chetwood, RNVR) took over the escort.

Submarine USS Tambor: USS Tambor (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Ambruster) ended her 4th war patrol at Fremantle.

Submarine USS Tautog: USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr. J. H. Willingham) returned to Fremantle, Australia.

Submarine USS Searaven: At 0925H/21, USS Searaven (T/Cdr. H. Cassedy, USN) arrived at Exmouth Gulf to land her excess diesel fuel there. She departed for Fremantle at 1210H/21.

Submarine USS Stingray: During here 5th war patrol USS Stingray (Lt.Cdr. Otis J. Earle) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese seaplane carrier Sanyo Maru (8360 GRT, offsite link) off Shortland Island in the Solomon Islands in position 06°32'S, 156°05'E.

Submarine USS Plunger: With her repairs completed USS Plunger (Lt.Cdr. D.C. White) left Brisbane for her 4th wear patrol. Once again she was ordered to patrol of the Solomon Islands.

Submarine USS Amberjack (i): USS Amberjack (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Bole, Jr.) departed from Brisbane for her 2nd war patrol.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Victorious: German U-boat U-517 was sunk in the North Atlantic south-west of Ireland, in position 46°16'N, 17°09'W, by depth charges from Albacore aircraft (Sqdn 817/I) of the British carrier HMS Victorious.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Asturias: Around 2300ZN/21, HMS Amaranthus (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RNR) parted company with HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN). The corvette was to proceed to Freetown.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Carthage: Around 1300C/21, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) and the destroyer RHS Panther arrived at Aden with the ' Aden Section ' of convoy WS 23.

Submarine HMS Porpoise: HMS Porpoise (Lt. L.W.A. Bennington, DSC, RN) was ordered to return to Malta via Kerkenah.

Submarine HMS Safari: HMS P 211 (Cdr. B. Bryant, DSC, RN) fired a torpedo at a landing barge off Ras Ali. It however missed. The target was most likely the German F 541 which was present at Ras Ali and sailed later in the day. 0830A/21 - Fired a torpedo at a large landing barge off Ras Ali. The torpedo appeared to run straight but no explosion followed. According to German sources the torpedo hit the mole.

Submarine HMS Sea Nymph: HMS P 223 (Lt. G.D.N. Milner, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Splendid: HMS P 228 (Lt. I.L.M. McGeogh, RN) torpedoed and damaged the Italian destroyer Velite about 18 nautical miles south-west of the island of Ischia, Italy in position 40°30'N, 13°33'E. (All times are zone -1) 1435 hours - Sighted 2 medium seized merchant vessels escorted by 1 destroyer. Started attack on the destroyer. If the destroyer was hit and sunk it was intended to surface and engage one of the merchant vessels with the 3" gun. During the attack on the destroyer the 2nd part of this plan had to be abandoned as there was another destroyer present. 1500 hours - Fired the last remaining torpedo from the stern tube at the destroyer from 700 yards. It hit but the destroyer did not sink. 2 Minutes later a 10-pattern depth charge attack followed but these were not at all close. This convoy was made up of the Italian merchants Monginevro (5324 GRT, built 1940) and Sestiere (7992 GRT, built 1942). They were escorted by the Italian destroyers Bombardiere, Legionario and the above mentioned Velite. Accoring to Italian sources Velite was hit aft, one was killed and seven were wounded. Bombardiere and Legionario hunted the submarine but did not obtain a contact. They only dropped depth charges for intimidation purposes. Bombardiere took Velite in tow and brought her to Naples.

Submarine HMS Tribune: At 1410A/21, when patrolling south of Naples, HMS Tribune (Lt. N.J. Coe, DSC, RNR) sighted a tanker and a transport hull down steering 360° to the north of Capri Island. They were seen again at 1530A/21 escorted by two trawlers steaming up Naples Bay. The ships sighted may have been the transports Chisone (Italian, 6168 GRT, built 1922) and Veloce (Italian, 5437 GRT, built 1911) which arrived at Naples around 1745B/21. They had departed Bizerta around 1730B/18 escorted by the torpedo boats Lupo, Aretusa and Orsa. The Chisone had the engine and funnel aft, therefore she resembled a tanker. They arrived at Naples at 1750B/21 and may have been unable to enter the port immediately after having entered the Bay.

Submarine HMS Turbulent: Around 1530A/21, HMS Turbulent (Cdr. J.W. Linton, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta. She, and HMS P 35 (Lt. S.L.C. Maydon, RN), were swept in by HMS Rye (Lt. J.A. Pearson, DSC and Bar, RNR).

Submarine HMS Umbra: HMS P 35 (Lt. S.L.C. Maydon, RN) ended her 14th war patrol (13th in the Mediterranean) at Malta.

Submarine HMS Unbroken: HMS P 42 (Lt. A.C.G. Mars, RN) attacked an enemy convoy to the north of Palermo, Sicily. Four torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained. The target was the transport Liv (3068 GRT, built 1896, former Norwegian) in company with Favorita (3576 GRT, built 1916) escorted by the auxiliary Cattaro (1275 GRT, built 1933). The next day, Favorita was hit by a Wellington torpedo bomber and finished off by the submarine HMS P 228. (All times are zone -2) 0756 hours - Sighted two CANT Z 501 aircraft. 0758 hours -Sighed smoke bearing 120°, closed. 0837 hours - A convoy of three ships was now in sight to the north-west. Started attack. Enemy course was 335°, speed 10 knots. The original plan of attack was spoiled by a zig (the first) of the leading ship, which turned out to be a small Armed Merchant Cruiser. 0930 hours - In position 38°20'N, 13°20'E fired four torpedoes at the two cargo vessels of the convoy. Range was about 2000 yards. No results. These ships were 4000-5000 tons in displacement. 0936 hours - A counter attack was started. Fifteen depth charges were dropped, none was very close. 1103 hours - The last depth charge was dropped. P 42 meanwhile was withdrawing to the west.

Submarine HMS United: HMS P 44 (Lt. T.E. Barlow, RN) attacked the Italian submarine Santorre di Santarosa with four torpedoes off Buerat. All torpedoes missed. Later the same day P 44 engaged shipping inside the harbour with the deck gun damaging the Italian sailing vessel Littoria (129 GRT, built 1920). (All times are zone -1) 0727 hours - In position 31°27'N, 15°45'E sighted up sun, the conning tower of a submarine baring 090°. Enemy course was 265°. Range was 6000 yards. Enemy speed appeared to be very high. Started attack. 0737 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 2000 yards. All missed and most likely the torpedoes ran aground on a sand bank. ------------------------------------------- 0940 hours - Grounded off the harbour entrance. Came up to 10 feet and retired to seaward. No fire came from the shore though despite the fact that P 44 was visible for 5 minutes. ------------------------------------------- 1340 hours - Sighted the enemy submarine leaving the harbour. She could not be intercepted as P 44 was too far to the west. Most likely the approach from the west of this morning of this submarine was due to a bad landfall. ------------------------------------------- 1745 hours - Surfaced and closed the harbour entrance. Three or four small ships were sighted in the harbour in the forenoon. Decided for gun action in the hope of sinking some of these and if possible the pier before the reply would come too hot. 1803 hours - Opened fire on a 150 ton schooner, the largest vessel visible from a range of 1000 yards. Scored ten to twelve hits out of sixteen rounds fired. Then shifted target to the pier and a small steamer alongside it. After firing twelve rounds for six hits some small arms fire opened up from the beach, followed by light and erratic field gun fire. At the same time the gun malfunctioned. 1807 hours - Broke off the action and retired to the seaward. The schooner was seen to be smoke and to be lower in the water. She may have settled on the bottom.

Submarine HMS Unruly: HMS P 49 (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil.

Submarine HMS Unseen: HMS P 51 (Lt. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean) at Gibraltar.

Submarine HMS H 32: HMS H 32 (Lt. C. Gordon, RN) participated in exercises at / off Scapa Flow.

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.

Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt. B.J.B. Andrew, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Test (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Collinson, RD, RN) and HMS Northern Gem (Skr.Lt. W.J.V. Mullender, DSC, RD, RNR).

Minelayer HMS Abdiel: HMS Abdiel (Capt. D. Orr-Ewing, RN) conducted exercises at / off Scapa Flow.

Battleship HMS Malaya: HMS Malaya (Capt. J.W.A. Waller, RN) is undocked.

Battleship HMS Rodney: Around 0900Z/21, ' Force H ', made up of the battleships HMS Nelson (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN), HMS Rodney (Capt. J.W. Rivett-Carnac, DSC, RN), aircraft carriers HMS Formidable (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN), HMS Furious (Capt. T.O. Bulteel, RN) and the destroyers HMS Eskimo (Capt. J.W.M. Eaton, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, DSO, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN), HMS Penn (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN), HMS Pathfinder (Cdr. E.A. Gibbs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Partridge (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, OBE, RN), HMS Porcupine (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN), HMS Vanoc ( A/Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Calpe (Lt.Cdr. H. Kirkwood, DSC, RN) and HMS Puckeridge (Lt. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN), departed Mers-el-Kebir for Gibraltar. ' Force H ' arrived at Gibraltar around 1800Z/22.

Destroyer HMS Fortune: HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN) picks up 62 survivors from the American merchant Pierce Butler that was torpedoed and sunk the previous day by German U-boat U-177 east of Durban, South-Africa in position 29°40'S, 36°35'E.

Destroyer HMS Clare: HMS Clare picks up 56 survivors from the Panamanian merchant Buchanan that was torpedoed and sunk on 12 November 1942 in the North Atlantic in position 52°06'N, 25°54'W by German U-boat U-224.

Destroyer HMAS Quiberon: HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, RN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN), HMS Quentin (Lt.Cdr. A.H.P. Noble, DSC, RN) and HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, OBE, RN) arrived off Oran with convoy KMF 3. HMS Milne then proceeded to Gibraltar while the other three destroyers proceeded to Mers-el-Kebir.

Submarine USS S-34: USS S-34 (Lt. R.A. Keating) ended her 4th war patrol at Dutch Harbour.

Submarine USS R-4: USS R-4 (Lt.Cdr. P.W. Garnett, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-10: USS R-10 (Lt.Cdr. B.E. Lewellen, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-11: USS R-11 (Lt.Cdr. I.J. Galantin, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-13: USS R-13 (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Gallaher, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-14: USS R-14 (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Kehl, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine ORP Sokol: Off Dundee, ORP Sokol (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) J.K.S. Koziolkowski, DSC), was joined by the Dutch submarine HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) for onward passage to Holy Loch. They were escorted by the British A/S trawler HMS Preston North End (Lt. K.A. Vasey, MBE, RNR). On the 23th the British AS trawler HMS Quadrille (T/Lt. N.T. Chetwood, RNVR) took over the escort.

Submarine USS S-16: USS S-16 arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard from New London, Connecticut for a period of repairs and refit.

Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. R. Boyd, DSC, RN) was undocked from AFD 7 at Kames Bay and then proceeded to Rothesay.

1943

Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk: HMS Suffolk (Capt. R. Shelley, CBE, RN) arrived at Colombo from Kilindini.

Light cruiser HMS Danae: Convoy AB 21A. This convoy departed Aden on 21 November 1943. It was made up of the troop transports; Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Ruys (Dutch, 14155 GRT, built 1937) and Strathmore (British, 23428 GRT, built 1935). The landing ship HMS Bruiser (Lt.Cdr. J. Stretch, RD, RNR) was also part of the convoy. On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Danae (Capt. J.R.S. Haines, RN) and the frigates HMS Derg (Lt. E.J. Binfield, DSC, RNR) and HMS Kale (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Houchen, OBE, RD, RNR). The convoy arrived at Bombay on 27 November 1943.

Light cruiser HMS Sheffield: Around 0800A/21, HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) arrived at Gibraltar having parted company with the US ships around 0530A/21. Around 1815A/21, she departed Gibraltar to return to the U.K.

Battleship USS Iowa: USS Iowa (Capt. J.L. McCrea, USN) passed Gibaltar Straits westbound into the Atlantic. Around 0540 hours, HMS Sheffield, departed the formation. Around 0820 hours, USS Ellyson (Lt.Cdr. E.W. Longton, USN), USS Rodman (Cdr. J.F. Foley, USN) and USS Emmons (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Billingsley, USN) arrived to take over the escort of USS Iowa and USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and her escort; USS Trippe (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN), USS Edison (Lt.Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN), HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. A.A.F. Talbot, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) departed the formation and set course for Gibraltar.

Submarine HNMS O 15: HrMs O 15 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN). Upon completion of the exercises O 15 departed Scapa Flow for Lerwick. She was escorted by HNoMs Molde.

Submarine HNMS O 9: HrMs O 9 (Lt. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay.

Submarine USS Sailfish: Shortly after 1000X/17, USS Sailfish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.E.M. Ward, USN) arrived at Midway. Some voyage repairs were then made by USS Bushnell (T/Capt. C.T. Bonney, USN). USS Sailfish also fuelled and watered to capacity and one torpedo was exchanged. At 1611Y/, USS Sailfish got underway for her patrol area. She had an air escort until dawn.

Submarine USS Nautilus: USS Nautilus (Cdr. W.D. Irvin) lands a Marine reconnaissance company on Abemama, Gilbert Islands.

Submarine USS Trigger: USS Trigger (Lt.Cdr. R.E. Dornin) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Eizan Maru (1681 GRT) in the Yellow Sea in position 36°40'N, 125°31'E.

Submarine USS Angler: USS Angler arrived at Key West, Florida.

Submarine USS Angler: USS Angler conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS Flasher: USS Flasher departed Key West for the Panama Canal Zone.

Submarine USS Cabrilla: USS Cabrilla (Cdr. D.T. Hammond, USN) completed her refit period, which had included a docking, at Fremantle. A training period then followed from 22 to 27 November 1943.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Furious: HMS Furious (Capt. G.T. Philip, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area.

Escort Carrier HMS Khedive: Around 1445A/21, HMS Khedive (A/Capt. H.J. Haynes, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Rosyth from Liverpool. At Rosyth she was taken in hand for alterations.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Corfu: Following fumigation, HMS Corfu (Capt.(Retd.) C.C. Bell, DSO, RN) is boarded again at Durban.

Submarine HMS Una: HMS Una (T/L. P.S. Thirsk, RNR) arrived at Heysham for a period of training and exercises with FAA aircraft in the Irish Sea.

Submarine HMS Rorqual: HMS Rorqual (Lt.Cdr. L.W. Napier, DSO, RN) departed Beirut for Malta. Rorqual was now finally to return to the U.K. to refit. The log of HMS Rorqual for November 1943 does not give positions so no map can be displayed.

Submarine HMS Sirdar: MS Sirdar (Lt. J.A. Spender, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with aircraft.

Submarine HMS Stratagem: HMS Stratagem (T/Lt. R.L. Willoughby, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Larne.

Submarine HMS Spirit: HMS Spirit (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN) was undocked.

Submarine HMS Taku: HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, RN).

Submarine HMS Truant: HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) conducted A/S exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Portchester Castle (Lt. A.G. Scott, RNR).

Submarine HMS Torbay: HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sank the Greek caique Chios 87 / Panagia (29 GRT) with gunfire west of Psathoura Island, Greece in position 39°30'N, 24°10'E. 0130B/21 - In position 110° - Piperi Island - 14 nautical miles stopped a 30 tons westbound auxiliary schooner rigged caique with a burst of machine gun fire overhead. Fired one round of 4" which missed. The crew then abandoned ship but saw that six men and two women were crowded into a small dinghy. Boarded and found the cargo to consist of grain and dried peas in bags and a little other foodstuff. As the transportation of food to Greece had been allowed by HM Government decided not to sink the ship. Some paperwork was removed. 0630B/21 - Dived north of Psathoura Island. 1015B/21 - Surfaced and fired fourteen rounds of 4" at a 50 ton auxiliary schooner rigged as a caique. The crew abandoned ship soon after. The caique was boarded in the hope to retrieve charts and other documents but the boarding party was just aboard when the vessel sank like a stone so they had to get back to Torbay in a hurry. Torbay then made off in the direction of another caique that had been sighted three miles to the north but on closing it was found to be very small. When alongside it proved to carry only four barrels of wine. They were allowed to proceed and were instructed to pick up the survivors from the caique that had just been sunk.

Submarine HMS Tally-Ho: HMS Tally-Ho (Lt.Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO, DSC, RN) left dock at Colombo.

Submarine HMS Telemachus: HMS Telemachus (Cdr. W.D.A. King, DSO, DSC, RN) returned to Holy Loch on completion of her night exercises.

Submarine HMS Tradewind: HMS Tradewind (Lt.Cdr. S.L.C. Maydon, DSO and Bar, RN) returned to Holy Loch upon completion of her exercises.

Submarine HMS Ultimatum: HMS Ultimatum (Lt. W.H. Kett, DSC, RNR) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Ultor (Lt. G.E. Hunt, DSC, RN).

Submarine HMS Untiring: HMS Untiring (Lt. R. Boyd, DSC, RN) arrived at Bizerta.

Submarine HMS Unswerving: HMS Unswerving (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR) was to conducted A/S exercises off Londonderry with HMS Primrose (T/Lt. R.F. Pembry, RNR) and HMS Verity (Lt. C.G. Cowley, RN). However the other ships collided with each other and the exercises were cancelled.

Submarine HMS Vampire: HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar.

Submarine HMS Viking: HMS Viking (Lt. R. Bannar-Martin, DSC, RN) departed Lerwick for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to conduct an anti-uboat patrol in the Norwegian Sea. For the daily positions of HMS Viking during her 1st war patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt. I.G. Raikes, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS H 44: HMS H 44 (Lt. H.C. Gowan, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Spaniel and HMS Boarhound (Skr. A. Keable, RNR).

Submarine HMS P 511: HMS P 511 (Lt. R.H. Bull, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR).

Sloop HMS Crane: German U-boat U-538 was sunk in the North Atlantic south-west of Ireland, in position 45°40'N, 19°35'W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Foley (Lt.Cdr. D.E. Mansfield, RN) and the British sloop HMS Crane (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Jenkins, RN).

Light cruiser HMS Bellona: HMS Bellona (Capt. C.F.W. Norris, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow.

Battleship HMS Malaya: HMS Malaya (Capt. L.H. Ashmore, RN) shifted from Greenock to Gareloch. At Gareloch she was placed in reserve. During the time she was in reserve she was also used a test ship for bouncing bombs trials see; Highball (offsite link) for more info.

Destroyer HMAS Stuart: Around 0815L/21, HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN) and the troop transport Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938) departed Sydney to proceed to the eastwards. They parted company around 0630L/22 with HMAS Stuart then setting course to return to Sydney where she arrived around 0625L/23.

Destroyer HMAS Quiberon: Around 0730E/21, HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN, with Commodore S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN, on board), HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) and HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles. After having fuelled, they departed around 1400E/21 for Kilindini.

Submarine ORP Dzik: ORP Dzik (Por.mar. (Lt.) A. Klopotowski) passed the Kaso Strait southbound to return to Beirut.

Destroyer HNMS Van Galen (ii): Around 0505H/21, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) departed Onslow for Carnarvon where they arrived around 0320H/22.

Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Digby.

Submarine HMS L 27: HMS L 27 (Lt. M.I. Usher, RN) conducted exercises off Sydney, Nova Scotia. However these exercises had to be abandoned due to a malfuntion to her hydroplanes.

1944

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: HMS Devonshire (Capt. D.K. Bain, DSO, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow.

Heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk: HMS Norfolk (Capt. J.G.Y. Loveband, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow.

Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk: HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) arrived at Trincomalee after escort duty.

Light cruiser HMS Dauntless: HMS Dauntless (Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, DSO, RN) and HMS Diomede (Cdr. R.A. Ewing, DSC, RN) arrived at Invergordon.

Destroyer USS Barton (ii): USS Barton arrived back at Ulithi.

Destroyer USS Shannon: USS Shannon departed from Norfolk bound for the Pacific.

Battleship USS Iowa: All ships of the Task Group including USS Iowa (Capt. A.R. McCann, USN) were fuelled by a group of oilers. Iowa herself was fuelled by the USS Kankakee (Lt.Cdr. W.G. Frundt, USNR).

Submarine HNMS O 15: HrMs O 15 (Lt. R.W. van Lynden, RNN), HrMs Zeehond (Lt.Cdr. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) and their escort HMS Castlenau (T/Skr. G. Wood, RNR) shifted from Loch Alsh to Stornoway.

Submarine HNMS Zwaardvisch: HrMs Zwaardvisch (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) developed mechanical problems and was forced to return to Fremantle for repairs.

Submarine HNMS Dolfijn: HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) conducted exercises with A/S aircraft off Dundee.

Submarine HNMS Zeehond: HrMs Zeehond (Lt.Cdr. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN), HrMs O 15 (Lt. R.W. van Lynden, RNN) and their escort HMS Castlenau (T/Skr. G. Wood, RNR) shifted from Loch Alsh to Stornoway.

Submarine USS Whale: USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Grady) left Midway for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Ryukyu Islands.

Submarine USS Bashaw: While on patrol in the South China Sea with a submarine group, USS Bashaw (Lt.Cdr. R.E. Nichols) attacked a convoy at 1700 hrs. She hit the Japanese cargo ship Gyosan maru (5698 GRT), with a single at position 10°30'N, 115°08'E. The ship remained afloat but was derelict. She was further hit by USS Flounder at 1800 hrs and lost her stern. She was run ashore on the NE corner of NanShan island and was abandoned, later she was completely destroyed by a torpedo from USS Guavina on 23 November.

Submarine USS Flounder: USS Flounder (Cdr. J.E. Stevens) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese army cargo ship Gyosan Maru (5698 GRT) in the South China Sea in position 10°36'N, 115°08'E. The damaged Japanese ship is later finished off by USS Guavina.

Submarine USS Aspro: USS Aspro (Cdr. W.A. Stevenson, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 6th war patrol. She was at first to proceed to Saipan before proceeding to her patrol area off Formosa. Aspro was escorted out by USS PC-571.

Submarine USS Sealion (ii): USS Sealion (ii) (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Reich) torpedoed and sank the Japanese battleship Kongo (27500tons, offsite link) and the Japanese destroyer Urakaze (2035tons, offsite link) about 60 nautical miles north-north-west of Formosa in position 26°07'N, 121°36'E.

Submarine USS Kraken: With her trials and initial training completed USS Kraken (Cmdr Thomas Henley Henry) arrived at Pearl Harbor.

Submarine USS Scabbardfish: USS Scabbardfish (Lt.Cdr. F.A. Gunn) torpedoed and sank the Japanese stores ship Hokkai Maru (407 GRT) about 200 nautical miles south of Tokyo, Japan in position 33°20'N, 142°00'E.

Submarine USS Piper: USS Piper (Cdr. B.F. McMahon, USN) arrived in the Panama Canal Zone from Key West, Florida.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Implacable: HMS Implacable (Capt. C.C. Hughes-Hallett, RN) conducted 4.5" AA gunnery and flying exercises off Scapa Flow. [No details available on her destroyer escort.]

Submarine HMS Una: HMS Una (Lt. F.E. Ashmead-Bartlett, RN) participated A/S exercises off Tobermory.

Submarine HMS Rover: HMS Rover (Lt. F.M. Piggott, RNR) conducted trials off Bombay.

Submarine HMS Porpoise: HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. Upon completion of the exercises A/Lt.Cdr. Turner took over command.

Submarine HMS Safari: HMS Safari (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted attack exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) in the Clyde area during which HMS Cyclops (Cdr. B. Bryant, DSO and 2 Bars, DSC, RN) served as target. Cyclops was escorted by HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Walker, RN).

Submarine HMS Seadog: HMS Seadog (Lt. E.A. Hobson, DSC, RN) is undocked.

Submarine HMS Sibyl: HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) conducted D/G trials at Helensburgh.

Submarine HMS Seraph: HMS Seraph (Lt. T. Russell-Walling, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Holyhead.

Submarine HMS Sea Nymph: HMS Sea Nymph (Lt. M.I. Usher, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with a COPP party.

Submarine HMS Stoic: HMS Stoic (A/Lt.Cdr. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN) was docked at Fremantle.

Submarine HMS Scythian: HMS Scythian (T/Lt C.P. Thode, RNZNVR) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch. She was escorted by the British sloop HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN).

Submarine HMS Sea Scout: HMS Sea Scout (Lt. J.W. Kelly, RN) arrived at Aden.

Submarine HMS Sidon: HMS Sidon (Lt. H.C. Gowan, RN) departed her builders yard at Liverpool for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN).

Submarine HMS Trident: HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) transited the Suez Canal southbound and then set course for Aden.

Submarine HMS Tuna: HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS Torbay: Around 0800A/21, HMS Torbay (Lt. C.P. Norman, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for her 24th war patrol (This is the 1st war patrol of her 3rd commission). She is to patrol in the northern part of the North Sea. She was escorted until HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) 1300A/21 when they parted company in position 59°02'N, 01°35'W.

Submarine HMS Torbay: For the daily positions of HMS Torbay during her 24th war patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Thule: Shortly after 1400 hours, HMS Thule (A/Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN), makes a rendezvous with HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Barstow, RN) in position 07°04'N, 91°00'E. A doctor as transferred to Thule. He concludes that there is no cholera on board but due to the large number of sick men aboard Thule it is decided to proceed to Trincomalee.

Submarine HMS Uproar: HMS Uproar (Lt. J.N. Devlin, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Larne.

Submarine HMS Umbra: HMS Umbra (Lt. S.S. Brooks, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth.

Submarine HMS Unbending: HMS Unbending (Lt. J. Whitton, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS Unruffled: HMS Unruffled (Lt. R.F. Park, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Bermuda.

Submarine HMS Unshaken: HMS Unshaken (Lt. J.S. Pearce, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Fishguard together with aircraft.

Submarine HMS Untamed: HMS Vitality (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR).

Submarine HMS Urtica: HMS Urtica (Lt. R.M. Seaburne-May, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Holyhead with aircraft.

Submarine HMS Virulent: HMS Virulent (Lt. S.J. Fovargue, RN) conducted exercises off Larne with aircraft.

Submarine HMS Volatile: HMS Volatile (Lt. F.R. Lawrence, RN) conducted S.T.U. trials in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Voracious: HMS Voracious (Lt. F.D.G. Challis, DSC, RN) departed Malta for Port Said. For the daily positions of HMS Voracious during her passage from Malta to Colombo see the map below.

Submarine HMS Vulpine: HMS Vulpine (T/Lt. P.S. Thirsk, DSC, RNR) conducted special A/S trials off Holyhead with aircraft.

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. A.M.B. Buxton, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS H 44: HMS H 44 (Lt. R.C. Bucknall, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. W.T.J. Fox, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS ML 472 (T/Lt. C.J.V. Evitt, RNVR) and HMS HDML 1029 (T/Lt. G.C. Organ, RNVR).

Light cruiser HMS Diadem: HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, KCB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow.

Light cruiser HMS Kenya: HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) conducted bombardment exercises off Trincomalee. She then joined HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN) and four destroyers (two of which were HMAS Napier (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Nepal (Lt.Cdr. C.J. Stephenson, RAN) for night exercises and returned to harbour the following day.

Battlecruiser HMS Renown: During 21/22 November 1944, HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN), conducted exercises off Trincomalee. She was escorted by four destroyers (two of which were HMAS Napier (A/Capt. H.J. Buchanan, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Nepal (Lt.Cdr. C.J. Stephenson, RAN). These included night exercises for which HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) joined. [We have been unable to found out which destroyers had been escorting HMS Renown during these exercises.]

Battleship HMS King George V: During 21/22 November 1944, the battleship HMS King George V (Capt. T.E. Halsey, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. G.B. Bernard, CBE, DSO, RN, flying the flag of A/Vice-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, CBE, RN) and HMS Black Prince (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. These included night exercises. [Destroyers also participated in the exercises but their identity is not known to us.]

Destroyer HMAS Vendetta: Around 1800K/21, HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) departed Humboldt Bay for Sorido, Biak with a short stopover at Mios Woendi. She arrived at Sorido in the afternoon of 23 November 1944.

Submarine USS R-2: USS R-2 (Lt.Cdr. L.G. Bernard, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-4: USS R-4 (Lt. D.C. Peto, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-10: USS R-10 (Lt. R.D. McWenthy, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-11: USS R-11 (Lt.Cdr. M. Abrahams, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-14: USS R-14 (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Cunningham, Jr., USNR) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USSR ShCh-309: At 1724 hours ShCh-309 fires two torpedoes against ' what is identified as ' a destroyer 8 nautical miles north-west of the Sworbe lighthouse. Both torpedoes missed their so far unidentified target.

Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Digby.

Submarine HMS Vengeful: HMS Vengeful (Lt. A.S. Melville-Ross, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises at/off Scapa Flow with HMS Volage (Cdr. L.G. Durlacher, OBE, RN) and HMS Oribi (Lt. D.M. Vaughan-Hughes, RN)

Submarine HMS P 614: HMS P 614 (T/Lt. P.C.S. Pritchard, RNR) departed Kames Bay for Port HHX. She made the passage towing X-craft X 25. They were escorted by HMS Alecto (Cdr.(Retd.) E.S. Felton, RN).

1945

Submarine HMS Trenchant: HMS Trenchant (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN) departed from Gibraltar bound for Portsmouth.