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Notable events involving Marauder include:

4 Jan 1940
The cadets training ship HMS Frobisher, which had been refitting at Portsmouth Dockyard since 1939, departed Portsmouth in tow of HMRT Marauder. They arrived at Plymouth the following day. Frobisher was then taken in hand for rearming and refit for operational deployment at the Devonport Dockyard. She was placed in dockyard control on 22 January 1940. The work, which was expected to be completed around mid-1941 at latest, would however be delayed due to priority being given to other work. (1)

9 Jun 1940

Convoy HX 49.

This convoy departed Halifax on 9 June 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Anglo-Indian (British, 5609 GRT, built 1938), Appledore (British, 5218 GRT, built 1929), C.J. Barkdull (Panamanian (tanker), 7204 GRT, built 1917), Campus (British, 3667 GRT, built 1925), Endicott (British, 6319 GRT, built 1919), Eurybates (British, 6276 GRT, built 1928), Eurylochus (British, 5723 GRT, built 1912), Harmonic (British, 4558 GRT, built 1930), Hektoria (British, (whale factory ship / tanker), 13834 GRT, built 1899), Jean L.D. (French, 5795 GRT, built 1935), Luculus (British (tanker), 6546 GRT, built 1929), Mount Pelion (Greek, 5655 GRT, built 1917), Nellie (Greek, 4826 GRT, built 1913), Nevada (French, 5618 GRT, built 1917), New Westminster City (British, 4747 GRT, built 1929), Ontariolite (British (tanker), 8932 GRT, built 1925), Osmussaar (Estonian, 2173 GRT, built 1909), Point Lobos (Panamanian, 4801 GRT, built 1919), R.J. Cullen (Canadian, 6589 GRT, built 1919), Randsfjord (Norwegian, 3999 GRT, built 1937), San Fernando (British (tanker), 13056 GRT, built 1919), Sheaf Mount (British, 5017 GRT, built 1924), Snar (Norwegian, 3176 GRT, built 1920), Stakesby (British, 3900 GRT, built 1930), Thalia (Greek, 5875 GRT, built 1917), Tregenna (British, 5242 GRT, built 1919) and Tremoda (British, 4736 GRT, built 1928).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ausonia (Capt. C.T.M. Pizey, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Assiniboine (Capt. G.C. Jones, RCN) and HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN).

The Canadian destroyers escorted the convoy until about half an hour after sunset on 9 June and then returned to Halifax.

On 10 June, the Endicott dropped out of the convoy. She arrived in the Clyde on 23 June.

On 11 June, the Thalia dropped out of the convoy. She was briefly seen on the 14th but did not rejoin the convoy. She arrived in the Clyde on 24 June.

Around 1700P/13, the Bermuda section of the convoy (Convoy BHX 49) joined. The following merchant vessels now joined the convoy;
Athelfoam (British (tanker), 6554 GRT, built 1931), Athellaird (British (tanker), 8999 GRT, built 1930), Augvald (Norwegian, 4811 GRT, built 1920), Barrdale (British, 5072 GRT, built 1925), British Fidility (British (tanker), 8465 GRT, built 1938), British Cincerity (British (tanker), 8538 GRT, built 1939), Cadillac (British (tanker), 12062 GRT, built 1917), Charles F. Meyer (British (tanker), 10516 GRT, built 1938), Collegian (British, 7886 GRT, built 1923), Confield (British, 4956 GRT, built 1940), Cromarty (British, 4974 GRT, built 1936), Director (British, 5107 GRT, built 1926), Eli Knudsen (Norwegian (tanker), 9026 GRT, built 1925), Gallia (Norwegian (tanker), 9974 GRT, built 1939), Glarona (Norwegian (tanker), 9912 GRT, built 1928), Jhelum (British, 4038 GRT, built 1936), Moordrecht (Dutch (tanker), 7493 GRT, built 1930), Port Huon (British, 8021 GRT, built 1927), Regent Lion (British (tanker), 9551 GRT, built 1937), San Felipe (British, 5626 GRT, built 1919), Solarium (British, 6239 GRT, built 1936), Strinda (Norwegian (tanker), 10973 GRT, built 1937), Suderholm (Norwegian (tanker), 4908 GRT, built 1917) and Torborg (Norwegian (tanker), 6042 GRT, built 1921).

On 15 June, the Point Lobos dropped out of the convoy. She arrived Liverpool on 23 June.

Also on 15 June the Osmussaar dropped out of the convoy. She was able to rejoin the convoy on 21 June.

Around 1145N/18, in approximate position 48°27'N, 25°45'W, the Moordrecht and Ontariolite were detachted. The Moordrecht was to proceed independently to La Coruna, Spain but was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-48. The Ontariolite, originally destined for Brest, was ordered to proceed to Aruba but this was apparently later changed and she arrived at Montreal on 8 July.

Around 1700Z/20, HMS Ausonia parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.

Around 0545A/21, the sloops HMS Sandwich (Cdr. M.J. Yeatman, RN) and HMS Fowey (Cdr. H.B. Ellison, RN) joined the convoy.

At 1912A/21, in position 50°20'N, 10°23'W [British source], the convoy, which had not yet split up, was attacked by the German submarine U-47 which torpedoed the tanker San Fernando. HMS Sandwich reported that the ship could be salvaged if tugs could be sent at once. The crwew had been taken off by the sloops HMS Sandwich and HMS Fowey and that they were now searching for the attacker. At 0232A/22, it was reported that the rescue tugs Marauder and Zwarte Zee had sailed from Falmouth and at 0234A/22, the destroyer HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, RN) was ordered to escort these tugs. The derelict San Fernando however was not found and must have sunk later.

Following this attack the convoy was ordered to scatter but this order was quickly revoked. The ships destined for the the Irish Sea / west coast section apparently did not reform as a convoy and proceeded independently and unescorted. This were the following merchant vessels;
Athelfoam (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Athellaird (arrived at Liverpool on 24 June), Augvald (arrived at Liverpool on 24 or 25 June), British Sincerity (arrived in the Clyde on 24 June), Cadillac (arrived at Avonmouth on 24 June), Charles F. Meyer (arrived in the Clyde on 24 June), Collegian (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Confield (arrived in the Clyde on 24 June), Director (arrived at Manchester on 24 June), Eli Knudsen (destination was Swansea but torpedoed and sunk on 22 June [see below]), Eurybates (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Eurylochus (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Glarona (arrived in the Clyde on 24 June), Hekoria (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Jean L.D. (arrived at Liverpool on 24 June), Jhelum (arrived at Manchester on 24 June), Luculus (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Nevada (arrived in the Clyde on 24 June), Port Huon (arrived at Cardiff on 24 June), Randsfjord (destination was Liverpool but torpedoed and sunk on 22 June [see below]), Regent Lion (arrived at Avonmouth on 24 June), San Felipe (arrived at Cardiff on 24 June), Sheaf Mount (arrived at Swansea on 23 June), Snar (arrived at Liverpool on 24 June), Solarium (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Strinda (arrived in the Clyde on 24 June), Suderholm (arrived at Liverpool on 23 June), Torborg (arrived at Manchester on 24 June) and Tregenna (arrived at Swansea on 23 June).

Of these ships two were torpedoed by German submarines.

At 0158A/22, the Randsfjord was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-30.

At 0236A/22, the Eli Knudsen was torpedoed and heavily damaged by the German submarine U-32. A salvage attempt was undertaken for which the tug Coringa (287 GRT, built 1914) escorted by the A/S trawler HMS Agate (Lt. A.T. Board, RN) were sent out from Milford Haven around 1400A/22. An attempt by HMS Fowey to take the damaged tanker in tow had meanwhile failed. At 0445A/23, HMS Agate reported that the Coringa had sunk due to flooding of the stokehold and that she was picking up survivors.

HMS Sandwich arrived at Liverpool and HMS Fowey arrived at Plymouth, both on 23 June.

The Channel / east coast section was reformed as a convoy and proceeded unescorted [HMS Fowey was to have escorted them but she remained behind to search the area for the attacker]. It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Anglo-Indian (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), Appledore (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), Barrdale (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), British Fidility (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), C.J. Barkdull (arrived at Southampton on 24 June, having been detached around 2030A/23), Campus (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), Cromarty (arrived at Plymouth on 23 June, having been detached around 0230A/23), Gallia (arrived at Southampton on 26 (?) June, she had apparently straggled from the Channel / east coast section), Harmonic (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), Mount Pelion (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), Nellie (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), New Westminster City (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), Osmussaar (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), R.J. Cullen (arrived in the Downs on 24 June), Stakesby (arrived in the Downs on 24 June) and Tremoda (arrived in the Downs on 24 June).

Around 0630A/23, the Channel / east coast section was joined by the corvette HMS Hibiscus (Lt.Cdr. R. Phillips, RNR) which came from Plymouth. HMS Hibiscus arrived at Dover on 24 June. (2)

3 Jul 1940
HMRT Marauder (T/Lt. W.J. Hammond, RNR) takes the damaged Dutch merchant Amstelland in tow to Falmouth, where they arrived on 5 July. The Amstelland was torpedoed and damaged on 1 July by German U-boat U-65 about 380 nautical miles south-west of Lands End in position 47°53'N, 13°23'W. During the tow the ships were escorted by the British corvette HMS Calendula (Lt.Cdr. A.D. Bruford, RNVR).

24 Aug 1940
HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) departed Scapa Flow at 1230 hours to go to the assistance of the damaged British merchant vessel Beacon Grange (10119 GRT, built 1938) that has been damaged by bombs from German aircraft in position 58°39'N, 02°27'W the day before. The merchant vessel had been taken in tow by the rescue tug HMRT Buccaneer which was later relieved by her sister ship HMRT Marauder which took the ship to Kirkwall where she was beached.

HMS Kipling returned to Scapa on the 25th.

23 Sep 1940
HMRT Marauder (T/Lt. W.J. Hammond, RNR) takes in tow the British merchant Scholar in position 55°10'N, 17°49'W. The Scholar was torpedoed and damaged the previous day about 340 nautical miles west of Bloody Foreland in position 55°11'N, 17°58'W by German U-boat U-100. On the 24th the tow was abandoned in position 54°38'N, 16°40'W and the crew of the Scholar was taken off by the British destroyer HMS Skate (Lt. F.P. Baker, DSC, RN). HMS Skate also scuttles the wreck of the Scholar.

23 Jun 1941

Minelaying operation SN 70B.

Minelaying operation by the 1st Minelaying Squadron.

At 1900B/23, the auxiliary minelayers HMS Agamemnon (Capt.(Retd.) F. Ratsey, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, OBE, RN) and HMS Menestheus (Capt. J.S. Crawford, DSO, RN) departed Port Z.A. (Loch Alsh) to lay minefield SN 70B. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Brighton (Cdr. (Retd.) C.W.V.T.S. Lepper, RN), HMS Castleton (Cdr. (Retd.) F.H.E. Skyrme, RN) and HMS Wells (Lt.Cdr. E.J. Lee, RN).

They were joined around 2300B/23 by the light cruiser HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN) which had departed Scapa Flow around 1300B/23 but had first conducted gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth.

Around 0130B/24, the light cruiser HMS Arethusa (Capt. A.C. Chapman, RN) also joined. She had departed Scapa Flow around 1940B/23.

At 0515B/24, HMS Aurora (Capt. Sir W.G. Agnew, RN) joined company.

At 0545B/24, HMS Arethusa parted company and proceeded on patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap.

At 1050B/24, the visibility decrased to 150 yards.

At 1110B/24, The Squadron made an emergency turn to port.

At 1115.30B/24, HMS Kenya sighted a destroyer 150 yards away coming towards.

At 1116B/24, HMS Kenya was hit by the destroyer which turned out to be HMS Brighton. HMS Kenya sustained some damage but was able to continue. This was not the case with HMS Brighton whose bow sustained major damage.

Most ships of the Squadron meanwhile lost contact with each other in the thick fog.

Later HMS Aurora and HMS Wells took the damaged Brighton to the Reyðarfiord, Iceland for inspection.

The remainder of the 1st Minelaying Squadron regrouped and proceeded on with the minelaying operation.

Between 2125B/25 and 2310B/25, minefield SN 70B was laid on a line joining positions, 65°11'0"N, 12°49'4"W and 65°34'6"N, 12°54'5"W.

At 1620B/26, the destroyer HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN) joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron. She had been on patrol to the north of Iceland but had been ordered to leave patrol and join the minelayers.

HMS Agamemnon, HMS Menestheus, HMS Castleton, HMS Wells and HMS Eclipse arrived at Port Z.A. (Loch Alsh) at 1717B/27.

HMS Kenya arrived at Scapa Flow around 1800B/27 having parted company with the 1st minelaying Squadron at 1154B/27.

The damaged destroyer HMS Brighton departed the Reyðarfiord for the Clyde on 28 June in tow of the tug Thames. The tug Marauder was standing by. They were escorted by HMS Aurora and the destroyer HMS Echo (Lt.Cdr. C.H.deB. Newby, RN) which had come from Hvalfiord.

The destroyer HMS Lightning (Cdr. R.G. Stewart, RN) departed Scapa Flow at 1700B/29 to join which she did around 0330B/30.

In the meantime, at 2020B/29, HMS Brighton's bow broke away. The Marauder then took over the tow.

At 2105B/30, while in the North Minches, HMS Aurora, HMS Echo and HMS Lightning parted company to proceed to Scapa Flow where they arrived around 0200/1.

HMS Brighton continued on with the tugs and arrived in the Clyde on 1 July 1941. (3)

4 Dec 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Milford Haven for Plymouth. She was towed by HMRT Marauder (T/Lt. F. Jennings, RNR). (4)

7 Dec 1943
HMS Umbra (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Plymouth for Portsmouth. Again she was towed by HMRT Marauder (T/Lt. F. Jennings, RNR). (4)