Laid down (23)

1918: Destroyer Wishart (D 67)

1934: Submarine ShCh-208

1939: Submarine Depot Ship Adamant (F 64)

1942: Minesweeper BYMS 2211 (J 1011) - Sloop Redpole (U 69) - Minelayer Redshank (M 31) - Seaplane tender Onslow (AVP 48) - Escort carrier Prince William (ii) (CVE 31) - Submarine chaser SC-716 (SC-716) - Destroyer Spence (DD 512) - Minesweeper YMS-211 (YMS-211)

1943: Frigate St. Therese (K 366) - Escort carrier Fanshaw Bay (CVE 70) - Motor torpedo boat PT 379 - Submarine chaser SC-1482 (SC-1482)

1944: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-634 (LCI(L)-634) - Landing craft tank LCT 1092 (LCT 1092) - Landing craft tank LCT 1296 (LCT 1296) - Medium landing ship LSM 323 (LSM 323) - Tank landing ship LST 582 (LST 582) - Tank landing ship LST 583 (LST 583) - Tank landing ship LST 709 (LST 709) - Motor torpedo boat PT 741

Launched (40)

1905: MS Trawler Courser (FY 1823)

1912: Battleship Texas (BB 35)

1916: Monitor Terror (I 03)

1918: Minesweeper Heron (AVP 2)

1927: Destroyer Brestois

1931: River gunboat Falcon (T 74)

1932: MS Whaler Kos XVI

1933: Submarine Diamant

1939: Light cruiser Hermione (74)

1940: Destroyer Niblack (DD 424)

1942: Salvage vessel King Salvor (W 191)

1943: Rescue Tug Athlete (W 150) - Escort Carrier Empire Maccabe - Landing Craft Tank LCT 719 (LCT 719) - Landing Craft Tank LCT 878 (LCT 878) - Tank landing ship LST 80 (LST 80) - Escort Carrier Rajah (D 10) - Submarine Storm (P 233) - Tank landing ship LST 80 (LST 80) - Destroyer Escort Martin (DE 30) - Patrol craft PCE-895 (PCE-895) - Escort carrier Prince (CVE 45)

1944: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-1027 (LCI(L)-1027) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-617 (LCI(L)-617) - Landing craft tank LCT 1150 (LCT 1150) - Landing craft tank LCT 1299 (LCT 1299) - Landing craft tank LCT 700 (LCT 700) - Landing craft tank LCT 757 (LCT 757) - Landing craft tank LCT 758 (LCT 758) - Landing craft tank LCT 879 (LCT 879) - Medium landing ship LSM 140 (LSM 140) - Medium landing ship LSM 141 (LSM 141) - Medium landing ship LSM 142 (LSM 142) - Medium landing ship LSM 143 (LSM 143) - Medium landing ship LSM 209 (LSM 209) - Tank landing ship LST 568 (LST 568) - Tank landing ship LST 701 (LST 701) - Motor torpedo boat PT 449

1945: Repair Ship Portland Bill (F 05) - Escort carrier Point Cruz (CVE 119)

Commissioned (43)

1918: Fleet tug Allegheny (AT 19)

1934: Submarine ShCh-110

1935: Destroyer Fury (H 76)

1941: Corvette Baddeck (K 147) - Harbour Defence Motor Launch HDML 1010 (ML 1010) - Harbour Defence Motor Launch HDML 1073 (ML 1073)

1942: Minesweeper Alarm (J 140) - Motor minesweeper MMS 192 (J 692) - Motor minesweeper MMS 70 (J 570) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 78 (MTB 78) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 86 (MTB 86)

1943: Corvette Honesty (K 285) - Landing Craft Tank LCT 569 (LCT 569) - Minesweeper Strenuous (J 338) - Destroyer Charrette (DD 581) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-352 (LCI(L)-352) - Tank landing ship LST 329 (LST 329) - Motor torpedo boat PT 338 - Motor torpedo boat PT 362 - Submarine chaser SC-1000 (SC-1000) - Submarine chaser SC-999 (SC-999)

1944: Minesweeper Border Cities (J 344) - Frigate Longueuil (K 672) - Minesweeper Frolic (J 406) - Destroyer Escort Frybarger (DE 705) - Net tender Hoptree (AN 62) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-1022 (LCI(L)-1022) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-985 (LCI(L)-985) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-986 (LCI(L)-986) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-987 (LCI(L)-987) - Tank landing ship LST 562 (LST 562) - Tank landing ship LST 914 (LST 914) - Oiler Mississinewa (AO 59) - Destroyer Escort Robert Brazier (DE 345) - Submarine chaser SC-1510 (SC-1510)

1945: Motor Launch ML 908 (ML 908) - Motor Launch ML 927 (ML 927) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 736 (MTB 736) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 746 (MTB 746) - Cutter Owasco (WPG 39) - Tank landing ship LST 1144 (LST 1144) - Minesweeper Towhee (AM 388)

1946: Destroyer Holder (DD 819)

1940: Light cruiser Effingham (D 98)

1944: Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 203 / Arend (MTB 203)

1945: Destroyer Longshaw (DD 559)

More information on Allied Warships losses.

1940

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: The Walrus aircraft of HMS Devonshire (Capt. J.M. Mansfield, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.H.D. Cunningham, CB, MVO, RN), which was still at Tromso, was shot down by a German aircraft. The pilot was killed and the other two crew members were brought back to HMS Devonshire by the Norwegians. The telegraphist / gunner however died shortly afterwards from his wounds.

Heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire: HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN) and HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. B.C.S. Martin, RN) arrived at Gibraltar around 2000 hours (zone 0, GMT). Around 0830 hours the cruisers had been joined by the destroyers HMS Keppel (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) E.G. Heywood-Lonsdale, RN) and HMS Vortigern (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Howlett, RN) for A/S escort in the approaches to Gibraltar.

Heavy cruiser HMS York: HMS York (Capt. R.H. Portal, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Rosyth.

Light cruiser HMS Capetown: HMS Capetown (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) arrived at Malta from patrol.

Light cruiser HMS Calypso: HMS Calypso (Capt. H.A. Rowley, RN) and ORP Garland (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) A. Doroszkowski) arrived at Alexandria from Malta.

Light cruiser HMS Despatch: HMS Despatch (Capt. J.W. Farquhar, RN) arrived at Kingston, Jamaica from patrol.

Light cruiser HMS Effingham: In the evening, HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), ran aground on Faksen Shoal near Bliksvaer at high speed. The troops on board were taken to HMS Coventry (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, RN) by being ferried by HMS Echo (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN). HMS Coventry also hit rocks and damaged a fuel tank. HMS Matabele (Cdr. G.K. Whitmy-Smith, RN) was more seriously damaged to her hull when she too grounded. She was able to get off. She returned to the U.K. for repairs which took until mid-August to complete. HMS Effingham could not be salvaged and was torpedoed by HMS Matabele not to be of use to the enemy. On 21 May 1940, while en-route to the U.K. for repairs, HMS Matabele shelled and torpedoed the wrecked cruiser again to be she was throroughly wrecked.

Light cruiser HMS Liverpool: At 1800 hours (zone -3), HMS Liverpool (Capt. P.A. Read, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.J.L. Murray, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Djibouti.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Hermes: HMS Hermes (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN) arrived at Dakar from Freetown. En-route flying exercises had been carried out.

Submarine HMS Olympus: HMS Olympus (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Dymott, RN) is docked at Malta.

Submarine HMS Porpoise: HMS Porpoise (Cdr. P.Q. Roberts, RN) was docked in No.3 dock at Rosyth.

Submarine HMS Trident: HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 10th war patrol. She is to patrol off the south coast of Norway. For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Taku: HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) is undocked.

Submarine HMS Triad: Shortly after 0730A/18, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ended her 8th war patrol at Rosyth.

Submarine HMS Truant: HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) receives orders to proceed to Tromsø instead of Harstad.

Submarine HMS Tetrarch: At 0050A/18, HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, RN), sighted another submarine bearing 120° at a range of 1000 yards. Both submarines subsequently dived. It was thought the submarine sighted may have been the Achille (Lieutenant de vaisseau (Lt.) E.J. Michaud) which was indeed the case. [Neiher patrol report of Tetrarch or Achille give a position of this encounter.]

Submarine HMS H 28: At 1400 hours, HMS H 28 (Lt. E.A. Woodward, RN) joined HMS H 44 (Lt. E.D. Norman, RN) and their escort HMS Warrior II (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) off South Foreland. The two submarines and their escort then proceeded to Portsmouth where they arrived at 0530/19.

Submarine HMS H 49: HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) arrived at Portland.

Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. A.R. Cheyne, RN) shifted from Portsmouth to Portland.

Battlecruiser HMS Renown: HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN) is undocked.

Destroyer HMS Jaguar: Operation Quixote. Cutting of underwater telephone lines between Scandinavia and the U.K. On 18 May 1940 the auxiliary M/S trawlers HMS Cape Melville (Ch.Skr. A. Flaws, RNR), HMS Grampian (Lt.Cdr. A. Longmuir, RNR), HMS James Lay (Skr. W.H. Makings, RNR), HMS Milford Princess (T/Skr. J.W. Cook, RNR), HMS Milford Queen (T/Skr. F.J. Burgess, RNR) and HMS Pelton (Skr. J.A. Sutherland, RNR) departed Harwich to cut underwater telephone cables. They were escorted by the patrol vessel HMS Puffin (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) D.F. Beattie, RN). Cover for the operation was provided by the destroyers HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN).

Destroyer HMAS Vampire: During 18/19 May 1940, HMAS Vampire (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN) patrolled off Alexandria.

Destroyer HMS Defender: The British battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. H.T. Baillie-Grohman, OBE, DSO, RN), the French heavy cruiser Suffren (Capt. R.J.M. Dillard) and the British destroyers HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) arrived at Alexandria.

Destroyer HMS Khartoum: HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Hostile (Cdr. J.P. Wright, RN), HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN), HMS Khartoum (Cdr. D.T. Dowler, RN) and HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Portsmouth.

Destroyer ORP Garland: Garland left Malta with orders to proceed to Alexandria.

Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. C.G. Walker, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Harwich.

Submarine HMS L 26: At 0450 hours, in position 52°23'N, 03°05'E, HMS L 26 (Lt. P.L. Field, RN), found an open boat containing one women and eight men. They came from IJmuiden, the Netherlands and were taken on board. HMS L 26 ended her 4th war patrol at Harwich later the same day.

1941

Light cruiser HMS Caradoc: HMS Caradoc (Capt. J.S. Bethell, RN) arrived at Tortola where she fuelled from the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937). On completion of fuelling, HMS Caradoc, departed again to patrol within 200 nautical miles from the Lesser Antilles and east of 65°W. Object of the patrol was to intercept Vichy-French ships outside territorial waters.

Light cruiser HMS Colombo: Around 1530C/18, HMS Colombo (Capt. C.A.E. Stanfield, RN) arrived at Aden from Colombo.

Light cruiser HMS Coventry: The First Victoria Cross of the Mediterranean battle was posthumously awarded to Petty Officer A.E. Sephton for "great courage and endurance" while on HMS Coventry as she was being attacked by German Stuka dive bombers while off Crete. Petty officer Sephton was buried at sea. His VC was on display at Coventry Cathedral but was stolen on 25 September 1990.

Heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins: Around 1330B/18, HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN) returned to Durban from patrol.

Light cruiser HMS Newcastle: At 0918N/18, while in position 21°31'S, 05°56'W, HMS Newcastle (Capt. E.A. Aylmer, DSC, RN) sighted a merchant vessel ahead which turned out to be the Vichy-French Lieutenant St.Loubert Bie (5878 GRT, built 1911) en route from France to Indo-China. The French ship is ordered to stop and a round had to be fired across her bow to make her do so. She was then boarded and placed under armed guard. Capt. Aylmer decided to escort the ship to Freetown. Later the same day HMS Newcastle was ordered to take the Vichy ship to Simonstown. The armed merchant cruiser HMS Pretoria Castle (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.V. Hemming, RN) was ordered to make rendezvous with HMS Newcastle and take over the escort of the Vichy ship. Around 0640N/19, the Vichy ship was turned over to HMS Pretoria Castle in position 22°18'S, 04°15'W. HMS Newcastle then set course to proceed to a rendezvous with HMS Cumberland (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Commodore F.H. Pegram, DSO, RN) to take over from her in the South America Division.

Light cruiser HMS Manchester: HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN) and HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Scapa Flow together to relieve the cruisers HMS Nigeria (Capt. J.G.L. Dundas, RN) and HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN) on the Faroes-Iceland patrol.

Light cruiser HMS Manchester: For the daily positions of HMS Manchester during the period of 18 May 1941 to 3 June 1941 see the map below.

Light cruiser HMS Edinburgh: HMS Edinburgh (Capt. C.M. Blackman, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for a patrol west of the Bay of Biscay / north of the Azores to search for enemy blockade runners.

Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN).

Aircraft Carrier HMS Hermes: During the night of 18/19 September 1941, HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN) fuelled south of the Shatt al Arab river estuary from the RFA tanker Pearleaf (5911 GRT, built 1917).

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Alcantara: Around 0720P/18, HMS Alcantara (Capt.(Retd.) J.G.P. Ingham, DSO, RN) arrived at Samborombón Bay where she anchored. She then fuelled from the RFA tanker Abbeydale (8299 GRT, built 1937). Around 1830P/18, she departed for Montevideo.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Montclare: Convoy BHX 128 This convoy departed Bermuda on 18 May 1941 and merged at sea with convoy HX 128 on 27 May 1941 (this was four days later then intended). Convoy BHX 128 was made up of the following merchant vessels; Amsterdam (Dutch (tanker), 7329 GRT, built 1922), British Chivalry (British (tanker), 7118 GRT, built 1929), British Diligence (British (tanker), 8408 GRT, built 1937), British Fusilier (British, 6943 GRT, built 1923), Cardita (British (tanker), 8237 GRT, built 1931), Charles Racine (Norwegian (tanker), 9957 GRT, built 1937), Clavella (British (tanker), 8097 GRT, built 1939), Designer (British, 5495 GRT, built 1928), Drammensfjord (Norwegian, 5339 GRT, built 1920), Eulima (British (tanker), 6207 GRT, built 1937), San Cirilo (British (tanker), 8012 GRT, built 1937) and Thistlegorm (British, 4898 GRT, built 1940). On departure from Bermuda this convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Montclare (Capt.(Retd.) H.M. Spreckley, RN). The convoy was to make rendezvous with convoy HX 128 on 23 May 1941. Due to thick for and convoy HX 128 being re-routed twice due to the battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen breaking out into the North Atlantic. Rendezvous was only effected on 27 May 1941. HMS Montclare then parted company with the convoy.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda: Around 1330Z/18, HMS Queen of Bermuda (Capt. A.T.G.C. Peachey, RN) arrived at St. Helena to fuel.

Submarine HMS Parthian: HMS Parthian (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) again conducted trials off Port Said. As there were still problems with her after hydroplanes she was docked yet again later the same day.

Submarine HMS Perseus (i): HMS Perseus (Lt.Cdr. P.J.H. Bartlett, RN) arrived at Alexandria.

Submarine HMS Pandora: Around 2045A/18, HMS Pandora (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Linton, DSC, RN) ended her 13th war patrol (9th in the Mediterranean) at Gibraltar.

Submarine HMS Regent: Around 1200A/18, HMS Regent (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Browne, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Malta.

Submarine HMS Clyde: HMS Clyde (Cdr. D.C. Ingram, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Gibraltar. During the passage south through the Irish Sea she was escorted until Wolf Rock by HrMs Z 5 (Lt. J.J. Steensma, RNN). No map of this passage can be displayed as there is no log available for HMS Clyde for this period.

Submarine HMS Sturgeon: HMS Sturgeon (Lt.Cdr. D. St. Clair-Ford, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Dartmouth with two ML's.

Submarine HMS Thunderbolt: Around 1130P/18, HMS Thunderbolt (Lt. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) arrived at Halifax.

Submarine HMS Trident: At 0400 hours, HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN), made rendes-vous with HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, DSO, RN) and their escort towards Holy Loch, HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR).

Submarine HMS Tigris: Around 1530A/18, south of the Gironde estuary HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) sighted a German M-class minesweeper patrolling along the coast. During the night of 18 / 19 May 1941, HMS Tigris closes the shore south of Arcachon to carry out Operation Explore, the pick up of French agents who had been sent to sabotage the electric transformer station at Pessac (SOE operation Josehine B.). No agents showed up at the rendezvous and the operation was abandoned. A second attempt would be made later.

Submarine HMS Tetrarch: HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.M.T. Peacock, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian transport Giovinezza (2362 GRT, built 1925) off Bengasi, Libya in position 31°55'N, 19°55'E. The Giovinezza was escorted by the Italian torpedo boat Polluce which dropped 20 depth charges all set to 25 metres (the depth in the area was 40 metres) then returned to pick up the survivors. By then most of them had rowed to shore in two life boats and the torpedo-boat picked up only one survivor. In all there were 42 survivors (including five wounded), two were killed and another was missing. 1254B/18 - Sighted one merchant vessel bearing 285°, distance 7 nautical miles. Started attack. 1310B/18 - Sighted a destroyer that was escorting the merchant vessel. 1446B/18 - Fired four torpedoes from 6000 yards. It was thought that all four torpedoes were heard to explode on the shore (this was however not the case). 1453B/18 - Depth charging started. 1515B/18 - Bottomed at 150 feet. 1600B/18 - Depth charging ceased. In all 18 depth charges were dropped.

Submarine HMS Thrasher: HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS H 28: HMS H 28 (Lt. D.S.R. Martin, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory.

Submarine HMS H 31: HMS H 31 (Lt. R.J. Hemingway, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.

Submarine HMS H 32: HMS H 32 (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) N.T.B. Holt, RN) and HMS Spaniel (Skr. C. Coultas, DSC, RNR).

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. C.H. Rankin, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) shifted from Oban to Tobermory where she particapated in A/S exercises later the same day.

Sloop HMS Bridgewater: The British merchant Piako is torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-107 about 130 nautical miles south-west of Freetown in position 07°52'N, 14°57'W. HMS Bridgewater (Cdr. H.F.G. Leftwich, RN (retired)) later picks up 65 survivors.

Minelayer HMS Abdiel: HMS Abdiel (Capt. E. Pleydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN) arrived at Haifa and after embarking a full outfit of mines she departed to proceed at high speed to Alexandria.

Battleship HMS Nelson: Around 0800Z/18, the battleship HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN) and the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle (Capt. A.R.M. Bridge, CBE, RN) arrived at St. Helena where HMS Eagle then fuelled from the chartered tanker Nyholm (Norwegian, 5843 GRT, built 1927). They left St. Helena around 2345Z/18 for Freetown where they were expected to arrived on 23 May.

Battleship HMS Rodney: Around 1130B/17, HMS Rodney (Capt. F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, RN), HMS Somali (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN) and HMS Eskimo (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN) arrived in the Clyde.

Battleship HMS Rodney: Around 1300B/17, HMS Rodney (Capt. F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, RN) departed the Clyde for passage to the USA where she was to refit. She was escorting the troopship Brittanic (26943 GRT, built 1930) which was to proceed to Halifax. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Somali (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Eskimo (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN), HMS Mashona (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN) and HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN).

Battleship HMS Prince of Wales: Chase and sinking of the German battleship Bismarck, 18 to 27 May 1941. Part I. Departure of the Bismarck from the Baltic. At 2130B/18 the German battleship Bismarck and the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen departed Gotenhafen for an anti-shipping raid in the North Atlantic. The following morning they were joined off Cape Arkona by the German destroyers Z 16 / Friedrich Eckhold and Z 23. They then proceeded through the Great Belt. The four ships were joined by a third destroyer, Z 10 / Hans Lody shortly before midnight on 19 May. First reports of Bismarck and British dispositions 20-21 May 1941. On 20 May 1941 two large warships with a strong escort were seen at 1500 hours northward out of the Kattegat. This information originated from the Swedish cruiser Gotland which had passed the Germans off the Swedish coast in the morning. The Naval Attaché at Stockholm received the news at 2100/20 and forwarded it to the Admiralty. At 0900/21 the Bismarck and her consorts entered Kors Fjord, near Bergen, Norway and anchored in nearby fiords. A reconnaissance aircraft flying over Bergen at 1330/21 reported having seen two Hipper class heavy cruisers there. One of these ships was later identified on a photograph as being the Bismarck. This intelligence went out at once to the Home Fleet. The ships of the Home Fleet were at this time widely dispersed on convoy duties, patrols, etc. Some of the units were ranging as far as Gibraltar and Freetown. The Commander-in-Chief, A/Admiral Sir John Tovey, was at Scapa Flow in his flagship, HMS King George V (Capt. W.R. Patterson, CVO, RN). With him were her newly commissioned sister ship HMS Prince of Wales (Capt. J.C. Leach, MVO, RN), the battlecruiser HMS Hood (Capt. R. Kerr, CBE, RN, with Vice-Admiral L.E. Holland, CB, RN, onboard), the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, RN), the light cruisers HMS Galatea (Capt. E.W.B. Sim, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral K.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN), HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN), HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN) and the destroyers HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN), HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. R.B.N. Hicks, DSO, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, RN), HMS Echo (Lt.Cdr. C.H.deB. Newby, RN), HMS Electra (Cdr. C.W. May, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSO, RN), HMS Punjabi (Cdr. S.A. Buss, MVO, RN) and HMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, RAN). HMS Victorious was under orders to escort troop convoy WS 8B from the Clyde to the Middle East. HMS Neptune was working up for service with the Mediterranean Fleet and was to escort convoy WS 8X from the Clyde to the Middle East on completion. She did not sail to operate against the Bismarck having only just began her post-refit work-up programme. Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker (commanding the first Cruiser Squadron), with the heavy cruisers HMS Norfolk (Capt. A.J.L. Phillips, RN) (flag) and HMS Suffolk (Capt. R.M. Ellis, RN) was on patrol in the Denmark Straight. The light cruisers HMS Manchester (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN) and HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) were patrolling between Iceland and the Faeroes. The battlecruiser HMS Repulse (Capt. W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) was at the Clyde to escort troop convoy WS 8B. Action taken by the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet Admiral Tovey took the following action when he received the news the Bismarck had been spotted at Bergen. Vice-Admiral Holland with the Hood, Prince of Wales, Achates, Antelope, Anthony, Echo, Electra and Icarus was ordered to cover Rear Admiral Wake-Walker's cruisers in the Denmark Straight. His force departed Scapa Flow around 0100/22. HMS Arethusa (Capt. A.C. Chapman, RN), which was taking the Vice-Admiral, Orkneys and Shetlands, to Reykjavik on a visit of inspection, was ordered to remain at Hvalfiord and placed at Rear-Admiral Wake-Walkers disposal. HMS Manchester and HMS Birmingham were ordered to top off with fuel at Skaalefiord and them to resume their patrol. The other ships that remained at Scapa Flow were brought to short notice for steam. The Free French submarine FFS Minerve (Lt. P.M. Sonneville), which was on patrol off south-west Norway was ordered to proceed to position 61°53'N, 03°15'E and HMS P 31 (Lt. J.B.de B. Kershaw, RN) was ordered to proceed to position 62°08'N, 05°08'E which is to the west of Stadtlandet. The sailing of HMS Repulse and HMS Victorious with troop convoy WS 8B was cancelled and the ships were placed at the disposal of Admiral Tovey. A reconnaissance aircraft flying over Bergen reported that the German ships were gone. This information reached Admiral Tovey at 2000/22. HMS Suffolk which had been fuelling at Hvalfiord was ordered to rejoin HMS Norfolk in the Denmark Strait. HMS Arethusa was ordered to join HMS Manchester and HMS Birmingham to form a patrol line between Iceland and the Faeroes. Vice-Admiral Holland, on his way to Iceland was told to cover the patrols in Denmark Strait north of 62°N. Admiral Tovey would cover the patrols south of 62°N. Commander-in-Chief leaves Scapa Flow on 22 May 1941 The King George V, with Admiral Tovey on board, departed Scapa Flow at 2245/22. With the King George V sailed, HMS Victorious, HMS Galatea, HMS Aurora, HMS Kenya, HMS Hermione (Capt. G.N. Oliver, RN), HMS Windsor (Lt.Cdr. J.M.G. Waldegrave, DSC, RN), HMS Active, HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, DSO, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), HMS Punjabi, HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN) and HMAS Nestor. HMS Lance however had to return to Scapa Flow due to defects. At A.M. 23 May they were joined off the Butt of Lewis by HMS Repulse escorted by HMS Legion (Cdr. R.F. Jessel, RN), HMCS Assiniboine (A/Lt.Cdr. J.H. Stubbs, RCN) and HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN) coming from the Clyde area which they departed on 22 May. The Commander-in-Chief was 230 miles north-west of the Butt of Lewis in approximate position 60°20'N, 12°30'W when at 2032/23 a signal came in from HMS Norfolk that she had sighted the Bismarck in the Denmark Strait. HMS Suffolk and HMS Norfolk made contact with the Bismarck in the Denmark Strait on 23 May 1941. At 1922/23 HMS Suffolk sighted the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen in position 67°06'N, 24°50'W. They were proceeding to the south-west skirting the edge of the ice in Denmark Strait. HMS Suffolk immediately sent out an enemy report and made for the mist to the south-east. HMS Norfolk then commenced closing and sighted the enemy at 2030 hours. They were only some six nautical miles off and the Bismarck opened fire. HMS Norfolk immediately turned away, was not hit and also sent out an enemy report. Although HMS Suffolk had sighted the enemy first and also sent the first contact report this was not received by the Commander-in-Chief. The enemy was 600 miles away to the north-westward. Vice-Admiral Holland had picked up the signal from the Suffolk. He was at that moment about 300 nautical miles away. Course was changed to intercept and speed was increased by his force to 27 knots. Dispositions, 23 May 1941. At the Admiralty, when the Norfolk's signal came in, one of the first considerations was to safeguard the convoys at sea. At this time there were eleven crossing the North-Atlantic, six homeward and five outward bound. The most important convoy was troop convoy WS 8B of five ships which had left the Clyde the previous day for the Middle East. She was at this moment escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN), light cruiser (AA cruiser) HMS Cairo (A/Capt. I.R.H. Black, RN) and the destroyers HMS Cossack (Capt. P.L. Vian, DSO, RN), HMS Maori (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, DSC, RN), HMS Zulu (Cdr. H.R. Graham, DSO, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) E.J.S. Plawski), HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN) and the escort destroyer HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, RN). HMS Repulse was also intended to have sailed with this convoy but she had joined the Commander-in-Chief instead. Force H was sailed around 0200/24 from Gibraltar to protect this important convoy on the passage southwards. Force H was made up of the battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt Sir R.R. McGrigor, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (Capt. L.E.H. Maund, RN), light cruiser HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) and the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, RN), HMS Foresight (Cdr. J.S.C. Salter, RN), HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN), HMS Foxhound (Cdr. G.H. Peters, DSC, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. T.C. Robinson, RN) and HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Tait, RN). HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk shadowing Bismarck 23 / 24 May 1941. During the night of 23 / 24 May 1941 HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk hung on to the enemy, The Norfolk on their port quarter, Suffolk on their starboard quarter. All through the night they sent signals with updates on the position, course and speed of the enemy. At 0516 hours HMS Norfolk sighted smoke on her port bow and soon HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales came in sight. HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales 23 / 24 May 1941. At 2054/23 the four remaining escorting destroyers were ordered to follow at best speed in the heavy seas if they were unable to keep up with the capital ships which were proceeding at 27 knots. Two destroyers, HMS Antelope and HMS Anthony had been ordered to proceed to Iceland to refuel at 1400/23. The destroyers all managed to keep up for now and at 2318 hours they were ordered to form a screen ahead of both capital ships. At 0008/24 speed was reduced to 25 knots and course was altered to due north at 0017 hours. It was expected that contact with the enemy would be made at any time after 0140/24. It was just now that the cruisers lost contact with the enemy in a snowstorm and for some time no reports were coming in. At 0031 hours the Vice-Admiral signalled to the Prince of Wales that if the enemy was not in sight by 0210 hours he would probably alter course to 180° until the cruisers regained touch. He also signalled that he intended to engage the Bismarck with both capital ships and leave the Prinz Eugen to Norfolk and Suffolk. The Prince of Wales' Walrus aircraft was ready for catapulting and it was intended to fly it off, but visibility deteriorated and in the end it was defuelled and stowed away at 0140 hours. A signal was then passed to the destroyers that when the capital ships would turn to the south they were to continue northwards searching for the enemy. Course was altered to 200° at 0203/24. As there was now little chance of engaging the enemy before daylight the crews were allowed to rest. At 0247/24 HMS Suffolk regained touch with the enemy and by 0300 hours reports were coming in again. At 0353 hours HMS Hood increased speed to 28 knots and at 0400/24 the enemy was estimated to be 20 nautical miles to the north-west. By 0430 hours visibility had increased to 12 nautical miles. At 0440 hours orders were given to refuel the Walrus of HMS Prince of Wales but due to delays due to water in the fuel it was not ready when the action began and it was damaged by splinters and eventuelly jettisoned into the sea. At 0535/24 hours a vessel was seen looming on the horizon to the north-west, it was the Bismarck. She was some 17 nautical miles away bearing 330°. Prinz Eugen was ahead of her but this was not immediately realised and as the silhoutte of the German ships was almost similar the leading ship was most likely thought to be the Bismarck on board HMS Hood. Battle of the Denmark Strait, action with the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. Loss of HMS Hood. At 0537/24 HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales were turned together 40° to starboard towards the enemy. At 0549 hours course was altered to 300° and the left hand ship was designated as the target. This was a mistake as this was the Prinz Eugen and not the Bismarck. This was changed to the Bismarck just before fire was opened at 0552 hours. At 0554 hours the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen also opened fire. In the meantime Prince of Wales had also opened fire at 0053 hours. Her first salvo was over. The sixth salvo was a straddle. The Norfolk and Suffolk were too far astern of the enemy to take part in the action. At 0555 hours Hood and Prince of Wales turned two points to port. This opened up Prince of Wales' A arcs as her ninth salvo was fired. Shortly before 0605 hours Hood signalled that another turn of two points to port had to be executed. Bismarck had just fired her fifth salvo when the Hood was rent in two by a huge explosion rising apparently between the after funnel and the mainmast. The fore part began to sink seperately, bows up, whilst the after part remained shrouded in a pall of smoke. Three or four minutes later, the Hood had vanished between the waves leaving a vast cloud of smoke drifting away to the leeward. She sank in position 63°20'N, 31°50'W (the wreck was found in 2001 in approximate position 63°22'N, 32°17'W, the exact position has not been released to the public.) The Prince of Wales altered course to starboard to avoid the wreckage of the Hood. The Bismarck now shifted fire from her main and secondary armament to her. Range was now 18000 yards. Within a very short time she was hit by four 15" and three 6" shells. At 0602 hours a large projectile wrecked the bridge, killing or wounding most of the personnel and about the same time the ship was holed underwater aft. It was decided temporarily to discontinue the action and at 0613 hours HMS Prince of Wales turned away behind a smoke screen. The after turret continued to fire but it soon malfunctioned and was out of action until 0825 hours. When the Prince of Wales ceased firing the range was 14500 yards. She had fired 18 salvos from the main armament and five from the secondary. The Bismarck made no attempt to follow or continue the action. She had also not escaped unscatched and had sustained two severe hits. Such was the end of the brief engagement. The loss by an unlucky hit of HMS Hood with Vice-Admiral Holland, Captain Kerr and almost her entire ships company was a grievous blow, but a great concentration of forces was gathering behind the Commander-in-Chief, and Admiral Somerville with Force H was speeding towards him from the south. The chase When the Hood blew up, HMS Norfolk was 15 nautical miles to the northward coming up at 28 knots. By 0630/24 she was approaching HMS Prince of Wales and Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker, signalling his intention to keep in touch, told her to follow at best speed. The destroyers that had been with HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales were still to the northward. They were ordered to search for survivors but only HMS Electra found three. The Prince of Wales reported that she could do 27 knots and she was told to open out to 10 nautical miles on a bearing of 110° so that HMS Norfolk could fall back on her if she was attacked. Far off the Prinz Eugen could be seen working out to starboard of the Bismarck while the chase continued to the southward. At 0757 hours, HMS Suffolk reported that the Bismarck had reduced speed and that she appeared to be damaged. Shortly afterwards a Sunderland that had taken off from Iceland reported that the Bismarck was leaving behind a broad track of oil. The Commander-in-Chief with HMS King George V was still a long way off, about 360 nautical miles to the eastward, and Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker on the bridge of HMS Norfolk had to make an important decision, was he to renew the action with the help of the Prince of Wales or was he to make it his business to ensure that the enemy could be intercepted and brought to action by the Commander-in-Chief. A dominant consideration in the matter was the state of the Prince of Wales. Her bridge had been wrecked, she had 400 tons of water in her stern compartments and two of her guns were unserverable and she could go no more then 27 knots. She had only been commissioned recently and barely a week had passed since Captain Leach had reported her ready for service. Her turrets were of a new and an untried model, liable for 'teething' problems and evidently suffering from them, for at the end of the morning her salvoes were falling short and wide. It was doubted if she was a match for the Bismarck in her current state and it was on these grounds that Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker decided that he would confine himself to shadowing and that he would not attempt to force on an action. Soon after 1100/24 visibility decreased and the Bismarck was lost out of sight in mist and rain. Measures taken by the Admiralty, 24 May 1941. After the loss of HMS Hood the following measures were taken by the Admiralty. To watch for an attempt by the enemy to return to Germany, HMS Manchester, HMS Birmingham and HMS Arethusa had been ordered at 0120/24 to patrol off the north-east point of Iceland. They were told to proceed to this location with all despatch. HMS Rodney (Capt. F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, RN), which with four destroyers was escorting the troopship Britannic (26943 GRT, built 1930) westward, was ordered at 1022/24 to steer west on a closing course and if the Britannic could not keep up she was to leave her with one of the destroyers. Rodney was about 550 nautical miles south-east of the Bismarck. At 1200/24 she left the Britannic in position 55°15'N, 22°25'W and left HMS Eskimo (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN) with her. HMS Rodney then proceeded with HMS Somali (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN) and HMS Mashona (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN) westwards on a closing course. Two other capital ships were in the Atlantic; HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN) and HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN). The Ramillies was escorting convoy HX 127 from Halifax and was some 900 nautical miles south of the Bismarck. She was ordered at 1144/24 to place herself to the westward of the enemy and leaving her convoy at 1212/24 in position 46°25'N, 35°24'W, she set course to the north. HMS Revenge was ordered to leave Halifax and close the enemy. Light cruiser HMS Edinburgh (Capt. C.M. Blackman, DSO, RN) was patrolling in the Atlantic between 44°N and 46°N for German merchant shipping and was ordered at 1250/24 to close the enemy and take on relief shadower. At 1430/24 she reported her position as 44°17'N, 23°56'W and she was proceeding on course 320° at 25 knots. Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker was ordered to continue shadowing even if he ran short of fuel so to bring the Commander-in-Chief into action. The Bismack turns due south at 1320 hours on 24 May 1941. In the low state of visibility, HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk had to be constantly on the alert against the enemy falling back and attacking them. At 1320/24 the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen altered course to the south and reduced speed. HMS Norfolk sighted them through the rain at a range of only 8 nautical miles. Norfolk had to quickly turn away under the cover of a smoke screen. It was at 1530/24 when HMS Norfolk received a signal made by the Commander-in-Chief at 0800/24 from which it was estimated that the Commander-in-Chief would be near the enemy at 0100/25. This was later changed to 0900/25. At 1545/24, Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker was asked by the Admiralty to answer four questions; 1) State the remaining percentage of the Bismarck's fighting efficiency. 2) What amout of ammunition had the Bismarck expended. 3) What are the reasons for the frequent alterations of course by the Bismarck. 4) What are your intentions as regards to the Prince of Wales' re-engaging the Bismarck. The answers by Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker were as follows. 1) Uncertain but high. 2) About 100 rounds. 3) Unaccountable except as an effort to shake off HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk. 4) Consider it wisely for HMS Prince of Wales to not re-engage the Bismarck until other capital ships are in contact, unless interception failed. Doubtful if she has the speed to force an action. The afternoon drew on towards evening. Still the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen held on to the south while the Norfolk, Suffolk and Prince of Wales were still keeping her in sight. At 1711/24 in order to delay the enemy if possible, by attacking him from astern, the Prince of Wales was stationed ahead of the Norfolk. The enemy was not in sight from the Norfolk at that time, but the Suffolk was still in contact. At 1841/24 the Bismarck opened fire on the Suffolk. Her salvoes fell short, but one or two shorts came near enough to cause some minor damage to her hull plating aft. HMS Suffolk replied with nine broadsides before turning away behind a smoke screen. On seeing the Suffolk being attacked, HMS Norfolk turned towards and she and HMS Prince of Wales opened fire, the latter firing 12 salvoes. By 1856 hours the action was over. Two of the guns on the Prince of Wales malfuntioned again. After the action the cruisers started to zig-zag due to fear for German submarines. British dispositions at 1800 hours on 24 May 1941. From the Admiralty at 2025/24, there went out a signal summarising the situation at 1800/24. The position, course and speed of the Bismarck was given as 59°10'N, 36°00'W, 180°, 24 knots with HMS Norfolk, HMS Suffolk and HMS Prince of Wales still in touch. The Commander-in-Chiefs estimated position at 1800/24 was 58°N, 30°W, with HMS King George V and HMS Repulse. HMS Victorious was with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron (HMS Galatea, HMS Aurora, HMS Kenya). They had parted company with the Commander-in-Chief at 1509/24. Heavy cruiser HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) was in position 42°45'N, 20°10'W and had been ordered to leave her convoy and close the enemy. HMS Ramillies was in estimated position 45°45'N, 35°40'W. She had been ordered to place herself to the west of the enemy. HMS Manchester, HMS Birmingham and HMS Arethusa were returning from their position off the north-east of Iceland to refuel. HMS Revenge had left Halifax and was closing convoy HX 128. HMS Edinburgh was in approximate position 45°15'N, 25°10'W. She had been ordered to close and take over stand by shadower. Evening of 24 May 1941. At 2031/24 HMS Norfolk received a signal sent by the Commander-in-Chief at 1455/24 stating that aircraft from HMS Victorious might make an attack at 2200/24 and Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker now waited for an air attack which he expected at 2300 hours. By that time Bismarck had been lost from sight but at 2330/24 HMS Norfolk briefly sighted her at a distance of 13 nautical miles. At 2343/24 aircraft from HMS Victorious were seen approaching. They circled round HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Norfolk and the latter was able to direct them to the enemy. At 0009/25 heavy anti-aircraft gunfire was seen and the Bismarck was just visible as the aircraft attacked. HMS Victorious and the 2nd Cruiser Squadron detached by the Commander-in-Chief. At 1440/24 the Commander-in-Chief ordered the 2nd Cruiser Squadron (HMS Galatea, HMS Aurora, HMS Kenya, HMS Hermione) and HMS Victorious to a position within 100 nautical miles from Bismarck and to launch a torpedo bombing attack and maintain contact as long as possible. The object of the torpedo bombing attack was to slow the enemy down. On board the Victorious were only 12 Swordfish torpedo bombers and 6 Fulmar fighters. Victorious was only recently commissioned and her crew was still rather green. She had on board a large consignment of crated Hurricane fighters for Malta which were to be delivered to Gibraltar. At 2208/24 HMS Victorious commenced launching 9 Swordfish in position 58°58'N, 33°17'E. Two minutes later al were on their way to find the Bismarck. The Squadron was led by Lt.Cdr.(A) E. Esmonde, RN. HMS Victorious aircraft attack the Bismarck. When the Swordfish took off from HMS Victorious the Bismarck was estimated to be in position 57°09'N, 36°44'W and was steering 180°, speed 24 knots. At 2330/24 they sighted the Bismarck but contact was lost in the bad weater. Shortly afterwards the Swordfish sighted HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk. HMS Norfolk guided them to the enemy which was 14 nautical miles on her starboard bow. At 2350 hours a vessel was detected ahead and the squadron broke cloud to deliver an attack. To their surprise they found themselves over a United States Coastguard cutter. The Bismarck was 6 nautical miles to the southward and on sighting the aircraft opened up a heavy barrage fire. Lt.Cdr. Esmonde pressed home his attack, 8 of the Swordfish were able to attack, the other had lost contact in the clouds. The 8 planes attacked with 18" torpedoes, fitted with Duplex pistols set for 31 feet. At midnight three Swordfish attacked simultaneously on the port beam. Three others made a longer approach low down attacking on the port bow a minute later. One took a longer course, attacking on the port quarter. One went round and attacked on the starboard bow a couple of minutes after midnight. At least one hit was claimed on the starboard side abreast the bridge. The Germans however state that no hit was scored but that the violent maneuvering of the ship to avoid the attack, together with the heavy firing by the Bismarck caused the leak in no.2 boiler room to open up. No.2 boiler room was already partially flooded and now had to be abandoned. All Swordfish from the striking had returned to HMS Victorious by 0201/25. Two Fulmars launched at 2300/24 for shadowing failed to find their ship in the darkness due to the failure of Victorious' homing beacon. Their crews were in the end picked up from the chilly water. HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk loose contact at 0306/25. While the aircraft from HMS Victorious were making their attack, HMS Norfolk sighted a ship to the south-west and gave the order to open fire. HMS Prince of Wales was able to identify it in time as an American coast guard cutter, but in the movements prepartory to opening fire HMS Norfolk lost touch with the enemy for a time and it was not until 0116/25 that she suddenly sighted the Bismarck only 8 nautical miles away. There followed a brief exchange of fire. HMS Norfolk and HMS Prince of Wales turned to port to bring their guns to bear and the latter was ordered to engage. It was then 0130/25. The Prince of Wales fired two salvoes at 20000 yards by radar. The Bismarck answered with two salvoes which fell a long way short. The light was failing and the enemy was again lost to sight. HMS Suffolk, which had to most reliable RDF set was told to act independently so as to keep in touch. Around 0306/25 the Suffolk lost touch with the Bismarck. At 0552/25 Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker asked if HMS Victorious could launch aircraft for a search at dawn. Search measures, 25 May 1941. With the disappearance of the Bismarck at 0306/25 the first phase of the pursuit ended. The Commander-in-Chief, in HMS King George V with HMS Repulse in company was then about 115 nautical miles to the south-east. At 0616/25, Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker signalled that it was most probable that Bismarck and Prinz Eugen made a 90° turn to the west or turned back and 'cut away' to the eastward astern of the cruisers. Suffolk was already searching to the south-west and Norfolk was waiting for daylight to do the same. Prince of Wales was ordered to join the King George V and Repulse. Force H was still on a course to intercept the Bismarck while steaming on at 24 knots. The Rear-Admiral commanding the 2nd Cruiser Squadron in HMS Galatea had altered course at 0558/25 to 180° for the position where the enemy was last seen and the Victorious was getting 8 aircraft ready to fly off at 0730/25 for a search to the eastward. This plan however was altered on orders being recieved from the Commander-in-Chief to take the cruisers and Victorious and carry out a search to the north-west of the Bismarck's last reported position. Five Fulmars had already been up during the night, two of them had not returned to the ship. The search therefore had to be undertaken by Swordfish, the only aircraft available. At 0810/25, seven Swordfish were flown off from position 56°18'N, 36°28'W to search between 280° and 040° up to 100 nautical miles. The search was supplemented by Victorious herself as well as the cruisers from the 2nd Cruiser Squadron (Galatea, Aurora, Kenya and Hermione) which were spread some miles apart. DF position of the Bismarck of 0852/25. HMS King George V was still proceeding to the south-west when at 1030/25 the Commander-in-Chief recieved a signal from the Admiralty that the Bismarck's position had been obtained by DF (direction finding) and that it indicated that the Bismarck was on a course for the North Sea by the Faeroes-Iceland passage. To counter this move by the enemy the Commander-in-Chief turned round at 1047/25 and made for the Faeroes-Iceland passage at 27 knots. HMS Repulse was no longer in company with HMS King George V, she had been detached at 0906/25 for Newfoundland to refuel. Suffolk also turned to the eastward to search, her search to the south-west had been fruitless. The search by HMS Victorious, her aircraft and the 2nd Cruiser Squadron to the north-west also had no result. Six Swordfish were landed on by 1107/25, one failed to return. HMS Galatea, HMS Aurora and HMS Kenya now turned towards the DF position of the Bismarck to search in that direction. HMS Hermione had to be detached to Hvalfiord, Iceland to refuel as she was by now down to 40%. The other cruisers slowed down to 20 knots to economise their remaining fuel supply wich was also getting low. At this moment HMS King George V had about 60% remaining. Events during 25 May 1941. At 1100/25, HMS King George V, HMS Suffolk and HMS Prince of Wales were proceeding to the north-east in the direction of the enemy's DF signal. HMS Rodney was in position 52°34'N, 29°23'W some 280 nautical miles to the south-eastward on the route towards the Bay of Biscay. On receiving the Commander-in-Chiefs signal of 1047/25 she too proceeded to the north-east. Meanwhile to Admiralty had come to the conclusion that the Bismarck most likely was making for Brest, France. This was signalled to the Commander-in-Chief at 1023/25 to proceed together with Force H and the 1st Cruiser Squadron on that assumption. In the absence however of definite reports it was difficult to be certain of the position of the enemy. The DF bearings in the morning had not been very definite. At 1100/25, HMS Renown (Force H), was in position 41°30'N, 17°10'W was ordered to act on the assumption the enemy was making for Brest, France. She shaped course accordingly and prepared a comprehensive sheme of air search. At 1108/25, HMS Rodney, was told to act on the assumption that the enemy was making for the Bay of Biscay. At 1244/25 the Flag Officer Submarines ordered six submarines to take up intercepting positions about 120 nautical miles west of Brest. The submarines involved were HMS Sealion (Cdr. B. Bryant, DSC, RN), HMS Seawolf (Lt. P.L. Field, RN), HMS Sturgeon (Lt.Cdr. D. St. Clair-Ford, RN) from the 5th Submarine Flottilla at Portsmouth, HMS Pandora (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Linton, DSC, RN), which was on passage to the U.K. from the Mediterranean to refit, HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN), from the 3rd Submarine Flottilla at Holy Loch and HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), a training boat from the 7th Submarine Flotilla at Rothesay which happened to be at Holyhead. Seawolf, Sturgeon and Tigris were already on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, Sealion departed Portsmouth on the 25th as did H 44 but she sailed from Holyhead. Pandora was on passage to the U.K. to refit and was diverted. At 1320/25 a good DF fix located an enemy unit within a 50 mile radius from position 55°15'N, 32°00'W. This was sent by the Admiralty to the Commander-in-Chief at 1419/25 and it was received at 1530/25. It was only in the evening that it was finally clear to all involved that Bismarck was indeed making for a French port. Air searches had failed to find her during the day.

Battleship HMS Prince of Wales: Chase and sinking of the German battleship Bismarck, 18 to 27 May 1941. Part II. 26 May 1941. By now the question of fuel was becoming acute. For four days ships had been steaming at high speeds and the Commander-in-Chief was faced with the reality of fuel limits. HMS Repulse had already left for Newfoundland, HMS Prince of Wales had by now been sent to Iceland to refuel. HMS Victorious and HMS Suffolk had been forced to reduce speed to economise their fuel. Coastal Command started air searches along the route towards the Bay of Biscay by long range Catalina flying boats. Lack of fuel was effecting the destroyer screens of the capital ships. There was no screen available for HMS Victorious. The 4th Destroyer Flotilla, escorting troop convoy WS 8B, was ordered at 0159/26 to join the Commander-in-Chief in HMS King George V and HMS Rodney as was HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) which sailed from Londonderry. Leaving the convoy the 4th D.F. proceeded to the north-east. Force H in the meantime was also approaching the immediate area of operations. These forces were to play an important part in the final stages of the chase of the Bismarck. Force H, 26 May 1941. HMS Renown, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Sheffield were having a rough passage north in heavy seas, high wind, rain and mist. Their escorting destroyers had already turned back towards Gibraltar at 0900/25. At dawn on the 26th there was half a gale blowing from the north-west. At 0716/26 HMS Ark Royal launched a security patrol in position 48°26'N, 19°13'W to search to the north and to the west just in case the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had departed Brest to come to the aid of the Bismarck. At 0835/26 there followed an A/S patrol of ten Swordfish. All planes had returned by 0930. None had seen anything. Bismarck sighted at 1030/26. It was at 1030/26 that one of the long range Catalina's of the Coastal Command sighted the Bismarck in position 49°30'N, 21°55'W. It was received in HMS King George V at 1043 hours and in HMS Renown in 1038 hours. It placed the enemy well to the westward of the Renown. It was confirmed within the hour when two Swordfish from the Ark Royal which reported the Bismarck in position 49°19'N, 20°52'W some 25 miles east of the position given by the Catalina. The Commander-in-Chief was at that moment about 130 miles to the north of the Bismarck but it was soon clear that the Bismarck had too great a lead to permit her being overtaken unless her speed could be reduced. Nor was the question one merely of distance and speed. The Bismarck was approaching a friendly coast and could run her fuel tanks nearly dry and was sure of air protection, while the British ships would have a long journey back to base in the face of air and submarine attack. HMS Renown was ahead of the Bismarck but it was important that she did not engage the Bismarck unless the latter was already heavily engaged by the better armoured HMS King George V and HMS Rodney. When the Catalina found the Bismarck at 1030 hours, the 4th Destroyer Flotilla was steering east to join the Commander-in-Chief. They seem to have crossed astern of the enemy's track about 0800/26. The Catalina's report reached Capt. Vian in HMS Cossack at 1054/26 and 'knowing that the Commander-in-Chief would order him to intercept the enemy' Capt. Vian altered course to the south-east. First attack by aircraft from the Ark Royal. At 1315/26 HMS Sheffield was detached to the southward with orders to close and shadow the enemy, who was estimated to be 40 nautical miles south-west of the Renown. The visual signal ordering this movement was not repeated to HMS Ark Royal, an omission which had serious consequenses for the aircraft that were to take off did not know that HMS Sheffield had parted company. At 1450/26 HMS Ark Royal launched a striking force of 14 Swordfish aircraft with the orders to proceed to the south and attack the Bismarck with torpedoes. Weather and cloud conditions were bad and a radar contact was obtained on a ship some 20 nautical miles from the estimated position of the enemy that had been given to the leader shortly before takeoff. At 1550 hours they broke through the clouds and fired 11 torpedoes. Unfortunately the supposed enemy was HMS Sheffield which managed to avoid all torpedoes. The Bismarck at that time was some 15 nautical miles to the southward. The striking force then returned an all aircraft had landed on by 1720/26. At 1740/26, HMS Sheffield, sighted the Bismarck in position 48°30'N, 17°20'W and took station about 10 nautical miles astern and commenced shadowing the enemy. Ark Royal's second attack, 2047/26. The first striking force on its way back sighted the 4th Destroyer Flotilla 20 nautical miles west of Force H. As soon as the aircraft from the first strike had landed they were refuelled and rearmed as fast as possible. Take off started at 1910/26, a total of 15 Swordfish were launched. Reports coming in from HMS Sheffield placed the Bismarck at 167°, 38 nautical miles from the Ark Royal. The striking force was ordered to contact HMS Sheffield who was told to use DF to guide them in. At 1955/26 HMS Sheffield was sighted but soon lost in the bad weather conditions. She was found again at 2035 hours, she guided the Swordfish in and directed them by visual signal on the enemy bearing 110°, 12 nautical miles. The force took departure for the target in subflights in line astern at 2040/26. At 2047/26 no.1 subflight of three Swordfish dived through the clouds and sighted the Bismarck 4 nautical miles off to the south-east. One Swordfish of no.3 subflight was with them. Approaching again just inside the cloud they made their final dive at 2053/26 on the port beam under a very intense and accurate fire from the enemy. They dropped four torpedoes of which one was seen to hit. No.2 subflight, made up of two Swordfish, lost touch with no.1 subflight in the clouds, climed to 9000 feet, then dived on a bearing obtained by radar and then attacked from the starboard beam, again under heavy and intense fire. They dropped two torpedoes for one possible hit. The third plane of this subflight had lost touch with the other two and had returned to HMS Sheffield to obtained another range and bearing to the enemy. It then flew ahead of the enemy and carried out a determined attack from his port bow under heavy fire and obtained a torpedo hit on the port side amidships. Subflight no.4 followed subflight no.3 into the clouds but got iced up at 6600 feet. It then dived through the clouds and was joined by no.2 aircraft from subflight no.3. The Bismarck was then sighted engaging subflight no.2 to starboard. The four aircraft then went into the clouds and cicled the German battleships stern and then dived out of the clouds again and attack simultaneously from the port side firing four torpedoes. All however missed the Bismarck. They came under a very heavy and fierce fire from the enemy and one of the aircraft was heavily damaged, the pilot and air gunner being wounded. The two aircraft of subflight no.5 lost contact with the other subflights and then with each other in the cloud. They climbed to 7000 feet where ice began to form. When coming out of the cloud at 1000 feet aircraft 4K sighted the Bismarck down wind, she then went back into the cloud under fire from the enemy. She saw a torpedo hit on the enemy's starboard side, reached a position on the starboard bow, withdrew to 5 miles, then came in just above the sea and just outside 1000 yards fired a torpedo which did not hit. The second plane of this flight lost his leader diving through the cloud, found himself on the starboard quarter and after two attempts to attack under heavy fire was forced to jettison his torpedo. Of the two Swordfish of subflight no.6 one attacked the Bismarck on the starboard beam and dropped his torpedo at 2000 yards without success. The second plane lost the enemy, returned to the Sheffield for a new range and bearing and after searching at sea level attacked on the starboard beam but was driven off by intense fire. The attack was over by 2125/26. Thirteen torpedoes had been fired and it was thought two hits and one probable hit had been obtained. Two torpedoes were jettisoned. The severe nature and full effect of the damage done was at first not fully realised. Actually the Bismarck had received a deadly blow. The last of the shadowing aircraft to return had seen her make two complete circles. One torpedo had struck her on the port side amidships doing little damage but th other torpedo that hit was on the starboard quarter damaging her propellors, wrecking her steering gear and jambing her rudders, it was this torpedo hit that sealed her fate. HMS Sheffield was still shadowing astern when at 2140/26 the Bismarck turned to port and fired six accurate salvoes of 15". None actually hit Sheffield but a near miss killed three men and seriously injured two. HMS Sheffield turned away and while doing so she sighted HMS Cossack and the other destroyers from the 4th DF approaching from the westward. She then gave them the approximate position of the Bismarck. At 2155/26, HMS Sheffield lost touch with the Bismarck. The destroyers continued to shadow and eventually attack. Meanwhile HMS Renown and HMS Ark Royal shaped course for the southward to keep the road clear for the Commander-in-Chief in HMS King George V and for HMS Rodney. Also in the Ark Royal aircraft were being got ready for an attack on the Bismarck at dawn. Bismarck, 26 May 1941. The Bismarck could no longer steer after the torpedo hit aft. The steering motor room was flooded up to the main deck and the rudders were jambed. Divers went down to the steering room and managed to centre one rudder but the other remained immovable. She was by this time urgently in need of fuel. It was hoped by the Germans that while she was nearing the French coast strong forces of aircraft and submarines would come to her assistance. At 2242/26, Bismarck sighted the British destroyers. A heavy fire was opened on them. Their appearence greatly complicated the situation. Before their arrival however, Admiral Lütjens seems to have made up his mind as one hour earlier he had signalled to Berlin 'ship out of control. We shall fight to the last shell. Long live the Führer.' The fourth Destroyer Flotilla makes contact, 26 May 1941. Just as the sun was setting, Captain Vian (D.4) in HMS Cossack with HMS Maori, HMS Sikh, HMS Zulu and the Polish destroyer ORP Piorun arrived on the scene. Shortly after 1900/26 HMS Renown and HMS Ark Royal were sighted to the northward. Ark Royal was just about to fly off the second striking force. The destroyers continued on the the south-east. At 2152/26 HMS Sheffield was sighted and from her Captain Vian obtained the approximate position of the enemy. The destroyers were spread 2.5 nautical miles apart on a line bearing 250° - 070° in the order from north-east to south-west, Piorun, Maori, Cossack, Sikh, Zulu. During the latter stages of the approach speed was reduced and the flotilla manoeuvred so as to avoid making a high speed end-on contact. At 2238/26, ORP Piorun on the port wing reported the Bismarck 9 nautical miles distant, bearing 145° and steering to the south-eastward. Destroyers shadowing, late on 26 May 1941. At the time the Piorun reported being in contact with the Bismarck the destroyers were steering 120°. All were at once ordered to take up shadowing positions. Four minutes later the Bismarck opened a heavy fire with her main and secondary armaments on the Piorun and Maori. Two attempts were made by these ships to work round to the northward of the enemy but they were silhouetted against the north-western horizon making them easy to spot. The Bismarck's fire was unpleasantly accurate, through neither destroyer was actually hit. The Commanding Officer of the Maori then decided to work round to the southward and altered course accordingly. The Piorun closed the range and herself opened fire from 13500 yards but after firing three salvoes, she was straddled by a salvo which fell about 20 yards from the ships side. She then ceased fire and turned away to port while making smoke. During this engagement she lost touch with the other destroyers and later also with the Bismarck. She remained under fire for about one hour but was not hit. She worked round to the north-east of the Bismarck but eventually lost touch with her prey at 2355/26. The other destroyers, meanwhile, had been working round to the southward of the enemy to take up shadowing positions to the eastward of him. Soon after the initial contact it was evident the the Bismarck's speed had been so seriously reduced that interception by the battlefleet was certain, provided that contact could be held. In these circumstances Captain Vian defined his object at firstly, to deliver the enemy to the Commander-in-Chief at the time he desired, and secondly, to sink or immoblise her with torpedoes during the night but not with to great a risk for the destroyers. Accordingly at 2248/26 as signal was made to all ordering them to shadow and this operation was carried out through the night, though torpedo attacks were carried out later under the cover of darkness. As darkness came on, the weather deteriorated and heavy rain squalls became frequent. Visibility varied between 2.5 nautical miles and half a mile but the Bismarck, presumably using radar, frequently opened up accurate fire outside these ranges. About half an hour after sunset, the destroyers were ordered at 2324/26 to take up stations prepartory to carrying out a synchronised torpedo attack. This was subsequently cancelled on account of the adverse weather conditions and they were ordered to attack independently as opportunity offered. At about 2300 hours the Bismarck altered course to the north-westward. At this time HMS Zulu was in touch with her and kept her under observation from the southward. At 2342 hours the Bismarck opened fire on HMS Cossack, then about 4 miles to the south-south-west and shot away her aerials. The Cossack turned away under the cover of smoke, shortly afterwards resuming her course to the eastward. A few minutes later, at 2350 hours, HMS Zulu came under heavy fire from the Bismarck's 15" guns. The first three salvoes straddled wounding an officer and two ratings. Drastic avoiding action was taken as a result of which Zulu lost touch. HMS Sikh, however, who had lost sight of the enemy half an hour previously, had observed her firing at HMS Cossack and now succeeded in shadowing from astern until 0020/27 when the enemy made a large alteration to port and commenced firing at her. HMS Sikh altered course to port, intending to fire torpedoes, but the view of the Torpedo Control Officer was obscured by shell splashes and Sikh then withdrew to the southward. Destroyer night torpedo attacks, 26/27 May 1941. HMS Zulu, after her escape at 2345/26, had steered to the northward and at 0030/27 fell in with HMS Cossack. Shortly afterwards she sighted ORP Piorun. On receipt of a signal from Captain Vian, timed 0040/27, to take any opporunity to fire torpedoes, HMS Zulu altered course to the westward,and at 0100/27 sighted the Bismarck steering 340°. Positions of the destroyers was now as follows; to the north-eastward of the enemy, HMS Cossack was working round to the north and west. HMS Maori, since losing touch, had been making to the westward. She was now to the south-west of the Bismarck. HMS Sikh was some distance to the southward, not having received any information regarding the position of the Bismarck since 0025/27. HMS Zulu was astern of the enemy and in contact. Range was only 5000 yards. Bismarck finally spotted Zulu and at once opened fire with her main and secondary armament and straddled Zulu. She fired four torpedoes at 0121/27 but no hits were observed and they are believed to have missed ahead. Zulu then ran out to the northward in order to be clear of the other destroyers. Shortly afterwards they widnessed a successful attack by HMS Maori. HMS Maori had seen the Bismarck opening fire on the Zulu at 0107/27. Maori then closed to 4000 yards on Bismarck's port quarter apparently undetected. When abeam of the enemy, who then appeared to be altering course to starboard Maori fired a star shell to see what he was about. Two minutes later, at 0137/27, two torpedoes were fired and course was altered towards the Bismarck with the intention of attacking again from her starboard bow once the enemy had steadied on her new course. Whilst Maori was turning a torpedo hit was observed on the enemy. A bright glow illuminated the waterline of the enemy battleship from stem to stern. Shortly afterwards there appeared between the bridge and the stem a glare that might have been a second hit. The enemy immediately opened up a very heavy fire with both main and secondairy armaments and quick firing guns. As the Maori was being straddled, she turned away, and increased to full speed. Shots continued to fall on both sides of the ship until the range had been opened up to 10000 yards. Maori was not actually hit. Meanwhile HMS Cossack had been creeping up from the north-eastward and at 0140/27, only three minutes after Maori had fired two torpedoes, Cossack launched three torpedoes from 6000 yards. Bismarck stood out plainly, silhoutted by the broadsides she was firing at the Maori. One torpedo was seen to hit. Flames blazed on the forecastle of the Bismarck after this hit but they were quickly extinguished. Probably as a consequence of the torpedo hits the Bismarck stopped dead in the water, this was reported by HMS Zulu at 0148/27. After about one hour the Bismarck got underway again. On receipt of this report, HMS Sikh, who was closing the scene of the action from the southward, made an attack. Four torpedoes were fired at 0218/27 at the stopped battleship. It is believed that one hit was obtained. After this attack Sikh remained in radar contact with the enemy until 0359/27 when contact was lost. Around 0240/27 the Bismarck was underway again, proceeding very slowly to the north-westward. At 0335/27, HMS Cossack made another attack firing her last remaining torpedo from a range of 4000 yards. It missed. HMS Cossack then came under a heavy fire. She withdrew to the northward under the cover of smoke, altering to a westerly course shortly afterwards. At 0400/27 all destroyers had lost touch with the enemy. HMS Cossack was then to the north-west and HMS Sikh, HMS Zulu and HMS Maori were between the south-west and south-east of the Bismarck. All destroyers now endeavoured to regain contact. Touch with the enemy was not regained until shortly before 0600 hours. By that time ORP Piorun, which was running short of fuel, had been ordered to proceed to Plymouth. Destroyers shadowing, morning twilight, 27 May 1941, final attack. Touch was regained by HMS Maori at 0550/27 when she sighted the Bismarck zigzagging slowly on a base course of 340° at about 7 knots. Maori commenced shadowing until daylight. At 0625 hours, HMS Sikh was also in contact when the Bismarck emerged from a rain squal 7000 yards on her starboard bow. By then it was nearly full daylight but to the surprise of the crew of the Sikh she got away with it without being fired at. Shortly before sunrise a final torpedo attack was carried out by HMS Maori, which fired two torpedoes at 0656/27 from 9000 yards. Both missed. The Bismarck opened fire and straddled Maori which escaped at 28 knots. At daylight the destroyers were stationed in four sectors from which they were able to keep the enemy under continuous observation until the arrival of the Battle Fleet at 0845 hours. Force H, 26/27 May 1941. While the destroyers were shadowing the Bismarck, the pursuing forces were drawing steadily closer. To the north was the Commander-in-Chief with the King George V and the Rodney with the Norfolk closing on them. In the south HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. B.C.S. Martin, RN) was coming up, while Force H was waiting for the dawn. When Captain Vian's destroyers got in touch at 2251/26 the Renown and Ark Royal were north-west of the enemy. It was not possible to attack with aircraft during the night but all preparations were made to attack at dawn with 12 Swordfish. Course was shaped to the northward and then to the west for a time and at 0115/27 Force H turned south. Shortly afterwards instructions were received from the Commander-in-Chief to keep not less then 20 miles to the southward of the Bismarck so as to leave a clear approach for the Battle Fleet. Force H accordingly continued to the southward during the night. Bursts of starshell and gunfire could be seen during the night while the destroyers attacked. At 0509/27 an aircraft was flown off from HMS Ark Royal to act as a spotter for HMS King George V but it failed to find the Bismarck in the bad weather. The striking of force of 12 Swordfish was ready but due to the bad weather to strike was cancelled. At 0810/27, HMS Maori was sighted. She reported the Bismarck 11 miles to the north of her. The made the enemy 17 miles to the north of HMS Renown so course was shaped to the south-west. At 0915/27 heavy gunfire could be heard and the striking force was flown off. They found the Bismarck at 1016/27. By then the battle was almost over, her guns were silenced and she was on fire. They saw her sink. At 1115/27 they had all landed back on HMS Ark Royal. A German Heinkel aircraft dropped a couple of bombs near HMS Ark Royal when they were landing on. HMS Norfolk, 26/27 May 1941. When the Catalina report (1030/26) came in, HMS Norfolk altered course to the south-west and increased speed to 27 knots. At 2130/26 the Bismarck was still some 160 nautical miles to the southward and speed was increased to 30 knots. At 2228/26 the report on the torpedo hit by the aircraft from Ark Royal came in and the Norfolk turned to the southward, continuing to close the enemy. At 0753/27 Norfolk sighted the Bismarck. She did not open fire and was lost to sight after ten minutes. At 0821/27, HMS King George V, was sighted to the westward, 12 nautical miles away. The position of the enemy was passed to the Commander-in-Chief. The action opened at 0847/27 at which time HMS Norfolk was then some 10 nautical miles from the Commander-in-Chief and due north of the Bismarck. HMS Norfolk had seen the beginning and was now to see the end. HMS Dorsetshire, 26/27 May 1941. On 26 May 1941, HMS Dorsetshire, was with convoy SL 74 proceeding from Freetown to the U.K. When she received the sighting report from the Catalina at 1056/26 she was some 360 nautical miles to the south of the Bismarck. She then left the protection of the convoy to the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Bulolo (Capt.(Retd.) R.L. Hamer, RN) and set course for the northward to take up the possible task of shadowing. By 2343/26 it became clear from reports that the Bismarck was making no ground to the eastward and that at 0230/27 she appeared to be laying stopped. Due to the heavy seas HMS Dorsetshire was forced to reduce speed to 25 knots and later even to 20 knots. At 0833/27 a destroyer was sighted ahead at a range of 8 nautical miles, it was HMS Cossack which reported the enemy at a range of 6 nautical miles. At 0850/27 the flashes of the Bismarck's guns could be seen to the westward. HMS Dorsetshire arrived at the scene of the action in the nick of time. HMS King George V and HMS Rodney, 26/27 May 1941. During 26 May 1941 the Commander-in-Chief in HMS King George V had been making hard to the south-east at 25 knots. He had been joined by HMS Rodney at 1806/26. They were then some 90 nautical miles north of the Bismarck. Fuel was a matter of grave anxiety. At noon on the 26th, HMS King George V, had only 32% remaining and HMS Rodney reported that she had to return at 0800/27. Speed had to be reduced on this account to 22 knots at 1705/26. In these circumstances it was no longer possible to hope to intercept the enemy, and the Commander-in-Chief decided that unless the enemy's speed had been reduced by 2400/26, he must turn at that hour. The only hope lay in the Bismarck being slowed up by the Swordfish attacking from HMS Ark Royal. A report came in that the striking force had left. Then at 2132/26, HMS Sheffield, reported that the enemy was steering 340° followed by 000° four minutes later. These reports indicated that the Bismarck was not able to hold her course and that her steering gear must have been damaged. It might still be possible to intercept her. The Commander-in-Chief turned to the south at once hoping to make contact from the eastward in the failing light. Due to the bad weather conditions and visibility the Commander-in-Chief decided to haul off the the eastward and northward and then work round to engage from the westward at dawn. He turned eastward at 2306/26. During the night reports from Captain Vian's destroyers came in confirming the northerly course of the Bismarck. At 0236/27 the Commander-in-Chief ordered Captain Vian that the destroyers were to fire star-shell every half hour, but frequent rain squalls prevented these from being seen and they tended to attrack the enemy's fire. The Bismarck was still a formidable opponent for at 0353/27 Captain Vian reported that during the last hour she had done 8 nautical miles and that she was still capable of heavy and accurate fire. The Commander-in-Chief decided not to make a dawn approach but to wait until daylight while approaching from the west taking advantage of wind, sea and light. At 0529/27 HMS Rodney reported sighting HMS Norfolk to the eastward by DF. It was light at 0600 hours. At 0820 hours HMS Norfolk was sighted on the port bow of HMS King George V. She signalled 'enemy 130°, 16 nautical miles'. At 0843/27 looming on the starboard bow there emerges out of a rain squall the dark grey blot of a large ship. 'Enemy in sight'. Bismarck 26/27 May 1941. The Bismarck after altering course to the north-west had been labouring along with a jambed rudder, steering an erratic course at 8 knots. During the night the attacking destroyers were met with heavy and accurate salvoes. Sixteen torpedoes were fired at her. Early in the morning a glare of star-shell burst over her, lighting her up. Three torpedoes followed from a destroyer on the port bow (HMS Maori) of which one hit on the port side amidships. Three minutes later three more came from the starboard side (these were fired by HMS Cossack) of which one hit on the starboard bow. The damage that was sustained from these torpedo hits is not known. The Bismarck lay stopped for over one hour. At 0140/27 a message was received that a large number of Junkers bombers were coming to her aid as were U-boats but the Bismarck was beyond their help besides that the aircraft did not find her. One U-boat (U-556, which was out of torpedoes) on its way back from the Atlantic joined her and was within sight during the night. Another (U-74) arrived at 0600/27 but had been damaged in a depth charge attack and could do nothing as well. In the Bismarck the crew was exhausted and men were falling asleep at their posts. It was under these conditions that at 0840/27 two British battleships were seen to approach from the westward. Situation before the action, 27 May 1941. A north-westerly gale was blowing when dawn broke with a good light and clear horizon to the north-eastward. Reports received during the night indicated that, despite reduced speed and damaged rudders, Bismarck's armament was functioning effectively. Given the weather conditions the Commander-in-Chief decided to approach on a west-north-westerly bearing and, if the enemy continued his northerly course, to deploy to the southward on opposite course at a range of about 15000 yards. Further action was to be dictated by events. Between 0600 and 0700 hours a series of enemy reports from HMS Maori which was herself located by DF bearings. This enabled HMS King George V to plot her position relatively to the Bismarck which had apparently settled down on a course of 330° at 10 knots. At 0708/27, HMS Rodney, was ordered to keep station 010° from the flagship. HMS Norfolk came in sight to the eastward at 0820/27 and provided a visual link between the Commander-in-Chief and the enemy. After the line of approach had been adjusted by two alterations of course, the Bismarck was sighted at 0843/27 bearing 118°, range about 25000 yards. Both British battleships was then steering 110° almost directly towards the enemy in line abreast formation, 8 cables apart. Commencement of action 0847/27. HMS Rodney opened fire at 0847/27, her first salvo sending a column of water 150 feet into the air. HMS King George V opened fire one minute later. Bismarck opened fire at 0850 hours after turning to open up A arcs. The first German salvo was short. The third and fourth salvoes straddled and nearly hit, but the Rodney manoeuvered succesfully to avoid them and the nearest fell 20 yards short. At 0854/27, HMS Norfolk joined in, but the target was not clearly visible and she opened fire without obtaining a range. Observers state that the German gunnery was accurate at first, but commenced to deteriorate after 8 to 10 salvoes. The first hit on the Bismarck was believed to be scored by the Rodney at 0854 hours with her third salvo. Both British battleships made small alterations of course away from the enemy shortly after opening fire, the King George V to increase her distance from the Rodney and the latter to open her A arcs. From then onwards they manoeuvered independently although HMS Rodney conformed to the Flagship's general movements. The Bismarck's secondary armament came into action during this phase. HMS Rodney opened fire with her secondary armament at 0858 hours. Run to the southward. HMS King George V deployed to the southward at 0859/27 when the Bismarck was 16000 yards distant. HMS Rodney, 2.5 nautical miles to the northward, followed suit a minute or two later. Cordite smoke was hanging badly with the following wind and spotting was most difficult. Considerable smoke interference was therefore experienced on the southerly course which was partly overcome by radar. The Bismarck had transferred her fire to the King George V shortly after the turn but except for an occasional splash the latter hardly knew that she was under fire. At 0902/27, HMS Rodney saw a 16” shell hit the Bismarck on the upper deck forward, apparently putting the forward turrets out of action. At 0904 hours, HMS Dorsetshire joined in the firing from the eastwards from a range of 20000 yards but observation of the target was difficult and she had to check fire from 0913 to 0920 hours. Between 0910 and 0915 hours the range in King George V was more or less steady at 12000 yards. The fate of the Bismarck was decided during this phase of the action although she did not sink until later. Around 0912 hours, the Bismarck was hit on her forward control position. During the run to the south HMS Rodney fired six torpedoes from 11000 yards and HMS Norfolk four from 16000 yards. No hits were obtained. The King George V’s secondary battery came into action at 0905 hours but this increased the smoke interference and was accordingly ordered to cease fire after two or three minutes. Run to the northward. At 0916/27 the Bismarck’s bearing was drawing rapidly aft and HMS Rodney turned 16 points to close and head her off. The King George V followed a minute or so later and both ships re-opened fire at ranges from 8600 and 12000 yards respectively. The Bismarck shifted her target to the Rodney about this time. A near miss damaged the sluice of her starboard torpedo tube. Most of the enemy’s guns had however been silenced at this time. Only one turret from her main armament was firing at this time as was part of her secondary armament. A fire was blazing amidships and she had a heavy list to port. During the run to the north HMS Rodney obtained a very favourable position on the Bismarck’s bow from which she poured in a heavy fire from close range. She also fired two torpedoes from 7500 yards but no hits were obtained. HMS King George V’s position, further to leeward, was less favourable. Her view was obscured by smoke and splashes surrounding the target and her radar had temporarily broken down. Mechanical failures in the 14” turrets constituted, however, a more serious handicap at this stage. ‘A’, ‘X’ and ‘Y’ turrets were out of action for 30, 7 and a unspecified short period, respectively. This resulted in reduction of firepower of 80% for 7 minutes and 40% for 23 minutes which might have had serious effects under less favourable conditions. There were also several defects of individual guns in addition to those effecting the turrets. At 0925/27, HMS King George V, altered outwards to 150° and reduced speed to avoid getting too far ahead of the Bismarck. She closed in again at 1005 hours, fired several salvoes from a range of only 3000 yards and then resumed her northerly course. Meanwhile HMS Rodney was zigzagging across the Bismarck’s line of advance at a range of about 4000 yards firing her main and secondary armaments. She also fired four torpedoes, one of which is thought to have hit. By 1015 hours the Bismarck was no more than a wreck. All her guns were silenced, her mast had been blown away, she was a black ruin, pouring high into the air a great cloud of smoke and flame. Men were seen jumping overboard at this time and the Captain of the King George V later remarked had he known it he would have ceased fire. End of the action. The Commander-in-Chief was confident that the enemy could never get back to harbour, and as both battleships were running short of fuel and as further gunfire was unlikely to hasten the Bismarck’s end, the Commander-in-Chief signalled the King George V and Rodney to steer 027° at 1015/27 in order to break off the action and return to base. At 1036/27 the Commander-in-Chief ordered HMS Dorsetshire to use her torpedoes, if she had any, on the enemy. In the meantime HMS Norfolk had been closing the target but due to the movements of the King George V and Rodney, had not fired her torpedoes until 1010 hours when she fired four torpedoes from 4000 yards and two possible hits were reported. The Dorsetshire was then approaching a mile or so to the southward, and anticipating the Commander-in-Chief’s signal at 1025 hours fired two torpedoes from 3600 yards into the enemy’s starboard side. She then steamed round the Bismarck’s bow and at 1036 hours fired another torpedo but now into her port side from 2600 yards. This was the final blow, the Bismarck heeled over quickly to port and commenced to sink by the stern. The hull turned over keel up and disappeared beneath the waves at 1040/27. The Dorsetshire then closed and signalled to one of HMS Ark Royal’s aircraft to carry out a close A/S patrol while she was to pick up survivors assisted by HMS Maori. After 110 men had been picked up by both ships from the water both ships got underway again as a submarine was suspected to be in the area. Damage to the Bismarck. Survivors have told the story of terrible damage inflicted on her. The fore turrets seem to have been knocked out at 0902 hours. The fore control position was knocked out around 0912 hours. The after control position followed about 0915 hours. The after turrets were at that moment still in action. Then the aftermost gun turret was disabled by a direct hit on the left gun which burst sending a flash right through the turret. ‘C’ turret was the last one in action. One survivor stated that around 0930 hours a shell penetrated the turbine room and another one entered a boiler room. A hit in the after dressing station killed all the medical staff and wounded that were in there at that moment. The upper deck was crowded with killed and wounded men and the seas surging in washed them overboard. Conditions below were even more terrible. Hatches and doors were jammed by concussion and blocked with wreckage. The air was thick with smoke and even more smoke was coming in from great holes in the upper deck. By 1000 hours all heavy guns were out of action and 10 minutes later the all secondary guns were also silent. Commander-in-Chief returns. As HMS King George V and HMS Rodney turned northwards they were joined by HMS Cossack, HMS Sikh and HMS Zulu at by 1600/28 more detroyers had joined the screen (HMS Maori, HMS Jupiter, HMS Somali, HMS Eskimo, HMS Punjabi, HMAS Nestor, HMS Inglefield, HMS Lance, HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMCS St. Clair (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Wallace, RCNR), HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr. (Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN) and HMS Ripley (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Agnew, RN). Heavy air attacks were expected that day, but only four enemy aircraft appeared, one of which bombed the screen while another one jettisoned her bombs on being attacked by a Blenheim fighter. The destroyers HMS Mashona and HMS Tartar, 100 nautical miles to the southward, were not so furtunate. They were attacked in position 52°58’N, 11°36’W at 0955/28 by German aircraft. HMS Mashona was hit and sank at noon with the loss of 1 officer and 45 men. The Commander-in-Chief reached Loch Ewe at 1230/29. Vice-Admiral Somerville with Force H was on his way back to Gibraltar. HMS Renown, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Sheffield made rendezvous at 0800/29 with the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, RN), HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. T.C. Robinson, RN) and HMS Wishart (Cdr. E.T. Cooper, RN). At 1605/29, HMS Forester and HMS Fury were detached to hunt a submarine further to the west. Force H, minus the two destroyers that had been detached, arrived at Gibraltar around 2030/29. End of ‘Operation Rheinübung’. The Bismarck’s consort, heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, was not heard off until 4 June 1941 when aircraft reported her having arrived at Brest. After leaving the Bismarck at 1914/24, the Prinz Eugen’s primary need was to replenish her fuel stock. She set course for a rendez-vous with two tankers, the Spichern (9323 GRT, built 1935, former Norwegian Krossfonn) and the Esso Hamburg (9849 GRT, built 1939) which were position to the north-west of the Azores. All next day the German cruiser made her way southwards, and at 0906/26 , some 600 nautical miles west-north-west of the Azores she sighted the Spichern and refuelled. Two reconnaissance ships had also been ordered into this area, the Gonzenheim and the Kota Pinang. On the 28th Prinz Eugen fuelled from the Esso Hamburg. She then proceeded southwards to carry out cruiser warfare against independently routed ships in the area to the north and west of the Cape Verde Islands but an inspection of her engines the next day showed that an extensive overhaul was needed. Her Commanding Officer then decided to break off the action and course was set for Brest, France where she arrived at 2030/1 June. A German reconnaissance ship, a supply vessel and two tankers were intercepted by Royal Navy warships and sunk by their own crew or sunk with gunfire. Also two tankers were captured. These were in chronological order; tanker Belchen (6367 GRT, built 1932, former Norwegian Sysla) by gunfire from HMS Kenya and HMS Aurora on 3 June 1941 in the Greenland area in approximate position 59°00'N, 47°00'W. On 4 June the tanker Esso Hamburg by HMS London and HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN) in position 07°35'N, 31°25'W, tanker Gedania (8966 GRT, built 1920) was captured in the North Atlantic in position 43°38'N, 28°15'W by naval auxiliary (Ocean Boarding Vessel) HMS Marsdale (Lt.Cdr. D.H.F. Armstrong, RNR), she was put into service with the MOWT as Empire Garden, reconnaissance vessel Gonzenheim (4000 GRT, built 1937, former Norwegian Kongsfjord) was scuttled by her own crew after being sighted by HMS Esperance Bay ((Capt.(ret) G.S. Holden, RN) and intercepted by HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN) and finally ordered to be boarded by HMS Neptune in position 43°29'N, 24°04'W. The next day (5 June) supply vessel Egerland (10040 GRT, built 1940) was intercepted by HMS London and HMS Brilliant in approximate position 07°00'N, 31°00'W. On 12 June, HMS Sheffield, intercepted tanker Friedrich Breme (10397 GRT, built 1936) in position 49°48'N, 22°20'W and finally on 15 June, HMS Dunedin (Capt. R.S. Lovatt, RN), captured the tanker Lothringen (10746 GRT, built 1940, former Dutch Papendrecht) in position 19°49'N, 38°30'W which had first been sighted by an aircraft from HMS Eagle (Capt. E.G.N. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN). The Lothringen was sent to Bermuda and was put into service by the MOWT as Empire Salvage.

Destroyer HMAS Voyager: Around 0130C/18, the infantery landing ship HMS Glengyle (A/Capt.(Retd.) C.H. Petrie, RN) departed Alexandria with troops for Crete which were to be landed near Tympaki on the south coast. She was escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Coventry (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Voyager (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN). Around 2330C/18, they arrived off the disembarkation beach. Around 0400C/19, disembarkation had been completion and course was set to return to Alexandria where they arrived around 0800C/20 but not before being attacked, unsuccesfully from the air, around 1020C/19.

Destroyer HMS Decoy: Force A 1, made up of the battleships HMS Warspite (Capt. D.B. Fisher, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.B. Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. C.E. Morgan, DSO, RN), light cruiser HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, RN), destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, RN), HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN), HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. C.S.B. Swinley, DSC, RN), HMS Hereward (Lt. W.J. Munn, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO, RN) and HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN) departed Alexandria to take up a position to the west of Crete.

1942

Heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra: HMAS Canberra (Capt. G.D. Moore, RAN) conducted gunnery trials off Sydney on completion of which she set course for Port Phillip.

Light cruiser HMS Ceres: HMS Ceres (Capt. C.C.A. Allen, RN) departed Bahrein for Abadan.

Heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher: Around 1530B/18, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the transport Agwileon (American, 6678 GRT, built 1907) arrived at Capetown from Walvis Bay.

Light cruiser HMS Glasgow: HMS Glasgow (Capt. J.W. Cuthbert, RN) is docked in No.3 graving dock at the New York Navy Yard. [The date she was undocked is not known to us. Most likely this was in July 1942 but no log is available for this month.]

Minesweeper HMCS Melville: HMCS Melville (T/A/Lt.Cdr R.T. Ingram, RCNR) picks up 34 survivors from the British merchant Fort Qu'Appelle that was torpedoed and sunk the previous day by German U-boat U-135 north of Bermuda in position 39°50'N, 63°30'W. The survivors from Fort Qu'Appelle onboard the HMCS Melville.

Light cruiser HNMS Tromp: HrMs Tromp (Cdr. J.B. de Meester, RNN) departed Sydney for convoy escort duty together with HMAS Arunta (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN). They were to escort convoy ZK 8 (Sydney - Townsville) northwards. Convoy ZK 8 was made up of four Dutch merchant vessels Bantam (3322 GRT, built 1930), Bontekoe (4668 GRT, built 1923), Van Heemskerk (2996 GRT, built 1909) and Van Heutsz (4588 GRT, built 1926). For the daily positions during the period of 18 May 1942 to 24 May 1942, see the map below.

Submarine HNMS O 14: HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) and ORP Slazak (Lt.Cdr. R. Nalecz-Tyminski, ORP).

Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) departed Lerwick for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Norwegian Sea to provide cover during convoy operations to and from Northern Russia (convoys PQ 16 / QP 12). For the daily positions of HrMs O 10 during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS P 222: HMS P 222 (Lt. A.J. MacKenzie, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil.

Submarine HMS Thunderbolt: HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO and Bar, RN) conducted exercises off Devonport.

Submarine HMS Tribune: HMS Tribune (Lt. N.J. Coe, DSC, RNR) conducted D/G trials at North Shields.

Submarine HMS Trident: HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) arrived at Seydisfjord, Iceland.

Submarine HMS Truant: HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSO, DSC, RN) carries out A/S exercises with HMIS Jumna (Cdr. J.E.N. Coope, RIN) off Colombo.

Submarine HMS Thrasher: At 1225C/18, in position 41°52'N, 16°19'E, HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) sighted three northbound transports, all were in ballast. They were escorted by an armed merchant cruiser of about 2000 tons. An attack was commenced but the range could not be closed enough to fire torpedoes at the targets which were difficult to make out against the land and the attack was abondoned.

Submarine HMS Turbulent: HMS Turbulent (Cdr. J.W. Linton, DSC, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian merchant vessel Bolsena (2384 GRT, built 1918) west of Bengasi, Libya in position 32°26'N, 19°15'E. This convoy was made up of the above mentioned Bolsena and the Italian merchant vessel Iseo (2366 GRT, built 1918). They were escorted by the Italian torpedo boat Pegaso. This convoy had departed Bengasi for Tripoli around 2000B/17. 2320C/17 - Arrived in the patrol position ordered to intercept the expected convoy. 2329C/17 - Sighted three ships and a minute later heard their HE. These were two merchant ships, of about 4000 tons each, and one escorting destroyer. Started attack. The enemy were steering 260° but they later changed course to 330°. 0140C/18 - After a lot of manoeuvring to get into a favourable attack position, turned in to fire at the rear ship. It turned out that the range was greater then was thought. Turned to a parallel course and started to catch up again. 0200C/18 - Turned in again to fire at the rear ship. 0210C/18 - Fired three torpedoes from 2000 yards resulting in two hits. Dived. The torpedoed ship was heard to be breaking up shortly afterwards. [48 were killed, 36 survivors were picked up by the German minesweepers R 6 and R 11 which had been sent to their rescue].

Submarine HMS Uproar: HMS P 31 (Lt. J.B.de B. Kershaw, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said.

Submarine HMS Unrivalled: HMS P 45 (Lt. H.B. Turner, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS H 28: HMS H 28 (Lt. J.S. Bridger, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Dahlia (T/Lt. M.S. Work, RNR), HMS Monkshood (Lt.Cdr. J.E.R. Wilford, RNR) and HMS Rockingham (Lt.Cdr. A.H.T. Johns, RN).

Submarine HMS H 32: HMS H 32 (Lt. J. Whitton, RN) proceeded to Oban to fuel. She returned to Tobermory later the same day.

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Minelayer HMS Welshman: Around 1827A/18, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for the Clyde.

Light cruiser HMS Penelope: HMS Penelope (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, RN) departed Bermuda for New York.

Light cruiser HMS Kenya: HMS Kenya (Capt. A.S. Russell, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow. On departure she also conducted full power trials on the Arran measured mile.

Battleship HMS Nelson: HMS Nelson (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow.

Destroyer HMAS Nizam: HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN) arrived at Port Vicoria, Seychelles from Bombay. On completion of fuelling she departed for Mombasa / Kilindini later the same day.

Submarine USS R-2: USS R-2 (Lt. D.T. Hammond, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-11: USS R-11 (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Folger, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

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

Submarine USSR ShCh-205: ShCh-205 sank the small Turkish merchant Duatepe (128 GRT) with gunfire off the Bulgarian coast south-east of Burgas in position 42°20'N, 28°00'E.

Destroyer HNMS Tjerk Hiddes (ii): HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted trials in the Clyde area.

Destroyer HMS Decoy: Ships from the Eastern Fleet departed Kilindini in the morning for several days of exercises, these were; light cruisers HMS Caledon (A/Capt. H.J. Haynes, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN), HMS Emerald (Capt. F.C. Flynn, RN), HMS Enterprise (Capt. J.C.A. Annesley, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN), HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) and HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN). They were joined in the afternoon by the battleships HMS Revenge (Capt. L.V. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN, flying the flag of A/Vice-Admiral A.U. Willis, DSO, RN), HMS Warspite (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN) (the C-in-C had transferred his flag to HMS Adamant temporary), light cruisers HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN), HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.B. Crane, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN), HMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, DSO and Bar, RAN) and HMS Foxhound (Cdr. G.H. Peters, DSC, RN). Exercises continued on 19 and 20 May although several ships returned to harbour. HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) joined the exercises on the 19th. At dawn on the 20th the last exercises were concluded and the ships proceeded as follows; HMS Revenge, HMS Warspite, HMS Dauntless, HMS Caledon, HMAS Napier, HMAS Nestor, HMAS Norman and HMS Foxhound proceeded to Zanzibar. HMS Newcastle, HMS Birmingham, HMS Griffin, HMS Fortune and HMS Decoy proceeded to Tanga, returning to Kilindini the following day. HMS Emerald and HMS Enterprise proceeded to Manza Bay. At dawn on 21 May, HMS Caledon and HMS Dauntless departed Zanzibar for Tanga where they were to join the ships that had proceeded there on their departure from Tanga. Around 0800 hours all the other ships left their anchorages and proceeded to sea. Some ships were to conduct gunnery exercises (including night exercises), these were; HMS Revenge, HMS Warspite, HMS Decoy and HMAS Napier. They used a target that was being towed by HMS Dragon which had come from Kilindini. The other ships returned to Kilindini on that day. The ships that had been involved in the gunnery exercises returned to Kilindili on 22 May.

Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. E.J.D. Turner, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class off new submariners.

Submarine HMS P 614: HMS P 614 (Lt. D.J. Beckley, RN) departed Lerwick for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Norwegian Sea to provide cover during convoy operations to and from Northern Russia (convoys PQ 16 / QP 12). For the daily positions of HMS P 614 during her 1st war patrol (including the passage from Holy Loch to Lerwick and the passage back from Lerwick to Holy Loch) see the map below.

Submarine HMS P 615: HMS P 615 (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) participated in A/S and attack exercises off Campbeltown.

1943

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: HMS Devonshire (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN) is docked in No.4 Dock at the Middle Docks & Engineering Company Ltd. at South Shields where she is then taken in hand for a major refit. During this refit ' X ' 8" turret was removed, it's place was taken by additional AA weapons. Also a complete new radar outfit was fitted.

Light cruiser HMS Ceres: HMS Ceres (Capt. C.C.A. Allen, RN) arrived at Bombay from Colombo.

Light cruiser HMS Colombo: HMS Colombo (Capt. D.H. Hall-Thompson, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included A/S exercises with HMS L 27 (Lt.Cdr. W.N. Eade, RNR).

Light cruiser HMS Durban: HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) proceeded from Hormuz to Khor Kuwai.

Light cruiser HMS Newcastle: HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN) departed Capetown for Durban.

Light cruiser HNMS Tromp: HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN), HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. W. Harmsen, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle with USS Grayling (T/Cdr. J.E. Lee, USN).

Submarine HNMS O 23: HrMs O 23 (Lt.Cdr. A.M. Valkenburg, RNN) was undocked. During the night of 18-19 May 1943 O 23 conducted night exercises off Colombo. After 5 months of waiting for spare parts to arrive and repairs O 23 is fit for operational patrols again.

Submarine HNMS O 9: HrMs O 9 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. Drijfhout Van Hooff, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown with ML's.

Submarine USS Grayling: USS Grayling (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Lee) departed Fremantle for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea northwest of Borneo.

Submarine USS Searaven: Having completed her post-refit trials USS Searaven (T/Cdr. H. Cassedy, USN) departed the Mare Island Navy Yard for Pearl Harbour.

Submarine USS Pollack: USS Pollack (Lt.Cdr. B.E. Lewellen) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Terushima Maru (3110 GRT) south-west of Maleolap Atoll, Marshall Islands in position 08°00'N, 171°00'E.

Submarine USS Gunnel: USS Gunnel (Lt.Cdr. J.S. McCain, Jr.) arrived at Pearl Harbor from New London.

Submarine USS Mingo: USS Mingo (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Lynch, Jr., USN) departed New London, Connecticut for the Panama Canal Zone.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Unicorn: HMS Unicorn (Capt. Q.D. Graham, CBE, DSO, RN) proceeded from Belfast to Greenock. En-route full power trials were carried out.

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

Submarine HMS Ursula: HMS Ursula (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR) participated in A/S exercises off Larne.

Submarine HMS Rorqual: HMS Rorqual (Lt.Cdr. L.W. Napier, RN) ended her 26th war patrol (22th in the Mediterranean) at Malta.

Submarine HMS Sealion: HMS Sealion (Lt. N.J. Coe, DSC, RNR) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course).

Submarine HMS Satyr: HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). Off Scapa Flow they were joined by the Norwegian submarine HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars).

Submarine HMS Sceptre: HMS Sceptre (Lt. I.S. McIntosh, MBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Trident: HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) ended her 34th war patrol (3rd in the Mediterranean) at Algiers.

Submarine HMS Taku: HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) proceeded from Holy Loch to Troon where she was to refit.

Submarine HMS Thrasher: HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) conducted independent exercises off Dartmouth.

Submarine HMS Templar: HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7.

Submarine HMS Upright: HMS Upright (Lt. P.R.H. Harrison, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted exercises of Blyth training a class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS Ultimatum: HMS Ultimatum (Lt. W.H. Kett, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Lerwick with aircraft.

Submarine HMS Unshaken: HMS Unshaken (Lt. J. Whitton, RN) departed Malta for her 12th war patrol (8th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to conduct a periscope reconnaissance of some beaches on Pantellaria to aid in the planning for 'Operation Corkscrew' (the upcoming attack on Pantellaria). For the daily positions of HMS Unshaken during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Universal: HMS Universal (Lt. C. Gordon, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Universal: HMS Universal (Lt. C. Gordon, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Upstart: HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(retired) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, RD, RNR).

Submarine HNoMS Ula: HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Scapa Flow for Dundee. Off Scapa Flow she joined HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN) and her escort HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR) that were both coming from Lerwick.

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. J.A. Spender, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Clare (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, DSC, RD, RNR).

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (T/Lt. R.L. Willoughby, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Boarhound (Skr. A. Keable, RNR) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. J.H.D. Dansie, RNR).

Submarine HMS H 44: HMS H 44 (Lt. R. Bannar-Martin, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Cdr.(Retd.) K.W. Stewart, RN) and HMS Bretwalda (Skr.Lt. J.R. Coultas, RD, RNR).

Submarine HMS P 511: HMS P 511 (Lt. J.S. Launders, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Altair (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) W.R.T. Clements, RNR) and HMS Spaniel.

Submarine HMS P 512: HMS P 512 (Lt. R.B. Foster, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Bermuda.

Light cruiser HMS Penelope: HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, CB, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN) and HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) shifted from Algiers to Bone. On the same day HMS Sirius (Capt. P.W.B. Brooking, DSO, RN) and HMS Newfoundland (Capt. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN) proceeded in the opposite direction. Around 1115 hours, while en-route, these cruisers conducted exercises with each other for nearly half an hour.

Light cruiser HMS Cleopatra: The light cruisers HMS Cleopatra (Capt. J.F. Stevens, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.J. Power, CB, CVO, RN), HMS Euryalus (Capt. E.W. Bush, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. A.F. Pugsley, DSO, RN) and HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.

Light cruiser HMS Kenya: HMS Kenya (Capt. D.P. Evans, RN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) with convoy JM 1.

Light cruiser HMS Gambia: Around 1000B/18, HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) departed Durban for Simonstown. She is to proceed to the U.K. where she is to refit.

Battleship HMS Valiant: In the evening, the battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. L.H. Ashmore, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow during which she was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN), HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Brissenden (Lt. D.C. Beatty, RN).

Destroyer HMAS Vendetta: Convoy BT 60. This convoy departed Caloundra (near Brisbane) for Townsville on 18 May 1943. This convoy was made up of the transports; Admiral Halstead (American, 3545 GRT, built 1920), Giang Ann (British, 1265 GRT, built 1902), Sarpen (Norwegian, 1864 GRT, built 1912), Van den Bosch (Dutch, 2354 GRT, built 1903) and William M. Meredith (American, 7180 GRT, built 1943). On departure from Caloundra the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN), minesweeper HMAS Geelong (A/Lt.Cdr. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)), submarine chaser USS SC 748 (Lt.(jg.) M.B. Stone, Jr., USNR) and motor launch HMAS ML 425 (Lt. G.S.H. Champion, RANR(S)). Around 2359K/19, HMAS Vendetta parted company with the convoy and set course to return to Brisbane. The convoy arrived at Townsville on 21 May 1943.

Submarine USS R-2: USS R-2 (Lt. A.K. Tyree, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-4: USS R-4 (Lt. W.L. Fey, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-11: USS R-11 (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Parham, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-13: USS R-13 (Lt. D.L. Mehlop, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-14: USS R-14 (Lt. R. Holden, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USSR M-111: At 1326 hours M-111 fires a torpedo against 'what is identified as' a auxiliary patrol vessel off Anapa, Russia in position 44°57'N, 37°14'E. The torpedo missed its target. At 1619 hours M-111 fires a torpedo against a convoy the German barges F 326, F 373 and F 470. Once again the torpedo did not find a target.

Destroyer HMAS Norman: Around 0815B/18, the destroyers HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) and HMS Redoubt (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Ropner, DSO, RN) departed Simonstown to join the Durban Section of convoy WS 29. [For more info on this convoy see the event ' Combined convoy WS 29 / KMS 13 ' for 16 April 1943.]

Submarine USS S-15: USS S-15 (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Acker, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Boom defence vessel HMS Barfoil: HMS Barfoil (T/Lt. G.F. Williams, RNR) picks up survivors from the British merchant Empire Eve that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-414 northeast of Mostaganem, Algeria in position 36°37'N, 00°46'E.

Submarine HMS L 26: HMS L 26 (Lt. H.D. Verschoyle, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with a training class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS L 27: HMS L 27 (Lt.Cdr. W.N. Eade, RNR) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with a training class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS P 614: HMS P 614 (Lt. H.W. Wilkinson, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Simonstown.

1944

Heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire: HMAS Australia (Capt. E.F.V. Dechaineux, DSC, RAN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN), HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, RAN), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN), USS Ammen (T/Cdr. J.H. Brown, USN) and USS Mullany (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN) were patrolling to the north-east of Wadke Island to provide cover for the ongoing amphibious operations in the Arare / Wadke area. Late in the morning / early in the afternoon, HMAS Arunta and HMAS Warramunga were Topped off by HMAS Shropshire and HMAS Australia respectively. During the night of 20/21 May 1944, Task Force 74 patrolled near Liki Island to guard the Wadke area from attack from Japanese warships reported to be in the Halmahera area but no enemy was encountered. Around 0700K/21, Task Force 74 was relieved on patrol by Task Force 75. Task Force 74 then set course for Hollandia arrived there around 1230K/21.

Heavy cruiser HMS Sussex: HMS Sussex (A/Capt. M. Everard, RN) departed Alexandria for Algiers.

Heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher: Around 1500B/18, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow.

Submarine HNMS O 15: HrMs O 15 (Lt. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay.

Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. A. van Altena, RNN(R)) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Keppel (Cdr. I.J. Tyson, DSC, RD, RNR), HMS Wrestler (Lt.Cdr. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN) and aircraft.

Submarine USS Haddo: USS Haddo (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Nimitz, Jr.) departed from Fremantle for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Philippines.

Submarine USS Puffer: USS Puffer (Lt.Cdr. F.G. Selby) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Shinryu Maru (3181 GRT) in the Java Sea some 40 miles east-south-east of Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies in position 07°33'S, 113°16'E.

Submarine USS Archerfish: Cdr. William Harry Wright, USN takes over command of USS Archerfish from Cdr. George William Kehl, USN.

Submarine USS Barbel: USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS Barbero: Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Barbero (Cdr. I.S. Hartman, USN), returned to New London, Connecticut from Newport, Rhode Island.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Indefatigable: Around 1100B/18, HMS Indefatigable (Capt. Q.D. Graham, CBE, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock where she arrived around 2145B/19. It appears she again made the passage unescorted. En-route flying exercises and speed trials on the Arran measured mile were carried out.

Submarine HMS Rover: HMS Rover (Lt. A.R. Profit, RN) was undocked.

Submarine HMS Sealion: HMS Sealion (Lt. P.E. Newstead, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

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 Braithwaite (Lt.Cdr. E.M. Mackay, RD, RNR) and HMS Inman (Lt.Cdr. P.S. Evans, RN) served as the targets.

Submarine HMS Satyr: HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN) arrived at Port HHZ where she was to participate in exercises.

Submarine HMS Sea Rover: Between 1420 and 1710 hours (zone -6.5) HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN) lays a minefield of 8 mines (4x2) between the Sembilan Island and the mainland of Malaya near position 04°03'N, 100°36'E.

Submarine HMS Spark: HMS Spark (Lt. D.G. Kent, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area. On completion of these exercises she returned to Holy Loch.

Submarine HMS Statesman: HMS Statesman (Lt. R.G.P. Bulkeley, RN) departed Holy Loch for Gibraltar. This was the first leg of her passage to the Far East. The passage South through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Vigorous (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN). They were escorted until Round Island by the Free French corvette FFS Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves. Statesman carried out a short patrol off North-West Spain making this passage her 2nd war patrol.

Submarine HMS Statesman: For the daily positions of HMS Statesman during her 2nd war patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Supreme: HMS Supreme (Lt. T.E. Barlow, RN) departed her builders yard at Liverpool for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Kingston Turquoise (A/Skr.Lt. G. Murray, RNR).

Submarine HMS Tribune: HMS Tribune (Lt.Cdr. W.N. Eade, RNR) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS Tuna: HMS Tuna (A/Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) conducted exercises off Blyth.

Submarine HMS Thule: HMS Thule (Lt. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Tally-Ho: The Japanese merchant tanker Nichiyoku Maru (1945 GRT, built 1943) is damaged when she hits a mine laid on 14 May 1944 by the British submarine HMS Tally-Ho (Lt.Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) in the Malacca Strait in position 03°41'N, 99°04'E.

Submarine HMS Telemachus: HMS Telemachus (Cdr. W.D.A. King, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Said.

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

Submarine HMS United: HMS United (Lt. N.R. Wood, RN), HMS H 34 (Lt. R.L. Jay, RN) and HMS H 44 (Lt. P.N. Joyce, RN) departed Rothesay for Londonderry. They were escorted by HMS Kihna (A/Cdr.(Retd.) A.R.W. Sayle, RD, RNR).

Submarine HMS Unruffled: HMS Unruffled (Lt. R.F. Park, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth.

Submarine HMS Varangian: HMS Varangian (Lt. S.J. Fovargue, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.

Submarine HMS Upstart: HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 9th war patrol (7th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Lyons. For the daily and attack positions of HMS Upstart during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Upshot: HMS Upshot (Lt. H.W. Wilkinson, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Vigorous: HMS Vigorous (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Gibraltar. The passage South through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Statesman (Lt. R.G.P. Bulkeley, RN). They were escorted until Round Island by the Free French corvette FFS Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves. [As no log is available for this period no map for this passage can be displayed.]

Submarine HMS Virtue: HMS Virtue (Lt. R.D. Cairns, DSC. RN) departed Campbeltown for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Sardonyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E. Playne, RNVR) at sea.

Submarine HMS Voracious: HMS Voracious (Lt. F.D.G. Challis, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises at/off Scapa Flow with HMS Nubian (Lt.Cdr. T.A. Pack-Beresford, RN), HMS Hazel (T/Lt. J.J. Good, RNR) and HMS Macbeth (A/Skr.Lt. R.C. Green, DSC, RNR).

Submarine HMS Vulpine: Vulpine (T/Lt. P.S. Thirsk, DSC, RNR) conducted trials and exercises off Blyth.

Submarine HMS H 32: HMS H 32 (Lt. M.D. Hutley, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Ardrishaig with ML's.

Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt. F.R. Lawrence, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS P 511: HMS P 511 (Lt. E.A. Hobson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Light cruiser HMS Diadem: Around 0815B/18, HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN) departed the Tyne for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 2130B/18.

Destroyer HMAS Vendetta: Around 1835K/18, HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J.S. Mesley, RAN) arrived at Brisbane from Cairns.

Submarine USS R-4: USS R-4 (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Fey, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-11: USS R-11 (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Parham, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-13: USS R-13 (Lt.Cdr. D.L. Mehlop, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

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

Submarine USS R-20: USS R-20 (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Dudley, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS Piranha: With her trials and initial training completed USS Piranha (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Ruble) arrived at Pearl Harbor.

Submarine HMS L 26: HMS L 26 (Lt. A.G. Prideaux, DSC, RN) proceeded to the Bermuda Dockyard for repairs to her after hydroplanes.

1945

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: The heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire (Capt. G.M.B. Langley, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Iroquois (Capt. K.F. Adams, RCN) and HMS Savage (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Malins, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Oslo for Copenhagen.

Heavy cruiser HMS Sussex: HMS Sussex (Capt. A.F. de Salis, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.

Light cruiser HMS Dauntless: HMS Dauntless (Cdr. P.F. Powlett, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Diomede (Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) proceeded from Leith to Rosyth.

Heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher: HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off the Firth of Forth.

Destroyer USS Alfred A. Cunningham: USS Alfred A. Cunningham transits the Panama Canal.

Destroyer USS Frank E. Evans: USS Frank E. Evans arrived at Pearl Harbor.

Light cruiser HNMS Tromp: HrMs Tromp (A/Capt. F. Stam, RNN) returned to Trincomalee.

Submarine HNMS K XV: HrMs K XV (Lt.Cdr. Baron C.W.T. van Boetzelaer, RNN) is put back in the water.

Submarine USS Searaven: USS Searaven (T/Lt.Cdr. R.C. Smallwood, Jr., USN) conducted / participated in excercises off Pearl Harbour.

Submarine USS Flying Fish: With her overhaul completed USS Flying Fish (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Risser) arrived at Guam to make preparations for her 12th war patrol.

Submarine USS Manta: USS Manta (T/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Madley, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

Submarine USS Baya: USS Baya (Lt.Cdr. B.C. Jarvis, USN) ended her 4th war patrol at Fremantle where she was refitted by Sub.Div 302 relief crew and USS Clytie.

Submarine USS Bergall: In the early moring hours, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), transited Lombok Strait northbound. Later the same day she damaged a 'Sugar Dog' with gunfire. (All times are zone H, -8) 0725 hours - In position 06°53'S, 115°13'E sighted a small coastal freighter (Sugar Dog) close to the south shore of Kangean Island. 0806 hours - Opened fire with both 40mm guns. Saw about a dozen hits bounce of his side. Also a small fire was started aft. 0809 hours - Decided that 40mm would take to long and manned the 5" gun and started to secure to 40mm's. Position was now 06°25'S, 114°30'E. 0810 hours - Sighted an aircraft. Cleared the topside. In the meantime the crew of the Sugar Dog had started to abandon ship. 0812 hours - Submerged when the plane started to close. The target meanwhile was lying to. 0820 hours - At periscope depth. Began meaneuvering to fire a torpedo at the target but eventually decided that the target was not big enough to fire a torpedo at it. The aircraft remained patrolling nearby and the Sugar Dog entered Gedah Bay.

Submarine USS Blenny: After fuelling, ammunitioning and some mutations to the crew, USS Blenny (Cdr. W.H. Hazzard, USN), departed Subic Bay to resume her 3rd war patrol. She was now ordered to patrol in the Java Sea. She was escorted out by USS Eichenberger (Lt.Cdr. N. Harrell, USN).

Submarine USS Blueback: In the early morning houers, USS Blueback (Cdr. M.K. Clementson, USN), passed Lombok Strait northbound while on the surface.

Submarine USS Dentuda: USS Dentuda (Cdr. J.S. McCain, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Harmon (Lt. R.W. Steel, USNR).

Submarine USS Capitaine: USS Capitaine (Lt.Cdr. E.S. Friedrick, USN) arrived at Saipan.

Submarine USS Carbonero: USS Carbonero (Cdr. C.L. Murphy, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR), USS J. Douglas Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Johnston, USNR) and USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN).

Submarine USS Bang: USS Bang (Lt.Cdr. O.W. Bagby, Jr., USN) ended her 6th war patrol at Pearl Harbor. She was escorted in by USS PC-1077.

Submarine USS Springer: USS Springer (Cdr. R. Kefauver) ended her 2nd war patrol at Guam.

Escort Carrier HMS Fencer: Around 0730K/18, HMS Fencer (A/Cdr.(Emgy.) A.M. Harris, RN) arrived at Sydney from Brisbane.

Submarine HMS Otway: HMS Otway (Lt. W.H. Kett, DSC, RN) conducted exercises of Blyth training a class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS Clyde: HMS Clyde (Lt. R.H. Bull, DSC, RN) ended her 34th war patrol (7th in the Far East) at Trincomalee. It was decided that HMS Clyde was no longer fit for operations given her many defects. She was to be stripped for spare parts and paid off.

Submarine HMS Porpoise: The Japanese submarine chaser Ch 57 (420 tons, built 1944, offsite link) hit a mine and was damaged off Penang, Malaya in position 05°20'N, 100°08'E. The mine was laid by the British submarine HMS Porpoise (A/Lt.Cdr. H.B. Turner, DSC, RN) on 9 January.

Submarine HMS Seadog: HMS Seadog (Lt. E.A. Hobson, DSC, RN) torpedoed and sank a coaster off Ulee Lhoe, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies. (All times are zone -6.5) 1738 hours - Fired 3 torpedoes at a small steamer of about 300 tons sighted at anchor off Ulee Lhoe. Three minutes later the target was seen to be hit and went up with a big explosion. Seadog then retired to seaward.

Submarine HMS Scythian: HMS Scythian (T/Lt. C.P. Thode, RNZNVR) sank a sailing vessel with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca. (All times are zone -6.5) 2337 hours - Sighted a junk in position 03°17'N, 100°11'E. An attempt was made to sink it with gunfire but this failed. She was then boarded. Demolition charges were placed but one of these failed to explode. 400 Rounds of Oerlikon ammo was then fired at here. The result was an excellent fire.

Submarine HMS Sea Devil: HMS Sea Devil (Lt. D.W. Mills, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Sturdy (ii): HMS Sturdy (T/Lt. F.A. Wicker, RNVR) departed Trincomalee for Aden. This is the first leg of the passage to the U.K. where Sturdy is to refit.

Submarine HMS Sea Scout: HMS Sea Scout (Lt. J.W. Kelly, RN) was docked at Fremantle.

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

Submarine HMS Truant: HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Brookes, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted snort trials off Rothesay.

Submarine HMS Tuna: HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Tireless: HMS Tireless (A/Lt.Cdr. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine HMS Tantalus: HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrived at Gibraltar.

Submarine HMS Telemachus: HMS Telemachus (Cdr. W.D.A. King, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) departed from Aden bound for Port Said.

Submarine HMS Unbending: HMS Unbending (Lt. A.f. Esson, RNR) was taken in hand for refit at Blyth.

Submarine HMS Unshaken: HMS Unshaken (Lt. J.S. Pearce, RNR) shifted from Newhaven to Portsmouth.

Submarine HMS Unsparing: HMS Unsparing (T/Lt. J.D. Tweedie, RNVR) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS Untamed: HMS Vitality, (Lt. W.T.J. Fox, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Ambuscade (A/Lt.Cdr. H.G. Chesterman, DSC and Bar, RNR) and HMS Borage (T/Lt. E.A. Hitchcock, RNR).

Submarine HMS Upstart: HMS Upstart (Lt. R. Westlake, RNVR) conducted exercises off Blyth.

Submarine HMS Upshot: HMS Upshot (Lt. A.J. Boyall, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Fal (T/A/Lt.Cdr. P.T. Clothier, DSC, RNVR) and FFS Commandant Drogou.

Submarine HMS Urtica: HMS Urtica (Lt. R.C. Bucknall, RN) conducted exercises off Moelfre Bay.

Submarine HMS Viking: HMS Viking (Lt. R. Bannar-Martin, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Blyth training a class off new submariners.

Submarine HMS Vox: HMS Vox (Lt. W.E.I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR) conducted A/S exercises off Sydney with HMAS Kybra (T/Lt. R.V.A. Corbett, RANR(S)).

Submarine HMS Amphion: HMS Amphion (Cdr. R.H. Dewhurst, DSO, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials at the torpedo firing range off Arrochar.

Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (T/Lt. G.P. Christie, DSC, RNR) conducted special trials in the Clyde area.

Minelayer HMS Manxman: HMS Manxman (Capt. G. Thistleton-Smith, RN) proceeded Sheerness to the Chatham Dockyard where she was taken in hand for further repairs.

Light cruiser HMS Cleopatra: HMS Cleopatra (Capt. B.I. Robertshaw, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.

Light cruiser HMS Newfoundland: HMS Newfoundland (Capt. R.W. Ravenhill, CBE, DSC, RN) arrived at Manus. Before entering the anchorage HA gunnery exercises were carried out on a sleeve target.

Battleship HMS Nelson: HMS Nelson (Capt. C. Caslon, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.

Battleship HMS Duke of York: HMS Duke of York (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.

Battleship HMS Duke of York: From the evening of 18 May 1945 until the morning of 22 May 1945, HMS Duke of York (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.

Destroyer HMAS Stuart: HMAS Stuart (T/Lt.Cdr. H.A. Litchfield, RANR(S)) arrived at Madang from Milne Bay.

Destroyer HMAS Nizam: HMAS Nizam (A/Lt.Cdr. W.F. Cook, RAN) and the RFA tankers Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937) and Dingledale (8145 GRT, built 1941) arrived at Leyte. HMAS Nizam had still problems with her main feed pumps and her speed was restricted to 25 knots.

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

Submarine USS R-20: USS R-20 (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Dudley, USN or Lt. R.G. Black, USNR) conducted exercises off Key West.