Laid down (19)

1935: Submarine ShCh-214

1939: MS Trawler Elm (T 105)

1942: Motor Gun Boat MGB 183 (MGB 183) - Sloop Pheasant (U 49) - Destroyer Zephyr (R 19) - Tank landing ship LST 201 (LST 201) - Seaplane tender Orca (AVP 49) - Motor torpedo boat PT 143 - Motor torpedo boat PT 207 - Submarine chaser SC-1019 (SC-1019)

1943: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-456 (LCI(L)-456)

1944: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-710 (LCI(L)-710) - Landing craft tank LCT 1253 (LCT 1253) - Landing craft tank LCT 1327 (LCT 1327) - Landing craft tank LCT 913 (LCT 913) - Medium landing ship LSM 333 (LSM 333) - Tank landing ship LST 766 (LST 766) - Motor torpedo boat PT 577 - Motor torpedo boat PT 631

Launched (17)

1918: MS Trawler River Spey (FY 1643)

1929: Light cruiser Leander (75) - Light cruiser Leander (75)

1936: Destroyer Gnevniy

1940: Seaplane tender Albemarle (AV 5)

1942: Motor torpedo boat PT 116

1943: Corvette Louisburg (ii) (K 401) - Landing Craft Tank LCT 931 (LCT 931) - Tank landing ship LST 217 (LST 217) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-436 (LCI(L)-436) - Tank landing ship LST 217 (LST 217) - Motor torpedo boat PT 373 - Escort carrier Tripoli (CVE 64)

1944: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-652 (LCI(L)-652) - Landing craft tank LCT 1189 (LCT 1189) - Landing craft tank LCT 845 (LCT 845) - Tank landing ship LST 630 (LST 630)

Commissioned (37)

1918: Submarine O-3 (64)

1930: Destroyer Wicher

1935: Light cruiser Emanuelle Filiberto Duca d’Aosta

1940: Motor Anti-Submarine Boat MA/SB 43 (MA/SB 43) - Motor Anti-Submarine Boat MA/SB 50 (MA/SB 50) - Motor Anti-Submarine Boat MA/SB 51 (MA/SB 51)

1941: Motor Launch ML 277 (ML 277) - Net tender Locust (AN 22)

1942: Minesweeper BYMS 2003 (J 803) - Landing Craft Tank LCT 358 (LCT 358) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 84 (MTB 84) - Motor Launch RML 532 (RML 532) - Patrol craft PC-469 (PC-469) - Patrol craft PC-568 (PC-568) - Minesweeper YMS-35 (YMS-35)

1943: Light cruiser Ceylon (30) - Motor Launch ML 576 (ML 576) - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 229 / Gier (MTB 229) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-430 (LCI(L)-430) - Tank landing ship LST 239 (LST 239) - Patrol craft PC-1231 (PC-1231) - Patrol craft PC-817 (PC-817) - Motor torpedo boat PT 357 - Submarine Raton (270)

1944: Minesweeper Coquette (J 350) - Corvette Morpeth Castle (K 693) - Destroyer Escort Doyle C. Barnes (DE 353) - Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-648 (LCI(L)-648) - Medium landing ship LSM 315 (LSM 315) - Medium landing ship LSM 34 (LSM 34) - Tank landing ship LST 1029 (LST 1029) - Tank landing ship LST 707 (LST 707) - Patrol craft PC-1146 (PC-1146) - Submarine chaser SC-1478 (SC-1478)

1945: Submarine O 27 - Destroyer George K. Mackenzie (DD 836)

1946: Frigate Loch Veyatie (K 658)

1943: Destroyer Gwin (i) (DD 433)

More information on Allied Warships losses.

1940

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: HMS Devonshire (Capt. J.M. Mansfield, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.H.D. Cunningham, CB, MVO, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow.

Light cruiser HMS Ceres: HMS Ceres (Capt. E.G. Abbott, AM, RN) returned to Aden from patrol.

Light cruiser HMS Dunedin: HMS Dunedin (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CVO, RN) returned to St. Lucia from patrol. After Topping off with fuel she departed St. Lucia for Trinidad.

Light cruiser HMS Liverpool: Around 0630 hours (zone -2), HMS Liverpool (Capt. P.A. Read, RN), returned to Alexandria from operations.

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

Submarine HNMS O 15: HrMs O 15 (Lt. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede, RNN) ended her refit at Curacao. She departed for Bermuda the same day. She made the passage together with the British sloop HMS Dundee (Capt.(Retd.) O.M.F. Stokes, RN). For the daily positions of HrMs O 15 during this passage see the map below. O 15 was to proceed to Halifax, Canada. There she was to join a convoy for onward passage to the U.K. where she was to join the 9th Submarine Flotilla based at Dundee.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Furious: Around 1730A/13, the aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. T.H. Troubridge, RN) departed Liverpool for Scapa Flow. En-route, in the Clyde area near Prestwick, aircraft were to be flown on. The carrier was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Hambledon (Cdr. S.H. Carlill, RN), HMS Atherstone (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, RN) and HMS Fernie (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN). They arrived at Scapa Flow around 0615A/15.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda: Around 0845B/13, Queen of Bermuda (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, MVO, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from Simonstown.

Submarine HMS Oberon: HMS Oberon (Lt. C.B. Crouch, RN) departed Portsmouth for Rothesay.

Submarine HMS Otway: HMS Otway (Lt. G.C.I.St.B.S. Watkins, RN) departed Portsmouth for Rothesay.

Submarine HMS Parthian: HMS Parthian (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Cayley, RN) was undocked.

Submarine HMS Rainbow: HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. L.P. Moore, RN) transited the Suez Canal northbound and arrived at Port Said.

Submarine HMS Thames: It is reported by the 7th Submarine Flotilla that torpedo salvo firing trials of HMS Thames (Lt.Cdr. W.D. Dunkerley, RN) had gone 'entirely unsatisfactory'. It was suggested that the sailing of HMS Thames was to be delayed until satisfactory salvo firing trials had been carried out and defects had been made good.

Submarine HMS Severn: HMS Severn (Lt.Cdr. B.W. Taylor, RN) arrived at Plymouth where she was taken in hand for refit by the Devonport Dockyard.

Submarine HMS Taku: HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) conducted compass adjustment trials at Rosyth.

Submarine HMS Tigris: HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. Upon completion, HMS Tigris, proceeded to Rothesay.

Submarine HMS Triad: Around 0600A/13, HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Rosyth.

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. E.P. Tomkinson, RN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay.

Submarine HMS H 49: HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) shifted from Dover to Harwich.

Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. A.R. Cheyne, RN) is docked at Sheerness.

Light cruiser HMS Bonaventure (i): HMS Bonaventure (Capt. H.J. Egerton, RN) arrived at Halifax. At Halifax some repairs were made to defects to her gun turrets.

Light cruiser HMS Fiji: HMS Fiji (Capt. W.G. Benn, RN) is ordered to proceed to Bermuda with all despatch.

Battleship HMS Barham: HMS Barham (Capt G.C. Cooke, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow.

Destroyer HMS Griffin: Shortly after leaving Dover, escorting a convoy HMS Vanessa (Lt.Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) was damaged by near misses during a German air attack. Vanessa's propellers were damaged and put out of action by a bomb exploding 6 yards astern. Vanessa was towed to Sheerness by HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN). Repairs to Vanessa were completed on 4 November 1940.

Destroyer HMS Jackal: HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) departed Immingham for patrol 'U'.

Destroyer HMS Jupiter: HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN) departed Immingham to reinforce patrol 'U'.

Destroyer HMS Kelvin: HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) returned to Immingham from patrol.

1941

Heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire: HMS Devonshire (Capt. R.D. Oliver, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker CB, OBE, RN) arrived at Akureyri from Hvalfjord. She departed for Scapa Flow later the same day.

Heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra: HMAS Canberra (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN) departed Colombo for Fremantle.

Heavy cruiser HMS Exeter: HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN) departed Mombasa for Durban.

Light cruiser HMAS Hobart: Around 1835C/13, HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) weighted anchor off Suez and entered the Suez Canal for northward passage together with HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN). Shortly after entering the Suez Canal their passage was cancelled and they returned, stern first, to the inner anchorage where they anchored around 2000C/13.

Submarine HNMS O 24: Around 2145B/13, HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN), left convoy HG 67 escorted by the British corvettes HMS Joinquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RNR), HMS Spiraea (T/Lt. L.C. Head, RNVR) and HMS Coreopsis (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR). They joined convoy OG 67 the next day. [For more info on this convoy, see the event ' Convoy OG 67 for 5 July 1941.]

Submarine HNMS O 9: HrMs O 9 (Lt. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown together with HMS Boarhound (Skr. S.G. Jinks, RNR) and HMS Spaniel (Skr. C. Coultas, DSC, RNR).

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Carthage: Around 1030B/13, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol the area to the east of Durban and south of the entrance to the Mozambique Channel.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Ranchi: Around 1230B/13, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol.

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

Submarine HMS Rover: HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. R.M.T. Peacock, RN) arrived at Aden.

Submarine HMS Severn: HMS Severn (Lt.Cdr. A.N.G. Campbell, RN) is docked in No.3 dock at Gibraltar.

Submarine HMS Sealion: HMS Sealion (Cdr. B. Bryant, DSC, RN) ended her 18th war patrol at Portsmouth.

Submarine HMS Taku: HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) torpedoed and sank the passenger / cargo ship Caldea (Italian, 2703 GRT, built 1928) in position 312° - Benghazi lighthouse - 10 nautical miles. Caldea had sailed from Brindisi for Benghazi. There were two missing and four wounded (two seriously). 0956C/13 - In position 32°11'N, 19°58'E, Taku sighted the target about 7000 yards away. The target was escorted by three A/S trawlers. Taku closed for a torpedo attack. 1014C/13 - Fired four torpedoes. The first torpedo missed the target but the remaining three all hit. The ship sank and there was no counter-attack on Taku.

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. H. Winter, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Bretwalda (Skr. J. Windram, RNR) and HMS Valena (Lt.Cdr. A.F.C. Gray, RNR).

Minelayer HMS Manxman: HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) departed Greenock for Gibraltar. She was to join convoy WS 9C for part of the way. [See the event ' Convoy WS 9C ' for 12 July 1941 for more info on this convoy.]

Destroyer HMS Keppel: HMS Keppel (Cdr. A.M. Sheffield, RN) picks up 7 survivors in position 60°38'N, 23°15'W from the Norwegian merchant Vigrid that was torpedoed and sunk on 24 June 1941 about 400 nautical miles south-east of Cape Farewell in position 54°30'N, 41°30'W by German U-boat U-371.

Destroyer HMS Jupiter: HMS Jupiter (Lt.Cdr. N.V.J.P. Thew, RN) arrived at Liverpool.

1942

Heavy cruiser HMS Kent: HMS Kent (Capt. A.E.M.B. Cunninghame-Graham, RN) arrived at Liverpool from Scapa Flow. At Liverpool (Birkenhead) she was to refit at the Cammell Laird Shipyard.

Light cruiser HMS Caradoc: HMS Caradoc (Capt. J.W. Josselyn, DSC, RN) arrived at Pointe Noire.

Light cruiser HMS Danae: Around 0825Z/13, HMS Danae (Capt. H.F. Nalder, RN) arrived at Freetown from Pointe Noire.

Light cruiser HMS Dragon: HMS Dragon (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN) arrived at Durban from Simonstown.

Destroyer USS Lansdowne: The depth charge attack made by USS Lansdowne near Colon, Panama, in position 09°46'N, 81°29'W and earlier credited with sinking the German U-boat U-153, was in fact carried out against a non-sub target.

Light cruiser HMAS Adelaide: HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN) conducted gunnery exercises off Sydney.

Submarine USS Tuna: USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) departed Pearl Harbor for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Aleutian Islands.

Submarine USS Seadragon: USS Seadragon (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Ferrall, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese transport ship Shinyo Maru (4163 GRT, built 1938) northeast of Cape Varella, French Indochina in position 13°04'N, 109°39'E. (All times are zone H, -8) 0555 hours - In position 13°04'N, 109°39'E sighted a freighter similar to Shinyo Maru on course 340°(T), speed 12 knots, range 7000 yards. Started attack. 0617 hours - Fired two torpedoes. One was seen to hit about 50 feet abaft the stem and the vessel immediately settled by the bow. Cleared the area to the northwestward.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Indomitable: Around 1600B/13, the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. T.H. Troubridge, RN) and the destroyers HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, RN), HMS Lightning (Cdr. H.G. Walters, DSC, RN) and HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa.

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Asturias: Around 1630Z/13, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) and armed boarding vessel HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR) departed Freetown to patrol in the mid-Atlantic and then onwards to St. Thomas in the West Indies.

Submarine HMS Ursula: HMS Ursula (Lt. R.B. Lakin, DSC, RN) ended her 30th war patrol at Lerwick. She departed for Holy Loch after a few hours escorted by the armed yacht HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) C.C. Flemming, RN).

Submarine HMS Seawolf: HMS Seawolf (Lt. R.P. Raikes, RN) ended her 29th war patrol at Lerwick.

Submarine HMS Seraph: HMS P 219 (Lt. N.L.A. Jewell, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN).

Submarine HMS Trident: Around 0920B/13, HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow.

Submarine HMS Unbending: HMS P 37 (Lt. H. Winter, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. She had arrived with defects to her battery.

Submarine HMS H 28: HMS H 28 (Lt. J.S. Bridger, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. A.D. Piper, DSC, RNR) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.

Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth.

Submarine HMS P 511: HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Ardishaig.

Light cruiser HMS Scylla: HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow.

Light cruiser HMS Jamaica: HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, RN) conducted HA and close range AA gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. Also exercises with aircraft were carried out.

Battleship HMS King George V: The battleship HMS King George V (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN) conducted RDF exercises off Scapa Flow with the submarine HNoMS Uredd (Lt. R.Q. Røren). During the exercises HMS King George V was most likely escorted by the destroyer HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN).

Destroyer HMAS Voyager: 'Schooner' convoy. This convoy departed Colombo on 13 July 1942. It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Athlone Castle (British, 25565 GRT, built 1936), City of Canterbury (British, 8331 GRT, built 1922), City of Lille (British, 6588 GRT, built 1928), Clan MacDonald (British, 9653 GRT, built 1939), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Dunedin Star (British, 11168 GRT, built 1936), Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Martand (British, 7967 GRT, built 1939), Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926) and Westernland (Dutch, 16479 GRT, built 1918). On departure from Colombo the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Worcestershire (A/Capt.(Retd.) E.H. Hopkinson, RN), sloops HMIS Jumna (Cdr. J.E.N. Coope, RIN), HMIS Sutlej (Capt. P.A. Mare, RIN) and the corvettes HMS Aster (Lt. W.L. Smith, RNR) and HMS Tulip (Lt.Cdr. A. Wilkinson, RNR). Around 1845F/14, HMIS Jumna, HMIS Sutlej, HMS Aster and HMS Tulip parted company in position 02°23'N, 80°23'E. Around 1750F/16, the City of Lille was ordered to proceed independently as she was unable to keep up with the convoy. Position was 06°03'S, 81°34'E. Around 1330F/19, the light cruiser USS Phoenix (Capt. H.E. Fischer, USN) took over from HMS Gambia in position 17°02'S, 82°24'E. HMS Gambia then parted company with the convoy to proceed to Mauritius. Around 0715F/20, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Kanimbla (A/Capt. W.L.G. Adams, RN) took over from HMS Worcestershire in position 20°11'S, 83°17'E. HMS Worcestershire then parted company with the convoy to proceed to Mauritius. Around 0855H/27, the destroyer HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN) joined the convoy in position 31°04'S, 112°00'E. Around 1350H/27, the minesweeper HMIS Madras (Lt. S.G. Karmarkar, RINR) joined the convoy and five minutes later the convoy was split up, in position 31°11'S, 112°16'E, into two sections ' Schooner A ' for Melbourne and ' Schooner B ' for Fremantle. ' Schooner A ' was made up of the transports Athlone Castle, City of Canterbury, Dunedin Star and Martand. They were escorted by USS Phoenix and HMAS Voyager. ' Schooner B ' was made up of the transports Aronda, Clan MacDonald, Devonshire, Ekma, Rajula and Westernland. They were escorted by HMS Kanimbla and HMIS Madras. ' Schooner B ' arrived at Fremantle in the morning of the 28th. At 1015H/28, in position 33°28'S, 113°48'E, ' Schooner A ' merged with convoy ZK 12 which was coming from Fremantle escorted by the light cruiser HrMs Tromp (Cdr. J.B. de Meester, RNN). Convoy ZK 12 was made up of the transport Duntroon (10346 GRT, built 1935) and the armed merchant cruisers HMAS Manoora (A/Capt. J.M. Armstrong, RAN) and HMAS Westralia (A/Capt.(Emgy.) H.V. Hudson, OBE, RAN). Around 1900H/29, in position 36°45'S, 119°48'E, HrMs Tromp and HMAS Voyager parted company with convoy ' Schooner B '. They were to return to Fremantle. Around 0530K/3, the Athlone Castle, City of Canterbury, Dunedin Star and Martand parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Melbourne. Around 0715K/5, the destroyer HMAS Arunta (Cdr. J.C. Morrow, DSO, RAN) joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Sydney around 1630K/5.

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

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

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

Submarine USS R-12: USS R-12 (Lt. E.E. Shelby, USN) participated in A/S exercises of Guantanamo Bay together with USS Mervine (Lt.Cdr. S.D. Willingham, USN).

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

Submarine USS R-20: USS R-20 (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Stevens, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class off new submariners.

Submarine HMS L 26: HMS L 26 (Lt. C.A. Pardoe, RNR) is undocked at Kames Bay following which she immediately returned to Rothesay.

Submarine USSR Lembit: The German merchant Kathe O (1854 GRT, built 1903, former Latvian Ausma) is mined and damaged west of Bornholm in position 54°36'N, 13°46'E. She may have hit a mine laid by Lembit on 17 August 1941.

Patrol vessel USCGC Boutwell: USCGC Boutwell picks up 43 survivors from the American tanker R.W. Gallagher that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-67 about 80 nautical miles from Southwest Pass, Mississippi in position 28°50'N, 91°05'W.

1943

Light cruiser HMS Colombo: HMS Colombo (Capt. D.H. Hall-Thompson, RN) arrived at Malta from the operations area off Sicily. She had been escorted to Malta by USS Gherardi (T/Cdr. J.W. Schmidt, USN). They returned to the operations area off Sicily the following day.

Light cruiser HMS Diomede: In the afternoon HMS Diomede (Capt. H.T.W. Grant, RCN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN). HMS Belfast also conducted gunnery exercises. In the evening HMS Diomede conducted a tracking exercise during which HMS Brilliant (Lt. J. Smallwood, RN) served as the target.

Light cruiser HMS Durban: HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Simonstown.

Escort carrier USS Core: German U-boat U-487 was sunk in the central Atlantic in position 27°15'N, 38°05'W by five Avenger and Wildcat aircraft of the American escort carrier USS Core.

Light cruiser HNMS Tromp: HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.

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

Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR) and HMS Spaniel.

Submarine HNMS Dolfijn: HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede, RNN) sank the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V 105 / Stefano Galleano (137 GRT) with gunfire off Ostia, Italy in position 41°41'N, 12°00'E. One of the crew was killed, two were missing and three were wounded. 0545B/13 - While patrolling off Civitavecchia a 3000 tons merchant vessel, in ballast, leaving the harbour. She proceeded to the south-east. Range was about 4 nautical miles and it was opening rapidly so an attack was not possible. The harbour was then examined and three merchant vessels of about 3000 to 6000 tons were seen inside it. 1630B/13 - Sighted a camouflaged armed yacht of about 1000 - 1500 tons, escorted by a Cant Z.501 aircraft. Started an attack. During the attack about 40 aircraft passed very close. The range could not be closed sufficiently and the attack had to be broken off. 2134B/13 - Surfaced in position 41°41'N, 12°00'E for gun action with an armed patrol schooner. Range was 2500 yards. 23 rounds were fired. All were hits except for one near-miss. 2200B/13 - Boarded the schooner and placed explosive charges. Found one of the crew killed. The others had abandoned ship in their dinghy. 2225B/13 - After burning fiercely the schooner sank.

Submarine USS Saury: USS Saury (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Dropp) leaves Pearl Harbor for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Okinawa.

Submarine USS Seadragon: USS Seadragon (Cdr. R.L. Rutter, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbor.

Submarine USS Bluefish: USS Bluefish (Lt.Cdr. G.E. Porter, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for the Panama Canal Zone.

Submarine USS Capelin: USS Capelin (Cdr. E.E. Marshall, USN) departed the Portsmouth area for Newport, Rhode Island.

Escort Carrier HMS Battler: HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, 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 Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS Oberon: HMS Oberon (Lt.Cdr. J.W. McCoy, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with a training class of new submariners.

Submarine HMS Otus: HMS Otus (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, DSC, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Kames Bay. She returned to Rothesay later the same day.

Submarine HMS Proteus: HMS Proteus (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Larne.

Submarine HMS Sealion: HMS Sealion (Lt. N.J. Coe, DSC, RNR) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area. [Most likely these were for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) but this is not specified in the ships logbook.]

Submarine HMS Sceptre: HMS Sceptre (Lt. I.S. McIntosh, MBE, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth for Holy Loch.

Submarine HMS Seadog: HMS Seadog (Lt. C.R. Pelly, RN) departed Lerwick for Dundee.

Submarine HMS Sea Nymph: HMS Sea Nymph (Lt. J.P.H. Oakley, DSC, RN) fires a full salvo of 6 torpedoes at the German submarines U-592 and U-669 in the Bay of Biscay in position 45°45'N, 05°19'W. The torpedoes however miss their target(s). (All times are zone -2) 0841 hours - The Officer Of the Watch reported a large shape ahead. 0842 hours - HE was heard close ahead on the port bow. 0845 hours - Sighted 2 U-boats bearing 150° at a range of 1000 yards. Started attack. 0848 hours - Fired a salvo of 6 torpedoes from a range of 4000 yards. The U-boats were close together and it was hoped that a hit might be obtained despite the 170° track. 0856 hours - Heard a loud metallic explosion that was hoped to be a hit. This was followed by small explosions and hissing noises. Only 1 U-boat was seen and heard after this explosion and it was thought the other one was hit and sunk but this was not the case.

Submarine HMS Sickle: HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, DSC, RN) departed Algiers for her 5th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Genoa and off the East coast of Corsica. For the daily and attack positions of HMS Sickle during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Simoom: HMS Simoom (Lt. G.D.N. Milner, DSC, RN) attacked an enemy convoy with four torpedoes to the North-West of Isola del Giglio. No hits were obtained. This attack appears to have been unobserved. One possibility is that it was carried out on a convoy formed by the Italian merchant Tigrai (1272 GRT, built 1918) and the Italian tanker Romagna (1427 GRT, built 1910) escorted by the German minesweepers R 6 and R 16 on passage from La Maddalena to Leghorn but we have insufficient data to confirm it. (All times are zone -2) 0138 hours - Sighted a convoy of two merchant vessels of 5000 and 3000 tons. Also a radar contact was obtained. Bearing was 170°, range was 8000 yards, enemy course was 030°. 0144 hours - Dived however the upper hatch could only just be shut on time. The lower hatch was closed by the crew to prevent water coming in. As the Commanding Officer now was in the conning tower and the lower hatch now had to be opened again the attack now had to be carried out from a less favourable position. The range could not be closed and the targets could not be seen through the periscope. 0154 hours - Surfaced. Sighted the targets again. 0200 hours - In position 42°29'N, 10°46'E fired four torpedoes at the second merchant ship which was the largest. Range was 3000 yards. A destroyer was sighted as the last torpedo was fired so Simoom dived. No explosions were heard and no counter attack followed.

Submarine HMS Stonehenge: HMS Stonehenge (Lt. D.S.M. Verschoyle-Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN) left X 8 in Loch Dunvegan. She was to proceed to Port H.H.Z. independently. HMS Stonehenge proceeded to Scapa Flow still escorted by Motor Launch HMS ML 235 (T/S.Lt. R.R. Kern, RNVR).

Submarine HMS Tribune: HMS Tribune (Lt. A.F. Murray-Johnson, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials off Portsmouth.

Submarine HMS Trident: HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) ended her 35th war patrol. (4th in the Mediterranean) at Beirut.

Submarine HMS Truant: HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) conducted convoy attack exercises off Larne.

Submarine HMS Thrasher: HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) conducted exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) at Scapa Flow. These included A/S exercises, first with HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN) and HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), later with HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN) and HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. R. Dyer, RN) and finally with HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN).

Submarine HMS Tactician: At 1230B/13, when patrolling off the Brindisi swept channel, HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Collett, DSC, RN) sighted a tanker of about 6000 tons leaving Brindisi. She was escorted by a destroyer and an aircraft. Instead of proceeding to the end of the swept channel they altered course to the southward when five miles from the shore. The destroyer turned back to Brindisi and the tanker proceeded unescorted. The range could not be closed to less then 12000 yards and it was possible to surface and give chase as the destroyer was still in sight and the aircraft was also still in the area. According to Italian sources, no tanker or destroyer left Brindisi on this day. [Also it would be very foolish for the Italians to send a 6000-ton tanker unescorted southward with all the armada of operation Husky in place.]

Submarine HMS Trespasser: HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) sank the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V8 / Filippo (242 GRT) with gunfire about 25 nautical miles south of Bastia, Corsica, France. 0900B/13 - In position 42°19'N, 09°56'E, sighted funnel tops bearing 280°. Ran in at speed for 15 minutes but the range could not be closed then 12000 yards. A large trawler could be identified but of the other ship only the funnel top was all that could be seen. The enemy ships were southbound. [We have been unable to identify these vessels.] 1135B/13 - In position 42°20'N, 09°50'E, sighted a large three masted schooner of about 200 tons in position 42°20'N, 09°50'E. She was laying stopped with her stern to a sea anchor or some sort of buoy. 1230B/13 - Surfaced and opened fire on the schooner with the deck gun. The crew of the schooner abandoned ship and the vessel burst into flames. 1447B/13 - Sighted two patrol vessels of the same type that had seen before on this patrol carrying out an A/S sweep in the area. They never gained contact but were a nuisance until the disappeared to the south-west around 2115B/13. This were most likely the Italian corvettes Cormorano and Danaide which were on an A/S sweep.

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 Unruly: HMS Unruly (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN) attacked the Italian submarine Benedetto Brin off Cape Vaticano near Messina, Sicily, Italy in position 38°35'N, 15°49'E. The Brin had sailed from Bonifacio the day before and after initially ordered to a patrol area north of the Galite Islands, she was then ordered to an area north of Cape San Vito (Sicily) and then again switched to an area between Catania and Syracuse. The British were under the impression that the submarine had been sunk. In fact the submarine Acciaio is often listed as being sunk by HMS Unruly but this was not the case as her target was clearly the Brin which escaped without damage. (All times are zone -2) 2022 hours - Sighted a southbound Italian submarine. Started attack. 2049 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 3000 yards. The first torpedo hit the target two minutes after firing. The other three torpedoes hit the coast and exploded. Actually, all missed as Brin sighted the submerging British submarine at a distance of 1500 metres and took avoiding action.

Submarine HMS Untiring: HMS Untiring (Lt. R. Boyd, DSC, RN) conducted convoy attack exercises off Larne.

Submarine HMS H 32: HMS H 32 (Lt. J.A.R. Troup, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Rother (Lt.Cdr. R.V.E. Case, DSO, DSC and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Jonquil (T/Lt. R.W. Tretheway, RNR) and HMS Saxifage (T/Lt. J. Renwick, DSO, RNR).

Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (T/Lt. C.P. Thode, RNZNVR) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. J.M. Michell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with (at least) HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN).

Minelayer HMS Abdiel: HMS Abdiel (Capt. D. Orr-Ewing, DSO, RN) departed Malta and also returned on this day. Most likely she went to the operations area off Sicily. [No further details known.]

Light cruiser HMNZS Leander: During the Battle of Kula Gulf, HMNZS Leander (Capt. C.A.L. Mansergh, DSC, RN) is torpedoed by Japanese warships. Leander is severely damaged with an engine room, a boiler room and a 4-inch gun destroyed. After making temporary repairs Leander proceeded to Boston, USA for major restoration and a refit.

Light cruiser HMS Scylla: During the day, HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN) conducted special gunnery exercises off Plymouth on completion of which she proceeded to Falmouth Bay where the trials party was put onboard HMS Talybont (Lt. E.F. Baines, DSO, RN) which had accompanied HMS Scylla during these trials. She then left Falmouth to proceed to Gibraltar.

Light cruiser HMS Scylla: Convoy SL 133. This convoy departed Freetown on 13 July 1943. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adrastus (British, 7905 GRT, built 1923), Amstelkerk (Dutch, 4457 GRT, built 1929), Baron Maclay (British, 6317 GRT, built 1924), Bendoran (British, 5567 GRT, built 1910), Benledi (British, 5943 GRT, built 1930), Carlton (British, 7210 GRT, built 1942), City of Exeter (British, 9654 GRT, built 1914), Cochrane (British, 7203 GRT, built 1923), Cypria (Norwegian, 4366 GRT, built 1931), David Livingstone (British, 5013 GRT, built 1930), Desirade (British, 9645 GRT, built 1921), Egyptian Prince (British, 3490 GRT, built 1922), Empire Addison (British, 7010 GRT, built 1942), Empire Buckler (British, 7046 GRT, built 1942), Empire Cougar (British, 5758 GRT, built 1919), Empire Forest (British, 7025 GRT, built 1942), Empire Simba (British, 5691 GRT, built 1919), Empire Trent (British, 5006 GRT, built 1927), Fort Douglas (British, 7129 GRT, built 1942), Fort Tremblant (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942), Gambian (British, 5452 GRT, built 1937), Gascony (British, 4716 GRT, built 1925), John Holt (British, 4964 GRT, built 1943), Kaipara (British, 5882 GRT, built 1938), Mafuta (Belgian, tanker, 6322 GRT, built 1920), Malayan Prince (British, 8953 GRT, built 1926), Maplewood (British, 4566 GRT, built 1930), Mount Rhodope (Greek, 5182 GRT, built 1919), New Northland (Canadian, 3445 GRT, built 1926), Norma (Norwegian, 4487 GRT, built 1930), Ocean Hope (British, 7173 GRT, built 1942), Pinzon (British, 1365 GRT, built 1922), Rhesus (British, 6530 GRT, built 1911), Stuyvesant (Dutch, 4249 GRT, built 1918), Troilus (British, 7422 GRT, built 1921) and Wearpool (British, 4982 GRT, built 1936). On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the sloops HMS Enchantress (Cdr. A.E.T. Christie, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. Preston, RN), destroyer HMS Amazon (Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, DSC, RN), corvettes HMS Anchusa ( T/Lt. H.V. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Columbine (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.J. Griffiths, RNR), HMS Coreopsis (T/Lt. B.C. Hamilton, RNR), HMS Violet (Lt. C.N. Stewart, RNR) and the armed boarding vessel HMS Corinthian (Cdr. E.J.R. Pollitt, RD, RNR). Around 0600Z/15, in position 10°49'N, 17°02'W, the Wearpool was detached to proceed to Buenos Aires. Around 1900Z/15, HMS Enchantress was detached to fuel at Dakar. Around 0230Z/15, HMS Amazon was detached to fuel at Dakar. Around 0600Z/16, the merchant vessel Kaipara was torpedoed and damaged by the German U-boat U-306. She was able to proceed to Dakar under her own power escorted by HMS Violet until this corvette was relieved by HMS Yestor (Lt. R.C. Holt, RNVR). Around 1230Z/16, in approximate position 14°34'N, 17°47'W, the merchant vessel Bactria (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928) joined the convoy coming from Bathurst. Around 1330Z/16, in position 14°36'N, 17°47'W, the merchant vessel New Northland was detached to Dakar. The Fort Douglas was also detached to Dakar with engine defects at the same time. They were escorted to Dakar by the ASW trawler HMS Fandango (T/Lt. A.G. Fisher, RNR) which had also brought out the Dakar section of the convoy (see below). Around 1330Z/16, in position 14°36'N, 17°47'W, the merchant vessels El-Biar (French, 4678 GRT, built 1927), Finistere (French, 1158 GRT, built 1909) and Grand Quevilly (French, 2844 GRT, built 1914) joined the convoy coming from Dakar. Around 1430Z/16, in position 14°35'N, 17°50'W, HMS Enchantress and HMS Amazon returned from fuelling at Dakar. Around 0830Z/22, in position 29°12'N, 18°48'W, HMS Columbine and HMS Coreopsis were detached to fuel at Casablanca. Around 2030Z/22, in position 30°08'N, 17°00'W, HMS Anchusa and HMS Violet were detached to fuel at Casablanca. Around 1200Z/24, in position 33°54'N, 09°46'W, HMS Columbine and HMS Coreopsis returned from fuelling at Casablanca. HMS Leith was then detached to fuel at Casablanca. She rejoined on the 25th. Around 1400Z/24, in position 34°04'N, 09°46'W, the El-Biar, Finistere and Grand Quevilly were detached to Casablanca. The patrol vessels USS PC-474 (Lt. A.D. Weekes, Jr., USNR), USS PC-482 (Lt. N.P. Hallowell, Jr., USNR) and USS PC-473 (Lt. D.F. Welch, USNR) had come out from Casablanca to escort them. Around 1500Z/24, in position 34°14'N, 09°35'W, HMS Amazon was detached to Gibraltar where she arrived the following day. Around 1200Z/24, in position 34°17'N, 10°30'W, HMS Anchusa and HMS Violet returned from fuelling at Casablanca. Around 1700B/24, in position 35°45'N, 11°15'W, the convoy merged with convoy MKS 18G coming from Gibraltar. This convoy was made up of the following ships; Antonio (British, 5225 GRT, built 1918), Badjestan (British, 5573 GRT, built 1928), Cape Wrath (British, 4512 GRT, built 1940), Clearpool (British, 5404 GRT, built 1935), Eastern City (British, 5185 GRT, built 1941), Empire Darwin (British, 6765 GRT, built 1941), Empire Tide (British, 6978 GRT, built 1941), Empire Wolfe (British, 2888 GRT, built 1941), Explorer (British, 6235 GRT, built 1935), Fauzon (French, 4376 GRT, built 1938), Gerard Dou (Dutch, 7242 GRT, built 1941), Hopestar (British, 5267 GRT, built 1936), Kingsland (British, 3669 GRT, built 1930), Schiaffino (French, 3236 GRT, built 1929), Stanhope (British, 2337 GRT, built 1919), Star (Norwegian, 1531 GRT, built 1922) and Vinriver (British, 3881 GRT, built 1917). The landing ship Ennerdale (British, 8280 GRT, built 1941) and the tug HMRT Allegiance towing the damaged escort destroyer Derwent (Lt. P.R.C. Higham, RN) was also part of the convoy. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Hurricane (Cdr. E.C. Bayldon, DSC, RN), HMS Rockingham (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Duck, DSC, RD, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Borage (T/Lt.Cdr. A. Harrison, RNR), HMS Dahlia (T/Lt. M.S. Work, RNR), HMS Meadowsweet (T/Lt. W.E. Saunders, RNVR) and HMS Monkshood (Lt. G.W. McGuiness, RNR). Off these, HMS Rockingham could only use one propeller and her speed was limited to 15 knots. Around 0750B/28, in approximate position 41°30'N, 16°04'W, the light (AA) cruiser HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN) joined the convoy. In the evening of the 28th, the convoy was attacked by German FW 200 bombers / reconnaissance aircraft. No damage was done and one of the attackers was shot down. HMS Hurricane picked up six survivors of this aircraft. Four of them wounded. Around 0930B/29, the light cruiser HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) joined the convoy. In the second half of the morning of the 29th, the convoy was once more attacked by German aircraft but again no damage was done though bombs landed near HMS Scylla, HMS Rockingham, HMS Borage and HMS Meadowsweet. Around 2225B/29, in approximate position 46°30'N, 16°00'W, HMS Scylla parted company with the convoy to proceed to Gibraltar. Around an hour before the departure of HMS Scylla eleven of the merchant vessels split off from the main convoy and formed the ' fast section '. These then proceeded ahead escorted by the original escort of the convoy which had been with the convoy on departure from Freetown (minus HMS Amazon which had been detached to Gibraltar earlier). Around 2200B/30, in position 50°01'N, 15°24'W, HMS Enchantress was detached from the 'fast section' to proceed to the Clyde via the south of Ireland. Around the same time, HMS Sheffield parted company from the 'slow section' to proceed to The 'fast section' of the convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 2 July 1943. The 'slow section' of the convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 3 July 1943.

Light cruiser HMS Newfoundland: The bombardment force of the Acid area; made up of the light cruisers HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN), HMS Uganda (Capt. W.G. Andrewes, RN) and the destroyer HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) [the damaged destroyer HMS Eskimo (Capt. J.W.M. Eaton, DSO, DSC, RN) had been towed to Malta by her sister ship HMS Tartar (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN)] and the bombardment force of the Bark area; the light cruisers HMS Newfoundland (Capt. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), HMS Orion (Capt. G.C.P. Menzies, RN) and the destroyers HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, DSO, RN), HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) and HMS Loyal (Lt.Cdr. H.E.F. Tweedie, DSC, RN) joined company [' Force K ']. Around 0500B/13, several enemy aircraft attacked ' Force K '. Bombs were dropped close to HMS Laforey but she sustained no damage. During the day several bombardments were carried out. Around 0900B/13, HMS Mauritius commenced a bombardment of the towns of Lentini and Carlentini. She had to break off this bombardment at 0923B/13, when a heavy shore battery opened fire on her. This battery was then taken under fire between 0940B/13 and 1007B/13. At 1000B/13 another coastal battery near Brucoli was then being fired upon briefly by HMS Newfoundland and all destroyers. Also around this time HMS Orion, HMS Uganda and HMS Nubian parted company to proceed to Malta to load ammunition and fuel. They arrived at Malta around 1430B/13. Around noon both HMS Loyal and HMS Mauritius reported being attacked by aircraft. Around 1630B/13, HMS Loyal was detached to Malta. Between 1700B/13 and 1724B/13, HMS Mauritius bombarded a target to the south of Catania. Coastal batteries opened fire on her and at 1724B/13 she was straddled and then withdrew out of range of the heavy coastal battery. At 1705B/13, HMS Newfoundland briefly bombarded Lentini (only for 2 minutes). Between 1745B/13 and 1800B/13, HMS Mauritius bombarded Lentini. At 1950B/13, HMS Newfoundland, HMS Mauritius, HMS Laforey and HMS Lookout formed formation and retired to seaward for the night. HMS Newfoundland had carried out two bombardments on this day and HMS Mauritius seven. The monitor HMS Erebus (Cdr.(Retd.) H.W. D'Arcy-Evans, RN) was also operating in the area.

Battleship HMS Malaya: HMS Malaya (Capt. J.W.A. Waller, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Battlecruiser HMS Renown: HMS Renown (Capt. W.E. Parry, CB, RN) conducted exercises at Scapa Flow.

Battleship HMS Rodney: The 1st and 2nd divisions of ' Force H ', the main cover force for Operation Husky, were still operating in the Ionian Sea near Malta. The ' 1st Division ', was made up of the battleships HMS Nelson (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.U. Willis, KCB, DSO, RN), HMS Rodney (Rear-Admiral. J.W. Rivett-Carnac, DSC, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. G. Grantham, CB, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, RN), light cruisers HMS Aurora (Commodore W.G. Agnew, CB, RN), HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) and the destroyers HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Tumult (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN), HMS Tyrian (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN), HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN), HMS Quail (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Jenks, RN), HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S.T. Dzienisiewicz) and the escort destroyer HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN). At dawn HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN) relieved HMS Brecon which was then detached to Malta. The ' 2nd Division ' was made up of the battleships HMS Warspite (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. L.H. Ashmore, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Formidable (Rear-Admiral A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, DSO, RN), HMS Fury (Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, RN) and RHS Vasilissa Olga (Lt.Cdr. G. Blessas). ' Force Q ', still made up of light cruisers HMS Cleopatra (Capt. J.F. Stevens, RN), HMS Euryalus (Capt. E.W. Bush, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN) and HMS Echo (Lt. R.H.C. Wyld, RN) was operating to the east of Sicily. At 0420B/13, when HMS Euryalus detected a surface contact at a range of 10200 yards. The squadron then proceeded as to get into a favourable position relative to the moon. The radar reports, continuing, at 0432B/13, HMS Euryalus fired starshell at the target, which was now at a range of 5800 yards, which in the starshell's illumintation was seen to be a submarine on the surface. The squadron was immediately turned 90° to starboard and HMS Ilex and HMS Echo were detached to hunt the enemy. They had orders to rejoin an hour later if not in contact. At 0535B/13, when in position 37°25'N, 16°07'E, HMS Ilex obtained a firm contact about 700 yards away on her starboard bow. HMS Ilex made six depth charge attacks while HMS Echo made three attacks. After HMS Echo's last attack the Italian submarine Nereide surfaced at 0655B/13. Both destroyers immediately opened fire. HMS Echo scored a hit on the hull below the subvmarines conning tower and while passing ahead of the enemy she dropped four depth charges set to 50 feet. The Italian crew began to jump overboard and the Italian submarine sank within a minute or so after surfacing. HMS Echo picked up five officers and fifteen men, including the Commanding Officer. HMS Ilex picked up seven men. The destroyers then left the area at high speed and at 0812B/13 they rejoined HMS Cleopatra and HMS Euryalus. ' Force Q ' then joined ' Force H '. At 1715B/13, ' Force Q ' parted company for another patrol during the night. ' Force Q ' was now made up of HMS Cleopatra, HMS Euryalus, HMS Quilliam and HMS Quail. At 1820B/13, the ' 1st Division' and ' 2nd Division ' parted company. At 1925B/13, a requist came in for a battleship bombardment of Catania airport. The ' 2nd Division ' was closest to Catania and proceeded at 20 knots to comply. Course was reversed however when the bombardment was later cancelled.

Destroyer HMAS Vendetta: While changing berth, HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN) sustained some minor damage through colliding with the pier.

Destroyer HMS Echo: The Italian submarine Nereide was sunk off Augusta, Sicily by the British destroyers HMS Echo (Lt.Cdr. R.H.C. Wyld, RN) and HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN).

Destroyer HMCS Iroquois: Around 1000A/13, HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. W.B.L. Holms, RCN) arrived at Casablanca from convoy escort duty. After having landed the survivors and having fuelled she departed around 1600A/13 to join the combined convoy SL 132 / MKS 16(G) at sea. [For more info on this combined convoy see the event ' Convoy SL 132 ' for 28 June 1943.]

Destroyer HMAS Nizam: Around 2215C/13, HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) arrived at Durban from convoy escort duty and patrol. Earlier in the day she had picked up 11 survivors from a lifeboat which was then towed to Durban. They were from the American transport Sebastian Cermeno that had been torpedoed and sunk south-east of Madagascar on 27 June.

Destroyer HMAS Quiberon: Around 0630B/12, HMAS Quiberon (Lt. G.J.A. Ashley-Brown, RAN) departed Durban to search for a suspected enemy submarine near Lourenço Marques (now called Maputo), Mozambique. Around 2130B/12, HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) also departed Durban to join HMAS Quiberon in the search for the suspected submarine. They joined company around 1415B/13. Around 2300B/13, flares were sighted and shortly afterwards HMAS Quickmatch sighted a lifeboat and survivors were picked up. The destroyers returned to Durban around 1130B/15.

Submarine USS S-28: USS S-28 (Lt. V.A. Sisler, Jr.) departed from Dutch Harbour for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Kurils.

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.Cdr. W.L. Fey, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-10: USS R-10 (Lt.Cdr. E.D`H. Haskins, 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-20: USS R-20 (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Shepard, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Destroyer HNMS Tjerk Hiddes (ii): Around 2350H/13, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) anchored in Gage Roads. She entered Fremantle harbour around 0800H/14.

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. R.G.P. Bulkeley, RN) is docked in AFD 20 at Rothesay.

Destroyer BZ Maranhao: Maranhao picks up 86 survivors from the American merchant African Star that was torpedoed and sunk the day before by German U-boat U-172 south-east of Rio de Janeiro in position 25°46'S, 40°35'W.

1944

Heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire: Around 0700K/13, Task Force 74, made up of HMAS Australia (Capt. E.F.V. Dechaineux, DSC, RAN, flying the flag of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), 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 Bache (T/Cdr. R.C. Morton, USN) arrived at Aitape from Seeadler Harbour.

Light cruiser HMS Cardiff: HMS Cardiff (A/Capt. G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN) conducted gunnery exercises for the gunnery school in the Clyde area.

Light cruiser HMS Dauntless: During 13/14 July 1944, HMS Dauntless (Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, DSO, RN), conducted exercises off Methil. These included night exercises. On completion of the exercises she proceeded to Rosyth.

Light cruiser HMS Diomede: HMS Diomede (Cdr. R.A. Ewing, DSC, RN) proceeded from Leith to Rosyth where she was to be taken in hand for refit.

Destroyer USS Taussig: With her shakedown at Bermuda completed USS Taussig returns to the New York Navy Yard.

Battleship USS Iowa: USS Iowa (Capt. J.L. McCrea, USN) anchored off Saipan Island and fuelled the destroyers USS Lardner (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Parker, USN) and USS McCalla (Lt.Cdr. E.K. Jones, USN). She got underway again later the same day.

Submarine HNMS O 9: HrMs O 9 (Lt. R.W. van Lynden, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Altair (T/Lt. J.L. James, RNR) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR).

Submarine USS Cobia: USS Cobia (Lt.Cdr. A.L. Becker) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Taishi Maru (2813 GRT) about 190 nautical miles north-west of Chichi Jima, Bonin Islands in position 27°25'N, 140°30'E.

Submarine USS Billfish: In the morning, USS Sailfish (T/Cdr. R.E.M. Ward, USN), USS Greenling (T/Cdr. J.D. Gerwick, USN) and USS Billfish (T/Cdr. V.C. Turner, USN) all arrived at Midway.

Submarine USS Escolar: USS Escolar (T/Cdr. W.J. Millican, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Port Everglades, Florida.

Submarine USS Baya: USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises in the Panama Bay training area and proceeded to Balboa upon completion of these exercises.

Submarine USS Becuna: USS Becuna (Cdr. H.D. Sturr, USN) departed the Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbor.

Escort Carrier HMS Fencer: Combined convoy OS 83 / KMS 57. This combined convoy assembled off Oversay on 13 July 1944. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adrastus (British, 7905 GRT, built 1923), Ashbury (British, 3901 GRT, built 1924), Astrid (Norwegian, 2861 GRT, built 1942), Bactria (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928), Baron Tweedmouth (British, 3357 GRT, built 1927), Benedick (British, 6978 GRT, built 1928), Bestik (Norwegian, 2684 GRT, built 1920), Bornholm (British, 3177 GRT, built 1930), Capitaine Paul Lemerle (French, 4945 GRT, built 1925), Clan Chattan (British, 7262 GRT, built 1937), Empire Addison (British, 7010 GRT, built 1942), Empire Clive (British, 7069 GRT, built 1941), Empire Derwent (British, 4026 GRT, built 1930), Empire Fal (British, 4880 GRT, built 1914), Empire Melody (British, 2283 GRT, built 1942), Empire Pakeha (British, 8115 GRT, built 1910), Empire Peacock (British, 6098 GRT, built 1919), English Monarch (British, 4557 GRT, built 1924), Fort Lawrence (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943), Fresno Star (British, 7998 GRT, built 1919), Geologist (British, 6202 GRT, built 1944), Glaucus (British, 7596 GRT, built 1921), Harberton (British, 4585 GRT, built 1930), Harpalycus (British, 5629 GRT, built 1935), Maihar (British, 7563 GRT, built 1917), Novasli (Norwegian, 3204 GRT, built 1920), Pacheco (British, 1405 GRT, built 1927), Samcebu (British, 7253 GRT, built 1944), Samfinn (British, 7253 GRT, built 1944), Silverlarch (British, 5064 GRT, built 1924) and Tweedbank (British, 5627 GRT, built 1930). The rescue ship Gothland (British, 1286 GRT, built 1932) was also part of the convoy. On assembly the convoy was escorted by the escort carrier HMS Fencer (A/Capt. W.W.R. Bentinck, OBE, RN), destroyer HMS Hesperus (Cdr. G.V. Legassick, RD, RNR), frigates HMS Cotton (Lt.Cdr. I.W.T. Beloe, RN), HMS Gardiner (A/Lt.Cdr. W.G.H. Bolton, DSC, RD, RNR), corvettes HMS Flint Castle (T/Lt. S.G. Wright, RNVR), HMS Oxford Castle (T/Lt. H.E. Holden, DSC, RNR), HMS Rushen Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.C. Warwick, DSC and Bar, RNR) and HNoMS Tunsberg Castle (?). On assembly the Empire Fal and Tweedbank collided and the returned to port. On 21 July 1944, the merchant vessel Empire Chamois (British, 5684 GRT, built 1918) joined the convoy coming from the Azores. Around 0615B/22, HMS Fencer parted company with the convoy to join the combined convoy SL 164 / MKS 55 which she did around 1945B/22. She was escorted by HMS Cotton which did not join this convoy but returned to convoy OS 83/ KMS 57. On 23 July 1944 the convoy split into convoy OS 83 bound for Freetown and convoy KMS 53 bound for the Mediterranean. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Convoy OS 83 was made up of the merchant vessels; Adrastus, Bactria, Bornholm, Clan Chattan, Empire Chamois, Empire Clive, Empire Pakeha, Fresno Star, Harberton and Silverlarch. These were joined by the merchant vessels Beckenham (British, 4636 GRT, built 1937), Empire Flame (British, 7069 GRT, built 1941), Empire Moonrise (British, 6854 GRT, built 1941), Nailsea Moor (British, 4926 GRT, built 1937) and Radmanso (Swedish, 4280 GRT, built 1914) coming from Gibraltar which they had departed earlier that day. These ships had been escorted by the frigates HMS Aire (A/Lt.Cdr. N.K. Boyd, DSC and Bar, RNR), HMS Odzani (Lt.Cdr. L.A. Sayers, RD, RNR), corvette HMS Bellwort (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.V. Banks, RNVR) and the patrol vessel HMS Kilmington (T/Lt. D.D. Humphreys, RNVR) which now formed the escort of this convoy towards Freetown. on 24 July 1944, the merchant vessel Samstrudy (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944) departed Casablanca to join the convoy. She was escorted by the patrol vessel / sloop Amiral Mouchez. On this ship joining the convoy, the Hamberton parted company to proceed to Casablanca escorted by the Amiral Mouchez. They arrived at Casablanca on 25 July. On 31 July 1944, the Bactria and Empire Clive arrived at Dakar having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessel Slesvig (British, 3098 GRT, built 1938) had joined the convoy coming from Dakar. The convoy arrived at Freetown on 2 August 1944. Some ships of the convoy did not enter Freetown but proceed directly to other destinations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Convoy KMS 57 proceeded towards the Straits of Gibraltar. This convoy was made up the merchant vessels Ashbury, Astrid, Baton Tweedmouth, Benedick, Bestik, Capitaine Paul Lemerle, Empire Addison, Empire Derwent, Empire Derwent, Empire Melody, Empire Peacock, English Monarch, Fort Lawrence, Geologist, Glaucus, Harpalycus, Maihar, Novasli, Pacheco, Samcebu and Samfinn. The rescue ship Gothland was also with them. Escort was provided by the escort from combined convoy OS 83 / KMS 57. On 25 July 1944, the Baron Tweedmouth, Benedick, Pacheco and Gothland arrived at Gibraltar together with the original escort of the convoy. Off Gibraltar the merchant vessels Alexandre Andre (Belgian (tanker), 5261 GRT, built 1928), Antonio (British, 5225 GRT, built 1918), Empire Highway (British, 7166 GRT, built 1942), Fort Colville (British, 7153 GRT, built 1943), Parame (French, 2337 GRT, built 1918) joined the convoy as did a new escort which was made up of the AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. C.T. Jellicoe, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), frigates HMS Evenlode (Cdr. V.F. Smith, DSO, RD, RNR), HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RD, RNR), corvettes HMS Bergamot (A/Lt.Cdr. W. McInnes, RNR), HMS Delphinium (T/Lt. S. Rule, RNVR) and the A/S whalers HMSAS Protea (Lt. A. Thomas, DSC, SANF) and HMSAS Southern Sea (Lt.Cdr. M.R.J. Terry-Lloyd, SANF). On 26 July 1944, the Empire Derwent and Parame arrived at Oran after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessels Aztec (Hunduran, 5511 GRT, built 1929), Chateau Latour (French, 1912 GRT, built 1914), Dromus (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Elias Boldinot (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), James E. Howard (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), Joel Chandler Harris (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Silverster Gardiner (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Smith Thompson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), William H. Wilmer (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943) and the net tender USS Pepperwood (Lt. E.F. McLaughlin, USNR) and the self propelled fuel barge USS Gauger (Lt. G.V. Davis, USNR) joined the convoy. On 27 July 1944, the Alexandre Andre, Astrid, Capitaine Paul Lemerle, Chateau Latour, Empire Highway, Empire Melody, Fort Lawrence, Silverster Gardiner, Smith Thompson and William H. Wilmer arrived at Algiers after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessels Avon Coast (British, 1036 GRT, built 1923), Empire Tern (British, 2479 GRT, built 1919), Fort Grahame (British, 7133 GRT, built 1943), Fort Hall (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943) and James J. Maguire (British (tanker), 10525 GRT, built 1939) joined the convoy. On 28 July 1944, the Empire Tern arrived at Algiers after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessel Kola (British, 1538 GRT, built 1924) joined the convoy. Around 0555B/29, HMS Colombo parted company wth the convoy and set course for Malta where she arrived around 1850B/29. On 30 July 1944, the Antonio, Aztec, Dromus, Joel Chandler Harris and Novasli arrived at Bizerta after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessel George F. Patten (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) joined the convoy. On 30 July 1944, the Bestik arrived at Tunis after having been detached from the convoy. On 30 July 1944, Avon Coast and Fort Colville arrived at Malta after having been detached from the convoy. On 30 July 1944, the merchant vessels Albert G. Brown (American (tanker), 7218 GRT, built 1943), Destro (British, 3553 GRT, built 1920), Evviva (Norwegian, 1597 GRT, built 1921), Fort Clatsop (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943), James J. Hill (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Vulcan (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Samconon (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), and Zaanstroom (Dutch, 1646 GRT, built 1920) departed Augusta to join the convoy. With them was also the frigate HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR) which also joined the convoy. On 31 July 1944, the Ashbury, Elias Boldinot, Empire Peacock, English Monarch, Fort Grahame, Fort Hall, George F. Patten, Harpalycus, James E. Howard, James J. Maguire, Kola and Samcebu, Samfinn, Silvester Gardiner and Smith Thompson as well as USS Pepperwood and USS Gauger all arrived at Augusta after having been detached from the convoy. On 3 August 1944, the Fort Clatsop, James J. Hill, Ocean Vulcan and Zaanstroom arrived at Alexandria after having been detached from the convoy. With them the HMS Awe, HMS Evenlode and HMS Usk also arrived at Alexandria. The remainder of the convoy arrived at Port Said on 4 August 1944.

Escort Carrier HMS Trouncer: HMS Trouncer (Capt. B.J. Fisher, DSO, RN) departed Casablanca with the Casablanca section of convoy GUS 45. [For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy GUS 45 ' for 4 July 1944.]

Submarine HMS Porpoise: HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) ended her 20th war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee.

Submarine HMS Safari: HMS Safari (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted bombardment exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) off Arran. Upon completion HMS Safari proceeded to Campbeltown.

Submarine HMS Shakespeare: HMS Shakespeare (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow, first with HMS Stella Pegasi (T/Lt. C.D.M. Grierson, RNVR), HMS Kingston Topaz (Skr.Lt. J.E. Harwood, RD, RNR) and later with HMS Myngs (Capt. M.L. Power, CBE, RN).

Submarine HMS Shakespeare: HMS Shakespeare (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow, first with HMS Stella Pegasi (T/Lt. C.D.M. Grierson, RNVR), HMS Kingston Topaz (Skr.Lt. J.E. Harwood, RD, RNR) and later with HMS Myngs (Capt. M.L. Power, CBE, RN).

Submarine HMS Stoic:

Submarine HMS Spark: HMS Spark (Lt. D.G. Kent, RN) shifted from Larne to Holy Loch.

Submarine HMS Selene: HMS Selene (Lt.Cdr. H.R.B. Newton, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch to begin a period of trials and training.

Submarine HMS Tuna: HMS Tuna (A/Lt.Cdr. L.F.L. Hill, RNR) conducted exercises off Port H.H.Z. launching and recovering Chariot human torpedoes.

Submarine HMS Thrasher: HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar.

Submarine HMS Tactician: HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Collett, DSC, RN) departed from Port Said for Malta.

Submarine HMS Tally-Ho: Around 1400FG/13, HMS Tally-Ho (Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO and Bar, DSC and Bar, RN) left patrol to return to Fremantle.

Submarine HMS Tantivy: HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee.

Submarine HMS Upright: HMS Upright (Lt. J.A.L. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS L' Atlantique (Skr. C.A. Collins, RNR).

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

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

Submarine HMS Unswerving: HMS Unswerving (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR) departed Malta for her 6th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol to the North of Crete. Unswerving carried only 4 torpedoes. The space for the reload torpedoes was taken by canoes and stores for a raiding party which was to place limped mines on shipping inside Suda Bay if suitable targets were present there but this operation was cancelled later in the patrol as several members of the raiding party were sick (sandfly fever). For the daily and attack positions of HMS Unswerving during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Urtica: HMS Urtica (Lt. K.H. Martin, RN) conducted speed trials on the measured mile in Loch Long.

Submarine HMS Visigoth: HMS Visigoth (Lt. J.R.H. Haddow, DSC, RN) arrived at Gibraltar.

Submarine HMS H 32: HMS H 32 (Lt. M.D. Hutley, RNR) arrived at Londonderry.

Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. R.L. Jay, RN) shifted from Londonderry to Rothesay. She was escorted by HMS Kihna (Cdr.(Retd.) T.J.T.C. Jenks, RN).

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

Submarine HMS H 44: HMS H 44 (Lt. P.N. Joyce, RN) proceeded from Londonderry to Rothesay. She was escorted by HMS Kihna (Cdr.(Retd.) T.J.T.C. Jenks, RN).

Light cruiser HMS Kenya: HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) arrived at Trincomalee.

Light cruiser HMS Nigeria: HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) and HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN) conducted underway refuelling exercises off Trincomalee with the RFA tanker Broomdale (8334 GRT, built 1937).

Light cruiser HMS Ceylon: HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee.

Destroyer HMAS Vendetta: Around 0900K/13, HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J.S. Mesley, RAN) departed Milne Bay for Madang. On board were 5 Officers and 128 other ranks of the 5th Company of Royal Australian Engineers and also 7 Royal Australian Air Force personnel. She arrived at Madang around 1115K/14.

Destroyer HMAS Quiberon: HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) conducted gunnery and radar trials in Port Phillip.

Submarine USS R-1: USS R-1 (Lt. W.A. Schoenfeld, USN) conducted exercises off Bermuda.

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

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

Submarine USS R-11: USS R-11 (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Parham, 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 USSR S-14: S-14 attacked a German convoy of the Bosfjord with four torpedoes but no ships were hit.

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

Submarine HMS L 26: HMS L 26 (Lt. A.G. Prideaux, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Bermuda.

Submarine HMS L 27: HMS L 27 (Lt. J.N. Elliott, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Bermuda with HMCS Stettler (T/A/Lt.Cdr. D.G. King, RCNVR) and HMCS Magog (T/Lt. L.D. Quick, RCNR).

1945

Heavy cruiser HMS Sussex: HMS Sussex (Capt. A.F. de Salis, DSO, RN) departed Colombia for Trincomalee.

Light cruiser HMS Belfast: HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) and HMCS Ontario (Capt. H.T.W. Grant, DSO, RCN) conducted exercises off Malta. HMS Belfast returned to Malta the following day.

Destroyer USS James C. Owens: USS James C. Owens (Cdr. Richard Hutchings Blair) departed from Leyte to operate with the fleet of the Japanese mainland for the remainder of the war.

Battleship USS Iowa: USS Iowa (Capt. J.L. Holloway, Jr., USN) Topped off five of the destroyers of the Task Group, USS Cushing (Lt.Cdr. W.D. Adams, USN), USS Uhlmann (Cdr. S.C. Small, USN), USS Wedderburn (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Clark, USN), USS Mertz (Cdr. W.S. Maddox, USN) and USS Smalley (Lt.Cdr. H.A. Cassidy, Jr., USN), with fuel.

Submarine HNMS O 19: The survivors were landed at Subic Bay.

Submarine HNMS O 23: HrMs O 23 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) is undocked.

Submarine HNMS O 24: During the night of 13 to 14 July 1945 HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. P.J.S. de Jong, RNN) passed Lombok Strait southwards.

Submarine HNMS Zwaardvisch: HrMs Zwaardvisch (Lt. J. van Dapperen, RNN) arrived at Suez.

Submarine USS Seadragon: USS Seadragon (Lt.Cdr. L.L. Davis, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Guantanamo Bay.

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

Submarine USS Cod: USS Cod (Lt.Cdr. E.M. Westbrook, Jr.) lands her Dutch passengers at Subic Bay, Philippines and resumed her patrol.

Submarine USS Blueback: USS Blueback (Cdr. M.K. Clementson, USN) attacked a large sugar dog with three torpedoes in the northern end of the Sunda Strait. No hits were obtained. (All times are zone I, -9) 1025 hours - Sighted five small sugar dogs in position 05°54'S, 105°33'E. 1032 hours - Commenced approach. 1044 hours - In position 05°55'S, 105°52'E fired three bow torpedoes at the first sugar dog from 840 yards, by far the largest one. All missed. Patrolling aircraft prevented Blueback from attacking again.

Submarine USS Capitaine: USS Capitaine (Lt.Cdr. E.S. Friedrick, USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle, Australia. At Fremantle she was refitted by by a relief crew from Submarine Division 302 and the Fremantle submarine repair unit.

Submarine USS Carp: USS Carp (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Hunnicutt, USNR) torpedoed and sank the Japanese frigate Kaibokan 219 east off northern Hokkaido in position 39°35'N, 142°19'E. No claim for a sinking was made but a homing torpedo did hit the target. (All times are zone I, -9) 12 July 1945 2342 hours - Obtained radar contact bearing 340°(T), range 17000 yards. Commenced tracking. The targets tracked on course 000°(T), speed 8 knots, commenced an end around. These were the same ships sighted during the afternoon and are thought to be a minesweeper and a patrol vessel. 13 July 1945 0050 hours - Sound picked up pinging. 0115 hours - In position 39°35'N, 142°19'E fired two torpedoes from the bow tubes at what is thought to be a minesweeper from 2200 yards. 0116 hours - Turned away from the target. 0258 hours - The targets have now changed course towards us. 0318 hours - Submerged ahead of the targets when the range was 6000 yards. Started attack. 0337 hours - Fired one torpedo from the bow tubes from 2000 yards at the minesweeper. 0339 hours - Heard an explosion and saw spray in front of the target. The torpedo must have prematured. 0357 hours - The minesweeper was seen to signal to the patrol vessel. 0426 hours - Lost sound contact. Catfish apparently also fired a Mark 28 homing torpedo at this target. This is not included in the patrol report of USS Carp but is probably listed in a special report currently not available to us. It was this torpedo that hit and sank Kaibokan 219.

Submarine USS Catfish: USS Catfish (Lt.Cdr. W.A. Overton, USNR) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbor together with USS J. Douglas Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Johnston, USNR) and USS Coolbaugh (Lt.Cdr. S.E. Zimmerman, USNR).

Submarine USS Chopper: USS Chopper (Lt.Cdr. S. Filipone, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS Sennet: USS Sennet (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Clark, Jr.) arrived at Guam.

Aircraft Carrier HMS Indefatigable: Around 0600K/13, the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable (Capt. Q.D. Graham, CBE, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN) and HMS Wrangler (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Warren, RN) departed Manus to join the British Pacific Fleet in the operations area. On the 15th both destroyers Topped off with fuel from the carrier. [For more info see the event for 16 July 1945.]

Submarine HMS Una: HMS Una (Lt. A.M.B. Buxton, RN) arrived at Rothesay. In September Una departed for Halifax, Canada to serve as A/S target. In November she returned to the U.K. where she was placed in reserve on 1 December 1945.

Submarine HMS Satyr: HMS Satyr (Lt. W.D.S. Scott, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Larne.

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

Submarine HMS Sea Nymph: While alongside HMS Maidstone (Capt. L.M. Shadwell, RN, also Capt. S 8), HMS Sea Nymph (Lt. M.I. Usher, RN) suffered a fire. The next day damage was inpected and although less then expected it was beyond the repair facilities in the Far East and she should be sent home for repairs.

Submarine HMS Stubborn: HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.G. Davies, RN) is put back in the water. She departed for her 10th war patrol (1st in the South-West Pacific area) later the same day. She was ordered to patrol in the South-East part of the Java Sea. For the daily and attack positions of HMS Stubborn during this patrol see the map below.

Submarine HMS Scorcher: HMS Scorcher (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) departed Malta for Port Said.

Submarine HMS Sleuth: HMS Sleuth (Lt. K.H. Martin, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol (2nd in the South-East Pacific area) at Subic Bay.

Submarine HMS Solent: HMS Solent (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Martin, DSC, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the South-East Pacific area) at Subic Bay.

Submarine HMS Tuna: HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. R.L. Alexander, DSO, DSC, RN) shifted from Copenhagen to Helsingør.

Submarine HMS Tireless: HMS Tireless (A/Lt.Cdr. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Truncheon (A/Lt.Cdr. R.J. Clutterbuck, DSO, RN) and HrMs Tijgerhaai (Lt.Cdr. A. van Altena, RNN) all departed Holy Loch for wolf pack exercises.

Submarine HMS Trespasser: HMS Trespasser (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, DSC, RNVR) conducted exercises off Blyth.

Submarine HMS Tiptoe: HMS Tiptoe (A/Lt.Cdr. R.L. Jay, RN) conducted exercises off Fremantle together with HMS Trump (A/Lt.Cdr. A.A. Catlow, RN).

Submarine HMS Totem: HMS Totem (Lt.Cdr. M.B. St. John, DSC, RN) departed from Trincomalee for Fremantle.

Submarine HMS Trenchant: HMS Trenchant (Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) sank a schooner with gunfire in the Northern part of the Gulf of Boni, Netherlands East Indies in position 02°50'S, 120°33'E. (All times are zone -9) 1209 hours - A small schooner of about 15 tons was stopped. The native crew abandoned ship as the submarine approached. A boarding party was sent aboard the ship. In the hold they discovered four Japanese soldiers and one officer. When they were ordered out there was no response. The boarding party then tried to smoke them out but now the Japanese opened fire through the hatches and the deck planking. The boarding party was withdrawn and the schooner (with the Japanese still on board) was sunk by gunfire.

Submarine HMS Trump: HMS Trump (Lt. A.A. Catlow, RN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.

Submarine HMS Tapir: HMS Tapir (Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Trincomalee.

Submarine HMS Unrivalled: HMS Unrivalled (Lt. R.P. Fitzgerald, DSC, RN) returned to Plymouth.

Submarine HMS Upshot: HMS Upshot (Lt. A.J. Boyall, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Borage (T/Lt. E.A. Hitchcock, RNR) and HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. H.R.A. Kidston, RN).

Submarine HMS Vagabond: HMS Vagabond (Lt. I.M. Stoop, DSC, RN) proceeded to Campbeltown on completion of last night's exercises.

Submarine HMS Viking: HMS Viking conducted exercises off Portsmouth. [No further logs are available after July 1945. HMS Viking remained at Portsmouth until late September 1945.]

Submarine HMS Virtue: HMS Virtue (Lt. R.D. Cairns, DSC. RN) arrived at Sydney.

Submarine HMS Vulpine: HMS Vulpine (Lt. W.D.S. Scott, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with aircraft.

Submarine HMS Amphion: HMS Amphion (Cdr. R.H. Dewhurst, DSO, RN) shifted from Arrochar to Holy Loch.

Submarine HMS Astute: HMS Astute (A/Lt.Cdr. R. Gatehouse, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

Submarine USS R-1: USS R-1 (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Cunningham, Jr., USNR) arrived at Key West, Florida from New London, Connecticut.

Submarine USS R-13: USS R-13 (Lt. D.C. Bowman, USNR) conducted exercises off Key West.

Submarine USS R-18: USS R-18 conducted exercises off Key West.

Destroyer HNMS Van Galen (ii): HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Mulock van der Vlies Bik, RNethN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. These were followed by A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Saga (T/Lt. P.S. Thirsk, DSC, RNR). Finally exercises with aircraft were carried out before HrMs Van Galen returned to Scapa Flow.