Evidently the destroyers HMS VENOMOUS and HMS VALOROUS were despatched to Norway on 14th May 1945 to undertake clearance operations prior to the entry of Allied personnel into Kristiansund south as part of the re-occupation of Norway.

German officers performed the hand-over ceremony aboard HMS VENOMOUS on 15th May 1945.

The frigates HMS LOCH ECK, HMS BAYNTUN, HMS BAHAMAS and HMS PAPUA were despatched to Norway on 23rd May 1945.

According to the published service history of HMS LOCH ECK (www.naval-history.net then Contents List then Loch Eck then scroll down to June 1945) the vessel escorted U-2529 from Kristiansund to Loch Eriboll on 1st June 1945. But the Naval Historical Branch of the MoD maintain that U-2529 went to Scapa Flow and from there direct to Lisahally, by-passing Loch Eriboll. And they further maintain that no surrendered U-boat was escorted to Loch Eriboll after 24th May 1945.

Peter Sharpe's U-Boat Fact File (1-85780-072-9) has six U-boats (U-291, U-720, U-868, U-2529, U-3017 and UD-5) being escorted to Loch Eriboll en route to Loch Ryan or Lisahally at the end of May or early June 1945.

Can anyone add anything which might confirm either scenario?

Thanks as always.

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