This page is our compilation of data from several different databases. All data shown here is dynamic, but is accurate according to the information we have right now. Although content is still being added daily, more than 75% of the launched and commissioned data is already in place, so this section is almost complete.
Quick links: War losses - General events
The Shipyard Report
Laid down (32)
1928: Submarine Proteus (N 29)
1935:
Light cruiser Birmingham (19)
1938:
Escort carrier Chenango (CVE 28)
1941:
Boom defence vessel Barbrake (Z 173) -
Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 315 (MTB 315) -
Frigate Spey (K 246) -
Motor torpedo boat PT 57 -
Minesweeper YMS-87 (YMS-87)
1942:
Escort Carrier Ameer (D 01) -
Minesweeper BYMS 2157 (J 957) -
Escort carrier Baffins (CVE 35) -
Destroyer Escort Pillsbury (ii) (DE 133) -
Motor torpedo boat PT 145 -
Submarine chaser SC-1009 (SC-1009) -
Minesweeper YMS-157 (YMS-157) -
Minesweeper YMS-218 (YMS-218) -
Minesweeper YMS-305 (YMS-305) -
Minesweeper YMS-396 (YMS-396)
1943:
Frigate Loring (K 565) -
Frigate Pasley (K 564) -
Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-366 (LCI(L)-366) -
Landing craft tank LCT 512 (LCT 512) -
Landing craft tank LCT 513 (LCT 513) -
Landing craft tank LCT 514 (LCT 514) -
Tank landing ship LST 502 (LST 502)
1944:
Repair Ship Hartland Point (F 25) -
Minesweeper Styx (J 440) -
High speed transport Diachenko (APD 123) -
Seaplane tender Greenwich Bay (AVP 41) -
Landing craft tank LCT 1255 (LCT 1255) -
Tank landing ship LST 599 (LST 599) -
Patrol craft PGM-31 (PGM-31)
Launched (41)
1912:
MS Trawler Tranquil (FY 920)
1918: Minesweeper RD 28
1919: MS Trawler Ben Dearg (FY 690) -
MS Trawler Milford Prince (FY 614) -
Destroyer Wishart (D 67)
1927: River gunboat Peterel (T 21)
1928: ASW Whaler Southern Flower (FY 332)
1929: Heavy cruiser Exeter (68)
1930: Destroyer Boreas (H 77) -
Destroyer Salamis (H 77)
1931: Submarine L'Espoire
1935: Destroyer Phelps (DD 360)
1939: Light cruiser Dido (37) -
Landing Ship Infantry Glengyle (4.196) -
Light cruiser Nigeria (60)
1940: Corvette Wetaskiwin (K 175) -
Escort destroyer Cotswold (L 54) -
Minesweeper Polruan (J 97)
1941: Motor torpedo boat PT 44
1942: Rescue Tug Reserve (W 149) -
Boom defence vessel Barfoil (Z 194) -
Motor minesweeper MMS 211 (J 711) -
Escort Carrier Pursuer (D 73) -
Destroyer Conner (ii) (DD 582) -
Destroyer Hall (DD 583) -
Destroyer Kalk (ii) (DD 611) -
Patrol craft PC-617 (PC-617) -
Motor torpedo boat PT 118 -
Submarine chaser SC-734 (SC-734) -
Escort carrier St. George (CVE 17) -
Minesweeper YMS-184 (YMS-184)
1943: Destroyer Escort Hilbert (DE 742) -
Tank landing ship LST 270 (LST 270)
1944: Destroyer Chaplet (R 52) -
Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-654 (LCI(L)-654) -
Landing craft tank LCT 1329 (LCT 1329) -
Tank landing ship LST 631 (LST 631) -
Motor torpedo boat PT 485 -
Motor torpedo boat PT 626
1945: Motor torpedo boat PT 615 -
Dock landing ship Whetstone (LSD 27)
Commissioned (25)
1936: Minesweeper Salamander (J 86)
1940: ASW Trawler St. Zeno (FY 280)
1941: Motor Launch ML 255 (ML 255) -
Motor minesweeper MMS 42 (J 542) -
Seaplane tender Pocomoke (AV 9) -
Motor torpedo boat PT 37 -
Motor torpedo boat PT 38
1942: Motor torpedo boat PT 112 -
Submarine chaser SC-654 (SC-654)
1943: Motor minesweeper MMS 1035 (FY 1035) -
Motor minesweeper MMS 288 (J 788) -
Destroyer Escort Chase (DE 158) -
Minesweeper YMS-177 (YMS-177)
1944: Landing Craft Tank LCT 1154 (LCT 1154) -
Motor minesweeper MMS 1051 (FY 1051) -
Destroyer Zambesi (R 66) -
Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-1030 (LCI(L)-1030) -
Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-651 (LCI(L)-651) -
Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-706 (LCI(L)-706) -
Medium landing ship LSM 265 (LSM 265) -
Patrol craft PC-1187 (PC-1187) -
Destroyer Purdy (DD 734) -
Destroyer Escort Ulvert M. Moore (DE 442)
1945: Motor torpedo boat PT 712
1946: Submarine rescue vessel Kittiwake (ASR 13)
Legend:
Laid down means that the ship's construction was officially started by laying down the keel (often just a single steel beam but could also mean the first of many pre-fabricated sections).
Launched means that the ship was launched from its shipyard, it then began its fitting out period (installation of smaller systems, weapons etc.) - in many yards the ships were launched very complete and needed little work afterwards.
Commissioned is when the navy takes the ship officially over and gives command of it to its new captain.
War Losses on 18 July (3)
1942: Submarine ShCh-138
1943: Tank landing ship LST 342 (LST 342)
1944: Submarine chaser SC-1072 (SC-1072)
More information on Allied Warships losses.
General Events on 18 July
1940
Heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra: Around 0800B/18, HMAS Canberra (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN) departed Simonstown to patrol in the South Atlantic.
Heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall: HMS Cornwall (Capt. C.F. Hammill, RN) is taken in hand for refit at the Cammell Laird Shipyard at Birkenhead.
Heavy cruiser HMS York: HMS York (Capt. R.H. Portal, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Rosyth.
Light cruiser HMS Caradoc: HMS Caradoc (Capt. J.S. Bethell, RN) departed Halifax for St. John's, Newfoundland.
Light cruiser HMS Diomede: HMS Diomede (Capt. J.W. Farquhar, RN) departed Kingston, Jamaica for Saint-Barthélemy where she was to pick up survivors from several merchant vessels sunk by the German raider Widder and transport them to Anguilla. She was then to patrol off the Sombrero Passage.
Light cruiser HMS Dunedin: HMS Dunedin (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CVO, RN) departed Trinidad to patrol the Trinidad - U.K. shipping lane within 300 nautical miles from Trinidad.
Light cruiser HMAS Perth: HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral J.G. Crace, RN) and the troopship Orontes (British, 20097 GRT, built 1929) departed Melbourne for Adelaide.
Light cruiser HMAS Sydney: Around 0430C/18, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J.A. Collins, RAN) and the destroyer HMS Havock (Cdr. R.E. Courage, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for an anti-shipping raid in the Gulf of Athens. They were to pass through the Kaso Strait around 2000C/18 and proceed towards the Gulf of Athens. After the raid they were to pass through the Anti-Kithera Channel as to arrive at Alexandria at 1400C/20.
Light cruiser HNMS Tromp: HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.W. Termijtelen, RNN) shifted from the Madoera Strait to the Java Sea.
Submarine HNMS O 23: HrMs O 23 (Lt.Cdr. G.B.M. van Erkel, RNN) conducted trials and exercises in the Clyde area during which she was escorted by HrMs Z 6 (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Lunbeck, RNN).
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Aurania: Convoy BHX 59.
This convoy departed Bermuda on 18 July 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Auditor (British, 5444 GRT, built 1924),
Cambridge (British, 10892 GRT, built 1919),
Circe Shell (British (tanker), 8207 GRT, built 1931),
Dan-Y-Bryn (British, 5117 GRT, built 1940),
Donax (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938),
Finnanger (Norwegian (tanker) 9551 GRT, built 1928),
Lady Glanely (British, 5497 GRT, built 1938),
Loriga (British, 6665 GRT, built 1919),
Mahia (British, 10014 GRT, built 1917),
Modavia (British, 4858 GRT, built 1927),
Morgenen (Norwegian (tanker), 7093 GRT, built 1930),
Norvinn (Panamanian (tanker), 6322 GRT, built 1930),
San Francisco (Swedish, 4933 GRT, built 1915),
Simnia (British (tanker), 6197 GRT, built 1936),
Tredinnick (British, 4589 GRT, built 1921),
Valldemosa (British (tanker), 7222 GRT, built 1935) and
Waziristan (British, 5135 GRT, built 1924).
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Aurania (A/Capt. I.W. Whitehorn, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).
Around 1700Q/18, the merchant vessel Clausina (British (tanker), 8083 GRT, built 1938) overtook and joined the convoy. She had sailed late from Bermuda having arrived there only earlier on this day.
Around 1920Q/18, HMS Penzance parted company to return to Bermuda.
Around 1330P/23, HMS Aurania parted company after convoy HX 59 had been sighted.
Convoy BHX 59 joined convoy HX 59 around 1600P/23.
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle: Around 1500Z/18, HMS Carnarvon Castle (Rear-Admiral M.J.C. de Meric, RN) arrived at Belfast from convoy escort duty.
At Belfast she was taken in hand at the Harland & Wolff shipyard for refit, docking and modifications.
Submarine HMS Ursula: HMS Ursula (Lt.Cdr. W.A.K.N. Cavaye, RN) ended her refit at Wallsend.
Submarine HMS Oberon: HMS Oberon (Lt. C.B. Crouch, RN) conducted exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) off Campbeltown with HMS White Bear (Capt. R. Gill, RD, RNR).
Submarine HMS Regent: Around 1800EF/18, HMS Regent (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Browne, RN) departed Colombo for Aden.
Submarine HMS Thames: HMS Thames (Lt.Cdr. W.D. Dunkerley, RN) returned to Rothesay from the torpedo firing range at Arrochar.
Submarine HMS Porpoise: HMS Porpoise (Cdr. P.Q. Roberts, RN) conducted exercises off Blyth.
Submarine HMS Rorqual: At 0558 hours (zone -2) HMS Rorqual (Lt.Cdr R.H. Dewhurst, RN) departed Grand harbour to resume her patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield of Tulmaythah, Libya.
Submarine HMS Seawolf: HMS Seawolf (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Studholme, DSC, RN) is undocked.
Submarine HMS Tetrarch: Around 0930A/18, HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSC, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Rosyth.
Submarine HMS H 31: HMS H 31 (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) torpedoed and sank the German auxiliary patrol vessel UJ 126 / Steiermark (422 GRT, built 1938) in the North Sea north-west of the Island of Terschelling, Netherlands in position 53°28'N, 05°01'E.
The other two trawlers were UJ 125 / Johs. Klatte and UJ 128 / Franken. Besides hunting the attacker they picked up 37 survivors. 9 crew of UJ 126 died.
0633 hours - Sighted three trawlers bearing red 135° to 160°. Own course 165°. Started attack.
0737 hours - Fired one torpedo.
0739 hours - The enemy started a hunt. Only two ships were heard hunting.
0742 hours - Depth charging started. A total of four were dropped in ten minutes. The enemy was heard hunting until around 1000 hours whan HE started to fade out.
1015 hours - No more HE heard.
1130 hours - Came to periscope depth. Nothing in sight.
Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (Lt. E.P. Tomkinson, RN) participated in / conducted exercises off Campbeltown. These included a practice attack on HMS Angle (Lt. A.N. Blundell, RNR).
Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. A.R. Cheyne, RN) is undocked.
Light cruiser HMS Bonaventure (i): HMS Bonaventure (Capt. H.J. Egerton, RN) departed Halifax for Scapa Flow.
For the daily position of HMS Bonaventure during the period of 18 to 25 July 1940 see the map below.
Destroyer HMS Diana: The destroyer HMS Diana (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Berkeley (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Walters, RN) and HMS Garth (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Dyke, RN) departed Scapa Flow at 0645/18 to assist in an A/S hunt off Cape Wrath. HMS Berkeley and HMS Garth returned to Scapa Flow at 0045/19 while HMS Diana remained on patrol in the area.
Destroyer HMS Hereward: HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) and HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.deW. Kitcat, RN) shifted from Alexandria to Port Said for upcoming convoy duties.
Destroyer HMS Hyperion: HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN) and HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. P.L. Saumarez, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for an A/S hunt towards the Kaso Strait, then along the north coast of Crete, then through the Anti-Kithera Strait and finally back towards Alexandria where they were to return around 0800/20.
Destroyer HMS Kandahar: HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN) returned to Aden.
1941
Heavy cruiser HMS London: HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) departed Gibraltar for Scapa Flow. She is ordered to return from detached service due to the acute shortage of cruisers in home waters.
Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk: HMS Suffolk (Capt. R.M. Ellis, RN), HMS Devonshire (Capt. R.D. Oliver, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker CB, OBE, RN) and HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.T. Borrett, OBE, RN) all conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow.
Heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall: In the evening, HMS Cornwall (Capt. P.C.W. Manwaring, RN), parted company near Perim with convoy WS 9A2 which was made up of the large troopships Ile de France (British, 43450 GRT, built 1926), Mauretania (British, 35739 GRT, built 1939) and Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938).
Heavy cruiser HMS Exeter: HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN) arrived at Durban from Mombasa.
Light cruiser HMS Colombo: Around 0915D/18, HMS Colombo (Capt. C.A.E. Stanfield, RN) and the the (troop) transport Yoma (British, 8131 GRT, built 1928) arrived at Mogadishu from Kilindini / Mombasa.
They departed for Berbera around 1300D/18 but they parted company around 1040D/20 when the transport continued onwards unescorted and HMS Colombo set course for Kismayu.
Light cruiser HMAS Hobart: HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) is taken in hand at Alexandria for the fitting off additional close range anti-aircraft armament.
Light cruiser HMAS Perth: Around 1700C/18, HMAS Perth (Capt. P.W. Bowyer-Smith, RN) departed Alexandria to return to Australia where she is to refit.
She had been relieved by sister ship HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN).
Submarine HNMS O 21: At 1500A/18, in position 37°54'N, 04°56'E, HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) sighted smoke bearing 198°. Course was altered to the south to close. It was subsequently seen that the smoke came from a merchant vessel with four masts and a black funnel that was proceeding to the north-west. HrMs O 21 resumed her original course at 1530A/18. The merchant vessel was most likely Vichy-French.
Submarine HNMS O 24: HMS Bideford (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, RNR), HMS Joinquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RNR), HMS Coreopsis (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR), HMS Arctic Ranger (Cdr.(Retd.) J.H. Young, RN), HMS Arran (T/Lt. J.E.B. Healy, RNVR), HMS Copinsay (Skr. E.R. Harris, RNR) and HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN) all arrived at Gibraltar with convoy OG 67.
Submarine HNMS O 14: HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. G. Quint, RNN(R)) arrived at Scapa Flow for another period of A/S exercises.
Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) shifted from Tobermory to Oban to embark fuel there. She was escorted by HMS Martinetta (T/Lt. J.A. Brightman, RNVR).
Aircraft Carrier HMS Furious: HMS Furious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN) was underway in the Clyde area to land on aircraft.
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Canton: Around 0815N/18, HMS Canton (A/Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, MVO, RN) arrived at Freetown from convoy escort duty and patrol.
Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Circassia: Around 1035Z/18, HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) arrived at Reykjavick from convoy escort duty.
Submarine HMS Ursula: HMS Ursula (Lt. A.J. Mackenzie, RN) departed Malta for her 21th war patrol (8th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol in an area South of Lampedusa.
For the daily positions of HMS Ursula during this patrol see the map below.
Submarine HMS Oberon: HMS Oberon (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Pizey, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) with HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN).
Submarine HMS Otway: HMS Otway (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.
Submarine HMS Clyde: HMS Clyde (Cdr. D.C. Ingram, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar for her 17th war patrol. She was ordered to join the escort of convoy HG 68 for part of the way of the passage to the U.K.
For the daily position of HMS Clyde see the map below.
Submarine HMS Thunderbolt: HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) picks up 43 survivors (the entire crew) of the British merchant Guelma (British, 4402 GRT, built 1928) that was torpedoed and sunk the day before in position 30°44'N, 17°33'W by the Italian submarine Alessandro Malaspina.
Submarine HMS Tribune: HMS Tribune (Lt.Cdr. W.A.K.N. Cavaye, RN) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class of new submariners.
Submarine HMS Taku: At 1530C/18, in position 32°06'N, 18°46'E, HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN), sighted an Orione-class torpedo boat bearing 286° at a range of 3700 yards. Enemy course was 350°.
The torpedo boat then altered course to 095° and proceeded towards Benghazi at 12 knots.
This was probably the torpedo boat Perseo. She had sailed from Tripoli at 1814B/17 to join the transport Bosforo (Italian, 3648 GRT, built 1929) who was coming from Naples and escort her to Benghazi. Perseo reached the entrance of Benghazi at 1940B/18, but Bosforo was late. She finally met her at 0922B/19, and they subsequently reached Benghazi at 1753B/19.
Submarine HMS Tetrarch: In approximate position 37°33'N, 24°26'E, HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway, RN) is depth charged by an enemy destroyer while trying to attack a convoy near Thermia, Greece. No damage to Tetrarch was done but the attack had to be broken off.
This was most probably the convoy made up of the transports Citta di Bastia (2499 GRT, built 1930), Città di Alessandria (2498 GRT, built 1930) and Santagata (4262 GRT, built 1905) en route from Rhodos to Piraeus via Samos. They were escorted by the destroyer Francesco Crispi, torpedo boat Libra and naval auxiliary Brioni. The convoy arrived at Piraeus at 1400B/18.
At 0815B/18, when in position 360° - Cape Kephalos - 5 nautical miles, sighted a convoy of three ships of about 5000 tons escorted by one armed merchant cruiser, two destroyers, one MAS boat, one A/S trawler and one aircraft. They appeared to be going down the Serpho Channel but they later changed course to go to the Thermia Channel.
This move caught HMS Tetrarch 4000 yards off track and just ahead of the starboard wing destroyer of the screen. To get into a favourable firing position this destroyer had to be ignored and speed was increased to full. Two minutes later a depth charge was dropped and further efforts to increase speed were followed by more depth charges. Tetrarch must have been detected and in view of the unfavourable attack position the attack was abandoned.
The destroyer dropped five depth charges in all and remained in the vicinity for a further forty minutes passing right overhead twice.
At 0950B/18, HMS Tetrarch returned to periscope depth to find the destroyer gone but an A/S trawler was only 600 yards away. HMS Tetrarch crept away slowly without being detected.
Submarine HMS Urge: Around 2200B/18, HMS Urge (Lt. E.P. Tomkinson, RN) departed Malta for her 6th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
[No log is available so it is not possible to display a map of her movements during this patrol.]
Submarine HMS Uproar: HMS P 31 (Lt. J.B.de B. Kershaw, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Lerwick.
Submarine HMS H 31: HMS H 31 (Lt. R.J. Hemingway, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.
Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. H. Winter, RN) conducted exercises off Campbeltown.
Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt. J.D. Martin, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.
Light cruiser HMS Neptune: HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN) departed Port Said for Alexandria.
Light cruiser HMS Euryalus: HMS Euryalus (Capt. E.W. Bush, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery trials off Sheerness.
Battleship HMS Malaya: HMS Malaya (Capt. C. Coppinger, DSC, RN) arrived at Halifax.
Battlecruiser HMS Repulse: Around 1930 hours, HMS Repulse (Capt. W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN), departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth where she is to undergo a short refit and radar will be installed. During the passage to Rosyth she is escorted by the destroyers HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN), HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn, RN) and HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSO, RN).
Destroyer HMS Kipling: The battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. C.B. Barry, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.D. Pridham-Whippell, KCB, CVO, RN), HMS Warspite (Capt. D.B. Fisher, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. C.E. Morgan, DSO, RN), light cruiser HMS Phoebe (Capt. G. Grantham, RN) and the destroyers HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) departed Alexandria for exercises. At sea they were joined by the fast minelayers HMS Abdiel (Capt. E. Peydell-Bouverie, MVO, RN) and HMS Latona (Capt. S.L. Bateson, RN) which had already departed Alexandria for exercises the previous day. Also at sea joined the destroyers HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN), HMS Jackal (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, DSC, RN) and HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, RAN) which came from Haifa.
1942
Submarine HNoMS Uredd: HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to perform an A/S patrol in the Norwegian Sea.
For the daily positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.
Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk: HMS Suffolk (Capt. R. Shelley, CBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in Scapa Flow. She then departed Scapa Flow to conduct RIX (rangefinding and inclination) exercises together with HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, RN) which was already out for exercises.
Light cruiser HMS Cardiff: HMS Cardiff (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area.
Submarine HNMS O 21: Around 1800B/18, HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) and her escort, HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN), made rendezvous with HMS P 212 (Lt. J.H. Bromage, DSC, RN) and her current escort HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR) coming from Lerwick. HMS P 212 then joined while HMS La Capricieuse parted company to return to Lerwick.
Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) conducted engine trials off Rothesay. Upon completion of these she proceeded to Ardishaig.
Submarine USS Skipjack: USS Skipjack (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Coe) left Fremantle for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Banda Sea.
Aircraft Carrier HMS Indomitable: Around 0900B/18, 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) departed Capetown for Freetown.
Aircraft Carrier HMS Furious: HMS Furious (Capt. T.O. Bulteel, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area.
Submarine HMS Parthian: HMS Parthian (Lt.Cdr. D. St. Clair-Ford, RN) arrived at Malta. Unloading of the cargo commenced immediately (36 tons of aviation spirit, 33 tons of miscellaneous stores and 47 tons of ammunition, most of them for HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN).
As Parthian had developed engine problems she remained at Malta for repairs.
Submarine HMS Clyde: HMS Clyde (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Gibraltar.
Submarine HMS Sahib: HMS P 212 (Lt. J.H. Bromage, DSC, RN) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR).
Submarine HMS Saracen: HMS P 247 (Lt. M.G.R. Lumby, RN), HMS P 51 (Lt. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC, RN) and HMS Rorqual (Lt. L.W. Napier, RN) conducted attack exercises on each other in the Clyde area. These included night exercises.
Submarine HMS P 222: HMS P 222 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. MacKenzie, RN) departed Gibraltar for her 2nd war patrol. She was initially ordered to patrol off the West coast of Sardinia, Italy.
For the daily positions of HMS P 222 during this patrol see the map below.
Submarine HMS P 48: HMS P 48 (Lt. M.E. Faber, RN) departed Lerwick for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Norwegian Sea between 63°30'N and 64°20'N and 01°00'E and 05°00'E on an anti-uboat patrol.
For the daily positions of HMS P 48 see the map below.
Submarine HMS Unshaken: HMS P 54 (Lt. C.E. Oxborrow, DSC, RN) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR).
Submarine HMS H 43: HMS H 43 (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with aircraft.
Submarine HMS H 44: HMS H 44 (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle.
Submarine HMS P 511: HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow.
Minelayer HMS Manxman: HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, DSO, RN) departed Visakhapatnam for Madras.
Minelayer HMS Welshman: After having been delayed to sail due to bad weather, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Malta around 1950B/18 for Gibraltar.
Destroyer HMAS Stuart: HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) arrived at Sydney from Brisbane.
Destroyer HMAS Quiberon: Around 1000B/18, HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, OBE, RN) departed Portsmouth for sea trials. She arrived at Portland later the same day.
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-12: USS R-12 (Lt. E.E. Shelby, USN) participated in A/S exercises of Guantanamo Bay together with USS Meade (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Lamb, 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 USSR ShCh-118: The Soviet submarine ShCh-138 was destroyed by an explosion of her own torpedo compartment at Nikolayevsk-na-Amure. ShCh-118 also sank as a result of this explosion. She was however raised and repaired.
Submarine ORP Sokol: ORP Sokol (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B. Karnicki, DSO) was taken in hand for refit at Blyth.
Destroyer HNMS Tjerk Hiddes (ii): Convoy WS 21P.
This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 18 July 1942.
The convoy was made up of the following troop transports;
Duchess of Atholl (British, 20119 GRT, built 1928),
Duchess of York (British, 20021 GRT, built 1929),
Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930),
Oronsay (British, 20043 GRT, built 1925) and
Windsor Castle (British, 19141 GRT, built 1922).
On assembly of Oversay the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. G.C.P. Menzies, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), HMS Buxton (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Moens, RN) and HMS Georgetown (Lt.Cdr. P.G. MacIver, RNR).
Around 0800O/20, HMS Buxton parted company with the convoy.
Around 2300O/20, HMAS Nepal parted company to proceed to Ponta Delgada, Azores, to fuel. She rejoined the convoy around 0150O/22.
Around 0800O/22, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company with the convoy to proceed to Ponta Delgada, Azores, to fuel. She rejoined the convoy around 0800O/23.
Around 0730Z/25, the destroyer HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) joined the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Freetown on 27 July 1942.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The convoy departed Freetown in the same composition on 1 August 1942. It was now escorted by the light cruiser HMS Orion, destroyers HMAS Nepal, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes, HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN) and the minesweeper / sloop Commandant Duboc.
In the morning of 5 August 1942, the American convoy AS 4 joined the convoy. This convoy was made up of the following transports;
American Manufacturer (American, 6678 GRT, built 1941),
Empire Oriole (British, 6535 GRT, built 1941),
Exhibitor (American, 6736 GRT, built 1940),
Hawaiian Shipper (American, 7775 GRT, built 1941),
Mormacdale (American, 6976 GRT, built 1942),
Santa Cruz (American, 6925 GRT, built 1941),
Seatrain Texas (American, 8108 GRT, built 1940),
Tarn (Norwegian, 6850 GRT, built 1933) and
Zaandam (Dutch, 19141 GRT, built 1922).
On this convoy joining the American escort, made up of the light cruiser Omaha (Capt. T.E. Chandler, USN), AA cruiser Juneau (Capt. L.K. Swenson, USN) and the destroyers USS Somers (T/Cdr. A.C. Wood, USN) and USS Davis (T/Cdr. M.R. Peterson, USN) then parted company.
At 0900Z/6, HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company with the convoy and joined the RFA tanker Rapidol (2648 GRT, built 1917) and her escort, the corvette HMS Snowdrop (Lt. P.A. Tinne, RNVR). The destroyers fuelled from the Rapidol in the early hours of 7 August 1942 when off St. Helena. They rejoined the convoy around 1900A/10.
HMS Boreas also parted company on 6 August 1942. She was also to fuel from the Rapidol.
The convoy arrived at Capetown on 12 August 1942.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The convoy, now made up of the
Duchess of Atholl,
Duchess of York,
Empire Oriole,
Empress of Japan,
Exhibitor,
Hawaiian Shipper,
Oronsay,
Tarn,
Windsor Castle and
Zaandam departed Capetown on 16 August 1942.
The convoy was now escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.T. Borrett, OBE, RN).
Around 1700BC/19, the light cruiser HMS Orion and the destroyers HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes joined the convoy. HMS Shropshire then parted company.
Around 1645C/24, HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company with the convoy to proceed to Kilindini.
The convoy was dispersed off Aden on 29 August 1942.
Submarine HMS L 26: HMS L 26 (Lt. C.A. Pardoe, RNR) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with a training class of new submariners.
1943
Light cruiser HMS Capetown: HMS Capetown (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) arrived at Bandar Abbas from Bombay for service with the Persian Gulf Division.
Light cruiser HMS Glasgow: Around 1200B/18, HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) arrived at Plymouth from Scapa Flow.
Light cruiser HMS Newcastle: HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) proceeded Tanga to Kilindini.
Submarine HNMS O 9: HrMs O 9 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. Drijfhout van Hooff, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Bretwalda (Skr.Lt. J.R. Coultas, RD, RNR) and HMS L' Atlantique (Skr. A. McKay, RNR).
Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) shifted from Campbeltown to Ardishaig.
Submarine USS Swordfish: After repairs, USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. F.M. Parker, USN), started a training period out of Pearl Harbor.
Submarine USS Seadragon: USS Seadragon (Cdr. R.L. Rutter, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Marshall Islands area. Seadragon was escorted out by USS PC 588 (Lt. J.R. Hinton Jr., USNR).
For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Seadragon during this patrol see the map below.
Submarine USS Finback: USS Finback (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Tyree, Jr.) departed from Fremantle for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Java Sea.
Submarine USS Snook: USS Snook (Lt.Cdr. C.O. Triebel) ended her 2nd war patrol at Pearl Harbor.
Submarine USS Skate: During 18/19 July 1943, USS Skate (T/Cdr. E.B. McKinney, USN) conducted trials and / or exercises in the San Francisco area.
Submarine HMS Proteus: HMS Proteus (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Larne.
Submarine HMS Severn: HMS Severn (Lt.Cdr. A.N.G. Campbell, RN) conducted exercises off Algiers.
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 Safari: HMS Safari (Lt. R.B. Lakin, DSO, DSC, RN) sank the Italian auxiliary minesweeper R 47 / Amalia (101 GRT, built 1931) with gunfire in position 40°42'N, 09°49'E.
Following this attack HMS Safari was attacked by an Italian aircraft.
1345B/2 - Sighted a Northbound motor minesweeper.
1405B/2 - Surfaced for gun action. Range was 1600 yards. 34 Rounds were fired and several hits were obtained. The enemy at first replied with 2 machine guns wounding 2 of Safari's gun crew. The enemy however soon caught fire and was abandoned by her crew. The Captain was taken prisoner. The ship burnt until 1920 hours when it sank.
1430B/2 - An Breda 65 aircraft appeared and opened cannon fire. Very wide.
1432B/2 - Dived, proceeded to seaward.
1434B/2 - One bomb was dropped, not very close. Went deep.
1503B/2 - Returned to periscope depth. Soon afterwards 2 bombs were dropped quite near. No aircraft however was seen. Went to 120 feet.
Submarine HMS Sceptre: HMS Sceptre (Lt. I.S. McIntosh, MBE, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She made the passage together with FFS Minerve. They were escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN).
Submarine HMS Sibyl: At 1733 hours, in position 39°03'N, 09°49'E, HMS Sibyl (Lt. E.J.D. Turner, DSO, DSC, RN) destroyed by gunfire a derelict Cant Z.1007 which had been abandoned by her crew.
Submarine HMS Sickle: HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, DSC, RN) sank the Italian auxiliary minesweepers No. G.61/ Costante Neri (100 GRT) and No. R.164/ Rosa Madre (39 GRT) with gunfire 7 miles East of the island of Gorgona, Italy.
(All times are zone -2)
1150 hours - In position 43°24'N, 10°03'E sighted masts. Closed submerged at speed.
1205 hours - The enemy ships turned out to be a small steam tug or trawler and two motor schooners. Enemy course was 180°.
1235 hours - The tug and one schooner altered course 20° towards. The other schooner altered away towards the coast.
1253 hours - Surfaced and engaged the steam tug with the gun. The schooner altered course to the North and made off at full speed.
1302 hours - The tug sank after being hit 35 times. Altered course and set off in pursuit of the schooner that was now 3 nautical miles to the North.
1310 hours - Opened fire on the schooner. The crew immediately abandoned ship.
1318 hours - The schooner sank after about 20 hits. In all 116 rounds had been fired at both targets.
According to Italian sources MAS 525 was sent to their assistance and rescued all the survivors. There were no casualties.
Submarine HMS Stoic: HMS Stoic (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area.
Submarine HMS Stubborn: Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensburgh.
Submarine HMS Torbay: Around dawn, HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sighed a large armed trawler near Cape Linaro. This was most likely the German auxiliary A/S trawler UJ 2208 which had departed Civitavecchia for an A/S hunt together with two Italian corvettes, the Gazzella and Euterpe.
HMS Torbay sank the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V 90/San Girolamo (109 GRT) with gunfire in position 41°34'N, 12°05'E. The whole crew of the San Girolamo (fourteen men) were rescued by the Gazzella.
0513B/17 - Dived in position 250° - Cape Linaro - 14 nautical miles on sighting a vessel which turned out to be a heavily armed trawler which looked like a former French grand bank trawler. Two guns were seen forward and three aft. She was proceeding south at 6 knots. This ship was larger then an ordinary trawler.
0630B/17 - A new type of escort vessel resembling a bit a Hunt-class destroyer [probably one of the new Italian corvettes] was sighted. She passed inshore steering to the north-west. It was seen to stop for a while a few miles to the north-west.
Shortly after having sighted this vessel another one of the same type was seen proceeding to the northwest at 18 knots. She passed 5 nautical miles to the seaward. She then joined the other one and they then both made off to the north-west. Meanwhile also the armed trawler was seen to return and proceeded northward close inshore.
1330B/17 - The two 'Hunts' [corvettes] were sighted again to thee northwest. They were sweeping to the southwest at slow speed but soon disappeared again.
2100B/17 - Sighted a schooner to the southward. She appeared to be patrolling so was most likely an auxiliary A/S vessel.
2120B/17 - Surfaced and set off in pursuit of the schooner that was no longer visible.
2230B/17 - Found the schooner again and sank it with 28 rounds of the 4" gun and 2 pans of Oerlikon.
Submarine HMS Trooper: At 0151C/18, HMS Trooper (Lt. G.S.C. Clarabut, RN) received Capt. S.10's signal timed 2241B/17, ordering her to be in position 8 miles south of Cape Santa Maria di Leuca between 0200 and 1200B/20.
Submarine HMS Tactician: At 0001B/18, HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Collett, DSC, RN) established patrol in the Gulf of Taranto.
Submarine HMS Tally-Ho: Around 1500B/18, HMS Tally-Ho (Lt.Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO, DSC, RN) departed from Holy Loch for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay and proceed to Gibraltar afterwards. This is an anti-U-boat patrol.
Around 2115B/18, she was joined by HMS White Bear (Cdr. J.F. Drake, RNR) which was to escort her southwards through the Irish Sea.
HMS White Bear parted company around 1335B/20.
Submarine HMS Tally-Ho: For the daily positions of HMS Tally-Ho during her 2nd war patrol see the map below.
Submarine HMS Uproar: HMS Uproar (Lt. L.E. Herrick, DSC, RN) ended her 19th war patrol (14th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. No target worthy of attack came within range.
Submarine HMS Unbroken: HMS Unbroken (Lt. B.J.B. Andrew, DSC, RN) ended her 19th war patrol (also 19th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. It was uneventful.
Submarine HMS Unruly: HMS Unruly (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN) arrived at Bizerta, Tunisia.
Submarine HMS Unshaken: At 1037 hours in 35°45’N, 18°03.5’ E, HMS Unshaken (Lt. J. Whitton, RN) sighted a submarine at a distance of 7 miles but did not take any offensive action as it was believed to be ORP Dzik. This was in fact U-81 proceeding from Salamis to operate against the invasion force off Syracuse. The U-boat, believing Unshaken to be an Italian submarine, also refrained from attack. At about 1730 hours, the two submarines were again in visual contact and again refrained from attack.
Submarine HMS Usurper: HMS Usurper (Lt. D.R.O. Mott, DSC, RN) departed Algiers for her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol to the west of Corsica.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Usurper during this patrol see the map below.
Submarine HMS Varangian: HMS Varangian (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. Upon completion of these exercises a deep dive trial was carried out.
Submarine HMS H 33: HMS H 33 (T/Lt. C.P. Thode, RNZNVR) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.
Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. B. Charles, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Pelican (Capt. G.N. Brewer, RN).
Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. J.M. Michell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with (at least) HMS L'Incomprise (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.S. Deveson, RNR).
Submarine HMS P 511: HMS P 511 (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Burnett, DSC, RN), HMS Rother (Lt.Cdr. R.V.E. Case, DSC, RD, RNR), HMS Egret (Lt. G.H. Cook, RN) and HMS Wear (Cdr. E. Wheeler, RD, RNR).
Sloop HMS Bridgewater: At 07.56 hours on 18 July 1943, the unescorted British passenger ship Incomati was torpedoed and damaged by German U-boat U-508 about 200 nautical miles south of Lagos. At 08.18 hours, the U-boat began shelling the ship, setting her on fire and left the wreck in sinking condition. The ship finally sank in position 03°09'N, 04°15'E. One crew member was lost. The master, 101 crew members, eight gunners and 112 passengers were picked up by the British destroyer HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN) and the British sloop HMS Bridgewater (Cdr. N.W.H. Weekes, OBE, RN) and landed at Takoradi.
Light cruiser HMS Aurora: Around 1300/18, the light cruiser HMS Aurora (Commodore W.G. Agnew, CB, RN) and the destroyers HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Tumult (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN), HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN), ORP Piorun (Cdr. S.T. Dzienisiewicz), HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN) and HMS Echo (Lt.Cdr. R.H.C. Wyld, RN) departed Malta for a sweep along the south coast of Calabria. No shipping was sighted. One aircraft was shot down by HMS Ilex.
Around 1045/19, HMS Troubridge, HMS Tumult, HMS Quilliam, HMS Offa and ORP Piorun were detached to hunt a reported U-boat.
HMS Aurora, HMS Ilex and HMS Echo returned to Malta around 1420/19.
HMS Troubridge, HMS Tumult, HMS Quilliam, HMS Offa and ORP Piorun returned to Malta around 0145/20.
Light cruiser HMS Mauritius: Around 0515B/18, HMS Newfoundland (Capt. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN), HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, DSO, RN) and HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) departed Augusta to proceed to the north for a bombardment of Catania.
At 0705B/18, HMS Mauritius opened fire on Catania. Three minutes later fire was ceased. In the meantime a hit on the railway station had been observed.
At 0809B/18, they were ordered to return to Augusta due to the bad visibility in the area making spotting difficult.
They returned to Augusta around 0915B/18.
Light cruiser HMS Nigeria: HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Greenock from Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Light cruiser HMS Ceylon: HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) shifted from Greenock to Glasgow.
Destroyer HMAS Stuart: Around 0930K/18, the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN) departed Brisbane to make rendezvous with the escort carrier USS Barnes (T/Capt. G.A. Dussalt, USN) approaching from the east.
Rendezvous was effected around 0925K/19 and course was set for Brisbane.
They arrived at Brisbane around 1420K/20.
Destroyer HMCS Iroquois: Around 1130B/18, HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. W.B.L. Holms, RCN) arrived at Plymouth from convoy escort duty.
Around 1400B/18, the six German U-boat survivors / POW's, one officer, one petty officer and four ratings, were landed.
Submarine USSR L-4: L-4 lays a minefield off Eupatoria, Ukraine.
Submarine USSR M-111: M-111 torpedoed and sank the Romanian barge Dunarea I (505 GRT) off Feodosiya, Crimea, Ukraine in position 44°60'N, 35°32'E.
Submarine HMS L 27: HMS L 27 (Lt. R.G.P. Bulkeley, RN) is undocked.
1944
Light cruiser HMS Caledon: Convoy MKS 56.
This convoy departed Port Said on 18 July 1944.
On departure from Port Said the convoy was made up of the transports / tankers;
Avristan (British, 7266 GRT, built 1942),
Canara (British, 7024 GRT, built 1942),
Durenda (British, 7241 GRT, built 1922),
Empire Baxter (British, 7024 GRT, built 1941),
Empire Confidence (British, 5023 GRT, built 1925),
Fort Orleans (British, 7166 GRT, built 1943),
Jersey Hart (British, 7275 GRT, built 1943),
Manchester Division (British, 6048 GRT, built 1918),
Meline (Norwegian (tanker), 6983 GRT, built 1918),
Raymond T. Baker (American, 7207 GRT, built 1944),
Samana (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943),
Sambur (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943),
Samcleve (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943),
Thistledale (British, 7241 GRT, built 1942),
Troubadour (Panamanian, 6428 GRT, built 1920),
Van der Capelle (Dutch, 7037 GRT, built 1942) and
Wanderer (British, 5079 GRT, built 1925).
The rescue tug HMRT Hesperia was also part of the convoy
On departure from Port Said the convoy was escorted by the frigates HMS Dart (Cdr. J.T. Jones, RD, RNR) and HMS Shiel (Lt. H.P. Crail, DSC, RNR).
On 19 July 1944 the convoy was joined by the transports;
Caduceus (British, 4364 GRT, built 1927),
Empire Tide (British, 6978 GRT, built 1941),
Fort Meductic (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943),
Indiana (Panamanian, 5751 GRT, built 1917),
Vasco (British, 2878 GRT, built 1939) which came from Alexandria. They were escorted by the minesweeper HMS Sharpshooter (Lt.Cdr. W.L. O'Mara, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Gloxinia (Lt. D. Perry, DSC, RNR) and HMS Primula (T/Lt. E.N. Wilding, RNVR).
On 21 July 1944, the Manchester Division arrived at Alexandria apparently having been detached from the convoy.
Around 1750B/23, the following transports / tankers departed Augusta to join the convoy which they did around 0630B/24 in position 36°23'N, 15°08'E;
Carrillo (American, 5013 GRT, built 1911),
Cotton Valley (British, 1155 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Fay (British (tanker), 814 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Lass (British (tanker), 813 GRT, built 1941),
Esneh (British, 1931 GRT, built 1919),
Pan-Maryland (American (tanker), 7701 GRT, built 1938),
Piere Soule (British, 7191 GRT, built 1943),
Stephen A. Douglas (British, 7219 GRT, built 1942) and
Vito (Norwegian, 5181 GRT, built 1937). They were escorted by Italian torpedoboat Ardimentoso and the corvettes Driade and Baionetta.]
Around 1600B/24, the following transports / tankers arrived at Augusta after having parted company with the convoy at 0545B/24 in position 36°22'N, 15°13'E;
Canara,
Empire Tide,
Fort Meductic,
Jersey Hart,
Meline,
Raymond T. Baker,
Thistledale,
Van der Capelle and
Vasco. [They were most likely escorting in by the same ships that had escorted the vessels leaving Augusta.]
Around 1630B/24, in position 36°35'N, 13°33'E, the following merchant vessels joined from Augusta (they had sailed late); Empire Copperfield (British, 6013 GRT, built 1943) and Fort Dauphin (British, 7133 GRT, built 1943).
On 24 July 1944, the transports / tankers Antonia (Dutch (tanker), 3357 GRT, built 1938) and Cape Brenton (British, 6044 GRT, built 1940) departed Malta to join the convoy which they did at 1100B/24 in position 36°29'N, 14°28'E. Also joining from Malta were the auxiliary minelayer HMS Teviotbank (Cdr.(Retd.) R.D. King-Harman, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), submarine HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Collett, DSC and Bar, RN) and a reinforcement for the A/S escort the Yugoslavian corvette Nada.
On 25 July 1944, the Antonia, Empire Fay and HMRT Hesperia arrived at Bizerta after having been detached from the convoy at 1630B/25 2 nautical miles north of Bizerta while the transport Redgate (British, 4323 GRT, built 1929) joined the convoy as did the AA cruiser HMS Caledon (Capt. R.F. Nichols, RN) and the landing ship HMS Thruster (A/Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A.W. McMullan, DSC, RNR) around the same time.
On 26 July 1944, the Vito arrived at Bone after having been detached from the convoy at 0615B/26 in position 37°23'N, 07°44'E, while the transport Empire Trent (British, 5006 GRT, built 1927) and the tug HMRT Aspirant joined the convoy around the same time.
On 27 July 1944, the Cotton Valley, Empire Baxter, Empire Copperfield, Empire Lass, Fort Dauphin, Indiana, Pan-Maryland, Pierre Soule, Stephen A. Douglas, HMS Thruster and HMRT Aspirant all arrived at Algiers after having been detached from the convoy at 1425B/27 in position 37°04'N, 03°06'E, while the transports Balfe (British, 5369 GRT, built 1920), Baron Douglas (British, 3899 GRT, built 1932), Baron Herries (British, 4574 GRT, built 1940), Cromarty (British, 4974 GRT, built 1936) and Lieutenant de la Tour (French, 5844 GRT, built 1917) joined the convoy.
On 28 July 1944, the Carrillo, Esneh and Lieutenant de la Tour arrived at Oran Bay after having parted company with the convoy at 1500B/28 in position 36°00'N, 00°38'W, while the the transports Cydonia (British, 3517
GRT, built 1927) and Jobshaven (Dutch, 3528 GRT, built 1916) joined the convoy.
On 29 July 1944, the following transports arrived at Gibraltar;
Balfe,
Baron Douglas,
Baron Herries,
Caduceus,
Cape Brenton,
Cydonia,
Durenda and
Fort Orleans. With them
HMS Caledon,
HMS Tactician,
HMS Dart,
HMS Shiel,
HMS Sharpshooter,
HMS Gloxinia,
HMS Primula and
Nada also arrived at Gibraltar.
The remaining transports joined convoy MKS 56G for further passage to the U.K. now escorted by a new escort which joined off Gibraltar. This new escort was made up of the 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) and the 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 (?). With this new escort also the following merchant vessels joined the convoy;
Algonquin Park (Canadian, 7130 GRT, 1942),
Empire Wyclif (British, 6966 GRT, built 1941),
Framlington Court (British, 4888 GRT, built 1924) and
Glaisdale (British, 3777 GRT, built 1929)
as did the escort oiler San Tirso (British (tanker), 6266 GRT, built 1913) and the rescue ship Gothland (British, 1286 GRT, built 1932).
Also on 30 July the Redgate arrived at Gibraltar after having straggled from the convoy.
At 1600B/31, the convoy merged with convoy SL 165 coming from Freetown to form the combined convoy SL 165 / KMS 56.
Light cruiser HMS Dauntless: HMS Dauntless (Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, DSO, RN) arrived at Invergordon. She departed for Scapa Flow later the same day.
Heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher: At 0846B/12, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) was straddled by a stick of bombs during a German air attack. One bomb was a direct hit on the forecastle though. The ship sustained superficial damage as well as 8 killed and 12 wounded.
Light cruiser HMS Sheffield: HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, DSO, RN) departed Greenock for Boston, USA, where she is to undergo a major refit.
Submarine HNMS O 19: HrMs O 19 (Lt.Cdr. A. van Karnebeek, RNN) arrived at Aden.
Submarine HNMS O 15: HrMs O 15 (Lt. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMCS Kamloops (T/A/Lt.Cdr. D.M. Stewart, RCNR), HMCS Morden (T/Lt. K.B. Culley, RCNVR) and HMCS Chilliwack (T/Lt. D.R. Watson, MBE, RCNR).
Submarine HNMS O 9: HrMs O 9 (Lt. R.W. van Lynden, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, DSC, RD, RNR).
Submarine HNMS O 10: HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. A. van Altena, RNN(R)) was undocked at Port Bannatyne. She immediately returned to Rothesay.
Submarine USS Cobia: USS Cobia (Lt.Cdr. A.L. Becker) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Unkai Maru No.10 (851 GRT) north-west of Chichi Jima in position 29°15'N, 139°10'E and the Japanese army cargo ship Nisshu Maru (7785 GRT) west of Chichi Jima in position 28°17'N, 139°00'E.
Submarine USS Lapon: USS Lapon (Cdr. L.T. Stone) torpedoed and sank the Japanese survey ship Kyodo Maru No.36 (1499 GRT) and the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Kamo Maru (234 GRT) north-west of Labuan, Borneo in position 08°22'N, 116°45'E and torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Kurama Maru (233 GRT) off the southern end of Palawan in position 08°22'N, 116°40'E.
Submarine USS Raton: USS Raton (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Shea) departed from Fremantle for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
Submarine USS Ray: USS Ray (Lt.Cdr. W.T. Kinsella) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant tanker Jambi Maru (5244 GRT, former Dutch Djambi) in the Java Sea north of Bawean Island in position 05°21'S, 112°30'E.
Submarine USS Tilefish: USS Tilefish (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Keithly) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese corvette Kaibokan 17 (745 tons, offsite link) south of Formosa in position 21°50'N, 119°55'E.
Submarine HMS Una: HMS Una (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) arrived at Rothesay.
Submarine HMS Sealion: HMS Sealion (Lt. P.E. Newstead, DSC, RN) arrived at Plymouth.
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 PC 74 (A/Lt.Cdr. A. Richardson, RNR) served as target.
Submarine HMS Shakespeare: HMS Shakespeare (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Holy Loch to continue her working up programme.
Submarine HMS Sirdar: HMS Sirdar (Lt. J.A. Spender, RN) sank a sailing vessel with gunfire off the west coast of Siam near Phuket.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1814 hours - Surfaced in position 07°50'N, 98°35'E and opened fire from 1000 yards on a junk of about 100 tons. The third round hit. The crew meanwhile abandoned ship in their sampan. After 30 rounds had been fired the junk sank. Two more survivors were seen to be floating in the wreckage. These were picked up as well as a pig that was swimming towards the submarine. [the patrol report does not state what happened to the pig but most likely it made a good meal Commander Spender mentions this incident, see more info]
Submarine HMS Stygian: HMS Stygian (Lt. G.S.C. Clarabut, DSO, RN) arrived at Malta.
Submarine HMS Taku: HMS Taku (T/Lt. P.S. Parmenter, RNR) conducted exercises off Blyth with a training class of new submariners.
Submarine HMS Thrasher: HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar.
Submarine HMS Tally-Ho: Around 1120FG/18, HMS Tally-Ho (Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO and Bar, DSC and Bar, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Trincomalee.
She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea which had joined at 0600FG/18.
Submarine HMS Tiptoe: HMS Tiptoe (Lt.Cdr. P.R.H. Harrison, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil.
Submarine HMS Upright: HMS Upright (Lt. J.A.L. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H.T. Pitt, RN) and 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 Unrivalled: HMS Unrivalled (Lt. D.S. Brown, RNVR) departed Rothesay for Barrow. She was escorted by HMS Istria (A/Skr.Lt. A.E. Larner, RNR).
Submarine HMS Ultor: HMS Ultor (Lt. G.E. Hunt, DSC and Bar, RN) departed La Maddalena for her 18th war patrol (16th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off southern France.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Ultor see the map below.
Submarine HMS Unsparing: HMS Unsparing (Lt. A.D. Piper, DSC and 2 bars, RNR) intended to attack a small German convoy made up of auxiliary patrol vessel UJ2142 / Filia Pii, Schooner Seeräuber and another moterised sailing vessel. She was however detected and the attack was spoiled.
(All times are zone -2)
2200 hours - Night alarm. Sighted two caiques escorted by two E/R-boats bearing 220°. Position was 35°50'N, 24°15'E. Intended to attack.
2210 hours - The enemy fired starshell. Dived. An attack was now out of the question. Withdrew to the eastward.
Submarine HMS Varangian: HMS Varangian (Lt. G.J. Glennie, RANVR) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory.
Submarine HMS Uther: HMS Uther (Lt. R.A.A.C. Ward, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Lycett, DSC, RD, RNR).
Submarine HMS Upshot: HMS Upshot (Lt. H.W. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Drury (Lt.Cdr. N.J. Parker, RN) and HMS Allington Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.G. Ogden, DSC, RNVR) and later with ships from the 4th Escort Group.
Submarine HMS Urtica: HMS Urtica (Lt. K.H. Martin, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.
Submarine HMS Venturer: HMS Venturer (Lt. J.S. Launders, DSC and Bar, RN) participated in exercises off Larne.
Submarine HMS Vigorous: HMS Vigorous (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN) is undocked.
Submarine HMS Virtue: HMS Virtue (Lt. R.D. Cairns, DSC. RN) conducted exercises off Malta.
Submarine HMS Vivid: HMS Vivid (Lt. J.C. Varley, RN) intended to attack a small enemy convoy of caiques with gunfire north of Crete but a gunnery action proved impossible in the pitch black night.
The escort vessel was probably German patrol vessel GK 61.
(All times are zone -2)
1825 hours - In position 35°30'N, 25°07'E sighted three caiques, estimated in seize between 50 and 80 tons, escorted by one R-boat. Enemy was bearing 120°, range 5000 yards, course 010°, speed 6 knots. Tried to close to sink the escort with a torpedo attack but this was not possible.
2025 hours - Surfaced. Continued to work round the eastward of the convoy.
2040 hours - Vivid was now in a position about 2000 yards on the starboard quarter of the small convoy (convoy bearing 300°). Closed up the gun crew but the gunlayer and trainer were unable to see the targets through their telescopes or open sights. The Gunnery Officer went down to help them with the use of his binoculars and the range was closed.
2100 hours - Range was now between 1500 and 1000 yards but it was rapidly getting darker and the targets were increasingly difficult to see even from the bridge. Fire was therefore not opened and the intended gun action reluctantly had to be broken off.
Submarine HMS Voracious: HMS Voracious (Lt. F.D.G. Challis, DSC, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Holy Loch.
Submarine HMS Vox: HMS Vox (Lt. J.M. Michell, RN) is docked in No.1 dock at Malta.
Submarine HMS H 34: HMS H 34 (Lt. R.L. Jay, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.
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) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.
Submarine HMS H 50: HMS H 50 (Lt. W.T.J. Fox, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR).
Light cruiser HMS Mauritius: Around 0200B/18, HMS Enterprise (Capt. A.T.G.C. Peachey, DSO, RN) and HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN) departed Spithead for the coastal area near Caen. Apparently HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. H. Øi), which had completed repairs at Portsmouth, was in company.
Shortly before noon the cruisers, together with HMS Roberts (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.E.C. Dunbar, RN) and LCI(G)'s opened fire on enemy targets in the Caen area in support of the army.
Support was given throughout the day in various bombardments.
Destroyer HMAS Nizam: HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) and HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll to fuel on completion of which they departed to join convoy US 24B coming from Fremantle.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 24B ' for 11 July 1944.]
Destroyer HMAS Quiberon: During the period of 18 to 23 July 1944, HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. W.H. Harrington, DSO, RAN) conducted working-up exercises off Fremantle.
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-13: USS R-13 (Lt.Cdr. D.L. Mehlop, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.
Submarine USS R-20: USS R-20 (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Dudley, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.
Frigate HMS Balfour: German U-boat U-672 was scuttled in the English Channel north of Guernsey, in position 50°03'N, 02°30'W, after being badly damaged by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Balfour (Lt.Cdr. C.D.B. Coventry, RNR (retired)).
Submarine USS Plaice: USS Plaice (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Stevens) torpedoed and sank the Japanese submarine chaser Ch 50 (420 tons) about 200 nautical miles north-west of Chichi Jima in position 29°22'N, 139°14'E.
Submarine HMS L 23: HMS L 23 (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Digby.
Submarine HMS L 27: HMS L 27 (Lt. J.N. Elliott, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Bermuda with HMCS Asbestos (T/Lt. J. Cuthbert, RCNR), HMCS Barrie (T/Lt. W.D. Stokvis, RCNVR), HMS Aberdeen (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Mayo, RN) and HMCS Hawkesbury (T/Lt. W.G. Curry, RCNVR).
1945
Light cruiser HMS Dauntless: HMS Dauntless (Cdr. P.F. Powlett, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Diomede (Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) departed Grimsby for Rosyth.
Submarine HNMS K XV: HrMs K XV (Lt.Cdr. Baron C.W.T. van Boetzelaer, RNN) ended her 13th war patrol at Darwin.
Submarine HNMS Dolfijn: HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) conducted exercises off Dundee.
Submarine USS Seadragon: Upon completing exercises, USS Seadragon (Lt.Cdr. L.L. Davis, Jr., USN), departed Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Key West, Florida.
Submarine USS Searaven: USS Searaven (T/Lt.Cdr. R.C. Smallwood, Jr., USN) conducted / participated in excercises off Pearl Harbor.
Submarine USS Cero: USS Cero (Lt.Cdr. Raymond Berthrong) is damaged by a bomb from a Japanese aircraft off the Kurile Islands in position 45°14'N, 148°41'E. Due to the damage the patrol is aborted.
Submarine USS Cobia: USS Cobia (Lt.Cdr. Frederick N. Russell) departed from Fremantle for her 6th war patrol, and was ordered to patrol off Formosa.
Submarine USS Paddle: USS Paddle (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Fitz-Patrick) ended her 8th war patrol at Guam.
Submarine USS Ling: USS Ling (T/Cdr. G.G. Molumphy, USN) departed the the Portsmouth Navy Yard and arrived at the Boston Navy Yard later the same day.
Submarine USS Carp: USS Carp (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Hunnicutt, USNR) sank two sea trucks with gunfire off Yotorofu Jima.
(All times are zone I, -9)
1305 hours - Sighted six small ships heading south-west along the coast of Yotorofu Jima. Commenced an end around.
1447 hours - Submerged on the targets track.
1524 hours - Nearest target was now 5000 yards away. Identified the targets as six wooden sea trucks.
1547 hours - Range to the nearest target now 4000 yards. There appeared to be quite a number of troops on the sea trucks.
1637 hours - Battle surfaced and closed the range to about 2500 yards then opened fire with 5" and 40mm.
1644 hours - The nearest target was hit amidships by a 5" shell. She sank in about two minutes in position 44°24'N, 146°59'E. A second target was seen stopped and on fire after being hit several times with 5" shells. Numerous hits were obtained with 40mm on the other four sea trucks.
1716 hours - Secured all gun crews as our 5" ammunition was low and four of the target were now very close inshore. Total ammunition expended; 108 rounds of 5", 498 rounds of 40mm.
1725 hours - The target that had been stopped and on fire was reported to have also sunk. Position was 44°24'N, 146°58'E.
1739 hours - The remaining four targets headed for a point to round the Island. Headed towards to try to finish them off with 40mm.
1748 hours - Sighted an aircrft bearing 272°(T), range about 5 miles. Dived. The aircraft dropped two bombs but the were not close.
2046 hours - Surfaced.
Submarine USS Chopper: USS Chopper (Lt.Cdr. S. Filipone, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.
Submarine USS Clamagore: USS Clamagore (Cdr. S.C. Loomis, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Newport, Rhode Island for torpedo trials.
Submarine USS Hardhead: USS Hardhead (Lt.Cdr. John Lyman Haines) departed from Onslow for her 6th war patrol, and was again ordered to patrol in the Java Sea.
Submarine USS Hawkbill: USS Hawkbill (Lt.Cdr. Francis Worth Scanland, Jr.) is damaged by depth charges off Malaya in position 04°41'N, 103°30'E. The patrol is terminated due to the damage sustained.
Aircraft Carrier HMS Indomitable: HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN) is undocked.
Escort Carrier HMS Battler: HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) conducted flying training exercises off Methil.
Submarine HMS Una: HMS Una (Lt. A.M.B. Buxton, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Brilliant (A/Cdr.(Retd.) A.R.W. Sayle, RD, RNR).
Submarine HMS Rorqual: HMS Rorqual (Lt. J.P.H. Oakley, DSC, RN) arrived at Gibraltar.
Submarine HMS Sceptre: HMS Sceptre (Lt. R.F. Park, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.
Submarine HMS Seadog: HMS Seadog (Lt. E.A. Hobson, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 16th war patrol (4th in the Far East). She was to patrol in the Malacca Straits together with HMS Shalimar (Lt.Cdr. W.G. Meeke, DSC, MBE, RN).
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Seadog during this patrol see the map below.
Submarine HMS Shalimar: HMS Shalimar (Lt.Cdr. W.G. Meeke, DSC, MBE, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 5th war patrol (4th in the Far East). She was to patrol in the Malacca Straits together with HMS Seadog (Lt. E.A. Hobson, RN).
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Shalimar during this patrol see the map below.
Submarine HMS Scorcher: HMS Scorcher (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) arrived at Port Said.
Submarine HMS Truant: HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Brookes, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted night snort trials off Leith during which she was escorted by HMS HDML 1075 (T/A/Ch.Skr. P. Reid, RNR).
Submarine HMS Tireless: HMS Tireless (A/Lt.Cdr. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted practice attacks in the Clyde area with HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) serving as the target. During these attacks HMS Hastings was escorted by HMS Brilliant (A/Cdr.(Retd.) A.R.W. Sayle, RD, RNR).
Submarine HMS Trenchant: HMS Trenchant (Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) sank a small submarine chaser, a tug and a barge with gunfire north-east of Lombok Strait in position 08°22'S, 116°02'E. She also bombards a lookout post.
(All times are zone -9)
1153 hours - Surfaced in position 08°24'S, 116°03'E to engage a small submarine chaser with gunfire.
1158 hours - The chaser sank. Opened fire on a tug that had already beached itself.
1229 hours - Ceased fire on the tug that was by now completely wrecked.
1247 hours - Opened fire on a barge.
1303 hours - By now the landing barge was considered destroyed so ceased fire.
1310 hours - Bombarded an observation post on the top of a hill.
1323 hours - Dived for an aircraft in position 08°24'S, 116°02E.
1334 hours - The aircraft dropped a bomb fairly close but no damage was sustained.
Submarine HMS Truncheon: HMS Truncheon (A/Lt.Cdr. R.J. Clutterbuck, DSO, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Hastings (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) served as the target.
Submarine HMS Upstart: HMS Upstart (Lt. R. Westlake, RNVR) conducted exercises off Malta.
Submarine HMS Upshot: HMS Upshot (Lt. A.J. Boyall, RN) departed Rothesay for Milford Haven.
Submarine HMS Vagabond: HMS Vagabond (Lt. I.M. Stoop, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.
Submarine HMS Virulent: HMS Virulent (Lt. F.E. Ashmead-Bartlett, RN) conducted special torpedo trials in the Clyde area.
Submarine HMS Volatile: HMS Volatile (Lt. P.T. Miles, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown.
Submarine HMS Vulpine: HMS Vulpine (Lt. W.D.S. Scott, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Loch Scavaig (A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Leadbetter, RNR).
Submarine HMS Amphion: HMS Amphion (Cdr. R.H. Dewhurst, DSO, RN) arrived at her builders yard at Barrow to undergo repairs and modifications. When the war with Japan ended she was still there.
Submarine HMS Astute: HMS Astute (A/Lt.Cdr. R. Gatehouse, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials at the torpedo firing range at Arrochar.
Light cruiser HMS Cleopatra: HMS Cleopatra (Capt. B.I. Robertshaw, CBE, RN) departed Mandapam for Visakhapatnam.
Light cruiser HMS Diadem: HMS Diadem (Capt. A.M. Knapp, RN) is docked in No.15 Graving Dock at the Portsmouth Dockyard.
Battleship HMS Duke of York: HMS Duke of York (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, CBE, DSO, RN) and HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) both conducted independent exericises in the Jervis Bay area.
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 A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HMS Saga (T/Lt. P.S. Thirsk, DSC, RNR).
Later gunnery exercises were carried out with HMS Comet (Lt.Cdr. W.W. Fitzroy, RN).
Submarine USS Trutta: USS Trutta (Lt.Cdr. F.P. Hoskins, USNR) ended her 2nd war patrol at Guam.
Destroyer HMAS Norman: Around 1540I/18, the escort carrier HMS Speaker (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) departed Manus for the Task Force Service Area. She was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Norman (Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN).
They joined the Logistics Support Group around 0800I/25.
Submarine USS O-2: USS O-2 departed New London, Connecticut for the Philadelphia Navy Yard for decommissioning.
Submarine USS Plaice: USS Plaice (Cdr. R.S. Andrews) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the East China Sea.
1952
Escort destroyer HMS Blackmore: Borrowed to Royal Danish Navy
and renamed Esbern Snare.
Scrapped 1966 in Ystad Sweden.