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Notable events involving Maplin include:

11 Jun 1941

Convoy OB 334.

This convoy departed the U.K. on 11 June 1941.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alexia (British (tanker), 8016 GRT, built 1935), Armadale (British, 5066 GRT, built 1929), Athelprincess (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), Barberrys (British, 5170 GRT, built 1920), Baron Carnegie (British, 3178 GRT, built 1925), Barrington Court (British, 4910 GRT, built 1924), Benledi (British, 5943 GRT, built 1930), Bic Island (British, 4000 GRT, built 1917), British Colony (British (tanker), 6917 GRT, built 1927), British Commodore (British (tanker), 6865 GRT, built 1923), British Destiny (British (tanker), 8470 GRT, built 1937), British Faith (British, 6955 GRT, built 1928), Bulysses (British, 7519 GRT, built 1927), Bur (Norwegian, 4343 GRT, built 1917), Cairnesk (British, 5007 GRT, built 1926), Carelia (British (tanker), 8062 GRT, built 1938), Chr. Th. Boe (Norwegian (tanker), 6192 GRT, built 1930), Clan Macilwraith (British, 4839 GRT, built 1924), Clan Macwhirter (British, 5941 GRT, built 1918), Comanchee (British (tanker), 6837 GRT, built 1936), El Aleto (British (tanker), 7203 GRT, built 1927), Empire Crossbill (British, 5463 GRT, built 1919), Empire Waterhen (British, 6004 GRT, built 1920), Industria (British, 4850 GRT, built 1940), Jade (British, 930 GRT, built 1938), Lodestone (British, 4877 GRT, built 1938), Luxor (British (tanker), 6554 GRT, built 1930), Mandalay (British, 5529 GRT, built 1911), Mendoza (British, 8233 GRT, built 1919), Modavia (British, 4858 GRT, built 1927), Morgenen (Norwegian (tanker), 7093 GRT, built 1930), Nova (Norwegian, 1382 GRT, built 1925), Petter (Norwegian (tanker), 9109 GRT, built 1935), President de Vogue (Norwegian (tanker), 9320 GRT, built 1935), Ramsay (British, 4855 GRT, built 1930), Redgate (British, 4323 GRT, built 1929), Saganaga (British, 5454 GRT, built 1935), Sepia (British (tanker), 6214 GRT, built 1936), South Wales (British, 5619 GRT, built 1929), Stigstad (Norwegian (tanker), 5964 GRT, built 1927), Taron (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936), Temple Inn (British, 5218 GRT, built 1940), Tiba (Dutch, 5239 GRT, built 1938), Tower Field (British, 4241 GRT, built 1935), Trident (British, 4317 GRT, built 1917), Ulysses (British, 14647 GRT, built 1913), Vancouver (British (tanker), 5729 GRT, built 1928) and Vardefjell (Norwegian (tanker), GRT, built 1940).

The merchant vessel Baron Carnegie which had departed Avonmouth, was sunk on 11 June 1941 by German torpedo aircraft off St. David's Head in position 51°55'N, 05°34'W.

On leaving UK waters the convoy was escorted by escorted by the destroyer HMS Beagle (Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN), corvettes HMS Gladiolus (Lt.Cdr. H.M.C. Sanders, DSC, RNR), HMS Nigella (T/Lt. T.W. Coyne, RNR), HMS Orchis (T/Lt. H. Vernon, RNR), HMS Polyanthus (Lt. A. Hague, RNR), minesweepers HMS Seagull ( Cdr.(Retd.) R.H.V. Sivewright, RN), HMS Sharpshooter (Lt.Cdr. D. Lampen, RN) and the A/S trawlers HMS Ayrshire (T/Lt. L.J.A. Gradwell, RNVR), HMS Lady Madeleine (T/Lt. W.G. Ogden, RNVR) and HMS St. Loman (T/Lt. R.C. Warwick, RNR). Catapult ship HMS Maplin (A/Cdr. J.O. Davies, RNR) was also with the convoy. HMS Beagle, HMS Gladiolus, HMS Orchis, HMS Nigella, HMS Polyanthus, HMS Seagull, HMS Sharpshooter, HMS Ayrshire, HMS Lady Madeleine, HMS St. Loman and HMS Maplin were detached on the 17th after having been relieved by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Aurania (A/Capt. I.W. Whitehorn, RN), destroyers HMS Burnham (Cdr. J. Bostock, DSC, RN), HMS Churchill (Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Cousins, RN) and the corvettes HMS Dianthus (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.E. Bridgman, RNR) and HMCS Spikenard (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR). Destroyer HMS Chesterfield (Lt.Cdr. E. Gleave, RNR) was briefly (between 1720N/19 and 2120N/19) with the convoy on the 19th, she rejoined the convoy at 0755O/20, after having reported the position of the convoy by W/T.

Battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. L.V. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN) and the armed merchant cruisers HMS Bulolo (Capt.(Retd.) R.L. Hamer, RN) and HMS California (Capt. C.J. Pope, RAN) joined the convoy in the late afternoon / early evening of the 20th.

Around 1500P/24, HMS Revenge, HMS Bulolo and HMS California parted company with the convoy in position 45°29'N, 55°24'W to proceed directly to Halifax.

Around 1700P/24, HMS Burnham, HMS Chesterfield and HMS Churchill parted company with the convoy in position 45°29'N, 56°21'W to proceed to St. Johns.

Around 0400P/25, the convoy was dispersed although several ships had already been detached while en-route. HMS Aurania, HMS Dianthus and HMCS Spikenard continued on the Halifax with only three ships destined for there.

8 Jul 1941

Convoy HG 67.

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 8 July 1941.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Aguila (British, 3255 GRT, built 1917), Alva (British, 1584 GRT, built 1934), Bifrost (Swedish, 1781 GRT, built 1923), Cap Cantin (British (former French), 3317 GRT, built 1933), Ciscar (British, 2436 GRT, built 1919), Clonlara (Irish, 1202 GRT, built 1926), Ebro (British (former Danish), 1547 GRT, built 1920), Edencrag (British, 1592 GRT, built 1940), Empire Stream (British, 2922 GRT, built 1941), Finland (British, 1375 GRT, built 1939), Gudvin (Norwegian, 1824 GRT, built 1918), Lapwing (British, 1449 GRT, built 1920), Lyminge (British, 2499 GRT, built 1919), Marklyn (British, 3090 GRT, built 1918), Olga Topic (Yugoslavian, 5768 GRT, built 1918), Orwell (Norwegian (tanker), 7920 GRT, built 1905), Pacific (British, 2816 GRT, built 1923), Petrel (British, 1457 GRT, built 1920), Portsea (British, 1583 GRT, built 1938), Solstad (Swedish, 1379 GRT, built 1924), Starling (British, 1320 GRT, built 1930), Trolla (Norwegian, 1598 GRT, built 1923), Tysa (Dutch, 5327 GRT, built 1938) and Vanellus (British, 1886 GRT, built 1921).

The cable ship Mirror (British, 1850 GRT, built 1923) and the Portugese trawlers Estrella d'Alva (324 GRT, built 1909) and Polo Norte (344 GRT, built 1917) were also with the convoy.

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Foxhound (Cdr. G.H. Peters, DSC, RN), escort destroyer HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, RN), sloop HMS Deptford (Lt.Cdr. H.R. White, RN), corvettes HMS Jonquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RNR), HMS Spiraea (T/Lt. L.C. Head, RNVR), motor launch ML 129 (?) and the submarine HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN).

Around 2100A/8, ML 129 parted company with the convoy.

On 9 July 1941, the escort destroyer HMS Farndale (Cdr. S.H. Carlill, RN) and corvette HMS Coreopsis (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR) departed Gibraltar to overtake and join the convoy. HMS Farndale joined around 2030A/9. HMS Coreopsis around 1530A/10.

Around 1200A/9, HMS Foxhound parted company with the convoy to return to Gibraltar.

HMS Farndale and HMS Avon Vale were to part company around 2100A/12 and then return to Gibraltar.

The Mirror was detached to the Azores but it is not known when.

Around 2130A/12, in position 36°21'N, 18°24'W, the Olga Topic (was to proceed to Halifax but apparently arrived at Liverpool on 24 July 1941 (?)), Orwell (arrived at Trinidad on 23 July 1941) and Tysa (arrived at Tampa on 25 July 1941) were detached to destinations in North America / Carribean.

The Estrella d'Alva and Polo Norte were detached to the Grand Banks fishing grounds but it is not known when.

Around 2145A/13, HrMs O 24, HMS Coreopsis, HMS Joinquil and HMS Spiraea parted company to join convoy OG 67.

Around 0745A/14, in position 38°52'N, 20°43'W, convoy SL 73 coming from Freetown, merged with convoy HG 67. The following merchant vessels now joined the convoy;
David Livingstone (British, 5013 GRT, built 1930), Etrib (British, 1943 GRT, built 1919), Llanstephan Castle (British, 11340 GRT, built 1914), Mafuta (Belgian, 6322 GRT, built 1920) and Tuva (Dutch, 4652 GRT, built 1935).

At some point also the merchant vessel Peebles (British, 4982 GRT, built 1936) and corvette HMS Petunia (Lt.Cdr. G.V. Legassick, RNR) joined coming from the Azores.

Around 1700A/19, in position 52°05'N, 17°42'W, the destroyers HMS Wanderer (Cdr. A.F.St.G. Orpen, RN) and HrMs Campbeltown (Cdr. W. Harmsen, RNN) joined the convoy. By then the destroyer HNoMS St. Albans (Cdr. G. Hovdenak, RNorN) was already with the convoy having joined earlier. The catapult ship HMS Maplin (A/Cdr. J.O. Davies, RNR) also joined around this time.

On 22 July 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived at Oban;
Cap Cantin, Etrib, Pacific, Solstad, Tuva and Vanellus.

On 22 July 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived in Belfast Lough;
Bifrost, Ciscar, Clonlara, Ebro, Finland, Marklyn and Peebles.

On 23 July 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived in the Clyde;
Alva, Edencrag, Empire Stream, Llanstephan Castle and Starling.

On 23 July 1941, the Gudvin arrived at Workington;
Gudvin.

On 23 July 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived at Barrow in Furness;
Lyminge and Portsea.

On 23 July 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived at Preston;
Petrel and Trolla.

On 23 July 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived at Liverpool;
Aguilla, David Livingstone, Lapwing and Mafuta.

Of the escorts HMS Wanderer arrived at Londonderry on 22 July 1941, presumably to fuel and then went on to Liverpool arriving on 23 July 1941.

HNoMs St. Albans arrived in the Clyde on 22 July 1941, presumably to fuel and then went on to Liverpool arriving also on 23 July 1941.

HrMs Campbeltown and HMS Deptford arrived at Liverpool also on 23 July 1941.

HMS Petunia went to Londonderry [exact arrival date not known to us at the moment, perhaps she first escorted to Oban section to its destination.] (1)

30 Jul 1941

Convoy OG 70.

This convoy departed U.K. waters on 30 July 1941 and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Atlantic Coast (British, 890 GRT, built 1934), Berakit (Dutch, 6608 GRT, built 1924), City of Christchurch (British, 6009 GRT, built 1915), Cliftonhall (British, 5063 GRT, built 1918), Edencrag (British, 1592 GRT, built 1940), Elmdale (British, 4872 GRT, built 1941), Empire Comet (British, 6914 GRT, built 1941), Empire Ness (British, 2922 GRT, built 1941), Empire Strait (British, 2841 GRT, built 1940), Innesmore (British, 4392 GRT, built 1928), Lowther Castle (British, 5171 GRT, built 1937), Lublin (Polish, 1409 GRT, built 1932), Melrose Abbey II (British, 2473 GRT, built 1936), Mount Kassion (Greek, 7914 GRT, built 1918), Ottinge (British, 2870 GRT, built 1940), Panos (British, 4914 GRT, built 1920), Reedpool (British, 4848 GRT, built 1924), Shuna (British, 1575 GRT, built 1937), Tintern Abbey (British, 2471 GRT, built 1939) and Trevalgan (British, 5299 GRT, built 1937).

On departure from U.K. waters the convoy was escorted by the captapult ship HMS Maplin (A/Cdr. J.O. Davies, RNR), destroyers St. Albans (Lt.Cdr. S. Storheill), HrMs Campbeltown (Cdr. W. Harmsen, RNN), HMS Wanderer (Cdr. A.F.St.G. Orpen, RN), sloop HMS Deptford (Lt.Cdr. H.R. White, RN), corvettes HMS Auricula (T/Lt. W.W. White, RNR), HMS Convolvulus (T/Lt. R.C. Connell, RNR), HMS Marigold (T/Lt. J. Renwick, RNR) and HMS Samphire (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Renny, DSC, RNR).

On 1 August the catapult ship HMS Maplin and the destroyers St. Albans, Campbeltown and Wanderer parted company with the convoy.

On 6 August 1941, the corvettes HMS Coreopsis (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR), HMS Jonquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RNR), HMS Spiraea (T/Lt. L.C. Head, RNVR) and the auxiliary A/S trawler HMS Stella Carina (Lt. J.V. Lobb, RANVR) joined the convoy coming from convoy HG 69.

On 8 August 1941, the destroyers HMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, RAN) and HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St.J. Morgan, RN) were to join having departed Gibraltar on 6 August. They however could not find the convoy and only joined early on the 9th.

Also on the 8th the destroyer the destroyer HMS Foresight (Cdr. J.S.C. Salter, RN) joined the convoy coming from convoy HG 34FA.

Around 2000B/20, HMAS Nestor, HMS Encounter, HMS Deptford, HMS Auricula, HMS Convolvulus, HMS Jonquil, HMS Marigild and HMS Samphire parted company to join northbound convoy HG 70 which they did soon afterwards as the convoy had only been a few miles to the south of convoy OG 70.

Convoy OG 70 meanwhile continued on escorted by HMS Foresight, HMS Coreopsis and HMS Spiraea. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 12 August 1941.