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Notable events involving Welshman include:

This page dealing with the wartime history of HMS Welshman was created in April 2024.

This page was last updated in May 2024.

[No logbooks are available for this ship, therefore some details will be missing on this page.]

24 Aug 1941
Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) proceeded from the Tyne to Rosyth. (1)

25 Aug 1941
At Rosyth, Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) is accepted for naval service and placed in full commission.

She departed Rosyth at 2200A/25 for Scapa Flow. En-route a minelaying exercise was to be carried out. (2)

26 Aug 1941
Around 0910A/26, Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Rosyth. At Scapa Flow she was to conduct working up exercises. (2)

10 Sep 1941
HrMs O 10 (Lt. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) and HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, RN). (3)

10 Sep 1941
HMS Prince of Wales (Capt. J.C. Leach, MVO, RN) conducted exercises to the west of Scapa Flow together with HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN).

During these exerices Prince of Wales was escorted by HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN), HMS Puckeridge (Lt. H.B. Acworth, RN) and HMS Badsworth (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN).

The escort vessels were later relieved by HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN), HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, DSO, RN) and HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, RN).

The battleship and it's new escort were then to proceed to Hvalfjord, Iceland but the order was soon cancelled and they returned to Scapa Flow. (4)

14 Sep 1941
Around 0900A/14, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Port ZA (Loch Alsh) where she arrived around 1700A/14. (5)

21 Sep 1941

Minelaying operation SN 23C.

Minelaying operation for the laying of a minefield north of the Hebrides.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) around 2017A/21.

A total of 186 mines were laid between positions 58°57.3'N, 07°06.4'W and 58°40.4'N, 07°00.0'W. Mines were laid at 80, 120 and 160 feet in rotation so this must have been an anti-submarine minefield.

HMS Welshman returned to Port ZA around 1057A/22. This was HMS Welshman's first operational minelay. (6)

27 Sep 1941

Minelaying operation SN 16A.

Minelaying operation for the laying of a minefield off Aberdeen.

The fast minelayers HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) around 1945A/27.

During daylight on the 28th, a total of 314 mines were laid at a depth of 10 feet along a line joining positions;
A) 57°12.54'N, 00°57.12'W.
B) 57°06.36'N, 01°05.02'W.

The minelayers returned to Port ZA around 0017A/29. (7)

2 Oct 1941

Minelaying operation SN 16B.

Minelaying operation for the laying of a minefield off the east coast of the U.K.

The fast minelayers HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) around 1935A/2.

During daylight on the 3rd, a total of 313 mines were laid at a depth of 10 feet along a line joining positions;
A) 57°22.36'N, 00°49.42'W.
B) 57°16.00'N, 00°57.30'W.

The minelayers returned to Port ZA around 2228A/3. (7)

8 Oct 1941

Minelaying operation SN 16C.

Minelaying operation for the laying of a minefield off the east coast of the U.K.

The fast minelayers HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) around 1904A/8.

During daylight on the 9th, a total of 314 mines were laid at a depth of 10 feet along a line joining positions;
A) 57°32.42'N, 00°41.42'W.
B) 57°26.06'N, 00°50.24'W.

The minelayers returned to Port ZA around 0120A/10. (7)

12 Oct 1941
Around 1135A/12, HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) for Milford Haven where they arrived at following day to embark mines. (7)

14 Oct 1941
Having embarked mines HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) proceeded from Milford Haven (departed 1400A/14) to Plymouth. (8)

21 Oct 1941

Minelaying operation HG.

Minelaying operation off Lorient, France.

The fast minelayers HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Plymouth around 1330A/21. The operation had already been postponed twice due to unsuitable weather conditions.

Minelaying began around 2300A/21 and a total of 314 mines were laid in groups within an area enclosed by lines joining positions;
A) 47°40'N, 03°40'W.
B) 47°20'N, 03°35'W.
C) 47°32'N, 04°05'W.

Mines were laid at a depth of 6 feet and flooders were set to operate on 1 December 1941. The delayed release sinkers were arranged to operate in groups in intervals.

On completion of the minelay, HMS Manxman and HMS Welshman returned to Plymouth arriving around 1000A/22. (9)

23 Oct 1941
HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) proceeded from Plymouth to Portsmouth where they arrived around 0720A/23. (10)

25 Oct 1941

Minelaying operations JX A and JX B.

Minelaying operations off Northern France (near Dieppe) .

After a delay of one day due to unsuitable weather conditions, the fast minelayers HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Portsmouth around 1700A/25. They parted company of the Nap to lay their respective minefields as follows;

Minelaying operation JX A.

This minefield of 156 mines was laid by HMS Welshman near Saint-Valery-en-Caux. The mines were laid along a line joining positions;
A) 49°57.7'N, 00°30.5'E.
B) 49°53.4'N, 00°35.3'E.
C) 49°56.3'N, 00°39.4'E.

Delayed release sinkers were to the mines and set to operate in groups on 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th and 23rd November. Sprockets and grapnels were fitted to one mine in five. All mines were laid at a depth of 6 feet and flooders were set to operate on 4 December 1941.

On completion of the minelay HMS Welshman proceeded to Plymouth where she arrived around 0838A/26.

Minelaying operation JX B.

This minefield of 156 mines was laid by HMS Manxman near Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. The mines were laid within an area bounded by line joining positions;
A) 50°18'N, 01°11'E.
B) 50°15'N, 01°18'E.
C) 50°10'N, 01°11'E.
D) 50°13'N, 01°05'E.

Delayed release sinkers were fitted to 52 mines and set to operate in groups of 13 on 4th, 9th, 14th and 19th November. Sprockets and grapnels were fitted 20 mines each. All mines were laid at a depth of 6 feet and flooders were set to operate on 4 December 1941.

On completion of the minelay HMS Manxman proceeded to Portsmouth where she arrived around 0830A/26. At Portsmouth she was then taken in hand for some minor engine repairs. (11)

26 Oct 1941
Around 0838A/26, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Plymouth from minelaying operation JX A.

She departed for Port ZA (Loch Alsh) later the same day. (9)

27 Oct 1941
Around 1547A/27, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Port ZA (Loch Alsh) from Plymouth. (7)

30 Oct 1941

Minelaying operation SN 83A.

Minelaying operation by the 1st Minelaying Squadron.

At 0920A/30, the auxiliary minelayers HMS Menestheus (Capt. J.S. Crawford, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, OBE, RN), HMS Port Quebec (Capt.(Retd.) E.C. Watson, RN) and the fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port Z.A. (Loch Alsh) to lay minefield SN 83A. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Brighton (Cdr. (Retd.) C.W.V.T.S. Lepper, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN) and HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, RN). Later they were joined by the destroyer HMS Onslow (Capt. H.T. Armstrong, DSC and Bar, RN) which had sailed from Scapa Flow.

Around 0900A/31, the light cruiser HMS Sheffield (Capt. A.W. Clarke, RN) joined coming from Scapa Flow.

The minefield made up of 1118 mines, was laid in the early afternoon of 31 October, along a line joining positions, 62°33'3"N, 09°04'0"W and 62°45'0"N, 09°59'0"W. Depths were set between 15 and 17 feet.

The minelayers laid as follows; HMS Menestheus 410 mines, HMS Port Quebec 550 mines and HMS Welshman 158 mines.

Around 1500A/31, HMS Sheffield parted company to return to Scapa Flow arriving around 0830A/1.

HMS Menestheus, HMS Port Quebec and HMS Brighton arrived at Port Z.A. (Loch Alsh) around 2200A/1.

HMS Onslow, HMS Offa and HMS Oribi had been detached earlier and had arrived at Scapa Flow around 1800A/1. (12)

4 Nov 1941
Having embarked mines HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) around 2310A/4 for Scapa Flow. (7)

5 Nov 1941
Around 0800A/5, HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). At Scapa they were on short notice to lay mines in Norwegian waters in case German large naval units were on the move. (2)

8 Nov 1941
HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. G. Quint, RNN(R)) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) and HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN). (13)

3 Dec 1941
Around 1530A/3, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (2)

4 Dec 1941
Around 0135A/4, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Port ZA (Loch Alsh) from Loch Alsh. She then commenced boiler cleaning. (7)

13 Dec 1941
Around 1730A/13, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) for Plymouth. (7)

15 Dec 1941
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Plymouth from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (1)

16 Dec 1941

Minelaying operation HJ 1.

Minelaying operation off Brest, France.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Plymouth around 1346A/16.

After passing Wolf Rock at 1759A/16 she set course for the minelay location at 25 knots in moderate weather conditions.

Minelaying began at 2315A/16 and was compeleted at 0003A/17. A total of 156 mines were laid in groups along a line joining positions;
A) 47°44.6'N, 06°02.2'W.
B) 47°41.7'N, 06°00.4'W.
C) 47°39.9'N, 05°56.5'W.
D) 47°38.5'N, 05°51.9'W.
E) 47°36.3'N, 05°50.6'W.

All mines were set to a depth of six feet, with sprockets fitted to 29 and grapnels to 34. Flooders were set to operate on 26 January 1942.

On completion of the minelay, HMS Welshman set course for Milford Haven where she arrived around 1343A/27. (9)

19 Dec 1941

Minelaying operation HJ 2.

Minelaying operation in the Bay of Biscay.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven around 1053A/19.

After passing Wolf Rock at 1759A/19 she set course for the minelay location at 26.5 knots in good weather conditions. Shortly afterwards HMS Welshman was attacked by a twin engined monoplane, which approached the ship from astern undetected. Two bombs were seen and heard to explode about half a mile astern, but the aircraft turned away on a reverse course before fire could be opened.

On approaching the initial position a great number of fishing vessels were encountered and this so complicated the situation that it was not possible to lay in the selected position. However between 0053A/20 and 0135A/20, a total of 159 mines were laid in two lines as follows;
A) 100 mines in 10 groups of 10 along a line extending for 6.4 miles in a direction of 13.5° from position 47°00'N, 05°08'W.
B) 59 mines in 90 groups of 6 and 1 group of 5 along a line extending for 3.9 miles in a direction of 344° from position 47°06.8'N, 05°05.8'W.

All mines were set to a depth of six feet, with flooders set to operate on 29 January 1942. Sprockets were fitted to 29 mines and grapnels to 33.

On completion of the minelay, HMS Welshman retired at 30 knots. She arrived at Milford Haven around 1340A/20. (9)

22 Dec 1941

Minelaying operation HJ 3.

Minelaying operation off Brest, France.

The fast minelayers HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven around 1135A/22.

They passed Wolf Rock at 1827A/22 and course was set to the initial position at 25 knots in ideal conditions.

Minelaying began at 0040A/23 and was compeleted at 0121A/23. A total of 316 mines were laid along a line extending for 8.9 nautical miles in a direction of 165° from position 47°24'N, 05°42.9'W, thence for 0.9 miles in a direction of 140° and thence for 0.2 miles in a direction of 090°.

All mines were set of six feet with flooders to operate on 1 February 1942. Sprockets and grapnels were fitted to one mine in five.

Both minelayers experienced delays during the minelay caused by bad drill and this resulted in the last 20 mines being laid in waters over 100 feet deep.

On completion of the minelay HMS Welshman returned to Milford Haven where she arrived around 1340A/23.

HMS Manxman proceeded to Liverpool where she was taken in hand repairs and also for half yearly docking by the Harland and Wolff shipyard. She arrived at Liverpool around 1420A/24. (8)

24 Dec 1941
Around 1023A/24, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (14)

25 Dec 1941
Around 0855A/25, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Port ZA (Loch Alsh) from Milford Haven. (7)

3 Jan 1942
Around 0900A/3, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) for Milford Haven. (15)

4 Jan 1942
Around 0925A/4, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Milford Haven from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (16)

6 Jan 1942
Around 1345A/6, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for Gibraltar. On board were stores and personnel. From Gibraltar she is later to continue on to Takoradi. (16)

10 Jan 1942
Around 0340A/10, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Milford Haven. (17)

11 Jan 1942
Around 0910A/11, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Gibraltar for Freetown. (17)

16 Jan 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Freetown from Gibraltar. (1)

17 Jan 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Freetown for Takoradi. (1)

19 Jan 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Takoradi from Freetown. (1)

20 Jan 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Takoradi for Freetown. (1)

22 Jan 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Freetown from Takoradi. She departed for Gibraltar later the same day. (1)

27 Jan 1942
Around 2145A/27, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown. (17)

28 Jan 1942
Around 1900A/28, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Gibraltar for Milford Haven. (17)

1 Feb 1942
Around 0931A/28, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Milford Haven from Gibraltar.

She had defective brickwork in one boiler though. (16)

3 Feb 1942
Around 1740A/3, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for Portsmouth where she was required for operations. Repairs to her defective boiler had not yet been made. She arrived at Portsmouth on the 4th. (16)

4 Feb 1942

Minelaying operation NS A.

Minelaying operation off Cap d'Antifer.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Portsmouth for this operation around 1700A/4.

Between 2106A/4 and 2130A/4 a total of 158 mines were laid along a line extending for 5 nautical miles in a direction of 180° from position 49°53.0'N, 00°03.5'E. All mines were set to a depth of six feet with flooders set to operate on 17 March 1942. Sprockets and grapnels were fitted to one mine in five. Fifty mines were laid on Mk. XVIII sinkers, with delayed release for 25 on 7th and 25 on 10th February.

HMS Welshman returned to Portsmouth around midnight during the night of 4/5 February 1942. (18)

5 Feb 1942

Minelaying operation NS B.

Minelaying operation off Dieppe.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Portsmouth for this operation around 1845A/5.

Starting at 2127A/5, a total of 120 mines were laid along a line extending for 5 nautical miles in a direction of 180° from position 50°13.0'N, 00°35.8'E. Contact mines were laid at a depth of six feet and magnetic mines at 18 feet. Delayed releases were set in groups of 20 set to operate on 7th, 9th and 11th February. Sprockets were fitted to 12 mines and grapnels were also fitted to 12 mines.

HMS Welshman returned to Portsmouth around midnight during the night of 5/6 February 1942. (18)

7 Feb 1942

Minelaying operation NS C.

Minelaying operation off Étaples.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Portsmouth for this operation around 1630A/7.

Between 2215A/7 and 2235A/7, a total of 158 mines were laid along a line extending for 4 nautical miles in a direction of 160° from position 50°28.8'N, 01°13.0'E. Contact mines were laid at a depth of six feet and magnetic mines at 18 feet. Delayed releases were set in groups set to operate 7th, 9th and 11th February. Sprockets were fitted to 4 mines and grapnels were also fitted to 4 mines.

HMS Welshman returned to Portsmouth around 0840A/8. (18)

9 Feb 1942

Minelaying operation NS E.

Minelaying operation off Pointe de Barfleur.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Portsmouth for this operation around 1700A/9.

Between 2048A/9 and 2108A/9, a total of 120 mines were laid along a line extending for 6.5 nautical miles in a direction of 202° from position 49°53.6'N, 01°11.9'W. Mines laid at a depth of six feet and flooders set to operate on 22 March 1942. Sprockets and grapnels were fitted to 36 mines. Delayed releases were arranged to occur on 11th, 13th and 15th February.

The operation was without incident but a distant explosion was heard at 2124A/9 which was probably caused by a fault in one of the mines just laid. HMS Welshman proceeded to Milford haven where she arrived around 1250A/10. (19)

12 Feb 1942

Minelaying operation HJ 6.

Minelaying operation off Brest.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for this operation around 1300A/12.

She passed Wolf Rock at 1954A/12 and then set course for the laying area at 28 knots in ideal weather conditions.

Between 0104A/13 and 0137A/13, a total of 158 mines were laid along a line extending for 2 nautical miles in a direction of 135° from position 47°36.6'N, 06°13.4'W and then for 3.8 nautical miles in a direction of 175°, thence for 1.8 nautical miles in a direction of 135°. Mines laid at a depth of six feet and flooders set to operate on 26 March 1942. Sprockets were fitted to 32 mines and grapnels to 27 mines.

The operation was without incident and HMS Welshman returned to Milford around 1345A/13. (19)

14 Feb 1942

Minelaying operation HJ 7.

Minelaying operation in the Bay of Biscay.

The fast minelayers HMS Manxman (Capt. R.K. Dickson, RN) and HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for this operation around 1351A/14.

They passed Wolf Rock at 2005A/14 and then proceeded at 28 knots to the laying area. The C-in-C Plymouth warned them of a homeward bound enemy submarine near position 48°00'N, 08°00'W but nothing was seen though (C-in-C Plymouth's signal timed 1944A/14). This signal most likely referred to U-86 which arrived at Brest around 1300B/15.

The lay was carried out in good weather conditions between 0102A/15 and 0126A/15. HMS Manxman was stationed four cables astern on the port beam of HMS Welshman. A total of 314 mines were laid in two lines in a direction of 207° within a rectangle enclosed by lines joining positions;
A) 47°46.3'N, 07°03.1'W.
B) 47°45.5'N, 07°00.4'W.
C) 47°36.6'N, 07°05.6'W.
D) 47°37.4'N, 07°07.3'W.

Mines were set to a depth of six feet with flooders set to operate on 27 March 1942. Sprockets and grapnels were fitted to one mine in three. Delayed release was arranged for 40 mines on 15 February.

On completion of the minelay HMS Manxman and HMS Welshman returned to Milford Haven where they arrived around 1301A/15. (19)

16 Feb 1942
Around 0933A/16, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (16)

17 Feb 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Port ZA (Loch Alsh) from Milford Haven. (15)

18 Feb 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) for the Tyne where she was to be taken in hand for a short refit and repairs to her defective boiler. (15)

19 Feb 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived in the Tyne from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). She was taken in hand for refit and repairs at the Hawthorn Leslie & Co. shipyard at Hebburn which were also the ships builders. (15)

2 Apr 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed the Tyne for Scapa Flow. (1)

3 Apr 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from the Tyne to commence a short post refit work-up programme. (20)

9 Apr 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) proceeded from Scapa Flow to Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (15)

10 Apr 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) for Milford Haven. (15)

11 Apr 1942
Around 1113A/11, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Milford Haven from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (16)

13 Apr 1942

Minelaying operation HM 1.

Minelaying operation in the Bay of Biscay.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for this operation around 1400A/13. The weather was suitable for the necessary high speed run, but there had been patches of fog on the English coast which had caused some delay and she only passed Wolf Rock around 2126A/13. Speed was then increased to 30 knots.

Between 0504A/14 and 0534A/14, a total of 160 mines were laid spaced evenly in groups of 10 along a line extending for 8 nautical miles in a direction of 130° from position 46°29.5'N, 04°25.5'W. Contact mines laid at a depth of 6 feet and magnetic mines at 18 feet. Sprockets were fitted to 15 contact mines and grapnels to 14 contact mines.

On completion of the lay, HMS Welshman retired to the north-west at 34 knots and maintained that speed until 1300A/14 when it was reduced to 24 knots and course was altered towards Fastnet Rock where she would arrive at 2240A/14. She arrived at Milford Haven around 0855A/15. (19)

16 Apr 1942

Minelaying operation HM 2.

Minelaying operation on the north coast of Brittany.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for this operation around 1400A/16. She passed the Lizard at 2300A/16. The run to the laying position was made at 25 knots in good weather.

Between 0225A/16 and 0240A/16, a total of 160 mines were laid in two lines of 80 mines as follows;
A) Between positions 48°54.8'N, 03°54.8'W and 48°51.5'N, 03°51.3'W.
B) Between positions 48°51.6'N, 03°50.7'W and 48°55.2'N, 03°51.6'W.

All mines were laid at a depth of 6 feet with flooders set to operate on 27 May 1942. Delayed release was arranged in groups of 40 mines for 17th April, 24th April, 4th May and 17th May.

On completion of the lay, HMS Welshman returned to Milford Haven where she arrived around 1345A/17. (19)

18 Apr 1942
Around 1551A/18, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven [Destination currently not known to us].

She returned to Milford Haven around 1934A/18. (16)

19 Apr 1942

Minelaying operation HM 3.

Minelaying operation off Ile Vierge, France.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for this operation around 1440A/19.

In the early hours of the 20th, a total of 160 mines were laid within an area enclosed by lines joining positions;
A) 48°37'N, 04°50'W.
B) 48°40'N, 04°50'W.
C) 48°40'N, 04°43'W.
D) 48°37'N, 04°43'W.

All mines were set to flood on 31 May 1942. Contact mines were laid at a depth of 6 feet and magnetic mines were laid at 18 feet. with flooders set to operate on 27 May 1942. Sprockets and grapnels were set to one on five of the contact mines

On completion of the lay, HMS Welshman returned to Milford Haven where she arrived around 1147A/20. (19)

20 Apr 1942
Around 2030A/20, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (16)

21 Apr 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Port ZA (Loch Alsh) from Milford Haven. (15)

23 Apr 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) for Plymouth. (15)

24 Apr 1942
Around 0921A/24, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Plymouth from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). She was then taken in hand for some modifications to run stores and petrol. (21)

1 May 1942
Around 1600A/1, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Plymouth for Gibraltar. She was carrying stores, ammunition and personnel for Malta. (22)

4 May 1942
A.M. on this day, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Plymouth. She was then embarked 7 ton of smoke containers. (22)

8 May 1942
Around 0200A/8, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Gibraltar for Malta. The ship was disguised as a French destroyer. (22)

9 May 1942
Around 1000B/9, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN), which was disguised as a French destroyer, was closedly examined by a German Ju.88 aircraft. Later another aircraft carried out another examination but from greater range. Fire was not opened on the enemy and she was not attacked herself. (23)

10 May 1942
Around 0525B/10, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Malta. She moored in No.3 graving dock around 0630B/10 and the stores and ammunition were then disembarked.

While doing so three heavy air raids took place. A smoke screen, heavy AA fire and a powerful fighter protection prevented more then near missed being received. The resulting damage was slight. One rating was killed and some were wounded.

HMS Welshman left the dock around 1830B/10 and then left Malta to return to Gibraltar. On board were 143 passengers. (24)

11 May 1942
While passing south of Sardinia during daylight, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) was again spotted by German Ju.88 aircraft but she was not attacked. (22)

12 May 1942
Around 1900B/12, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Malta. (22)

13 May 1942
Around 1030B/13, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Gibraltar for Milford Haven. (22)

16 May 1942
Around 1653A/16, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Milford Haven from Gibraltar. (16)

18 May 1942
Around 1827A/18, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for the Clyde. (16)

19 May 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Greenock from Milford Haven. She was taken in hand for repairs and docking at Glasgow (at the Yarrows Shipyard at Scotstoun) on the 20th. Repairs were completed on the 26th. (15)

28 May 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Greenock for Gibraltar. On board were 20 Spitfire engines, smoke containers, ammunition and RAF personnel. (25)

2 Jun 1942
Around 0145B/2, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from the Clyde. On arrival she collided with the boom and the tug HMRT Salvonia.

HMS Welshman sustained damage to her bow for which she had to be docked.

It had been intended that HMS Welshman's passagee to Malta was to be part of Operation Style. But due to the damage sustained HMS Welshman could not stream her paravanes at high speed. The Admiralty considered transferring her stores to the tanker Kentucky (American, 9308 GRT, built 1942), but eventually decided that HMS Welshman was to take part in Operation Harpoon, a proportion of her stores being transferred to the Kentucky and the minesweepers minesweepers HMS Hebe (Lt.Cdr. G. Mowatt, RD, RN), HMS Speedy (Lt. J.G. Brookes, RN), HMS Rye (Lt. J.A. Pearson, DSC, RN), HMS Hythe (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Miller, RN). (26)

12 Jun 1942

Operation Harpoon. Supply convoy to Malta from Gibraltar.

Timespan: 12 to 18 June 1942.

During March and April 1942 Malta had been attacked very heavily by the German and Italian air forces and was in much need of supplies. It was therefore decided that two convoy’s were to be sent, one from the west (Harpoon) and one from the east (Vigorous). This was to increase the chance of success as the enemy would have to split force if they want to attack both convoys. Also a group of minesweepers were to be sent to Malta.

Below we will give the events regarding the Harpoon convoy in chronological order.

12 June 1942.

Western Mediterranean (Harpoon convoy)

During the night convoy WS 19 Z passed the Straits of Gibraltar. This convoy had departed the Clyde on June 6th. It was made up of five merchant vessels; Burwan (British , 6069 GRT, built 1928), Chant (American, 5601 GRT, built 1938), Orari (British, 10350 GRT, built 1931), Tanimbar (Dutch, 8169 GRT, built 1930) and Troilus (British, 7422 GRT, built 1921).

Off Gibraltar the tanker Kentucky (American , 9308 GRT, built 1942) joined the convoy.

Close escort was provided by ‘Force X’ which was made up of the AA-cruiser HMS Cairo (A/Capt. C.C. Hardy, DSO, RN), destroyers HMS Bedouin (Cdr. B.G. Scurfield, OBE, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSC, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN), HMS Partridge (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, OBE, RN), HMS Ithuriel (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Maitland-Makgill-Crichton, DSC, RN), escort destroyers HMS Badsworth (Lt. G.T.S. Gray, DSC, RN), HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), ORP Kujawiak (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) L. Lichodziejewski), minesweepers HMS Hebe (Lt.Cdr. G. Mowatt, RD, RN), HMS Speedy (Lt. J.G. Brookes, RN), HMS Rye (Lt. J.A. Pearson, DSC, RN), HMS Hythe (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Miller, RN) and the motor launches (ML’s) ML 121 (group commander Lt.Cdr. E.J. Strowlger, RNVR), ML 134, ML 135, ML 168, ML 459 and ML 462.

Also operating with ‘Force X’ was the fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) which was to carry stores and personnel to Malta.

Distant cover was provided by ‘Force W’ which was made up of the battleship HMS Malaya (Capt. J.W.A. Waller, RN), aircraft carriers HMS Eagle (Capt. E.G.N. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN), HMS Argus (Capt. G.T. Philip, DSC, RN), light cruisers HMS Kenya (Capt. A.S. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.T.B. Curteis, CB, RN), HMS Liverpool (Capt. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN), AA-cruiser HMS Charybdis (Capt. L.D. Mackintosh, DSC, RN), destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. H.T. Armstrong, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Sinclair, RN), HMS Wishart (Cdr. H.G. Scott, RN), HMS Westcott (Cdr. I.H. Bockett-Pugh, DSO, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN) and HMS Vidette (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN). This force was to cover the convoy until off the Skerki Channel, the entrance to the Sicily-Tunis Narrows. The cover forces for this convoy were however rather weak. For instance the aircraft carriers were rather old and had hardly enough fighters available to provide a decent air patrol.

Then there was also a tanker force to fuel the escorts ‘Force Y’. It was made up of the RFA oiler Brown Ranger (3417 GRT, built 1941), escorted by two corvettes; HMS Geranium (T/Lt. A. Foxall, RNR) and HMS Coltsfoot (T/Lt. the Hon. W.K. Rous, RNVR).

Besides these forces four submarines were on patrol in the western Mediterranean. They were stationed between Sardinia and Sicily. These were HMS P 211 (Cdr. B. Bryant, DSC, RN), HMS P 42 (Lt. A.C.G. Mars, RN), HMS P 43 (Lt. A.C. Halliday, RN) and HMS P 46 (Lt. J.S. Stevens, DSC, RN).

By 0800B/12 the force was in full strength and proceeded eastwards at 12 to 13 knots.

The remainder of the day was uneventful except for the sighting of a Spanish merchant vessel in the evening.

13 June 1942.

On this day the convoy was shadowed continuously by German and Italian aircraft. Also it was thought an Italian submarine might have spotted the convoy but was not the case as of yet.

HMS Cairo and almost all the destroyers and escort destroyers oiled from Brown Ranger and HMS Liverpool. This was completed late in the evening.

Italian warships reported to be at sea.

Two Italian cruisers and five destroyers had been reported at daybreak (actually six detroyers were present). These were the light cruisers Eugenio di Savoia, Raimondo Montecuccoli and the destroyers Alfredo Oriani, Vincenzo Gioberti, Ascari, Ugolino Vivaldi, Nicolò Zeno and Premuda. They had sailed on the 13th from Cagliari, Sardinia. The most western British submarine on patrol HMS P 43 had attacked them at 1931 hours on the 13th. She claimed to have hit a cruiser but this was obviously not the case. Two hours later the next submarine on the patrol line HMS P 211 also sighted this Italian force but was too far off to attack.

14 June 1942.

During the night the force was spotted and reported by an Italian submarine. In fact two Italian submarines made attacks on the convoy during the night. These were the Uarsciek at 0152B/14 which fired two torpedoes at a destroyer in position 38°02'N, 05°06'E. Both torpedoes missed. Then at 0505B/14, the Giada fired four torpedoes at an aircraft carrier (probably HMS Eagle although this carrier did not report hearing torpedo explosions and HMS Argus did) and a cruiser or battleship in position 37°55'N, 06°12'E. She claimed two hits but in fact all torpedoes missed.

At dawn enemy shadowing aircraft appeared once more. The convoy was approaching the danger area for air attacks coming from Sardinia. At 1000B/12 the first radar warning came and at about the same time fighters from Eagle shot down an Italian torpedo aircraft. More of these aircraft were seen gathering about 20 miles from the convoy and form up for attack.

It was a bright and clear morning with hardly a cloud in the sky. There was little wind but such as there was came from the west and this made it difficult for the British fighter crews, especially for those from the 25-year old Argus with her small margin of speed, unless she would turn into the wind and leave the destroyer screen.

The convoy was steering east in two columns in line ahead. HMS Kenya was leading the port column while HMS Liverpool was leading the starboard one. Astern of the convoy was HMS Malaya with HMS Welshman astern of her. The aircraft carriers were operating independently to port of the convoy. Each carrier had an AA cruiser and a destroyer as escort. HMS Eagle was with HMS Cairo and HMS Wishart while HMS Argus was with HMS Charybdis and HMS Vidette.

The remaining fifteen destroyers and four minesweepers formed an all-round screen spread from three to three and a half miles from the convoy. This was done on purpose so that all ships could fire outward but also inward with a freedom that would have been impossible with a closer screen.

The air attacks began at 1030B/14. The first was a shallow dive-bombing attack by two groups, each of four or five Italian fighter-bombers (CR. 42). One group approached from astern at 12000 feet and diving to 6000 feet. The other group came from ahead at 6000 feet and dropped their bombs from 3000 to 4000 feet. Their target was HMS Argus and her consorts on the port beam of HMS Malaya. No damage was done, only one bomb fell close to HMS Charybdis. Two of the enemy planes were shot down after their attack by Fulmar’s from Eagle which were controlled by the Argus and afterwards landed aboard her. It was the policy to employ the Hurricanes from Eagle as high fighter force and the Fulmar’s from Argus as low fighter force.

A much more serious attack followed half an hour later when 28 Savoia torpedo aircraft escorted by 20 Macchi fighters conducted a combined attack with 10 Cant. high level bombers. The Savoia approached from the northward in two waves of equal strength. The first wave came in at 1110B/14 and the second soon afterwards. The first wave passed through the destroyer screen at 500 feet above the water, rounded the rear of the convoy, and attacked from the starboard side, splitting into groups before firing. They dropped their torpedoes from a height of 100 feet at a range of 2000 yards. They hit HMS Liverpool, which was leading the starboard column, when she was turning to meet the attack. Also the Dutch merchant Tanimbar was hit in the rear and she sank within a few minutes in position 36°58’N, 07°30’E.

The second wave attacked the port column dropped their torpedoes at longer range. All torpedoes missed. The Cant. bombers also came in two formations, coming from ahead out of the sun at a height of about 10000 feet. Their targets seemed to be Eagle and Argus but none of their bombs hit.

A little before 1200B/14 several torpedo planes made harmless attacks from long range. They were probably stragglers turned back by gunfire during the earlier attacks and anxious to get rid of their torpedoes before turning back to base.

Upon the whole the Italians seem to have attacked gallantly. The British fighters claimed to have shot down three enemy fighters and three torpedo aircraft. Three British fighters were lost ofwhich one was shot down in error by a ship in the screen. The convoy and escort claim to have shot down seven enemy aircraft, all Savoia SM 79’s.

HMS Liverpool was hit in the engine room and badly damaged. She could only make 3 to 4 knots on one shaft. She was ordered to return to Gibraltar being towed by HMS Antelope and screened by HMS Westcott. A long voyage during which the first 24 hours she was attacked from the air. At 1640B/14, five CR. 42 fighter-bombers attacked from astern out of the sun, luckily without hitting, though one or two bombs fell close enough to increase the ships list. At 1800B/14, the tow having parted, there was a harmless attempt by eleven high-level bombers followed by an equally harmless attempt by seven torpedo aircraft which were heavily escorted by fighters. The Liverpool and Westcott each claimed to have destroyed a torpedo plane.

At 2015B/14, now once more in tow, fife high-level bombers attacked but their bombs fell wide.

At 2230B/14, six torpedo bombers made a twilight attack from very long range only to loose one of their number to the barrage HMS Liverpool put up.

The fruitless attacks on the damaged Liverpool in the afternoon and evening of the 14th evidently occupied the remaining aircraft available to the enemy in Sardinia for as the convoy was able to continue without being attacked. It was however still being shadowed and came within range of the Sicilian air bases in the evening.

HMS Welshman had replaced HMS Liverpool at the head of the starboard column of the convoy. She however parted company with the convoy around 2000B/14 to continue the passage to Malta on her own at high speed.

At 1820B/14 German bombers appeared, about ten Ju. 88’s approached the convoy from astern at 10000 feet and then dived to 6000 feet to make the attack. Both carriers had narrow escapes, Argus in particular. A bomb pitched fine on her port bow, dived under the ship and exploded on the starboard bow. No ship was damaged however. No enemy aircraft were shot down. Six British fighters however harassed the enemy and forced several of them to release their bombs prematurely. One Fulmar was lost.

As in the morning the shallow dive-bombing attack preluded a heavy combined torpedo and bombing attack but in the evening the lapse of time was greater and dive-bombers as well as high level-bombers took part in the massed attack. It was a combination of Italians and Germans. 16 Savoia 79 bombers heavily escorted by Macchi fighters with 10 Ju 88’s and 15 Ju 87’s. The first to appear were the Savoia’s which approached from the north-east to port at about 2000B/14. They were flying well above the water. Worked their way around the stern of the convoy outside gun range to glide down and attack on the starboard side. In the meantime, a few minutes after the Savoia’s had been sighted, two groups of Ju 88’s came in from ahead at 12000 feet and dropped their bombs without effect as they flew across the screen and along the columns of the convoy. Next the Ju 87’s arrived on the port bow and attacked the port wing of the screen, diving from 7000 to 1000 feet. They narrowly missed HMS Icarus and HMS Wrestler, though they had probably hoped to reach HMS Eagle. These dive bombers took most of the attention of the screen but then at 2020B/14 the Italian torpedo-bombers came in. Most of them concentrated onHMS Malaya, HMS Argus, HMS Charybdis and HMS Vidette. They managed to drop three torpedoes within 300 yards from the carrier but she still managed to avoid them.

Around the time of these attacks HMS Middleton sighted a periscope and dropped a depth charge. Two other destroyers then hauled out of the screen and dropped depth charges. The periscope was next sighted by HMS Malaya after which HMS Speedy obtained an Asdic contact and attacked with depth charges in position 37°39’N, 09°35’E, claiming to have destroyed the enemy submarine.

This was the last encounter with the enemy before ‘Force W’ would separate from the convoy which was then to continue on to Malta only escorted by ‘Force X’.

As the convoy reached the entrance of the Narrows at 2100B/14, four Beaufighters arrived from Malta to relieve the hard worked naval aviators of the carriers. Around this time the Italian submarine Alagi attacked an aircraft carrier with two stern torpedoes in position 37°36'N, 09°53'E which both missed. The attack was not reported by either of the carriers and was probably not observed. Half an hour later ‘Force W’ turned westwards. The convoy continued eastwards with A/Capt. Hardy of HMS Cairo in command. For the passage of the Tunisian coast the five remaining merchant vessels formed a single line ahead with ‘Force X’ screening them.

At 2205B/14, as it was getting dark, eight Ju 88’s made a shallow dive-bombing attack dropping down from 6000 to 3000 feet to release their bombs. No hits were obtained. They lost two aircraft, one was shot down by a Beaufighter and the ther by gunfire from the ships. This was the end of this day’s fighting.

The Italian ships that had been reported to be at sea the previous day.

On receiving the submarines reports Vice-Admiral Leatham at Malta arranged for a striking force of Wellington aircraft to attack the enemy. Aircraft again sighted the enemy north-west of Cape San Vito, Sicily at 0255/14. At 0525/14 the enemy was sighted off Palermo. At 1800/14 two cruisers were reported to be in the harbour there. At dusk, at 2125B/14, two cruisers and four destroyers were reported to be leaving Palermo harbour but their course was not reported. Vice-Admiral Leatham judged that they were proceeding to the east to join the main Italian battlefleet that had left Taranto that same evening to operate against the ‘Vigorous-convoy’ in the eastern Mediterranean. Accordingly he stationed a naval air patrol over the Strait of Messina, with a naval air striking force at Malta standing by to attack.

‘Force W’

Vice-Admiral Curteis, who was taking ‘Force W’ westwards, also received the report of the enemy leaving Palermo and had to decide whether to strengthen ‘Force X’ with either one or both his cruisers, HMS Kenya and HMS Charybdis. He was then, at 2315/24, in position 37°30’N, 09°30’E, over 50 nautical miles from the convoy, which would be a further 100 nautical miles further on to the east by dawn on the 15th. He also judged that the Italian ships would be unlikely to be danger to the convoy and that the escort would be strong enough ‘to deter them from doing any harm’ escpecially as it would be expected that the Italians would be attacked from the air by aircraft from Malta. Apart from this he was anxious for the safety of his aircraft carriers, which would need the cruisers support while within striking distance from the enemy air bases in Sardinia. Furthermore there was barely time to overtake the convoy before by the morning. With the force available a decision either way was a gamble this might have been different had Liverpool not been torpedoed. He therefore decided against sending any reinforcement to the convoy.

15 June 1942.

Action south of Pantellaria

A/Capt. Hardy, the convoy escort commander in HMS Cairo first knew of the presence of the enemy through the report of a Beaufighter which was on it’s way to patrol above the convoy and which at 0620B/15 reported two cruisers and four destroyers to be 15 nautical miles on the port beam of the convoy. The convoy at that time was stearing at 12 knots to the south-east. The merchantmen were formed in two columns again, with HMS Cairo ahead, the five ‘Fleet’ destroyers in the screen to starboard and the four ‘Hunt’s’ to port. The minesweepers and the ML’s were astern of the convoy. A few minutes later the Italian ships were sighted hull down against the brightening sky to the eastward. They were broad on the port bow and drawing ahead of the convoy at high speed. It was now also seen that there were five destroyers present instead of the reported four. Commander Scurfield (in HMS Bedouin led out the ‘Fleet’ destroyers to attack while HMS Cairo and the remainder of the convoy escort started making smoke to cover the merchant ships, which were ordered to turn to starboard and to seek shelter in Tunisian waters. It was A/Capt. Hardy’s intention to gain as much time as possible to enable an air striking force from Malta to attack the enemy.

At 0640B/15, the Italian cruisers opened fire at a range of over 20000 yards. Their second salvo straddled HMS Cairo and others fell near the convoy before the smoke screen could take effect. The British ships could not yet reply as the enemy was still out of range. As the ‘Fleet’ destroyers gathered way, they became strung out in a loose line of bearing, nearly line ahead, in the order HMS Bedouin, HMS Partridge, HMS Ithuriel, HMS Marne and HMS Matchless, though the last ship worked up to 32 knots in the endeavour to keep up. The first to destroyers opened fire on the enemy cruisers at 0645B/15 with their guns at maximum elevation but in a quarter of an hour both Bedouin and Partridge were badly hit and stopped and the fight passed them by. Ithuriel held her fire till she got within 15000 yards, then she engaged a cruiser, which she eventually hit at a range of 8000 yards. Marne also engaged a cruiser, opening fire at over 18000 yards. In the meantime the Italian destroyers had fallen astern of the cruisers, three of them, in fact, soon left the line and disappeared to the northward. The last two enemy destroyers opened fire on the Marne from her port beam at around 0700B/15 and she and Matchless, which was astern of her, replied. Both British destroyers soon found the range and hit one of the enemy (Ugolino Vivaldi) and drove them off. They then pressed on to engage the enemy cruisers which kept their distance and were zig-zagging and making smoke to upset the aim of the British ships.

As soon as the convoy was well behind the smoke screen and on it’s way to the westward. HMS Cairo and the four Hunt class escort destroyers were proceeding south and now also engaged the two enemy destroyers which had been engaged by Marne and Matchless. At about 0700B/15 HMS Cairo came under fire from the enemy cruisers again. They were using two turrets each to engage the Cairo and two turrets to engage the ‘Fleet’ destroyers. HMS Cairo was hit by a 6” shell. She herself fired her 4” guns occasionally, though without much hope of doing real damage to the enemy.

At 0715B/15, A/Capt. Hardy decided to concentrate the remaining three ‘Fleet’ destroyers on HMS Cairo and ordered HMS Ithuriel to join him. HMS Marne and HMS Matchless continued to engage the enemy for about half an hour. Though fire from both sides was accurate no hits were obtained on either side. At 0745B/15 the Italians turned to port on which A/Capt. Hardy turned north and ordered all destroyers to join him.

Meanwhile, the convoy, 15 nautical miles away to the north-west, steering westwards, now turned to the south-east again. At 0705B/15, now deprived of the support of HMS Cairo, all destroyers and escort destroyers, and without air support, the convoy was attacked by eight German JU 87 dive bombers. They sank the Chant and disabled the Kentucky. HMS Hebe took the Kentucky in tow. The convoy then went on until 0745B/15 when course was changed to rejoin the escorts. The Italians however meanwhile where following the British escorts and kept them under fire.

At 0834B/15, A/Capt. Hardy, ordered the convoy to reverse course while Cairo and the destroyers laid a smokescreen across it’s track. This seems to have baffled the Italians which first turned to the south-west and then at 0840B/15 hauled round to the north-eastward and stood away. A/Capt. Hardy then sent the ‘Hunt’-class escort destroyers to rejoin the convoy and then led the ‘Fleet’ destroyers after the enemy. At this time HMS Cairo was hit for the second time. For the present however the Italians had given up the game. By 0930B/15 they were out of sight and the British ships then turned to rejoin the convoy.

At 1030B/15 the merchant vessel were back on their proper course to Malta, with the escort at full strength except for HMS Bedouin and HMS Partridge. Long-range Spitfires from Malta were patrolling overhead.

At 1040B/15 a few German bombers appeared but these were driven off before they could drop their bombs. The fighters were able to shot one down. Unfortunately this exhausted fuel and ammunition of the Spitfires which were operating at their extreme range so when at 1120B/15 another attack started they were not able to repel it. Their relief had not yet arrived.

It was a combination of high-level and dive bombing by Ju. 88’s and Ju. 87’s. Gunfire destroyed one of the German’s. One or two were shot down afterwards by the relieving Spitfires which had arrived during the attack. By then however the merchant vessel Burdwan was disabled. There was still 150 nautical miles to go, with the likelihood of further attacks from the air and with Italian ships nearby. A/Capt. Hardy therefore decided that he had no other choice then to sacrifice the damaged Kentucky and Burdwan as the best way to save the rest of the convoy whose speed would otherwise be reduced to six knots. He ordered HMS Hebe and HMS Badsworth to sink the cripples which enabled the remaining two merchant ships to continue at their best speed.

At 1315B/15, dive-bombers attacked yet again. And again there was no fighter cover present over the convoy. This time however the German’s were unsuccessful. One bomber out of twelve was shot down by the ships AA fire while the relief flight of Spitfires came in time to shoot down two more as the enemy retired. This was the last time the convoy was attacked from the air before it arrived at Malta under the protection from short-range Spitfires. The next threat of attack came from the Italian warships which closed the convoy once more.

After the engagement in the morning the Italian cruisers had gone back to join up with their destroyers, one of wich had been badly damaged by HMS Marne and HMS Matchless. While preparing to take this destroyer in tow the Italians were disrupted by British aircraft. Malta had been able to sent a small torpedo aircraft force to attack them. Four Albacores followed by two Beauforts attacked them about 12 nautical miles south of Pantelleria at 1030B/15. Unfortunately without success.

The two cruisers with two destroyers then went south again hoping to find stagglers from the convoy. They found HMS Hebe, which was on her way back to rejoin the convoy, having left the tanker Kentucky in a sinking condition astern. HMS Hebe sighted the enemy a long way to the north at 1255B/15. In the next half an hour the enemy was able to close as to open fire on the small minesweeper and eventually she was hit.

On receiving Hebe’s enemy report, A/Capt. Hardy, left the convoy in HMS Cairo taking the three remaining ‘Fleet’ destroyers with him; HMS Ithuriel, HMS Marne and HMS Matchless. Besides the Hebe to protect there were other ships coming back from the scuttled merchantmen and also HMS Bedouin and HMS Partridge which, A/Capt. Hardy believed to be following the convoy.

At 1355B/15 the Italians gave up the chase, presumably on sighting HMS Cairo and turned to engage a target to the westward. This could only be HMS Bedouin and HMS Partridge but A/Capt. Hardy felt bound to return to the convoy, then nearly 15 nautical miles off, though it meant leaving the damaged destroyers to their fate.

These two ships had been had been striving to preserve themselves for the King’s service ever since they had been crippled in the morning. HMS Partridge was ready to steam again by 0745B/15, three-quarters of an hour after being put out of action. She prepared to take HMS Bedouin in tow as that ship was entirely disabled. These preparations were disrupted by two Italian destroyers which had to be driven away. By 1000B/15 however Bedouin was being towed by Partridge and the two ships were proceeding slowly towards the convoy which they had orders to join. They met it at 1145B/15. There was still hope to get one engine going in HMS Bedouin but later on it became evident that this hope had to be abandoned. It was then thought best to try to make it to Gibraltar.

At 1320B/15, the Italian Squadron came into sight again and two destroyers were apparently closing the two British destroyers while there were also enemy dive-bombers flying around. HMS Partridge therefore had no choice then to slip the tow and to lay smoke around HMS Bedouin. As the enemy cruisers approached, after their chase of HMS Hebe, HMS Partridge stood away to draw their fire and in this she succeeded. She was straddled from long range at 1400B/15. It was the intention the return to HMS Bedouin later but the latter ship was torpedoed by an Italian torpedo bomber at 1425B/15 and she sank within a few minutes but not before shooting down the attacker. The enemy surface ships also sank the derelict Kentucky and Burdwan around the same time. Kentucky was finished off by the Oriani while Burdwan was possibly sunk by the Ascari.

A/Capt. Hardy rejoined the convoy at 1530B/15 after the last encounter with the Italian squadron. At 1730B/15, HMS Welshman rejoined the convoy south of Linosa coming from Malta. She had arrived there in the morning and was sent out again by Vice-Admiral Leatham as soon as she had landed her cargo.

Then at 1910B/15, there was another air attack. Upon that time the enemy had been kept away by the strong fighter escort from Malta directed by the radar in HMS Cairo. Twelve German bombers managed to close and near misses were obtained on HMS Welshman, HMS Matchless and the merchant Troilus.

A last attempt was foiled at 2040B/15 by the fighters from Malta and the ships guns. There was now only one danger to be overcome, enemy mines.

HMS Liverpool

At 1420B/15, three torpedo aircraft made a final unsuccessful attempt to attack HMS Liverpool after which she, HMS Antelope and HMS Westcott were not again molested. That afternoon the tug HMRT Salvonia arrived from Gibraltar and they took over the tow. Antelope then joined Westcott as A/S screen. With Salvonia came also the A/S trawler HMS Lady Hogarth (T/Lt. S.G. Barnes, RNR).

'Force Y'.

At 2345B/15 the Italian submarine Bronzo sighted an enemy escort vessel of the 'Kingfisher-class' which opened fire on the submarine in position 36°50'N, 00°10'E. This was HMS Coltsfoot. The submarine was depth-charged and escaped by going down to 117 metres.

16 June 1942.

It had been intended that the minesweepers would be ahead of the convoy when approaching Malta but owning to mistakes the convoy arrived first. The result was that one of the two remaining merchant vessels, the Orari, the destroyer HMS Matchless, two escort destroyers HMS Badsworth, ORP Kujawiak and the minesweeper HMS Hebe hit mines. Fortunately damage was light except for ORP Kujawiak which unfortunately sank in three minutes.

After having taken on board ammunition at Malta, HMS Cairo, HMS Ithuriel, HMS Marne, HMS Middleton and HMS Blankney departed the island in the evening to return to Gibraltar.

HMS Liverpool

Shortly after 0800B/16, the destroyer HMS Panther (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Jocelyn, RN) joined the A/S screen of the disabled HMS Liverpool. Two more vessels came out from Gibraltar to join the A/S screen, these were the corvette HMS Jonquil (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RD, RNR) which joined around 0940B/16. At 1530B/16, the motor launch ML 458 joined.

17 June 1942.

As HMS Cairo and the two destroyers and two escort destroyers were skirting along the African coast they were shadowed from sunrise onward. They were however not attacked until midday, when they were passed the Galita bank. From then until 2030B/17 that evening, German bombers pestered them continuously. The Germans came sometimes in flights of six, though generally in flights of two and three. Main target seems to have been HMS Ithuriel which had a tough time and sustained some minor damage due to leaks from near misses. During the attacks one enemy bomber was shot down by HMS Cairo.

At 2017B/17, they joined with Vice-Admiral Curteis with HMS Kenya and HMS Charybdis in position 37°30’N, 04°30’E. After leaving the convoy in the evening of the 14th, the Vice-Admiral had taken ‘Force W’ some 400 nautical miles to the west of Sardinia in order to avoid observation and attack while waiting for the return of ‘Force X’. His ships had however been shadowed on the 15th and was then attacked by two small groups of torpedo aircraft. Hurricanes from HMS Eagle forced them to drop their torpedoes from long range. They were also able to shoot down one of the attackers.

From the morning of the 16th to noon on the 17th, Vice-Admiral Curteis, cruised with HMS Kenya and HMS Charybdis near the rendez-vous position. HMS Malaya both aircraft carriers and the remaining destroyers had been sent to Gibraltar around 0800/16. They arrived at Gibraltar around 1030/17.

Around noon on the 17th, Vice-Admiral Curteis, with his two cruisers proceeded eastwards to meet up with A/Capt. Hardy’s force after which they proceeded in company to Gibraltar where they arrived in the early evening of the 18th.

HMS Liverpool

HMS Liverpool and her escorts safely arrived at Gibraltar late in the afternoon of the 17th. (27)

18 Jun 1942
Around 1800B/18, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Operations. (26)

20 Jun 1942
Around 2230B/20, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Gibraltar for Milford Haven. (26)

24 Jun 1942
Around 0453B/24, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Milford Haven from Gibraltar. (16)

25 Jun 1942
Around 1000B/25, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for the Clyde where he arrived later the same day. She was then taken in hand for repairs and boiler cleaning. (28)

9 Jul 1942
Around 2030B/9, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Greenock for Gibraltar. On board were personnel, stores (mainly edible oils, powdered milk and vitamine concentrates) and kerosine for Malta. (22)

14 Jul 1942
Around 0040B/14, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Greenock. After refuelling in the Bay she left for Malta around 0500B/14. (22)

15 Jul 1942
After probably having been reported by enemy air reconnaissance at 1323B/15, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) was attacked later that day by 28 enemy aircraft including high level S.79 bombers and dive bombing JU.87's and Ju.88's. There were several near misses and one bomb exploded under the keel but no damage was sustained. (22)

16 Jul 1942
Around 0600B/16, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Malta from Gibraltar. Stores were then unloaded during which no air attacks took place. (22)

18 Jul 1942
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. (22)

19 Jul 1942
At 0920B/19, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) was reported by enemy air reconnaissance. An attack by 5 JU.88's and 15 SM torpedo bombers followed around 1415B/19. Two very near misses from bombs and a very close near miss ahead of a torpedo were sustained. There were no casualties and only some minor damage was sustained which did not affect her steaming. (22)

20 Jul 1942
Around 1430B/20, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Malta. (22)

22 Jul 1942
Around 1000B/22, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Gibraltar for Milford Haven. (22)

25 Jul 1942
Around 0945B/25, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Milford Haven from Gibraltar. (16)

26 Jul 1942
Around 2001B/26, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Milford Haven for Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (16)

27 Jul 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived at Port ZA (Loch Alsh) from Milford Haven. (15)

28 Jul 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) departed Port ZA (Loch Alsh) for the Tyne where she is to be taken in hand for repairs and refit at the Hawthorn Leslie & Co. shipyard at Hebburn. (15)

29 Jul 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, RN) arrived in the Tyne from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (15)

14 Oct 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed the Tyne for Scapa Flow. (20)

15 Oct 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from the Tyne. She now commenced a short post refit work-up programme. (20)

27 Oct 1942
Around 1730A/27, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (20)

28 Oct 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Port ZA (Loch Alsh) from Scapa Flow. She left for Plymouth later the same day. (15)

30 Oct 1942
Around 0800A/30, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Plymouth from Port ZA (Loch Alsh). (29)

1 Nov 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Plymouth for Gibraltar.

5 Nov 1942
Around 0845A/5, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Plymouth. (22)

12 Nov 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Gibraltar for Casablanca where she arrived later the same day. On board were T/R.Adm. B.H. Bieri, USN and members of General Eisenhowers staff which had to attend a conference.

HMS Welshman and her passengers left Casablanca again early on the 13th to return to Gibraltar where they arrived later the same day. (22)

14 Nov 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Gibraltar for Algiers. (30)

15 Nov 1942
Around 0900A/15, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Algiers from Gibraltar.

She then left for Malta carrying foodstuffs around 1300A/15 but had to turn back due to unsuitable weather conditions. (31)

16 Nov 1942
Around 1030A/16, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived back at Gibraltar. (32)

17 Nov 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Algiers for Malta with a cargo off foodstuffs on board. (33)

18 Nov 1942
Around 0945A/18, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Malta from Algiers. (33)

27 Nov 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria. (34)

29 Nov 1942
Around 0845B/29, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta.

Around 1615B/29, she departed Alexandria for Haifa. (35)

30 Nov 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived Haifa from Alexandria. She then loaded torpedoes and stores for Malta. (36)

1 Dec 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Haifa for Alexandria. (1)

2 Dec 1942
Around 0650B/2, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta.

Around 1640B/2, she departed Alexandria for Malta. (37)

4 Dec 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Malta from Alexandria. She was swept in by HMS Hythe (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Miller, RN). (34)

5 Dec 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) and HMS Paladin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria. (34)

7 Dec 1942
Around 1055B/7, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) and HMS Paladin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta. She was then taken in hand to make her ready for minelaying duties. (34)

19 Dec 1942
Around 1700B/19, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Alexandria for Haifa. (38)

20 Dec 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Haifa from Alexandria. At Haifa minelaying exercises were carried out. (36)

22 Dec 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Haifa for Alexandria. (36)

23 Dec 1942
Around 0705B/23, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Haifa. (39)

27 Dec 1942
Around 1700B/27, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta. On board were personnel and MTB spare gear for Bone and a small quantity of stores for Malta. (38)

29 Dec 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Malta from Alexandria. (38)

31 Dec 1942
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Malta for Bone. (40)

1 Jan 1943
Around 0925A/1, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Bone from Malta.

She departed for Algiers later the same day. (41)

2 Jan 1943
Around 0740A/2, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Algiers from Bone. (40)

3 Jan 1943
Around 0715A/3, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Algiers for Malta. She was attacked by enemy torpedo bombers later this day. A torpedo narrowly missed ahead. (42)

4 Jan 1943
Around 0940A/4, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Malta from Algiers. At Malta she loaded all mines that remained in the depot. (43)

9 Jan 1943
Around 1720A/9, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria. (44)

11 Jan 1943
Around 0820B/11, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta. (45)

16 Jan 1943
Around 1430B/16, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Alexandria for Beirut from where troop transport runs to Famagusta were to be undertaken. (45)

17 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Beirut. She departed for and arrived at Famagusta later the same day. (40)

18 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Famagusta from Beirut. She returned to Beirut later the same day for another transport run and arrived back at Famagusta later the same day. (40)

19 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Famagusta for Beirut from where she returned to Famagusta later the same day. (40)

20 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Famagusta for Beirut from where she returned to Famagusta later the same day. (40)

21 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Famagusta for Beirut from where she returned to Famagusta later the same day. (40)

22 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Famagusta for Beirut from where she returned to Famagusta later the same day. (40)

23 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Famagusta for Haifa where she arrived around 0900B/23. At Haifa she was to embark an outfit of mines. (46)

25 Jan 1943
HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Haifa for Alexandria. (46)

26 Jan 1943
Around 0810B/26, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Haifa.

Around 1610B/26, she departed Alexandria for Malta. (47)

28 Jan 1943
Around 1500A/28, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) arrived at Malta from Alexandria. (48)

30 Jan 1943

Minelaying operation off Skerki Bank.

The fast minelayer HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Malta around 1500A/30 to lay a minefield off the Skerki Bank.

Commencing at 2343A/30 a total of 158 mines were laid at a depth of 10 feet along a line extending for 6.0 nautical miles in a direction of 310° from position 37°19'N, 10°40'E. Flooders were set to operate on 12 March 1943.

On completion of the lay, HMS Welshman returned to Malta where she arrived around 0820A/31 in company with the destroyers HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. L.St.G. Rich, RN) which had departed Malta around 1800A/31 to give cover for the minelayer.

The Italian corvette Procellaria was sunk on 31 January 1943 after hitting one of these mines.

The Italian torpedo boat Generale Marcello Prestinari sailed from Bizerte at 1500B/31 with orders to assist the mined corvette Procellaria, but was mined herself at 1630A/31, 18 nautical miles bearing 137° from Ile de Cani also after hitting a mine of the field laid by HMS Welshman, she went down in about one hour. (9)

31 Jan 1943
Around 1700A/31, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria where she was to embark a new outfit of mines. (9)

1 Feb 1943
Around 1700B/1, HMS Welshman (Capt. W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) passed Tobruk and she continued on her ordered route to Alexandria at 25 knots carrying out zig-zag pattern No.8 about a mean course of 085°. The sea was calm with, with light airs from the north-west and an overcast sky.

Nautical twilight ended at 1840B/1 and two minutes later, when in position 32°12'N, 24°52'E, three explosions occurred aft. (It is thought only one torpedo hit the ship). At that moment HMS Welshman was halfway through a four minute leg on the mean course. Both engines stopped and the ship swung to the northward, loosing headway with a list of five degrees to starboard. Almost immediately, Capt. Friedberger, who was on the bridge, received a report that, although both shafts were out of action, the boilers were intact and lighting and power were available. He signalled for assistance at 1845B/1 and amplified this short message at 1915B/1 reporting that the ship had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine. Just before 2000B/1, a signal was received from the escort destroyer HMS Tetcott (Lt.Cdr. H.R. Rycroft, RN) that she was coming to assist HMS Welshman and expected to arrive around 0030B/2.

Meanwhile a small fire aft had been extinguished and damage control work proceeded. Extensive damage had been done abaft No.150 station and all compartments aft of this station had been flooded. There were also large rents in the mining and upper decks. An attempt was made to establish a flooding boundary at No.150 station above the lower deck, but the bulkhead was damaged and, despite shoring and plugging, water continued to enter the wardroom flat forward of it. In a calm sea there was little motion on the ship to give warning of instability and no one aboard was in any doubt as to the ships safety, but the boats had been turned out, carley floats, rafts and floatanets freed and the depth charges set to safe, while preparations were made to tow forward. As the ship settled aft, almost imperceptibly, a small amount of water appeared on the mining deck and the portable pumps were transferred there from the wardroom flat, as the Engineer Officer appreciated the danger of this new situation. The pumps seemed to be competing satisfactorily, but at 2035B/1 the ship took a sudden increased list to starboard, which continued without pause until she was on her beam end, and she sank by the stern within three minutes. A depth charge exploded before the ship sank, probably killing many men in the water.

No boats had been lowered, due to the false sense of security felt onboard, but Carley Floats, rafts and floatanets were soon filled and the occupants kept up their spirits by singing while they waited for the arrival of the rescue craft. HMS Tetcott and her near sister ship HMS Belvoir (Lt. J.F.D. Bush, DSC and Bar, RN) were sighted at 0020B/2. The survivors were then picked up and taken to Alexandria where it was found that more then half the crew and passengers had been lost. A total of 9 officers, 144 ratings and 2 civilian passengers had been lost. 6 officers and 112 ratings had been picked up. Small craft from Tobruk rescued another 6 survivors.

The attack was made by the German submarine U-617 which had identified the ship as a Dido-class light cruiser. The Germans were under the impression that the ship had sunk immediately following the attack. (49)

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