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Notable events involving Otter include:

Otter (RCN), ship loss ARMSTRONG, Irvine C, Telegraphist, V/11273 (RCNVR), BLYTH, John, Ordinary Seaman, V/9799 (RCNVR), DARRACH, Ronald M, Motor Mechanic, A/1964 (RCNR), DAY, Alexander E, Ordinary Telegraphist, V/22229 (RCNVR), D'EON, Gerald J, Victualling Assistant, V/25232 (RCNVR), DREW, John G, Motor Mechanic, A/2183 (RCNR), GILLIS, Daniel E, Mechanician, A/841 (RCNR), GRAHAM, John E, Able Seaman, A/4001 (RCNR), JOHNSTON, Beverley, Electrician, V/19118 (RCNVR), LAURIN, Lucien J A, Ordinary Seaman, V/6470 (RCNVR), MABEY, Elmer A, Telegraphist, V/1229 (RCNVR), MASON, Dudley H, Stoker, V/17215 (RCNVR), O'HARA, Wallace I, Ordinary Seaman, V/5908 (RCNVR), PARKER, Andrew F, Chief Skipper, RCNR, STUART, Lionel E, Stoker, A/2648 (RCNR), THIBAUBEAU, Placid L, Ordinary Seaman, V/5295 (RCNVR), WALKER, Alan M, Lieutenant, RCNVR, WALL, Edward F, Stoker 1c, A/1740 (RCNR), WOODS, Norman G, Ordinary Seaman, V/9607 (RCNVR), (1)

26 Dec 1940

Convoy HX 99.

This convoy departed Halifax on 26 December 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; A.D. Huff (British, 5866 GRT, built 1920), Aelybryn (British, 4986 GRT, built 1938), Alderpool (British, 4313 GRT, built 1936), Cape Nelson (British, 3807 GRT, built 1929), Eastern Star (Norwegian, 5658 GRT, 1920), Ittersum (Dutch, 5199 GRT, built 1938), Olympos (Greek, 5216 GRT, built 1918), Penrith Castle (British, 6369 GRT, built 1929), Teneriffa (Norwegian, 5655 GRT, built 1922), Thysville (Belgian, 8351 GRT, built 1922), Tower Field (British, 4241 GRT, built 1935), Warkworth (British, 4941 GRT, built 1924), West Ekonk (British, 5631 GRT, built 1918) and Yselhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN), destroyer HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN) and the armed yacht HMCS Otter (T/Lt. D.S. Mossman, RCNR).

Around 1830Q/26, the submarine HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) also joined the convoy as escort.

HMCS Otter was detached later on the 26th to return to Halifax.

Around 1645Q/27, HMCS Columbia parted company to return to Halifax.

Between 29 and 31 December 1940, the convoy encountered very thick for and during this period the Cape Nelson and Teneriffa lost contact with the convoy and never rejoined. They both continued her passage to the U.K. independently and arrived at Oban on 9 January 1941 and at Avonmouth on 10 January 1941 respectively.

Also on 29 December 1940, the Bermuda section of the convoy, convoy BHX 99, was to join. This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Abraham Lincoln (Norwegian, 5784 GRT, built 1929), Blankaholm (Swedish, 2845 GRT, built 1930), Cowrie (British (tanker), 8197 GRT, built 1931), Daytonian (British, 6434 GRT, built 1922), Duke of Athens (British, 5217 GRT, built 1940), Karabagh (British (tanker), 6427 GRT, built 1932), Kinross (British, 4956 GRT, built 1935) and Rokos Vergottis (Greek, 5202 GRT, built 1919).

They had departed Bermuda unescorted on 24 December 1940.

The Bermuda section was late at the rendezvous and were not sighted. The main convoy then retired northwards to await them. However due to the thick for then setting in which lasted until the morning of 31 December the Bermuda section was unable to join.

When the fog finally lifted, HMS Alaunia had 13 ship in sight, 2 of which were from the Bermuda section, the Blankaholm and Duke of Athens. The A.D. Huff of the Halifax section was able to rejoin on 4 January. She had suffered from engine defects during her absence.

Around 0900P/1, HMS Alaunia left the convoy to search for the missing ships of the Bermuda section. sh found five of them and by 1330P/5, the following ships had joined the main convoy; Abraham Lincoln, Cowrie, Daytonian, Kinross and Rokos Vergottis. The last ship missing, the Karabagh was able to join on 4 January 1941.

Around 1500O/5, in position 60°18'N, 25°00'W, HMS Porpoise parted company to return to Halifax.

Around 0800O/5, in position 61°17'N, 21°24'W, HMS Alaunia parted company to return to Halifax.

The first of the Western Approaches A/S escort joined on 1330Z/7 in position 60°25'N, 16°00'W. These were the corvettes HMS La Malouine (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) R.W. Keymer, RN) and HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO, RNR). The remainder of the A/S escort, the destroyers HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN), HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, RN) and A/S trawler HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. S.G. Phillips, RNVR) joined on the 8th.

Around 1815A/9, in position 57°05'N, 08°07'W, the Oban section parted company. They arrived at Oban, unescorted, later the same day. The Oban section was made up of the following merchant vessels; A.D. Huff, Alderpool, Duke of Athens, Karabagh, Kinross, Towerfield and Warkworth.

At 1930A/10, in position 53°46'N, 05°08'W, the following merchant vessels parted company; Cowrie (arrived at Holyhead on 11 January), Ittersum (arrived at Milford Haven on 11 January) and Yselhaven (arrived at Milford Haven on 11 January). To escort them the A/S trawler HMS Derby County (Skr. W.J.P. Soloman, RNR) had joined.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 11 January 1941. (2)

26 Mar 1941
HMS Talisman (Lt. M. Willmott, RN) arrived at Halifax, Canada. In the early morning hours she was to rendez-vouz of the Sambro light vessel with the Canadian armed yacht HMCS Otter (T/Lt. D.S. Mossman, RCNR). HMS Talisman arrived at the rendez-vouz in thick fog, when the fog lifted at 0920Q/26 HMCS Otter was seen to be on fire. Talisman closed and found her abandoned. 4 survivors out of 9 that were on a raft were rescued, the other 5 unfortunately drowned.

HMCS Otter sank at 1115Q/26 in position 44°23'N, 63°23'W.

At 1415Q/26, HMS Talisman arrived at Halifax. (3)