Thursday, 7 March

Completing patrol, battleship VALIANT and battlecruiser HOOD with destroyers FAULKNOR, FAME, FORESTER, KELLY, KANDAHAR and SIKH arrived at Scapa Flow at 1600 after dummy battleships REVENGE (decoy ship PAKEHA) and RESOLUTION (decoy ship WAIMANA) from Rosyth spent some time at Scapa Flow testing the base's ability to resist air attacks. After VALIANT and HOOD arrived in the anchorage, aircraft of German KG26 (X Air Corps) dropped mines in the main entrance to Scapa Flow.

Battleship RODNEY (C-in-C, Forbes) and battlecruisers RENOWN and REPULSE with destroyers HARDY (D.2), HOSTILE, INGLEFIELD (D.3), IMOGEN, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, PUNJABI and KIMBERLEY departed the Clyde at 1615/7th to arrive at 1600/8th. The ships were taken to the west of the Orkneys for 24 hours while the channel was swept. Winston Churchill was on RODNEY, and he transferred to KIMBERLEY, which carried him on to Scapa Flow, where he spent the night on HOOD. Destroyers FAULKNOR and FORESTER left Scapa Flow on the 8th and joined the Commander in Chief off Cape Wrath. RODNEY, RENOWN, REPULSE with destroyers HARDY, HOSTILE, INGLEFIELD, IMOGEN, FOXHOUND, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, PUNJABI, FAULKNOR and FORESTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 1000/9th.

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Heavy cruiser NORFOLK departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow.

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Armed merchant cruiser SALOPIAN arrived at the Clyde from patrol.

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Destroyers WOLSEY, BRAZEN and cable ship ROYAL SCOT departed Rosyth to mend cables.

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Destroyers INTREPID, GRIFFIN and anti-submarine whalers BUTTERMERE (560grt/总吨位) and WASTWATER (560grt/总吨位) made attacks on a contact sighted by aircraft at 1448, ESE of Noss Head in 58?17N, 02?26. INTREPID attacked at 1715 and 1744, and GRIFFIN at 1730. The two destroyers were joined by destroyers FAME at 1800/7th and SIKH at 1900. These two were ordered to join the hunt until required to escort base ship DUNLUCE CASTLE and three other steamers from convoy ON.18 into Scapa Flow. After GRIFFIN, SIKH and FAME detached, INTREPID was left to stand by the contact, later leaving for Invergordon where she arrived at 1300/8th. Destroyer GALLANT joined the search at midday on the 8th, but the search was unsuccessful. FAME buoyed the location on the 8th, and INTREPID and GALLANT returned to patrol the area.

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BRITISH SUBMARINE MOVEMENTS

TRIDENT arrived at Rosyth from patrol with a damaged asdic dome, and docked later that day. She undocked on the 11th.

SEAL was undocked at Rosyth.

SNAPPER arrived at Harwich after patrol.

URSULA was docked at Blyth to make good leaking glands, and undocked on the 8th.

TRUANT was undocked at Rosyth.

TRITON was docked at Rosyth for reballasting, and undocked on the 9th.

SEAWOLF departed Portsmouth under escort for Harwich.

SALMON departed Harwich on patrol.

L.23 was undocked at Blyth.

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Convoy ON.18 of ten British, thirteen Norwegian, twelve Swedish, two Danish, four Finnish and two Estonian ships departed Methil at 1700 escorted by destroyers COSSACK (D.4), ESCORT, ECLIPSE, ELECTRA and ENCOUNTER. Destroyers KELLY (D.5) departed Scapa Flow on the 8th and KANDAHAR from Kirkwall on the 8th with a detachment of ten ships for the convoy. These ten ships are included in the sailing breakdown. They joined off Scapa Flow, relieving COSSACK which joined convoy HN.17. On the 8th, German aircraft attacked the Kirkwall section. Two bombs were dropped, but no damage was done. Base ship DUNLUCE CASTLE and three other merchant ships for Scapa Flow proceeded with the convoy. Light cruisers EDINBURGH, ARETHUSA and anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO provided near cover. CAIRO departed Sullom Voe on the 9th to join the convoy. Destroyers FAME and SIKH put out from Scapa Flow. The destroyers met four merchant ships from the convoy at 1300 and escorted them into Scapa Flow, arriving on the 8th. The convoy arrived at Bergen without event on the 10th.

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CONVOY HN.17

Convoy HN.17 of eight British, nineteen Norwegian, one Danish and one Finnish ship departed Bergen escorted by destroyers NUBIAN, DELIGHT, DIANA, ILEX and GURKHA. On the 9th when the convoy split, DELIGHT and DIANA were assigned the west coast section and were reinforced by destroyers KIMBERLEY, which came out from Scapa Flow at 1800/9th, and KELLY, detached from convoy ON.18. GURKHA obtained a submarine contact at 1412/9th southwest of Fair Isle in 59?15N, 1?08 and dropped six depth charge patterns in 59-07N, 0-44. ILEX stood by the contact while the convoy continued. Destroyer FOXHOUND arrived from Scapa Flow at 0300/10th to relieve ILEX, which rejoined the convoy before it arrived at Rosyth. The submarine contact was later found to be sunken steamer SANTOS. At 0520/9th, KELLY reached convoy HN.17 in heavy weather ,collided with GURKHA, and GURKHA's propeller guard tore a thirty foot gash in her bow, requiring KELLY to leave the convoy for repairs. After emergency repairs at Lerwick and then from depot ship WOOLWICH at Scapa Flow, KELLY departed Scapa Flow on the 14th and was escorted by destroyer SIKH to Blackwall for repairs .

GURKHA was able to continue with HN.17 and was repaired at Methil in less than a week. After suspected enemy vessels were reported four miles NE of Kinnaird Head, destroyer COSSACK was informed and light cruisers EDINBURGH and ARETHUSA were advised to investigate. No contact was made and the vessels were later determined to be destroyers GALLANT and GRIFFIN. On the 10th, the convoy arrived at Methil with COSSACK (D.4), NUBIAN, GURKHA and ILEX.

DELIGHT and DIANA, after escorting the five ships of the west coast portion of the convoy to Cape Wrath, arrived at Scapa Flow. On arrival, DELIGHT reported a defect in her feed tank.

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Minelayer TEVIOTBANK escorted by destroyers ICARUS and IMPULSIVE departed the Humber for Invergordon, where they arrived on the 9th.

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Destroyer MASHONA departed Sheerness for the Clyde, arriving on the 8th.

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Convoy TM.21 departed the Tyne escorted by the 3rd Anti-submarine Group, and supported by sloop EGRET and destroyer WHITLEY.

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Convoy MT.25 departed Methil escorted by the 19th Anti-submarine Group, supported by sloop PELICAN and destroyer VIVIEN, and arrived later that day.

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Convoy FS.115 departed the Tyne escorted by sloop PELICAN and destroyer VIVIEN, and arrived at Southend on the 9th.

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Destroyer BEAGLE completed boiler cleaning and degaussing alongside depot ship SANDHURST. Destroyer BRILLIANT went alongside SANDHURST for similar work and repairs which were completed on the 12th.

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British minefield DML 9 was laid by auxiliary minelayer HAMPTON, escorted by Polish destroyers BURZA and BLYSKAWICA from Harwich and destroyers KEITH and BOADICEA from Dover, in the English Channel, between 51-53N and 51-59N in a direction 20° east to 20° west. Minesweeper FRANKLIN had already laid the mark buoys. After the operation, the destroyers returned to Harwich.

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A submarine contact report by anti-submarine yacht MAID MARION (506grt/总吨位) eight miles from Eddystone Light caused destroyers WILD SWAN, ESKIMO and VANESSA to be dispatched from Plymouth to investigate.

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ATTACKS BY 12TH ANTI-SUBMARINE STRIKING FORCE

The 12th Anti-submarine Striking Force, comprised of anti-submarine trawlers, was operating in Moray Firth in 57-55N, 02-15.

At 1500/7th, NORTHERN WAVE (655grt/总吨位) made a submarine contact, which NORTHERN PRIDE (655grt/总吨位) and NORTHERN SPRAY (655grt/总吨位) attacked.

At 0026/8th in Moray Firth in 58-02.7N, 2-09, NORTHERN DAWN (655grt/总吨位) made a contact which was attacked by NORTHERN SPRAY.

At 1310/9th off Buchanness in 57-31N, 1-38, NORTHERN PRIDE made a contact which was attacked by NORTHERN GEM (655grt/总吨位) and NORTHERN PRIDE.

At 1940/9th, east of Kinnaird Head in 57-42N, 1-35, NORTHERN DAWN made a contact which was attacked by NORTHERN SPRAY and NORTHERN DAWN.

At 0955/10th, ENE of Kinnaird Head, NORTHERN PRIDE made a contact which was attacked by NORTHERN GEM and NORTHERN PRIDE.

At 0100/11th, north of Kinnaird Head in 57-52.5N, 1-56, NORTHERN WAVE made a contact which was attacked by NORTHERN WAVE and NORTHERN SPRAY.

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Patrol sloop MALLARD damaged her bows in collision with an unknown ship off Harwich, and was under repair at London from 9 March to 27 April.

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Minesweeping trawler CEDAR (649grt/总吨位) was damaged in collision with the dockyard wall at Leith.

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Convoy BC.29 of six steamers, including steamer BARON KINNIARD (Commodore) departed Bristol Channel escorted by destroyer VIVACIOUS, and arrived in the Loire on the 9th.

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From to 2005, shipping in the Downs was attacked by German aircraft. Ramsgate guardship LORMONT and steamer DOVER ABBEY (958grt/总吨位) were bombed by He111's of KG26 (X Air Corps), but no damage was done.

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GERMAN AUXILIARY SHIP MINELAYING OFF NORTH FORELAND

German naval auxiliary Schiff 11 (Estonian steamer HANONIA (2564grt/总吨位)) which had been captured on 24 September 1939) departed Wilhelmshaven and on the 9th, disguised as a neutral ship, laid mines off North Foreland. Five ships of 14,152 tons were lost on this minefield.

On the 11th, Dutch steamer AMOR (2325grt/总吨位) was sunk in 51?24N, 02?09E, eight miles NW of Fairy Bank Buoy; the entire crew was rescued by Irish steamer CITY OF BREMEN (903grt/总吨位).

Greek steamer NIRITOS (3854grt/总吨位) was badly damaged on the 11th in 51?25N, 01?45E; steamer KIRKPLEIN stood by and tug GUARDSMAN later brought the ship in to Small Downs.

On the 15th, steamer MELROSE (1589grt/总吨位) was sunk in 51?21N, 02?13E; eighteen crew were lost and five rescued.

On the 17th, French steamer CAPITAINE AUGUSTIN (3137grt/总吨位) was lost 2? miles 126° from Tongue Light Vessel; two crew were killed.

On the 17th, Dutch steamer SINT ANNALAND (2248grt/总吨位) was sunk in 51?23N, 02?01E; the entire crew was rescued by Dutch steamer SCHIELAND (2249grt/总吨位).

On the 18th, Italian steamer TINO PRIMO (4853grt/总吨位) was lost in 51?20N, 01?42E; tug KENIA from Ramsgate took her in tow, but she struck two more mines and sank. One crewman was lost.

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German minelayers ROLAND and COBRA laid two anti-submarine mine barriers west of Heligoland during the 7th and 8th.

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U.32 laid mines north of Liverpool Bay, on which one merchant ship was lost.

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U.28 laid mines southeast of the Isle of Wight off Portsmouth.

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U.14 sank Dutch steamer VECHT (1965grt/总吨位) in 51?45N, 03?05E.

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Belgian fishing vessel YOLANDE MARGUERITE (26grt/总吨位) was bombed and sunk by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) off Noord Hinder.

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Dutch steamer CONFID (249grt/总吨位) was bombed and damaged by He111's of German KG26 (X Air Corps) 6? miles 350° from Flamborough Head.

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Italian steamer AMELIA LAURO (5335grt/总吨位) was damaged by German bombing in 52?55N, 02?19E. Italian steamer TITANIA (5397grt/总吨位) rescued the 37 crew and took them to the Downs. Sloops PINTAIL and LONDONDERRY were also involved in the rescue. The steamer was taken to Immingham, and was still there on 10 June, when she was seized and renamed EMPIRE ACTIVITY for British use.

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French auxiliary minesweeper MARIE YETTE (286grt/总吨位) was sunk in collision with French steamer SPRAMEX (2560grt/总吨位) in the River Gironde.