Tuesday, 10 October

Destroyer WALPOLE, en route to join convoy KJ.1B, blew a joint in the main pipe to her starboard high pressure receiver, but was able to continue and arrived at Liverpool on the 17th, repairing until the 21st.

————

Destroyer KANDAHAR (Lt Cdr G A Robson) was completed and after working up at Portland, joined the 5th Destroyer Flotilla with the Home Fleet on 3 November.

————

At 0100/10th, the GNEISENAU force arrived back at Kiel after accomplishing nothing, with destroyer FRIEDRICH ECKHOLDT arriving separately at Swinemünde. Upon receiving news of the German's return at 1454, Admiral Forbes returned to port.

Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, battlecruiser HOOD, and destroyers FAULKNOR, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, FURY, FORESTER and FIREDRAKE went directly to Loch Ewe, arriving on the 11th.

Destroyers FOXHOUND and FEARLESS departed Scapa Flow on the 10th to escort the fleet into Scapa Flow, which arrived on the 11th. The ships concerned were battlecruiser REPULSE, aircraft carrier FURIOUS, light cruisers AURORA, NEWCASTLE and destroyers ESKIMO, SOMALI, MASHONA, ASHANTI, FAME, FORESIGHT, MATABELE, STURDY, FOXHOUND and FEARLESS, plus the Humber Force, less light cruiser EDINBURGH which had been detached and went directly to Rosyth.

Light cruiser SHEFFIELD had detached from the main force late on the 9th to patrol in the Denmark Strait and arrived back at Loch Ewe on the 15th. Destroyer FAULKNOR was weather damaged and repaired in the Clyde until 2 November, while JANUS and JACKAL were in a minor collision at Kirkwall.

Light cruisers DIOMEDE and DRAGON left Scapa Flow on Northern Patrol duties.

————

The first attempt to conduct a U-boat group operation with a tactical commander on board (KKpt Werner Hartman, Commander of Submarine Flotilla 6, on U.37) was begun. Of the nine submarines designated, only three finally took part. (1) U.25 and U.34 could not complete repairs in time, (2) U.47 was detached for the operation against British units at Scapa Flow, and (3) U.42 departed Wilhelmshaven on 30 September, U.48 on the 4th, U.37 on the 5th, U.46 on the 8th, U.45 on the 10th, and U.40 on the 11th. However, U.42, U.45 and U.40 were lost before the operation could be mounted. Only U.37, U.46 and U.48 were left to attack convoy HG.3 on the 17th.

————

German pocket battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE captured steamer HUNTSMAN (8196grt/总吨位) in the South Atlantic in 08?30S, 05?15. HUNTSMAN and German supply ship ALTMARK met on the 16th, her cargo was transferred, and crew taken off on the 17th, after which HUNTSMAN was scuttled in 16S, 17.

————

Light cruiser CERES departed Gibraltar with turbine defects and arrived at Plymouth on the 13th for repairs completed on the 27th.

————

Light cruiser DAUNTLESS departed Gibraltar and arrived at Malta on the 13th, en route to the China Station.

————

Destroyers GRAFTON and GALLANT departed Alexandria for Gibraltar to escort battleship RAMILLIES, due to sail on the 15th for Alexandria.

————

Australian heavy cruisers AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA and light cruiser ADELAIDE searched the Gabo Island area for German ships until the 13th.

————

New Zealand light cruiser ACHILLES arrived at Valapariso for two day self maintenance to correct engine room defects.

————

Forces disposed in the West Indies for patrol and escort duties were (1) Jamaica Force – British light cruiser ORION, the Australian PERTH and Canadian destroyer SAGUENAY, (2) Antilles Force - French training cruiser JEANNE D'ARC, sloop VILLE D'YS, submarine AGOSTA, (3) Oil Supply Protection Force – British sloops DUNDEE, PENZANCE and French submarine OUESSANT.