Tuesday, 7 January

Light cruiser MAURITIUS arrived at Scapa Flow to work up and join the 10th Cruiser Squadron.

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Light cruisers MANCHESTER and EDINBURGHarrived at Scapa Flow at 1540 from patrol.

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Destroyer KELLY departed Scapa Flow at 1900 and proceeded to Greenock, arriving the next day.

The destroyer's working up was completed and she joined destroyers KIPLING, KASHMIR, JERSEY of the Flotilla.

On the 18th, the four destroyers arrived at Plymouth for duty in the Western Approaches.

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Destroyer MEYNELL departed Scapa Flow at 1400 to proceed to Aberdeen and escort steamer BEN MY CHREE to Lerwick and back to Aberdeen.

The ships arrived at Lerwick at 0930/8th.

Destroyer MEYNELL arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1530/9th.

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Convoy FS.381 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers GARTH and VERSATILE, and arrived at Southend on the 9th.

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Convoy FS.382 departed Methil, destroyer VIMIERA and sloop WESTON, and arrived at Southend on the 9th.

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Convoy FS.383 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer VERDUN and sloop LONDONDERRY, and arrived at Southend on the 10th.

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Motor torpedo boats MTB.32 and MTB.34 laid minefield PW.1 in Zuydcote Pass.

German torpedo boats KONDOR and WOLF laid minefield RENATE off Dover on the 7th.

Returning, torpedo boat WOLF was mined and sunk north of Dunkirk in British minefield PW.1 on the 7th.

Motor torpedo boats laid seven more PW minefields in January.

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Italian submarine NANI was sunk by Corvette ANEMONE, en route to join convoy HX.99, south of Iceland in 60-15N, 15-27.

French corvette LA MALOUINE assisted in the attack.

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British steamer H. H. PETERSEN (975grt/总吨位) was sunk on a mine in 52-22N, 2-05E.

The crew was rescued.

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Convoy OG.49 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer ANTHONY and sloop ROCHESTER. The convoy was join the next day by destroyers ANTHONY and GEORGETOWN, armed boarding vessels CRISPIN and MANISTEE, seaplane tender PEGASUS, corvettes HEATHER and PICOTEE.

On the 11th, destroyers ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, GEORGETOWN, seaplane tender PEGASUS, corvettes HEATHER and PICOTEE were detached. On the 14th, the ocean boarding vessels were detached.

Convoy OG.49 arrived at Gibraltar on the 21st, escorted by sloop ROCHESTER.

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Force H sortied from Gibraltar on the 7th to cover theEXCESS convoy. Units participating were battlecruiser RENOWN, battleship MALAYA, aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, light cruiser SHEFFIELD, destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FURY, DUNCAN.

Operation MC.4, the EXCESS convoy, which arrived in convoy WS.5 A, had departed Gibraltar on the 6th, The convoy consisted of British steamers ESSEX (11,063grt/总吨位), en route to Malta, CLAN CUMMING (7264grt/总吨位), CLAN MACDONALD (9653grt/总吨位), EMPIRE SONG (9228grt/总吨位), en route to Pireaus. Another merchant ship, NORTHERN PRINCE (10,917grt/总吨位) was to have participated, but she ran aground at Gibraltar. The four hundred troops on NORTHERN PRINCE were embarked in anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE.

The EXCESS convoy was escorted by anti-aircraft cruiser BONAVENTURE and destroyers HEREWARD, JAGUAR, HASTY, HERO.

Battleship MALAYA was with the EXCESS convoy until Force H returned to Gibraltar twenty five miles north of Bizerte.

The British Fleet with battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, destroyers JERVIS, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, DAINTY, GREYHOUND, GALLANT, GRIFFIN of Force A departed Alexandria on the 7th to cover the EXCESS convoy.

Heavy cruiser YORK and light cruiser ORION of Force D.departed Alexandria at 0300 to cover the passage of Force C through the Kaso Strait.

Force C was oiler BRAMBLELEAF and corvettes SALVIA, HYACINTH, GLOXINIA, PEONY.

Force C refuelled the corvettes at Suda Bay on the 8th and proceeded independently to Malta.

Light cruisers AJAX and PERTH departed Piraeus to rendezvous light cruiser ORION and heavy cruiser YORK at Suda Bay at 0800/8th.

Later on the 8th, light cruisers ORION, AJAX, PERTH departed Suda Bay to cover Force C and for the EXCESS operation.

Light cruiser AJAX was detached to return to Alexandria.

Convoy MW.5 1/2 departed Alexandria at 1400 with transport BRECONSHIRE and steamer CLAN MACAULAY for Malta, anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA, destroyers DEFENDER and DIAMOND.

Submarines TRIUMPH and UPHOLDER were at sea south of Sardinia.

Submarine PANDORA was at sea to the east of the other two submarines.

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Submarine USK departed Gibraltar on the 7th and arrived at Malta on the 17th.

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Submarine ROVER attacked a convoy in 32-15N, 23-36E. Italian steamer EDDA (6106grt/总吨位) was not damaged.

Torpedo boats CLIO and CASTORE counter-attacked and damaged the submarine.

The damage required thirteen days to repair at Malta.

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During the night of 7/8 January, Italian destroyers VIVALDI, MALOCELLO, DA NOLI, TARIGO and torpedo boats SAGITTARIO and VEGA laid minefields X 2 (180 mines) and X 3 (180 mines) north of Cape Bon.