Tuesday, 1 April

German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL SCHEER returned to Kiel after sinking 17 ships for 113,233 tons in the North and South Atlantic and in the Indian Oceans.

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Commander in Chief Home Fleet transferred his flag from battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH to battleship KING GEORGE V.

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Destroyer QUORN in the Nore Command was damaged by two near misses of German bombing, but only sustained superficial damage.

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Destroyers ANTHONY, NESTOR and anti-submarine trawlers of the 10th Anti-Submarine Striking Force departed convoy HX.115 at daylight and proceeded to Scapa Flow. The destroyers arrived later on the 1st.

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A submarine was sighted ten miles 305° from Dunnet Head by heavy cruiser LONDON. Destroyers WHADDON and QUANTOCK departed Scapa Flow at 2015 to hunt for her, and anti-submarine whalers SOUTHERN SHORE (328grt/总吨位), SOUTHERN FLOWER (328grt/总吨位) and SPOSA (316grt/总吨位) were also despatched. At 2330, the destroyers were instructed to abandon the search and proceed to Rosyth. At 0030/2nd, they were ordered to search for a downed aircrew in 58-40N, 4-28. At 0645, but lacking success, they proceeded towards Rosyth. The airmen were sighted off Whitten Head at 0800, but before the destroyers arrived, they were rescued by an RAF launch. The destroyers were able to continue to Methil and join Rosyth Command.

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German bombing attacked convoy HXM.114 off Smalls.

British tanker SAN CONRADO (7982grt/总吨位) was badly damaged by German bombing 13 miles 325° from Smalls.

The tanker was taken in tow. When taken under attack again by German bombing, the tow was cut.

The tanker sank on the 2nd.

Norwegian tanker HIDLEFJORD (7639grt/总吨位) was sunk by German bombing twenty miles northwest of Smalls.

Twenty nine crew were missing.

British tanker ADELLAN (7984grt/总吨位) was damaged by German bombing seven cables from Sea Buoy, Milford Haven.

The tanker was brought to Milford Haven. After the cargo was discharged, the tanker proceeded to Newport for repairs.

British tanker CHESAPEAKE (8955grt/总吨位) was attacked by German bombers fifteen miles north of the Smalls.

The tanker was attacked again later that day ten miles southwest of St Goven's Head and badly damaged by German bombing.

The tanker anchored in Walton Bay on the 3rd.

Norwegian tanker KAIA KNUDSEN (9063grt/总吨位) was damaged by German bombing twenty miles north, northwest of Smalls.

The tanker was towed to Milford Haven.

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On an anti-submarine search, an Albacore of 828 Squadron force landed at A'Mhouine, Whiten Head, Sutherland. Lt Cdr L. A. Cubitt, sub Lt M. G. Goodger RNVR, and Petty Officer D. E. Polmeer were all injured.

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Lt A. A. Pettigrew, in a Blenheim of RAF 55 Squadron from Maraua, Libya, detached from 826 Squadron, was killed when his aircraft failed to return from a reconnaisance mission off Libya.

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Swedish steamer LIDINGO (5842grt/总吨位) was damaged on a mine west of Falsterbo.

The steamer was beached and was later towed to Malmo.

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Battlecruiser RENOWN and aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, joined by destroyers NAPIER, NIZAM, and FORTUNE which departed Gibraltar on 31 March, arrived at Gibraltar after escort duties.

Destroyers NAPIER and NIZAM departed Gibraltar escorting British liner HIGHLAND MONARCH (14,139grt/总吨位) for Freetown where they arrived on the 8th.

All three ships departed Freetown on the 8th and arrived at St Helena on the 12th.

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Light cruiser EDINBURGH arrived at Gibraltar after being relieved in convoy WS.7.

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Destroyers HIGHLANDER, VELOX, and WRESTLER departed Gibraltar to meet battlecruiser REPULSE, aircraft carrier FURIOUS, and troopship NARKUNDA arriving from Freetown and escort them toGibraltar.

On the 3rd, the ships arrived at Gibraltar.

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From 1 to 4 April, German tanker NORDMARK took on fuel and stores from German tanker ILL (7603grt/总吨位) at sea.

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Convoy ANF.24 of six British ships departed Alexandria escorted by destroyers NUBIAN and HEREWARD and corvette HYACINTH.

Netlayer PROTECTOR sailed in this convoy with Fleet Air Arm torpedoes for Piraeus and nets for Suda Bay.

Also in this convoy was British steamer NORTHERN PRINCE (10,917grt/总吨位) that should have arrived in the EXCESS convoy. However, after she ran aground at Gibraltar and missed the convoy, the steamer was sent around the Cape to Alexandria.

Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA joined the convoy from convoy ASF.22 at 0700/3rd, and arrived at Piraeus on the 4th.

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Convoy AG.10 of one British ship and supply ship BRECONSHIRE departed Alexandria escorted by destroyers ILEX, HAVOCK, and HOTSPUR.

Supply ship BRECONSHIRE carried troops to be disembarked at Lemnos and Mitylene.

The convoy was joined by anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE at 0630/2nd from Suda Bay, and arrived at Piraeus on the 3rd.

On the convoy's arrival at Piraeus, supply ship BRECONSHIRE and destroyers HAVOCK and HOTSPUR proceeded to Mudros to disembark troops.

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Convoy ASF.22 of seven British ships departed Piraeus escorted by anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA and destroyers HASTY, DEFENDER, and VAMPIRE.

Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA was detached to convoy ANF.24 south of Kithera, and arrived at Alexandria on the 4th.

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Convoy AS.23 of one British and six Greek ships departed Piraeus escorted by destroyers VOYAGER and WRYNECK and sloop GRIMSBY.

Leaving Piraeus, destroyer WRYNECK attacked a submarine contact in Phleva Bay, and arrived at Alexandria on the 4th and Port Said on the 5th.

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Italian troop convoy of troopships ESPERIA (11,398grt/总吨位), CONTE ROSSO (17,879grt/总吨位), MARCO POLO (13,098grt/总吨位), and VICTORIA (13,098grt/总吨位) escorted by destroyers TARIGO, EURO, and BALENO and torpedo boats POLLUCE and PARTENOPE departed Naples, and arrived at Tripoli on the 2nd.

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Convoy BS.22 departed Suez, escorted by sloop CLIVE. Destroyer KIMBERLEY joined on the 3rd, destroyer KINGSTON on the 5th and light cruiser CALEDON on the 6th. Destroyer KINGSTON was detached on the 7th and destroyer KIMBERLEY on the 8th. The convoy was dispersed on the 9th.

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Destroyer KANDAHAR intercepted German steamer BERTRAM RICKMERS (4188grt/总吨位), which departed Massawa on 29 March, in the Red Sea.

The German steamer scuttled herself near Gondurmiat.

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German steamer LICHTENFELS (7566grt/总吨位) departed Massawa. The steamer is unable to evade British patrols and is forced to return to Massawa.

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German steamers HERMONTHIS (4833grt/总吨位) and MUENCHEN (5619grt/总吨位) departed Callao at 1930 on 31 March.

Steamer MUENCHEN (5619grt/总吨位) scuttled herself when intercepted by Armed merchant cruiser PRINCE HENRY at 11-18S, 79-09.

Steamer HERMONTHIS (4833grt/总吨位) scuttled herself when intercepted by Canadian armed merchant cruiser PRINCE HENRY at 12-13S, 80-10.

The wreck was scuttled by Peruvian cruiser ALMIRANTE GRAU off Callao, Peru.

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German steamers in western South American ports scuttled themselves.

Steamer CERIGO (1120grt/总吨位) was scuttled at Guayaquil.

The steamer was later salved by Ecuador for use as 24 DE MAYO.

Steamer EISENBACH (4323grt/总吨位) was scuttled at Puntarenas.

Steamer FRIESLAND (6310grt/总吨位) was scuttled at Paita, Peru.

Steamers LEIPZIG (5898grt/总吨位) and MONSERRATE (5578grt/总吨位) were scuttled at Callao when they were unable to leave port. A Peruvian warship turned the steamers back when they attempted to leave harbour.