Friday, 9 January

Heavy cruiser KENT (Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet) departed Scapa Flow to relieve CS 1 in NORFOLK at Hvalfjord, arriving on the 11th.

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Heavy cruiser BERWICK departed Hvalfjord for patrol in the Denmark Strait.

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Aircraft carrier EAGLE, after refitting, departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyers SKATE and BLYSKAWICA, for the Clyde.

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American seaplane tender ALBERMARLE arrived at Hvalfjord.

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Destroyer BEDOUIN departed Rosyth at 0830 for Scapa Flow on completion of boiler cleaning. The destroyer arrived at 2100 that evening.

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Destroyers ASHANTI and FORESTER departed Scapa Flow at 1800. ASHANTI proceeded to Rosyth for boiler cleaning and arrived at 0545/10th. FORESTER proceeded to the Tyne for refitting and arrived at 1030/10th.

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Destroyer VIMIERA (Lt Cdr A.A. Mackenzie RNR) was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary. Two ratings were killed and one rating died of wounds. Midshipman D. Lacy RNR, and eighty eight ratings were missing. Lt D.D. O'Sullivan MBE, was wounded. Cdr Mackenzie, Temporary Surgeon Lt J.D. Kidd MB, CHB RNVR, and four wounded ratings were rescued by an MMS.

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Submarine TRIUMPH (Lt J.S. Huddart) failed to pick up a party of escapers at Bireans in the Adriatic. The submarine had departed Alexandria on 26 December and dropped a party at Bireans on 30 December. Sometime between 30 December and 9 January, she was lost. Lt Huddart, Temporary Lt E.A. Collins RNVR, Lt R..D. Don DSC, Lt M.C. Janvrin, Temporary Lt A.K. Peterkin RNR, Midshipman G.D. Waterall, Lt (E) G.M.D. Wright, and fifty five ratings were lost.

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Submarine P.39 arrived at Gibraltar after patrol in the Mediterranean.

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Convoy AT.15 departed Alexandria, escorted by destroyer HEYTHROP, corvette PEONY, and two motor launches. Destroyers HERO and ARROW were sailed as a striking force. The convoy arrived at Tobruk on the 12th. Collier MAUSANG departed Tobruk for Benghazi, escorted by destroyers KIMBERLEY and HOTSPUR. They arrived at Benghazi on the 11th.

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An aircraft of RAF 230 Squadron sank U.577 in 32-22N, 26-54E. There were no survivors from the submarine. Recent reports indicate the submarine attacked was U.568 which sustained light damage.

Submarine U.577 was damaged on the 11th by a Swordfish of 815 Squadron in 32-50N, 24-10E. The submarine was then sunk by another Swordfish of the 815 Squadron on the 14th in 32-40N, 25-48E.

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Convoy SC.64 departed Sydney, CB, escorted by corvettes LOUISBURG and SUDBURY and minesweeprs MALPEQUE, MINAS, NIPIGON, and THUNDER. Destroyer OTTAWA and corvette SHERBROOKE joined on the 12th. Minesweeper NIPIGON was detached on the 12th, MINAS and THUNDER on the 13th, MALPEQUE and SUDBURY on the 14th, and LOUISBURG on the 15th.Corvettes BARRIE, BUCTOUCHE, HEPATICA, and MOOSE JAW joined on the 15th. Corvette BARRIE was detached on the 19th and destroyer OTTAWA and corvettes BUCTOUCHE, HEPATICA, SHERBROOKE, and MOOSE JAW on the 20th. Destroyer SABRE and corvettes ARABIS, DAHLIA, MONKSHOOD, and SNOWFLAKE joined on the 20th. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 23rd.

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Convoy ST.12X departed Freetown, escotted by corvettes FREESIA, FRITILLARY, and NIGELLA. The convoy arrived at Takoradi on the 14th.

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Auxiliary minelayer KUNG WO laid mines completing the minefields defending the approaches to Singapore.

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Minelayer TEVIOT BANK departed Batavia for Trincomalee, escorted through the Sunda Strait by destroyers VAMPIRE, JUPITER, and ENCOUNTER.

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Japanese submarine I.58 sank Dutch steamer CAMPHUIJS (2380grt/总吨位) in 4-40S, 111-47E. The survivors were rescued by naval seaplane and brought to Surabaya.

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Dutch steamer BENKOELN (1103grt/总吨位) was sunk by Japanese submarine I.65 in 4-50S, 112-20E. American destroyer PAUL JONES picked up 101 survivors from rafts. I.65 also set a tanker afire after torpedo and gun attack in the Java Sea, but the tanker was able to escape.