Monday, 15 June

MALTA CONVOYS HARPOON AND VIGOROUS (continued)

Light cruiser NEWCASTLE in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by a motor torpedo boat. There were no casualties.

Destroyer BEDOUIN (Cdr B G Scurfield OBE) was sunk by aircraft torpedo in the Central Mediterranean. Sub Lt C N Parker, Lt F T Skinner and twenty six ratings were missing. Cdr Scurfield, Lt P Bullard, Sub Lt R J Evans RNVR, Lt Cdr (E) J S Mc N Jay, Lt E A S Manners, Ty/Lt J G Marshall RNVR, Ty/Lt J A R Moller RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt C J Montgomery RNVR, Ty/Surgeon Lt R St. CMooney RNVR, Schoolmaster R S G Wilson and 203 ratings were taken prisoner.

Destroyer HASTY (Lt Cdr N H G Austen) in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by German motor torpedo boat S.55 in 34-10N, 22-00E. One rating was killed, eleven missing, and one died of wounds. Destroyer HOTSPUR scuttled HASTY

Escort destroyer AIREDALE (Lt Cdr A G Forman) in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by bombing in 33-50N, 24-00E. Lt J C K McCKinsman and forty four ratings were lost. Nine officers and 124 ratings were rescued, before AIREDALE was scuttled by sister ship ALDENHAM, one of whose officers, Lt H T Tanner was killed the same day.

Australian destroyer NESTOR (Cdr A S Rosenthal DSO RAN) in VIGOROUS was badly damaged by bombing in 33-36N, 24-30E. She was taken in tow by destroyer JAVELIN, but had to be scuttled on the 16th. Three RAN and one RN rating were lost.

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Anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON CEYLONITE (448grt, Skipper Mc K Smith RNR), on loan to the USN, was sunk on a mine in Chesapeake Bay. Skipper Smith, Ty/Skipper T O FLeiper RNR and eighteen ratings were missing.