Background Events

 

(June-October 1942)
Malta, Atlantic & Russian convoy battles, Raid on Dieppe, Battles of Midway, Alamein, and for Guadalcanal

 

(November 1942-January 1943)
Landings in French North Africa ('Torch'), Final battles for Guadalcanal & Stalingrad, 'Cockleshell heroes', Battle of Barents Sea

 

---

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

DECEMBER 1942

 

 

Tuesday, 1st December

 

HAWKINS                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

RESOURCE                 Arrived Durban from Kilindini

FREESIA

 and CARTHAGE          Arrived Kilindini from Aden having been diverted to assist in the search for survivors of SS TILAWA

NIEUW AMSTERDAM   Arrived Diego Suarez from Aden and Middle East

VULCANIA

 and SATURNIA            Italian repatriation ships. Left Berbera for Port Elizabeth

 

Wednesday, 2nd December

 

SIGRFA                        Escorting SS DUMRA left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

GAMTOOS                   Left Kilindini for Aden en route to Mediterranean

HAWKINS                    Left Diego Suarez for Durban

NAPIER                        Left Kilindini for Durban. Instructed to overtake and escort R.F.A. ARNDALE who sailed from Kilindini

                                    for Durban on 29th November. If not met, NAPIER to proceed direct to Durban

RANCHI

 and PUNJAB                Left Aden escorting convoy A B 4

 

Thursday, 3rd December

 

MAURITIUS

 and ASTER                  Left Bombay escorting B A 34. (MAURITIUS to 55 E thence to Diego Suarez. ASTER to 67E thence Bombay.)

DEVONSHIRE              Escorting H.T. MAURETANIA arrived Fremantle.

FALMOUTH

 and VAN DER ZAAN    Escorting convoy P B 14 arrived Bombay

DURBAN                      Left Durban for Kilindini

FFS LEOPARD             Arrived Mauritius from Reunion

“SSSS”                         M.F.A. oiler BELITA torpedoed and sunk in 10N, 55E

 

Friday, 4th December

 

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Aden having handed over escort of H.T. SONTAY to KANARIS

FROBISHER                 Arrived Durban from Kilindini

SOEMBA

 and GERALDTON        Left Bandar Abbas escorting convoy P B 15

POOLE                        Left Bandar Abbas escorting convoy P A 13.

WEST POINT                Left Bombay for Fremantle

SUTLEJ           

 and JUMNA                 Arrived Addu Atoll from Bombay

LISMORE

 and MADRAS              Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 61

BOMBAY                     Arrived Aden escorting convoy P A 12   

 

Saturday, 5th December

 

SONAVATI                   Left Colombo for Cocos Islands carrying reliefs and supplies for the garrison

ETHIOPIAN                   Arrived Seychelles

BIRMINGHAM               Arrived Kilindini from Bombay

KANARIS                     Escorting H.T. SONTAY arrived Aden

DAUNTLESS                Left Aden for Kilindini

 

Sunday, 6th December

 

WORCESTERSHIRE     Escorting convoy C M 35 B arrived Bombay

FFS LEOPARD             Left Mauritius for Reunion

SIGRFA                        Escorting SS DUMRA arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

JANUS

 and GLENROY             Arrived Kilindini from Aden

HAWKINS                    Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez

Dutch Sub O 24            Left Colombo for patrol off Penang

SUTLEJ

 and JUMNA                 Left Addu Atoll to R/V with GAMBIA escorting convoy O W 1.

FROBISHER                 Left Durban escorting W S 24 B (two ships)

MAURITIUS                  Escorting B A 34 ordered to proceed to Seychelles on handing over to Aden escort.

                                   Thence to relieve FROBISHER with convoy W S 24 B.

FROBISHER                 on being relieved by MAURITIUS to proceed to refuel at Seychelles thence to Aden

RANPURA                    Left Aden escorting convoy A K 5 (two ships) to Kilindini

ENGADINE                   Left Durban for Fremantle

 

Monday, 7nd December

 

GAMBIA                       Arrived Addu Atoll having handed over escort of O W 1 to SUTLEJ and JUMNA for onward passage to Persian Gulf

JANUS

 and GLENROY             Left Kilindini for Durban via Diego Suarez for fuel.

SLUNA                         Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave with two political prisoners.

CESSNOCK

 and TOOWOOMBA      Escorting oiler GOLDMOUTH arrived Diego Garcia from Fremantle.

FALMOUTH                  Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 62.

 

Tuesday, 8th December

 

CESSNOCK                 Left Diego Garcia for Seychelles and Kilindini

KANIMBLA                   Arrived Colombo

NAPIER                        Arrived Durban from Kilindini

BARFOUNT                  Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

DURBAN                      grounded on entering Kilindini Harbour at 1700C. Refloated at 0920C/9th

GAMBIA                       Left Addu Atoll for Colombo

           

Wednesday, 9th December

 

RANCHI

 and PUNJAB                Escorting convoy A B 4 arrived Bombay

GERALDTON

 and SOEMBA              Escorting convoy P B 15 arrived Bombay

 

Thursday, 10th December

 

GLENROY

 and JANUS                  Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

GAMBIA                       Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Kilindini from Aden

POOLE                         Arrived Aden escorting P A 13.

 

Friday, 11th December

 

MAURITIUS                  Arrived Seychelles from Bombay

CARTHAGE                  Left Kilindini escorting convoy M J 1 to Bombay

DAUNTLESS                Left Kilindini for Durban and Simonstown for docking

SLUNA                         Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez

GAMBIA                       Left Colombo for Kilindini

KANIMBLA                   Left Colombo escorting convoy S U 5 to Fremantle.

 

Saturday, 12th December

CESSNOCK                 Arrived Seychelles and left the same day for Kilindini

RANPURA                    Arrived Kilindini from escorting convoy A K 5 from Aden

WORCESTERSHIRE

 and GERALDTON        Escorting convoy B A 35 left Bombay

“SSSS”                         SS EMPIRE GULL torpedoed and sunk in 26 degrees South 35 degrees East

 

Sunday, 13th December

 

FROBISHER                 Arrived Seychelles A.M. and left P.M. for Aden

CAPETOWN, CHITRAL, ROTHERHAM, NEPAL

 and NORMAN              Left Durban escorting combined convoys W S 24 A and C M 36.

FRITILLIARY                 Left Seychelles for Kilindini

BOMBAY                     Left Aden for Bombay

BLACKMORE               Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez for quick docking

SLUNA                         Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave

 

Monday, 14th December

 

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Diego Suarez from Fremantle

GAWLER                     Escorting U.S.N. tanker TRINITY left Exmouth Gulf for Diego Garcia

GERALDTON                Arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf

TOOWOOMBA             Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave

 

Tuesday, 15h December

 

GERALDTON

 and PUNJAB                Left Bombay escorting convoy P B 63

BRITTANY                    Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

FFS LEOPARD             Arrived Mauritius from Reunion

BLACKMORE               Arrived Diego Suarez

BURNIE                        Left Kilindini for Zanzibar and Diego Suarez escorting SS TAKLIWA

 

Wednesday, 16th December

 

LISMORE

 and MADRAS              Arrived Bombay escorting convoy P B 16

FALMOUTH                  Left Khasab Bay escorting convoy P A 15

SUTLEJ

 and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN Left Khasab Bay escorting convoy P B 17

CESSNOCK                 Arrived Kilindini from Fremantle

FROBISHER                 Arrived Aden from Seychelles

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Durban from Kilindini

FARA                           Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini

 

Thursday, 17th December

 

KIRRIEMOOR               Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

GAMBIA                       Arrived Kilindini from Colombo

FRITILLARY                  Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles

MAURITIUS                  Escorting convoy W S 24 B arrived Bombay

GLENROY

 and JANUS                  Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez

SONAVATI                   Arrived Addu Atoll on return from Cocos Islands.

FROBISHER                 Left Aden escorting convoy M C 2

BARFOAM                   Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

 

Friday, 18th December

 

BRITTANY                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

 

Saturday, 19th December

 

CERES                         Left Kilindini to R/V with combined convoys W S 24 A and C M 36 and to relieve CAPETOWN thence to Aden

PLADDA                       Left Mauritius for Diego Suarez after refitting

BLACKMORE               Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

BURNIE                        Escorting SS TAKLIWA arrived Diego Suarez

 

Sunday, 20th December

 

ROTHERHAM

 and NEPAL                  Arrived Kilindini from Durban having been detached from escort to convoy WS 24 A and C M 36.

DURBAN                      Left Kilindini for Bombay for repairs – calling Seychelles and Cochin en route for fuel.

NORMAN                     Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban having been detached from escort to convoy W S 24 A and C M 36.

Dutch Sub O 23            Arrived Colombo from patrol

 

Monday, 21st December

 

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Kilindini escorting SS EKMA ex convoy S W 24 A and C M 36 from Durban

BLACKMORE               Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

CARTHAGE                  Escorting convoy M J 1 arrived Bombay from Kilindini

 

WARSPITE (V.A.E.F.), VALIANT, ILLUSTRIOUS, BIRMINGHAM (C.S. 4), GAMBIA, RANPURA, ROTHERHAM (D 11), NEPAL, HOTSPUR, BLACKMORE

 and DERWENT            Force “A” to sea for local exercises

DEVONSHIRE              Left Fremantle escorting H.T. AQUITANIA to Aden

FRITILLARY                  Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

 

Tuesday, 22nd December

 

PLADDA                       Arrived Diego Suarez from Mauritius

GERALDTON

 and PUNJAB                Left Bandar Abbas escorting convoy P B 18

KANARIS                     Left Bandar Abbas escorting convoy P A 16

CLIVE                           Escorting convoy P B 17. Arrived Bombay having relieved SUTLEJ off Karachi. The latter to Karachi.

FALMOUTH                  Escorting convoy P A 15 arrived Aden

TOOWOOMBA             Left Diego Suarez escorting two ships to Kilindini

RANPURA                    returned to Kilindini from exercise with Force “A”

KIRRIEMOOR               Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

 

Wednesday, 23rd December

 

DURBAN                      Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini

HAWKINS                    Left Durban for Kilindini

GAMBIA                       exercising from the Eastern Fleet off Kilindini detached to Diego Suarez

Force “A”                      (less GAMBIA) returned to Kilindini from exercises

 

Thursday, 24th December

 

PLADDA

 and SLUNA                  Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave

FROBISHER                 Arrived Diego Suarez – detached from escort to convoy M C 2 – for fuel

FRITILLARY                  Arrived and left Diego Suarez from Kilindini. To fuel and join convoy M C 2 for onward escort to Durban

GAMBIA                       Arrived and left Diego Suarez to join convoy M C 2 for onward escort to Durban

DURBAN                      Left Seychelles for Cochin and Bombay

Dutch Sub O 24            Arrived Colombo from patrol.

 

Friday, 25th December

 

FFS LEOPARD             Arrived Kilindini from Mauritius

FROBISHER                 Left Diego Suarez to rejoin convoy M C 2

CARTHAGE                  Left Bombay for Aden – earmarked for escort to M C 3.

BURNIE                        Left Tamatave escorting H.T. TAKLIWA to Kilindini

 

Saturday, 26th December

 

MAURITIUS                  Left Bombay for Kilindini

TOOWOOMBA             Escorting oiler BRITISH ENERGY and KUTSANG arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

FALMOUTH                  Left Aden escorting A P 11 to Bandar Abbas

 

Sunday, 27th December

 

GAWLER                     Escorting U.S.N. TRINITY arrived Diego Garcia from Fremantle and left the same day for Addu Atoll

HAWKINS                    Arrived Kilindini from Durban

DERWENT                   Left Kilindini for Dante and Aden

RANPURA                    Left Kilindini for Durban

CATTERICK                  Escorting R.F.A. RELIANT left Durban for Kilindini

 

Monday, 28th December

 

DURBAN                      Arrived Cochin and left the same day for Bombay

 

Tuesday, 29th December

 

GAWLER                     Escorting U.S.N. Tanker TRINITY arrived Addu Atoll

CAIRNS                        Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

CARTHAGE                  Arrived Aden from Bombay

BURNIE                        Arrived Kilindini escorting H.T. TAKLIWA from Tamatave

KANIMBLA                   Arrived Fremantle from Colombo escorting convoy S U 5

 

Wednesday, 30th December

 

CAIRNS                        Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles calling at Agalega Island en route

MAURITIUS                  Arrived Kilindini from Bombay

DURBAN                      Arrived Bombay for repairs from Kilindini

 

Thursday, 31st December

 

NIZAM                          Left Durban for Kilindini

CHITRAL                      Left Aden escorting convoy A B 5 to Bombay

RANCHI                        let Bombay escorting convoy B A 36 to Aden

ROSALIND                   Left Seychelles for Kilindini

BRITTANY                    Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

 

PART II – NARRATIVE

 

(A) PLANS SECRET

 

Future Planning

 

(1). During my visit to Delhi in December on return from United Kingdom, I arranged with the Commander in Chief, India, broad outlines of our proposed arrangements for future planning of large scale operations.

 

(2). For the present, the Joint Planning Staff, India, are investigating the alternative main plan, and when this has been decided more detailed arrangements will be made for setting up the future planning organization.

 

Operation “Nibble”

 

(3). The plan for Operation NIBBLE was considerably modified by the Commander in Chief, India, as a result of my suggestions concerning the combined operations part of this operation.

 

Combined Operation Planning And Training

 

(4). A Combined Operations Headquarters (C.O.H.Q.) together with a Combined Training Centre (C.T.C.) has been established in the Bombay area as an Imperial commitment.

 

(5). The present situation regarding the provision of naval personnel and equipment for C.O.H.Q. and C.T.C. can be summarized as follows:

           

(a). Officers for C.O.H.Q.

Separate arrangements have been made by Their Lordships for a Staff of one Captain, one Commander, and one Lieutenant Commander to be sent to Bombay from Operation TORCH. It is understood these officers are on their way. As the military side on the C.O.H.Q. is already established, it is hoped the naval team will not be long in arriving.

           

(b). Chief R.N. Instructor Officer for C.T.C.

I have made a separate proposal to second on Commander from my staff to this important appointment. This Officer is already in India and should be free to join the C.T.C. during February.

           

(c). Officers and men for Boats’ Crews’ Landing Craft

A considerable number of these are available ex IRONCLAD and are already in India. Some are already working at C.T.C. and the balance should be free to concentrate their in February.

           

(d). Landing Craft

All the L.C.A. and L.C.M.’s ex IRONCLAD are now in India and a proportion of them are at C.T.C. The remainder should be available to return there in February.

 

Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation No. 1

 

(6). Their Lordships have approved the concentration in India of M.N.B.D.O. No. 1 during early 1943. The majority of the Royal Marine Groups are already in India, and arrangements are in hand for the remaining R.M. Groups to proceed to India and Addu where they have been employed up to the present.

 

The R.N. Boat Company which up to the present has been employed with Landing and Maintenance R.M. Groups at Addu will also be sent to Bombay on relief by, it is hoped, Indian personnel. ARMINDIA is investigating this possibility.

 

Site for M.N.B.D.O. No. 1 to Train in India

 

(7). A site has been selected near the Gulf of Kutch and it is hoped this will prove satisfactory, and being reasonably near Combined Training center (near Bombay), this should facilitate Joint Training in Combined Operations work.

 

(8). I have directed that the M.N.B.D.O. is to be trained for the following alternative functions:

           

(a). For its individual groups to operated in conjunction with a Combined Assault Force.

            (b). For the M.N.B.D.O. to operate as a complete separate organization.

 

Naval Groups For M.N.B.D.O. No. 1

 

(9). The Naval Groups belonging to M.N.B.D.O. No. 1 which originally accompanied it to the Mediterranean are now all dispersed in that theatre and only the Royal Marine Groups remain in the organization.

 Although, manifestly, it is not possible at this stage to forecast the port for which M.N.B.D.O. No. 1 May one day be required, I have separately recommended to Their Lordships that the material for the Controlled Mining Units and Indicator Loops should be assembled at Ceylon as soon as available, the quantity of equipment being similar to that laid down in C.B. 1936/34.

 

In addition I have recommended that the Base Staff (N.O.I.C. size) and personnel for the Controlled Mining Units should be earmarked and ready to sail from the United Kingdom at immediate notice after May 1943.

 If this course is adopted it should ensure that the complete M.N.B.D. Organisation being available in the Indian Ocean in time for any possible future operations.

 

(B.) CONVOYS

 

EMPLOYMENT OF CRUISERS AND A.M.C.’s ON OCEAN ESCORT DUTY DURING MONTH OF DECEMBER.

 

10.

HMS MAURITIUS

MAURITIUS escorting convoy B a 34 sailed from Bombay on 3rd December and was detached on relief by local A/S escort from Aden at 55 degrees East to proceed to Seychelles to fuel.

After fuelling, MAURITIUS sailed to R/V with W S 24 B east of Seychelles and relieved HMS FROBISHER as escort for that convoy.

MAURITIUS and convoy arrived Bombay on the 17th December.

 

HMS DEVONSHIRE

DEVONSHIRE escorting MAURETANIA arrived Fremantle on the 3rd December and sailed from that port with U S 18, consisting of AQUITANIA, arriving Aden 2nd January.

 

HMS GAMBIA

GAMBIA having R/V’d with Convoy O W 1 consisting of three ships, AGWIPRINCE, TARAKAN, and TATRA in position 21-24S, 95-07E on the 29th November and remained with the convoy until in the vicinity of Addu Atoll, where she was relieved by A/S vessels SUTLEJ and JUMNA from Colombo. After fuelling at Addu Atoll, GAMBIA proceeded independently to Kilindini.

 

HMS WORCESTERSHIRE

WORCESTERSHIRE sailed from Kilindini on the 26th November with Convoy C M 35 B, consisting of DUNERA and EMPRESS OF RUSSIA, for Bombay, arriving on 6th December.

WORCESTERSHIRE sailed from Bombay with Convoy B A 35 for Aden and was relieved by local A/S escorts from Aden on Meridian 55 degrees East, returning to Bombay independently for periodical overhaul to main engines.

 

HMS RANCHI

RANCHI sailed with convoy A B 4 for Bombay on the 2nd December, arriving Bombay on the 10th. After cleaning boilers at Bombay, RANCHI sailed with Convoy B A 36 arriving Aden on the 7th January.

 

HMS CARTHAGE

CARTHAGE sailed from Kilindini on the 11th December with convoy M J 1 for Bombay, arriving at the latter port on the 21st December, sailing on arrival for Aden where she arrived on the 28th December in preparation to form part escort for Convoy M C 3.

 

HMS CAPETOWN

CAPETOWN sailed with CHITRAL from Durban on 13th December as escort to Convoy W S 24 A, being relieved by CERES in the vicinity of Diego Suarez, and proceeding thence to Kilindini where she arrived on the 21st.

 

HMS CERES

CERES sailed from Kilindini on the 19th December to relieve CAPETOWN as escort to W S 24 A and proceed in company with CHITRAL as escort to the Convoy until arrival at Aden on the 27th December.

 

HMS FROBISHER

FROBISHER sailed from Durban with W S 24 B on the 6th December and was relieved by MAURITIUS east of Seychelles. After proceeding to Seychelles for fuel, FROBISHER sailed for Aden, arriving on the 16th December. FROBISHER sailed as escort to convoy M C 2 with South African military personnel on the 17th, and was relieved by GAMBIA off Diego Suarez.

On the 17th, FROBISHER proceeded to Diego Suarez for fuel, and rejoined the convoy the following day, forming escort with GAMBIA and FRITILLARY until south of Madagascar, where the escort was further strengthened by the addition of two destroyers and two corvettes. Convoy arrived Durban on the 31st December.

 

HMS CHITRAL

CHITRAL sailed from Durban in company with CAPETOWN as escort for Convoy W S 24 A and arrived at Aden on the 27th. She sailed again from Aden on the 31st with Convoy A B 5 to arrive Bombay on 6th January.

 

HMS DAUNTLESS

DAUNTLESS, who had sailed from Kilindini on 27th November escorting SONTAY, arrived at Aden on 5th December.

 

HMS RANPURA

RANPURA sailed from Aden on 6th December as escort for Convoy A K 5, arriving Kilindini on the 11th.

 

(C) BASES

 

11. Kilindini

 

 Admiralty have agreed the present net defences are adequate and that the new ones proposed are not now necessary.

 

 Local developments are continuing.

 

12. Seychelles

 

 The laying of the A/S A/B boom in Cerf Passage is being done by ETHIOPIAN.

 

 Boom Defence Officer, East Africa, visited Seychelles to see the work being down, and in connection with the proposed Boom Defence Depot on St. Anne Island

 

13. Diego Suarez

 

 On the 3rd December a crossing was detected and C.M. loop 4 was fired. It will not be possible to relay this loop until MANCHESTER CITY can be released from Saldhana Bay about the end of February.

 

 Dry dock is now available for use for emergency docking.

 

 During the month, BRITTANY, KIRRIEMOOR, DEVON CITY, BARFOAM, and BARFOUNT were sent to Diego Suarez to lay the A/S A/B Boom and bottom net.

 

 BRITTANY completed laying of the bottom net on December 31st. Work on the boom is going on.

 

 Admiralty has approved the laying of three H.D.A.s in Oranjia Pass and the Fleet A/S Fixed Defence Officer is now at Diego Suarez in this connection.

 

14. Mauritius

 

 Local developments are progressing

 

15. Trincomalee

 

Developments are progressing.

 

The position of H.D.A.s and indicator loops are still under consideration.

 

16. Diego Garcia

 

 Admiralty has agreed to abandon any further work on the indicator nets and to cancel the building of a Boom Defence Depot.

 

17. Addu Atoll

 

 Work on the Aerodrome at Gan, and on local developments, is proceeding.

 

18. Khor Kuwai

 

 Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf, has tried to use Khasab Bay as a convoy assembly port, but had had to revert to Bandar Abbas because Khasab Bay is too exposed to winter weather.

 

(D) GUNNERY

 

19. Battle Practice Target at Kilindini is now in two halves, but the forward half is still in use as a target.

 The first of the new Battle Practice Targets building at Simonstown will be ready to leave Simonstown about the middle of February.

 

20. A wreck in Manza Bay is now being used as a Bombardment and Bombing Target

 

(E) COMMUNICATIONS

 

21. During the month, trials have been carried out to investigate the possibility of using the High Power V.L/F W/T transmitter at Tanararive Radio, Madagascar for naval services. Trials are not yet concluded, but have not been satisfactory as was hoped; moreover it is impossible at the present to provide even the small number of naval personnel which would be necessary to supervise the handing of Naval W/T traffic.

It is likely, therefore, that this scheme must for the present be placed in abeyance.

 

22. A W/T fixed service has been instituted between Kilindini and Aden, thereby considerably improving communications to the northward from Kilindini. Bombay Force W/T also takes part in this service, for twelve hours out of the twenty four, due to lack of available material for continual operation. Communications with Bombay on the same frequencies as are required for Aden has not, however, been found to be satisfactory.

 

23. The representative of the Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet, Lieutenant Commander McClelland, Royal Navy, has continued his survey of new W/T stations to be provided under W/T Plan R, arriving in Ceylon on the 21st December 1942. So far detailed reports of requirements at Aden and Basra prepared with his assistance, have been forwarded to the Admiralty, while that for Bahrein is about to be despatched.

 

24. A preliminary reorganization of communications in the Persian Gulf has been completed. This will progress rapidly as new material and additional personnel become available. In this connection the manning of Persian Gulf W/T Stations by the Royal Indian Navy is again under consideration since it now appears unlikely that they will be able fully to meet either current commitments or the increased number required when W/T Plan R is fully implemented.

 

25. The proposed to divert the Durban-Zanzibar cable to Majunga has been turned down by the Admiralty as impracticable. An alternate method of communicating by L/T with Madagascar is by means of the Mauritius-Reunion-Tamatave cable. The Cable ship RECORDER is now en route for the area to carry out repairs to this cable which is at present faulty either side of Reunion.

 

(E) MINESWEEPING

 

26. There has been no evidence of enemy minelaying

 

27. During December two Bathursts arrived at Kilindini from Australia – HMAS TOOWOOMBA and HMAS CESSNOCK

 

28. There remain two Bathursts to join the Eastern Fleet, HMAS GAWLER and HMAS TAMWORTH. GAWLER is on passage, no sailing date yet received for TAMWORTH. Both these vessels will be stationed at Colombo

 

(F) INTELLIGENCE

 

29.

11th December  - Paymaster Captain H.L. Shaw, R.N. (Retired) left for United Kingdom

 

21st December - Paymaster Lieutenant Commander R.W. Michell, R.N. returned from Cairo after a course of instruction at the C.S.D.I.C. Cairo

 

28th December  - Acting Commander B.H. Holmes, OBE, RN. Relieved Acting Commander T.P. Wisden, RN as Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Staff

            Commander R.M. Laird, RN (Retired), Staff Officer (Intelligence) Afloat, made liaison visits to New Delhi and Cairo during the month.

 

APPENDIX I

 

CAPTURE OF REUNION BY FFS LEOPARD

LEOPARD sailed from Port Louis, Mauritius, on the afternoon of the 27th November 1942 and arrived off St Denis, Reunion, just before midnight 27th/28th. An advance guard was landed in two boats and four hours later was followed by the main party which seized the W/T Station, Barracks, and Governor’s House. The party then split up and occupied the neighbouring towns and villages.

           

2. The new Governor was then landed and after addressing the natives who had collected in the Town Square cheering, he took office.

           

3. The pro Vichy Colonial Secretary escaped by car to the Governor’s summer residence in the mountains where he joined the ex Governor who had retired there with 400 troops.

           

4. The battery at Pointe des Galeta refused to surrender when required to do so by LEOPARD. Fire was opened (LEOPARD fired 200 rounds) and the troops deserted, shooting and wounding the Officer in Command.

           

5. By the end of the 28th, the North part of the Island was occupied.

           

On the 29th, the ex Governor and Staff in the hills, still refused to surrender, but finally did so on the 30th, when he, together with the Colonial Secretary and the Military Commander, were taken on board LEOPARD as Military prisoners.

           

6. At times on the 28th the situation appeared uncertain to LEOPARD and early in the day, she asked for assistance of British troops and aircraft, but later deferred her request as the situation had improved. On receipt of her signal, HAWKINS was diverted to Diego Suarez to be held in readiness to proceed if necessary but she was not required.

           

A further request for aircraft was made by LEOPARD on the 29th, but was canceled when the Island surrendered on the 30th.

           

7. After the surrender it was learned that the Governor believed that 3 cruisers and 3000 men were employed in the operation.

 

8. During the following weeks, LEOPARD was employed in assisting in the administration of the Island. She arrived at Kilindini on 25th December.

on to Eastern Fleet, January-June 1943
or back to Admiralty War Diaries

revised 15/11/08