Site archived by http://www.patriotfiles.com

To have your military website archived contact The Patriot Files

Home Fleet War Diary 1945
 

Naval History Homepage and Site Search

  
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Please Note:

(1) None of the monthly appendices are complete and some are totally missing, but all available contents have been transcribed.

(2) The original typist did not have a good grasp of grammar or punctuation with some sentences running on, but the contents have been transcribed as they are.

(3) Some of the abbreviations are not known and cannot be deciphered without further research.

Don Kindell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
the British Battleship of World War 2
 
 
 
 

if any ads offend, please contact me
 

 
 

ADMIRALTY WAR DIARIES of WORLD WAR 2

 

EASTERN FLEET - January to June 1943

 

Transcribed by Don Kindell

edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net
HMAS Adelaide, old light cruiser
(NavyPhotos/Mark Teadham click photographs for enlargements)

on to Eastern Fleet, July-December 1943
 
 
 

Background Events

(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

 

JANUARY 1943

 

 

Friday, January 1st

 

FOXHOUND                  Left Durban for Kilindini

LURCHER                    Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez

CAPETOWN                 Left Kilindini for Bombay and Persian Gulf, calling Seychelles en route

NORMAN                     Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

 

Saturday, January 2nd

 

CERES                        Left Aden for Kilindini

CATTERICK                  Arrived Kilindini from Durban escorting RELIANT

RANPURA                    Arrived Durban from Kilindini

DEVONSHIRE              Arrived Aden having escorting H.T. AQUITANIA from Fremantle

GAWLER                     Left Addu Atoll escorting CLAN FORBES to Colombo

 

Sunday, January 3rd

 

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Seychelles and left the same day for Bombay

CAIRNS                        Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez having called at Alagela Island en route

LURCHER                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave and left for Kilindini

NORMAN                     Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

BRITTANY                    Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

“SSSS”                         Two enemy submarines sighted by patrolling dhow 5 miles south of Forbandar (200 miles N. of Bombay

 

Monday, January 4th

 

TRUSTY                       Left Colombo on patrol

ADELAIDE                   Left Fremantle escorting H.T. ILE DE FRANCE to vicinity of Colombo

NIZAM                          Arrived Kilindini from Tamatave

FFS LEOPARD             Left Kilindini for Tamatave

FALMOUTH and

  BATHURST                 Left Bandar Abbas escorting P.B. 20 to Bombay

RATNAGIRI                  Left Bandar Abbas escorting P.A. 18 to Aden

 

            Tuesday, January 5th

 

FOXHOUND                  Arrived Kilindini from Durban

ROSALIND                   Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles

GAWLER                     Escorting CLAN FORBES arrived Colombo from Addu Athol

RANPURA                    Left Durban for Kilindini

“SSSS”                         Submarine reported by U.S. Ferry A/C in position 19 deg. 15N, 58 deg. 29 E at 0740. Reported graded E by S.N.O.P.G.

 

Wednesday, January 6th

 

LURCHER                    Escorting one transport arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

CHITRAL                      Escorting convoy A.B. 5 arrived Bombay from Aden

 

Thursday, January 7th

 

CERES                        Arrived Kilindini from Aden

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Bombay from Kilindini en route to relieve CARADOC in Persian Gulf

VALIANT, HOTSPUR

 and BLACKMORE        Left Kilindini for Durban

FFS LEOPARD             Arrived Tamatave from Kilindini and sailed again for Diego Suarez

BURNIE                        Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

ISIS                              Left Bombay for Mediterranean calling Aden

W.S. 25W

 (H.T. QUEEN MARY)   Left Capetown for Suez

PUNJAB

 and GERALDTON        Escorting convoy B.P. 65 left Bombay

M.T. QUEEN MARY      Left Capetown for Aden and Suez

 

Friday, January 8th

 

FFS LEOPARD             Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave

RANCHI                        Escorting convoy B.A. 36 arrived Aden

ADELAIDE                    Escorting ILE DE FRANCE ordered to part company at 1230Z and return to Fremantle     

NIRAVATI                     Escorting A.P. 12 left Aden

 

Saturday, January 9th

 

CHITRAL                      Left Bombay for Durban

FROBISHER                 Left Durban escorting convoy C.M. 37 B towards Bombay. To be relieved by HAWKINS off Diego Suarez

GAMBIA                       Left Durban escorting convoy C.M. 37 A towards Aden. To be relieved south of Kilindini by RANPURA

CAPETOWN                 Left Bombay for Bahrein to relieve CARADOC

LEOPARD                    Left Diego Suarez for Reunion

 

Sunday, January 10th

DEVONSHIRE

 and CARTHAGE          Left Aden escorting convoy M.C. 3 to Durban

BURNIE                        Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

ISIS                              Arrived Aden from Bombay on passage to Mediterranean

FALMOUTH

 and BATHURST           Escorting convoy P.B. 20 arrived Bombay

 

Monday, January 11th

 

CHITRAL                      on passage from Bombay to Durban diverted to Kilindini

ROSALIND                   Left Kilindini for Seychelles

LEOPARD                    Arrived Reunion from Diego Suarez and left for Mauritius

LEOPARD                    Arrived Mauritius

LURCHER                    Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez escorting SS EKMA

RANPURA                    Arrived Kilindini from Durban

RATNAGIRI                   Escorting convoy P.A. 19 arrived Aden

SUTLEJ                        Escorting convoy P.A. 19 left Hormuz

WILLEM VAN DE ZAAN

  and MADRAS             Escorting convoy P.B. 21 left Hormuz

 

            Tuesday, January 12th

 

CARADOC                   Left Bahrein for Bombay

CAIRNS                       Left Seychelles for Kilindini

VALIANT, HOTSPUR

  and BLACKMORE       Arrived Durban from Kilindini

QUEEN OF BERMUDA Left Simonstown for Suez

“RRRR”                         SS AGWIMONTE reported having been shelled in position 35 deg. 42S, 21 deg. 27E (180 miles E.S.E. of the Cape)

 

Wednesday, January 13th

 

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, NORMAN

 and NEPAL                  Left Kilindini

HAWKINS

 and BIRMINGHAM       Left Kilindini for exercises thence Diego Suarez

CERES                        Left Kilindini for exercises then Durban

ADELAIDE                    Arrived Fremantle

H.T. NIEUW AMSTERDAM arrived Durban from Suez

“SSSS”                         Native on Reunion Island reported having sighted a submarine 25’ distance at 0800Z. Report considered unreliable by C.O. FSS LEOPARD

“SSSS”                         SS FRESNO CITY reported sighting a periscope in 1 deg 20 S, 74 deg 32E at 0500Z hrs.

 

Thursday, January 14th

 

PLADDA                       Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez 

RANCHI                        Left Aden escorting convoy A.K. 6, two ships, to Kilindini

POOLE                        Left Aden escorting A.P. 13 to Persian Gulf

ILE DE FRANCE           Arrived Bombay from Fremantle

 

Friday, January 15th

 

ISIS                              Arrived Aden from Bombay on passage to Mediterranean

H.T. QUEEN MARY      Arrived Aden from Capetown

 

Saturday, January 16th

 

IPSWICH                      Left Kilindini to join escort to convoy C.M. 37 A to Aden

CAIRNS                        Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles

RANPURA                    Left Kilindini to relieve GAMBIA and take over escort of convoy C.M. 37 A to Aden

CHITRAL                      Arrived Kilindini from Bombay

PLADDA                       Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave

CARADOC                    Arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf

 

Sunday, January 17th

 

GAMBIA                       Arrived Kilindini having been relieved by RANPURA as escort to convoy C.M. 37 A to Aden

LURCHER                    Arrived Tamatave and left later for Diego Suarez

PUNJAB

 and GERALDTON        Left Hormuz (Bandar Abbas) escorting convoy P.B. 22 to Bombay

HIRAVATI                     Left Bandar Abbas escorting convoy P.A. 20 to Aden

MADRAS

 and WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN Arrived Bombay with convoy P.B. 21

ROSALIND                   Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini

NORMAN

 and NEPAL                  Arrived Durban from Kilindini

WORCESTERSHIRE     Left Bombay for Aden

 

Monday, January 18th

 

DEVONSHIRE              Arrived Kilindini having been relieved by BIRMINGHAM as escort to convoy M.C. 3 to Durban

FROBISHER                 Arrived Kilindini having been relieved by HAWKINS as escort to convoy C.M. 37 B to Bombay

1 Swordfish aircraft crashed 140 deg. Ras Sereni 8’ at 1440 hrs. Crew picked up by FROBISHER. Aircraft sank

BRITTANY                    Left Kilindini for Seychelles and Addu

CERES                         Arrived Durban from Kilindini

SUTLEJ                        Escorting convoy P.A. 19 arrived Aden

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Bahrein from Kilindini

H.T. QUEEN MARY      Arrived Suez from Aden

BENGAL

 and SONAVATI            Escorting B.P. 66 left Bombay

 

Tuesday, January 19th

 

PLADDA                       Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

NIEUW AMSTERDAM   Left Durban for Suez     

 

Wednesday, January 20th

 

RANCHI                        Arrived Kilindini from Aden escorting two ships

 

Thursday, January 21st

 

CHITRAL                      Left Kilindini for Simonstown

WOLLONGONG            Left Kilindini escorting two ships to Diego Suarez

 

Friday, January 22nd

 

RANCHI                        Left Kilindini escorting SS ARAWA to Durban

KHYBER                      Left Durban for Diego Suarez en route to Colombo

ROMNEY

 and RATNAGIRI           Left Aden escorting convoy A.P. 14

TAMWORTH                 Escorting one tanker ATHELDUKE left Fremantle for Diego Garcia. TAMWORTH then to Colombo

 

Saturday, January 23rd

 

BRITTANY                    Left Seychelles for Addu Atoll

WORCESTERSHIRE     Arrived Aden from Bombay

BIRMINGHAM

 and CARTHAGE          Escorting convoy M.C. 3 arrived Durban

NORMAN                     Escorting N.S.I.S. HONG SIANG left Durban for Kilindini

PUNJAB

 and GERALDTON        Escorting convoy P.B. 22 arrived Bombay

CAPETOWN                 Left Bahrein for Masirah to investigate reported Bedouin attack on R.A.F. aerodrome

 

Sunday, January 24th

 

CATTERICK                  Left Kilindini for Durban

QUEEN OF BERMUDA Arrived Aden from Durban

H.T. MARIPOSA           Arrived Aden from Rio de Janeiro, via Cape of Good Hope

RANPURA

 and IPSWICH               Escorting convoy C.M. 37 A arrived Aden

MARAVATI                   Escorting convoy P.A. 20 arrived Aden

WORCESTERSHIRE

 and SUTLEJ                 Left Aden escorting convoy A.P. 15 to vicinity of Ras al Hadd thence to Colombo. SUTLEJ to continue with convoy to Hormuz

BOMBAY

 and BENGAL               Escorting convoy P.B. 23 left Hormuz to Bombay

POOLE                         Escorting convoy P.A. 21 left Hormuz for Aden

Dutch Sub O 24            Arrived Colombo from patrol

KHYBER                      Returned Durban to land medical case and sailed again for Diego Suarez

Dutch Sub 0 21             Left East London for Diego Suarez, Seychelles, and Colombo

 

Monday, January 25th

 

HAWKINS                    Escorting convoy C.M. 37 B arrived Bombay

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Masirah and left a.m. for Bahrein

CESSNOCK                 Escorting one ship left Kilindini for Dante and Aden

 

Tuesday, January 26th

 

TAMWORTH                 Escorting one tanker left Fremantle for Diego Garcia and Kilindini

RANPURA                    Left Aden for Kilindini

“SSSS”                         Enemy submarine sighted by Catalina in position 20 deg 30S, 109 deg 10 E at 0315 hrs.

 

Wednesday, January 27th

 

BRITTANY                    Arrived Addu Atoll for Seychelles

PUNJAB

 and GERALDTON        Left Bombay escorting convoy B.P. 67 to Khor Kuwai

NEPAL                         Left Durban for Kilindini

MAGNOLIA                   Left Durban for Diego Suarez thence to Colombo sailing Seychelles and Addu Atoll

 

Thursday, January 28th

 

DEVONSHIRE              Left Kilindini for Aden for Operation PAMPHLET

RANCHI                        Arrived Durban from Kilindini

HILDASAY                    Left Diego Suarez escorting V.S.I.S. DEMODOCUS to Tulear and Durban

WOLLONGONG            Escorting one ship left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

 

Friday, January 29th

 

SONAVATI

 and ORISSA                Let Khor Juwai escorting convoy P.B. 24 for Bombay

BATHURST                   Left Khor Juwai escorting P.A. 22 for Aden

CHITRAL                      Arrived Simonstown from Kilindini

 

Saturday, January 30th

 

QUILLIAM                     Left Durban for Kilindini

BOMBAY

 and BENGAL               Escorting convoy P.B> 23 arrived Bombay from Hormuz

TOOWOOMBA             Left Kilindini for Dante

“SSSS”                         U.S. Submarine reported being unsuccessfully attacked by enemy submarine in position 28 deg 00S, 112 deg 40E at 1230Z on 29/1

 

Sunday, January 31st

NORMAN                     Escorting V.S.I.S. HONG SIANG arrived Kilindini from Durban

NEPAL                         Arrived Kilindini from Durban

RANPURA                    Arrived Kilindini from Aden

POOLE                        Escorting convoy P.A. 21 arrived Aden from Hormuz

VASNA (Hospital ship) Arrived Seychelles from Colombo

KHYBER                      Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

“QQQQ”                        i) from SS THEODORE SEDGWICK (U.S.A.) in position 37 deg 18S, 25 deg 56E “pursued by suspicious vessel” at 1630Z

                                    ii) Above message cancelled at 1731

“SSSS”                         From SS AMERICAN BUILDER (U.S.A.) S.O.S. S.O.S. in position 30 deg 28S, 108 deg 38E.     

 

 

Background Events

 

February-May 1943

Battles for Tunis & North Africa, Battle of Atlantic peaks, U-boats withdraw, 'Dambusters' raid'

 

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

FEBRUARY 1943

 

 

Monday, 1st February

 

Dutch O 21                   Arrived Diego Suarez from East London

BIRMINGHAM               Escorting convoy CM 38 left Durban

CATTERICK                  Escorting convoy CM 38 to 38 degrees East E.T.A. Durban 4th

CERES                        Taken in hand Simonstown completes 16th February

QUEEN OF BERMUDA Left Suez for Aden

CESSNOCK                 Arrived Aden from Kilindini

BLACKMOOR               Arrived Simonstown from Durban

RANCHI                        Arrived Capetown from Durban

NIEUW AMSTERDAM   Left Suez for PAMPHLET

ILE DE FRANCE           Arrived Massawa from Suez

RECORDER                 Left Tamatave for Durban

“SSSSS”                      British aircraft reported having sighted S/M in position 10 miles south of Char Bah, Gulf of Oman

 

Tuesday, 2nd February

 

WOLLONGONG            Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

DEVONSHIRE              Arrived Aden from Kilindini

GAMBIA                       With Rear Admiral Commanding, 4th Cruiser Squadron left Kilindini for Addu Atoll for join Operation PAMPHLET

JUMNA                         Arrived Colombo from local escort duty

“SSSSS”                      Vessels of Patrol Force N.A. and Ferry aircraft reported S/M 10 m. south of Char Bah. Aircraft attacked S/M,

                                   also at 90’South of Ras al Hadd

“SSSSS”                      U.S. SS GABRIEL DUVAL reported suspected S/M trailing 20 miles south of Calcutta

 

Wednesday, 3rd February

 

QUILLIAM (D 4)             Arrived Kilindini from Durban

Force A                        Consisting of WARSPITE, REVENGE, RESOLUTION, MAURITIUS, ROTHERHAM, QUILLIAM, NEPAL, NIZAM, FOXHOUND LEFT Kilindini for operations in the Indian Ocean

BENGAL

 and MADRAS              Escorting convoy B P 67 ½ left Bombay for Khor Kuwai

BOMBAY                     Escorting convoy B P 67 ¾ left Bombay for Khor Kuwai

PAKENHAM (D 12). PETARD

 and QUEEN OLGA       Arrived Aden from Suez

IPSWICH                      Left Aden escorting A P 17

ROCKWOOD                Left Simonstown for Durban

WORCESTERSHIRE     Arrived Colombo from Aden

JUMNA, FALMOUTH, ASTER

 and GAWLER              Left Colombo escorting SINGGU, ALETTA, WARINA, BROOMDALE, BUCCINUM, and ATHELMONARCH to Addu Atoll

ORISSA

 and SONAVATI            Arrived Bombay with P B 24

FRITILLARY

 and THYME                 Escorting C A 9 left Capetown to 37deg. 10S, 25 deg E.

 

Thursday, 4th February

 

WOLLONGONG            Departed Kilindini for Diego Suarez

ETHIOPIAN                   Departed Seychelles for Durban

KHYBER                      Left Diego Suarez due Addu Atoll 12th

HAWKINS                    Left Bombay for Aden

ROMNEY                     Arrived Aden from Hormuz

DEVONSHIRE              Left Aden to R/V MONSTERS in PAMPHLET

SUTLEJ

 and PANGKOR            Escorting P B 25 left Hormuz for Bombay. ETA 10th

GERALDTON                Escorting P A 25 left Hormuz ETA Aden 11th.

ATHENE                       Arrived Fremantle from Durban

           

Friday, 5th February

 

BATHURST & P a 22     Arrived Aden from Hormuz

HMIS POONA               Towing MMS 154 arrived Cochin

HMIS PAJPUTANA       Arrived Madras from Calcutta

LISMORE                     Escorting EL MEDIERA left Addu for Colombo

MAGNOLIA                   Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

SOBKRA                      Left Hormuz, ETA Karachi 16/2

MARIPOSA                  Sailed Suez 0605 for Djibouti 8/2

 

Saturday, 6th February

 

FROBISHER                 Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez and C M 38

ETHIOPIAN                  Boiler trouble – returning to Seychelles

ROCKWOOD                Left Durban for Kilindini

TULIP                           Arrived Colombo (0930Z) from escort duties

B.P 67 ¾                      Karachi portion sailed 0115/6

MAGNOLIA                   Arrived Diego Suarez (heavy weather damage)

 

Sunday, 7th February

 

0 24                              Left Colombo for patrol

GAMBIA                       Arrived Addu (0356Z) from Kilindini

PLADDA                       Escorting KUTSANG left Tamatave for Diego Suarez (0400/9)

THOMAS COAD (dredger) Left Karachi for Dante escorted by TRAVANCORE

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Aden from Kilindini – steering gear defects

EMILE BAUDOT           Left Durban for Diego Suarez (escorted to 28 deg. S, 36 deg. E by NIGELLA)

MARGUERITE              Left Addu for Colombo

BARTOMOLEO DIAZ (Portuguese sloop) Arrived Beira

 

Monday, 8th February

 

CLIVE                           Left Karachi for Bombay

HILDASAY                    Arrived Durban from Tulear escorting DEMODOCUS

ETHIOPIAN                   Arrived Seychelles

HAWKINS                    Arrived Aden from Bombay

CESSNOCK, ROMNEY

 and POOLE                 Left Aden (A P 18) in company

HMS SARKA                Commissioned as tender to TANA

RECORDER                 Arrived Durban from Tamatave

MARIPOSA                  Arrived Djibouti from Suez

“QQQQ”                        S/S KINDAT, 300’ N W Addu Atoll, reported ship closing her fast. Cancelled.

 

Tuesday, 9th February

 

BOLD                           Left Durban for Kilindini with 3 M F V

WOLLONGONG            Escorting DUMRA arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

O 21                             Left Diego Suarez for Addu, E T A 16/2

DEVONSHIRE              Escorting PAMPHLET arrived Addu Atoll

DAUNTLESS                Left Simonstown for Durban

MAURETANIA               Left Fremantle for Bombay, escorted by ADELAIDE to 25 deg. 22S, 100 deg. 01E, escorted by TROMP

                                   and VAN GALEN till 1200Z/10

LEOPARD                    Left Mauritius for Reunion and Tamatave

MARYBOROUGH         Left Colombo for Bombay escorting EL MADEIRA

ANGBY                        Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo

 

Wednesday, 10th February

 

ROCKWOOD                Arrived Kilindini from Durban en route to Med

LEOPARD                    Returned Mauritius with boiler defects

SUTLEJ

 and PUNJAB                Escorting P B 25 arrived Bombay

KONKAN                      Escorting 1 ship left Madras

BRITTANY                    Arrived Seychelles from Addu

LAHORE                      Left Madras for Vizagapatam

MARIPOSA                  Arrived and left Aden for Suez

“SSSS”                         QUEEN ANNE sunk by S/M whilst in convoy 8 m. 252 deg. Cape Agulhas. Escort attacked but result unknown

 

Thursday, 11th February

 

B P 68                          Left Bombay escorted by ORISSA. Also SONAVATI (who returned defective) and SHOREHAM through the focal area

P A 24                          Left Hormuz with LAUNCESTON and IPSWICH

P P 26                          Left Hormuz with MADRAS and BENGAL

WARSPITE, RESOLUTION, REVENGE, MAURITIUS, NEPAL, NORMAN, ROTHERHAM, NIZAM, QUILLIAM,

  and FOXHOUND         Arrived Addu 0241Z

QUILLIAM

 and FOXHOUND          Arrived Addu 0252Z from escorting PAMPHLET through focal area

GREEN RANGER         Arrived Addu Atoll from Kilindini

BIRMINGHAM               Arrived Kilindini having escorted C M 38 from Durban

KHYBER                      Arrived Addu from Diego Suarez

LEOPARD                    Sailed from Mauritius for Tamatave

HAWKINS                    Left Aden with M C 4 and TOOWOOMBA to Dante

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Durban from Simonstown

CARTHAGE                  Arrived Capetown from patrol

TAMWORTH                 Arrived Addu from Diego Garcia

BRITTANY                    Left Seychelles for Kilindini

FROBISHER                 Escorting C M 38 arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

GERALDTON                Arrived Aden with P A 23

ASTER                         Escorting SINGU left Addu for Colombo

HERO                           Left Aden for Kilindini

MAURITIUS                  Left Addu for Colombo

FROBISHER                 (escorting C M 38) left Diego Suarez for Bombay

“SSSS”                         HELMSPEY sunk by S/M 11 m. south of Cape St Francis

 

            Friday, 12th February

 

LEOPARD                    Arrived Tamatave from Mauritius

VERBENA                    Arrived Trincomalee from Bombay escorting B M 41

MARYBOROUGH         Arrived Bombay from Colombo

STAGPOOL                  Arrived Addu Atoll from Kilindini

LAHORE                      Arrived Vizagapatam from Madras

SANDIP                        Left Vizagapatam for Calcutta

WOLLONGONG            Left Diego Suarez escorting PULASKI to Kilindini

 

Saturday, 13th February

 

FORCE A                     (less MAURITIUS) left Addu for Seychelles

CHALLENGER              Left Kilindini for Cape

FAVORITE                    Left Kilindini for Aden via Mogadishu

LURCHER                    (escorting DUMRA) left Diego Suarez for Tamatave

JUMNA, KHYBER

 and BROOMDALE       Left Addu for Hormuz

ALETTA, MAURITIUS, ASTER

 and SINGU                  Arrived Colombo from Addu

TULIP                           Left Colombo to R/V with RAJPUTANA

ROCKWOOD                Left Kilindini for Aden

GAWLER                     Left Addu Atoll for Colombo

RAJPUTANA                 Left Madras escorting 1 ship to R/V TULIP

MARIPOSA                  Arrived Suez from Aden

BOLD                           Towing 3 MFVs diverted to Beria owing to cyclone. Decided to continue and later lost 2 MFVs. Later (15th)

                                    she found 1 MFV

 

Sunday, 14th February

 

MARGUERITE              Arrived Bombay from Colombo

HASHEMI                     Arrived Madras from Vizagapatam

SONAVATI                   Left B P 68 and returning Bombay (engine trouble)

NETRAVATI                  Left Madras for Calcutta

FALMOUTH, TAMWORTH, CEDARDALE, ATHELMONARCH, RANGER

 and BUCCINUM           Left Addu in convoy A 3 for Colombo. Diverted Trincomalee 15/2

SIMBRA

 and SIGFRA                Left Kilindini for Aden

SHOREHAM                 Arrived Bombay from local escort duty

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Dante from Aden

C M 39                         Escorted by DAUNTLESS (JASMINE and CATTERICK locally) left Durban for Bombay

SONDRA                      Escorting RECORDER left Durban for Cable Repairs at 29-26S, 30-50E

RATNAGIRI                   Left Hormuz to R/V B P 68 (in place SONAVATI)

Collier RADFIELD          Left Durban for Tamatave and Diego Suarez

 

Monday, 15th February

 

HERO                           Arrived Kilindini from Aden

SONAVATI                   Arrived Karachi with engine defects and left again rejoin convoy B P 68

MARIPOSA                  Left Suez for Port Sudan

R.F.A. BONIFACE        Left Kilindini for Durban via Zanzibar

LURCHER                    Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

VERBENA                    Left Trincomalee for Colombo

ARETHUSA                  Arrived Aden from Suez

TRAVANCORE             Arrived Dane from Karachi escorting dredger THOS. COAD.

HEEMSKERCK             Left Fremantle to rendezvous with PAMPHLET a.m. 16th

TROMP

 and VAN GALEN         Met PAMPHLET p.m. 15th

 

Tuesday, 16th February

 

LISMORE

 and SINGU                  Left Colombo for Addu

STAGPOOL                  Left Addu Atoll for Seychelles and Kilindini

A.S.I.S. FORELAND     Arrived Aden from Suez

EMILE BAUDOT           Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

ARETHUSA                  Left Aden for Kilindini escorting CAP TOURANE

FAVORITE                    Left Mogadishu for Aden

BIRMINGHAM               Left Kilindini for Durban (R/V and relieve M C 4 HAWKINS)

WOOLLONGONG         Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

BRITTANY                    Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles and Addu.

HERO                           Left Kilindini and returned with boiler problems

BONIFACE                   Arrived Zanzibar for coal

KONKAN                      Left Madras , R/V J C 7, escort to Calcutta

O 21                             Arrived Addu Atoll from Diego Suarez

TRUSTY                       Left Exmouth Gulf for Colombo

Portuguese sloop          BARTOMOLEO DIAZ left Beira for L. Marques

 

Wednesday, 17th February

 

BENGAL

 and MADRAS              Arrived Bombay with P B 26

SONAVATI                   Arrived Bombay with defects

Force A                        Arrived and left Seychelles

BRITTANY                    Left Kilindini for Tamatave with emergency stores

ROCKWOOD                Arrived Aden from Kilindini en route to Med.

KANIMBLA                   Escorting O W 4 (4 ships) left Fremantle (SHOREHAM and FALMOUTH relieving at 05 deg. S, 74 deg. 30E)

MARIPOSA                  Arrived Port Sudan and left

B P 68 ½                      MARYBOROUGH and MARGUERITE left Bombay

SCOUT                         Escorting SHENGKING left Colombo for Bombay

VERBENA                    Escorting 3 ships M B 25 (and ALCIDES) left Colombo

TULIP                           Arrived Madras from J C 7

BALUCHISTAN             Escorting C A 1 3 A left Simonstown

ST ZENO

 and LE TIGRE              Escorting C A 13 and 12 (including PACHECO) left Cape

TRAVANCORE             Left Dante for Aden

TOOWOOMBA             Escorting THOMAS COAD left Dane for Mogadishu and Kilindini

NIGELLA, INDIAN STAR

 and ARCTIC EXPLORER Escorting D N 18 left Durban for 33 deg. S, 36 deg. E

“SSSS”                         U.S. S/S DEER LODGE originated SSSS 80 m. south of Port Elizabeth

 

Thursday, 18th February

 

PANGKOR

 and BOMBAY              P B 27 sailed from Hormuz

CESSNOCK                 P A 25 sailed from Hormuz

O 21                             Left Addu for Colombo

MOONSHINE                Arrived Zanzibar from Tanga

LISMORE                     Arrived and left Addu Atoll

LEOPARD                    Left Tamatave for Reunion and Mauritius

SINGU                          Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo

MARIPOSA                  Arrived Massawa from Suez

EARL KITCHENER

 and LORD GREY         Left Colombo for Madras

LURCHER                    Left Tamatave R/V M C 4 off Diego Suarez (A/S defects developed. Put into Diego Suarez)

PAMPHLET                  Escorted by GAMBIA, DEVONSHIRE, TROMP, HEEMSKERK, VAN GALEN, TJERK HIDDES arrived Fremantle

 

Friday, 19th February

 

HAWKINS                    Arrived Kilindini from escorting M C 4

RANPURA                    Left Kilindini to escort C M 39

MAURETANIA               Arrived Bombay from Fremantle

WORCESTERSHIRE     Left Colombo for patrol. Thence MOMP with O W 2

HERO                           Left Kilindini for Durban

FALMOUTH                  Arrived Trincomalee from Addu Atoll

MARIPOSA                  Left Massawa for Bombay

CATTERICK                  Left Durban for Capetown escorting D C 9

MASTIFF                      Left Diego Suarez R/V M C 4 escorting CAIRO CITY

SHOREHAM                 Left Bombay with B M 42, relieved on 22nd by GAWLER

 

Saturday, 20th February

 

SCOUT                         Arrived Bombay from Colombo

ROTHERHAM, FOXHOUND, NIZAM, QUILLIAM, NORMAN, NEPAL, REVENGE, RESOLUTION,

 and WARSPITE           Force A arrived Kilindini

DRAGON                     Transferred to Polish Govt. 15 January 1943

KHYBER

 and ALETTA                Arrived Bombay from Addu

CARNATIC (RIN)           Left Simonstown escorted C D 5 to Durban

DEVONSHIRE              Escorting MONTECELLO (Local escort TROMP) left Fremantle for Colombo

LURCHER                    Escorting DUMRA left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

BRITTANY                    Called Diego Suarez for fuel

KONKAN                      Arrived Calcutta from Vizagapatam

TRAVANCORE             Arrived Aden from Dante

KHYBER                      Escorting ALETTA arrived Bombay from Colombo

FROBISHER                 Arrived Bombay from Diego Suarez

 

Sunday, 21st February

 

FAVOURITE                 Arrived Aden from Kilindini

GAWLER                     Left Colombo to relieve SHOREHAM escorting B M 42

TOOWOOMBA

 and THOMAS COAD    Arrived Mogadishu from Karachi

VITA                             Left Durban for Mauritius

O 21                             Arrived Colombo from Addu

TEAL                            Left Kilindini for Tanga and Manza

Tug BOLD                     Left Kilindini from Durban towing 1 MFV. (2 lost in cyclone)

LEOPARD                    Arrived Mauritius from Tamatave

FALMOUTH                  Left Trincomalee for Addu Atoll

BALUCHISTON

 and C A 13 A               Arrived Durban from Simonstown

HILDASAY                    Left Durban for Diego Suarez

SIMBRA

 and SIGFRA                Arrived Aden from Kilindini

SCOUT                         Left Bombay for Colombo

PATNA                         Left Vizagapatam for Madras

RAJPUTANA                 Left Madras escorting J C 7 ½ for Calcutta

LISMORE                     Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll

MASTIFF                      Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

ETHIOPIAN                   Left Seychelles for Diego Suarez

BARBOUR                    Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo

SEPIA                          Left Abadan for Kilindini

 

Monday, 22nd February

 

EARL KITCHENER

 and LORD GREY         Arrived Madras from Trincomalee

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Kilindini from Durban (C M 39)

LEOPARD                    Left Mauritius for Diego Suarez

MAURITIUS                  Left Colombo for Bombay

BRITTANY                    Arrived Tamatave from Kilindini

LAUNCESTON              Left Aden escorting A P 20 for Hormuz

FAVOURITE                 Left Aden for the Mediterranean

ATHELMEER                Left Abadan for Trincomalee

VERBENA

 and ALCIDES               Arrived Bombay from Colombo (M B 25)

STAGPOOL                  Arrived Seychelles from Addu

KONKAN                      Left Calcutta for Madras

W S 26                         QUICKMATCH, QUIBERON, and RACEHORSE arrive and leave Capetown. GENISTA left Capetown

                                    as additional escort to E. London. WAYLAND, RELENTLESS & C.D’ESTIENNE D’ORVES arrived Capetown

CANTON & QUALITY    Arrived Simonstown

CERES                        Left Simonstown as additional escort

 

Tuesday, 23rd February

 

B P 69  SUTLEJ

 and PUNJAB               Left Bombay for Hormuz

DUSK                           Arrived Tanga from Dar es Salaam

TULIP                           Arrived Trincomalee from Madras

B M 42 & GAWLER      Arrived off Colombo. Proceed Trinco.

BURNIE                        Left Kilindini escorting 1 ship to Diego Suarez

NORMAN                     Left Kilindini for Durban

CATTERICK                  Arrived Capetown from Durban

HILDASAY                    Returned Durban defective

ST ANTHONY               Left Cochin for Mimboy, Amein, and Mangalore

COM. DUBOC               Left Simonstown for Durban with C D 6

SOBKRA                      Left Karachi for Hormuz

 

Wednesday, 24th February

 

ARETHUSA                  Arrived Kilindini from Aden

MARIPOSA                  Arrived Bombay from Massawa

B A 38, CARADOC       Left Bombay for Aden

LURCHER                    Escorting DUMRA arrived Kilindini

ROTHERHAM               Left Kilindini with M C 5 to Durban via Zanzibar

ARETHUSA                  Left Kilindini for Durban

JASMINE

 and NIGELLA               Left Durban R/V M C 4

MAURITIUS                  Arrived Bombay from Colombo

TRAVANCORE             Left Aden for Bombay

BRITTANY                    Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez

SHOREHAM

 and FALMOUTH           Arrived Addu from Bombay

TULIP                           Left Trinco for Colombo

BOMBAY, PANGKOR

 and P B 27                  Arrived Bombay from Hormuz

RAJPUTANA                 Arrived Calcutta from Madras

SUTLEJ                        Returned Bombay defective

CHALLENGER              Arrived Capetown from Kilindini

CARNATIC                    Arrived Durban from Simonstown

PANGKOR

 and BOMBAY              Arrived Bombay from Hormuz (P B 27)

CESSNOCK                 Arrived Aden from Hormuz (P A 25)

 

Thursday, 25th February

 

LEOPARD                    Arrived Mauritius from Reunion

ROTHERHAM  

  and M C 5                  Left Zanzibar

MASTIFF                      Escorting CAIRO CITY arrived Diego Suarez

DIPAVATI                     Arrived Karachi from Bombay

CILICIA                         Left Durban for Simonstown

GAWLER                     Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo

SHOREHAM

 and FALMOUTH           Left Addu to relieve KANIMBLA and escort O W 4

ORISSA                       Escorting P A 26 left Hormuz for Aden

MARYBOROUGH

 and MARGUERITE       Escorting P B 28 left Hormuz for Bombay

CERES, CILICIA, QUIBERON, QUICKMATCH,

  And RACEHORSE      Escorting W S 26 arrived Durban from the south

ATHELMONARCH

 and CEDARDALE        Left Colombo for Bombay M B 26

BATHURST & A P 21    Left Aden for Hormuz

“SSSS”                         At 1900z, STORAAS sighted S/M in 23 deg. 43N, 59 deg. 00E

 

Friday, 26th February

 

KONKAN                      Arrived Madras from Calcutta

BRITTANY                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave

ANGBY                        Left Trinco for Colombo

LURCHER                    Left Kilindini escorting KUTSANG to 12 deg. S, then Diego Suarez

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Kilindini from Mogadishu and Dante

DAUNTLESS                Left Kilindini for Aden

DIPAVATI                     Left Karachi escorting SANTHIA for Bombay

W S 26                         (Capetown section) left Capetown escorted by CANTON, RELENTLESS, CATTERICK, BLACKMORE

MARIPOSA                  Left Bombay for Capetown

RANCHI                        Arrived Clyde

O 24                             Arrived Colombo from patrol

 

Saturday, 27th February

 

VITA                             Arrived Mauritius from Durban

LEOPARD                    Left Mauritius for Reunion

BRITTANY                    Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave

TRUSTY                       Arrived Colombo from Australia

TAMWORTH                 Left Colombo for local escort duty

LEOPARD                    Arrived Reunion from Mauritius

BURNIE                        Escorting 1 ship arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

MAGNOLIA                   Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave for coal

SLUNA                         Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez

BURNIE                        Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini escorting 1 ship

NORMAN

 and HERO                   Left Durban for East London

 

Sunday, 28th February

 

ARETHUSA                  Arrived Durban from Kilindini

EMILE BAUDOT           Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave to coal

DIPAVATI                     Arrived Bombay from Karachi

KARACHI                     Left Bombay for Karachi

POONA                        Left Cochin escorting 1 ship to Colombo

BADORA                      Left Vizagapatam for Calcutta

RAJPUTANA                 Left Calcutta escorting 1 ship to Madras

GAWLER                     Escorting 2 tankers left Trinco for Colombo

ST ANTHONY               Arrived back at Cochin from Lakadive Islands

EARL KITCHENER

 and LORD GREY         Arrived Calcutta from Madras

 

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

MARCH 1943

 

 

Monday, March 1st

LURCHER                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

DEVONSHIRE              Arrived Colombo from Fremantle

B P 70 ½                      escorted by SUTLEJ left Bombay for Hormuz

KIRRIEMOOR               Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

MAURETANIA               Left Bombay for Durban

W S 26                         Left Durban to R/V with Capetown section escorted by BIRMINGHAM, CERES, CARNATIC (to Diego Suarez),

                                    COMM. DUBOC (to Tamatave). Local A/S escort provided by RELENTLESS, CATTERICK, BLACKMORE, and

                                    3 corvettes. RESOURCE also in company

SLUNA                         Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave

IPSWICH                      Left Aden for Hormuz escorting A P 22

BRITTANY                    Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

USS TRINITY                Left Fremantle for Bahrein

 

Tuesday, March 2nd

 

STAGPOOL                  Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles and Addu

BURNIE                        Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

GAWLER                     Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee

ASTER (to Bombay)

 and OVERDALE WYKE (to Cochin) left Colombo escorting M B 27

MAGNOLIA                   Arrived Tamatave from Durban

ARETHUSA                  Left Durban for Cape

CARTHAGE (for Kilindini)

 and QUALITY (for Durban) left Capetown in company

O W 2                          Escorted by QUEEN OF BERMUDA left Fremantle for MOMP with WORCESTERSHIRE

 

Wednesday, March 3rd

 

RATNAGIRI

 and PUNJAB                Escorting P B 29 and GERALDTON P A 27 left Hormuz

FROBISHER                 Arrived Kilindini from Bombay

BOLD                           Left Kilindini for Mogadishu and Dante

SCOUT                         Escorting MONTICELLO arrived Bombay

BALUCHISTAN             Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

MAURETANIA              diverted to Diego Suarez for fuel

GAMBIA                       Left Fremantle for Durban

RANPURA

 and C M 39                  Arrived Bombay

MARGUERITE, MARYBOROUGH

 and P B 28                  Arrived Bombay from Hormuz

CARADOC                    Arrived Aden from Bombay

BRITTANY                    Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez

 

                                                                                                                                            Thursday, March 4th               

 

ARETHUSA                  Arrived Capetown from Durban

HAWKINS                    Left Kilindini for Agelega Isl. And Diego Suarez

CARADOC                    Left Aden for Kilindini

BRITTANY                    Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Aden from Kilindini escorting SS TAKLIWA

ORISSA                       Arrived Aden with P A 26

           

            Friday, March 5th

 

KIRRIEMOUTH              Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

BALUCHISTON             Left Diego Suarez for Addu Atoll

DAUNTLESS                Left Aden for Bombay

ETHIOPIAN                   Arrived Durban from Seychelles

TULIP

  and ZUIDERKRUIS      Left Colombo for Diego Garcia and Addu Atoll

 

Saturday, March 6th

 

O 21                             Left Colombo for patrol

ROTHERHAM

 and M C 5                    Arrived Durban from Kilindini

MAURITIUS                  Left Bombay for Kilindini flying the flag of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet

WEST POINT                Left Melbourne for Bombay

 

Sunday, March 7th

 

MAURETANIA               Arrived Diego Suarez to fuel

BRITTANY                    Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

ALBATROSS, CARTHAGE, QUIBERON

 and QUICKMATCH       Left Durban in company. On arrived lat. 25 deg. S, CARTHAGE and QUIBERON to proceed direct to Kilindini.

                                   ALBATROSS and QUICKMATCH to Tulear, Majunga, and Kilindini

BALUCHISTAN             Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez

BOLD                           Arrived and left Mogadishu for Dante

MARYBOROUGH

 and HINDUSTAN          Escorting B P 71 left Bombay

COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Tamatave escorting H.T. LANCASHIRE, ex W S 26, and left again for Diego Suarez

 

Monday, March 8th

 

USS MONTICELLO       Left Bombay for Melbourne escorted by HMS SCOUT to vicinity of equator

CESSNOCK                 Escorting convoy A p 23 left Aden for Hormuz

EMILE BAUDOT           Escorted by MAGNOLIA left Tamatave for Addu Atoll

CERES                         Arrived Diego Suarez having been detached from escorting W S 26

HAWKINS                    Arrived Diego Suarez to join W S 26 and to escort Bombay portion to Bombay

BALUCHISTAN             Left Seychelles for Bombay

CARNATIC                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

KANIMBLA                   Escorted SS CAPE CHARLES and FAIRISLE left Fremantle for Colombo

MAURETANIA               Left Diego Suarez for Capetown

“SSSS”                         From SS JOSEPH WHEELER (USA) U/B sighted 5 deg. 36N, 76 deg.15E at 0815Z hours

 

Tuesday, March 9th

 

DEVONSHIRE              Left Colombo for Seychelles and Kilindini

FROBISHER                 Left Kilindini to relieve BIRMINGHAM and to escort Aden portion of W S 26 to Aden

CARNATIC                    Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles and Bombay

FFS COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave escorting H.T. LANCASHIRE

CERES                         Left Diego Suarez escorting H.T. LANCASHIRE to Kilindini

RATNAGIRI

 and PUNJAB                Escorting convoy P B 29 arrived Bombay from Hormuz

FALMOUTH                  Escorting P A 28 left Hormuz for Aden

BATHURST, JUMNA

 and SEA BELLE          Escorting P B 30 left Hormuz for Bombay

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Bombay from Aden

 

Wednesday, March 10th

 

CARADOC                    Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

KIRRIEMOOR               Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

MAURITIUS                  Flying flag of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet, arrived Kilindini from Bombay

BOLD                           Arrived Dante from Kilindini

TULIP

 and ZUIDERKRUIS       Arrived Diego Garcia from Colombo

ALBATROSS

 and QUICKMATCH       Arrived Tulear and left again for Majunga

 “SSSS”                        SS KING WILLIAM reports sighting submarine 120’ S of Durban at 0614Z.

 “SSSS”                        SS RICHARD D. SPAIGHT (USA) sunk by U/B in position 28 deg S, 37 deg. E (300’ E. of Durban)

 

Thursday, March 11th

 

WARSPITE, FOXHOUND, QUILLIAM

 and NEPAL                  Left Kilindini for Durban

BIRMINGHAM

 and RESOURCE          Arrived Kilindini having been detached from convoy W S 26 from Diego Suarez

CERES                         Arrived Kilindini escorting H.T. LANCASHIRE both esc. Convoy W S 26.

GERALDTON                Escorting P A 27 arrived Aden from Hormuz

CARNATIC                    Arrived Seychelles and left again for Bombay

MARGUERITE

 and PANGKOR            Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 72

DAUNTLESS                Left Bombay for Persian Gulf to relieve CAPETOWN

 

Friday, March 12th

 

CARADOC                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini and left again for Tamatave

TULIP

  and ZUIDERKRUIS      Left Diego Garcia for Addu Atoll

CAIRNS                        Left Kilindini for Tulear

ALBATROSS

 and QUICKMATCH       Arrived Majunga and left the same day for Kilindini

 

Saturday, March 13th

 

SHAPINSAY                 Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

SONAVATI                   Left Trincomalee for Cocos Is with stores and relief for Garrison

CARADOC                    Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

DEVONSHIRE              Arrived Seychelles from Colombo and left again for Kilindini

GAMBIA                       Arrived Mauritius from Fremantle having been detached from escorting QUEEN OF BERMUDA

CARTHAGE

 and QUIBERON           Arrived Kilindini from Durban

WORCESTERSHIRE     Arrived Colombo with Colombo portion of convoy O W 2

ORISSA                       Left Aden for Hormuz escorting convoy A P 24

 

Sunday, March 14th

 

BALUCHISTAN             Arrived Bombay from Seychelles

FS COMMANDANT DUBOC Left Diego Suarez fro Nosi Be with High Commissioner for Madagascar

BRITTANY                    Left Kilindini for Seychelles, Addu Atoll, Cochin, and Bombay

TULIP

 and ZUIDERKRUIS       Arrived Addu Atoll from Diego Garcia

CARADOC                    Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez

GAMBIA                       Left Mauritius for Kilindini

GAWLER                     Left Colombo escorting R.F.A. APPLELEAF and TAIPING for Addu Atoll and Diego Garcia

 

Monday, March 15th

 

ALBATROSS

 and QUICKMATCH       Arrived Kilindini from Majunga

CERES                         Left Kilindini escorting H.T. LANCASHIRE to Aden

DEVONSHIRE              Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles and Colombo

CARADOC                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave and left again for Kilindini escorting SS KUTSANG

KIRRIEMOUTH              Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

SCOUT                         Left Colombo for Calcutta escorting U.S. MORMACDOVE

JUMNA, BATHURST

 and SEA BELLE          Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 30

FS COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Nosi Be from Diego Suarez

CESSNOCK                 Arrived Hormuz from Aden escorting convoy A P 23

FROBISHER                 Arrived Aden escorting Aden portion of W S 26

 

Tuesday, March 16th

 

WARSPITE, QUILLIAM, FOXHOUND

 and NEPAL                  Arrived Durban from Kilindini

FALMOUTH                  Arrived Aden from Hormuz escorting convoy P A 28

TULIP                           Escorting SS ZUIDERKRUIS, SANTHIA, and SINGU left Addu Atoll for Colombo

MARBOROUGH

 and BENGAL               Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting convoy P B 31

MADRAS                      Left Hormuz for Aden escorting convoy P A 29

KIRRIEMOOR               Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

FROBISHER                 Left Aden for Kilindini

Dutch Sub O 24            Left Colombo for patrol

 

Wednesday, March 17th

 

GAWLER                     Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo escorting oiler APPLELEAF and TAIPING

HAWKINS                    Arrived Bombay escorting W S 26 B

GAMBIA                       Arrived Kilindini from Mauritius and Fremantle

QUIBERON                   Arrived Kilindini from Diego Garcia and Fremantle

SHAPINSAY                 Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

EMILE BAUDOT           escorted by MAGNOLIA arrived Addu Atoll from Tamatave

CAPETOWN                 Left Bahrein for Bombay

F.SS COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Majunga from Nosi Be

FLAMINGO                   Towed by SS STAR OF CAIRO left Aden for Bombay

 

Thursday, March 18th

 

USS WEST POINT        Arrived Bombay from Melbourne

CARADOC                    Escorting SS KUTSANG arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

BIRMINGHAM               Left Kilindini for Durban, Simonstown, and U.K.

MAURITIUS                  Flying the flag of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet, left Kilindini for Durban

ALBATROSS                Left Kilindini for Mogadishu, Dante, and Bombay

WORCESTERSHIRE     Left Colombo to MOMP with convoy O W 3

PUNJAB

 and ADRIA                   Escorting convoy B P 72 left Bombay for Hormuz

GAWLER                     Left Addu Atoll for Diego Garcia

BRITTANY                    Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini

 

Friday, March 19th

 

F.SS COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Diego Suarez from Majunga

CAIRNS                        Arrived Tulear from Kilindini

TULIP                           Escorting ZUIDERKRUIS, SANTHIA, and SINGU arrive Colombo from Addu Atoll

SONAVATI                   Arrived Cocos Is. From Colombo

GERALDTON                Left Aden escorting A P 25 to Hormuz

KANIMBLA                   Left Colombo for Sydney

EMILE BAUDOT           Left Addu Atoll for Bombay

MAGNOLIA                   Left Addu Atoll for Colombo

NEPAL                         Left Durban for Mauritius, Diego Garcia, and Fremantle

BRITTANY                    Left Seychelles for Addu Atoll

USS TRINITY                Arrived Bombay from Fremantle

 

Saturday, March 20th

 

SCOUT                         Escorting SS MORMACDOVE arrived Calcutta from Colombo

HAWKINS                    Left Bombay for Kilindini

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Bombay from Bahrein

FROBISHER                 Arrived Kilindini from Aden

ADELAIDE                    Left Fremantle escorting convoy O W 3

 

Sunday, March 21st

 

GAWLER                     Arrived Diego Garcia from Addu Atoll

QUIBERON                   Arrived Diego Garcia and having fuelled left for Fremantle

MAURITIUS

 and BIRMINGHAM       Arrived Durban from Kilindini

CERES                         Arrived Aden from Kilindini escorting H.T. LANCASHIRE

ASTER                         Left Bombay escorting B P 72 ¾ to Hormuz

MARYBOROUGH

 and BENGAL               Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 31

 

Monday, March 22nd

 

ADAMANT                    With QUICKMATCH and NIZAM and local A/S escort left Kilindini for Colombo

ORISSA

 and HINDUSTAN          Escorting convoy P B 32 left Hormuz for Bombay

MARGUERITE              Escorting convoy P A 30 left Hormuz for Aden

CHITRAL

 and CANTON               Left Durban escorting convoy C M 40. Local a/s escort provided by NAPIER, QUALITY, and CATTERICK

ILE DE FRANCE           Left Fremantle for Durban

SONAVATI                   Left Cocos Island for Colombo

KIRRIEMOOR               Left Diego Suarez for E. London

 

Tuesday, March 23rd

 

FROBISHER                 Left Kilindini for Durban

CANTON, WAYLAND

 and CHITRAL               Left Durban escorting C M 40. A/S escort provided by destroyers NAPIER, CATTERICK, and QUALITY.

                                   On reaching Lat. 22S CHITRAL and destroyers returned to Durban

USS WEST POINT        Left Bombay for Suez

MAGNOLIA                   Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll having escorted EMIL BAUDOT from Tamatave

NEPAL                         Arrived Mauritius from Durban en route to Australia via Diego Garcia

MADRAS                      Escorting P A 29 arrived Aden from Hormuz

BATHURST, RATNAGIRI          

 and RAJPUTANA         Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 73 to Hormuz

BRITTANY                    Arrived and left Addu Atoll for Cochin

SCOUT                         Left Calcutta for Colombo

 

Wednesday, March 24th

 

Dutch Sub O 21            Arrived Colombo from patrol

ADRIA                          Arrived Bandar Abbas from Bombay to relieve ALAUNIA as base ship

 

Thursday, March 25th

 

HAWKINS                    Arrived Kilindini from Bombay

JAN DE WAELE           Left Addu Atoll for Seychelles, Aden, and Med.

IPSWICH                      Left Bandar Abbas escorting SS EKMA to Ras al Hadd, Masirah, and Bombay

 

Friday, March 26th

FALMOUTH                  Left Aden escorting convoy A P 26 to Hormuz

BRITTANY                    Arrived Cochin from Addu Atoll

CARTHAGE                  Left Kilindini to R/V with convoy W S 27 S.E. of Madagascar on the ¼

CAIRNS                        Left Tulear escorting ML 380, ML 382, ML 383, and ML 829 to Majunga

CAPETOWN                 Left Bombay escorting convoy B A 40 to Aden

SUSSEX, FOXHOUND,

 and RACEHORSE        Arrived Durban escorting convoy W S 27 (Durban Section) from Capetown

NEPAL                         Arrived Diego Garcia and left again for Fremantle

EMILE BAUDOT           Arrived Bombay from Addu Atoll

FLAMINGO                   Arrived Bombay from Aden towed by SS STAR OF CAIRO

COMMANDANTE DUBOC Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave

 

Saturday, March 27th

 

GAWLER                     Left Addu Atoll escorting TAIPING for Colombo

FROBISHER                 Arrived Durban from Kilindini

ALBATROSS                Arrived Bombay from Dante, Mogadishu, and Kilindini

SARKA                         Left Durban for Kilindini

BALUCHISTAN             Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 73 ½ to Hormuz

SCOUT                         Arrived Colombo from Calcutta

BRITTANY                    Left Cochin for Bombay

DURBAN                      Left Bombay for Kilindini

 

Sunday, March 28th

 

USS TRINITY                Left Bombay for Bahrein

HINDUSTAN

 and ORISSA                Arrived Bombay escorting convoy P B 32 from Hormuz

FS COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Diego Suarez and left for Reunion

QUIBERON                   Arrived Fremantle from Diego Garcia

ADELAIDE                    Arrived Fremantle having escorted convoy O W 3 to MOMP with WORCESTERSHIRE

QUEEN MARY (transport) Left Fremantle for Capetown

SONAVATI                   Arrived Colombo from Cocos Island

 

Monday, March 29th

 

COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Reunion from Tamatave

Dutch Sub O 21            Arrived Colombo from patrol

FROBISHER                 Escorting convoy W S 27 left Durban. Local A/S escort provided by FOXHOUND, CATTERICK, NAPIER, ROTHERHAM

BRITTANY                    Arrived Bombay from Cochin

CAIRNS                        Escorting MLs arrived Majunga from Tulear

BARRYMOOR              Left Seychelles for Colombo

PUNJAB

 and RAJPUTANA         Left Hormuz escorting P B 33 to Bombay

LAUNCESTON

 and BATHURST           Left Hormuz escorting P A 31 to Aden

USS WEST POINT        Arrived Suez from Bombay

 

Tuesday, March 30th

 

ORISSA

 and BARODA               Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 74 to Hormuz

CERES                         Left Aden escorting convoy M C 6 to Kilindini

MARGUERITA              Arrived Aden escorting convoy P A 30 from Hormuz

AQUITANIA                   Left Fremantle for Capetown

TOOWOOMBA             Left Kilindini escorting one transport to Diego Suarez

 

Wednesday, March 31st

 

CARTHAGE                  Arrived Diego Suarez having been diverted from MOMP with W S 27 S.E. of Madagascar

VASNA                        Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

WAYLAND                   Arrived Kilindini from Durban

CAIRNS                        Left Majunga escorting 4 MLs to Lindi

RAINSTORM                 Arrived Aden from Suez en route to Colombo

 

March 1943

 

Part II

Narrative

 

(n.b. please note March 1943 narrative is missing page three. There were no narratives in file for January or February 1943)

           

 

(A) GENERAL

                       

1. Docking and repairs on Heavy Units

                       

WARSPITE taken in hand for short refit at Durban commencing 18th March and due to complete 13 April inclusive of docking

                       

2. Docking and repairs on Cruisers

                       

DURBAN taken in hand at Bombay for docking and repairs on 6 January and completed 10th March

 

DEVONSHIRE docked at Bombay 4th March for examination of excessive wear in A bracket bushes. Inner bushes rewooded. Completed 10th March.

 

MAURITIUS docked for 3 days at Durban completed 25th March.

 

Anti-Submarine Reinforcements for Commander in Chief, South Atlantic

 

3. The first ship to be sunk in the present enemy submarine offensive in the Cape Area was the SS QUEEN ANNE on 10th March. On this date, the disposition of the Eastern Fleet destroyers was as follows.

 

(a). At Kilindini  NEPAL, NIZAM, FOXHOUND, and QUILLIAM

(b). On South Atlantic Station QUICKMATCH, QUIBERON, QUALITY, RACEHORST, RELENTLESS, CATTERICK, and BLACKMORE

(c). Refitting: NAPIER at Durban, NORMAN at Simonstown, and ROTHERHAM undergoing repairs to boiler at Durban

 

4. Commander in Chief, South Atlantic A/S force were augmented by the following Eastern Fleet destroyers

 

(a). FOXHOUND, QUILLIAM, and NEPAL who arrived at Durban with WARSPITE on 16th March

(b). ROTHERHAM and NAPIER who completed on the 19th and 23rd March, respectively

(c). QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL, and RAIDER who arrived Durban with convoy W S 27 on 29th March

                       

5. The following Eastern Fleet Destroyers were withdrawn from the Cape Area during the month.

 

            (a). QUICKMATCH and QUIBERON were sailed from Durban to Kilindini on 7th March; the former to remain at Kilindini, the latter to proceed to Australia

            (b). NEPAL was sailed from Durban on 19th March to Australia to give leave and adjust complement

           

6. In addition to the destroyers shown in the above, four Eastern Fleet corvettes were already operating in the Cape Area.

 

(B). CONVOYS

 

7.

HMS BIRMINGHAM       

BIRMINGHAM with CERES in company, sailed from Durban on the 1st March as ocean escort to WS 26, arriving at Kilindini on the 11th March. After relief by……. (bottom of page chopped)

 

HMS HAWKINS           

HAWKINS sailed from Kilindini on the 4th March to R/V with Convoy W S 26 on the 9th March to relieve BIRMINGHAM as ocean escort for the combined convoy until the 10th March, and then to provide escort for the Indian Ocean portion to Bombay. HAWKINS arrived at Bombay on the 17th

 

HMS FROBISHER       

FROBISHER sailed from Kilindini on the 9th March and R/Vd with HAWKINS and convoy WS 26 A north of Madagascar on the 10th March, proceeding with the Middle East portion of this convoy, arriving at Aden on 15th March

 

HMS GAMBIA  

GAMBIA sailed from Fremantle on the 3rd March as escort for convoy O W 2 for Colombo, being relieved in Latitude 20 deg. 25S by HMS WORCESTERSHIRE and proceeded thence to Mauritius for fuelling and Kilindini

 

HMS SUSSEX 

SUSSEX provided ocean escort for W S 27 from UK arriving in Durban on the 27th March. Ship remained at Durban to await docking for repairs to stern compartment

 

HMS CAPETOWN       

On relief by DAUNTLESS in the Persian Gulf on the 16th March, CAPETOWN proceeded to Bombay where she docked before providing ocean escort for convoy B A 40 which sailed from Bombay on the 26th March and was due at Aden on the 1st April

 

HMS DAUNTLESS       

DAUNTLESS sailed from Kilindini on the 26the February as ocean escort for hired transport TAKLIWA, arriving at Aden on the 3rd March. DAUNTLESS then proceeded to Bombay and Persian Gulf to relieve CAPETOWN

 

HMS CARADOC          

CARADOC sailed from Bombay on the 24th February as ocean escort for convoy B A 38 arriving at Aden on the 3rd March. From Aden, CARADOC proceeded to Kilindini and then to Diego Suarez to provide escort for KUTSANG which left Diego Suarez on the 14th March, arriving at Kilindini 3 days later

 

HMS CERES   

CERES sailed from Durban in company with BIRMINGHAM providing ocean escort for convoy W S 26. CERES was detached from the convoy on the 7th March to proceed to Diego Suarez. On the 9th March, CERES sailed from Diego Suarez, hired transport LANCASHIRE in company, for Kilindini arriving on the 12th and sailing from Kilindini on the 15th again with LANCASHIRE in company for Aden, where she arrived on the 21st. CERES sailed from Aden on the 29th March as ocean escort for convoy M C 6, consisting of 5 ships X C M 40 returning to Durban Convoy will call at Kilindini where CERTES will be relieved as ocean escort by HMS DEVONSHIRE

 

HMS CHITRAL 

On completion of refit at Simonstown, CHITRAL sailed on the 15th March, escorting ships of C M 40 to Durban. On the 26th March, CANTON and CHITRAL in company sailed from Durban with C M 40 the former to provide escort for the Bombay portion and CHITRAL to proceed with the Aden portion of the convoy to Kilindini

           

In view of the urgent requirement to transport 500 tons of dockyard machinery from Durban to Diego Suarez, CHITRAL was recalled to Durban to load this gear, and should proceed to Diego Suarez on the 2nd April.

 

HMS RANPURA          

At the beginning of the month, RANPURA was at sea as escort for the Indian portion of Convoy C M 39. She arrived at Bombay on the 3rd March

 

(n.b. this ends page 2, page 3 missing)

 

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

APRIL 1943

 

 

Thursday, 1st April

 

JAN DE WAELE           Arrived Seychelles from Addu Atoll

SONAVATI                   Left Colombo for Diego Garcia

ALAUNIA                      Left Khasab Bay for Bombay

FS COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Mauritius from Tamatave

CARADOC                    Left Kilindini escorting convoy CM 40 A to Aden

HILDASAY                    Left Durban for Diego Suarez

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Aden escorting convoy B A 40 from Bombay

U.S. WEST POINT        Left Suez for Massawa

 

Friday, 2nd April

 

WORCESTERSHIRE     Arrived Colombo escorting convoy O W 3 from Fremantle

ILE DE FRANCE           Arrived Durban from Fremantle

MADRAS                      Left Aden escorting convoy A P 27 to Hormuz

CARTHAGE                  Left Diego Suarez to R/V with W S 27 and escort to Aden

NEPAL                         Arrived Fremantle from Diego Garcia

CHITRAL                      Left Durban for Diego Suarez and Kilindini

ADAMANT                    Arrived Colombo from Kilindini

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Diego Suarez escorting on transport from Kilindini

 

Saturday, 3rd April

 

SUTLEJ                        Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 75 to Hormuz

TOOWOOMBA             Left Diego Suarez escorting one transport to Kilindini

U.S. WEST POINT        Arrived Massawa from Suez

RAINSTORM                 Left Aden for Mogadishu and Kilindini

DURBAN                      Arrived Kilindini from Bombay

VASNA                        Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini

KIRRIEMOOR               Arrived E. London from Diego Suarez

CAIRNS                        Escorting four M.L. arriving Lindi from Majunga

LURCHER                    Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave

 

Sunday, 4th April

 

VASNA                        Left Diego Suarez for Durban

PUNJAB

  and RAJPUTANA        Arrived Bombay escorting convoy P B 33 from Hormuz

MAURITIUS                  Flying the flag of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet, left Durban for Kilindini

SARKA                         Arrived Kilindini from Durban en route to Colombo

DURBAN                      Left Kilindini to R/V with convoy W S 27 on the 5th April and escort to Aden

LURCHER                    Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

SONAVATI                   Arrived Diego Garcia from Colombo

RAINSTORM                 En route from Aden to Kilindini ordered to return to Aden

FALMOUTH

  and CESSNOCK         Left Hormuz escorting convoy P B 34 to Bombay

CAPETOWN

  and MARGUERITE      Left Aden escorting convoy A B 6 to Bombay

           

Monday, 5th April

 

CARADOC                    Arrived Aden having escorted C M 40 from Kilindini

CERES                        Arrived Kilindini escorting convoy M C 6 from Aden

ALAUNIA                      Arrived Bombay from Bandar Abbas

TRUSTY                       Left Colombo for Diego Suarez en route to the United Kingdom for refit

PLADDA                       Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez in tow of tug AMIRAL BOUVET and escorted by LURCHER

BOMBAY                     Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 74 ½ to Hormuz

GERALDTON                Left Hormuz escorting convoy P B 35 to Bombay

JAN DE WAELE           Left Seychelles for Aden

 

Tuesday, 6th April

 

FROBISHER                 Arrived Kilindini having escorted convoy W S 27 from Durban and relieved by DURBAN

DEVONSHIRE              Left Kilindini escorting convoy M C 6 to Durban

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Kilindini escorting one transport from Diego Suarez

TOOWOOMBA             Left Kilindini to R/V with one transport off Dar es Salaam and escort her to Diego Garcia

SONAVATI                   Arrived Addu Atoll from Diego Garcia

LUCIA                           Left Colombo for Addu Atoll en route to Seychelles and Kilindini

RANPURA                    Left Bombay escorting convoy B A 41 to Aden

BATHURST

 and LAUNCESTON      Arrived Aden escorting convoy P A 31 from Hormuz

 

Wednesday, 7th April

 

CHITRAL                      Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

WORCESTERSHIRE     Left Colombo for East London

DEVON CITY                Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

U.S. WEST POINT        Left Aden for Cape

ASTER

 and BALUCHISTAN      Left Hormuz for Aden escorting P A 32

MAURITIUS                  Arrived Kilindini from Durban

SUTLEJ                        Arrived Hormuz having escorted convoy B P 75 from Bombay

 

Thursday, 8th April

 

CANTON                      Arrived Bombay heaving escorted C M 40 B from Durban

CAIRNS                        Arrived Kilindini escorting two MLs from Tulear

MADRAS                      Arrived Hormuz having escorting convoy A P 27 from Aden

CARADOC                    Arrived Aden escorting convoy C M 40 from the South

 

Friday, 9th April

 

EREBUS                      Left Durban for Kilindini. Local A/S escort of NAPIER and NIGELLA as far as 23 deg. S, and CATTERICK

                                   and QUALITY to part company in time to meet convoy M C 6 at 1430Z/11th

COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Tamatave from Mauritius

LUCIA                           Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo en route to Kilindini

BARCLOSE                  Left Kilindini for Aden

SONAVATI                   Left Addu Atoll for Colombo

GAWLER                     Left Calcutta for Colombo

DURBAN

 and CARTHAGE          Arrived Aden escorting convoy W S 27 from the South

CARADOC                   Left Aden for Kilindini

 

Saturday, 10th April

 

SUTLEJ

 and GERALDTON        Left Hormuz escorting convoy P B 35 for Bombay

CANTON                      Left Bombay escorting convoy B A 42 towards Aden. To be detached at 55 deg. E to Kilindini

CESSNOCK

 and FALMOUTH           Arrived Bombay escorting convoy P B 34 from Hormuz

VASNA (Hos. Ship)       Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez

SHAPINSAY                 Left Kilindini for Seychelles

CERES                        Left Kilindini escorting one transport to Aden

 

Sunday, 11th April

 

LAUNCESTON              Left Aden escorting convoy A P 28 for Hormuz

CAPETOWN

 and MARGUERITE       Arrived Bombay escorting convoy A B 6 from Aden

DEVON CITY                Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

MASTIFF                      Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave escorting H.T. ORDUNA

HILDASAY                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

CHITRAL                      Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini having escorting H.T. ORDUNA from vicinity of Dar es Salaam

Dutch Sub O 21            Left Colombo on patrol

COCKCHAFER

 and SCARAB               Left Khor Kuwai in tow of tugs, ZURMAID and JAMES E. HUGHES for Aden

 

Monday, 12th April

 

COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave

CARTHAGE                  Left Aden for Bombay

BENGAL                      Left Colombo for Calcutta escorting convoy J C 10

 

Tuesday, 13th April

 

CHITRAL                      Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

MASTIFF                      Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez

ORISSA                       Left Hormuz escorting convoy P A 33 to Aden

KONKAN

 and CARNATIC            Left Bombay escorting convoy B P 75 ½ to Hormuz

DEVONSHIRE              Arrived Durban from Kilindini with convoy M C 6

CARADOC                    Arrived Kilindini from Aden

HILDASAY                    Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles

JAN DE WAELE           Arrived Aden from Seychelles

 

Wednesday, 14th April

 

RANPURA                    Arrived Aden from Bombay escorting convoy B A 41

ASTER

 and BALUCHISTAN      Arrived Aden from Hormuz escorting convoy P A 32

TRUSTY                       Arrived Diego Suarez from Colombo

LUCIA                           Left Addu Atoll for Seychelles and Kilindini

 

Thursday, 15th April

 

COMMANDANT DUBOC Left Diego Suarez for Tamatave

TRUSTY                       Left Diego Suarez for Durban

Tug EMPIRE SAM        Arrived Kilindini from Durban heaving towed MFVs VALHALLA and EXCELSIOR from Beira

RESOURCE                 Left Kilindini for Aden en route to the Mediterranean

SHAPINSAY                 Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini

MASTIFF                      Left Tamatave for Diego Suarez

 

                                                                                                                                               Friday, 16th April                   

 

HILDASAY                    Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez

BOMBAY                     Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting convoy P B 36

COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Tamatave from Diego Suarez and left again for Durban escorting H.T. ORDUNA

CERES                         Arrived Aden from Kilindini escorting H.T. TAKLIWA

 

Saturday, 17th April

 

HAWKINS                    Left Kilindini for Aden

RANPURA                    Left Aden for Kilindini

BATHURST                   Left Aden for Hormuz escorting convoy A P 29

MARGUERITE              Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 76

CARTHAGE                  Arrived Bombay from Aden

SUTLEJ

 and GERALDTON        Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 35

FARA

 and ROSALIND            Left Seychelles for Kilindini

MASTIFF                      Arrived Diego Suarez from Tamatave

BARSTOKE                  Left Kilindini for Seychelles

RAJPUTANA                 Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 76 ½

 

Sunday, 18th April

 

BENGAL                      Arrived Calcutta from Colombo

KENYA, BULOLO, KEREN

 and LARGS                 Vicinity of Durban escorting convoy W S 28 to Middle East

KONKAN

 and CARNATIC            Arrived Hormuz from Bombay escorting convoy B P 75 ½

LAUNCESTON              Arrived Hormuz from Aden escorting convoy A P 28

 

Monday, 19th April

 

DURBAN                      Left Aden for Bombay

EREBUS                      Arrived Kilindini from Durban

CANTON                      Arrived Kilindini from Bombay having escorted convoy B A 42 to 55 deg.E.

SARKA                        Left Kilindini for Aden

BARCLOSE                  Arrived Aden from Kilindini

SHOREHAM, COCKCHAFER

 and SCARAB               Arrived Aden from Persian Gulf

ILE DE FRANCE           Left Durban for Suez

 

Tuesday, 20th April

 

CAIRNS                        Left Kilindini for Aden escorting R.A.F. ship MANELA to Aden

 

Wednesday, 21st April

 

RESOURCE                 Arrived Aden from Kilindini en route to Mediterranean

HAWKINS                    Arrived Aden from Kilindini

FROBISHER                 Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

HAWKINS                    Left Aden for Bombay escorting convoy A B 7

BALUCHISTAN             Left Aden for Bombay escorting one transport

ORISSA                       Arrived Aden from Hormuz P A 33

 

Thursday, 22nd April

 

RANPURA                    Arrived Kilindini from Aden

RELIANT                      Left Kilindini for Aden en route to Mediterranean

TRUSTY                       Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez

COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Durban from Tamatave escorting one transport

WORCESTERSHIRE     Arrived East London from Colombo

IPSWICH

 and PUNJAB                Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 77

KONKAN

 and HIRAVATI              Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting convoy P B 37

LAUNCESTON              Left Hormuz for Aden escorting convoy P A 34

BOMBAY                     Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 36

 

Friday, 23rd April

 

CHITRAL

 and CANTON               Left Kilindini to join convoy W S 28 and escort to Aden. CHITRAL to part company in vicinity Socotra and proceed to Bombay

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Colombo from Bombay

 

Saturday, 24th April

 

VERBENA                    Left Addu Atoll for Colombo escorting convoy X C 1

LEOPARD                    Left Diego Suarez for Djibouti and Suez

DURBAN                      Left Bombay for Persian Gulf

 

FARA

 and ROSALIND            Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles

MARYBOROUGH, GAWLER

 and LISMORE              Left Colombo for Aden via Cochin

 

Sunday, 25th April

 

KENYA                         Arrived Kilindini from Capetown having been relieved as escort to convoy W S 27 by CANTON and CHITRAL

CAPETOWN                 Left Colombo for Seychelles and Diego Suarez

O 24                             Arrived Colombo from patrol

LUCIA                           Left Seychelles for Kilindini

CERES                         Left Aden for Kilindini escorting convoy A K 7

SUSSEX                       With A/S escort of NAPIER and RAIDER left Durban escorting convoy C M 41

FROBISHER                 Left Diego Suarez for Simonstown

MARGUERITE              Left Hormuz for Kilindini en route to Cape

 

Monday, 26th April

 

HAWKINS                    Arrived Bombay from Aden escorting convoy A B 7

FRITILLARY

 and TRUSTY                Left Durban in company for Capetown and Simonstown, respectively

COMMANDANT DUBOC Left Durban escorting A.S.I.S. KHETI and PACHECO towards Kilindini.                                    

COMMANDANT DUBOC To proceed to Diego Suarez on relief in Lat. 10 deg. S

IPSWICH

 and PUNJAB                Arrived Hormuz from Bombay escorting convoy P B 77

 

Tuesday, 27th April

VERBENA                    Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll escorting convoy X C 1

ASTER                         Left Aden for Kilindini en route to Cape Station

BARSTOKE                  Left Seychelles for Trincomalee

 

Wednesday, 28th April

 

KONKAN

 and HIRAVATI              Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 37

DURBAN                      Arrived Bahrein from Bombay to relieve DAUNTLESS as Persian Gulf cruiser

STORMWRACK

 and SATSA                  Left Durban for Kilindini calling Beira

RATNAGIRI                   Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting P B 38

IPSWICH                      Left Hormuz for Aden escorting convoy P A 35

ASTER                         Returned to Aden with defects

 

Thursday, 29th April

 

MANCHESTER CITY     Arrived Durban from Cape

BOMBAY                     Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 78

CESSNOCK                 Left Bombay for Aden

RELIANT                      Arrived Aden from Kilindini en route to join Levant Station

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Seychelles from Colombo and left p.m. for Kilindini

Dutch sub O 21             Arrived Colombo from patrol

ASTER                         Left Aden for Kilindini

 

Friday, 30th April

 

LUCIA                           Arrived Kilindini from Seychelles, Addu Atoll, and Colombo

FS LEOPARD               Arrived Djibouti from Diego Suarez en route to join Levant Station

CANTON, BULOLO, KEREN

 and LARGS                 Arrived Aden from Kilindini escorting convoy W S 27

BURNIE                        Left Kilindini to relieve FS COMMANDANT DUBOC and to escort A.S.I.S. KHETI and PACHECO to Kilindini

RANPURA                    Left Kilindini to relieve SUSSEX with convoy C M 41 and to continue as part of the convoy to Bombay

SOEMBA                     Left Bombay for Aden en route to Levant Station

LAUNCESTON              Arrived Aden from Hormuz escorting convoy P A 34

 

April 1943

 

Part II

Narrative

 

(A) GENERAL

                       

1. Docking and repairs on Heavy Units

                       

WARSPITE at Durban. Completed one months refit and docking on 16th April

 

2. Docking and repairs on Cruisers

           

SUSSEX docked at Durban for four days ending 22nd April to replace leaky rivets in stern compartments.

 

3. Destroyers

 

The disposition of the Eastern Fleet destroyers on the 1st April was as follows:

 

At Kilindini - NIZAM, QUICKMATCH

 

On passage to Australia - NEPAL

 

In Australia - QUIBERON

 

On South Atlantic Station operations - NAPIER, QUALITY, QUAIL, RAIDER, RACEHORSE, CATTERICK, QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, ROTHERHAM, RELENTLESS, FOXHOUND

 

On South Atlantic Station refitting - NORMAN, BLACKMORE

 

The Eastern Fleet destroyers operating on the South Atlantic Station were joined by QUADRANT and REDOUBT which arrived at Capetown with W S 28 on 12th April. The total was however subsequently reduced by the withdrawal of QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL, and QUALITY and by the loan of FOXHOUND and CATTERICK to Rear Admiral, Western Australia

 

4. Cruisers

 

The Eastern Fleet cruiser strength was augmented by the arrival of SUSSEX and KENYA on the station. The former who had provided escort for W S 27 has been delayed at Durban for repairs.

 

This increase was however off set by the departure of both BIRMINGHAM and DEVONSHIRE for the United Kingdom. The former having sailed from Simonstown on 31st March and the latter from Durban on 17th April.

           

 

(B). CONVOYS

 

5.

DEVONSHIRE 

Sailed from Kilindini on the 6th April as Ocean Escort to M C 6, arriving at Durban on the 13th. She sailed from Durban on the 17th for the United Kingdom

 

SUSSEX          

Having arrived from United Kingdom, left Durban on the 25th April as Ocean Escort to C M 41 arriving at Kilindini on the 2nd May after being relieved by RANPURA

 

MAURITIUS     

Sailed from Durban on 4th April with the Flag of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet arriving Kilindini on the 7th, thereafter carrying out working up practices at Kilindini

 

KENYA           

Arriving at Simonstown on the 11th April, having action as Ocean Escort to W S 28. Sailed from Simonstown on the 13th as Ocean Escort to W S 28 and arrived Kilindini on the 25th having been relieved by HMS CHITRAL

 

HAWKINS       

Sailed from Kilindini on the 17th April. Arrived at Aden on the 21st. Left Aden on the 22nd as Ocean Escort to A B 7 arriving at Bombay on the 26th

 

FROBISHER    

Sailed from Durban on the 29th March as Ocean Escort to W S 27 arriving at Kilindini on the 6th April, after being relieved by HMS DAUNTLESS. Sailed from Kilindini on the 21st, arriving at Diego Suarez on the 23rd. Left Diego Suarez on the 25th, proceeding to Simonstown for docking and repairs, where she arrived on the 1st May.

 

CAPETOWN    

Arrived at Aden on the 1st April escorting B A 40. Left Aden on the 4th escorting A B 6, arriving at Bombay on the 11th. Docked at Bombay for repair to ‘A’ brackets. Sailed from Bombay on the 21st, arriving Colombo on the 23rd. Sailed from Colombo on the 25th for Kilindini where she arrived on the 2nd May having called at the Seychelles en route

 

DAUNTLESS   

Carrying out duties in the Persian Gulf, sailed from Khorramshahr on the 21st, arrived Khor Kuwai on the 23rd. Left on the 25th arriving Bandar Abbas on the 26th. She sailed on the 27th arriving Bahrein on the 28th where she was relieved by HMS DURBAN

 

DURBAN         

Arrived Kilindini from Bombay on the 3rd April. Sailed from Kilindini on the 4th, relieving FROBISHER was Ocean Escort to W S 27 on the 5th, arriving at Aden on the 9th. Sailed from Aden on the 19th, arriving Bombay on the 23rd. Sailed from Bombay on the 24th arriving Bahrein on the 28th where she relieved HMS DAUNTLESS in the Persian Gulf

 

CARADOC       

Sailed from Kilindini on the 1st April as Ocean Escort to C M 40, arriving Aden on the 8th. Sailed from Aden on the 9th to Kilindini where she arrived on the 13th, thereafter carrying out exercises from Kilindini

 

CERES            

Sailed from Aden on the 30th March as Ocean Escort to M C 6 arriving at Kilindini on the 5th April. Sailed from Kilindini on the 10th as Ocean Escort to TAKLIWA arriving Aden on the 16th. Sailed from Aden on the 25th as Ocean Escort for A K 7 arriving at Kilindini on the 3rd May.

 

ALAUNIA         

Sailed from Bandar Abbas on the 1st April, arriving Bombay on the 5th for docking and repairs.

 

CHITRAL         

Sailed from Durban on the 2nd April with stores for Diego Suarez where she arrived on the 7th. Sailed from Diego Suarez on the 11th, arriving at Kilindini on the 13th. Sailed from Kilindini on the 23rd with HMS CANTON, relieving HMS KENYA as Ocean Escort to W S 28 on the 24th. Left W S 28 on the 27th proceeding to Bombay where she arrived on the 1st May

 

RANPURA       

After completing docking and repairs, sailed from Bombay on the 6th April as Ocean Escort to B A 41 arriving Aden on the 14th. Sailed from Aden on the 17th, arriving Kilindini on the 22nd. Carried out exercises from Kilindini sailing on the 30th to take over Ocean Escort C M 41 from HMS SUSSEX on the 1st

 

WORCESTERSHIRE

Arriving at Colombo on the 2nd April with O W 3 sailed from Colombo on the 7th passing east and south of Changos Archipelago and Mauritius arriving at East London the 22nd, thereafter sailing for United Kingdom

 

CARTHAGE     

Sailed from Kilindini on the 26th March, arriving Diego Suarez on the 2nd April, sailing the same day to augment Ocean Escort W S 27, arriving Aden on the 9th. Sailed from Aden on the 12th arriving Bombay on the 17th for boiler cleaning and docking

 

CANTON         

Arrived at Bombay escorting C M 40 B on the 8th April; sailed from Bombay as Ocean Escort for B A 42 on the 10th April, leaving the convoy on the 15th in 55 deg. East, proceeding to Kilindini where she arrived on the 19th. Sailed from Kilindini on the 23rd joining W S 28 as Ocean Escort on the 24th , arriving Aden on the 30th

 

(C) BASES

 

6. The following movements of Boom Vessels and other craft have taken place or are projected:

 

DEVON CITY has left Diego Suarez. After adjusting load at Kilindini she has been sent to Trincomalee to assist in the boom work

 

BARSTOKE and BARRYMORE have been transferred to Trincomalee, the former from Kilindini and the latter from Seychelles

 

BARCLOSE had been transferred to the Mediterranean from Kilindini

 

BARMOND, originally destined for Trincomalee, has been diverted to Levant and BARWIND is allocated to Trincomalee in her stead

 

The harbour service craft are being transferred from the East Fleet to the Levant

 

7. Kilindini

The loading facilities for the Armament Depot At Mtongwe are unsatisfactory, and the Admiralty have approved the diversion of the contractor’s resources from the deep water berths alongside to the building of the Armament Depot Pier

 

8. Admiralty have stated the situation as regards to the provision of small floating dock at Kilindini will be reviewed again in the summer in light of the position then existing in the Eastern Mediterranean

There is a possibility, however, of a cruiser graving dock being constructed at Kilindini by the U.S. Construction Battalion (A.M. 091515 April)

 

9. The two MFVs (EXCELSIOR and VALHALLA) that went ashore at Chinde on passage from Durban have now been salved, and have arrived at Kilindini

Mauritius

 

10. A.M. 082138 suggested that work in Mauritius should proceed only in the wake of the anti-malarial measures. It will not be necessary, however, to interrupt or alter the present programme of works as these and anti malarial work have already been coordinated.

 

11. Admiralty have directed that the Boom Depot at Grand Port is not to be built, but more open and covered storage is to be provided at Port Louis to store the Grand Port Boom.

 

(n.b. page 4 of narrative is missing)

 

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

MAY 1943

 

Saturday, 1st May

 

CARNATIC                    Left Hormuz for Aden escorting convoy P A 36

TULIP                           Left Colombo for Kilindini calling Seychelles

CAIRNS                        Left Aden for Dante to join WOLLONGONG as escort to MLs to Masirah

CHITRAL                      Arrived Bombay from Kilindini having escorted convoy W S 28 to vicinity Socotra

STORMWRACK            Arrived Beira from Durban en route to Kilindini

CHITRAL                      Left Bombay for Colombo

 

Sunday, 2nd May

 

ILE DE FRANCE           Left Suez for Aden and Durban

SONAVATI                   Left Colombo for Cocos Islands

SUSSEX                       Arrived Kilindini from Durban having been relieved as escort to convoy C M 41 by RANPURA

 

Monday, 3rd May

 

MARYBOROUGH, GAWLER    

 and LISMORE              Arrived Aden from Colombo having called at Cochin

MARGUERITE              Arrived Kilindini from Hormuz en route to the South Atlantic Station

ULSTER MONARCH     Arrived Kilindini from Durban and left again for Aden en route to the Levant Station

RESOLUTION, NIZAM

 and QUICKMATCH       Left Kilindini for Durban

CERES                         Arrived Kilindini from Aden escorting convoy A K 7

NAPIER, RAIDER         Arrived Kilindini from Durban having escorting convoy C M 41

 

Tuesday, 4th May

 

BURNIE                        Arrived Kilindini with A.S.I.S. KHETI and PACHECO having relieved COMMANDANT DUBOC as escort from Durban

COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

BATHURST                   Left Hormuz for Aden escorting P A 37

MADRAS                      Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting P B 39

TAMWORTH                 Arrived Bombay from Colombo

RATNAGIRI                   Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 38

CERES                         Left Kilindini for Seychelles and Colombo and Bombay

MARGUERITE              Left Kilindini for Durban escorting one transport and calling at Dar es Salaam en route

WOLLONGONG            Arrived Dante from Mogadishu and Kilindini escorting 49th M.L. Flotilla

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Aden from Persian Gulf

CANTON                      Left Aden for Bombay escorting convoy A B 8

CHITRAL                      Arrived Colombo from Bombay

           

Wednesday, 5th May

 

ASTER                         Arrived Kilindini from Aden en route to Cape

ALBATROSS                Left Okha for Bombay

CHITRAL                      Left Colombo for Aden escorting one transport

VERBENA                    Left Colombo for Seychelles, Kilindini, and Cape

ILE DE FRANCE           Arrived Aden from Suez

VASNA                        Left Durban for Mauritius

BALUCHISTAN             Left Bombay for Colombo escorting convoy B M 52

DAUNTLESS                Left Aden for Kilindini

 

Thursday, 6th May

 

EREBUS                      Left Kilindini for Aden

CARADOC                    Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez escorting one transport

ALBATROSS                Arrived Bombay from Okha

ASTER                         Left Kilindini for Tanga and Durban

IPSWICH                      Arrived Aden from Hormuz escorting P A 35

TOOWOOMBA             Left Diego Suarez for Tulear

LAUNCESTON              Left Aden for Masirah

ILE DE FRANCE           Left Aden for Durban

 

Friday, 7th May

 

TULIP                           Arrived Seychelles from Colombo and left for Kilindini

CERES                         Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini and left for Colombo

HAWKINS                    Left Bombay escorting convoy J M 1 towards Durban

SORSRA                      Left Hormuz for Kilindini escorting one tanker

FALMOUTH                  Left Colombo for Kilindini

SS BERAKIT                Torpedoed in position 03 deg. 40’N, 75 deg. 20’E at 0601Z. VERBENA and FALMOUTH were ordered

                                    by Flag Officer Ceylon to proceed to the area and search for survivors

STORMWRACK

 and SATSA                  Arrived Kilindini from Beira en route to the Levant Station

 

Saturday, 8th May

 

GAMBIA                       Left Kilindini for Durban

CARTHAGE, JUMNA

 and GERALDTON        Left Bombay for Aden escorting convoy B A 43

 

Sunday, 9th May

 

PUNJAB                       Left Hormuz for Aden escorting convoy P A 38

LAUNCESTON              Arrived Masirah from Aden

RESOLUTION, NIZAM

 and QUICKMATCH       Arrived Durban from Kilindini

BALUCHISTAN             Arrived Colombo from Bombay

SONAVATI                   Arrived Cocos Islands from Colombo

 

Monday, 10th May

 

DAUNTLESS                Arrived Kilindini from Aden and Persian Gulf

WOLLONGONG

 and CAIRNS                Arrived Masirah from Kilindini via N.E. African ports escorting 49th ML Flotilla

CANTON                      Arrived Bombay from Aden escorting convoy A B 8

CARADOC                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini and left again for Tulear escorting one transport

VERBENA                    Arrived Addu Atoll to fuel having been diverted to search for survivors of SS BERAKIT

CANTON                      Left Bombay for Colombo

H.S. VASNA                 Arrived Mauritius from Durban

 

Tuesday, 11th May

VERBENA                    Left Addu Atoll for Seychelles and Kilindini

CAPETOWN                 Left Kilindini for Aden escorting convoy K A 6

BATHURST                   Arrived Aden from Hormuz with convoy P A 37

MADRAS                      Arrived Bombay from Hormuz with convoy P B 39

RANPURA                    Arrived Bombay having escorting convoy C M 41 from vicinity of Kilindini

TULIP                           Arrived Kilindini from Colombo via the Seychelles

CAIRNS

 and WOLLONGONG    Left Masirah to join convoy P A 38 to Aden

O 24, Dutch Sub.          Left Colombo on patrol

 

Wednesday, 12th May

 

TULIP                           Left Kilindini for Durban escorting one transport

ORISSA                       Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting convoy P B 40

GAMBIA                       Arrived Durban from Kilindini

CHITRAL                      Arrived Aden from Colombo escorting one transport

BUSHWOOD                Arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf en route to Colombo

KENYA                        Left Kilindini to R/V with HAWKINS and take over escort of convoy J M 1 to Durban

 

Thursday, 13th May

 

MARGUERITE              Arrived Durban and Kilindini escorting one transport

ASTER                         Arrived Durban from Kilindini

DAUNTLESS                Left Kilindini for Durban en route to U.K.

CANTON                      Arrived Colombo from Bombay

EREBUS                      Arrived Aden from Kilindini and left again for Suez

BATHURST                   Left Aden escorting convoy A P 30 to Hormuz

STORMWRACK

 and SATSA                  Left Kilindini escorting A.S.I.S. PACHECO and KHETI to Aden

RAJPUTANA                 Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting PANGKOR

 

Friday, 14th May

 

CHITRAL                      Left Aden for Kilindini

RANPURA                    Left Bombay for Colombo

HAWKINS                    Arrived Kilindini from Bombay having been relieved as escort to convoy J M 1 by KENYA

WAYLAND

 and BURNIE                Left Kilindini for Aden

FALMOUTH                  Arrived Seychelles from Colombo and left again for Kilindini

CARADOC                    Arrived Tulear from Diego Suarez escorting one transport

H.S. VASNA                 Left Mauritius for Diego Garcia

 

Saturday, 15th May

 

RATNAGIRI                   Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 79

LAUNCESTON              Arrived Khor Kuwai from Masirah escorting 4 Fairmiles (49th M.L. Flotilla)

VERBENA                    Arrived Seychelles from Addu Atoll and left again for Kilindini

 

Sunday, 16th May

 

PUNJAB                       Arrived Aden from Hormuz escorting convoy P A 38

ILE DE FRANCE           Arrived Durban from Aden and Suez

CARTHAGE, JUMNA

 and GERALDTON        Arrived Aden from Bombay escorting convoy B A 43

CAIRNS

 and WOLLONGONG    Arrived Aden from Masirah

 

Monday, 17th May

EMILE BAUDOT           Left Bombay for Trincomalee

CARADOC                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Tulear and left again for Kilindini

TOOWOOMBA             Left Tulear escorting one transport till dusk thence to Diego Suarez

BALUCHISTAN             Arrived Bombay from Colombo escorting one tanker

ALAUNIA                      Left Bombay for Aden escorting convoy B A 44

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Aden from Kilindini having escorted convoy K A 6

SONAVATI                   Arrived Colombo from Cocos Isl.

CARTHAGE                  Left Aden for Kilindini

RANPURA                    Arrived Colombo from Bombay

 

Tuesday, 18th May

 

FALMOUTH                  Arrived Kilindini from Colombo having called Seychelles

VERBENA                    Arrived Kilindini from Colombo having called Addu Atoll and Seychelles

SUSSEX                       Left vicinity of Kilindini after completing exercises.

RAJPUTANA                 Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting PANGKOR

ORISSA                       Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 40

NEWCASTLE               Left Capetown for Durban

KENYA                         Arrived Durban from Kilindini having escorting convoy J M 1

GAMBIA                       Left Durban for Capetown and U.K.

CERES                         Arrived Bombay from Colombo

CARNATIC                    Left Aden for Hormuz escorting convoy A P 31

H.S. VASNA                 Arrived Diego Garcia from Mauritius

 

Wednesday, 19th May

 

CHITRAL                      Arrived Kilindini from Aden

CARADOC                    Arrived Kilindini from Diego Suarez

SUTLEJ                        Left Bombay for Aden escorting one transport

WAYLAND

 and BURNIE                Arrived Aden from Kilindini

BOMBAY                     Left Hormuz escorting convoy P B 41 for Bombay

TULIP                           Arrived Durban from Kilindini escorting one transport

MADRAS

 and BARODA               Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 80

STORMWRACK

 and SATSA                  Arrived Aden from Kilindini escorting convoy K A 7, A.S.I.S. KHETI and PACHECO

           

Thursday, 20th May

 

CAPETOWN                 Left Aden for Kilindini

NEWCASTLE               Arrived Durban from Capetown

SORSRA                      Arrived Kilindini from Hormuz escorting one tanker

BURNIE                        Left Aden for Kilindini

 

Friday, 21st May

 

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Diego Suarez from Tulear

BURNIE                        On passage Aden to Kilindini, diverted to Hormuz to reinforce Hormuz patrol

EMILE BAUDOT           Arrived Colombo from Bombay

H.S. VASNA                 Left Diego Garcia for Addu Atoll

 

Saturday, 22nd May

CARTHAGE                  Arrived Kilindini from Aden

Dutch Sub O 23            Left Colombo for patrol

BUSHWOOD                Arrived Colombo from Bombay

NEWCASTLE               Left Durban for Kilindini

 

Sunday, 23rd May

 

CARTHAGE                  Left Kilindini fro Durban

FALMOUTH

 and VERBENA             Left Kilindini for Durban escorting convoy M C 7

TAMWORTH                 Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 80 ½ three tankers

PUNJAB                       Left Aden for Bandar Rizut Bay thence Hormuz

EMILE BAUDOT           Left Colombo for Trincomalee

H.S. VASNA                 Arrived Addu Atoll from Diego Garcia

 

Monday, 24th May

 

BOMBAY                     Arrived Bombay from Hormuz escorting convoy P B 41

SUSSEX                       Left Mauritius for MOMP with DOMINION MONARCH and NIEUW AMSTERDAM from Fremantle

H.S. VASNA                 Left Addu Atoll for Colombo

 

Tuesday, 25th May

 

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Kilindini from Aden

SOLVRA                      Left Kilindini escorting dredger THOMAS COAD towards Dante

NORMAN, QUADRANT, REDOUBT

 and RACEHORSE        Left Durban as local A/S escort of convoy W S 29

BARODA                      Left Hormuz for Bombay calling Karachi

ALAUNIA                      Arrived Aden from Bombay escorting convoy B A 44

TOOWOOMBA             Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles

EMILE BAUDOT           Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo

MADRAS

 and SIMBRA                Left Hormuz for Aden escorting convoy P A 39

BALUCHISTAN             Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 81

BURNIE                        Arrived Hormuz from Aden

CARNATIC                    Arrived Hormuz from Aden having escorting convoy A P 31

HINDUSTAN                 Left Bombay for Colombo escorting convoy B M 53

 

Wednesday, 26th May

 

KENYA                        Left Durban to overtake and join convoy W S 29 as escort to latitude 7 deg. S

TROMP                        Left Fremantle escorting DOMINION MONARCH and NIEUW AMSTERDAM towards Ceylon

 

Thursday, 27th May

 

VASNA                         Arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll

LAUNCESTON

 and KONKAN               Left Hormuz for Bombay escorting P B 42

TEWERA                      Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee

BOLD                           Left Seychelles to R/V EDWARD F. JOHNSON and tow her to Seychelles

NEWCASTLE               Arrived Kilindini from Durban

FS COMMANDANT DUBOC Left Diego Suarez for Reunion

 

Friday, 28th May

 

ALAUNIA                      Left Aden for Kilindini

BARODA                      Arrived Karachi from Bandar Abbas

CARTHAGE                  Arrived Durban from Kilindini

Dutch Sub O 21            Left Colombo for patrol

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez and left again for Dante

 

Saturday, 29th May

 

NETRAVATI                  Arrived Madras from Colombo

MAURITIUS                  Left Kilindini for Aden and Suez

HINDUSTAN                 Escorting B M 53 arrived Colombo from Bombay

H.S. OPHIR                  Left Colombo for Kilindini

FS COMMANDANT DUBOC Left Reunion for Tamatave

 

Sunday, 30th May

 

CARTHAGE                  Left Durban escorting C M 42 to Kilindini

NIZAM

 and FRITILLARY          Left Durban as local A/S escort to C M 42

Dutch Ship W. ZAN DER ZAAN arrived Colombo from Addu Atoll

MASTIFF                      Left Diego Suarez for Kilindini

ALAUNIA                      Diverted to R/V W S 29 at lat 5 deg. S to escort W S 29 A to Aden instead of proceeding to Kilindini

H.S. VITA                     Left Bombay for Aden

POONA                        Left Cochin for Bombay

 

Monday, 31st May

 

HAWKINS                    Left Kilindini for Durban and Simonstown

WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN left Colombo for Addu Atoll

CORNWALLIS              Arrived Calcutta from Madras

Dutch Sub O 24            Arrived Colombo from patrol

CANTON                      Left Colombo to MOMP with SUSSEX and convoy U S 19 and escort DOMINION MONARCH to Aden

DURBAN, BATHURST

 and CARNATIC            Left Hormuz escorting convoy B P 43 to Bombay

H.S. VASNA                 Arrived Bombay from Colombo

RAMDAS                      Arrived Vizagapatam from Madras

BALTA                          Arrived Cochin from Colombo

CHITRAL                      Left Kilindini to R/V KENYA and W S 29 on June 2nd and escort W S 29 B to Bombay

BARODA                      Arrived Bombay from Karachi

 

May 1943

 

Part II

Narrative

 

(A) GENERAL

 

1. Docking and repairs on Heavy Units

           

RESOLUTION taken in hand at Durban for short refit and docking on 12th May and expected to complete 12th June

 

2. Docking and repairs of Cruisers

           

FROBISHER taken in hand for refit and docking at Simonstown on 3rd May and is expected to complete on 10th June

           

CERES taken in hand for repairs at Bombay on 18th May and expected to complete 5th June

           

3. Cruisers

           

HMS NEWCASTLE joined the Eastern Fleet having provided escort for convoy W S 29

           

GAMBIA and DAUNTLESS left the Station for the United Kingdom, the former sailing from Durban on 18th May and latter on 21st May.

 

4. Destroyers

 

The disposition of the Eastern Fleet destroyers on the 1st May was as follows”

 

At Kilindini - NIZAM, QUICKMATCH

 

In Australia - NEPAL, QUIBERON

 

On South Atlantic Station operating - NORMAN, NAPIER, ROTHERHAM, REDOUBT, RAIDER, RACEHORSE, RELENTLESS, QUADRANT

 

On South Atlantic Station refitting - BLACKMORE

 

Lent to the Freetown Escort Force - FOXHOUND, CATTERICK

 

Detached - QUILLIAM, QUALITY, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL

 

The only alterations to the above state that occurred during May was the exchange of NAPIER and RAIDER with RAIDER and QUICKMATCH, the latter pair having provided escort for RESOLUTION to Durban remained as units of the South Atlantic Escort Force

 

EREBUS - On the instruction of the Admiralty, HMS EREBUS sailed from Kilindini on 6th May for Aden and onward passage to the Mediterranean

 

WAYLAND - The Dockyard Repair Ship WAYLAND was sailed for Aden and the Mediterranean on 14th May

 

5. Passage of M.L.s from South Africa to Persian Gulf

             

The four Fairmile Motor Launches Nos. 380, 382, 383, and 829 arrived at Khor Kuwai on the 15th having completed a voyage of about 5500 miles, the greater part under tropical conditions. They sailed from Simonstown on the 7th March and made their way, by roughly 400 mile stages to Kilindini where they arrived on the 8th April. They remained at Kilindini for a fortnight for slipping and overhaul and sailed on the 26th April. The voyage was without major incident.

           

6. Landing exercise at Mauritius

             

HMS SUSSEX during her stay at Mauritius from 21st to 24th May carried out a landing exercise with her marines to test the local defences. The Governor of the Island reports that the exercise proved very profitable.

           

7. Loan of ships to South Atlantic Station

           

HM Ships FALMOUTH, ASTER, MARGUERITE, TULIP, and VERBENA have been located to the South Atlantic Station

           

8. Arrangements for Move of Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet’s Shore Headquarters from Kilindini to Colombo

 

Arrangements have been well progressed for the move of the Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet’s shore headquarters from Kilindini back to when the time comes.

           

(B). CONVOYS

 

SUSSEX escorting C M 41 was relieved by RANPURA June 1st and proceeded to Kilindini arriving on the 2nd. Left Kilindini on the 17th arriving at Port Louis, Mauritius, on the 21st. Between the 21st and 24th carried out landing exercises during her Royal Marines. Left Grand Port, Mauritius on the 24the MOMP with DOMINION MONARCH and NIEUW AMSTERDAM on the 29th taking over escort from Netherlands cruiser TROMP.

 

NEWCASTLE escorting W S 29 arrived at the Cape on the 17th. Proceeded to Durban where she arrived on the 20th. Left Durban 22nd and arriving Kilindini 27th.

 

MAURITIUS sailed from Kilindini for Aden 29th

 

GAMBIA sailed from Kilindini on the 8th May arriving Durban on the 12th. Sailed from Durban on the 18th for Capetown where she arrived on the 21st. Sailed thence to U.K. on the 23rd

 

KENYA sailed from Kilindini on the 11th May to relieve HAWKINS as escort to J M 1 on the 13th. Arrived Durban escorting J M 1 on the 18th. Sailed from Durban escorting W S 29 on the 25th

 

HAWKINS sailed from Bombay escorting J M 1 on the 7th arriving Kilindini on the 14th after being relieved by KENYA. Sailed from Kilindini flying the flag of Rear Admiral Commanding 4th Cruiser Squadron on the 31st, for Durban

 

FROBISHER arrived Simonstown 1st May for docking and repairs

 

CAPETOWN arrived Kilindini from Seychelles on the 2nd May. Left Kilindini 11th escorting K A 6. Arrived Aden on the 16th. Left Aden on the 20th for Kilindini arriving on the 25th.

 

DAUNTLESS left Bahrein 1st May, arrived Aden 4th. Left on the 5th and arrived Kilindini on the 19th. Sailed from Durban on the 21st for U.K. calling at Simonstown from 22nd to 25th en route.

 

DURBAN carrying out duty as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf’s ship. Sailed on the 31st May as escort to P B 43 to Bombay

 

CARADOC Sailed from Kilindini on the 6th June escorting PULASKI. Arrived and left Diego Suarez on the 10th. Arrived Tulear with PULASKI on the 14th. Sailed from Tulear for Kilindini on the 14th, calling at Diego Suarez on the 17th, arriving Kilindini on the 19th for boiler cleaning

 

CERES arrived Kilindini escorting A K 7 on the 3rd. Sailed from Kilindini on the 4th calling at Seychelles on the 7th arriving Colombo 12th. Sailed from Colombo on 16th arriving at Bombay on 18th for docking

 

ALAUNIA left Bombay after docking on the 17th escorting B A 44 to Aden arriving 25th. Sailed from Aden on the 28th to R.V. with and act as escort to Aden portion of W S 29

 

CHITRAL Arrived Bombay on the 1st. Sailed same ay for Colombo, arriving on the 4th. Left Colombo escorting RAJULA on the 5th arriving Aden on the 12th. Left Aden on the 14th, arriving Kilindini on the 19th. Sailed from Kilindini on the 31st to take over escort of W S 29 from KENYA

 

RANPURA relieved SUSSEX as escort to C M 41 on the 1st. Arrived Bombay escorting C M 41 on the 11th. Sailed from Bombay on the 14th arriving Colombo on the 17th for boiler cleaning.

 

CARTHAGE after docking and boiler cleaning sailed from Bombay on the 8th as escort to B A 43. Arrived Aden on the 16th. Sailed from Aden on the 17th for Kilindini, arriving on the 22nd. Sailed again on the 23rd for Durban, arriving on the 28th. Stored at Durban leaving on the 30th as escort to C M 47

 

CANTON left Aden on the 4th escorting A B 8 arriving Bombay on the 10th. Sailed same day for Colombo, arriving on the 13th for docking, boiler cleaning and leave. Sailed on the 31st to take over escort of DOMINION MONARCH from SUSSEX

 

FALMOUTH and VERBENA left Kilindini on the 23rd escorting M C 7 to Durban

 

(C) BASES

           

General                

 

Information has been received that the remaining nine ex Japanese MFVs allocated to Eastern Fleet were shipped from Canada on the 15th May. Five for Colombo and four for Bombay. All these MFVs are allocated to Flag Officer, Ceylon

 

2. REDSHANK (controlled minelayer) sailed from Gibraltar on 13th May

 

3. EMILE BAUDOT sailed from Bombay 16th May for Trincomalee. It is intended that she shall lay loops at Trincomalee and Colombo, and then H.D.A.s and loops at Diego Suarez

           

Addu Atoll

 

4. It has been decided to postpone the relaying of the controlled minefield in the Wilingili Channel by ATREUS and ALSEY until after the monsoon.

 

5. Landing Craft Armindia has undertaken to send two LCMs to Addu Atoll on the arrival of the new LCMs from England. The worn out landing craft at Addu will then be shipped to India for repair and return to Addu at the rate of two per month.

 

Diego Suarez

 

6. A survey by divers of two sunken Italian ships was carried out during the month. One was found to be salvable but the other is doubtful.

 

(n.b. page 4 is missing)

 

Appendix I

 

Madagascar

Events in January to March 1943

 

1. During January, February, and March, Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez received several visits from the Commandant de la Marine, Madagascar (Captaine de Fregate Galleret, attached to the staff of the High Commissioner), and certain correspondence took place between these two officers on various subjects concerning the naval establishments at Tamatave and Diego Suarez. Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez kept me fully informed the arrangements and proposals made can be summarized as follows:

 

Tamatave

 

2. Consequent upon the negotiations between the General Officer Commanding in Chief, East Africa and the High Commissioned for the Fighting French forces to relieve the British Forces in all parts of Madagascar outside the Diego Suarez area, except Tulear, it was agreed that the Fighting French Navy should once more take over the port of Tamatave where they wished to established an instructional unit (ultimate strength about 250 men under the command of Lieutenant Commander). It was agreed to withdraw the British Naval Officer in Charge, and that R.N. requirements there would be fully met by retaining only a Naval Liaison Officer.

 

Diego Suarez

 

3. It has been arranged that about 50 Free French Naval Officers and men should be accommodated at Diego Suarez in connection with work involved in raising the Free French sloop D’ENTECASTEAUX (and possibly later the Free French submarine BEVEZIERS) and the reconditioning of Free French merchant ship ILE DE BOURBON.

 

GENERAL

 

4. The Free French Naval authorities were anxious to obtain considerable supplies of naval clothing from the R.N. sources as their stocks were very low. The Commandant de la Marine was that apart from a few items, it was not possible to meet this request from R.N. stocks at Diego Suarez, and that the only possibility lay in obtaining this gear later at Durban

 

Events during April – May

 

5. On 15th April, I received Admiralty Message 142229 April which indicated that the Free French Authorities in London were the giving Their Lordships the impression that the Free French were in the process of taking over certain services at Diego Suarez, and consequently wished to recover the use of the former naval buildings there. In connection with the latter they made the following suggestions that : -

 

(a). the Commandant de la Marine, Madagascar should be installed at Diego Suarez in the Hotel du Commandant (Naval Officer in Charge’s “private” house).

(b). the number of Free French ratings at Diego Suarez should be raised from 50 to 300 and to be accommodated in the Caserne de la Marine (previous French Naval barracks).

(c). the French Administrative Naval Headquarters take over certain of the offices in the existing Naval Headquarter office building.

 

6. Neither I, nor the Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez, had any previous knowledge of these proposals which, as pointed out by Their Lordships, ran contrary to the reservations concerning Diego Suarez in Annex B of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom, and the French National Committee, signed on the 14th December 1942. The apparent intention lying behind the above proposals made by the Free French Authorities stressed the necessity for an early decision as to the Police to be adopted concerning the future of Diego Suarez.

 

7. After consultation with the Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez, I indicated in my reply to Their Lordships (Deputy Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet’s 200955 April) that in my opinion a joint administration of Diego Suarez would not work and that we should retain full control of the harbour, dockyard, and facilities for the duration of the war, whilst affording the use of the port to such Free French Naval Forces as may desire it, in accordance with normal practice towards our allies. I also suggested that it should now be made clear to the Free French that Diego Suarez is separated from the rest of Madagascar by the terms of the Agreement, and consequently that the Commandant de la Marine, Madagascar should be installed in some place other than Diego Suarez. (Note: Tamatave would appear to be the most suitable port and reasonably near to the capital, Tananarive).

 

8. Once the general principle has been decided and the numbers and accommodation of Free French Naval Officers and ratings in Diego Suarez can be arranged on the spot under the terms of Article XI of the Agreement. In this connection I pointed out in my signal D/C in C.E.F.’s 200955 April) that as the very limited service existing accommodation was already fully occupied by R.N. and R.A.F. personnel, it was impracticable to meet the detailed proposals for accommodating Free French Naval Forces at Diego Suarez as suggested by the Free French Authorities in London (vide paragraph 5). Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez signal 172356 April forwarded to Their Lordships also furnished details of the accommodation problem.

 

9. I was aware of the cordial relations between the Free French and the British Naval authorities in Madagascar might be strained by the decision recommended (para 7. above), but I considered that the ultimate ill effect would be less than would be produced by constant bickering and friction resulting from any attempt to work any kind of compromise involving dual control of Diego Suarez.

 

10. The General Officer Commanding in Chief, East Africa later informed me that he was in full agreement with my view. He also informed me that in recognition of the French sovereignty in Madagascar he had agreed with the High Commissioner that in addition to withdrawing British forces and the Islands Area Command into the Diego Suarez area (with a detachment at Tulear) he had agreed with the High Commissioner that there should be one battalion of Free French Infantry in Diego Suarez, and that Free French personnel should man the coast artillery battery at Windsor Castle. He was convinced that the High Commissioner (General Le Gentilhomme) readily accepted the situation that the Diego Suarez area was a British “reserve” and thereby separated from the rest of Madagascar, and that he, the High Commissioner, was in no way connected with the policy of Free French “infiltration” into Diego Suarez, as intimated by the proposals of the Free French authorities in London, and the attitude of the Commandant de la Marine, Madagascar.

 

11. About the same time I received from the Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez, copies of recent correspondence between the Commandant de la Marine, Madagascar, and himself in which the former had put forward further infiltration proposals concerning the mobilization into the Free French Navy of certain civilian dockyard officials, the appointment of a Free French Naval constructor manager, and an extensive docking and repair for the salved French ships at Diego Suarez.

 

12. I fully concurred with the action already taken by the Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez in pointing out to the French Authorities that although the proposed changed status of dockyard personnel would be reviewed by higher authority under Article 9 of Annex “A” of the Agreement, no change could be made at present. Also that the docking programme at Diego Suarez would no permit more work being done on the French ships than was necessary to make them seaworthy to proceed to South Africa for extensive repairs there. Copies of this correspondence were forwarded to Their Lordships under my letter No. 878/E.F. 710/7 of the 1st May 1943, and a summary was also signaled under the Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet’s 291521 April.

 

13. The Commandant de la Marine also had requested that the French Merchant vessel, ILE DE BOURBON, should be handed back to the French Authorities for inter-island trade. D. of S.T. London had already been requested by the Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez to de requisition this ship. On the 5th May, I also added a further request to Their Lordships to hasten this matter. (Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet’s 051222 May) . De requisitioning instructions were subsequently received from the Ministry of War Transport and the ship was handed over on 25th May.

 

14. In early May, the High Commissioner, General Le Gentilhomme, on his way through Nairobi by air, visited the General Officer Commanding in Chief, East Africa, General Sir William Platt. Unfortunately, I was prevented from attending this meeting, but I understand from General Platt that the High Commissioner’s own attitude remained as outlined in paragraph 10.

 

15. The Commandant de la Marine, Capitaine de Fregate Galleret, had accompanied the General to Nairobi and shortly afterwards paid an unofficial visit to Kilindini where this opportunity was taken to discuss with him some of matters concerning Diego Suarez.

 

16. By agreement with the French Authorities in Madagascar, a Fighting French Naval Officer has recently been appointed as liaison officer with Divisional Sea Transport Officer, Kilindini. This French Officer should be of considerable assistance to D.S.T.O. in matters concerning French personnel passing through this port.

 

17. Admiral Auboynau had a short conference with me on 31st May when passing through Mombasa on his way to Mombasa (sic).

 

18. Admiral Auboynau touched generally on his desire that the Free French Naval Forces should take over services at Diego Suarez and alleged that the terms of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the French National Committee on Madagascar were specially drafted so as to permit this process. I imagine he referred particularly to Article 9 of Annexure “A”. He did not agree with my contention that the administration district of Diego Suarez was exempt from the terms of Annexure “A” by Annexure “B”

 

19. Admiral Auboynau undertook to furnish me in writing with a copy of his view after he has visited Madagascar and discussed the question with the Authorities on the spot.

 

20. I gave him no encouragement to suppose that the attitude so far adopted by the British Authorities would be relaxed in any way and instructed the Naval Officer in Charge, Diego Suarez to preserve a similar attitude.

 

 

Background Events

 

June-(September) 1943
Invasion of Sicily ('Husky'), Battle of Kursk, Italy surrenders, Salerno landings ('Avalanche'), U-boat packs return to Atlantic, X-craft attack 'Tirpitz'

 

 

 

 

EASTERN FLEET WAR DIARY

 

JUNE 1943

 

Tuesday, June 1st

NEPAL

 and QUIBERON           Left Geraldton for Diego Garcia

MAURITIUS                  Arrived Aden from Kilindini and left same day for Suez.

LAUNCESTON

 and KONKAN               Escorting convoy P B 42 arrived Bombay from Hormuz

PUNJAB                       Left Khor Kuwai for Bombay

RAMDAS                      Left Vizagapatam for Madras

NORMAN                     Left Durban for Capetown

 

Wednesday, June 2nd

 

FALMOUTH

 and VERBENA             Arrived Durban escorting convoy M C 7 from Kilindini

QUADRANT

 and REDOUBT             Returned Durban as local A/S escort to M C 7 and left again for Capetown

Tug BOLD                     Towing 1 merchant ship arrived Seychelles from approx. position 04 deg. S, 65 deg. E

RANPURA                    Left Colombo for Kilindini escorting 1 transport

SOBKRA                      Escorting 1 ship left Kilindini for Diego Suarez

BALUCHISTAN

 and TAMWORTH         Escorting convoy P A 40 left Hormuz for Aden

MADRAS                      Arrived Aden from Hormuz escorting P A 39

AMRITSAR                   Arrived Colombo from Madras escorting LAOMEDON.

 

Thursday, June 3rd

 

WILLEM VAN DE ZAAN Arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo escorting 1 ship

FS COMMANDANT DUBOC Arrived Tamatave from Reunion escorting 1 ship

MADRAS                      Left Aden for Hormuz escorting convoy A P 32

MASTIFF                      Arrived Kilindini from Mayotte and Diego Suarez escorting 1 ship

SOBKRA                      Left Kilindini for Diego Suarez escorting one ship

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Aden from Seychelles.

BOMBAY

 and KONKAN               Left Bombay for Hormuz escorting convoy B P 82

POONA                        Arrived Bombay from Cochin

 

Friday, June 4th

 

KENYA                         Arrived Kilindini having escorted convoy W S 29 from Durban to vicinity Kilindini

Dutch Ship WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN Left Addu Atoll for Diego Suarez escorting one M.V. and 1 tanker

CARADOC                    Left Kilindini for Seychelles

Tug BOLD                     Left Seychelles towing 1 ship to Kilindini

CHALLENGER              Arrived Trincomalee from Palk Straits

SUSSEX                       Arrived Colombo from Mauritius having escorting convoy U S 19 from position 025 deg. S, 091 deg. E

MAURETANIA               Left Capetown for Diego Suarez and Colombo

QUICKMATCH              Left Capetown as local A/S escort to MAURETANIA

HAWKINS                    Arrived Durban from Kilindini

           

Saturday, June 5th

 

PUNJAB                       Arrived Bombay from Khor Kuwai

DURBAN, BATHURST

 and CARNATIC            Arrived Bombay having escorting P B 43 from Hormuz

SOLVRA                      Escorting Dredger THOMAS COAD arrived Aden from Kilindini

HAWKINS                    Left Durban for Simonstown

KUMAON

  and KATHIAWAR        Escorting convoy D N 44 left Durban for Diego Suarez

SUSSEX                       Left Colombo escorting one transport to vicinity Socotra then proceeds Kilindini   

 

Sunday, June 6th

 

KIRRIEMOOR               Left East London for Durban

KENYA                         Left Kilindini to R/V one transport off Madagascar

BENGAL                      Left Calcutta for Colombo

ADAMANT

 and HINDUSTAN          Left Colombo for Addu Atoll

H.S. VASNA                 Left Bombay for Aden

Dutch Sub O 23            Arrived Colombo from patrol

SOBKRA                      Arrived Diego Suarez from Kilindini escorting 1 ship

CANTON                      Having escorting one transport to vicinity Socotra, now proceeds Kilindini instead of Aden

DURBAN                      Left Bombay for Bahrein

 

Monday, June 7th

 

NETRAVATI                  Escorting one ship left Calcutta for Madras

LAOMEDON                 Left Colombo for Aden

CARADOC                    Arrived Seychelles from Kilindini

 

Tuesday, June 8th

 

CAPETOWN                 Left Kilindini to R/V with one transport at 20 deg. S. and escort her to Kilindini

ADAMANT                    Escorted by HINDUSTAN arrived Addu Atoll from Colombo

ALAUNIA                      Arrived Aden escorting convoy W S 29 A from approx. 005 deg. S

MADRAS                      Arrived Hormuz from Aden escorting convoy A P 32.

 

Wednesday, June 9th

 

ADAMANT                    Escorted by HINDUSTAN left Addu Atoll to R/V NEPAL. HINDUSTAN returned Addu Atoll. ADAMANT proceeds Kilindini

ALAUNIA                      Left Aden for Kilindini

TAMWORTH,

 and BALUCHISTAN      Arrived Aden from Hormuz escorting convoy P A 40

NEPAL                         Left Diego Garcia to R/V ADAMANT and escort her to vicinity 56 deg. E. NEPAL proceeds to Seychelles

HAWKINS                    Arrived Simonstown from Durban

QUIBERON                   Left Diego Garcia for Kilindini

 

Thursday, June 10th

 

RAIDER                        Left Kilindini for Aden

CARTHAGE                  Arrived Kilindini having escorted convoy C M 42 from Durban

CANTON                      Arrived Kilindini having escort one transport from vicinity Addu Atoll to vicinity Socotra

Tug BOLD                     Arrived Kilindini having towed one ship from Seychelles

H.S. OPHIR                  Left Kilindini for Aden

ADAMANT

 and NEPAL                  R/V’d at 70 deg. E.

BOMBAY

 and KONKAN               Arrived Hormuz from Bombay escorting convoy B P 82

TOOWOOMBA             Left Aden for Masirah

ROHILKAND                 With BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8 left Capetown for Durban

DURBAN                      Arrived Bahrein from Bombay

FROBISHER                 Left Simonstown for Durban

CHITRAL                      Escorting W S 29 B arrived Bombay from Kilindini

CARADOC                    Left Seychelles for Diego Suarez.

FERNMOOR                 Left Durban for Aden

HMRT MASTERFUL      Left Durban for Kilindini

CORNWALLIS              Left Calcutta for Colombo

 

Friday, June 11th

 

RANPURA                    Arrived Kilindini from Colombo escorting one transport

HINDUSTAN                 Arrived Addu Atoll having escorted ADAMANT to 70 deg. E, and left again for Colombo escorting one ship

BOMBAY

 and KONKAN               Left Hormuz escorting convoy P A 41 to Aden

NETRAVATI                  Arrived Madras from Calcutta escorting 1 ship

KUMAON

 and KAHTIAWAR         Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban, having provided local A/S escort for convoy D N 44

BENGAL                      Arrived Colombo from Calcutta

BATHURST

 and CARNATIC            Escorting B P 83 left Bombay for Hormuz

 

Saturday, June 12th

 

MAURETANIA               Arrived Diego Suarez from Capetown

CERES                        Left Bombay for Persian Gulf

CARADOC                    Arrived Diego Suarez from Seychelles and left again for Durban

MADRAS

 and RATNAGIRI           Left Persian Gulf escorting convoy P B 44 to Bombay

 

Sunday, June 13th

 

MAURETANIA               Left Diego Suarez for Colombo

QUIBERON                   Arrived Kilindini from Diego Garcia

SOLVRA                      Left Aden for Seychelles

SUSSEX                       Arrived Kilindini from Colombo, having escorted one transport to vicinity Socotra

CHITRAL

 and POONA                 Escorting convoy B M 54 (including 2 transports) left Bombay for Colombo

NEPAL                         Arrived Seychelles from Diego Garcia having escorted ADAMANT to 56 deg. E

BALUCHISTAN

TAMWORTH                 Left Aden for Hormuz escorting convoy A P 33

FROBISHER                 Arrived Durban from Simonstown

AMRITSAR                   Escorting convoy J C 13 left Colombo for Calcutta

BRITTANY                    Left Bombay for Aden

 

Monday, 14th June

 

FROBISHER                 Left Durban for Kilindini

RAIDER                        Arrived Aden from Kilindini and left again for Suez

NETRAVATI                  Left Madras for Colombo

 

Thursday, 15th June

 

RESOLUTION

 and RACEHORSE        Left Durban for Kilindini

RELENTLESS

 and ROTHERHAM        Left Durban to provide A/S escort for RESOLUTION as far as 20 deg. S.

CAPETOWN

 and CARTHAGE          Left Kilindini for Colombo escorting convoy K R 5

REVENGE

 and QUIBERON           Left Kilindini for Durban

NAPIER                        Left Kilindini to provide A/S escort for REVENGE as far as 20 deg. S.

CAPETOWN                 Arrived Kilindini having escorting one transport from 20 deg. S.

ALAUNIA                      Arrived Kilindini from Aden

RANPURA                    Left Kilindini to R/V one transport off Socotra and escort her to Bombay

CERES                        Arrived Khasab from Bombay

DURBAN                      Arrived Khasab from Bahrein

TOOWOOMBA             Arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden

Italian repatriation liners VULCANIA and SATURNIA Left Port Elizabeth for Aden

Dutch Sub O 23            Left Colombo for Trincomalee

BENGAL                      Left Colombo for Bombay

CHALLENGER              Left Trincomalee for Seychelles

 

Wednesday, June 16th

 

ADAMANT                    Arrived Kilindini from Addu Atoll

BATHURST

 and CARNATIC            Escorting B P 83 arrived Hormuz from Bombay

CHITRAL

 and POONA                 Arrived Colombo from Bombay

 

Thursday, June 17th

 

Dutch Sub O 23            Arrived Trincomalee from Colombo

MANCHESTER CITY

 and ROHILKAND          Left Durban for Diego Suarez

O 23                             Left Trincomalee to patrol Malacca Straits

NETRAVATI                  Arrived Colombo from Madras

CORNWALLIS              Arrived Colombo from Calcutta

CARADOC                    Arrived Durban from Diego Suarez

 

Friday, June 18th

 

RESOLUTION, RACEHORSE

 and RELENTLESS       R/V with REVENGE, QUIBERON, and NEPIER at 020 deg. S. RACEHORSE and NAPIER escort

                                   RESOLUTION to Kilindini, QUIBERON, ROTHERHAM, and RELENTLESS escort REVENGE to Durban

SUSSEX                      Leaves Kilindini for Addu Atoll

KENYA                        Leaves Kilindini to R/V two transports north of Socotra and escort them to vicinity Addu Atoll

FROBISHER                 Arrived Kilindini from Durban

Dutch Sub O 21            returned Colombo from patrolling Malacca Straits

CARNATIC

 and BATHURST           Escorting convoy P A 42 left Hormuz for Aden

MADRAS

 and RATNAGIRI           Escorting convoy P B 44 arrived Bombay from Hormuz

BENGAL                      Arrived Bombay from Colombo.

HMRT MASTERFUL      Arrived Kilindini from Durban

MAURETANIA               Arrived Colombo from Diego Suarez

 

Saturday, June 19th

 

LAOMEDON                 Arrived Aden from Colombo

KONKAN

 and BOMBAY              Escorting convoy P A 41 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf

TAMWORTH

 and BALUCHISTAN      Escorting convoy A P 33 arrived Khor Kuwai from Aden

LAUNCESTON

 and PUNJAB                Escorting convoy B P 84 left Bombay for Persian Gulf

           

Sunday, June 20th

 

BARODA                      Escorting convoy B M 54 ½ Bombay for Colombo

CHITRAL                      Escorting convoy M B 38 left Colombo for Bombay

BALUCHISTAN

 and TAMWORTH         Escorting convoy P B 45 left Persian Gulf for Bombay.

NEPAL                         Left Seychelles to R/V CAPETOWN and CARTHAGE and provide A/S escort for K R 5 to Colombo

REVENGE

 and QUIBERON           Arrived Durban from Kilindini

ROTHERHAM

 and RELENTLESS       Arrived Durban, having provided A/S escort for REVENGE for 20 deg. S

ALBATROSS                Left Bombay for Okha.

 

Monday, June 21st

 

KUMAON

 and KATHIAWAR         Left Diego Suarez for Seychelles and Bombay

RESOLUTION

 and RACEHORSE        Arrived Kilindini from Durban

NAPIER                        Arrived Kilindini from providing local A/S escort to RESOLUTION from 20 deg. S.

LAOMEDON                 Left Aden for Suez

DURBAN                      Arrived Aden from Persian Gulf

BOMBAY

 and KONKAN               Left Aden for Khor Kuwai

Italian repatriation ships DUILIO and GUILIO CESARE Left Port Elizabeth for Aden under safe conduct.

ALBATROSS                Arrived Okha from Bombay

 

Tuesday, June 22nd

 

SOLVRA                      Returned to Aden instead of proceeding to Seychelles with defects due to monsoon

HINDUSTAN                 Left Colombo to R/V K R 5 and provide local A/S escort to Colombo

BRITTANY                    Arrived Aden fro Bombay and left again for Suez

DURBAN                      Left Aden for Kilindini

 

Wednesday, June 23rd

 

CHITRAL                      Escorting convoy M B 38 arrived Bombay from Colombo

SUSSEX                       Arrived Addu Atoll from Kilindini

TROMP                        Left Fremantle to MOMP with SUSSEX at 92 deg. E

KUMAON

 and KATHIAWAR         Arrived Seychelles from Diego Suarez

 

Thursday, June 24th

 

SUSSEX                       Left Addu Atoll to MOMP with KENYA west of Addu Atoll. SUSSEX escorts one transport to MOMP with Dutch Ship

                                    TROMP at 92 deg. E. TROMP escorts transport to Fremantle and SUSSEX proceeds to Mauritius. KENYA escorts

                                    second transport to vicinity Colombo then proceeds to Trincomalee

LAUNCESTON

 and PUNJAB                Escorting convoy B P 84 arrived Khor Kuwai from Bombay

ALBATROSS                Left Okha for Bombay

NETRAVATI                  Left Bombay for Colombo escorting convoy B M 55

RANPURA                    Escorting one transport arrived Bombay from Kilindini

CHALLENGER              Arrived Seychelles from Colombo

SUFFOLK, RELENTLESS

 and NIZAM                   Left Durban for Operation PLAYER

 

Friday, June 25th

 

ALBATROSS                Arrived Bombay from Okha

BARODA                      Escorting convoy B M 54 ½ arrived Colombo from Bombay

CANTON                      Left Kilindini to R/V ROTHERHAM, QUICKMATCH, and NORMAN escorting convoy W S 30 at 20 deg S.

                                   ROTHERHAM, RELENTLESS, and NORMAN returned to Durban. CANTON escorts W S 30 to R/V ALAUNIA at

                                    07 deg. S. CANTON proceeds Kilindini. ALAUNIA escorts convoy to Bombay

ROTHERHAM, QUICKMATCH

 and NORMAN              Left Durban escorting convoy W S 30 to R/V CANTON

SATURNIA

 and VULCANIA            Arrived Aden from Port Elizabeth (Italian repat. Liners)

HILDASAY                    Left Seychelles for Kilindini

BYMS 5, 6, 7, 8            Left Durban for Diego Suarez

 

Saturday, June 26th

 

LAUNCESTON

 and PUNJAB                Escorting convoy P A 43 left Khor Kuwai for Aden

MAURETANIA               Left Colombo for Suez

MANCHESTER CITY

 and ROHILKAND          Arrived Diego Suarez from Durban

TAMWORTH,

 and BALUCHISTAN      Escorting convoy P B 45 arrived Bombay from Persian Gulf

ORISSA

 and BENGAL               Escorting convoy B P 85 left Bombay for Persian Gulf

BATHURST

 and CARNATIC            Escorting convoy P A 42 arrived Aden from Persian Gulf

KENYA                         Arrived at Trincomalee from Kilindini having escorted one transport to vicinity Colombo

 

Sunday, June 27th

 

HINDUSTAN, CAPETOWN, CARTHAGE

 and NEPAL                  Escorting convoy K R 5 arrived Colombo from Kilindini

NEWCASTLE

 and RACEHORSE        Left Kilindini for Tulear to fuel thence for Operation PLAYER

FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA Left Durban for Tamatave escorting one ship

DURBAN                      Arrived Kilindini from Aden

 

Monday, June 28th

 

FERNMOOR                 Arrived Aden from Durban

BATHURST                   Left Aden for Hormuz

WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN Escorting convoy M B 39 left Colombo for Bombay

Dutch light cruiser TROMP To MOMP with SUSSEX and NIEUW AMSTERDAM at 92 deg. E. SUSSEX proceeds Mauritius, TROMP

                                   and NIEUW AMSTERDAM to Fremantle

KENYA                        Left Trincomalee for Colombo

NORMAN, QUICKMATCH

 and ROTHERHAM        Now to escort W S 30 to vicinity Comoro Is. And then to proceed Tulear for fuelling

 

Tuesday, June 29th

 

ALAUNIA                      Left Kilindini to MOMP with CANTON escorting convoy W S 30 at approx. 007 deg. South. ALAUNIA escorts

                                    W S 30 B to Bombay. CANTON escorts 2 ships to Kilindini

KENYA                         Arrived Colombo from Trincomalee

BOMBAY

 and KONKAN               Escorting convoy P B 46 left Khasab Bay for Bombay

CARNATIC                    Escorting convoy A P 33 left Aden for Khor Kuwai

 

Wednesday, June 30th

 

ROSALIND                   Escorting LUCIA left Kilindini fro Durban

MASTERFUL                Towing one M.V. left Kilindini for Durban

RANPURA                    Left Bombay for Kilindini escorting 1 transport

NETRAVATI                  Left Cochin for Bombay, escorting 1 ship

NEWCASTLE

 and RACEHORSE        Arrived Tulear from Kilindini and left again for Operation PLAYER

 

June 1943

 

Part II

Narrative

 

(A) GENERAL

 

1. Docking and repairs on Heavy Units

           

RESOLUTION taken in hand for a short refit and docking on 12th May at Durban completed on 11th June.

           

REVENGE taken in hand for short refit and docking on 21st June and is expected to complete on 21st July.

 

2. Docking and repairs of Cruisers

           

FROBISHER in hand Simonstown for docking and refitting of auxiliary machinery. Completed 9th June. Left of both S.I. turbines for examination commenced on 29th June at Kilindini

           

HAWKINS taken in hand at Simonstown on 12th June for docking and refit. Expected date of completion 14th August.

           

3. Cruisers

 

HMS SUFFOLK joined the Eastern Fleet, having provided escort for convoy W S 30

 

4. Destroyers

 

The disposition of the Eastern Fleet destroyers on the 1st June was as follows:

 

At Kilindini - NAPIER, RAIDER

 

In Australia - NEPAL, QUIBERON

 

On South Atlantic Station operating - NORMAN, NIZAM, QUICKMATCH, QUADRANT, ROTHERHAM, RELENTLESS, RACEHORSE, and REDOUBT

 

Lent to the Freetown Escort Force - FOXHOUND, BLACKMORE, CATTERICK

 

Detached - QUILLIAM, QUALITY, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL

 

The only alterations to the above state that occurred during the month of June were as follows.

 

QUIBERON and NEPAL returned from Australia arriving at Diego Garcia on 9th June. QUIBERON sailed from Kilindini as escort for REVENGE to Durban on 15th June joining the South Atlantic escort force on arrival.

 

RACEHORSE sailed from Durban as escort for RESOLUTION to Kilindini on 15th June remaining at Kilindini for work with fleet units.

 

RAIDER sailed from Kilindini on 10th June for the Mediterranean

 

5. Free French Ships

             

The Free French Sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA has arrived in Madagascar where she will relieve the Free French minesweeper COMMANDANT DUBOC, the latter, on relief, proceeding to the Levant

           

6. Hormuz Patrol

             

Owing to several of the ships of the Hormuz group of the C.A.S.F. being absent from their station for refit, it became necessary to detach the Royal Australian minesweepers BURNIE and TOOWOOMBA from the East Africa Patrol Flotilla in order to strengthen the defences of the Persian Gulf.

 

7. E.F. JOHNSON

             

The motor tanker E.F. JOHNSON broke her crankshaft when she was midway between the Seychelles and Diego Garcia. The RNethN WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN was sent to her assistance and later H.M. Rescue tug BOLD took her in tow and brought her to Kilindini.

           

8. Landing Exercises at Seychelles

 

HMS CARADOC during her stay at Seychelles from the 7th to 10th June carried out a landing exercise with her marines and supporting party of seamen. The landing was made at night on the west side of Mahe and CARADOC’s party attacked objects at Port Victoria on the eastern side in the early morning. The exercise afforded valuable experience both for the attacker and the defenders.

 

9. Gunnery Firing Ship At Durban

 

HMS CARADOC has been taken in hand at Durban for preparation for the duties of Gunnery Firing Ship, and should complete by the 3rd July. She will work with a reduced complement and will cease to be an operational unit of the Eastern Fleet. She will be administered by the Rear Admiral Training Establishments, Durban

           

(B). CONVOYS

 

HMS SUSSEX escorting DOMINION MONARCH and NIEUW AMSTERDAM momped with CANTON on the 2nd. SUSSEX then escorted NIEUW AMSTERDAM to Colombo arriving on the 4th. Sailed with NIEUW AMSTERDAM on the 5th parting company with her off Socotra and proceeded to Kilindini arriving there on the 13th. Sailed from Kilindini on the 18th for Addu Atoll arriving there on the 23rd, fuelled and sailed on the 24th to MOMP with KENYA, escorting NIEUW AMSTERDAM and DOMINION MONARCH. Escorted NIEUW AMSTERDAM to MOMP on the 28th with Netherlands cruiser TROMP, thereafter proceeding independently to Mauritius

 

HMS SUFFOLK arrived at Durban escorting W S 30 on the 19th, sailed from Durban on the 24th for Operation PLAYER

 

HMS NEWCASTLE sailed from Kilindini on the 27th for Operation PLAYER flying Flag of Rear Admiral Commanding Fourth Cruiser Squadron

 

HMS KENYA relieved of escort to W S 29 on the 2nd by HMS CHITRAL, proceeded to Kilindini, arriving there 4th. Sailed from Kilindini on the 6th to rendezvous and escort LANCASHIRE from vicinity Diego Suarez to Kilindini arriving there on the 10th. Sailed from Kilindini on the 18th to rendezvous with DOMINION MONARCH and NIEUW AMSTERDAM south of Socotra escorting them to momp with SUSSEX on the 24th. Thence DOMINION MONARCH to vicinity of Colombo, parting company on the 25th, proceeding to Trincomalee arriving on the 26th. Carried out a radar survey at Trincomalee, sailing thence on the 28th, arriving Colombo on the 29th for docking and leave.

 

HMS HAWKINS arrived Durban from Kilindini flying Flag of Rear Admiral Commanding Fourth Cruiser Squadron on the 4th, sailed thence 5th to Simonstown arriving on the 9th for refit.

 

HMS FROBISHER sailed from Simonstown after refit and trials on the 10th arriving Durban on the 13th. Sailed thence on the 14th flying Flag of Rear Admiral Fourth Cruiser Squadron arriving Kilindini on the 18th.

 

HMS CAPETOWN after boiler cleaning, sailed Kilindini on the 8th to rendezvous with and escort AORANGI to Colombo, arriving on the 15th, sailing p.m. that day as Ocean Escort to convoy K R 5 arriving Colombo 28th.

 

HMS DURBAN arrived Bombay escorting P B 43 on the 5th, sailed Bombay on the 6th for Persian Gulf. Left Persian Gulf (after relief by CAPETOWN) on the 19th arriving Aden on the 21st. Sailed Aden on the 22nd arriving Kilindini on the 27th.

 

HMS CARADOC sailed Kilindini 4th arriving Seychelles on the 7th. Carried out landing exercise, sailed on the 10th arriving and sailed Diego Suarez on the 12th. Arrived Durban on the 17th for preparation for Gunnery Firing Ship.

 

HMS CERES sailed from Bombay after docking on the 12th for Persian Gulf, arriving there on the 15th relieve DURBAN

 

HMS ALAUNIA rendezvous with Aden portion of W S 29 on the 23rd, escorting convoy to Aden, arriving there on the 8th. Sailed Aden on the 9th for Kilindini arriving 15th. Sailed Kilindini on the 29th to take over escort of W S 30

 

HMS CHITRAL rendezvous with and took over Ocean Escort to Bombay portion of W S 29 from KENYA on the 2nd, escorting convoy to Bombay, arriving there on the 11th. Sailed thence on the 13th escorting STRATHAIRD and STRATHMORE arriving Colombo on the 16th. Sailed from Colombo on the 20th escorting STRATAIRD and STRATHMORE to Bombay, arriving 23rd for boiler cleaning.

 

HMS RANPURA sailed from Colombo on the 2nd escorting CITY OF PARIS to Kilindini arriving there on the 11th. Sailed from Kilindini on the 15th to rendezvous and escort ISLAMI on the 19th to Bombay, arriving there on the 24th. Sailed from Bombay on the 30th for Kilindini.

 

HMS CANTON momped with SUSSEX, NIEUW AMSTERDAM, and DOMINION MONARCH on the 2nd. Escorted DOMINION MONARCH to vicinity of Socotra, after parting company proceeded to Kilindini arriving there on the 10th. Sailed Kilindini on the 25th to rendezvous with and escort W S 30 on the 28th.

 

Appendix I

 

Operation PLAYER

 

Narrative

 

1. Information

 

On the 24th June, Admiralty appreciated the possibility of a U boat being supplied by a surface ship in the vicinity of a D.F. Fix of German U boat in position 31S, 45E obtained on 19th June, and instructed a Cruiser to be sent to search the area, the maximum air cooperation being provided.

24th June

 

2. SUFFOLK at Durban was sailed at best speed towards position (A) 31S, 45E. being preceded by RELENTLESS and NIZAM also from Durban

 

3. Commander in Chief, South Atlantic was requested to arrange for a continuous air search round position (A) with Catalina aircraft form first light on 25th June until dark on the 26th with instructions to locate and shadow a supply ships, but not to attack it. Submarines sighted to be attacked.

 

4. SUFFOLK and destroyers were instructed to adjust speed to pass through position “A “ at 2200Z/25th June and to arrived position “R” 30-40S, 47-18E at 0400 at 0400Z/26th June and to carry out a daylight search of an area to the northward of a line drawn 081 degrees from position “R” for a distance of 140 miles, returning through the area to the southward of this line.

 

5. Commander in Chief, South Atlantic was requested to arrange for two Catalinas to rendezvous with SUFFOLK in position “R” to search during daylight an area 60 miles on either side of the line quoted above for a distance of 160 miles from position “R”.

25th June

 

6. It was considered that should the search on the 26th prove unfruitful the enemy might be to the southward or westward of area already searched (Area “A”) and the following course of action was determined.

 

7. On completion of search on 26th June, SUFFOLK with RELENTLESS and NIZAM to carry out a sweep to the southward as far as position “B” (40S, 49E) returning thence in the direction of position “Q”, the portion of the sweep in the vicinity of Portion “B” being made in daylight. As the search of this area by Catalina aircraft was impracticable, it was decided to maintain the maximum daylight air search over area “A” with the intention of location a supply ship had she either been missed by the search force on 26th June or arrived in the area subsequently.

 

8. SUFFOLK to fuel both destroyers sufficiently to enable them to complete the daylight sweep on 28th June. RELENTLESS then being detached to fuel subsequently rejoining the search force, NIZAM, whose endurance is much less, being detached to rejoin the South Atlantic Escort Force.

 

9. It was assumed that SUFFOLK’s endurance would allow her to remain at sea until 2nd July and it was decided therefore that NEWCASTLE and RACEHORSE should sail from Kilindini on Sunday 27th June to relieve SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS

 

10. In order to have fuel as near as possible to the scene of operations, the oiler BRITISH AMBASSADOR was ordered to sail from Diego Suarez to Tulear at best speed.

 

26th June

 

11. Search by surface forces and Catalina aircraft in Area “A” during daylight hours on 26th having drawn blank, SUFFOLK and destroyers proceeded to southward.

 

12. Weather reports from Catalina aircraft indicated that he sea conditions in Area “A” was good and it is likely that the fuelling of the destroyers from the SUFFOLK was carried out without difficulty.

 

27th June

 

13. The lack of success in searches carried out by air and surface forces to southward of Madagascar as far as 40 degrees S. and the improbability of a fuelling operation taking place further to the westward, closer to the African coast, made it possible that in area further to the eastward was being used if such an operation was in fact in progress. Air searches of Area “A” could be maintained from Tulear and as it was important that the area to the eastward should be searched with the least possible delay it was decided that SUFFOLK and destroyers should continue their daylight sweep in the vicinity of position “B”, but should this be unsuccessful, SUFFOLK to proceed with RELENTLESS in company to carry out a sweep to the northeastward through position “C” 30S, 60E to prudent limit of endurance, refueling RELENTLESS at sea if this was possible, otherwise detaching her to fuel at Mauritius. This course of action would bring the surface striking force with reasonable distance of area “A” on the 28th until a.m. on the 30th should enemy forces be sighted by Catalina from Tulear

 

14. NEWCASTLE and RELENTLESS were sailed from Kilindini at 1800C to arrive Tulear at 1400C, 30 June to fuel, thence to arrive in Area “A” at daylight on 2nd July. The intention being that they should search Area “A” to the best of their ability during daylight on 2nd July and act as a striking force should the enemy be sighted by reconnaissance aircraft. During the night of 2nd July to withdraw to the eastward to be clear of submarines making the area from African coast and to allow speed to be reduced to conserve fuel.

 

28th June

 

15. Daylight sweep in the vicinity of Position “B” proved fruitless and after dark SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS proceeded towards position “C”, NIZAM having been detached to return to Durban

 

16. Catalina search in Area “A” again produced no results and the weather in the area, showed signs of deteriorating.

 

29th June

 

17. In view of the continued lack of sighting reports from Catalinas in Area “A” and of success from surface search near position “B” previous intentions were amended as follows:

           

SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS were ordered to continue searching in the vicinity of Position “C” until their prudent limit of endurance which was anticipated to be 2nd or 3rd July, then proceed to Port Louis, Mauritius for fuel.

           

Rear Admiral Commanding, Fourth Cruiser Squadron in NEWCASTLE with RACEHORSE to proceed to search in the vicinity of position “B” until prudent limit of endurance, thence returning to Tulear for fuel.

           

Two Catalinas to continue daylight search of Area “A”. This disposition of forces would ensure all three fuelling points being covered.

 

18. At 1118 local time Catalina on patrol in Area “A” reported A.S.V. contact probably a submarine. This report was not confirmed.

 

19. Late in the evening of 29th a signal was received from SUFFOLK stating that she would have to leave the vicinity of position “C” on 30th June in order to arrived at Mauritius with 18% of fuel remaining

 

20. In order to access the likelihood of a supply ship operating in the vicinity of position “B”, NIZAM who was now approaching Durban, was ordered to report forthwith weather conditions that she had experienced to the southward. The reply to this signal revealed that there a moderate sea with long moderate swell, wind mainly north up to Force 6.

 

30th June

 

21. At 3 A.M. a signal was received from Commander in Chief, South Atlantic reporting a reliable D.F. fix of a German U boat in position 29 S , 50 E.

 

22. In the view of unfavourable weather conditions reported by NIZAM in the vicinity of position “B” and of this D.F. fix of the German U boat, it was considered that fuelling was unlikely to be in progress in the Southern Area.

 

23. The continued lack of sighting reports from Area “A” made this area also improbable

 

24. It was decided therefore that SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS should continue to search in the vicinity of position “C” until p.m. 1 July in order to intercept an enemy supply ship which might be returning to the Eastward, and that NEWCASTLE and RACEHORSE after fuelling at Tulear should proceed towards position “C” to arrived at daylight on the 3rd July. This would allow ships to proceed at moderate speed and conserve fuel for future operations.

 

25. Two long range Catalinas were ordered to leave Mombasa for Mauritius to arrived on the 1st and 3rd, respectively, and two Catalinas from Tulear were sent to arrived Mauritius on the 1st July. It was intended that the two Catalinas from Tulear should carry out a daylight search in the vicinity of position “C” on the 2nd July, on which date SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS would be on passage to Port Louis and NEWCASTLE and RACEHORSE some 300 miles to the westward of position “C”

 

26. It was also decided to maintain a reduced daylight search in Area “A” by one Catalina

 

27. By the this time the search over a wide area south and east of Madagascar having drawn blank it was appreciated that fuelling of the U boats might have been concluded and the supply ship withdrawn from the area. The Admiralty was therefore informed that the dispositions ordered were made disregarding this possibility.

 

28. The discontinuation of Operation PLAYER was ordered the Admiralty during the course of the night and NEWCASTLE and RACEHORSE were ordered to Kilindini, SUFFOLK and RELENTLESS to Port Louis, Mauritius for fuel subsequently returning, SUFFOLK to Kilindini, RELENTLESS to Durban.

on to Eastern Fleet, July-December 1943
or back to Admiralty War Diaries

revised 15/11/08
 
 
 

 

Site archived by http://www.patriotfiles.com

To have your military website archived contact The Patriot Files