parsifal
Colonel
30 May 1940
Losses
MV STANHALL (UK 4831 grt) Crew:37 (1 dead and 36 survivors) : Cargo:7630 tons of raw sugar and 350 tons of onions : Route: Townsville, Queensland - Liverpool Sunk NW of Ushant . At 19.25 hours on 30 May 1940 the unescorted STANHALL was hit on the starboard side under the bridge by one torp from U-101 and sank within 11 mins 35 miles NW of Ushant. Survivors were picked up by TEMPLE MOAT and landed at Weymouth.
Fr DDs FOUDROYANT and BOURRASQUE and TBs BOUCLIER and BRANLEBAS embarked troops at Dunkirk. BRANLEBAS was damaged in a collision while embarking troops. DD BOURRASQUE (Fr 1319 grt) , with 880 men on board, struck a mine and then was sunk by German artillery within sight of Ostend. 16 crew from the DD were lost. BRANLEBAS rescued 100 survivors and other ships in the area picked up 200 more. The rest of the 880 were killed or captured.
Boom defense vessel CAMBRIAN (RN 338 grt) was sunk on a mine off Spithead with 2 crew lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Trawler CORRENIE (UK 203 grt) was lost in the Nth Sea. All 10 crew were lost with the ship
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Steamer FINKENAU (Ger 916 grt) was sunk on a mine south of Drogden near Copenhagen.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Armed boarding Vesel KING ORRY (RN 1877 grt) This vessel had served with distinction during WWI, having led the surrendering German Fleet into Scapa in 1918. KING ORRY had made several trips to Dunkirk, and returned for a second time 29 May arriving in the late afternoon. On passage, she survived a dive bombing attack, and made for the East Pier. A second and heavier attack was then made on her. Her steering gear was put out of action and all bridge instruments and woodwork were shattered. Even then, after colliding with the pier, the ship refused to retire her skipper ordering her to tie up and start taking soldiers onboard. More attacks followed into the early hours of 30 May. But in this condition it was apparent she was a danger to shipping and had to be cleared from the harbour if possible . There was a risk she may founder in the approach channel to the harbour, but none-the-less after midnight she was ordered to leave and her commander succeeded in getting the badly damaged vessel clear of the harbour entrances. Soon however, she began to list heavily to starboard. Her engine room started to flood and she was abandoned. Shortly after 02:00hrs, 30 May 1940, she sank. Other ships in the crowded and turbulent waters closed in and survivors, were picked up.
KING ORRY leads the German Fleet to Scapa Flow, 1918.
Steamer NORMANNIA (UK 1567 grt) was badly damaged by the LW 4 miles 271° from the Dunkirk breakwater. The steamer was taken in tow, but later beached, and abandoned. There were no casualties on the steamer NORMANNIA.
Steamer EGYPTE (Be 2568 grt) was seized as an Allied prize off Cape Bon in the Med.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Canal Boats AMBLEVE (UK 150 grt (est)) and YSER (UK 150 grt (est)) ran aground at Dunkerque, Nord, France and were abandoned.
UBOATS
Arrivals
Kiel,: U-9
At Sea 30 May 1940
U-8, U-13, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-37, U-43, U-48, U-56, U-58, U-60, U-62, U-101.
13 boats at sea.
OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD BRAZEN, departed Rosyth on the 29th for Harwich, but struck a sunken wreck on the 30th which badly damaged her and flooded both boiler rooms. She was able to reach the Humber and she was under repair at Hull until 30 June. Completion of her repair was delayed due to machinery defects. DDs FURY and FORESIGHT arrived at the Humber from the Home Flt.
Mine destructor ship CORFIELD was damaged by mining and fire late on the 30th in the Dover area. salvage tug DAPPER came to her assistance and she repaired at Chatham completing on 25 July. Fr sub RUBIS arrived at Dundee. FN.184 departed Southend, escort sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 1 June. MT77 departed Methil, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FN.183 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 June.
Northern Waters
CV ARK ROYAL with DDs ARDENT, ACASTA, ACHERON departed the Clyde for Scapa where they arrived on the 31st. CV GLORIOUS with DDs HIGHLANDER and WREN arrived off Scapa from patrol off Norway on the 29th, but could not enter due to fog. DD ELECTRA was ordered to join the carrier off Sule Skerry to relieve DD WREN which was detached for refuelling at Scapa. The carrier arrived in Scapa in afternoon of 30th. DD BEAGLE was damaged by the near miss near Narvik.
DD VETERAN departed Scapa with 2 steamers for Harstad. As she left Scapa VETERAN was in a minor collision in thick fog at Switha Gate with one of the steamers (the NGAKOA). The convoy returned to Scapa, but all ships were able to depart later that day. DD ANTELOPE departed the Clyde on the 29th with a Norwegian and a British steamer for Harstad. They arrived at Stornoway on the 30th to await VETERAN's departure from Scapa. The ANTELOPE gp departed Stornoway and rendezvoused off Cape Wrath with the VETERAN group on the 31st. After the 2 gps rendezvoused, ANTELOPE was detached to Scapa.
U.56 attacked British troopship ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt), returning to the Clyde escort DD WITHERINGTON, Prematurely exploding torps prevented any damage. WITHERINGTON attacked U.56 without result.
SW Approaches
After U-101 had sunk the STANHHALL off Ushant, RCN DDs RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT, on passage from Canada, were ordered to search for the sub after detaching destroyer SKEENA to Plymouth for fuel. DDs RESTIGOUCHE, ST LAURENT, SKEENA attacked a contact off Ushant on the 31st. On the 31st, U.101 attacked Convoy HG.31 and sank British steamer ORANGEMOOR (5775grt) in before being slightly damaged and driven away from the convoy by escorting RN corvette ARABIS. 18 crew of the ORANGEMOOR were missing. The survivors were rescued by British steamer BRANDENBURG. RCN DD RESTIGOUCHE was ordered to hunt for the UBoat whilst the brand new FERNIE was ordered to join corvette ARABIS.
Channel
DD BASILISK arrived at Dover after repairs at Plymouth.
Operation Dynamo
53,823 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk.
The covering patrol station nth of Dunkirk was assigned to DDs VEGA and BLYSKAWICA and PCs SHELDRAKE and WIDGEON. DD VANQUISHER was sent over to Dunkirk by Admiral Ramsay to confirm the situation there. Fr DDs CYCLONE, which was having engine troubles limiting her speed to 16 Kts, SIROCCO departed Dover to operate off Dunkirk. In the afternoon, DDs HARVESTER and HAVANT, IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE, ICARUS, and INTREPID were ordered back into DYNAMO after having been withdrawn the day before. DDs ESK, EXPRESS, lifted 1431 troops this date, SABRE, which lifted 1700 men in two trips, VANQUISHER, which lifted 1204 men, VIMY, which lifted 1472 men, VIVACIOUS, which lifted 1023 men, WHITEHALL, which lifted 1248 men, WINDSOR, WOLSEY, which lifted 1677 men in 3 trips on this date, WORCESTER, which lifted among many others Gen Brook, were among the ships lifting troops from Dunkirk and delivering them to Dover on the 30th. DDs ANTHONY and SABRE were damaged at 1800 by the LW at Dunkirk. ANTHONY had damage to her engine room machinery and departed Dover at 1850 on 1 June with DD WOLSEY and was repaired at Portsmouth in 2 weeks. DD SABRE had one man wounded. , her damage was limited to her gyrocompass. She spent no time out of action. DD ICARUS reported S Boats off Bray that evening. DD HARVESTER was missed by torps at 2306 in Zuydcote Pass. The DD reported these were fired by an SBoat. DD WOLSEY was in a collision off Dunkirk with British steamer ROEBUCK (776grt). WOLSEY was able to proceed at a reduced speed. At 1850 on 1 June, WOLSEY departed Dover in the company of DD ANTHONY for repair and refit at Portsmouth completing on 21 June. MSW KELLET was damaged by near misses at Dunkirk causing slight leaking. She was taken to Sheerness for repairs, then on 19 June was moved to Grimsby to complete the repairs. MSW KELLET returned to service on 28 June. MSW SHARPSHOOTER was damaged in a collision with ST HELIER (1952grt) off Dunkirk. The two ships were locked together and continued towards Dover in that way for 40 mins. The MSW was cut from the forecastle deck to the keel when returned for repairs. SHARPSHOOTER was towed to Dover by tug EMPIRE HENCHMAN. SHARPSHOOTER departed Dover for Sheerness on 2 June. MSW DUNDALK departed Grimsby and proceeded independently to Dunkirk. Flare drifters GOLDEN GIFT (89grt) and SHIPMATES (82grt) went ashore on the Goodwins, however both drifters were later refloated.
Steamers PRINCESS MAUD (UK 2883 grt) and ST JULIEN (UK 1952 grt) were slightly damaged by German shore based artillery at midday near Gravelines. Steamer FULHAM IV (UK 1584 grt) was slightly damaged by near misses off Orfordness.
Nth Atlantic
BB REVENGE and DDs ESCORT and WESTCOTT departed the Clyde to escort AKs DUCHESS OF RICHMOND and ANTONIA which departed Liverpool with DDs WOLVERINE, WARWICK, WITCH. REVENGE was carrying 40 million pounds sterling in gold bullion and ANTONIA and DUCHESS OF RICHMOND each carried another 10 million pounds sterling in gold. At 15W, REVENGE and her gp met the troopships. The DDs were detached and ESCORT and WOLVERINE arrived at Scapa on 1 June and WARWICK, WESTCOTT, WITCH arrived in the Clyde at 1800 on 1 June. REVENGE and the troopships safely proceeded to Halifax.
Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CLs DURBAN and DANAE departed Singapore.
Losses
MV STANHALL (UK 4831 grt) Crew:37 (1 dead and 36 survivors) : Cargo:7630 tons of raw sugar and 350 tons of onions : Route: Townsville, Queensland - Liverpool Sunk NW of Ushant . At 19.25 hours on 30 May 1940 the unescorted STANHALL was hit on the starboard side under the bridge by one torp from U-101 and sank within 11 mins 35 miles NW of Ushant. Survivors were picked up by TEMPLE MOAT and landed at Weymouth.
Fr DDs FOUDROYANT and BOURRASQUE and TBs BOUCLIER and BRANLEBAS embarked troops at Dunkirk. BRANLEBAS was damaged in a collision while embarking troops. DD BOURRASQUE (Fr 1319 grt) , with 880 men on board, struck a mine and then was sunk by German artillery within sight of Ostend. 16 crew from the DD were lost. BRANLEBAS rescued 100 survivors and other ships in the area picked up 200 more. The rest of the 880 were killed or captured.
Boom defense vessel CAMBRIAN (RN 338 grt) was sunk on a mine off Spithead with 2 crew lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Trawler CORRENIE (UK 203 grt) was lost in the Nth Sea. All 10 crew were lost with the ship
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Steamer FINKENAU (Ger 916 grt) was sunk on a mine south of Drogden near Copenhagen.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Armed boarding Vesel KING ORRY (RN 1877 grt) This vessel had served with distinction during WWI, having led the surrendering German Fleet into Scapa in 1918. KING ORRY had made several trips to Dunkirk, and returned for a second time 29 May arriving in the late afternoon. On passage, she survived a dive bombing attack, and made for the East Pier. A second and heavier attack was then made on her. Her steering gear was put out of action and all bridge instruments and woodwork were shattered. Even then, after colliding with the pier, the ship refused to retire her skipper ordering her to tie up and start taking soldiers onboard. More attacks followed into the early hours of 30 May. But in this condition it was apparent she was a danger to shipping and had to be cleared from the harbour if possible . There was a risk she may founder in the approach channel to the harbour, but none-the-less after midnight she was ordered to leave and her commander succeeded in getting the badly damaged vessel clear of the harbour entrances. Soon however, she began to list heavily to starboard. Her engine room started to flood and she was abandoned. Shortly after 02:00hrs, 30 May 1940, she sank. Other ships in the crowded and turbulent waters closed in and survivors, were picked up.
KING ORRY leads the German Fleet to Scapa Flow, 1918.
Steamer NORMANNIA (UK 1567 grt) was badly damaged by the LW 4 miles 271° from the Dunkirk breakwater. The steamer was taken in tow, but later beached, and abandoned. There were no casualties on the steamer NORMANNIA.
Steamer EGYPTE (Be 2568 grt) was seized as an Allied prize off Cape Bon in the Med.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Canal Boats AMBLEVE (UK 150 grt (est)) and YSER (UK 150 grt (est)) ran aground at Dunkerque, Nord, France and were abandoned.
UBOATS
Arrivals
Kiel,: U-9
At Sea 30 May 1940
U-8, U-13, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-37, U-43, U-48, U-56, U-58, U-60, U-62, U-101.
13 boats at sea.
OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD BRAZEN, departed Rosyth on the 29th for Harwich, but struck a sunken wreck on the 30th which badly damaged her and flooded both boiler rooms. She was able to reach the Humber and she was under repair at Hull until 30 June. Completion of her repair was delayed due to machinery defects. DDs FURY and FORESIGHT arrived at the Humber from the Home Flt.
Mine destructor ship CORFIELD was damaged by mining and fire late on the 30th in the Dover area. salvage tug DAPPER came to her assistance and she repaired at Chatham completing on 25 July. Fr sub RUBIS arrived at Dundee. FN.184 departed Southend, escort sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 1 June. MT77 departed Methil, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FN.183 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIVIEN. The convoy arrived at Southend on 1 June.
Northern Waters
CV ARK ROYAL with DDs ARDENT, ACASTA, ACHERON departed the Clyde for Scapa where they arrived on the 31st. CV GLORIOUS with DDs HIGHLANDER and WREN arrived off Scapa from patrol off Norway on the 29th, but could not enter due to fog. DD ELECTRA was ordered to join the carrier off Sule Skerry to relieve DD WREN which was detached for refuelling at Scapa. The carrier arrived in Scapa in afternoon of 30th. DD BEAGLE was damaged by the near miss near Narvik.
DD VETERAN departed Scapa with 2 steamers for Harstad. As she left Scapa VETERAN was in a minor collision in thick fog at Switha Gate with one of the steamers (the NGAKOA). The convoy returned to Scapa, but all ships were able to depart later that day. DD ANTELOPE departed the Clyde on the 29th with a Norwegian and a British steamer for Harstad. They arrived at Stornoway on the 30th to await VETERAN's departure from Scapa. The ANTELOPE gp departed Stornoway and rendezvoused off Cape Wrath with the VETERAN group on the 31st. After the 2 gps rendezvoused, ANTELOPE was detached to Scapa.
U.56 attacked British troopship ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt), returning to the Clyde escort DD WITHERINGTON, Prematurely exploding torps prevented any damage. WITHERINGTON attacked U.56 without result.
SW Approaches
After U-101 had sunk the STANHHALL off Ushant, RCN DDs RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT, on passage from Canada, were ordered to search for the sub after detaching destroyer SKEENA to Plymouth for fuel. DDs RESTIGOUCHE, ST LAURENT, SKEENA attacked a contact off Ushant on the 31st. On the 31st, U.101 attacked Convoy HG.31 and sank British steamer ORANGEMOOR (5775grt) in before being slightly damaged and driven away from the convoy by escorting RN corvette ARABIS. 18 crew of the ORANGEMOOR were missing. The survivors were rescued by British steamer BRANDENBURG. RCN DD RESTIGOUCHE was ordered to hunt for the UBoat whilst the brand new FERNIE was ordered to join corvette ARABIS.
Channel
DD BASILISK arrived at Dover after repairs at Plymouth.
Operation Dynamo
53,823 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk.
The covering patrol station nth of Dunkirk was assigned to DDs VEGA and BLYSKAWICA and PCs SHELDRAKE and WIDGEON. DD VANQUISHER was sent over to Dunkirk by Admiral Ramsay to confirm the situation there. Fr DDs CYCLONE, which was having engine troubles limiting her speed to 16 Kts, SIROCCO departed Dover to operate off Dunkirk. In the afternoon, DDs HARVESTER and HAVANT, IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE, ICARUS, and INTREPID were ordered back into DYNAMO after having been withdrawn the day before. DDs ESK, EXPRESS, lifted 1431 troops this date, SABRE, which lifted 1700 men in two trips, VANQUISHER, which lifted 1204 men, VIMY, which lifted 1472 men, VIVACIOUS, which lifted 1023 men, WHITEHALL, which lifted 1248 men, WINDSOR, WOLSEY, which lifted 1677 men in 3 trips on this date, WORCESTER, which lifted among many others Gen Brook, were among the ships lifting troops from Dunkirk and delivering them to Dover on the 30th. DDs ANTHONY and SABRE were damaged at 1800 by the LW at Dunkirk. ANTHONY had damage to her engine room machinery and departed Dover at 1850 on 1 June with DD WOLSEY and was repaired at Portsmouth in 2 weeks. DD SABRE had one man wounded. , her damage was limited to her gyrocompass. She spent no time out of action. DD ICARUS reported S Boats off Bray that evening. DD HARVESTER was missed by torps at 2306 in Zuydcote Pass. The DD reported these were fired by an SBoat. DD WOLSEY was in a collision off Dunkirk with British steamer ROEBUCK (776grt). WOLSEY was able to proceed at a reduced speed. At 1850 on 1 June, WOLSEY departed Dover in the company of DD ANTHONY for repair and refit at Portsmouth completing on 21 June. MSW KELLET was damaged by near misses at Dunkirk causing slight leaking. She was taken to Sheerness for repairs, then on 19 June was moved to Grimsby to complete the repairs. MSW KELLET returned to service on 28 June. MSW SHARPSHOOTER was damaged in a collision with ST HELIER (1952grt) off Dunkirk. The two ships were locked together and continued towards Dover in that way for 40 mins. The MSW was cut from the forecastle deck to the keel when returned for repairs. SHARPSHOOTER was towed to Dover by tug EMPIRE HENCHMAN. SHARPSHOOTER departed Dover for Sheerness on 2 June. MSW DUNDALK departed Grimsby and proceeded independently to Dunkirk. Flare drifters GOLDEN GIFT (89grt) and SHIPMATES (82grt) went ashore on the Goodwins, however both drifters were later refloated.
Steamers PRINCESS MAUD (UK 2883 grt) and ST JULIEN (UK 1952 grt) were slightly damaged by German shore based artillery at midday near Gravelines. Steamer FULHAM IV (UK 1584 grt) was slightly damaged by near misses off Orfordness.
Nth Atlantic
BB REVENGE and DDs ESCORT and WESTCOTT departed the Clyde to escort AKs DUCHESS OF RICHMOND and ANTONIA which departed Liverpool with DDs WOLVERINE, WARWICK, WITCH. REVENGE was carrying 40 million pounds sterling in gold bullion and ANTONIA and DUCHESS OF RICHMOND each carried another 10 million pounds sterling in gold. At 15W, REVENGE and her gp met the troopships. The DDs were detached and ESCORT and WOLVERINE arrived at Scapa on 1 June and WARWICK, WESTCOTT, WITCH arrived in the Clyde at 1800 on 1 June. REVENGE and the troopships safely proceeded to Halifax.
Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CLs DURBAN and DANAE departed Singapore.
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