This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

18 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
ASW Trawler ST ZENO

Generic Admiralty ASW Trawler

Losses
RN Sub H.31 attacked 3 trawlers and sank PV UJ.126 (DKM 446 grt) NW of Terschelling. H.31 was unaware she had sunk the trawler, and was undamaged in the counterattack.


MV GYDA (Nor 1591 grt) Crew: 20 (11 dead and 9 survivors) Cargo:1980 tons of salt Route: Glasgow - Loch Swilly - Bathurst, New Brunswick Sunk in the Western Approaches. At 1641 hrs the unescorted GYDA was hit by one torpedo from U-58 NW of Ireland. The day before the ship had stopped in Loch Swilly due to an engine defect and continued her voyage from 0500 hrs with a Sunderland fyling boat as escort. The torpedo struck close to the bridge on the starboard side, opening the side, destroying the radio room and blowing away a half of the bridge. The vessel sank within 1 min with the engines still running. The master and 10 crew members were lost. 3 men were thrown overboard and were later picked up by 6 men, which had left the ship on a raft aft of the ship. The survivors were picked up the next morning by the Ville d´Arlon and taken to New York on 26 July.


MV WOODBURY (UK 4434 grt) Crew: 35 (0 dead and 35 survivors) Cargo: 3000 tons of tinned meat, 2500 tons of wheat and 2500 tons of general cargo Route: Argentina - Manchester Sunk in the SW Approaches At 0203 hrs the unescorted WOODBURY was hit aft of amidships by a G7e torp fired by U-99 and sank at 0250 hrs about 300 miles west of Lands End. The master and 18 crew members made landfall at Castletown Berehaven, Co. Cork and 16 crew members at Cahiriveen on 19 July.


UBOATS
Departures
Kiel: U-59

At Sea 18 July 1940
U-30, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
11 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Eastern Baltic

Western Baltic

North Sea
British minefield BS.25 was laid by DDs EXPRESS and IMPULSIVE. ASW trawler CAPE FINISTERRE was machine gunned and bombed in the Nth Sea. DD ARROW and ASW AGATE departed Harwich to assist. FN.225 departed Southend, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS with patrol sloop PINTAIL, and arrived in the Tyne on the 20th. FS.225 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers WALLACE and WOLFHOUND, and arrived at Southend on the 19th. Steamer GENERTON and Trawler LODDON were damaged by the LW in the Nth Sea.
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Northern Waters
CA YORK arrived at Scapa from Rosyth. After D/F reports received at 0940, DDs ZULU, FORTUNE, and FURY departed Scapa at 1515 and made an ASW sweep towards Cape Wrath. This search was in an area bordered by Cape Wrath, North Rona, and the Butt of Lewis, but no contact was made. DD ATHERSTONE departed Scapa on the 18th for ASW duties off Cape Wrath. FORTUNE and FURY arrived back at Scapa on the 19th. MSW BRITMART departed Scapa for Aberdeen, while NSW SPEEDY arrived at Scapa from Aberdeen.

Channel
Base repair ship VINDICTIVE (ex-cruiser) departed Devonport for Freetown

Central Atlantic
DKM Raider PINGUIN rendezvoused with U.A in mid Atlantic between Belem and Dakar, so that the U Boat could be replenished with fuel and torps. The pilot of a Skua of 806 Sqn from CV ILLUSTRIOUS, at that time in work up in the Caribbean when the a/c crashed whilst on exercise.

Sth Atlantic
CA CUMBERLAND departed Simonstown to search for DKM Raider THOR.

Med- Biscay
RAN CL SYDNEY (Captain J. A. Collins, RAN in command of the Task Gp) with DDs HYPERION , HERO , HASTY , HAVOCK , and ILEX departed Alexandria. SYDNEY and HAVOCK were to operate in the Gulf of Athens against Italian shipping. The other DDs were to carry out an ASW sweep along the north coast of Crete. DDs HEREWARD and IMPERIAL departed Alexandria at the same time to escort convoy AN.2 from Port Said.

Model of HMAS SYDNEY as she was in 1940

RM Sub DELFINO attacked a DD in the Aegean NE of Athens without success.

July 17 Wednesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post693011.html#post693011
UNITED KINGDOM: The United Kingdom announced that the Burma Road would be closed as it diverted resources to deal with the war at home.

Admiral of the Fleet Roger Keyes became the first Director of Headquarters, Combined Operations, a War Office department tasked with organizing raids against enemy occupied Europe.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian bombers sank Finnish ship "Wiiri" 30 miles off of Malta. The entire crew of 26 survived.

WESTERN FRONT: After sundown, British bombers attacked Caen, France.

Lieutenant Colonel Dunford-Slater, Second Lieutenant Peter Young and Regimental Sergeant Major Harry Beesley landed on the German-occupied island of Guernsey in the first Commando raid of the war.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British mooring vessel HMS "Steady" struck a mine and sank off Newhaven in southern England.

German submarine U-34 sank Greek ship "Naftilos" south of Ireland at 0110 hours (all 28 abandoned the ship, but 1 of them would later die of wounds suffered during this attack). 135 miles northwest of Bloody Foreland, Ireland at 1040 hours, U-43 sank British ship "Fellside" (12 were killed and 21 were rescued). 120 miles south of Ireland, German bombers sank Estonian ship "Leola", killing 2. Belgian trawler "Roger Jeannine" rescues survivors. North of Scotland, U-57 sank Swedish ship "O. A. Brodin" (at 0455 hours; 3 were killed and 21 were rescued) and British ship "Manipur" (at 2222 hours; 14 were killed and 65 were rescued). Meanwhile, 5 miles off the Netherlands, WWI-era British submarine H31 sank German anti-submarine trawler "Steiermark". Other anti-submarine trawlers attacked with depth charges in response, but failed to destroy H31.

GERMANY: The German Luftwaffe placed Colonel Josef Kammhuber in charge of organizing nightfighter units to counter British bombings.

The German OKW assigned forces for the invasion of Britain, planning to put 90,000 men on British shores on the first attack wave.

NORTH AMERICA: Admiral James O. Richardson concluded the conferences in Washington DC, United States regarding the retention of the US Fleet in Hawaiian waters.

ASIA: In Tokyo a new Cabinet headed by Prince Konoye is appointed. Matsuoka is the new Foreign Minister and will be very influential. The Cabinet also includes a number of supporters of a more aggressive policy. The most important is General Tojo who becomes Minister of War.

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19 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette BLUEBELL


Losses
MV PEARLMOOR (UK 4581 grt) Crew: 39 (13 dead and 26 survivors). Cargo: 7860 tons of iron ore Route: Freetown - Methil - Immingham . Sunk in the Western Approaches. SL38 (Straggler). At 1828 hrs the PEARLMOOR, a straggler from SL-38, was hit by a torpedo from U-62, broke in two and sank 62 miles west of Malin Head. The master and 25 crew members landed at Gola Island, Co. Donegal.


UBOATS

At Sea 19 July 1940
U-30, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
11 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.226 departed Southend, escort DD VIMIERA, sloop LONDONDERRY, and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE, and arrived in the Tyne on the 21st. MT.114 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 20th. FS.226 departed the Tyne, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop FLEETWOOD. DDs JACKAL and KELVIN , with patrol sloop SHELDRAKE joined the convoy on the 20th. DDs JACKAL and KELVIN were detached later on the 20th, and the convoy arrived at Southend on the 21st.

DKM TBs T.5, T.6, T.7, and T.8 of TBFlot 2 with TB FALKE and JAGUAR of TBFlot 5 screened MLs ROLAND, KONIGIN LUISE, KAISER, HANSESTADT DANZIG, COBRA, and PREUSSEN laying mines in the NW Nth Sea in minefield designated "NW 1".

Northern Waters
DDs ECHO and FIREDRAKE departed the Clyde for Scapa . At 0005 on the 20th, the ships to ordered to reinforce convoy WN.2 and remain in company until joining outbound OA.187. CLA COVENTRY departed Scapa on the 20th, also to join WN.2. All 3 ships were later ordered to return to Scapa after escorting WN.2, but without joining OA.187. They arrived there just after midnight on the 21st. DDs ZULU, HAMBLEDON, and FERNIE departed their ASW patrol in the Cape Wrath area at 1800 to return to Scapa. AMBLEDON and FERNIE arrived at Scapa on the 20th. DDs FORTUNE and FURY remained on patrol to cover convoys passing between Pentland Firth and the Minches, and arrived at Scapa Flow on the 20th. DDs BEDOUIN and PUNJABI departed Scapa for the Tyne to cover CLA NAIAD on trials. Due to mining, the cruiser was unable to sail and the DDs remained off the river entrance.

West Coast UK
OB.186 departed Liverpool escort DD WANDERER and corvette PERIWINKLE from 19 to 22 July. The escorts were then detached to inbound HX.57.

Channel
Dover, was raided twice by the LW to try and disrupt the anti-invasion preparations. DD GRIFFIN was slightly damaged by near misses in the bombing but sustained no casualties. She returned to service in 2 weeks. DD BEAGLE, en route from Dover to Devonport, was lightly damaged by near misses off Dover, with damage to her gyro suspension. There were no casualties, and she received temporary repairs at Plymouth. On 17 August, she proceeded to Portland and repairs were completed on 28 August.

Tkr WAR SEPOY (UK 5574 grt) was badly damaged by the LW at Dover. Beyond repair, she was broken in two and later used as a b-ship at Dover.


MSW trawler CRESTFLOWER (RN 550 grt) of the 28th MSW Gp was badly damaged by the LW off Portsmouth and foundered . Two ratings were killed.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Nth Atlantic
HX.59 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs OTTAWA and SAGUENAY. At 1430, the convoy was turned over to AMC VOLTAIRE and the DDs arrived back at Halifax just past midnight on the 20th. The AMC was detached on the 30th. BHX.59 departed Bermuda on the 18th ocean escort, AMC AURANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.59 on the 23rd and the AMC was detached at that time. On the 31st, DD WARWICK, sloop FOWEY, with corvettes HEARTSEASE and HIBISCUS joined the convoy, which arrived at Liverpool on 3 August.

Central Atlantic
Troopship ROYAL ULSTERMAN, escort DD VELOX, departed Gib with evacuees to Madeira. The DD parted company on the 20th and returned to Gib.

On a goodwill cruise, USN CAs WICHITA and QUINCY and DDs WAINWRIGHT and WALKE arrived at Rio de Janiero. The CAs departed Rio on the 25th for the nth. The DDs departed Rio Grande on the 29th for Buenos Aires.

Sth Atlantic
RAN CA CANBERRA departed Simonstown to patrol the southern half of the Cape-Freetown route, but her a/c was left behind as defective. She arrived back at Simonstown on the 28th. DKM Raider THOR sank steamer TELA (NL 3777 grt) in the Sth Atlantic at . The 33 crew were made prisoners of war.


Med- Biscay
Action off Cape Spada
Early in the morning RAN CL SYDNEY with RN DDs HYPERION, HAVOCK, HERO and HASTY and ILEX were engaged in carrying out sweeps between Greece and Crete in search of Italian shipping. SYDNEY and HAVOCK operated in one gp further to the nth, whilst the 4 remaining DDs operated about 40miles sth.

At 0724 two RM CLs BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI and BANDE NERE swept into the Antikithera channel enoute to the naval base at Rhodes. No a/c had been flown off by either force. The Walrus on the SYDNEY was not functional whilst the Italian Adm considered the weather too rough to launch and in any case had assumed air recon would be flown by the air gp based on Rhodes (none had been flown). The Italian cruisers sighted the four RN DDs in the sthn gp and immediately gave chase, gradually narrowing the range down as they posessed about 2kts in speed over the RN DDs. The RN destroyer commander kept his head, and steered so as to close the range to Sydney as quickly as possible. Sydney and HAVOCK were making best speed to meet with the fleeing DDs.

SYDNEY sighted the RM cruisers at 0826, opening fire at 08:29, and the Italians immediately turned away to the SW. In the running battle which followed, CL BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI (RM 6844 grt) was hard hit by SYDNEY and after a shell hit the boilers at 0923 she stopped dead in the water. She fought on but was unable to manoeuvre or use the main battery. Despite the fire from her 100 mm (3.9 in) guns, she was sunk by 3 torps launched from ILEX and HYPRTION at 09:59. SYDNEY continued to fire against BANDE NERE. She was hit in the funnel by a single Italian shell, but managed to hit BANDE NERE at least twice, killing 8 in the bow and the hangar. Later, SYDNEY disengaged because she was short of ammunition and BANDE NERE set course back to Benghazi,


Finally, after the COLLEONI had been scuttled and the BANDE NERE put to flight, about 30 RA bombers and bombed the retreating RN force repeatedly, with no hits achieved.

SYDNEY on the left heels over to avoid bombs dropped by the RA after the surface engagement.

After the battle, HAVOCK, ILEX, and HYPERION picked up 525 survivors from COLLEONI, but the rescue was cut short by RA air attacks. HAVOCK was damaged by a near miss 3 miles south of Gavdo Island and temporarily lost way. CLs ORION and NEPTUNE departed Alexandria at 0915 to carry out a sweep to the NW, trying to catch the BANDE NERE. BB WARSPITE and DDs departed Alexandria at 1100 and also swept NW. BBs BARHAM and MALAYA and CVL EAGLE with DDs departed Alexandria at 1230 and swept to the west. BANDE NERE however managed to escape.

HAVOCK was escorted back to Alexandria by SYDNEY, HYPERION and ILEX, later joined by CL LIVERPOOL. DDs HASTY and HERO returned independently. All forces arrived back at Alexandria on the 20th. HAVOCK arrived at Suez for repairs on the 27th, which were completed on 15 September, and she departed Port Said on 19 September.

Malta
Two Gladiators were damaged in air raids on Malta (one was already grounded due to a lack of spares), leaving only one serviceable a/c, aptly already nicknamed "Faith". Urgent work is in hand to repair two more Gladiators and one Hurricane from recent damage in combat. Air HQ reports to Dobbie it will be at least 24 hrs before air strength lifts above 3 ftrs.

1255-1321 hrs Air raid alert for six hostile fighters in two formations. They approach over Madalena from the north and attack the London flying boat. Malta fighters are scrambled and approach the enemy raiders while Ack Ack gunners also open fire. The raiders turn away without dropping any bombs. Two of Malta's fighters are damaged on landing. The submarine oil patch spreads quickly to 100 feet square.

0345 hrs Saro London on ASW patrol in the Pantelleria area. 0515 hrs Swordfish aalso on ASW patrol and reported four ships 80 miles from the Island. 0945 hrs Nine Swordfish were then despatched with bombs and torpedoes but failed to locate ships.

KALAFRANA Aircraft K5261 P/O Minchinton 202 Sqn on ASW patrol is attacked by CR42 aircraft, one of which he shoots down. He also bombs a submarine off Delimara Point – result unknown.

July 18 Thursday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post693350.html#post693350
UNITED KINGDOM: The United Kingdom recognized the Czechoslovakian government-in-exile in London.

MEDITERRANEAN: French bomb Gibraltar in retaliation for attacks on French warships in Operation Catapault. French pilots drop most of their bombs in the sea, apparently having no animosity towards the British.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British cruiser HMS "Cumberland" leaves Simonstown, near Cape Town, South Africa looking for German armed merchant cruiser "Thor", 2000 miles away off the coast of Brazil.

At 0200 hours, U-99 sinks British steamer "Woodbury" (5500 tons of canned meat wheat, 2500 tons of general cargo) 150 miles Southwest of Ireland. All 35 crew reach Ireland in lifeboats on 19 July.

At 1641 hours, U-58 sinks Norwegian steamer "Gyda" (1980 tons of salt) 30 miles Northwest of Ireland (11 crew lost. 9 survivors will be picked up next day by Belgian passenger ship "Ville d´Arlon" and landed at New York on 26 July.

GERMANY: Adolf Galland was promoted to Major.

Hans-Joachim Marseille completed flight training at Jagdfliegerschule 5 in Schwechat, Austria.

German began broadcasting propaganda through Radio Caledonia, aiming at urging Scottish separatism.

NORTH AMERICA: The Canadian Navy placed an order for 12 motor torpedo boats with Canadian Power Boat Company, Limited in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This order would later result in MTB 332 through 343.

Franklin Roosevelt received an almost unanimous invitation at the Democrat Convention in Chicago, Illinois, United States to stand as the party's candidate for the 1940 presidential election. If elected he would become the first US President to remain in office for more than two terms.

ASIA: In response to Japanese pressure and because of their present weakness, the British government closes the Burma Road to the passage of supplies to the Chinese Nationalists. The monsoon season is just beginning in Burma, so there is little real loss to the Chinese, and the road will be reopened in October when the better weather begins.


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20 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Cagni Class Sub RM AMMIRAGLIO CAGNI

(Commissioned 1 April 1941. Im using launch dates for some italian ships as some of their commissioning dates are uncertain)
Allied
Motor Anti-Submarine Boat MA/SB 49
(Former private yacht Bulldog, purchased in 1940 and refitted as MA/SB)

Losses
DDs BOREAS, VERSATILE, and WINDSOR were escorting convoy CW.7 off Dover, with DD BRAZEN and ASW trawler LADY PHILOMENA on patrol with the convoy, when they were attacked by the LW. Whilst escorting Convoy CW7 on 20 July, during the initial phase of the Battle of Britain, the ship was attacked by Ju 87s belonging to II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (Dive Bomber Wing 1—or StG 1). The shock effect from several near misses broke her keel and then she was hit in the engine room. Brazen sank at 2040 hrs. Her gunners claimed to have shot down 3 Ju 87s, however German records confirm only two losses both falling to defending RAF ftr a/c. DD BRAZEN (RN 1360 grt) was badly damaged, taken in tow by tug LADY BRASSEY, but sank next day. One rating was lost and BOREAS took off the crew. DD SCIMITAR joined the convoy on the 21st and escorted it until the 22nd.


Steamer PULBOROUGH (UK 960 grt) from convoy CW.7 was sunk by the LW, 2.5 miles SE of Dover Pier. Trawler LADY PHILOMENA took off the seventeen survivors. The LW also damaged steamer WESTOWN (710grt) off Dover.


Steamer TROUTPOOL (UK 4886 grt) was sunk on a mine near to the Bangor Pier Light, with 11 crew lost.


UBOATS
Arrivals
Bergen: U-57

At Sea 20 July 1940
U-30, U-43, U-52, U-56, U-58, U-59, U-61, U-62, U-99, UA.
10 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLA NAIAD departed the Tyne for trials, escorted by DD BEDOUIN and PUNJABI. The ship was to be commissioned 24 July. Sub SWORDFISH undocked at Blyth. Subs TRITON and SNAPPER arrived at Rosyth. Sub H.50 arrived at Harwich. Sub NARWHAL departed Blyth for the Humber where she arrived later the same day. OA.187 departed Methil escort DD HESPERUS from 20 to 25 July, sloop WESTON from 20 to 22 July, and DD RESTIGOUCHE from 22 to 25 July. RESTIGOUCHE was detached to convoy SL.39. FN.227 departed Southend, escorted by DD WOLSEY, sloop EGRET, and patrol sloop GUILLEMOT, and arrived at the Tyne on the 22nd. MT.115 departed Methil, and arrived at the Tyne on the 21st.

Northern Waters
RAN CA AUSTRALIA arrived at Scapa from the Clyde. CL SHEFFIELD arrived at Scapa from Sheerness. A report was received that DKM BC GNEISENAU had departed Trondheim at 0900. The Home Flt came to short notice for steam and the DDs at sea were recalled at 0938. CLA COVENTRY, DDs ECHO and FIREDRAKE departed convoy WN.2 and arrived at Scapa just past midnight on the 21st, while DDs FORTUNE and FURY abandoned their ASW patrol off Cape Wrath and arrived at Scapa at 2320 on the 20th.

The Home Flt at Scapa was organized for the interception of GNEISENAU:

Fce D - BCs RENOWN and REPULSE, CAs SHROPSHIRE, SUSSEX, and SOUTHAMPTON, with DDs COSSACK, SIKH, ZULU, MASHONA, FORTUNE, and FURY.

Force E - BBs RODNEY, NELSON, and BARHAM, CVL FURIOUS, CLA COVENTRY, with DDs ECHO, FIREDRAKE, HAMBLEDON, ATHERSTONE, FERNIE, GARTH, and BERKELEY.

The Fleet did not sail as the information was later found to be incorrect, and returned to usual notice at 0838 on the 22nd.

On the report that GNEISENAU might have left Trondheim, submarine TRIDENT was ordered to remain off Korsfjord and TRUANT, returning to Rosyth, was ordered to patrol west of Sognefjord. On the 21st, these orders were cancelled with TRIDENT proceeding to Stadlandet and TRUANT returning to Rosyth, arriving on the 24th. CL SOUTHAMPTON departed Scapa for Sheerness. DD MAORI departed Scapa for Invergordon to embark the new Flag Officer of the Shetlands/Orkney Command, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cork, and his staff. She departed Invergordon that evening at 2100 and arrived at Lerwick at 0700 on the 21st.

West Coast UK
DDs HAVELOCK and VANOC were in a minor collision leaving Liverpool. Both were repaired at Liverpool, HAVELOCK completing on 3 August, and VANOC on the 28th.

Channel
DD ACHERON was attacked by the LW 10 miles sth of St Catherine's Point (isle of Wight), near missed by 9 bombs and suffered some damage. She later proceeded to Portsmouth for repairs begun on 6 August. However, before they were completed, she was further damaged by LW attacks on 24 August.

Central Atlantic
SLF.40 departed Freetown escorted by AMC CANTON to 1 August when convoy SLF.40 merged with SL.40. On 2 August, both CANTON and ASTURIAS of SL.40 were detached, and proceeded to Greenock for fuel and water before returning to Freetown.

Sloop ABERDEEN joined the convoy on 2 August, DD WALKER and corvette PERIWINKLE on the 3rd, and corvettes GODETIA and PRIMROSE on the 4th. The convoys arrived at Liverpool on the 8th.

CL DELHI, detached from Force H, departed Gibraltar for Freetown to rejoin the Sth Atlantic Cmd. Patrolling in the area of Cape Verde Island en route, she arrived at Freetown on the 27th.

Sth Atlantic
Sloop BRIDGEWATER departed Simonstown for Walvis Bay to refuel, and then proceeded to Lagos to relieve CL DRAGON. She arrived at Lagos on 1 August.

Med- Biscay
The Med Flt, which departed Alexandria on the 20th, launched air attacks on Tobruk whilst searching for the damaged RM CL BANDE NERE. 6 Swordfish of 813 Sqn (824 Sqn according to Seekrieg) of CVL EAGLE took off from Sidi Barrani and sank the following Turbine class DDs; DD OSTRO (RM 1070 grt), and DD NEMBO (RM 1070 grt) in Tobruk harbour.


The airstrikes by EAGLE also sank steamer SERENO (FI 2333 grt)


One Swordfish crashed, with Lt G. R. Brown and Lt K. C. Grieve wounded and Petty Officer R. J. W. Wynn dying of wounds on the 21st. Cdr W. L. M. Brown and Lt P. N. Medd from 700 Sqn in BB WARSPITE were forced to land in Italian territory. Medd was later able to escape, while Brown was later repatriated.

After this raid, the Italians abandoned Tobruk as a sea base. The guns from the two sunken DDs were later salved and used in the defense of Bardia.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
NZ manned CL ACHILLES departed Auckland for Suva, carrying the Chief of the General Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff for defense conferences. She arrived at Suva on the 23rd, departed on the 26th and proceeded to Tonga for further conferences, reaching there on the 28th. ACHILLES arrived back at Auckland on the 31st.

Malta
0242-0320 hrs Air raid alert for 3 enemy aircraft which approach Malta from the east and make a series of low-flying attacks on Hal Far and Kalafrana, as well as in the sea. 8 HE and incendiary bombs fall on land around Kalafrana, one penetrating a RAF speed launch causing severe damage. HE bombs hit the Motor Transport section, tennis courts and a store. Incendiary bombs land on the Power House Store and damage one Sunderland at its moorings. Raiders also machine-gun Ghar Dalam and Hal Far searchlight stations. AA guns at Ta Karach and Benghaisa engage the enemy. One enemy a/c picked up by searchlights is damaged.

July 19 Friday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post693743.html#post693743
UNITED KINGDOM: General Alan Brooke is appointed Commander in Chief, Home Forces, replacing General Edmund Ironside. This is purely an army position and does not give authority over the other services as the title might suggest. Brooke is more of a success in the job than Ironside and produces more realistic plans for dealing with invasion. Ironside has already been replaced as Chief of the Imperial General Staff by General Jon Dill. Ironside retires and will be promoted to Field Marshal. He had only been at the helm of Home Forces for two months.

Daphne Pearson was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for her 31 May 1940 rescue of a pilot from a crashed bomber at RAF Detling, unspent ammunition exploding all around her. The medal was later updated to the George Cross in 1941.

The British Army Intelligence Corps was established. Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a proposal to the British War Cabinet suggesting the creation of Special Operations Executive (SOE) to conduct unscrupulous, underhand methods to be pursued against Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN: Battle of Cape Spada. 4 British destroyers HMS "Hyperion", "Hasty", "Ilex" and "Hero" encounter 2 Italian high-speed cruisers "Giovanni dalle Bande Nere" and "Bartolomeo Colleoni". As the destroyers flee from the faster Italian ships, they call in Australian cruiser HMAS "Sydney" and British destroyer HMS "Havock" patrolling 40 miles North. "Sydney" hits "Bartolomeo Colleoni" which is disabled and then sunk by torpedoes from HMS "Ilex" and "Hyperion" (121 killed, 555 rescued by "Ilex" and "Hyperion"). The other Italian cruiser "Giovanni dalle Bande Nere" flees and is believed to have gone to Tobruk, Libya.

British troopship "Royal Ulsterman" departed from Gibraltar for Madeira with evacuated civilians. She was escorted by destroyer HMS "Velox".

ATLANTIC OCEAN: 30 miles northwest of Ireland, U-62 sinks a British steamer carrying 7860 tons of iron ore (13 crew killed). 26 survivors make land at Gola Island, Co. Donegal.

Off the coast of Brazil, German armed merchant cruiser "Thor" sinks Dutch steamer "Tela" (33 crew taken prisoner).

NORTH AMERICA: The Two-Ocean Navy Act was passed by the US Congress. This orders construction of 1,325,000 tons of warships and 15,000 naval planes. Including the existing ships, the fleet will comprise 35 battleships, 20 carriers and 88 cruisers.

GERMANY: Eduard Dietl became the first person to receive Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

..

21 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Losses
MV ELLAROY (UK 712 grt) Crew: 16 (0 dead and 16 survivors) Cargo: 800 tons of timber for coal mine supports Route: Lisbon - Newport, Mon . Sunk in Atlantic, west of Portugal . At 1600 hrs the unescorted ELLAROY was stopped by U-30 with gunfire about 180 miles west of Cape Finisterre. The Germans ordered the crew to abandon ship and sank her by a coup de grâce at 2239 hrs. The master and 15 crew members were picked up by the Sp trawler FELIX MONTENEGRO and landed at Vigo, Portugal.
[NO IMAGE]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-52, U-56, U-99

At Sea 21 July 1940
U-30, U-43, U-58, U-59, U-61, U-62, UA.
7 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Sub H.50 departed Harwich to patrol in the vicinity nth of the Hinder to watch for the laying of dan buoys. Sub THAMES and tender WHITE BEAR arrived at Dundee. THAMES departed on patrol later that day. Sub tender ALECTO and NL sub O.9 arrived at Tobermory. Sub TALISMAN was docked at Glasgow.

FN.228 departed Southend, and arrived at the Tyne on the 23rd. MT.116 departed Methil, and arrived at the Tyne on the 22nd. FS.227 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop LOWESTOFT, and arrived at Southend on the 22nd.

Western Approaches
OB.187 departed Liverpool escort DD WALKER and corvette MALLOW from 21 to 25 July. The escort was detached to inbound SL.39.

SW Approaches
HG.39 of 18 ships departed Gib local escort ASW trawler ARCTIC RANGER from 21 to 24 July. Sloop SCARBOROUGH joined from 21 July to 5 August, and corvette GERANIUM in Home Waters from 30 July to 5 August. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 5 August.

DDs INGLEFIELD and DIANA arrived Liverpool at 1200 escorting CL GLASGOW. The DDs then eparted Liverpool at 1405 that afternoon with DD WATCHMAN to meet and escort arriving CV ILLUSTRIOUS and CL FIJI and escort them to the Clyde. On the 23rd DIANA was damaged when a fish hit her asdic dome, and put her asdic out of action. With leaks in her fore store, her speed was limited to 22 knots. The ships arrived at Greenock on the 23rd, and DIANA departed the Clyde on the 24th for repairs at Sheerness.

Channel
Nor tkr KOLLSKEGG was damaged by the LW 15 miles west of St Catherine's Pt. DD GREYHOUND rescued the survivors. Nor tkr NINA BORTHEN was damaged by the LW 14 miles 240° from St Catherine's Pt.

Steamer TERLINGS (UK 2318 grt) was sunk by the LW 10 miles sw of St Catherine's Pt. 10 crew were lost, but DD SCIMITAR rescued 17 crew and one naval gunner.


Central Atlantic
Troopship ULSTER MONARCH departed Gib with evacuees for Madeira, escort DD VELOX, which detached late on the 22nd.

Med- Biscay
CLs LIVERPOOL, CAPETOWN and RAN DD STUART and RN DD DIAMOND departed Alexandria with one steamer for convoy AN.2, while DDs DAINTY and DEFENDER departed Port Said on the 21st with 5 steamers of convoy AN.2. The two sections joined on the 22nd. The convoy sailed on the 19th escort DDs IMPERIAL and HEREWARD, but was recalled due to the action off Cape Spada. This convoy supported by BB RAMILLIES and DDs HYPERION, ILEX, HEREWARD, and IMPERIAL which departed Alexandria on the 23rd. The convoy was dispersed on the 26th. The escorts covered southbound convoy AS.2 back to Alexandria. DDs MOHAWK and NUBIAN departed Alexandria on the 22nd to intercept the Greek vessel ERMIONI (440grt) which was carrying petrol from the Corinth Canal to the Dodecanese for the Italians. The patrol was unsuccessful and the DDs arrived back at Alexandria on the 24th.

Submarine RORQUAL laid mines east of Tolmeita, Cyrenaica , and was then attacked an Italian steamer. The Italian steamer, SECURITAS was struck by a torpedo which did not explode. steamers CELIO (FI 3872 grt) and LEOPARDI (FI 3298 grt) were lost on this minefield on the 24 July and 14 August respectively.

Indian Ocean/Red Sea
RAN CL HOBART was unsuccessfully attacked off Aden by RA bombers.

Malta
AIR HQ: Hudson complete recon of Palermo Harbour; sighted five RM DDs and 3 MVs 2-4000 tons plus several small craft.

010-1033 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy bombers and six fighters which approach from the north at 16-22000 feet and disperse on reaching the Island. AA at Tigne, San Pietru, Ta Karach, Spinola and Benghaisa engage the raiders and Malta fighters are also scrambled but do not engage.

1045-1115 hrs Air raid alert for three bombers and 16 fighters which approach from the nth. All gun positions except for the Dockyard and Hal Far engage the raiders with a very heavy barrage which splits the formation. One enemy bomber is hit; dense smoke issues from its tail and it dives out of control to 8000 feet when it recovers and heads away northwards with three ftrs. No bombs are dropped. Malta fighters are not scrambled.

1210 hrs Air raid alert for three formations of enemy aircraft which approach the Island in a wide fan shape and circle over the sea over the area where this morning's damaged bomber was last seen.

1240 hrs One Swordfish is despatched to observe and verify whether the bomber has fallen into the sea; it fails to return. A second Swordfish is despatched and reports seeing only a patch of oil

1510 hrs A London flying boat is despatched and photographs the enemy bomber floating in the sea, which is identified by its markings. The London is attacked by two enemy CR42 fighters and shoots down one of them into the sea. The second CR42 attacks but quickly climbs to 10000 feet before departing.

July 20 Saturday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post694251.html#post694251
UNITED KINGDOM: The British government banned the sale of new cars.

NORTH AFRICA: Following Battle of Cape Spada yesterday, 6 Swordfish torpedo bombers from aircraft carrier HMS "Eagle" at Sidi Barrani, Egypt, seek Italian cruiser "Giovanni dalle Bande Nere" at the Italian naval base at Tobruk, Libya. "Bande Nere" is not there so they sink Italian destroyers "Ostro" and "Nembo" and steamer "Sereno" instead. Italy will soon abandon Tobruk as a sea base but guns from the sunken destroyers will be saved and used in the defense of Bardia.

MEDITERRANEAN: British submarine HMS "Parthian" disembarked a British agent on Crete, Greece.

GERMANY: During the night, British aircraft from Hemswell-Lincolnshire attacked "Tirpitz" to little effect. British bombers attacked Düsseldorf and Wismar, Germany.

WESTERN FRONT: German pilot Werner Streib of the 2./NJG 1 in an Bf 110 night-fighter, using only visual contact, achieved the first night kill of the unit (and the first official Nachtjagd victory) by shooting down a British Whitley bomber.


..

July 21 Sunday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post694592.html#post694592

NORTHERN EUROPE: Over Norway III./JG 77 lose a Bf 109 in the North Sea during an operational sortie.

GERMANY: Battleship "Bismarck" underwent an inclining test.

British Hampden bombers from RAF No. 61 and No. 144 Squadrons attacked German cruiser "Admiral Scheer" and the German battleship "Tirpitz" at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, causing no damage. Neither battleship is damaged but 3 Hampdens are shot down.

3 bombers of RAF No. 51 Squadron attacked Hamm, Germany. The rail marshalling yard was the primary target. 10 bombers of No. 77 Squadron RAF and 10 bombers of No. 102 Squadron RAF attacked Kassel, Germany. The aircraft factory was the primary target. Finally, 5 bombers of No. 78 Squadron RAF attacked Soest, Germany. The rail marshalling yard was the primary target.

In an OKH conference Hitler again says that Germany must prepare to attack the USSR. The German Army High Command submitted a plan to Hitler for an operation in the Baltic States and the Ukraine. Although the generals would prefer to deal with Britain first, they raise no objections. Later in the month Jodl tells an OKW planning section that Germany will attack in the east in the spring of 1941 and that planning for the movement of the armed forces to Eastern Europe should be begun.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-30 sank British ship "Ellaroy" 180 miles west of Cape Finisterre, Spain. The entire crew of 16 took to lifeboats and were later rescued by Spanish trawler "Felix Montenegro".

WESTERN FRONT: British Blenheim bombers of RAF No. 107 Squadron RAF attacked Caen, Morlaix, and Querqueville in France.

EASTERN EUROPE: The Soviet Union revealed the result of plebiscites in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania held on 14 Jul 1940, claiming that the citizens of the three countries approved the Soviet annexation of their countries. The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was declared. These countries will be under Soviet control until 1989, apart from a period of German occupation from 1941-1944.

Rumania cedes Southern Dobrudja area to Bulgaria.

.

22 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Serie X Bis Sub SHCH 138


Allied
RCN Flower Class Corvette EYEBRIGHT


Losses
Grampus Class ML Sub NARWHAL (RN 1520 grt) departed the Humber on ML mission FD.22 off Trondheim , but was lost, probably about 23 July, before the mining scheduled on the 27th. She was declared missing on 1 August. (Seekrieg: sunk by Do 17, Lt. Karl Müller of the 1/Kü.Fl.Gr. 606 in the Nth Sea with bombs. The result of radio intercepts by BDienst.


Armed patrol trawler CAMPINA (RN 289 grt) was sunk on a mine one and a half cables 88° from the Holyhead Breakwater Light. Wellbourn and 10 crew were missing.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-58
Wilhelmshaven: U-43

Departures
Bergen: U-57

At Sea 22 July 1940
U-30, U-57, U-59, U-61, U-62, UA.
6 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CL AURORA arrived in the Humber. Sub CLYDE fired six torpedoes at a submarine off Fejeosen off the Norwegian coast. The submarine was the TRUANT, which escaped undamaged. At the time, TRUANT was on patrol off Fejeosen to observe enemy activity, but none was sighted. Sub TRITON was ordered to patrol off Selbjornfjord for 48 hrs before proceeding to Korsfjord.
Sub H.34 encountered a sub on patrol in the Nth Sea, which was later determined to be H.31.

OA.188 departed Methil escort corvette CAMELIA on 22 to 26 July and RCN DD SKEENA with ASW trawlers ST KENAN and LADY ELSA, and arrived in the Clyde on the 24th. FN.229 departed Southend, escort DDs VERDUN and WOOLSTON, sloop FLEETWOOD, and patrol sloop PUFFIN. DDs JACKAL, JAGUAR, and JUPITER were with the convoy on the 23rd and were detached that day, along with patrol sloop PUFFIN, and arrived at the Tyne on the 24th. MT.117 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.228 departed the Tyne, and arrived at Southend on the 23rd. FS.229 departed the Tyne, escort DDs VIMIERA and WINCHESTER, and arrived at Southend on the 24th.

Northern Waters
DDs ZULU and FIREDRAKE departed Scapa to hunt for a U&oat bombed by a/c earlier that day. Sloop ROCHESTER and RCN DD ST LAURENT had already carried out DC attacks. ZULU and FIREDRAKE after making DC attacks returned to Scapa that day. The contact was later assessed to probably be a wreck.

Channel
Steamer SWYNFLEET was damaged by the LW.

Central Atlantic
7 Swordfish aircraft were landed from CVL HERMES at Freetown to form Y flight of 814 Sqn while the carrier left the area for repairs

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
RA bombers unsuccessfully attacked CL COLOMBO off IEA.

Malta
0247-0315 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy three-engined aircraft which approach from the north east at short intervals. One appears to circle the Island in a clockwise direction slightly out to sea, occasionally crossing the coast. Coastal defences report a single enemy aircraft making out to sea dropped five bombs between the coast and Filfla Island. Searchlights illuminate the raider for a while but it is out of gun range. The second passes straight over the Island. Neither is engaged by AA guns. HE and incendiary bombs are dropped on Kalafrana, Birzebuggia and Hal Far and in the sea.

0345-0425 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy bombers which approach the Island from the east, crossing the coast near Delimara at 14-15000 feet. HE and incendiary bombs are dropped on Hal Far and the Kalafrana area, where the Officers' Married Quarters are damaged. Four bombs land near a defence post, and two towards Birzebuggia. Bombs also fall close to the Benghaisa gun position and in the sea. One Sunderland aircraft is damaged by splinters but repaired within hours. The aircraft are illuminated when over the centre of the Island and retreat to the north. Two more aircraft approach and are illuminated but a third following them is not, and drops bombs. AA guns engage and causes the formation to split up. One aircraft is emerged giving off smoke and losing height.

AIR HQ Arrivals 1 Sunderland. 0340 hrs At the request of the Commander in Chief Mediterranean Sunderland aircraft effected reconnaissance. Three merchant vessels and three tankers in convoy sighted, with one destroyer nearby. The Sunderland dropped three bombs on the merchant vessels; two were successful. The convoy dispersed and subsequently four of the six vessels, including the three tankers, were seen in the harbour at Augusta.

KALAFRANA One Sunderland 230 Squadron arrived. Sunderland aircraft of 228 and 230 Squadrons operating 12 hour naval patrols over wide area covering Greek coast, south Italian coast and Sicily under direct instructions from Middle East and HQ Mediterranean.

July 22 Monday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post695249.html#post695249
UNITED KINGDOM: The British War Cabinet approved the 19 Jul 1940 document by Neville Chamberlain to create the new secret Special Operations Executive (SOE) organization. The British government believes strongly that there will be uprisings against Hitler's rule that will contribute greatly to the overthrow of his power and will make a British return to the continent possible. The Special Operations Executive is created to work clandestinely to encourage these developments. Although events will not turn out as the British imagine, SOE will make a considerable contribution to the development of the various resistance movements in occupied Europe. Officially SOE is to be part of the Ministry for Economic Warfare.

British Foreign Minister Lord Halifax broadcasts a speech rejecting Adolf Hitler's proposal for peace of 19 Jul 1940;

"No one here wants the war to go on for a day longer than is necessary. But we shall not stop fighting until freedom, for ourselves and others, is secure."

Click to expand...

This was a departure from his previous stance, urging Winston Churchill to negotiate a peace with Germany.

A radar-equipped Blenheim Mark 1F nightfighter of the British RAF Fighter Command shot down a German aircraft, possibly a Do 17 bomber, in combat over Britain. It was the first victory for this aircraft type.

British destroyer HMS "Beagle" shot down a German Ju 87 aircraft.

NORTHERN EUROPE: British submarine HMS "Clyde" fired 6 torpedoes at another British submarine HMS "Truant", in the North Sea off Fejeosen, Norway in an episode of misidentification. All torpedoes missed their target.

WESTERN FRONT: Blenheim bombers of No. 107 Squadron of 2 Group of British RAF Bomber Command attacked Creil, France, starting a large fire.

GERMANY: Wolfgang Falck received a call from Hermann Göring, who thanked him for the efforts to create an effective nightfighting unit within the Luftwaffe.

Whitley bombers of 4 Group of British RAF Bomber Command attacked various targets in Germany. 8 bombers of RAF No. 10 Squadron and 8 bombers of RAF No. 58 Squadron attacked the aircraft factory at Bremen (3 of No. 58 Squadron attacked alternate targets), and 7 bombers of RAF No. 51 Squadron attacked industrial targets in the Ruhr region.

ASIA: Japanese luxury ocean liner "Hikawa Maru" departed Yokohama, Japan for Seattle, Washington, United States. Aboard were 82 Jewish refugees originally from Germany.

Prince Fumimaro Konoe became the 38th Prime Minister of Japan. This was his second time in this office. Hideki Tojo was appointed the Army Minister in Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe's new cabinet.

NORTH AMERICA: The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan begins operations in Ontario, Canada.

.

23 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
SU M Class Sub M-99


UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-34

At Sea 23 July 1940
U-30, U-34, U-57, U-59, U-61, U-62, UA.
7 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DDs ARROW, ANTHONY, AMAZON, and ACHATES departed Harwich at 1800 to join the Home Flt for ML ops. En route, ANTHONY and AMAZON were diverted for a rendezvous with steamer LOCHNAGAR off Aberdeen for passage to Lerwick. On the 24th, also en route, ARROW and ACHATES searched for a UBoat reported by a/c at 1255, and were then ordered on the 25th to Scapa, arriving later on the 25th. ANTHONY and AMAZON reached Lerwick, delivering LOCHNAGAR midmorning on the 25th. They then set off for Scapa and en route searched for a Uboat reported by a/c on the 24th. The DDs swept through Fair Isle Channel, and arrived at Scapa late on the 25th.

FN.230 departed Southend, escort DD VIVIEN, sloop LOWESTOFT, and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE, and arrived in the Tyne on the 25th. MT.118 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.230 departed the Tyne, escort DD WOLSEY and sloop EGRET, and arrived at Southend on the 25th.

Sub CLYDE arrived at Dundee. Sub TRUANT was bombed in the Nth Sea, but sustained no damage.

Steamer THE LADY MOSTYN (UK 305 grt) was sunk on a mine 1.5 miles 79° from Formby Light Vessel. All the crew was lost.


Northern Waters
At 1958, RAF a/c reported 8 enemy DDs and 6 camouflaged vessels in the nth Sea, steering 315. With fears of invasion high, all cruisers at Scapa raised steam, and DDs COSSACK , ZULU, MAORI, FORTUNE, FURY, and FIREDRAKE came to immediate notice. At 2356, notice was lengthened to 1 hr, and all ships reverted to 4 hour notice at 0930/24th. 9 Skuas of 801 Sqn, led by Lt Cdr H. P. Bramwell, and 6 Swordfish of 823 Sqn, led by Lt Cdr D. H. Elles, departed to attack this force. The Swordfish located and attacked the German ships without success. 1 Swordfish was damaged and her observer was wounded. The ships were DKM MLs ROLAND, KONIGIN LUISE, KAISER, PREUSSEN, COBRA, and HANSESTADT DANZIG, which departed Wilhelmshaven on the 23rd, screened by TBs T.5, T.8, T.6, and T.7 of TB Flot 2, FALKE and JAGUAR of TB Flot 5 and MSWs M.18 and M.19. German minefield "NW 2" was completed in the NW Nth Sea 90 miles east of Aberdeen . They arrived back safely on the 25th.

West Coast UK
OB.188 departed Liverpool escorted by DD WINCHELSEA, sloop ENCHANTRESS, and corvette CLARKIA from 23 to 27 July. The sloop and the corvette were detached to HX.58.

Nth Atlantic
HX.60 departed Halifax local escort RCN DD OTTAWA and aux PV FRENCH which were detached on the 24th. Ocean escort for the convoyry consisted of AMC AUSONIA at 2105. The cruiser was detached on 4 August. BHX.60 departed Bermuda on the 22nd local escort sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort AMC ALAUNIA. The convoy rendezvoused with HX.60 on the 27th and the AMC was detached at that point. On 4 August, inbound escort arrived , consisting of DDs FORTUNE, ST LAURENT, VANOC, and WINCHELSEA with sloop SANDWICH joining the convoy. FORTUNE was detached on 5 August, and VANOC and WINCHELSEA on the 6th. The remaining escorts and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 7 August.

Cnn troop convoy TC.6 departed Halifax escort RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY with troopships BATORY , ANTONIA , MONARCH OF BERMUDA , SOBIESKI , DUCHESS OF YORK , and SAMARIA which carried 1198, 881, 1328, 1611, 1061, 982, and 1016 troops, respectively. Troopship EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA departed with the convoy and was detached to Iceland. Ocean escort was BB REVENGE and CL EMERALD which departed Halifax with the convoy. The convoy, less MONARCH OF BERMUDA which safely arrived at Glasgow, arrived safely at Greenock at 1430 on 1 August, escort DDs INGLEFIELD, AMAZON, SIKH, KEPPEL, WANDERER, VISCOUNT, HIGHLANDER, and VANQUISHER.

Med- Biscay
British Fce H departed Gibraltar with CV ARK ROYAL, CL ENTERPRISE, and DDs FAULKNOR, ESCAPADE, FORESIGHT, and FORESTER to launch airstrikes on Bordeaux. This operation was cancelled due to bad weather and the forces returned to Gib on the 26th.

CL ORION with RAN DDs VAMPIRE and VENDETTA departed Alexandria and appeared off Castellerizo on the 24th as a diversion for the movement of convoy AN.2. After the demonstration on the 25th, ORION proceeded to Haifa, and the DDs to Port Said. As mining was suspected in the approaches, MSW ABINGDON was sent to sweep off Port Said and the DDs proceeded to Alexandria.

July 23 Tuesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post695687.html#post695687
UNITED KINGDOM: The British Secretary of War announced that the Local Defense Volunteers was to be renamed the Home Guard. 1,300,000 men have volunteered since May 14; recruiting officially terminated.

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood announced the third War Budget, rise in various taxes, and the estimation that war expenditure would be about £3,470,000,000 in the following next year. The British third war budget raised Income Tax to 8 shillings and 6 pence per pound and put 1d on the price of a pint of beer. Purchase Tax to be introduced. Purchase tax to be tough on luxuries - 24% on furs, silk stockings and cosmetics.

The British Minister of State for Air Sir Archibald Sinclair reported that the British bomber fleet was capable of dropping 65-70 tons of bombs on Berlin every night for one week. It was a goal to increase that number of 200 tons in the near future.

Sydney Camm, Chief Designer at Hawker aviation, managed to get the Typhoon and Tornado programmes reinstated with reduced priority after the British Air Ministry had decided to throw all resources at the manufacture and repair of existing types.

In London a provisional Czechoslovakian government is formed and is recognized by British government. Dr. Benes is president and Mgr Sramek is prime minister.

NORTH AMERICA: 8,077 Canadian troops bound for Britain departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on troopships "Batory", "Antonia", "Monarch Of Bermuda", "Sobieski", "Duchess Of York", and "Samaria", escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS "Assiniboine" and HMCS "Saguenay" and British cruiser HMS "Emerald". The convoy would arrive safely in Scotland on 1 Aug 1940.

The British Purchasing Mission in the United States reaches agreement that it will be allowed to buy up 40 percent of the United States' production of aircraft.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German bombers attack British submarines in the North Sea. 125 miles East of Aberdeen, Scotland, German Dornier Do-17 bomber (Lt. Karl Müller, 1./KF1Gr 606) sinks HMS "Narwhal" on her way to lay mines off Kristiansund, Norway. HMS "Truant's" good luck continues when she is also attacked but suffers no damage.

NORTH AFRICA: General Legentilhomme Free French-commander in French Somaliland, replaced by pro-Vichy General Germain. French troops abandon vital Jirre pass, thereby exposing British Somaliland to Italian invasion.

.

24 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type IID U139


Allied
Fairmile Type A Motor Launch ML 110, - Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 32 (MTB 32)


CLA NAIAD


Losses
MSW trawlers FLEMING (RN 356 grt) and MSW Trawler BERBERIS (540grt) of MSW Gp 4 were sweeping mines in the Thames Estuary. The LW sank FLEMING. 19 crewmen were lost, and 3 survivors rescued by MSW trawler CORENA , also of MSW Gp 4.

HMT FLEMING on left

ASW trawler KINGSTON GALENA (RN 550 grt) of ASW Gp 9 and MSW trawler RODINO (RN 230 grt) were sunk by the LW off Dover. 16 of the crew including the skipper were lost on KINGSTON GALENA, and 4 on RODINO.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Liner MEKNES (Vichy 6127 grt), carrying 1277 French sailors being repatriated to Marseilles. was sunk by DKM S Boat S.27. 383 of the passengers died in the sinking, and of the 104 crew, 33 were missing. DDs VISCOUNT, WOLVERINE, SABRE, and SHIKARI rescued the survivors.


Steamer TRIO (FN 1451 grt) was lost on a mine near Borkum (near the Dutch/German border). The entire crew was rescued.
It is very unclear which side this ship was working for.


Liner CELIO (FI 3864 grt) was sunk 10 miles off Tolmeita on a mine laid by submarine RORQUAL on the 21st .


UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-30

At Sea 24 July 1940
U-34, U-57, U-59, U-61, U-62, UA.
6 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLA NAIAD was completed. Escorted by DDs BEDOUIN and PUNJABI, she was initially sent to the Firth of Forth for gunnery trials.
After the trials, the DDs proceeded to Scapa. En route, they were ordered to investigate a U-boat contact reported by a/c . BEDOUIN and PUNJABI attacked a Uboat . They arrived at Scapa on the 25th. NAIAD arrived at Scapa on the 26th to work up and joined CruSqn 15.

FN.231 departed Southend, and arrived in the Tyne on the 26th. MT.119 departed Methil for the Tyne, and arrived later that day.
FS.231 departed the Tyne, escort DD WALLACE, and arrived at Southend on the 26th.

A heavy submarine disposition was ordered off the Norwegian coast.
TAKU departed Rosyth to be off Fro Havet by 3 August. SNAPPER was to be relieved by SPEARFISH on 2 August. SEALION departed Rosyth on the 27th to operate in the Skagerrak. TRIAD departed Rosyth on the 27th to patrol off Fejeosen. SWORDFISH departed Blyth on the 27th and TRIBUNE and SUNFISH departed Rosyth on the 27th to patrol between the German declared mined area and Lister. PORPOISE, after laying mines in operation FD.23 was to be off Lister. SEAWOLF was to sail on the 28th to patrol off Skudesnes. TRIDENT to leave her patrol area on the 30th to return to base. H.28 was to be relieved by submarine STURGEON which in turn was to be relieved by submarine URSULA when available. TRUANT and Polish submarine WILK arrived at Rosyth. WILK reported she had been bombed three times while on patrol, but no damage had been done. PORPOISE departed Blyth for the Humber. SPEARFISH and URSULA departed Blyth for Rosyth.

Submarine CACHALOT departed Plymouth for Rothesay.

Northern Waters
DD INGLEFIELD departed Greenock and DDs HAMBLEDON, ATHERSTONE, FERNIE, and GARTH departed Scapa escorting CLA COVENTRY. All the DDs arrived at Loch Alsh on the 25th for escort duty with the 1st Minelaying Sqn in operation SN 31.
DD TARTAR departed Liverpool for Scapa after repairs. TARTAR arrived at Scapa on the 25th. British minefield BS.27 was laid by ML TEVIOTBANK, escort DDs INTREPID, ICARUS, and IMPULSIVE.

Channel
Trinity House Vessel steamer ALERT was damaged by the LW near Sth Goodwin Light Vessel.

Med- Biscay
CVE ARGUS with DDs GALLANT and GREYHOUND departed Portland for Gib to participate in Convoy HURRY. ARGUS was to ferry 12 badly worn Hurricane I fighters to Malta, the first significant air reinforcement to the island. AMC MALOJA proceeded with these ships. Off Northern Ireland, they were joined by convoy RS.5 of troopship REINA DEL PACIFICO and steamer CLAN FERGUSON, escorted by destroyers ENCOUNTER and HOTSPUR, en route to the Med, via the Cape. ARGUS and the destroyers arrived at Gibraltar on the 30th.

REINA DEL PACIFICO and CLAN FERGUSON departed the UK with personnel and stores for the Middle East and Malta, escorted by AMC MALOJA, and arrived at Freetown on 4 August. Departing Freetown on 5 August, the convoy was escorted by CVL HERMES.
CL DRAGON, after refuelling at Lobito on 8 August and departing on the 9th, joined the convoy on the 11th. RS.5 arrived at the Cape on 17 August.

Malta
Essential stores requested by Malta command will several more weeks to arrive, it is advised by the war office. Although the items requisitioned are available, they will be transported via the long sea route, via the African Cape.

A second supply of the most urgently needed items will be loaded onto a fast transport ship which will attempt to pass through the short sea route via the western Mediterranean. However, owing to a lack of available resources, most of these items cannot be duplicated in the slower convoy.

Malta's Governor and Commander in Chief now faces the difficult decision over which items to allocate to each convoy.

0857-0920 hrs Air raid alert for 10 RA ftrs which approach the Island from the north at 17-22000 feet, passing over Imtarfa towards Hal Far, flying in pairs, a new formation (perhaps influenced by the LW?). AA guns engage the raiders. Malta ftrs are scrambled but do not engage. No bombs are dropped. At 1541 hrs Air raid alert for 9 RA a/c, including 3 ftrs and 6 bombers approaching from the nth. They skirt the coast and depart to the north. No bombs are dropped.

0230 hrs Air raid alert for 3 RA a/c which approach from the north at intervals. One flies over Grand Harbour at 500 feet. Bombs are dropped in the sea off Fort St Elmo. 0317 hrs Air raid alert for one enemy aircraft which approaches from the nth and is engaged by AA fire before turning away.

AIR HQ 0830-1700 Two patrols by Sunderlands between Sicily and the coast of Greece. One RM DD only is sighted, in Augusta. One Sunderland is attacked by an MC 200, which is believed to have been shot down between Sicily and Malta.

KALAFRANA Sunderland aircraft of 228 and 230 Squadrons operating 12 hour naval patrols over wide area covering Greek coast, south Italian coast and Sicily under direct instructions from Middle East and HQ Mediterranean.

25 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Benson/Gleaves Class DD BENSON


Allied
Armed Yacht Reindeer - Motor Anti-Submarine Boat MA/SB 52 (MA/SB 52)

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-56, U-99

At Sea 25 July 1940
U-34, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-62, U-99, UA.
7 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.232 departed Southend, escort DDs VIMIERA, WINCHESTER and patrol sloop SHELDRAKE, and arrived in the Tyne on the 27th.

Northern Waters
MLs SOUTHERN PRINCE, MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER, and PORT QUEBEC with survey ship SCOTT departed Loch Alsh on the 25th to lay a minefield, designated SN 31, on 26/27 July at the southern entrance of St George Channel between Anglesey and Dublin Bay. DDs INGLEFIELD, ATHERSTONE, FERNIE, HAMBLEDON, and GARTH escorted the MLs and CLA COVENTRY operated as AA cover for the operation. INGLEFIELD arrived in the Clyde on the 28th. The Hunt-class DDs at Loch Alsh also on the 28th, and then proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving on the 29th. COVENTRY arrived at Plymouth on the 27th.

DKM CA ADMIRAL HIPPER departed Trondheim to sweep the Barents Sea between Tromso and Bear Island and west of Spitzbergen as a diversion for BC GNEISENAU's return to Germany. She took the steamer ESTER THORDEN (FN 1940 grt) reportedly carrying some of the Finnish Gold Reserves (which explains why she was taken in prize and the cargo declared contraband) as a prize and her floatplane searched the Finnish steamer WAPPU (1540 BRT), which was then released. No other contact was made and ADMIRAL HIPPER arrived at Kiel on 9 August.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM BC GNEISENAU, CL NURNBERG, with DDs GALSTER, LODY, JACOBI, and IHN departed Trondheim for Kiel. Off Utsire, they were joined by TBs LUCHS, JAGUAR, KONDOR, ILTIS, and T.5. On the 26th, TB LUCHS (DKM 933 grt) was sunk, it is believed by by sub THAMES in the Nth Sea, though possibly also by a floating mine off Karmoy. The remaining ships arrived at Kiel on the 28th.


Shortly after the attack on LUCHS, sub THAMES (RN 1850 grt) was lost sw of Stavanger, the most likely cause is that she was mined on the night of 2/3 August . Official sources indicate that THAMES, which was not heard from after departing Dundee on the 21st for patrol, was mined on the 23rd in 57‑20N, 03‑10E. However, only two submarines were in the area of the LUCHS sinking and submarine SNAPPER reported no attack. Sub SWORDFISH, which is generally credited with the sinking was not in the immediate area.).


CLA BONAVENTURE arrived at Scapa from working up in the West Indies. Sub PORPOISE departed Immingham for minelaying operation FD.23 off Lister. DDs BEDOUIN and PUNJABI, which were submarine hunting, were ordered to return to Scapa .

Channel
German forces launched air and S-Boat attacks on Convoy CW.8, composed of 21 steamers in the Dover Strait.

The first attacks, by Ju87s fof I/STG.1 and IV/LG.1 sank steamer CORHAVEN (UK 991 grt), Steamer POLGRANGE (UK 804 grt), Steamer LEO (UK 1140 grt), all off Dover,



From left to right; CORHAVEN, Image of CW.8 under attack, Steamer LEO, no image of POLGRANGE

Steamer HENRY MOON (UK 1091 grt) two miles off Folkestone, and Steamer PORTSLADE (UK 1091 grt) four to five miles NE of Dungeness, and damaged steamers TAMWORTH , NEWMINSTER , HODDER , SUMMITY , and GRONLAND off Dover. The entire crew of CORHAVEN was rescued, two crew from POLGRANGE were missing. two crew killed and four missing from LEO, one crewman killed on HENRY MOON, and the entire crew of PORTSLADE rescued. MTB.69 and MTB.70 were involved through the day in the rescuing survivors.


From left to right HENRY MOON, PORTSLADE

Late on the 25th and early into the 26th, DKM S-Boat Flot 1 boats S.19, S.20, and S.27 attacked the convoy. S.27 sank steamer LULONGA (UK 821 grt) 15 miles south of Shoreham, S.20 sank Steamer BROADHURST (UK 1013 grt) 14 miles sw of Shoreham, and S.19 sank MV LONDON TRADER (UK 646 grt) 13 miles sw of Shoreham. One crewman was lost on LULONGA, four crew missing on BROADHURST, and one crewman killed on LONDON TRADER.

Steamer LULONGA, no image found for the BROADHURST or the LONDON TRADER

DDs BOREAS and BRILLIANT DesFlot 1 were sent out from Dover with MTB.69 and MTB.70 to repulse the DKM S Boat attacks . Pursuing the S-boats away from the convoy and towards Calais, the DDs were attacked by the LW (at night). Ju87s from I/STG.1 and IV/LG.1 badly damaged BOREAS with two hits on her bridge. 17 crew members were killed and another five died of wounds. 26 others were wounded. They also badly damaged BRILLIANT with two bomb hits in the stern, although neither bombs exploded until they had passed completely through the ship. The tiller flat was flooded and boiler room fan support cracked. There were no casualties. Nor MTBs 5 and 6 from Dover also assisted the DDs.

Both DDs were towed into Dover by tugs, BOREAS by LADY BRASSEY. She was repaired at London completing on 23 January 1941. While in dock at London, she was damaged by a near miss on 19 January 1941. This damage required three days to repair. BRILLIANT was repaired at Chatham completing on 19 September.


Nth Atlantic
US CL TRENTON , carrying the Luxembourg Royal Family, and DDs DICKERSON and HERBERT arrived at Norfolk, Virginia. CL DESPATCH departed Bermuda for Trinidad.

Central Atlantic
SL.41 departed Freetown escort AMC BULOLO to 8 August when the convoy merged with convoy SLF.41. The AMC proceeded to Greenock for fuel and water prior to returning to Freetown. The convoys arrived at Liverpool on 14 August.

Med- Biscay
Steamer ARNON (Palestinian 558 grt) was damaged by the RA at Alexandria.

Malta
An operation to move 12 Hurricanes through the Med to Malta has had to be postponed. Under Operation coded 'Hurry', it was planned to transport the much-needed fighters from Gibraltar by CVE ARGUS through the western Mediterranean to a point from which they can fly the remaining distance to reach the Island.

The Hurricanes sailed today aboard carrier ARGUS sailed today from the United Kingdom as planned for Gibraltar. However, the operation to move the aircraft onward from Gibraltar to Malta, planned for 28 July, has had to be postponed. The earliest expected date is now 31 July. Stores and personnel for the new Sqn will be transported as originally planned by subs PROTEUS and PANDORA for passage to Malta.

26 July 1940
Losses
Liner ACCRA (UK 9337 grt) Crew: 489 (24 dead and 465 survivors) Cargo:1700 tons of general cargo Route; Liverpool - Freetown - West African ports Convoy OBB 188 Sunk in the Nth Atlantic. At 1447 hrs, U-34 fired a spread of 3 torps at ships in convoy OB-188 about 320 miles west of Bloody Foreland and hit two ships with one torpedo each, the ACCRA was one, and the other was the VINEMOOR. The ACCRA sank after 1 hr 15 mins. 215 survivors were picked up by HOLLINGSIDE, 126 survivors by the Nor steam merchant LOKE, 27 crew members and 52 passengers by HMS ENCHANTRESS and 45 survivors by HMS CLARKIA.


Steamer VINEMOOR (UK 4359 grt) Crew: 2 (0 dead and 32 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: Manchester - Naura Convoy OBB 188 Sunk in the Nth Atlantic. After she had been hit the VINEMOOR settled slowly by the stern and sank the next day . The survivors were picked up by HMS CLARKIA , transferred to HOLLINSIDE and landed at Liverpool.


Steamer HAYTOR (UK 1189 grt) was sunk on a mine, with one crewman lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer BALZAC (Nor 963 grt) was sunk on a mine one mile 124° from Roker Pier Light, Sunderland. 6 crew were lost.


M-57 Class MSWs M-61 (DKM 500 grt), (1916), MSW 89 (DKM 500 grt) and MSW M 132 (DKM 500 grt) were sunk on mines laid off Hook of Holland by the RN ML DD Flot 20 on 15 May.


Steamer MONTAN (Ger 1275 grt) was sunk on an aerial mine off the Ems river mouth.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
At Sea 26 July 1940
U-34, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-62, U-99, UA.
7 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Nine Skuas of 801 Sqn from Hatston attacked German installations near Haugesand. One Skua was lost with S/Lt J. E. H. Myers and Naval Airman S. A. Bass who were killed when their a/c collided with another Skua. The second Skua was able to return to Sumburgh but was judged a write off and un-repairable.

OA.190 departed Methil escorted by sloop FOWEY and corvette HIBISCUS from 26 to 30 July and sloop HASTINGS. Sloop FOWEY and corvette HIBISCUS were detached to join inbound convoy HX.59. FN.233 departed Southend, and arrived in the Tyne on the 28th. MT.121 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.233 departed the Tyne, escort sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS, and arrived at Southend on the 28th.

Northern Waters
CLA NAIAD arrived at Scapa after commissioning trials. DDs ZULU and MAORI departed Scapa to search for a UBoat reported by a/c at 2105/25th and again at 0840/26th. No contact was made. DDs FORTUNE and FURY departed Scapa at midnight to sweep toward Nth Minch then escort east bound convoy WN.3, escorted only by ASW trawlers ST ELSTAN and KING SOL . No UBoats were encountered. The DDs escorted the convoy was far as Rattray Head and joined outbound convoy OA.191 for the return passage to Cape Wrath.

West Coast UK
Sub CACHALOT arrived at Rothesay. Sub H.31 arrived at Blyth. NL sub O.23 escort NL TB Z.5 departed Rothesay for Dundee. They arrived at Stornoway on the 27th, departed on the 28th, but were then diverted to Rosyth because mining had closed Dundee. O.23 and Z.5 arrived at Rosyth on the 29th.

SW Approaches
OG.39 with 21 ships departed Liverpool escorted by corvette GERANIUM from 26 to 29 July and sloop FOLKESTONE from 26 July to 6 August, and arrived at Gib on 6 August.

Central Atlantic
Troopship ATHLONE CASTLE with civilian evacuees departed Gib, escort DD VELOX. After being detached at 1200/27th, the DD proceeded to a position off Casablanca to embark a party during the night of 27/28 July. No contact was made and she returned to Gibraltar. VELOX sailed again on the 29th, in an attempt to embark the party, but again returned to Gibraltar on the 30th without making contact.

Med- Biscay
CL ORION departed Haifa and joined RAN DDs VAMPIRE and VENDETTA, which had refuelled at Alexandria on the 26th, and armed boarding ships CHAKLA and FIONA. The ships proceeded to Kastellerizo (A greek Island in the SE Aegean, about 125 km east of the Italian controlled Dodecanese) with the armed boarding ships and simulated a landing for diversion purposes, arriving back at Alexandria on 30 August.

Red Sea / Indian Ocean
RM sub GUGLIEMOTTI and DDs BATTISTI and NULLO sortied from Massawa to search for a British steamer reported en route through the Red Sea from Suez.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CL cruiser DANAE arrived at Penang.

Malta
The Fascist Italian Stefani news agency claims that Malta "has lost for ever its efficiency for England", Hinting that military installations on the Island have been destroyed by the RA, the announcement added that "Britain can no longer consider Malta to be one of the strategic bases of the Mediterranean." However, the news agency also admitted that the British Government is still using the Island as an aeroplane base.

0237-0420 hrs Air raid alert for a series of up to 6 enemy bombers which approach from the nth at 5 min intervals over a long period, crossing the coast over Valletta. They approach either in a steep glide to low altitude or a shallow dive with a slight left rudder at high speed. They are picked up by searchlights and engaged by AA fire. One raider is believed hit. A third enemy aircraft flies in very low over Delimara. Bombs are dropped on Valletta, Grand Harbour and Marsa Creek, on Kirkop and Ta Silch, and in the sea off Manoel Island. The electricity power station is damaged, disrupting the electricity supply. One delayed action bomb explodes in the Rabat area.

27 July 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette CLEMATIS Fairmile A Motor Launch ML 111
New source: HMS Clematis K36 in Flower Class Corvette Images Forum



Losses
Steamer SAMBRE ( UK 5260 grt) Crew: 48 (0 dead and 48 survivors) Cargo: 1500 tons of general cargo Route: Manchester - Philadelphia . Sunk in the Nth Atlantic, whilst part of OB 188. At 0258 hrs the SAMBRE was hit in the stern by one torp from U-34 and sank slowly SSW of Rockall. All opf the crew got off, and were rescued by DD WINCHELSEA and landed at Liverpool.


Tkr THIARA (UK 10364 grt) Crew: 61 (25 dead and 36 survivors) Cargo: Ballast Route: Falmouth - Milford Haven - Curaçao . Sunk in the Nth Atlantic whilst attached to OB 188. At 0313 hrs the THIARA in convoy OB-188 was hit in the bow by a G7e torpedo from U-34 and sank about 170 miles SW of Rockall. 25 crew members were lost. The master, 31 crew members and four passengers were picked up by DD WINCHELSEA and landed at Liverpool.


Sand dredger DURDHAM (UK 477 grt) was sunk on a mine 1.54 miles from Lavernock, Bristol Channel with 8 crew were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Factory Ship SALVESTRIA (UK 11,938 grt) was sunk on a mine 2.8 miles 42° from Inchkeith Light House. Ten crew were lost.
shipping | Archives @ University of Edinburgh


FV CHARLES MADELEINE (Be 99 grt) was lost, cause unknown.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-52

At Sea 27 July 1940
U-34, U-52, U-56, U-57, U-59, U-62, U-99, UA.
8 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD KEPPEL, on passage from the Western Approaches to Scapa was diverted at 0827 to the Clyde for escort duties.
The DD arrived in the Clyde at 1600. British minefield BS.28 was laid on 27/28 July by DDs EXPRESS, ESK, INTREPID, ICARUS, and IMPULSIVE. ORP sub WILK was docked at Rosyth. Sub SWORDFISH departed Blyth on patrol at the mouth of the Skagerrak.

CL GALATEA arrived at Rosyth. FN.234 departed Southend, and arrived at the Tyne on the 29th. MT.122 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.234 departed the Tyne, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop LOWESTOFT, and arrived at Southend on the 29th.

Steamer WESTAVON was damaged by the LW.

Northern Waters
The BCs, cruisers, and DDs at Scapa were brought to 2.5 hrs notice. At 1628, 8 DDs were brought to immediate notice and the remaining DDs to 1 hr's notice.

Force A, (BCs RENOWN and REPULSE, CAs YORK, DEVONSHIRE, and RAN AUSTRALIA of CruSqn 1, CL SHEFFIELD, with DDs ASHANTI, MASHONA, TARTAR, PUNJABI, FIREDRAKE, FORTUNE, ARROW, ANTHONY, and ACHATES departed Scapa at 1915 in response to reports that DKM BC GNEISENAU was breaking back to Germany. DEVONSHIRE was detached to join CA NORFOLK escorting an Icelandic convoy. The cruisers with ASHANTI and MASHONA acted as an independent striking force. DDs FORTUNE and FURY were recalled from escort duty with convoy WN.3 and arrived at Scapa at 1800. DDs ZULU and MAORI, on ASW patrol NE of the Shetlands, were ordered at 2201 to rendezvous with Force A at 0400 on the 28th. No contact was made and the forces arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 29th.

DEVONSHIRE and NORFOLK arrived at Scapa on 2 August.

Western Approaches
Convoy OB.190 departed Liverpool escort DD WARWICK and corvette HEARTSEASE from 27 to 30 July. The escort was detached to inbound convoy HX.59.

SW Approaches
HG.40F of 3 ships departed Gib with a local escort DD VIDETTE from the 27th to 31st. DD MACKAY escorted the convoy from 31 July to 3 August. VIDETTE arrived at Plymouth on 2 August for refuelling, and the convoy reached Liverpool on the 3rd.

Channel
The LW launched heavy air attacks near Dover area againt Channel traffic.

A Class Leader DD CODRINGTON (RN 1540 grt) under refit, was badly hit in Dover Harbour and run aground with a broken back, but was damaged beyond repair. 3 crew were wounded.


Destroyer WALPOLE alongside depot ship SANDHURST in Dover Harbour was badly damaged. She was towed to Chatham by tug LADY BRASSEY, escorted by destroyers VIVACIOUS and damaged BRILLIANT and later moved to London for repairs completed in March 1941. SANDHURST was also badly damaged. She was further damaged in another raid on the 29th and was towed from Dover on 1 August for Portsmouth and then eventually Liverpool. Following the loss of CODRINGTON, all destroyers were temporarily withdrawn from Dover.

DDs MONTROSE and WREN of DesFlot 18 were escorting 6 MSW trawlers off Aldeburgh when they were attacked by He111s from KG.53. Modified W Class DD WREN (RN 1188 grt) was sunk and MONTROSE badly damaged by near misses. WREN's survivors were picked up by MONTROSE and MSW HALCYON. 34 crew including the captain were lost and 8 wounded. MONTROSE was towed to Harwich and repaired at Chatham completing in June 1941.


Nth Atlantic
HX.61 departed Halifax local escort RCN DDs OTTAWA and SAGUENAY. The Cdn DDs turned the convoy over to the ocean escort, AMC LACONIA , which in turn detached on 8 August. BHX.61 departed Bermuda on the 26th local escort sloop PENZANCE and an ocean escort of AMC RAJPUTANA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.61 on the 31st and the AMC was detached at that time. inbound escort was DDs VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT, sloop DEPTFORD, and corvette MALLOW joined on 8 August. DDs ACHATES and ANTHONY joined on 9 August. On 10 August, ACHATES, ANTHONY and MALLOW were detached. The remaining escorts arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on 11 August.

Med- Biscay
Gk DDs and subs on neutrality patrol in the Gulf of Patras were attacked by the RA. Convoy AS.2 of 4 steamers started its voyage sth with CL CAPETOWN and DDs DEFENDER and RAN STUART. On the 28th, the convoy rendezvoused with CL LIVERPOOL, DDs DAINTY and DIAMOND and passed through Kithera Strait. BBs MALAYA, WARSPITE, RAMILLIES, CVL EAGLE, and DDs JERVIS, JUNO, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, HYPERION, ILEX, HERO, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL, and DECOY departed Alexandria to cover the convoy movement.
RAN CL SYDNEY and RN CL NEPTUNE departed Alexandria to meet the Med Flt sth of Crete. MOHAWK operated off Derna during the night of 28 July to pass wireless messages, and rejoined the main force during the morning of 29 July. WARSPITE, ILEX, IMPERIAL, and HYPERION proceeded ahead of the Flt and were joined by DDs HOSTILE and JANUS from Alexandria. The ships arrived back at Alexandria on the 29th. MALAYA, RAMILLIES, EAGLE, and escorting destroyers RAN STUART, RN DEFENDER, JERVIS, JUNO, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, HERO, HEREWARD and convoy AS.2 with LIVERPOOL arrived at Alexandria on the 30th. CAPETOWN and DDs DAINTY and DIAMOND proceeded with the convoy to Port Said. Sub PARTHIAN attacked two steamers SE of Sicily without result.

RM convoy Operation TVL began when steamers MARIA EUGENIO, GLORIA STELLA, MAULY, GBAINSIZZA, COL DI LANA, FRANCESCO BARBARO, and CITTA DI BARI departed Naples, escort TBs PROCIONE, ORIONE, ORSA, and PEGASO of TB Div 4. From Catania, DDs of DesDiv 10 with MAESTRALE, LIBECCIO, GRECALE, and SCIROCCO joined the convoy escort, and arrived at Tripoli on 1 August, despite an attack by submarine OSWALD. On 29 August, steamers MARCO POLO, CITTA DI NAPOLI, and CITTA DI PALERMO departed Naples for Benghasi. The convoy was escorted from Naples to Messina by TBs CIRCE, CLIO, CLIMENE, and CENTAURO of TB Div 13. From Messina, the convoy was joined by TBs AIRONE, ARIEL, ALCIONE, and ARETUSA of TB Div 1.

Providing distance support on the 30th and 1 August, CAs POLA , ZARA, FIUME, GORIZIA, and TRENTO with DDs ALFIERI, ORIANI, CARDUCCI, and GIOBERTI, LANCIERE, CARABINERE, CORZZIERE, and ALPINO, CLs DA BARBIANO, DI GUISSANO , DDs PIGAFETTA, ZENO, and MALOCELLO , CLs EUGENIO DI SAVIOA, DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI, ATTENDOLO, MONTECUCCOLI , and DDs GRANATIERE, FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE, and ASCARI, and arrived at Benghasi at midnight on the 31st.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CL DAUNTLESS departed Penang.

Malta
12 HAA and 10 LAA guns plus ammunition and personnel are being prepared for immediate embarkation. However, they will sail the long sea route and cannot be expected to reach the Island until September. A further 8 HAA and 10 LAA guns destined for Malta will be transported via a warship but there is no embarkation date as yet.

Urgently needed officers and specialist technical service staff will travel by fast transport ship through the more dangerous waters of the western Med.

1110-1135 hrs Air raid alert for one bomber escorted by ten fighters, which fly over the Island – probably on reconnaissance to assess the results of night raids. Malta fighters are scrambled but do not intercept. The raiders are engaged by Ack Ack gunners who hit one fighter which ditches in the sea 15 miles of the south east coast. No bombs are dropped.

1640 hrs Air raid alert for enemy fighters which follow two of the Island's Sunderland flying boats on patrol. The Sunderlands engage the raiders and three enemy fighters are claimed destroyed. One Sunderland is damaged and lands at Marsaxlokk. Three of the crew are injured.

Sorry. I was extremely sick the last few days. Will try to catch up!

July 24 Wednesday
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-battle-britain-25360-post696312.html#post696312
UNITED KINGDOM: 1,277 French Navy sailors captured by the British on 3 July departed Southampton, England, aboard French passenger liner "Meknes" for Marseilles in southern France for repatriation. At 2230 hours, flying the French flag and with lights on to indicate neutrality, German torpedo boat S-27 fired a torpedo at the French ship off the northern Brittany coast in the English Channel, killing 416. British destroyers HMS "Viscount", HMS "Wolverine", HMS "Sabre", and HMS "Shikari" rescued the survivors. To explain torpedoing, the German government will assert that the departure of the steamer had not been officially notified by the British authorities.

Reports of the "Lancastria" disaster (which was sunken by air attack on 17 Jun 1940 with 1,738 killed) were released in London, after Winston Churchill lifted the media ban.

GERMANY: During the night, 14 British Whitley aircraft attacked battleship "Tirpitz" to little effect.

EASTERN EUROPE: The Romanian government nationalizes the Astra-Romana Oil Company (part of the Royal Dutch/Shell Oil Company).

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