This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

November 22 Friday
MEDITERRANEAN: Greek 3rd Army Corps finally takes Korçë, 10 miles inside Albania, after a week of heavy fighting against Italian 9th Army. They capture 2000 prisoners and 135 field guns and 600 machineguns. However, the Greeks are poorly motorised and have no armour, allowing the Italians to withdraw and regroup. Almost all the invading Italian forces have now been driven back to Albania.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British destroyers HMS "Faulknor" and HMS "Forester" approached Vichy French destroyer "Boulonnais" and freighter "Charles Plumier" off Spanish Morocco. "Boulonnais" backed off from the engagement, thus allowing "Charles Plumier" to be captured. "Charles Plumier" would later be pressed into British service as amphibious command ship HMS "Largs" commissioned into the Royal Navy in November 1941 and will serve as Command Ship for almost every major Allied amphibious landing in Europe including Operations Torch, Husky and Overlord.

German submarine U-123 sank British ship "Cree" 365 miles west of Ireland shortly after midnight, killing the entire crew of 45.

UNITED KINGDOM: British motor launch ML.127 hit a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary in southern England, killing all 11 aboard.

NORTH AFRICA: Italian aircraft bombed Alexandria, Egypt, damaging British tanker "Zahra".

EASTERN EUROPE: The first execution by shooting took place at Auschwitz Concentration Camp; 40 men from Katowice, Poland were shot between 0000 and 0020 hours by SS men in retaliation of assault on a police official.

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23 November 1940 (Part I)
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIC U-70

U-70 's first and only patrol began on 20 February 1941. On 26 February she sank the 820 ton Swedish merchant ship GOTEBORG, sth of Iceland. U-70 joined U-47, U-99, and U-A in a wolfpack that attacked Convoy OB 293 SE of Iceland on 7 March 1941. In her first attack at 0445 U-70 damaged the 6,568 ton British tanker ATHELBEACH (later sunk by U-99),[7] and the 6,423 ton British merchant vessel DELILIAN. At 0725 U-70 struck again and hit the 7,493 ton Dutch tkr MIJDRECHT. However the Master spotted the periscope of U-70, rammed the submerged U-boat , damaging the conning tower and reported its position to the convoy escorts.At 0815, the British corvette CAMELLIA sighted U-70, which promptly dived. Until 1030 CAMELLIA and her sister ship ARBUTUS attacked five times with DCs, then ARBUTUS made another four attacks. In total the two corvettes dropped 48 DCs. Finally, at 1244, U-70 was forced to the surface and was abandoned by her crew. There were 25 survivors of her crew of 45, which were picked up and taken prisoner.

Allied
Fairmile B Motor Launch ML 159 (ML 159), Fairmile B Motor Launch ML 168 (ML 168 )

Losses
Battle For SC-11
SC-11 had already been located and attacked the previous day. During the night of the 22/23 November, with the escorts disposed in a crescent shape ahead of the convoy, the U-100 operating in a lone wolf attack, penetrated undetected to the centre pf the convoy, from where she operated with a degree of impunity.

MV JUSTITIA (UK 4562 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke); Crew: 39 (13 dead and 26 survivors); Cargo: timber, steel, Turpentine and General cargo Route: Savannah, Georgia - Sydney - London ; Convoy SC-11; Sunk In the Western Approaches . At 0018 hrs the JUSTITIA in convoy SC-11 was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-100 and sank about 160 miles west of Bloody Foreland, Co. Donegal. The master and 12 crew members were lost. 25 crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMS ENCHANTRESS (L 56) and landed at Liverpool.


MV OOTMARSUM (NL 3628 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke); Crew: 25 (25 dead - no survivors); Cargo: Iron Ore; Route: Sydney - Newport; Convoy SC-11; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0101 hrs the OOTMARSUM in convoy SC-11 was hit by one torpedo from U-100 from a distance of 600 metres and sank by the bow in less than 30 seconds. She sank so fast the convoy commodore was not even aware that the ship had been sunk.


MV BRADFYNE (UK 4740 grt)Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke); Crew: 43 (39 dead and 4 survivors); Cargo:Grain Route: Montreal - Sydney - Belfast ;Convoy SC-11; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0117 hrs the BRADFYNE in convoy SC-11 was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-100 and sank SE of Rockall. The master, 37 crew members and one gunner were lost. Four crew members in a lifeboat were picked up two days later by the NORSE KING and landed at Belfast.


MV BRUSE (Nor 2205 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke); Crew: 1 (16 dead and 5 survivors); Cargo: Lumber; Route: Sydney - Ipswich ;Convoy SC-11; Sunk In the Western Approaches ; At 0414 hrs the BRUSE in convoy SC-11 was hit by one torpedo from U-100 and broke in two. Five survivors, including the master were picked up by the HMCS SKEENA (D 59). The afterpart sank, but the forepart was found a few days later with the cargo intact and was subsequently towed to shore and unloaded, but she was beyond repair and was delivered for breaking up at Troon in June 1941.
(Photo Source: Sjøhistorisk database - Alle mønstringsdistrikt.)


MV SALONICA (Nor 2694 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke); Crew: 25 (9 dead and 16 survivors); Cargo: Timber; Route: Pugwash, Nova Scotia - Sydney - Newcastle; Convoy SC-11; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0436 hrs the SALONICA in convoy SC-11 was hit on the port side amidships by one torpedo from U-100. The explosion killed two men on watch below and blew away the port lifeboat. When 16 men launched the starboard boat in rough seas, it capsized when reaching the water throwing all men into the sea. Two men managed to get back on the vessel and later abandoned ship together with seven other survivors in the workboat to row to HMCS SKEENA. Seven men swimming in the water from the starboard lifeboat were rescued by HMS ENCHANTRESS.


MV LEISE MAERSK (UK 3136 grt, Ex Danish vessel seized by the British following Danish surrender) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke); Crew:24 (17 dead and 7 survivors); Cargo:Grain and General Cargo; Route: Three Rivers - Sydney - Sharpness ; Convoy SC-11; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0802 hrs on 23 Nov 1940 the LEISE MAERSK in convoy SC-11 was torpedoed and sunk by U-100 about 120 miles west of Rockall. The master and 16 crew members were lost. Seven crew members were picked up by a Dutch salvage tug and landed at Campbeltown.


MV BUSSUM (NL 3636 grt) Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke); Crew: 29 (0 dead and 29 survivors); Cargo: Grain; Route: Montreal (1 Nov) - Sydney - Belfast; Convoy SC-11; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 2105 hours the BUSSUM in convoy SC-11 was hit in the bow by the last torpedo of U-100 about 90 miles west of Tory Island and foundered later. The entire crew was rescued by HMCS OTTAWA.


U-100. After a highly successful attack on convoy SC 11 , star shells from a DD forced U-100 to dive. The depth charging that then followed disabled the hydrophones.

Convoy OB-244
MV OAKCREST (UK 5407 grt) Sunk by U-123 (Karl-Heinz Moehle); Crew: 41 (35 dead and 6 survivors); Cargo:Empty; Route: Liverpool - New York; Convoy OB-244 (Straggler); Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0416 hrs the OAKCREST a straggler from convoy OB-244, was hit underneath the bridge by one torpedo from U-123 and sank within 6 mins about 250 miles west of Rockall. . Six survivors made it to a lifeboat and eventually landed on Barra Island, Hebrides.

MV KING IDWAL (UK 5115 grt) Sunk by U-123 (Karl-Heinz Moehle); Crew: 40 (12 dead and 28 survivors); Cargo: Empty Route: Liverpool - Baltimore ;Convoy OB-244; Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0712 hrs the KING IDWAL was torpedoed and sunk by U-123 about 158 miles west of Rockall. The master and 27 crew members were picked up by HMS SANDWICH and landed at Liverpool on 27 November.


MV TYMERIC (UK 5228 grt) Sunk by U-123 (Karl-Heinz Moehle); Crew: 76 (71 dead and 5 survivors); Cargo: Coal; Route: Hull - Buenos Aires; Convoy OB-244; Sunk In the Western Approaches. At 0815 hrs the TYMERIC was hit by a stern torpedo from U-123 and sank in flames after 17 mins about 350 miles WNW of Malin Head. The master and four crew members were picked up by HMS SANDWICH and landed at Liverpool.


MV ANTEN (SD 5135 grt) Sunk by U-123 (Karl-Heinz Moehle); Crew: 3 (1 dead and 32 survivors); Cargo: Ballast Route: Liverpool - Capetown; Convoy OB-244; Sunk In the Western Approaches ; At 0914 hrs the ANTEN was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-123 and was abandoned by the crew. The survivors were picked up by HMS SANDWICH (L 12) and landed at Liverpool on 27 November. The wreck sank two days later. The U-boat had tried to finish off the torpedoed ship, but it collided submerged with an object, probably another wreck or debris. Both periscopes and the conning tower were damaged and forced U-123 to break off the patrol.


While attacking convoy OB 244 U-123 was seriously damaged by a collision with an unidentified object (probably a submerged half sunk wreck and had to return to France for 50 days of repairs.

Tug BONAPARTE (UK 38 grt) was sunk by the LW at Southampton, near Northam Bridge.

Drifter NEW COMET (UK 245 grt) was sunk on a mine 3000 yards 072° from Tyne Point War Signal Station. The drifter was beached inside the river entrance. The vessel was re-floated but sank during the night of 27/28 February 1941.

Drifter SAILOR KING (UK 41 grt) was sunk on a mine off Brightlingsea.

UBOATS
At Sea 23 November 1940
U-29, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-100, U-103, U-104, U-123, U-138, U-140.
14 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FS.343 departed Methil, escort DDs WALLACE and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th.

Northern Patrol
BC HOOD and DDs ESCAPADE, COSSACK, SIKH ESKIMO departed Scapa to cover minelaying by the MLSqn 1 also escorted by CL AURORA which also departed Scapa Flow on the 23rd. DD KEPPEL departed Scapa Flow to rendezvous with Rear Admiral Minelayers five miles 030° from Butt of Lewis at 2045. During the night of 22 November, ML PORT NAPIER's port propeller was fouled by the cable of collier BALMAHA. The ML was unable to proceed on the operation.
MLs SOUTHERN PRINCE, AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS, PORT QUEBEC departed Loch Alsh on the 23rd, escort DDs BATH and ST ALBANS. Minefield SN.11 was laid off the southern tip of Iceland in the Denmark Strait. The MLs returned to Loch Alsh on the 26th. ML PORT NAPIER was lost in a fire in Loch Alsh on the 27th. DD KEPPEL was detached to arrive for refuelling in Iceland on the 27th. DDs BATH and ST ALBANS refuelled at Iceland on the 27th. The covering force was joined by DD KEPPEL arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 29th.

Northern Waters
AA ship ALYNBANK relieved CLA CURACOA in convoy EN.30, with the CURACOA proceeding to Scapa Flow.

November 23 Saturday
GERMANY: In Berlin Marshal Antonescu, the leader of Romania, agrees to join the Axis powers. The Romanian government followed the Hungarians in joining the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis as they threw their lot in with the Germans as the Soviets threatened their borders. There are also talks on preparation for a German attack on Greece by the forces based in Romania. Germany is putting pressure on all the Balkan states since the Italian invasion of Greece in an attempt to ensure the stability of food and oil supplies. Originally formulated in Berlin on September 27, the pact formally recognized an alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan, termed the "Axis." As more European nations became subject to fascist domination and invasion, they too were drawn into the pact, albeit as unequal partners (Hungary was made an Axis "power" on November 20). Now it was Romania's turn.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Lothar Keller relieves Hptm. Erich Woitke as Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 3. Hptm. Woitke was made temporary Gruppenkommandeur when Hptm. Erich von Selle was promoted out of the Geschwader.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-100 attacked Allied convoy SC-11 100 miles off Ireland throughout the day, sinking 6 ships totaling 24,601 tons and killing 119.

German submarine U-123 attacked Allied convoy OB-244 250 miles west of Ireland between 0416 and 0914 hours, sinking 4 ships totaling 20,885 tons and killing 119. After one of the attacks, U-123 collided with one of the sinking ships, damaging the periscope and conning tower, forcing her to sail for Lorient, France for repairs.

UNITED KINGDOM: German bombers attacked Southampton, England, overnight, damaging British troopship "Llandovery Castle" and paddle minesweeper "Duchess Of Cornwall". Seven Italian Caproni BR20m bombers, flying from bases in Belgium, are shot down by Fighter Command during an air attack on the UK.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill informs the First Lord of the Admiralty and the First Sea Lord that British policy in the Far East would be strictly defensive, accepting the consequences.

ASIA: Japanese 11th Army began to prepare for an offensive in Hubei Province, China. The army was organized into five groups under the overall command of Lieutenant General Waichiro Sonobe.

"Nachi" arrived at Sasebo, Japan.

NORTH AMERICA: It was announced in the United States that Admiral William Leahy was to be appointed Ambassador to France in place of Mr. William Bullitt.

The new British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Lothian, talks in New York of the possibility of Britain running out of ready money and securities to pay for arms and says that Britain will need financial help in 1941. In fact by April 1941 British reserves of gold and dollars will be as low as $12,000,000 -- a mere pittance when set against arms expenditure.

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23 November 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
West Coast UK
OB.248 departed Liverpool escort DDs VERITY and WITHERINGTON, sloop FOLKESTONE, corvettes ARBUTUS and CAMELLIA. The escort was detached on the 26th.

Channel
British troopship LLANDOVERY CASTLE was damaged by LW at Southampton. British steamer DUCHESS OF CORNWALL was damaged by the LW alongside Royal Pier, Southampton. Steamer DUCHESS OF CORNWALL had been hired as a paddle minesweeper. She was not handed over because of this damage.

Central Atlantic
DD KELVIN had a number of British and other passengers from Casablanca whom had been removed from Portuguese steamer MIRA AZUL off Cape Spartel.

Med- Biscay
DDs HAVOCK and HASTY, which departed Alexandria on the 22nd for an ASW, arrived back in time to depart with the Fleet. In Operation MB 9, Force C of BBs MALAYA and RAMILLIES, CVL EAGLE, CLs ORION, RAN SYDNEY, AJAX, DDs HYPERION, HAVOCK, HASTY, ILEX, GALLANT, DAINTY, DIAMOND departed Alexandria to cover the movement of convoy MW.4 of steamers BRECONSHIRE, MEMNON, CLAN FERGUSON, CLAN MACAULAY escorted by Force D.of CLAs CALCUTTA and COVENTRY and RAN DDs VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, and RN DD GREYHOUND. Force C arrived at Suda Bay for refuelling on the 24th. CA BERWICK departed Alexandria later in the day and joined Force C off Suda Bay on the 24th. A Greek convoy of nine ships, escorted by six destroyers, departed Candia for Piraeus. Corvettes SALVIA, PEONY, GLOXINIA, HYACINTH arrived at Gibraltar from England. DDs JAGUAR and KELVIN arrived at Gibraltar from Plymouth and temporarily joined DesFlot 8.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BN.9A departed Aden, escort DD KIMBERLEY. RAN Sloop PARRAMATTA joined on the 24th. Both ships were detached on the 25th. Sloop GRIMSBY joined on the 27th and arrived at Suez with the convoy on the 28th.

Malta

November 24 Sunday
UNITED KINGDOM: From 6 PM to midnight, the Luftwaffe drops 156 tons of high explosive bombs and 12,500 incendiary canisters on Bristol, destroying large parts of the medieval city, historic buildings, and four churches (St Peter's, St Nicholas, St Mary-le-Port and Temple) and damaging 10,000 homes. Historical buildings such as the Dutch House and St Peter's Hospital, and various buildings in the historical Castle Park district, were damaged. 207 were killed, 689 were injured, and 1,400 were made homeless. The 5./KG 55 lose a He 111 to anti-aircraft fire during the raid on Bristol. The bomber crashes into the sea off of Plymouth, Devon. All of the crew members are killed or missing including War Correspondent Sdrfhr. Emil Weihmuller. Lord Mayor of Bristol says;

"The City of Churches had in one night become the city of ruins."

Click to expand...

Anti-submarine trawler HMT "Amethyst" (captained by the Hon. William Rous, later the 5th Earl of Stradbroke) hits a mine and sinks in the Thames estuary (7 men wounded, all hands rescued by anti-submarine trawler "Le Tiger").

The British Treasury canceled the bank holiday Boxing Day.

The first trainees from the Empire Air Training Scheme arrive in the UK.

Death of Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland since 1921, aged 69. Succeeded by J. M. Andrews.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Joachim Helbig, Staffelkapitän of 4./LG 1 is awarded the Ritterkreuz.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German heavy cruiser "Admiral Scheer" stopped British ship "Port Hobart" near the Azores. The crew was imprisoned and "Port Hobart" was scuttled.

German destroyers "Galster", "Lody", and "Beitzen" departed Brest, France after sundown to attack British shipping off Cornwall, southwestern England, sinking Belgian trawler "Marguerite Simonne" and Dutch ship "Apollonia" (killing 15). Five British destroyers were dispatched to hunt down the attackers. British destroyers HMS "Javelin", "Jersey", "Jackal", "Jupiter" and "Kashmir" search unsuccessfully for the German destroyers which return to Brest the next day.

GERMANY: Hitler continues to solidify alliances in Central Europe. Slovakia, a puppet state ceded from Czechoslovakia in the Munich Agreement, joins the Axis. Prime Minister Vojtech Tuka of Slovakia signed the Tripartite Pact.

NORTH AFRICA: After dark and into the next date, aircraft from HMS "Eagle" struck Tripoli harbor, Libya.

MEDITERRANEAN: Operation Collar. Convoy ME4 from Britain passes the Straits of Gibraltar bound for Malta and Alexandria (merchant ships SS "New Zealand Star", SS "Clan Forbes" and SS "Clan Fraser", escorted by cruisers HMS "Manchester" and HMS "Southampton" carrying 1,370 RAF personnel to reinforce the garrison at Malta). Destroyer HMS "Hotspur" and 4 corvettes join to escort the convoy at Gibraltar. Mediterranean convoys are escorted from Gibraltar to Malta by Admiral Somerville's Force H and then onwards to Alexandria, Egypt, by Admiral Cunningham's Mediterranean fleet. Battleships HMS "Ramillies" and HMS "Malaya", cruisers HMS "Newcastle", "Coventry" and "Berwick" plus 5 destroyers are on their way from Alexandria to pick up the convoy in mid-Mediterranean.

24 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
CV HMS FORMIDABLE

Pictured at her launch August 17 1939. As for all capital ship construction, FORMIDABLE's completion was delayed by the pressing needs to produce ASW escorts and light forces, modernise the existing fleet, as well as repair and construct shipping as the Uboats tore into Britain. On completion, Aircraft carrier FORMIDABLE arrived in the Clyde for trials on the 28th. Her arrival was sorely needed, with her first deployment beginning on 18 December, when FORMIDABLE and CA NORFOLK were detached from the Home Flt for duty as Force K in the Sth Atlantic. It was the beginning of a long and distinguished career

Losses
Steamer ALMA DAWSON (UK 3985 grt) was sunk on a defensive minefield in 55‑32N, 06‑44W. The entire crew was rescued. She struck a mine and sank on November 24th, 1940, while on a voyage from Montreal to Ipswich.


ASW trawler AMETHYST (RN 627 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Barrow Deep in the Thames Estuary. Seven ratings were wounded in the trawler. Survivors from AMETHYST were picked up by ASW trawler LE TIGER.

HMT AMETHYST in her pre-war guise as the PHYLLIS ROSALIE

Armed yacht GAEL (RN 101 grt) was sunk on a mine at the entrance to Humber, northeast by north of the Spurn Light House.

Salvage vessel PRESERVER (UK 630 grt) was sunk on a mine one cable 54° from No. 1 Buoy, Milford Haven.
Four crew were lost on the vessel.

Steamer RYAL (UK 367 grt) was sunk on a mine laid by DKM TBs 29/30 October in minefield "Alfred" in 51‑32N, 01‑04E. Only one survivor of a crew of nine was rescued.

Steamer BEHAR (UK 6100 grt) was badly damaged on a mine in 51‑42N, 05‑07W. The entire crew was rescued. BEHAR was run aground 4½ cables 230° from Great Castle Head Lower Light to prevent her sinking but was a total loss.



Steamer THOMAS M. (UK 310 grt) was sunk on a mine 1½ miles 135° from Yarmouth Harbour entrance. Seven crew were lost.

Steamer ALICE MARIE (UK 2206 grt) was sunk on a mine eight cables 255° from Knob Light Vessel, Barrow Deep. The entire crew was rescued.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Bergen: U-137
Lorient: U-101

At Sea 24 November 1940
U-29, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-100, U-101, U-103, U-104, U-123, U-138, U-140.
15 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.341 departed Southend, escort DD WATCHMAN and sloop EGRET, and arrived at Methil on the 26th. FN.342 departed Southend, escort DDs VERDUN and WOLSEY, and arrived at Methil on the 26th. FS.344 departed Methil, escort DDs VALOROUS, VERSATILE and corvette SNAPDRAGON, and arrived at Southend on the 26th.

British steamer CAMROUX IV was damaged on a mine one mile 45° from East Oaze Light Vessel.

Northern Waters
AA ship ALYNBANK left convoy EN.30 in Pentland Firth and arrived at Scapa Flow at 0830. She departed at 1030 and escorted WN.43 from Pentland Firth.

West Coast UK
Convoy OB.249 departed Liverpool escort DDs WANDERER, WARWICK and corvettes CAMPANULA, CLEMATIS, FLEUR DE LYS, PERIWINKLE. WANDERER was detached on the 27th. The remainder of the escort detached on the 28th.

Channel
DKM DDs GALSTER, LODY BEITZEN departed Brest on the 24th to operate off Plymouth. Just after midnight the DDs attacked a group of fishing trawlers 12 miles SE of Wolf Rock sinking trawler MARGUERITE SIMONNE (Be 70 grt) 8 miles ESE of Wolf Rock and damaging British trawler LENT LILY. The crew of trawler MARGUERITE SIMONNE landed at Newlyn. The German force then attacked a small convoy of three steamers, one tug, two barges five miles off Penzance sinking steamer APOLLONIA (NL 2086 grt)


These attacks also damaged Norwegian steamer STADION II. Fifteen crew were lost on the steamer APOLLONIA. Norwegian steamer FERNWOOD escaped damage.

RN DDs JAVELIN, JERSEY, JACKAL, JUPITER, KASHMIR were at sea sth of Prawle Point and proceeded towards the engagement, but were unable to contact the German ships as they withdrew. The DKM DDs arrived back at Brest undamaged on the 25th.

Central Atlantic
DKM CS ADMIRAL SCHEER sank steamer PORT HOBART (UK 7448 grt) near the Azores at 24‑44N, 58‑21W. The entire crew of the British steamer were made prisoners of war.



Med- Biscay
CA BERWICK, CL NEWCASTLE, DDs DEFENDER, GREYHOUND, HERO, HEREWARD departed Alexandria to escort convoy ME.4 back from Malta. They were joined at sea by CLA COVENTRY and DD GALLANT which departed Alexandria the day before.

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
CL DANAE arrived at Singapore.

Malta

25 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMCS COBALT (K-124)

HMCS COBALT at Liverpool, Nova Scotia, where she underwent her foc'sle extension refit in July 1944

COBALT completed her work up in January 1941. On 22 January 1941 she took part in the RCNs first secret trial of Diffused lighting camouflage, a technology for concealing ships from submarines at night. After this she joined Halifax Force, but left on 23 May 1941 with the six other corvettes that were the nucleus of the new Newfoundland Escort Force (NEF). For the next six months she operated as an ocean escort between St. John's and Iceland. Following completion of her first refit, Cobalt made two round trips to Londonderry before being assigned in May 1942 to the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF), with which she was to spend the balance of the war. During her time with WLEF she served with escort groups EG W-6 from June 1943; with W-5 from April 1944; and with W-7 from February 1945. She finished the war with group W-7

Flower Class Corvette HMCS ORILLIA (K-119)

ORILLIA was first assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force upon arrival. She served with them until 23 May 1941 when she was assigned as an original member of Newfoundland Escort Force operating out of St. John's, Newfoundland. During this time she was assigned to convoy SC 42, a slow convoy. ORILLIA was part of an escort group that included the DD HMCS SKEENA, and corvettes HMCS ALBERNI and KENOGAMI. The convoy sailed directly into the path of a U-boat wolfpack of 14 u-boats. During the running battle the ORILLIA dropped back to pick up survivors and eventually stood by the damaged tanker TAHCHEE and towed her to Iceland. However the commander, Lieutenant Commander Ted Briggs, RNCR, failed to notify his senior officer that he was doing so for some time, depriving the convoy of one of her few escorts. Though a great humanitarian gesture this added to the mayhem within the convoy. Sixteen ships were sunk during the battle.

On 24 December 1941 she was sent for a refit at Halifax. Upon completion of the refit she joined Escort Group (EG) C-1 and was sent to work up at Tobermory for three weeks. ORILLIA spent until January 1944 escorting convoys on the Newfy-Derry run. She joined Escort Group C-2 in November 1942 and worked with them until her next refit in March 1944.ORILLIA was sent to Liverpool for a lengthy refit, where they lengthened her fo'c'sle. After completing the refit she spent the rest of the war as part of EG W-2.

AA Ship HMS SPRINGBANK


SPRINGBANK was built for Merchant ship service in 1926. The RN acquired her in 1940, and converted this vessel into an AA ship with four twin HA 4 inch turrets, two sets of 40mm pom poms, and in 1941, fitted a cordite powered catapult amidships. A two seater Fulmar Naval Fighter squatted on this catapult.

SPRINGBANK launched this fighter on the 18th. of September 1941 whilst escorting convoy HG 73 from Gibraltar to Liverpool over the 17th. of September/ 1st. of October. The convoy was made up of 25 ships, and was attacked by German U-Boats, U-124, U-201, and U-203, each of them sank three ships from this convoy, to total some 20,652 tons.

The Fulmar attacked the German aircraft homing in its fellow U-boats, but it managed to escape, the Fulmar pilot did not in this case have to ditch, he made it to Gibraltar, only to find that all of his guns but one, had jammed during his attack, due to faulty ammunition.

U-201 torpedoed SPRINGBANK at 0208 on the 27th. of September, and HMS JASMINE went alongside to take off her survivors, and finally sank the mortally stricken ship by gunfire.

DD HMS VERDUN completed her conversion to fast escort vessel.

The fast escort conversion was esentially an ASW conversion with secondary increases in AA capability, increased DC stowage and some increase in range for these old V&W class DDs

Losses
ML.111 (RN 85 grt) was sunk on a mine near Chequer Shoal Buoy off the Humber. Two ratings were missing and Lt Hoadley wounded.

MSW trawler CONQUISTADOR (RN 224 grt) was sunk in a collision in the Thames Estuary.

MSW trawler KENNYMORE (RN 225 grt) was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary, off the East Oaze Light Vessel. 4 ratings were lost in the trawler and the skipper was wounded.

Hopper barge TCC HOPPER No. 3 (UK 698 grt) was sunk on a mine. The entire crew was rescued.

UBOATS
At Sea 25 november 1940
U-29, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-100, U-101, U-103, U-104, U-123, U-138, U-140.
15 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Northern Waters
AA ship ALYNBANK transferred to convoy EN.31. DD VIMY departed Scapa Flow at 0900 to rendezvous with AMCs LETITIA and WOLFE and DD ST MARYS 10 miles 090° from Butt of Lewis on the 25th to provide escort. Owing to weather, VIMY could not make seven knots and could not join. VIMY returned to Scapa Flow on the 27th.

Channel
Sub TALISMAN reported torpedoing a German tkr off Lorient. TALISMAN left the tanker dead in the water with a trawler standing by her. Later in the day, the sub captured FV LE CLIPPER (Vichy 40 grt) off Lorient. The vessel was used for clandestine observation of DKM Uboat movements.

November 25 Monday
NORTH AMERICA: The prototype of the B-26, with Martin test pilot William K. "Ken" Ebel at the controls, flew for the first time.

GERMANY: During the night 5 British aircraft attacked battleship "Tirpitz" in bad weather conditions; they scored no hits.

A Hitler decree (the basic law of social housing construction) gave Robert Ley's German Labour Front the project of building 6 million homesteads, at the rate of 300,000 per year. Priority was given to providing homes for German families with children and Hitler alone kept personal responsibility for deciding how many houses should be built. The decree stated that houses were to have a minimum floor area of 62 square metres, a kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom, hallway and balcony. Each home was also to have an air-raid shelter built to resist a direct hit and large enough to house everyone in the family.

SOUTH PACIFIC: German armed merchant cruisers "Orion" and "Komet" (accompanied by tanker "Kulmerland") stopped New Zealand ship "Holmwood" 500 miles east of New Zealand, capturing 17 crew, 12 passengers (civilians from the Chatham Islands), and 1,370 sheep. The crew and passengers are taken off. Many of the sheep are taken on board the 3 German ships and slaughtered. The horse is killed on board "Holmwood" which is then sunk by shellfire.

NORTH AFRICA: British liner SS "Patria" is blown up in Haifa Harbour, Palestine (now Israel), by Jewish paramilitary group Irgun which aims to prevent her from deporting Jewish refugees to Mauritius. The refugees are from Central Europe and have been refused entry to Palestine by the British Colonial Office. However, 213 of the 1771 refugees and 50 of the 130 British crew are killed.

UNITED KINGDOM: British minesweeping trawler HMT "Conquistador" collided with another vessel and sank in the Thames Estuary in southern England.

British minesweeping trawler HMT "Kennymore" hit a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary in southern England, killing 4. British motor launch ML-111 hit a mine and sank 10 miles off Grimsby in the Humber Estuary in England, killing 2.

The prototype of the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito unarmed light bomber was flown for the first time from Hatfield Aerodrome, Hertfordshire, England. The aircraft was flown by Geoffrey de Havilland, accompanied by engineer John E. Walker. This was only ten months and twenty-six days after detailed design work had commenced.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British submarine HMS "Talisman" disabled a German tanker with a torpedo and captured the French trawler "Le Clipper" in the Bay of Biscay 10 miles south of Lorient, France.

ASIA: Japanese 11th Army launched an offensive in Hubei Province, China.

MEDITERRANEAN: Operation Collar. Admiral Somerville's Force H departs Gibraltar (battlecruiser HMS "Renown", aircraft carrier HMS "Ark Royal", cruisers HMS "Sheffield" and "Despatch" plus 11 destroyers) to escort convoy ME4 to Malta. They sail north of the convoy to screen against attack by the Italian fleet and will hand over the convoy to Mediterranean fleet warships (from Malta and Alexandria, Egypt) between Sardinia and Sicily on November 27.

...

November 26 Tuesday
GERMANY: Reichsmarschall Göring finally becomes fed up with the Navy's use of his bombers and orders that Naval torpedo operations be halted along with production of the F-5 air torpedo. The remaining stocks of torpedoes, numbering a paltry 132, are earmarked for Luftwaffe operations in the Mediterranean.

The German foreign minister receives the Soviet reply to Hitler's suggestion they join the Tripartite Pact. The Soviet Government will accept the Four Power Pact with certain modifications: German troops must be removed from Finland, a mutual assistance pact must be signed between the Soviet Union and Bulgaria including a lease for a Soviet naval and land base, an area toward the Persian Gulf must be recognized as a Soviet aspiration, and Japan must renounce oil and coal concessions in Northern Sakhalin island.

UNITED KINGDOM: 10 more US Navy destroyers are assigned to Britain under the "destroyers for bases" deal struck by Churchill and Roosevelt. Although these old destroyers have numerous problems, they significantly increase Royal Navy's ability to escort convoys and patrol the British coast.

German aircraft torpedoed and sank Free French armed patrol ship "Medoc", captained by Polish Commander Stankiewicz and manned by a mostly British crew, in the English Channel. The entire crew of 41, 3 Polish and 38 British, was killed.

Lord Rothermere, (Harold Northcliffe), founder of 'Sunday Pictorial' and former Air Minister, aged 72 (at Bermuda) passed away. He was one of the main populist perpetrators of World War I because of economic reasons (see his publishings in his newspapers Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Graphic, Evening News and Weekly Dispatch between 1904-1914). He had championed the advancement of British aviation from the early days of flight.

James Lacey was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Medal.

The British 27th Armoured Brigade was established, under the command of Brigadier C. W. Norman, from the conversion of the 1st Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade. The Brigade would be mainly employed in the trialing of specialized armoured vehicles.

No. 826 and No. 829 Squadrons of the British Fleet Air Arm embarked on carrier HMS "Formidable" for convoy escort duties to Cape Town, South Africa.

British Secretary of State for the Colonies Lord Lloyd calls those who are working to save Jewish lives by illegally transporting them to Palestine "foul people who had to be stamped out."

NORTH AFRICA: At 1720 hours, 8 Fairey Swordfish from British aircraft carrier HMS "Eagle" bomb the capital of Italian-held Libya, Tripoli. Royal Navy does not attempt much deception, naming the strike Operation Tripe.

The Western Desert Force, begins Training Exercise No.1. This was a dress rehearsal for 'Operation Compass'. Surprise was vital and so not even the troops involved were told of the rehearsals significance.

MEDITERRANEAN: Operation Collar. As a distraction for convoy ME4, aircraft carrier HMS "Illustrious", cruisers HMS "Glasgow" and "Gloucester" plus 4 destroyers from Alexandria, Egypt, raid the Italian seaplane base at Port Laki on the Agean island of Leros at 0600 hours. However, Italian Navy is aware of the convoy ME4 and escort warships moving from Gibraltar to Malta. 2 battleships ("Vittorio Veneto" and "Giulio Cesare") and 3 cruisers ("Fiume", "Gorizia" and "Pola") plus 11 destroyers leave Naples and 3 more cruisers ("Trieste", "Trento" and "Bolzano") plus 3 destroyers depart Messina, Sicily. They rendezvous South of Naples in the Tyrrhenian Sea at 1800 hours and sail West to engage the British fleet South of Sardinia. They will be joined by 4 torpedo boats, 7 submarines and 10 motor torpedo (MAS) boats.

EASTERN EUROPE: In Occupied Poland work begins on the creation of a Jewish ghetto in Warsaw in which the Germans intend to herd the local Jewish population under dreadful living conditions. The Germans describe the move as a "health measure."

WESTERN FRONT: RAF carries out raids on Cologne, Berlin, Rotterdam, Flushing, Antwerp, Calais, Boulogne and Turin.


.

25 November 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
Nth Atlantic
HX.91 departed Halifax escorted by RCN DD ASSINIBOINE and aux PV FRENCH. Aux PVs ELK and HUSKY operated within the harbour approaches. HMCS FRENCH and ASSINIBOINE both departed the convoy on the 26th. The ocean escort was BB REVENGE and RCN DD ST CLAIR. The BB was detached on 4 December. The DD continued with the convoy and arrived in the Clyde on 11 December. BHX.91 departed Bermuda on the 23rd escorted by AMC ASCANIA. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.91 on the 28th where the AMC was detached to return to Bermuda. On 6 December DDs VANSITTART and WALKER and corvette CANDYTUFT joined the convoy. Corvette HONEYSUCKLE joined on the 8th. The DDs were detached on 10 December. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 11 December.

Med- Biscay
Fce H.departed Gibraltar on COLLAR. Departing were BC RENOWN, CV ARK ROYAL, CLs SHEFFIELD, DESPATCH, MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON (the last two carrying 700 RAF personnel each for Alexandria embarked from troopship FRANCONIA), DDs HOTSPUR (proceeding to Malta for repairs), FIREDRAKE, FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, WISHART, DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, JAGUAR, KELVIN, VIDETTE. BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was repairing at Gibraltar, was considered for this operation, but not used as she was not ready in time. Force F CLs SOUTHAMPTON and MANCHESTER and DD HOTSPUR were en route to Alexandria. Force F was escorted by DDs DUNCAN and VIDETTE. Also sailing were steamers CLAN FORBES, CLAN FRASER , NEW ZEALAND STAR and new corvettes SALVIA, HYACINTH, PEONY, GLOXINIA. GLOXINIA arrived at Malta with engine room defects. The other three corvettes proceeded to Alexandria and steamer NEW ZEALAND STAR proceeded directly to Suda Bay.

The Med Flt departed Alexandria at 0325 for COLLAR as Fce A with BBs WARSPITE and VALIANT, CV ILLUSTRIOUS, DDs DECOY (for repairs at Malta), JERVIS, JANUS, JUNO, NUBIAN, MOHAWK, GRIFFIN, WRYNECK and RAN WATERHEN. At noon, troopship ULSTER PRINCE, with the last of BARBARITY details, joined the Fleet. CA YORK and CLs GLASGOW and GLOUCESTER departed Alexandria later in the day and joined the Fleet at sea at around 1600. DDs HERO and HEREWARD, which departed Malta at 0500 that day, joined the WARSPITE force on the 26th. All the Med Flt DDs, less IMPERIAL and RAN STUART (both under repair), were involved in COLLAR.

British netlayer PROTECTOR and armed boarding vessels FIONA and CHAKLA departed Alexandria for Suda Bay. A Greek convoy of seven steamers, escorted by 4 Gk DD, departed Suda Bay for Piraeus.

Steamer PATRIA (UK 11, 885 grt) was blown up at Haifa by Zionist terrorists to prevent the ship's use as a deportation vessel for Palestinian Jews. The PATRIA disaster was the sinking on 25 November 1940 by the Haganah of a French-built ocean liner, in the port of Haifa, killing 267 people and injuring 172, all Jewish.

At the time of the sinking, the PATRIA was carrying about 1,800 Jewish refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe whom the British authorities were deporting from the Mandate of Palestine to Mauritius because they lacked entry permits, and the rapisly increaing tensions in the territory. Zionist organizations opposed the deportation, and the underground paramilitary Haganah group planted a bomb intended to disable the ship to prevent it from leaving Haifa.

However, the Haganah claims to have miscalculated the effects of the explosion. The bomb blew the steel frame off one full side of the ship and the ship sank in less than 16 minutes, trapping hundreds in the hold. The British allowed the survivors to remain in Palestine on humanitarian grounds. Who was responsible and the true reason why the PATRIA sank remained controversial mysteries until 1957, when Munya Mardor, the person who planted the bomb, published a book about his experiences. The surviving refugees from the PATRIA, together with the remaining 1,560 refugees of the ATLANTIC, were taken to the Atlit detainee camp. Later, after an international campaign, the survivors of the PATRIA were given permits to stay in Palestine, but the ATLANTIC refugees were deported to Mauritius on 9 December. After the war they were given the choice of where to go; 81% chose Palestine and arrived there in August 1945.

SS PATRIA sinking in Haifa port
Red Sea/Indian Ocean

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
DKM Raiders ORION and KOMET sank steamer HOLMWOOD (NZ 546 grt) in the Sth Pacific 27 miles SW of Durham Point, Chatham Island. Early in the morning of 25th November the German raider KOMET sighted and captured the HOLMWOOD, which had left the Chatham Islands a few hrs before for Lyttelton. The crew and passengers, numbering 29, and including four women and two children, were taken off, as well as several hundred live sheep, after which the HOLMWOOD was sunk by gunfire. Her passengers and crew were landed on Emirau Island, New Guinea on 21 December 1940


Malta

26 november 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
DKM S Boat S-59


Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMCS EYEBRIGHT (K 150) Flower Class Corvette HMCS SNOWBERRY (K 166)


LCT Mk1 Class LCT 17, LCT 18 (LCT 18 )


Town Class DDs HMS NEWARK (G 08 , HMS NEWMARKET (G 47)


Town Class DDs HMS NEWPORT (G 54), HMS RAMSEY (G 60)


Town Class DD HMS READING (G 71); Town Class DD HMS RICHMOND (G 88 )


Town Class DD HMS RIPLEY (G 79); Town Class DD HMS ROCKINGHAM (G 58 )


Town Class DD HMS WELLS (I 95); Harbour Defence Motor Launch HDML 1039


Fairmile B MLs 136, 137 and 142

Losses
Armed patrol coaster MEDOC (FNFL 1166 grt), under the command of Polish Cdr Stankiewicz, was sunk by a torpedo dropped by the LW off Rame Head in the English Channel. The Polish Commander was lost with the vessel. Lt T. O'Shanohun RNR, T/Lt H. J. Murray RNVR, Polish Midshipman Krasicki, 36 British ratings, a Polish petty officer were lost on MEDOC.

UBOATS
At Sea 26 November 1940
U-29, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-100, U-101, U-103, U-104, U-123, U-138, U-140.
15 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FN.343 departed Southend, escort DDs WALLACE and WESTMINSTER. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 28th. FN.344 departed Southend, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 28th.
FS.345 departed Methil, escort DD VANITY and escort ship/DD GLEANER. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th. FS.346 departed Methil, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 28th. Dutch steamer WALENBURG was damaged on a mine in 50‑40N, 01‑08W.

Northern Waters
CV FORMIDABLE departed Greenock and arrived at Glasgow on the 27th, escort DD VESPER. AA ship ALYNBANK arrived at Scapa Flow after escorting convoy EN.31 in Pentland Firth. CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to join convoy WN.44. DD COTSWOLD departed Scapa and met British steamer BEN MY CHREE with troops off Aberdeen.
The DD escorted the steamer to Lerwick arriving at noon on the 27th.

West Coast UK
OB.250 departed Liverpool escort DDs ACHATES, ACTIVE, ANTHONY and corvette PICOTEE. The escort was detached on the 29th.

Med- Biscay
CV ILLUSTRIOUS, CLs GLOUCESTER and GLASGOW, DDs JANUS, JUNO, MOHAWK, NUBIAN raided the Italian seaplane base at Port Laki, Leros at 0600 before joining ME.4 cover. One Swordfish of the 819 Sqn was lost with the crew. CA YORK was detached to Suda Bay at 0500 to refuel and join CruSqn 3 off Cape Matapan. The remainder of Force A and troopship ULSTER PRINCE arrived at Suda Bay for refuelling of the DDs between 0700 and 0830. Force A departed Suda Bay at 1030. 8 Swordfish from CVL EAGLE raided Tripoli at 0520 in Operation TRIPE. No a/c were lost. Drifters FELLOWSHIP and LANNER departed Malta for Suda Bay at 0800. Convoy MW.4 of steamers BRECONSHIRE, MEMNON, CLAN FERGUSON, CLAN MACAULEY with BBs RAMILLIES and MALAYA arrived at Malta at 0813. BB RAMILLIES, CL NEWCASTLE, CLA COVENTRY, DDs GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER, HEREWARD departed Malta at noon to join Force B, the ARK ROYAL group of Force H. The ships joined CA BERWICK at sea. BB MALAYA departed at noon after repairing a flooded water tight compartment which had limited her speed. Convoy of steamers WAIWERA, DEVIS, VOLO, RODI, CORNWALL departed Malta at 1613, escorted by CLA CALCUTTA and RAN DDs VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER. RN DD DAINTY was delayed with engine defects and joined later. During the night of 26/27 November, BB RAMILLIES and cruisers BERWICK and NEWCASTLE were attacked by RA torpedo bombers.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
NZ manned CL LEANDER was relieved in the Red Sea Force by RAN CL HOBART

Pacific/Far East/Australia Station
DKM Raiders KOMET and ORION sank the empty troopship RANGITANE (NZ 16,712 grt) in the Pacific in 36‑48S, 175‑07W. Seven crew and six passengers were lost and the rest made pows. NZ Manned CL ACHILLES and AMC MONAWAI were dispatched to intercept. ACHILLES departed Lyttleton on the 27th, but no contact was made with the German ships. She returned to patrol off Auckland on the 30th and arrived at Auckland on 1 December.


Malta

27 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type IID U-50

Generic Image
Used throughout the war for training

Neutral
K (Katjusa) class Submarine K-3

Northern fleet (arrived from the Baltic through inland waterways on 8 November 1941). On 3 December, K-3 fired at and missed a German merchantman, then engaged in a running surface fight with three DKM subchasers after being forced to surface. The sub was damaged, but sank UJ1708 (DKM 470 grt) . The K-3 also sank the MV INGRAY (ex-Nor 329 grt), UJ 1110 (470 grt), UJ 1108 (570 grt), MV FECHENHEIM (Ger 8116 Grt) and ROTERSAND (4221 GRT) .

K-3 was most likely sunk on 21 March 1943 off the Batsfjord, Northern Norway by depth charges from the German escorts UJ 1102, UJ 1106 and UJ 1111.

Allied
Fairmile Motor Launches ML 131 and ML 169

Losses
MV GLENMOOR (UK 4393 grt) Sunk by U-103 (Viktor Schütze); Crew:33 (31 dead and 2 survivors); Cargo: Coal ; Route: Cardiff - Alexandria ; Convoy OB-248 (Straggler); Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 1956 hrs the unescorted GLENMOOR, a straggler from convoy OB-248 was torpedoed and sunk by U-103 about 167 miles NW of Sylne Head. The master and 30 crew members died. Two crew members were picked up by HMS HARVESTER (H 19) and HMS HAVELOCK (H 88 ) and landed at Liverpool.


MV DIPLOMAT (UK 8640 grt) Sunk by U-104 (Harald Jürst...there is no detailed report in the BDU by any other Boat that correlates to this loss); Crew: 53 (14 dead and 39 survivors); Cargo: Cotton, Iron, Steel andf General Cargo; Route: New Orleans - Bermuda - Liverpool ; Convoy HX-88 (Straggler); Sunk In the Western Approaches; (Time of loss uncertain) DIPLOMAT was a straggler from convoy HX-88, and was torpedoed and sunk by U-104 128 miles WNW of Bloody Foreland. The master and 13 crew members were lost. 39 crew members were picked up by HMS ACTIVE (H 14) and landed at Greenock.


MV IRENE MARIA (UK 1862 grt) Sunk by U-95 (Gerd Schreiber); Crew:26 (26 dead - no survivors); Cargo: Empty Route: Southampton - Milford Haven - Bridgewater, Nova Scotia; Convoy OB 248 (Straggler); Sunk In the Western Approaches ; At 0058 hrs the unescorted IRENE MARIA, a straggler from convoy OB-248, was hit aft by one torpedo from U-95 and sank by the bow within two mins about 55 miles SSW of Rockall. The ship had been missed by two torpedoes at 0042 and 0052 hours.


MSW trawler ELK (RN 181 grt) was sunk on a mine 114 cables 185° from Penlee Point at Plymouth. There were no casualties on the trawler.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Kiel: U-137
Lorient: U-100

Departures
Lorient: U-99

At Sea 27 November 1940
U-29, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-99, U-101, U-103, U-104, U-123, U-138, U-140.
15 boats at sea.

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Trawler PETER (Ger 405 grt) was lost in stranding on the Swedish coast.

North Sea
DD WALLACE was damaged in a collision with the Newarp Light Float. She was repaired in 48 hours in dock at Rosyth. CLA CURACOA transferred to convoy EN.32. The cruiser left convoy EN.32 to return to Rosyth on the 28th. CURACOA arrived at Rosyth at on the 29th. FN.345 departed Southend, escort DDs VALOROUS and VERSATILE. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 30th. FS.347 departed Methil, escort DDs VERDUN and WOLSEY. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 29th. DD PUNJABI departed Rosyth at 0830 after boiler cleaning to return to Scapa Flow where she arrived at 1700.

Northern Waters
DDs EXMOOR and PYTCHLEY departed Scapa Flow to patrol east of Fair Isle during the night to investigate reports of ships passing through Fair Island Channel. A damaged UBoat was expected to pass through the Channel. The patrol area was left on the 28th. The DDs met DD SOUTHDOWN to exercise. They then returned to Scapa Flow arriving on the 28th. Submarine H.33, entering Tobermory, was in a collision with corvette HEATHER. H.33 was repaired at Oban in December. British steamer GALACUM was damaged on a mine in 51‑34N, 01‑09E.

West Coast UK
British trawlers CHARMOUTH and RATTRAY were damaged by the LW off Milford Haven.

Western Approaches
Tkr CHARLES F MEYER was attacked and damaged by U-104. There are no other reports by Uboats correlating to this attack, and as U-104 was soon to be lost, most accounts credit this attack to the U-104.

Med- Biscay
BB RAMILLIES, CA BERWICK, CL NEWCASTLE joined Force H.at 1130 at sea. CL DESPATCH and DDs DUNCAN and WISHART turned over the Gibraltar to Malta convoy to CLA COVENTRY and DDs GALLANT, GREYHOUND, HEREWARD, DEFENDER, GRIFFIN which escorted the ships to their destination, whilst the remainde of the fleet dealt with the Italians. FI BBs VENETO and CESARE with DDs GRANATIERE, FUCLIERE, BERSAGLIERE, ALPINO, FRECCIA, SAETTA, and DARDO departed Naples. CAs POLA, FIUME, GORIZIA and DDs ALFIERI, CARDUCCI, GIOBERTI and ORIANI departed Naples. CAs TRENTO, TRIESTE, BOLZANO with DDs LANCIERI, ASCARI and CARABINIERI departed Messina. Also at sea were TBs ALCIONE, VEGA, SAGITARRIO, SIRIO and two MAS divisions were in the Sicilian Strait. The Italian forces engaged British cruisers BERWICK, NEWCASTLE, MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON west of Malta off Cape Spartivento. In the action, Italian CA FIUME suffered an engine breakdown during the battle. Italian DD LANCIERI was badly damaged by British gunfire and was left dead in the water. She was towed from the scene by one of the CAs of the 3rd Division.
CA BERWICK was damaged by two eight inch shell hits, one of which put her after turret out of action. Both sides were attempting to pull the cruisers back on to the heavy guns of their battle fleets, but the italians were unwilling to close the range particularly after they realized the British Battleships were in the area. On 26 November, a Fulmar of 808 Sqn crashed astern of CV ARK ROYAL.
On 27 November, another Fulmar from 808 Sqn from ARK ROYAL was shot down witht eh crew killed.


Painting of CA HMS BERWICK at Spartivento

Gunboat LADYBIRD bombarded Mersa Matruh. Italian sub TEMBIEN unsuccessfully attacked CA YORK and CL GLOUCESTER in 36‑00N, 14‑47E.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BN.10 departed Bombay, escorted by AMC HECTOR, which was detached on 1 December when relieved by RAN CL HOBART. CLA CARLISLE, DD KIMBERLEY, sloops AUCKLAND and INDUS joined on 3 December. The CLA and DD KIMBERLEY were detached on 5 December. Sloop INDUS was detached on 6 December and HOBART and sloop AUCKLAND on 7 December. On 7 December, sloops CLIVE and GRIMSBY joined the convoy and arrived with it at Suez on 10 December.

NZ manned CL ACHILLES and two liners had departed Wellington on the 7th and arrived at Sydney on the 12th in preparation for convoy US 7. Australian troop convoy US 7 departed Fremantle with Polish liner BATORY and British liners ORION , STRATHMORE, STRATHEDEN , escorted by RAN CL PERTH. RAN CA CANBERRA joined the convoy on the 28th and escorted it until 3 December when she returned to Fremantle. CL CAPETOWN escorted the convoy from 3 to 5 December. The convoy arrived at Colombo on 7 December. On 10 December, CL CALEDON joined the escort and remained until 12 December. On 12 December, CLA CARLISLE and DDs KINGSTON and KANDAHAR joined the convoy escort. RAN CL PERTH arrived at Aden on 12 December and left the convoy escort. On her arrival in the Med, PERTH relieved RAN CL SYDNEY in the Med Flt. The convoy arrived at Suez on 15 December.

Malta

November 27 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: During a dogfight off the Thames Estuary, the Bf 109E of Lt. Wolfgang Teumer is attacked by three British Spitfires and force lands with damage at RAF Manston. Lt. Teumer is unhurt and made a prisoner of war. His plane, Werk Number 4101, is rebuilt by the British and used for testing.

SOUTH PACIFIC: German armed merchant cruisers "Orion" and "Komet" stopped the 16,712-ton passenger ship "Rangitane" 400 miles east of New Zealand at 0300 hours. Of the 201 crew and 111 passengers, 16 were killed during the attack and the remainder were captured. Due to the distress signal sent out by "Rangitane's" crew, the Germans only had time to transfer the captives aboard but not the 14,000 tons of food and 45 bars of silver before "Komet" sank "Rangitane" with a torpedo. "Rangitane" was the largest passenger ship to be sunk by German merchant raiders during WW2.

EASTERN EUROPE: In Romania a series of riots and other civil disturbances begin and carry on until December 4th. The Iron Guard begin the trouble with the arrest and execution of various prominent persons including the former Prime Minister Jorga. The army later clamps down with German help. The Iron Guard arrests and executes over 60 of exiled King Carol II of Romania's aides.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-95 sank British ship "Irene Maria" northwest of Ireland at 0100 hours, killing the entire crew of 25. German submarine U-104 damaged British tanker "Charles F. Meyer" and sank British ship "Diplomat" (14 were killed, 39 survived). German submarine U-103 sank British ship "Glenmoor" northwest of Ireland at 1956 hours; 31 were killed, 2 survived.

ASIA: Chinese 27th, 31st, and 44th Divisions counterattacked against the Japanese offensive in Hubei Province, China.

Kichisaburo Nomura was named the Japanese Ambassador to the United States.

MEDITERRANEAN: Battle of Spartivento: At 1000 hours, spotter aircraft from British Force H (Operation Collar; escorting Allied convoy ME4) and the Italian interception fleet found each other, and a surface battle soon broke out. Admiral Somerville, who is covering a Malta convoy, has the "Renown", "Ark Royal", four cruisers and nine destroyers. Admiral Campioni leads two battleships, seven heavy cruisers and 16 destroyers. The British were initially outgunned (especially as the carrier aircraft were held back), but at 1130 hours the arrival of battleship HMS "Ramillies" and cruisers HMS "Berwick" and HMS "Newcastle" evened up the two sides. Italian Admiral Campioni's orders are to avoid combat with equal forces. He orders a withdrawal but Italian cruisers are already engaged. At 1222, there is an exchange of fire lasting 54 minutes from 23–14 km, as the Italians lay smoke and turn away. Battleship "Vittorio Veneto's" heavy fire stopped the British pursuit. British cruiser HMS "Berwick" was hit by cruiser "Fiume" twice at 1222 and 1235 hours (7 killed), while Italian destroyer "Lanciere" had to be towed back to port after being hit by cruiser HMS "Manchester". Italian battleship "Vittorio Veneto" escapes undamaged despite torpedo-bomber attacks.

Jean Chiappe, newly appointed High Commissioner in Syria and Lebanon and a former pro-Fascist Chief of Police in Paris, killed when the aircraft taking him to Beirut is accidentally shot down during Battle of Spartivento. Aged 62.

..

28 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
S Boat S-29


Allied
Boom defence vessel HMS BARRHEAD (Z 40); Bangor Class MSW HMS BRIDPORT (J 50)


Losses
MV MOUNT ATHOS (UK 3578 grt) Sunk by U-103 (Viktor Schütze); Crew: 28 (19 dead and 9 survivors); Cargo: Coal; Route: Barry - Freetown; Convoy OB-248 (straggler); Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 0842 hrs the unescorted MOUNT ATHOS, a straggler from convoy OB-248, was hit under the bridge by one torpedo from U-103 and sank by the stern within 4 minutes about 200 miles SSW of Rockall. The crew had managed to send a distress signal and HMS FOLKESTONE (L 22) and HMS SEAMAN (W 44) were ordered to proceed to assistance, but found nothing in the area. On 30 November, nine survivors were picked up by HMS VANQUISHER which was escorting convoy OB-251.


MV ST ELWYN (UK 4940 grt) Sunk by U-103 (Viktor Schütze); Crew: 40 (24 dead and 16 survivors); Cargo: Coal; Route: Hull - Santos ; Convoy OB -249 (Dispersed); Sunk In the Western Approaches; At 2024 hrs the ST ELWYN , dispersed from convoy OB-249, was hit near the bridge by one torpedo from U-103 about 500 miles east of Bishop Rock. The U-boat had spotted the ship at 0951 hrs and had to overtake her again after a first submerged attack failed due to the zigzag course. The ship sank by the stern after being hit by a coup de grace in the engine room at 2027 hrs. The master and 23 crew members were lost. 16 crew members were picked up by the British merchant LEEDS CITY and landed at Gourock.


MSW trawler MANX PRINCE (RN 221 grt) was sunk on a mine at the entrance to the Humber, 3.5 miles 130˚ from Spurn Light House. There were no casualties and the crew was rescued by MSW trawler CORTINA.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-123

Departures
Lorient: U-37

At Sea 28 November 1940
U-29, U-37, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-93, U-94, U-95, U-99, U-101, U-103, U-138, U-140.
14 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLA CURACOA departed Rosyth in the afternoon to rendezvous with convoy EN.33.

Northern Waters
BB NELSON and DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, MAORI, DOUGLAS departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth where they arrived on the 29th. CA NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow. DD COTSWOLD with British steamer BEN MY CHREE departed Lerwick at 2300 and proceeded to Aberdeen where they arrived on the 29th. The DD then returned to Scapa Flow. Destroyer VIMY departed Scapa Flow at 1400 for the Clyde to escort Norwegian steamer OSLOFJORD (18,673grt). VIMY arrived on the 29th. Both ships departed the Clyde later on the 29th for the Tyne.

West Coast UK
OB.251 departed Liverpool escort DDs VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT and corvette GENTIAN. The escort was detached on 1 December

Western Approaches
At 0827 hrs, the RINGHORN, a straggler from convoy OB-248 since 26 November due to bad weather, was missed by a torpedo from U-95 (Schreiber) in 55°29N/18°01W and tried to escape at full speed while sending a distress signal after which HMS WANDERER was detached from convoy HX-89 but did not find her. She was missed again by a torpedo at 0933 hrs, but the U-boat surfaced at 10.25 hours and attacked with the deck gun. After two hits in the funnel and near the bridge the crew abandoned ship. U-95 had soon to break off the shelling due to the rough seas and missed at 1112 hours with a third torpedo. Believing the ship would sink from the damage inflicted, U-95 left the area but the crew reboarded the vessel that was only damaged at the superstructure and arrived at Belfast Lough on 1 December.

Type IXB U-104 (DKM 1051 grt) Missing since 28 Nov 1940 NW of Ireland in approximate position 55.30N, 08.00W. 49 dead (all hands lost). U-104 reported for the last time on 19 Nov, 1940. There is a possibility that she was lost to mines from minefield SN 44 which was laid on 8 Nov, 1940 northwest of Tory Island as her last reported position was very close to that field. A previous assessment that she was lost 21 November has been disproven

U-123–an identical U-boat to U-104–leaving Lorient on 8 June 1941

RINGHORN was to be finally sunk 2 months later

Channel
British steamer SKIPJACK was damaged at Dover by German shore gun battery.

Central Atlantic
SL.57 departed Freetown escorted by AMC CANTON to 15 December, sloop BRIDGEWATER to 30 November, ASW trawler BENGALI to 30 November. On 15 December, DDs VANQUISHER, VISCOUNT, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, corvettes GENTIAN and HIBISCUS joined the convoy. On 16 December, catapult ship PEGASUS joined. The DDs and the catapult ship were with the convoy for one day only. Corvette GENTIAN was detached on 17 December and corvette HIBISCUS on arrival. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 19 December. SLS.57 departed Freetown escorted by ASW trawler SPANIARD to 30 November. On 18 December, DDs AMAZON and AMBUSCADE, corvettes CROCUS and HEARTSEASE, ASW trawler LADY LILLIAN joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 22 December.

Med- Biscay
Escort ship/DD WRYNECK from detached from the WARSPITE gp to refuel at Malta at 0700 and rejoined later that day. Steamers CLAN FRASER and CLAN FORBES arrived at Malta, escort DDs DECOY and HOTSPUR. Both DDs remained at Malta for repairs. DD GREYHOUND joined the WARSPITE gp. Steamer NEW ZEALAND STAR, escort DDs DEFENDER and HEREWARD and covered by CLs MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON, proceeded to the east. At 1700, DD GRIFFIN was sent into Malta with engine defects. CA YORK and CLs GLASGOW and GLOUCESTER swept to the northward of Hurd Bank to cover the passage of the corvettes. The MALAYA gp was covering the passage of convoy ME.4. DDs DIAMOND and RAN WATERHEN were detached to escort convoy AS.7 of four ships to Port Said, where they arrived o 2 December. RM sub DESSIE made an unsuccessful attack on CL GLASGOW. RM DDs PIGAFETTA, DA RECCO, PESSAGNO, RIBOTY and TBs BASSINI and PRESTINARI shelled Greek positions near Corfu

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
NZ manned CL LEANDER completed escorting convoy BS.9 on the 26th and was relieved on the Red Sea convoy escort route by RAN CL HOBART. LEANDER departed Aden on the 28th. On 29 November at 1038, she conducted Operation CANNED, the bombardment of a factory and wireless station at Banda Alulu, Italian Somaliland. 98 rounds of six inch ammunition were fired. Following the bombardment, she arrived at Bombay on 2 December, where she remained until 27 December.

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

Malta

November 28 Thursday
UNITED KINGDOM: During the night, there is a German bombing raid on Liverpool by about 300 aircraft. A parachute mine hit Edge Hill Training College on Durning Road, the site of a large underground shelter. The blast, boiling water from a damaged boiler, and gas from damaged pipes killed 166 of the about 300 civilians taking shelter there. 96 were seriously injured.

Major Helmut Wick, Kommodore of JG 2 shoots down his fifty-fifth victory during an early sortie and becomes the leading fighter ace in the world at this time. Later in the day, on a Freie Jagd over the English Channel, he scores his fifty-sixth victory, a Spitfire. In turn Major Wick's aircraft is shot down by Flt. Lt. John Dundas of RAF No. 609 Squadron. Major Wick is seen to bale out over the Channel, but his Schwarm mate, Hptm. Rudi Pflanz circles the area, calling over the radio that a "Spitfire is down" hoping to attract British air/sea rescue units. Hptm. Pflanz continues to circle until his fuel is almost empty and crash-lands on the European continent on his return from the Channel. Major Wick is never found. His position as Kommodore of JG 2 is temporarily taken by the Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 2, Hptm. Karl-Heinz Greisert.

British minesweeping trawler HMT "Manx Prince" hit a mine and sank in the mouth of the Humber Estuary in England. The entire crew survived.

EASTERN EUROPE: German Reserve Police Battalion 101 was deployed to the Lodz ghetto and was given orders to shoot anyone who came too close to the fence.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-104 disappeared off the northern coast of Ireland, presumably sunk by a mine. The crew of 49 was never heard from again.

German submarine U-103 sank Greek ship "Mount Athos" northwest of Ireland at 0842 hours (19 killed) and sank British ship "St. Elwyn" at 2024 hours (24 killed, 16 survived). German submarine U-95 attacked Norwegian ship "Ringhorn" with two torpedoes 300 miles northwest of Ireland, with both missing. At 1025 hours, U-95 fired her deck gun and temporarily stopped "Ringhorn". Seeing the ship did not sink and U-95 had left the area, the escaped crew reboarded the ship and sailed the ship to Belfast.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian destroyers "Pigafetta", "Da Recco", "Pessagno", and "Riboty" bombarded Greek positions on the island of Corfu.

Operation Collar. After yesterday's engagement 20 miles South of Sardinia at Spartivento, Royal Navy's Force H turns back to return to Gibraltar and hands over convoy ME4 to Mediterranean fleet to continue east. At 1430 hours, freighters SS "Clan Forbes" and SS "Clan Fraser" arrive at Malta escorted by destroyers HMS "Decoy" and HMS "Hotspur". Destroyers HMS "Defender" and HMS "Hereward" and cruisers HMS "Manchester" and HMS "Southampton" escort SS "New Zealand Star" on towards Alexandria, Egypt.

ASIA: Lieutenant General Waichiro Sonobe ordered the Japanese 11th Army to fall back in Hubei Province, China.

Captain Tokuji Mori was named the commanding officer of "Settsu".

..

29 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMS ORCHIS (K 76)

In March 1941, HMS ORCHIS was the first ship fitted with the very successful 10-cm wavelength Type 271 radar enabling detection of a surfaced submarine at 5000 yards or a submarine periscope at 1300 yds. HMS ORCHIS was assigned first to the 4th Escort Group based at Greenock and then to Escort Group B3 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force through to early 1944. ORCHIS escorted convoy ONS-18 during the battle of Convoys ONS-18/ON-202.

HMS ORCHIS was assigned to patrol the English Channel from early 1944, and sank DKM U Boat U-741 on 15 August 1944. U-741 torpedoed LST-404 of convoy FTM-69 while ORCHIS was escorting nearby convoy FTC-68. ORCHIS gained and held sonar contact on U-741 and flooded the forward part of the U-boat with two Hedgehog attacks and two conventional DC attacks.

On 21 August 1944, ORCHIS struck a mine that destroyed the bow back to the 4-inch gun. The damaged ship was beached on Juno Beach and declared a total loss

Losses
Drifter YOUNG FISHERMAN (UK 95 grt) was lost when she ran around at Oban (off the wet coast of Scotland)

MSW trawler CALVERTON (RN 214 grt) was sunk by a mine at the entrance to the Humber, 3.7 miles 117° from Spurn Light House. Two ratings were lost on the trawler.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-93

At Sea 29 November 1940
U-29, U-37, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-99, U-101, U-103, U-138, U-140.
13 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
FS.346 departed Southend, escort DD VANITY, patrol sloop WIDGEON, escort ship/DDr GLEANER. The convoy arrived at Methil on 1 December.

Channel
DKM DDs GALSTER, BEITZEN, LODY departed Brest and at roughly the same time RN DDs JUPITER, KASHMIR, JAVELIN, JERSEY and JACKAL departed Plymouth. In operations eight miles off Start Point late on 28 October, the DKM DDs sank tug AID (UK 134 grt) and barge B. H. C. 10 (UK 290 grt) and damaged FNFL tug ABEILLE 14. Five crew were lost and five rescued from the tug AID. Three crew were lost and five rescued from the barge B. H. C. 10. DD JAVELIN sighted the gun flashes of the German DDs during their attack on the tugs. In an engagement 20 miles south of the Lizard, JAVELIN was hit by two torpedoes from DD LODY and lost her bow and stern. 46 crew were killed and 1 injured in the JAVELIN. Attended initially by DD JACKAL, and then later the other DDs as well, JAVELIN was towed to Devonport by tug CAROLINE MOLLER arriving from Falmouth. DDs KASHMIR, JERSEY, JUPITER were in a brief encounter with the German DDs but they managerd to escape. DKM DD LODY was struck several times and all three German destroyers had splinter damage, but none suffered appreciable damage and no casualties were sustained. DD JAVELIN was under repair until 28 December 1941.


HM DD JAVELIN's Stern (left) and Bow damage

DD ICARUS arrived at Portsmouth on the 26th from Immingham. The DD departed Portsmouth on the 28th and laid minefield J H.in the Havre to Cherbourg sea lane early on the 29th. DD ICARUS was escorted by DDs VANOC, WITCH and VOLUNTEER. DD EXMOOR carried out an oiling sea trial from British tanker ALDERSDALE, using a technique known as the "stirrup" method while the ships were at anchor. The RN continued to lag both the IJN and the USN at underway replenishment however.

British steamer FERMAIN at Dover was damaged by German shore guns.

Nth Atlantic
HX.92 departed Halifax escort RCN DD RESTIGOUCHE and corvette WINDFLOWER. The local escort parted detached on the 30th, and ocean escort was AMC MONTCLARE, which was also detached on 8 December. Due to a lack of suitable escorts, BHX.92 was cancelled. Ships en route to Bermuda to join were diverted to Halifax to join an HX. serial directly. DD WOLVERINE joined on 8 December, DD VETERAN on 10 December, DD CHELSEA and corvette CAMILLIA on 11 December. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 12 December.

Central Atlantic
CVL HERMES, CAs DEVONSHIRE and CUMBERLAND, CL EDINBURGH arrived at Freetown. German steamers RHEIN and IDARWALD departed Tampico and were immediately screened by US DDs SIMPSON and BROOME, who transmitted their course and position in the clear. The German ships returned to Tampico until 3 December when they once again attempted to escape the Caribbean. In addition, US CL MEMPHIS (CL.13) and an escorting DD departed Key West to patrol the passages into the Atlantic.

Med- Biscay
BC RENOWN, CA BERWICK (damaged), CL SHEFFIELD, DDs FAULKNOR, FURY, FORESTER, FIREDRAKE arrived at Gibraltar. CV ARK ROYAL, BB RAMILLIES, CLs NEWCASTLE and DESPATCH and DDs DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, WISHART, KELVIN, JAGUAR following the high speed group arrived at Gibraltar about 90 mins later. CA BERWICK was transferred to the Nth Atlantic Command. RHN sub PAPANIKOLIS attacked FI steamer CHISONE off Durazzo without success.

Rendered photo of the PAPANIKOLIS. The sub conducted at least 6 active patrols in 1940-41.

RM sub DELFINO attacked two RHN DDs twelve miles east of Kalojeri and near missed RHN DD SPETSAI.

SPETSAI was one of the four YDRA (or HYDRA) class DDs. She was constructed in Sestri Ponente, Italy, by Cantieri Odero, and commissioned into the RHN (Royal Hellenic Navy) in 1933. After the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War, she participated in the naval operations, among which was the third naval raid against Italian shipping in the Strait of Otranto (4–5 January 1941). During the German invasion of Greece, along with other ships, she managed to flee to Alexandria. After undergoing repairs and modernization in Calcutta, she returned to escort duties in the Med, with the British pennant number H 38. She returned to Greece after liberation in October 1944 and was decommissioned in 1946.

The MALAYA/EAGLE force and convoy ME.4 arrived at Alexandria. Steamers VOLO, RODI, CORNWALL, escorted by two DDs proceeded to Port Said.

Malta

30 November 1940
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Destroyers 1936A DD Z-25


IJN Kagero Class DD ISOKAZE

ISOKAZE during her pre-acceptance trials, 22 November 1940

Neutral
K (Katjusa) class Sub K-21


This sub made an unsuccessful attack on the TIRPITZ, during the PQ-17 convoy when she was commanded by Nikolai Lunin. She sank a number of other minor merchant vessels and warships, survived the war and became stationary training ship 1959, saved as memorial

Losses
MV ARACATACA (UK 5378 grt) Sunk by U-101 (Ernst Mengersen); Crew:69 (36 dead and 33 survivors); Cargo: Fruit and Vegetables ; Route: Port Antonio, Jamaica (16 Nov) - Halifax (21 Nov) - Avonmouth ; Convoy None; Sunk In the Nth Atlantic; The tragic story of the ARACATACA began at 0041 hrs when the unescorted ARACATACA was hit on the starboard side just ahead of the foremast by one G7e torpedo from U-101 while steaming on a zigzag course at 13 knots about 230 miles west of Rockall. The engines were stopped immediately and as the ship was settling by the head with a list to port the master ordered the crew to abandon ship after distress signals were sent. Despite strong wind, rough sea and heavy swell all four lifeboats were lowered safely, occupied by all 66 crew members, one gunner (the ship was armed with one 4in and one machine gun) and two passengers. The Germans observed how the boats remained nearby and prepared to shell the vessel to prevent them from reboarding her, but the weather was too bad to use the deck gun so another G7e torpedo was fired as a coup de grace at 0111 hrs. The ship refused to sink and remained afloat after being struck underneath the bridge. The U-boat then went alongside the nearest lifeboat and Mengersen asked the master about the name of the ship, but he could not understand the answer due to the strong wind. Afterwards U-101 returned to the ARACATACA and fired one G7e torpedo from the stern tube at 0204 hrs. The torpedo hit the engine room and caused the ship to sink fast after a boiler explosion.

The lifeboats initially remained in the vicinity, not knowing that their distress signals had not been heard. Finally after more than qa day they began to set sail independently with the boat in charge of the master being the last to leave after 34 hrs. 17 crew members and one passenger were picked up by the British motor merchant POTARO and landed at Buenos Aires on 23 December. The master, twelve crew members, one gunner and one passenger were picked up by the British steam merchant DJURDJURA after having sailed approximately 180 miles on 3 December and were landed on Christmas Day in St. John, New Brunswick. The remaining two lifeboats were never seen again and as a result 36 crew members were lost.


Naval trawler CHESTNUT (RN 505 grt) was sunk on a mine off North Foreland. There were no casualties.

UBOATS
At Sea 30 November 1940
U-29, U-37, U-43, U-47, U-52, U-65, U-94, U-95, U-99, U-101, U-103, U-138, U-140.
13 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
DKM CA ADMIRAL HIPPER departed the Elbe to raid in the Nth Atlantic.

North Sea
FN.347 departed Southend, escort DD WOOLSTON and sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Methil on 2 December. FS.348 departed Methil, escort DD VIMIERA, sloop WESTON and MSW GOSSAMER. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 December. FS.349 departed Methil, escort DD VIVIEN and sloop LONDONDERRY. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 December.

Motor torpedo boats MTB.32, MTB.31, MTB.30 departed Harwich to investigate German shipping off Flushing. En route, MTB.32 broke down and returned to Harwich. MTB.31 and MTB.30 encountered an anchored German convoy off the Schelde. MTB.30 was damaged by German gunfire and forced to withdraw while MTB.31 damaged German steamer SANTOS by dropping a depth charge alongside.

Northern Waters
CLA CURACOA transferred from convoy EN.33 to convoy WN.46 in Moray Firth. She continued with the convoy until dark and arrived at Scapa Flow at 2359 on the 30th.

AA ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow to join convoy WN.45 from the Pentland Firth.

West Coast UK
OB.252 departed Liverpool escort DDs VANSITTART and VETERAN. The convoy was joined on 1 December by DDs SABRE, SCIMITAR, SHIKARI, corvettes CLARKIA and HELIOTROPE and ASW trawlers ST ELSTAN and WELLARD. DD WALKER joined on 2 December. DD VANSITTART was detached on 2 December. On 4 December, DDs HARVESTER and HAVELOCK and sloop WELLINGTON joined the convoy. Later on 4 December, the escorts, less DD WALKER, were detached from the convoy. WALKER left the convoy on 6 December.

Channel
Dutch steamer GORECHT was damaged by the LW at Southampton.

Nth Atlantic
SC.14 departed at 1340 with RCN armed yacht HUSKY providing escort until 1900. Also scheduled to join the escort were RCN DDs ST CROIX and NIAGARA, both of which departed St Johns also on the 30th, however ST CROIX ran into a hurricane and sustained considerable damage. She arrived back at St Johns on 18 December for repairs. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 17 December.

Central Atlantic
CL EDINBURGH departed Freetown.

Med- Biscay
The WARSPITE/ILLUSTRIOUS gp arrived at Alexandria. CLs MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON arrived at Alexandria and disembarked their personnel and stores. CL SOUTHAMPTON departed Alexandria on 2 December and proceeded into the Red Sea to escort convoy WS.4B before further Mediterranean Fleet duties. CA YORK and CLs GLOUCESTER and GLASGOW arrived at Suda Bay with the corvettes. Drifters FELLOWSHIP and LANNER also arrived at Suda Bay. Monitor TERROR departed Suda Bay for Alexandria.

Troopship ULSTER PRINCE, escorted by DDs DIAMOND, RAN WATERHEN and RAN VENDETTA arrived at Port Said. WATERHEN and VENDETTA then sailed with depot ship WOOLWICH for Alexandria. DD ENCOUNTER departed Gibraltar to meet ocean boarding vessel MARSDALE and escort her to Gibraltar. Sub TRIUMPH departed Gibraltar to carry out an ASW patrol sth of Alboran Island.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
BN.9B departed Aden, escort CL CALEDON, DD KINGSTON and sloop FLAMINGO. The escorts were detached on 2 December and the convoy arrived at Suez on 4 December. BS.9A departed Suez. The convoy was escorted by CL CALEDON, DD KINGSTON, sloops FLAMINGO and RAN YARRA. The convoy was dispersed on 5 December.

DKM Raider PINGUIN captured Steamer PORT WELLINGTON (UK 8301 grt) in the Indian Ocean and scuttled her the next morning in 31‑10S, 70‑37E. Two crew were lost on the steamer. The rest of the crew were made pows.


Malta

November 29 Friday
WESTERN FRONT: An engine failure causes a Bf 109E of I./JG 2 to crash at the airbase at Cherbourg-West. The pilot is not injured.

NORTH AMERICA: Even before a test flight, large-scale production of the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was ordered this day but a large number of modifications were specified for the production model. The size of the fin and rudder was enlarged, fuel capacity was increased, self-sealing fuel tanks were added and the fixed armament was doubled to four 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the wings, compared with the prototype's two cowling guns. The program suffered so many delays that the Grumman TBF Avenger entered service before the Helldiver, even though the Avenger had begun its development two years later.

MEDITERRANEAN: General Freyberg's British and New Zealand troops occupied all of Crete.

Italian submarine "Delfino" attacked Greek destroyer "Spetsai" south of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, without success.

GERMANY: Draft plan issued by German military leaders for the invasion of the Soviet Union.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German destroyers "Galster", "Lody", and "Beitzen" departed from Brest, France and raided British shipping off southern England. British tug "Aid", Free French tug "Abeille", and British barge BHC10 were attacked and sunk. Royal Navy destroyers HMS "Javelin", HMS "Jersey", HMS "Jackal", HMS "Jupiter", and HMS "Kashmir" intercepted the raiders and engaged in combat 20 miles south of the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. HMS "Javelin" was sunk by two torpedoes from "Lody" (46 killed), but she was successfully towed back to Devonport for repairs until December 28, 1941. The German destroyers escape back to Brest with only minor damage and no casualties.

NORTH AFRICA: New Zealand cruiser HMNZS "Leander" bombarded a factory and a radio station at Banda Alulu, Italian Somaliland at 1038 hours. Italian aircraft counterattacked without success.

UNITED KINGDOM: British minesweeping trawler HMT "Calverton" hit a mine and sank in the mouth of the Humber Estuary in England, killing 2.

During the night, there is a German bombing raid on London and Home Counties by about 330 aircraft.

From London, Free French leader, General de Gaulle, makes an address directed at the radio audience in France claiming to command forces numbering 35,000 trained troops and 1,000 air crew.

.

November 30 Saturday
WESTERN FRONT: Oblt. Eitel Roediger von Manteuffel's Stab./JG 77 transfer from Döberitz to new accommodations at Dinan.

INDIAN OCEAN: German armed merchant cruiser "Pinguin" attacked British ship "Port Wellington" (carrying 5600 tons of frozen meat, butter, eggs, cheese and wheat and 1,750 tons of steel) in the southern Indian Ocean overnight. 2 were killed and 87 were captured. Seeing some of the female captives were shivering in their nightgowns, "Pinguin's" First Officer personally returned to the burning wreck and retrieved clothes for the women.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-101 sank British ship "Aracataca" 400 miles northwest of Ireland at 0204 hours. 36 were killed and 34 survived.

British motor torpedo boats MTB.30 and MTB.31 attacked an anchored German convoy off the mouth of the Scheldt River off the Netherlands. German ship "Santos" was damaged by a depth charge from MTB.31, while MTB.30 was damaged by gunfire.

British minesweeping trawler HMT "Chestnut" hit a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary in southern England. The entire crew survived.

ASIA: In Hubei Province, China, Chinese troops halted the offensive launched by the Japanese 11th Army five days prior.

Wang Jingwei of the Japanese-sponsored puppet government in Nanjing, China established diplomatic relationship with fellow puppet state Manchukuo.

MEDITERRANEAN: Greeks continue to push Italians back into Albania. Greek 3rd Army Corps has advanced 20 miles North since taking Korçë on November 22. After 7 days of hard fighting, they capture parts of Pogradec on Ohrid Lake in Southeastern Albania on the border with Macedonia. They advance no further in this sector and the front line will run through the center of town.

GERMANY: German cruiser "Admiral Hipper" sails from Germany.

UNITED KINGDOM: First of two consecutive night raids on Southampton - by 128 and 123 bombers, respectively - serious damage in city centre and suburbs. Total casualties: 370.

British civilian casualty figures for November: 4,588 killed, 6,202 injured. Shipping losses in November: 32 Allied merchant ships (146,600 BRT), none German U-boat (27 serviceable).

.

Summary Of Losses November 1940
Allied
Allied Warships
Aux MSW trawler TILBURYNESS (RN 279 grt), Tugs LEA (RN 168 grt), Tug DEANBROOK (RN 149 grt), MSW RINOVA (RN 429 grt), AMC LAURENTIC (RN 18724 grt), AMC PATROCLUS (RN 11314 grt), AMC HMS JERVIS BAY (RN 14164 grt), HM Sub SWORDFISH (RN 640 grt), MSW trawler WILLIAM WESNEY (RN 364 grt) , ASW trawler KINGSTON ALALITE (RN 550 grt), Boom defence vessel MARCELLE (RN 64 grt), MSW trawler STELLA ORION (RN 417 grt), Boom defence vessel RISTANGO (RN 178 grt), ASW trawler ARSENAL (RN 550 grt), MSW trawler FONTENOY (RN 276 grt), ML.127 (RN 75 grt), ASW trawler AMETHYST (RN 627 grt), Armed yacht GAEL (RN 101 grt), ML.111 (RN 85 grt), MSW trawler CONQUISTADOR (RN 224 grt), MSW trawler KENNYMORE (RN 225 grt), MSW trawler ELK (RN 181 grt), MSW trawler MANX PRINCE (RN 221 grt), MSW trawler CALVERTON (RN 214 grt), Naval trawler CHESTNUT (RN 505 grt)

MSW HMAS GOORANGI (RAN 223 grt)

MSW trawler POULMIC ((FNFL 350 grt), Armed patrol coaster MEDOC (FNFL 1166 grt),

O-21 Class sub O.22 (NL 934 grt),

(50639 grt(RN), (223 grt (RAN), 1516 grt (FNFL), 934 grt (NL) (Total 53312 grt Naval Tonnage)

Allied Shipping
MV EMPIRE BISON (UK 5612 grt), Steamer LETCHWORTH (UK 1317 grt), Drifter TORBAY II (UK 83 grt), Drifter GOODWILL (UK 28 grt), MV CASANARE (UK 5376 grt), Steamer KILDALE (UK 3877 grt), kr SCOTTISH MAIDEN (UK 6993 grt), Steamer HAIG ROSE (UK 1117 grt), steamer MOPAN (UK 5389 grt), steamer MAIDAN (UK 7908 grt), Steamer TREWELLARD (UK 5201 grt), Steamer KENBANE HEAD (UK 5225 grt), MV BEAVERFORD (UK 10,042 grt), MV FRESNO CITY (UK 4955 grt), Liner NALON (UK 7222 grt), Whaler SEVRA (UK 253 grt), FV GIRL HELEN (UK 63 grt), Steamer CLAN MACKINLAY (UK 6365 grt), steamer CAMBRIDGE (UK 10,855 grt), Steamer HERLAND (or Fairland) (UK 2645 grt), Steamer ASTROLOGER (UK 1673 grt), Drifter REED (UK 99 grt), Whaler A. N. 2 (UK 221 grt), Steamer AGAMEMNON (NL 1930 grt), Steamer BALTRADER (UK 1699 grt), Steamer TREBARTHA (UK 4597 grt), Steamer CREEMUIR (UK 3997 grt), Steamer BALMORE (UK 1925 grt), Steamer SKARV (UK 158 grt), Tug MURIA (UK 192 grt), steamer AUTOMEDON (UK 7528 grt), Steamer ARGUS (UK 661 grt), Trawler LORD HALDANE (UK 91 grt), MV CAPE ST ANDREW (UK 5094 grt), Steamer EMPIRE WIND (UK 7459 grt), Steamer ST CATHERINE (UK 1216 grt), Steamer BUOYANT (UK 300 grt), Drifter SHIPMATES (UK 82 grt), Drifter THE BOYS (UK 92 grt), MV KOHINUR (UK 5168 grt), Tkr HAVBOR (UK 7614 grt) , Steamer AMENITY (UK 297 grt), Liner APAPA (UK 9333 grt), Steamer BLUE GALLEON (UK 712 grt), Trawler DUNGENESS (UK 263 grt) , Tug GUARDSMAN (UK 102 grt), Trawler HINRICH FREESE (Ger 384 grt), MV FABIAN (UK 3059 grt), MV SAINT GERMAIN (UK 1044 grt), MV CONGONIAN (UK 5065 grt), Steamer LILIAN MOLLER (UK 4866 grt), Steamer NESTLEA (UK 4274 grt), Motor barge ABILITY (UK 293 grt), steamer NOWSHERA (UK 7920 grt), steamer MAIMOA (UK 8011 grt), MV DAYDAWN (UK 4768 grt), MV VICTORIA (UK 6085 grt), Steamer DAKOTIAN (UK 6426 grt), Drifter XMAS ROSE (UK 96 grt), steamer PORT BRISBANE (UK 8739 grt), MV CREE (UK 4971 grt), Trawler ETHEL TAYLOR (UK 276 grt), Steamer PIKEPOOL (UK 3683 grt), Tug HERCULES (UK 82 grt), Steamer LISIEUX (UK 2594 grt), MV JUSTITIA (UK 4562 grt), MV BRADFYNE (UK 4740 grt), MV LEISE MAERSK (UK 3136 grt, MV OAKCREST (UK 5407 grt), MV KING IDWAL (UK 5115 grt), MV TYMERIC (UK 5228 grt), Tug BONAPARTE (UK 38 grt), Drifter NEW COMET (UK 245 grt), Steamer ALMA DAWSON (UK 3985 grt), Salvage vessel PRESERVER (UK 630 grt), Steamer RYAL (UK 367 grt), Steamer BEHAR (UK 6100 grt), Steamer THOMAS M. (UK 310 grt), Steamer ALICE MARIE (UK 2206 grt), steamer PORT HOBART (UK 7448 grt), Hopper barge TCC HOPPER No. 3 (UK 698 grt), Steamer PATRIA (UK 11,885 grt), MV GLENMOOR (UK 4393 grt), MV DIPLOMAT (UK 8640 grt), MV IRENE MARIA (UK 1862 grt), MV MOUNT ATHOS (UK 3578 grt), MV ST ELWYN (UK 4940 grt), Drifter YOUNG FISHERMAN (UK 95 grt), tug AID (UK 134 grt), barge B. H. C. 10 (UK 290 grt), MV ARACATACA (UK 5378 grt), Steamer PORT WELLINGTON (UK 8301 grt)

steamer NIMBIN (Aus 1052 grt),

troopship RANGITANE (NZ 16,712 grt), steamer HOLMWOOD (NZ 546 grt)

MV PLANTER (CDN 5887 grt)

Steamer KOLCHIS (Gk 2219 grt), Steamer EUGENIA CAMBANIS (Gk 3470 grt),

Steamer SANTA LUCIA (NL 379 grt), MV OOTMARSUM (NL 3628 grt), MV BUSSUM (NL 3636 grt), steamer APOLLONIA (NL 2086 grt),

Steamer RAVNANGER (Nor 3371 grt), MV BRUSE (Nor 2205 grt), MV SALONICA (Nor 2694 grt), Steamer HUNDVAAG (Nor 690 grt), tanker TEDDY (Nor 6750 grt), tkr OLE JACOB (Nor 8306 grt)

FV VAN DER WEYDEN (Be 132 grt), Steamer ANVERS (Be 4398 grt), trawler MARGUERITE SIMONNE (Be 70 grt),

297761 grt (UK), 1052 grt (Aus), 17258 grt (NZ), 5887 grt (Cdn), 5689 grt (Gk), 9728 (NL), 24016 grt (Nor), 4600 grt (Be)
365997 grt (Mercantile)
Total Mercantile and Military losses: 419303 grt

Prizes captured
AMC CAP DES PALMES (Vichy 3081 grt), Steamer CHARLES PLUMIER (Vichy 4504 grt),

Neutral shipping
FV ELLY (SD 52 grt), Steamer VINGALAND (SD 2734 grt), MV VERONICA (SD 1318 grt), MV ANTEN (SD 5135 grt),

Steamer MINERVA (FN 2039 grt),

steamer CITY OF RAYVILLE (US 5883 grt),

Steamer ARDMORE (Eire 1023 grt),


9239 grt (SD), 2039 grt (FN), 5883 grt (USl), 1023 grt (Eire)
(18184 grt Mercantile)

Neutral warships
None

Total Neutral Mercantile + Military: 18184 grt
Total Allied + Neutral: 437487 grt

Prizes taken
None

Axis
Warships
DKM
Type VIIa U-31 (DKM 733 grt), TB T.6 (DKM 1080 grt), SBoat S-38 (DKM 115 grt), Type IXB U-104 (DKM 1051 grt),

RM
Marcello Class sub FAA DI BRUNO (RM 1043 grt), BB CONTE DI CAVOUR (RM 23868 grt), TB CONFIENZA (RM 875 grt),

Vichy
Redoutable Class submarine PONCELET (Vichy 1384 grt), Bougainville Class sloop BOUGAINVILLE (Vichy 1969 grt), AMC CAP DES PALMES (Vichy 3081 grt)

Axis Naval tonnage lost
2979 grt (DKM), 25786 grt (RM), 6434 grt (Vichy)
35199 grt (Axis)

Axis Shipping
GER
steamer SIGRUN (Ex-Danish 1337 grt), steamer DELFINUS (Ex-Nor 1293 grt), Steamers PHRYGIA (Ger 4137 grt), Schooner BRIGETTE RAABE (Ger 375 grt),

7142 grt (Ger)

(FI)
MV ANTONIO LOCATELLI (FI 5691 grt), MV CAPO VADO (FI 4391 grt), Hybrid LINER/MV CATALANI (FI 2429 grt), MV PREMUDA (FI 4427 grt), Coastal steamer ARDITA IV (FI 54 grt), Coastal steamer ARDITA III (FI 57 grt),

17044 grt (FI)

(Vichy)
trawler CHARLES EDMONDE (Vichy 201 grt), Steamer CHARLES PLUMIER (Vichy 4504 grt),

4705 grt (Vichy)

Total Axis Mercantile28897 grt)
Total Axis Mercantile and Naval Tonnage losses: (64090 grt)

Captured ships
tkr OLE JACOB (Nor 8306 grt),