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ADM
199/635
FLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE, WEST AFRICA
WAR DIARY – JANUARY 1943
(Incorporating
all War Diaries rendered for January 1943 by subordinate authorities)
PART
1 – OPERATIONAL
Friday, 1st January
Aircraft reported sighting
possible periscope in position 8-30N, 14-30W at 1113.
At 1755 hours, aircraft sighted U
boat fully surfaced in position 8-30N, 14-25W from the port beam and dropped 6
depth charges set to 25 feet. The
nearest was 50 feet from the U boat and forward of the conning tower, the top
of which was visible at the time of the attack. Nothing further was observed.
C.F. 10 (4 ships) escorted by
H.M. Ships HOLCOMBE, ILEX, WOODRUFF, and ASTURIAS sailed from Freetown.
Vichy French convoy of 3 merchant
vessels sailed from Dakar for the Ivory Coast and Dahomey.
F.S. ADMIRAL
(n.b. AMIRAL) MOUCHEZ arrived Bathurst.
H.M.Ships SARABANDE and COPINSAY
sailed from Lagos for screening duties off Accra.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES and H.M.S. ORFASY sailed from Lagos for Takoradi escorting S.S.
MATADIAN and S.S. KINGBURY for onward convoy in T.S. 28.
H.M.S. HOLCOMBE arrived Freetown
and sailed again to join convoy C.F. 10.
H.M.S. BIRDLIP and M.L. 302
sailed from Bathurst to Dakar escorting H.T. HAI LEE and S.S. JAMES TURNER.
H.M.S. PORTSDOWN sailed from
Bathurst escorting S.S. BOTHNICE to join convoy F.F.T. 6.
H.M. Ships CROCUS and ILEX sailed
from Freetown to carry out A/S search for a U boat.
H.M.S. BELLWORT sailed from
Bathurst to meet H.M.S. ASTURIAS.
Saturday, 2nd January
H.M.S. ILEX arrived Bathurst from
A/S search off Dakar.
H.M. Ships BREDON and BARFOSS
arrived Takoradi.
H.M. Ships LADY ELSA and WELLARD
sailed from Pointe Noire for Bomb on passage to Simonstown.
H.M. Ships MILFORD, AMARANTHUS,
YESTOR, and MORRIS DANCE sailed from Trinidad to meet convoy F.T.T. 6.
A/S search continued off Freetown
by H.M.S. CROOME and M.L.s 278, 281, and 289 with air cooperation. H.M.S. CROCUS subsequently returned to Freetown.
H.M.S. PICT met S.S. MAIHAR in
position ÒMÓ and escorted her to Freetown.
H.M.S. FANDANGO and H.M.I.S. BALUCHISTAN
with M.L.s 252 and 261 arrived
Freetown escorting S.S. EMPIRE ELAINE and S.S. NEWCHWANG from Bathurst.
H.M.S. PETUNIA sailed from
Freetown for the Azores escorting S.S. BASIL.
H.M.S. BELLWORT joined convoy
C.F. 10.
Sunday, 3rd January
S.S. ADMIRAL MOUCHEZ sailed from
Bathurst.
H.M.S. ILEX sailed from Bathurst.
H.M.S. BIRDLIP met H.T. HAI LEE
off Dakar and escorted her to Bathurst.
H.M. Ships ARRAN and ST WISTAN
arrived Bathurst from Freetown.
H.M.S. ORFASY and F.S. COMMANDANT
D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES arrived Takoradi from Lagos escorting S.S. MATADIAN and S.S.
KINGSBURY for inclusion in Convoy T.S. 28.
H.M. Ships ORFASY and BREDON and
F.S. COMMANDANT D'ENTIENNE D'ORVES with
M.L.s
271, 290, and 296 sailed from Takoradi as escorted to convoy T.S. 28.
H.M.S. BARFOSS sailed from
Takoradi.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Pointe
Noire for fuel.
H.M.S. GLENROY escorted by H.M.S.
JANUS arrived Pointe Noire from Simonstown and JANUS, having fuelled, both ships sailed again for Takoradi.
H.M.S. RUMBA parted company with Convoy S.T. 51.
Convoy W.S. 25 (9 ships) sailed
from Freetown escorted by H.M. Ships ROCKWOOD, CROCUS, CHESHIRE, ALCANTARA, and
QUILLIAM.
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER and
ARMERIA sailed from Trinidad escorting S.S. DAVID STONE and S.S. BENJAMIN SMITH to Marshall (Liberia).
H.M.S. BURDOCK arrived Freetown
from Gibraltar.
H.M.S. MORRIS DANCE returned to
Trinidad as she was unable to maintain speed of Convoy F.T.T. 6.
H.M.S. PICT with M.L.s 209 and 244 sailed from Freetown
escorting S.S. PHRONTIS and S.S. AMSTELKIRK to Takoradi.
M.L. s 278, 281, and 289 returned
to Freetown from A/S Search off the port.
H.M.S. CARNARVON CASTLE sailed
from Freetown to intercept Portuguese S.S. QUANZA.
H.M. Submarine P.614 left patrol
area to return to Freetown.
Monday, 4th January
U Boat was sighted by H.M.
Submarine P.614 in position 8-54N, 17-27W, but dived before an attack could be
made.
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from
Pointe Noire for Freetown.
H.M. Ships HERTFORDSHIRE and LADY
ROSEMARY arrived Takoradi.
H.M. Ships LADY ELSA and WELLARD
arrived Bomba for Pointe Noire, on passage to Simonstown.
Tuesday, 5th January
H.M. Submarine P.615 on passage
to Freetown was attacked by a U boat in position 10-47, 17-16W.
Norwegian S.S. TARN reported
sighting a U boat in position 5-26N, 1-50E.
Portuguese S.S. PUNGUE arrived
Freetown for examination and sailed again for Lisbon.
H.M. Submarine P.614 arrived
Freetown from A/S patrol.
H.M. Ships FANDANGO and BUTSER
sailed from Freetown for Bathurst escorting S.S. KAJANG and S.S. STARLING.
H.M.S. WOODRUFF parted company with H.T. LARGS BAY to make rendezvous with S.S. NORTH MOOR.
H.M.S. NORTHERN ISLES arrived
Takoradi.
Wednesday, 6th January
H.M. Submarine P.615 arrived
Freetown from the United Kingdom.
Portuguese S.S. QUANZA was
sighted by aircraft in position 10-30N, 17-30W. H.M.S. CYCLAMEN sailed from
Freetown to meet QUANZA and escort her to Freetown.
French submarine LA SULTANE
attacked off Dakar by aircraft. Identity was established after the attack and
submarine returned to Dakar.
A/S patrols were carried out with the cooperation of the R.A.F. to
search for U boat, which attacked H.M. Submarine P.615 on the previous day.
H.M.S. HOLCOMBE arrived Bathurst
and sailed again in company with H.M.S.
ILEX to escort H.T. HAI LEE for Freetown.
M.L.s 263 and 1078 sailed from
Takoradi for Lagos.
H.M.S. PETUNIA arrived Gibraltar.
F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES parted company with convoy
T.S. 28 to meet convoy W.S. 25 and in company with H.M.I.S. BALUCHISTAN to escort S.S. HIGHLAND BRIGADE to Takoradi.
H.M.S. WOODRUFF failed to make
rendezvous with S.S. NORTHERN MOOR
and proceeded to Bathurst.
H.M.S. HERTFORDSHIRE, H.M.S. LADY
ROSEMARY, M.L. 263, and M.L. 1078 sailed from Takoradi.
Thursday, 7th January
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN intercepted
Portuguese S.S. QUANZA and escorted her to Freetown.
H.M.S. Ships BURDOCK, PETUNIA,
and DRANGEY sailed from Gibraltar escorting three merchant vessels to Freetown.
H.M.S. BELLWORT arrived Bathurst
from patrol.
H.M.S. GLENROY escorted by H.M.S.
JANUS arrived Takoradi from Pointe Noire and sailed again on passage to
Freetown and the United Kingdom.
F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES and H.M.I.S. BALUCHISTAN arrived Takoradi escorting S.S. HIGHLAND
BRIGADE ex convoy W.S. 25.
M.L.s 209 and 244 arrived
Takoradi from Freetown.
H.M.S. PICT arrived off Takoradi
escorting S.S. AMSTELKIRK.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU oiled at
sea from R.F.A. ORANGE LEAF in convoy F.T.T. 6.
Friday, 8th January
H.M.S. HOLCOMBE arrived Freetown
from Bathurst escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Freetown
from Pointe Noire having afforded cover to convoy W.S. 25.
Netherlands submarine O.19
arrived Freetown on passage to the United Kingdom from Simonstown.
H.M.S. ILEX arrived Freetown from
Bathurst having parted company with H.M.S.
HOLCOMBE to search for M.L. 277.
H.M.S. BREDON and H.M.S. ORFASY
with M.L.s 271, 290, and 296 arrived
off Freetown from Takoradi escorting convoy T.S. 28. Boom gate was jammed and
A/S protection was given to ships off the port by escort vessels to convoy T.S.
28 with the addition of six M.L.s. Continuous
air cover was also provided during daylight hours by R.N. Air Station,
Hastings.
H.M.S. BIRDLIP arrived Freetown
from patrol.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA oiled at sea
from R.F.A. ORANGE LEAF in convoy F.T.T. 6.
....(n.b. bottom of page chopped)....
Saturday, 9th January
Examination of Portuguese S.S.
QUANZA completed and she sailed from Freetown for Funchal and Lisbon with navicert.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN with M.L.s 278 and 289 sailed from Freetown
escorting H.T. HAI LEE to Bathurst.
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN arrived
Freetown from Rio de Janeiro.
Convoy T.M. 1 heavily attacked by
U boats in approximate position 28N, 28W. H.M. Tugs CHARON and AIMWELL sailed
from Freetown to make rendezvous with H.M.S.
BELLWORT off Bathurst before proceeding to assistance of damaged ships.
H.M.S. BREDON sailed from
Freetown for Bathurst.
H.M.S. ILEX sailed from Freetown
for Bathurst to fuel and, if required, to proceed to assistance of convoy T.M.
1.
H.M.S. CARNARVON CASTLE left
patrol area for Rio de Janeiro in accordance with orders from the Admiralty.
H.M. Ships COPINSAY and SARABANDE
sailed from Takoradi escorting S.S. CAP PADORAN for Lagos.
H.M. Ships MILFORD, AMARANTHUS,
and YESTOR from Trinidad took over escort of convoy F.T.T.6 from H.M. Ships
HYDRANGEA, DUNCTON, DUNKERY, INKPEN, PORTSDOWN, and F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU.
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER and
ARMERIA met convoy F.T.T. 6 and ARMERIA having oiled from R.F.A. ORANGE LEAF both ships parted company with the convoy and set course for
Marshall.
H.M.S. CROCUS parted company with convoy W.S. 25 for Pointe Noire.
Main Gate of Boom in operation
again and convoy T.S. 28 entered harbour.
H.M.S. TAMARISK sailed from
Freetown for Trinidad.
H.M. Ships ST WISTAN and ARRAN sailed
from Bathurst for Dakar.
H.M.S. BREDON sailed from
Freetown to Bathurst to escort H.M. Tugs AIMWELL and CHARON.
H.M. Ships COPINSAY and SARABANDE
sailed from Takoradi.
Sunday, 10th January
H.M.S. ILEX sailed from Freetown
to assist Convoy T.M. 1 which had been heavily attacked by U Boats. She was
subsequently diverted to join H.M.S. HOLCOMBE in A/S search for reported U
Boat.
H.M.S. ARRAN and H.M.S. ST WISTAN
sailed from Bathurst for Dakar to assist escort of a French southbound convoy.
H.M. Ships COPINSAY and SARABANDE
arrived Lagos escorting S.S. CAP PADORAN for onward escort to Port Harcourt.
H.M.S. WOODRUFF arrived Bathurst
from Freetown.
M.L.s 1077 and 1076 arrived
Freetown escorting S.S. PINZON.
U.S.S. MEMPHIS and U.S.S. SOMERS
arrived Bathurst.
Monday, 11 January
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN with M.L.s 261 and 289 arrived Bathurst
escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
H.M.Ships CYCLAMEN, BIRDLIP,
BUTSER, FANDANGO sailed from Bathurst for Dakar to reinforce escorts of
northbound French convoy.
H.M.S. CROCUS arrived Freetown
from Pointe Noire.
H.M.S. RUMBA arrived Boma from
Lagos to dock.
Aircraft reported sighting
conning tower of U boat in position 2-40N, 26-47W.
H.M. Ships PICT and NORTHERN
ISLES with M.L. 265 and F.S.
COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES sailed from Takoradi.
R.A.F. reported sighting
Portuguese destroyer GONZALUS in position 2-29N, 0-42W, course 200 degrees, and
speed 16 knots.
H.M.S. CROCUS arrived Pointe
Noire from escort duties with convoy
W.S. 23 (n.b. W.S. 25) to boiler
clean.
H.M.S. LADY ELSA and H.M.S.
WELLARD sailed from Boma for Walvis Bay.
Wednesday, 12th January
H.M. Ships GLENROY and JANUS
arrived Freetown on passage to the United Kingdom.
H.M.S. BELLWORT sailed from
Bathurst for Dakar and having arrived returned to Bathurst.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN with three trawlers arrived Dakar from
Bathurst.
H.M.S. WOODRUFF with M.L.s 287 and 302 sailed from Bathurst
for Freetown escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
H.M.S. BREDON arrived Bathurst
escorting H.M. Tugs AIMWELL and CHARON.
H.M. Ships HOLCOMBE and ILEX
abandoned U boat search and were ordered to return to Freetown by orders of the
Admiralty.
H.M.S. DRAGON returning from
escorting convoy F.T.T.6 was ordered to proceed to Freetown and H.M.S.
HYDRANGEA to Bathurst.
H.M.S. PETUNIA was ordered to
detach H.M.S. BURDOCK to proceed to Bathurst.
F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES escorting convoy T.S. 29 reported sighting a U boat in position 4-33N,
2-24W.
H.M. Ships HERTFORDSHIRE and LADY
ROSEMARY arrived and sailed for Pointe Noire.
Wednesday, 13th January
(n.b.
one line at top of page chopped)
Convoy KX.8 in about latitude 25
degrees North.
H.M.S. GLENROY and H.M.S. JANUS
sailed from Freetown for the United Kingdom.
H.M.S. ILEX arrived Freetown from
A/S patrol.
H.M.S. ORFASY sailed from
Freetown to meet southbound French convoy.
H.M.S. BREDON with M.L.s 278 and 1072 sailed from
Bathurst to Freetown escorting H.M. Tug CHARON, S.S. STARLING, and S.S. KAJANG.
H.M. Ships CYCLAMEN, BELLWORT,
BUTSER, BIRDLIP, and FANDANGO sailed from Dakar for Casablanca escorting convoy
D.64 which was also escorted by French Ships DUMONT and DURVILLE.
F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES parted company with escort
of convoy T.S. 28 to screen BRISTOL COAST off Marshall.
The President of the United
States of America arrived in Bathurst on his way to the Casablanca conference.
M.L. 265 arrived Takoradi.
M.L.s 1018 and 1014 sailed from
Takoradi to investigate R.A.F. report of oil patch and sharks in approximate
position 4-33N, 1-24W.
H.M.S. NORTHERN ISLES arrived
Lagos from Takoradi for dynamo repairs, before proceeding to Simonstown.
H.M. Ships HERTFORDSHIRE and LADY
ROSEMARY arrived Banana from Pointe Noire and sailed again for Walvis Bay
having disembarked balance of crew of H.M.S. MERCATOR.
Thursday, 14th January
H.M.S. HOLCOMBE returned to
Freetown from A/S patrol.
H.M.S. ARRAN arrived Freetown
having parted company with French
southbound convoy.
H.M.S. WOODRUFF with M.L. 302 and 287 arrived Freetown from
Bathurst escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
M.L. 290 and 281 sailed from
Freetown for Dakar escorting S.S. PONCE.
H.M. Submarine P.614 sailed from
Freetown for Simonstown via Takoradi where she was ordered to carry out A/S
training.
H.M.S. BURDOCK arrived Bathurst
and sailed again to meet convoy KX.8.
M.L.s 1077 and 1076 arrived
Bathurst from Freetown escorting S.S. PINZON.
M.L. 279 returned to Freetown
from escorting H.M. Submarine P.614.
M.L.s 1018 and 1014 returned to
Takoradi after negative result to investigation of R.A.F. report of oil patch
and sharks in approximate position 4-33N, 2-24W.
Friday, 15th January
H.M.S. HOLCOMBE sailed from
Freetown for Takoradi escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
H.M. Tug CHARON arrived Freetown
from Bathurst.
M.L.s 305 and 251 sailed from
Freetown to assist H.M.S. ST WISTAN to screen S.S. BRISTOL COAST, S.S. DAVID
STONE, and S.S. BENJAMIN SMITH off
Marshall.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA arrived Bathurst
from escort duties with convoy
F.T.T. 6.
H.M.S. BREDON with M.L.s 278 and 1072 arrived Freetown
escorting H.M. Tug CHARON, S.S. STARLING, and S.S. KAJANG.
H.M. Ships SARABANDE and COPINSAY
sailed for Port Harcourt escorting S.S. CAP PADORAN.
H.M. TURCOMAN sailed from
Takoradi to dock at Lagos.
H.M.S. BELLWORT parted company with convoy D.64 to make a rendezvous with convoy K.X. 8.
Belgian Training Ship MERCATOR
taken over by the Royal Navy at Banana from the Belgian Government for the
purpose of providing a submarine accommodation ship at Freetown.
H.M. Ships GLENROY and JANUS
arrived Bathurst and sailed again for the United Kingdom.
M.L. 1018 sailed from Takoradi
for further investigation of oil patch reported by the R.A.F. on the 12th January.
Saturday, 16th January
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN attacked
confirmed submarine contact in position 23-34N, 16-34W. H.M.S. BELLWORT was
ordered by H.M.S. CORINTHIAN to remain in the area while she rejoined convoy
F.T.T. 6. There was no evidence that the attack was successful.
M.L. 1018 returned to Takoradi
after further investigation of oil patch reported by the R.A.F. on the 12th January and reported that a submarine
was observed stationary on the surface in position 04-44N, 1-54W and that she
had also sighted the oil patch, samples of which were brought back.
H.M.S. NORTHERN ISLES sailed from
Lagos, reports of her dynamo having been completed, for Walvis Bay en route to
Simonstown.
H.M.S. ARMERIA arrived Freetown
having escorted H.M.S. PHOEBE to Trinidad.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU and H.M.S.
CORINTHIAN arrived Freetown from escorting duties with convoy F.T.T. 6.
H.M.S. PICT and F.S. COMMANDANT
D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES arrived Freetown from Takoradi escorting convoy T.S. 29.
H.M. Ships PETUNIA and DRANGEY
arrived Freetown from Gibraltar escorting three ships ex convoy K.M.S. 6.
H.M.N.S. O.19 sailed from
Freetown to refit in the United Kingdom.
H.M. Ships MILFORD, TAMARISK,
AMARANTHUS, and YESTOR sailed from Trinidad for New Orleans.
H.M.S. GLENROY developed engine
trouble off Dakar and H.M. Tug AIMWELL was ordered to proceed to her assistance
but recalled to Bathurst. H.M.S. GLENROY reported she was able to proceed at 11
knots and was ordered to return to Bathurst with H.M.S. JANUS.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA sailed from
Bathurst to meet convoy K.X. 8.
H.M.S. WOODRUFF arrived Freetown
from Bathurst.
H.M.S. FANDANGO arrived Freetown
from escorting convoy D.64.
H.M.S. SARABANDE and H.M.S.
COPINSAY arrived Port Harcourt from Lagos.
H.M.S. CARNATIC sailed for
Freetown from Gibraltar.
H.M. Ships INKPEN and PORTSDOWN
arrived Bathurst.
Sunday, 17th January
H.M.S. GLENROY and H.M.S. JANUS
arrived Bathurst and sailed again for the United Kingdom via Ponta Delgada.
H.M.S. TURCOMAN arrived Lagos
from Takoradi for docking and refit.
H.M.S. BRIDGEWATER arrived
Marshall with S.S. BENJAMIN SMITH and S.S. DAVID STONE and sailed again
for Freetown.
M.L.s 281 and 290 sailed from
Dakar for Bathurst having turned over the escort of S.S. PONCE to F.S. W.72. Both M.L.s subsequently arrived at
Bathurst.
M.L.s 1014 and 1018 from Trinidad
carried out A/S search to the west of 3-30W and in the area of the oil patch,
which was reported by the R.A.F. on the 12th January.
Monday, 18th January
H.M. Ships DUNCTON and DUNKERY
arrived Freetown from escorting convoy F.T.T. 6.
H.M.S. BRIDGEWATER arrived
Freetown from Trinidad escorting S.S. BENJAMIN SMITH and S.S. DAVID STONE to Marshall.
H.M.I.S. BALUCHISTAN sailed from
Takoradi for Walvis Bay calling at Pointe Noire for fuel.
H.M. Ships HOLCOMBE and ORFASY
arrived Takoradi escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
Convoy F.T.T. 6 arrived Trinidad
without loss.
M.L. 263 sailed from Lagos for
Takoradi.
H.M.S. PICT with M.L.s 271 and 279 sailed from Freetown
for Bathurst and Dakar escorting S.S. BELMOR and S.S. CALMAR.
M.L. 1018 and 1014 returned to
Takoradi from A/S search.
H.M.S. CROCUS sailed from Pointe
Noire to Matadi.
Tuesday, 19th January
H.M. DUNCTON, F.S. COMMANDANT
DROGOU with M.L.s 261 and 278 sailed
from Freetown to escort convoy S.T. 53 to Takoradi.
F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES sailed from Freetown to assist escort of convoy S.T. 53 to Takoradi.
U Boat situation made it
desirable to cancel all independent sailings between Freetown and Takoradi, but
on receipt of further information from the Admiralty, it was considered that
independent sailing could be resumed and the order was subsequently canceled.
H.M. Submarine P.614 arrived at
Takoradi to carry out A/S exercises before proceeding to join the South Atlantic Station.
M.L. 263 arrived Takoradi from
Lagos.
H.M.S. FANDANGO sailed from
Freetown for Bathurst.
H.M.S. CROCUS arrived Matadi from
Pointe Noire.
H.M.S. MERCATOR (ex Belgian
Training Ship) sailed from Banana for Lagos, on passage to Freetown escorted by
H.M.S. RUMBA.
Wednesday, 20th January
H.M.S. DUNKERY sailed from
Freetown for Marshall to relieve H.M.S. ST WISTAN. Subsequently she was ordered
to proceed to position 9-20N, 15-10W where a submarine was sighted by aircraft
at 1331. H.M.S. CORINTHIAN was ordered to part company with Convoy K.X. 8 and carry out an A/S search in the same area. The
search was unsuccessful and both ships
were ordered to return to Freetown.
H.M.S. FANDANGO arrived Bathurst
from Freetown.
H.M.S. PICT sailed from Freetown
for Bathurst escorting S.S. BELMOR.
H.M.S. BURDOCK took over as
Senior Officer from H.M.S. CORINTHIAN in convoy K.X. 8.
Thursday, 21st January
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from
Freetown for Dakar so as to be present during the negotiations between the Flag
Officer Commanding, West Africa and Vice Admiral Collinet.
H.M.S. Ships ALCANTARA and
WOODRUFF sailed from Freetown for Kingston (Jamaica), to provide ocean escort
for A.F.D. XXIV.
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN arrived
Freetown from escort duties with convoy
K.X. 8 and A/S search off the port.
H.M.S. DUNKERY arrived Freetown
from A/S search off the port.
Convoy K.X. 8 dispersed in
position 5-47N, 15-23W escorted returning to Freetown independently.
H.M.S. ARRAN sailed from Freetown
to relieve H.M.S. ST WISTAN off Marshall.
H.M. Ships CYCLAMEN, BUTSER, and
BIRDLIP arrived Freetown from Casablanca.
H.M.S. PICT detached S.S. CALMAR
off Dakar and returned to Bathurst.
M.L.s 271 and 279 arrived Bathurst.
H.M.S. FANDANGO sailed from
Bathurst.
M.L.s 244 and 209 sailed from
Takoradi.
Friday, 22nd January
H.M. Ships BELLWORT, BURDOCK,
BREDON, and HYDRANGEA arrived Freetown escorting convoy KX. 8.
H.M.S. ARRAN which sailed to
relieve H.M.S. ST WISTAN off Marshall was ordered to return to Freetown as all
merchant ships discharging off the Liberian surf port had sailed.
H.M.S. DUNKERY with M.L.s 251 and 302 sailed from Freetown
escorting S.S. KAMA and S.S. MACGREGOR LAIRD with R.A.F. stores for Port Etienne and thence to meet and escort
southbound convoy from Gibraltar from latitude 20 degrees North.
H.M. Ships PORTSDOWN and INKPEN
with M.L.s 281 and 290 sailed from
Bathurst for Freetown escorting five merchant vessels and one Boom Defence
Vessel.
H.M.S. PICT arrived Bathurst from
Dakar.
H.M.I.S. BALUCHISTAN arrived
Pointe Noire from Freetown for fuel and sailed again for Simonstown.
H.M.S. ILEX sailed from Freetown
escorting S.S. PRIAM.
Aircraft operating from Port
Etienne reported sighting a U boat on the surface in position 27-41N, 13-58W.
F.S. JULES VERNE arrived
Bathurst.
M.L.s 281 and 290 sailed from
Bathurst.
H.M.S. HOLCOMBE sailed from
Takoradi.
Submarine P.614 and surface craft
carried out A/S exercises off Takoradi.
Saturday, 23rd January
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN and ARRAN
with M.L.s 1160 and 1087 sailed from
Freetown to Bathurst escorting S.S. MALADIAN, S.S. TREFUSIS, S.S. CHATEAU ROND,
and S.S. PINTO and thence to meet H.T.s BERGENSFIORD, LEOPOLDVILLE, and ORBITA
in latitude 20N on the 28th January.
H.M.S. ST WISTAN arrived Freetown
from screening duties off Marshall.
H.M.S. PETUNIA and H.M.S. ARMERIA
sailed from Freetown for A/S exercises and on completion to overtake H.M.S.
CORINTHIAN.
H.M.S. PICT with M.L.s 271 and 279 sailed from Bathurst
escorting S.S. BELMOR to Freetown.
U.S.S. BENJAMIN SMITH sunk by U boat off Cape Palmas having
sailed unescorted from Marshall, without approval of the Flag Officer
Commanding, West Africa.
H.M. Ships SARABANDE and COPINSAY
sailed from Lagos and arrived Takoradi.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU and F.S.
COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES, H.M.S. DUNCTON and M.L.s 261 and 278 arrived
Freetown from Takoradi escorting convoy S.T. 53.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN sailed from
Casablanca escorting H.T. BERGENSFIORD.
An U.S. Aircraft reporting
sighting a U boat in position 2-25N, 2-56W.
H.M.S. DUNCTON and F.F.S.
COMMANDANT DROGOU and F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES with M.L.s 261 and 278 arrived Takoradi.
Sunday, 24th January
H.M.S. CARNATIC arrived Freetown
on passage from the United Kingdom to Simonstown.
M.L. 305 sailed from Freetown to
screen S.S. MALAKAL off Sulima.
U boat was sighted by aircraft in
position 4-35N, 9-54W at 1058.
S.S. PALACIO was ordered to
return to Takoradi and independent sailings between that port and Freetown were
cancelled. An air search was instituted and the route of H.M.S. ILLUSTRIOUS was
altered. H.M.S. PENN was also ordered to reinforce her escort to Freetown.
H.M.S. MERCATOR escorted by
H.M.S. RUMBA sailed from Pointe Noire for Lagos.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU sailed
from Takoradi escorting H.T. HAI LEE to Lagos.
H.M. Ships SARABANDE and COPINSAY
sailed from Takoradi for Lagos escorting S.S. CAP PADORAN.
(n.b
bottom of page chopped).
Monday, 25th January
H.M. Ships PORTSDOWN and INKPEN arrived
Freetown escorting four merchant vessels.
M.L. 281 arrived Freetown
escorting H.M.S. BARDELL who had straggled from her convoy.
Destroyers PATHFINDER and PANTHER
arrived Freetown from Gibraltar to provide onward escort for H.M.S.
ILLUSTRIOUS.
H.M. Ships ILLUSTRIOUS, ILEX, and
HOLCOMBE arrived Freetown on passage from the Cape. H.M.S PENN was ordered to
part company with H.M.S. ILLUSTRIOUS
to search for Fleet Air Arm aircraft which was reported missing, but had in
fact landed at the R.n. Air Station, Hastings. H.M.S. PENN subsequently arrived
Freetown.
H.M.S. PICT with M.L.s 271 and 274 arrived Freetown
from Bathurst escorting S.S. BELNOR.
Aircraft reported sighting U boat
in position 19-12N, 17-15W.
U boat sighted by aircraft in
position 27-41N, 13-58W.
H.M.S. ORFASY sailed from
Takoradi for Accra escorting H.M. B.D.V.s BARFOSS and CONSBRO.
H.M.S. CROCUS sailed from Banana
escorting S.S. RHESUS to Takoradi.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Lagos escorting H.T. HAI LEE from Takoradi.
Submarine P.614 sailed from St
Vincent for Bathurst.
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER and ST
WISTAN carried out A/S exercises with a
submarine.
Wednesday, 26th January
H.M.S. ILLUSTRIOUS escorted by
H.M. Ships PATHFINDER, PANTHER, HOLCOMBE, and ILEX sailed from Freetown for
Gibraltar.
M.L.s 209 and 244 arrived
Takoradi escorting tanker JENNY.
H.M.S. BRIDGEWATER sailed from
Freetown escorting S.S. RHEXINOR towards Trinidad as far as approximately 35W
where she is to meet tanker NORSOL and escort her to Freetown.
H.M.S. ILLUSTRIOUS diverted on
account of U boat situation.
H.M.S. ORFASY escorting
H.M.B.D.V. BARFOSS and H.M.B.D.V. CONSBRO arrived Accra from Takoradi to lay
oil pipeline.
M.L. 285 sailed from Pointe Noire
for Lagos after six week refit, escorting S.S. BELGIAN FISHERMAN.
French ships COMMANDANT
D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES sailed from Lagos for Pointe Noire to escort H.T. HAI LEE to
Matadi.
H.M. Ships SARABANDE and COPINSAY
arrived Lagos from Takoradi.
French source reported U.66 close
inshore off coast of Rio de Oro about 70 miles north of La Aguena.
H.M.S. ARRAN arrived Bathurst with M.L.s 1089 and 1160.
H.M.S. PENN arrived Bathurst.
Coast defence exercises carried
out at Takoradi.
Wednesday, 27th January
H.M.S. ARRAN sailed from Bathurst
for Dakar.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN parted company
from south bound convoy and
proceeded to Port Etienne.
H.M.S. HOLCOMBE ordered to fuel
at Bathurst and then rejoin escort to H.M.S. ILLUSTRIOUS.
Aircraft reported U Boat on the
surface in position 14-36N, 17-26W.
Thursday, 28th January
Transit aircraft reported
sighting intermittent oil patches extending over length of 50 miles seen from position 4-25N, 5-31W. This aircraft also
reported what appeared to be two landing barges lashed together and a
considerable amount of wreckage in position 4-46N, 5-27W.
H.M.S. DUNCTON and M.L.s 265 and
263 sailed from Takoradi to investigate this report, which was believed to be
the wreckage of S.S. BENJAMIN SMITH.
H.M.H.S. ATLANTIS arrived
Freetown.
M.L. 305 returned to Freetown
from screening S.S. MALAKAL off Sulima.
H.M. Ships ST WISTAN and BARDELL
sailed from Freetown for Takoradi.
H.M.S. FANDANGO arrived Bathurst
from St Vincent.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES sailed from
Dakar on enemy surface raider patrol in the St Pauls Rocks area.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN arrived Port
Etienne.
H.M.S. CROCUS arrived Takoradi
from Pointe Noire.
H.M.S. PICT with M.L.s 277 and 296 carried out A/S
exercises with a submarine.
Friday, 29th January
H.M. Ships BELLWORT, DRANGEY, and
PICT with M.L.s 305 and 279 sailed
from Freetown to Takoradi escorting Convoy S.T. 54 (3 ships).
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from Dakar
for Freetown on completion of negotiations between the Flag Officer Commanding,
West Africa, and Vice Admiral Collinet.
H.M.S. ARRAN sailed from Freetown
for Bathurst escorting S.S. PONCE and S.S. CALMAR.
F.S. JULES VERNE arrived Dakar
from Bathurst.
H.M.S. FANDANGO with M.L.s 1077 and 1076 sailed from
Bathurst for Freetown escorting S.S. EMPIRE LIMBA.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Pointe Noire from Lagos.
H.M. Ships BREDON and BELLWORT
carried out A/S exercises with a
submarine.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT, PORTSDOWN,
DRANGEY, PICT, and BREDON carried out full calibre L.A. practice firings.
An empty raft was sighted by
aircraft in position 6-55N, 21-28W.
H.M.H.S. ATLANTIS sailed from
Freetown for Capetown.
F.S. ADMIRAL MOUCHEZ arrived
Takoradi.
Saturday, 30th January
Aircraft attacked U boat in
position 12-08N, 20-30W at 1356 hours, dropping 6 depth charges. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 fell just wide of the port bow, No. 4
was a near miss on the port beam, No. 5 was a direct hit between the conning
tower and the stern, and No. 6 was under stern. U Boat lost in upheaval. Large
oil patch 100 feet by 50 feet was seen, no bubbles, U boat surfaced suddenly,
nose up at an angle of 45 degrees, remained awash for 8 minutes. Aircraft
machine gunned conning tower. No sign of personnel. U Boat attempted to surface
a second time but slowly sank back.
Two barges were seen beached in
position 5-10N, 3-31W and 2 more in position 5-13N, 4-06W at 1410 hours.
H.M. Ships BURDOCK, PORTSDOWN,
and BREDON with M.L.s 271, 277, 290,
and 296 sailed from Freetown escorting S.S. CALGARY, WICKENBURGH, and
TICONDEROGA to Bathurst, S.S. OUAD FEY to Dakar, and S.S. JENNY to vicinity of
Port Etienne for onward passage to Gibraltar.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Freetown
from Dakar.
M.L.s 279 and 305 returned to
Freetown from escorting Convoy S.T. 54.
French ships RICHELIEU and
MONTCALM sailed from Dakar for Bermuda.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN sailed from Port
Etienne for Bathurst.
H.M. Ships ARMERIA and PETUNIA
arrived Freetown from Dakar escorting H.T. BERGENSFIORD.
F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES arrived Pointe Noire from Takoradi.
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN arrived
Freetown from Bathurst escorting S.S. ORBITA.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU sailed
from Pointe Noire for Banana escorting H.T. HAI LEE to embark U.S. Troops at
Matadi.
Sunday, 31st January
Sixty eight survivors from S.S.
BENJAMIN SMITH landed at Amanahia,
Ivory Coast.
The pilot of a U.S. Transit
Aircraft reported sighting one U boat in position 2-10N, 11-45W and another in
position 5-45N, 10-30W.
H.M.S. PETUNIA arrived Bathurst
from Dakar and sailed again to return to Dakar.
M.L.s 263 and 256 returned to
Takoradi after investigation of wreckage reported by aircraft on the 26th January. No sign of any wreckage was
seen.
H.M. Ships COPINSAY and MERCATOR
sailed from Lagos to Takoradi to join convoy T.S. 30.
M.L. 285 arrived Lagos from
Pointe Noire escorting S.S. BELGIAN FISHERMAN.
H.M. Submarine P.614 arrived
Pointe Noire from Takoradi for fuel and sailed again for Simonstown.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Banana and sailed again escorting H.T. TAI LEE to Duala.
H.M.S. WOODRUFF arrived Trinidad
from Freetown with H.M.S. ALCANTARA.
H.M.S. FANDANGO with M.L.s 1076 and 1077 arrived Freetown
from Bathurst escorting S.S. EMPIRE LIMBA.
H.M.S. CARNATIC sailed from
Freetown for Point Noire for passage to Simonstown.
H.M.S. PICT detached from Convoy
S.T 54 to escort S.S. HOGGAR to Port Bouet.
PART
II – GENERAL
U
Boat activity
There has been little U boat
activity during the month and only
two merchant ships have been torpedoed.
U Boat sightings and attacks by
aircraft and H.M. ships have been reported in PART I of this diary, on the days
they took place as also reports on Merchant Vessels torpedoed in these waters.
Employment
of Escort Forces
All vessels during the month have been employed on local escort
duties, with the exception of
MILFORD, TAMARISK, AMARANTHUS, and WESTON and MORRIS DANCE who were under the
orders of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, until required to escort
the Floating Dock from New Orleans to Freetown. These ships are now docking and
MORRIS DANCE is being retubed.
CORINTHIAN arrived Freetown on 9th January from Rio de Janeiro, where she
was docked.
All ships detached during
December are still absent from West Africa.
Three destroyers, ADRIAS,
QUADRANT, and REDOUBT, due to arrive on 6th
January, have been allocated to my command until relieved by MALCOLM,
WOLVERINE, and WITCH who will form part of the Freetown Escort Force.
RUMBA completed docking in Boma
on 17th January, and in due course
will return to Freetown.
Refits
TURCOMAN is at present refitting
in Lagos.
SNOWDROP, COWSLIP, SOUTHERN
PRIDE, and SOUTHERN GEM are refitting in the United Kingdom, and VIOLET and
AUBRETIA are still working under command of the Commander in Chief, Western
Approaches.
Training.
Exercises
A/S exercises have been carried
out on every possible occasion, but the training submarine was not ready until
14th January and very few A/S
vessels were available during the first half of the month.
Altogether one sloop, five
corvettes, six trawlers, and five motor launches each carried out at least one
practice.
PETUNIA, ARMERIA, and P.615
carried out night exercise on the night of 23rd/24th January. After an A/S P.8 during which PETUNIA fired her hedgehog,
exercises were continued with the
submarine on the surface until about 0230. Both corvettes fired Star Shell after gaining R.D.F. contact and
Snowflakes were used when the submarine was at close range.
Rifle
practices
Parties have been landed from
WOODRUFF, BRIDGEWATER, and P.615 and have carried out Rifle Practice on the
Goderich Rifle Range.
Full
Calibre Practice Firings
During the month two visiting destroyers, one sloop,
one corvette, an four trawlers carried out full calibre practices.
Unfortunately, no sleeve towing
aircraft have been available so H.A. practices have not been possible.
On 24th January, H.M.S. P.614 and surface craft carried out A/S exercises
off Takoradi.
D.E.M.S.
During the month 166 officers and men from visiting
merchant ships have been instructed in the Merchant Navy A/A gunnery course,
which after the 21st January was extended to three days, in accordance with the latest instructions.
The Dome teacher has been used
for instruction since the 12th January
and, in addition to the training of the D.E.M.S. ratings, it has also been used
by the H.A. crews from H.M. ships in harbour.
Local
Defence Exercises
At Lagos an exercise was carried
out during the week commencing the 25th
January
to test the alertness of the local defence and all available H.D.M.L.s took
part.
At Takoradi, M.l. 1014 acted as a
target vessel for the C.D. searchlight exercises, which were carried out on the
15th January.
Neutral
Shipping
Portuguese S.S. PUNGUE and S.S.
QUANZA arrived in Freetown for examination and after the granting of Navicerts
sailed for Funchal and Lisbon on the 5th
and 9th January respectively.
S.S. QUANZA had previously sailed
for Loanda with a navicert and as
she had given no assurance that she would call at Freetown and was suspected of
having a German Agent on board, stops were taken to intercept her which was
done by H.M.S. CYCLAMEN, who escorted her to Freetown.
Cooperation
with
Vichy French in West Africa
Although final and detailed
arrangements were not made for the coordination of the French naval and air
forces and facilities with the
British in West Africa until 29th January,
certain provisional arrangements were made to assist the French by providing
air and sea escorts for convoys, whenever practical, and shipping information
was exchanged.
On the 10th January, two British trawlers were provided to assist in the
protection of a French convoy bound from Dakar to the Ivory Coast and on 12th January the escort of a northbound
convoy to Casablanca was reinforced by British escort vessels and air cover was
provided.
On 11th January, Vichy French aircraft were given permission to fly over
British West Africa territory, provided they remained 12 miles outside defended
areas or, if wishing to land, obeyed the local approach regulations.
Also on the 11th January, a French Submarine exercise
area was declared bounded on the west by the meridian of Gorce Island, on the
North and East by the coast of
Senegal, and on the south by the
parallel of 14-23 North.
On Friday, 22nd January 1943, at
the invitation of Rear Admiral Glassford, head of the United States Military
Mission, and of Vice Admiral Collinet, Commandant de la Marine, Dakar, the Flag
Officer Commanding, West Africa visited Dakar in company with the Air Officer Commanding, West
Africa, Air Vice Marshall J.B. Cole-Hamilton, C.B.E., to discuss final,
detailed arrangements for the coordination of effort from a naval point of view
of the facilities made available from the successful negotiations between
Admiral Glassford and the French authorities in Dakar.
The details of his visit and the
agreement reached between the British Flag Officer Commanding, in West Africa,
and Vice Admiral Collinet, Commandant de la Marine, Dakar, have been fully
reported in his message 1721Z/25/1/43 from British Liaison Officer, Dakar, and
in a subsequent report with enclosure
to the Secretary of the Admiralty, No. 137/1440, dated 31st January 1943.
Extension
of West African Area of Command
As a result of the negotiations
at Dakar the area of the W.A. command was altered on the 29th January so as to extend the Northern
limit of 26-10N.
At the same time, it was agreed
that the coast of French West Africa between Cape Bojador and the boundary
between French Guinea and Sierra Leone should became an independent French
Command under a Flag Officer at Dakar, but for operational purposes, should
remain under the direction of the British Flag Officer Commanding, West Africa
(A.M. 2216A/29/1/43 refers).
Convoys
and Shipping
During the month, 49 vessels
arrived in Freetown and of those 3 were ex ON and O.N.S. convoys, 8 were ex
T.S. convoys and 3 had been detached from K.M.S. convoys.
Departures during the same
period, numbered 61 and of these 8 were sailed in S.T. convoys, 9 in W.S.
convoys, 4 in C.F. convoy, 8 in S.R. convoy, and the remainder were
independently routed.
On the 12th January, an officer from N.C.S. at Freetown was sent to Dakar to
open up a N.C.S. sub office.
The Naval Control Service
Officer, Acting Captain H.W. Shove, O.B.E., D.S.O., R.N. (ret) returned from
his tour of West African ports on 16th
January
and his report was forwarded to the Secretary of the Admiralty under cover of
my 233/122 of 2nd March 1943.
In view of the report of U boats
being present, all independent sailings of ships from Takoradi to Freetown were
cancelled from 19th January and on
24th January all independent
sailings from Takoradi to the westward were also cancelled and ships ordered to
assemble at that port to await escort.
Change
of Command at Takoradi
Captain W.H. Sandford, R.N. assumed the duties of the Naval
Officer in Charge, Takoradi, as from A.M. 12th January vice Commander A.G. Boyce, R.N.
Air
Passages to
the United Kingdom
Owing to a variety of causes air
passages to the United Kingdom from Lagos have become increasingly difficult.
Six naval officers spent four
weeks at Lagos awaiting onward air passage to England and were ordered
eventually to proceed by sea.
H.M.
Belgian Training Ship MERCATOR
On the 18th January, the ex Belgian Training Ship MERCATOR was handed over to
the Royal Navy and subsequently sailed from the River Congo for Freetown where
she will be employed as a accommodation ship for the crews of submarines based
on that port.
PART
III - ADMINISTRATIVE
Freetown
Rainfall
-
There was practically no rainfall during the
month, but 30,277 tons of water were supplied to ships in harbour.
Degaussing
-
Nine H.M. ships and twenty two merchant ships
were tested over the open range and also one ship of the Royal Netherlands
Navy.
D.E.M.S.
-
155 visits were made to Merchant Vessels
passing through Freetown and three ships were fitted with short range A/A armament including Oerlikons and Hotchkiss with their mountings and magazine lockers.
The miniature tracer range
building on the Firing Range had almost been completed.
Controlling
Mining -
On the first two days of the
month, divers were employed to recover the M.16 Loop junction box, which was
repaired and continuity has now been found to be correct.
The G.L. Loop, M.14 Loop, G.L.13
Loop, and the M.13 Loop were laid between the 10th and the 28th January.
Naval
Store Department -
During January, S.S. CALGARY
discharged 400 tons of naval stores from the United Kingdom and S.S.
TICONDEROGA arrived from Curacao and discharged 8467 tons of oil fuel to Kissy
oil tanks.
Occasions have arisen, when it
has been found necessary to despatch urgent stores by air to Bathurst,
Takoradi, Lagos, Pointe Noire, and Ascension Island.
Owing to the present shipping
situation the replenishment of stocks has been seriously affected and the
position in regard to Motor Transport has become acute owing to lack of spares.
Bathurst
Buildings
and Improvements -
The work on the officers quarters
at the Marina was allocated a lower priority in favour of the Boom Defence
Depot, but the buildings are habitable although minor details have yet to be
completed.
The site for the Ammunition Depot
has been cleared and the Deputy Armament Supply Officer from Freetown is
expected to arrive shortly to report on its suitability before work is
continued.
The work on the Admiralty pier
has proceeded so slowly that it was decided to cancel the contract with the local firm and turn it over to the
Army Construction and Repair Unit, who expect to complete it in March 1943.
The work on the new S.D.O. has
progressed well and should be ready for occupation in the very near future.
The trial well to augment the
local water supply has been tested by the Public Works Department, but although
they reached a depth of 130 feet no
real supply of water has yet been found.
Improvements and many necessary
repairs have been effected in the Ratings' barracks and a library and
recreation room has been opened for the use of all personnel.
Sickness
-
Out of a total establishment of 19 Officers
and 120 ratings, 1 officer and 26 ratings were admitted to hospital and 2
Officers and 24 ratings were discharged.
Boom
Defence -
All work in connection with the laying of the boom was suspended
on the 13th January in view of Their
Lordships' decision to cancel this project and although the Capstan at the Boom
Defence Depot was bedded down and the Offices nearly completed, no further
alterations and additions will be undertaken.
Takoradi
Buildings
and Improvements -
The fourth sleeping block for Officers in the R.N. Barracks was completed
during the month and work was
continued on the additional sleeping block for ratings.
Five blocks were commenced in the
new barracks for African ratings and the new Winch House on the breakwater was
almost completed.
Sickness
-
During January, 36 cases were admitted to
Hospital, and of these 24 were suffering from malaria.
Lagos
Docking
and Repairs -
During the month, H.M.S. TURCOMAN
was docked and refitting, M.L. 1078 was surveyed and repairs were carried out
to the main dynamo and donkey engine of H.M.S. NORTHERN ISLES
Sickness
-
The general health has remained good and although 49 cases were admitted to hospital
with malaria, this number is not
above the average for the last six months, but unfortunately two deaths
occurred which were attributable to Malignant Malaria.
Buildings
and Improvements -
Approval was given by the
Resident Naval Officer, Lagos, for the construction of a concrete building in
the grounds of the R.N. barracks to take a type 60 W/T transmitted and an
R.A.F. transmitter, which is being despatched from Freetown. It is proposed
that both sets shall be remote
control from the Naval Offices and two aerial masts 70 feet high will also be
erected in the barracks' grounds.
No other construction has taken
place at Lagos during January.
Royal
Naval Air Station Komenda
Welfare
and Recreation -
The N.A.A.F.I. Canteen was opened
during the month and has added greatly
to the amenities of the Station. Further work was also carried out in
preparation of hockey and cricket grounds.
Motor
Transport -
There are now 38 vehicles on the
station including 8 Water tankers which arrived during the month and Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force
technical ratings have been employed on the maintenance of this transport.
Progress
in Construction Unit -
Work has continued on all
construction and has progressed satisfactorily.
With the exception of No. 2 runway and the Northern Taxi tracks less
important items such as the No. 2 Motor Transport Garage and Car Park, all
works are more then 70% completed and in many cases are nearing final
completion.
Pointe
Noire
Work on the oil fuel installation
has continued during the month; two reservoirs are almost completed and the
pipe lines down to the port are being laid down.
Operations to refloat S.S. PIERRE LOTI, aground off Corisico Island, continued during the month but without success. A skeleton crew was retained on board but the passengers were sent to Cape Town in S.S. TOUAREG.
ADM
199/635
FLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE, WEST AFRICA
WAR DIARY – FEBRUARY 1943
(Incorporating
all War Diaries rendered for February 1943 by subordinate authorities)
Part
1 – WAR DIARY February 1943
February 1st
M.L. 1072 escorting MALAKAL
sailed from Freetown for Sulima.
French submarine depot ship JULES
VERNE escorted by H.M. Ship PETUNIA and F.S. GAZELLE sailed from Dakar for
Pointe Etienne with a cargo of
petrol.
H.M. Ships ORFASY and DUNCTON
arrived Takoradi from Freetown.
H.M. Ships ALCANTARA and WOODRUFF
on detached escort duty, sailed Trinidad for Recife.
H.M.S. ARRAN and H.M.M.L. 1160
sailed from Bathurst for Freetown escorting two merchant ships.
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN and
CYCLAMEN arrived Bathurst from Freetown.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES commenced boiler cleaning at Pointe Noire.
A U Boat was sighed on the
surface by a U.S. Aircraft in position 00-50S, 6-20W, course 90 degrees at
1325.
February 2nd
H.M. Tug CHARON with M.L.s 279 and 305 sailed from Freetown
for the Ivory Coast and Takoradi to salvage beached landing barges washed
ashore from the American S.S. BENJAMIN SMITH when she was sunk off Sassandra on 23rd January.
H.M.S. COPINSAY and H.M.S. MERCATOR
arrived Takoradi from Lagos. H.M.S. MERCATOR was on passage to Freetown where
she will become a submarine accommodation ship.
H.M. Ships CORINTHIA, ARMERIA,
and CYCLAMEN sailed from Bathurst for Freetown escorting two merchant ships.
H.M.M.L.s 271, 290, and 277
arrived Bathurst from Freetown escorting two merchant ships.
F.S. CALAIS arrived Bathurst from
Dakar.
Convoy W.S. 26 arrived in the
West Africa area.
February 3rd
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES arrived
Freetown from a Blockade runner patrol. This was the first visit of a French
Naval Unit since the reentry of Vichy French West Africa into the war.
H.M.S. ARRAN and H.M.M.L.s 1160
and 1089 arrived Freetown from Bathurst escorting 2 merchant ships.
F.S. RICHELIEU and MONTCALM with escorts on passage to North America were diverted to avoid U
boats.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Duala from Banana and commenced boiler cleaning.
H.M. Ships CROCUS, DUNCTON,
ORFASY, COPINSAY, and MERCATOR with H.M.M.L.
256 and F.S. AMIRAL MOUCHEZ sailed from Takoradi for Freetown escorting convoy
T.S. 30.
H.M.S. PETUNIA was detached from
escorting JULES VERNE to meet convoy GIB 2.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT and ST WISTAN
escorting BARDELL arrived Takoradi from Freetown.
F.S. CALAIS sailed from Bathurst
for Dakar.
February 4th
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN, ARMERIA,
and CYCLAMEN arrived Freetown from Bathurst escorting 2 merchant ships.
Vice Admiral Collinet with the French Naval and Air Staff and
accompanied by the British Naval Liaison Officer, Dakar, arrived at Bathurst
for a short visit. After inspecting the R.A.F. Station, C.M. Base, and the
minefield installations, an inspection of the harbour was carried out in M.L.
289.
H.M. Ships HYDRANGEA and ARMERIA
sailed from Freetown with convoy
S.T. 55 (2 ships).
M.L. 296 arrived Freetown from
Bissau after delivering diplomatic mail.
H.M. Ships INKPEN and ARRAN with M.L.s 1141 and 1209 sailed from
Freetown for Bathurst and Dakar with 3
merchant ships.
H.M.S. PICT sailed from Port
Bouet escorting HOGGAR (Fr.) to meet convoy T.S. 30 and continue to Freetown.
H.M. Ships PETUNIA, BREDON, and
PORTSDOWN sailed Port Etienne escorting convoy GIB II to Gibraltar.
H.M.S. DRANGEY arrived Takoradi
from Freetown.
M.L. 290 and 277 sailed Bathurst
for Dakar escorting one merchant ship.
H.M.S. REDOUBT was detached from
Convoy W.S. 26 to escort LEOPOLDVILLE to Bathurst.
February 5th
M.L. 1072 arrived Freetown
escorting MALAKAL from Sulima.
H.M.S. BURDOCK arrived Bathurst
for fuel after having been detached from convoy duties.
H.M.S. REDOUBT arrived Bathurst
with LEOPOLDVILLE.
H.M.S. Ships HOTSPUR, FORTUNE,
INSTANT (n.b. INCONSTANT), and
EXPRESS all escorting convoy C.F. 11 fuelled at Pointe Noire during the day.
Portuguese S.S. CUBANGO arrived
Freetown for examination. All papers and the cargo were found to be in order
and a navicert was granted. Ship sailed for Funchal and Lisbon.
February 6th
H.M. Ships CILICIA, CANTON,
QUIBERON, QUICKMATCH, QUALITY, QUADRANT, RELENTLESS, RACEHORSE, WAYLAND, and
H.H.M.S. ADRIAS with convoy W.S. 26
(16 ships) arrived Freetown.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES sailed from
Freetown for Dakar.
Convoy D.60 arrived Dakar
escorted by F.S. LA GRANDIERE, LE GRACIEUSE, and SERGEANT GOUARNE.
H.M.S. ST WISTAN with M.L. 287 and 279 arrived Port Bouet
from Takoradi escorting H.M. Tugs CHARON to recover beached landing barges.
F.S.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES completed boiler cleaning at Pointe Noire and sailed for Congo thence
to escort HAI LEE to Takoradi.
February 7th
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from
Freetown on a blockade runner patrol.
H.M.S. RELENTLESS sailed from
Freetown for Lagos to dock and fit new asdic dome. Thence to join Convoy W.S.26
on passage to South Africa.
H.M.S. BRIDGEWATER arrived
Freetown from escort duty.
H.M. Ships REDOUBT and BURDOCK
sailed from Bathurst for Freetown escorting H.T. LEOPOLDVILLE.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES arrived
Dakar from Freetown.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES arrived and sailed Banana escorting HAI LEE with a U.S. Engineer Corps for Dakar.
H.M. Ships DUNCTON and COPINSAY
arrived Marshall to screen 2 ships ex Convoy T.S. 30.
H.M.S. ARRAN with M.L.s 1141 and 1209 arrived Bathurst
escorting one merchant ship.
H.M. Ships RUMBA and SABABANDE with M.L. 285 sailed from Lagos for
Takoradi escorting one merchant ship.
M.L. 271 sailed Bathurst for
Freetown escorting one merchant ship.
February 8th
H.M.S. DESPATCH reached her
patrol area to search for blockade runners.
H.M.S. INKPEN attacked an Asdic Contact
5 miles to the west of the French submarine exercise area off Dakar. Contact was
held for many hours and a number of attacks were made. Subsequent analysis,
however, showed the target was probably Ònon sub.Ó
H.M.S. CROCUS arrived Freetown
from Takoradi after being ordered to leave Convoy T.S. 30 and proceeded to
Freetown to load bullion.
H.M. Ships ORFASY, MERCATOR, and
PICT and F.S. AMIRAL MOUCHEZ and M.L. 256 -261 arrived Freetown from Takoradi
escorting Convoy T.S. 30 (10 ships).
H.M. Ships ARMERIA and HYDRANGEA
arrived Takoradi from Freetown escorting two merchant ships.
H.M.S. BELLWORT sailed from
Takoradi for Freetown.
H.M.I.S. CARNATIC arrived Pointe
Noire from Freetown to refuel.
2 U boats were known to be in
contact with Convoy GIB 2 on its
passage northward. H.M.S. PETUNIA obtained several contacts and carried out attacks
on a U boat without visible results. H.M.S. BREDON, one of the escorts, was
torpedoed in 29-55N, 13-57W and H.M.S. PORTSDOWN was narrowly missed by
torpedoes. Only two survivors were picked up from the BREDON.
February 9th
H.M. Ships CANTON, CILICIA,
QUIBERON, QUALITY QUICKMATCH, RACEHORSE, WAYLAND, CORINTHIAN, and H.H.M.S.
ADRIAS sailed from Freetown with Convoy
S.W. 26 (16 ships) for South Africa.
The last two named ships broke off to meet three merchant ships to be sailed
from Takoradi.
H.M.S. DESPATCH reached the
extreme westerly part of her patrol and altered course to return to Freetown.
H.M. Ships REDOUBT and BURDOCK
arrived Freetown from Bathurst escorting LEOPOLDVILLE.
H.M.S. INKPEN reported that she
was still in contact with a
submarine at 0700. Contact was lot and she proceeded to Dakar.
F.S. GLOIRE sailed from Dakar for
Bathurst to fuel, thence proceed on blockade runner patrol. She sailed from
Bathurst at 1830.
H.M.S. SARABANDE arrived Takoradi
from Lagos.
H.M.S. ARMERIA sailed from Takoradi
for Boma to dock.
H.M.I.S. CARNATIC sailed from
Pointe Noire for Simonstown.
H.M. Ships CYCLAMEN, FANDANGO
completed boiler cleaning at Freetown.
H.M. Ships ORFASY and PICT
commenced boiler cleaning at Freetown.
February 10th
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER, QUADRANT,
FANDANGO, with M.L.s 287, 296, and
281 escorting Convoy S.R. 1 (9 ships) sailed from Freetown to meet convoy R.S.
1 and exchange escorts.
M.L. 271 arrived Freetown from
Bathurst escorting 1 merchant ship.
H.M. Ships CROCUS and CYCLAMEN sailed
from Freetown for Takoradi escorting LEOPOLDVILLE.
H.M.S. INKPEN sailed from Dakar
for Bathurst.
H.M.S. ARRAN sailed from Bathurst
to meet Convoy S.R. 1.
H.M.S. DRANGEY arrived Lagos from
Accra.
H.M.S. RELENTLESS arrived Lagos
from Freetown to dock and fit new asdic dome.
February 11th
H.M. Ships VALIANT, HOTSPUR,
INCONSTANT, EXPRESS, and FORTUNE escorting Convoy C.F. 11 (3 transports)
arrived Freetown from Cape Town.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Freetown
from a blockade runner patrol.
M.L. 261 and 244 sailed from
Freetown to meet H.M. Ships BELLWORT and RUMBA escorting 1 merchant ship.
French Auxiliary Cruiser QUERCY
sailed from Dakar for Conakry.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU
completed boiler cleaning and sailed from Duala for Lagos.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES arrived Takoradi from Banana escorting the HAI LEE.
H.M.S. SARABANDE sailed from
Freetown for Takoradi escorting one merchant ship.
H.M.S. THYME (temporarily
exchanged for COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES) sailed from Capetown for Freetown
escorting one merchant ship.
H.M.S. QUADRANT was detached from
Convoy S.R. 1 to return to Freetown.
H.M.S. DRANGEY sailed from Lagos
for Takoradi escorting one merchant ship.
H.M.S. INKPEN arrived Bathurst
from Dakar.
H.M. Ships PETUNIA, HAYDON, DUNKERY,
and PORTSDOWN arrived Gibraltar with Convoy
GIB 2 from Freetown.
February 12th
H.M.S. QUADRANT arrived Freetown
from escorting Convoy S.R. 1.
H.M.S. BURDOCK sailed from
Freetown escorting H.T. EMPRESS OF RUSSIA to meet destroyers from Gibraltar.
F.S. SERGEANT GOUARNE arrived
Dakar escorting one French Merchant Ship from the Casamance.
H.M.S. INKPEN with M.L.s 1141 – 1209 sailed from
Bathurst to meet Convoy S.R. 1.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA and F.F.S.
COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES sailed from Takoradi escorting 2 ships. F.F.S.
COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES to join escorts to Convoy W.S. 16 and proceed to
Cape Town. H.M.S. HYDRANGEA and 2 ships met H.M.S. CORINTHIAN and H.H.M.S.
ADRIAS (detached from convoy W.S. 26 and proceeded to Freetown.
H.M.S. RELENTLESS undocked at
Lagos and sailed to meet Convoy W.S. 26.
H.M.S. RUMBA was detached from
escorting CAP PADORAN, from Takoradi to Freetown to relieve H.M.S. DUNCTON
screening off Marshall.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Lagos from Duala.
H.M.S. ST WISTAN and H.M. Tug
CHARON arrived Takoradi from Port Bouet after recovering 2 landing craft which
were beached.
A transit aircraft reported
sighting a U boat fully surfaced in 14-30N, 17-22W, course 193 degrees.
February 13th
H.H.M.S. ADRIAS was engaged in
hunting an enemy submarine in position 3-42N, 6-33W. Several patterns were
dropped without evidence of the result. After the 6th attack, the echo faded.
H.M.S. RANCHI arrived Freetown
from Cape Town.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and M.L.s 261 and
244 escorting one merchant ship arrived Freetown from Takoradi.
M.L.s 287, 296, and 281 arrived
Bathurst with 2 merchant ships
detached from Convoy S.R. 1.
H.M. Ships CYCLAMEN, CROCUS, and
DRANGEY arrived Takoradi from Freetown escorting S.S. LEOPOLDVILLE.
H.M.S. ARMERIA arrived Boma from
Takoradi to dock.
H.M.S. INKPEN joined Convoy S.R.
1.
M.L.s 305 and 279 sailed from
Takoradi for Freetown escorting one merchant ship.
H.M.S. DUNCTON at Marshall was
relieved by H.M.S. RUMBA and sailed to escort a petrol lighter to Freetown.
February 14th
F.S. GLOIRE arrived Freetown from
blockade runner patrol.
Convoy C.F. 11 escorted by H.M.
Ships VALIANT, RANCHI, HOTSPUR, INCONSTANT, EXPRESS, and FORTUNE sailed from
Freetown for the United Kingdom.
H.T. ESPERANCE BAY was to be detached
to proceed to New York.
H.M. Ships DESPATCH, QUADRANT,
and REDOUBT sailed from Freetown for Bathurst. The DESPATCH to refuel and
proceed on patrol to intercept Spanish S.S. MONTE NARANCO.
F.S. AMIRAL MOUCHEZ sailed from
Freetown for Dakar escorting one merchant ship for Bathurst.
M.l. 271 sailed Freetown for Cape
Palmas escorting MALAKAL with W/T
stores.
H.M. Ships CYCLAMEN and CROCUS
sailed from Takoradi for Freetown escorting H.T. LEOPOLDVILLE.
H.M.S. ST WISTAN sailed from
Takoradi for Accra to screen.
H.M.S. ARRAN was detached from
Convoy S.R. 1 to proceed to Bathurst.
M.L.s 296 and 287 sailed from
Bathurst for Dakar.
February 15th
Portuguese sailing ship ILDUT
arrived Freetown under tow by H.M.S. HOLLY to discharge a cargo of salt. The ship's
papers were examined by a member of the S.O. (I)'s staff and found to be in
order.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU sailed
from Lagos for Freetown escorting S.S. HILARY.
Pilot of a U.S. aircraft reported
sighting the conning tower of a submarine in position 0-40N, 8-50E at 1100.
Three submarines sighted by a
U.S. aircraft in positions 4-20N, 3-00W at 1430. All the submarines which were
heading south, were painted white and fully surfaced.
A U.S. Aircraft reported sighting
a submarine in position 12-20N, 17-50W.
H.M.S. QUIBERON and H.M.S.
QUALITY arrived Pointe Noire from Convoy W.S. 26 for fuel.
Two motor launches detached from
Convoy S.R. 1 for Port Etienne.
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN and H.H.M.S.
ADRIAS arrived at Freetown from escort duty with Convoy W.S. 26.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA was detached
from Convoy W.S. 16 to escort H.T. HAI LEE to Dakar.
H.M.S. DUNCTON arrived Freetown
from Marshall, escorting a U.S. Petrol Lighter.
F.F. GLOIRE sailed from Freetown
to intercept Spanish S.S. MONTE NARANCO and blockade runners.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES sailed from
Dakar for Bathurst to fuel and collect orders and intelligence for Block Runner
Patrol.
H.M.S. QUADRANT and H.M.S.
REDOUBT arrived Bathurst from Freetown.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Bathurst
from Freetown and passed blockade runner intelligence to F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES.
M.L. 285 sailed from Lagos to
Accra with British tanker NORSOL.
H.M.S. QUIBERON and H.M.S QUALITY
escorting Convoy W.S. 26 to the Cape, called at Pointe Noire to refuel.
February 16th
H.H.M.S. ADRIAS sailed from
Freetown for Bathurst to meet H.M.S. DESPATCH, thence to patrol to the eastward
of the Cape Verde Islands to intercept Spanish S.S. MONTE NARANCO.
H.M.S. DESPATCH after the meeting
proceeded to St Vincent for fuel and thence to blockade runner patrol.
M.L. 209 and M.L. 244 sailed from
Freetown to relieve F.S. LA GRACIEUSE and escort S.S. HOGGAR to Freetown.
F.S. LA GRACIEUSE proceed to
Conakry and then escorted F.S. QUERCY to Dakar with troops.
M.L. 209 and M.L. 244 arrived
Freetown with S.S. HOGGAR later in
the day.
H.M.S. SARABANDE arrived Freetown
from Takoradi with S.S. BELNOR.
H.M.S. PICT sailed from Freetown
for Marshall to relieve H.M.S. RUMBA.
Convoys S.R. 1 and R.S. 1 meet at
1900 and exchanged escorts.
H.M.S. BURDOCK with H.T. EMPRESS OF RUSSIA met H.M.S.
BOREAS at 1700.
H.M.S. PETUNIA sailed from
Gibraltar from Freetown.
H.M. Ships QUADRANT and REDOUBT
sailed from Bathurst to rendezvous with
Convoy
C.F. 11.
H.M. Ships RUMBA and COPINSAY
sailed Marshall for Freetown.
H.M.I.S. CARNATIC arrived
Simonstown from Pointe Noire.
H.M.S. PORTSDOWN and H.M.S.
DUNKERY sailed from Gibraltar for Freetown.
H.M.S. DRANGEY arrived Lagos from
Accra.
F.S. AMIRAL MOUCHEZ arrived Dakar
from Freetown.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA arrived Dakar
from Freetown, escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN and DUNCTON
commenced boiler cleaning at Freetown.
H.M.S. ORFASY completed boiler
cleaning.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES sailed from
Bathurst for Blockade Runner Patrol.
H.M.S. QUADRANT and H.M.S.
REDOUBT sailed from Bathurst for Freetown.
H.M.S. ARRAN arrived Bathurst
from Freetown.
February 17th
Spanish S.S. MONTE MARANCO which
was thought to be carrying 6 kilos of platinum and two German naval ratings
from the GRAF SPEE was sighted by aircraft at 1442 in position 13-46N, 24-08W,
course 035, and speed 12 knots. H.M.S. DESPATCH and H.H.M.S. ADRIAS were
informed and ordered to intercept.
H.M.S. BURDOCK which was
escorting H.T. EMPRESS OF RUSSIA arrived Port Etienne for water.
M.L.s 287 and 1065 sailed from
Dakar for Bathurst, and arriving the same day.
H.M.S. FANDANGO was detached from
Convoy R.S. 1 and arrived Port Etienne.
M.L.s 272, 265, and 1018 arrived
Takoradi from Lagos.
H.M.S. PICT arrived Marshall from
Freetown.
February 18th
H.M.S. ORFASY escorting S.S.
NEWCHANG sailed from Freetown for Bathurst to join convoy D.66.
H.M.S. COPINSAY and H.M.S. RUMBA
arrived Freetown from Marshall.
H.M.S. COPINSAY commenced boiler
cleaning.
M.L.s 305 and 279 arrived
Freetown from Dakar.
H.M.S. DESPATCH intercepted
Spanish S.S. MONTE NARANHO in position 14-42N, 23-01W at 1345 and placed an
armed guard aboard and H.H.M.S. ADRIAS was ordered to escort her for one day
towards Gibraltar.
February 19th
H.M.S. RUMBA sailed from Freetown
with S.S. HOGGAR escorting her to
Marshall to embark U.S. troops.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived St.
Vincent for fuel and sailed for Blockade runner patrol.
M.L.s 209 and 244 sailed from
Freetown to escort a Merchant Ship to Marshall and Monrovia and return to
Freetown.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA sailed from
Dakar for Bathurst and arrived the same day escorting H.T.
H.M. Ships MILFORD, TAMARISK,
AMARANTHUS, and YESTOR sailed from New Orleans for Trinidad with A.F.D. 24.
M.L.s 302 and 251 arrived
Bathurst with S.S. PINTO.
February 20th
F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Freetown from Lagos escorting S.S. HILARY.
M.L. 271 arrived Freetown from
Cape Palmas escorting S.S. MALAKAL.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT and CYCLAMEN
and F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU sailed from Freetown with Convoy S.T. 56 (BERGENSFIORD, LEOPOLDVILLE, and ORBITA). H.M.S.
CYCLAMEN proceeded to Boma for docking.
F.A.M.C. QUERCY and F.S. LA
GRACIEUSE arrived Dakar.
H.M.S. FANDANGO arrived Bathurst
from Convoy R.S. 1.
H.H.M.S. ADRIAS arrived Bathurst
from patrol.
H.M.S. ARRAN with M.L.s 302, 281, and 251 sailed from
Bathurst for Freetown escorting four merchant ships.
H.M.S. ST WISTAN arrived Lagos with H.M. Tug CHARON on salvage operations.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived in her
patrol area.
February 21st
Aircraft sighted a Merchant
Vessel of about 4000 tons in position 6-00N, 11-58W. This ship was thought to
be Spanish S.S. CASTILLO SAMANCAS.
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER and INKPEN
arrived Freetown from convoy R.S. 1.
H.M.S. ORFASY arrived Dakar from
Freetown escorting NEWCHANG.
F.S. LA GRACIEUSE, GAZELLE, and
AMIRAL MOUCHEZ escorting two Merchant Vessels sailed from Dakar for Freetown.
H.M.S. BIRDLIP and H.M.S. BUTSER
sailed from Gibraltar for Freetown escorting Convoy R.S. 1
H.M.S. ARMERIA sailed from Banana
for Takoradi.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA and H.H.M.S.
ADRIAS sailed from Bathurst for Freetown escorting S.S. HAI LEE.
H.M.S. DRANGEY sailed from Lagos
for Walvis Bay.
H.M.S. RUMBA arrived Freetown
from Marshall.
M.L. 287 sailed from Bathurst for
Freetown. (n.b. see entries on 22nd
February. Should read for Dakar)
February 22nd
M.L.s 287 and 296 arrived Dakar
from Bathurst.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES arrived
Dakar.
F.S. SERGEANT GOUARNE, H.M.S.
ORFASY, with M.L.s 287 and M.L. 296
sailed from Dakar escorting French ships northward.
H.M.S. PETUNIA arrived Bathurst
from Gibraltar.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE
D'ORVES arrived at Capetown from Pointe Noire.
H.M.S. PICT sailed from Marshall
for Takoradi.
February 23rd
H.M.S. ARRAN with M.L.s 302, 281, and 251 arrived
Freetown from Bathurst with four merchant
ships.
H.H.M.S. ADRIAS and H.M.S.
HYDRANGEA arrived Freetown from Bathurst escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
H.M.S. PORTSDOWN and H.M.S.
BARWIND, with one M.L. escorting 2
merchant ships arrived Port Etienne.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN arrived Takoradi
from escort duties.
H.M.S. QUADRANT arrived Gibraltar
from Dakar.
F.F.S. COMMANDANT BORY with M.L. 1018 sailed from Takoradi for
Freetown
H.M.S. REDOUBT arrived Casablanca
from Convoy C.F. 11.
H.M.S. DUNCTON completed boiler
cleaning.
H.M.S. ARRAN commenced boiler cleaning.
H.M. Tug CHARON and M.L. 1042
sailed from Lagos with S.S. SANGARA.
February 24th
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER,
HYDRANGEA, CROCUS, INKPEN and DUNCTON sailed from Freetown escorting Convoy
S.R. 2 (11 ships).
Three U.S. Naval vessels sailed
from Dakar for Trinidad escorting convoy T.O. 1.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN sailed from
Takoradi for Lagos.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and F.F.S.
COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived Lagos from Freetown with Convoy S.T. 56.
H.M.S. THYME arrived Takoradi
from St. Helena.
M.L. 1052 sailed for Cotonomu with French recognition signals.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Bathurst
after intercepting Spanish S.S. MONTE NARANCO and Blockade Runner patrol.
February 25th
French ships AMIRAL MOUCHEZ, LA
GRACIEUSE, and GAZELLE arrived Freetown after escorting ships to Bathurst, The
Casamance, and Conakry.
M.L.s 209 and 244 arrived
Freetown from Marshall escorting S.S. KENMAN.
H.M.S. ORFASY with M.L.s 287 and 296 arrived Port Etienne
escorting four French merchant ships.
H.M.S. PICT arrived Takoradi from
Marshall.
H.M.S. ARMERIA arrived Takoradi
from Boma.
H.M.S. BURDOCK sailed from Port
Etienne for Bathurst, defects having been made good.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and F.F.S.
COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived Lagos with two
ships for Takoradi.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and F.F.S.
COMMANDANT DROGOU sailed from Lagos for Takoradi escorting H.T. BERGENSFIORD.
H.M.S. PETUNIA sailed from
Bathurst for Freetown.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN arrived Lagos
from Takoradi and sailed again for Duala to screen S.S. SANGARA.
M.L. 1052 arrived Lagos from
Kotonou.
February 26th
The Master of S.S. BARON DUNMORE
reported that he had sighted an unidentified merchant ship in position 25-57N,
34-13W, course 32 degrees, and speed 14 knots at 1750, She resembled German
silhouette No. 78 in O.U. 6329 (1) The plot indicated that the CALVACADE may
have been in the vicinity.
H.M.S. FANDANGO sailed from
Bathurst to join Convoy S.R. 2.
H.M.S. PETUNIA sailed from
Bathurst for Freetown with two
merchant ships.
H.M.S. THYME and H.M.S. PICT
sailed from Takoradi for Freetown.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and F.F.S.
COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived Takoradi from Lagos with H.T. BERGENSFIORD.
H.M.S. COPINSAY completed boiler
cleaning at Freetown.
H.M.S. BARWIND arrived Bathurst
from Dakar with M.L.s 277 and 290.
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from
Bathurst for patrol, but later was ordered to return to Freetown.
February 27th
F.S. AMIRAL MOUCHEZ escorting the
petrol lighter SOKONI sailed from Freetown for Dakar.
H.M.S. PETUNIA closed Freetown
from Bathurst and proceeded to Marshall to escort S.S. HOGGAR.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Freetown.
H.M.S. BURDOCK arrived Bathurst
from Port Etienne.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and F.F.S.
COMMANDANT DROGOU with M.L. 274
sailed from Takoradi for Lagos.
H.M.S. ORFASY and two M.L.s
sailed from Port Etienne for Dakar.
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN completed
boiler cleaning.
M.L.s 277 and 290 sailed from
Bathurst for Freetown.
February 28th
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN, SARABANDE
with M.L.s 271 and 305 sailed from
Freetown for Takoradi and Lagos escorting convoy S.T. 57.
H.M.S. QUADRANT sailed from
Gibraltar for Freetown to meet convoy W.S. 27.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN arrived Duala
from Lagos escorting S.S. SANGARA in tow of tug CHARON.
H.M.S. BOREAS sailed from
Gibraltar to Dakar.
H.M.S. PORTSDOWN arrived Freetown
with convoy R.S. 1.
H.M.S. PETUNIA arrived Marshall
from Freetown and sailed again for Freetown with S.S. HOGGAR.
H.M.S. BURDOCK sailed from
Bathurst to reinforce escorts to Convoy O.S. 43
F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU and
H.M.S. BELLWORT arrived Lagos from Takoradi with BERGENSFIORD.
PART
II – GENERAL
U
Boat activity
A marked decrease in U Boat
activity has been noticeable during the month and this has corresponded with
aircraft sightings which were below normal.
No merchant ships have been
torpedoed, but H.M.S. BREDON was sunk and H.M.S. PORTSDOWN was narrowly missed
by torpedoes when assisting to escort convoy GIB 2 on its passage northward.
Reports of attacks by H.M. Ships
are given in Part 1 of this month's War Diary. There were no attacks carried
out by aircraft.
Employment
of Escort Forces.
The Freetown Escort Force has
been employed throughout the month to
the limit of its resources. Troop Convoys WS 26 and C.F. 11 called at Freetown
during the first half of the month. The only additional escort available from
Station resources was the reinforcement of C.F. 11 by H.M.S. QUADRANT and H.M.S
REDOUBT from the latitude of Cape Verde to the latitude of Gibraltar, and
reinforcement of W.S. by H.M.S. CORINTHIAN and ADRIAS from Freetown to the
vicinity of Takoradi.
Three convoys were sailed to
Gibraltar during the month, the first of which (GIB No.2) was escorted the
whole way by ships of the Freetown Escort Force, reinforced during the last two
or three days by H.M.S. HAYDON. It was escorting this convoy that the
unfortunate loss of H.M.S. BREDON was sustained. In the case of both the other two Gibraltar convoys (S.R.
1 and S.R. 2) the Freetown escorts were met at a MOMP in about 26 degrees North by escorts from Gibraltar, escorting a
Gibraltar to Freetown (R.S.) convoy. The escorts transferred and returned to
their respective bases.
Three escorted convoys were run
from Freetown to Takoradi and six in the reverse direction. Of these, some
consisted of a single troop transport only. IN addition a number of small
groups have been escorted coastwise between Port Etienne, Dakar, Bathurst,
Freetown, Takoradi, Lagos, etc.
A/S screening duty at surf ports
of Liberian and Gold Coasts have absorbed an average of one Trawler every day
of the month.
Ten ships of the force, excluding
minesweepers, were boiler cleaning at Freetown and one ship COMMANDANT DROGOU
at Duala and ARMERIA had a short docking at Boma.
COMMANDANT D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES
left the station for a recuperative period at the cape, H.M.S. THYME coming
from the Cape in her place. The Greek destroyer ADRIAS operated under command
of Flag Officer, Commanding West Africa, arriving on the 6th and remaining throughout the rest of
the month, as part of the Freetown Escort Force. This was a Òworking up' period
for the ship. One trawler H.M.S. ST WISTAN was employed practically
continuously screening certain salvage operations in the Takoradi area. H.M.S.
DRANGEY left West Africa in the course of the month for onward passage to the Cape and H.I.M.S. CARNATIC also passed
through the station en route Bombay. H.M.S. BURDOCK was out of action for seven
days with distiller defects and
H.M.S. SARABANDE for eight days with boiler
defects.
The following French ships have
visited Freetown and have operated with
the
Freetown Escort Force during the month:
F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU and
French ships (former Vichy) AMIRAL MOUCHEZ, GAZELLE, LA GRACIEUSE, and
COMMANDANT BORY.
With the four latter ships satisfactory cordial relations were, in all
cases, established. The F.F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU has since sailed, for the
United Kingdom for refit, after twelve months on the station.
Training
– A/S Exercises
The French Ships AMIRAL MOUCHEZ,
GAZELLE, and LA GRACIEUSE were all given as much A/S training as time permitted
during the period they were operating with
the Freetown Escort Force.
A total of 17 A/S vessels have
carried out exercises with the
Training Submarine P.615 during the month.
Training
of D.E.M.S. Personnel
During February, 175 Officers and
men have been instructed in the Merchant Navy 3 days A/S Gunnery Course, which
brings to the total to 3397 Officers and men since the course began.
Other forms of training have also
been carried out onboard and ashore, including instructions with the Dome Teacher, which has also been
used by ratings from H.M. Ships in Harbour.
Neutral
Shipping
Portuguese S.S. CUBANGO and
Lugger ILDUTY arrived during February. The former was examined and granted a
navicert on the 5th February and
sailed for Funchal and Lisbon on the same day. The latter had a cargo of salt
for Freetown from Verde Islands and sailed in ballast for Bathurst on the 20th February.
Confirmation has now been
received from the Admiralty that it was agreed with the Portuguese Authorities in January, that ships which do not
take on cargo or passengers north of
Loanda may proceed direct from Loanda to Funchal without undertaking to call at
Freetown. Ships which do take on
cargo and or passengers north of
Loanda (e.g. Principe or Sao Thome) will continue to call at Freetown.
In view of the above, a considerable
decrease is to be expected in the number of Portuguese passenger and cargo
vessels calling at Freetown.
Spanish S.S. MONTE NARANCO was
suspected of carrying contraband and on 18th February was intercepted by H.M.S. DESPATCH, who placed an armed
guard on board and she was ordered to proceed to Gibraltar escorted by H.H.M.S.
ADRIAS. It was also suspected that she had two German naval ratings from the
GRAF SPEE.
Convoys
and Shipping
During February, 95 Merchant
vessels arrived at Freetown and of these 3 were ex O.N. and O.N.S. convoys; 5
ex C.N. convoys; 10 ex T.S. convoys, and 3 ex C.F. convoy.
Departures during the month numbered 82 of which 32 were sailed
independently and of the remainder 16 were sailed in W.S. Convoy, 9 in S.T.
convoys, 5 in C.F. convoys, and 20 in S.R. convoys.
The Naval Control Service Officer
at Freetown visited Dakar between the 6th
and 14th February in order to
make arrangements for the establishment of a Naval Control Service at that
port.
As a result of the visit a
Lieutenant, R.N.R. was appointed temporarily to the staff of Admiral Collinet
to act as Naval Control Service Officer at Dakar.
Salvage
Operations
On 16th February M.V. SANGARA was successfully refloated off Accra and
towed by H.M. Tug CHARON to Duala where she was successfully beached on the 28th February.
PART
III – ADMINISTRATIVE
Freetown
Rainfall
-
There was no rainfall during the month of February, but ships were able to be
supplied with approximately 41,500
tons of water.
Naval
Store Department -
Stores were received from the
United Kingdom in S.S. TANAFJORD and from the United States in S.S. ZAREMBO.
F.S.S. CITY OF TOKIO arrived in
Freetown from Durban on 23rd February.
Two new stores at the Kissy
Dockyard were taken over by the Department.
Mr. Luke, the Senior Deputy
Director of Stores, paid a short visit to Freetown on 22nd February.
Degaussing
-
Five H.M. Ships, one French warship, and 35
merchant vessels were tested over the open range during the month.
D.E.M.S.
Department -
147 visits to Merchant ships were
made during February.
French S.S. HOGGAR was fitted with two 20 mm guns, two pairs of twin
Hotchkiss Machine Guns, and two P.A.C. rocket projectors. Two other British
merchant vessels were also fitted with
Oerlikon
guns during their stay in harbour at Freetown.
The miniature Tracer Range
building was almost completed, but no advice was received regarding the
despatch of instructional equipment from the United Kingdom.
The D.E.M.S. Staff Officer
visited Bathurst and Dakar from 7th to
12th February and proceeded to
Takoradi and Lagos on the 24th February.
Controlled
Mining -
The G.L. 13 loop was laid on 11th February and a L Mark 11 Mine was
recovered from the Bullom Shore and transported back to the C.M. Base on 17th February.
Bathurst
Buildings
and Improvements -
No further work was carried out
on the Ammunition Depot as its use may now become redundant since the strategic
situation in West Africa has changed.
The work on the Admiralty Pier
has advanced sufficiently to allow oil fuel pipes to be carried and it is hope
to lay temporary moorings in early March with the assistance of H.M.S. BARWIND.
Average progress has been made on
the Admiralty fuel tanks and subject to tests proving satisfactory the oil fuel
and diesel tanks should be ready to receive oil by the end of March.
The new S.D.O. has been completed
and work was commenced dismantling the C.M. Station.
All work was completed on the
Boom Defence Depot and H.M.S. BARWIND arrived on the 26th February to lift boom moorings.
No work was carried out on the
Refrigerator plant but is hoped to commence this next month.
Sickness
-
Out of the total establishment of 17 officers
and 95 ratings, 1 Officer and 10 ratings were admitted to hospital and 1
Officer and 13 ratings were discharged.
Blackout
Arrangements -
The modified Black out
arrangements which were put into effect last month have proved to be effective.
Takoradi
As no report has been received in
February, particulars will be include in the March War Diary.
Komenda
Aircraft
Stores -
During the month, the first
supplies of stores for Walrus and Swordfish aircraft were received.
Sickness
-
The health of the Station personnel has remained very good and only eight
cases of Malaria have occurred during February.
Welfare
-
Arrangements have been made for personnel to
visit the R.A.F. Cinema at Takoradi and several matches in football, hockey,
cricket, and tennis have been played there against the R.A.F. and at Secondi
against Army teams. This recreation has done much to relieve the feeling of
isolation at Komenda and to keep up morale.
Progress
in Construction -
During the last two months there
has been a marked tendency fro the work on the construction of the station to
slow down.
The reason for this slowing down
of the work has been attributed to the long hours worked over a period of many
months, the arrival of the hot season, and the lack of European supervisors and
in consequence working hours have been reduced temporarily but will be resumed
as soon as the labour has been rested.
A 2 inch pipeline is being
constructed by the Royal Engineers from Elmina to the Station and by the end of
the month had reached a point four
miles from the station. When completed this water pipe will save the use of the
eight 800 gallon water carriers, two of which have had to proceed to Elmina
three times each day to satisfy the present station requirements of water.
Communications
-
Type 52 E.R.T. sets have been used for
communications with Takoradi during
the failure of the telephone and Fullerphone systems.
Electrical
Supply -
Work was commenced on the laying
of two low tension cables for supplying outlying buildings with electrical current from the two 15
Kilowatt diesel driven generating sets.
Lagos
Clearing
of
the
Sunken A/S Trawlers - The wreck of H.M.S. CANNA was demolished during the
month and demolition work was
commenced on the wreck of H.M.S. BENGALI.
H.M.S. KELT was made ready for
towing by the 18th February, but
unfortunately no tug could be made available for the purpose.
Buildings
-
Owing to the damage caused by the explosion
in December, the naval petrol and oil store has had to be dismantled and a
small concrete store will be erected in the dockyard close to the jetty to take
its place.
The concrete W/T office which was
commenced last month has been almost
completed.
Sickness
-
The general health continued at the same normal level but there have been indications
that M.L. Officers, twelve of whom have completed eighteen months without
relief, are feeling the effect of this climate. Three Commanding Officers of
M.L. have already been invalided and it is significant that one officer from
H.M.S. CANNA, who has completed 20 months in West Africa has not responded to
treatment for burns as well as others, equally badly burnt, but who have only
been on the boats for a short time.
ADM
199/635
FLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE, WEST AFRICA
WAR DIARY – MARCH 1943
(Incorporating
all War Diaries rendered for March 1943 by subordinate authorities)
Part
1 – WAR DIARY March 1943
1st March, Sunday
F.S. GAZELLE and F.S. LA
GRACIEUSE sailed from Freetown for Dakar escorting S.S. CAP PADORAN as far as
Bathurst.
H.M.M.L. 251 sailed from Freetown
for Bissau.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES arrived
Freetown from Dakar with Vice Admiral
Collinet (Vice Admiral Commanding Dakar Naval District) on board, on a visit to
the Flag Officer Commanding, West Africa.
H.M.S. ORFASY with two M.L.s arrived Dakar from Port
Etienne.
H.M.M.L.s 277 and 290 arrived
Freetown from Port Etienne and Bathurst.
F.S. AMIRAL MOUCHEZ arrived Dakar
from Freetown with a petrol lighter
in tow.
H.H.M.L.s 1065 and 1066 sailed
from Bathurst and arrived Dakar.
H.H.M.S. ADRIAS carried out A/S
practices with H.M. Submarine P.615.
H.M.S. RUMBA sailed from Marshall
to meet convoy S.T. 57.
H.M.H.S. ATLANTIS arrived
Freetown.
Convoy W.S. 27 sailed for
Freetown from Gibraltar.
H.M.S. CONSBRO arrived Takoradi.
H.M.M.L.265 arrived Takoradi from
Freetown.
H.M.M.L.s 1016 and 1042 sailed
from Lagos for Takoradi to relieve H.M.M.L. 1014 and 1018.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and F.S.
COMMANDANT DROGOU sailed from Lagos for Freetown escorting H.T. BERGENSFIORD
and H.T. LEOPOLDVILLE.
S.S. SANGARA was successfully
beached off Duala in position 3-56-50N, 9-34-44E p.m. to day.
Spanish S.S. MONTE NARANCO,
suspected contraband carrier, arrived at Gibraltar with guard onboard from H.M.S. DESPATCH, escorted by H.H.M.S. ADRIAS.
2nd March, Tuesday
H.M.S. PETUNIA arrived Freetown
from Bathurst and Marshall escorting S.S. HOGGAR with troops for Oran due to sail in convoy S.L. 126.
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from
Freetown on blockade runner patrol.
H.M. Ships BUTSER and BIRDLIP
arrived Freetown from Gibraltar and Agadir with convoy S.R. 1 Y.
F.S. COMMANDANT BORY with M.L. 1018 arrived Freetown from
Takoradi, Sassandra, and Tabou escorting S.S. ST LOUIS, S.S. PORT ARCHAMBAULT,
and S.S. CHELMA. All these ships had been discharging cargo off the Ivory
Coast.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN arrived Boma to
dock.
H.M.H.S. ATLANTIS sailed from
Freetown.
H.M.M.L. 274 sailed from Takoradi
for Port Bouet to establish liaison with
the French authorities.
3rd March, Wednesday
H.M.S. DUNKERY arrived Freetown
from Gibraltar having been detached from Convoy R.S. 2 to search for Spanish
S.S. MONTE NARANCO.
H.M.S. RUMBA arrived Freetown
from screening duties off Marshall.
H.M.S. ORFASY with two M.L.s sailed from Dakar and
arrived Bathurst.
F.S. COMMANDANT BORY with H.M.M.L.s 244, 279, and 302 sailed
from Freetown escorting S.S. PORT ARCHAMBAULT, S.S. CHELMA, and S.S. ST LOUIS
to Dakar and S.S. KANJANG for Bathurst.
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER,
HYDRANGEA, INKPEN, DUNCTON, and CROCUS turned over Convoy S.R. 2 to Gibraltar
naval forces and took over escort of Convoy R.S. 2.
F.S. GAZELLE and F.S. GRACIEUSE
arrived Dakar from Freetown.
H.M.S. BOREAS arrived Dakar
escorting S.S. JAMES PARKER from Casablanca.
H.M.M.L.s 1016 and 1043 arrived
Takoradi from Lagos to relieve H.M.M.L.s 1014 and 1018
H.M.S. ARMERIA sailed from
Trinidad with S.S. ORBITA to join
H.M.S. BELLWORT and F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU off the port and continue in convoy
to Freetown.
Admiral Collinet gave a reception
aboard F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES to which Flag Officer Commanding, West Africa's
Staff and a number of other officers were invited.
4th March, Thursday
H.M.S. THYME arrived Freetown
from Takoradi.
H.M.S. SUSSEX arrived Freetown
from the United Kingdom on passage to Cape Town.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES sailed from
Freetown for blockade runner patrol.
F.S. GAZELLE and F.S. LA
GRACIEUSE arrived Dakar.
H.M.M.L.s 261 and 201 sailed from
Freetown to join and assist escort of H.T. LEOPOLDVILLE, H.T. BERGENSFIORD, and
S.S. ORBITA to Freetown.
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN and
SARABANDE with H.M.M.L.s 264 and 305
arrived Takoradi from Freetown escorting convoy S.T. 47 having detached S.S.
CALGARY and S.S. BRITISH COAST to Lagos.
H.M.S. PICT arrived Takoradi
escorting S.S. SOLARIUM from Freetown.
H.M.S. BOREAS sailed from Dakar
for Freetown escorting S.S. JAMES PARKER.
H.M. Ships PELICAN, SENNEN,
ROTHER, SPEY, and WEAR arrived Freetown escorting convoy O.S. 43.
H.M.S. BURDOCK arrived Freetown
from Lagos.
H.M.S. QUADRANT parted company
from Convoy W.S. 27 and proceeded to Bathurst to effect repairs.
H.M.M.L.s 287 and 296 sailed from
Bathurst for Freetown escorting s.s. RUTHENFIELL.
H.M.S. ARRAN and H.H.M.S. ADRIAS
carried out A/S exercises with H.M.S.
P.615.
5th March, Friday
H.M. Ships BURDOCK and THYME
sailed from Freetown escorting S.S. HOGGAR to Dakar.
F.S. AIR FRANCE III sailed from
Dakar for Port Etienne to embark victims of an air crash.
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN and
SARABANDE with H.M.M.L.s 272 and 278
sailed from Takoradi for Freetown escorting Convoy T.S. 32.
H.M.S. BOREAS sailed from Dakar
for Freetown.
H.M.S. QUADRANT arrived Bathurst
with defects having parted company
from convoy W.S. 27.
H.M.S. PICT sailed from Takoradi
for Lagos for repairs.
Portuguese lugger SAO MIGUEL
arrived with a cargo of 72 tons of
salt for Freetown. Examination revealed neither contraband nor clandestine
mail.
6th March, Saturday
H.M.S. SUSSEX sailed from
Freetown to relieve H.M.S. DESPATCH on blockade runner patrol.
H.M.M.L. 277 sailed from Freetown
to search for wreckage of H.M.M.L. 251 which was rammed by H.M.S. BURDOCK in
position 9-09N, 14-28W. H.M.M.L. 251 was bound for Freetown from Bissau with diplomatic mail. The mail and all the
crew were saved.
H.M.S. BOREAS arrived Freetown
from Gibraltar and Dakar escorting U.S. Troopship JAMES PARKER on passage to
Marshall to disembark American troops.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT and ARMERIA
arrived Freetown from Lagos and Takoradi escorting H.T. BERGENSFIORD, H.T.
LEOPOLDVILLE, and S.S. ORBITA.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Freetown
after being relieved on patrol by H.M.S. SUSSEX.
H.M.S.
QUAIL arrived Dakar escorting S.S. ALMANZORA, ex Convoy W.S. 27.
F.S. LA GAZELLE sailed from Dakar
for the Casamance.
H.M.S. QUADRANT sailed from
Bathurst for Dakar.
Swiss S.S. CALANDA arrived
Takoradi, where she were examined for contraband, but nothing found.
7th March, Sunday
H.M.M.L.s 287 and 296 arrived
Freetown from Dakar, Port Etienne, and Bathurst, escorting S.S. RUTENFJELL.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT, ARMERIA, and
ARRAN with H.M.M.L.s 256 and 290
sailed from Freetown for Takoradi escorting Convoy S.T. 58.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Freetown from Lagos having straggled from the troop convoy, which arrived on
the 6th March, owing to engine
defects.
H.M.S. QUAIL sailed from Dakar to
rejoin Convoy W.S. 27.
F.S. COMMANDANT BORY with H.M.M.L.s 302, 244, and 279 arrived
Dakar from Freetown escorting S.S. CHELMA and S.S. ST LOUIS.
H.M. Ships BURDOCK and THYME
arrived Dakar escorting S.S. HOGGAR and sailed again for Freetown escorting
S.S. ALMANZORA.
H.M.S. QUADRANT (ex W.S. 27)
arrived Dakar from Bathurst to dock and fit new asdic dome.
F.S. LA GRACIEUSE sailed from
Dakar for Conakry.
F.S. LA GAZELLE sailed from
Casamance escorting two merchant vessels to Dakar.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA arrived Bathurst
from escorting Convoy R.S. 2.
H.M.S. PICT arrived Lagos from
Takoradi to dock.
H.M. Ships INKPEN, DUNCTON, and
CROCUS were detached from convoy R.S. 2 to escort southbound shipping.
H.M.S. FANDANGO was detached from
Convoy R.S. 2 to salvage wreckage of M.L. 251.
8th March, Monday
H.M.M.L. 277 arrived Freetown
from unsuccessful search for wreckage of M.L. 251.
Convoy W.S. 27 arrived Freetown
from the United Kingdom escorted by H.M. Ships MALAYA, RAIDER, QUEENBOROUGH,
WOLVERINE, and QUAIL.
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from
Freetown on blockade runner patrol.
F.S. GAZELLE arrived Dakar
escorting two merchant ships from Casamance.
F.S. LA GRACIEUSE arrived
Conakry.
F.S. AIR FRANCE III sailed for
Port Etienne for Dakar with victims
of air crash.
H.M.S. BRIDGEWATER arrived
Freetown with tug MASTERFUL,
STENHILL, and EMPIRE GYPSY.
H.M.S. PORTSDOWN sailed from
Freetown for Marshall to screen U.S. Transport JAMES PARKER whilst disembarking
U.S. troops.
H.M.M.L. 261 sailed from Freetown
escorting H.M.S. BARBROOK to assist H.M.S. FANDANGO and H.M. Tug AIMWELL to
salvage M.L. 251 in position 9-50N, 14-28W.
H.M.S. DUNCTON sailed from
Marshall for Freetown.
H.M. Ships HYDRANGEA and ORFASY
sailed from Bathurst for Freetown, escorting tug AIMWELL, S.S. CAP PADORAN, and
S.S. NEW BROOKLYN.
H.M.S. QUADRANT docked at Dakar.
H.M.M.L. 263 arrived Takoradi
from Accra escorting S.S. EMPIRE LIVINGSTONE.
At 1136, aircraft sighted a
merchant vessel in position 26-50N, 14-41W, course 225 degrees, speed 6 knots.
At 1741/4 aircraft sighted an
unidentified merchant vessel in Cape Bojador area.
9th March, Tuesday
H.M.M.L. arrived Freetown from
Takoradi escorting H.M.S. CONSBRO on passage to North Africa.
H.M.S. WOLVERINE sailed from
Freetown for Marshall escorting American transport JAMES PARKER.
H.M. Ships THYME and BURDOCK
arrived Freetown from Dakar escorting S.S. ALMANZORA to join Convoy W.S. 27.
H.M.M.L. 261 arrived Freetown with H.M.S. FANDANGO and H.M.S. BARBROOK
from attempt to salvage H.M.M.L. 251. H.M.S. FANDANGO sank M.L. 251 with all confidential books on board by
gunfire before she received message that H.M.S. BARBROOK and H.M. Tug AIMWELL
had been ordered to assist in salvage.
F.S. AIR FRANCE III arrived Dakar
from Port Etienne with bodies and
crew from crashed aircraft.
H.M.S. QUADRANT undocked at
Dakar.
H.M.S. PETUNIA carried out A/S
exercises.
10th March, Wednesday
H.M. Ships CROCUS, INKPEN, and
DUNCTON arrived Freetown from escorting Convoy R.S. 2.
H.M.S. SUSSEX arrived Freetown
from blockade runner patrol.
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN and
SARABANDE with H.M.M.L.s 272 and 278
arrived Freetown from Takoradi escorting Convoy T.S. 32 (5 ships).
Tug AIMWELL arrived Freetown.
H.M.M.L.s 279 and 302 sailed from
Dakar and arrived Bathurst.
F.S. GEORGES LEYGUES arrived
Dakar from blockade runner patrol.
H.M.S. WOLVERINE arrived Marshall
with U.S. transport JAMES PARKER and
sailed again to return to Freetown.
H.M.S. PETUNIA carried out
Oropesa sweeping practices.
H.M. Ships PELICAN, SENNEN, WEAR,
SPEY, and ROTHER carried out A/S exercises with H.M.S. P.615.
Swiss S.S. CALANDA sailed from
Takoradi for Las Palmas.
H.M.S. ARETHUSA arrived Pointe
Noire for fuel and sailed again for Freetown on passage from Simonstown.
11th March, Thursday
Convoy W.S. 27 sailed from
Freetown for the Cape escorted by H.M. Ships SUSSEX, QUEENBOROUGH, RAIDER,
PETUNIA, CROCUS, and QUAIL.
H.M.S. WOLVERINE arrived Freetown
from Marshall.
H.M. Ships BIRDLIP, BURDOCK, and
BUTSER sailed from Freetown for Dakar escorting S.S. PALACIO, S.S. ZAREMBO, and
S.S. YANKEE ARROW to Bathurst; S.S. MARY KINGSLEY to Dakar, and R.F.A. FORTOL
to Port Etienne to refuel escorts of convoy S.L. 126.
H.M. Ships MALAYA and WOLVERINE,
and H.H.M.S. ADRIAS sailed from Freetown for Gibraltar escorting S.S. CITY OF
CAPETOWN to latitude 28-08N, whence she proceeded to the United Kingdom
independently.
H.M. Ships ORFASY and HYDRANGEA arrived
Freetown from Bathurst escorting S.S. GABOU, S.S. CAP PADORAN, and S.S. NEW
BROOKLYN.
H.M.M.L. 244 sailed from Dakar
for Bathurst escorting S.S. OUED FEZ.
H.M.S. QUADRANT sailed from Dakar
and arrived Bathurst.
F.S. GLOIRE sailed from Dakar on
blockade runner patrol.
H.M.S. CILICIA on blockade runner
patrol sighted an unidentified ship in position 5-35S, 11-48W, but lost contact
with her.
H.M.M.L.s 279 and 302 sailed from
Bathurst escorting S.S. KAJANG to Freetown.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT, ARMERIA, and
ARRAN with H.M.M.L.s 290 and 256
arrived Takoradi escorting Convoy S.T. 58 from Freetown.
H.M. Ships BIRDLIP and BUTSER
carried out A/S exercises with H.M.S.
P.615.
At 0445 hours, H.M.S. CILICIA
sighted a ship in position 5-35N, 11-48W apparent course 340 degrees. H.M.S.
CARNARVON CASTLE and F.S. GLOIRE, both
on
ocean patrol, were ordered to join H. M.S. CILICIA in search. H.M.S. DESPATCH
left Freetown to join search and aircraft carried out cross over patrols. In a
later signal from H.M.S. CILICIA, it is suggested that the unidentified ship
may have been S.S. CLAN MCNEIL on a reciprocal course to the one above.
12th March, Friday
Convoy S.L. 126 sailed from
Freetown for the United Kingdom escorted by H.M. Ships PELICAN, WEAR, SPEY,
ROTHER, SENNEN, and F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU.
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Freetown
from blockade runner patrol and sailed again to search for the unidentified
ship sighted by H.M.S. CILICIA on the previous day.
H.M.M.L. 244 sailed from Dakar
for Bathurst escorting S.S. OUED FEZ.
H.M. Ships CARNARVON CASTLE,
DESPATCH, and CILICIA cooperated with F.S.
GLOIRE and the Royal Air Force in search for unidentified ship sighted by H.M.
CILICIA on the previous day.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT and ARMERIA
sailed from Takoradi to Lagos for escort duties.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN arrived Pointe
Noire after docking at Boma; fuelled and sailed again escorting S.S. SIRANGER
to Takoradi.
H.M.S. PORTSDOWN sailed from
Marshall for Freetown.
H.M.S. QUADRANT sailed from
Bathurst to meet and escort H.M.S. MALAYA to the North.
H.M.M.L. 1052 sailed from Lagos
for Porto Novo with F.F. recognition
signals.
13th March, Saturday
H.M.M.L.s 279 and 302 arrived
Freetown from Bathurst escorting S.S. KAJANG.
H.M.S. PORTSDOWN arrived Freetown
from screening duties off Marshall.
H.M.S. WOLVERINE arrived Dakar
for fuel and sailed again.
H.M. Ships BELLWORT and ARMERIA
arrived Lagos from Takoradi and having fuelled sailed again to join Convoy W.S.
27.
H.M. Ships SARABANDE and RUMBA
(n.b. spelled RHUMBA in Diary) carried out
A/S exercises with H.M.S. P.615.
Transport EMPRESS OF CANADA,
after being diverted 3 times, finally to Takoradi, was torpedoed between the
engine room and the boiler room at 2350 hours in position 1-13S, 9-57W. The
ship listed 15 degrees starboard and began to sink. At the time, she was
proceeding at a speed of 18 ½ knots using zig zag No. 9, course 062
degrees. A second torpedo struck the ship at 0050/14 on the starboard ship
abreast the bridge. She sank within 20 minutes. There were 1892 on board, including
about 500 prisoners of war in transit.
14th March, Sunday
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN sailed from
Freetown to pick up survivors from S.S. EMPRESS OF CANADA torpedoed and sunk in
position 1-13S, 19-57W.
H.M.S. BOREAS returned to
Freetown from escorting H.M.S. MALAYA, fuelled and sailed again to assist in
rescue of survivors from S.S. EMPIRE CANADA.
Convoy S.T. 59 sailed from
Freetown for Takoradi, escorted by H.M.Ships RUMBA, DUNCTON, PORTSDOWN, and
SARABANDE.
H.M. Ships DUNKERY and ORFASY
sailed to Bathurst escorting S.S. CAP PADORAN from Freetown.
H.M.S. BURDOCK arrived Dakar
escorting S.S. MARY KINGSLEY.
H.M. Ships CROCUS and PETUNIA
detached from Convoy S.W. 27 to pick up survivors from S.S. EMPRESS OF CANADA.
H.M.M.L.s 1209 and 1141 arrived
Bathurst from Dakar escorting S.S. MATANG.
F.S. COMMANDANT DROGOU arrived
Bathurst for fuel and sailed again to rejoin convoy S.L. 126.
H.M.S. HERO arrived Pointe Noire
to refuel and sailed again for Freetown.
H.M.S. QUAIL arrived Takoradi, ex
Convoy W.S. 27, escorting U.S. Troopship JAMES PARKER, refuelled and watered
and sailed again to rejoin Convoy W.S. 27.
H.M.M.L. 263 sailed from Takoradi
for Accra on screening duties off that port.
H.M.M.L. 256 and 305 sailed from
Takoradi to carry out search for submarine reported by aircraft to be in
position 2-50N, 3-30W.
S.S. CLAN MCNEIL on arrival at
St.Helena reported that her position at 0500 on 11th March was 7-54S, 16-14W. She had not sighted H.M.S. CILICIA or any
other ship at that time. It is thought that the ship sighted by H.M.S. CILICIA
may have been a homeward bound blockade runner and H.M. Ships on patrol were
informed accordingly.
It was learned that H.M.S.
QUADRANT picked up 10 survivors from U.S. Ship CITY OF FLINT in position
11-50N, 18-04W on 12th March. This
ship had been torpedoed and shelled by a U boat off the Azores at 1900 hours on
25th January.
Aircraft sighted 24 lifeboats in
position 1-13S, 9-46W a.m. 14/4 – vicinity of sinking of EMPRESS OF
CANADA.
15th March, Monday
H.M.S. ARETHUSA arrived Freetown
from Cape Town and Pointe Noire on passage to Charleston, via Bermuda.
H.M.S. BURDOCK sailed from Dakar,
escorting S.S. HOGGAR, S.S. CHELMA, and S.S. DUNKERQUE to join Convoy S.L. 126.
H.M. Ships PELICAN and SENNEN
arrived Dakar to refuel and sailed again to rejoin Convoy S.L. 126.
H.M.S. BARFOSS sailed from
Takoradi to complete the laying of the oil pipeline at Accra.
H.M.M.L. 290 sailed from Takoradi
to take stores to Abidjan and having screened S.S. FORT DE VAUT whilst
discharging cargo to escort her to Takoradi.
H.M.M.L 271 sailed from Takoradi
for Port Bouet to escort S.S. BAMAKO to Freetown.
COMSOLANTFOR reported that the
KOTA NOPAN (ex Dutch), a homeward blockade runner, was intercepted by a U.S.
Task Force in position 7S, 21W at 1727/10/3. This is just outside Flag Officer
Commanding, West Africa's Command limits. KOTA NOPAN was boarded but not in
time to prevent an internal explosion which cost 8 of the boarding party their
lives and sank the ship. 72 prisoners were taken, some of which were German
Naval Personnel.
16th March, Tuesday
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Bathurst,
H.M.S. CILICIA arrived Freetown, and F.S. GLOIRE arrived Dakar from blockade
runner patrols.
R.F.A. FORTOL arrived Port
Etienne escorted by H.M. Ships BIRDLIP and BUTSER.
Independent sailings between
Lagos and Takoradi resumed.
H.M. Ships BOREAS, PETUNIA, and
CROCUS returned to Freetown from rescue operations for survivors from S.S.
EMPRESS OF CANADA.
H.M.S. DUNCTON parted company
from Convoy S.T. 59 to discharge W/T stores at Cape Palmas.
H.M.S. HERO arrived Takoradi from
Point Noire on passage to Freetown.
H.M.S. BRIDGEWATER and H.M.M.L.
281 carried out A/S exercises with H.M.S.
P.615.
H.M.M.L.s 256 and 305 returned to
Takoradi from A/S search.
H.M. Tug CHARON arrived Pointe
Noire from Duala, refuelled and sailed again for Corisco Bay to assist in
salvage of S.S. PIERRE LOTI.
S.S. CABO VERDE arrived for
examination, but no contraband was found. Navicert was granted and ship sailed
at 1530 hours for Lisbon.
17th March, Wednesday
H.M.S. CILICIA sailed from
Freetown on blockade runner patrol.
H.M.S. ARETHUSA sailed from
Freetown for Charleston via St. Vincent and Bermuda for fuel.
H.M.S. DESPATCH sailed from
Bathurst on blockade runner patrol.
H.M. Ships SPEY and ROTHER
arrived Port Etienne and having refuelled, sailed again escorting R.F.A.
FORTOL.
H.M.S. BIRDLIP sailed from Port
Etienne to join S.L. 126.
H.M.S. DUNKERY and ORFASY arrived
Bathurst from Freetown escorting S.S. CAP PADORAN.
H.M.S. THYME sailed from Freetown
to escort shipping into port from Position ÒXÓ.
H.M.S. HERO sailed from Takoradi
for Freetown.
H.M.S. CYCLAMEN arrived Takoradi
from Pointe Noire.
H.M. Ships ARMERIA and BELLWORT
parted company from W.S. 27 and proceeded to Takoradi.
H.M. Ships QUADRANT and WOLVERINE
and H.H.M.S. ADRIAS arrived Gibraltar escorting H.M.S. MALAYA from Freetown.
H.M.S. RAIDER arrived Pointe
Noire to refuel and sailed again to rejoin Convoy W.S. 27.
Master of S.S. BARON DUNMORE
reported sighting an unidentified merchant ship, resembling silhouette of the
German Bahia-Pernambuco type in position 25-57N, 34-13W, course 320 degrees,
speed 14 knots at 1750 hours.
18th March, Thursday
H.M.S. BOREAS arrived Freetown with over 800 survivors from S.S. EMPRESS OF
CANADA.
French ships LA GRACIEUSE, DUMONT
D'URVILLE, and COMMANDANT DELAGE arrived Dakar escorting convoy C.D. 4 (three
ships).
H.M.S. BIRDLIP sailed from Port
Etienne to meet convoy S.L. 126.
19th March, Friday
H.M.S. FANDANGO sailed from
Freetown for Dakar escorting H.M.S. CONSBRO on passage to Gibraltar.
H.M. Ships PETUNIA, CORINTHIAN,
and CROCUS arrived Freetown with survivors
from S.S. EMPRESS OF CANADA.
H.M.S. THYME returned to Freetown
without having met merchant vessels in position ÒXÓ.
H.M.S. HERO arrived Freetown from
Takoradi having escorted U.S. transport JAMES PARKER on the first part of her
passage to America.
H.M.S. ARETHUSA arrived St.
Vincent to refuel.
H.M. Ships RUMBA, SARABANDE,
DUNCTON, and PORTSDOWN arrived Takoradi escorting Convoy S.T. 59 (4 ships) from
Freetown.
H.M. Ships CYCLAMEN, ARRAN,
PORTSDOWN, and DUNCTION with H.M.M.L.s
305 and 256 sailed from Takoradi for Freetown escorting Convoy T.S. 33 (10
ships).
H.M.S. BUTSER parted company from
convoy S.L. 126 and proceeded to St Vincent.
H.M.S. BURDOCK escorting R.F.A.
FORTOL parted company with convoy
S.L. 126 and proceeded to make a rendezvous with Convoy O.S. 44.
H.M.S. ORFASY sailed from
Bathurst for Dakar
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER and
HYDRANGEA carried out A/S exercised with
H.M.S. P.615.
Portuguese lugger SAO MIGUEL
which arrived Freetown on 5th March,
sailed at 1916 hours for Bathurst, with
a
cargo of coconuts, for which, navicert issued by Comptroller of Customs,
Freetown.
20th February, Saturday
H.M.S. HERO sailed from Freetown
on passage to the United Kingdom, via Bathurst and Gibraltar for refuelling
purposes.
H.M.S. INKPEN sailed from
Freetown escorting S.S. WILLIAM GLASTON to Robertsport and Monrovia and to
screen her off both these ports.
H.M.S. ORFASY arrived Dakar
escorting S.S. OUED FEZ from Bathurst.
F.S. GLOIRE sailed from Dakar on
blockade runner patrol.
H.M.S. ARMERIA sailed Takoradi
for Lagos.
H.M. Ships QUADRANT and WOLVERINE
sailed from Gibraltar to join Convoy W.S. 28.
21st March, Sunday
H.M.S. DESPATCH arrived Freetown
from Blockade runner patrol.
H.M.M.L.s 290 and 296 sailed from
Freetown for Liberian surf ports on screening duties.
H.M. Ships BRIDGEWATER, BOREAS,
HYDRANGEA, and THYME with H.M.M.L.s
302 and 287 sailed from Freetown escorting Convoy S.R. 3.
F.S. LA GRACIEUSE sailed from
Dakar escorting four merchant ships to join Convoy O.S. 44.
H.M.S. BELLWORT and H.M.S.
ARMERIA sailed from Takoradi for Freetown escorting H.T. HAI LEE.
H.M.S. DUNKERY with two M.L.s sailed from Bathurst escorting
H.M.S. BARWIND and S.S. CAP PADORAN.
22nd March, Monday
H.M.S. BUTSER arrived St. Vincent
escorting R.F.A. FORTOL from Convoy S.L. 126.
H.M.S. BURDOCK sailed from St.
Vincent for Bathurst.
H.M.S. FANDANGO arrived Dakar
from Freetown.
H.M.S. SABABANDE sailed from
Takoradi with aircraft spirit for
the Royal Air Force at Port Bouet.
H.M. Ships CORINTHIAN and PETUNIA
with H.M.M.L.s 261 and 279 sailed
from Freetown to meet convoy O.S. 44.
H.M. Ships CADMUS, CONVOLVULUS,
KINGSTON CHRYSOLITE, and ARCTIC RANGER sailed from Gibraltar for Freetown
escorting Convoy S.R. 3.
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN and H.M.S.
PETUNIA carried out A/S exercised with
H.M.S.
P.615.
H.M.M.L. 263 arrived Takoradi
escorting S.S. NAIRNBANK and H.M.S. VARFOSS from Accra. H.M.S. BARFOSS had
completed the laying of the oil pipe line at Accra.
23rd March, Tuesday
H.M.S. CILICIA arrived Freetown
from blockade runner patrol.
H.M.S. HYDRANGEA returned to
Freetown with defects from escort
duties with Convoy S.R. 3.
H.M.M.L.s 278 and 281 sailed from
Freetown to join escorts of convoy T.S. 33.
H.M.S. FANDANGO arrived Dakar
escorting H.M.S. CONSBRO.
H.M.S. REDOUBT sailed from
Gibraltar to Freetown escorting S.S. ULSTER MONARCH.
H.M.S. ARRAN parted company with Convoy T.S. 33 and proceeded to
Marshall.
H.M.S. BUTSER sailed from St.
Vincent for Freetown, escorting R.F.A. FORTOL.
H.M.S. CORINTHIAN, H.M.S.
PETUNIA, and H.M.S. COLTSFOOT sailed from Freetown to meet Convoy O.S. 44.
H.M.M.L. 263 sailed from Takoradi
to screen S.S. CALUMET off Accra.
A U.S. Clipper Aircraft sighted
an unescorted ship, hove to, alleged to be a supply ship, flying red-yellow-red
flag, at 0830 in position 6-43N, 11-32W, 12 miles off the coast. Aircraft
investigated shortly afterwards and found no sign of supply ship off
Robertport. H.M.S. INKPEN also in the vicinity at 0830 had nothing to report. Note:
PLUS ULTRA and ESCOLNA (both Spanish)
were approximately the above position at the time stated, travelling southbound
and northbound, respectively.
24th March, Wednesday
Convoy O.S. 44 arrived Freetown
from the United Kingdom escorted by H.M. Ships ROCHESTER, SCARBOROUGH,
FLEETWOOD, SPIRAEA, MIGNONETTE, COLTSFOOT, and F.S. LA GRACIEUSE with H.M.M.L. 289.
H.M.M.L. 244 arrived Freetown
escorting H.M.S. BARWIND which had straggled from convoy O.S. 44.
H.M.S. ARMERIA arrived Freetown
escorting H.T. HAI LEE from Takoradi.
H.M.S. UGANDA arrived Freetown
from the United Kingdom.
H.M. tug INTENT sailed from Dakar
towing H.M.S. CONSBRO, escorted by H.M.S. FANDANGO to join Convoy S.R. 3.
H.M.S. BOREAS arrived Dakar.
H.M.S. BURDOCK arrived Bathurst
to refuel and sailed again to join Convoy R.S. 3.
H.M.S. COPINSAY and H.M.M.L.s 272
and 277 carried out A/S exercise with H.M.S.
P.615.
H.M.M.L. 290 arrived Takoradi
from Port Bouet escorting S.S. FORT DE VAUX.
H.M.S. SARABANDE returned to
Takoradi after delivering the petrol to the Royal Air Force at Abidjan to allow
Catalina aircraft to operate from there.
H.M.M.L. 290 sailed from Takoradi
to carry out an A/S search in position 4-26N, 2-32W.
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