This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Wurger]

The 22nd November 1939 in Angers, France , the French guard of honour salutes before Prime Minister Sikorski.

 

[parsifal]

23 November (Part I of II)
Known Reinforcements
Axis
S-30 S Boote

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 43 made contact with a convoy 60 miles north of Cape Ortegal. Unfortunately there are no other boats in the vicinity. U 26 is the nearest, approximately in the latitude of Porto. As she has been in her operational area for a very long time, she presumably has only little fuel remaining. Cooperation must be attempted however. Unfortunately U 26 has only AFB on board, and shadower's reports will therefore have to be made with this clumsy and slow cypher system. By evening U 43 was driven off and contact lost.

Arrivals
Kiel U-18, U-57

At Sea 23 November
U-13, U-20, U-22, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-33, U-35, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-53.
16 boats at sea

Northern Patrol
MV BORKUM (Ger 3,670 grt) sunk by U-33 (refer 18 November)

Denmark Strait - CAs NORFOLK, SUFFOLK and AMCs CALIFORNIA, TRANSYLVANIA and AURANIA; Iceland-Faroes Channel - CLs NEWCASTLE, DELHI, CERES, CALYPSO and AMC RAWALPINDI (AMC CHITRAL departed the Clyde on the 14th for this station, but was now returning with the crew from German steamer BERTHA FISSER). Meanwhile DELHI was pursuing German steamer LUDOLF OLDENDORFF (1953grt) but was unable to stop her. She was stopped the next day by CL SHEFFIELD, but disguised as a Danish steamer, was allowed to continue; south of the Faroes - CLs CALEDON, CARDIFF and COLOMBO.

DKM BC SCHARNHORST sighted AMC RAWALPINDI southeast of Iceland at 1507. The AMC tried to outrun SCHARNHORST and at 1551 radioed that an enemy battlecruiser had been sighted, adding a few minutes later that the warship was CS DEUTSCHLAND which was still believed to be at sea.

The skipper of the RAWALPINDI was 60 year Cpt Kennedy. After identifying the second ship as the BC Gneisenau, he was heard to say "We'll fight them both, they'll sink us and that will be that. Good-bye!" With that statement the fate of the Rawalpindi was sealed. It was a sentiment to be repeated often by the RN in the coming months. On the foretop of the Scharnhorst Captain Kurt Cäsar Hoffmann ordered a third signal to be flashed to the Rawalpindi. This time Scharnhorst flashed the signal to "Abandon your ship". Hoffmann was stunned when this signal was also ignored. He thought the Captain of the Rawalpindi to be mad. Surely he (Kennedy) could not believe that Rawalpindi's eight World War 1 era six inch guns were in any way a match for the eighteen modern eleven inch guns of the two German ships. Hoffmann would get his answer after the signal to abandon your ship was sent twice more. With no response from the Rawalpindi, Hoffmann had no alternative but to order the sinking of the ship. As Hoffmann prepared to give the order to open fire, Captain Kennedy's answer to Hoffmann's earlier signals came in the form of a salvo of six inch shells that rained down on the Gneisenau. A second salvo was directed at Scharnhorst. At 15:45 the Scharnhorst opened fire on the Rawalpindi. The first salvo hit the Rawalpindi on the boat deck, just under the bridge, killing almost everyone on the bridge and destroying the radio room. However Kennedy miraculously survived. The second salvo from Scharnhorst destroyed the main gun control station and knocked out one of her starboard guns. The third salvo found the engine room, this knocked out the dynamos that provided the electric power to the ship's systems. With the shell hoists unable to operate Kennedy ordered Chief Petty Officer Humphries to alert the seven remaining gun commanders to continue to fire independently because the main fire control system was out of action. Humphries was to also enlist all available hands to carry the six inch shells from the magazine to the turrets. There was no thought of surrender or abandoning the ship whilst she could still resist.

The shells from the German's kept coming. One by one the guns on the Rawalpindi were knocked out of action. Below deck's the power was out and on deck things were dreadful. Rawalpindi was burning from stem to stern, live shells and cordite sticks rolled freely on deck next to burning debris. Cpt Kennedy and two men now went to the after part of the ship to lay a smoke-screen. Soon after this one of the men reported to Chief Petty Officer Humphries that the Captain was dead. The Rawalpindi was also dead in the water. Fire everywhere, fire suppression systems had failed and the ships steering gear was jammed, it was now time to abandon ship. One lifeboat with forty wounded men was lowered, but it overturned pouring the men into the freezing water. Other boats were being lowered...according to German reports, Scharnhorst's guns now found the forward magazine. The Rawalpindi exploded, broke in two and went down very quickly. Those in the lifeboats were swamped when Scharnhorst swung hard about to avoid the sinking ship. However, the Scharnhorst returned rapidly to rescue survivors. The crew of the Scharnhorst recovered 38 survivors from the Rawalpindi, but sadly 238 were killed in the action. CL NEWCASTLE on Northern Patrol next to RAWALPINDI picked up the SOS and steamed to her position. NEWCASTLE actually sighted GNEISENAU at six and a half miles, but both German ships escaped unharmed in the worsening weather. According to the RN after action report RAWALPINDI was still afloat at that stage, although afire when NEWCASTLE and CL DELHI located her. She finally sank around 2000. Lost with her were approximately 280 officers and men which again differs from the German sources. AMC CHITRAL, returning to the Clyde, picked up eleven more survivors from a lifeboat 36 hours later.

The Home Flt were finally presented with an oppotunity to destroy the german battle sqn, but they had to have been dissapointed by the outcome. Admiral Forbes with BBs NELSON, RODNEY, CA DEVONSHIRE and DDs FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE and FURY of Desflot 8 put to sea from the Clyde for a position off the Norwegian coast to intercept the German ships, still believing the attacker to be CS DEUTSCHLAND returning to Germany. DDs FAME and FORESIGHT joined the force at sea, off the Clyde. Heavy seas badly battered FORTUNE, FAME and FORESIGHT, and FORTUNE was detached to Pentland Firth Patrol, arrived at Scapa the 28th and was later taken to Liverpool for repairs, completed on 5 January. FAME and FORESIGHT returned to the Clyde arriving on the 24th and were under repair there until 28 December. CLs SOUTHAMPTON, EDINBURGH and AURORA with (the larger) Tribal DDs AFRIDI, GURKHA, BEDOUIN, as well as ISIS and KINGSTON departed Rosyth for Fair Island Channel.

South of the Faroes on Northern Patrol were CLs CALEDON of CruSqn 7, and CARDIFF and COLOMBO of CruSqn 11, later joined by Dundein. They were joined by Cls DIOMEDE (CruSqn 7). All took station off North Rona to patrol the approaches to the Fair Island Channel. However, DIOMEDE and DUNEDIN had just arrived in Loch Ewe from patrol and both soon had to detach for refuelling. CLs CALYPSO and CERES were stationed five miles due north of Kelso Light to act as a night attack striking force. CL DRAGON (CruSqn 7) had just arrived at Loch Ewe on the 19th to repair weather damage and boiler clean, and did not depart until the 24th. CL SHEFFIELD departed Loch Ewe and proceeded towards the reported position of the German battleships. CAs NORFOLK and SUFFOLK in the Denmark Strait were ordered to proceed towards Bill Bailey Bank. CL GLASGOW and DDs MAORI and ZULU, at sea since the 20th, looking for German liner BREMEN, were to the northeast of the Shetlands. Convoy ON.3 departed the Firth of Forth at 1530, but was recalled, and its escorts, DDs INGLEFIELD, IMPERIAL, IMPULSIVE and IMOGEN joined the GLASGOW force off Muckle Flugga. DD BEDOUIN of the SOUTHAMPTON force was detached to patrol Pentland Firth until relieved by DD FORTUNE.

The concentration of Home flt assets continued. DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, ASHANTI and PUNJABI, recently departed Belfast with Force W, the dummy battleships, were ordered to join Forbes at sea off the Mull of Kintyre. Force W returned to Belfast. DDs TARTAR, KANDAHAR and KASHMIR sortied from Scapa with orders to locate and shadow the German force. AMC CHITRAL arrived in the Clyde on the 24th with survivors from the RAWALPINDI. AMCs TRANSYLVANIA, CALIFORNIA, AURANIA rendezvoused at the Butt of Lewis and returned to the Clyde. They arrived at Loch Ewe on the 24th. CALIFORNIA then reached the Clyde on the 27th and the other two on the 28th. BB WARSPITE escorting HX.9, was ordered to leave the convoy and take blocking positions in the Denmark Strait. CVL FURIOUS and BC REPULSE departed Halifax on the 24th to cover HXF.10 and HX.10, but when REPULSE sustained damage to her Y turret in heavy weather, both ships returned to Halifax.

 

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23 November 1939 Thursday
WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Mölders, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 53 scores his third victory of the war, a French Morane.

The fighters of JG 51 get their first taste of Western pilots when a flight from I./JG 51 become engaged with French fighters near Zweibrücken. Shortly after 1500 hours, fighters from the Geschwader shoot down three French Moranes. Victory credits go to Lt. Friedrich Eberle and Lt. Hermann-Friedrich Joppien of 1./JG 51 for their first kills while a Morane is credited to Lt. Georg Claus of Stab III./JG 51 for his first kill. One of the Messerschmitts is so badly damaged that it crash lands back at base.

A French Morane shot down by Lt. Werner Methfessel of Stab V(Zerst)./LG 1 near Verdun is later denied to the pilot.

The Polish government-in-exile is established at Angers, in the west.

Multiple sorties were operated by the Aufkl. Gr. 122 on this day. A Do 17P of 4(F)./122 was chased in the vicinity of Commercy by Hurricanes of 1 Sqdn AASF. The Hurricanes made contact and the Dornier was shot down. A 2(F)./122 He 111 was returning from a mission to the Lille-Arras-Valenciennes area when it was intercepted by more 1 Sqdn Hurricanes. The Heinkel was eventually shot down in the Saarbrücken area. A 4(F)./122 Do 17P operating over the Verdun-Metz area was attacked by even more 1 Sqdn Hurricanes. Finally, 5(F)./122 - now based at Köln-Wahn - lost a Do 17P to Moranes of GC III/6 at Bras-sur-Meuse.

The battlecruisers "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" attempted to break out into the North Atlantic, in support of which eight He 111s of FAG 122 flew reconnaissance over the British Fleet bases in the Clyde, Moray Firth, Shetlands and at Rosyth and Scapa Flow. One 1(F)/122 aircraft was intercepted by aircraft of 85 Sqdn RAF over the eastern end of the English Channel as it headed south, this caused the Heinkel some damage before it escaped into cloud with a wounded air gunner; the aircraft had suffered 40% damage. In addition another 1(F)./122 He 111H was damaged on landing at Fp.Uetersen. Later in the evening, British armed merchant cruiser "Rawalpindi" (armed with only four 6 inch guns) sights the "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" between the Faeroe Islands and Iceland. They battle, and the "Scharnhorst" sinks the "Rawalpindi", killing 238 crew. The Germans rescue 37 survivors and HMS "Chitral" saves 11. As "Rawalpindi" radioed their position, "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" terminate their raiding mission. They evade searches by many British ships during the next few days and return to base safely. Their escape is aided by the German ability to read many of the British naval codes.

UNITED KINGDOM: In the early morning hours, two Royal Engineers officers, mine experts, succeed in defusing a German magnetic mine stranded in the Shoeburyness mud flat and manage to recover it for study. Between 1 - 3.30 PM, LtCmdr Ouvry and CPO Charles Baldwin defuse and recover the 7 ft long German magnetic mine (660 lbs of explosive) using specially-designed non-magnetic brass tools. It can therefore be examined to devise countermeasures. These mines have been in use since October 16th and already they have been responsible for the loss of 50,000 tons of shipping. Churchill hosts a party at the Admiralty. Ouvry, Lewis and Baldwin will receive medals from King George VI; the first Royal Naval decorations of the war. Meanwhile, bacon and butter are rationed..

Six vessels were reported sunk by mine or U-boat action around British coasts; British steamers 'Geraldus', 'Lowland', 'Darino', and trawler 'Sulby'; Greek steamers 'Elena R'; French trawler 'Saint Claire'. Admiralty announced that HM minesweeper 'Argonite' had been sunk by a mine.

GERMANY: In a speech before his senior generals, summoned to the Reich Chancellery, Hitler says that he has led the German people to great heights, while they have only shown a lack of faith.

"I am irreplaceable," a frustrated Hitler states. "I shall attack France and England at the earliest moment. My decision is unchangeable."

Food rationing for pets is announced.

EASTERN EUROPE: Dr. Frank, governor of the Government General in Nazi occupied Poland, orders all Jews over the age of ten to wear armbands marked with the Star of David. Within a year, the Star of David is introduced in all of the countries under German control except Denmark.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-33 torpedoes German merchant ship "Borkum" (captured by HMS "California", Nov 18 ), killing 4 German sailors but none of the British prize crew. U-33's commander von Dresky finds no glory on this sortie; in addition to "Borkum", he has sunk only 5 tiny trawlers, picking up no survivors.


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23 November (Part II of II)
Northern Patrol (Cont'd)
BC HOOD with DDs EXMOUTH, ECHO and ECLIPSE departed Plymouth on the 25th and rendezvoused with Fr BC DUNKERQUE, CLs MONTCALM, GEORGES LEYGUES and Contre Torpilleur DDs MOGADOR and VOLTA which departed Brest on the 25th to relieve CVL FURIOUS and BC REPULSE on the Halifax station. After receiving news of the DKM operation, this force swept for the German battleships through to the end of November. At sea, EXMOUTH, ECHO and ECLIPSE were detached and returned to the Clyde on the 29th, while MOGADOR and VOLTA arrived at Belfast for fuelling, also on the 29th. After refuelling at Sullom Voe on the 28th, DD SOMALI, PUNJABI and MASHONA joined HOOD, and arrived at Loch Ewe late on 2 December.

Subs in the North Sea failed to make contact with the German force. THISTLE was on patrol off the Skaw, TRIAD off Lindesnes, STURGEON off Horn Reef, and L.23 southwest of Lister Light. UNDINE and STARFISH departed Blyth, and TRIUMPH and TRIDENT from Rosyth, all on the 23rd to reinforce the hastily re-aligned Patrol Line. In all the confusion searching for the German warships, MV ENTRERIOS (Ger 5179 grt), was able to pass through the Denmark Strait unobserved, and arrived safely at Narvik on the 29th.

The DKM BCs had been foiled in their attempt to break into the Nth Atlantic, and in the coming days, dissatisfaction with Fleet Commander Marschalls operational control was to be manifested in oblique criticisms by Gross Admiral Raeder in particular.

North Sea/Baltic
MV GERRIT FRITZEN (Ger 4128 grt) was lost by grounding near Borkum.

Southend - Methil
FS.41 departed Methil, escort sloops GRIMSBY and WESTON joined off the Tyne by DD WOOLSTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 25th.

Med/Biscay
Sloop WELLINGTON arrived at Port Said from the Indian Ocean, en route to England, departing next day for Malta. Sloop LEITH arrived at Port Said on the 24th and left on the 25th for Malta. Both ships were on station in New Zealand at the start of the war.

UK West Coast
BC.16S of steamer BARON KINNAIRD departed Bristol Channel escort DDs MONTROSE and VESPER, and arrived in the Loire on the 24th.

Hunter Killer Groups status 23 November
Force F - CA YORK at Bermuda preparing to sail for Halifax. YORK had sustained damage to her A-turret in heavy weather and had been under repair at Bermuda since early November. CA BERWICK had been detached on the 7th and arrived at Portsmouth for docking on the 14th prior to joining the Home Fleet. DDs HUNTER, HYPERION, HOTSPUR and HEREWARD were attached to this force as convoy escorts. The four DDs were respectively at Bermuda with defects to complete repair on the 29th, at Halifax, at Kingston, and at Trinidad on this date.
Force G - CAs EXETER and CUMBERLAND were along the east coast of South America, with CL AJAX off Montevideo and the RNZN CL ACHILLES off Rio de Janiero.
Force H - CAs SUSSEX and SHROPSHIRE were stationed along the west and south coast of Africa.
Force I - CVL EAGLE and CA CORNWALL were at Colombo, CA DORSETSHIRE was at sea in the Ceylon area, and RAN CL HOBART was south of the Arabian Sea. CL GLOUCESTER and Fr sloop RIGAULT DE GENOUILLY, due to be joined by RAN DD STUART from Colombo on the 25th, were north of Madagascar sweeping towards the Seychelles Islands. In addition, RAN DDs VENDETTA and WATERHEN were operating as convoy escorts, and submarine OLYMPUS was in the Maldives and Chagos Archipelago area.
Force J - BB MALAYA and CVL GLORIOUS with attendant DD BULLDOG departed Aden on the 10th and were at sea in the area. BB RAMILLIES and DD DELIGHT departed Aden on the 16th and were at sea off Aden near Socotra.
Force K - CV ARK ROYAL and BC RENOWN were en route to Madagascar.
Force L - CVL FURIOUS and BC REPULSE were refuelling at Halifax.
Force M - CA KENT, Fr CA SUFFREN, and RAN DDs VAMPIRE and VOYAGER were escorting convoys off Sumatra in the Nicobar Islands area.
Force X - CVL HERMES and Fr CAs FOCH and DUPLEIX were patrolling between Pernambuco and Freetown.
Force Y - Relieved by Force X and en route to France.

Med -Biscay
Sloop WELLINGTON arrived at Port Said from the Indian Ocean, en route to England, departing next day for Malta. Sloop LEITH arrived at Port Said on the 24th and left on the 25th for Malta. Both ships were on station in New Zealand at the start of the war.

Indian Ocean
CA KENT arrived at Nancowrie in the Andaman Is.

Australia Station
CL SYDNEY arrived at Geraldtown.

 

[Njaco]

24 November 1939 Friday
ASIA: Japanese 5th Division captured Nanning, Guangxi Province, China, despite fierce resistance by some 100,000 Chinese Nationalist troops. Loss of the city represents a setback for the Chinese winter offensive and the first Japanese victory since forces advanced west into Kwangsi province in a bid to break Chinese links with Indochina.

EASTERN EUROPE: Finnish Prime Minister Aimo Cajander has refused to believe that USSR would attack Finland, relying instead on existing treaties, diplomacy and Finnish neutrality. In a speech to the nation, he makes an about face. He reviews Soviet actions in Poland and the Baltic nations, then again rebuffs Soviet demands for bases. He warns that each Finn "has his own guard post" and "must learn to plow carrying rifles". Commander-in-Chief Field Marshall Mannerheim spreads the woefully under strength Finnish Army of 200,000 across the Karelian Isthmus (40 miles). The Soviets, however, prepare to cross the entire Finish border and deploys 800,000 men from the Gulf of Finland to the Arctic Circle. Red Army supplements the supply of troops by sending press gangs out in St. Petersburg. One middle-aged man with no military training is 'recruited" while out shopping for shoes for his wife. He still has her shoes in his kitbag when he is captured by the Finns weeks later.

Gestapo executed 120 Czech students accused of participating in an anti-Nazi conspiracy. Total of dead in Bohemia and Moravia following suppression of Czecho-Slovak demonstrations is said to be 1,700.

GERMANY: The government takes in trust the property and financial interests of Fritz Thyssen -- the iron and steel magnate and a key supporter of Hitler in earlier years -- who fled to Switzerland in September 1939.

UNITED KINGDOM: The government of Belgium addresses a note to the British government concerning British reprisals against German mine-laying.

On the Yorkshire coast, over 200 drifting mines wash ashore.

The British Steamer SS 'Mangalore' (8,886t cargo ship), at anchor in the Hawke Roads, Spurn, was struck by a drifting mine and broke in two.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Five survivors of the Dutch tanker "Sliedrecht" sunk by a U-boat, are picked up after 7 days in an open boat.

German liner 'Watussi' thought to be a supply ship for the raider in East African waters, left Mozambique on Thursday night.

WESTERN FRONT: Paris announced that a small French submarine chaser had sunk a U-boat.

It was revealed that two British subjects Mr Best and Major Stevens, kidnapped at Dutch frontier on November 21st by Gestapo for alleged complicity in Munich bomb explosion, are believed to have been authorized by the British Government to inquire into genuineness of certain German peace proposals.

First RAF man to be decorated by France for gallantry in this war died in hospital. Sergeant-Observer J Vickers, was awarded the Medaille Militaire.

 

[parsifal]

24 November
Known Reinforcements
Axis
IJN B1 Class Sub I-23

Allied
RN AMC MALOJA

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

UBOATS

Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary
U

33 reported that she had sunk a Q ship. Radio Intelligence reports received late this afternoon indicate that an enemy unit may have been sunk in connection with the operation of our surface forces, begun on the 22nd, north of the line Shetlands-Norway. Thus the enemy must know that there are German forces in this area. It remains to be seen what his reaction will be. As there is no clue as to what he will do, the 4 boats off the Orkneys and Shetlands have been left in their present positions. The deterioration in weather conditions will probably mean that the U-boat's action will be restricted.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-20 , U-22

At Sea 24 November
U-13, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-33, U-35, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-53.
14 boats at sea.

Baltic
DKM CSp LÜTZOW, CLs KÖLN, LEIPZIG, DDs BERND VON ARNIM, BRUNO HEINEMANN, FRIEDRICH IHN, ERICH STEINBRINCK, KARL GALSTER and TBs LEOPARD, SEEADLER, ILTIS and WOLF resumed operations in the Skagerrak during the night of the 24th/25th.

Northern Patrol
Northern Patrol from 24 November to 7 December sighted 34 eastbound ships and sent 23 into Kirkwall for inspection.

Northern Waters
Admiral Forbes redisposed his fleet off Utvaer, Norway, to intercept the German BCs. CLs CERES, CALYPSO, CARDIFF, CALEDON, COLOMBO, NEWCASTLE, SHEFFIELD, GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, SOUTHAMPTON and DD KINGSTON, which was deployed just off the Norwegian coast, were disposed in a patrol line respectively, west to east, . Meanwhile CL AURORA and DDs AFRIDI, GURKHA, INGLEFIELD, BEDOUIN, ISIS, IMPERIAL and IMPULSIVE were stationed as a strike force to the south of the patrol line. DD MAORI was detached to Scapa on the the 24th to refuel and returned to patrol that day. KINGSTON patrolling just off shore was relieved by DDs ZULU and IMOGEN. DDs TARTAR, KANDAHAR, KASHMIR were ordered to join the AURORA group late on the 24th, but fears of mistaken identity caused their rendezvous to be delayed until daybreak on the 25th. En route TARTAR's rudder was damaged by weather and she was sent to Scapa and then on to the Clyde for repair late on the 24th. BBs NELSON, RODNEY and DDs SOMALI, MASHONA, PUNJABI, FAULKNOR, FURY, FIREDRAKE and FORESTER remained at sea behind this line.At 1201/25th, a D/F bearing NNW of the Faroes caused CAs NORFOLK, SUFFOLK and CL DELHI to be sent to investigate. However, DELHI was low on fuel and could not take part in the search. The patrol line, now reinforced by joined by NORFOLK, SUFFOLK and CLs DRAGON, DIOMEDE and DUNEDIN early on the 25th, was moved north at 0700/25th, but all these efforts were unsuccessful and SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU slipped the net under cover of bad weather and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on the 27th with only storm damage.

Refuelling of the cruisers began on the 25th. One cruiser from each of the squadrons were sent in turn to refuel - ships of the 1st, 2nd, 18th Cruiser Squadrons to Scapa and those of the 7th and 11th Squadrons to Sullom Voe.

Both German ships had suffered only light damage during the operation. GNEISENAU was repaired at Kiel, completing on 4 February 1940 and SCHARNHORST with similar defects returned to service shortly thereafter. Both ships immediately went to Wilhelmshaven on completion of repairs to prepare for Operation NORDMARK.

DDs ICARUS and ILEX departed Rosyth to investigate a submarine report six miles 320° from Rattray Head, and returned to Scapa Flow the next day.

East Coast
DD JUNO was damaged in a collision alongside an oiler at Immingham, repaired there and returned to service on the 30th. MV SUSSEX (UK 13,647 grt) was damaged SE of Southend in North Channel on a mine laid by U.33 on the 5th. Depot ship CYCLOPS and submarines SHARK, SEALION, SNAPPER, SALMON departed Sheerness for Harwich where they arrived that day. SubFlot 3 began operations next day when SNAPPER departed Harwich on a patrol off Terschelling.

OA.40G of 21 ships departed Southend, escort DDSs VERITY and WOLVERINE from the 24th to 26th. The convoy merged on the 26th with OB.40G, escort DDs WINCHELSEA, WALPOLE, VIVACIOUS and sloop ENCHANTRESS, to form OG.8 with 44 ships. OG.8 was escorted by WALPOLE from the 24th to 26th when she detached to SL.10, and WINCHELSEA and VIVACIOUS from the 24th to 28th. ENCHANTRESS was with the convoy from the 24th to 27th. Other escorts were Fr DDs TARTU and CHEVALIER PAUL from 27 November to 3 December after they had departed Brest on the 26th, and DD VORTIGERN from 2 to 3 December. OG.8 arrived at Gibraltar on 3 December.

Nth Atlantic
CL EFFINGHAM departed Halifax and arrived at Kingston on 1 December with RAN CL PERTH.

Sth Atlantic
SL.10 departed Freetown escort sloop LONDONDERRY, and was joined on 10 December by DDs WALKER, WHIRLWIND, WHITEHALL and sloop ENCHANTRESS. The convoy arrived later that day, while LONDONDERRY reached Devonport on the 12th.

Med -Biscay
CL GALATEA departed Alexandria and arrived at Malta on 3 December.

India
CL GLOUCESTER departed Diego Suarez on patrol duties and arrived back on the 29th.


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[parsifal]

25 November
Known Reinforcements
Allied
RN AMC CORFU

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

There is still no indication as to what steps the British C-in-C is taking. Weather conditions preclude air reconnaissance. As it can no longer be assumed however, that the British Fleet is in the Clyde, the 2 western boats - U 47 and U 35 - were ordered to move further to the northeast, off the Pentland Firth and Fair Island Passage. Here also they will be in a better position to cut off the fleet east of the Shetlands if this should become necessary.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-13

At Sea 25 November
U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-33, U-35, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-53.
13 boats at sea

Baltic
DKM V-301 (Ger 350 grt est) The vorpostenboot struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Langeland, Denmark

SW Approaches
MV ROYSTON GRANGE (UK 5,144 grt) Buenos Aires - Freetown - Liverpool , General cargo and grain, crew numbers unknown, in forming part of SL-8B, ship was hit by one torpedo from U-28 and sank about 50 miles southwest of Lands End. The master and crew were picked up by the British trawler ROMILLY and landed at Swansea. no casualties

UK West Coast
MV CHARLES LIVINGSTON (UK 3500 grt est) the cargo ship came ashore at Ainsdale, Lancashire in a gale. Ten crew rescued, 23 killed

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Nth Atlantic
HXF.10 departed Halifax at 0900 local escort by RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and SKEENA, which left Halifax at 0800/25th ocean escort for the passage was provided by AMC LETITIA. In the approaches the convoy was met by DDs WOLVERINE and VERITY from OA.44 providing escort from 4 to 9 December and DDs VERSATILE and WITHERINGTON also OB.44, from 4 to 6 December. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 9th.

Sth Atlantic
SLF.10 departed Freetown ocean escort AMC CARNARVON CASTLE, and was joined in the approaches 7 December by DDs BROKE, ESCAPADE, VETERAN, WALPOLE. The convoy arrived in the UK next day. CL NEPTUNE departed Freetown on patrol duty. Fr CA ALGÉRIE and DDs LE TERRIBLE and LE FANTASQUE departed Dakar on the 21st passed Gibraltar and arrived at Toulon on the 26th. The third member of DesDiv 10, DD L'AUDACIEUX left Dakar on the 22nd and rendezvoused at Toulon on 4 December. The DDs then entered scheduled refits. In operations in the South Atlantic , two Swordfish aircraft of 810 Squadron from CV ARK ROYAL collided. Lt H Pardoe was rescued, but Leading Airman E H Shayler and LAC A Lawson RAF were lost in one aircraft. Lt A W Stewart, Leading Airmen L M Lloyd and A B W Freik from the other were rescued.

Caribbean
RAN CL PERTH carried out a reconnaissance in the SW Caribbean, and arrived at Kingston on 1 December

Med -Biscay
MV UCKSMOUTH (UK 2,483 grt) Sunderland - Monaco Cargo of coal, 25 crew U-43 opened fire with the deck gun at the unescorted Uskbridge (Master Henry Hunter) about 120 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre, after two G7a torpedoes fired at 22.38 and 22.45 hours malfunctioned. As the ship began to burn, the Germans had to cease fire due to a defect on the gun. At 23.11 hours, they fired a G7e torpedo as coup de grâce but missed and shelled her again until 00.12 hours. A total of 149 rounds had been fired as the U-boat left the completely burning and slowly sinking ship. Two crew members were lost. The master and 22 crew members were picked up by the Italian steam merchant Juventus and landed at Ramsgate on 30 November.

Scale model of the UCKSMOUTH

Indian Ocean
CA CORNWALL departed Colombo on patrol duty in Force I.

 

[Njaco]

25 November 1939 Saturday
GERMANY: RAF carried out successful flights over North-West Germany, including Wilhelmshaven Heglioland.

NORTHERN EUROPE: German forces lay mines off the southwest coast of Sweden, inside the 4-mile limit of Swedish territorial waters.

Two bombing attacks by German aircraft were made on HM ships in North Sea. No hits were obtained and there were no British causalities. Enemy aircraft were seen over the Orkneys and Shetlands.

UNITED KINGDOM: The governments of Italy, Japan, Denmark and Sweden make representations to the British Foreign Office regarding the policy of reprisals.

After attempts to save New Forest ponies in the blackout by painting them like zebras, they are removed to safe pastures.

British refrigerator ship 'Sussex' damaged by a mine in the English Channel, was able to reach port.

EASTERN EUROPE: A new Romanian cabinet is formed by Tatarescu. A smaller pro-German element is reported.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 13.19 hours, U-28 hits the British merchant ship SS "Royston Grange" (carrying general cargo and grain) with one torpedo. "Royston Grange", sailing from Buenos Aires to Liverpool with convoy SL-8B, sinks about 50 miles southwest of Lands End. The crew are rescued by the trawler "Romilly" and taken to Swansea. U-28 also lays mines in the Bristol Channel on this patrol, which causes the sinking of the 9,577 ton SS "Protesilaus" on 21 January 1940.

Between 22:00 hours and midnight, U-43 repeatedly attacks British steamer SS "Uskmouth" about 120 miles northwest of Cape Finisterre, Spain. Her first 2 torpedoes malfunction and then U-43 shells "Uskmouth" with her deck gun. At 2300 hours, U-43 fires another torpedo which misses. They continue shelling (firing 149 rounds in total) until "Uskmouth" sinks at midnight. Two men die but the captain and 22 crew are rescued by Italian merchant vessel SS "Juventus" and landed at Ramsgate on 30 November.

German liner 'Adolph Woermann' is scuttled by her crew in South Atlantic in order to avoid capture.

Swedish tanker 'Gustaf E Reuter' struck a mine off Scottish coast and was badly damaged. A German mine-layer sank after striking a mine near Danish island of Langeland.

.

 

[parsifal]

26 November
Known Reinforcements
none

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Bad weather continues. It is very doubtful if light forces will still be at sea; they have probably sought shelter off the coast. It is also possible that they have had to put into protected places to refuel, as they have been at sea for some time. The 4 boats were therefore ordered to search the east coasts of the Shetlands and Orkneys especially Lerwik. Another good reason for giving this order was the fact that, in this weather at sea, boats will probably not be able to attack, where as on the leeward coast it might still be possible. U 33 entered port; she laid mines according to plan and encountered little patrol. There was no traffic in her operations area off the North Channel, and in the end she attacked fishing trawlers before she left in order not to come home empty-handed. The C.O.'s report shows that this was a well-conducted patrol and it is not the fault of the boat that she had so little success.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-33

At Sea 25 November
U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-35, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-53.
12 boats at sea.

Baltic
MV CYRIL (Den 2116 grt) was seized by German warships in the Baltic for contraband violations and taken to Swinemünde. She was later commandeered

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Northern Patrol
CL DRAGON departed Loch Ewe on Northern Patrol , and arrived back on 2 December. CLCERES departed Sullom Voe .

Northern Waters
CL CARDIFF arrived at Scapa.
U.48 sank steamer GUSTAFE REUTER (Sd 6336 grt) 14 miles WNW of Fair Island. One crewman was lost and eight survivors picked up by Northern Patrol armed boarding vessel KINGSTON BERYL. The steamer was taken in tow but broke in two, the fore part sunk, while the stern was towed towards Kirkwall but scuttled by HM ships on the 28th, when it was decided salvage would be too difficult.

North Sea
SS TRIAD was crippled off Lindesnes by a fractured hydroplane shaft. SS TRIUMPH soon joined to assist and SS UNITY was ordered into the area. DD MAORI also arrived on the scene and took TRIAD in tow, escort DD INGLEFIELD, but both DDs had defective asdic installations. TRIAD arrived at Fosteroey, south of Bergen, on the 30th, but the DD were obliged to leave Norwegian territorial waters which they did on 1 December. Tug BANDIT was dispatched to assist TRIAD, but due to extremely heavy weather, was recalled to Scapa. After emergency repairs, TRIAD was able to leave Fosteroey at 1315/2 December under her own power, escorted by Norwegian TB TRYGG and was joined outside Norwegian waters by INGLEFIELD and MAORI. All arrived safely at Rosyth at 0700/4 December. TRIAD repaired in the Tyne, completing on 12 December and returned to service.

CLA CAIRO departed Rosyth on escort duty and arrived in the Thames on the 28th. MV QUENAST(Be 569 GRT) The cargo ship foundered in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north of the Noord Hinder Lightship with the loss of 3 of her five crew. Survivors were rescued by MV PARIS ( Norway)

FN.42 departed Southend, escort sloops GRIMSBY and WESTON, and arrived at the Tyne on the 28th

Southend Methil
ON.3 of six British ships departed Methil escort DDs ESKIMO, ICARUS and ILEX. DD MATABELE departed Newcastle on the 27th and joined the convoy at sea, while CLA CAIRO provided close cover. The convoy arrived at Bergen on the 30th. OA.42 of nine ships departed Southend escort DDs BROKE and ANTELOPE on the 26th and 27th. DD BOREAS was with the convoy on the 27th and WREN on the 28th.

UK West Coast
During a gale at Ardrossan (A small border port town in SW Scotland), DD GRIFFIN and PC.74 moored alongside were damaged by bumping. GRIFFIN was holed and required docking, and PC.74 was also later drydocked for repairs.

SW Approaches
OB.42 departed Liverpool escort DDs WALKER and VANOC until the 29th. Steamer LOCH LOMOND (5452grt) was attacked in the Bristol Channel, 10 miles west of Lundy Island. DDs MONTROSE and WALPOLE were assigned to conduct a sweep in the same area and WALPOLE attacked a contact

Nth Atlantic
HX.10 departed Halifax at 1000 LOCAL escort RCN DDs ASSINIBOINE and SKEENA, which detached on the 28th. Ocean escort CA YORK which joined on the same day and proceeded through with the convoy. DD WAKEFUL proved escort in the Western Approaches from 8 December and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 10th. YORK reached Liverpool on the 9th and started a refit completed on 10 February 1940. She then left on 21 February for Scapa and the 1st Cruiser Squadron for duty with the Northern Patrol. CL EMERALD departed Halifax for Bermuda, and arrived back on 7 December

Med -Biscay
In training operations in the Mediterranean, a 770 Squadron a/c from CVE ARGUS crashed, killing the pilot Act/Sub Lt (A) M R Pike. CL CAPETOWN departed Malta on escort duty and arrived back on 5 December.

Australia Station
RAN CL SYDNEY docked at Fremantle after patrols.

 

[stona]

The painting of New Forest Ponies was a serious attempt to save them from injury or death as a result of collisions with motor vehicles. The ponies have a right to roam freely which has origins in 11th century laws passed by William Rufus (William II).
The Times reported on efforts to paint the horses on 9th November 1939 and the clerk to the New Forest Verderers Court confirmed that experiments had taken place. Unfortunately it turned out that foals refused to go anywhere near their painted mothers and 'family life' was being disrupted. The experiment was abandoned, 500 ponies were sold off at two separate auctions and the rest moved to enclosed pastures in direct contravention of the ancient law. The safety of motor vehicle passengers and also that of the ponies was considered more important than some ancient right.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Njaco]

26 November 1939 Sunday

NORTHERN EUROPE: Finland rejects the Soviet demand for military bases on her territory.

THE MAINILA INCIDENT: The Mainila incident takes place. At 1430 hours, the Red Army stages a border incident to justify the coming invasion of Finland. They fire 7 mortar shells into a field near the village of Mainila on the Karelian Isthmus, half a mile inside Soviet territory. Fortunately, they clear the area beforehand and no one is hurt. Unfortunately, they are observed by Finnish border guards. At 2100 hours in Moscow, Finnish ambassador Yrjo-Koskinen is summoned to the Kremlin to be informed that "Finnish artillery shelled the area, killing 4 Soviet border guards and wounding 7 more". The Finns are asked to withdraw their forces 20 – 25 km from the border. The government describes the presence of Finnish troops in the area as a "hostile act." This flimsy pretext does not fool international observers. John Colville, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's private secretary, notes the similarity with Hitler's excuse for invading Poland, calling it;

"....a technique which does not gain in dignity for being second-hand".

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Polish trans-atlantic liner "Pilsudski" on charter to the Royal Navy, is torpedoed and sunk; 10 die.

It is reported that Germans have laid mines within Swedish four-mile zone at southern entrance of the Sound, leaving a channel only 16 feet deep.

Danish steamer 'Cyril' carrying coal from Britain to Stockholm, was seized by Germans. This was thought to be the first capture by Nazis of a neutral ship sailing from Britain to a neutral port.

UNITED KINGDOM: The prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, makes his first radio broadcast of the war, saying that the British know the secret of the German magnetic mines and denouncing the indiscriminate laying of mines by German forces.

Admiralty announced that British steamer 'Hook-wood' was sunk by mine on Tuesday.

.

 

[Wurger]

On the 26th November 1939 , an ocean liner of the Polish Merchant Marine, M/S (ORP) Piłsudzki sank during her first wartime voyage , sailing out of Newcastle. It is most likely the ship struck two mines off the coast of Yorkshire, which had been laid by a destroyer of the German 4th Destroyer Flotilla or was torpedoed (lack of confirmation in German sources). She was the older sister ship to Poland's most famous ocean liner, the M/S Batory. The M/S Piłsudzki was built by the CRDA shipyard at Monfalcone, Italy and launched in December 1934. She was completed and started regular servicing on the Gdynia—New York run in 1935. The Pilsudski's first and only skipper was Master Mariner Mamert Stankiewicz who died from hypothermia and heart stroke after being rescued from a life raft. Also the Fourth Engineer Officer Tadeusz Piotrowski was killed. The Chief Mate Karol Olgierd Borchardt, later a writer, was hurt seriously at his head and barely saved. In 1960 the Captain of the Polish Merchant Marine, Karol Olgierd Borchardt wrote and issued a book titled "Znaczy Kapitan".The title of the book is very difficult to translate into English. It is tribute to his captain – Mamert Stankiewicz who was named with the nick by his subordinates. However the book and all his other ones describe fascinating adventures at sea in a humorous and informative way and they are valuable additions to the record of Polish maritime history.

The launching of the M/S Piłsudzki in 1934 ...

M/S Piłsudzki at the Gdynia harbour...

M/S Piłsudzki ....

The Master Mariner Mamert Stankiewicz ...

M/S Piłsudzki at the New York ...

and docking at the NY seaport ...

 

[Njaco]

27 November 1939 Monday
UNITED KINGDOM: Dutch liner "Spaarndam" strikes a mine in the Thames estuary and sinks.

The British government orders the seizure of German exports on the high seas in reprisal for the magnetic mine campaign.

Douglas Bader made his first solo flight since his 1931 air accident that cost him both of his legs.

NORTHERN EUROPE: The Nobel Committee of the Norwegian parliament announces that no Nobel peace prize is to be awarded for 1939.

Following the shelling of Mainila and the Soviet accusation of Finnish aggression, the Finns naively reply with a diplomatic note. They claim they could not have fired the shots, having previously withdrawn their guns out of range to avoid just such an incident. In response to the Soviet request on the previous day for Finnish troops to fall back 20 to 25 kilometers from the border, Finland suggested Soviet troops to do the same.

The Swedish government protests the laying of mines within Swedish territorial waters by German forces.

ASIA: Japanese forces complete the capture of Nanning, an important rail junction in the southwest.

GERMANY: "Aryans" are given 12 months to divorce Jewish spouses.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-48 damaged Swedish tanker "Gustaf E. Reuter" near Fair Isle northwest of Scotland. One man is killed but 32 others are rescued by the Royal Navy trawler HMS "Kingston Beryl". SS "Gustaf E. Reuter" is taken under tow but she breaks up in a gale overnight.

Two German merchantmen, 'Borkum' and 'Konsul Hendrik Fisser', were captured. The latter was brought into port; the former was sighted and shelled by a U-boat, killing four Germans, but none of the prize crew. The ship was abandoned.

WESTERN FRONT: Paris reported local infantry and artillery engagement east of the Moselle.


.

 

[parsifal]

27 November
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
USN Sub SEALION (SS195)

Allied
RN DD KELVIN

After work up, KELVIN joined the Desflot 5 operating with the Home Flt from 10 January 1940
DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary
Ever the pragmatist, Donitzs diary provides an interesting juxtaposition to language of the preceding war diary....

Air reconnaissance identified several groups of light and heavy naval forces at midday in the Shetland-Norway Straits, with varying courses. Contact was lost after 2 hours, owing to the shadowing a/c's lack of fuel. It is nevertheless plain that the enemy intends to take up a cutting-off position here. Search along the leeward coast apparently led to no success. A temporary slight improvement in the weather is forecast. I decided to let the 3 boats off the Shetlands coast reconnoiter to the east as far as the Norwegian coast.

Reasons:
1) Searching the coast did not lead to anything; there is apparently nothing there.
2) The enemy was in the Shetlands-Norway Straits. As the situation as a whole has not changed, it can be expected that he will still be there tomorrow (Our own battleships had not yet returned).
3) The improvement in the weather forecast should mean that the boats will be able to attack.

Our own battleships have returned from the operation; their return passage apparently went unnoticed.

Departures
Kiel: U-21, U-56

At Sea 27 November
U-21, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-35, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-53, U-56.
14 boats at sea

Baltic

Northern Waters
DD ASHANTI on Fair Isle Channel Patrol developed a leak in her reserve fuel tank which reduced her speed. CA NORFOLK arrived at Scapa Flow to refuel and departed the next day to rejoin the Main Fleet at sea. CL SHEFFIELD arrived at Scapa Flow to refuel. CL GLASGOW departed Scapa Flow and proceeded to Rosyth to boiler clean from 28 November to 5 December.

Northern Patrol
CL COLOMBO departed Sullom Voe on Patrol duties and returned to Loch Ewe on 2 December. CL CALEDON arrived at Scapa after Northern Patrol in the Faroes-Shetland passage. CL CARDIFF departed Scapa Flow for Northern Patrol.

North Sea
DD VEGA completed conversion to a fast escort vessel (SR AA ship). Following working up at Portland, she joined Convoy Command C operating from Rosyth. Beginning this day, East Coast FN and FS convoys would run only between Southend and the Tyne. Ships going further north would then proceed independently the following night. U.58 laid mines off Lowestoft.

France - UK
SA.19 of two steamers departed Southampton, escort DDs VENOMOUS and WINDSOR, and arrived at Brest on the 29th.

Channel
CL MANCHESTER was used for degaussing tests on the 27th while at Portsmouth for refit.

SW Approaches

Western Approaches
DD VIVACIOUS on patrol in the Western Approaches developed an urgent engine room defect and was forced to return to Port. She was repaired at Plymouth

UK West Coast
DDs ECHO and ECLIPSE spent the day off Northern Ireland undertaking further ASW Sweeps.

Nth Atlantic
BC REPULSE and CVL FURIOUS, her turbine defects corrected, departed Halifax with DD HYPERION to cover HXF.10 and HX.10. A Swordfish of 818 Squadron from CVL FURIOUS failed to return from patrol, but Lt S G J Appleby and his crew were rescued and returned to the ship.

Swordfish using the Lift on HMS FURIOUS

Med -Biscay
Sloop EGRET arrived at Port Said from the Indian Ocean and departed for Malta, en route to England. Fr Contre Torpilleuir DD AIGLE arrived at Gibraltar and left for Oran that afternoon.

Indian Ocean
A Swordfish of 824 Sqn from CVL EAGLE crashed into the sea on ASW patrol off Colombo. The pilot Sub Lt M R Maund, Leading Airman J Manning, and Telegraphist Air Gunner J C Mardlin were picked up by RAN DD WATERHEN.

Colour Markings for 824 Swfish 1937-42 HMAS WATERHEN as she appeared in 1939

 

[Njaco]

28 November 1939 Tuesday
WESTERN FRONT: Paris announced that two German freighters, 'Trifels' and 'Santa Fe', had been captured by French warships.

EASTERN EUROPE: To observe the correct diplomatic etiquette before declaring war, the Soviet government renounces the non-aggression pact with Finland, signed in 1932. Claims of Finnish troops firing on Soviet forces around Leningrad are made. Meanwhile, orders are issued to the Red Army to invade Finland on November 30th.

In Occupied Poland Dr. Frank orders the setting up of Judenrat (Jewish council) in each ghetto, to carry out Nazi orders.

NORTHERN EUROPE: A Finnish investigation reveals that Soviet artillery fired the 7 shells at Mainila on November 26th. Finland presented a witness, a Finnish border guard, who saw that it was the Soviets who fired the mortar rounds. The Soviet government is informed.

AUSTRALIA: The Australian Cabinet approves the dispatch of the 6th Division to the Middle East, after completing basic training. After then receiving further training, the Division would be sent to France to counter an expected German offensive in the spring.

UNITED KINGDOM: The British government declares all German exports to be contraband.

British steamer 'Rubislaw' sunk by a mine off South East Coast.

Three RAF pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

GERMANY: At 1630 hours a formation of Blenheim Bombers attack the airfield at Borkum causing slight damage. After leaving the airfield the bombers return over the North Sea and attack the German steamers "Asien" and "Stadt Emden". None of the attacking planes are shot down. All British aircraft returned safely.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British Royal Navy trawler HMS "Kingston Beryl" scuttled the stern section of Swedish tanker "Gustaf E. Reuter" in the North Sea. "Gustaf E. Reuter" had been attacked by German submarine U-48 on the previous day, and the bow section had sunk overnight during an unsuccessful towing attempt.

British steamer 'Usk-mouth' sunk by a U-boat in Bay of Biscay.

.

 

[Wurger]

On the 28th November 1939 Gen. Władysław Sikorski ordered Gen. Józef Zając who succeeded Gen. Ludomił Rayski as the Commander of Polish Air Force, to oganize the constant and secret air transportation with Poland ( Warsaw, Cracow Lvov and if possible Poznań ).

General Józef Zając ( in the uniform) talking to pilots ... pre-war pictures.

 

[parsifal]

28 November
Known Reinforcements
Allied
PC PINTAIL (Shearwater Class, a sub group of the Kingfisher Class)

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

This extract from the German Admiralty archives is astonishing for the lack of communication that was occurring between the LW and DKM. It was a situation that was to continue

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Air reconnaissance again identified enemy forces in the Straits. Soon after U 35 reported a London class cruiser and then U 47 reported a hit on another cruiser of the same class. The decision to send the boats into the Straits was therefore correct.

The diary is referring to the straits where the Home flt had been deployed to try and block the return of the two Derman BCs

As there is no indication that the enemy knows that C-in-C Fleet has returned home, it is to be expected that he will remain in his cutting off position again tomorrow. I have decided to let the U-boats remain in the same area.

Departures
Kiel: U-61

At Sea 28 November
U-21, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-35, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-49, U-53, U-56, U-61.
15 boats at sea.

Northern Waters
DDs SOMALI, PUNJABI and MASHONA after refuelling at Sullom Voe left to join BC HOOD. DDs ZULU and IMOGEN were still on patrol off Stadlandet, AFRIDI, GURKHA and ISIS refuelling at Sullom Voe, TARTAR departed Scapa for repairs in the Clyde, and ASHANTI, after repairing her fuel system defects, was returned to Fair Isle Channel patrol. West of Bergen, CA NORFOLK was attacked by U.47, but the torpedoes exploded in the cruiser's wake and no damage was done.

BC HOOD remained unmodernized until her loss. She remained the pride of the RN nevertheless.

Northern Patrol
CL NEWCASTLE arrived at Scapa , departed the same day for Northern Patrol and arrived back on 6 December.

North Sea
CLA CURLEW arrived at Chatham. DD GLOWWORM attacked a submarine contact after it was sighted by aircraft in the North Sea. A submarine was sighted by aircraft and DD KANDAHAR and two ASW trawlers were dispatched for ASW patrols. MSW LEDA also prosecuted a U-Boat contact near FN.43. Submarine TRIBUNE was in the area and the surface escort may have been attacking this ship. Tankers BIRCHOL and BROOMDALE departed the Clyde for Loch Ewe escort PCs KINGFISHER and SHELDRAKE. The latter
was a replacement for escort ship PC.74, damaged by heavy weather at Ardrossan on the 26th before departing. On the 29th,

BIRCHOL (UK 7000 grt est) ran aground on Uist in the Hebrides. Tug ENGLISHMAN was dispatched, but BIRCHOL was lost.

[NO IMAGES FOUND]

OA.43 ships of 13 ships departed Southend, escort DDs ESCORT and ELECTRA from the 28th to 30th, and dispersed on 1 December. FN.43 departed Southend, escort by sloops PELICAN, HASTINGS joined a few hours later by DD JANUS which put out from the Humber to cover this convoy and FS.43. FN.43 arrived at the Tyne on the 29th. FS.43 departed the Tyne, escort by destroyers WALLACE and WOOLSTON, which had left Rosyth on the 27th for this duty, joined later by the JANUS (as explained above) and arrived at Southend on the 30th.

Channel
DD FEARLESS, her repairs completed, departed Plymouth for Liverpool and from there to to return to the Home Flt. She left Liverpool on the 29th escorting AO ADELLEN (7984grt) for Scapa.

UK West Coast
OB.43 departed Liverpool escort DDs MACKAY and VIMY until 1 December. ASW trawlers NORTHERN DAWN (655grt) and NORTHERN GEM (655grt) provided local escort from Liverpool.


Caribbean
CL ORION departed Kingston on patrol and arrived back on 5 December.

Med -Biscay
BB BARHAM departed Malta after a dockyard period to correct defects, then proceeded to Port Said escort DDs DAINTY and DEFENDER. MSWs DUNOON and DUNDALK arrived at Gib, then departed on the 29th for Plymouth, and duty in Home Waters. Fr DDs LA PALME and LE MARS (both from the Adroit Class) collided near Salins d'Hyers during exercises. LE MARS was escorted by DDs TORNADE and LA PALME to Salins.

The L'Adroit Class were more conventional destroyers launched 1926-29

Indian Ocean
Force K rendezvoused with Force H off South Africa to sweep towards Mozambique. RAN CAs CANBERRA and AUSTRALIA departed Melbourne on the 23rd and Sydney on the 25th (respectively), escorting steamer KATOOMBA (9424grt). They patrolled off Cape Leeuwin from 28 November to 2 December. RAN CL SYDNEY departed Fremantle to patrol off the northwest coast of Australia.

Pacific - Far East
CL DURBAN departed Hong Kong on patrol. CL BIRMINGHAM arrived at Hong Kong escorting liner ANDRE LEBON (Fr 13,682 grt).
MV WAIKOUAITI (UK 3599 grt est ): The cargo ship ran aground on Dog Island, New Zealand and was wrecked. Her crew survived

 

[parsifal]

29 November (Part I of II)
Known Reinforcements
Allied
RN MS Trawler BLACKTHORN

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

 

[parsifal]

29 November (Part II of II)
UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Again air reconnaissance identified light naval forces and a convoy northeast of these in the same area. The weather continues very stormy. Apparently the U-boats have not been able to fire. As it must now be taken that C-in-C Fleet's return cannot remain unknown to the enemy for much longer, there is no point in the boats remaining in the Shetland-Norway Straits for another day, especially as there are believed to be many destroyers in the vicinity. U 47 and 48 will continue on their passage to the North Atlantic. U 31 and 35 have been ordered to occupy the operations areas on the east coast of England. Their radius of action is too small to make it worthwhile for them to go into the Atlantic after the operations of the last few days. They are to report their stocks of fuel when leaving.

A radio message received from U 29. She does not consider that the minelaying operation off Milford can be carried out in the present circumstances. (She had orders not to carry out the operation if undue risks were involved). The boat was allocated an operations area in the Bristol Channel. U 49 entered port. She only managed to fire one torpedo during the short time she was in the Atlantic, at an escorted steamer which probably sunk. The boat suffered considerable damage from D/C's. There are no further details. The propaganda organization has exaggerated U 47's hit on a cruiser to a sinking. From the service man's point of view these inaccuracies and exaggerations are undesirable. Radio message from U 38: No shipping sighted off Lola Bay. No successes. This boat was sent there on the orders of Naval War Staff, in the belief that there was considerable traffic in the area. Later information received by Naval War Staff indicated that these hopes were unjustified. Now the boat herself has confirmed this. In the circumstances it is pointless to keep the boat there any longer. She has been ordered to return. U 31's fuel report received, but not U 35's. The boat was again ordered to report.

U 53 entered port. This is the boat which shadowed the convoy west of Portugal and Biscay from the 17th to the 19th and the operations orders of which were to penetrate into the Mediterranean. She sank nothing on this patrol. The C.O.'s report shows that she had many chances to attack but did not make use of them. The boat did not show enough fighting spirit. I have therefore decided to relieve the C.O.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-49

Departures
Kiel U-58

At Sea 29 November
U-21, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-53, U-56, U-58, U-61.
14 boats at sea.

Baltic
Norwegian Coast
U-35 was sunk this day in the North Sea, NW of Bergen in the vicinity of the main body of the Home Flt. U.35 was on her second war patrol. She was sighted near convoy ON.3 and DD ICARUS made unsuccessful attack. Forbes detached DDs KINGSTON and KASHMIR and working in conjuction with the ICARUS, the three DDs sank U.35 . None of the crew were lost, but all were taken prisoner, with KINGSTON picking up the commanding officer and 11 ratings and KASHMIR three officers and 28 ratings.

U-35 was a Type VIIA boat along with U.27 to U.36

BBs NELSON, RODNEY, CA DEVONSHIRE and seven DD were sweeping nth off the Norwegian coast when RODNEY suffered a serious rudder failure. Adm Forbes ordered her to the Clyde, arriving on 1 December with DDs GURKHA, PUNJABI and KANDAHAR. Escorted by DDs IMPULSIVE, IMPERIAL and GURKHA, RODNEY left on the 6th for Liverpool to repair, and arrived on the 8th. IMPERIAL and IMPULSIVE remained at Liverpool until RODNEY was safely docked, when it was found that about one third of her rudder had been torn away by the very heavy seas. GURKHA went on to Southampton, arriving on the 10th for repairs to her turbines lasting into January 1940. IMPERIAL was to have undergone repairs at Liverpool, but returned to the Clyde on the 9th. Later, when BBp NELSON was docked for mine damage, she was found to have sustained storm damage similar to RODNEY during the sweep.

Northern Waters
CA SUFFOLK departed the Clyde and arrived at Scapa later the same day.

Northern Patrol
CL NEWCASTLE arrived at Scapa , departed the same day for Northern Patrol and arrived back on 6 December. CL CARDIFF, which had departed Sullom Voe on the 28th, arrived back after heavy weather carried away her main topmast and part of her main mast port antenna.

North Sea
FS.44 departed the Tyne, escort DD WHITLEY and sloop STORK, and arrived at Southend on the 30th. ORP SS WILK departed Rosyth on her first war patrol from England. DD KELVIN departed the Clyde for Portsmouth, arriving on the 30th. DDs JUPITER and JAGUAR attacked a submarine contact on the East Coast.

Steamer IONIAN (UK 3114 grt) from convoy FS.43 was sunk 1½ miles 132° from Newarp Light Vessel on a mine laid by U.20 on the 22nd; sloop HASTINGS rescued the entire crew.

Channel
AMC FORFAR departed Portsmouth for the Clyde, escort DD MALCOLM.

UK West Coast
DD VANESSA was sent to search in Bally Cotton Bay, for a reported submarine.

Pacific - Far East
CL DANAE departed Singapore for Hong Kong, and arrived on 3 December for refitting, completed 14 February 1940.

 

[parsifal]

30 November
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Liuzzi Class Sub RM CONSOLE GENERALE LIUZZI (Precise comissiokning date uncertain)

Allied
AMC RANPURA, Fr Elan Class MSW La Gracieuse

DKM War diary
Selected Extracts

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

On 30.11 B.d.U. reported to C-in-C Navy in Berlin on the results of the mining war and further intentions:

The mining war has 2 aims.
1) To attack military bases (in continuation of the attack on Scapa Flow) with the object of driving the enemy out of ports near the North Sea. Acting on these lines, B.d.U. carried out minelays in the beginning of November in Loch Ewe, off the entrance to Invergordon, and at the entrance to Rosyth in the Firth of Forth.

2) To attack enemy merchant shipping. The following fields were laid for this purpose:
2 in the Bristol Channel
1 off the Shambles (Portland)
1 off South Goodwin
2 off Orfordness
2 off Lowestoff
1 off Newark Lightship
1 off Inner Dowsing
1 off Flamborough Head
1 off Middlesborough (Hartlepool).

3) The following points are of importance with regard to the mining war:
a) It is a good thing to lay mines at many suitable places, so that shipping is disorganized everywhere.
b) Places which are particularly suitable, because of narrow entrances, should be entirely closed for as long as possible by several minefields.
c) Mines should therefore be laid starting at the innermost point and working outwards, so that possible later operations are not prejudiced, even if this means that the first mines are laid in less promising positions.
d) Mines must be laid at depths at which their effect is likely to be fatal. Wartime experience has shown that, despite peacetime expectations, TMB's do not have this effect at depths greater than 25 meters. The Inspectorate of Mining and Barrage was therefore requested at the beginning of November to construct a S/M-laid ground mine with a much heavier charge. They have worked very energetically at this and at present 2 new mines, type TMC, with a 1000 Kg charge, have already been manufactured for experimental purposes.

4) The next steps in the mining war are therefore planned as follows:
A) Military Positions:
a) Closing the Firth of Forth, first with 2 TMB-minefields north and south of the one laid by U 21 and afterwards by 3 TMC fields east of this, but not further east than the longitude of May Island.
b) Fouling of the Clyde with TMC. After the Scapa incident the Clyde became the main anchorage for the heavy ships. Only TMC's can be used in the Clyde.
c) Completing the minefield off Invergordon with 2 TMB minefields, followed by 2 TMC fields outside these.
d) Fouling of Plymouth with TMC's.
e) Fouling of the Needles Channel (Portsmouth) with TMC's.
B) Minelaying against merchant shipping:
a) Closing the Bristol Channel by adding to the 2 minefields already laid. The minefields to be laid now by U 26 and U 29 off Milford Haven and Swansen also come within this framework.
b) Laying TMB's off Liverpool.
c) Laying TMC's on the south coast, off Falmouth, St. Alban's Head, St. Catherine's Point, Royal Sovereign and Dungeness.
d) Laying TMB's on the east coast at the north entrance to Yarmouth Roads off Cockle Lightship (now being laid by U 59), off Newcastle (now being laid by U 61), and off Dundee.
5) As there are so few boats and torpedo warfare still has to be waged, this plan will take some time to carry out. Some of the operations can only be carried out at new moon and they are so difficult that special commanding officers have to be selected, all of which means time.

C-in-C Navy agreed to the proposals and also instructed me to go into the question of laying mines off Halifax and Blyth. I requested to defer the Halifax operation until the weather improves, as in bad weather the boat's radius of action does not permit their remaining off Halifax for long. Blyth will be mined by one of the small boats.

Arrivals
Kiel: U-53

Departures
Kiel: U-59

At Sea 29 November
U-21, U-26, U-28, U-29, U-31, U-38, U-41, U-43, U-47, U-48, U-56, U-58, U-59, U-61.
14 boats at sea.

Baltic
The radio station in Kronstadt began to send codeword "FAKEL" on 30 November at 00.58. This was repeated through the whole red navy. On the sea front war began at 07.45 by aerial and naval bombardment of the outer islands. The personnel of Lavansaari Coast Guard station tried to escape to Someri, but their motor boat AV 45 was sunk by a Soviet DD. All four men lost their lives. At about 10 o'clock Soviet troops landed on Seiskari and Peninsaari and afternoon on Lavansaari.

Steamer AUVO (Fn 195 GTR) was captured and seized by the Soviet DD GROZYASTCHYI (Gnevnyi Class), with support of SC MO-111 (Finnish source wrongly said Steregushchyi). Soviet DD GORDYI (Gnevnyi Class) sunk the small Finnish coast guard motorboat AV-45 at Lavansaari island (4 kia) that was occupied by Soviet forces.

[no images of the ships lost]

Profile of Gnevnyi Class DD and the Mo-4 class subchasers
Finnish motor vessels JAAMERI (299grt) and SYVARI (237grt) were lost at Liinahamari. Uncertain if these losses were due to Baltic Flt operations
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Norwegian Coast
The Patrol line searching for the reported German ships off Norway, were ordered to to steer west until 1300 and then head south. During this time (1) BB NELSON, CL AURORA and nine DDs were 100 miles to the SW of the western end of the line, (2) BB RODNEY, and destroyers ASHANTI and GURKHA were to the west of Fair Isle Channel, (3) BB WARSPITE to the west of the line, and (4) BC HOOD, the Fr BC DUNKERQUE and DDs SOMALI, PUNJABI and MASHONA 100 miles west of the Faroes. DKM did its best to shadow these forces with its own aircrafdt, but owing to the terrible weather were unable to maintain contact and lost at least 5 a/c. mostly Do 18 flying Boats under direct control of the Navy

Dornier 18D 2. Ku.Fl.Gr.506

The RN final reports states that on the evening of the 30th, "CinC Home Flt turned south with his fleet on the 30th and on 1 December ordered the resumption of normal shipping movements".....in other the RN was forced to concede that the DKM BCs had slipped the net laid for them..

Convoys to and from Norway were resumed. HN.3 of 11 British ships, one Finnish, and two Estonian departed Bergen escort by DDs ILEX, ICARUS, ESKIMO and MATABELE (all escorts had to wait outside the territorial limit). CA SUFFOLK, which left Scapa on the 30th and CL SOUTHAMPTON provided close cover. Later when SUFFOLK was relieved for refuelling, CL GLASGOW took her place. The convoy arrived safely at Methil on 4 December. Before then, on the 2nd, DDs KANDAHAR and ISIS departed Scapa to escort the four ships of the west coast portion of the convoy.

Northern Waters
CL CALEDON departed Scapa for the Tyne and arrived on 1 December for docking Repairs completed on the 19th December , and the ship sailed to Plymouth on the 21st. I believe she was given a radar fitout at that stage, but am not certain

Northern Patrol
AMCs ANDANIA, AURANIA, SCOTSTOUN and WORCESTERSHIRE departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol duties.

North Sea
FN.45 departed Southend, escort DD WHITLEY and sloop STORK, and arrived at the Tyne on 1 December. FS.45 departed the Tyne, escort sloops GRIMSBY and WESTON, and arrived at Southend on 1 December. Steamer ASTRONOMER (8401grt) arrived at Rosyth from the Tyne escort DD WALLACE.

Steamer BEVERWIJK (Ne 2948 grt) was damaged by grounding off Terschelling in the declared mine area. DKM Vorposdten boote VP.704 (trawler CLAUS WISCH, 256grt) was badly damaged in a defensive minefield off Trelleborg and run aground, a total loss.

General or typical outline of a DKM Vorposten Boote

Channel
DD NUBIAN departed Portsmouth after repairs and rejoined the Main Fleet at Loch Ewe.

UK West Coast
DD FORTUNE attacked a submarine contact in the Irish Sea. OB.44 departed Liverpool, escort DDs VERSATILE and WITHERINGTON until 3 December, when they detached to the inbound HXF.10.

Med -Biscay
HG.9, which departed Port Said on the 19th, left Gibraltar with 53 ships (the lagest of the war to this point) , escort DDs VORTIGERN and WISHART, and also the Fr CHACAL and MISTRAL from the 30th November until they arrived at Brest on 8 December. Trawler VULCAN of the 1st MTB Flotilla proceeded to England with the convoy, which arrived at Liverpool, also on the 8th.