Contents

1. HOME WATERS - 2. FOREIGN STATIONS - 3. DOMINION and INDIAN NAVIES

Background Events

September 1939-March 1940
Battle of Atlantic starts, 'Phoney War' on land, Battle of River Plate

1. HOME WATERS

 Naval Commands, and Sub Commands/ship locations within them, are listed approximately north to south/east to west

 

 

HOME FLEET

 Adm Sir Charles M Forbes on NELSON

 

Scapa Flow

 

2nd Battle Squadron (Rear Adm Henry E C Blagrove on ROYAL OAK) - battleships NELSON (Capt G J A Miles), RAMILLIES (Capt H T Baillie-Grohman DSC, OBE), RODNEY (Capt E N Syfret), ROYAL OAK (Capt W G Benn), ROYAL SOVEREIGN (Capt L V Morgan CBE MVO DSC)

 

Battlecruiser Squadron (Rear Adm William J Whitworth on HOOD) - HOOD (Capt I G Glennie), REPULSE (Capt E J Spooner DSO)

 

Aircraft carrier (Vice Adm Lionel V Wells on ARK ROYAL) - ARK ROYAL (Capt A J Powers CVO)

 

7th Cruiser Squadron (Capt Edward B C Dicken OBE DSC, Cdre 2nd Class on DIOMEDE) - light cruisers CALYPSO (Capt N J W William-Powlett DSC), CALEDON (Capt C P Clark), DIOMEDE (Capt Dicken), DRAGON (Capt R G Bowes-Lyon MVO)

 

12th Cruiser Squadron (Vice Adm Sir Max K Horton KCB, DSO, Vice Adm Commanding Northern Patrol on EFFINGHAM), CARDIFF (Capt P K Enright), DUNEDIN (Capt C E Lambe CVO), EFFINGHAM (Capt J M Howson), EMERALD (Capt A W S Agar VC, DSO)

 

18th Cruiser Squadron (Rear Adm Ronald H C Hallifax, also Rear Adm, Destroyers on AURORA from 30 Aug), AURORA (Capt G B Middleton), BELFAST (Capt G A Scott DSC), EDINBURGH (right, at the time of her loss in 1942 - NavyPhotos) (Capt F C Bradley), SHEFFIELD (Capt E de F Renouf CVO)

 

Anti-aircraft ship - anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA (Capt H A Packer)

 

6th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt R S G. Nicholson DSC)

Division 11 - ASHANTI (Cdr W G Davis), MASHONA (Cdr P W McLaughlin), MATABELE (Cdr G K Whitmy Smith), SOMALI (Nicholson)

Division 12 - BEDOUIN (Cdr J A McCoy), ESKIMO (Cdr St J A Micklethwait), PUNJABI (Cdr J T Lean), TARTAR (Capt G H Warner, Lt Cdr D E Holland-Smith from 13 Oct)

 

8th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt C S Daniel)

Destroyer FAULKNOR (Daniel)

Division 15 - FEARLESS (Cdr K L Harkness), FORESTER (Lt Cdr E B Tancock), FOXHOUND (Lt Cdr P H Hadow), FURY (Cdr G F Burghard)

Division 16 - FAME (Cdr P N Walter), FIREDRAKE (Lt Cdr S H Norris), FORESIGHT (Lt Cdr G T Lambert), FORTUNE (Cdr E A Gibbs)

 

Destroyer Depot ship - GREENWICH (Cdr J H Pipe) no repair stores on board, boiler cleaning parties only arr on 31 Aug

 

1st Minesweeping Flotilla (Capt R O FitzRoy) - minesweeper BRAMBLE (FitzRoy, SO), BRITOMART (Lt Cdr E P Hinton), HAZARD (Lt Cdr W T W Curtis), HEBE (Lt Cdr J B G. Temple), SEAGULL (Cdr D H Harries RAN), SHARPSHOOTER (Cdr J Peterson DSC), SPEEDY (Lt Cdr J C Richards)

 

Fleet Target Service - target ship CENTURION (Capt R V Symonds-Taylor DSC), destroyer SHIKARI (Cdr J Hext Lewis), both ships at Devonport

 

TB Target and PV ranging vessel - destroyer SABRE (Lt Cdr B Dean) at Scapa Flow

 

Netlayer - GUARDIAN (Capt E G N Rushbrooke DSC) at Sullom Voe

 

Admiralty Drifters - see 1 Aug 39

 

 

ROSYTH COMMAND

Vice Adm C G Ramsey

 

Rosyth Escort Force

escorted FN and FS convoys

 

Depot ship, Rosyth - COCHRANE (Capt R B Wilmot-Sitwell Rtd)

 

Rosyth Escort Force (Capt R Kerr)

 

15th Destroyer Flotilla (administered by Commander Rosyth Escort Force)

Division 29 - BROKE (Lt Cdr R I A Sarell, Cdr B G Scurfield from 27 Sep), WANDERER (Cdr R F Morice), WHITEHALL (Lt Cdr A B Russell), all dep Rosyth on patrol 1 Sep, WITCH (Lt Cdr J R Barnes) dep Rosyth for Harwich 31 Aug

Division 30 - VERITY (Lt Cdr A R M Black), VOLUNTEER (Lt Cdr H Gartside-Tippinge), WOLVERINE (Cdr R C Gordon, Cdr R H Craske from 27 Nov), WITHERINGTON (Lt Cdr G C Fryer), all Division 30 at Milford Haven for escort duty.

 

Convoy C (administered by Cdr Rosyth Escort Force) - escort ships, ex-destroyers VALOROUS (Lt Cdr E Mack) dep Rosyth on 2 Sep for Pentland Firth patrol, WALLACE (Lt Cdr W M L Astwood) arr at Leith 1 Sep, under repair for collision on 13 Sep, WHITLEY (Lt Cdr E H Dyke) dep Harwich on patrol 3 Sep, sloops BITTERN (Cdr G F Stevens-Guille OBE) at Rosyth, ENCHANTRESS (Cdr A K Scott-Moncrief) dep Rosyth on 2 Sep for Pentland Firth patrol, HASTINGS (Lt Cdr A B Alison) at Plymouth refitting to comp 16 Sep, PELICAN (Cdr L A K Boswell) dep Harwich on patrol 3 Sep, STORK (Cdr A C Behague) at Devonport since 14 Apr refitting to comp 9 Sep

 

At the end of September, Rosyth Escort Force was organised into four escort groups. With Destroyer Division 30 of the 15th Flotilla transferred to Western Approaches Command and at Plymouth, the rest of the Force was grouped as follows:

 

 Group 1 - destroyer WANDERER (SO), escort ship VALOROUS, sloop HASTINGS

 Group 2 - sloops BITTERN (SO), ENCHANTRESS, destroyer BROKE

 Group 3 - sloop STORK (SO), destroyer WITCH, escort ship WHITLEY

 Group 4 - sloops PELICAN (SO), WESTON, destroyer WHITEHALL

 

 In mid October, Destroyer Division 29 was transferred to Western Approaches Command, but remained on East Coast duty through to the end of October

 

3rd Anti-Submarine Group - anti-submarine trawlers AGATE, AMETHYST (SO), JASPER

 

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Blyth - DEE (Lt E J Robinson Rtd, SO), JAMES LUDFORD, OHM, THOMAS ALTOFT

Outfitting at Tyne - FLANDERS, GUNNER

 

 

Dundee

 

2nd Submarine Flotilla (Capt W D Stephens on FORTH) - depot ship FORTH (Stephens) arr at Rosyth on 14 Oct, submarines OXLEY (Lt Cdr H G Bowerman), SEAHORSE (Lt D S Massey-Dawson), SEAWOLF (Lt Cdr J W Studholme), SPEARFISH (Lt J H Eaden), STARFISH (Lt T A Turner), STERLET (Lt G H S Haward), STURGEON (Lt G D A Gregory), SWORDFISH (Lt C B Crouch), SUNFISH (Lt Cdr J E Slaughter) refitting at Sheerness until 18 Oct, THISTLE (Cdr R W Stirling-Hamilton) at Portsmouth repairing to comp 9 Sep, TRIAD (Lt Cdr R McC P Jonas) commissioned, to join 16 Sep 39 after working up, TRIBUNE (Lt Cdr G P S Davies) completing, to join 17 Oct 39 after working up, TRIDENT ( Cdr J G Gould) commissioned, to join 1 Oct 39 after working up, TRITON (Lt Cdr H P de C Steel), TRIUMPH (Lt Cdr J W McCoy), TRUANT (Lt Cdr R W Peers) completing, to join 30 Oct 39 after working up

 

Minesweeping trawlers - HAWTHORN, WILLOW, WINDWARD, all at Dundee

Rosyth

 

Aircraft carrier - FURIOUS (Capt M L Clark DSC) training aircraft carrier at Rosyth

 

Seaplane tender - PEGASUS (Capt W G Agnew, Capt R G. Wodehouse Rtd, from 18 Sep) arr in the Tyne on 3 Sep en route to Scapa Flow, via Rosyth

 

Rear Admiral, Submarines - Rear Adm B C Watson CB, DSO at Aberdour. Operational headquarters only arrived on 30 Aug from Gosport where the administrative staff remained

 

Blyth

 

6th Submarine Flotilla (Cdr J S Bethell) - depot ship TITANIA (Bethell), submarines H.32 (Lt R F Jenks), L.26 (Lt Cdr F W Liscombe OBE), L.27 (Lt P J Cowell), UNDINE (Lt Cdr A S Jackson), UNITY (Lt Cdr J F B Brown), URSULA (Lt Cdr G C Phillips), all submarines dep Blyth on 31 Aug for patrol

 

 

 

HUMBER FORCE

Vice Adm Sir George F B Edwards-Collins

 

2nd Cruiser Squadron - light cruisers GLASGOW (Capt F H Pegram), SOUTHAMPTON (Flag, Capt F W H Jeans CVO), both ships dep the Humber 1 Sep

 

7th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt P J Mack)

Division 13 - JAVELIN (Cdr A F Pugsley), JERSEY (Lt Cdr A M McKillop), JERVIS (Mack), all dep Humber 1 Sep, JUPITER (Lt Cdr D B Wyburd) at Grimsby.

Division 14 - ECHO (Cdr S H K Spurgeon RAN) arr in the Humber 1 Sep, JACKAL (Cdr T M Napier) dep Humber 1 Sep, JAGUAR (Lt Cdr J F W Hine) to comp 12 Sep and on her arrival at Rosyth 28 Sep relieved ECHO, JANUS (Lt Cdr J A W Tothill), JUNO (Cdr W E Wilson), both arr in the Humber on 3 Sep

 

Minesweeping trawlers – GARRY, LIFFEY, both at Humber

 Outfitting at Humber - BUCKINGHAM, FANE, GLEN KIDSON, LUNE, MALAYAN, SANDRINGHAM

 

 

NORE COMMAND

Adm Sir H Brownrigg

 

19th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt D J R Simson) - CODRINGTON (Simson)

Division 37 - BASILISK (Cdr M Richmond), BEAGLE (Lt Cdr R H Wright), BOREAS (Lt Cdr M W Tomkinson), KEITH (Cdr H T W Pawsey OBE) to join 19th Flotilla as a private ship when relieved by destroyer MONTROSE from the 17th Flotilla, but retained in the 17th Flotilla until Jan 40

Division 38 - BLANCHE (Lt Cdr R M Aubrey), BOADICEA (Lt Cdr G B Kingdon), BRAZEN (Lt Cdr R H Mills, Lt Cdr R C. Beckett from 1 Nov), BRILLIANT (Lt Cdr F C Brodrick)

 

CODRINGTON and the B-class destroyers dep Dover on patrol on 31 Aug, KEITH dep Plymouth on patrol on 3 Sep, BRILLIANT arr back at Dover on 2 Sep

 

5th Minesweeping Flotilla - minesweepers HALCYON (Cdr L V Lloyd Rtd, Cdr St. J Cronyn from 12 Oct), HARRIER (Lt Cdr B L Clark), HUSSAR (Lt Cdr T G P Crick), NIGER (Lt Cdr M A O Biddulph), SALAMANDER (Lt Cdr L J S Ede) at Sheerness, SELKIRK (Lt Cdr D H M Leggatt ret), SKIPJACK (Lt Cdr F B Proudfoot) at Dover, SPEEDWELL (Lt Cdr F R G Maunsell) at Harwich, SPHINX (Cdr J R N Taylor, SO)

 

6th Minesweeping Flotilla - minesweeping trawlers CEDAR, CYPRESS, HOLLY at Sheerness, SYRINGA (Lt Cdr A F L Evans, SO)

 

Minesweeping Trawlers

Outfitting at Dover - ARAGONITE, CAPE BARRACOUTA, CHALCEDONY, EASTCOATES, RUNSWICK BAY, OSAMA, OYAMA, SATA, ST MELANTE and one trawler as base ship

Outfitting at Sheerness - DARNETT NESS, DROMIO, GRAMPIAN, LADY ENID, LARCH, MASTIFF (Lt Cdr A A C Ouvry, SO), MYRTLE, NORTHCOATES, OAK, RIFSNES, TAMARISK

 

 

PORTSMOUTH COMMAND

Adm Sir William James

 

16th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt Thomas E Halsey)

Division 31 - MALCOLM (Halsey) arr Le Havre 3 Sep, VETERAN (Cdr J E Broome from 11 Oct) at Chatham repairing until 6 Nov 39, WREN (Cdr W H Selby) at Portsmouth

Division 32 - VANSITTART (Lt Cdr R G K Knowling) arr Le Havre 3 Sep, VENOMOUS (Lt Cdr D G F W MacIntyre) at Portsmouth, WIVERN (Lt Cdr W Evershed) arr Le Havre 3 Sep

 

18th Destroyer Flotilla

Division 35 - with Channel Force

Division 36 (at Portland on 3 Sep) - ACHATES (Lt Cdr R J Gardner), AMAZON (Lt Cdr N E G Roper), ANTHONY (Lt Cdr N J V Thew), ARROW (Cdr H W Williams)

 

Attached destroyers - SALADIN (Lt Cdr L J Dover) at Portsmouth, requiring boiler retubing, SARDONYX (Lt Cdr W A F Hawkins) dep Portsmouth on 2 Sep for Dundee, SCIMITAR (Lt Cdr M Thornton) at Portsmouth, RAF reconnaisance duties, SKATE (Lt Cdr A O Johnson) at Portsmouth, tender to VERNON

 

5th Submarine Flotilla (Training Flotilla at Gosport, Capt C G B Coltart CVO) - tender ship DWARF (Cdr L M Shadwell)

submarines H.28 (Lt D E Mansfield), H.31 (Lt P R Ward), H.33 (Lt Cdr H J Caldwell), H.34 (Lt Cdr B T Simons), H.43 refitting at Sheerness until 7 Oct (Lt Cdr W A K N Cavaye from 7 Oct), H.44 (Lt H A V Haggard), H.49 (Lt E F Balston), H.50 refitting at Sheerness until 14 Oct (Lt Cdr J R G Harvey from 7 Oct), L.23 (Lt F J Brooks) refitting at Portsmouth comp in Sep, OBERON (Lt Cdr H C Cumberbatch), THAMES refitting at Plymouth to comp 15 Jun 40 (Cdr D V Sprague from 27 Dec)

 

1st Motor Anti-submarine Flotilla (Lt Cdr H W Falcon-Steward) - MA/SB.1 (Lt M E Impey), MA/SB.2 (Lt J C Lapage), MA/SB.3 (Lt J D. Ritchie), MA/SB.4 (Lt B J Anderson), MA/SB.5 (Lt E M Thorpe)

 

1st Anti-Submarine Group - anti-submarine trawlers BASSET (Cdr G H Brown Rtd, SO), SAPPHIRE, TOPAZE, TOURMALINE, and TURQUOISE

 

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Portsmouth - minesweeping trawlers ALDER, BEECH, BERBERIS, BOYNE, COLNE, DOON, HORNBEAM, LILAC (Lt Cdr E P H Pinckney, SO), trawlers HATSUSE, SASEBO, YASHIMA, drifter NONIWA,

Outfitting at Yarmouth - minesweeping trawlers ARCTIC HUNTER, CLYTHNESS, EARL KITCHENER, EBOR WYKE, KING'S GREY, LORD GREY, LORD IRWIN, LORD INCHCAPE

 

 

CHANNEL FORCE

Rear Adm Lancelot E Holland, Rear Admiral, Channel Force, and 3rd Battle Squadron on RESOLUTION

The Command was terminated on 7 Oct when the last of the ships in the force departed for other duties

 

3rd Battle Squadron - battleships RESOLUTION (Capt C H Knox-Little), REVENGE (Capt E R Archer), Squadron at Portland

 

Aircraft carriers - COURAGEOUS (Capt W T Makeig-Jones) at Plymouth, HERMES (Capt F E P Hutton) at Portland.

 

Light cruisers - CARADOC (Capt E W L Longley-Cook), CERES (Capt E G Abbott), both at Portland, transferred to Western Approaches Command 0n 7 Sep

 

Anti-aircraft ship - CAIRO (Capt H P K Oram) at Portland, operating with Dover Command since 10 Sep, formally transferred on 19 Sep

 

18th Destroyer Flotilla - KEMPENFELT (Capt C Caslon*, Lt Cdr C E Glasfurd from 20 Sep, *see Western Approaches Command note below) at Portland

Division 35 - ACASTA (Cdr P J Oliver) at Portsmouth repairing to comp 3 Sep, ACHERON (Lt Cdr R W F Northcott) at Portsmouth repairing to comp 2 Sep arr Portland 3 Sep, ANTELOPE (Lt Cdr R T White DSO) at Portsmouth, ARDENT (Lt Cdr J F Barker) at Portland

 

18th Flotilla transferred to Western Approaches Command on 7 Sep

 

 

WESTERN APPROACHES COMMAND

Adm Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith

 

 (* see below) After the outbreak of the war, the problems of administering Western Approaches destroyers from a flotilla leader at sea were recognised. Having to observe radio silence, the Flotilla Commander was unable to control the activities of his ships. Flotilla Commanders and their staffs were ordered ashore.

 

Vian (D.11) transferred to EAGLET on 26 Sep, Phillips (D.17) to SKIRMISHER on 28 Sep, and Caslon (D.18) to DRAKE on 21 Sep. Vian was replaced by Caslon (who remained in DRAKE) in Nov and Rear Adm C H Knox-Little Rtd, on 5 Jan 40. Phillips was replaced by Capt F C Bradley on 29 Jan 40. Caslon remained in DRAKE until 29 May 40.

 

Portland

 

12th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt R S Benson)

Division 23 - ECLIPSE (Lt Cdr E L Woodhall, Lt Cdr I T Clark from 9 Nov) at Plymouth, ELECTRA (Lt Cdr S A Buss) dep Portland 2 Sep, EXMOUTH (Benson) dep Portland 3 Sep

Division 24 - ENCOUNTER (Lt Cdr A St Clair Ford, Lt Cdr E V St J Morgan on 9 Nov) dep Portland 2 Sep for Plymouth, ESCAPADE (Cdr H R Graham) dep Portland 3 Sep, ESCORT (Lt Cdr J Bostock) dep Portland 2 Sep

 

1st Motor Anti-Submarine Boat Flotilla (Lt Cdr H W Falcon-Steward) - MA/SB.1 (Lt M E Impey), MA/SB.2 (Lt J C Lapage), MA/SB.3 (Lt J D. Ritchie), MA/SB.4 (Lt B J Anderson), No.5 (Lt E M Thorpe) at Portland

 

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Portland – AVONA, BRITISH, COURTIER, ERIMO

 

Plymouth

 

11th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt P L Vian*) - MACKAY (Vian, Cdr G H Stokes from 25 Sep)

Division 21 - VANOC (Lt Cdr J G W Deneys) refitting at Portsmouth until 14 Oct, VANQUISHER (Lt Cdr K H Fraser, Lt Cdr C B Alers Hankey from 11 Oct) dep Plymouth on 2 Sep for the Clyde, WALKER (Cdr W J C Robertson), WALPOLE (Lt Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), WINCHELSEA (Cdr C T Jellicoe)

Division 22 - VERSATILE (Cdr T E Hussey Rtd), VIMY (Lt Cdr I T Clark, Lt Cdr C G W Donald from 8 Nov), WARWICK (Lt Cdr M A G Child), WHIRLWIND (Lt Cdr M B Ewart-Wentworth Rtd, Lt Cdr J M Rodgers from 10 Oct)

 

11th Flotilla less VANQUISHER and VANOC at Plymouth on 3 Sep

 

17th Destroyer Division (Capt A J L Phillips*)

KEITH (Phillips) relieved by destroyer MONTROSE (Phillips, Cdr C R L Parry from 27 Sep) on 15 Sep. KEITH was then attached to the 34th Destroyer Division as a private ship - Capt F C. Bradley, D.17 from Jan 1940, Capt D J R Simson, D.19 from 29 Jan 40

MONTROSE, under repair at Plymouth until 6 Sep, traded crews with KEITH which was then commanded by Cdr H T W Pawsey OBE from 6 Sep

Division 33 - VANESSA (Lt Cdr J H Plumer), VENETIA (Cdr J W M Eaton, Cdr G R Pilcher from 13 Oct), VISCOUNT (Lt Cdr M S Townsend) refitting at Plymouth until 15 Sep, WESSEX (Lt Cdr W A R Cartwright)

Division 34 - VESPER (Lt Cdr W F E Hussey), VIVACIOUS (Cdr C R L Parry, Lt Cdr F R W Parish from 27 Sep), WAKEFUL (Cdr R St V Sherbrooke), WINDSOR (Lt Cdr P D.H.R. Pelly from 1 Nov) refitting at Portsmouth until 4 Nov

 

17th Flotilla less WINDSOR at Plymouth on 3 Sep

 

Destroyer - STURDY (Lt Cdr G T Cooper) at Devonport

 

6th Minesweeping Flotilla - minesweeping trawlers LAUREL, MAGNOLIA, SYCAMORE (Lt Cdr A E Sercombe, SO)

 

2nd Anti-Submarine Group - anti-submarine trawlers CORNELIAN, PEARL, RUBY

 

Minesweeping trawlers

Outfitting at Plymouth - ARCANES, BRECON CASTLE, CAERPHILLY CASTLE, CARDIFF CASTLE, CLYNE CASTLE, CONWAY CASTLE, RADNOR CASTLE

 Outfitting at Swansea – BLACKWATER, KENNET

 

Milford Haven

 

Convoy B

Patrol sloops - KITTIWAKE (Cdr E R Conder), MALLARD (Lt Cdr D V Clift), PUFFIN (Lt Cdr W F Hollins, Lt Cdr The Hon J M G Waldegrave DSO from 3 Oct), all dep Holyhead for Liverpool on 3 Sep, then on to Dover arr 7 Sep

Patrol sloops - KINGFISHER (Lt Cdr G A M V Harrison), SHELDRAKE (Lt Cdr A E T Christy), WIDGEON (Lt Cdr R Frederick), all at the Clyde.

 

 On 18 September formed as 1st Anti-Submarine Striking Force at Belfast with new patrol sloop SHEARWATER (Lt Cdr P F Powlett) and escort ships patrol sloop PC.74 (Lt Cdr C E H White DSO Rtd) and minesweeper GLEANER (Lt Cdr H P Price)

Escort ship/minesweeper JASON (Lt Cdr D H Fryer) upon comp of repairs also joined this unit

 

 

 

REFITTING IN HOME WATERS

 

Battleships - QUEEN ELIZABETH refitting since 10 Apr 37 at Portsmouth until 31 Jan 41, arr Scapa Flow for trials 21 Feb 41 (Capt C B Barry DSO from 31 Oct 40), VALIANT refitting since 1 Mar 37 at Devonport until 11 Dec 39 (Capt H B Rawlings OBE), made ready for trials in the West Indies where she worked up, arr back in England on 7 Feb 40 after escorting convoy TC.3

 

Battlecruiser - RENOWN (Capt C E B Simeon) comp refit at Portsmouth on 28 Aug, dep 2 Sep, arr Scapa Flow for duty 4 Sep

 

Cruisers

Heavy cruisers LONDON rebuilding since 15 Mar 39 at Chatham until 10 Feb 41 (Capt R M Servaes CBE), NORFOLK (Capt A G B Wilson DSO MVO) completing refit at Devonport at beginning of Sep, dep 3 Sep, arr Scapa Flow for duty 6 Sep 39, SUFFOLK (Capt J W Durnford) refitting at Portsmouth to comp 23 Sep, dep 29 Sep, arr Scapa Flow for duty 1 Oct 39

Light cruisers CARLISLE rearming as anti-aircraft ship at Plymouth until 12 Jan 40 (Capt G M B Langley OBE from 21 Nov), CURACOA rearming as anti-aircraft ship at Chatham until 26 Jan 40 (Capt E A Aylmer DSC from 5 Dec), DELHI (Capt L H K Hamilton DSO) comp refit at Nore and working up at Portland, arr Scapa Flow 13 Sep to join 11th Cruiser Squadron, ENTERPRISE (Capt H J Egerton) refitting at Portsmouth, dep 9 Sep, arr Scapa Flow 11 Sep to join 11th Cruiser Squadron, NEWCASTLE (Capt J Figgins) refitting at Plymouth until 7 Sep 39, dep 12 Sep for Scapa Flow, arr 13 Sep, joined the 18th Cruiser Squadron on 15 Sep

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser - CURLEW (Capt B C B Brooke) refitting at Chatham completing 23 Sep, dep 25 Sep to work up at Portland, arr 29 Sep. Departed Portland on 1 Oct, arr Scapa Flow for duty 2 Oct

 

Destroyers

At the Nore - CAMPBELL refitting until 12 Feb 40 (Capt F C Bradley from early Feb), VIVIEN rearming as escort ship until 7 Oct 39 (Lt Cdr W D G Weir from 19 Sep), WORCESTER awaiting boiler spares, refitting until 4 May 40 (Cdr J H Allison from 12 Mar), WOOLSTON rearming as escort ship until 9 Oct 39 (Lt Cdr W J Phipps from Sep), WOLFHOUND rearming as escort ship until 2 May 40 (Lt Cdr J W McCoy from 19 Mar)

At Chatham - VETERAN refitting until 6 Nov 39 (Cdr J E Broome from 11 Oct)

At Portsmouth - ACASTA (Cdr P J Oliver) repairing to comp 3 Sep, AMBUSCADE refitting until 27 May 40 (Lt Cdr A O Johnson from 21 Mar), placed on a low priority on 4 Dec 39 due to workmen being required for higher priority work, then on 7 Mar 40, a dock allocated to AMBUSCADE was required for damaged destroyer VENOMOUS, ESK (Lt Cdr R J H Couch) refitting as destroyer minelayer from 23 Aug to 7 Sep, EXPRESS (Cdr J G Bickford) refitting as destroyer minelayer from 23 Aug to 7 Sep, VANOC (Lt Cdr J G W Deneys) refitting until 14 Sep, VIMIERA rearming as escort ship until 12 Feb 40 (Lt Cdr R B N Hicks from 15 Jan), WINDSOR refitting until 4 Nov (Lt Cdr P D H R Pelly from 1 Nov), WINCHESTER rearming as escort ship until 9 Apr 40 (Lt Cdr S E Crewe-Read from 9 Mar)

At Plymouth - MONTROSE (Cdr H T W Pawsey OBE, Capt A J L Phillips from 6 Sep, Cdr C R L Parry from 27 Sep) refitting until 6 Sep, VEGA rearming as escort ship until 27 Nov 39 (Cdr C I Horton from 19 Sep), VISCOUNT (Lt Cdr M S Townsend) refitting until 15 Sep 39, WESTMINSTER rearming as escort ship until 8 Jan 40 (Lt Cdr A A C Ouvry from 20 Dec), VALENTINE rearming as escort ship until 28 Mar 40 (Cdr H J Buchanan RAN from 1 Feb)

 

Escort ships - escort ships/minesweepers GLEANER (Lt Cdr H P Price) at Devonport refitting from survey ship role to comp 9 Sep 39, JASON (Cdr A Jones, Lt Cdr D H Fryer from 28 Sep) at Portsmouth refitting from survey ship role to comp 27 Sep 39), sloops HASTINGS (Lt Cdr A B Alison) refitting at Plymouth to comp 16 Sep, STORK (Cdr A C Behague) refitting at Devonport since 14 Apr to comp 9 Sep, WESTON at Portsmouth under refit to escort vessel to comp 8 Sep (Cdr A G Davidson Rtd, from 8 Sep)

 

Submarines - H.43 refitting at Sheerness to comp 7 Oct (Lt Cdr W A K N Cavaye from 7 Oct), H.50 refitting at Sheerness to comp 14 Oct (Lt Cdr J R G. Harvey from 7 Oct), L.23 (Lt F J Brooks) refitting at Portsmouth comp in Sep, THAMES (Lt Cdr B E O'Brien, Engineering Officer) refitting at Plymouth to comp 16 Jun 40 (Cdr D V Sprague from 27 Dec), THETIS lost on trials 1 Jun 39, salved and returned to Birkenhead for rebuilding, renamed THUNDERBOLT, comp 1 Nov 40 (Lt C B Crouch from 16 Sep 40), THISTLE (Cdr R W Stirling-Hamilton) refitting at Portsmouth to comp 9 Sep, SUNFISH (Lt Cdr J E Slaughter) refitting at Sheerness to comp 18 Oct

 

 

 

IN RESERVE IN HOME WATERS

 

Cruisers - FROBISHER (Cdr M H Evelegh) at Portsmouth, work suspended until 5 Jan 40 when began refit, to Devonport for refit and rearming in Feb 40, in service 13 Feb 42 following trials (Capt J F W Mudford from 13 Jan 42) arr at Scapa Flow on 4 Mar 42 to work up, HAWKINS (Cdr W A Whitaker) at Portsmouth, to refit and rearm until 9 Dec (Capt E Rotherham from 15 Nov) ready for sea on 23 Dec, in service 9 Jan 40, left Portland for duty in the South Atlantic arr station 29 Jan 40. Both ships had been disarmed for refit as EFFINGHAM, but reshipped their original 7.5in guns.

 

Minelaying cruiser - ADVENTURE (Capt A R Halfhide) at Portsmouth, dep 7 Sep, arr in the Downs next day, arr at Dover on 9 Sep for operations

 

Aircraft carrier - ARGUS at Portsmouth, recommissioned 7 Oct (Capt H C Bovell from 7 Oct), dep Devonport 11 Nov with destroyer STURDY for Toulon. In Nov 39, began operations in the Gulf of Lyons as a training carrier with STURDY as attendant destroyer

 

Destroyers - VANITY (Lt Cdr A A Tait) at Rosyth in Maintenance Reserve until mid Dec, then to Plymouth for conversion to escort vessel comp on 12 Aug 40, VERDUN (Lt Cdr E O T Keeling) at Sheerness, taken in hand for conversion to escort ship and comp on 11 Jul 40, VICEROY at Portsmouth, taken in hand for conversion to escort ship, towed to Chatham Apr 40 and conversion begun in May, heavy demands on the dockyard prevented comp until 10 Jan 41 (Lt Cdr D P Trentham), WHITSHED at Portsmouth with defects, joined 18th Destroyer Flotilla on 18 Nov 39 (Cdr E R Conder from 15 Nov), WILD SWAN (Lt Cdr J L Younghusband) at Portsmouth with defects, joined 18th Destroyer Flotilla on 25 Feb 40

 

Escort ships - sloops FOXGLOVE (Lt Cdr T I S Bell), LUPIN moored, ROSEMARY (Lt Cdr R C.D Grimes), all at Portsmouth, patrol sloop PC.74 (Lt Cdr C E H White DSO Rtd) at the Nore

 

 

 

2. FOREIGN STATIONS

 

 

 

 

MEDITERRANEAN FLEET

Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham on WARSPITE

 

1st Battle Squadron (Vice Adm Geoffrey Layton) - battleship BARHAM (Flag, Capt H T C Walker), MALAYA (Capt I B B Tower DSC), WARSPITE (Capt V A C Crutchley VC, DSC), all three at Alexandria

 

Aircraft carrier - GLORIOUS (Capt G D'Oyly-Hughes DSO, DSC) at Alexandria

 

1st Cruiser Squadron (Vice Adm J H.D. Cunningham CB, MVO) - heavy cruisers DEVONSHIRE (Flag, Capt J M Mansfield DSC) arr 30 Aug, SHROPSHIRE (Capt J P Gornall), SUSSEX (Capt A R Hammick) dep 4 Sep, all at Alexandria

 

3rd Cruiser Squadron (Rear Adm Henry E Moore) - light cruisers ARETHUSA (Flag, Capt Q D Graham) dep Alexandria 2 Sep on anti-shipping patrol and arr back 6 Sep, PENELOPE (Capt G D Yates) arr Malta 2 Sep from refitting in England, dep 3 Sep, arr back at Alexandria on 5 Sep

 

Anti-aircraft cruiser - COVENTRY (Capt R F J Onslow) at Alexandria

 

Rear Admiral Destroyers (Rear Adm John C Tovey) - light cruiser GALATEA (Flag, Capt E G H Bellars) at Alexandria, destroyer depot ship WOOLWICH (Capt E C Thornton DSC) at Alexandria

 

1st Destroyer Flotilla (Capt G E Creasy) - GRENVILLE (Creasy) at Alexandria

Division 1 - GALLANT (Lt Cdr C P F Brown), GLOWWORM (Lt Cdr G B Roope), GRAFTON (Cdr M S Thomas), GREYHOUND (Cdr W R Marshall-A'Dean), Division arr Alexandria from escort duties 30 Aug

Division 2 - GARLAND (Cdr C A N Chatwin), GIPSY (Lt Cdr N J Crossley), GRENADE (Cdr R C Boyle), GRIFFIN (Lt Cdr J Lee-Barber), Division at Aden from 31 Aug to 2 Sep, all ships arr back at Port Said on 5 Sep and returned to Flotilla in Mediterranean

 

2nd Destroyer Flotilla (Capt B A W Warburton-Lee) - HARDY (Warburton-Lee)

Division 3 - HASTY (Lt Cdr L R K Tyrwhitt), HOSTILE (Cdr J P Wright), HEREWARD (Lt Cdr C W Greening), HERO (Cdr C F Tower), HARDY and Division 3 dep Malta on 2 Sep for Alexandria

Division 4 - HAVOCK (Cdr R E. Courage), HOTSPUR (Cdr H F H Layman), HYPERION (Cdr H St L Nicolson), HUNTER (Lt Cdr L de Villiers), Division detached to South Atlantic Command and at Freetown

 

3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Capt A G Talbot, Capt P Todd from 7 Nov) - INGLEFIELD (Talbot)

Division 5 - ILEX (Lt Cdr P L Saumarez), ISIS (Cdr J C Clouston), IMOGEN (Cdr E B K Stevens), IMPERIAL (Lt Cdr C A de W Kitcat)

Division 6 - ICARUS (Lt Cdr C D Maud), damaged in a collision on 1 Sep at Alexandria, taken to Malta for repairs, IMPULSIVE (Lt Cdr W S Thomas), INTREPID (Cdr J W Josselyn), IVANHOE (Cdr B Jones)

 

3rd Destroyer Flotilla, less ICARUS and IMOGEN dep Alexandria on 2 Sep for patrol off Crete. 1st Flotilla destroyers GRAFTON and GALLANT dep Alexandria on 3 Sep and relieved the 3^rd  Flotilla for passage to Malta. IMOGEN, which had departed earlier with dispatches for Marseilles, arrived at Malta on 3 Sep and the others on 4 Sep. 3rd Flotilla departed on 5 Sep for the North Atlantic Command based at Gibraltar, and on 7 Sep, was despatched to Western Approaches Command

 

4th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt G H Creswell)

Division 7 - AFRIDI (Creswell), GURKHA (Cdr F R Parham), MOHAWK (Cdr R F Jolly), SIKH (Cdr J A Giffard), Division in the Red Sea, dep Suez 31 Aug, rejoined Flotilla at Alexandria on 6 Sep

Division 8 - COSSACK (Capt D DePass), MAORI (Cdr G N Brewer), NUBIAN (Cdr R W Ravenhill), ZULU (Cdr J S Crawford), all at Alexandria, Division dep on patrol 4 Sep

 

19th Destroyer Flotilla - BULLDOG (Lt Cdr J S M Richardson) at Alexandria attached as attendant destroyer to aircraft carrier GLORIOUS, rest of Flotilla based at Dover

 

Destroyers - STRONGHOLD (Lt Cdr R Alexander) dep Malta on 2 Sep for Suez, en route to Singapore, WOLSEY refitting at Malta as escort ship to comp 21 Jan 40 (Cdr C A N Chatwin)

 

Repair ship - RESOURCE (Capt W Y La R Beverly) at Alexandria

 

1st Submarine Flotilla (Capt Philip Ruck-Keene) - depot ship MAIDSTONE (Capt E H Longsdon)

Submarines OSIRIS (Lt Cdr R Sheridan-Patterson) dep Gibraltar 31 Aug, arr Malta on 3 Sep from Portsmouth, OSWALD (Lt Cdr G M Sladen) arr at Malta 1 Sep from Portsmouth, OTWAY (Cdr H R Conway) arr at Malta 2 Sep from Portsmouth, SEALION (Lt Cdr B Bryant), SHARK (Lt P M Buckley) dep Alexandria on 26 Aug for Malta, all at Malta with MAIDSTONE

Submarines CACHALOT (Lt Cdr S W F Bennetts), PORPOISE (Cdr G W G Simpson), both dep Gosport 28 Aug and arr at Malta 1 Sep, NARWHAL (Lt Cdr E R J Oddie) arr at Portsmouth from Plymouth on 5 Sep en route to Mediterranean, but retained in Home Waters, SALMON (Lt Cdr E O B Bickford), SNAPPER ( Lt W D A King), both at Alexandria.

 

Sloop - ABERDEEN (Cdr H P Currey) arr Haifa on 29 Aug, dep 6 Sep

 

1st Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla (at Malta) - trawler VULCAN (Lt A R Guthrie), MTB.1 (Lt Cdr C M Donner, SO), under repair, MTB.2 (Lt J A Eardley-Wilmot), MTB.3 (Lt A A T Seymour-Haydon), MTB.4 (Lt A R J Foster), MTB.5 (Lt W B Whitworth), MTB.6 (S/Lt H L Lloyd), MTB.14 (Lt D H Mason), MTB.15 (Lt L J H Gamble), MTB.16 (Lt P F S Gould), MTB.17 (Lt R I T Falker), MTB.18 (S/Lt J T Mannooch), MTB.19 (S/Lt D Jermain)

 

Minelayer - MEDUSA at Malta

 

3rd Minesweeping Flotilla

Minesweepers ALBURY (Lt Cdr C H Corbett-Singleton), DUNDALK (Lt Cdr F A I Kirkpatrick), DUNOON (Lt Cdr H A. Barclay), all at Malta

Minesweepers ELGIN (Lt Cdr J M Bayley) at Suez, LYDD (Lt Cdr R C D Haig) at Alexandria

Minesweepers FERMOY (Lt Cdr J G D Wetherfield, SO Minesweepers, Egypt) in reserve until Dec, then refitting through Jan, SALTASH (Lt Cdr T R Fowke), both at Port Said

Minesweepers PANGBOURNE (Cdr F Douglas-Watson, SO 3rd Mine Flotilla), ROSS (Lt Cdr J P Apps Rtd), SUTTON (Lt Cdr G M Temple), all in Red Sea, to return to Alexandria.

 

Four minesweepers sailed for England at the end of 1939. DUNDALK and DUNOON departed Gibraltar on 29 Nov for Plymouth, ELGIN and SUTTON departed Gibraltar on 8 Dec for Portsmouth. The first two proceeded to the Tyne and on 1 Jan were preparing for duty in the Humber while the second pair arrived in the Humber on 2 Jan. These four together with HALCYON (SO), HUSSAR, SELKIRK were formed as the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla on 1 Jan

 

ALBURY, LYDD, PANGBOURNE, ROSS, SALTASH were ordered home on 3 Mar 40 and joined the 5th Minesweeping Flotilla.

 

3rd Minesweeping Flotilla was later composed of ABINGDON, BAGSHOT, FAREHAM (SO), FERMOY, STOKE, all but FERMOY from the China Station

 

4th Anti-Submarine Group - Anti-submarine trawlers AMBER, BERYL, CORAL, JADE, MOONSTONE, all at Alexandria

 

Motor Minesweepers - MMS.1, MMS.2 (Lt G MacClelland), both at Haifa, both sold to Turkey early 40, dep Alexandria on 13 Jan in tow of Turkish naval collier ULKU for Ismir.

 

Drifters - CRESCENT MOON, EDDY, LANDFALL, SUNSET, all at Port Said

 

 

 

NORTH ATLANTIC COMMAND

Rear Adm N A Wodehouse on base ship CORMORANT

Patrolling 11N to 39N, south of Dakar to Lisbon

Base - Gibraltar

 

11th Cruiser Squadron (Capt R J R Scott, Cdre 2/c) - light cruisers CAPETOWN (Capt T H Back), COLOMBO (Scott), both dep Gibraltar on patrol 3 Sep and arr back 12 Sep

 

13th Destroyer Flotilla (Capt F S W de Winton) - KEPPEL (de Winton)

Division 25 - VELOX (Cdr J C Colvill), VIDETTE (Lt Cdr D R Brocklebank), VORTIGERN (Lt Cdr W J B Handley), WATCHMAN (Cdr V Hamersley-Heenan)

Division 26 - ACTIVE (Lt Cdr E C L Turner), DOUGLAS (Cdr R F B Swinley), WISHART (Cdr E T Cooper), WRESTLER (Cdr J H McNair)

 

DOUGLAS, WATCHMAN, WISHART, WRESTLER dep Gibraltar escorting British convoy AB.1 on 2 Sep until 0805 on 3 Sep when they left the convoy to return to Gibraltar. Entire Flotilla at Gibraltar on 3 Sep

 

Destroyer - WRYNECK at Gibraltar refitting as escort ship, later taken to Malta, comp on 29 Aug 40 (Lt Cdr R H D Lane from 26 Jul 40)

 

Minesweepers - GOSSAMER (Cdr R C Haskett-Smith, SO), LEDA (Lt Cdr N R Courthope-Munroe), both at Gibraltar

 

 

 

SOUTH ATLANTIC COMMAND

Vice Adm George H D'Oyly Lyon

Base - Freetown

 

6th Cruiser Squadron (Vice Adm D'Oyly Lyon) - light cruiser NEPTUNE (Flag, Capt J A V Morse DSO) dep Freetown 2 Sep on patrol and arr back 8 Sep

 

9th Cruiser Squadron (Capt A Poland, Cdre 2/c)

Light cruisers DAUNTLESS (Capt G D Moore RAN), DESPATCH (Poland), both dep Gibraltar with convoy AB.1 for the Cape on 2 Sep

DANAE (Capt A C Collinson) dep Freetown for Simonstown on 3 Sep, DURBAN (Capt A H Maxwell-Hyslop AM) dep Gibraltar for Freetown 2 Sep

 

Seaplane tender - ALBATROSS (Capt W G Andrewes) en route to Freetown from Lee-on-Solent arr 8 Sep

 

2nd Destroyer Flotilla, 4th Division - HUNTER (Lt Cdr L de Villiers), HYPERION (Cdr H St. L Nicolson), both at Freetown

 

Sloops

AUCKLAND (Capt J T Borrett OBE) dep Simonstown 1 Sep on patrol, arr back on 5 Sep and dep again that day, LONDONDERRY (Cdr Sir Thomas L Beevor) dep Simonstown 1 Sep on patrol, arr back on 5 Sep

BRIDGEWATER (Cdr R C Hardy), MILFORD (Capt R L B Cunliffe), both at Freetown, BRIDGEWATER had departed Simonstown on 24 Aug, MILFORD on 26 Aug

 

7th Submarine Flotilla - CLYDE (Cdr W E Banks), SEVERN (Lt Cdr B W Taylor), both dep Gibraltar on 31 Aug, arr at Freetown 6 Sep

 

Minesweeping trawlers – MAPLE, REDWOOD

 

 

 

SOUTH AMERICA DIVISION

Capt Henry Harwood, Cdre 2/c on EXETER

 

South America Division was transferred from the America and West Indies Command

just prior to outbreak of the war to the South Atlantic Command.

Main base Port Stanley in the Falklands

 

Heavy cruisers CUMBERLAND (Capt W H G Fallowfield) dep 31 Aug, EXETER (Capt F S Bell) dep 25 Aug, both departed Devonport for South America via Freetown

 

Light cruiser - AJAX (Capt C H L Woodhouse) dep Rio de Janiero 30 Aug on patrol

 

2nd Destroyer Flotilla, 4th Division - HAVOCK (Cdr R E Courage), HOTSPUR (Cdr H F H Layman), both at Freetown, dep 5 Sep for Buenos Aires.

 

 

 

WEST INDIES COMMAND

Vice Adm Sir Sidney Meyrick, at Bermuda and Kingston, Jamaica

 

8th Cruiser Squadron (Vice Adm Sir Sidney Meyrick) - heavy cruisers BERWICK (Flag, Capt I M Palmer DSC) dep Halifax 4 Sep, YORK (Capt R H Portal) at Halifax, light cruisers ORION (Capt H R G Kinahan) at Kingston, Australian PERTH (Capt H H Farncomb MVO RAN) at Port of Spain

 

Escort sloops - DUNDEE (Capt C C A Allen) at Bermuda, PENZANCE (Cdr A J Wavish) dep Bermuda on 1 Sep for Curacoa

 

 

 

EAST INDIES COMMAND

Rear Adm R Leatham, at Colombo and Trincomalee

 

4th Cruiser Squadron (Rear Adm Leatham) - light cruisers GLOUCESTER (Flag, Capt F R Garside CBE) dep Aden 1 Sep for patrol in Red Sea, LIVERPOOL (Capt A D Read) at Masira, dep 6 Sep to meet depot ship LUCIA, MANCHESTER (Capt H H Bousfield) dep Aden 3 Sep for Colombo

 

Depot ship - LUCIA (Cdr M J Yeatman) en route from Colombo to Aden

 

Red Sea Division Sloops - EGRET (Capt J C Annesley DSO, SO) dep Aden for Mombasa 6 Sep, FLEETWOOD (Cdr A N Grey), dep Aden for Port Said 6 Sep, in the Mediterranean in Sep for escort duties

 

Persian Gulf Division Sloops - DEPTFORD (Cdr C A E Stanfield) at Colombo, dep 6 Sep for Port Said, FOWEY (Cdr H B Ellison) refitting at Bombay to comp 9 Sep, GRIMSBY (Capt A S Russell) at Khor Kuwai, later relieved by HINDUSTAN and to Aden, all three in the Mediterranean in Sep for escort duties, SHOREHAM (Capt C M Graham, SO) at Khor Kuwai

 

Sloop - ROCHESTER (Cdr G F Renwick) at Masirah

 

Royal Indian Navy Sloops – see Royal Indian Navy following

 

Submarine - SEAL (Lt Cdr R P Lonsdale) dep Gosport on 4 Aug en route to the Far East, calling at Gibraltar and Malta, at Aden at outbreak of war. Carried out two patrols from Aden, 5-14 Sep and 19-27 Sep, then ordered back to England, arr Alexandria 4th, Malta 10th and Portsmouth 20 Oct

 

 

 

CHINA STATION

Adm Sir Percy Noble on KENT

 

5th Cruiser Squadron (Rear Adm A J L Murray on CORNWALL) - heavy cruisers CORNWALL (Capt C F Hammill) dep Singapore 3 Sep to patrol Andaman Island area, DORSETSHIRE (Capt B C S Martin) at Shanghai, KENT (Capt L H. Ashmore, Capt D Young-Jamieson from 12 Sep) dep Hong Kong 2 Sep, arr Hong Kong after patrol 11 Sep, light cruiser BIRMINGHAM (Capt E J P Brind) dep Singapore 3 Sep to patrol Mentawi Island area then to Tricomalee.

 

Aircraft carrier - EAGLE (Capt A R M Bridge) dep Singapore 3 Sep to patrol Padang area, then to Trincomalee.

 

21st Destroyer Flotilla (Capt G R B Back) - DUNCAN (Back) at Shanghai

Division 41 - DECOY (Cdr E G McGregor), DEFENDER (Lt Cdr St J R J Tyrwhitt), DELIGHT (Cdr M Fogg-Elliot), DUCHESS (Lt Cdr R C M White), Division dep Hong Kong 28 Aug, arr Singapore 1 Sep, dep on 2 Sep en route for Aden

Division 42 - DAINTY (Cdr F M Walton) at Amoy, DARING (Cdr S A Cooper) dep Singapore 3 Sep for patrol in Padang area, returned that evening with engine room defects, DIAMOND (Lt Cdr P A Cartwright) boiler repairs at Singapore comp on 4 Dec, DIANA (Lt Cdr E G LeGeyt) boiler repairs at Hong Kong comp 19 Sep

 

Local defence destroyers - SCOUT (Lt Cdr H C Simms) at Singapore, STRONGHOLD (Lt Cdr R Alexander) dep Malta on 2 Sep for Suez, TENEDOS (Lt Cdr J O'B. Milner Barry) at Singapore, THANET (Lt Cdr J Mowlam) at Hong Kong, THRACIAN (Lt Cdr H G D de Chair) at Hong Kong

 

Destroyers SALADIN, SARDONYX, STURDY upon comp of repairs in Home Waters were to join the Local Defence flotilla to relieve 21st Destroyer Flotilla for duty in the Mediterranean. STURDY did depart Devonport for China in Nov, but was retained in the Mediterranean. The other two remained in Home Waters.)

 

Sloops - BIDEFORD (Capt D Young-Jamieson, Cdr R F Elkins from 12 Sep) at Wei Hai Wei, FALMOUTH (Cdr C C Hardy) at Hong Kong, FOLKESTONE refitting at Hong Kong until 13 Dec (Lt Cdr C F H Churchill from Oct), LOWESTOFT (Cdr A M Knapp) refitting at Hong Kong until 2 Dec, SANDWICH (Cdr H T T Bayliss) at Tienstin

 

4th Submarine Flotilla (Capt G M K Keble-White) - depot ship MEDWAY (Keble-White), destroyer WESTCOTT (Lt Cdr W F R Segrave), both at Singapore

Submarines GRAMPUS (Lt Cdr C A Rowe), RORQUAL (Lt Cdr R H Dewhurst), both at Singapore

ODIN (Lt Cdr R W Moir), OTUS (Lt Cdr E C F Nicolay), both at Singapore, proceeded to Penang, dep Penang 9 Sep to return to Singapore

OLYMPUS (Cdr H V King), PARTHIAN (Lt Cdr M G Rimington), REGENT (Lt Cdr H C Browne), ROVER (Lt Cdr H A L Marsham), all left Singapore on patrol 30 Aug, OLYMPUS arr at Singapore on 6 Sep

ORPHEUS (Cdr C J Blake), PANDORA (Lt M A Langley), both refitting at Hong Kong until 11 Nov and end of Nov respectively

PERSEUS (Lt Cdr P H H Bartlett), PHOENIX (Lt Cdr D C Ingram), RAINBOW (Lt Cdr J D Luce), REGULUS (Cdr J M Money), all at Hong Kong

PROTEUS (Lt Cdr R T Gordon-Duff) refitting at Singapore to comp 17 Oct

 

2nd Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla - MTB.7 (Lt R A M Hennessy), MTB.8 (S/Lt E G N Bremner), MTB.9 (Lt J A. Holdsworth), MTB.10 (Lt Cdr D G Clark, SO), MTB.11 (Lt A J T Harris), MTB.12 (Lt R G H G. Eyre), MTB.26 (Lt M J de C Carey), MTB.27 (Lt C J Bateman). Last two acquired from China on 4 Sep at Hong Kong

 

Minelayer - REDSTART (Lt Cdr A F Jackson) at Hong Kong

 

Monitor - TERROR (Cdr H J Haines) at Singapore

 

Yangtze (China) Gunboats (Rear Adm R V Holt) - APHIS (Lt Cdr R B Chandler), COCKCHAFER (Lt Cdr J A Agnew), CRICKET (Lt A H Diack), DRAGONFLY (Cdr J H Ruck-Keene), FALCON (Lt Cdr R S Abram), GANNET (Cdr A F St. G Orphen), GNAT (Lt Cdr S R H Davonport), GRASSHOPPER (Lt Cdr E Neville), LADYBIRD (Lt Cdr R S Stafford), MANTIS (Lt Cdr C J O Malcolm), for disposal, sold 20 Jan 40), PETEREL (Lt Cdr E B Carnduff), SANDPIPER (Lt Cdr H E H Nicholls), SCARAB (Lt Cdr H F Robertson-Aikman), SCORPION (Flag, Capt L S Saunders), TERN (Lt Cdr M H R Crichton)

 

West River (China) Gunboats - CICALA (Cdr G Herbert Rtd), MOTH (Lt Cdr H R White), ROBIN (Lt Cdr R A Forbes), SEAMEW (Lt Cdr D L C Craig), TARANTULA (Capt F C Flynn, SNO)

 

2nd Minesweeping Flotilla - minesweepers ABERDARE (Cdr A W Sprott Rtd, on 24 Sep), ABINGDON (Capt A R Farquahar Rtd, SO), BAGSHOT (Lt Cdr J G.B. Cage RNVR), DERBY (Lt Cdr W N Petch in Oct), FAREHAM (Lt Cdr W H Batten Rtd, on 24 Sep), HARROW (Lt Cdr G Nelson Rtd, in Dec), HUNTLEY (Lt Cdr H R A King RNR on 24 Sep) at Singapore in reserve, STOKE (Lt Cdr G F Agutter), WIDNES (Lt Cdr W M. Passmore Rtd, in Oct)

 

HUNTLEY and WIDNESS dep Bombay for Aden 1 Jan 40 to join East Indies Station. Later and apart from ABERDARE and HARROW which remained on the China Station, the rest of the Flotilla transferred to the Mediterranean in April 1940. STOKE followed them dep Bombay 1 Apr, arr Malta 27 Apr. En route for Malta DERBY was at Aden on 3 Apr, docked there and then returned to the East Indies Station to join HUNTLEY and WIDNESS.

 

Survey ship - sloop SCARBOROUGH (Capt E F B Law, Lt Cdr M B. Thomas from Sep) at Singapore.

 

 

 

3. DOMINION and INDIAN NAVIES

 

 

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

 

Adm W N Custance CB RN was relieved by Capt W R Patterson, Cdre 2/c RN on 2 Sep. Adm Custance died after a long illness on 13 Dec on board steamer ORONTES while returning to the UK. Rear Adm J G Crace assumed Flag Royal Australian Navy on 1 Nov, while Patterson retained command of CANBERRA

 

Heavy cruisers - AUSTRALIA (Capt R R Stewart RN) refitting at Cockatoo Island, trials comp 29 Sep, CANBERRA (Flagship, Patterson in command) dep Sydney on patrol 3 Sep

 

Light cruisers - ADELAIDE (Capt H A Showers RAN) had been paid off, refitting at Garden Buoy, Sydney, recommissioned on 1 Sep, HOBART (Capt H L Howden RAN) dep Sydney on patrol 3 Sep, PERTH (Capt H B Farncomb RAN) dep Portsmouth 26 Jul, called at New York World's Fair 4 Aug, arr Kingston on 21 Aug en route to Australia, but retained in America and West Indies Command, at Port of Spain 3 Sep, SYDNEY (Capt J W A Waller RN, relieved by Capt J A Collins RAN on 16 Nov) at Fremantle

 

Destroyers

VAMPIRE (Cdr J A Walsh RAN) dep Port Philip 3 Sep for patrol off Cape Otway, VENDETTA (Lt Cdr G L Cant RAN) dep Sydney on patrol 3 Sep, VOYAGER (Lt Cdr J E Morrow RAN) dep Townsville on patrol 3 Sep

STUART (Cdr H M L Waller RAN, SO Destroyers), WATERHEN (Lt Cdr J H Swain), both at Garden Buoy, Sydney, ammunitioning, storing and cleaning ship, both recommissioned 1 Sep

 

Sloops - SWAN (Lt Cdr E J Prevost RAN), YARRA (Lt Cdr W H Harrington RAN), both at Sydney

 

 

 

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY

Rear Adm P W Nelles RCN

 

Halifax

 

Destroyers - SAGUENAY (Lt Cdr G R Miles RCN), SKEENA (Lt Cdr H T W Grant RCN)

 

Minesweeping trawlers - FUNDY (Lt Cdr A R Pressey RCN), GASPE (A/Lt Cdr H D Mackay RCNR)

 

Esquimalt

 

Destroyers - FRASER (Cdr W G Creery RCN), OTTAWA (Capt G C Jones RCN, Capt, Destroyers), RESTIGOUCHE (Cdr W B L Holms RCN), ST LAURENT (Lt Cdr A M Hope RCN, relieved on 6 Oct by Lt Cdr H G DeWolf RCN).

 

FRASER and ST LAURENT dep Vancouver on 31 Aug for Halifax, via Panama Canal.

 

Minesweeping trawlers - COMOX (Lt Cdr H W S Soulsby RCNR), NOOTKA (Lt Cdr M A Wood RCN)

 

Prince Rupert

 

Minesweeping trawler - ARMENTIERS (Lt T Macduff RCNR)

 

 

 

ROYAL INDIAN NAVY

Flag Officer Commanding RIN, Vice Adm H Fitzherbert CB, CMG,

came under East Indies Command at outbreak of war

 

Sloops - CLIVE (Cdr H P Hughes-Hallet DSC, MBE RIN), LAWRENCE (Lt Cdr F W King RIN), both dep Bombay 3 Sep for Masirah Island and transferred to Persian Gulf Division in Oct, HINDUSTAN (Cdr P A. Mare RIN), INDUS (Cdr E G G Hunt RIN), both dep Bombay 3 Sep for duty with Persian Gulf Division, CORNWALLIS (Cdr H C Beauchamp RIN) dep Bombay on 24 Sep for duty in Gulf of Aden, arr Aden 1 Oct

 

 

 

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION of the ROYAL NAVY

Capt J W Rivett-Carnac DSC, Cdre 2/c RN

 

Capt H E Horan succeeded Capt Rivett-Carnac as Commodre, New Zealand Division and took over command of LEANDER on 1 Jan 40. Capt W E Parry of the ACHILLES succeeded Capt Horan as Cdre of the New Zealand Division on 1 May 40. Capt Horan continued to command LEANDER.

 

Light cruisers - ACHILLES (Capt W E Parry) dep Auckland on 29 Aug for Balboa, EANDER (Capt J W Rivett-Carnac, Cdre 2/c) dep Auckland on 30 Aug

 

Sloops - LEITH (Cdr G R Waymouth), WELLINGTON (Cdr R E Hyde-Smith), both ordered to Singapore for escort duties on 25 Aug. LEITH dep Auckland 28 Aug and Townsville 4 Sep for Singapore, WELLINGTON dep Auckland 3 Sep for Singapore via Townsville.

on to French, Polish, German Navies, also US ships in Europe, September 1939
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revised 17/9/08