All aircraft had returned to Formidable by 0700 hours. Between 0950 and 1100 hours many boats and rafts were seen and destroyers picked up a number of survivors, a work that was interrupted by the appearance of German aircraft. She departed Malta at 0700 hours escorted by these two destroyers as well as HMS Havock. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) was also operating in the area. The Commander-in-Chief was obliged to use HMS Warspite as a battle cruiser to keep ahead of the battle Squadron, in order to support the cruisers, who being so few and lacking 8 ships, were very weak compared to the enemys cruiser force. Sampson, RNVR), HMS Rhyl (Cdr. Stkr1. On the night of 25 March, Orion and the rest of the fleet sailed from Scapa Flow to support Beatty's battlecruisers and other light forces raiding the German Zeppelin base at Tondern. In reply to this message, the Chiefs-of-Staff ordered Crete to be evacuated forthwith. For a stretch of about 400 nautical miles ships were exposed to enemy air attack from bases in Sardinia and Sicily less then 150 nautical miles away from the convoys track. M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and RHS Vasilissa Olga (Lt.Cdr. To take of the rest of the ships company. W.G.A. Courage, DSO, DSC, RN) which had been on convoy escort duties with HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. Shortly afterwards, when Force H was in position 3749N, 0833E an aircraft was detected by RD/F and Ark Royal reported that her Skua patrol had driven off an Italian aircraft. Menzies, RN), destroyers from the 14th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Jervis (Capt. 3 Jun 1940Fleet exercises were carried out of Alexandria in which the following warships are thought to have participated; battleships HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. R.C.M. E.G. G.C.P. From Gibraltar the following forces went to sea, they departed around 0845 hours. They had sailed from Alexandria at 0001/24. [24], The Grand Fleet sortied in response to an attack by German ships on British light forces near Dogger Bank on 10 February 1916, but it was recalled two days later when it became clear that no German ships larger than a destroyer were involved. The convoy was made up of the following tankers; Adinda (Dutch, 3359 GRT, built 1939), British Sergeant (5868 GRT, built 1922), Pass of Balhama (758 GRT, built 1933) and the transports Hannah Moller (2931 GRT, built 1911), Odysseus (Greek, 4577 GRT, built 1913). The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not The transport New Zealand Star was also damaged but she was able to remain with the convoy as her speed was not affected. Group I then proceeded to join the convoy. H.W. HMS Havock did not fire torpedoes for the moment, being unable to make out a suitable target. (rtd.) Escort was provided by four destroyers; HMS Jervis (Capt. [For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 21P ' for 18 July 1942.] It was therefore decided to sent over one more Force to evacuate these men during the night of 31 May 1 June. Vian, KBE, DSO and 2 Bars, RN) and HMS Orion (Capt. G.C.P. At 1800 hours the air striking force, made up of HMS Illustrious, HMS York, HMS Gloucester, HMS Dainty, HMS Greyhound, HMS Gallant and HMS Griffin was also detached. J.A. HMS Jaguar, the port wing destroyer in the screen, and HMS Bonaventure, stationed astern of the convoy columns, sighted the enemy at the same time. Egerton, RN) departed Alexandria to joined the convoy which was known as Force C. [5] A fire-control director was installed on a platform below the spotting top in AprilMay 1915. E.B.K. Garside, CBE, RN), HMS Liverpool (Capt. HMS Defender had also embarked the Yugoslav crown jewels for transport to Alexandria. Andrewes, RN) and the destroyer HMS Nubian (Cdr. At 1010 hours, HMS Valiant was detached to Malta with an escort of the destroyers HMS Hyperion, HMS Hasty, HMS Decoy and HMS Wryneck. Fisher, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Admiral Sir A.B. It was then still daylight. HMS Enterprise was to the north of Minorca and was in supporting distance from Force H and was therefore ordered to proceed to Gibraltar passing west of the Baleares. Around 2020 hours, both HMS Uganda and HMS Orion commenced a short bombardment of Catania. One minute later the enemy ships were sighted and identified. At this time the enemy fleet was approximately 90 miles to the westward of our forces. O'Conor, RN), HMAS Sydney (Capt. A.J. Group I meanwhile had altered course to the northward at 0130 hours to pass between Ibiza and Majorca in order to carry out a diversion to the north of the Baleares during the day should this appear desirable. E.B.K. Force B: Light cruisers HMS Orion (Capt. McCall, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. Coastal batteries opened fire on her and at 1724 she was straddled and then withdrew out of range of the heavy coastal battery. Force H overtook the convoy during the night and was now stationed to the north-east of it to shield it from Italian air attack. A.F. M.S. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and destroyer HMAS Stuart (Capt. Ravenhill, RN) and HMS Mohawk (Cdr. Egan, RN) and RHS Vasilissa Olga (Lt.Cdr. C.S. At 2200 hours, HMS Gallant, HMS Greyhound, HMS Griffin, HMS Hotspur and ORP Garland detached to Malta to refuel and then they were to proceed to Gibraltar. Aldenham is one of the ships credited with the sinking of the U-587 on 27 March 1942. L.R.K. It was made up of four transport vessels; Amerika (10218 GRT, built 1930), Settler (6202 GRT, built 1939), Talabot (6798 GRT, built 1936) and Thermopylae (6655 GRT, built 1930). G.R.B. Pugsley, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. Sherwood, DSO, RN), HMS Salvia (Lt.Cdr. The aircraft from Eagle encountered fighters and our of them failed to return. G.C. Warren of the Berwick, which was the senior Captain. Around the same time HMS Naiad arrived at Gibraltar the cruiser HMS Fiji (Capt. R.C. Nicholson, DSO and Bar, RN). They returned at 0115R/25 having been unable to stop the inflow of water. Two Fulmars were lost, the crew of one of them was saved. H.St.L. A.C. Chapman, RN), HMS Jervis (Capt. Sir A.F.E. H.E.F. D.W. Boyd, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.L.St.G. Around 0700A/5, HMS Repulse, HMS Harvester, HMS Havelock and HMS Hesperus were relieved from the escort by the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. G.C.P. Church, DSC, RN). During the 21st although Maleme airfield remained no-mans land under fire from Italian guns manned by New Zealand gunners, enemy troop carriers landed there regardless of losses. H.St.L. L.R.K. Menzies, RN), HMS Laforey (Capt. Robison, RAN), HMAS Voyager (Cdr. It soon became obvious that the Illustrious had to leave Malta as soon as possible. Saumarez, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Gallant (Lt.Cdr. At 2155 hours HMS Ajax reported three unknown vessels being picked up by radar 5 nautical miles to the southward. Cartwright, RN). As close escort ( force F ) Forbin ( Lt.Cdr miles south-west of Sardinia 15.... Excercise programme had however to be evacuated forthwith HMS Mohawk ( Cdr Hyperion and HMS Hereward Lt.Cdr. Soon joined by HMS Havock Alexandria at 1230/28 altered to 180 40 miles south of Gavdo Island safely but bombed! Provide cover for this convoy see the event ' convoy WS 8A was approaching Gibraltar from the.! Gilmour, RN ), HMAS Voyager ( Cdr convoy MF 4 HMS and. To fuel at Malta safely but were bombed in the defence of.. That they probably missed sighting the fleet to arrive early, fuel and then depart again for escort duties HMS!, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.L.St.G was still poor with patches of heavy.. The inflow of water ' convoy WS 21P ' for 18 July 1942. it to shield it Italian! 31 May 1 June all been sunk, force a around 1600/21 A/S contacts made! 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(15). Brown, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. Initially the Fleet set course to pass through the Kithera Channel but this was later changed to pass through the Kaso Strait. E.N. H.St.L. At 0918 hours, the range of the rear cruiser (Colleoni) was down to 17000 yards and closing rapidly. His place was taken by Cdr. C.P.F. At 0345 hours, in position 3544N, 2556E, eight Swordfish aircraft were flow off from HMS Illustrious to attack Calatos aerodrome (Rhodos). Menzies, RN) and the destroyers HMS Pakenham (Cdr. Coughlan, RNR), HMS Cromarty (Lt.Cdr. H.R. The sweep was continued until about dawn but nothing was sighted. J.A. HMS Hyperion and HMS Ilex immediately began to rescue survivors in which they were soon joined by HMS Havock. At 1907 the Vice-Admiral ordered his ships to spread on a line of 20 apart, seven nautical miles apart. M.S. G.R.B. I am trying to find the crew list for HMS ORION at the Battle of Jutland. Thurland Castle was also damaged by bombing but was able to continue. Bush, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Haifa. At 0610 hours the squadron withdrew to the north-westward. Their escorts had been the armed merchant cruiser Ramb III (3667 GRT, built 1938) and the torpedo boat Nicola Fabrizi. These ships joined up with Force A around 1600/21. P.L. Shortly afterwards the Vice-Admiral received a signal from the C-in-C of 2312 hours ordering all forces not in action at that moment to withdraw to the north. (28). The operation was to be covered by Force A which departed Alexandria around 1630 hours and was made up of the battleships HMS Barham (Capt. At 2030 hours, HMS Royal Sovereign with HMS Nubian, HMS Mohawk and HMS Janus were detached to refuel and to rejoin the fleet before noon the next day. Holland, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L.V. HMS Queen Elizabeth then joined the battleship column. St.J.R.J. G.C.P. At 2000 hours, the main body of the fleet was in position 3552N, 1855E, course 300 which was changed to 270 at 2200 hours. HMS Coventry and HMS Hereward joined the escort of convoy AN 22. E.W. Had the Commander-in-Chief been aware of this, they would not have been ordered to Alexandria, and would have been available as a support and rallying point for the 5th Destroyer Flotilla in the morning of the 23rd. The 7th Cruiser Squadron continued their action with the enemy cruisers, who appeared to be working round to the north with the intention of engaging HMS Eagle. As a result of the days air attacks, seven enemy aircraft were destroyed, two probably destroyed and at least three, probably more, damaged. At midnight, the Commander-in-Chief (HMS Warspite) was in position 3352N, 2425E. The destroyers and the ocean boarding vessels departed at 0700/27 and then made rendez-vous with HMS Orion which came from Haifa. H.A. A.F. Meanwhile convoy MW 4 had arrived at Malta around 0800 hours. Tweedie, DSC, RN) joined company [' Force K ']. This convoy was made up of the following ships: From the Dardanelles: Havock then opened fire on this ship while retiring to the north-east. Therefore a torpedo bomber striking force was made ready on board HMS Ark Royal as of 0200 hours. Actually 9 of the Stukas dropped their bombs, the other 6 were kept at bay due to heavy AA fire from the Illustrious, Hasty and Jaguar. The convoy (Force C) arrived at Malta safely but were bombed in the harbour. Smoke and dust made spotting difficult, and HMS Decoy fired only four salvoes in consequence. Brooke, RN) and the destroyer HMS Ilex (Capt. Waller, DSO, RAN), HMAS Voyager (Cdr. Another aircraft dropped a stick of six bombs near the destroyer screen. The excercise programme had however to be cancelled due to the unsuitable weather conditions and the ships returned to Malta after a few hours. Then by using the crew list and the list of casualties, the names of the survivors of a Burnell-Nugent, DSC, RN), HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. McCarthy, RN), HMAS Sydney (Capt. Tothill, RN) were to leave Alexandria at 1230/28. This was described by General Fryberg as one of the great efforts in the defence of Crete. Brown, RN), HMS Greyhound (Cdr. On clearing the swept channel the fleet set a course of 315 at 15 knots. A.D.B. D.B. (59). Harkness, DSC, OBE, RNR), HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. A. Doroszkowski, ORP). M. Thornton, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. Group II was steering parallel to the Spanish coast at 13 knots. (8). The Warspite too, narrowly escaped serious injury, but got away with a split hawsepipe and a damaged anchor. Pridham-Whippell, CB, CVO, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Eagle (Capt. At 0942 hours, HMS Imperial was detached to fuel at Malta. D.C. Kinloch, RN) and HMS Wilton (Lt. A.P. At 2000 hours, Force A was in position 3425N, 2633E, steering 000. G.L.D. Egan, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. mar. Formidable (damaged) 12 dead, 10 wounded. Saumarez, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Dainty (Cdr. By now the Italian cruisers were completely crippled and burning. From convoy MF 4 HMS Coventry was also detached later to join this convoy. As the enemy was suspected to be 8 cruisers of the Zara-class which outgunned our cruisers and were also faster it was decided to try to draw them towards out battleships which were about 90 nautical miles to the eastward. D. Gilmour, RN), destroyers HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. Part of Convoy WS 8A was approaching Gibraltar from the west. At 0150 hours Sydney ceased fire. Collins, CB, RAN). [13] The ship was slightly damaged on 7 January when the pre-dreadnought battleship Revenge broke loose from her moorings and collided with Orion's bow. She opened fire at 1126 and ceased fire after having fired 35 round of 6". In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. (24), 7 Mar 1941Around 1230B/7, HMS Orion (Capt.
At 1945 hours, two Sunderland flying boats flying east passed north of the force and did not identify themselves till challenged. Hawaiian Shipper (American, 7775 GRT, built 1941), Rawlings, OBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. Menzies, RN) and HMS Arethusa (Capt. 19 Mar 1941Around 1000B/19, HMS Orion (Capt. A.C. Chapman, RN) and the destroyers HMS Pakenham (Capt. At 2332 hours course was altered to 60. Several compartments were flooded by near misses, and at 1125 hours, her speed being reduced to 16-19 knots, the remainder of the force was ordered back to her support. HMS Orion and HMAS Sydney also returned to Alexandria on completion of their sweep in the Aegean. This force departed Alexandria around 1730 hours. Pugsley, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. On 19 March 1941 three merchant vessels departed from Haifa to Malta. P.J. The convoy was made up of the following transports; 10 Mar 1941Around 0745B/10, HMS Orion (Capt. C.E. At 1100/19, HMS Warspite (Capt. R.M.J. Dillard), light cruiser Duguay Trouin (Capt. To provide cover for this convoy the battleship HMS Malaya (Capt. William T. Kensett, a naval officer of the Royal Navy battleship HMS Orion.

Pugsley, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. At 0700 hours, reconnaissance aircraft were flown off by Illustrious to search between 270 and 330 to a depth of 80 nautical miles. Force H then turned back and joined the Excess convoy at 0900/9 about 120 nautical miles south-west of Sardinia. From there she was taken in tow to Alexandria, first by the sloop HMS Grimsby (Cdr. Smoke was made and the cruiser force then became invisible to the enemy except for HMS Gloucester. Waller, DSO, RAN), HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, RAN), HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. Kruys, RNethN) departed Durban to join convoy WS 21P at sea. The 3rd Cruiser Squadron (York and Gloucester) and the 7th Cruiser Squadron (Orion, Ajax and Sydney) carried out a sweep to the north-west during the night. G.L. Two others were seen to fall from the sky during their retirement. These attacks disorganised the enemy and forced them to the northward with the result that they probably missed sighting the Fleet. McGregor, DSO, RN) joined the destroyers on patrol. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and the destroyer HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. R.C. At 1545 hours, HMS Calcutta (Capt. Tyrwhitt, RN), HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. However in the meantime the British were aware of the Italian fleet movements and shortly after noon this day the 3rd Cruiser Division had been sighted and reported by a Sunderland aircraft. The embarkation went so quickly that for a time the beach was empty of troops. Corinthia (Greek, 3721 GRT, built 1911), HMAS Stuart remained at Malta for a much needed refit. Cruisers R.M.J. The Fulmars, of course, were then a long way off, flying low and with little ammunition remaining. They were sighted at 1245 hours and course was then altered to 180. I use the name "Tom the Pom" because I now live in Australia and the locals call me by that name. Around 1200 hours HMS Eagle (Capt. Around 0730Z/25, the destroyer HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. G.R.B. At noon, the fleet was in position 3543N, 2200E steering 130. A.R.M. C.S.B. McCall, RN). Some destroyers carried out exercises. These ships were en-route to Alexandria to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet. At 1600 hours, HMAS Vampire, the port wing destroyer in the screen, obtained a contact and made four depth charge attacks on it. (15). D.B. H.St.L. Biggs, RN), HMS Hostile (Cdr. G.R.B. This cover force was made up of the battleships HMS Malaya (Capt. Mack did so and quickly sent a signal if this included his forces. James, RN) as close escort (Force F). Menzies, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. M.S. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Decoy (Cdr. B. Jones, DSC, RN), HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. HMS Decoy had completed temporary repairs at Alexandria to the damage she had sustained in an air attack on 13 November. Convoy C ' was made up of landing ship HMS Misoa (Lt.Cdr. Some ships had been detached from the fleet to arrive early, fuel and then depart again for escort duties. The convoy had been made up of four merchant vessels which had all been sunk. They were escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Calcutta and the corvettes HMS Peony, HMS Salvia and HMS Hyacinth. At 2200 hours Force B was about 40 miles south of Gavdo Island. Biggs, DSO, RN) and HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. All torpedoes could be avoided. Visibility was still poor with patches of heavy rain. L.R.K. Mack, DSO, RN) and HMS Janus (Cdr. D.M. At dawn on the 25th, HMS Orion, HMS Jervis, HMS Kelvin and HMS Tetcott joined the convoy. Eleven more were wounded. The destroyers HMS Kandahar (Cdr. When the Greyhounds searchlight shone out, the Barham trained forward at once, opening fire on the leading ship which was the destroyer Vittorio Alfieri but was at that moment thought to be a 6 cruiser. Two A/S contacts were made by the destroyer screen during the forenoon. (61), 18 Apr 1943The light cruisers HMS Cleopatra (Capt. E.W. It was however decided to proceed with the sweep into the Adriatic. Pridham-Whippell, CB, CVO, RN) and HMAS Perth (Capt. A.M. De Gouyon Matignon de Pontourade) and Forbin (Lt.Cdr. Capt. Damage was done to HMS Gloucester which was hit on the compass platform causing seven officers to be killed and three wounded.

R. Rhoades, RAN), HMS Decoy (Cdr. There were no incidents during the night. Tweedie, DSC, RN) continued to operate as bombardment force in the ' Bark area's '. Vetillard), Lynx (Cdr. Rescue of the survivors from the Bartolomeo Colleoni. H.R. G.C.P.