Rory Chambers O'Conor, RN
| Born | 23 Sep 1898 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Died | 19 Dec 1941 | (43) | HMS Neptune |
 | Ranks
Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Rory Chambers O'Conor, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Neptune (20) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 4 May 1940 | 19 Dec 1941 (+) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Light cruiser HMS Neptune (20)
11 Jun 1940
Neptune sortied from Alexandria with the Mediterranean Fleet and elements of the French Fleet for a naval demonstration south of Crete. The Fleet bombarded Italian positions on the Libyan coast, Neptune shelling Bardia before retuning ot base on 14/6.
Jul 1940
Neptune was present at the Battle of Punta Stilo on 9 July then moved back to the Eastern Med, scouting into the Gulf of Athens with HMAS Sydney and sinking a small tanker.
The appearance of more German raiders in the Atlantic caused her redeployment to Freetown, Sierra Leone, by November 1940.
May 1941
Under refit at Chatham from February to May. On completion of the work hunted for the German supply ships intended to support the Bismarck. On 4 June 1941 assisted in the interception of Gonzenheim, sinking her by torpedo north of the Azores in position 43º29'N, 24º04'W.
29 Nov 1941
Transferred to Force "B", based on Malta. On arrival she was allocated to Force "K".
1 Dec 1941
Acting on an ULTRA intercept, a British force sailed from Malta in the evening of 30 November with the British light cruisers HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN), HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, RN), HMS Ajax (Capt. E.D. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Penelope (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, RN) and the British destroyers HMS Kimberley (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN), HMS Kingston (Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, DSC, RN)
and HMS Lively (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN).
At 0330 hrs of 1/12 the British intercept and sink the Italian transport Adriatico (1976 GRT) then proceed towards the Lybian coast.
At a point 60 nautical miles north-north-west of Tripoli, Libya, Penelope, Aurora and Lively intercept a small convoy consisting of the Italian oiler Iridio Mantovani (10540 GRT) escorted by the Italian destroyer Alvise da Mosto (2125 tons) and sink both.
19 Dec 1941
While on their way to intercept an Italian convoy bound for Tripoli the British Force K (light cruisers HMS Neptune (Capt. R.C. O'Conor, RN), HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, RN), HMS Penelope (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, DSO, DSC, RN, HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN), HMS Lively (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN) ran into an newly laid Italian minefield. HMS Neptune and HMS Kandahar sank while HMS Aurora was badly and HMS Penelope was lightly damaged. HMS Aurora was patched up at Malta before returning home for repairs at Liverpool from April to June 1942. HMS Penelope was repaired at Malta until January 1942.