Allied Warships

HMS Carthage (F 99)

Armed Merchant Cruiser

Navy	The Royal Navy
Type	Armed Merchant Cruiser
Class	[No specific class]
Pennant	F 99
Built by	A. Stephen & Sons Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland)
Ordered
Laid down
Launched	18 Aug 1931
Commissioned	16 Dec 1939
End service	30 Oct 1943
History	Laid down as Canton, completed as Carthage on 28 November 1931. On 7 September 1939 the passenger ship Carthage of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Conversion was completed on 16 December 1939. Displacement: 14182 GRT Armament: 8x 6" (8x1), 2x 3" AA (2x1) Speed: 17 knots Decommissioned on 30 October 1943 returned and used as troopship by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Returned to her owner in 1948.

Commands listed for HMS Carthage (F 99)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

	Commander	From	To
1	Capt. (Retd.) Basil Owen Bell-Salter, RN	10 Nov 1939	19 Jan 1941
2	Capt. (Retd.) Henry Leonard Ivers Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN	19 Jan 1941	19 Feb 1942
3	Capt. (Retd.) Basil Owen Bell-Salter, RN	19 Feb 1942	27 May 1942
4	A/Cdr. John Wyndham Cookson, RN	27 May 1942	1 Jun 1942
5	A/Capt. Cyril William Archie Gooding Hamley, RN	1 Jun 1942	23 Jun 1942
6	A/Capt. (Retd.) William Vesey Hamilton Harris, DSC, RN	23 Jun 1942	1 Sep 1943
7	A/Capt. Ughtred Henry Ramsden James, RN	1 Sep 1943	20 Oct 1943
8	A/Cdr. John Wyndham Cookson, RN	20 Oct 1943	30 Oct 1943

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Notable events involving Carthage include:

This page, displaying the wartime history of HMS Carhage, was created in February 2023.

This page was last updated in September 2024.

16 Dec 1939
At 0800F/16, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) is commissioned at the Garden Reach Ltd. shipyard at Calcutta, India.

She is still in the process of being fitted out as armed merchant cruiser. (1)

22 Dec 1939
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) conducted compass adjustment trials off Calcutta on completion course was set for Trincomalee. (1)

25 Dec 1939
Around 0945E/25, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Calcutta. (1)

29 Dec 1939
Around 1515E/29, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (1)

30 Dec 1939
Around 1500E/30, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. (1)

3 Jan 1940
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Colombo. (1)

11 Jan 1940
Around 1715E/11, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Colombo to make rendezvous with the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923) and her escort HMS Durban (Capt. A.C. Collinson, RN) coming from Singapore. HMS Carthage was then to take over the escort duties from HMS Durban.

Rendezvous was affected around 0615F/15. (2)

18 Jan 1940
Around 0915E/18, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923) arrived at Colombo. (1)

19 Jan 1940
Around 0700E/19, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Colombo. She was to escort the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923) towards the Gulf of Aden. (2)

25 Jan 1940
Around 1535D/25, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) parted company with the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923).

Around 1800D/25, HMS Carthage joined company with the (troop) transport Ettrick (British, 11229 GRT, built 1938) which she was to escort to Bombay. (2)

30 Jan 1940
Around 0630E/30, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transport (troop) transport Ettrick (British, 11229 GRT, built 1938) arrived at Bombay. (2)

6 Feb 1940
Around 1300E/6, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Bombay to escort the (troop) transport Ettrick (British, 11229 GRT, built 1938) to Aden. (3)

11 Feb 1940
Around 1300D/11, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transport Ettrick (British, 11229 GRT, built 1938) arrived at Aden from Bombay. (3)

17 Feb 1940
Around 2345D/17, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. She was escorting the (troop) transport Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912). (3)

23 Feb 1940
Around 0615E/23, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transport Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912) arrived at Bombay from Aden. (3)

2 Mar 1940
Around 1715E/2, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Bombay. She was to escort the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923) towards the Gulf of Aden.

They parted company around 0200D/7. (4)

10 Mar 1940
Around 1130E/10, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) returned to Bombay from escort duty. (4)

1 Apr 1940
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Bombay on completion of which she departed for Aden (via Masirah) escorting the minesweepers HMS Abingdon (Capt. (Retd.) A.R. Farquhar, DSC, RN), HMS Bagshot (Lt.Cdr. J.F.B. Gage, RNVR), HMS Derby (Lt.Cdr. F.C.V. Brightman, RN), HMS Fareham (Lt. W.J.P. Church, RN) and HMS Stoke (Cdr.(Retd.) C.J.P. Hill, RN). (5)

5 Apr 1940
Around 0900D/5, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN), HMS Abingdon (Capt. (Retd.) A.R. Farquhar, DSC, RN), HMS Bagshot (Lt.Cdr. J.F.B. Gage, RNVR), HMS Derby (Lt.Cdr. F.C.V. Brightman, RN), HMS Fareham (Lt. W.J.P. Church, RN) and HMS Stoke (Cdr.(Retd.) C.J.P. Hill, RN) arrived at Masirah from Bombay. (5)

7 Apr 1940
Around 070D/7, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN), HMS Abingdon (Capt. (Retd.) A.R. Farquhar, DSC, RN), HMS Bagshot (Lt.Cdr. J.F.B. Gage, RNVR), HMS Derby (Lt.Cdr. F.C.V. Brightman, RN), HMS Fareham (Lt. W.J.P. Church, RN) and HMS Stoke (Cdr.(Retd.) C.J.P. Hill, RN) departed Masirah to continue their passage to Aden.

The armed merchant cruiser and the minesweepers parted company around 0900D/9. (5)

9 Apr 1940
Around 1900D/9, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) joined the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923) to escort her to Bombay. (6)

10 Apr 1940
Around 1430D/10, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) parted company with the (troop) transport Talma (British, 10000 GRT, built 1923).

HMS Carthage was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Aden to intercept and board all Danish and Norwegian ships encountered and then sent them to Aden. (6)

13 Apr 1940
Around 0830C/13, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Aden from patrol. (5)

17 Apr 1940
Around 1250C/17, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Aden to make rendezvous with the (troop) transport Karanja (British, 9891 GRT, built 1931) and her current escorted, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) coming from Durban. (6)

22 Apr 1940
Around 0845D/22, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) turned over the escort of the (troop) transport Karanja (British, 9891 GRT, built 1931) to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN). (7)

28 Apr 1940
Around 0200C/28, in the Red Sea, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) parted company with the (troop) transport Karanja (British, 9891 GRT, built 1931). (5)

29 Apr 1940
Around 2245C/29, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Aden from escort duty. (5)

3 May 1940
Around 1830C/3, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Aden to provide cover and escort for various (troop) transports in the Gulf of Aden area. (8)

9 May 1940
Around 1130D/9, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) made rendezvous with the (troop) transport Talamba (British, 8018 GRT, built 1924). Course was then set towards Aden. (9)

11 May 1940
Around 0700C/11, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transport Talamba (British, 8018 GRT, built 1924) arrived at Aden. (9)

12 May 1940
Around 1915C/12, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Aden to patrol off Kismayu, Italian Somaliland to prevent German merchant vessels from escaping from there. (8)

16 May 1940
Around 1515C/16, HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) H.C. Legge, DSC, RN) was relieved on patrol off Kismayu, Italian Somaliland by HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).

HMS Ranchi then proceeded to Kilindini / Mombasa to boiler clean [arrival date unknown but most likely on the 17th.] (9)

23 May 1940
Around 0945C/23, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from patrol.

After fuelling she departed for Durban around 1445C/23. (9)

1 Jun 1940
Around 0900B/1, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. She was immediately docked. (10)

3 Jun 1940
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) is undocked. (10)

10 Jun 1940
Around 1715B/10, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. She was escorting the (troop) transport Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924). (11)

16 Jun 1940
Around 0900C/16, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transport Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (10)

17 Jun 1940
Around 1515C/17, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa to patrol off Kismayu, Italian Somaliland. (10)

22 Jun 1940
Around 0715C/22, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from patrol. (10)

27 Jun 1940
Around 0815C/27, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Diego Suarez. (11)

29 Jun 1940
Around 1400C/29, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Kilindini / Mombasa. (11)

30 Jun 1940
Around 1115C/30, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Diego Suarez to return to Kilindini / Mombasa. She had taken on board stores and mail for French units. (11)

3 Jul 1940
Around 0915C/3, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Diego Suarez. (12)

4 Jul 1940
Around 1230C/4, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban.

The following day she was ordered to patrol off Diego Suarez with the object in intercept the French naval tanker Nivose (9131 GRT, built 1931) which was en-route to Diego Suarez from the Persian Gulf.

She patrolled off northern Madagascar until 10 July 1940 when she set course to continue her passage to Durban. (13)

16 Jul 1940
Around 0700B/16, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Durban. (14)

21 Jul 1940

Convoy CM 2 / group II.

This convoy departed Durban around 1730B/21.

It was made up of the following troop transports;
Khedive Ismael (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922), Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913) and Rohna (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926).

The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).

The convoy arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa around 0800C/28. (13)

24 Jul 1940

Convoy RS 5.

This convoy departed Liverpool on 24 July 1940 for Suez.

It was made up of the troopship Reina del Pacifico (17702 GRT, built 1931) and the transport Clan Ferguson (7347 GRT, built 1938).

On departure from Liverpool the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. E.V.St.J. Morgan, RN) and HMS Hotspur (Cdr. H.F.H Layman, DSO, RN).

Also on the 24th the aircraft carrier HMS Argus (Capt. H.C. Bovell, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Maloja (A/Capt. V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN) and the destroyers HMS Greyhound (Cdr. W.R. Marshall A'Deane, DSC, RN) and HMS Gallant (Lt.Cdr. C.P.F. Brown, RN) departed Greenock. They made rendezvous with the ships coming from Liverpool around 0600A/25.

At 1000A/26, HMS Argus and the destroyers parted company to proceed direct to Gibraltar. They arrived at Gibraltar around 0700A/30.

The convoy, escorted by HMS Maloja, continued on towards Freetown where it arrived on 4 August 1940.

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The then convoy departed Freetown on 5 August 1940 for Capetown.

On departure from Freetown the convoy was now escorted by the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (Capt. R.F.J. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN).

Around 1200Z/11, the light cruiser HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Hermes then parted company to proceed independently on patrol and then on to Simonstown.

The convoy arrived at Capetown on 15 August 1940.

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The convoy, still in the same composition and still escorted by HMS Dragon departed Capetown for Durban on 16 August 1940.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 19 August 1940.

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The convoy departed Durban for Aden on 21 August 1940 now escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).

Around 1500C/30, the destroyer HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) joined.

The convoy arrived at Aden in the morning of 31 August 1940.

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The convoy departed Aden for Suez on 31 August 1940 now escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, RAN) and the destroyer HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN). The armed boarding vessel HMS Chakdina (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Hickey, RNR) was also with the convoy for a while.

At 1830C/2, the Reina del Pacifico parted company with the convoy to proceed ahead to Suez where she arrived on 4 September 1940.

At 1920C/2, HMS Kandahar parted company with the convoy to proceed to Port Sudan to fuel.

At 0910C/3, the sloop HMS Grimsby (Cdr. K.J. D'Arcy, RN) took over the escort of the Clan Ferguson from HMAS Hobart which in turn took over HMS Grimsby's southbound convoy.

HMS Grimsby and the Clan Ferguson arrived at Suez on 5 September 1940. (15)

3 Aug 1940
Around 1430C/3, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel and then to end the patrol at Durban. (16)

15 Aug 1940
Around 0700B/15, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (16)

21 Aug 1940
Around 0900B/21, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Durban escorting convoy RS 5.

For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy RS 5 ' for 24 July 1940.] (16)

31 Aug 1940
Around 0600C/31, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the destroyer HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) arrived at Aden with convoy RS 5. (16)

6 Sep 1940

Convoy AK 1 (first series).

This convoy departed Aden on 6 September 1940.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Ethiopia (British, 5574 GRT, built 1922), Khosrou (British, 4043 GRT, built 1924) and Rahmani (British, 5463 GRT, built 1928).

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the armed boarding vessel HMS Chantala (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.E.I. Gibbs, RN).

Around 1630C/6, HMS Chantala parted company.

The convoy arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa around 1000C/17. (17)

10 Sep 1940

Convoy AP 3.

This convoy departed Liverpool on 10 September 1940 for Suez where it arrived on 22 October 1940.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Athlone Castle (British, 25564 GRT, built 1936), Brisbane Star (British, 12791 GRT, built 1937), Brittanic (British, 26943 GRT, built 1930), Clan Campbell (British, 7255 GRT, built 1937), Clan MacArthur (British, 10528 GRT, built 1936), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Glaucus (British, 7596 GRT, built 1921), Imperial Star (British, 12427 GRT, built 1935) and Ulster Prince (British, 3791 GRT, built 1930).

On departure from the U.K. the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Havelock (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSC, RN), HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, RN), HMS Highlander (Cdr. W.A. Dallmeyer, RN) and HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN) and HMS Wolverine (Cdr. R.H. Craske, RN). They remained with the convoy until 12 September.

In the morning of 11 September the light cruiser HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) joined the convoy until 0745/12 when she returned to the Clyde after having been ordered to do so.

Ocean escort joined around the time the destroyers left and was made up of the armed merchant cruisers HMS Cilicia (Capt.(Retd.) V.B. Cardwell, OBE, RN) and HMS Wolfe (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.G.A. Shuttleworth, RN). They remained with the convoy until it arrived at Freetown on 23 September 1940.

On 25 September 1940 the convoy departed Freetown escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) H.N.M. Hardy, DSO, RN).

Around noon on the 27th, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) also joined coming from Freetown.

The convoy arrived at Capetown on 4 October 1940

On departure from Capetown on 6 October 1940, the convoy was escorted by HMS Canton until 1140B/9 when she was relieved by HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) which had joined the convoy around 0900B/9. This armed merchant cruiser remained with the convoy until 1220C on 15 October when she was relieved by the heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.H. Edelsten, RN) which remained with the convoy until 20 October.

On 18 October the convoy was near Aden and the AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. G.M.B. Langley, OBE, RN), destroyers HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN), HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, DSO, RN) and sloop HMS Flamingo (Cdr. J.H. Huntley, RN) joined.

The escort parted company with the convoy on 20 October except HMS Kandahar which remained with the convoy until it's arrival at Suez two days later. On arrival at Suez two more ships were escorting the convoy, these were the sloop HMIS Clive (Cdr. H.R. Inigo-Jones, RIN) and the minesweeper HMS Stoke (Cdr.(Retd.) C.J.P. Hill, RN). Presumably these had joined on 20 October.

22 Sep 1940
Around 0630C/22, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa so as to arrive at Durban on 1 October 1940. (17)

27 Sep 1940
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) en-route from Kilindini / Mombasa to Durban, is ordered to patrol near position 30°00'S, 45°00'E due to a suspicious D/F bearing in that area probably indicating an enemy unit being present. She was ordered to arrive at Durban on 3 October 1940. (17)

3 Oct 1940
Around 1400B/3, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (17)

3 Oct 1940

Convoy WS 3A (Slow).

This convoy departed Liverpool on 3 October 1940.

This convoy was made up of the following transport vessels; Clan Cameron (British, 7243 GRT, built 1937), Dorset (British, 10624 GRT, built 1934), Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929), Oropesa (British, 14118 GRT, built 1920), Perthshire (British, 10496 GRT, built 1936) and Port Chalmers (British, 8535 GRT, built 1933).

Also the destroyer tender HMS Woolwich (Capt.(Retd.) J. Fawcett, RN) was with the convoy.

On departure from Liverpool the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. C.M. Thornton, RN), HMS Havelock (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Thomas, RN), HMS Highlander (Cdr. W.A. Dallmeyer, RN) and HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN).

At 1315A/3, the destroyers HMS Witherington (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Palmer, RN), HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC, RN) and HMS Versatile (Cdr.(Retd.) J.H. Jauncey, RN) joined coming from the Clyde.

Cover for the convoy was provided by the light cruiser HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) which had also departed the Clyde on the 3rd.

[For the moment we have no details regarding the exact movements of the destroyers. HMS Witherington, HMS Viscount and HMS Versatile arrived at Londonderry on 6 October. HMS Harvester, HMS Havelock and HMS Highlander arrived at Plymouth on 8 October. HMS Hurricane arrived at Greenock on the same day].

Around 1645N/9, HMS Sheffield parted company with the convoy to patrol off the Azores due to fear of a German invasion. She parted company after having been relieved by the heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN).

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 16 October 1940.

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The convoy departed Freetown for South Africa on 17 October 1940.

Composition of the convoy was the same. Escort was still HMS Cumberland.

The convoy arrived at Capetown on 27 October 1940. HMS Cumberland then went on to Simonstown but she returned to Capetown the following day.

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The convoy departed Capetown on 29 October 1940 still made up of the same transports with two additions; Erinpura (British, 5143 GRT, built 1911) and Khedive Ismail (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922).

HMS Woolwich did not sail with the convoy.

Escort was still provided by the heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland until she was relieved around 0700C/1 by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).

The convoy merged in the morning of 3 November 1940 with convoy WS 3B (Fast). (18)

7 Oct 1940

Convoy WS 3 (Fast).

This convoy departed Liverpool and the Clyde on 7 October 1940. The convoy arrived at Suez on 16 November 1940.

The Liverpool section was made up of the troop transports; Duchess of York (British, 20021 GRT, built 1929), Monarch of Bermuda (British, 22424 GRT, built 1931) and Orontes (British, 20097 GRT, built 1929).

It was escorted by the destroyers HMS Douglas (Cdr.(Retd.) J.G. Crossley, RN) and HMCS St. Laurent (Lt. H.S. Rayner, RCN). HMCS St. Laurent however collided with a small merchant vessel very early on the 8th and had to return to Liverpool for repairs.

The Clyde section was made up of the transports; Capetown Castle (British, 27000 GRT, built 1938), Georgic (British, 27759 GRT, built 1932), Oronsay (British, 20043 GRT, built 1925) and Winchester Castle (British, 20012 GRT, built 1930).

It was escorted by the destroyers HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN) and HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. E.C.L. Turner, RN).

At 0700/8, the Clyde section was joined by the destroyers HMS Arrow (Cdr. H.W. Williams, RN), HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn, RN) and HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN) which came from Londonderry.

At 1012/8, a large enemy bomber was seen to approach the Capetown Castle off the Clyde section and dropped a bomb which missed.

At 1050/8, HMCS Ottawa and HMS Active were ordered to close the Oronsay which had been damaged by air attack and needed assistance. HMS Active however misunderstood the order and remained with the convoy. Meanwhile the Oronsay had dropped out of the convoy.

At 1152/8, HMS Arrow joined the damaged Oronsay as well.

Around 1400/8, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Cheshire (Capt.(Retd.) M.R. Bernard, RN) and HMS Salopian (Capt.(Retd.) J.M. Alleyne, DSO, DSC, RN) also arrived on the scene. HMS Salopian later departed to continue her patrol. HMS Cheshire remained with Oronsay and the two destroyers.

At 1440/8, Oronsay got underway at slow speed and was able to increase speed to 9 knots.

At 1520/8, the ships that were with the Oronsay sighted the Liverpool section of the convoy which apparently had been delayed by bad weather conditions and therefore unable to have joined up with the Clyde section as had been intended. HMS Douglas, one of the escorting destroyers of the Liverpool section had been unable to keep up with it due to the weather conditions now joined the Oronsay group.

At 1900/8, the destroyers HMS Verity (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Sabre (Cdr.(Retd.) B. Dean, RN) joined.

The destroyer HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC, RN) also joined but it is unknown when.

At 2115/8, the AA cruiser HMS Cairo (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) joined.

At 0205/9, HMS Arrow and HMCS Ottawa parted company with Oromsay and the other escorts to proceed to Londonderry.

Around 1030/9, the damaged Oronsay escorted by HMS Cairo, HMS Cheshire, HMS Douglas, HMS Verity, HMS Viscount and HMS Sabre arrived at Greenock.

Meanwhile the Clyde section had continued on escorted by HMS Whitehall, HMS Achates and HMS Active. As did the Liverpool section but apparently unescorted. They had failed to make rendezvous with each other in the heavy weather.

Around 1215/9, the Clyde section was joined by the light cruiser HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN). It seems that at this time the destroyers were no longer present.

At noon on the 12th the Clyde section, with HMS Kenya was finally joined by the Liverpool section of the convoy.

The convoy arrived at Freetown in the afternoon of October 18th.

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The convoy departed Freetown on 20 October 1940 and was made up of the Capetown Castle, Duchess of York, Georgic, Monarch of Bermuda, Orontes and Winchester Castle.

The convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. B.C.S. Martin, RN).

The convoy arrived at Capetown on 28 October 1940. HMS Dorsetshire then proceeded to Simonstown where she arrived also on the same day.

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On 30 October the convoy, now made up of the Duchess of York, Georgic, Monarch of Bermuda and Orontes departed Capetown for Suez. They were escorted by HMS Dorsetshire.

In the morning of 3 November the convoy overtook and then merged with the slow section of convoy WS 3 which was made up of the transports Dorset (British, 10624 GRT, built 1934), Erinpura (British, 5143 GRT, built 1911), Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929), Khedive Ismael (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922), Oropesa (British, 14118 GRT, built 1920), Perthshire (British, 10496 GRT, built 1936) and Port Chalmers (British, 8535 GRT, built 1933) and their escort the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).

Shortly before noon the Erinpura and Khedive Ismael split off from the convoy and set course for Mombasa escorted by HMS Carthage. HMS Dorsetshire continued on with the remainder of the convoy towards Suez.

In the morning of November 11th, the light cruiser HMS Caledon (Capt. C.P. Clarke, RN) joined the convoy at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden.

The transport City of Lille (British, 6588 GRT, built 1928) and several more escort vessels, the AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. G.M.B. Langley, OBE, RN), destroyer HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, RN), sloops HMS Auckland (Cdr. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) and HMAS Parramatta (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Walker, MVO, RAN) joined on 12 November 1940 for the passage through the Red Sea in which the Italian Navy was still active at this time.

The troopships Duchess of York and Georgic also re-joined the convoy after a brief visit to Aden. HMS Caledon also briefly left the convoy to oil at Aden before re-joining it.

Around 2130/12, the convoy entered the Perim Strait.

HMS Dorsetshire parted company with the convoy at 0915/14.

The convoy arrived at Suez on 16 November 1940. (19)

8 Oct 1940
Around 1630B/8, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Durban to join convoy AP 3 the following day.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy AP 3 ' for 10 September 1940.] (20)

8 Oct 1940

Convoy SW 2.

This convoy departed Suez on 8 October 1940 for Durban where it arrived on 22 October 1940.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Amra (British, 8314 GRT, built 1938), Duchess of Bedford (British, 20123 GRT, built 1928), Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930), Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935), Ormonde (British, 14982 GRT, built 1917), Sydney Star (British, 12696 GRT, built 1936) and Waiotira (British, 11090 GRT, built 1939).

On departed from Suez the convoy was apparently not escorted.

On 9 October 1940 two more ships joined the convoy. These came from Port Sudan. They were the merchant vessels Karoa (British, 7009 GRT, built 1915) and Talamba (British, 8018 GRT, built 1924).

Around 0800C/10, the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, RAN), AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. G.M.B. Langley, OBE, RN), destroyer HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN) and the sloop HMS Flamingo (Cdr. J.H. Huntley, RN) joined for onward escort until off Aden.

These ships parted company around 0900C/12 when the convoy was joined by the heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.H. Edelsten, RN).

This heavy cruiser escorted the convoy until 04°50'N, 30°00'E where the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) took over around 1220C/15.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 22 October 1940 minus three merchant vessels which had proceeded to other destinations; Amra and Waiotira proceeded to Bombay and Colombo respectively while Ormonde arrived at Mombasa on 18 October. (21)

15 Oct 1940
Around 1220C/15, near position 02°45'N, 50°00'E, the heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.H. Edelsten, RN) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) exchanged convoys they were escorting.

HMS Shropshire taking over the escort of convoy AP 3 and HMS Carthage taking over the escort of convoy SW 2.

[For more info on these convoys see the event ' Convoy AP 3 ' for 10 September 1940 and ' Convoy SW 2 ' for 8 October 1940.] (22)

22 Oct 1940
Around 0700B/22, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Durban with convoy SW 2.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' convoy SW 2 ' for 8 October 1940.] (20)

31 Oct 1940
Around 1230B/31, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Durban to join convoy WS 3A at sea which she joined around 0700C/1.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 3A ' for 3 October 1940.]

Convoy WS 3A merged on 3 November with convoy WS 3 (Fast).

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 3 (Fast) ' for 7 October 1940.] (23)

7 Nov 1940
Around 0600C/7, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transports Erinpura (British, 5143 GRT, built 1911) and Khedive Ismael (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa. (24)

10 Nov 1940
Around 0700C/10, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa escorting the (troop) transport Khedive Ismail (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922).

Around 1600C/16, the transport Clan Cameron (British, 7243 GRT, built 1937) joined at sea. Course was set to proceed to Aden. (24)

16 Nov 1940
Around 0800C/16, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the (troop) transports Clan Cameron (British, 7243 GRT, built 1937) and Khedive Ismail (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922) arrived at Aden. (24)

18 Nov 1940
Around 0830C/18, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Aden to patrol to the east of Socotra and then in the Seychelles area and then to proceed to Mauritius afterwards. (25)

27 Nov 1940
Around 0800DE/27, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Mauritius from patrol.

After fuelling she departed to patrol off Madagascar around 1445DE/27. (25)

4 Dec 1940
Around 0830B/4, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (26)

9 Dec 1940

Convoy CM 7.

This convoy departed Durban on 9 December 1940.

It was made up of the troop transports; Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927), Selandia (South African, 8482 GRT, built 1938) and Westernland (Dutch, 16479 GRT, built 1918).

On departure from Durban the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. C.A.E. Stanfield, RN) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN).

Around 1730C/12, HMS Carthage parted company with the convoy. She then set course to proceed to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel.

The convoy arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa on 15 December 1940. (27)

19 Dec 1940
Around 0730B/19, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (26)

21 Dec 1940
Around 1000B/21, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Mozambique Channel and then onwards towards the Seychelles. (26)

28 Dec 1940
Around 0900D/28, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles.

After fuelling she departed for Colombo around 1400D/28. (26)

2 Jan 1941
Around 0730EF/2, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Colombo from Port Victoria, Seychelles. (28)

3 Jan 1941
Around 1630EF/3, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Colombo for Bombay. (28)

6 Jan 1941
Around 0800EF/6, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Bombay from Colombo. (28)

7 Jan 1941
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) is taken in hand for refit at the Bombay Dockyard. (29)

14 Jan 1941
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) is docked in the Hughes Dry Dock at Bombay. (28)

20 Jan 1941
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) is undocked. (28)

10 Feb 1941
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) conducted post-refit trials off Bombay. (30)

11 Feb 1941
Around 1245EF/11, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. She had conducted D/F calibration trials earlier in the day. (30)

15 Feb 1941
Around 1030EF/15, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (30)

17 Feb 1941
Around 1630EF/17, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Colombo for Aden. (31)

23 Feb 1941
Around 0830C/23, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Aden from Colombo. (31)

24 Feb 1941
Around 1200C/24, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Kilindini / Mombasa. She was escorting the troop transport Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927) which had on board 700 naval personnel bound from the Mediterranean Station to the U.K. (31)

2 Mar 1941
Around 1200C/2, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the troop transport Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Aden. (32)

5 Mar 1941
Around 1300C/5, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the troop transport Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (32)

10 Mar 1941
Around 0800B/10, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the troop transport Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (32)

16 Mar 1941
Around 1045B/16, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the south-east of Durban. Later patrol was shifted to southern end of the Mozambique Channel but soon returned to her original patrol area. (32)

24 Mar 1941
Around 1400B/24, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban for patrol.

After fuelling she departed again for patrol around 2100B/24. She was again to patrol from the east of Durban to the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (32)

25 Mar 1941

Convoy WS 7.

This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 25 March 1941 for several destinations in the Middle and Far East.

This convoy was made up of the following troopships / transports; Andes (British, 25689 GRT, built 1939), Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931), Denbighshire (British, 8983 GRT, built 1938), Duchess of Atholl (British, 20119 GRT, built 1928), Duchess of York (British, 20021 GRT, built 1929), Empress of Canada (British, 21517 GRT, built 1922), Georgic (British, 27759 GRT, built 1932), Glenorchy (British, 8982 GRT, built 1939), Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930), Orcades (British, 23456 GRT, built 1937), Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935), Otranto (British, 20026 GRT, built 1925), Pasteur (British, 29253 GRT, built 1938), Stirling Castle (British, 25550 GRT, built 1936), Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932), Strathallan (British, 23722 GRT, built 1938), Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937), Strathmore (British, 23428 GRT, built 1935), Strathnaver (British, 22283 GRT, built 1931), Viceroy of India (British, 19627 GRT, built 1929) and Warwick Castle (British, 20107 GRT, built 1930).

These ships had come from Liverpool and from the Clyde. While proceeding to the Oversay rendezvous (from the Clyde) the Strathaird collided with the Stirling Castle and was forced to return due to the damage sustained. The Stirling Castle also had damage but was able to continue.

On departure from the U.K. waters the convoy was escorted by the battleships HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN) (came from Scapa Flow), HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN) (came from the Clyde), light cruiser HMS Edinburgh (Commodore C.M. Blackman, DSO, RN) (came from the Clyde), AA cruiser HMS Cairo (A/Capt. I.R.H. Black, RN) (came from Moelfre Bay) and the destroyers HMS Somali (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Mashona (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Matabele (Cdr. R.St.V. Sherbrooke, DSO, RN), HMS Legion (Cdr. R.F. Jessel, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) E.J.S. Plawski), HMS Broadwater (Lt.Cdr. W.M.L. Astwood, RN) (these destroyers came with the Clyde section of the convoy), HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN), HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, RN) (came with the Liverpool section of the convoy), HMS Viceroy (Lt.Cdr. D.P. Trentham, RN), HMS Rockingham (Lt. A.H.T. Johns, RN), Léopard (Lt.Cdr. J. Evenou) (came from Londonderry), HMS Arrow (Cdr. R.E. Hyde-Smith, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN), HMS Eskimo (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Le Geyt, RN) (had come from Scapa Flow with HMS Nelson) and HMCS St. Clair (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Wallace, RCNR) (came from Tobermory).

On assembly of the convoy, around 0800A/25, the destroyers HMS Winchelsea, HMS Arrow, HMS Eclipse and HMS Eskimo first proceeded to Londonderry to fuel. All rejoined the convoy later the same day, HMS Winchelsea at 1330A/25, at the same time HMCS St. Clair also joined. HMS Arrow, HMS Eclipse and HMS Eskimo rejoined around 1830A/25.

Around 2130A/26, HMS Winchelsea, HMS Viceroy, HMS Rockingham, HMS Legion, ORP Piorun and Léopard parted company with the convoy in position 54°05'N, 20°41'W.

Around 2200A/26, HMS Cairo also parted company with the convoy.

Around 2130A/27, HMS Arrow and HMS Eclipse parted company with the convoy to return to Scapa Flow via Londonderry. They arrived at Londonderry to fuel on the 29th and then left at 1100A/30 for Scapa Flow where they arrived around 0400A/31.

Around 0830A/28, HMS Broadwater and HMCS St. Clair parted company with the convoy in position 52°52'N, 23°54'W.

Around 1200A/28, HMS Somali, HMS Bedouin,HMS Eskimo, HMS Mashona and HMS Matabele parted company with the convoy in position 46°54'N, 27°50'W. They then set course to proceed to Scapa Flow where they arrived around 1425A/31.

Around 1230A/28, HMS Revenge parted company taking Georgic with her to escort her to Halifax.

Around 2200A/29, HMS Edinburgh parted company with the convoy to proceed to Gibraltar.

Around 1000A/1, the destroyers HMS Duncan (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN) and HMS Foxhound (Cdr. G.H. Peters, DSC, RN) joined the convoy coming from Bathurst.

Around 1350A/2, the destroyers HMS Wishart (Cdr. E.T. Cooper, RN) and HMS Vidette (Lt. E.N. Walmsley, RN) joined the convoy also coming from Bathurst.

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 4 April 1941.

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The convoy departed Freetown for South Africa (Capetown and Durban) on 7 April 1941. The composition of the convoy was the same in which it had arrived at Freetown.

Escort on departure was also the same as on the convoy's arrival, battleship HMS Nelson, HMS Foxhound, HMS Duncan, HMS Wishart and HMS Vidette.

In the evening of April 7th, HMS Foxhound, picked up three crewmembers from the merchant vessel Umona that had been torpedoed and sunk on 30 March 1941 by the German submarine U-124.

At 0830Z/8 HMS Foxhound parted company with the convoy to return to Freetown due to defects.

The remaining three destroyers parted company at 1800Z/9 to return to Freetown.

Around 1430B/15, the light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. E.A. Aylmer, DSC, RN) joined the convoy in position 30°30'S, 14°23'E and took over the escort. HMS Nelson then parted company to proceed to Capetown to fuel and then on to Simonstown for repairs to her leaking hull.

At 0900B/16, the convoy split up in position 33°53'S, 17°47'E in a Capetown portion and a Durban portion.

The Durban position was made up of the Denbighshire, Glenorchy, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Orontes, Otranto, Stirling Castle, Strathnaver, Viceroy of India and Warwick Castle. HMS Newcastle remained with this section until its arrival at Durban on 19 April 1941.

The remaining ships made up the Capetown section and arrived there on 16 April 1941. Dempo later went on independently to Durban arriving there on 20 April 1941.

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On 20 April 1941 the Capetown portion of the convoy departed. It was made up of the Andes, Duchess of Athol, Duchess of York, Empress of Canada, Orcades, Orion, Pasteur, Strathallan, Stratheden, and Strathmore. They were escorted by the cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN).

On 23 April 1941 the Durban portion of the convoy departed. It was made up of the Dempo, Denbighshire, Empress of Australia, Glenorchy, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Orontes, Otranto, Strathnaver, Viceroy of India and Warwick Castle. They were escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN). The Stirling Castle which had arrived with the Durban section sailed on 26 April indepedently to Melbourne, Australia where she arrived on 10 May 1941.

These groups made rendezvous at 0900C/24 after which HMS Carthage parted company while HMS Hawkins continued on with the convoy.

Around 1600C/28, HMS Hawkins was relieved by the light cruisers HMS Glasgow (Capt. H. Hickling, RN) and HMS Colombo (Capt. C.A.E. Stanfield, RN) which both had departed Mombasa earlier that day.

On 1 May the Bombay section of the convoy split off. it was made up of the Duchess of York, Johan van Oldebarnevelt, Strathmore and Warwick Castle. HMS Colombo went with them as escort. They arrived at Bombay on 5 May 1941.

The remainder of the convoy continued on, escorted by HMS Glasgow until it was dispersed on 3 May after which the ships proceeded independently to Suez. (33)

2 Apr 1941
Around 0830B/2, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban for patrol. (34)

8 Apr 1941
Around 1200B/8, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol from the east of Durban to the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (34)

16 Apr 1941
Around 1200B/16, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) made rendezvous in position 21°55'S, 39°34'E with the troop transport Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922). (34)

18 Apr 1941
Around 1630B/18, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the troop transport Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922) arrived at Durban.

Around 1900B/18, the damaged aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Cdr. G.S. Tuck, RN) departed Durban for Capetown. She was escorted by HMS Carthage. (35)

19 Apr 1941
Around noon, near East London, South Africa, HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. B.C.S. Martin, RN), made rendez-vous with HMS Illustrious (Cdr. G.S. Tuck, RN) and took over the escort of the damaged aircraft carrier from the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN). Course was then set for Capetown. HMS Carthage set course to patrol her way back to Durban searching from the (troop) transport Ceramic (British, 18713 GRT, built 1913) which was overdue at Durban from Fremantle. Ceramic however arrived at Durban the following day. (36)

21 Apr 1941
Around 0730B/21, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol and escort duty. She then commenced boiler cleaning. (37)

23 Apr 1941
Around 1415B/23, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban escorting the Durban Section of Convoy WS 7 to the rendezvous position with the Capetown Section.

Rendezvous was made around 0900C/24. HMS Carthage did not join the main convoy but proceeded on patrol. She was to patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (34)

27 Apr 1941
Around 0800B/27, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (34)

3 May 1941
Around 1400B/3, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to escort the (troop) transport Sontay (British, 8917 GRT, built 1921) towards latitude 20°00'S.

They parted company around 2230B/6. HMS Carthage then proceeded on patrol. She was to patrol in the area to the south of the Mozambique Channel and the east of Durban. (38)

13 May 1941
Around 0830B/13, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban from escort duty / patrol. (38)

17 May 1941
Around 1000B/17, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban to make rendezvous with the troop transport Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920) and her current escort HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN). (38)

19 May 1941
Around 1445C/19, HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) turned over the escort of the troop transport Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920) to HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN).

HMS Hector then set course to return to Kilindini / Mombasa. (39)

21 May 1941
Around 0900B/21, when off Durban, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) parted company with the troop transport Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920). HMS Carthage did not enter harbour as she proceeded on patrol in the area to the east of Durban to the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (38)

25 May 1941
Around 0800B/25, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (38)

26 May 1941
Around 1030B/26, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was to patrol to the south-east of Durban to the southern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (38)

4 Jun 1941
Around 0800B/4, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban from patrol. (40)

8 Jun 1941
Around 2100B/8, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban with the troop transport Empress of Asia (16909 GRT, built 1913) which she is to escort towards the vicinity of Aden. (40)

19 Jun 1941
Around 0300C/19, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) parted company with the troop transport Empress of Asia (16909 GRT, built 1913) which then proceeded unescorted to Suez arriving there on 24 June 1941.

HMS Carthage arrived at Aden around 0800C/19. (40)

21 Jun 1941
Around 0800C/21, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Kilindini / Mombasa. On leaving harbour gunnery exercises were carried out on a target that was being towed by HMS Chakdina (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Hickey, RNR). (40)

26 Jun 1941
Around 0930C/26, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Aden. (40)

5 Jul 1941
Around 1530C/5, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (41)

10 Jul 1941
Around 1200B/10, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban fro m Kilindini / Mombasa. (41)

13 Jul 1941
Around 1030B/13, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol the area to the east of Durban and south of the entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (41)

23 Jul 1941
Around 0800B/23, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) returned to Durban from patrol. (41)

30 Jul 1941
Around 1530B/30, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol the area to the east of Durban and south of the entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (41)

8 Aug 1941
Around 0800B/8, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) returned to Durban from patrol. (42)

13 Aug 1941
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) is docked at Durban. (42)

15 Aug 1941
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) is undocked. (42)

17 Aug 1941
Around 1000B/17, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for patrol. She was ordered to patrol the area to the east of Durban and south of the entrance to the Mozambique Channel. (42)

26 Aug 1941
Around 0800B/26, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) returned to Durban from patrol. (42)

5 Sep 1941
Around 0800B/5, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban to make rendezvous with the transport City of Canterbury (8331 GRT, built 1922) and then escort her to the vicinity of Durban.

Rendezvous was affected around 1900B/6.

They parted company around 0420B/9. HMS Carthage then proceeded on patrol off the southern entrance to the Mozambique Strait. (43)

14 Sep 1941
Around 0830B/14, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) returned to Durban from escort duty / patrol. (44)

18 Sep 1941
Around 1330B/18, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for Rodriguez Island. (43)

24 Sep 1941
Around 0945D/24, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Rodriguez Island. Around the same time the (troop) transport Islami (British, 5879 GRT, built 1934) also arrived.

Around 1615D/24, they departed Rodriguez Island for Port Louis, Mauritius. (44)

26 Sep 1941
Around 0800D/26, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the (troop) transport Islami (British, 5879 GRT, built 1934) arrived at Mauritius from Rodriguez Island. (44)

27 Sep 1941
Around 1700D/27, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the (troop) transport Islami (British, 5879 GRT, built 1934) departed Mauritius for Aden. (43)

6 Oct 1941
Around 0930C/6, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the (troop) transport Islami (British, 5879 GRT, built 1934) arrived at Aden from Mauritius. (45)

13 Oct 1941

Convoy SW 10.

This convoy departed Aden on 13 October 1941.

It was made up of the troop transports; Dunera (British, 11162 GRT, built 1937, with Italian POW's on board), Indrapoera (Dutch, 10825 GRT, built 1925, with troops on board), Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922 with troops on board) and Volendam (Dutch, 15434 GRT, built 1922 with troops on board).

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN).

The convoy arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa on 19 October 1941.

On 21 October 1941 the convoy departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. The convoy sailed in the same composition minus the Nea Hellas. Escort was still the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 27 October 1941.

28 Oct 1941
Around 2330B/28, the light cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. C.C.A. Allen, RN) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for operation ' Bellringer '.

They parted company around 0500B/30.

[For more info on operation ' Bellringer ' see the event ' Operation Bellringer ' for 2 November 1941. (46)

2 Nov 1941

Operation Bellringer.

Interception of a Vichy-French convoy off South Africa.

Around 1800B/1, a Vichy French convoy of 5 ships and one escort was sighted in position 36°04'S, 34°44'E by the South African minesweeping whaler HMSAS Southern Barrier (T/Lt.Cdr. R.L.V. Shannon, SDF).

The Vichy French convoy, en route from Madagascar to Dakar, was then intercepted in the afternoon of the 2nd in position 37°43'S, 30°16'E by the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire (Capt. R.D. Oliver, DSC, RN), light cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. C.C.A. Allen, RN), armed merchant cruisers HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) H.N.M. Hardy, DSO, RN) and HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN). The convoy was made up of the merchant vessels Bangkok (8056 GRT, built 1919), Cap Padaran (8009 GRT, built 1922), Cap Touraine (8009 GRT, built 1924), Commandant Dorise (5529 GRT, built 1917) and Compiègne (9986 GRT, built 1923). They were escorted by the sloop D'Iberville.

Five more South African minesweeping whalers were also on the scene, these were the HMSAS Florida (T/Lt. J.V. Ingram, RNVR(SA)), HMSAS Nigel (T/Lt. W.D. de la Bat van Alphen, SDF), HMSAS Steenberg (T/Lt. S.B. Petzer, SDF), HMSAS Stellenberg (T/Lt. W. Taylor, SDF) and HMSAS Terje (T/Lt. H.G. Amor, SDF).

The Vichy French escort vessel refused to divert the convoy to South Africa so the merchant vessels were boarded the following morning. The Vichy French sloop then made off being unable against the more powerful British ships to prevent the seizure of the convoy.

The crew of the Bangkok set the ship on fire and then abandoned the ship. They were picked up by HMS Colombo and HMSAS Nigel.

The Cap Padaran was immobilised by her crew which sabotaged the ships engines. She was taken in tow by HMS Carthage which took her to Port Elizabeth with HMSAS Stellenberg. They arrived there on 7 November. HMS Carthage did not enter the port though, she went on to Durban arriving there on 8 November.

The Cap Touraine was escorted by HMS Devonshire and HMSAS Steenberg to Port Elizabeth where they arrived on 6 December. HMS Devonshire only briefly anchored off Port Elizabeth but quickly left to return to Durban.

The Commandant Dorise was escorted to East London by HMS Carnarvon Castle and HMSAS Florida. The Compiègne was escorted by HMS Colombo and HMSAS Nigel also to East London where they arrived on 5 November and 6 November respectively. (47)

8 Nov 1941
Around 1730B/8, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Durban. (48)

20 Nov 1941
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) conducted compass swing trials off Durban. (48)

27 Nov 1941
Around 0800B/27, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Durban for Mauritius. She had military personnel on board to transport them to the island. (48)

1 Dec 1941
Around 1330D/1, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Mauritius from Durban. (49)

2 Dec 1941
Around 1400D/2, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Mauritius for Aden. She is escorting the (troop) transport Varela (British, 4651 GRT, built 1914). On board the Varela were 698 Pioneer troops for the Middle East. (50)

10 Dec 1941
Around 0930C/10, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the (troop) transport Varela (British, 4651 GRT, built 1914) arrived at Aden from Mauritius. (50)

18 Dec 1941
Around 1630C/18, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Aden with the (troop) transport Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912, 820 military personnel) towards the Persian Gulf.

On 20 December orders were changed and the new destination became Bombay. (50)

24 Dec 1941
Around 1100EF/24, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the (troop) transport Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912, 820 military personnel) arrived at Bombay from Aden. (49)

31 Dec 1941

Convoy BA 12.

This convoy departed Bombay on 31 December 1941.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Ascanius (British, 10048 GRT, built 1910, 1087 troops), City of Paris (British, 10902 GRT, built 1922, 935 troops) and Yoma (British, 8131 GRT, built 1928, 1432 troops).

The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN).

The convoy arrived at Aden on 6 January 1942. (51)

9 Jan 1942
Around 0945C/9, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Kilindini / Mombasa. (52)

14 Jan 1942
Around 0930C/14, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Aden. (52)

19 Jan 1942
Around 1645C/19, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Mauritius. (52)

23 Jan 1942
Around 1200D/23, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Mauritius from Kilindini / Mombasa.

Around 2000D/23, she departed Mauritius with troops on board for Diego Garcia. (52)

27 Jan 1942
Around 0930E/27, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Diego Garcia from Mauritius. The troops were immediately disembarked. (53)

28 Jan 1942
Around 1430E/28, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Diego Garcia for Colombo. (52)

31 Jan 1942
Around 0900F/31, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) arrived at Colombo from Diego Garcia. (52)

8 Feb 1942
Around 1630F/8, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) departed Colombo. She was to escort the troop transport Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931) to Durban. On board the Reina del Pacifico were militery service personnel. (54)

18 Feb 1942
Around 0800B/18, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) H.L.I. Kirkpatrick, OBE, RN) and the troop transport Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931) arrived at Durban from Colombo. (55)

4 Mar 1942
Around 1930B/4, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN), which was to return to the U.K. to refit, departed Durban. She was to escort the troop transport Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931) to Capetown. (56)

7 Mar 1942
Around 1130B/7, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Capetown from Durban. Before entering harbour D/G trials were carried out. The troop transport Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931) had entered harbour immediately on arrival (around 0830B/7). (56)

11 Mar 1942
Around 1100A/11, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Capetown for Freetown. She was to escort the troop transport Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931). (56)

17 Mar 1942
Around 1200Z/17, the corvettes HMS Rockrose (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Birch, RNR) and HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR) joined the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the troop transport Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931) in approximate position 00°34'N, 08°10'W. (56)

20 Mar 1942
Around 0900Z/20, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN), corvettes HMS Rockrose (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Birch, RNR), HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR) and the troop transport Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931) arrived at Freetown. (56)

21 Mar 1942
Around 1730Z/21, the troop transport Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931) departed Freetown for the U.K. She was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) and the destroyer HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN).

HMS Boreas parted company around 1900N/22. (56)

31 Mar 1942
Around 1521N/31, the troop transport Dempo (Dutch, 17024 GRT, built 1931) and her escort, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN), were joined by the destroyer HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN).

Around 1100NZ/1, the destroyer HMS Saladin (Lt.Cdr. G.V. Legassick, RNR) also joined.

Around 0500A/2, HMS Carthage parted company to proceed to the Clyde. The destroyers and the troop transport continued on to Liverpool. (57)

2 Apr 1942
Around 1130A/2, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Greenock from Freetown. (58)

4 Apr 1942
Around 1015A/4, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) departed Greenock for Southampton where she was to refit.

Around 1430A/4, she was joined by the AA ship HMS Tynwald (A/Capt.(Retd.) F.T. Peters, DSO, DSC, RN).

Around 2000A/5, in position 49°56'N, 04°47'W, they were joined by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ausonia (Capt.(Retd.) G.H. Freyberg, OBE, RN) which was to proceed to Portsmouth. She had departed Plymouth around 1700A/5.

They entered The Solent around 0930A/5. (59)

5 Apr 1942
Around 1115A/5, HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) arrived at Southampton where she was taken in hand for refit at the Thornycroft Shipyard. (58)

14 Apr 1942
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) is docked in No.6 Dry Dock at Southampton. (58)

7 May 1942
HMS Carthage (Capt.(Retd.) B.O. Bell-Salter, RN) is undocked. (60)

18 Jun 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt. C.W.A.G. Hamley, RN) is docked in No.5 Dock at Southampton. (61)

6 Jul 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) is undocked from No.5 Dock at Southampton and immediately docking in No.7 Dock. (62)

8 Jul 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) is undocked from No.7 Dock at Southampton. (62)

25 Jul 1942
With her refit completed, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) conducted D/G, compass swing, D/F calibration and gunnery trials in The Solent. (62)

26 Jul 1942
Around 0930A/26, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed The Solent for Greenock. She was escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Bleasdale (Lt. P.B.N. Lewis, RN).

Around 1230A/26, the destroyer HMS Broke (Lt.Cdr. A.F.C. Layard, RN) joined coming from Portland.

Around 2345A/26, HMS Bleasdale parted company.

Around 2300A/27, HMS Carthage and HMS Broke arrived in the Clyde. HMS Broke then parted company to continue on to Tobermory to work-up. (63)

1 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) conducted engine trials in the Clyde. (64)

5 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Greenock. (64)

13 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) is undocked. (64)

18 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) conducted engine trials in the Clyde area. (64)

19 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) conduced gunnery exercises in the Clyde area on completion of which she proceeded to Lamlash Bay. (64)

21 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) conduced gunnery exercises in the Clyde area on completion of which she returned to Lamlash Bay. (64)

23 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Lamlash Bay for Greenock. (64)

24 Aug 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Greenock from Lamlash Bay. (64)

28 Aug 1942
Around 2030A/28, the light cruiser HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, CB, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Greenock to join convoy WS 22 on assembly of Oversay the following morning.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 22 ' for 29 August 1942.] (65)

29 Aug 1942

Convoy WS 22.

This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 29 August 1942.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Andes (British, 25689 GRT, built 1939), Boissevain (Dutch, 14134 GRT, built 1937), California (British, 16792 GRT, built 1923), Canara (British, 7024 GRT, built 1942), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939), Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929), Highland Chieftain (British, 14135 GRT, built 1929), Highland Princess (British, 14133 GRT, built 1930), Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930), Leinster (British, 4303 GRT, built 1937), Mataroa (British, 12390 GRT, built 1922), Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922), Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927), Orcades (British, 23456 GRT, built 1937), Orduna (British, 15507 GRT, built 1914), Rangitata (British, 16737 GRT, built 1929), Ruys (Dutch, 14155 GRT, built 1937) and Suffolk (British, 11145 GRT, built 1939).

On assembly off Oversay the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Aurora (Capt. W.G. Agnew, CB, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), destroyers HMS Bulldog (Cdr. M. Richmond, OBE, DSO, RN), HMS Keppel (Cdr. J.E. Broome, RN), HMS Beverley (Lt. R.A. Price, RN), HMS Chesterfield (Lt. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Partridge (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, OBE, RN), HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. H.W.S. Browning, OBE, RN), ORP Blyskawica (Lt.Cdr. L. Lichodziejewski, ORP) and the escort destroyers HMS Bicester (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN) and HMS Zetland (Lt. J.V. Wilkinson, RN).

Around 1800Z/31, ORP Blyskawica was detached to Londonderry due to abnormal high fuel consumption.

Around 0600Z/1, HMS Bulldog, HMS Keppel and HMS Zetland were detached to return to the U.K.

Around 1315Z/1, HMS Bicester was detached to Plymouth.

Around 1520Z/1, HMS Partridge and HMAS Quiberon were detached to fuel at the Azores. They arrived there around 1600Z/2.

Around 1540Z/2, the Leinster parted company with the convoy to proceed to Gibraltar. The destroyers HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, RN) and HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) had come from Gibraltar to escort her.

Around 0930Z/3, HMS Partridge and HMAS Quiberon rejoined from fuelling having departed Ponta Delgada around 0200Z/3. HMS Beverley and HMS Chesterfield were then detached to fuel at the Azores.

Around 1400Z/6, the destroyer HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Sinclair) joined.

Around 1300Z/7, the escort destroyer RHS Pindos joined.

The convoy arrived at Freetown shortly after noon on 9 September 1942.

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The convoy departed Freetown in the same composition around 0700Z/13. One additional vessel had joined the convoy, this was the transport Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927). The convoy was now escorted by the light cruiser HMS Aurora, armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(Retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), destroyers HMAS Quiberon, HMS Partridge, HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN), HMS Antelope and the escort destroyers HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) and RHS Pindos.

Around 1800Z/15, the Highland Princess was detached to Takoradi escorted by HMS Boreas. HMS Antelope was also detached to return to Freetown.

Around 1800A/16, HMS Alcantara, HMS Derwent and RHS Pindos were detached to Pointe Noire to fuel. They rejoined the convoy around 1800A/19 after which HMS Aurora, HMAS Quiberon and HMS Partidge parted company with the convoy to fuel at Pointe Noire. They did not rejoin the convoy.

Around 1015BC/24, the heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.T. Borrett, OBE, RN) joined the convoy coming from Simonstown.

Around 1200BC/24, the convoy split into the Capetown section and the Durban section.

The Capetown section was made up of the Almanzora, Andes, California, Canara, Dominion Monarch, Franconia, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Nea Hellas, Nieuw Holland, Orduna and Ruys. The arrived at Capetown on 25 September escorted by HMS Alcantara, HMS Derwent and RHS Pindos.

The Durban section was made up of the Boissevain, Highland Brigade, Highland Chieftain, Mataroa, Orcades, Rangitata, Sibajak and Suffolk. They were escorted by HMS Shropshire.

The Durban section arrived at Durban on 29 September 1942.

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On 29 September 1942, the Capetown section, now made up of the following ships; Almanzora, Dominion Monarch, Franconia, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Nieuw Holland and Orduna departed. They were escorted by the armed merchant cruisers HMS Alcantara and HMS Ranchi (Capt.(Retd.) J.M. Alleyne, DSO, DSC, RN).

On 3 October 1942, HMS Alcantara parted company with the convoy and entered Durban. The Durban section of the convoy then joined. It was now made up of the following ships; Boissevain, California, Canera, Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Felix Roussel (British, 17083 GRT, built 1930), Indrapoera (Dutch, 10825 GRT, built 1925), Rangitata and Ruys. They were escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire (Capt. R.D. Oliver, CBE, DSC, RN).

Around 0600D/8, HMS Ranchi parted company with the convoy to fuel at Diego Suarez. She arrived there around 1730D/9. Having completed fuelling she departed again around 2330D/9 to rejoined the convoy which she did around 0600D/11.

Around 1130E/10, the 'heavy' cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Devonshire then parted company with the convoy to proceed to Kilindini / Mombasa taking the Almanzora and Rangitata with her. They arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa on the 12th.

Around 0710D/11, HMS Hawkins parted company taking the Bombay section of the convoy with her. The Bombay section was made up of the Boissevain, California, Canara, Dominion Monarch, Franconia, Indrapoera, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Nieuw Holland and Ruys. They arrived at Bombay on 17 October 1942 minus the Canera which had been detached around 1920EF/15 to Karachi where she arrived on 18 October 1942.

HMS Ranchi escorting the Aden section, made up of the Ekma, Felix Roussel and Orduna , had meanwhile arrived at Aden on 16 October 1942. (66)

16 Sep 1942
Around 0715Z/16, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Freetown to patrol in the mid-Atlantic. Patrol was later shifted further to the south-east to an area to the north-west of Ascension. (67)

18 Sep 1942
HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.W. Kitson, RN) was joined on patrol by HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN). They then operated in close company until 24 September. (68)

29 Sep 1942
Around 1645Z/29, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Freetown from patrol.

Around 1100Z/29, the destroyer HMS Wivern (Cdr. M.D.C. Meyrick, RN) had joined to escort her in. (67)

5 Oct 1942

Convoy WS 23.

This convoy was formed off Oversay on 5 October 1942.

It consisted of the following transports / troopships; Capetown Castle (British, 27002 GRT, built 1938), Empress of Russia (British, 16810 GRT, built 1913), Highland Monarch (British, 14139 GRT, built 1928), Kina II (British, 9823 GRT, built 1939), Moreton Bay (British, 14193 GRT, built 1921), Port Jackson (British, 9687 GRT, built 1937), Silverandal (British, 6770 GRT, built 1930) and Straat Malakka (Dutch, 439 GRT, built 1939).

Initial escort consisted of the light cruisers HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO and Bar, OBE, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.D. Cochrane, DSO, RN), destroyers HMS Beagle (Cdr. R.C. Medley, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Bicester (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN), HMS Puckeridge (Lt. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN), HMS Zetland (Lt. J.V. Wilkinson, RN) and RHS Kanaris.

At 2200Z/6, HMS Durban parted company with the convoy to proceed to Ponta Delgada to fuel.

At 1850Z/8, HMS Beagle parted company with the convoy to return to the UK. HMS Zetland had a leaking Asdic dome and was apparently also detached on the 8th to return to the UK for a docking and repairs.

At 1000Z/9, HMS Puckeridge arrived at Ponta Delgada to refuel. She departed to rejoin the convoy at 1345Z/9. RHS Kanaris arrived at 1100Z/9 and departed again at 1430Z/9. [It is currently not known to us when they had left the convoy to proceed to Ponta Delgada.]

At 1545Z/9, HMS Durban rejoined the convoy. HMS Despatch was then detached to fuel at Ponta Delgada.

At 1900Z/9, HMS Puckeridge and RHS Kanaris rejoined the convoy.

At 0100Z/10, HMS Wrestler and HMS Bicester parted company with the convoy to fuel at Ponta Delgada after which they were to return to the UK.

At 0810/Z/13, HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Sinclair, RN) joined the convoy shorly afterwards followed by HMS Velox (Lt. G.B. Barstow, RN).

On 16 October 1942 the convoy arrived at Freetown escorted by HMS Despatch, HMS Durban, HMS Queen of Bermuda, HMS Antelope, HMS Velox, HMS Puckeridge and RHS Kanaris.

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The convoy departed Freetown for Durban on 20 October 1942.

The same ships made up the convoy plus the merchant vessels Hai Lee (Norwegian, 3616 GRT, built 1934) and Tamesis (Norwegian, 7256 GRT, built 1939).

On departure from Freetown the convoy escort was made up of the light cruisers HMS Despatch, HMS Durban, armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), escort destroyers HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN), RHS Kanaris, sloop HMS Milford (Cdr.(Retd.) the Hon. V.M. Wyndham-Quin, RN) and the corvette HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR).

At 1020A/23, HMS Avon Vale parted company. HMS Southern Gem (T/Lt. D.C. Hayes, RNVR) had joined just before. She had sailed from Takoradi on the 22nd.

At 1842A/23, HMS Durban parted company with the convoy to proceed to Takoradi to repair a defect. She arrived at Takoradi around 0745/24 and departed again around 0230A/25. She rejoined the convoy around 0945A/27.

Also detached on 23 October were the two Norwegian merchant vessels and the corvette HMS Tamarisk. These were also to proceed to Takoradi.

The corvette HMS Amaranthus (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RNR) joined on the 25th coming from Ponte Noire. After she joined HMS Southern Gem was detached to Ponte Noire due to engine trouble.

On the 26th, HMS Amaranthus parted company to join convoy CF 7.

On 30 October the destroyer HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) and the corvettes HMS Rockrose (Lt. E.J. Binfield, DSC, RNR) and HMS Thyme (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) joined the convoy. These ships had sailed from Walvis Bay, the corvettes at 0600Z/29 and HMAS Norman at 2000Z/29. HMAS Norman joined the convoy around 1300B/30 and the corvettes around 1530B/30.

At 2100B/30, HMS Durban, HMS Despatch and HMS Milford were detached to fuel at Walvis Bay where they arrived around 0840/30. HMS Durban departed Walvis Bay aroud 1845B/31 and she rejoined the convoy around 1800B/1

On 2 November the transport / troopship Rimutaka (British, 16576 GRT, built 1923) joined the convoy coming from Capetown.

At 1330C/2, the destroyer HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN) and escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN) joined coming from Simonstown.

Around 1545C/2, RHS Kanaris parted company to refuel at Simonstown. She rejoined the convoy around 0100C/3.

At 2215C/2, HMS Rockrose and HMS Thyme were detached to search for survivors from ships that had been torpedoed by German submarines.

At 1950C/4, HMS Express was detached to search for survivors from a ship that had been torpedoed by a German submarines.

At 0530C/5, the escort destroyer HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) joined.

The convoy arrived at Durban in the early afternoon of 5 November escorted by HMS Durban, HMS Carthage, HMAS Norman, HMS Catterick, HMS Derwent and RHS Kanaris.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The convoy departed Durban around noon on 9 November 1942, now made up of Capetown Castle, Empress of Russia, Highland Monarch, Kina II, Port Jackson, Silversandal and Straat Malakka.

On departure from Durban the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Cdr.(Retd.) N.G. Leeper, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage, destroyers HMAS Norman, HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), escort destroyers HMS Blackmore (Lt. H.T. Harrel, RN), RHS Kanaris and the corvettes HMS Genista (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RNR) and HMS Jasmine (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.D.B. Coventry, RNR).

At 1700C/10, HMS Insconstant, HMS Genista and HMS Jasmine were detached.

At 1500D/11, HMS Dauntless, HMAS Norman, HMS Blackmore and RHS Kanaris were detached.

At 1830D/11, the cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) joined.

At 1600E/16, HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) joined and at 1230E/16, HMS Hawkins parted company with the convoy to proceed to Kilindini taking the Empress of Russia with her. They arrived at Kilindini around 1700D/18.

At 1800E/17, the convoy was split up into the ' Aden section ' and the ' Bombay section '.

The ' Aden section ' was made up of the Highland Monarch, Kina II, Port Jackson and the Straat Malakka. They were escorted by HMS Carthage and arrived at Aden around 1300C/21. They had earlier been joined by the destroyer RHS Panther around 0615/20.

The ' Bombay section ' was made up of the other transports escorted by HMS Mauritius. They arrived at Bombay around 1000FG/24 except for the Silversandal which had been detached on November 22nd to proceed to Karachi where she also arrived on the 24th. (66)

20 Oct 1942
The light cruisers HMS Despatch (Capt. W.R.C. Leggatt, RN), HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO and Bar, OBE, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), escort destroyers HMS Avon Vale (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN), RHS Kanaris, sloop HMS Milford (Cdr.(Retd.) the Hon. V.M. Wyndham-Quin, RN) and the corvette HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR) departed Freetown as escorts for convoy WS 23.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 23 ' for 5 October 1942.] (69)

5 Nov 1942
During the afternoon, HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO and Bar, OBE, RN), HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN), HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN), HMS Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN) and RHS Kanaris arrived at Durban with convoy WS 23. (70)

9 Nov 1942
The light cruiser HMS Dauntless (Cdr.(Retd.) N.G. Leeper, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), destroyers HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), escort destroyers HMS Blackmore (Lt. H.T. Harrel, RN), RHS Kanaris and the corvettes HMS Genista (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RNR) and HMS Jasmine (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.D.B. Coventry, RNR) departed Durban to provide escort to convoy WS 23.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 23 ' for 5 October 1942.]

21 Nov 1942
Around 1300C/21, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) and the destroyer RHS Panther arrived at Aden with the ' Aden Section ' of convoy WS 23. (71)

23 Nov 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Aden to proceed with despatch to position 07°36'N, 61°08'E where the (troop) transport Tilawa (British, 10006 GRT, built 1924) had been torpedoed and sunk by I-29 during the night of 22/23 November.

HMS Carthage commenced searching for survivors from 1200D/26. Wreckage and bodies were soon encountered.At

At 1545D/27, a life raft with four survivors was encountered which were picked up.

At 1810D/27, HMS Carthage abandoned her search for survivors and left the area for Kilindini / Mombasa.

A total of 280 passengers and crew lost their lives in the sinking of the Tilawa. (71)

1 Dec 1942
Around 1300C/1, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Kilindini.

[No logbooks of HMS Carthage are available for the period December 1942 / May 1943. Some details of her wartime history might therefore be missing on this page.] (72)

11 Dec 1942

Convoy MJ 1.

This convoy departed Kilindini / Mombasa on 11 December 1942.

The convoy was made up of only one transport, the Karagola (British, 7053 GRT, built 1917).

The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN).

The convoy arrived at Bombay on 21 December 1942.

21 Dec 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Bombay with convoy MJ 1. (29)

25 Dec 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Bombay for Aden. (29)

29 Dec 1942
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Aden from Bombay. (29)

10 Jan 1943

Convoy MC 3.

This convoy departed Aden on 10 January 1943 and arrived at Durban on 23 January 1943.

The convoy was made up of the transports Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Ascanius (British, 10048 GRT, built 1910) and Felix Roussell (British, 17083 GRT, built 1930).

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), destroyer RHS Panther and the minesweeper HMS Romney (Lt. W.E. Halbert, RNR).

At 1800C/11, RHS Panther parted company to return to Aden.

At 0800C/12, HMS Romney was detached to return to Aden.

Around 1300C/16, HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.B. Crane, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Devonshire then parted company to proceed to Kilindini.

Around 0345D/21 the destroyers HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. P. Bekenn, RN) and escort destroyer HMS Blackmore (Lt. H.T. Harrel, RN) joined the convoy escort.

Around 0345D/22, the destroyers HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN) and HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) joined the convoy escort.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 23 January 1943.

23 Jan 1943
HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.B. Crane, RN), HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. P. Bekenn, RN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Blackmore (Lt. H.T. Harrel, RN) arrived at Durban with convoy MC 3.

25 Jan 1943
Around 0915C/25, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Durban for Saldanha Bay. (73)

27 Jan 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Saldanha Bay from Durban. (73)

30 Jan 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Saldanha Bay for an anti-blockade runner patrol to the south of South Africa. (74)

11 Feb 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Capetown from patrol. At Capetown she was taken in hand for boiler cleaning and repairs to minor defects. (75)

2 Mar 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) departed Capetown for Durban. (76)

7 Mar 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) arrived at Durban from Capetown. (70)

7 Mar 1943
Around 1800C/7, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), seaplane tender HMS Albatross (A/Capt.(Retd.) S. Barry, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) departed Durban and proceeded northwards.

Around 1900C/9, HMS Albatross and HMAS Quickmatch parted company to proceed to Tulear, Madagascar where they arrived around 1200C/10. They departed again around 1515C/10 for Majunga where they arrived around 1215C/12. They departed Majunga around 1730C/12 for Kilindini where they arrived around 0830C/15.

HMS Carthage and HMAS Quiberon proceeded direct to Kilindini where they arrived around 1000C/13. (77)

26 Mar 1943
Around 1650C/26, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa to make rendezvous with convoy WS 27.

For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 27 ' for 26 March 1943.] (78)

26 Mar 1943

Convoy WS 27.

Part of the convoy that proceeded from South Africa to the Gulf of Aden.

A part of the convoy departed Capetown on 26 March 1943.

The composition of the convoy on departure from Capetown was as follows; Bergensfjord (Norwegian, 11015 GRT, built 1913), Duchess of Richmond (British, 22022 GRT, built 1928), Leopoldville (Belgian, 11509 GRT, built 1929), Orbita (British, 15495 GRT, built 1915), Ruys (Dutch, 14155 GRT, built 1937) and Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Capetown the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Quail (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Jenks, RN), HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN) and HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, RN).

On 29 March 1943 the ' Durban section ' of the convoy departed Durban, it was made up of the; Capetown Castle (British, 27002 GRT, built 1938), Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927), Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932) and Strathmore (British, 23428 GRT, built 1935).

On departure from Durban this section was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Lt. J.R.L. Moore, RN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN), HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN). The destroyers which had escorted the ' Capetown section ' then went to Durban.

The four destroyers parted company at 2100C/1 to return to Durban.

Around 1500C/3, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) joined.

On the 4th the transport Bergensfjord was detached to Kilindini.

Around 0930D/5, the light cruiser HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) took over the escort duty from HMS Frobisher which then set course for Kilindini.

On 9 April 1943 the convoy was dispered in the Gulf of Aden.

9 Apr 1943
HMS Durban (Capt. G.F. Stevens-Guille, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Aden after convoy escort duty. (79)

12 Apr 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. (80)

17 Apr 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Bombay from Aden.

At Bombay she was taken in hand for boiler cleaning and docking. (80)

8 May 1943

Convoy BA 43.

This convoy departed Bombay on 8 May 1943.

It was made up of the (troop) transports; Akbar (British, 4043 GRT, built 1924), Aletta (Dutch, 3085 GRT, built 1927), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Islami (British, 5879 GRT, built 1934) and Jehangir (British, 3566 GRT, built 1924).

The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), sloop HMIS Jumna (A/Cdr. I.B.W. Heanly, RIN) and the minesweeper HMAS Geraldton (Cdr.(Retd.) H.M. Harris, RNR).

The convoy arrived at Aden on 16 May 1943.

17 May 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Aden for Kilindini / Mombasa. (80)

22 May 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Aden. (80)

23 May 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (80)

28 May 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (80)

30 May 1943

Convoy CM 42.

This convoy departed Durban on 30 May 1943.

The exact composition of this convoy is currently not known to us but the following transports seems to have made up this convoy;
Ascanius (British, 10048 GRT, built 1910), Empire Woodlark (British, 7793 GRT, built 1913) en Llanstephan Castle (British, 11340 GRT, built 1914).

On departure from Durban the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN), destroyer HMAS Nizam (Lt. W.F. Cook, RAN) and the corvettes HMS Fritillary (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Barker, RD, RNR) and HMS Rockrose (Lt. E.J. Binfield, DSC, RNR).

Around 2200B/30, the corvettes parted company to search for a reported enemy submarine.

Around 1900C/1, HMAS Nizam parted company to return independently to Durban.

The convoy arrived at Mombasa / Kilindini on 10 June 1943. (81)

15 Jun 1943

Convoy KR 5.

This convoy departed Kilindini / Mombasa on 15 June 1943.

it was made up of the following (troop) transports; Aorangi (British, 17491 GRT, built 1924), Ascanius (British, 10048 GRT, built 1910), Cap Tourane (British, 8009 GRT, built 1923), City of Paris (British, 10902 GRT, built 1922), Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Empire Woodlark (British, 7793 GRT, built 1913), Lancashire (British, 9557 GRT, built 1917), Llanstephan Castle (British, 11348 GRT, built 1914) and Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937).

The convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Capetown (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN).

On 20 June 1943, the destroyer HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) joined. She had departed Port Victoria earlier that day.

On 24 June 1943, the sloop HMIS Hindustan (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.J. Wilson, DSO, RINR) and the RFA tanker Appleleaf (5891 GRT, built 1917) joined. HMIS Hindustan had departed Colombo on 22 June 1943 for Addu Attol to collect the Appleleaf and then join the convoy.

On 27 June 1943 the convoy arrived at Colombo.

2 Jul 1943
Around 1800FG/2, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) and the destroyer HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) departed Colombo. They were escorting the (troop) transport Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937) to Kilindini.

HMAS Nepal had actually left Colombo harbour two hours previously presumably to conduct an A/S sweep of the area.

Around 0330DE/5, HMAS Nepal was detached to fuel at Port Victoria, Seychelles. She did not rejoin.

HMS Carthage and the Salween arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa around 1700C/11. (82)

4 Aug 1943
During 4/5 August 1943, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Chitral (A/Capt.(Retd.) G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. These included night exercises. (83)

25 Aug 1943
Around 1430C/25, having completed boiler cleaning at Kilindini / Mombasa, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Colombo. On board was the first party of the Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet's staff whose headquarters was being transferred from Mombasa to Colombo. (84)

1 Sep 1943
Around 1030FG/1, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) arrived at Colombo from Kilindini / Mombasa.

At Colombo she was immediately docked. (85)

3 Sep 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) is undocked.

She then left Colombo around 1145FG/3 to proceed to Aden and eventually the U.K. as she was to be decommissioned and converted to a troopship. (85)

9 Sep 1943
Around 1300C/9, HMS Carthage (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) arrived at Aden.

After having fuelled and having embarked passengers she departed for Suez around 1800C/9. (85)

13 Sep 1943
Around 0930C/13, HMS Carthage (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) arrived at Suez from Aden. (85)

15 Sep 1943
During 15/16 September 1943, HMS Carthage (A/Capt.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, MVO, RN) transited the Suez Canal northbound and arrived at Port Said. (85)

17 Sep 1943

Convoy MKF 24.

This convoy departed Port Said on 17 September 1943.

It was made up of the (troop) transports; Clan Campbell (British, 9545 GRT, built 1943), Eastern Prince (British, 10926 GRT, built 1929), Staffordshire (British, 10683 GRT, built 1929) and Strathmore (British, 23428 GRT, built 1935).

The armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) was also part of the convoy. She was en-route from the East Indies station to the U.K. to be decommissioned and be outfitted for her new role as troop transport.

The convoy was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Aldenham (Lt.Cdr. H.A. Stuart-Menteth, RN), HMS Rockwood (Lt. S.R. Le H. Lombard-Hobson, RN), RHS Kanaris and RHS Miaoulis.

At 0620C/18, the Eastern Prince was detached to Alexandria.

The convoy arrived at Algiers on 22 September 1943.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 28 September 1943 the convoy departed Algiers for the U.K.

It was now made up of the following (troop) transports; Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Arundel Castle (British, 19118 GRT, built 1921), Athlone Castle (British, 25564 GRT, built 1936), Bergensfjord (Norwegian, 11015 GRT, built 1913), Cameronia (British, 16297 GRT, built 1920), Clan Campbell, Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Empress of Australia (British, 21833 GRT, built 1914), Marnix van St. Aldegonde (Dutch, 19355 GRT, built 1930), Monarch of Bermuda (British, 22424 GRT, built 1931), Otranto (British, 20026 GRT, built 1925), Ruys (Dutch, 14155 GRT, built 1937), Staffordshire, Strathmore, Tegelberg (Dutch, 14150 GRT, built 1937) and Volendam (British, 15434 GRT, built 1922).

The armed merchant cruiser HMS Carthage was still part of the convoy.

The convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Pelican (Cdr. J.S. Dalison, DSO, RN) and the frigates HMS Evenlode (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.L. Turner, RNR), HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Freaker, DSO and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Rother (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Hickey, RNR), HMS Spey (Lt.Cdr. B.A. Rogers, RD, RNR) and HMS Wear (Cdr. E. Wheeler, RD, RNR).

At 0700A/30, the Ruys and Volendam were detached.

At 0900A/30, the Empress of Australia and Monarch of Bermuda were detached.

At 0930A/30, the (troop) transports Empire Might (British, 9209 GRT, built 1942), Highland Princess (British, 14133 GRT, built 1930) and Rochester Castle (British, 7795 GRT, built 1937) joined coming from Gibraltar.

Also the following warships joined at the same time; escort carriers HMS Attacker (Capt. W.W.P. Shirley-Rollison, RN), HMS Hunter (Capt. H.H. McWilliam, RN), HMS Stalker (Capt. H.S. Murray-Smith, RN), seaplane carrier HMS Albatross (A/Capt.(Retd.) S. Barry, RN) and the destroyers HMS Wishart (Lt. J.A. Holdsworth, RN) and HMS Witherington (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN).

At 1400A/30, the Volendam rejoined.

At 1500A/30, the AA cruiser HMS Charybdis (Capt. G.A.W. Voelcker, RN) joined coming from Gibraltar.

At 1600A/30, the Ruys rejoined.

At 0420A/1, the Bergensfjord, Highland Princess and Volendam parted company to proceed to Freetown. They took HMS Wishart and HMS Witherington with them as escorts. Also the destroyer HMS Malcolm (Lt. I.M. Clegg, RN) joined them which had came from Casablanca.

At 1300A/1, the Athone Castle was detached to proceed independently to New York.

At 0640Z/4, the light cruiser HMS Spartan (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) joined the convoy escort.

At 0635Z/5, HMS Spartan parted company with the convoy.

At 0930Z/5, HMS Charybdis and HMS Albatross parted company to proceed to Plymouth where they arrived on 6 October.

On 7 October the convoy arrived in U.K waters. The bulk of the convoy proceeded either to Greenock or to Liverpool.

7 Oct 1943
Around 0400A/7, HMS Carthage (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) arrived at Greenock. (86)

10 Oct 1943
Around 1430/10, HMS Carthage (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) departed Greenock for Swansea. (86)

11 Oct 1943
Around 1600/11, HMS Carthage (A/Capt. U.H.R. James, RN) arrived at Swansea from Greenock. (86)

30 Oct 1943
HMS Carthage (A/Cdr. J.W. Cookson, RN) is decommissioned at Swansea and turned over to the M.o.W.T. (Ministery of War Transport). (29)

Sources

ADM 53/111744
ADM 53/111745
ADM 53/111746
ADM 53/111747
ADM 53/111748
ADM 53/111748 + ADM 199/382
ADM 53/111748 + ADM 53/111748
ADM 53/111749 + ADM 199/382
ADM 53/111749
ADM 53/111750
ADM 53/111750 + ADM 199/383
ADM 53/11175
ADM 53/111751 + ADM 199/383
ADM 53/111751
ADM 53/111423 + ADM 53/112051 + ADM 53/112436 + ADM 199/381 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Hobart for August and September 1941
ADM 53/111752
ADM 53/111753 + ADM 199/383
ADM 199/1136
ADM 199/372 + ADM 199/1136
ADM 53/111754
ADM 199/383
ADM 53/111754 + ADM 53/113232
ADM 53/111754 + ADM 53/111755
ADM 53/111755
ADM 53/111755 + ADM 199/383
ADM 53/111756
ADM 53/111756 + ADM 53/111839 + ADM 199/383
ADM 53/113848
ADM 199/2549
ADM 53/113849
ADM 53/113849 + ADM 199/408
ADM 53/113850
ADM 199/1138
ADM 53/113851
ADM 53/113851 + ADM 53/114441
ADM 53/114132 + ADM 199/402
ADM 53/113851 + ADM 199/402
ADM 53/113852
ADM 53/114395 + ADM 199/408
ADM 53/113853
ADM 53/113854
ADM 53/113855
ADM 53/113856 + ADM 199/408
ADM 53/113856
ADM 53/113857 + ADM 199/408
ADM 53/113857 + ADM 53/113962
ADM 53/113845 + ADM 53/113858 + ADM 53/113963 + ADM 53/114104 + ADM 199/395 + ADM 199/2233
ADM 53/113858
ADM 53/113859
ADM 53/113859 + ADM 199/408
ADM 53/113859 + ADM 53/115544 + ADM 199/408
ADM 53/115544 + ADM 199/426
ADM 53/115544
ADM 53/115545 + ADM 199/426
ADM 53/115545
ADM 53/115546
ADM 53/115546 + ADM 53/115547
ADM 53/115547
ADM 53/115414 + ADM 53/115547
ADM 53/115548
ADM 53/115549
ADM 53/115550
ADM 53/115550 + ADM 199/2548
ADM 53/115551
ADM 53/115406 + ADM 53/115551
ADM 199/1211
ADM 53/115552
ADM 53/115538 + ADM 53/115552 + ADM 199/647
ADM 199/647
ADM 199/2349
ADM 53/115553
ADM 53/116769 + ADM 199/2549
ADM 199/2254 + ADM 199/2349
ADM 199/2254 + ADM 199/2255 + ADM 199/2349
ADM 199/2255 + ADM 199/2491
ADM 199/2256
ADM 199/643 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Quiberon for March 1943
ADM 53/118440 + ADM 199/643
ADM 53/117420
ADM 199/643
ADM 53/117168 + ADM 199/2349 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Nizam for May 1943 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Nizam for June 1943
ADM 53/117169
ADM 53/117170 + ADM 53/117218
ADM 53/117170 + ADM 199/643
ADM 53/117171
ADM 53/117172

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.

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Allies in WWII

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Allied events

Allied Warships

HMS Carthage (F 99)

Armed Merchant Cruiser

Commands listed for HMS Carthage (F 99)

Notable events involving Carthage include:

Convoy CM 2 / group II.

Convoy RS 5.

Convoy AK 1 (first series).

Convoy AP 3.

Convoy WS 3A (Slow).

Convoy WS 3 (Fast).

Convoy SW 2.

Convoy CM 7.

Convoy WS 7.

Convoy SW 10.

Operation Bellringer.

Convoy BA 12.

Convoy WS 22.

Convoy WS 23.

Convoy MJ 1.

Convoy MC 3.

Convoy WS 27.

Convoy BA 43.

Convoy CM 42.

Convoy KR 5.

Convoy MKF 24.

Return to the Allied Warships section