APPENDIX I.
 
 
 
 
MOVEMENTS OF 23rd ESCORT GROUP FOR PERIOD
 
 
23rd APRIL - 8th MAY, 1945.
 
 
 
 
23rd April.   23rd Escort Group on patrol in vicinity of 610 00' N., 040 00' W.
       
  1629. 23rd Escort Group ordered to proceed with despatch to vicinity of Kinnaird Head.
    Position at 1730. 590 31' N.
      050 19' W.  Co.140 16 kts.
       
  2245. S.O. 23rd Escort Group ordered to detach two escorts to search between 32 buoy and longitude 02 40' W. where a conning tower was reported and attacked by aircraft in position 5 miles North of Fraserburgh at 1530/23.  Remainder of group to proceed south to meet and support Northward Convoy E.N.88.
       
24th April.      
       
  0025 LOCH GORM ) Detached to search in vicinity of 32 buoy.
    NYASALAND )  
       
  1048 LOCH GORM  ) Ordered to search between 020 00' W.
    NYASALAND ) and 030 00' W south of 580 00' N.
       
  1525 LOCH GORM  ) Ordered to abandon search and proceed to
    NYASALAND ) meet convoy W.N.87  Convoy passed Cape Wrath 1230B/24 8 knots.
       
  2030 LOCH GORM  ) Met convoy in 580 37' N. 020 53' W.
    NYASALAND )  
       
  2130 MONTSERRAT  ) Searching between Cape Wrath and
    LOCH SCAVAIG) Dunnet Head.
    PAPUA                )  
       
25th April. 0958 LOCH GORM  ) Ordered to investigate wreckage in position
    NYASALAND ) 570 42' N., 020 22' W.  which had given rise to
      false reports.
       
    MONTSERRAT  ) Proceeding south escorting EASTWAY.
    PAPUA                )  
    LOCH SCAVAIG)  
       
26th April.      
       
    LOCH GORM  ) Searching in Moray Firth.
    NYASALUND )  
       
    MONTSERRAT  ) Ordered to proceed to vicinity of Longstone to
    LOCH SCAVAIG) locate wreck of U-boat sunk by VICEROY.
       
    PAPUA with EASTWAY to Methil thence to Tyne.
       
  2200 PAPUA escorting EASTWAY sailed from Methil for Tyne.
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                           /27th . . .
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
- 2 -
 
 
 
 
27th April.   MONSERRAT    ) Ordered to abandon search as requisite to be in
    LOCH SCAVAIG) position 560 33' 05" N.  020 07' 55" W. at daylight 28th April.
       
    MONSERRAT    ) Ordered to search in vicinity of position x for
    LOCH SCAVAIG) possible wreck of U-boat claimed to have been sunk by VALSE at 1700/23.
       
    (Area was searched but no wreck of U-boat was located although Asdic conditions were very good.)
       
    LOCH GORM ) Proceeding from vicinity of Kinnaird Head to
    NYASALAND) vicinity of Cape Wrath.
       
  2220 MONTSERRAT detached to Scapa with defects.
       
28th April. 0100 LOCH GORM ) To R/V with convoy W.N.88 off Cape Wrath.
    NYASALAND )  
       
  0130 LOCH SCAVAIG) To R/V with convoy E.N.89 and support
    PAPUA                ) Northward.
       
  1600 MONTSERRAT arrived Scapa.
       
29th April.   LOCH GORM ) Supporting W.N.88 as far as May Island thence
    NYASALAND ) to Rosyth for lay over.
       
    PAPUA                ) Supporting convoy E.N.89 as far as Cape Wrath
    LOCH SCAVAIG) thence to Scapa for lay over.
       
30th April.   Group laying-over at Rostyh and Scapa.
       
       
       
       
       
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                           /1st May. . .
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
- 3 -
 
 
 
 
1st May.   PAPUA               ) At Scapa.
    MONTSERRAT  )  
    LOCH SCAVAIG)  
       
  1543 LOCH SCAVAIG departed Scapa to meet Convoy E.N.89 off Dunnet Head and to support to Cape Wrath.
       
    LOCH GORM ) Sailed from Rosyth 0800/1 supporting two
    NYASALAND ) troopships to Lerwick.  Departed Aberdeen
      1600B/1.
       
  2055 LOCH GORM ) Ordered to support troopships as far as
    NYASALAND ) Fail Isle thence to search as far as
      030 00' W. thence to position 590 00' N. 040 00' W. thence to patrol between Cape Wrath and Dunnet Head.
       
  2343 MONTSERRAT departed Scapa to join LOCH GORM and NYASALAND on patrol.
       
2nd May. 0653 LOCH SCAVAIG arrived Scapa.
       
3rd May. 0800 PAPUA                ) Departed Scapa to join MONTSERRAT, LOCH
    LOCH SCAVAIG) GORM and NYASALAND on patrol between
      Cape Wrath and Dunnet Head.
       
4th May. 0845   Senior Officer, Escort Group 23, ordered to detach 2 escorts to Duncansby Head to support convoy E.N.90 (4 ships - escort 3 trawlers).  On arrival Cape Wrath escorts to rejoin remainder of group on patrol.
       
5th May. 1000 LOCH SCAVAIG) left patrol to proceed to 29 buoy.
    MONTSERRAT  )  
    PAUPA               )  
       
    LOCH GORM  ) On patrol between Cape Wrath and Dunnet Head.
    NYASALAND )  
       
6th May. 0345 NYASALAND Detached to Londonderry.
    PAPUA Detached to loin LOCH GORM on patrol.
       
  0935 LOCH GORM) Ordered to meet W.N.89 at about 1200/6 off
    PAPUA           ) Cape Wrath and support south.
       
    MONTSERRAT   ) On arrival at 29 buoy to search for scuttled U-boat
    LOCH SCAVAIG ) in approx. position 270 degrees 29 buoy 4 miles.  (U-boat scuttled on 14th April.)
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                           /1730 . . .
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
- 4 -
 
 
 
 
  1730 MONTSERRAT  ) Ordered to proceed Northward until Convoy
    LOCH SCAVAIG) W.N.89 met.  Thence to continue South with convoy.
       
    LOCH GORM) On relief to part company and establish patrol
    PAPUA           ) between Cape Wrath and Dunnet Head.
       
7th May. 0945 LOCH GORM) Ordered to proceed to Scapa.
    PAPUA          ) Arrived 1700 approximately.
       
    MOMTSERRAT ) Ordered to part company with W.N.89 off May
    LOCH SCAVAIG) Island thence to proceed to Scapa.
      Arrived 2000 approximately.
       
8th May. 1230 MONTSERRAT  ) Sailed from Scapa escorting Tanker
    LOCH SCAVAIG) "TEAKWOOD" to Rosyth.
       
      Later ordered to part company off May Island and proceed to vicinity Tyne.
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
APPENDIX II.
 
     
 
AIR PATROLS BY 18 GROUP
 
 
 
 
                During the period under review, 18 Group Coastal Command aircraft were employed principally in the Northern transit area.
 
     
                  Coastal Patrols were, however, flown on the following dates:  
     
 
28th April. 1300 B
-
2245 B
   
 
8th May 0500 B
-
2355 B
   
 
9th May 0530 B
-
2330 B
 
     
          2.     Leuchars - Wick area was covered daily by aircraft proceeding to patrol area.  
     
          3.     On 23rd April :  
     
 
1730 from A/c C206 "Suspicious object attacked in position 560 24' N. 020 02' W.
   
1936 To A/c P/206 "Hunt U-boat reported in position 560 33' N.  020 10' W.
   
2102 Training aircraft F 547 reported "Corvette has contacted U-boat in position 560 36 N.  020 05' W.