Historical Background
To give an idea of the day to day activities of the naval activities in Malaya area. These are all taken from historical sources and edited together. This is only a small smattering of information just to give some indiction extra depth that may be added to the alternate history story lines.

The cargos are only War Office supplies despatched from the U.K. and thus do not represent the whole cargo of the ship. Weights are given in D.W.T. Dead Wieght Tons or Capacity Tons which represents the volume of cargo capacity ocupplied.

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MONDAY 1st DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: CAPE ST FRANCIS as an independent sailing

Departures: DAVIKEN, DIOMED and EMPRESS OF CANADA as independent sailings

 

Penang: Shipping movements

Arrival: EXFORD as an independent sailing

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TUESDAY 2nd DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: AGAPENOR  as an independent sailing

Departures: DENBIGHSHIRE and HEFFRON as independent sailings

Penang: Shipping Movements

Departure: EXFORD as an independent sailing

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WEDNESDAY 3rd DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: EXFORD as an independent sailing

Departures: AGAPENOR, BLITAR, CAPE ST FRANCIS, CHOMEDY, ELLENGA, HELENUS and ISMAILA as independent sailings

 

Penang: Shipping Movements

Arrival: DAVIKEN as an independent sailing

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THURSADAY 4th DECEMBER 1941

Admiral Phillips, accompanied by Paymaster Captain Beardsworth and Commander Goodenough left for Manila by air to confer with the Commander in Chief United States Asiatic Fleet.

 

Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in the East Indies proposed the transfer of three Catalinas without crews to British control, to assist in reconnaissance, which was accepted.

 

Commodore W.E. Parry, CB, First Naval Member of the New Zealand Naval Board arrived at Singapore by air from New Zealand for consultation with Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: NIEUW ZEELAND as an independent sailing

Departures: KEDOE, SEIRSTAD and TAYGETOS as independent sailings

 

Penang: Shipping Movements

Arrival: ISMAILA as an independent sailing

Departure: DAVIKEN as an independent sailing

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FIRDAY 5th DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departure: NIEUW ZEELAND; as an independent sailing

 

Penang: Shipping Movements

Arrivals: AGAPENOR, ELLENGA and WING SANG as independent sailings

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SATURDAY 6th DECEMBER 1941

During the day, Vice Admiral Sir G. Royle, First Naval Member of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Boar, accompanied by Paymaster Captain Foley and Commander Nicholls, arrived at Singapore in H.M.A.S. MANOORA for consultation with Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrivals: FREDERICK LYKES and IDA BAKKE as independent sailings

Departures: HEINRICH JESSEN and HIRAM as independent sailings

 

Penang: Shiiping movements

Arrival: COLBORNE as an independent sailing

Departure: ELLENGA as an independent sailing


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SUNDAY 7th DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departure\s: BUST and SOUDAN both as independent sailings

 

Penang: Shipping movements

Arrival: HEINRICH JESSEN as an independent sailing

Departure: OLYMPOS as an independent sailing

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MONDAY 8TH DECEMBER 1941

PANGKOR sailed from Penang with stores and party for Port N (Nancowry)

(Note: part of the MNBDO organization)

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departure: BRITISH JUDGE as an independent sailing

 

Penang: Shipping Movements

Arrival: GLENAPP and SOUDAN as independent sailings

Departure: DENBIGHSHIRE as an independent sailing

 

“Glenapp” sailed ex UK 1/10/41, at Batavia 22/11/41

15 ambulances; 23 other vehicles; 32 tons (plus 12 tons for Hong Kong) of M.T. stores; 430 tons (plus 5 tons for Hong Kong) explosives & ammo; 120 tons (plus 109 tons for Hong Kong) clothing; 155 tons wire; 1,117  tons (plus 10 tons for Hong Kong) R.E. & general ordnance stores; Total 869 (plus 42 for Hong Kong) D.W. tons = 2,839 (plus 139 for Hong Kong) tons of capacity.

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TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER 1941

Dutch cruiser JAVA arrived Singapore.

3 Dutch bomber squadrons arrived Singapore from Netherlands East Indies (they mustered, however, only 22 Glen Martins, of whom 8 were sent back for further training). 1 Fighter Squadron (12 Buffalos) arrived later.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: AYMERIC an independent sailing

 

Penang: Shipping Movements

Departure: HELENUS as an independent sailing

 

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WEDNESDAY 10TH DECEMBER 1941

1448 DRAGON ordered to take ERINPURA (with troops of India) to Port Swettenham rather than to Penang in view of danger from air attack.

1500 EXETER arrived Singapore.

1500 TENEDOS (detached from Force Z the previous evening) arrived at Singapore.

1530 TEVIOTBANK arrived Singapore having laid Northern portion of Durian Straits minefield.

1530 DOMINION MONARCH sailed for New Zealand independently.

1600 Dutch submarines K 11, K 12, K 13, K 17, and O 16 were ordered to commence sweep westwards towards Thai coast.

1800 S.S. NELLORE arrived from Hong Kong, having been unsuccessfully attacked by enemy aircraft on passage

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: HELENUS as an independent sailing

Departures: DOMINION MONARCH and MUI HOCK as independent sailings

 

Penang: Shipping movements

Departure: COLBORNE as an independent sailing

 

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THURSDAY 11TH DECEMBER 1941

PENANG: Enemy air attacks shifted to Penang, where Georgetown and the harbour were heavily bombed.

No ships were hit, but S.S. COLBOURNE was damaged by a near miss. All the larger ships were sent to sea (including SOUDAN and MAXIM GORKI) and the smaller were told to scatter. AGAPENOR and GLENAPP remained in harbour working ammunition, but sailed during the night.

 

Serious fires were started in Georgetown which got out of control, water mains being cut. Heavy casualties resulted in the Asiatic quarter, and the morale of the civil population fell rapidly.

Patrols hunted a reported submarine in the Singapore Strait without result.

 

Penang: Shipping Movements:

Departure: GLENAPP, HEINRICH JESSEN and SOUDAN as independent sailings

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FRIDAY 12TH DECEMBER 1941

 

Renewed air attacks on Penang, with bombs and machine guns. Patrol vessels and Georgetown objects of attack. Further effect on morale of Asiatic population which had by nightfall entirely deserted town. Causing all transport and public service to cease. Attitude of European civil population, including Government Administration, was one of complete helplessness.

H.M.S. KAMPAR was damaged by a very near miss and had to be beached.

Mergui was bombed by 50 aircraft.

 

A convoy of 7 merchant ships (5 for Australia and 2 for Colombo) was formed at Singapore and sailed, escorted by JAVA, KANIMBLA, and three destroyers. Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in East Indies was asked to provide A/S and Air escort for 13th and 14th December.

 

Admiralty ordered that the defences of Nancowry were not to be proceeded with, and that the MNBDO were to be employed at Addu Atoll and Ceylon.

 

Responsibility for the defence of Burma transferred from the Commander in Chief Far East to Commander in Chief India.

 

Five Fleet Air Arm Albacores at Seletar (non-operational) were transferred to Royal Air Force to reinforce Torpedo Bomber Squadrons.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departures: BUCHANAN, EXFORD and and HELENUS as an independent sailing

 

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SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER 1941

Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in East Indies stated the oil denial scheme in Dutch Borneo would not be started so long as supplies to Australia and our own forces could be maintained.

THANET and SCOUT sailed from Tarakan for Singapore.

Auxiliary Patrol Vessel BANKA operation on East Coast of Malaya, lost by striking a mine in one of our own minefields.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: ERINPURA as an independent sailing

Departures: independent sailings

ERICA MOLLER, IDA BAKKE, MARILYSE MOLLER and PEEBLES

Departures: Convoy SM.1

AMERICAN ROBIN, I KWANG, MAGNOLIA, MARUDU, MOBILFUEL, NELEUS and SILVERBEECH 

 

“Peebles” sailed ex UK 28/8/41, at Thursday Island 27/11/41, scheduled Singapore 15/12/41.

311 tons wire; 15 tons R.E. & General Ordnance stores; Total 311 D.W. tons = 337 tons of capacity.

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SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER 1941

TEVIOTBANK (escorted by VAMPIRE) was employed minelaying in the Pulo Aur area.

Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet informed Commander in Chief East Indies that KUNG WO was available at Nancowry and fitted for minelaying if required.

 

O 19 and O 20 left Singapore for operations off the East Coast, with the main objective of attacking enemy shipping off the Singgora - Kota Bharu area.

 

Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in the East Indies reported that submarine tender JANSSENS was being sent to Singapore with 32 torpedoes for Dutch submarines.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: COLBORNE as an independent sailing

 

Port Swettenham: Shipping movements

Departure: SOUDAN as an independent sailing

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MONDAY 15TH DECEMBER 1941

PANGKOR was ordered to Penang to assist in evacuation.

MAURITIUS left Singapore for Colombo, on partial completion of firemain defects, the remaining work being left to be done at Simonstown.

DANAE was ordered to proceed from Colombo to Singapore via Malacca Straits.

S.S. ULYSSES arrived Singapore safely from Hong Kong after being thought lost (reported bombed).

Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in East Indies informed Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet he could keep all Dutch submarines under his orders for the time being (CZM 0459Z/15). O 19 and O 20 ordered to proceed to Songhkla area. K 12 and K 13 to return to Singapore, if nothing sighted by dark; K 11 and K 17 continue to cover approaches to Kuantan and Pahang.

Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet asked Commander in Chief East Indies to sail DANAE from Colombo for Singapore at best speed.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: AGAPENOR and ULYSSES (Br) as independent sailings

 

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TUESDAY 16TH DECEMBER 1941

Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet ordered H.M.S. LIPIS and MAIMUNAH (Rajah’s Yacht) from Kuching to Singapore but the Rajah ordered the latter to remain.

 

DANAE sailed from Trincomalee for Singapore. She was ordered to bring all available steel helmets and gas masks for issue to survivors of PRINCE OF WALES and REPULSE, but could only get 140 helmets and 300 respirators.

 

SCOUT arrived Tanjong Prior

Dutch submarine K 12 arrived Singapore from patrol.

Patrol launches HUNG JAO and FANLING commenced patrol of East Coast rivers.

Commander in Chief East Indies requested KUNG WO might proceed to Trincomalee for minelaying operations.

 

Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in the East Indies ordered JAVA to Christmas Island on account of suspicions of enemy aircraft activity in that vicinity.

Australian Commonwealth Naval Board advised that Free French ship LE TRIOMPHANT should be retained in Pacific for the present.

Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet was asked whether his submarines were operating south of the Kudat – Padaran line. He reported that two United States submarines were there, but were being withdrawn to the North and Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet asked that they might remain for the present. Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet suggested mining operations off Camranh.

On December 16th, Japanese forces occupied Miri, whence we had already withdrawn our garrison and where full demolition had been carried out before the outbreak of hostilities. Our small garrison from Lutong withdrew successfully to Singapore in the LIPIS.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: GLENAPP  as an independent sailing

 

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WEDNESDAY 17TH DECEMBER 1941

TEVIOTBANK employed mining in Durian Straits.

STRONGHOLD and TENEDOS left Batavia for Singapore escorting BELLEROPHON and DOLIUS with war supplies.

JAVA examined Christmas Island for possible enemy activities but drew a blank.

 

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THURSDAY 18TH DECEMBER 1941

ENCOUNTER and THANET arrived Singapore.

Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet asked Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in the East Indies what he could do to protect northern Sumatra by patrol vessels.

EXPRESS was prepared for laying A mines.

Commander DENDY flew to Batavia to examine possibilities of manning Dutch cruiser SUMATRA and M.T.B.’s.

 

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FRIDAY 19TH DECEMBER 1941

SCOUT and 4 auxiliary patrol vessels were ordered to patrol off Medan and Sabang to prevent enemy access to North Sumatra, across the Straits of Malacca.

ERINPURA sailed from Singapore for Colombo with 30 officers, 700 men ex PRINCE OF WALES and REPULSE, and some women and children evacuees, escorted by DURBAN, DRAGON, and VAMPIRE.

Dutch submarine tender JANSSENS arrived Singapore.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrivals: BELLEROPHON and DOLIUS escorted (carrying munitions/war materials)

Departures: ERINPURA under escort (carrying survivors from “Force Z”)

 

“Bellepheron” sailed ex UK 24/9/41, at Thursday Island 30/11/41, scheduled arrival Singapore 19/12/41.

4 S/L lorries; 10 ambulances; 14 other vehicles; 40 tons (plus 5 tons for Hong Kong) M.T. stores; 774 tons (plus 34 tons for Hong Kong) explosives & ammo; 155 ton wire; 200 tons (plus 12 tons for Hong Kong) R.E. & General Ordnance stores; Total 414 (plus 76 for Hong Kong) D.W. tons = 2,754 (plus 50 for Hong Kong) tons of capacity.

???I will have to recheck documents as dead weight tonnages are not logical 

 

“Dolius” sailed ex UK 24/9/41, Thursday Island 30/11/41, scheduled arrival Singapore 19/12/41.

4 S/L lorries; 40 Ambulances; 17 other vehicles; (plus 13 tons M.T. stores for Hong Kong); 448 tons (plus 188 tons for Hong Kong)explosives & ammo; 200 tons of wire; (plus 9 tons R.E. & general ordnance stores for Hong Kong); Total 912 (plus 470 for Hong Kong) D.W. tons = 3,528 (plus 210 for Hong Kong) tons of capacity.

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SATURDAY 20TH DECEMBER 1941

TEVIOTBANK employed laying mines in Durian Straits.

Admiralty ordered Dutch submarine O 24 to be withdrawn from the North Atlantic Command and sent to the Far East via Mediterranean.

 

Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in the East Indies suggested that protection of the oil fuel plants at Pankalan Brandan and Pankalan Soesoe in Sumatra was most important and suggested patrol vessels should patrol between Tanjong Peruola and Pandang Lt. He could provide Catalina reconnaissance by daylight.

 

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SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER 1941

ULYSSES sailed from Singapore for Australia unescorted with 250 women and children.

A battery explosion occurred in Dutch submarine K 13 at Singapore. 3 killed and 3 injured.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: BRITISH JUDGE as an independent sailing

Departures: FREDERICK LYKES as an independent sailing

 

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MONDAY 22ND DECEMBER 1941

EXPRESS laid 18 A mines in the South Channel at Penang in order to interfere with enemy use of that port (see fuller report in Appendix VII). It was hoped also later on to reinforce the Japanese minefield in the North Channel by aircraft mining, but other air commitments did not permit this.

Dutch auxiliary JANSSENS left Singapore for Sourabaya with British naval personnel for manning Motor Torpedo Boats and a nucleus for SUMATRA.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departures: BASILEA, CHANGON, COLBORNE and ULYSSES (Br)  all as an independent sailings

 

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TUESDAY 23RD DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departures: BENALDER as an independent sailing

 

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WEDNESDAY 24TH DECEMBER 1941

TEVIOTBANK was employed minelaying off Horsborough Light.

A patrol was established with captured Japanese fishing vessels in the western part of Johore Strait.

HOBART and FALMOUTH left Colombo to join convoy BM 9 A.

Admiralty suggested DEMODOCUS should be sent to Colombo. Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet demurred on the ground that her refrigerated capacity was necessary at Singapore.

Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet considered moving the Y section of the Far East Combined Bureau to Colombo, in view of the irreplaceable nature of its personnel and material. Naval Board were asked for their views.

 

 

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THURSDAY 25TH DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: BASILEA  as an independent sailing

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FRIDAY 26TH DECEMBER 1941

DANAE sailed from Singapore for Batavia.

Admiralty directed Commander in Chief, Eastern Fleet to arrange for ISIS, VENDETTA, and ROVER (all undergoing long refits at Singapore) to be towed to steamed to India or Ceylon if and when necessary.

 

SCOUT proceeded to Soesoe for fuel, but was unable to obtain any there and returned to Sabang.

Commander R.J.R. Dendy returned from Batavia and reported that it would not be worthwhile to commission SUMATRA with a mixed Dutch and British crew in view of her poor armament and steaming power.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: HAI LEE as an independent sailing

 

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SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER 1941

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: BUST as an independent sailing

Departures: BASILEA as an independent sailing

 

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SUNDAY 28TH DECEMBER 1941

Enemy aircraft raided Medan in Sumatra and shipping in the Malacca Straits. It was also reported that parachute troops had been dropped in Medan but this proved to be false. The Dutch tanker ALDEGONDA was bombed and set on fire, but arrived safely at Soesoe on the 29th. SCOUT and Sumatra coast patrol were ordered to search for and assist her, but failed to find her. 14 of the crew of S.S. FORAFRIC arrived Kwandang and reported ship had been bombed and sunk.

JUPITER and ENCOUNTER sailed for Batavia.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departures: ISMAILA all as an independent sailings

 

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MONDAY 29TH DECEMBER 1941

Dutch tanker ALDEGONDA arrived Pangkalan Soesoe after being bombed and set on fire in Malacca Straits.

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TUESDAY 30TH DECEMBER 1941

KUDAT, on patrol on west coast of Malaya, was ordered to patrol by night and lie up by day, but she was heavily attacked by dive bombing in the S.W. approaches to Port Swettenham during the day and sunk with 2 killed and 9 wounded (all Malays)

TEVIOTBANK was employed on local minelaying in the South Channel of Singapore Strait.

Johore Straits were swept for possible mines from last night’s attack. No result.

ANKING was ordered to be prepared for possible use as Base and Communications Ship at Batavia.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Arrival: MARILYSE MOLLER as an independent sailing

Departures: HAI LEE as an independent sailing

 

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WEDNESDAY 31ST DECEMBER 1941

KELANTAN, on Sumatra coast patrol, was attacked by enemy aircraft.

 

Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet asked Command in Chief East Indies, at request of Dutch, to do his best to get Dutch ships sent on from India from Oosthaven. Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces in Far East was asked to send on RUYS with refrigerated stores to Singapore.

 

Commander in Chief Netherlands Naval Forces reported that Dutch merchant shipping was still using the West Coast of Borneo as far North as 00-25N.

 

ORION (1063) and MARNIX VAN ST ALDEGONDE (560) sailed from Singapore for Australia and Cape Town, respectively with refugees (mainly European women and children) escorted by TENEDOS and THANET as far as Sunda Strait.

 

Two night air raids on Singapore:

1). 2250-2315. 27 Army T 97 bombers attacked Senoko oil depot and Seletar area. Some bombs in oil depot. No damage. Incendiaries in lines of 2/15 Punjabis in Naval Base; all put out by troops. Our fighters failed to contact.

2). 0435. 4 or more aircraft bombed Kallang. Bombs fell outside Airport Hotel. 17 civilian casualties. No damage to airport.

 

Singapore: Shipping movements

Departures: BONTEKOE, BRITISH JUDGE, LYEMUN, MARNIX VAN ST ALDEGONDE  and ORION  all as independent sailings.

 

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Cheers

Geoff