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The London Gazette of TUESDAY, the Ist of JULY, 1947 Published by Registered As a Newspaper

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The London Gazette of TUESDAY, the Ist of JULY, 1947 Published by Registered As a Newspaper 38005 3047 SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the ist of JULY, 1947 published by Registered as a newspaper THURSDAY, 3 JULY, 1947 FIRST AND SECOND BATTLES OF Layman) and HAVOCK (Lieutenant-Com- NARVIK ON loW AND 13$* APRIL mander R. E. Courage), left Sullom Voef at 1940 RESPECTIVELY. dawn on 7th April, in company with the The following Despatch was submitted on the Twentieth Destroyer Flotilla and joined 25th April, 1940, to the Lords Commissioners RENOWN north of the Shetlands. The whole of the Admiralty 'by Rear Admiral R. H. C. force proceeded in company towards Vest Fiord, Hallifax, Rear Admiral (D1), Home Fleet. destroyers being eventualy detached to lay the minefield off Eggdoysa at dawn, 8th April, Rear Admiral (Z>), Home Fleet, 1940. HM.S. Woolwich. 3. After guarding the (minefield for a few z$th April, 1940. hours reports of 2 enemy destroyers were re- ceived from GLQWiWGRM and ships of the Be pleased to lay before the Board a narra- Second Destroyer Flotilla joined RENOWN tive of the First Battle of Narvik, which has southwest of the Lofoten Islands before dark. been prepared by the Commanding Officer, H.M.S. HOTSPUR, the senior surviving officer, 4. At daylight on 9th April, 1940, the and the report of the C.O. H.M.S. HAVOCK. RENOWN encountered SCHARNHORST and (Sgd.) R. H. C. HALLIFAX, HIPPER. The Second Destroyer Flotilla, Rear Admiral. stationed astern of RENOWN carried out a divi- sional concentration on HIPPER but the range H.M.S. HOTSPUR. was probably too great. All destroyers were 25th April, 1940. soon left behind in the heavy seas, but not before both HARDY and HUNTER had nar- SIR, rowly escaped being hit. I have the honour to forward herewith re- ports from H.M. Ships HOTSPUR and 5. The Second Destroyer Flotilla was then HOSTILE on the destroyer raid on Narvik detached to patrol east of the Lofoten Islands. on roth April, 1940. As senior surviving After about two hours this patrol was broken officer of this raid, -I feel I should also attempt off on receipt of orders to go to Narvik. Just to give some co-ordinated account. In doing 'before leaving her patrol position HOTSPUR so, 1 am using information obtained from made visual contact with REPULSE. H.M. Ships HOTSPUR, HOSTILE and sur- 6. (Available reports tended to show that viving officers from H.M.S. HARDY. No Narvik was only lightly held so the flotilla was report has yet been received from H.M.S. stopped off Tranoy at about 1600 to obtain in- HAViOCK and of course, nothing is available formation and HOSTILE (Commander J. P. from H.M.S. HUNTER. Wright) joined. It was then learnt that the 2. HARDY (Captain B. A. W. Warburton- enemy held the place in force. Lee*), HUNTER (Lieutenant-Commander L. 7. The following " Most Immediate " mes- de Villiers), HOTSPUR (Commander H. F. H. sage was sent by Captain (D), Second Destroyer * Admiralty footnote: Captain (D), 2nd Destroyer f Admiralty footnote: Sullom Voe—a harbour Jo Flotilla. the Shetland Isle. 3048 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 JULY, 1947 Flotilla, to AdimiraHjy, Commander-in-Chief, 13. By this time the enemy destroyers and Home Fleet and Vice Admiral Commanding shore batteries inside the harbour had opened Battle Cruiser Squadron. fire. The shore guns all used tracer ammuni- " Norwegians report Germans holding tion, which appeared to be smaller than 4 in. Narvik in force also 6 destroyers and i sub- and the shooting was not accurate. marine are there and channel is possibly 14. HOTSPUR and HOSTILE saw nothing mined. to the northward of Narvik though low visibility Intend attacking at dawn, high water." prevented a proper examination of Rombaks T.O.O.* 1751/9/4/40. and Herjangs Fiords. These two ships covered No permission to attack was asked or further the retirement of the other three from the inner instructions sought. I submit that this message, harbour by putting up a smoke screen, which made by the late Captain Warburton-Lee, seemed very effective. HOTSPUR then fired 4 should 'be given a place in our historical records. torpedoes into the harbour and hit two merchant ships, which sank. At least six torpedoes were 8. The Admiralty replied as follows in mes- fired by the enemy out of the harbour but all sage 0136/10 to Captain (D), Second Destroyer missed or ran under without exploding. Flotilla, repeated Vice Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron, and Commander-in- 15. All five ships then approached the Chief, Home Fleet. harbour entrance again and engaged any suit- able targets they could see. This time a fairly " Norwegian coast defence ships intense fire was encountered from shore batteries EIDSVOLD and NORGE may foe in German and enemy destroyers but the flotilla was able hands. You alone can judge whether in to withdraw, practically undamaged, to a these circumstances attack should be made. position off Skjomnes. We shall support whatever decision you take." 16. On board HARDY the position was then summed up as follows. The Flotilla had been 9. The plan for the attack was given by off an enemy harbour for over an hour and Captain (D) Second Destroyer Flotilla in the were undamaged. A surprise attack had been following messages to the flotilla: — made and 24 torpedoes had been fired into the 1430/9 as amended by 1955/9, with a final harbour. HOSTILE still had her full outfit of addition in message 2040/9. The gist of torpedoes whilst HOTSPUR had 4, HAVOCK 3 these messages was briefly as follows. Ships and HARDY i torpedo remaining. There was were to be at action stations from 0030/10 no sign of enemy warships outside the harbour as enemy batteries were reported on both and those inside must have been either sunk or sides of Ofot Fiord near Ramsundet. On damaged. It was estimated that 3 or 4 enemy approaching Narvik, HARDY, HUNTER warships had been inside the harbour and that and HAVOCK were to attack ships in the probably only 2 were somewhere outside and inner harbour. HOTSPUR and HAVOCK could be dealt with if met. Captain (D), were to engage batteries reported on Framne- Second Destroyer Flotilla, therefore, decided to sodden and any ships seen to the north west. make one more attack on the harbour. These two ships were also to cover the re- 17. At about 0520 HARDY led the Flotilla tirement of those in the inner harbour, with into the final attack on the harbour, ships smoke. All ships were to be ready to send forming astern of her in the order HAVOCK, a small landing party in the event of opposi- HUNTER, HOTSPUR and HOSTILE. A speed tion proving light. of 15 knots was not exceeded and the line was 10. The 50 mile passage from Tranoy to snaked to keep guns bearing on the harbour Narvik was made in continuous snowstorms entrance, now shrouded in mist. As each ship with visibility seldom greater than 2 cables. turned to port off the harbour entrance, shore Ships were twice separated owing to merchant batteries or any other targets visible were vessels passing through the line and on the one engaged. Whilst turning, HOSTILE .fired 4 occasion that land was seen the whole flotilla torpedoes into the harbour and one enemy almost ran aground. The safe arrival of ships torpedo passed harmlessly underneath her. off Narvik at 0415 on loth April, 1940, is a She was also hit by a shell just abaft her star- tribute to the skill of the navigating officer of board anchor but this did little damage. HARDY (Lieutenant-Commander R. C. 18. Just after turning to port HARDY sighted Gordon-Smith) and to the handling of the ships enemy ships north of Narvik and Captain (D), in rear. Second Destroyer Flotilla, made an enemy 11. HARDY immediately entered the har- report " i enemy cruiser and 3 enemy bour at Narvik. After backing and filling among destroyers off Narvik. Am withdrawing to the the merchant ships at anchor she fired torpe- westward." T.O.O. 0551/10. At the same does, 3 at a warship and 4 more into the north- time he ordered the Flotilla to withdraw at eastern corner of the harbour. One torpedo 30 knots. must have hit the warship, as there was a 19. Whilst turning to port and withdrawing to violent explosion and sparks came out of her. the west, the Flotilla engaged these enemy ships HARDY then used her guns on another warship at ranges between 6,000 and 8,000 yards. The seen at anchor and then withdrew. enemy replied but did no damage. 12. Surprise had been complete and the 20. When about half way along the Ofot Fiord HARDY sighted 2 more warships about enemy had not yet opened fire. HUNTER and 3 miles ahead crossing from port to starboard. HAVOCK now entered the harbour. HUNTER At first she hoped they might be our own fired 4 torpedoes at a destroyer and 4 more at cruisers and made the challenge; but it was some other target but the result is not known. answered by a salvo. Captain (D), Second HAVOCK fired 5 torpedoes and secured hits on Destroyer Flotilla, soon identified the 2 ships a destroyer with gunfire. as large German destroyers (Leberecht Maas * Admiralty footnote: T.O.O.—Time of origin. Class) and engaged them. SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 JULY, 1947 3049 21. Captain (D), Second Destroyer Flotilla, 160 men got ashore. The epic story of how then made to the Flotilla " Keep on engaging most bf itbe'se men reached the village of! enemy." T.O.O.
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