052 053, Page 1 @ Normalize

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

052 053, Page 1 @ Normalize 52 Feature THE SUNDAY TIMES I October 4, 2009 53 A Maltese seaman on a Polish submarine Alfred Conti Borda The Maltese have always had close links with the Royal Navy, with many serving on board ships in times of war and peace. Officers’ Steward Paul Camilleri not only served on British warships but had the added distinction of being the only Maltese to be a member of the crew of the Polish submarine Sokol during World War II. Camilleri was born in 1921 in Rabat, where he attended the gov- ernment primary school. In the early 1930s he worked as a bar attendant at the former Għajn Tuffieħa Hotel. On June 22, 1939, he voluntarily joined the Royal Navy as assistant steward on HMS St The destroyer HMS Cossack steaming out of Grand Harbour in 1939. Angelo, following the example of a number of his relatives who had enlisted in the Royal Navy before him. On September 1, Germany invaded Poland, and two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany. On November 1, Camilleri and eight other Maltese joined the destroyer HMS Cossack. The ship left for Portland in England for a refit and then proceeded to the North Sea to protect Allied convoys in the Atlantic. However, on the first night, as a blanket of shrouded the sea, Cos- sack collided with a merchant ship A bearded Paul Camilleri while serving on the Polish submarine and five of the destoryer’s seamen Sokol in 1942. were killed. Consequently, Cossack had to return to the dock for repairs. Sokol at Gibraltar, homeward-bound, proudly displaying the Jolly Roger. The stripes denote sunk HMS Volage, minus her bow, after hitting a mine in the Corfu Back on patrol, the destroyer enemy supply ships, the stars gunfire combats, the crossed cannon enemy ships sunk by cannon fire, channel near Albania, being towed by the cruiser HMS Leander on escorted convoys to Britain. On one the crossed sabres boarding of enemy ships and the grating, the forcing of a net barrier. The cruiser HMS Defender in full regalia for a special occasion in 1957. October 22, 1946. occasion, due to very heavy seas, the convoy lost some merchant- refloated on the tide. In October dispatches for his distinguished ser- that it would be the Tirpitz hiding in boats, trawlers, schooners and men; a certain Joseph Aquilina 1940, the flotilla, including Cossack, vice while serving on HMS Cossack. the Norwegian fjords. troopships. from Floriana, the captain’s stew- intercepted a German convoy close The Polish ensign had been In December 1942, the Sokol was Back at the dock in Malta the ard on Cossack, was washed over- to Norway and sank all three mer- raised on January 19, 1941, on the deployed for patrol off Bear Island Sokol was again subjected to heavy board by a huge wave and never chant ships and two escorting British U-class submarine HMS to provide support for the safe pas- bombardment by enemy planes. A seen again. sloops. Cossack was also involved Urchin and renamed Sokol under sage of Russian convoys to Kola Polish navy officer living in Brighton At the beginning of February in the 3,000-mile chase of the Ger- the command of the Polish Captain Inlet. Enemy patrols were also Flats in Sliema sent Camilleri on an 1940, off Norway, Cossack, with man battleship Bismarck in the Boris Karnicki. Camilleri made constantly hindering the Allied errand. In the meantime the Luft- Captain Vian at the helm, received Atlantic. many friends among the Polish sea- convoys. waffe carried out a raid. When a direct signal from the Admiralty to On June 22, 1941, Camilleri was men and was invited to join the Camilleri described one typical Camilleri returned he found that intercept a convoy of four enemy promoted to steward and a month Sokol. Capt. Karnicki passed a word Arctic action during a moonlit the flats had been flattened by a ships which included the infamous later Cossack escorted convoys to to Capt. G.W.G. Simpson, the com- night. The klaxon sounded, mean- bomb blast. prison ship, the Altmark. This ship Malta. The ship was attacked by the manding officer of HMS Talbot at ing Action Stations, and every man Life on a submarine was topsy- had taken about 300 prisoners-of- Luftwaffe as she was approaching Lazzaretto, Gżira, who allowed ran to his post. The Sokol, which turvy. Since the submarine was war, including one Maltese, after Camilleri to serve as steward on the had been charging its batteries on underwater during the day, a night Steward Paul Camilleri (right) with an unidentified British the German battleship Graf Spee Polish submarine. This had been the surface, dived at once. Capt. schedule was observed, but when colleague on HMS Cossack in 1940. had sunk nine British merchant- “Camilleri came damaged in the blitz on Malta and Karnicki put up the periscope and she surfaced at night, a morning men and had transferred some of was leaving for Gibraltar for repairs identified an enemy ship. Four tor- timetable was followed, with break- their seamen to the Altmark. ashore on leave and because these could not be carried pedoes were fired, hitting the tar- fast being served at 7 p.m. Cossack succeeded to locate the did not rejoin out on the island. get. There was no time to check On a patrol off Greece, Sokol Altmark and shadowed her prey. Camilleri was glad to leave as he whether the ship had sunk as the encountered a minefield so she The cruiser HMS Orion leaving Grand Harbour on January 1, 1946. On February 16, seamen from the Cossack. A few felt safer away from Lazzaretto since captain saw an anti-submarine ves- dived underneath it. Up periscope! destroyer boarded Altmark in the it was being targeted by the Luft- sel closing fast on its quarry and The captain caught sight of a col- Sokol returned to Malta on Fortunately there was no damage and towed Saumarez. In so doing and he joined the hotel and cater- Jossing fjord in Norway after avoid- months later she waffe. In fact, the British sub- Sokol had to make a quick getaway. umn of smoke on the horizon. It March 17, 1943. Camilleri to the ships or any casualties. she too struck a mine at 4.15 p.m. ing industry. He worked as head ing coastguard ships of then neutral was torpedoed and marines were either spending their Depth charges were fired at the was an enemy troopship also car- remained on the island, attached On July 16, 1946, Camilleri was Both destroyers lost their bows. barman at the Dragonara Hotel Norway. In the ensuing scuffle time submerged in Grand Harbour approximate position of the sub- rying trucks and tanks. The Sokol to the submarine base Talbot and transferred to the light cruiser Bad weather made towing by the and Casino and later at the Grand seven members of Altmark’s crew sank in the to avoid being bombed or other- marine. The crew on board the stalked her and then fired two tor- then to Medway II as spare crew HMS Leander. On October 22, a cruisers difficult. So the damaged Hotel Verdala in Rabat. were killed and all the British POWs Atlantic” wise repaired as soon as possible, Sokol did not utter a word or make pedoes. Two explosions were heard steward. He was sorry to leave the Royal Navy flotilla made up of the ships had to sail stern first as best In 1980, through his connection were freed, returning to Scotland on leaving immediately to patrol the a sound, so as not to betray their and the crew cheered. Sokol and her crew as he had made cruiser HMS Mauritius, Leander as they could. Camilleri was safe, with the Polish Navy in the war, Cossack. It was a triumph for the Mediterranean Sea. whereabouts. There was nothing The enemy ship sank, but escort- many friends among them who and the destroyers Saumarez and but 44 seamen, including at least Camilleri received a diploma and Royal Navy in the old traditional On November 21, 1942, Camilleri they could do except wait for the ing enemy motor torpedo boats also taught him Polish. He was one Maltese, were killed, while 42 a Cross of Freedom from the Pol- way of boarding enemy ships. the island. Camilleri came ashore finally sailed on the Sokol, which explosion of the depth charges. One sped towards Sokol, which dived later drafted to HMS St Angelo for were injured in the incident. ish Government-in-exile in Kenil- The destroyer HMS Saumarez down by the bow after being mined Hitler invaded Norway on April on leave and did not rejoin Cossack had a crew of 32 Polish seamen, muffled sound was followed by deeper and deeper. Depth charges general service and promoted to “Sokol dived Camilleri again served on St worth Road, London. The award in the Corfu channel incident. 9, 1940. Shortly afterwards, Cossack and she left within two hours. A few three British and, of course, a Mal- another and still another. However, were fired. A muffled explosion was Leading Steward on June 1, 1945. Angelo several times, and on was for outstanding action during participated in the second Battle of months later, on October 24, she tese. The journey to Gibraltar took the receding noise of the enemy heard in the distance, another and On October 8 that year he joined deeper and deeper. August 15, 1951, he was promoted the war. Narvik in which British destroyers was torpedoed by U-563 while 14 days since only one battery out boat’s propellers meant that the still another.
Recommended publications
  • The British Commonwealth and Allied Naval Forces' Operation with the Anti
    THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND ALLIED NAVAL FORCES’ OPERATION WITH THE ANTI-COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS IN THE KOREAN WAR: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE OPERATION ON THE WEST COAST By INSEUNG KIM A dissertation submitted to The University of Birmingham For the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of History and Cultures College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham May 2018 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT This thesis examines the British Commonwealth and Allied Naval forces operation on the west coast during the final two and a half years of the Korean War, particularly focused on their co- operation with the anti-Communist guerrillas. The purpose of this study is to present a more realistic picture of the United Nations (UN) naval forces operation in the west, which has been largely neglected, by analysing their activities in relation to the large number of irregular forces. This thesis shows that, even though it was often difficult and frustrating, working with the irregular groups was both strategically and operationally essential to the conduct of the war, and this naval-guerrilla relationship was of major importance during the latter part of the naval campaign.
    [Show full text]
  • Revisiting and Early Naval Incident of the Cold War: Archaeological Identification of the Bow of HMS Volage Sunk During the Corf
    Notes 1 During the 2008 field season the bay of Porto Polermo and its entrance was completed. 2 Multibeam data was acquired through Kongsberg’s SIS software, processed in CARIS HIPS/SIPS, and modeled in IVS Fledermaus software for anomaly analysis. All acquisition and processing of data was performed by surveyors contracted from Highland Geo Solutions Inc. of Fredericton, NB, Canada. 3 IVS kindly provided a prototype software module that allowed the tracking of all vessels within James P. Delgado INA the 3-D models of the seafloor in Jeffery Royal RPM Nautical Foundation Fledermaus. Adrian Anastasi University of Tirana 4 Although it is not clear from the evidence if this was the scuttled Austro-Hungarian submarine U-72, the German U-24, or whether a Revisiting and Early Naval Incident of the Cold British submarine (possibly the H2) that was also lost in the area. War: Archaeological Identification of the Bow 5 Not only were modern war craft a common find, but a spent of HMS Vol ag e Sunk During the Corfu missile was also found in target confirmation. There have been Channel Incident of October 22, 1946 many tons of munitions from the HMS Volage, various 20th-century conflicts from Pingbosun, removed from Montengro’s waters Destroyers by the RDMC; however, all of the Second Album, finds discussed here were at depths Picasa. over 60 m. 6 The heavy concentration of Roman and Late Roman-era amphoras littering the seafloor, some of which are intrusive on Archaic-Hellenist Greek wreck sites, probably led to confusion. 7 Lindhagen 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • Ajax New Past up For
    H.M.S. Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2012 CONTENTS Chairman/Editor's Remarks Visit to Montevideo Presentation to Frank Burton Archivist Report Membership Secretary Report Missing Royal Navy Life AGM Agenda NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. Honorary Freeman of Rhyl CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST It is with huge pleasure that I include an article describing NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis the very prestigious honour of becoming an Honorary Peter Danks ‘Glenmorag’ Freeman of Rhyl which was bestowed on Roy Turner. I am 104 Kelsey Avenue Little Coxwell sure that all members of the Association send Roy our Southbourne Faringdon sincere congratulations on this tremendous honour. Emsworth Oxfordshire SN7 7LW Hampshire PO10 8NQ Tel: 01367 240382 From the Daily Post, June 22nd, 2012: Tel: 01243 371947 Mobile: 07736 929641 A retired businessman who has given over 50 years’ service to the [email protected] [email protected] community has become the first Honorary Freeman of Rhyl. The Town Council decided to bestow the honour on 84-year-old Roy TREASURER MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Turner as a ceremony on Wednesday night, under new powers recently Alf Larkin Mrs Judi Collis given to town and community councils. 5 Cockles Way ‘Glenmorag’ Weymouth Little Coxwell, Faringdon Born in Stoke-on-Trent, he moved with his family to Rhyl in 1938 and Dorset DT4 9LT Oxfordshire SN7 7LW attended the local county school. In 1946 he joined Royal Navy cruiser Tel: 01305 775553 Tel: 01367 240382 ship HMS Ajax. Roy Turner [email protected] Mobile: 07736 929641 Back in Rhyl, Mr Turner established a flooring contractors business and he became active in the life [email protected] of the community.
    [Show full text]
  • World War II at Sea This Page Intentionally Left Blank World War II at Sea
    World War II at Sea This page intentionally left blank World War II at Sea AN ENCYCLOPEDIA Volume I: A–K Dr. Spencer C. Tucker Editor Dr. Paul G. Pierpaoli Jr. Associate Editor Dr. Eric W. Osborne Assistant Editor Vincent P. O’Hara Assistant Editor Copyright 2012 by ABC-CLIO, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data World War II at sea : an encyclopedia / Spencer C. Tucker. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-59884-457-3 (hardcopy : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-59884-458-0 (ebook) 1. World War, 1939–1945—Naval operations— Encyclopedias. I. Tucker, Spencer, 1937– II. Title: World War Two at sea. D770.W66 2011 940.54'503—dc23 2011042142 ISBN: 978-1-59884-457-3 EISBN: 978-1-59884-458-0 15 14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4 5 This book is also available on the World Wide Web as an eBook. Visit www.abc-clio.com for details. ABC-CLIO, LLC 130 Cremona Drive, P.O. Box 1911 Santa Barbara, California 93116-1911 This book is printed on acid-free paper Manufactured in the United States of America To Malcolm “Kip” Muir Jr., scholar, gifted teacher, and friend. This page intentionally left blank Contents About the Editor ix Editorial Advisory Board xi List of Entries xiii Preface xxiii Overview xxv Entries A–Z 1 Chronology of Principal Events of World War II at Sea 823 Glossary of World War II Naval Terms 831 Bibliography 839 List of Editors and Contributors 865 Categorical Index 877 Index 889 vii This page intentionally left blank About the Editor Spencer C.
    [Show full text]
  • Rofworld •WKR II
    '^"'^^«^.;^c_x rOFWORLD •WKR II itliiro>iiiiii|r«trMit^i^'it-ri>i«fiinit(i*<j|yM«.<'i|*.*>' mk a ^. N. WESTWOOD nCHTING C1TTDC or WORLD World War II was the last of the great naval wars, the culmination of a century of warship development in which steam, steel and finally aviation had been adapted for naval use. The battles, both big and small, of this war are well known, and the names of some of the ships which fought them are still familiar, names like Bismarck, Warspite and Enterprise. This book presents these celebrated fighting ships, detailing both their war- time careers and their design features. In addition it describes the evolution between the wars of the various ship types : how their designers sought to make compromises to satisfy the require - ments of fighting qualities, sea -going capability, expense, and those of the different naval treaties. Thanks to the research of devoted ship enthusiasts, to the opening of government archives, and the publication of certain memoirs, it is now possible to evaluate World War II warships more perceptively and more accurately than in the first postwar decades. The reader will find, for example, how ships in wartime con- ditions did or did not justify the expecta- tions of their designers, admiralties and taxpayers (though their crews usually had a shrewd idea right from the start of the good and bad qualities of their ships). With its tables and chronology, this book also serves as both a summary of the war at sea and a record of almost all the major vessels involved in it.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction This Is a Hardback Reprint of the Original Book, Published in 2011
    Destroyer D01 – the story of HMS Caprice 1942 - 1979 Introduction This is a hardback reprint of the original book, published in 2011. I have made some revisions and additions from information received since then. The idea for this book came from the HMS Caprice (1968) Association; originally to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Caprice’s memorable cruise around the world in 1968. However, with input from the Association’s website and from material provided from many who had served aboard during the destroyer’s 30 years service it became obvious that we had become the de facto archives for the ship’s entire history. Despite its D01 pennant number Caprice was not the Royal Navy's first destroyer! She was, however, 'one of the best' to many who served in her. She also was the first of her class to be launched and the last to finally decommission. This, then, is the story of HMS Caprice and of all those who served in her during her service with the fleet from 1943 to 1973. I have tried to include as much human interest material as possible – a warship is much more than just steel and guns – it’s all about the men who live, work and play in her. Those who man the guns, keep watch, scrub the decks, cook the food, operate and maintain the machinery, keep a lookout, monitor the radar and sonar, it is they that make a warship what it is. Although we are nominally claiming copyright for this book anyone may freely use the information and images contained within, providing it is not for commercial profit.
    [Show full text]
  • Affaire Du Detroit De Corfou the Corfu Channel Case
    [CL-0251] COUR INTERNA TIO NALE DE JUSTICE RECUEIL DES ARRETS, AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES , AFFAIRE DU DETROIT DE CORFOU (FOND) ARRET DU 9 AVP.IL 191t9 1949 INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE REPORTS OF JUDGMENTS, ADVISORY OPINIONS AND ORDERS THE CORFU CHANNEL CASE (MERITS) JUDGMENT OF APRIL 9th, 191t9 LEYDE LEYDEN SOCIETE D'EDITIONS A. W. SIJTHOFF'S A. W. SIJTHOFF PUBLISHING COMPANY Le present arret doit etre cite comme suit : « Affaire du Detroit de Corfou, Arret du 9 avril 1949: C. I. ]. Recueil 1949, p. 4. » This Judgment should be cited as follows : "Corfu Channel case, Judgment of April 9th, 1949: I. C. ]. Reports 1949, p. 4-" N° de vente: }5 Sales number 4 INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE 1949. YEAR 1949. April 9th. General List April 9th, 1949. No. 1. THE CORFU CHANNEL CASE (MERITS) International responsibility for explosion of mines in territorial waters.--Connivance with another State; •evidence.-Minelaying by persons unknown.-Knowledge of minelaying by State party.to proceed­ ings : control of territory as ground for responsibility ; its influence on the choice of means of proof ; indirect evidence, concordant inferences of fact.-Breach of obligations resulting from knowledge of minelaying, grounds for responsibility.-Court's jurisdiction to assess amount of compensation; interpretation of Special Agreement; subsequent attitude of Parties. Right of passage of warships in time oJ peace through straits connect­ ing two parts of the high seas.-International custom.-Straits in which right of passage exists.-North Corfu Channel.-lnnocent passage; purpose of passage and manner of its execution.-Production of docu­ ments at Court's request ; refusal to produce ; Article 49 of Statute of Court and Article 54 of Rules.-Minesweeping undertaken in terri­ torial waters contrary to wish of territorial State ; justification der{ved from theory of intervention and notion of self-help.-Violation of terri­ torial sovereignty ; international responsibility ; satisfaction in form of a declaration by the Court of violation of right.
    [Show full text]
  • Corfuchannel.Pdf
    COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE RECUEIL DES ARRÊTS, AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES AFFAIRE DU DETROIT DE CORFOU (FOND) ARRET DU 9 AVRIL 1949 INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE REPORTS OF JUDGMENTS, ADVISORY OPINIONS AND ORDERS THE CORFU CHANNEL CASE (MERITS) jttbGlMENT OF APRIL 9th, 1949 LEYDE LEY DEN SOCIÉTÉ D'ÉDITIONS A. W. SIJTHOFF'S A. W. SIJTHOFF Il PUBLISHING COMPANY Le présent arrêt doit être cité comme suit : « A$aire du Dklroit & CorJou, Arrêt dzl g avril 1949 : C. I. J. Rec~cez~ZIH~, p. 4. )) This Judgment should be cited as foiiows : "Corfic ChanneZ case, Judgment of April gth, 1949 : I.C.J. Reports 1949, P. 4." COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE 1949. ANNEE 1949 Le g avril. Rôle général no 1. 9 avril 1949. AFFAIRE DU DÉTROIT DE CORFOU (FOND) Responsabilité internationale du chef d'explosions de tnines dans les eaux terriforiales. - Connivence avec un autre État ;preuves. - Mouil- lage par auteurs inconnus. - Connaissance du mouillage chez l'État mis en cause :notion du contr6le comme fondement de la responsabilité ; son influence sur le choix des rnqyens de preuve; moyens de preuve indirecte, présomptions de fait concordantes. - Manquement aux obli- gations résultant de la connaissance du mouillage, fondement de la respon- sabilité. - Compétence de la Cour aux fins de fixer le montant des réparations ; interprétation du compromis ; attitude ultérieure des Parties. Droit de passage en temps de paix des navires de guerre par les détroits reliant deux zones de haute mer. - Coutume internationale. - Détroits à l'égard desquels existe un droit de passage. - Détroit Nord de Corfou. - Passage innocent ;but du passage ;tnodalités dexécution.
    [Show full text]
  • MHA June 2019 Journa
    Volume 30, No. 2 June 2019 MARITIME HERITAGE ASSOCIATION JOURNAL A Submarine on Your Beach * HMAS Sydney—First Salvo * Sutton Hoo ship replica to be built * * Joseph Conrad writes about the ship Torrens Replica of the helmet found on the Sutton Hoo ship Photo: British Museum Office Bearers President: Nick Burninham Email: [email protected] Minutes Secretary: Jill Worsley Email: [email protected] Treasurer: Bob Johnson Email: [email protected] Editor: Peter Worsley Email: [email protected] 12 Cleopatra Drive, Mandurah, 6210 www.maritimeheritage.org.au www.facebook.com/maritimeheritage EDITORIAL You will have noticed the new cover layout in the cation they have put in over their periods of ten- journal. This was re-designed after some opinions ure. in the replies to the questionnaire sent out last year. The new design was suggested by Barbara At the recent MHA Annual General Meeting the following office bearers were elected: Shardlow, and your comments to the editor on the design would be appreciated. You may have also President: Nick Burningham noted the change in the printing. This is now be- Vice-president: Murray Kornweibel ing done locally by a company here in Mandurah. Minutes Secretary: Jill Worsley Treasurer: Bob Johnson Those who attended the launching of MHA’s lat- Editor: Peter Worsley est publication, A Hazardous Life by Ian and Ron Committee: Jill Worsley Forsyth know of the great effort put into this pub- Committee: Steve Gilmour lication, not just by the authors but by Julie and Committee: Jim Gregg Marcia. Their efforts have been vital to bring this book to a point where MHA could publish.
    [Show full text]
  • The Law of Neutrality
    CHAPTER? The Law of Neutrality 7.1 INTRODUCTION he law ofneutrality defines the legal relationship between nations engaged T in an anned conflict (belligerents) and nations not taking part in such hostilities (neutrals). The law of neutrality serves to localize war, to limit the conduct of war on both land and sea, and to lessen the impact of war on InternatJ.on. al commerce. 1 Developed at a time when nations customarily issued declarations of war before engaging in hostilities? the law of neutrality contemplated that the transition between war and peace would be clear and unambiguous. With the advent of international efforts to abolish "war,,,3 coupled with the proliferation of collective security arrangements and the extension ofthe spectrum ofwarfare to include insurgencies and counterinsurgencies,4 anned conflict is now seldom accompanied by formal declarations of war.s Consequently, it has become 1. See McDougal & Feliciano 402; Williams, Neutrality in Modem Anned Conflicts: A Survey of the Developing Law, 90 Mil. L. Rev. 9 (1980); Norton, Between the Ideology and the Reality: The Shadow of the Law of Neutrality, 17 Harv. Int'l L.J. 249 (1976); Dinstein, War, Aggression and Self-defense (2nd ed. 1994) at 25-30; Schindler, Commentary: Neutral Powers in Naval War, in Ronzitti at 211-22; Green 264-67. 2. See Hague III, art. 1. 3. The Treaty for the Renunciation ofWar (Kellogg-Briand Pact), 27 August 1928, 46 Stat. 2343, T.S. No. 796, 2 Bevans 732, 94 L.N.T.S. 57 (No. 2137», and the U.N. Charter, were designed to end the use offorce to settle disputes between nations and eliminate war.
    [Show full text]
  • The Battle for Convoy HG-75, 22-29 October 1941 David Syrett
    The Battle for Convoy HG-75, 22-29 October 1941 David Syrett In the autumn of 1941 Nazi Germany was victorious. All of continental Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to the gates of Moscow, with the exception of Sweden and Switzerland, was under German control. The United States was neutral and Russia, reeling under the impact of German invasion, appeared on the verge of defeat while Britain, aided by its Empire and Commonwealth, fought a desperate battle for existence. Key to the continued survival of Britain was the ability, in the face of attack by German U-boats, to sail convoys of merchant ships to and from the island kingdom. The German navy in the autumn of 1941 had every reason to believe that Britain could be defeated by attacking the island's seaborne supply lines with U-boats. In September of 1941, with about eighty operational U-boats, the Germans sank fifty-three British and Allied merchant ships amounting to 202,820 tons, while in the period from 1 January to 31 September 1941 the British had managed to sink only thirty-one Axis U-boats.' The battle with the U-boats was a conflict the British had to win, for without a constant flow of supplies, transported by merchant ships, Britain would have been forced to surrender, for the civilian population would have starved and all industry would have ground to a halt. Britain's continued survival thus depended on the Royal Navy's ability to escort merchant ships to and from British ports.' To combat U-boat attacks on merchant shipping the British had adopted a strategy of convoys.' These had been employed by the British in the great naval wars of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as well as in World War I.
    [Show full text]
  • Ranpura (1925)
    Ship Fact Shee t RANPURA (1925) Base data at 8 April 1925. Last amended April 2009 * indicates entries changed during P&O Group service. Type Passenger liner P&O Group service 1925-1944 P&O Group status Owned by parent company Former name(s) Registered owners, The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation managers and operators Company Builders R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd Yard Newcastle-upon-Tyne Country UK Yard number 532 Registry Newcastle, UK Official number 148119 Signal letters KSHQ Call sign GKQX Classification society Lloyd’s Register Gross tonnage 16,601 grt Net tonnage 9,279 nrt Deadweight 9,000 tons Length 167.06m (548.3ft) loa Breadth 21.72m (71.3ft) Depth 14.32m (47.0ft) Draught 8.770m (28ft 9¼ in) Engines Quadruple-expansion steam engines Engine builders R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd Works Newcastle-upon-Tyne Country UK Power 15,000 ihp Propulsion Twin screw Speed 16.5 knots Passenger capacity 305 first class, 282 second class Cargo capacity 9,744 cubic metres (344,144 cubic feet) Crew 357 (17 officers, 65 seamen, 20 engineers, 63 firemen, 192 saloon crew) Employment* London/Bombay mail service 0272 1925/0408 RANPURA (1925) Career 13.09.1924: Launched by Mrs C E Straker, wife of the Chairman of Hawthorn, Leslie. 21.03.1925: Ran trials. 08.04.1925: Delivered as Ranpura for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company at a cost of £943,842. She was built for the London/Bombay mail service together with her three later sisters Ranchi (from the same yard), Rawalpindi and Rajputana (both from Harland & Wolff, Greenock).
    [Show full text]