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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume I

174 — Memorandum from the Naval Secretary to the Minister of Defence — CONVOY US 3: ESCORT ARRANGEMENTS

174
Memorandum from the Naval Secretary to the Minister of Defence

13 June 1940

CONVOY US 3: ESCORT ARRANGEMENTS

With reference to my memorandum NA 030/50/2 of 7 June 1940,2 I have the honour to report that the following escort arrangements have been communicated by the Admiralty:

(a)

The convoy left Freetown on 8 June escorted by HMS Shropshire (8-inch cruiser), HMS Cumberland (8-inch cruiser), and HMS Hermes3 (aircraft carrier).

page 126
(b)

The ocean escort was reinforced on 12 June by HMS Dorsetshire1 (8-inch cruiser).

(c)

On 14 June HMS Dorsetshire will be relieved by HMS Hood2 (battle-cruiser, 15-inch guns).

The ocean escort as from 14 June will therefore consist of the battle-cruiser HMS Hood, two 8-inch cruisers, and an aircraft carrier, and, as previously reported, HMS Resolution (battleship) and HMS Arethusa (6-inch cruiser) will be stationed at Gibraltar, and a destroyer screen and air reconnaissance will be provided during passage through the submarine zone.

N. T. P. Cooper,

Naval Secretary

2 Not published. This memorandum forwarded a copy of an appreciation by the Admiralty giving the arrangements for the escort of convoy US 3 from Freetown to its destination. The text is included in the telegram of 7 Jun 1940 (No. 166) from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General.

3 HMS Hermes small aircraft carrier, sunk by the Japanese in the Indian Ocean, 1942.

1 HMS Dorsetshire, 8-inch cruiser, 9975 tons; administered the coup de grâce to the disabled Bismarck, 27 May 1941; sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Indian Ocean, 1942.

2 HMS Hood, battle-cruiser, eight 15-inch guns, 41,000 tons; sunk on 24 May 1941, with three survivors, in the action which led ultimately to the destruction of the Bismarck.