Details

CHASSEUR 42
French S/M chaser.
Premier Maitre Timonier
Y. Jule.
25th May
1110
Off Near Gravelines, attacked by 12 bombers.
Sent out an S 0 S.
and set fire to the port engine.
misses caused serious damage
1130
Fire extinguished. Got under way.
1400
Cancelled the S 0 S.
Secured harbour. alongside the quay in Dunkirk
26th/28th
At Dunkirk.
May
29th May
0600
Sailed for La Panne with Capitaine de
0800
corvette de Beaumont (Chef de mission)
Anchored off La Panne. Embarked the
Generale de Corps d'Armee, chief
of the French Mission to King
Leopold, and his staff.
1000
Sailed for Dover.
1600
Arrived Dover. Disembarked the General
and his staff.
30th May
1600
Went alongside the sl. Savorgnan de
Brazza. Rear Admiral Landriau
(Amiral Pas de Calais) embarked for
passage to Dunkirk.
1615
Proceeded.
2030
Secured at Dunkirk.
2230
Sai led with Admiral Landirau for Dover.
31st May
0345
Alongside the Brazza. Disembarked the
Admiral. Tied up in the submarine
basin.
1615
Sailed for Cherbourg carrying 25 French
naval officers and ratings.
1st June
0615
Arrived Cherbourg, where Ch.42 was
taken in hand for repairs.
Total 6(2)
Authority - French Admiralty record, Folio 7.
(1) Probably G.M.T.; Admiral Landriau says he arrived at 0500
(2) Estimated.
(probably B.S.T.)
184

Details

2
CYCLONE - Continued
30th May
-
(without informing Captain (D) 2
of the Cyclone) to proceed to
Cherbourg. The Siroco, had on board
an air force officer who urgently
required to go to Cherbourg;
Captain (D) 2 therefore ordered the
Mistral to return to Dover.
0900
The 6th Division, and the T/B's
Bourrasque, Bouclier, and Flore,
were ordered to Dunkirk by Amiral
Nord [Admiral Abrial]. Of the 6th
Division, only the Siroco was
available; the Mistral had been
damaged in action and the Cyclone
required repairs to her hull and
needed fuel. Captain (D) 2 therefore
ordered the T/B Foudroyant to proceed
to Dunkirk, and the Siroco to. hold
herself in readiness to proceed there,
with Rear-Admiral Landriau, whom
Admiral Abrial was anxious to see.
1330
Rear-Admiral Laudrian having informed
Captain (D) 2 that he would sail
for Dunkirk in a "chaser" [the
chasseur 42] the Siroco was ordered
to proceed to Dunkirk.
Unable to get the Cyclone's repairs
done, by a private yard, temporary
repairs were undertaken on board.
1500
The Mistral proceeded to Cherbourg -
her captain, Capitaine de corvette
Lavene, being discharged to
hospital at Dover.
The Cyclone, having finished the
repairs to her hull, refuelled.
1816
Orders were received for the 6th
Division to assemble at Dunkirk.
(The Mistral was on the way to
Cherbourg, the Siroco already on the
way to Dunkirk).
2030
Captain (D) 2 informed Admiral Abrial
that the Cyclone could not leave
Dover until 2130.
2127
The Cyclone having finished fuelling,
sailed for Dunkirk; her speed was
limited to 16 knots because engine
trouble had developed.
31st May
0100
Fearing attack by torpedo boats or
M.T.B's, the Cyclone went to action
0121
The stations. track of a torpedo crossed from
0122
A second torpedo track seen to port;
port to starboard, 10 yards ahead.
altered course to avoid it. The
Cyclone was struck forward;
Considerably damaged, the Cyclone was
apparently torpedoed by an M.T.B.
An English vessel offered assistance;
still able to steam.
0130
she was requested to stand by for an
hour and signal the presence of
The M.T.B's. Cyclone signalled that she was
0242
proceeding to Dover at 4 knots and
required an escort.
219

Details