TNA ADM 199 792

146
CONFIDENTIAL.
144
Page 25
Operation "DYNAMO" Narrative of Events.
1/5
Saturday, 1st June (continued).
proportion 50 per cent. British and 50 per cent. French. The plan was set in motion without incident until 2200, when it was reported that a number of towing craft and small boats were returning empty from the coast. All ships were warned to look out for these, and to force them back to their duty on the coast.
Subsequent investigation gives reason to believe that this defection was due to false information being passed between ships on the coast and believed to originate from a non-identified skoot.
77. Commander Maund proceeded to the mouth of the harbour in a motor boat commanded by a Dutch Naval Officer with a
Dutch naval crew and led all ships into harbour to their berths.
The Rear Admiral, Dover, was also afloat in a M.T.B. supervising traffic control.
By 2300 the night was very dark, sometimes as many as
6 or 7 vessels were entering the port of Dunkirk at once whilst yet others were leaving. All were without lights and displayed the highest degree of seamanship in these difficult and fateful circumstances.
78. At 2315 the S.N.O., Dunkirk, signalled: "Withdrawal now proceeding according to plan. Shall have certain reserves here tomorrow to assist French. Intend to complete evacuation.
tomorrow by midnight."
Remarks.
78A. The outstanding feature of the day was the series of events leading to the abandonment of daylight evacuation.
Increasing enemy air attack, which the R.A.F. were unable to smother with the means at their disposal, caused serious loss of ships, and continual interruption of embarkation on the beaches and in Dunkirk. Further, the sole remaining cross channel route was now under fairly heavy and accurate shore artillery fire.
In these circumstances it was apparent that continuation of the operation by day must cause losses of ships and personnel out of all proportion to the number of troops evacuated, and if persisted in, the momentum of evacuation would automatically and rapidly decrease.
79. Casualties to H.M. Ships on 1st June.
Trawler ARGYLLSHIRE sunk by torpedo from M.T.B. near
S. Buoy. Survivors taken off by MALABAR.
Trawler STELLA DORADO sunk by torpedo from M.T.B.
Survivors picked up by KINGSTON GALENA.
Minesweeper SALAMANDER attacked by enemy aircraft and hit at about 0850. Ship disabled but was able to return to
Dover under her own steam.
Personnel/

B23
Lon
248
CONFIDENTIAL.
246
FROM.
CAPTAIN AUXILIARY PATROL, DOVER.
STELLA
DATE
1st JUNE 1940.
No. DL/250/11/AP.
DORADO
5
TO
FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING DOVER.
(Copy to Commanding Officer, H.M. S. "Lynx". )
SUBJECT. LOSS OF H.M. S. "STELLA DORADO". Tajudo
11
The following report is submitted with reference to H.M.S. 'Kingston Galena' s" signal of 1st June 1940 timed
0430, and my 1243 of 1st June 1940.
2. Sub. Lieutenant J.L. Pringle, R.N.V.R., Unit Officer,
9th A/S Group, H.M. S. "Kingston Galena", reports that at rs.
0015 1st June 1940, the noise of an explosion was heard well inshore South East of "I" Buoy, where "Kingston Galena"
was at that time on patrol. At the time there was heavy gunfire and shelling around Dunkerque, and no special notice was taken of this particular explosion.
6
3. At 0100, "Kingston Galena", when one mile North west of "I" Buoy, picked up hydrophone effect and observed in the fog a small craft proceeding approximately North
/
60° West. There were numerous small craft in the vicinity, coming from Dunkerque, and it could not be identified.
4. At 0230, a terrific underwater explosion was heard, bearing North 60 West from "I" Buoy, and immediately afterwards a ship's whistle blew very hard for about five seconds. A roar from the M.T.B.'s engines was then heard and it was seen going away about North 70° East. The visibility at the time was poor - about one mile.
1/6
5. The visibility had not improved by 0400, and
"Kingston Galena" steamed to "I" Buoy, intending to speak to "Stella Dorado", but on arrival in the vicinity there was no sign of "Stella Dorado", but wreckage was found and four of the crew were picked up from a Carley float and one from the Asdic bridge top, which had become detached and was floating. Search was made for any further survivors, but without result.
ing re candr.
In
VICEADMIS
CAPTAIN AUXILIARY PATRO
GO
hit,
DOV
-
ore the us and que al
0
si
(Continued over).

CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 25
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
Saturday, 1st June (continued).
proportion 50 per cent. British and 50 per cent. French. The plan was set in motion without incident until 2200, when it was reported that a number of towing craft and small boats were returning empty from the coast. All ships were warned to look out for these, and to force them back to their duty on the coast.
Subsequent investigation gives reason to believe that this defection was due to false information being passed between ships on the coast and believed to originate from a non-identified skoot.
77. Commander Maund proceeded to the mouth of the harbour in a motor boat commanded by a Dutch Naval Officer with a
Dutch naval crew and led all ships into harbour to their berths.
The Rear Admiral, Dover, was also afloat in a M.T.B. supervising traffic control.
By 2300 the night was very dark, sometimes as many as
6 or 7 vessels were entering the port of Dunkirk at once whilst yet others were leaving. All were without lights and displayed the highest degree of seamanship in these difficult and fateful circumstanoes.
78. At 2315 the S.N.O., Dunkirk, signalled: "Withdrawal now proceeding according to plan. Shall have certain reserves here tomorrow to assist French. Intend to complete evacuation tomorrow by midnight."
Remarks.
78A. The outstanding feature of the day was the series of events leading to the abandonment of daylight evacuation.
Increasing enemy air attack, which the R.A.F. were unable to K
smother with the means at their disposal, caused serious loss of ships, and continual interruption of embarkation on the beaches and in Dunkirk. Further, the sole remaining cross channel route was now under fairly heavy and accurate shore artillery fire.
In these circumstances it was apparent that continuation of the operation by day must cause losses of ships and personnel out of all proportion to the number of troops evacuated, and if persisted in, the momentum of evacuation would automatically and rapidly decrease.
79. Casualties to H.M. Ships on 1st June.
Trawler ARGYLLSHIRE sunk by torpedo from M.T.B. near
S. Buoy. Survivors taken off by MALABAR.
Trawler STELLA DORADO sunk by torpedo from M.T.B.
Survivors picked up by KINGSTON GALENA.
Minesweeper SALAMANDER attacked by enemy aircraft and hit at about 0850. Ship disabled but was able to return to
Dover under her own steam.
Personnel/