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TNA / ADM 199 792

TNA ADM 199 792

TNA ADM 199 792
Collection details

TNA ADM 199 792

Admiralty records concerning Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, covering 1940–1941.

Holding archive
TNA
Collection reference
ADM 199 792
View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 199/792. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing only pages tagged with the vessel name LORD MELCHETT. Tags are exact matches from this collection’s OCR tag index. Clear vessel filter ×

2 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 447–713 of this collection
Page ImageOCR textOCR tags
447 Page 447 Log in to enlarge

CONFIDENTIAL
11131
83
From.
Vice Admiral A.E. Bedford.
1940
Date
17th September, 1940.
No.22/21. AB/40.
To
The Secretary of the Admiralty, London, S.W.1.
REPORT OF ENQUIRY INTO LOSS OF H.M. TRAWLER
"ARGYLLSHIRE" IN OPERATION "DYNAMO".
Sir,
With reference to A.L. M.L. 6245/40 dated 1st August,
1940, be pleased to lay before Their Lordships the following report resulting from an enquiry into the loss of H.M.A/S
Trawler "Argyllshire" on 1st June, 1940.
2. Sub. Lieut. J.S. Weddle, R.N.R., who was in command of "Argyllshire" was examined on 17th September, 1940.
3. At about 0245 on 1st June "Argyllshire" was about
2 miles E. of "S" Buoy in company with trawlers "Lord Melchett"
and "Stella Rigel. Many trawlers and other small craft were in the vicinity.
"Argyllshire" commenced an attack on what appeared to be a submarine. At 0250 "Stella Rigel" crossed "Argyllshire's"
bows and the latter reduced speed, the target then being about
1800 yards on her starboard beam. Shortly afterwards there was an explosion aft in "Argyllshire" due, it is believed, to a torpedo which struck her on the starboard quarter. The bows
40
stood up at about 45°, all fittings on bridge broke loose and ship went down stern first. Two to three minutes later she was seen with bows to the break of forecastle protruding vertically out of the water. She then sank and disappeared in about 20
fathoms.
4. Asdic gear was intact when ship sank; 5 depth charges set to 200 feet went down with her.
5. Confidential Books and SPs, except two or three in
Wireless Cabinet, and one Secret Mine Chart which was on bridge, were in steel chest in Commanding Officer's Cabin and went down with the ship.
6. The imperceptible time during which this ship remained afloat after the explosion precludes the possibility of learning anything as to the behaviour of material generally, but it is
2/10)
thought that if this class of vessel were fitted with & watertight bulkhead between the Boiler and Engine Rooms there is likelihood of their remaining afloat considerably longer in the
4/11
event of the fore or after compartments being flooded.
7. I was assisted in my enquiry by Commander C.B. Land, R.N.
and Lieutenant (E) R.Haynes, R.N.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant, a Biaford Vice Admiral

713 Page 713 Log in to enlarge

Page 2.
PS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940.
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
SWEEPING CRAFT.
ARIA
JEANNIE MACINTOSH
REED
TY
JOHN AND NORA
RELONZO
NIC
JOHN CATTLING
RENASCENT
CK
LORD BARHAM
RESTRIVO
I
LORD CAVAN
REWGA
THNESS
LORD COLLINGWOOD
RIG
CO (E.S.)
LORD GREY
SARAH HYDE
FORT
LORD HOOD
SARGASSO
IDAW
LORD INCHCAPE
SATURN
TENTA
LORD KEITH
SILVER DAWN
SIBLE
LORD MELCHETT
STARLIGHT RAYS
GET
LORD RODNEY
STELLA RIGEL
HER BOY
LORD ST. VINCENT
STRATHELLIOTT
DEA
MARE
STRIVE
NIUS
MARETTA
SWIFT WING
A
NAUTILUS
TARANSAY
ZAR
OLIVAE
THOMAS BARTLETT
VERFORTH
OUR BAIRNS
THOMSONS
CKETA
OVERFALLS
THREE KINGS
CKEVE
F
POLLY JOHNSON
TWEENWAYS
UNICITY
S TRAWLERS.
GYLLSHIRE
KINGSTON ANDALUSITE
SPURS
ACKBURN ROVERS
KINGSTON OLIVINE
STELLA DORADO
PE ARGONA
LADY PHILOMENA
THURINGIA
YTON WYKE
OLVINA
TOPAZE
IMSBY TOWN
ST. ACHILLEUS
WESTELLA
INGSTON ALALITE
SAON
WOLVES
HAMES SPECIAL SERVICE SHIPS.
RESTED EAGLE
GOLDEN EAGLE
ROYAL EAGLE
.A/S.B's. M.T.B's. ETC.
M. A/S. B. 10
M.T.B. 68
.C. MOTOR-BOAT
( ex "EXCELLENT")
M.T.B. 16
M.L. 100
A/S. B. 6
M.T.B. 22
M.T.B. 102
.A/S. B. 7
M.T.B. 67
M.T.B. 107
OVER FLARE-BURNING DRIFTERS
PAXTON
BOY ROY
GOLDEN GIFT
SHIPMATES
EILEEN EMMA
GOLDEN SUNBEAM
THE BOYS
FORECAST
LORD HOWARD
TORBAY II
GERVAIS RENTOUL
LORD HOWE
UT PROSIM
GIRL GLADYS
MIDAS
YORKSHIRE LASS
GIRL PAMELA
NETSUKIS
YOUNG MUN
(Continued)
Sunk.