TNA ADM 199 795

CONFIDENTIAL.
MESSAGE 0746/3rd June
OUT.
To. V.A. Dover, 438.
Date 3.6.40
Repeated C. in C. Nore. 922.
20
C. in C. Portsmouth. 245,
F.O. 1/c London.
Commodore 1/c Sheerness. 618.
F.O.1/c Portland. 567.
N.O.i/c Ramegate.
N.O.1/c Newhaven.
War Office.
P/L BY T/P
From Admiralty.
IMPORTANT.
Reference Admiralty mesuage 2321/1, instructions regarding disposal of tugs and lighters should be amended as follows so far as craft named are concerned:-
(1) Following London tugs which were requisitioned specially for Operation should be returned to
CHALLENGE, CONTEST, PERSIA, RACIA, CERVIA, TANGA
Gravesend - -
HIBERNIA, CRESTED COCK, OCEAN COCK, WATERCOCK,
They should be utilised as fully as possible
SUN, SUN X, SUN XI, SUN XII, BETTY.
for towage of craft or boats to be returned to the Thames or elsewhere en route.
(ii) Under-mentioned tugs which are under orders of
D. of S.T. should proceed as follows:-
(a) EMPIRE HENCHMAN to Portsmonth with barges
SNOWDON and SALADIN for N.S.O. These carges were left at Ramsgate by tug TANGA on 29th May.
pair of barges from those mentioned in (v) Below
(b) FOREMOST 37 to Weymouth with any convenient sufficiently seaworthy, for towage as in (1)
(c) FAIRPLAY I to Gravesend being used, if above. (d) GONDIA to Fishguard with barges SARK and
SHETLAND. These barges ware left at Dover on
20th May by FOREMOST 87.
(iii) Tugs SUN VII and FOREMOST 23 should return to station at Southend and Newhaven respectively taking any convenient tow.
(iv) If any of the tuge named above are required to assist in other more urgent towages arrangementa should be made by you direct with D. of S.T.
Crews of EMPIRE HENCHMAN, GONDIA and FOREMOST 87
may be given at your discretion up to 24 hours standeasy before proceeding Westward.
(v) The barges JAPAN, KENYA, EGYPT, APRICA, LONDON
and SCOTLAND which arrived Dover from Tilbury on 2nd June should not repetition not be returned/....

27
MESSAGE
To O. in C Portsmouth
0120/14th Juno
OUT
Repeated C. in C Western Approaches c. in C Nore
Date 14/6/40
Seatrans, Newhaven
Seatrans, Plymouth
Seatrans, Falmouth
Commodore in Charge Sheerness
Seatrans, Littlehampton
Divisional Transport Southsmpton
N.O. 1/c Ramagate.
P/L by T/P
From D of S.I.
The following craft when no longer required for
Operation Cycle should be directed as follows. Tugs PERSIA
and TANGA proceed to Plymouth as Boon as possible and report to S.T.O. on arrival. Both tugs should be kept at Plymouth b
ready to sail at short notice. Instructions to S.T.O. will follow. Tugs CONTEST and QUEENS CROSS tow barges WESTOLIFF
WOKING BRENTLAND and LINCOLN from Newhaven to Felmouth reporting to S.T.O. on arrival. Tug FOREMOST 87 tow barges
VARSITY and VIGIL from Littlehnmpton to Falmouth. Tug
KROOMAN tow barge SERLO from Southampton to Falmouth. Tug
HEADWAN tow S.B. DORRIEN ROSE from Newhaven to Orchard
Drydock, Blackwall, London and return to Sheerness to tow barges JULIA and CHARLES I from Shoorness to Scapa. Tug
FAIRPLAY ONE proceed to Sheornese and tow barges BASKET and
CHEEKIE from Sheerness to Portsmouth for dolivery to N.S.O.
Tug WATERCOOK proceed to Falmouth. Tuge SUN XI and CRESTED
COOK proceed to Ramsgate for orders.
0120/14.
for D. of S.T.
D of P (3)
C.O.R.T.
M. (3)
D of S.T.
D.T.D. (2)
D.T.D. (Basement)
D.S.V.P.
Msl
68

241
263
From:- Sub/Lt. K. Adderley, R.N.V.R.
Date:-
5th June, 1940.
To:-
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
27th May. Assisted in collection and commissioning of
29th May.
pulling boats and motor boats for beach work;
later assisted Act. C.B.O. (Lt. de Mauny, R.N.).
30th May.
0700
Detailed to act as Lieut. to Lieut. McMullan, R.N.R.
in Dutch schoot "Twente". (Lieut. NcMullan has reported separately on commissioning and voyage to Dunkirk and back).
1st June.
1100
Arrived back Ramsgate; stood by awaiting orders.
3rd June.
1100
Found 45 ft. river motor launch "Madame Sans
Gene" arrived in harbour with crew from River
Emergency Patrol - already detailed to proceed
Dunkilek p.m. same day. Requested permission assist equipping and victualling and command in operation. Permission granted by Cdr.
Duffett, R.N.
1700
Left Ramsgate for Dunkirk being towed in company with lifeboat and 3 other boats on tug "Tanga".
"Madame Sans Gene" was disabled en route through -
(a) a rope being streamed from tug without warning, fouling our port propeller, and. on being hauled in by tug, either bending or stripping blades or bending shaft.
(b) starboard engine becoming waterlogged apparently by suction through exhaust owing to
Port engine could be used for a short while but speed of tow (8 kts).
On arrival Dunkirk suggested boat could still subsequently its transmission gave out entirely.
be of use in transport of troops if towed by lifeboat. Officer in charge of tug approved not understand gave and was not seen again. Remained and order to lifeboat, which evidently did in tow of tug after evacuating "Madame Sans Gene"
to tug on orders of officer in charge of tug.

242
eport from Sub. Lt. K. Adderley, R.N.V.R. (contd).
"Madame Sans Gene" eventually abandoned in
Dunkirk Channel near No. 14 buoy when winch to which towing hausers were secured pulled out of decking, and owing to length of tow being augmented by her anchor cable and amounting to about also cables length, she became a danger to other craft. Tow could not be shortened in time and she was cut loose at 0245/4/6.
4th June.
0800
Arrived Ramsgate in tug "Tanga".
Submit that in view of experience with "Madame
Sans Gene" (which could carry fuel for 20 hours and had speed of 12 knots) such craft can more safely cross North Sea under OWD power than in tow.