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Brest was evacuated by 1230 on the 19th, some Polish troops being taken off. The French demolitions were effective, and all French warships left with the exception of 2 submarines, which were scuttled.
In the Gironde area H.M.S. Arethusa left Le Verdon on the 19th with British personnel, and H.M.S. Galatea is to relieve her.
H.M.S. Beagle is at Bordeaux with a demolition party, and H.M.S. Berkeley is at Arcachon for the British Ambassador and Staff.
French Fleet.
6. All French naval ships which could steam have left Brest, St. Nazaire and Cherbourg for either British ports or Dakar and Casablanca.
The new battleship Richelieu sailed for Dakar on the 18th.
The French Admiral of the Ouest Command in the destroyer Le Hardi, with the new battleship Jean Bart and 2 destroyers, sailed for Casablanca on the 19th. The battleship Paris, 1 destroyer and 1 submarine and some small craft arrived at Plymouth on the 19th.
The battleship Courbet and 2 destroyers are patrolling in the Channel off Portsmouth, and various small craft arrived there and at Falmouth.
The remainder of the French fleet are operating normally from their bases.
Other Operations in Home Waters.
7. Enemy M.T.Bs. were attacked by Coastal Command aircraft off the Hook of Holland on the 16th without result, and on the 17th 6 enemy destroyers were also attacked off Norderney, one hit being claimed.
H.M. Ships Vesper and Vivacious were in action with 2 or 3 enemy M.T.Bs. at 0230/18th off Dungeness. H.M.S. Vesper was missed by a torpedo, and the enemy escaped after being chased to the southward.
The S.S. Roseburn was shelled and torpedoed by enemy M.T.Bs. off Dungeness, and beached.
The Fleet Air Arm attacked the docks and M.T.Bs. at Ymuiden on the 19th. The Australian troop convoy of 16,500 troops arrived in the Clyde on the 16th, and the 5th Canadian troop convoy at Liverpool on the 20th.
Mediterranean.
8. During a sweep by the Mediterranean Fleet H.M.S. Gloucester and H.M.S. Liverpool engaged some enemy small craft, probably minesweepers, off Tobruk, and the shore batteries were in action for about 10 minutes. The Italian com- muniqué admitted the loss of 1 minesweeper.
On the 12th/13th a French naval force from Toulon bombarded objectives at Genoa.
On the 14th Fleet Air Arm aircraft from Hyeres bombed objectives at Genoa, and hits on seaplane base, power station and Ansaldo's Works were observed.
Malta was raided during the week, and H.M.S. Diamond on patrol was bombed on the 13th and the 18th without success.
Four enemy light craft were reported at sea N.E. of Cyprus at 1200/17th, and naval forces were sent to intercept, but to date no report has been received.
H.M. Submarine Grampus is reported overdue.
Enemy Attack on Seaborne Trade.
9. Eight British ships, totalling 73,395 tons, 1
totalling 73,395 tons, 1 French ship (the S.S. Champlain) of 28,124 tons, and 13 ships of other nations totaling 59,053 tons, making a grand total of 160,572 tons, have been sunk. Details are given in Appendix I.
Protection of Seaborne Trade.
10. A total of 776 ships, including 110 allied and 42 neutral ships, were convoyed during the week, of which 6 ships in 3 convoys were lost by U-boat action. All 3 convoys had only one vessel escorting, there being an acute shortage of A/S vessels, due to the evacuation of the B.E.F. in progress and the necessity for concentrating light forces in the North Sea.
Eleven Armed Merchant Cruisers, 13 Destroyers, 18 sloops and corvettes were employed on escort duties.
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