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HMS Niger
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Date of Arrival |
Place |
Date of Departure |
Orders, Remarks etc |
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Sheerness |
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2/1 NIGER is expected to
be ready to leave Sheerness a.m.7/1
3/1 Sailing delayed owing
to defects
4/1 Taken in hand for
defects
7/1 Basin trial
9/1 From C in C Nore:
Subject to trials proving satisfactory it is anticipated that NIGER
will be ready to leave Sheerness on 13/1
10/1 Completed |
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13.1.40 |
On 13 January NIGER had
carried out a depth charge attack on a suspected U‑boat while in the
Knock Deep.
Ruegg |
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15.1.40 |
Newcastle on Tyne |
? |
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25.1.40 |
Invergordon |
10.2.40 |
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30.1.40 |
Able Seaman Isaac Wylie
D/SSX16421 died age 23
NIGER was attacked again,
by enemy aircraft on 30 Jan 1940 off Invergordon; 20 bombs were
dropped causing negligible damage to the ship but wounding three men.
Ruegg |
|
11.2.40 |
Aberdeen |
17.2.40 |
NIGER taken in hand for
maintenance |
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18.2.40 |
Invergordon |
19.2.40 |
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21.2.40 |
On 21/2
NIGER and Speedwell were sweeping 30 miles SE off Duncansby Head when
they were asked to investigate an oil slick spotted by an aircraft.
They dropped depth charges over the slick and after the fifth had been
dropped there was an explosion and more oil came to the surface. This
persisted for several days and the Admiralty regarded this as being a
U-boat ‘probably damaged’. |
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21.2.40 |
Invergordon |
29.2.40 |
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1.3.40 |
Made another U boat
attack while in 58.2ON, 02.33W. |
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3.3.40 |
Humber |
19.3.40 |
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CLICK
HERE to see Minesweeping Reports March/April 1940
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20.3.40 |
Dover |
5.4.40 |
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Apr 40 |
In April 1940 Cdr. St.J.Cronyn, RN and Lt.Cdr. G.Mowatt, RNR appeared in
the Navy List as appointees to the ship who by then was in the 4th
Flotilla within the Nore Command. If both appointments were taken up
it seems likely that Cdr.Cronyn was S.0. of the flotilla with
Lt.Cdr. Mowatt as C.0. of NIGER. This arrangement was tried elsewhere
during the war, but on the whole it was not favoured because of the
small size of escort ships. It was probable also at about this time
that minesweepers had their flags‑superior changed to 'J', NIGER's
pendant becoming J.73.
Ruegg |
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5.4.40 |
Humber |
? |
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12.5.40 |
Harwich |
4.5.40 |
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15.5.40 |
Harwich |
? |
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The 4th Flotilla took part in Operation 'PG' which was a minesweeping
operation off the Dutch coast in Mid May.
Ruegg |
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20.5.40 |
NIGER dive bombed and set on fire off Gravelines.
Ruegg |
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24.5.40 |
Humber |
30.5.40 |
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Source: Orde
HMS NIGER at Dunkirk
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30.5.40 |
2145 |
On passage
to N Goodwin Light Vessel in company with the minesweeper Dundalk,
NIGER received signal to carry out ‘ferry service’ between Sheerness
and La Panne |
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31.5.40 |
0700 |
Anchored 5
cables off La Panne. Sent in both whalers and the M/B. Considerable
surf running. There was no one in charge ashore, and as soon as the
boats arrived in they were seized by soldiers. One was swamped, the
other overloaded and capsized. Embarked troops from yachts. |
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1045 |
Sailed with
over 200 troops for Dover (being less distance than to Sheerness).
Lieut R P Hichens RNVR was left behind. He moored 2 yachts as
pontoons, secured grass lines to the pier of lorries and organised the
boats 'pulley-hauly' on these lines, thereby increasing the rate of
embarkation and avoiding the risk of capsizing boats. |
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1445 |
Arrived
Dover. Disembarked 205 troops. |
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1715 |
Sailed for
Dunkirk. |
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2240 |
Anchored
off Brayes-Dunes |
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2315 |
A boat
under oars came off with some 30 soldiers under the command of S/Lt R
H Bygott RN: the boat had been towed by the tug Tanga. S/Lt Bygott
reported that there were 150 troops abreast the ships. NIGER's boats
were sent in but finding no troops returned empty. |
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2350 |
A S/Lt RNVR
(name unknown) from the tug Sun VIII swam off from the beach and
reported that his motor boat and a ship's boat were aground with some
60 soldiers, that he had got 30 off in another boat, and that about 50
more were waiting. NIGER sent her boats in again, to tow the boats off
and fill up; by the time they got in, the boats had got off and left,
and the troops had gone. |
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1.6.40 |
0100 |
A large
shore boat i/c of Lt Cdr Craig came alongside with 40 soldiers,
including Brigadiers Robb and Towel. At this time NIGER's boats
returned with troops and continued to bring them off regularly but
slowly. |
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0350 |
As dawn
came, large numbers of troops were seen on the beach and NIGER's carley floats were pressed into service. Lifebelts were also sent in
and some soldiers put these on and swam off. It was now nearly low
water. Bray had been shelled from Nieuport continuously throughout the
night. |
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0610 |
With about
330 troops, NIGER proceeded, the M/S Sutton in company. A message was
received from Major-General Montgomery, through the M/S Salamander,
that troops had been ordered to proceed to Dunkirk.
Arrived
Dunkirk. Disembarked 310 troops. |
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1800 |
Sailed for
Dunkirk, Sutton in company. |
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2215 |
NIGER
anchored off St Malo. The Sutton proceeded to Dunkirk. |
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2225 |
No boats
being worked from the beach. NIGER lowered her motor boat, one
whaler and a boat which had been borrowed from the skoot Vrede in
Dover. |
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2230 |
The boats
were sent in, in charge of Lieut Hichens. 5 cables to the westward he
found some French troops and embarked 50 of them. |
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2.6.40 |
0000 |
British
troops were then embarked some 6 cables further eastward. |
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0255 |
Proceeded
with about 300 troops. |
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Arrived
Ramsgate. Disembarked 300 troops. |
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2055 |
Sailed for
Dunkirk. |
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3.6.40 |
0030 |
Secured
alongside Dunkirk east pier. Embarked about 700 French troops. |
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0120 |
Slipped,
whilst turning, an unknown French craft crossed NIGER's bows and was
rammed. The skipper came on board. A few minutes later the French
craft came back and rammed NIGER. |
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Arrived
Folkestone. Disembarked 700 French troops. The skipper of the French
craft was turned over to the military authorities. |
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2100 |
Sailed for
Dunkirk. |
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2233 |
Dense fog;
speed 8 knots. |
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4.6.40 |
0030 |
Visibility
unimproved. Passage abandoned. |
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0135 |
Anchored 3
miles from N Goodwin Light |
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Total
evacuated 1,515
The
following awards were made:
DSC
Lieut R P Hichens
DSM L/Sea C F M Cooper
Mention in Despatches Cdr St J Cronyn RN
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Date of Arrival |
Place |
Date of Departure |
Orders, Remarks etc |
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? |
Dover |
5.6.40 |
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6.6.40 |
Humber |
12.8.40 |
NIGER taken in hand for
refit at Grimsby by J S Doig Ltd. Provisional date ready for sea 9/7
31/7 From F O Humber:
Collision has occurred between NIGER and the trawler Laurel. NIGER
holed above waterline on the port quarter and degaussing gear damaged
30/7 Taken in hand for
collision repairs, completes 10/8 |
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12.8.40 |
Harwich |
15.8.40 |
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15.8.40 |
With the patrol sloop
PINTAIL she provided AA protection for several minesweeping trawlers
who were danlaying in 52.04N, 14.09E on 15 August.
Ruegg |
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16.8.40 |
Harwich |
17.8.40 |
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17.8.40 |
Harwich |
20.8.40 |
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20.8.40 |
Harwich |
25.8.40 |
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26.8.40 |
Harwich |
27.8.40 |
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28.8.40 |
Harwich |
1.9.40 |
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In Sept/October she was
engaged on several minesweeping operations, including 'Lucid'
(the plan to send fire ships into gathering German invasion fleets in
French ports) and among her companions were the old 'Hunts' ELGIN and
SELKIRK.
Ruegg |
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2.9.40 |
Harwich |
4.9.40 |
Wellington Bomber:
Airborne 2050 1st September 1940 from Feltwell. Flew
into the sea during the return flight. P/O Burberry, the sole
survivor, was rescued two days later by HMS Niger. In his report of
the incident he indicated that he may have fallen asleep, but his
Station Commander thought an incorrect altimeter setting was the more
likely cause of the tragedy.
Source:
http://lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=1857 |
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4.9.40 |
Harwich |
10.9.40 |
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10.9.40 |
Harwich |
15.9.40 |
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16.9.40 |
Harwich |
20.9.40 |
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21.9.40 |
Harwich |
24.9.40 |
Cdr. D. H. Harries, RAN,
was appointed to the ship on 24 September. Lt. Cdr. Mowatt was still
listed as in the ship. |
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24.9.40 |
Sheerness |
25.9.40 |
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? |
Sheerness |
26.9.40 |
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29.9.40 |
Harwich |
30.9.40 |
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1.10.40 |
Humber |
7.10.40 |
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8.10.40 |
Harwich |
8.10.40 |
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8.10.40 |
Sheerness |
12.10.40 |
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13.10.40 |
Harwich |
13.10.40 |
0708 Drifting mine
exploded as convoy approached 52° 19’N, 1° 59’E. |
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? |
Harwich |
21.10.40 |
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22.10.40 |
Harwich |
22.10.40 |
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24.10.40 |
Harwich |
27.10.40 |
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27.10.40 |
Harwich |
28.10.40 |
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CLICK HERE to see Minesweeping
Reports October/November 1940
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29.10.40 |
Harwich |
31.10.40 |
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31.10.40 |
Sheerness |
3.11.40 |
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3.11.40 |
Harwich |
5.11.40 |
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5.11.40 |
Harwich |
6.11.40 |
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6.11.40 |
Harwich |
11.11.40 |
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11.11.40 |
Harwich |
15.11.40 |
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15.11.40 |
Harwich |
18.11.40 |
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18.11.40 |
Harwich |
22.11.40 |
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23.11.40 |
Humber |
? |
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? |
Rosyth |
3.12.40 |
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? |
Humber |
5.12.40 |
In
December 1940, Madden joined Niger in the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla as
"N", and later served in Elgin, and in Fitzroy as Senior "N" and Chief
of Staff. The Flotilla was one of the first to sweep the new types of
German acoustic mines. Sweeping by night, because of intense enemy air
activity, in the confined waters of the Thames and along the east
coast, where many marks and beacons had been removed or extinguished,
required navigational skills of the highest order. Madden received six
months advanced seniority for his work.
Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/news/2000/10/25/db02.xml&site=5&page=0
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6.12.40 |
Harwich |
10.12.40 |
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10.12.40 |
From
Senior Officer 4th Minesweeping Flotilla, HMS NIGER
REPORT
ON ENEMY AIR ATTACK ON FOUR FLEET MINESWEEPERS: NIGER, SELKIRK,
FITZROY AND HUSSAR – 10TH DECEMBER 1940
Date & Time: 10th December 1940
1125-1140
Position: 2 miles south of No.53 buoy
Course & Speed: Flotilla in uniformed state, taking
up K formation on a course 348˚, speeds 7 to 14 knots
Weather: Wind WNW force 4, sea 24, sky 10/10
covered cumulo nimbus 1000 feet, patches of fracto-nimbus 500 feet,
intermittent drizzle
Two enemy aircraft – opinions differ as to the
type, but the majority opinion, with which I concur, favours
Messerschmitt 110’s. In the low ceiling prevailing, sighting was
mutual and at the time the aircraft were flying away from ships, who
had ample time to open fire before being attacked. Aircraft attacked
independently using cloud cover, carrying out shallow dive bombing
and machine gun and cannon fire attacks.
Four or five bombs were dropped, one of which
failed to explode – the others were fitted with impact fuzes; size
of bombs probably 100 kilograms or larger – average distance of
misses over 200 yards. Average height of release 600-800 feet. Two
machine gun attacks pressed home to 300-400 feet. All ships went on
to full speed and employed drastic alterations of course.
Some superficial damage to Fitzroy only – the
only item of damage affecting the fighting efficiency was that the
main steam pipe of M/S winch was damaged and machine bullets
embedded in one drum of sweep wire, thus rendering her unfit for
sweeping. No casualties on Fitzroy and no damage or casualties in
any other ship. It is considered probable that at least one aircraft
was damaged, the 4” shell from Selkirk was observed to burst very
close to one aircraft about 5 minutes after the beginning of the
action, the aircraft immediately gave a violent lurch and
disappeared from view with black smoke coming from its’ tail: he did
not reappear although his colleague kept up the action for a further
ten minutes. This other aircraft was hit by close range weapons from
Fitzroy during two machine gun and cannon attacks on that ship, and
pieces of his undercarriage were observed to fall off.
Bombing was so inaccurate that it is difficult to
estimate which ships were attacked: it is probable that Fitzroy and
Hussar were the targets. It is of interest to note that two bombs
were released while the aircraft was banking at an angle of 60˚ to
the horizon. Two half hearted and completely ineffective machine gun
attacks were made on Hussar, that ship’s 4” barrage fire probably
prevented the aircraft from pressing an attack home; two similar
attacks, pressed well home in a determined fashion were made on
Fitzroy, with the results as mentioned above. It was extremely
fortunate that the attack took place just before sweeps had been got
out; had sweeps been streamed, it is considered that much damage
would probably have been sustained by H M Ships, unless an immediate
decision had been made to cut sweeps, which action would have
resulted in the loss of a sweeping day of comparatively calm weather
that is rare at this time of year.
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10.12.40 |
Harwich |
20.12.40 |
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21.12.40 |
Harwich |
28.12.40 |
23/12 From F O i/c
Harwich: Request information whether NIGER can be taken in hand for
refit at Grimsby about 29/12 |
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29.12.40 |
Humber |
1.3.41 |
On 29 December NIGER
arrived in the Humber with HUSSAR, and the next day she entered refit
at Grimsby. At that early stage in the war, it is unlikely that
she exchanged one 4" gun and her 0.5" weapon for four 20mm Oerlikons ‑
it seems more probable that this exchange took place late in 1941 when
she was out of action with mechanical problems.
Ruegg
30/12 Taken in hand for
refit by Consolidated Fisheries Ltd Grimsby
10/2 From Grimsby Base:
Request extension of completion date to 21/2 owing to late arrival of
LL sweep gear. |
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