Halcyon Class Minesweepers HMS Scott 1941
 
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HMS   Scott
HMS Scott

HMS SCOTT Principal Surveys 1941

K St B Collins

Scotland, West Coast.

North Atlantic.

Loch Ewe; North Minch.

Minelaying and deep sounding between Scotland and Greenland.

 

Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

12.1.41

Port ZA

13.1.41

From RAML: Intend to sail SCOTT for Denmark Straits 13/1. Scot will arrive Reykjavik for fuel any time on or after 17/1.

17.1.41

Iceland

18.1.41

 

22.1.41

Port ZA

2.2.41

 

7.2.41

Port ZA

15.2.41

14/2 From RAML: It now appears likely that SCOTT can be spared for all four weeks starting about 8/3 or a little later. Propose she should proceed to Campbeltown and carry on with the survey of Kilbrennan Sound during this time.

19.2.41

Aultbea

?

 

20.2.41

Port ZA

28.2.41

27/2 SCOTT has been ordered to proceed to Campbeltown arriving 1/3 to carry on with investigation of shoals in Kilbrennan Sound. Request party may be accommodated in Nimrod for one fortnight or three weeks. SCOTT will sail for Port ZA 3/3.

1.3.41

Campbeltown

3.3.41

 

4.3.41

Port ZA

9.3.41

10/3 From SCOTT: Am anchored in dense fog N.E. Miggenaes(?)

12.3.41

Port ZA

16.3.41

 

21.3.41

Port ZA

22.3.41

 

23.3.41

Ardrossan

28.3.41

 

29.3.41

Port ZA

30.3.41

For Loch Ewe

30.3.41

Aultbea

2.4.41

 

9.4.41

Port ZA

22.4.41

22/4 From R A (M): Carry out Hydrographic instruction 21/4 and then return to Port ZA.

28.4.41

Port ZA

4.5.41

For Reykjavik

1/5 From R A (M): SCOTT will be due for boiler cleaning after operation SN9 but should sail from Port ZA 12/5 to carry out further survey of water between Vestfudir and the Icepack. Estimated 9 or 10 days would be required including passage out and back. SCOTT wouldn’t be available for further SN operations until about 24/5.

2/5 From R A (M): Propose SCOTT should proceed Reykjavik for boiler clean on completion SN9A, arriving 8/5. Both boilers require cleaning and secure berth will be required. Survey of Denmark Straits could then begin 13/5..


One little-known exploit was that when BISMARCK broke out SCOTT was send ahead of HOOD and PRINCE OF WALES to check on the position of the edge of the pack ice off
Greenland. Fortunately for her she did not encounter the German squadron. 
 

8.5.41

Iceland

13.5.41

 

15.5.41

Iceland

16.5.41

 

19.5.41

Port ZA

21.5.41

 

23.5.41

Port ZA

1.6.41

From R A (M): SCOTT is now due for periodical refit and docking. Propose this is taken in hand after the laying of SN67A and B presumably about the middle of June. Refit might then be completed in time to carry out survey of Denmark Strait towards end of July.

1.6.41

Aultbea

?

9/6 From R A (M): Concur refit of Scot should be deferred until November.

10/6 SCOTT can be taken in hand at Pembroke Dock for coating bottom, anticipate will arrive by 15/6.

13/6 From R A (M): Request if possible defects to SCOTT’s bottom plating may be taken in hand while ship is being docked at Pembroke. SCOTT can be spared if necessary until 29/6

13.6.41

Port ZA

 

14/6 Work cannot be undertaken during present docking

21/6 SCOTT dry docked in Pembroke dock, anticipated date of undocking 28/6

?

Milford Haven

29.6.41

 

?

Port ZA

3.7.41

 

3.7.41

Aultbea

7.7.41

 

10.7.41

Port ZA

15.7.41

 

16.7.41

Aultbea

?

 

19.7.41

Port ZA

21.7.41

20/7 Intend to sail SCOTT to proceed to Loch Ewe on completion of operation SN31B (?) to progress survey of Beaching sites

22.7.41

Aultbea

24.7.41

 

25.7.41

Belfast

25.7.41

 

26.7.41

Lochalsh

30.7.41

 

31.7.41

Port ZA

1.8.41

 

1.8.41

Aultbea

4.8.41

 

11.8.41

Port ZA

11.8.41

 

?

Glasgow (Ardrossan)

28.8.41

13/8 Taken in hand Clyde for boiler cleaning etc, completes 30/8

29.8.41

Port ZA

30.8.41

 

1.9.41

Iceland

2.9.41

 

?

Iceland

10.9.41

For Denmark Straits

28.9.41

Iceland

2.10.41

 

5.10.41

Port ZA

6.10.41

 

7.10.41

Port ZA

9.10.41

8/10 From Admiralty: HMS SCOTT can be taken in hand forthwith by Messrs Thornycrofts, Southampton.

12.10.41

Portsmouth

?

Taken in hand by Thorneycroft for refit. To complete 28/11

4.12.41

Ardrossan

5.12.41

 

6.12.41

Port ZA

7.12.41

 

11.12.41

Port ZA

16.12.41

 

17.12.41

Scapa

22.12.41

Halcyon, Harrier, SCOTT and Speedwell Left Scapa with Arethusa, 6 destroyers, 2 corvettes, and two LSIs for the raid on Vaagso (Operation Anklet, the landing of commandos on the Lofoten Islands); entered Vestfjord on 26/12 and the Commando raid began. Force left 28/12 and arrived Scapa 1.1.42

 
Lofoten Islands

In December 1941 SCOTT was a key participant in the second raid on the Lofoten Islands. This was planned as a pair of operations, ANKLET and ARCHERY. (Originally there were three operations, ANKLET, BRACELET and ARCHERY A reconnaissance phase, ANKLET, was distinct from the follow‑up phase, BRACELET, in which shore anti‑ aircraft batteries and larger occupying forces were to be landed. C‑in‑C Home Fleet successfully argued against a substantial land base being established, and BRACELET was dropped.) 

ANKLET was a landing in force on the south‑western tip of the Lofoten Islands to establish a base from which German communications south from northern Norway could be harassed. ARCHERY was a diversionary raid on Vaagso, 350 miles south of Vestfjord, to divert enemy forces and attention from the northern operations. In ANKLET Commando forces were to land at Nappsund, Reine and Sorvag and neutralise German forces on Moskenes and Flakstad islands , the outer two sizeable Lofotens. Minesweepers were to sweep a path for the squadron, the cruiser Arethusa, seven destroyers and two corvettes, to enter Skelfjord once SCOTT had found and buoyed a dangerous pinnacle in the entrance. SCOTT was then to survey the larger and more sheltered Kirkefjord for longer‑term use by the squadron. All went according to plan, the islands were seized without significant opposition on 26 December, SCOTT buoyed the rock in the entrance to Skelfjord, the squadron entered and fuelled from its accompanying tankers. In what remained of 26 December 1941 and the following day SCOTT completed her survey of Kirkefjord while the destroyers made a sweep through the waters of Vestfjord, and in the evening of 27 December the squadron anchored in Kirkefjord. But during the day Arethusa had been bombed and near-missed by a single Heinkel 115 seaplane and intelligence began to come in that German dive bombers and other aircraft were moving north in some force. It had been hoped that the ships would be able to hide under the shore in Kirkefjord, but this was not possible, and the surrounding hills made it likely that any air attack could take the force by surprise. The force was therefore withdrawn over the night of 28 to 29 December. During the withdrawal SCOTT collided with Arethusa, both ships sustaining slight damage (stem broken and twisted to port)

Source: EXTRACTS from: Charts and Surveys in Peace and War – The History of the RN Hydrographic Service 1919 – 1970 by Rear Admiral R O Morris CB

     

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This site was last updated 17 Januar 2012