The Story

1942 - ATLANTIC OCEAN:

18 May - At around 20:30 in the evening, hunting between West Africa and South America the Italian Submarine R. Smg. Comandante Cappellini, surfaced and fired its torpedoes, deck gun and machine guns upon the unescorted and unarmed Swedish Cargo Ship M/S Tisnaren. Tisnaren sank the next morning, 19 May.

Captain Gunnar Runsten (left), and Submarine Commander Marco Revedin with his Second-in-Command Federico de Siervo.
 
World War II Poster of a torpedoed Tanker M/S Tisnaren was commanded by Captain Gunnar Runsten, my grandfather and these pages are based on his written statment of the attack, and a collection of public information on the Net.

- - - - - -

...on that same day, in waters closer to the West Indies:

18 May 02:10 A.M. The Beth was hit by two torpedoes from Kptlt. Jürgen Wattenberg's U-162 and sank. 21 men, including the master reached Barbados in two lifeboats after 36 hours, nine others landed at Tobago in a third lifeboat on 20 May.

18 May 06:06 A.M. The unescorted and unarmed Mercury Sun was hit by two torpedoes from Kptlt. Ulrich Folkers's U-125 about 125 miles south of Cape Corrientes, Cuba, while steaming a zigzag course at 8.5 knots. The torpedoes struck on the port side at the #4 and #5 tanks and broke the back of the ship. The carbon dioxide smothering system on the tanker successfully kept the cargo from igniting after the first torpedo hit, but when the second hit the ship burst into flames. 29 of the nine officers and 26 crewmen managed to abandon ship in two lifeboats. At 06:35, a coup de grâce struck the vessel on the starboard side at #8 tank, but the ship remained afloat and sank about three hours after the first attack, sagging in the middle. The master, chief mate, second mate and three crewmembers were lost. The lifeboats stayed near the burning ship until daybreak and then sailed towards the coast. 28 survivors were picked up nearly 40 hours after the attack by the American steam merchant Howard and landed on 19 May at Mobile, Alabama. One seriously injured crewman was transferred to a US Coast Guard boat at the Tampa Sea Buoy.

18 May 06:15 A.M. The unescorted Fauna was hit by one stern torpedo from Kptlt. Günther Krech's U-558 and sank after 17 minutes. The U-boat misidentified her victim as the Towa. The survivors landed on Providence Island the same day.

18 May 10:18 A.M. The unescorted and unarmed Quaker City was hit by one torpedo from KrvKpt. Werner Hartenstein's U-156 about 300 miles east of Barbados. The torpedo struck in the stern near the waterline and caused the ship to sink in ten minutes. The explosion shattered the propeller, the rudder and the after part of the ship and killed ten crewmen. The surviving ten officers and 20 crewmen immediately abandoned ship in four lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans. They were given the course to Barbados before the U-boat left the area. On 22 May, seven survivors in one boat were picked up by USS Blakeley at 15°01N/57°38W and landed at Trinidad two days later. On 24 May, the 15 survivors in the boat of the master landed at Barbados and eight survivors in another boat made landfall on the north coast of Dominica on 26 May. An oiler later died ashore from injuries.

18 May 06:52 P.M. The unescorted San Eliseo was hit on the starboard side under the bridge and amidships by two torpedoes also from KrvKpt. Werner Hartenstein's U-156. The tanker had been spotted five hours before and continued after counter-flooding, firing into the direction of the U-boat, which surfaced and tried to get into a new firing position. At 04:39 on 19 May, a third torpedo was fired that hit on the starboard side aft of the bridge but apparently only caused minor damage because the tanker still continued. Even a fourth torpedo hit at 07:39 on the starboard side near the engine room could not stop her. At 09:17, a stern torpedo was fired at the ship from the port side but missed because the tanker zigzagged wild from 120° to 330°. The U-boat had finally to give up the chase because it was ordered by the BdU to set course on Martinique immediately and the chance to score another hit on the alarmed tanker was very small. The San Eliseo arrived at Barbados on 20 May for temporary repairs, later continued to the USA where she returned to service after permanent repairs were made.

18 May (time unknown) S/S William J Salman also sunk by Folkers's U-125 at 20.08N, 83.46W. Three more unarmed US merchant vessels are sunk by German submarines. A freighter east of Barbados by KrvKpt. Werner Hartenstein's U-156 while Kptlt. Ulrich Folkers's U-125 sinks a tanker and a freighter in the Gulf of Mexico.

- - - - - - MAY 1942 IN THE PACIFIC

4 May The Battle of the Coral Sea begins: it will last four days and is a first in that the ships on both sides never are in sight of the other; the USS Lexington is sunk, but the Americans can claim an overall victory.

8 May The Battle of the Coral Sea comes to an end. This is the first time in naval history where two enemy fleets fought without seeing each other. In addition to the loss of the USS Lexington the USS Yorktown is badly damaged; it returns to Pearl Harbour for repairs.

27 May The USS Yorktown, damaged at the Coral Sea, limps into Pearl Harbor; it is ordered to get repaired and ready as fast as possible for the impending battle.

30 May The USS Yorktown leaves Pearl after hasty repairs and moves to join the USS Enterprise for the next expected battle.

31 May An attack on Sydney Harbour, Australia - Japanese midget submarines infiltrate the Harbour in an attempt to attack Allied warships.

- - - - - - IN EUROPE

5 May The city of Exeter is bombed by the Luftwaffe, another "Baedeker Raid".

8 May The Germans take the Kerch peninsula in the eastern Crimea, Russia.

12 May Second Battle of Kharkov - In the eastern Ukraine, the Soviet Army initiates a major offensive. During the battle the Soviets will capture the city of Kharkov from the German Army, only to be encircled and destroyed.

18 May The Russians are in a major retreat at Kerch, after large numbers surrender.

21 May The German invasion plans for Malta is postponed indefinitely.

22 May The battle of Kharkov continues; for the Germans it is an important step on the way to Stalingrad.

27 May Reinhard Heydrich, head of Reich Security, is fatally hurt in Prague by bomb and gunfire in the "Operation Anthropoid" ambush by Czech patriots; he will die on 4 June from his wounds.

30 May "The Thousand Bomber Raid" on Köln (Cologne), revealing new area bombing techniques.

31 May Huge German successes around Kharkov, with envelopment of several Russian armies.

- - - - - - IN AFRICA

1 May Rommel readies for a new offensive during the early part of this month.

5 May British forces begin "Operation Ironclad": the invasion of Madagascar to keep the Vichy French territory from falling to a possible Japanese invasion.

26 May Rommel begins a Spring offensive at the Gazala line (west of Tobruk). The battle lasts well into June and ends with a total victory for Rommel.

27 May British use American Sherman tanks in attempts to stop Rommel's attacks on the Gazala line.

29 May Rommel turns his troops to Bir Hachim on the south edge of the Gazala line; once it is taken, he can move north and destroy the Allied emplacements in the line.

- - - - - - IN ASIA

1 May Japanese take Mandalay and other ports in Burma.

3 May The Japanese forces land on Tulagi Island in the Solomons, not far from Guadalcanal.

5 May Heavy Japanese artillery attack on Corregidor in the Philippines.

6 May On Corregidor, the last U.S. forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese. About 12,000 are made prisoners.

20 May The Japanese conquest of Burma is complete; it is called a "military catastrophe."

29 May Japanese forces have large successes south of Shanghai, China.

- - - - - - IN AMERICA

11 May The very first allied ship on the St. Lawrence River, Canada is sunk by a U-boat.

21 May Mexico declares war against Nazi Germany and the Axis after the sinking of the Mexican tanker Faja de Oro by Kptlt. Georg Lassen's U-160, off Key West.

25 May In preparation for the next battle, Japanese naval strategists send diversionary forces to the Aleutians in the Alaskan Peninsula, the very extreme point of the United States.

- - - - - -

The Cargo Ship

M/S TISNAREN

Commisioned by Rederiaktiebolaget Transatlantic (RABT) and launched 27 Jul 1918 at Götaverken Shipyard in Gothenburg, Sweden she measured 9450 dwt, 133m X 17m X 8m and was capable of making 12 knots. She was the second in line of Transatlantics new breed of Diesel boats, all named after lakes in Sweden.

Six years later on 12 Aug 1924, off the Portuguese Coast she collided with the Spanish steamer Urumea carrying copper pyrites. The Urumea sank on the spot but Tisnaren managed to limp in to Lisbon with #3 cargo hold flooded.

In 1938 she was almost lost to fire when her cargo of copra, the highly flammable white inside of cocoa nuts self-ignited and she needed to be flooded at the dock to put the fire out.

HER SISTERS

One of her sister ships M/S Elmaren, built 1920 and on her way back from Australia was lost to a coral reef in May 1921 at Ile Sud-Est near Six Islands, south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and M/S Tisnaren assisted in picking up the marooned crew from Ile Sud-Est.

Another sister ship, M/S Yngaren was sailing from Bombay, India for Hull, UK in 1942 as part of convoy HX.168. She was carrying a cargo of 4696 tons copra, 3000 tons manganese ore, 80 tons trucks and 8 aircraft when she was, at dawn 12 Jan torpedoed and sunk by Kptlt. Wolfgang Lüth's U-43 and 38 souls of 40 lost.

In 30 Jul 1943, south-west of the Azores U-43 was sunk, with all 55 hands lost by a Fido homing torpedo from an Avenger aircraft of the escort carrier USS Santee (ACV-29).

Kptlt. Wolfgang Lüth was shot in the head on 13 May 1945, only a few days after the war in Europe ended by German sentry when he failed to identify himself or give the password.

WORLD WAR II

During World War II M/S Tisnaren was chartered by the British and went in convoy traffic mostly between the British Isles and West and South Africa.

Records shows M/S Tisnaren being part of the following Allied convoys;

- - - - - -

CONVOY SL.16/SLF.16

DEP: 8 Jan 1940 - Freetown, Sierra Leone

ARR: 27 Jan 1940 - Liverpool, UK

Ships: 17

Losses: 0

M/S Tisnaren, carrying lead, wool and flour parted from convoy 23 Jan 1940 with final destination unknown.

Escorts:

HMS Esperance Bay (F-67) - Armed Merchant Cruiser

HMS Deptford (L-53 / U-53) - Sloop, Grimsby class

More Naval history for 8 Jan:

• Heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk departed the Clyde for Rosyth where she arrived on the 10 Jan.
• Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk and armed merchant cruiser HMS Scotstoun departed the Clyde on Northern Patrol.
• Light cruiser HMS Colombo departed Scapa Flow for Northern Patrol, which she left on 12 Jan for Devonport and arrived on 14 Jan. With her departure from Scapa Flow, the 11th Cruiser Squadron ceased to exist.
• Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Cairo arrived at Chatham.
• Destroyer HMS Westminster completed her conversion to fast escort vessel. Following working up at Portland, she joined Convoy C operating from Rosyth, arriving on 30 Jan.
• Submarines HMS Seawolf and HMS Sealion departed Rosyth on patrol.
• Polish submarine ORP Wilk arrived at Rosyth after patrol.
• Submarines HMS Seal and HMS Narwhal departed Gosport, via the Downs where they spent the night of 8/9 Jan, for Rosyth. They arrived on 10 Jan escorted by sloop HMS Flamingo for duty as convoy escorts on the ON/HN convoy routes.
• HMS Narwhal departed Rosyth on 15 Jan with convoy ON.8.
• Convoy OA.69 departed Southend escorted by destroyer HMS Vanessa from 9 Jan to 11 Jan. Destroyer HMS Wivern also joined until detached on 11 Jan.
• Convoy OB.69 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HMS Mackay and HMS Witherington until 12 Jan. The convoy dispersed next day on 13 Jan. 
• Convoy FS.67 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops HMS Auckland and HMS Stork, and arrived at Southend on 9 Jan.
• Steamers Gitano (3956grt) and Tyneholm (628grt) collided in fog with the loss of Tyneholm. Ten survivors were picked up by Gitano.
• U-19 sank Norwegian steamer Manx (1343grt) in 58'30N, 01'33W. Thirteen crew were lost and 6 crew rescued. 
• U-56 laid mines off Cross Sands near Yarmouth. One steamer was lost.
• Convoy HG.14 departed Gibraltar with 33 ships escorted by destroyer HMS Keppel. The convoy was turned over to ocean escort Sloop HMS Enchanttress and French destroyers FNFL Valmy and FNFL Chevalier Paul outside the Gibraltar approaches, and arrived on 17 Jan.
• Battlecruiser HMS Renown and destroyers HMS Hero and HMS Hasty departed Freetown and joined aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal off Sierra Leone. The destroyers detached on 10 Jan for refuelling. * Light cruiser HMS Neptune departed Dakar on patrol, and stopped and boarded the Q-Ship HMS Botlea (X15) disguised as S/S Lambridge off Freetown without discovering her true identity. After her patrol, HMS Neptune arrived at Freetown on 20 Jan. 
• French light cruiser FNFL Émile Bertin departed Toulon on 8 Jan and proceeded to Casablanca, joined by destroyer FNFL Épervier which departed Bizerte on 9 Jan. Both ships arrived at Casablanca on 12 Jan. They then relieved heavy cruisers FNFL Dupleix, FNFL Foch and destroyer FNFL Cassard, and conducted a surveillance patrol off the Canary Island en route and arrived at Dakar on 19 Jan. On 20 Jan, they set off for another patrol off the Canaries. Meanwhile, FNFL Dupleix and FNFL Foch left for Halifax on escort duty with a convoy at the beginning of February, while FNFL Cassard departed Dakar on 21 Jan and arrived at Casablanca on 25 Jan, where she was under repair until 14 Feb. She then departed Casablanca and arrived at Toulon on 17 Feb. Destroyer FNFL Milan remained on station. 
• Convoy SL.16 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Esperance Bay until 25 Jan. Next day, sloop HMS Deptford joined the convoy as escort until its arrival on 27 Jan. 
• Light cruiser HMS Dauntless departed Singapore on patrol duties as a unit of the 5th Cruiser Squadron, and arrived back on 17 Jan. 
• German steamer Sao Paulo (4977grt) had departed Pernambuco on 16 Nov 1939 and arrived at Cabedelo the next day. Leaving there on 8 Jan, she safely arrived at Cuxhaven on 3 Mar.
- - - - - - CONVOY SL.42 DEP: 2 Aug 1940 - Freetown, Sierra Leone ARR: 21 Aug 1940 - Liverpool, UK Ships: 53 Losses: 1, due to collision within the convoy M/S Tisnaren went to Milford Haven, cargo listed as General Goods. Escorts: HMS Delhi (D-47) - Light cruiser, D class

HMS Viscount (D-92) - Destroyer, Admiralty V & W class

HMS Gleaner (J-83) - Minesweeper, Halcyon class

HMS Bluebell (K-80) - Corvette, Flower class (*) HMS Clarkia (K-88) - Corvette, Flower class

HMS Maloja (F-26) - Armed Merchant Cruiser - former RMS Maloja of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co Ltd. (*) HMS Bluebell (Lt. Geoffrey Herbert Walker, DSC, RNVR) was later torpedoed and sunk by Kptlt. Hans-Günther Lange's U-711 on 17 Feb 1945 off the Kola Inlet, Russia. On 4 May 1945 U-711 was sunk during the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Operation "Judgement", which was actually aimed at the depot ships Black Watch and Senja lying at Kilbotn, south of Harstad, Norway. Bombs from Avenger aircrafts, operating off HMS Trumpeter and HMS Queen, destroyed her, leaving 40 dead and 12 survivors. She sank after attempts by Kptlt. Hans-Günther Lange and ten other crew members to separate her from the Black Watch and to keep her afloat. The rest of the crew had already gone on board the Black Watch and were killed as she went down. Only a few hours earlier the captain had received the signal from Germany ordering all U-boats to cease attacks on allied shipping.

More Naval history for 2 Aug:
• At 08:00 A.M., the destroyers under Rear Admiral Home Fleet destroyers were reorganised. 3rd Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Inglefield, HMS Isis, HMS Duncan, HMS Echo, HMS Eclipse, HMS Electra and HMS Encounter on her return to England. 4th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Cossack, HMS Zulu, HMS Sikh, HMS Maori, HMS Fame, HMS Fortune. Temporarily attached HMS Fury and HMS Firedrake, and on return to England HMS Foxhound. 6th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Tartar, HMS Ashanti, HMS Matabele, HMS MAashona, HMS Bedouin, HMS Punjabi, HMS Eskimo, HMS Somali. 12th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Keppel, HMS Douglas, HMS Aarrow, HMS Achates, HMS Activa, HMS Anthony, HMS Amazon. Temporarily attached destroyers HMS Vortigern and HMS Watchman.
• Destroyers HMS Maori and HMS Mashona departed Lerwick for an anti-submarine sweep north of the Shetlands. No contact was made.
• Destroyers HMS Bedouin and HMS Punjabi departed Scapa Flow at 01:15 P.M. to search in the area of North Minch, then join convoy WN.4. The destroyers would stay with WN.4 until Rattray Head when they were detached to join convoy OA.193.
• British minefield BS.30 was laid by minelayers HMS Plover and HMS Willem van dr Zaan along with destroyers HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Icarus, HMS Intrepid and HMS Impulsive.
• Anti-submarine trawler HMS Cape Finisterre (590grt) was sunk by German bombing off Harwich.
• Convoy OG.40 of twenty one ships departed Liverpool. The convoy was escorted by sloop HMS Enchabtress from 2 Aug to 14 Aug. Destroyer HMS Westcott escorted the convoy from 2 Aug to 7 Aug when she was detached to convoy HG.40. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 14 Aug.
• Convoy FN.240 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on 4 Aug.
• Convoy MT.128 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on 2 Aug.
• Convoy FS.239 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers HMS Vega and HMS Westminster. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 3 Aug. Convoy FS.240 was cancelled.
•  Dutch submarine O-22, attached to the Brittish 9th Flotilla in Dundee attacked german submarine U-37 or U-38 in the North Sea without result.
• British steamer City of Brisbane (8006grt) was attacked by German bombers off South Longsand Buoy, Thames Estuary in 51'32'30N, 1'23'30E, and went ashore at South Longsand with eight crew were lost. she was still afire on 5 Aug.
• U-99 damaged Norwegian tanker Strinda (10,973grt) in 55'10N, 17'16W and British tankers Lucerna (6556grt) in 55'18N, 16'39W and Alexia (8016grt) in 55'30N, 15'30W. * British drifter Embrace (94grt) was lost after stranding at Loch Alsh.
• German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis captured Norwegian steamer Tallyrand (6732grt) in 30S, 67E. The Tallyrand was scuttled on 3 Aug in 32'03S, 66'36E. and the crew were transferred to steamer Tirranna. When Tirranna was lost, three of Tallyrand's crew was lost.
• Convoys SL.42 and SLF.42 departed Freetown escorted by light cruiser HMS Delhi untill 8 Aug when she was relieved by armed merchant cruiser HMS Maloja. The light cruiser refuelled at St Vincent on 11 Aug and arrived at Freetown on 20 Aug, patrolling en route. On 18 Aug corvettes HMS Bluebell and HMS Clarkia and escort vessel HMS Gleaner joined the convoy. On 19 Aug destroyer HMS Viscount joined. Armed merchant cruiser HMS Maloja was detached on 20 Aug The convoy arrived on the 21 Aug at Liverpool.
- - - - - - CONVOY OB.220 DEP: 27 Sep 1940 - Liverpool, UK ARR: 1 Oct 1940 - Dispersed, Atlantic Ocean Ships: 32 Losses: 0

M/S Tisnaren joined in the Bristol Channel and went on to Durban, South Africa carrying ballast. 

Escorts:

HMS Skate (H-39) - Destroyer, Admiralty R class

HMS Calendula (K-28) - Corvette, Flower class

HMS Wellington (L-65 / U-65) - Sloop, Grimsby class

Also: HMS Coreopsis (K-32) - Corvette, Flower class (*) HMS Gladiolus (K-34) - Corvette, Flower class (**) HMS Lady Lilian - Anti-Submarine Trawler (***) HMS Northern Gem (FY-194) - Anti-Submarine Trawler

(*) In 1953 HMS Coreopsis (K-32) played the HMS Compass Rose in the film The Cruel Sea and was given the pennant number K-49. During World War II HMS Crocus had pennant number K-49.

(**) HMS Gladiolus (Lt.Cdr. Harry Marcus Crews Sanders, DSO, DSC, RD, RNR) was later torpedoed and sunk (most likely) by Kptlt. Günther Krech's U-558 on 17 Oct 1941 south of Iceland while escorting convoy SC.48. She was ordered to pick up survivors from several torpedoed ships and in doing so fell behind the convoy. She was last seen about 0100 hours and was reported missing thereafter. It is also possible that the ship was sunk by Kptlt. Heinz-Otto Schultze's U-432 later that night. There were no survivors.

(***) HMS Lady Lilian (T/Lt. W.K. Rous, RNVR) was later sunk by Luftwaffe on 16 Mar 1941 about 75 nautical miles west of Erris Head, Ireland.

More Naval history for 27 Sep:

• Light cruiser HMS Kenya was completed and arrived at Scapa Flow on 29 Aug for assignment with the 10th Cruiser Squadron. She was sent to Freetown and departed Freetown on 27 Oct for Plymouth arriving on 5 Nov. 
• Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Phoebe was completed and departed the Clyde on 2 Oct for Scapa Flow arriving on 4 Oct, assigned to the 15th Cruiser Squadron. 
• Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Cairo departed Scapa Flow at 04:00 P.M. to meet convoy WN.18 and escort it through to Methil. She then corrected defects at Rosyth. 
• Destroyer HMS Sikh was damaged by British tug Flamer at Rosyth, and was temporary repaired on 29 Aug. 
• Destroyer HMS Versatile departed Rosyth for the Tyne. At the Tyne, she met troopship HMS Empire Trooper and escorted her to Pentland Firth. 
• Convoy OB.220 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HMS Skate, sloop HMS Wellington, corvette HMS Gladiolus, and anti-submarine trawlers Lady Lilian and HMS Northern Gem. All but HMS Wellington was detached on 30 Aug and HMS Wellington detached on 1 Oct. 
• Convoy FN.292 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Vanity and HMS Wolfhound. The convoy arrived at Methil on 29 Aug. 
• Convoy FS.293 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer HMS Winchester and sloop HMS Londonderry. The convoy arrived at Southend on 29 Aug. 
• Submarine HMS Triumph, her repairs from mine damages in December completed, started patrols in Holy Loch. She departed Holy Loch on 6 Nov for the Mediterranean and arrived at Gibraltar on 16 Nov. 
• Minesweeper HMS Halcyon was mined in the mouth of the Tees in the North Sea and badly damaged. Temporary Lt J. D. Worthington DSC RNVR, Paymaster Lt W. A Kibble RNR, and several others wounded. She was later repaired at Southbank, completed on 30 June 1941. 
• Norwegian steamer Diana (1155grt) was sunk by a mine between Lizard and Fowey. 
• U-31 sank Norwegian steamer Vestvard (4319grt) three hundred miles west of Ireland with one crewman killed. 
• U-37 sank Egyptian steamer Georges Mabro (2555grt) in 52'00N, 19'00W. 
• Convoy SC.6 departed Sydney, Australia escorted by Canadian armed yacht HMCS Elk and ocean escort Sloop HMS Enchantress. On 9 Oct, destroyers HMS Skate, HMS Vanquisher, and HMS Winchelsea, sloop HMS Hastings, and anti-submarine yacht HMS Philante joined the convoy. On 11 Oct, destroyer HMS Winchelsea was detached. The remainder of the escort arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on 12 Oct. 
• U-46 on patrol in the Atlantic lost two crew overboard in heavy weather. 
• Freetown, Sierra Leone 05:30 A.M., light cruiser HMS Dragon with transports Kenya, Karanja, Sobieski and Ettrick arrives. 06:15 A.M., destroyer HMS Escapade arrives. She sailed again at 10:20 A.M. to rejoin the ships at sea. 09:00 A.M., transports S/S Pennland and S/S Westernland, escorted by sloops FNFL Savorgnan de Brazza, FNFL Commandant Dominé and FNFL Commandant Duboc arrives. 02:30 P.M., light cruiser HMS Delhi arrives. 05:00 P.M., heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Cumberland arrives. 06:15 P.M., French armed trawler FNFL President Houduce escorting the tankers and transport ships Ocean Coast, Casamance, Anadyr, Nevada, and Fort Lamy arrives. 
• Convoy SL.49 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Moreton Bay to 14 Octr. On 12 Oct, convoy SL.49 rendezvoused with convoy SLS.49. On 13 Octr, destroyer HMS Antelope and sloop HMS Aber deen joined the convoy. Corvette HMS Gloxinia and anti-submarine trawler HMS Northern Gem also escorted the convoy in Home Waters. The convoy arrived on 17 Oct.
- - - - - - CONVOY SL.60 DEP: 22 Dec 1940 - Freetown, Sierra Leone ARR: 13 Jan 1941 - Liverpool, UK

Ships: 32 Losses: 1, 14 Jan, the day after arrival in Liverpool S/S Buitzenzorg sank after hitting rocks at Grey Island, Sound of Mull.

M/S Tisnaren went to Mersey carrying East African Produce. Escorts: HMS Wild Swan (D-62) - Destroyer, Admiralty Modified W class * HMS Witch (D-89) - Destroyer, Admiralty Modified W class HMS Esperance Bay (F-67) - Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Campanula (K-18) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Bridgewater (L-01 / U-01) - Sloop, Bridgewater class HMS Aberdeen (L-97 / U-97) - Sloop, Grimsby class HMS Periwinkle (K-55) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Gardenia (K-99) - Corvette, Flower class ** HMS Fleur de Lys (K-122) - Corvette, Flower class *** HMS Spaniard (FY-144) - Anti-Submarine Trawler **** HMS Bengali (FY-165) - Anti-Submarine Trawler **** HMS Cavina (F-33) - Ocean Boarding vessel - former S/S Cavina, a Banana Freighter for the Elders & Fyffes Co * HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. Claude Edward Lutley Sclater, RN) was later sunk by Luftwaffe on 17 Jun 1942 south of Ireland. ** HMS Gardenia was sunk off Oran, Algeria on 9 Nov 1942 in a collision with the minesweeping trawler HMS Fluellen. *** HMS Fleur de Lys (Lt. Alexander Collins, RNR) was later torpedoed and sunk on 14 Oct 1941 by Kptlt. Herbert Opitz's U-206 about 55 nautical miles west of Gibraltar. There were only three survivors. **** HMS Spaniard and HMS Bengali was later both sunk by an explosion at Lagos, Nigeria on 5 Dec 1942. More Naval history for 22 Dec:
- - - - - - CONVOY OB.291 DEP: 27 Feb 1941 - Liverpool, UK ARR: 3 Mar 1941 - Dispersed, Atlantic Ocean Ships: 45 Losses: 0
M/S Tisnaren; no information. However the War Diary of the South African Admiralty for 31 MAR 1941 has an entry for Air Operations, Port Elisabeth stating; "Air Escort was given to TISNAREN." Escorts: HMS Walker (D-27) - Destroyer, Admiralty V & W Class HMS Volunteer (D-71) - Destroyer, Admiralty Modified W class HMS Vanoc (H-33) - Destroyer, Admiralty V & W Class HMS Pegasus - Fighter Catapult Armed Merchant ship (CAM), Pegasus class HMS Caldwell (I-20) - Destroyer, Town Class HMS Fleetwood (L-47 / U-47) - Sloop, Grimsby Class HMS Tulip (K-29) - Corvette, Flower Class More Naval history for 27 Feb:
- - - - - - CONVOY HX.143 DEP: 5 Aug 1941 - Halifax, Canada ARR: 20 Aug 1941 - Liverpool, UK Ships: 73 Losses: 0
M/S Tisnaren carrying unknown cargo Escorts: HMS Malcolm (D-19) - Destroyer, Admiralty Leader class HMS Watchman (D-26) - Destroyer, Admiralty V & W class HMS Wolfe (F-37) - Armed Merchant Cruiser & Submarine Depot Ship HMS Scimitar (H-21) - Destroyer, Admiralty S class HMS Sardonyx (H-26) - Destroyer, Admiralty S class HMS Arabis (K-73) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Verbena (K-85) - Corvette, Flower class HMCS Annapolis (I-04) - Destroyer, Town class HMCS Niagara (I-57) - Destroyer, Town class HMCS Levis (K-115) - Corvette, Flower class * HMCS Napanee (K-118) - Corvette, Flower class HMCS Agassiz (K-129) - Corvette, Flower class HMCS Dauphin (K-157) - Corvette Flower class HMCS Mayflower (K-191) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Burnham (H-82) - Destroyer, Town class HMS Violet (K-35) - Corvette, Flower class HMCS Galt (K-163) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Northern Pride (FY-105) - Anti-Submarine Trawler HMS Northern Wave (FY-153) - Anti-Submarine Trawler HMS Northern Gem (FY-194) - Anti-Submarine Trawler * HMCS Levis (Lt C.W. Gilding, RCNR) was later hit by one torpedo on 19 Sep 1941 from Kptlt. Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat's U-74 east of Cape Farewell while escorting the convoy SC.44 as part of the 19th Escort Group. The ship was taken in tow by HMCS Mayflower (Lt.Cdr. G.Stephen, RCNR), but foundered later that day. 18 crew members went down with the ship. 91 survivors were picked up by the corvette. More Naval history for 5 Aug:
- - - - - - CONVOY OS.8 DEP: 1 Oct 1941 - Liverpool, UK ARR: 26 Oct 1941 - Freetown, Sierra Leone Ships: 48 Losses: 0
M/S Tisnaren went from Oban to Freetown, Cape, Bombay and Karachi carrying General Stores. Escorts: HMS Vansittart (D-64) - Destroyer, Admiralty Modified W class HMS Starwort (K-20) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Cyclamen (K-83) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Armeria (K-187) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Aster (K-188) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Sandwich (L-12 / U-12) - Sloop, Bridgewater class HMS Scarborough (L-25 / U-25) - Sloop, Folkestone class HMS Fleetwood (L-47 / U-47) - Sloop, Grimsby class HMS Black Swan (L-57 / U-57) - Sloop, Black Swan class HMS Bachaquero (LST-110) - Landing Ship, Tank HMS Hilary (F-22) - Ocean Boarding vessel - former RMS Hilary III HMS Burra (T-158) - Mine Sweeper Trawler, Isles class More Naval history for 1 Oct:
- - - - - - CONVOY SL.103/SLG.103 DEP: 14 Mar 1942 - Freetown, Sierra Leone ARR: 2 Apr 1942 - Liverpool, UK Ships: 39 Losses: 0
M/S Tisnaren went to Clyde carrying General Goods and Mail Escorts: HMS Volunteer (D-71) - Destroyer, Admiralty Modified W class HMS Keppel (D-84) - Destroyer, Shakespeare class HMS Sabre (H-18) - Destroyer, Admiralty S class HMS Scimitar (H-21) - Destroyer, Admiralty S class HMS Sardonyx (H-26) - Destroyer, Admiralty S class HMS Saladin (H-54) - Destroyer, Admiralty S class HMS Beverley (H-64) - Destroyer, Town class * HMS Brilliant (H-84) - Destroyer, B class HMS Mallow (K-81) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Hastings (L-27 / U-27) - Sloop, Folkestone class HMS Londonderry (L-76 / U-76) - Sloop, Grimsby class HMS Lulworth (Y-60) - Sloop, Banff class HMS Coreopsis (K-32) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Wallflower (K-44) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Wivern (D-66) - Destroyer, Admiralty Modified W class HMS Aubretia (K-96) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Burdock (K-126) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Coltsfoot (K-140) - Corvette, Flower class FNFL Commandant Detroyat (K-183) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Tamarisk (K-216) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Landguard (Y-56) - Sloop, Banff class Molde - Anti-Submarine Trawler - former Norwegian Whaler Kos XX * HMS Beverley (Lt.Cdr. Rodney Athelstan Price, RN) was later and sunk on 11 Apr 1943 by Kptlt. Siegfried Lüdden's U-188. There were only 4 survivors out of 155. More Naval history for 14 Mar:
- - - - - - CONVOY OS.27 DEP: 2 May 1942 - Liverpool, UK ARR: 19 May 1942 - Freetown, Sierra Leone Ships: 48 Losses: 0
M/S Tisnaren was heading for Rio de Janeiro / Buenos Aries carrying General Goods including Scottish Whisky, and parted with her convoy and escort on 14 May 1942, five days before it arrived in Freetown.</ br>Escorts:

HMS Clare (I-14) - Destroyer, Town class HMS Hydrangea (K-39) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Pelican (L-86 / U-86) - Sloop, Egret class HMS Corinthian (F-103) - Ocean Boarding vessel - former Ellerman Lines S/S Corinthian HMS Largs - Ocean Boarding vessel - former French fruit-carrier M/V Charles Plumier HMS Amaranthus (K-17) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Aubretia (K-96) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Tamarisk (K-216) - Corvette, Flower class HMS Deptford (L-53 / U-53) - Sloop, Grimsby class HMS Lowestoft (L-59 / U-59) - Sloop, Grimsby class More Naval history for 2 May:
- - - - - -