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S S Empire Patrol - The Rescue
- By Robby G
- Published 05/12/2008
- S S Empire Patrol - The Rescue
- Unrated
S.O.S….
All Ships;
“31 degrees 56 Minutes North 32 degrees 04 Minutes east…ship on fire stem to stern taking to boats”
From F.O.L.E:-
To “Trouncer”
“Proceed forthwith to assistance of “Empire Patrol”. On fire and crew taking to boats in position “31 degrees 56 Minutes North 32 degrees 04 Minutes east.
“Empire Patrol” left Port Said at 0800 Saturday. 500 refugees including women and children.
79 male, 210 female, 182 children, all Greek refugees.
From; The Commanding Officer HMS Devonshire
Dated; 1st October 1945
To; Senior Naval Officer Red Sea and Canal Area
Copy to: Commanding Officer HMS Trouncer.
1. The attached narrative, Track Chart, and copies of releventsignals transmitted and received, in connection with the final search on 30 September 1945 for survivors from S S “Empire Patrol”, is forwarded.
2. It is regretted that time, and “Devonshires” movements prevented mt contributing to the co-ordination reports for the period aftert”Devonshire’s” arrival in the area of operations.
3. During that period, the work and co-operation of “Trouncer”, “mermaid”, and surface and air craft of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, was excellent; and, from the high proportion of passengers and crew saved , under difficult conditions, it is evident that all, that under the command and inspiring leadership of the Commanding Officer, HMS Trouncer, had done a magnificent piece of work during the previous evening and night.
Gerald Langley
Captain
S S “Empire Patrol”
Search for survivors on 30th September 1945
Narrative of HMS Devonshire
“Devonshire” arrived in the area at daylight and made contact with “Trouncer” and “Mermaid”, still searching for, and picking up, scattered survivors.
1. “Devonshire’s” track chart, from 0700 – 1445, and copies of major signals transmitted and received, are attached.
2. At 0735 an air-sea rescue float was sighted and examined. At this time “Trouncer” was to the eastward, “Mermaid” to the south eastward , and “KLO” with M.F.V’s spread between them. Abandoned wreckage lay between “Devonshire” and “Mermaid”.
3. I decided to search round the area of abandoned wreckage through positions over which aircraft were patrolling. At 0820 four survivors were rescued from a raft to which attention had been drawn by aircraft.
4. At 0900, after examination of wreckage and rafts to the northward, I decided to carry out a systematic search of an area in which, after consultation with “Trouncer”, I concluded
that further survivors might be found. The search was commenced at 0900 with “Mermaid” and “KLO”, the latter with M.F.V’s to the southward and southeastward.
“Trouncer”, who was picking up a further survivor joined the search at 1005.
5. The search was not as systematic as I intended, owing to the necessity for examining closely any objects sighted. Nothing of significance was sighted, however, after 1020, and at 1115, after consultation with “Trouncer”, I concluded that the possible area was clear and decided to abandon the search.
6. “Trouncer” was detached to close “Empire Patrol” and “Mermaid”to return to Port Said in accordance with their previous orders, while, “KLO” was ordered to sweep with M.F.V’s to the end of the searched channel and then return to Port Said.
7. When “Mermaid” was ordered by S.N.O.R.S.C.A ( Senior Naval Officer Red Sea and Canal Area) to stand by “Emperor Patrol” in lieu of “Trouncer”, I ordered “Mermaid” to close me and transfer survivors to me. This was done between 1200 and 1215, by which time “Trouncer” had closed to transfer “Empire Patrol” Officers to “Mermaid”.
8. By 1345, “Devonshire” had shaped course for the end of the Searched Channel, on a track between those of “Trouncer” and “KLO”, while “Mermaid” was closing “Empire Patrol”, and Air-sea rescue craft returning to base. “Empire Patrol” bore 076 degrees – 14 miles at 1254.
9. At 1308, a small square raft with three more (male) survivors was sighted and picked up at 1315. I had not expected to find any survivors or wreckage so far to the southeaswards, and, after interrogating the survivors ( who included a D.E.M.S rating) I concluded that there would likely to have been to the southeastwrds of all else. They had been first to abandon ship, when trapped right aft by the fire, and, being being high out of the water, on top of the raft, provided a sail area above the average.
10. I decided to carry out a further search round the area, and to the north weastwards, where contact was made with previously examined wreckage at a distance of 1 ½ - 2 miles.
11. from the position that the last survivors had been rescued. From this I concluded that they had only just been missed in the morning search, and were in fact the most southeasterly body.
12. I decided therefore to abandon further search, and shaped course again for the end of the outer channel which was reached at 1445
13. Aircraft were ordered to return to base at 1443.
Credit: The National Archives, ref. ADM. 1/17324
The National Archives
Kew, Surrey,
England
TW9 4DU,
1940 EMPIRE PATROL, Royal Navy mine depot ship.
1941 MOWT managed by Prince Line (Furness Withy)
29.9.45 On fire at 31.56N 32.45E
1.10.45 Sank in tow off Port Said.
All Ships;
“31 degrees 56 Minutes North 32 degrees 04 Minutes east…ship on fire stem to stern taking to boats”
From F.O.L.E:-
To “Trouncer”
“Proceed forthwith to assistance of “Empire Patrol”. On fire and crew taking to boats in position “31 degrees 56 Minutes North 32 degrees 04 Minutes east.
“Empire Patrol” left Port Said at 0800 Saturday. 500 refugees including women and children.
79 male, 210 female, 182 children, all Greek refugees.
From; The Commanding Officer HMS Devonshire
Dated; 1st October 1945
To; Senior Naval Officer Red Sea and Canal Area
Copy to: Commanding Officer HMS Trouncer.
1. The attached narrative, Track Chart, and copies of releventsignals transmitted and received, in connection with the final search on 30 September 1945 for survivors from S S “Empire Patrol”, is forwarded.
2. It is regretted that time, and “Devonshires” movements prevented mt contributing to the co-ordination reports for the period aftert”Devonshire’s” arrival in the area of operations.
3. During that period, the work and co-operation of “Trouncer”, “mermaid”, and surface and air craft of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, was excellent; and, from the high proportion of passengers and crew saved , under difficult conditions, it is evident that all, that under the command and inspiring leadership of the Commanding Officer, HMS Trouncer, had done a magnificent piece of work during the previous evening and night.
Gerald Langley
Captain
S S “Empire Patrol”
Search for survivors on 30th September 1945
Narrative of HMS Devonshire
“Devonshire” arrived in the area at daylight and made contact with “Trouncer” and “Mermaid”, still searching for, and picking up, scattered survivors.
1. “Devonshire’s” track chart, from 0700 – 1445, and copies of major signals transmitted and received, are attached.
2. At 0735 an air-sea rescue float was sighted and examined. At this time “Trouncer” was to the eastward, “Mermaid” to the south eastward , and “KLO” with M.F.V’s spread between them. Abandoned wreckage lay between “Devonshire” and “Mermaid”.
3. I decided to search round the area of abandoned wreckage through positions over which aircraft were patrolling. At 0820 four survivors were rescued from a raft to which attention had been drawn by aircraft.
4. At 0900, after examination of wreckage and rafts to the northward, I decided to carry out a systematic search of an area in which, after consultation with “Trouncer”, I concluded
“Trouncer”, who was picking up a further survivor joined the search at 1005.
5. The search was not as systematic as I intended, owing to the necessity for examining closely any objects sighted. Nothing of significance was sighted, however, after 1020, and at 1115, after consultation with “Trouncer”, I concluded that the possible area was clear and decided to abandon the search.
6. “Trouncer” was detached to close “Empire Patrol” and “Mermaid”to return to Port Said in accordance with their previous orders, while, “KLO” was ordered to sweep with M.F.V’s to the end of the searched channel and then return to Port Said.
7. When “Mermaid” was ordered by S.N.O.R.S.C.A ( Senior Naval Officer Red Sea and Canal Area) to stand by “Emperor Patrol” in lieu of “Trouncer”, I ordered “Mermaid” to close me and transfer survivors to me. This was done between 1200 and 1215, by which time “Trouncer” had closed to transfer “Empire Patrol” Officers to “Mermaid”.
8. By 1345, “Devonshire” had shaped course for the end of the Searched Channel, on a track between those of “Trouncer” and “KLO”, while “Mermaid” was closing “Empire Patrol”, and Air-sea rescue craft returning to base. “Empire Patrol” bore 076 degrees – 14 miles at 1254.
9. At 1308, a small square raft with three more (male) survivors was sighted and picked up at 1315. I had not expected to find any survivors or wreckage so far to the southeaswards, and, after interrogating the survivors ( who included a D.E.M.S rating) I concluded that there would likely to have been to the southeastwrds of all else. They had been first to abandon ship, when trapped right aft by the fire, and, being being high out of the water, on top of the raft, provided a sail area above the average.
10. I decided to carry out a further search round the area, and to the north weastwards, where contact was made with previously examined wreckage at a distance of 1 ½ - 2 miles.
11. from the position that the last survivors had been rescued. From this I concluded that they had only just been missed in the morning search, and were in fact the most southeasterly body.
12. I decided therefore to abandon further search, and shaped course again for the end of the outer channel which was reached at 1445
13. Aircraft were ordered to return to base at 1443.
Credit: The National Archives, ref. ADM. 1/17324
The National Archives
Kew, Surrey,
England
TW9 4DU,
1940 EMPIRE PATROL, Royal Navy mine depot ship.
1941 MOWT managed by Prince Line (Furness Withy)
29.9.45 On fire at 31.56N 32.45E
1.10.45 Sank in tow off Port Said.