OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY REPORT ON SALVAGE
ENCLOSURE TO HMS “GENROY”s LETTER DATED 30.11.42
No 2658/190
“GLENROY”. TORPEDOING AND SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS.
Part 1 EXTRACT FROM “GLENROY”s LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS 23RD Nov to 4TH Dec. 1942
Glenroy left Alexandria for Tobruk at 0330 on Sunday, 23rd November escorted by H.M.Ships CARLISE< FARNDALE, ERIDGE, and AVONVALE. Ship carried cargo of lighters and Motor towing launches with 80 Army personnel. Ships own landing craft were left at Alexandria. Weather became bad and some loss and damage to lighters was sustained.
2. At 1605, November, 23rd, position 31o 59’ N, 26o 27.7 E., Course 265o ship was attacked by Torpedo Aircraft which approached low from the land and Glenroy was hit portside just abaft the Engine Room by the second of two torpedoes. Engine Room and No 4 and 5 Holds (including messes on upper ‘tween decks) flooded at once and tow lighters were destroyed by the blast. No casualties.
At 1620 the troops with seamen boatkeepers were sent in remaining port lighters to FARNDALE for transport to Tobruk. A portion of daymen were also transhipped. Prepared to be taken in tow by CARSILE.
At 1730 as ship continued to settle aft due to gradual flooding of No 5A hold, with all pumps (electrical) out of action, a further portion of the ship’s company was transhipped to ERIDGE.
1820, In tow by CAESILE, course 090o, 3 knots, emergency dynamo providing lighting and steering. Weather moderate during the ………. but stern of ship continued to settle till aft well deck was nearly awash.
A.M. It was unlikely ship would reach Alexandria, and course was altered for Mersa Matruth with a view to beaching. Further portions of ship’s company were disembarked into escorting destroyers and CARSILE.
P.M. At noon approximately ship was near to Mersa Matruth and tow was slipped by CARSILE. GLENROY’s cable was then burned through and local patrol craft from Mersa Matruth towed ships stern towards the shore, assisted later by tug ST ISSEY from Alexandria.
1500. Let go Port anchor and after veering 10 shackles, ships stern grounded lightly. Position 063o White Rock 1350 feet. Salvage work started with one 3” pump from ST ISSEY.
4. Tuesday to Thursday 25/27th November.
Heavy salvage pumps arrived from Alexandria with the Fleet Salvage Officer (Commander WHEELER R.N.R.) No 5A Hold filed before pumps could be rigged and ship’s stern sank and rested on the bottom during the night of 25/26th November, with after well deck awash.
Weather calm. Emergency dynamo connected up with wandering leads to work derricks (for hoisting in pumps and hoisting out lighters and motor towing launches) and working cable.
Salvage pumps ejected water from No 5A hold and additional shores were fitted to bulkhead 5 and 5A holds as water receded.
Cable was kept hove taut and ship floated off at 2250, 26th November. Additional shoring up of bulkheads continued and salvage pumps kept running as necessary.
Ship left Mersa Matruth at 0240 on 27th November in tow of ST. ISSEY and escorted by THORGRIM and FALK. Due to damage to the rudder from the grounding, steering was not possible until 0715 on 28th November.
1600. Ship heading shorewards and ST. ISSEY unable to turn her.
1700 AVONVALE PROCEEDED TO take ship in tow, but became unmanageable. Tug ST. ISSEY
ST. MONANCE arrived and in trying to assist AVONVALE parted the laters tow at 1750.
In the meantime at 1720 ship was attacked by one torpedo carrying
/aircraft
sheet 2
Thursday to Saturday, 27/29th November. (cont)aircraft which was driven off but returned again, dropped one torpedo which passed astern, and withdrew.
6. During the night of 27/28th November ship remained practically hove to in tow of ST.ISSEY, wind 6-7, sea 55. It was not until 1600 on 28th November that weather improved sufficiently for ST MONANCE to pass her tow. Course 104o speed 3½ knots.
At 1730, 1740 and 1750 on 28th November, between dusk and darkness, a single enemy torpedo aircraft approached ship and was engaged. One torpedo was dropped at last approach but passed under the tow.
1955 on 29th November ship arrived and anchored off Alexandria. Draft 29ft. forward and 39ft. aft.
7. Saturday 29th November – Thursday 4th December.
Draft aft of ship was too great for entering Alexandria harbour. Bt pumping out water from various compartments aft pumping water into tank and compartments forward, ships draft was altered to 28ft. forward and 36ft. aft. Suitable for entering harbour.
Bad weather on 2nd and 3rd December prevented ship moving.#
At 0550 on 4th December ship proceeded into harbour in tow of tugs to E.4 buoy. Draft 29ft. 5ins. forward and 35ft. aft ship touched bottom twice in entrance to the Great Nass.
sheet 3
ENCLOSURE TO,“GENROY”s LETTER DATED 20.11.42 No 2658/190
“GLENROY”. TORPEDOING AND SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS.
8. Arrangements made to dock on 19th December but other commitments arose which rendered dock unavailable for GLENROY and also occupied majority of dockyard resources for a long period ahead.
Only alternative was to patch the hole in ship’s side while she remained at her buoy. This was undertaken by the Fleet Salvage Officer (Commander G.J. WHEELER R.N.R.) using ship’s staff and a small party of South African and other salvage divers whom he collected for the purpose