4) were to be run between Malta and Egypt. © 1995 - 2020 Guðmundur Helgason Of the 4000 troops embarked in Force B, no less then 800 had been killed or captured (those on the It was only after long and anxious consideration, and consultation with the Admiralty, as well as with the military authorities, that the decision to continue the evacuation could be taken. The main enemy units had been driven off far enough that they could no longer interfere with it. At noon, the fleet was in position 37°20’N, 20°08’E. Nine Ju.52’s carrying troops were destroyed by Hurricanes on the 23rd and 26th. This force was made up of the battleships Around 1600 hours, having completed their exercises, the 3rd Cruiser Squadron joined ‘Force A’.
Convoy’s MW 7A and MW 7B both arrived safely at Malta. As the two forces parted company a sharp attack by four Ju.88’s was made on Force D which shot down three of them. Visibility was reported as being 10 to 20 miles. This search sighted nothing except a hospital ship. 42’s one Fulmar was brought down and the crew of two was lost. At 1400 hours a few bomb splashes were observed on the horizon to the northwestward. No seaborne landing has as yet taken place but during the afternoon air reconnaissance reported groups of small craft, escorted by destroyers, moving towards Crete from Milos (80 miles north of Retimo). By 1000 hours, Group I had joined the convoy, which was proceeding on a course of 085° at 14 knots. This took the form of intense bombing of Maleme airfield and Suda Bay areas, closely followed by the landing of troops by parachute, gliders and troop carrying aircraft. Parachute flares were also carried by each plane. HMS Greyhound was a G-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the 1930s. By this time Force B had suffered badly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One Swordfish attacked a group of seaplanes moored off the jetty. At 1520 hours, the fleet was reported by enemy aircraft. In the course of the forenoon he signalled his intentions for the night. Four aircraft then attacked searchlights, putting one of them out of action.
Force A followed Force D well into the Antikithera Channel as AA support, turning to the westward at sunset to patrol for the night in the supporting area. Adjusted for inflation to 2016 pounds, £15,773,214. So suddenly did the collapse come at the last, that there had been no time to organise the retirement and though the infantry which withdrew from the front line did so in good order, the movements of the rest of the force were uncontrolled, and much congestion on the route resulted. The force departed at 0300/1 having embarked nearly 4000 troops and arrived at Alexandria at 1700 hours that day. At 0940 hours, when the fleet was in position 35°40’N, 13°43’E, and steaming on a course of 140°, the fleet was formed as follows; At 0930 hours an enemy aircraft reported three cruisers and at 1030 hours, Rear-Admiral Cruiser Squadron 3 with At 1050 hours an enemy aircraft was heard to report a large naval force.
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Parachute flares were dropped at intervals for a period of about 45 minutes in the hope of identifying the targets, but without success. Spasmodic air attacks continued till dusk.
Vice-Admiral King was then authorized to increase the total number he was allowed to embark to 3500 men. The position of British (Allied) naval forces at sea at daylight on the 20th of May was as follows; Two broke formation under gunfire and the remainder delivered a poor attack, bombs falling near the destroyer screen. Its speed was limited as For these reasons, Rear-Admiral King considered that he would jeopadise his whole force if he proceeded any further to the northward. They were sighted a minute before firing and the ships received them with a barrage from long- and short-range guns, altering course to avoid the torpedoes, which passed astern of the rearmost ship Directly after this attack, while the ships were reforming the line, a strong force of aircraft were reported at 1235 hours, coming from the northward some 30 miles away. One Ju.88 was shot down and another one was damaged, one Fulmar was lost.