Ark Royal Swordfish collision October 1939

[Steve49]

Brian,

I guess the incidents you refer to followed the breakout from Vigo of six interned ships on the 10th February. The ARK ROYAL was part of the French/UK naval force that responded. According to Rohwer's 'Chronology of the war at sea 1939-1945 the merchant ships had the following fates;

ROSTOCK -Intercepted by FS ELAN 11/2/40
MOREA -Intercepted by HMS HASTY 12/2/40
WAHEHE -Intercepted by HMS MANCHESTER and HMS KIMBERLEY 21/2/40
ORIZABA -Evaded interception, but then ran aground in northern Norway
WANGONI -Evaded interception and reached Kiel
ARUCAS -Scuttled after being intercepted by HMS YORK 3/3/40.

Not clear what role ARK ROYAL's aircraft had, but it appears that they could only have been involved in the capture of the first two (WAHEHE was intercepted south of Iceland).

Regards,

Steve