FR Bévéziers of the French Navy - French Submarine of the Agosta class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net

Allied Warships

Submarine of the Agosta class

Notable events involving Bévéziers include:

21 Mar 1940

Convoy HX 29.

This convoy departed Halifax on 21 March 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Adelfoi Chandris (Greek, 6176 GRT, built 1919), Adula (British (tanker), 8040 GRT, built 1937), Amakura (British, 1987 GRT, built 1924), Beaverford (British, 10042 GRT, built 1928), British Chivalry (British (tanker), 7118 GRT, built 1929), Cadillac (British (tanker), 12062 GRT, built 1917), Caledonian Monarch (British, 5851 GRT, buil 1928), Condylis (Greek, 4439 GRT, built 1914), Coryton (British, 4553 GRT, built 1928), Ganges (British, 6246 GRT, built 1930), Georgios Potamianos (Greek, 4044 GRT, built 1913), Gold Shell (British (tanker), 8208 GRT, built 1931), Harberton (British, 4585 GRT, built 1930), Hartbridge (British, 5080 GRT, built 1927), Hopecrest (British, 5099 GRT, built 1935), Invershannon (British (tanker), 8154 GRT, built 1938), Mactra (British (tanker), 6193 GRT, built 1936), Melmore Head (British, 5273 GRT, built 1918), Nellie (Greek, 4826 GRT, built 1913), Pacific Star (British, 7591 GRT, built 1920), Pecten (British (tanker), 7468 GRT, built 1927), Point Arena (Panamanian, 4431 GRT, built 1917), Pontfield (British (tanker), 8319 GRT, built 1940), Rudby (British, 4846 GRT, built 1924), Suderholm (Norwegian (tanker), 4908 GRT, built 1917), Sulairia (British, 5802 GRT, built 1929), Virgilia (British (tanker), 5723 GRT, built 1927), Wayfarer (British, 5068 GRT, built 1925) and Wray Castle (British, 4253 GRT, 1938).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ausonia (Capt. C.T.M. Pizey, RN), destroyers HMCS Ottawa (Capt. G.C. Jones, RCN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. H.G. de Wolf, RCN) and the submarine Bévéziers (Lt.Cdr. H. Nicolau).

Around 1745Q/22, both Canadian destroyers parted company to return to Halifax.

At dawn on 23 March when in approximate position 42°30'N, 58°00'W, the Adula (arrived in the Downs on 3 April), Point Arena (arrived at Le Havre on 10 April), Suderholm (arrived at Liverpool on 5 April) and the Bévéziers (returned to Halifax on 28 March) were seen to have straggled from the convoy during last night's gale. More ships had straggled but most rejoined during the day. More ships rejoined during the passage east. The last one to rejoin was the Gold Shell on 30 March.

Around 2330N/30, the Pecten (arrived at Greenock on 6 April) straggled from the convoy in approximate position 50°10'N, 22°40'W. The reason for the ship straggling was not known to the convoy Commodore according to his report but the report of HMS Ausonia mentions engine trouble as the reason.

Around 0540Z/2, the local A/S escort joined. This was made up of the destroyers HMS Versatile (Cdr.(Retd.) T.A. Hussey, RN) and HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, RN) which were to escort the Irish Sea / west coast section. The escorts for the Channel / east coast section are not mentioned in the Commodore's papers and the log of HMS Ausonia. Given the movements of the escorts it seems likely that the destroyers HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Younghusband, RN) and HMS Wolverine (Cdr. R.H. Craske, RN) also joined.

Later that day, most likely around 1330Z/2, the convoy split into two sections.

The Irish Sea / west coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Adelfoi Chandris (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April), Amakura (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April), Caledonian Monarch (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April), Coryton (arrived at Liverpool on 5 April), Georgios Potamianos (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April), Invershannon (arrived at Scapa Flow on 8 April, most likely went to Liverpool first), Mactra (arrived at Avonmouth on 4 April), Melmore Head (arrived at Dublin on 4 April), Pacific Star (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April), Rudby (), Sulairia (arrived in the Clyde on 5 April), Virgilia (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April), Wayfarer (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April) and Wray Castle (arrived at Liverpool on 4 April). They were escorted by HMS Versatile and HMS Winchelsea which both arrived at Liverpool on 4 April.

The Channel / east coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Beaverford (arrived in the Downs on 5 April), British Chivalry (arrived in the Downs on 5 April), Cadillac (arrived in the Downs on 5 April), Condylis (arrived at Le Havre on 5 April), Ganges (arrived in the Downs on 5 April), Gold Shell (arrived in the Downs on 5 April), Harberton (arrived at Weymouth on 4 April), Hartbridge (arrived in the Downs on 5 April), Hopecrest (arrived in the Downs on 5 April), Nellie (arrived at Le Havre on 5 April) and Pontfield (arrived in the Downs on 5 April). HMS Ausonia was also with the Channel section until 2030Z/3 when she parted company to proceed to Southampton. This section was, most likely, escorted by HMS Wild Swan (arrived at Dover on 5 April) and HMS Wolverine (arrived at Plymouth on 3 April). (1)

6 Apr 1940

Convoy HX 33.

This convoy departed Halifax on 6 April 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Allende (British, 5108 GRT, built 1928), Ashby (British, 4868 GRT, built 1927), Atlantic (British, 5414 GRT, built 1939), Barrgrove (British, 5222 GRT, built 1918), Beaverbrae (British, 9956 GRT, built 1928), Botavon (British, 5848 GRT, built 1912), Boulderpool (British, 4805 GRT, built 1928), British Ardour (British (tanker), 7124 GRT, built 1928), Brockley Hill (British, 5287 GRT, built 1918), Brookwood (British, 5100 GRT, built 1929), Chelsea (British, 4804 GRT, built 1925), City of Karachi (British, 7140 GRT, built 1937), Clearpool (British, 5405 GRT, built 1935), Coimbra (British (tanker), 6768 GRT, built 1937), Dakotian (British, 6426 GRT, built 1922), Dalcross (British, 4557 GRT, built 1930), Dan-Y-Bryn (British, 5117 GRT, built 1940), Elmbank (British, 5155 GRT, built 1925), Italia (Norwegian (tanker), 9973 GRT, built 1939), Karamea (British, 10530 GRT, built 1928), King Lud (British, 5224 GRT, built 1928), Langleebrook (British, 4246 GRT, built 1930), Lumen (British (tanker), 6500 GRT, built 1925), Miralda (British (tanker), 8013 GRT, built 1936), Pacific President (British, 7113 GRT, built 1928), Regent Lion (British (tanker), 9551 GRT, built 1937), San Adolfo (British (tanker), 7365 GRT, built 1935), San Cirilo (British (tanker), 8012 GRT, built 1937), Scottish Heather (British (tanker), 7087 GRT, built 1928), Scottish Prince (British, 4917 GRT, built 1938), Sheaf Mead (British, 5008 GRT, built 1924), Spondilus (British (tanker), 7402 GRT, built 1927), Tennessean (British, 6318 GRT, built 1919) and Venetia (British, 5728 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ascania (Capt.(Retd.) C.H. Ringrose-Wharton, RN), destroyers HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Lt.Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) and the submarine Bévéziers (Lt.Cdr. H. Nicolau).

HMCS Restigouche parted company with the convoy later on the 6th to return to Halifax.

HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Skeena were ordered to part company with the convoy at 1800Q/7 and then return to Halifax.

At dawn on the 15th it was seen that the Bévéziers was no longer with the convoy apparently having lost contact during the night. She arrived safely at Brest in the morning of 20 April.

Shortly before noon on the 15th, in position 49°06'N, 26°03'W, HMS Ascania parted company to return to Halifax.

At 0615A/18, the sloop HMS Rochester (Cdr. G.F. Renwick, RN) joined.

Around 1600A/18, the convoy was split into two sections.

The Irish Sea / west coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Allende (arrived in the Clyde on 21 April), Atlantic (arrived at Manchester on 20 April), Barrgrove (arrived at Liverpool on 20 April), British Ardour (arrived at Avonmouth on 20 April), Brockley Hill (arrived at Liverpool on 20 April), Chelea (arrived at Manchester on 20 April), Clearpool (arrived at Cardiff on 21 April), Dakotian (arrived at Avonmouth on 20 April), Dalcross (arrived in the Clyde on 21 April), Dan-Y-Bryn (arrived at Liverpool on 20 April), Italia (arrived at Avonmouth on 21 April), Regent Lion (arrived at Swansea on 20 April), San Adolfo (arrived at Liverpool on 20 April), Sheaf Mead (arrived at Swansea on 20 April) and Tennessean (arrived in the Clyde on 21 April). They were escorted by HMS Rochester which arrived at Liverpool on 20 April.

At 0614A/20, HMS Rochester signalled the Flag Officer in Command Liverpool that she was holding a stationary target in position 343° - Great Ormes Head - 15 nautical miles. Large patches of oil were seen on the surface. She asked whether this had already been reported, before attacking. At 0755A/20, the Flag Officer in Command Liverpool signalled to HMS Rochester that the contact was a new one at that she should attack. HMS Rochester then carried out two attacks but the contact was later classified as non-sub.

The Channel / east coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Ashby (arrived at East Bay, Dungeness on 21 April then re-directed to Milford Haven where she arrived on 23 April), Beaverbrae (arrived in the Downs on 22 April), Botavon (arrived at Weymouth on 20 April), Boulderpool (arrived at East Bay, Dungeness on 21 April then re-directed to Avonmouth where she arrived on 23 April), Brookwood (arrived in the Downs on 22 April), City of Karachi (arrived at Weymouth on 20 April), Coimbra (arrived at Plymouth on 20 April), Elmbank (arrived at Weymouth on 20 April), Karamea (arrived in the Downs on 22 April), King Lud (arrived at Plymouth on 20 April), Langleebrook (arrived at Weymouth on 20 April), Lumen (arrived at Le Havre on 22 April), Miralda (arrived at East Bay, Dungeness on 21 April then re-directed to Southampton where she arrived on 22 April), Pacific President (arrived at East Bay, Dungeness on 21 April then re-directed to Holyhead where she arrived on 23 April), San Cirilo (arrived at Weymouth on 20 April), Scottish Heather (arrived at Southampton on 21 April), Scottish Prince (arrived at Dunkirk on 22 April), Spondilus (arrived in the Downs on 22 April) and Venetia (arrived at Southampton on 21 April). They were escorted by the destroyer HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN) which must thus have joined by he time the convoy split up. HMS Whitehall arrived at Dover on 22 April. (2)

25 Sep 1940
The Vichy-French submarine HMS Bévéziers (Capitaine De Corvette Pierre Jean Georges Marie Lancelot) torpedoed and damaged the British battleship HMS Resolution (Captain Oliver Bevir) during the British / Free French attack on Dakar.

Resolution was hit on the port beam. She took a list of 12?. number 1 boiler room caught fire and the battleship lost all power and had to be taken in tow by HMS Barham. She was towed to Freetown where she arrived on 29 September. After temporary repairs there and at Gibraltar, she sailed for Portsmouth in March 1941. Later she went on the Philadelphia Navy Yard in the U.S.A. for full repairs which were completed in September / October 1941.

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