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Searchlights illuminate the raiders but anti-aircraft guns cannot open fire while Hurricanes are approaching. Two Hurricanes are scrambled but are forced to land due to weather closing in. Hurricanes are scrambled and the enemy aircraft retreat.Д 416-0445 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy aircraft which cross over GrandHarbour and drop bombs on Fort St Angelo.

While the remainder turn back, ten raiders approach to 20 miles from Malta. They arrived back on the 25thДDs AVON VALE, ERIDGE, and FARNDALE departed Gibraltar to meet CL MANCHESTER, troopship PASTEUR, and DDs LIGHTNING and NESTOR, arriving from the UK.ДЄIR RAIDS DAWN 16 JULY TO DAWN 17 JULY 1941Д 950-1004 hrs Air raid alert for 20 enemy aircraft which head towards the Island but split up while still 40-50 miles north. USN CLs PHILADELPHIA and SAVANNAH and DDs MEREDITH and GWIN departed Bermuda on neutrality patrol. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 31st with DD VENOMOUS. AMC RANPURA and corvette CHAMBLY were detached on the 26th.Corvette PICTOU was detached on the 28th, the two escort ships on the 29th, and DDs KEPPEL, LINCOLN, and SHIKARI and sloop FLEETWOOD were detached on the 30th. DDs KEPPEL, LINCOLN, SHIKARI, and VENOMOUS and MSW HEBE joined. On the 18th, escort ships SENNEN and TOTLAND joined, on the 19th, sloop FLEETWOOD, and on the 20th, corvette CHAMBLY. On the 17th, corvettes DAUPHIN and NAPANEE joined and were detached later the next day.

HX.139 departed Halifax, escorted by corvettes BITTERSWEET, FENNEL, and PICTOU, and AMC RANPURA.Corvettes BITTERSWEET and FENNEL were detached later that day. Sub OLYMPUS and Dutch sub O.21 departed Gibraltar to patrol in the Tyrrhenian Sea to support Operation SUBSTANCE Italian submarine NEREIDE claimed damage on Greek submarine TRITON in torpedo and artillery attacks in 37-25N, 25-52E. UNBEATEN reported she had damaged a large tanker twenty three miles SSW of Messina. The convoy arrived at Tripoli on the 18th.

On the 18th, Sub UNBEATEN unsuccessfully attacked troopship OCEANIA. Distant cover was provided by heavy cruisers TRIESTE and BOLZANO and destroyers ASCARI, CARABINIERE, and CORAZZIERE. Italian troopships MARCO POLO, NEPTUNIA, and OCEANIA departed Taranto for Tripoli escort DDs GENIERE, GIOBERTI, LANCIERE, and ORIANI and TB t CENTAURO. On JERVIS's arrival at Haifa on the 17th, DDs JACKAL, NIZAM, and HASTY departed Haifa for Alexandria. Convoy LE 25 arrived at Beirut on the 17th.COVENTRY relieved CLA CARLISLE which sailed for Alexandria, arriving on the 19th.ДD JERVIS departed Alexandria for Haifa to operate with British forces there. The convoy was covered by light cruiser AJAX and two destroyers. CLA COVENTRY departed Alexandria at noon on the 17th to meet Beirut convoy LE 25 off Port Said. DD KANDAHAR departed Alexandria for Port Said to join the remainder of convoy LE 25.KANDAHAR departed Port Said with the two ships of LE 25 on the 17th. Corvette HYACINTH with LL sweeper FELLOWSHIP departed Alexandria for Famagusta.ДD JAGUAR departed Alexandria with a petrol tanker of convoy LE 25 for Beirut. Morse was named Naval Officer in Charge of Syrian ports with his headquarters at Beirut. Waddy RNVR, was killed when his Swordfish of 767 Sqn crashed near Arbroath during exercises.Д¬LA CARLISLE, carrying a base party, MSWs HARROW, MOY, and LYDIARD from Haifa, and corvette SALVIA and motor launch ML.1032 from Famagusta arrived at Beirut.Д¬aptain J.A.V. On the 22nd, DD BURNHAM and corvettes AGASSIZ, CELANDINE, MAYFLOWER, and WESTASKIWIN joined. DDs ROXBOROUGH and SALISBURY joined on the 18th. OB.347 departed Liverpool, escort DDs BEAGLE and BOADICEA, corvettes HEATHER, ORCHIS, and PICOTEE, MSW SHARPSHOOTER, and ASW trawlers ARAB, AYRSHIRE, LADY MADELEINE, and NORWICHCITY. MGB.90 (RN 40 grt) and MGB.92 (RN 40 grt)were destroyed by fire in PortlandHarbour. The steamer returned to the Tyne.ДD WELLS departed Scapa Flow for Loch Alsh where she arrived that evening

Defeat the artillery forces surrounding vette bug