Loss of Force-Z
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NUMB 38214                                                                                  1237

London Gazette

London Gazzette 1948tn

Supplement

to

The London Gazette

Of FRIDAY, the 20th of FEBRUARY 1948

Published by Authority

 

THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY, 1948

Loss of H.M. Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse

 

The following Despatch was submitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the 17th December, 1941, by Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, K.C.B., D.S.O., Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet.

                  Office of the British Naval

                    Commander-in-Chief,

                      Eastern meet,

                        17th December 1941.

Be pleased to lay before the Board the accompanying reports on the operations resulting In the loss of H.M. Ships PRINCE OF WALES and REPULSE on 10th December, 1941.

These reports comprise a narrative of the operations drawn up by my direction and the original reports from the Commanding and surviving Officers of H.M. Ships concerned. *

The press of time and circumstances have prevented a more thorough analysis of the operations being made so far and I consider it preferable to despatch forthwith the available Be pleased to lay before the Board the accompanying reports on the operations resulting In the loss of H.M. Ships PRINCE OF WALES and REPULSE on 10th December, 1941.

These reports comprise a narrative of the operations drawn up by my direction and the original reports from the Commanding and surviving Officers of H.M. Ships concerned. *

The press of time and circumstances have prevented a more thorough analysis of the operations being made so far and I consider it preferable to despatch forthwith the available

                  (Signed) G. LAYTON, *

                    Vice-Admiral,

                      Commander-in-Chief.

Admiralty footnote:-

Only the reports by the Captain of H M S. REPULSE and senior surviving officer of H M S. PRINCE OF WALES, named In paragraph 4, are here reproduced lived up to the best traditions of HIS Majesty's Service.

 

NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS OF FORCE Z.

(All times are Zone GH hours unless otherwise indicated) .

Intentions of the Commander-in-Chief.

It was the Intention of the Commander-in-Chief to attack Japanese transports and warships which had been reported early on 8th December to be landing troops on the east coast of the Kra Isthmus and at Kota Bharu.

It was known by noon on that day that our Air Force and aerodromes in the north were bang heavily attacked and that large Japanese forces were landing at Kota Bharu in Malaya and between Singgora and Pattani in Thailand. It appeared likely that our Army and Air Force would both be hard pressed and it seemed to the Commander-in-Chief in-acceptable to retain a powerful naval force at Singapore a state of inaction.

The Commander-in-Chief hoped that, With fighter protection if possible, or failing that, by surprise, he might attack the Japanese forces off Singgora and Kota Bharu at dawn on the 10th.

           

Admiralty footnote:-

* Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, K C B , D S O , relinquished command of the China Station to Admiral Sir Tom S V Phillips, KCB , at 0800GH on the 8th December, 1941, It having been decided by the Admiralty to merge the command of the China Station With the Eastern Fleet Admiral Layton assumed command of the Eastern Fleet at about 1500GH on the 10th December, 1941 He had therefore no responsibility for the operations of. Force Z nor for any other operations during this period.

 

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