Operations   Collar

November 12th - November28th, 1940
by Cristiano D'Adamo

This article is part of a larger section dedicated to:
Operation M.B.9
The battle of Cape Teulada (Cape Spartivento)

Genesis
The convoy leaves England
Gibraltar
Danger is avoided
Conclusion

Genesis
The aircraft carrier Furious had delivered several Hurricanes to the port of Tokoradi in the Gulf of Guinea. From here, after a long crossing of the African continent, the aircraft reached their Egyptian bases. However, materiel and support personnel were missing; without them, these aircraft could scarcely operate. To provide for the fast deployment of this air force personnel, the British created operation "Collar" which called for the transfer of R.A.F. specialists and materiel through the Mediterranean aboard cruisers and fast ships.

The convoy leaves England
Operation Collar began on November 12th when the cruisers Manchester and Southampton left Great Britain along with the large motor ship New Zealand Star. At the same time, another convoy left Great Britain with the personnel carrier Franconia and the merchantmen Clan Forbes and Clan Fraser. 
 


The Franconia
All these ships were capable of sustaining speeds up to 16 knots as required by the original plan. Several hundred miles from Gibraltar, the Manchester and the Franconia changed route and reached, at high speed, the British base, while the other units followed later. During this phase, the Sheffield replaced the Southampton, which reached port ahead of the convoy.

Gibraltar

In Gibraltar, the Manchester and the Southampton boarded the 1,370 R.A.F. specialists originally aboard the Franconia and then left port to reunite with the convoy. At this point the Sheffield, having completed her duties, returned to base. The new, smaller convoy now included the Clan Forbes and Clan Fraser destined to Malta and the New Zealand Star, which would continue on to Alexandria. The convoy was reinforced by the destroyer Hotspur, and later by the corvettes Peony, Salvia, Gloxinia and Hyacinth, which would reach the Bay of Suda. This group, known as "Force F", was under the command of C Adm. L.H. Holland.

These corvettes were originally capable of reaching a speed of 16 knots, which was the one designated for the convoy. Unfortunately, the installation of new minesweeping equipment caused the maximum speed to decrease and therefore, during the operation, these units fell behind.
 


H.M.S. Hotspur

On the 25th of November, just after the convoy (Force F) had passed the Strait of Gibraltar, Force H left port. This force included the battle cruiser Renown, the carrier Ark Royal, the cruisers Sheffield and Despatch and nine destroyers (Faulknor, Firedrake, Forester, Fury, Encounter, Duncan, Wishrt, Kelvin and Jaguar). Collar would take a route close to the African coast, while force B would be stationed north of the convoy.


H.M.S. Southampton
(Photo AMPA)
Naturally, the fact that two of the escort vessels, the Manchester and the Southampton, were loaded with personnel raised several concerns. The issue was debated back and forth, and eventually the Admiralty instructed the commander at sea to utilize the ship as if there were no R.A.F. personnel aboard.  More details on the exchange of correspondence about this issue can be found in the London Gazette, supplement N. 38293 dated May 5th, 1948.

Danger is avoided
After the battle of Spartivento, Adm. Sommerville’s force continued on toward Malta until late afternoon on the 27th when, after reversed inverted direction, he started the return voyage to Gibraltar. The convoy continued under the escort of Adm. Holland’s units. At midnight of the 28th the convoy passed Cape Bon and directed towards a rendezvous point with Adm. Cunningham’s forces. 


H.M.S. York 
(Photo AMPA)
It should be remembered that Cunningham, after receiving news of the engagement between Sommerville and Campioni, had dispatched the cruisers York, Glouchester and Glasgow to directly support the convoy, while he had moved his forces much closer to the Sicilian Narrow than originally planned.

Conclusion
The night of the 28th the group “Collar” split and the Clan Fraser and Clan Forbes directed to Malta, while the New Zealand Star, under escort of the destroyers Defender and Hereward, continued on to Alexandria. This small convoy was also supported at a distance by the cruisers Manchester and Southampton.

 

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