14 December 1940

French torpedo boat FS La Melpomene which had been taken over by the RN founders in bad weather in the English Channel east of the Lizard. There are 3 survivors, who are picked up by destroyer Mistral (another French ship in British hands) but about 100 become casualties. (Alex Gordon)(108)

The French torpedo boat Branlebas, captured by the British at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, on 3 July 1940, is sunk during a storm 25 miles (40 kilometers) south-southwest off Eddystone Light while she is serving in the Royal Navy. Eddyston Light is south of Plymouth, Dorset, England.

Corvette HMS Burdock launched.

Destroyer HMS Blencartha commissioned.

Destroyer HMS Lamerton launched.

GERMANY: A dozen RAF Wellington bombers attempted to attack German shipping in the Schillig Roads off Wilhelmshaven. Bad visibility and weather hampered their efforts, and fierce fighter attacks shot down five of the Wellingtons.

U-151, U-152 launched.

U-71 commissioned.

U-254 laid down.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Destroyers HMS Hereward (H 93) and HMS Hyperion (H 97) depth charge and sink the submarine R.Smg. 'Naiade' off Bardia.
Royal Navy Swordfish based on Malta bomb Tripoli, Libya.

RAF No. 148 Squadron is established at Luqa Airfield, the first bomber squadron to be based on the island. The squadron is equipped with Wellington Mk. IC bombers.

LIBYA: Hurricane Mk. I pilots of 274 Sqn (RAF) shoot down six Italian Savoia Marchetti SM. 79 Sparviero bombers on one interception later gathering another five Fiat CR42 Falco biplane fighters.
Leading troops of 4 Armoured Brigade are 20 miles west of Bardia and will soon be able to harass enemy traffic along the road from Bardia to Tobruk. Most of the division is across the Libyan-Egyptian border; but the Italians are still holding out in Halfaya, Sollum, Sidi Omar and Capuzzo, and have a division in Bardia.

Minesweeper HMCS Quinte laid down North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Corvette HMCS Timmins laid down Esquimalt, British Columbia..

U.S.A.: The development contract for the Boeing XB-29 heavy bomber is amended to provide a fund increase to produce three flyable XB-29s.

The German armored ship Admiral Scheer is resupplied by supply ship SS Nordmark.

U-100 sank SS Euphorbia and Kyleglen in Convoy OB-256.

U-96 damaged SS Empire Razorbill and sank SS Western Prince.

HMS Ark Royal and Force H are redeployed from Gibraltar to the Atlantic to search the Azores for commerce raiders.