Cruiser......................completed 1935.

Principal Dimensions.

This report is based on those made by the Commanding Officer.

Circumstances.

At 1800 on 18th November 1942, Arethusa in company with the 15th Cruiser Squadron was in approximate position 33 degrees 39 minutes North, 20 degrees 47 minutes East. The ship was seven cables astern of the flagship in a diamond formation, course 250 degrees, speed 18 knots. The wind was W.N.W. force 5, sea 4 to 5. It was about 50 minutes after sunset. The moon was up but hidden frequently by low clouds and occasional rain squalls making visibility patchy.

The Attack.

At about 1805 a twin engined aircraft was heard and then seen approaching the ship from the starboard quarter. The wheel was put hard-a-port and speed increased to 24 knots to avoid a possible torpedo. The aircraft turned away and as the wheel was being eased and reversed to bring the ship back to her course a second aircraft was seen coming in on the port quarter. The wheel was put hard-a-starboard. Five seconds later a torpedo broke surface about 300 yards away and a track was seen approaching from red 100 degrees. The ship was swinging to starboard and the torpedo struck on the port side abreast "B" turret, the track then being about red 170 degrees. The charge weight of the torpedo was estimated to between 400 and 470 lbs.