Dated July 27-1944

Sir,

I have the honor to report the proceeding of HMS Arbiter, under my command, from Clyde to Norfolk, Virginia, and then to Liverpool via New York.

Diary of Events:

23rd June
14:00 - Undocked King George V Dock and proceeded to Greenock.
16:50 - Anchored in B.4 Berth, Greenock.
23:20 - Weighed and proceeded in company with U.C.27.

At sea until
3rd July
05:15 - Left Convoy in company with U.S.S. Sims and U.S.S. Chiwawa for Norfolk.

4th July:
10:45 - Anchored in Hampton Roads
15:00 - Weighed and proceeded alongside Pier 7, Naval Operating Base.
16:00 - 65 boxes of Secret Armament Stores delivered for transportation to U.K.

5th July:
13:45 - Embarked 1820 Squadron Flying Personnel.

6th July:
12:15 - Smoke was reported issuing from Forward Lift Well. Investigation proved that this came from a Drum of Chlorosulphonic Acid which had been punctured by fouling the lift which was being lowered. This is subject of a separate report. (My 647/120 of 20th July 1944 refers - added below).
17:00 - Embarked Aircraft of 1820 Squadron (9 Helldivers) and Maintenance Personnel.
18:00 - Two large cases of T.B.F. Mainplanes and one Cadillac Car received.

7th July:
09:30 - 11:30 - Embarked the following aircraft:
44 Hellcat
7 Corsair
2 Martlet
It was not possible to take the full number of Aircraft allocated owing to the last minute addition of the two very large cases and the car mentioned above.
12:00 - Slipped and proceeded.

8th July:
09:45 - Arrived Entrance to New York Harbour.
10:20 - Secured alongside 35th Street Pier, Brooklyn.

9th July:
P.M. - Embarked the following passengers for passage:
Women Passengers 11
Children Passengers 7
Boys Passengers 21
Ratings Passengers 76
Officers Passengers 2

10th July:
12:40 - Slipped and proceeded in company with Convoy C.U.31 for United Kingdom.

At sea until
(Heavy weather was encountered on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th July and it was considered that considerable damage to, if not complete loss, of Aircraft would have sustained had not double the allocated quantity of securing gear been obtained at Norfolk in addition to that already held from previous trip).
21st July:
20:30 - Anchored in Liverpool Bay. (Foul anchor prevented ship proceeding on 22nd July).

23rd July:
11:40 - Proceeded to Gladstone Dock, Liverpool.
15:15 - Alongside. Disembarkation of Passengers and Stores commenced. Secret Armament Stores delivered on board to Armament Supply Representative (My 612/59 SP of 25th July 1944 - last report added below).

24th July:
Cargo and Squadron Aircraft and Car disembarked.

Signed, Captain R. C. Harry.

Captain Harry's Report on "Incident" involving Drum of Chlorosulphonic Acid
dated July 20-1944

To The British Admiralty Maintenance & Supply Representative, Washington
(copies to Flag Officer Carrier Training and British Naval Liaison Officer, Norfolk, Va).

The following report, based on statements made by the officers immediately concerned in the above "incident" at Norfolk, Va. on the 6th July, 1944, Commander ?little (part of name missing in margin) R.N., Lieutenant Commander (A) D. A. G. Preston R.N. and Paymaster Lieutenant S. A. Bainbridge, R.N.R., is forwarded for your information.

The immediate cause of the affair was the lowering of the forward lift, which fouled and punctured a Drum of Chlorosulphonic Acid - left in an exposed position when the hands "secured" for dinner while in the process of moving it from temporary stowage in the lift well to more suitable accommodation.

The effect of the puncturing of the Drum was that the forward part of the ?(word missing in margin of copy), more especially the Hangar, became filled with fumes, which had the appearance of thick smoke. The Damage Control Officer, acting on his own initiative, ordered the Fire Party to play hoses on the seat of the supposed fire, but this order delayed immediately it was realized that the water aggrevated the trouble. A rating?(part of word missing in margin) wearing smoke breathing apparatus went into the lift well to investigate, and with the assistance of the Naval Operating Base Fire Brigade and a party from the USS Charger, lying at an adjacent berth, the fumes were eventually dispersed and the ?(drum? word missing) removed to a lighter, which took it some distance seawards for disposal.

No one individual can be held responsible for the accident, as so many contributory factors have to be taken into consideration. Precautions have been taken to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

The ship's company generally reacted most favourably in these very trying circumstances. I have formally commended the following Officers and Ratings for their work - Lieutenant (E) G. G. Elder R.N.R., Lieutenant (E) H. Waite, R.N.R., Lieutenant J. L. Timmis, R.N.V.R., Boatswain C. Evans, NAP 607827, Carpenter ?nings (part of name missing), NAP/R 199310, Painter S. Jackson NAP/R 209526, Air Artificer McLaughlin, FAA/Fx 16094 and Petty Officer R. D. Perchard, P/Jx 137798. The ?(prompt? word missing) and able assistance rendered by the Naval Operating Base Fire Brigade and party from USS Charger was very much appreciated.

Signed, Captain R. C. Harry.

Report of Enquiry into Handling of "Secret" Freight en route from Norfolk, Va. to Liverpool
(dated July 25-1944)

65 boxes of fuses were delivered to the quayside, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Va. by the Railway Express Company, on 4th July (B.A.D.'s 282235/June and 0119452/July refers). Lieut. J. D. Burne, R.N.V.R., Gunnery Officer, took delivery on board at approximately 16:00 on that day, and signed two receipts, one for 10 boxes, and the other for 55 metal boxes (copies of the receipts are held on board). It was noticed that the boxes were marked differently from B.A.D.'s advice, and a signal was made to this effect to Washington, (Arbiter's 051420Z/July).

The following steps were taken to ensure security

(a) The boxes were brought aboard into the Hangar, where the numbers were checked individually.

(b) They were then transported right aft to the Quarterdeck (continually remaining in full view of the supervising officer), and, before being lowered to the magazine, were re-checked at the Ammunition Hoist.

(c) A working party was organised to stow the fuses in the Aircraft and small Arms Magazine.

(d) Supervision was exercised the whole time by the Gunnery Officer and Mr. C. E. Walder, Gunner(T).

(e) For disembarkation, a similar procedure was adopted.

(f) After embarkation and stowage, the magazine was locked and the key placed under the care of the keyboard sentry, with written orders regarding its issue, which was restricted to the Gunnery Officer, Gunner(T), the Officer of Quarters (Sub Lieutenant Timmis, R.N.V.R) and the Petty Officer of the Gunner's Party (Petty Officer Wheeler). The only times on which the magazine was entered was for the purposes of routine inspection and temperature recording.

The breakage of seals can only be attributed to handling during transit, or while in stowage. The racks in which the boxes were stowed allowed about an inch play, and it was not possible to prevent movement of any sort. No signs of tampering were observed during any of the inspections mentioned at (f) above.

Signed
R. C. Harry (Captain)
D. A. G. Preston (Lt. Cdr. (A)
J. D. Burne (Lt. R.N.V.R.)
C. E. Walder (Gunner (T)

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