Lot 148
Deck Log of His Majesty's Ship, the Cruiser London. Manuscript log book of the London on her Mediterranean Tour, beginnins at Scapa on Feb. 12, 1944 and ending at sea, enroute to Exmouth Gull from Trincomalee on May 13, 1944. Accomplished in pencil, in an unidentified hand, 184pp, 14½ x 11½"; worn, dog-earred, dirty and stained--as befits a veteran of sea duty in wartime. More than 60,000 warships, of which nearly a quarter were sunk or destroyed, fought in World War II. This Log Book chronicles five months in the annals of one of them.
Mar. 21-April 2, 1944: The Indian Ocean, operation "Diplomat." The London sails with the British Eastern Fleet from Trincomalee. They sink 6 sinps, 4 coasters, 4 tugs, 1 barge, 1 minesweeper, 1 submarine, and 2 vessels.
April 16-24, 1944: The Indian Ocean, operation "Cockpit"--a carrier raid on Sabang. 46 bombers and 35 fighters attack Sabang in Northwest Sumatra. 1 steamer is sunk, and 24 aircraft are destroyed on the ground. One allied fighter is lost but the pilot rescued by a British submarine. Three Japanese torpedo aircraft try to attack, but are shut down by the fighter cover.
May 6-13, 1944: The Indian Ocean, operation "Transom."--a carrier raid on Soerabaya. The London escorts six fleet tankers and one water tanker, from Exmouth Bay before joining the fleet again on May 14, but that adventure is recorded, no doubt, in another Log Book.
Estimated Value $900 - 1,200.
The Arden Family Holdings of Beverly Hills.
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