Arabian Sea in WW2 History | World War II Database

28 Apr 1941

Indian Ocean

German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin attacked British ship Clan Buchanan in the Arabian Sea 1,200 miles east of Mogadishu, British Somaliland. Before the crew of 110 surrendered and the ship scuttled, a distress signal was sent out, and British warships were dispatched to the area to hunt for Pinguin. ww2dbase [Pinguin | Arabian Sea | CPC]

15 Feb 1942

Indian Ocean

Japanese submarine I-165 sank 4,471-ton British steam merchant ship Johanne Justesen (owned by the British India Steam Navigation Company of London) in the Arabian Sea off the southern tip of India, killing 1. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | CPC, HM]

2 Mar 1944

Indian Ocean

Norwegian motor vessel Tarifa (Master Hans Bjønness) joined an Allied convoy AB-33 off Aden Protectorate. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | HM]

6 Mar 1944

Indian Ocean

Norwegian motor vessel Tarifa (Master Hans Bjønness) detached from Allied convoy AB-33 in the Arabian Sea and began a zigzag course independently. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | HM]

7 Mar 1944

Indian Ocean

The unescorted Norwegian motor vessel Tarifa (Master Hans Bjønness) was hit between #3 and #4 holds and near #5 hold by two torpedoes from German submarine U-510 (Oberleutnant zur See Alfred Eick) about 250 miles east of Socotra island in the Arabian Sea. The explosions destroyed the radio station and a lifeboat, so the master, 46 crew members, 101 military personnel from Australia and New Zealand and one passenger on board abandoned ship in five lifeboats within five minutes and a few minutes before the ship sank. An Australian soldier and a gunner had been killed and another gunner fatally injured who was later buried at sea. The survivors were distributed between the boats that each took a raft in tow and then set sail for Socotra. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | HM]

13 Mar 1944

Indian Ocean

British aircraft from the RAF base on Socotra island in the Arabian Sea located additional survivors of Norwegian motor vessel Tarifa, which was sunk by German submarine U-510 on 7 Mar 1944. HMS Avon (K 97) was dispatched to pick up the survivors. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | HM]

29 Mar 1944

Indian Ocean

American Liberty Ship Richard Hovey was struck by three torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-26 in the Arabian Sea at about 1615 hours and was abandoned. I-26 then surfaced to shell the ship until she sank. She then shelled the lifeboats and rafts, killing three crewmembers and an armed guard. The Japanese submarine continued to ram the boats (sinking one) before taking four prisoners and clearing the area. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | HM]

2 Apr 1944

Indian Ocean

British freighter Samcalia rescued 25 survivors of American Liberty Ship Richard Hovey, which was sunk by Japanese submarine I-26 in the Arabian Sea four days earlier. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | HM]

14 Apr 1944

Indian Ocean

British freighter Samuta rescued 38 survivors of American Liberty Ship Richard Hovey, which was sunk by Japanese submarine I-26 in the Arabian Sea on 29 Mar 1944. ww2dbase [Arabian Sea | HM]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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