Most sources say the Royal Navy had 20 auxiliary patrol vessels at Hong Kong on 8 December 1941 (9 minesweepers, 9 local defense craft & 2 examination vessels). The Navy List for December 1941 only shows 13: The List says it has been corrected up to 18th November 1941, so it is possible additional vessels might have been requisitioned prior to the start of the war. Other sources (Not the Slightest Chance, Hong Kong War Diary & Hong Kong 1941–45, First Strike in the Pacific War) provide 7 additional vessels (Chun Hsing, Frosty, Han Wo, Ho Hsing, Kai Ming, Shun Wo & Teh Tsing) not on the RN List. That gets the number up to 20. But I have questions about the St. Aubin & St. Sampson. Both were Saint class tugs ordered by the Royal Navy during WW I & delivered after the war ended. They were sold in the 1920's, and operated commercially until they were requisitioned in 1940/41. According to numerous sources the St. Aubin was laid up in 1943 and returned to her owner after the war, and the St. Sampson foundered in the Red Sea in March 1942. So it is extremely unlikely that either was at Hong Kong on December 8th. Were St. Aubin & St. Sampson included in the total simply because they were manned by the HKRNVR, or is the number 20 correct and there are two APV's unaccounted for? I have found documentation that the examination vessels were Kai Ming & Swanley, and that Han Wo, Indira, Margaret, Minnie & Perla were outfitted as mineswepers. Can anyone identify the other four?
Leo Niehorster's site has some information about the composition of the China Station including Hong Kong on 8 Dec 1941 that you might find useful, though sources not given: China Station, Eastern Fleet, Royal Navy 8th December 1941 War Dairy for China Station December 1941, though Hong Kong doesn't get mentioned much: Royal Navy, China Station, December 1941 to March 1942, Admiral Layton's Diary
Hope this may help. Have you seen the ORB for Hong Kong - Dec 41? Hong Kong 1941–45 Re: St Aubin. WiKi has the following information about Lt Cdr Dulley. Ordered to take the St Aubin to Aden he was killed by Japanese mortar fire on 19 Dec 41 during Battle of Hong Kong. Peter Dulley - Wikipedia & HMS St Aubin (W18) - Wikipedia. Re: St Sampson. If this ship had received similar orders to St Aubin it would be quite possible for her to be in the Battle of Hong Kong and later in the Red Sea. HMS St Sampson (W26) - Wikipedia Tim
Thanks for the prompt responses! I seen the OOB at Leo's site, and in Hong Kong 1941–45, First Strike in the Pacific War. They were part of the evidence that got me started down this rabbit hole. Lt Cdr Dulley's obituary is a very welcome new bit of data. If he successfully took the St. Aubin to Aden, and then died in Hong Kong on December 19th, there is no way the St. Aubin could have been at Hong Kong on the 8th. The move had to occur sometime earlier in 1941, to give him enough time to return to Hong Kong prior to the attack. And, it is very likely the St. Sampson went with her/made a similar journey. The only real question is when.
