An interactive chronology

The night of
23 October 1943.

Follow Charybdis and Limbourne through the attack, the rescue and the decision to scuttle, one event at a time.

The final night01 / 12
The forces in the action

North of Sept-Îles · Off northern Brittany

Scroll sideways for the complete formation. Select a ship to read its role.

BRITISH FORCE · REPORTED LINE-AHEAD ORDERWestward sweep · 267° · 13 knotsSchematic · not to scaleCharybdisCruiserGrenvilleDestroyerRocketDestroyerLimbourneDestroyerTalybontDestroyerStevenstoneDestroyerWensleydaleDestroyerGERMAN OUTER ESCORT · LEADING SHIP AT RIGHTT23T26T27T22T25Eastbound escortbefore manoeuvresINSHORE / TOWARD BRITTANYMünsterland + minesweepers and patrol vessels

The British force approaches the route of German coastal shipping.

British · Hunt Type III escort destroyer

Limbourne

Hit forward at about 01:52, losing her bow. Her remaining hull stayed afloat during damage control, rescue and towing attempts.

Source account ↗

Ship markers retain the reported formation orders as the timeline changes their status. Spacing, the attack band and all intermediate positions are illustrative. This is not a plotted reconstruction of ship tracks. British and German reports differ in timings and claims.

19:00Departure

Leaving Plymouth

Force 28 sails: cruiser Charybdis with Grenville, Rocket, Limbourne, Talybont, Stevenstone and Wensleydale. Stevenstone has replaced Melbreak. The mission is an offensive sweep against German shipping.

22 Oct · 19:00
Evidence: Admiralty Battle Summary No. 31Read the storyFind the place on the map
At this point in the night

On the approach

Limbourne is one of six destroyers accompanying Charybdis. Keeping station, maintaining watches and exchanging information are all part of the operation.

Historical summary, not reconstructed dialogue or an individual’s eyewitness account.
HMS Charybdis, 1942

Charybdis seen from the port bow in her wartime camouflage, with sailors on deck. The source dates this Royal Navy photograph to 1942.

Royal Navy · 1942, as dated by the sourceRoyal Navy photograph via Wikimedia Commons Public domain
1 of 12 events
The reported times, side by side

From the torpedo hits
to the final sinking.

Both ships were struck within minutes. Limbourne’s remaining hull stayed afloat much longer.

HMS Charybdis

From the reported torpedo hits to the reported sinking.

HMS Limbourne

Her remaining hull stayed afloat through rescue and an unsuccessful tow before she was scuttled.

Approximate intervals calculated from the British Battle Summary’s reported times. Other accounts differ. Bars do not show when individual men left a ship or were rescued. Read the account ↗

About the times

Times follow the British Admiralty Battle Summary as reported and are approximate where indicated. They are not labelled UTC. Other accounts differ on strike and sinking times and on the final scuttling weapons.

Explore the geographic map ↗Meet the seven ships ↗Explore the sources ↗Remember the people ↗