§ 76 and 77. Mr. Bennasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) on what date in late October the Fleet Auxiliary H.M.S. "Retainer" sailed from Malta; what orders she had on sailing; where she proceeded to from there; and under what fresh orders;
(2) on what date in late October the Headquarters Ship H.M.S. "Tyne" sailed from Malta, what orders she had on sailing; where she proceeded to from there; and under what fresh orders.
Mr. WardH.M.S. "Tyne" left Malta on 27th October and Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Retainer" on 30th October. They were both under orders to take part in a combined communications exercise planned for the Cyprus area. H.M.S. "Tyne" sailed for Limassol, Cyprus, where she arrived on 30th October, Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Retainer" sailed as part of the Replenishment Group for this exercise. The exercise was subsequently postponed because of the political situation, but the "Retainer" continued on passage to the Eastern Mediterranean to provide logistic support for the Naval Forces in that area.