Operation Diplomat

Part of the Eastern Fleet left Trincomalee and Colombo on 21 March and arrived at a point some 850 miles south of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

They rendezvoused, on 24 March, with three tankers escorted by the Dutch cruiser HNLMS Tromp and practised refuelling at sea for the next two days.

The joint fleet returned to Trincomalee, and British Fleet Air Arm aircrew took two intensive days to learn the necessary procedures from American aircrews and learn from their experience.

[1] Journal of the Royal New Zealand Navy, implies that training ("exercises") with Saratoga took place before the fleet returned to Trincomalee on 31 March, but [2] The Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, says training occurred after the arrival of the French battleship Richelieu on 12 April.

[3] Williams, in the History of HMS Ceylon, states that the joint fleet returned to Trincomalee on 2 April, whereas [4] Journal ibid, quotes 31 March.