Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Built by the British in 1933, The port of Haifa חיפה is Israel's oldest port.
The port includes the main area, as well as the Kishon Port area.
The port's main breakwater is 2,826 meters long and its lee breakwater is 765 meters long.
The entrance to the port is 13.8 meters deep and 183 meters wide.
The port of Kishon's main breakwater is 600 meters long and its lee breakwater is 350 meters long.

On November 1, 1940, Pacific arrived in Haifa חיפה, and dropped anchor within 300 meters of the harbour entrance.
The yellow quarantine flag flew from her mast and the emergency light was still on.
Geneviève Pitot, Donna Edouard, and Helen Topor cite Pacific arrived on November 3, 1940.
She was intercepted by British Naval Patrol, having run out of coal 48 hours earlier.
The Captain and crew were arrested and interned in Akko for 6 months.
At 11:00AM, an English police boat arrived, and three officers inspected SS Pacific.
They left a guard on board and the harbor doctor came on board at 13L00PM, because they had a few cases of typhoid, and sent drinking water, oranges and fresh bread.
On November 3, 1940, Milos מילוס arrived in Haifa, having reached Palestinian waters a few days after the Pacific.
With advance warning of the ships' arrival, the British Colonial Office was determined to refuse entry to the immigrants, and had the British Royal Navy intercept the three ships sailing in convoy, Pacific, Atlantic and Milos מילוס, and escort them to Haifa חיפה.

In early and late November, 1944, respectively, seventy passengers sailed from Spain to Haifa חיפה aboard Niassa and Guinée, organized by Youth Aliyah, in Loosdrecht, and Beth Hechalutz, in Amsterdam.

On July 15, 1945, RMS Mataroa arrived at Haifa.

On October 20, 1945, the anti-immigration patrols of the Royal Navy were activated, when Senior Naval Officer (Afloat) (SNO(A)) Captain Heathcote DSO RN ordered Hunt-class destroyers HMS Haydon and HMS Stevenstone to sail from Haifa חיפה, and HMS Brissenden to sail from Beirut بيروت‎.

On the night of March 25/26, 1946, Kismet Adalia, alias SS Wingate וינגייט was intercepted by HMS Chevron, and taken to Haifa חיפה.

On August 11, 1946, a British reconnaissance airplane sent a dipatch to HMS Brissenden to intercept Sagol Yagur, which was flying both Turkish and Zionist flags.
HMS Brissenden, with help from the Palestine Police, arrested Sagol Yagur.
Sagol Yagur was escorted to Haifa חיפה.
Yisrael Auerbach cites two British destroyers came along side to escort Sagol Yagur to Haifa חיפה.
The Master and crew were deported by the British.
The passengers were the first group of Maapilim sent by the British to Cyprus.
They were transported on HMT Empire Rival.

On August 14, 1946, Kaf Gimel (23) Yordei haSira כ"ג יורדי הסירה was boarded by British troops from HMS Brissenden.
Shaul Oren cites: "We received instructions to offer passive resistance to their boarding the ship."
On August 16, the passengers went on a hunger strike.
On August 17, Kaf Gimel (23) Yordei haSira was taken into tow to Haifa חיפה.
Kaf Gimel (23) Yordei haSira and Katriel Yoffe had to wait until the British completed the deportation of the passengers on Yagur and Henrietta Szold, after which the passengers were transferred to HMT Empire Rival.

On November 1, 1946, Latrun לטרון San Demetrio was intercepted by HMS Providence, off Palestine, boarded with no resistance, and escorted to Haifa חיפה.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: "Providence closed and rammed her, the grappling irons were thrown and the boarding party armed with pick-axe handles and led by a Sub-Lieutenant with a revolver leapt aboard."
The passengers put up resistance before being captured, a fight ensued. and several of passengers and British Marines were hurt.
Stoker Don Allum cites: "I was one of the engine-room men who went down below, and I remember the San Dimitrio listing to one side, and then she went straight over to the other side, which was very scary for us down below."
Latrun לטרון San Demetrio had been damaged, and listed to one side.
Latrun לטרון San Demetrio, damaged and listing to one side, was towed to Haifa חיפה.
Passengers and crew were transferred to a deportation ship, and transported to Famasgusta Αμμόχωστος Gazimağusa. aboard HMT Empire Heywood and HMT Ocean Vigour.

In December, 1946, HMS Cardigan Bay was assigned to Haifa Patrol for interception of immigrant ships.

On the evening of February 9, 1947, LaNegev לנגב pulled by HMS Chieftain, entered Haifa חיפה, and the passengers were transferred to HMT Empire Haywood for interment on Cyprus Κύπρος.
Rafi Ben Zur cites: "When the passengers of the Lanegev arrived in Cyprus, in January, 1947, there were seven hundred internees already there. When we left, one year later, there were over thirty thousand, despite the monthly transfer of seven hundred and fifty to Palestine."

On March 29, 1947, RAF reconnaisance aircraft spotted Moledet מולדת San Philippo about 90 miles northwest of Haifa חיפה.
HMS Charity intercepted Moledet מולדת San Philippo, and HMS Haydon joined HMS Charity later that day.
When she was intercepted, Moledet מולדת San Philippo was listing close to 35 degrees, but refused help, so the Royal Navy vessels dropped back and watched.

On the morning of March 30, 1947, when Moledet מולדת's pumps stopped working, and the diesel engine died, Fabi Gaver sent out an SOS, and a British destroyer responded, and towed Moledet מולדת to Haifa חיפה.
HMS Haydon sent over a pump and a salvage party, along with the boarding party.
Within 80 minutes, the salvage crew had cleared the engine compartments of water, but Moledet continued to list, forcing partial evacuation.
HMS St. Brides Bay and HMS Octavia joined the operation, and 550 passengers were transferred to HMS Charity, and 265 passengers were transferred to HMS St. Brides Bay.
HMS Octavia took Moledet מולדת under tow.
Moledet מולדת, her crew and passengers were arrested in Haifa חיפה, and the British deported the passengers to Cyprus Kibris, on transport ships.

HMS Haydon and HMS Charity closed on Moledet מולדת San Phillipe, when it was reported that water was entering the ship, which was listing 18 degrees; she later rolled to starboard, and listed 23 degrees.
Moledet מולדת San Phillipe was flooding through insecure lower-deck scuttles, and the salvage party, led by Lieutenant E.H.W. Nichols, transferred a 70 ton/hour diesel salvage pump, hoses to reduce the wate, closde the scuttles and kept passengers below deck.
The salvage party cleared the boiler and engine rooms of water, and HMS Charity and HMS Octavia came alongside to take on the passengers.
HMS Charity embarked 556 passengers and HMS Octavia embarked 265 passengers; HMS Octavia then transferred the passengers to HMS St. Bride's Bay, and then secured a tow to take Moledet מולדת San Phillipo to Haifa חיפה.

On March 8, 1947, an Royal Air Force plane sighted Ben Hecht בן הכט.
Jeno Berkovitz cites: "On March 8, everything changed. That afternoon, I happened to be stationed on deck, at the steering wheel. I still remember how good it felt – how the air smelled different as we got close to Eretz Yisrael. We were less than 10 miles from the coast of Tel Aviv, when three British destroyers approached and a British patrol plane circled overhead. I grabbed this flag, it had a big Jewish star on it, and hoisted it up the mast to show them that we were proud to be Jews fighting for our land.”
She was intercepted by Royal Navy destroyers, because armed resistance was expected, the British did not use minesweepers for the operation, just ten miles froms from the coast of Tel Aviv תל אביב.
At 12:15PM, HMS Chieftain joined HMS Chevron two hours later,
The British hailed Ben Hecht בן הכט in English and in German.
At 16:15PM, Ben Hecht בן הכט stopped, and sent her passengers below deck, while discussions took place.
At 17:30PM, HMS Chivalrous and frigate HMS St. Bride's Bay joined.
Ben Hecht בן הכט resumed, making 10 knots, towards Tel Aviv תל אביב.
When warned again, Ben Hecht בן הכט increased speed to 13 knots.
HMS Cheiftain came along side, and 32 officers and British soldiers wearing red berets, called ‘Red Devils’ boarded, and pushed Ben Hecht בן הכט round towards the west.
HMS Chevron boarded 30 more, while 20 soldiers from HMS Chivalrous boarded.
Jeno Berkovitz cites: "British soldiers wearing red berets – we called them 'red devils’'– jumped aboard. They shoved me aside and quickly took control of the ship. The crew and the passengers were brought to a detention camp in Cyprus. The DPs would end up staying there for more than a year, until after Israel’s creation in May 1948."
A photographer, from Life Magazine, was kicked while taking pictures of the boarding party coming aboard, and three British were killed and several injured in an effort capture passengers who plunged into the water.
At 05:33AM, Ben Hecht בן הכט was arrested when she reached teritorial waters.
HMS Octavia came along side, secured a line, and towed Ben Hecht בן הכט to Haifa חיפה.
The passengers were taken to a Detention Camp Number 66, in Cyprus Κύπρος, while the crew members were jailed at Akko Prison כלא עכו.
The British took the American crew members to the Akko Prison כלא עכו, where they were jailed alongside members of the ITzL אצ"ל and Lehi לח"י Stern Group, and announced they would deport the crew members to the United States.
Jeno Berkovitz cites: "To London’s dismay, the detention of the Ben Hecht crewmen became a lightning rod for criticism from Members of Congress, the American press and the US Jewish community. After holding the seamen for a month, the British decided they were more trouble than they were worth and put them on a ship bound for New York."
Meanwhile, the United States Attorney General announced he would not bring criminal charges against them.

On April 13, 1947, Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל tried to run a British blockade, and and was intercepted by HMS St. Brides Bay and HMS Haydon.
Fritz Liebreich cites HMS Cheviot, HMS Octavia and HMS Charity.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: HMS Providence "In April was involved in the interception and boarding of the Theodor Herzl when fierce resistance was put up by the illegal immigrants before the ship was taken under control."
Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל was stopped at 07:00AM, 16 miles from the shore of Tel Aviv.
On April 13, 1947, 15:00PM, HMS St. Brides Bay was preparing to board, and escort her to Haifa חיפה.
The Maapilim put a banner were put on her hull that read: "YOU JOINED THE NAVY TO CHASE ORPHANS"
and: "HITLER DESTROYED OUR FAMILIES, DO NOT DESTROY OUR HOPE "
On April 14, 1947, 01.20AM, the doctor on board Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל requested the wounded be transferred, as they were likely to die from gunshot wounds.
On April 14, 1947, 02.45AM, HMS Charity took on 20 wounded, and returned to Haifa חיפה.
Two passengers were slain, and a third died later.
The passengers were transhipped to Cyprus Κύπρος Detention Camps.

On May 24, 1947, Mordei haGetaot מורדי הגטאות was intercepted by HMS Brissenden and HMS Haydon.
The British destroyers rammed against her, on both sides, and soldiers boarded, using water hoses and tear gas.
The passengers resisted for three hours, but overpowered and were forced to surrender, and Mordei haGetaot מורדי הגטאות was towed to Haifa חיפה.

On July 17, 1947, HMS Ajax, part of the Royal Navy task force trailing the Aliyah Bet ship, intercepted Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield before she entered the territorial waters of Palestine, and forced her to Haifa חיפה.
Aware that Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield was skippered by Haganah paramilitaries, British troops boarded the ship 20 nautical miles off the coast of Palestine.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: "Providence wasinvolved, along with the cruiser Ajax and destroyer Childers, in the boarding of S.S. President Warfield (1814 tons) known to the Jewsas Exodus 1947."
Lenny Sklar cites the British destroyers going by at night, using searchlights to see aboard Exodus 1947.
Lenny Sklar cites being awakened at 3 in the morning, when the British ships came close, directing the searchlights at Exodus 1947, while all our passengers gathered on deck.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: "On 18 July she was intercepted and boarded by men from Childers and some bitter fighting took place."
The passengers resisted.
Lenny Sklar cites the Maapilim and crew prepared with potatoes, bottles, sticks and whatever they could find, including some hot water hoses they had readied as well, while the British responded with cans of tear gas, dispersing the crowd.
The British commander on the scene cites: "Every available weapon up to a biscuit and bulks of timber was hurled at the soldiers. They withstood it admirably and very stoically till the Jews assaulted and in the first rush several soldiers were downed with half a dozen Jews on top kicking and tearing. "It should be borne in mind that the guiding factor in most of the actions of the Jews is to gain the sympathy of the world press."
The British reached the bridge, and the fighting intensified.
The British moved about the deck, while the Maapilim attacked them from all sides.
3 people were shot, and another was badly wounded.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: "3 Jews were killed and 23 were injured."

On July 23, 1947, HMS Empire Lifeguard was sunk at Haifa חיפה, by limpet mines attached to her hull in Famagusta Αμμόχωστος Gazimağusa.

On September 17, 1947, just weeks after Exodus 1947, Af Al Pi Chen אף על פי כן sailed down the Adriatic Sea, for Palestine.
She was detected by a British plane west of Port Said بورسعيد‎, and intercepted by 4 British destroyers, including HMS Talybont.
There was a short struggle during which Af Al Pi Chen אף על פי כן was rammed by one of the destroyers; the British boarding teams took over the ship.
She was towed to Haifa חיפה, where the passengers were transported to Cyprus Κύπρος.
After internment, most passengers eventually made their way to Israel in 1948.

In October, 1947, Northland Medinat Hayehudim מדינת היהודים was secured to the breakwater in Haifa חיפה.
Near her were about 45 other Aliyah Bet ships, also captured as they tried to land maapilim on the shores of Palestine in violation of Britain’s 1945 Emergency Regulations for Palestine.
British Intelligence cites: "When it was announced in Hebrew that the passengers would have to remain on board until ships arrived to take them to CYPRUS, but that they would be allowed to write to relatives in PALESTINE through the AJDC, there was a complete and stony silence, and then isolated voices shouted “YIDDISH, Yiddish”, as if they could not understand another tongue. Mr. SHMUEL WERCHENGER of the Jewish Agency offered his services over the public address equipment since no Yiddish interpreter was immediately available. He then took the microphone and told them that they would be sent to CYPRUS in one short, sharp phrase which aroused howls of anger and protest from the ship’s passengers, after which he hurried away and refused to say anything more."
The passengers waited 3 days before being transferred to HMT Empire Rest, HMT Empire Comfort, and HMS Snowden Smith. for internment in Dhekelia Δεκέλεια Detention Camp in Cyprus Κύπρος.
Two Palyam Escorts, four passengers, and some of the foreign crew hid in a 'Slik' on board, and were rescued by a Palyam squad disguised as HaOgen Company cleaners.

On April 27, 1948, HMS Pelican towed Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטל into Haifa חיפה.
HMS Newcastle arrived to conduct transshipment, and Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטלl was put alongside HMS Newcastle, and transports, SS Empire Comfort and HMT Empire Rival followed.

Yosef Almog realized that the Af-Al-Pi-Chen, retired from the Israeli Navy, was scheduled to be sold for scrap, was nearly all that was left of a heroic episode in the history of the State of Israel.
In 1968, Af Al Pe Chen אף על פי כן was hauled up on shore, cut into sections and reassembled, and became the centerpiece of the David HaCohen Clandestine Immigration and Navy Museum museum מוזיאון ההעפלה וחיל הים, at Allenby Street 204 דרך אלנבי, near the National Maritime Museum המוזיאון הימי הלאומי and Elijah's Cave מערת אליהו, in Haifa חיפה.
ISRAEL Magazine cites: "Part of the ship has been refitted with 50 cm. wide berths squeezed into the cramped belly of the ship; other parts of the ship, and the adjacent pavilion, display memorabilia from the period - ship models, historic photos, newspaper accounts and mementos from other "illegal" immigrant ships."