Br=British, Po=Polish

Average speed: 7.94 knots.

HGF 17 sailed from Gibraltar at 16:00 on Jan. 29-1940, and convoy was formed up by dark. Hartington joined 2 hours late, as she had not finished bunkering when the convoy sailed. For the first 5 days of the voyage the visibility was poor, with rain storms and considerable wind and swell.

Makalla pulled out for an hour on Febr. 1 to fix a defect in steering gear.
Lowestoft (escort) lost touch during a period of low visibility in the dark hours of Febr. 2/3, probably when an alteration of course was made - she rejoined on Febr. 4.

Local Escorts Broke and Winchelsea were sighted at 08:40 on Febr. 4. At 16:40 that same day, the escorting Wolsey made a "contact" in 48 18N 9 38W and fired 4 depth charges - no further details.

The Channel portion of convoy (11 ships) separated from the West Coast portion at 17:00 on Febr. 4 in 48 22N 9 36W, the latter portion being escorted by Winchelsea.

At dusk on Febr. 5 fog was encountered and Tuskar Rock Light was not sighted until it was well past the beam of the convoy. Winchelsea fired a depth charge at 03:00 on Febr. 6 in 52 38N 5 35W - doubtful contact. Fog was encountered again that day between the Skerries and Morecombe Light Vessel (9 ships present), and though the Commodore had signalled for the convoy to be dispersed after rounding the Light Vessel, he made all the ships he could see anchor near the Light Vessel. Proceeded at 05:15 on Febr. 7.

Eldonpark and Lech had parted company after dark on Febr. 5 for Milford Haven.

Eastmoor left during the dark hours of Febr. 5/6 for Glasgow.

Hartington left at 07:00 on Febr. 6 in 53 17N 5 7W for Belfast.

Lapwing left at 08:00 on Febr. 6 in 53 25N 5 2W for Glasgow.

Sardinian Prince (Captain R. Milliken) was "most erratic in her steering and speed and she had to be moved from No. 32 to No. 34.
Hartington (Captain F. Huntley) had problems sailing at a higher speed than 8 1/2 knots, and had great difficulty in keeping up at times, but was "smart with signals".
Recorder (Captain H. Fren), Baron Ardrossan (L. MacPhail), Kantara (H. Weston), Eastmoor (L. Arthur) and Sylvio (F. Richardson) did very very well with regard to signalling, station keeping etc. However, the Commodore points out that as these ships had the easiest positions in the convoy, it might be "unfair to pick them out from the others for favourable comment".

Escorts:
HMS Wolsey and Lowestoft sailed with the convoy from Gibraltar, Sandwich joined at 08:45 on Jan. 31 in 36 6N 11 12W, while local escorts Broke and Winchelsea joined at 08:40 on Febr. 4 in 48N 10 35W. When the convoy split up in the afternoon of Febr. 4 (see above), Winchelsea remained with the West Coast portion.

Air escort:
Sighted on Jan. 29 and at intervals on the 30th. Also, soon after reaching rendezvous in Western Approaches on Febr. 4 and again the following day.

Related external link:
HG (& SL) Convoys - In chronological order.

Back to Convoy Index