Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Eg=Egyptian (names of captains are given in pale green in parantheses)

The convoy left Gibraltar at 14:00 on Febr. 14-1940.
Average speed Gibraltar-Liverpool: 8.3 knots.

The Liverpool portion (13 ships) parted company from the London section at 18:00 on Febr. 20 in 48 56N 08 02W, with the Vice Commodore in charge. What follows is from his notes:

He has "nothing but the highest praise for the Master and officers of Waroonga for the general organisation and co-operation. Watches were doublebanked, and great zeal shown in maintaining correct station on the Commodore, thus helping to keep the convoy together".

Runswick, Baron Newlands and Coultarn were poor at keeping their station in the convoy, remainder of ships (Liverpool portion) were "above average". Waroonga and British Confidence were "very good", prior to the latter transferring to the London portion*. British Confidence was "consistently a good stationkeeper and always well up. I regret that owing to his transfer unexpectedly at dusk to the London portion of the convoy, I was unable to compliment him as I intended to". As for flag signalling, the ships were good, except for Runswick and Baron Newlands which were "very slow". Signalling by lamp was "generally poor" - W/T signalling was not used.

* Owing to change of destination for some ships, some transfers took place between the London and Liverpool sections just prior to parting company, and Willowbank (originally for Dunkirk) was moved from the London to the Liverpool portion, while British Confidence (Milford Haven) was moved from the Liverpool to the London portion.

With regard to the Norwegian Høegh Scout the Vice Commodore states, "not having the Merchant Navy Code, got into the way of answering no signals although a few were made in International Code particularly to her. She however followed the motions of the Convoy extremely well and usually kept fairly well up".

British Colony and British Grenadier left to Milford Haven for routing to destination Swansea at 14:05 on Febr. 21 in 51 22N 06 32W.

British Freedom and Baltallin left for Clyde ports at 06:30 on Febr. 22. At the same time, Willowbank parted company for Holyhead.

Baron Newlands left for Workington at 09:00 on Febr. 22 in 53 34N 04 00W, as directed by escort Witherington.

Summary of Vice Commodore Maundrell's narrative of voyage (Liverpool section):
Prior to the Liverpool portion parting company from the London section at 18:00 on Febr. 20, Willowbank was stationed as a leader of No. 5 column and British Confidence was transferred to the London portion, as mentioned. Rendezvous with the relieving escort had not yet been made*, and the convoy steered courses to pass through positions given in a W/T message from C.-in-C. Western Approaches timed at 14:14 that day, but not received until 16:06. The escorting French Minerva proceeded as escort to the Liverpool ships.

*HMS Witherington joined in 52 14N 05 56W at 17:45 on Febr. 21. This appears to have been later than originally arranged, because there's a note saying, "It was understood that escorts would be relieved in 48 00N 10 45W at 08:00/20".

The next day, Febr. 21, was generally overcast all day, with moderate to poor visibility. According to the sailing orders, the ships for the Bristol Channel were to break off and proceed as directed by the relieving escort, a point which had been emphasized at the conference before sailing and differed from the action to be taken by ships bound for E. Channel ports. As the convoy was now getting close to the line Tuskar-Smalls, the (Vice) Commodore decided to break W/T silence in order to obtain instructions for the 2 Swansea tankers from C.-in-C. W.A., and these were received at 13:34 that day, within 1 1/2 hours of the message having been sent. Following the departure of British Colony and British Grenadier the columns were reduced to 4. A message was received from Admiral Devonport at 13:21 with instructions to detach the French escort, and to report course and speed, whereupon Minerva left at 13:44 in 51 20N 06 32W. HMS Witherington finally joined the convoy at 17:45, and passed misc. instructions, including change of destination for Baron Newlands from Barrow to Workington. Tuskar Light was barely seen through the haze at 19:13, bearing 283° dist. about 8 miles.

At 02:00 on Febr. 22 Codling Light was seen, bearing 298° dist. 7 miles, and course was altered across for the Skerries position. 4 ships (named above) were dispersed to their destinations between 06:00 and 09:00 that day. The Light Float at the Western end of the searched channel was sighted at about 1 mile and the convoy, having previously been formed into a single line, entered at 10:05, arriving at the Bar Light Vessel at 12:30 (7 ships left). Pilots were picked up and the convoy proceeded up the river, or obtained instructions for destinations.

Escorts:
Ocean: Tigre, French armed trawler Minerva, HMS Wishart?
Minerva parted company at 13:44 on Febr. 21 in 51 20N 06 32W on order received by W/T from Admiral Devonport.
Local Escort HMS Witherington joined in 52 14N 05 56W at 17:45 on Febr. 21.

Air Escort: From Skerries, bearing South dist. 8 miles at 08:00 Febr. 22 to Bar Light Vessel, Liverpool at 12:30 that day - "One or two planes seen on patrol".

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

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