Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Po=Polish. Gr=Greek, Ro=Romanian, Da=Danish, Eg=Egyptian

The convoy had 39 ships, 38 were present at rendezvous with local escort, 20 ships were bound for West Coast ports.

Average speed: 7.23 knots.

Summary of Commodore Parker's narrative of voyage:
The leading ships of the convoy joined up puctually on a bearing from Carnero Point at 16:30, March 12 and the 38 ships were in formation by 18:00, the Greek Elpie joining shortly afterwards. The following day, orders were received to detach the Polish Sobieski and instruct her to proceed independently.

The weather was misty with poor visibility and strong southerly to southeasterly winds, and due to this strong wind and following sea the convoy was 9 hours early at the rendezvous, though the speed had been reduced to 7 knots for over 48 hours prior to the pre-arranged time for reaching the rendezvous. A new rendezvous for the local escort to meet the convoy was arranged by C.-in-C. Western Approaches, and as soon as contact was made on March 19, the 20 ships bound for West Coast ports parted company with the Vice Commodore in charge. Shortly afterwards (10:30 in 48 35 30N 07 43W), the escorting Watchman dropped 5 depth charges, with further charges dropped by Vortigern at 14:25, and by Watchman at 15:40. However, no sub was believed to have been sunk.

At 21:41 the following day, March 20, while HG 22 was in position 50 12N 01 22W, a message was received from Barnhill* saying that she was being bombed in 50 34N 00 2W. During the night, visibility deteriorated and was not much more than 6 miles when Dungeness was sighted. When Dungeness Lighthouse was abeam at 13:40 on March 21 the convoy was dispersed and the ships proceeded independently to the Downs.

* This ship was not part of HG 22, but there's a ship listed as such in Convoy HX 25 from Halifax, which arrived Liverpool on March 20-1940. It should probably be Barn Hill. Or could it be a mis-spelling of Barrhill in both cases? If it is indeed Barrhill, she does not appear to have sunk in this attack, because R. W. Jordan's "The World's Merchant Fleets 1939" lists her as sunk by German aircraft on June 28 of the following year.

As an aside to this message, Commodore Parker adds: "If ships are likely to be attacked by aircraft in the Channel, which seems more than probable, it is recommended that they should be supplied with H.A. machine Guns. These do not require such a numerous crew as heavier H.S. guns nor such skilful sight and fuze setting, and would be altogether more suitable".

Neptunian parted company at 11:10 BST on March 20 in 49 45N 03 25W, for Portland.

Elpis left at 00:00 on March 21 in 50 15N 01 5W for Southampton.

Station keeping was "good, on the whole. Ships did not keep in close order during the bad weather mostly experienced, but they kept well up and gave very little trouble. A well behaved convoy, in which the foreign ships gave no trouble at all and were smart in obeying signals".

Shillong (Captain J. H. Hellew) "has been a model in every way, including smart signalling of all descriptions and station keeping and, provided the accommodation is suitable, should make a very good Commodore's ship if the present master remained in her".

Aikaterini had problems keeping up, usually lagging far astern.

Notes on West Coast portion - with J. S. M. Ritchie as Commodore in Calchas:
The 20 ships parted company at 09:00 GMT on March 19 in 48 27N 7 57W (another document, giving Commodore Parker's narrative of voyage for HG 22, gives position as 48 32N 08 00W), escorted by HMS Vanquisher and Witch.
Moderate southwest gale, rough sea and swell, speed 7 knots.

Average speed: 7.23 knots.

Stephanos reported steering gear damaged - steering with difficulty in hand gear, March 19.

At 15:45 on March 20, in 57 35N 6 10W, Domby, Sarastone, Teneriffa, Maritima, Daphnella, Ingivern Vlassopol (Inginer N. Vlassopol?), Stephanos and Estrid parted company for Milford Haven escorted by HMS Witch.
At 17:00 that afternoon, HMS Vanquisher reported a submarine contact, and convoy was turned 40° to port in 51 45N 6 05W, while the destroyer dropped a depth charge. Mean course was resumed at 17:20, 12 ships in company. Ziz-zagging was commenced at 22:30, full moon.

Zig-zagging was ceased at 02:30, March 21, moon obscured. Uskside and Linaria left as arranged at 07:15 that morning in 53 25N 5 03W for Clyde. Convoy zig-zagging until 14:00. A single line was formed at light float boat 16 miles from Bar Light Vessel, and the convoy arrived at Bar Light Vessel, Liverpool Bay at 16:00.

The station keeping was not good, but the "dropping of a depth charge by the destroyer had a most salutery effect on the laggards and was better than any signal". The following ships have been given a special mention for good signalling and station keeping:

Star of Egypt (Captain R. J. Knott) - very good signalling and station keeping.
Castillia (J. Hutchison) - very good signalling.
Willesden (C. P. Brown) and Daphnella (E. Brown) - good station keeping.
British Strength (R. J. Mott), Martaban (K. Benton), Uskside (W. Smith), Belinda (L. Christensen) - good signalling.

Calchas was judged to be "quite suitable as a Commodore's ship. The signalling arrangements were good and also the accommodation. She was not however, fitted with echo sounding gear and her chart house was very small. I would like especially to mention the great assistance I had from Captain Holden the Master and the Officers of the ship who did everything to facilitate the smooth working of the convoy. There is one point I would like to mention which concerns the Owners - Alfred Holt & Co. There is a rule that when North of Ushant or in a convoy the Officers of the watches are to be in watch and watch two in each watch. This rule in a 9 days voyage from Gibraltar to Liverpool I consider ought to be relaxed as Officers are not at their best after a week's watch and watch".

Escorts:
From Gibraltar: HMS Watchman and Vortigern. Vortigern left at 18:30 on March 19 in 48 57N 06 34W (at which time Acasta joined), and Watchman parted company at 06:55 the following day in 49 35N 04 15W.
Local Escort: HMS Witch and Vanquisher met at 09:00 on March 19 in 48 32N 08W (another document gives position as 48 27N 7 57W) - escorted West Coast portion of the convoy. HMS Witch parted company with the Bristol Channel ships as noted above.

Air Escort: Until dusk on March 12 (day of departure).
Flying boat sighted at 10:30 on March 19 in 48 35N 07 43W - from that position until convoy dispersed on March 21, aircraft were sighted at intervals during daylight hours. 1 flying boat and 1 bomber during daylight hours in the Irish Sea on March 20, 1 bomber on March 21.

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

Back to Convoy Index