Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Gr=Greek, Bel=Belgian

Average speed: Approx. 7.8 knots.

The convoy had a total of 32 ships, 28 of which were present at the rendezvous point, the following no longer in company:

The Belgian Brabo fell out during the night of Apr. 21/22 in or west of the Straits of Gibraltar - reason not known.

The Norwegian South America parted company (as previously arranged by R.N.C.O. Gibraltar) during the night of Apr. 22/23 in approx. 35 40N 9W, in order to proceed to Trinidad.

The British Pikepool fell out at 11:00 on Apr. 23 in 35 46N 10 14W, in order to return to Gibraltar with defective steering gear. "V.A. Gibraltar requested by Wishart to ask ship by W/T whether tugs required. Pikepool similarly informed".

The Greek Styliani fell out of sight astern of convoy at dusk on Apr. 25 in approx. 40 50N 12 26W - reason unknown, possibly bad coal. She was routed to Falmouth, and the news of alteration of destination to Swansea was not received in convoy until after she had fallen out.

A portion of the convoy (for the English Channel, London and East Coast ports etc., in charge of the Vice Commodore) consisted of:
Benmacdhui, Celtic Monarch, Adrastus, Mahseer, Glenbeg, Tungsha, Coultarn, Manaqui, Baron Ramsay, British Fidelity, Arletta, Baron Erskine, Rhineland, Ioannis Frangos, Vera Radcliffe, PLM 13 and SNA 9. (Vice Commodore's notes are not available).

B portion (for West Coast ports, in charge of Commodore Dreyer) consisted of ships on the port side of the convoy
(but some had lost touch, as mentioned):
Mansepool, Macgregor, Vasco, Frances Massey, Crown Arun, Kirkland, British Sincerity, King Idwal, Zannes Gounaris, Joannis, Pikepool, Theodoros T., Brabo, and Styliani.

The following ships of B portion were given a favourable mention:
Vasco - Captain G. Schuur
Macgregorx - Captain W. H. Todman
Frances Masseyx - Captain R. Jamieson
Mansepoolx - Captain H. R. Clark
British Cincerityx - Captain R. Maughan

Commodore Dreyer says that "All the above ships were handled well and in the case of those marked with a cross were very good at signals. In the Vasco every assistance was given to my signal staff in a smart and well run ship. I am much indepted to the Master for great attention and much assistance. Submitted that their owners may be informed accordingly".

However, "The station keeping of the S.S. King Idwal (9 knots) Master H. R. Willis was not good. The ship was always astern of station. This notwithstanding the fact that although the speed of the convoy never exceeded 8 knots and this vessel was stated to have the speed of 9 knots. This vessel did not come to Liverpool with me. The King Idwal was very good at signalling".
Also, "The Greek ships did not keep good station, the S.S. Theodoros T. (8 knots) being liable to fall astern and then capable of returning to station. The Joannis and Zannes Gounaris (8 1/2) were also often astern, thus reducing the protection they derived from the escort".

Escorts:
From Gibraltar: HMS Wishart (S.O., Commander Cooper), HMS Active (Lieut. Commander Turner) - met in the Straits of Gibraltar 5' south of Carnero Point at 18:00 BST on Apr. 21, left at 14:00 BST on Apr. 28 in 48 16N 8 24W.
Local: HMS Fowey (S.O. of whole escort of 4) and HMS Deptford - met at 07:15 on Apr. 28 in 47 39N 90 4W. Deptford remained with the B portion of the convoy to Liverpool, while Fowey proceeded up channel with the A portion from the splitting point in 48 35N 07 40W.

Air Escort:
In the Straits of Gibraltar and about 130' to westward of Cape Spartel - In 47 43N 8 56W, one Shorts Sunderland.

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

Back to Convoy Index