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CONVOY HG 37
Departed Gibraltar on July 7-1940 and arrived Liverpool on the 16th
(Arnold Hague agrees w/22 ships).


Transcribed from documents received from Tony Cooper, England - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Destination
Remarks
Batna
British
general
Mersey
Carbrattan
"
passengers
Glasgow
Cydonia
"
passengers
Liverpool
Capo Olmo
"
(ex Italian, seized by French 6/1940)
general - passengers
Mersey f. o.
Oakcrest
British
passengers
Glasgow
Commodore Vessel
Vae Victis
Belgian
pitwood
Swansea
Listed in HG 38
Mary Livanos
Greek
general
Mersey f. o.
From HG 36
Archangelos
"
manganese ore
Manchester
From HG 36
Cressado
British
general
Liverpool
Har Zion
"
passengers
Liverpool
From HG 35
Anadyr
French
motor cars - passengers
Clyde
San Adolfo*
British
Tanker (ballast)
Trinidad
Gerassimos Vergottis
Greek
lumber - lead
Mersey
British Lord*
British
Tanker (ballast)
Trinidad
Lord Byron
"
barley
Belfast
Spes
Norwegian
mineral
Belfast / Tyne
Varangberg
"
phosphates
Garston
Empire Snipe
British
iron pyrites
Belfast / Ipswich
Herport*
"
ballast
Freetown
Palmella
"
cork - general
London
Eikhaug
Norwegian
mineral
Belfast / Hull
Mergus
Swedish
esparto
Leith
Wilja
Polish (transport)
passengers
Liverpool
* San Adolfo, British Lord and Herport are crossed out in the Advance Sailing Telegram, probably because they did not sail with the convoy to the U.K. - see Commodore's report below.

Report by the Captain of Oakcrest
Commodore of Convoy HG 37

The ships left the anchorage at 6 p.m. on July 7-1940, but was not formed up until 8 p.m., having been slow in coming out.
Speed 7 knots.

The following morning the convoy was very straggled and speed was reduced to 6 knots, in moderate bow wind and sea. Zig-zagging at daylight. The Commodore says that the neutral ships were very negligent in repeating signals.

HMS Vidette parted company at 11:00 that day (July 8) and the Ocean Escort joined at 17:00. HMS Wishart left at 21:30, while Herport and British Lord parted company for their destination at dark.
Speed 6.5 knots - ceased zig-zagging at 21:15.

The convoy was still very straggled in the morning of July 9, with many ships unable to maintain the convoy speed, so it was further reduced to 6 knots. Zig-zagging was resumed at 06:30, in a fresh wind and heavy sea. San Adolfo parted company during the night and the ships seemed to keep better station but a few were still inclined to lag behind.
The convoy ceased zig-zagging at 22:15 that night.

The ships were lagging astern again the next morning, July 10. Zig-zagging was resumed once the ships were in better station. Several alterations of destinations were received and passed on to the ships by HMS Enchantress. Weather had improved - zig-zagging was seased at 22:15 p.m. and resumed again at 06:00 the next morning, July 11, in fine weather. The ships kept better station that morning. However, at 06:30 on July 12, Wilja experienced boiler trouble and was unable to keep up, so she proceeded to Vigo. Zig-zagging (which had ceased at 22:15 the previous night) commenced at 06:15 that morning, only 2 ships straggling, namely Eikhaug (Norwegian) and Cydonia. The latter later regained her station, but Eikhaug was unable to do so.
Zig-zagging was ceased at 20:30, in a drizzling rain.

At 06:30 on July 13 the Local Escort was sighted, position 47 00N 9 55W. At that time the convoy was in good order, and commenced zig-zagging at 07:00, still in a drizzling rain. At 10:00 that morning, air escort was sighted in 47 20N 9 40W. At 15:40 a Heinkel bomber came over, dropping 4 bombs in the first flight, 3 in the second; first 4 in a string, second 3 in a group.

The convoy was still in good order at 05:30 the next morning, July 14, and commenced zig-zagging at 06:00. At 07:30, enemy aircraft came over the convoy, but extra air escort also arrived and later on these, together with the Ocean Escort, were sent to assist Strathnaver, which was being bombed 50 miles astern.

At 04:00 July 15, dense fog set in. All the ships seemed to be present except Mary Livanos and Archangelos. The ships bound for Liverpool were dispatched at 15:00, together with HMS Enchantress, and an hour later Mary Livanos also turned up and proceeded after the Liverpool portion.

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

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