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CONVOY HN 9A – Norway-U.K.
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Sailed from Bergen on Jan. 27-1940 and arrived Methil on Jan. 31
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| Received from Tony Cooper, England.
A 1 form is not available and, therefore, convoy stations are not known, except for those mentioned in the S.O.'s report. |
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According to a document listing all the Norway-U.K. Convoys, this convoy had 19 Norwegian, 9 Swedish, 4 Finnish, 4 Estonian and 1 Latvian ship, for a total of 37, 12 of which were bound for the west coast. The following ships sailed from Bergen on Jan. 27-1940, escorted by 6 destroyers (dates are given European style, with date/month/year): Swedish Nordia Swedish? Vega* (for info, there was also a Norwegian Vega). Finnish Ceres Norwegian Haardraade Norwegian Ledaal Norwegian Favorit Swedish Albert Norwegian Måkefjell - Station 24. Swedish Torne Swedish Leonardia Norwegian Vesla Norwegian Edna Swedish Ingarö Swedish Carbonia Norwegian Kul - Station 43. Norwegian Lab - Station 44. Norwegian Eikhaug Brada* Norwegian Nurgis Swedish Nämdö Swedish Louis de Geer Julia - Station 63. According to A. Hague's list of ships, mentioned below, this was the Greek Julia of 4352 gt, but I'm wondering if this ship might have been the Estonian Julia of 1892 gt? I say this, mainly because the document listing all the Norway-U.K. Convoys does not mention a Greek ship, but on the other hand states there were 4 Estonian ships. Latvian Ramava - Station 64. Finnish Ergo - Station 71. Norwegian Rigel - Station 83 Estonian Juta Norwegian Mammy Norwegian Veni Norwegian Ingerfire Norwegian Inger Norwegian Vestfoss Estonian Helios (for info, there was also a Norwegian Helios) Norwegian Tautra Norwegian Skotfoss Estonian? Torni (listed as British by A. Hauge). Finnish Inga (there was also a Danish ship by this name). Norwegian Knoll Swedish Kjell Billner The following ships may also have been in this convoy: Norwegian Galatea* Norwegian Vaga Norwegian? Grado* Scheduled, but did not sail: Swedish Frans. Listed in next convoy. Comparing the above to a list of ships received from Don Kindell, based on Arnold Hague's research, the ships denoted * are not included. Note that A. Hague has Galatea in Convoy HN 8. All the ships listed as Norwegian in this convoy are discussed on this website - see the Ship Index. Summary of HMS Inglefield's Report: Course was altered at 11:00 the next morning, Jan. 28, by a turn together to 180°, and at the same time the 12 westbound ships were detached, escorted by Inglefield and Sikh, in order to pass through the Fair Island Channel. The weather subsequently deteriorated rapidly, the wind increasing to gale force from the southeast, so the speed was reduced to 3 1/2 knots, but the escorts lost touch with the convoy between 23:00 and 03:00. At daylight, it was discovered that 2 ships were no longer in company, one of them being the Norwegian Veni, which was sighted later that day, but she never rejoined. Sikh had also lost touch during the night, but rejoined at 13:00 on Jan. 29. Inglefield parted company off Cape Wrath at 04:15 on Jan. 30, proceeding through the Minches to Clyde with arrival at the gate at 16:00 that same day. Inglefield's commander states that it was very difficult to get the ships in this convoy to obey signals, making it constantly necessary to order the leading ships to steer the course signalled. He goes as far as to say that the following ships should be debarred from joining future convoys, for the reasons given: The Norwegian Mammy, which was a knot faster that the other ships, would not keep her station, in spite of frequent signals ordering her to do so. She finally went on ahead at 10:00 on Jan. 29. The Norwegian Vestfoss parted company at 18:00 on Jan. 29 "for no apparent reason". The Norwegian Veni lost touch, as mentioned, during the night of Jan. 28/29 and made no attempt to rejoin, though she was in sight of the convoy throughout the following day. The Norwegian Ingerfire was too slow and could not keep her station, even when the speed was reduced to 6 knots. Summary of HMS Isis' Report (eastbound ships): Because of the force 6 southeast winds with increasing sea and swell, many of the ships were having problems, so the convoy speed was reduced to 6 knots in an effort to keep them all together, however, the speed made good was only 3 knots. By 09:00 the following morning (Jan. 29), 22 ships were present, the Norwegian Kul having gone ahead. She had been sighted by the Senior Officer of the escort who directed her to return, but in the low visibility she kept going. The weather was bad all that day, with occasional snow storms. The speed was increased to 7 knots during the forenoon, but reduced again in the afternnoon to avoid losing the rear ships. By 09:00 the next morning only 19 ships remained in the convoy. Ramava reported being short of fuel and requested permission to proceed to Moray Firth. She was instructed to keep close to the convoy until dark, then head to Aberdeen, and was still in sight off Rattray Head that night. The weather was still bad with frequent snow squalls and low visibility. Julia was detached off Aberdeen that day (Jan. 30). When HN 9A arrived Methil at 11:00 on Jan. 31, 17 ships were in company. Kul and Måkefjell had last been seen on Jan. 28, Ergo and Lab on Jan. 29. Escorts:
See also the text under Jan. 27 on this external page, which mentions Convoy HN 9A and its escorts. To the next HN convoy in my list HN 9B |
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