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CONVOY HN 9B – Norway-U.K.
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Left Bergen on Jan. 28-1940 and arrived Methil Roads in the early morning hours of Febr. 2
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| Received from Tony Cooper, England.
Convoy stations are not known. |
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According to a document listing all the Norway-U.K. Convoys, Convoy HN 9B had 3 British, 8 Norwegian, 10 Swedish, 4 Finnish, and 4 Estonian ships for a total of 29 (departure date is given as Jan. 29-1940). The above information does not quite match up with the following - these ships are said to have left Bergen in this convoy on Jan. 28-1940 (dates are given European style, with date/month/year): Norwegian Mimona Norwegian Thore Hafte Norwegian Kis Norwegian Jernland Norwegian Bessheim Norwegian Ibis Swedish Aspen Swedish Elgö Swedish Frans - scheduled for previous convoy, but did not sail. Swedish Bifrost Estonian Anu Estonian Pollux (for info, there was also a Norwegian Pollux). Panamanian Urania (for info, there was also an Estonian Urania, and I'm wondering if the wrong nationality is given here). Finnish Finlandia Finnish Fritz S British Vina British Vestra (for info, there was also a Norwegian Vestra). British Hague Swedish Agne Norwegian Log Swedish Falkvik Swedish Nicke Swedish Oddevold Swedish Gundborg Segrell Swedish Balticia Finnish Regulus Finnish Marita (for info, there was also a Norwegian Marita). Finnish Ostrobotnia Norwegian Audun Comparing the above to a list of ships received from Don Kindell, based on Arnold Hague's research, I find that A. Hague has also included the British Baron Kelvin (which had previously arrived Norway with Convoy ON 8) and a ship named Rossheim in this convoy (this makes it more than 29 ships). Note that all ships listed as Norwegian in this convoy are discussed on this website - see the Ship Index. Summary of HMS Jervis report (Captain Mack): At 04:30 (Jan. 30) course was altered 204°, and by 08:00 that morning the wind and sea were increasing, southeast force 6, sea 44. Course altered 230° at 09:00, all the ships were present, though scattered. Contact was made with Vice Admiral Commanding, 2nd Cruiser Squadron and escorting aircraft. At 10:34, the Outer Skerries Lighthouse was sighted, bearing 280°. At noon they had a force 8 wind, convoy speed 6 knots - course altered 190° in moderate visibility, however, by 20:00 that evening, as course was altered 185°, visibility had become poor, sea 44, wind force 8. Speed of convoy throughout the subsequent night was 4 1/2 knots. At 07:30 the next morning (Jan. 31) Jervis proceeded to locate ships in the convoy. Half an hour later seas were found to be 54, with a southeast wind force 8. At 08:30 convoy altered course 165°. At noon that day only 15 ships were in company, with one hull-down over the Northern horizon, and at 16:00 that afternoon sea had increased to 64. An hour later, 10 ships remained, speed 2-3 knots. At 07:45 on Febr. 1, Juno obtained a firm contact and fired depth charges, however, contact was lost and was later described as "doubtful". Mean speed throughout the night had been 3 1/2 knots. At 08:00, wind was southeast force 7, sea 47. Aircraft made contact with the convoy. Half an hour later, 7 ships remained. At 09:15 that morning course was altered 220°, and at 10:30 Buchan Ness Light was sighted, bearing 240°. Course was altered again at 11:15 (195°), speed 4 knots. The convoy was joined by air fighter escort. By noon the wind was starting to show signs of moderating, but was still force 7 with seas 54. At 15:00, course was altered 185°, speed 7 knots, while the Estonian Anu was detached for Aberdeen. Jervis took up station ahead of the convoy at 16:30 that afternoon. Speed at 18:00 was 6 1/2 knots. At 22:51, Bell Rock Lighthouse was sighted abeam to starboard, 9 3/4 miles. Course was altered 255° at 01:30, Febr. 2, and again 250° at 02:00. At 03:10 May Island Lighthouse was abeam to starboard, 1 1/2 miles, and convoy altered course 270° for Methil, following instructions from May Island. At 04:45 the convoy was ordered to anchor in Methil Roads, as no examiniation vessel or pilots were met. At that time only 6 ships were in company, namely the Norwegian Jernland, Bessheim and Log, and the Swedish Aspen, Frans and Bifrost. The Senior Officer is not at all happy with the conduct of the ships in this convoy, even taking into consideration the bad weather conditions. He states that several times it seemed as if ships deliberately broke away from the convoy. On one occasion, after he had made a signal for the convoy to follow him, and his signal had been answered by all the leading ships, a neutral ship eastward bound from Kirkwall crossed the bows of the convoy, and 3 of the leading ships turned and followed her, resulting in quite a bit of confusion. Captain Mack adds: Escorts: Also, the text under Jan. 29 on this external page, has some information on Convoy HN 9B escorts. To the next HN convoy in my list HN 10 |
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