Further details have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague
"Convoy Rescue Ships", Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of WW II", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets", R. W. Jordan

Br=British, Am=American, Norw=Norwegian, Fr=French, Du=Dutch.
s=sunk, † = dead

* Capulet was torpedoed by U-552 (Arnold Hague gives U 512) on Apr, 28 (9 died, 35 survived), sunk by U-201 on May 2.
Oilfield was torpedoed by U-96 on Apr. 28 (47 died, 8 survived), sank the next day.
Port Hardy was torpedoed and sunk by U-96 on Apr. 28 (1 died, 97 survived).
Caledonia was torpedoed and sunk by U-96 on Apr. 28 (12 died, 25 survived) - see my text for Caledonia.

Rainer Kolbicz (Uboat.net) has told me that one of his sources (Tennent) also lists the British Nerissa as a straggler from this convoy - sunk by U-552 on May 1 with the loss of 207 crew and passengers. However, it looks like this ship was sailing independently when lost, having departed Halifax 5 days after HX 121 had left (departed Halifax Apr. 21, arrived St. John Apr. 23, departed Apr. 24). There's a thread on my Ship Forum about this ship; see also the external link at the end of this page for a lot more information on Nerissa's loss. Also, Jan-Olof, Sweden sent me a report signed by Major C. P. Stacey, Historical Officer, Canadian Military Head Quarters, London, dated Sept. 2-1941, which states "It is true that 73 officers and men of the Canadian Army lost their lives in the sinking of the Nerissa, but this vessel was not part of a troop convoy or indeed of a convoy of any kind". Many thanks to Jan-Olof and Roger for helping me clear this up.

** Stanley became the British Empire Pelican at some point in 1941.

Rescue vessel for this convoy was Zaafaran, on her second voyage as such (she entered service in March-1941 with Convoy OB 301). She was with HX 121 from Apr. 28 (having detached from westbound OB 314 that same day) till May 1. She rescued 17 survivors from Capulet, 97 from Port Hardy and all the survivors from Caledonia.

The Commodore's says in his report:
Station keeping - very good, signalling - very good indeed.
The Swedish Kolsnaren (not listed on convoy form) experienced engine trouble and parted company at 19:00 on Apr. 16 in 44 10N 62 35W. (This ship sailed in HX 123).
Langleebrook could not maintain pre-arranged speed of 9 knots; the captain gave the reason as "bad coal".
Saint Bertrand, Manchester Division, Manchester Spinner, Tresillian, Beechwood, and El Ciervo were "persistently bad in making smoke in spite of their attention being drawn to same both by Commodore's ship and Escort. The Commodore's ship was the worst offender being extraordinarily bad at times. The Chief Engineer assured me he was doing his utmost to stop it, at times there was an improvement but not a lasting one. The Chief Engineer's reason for not being able to effect a permanent improvement was bad coal.

Passed a floating mine 16:00 Apr. 28 in 60 05N 16 25W.
Four ships torpedoed, Capulet at 15:20 on Apr. 28 in 60 06N 16 33W, Caledonia, Oilfield and Port Hardy, 18:40 Apr. 28 in 60 04N 15 45W. In view of the fact that a mine was passed close to soon after explosion on board the Capulet the possibility that the Capulet was mined and not torpedoed should be considered."

The above is from the Commodore's report. Attack times and positions given by Rohwer are as follows:
Capulet (initial attack by U-552) - at 16:15 German time in 60 16N 16 10W. Sunk by U-201 at 21:14 (May 2).
Oilfield - at 19:25 in 60 05N 17W
Caledonia - at 19:25 in 60 03N 16:10W
Port Hardy - at 19:25 in 60 14N 15 20W.
These positions are according to the data of the Allied authorities.
Rohwer adds in a footnote: "From the report by the convoy commodore it is clear that all three ships were hit in the same attack by U-96, the Port Hardy being struck by chance after the torpedo missed the intended target."

The Commodore continues:
"Only 14 ships in the convoy had kites. They were flown on all occasions when the weather was suitable and when within the limits of aircraft attack.

Very fine weather throughout, and exceptional visibility at times East of 30° W."

Ocean Escort:
HMS California, from Halifax - left at 09:30 on Apr. 27, 60 10N 24 55W escorted by Malcolm.
HMS Revenge joined at 09:45 on Apr. 19, 42 36N 51 18W - left at 22:00 on Apr. 23 in 54 24N 41 17W.

Local Escort:
HMS Malcolm and HMS Violet were met in 59 20N 35 49W at 14:00 on Apr. 25.
HMS Inglefield, Moore, and Watchman were met in 59 50N 35 06W at 18:00 on Apr. 25.
Gladiolus, Veronica, Abelia, St. Zeno, St. Kenan, St. Elstan, Vizalma and rescue ship Zaafaran were met in 60 09N 19 29W at 05:25 on Apr. 28.
Douglas, Roxburgh and Leamington were met in 60 05N 16 17W at 16:30 on Apr. 28.

Air Escort: A Sunderland was sighted at 07:00 on Apr. 27 in 59 41N 28 50W. Also, the convoy had air escort from 60 00N 15 38W at 19:15 on Apr. 28 and intermittently onwards.

Related External links:
Eagle Oil Tankers - This site has info on the "San" ships listed in this convoy (and others), with an alphabetical list of casualties from the various "San" ships, as well as survivor reports. Additionally, the site has a lot of useful information on where the misc. Admiralty records are kept - they can be found on this page index.

S/S Nerissa - A very informative website about this ship and her fate. As can be seen from the crew and passenger list, 3 Norwegian Air Force pilots were on board, namely 2nd Lt. J. J. Ebbensen, Sergeant Sverre Kristoffersen (died), and Sergeant Odd Stenli (died). Sverre Kristoffersen had escaped from Norway at the time of the capitulation in the summer of 1940, and managed to get to the U.S. via Finland, Russia, and Japan, served at Little Norway, Ontario. Odd Stenli had been out whaling when the war broke out, joined the Air Force and was trained at Little Norway - Source: "Våre falne", which lists Norwegian WW II casualties.

More details on all the Norwegian ships named in this table can be found in the alphabetical ship lists of this website.

Back to Convoy Index