32 ships are said to have left port, a total of 22 are named in the diary. They are listed further down in this table.

Cargoes have been extracted from a document received from D. Kindell, based on the late Arnold Hague's database (see his listing for HX 166 at Ships in all HX convoys).

Underlined ships returned to port (according to A. Hague).

Br=British, Du=Dutch, Ru=Russian, Pa=Panamanian, Norw=Norwegian.

The following ships went out that day, the author of the diary did not know to which of the unnamed vessels in the above form they corresponded (but see A. Hague's details below):

Empire Masefield - British freighter (did not sail? - See also HX 167)
Empire Sailor - British freighter
City of Kimberley - British freighter
British Splendour - British tanker
British Pride - British tanker
British Faith - British tanker
Dromore - British freighter
Kars - British tanker
Drupa - British tanker
Hardanger (this should probably be Høyanger) - Norwegian freighter. According to Hardanger's Voyage Record for this period, she had left Halifax on Dec. 15-1941, arriving Liverpool on the 29th. In fact, she had sailed in the previous convoy, HX 165. Høyanger, on the other hand, did indeed depart Halifax for the U.K. on Dec. 21-1941, as can be seen on this document.
Toronto - Norwegian freighter
Manchester Commerce - British freighter
Algonquin - British tanker.

Comparing all this with Arnold Hague's information for HX 166 at Ships in all HX convoys, we find that he has listed the un-named ships in T. Agar's form as follows:
In station 12 - the British Lynton Grange (general cargo)
In station 14 - British Scottish Star (refrig.)
He has no ship in station 15, nor does he have a ship in station 25
In station 22 - British Cardita (11 500 tons petrol & white oil), straggled and torpedoed by U-87 on Dec. 31, wreck sank Jan. 3 (see external link at the end of this page)
In station 23 he has the Dutch Alcinous (and not a British freighter) - general cargo
In station 31 - British Empire Sailor (general cargo, returned to port, sailed in HX 168)
In station 32 - British British Faith (benzine)
In station 33 - Norwegian Svenør (FFO)
In station 34 - British British Pride (aviation gas, for Iceland, also joined Convoy PQ 8 to Russia, returned in QP 8, March 1)
In station 41 - British Atheltemplar (FFO, to Scapa Flow, arrived Jan. 7)
In station 42 - British Kars (petrol)
In station 43 - Norwegian Toronto (general cargo - see link above)
In station 44 - British Algonquin (gas oil)
In station 52 - British British Splendour (paraffin)
In station 54 he has the American tanker Kaweah (for Iceland)
In station 62 - British Drupa (petrol)
In station 71 - British Manchester Commerce (general cargo)
In station 72 - Dutch Waterland (general cargo)
In station 81 - British John A. Brown (petrol, paraffin)
In station 82 - British Regent Panther (petrol)
In station 84 - Norwegian Skiensfjord (general cargo)
In station 92 - British Baronesa (refrig, 110 mails, 6 passengers)

*He has also added some ships in stations where none are named in T. Agar's list, namely:
In station 94 - British City of Kimberley (general cargo)
In station 61 - British Dromore (general cargo)
In station 53 - Norwegian Høyanger (general cargo - see link above)
In station 93 - British Lalande (meat, cotton, 108 mails)
In station 63 - British Tornus (aviation gas)

*A. Hague does not mention Empire Masefield and Stone Street (they are both listed in HX 167, though Stone Street returned to port). Instead he has the Panamanian El Almirante in station 24, general cargo, for Iceland. Joined Convoy PQ 8 to Russia, Jan. 8, returned in Convoy QP 7.

City of Eastbourne is said to have returned, joined the next convoy, HX 167.

Also, he says that Empire Foam (11) became a straggler and joined the slow Convoy SC 61.

The first ship to leave that morning appears to have been Glenogle (Flagship), and with a few minutes between each ship she was followed at 10:43 by a Br. tanker and a Br. freighter, Empire Rowan (NJX on Hurricane), a Br. tanker, a Br. freighter, a Norwegian freighter (2 bands round stack - in station 54 - according to A. Hague, the ship in this station was American Kaweah), Norwegian tanker, Gaelic Star, Lancaster Castle, Stary Bolshevik, 3 Br. tankers, then a Dutch freighter, followed by a British freighter, then Empire Foam (101 on Hurricane), Br. freighter, Br. tanker, Br. freighter, Br. tanker, Br. freighter, Br. tanker, Panamanian freighter, Norwegian freighter, Br. tanker, City of Eastbourne (returned, according to A. Hague), Dutch Tibia, then an unnamed freighter of unnamed nationality (Norwegian Skiensfjord), followed by a Br. tanker and a Br. freighter. At 15:00 Stone Street left, but it looks like she must have gone out that day for other reasons than to join this convoy, as she appears again in the next convoy.

A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of HX convoy escorts, also received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Belmont - From 02/01/42 to 03/01/42
Burlington - From 21/12/41 to 23/12/41
Drummondville - From 21/12/41 to 23/12/41
Gardenia - From 30/12/41 to 02/01/42
Gentian - From 30/12/41 to 04/01/42
Honeysuckle - From 30/12/41 to 31/12/41
Leamington - From 01/01/42 to 03/01/42
Sabre - From 01/01/42 to 03/01/42
Scimitar - From 01/01/42 to 04/01/42
Skate - From 05/01/42 to 05/01/42
USCGC Campbell - From 25/12/41 to 31/12/41
USS Badger - From 25/12/41 to 31/12/41
USS Cole - From 25/12/41 to 31/12/41
USS Decatur - From 31/12/41 to 21/12/41
USS Plunkett - From 24/12/41 to 31/12/41

Related external links:
The attack on Cardita

Russian Convoy Series - Convoy PQ 8 is included.

Back to Convoy Index