Crossed out ships did not sail.

Br=British, Du=Dutch, Norw=Norwegian, Sw=Swedish, Am=American, Hon=Honduran, Pa=Panamanian.
RV=Rescue Vessel

Empire Airman
diesel
Clyde
(Br)

Magdala
diesel
Belfast
(Du)

Grey County
(Norw)
not on A 1 form

There's a note saying "Inventor passes north with invasion barges" at 13:25. This ship sailed in the next convoy, as did the cancelled Noreg, Athos, Polartank, Polarsol, Ocen Viceroy, and Ocean Merchant, while Fort Lac la Ronge is listed in HX 207.

* These ships are also mentioned in connection with the previous convoy, HX 204.

Panamanian Nortun had Norwegian managers and is, therefore, listed on this website under the N's.

The ships went out in the following order:
The first to leave at 12:58 was Pacific Grove (Commodore vessel), followed at 13:15 by Audacious (soldiers on deck), then with a few minutes between each ship, James J. Maguire, Gdynia (lumber), Inventor, Mark Twain, Cefalu, Katy, Lynghaug, Walt Whitman, William Wirt, Robin Goodfellow, Exchester, Alcoa Rambler, Høegh Scout, Thorshøvdi, Minerva, Nortun(?), Empire Gold, Beaverhill, Richard H. Lee, Magdala, Westland, Melrose Abbey, Lady Rodney, HMS Dasher (aircraft carrier), Molda, Zacapa, Norheim, Brilliant, Ferncourt, Emma Bakke, Empire Emerald, Bello, Rapana, Port Alma, Sandanger, Nicinia (torpedo nets), Luminetta, Ocean Verity, Grey County, Forth Amherst, Lancastrian Prince, Turrialba, Kosmos II (2 stacks at stern), Antilochus, British Character, Brimanger(?), Warronga, Reverdy Johnson, Thorshov, Ocean Rider, British Glory, Empire Kamal, Zebulon B. Vance, Empire Airman, Saint Bertrand, and the last to leave at 17:25 was Clan Macpherson, City of Bombay.

The rescue vessel Melrose Abbey (requistioned in Febr.-1941) was on her 3rd voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde with the westbound Convoy ON 120 on Aug. 7 (to Halifax Aug. 27) and returning with Convoy HX 205 from Halifax Aug. 30, to Clyde Sept. 11-1942. ("Convoy Rescue Ships", Arnold Hague). Note that Currie Line Ltd. also had a ship by the name Melrose Abbey; this was a different ship.

Commodore's notes:
The Convoy had 60 ships on departure, 56 of which were present at rendezvous with local escort.
Fort Amherst and Lady Rodney left for St. John's at 06:00 on Sept. 2. Exchester lost touch with the convoy in fog Sept. 8. Beaverhill parted company at 19:00 on Sept. 9 (reason not given).

"Smoke from Robin Goodfellow very bad, this ship should not be allowed in convoy again until condition has been radically changed. She appears to be natural(?) draft and in a following wind, pours out smoke, convoy was visible by aircraft at low alt. 40 miles away. Trouble reported: Water in oil fuel, soot-blower broken down, hose being used to clean tubes. With the advent of so many new ships from U.S., trouble with smoke will no doubt break out anew. Beaverhill also smoked, trouble undefined.

Voyage was practically without incident. Fine weather all the way, including rain and fog on 5th, 6th, and 7th September which was very favourable to conduct of convoy.

NB - Heavy under water explosion heard and seen in 55 56N 8 7W, similar to two likewise outward in ON 117 in same position".

Among the escort vessels were Vicscount, Potentilla, Montbretia, Acanthus and Eglantine - the rest are illegible.

Escort was met at 09:00 on Sept 2 in 46 46N 51 10W (presumably, this refers to the ocean escort?).

Air Escort:
Catalina Aug. 30
Hudson Aug. 31
Catalina Sept. 1, Sept. 2 and Sept. 3.
Aircraft also over convoy Sept. 3, 4, 5 and 8.
Lockheed Hudson Sept. 9
Fighter Sept. 10.

Back to Convoy Index

To the next HX convoy in my list HX 206