Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (Advance Sailing Telegram, A 1 form etc.) - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships returned to port.

Note that some ships only had Halifax or St. John's as their destination.

For info, some of the ships in this convoy later returned to the U.S. in Jan.-1943 with Convoy ON 159 - some are listed in ON 161 or ON 162, see also ON 164 and ON 165.

Notes:
Commodore Vice Admiral L. E. Crabbe CB CIE DSO was in Jamaica Planter, Vice Commodore was Rear Admiral J. Powell in Godfrey B. Holt.

Average speed of convoy: 8.67 knots.

The convoy had 50 ships.

At 19:15 on Dec. 14, Westmoor joined the convoy (having lost Convoy SC 113, which had departed New York on Dec 12).
At 18:30 on Dec. 19, Clan Murdock joined from St. John's.

At 22:00 GMT on Dec. 13, in 40 07N 72 04W, City of Durban returned to New York with engine trouble.

At 08:30 on Dec. 15, in 41 17N 65 46W, City of Kimberley proceeded to Halifax after being in collision (the AST says she returned to New York).

At 18:15 on Dec. 16, in 44 31N 60 43W, the following ships proceeded to Halifax:
Stanvac Manila, Gulftide, Westmoor, Siboney (the latter following collision Dec. 15).

The following ships left the convoy for their destination St. John's at 15:15 on Dec. 19, 47 27N 47 58W:
USS Yukon, Askepot, Fort Townshend and Lady Rodney.

At 19:40, Dec. 19, in 48 01N 47 56W, Salawati proceeded to St. John's owing to damage in heavy weather losing both lifeboats. Second Officer washed overboard.

At 15:00 on Dec. 19, in 47 26N 47 58W, Audacious lost convoy in heavy weather.

At 07:00 on Dec. 21, in 51 56N 43 53W, the following ships lost convoy during gale:
Tungsha, Good Gulf, Fort Concord and Helencrest.

At 10:00 GMT on Dec. 27 all ships over 11 1/2 knots ordered to proceed to their destinations independently, and Loch Ewe ships to proceed independently (56 34N 09 53W), order of C. in C. W.A. Vice Commodore Rear Admiral J. Powell then took charge of the remainder of the convoy.

Commodore's notes:
Congonian - maximum speed 9.75 knots. This ship should not have been in a 10 knot konvoy. Master appears to have no idea of destination or the speed of his ship before leaving harbour.
Norlom - maximum speed 9.75 knots should also not have been included in convoy.

On Dec. 28 at 03:00 Norwegian Tijuca (Captain F. Fredriksen) fired a snowflake, his reason being that another ship of the convoy was too close to him. This is a gross misuse of appliances supplied and also endangered the safety of the convoy.

During the whole passage, Empire Tamar, Master Ridley made excessive smoke, the cause being coal bunkered at Jacksonville.

There have been no enemy incidents with the convoy during the voyage. HMS Hesperus sank an enemy submarine by ramming on the night of Dec. 26 about 30 miles astern of convoy.
From a few hours after leaving New York until Christmas morning almost continuous bad weather was experienced the wind often being of gale force but always abaft the beam, and the speed of the convoy seldom reduced below 8 knots.
On night of Dec. 14 City of Kimberley and Siboney were in collision and were sent to Halifax for repairs.

Escort Vessels:
Local escort (south):
From 12:45, Dec. 13, 40 08N 73 05W - Brantford (S.O.), Dundas, Truro, Edmundston, Lavender.

Joining from Halifax at 18:30, Dec. 16, 44 33N 60 41W:
St. Clair (S.O.), Nipigon?

Ocean escort Joining from St. John's at 14:20, Dec. 19, 47 18N 47 58W:
Hesperus (S.O.), Vanessa, Gentian, Heather, Sweetbriar.

Joining from St. John's (escorting Clan Murdoch) at 18:30, Dec. 19, 47 51N 47 58W:
Mignonette.

Leaving with the Halifax ships at 18:35, Dec. 16 in 44 34N 60 40W:
Nipigon and Edmundston.

Leaving with St. John's ships at 15:15, Dec. 19 in 47 27N 47 58W:
St. Clair (S.O.), Brantford, Dundas, Truro, Lavender.

Hesperus proceeded to home port with damaged bow at 12:00 on Dec. 27 in 56 28N 09 23W, after ramming U-boat.

Air Escort:
Present on Dec. 15, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.

Back to Convoy Index