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

The ships are listed in the order in which they appear on the various documents.
Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships returned to port.

MOWT = Ministry of War Transport

For info, some of the ships in this convoy are listed in the westbound convoy ON 162, leaving Liverpool on Jan. 23-1943, others are listed in ON 164 in Febr.-1943.

Notes:
Commodore, Admiral A. J. Davies C.B. was in Baharistan (also, Commodore W. van du Donker), Vice Commodore in Pachesham.

The convoy had a total of 39 ships.

Average speed: 6.91 knots

Gulf of Venezuela returned to New York on Dec. 22 with defective steering gear
Wallace E. Pratt (referred to as William E. Pratt by Commodore) had condensor trouble and was sent to Halifax on Dec. 24 with Fred. W. Weller and escort.
Pachesham and Andrew Moore - deck cargo shifted in gale, sent to St. John's on Dec. 28, 49 56 (54?)N 46 44W.
Tropic Star and Mathew Luckenbach became stragglers on Dec. 28, evidently had to stop for short while during night and did not get alteration of route.

Commodore's comments on station keeping etc.:
Nicholas Gilman very bad, but improved at end. Cornelius Harnett and Southern Sun "not good", others good. Moravia (does he mean Moveria?), Nicania and Stad Vlaardingen" very good indeed".

He adds:
Again I should like to commend the Master of Moravia(?) for his excellent station keeping and signalling and especially on night of 7th January when I had to turn over guide as the first ship took over racing ahead had to make his guide in a gale at dusk (strange sentence). His excellent course and revolutions kept the convoy together.
I cannot speak too highly of Captain Metcalfe and the officers of S.S. Baharistan and especially the Chief Engineer and his staff whose steadiness in course and revolution in 2 gales were of the utmost assistance in keeping the convoy together.

Narrative of Voyage:
Left New York in a N.W.'ly snow blizzard temp 14°F. Only 30 out of 40 ships sailing.
Fair weather HOMP to WESTOMP without fog.
Dec. 27 - North wind freshened during night to N.E.'ly gale which lasts 4 days. Average speed under 5 knots. On the evening of 27th just after dusk escort passed CONNAV 1725/Z/27 to ? (meet?) at 2005/Z/27. This altered route 20° to port and as ships could not be warned previously and R.V.'s were thrown out resulted in 2 and my only stragglers.
Saturday Jan. 2, 59 05N 32 31W P.M. - Easterly gale reducing speed to 3 1/2 knots on 4th January and very strong easterly wind with rough sea. Continues to P.M. 7th January av. speed under 5 knots.
P.M. Jan. 7, 12°W - approaching N.W. approaches a full easterly gale again catches us.
The barometer during whole passage was never below 29.60 and up as high 30.18.

Escorts:
From New York to Halifax (HOMP - Dec. 24) - Warwick and 6 corvettes
From HOMP to WESTOMP (Dec. 27) - Warwick and 2 corvettes/also 2 other
From WESTOMP to 7°W (except for Beverly and Winchelsea who had to proceed to Iceland for fuel) - Beverly, Winchelsea and 5 corvettes.
Also, HMS Battler.

Air Escort: From New York up to Dec. 27 (48 25N 49 30W) only. No Iceland or Home Based aircraft seen.

Related external links:
Liberty Ships - Some of the ships listed as American in this convoy were Liberty Ships, this website has an alphabetical list of them.
Fort Ships of WW II - Alphabetical list (a warning: pop-ups).

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