For info, several of the ships in this convoy had previously arrived the U.S. with Convoy ON 170.
Some later returned to the U.S. on Apr. 30 with Convoy ON 181.

Please note that some more ships are named in Notes below.

Br=British, Pan=Panamanian, Hon=Honduran, Gr=Greek, Sw=Swedish, Bel=Belgian, Am=American, Du=Dutch, Norw=Norwegian.
s=sunk, gen=general cargo, expl.=explosives, pass=passengers, gasol=gasoline, Adm=Admiralty, avi=aviation, kero=kerosine.

These Ships did not join (not included in above table):
*The American Esso Nashville, scheduled for station 91 (listed in next convoy, HX 234).
The British Empire Lightning.
The British Eastgate.

W. R. Keever (in station 121 in above table) returned to St. Johns as did Cape Howe (not included in table). Both are listed as sailing in Convoy HX 235.

These Ships became stragglers (stations are not given and therefore not included in table):
The Norwegian Mosli, cargo of Navy fuel - escort tanker - sailed in the next convoy, HX 234, ref. link below.
The British British Pride, cargo of aviation fuel.
The British Tudor Prince, cargo of general and explosives
The American Hannibal Hamlin, said to have been routed independently, however, she's listed in the Halifax section of HX 236, Apr. 26.

Fort Rampart, cargo of 1400 tons metal and 7300 tons lumber was sunk by U 628 and U 226 on Apr. 17-1943, 6 died - Stoker James Turnbull Douglas, Stoker Anthony Grimes, Stoker Thomas Hutchinson, Stoker Samuel Tait, Ordinary Seaman Gerard Lively, and Ordinary Seaman William Etherington Magee. 3 were injured - Able Seaman Ambrose H. Carr, Able Seaman Alexander Lengstone and Oiler Harry Mitchell. 49 survivors were picked up by Arvida, 3 men who were in need of medical attention were taken aboard Duane (this according to the website I've linked to below).

Lena Luchenbach had originally been in station 81, but having problems keeping her station, she was moved to the empty spot in station 105 (presumably because there would be fewer ships to collide with there). On Apr. 20, James Fenimore Cooper, originally in station 95, was moved to No. 102. Early that same morning, the 2 ships collided. (This seems rather odd to me, in that it would seem easier for the 2 to collide if they were sailing next to eachother in stations 95 and 105, than if one was in 102 and the other in 105, as was the case according to Haskell. The strange thing is, Haskell states on anotheer page that James Fenimore Cooper was in station 95 when the collision occurred, but says it happened on the night of Apr.-18). Lena Luchenbach was abandoned and the 63 crew picked up from lifeboats by the American M/S Lightning sailing nearby and taken to Liverpool. Lena Luchenbach was salvaged by the escorting corvette HMS Bergamot. Later beached at Kames Bay, repaired and returned to the U.S. in convoy ON 196 in August that year. Made another Atlantic crossing in HX 270, condemned on Aug. 4-1944 and sunk at Arromanches as part of the Gooseberry I breakwater. James Fenimore Cooper had also been damaged in the collision and was escorted to the River Clyde by HMCS Arvida, another escorting corvette.

Escorts:
The American Coast Guard cutters Spencer and Duane, Canadian destroyer Skeena, Canadian corvettes Wetaskiwin and Arvida, English corvettes Dianthus, Bergamot and Bryono.

Related external link:
Coast Guard Cutter Duane - has some details on HX 233, including attack on a U-boat, survivors picked up by Duane (as well as several other convoys escorted by this cutter).

NOTE: All the Norwegian ships listed in this convoy can be found on this website under their respective letters of the alphabet - see the alphabeat index below.

Back to Convoy Index