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CONVOY HX 234

See also Commodore's report on passage

Convoy HX 234 Cruising Order
Departed New York on Apr. 12-1943 and arrived Liverpool on the 29th (Arnold Hague gives 43 ships).
Received, with thanks, from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

Further details have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of WW II", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets". R. W. Jordan.

Note that some of the ships in this convoy had previously arrived in the U.S. with Convoy ON 170.

Br=British, Am=American (U.S.), Hon=Honduran flag, Pa=Panamanian, Norw=Norwegian, Du=Dutch,.
s=sunk, dam=damaged, † = dead
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
William Wilkins str
(Am)
21
Fort Nashwaak
(Br)
31
Silverguava
(Br)
41
Empire Bombardier
(Br)
51
Voco
(Br)
61
Laurits Swenson
(Norw)
71
Edam
(Du)
81
Robert Gray
str
s - 62†
(Am)
91
Mathura
(Br)
101
Steel Traveler
(Am)
12
Lucius Q.C. Lamar str
(Am)
22
Cliona
(Br)
32
Empire Viscount
(Br)
42
British Harmony
(Br)
52
Esso Nashville
(Am)
62
72
Empire Jet
(Br)
82
Cefalu
(Am/Hon)
92
D.L. Harper *
(Br)
102
Silvermaple
dam - 0†
(Br)
13
George W. Campbell
(Am)
23
John Cabot
(Am)
 33
Dageid
(Norw)		 43
Stephen A. Douglas **
(Am)		 53
Gefion
(Norw)		 63 73
Gallia
(Norw)		 83
Drupa
(Br)		 93
Carrillo
(Am)		 103
Schoharie
(Am)
14 24 34
Fort Meductic
(Br)		 44 54
Samuel Bakke
(Norw)		 64 74
Thorshov
(Norw)		 84
British Courage
(Br)		 94 104
str = straggled night of Apr. 12/13 (William Wilkins and Lucius Q.C. Lamar are listed in next convoy, HX 235).
* = returned to New York with engine trouble at 11:15 Apr. 13, 40 15N 58 49W. Listed in SC 128, Apr. 25.
** = sent into Halifax with hull damage at 22:30 on Apr. 14, 42 15N 64 10W
Reported being hit by "dead torpedo", damage to No. 1 tank, No. 2 hold and cracked engine column. Proceeded to Halifax
(there's no mention of a U-boat attack on this ship in Rohwer's book). Joined HX 237, returned St. John's, sailed in HX 238.

Cruising Order as per Apr. 15
Halifax section joined at H.O.M.P. (Halifax Ocean Meeting Point) - 43 16N 50 48W - at 14:00 on Apr. 15.
Newfoundland section joined at 11:00 on Apr. 17 in 44 46N 49 30W.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
11
George W. Campbell
(Am)
21
Fort Nashwaak
(Br)
31
Silverguava
(Br)
41
Empire Bombardier
(Br)
51
Voco
(Br)
61
Laurits Swenson
(Norw)
71
Edam
(Du)
81
Cefalu
(Am/Hon)
91
Mathura
(Br)
101
Steel Traveler
(Am)
 111
Gerard Douido **
(Du)
12
Empire Cato **
(Br)
22
Cliona
(Br)
32
Empire Viscount
(Br)
42
British Harmony
(Br)
52
Esso Nashville
(Am)
62
Mosli **
(Norw)
72
Empire Jet
(Br)
82
Drupa
(Br)
92
Carrillo
(Am)
102
Silvermaple
dam - 0†
(Br)
 112
Eastern City **
(Br)
13
Fort Chipewyan ** - str.
(Br)
23
John Cabot
(Am)
 33
Dageid
(Norw)		 43
Fort Meductic
(Br)		 53
Gefion
(Norw)		 63 73
Gallia
(Norw)		 83
British Courage
(Br)		 93
Meerkerk **
(Du)		 103
Schoharie
(Am)		 113
14
Fort Walsh * - str.
(Br)		 24
Empire Day **
(Br)		 34
Idefjord **
(Norw)		 44
Bayano **
(Br)		 54
Samuel Bakke
(Norw)		 64
Corner Brook *
(Br)		 74
Thorshov
(Norw)		 84
Pachesham **
(Br)		 94 104
Audacious **
(Pa)		 114
15 25 35 45 55 65 75
Amerika **
s - 86†
(Br)		 85
Washington Express **
(Norw)		 95 105 115
* = Joined from Newfoundland
** = Joined from Halifax (Mosli had straggled from the previous convoy).
str. = Straggled (Fort Walsh during night of Apr. 21/22, Fort Chipewyan during night of Apr. 24/25).


Notes:
Additionally, it looks like Tetela and Derwenthall were scheduled for this convoy, but did not sail. There's a note next to these ships in the Advance Sailing Telegram for Convoy HX 235, saying "ex HX 234".

Robert Gray was sunk by U-108 on Apr. 19 - there were no survivors.
Amerika, originally Danish, sailing under The Ministry of War Transport from May-1940, was sunk by U-306 at 01:00 on Apr. 22, 57 30N 42 45W (time and position according to Commodore's report) - 86 died, incl. 37 passengers, 54 survived.
Silvermaple was damaged by U-306 on Apr. 23 - there were no casualties. (See report on Page 2)

Commodore E. C. Denison was in Laurits Swenson. The Commodore says: "The most efficient ship yet encountered and eminently suitable for Commodore's ship. The Master is a very fine type and his officers and crew keen and capable".
Vice Commodore H. E. Macgregor was in Mathura, and Rear Commodore was in Silverguava.

Average speed: 8.7 knots.

According to the Commodore's notes, the Convoy had 22 ships upon departure New York, 15 joined from Halifax and 2 from St. John's. 39 ships were present at splitting point at 08:00 on Apr. 26, in 58 07N 18 35W.

Escort Vessels - New York to West H.O.M.P. (45 26N 47 00W): HMCS Sudbury, HMCS Kamloops, HMCS Shawinigan (spelt Shawingan in the report, I'm guessing this was the corvette Shawinigan).
Escort - H.O.M.P (43 16N 60 48W) to West H.O.M.P.: HMCS Regina, HMCS Transcona.
HMCS Rosthern joined at 02:00 Apr. 17 in 44 46N 49 30W with 2 N.F. ships and remained to splitting position 58 07N 18 35W at 08:00 Apr. 26.
HMS Highlander, HMS Anemone (referred to throughout these reports as Anenome - I'm assuming this is the corvette Anemone), HMS Abelia, HMS Pennywort, HMS Clover and HMS Asphodel joined at 08:30 Apr. 18 at West H.O.M.P. and remained to splitting position.
HMS Vimy joined at 11:30 Apr. 21 in 56 54N 46 10W and remained to splitting position.

Striking Force: HMS Faulknor, HMS Inglefield, HMS Eclipse, HMS Onslaught and HMS Oribi joined at 09:30 Apr. 25 in 58 52N 24 25W and remained to U.K.
AC Splitting Position: Vimy and Asphodel proceeded with fast portion, remainder stayed with slow portion.

Fast portion: Laurits Swenson, Bayano, Esso Nashville, Cefalu, Washington Express and Meerkerk - Proceeded at 12 1/2 knots escorted by Vimy and Asphodel.

Commodore's Comments:
Station keeping - Good except for Voco, Cefalu, Amerika, Empire Cato, George W. Campbell, Pacheshan and Fort Meductic who were bad. Edam, Drupa, Silverguava, Mosli, Corner Brook particularly good.
Signalling - Good, except for Schoharie, Steel Traveler and Audacious. George W. Campbell (guide of No. 1 column) refused to repeat flag signals although twice ordered to do so. Edam good at flag signalling but unable to communicate by lamp.

Gerard Douido with a declared speed of 11 1/2 knots reported that she could only do 9 1/2 knots.
Gallia with a declared speed of 13 knots reported she could only do 12 knots.

Smoke: Voco, Fort Chipewyan, Fort Meductic, Pachesham all smoked badly. Voco was particularly bad. Despite numerous signals and appeals these ships continued to pour out black smoke, even when convoy was being shadowed and it was known submarine attack was imminent.

Related external links:
Liberty Ships - George W. Campbell, John Cabot, William Wilkins, Robert Gray, Lucius Q C Lamar, and Stephen A Douglas were Liberty ships and are listed on this site.
Empire Ships - Includes the Empire ships listed in this convoy.
Fort Ships - Lists the Fort ships sailing in this convoy.

Continue to Commodore's report on the passage

To the next HX convoy in my list HX 235

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