Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (Advance Sailing Telegram and A 1 form) - 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.

For info, some of the ships in this convoy had previously arrived the U.S. with the westbound Convoy ON 181.

Notes:
Commodore M. J. D. Mayall R.N.R. was in Tortuguero, Vice Commodore was W. E. Coates in Tyndareus.

Commodore Mayall had also acted as Commodore for the westbound Convoy ONS 6, which had departed Liverpool on Apr. 29 and arrived Halifax without losses on May 18.

The tug Eminent is listed in station 76 on the A 1 form, and Air Craft carrier Biter is listed in station 84, moved to 83, replacing Pandorian (moved to 116).

The convoy had 65 ships.

The Rescue Vessel Dewsbury was on her 9th voyage as such, having started this voyage at Clyde with the westbound Convoy ON 183 on May 10-1943, to Halifax May 23, then returning from Halifax with HX 242 to Clyde, June 2-June 15.

From the Commodore's notes:
Oregon Express returned to New York with engine defects at 10:00Z on June 1, 40 03N 69 52W.
Nicania (Naticina?) was sent to St. John's at 23:30Z, June 5, 44 58N 48 42W, after striking an iceberg.
Orwell "drops her speed very quickly in moderate head seas and could not maintain speed of convoy. The latter was reduced to enable her to keep up. The Master was doubtful about maintaining convoy speed before departure. Consider this ship should not be included in fast convoys".

Station keeping was good, usually a little outside 4 cables apart in columns.
Signalling was "satisfactory".

The ships in the Halifax section joined at various times during low visibility between HOMP and WESTOMP on June 3, 4 and 5.

Narrative:
Fog was experienced from New York to WESTOMP. The Halifax portion "apparently straggled and joined up in odd numbers at various points and times - it was difficult to know which ships had joined or when they joined, speed of convoy was considerably reduced to enable contact to be made. On the evening of 5th June, during fog, icebergs were encountered at 20:30 (23:30Z) in 44 58N 48 42W, S/S Nicania (No. 112) and S/S John A. Brown (the Commodore says she was in station. 114, but is listed in 113 on the A 1 form) both struck a berg - Nicania was severely damaged and had to be sent to St. John's, N.F. and John A. Brown, though slightly holed, was able to carry on the voyage. Shortly after this accident the visibility slightly improved; numerous bergs were reported ahead by escorts, and speed was reduced to steerage way for the remainder of the night; although numerous bergs were encountered they were all avoided" (the rest of the Commodore's narrative is missing).

Escorts:
HMS Montgomery (S.O.), HMCS Fennel, Nanaimo, Noranda, Lacline(?).
Fennel, Nanaimo and Noranda were relieved at 20:00Z on June 3, in 42 23N 59 20W by
St. Albans, Trail and Timmins.
Woodstock, Kitchener and Port Arthur joined at 15:00 on June 4 in approx. 43 25N 55 10W.
Tug Eminent and trawler Grenadier joined about 15:00Z June 5 in 44 40N 50 20W.
The local (coastal) escorts were relieved at 19:30Z on June 6 in 45 53N 45 40W by
Ocean Escort: Itchen (S.O.), St Laurent, St. Francis, Burwell, Agassiz, Sackville and Galt.
Support Group joining at 09:00Z June 9 in 53 04N 40 43W: Biter (aircraft carrier), Jed, Spey, Wear and Pelican - parted company at 01:00Z June 12 in 56 31N 26 51W.

All the Norwegian ships sailing in this convoy are listed on this website - see alphabet index below.

Related external links:
Liberty Ships - Some of the ships listed as American in the table above were Liberty ships. This website lists them alphabetically.
This site has more on the the "Fort", "Ocean" and "Park" ships mentioned in this convoy.
Empire Ships listed in alphabetical order. The site also has a section listing the Liberty ships.

Back to Convoy Index