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CONVOY HX 60
Cruising Order & Advance Sailing Telegram
(Will be updated - please compare with A. Hague's listing for this convoy at ships in all HX convoys. See also HX escorts).

Convoy HX 60 Cruising Order
Departed Halifax on July 23-1940 and arrived Liverpool on Aug. 7 (Arnold Hague says 60 ships).
Transcribed from A 1 form received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

Details on ships sunk and casualties have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"Lloyd's War Losses", Vol I,
and "The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan. (I've referred to the latter to help establish the nationalities of the ships).

Br=British, Du=Dutch, Norw=Norwegian, Am=American, Gr=Greek, Sw=Swedish, Pol=Polish, Yug=Yugoslavian, Pa=Panamanian flag.

† = dead

B = Ships joining from Bermuda.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
Beaverhill
general
London
(Br)
21
Maasdam
general
London
(Du)
31
British General
fuel oil
London
(Br)
41
Daphnella
benzine
Clyde
(Br)
51
Moveria
general
Glasgow
(Br)
61
Manchester Citizen
general
Manchester
(Br)
71
Bassano
general ev.
Liverpool
(Br)
81
Clumberhall
steel - lumber
Cardiff
(Br)
91
Empire Springbuck
scrap iron
Milford Haven
(Br)
12
Uganda
pit props
Methil
(Br)
22
Belcrest
grain
Methil
(Br)
32
Dalblair
grain
Methil
(Br)
42
Tafelberg
fuel oil
Clyde
(Br)
52
Ringstad
general
Glasgow
(Norw)
62
Dromore
general
Liverpool
(Br)
72
Geraldine Mary
newsprint
Manchester
sunk - 3
(Br)
82
King Idwal
pig iron
Milford Haven
(Br)
92
Bristol City
general ev.
Milford Haven
(Br)
13
King Alfred
pit props
Methil
sunk - 5 (7?)
(Br)
23
Llanishen
maize
Leith
(Br)
33
Loch Lomond
steel - lumber
Hull
(Br)
43
Andrea Brøvig
fuel oil
Clyde
(Norw)
53
Margarita Chandri
grain
Glasgow
(Gr)
63
Manchester Exporter
general
Liverpool
(Br)
73
San Marcos
general ev.
Liverpool
(Am / Br)
83
Nestos
scrap iron
Milford Haven
(Gr)
93
W. Hendrik
iron ore
Cardiff
(Br)
14
Saturnus
pulp wood
Methil
(Du)
24
Beatus
steel - pit props
West Hartlepool
(Br)
34
Mabriton *
steel - lumber
West Hartlepool
(Br)
44
Cape Nelson
Glasgow
(Br)
54
Olaf Bergh
scrap iron
Manchester
(Norw)
64
American Oriole
newsprint
Manchester
(Am / Br)
74
Porjus
pit props
Manchester
(Sw)
84
Erviken
steel
Swansea
(Norw)
94
Simonburn
wheat
Milford Haven
(Br)
A 14 *
Gogovale
flour
Methil
sunk - 3 (0?)
(Br)
A 24 *
Winterswijk
pit props
West Hartlepool
(Du)
A 34 *
Sea Giant
ballast
Glasgow
(Br)
A 44 *
Heron
ballast
Glasgow
(Br trawler)
A 54 *
San Felix
fuel oil
Liverpool
(Br)
A 64 *
Langleetarn
steel powder
Birkenhead
(Br)
A 74 *
Baron Minto
pig iron
Mersey
(Br)
A 84 *
Thala
iron ore
Newport
(Br)
A 94 *
Thornlea
grain
Belfast
(Br)
B 14 B 24 B 34 B 44 B 54 *
Lewant
general
Manchester
(Pol)
B 64 *
Lyras
timber
Milford Haven
(Gr)
B 74 *
Papalemos
timber
Cardiff
(Gr)
B 84 *
Bilderdijk
general
Belfast
(Du)
B 94 *
Graigwen
grain
Belfast
(Br)
15 B
Catrine
metal - lumber
Methil
(Br)
25 B
Clea
diesel - fuel - gas oil
Methil
(Br)
35 B
Scottish Heather
Admiralty fuel
Invergordon
(Br)
45 B
Explorer
general
Manchester
(Br)
55 B
Amastra
fuel - diesel oil
Clyde
(Br)
65 B
Rosewood
fuel oil
Clyde
(Br)
75 B
Indora
TNT - general
Liverpool
(Br)
85 B
Custodian
general
Liverpool
(Br)
95
16 B
Athelviscount
Admiralty fuel
Scapa
(Br)
26 B
Anglo Peruvian
lumber - wheat
Methil
(Br)
36 B
Boka
general
Methil
(Yug/Pa 1940)
46 56 B
Solfonn
fuel - diesel oil
Clyde
(Norw)
66 B
Dalfonn
Admiralty fuel
Clyde
(Norw)
76 B
Davila
diesel - fuel oil
Milford Haven
(Br)
86 B
El Mirlo
gasoline - crude oil
Manchester
(Br)
96
* Mabriton is crossed out, but it looks like she did join for a while; according to the Commodore's notes for HX 60 she became a straggler (shows up again in the next convoy, HX 61).

* 2 rows have been inserted into this form (row 5 and 6). Instead of the usual station numbers, the ships in the 5th row have been given pendants like A 14 for Gogovale, A 24 for Winterswijk, A 34 for Sea Giant and so on. Similarly it shows B 14, B 24 etc. for the 6th row. I've chosen to number the stations exactly as the form shows. (Usually, the A numbers denote ships joining from Sydney, C.B., and B numbers ships from Bermuda, however, the AST lists all these ships in the Halifax portion).

I have 2 different copies of this convoy form, one of them has ships that are not included on the other (Cape Nelson, Athelviscount, and El Mirlo). Also, on one of the forms it looks like Clumberhall and Geraldine Mary have swapped stations (there are arrows from one to the other).

Ocean Escort and Commodore for Convoy BHX 60 (Bermuda portion) was HMS Alaunia, sailing between columns 4 and 5.


Advance Sailing Telegram

Transcribed from several documents received from Tony Cooper - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Destination
Remarks
Halifax section
Heron
British
ballast (trawler)
Glasgow
From HX 59
"Not at rendezvous"
(See Notes)
Mabriton
"
steel - lumber
West Hartlepool
From HX 59
See Notes
Listed in HX 61
San Marcos
American / MOWT 1940
general - special
Liverpool
(Became British Empire Ocelot)
From HX 59
Tolosa
"
pig iron
Glasgow
(Became Br. Empire Dorado)
From HX 59
Joined HX 61 - returned
To HX 63 - did not sail
To HX 64 - did not sail
See also HX 65 & HX 66
(Sailed in HX 67)
Olaf Bergh
Norwegian
steel scrap
Manchester
From HX 59
Erviken
"
pig iron
Swansea
From HX 59
Listed in HX 61
Langleetarn
British
steel - general - special
Birkenhead
Margarita Chandri
Greek
grain
Liverpool
Beatus
British
steel - pit props
West Hartlepool
Geraldine Mary
"
paper
Manchester
Sunk - See Notes
Graigwen
"
grain
Belfast
Manchester Citizen
"
general
Manchester
Commodore Vessel
Manchester Exporter
"
general
Manchester
See also HX 53
Moveria
"
general
Glasgow
Saturnus
Dutch
pulp wood
Rochester
Thornlea
British
grain
Belfast
Uganda
"
pit props
Hull
Baron Minto
"
pig iron
Glasgow
Belcrest
"
grain
Newcastle
Clumberhall
"
lumber - steel
Cardiff
Dalblair
"
grain
London
Dromore
"
general
Manchester
Empire Springbuck
"
pig iron
Birkenhead
Gogovale
"
flour
London
Sunk - See Notes
Loch Lomond
"
steel - lumber
Hull
Marionga
Greek
grain
Liverpool
Listed in HX 61
Nestos
"
scrap iron
Swansea
Listed in HX 61
San Felix
British
Tanker B
Liverpool
Sigyn
Swedish
pit props
Sunderland
See Notes
W. Hendrik
British
iron ore
Ardrossan
Troubadour
Norwegian
general
Belfast
Listed in HX 61
Bilderdijk
Dutch
general
Liverpool
Cape Nelson
British
steel - scrap iron
Ardrossan
Leikanger
Norwegian
steel
Hull
Listed in HX 61
Llanishen
British
grain
Leith
Lyras
Greek
grain
Avonmouth
Istok
Yugoslavian
pig iron
Swansea
(Does not show up again on this site until HX 74)
Ringstad
Norwegian
general
Glasgow
From HX 59
American Oriole
American / MOWT 1940
newsprint
Mersey
(Became British Barberrys)
From HX 59
King Idwal
British
pig iron
Swansea
From HX 59
Thala
"
iron ore
Newport
Baron Pentland
"
lumber
Grimsby
Listed in HX 61
Porjus
Swedish
pulp wood
Manchester
(See Notes)
Beaverhill
British
general
London
Winterswijk
Dutch
pit props
West Hartlepool
Listed in HX 61
Tafelberg
British
Adm. tanker
Clyde
Simonburn
"
wheat
Avonmouth
King Alfred
"
pit props
West Hartlepool
Sunk - See Notes
Carras
Greek
grain
Liverpool
Listed in HX 61
Patia
British
general
Liverpool
Listed in HX 61
Bristol City
"
general
Milford Haven
Listed in HX 61
Bassano
"
aircraft - trucks - steel
Clyde / Hull
The following ships appear on a separate document, with no mention of which section they belong to - note, however, that one of these belongs in the Bermuda portion, denoted with a B
Sea Giant
British
tug
Glasgow
"Not at rendezvous"
(See Notes)
(See also HX 56)
Amastra
"
Tanker B
Grangemouth
B
Maasdam
Dutch
general
London
British General
British
Tanker B
London
Vice Commodore
See also HX 54
Daphnella
"
Tanker W
London
From HX 59
Andrea Brøvig
Norwegian
Tanker B
Clyde
See also HX 53
Lewant
Polish
general
Manchester
(See Notes)
Papalemos
Greek
timber
Cardiff
"Not at rendezvous"
(See Notes)
Joining from Bermuda - Sailed July 22
Anglo Peruvian
British
lumber - wheat
London
From HX 59
Arletta
"
Tanker W
Listed in HX 63
Athelviscount
"
Adm. tanker B
Clyde
Bello
Norwegian
Tanker B
Avonmouth
Boka
Yugoslavian / Panamanian 1940
general
London
Botwey
British
sulphur

Manchester

Listed in HX 61
Catrine
"
metal - lumber
Grimsby
Chesapeake
"
Tanker W
Clyde f. o.
From HX 59
See also HX 64
Clea
"
Tanker B
London
Custodian
"
cotton - general - explosives
Liverpool
From HX 59
Dalfonn
Norwegian
Adm. tanker B
Liverpool
From HX 59
Davila
British
Tanker B
Avonmouth
El Mirlo
"
Tanker B
Manchester
Explorer
"
steel - cotton
Manchester
Hannington Court
"
lumber - lead - wheat
Sunderland
Listed in HX 61
Harpoon
American / MOWT 1940
lumber
Tyne
From HX 59
(Became Br. Empire Tarpon)
See also HX 65
(listed in SC 2)
Indora
British
steel - general - explosives
Liverpool
Lunula
"
Tanker W
"To be sent to Halifax to await orders"
Listed in HX 63
Maja
"
Tanker B
Jarrow
Listed in HX 61
Narragansett
"
Tanker W
"To be sent to Halifax to await orders"
Listed in HX 69
Prince de Liege
Belgian / MOWT 1940
general
London
To HX 61 - did not sail
Listed in HX 62
Rosewood
British
Adm. tanker B
Scapa
From HX 59
Scottish Heather
"
Adm. tanker B
Invergordon
Solfonn
Norwegian
Tanker B
Clyde to lay up
Sveve
"
Tanker B
"To be sent to Halifax to await orders"
To HX 62 - lost touch
To HX 63
("To be held at Halifax to await orders")
Sailed in HX 68
Wellington Court
British
lumber - grain
London
To HX 61 - did not sail
Listed in HX 62
Again, note that Amastra also joined with the Bermuda portion - see A 1 form above.


Notes:
Commodore, Vice Admiral R. A. Hornell was in Manchester Citizen, Vice Commodore, Vice Admiral Austin was in British General, and Rear Commodore in Explorer (from the Bermuda section).

The Commodore says the convoy had 59 ships, 54 of which were still present at rendezvous with local escort - however, there are more that 59 listed on the form.

Average speed: 8 knots.

Sea Giant (British salvage tug, ex USN Contocook 1940) and Heron were unable to maintain speed.
Papalemos, Mabriton, Porjus and Lewant became stragglers (the latter 2 rejoined at rendezvous) - time and position of departure unknown.

Commodore's comments on station keeping:
"Column leaders excellent. Dromore behind me particularly good. Bassano and Geraldine Mary very good indeed. Explorer Bermuda section excellent".

Visual and W/T signalling was poor with the exception of Bassano, Geraldine Mary, Dromore and Ringstad.

Skips sunk (number of casualties and survivors varies according to souce - numbers quoted below are from "Loyd's War Losses", Vol I):
King Alfred, on a voyage from St. John's to Methil with 6750 tons of pit props, was sunk by U 52 on Aug. 4 ("blown in two"). She had a crew of 39 - 5 of whom died.

Gogovale, on a voyage from Montreal for London with 6386 tons of flour, was also torpedoed by U 52 in this attack. She had a crew of 38 and 1 gunner - 2 crew and the gunner were lost. ("Drifting E.N.E. 2 knots. Tug unable to locate. Vessel presumed sunk").

Geraldine Mary, on a voyage from Botwood, N.F. to Manchester with 6112 tons of newsprint pulp and 494 tons of sulphite, was torpedoed by U 52 on Aug. 4. She had a crew of 46 and 5 passengers - 2 crew and 1 passengers were lost. Wreck sunk 1 3/4 - 2 hours after attack.

According to "Lloyd's War Losses", Vol 1, the Swedish Sigyn (crossed out on the Advance Sailing Telegram for HX 60) was on a voyage from Buctouche for Sunderland with 765 fathoms of pit props when she was sunk on Aug. 1-1940. She had a crew of 23, all of whom were saved. This sinking is also mentioned by J. Rohwer, who lists U-59 as the culprit.

Ocean Escort: HMS Ausonia sailed with the convoy from Halifax until "Eastern R.V.".
Local escort joined at 05:45 GMT on Aug. 4.
Local Escort: Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Laurent, British destroyers HMS Fortune, HMS Vanoc, HMS Winchelsea, the sloop HMS Sandwich and 1 corvette (not named).

More details on all the Norwegian ships named in this table can be found in the alphabetical ship lists of this website.

Related external links:
The attack on King Alfred
The attack on Gogovale
The attack on Geraldine Mary

The attack on Sigyn

Back to Convoy Index

To the next HX convoy in my list HX 61


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