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CONVOY HX 89
as rearranged according to altered stations Nov. 23-1940

(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 89 Cruising Order
Departed Halifax on Nov. 17-1940 and arrived Liverpool on Dec. 1 (Arnold Hague also says 30 ships).
Received, with thanks, from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

Several other ships appear to have been scheduled for this convoy, but did not sail - some of them are named on my page for Convoy HX 90 (see the column for "remarks").

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Sw=Swedish, Gre=Greek, Du=Dutch, Po=Polish

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
Lappland
London
(Sw)
21
Ashworth
London
(Br)
31
Vimeira
Oban
(Br)
41
Cordelia
Clyde
(Br)
51
Colonial
Liverpool
(Br)
61
Cliona
Manchester
(Br)
71
Athelviscount
Liverpool
(Br)
81
Ensis
Manchester
(Br)
91
Redgate *
Milford Haven
(Br)
12
Annavore
London
(Norw)
22
Empire Eagle
London
(Br)
32
Olaf Bergh
Oban
(Norw)
42
Pacific Shipper
Glasgow
(Br)
52
Charles Racine
Liverpool
(Norw)
62
Asbjørn
Liverpool
(Da/Ca 1940)
72
Ørnefjell
Manchester
(Norw)
82
Bur
Birkenhead
(Norw)
92
Mount Kassion *
Barry Roads
(Gr)
13
Prins Willem III
Oban
(Du)
23
Granicos
Gravesend
(Gr)
33
Barrwhin
Oban
(Br)
43
Lechistan
Ardrossan
(Po)
53
Troubadour
Glasgow
(Norw)
63
Margarita Chandri
Liverpool
(Gr)
73
Nestos *
Garston
(Gr)
83
Lord Byron
Belfast
(Br)
93
Boreas
Barry Roads
(Norw)
14 24
Llanashe?
Oban
(Br)
34
Barberrys
Oban
(Br)
44
Mount Rhodope *
Glasgow
(Gr)
54 64 74 84 94
According to the ntoes for the slow Convoy SC 13, Aurillac, sailing in that convoy, had come from HX 89.


Notes:
Commodore A. J.(?) Robertson was in Colonial, Vice Commodore was Captain N. R. Caird of Vimeira.

Commodore says:
"Later, I ordered Barrwhin & Barberrys to exchange stations owing to the bad station keeping of the former; and Charles Racine to exchange station with Troubadour at the request of the former who had difficulty in steering."

The convoy had 30 ships (12 from Halifax, 18 joining from Sydney, C.B. at 11:00 on Nov. 19) - 29 remained at rendezvous with local escort, Empire Eagle having had engine breakdown and dropped astern at 14:00 on Nov. 27.

* See the notes for Convoy HX 87.

Commodore's comments on station keeping and signalling:
"Very bad at night, ships in rear of guides do not attempt to keep close station, being satisfied with half a mile instead of 2 cables. Some ships did not keep in touch at all even in clear weather. Visual signalling slow. No W/T signals made, reception satisfactory."

"Barrwhin made no attempt to keep station all through the voyage and is irksome to have in convoy, Lord Byron was little better in spite of having plenty of speed and she was very bad indeed at answering signals. Norwegian Troubadour was excellent both at signalling and station keeping and so good example to all other ships. S.S. Colonial is an unsuitable ship for a Commodore of convoy."

"Day signal lamp to work off ships mains cannot be used in some ships owing to the Voltage, suggest an Aldis lamp is necessary as well".

Ocean Escort: HMS Cormorin from Halifax until about 19:00 on Nov. 27, parting company in 55 20N 22 12W.
Local Escorts: HMCS Columbia and HMCS St. Francis from Halifax to 44 40N 58 52W at 18:00 on Nov. 18.
Met corvettes HMS Fleur de Lys and HMS Campanula in 50N 19W at noon on Nov. 28. HMS Periwinkle joined at 14:30.
HMS Warwick joined escort during the night of Nov. 29/30, and HMS Wild Swan and one corvette at 10:00 on Nov. 30.

RCAF Escort from Halifax during daylight hours on Nov. 17 and 18. Various aircraft with ? in vicinity of convoy after meeting local escort on Nov. 28 until arrival at Liverpool.

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

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To the next HX convoy in my list HX 90


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