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CONVOY ON 157

Convoy ON 157 Cruising Order
Departed Liverpool at 13:00 on Dec. 27-1942 and arrived New York on Jan. 15-1943 (Arnold Hague says 31 ships).
Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships returned to Belfast.

For info, some of the ships in this convoy had previously arrived the U.K. with Convoy HX 217, others with Convoy HX 218
Note also that a few later returned to the U.K. in Jan.-1943 with HX 224 (Inverilen was sunk), HX 225 or HX 226.

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Am=American, Gr=Greek, Du-Dutch.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
11
Fernwood
(Norw)
21
Comanchee
(Br)
31
Dorcasia
(Br)
41
Gulfprince
(Am)
51
Inverilen
(Br)
61
Skiensfjord
(Norw)
 71
Schuylkill
(Br)		 81
British Gratitude
(Br)		 91
Corner Brook
Halifax
(Br)		 101
Erin
(Br)		 111
Mariso
(Du)		 121 *
Empire Plover
(Br)
12
Atenas
(Am)
22
San Andres
(Norw)
32
Stiklestad
(Norw)
42
Paul H. Harwood
(Am)
52
John A. Brown
(Br)
62
British Character
(Br)
 72
Svend Foyn
(Br)		 82
Polartank
(Norw)		 92
Saintonge
French / MOWT 1940		 102
Dromore
(Br)		 112
Norefjord
Halifax
(Norw)		 122 *
Peleus
(Gr)
13 *
Fort Camosun
(Br)
23
Mobilgas
(Am)
 33
Regent Panther
(Br)		 43 *
Magician
(Br)		 53
Polarsol
(Norw)		 63 *
Baarn
(Du)		 73 *
Debrett
(Br)		 83
Thorshøvdi
(Norw)		 93 *
Queen Anne
(Br)		 103 *
City of Exeter
(Br)		 113 *
Princesa
(Br)		 123 *
Algenib
(Du)
14 24 *
Harpagus
(Br)		 34 *
Fort Augustus
(Br)		 44
Norholm
(Norw)		 54
Noreg
(Norw)
oiler		 64 *
Berwickshire
(Br)		 74
Norvinn
(Pa / Norw mgrs)		 84
Acavus
(Br)		 94
Pan-Maine
(Am)		 104
Empire Marvell
(Br)		 114 *
Ocean Strength
(Br)		 124
Ships in stations denoted * were for West and South Africa and South American ports, and except for the 2 whose destination is given as Halifax, the remaining ships were bound for New York or other ports (5 were detached for Guantanamo - see Notes).

Algenib is listed in the next convoy, ON 158 (however, nationality is given as Swedish on the form).
Comanchee, Polarsol, John A. Brown and Svend Foyn are listed in ON 159.

Some of the ships in this convoy had been cancelled from previous convoys (see ON 155 and ON 153).

With some ships returning to port, others cancelling, this is what was left:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
Fernwood
21
San Andres
31
Dorcasia
41
Gulfprince
51
Inverilen
61
Skiensfjord
 71
Schuylkill		 81
British Gratitude		 91
Corner Brook
12
Atenas
22
Mobilgas
32
Stiklestad
42
Paul H. Harwood
52
Pan-Maine
62
British Character
 72
Saintonge		 82
Polartank		 92
Erin
13
Dromore
23
Mariso
 33
Regent Panther		 43
City of Exeter		 53
Acavus		 63
Empire Marvell		 73
Princesa		 83
Thorshøvdi		 93
Norefjord
14 24 34 44
Norholm		 54
Noreg		 64
Peleus		 74
Norvinn		 84 94


Notes:
Commodore T. H. Owen R.D. R.N.R. was in Skiensfjord (Captain K. E. Larsen Roppestad), Vice Commodore was the captain of Corner Brook for Halifax, Rear Commodore was the captain of Dorcasia for New York.
The Commodore says he finds Skiensfjord a "most suitable ship for the Commodore to be in. Her engine speeds are constant, and she is most efficiently run in all respects.

Average speed: 7.5 knots (daily positions of convoy are available on request via the contact address provided at the bottom of this page).

According to the Commodore's notes, there were 40 ships actually sailing in the convoy. The following detached in accordance with C. in C. W. A. message received at 10:29 on Dec. 29:
At 14:00 on Dec. 29 in 55 17N 11 14W - Fort Camosun, Magician, Fort Augustus, Harpagus, Berwickshire, Debrett, Queen Anne, Empire Plover and Baarn. Ocean Strength - not present. Joined P.M. Jan. 29, detached at 10:00 on Dec. 30 in 56 10N 16 10W.

During the night of Jan. 8/9-1943, in approx. 46 19N 49 00W, Empire Marvell fell out of Convoy - she's listed as joining Convoy ON 156 at 15:00 on Jan. 10-1943 in 43 46N 53 32W.

At 10:00 on Jan. 11 in 43 30N 59 15W, Corner Brook and Norefjord detached for Halifax.

Acavus, British Character, British Gratitude, Paul H. Harwood and Stiklestad detached for Guantanamo at 17:30 on Jan. 12 in 40 36N 65 13W.

Regent Panther (for N. News), and Dromore (for Norfolk) were ordered to detach at 23:00 on Jan. 14 in 39 50N 73 00W.

From the Commodore's notes:
British Character, Captain A. Wastell - "her station keeping and signalling were excellent".
Inverilen, Captain Mann - "kept very good station, and cooperated well in all possible ways".
Empire Marvell - "This ship was in her station at 20:00/8, but was not in sight at dawn 9th. As she is an 11 1/2 knot ship and convoy was steaming at 8 1/2 knots, I find it difficult to understand why she dropped out. She made no signals to either the escort or other ships".

Escorts:
Garland, Vimy, Orchis, Narcissus, Lobelia, Aconite, Roselys, Swale (assuming these were ocean escorts).

Garland joined at 11:15 on Dec. 29 in 56 16N 10 53 W.
Fennel, Dunvegan and Cowichan joined at 14:00 on Jan. 8-1943 in 45 48N 48 18W.
Annapolis joined at 16:45 on Jan. 9 in 45 00N 51 00W.
Chedabucto joined at 10:00 on Jan. 11 in 43 30N 59 15W.

Annapolis and Cowichan left at 10:00 on Jan. 11 in 43 30N 59 15W. Annapolis rejoined at 10:00 (time here makes no sense) on Jan. 11 in 43 31N 60 55W. Cowichan rejoined at 16:00 on Jan. 13 in 39 36N 67 36W. Annapolis left again at 07:20 on Jan. 12 in 41 53N 63 40W.

Garland, Orchis, Narcissus, Lobelia, Aconite and Roselys left at 14:00 on Jan. 8 in 45 48N 48 18W.
Swale left at 16:40 on Jan. 9 in 45 00N 51 00W.

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