Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Fi=Finnish, Du=Dutch, Yug=Yugoslavian, Gr=Greek, Po=Polish, Am=American.
MOWT=Ministry of War Transport, RV=Rescue Vessel.

Average speed: 7 knots (daily positions of convoy at 08:00 are available on request via the contact address provided at the bottom of this page).

This was St. Sunniva's first and only voyage as Rescue Ship (requisitioned as a replacement for Zaafaran, which had been sunk in Convoy PQ 17 in July-1942). St. Sunniva was lost, not due to U-boat activities, but due to the horrendous weather endured by so many convoys that winter. She was last seen 2 days out of Halifax and was not heard of again according to "Convoy Rescue Ships" by Arnold Hague. He adds that she was believed to have iced up and capsized without warning, a theory supported by the state of another ship from the convoy which arrived Halifax the day before St. Sunniva's sighting with up to 10 ft thick ice in some parts.

It looks like the Norwegian Ragnhild may also have gone into Halifax on this occasion, because she shows up again in the westbound Convoy ON 160. This convoy had started out in Liverpool (for New York) on Jan. 11, but it looks like Ragnhild joined from Halifax on Febr. 1. Note that Cowrie and Solitaire also show up again in that convoy.

Unfortunately, Page 1 of the Commodore's report for ON 158 is extremely blurry, but I'm able to make out a few facts, as follows:
It looks like some ships were detached for the S. Atlantic - Algenib and one of the Empire ships, possibly Empire Whale, and (it looks like) Coulgorm, on Jan 17, and Ocean Hunter and Benreoch on the 19th.

Morska Wola and Bohemian Club are commended for good station keeping throughout.

Iron Baron and Innerton appear to have joined with Loch Ewe section.
Also, it looks like a Fort or possibly a Port ship (illegible, does not match any ship in table above) and a USS vessel joined convoy on Jan. 17, the former for Halifax, the latter for New York.

The Commodore says:
"Bad weather was experienced during most of the passage, with poor visibility, making it difficult to keep in visual contact with ships of convoy. Convoy straggled on numerous occasions. Jan. 19th to 22nd, when off Sable Island heavy westerly gale with high seas and heavy icing conditions. Empire Baxter lost two boats, two badly damaged and all life rafts smashed. W/T aerials, coloured lights and signal halliards brought down by weight of ice. Convoy became scattered, and having ordered Halifax section, by W.T. to proceed to Portland (Me) in accordance with my orders, arriving at that port on the morning of 24th January".

Stragglers Jan. 9:
Archangelos
Benvannoch - rejoined at 12:00 Jan. 10.
Benreoch - rejoined at 09:00 Jan. 10.
Allerton - rejoined 09:00 Jan. 10.
Lornaston - rejoined at 09:00 Jan. 11.
Elisabeth Dal - rejoined at 01:00 Jan. 11.
Ocean Hunter - rejoined at 11:00 Jan. 10.

Stragglers Jan. 15:
Baron Graham
Empire Pennant
Benvannoch
Benreoch - rejoined at 13:00 Jan. 18.
Winsum
Coulmore - rejoined at 13:00 Jan. 18.
Allerton
Sinnington Court - rejoined at 12:45 Jan. 18.
Empire Livingstone
Merton - rejoined at 13:45 Jan. 18.
Innerton
Framlington Court
Lornaston - rejoined at 13:30 Jan. 18.
Ocean Hunter - rejoined at 16:30 Jan. 18.
Iron Baron

Escorts:
Local: Narvik.
Ocean: HMS Churchill (S.O.), HMCS Restigouche, HMCS Amherst, HMCS Brandon, HMCS Collingwood, HMCS Sherbrooke.
Other escorts (St. John's and Halifax) are illegible.

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