Convoy ON 3 - warsailors.com

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CONVOY ON 3

Convoy ON 3 Cruising Order
Departed Liverpool on July 31-1941, dispersed on Aug. 14 (Arnold Hague gives 53 ships).

Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
The ships' destinations were obtained from a list of ships in Convoy ON 3 received from Don Kindell - His source: A. Hague's own research.
For info, some of these ships had previously arrived the U.K. with Convoy HX 134, some with HX 135, others with HX 136, and a few with HX 137 (Varanger is listed in HX 138).
After their voyage with ON 3, a few of them returned to the U.K. with the eastbound HX 147 on Aug. 29, others are listed in HX 148; see also HX 149 and SC 42 (Bretwalda).

(Only a few of these ships made it through the war).

L = Ships sailing from Liverpool
M = Ships sailing from Milford
G = Ships sailing from Gourock
A = Ships sailing from Aultbea
BEL = Ships joining from Belfast
C.A.M. = Catapult ship
P = Passenger(s)
Sp = Special cargo

Br=British, Du=Dutch, Bel=Belgian, Gr=Greek, Pa=Panamanian, Norw=Norwegian, Da=Danish, MOWT=Ministry of War Transport.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 (L?)
Empire Surf
Baltimore
(Br)

21 (BEL?)
Daltonhall
Halifax
(Br CAM)

31 (L) P + Sp
Pacific Grove
Halifax
(Br)

41 (L) P + Sp
Talthybius
Montreal
(Br)

51 (L) Sp
Manchester Trader
Montreal
(Br)

61 (L)
Leighton
(Br)
HMS Menesteus
(spares for
HMS Rodney)

71 (G) Sp
Modavia
Montreal
(Br)

81 (G)
Solarium
Curacao
(Br)

91 (BEL)
Empire Ronan?*
(Br)
British Consul
Curacao
(Br)

101
Antigone
New York
(Br)

12 (L)
Danby
St. John's, N.F.
(Br)

22 (L)
Athelvictor
New York
(Br)

32 (L) Sp
Mount Helmos
Trinidad
(Gr)

42 (L) P
Sourabaya
Halifax
(Br)

52 (L) P + Sp
Amakura
Georgetown
(Br)

62 (L)
British Integrity
New York
(Br)

72 (G)
Noreg
Curacao
(Norw)

82 (G)
British Hussar
Trinidad
(Br)

92 (G)
Stanwell
Hampton Roads
(Br)

102
Mount Pindus
New York
(Gr)

13 (L)
Lylepark
Philadelphia
(Br)

23 (L) P
Westland
New York
(Du)

33 (L) P + Sp
Jean Jadot
Montreal
(Bel)
43 (L) Sp
Greystoke Castle
Bermuda
(Br)
53 (M) P?
Pontfield
New York
(Br)
63 (G) Sp
Leerdam
New York
(Du)
73 (G)
Varanger
New York
(Norw)
83 (G) Sp
Capira
Trinidad
(Pa)
93 (G)
Tortuguero
New York
(Br)
103
Cape Corso
Philadelphia
(Br)

14 (M)
Norbryn
(Norw)
24 (M) Sp
Grey County
Montreal
(Norw)
34 (M)
Surrey
Trinidad
(Br)
44 (M)
British Resolution
New York
(Br)
54 (M) Sp?
O. A. Knudsen
New York
(Norw)
64 (G)
Winamac
New York
(Br)
74 (G) Sp
Nailsea Court
New York
(Br)
84 (G) Sp
Harpefjell
St. John's
(Norw)
94 (A)
Darina
New York
(Br)
104
Michael Jebsen
Montreal
(Da/MOWT 1940)

15 (M)
Hildur I
(Norw)
Harpasa
(Br)
25 (A)
Empire Sapphire
Halifax
(Br)
35 (M)
Nebraska
Trinidad
(Br)
45 (M)
Empire Silver
Curacao
(Br)
55 (M) Sp
Bristol City
New York
(Br)
65 (G)
Diloma
Curacao
(Br)
75 (G)
Toorak
New York
(via Loch Ewe)
(Br)
85 (G)
Dalhousie
Trinidad
(Br)
95 (G)
~~HMS Menesteus~~
Bretwalda
Father Point
(Br)
105
Manø
(Da/MOWT 1940)

16 26 36 46 56
Sovac
Philadelphia
(Br)
66
Scandia
(Br - ex Da)
76 86 96 106

* I can find no Empire Ronan at the website listing the Empire ships - see external link at the end of this page. However, there's an Empire Rowan. Also, there was a British Ronan, which is mentioned in connection with the next convoy.
Harpasa, Scandia and Manø joined from Iceland - See Notes below.

Also, the French Joseph Duhamel was in this convoy - detached to Iceland, see Notes.

Notes:
Commodore W. B. MacKenzie R.N.R. was in Manchester Trader, Vice Commodore was the captain of Pacific Grove, Rear Commodore in Modavia.

10 ships joined from Bristol Channel at 22:30 Aug. 31
12 ships joined from Loch Ewe at 17:00 Aug. 2.
HMS Menesteus joined with 13 ships from Clyde and 1 from Belfast at 12:00 on Aug. 1

The convoy had 52 ships + 3 joining from Iceland together with Western escort at 19:45 on Aug. 5, namely Harpasa, Scandia and Manø.

Average speed: 8 knots.

Ships leaving the convoy (incl stragglers):
Leighton has been crossed out from station 61, proceeded to Clyde for repairs at 12:50 on Aug. 1 in 55 12N 5 46W. Listed as sailing in the next convoy, ON 4.
Joseph Duhamel (not included in A 1 form) proceeded to Iceland at 04:00 on Aug. 5 in 61 13N 17 40W.
Manø was unable to maintain 6.5 knots against a moderate head wind and was ordered to proceed independently at 16:00 on Aug. 8 in 56 38N 45 30W.
Harpefjell broke away from convoy in fog at 11:00 on Aug. 11 in 51 20N 45 30W.
HMS Menesteus proceeded independently at 05:30 on Aug. 12 from 49 55N 47 53W.
Norwegian Hildur I has been crossed out from station 15, unable to maintain speed, reason unknown, but believed to be insufficient power to maintain 8 knots in smooth water. Missing in fog during the night of Aug. 3/4 in 60 10N 11 20W, night overcast.
Diloma, Solarium, and Bretwalda - missing during heavy fog previous 24 hrs approx. 48N 50W at 10:00 Aug. 13.
Harpasa - missing during night Aug. 6/7 in 58 20N 34 40W, night foggy.
Cape Corso - Missing during night Aug. 8/9 in 55N 39W, misty.
5 ships for Belle Isle parted company at 19:00 Aug. 11 in 50 43N 46 36W.
Danby for St. John's at 19:00 Aug. 12 in 48 30N 50W.

Station keeping was good, in spite of much fog, though Amakura was "a bad station keeper, frequently overrunning and then dropping up to a mile astern".
Visual and W/T signalling also good, especially Sourabaya's flag signalling.

Narrative of voyage:
Low visibility with frequent fog was experienced from Aug. 6-14, though Aug. 10 was clear, providing and opportunity to reorganize the convoy to avoid crossing courses at the dispersal point. Two errors in Convoy Sailing Orders became evident: The position COW was given to Clyde portion as 50N 38W instead of 54N 38W, and the Loch Ewe portion stated they had not received the call signs for groups of ships bound for Belle Isle, Saint John's, Cabot Strait etc. as given in Northern OB Convoy Route Instructions issued by NC.S. Mersey. Consequently ships could not be detached in groups.

28 ships were fitted with kites. Kites were flown from 09:00 Aug. 1 to 03:00 Aug. 2, and from 19:00 Aug. 2 to 22:00 Aug. 3. Talthybius reported she was unable to fly a kite unless wind was on starboard bow as only fitting was on port sampson post.

Commodore's suggestions for improvements:
The urgent desirability of Commodores' ships having Echo Sounding gear is stressed. There was fog in the North Minch. Leading the convoy without Echo Sounding would have been a hazardous performance. With it, there was little difficulty.
It is suggested that, in order to decrease the amount of daily signalling necessary, the following be made "Standing Orders" unless contrary orders are signalled:
a) No lights whatever to be shown during the night
b) Columns to open out to 5 cables half an hour after sunset and to close again to 3 cables half an hour before sunrise.
c) If fog comes on during the night, close to 3 cables, switch on navigation lights, place light cluster over stern.

Escorts (as per Commodore's notes):
HMS Ascania joined at 18:00 on Aug. 5 in 61 25N 21 40W - parted company at 05:30 on Aug. 14 when convoy was dispersed.
HMS Douglas, Leamington, Skate, Veronica, St. Zeno, St. Elstan.
Columbia, Gladiolus, Mimosa, Nasturtium
Local escort parted company in 61 25N 22 05W (time and date illegible), western local escort having joined 1 hour before.

I've also received the following list and dates from Don Kindell, whose own work, covering "Royal & other Navies Day-by-Day in World War 2" can be viewed at this website:
July 31-Aug. 5: St. Elstan, Veronica.
Aug. 1-Aug. 5: Douglas, Leamington, Skate, St. Zeno.
Aug. 4-Aug. 13: Mimosa, Nasturtium.
Aug. 5-Aug. 8: Ascania (departure date different from Commodore's notes).
Aug. 5-Aug. 13: Columbia, Gladiolus.

Air escort: Throughout Aug. 3 and 4 and occasionally on Aug. 5.

All the Norwegian ships in this convoy are included on this website. More information on them can be found via the alphabet index below, or via the Master Ship Index.

Related external link:
Empire Ships - As will be seen, no Empire Ronan is listed under the R.'s.

Back to Convoy Index

To the next ON convoy in my list ON 4

Aa–Al	An–Ar	As–Av	Ba	Be	Bi–Bl	Bo	Br–Bu	C	D
E	F	G	Ha	He	Hi–Hy	Hø	I	J	K
L	M	N	O	PQ	R	Sa–Sc	Se–Sj	Sk–Sn	So
Sp–St	Su–Sø	Ta–Te	Th–Ti	To	Tr–Tø	U	V	W	Ø

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Convoy ON 3 Cruising Order Departed Liverpool on July 31-1941, dispersed on Aug. 14 (Arnold Hague gives 53 ships).
Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths - His source: Public Records Office, Kew. The ships' destinations were obtained from a list of ships in Convoy ON 3 received from Don Kindell - His source: A. Hague's own research. For info, some of these ships had previously arrived the U.K. with Convoy HX 134, some with HX 135, others with HX 136, and a few with HX 137 (Varanger is listed in HX 138). After their voyage with ON 3, a few of them returned to the U.K. with the eastbound HX 147 on Aug. 29, others are listed in HX 148; see also HX 149 and SC 42 (Bretwalda). (Only a few of these ships made it through the war). L = Ships sailing from Liverpool M = Ships sailing from Milford G = Ships sailing from Gourock A = Ships sailing from Aultbea BEL = Ships joining from Belfast C.A.M. = Catapult ship P = Passenger(s) Sp = Special cargo Br=British, Du=Dutch, Bel=Belgian, Gr=Greek, Pa=Panamanian, Norw=Norwegian, Da=Danish, MOWT=Ministry of War Transport.
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11 (L?) Empire Surf Baltimore (Br)	21 (BEL?) Daltonhall Halifax (Br CAM)	31 (L) P + Sp Pacific Grove Halifax (Br)	41 (L) P + Sp Talthybius Montreal (Br)	51 (L) Sp Manchester Trader Montreal (Br)	61 (L) Leighton (Br) HMS Menesteus (spares for HMS Rodney)	71 (G) Sp Modavia Montreal (Br)	81 (G) Solarium Curacao (Br)	91 (BEL) Empire Ronan?* (Br) British Consul Curacao (Br)	101 Antigone New York (Br)
12 (L) Danby St. John's, N.F. (Br)	22 (L) Athelvictor New York (Br)	32 (L) Sp Mount Helmos Trinidad (Gr)	42 (L) P Sourabaya Halifax (Br)	52 (L) P + Sp Amakura Georgetown (Br)	62 (L) British Integrity New York (Br)	72 (G) Noreg Curacao (Norw)	82 (G) British Hussar Trinidad (Br)	92 (G) Stanwell Hampton Roads (Br)	102 Mount Pindus New York (Gr)
13 (L) Lylepark Philadelphia (Br)	23 (L) P Westland New York (Du)	33 (L) P + Sp Jean Jadot Montreal (Bel)	43 (L) Sp Greystoke Castle Bermuda (Br)	53 (M) P? Pontfield New York (Br)	63 (G) Sp Leerdam New York (Du)	73 (G) Varanger New York (Norw)	83 (G) Sp Capira Trinidad (Pa)	93 (G) Tortuguero New York (Br)	103 Cape Corso Philadelphia (Br)
14 (M) Norbryn (Norw)	24 (M) Sp Grey County Montreal (Norw)	34 (M) Surrey Trinidad (Br)	44 (M) British Resolution New York (Br)	54 (M) Sp? O. A. Knudsen New York (Norw)	64 (G) Winamac New York (Br)	74 (G) Sp Nailsea Court New York (Br)	84 (G) Sp Harpefjell St. John's (Norw)	94 (A) Darina New York (Br)	104 Michael Jebsen Montreal (Da/MOWT 1940)
15 (M) Hildur I (Norw) Harpasa (Br)	25 (A) Empire Sapphire Halifax (Br)	35 (M) Nebraska Trinidad (Br)	45 (M) Empire Silver Curacao (Br)	55 (M) Sp Bristol City New York (Br)	65 (G) Diloma Curacao (Br)	75 (G) Toorak New York (via Loch Ewe) (Br)	85 (G) Dalhousie Trinidad (Br)	95 (G) ~~HMS Menesteus~~ Bretwalda Father Point (Br)	105 Manø (Da/MOWT 1940)
16	26	36	46	56 Sovac Philadelphia (Br)	66 Scandia (Br - ex Da)	76	86	96	106
* I can find no Empire Ronan at the website listing the Empire ships - see external link at the end of this page. However, there's an Empire Rowan. Also, there was a British Ronan, which is mentioned in connection with the next convoy. Harpasa, Scandia and Manø joined from Iceland - See Notes below. Also, the French Joseph Duhamel was in this convoy - detached to Iceland, see Notes.