As can be seen, some ships rendezvoused with the convoy at Loch Ewe on March 27 (at 14:30), others joined later in Reykjavik.

The ships denoted * are the ships listed as leaving Hvalfjord on Apr. 8-1942 in Vice Commodore's narrative (see Page 2). All of them had Murmansk as their destination.

Underlined ships returned to Iceland due to dense fog and heavy pack ice, some joining QP 10 to do so. This convoy had sailed from the Kola Inlet on Apr. 10-1942, originally with 16 ships, the 6 ships from PQ 14 joining it en route.

"Convoys to Russia" also lists the following 2 ships as sailing from Reykjavik with PQ 14 on Apr. 8:
El Mirlo (Br)
Aldersdale (Br) - Escort Oiler. There's no merchant ship by this name mentioned in the docs from the PRO, but there's an HMS Aldersdale.

UR 18 (Loch Ewe-Reykjavik, later Belfast-Reykjavik) left on Apr. 3. Escorts: Sardonyx (S.O.), Saladin, Newmarket, Pirouette, Gavotte, Hugh Walpole. Split into 2 portions - see messages below.

For a list of ships in PQ 16, see this Forum entry, as well as the last external link at the end of this text.

Message from C.-in-C. Western Approaches to the Admiralty dated Apr. 2 states in part:
"Propose ordering Bulldog from QP 9, Newmarket from UR 18, Amazon, Volunteer to assemble Seidisfjord Apr. 8th. Suggest these ships be sailed to overtake PQ 14 to ensure their escort in later part of voyage."

Message from C.-in-C. Western Approaches to Sardonyx, dated Apr. 3 (re Convoy UR 18):
"When escorts have joined convoy is to split. Ships for PQ 14 are to proceed ahead escorted by 2 destroyers and one trawler. This portion will be known as UR 18 Fast. Code word "Silent". Escorts detailed for each portion to be reported."

Reply from Sardonyx dated Apr. 3:
"Sardonyx, Newmarket, Hugh Walpole detailed for UR 18 Fast.
Saladin, Gavotte, Pirouette detailed for UR 18."

Message from N.C.S.O. Loch Ewe, dated Apr. 3:
"UR 18 Paltry sailed 17:04A/3.
9 + Botavon, Yaka, Winona for N. Russia.
Fast portion - Commodore Master S.S. Botavon. Vice Commodore Master S.S. Cape Corso.
Escorts: Sardonyx, Newmarket, Hugh Walpole.
Slow portion - Commodore Master S.S. Horsa.
Saladin, Gavotte, Pirouette." (escorts).

Message from N.C.S.O. Loch Ewe, dated Apr. 3:
"UR 18 sailed to join PQ 14 - Botavon, Yaka, Winona, Pieter de Hoogh, Cape Corso, British Corporal."

A message from Admiralty to C.-in-C. Home Fleet, dated Apr. 6 states:
"The following ships for North Russia sailed in fast portion of UR 18 - Botavon, Yaka, Winona, Pieter de Hoogh, Cape Corso, British Corporal. Following is repetition of relative portion of A.M. 2115A/2 not to C.-in-C. Home Fleet - 'Ships for North Russia in UR 18 should be given sufficient instructions to enable them to proceed with PQ 14 without putting in to Reykjavik. Masters should be warned that if approaching Reykjavik A.M. 7th April they may receive instructions to rendezvous PQ 14 at sea'.
Above represents endeavour to avoid holding up these ships for approximately 14 days but it was not intended to requeset any delay in sailing PQ 14 from Iceland on this account. If these ships are not sailed with PQ 14 number of ships for PQ 15 will be approximately 29."

Message from Sardonyx dated Apr. 6:
"UR 18 fast, position, course and speed at 18:00Z - 061° 16' 014° 11', 323°, 4 1/2 knots. Cape Corso, Pieter de Hoogh and Winona hove to in northerly gale in position 060° (47') 012° 25' at 12:00Z, Hugh Walpole standing by. Cape Corso requires to enter Reykjavik to secure tank. Newmarket being detached at 20:00Z."

Message from N.C.S.O. Reykjavik, dated Apr. 7:
"Following ships from RU 18 Fast arrived Reykjavik: Botavon, British Corporal, Yaka, 13:00B/7th April."

Message from N.C.S.O. Reykjavik, dated Apr. 9:
"Arrived Reykjavik UR 18 Slow, and Winona, Cape Corso, Pieter de Hoogh, 05:00B/8th April."

Message from N.O.I.C. Iceland (to Admiralty and others), dated Apr. 13:
"Empire Bard and Botavon arrived Akureyri. HMS Hebe damaged by ice proceeding Akureyri with HMS Aldersdale."

Message from N.O.I.C. Iceland to misc. recipients, dated Apr. 15:
"PQ 14. Following ships have returned to Iceland - Arcos, Sukhona, Seattle Spirit, Andre Marti, Exterminator, Pieter de Hoogh, Hegira, Botavon, Empire Bard, HMS Chiltern, HMS Duncton, HMS Speedy, HMS Hebe. Estimate convoy will be at least 24 hours late at M U."

Another message from N.O.I.C. Iceland, dated Apr. 16 (to Admiralty and others):
"Reykjavik arrivals HMS Newmarket escorting Botavon, Pieter de Hoogh, Exterminator, Hegira, Empire Bard, ex PQ 14."

Escorts (with the help of the documents received from Roger Griffiths as well as "Convoys to Russia 1941-1945"):

From Oban to Reykjavik:
Destroyers Ambuscade, Blyskawica, Bulldog and Richmond, and trawler Tango.

From Reykjavik Apr. 8 to Apr. 12:
Trawlers Chiltern and Northern Wave, destroyer Wilton, trawlers Lord Austin and Lord Middleton. Minesweepers Hebe and Speedy also joined on Apr. 8, but were forced to return with ice damage on Apr. 13 (12?). Hebe proceeded to Akureyri with HMS Aldersdale. Roger's doc also includes Duncton among escorts from Reykjavik.

Ocean Escort Apr. 12 to Apr. 19:
Destroyers Amazon, Beagle, Beverley and Bulldog, corvettes Campanula, Oxlip, Saxifrage and Snowflake, and trawlers Duncton, Lord Austin and Lord Middleton. Duncton and Lord Austin may have left on Apr. 13. Cruiser Norfolk provided cover in the Bear Island area. 2 Russian destroyers joined on Apr. 17 - not named.

Distant cover:
Battleships King George V and Duke of York, aircraft carrier Victorious, cruisers Nigeria and Kent, destroyers Bedouin, Belvoir, Escapade, Eskimo, Faulknor, Ledbury, Matchless, Middleton, Offa, Onslow, Somali and Wheatland.

"Convoys to Russia" states that cruiser HMS Edinburgh, destroyers Foresight and Forester were designated for the cover, but did not join.

Related external links:
Empire Howard - Uboat.net's info on her loss
Russian Convoys - PQ 14 is included.

Arctic Convoys main page

To Convoy Index