Cargoes have been extracted from a document received from D. Kindell, based on Arnold Hague's database. See his listing for SC 130 at Ships in all SC convoys.

Underlined ships returned to port, except those that are linked, which will automatically be underlined. The Norwegian Estrella, however, did return.

The diary shows the ships leaving from Halifax only. According to A. Hague, 2 later joined from St. John's, named below.

For info, some of the ships in this convoy are listed in the westbound Convoy ONS 11 in June-1943.

Br=British, Du=Dutch, Norw=Norwegian, Da=Danish, Ice=Icelandic, Am=American, Pan=Panamanian.
MoWT=Ministry of War Transport, RV=Rescue Vessel

**He has also included the Dutch Amstel, cargo of pulp, station 63, and the British Essex Lance, station 24, cargo of grain and flour. These ships are not mentioned in the diary.

Additionally, he has the American Joseph Warren (cargo of steel and general, fitted with AND) and Winona (cargo of phosphates) in this convoy, saying they joined from St. John's, N.F. (no station number is given). Note that they are both mentioned in the Advance Sailing Telegram for Convoy HX 237, with a note saying they put back to St. John's.

Estrella returned to port with engine defects - she's crossed out from the next convoy, then shows up again in Convoy SC 132, departing Halifax on May. 26, returned, joined SC 134. Tamaha, which returned to port from SC 130, is listed in SC 132.

Empire Melody and Cetus had been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 129. Olivebank is also listed in that convoy - cancelled(?).
Empire Tristram and Fjallfoss had been cancelled from the faster convoy, HX 238, May 7.
Fort Bedford had been cancelled from HX 237, Calmar from HX 236.

Zamalek (requisitioned in March-1940) was on her 19th voyage as Rescue Vessel, having started out at Clyde with the westbound Convoy ON 177 on Apr. 7 (to Halifax Apr. 21), returning with Convoy SC 130 from Halifax on May 11, to Clyde May 26. Her services as Rescue Vessel were not required in this convoy, but while in ON 177 she was sent to look for a lifeboat that had been sighted by aircraft, and found 7 survivors from the British Shillong which had been sunk from Convoy HX 231 on Apr. 5. These 7 were the only survivors left, 31 having died from exposure while in the lifeboat. ("Convoy Rescue Ships", Arnold Hague).

Escorts: Group B7, which had formed part of the escort for ONS 5. This group normally consisted of the destroyers Duncan (Commander Gretton) and Vidette, the frigate Tay, corvettes Sunflower, Snowflake, Loosestrife and Pink, as well as the rescue trawlers Northern Gem and Northern Spray, but Northern Gem was replaced by the Canadian corvette Kitchener for the voyage with SC 130.

A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of SC convoy escorts, also received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Duncan - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Jed - From 19/05/43 to 22/05/43
Kenora - From 11/05/43 to 15/05/43
Kitchener - From 11/05/43 to 19/05/43
Loosestrife - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Matapedia - From 11/05/43 to 15/05/43
Moncton - From 11/05/43 to 15/05/43
Niagara - From 11/05/43 to 15/05/43
Northern Flower - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Pink - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Sennen - From 19/05/43 to 22/05/43
Snowflake - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Spey - From 19/05/43 to 22/05/43
Sunflower - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Tay - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Vidette - From 15/05/43 to 25/05/43
Wear - From 19/05/43 to 22/05/43
(As can be seen, A. Hague has not included Northern Spray)

Related external link:
The Empire Ships - More info on the Empire Ships sailing in Convoy SC 130.

Back to Convoy Index