Transcribed from several original documents received from Tony Cooper (Advance Sailing Telegram) - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
The station numbers, cargoes for the tankers and names of escorts have been extracted from documents recived from Don Kindell, based on the late Arnold Hague's database - see his listing for SC 57 at ships in all SC convoys.

Further details have been added with the help of:
"Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan
"Lloyd's War Losses", Vol. I.

Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined returned, except those that are linked, which will automatically be underlined.

See also the westbound ON convoys from this time period, starting with Sept.-1941.

MoWT = Ministry of War Transport

Additionally, the British Athelcrown, cargo of gas oil and dieso, and Teesbank, general cargo and 54 mails, joined this convoy, having become stragglers from Convoy HX 162.

Notes:
Commodore was in Kurdistan.

* Africander does not show up in any convoy to Russia in this time period - the only convoy she's listed in is PQ 18 almost a year later (sunk).

** Arena, 4673 gt, is listed as Panamanian in this sailing telegram, but as Irish in the sailing telegram for SC 58. A. Hague lists her as Irish (later renamed Irish Plane).

The Rescue Vessel Dewsbury was also with this convoy for a while. She was on her 1st voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde on Dec. 1-1941 with the westbound Convoy ON 42, detached Dec. 9 then returned to Clyde with Convoy SC 57, Dec. 9-Dec. 13. She picked up 2 survivors from Kirnwood on Dec. 10.

Ships sunk:
Star of Luxor, on a voyage from Philadelphia for Belfast and Liverpool with 7094 tons of general cargo and stores, including 1436 tons of base metal, was torpedoed and sunk on Dec. 10-1941 by U-130. She had a crew of 56, including 2 gunners - 4 died.

The same U-boat also torpedoed and sank Kurdistan that day. She was on a voyage from New York for Manchester with 4256 tons of foodstuffs, 2100 tons base metal, and 178 tons of textiles. 53 were on board, including the Commodore and his staff of 6, and 6 gunners. 7 crew, 2 Commodore's staff, and 1 gunner perished.

Additionally, U-130 torpedoed and sank Kirnwood, on a voyage from New York for Ipswich with 5500 tons of grain. She had a crew of 41 and 4 gunners - 12 crew died.

More details on these attacks are available via the external links provided below.

The convoy arrived rendezvous on Dec. 9.

A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of SC convoy escorts, received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Alisma - From 09/12/41 to 13/12/41
Arvida - From 30/11/41 to 09/12/41
Battleford - From 28/11/41 to 09/12/41
Fennel - From 30/11/41 to 01/12/41
Kamsack - From 28/11/41 to 30/11/41
Kingcup - From 09/12/41 to 13/12/41
Lady Elsa - From 09/12/41 to 13/12/41
Le Tigre - From 09/12/41 to 13/12/41
Nipigon - From 28/11/41 to 30/11/41
Ottawa - From 01/12/41 to 09/12/41
Polyanthus - From 30/11/41 to 09/12/41
Primrose - From 30/11/41 to 09/12/41
Sabre - From 10/12/41 to 13/12/41
Shawnigan - From 28/11/41 to 30/11/41
Sherbrooke - From 30/11/41 to 09/12/41
Skate - From 10/12/41 to 13/12/41
Sunflower - From 09/12/41 to 13/12/41
Trail - From 30/11/41 to 09/12/41

Related external links:
The attack on Star of Luxor
The attack on Kurdistan
The attack on Kirnwood

The Empire Ships - Provides more information on the Empire Ships sailing in this convoy.

Russian Convoy Series - PQ 7A and PQ 18 are included.

Back to Convoy Index