Convoy JW.53B

[Jordi Comas]

Hi all,

Anyone knows which 3 ships formed convoy JW.53B?
They departed from Loch Ewe on 16 February 1943 but returned due to bad weather.

Candidates: James Bowie, John Laurence, Joseph E. Johnston, Explorer, Komiles. 2 of them belonged to convoy JW.53.

Thank you very much
Jordi

[t-geronimo]

Have you seen Siri's website about this convoy?

https://www.warsailors.com/convoys/jw53.html

It doesn't give an answer to your question but it gives an answer why this question sadly is hard (maybe impossible?) to answer.

[Jordi Comas]

Thank you very much Thorsten

It seems that they were John Laurence, Joseph E. Johnston and Komiles because all three ships of this convoy returned to port shortly after they departed.

Thank you very much

[René]

Hello,
Here is what I wrote in a series of articles on the arctic convoys.
“Bad weather once again caused the return of some damaged ships, the freighters Empire Baffin, Explorer, Komiles and the liberty-ships James Bowie, John Laurence and Joseph E. Johnston.”
I hope this will help you.
Happy New Year everyone
Cordially
René

[Jordi Comas]

Thank you René!

Empire Baffin detached to the Faröes with engine defects an arrived there on 4 March 1943, several days after her departure from Loch Ewe on 15 February 1943.
Explored returned to the Clyde due weather damage on 25 February 1943 also several days after her departure from Loch Ewe.
James Bowie returned Loch Ewe on 17 February 1943 with hull defects.
John Laurence and Joseph E. Johnston returned to the Clyde also on 17 February 1943.
Komiles is listed arriving to Kola Inlet on 17 February 1943 (But I think it could not be posible because she departed from Loch Ewe on 15 February 1943, too few days to sail that distance)

So only 4 ships remain as posibles:
John Laurence, Joseph E. Johnston, James Bowie and Komiles. This make me think that 3 of them formed convoy JW.53B.

Regards

[Jordi Comas]

I mean Explorer not Explored

[Jordi Comas]

John Laurence and Joseph E. Johnston returned to the Clyde with weather damage.

[Jordi Comas]

Hi again,

I think Komiles was not in convoy JW.53 and sailed independently.

So, the 3 merchants in convoy JW.53B were: John Laurence, James Bowie, Joseph E. Johnston.

Regards